Kansas Books

Pam's beautiful illustrations and personal stories make this a unique and inspirational book. Her quilts are fun and the instructions are clear. Wonderful book for those who enjoy making quilts, or those, like me, who enjoy looking at them.

If you've ever watched the University of Kansas Jayhawks play basketball you'll want this book. It's filled with memories of recent players and those who started the program under Phog Allen, Dick Harp, Ted Owens, Larry Brown, Roy Williams and Bill Self. Some reminiscences included are of James Naismith at Lawrence, the father of basketball. Reading this book is almost as good as being in Allen Fieldhouse and hearing the thousands cheer on the Jayhawks. Read about players and coaches who left KU for the NBA, how the KU players were recruited and how those players feel to this day about their experience on the hardwood at KU. Almost entirely upbeat with a few sour notes thrown in for good measure. By the end of the book, if you're a true blue Jayhawk you'll be bursting with pride and yelling, "GO BIG BLUE!"

If you're into watching, then by all means check out the VHS video, Century of Tradition: KU Basketball, available from Amazon.

When I was in high school in Samoa we would often hang out at the Rainmaker Hotel's pool after school ended every day. The hotel pool was the place to be, and the fact that you couldn't swim there unless you were a guest, or a "member" of the pool (which cost a few bucks a month, which of course none of us could pay). One of our pals worked in the dive shop poolside, which of course enabled us to hang out there whenever we wanted. One day, we were loafing as usual when one of us noticed a fortyish American woman, quite attractive, sunning herself and talking to a young boy, who we discovered was her son.

She looked so familiar! One of us finally figured out, "Hey, she's on TV...an actress!" The kid confirmed this for us. "Yeah, my mom is on lots of TV shows," he said matter-of-factly. "My dad is a movie star." The boy's name was Christian Peppard (son of George "Hannibal" Peppard of "A-Team," and famed Hollywood actor ("Barefoot in the Park,' "Blue Max," etc)...and his mom, the woman we were staring at, was the famed stage and TV actress Elizabeth Ashley.

So what does this have to do with the book? Turns out that Elizabeth and her son were visiting Samoa and accompanying the political writer Nick Von Hoffman, and "Doonesbury" creator Garry Trudeau. This little gang of mainland luminaries were involved in a "research" project, looking into life in the last of the American colonies, none other than our own American Samoa, for a projected book to be published back in what von Hoffman called "The Nifty Fifty."

Nick's book is an interesting glimpse into daily life in America's Outback, circa 1975. It's not a pretty picture. And, even though the Feds have pumped hundreds of millions of dollars into the island economy, the place is still an economic wasteland. There are a few bright spots in more recent years, with the opening of mainland style retail businesses (and the inevitable invasion of McD's and KFC).

Excerpts of this book originally ran in Rolling Stone (I kept the issues for years before they finally disintegrated), and it was several years later, after I had left the islands for college on the mainland, that I finally found a copy of this book. I still have it, and thumbing through it, it's interesting to note how much life in Samoa has changed...and how a lot of it hasn't.

I really enjoyed this book. Kate Ross is a very strong character in this book. Hiram is a hoot!!! IF YOU LOVE A GOOD WESTERN YOU WILL LOVE THIS ONE.

I can not say enough good about this book.....for think of it more as what Little House on the Prairie should have been if it was interesting....and what Tom Sawyer and Hunk Finn would have been if Mark Twain was a good writer.

I consider this a fabulous work, because it is first hand history of the wife of General Custer in the year after the Civil War. It is the excitement of times on a broad scale and the narrow joy of a married couple coping with life.
It honestly is a conversation between Libby, the reader with literal colorful commentary by her black maid, Eliza.
You will read how black history really was and not what is written now.

You get to see women in all their supposed helplessness at times, but when a tragedy strikes time and again their real courage and strength comes out.

I have yet to read anything from Libby whether it is her personal letters...to the absolutely heart wrenching account of the day she found out her family was slaughtered at the Little Big Horn which did not show one of the most charming and delightful personas ever to imprint upon the written word.
So as Mrs. Dockter, my 5th grade teacher always read to us after noon recess....if you have children or grandchildren....read to them...and if you have grown children get them this book as it impressed me enough to recommend it.

This book should be required in every school as a reading assignment along with Dickens and Irving.

Terra Incognita is a collection of black and white large format images of various aspects, grand and minute, of the North American landscape. This work establishes Steve Mulligan as a true heir to the mantle of Ansel Adams, Minor White, and other luminaries of the "black and white" photographic medium. Mulligan is able to see what most of us cannot, and is able to translate that perception into images of light, shadows, and darkness which touch the soul and heart as well as the eyes. Experience this book!!

What an inspiring book. The facts and history of our country are extraordinary. I could have never lived as Margaret lived, what a strong woman. She was also a quilter, which I find important, since I am also! It was inspiring to read in a diary format. It seemed so real.

If, during a quiet moment, sometimes the memory of that love from long ago enters your thoughts and suddenly you begin once again to reflect on where you are and where you would like to be....if only...then you will enjoy and connect with this book.

During the late 1980's and early 90's, everyone and their dog was writing Kansas books. Once a few regional authors, like Fitzgerald and Buchanan, opened the door with their travel guides, the floodgates did not close for several years. In the midst of all this, there was some good and a lot of bad. This book, I'm glad to report, is among the best. First of all, just to warn the readers, the photographs are all black and white. How unique. Color photography books on Kansas were already done ad nauseum. So why not black and white??? The images are well reproduced, text is to a minimum, and each of the photos must stand on their own right, which they do. Pray has accomplished the task of weeding through what was obviously a lot of photographs to pick the ones that tell the best story. She accomplishes this successfully. Of particular note, the introduction is by regional author Daniel Fitzgerald. It is worth the purchase for that, as Fitzgerald did not write introductions or forewords very often. This is some of his rare writings during his most prolific time period. This book is very hard to find, so good luck. Pick it up when you can. Maybe this volume should be reproduced again!!

Having just finished My Antonia, and wanting to read more about the Prairie I picked this up. It's just as moving. Thank you, Harold Gray.