North Carolina Books

I felt I was still unprepared for what stepping into a classroom might be like, even after having taken a short preparatory course for social science teaching in college. I will begin teaching in a matter of weeks, and this author has helped me tremendously by pointing out some my blind spots which have been created by years of graduate school. These include the differences between how graduate students and undergrads learn (less abstract and more examples) and that one must observe the campus and the classroom in order to gauge what are reasonable expectations in terms of reading comprehension and grading. He also presents helpful guides for syllabi construction and discussion groups.

I really felt like the author was speaking to me in terms of the way I think. A wonderful, useful read!

Having been a counselor in a Texas community college for the past thirty one years I can readily state that I am thrilled to still be able to gather new ideas from colleagues who are decades my junior.
Mr. Filine in his book assesses the current state of higher education for the masses without "dissing" those who labor in the profession and the same time slyly encourages us to reach out beyond the "way we taught."
Without explicitly stateing so I found between the lines that perhaps teachers are becoming superfluous unless we understand the context of the educational process in respect to technology, popular culture, and learning taking place quite literally at the speed of light. He alludes to this on p.56, "...(teachers) play a complementary part in the symphony of learning." This metaphore flashes to mind the spanish word for teacher, maestro.
Mr. Filene's chapter on mandatory class discussion addresses the universal entity that all students bring to class which is fear. By teachers confronting this head on we take a quantum step in the learning/teaching equation. Empowering the student is directly proportional to empowering the teacher and it is the key to the entire process.
I have a sign on my office door in two inch bold print that states, "UNAUTHORIZED LEARNING NOT ALLOWED." Fortunately in our electronic world it is not possible to adher to this dicate. To wit I stumbled across Mr. Filene's book by going on line, looking at the NY Times home page, clicking on the an educational story, referencing a book mentioned in said article, being exposed to another book on the Amazon site, and then thirty minutes and $50 later having to wait a whole three days for my three ordered books.
The tag line from _Glen Gary Glen Ross_ was "ABC", always be closing. The tag line from _the Joy of Teaching_ in my view is "ABL"...must I say what the L denotes.
Thanks for a great read.

Summarizes a lot of important themes, gives some useful tips and a comprehensive listing of useful web sites

this was so helpful, and gave me a lot of confidence about heading into the classroom.

I'm and Adult Education graduate student who purchased this book (along with McKeachie's- "Teaching Tips") for our Methods course. Our Prof selected severval books because there isn't one good book on the market yet for Methods that incorporates all that we are learning from these various books on life long learning. It is an excellant guide toting reciprocal learning between student and teacher. It is straight forward and down to earth without all that "academitius" we suffer from with the scientific reads. Been out of college for 3 decades and coming to read read a guide that is right to the point makes it a god send so you can turn around and apply it to your everyday work situations.

It's Christmas time, and Mandie is having everyone come over for the holiday. But she is unsure about Jonathan and Joe getting along, and she is quite sure that this is going to be a very interesting vacation!
But then a mysterious package arrives on Mandie's doorstep, and upon opening it turns out to be a box of dirt with strange pathways etched out in it.
Mandie thinks it's a treasure map, and Joe thinks it's a practical joke. Who is right? And who sent the mysterious gift? Find out in 'Mandie and the Unwanted Gift!'

This book is one of my favorites. I thought it was funny how when Polly saw Jonathan, she quickly turned her attentions from Joe to him. Jonathan's coming was actually a blessing in disguise!

This book is really great. Read it!

Mandie and her best friend are going up to visit their friend Jonathan in New York. Of course Mandie finds a mystery and they get invloved in many mysterious things. Mandie and Jonathan get trapped on a roof, Mandie is sick, they're late for dinner and they see snowball(mandies cat) below about to fall and die! What will they do? read it and find out!

Mandie is going home for christmas holidays and is very excited. But she has one problem or make it two. She needs to talk to her grandmother before the Guyers come, so she won't be mad when they just show up. Mandie doesn't know what's wrong with Mrs. Taft and Mr. Guyer. There's also Joe. She hasn't told him that Jonathan is coming. Will he get mad at her, because the boys haven't exactly gotten along around Mandie?

Then one night before everyone arrives a package for Mandie comes. It's just a "mess" of holly, dirt and ribbins. Joe is sorry that he suggests it is a treasure map because then Joe, Jonathan, Polly and Mandie go on treasure hunts. Who sent Mandie the present. Read to find out the funny ending, how the boys get along with the fact that they're not the only boys in Mandie's life and how Mrs. Taft reacts with the Guyers arrival.

I just love Mandie books. I can read more than one in a day! I can't wait until "Mandie and the night thief" comes out. Are there any others after that one? I want to read how Mandie's life wraps up when she is older. Will she really marry Joe or maybe Tommy?

this book was good, no really good. Anyways.. mandie gets all frustrated thinking that everyone will be mad at her for inviting the guyers over for christmas. Mandie still doesn't know why grandmother doesn't like mr. guyer or if joe and jonathan will try to out-do each other. But she's in for a big surprise when someone leaves a present on the door step that is nothing but holy and dirt but is it a treasure map?? i really enjoyed this book and thought it was really nice of jonathan to do what he did knowing how much mandie likes mysteries

These stories are too good to consume all at once. I only allow myself to read one per day, in order to thoroughly enjoy and savor each one. And they are wonderful. Rural appalachia comes alive - here is a fragment of true Americana. I highly recommend this book. I'm ordering a copy for my parents for Christmas. They're "impossible to buy for", but I can't imagine anyone not loving thse incredibly well-written, funny, and poignant tales of the 40's and 50's. In the character and style of "To Kill a Mockingbird", Gary Cardin has captured a time and place in our history that reflects the innocence and sometimes the tragedy in all our lives.

Gary Carden describes himself as a storyteller. He says he never tells a tale the same way twice, because his elaborations depend on how he is doing with a particular audience. So putting his tales to paper was a formidable task. He was up to it.

The collection is roughly autobiographical. The same essential details, names, incidents, come up again and again, and in spite of Carden's admittance to his tendency to stretch the truth, we know the essence is true both historically and emotionally. In this way, it differs from the writings of some others, like Mark Twain and Garrison Keilor, to whom he will be inevitably compared. Somehow Carden is more "the real thing" than these others. He is speaking from his own life, one that he continues to live.

Mason Jars generally follows a sequential path. The hero of most of these stories is Harley Teester, his name steeped in North Carolina rhythms. His adventures - more the adventures of others in which he somehow becomes involved, really - start when he is eight or nine years old and continue, on a bumpy path, to his present age. They take us from the simple naivete of a child who can make no sense of the odd reference to such things as "the trouser worm" to the sophisticated and wise understanding of the older man.

While the first several stories read like chapters in Harley's biography, others diverge. There are the "grandmother stories", in which Carden creates grandmothers who are not quite socially correct, who will fill a child's head with gruesome tales and revel in the effect. It's easy to imagine Carden giving wing to this primary character in front of an audience.

There are also tales of the supernatural, and his own versions of myths and legends. What overlays all in this diverse collection is a sense of hope, of good, of the essential goodness of man. It doesn't come from having been raised in a bed of roses or from having everything come easily to him. Perhaps the optimism is a result of the adversity he has weathered and survived. More, perhaps, from the pleasure of being able to capitalize on it in this way.

Like a good storyteller knowing he has done a good job, each of Gary Carden's storywritin's, ends with a sense of satisfaction. Not just for the reader, but the character as well. At the end of each story, the reader's satisfaction is in the character's triumph. Quotes are often taken from the beginning or the middle of a story. To illustrate what I mean about how Gary's stories finish, here are a few end lines. -"No town sounds out there, just wind and rain and running water." -In a few minutes, Happy and me were in a Mexican cantina drinking Grapettes and playing Chinese checkers. -I walked faster, eager to get home. -There was smoke coming from the chimney, and I was glad that I had left a fire. -Momma adjusts the mirror so she can see Granny and me in the back seat, and we smile back at her. -Laying under the feather tick, I watched firelight flicker on the ceiling. I wasn't very sleepy, to tell the truth. From a boy listening to rain on an attic roof, to a man who wouldn't listen, Carden's stories take us across the spectrum of an Appalachian soul. His characters are heard and seen, not just read about. From the smallest triumphs to the greatest satisfactions, they have not lost the life Gary first breathed into them in his oral tellings. My favorite story is "The Thing with Feathers." Is it an angel or not? Tell me after you read the story. Gary Carden's new book, "Mason Jars In The Flood and Other Stories" is a major milestone in his writing career. This book should bring him added respect.

Many of the chapters in Gary N. Carden's MASON JARS IN THE FLOOD AND OTHER STORIES explores the life of a young boy raised by grandparents after the death of his father and abandonment by his mother. As Harley Teester grows, he comes to understand--no, to feel--the traditions, ties, and assumptions that have shaped his family's way of life. As we watch him mature, we see him incorporate his new experiences away from home with his former learning. Harley successfully defines himself not by rebelling against his past but by applying it and adapting it.

MASON JARS won the Appalachian Book of the Year Award for books published in 2000 from the Appalachian Writers Association. As a poet and a playwright, Carden has a master's sense of how voices should sound, and the autobiographical elements of MASON JARS coupled with the polish of his telling and re-telling these stories give his prose the ring of authenticity. Enjoy it privately, but read it aloud to friends if you get a chance. MASON JARS is poignant, bracing, and honest.

We first contacted him after seeing his film "Blow the Tannery Whistle." He graciously agreed to share a few stories with us and told us that "Mason Jars in the Flood" would be out soon.

We were anxious to read the book after seeing his masterful storytelling in the film, and when "Mason Jars" hit the press, we were not disappointed. This collection of Appalachian stories is Gary Carden at his best. Full of humor and nostalgia, this is the type of reading that can be enjoyed by relaxing on the front porch with your feet propped up.

Take a journey with one of the finest of all storytellers as he shares with us tales of growing up in the Southern Appalachian Mountains.

This book takes you interchangably through emotions of laughter, fear, love, pain etc. All Tilly and Meredith ever wanted to do was get to see each other again. But because of the patriarchal and racist society they lived in they were unable to do so. But their love for each other and belief in a colorblind God continued their friendship via the pony express. They lived separate lives, but were always a part of each others life. This book is a reflection of the role God played in the lives of the slave and the slave owner--a contradiction in itself but a connection nonetheless. If you allow yourself to experience the lives of Tilly and Meredith, you will realize what a blessing it is to live your own life today.

Also recommended: 'This Present Darkness'by Frank Peretti and 'Secrets' by Robin Jones Gunn

what a wonderful story! i had a hard time putting this one down!
the story is about two young girls, one a slave and the other is the master's daughter. they share a wonderful friendship that spans their years. Meri is instrumental in Tillys's escape to freedom. They maintain contact with each other, hoping someday to see each other again. Tilly and Meri marry and have families,happiness and heartache. thru this all they still have each others support and encouragement.
i heartily recomend this heartwarming story

This book is a great find. My friend had recomended it to me and I'm glad I read it. It is a book about friendship. It has it's twists and turns, things you wouldn't think would happen, do. It was heart warming, and a tear jerker (well for me that is). I recomend this book to all my friends! Read and enjoy!

This is one of the best christian fictions I've read. You will want to read it in one sitting because its a page turner. The story is more about love and friendship than about slavery. Anyone who has been searching for their childhood best friend will love this novel.

I could not put this book down it is one of the best books I have ever read. It was really heartwarming. The two girls stayed friends even though they lived very different lives and could only communicate through letters. This is definitely worth reading.

Like another reviewer, I also have the pleasure of knowing Joe Martin. And while I knew of some of his remarkable achievements, I was astounded to read of many more. Like Joe, I have ALS, Lou Gehrig's disease. He, and his book, have inspired me to live life with joy, love, purpose, hope and faith notwithstanding the ravages of this disease. His book, like Tuesdays With Morrie, should inspire anyone and everyone. But while Morrie spoke as a dying man, Joe, with the same terminal illness, speaks with the vitality of a man truly living life to the fullest.

Laura Murphy Atlanta, Ga.

Mr. Martin's book is an inspirational and moving work for anyone to read, regardless of your position in life. If you've ever faced adversity, there is something to be learned about courage and optimism from this book. His candor, humor, and vision will inspire you and give you a sense of appreciation for this life we have. My mother is suffering from a degenerative disease, and this book gave me a new sense of perpective on what she and many others face as they battle each step of their disease. As a North Carolinian, I am proud that this brilliant writer and powerful soul is a leader for our community, and has been able to reach out and touch so many other lives. This book will make you cry, make you laugh, and most importantly, give you inspiration and appreciation for what you have.

I found this first person account co-authored by Joe Martin, who has ALS, very inspirational. Joe allows the reader to share his feelings of frustration as well as to grasp the depth of his convictions that life should be celebrated and cherished. Ross Yocke's commentary throughout the book provides an additional source of information which is helpful for the reader to gain perspective about Joe Martin's life with ALS. This short 178 page book pulls the reader into Joe Martin's reality, and allows the reader to share his religious and moral convictions, as well as to revel in his wonderful anecdots. This book reminds me of Tuesdays with Morrie. I hope others will enjoy reading On Any Given Day as much as I have.

Joe Martin and his family (family, friends and bank colleagues) are the greatest support system. Joe's life inspires, challenges and motivates all to do more. His will to live is refreshing, unbelievable given the impact of ALS on his body but not on his mind or spirit. For anyone facing disease, stress or looking for meaning, this is a must read.

It's a quick read and doesn't leave you down -- but instead deals with a tough subject -- living with a terminal disease -- with reality and purpose. You will learn how "you can live like this"

I cannot add much to the previous reviews-- all of with which I agree-- except this: Mr. Martin is, first and foremost, a writer. Indeed, he has ALS, and that is much of what he writes about here. But his lean, athletic style, keen observation and outstanding sense of humor would entice me to read router bit catalog copy, if Mr. Martin wrote it. I'm in search of his short story published in the Crescent Review (malcolm@walkaboutpress.org-- if anyone finds it first) and am hopeful he is at work on something else for us to enjoy and think about.

Before reading the personal memoir of an historical figure, I always make an effort to first read a scholarly biography of that person if one is available. Since Richard Taylor's memoir "Destruction and Reconstruction" is often highly ranked among the suggested reading lists for the Civil War, I planned to read it, so I set out to first find a bio. That's when I found Parrish's "Soldier Prince of Dixie."

Through Parrish's depiction of Taylor's life we are given a front row seat first into the making of an aristocratic, Yale educated, slave-holding planter, and a son of a president no less. By following Taylor we see in microcosm the story of the late antebellum South and its destruction.

He became a planter by inheritance when his father died. He went from being an elitist Whig to being swept into the torrent by fire-eating democrats. With no prior military training he became an outstanding field commander for the C.S.A.; among talented amateurs he was surpassed only by Forrest and perhaps Cleburne. Early on he served in the east in the Valley with Stonewall. Later he returned to the Trans-Mississippi and eventually reached the pinnacle of his achievements by stopping Banks in the Red River campaign.

As a result of the war his plantation was destroyed, and he endured the death of his young son. Still, he retained some national influence. He advised President Johnson on cabinet appointments and was a personal acquaintance of Henry Adams, author of "The Education of Henry Adams."

For anyone planning on reading "Destruction and Reconstruction," Parrish's work is valuable for its maps, especially the ones that show the Trans-Mississippi areas like the Red River Valley and the Lafourche and Teche bayou regions.

In my humble opinion, Parrish's is one of the best biographies I have ever read. Admittingly, the book is about a fascinating person: the son of a US President and Mexican War Hero who continues his family's military heritage by becoming a Lieutenant General in the Confederate Army without the benefit of a West Point education and becomes power in pre and post Civil War Louisiana. Writing a book about such a person should result in an interesting read!

Throughout the book, Parrish maintains an excellent balance in presenting Taylor's life, including: early life and pressures as the son of a famous hero, early indifference to formal education, success as a wealthy plantation owner, relationships with slaves, views of slavery, entrance into Louisiana politics, CSA military service eventually leading to the rank of lieutenant general, post Civil War years, and later years. Parrish does an excellent job of covering each area and as a result, the reader learns the many sides of a fascinating character.

Particularly interesting to me were the descriptions of Taylor's relationships with several noted Civil War personalities: Lee, Davis, Beauregard, Johnston, Jackson, Grant, Sibley, Smith, Forrest, Bragg, and others. With few exceptions, Taylor was able to get along with most of the people he encountered during the war - a rare accomplishment indeed. Parrish does an excellent job or summarizing Taylor's valuable service to the CSA and the book contains excellent maps of the battles Taylor participated in.

All in all, an excellent and highly recommended read of one of the Civil War's most fascinating personalities!

This is a highly readable yet scholarly treatment of an important nineteenth century Southerner. Dick Taylor, son of President Zachary Taylor, was a Yale-educated aristocrat and Louisiana sugar plantation owner when the Civil War broke out. By war's end he was a Lieutenant General. Although he had no pre-war military training, he became one of the Confederacy's most able commanders. Parrish expertly covers Taylor's entire life, but naturally focuses on the Civil War exploits. In addition to being an excellent strategist and tactician, Taylor was colorful, self-confident, oblivious to what others thought of him, and a lifelong practitioner of noblesse oblige. Parrish is clearly enamored of his subject, but this does not stop him from critically examining the contradictions and hypocrisies inherent in Taylor's worldview. The book is free of the anachronisms and politically correct jargon which mar so much recent American historical scholarship.

It is hard to believe that other people have not written about Richard Taylor, but they need not bother now that Parrish has written this book. This book on Taylor is engaging and interesting, but also very scholarly. Although Parrish's writing style can be dry at times, his topic does not allow the book to get mired in details or become boring. Instead, Taylor's life jumps off the pages and Taylor led such a life that we, the reader, get a great overview of pre-Civil War politics, the war in the Trans-Mississippi, and the Reconstruction Era. Normally, I find the pages on the time before and after the war somewhat boring, but this was not the case with this book. The whole book really kept my attention and was very interesting. Thinking back, I really cannot think of any criticisms of this work. Just a good, solid history book.

This is the best bio I have read to date of General Taylor, although sometimes one must wonder if Mr. Parrish had much sympathy for his subject, with his sometimes disparaging remarks about Southern patriarchy. Perhaps he was simply trying to be PC on the slavery issue, but this didn't add much to the book for me. Still, serious students of General Taylor's exploits and the Western theater of the war will find this book an excellent resource

Shuffletown was a Southern rural community, dating from the mid-1800s, that fell prey to progress and developers, a town edged out of reality into the Neverland of memory. Fortunately, the memories have been saved thanks to author Judy Rozzelle, a Shuffletonian born and bred, who has compiled a verbal scrapbook of people and events, heavily tinged with Southern wit and eccentricity. To read this "multi-voice memoir" is to experience Southern hospitality at its finest--that hospitality that invites you up on the front porch, sits you down in a comfortable rocker with a tall glass of lemonade (or possibly something stronger) and invites you to listen as relatives and friends swap stories of marriages, murders, practical jokes and just plain crazy goin's on. One can't help but delight in the people, but the book has a deeper purpose than to merely entertain. As Rozzelle says, "Stories are the torch, the eternal flame we pass from one generation to the next. . . . Without giving constant voice to the past, we condemn those who lived here to an eternity of silence in a forgotten graveyard." Thanks to her, Shuffletown and its ghosts will never die.

In Shuffletown, Judy Rozzelle has crafted both a paean and a historical timepiece. On one level, it is a collection of memories of interesting personalties, hilarious events and local tragedies that marked a community over several generations. These are the kind of stories that we would reminisce with our long-time friends. Yet, Shuffletown also is a symbol for a small-town America that has been all but swallowed by urban sprawl with its attendant roads, commercial developments and chain stores. Ultimately, Shuffletown should become required reading for future generations and serve as a reminder of the richness of a life in quieter towns where people know everyone and care for each other.

Great fun to read. Shows a side of the people and places of the south seldom recounted.

"Shuffletown USA" is far from being your ordinary reminiscence on days gone by. Instead, Judy Rozzelle uses a unique and interesting technique of stepping out of the storyteller role and bringing her characters forward. Although one's immediate reaction is to think of Thornton Wilder's "Our Town" in presentation, "Shuffletown USA" is, instead, not so much orchestrated by an on-stage interpreter/moderator but an off-stage, in the wings, facilitator. Suddenly, without the reader's conscious knowledge, the characters in the book are speaking directly to you in their own words rather than Judy reading their feelings and thoughts to you. For all of us who look back on our hometowns wistfully, this love letter masquerading as a memoir is touching, humorous and delightful in both content and presentation.

Ms. Rozzelle has assembled the voices of her past - family and friends - the parts of self that have made her who she is. The backdrop is Shuffletown, a dissappearing rural town in North Carolina. It is the dissappearance of this place that creates the contemplative tone that allows the reader to join Ms. Rozzelle in remembering what was, and what may still be. A wonderful reflection of how where we're from shapes who we become.

First of all, I want to clear this up right now. This is not Stephanie Plum. The only similarity is the main characters are both female and they have large male friends that watch over them (Ox and Ranger). That is it. Stephanie Plum is a ditsy bailbonds person who has no criminal justice experience and doesn't even like guns. Jersey is retired military and sleeps next to a glock.

I liked this book. I thought it was funny, suspenseful and I enjoyed the characters. Jersey Barnes is asked by her boyfriend to help an old friend. The "old friend" is an ex-girlfriend of Bill's who wants Jersey to find out if her rich husband is having an affair. Jersey does Bill a favor and finds out the rich guy isn't having an affair but his co-worker has been murdered. And then his son goes missing. So the rich guy hires Jersey to help find his son. What she discovers is a tight web of extortion, fraud, murder and danger. Jersey's good friend Ox helps her try and figure out what is going on.

In the middle of this is Jersey's father, a retired cop and her roommate. He is hilarious. Trying to figure out a way to do away with his car and collect insurance because he can't get a license anymore.

This book had some bad reviews and I think it's because people were expecting it to be too much like Stephanie Plum. If you want Stephanie Plum, then read Hot Six or Seven Up. This is a series that stands on it's own.

Southern Fatality is a fast paced book that will hook you from the first page. Jersey Barnes, a newly retired private security specialist, is looking forward to spending some time relaxing on her boat with her boyfriend to start her retirement off right. Things do go exactly as planned when her boyfriend "convinces" her to look into a problem for a friend of his. What should be a fairly easy favor gets Jersey caught up in the middle of a kidnapping, and some other hair raising situations. The ending really took me by surprise! You will not be disappointed with this book! I can't wait for Jersey's next adventure!

Private security investigator Jersey Barnes was retiring, at least that was her intent. She wanted to spend the nights with her boyfriend Bill, and her days lolling around the deck of her boat, The Incognito. Determined to celebrate her first official day of retirement in style, she made arrangements to meet Bill at the bar. She dressed for an evening out on the town and a night of hot, sweaty sex.

Bill was waiting for her at the bar, but unfortunately he wasn't alone. Lolly, an old college friend, had joined the party. Jersey took the intrusion in stride. Her plans for the evening were a bust, but they still had the night. When Lolly's lighthearted banter turned to sobs, Jersey pulled back. Okay, so Lolly thought her husband was cheating on her, it wasn't Jersey's business or her concern. Besides, why would any newlywed cheat on a bombshell like Lolly?

When both Bill and Lolly turn to Jersey for help, she relented. It wouldn't take more than a day or two, and as long as she didn't get paid for it, it wouldn't affect her retired status.

Instead of uncovering a secret lover, Jersey uncovered a plot to release a computer virus that would cripple a major bank, and transfer millions of dollars from the social security system into private accounts.

Jersey called up her Carolina crew and together they averted the disaster.
SOUTHERN Fatality is an entertaining regional thriller. It was fast paced and breezy, a delight to read.

Southern Fatality is an exciting read. It's cliché, but true; you will definitely not want to put this one down until you've finished reading it. The main character, Jersey Barnes, is sexy, intelligent and capable. The supporting cast, including father and his poker buddies, adds humor. Her interactions with her boyfriend (Bill), and her business partner (Ox), lend the romantic interest to the story. I found myself hoping that she would have more than a business partnership with Ox. The plot was interesting, and definitely not predictable. The surprise twist at the end is worth the wait. I highly recommend this one; but I warn you: you will get hooked on Jersey

SOUTHERN FATALITY is a great read with fun and interesting characters. Set in the coastal town of Wilmington, North Carolina, this novel takes you through the South on an exciting and sexy adventure. The characters are well-developed and author T. Lynn Ocean is able to make readers feel right in the middle of things with main character Jersey Barnes. This is a great piece of "Southern fiction" that everyone can enjoy. I can't wait for the next book by Ocean!

I first read this book in 1996, and have purchased 2 additional copies since then. It seems, I have taken this book to the beach and pool one too many times!! I love this book - the entire story inspires!! WOW!

I loved SUNSET BEACH-the first time I read it-and then again and again and again. The problem? I want another book by the same author. I found the book when I lived in South Carolina...could not put it down. Now I am back in the cold, cold, cold, and often reread SUNSET BEACH-just to remember.
Each trip to Myrtle Beach, I look for another book by this author. No luck so far. I check Internet (Amazon.com) regularly...no luck.
The story is intriguing...the days of long past...families went to the ocean for the summer...dad came when he could...I can't imagine getting to live like that-relaxing and having fun for weeks at a time. The love story or almost love story...well...I'll leave that to the reader.
If one enjoys the beach/ocean/has fond memories of Myrtle Beach and the surrounding beaches/vacation spots...this is a MUST READ...

Being from the area this book brought back many memories of my special times at the beach. The title caught me in the store and I picked it up. I read 4 chapters before I even bought it, and finished the next morning. Then passed it on to all my firends. Had the pleasure of meeting Trip and having him sign my copy. Now no one borrows it now! Am still waiting for his next book! If it is anything like this one he is sure to have a winner!

It has been about 15 years since I have sat down and read a book from start to finish! This was so good I finished it in a weekend at the Beach! It was wonderful and I am now looking for more books by this author! Just a Great Book for anyplace and any time!!

Sunset Beach is connected to the mainland by an old bridge. The marriage story is symbolized by this bridge which is affected over and over again by high and low tides. The low tide days are Laura's discovery that her husband was wealthy,giving up tennis to care for her husband and lieing about her SAT score. High tide was the awakeninga of desire, the nights of Bird Island,and "when they were the Spirit." Laura found the level place after the kindred spirit gave her confidence to speak her mind and to value her own needs.

Sunset Beach is an easy to read book which will be appreciated by women who are neglected and who continue their relationships with self-centered husbands. Women can improve their lives by making changes and voicing their needs. This book reminded me of the Bridges of Madison County. Both women characters stay in the safe passage of the matrimonial bonds. The difference is Laura in Sunset Beach takes action. She speaks her mind. She does not continue to exist in a simmering situation of past moments of passion. She wears the gold starfish earrings which were a gift of a spirit to survive and keeps her balance even though the bridge did adulterously sway at Sunset Beach.

Trip Purcell has written an easy to follow story. His word selection quickly brings to mind sand, surf and starfish with radiantly disposed arms. Some might have been destructive to the taciturn oyster-but not the one encasing a mother of pearl - the starshine gem.-- Ele Mae

Great wealth of history and interesting facts on the missions and accomplishments of the 37th. My great grandfather was one of the profiled officers. I throughly enjoyed this book and bought one for my brother. Thank you again for a wonderful read and another glimspe into my family's past and southern heritage.

Michael Hardy has written a detailed and fascinating account of the 37th North Carolina in the Civil War. It is especially good in its use of first-hand sources - letters, diaries, etc. - of the soldiers who served in the unit. Formed in the late summer of 1861, the 37th participated in most of the major campaigns in the eastern theatre, beginning at New Bern and continuing through Gaines Mills, Second Manassas, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Fredericksburg, and Petersburg to Appomattox. Hardy traces the whereabouts and actions of the unit in rich detail, sometimes on a day-to-day basis, which is especially useful while they were on the march. In addition to their battlefield actions, Hardy provides a complete roster of the 37th by company and a list of all the unit's courts-martial during the war. The book is an excellent history of the 37th and a useful reference source as well. And Hardy's generous use of the soldiers' words themselves make for very interesting reading. The book is another excellent addition to the many regimental histories published by McFarland in the last half-dozen years or so.

Michael Hardy is the consummate writer- he does his research-in depth, collects his material-much of it first-hand, then writes a book that is a cross between a textbook and a biography. I,too, am descended from men who were in the 37th NC of whom I knew nothing before I read this book. Now I do.

Even if you are not related,this book is excellent reading in order to understand how and why young men from rural western NC were willing to risk it all for a cause they did not all support. This is a tremendous book and a great read.

this was a great written book ,i had relatives that served in company E of the 37th nc and it was great getting to know there effords in supporting the southern cause.i suggest this book for anyone.

This book is loaded with in-depth research and provides a well written history on the 37th. My great-great Grandfather served in Company H and it has been a pleasure to learn of his exploits.