Memorials Books

The Images of America series are great nostalgia books.

I gave this title to an 80 year-old friend who grew up in Eureka, and she couldn't stop exclaiming about how much she enjoyed it and how many memories it caused to come flooding back into her memory.

This series makes great "thank you" or "welcome to the neighborhood" gifts.

The creation of an American icon through the eyes of Thomas Jefferson is a true example of history. The diverse concepts and ideas embodied by Jefferson is brilliantly portrayed in the means of emotional involvement and reason. Concepts that have moved a country into war and then together is in essence a marvel.

This book is a catalog of the 1983 exhibition of the Harvard College Library, the Ukrainian Research Institute, and the Ukrainian Studies Fund of Harvard University which marked the 50th anniversary of the Ukrainian Famine of 1932-1933. As such, the book is more pictures than words, but they present a powerful case against not only the Stalinist regime, but against Stalin himself in only eighty-some pages.

To understand the current economic, political, and social situation in struggling Ukraine one needs to understand the Ukrainian psyche. To understand the Ukrainian psyche one must understand their peculiar history as an oft-invaded frontier-land, and especially as a vassal of Russia for nearly a millenium. This book starkly illustrates a particularly grim episode which occurred early in the 70 year period of Soviet subjugation.

Although the famine was not limited strictly to Ukraine, it was a Stalin-induced event primarily directed at breaking down Ukrainian resistance to collectivization and destruction of the "kurkuls", the rich Ukrainian peasant class. An overarching aim of Stalin's was the completion of Ukrainian subjugation which had not yet been successful to that point of Soviet rule.

This catalog of the 1983 exhibition is a powerful examination of one of the clearer cases in world history of state terrorism. Although viewed in retrospect, the collection of both illustrations and photographs appears as a remarkable foreshadowing of human tragedies like the holocaust, Rawanda, and Bosnia. The book is must reading and a vital reference for anyone with an interest in Ukraine.

Houston Bryan Roberson tells the story here of the church served by the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., from 1954 to 1960. For many readers, that will be the highlight. But FIGHTING THE GOOD FIGHT is far more than that. Roberson tells the story of the church from its founding by ex-slaves, on through 1977. And he does so in a way that is not just narrow institutional history, but rather does a very good job of placing the story in broader context of issues going on at the time, including, of course, the civil rights movement. I highly recommend this book.

An excellent collection of Shakespeare's works, this book holds the bard's works as they were first printed in the first folio. In edition to keeping (in my opinion) the purest and best form of his work available in this edition, it includes lovely illustrations and prints throughout, adding to the already beautiful text. This Collected Work is something any Shakespeare lover (or a lover of drama or poetry) would be delighted to own.

This is the first book published as a reaction to Flannery O'Connor's death in 1964. It is a valuable reaction to her work by a group of writers and scholars who are not interacting, particularly, with other scholars. That is, these are scholars talking to readers rather than to other scholars--it makes a big difference in what is said, and how it is said. For one thing, the book is free of much of the literary jargon that has since become so fashionable.

In 1964 there was little "critical" material available on O'Connor. She was admired by a select few readers and critics. Over time here place in the American canon has risen considerably so that now, each year seems to see a new critical study of her work.

This small book is valuable as a very early collection of discussion of her work. I am so glad to see it back in print. If you are an O'Connor enthusiast you should get this book and read it--everything in it is quite readable.

If someone were to ask you how long Presbyterians have been in Florida, how might you respond? (No, the line "too long" does not count!). If you were to say that one should look to Florida's oldest city for the answer, you would be correct. Because Florida's oldest congregation is to be found in charming St. Augustine. But the Presbyterian presence in St. Augustine is much newer than, say, the Castillo. Florida Presbyterianism dates to 1824, the period just after the end of Spanish rule. A time that seems ancient indeed by most standards of Florida history. But not all that long ago, after all.

This history of the congregation of what was then the Presbyterian Church, later First Presbyterian Church and is now Memorial Presbyterian Church was written for its 175th anniversary. Ms. Harvey's book is what we might call a colorful tale, and includes some inspiring and not infrequently hilarious stories, as well as wonderful old photographs of ministers who certainly must have put the fear of God into their flock, if not given their wives terrifying nightmares.

From inauspicious beginnings with only 14 charter members and not enough men to elect separate boards of elders and deacons, to the church we can visit today, it is a remarkable journey of faith and faithfulness. Along the way you will read that only the Episcopal congregation in St. Augustine is an older Protestant congregation than the Presbyterian, in all of Florida. So too, in these pages you will find excerpts of 1820s-era stewardship letters, with these pithy lines: "For want of a few hundred dollars to complete this temple of God, here are souls going in crowds down to everlasting perdition." (If you find that approach to stewardship effective, do let me know!)

The book also tells a hair-raising tale of one pastor being so thoroughly disliked by the congregation that his name was expunged from the official list of the church's ministers until the publication of this book. You will hear of the sad loss of the Flagler family and their gracious response in creating a new edifice for this congregation, dedicated in 1890, amid much Gilded Age pomp. Mrs. Benjamin Harrison, the First Lady, as well as the Vice President of the United States, were on hand, as the new building took its place as the jewel in the crown of Spanish Colonial ambiance by which Henry Flagler transformed old St. Augustine into a winter paradise for the well-heeled.

Among the many colorful stories are the husband and wife benefactors who "fought" each other to pay for the church's magnificent pipe organ and the poor pastor who, in hoping to promote tourism to St. Augustine, inadvertently maligned most of its residents in print. His ill-advised book was on the shelves at noon and by suppertime he was packing his bags, his days dwindling down to a precious few. In more recent times, the story of the 20 foot copper cross atop the huge dome and the sewing ministrations of Mrs. Palmes (yes that is her name) in creating the choral robes are all well worth reading. You can obtain the book from Memorial Presbyterian Church, 32 Sevilla St., St Augustine, FL 32084. But I suggest that you visit St. Augustine and buy the book on site. That way you can enjoy the spectacular building that the Standard Oil magnate Henry Flagler gave to the congregation in memory of his beloved daughter.

"The Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial," by Anne Phillips, tells the story behind the monument to one of the United States' most important presidents. The book combines a straightforward text with a wealth of photographs (both color photos and historic black-and-white photos). There is also a map of the memorial.

The book contains a brief biography of FDR and tells the historical story of the memorial from the early planning stage to its dedication in 1997. Philips discusses the contributions of architect Lawrence Halprin and the other creative people who helped give life to the memorial. There are many images of the statues and inscriptions at the memorial. I especially liked the statue of FDR's Scottish terrier, Fala, and the inscription of his Four Freedoms. Phillips also discusses the controversy over whether or not to depict FDR's disability in the memorial.

This book is very educational, and also inspiring. I've never seen the FDR memorial, and this book makes me want to visit it. And that's probably the best compliment I can pay to a book of this nature.

Romanides writes a short concise book (or lecture as it is) on the nature of East/West estrangement. His argument rests on the idea that the west was still Roman (in the sense that Byzantium is the true Roman empire) in theology if not culture till the advent of the Frankish incursion into papal and doctrinal affairs, mainly under the influence of Charlemagne. Romanides sees the East and West more or less uniform until that pivotal point. The Frankish theology was so misguided due to the singular influence of Augustine. Romanides is very critical of Augustine and clearly points out the problems with Augustinian theology and why it was such a break from the patristic viewpoint.

Romanides argues quite well for his points. I would have like to seen more references though and less seemingly unfounded statements.

The highlight for me was the chapter on empirical theology vs. speculative theology. For the first time I read a nice treatment of Orthodox epistemology which I've been looking for, for some time.

Overall, if you're interested in the breakup of East and West, this book should offer some interesting insights.

If you are interested in what "real" economics is all about--and by real I mean those economic thoughts that are proven by experiments rather than just theories--this is a must book for you. I found nearly all of the articles very useful and well written. I recommend that you start with the chapter of 1989 written by Reinhard Selten, because it explain economics in a very pleasantly humor-driven way and continue with 1990, written by Vernon L. Smith. After these two chapters, read any of the others in any order you see it fit.

I loved the book! When I finish my PhD (soon, actually), this book will be a required reading for my students!