New Jersey Books

My father was a huge fan of Monsignor Michael Doyle and the work he has done for the city and the people of Camden. When this book was first published, my father raced to pick up a copy - and have it autographed by the man himself. It wasn't until after my father passed away that I inherited his copy of the book, and it has been a bedside staple ever since. This collection of letters and poetry written by Monsignor Doyle touches every part of your heart and soul. There are hearty laughs and stinging tears on the pages of this book, and the words and the works of Monsignor Doyle are an inspiration to us all.

Dr. Schweitzer himself is an excellent interpretor of Bach's music, especially his organ music. His christian belief put him closer to the heart of the great German composer. Everyone who is seriously interested in Bach should read this book which is full of information and insight. To those who not only listen music but alos feel it, the book is will be a spiritual revelation. Shortcoming: in comparsion with German version, some translation is a bit vague or inaccurate.

Okay, I'm the author's son, but I wouldn't be writing these words were I not truly convinced that this is a great story. They don't make women like my grandmother anymore. She never knew the meaning of the word "sacrifice". My mother's description of my grandmother's harrowing boat trip from Lebanon to her new home in the United States will make even the most hardnosed cynics quiver. And her tending to my debilitated grandfather (due to a stroke) while raising my mother and her brothers and sisters (5 in all!) in a closet-sized attic apartment and working double shifts at a tape company truly makes me appreciate everything I have. Yes, this story has been told before, but this one has a fresh point of view unlike anything else I have read previously. My mother has not only written a chronicle of our family's history, but a truly endearing story of one woman's struggle in the face of unfathomable obstacles - and all for the sake of being able to live in America.

Review by Timothy Taylor: Akibavar@aol.com Jersey Blue is the only book I can think of that amuses and arouses simultaneously. There are some wildly perverse sex scenes involving riding crops and twin sisters who are exceptionally close, but the general tone of the book is good humor; sometimes in the midst of the most outrageous activity one finds oneself laughing out loud! The story takes the reader through back swamp Jersey history, but never loses sight of the comical yet heroic lusts that drive humanity. I recommend this book to anyone who would like to read a unique and extra spicy historical novel.

This book captures the very spirit of Jersey Central Lines railroad. The scenery combined with William Brennan's keen eye for photography brings the now defunct railroad back to life. For those of us who witnessed the "Big Little Railroad", this book is sure to bring back many fond memories. For those who didn't, it is a great history lesson in a railroad era gone by.

This book is the best I have read. Baseball should let JOHN ROCKER back in the game without suspension. ROCKER is just an ol' redneck that was telling the truth! YANKEE FAN 4 life!

Henry Beck was a newspaperman (and minister) who was interested in the local history of New Jersey; he authored many books on the topic. This was his third in a series. (I believe all the books have been in print since they first came out in the 1930s.) The first two volumes dealt with forgotten towns of southern NJ, and for this one he moved a bit north to the central part of the state. The format in all the books remained the same: one location per chapter, give its history, and make things personal by describing a visit to the place by Beck with often an "expert" on the area. Usually a photograph or two accompanies each chapter. It's a good format, and it works well.

Beck travels to such places in this book as Scrabbletown, Ellisdale, Amwell, Barnegat, Fiddler's Creek, and Tennent among others. The chapters are much longer than in the two previous books. The reason for this is that earlier he chose a spot and stuck pretty rigidly to it while here he wanders far and wide from each place highlighted per chapter. The book feels much more expansive for it.

Anyone interested in forgotten towns and local history in NJ will be delighted with any and all of Beck's books. I've spent many a Sunday afternoon following in his footsteps checking out the places he writes about (most of them very much changed in that last 70 years). Beck is a storehouse of information and a lot of fun to read, too. (The book's original title was much cooler: "Fare to Midlands," changed by RU Press for fear the public wouldn't get the irony and only think it a put down.)

I bought this wonderfully illustrated book while living in Hoboken (where much of it is set,) and after reading it again, was surprised at its freshness. It's still amusing and apropos. If you find a copy, I suggest you buy it.

This is a well written first hand account of the suffering of the people of Jersey during the period of Nazi occupation during World War II. It gives many details of the horrors suffered by the citizens of this Channel Island, part of the U.K. Careful study shows that even with the taking of this small island, that Berlin could never get the signals straight. Many people of Jersey fled to the U.K. and when the Nazi authorities took control, they routed out Jews and others that they were opposed to in order to use their goods, etc for themselves

Without this great book, we would have no fantastic collection of the faces of jews that have impacted New Jersey's history. I was mesmorized-staring into faces long gone-storefronts of jewish businesses which are now completley different shops. I especially liked reading about the young Jews at the New Jersey Shore. This fantastic book makes people living in New Jersey realize that the jews they see walking around have deep histories; many rooted in the holocaust, all certiantly impacted by it. A brilliant and beautiful pictorial history of the Jews living in New Jersey and their geneality.