Kentucky Books

But there's a real fascination about reading these books as an adult. I like to imagine growing up in that era and the innocent fun they had. We can realize how limited their options were, but some of their core values (integrity, keeping a brave and optimistic outlook) hold today.

Joe Kindig's _Thoughts on the Kentucky Rifle_ is a major work, cataloguing as it does the exhaustive Kindig longrifle collection. Even now, thirty seven years after its initial publication, no other work in the field (with the possible exception of George Shumway's _Rifles of Colonial America_, in two volumes,) comes close to its breadth of analysis, or to the sheer number of splendid arms shown in fine B&W illustrations. Each of the several 18th century Pennsylvania gunmaking schools is anlayzed individually, with several rifles from that school presented and discussed.

The text is far from dry and analytical, however. It is alive with humor and anecdotes, and apart from being top-notch research (or very educated opinion where the facts are unknown as yet), is a joy to read in its own right.

Most likely the book will be bought for its illustrations, though, for as interesting as the text is, the book is splitting at the seams with hundreds of crisp black and white photogtraphs from the late Mr. Kindig's landmark rifle collection which he assembled over his long life. Virtually every phase of metamorphosis in the fascinating development of the American longrifle is shown in close detail, with textual analysis of each rifle answering questions and asking new ones as well.

It is difficult to imagine delving into this field of study and not owning _Thoughts on the Kentucky Rifle_. It is a vivid portrait of one of the great American artforms, and of a collection that may never again be altogether in the same place under the same owner, especially one as affectionate toward its subject as Joe Kindig.

M's de Mille does an excellent job of portraying the people she worked with (George Ballachine, Irving Berlin, Gertrude Lawrence, and Cole Porter among others) as well as describing herself, warts and all. She doesn't feel the need to make herself look good at someone else's expense.

It's amazing that a woman that was told she was ugly, who was definitely not encouraged to go into dance, managed to become one of the great, most memorable choreographers ("Oklahoma!", "Brigadoon" and "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" among many others) of all time. It's especially astounding to realize she did this without any help or encouragement from her famous uncle, Cecil de Mille or her father William de Mille (who was a successful playwright).

Read this book and find out how M's de Mille makes the long journey from a being a fired choreographer in New York to winning two Tony awards. You'll be glad to be along for this trip.

M's de Mille does an excellent job of portraying the people she worked with (George Ballachine, Irving Berlin, Gertrude Lawrence, and Cole Porter among others) as well as describing herself, warts and all. She doesn't feel the need to make herself look good at someone else's expense.

It's amazing that a woman that was told she was ugly, who was definitely not encouraged to go into dance, managed to become one of the great, most memorable choreographers ("Oklahoma!", "Brigadoon" and "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" among many others) of all time. It's especially astouding to realize she did this without any help or encouragement from her famous uncle, Cecil de Mille or her father William de Mille (who was a successful playwright).

Read this book and find out how M's de Mille makes the long journey from a being a fired choreographer in New York to winning two Tony awards. You'll be glad to be along for this trip.

This is a great interactive book for kids. With the Derby just past, it's will be super fun for the kiddies wanting to make the feeling last. A wonderful gift.