Kentucky Books

When I searched for a wildflower guide specific to the central south, I never expected to find such a thorough and helpful book. Whether you hike the hills and actively hunt for wildflowers, or simply want to know what's growing in your backyard, Wildflowers of the Central South is an indispensable field guide. I've recommended this book to garden clubs and wildflower preservation groups all over the south.

This is the best UK basketball history that I have ever read. It was extremely well researched and written, and combined a genuine love for the University of Kentucky and its program with a recognition that wrongs have been done in the past. It is a "warts and all" story, but one still sympathetic to the subject. The pictures and anecdotes are all great, and in the appendix there is a comprehensive statistical summary of all the games and all the season records. If you are a Wildcat fan, buy this book.

After many years of neglect, this seems to be the time of the Mediterranean theater of operations during World War II. First came Rick Atkinson's excellent An Army at Dawn that talked about the birth of the American Army in North Africa. Now Ms. Tomblin's excellent companion on the Naval Operations.

It was in the Med that the Army and the Navy won their spurs. Although opposed by the American brass, the operations in the Med tought the Army and the Navy vital lessons that would have doomed the cross channel invasion pushed by American leaders for 1942 (Operation Sledgehammer) or 1943 (Operation RoundUp) at the latest.

It was in the Med that the US Army learned the importance of close air support (instead of the strategic long range favored by the Army Air Force). It was in the Med that the Army and the Navy really learned what years of neglect in fielding new equipment would really cost in lives. It was in the Med that the Navy really learned about amphibious operations that would later pay dividends in both the Pacific and the coast of France (both at Overloard and at Dragoon on the southern coast).

Ms Tomblin has done a truly supurb job of researching both the official documents and talking to the veterans from the Med to put together what will probably be the definitive book on naval operations in the Med.

Harland Hubbard's simplisitc woodcuts are an excellent source of inspiration for printmakers and artists. He captures the true meaning of life through his work. Next to his art in the book, are selections from his journal during his shantyboat home,and farm life in Northern Kentucky. This is the next best thing to viewing his original works at the Berringer-Crawford Museum in Norhtern Kentucky!

I am a product of the world that Mr. Davis so eloquently describes in his book, The World of Patience Gromes. I remember actor Denzel Washington making the comment after his portrayal of Coach Boone in the blockbuster hit "Remember the Titans", that it is the actual real life character's reaction to his portrayal that let's him know if he did a good job or not. Having lived 5 doors down in the same block where Mr. Davis stayed during his work in Fulton, being 10 years old when he arrived and although I don't remember him personally, I do feel qualified to put my endorsement on this book. There were some significant gaps in my knowledge of the place where I was reared and how it came to the point of annihilation. I thank Mr. Davis for answering many of my questions and enlightening me in other areas. To say this book hits home would be more than an understatement. I took it very personal for it was about me, my parents, my grandparents and their parents all the way back to a place we dared not go. But Mr. Davis made the journey back one that gave me a sense of dignity, strength and hope. As a writer myself, the way the book ended inspired me to take up the cross and continue the story, for the hope he wrote about had not been realized at the end of his book. The hope has yet to be realized completely in many of the lives of the descendants of Mr. Davis' characters. However, the hope I found in his book is still alive and should be further documented. Bravo, Mr. Davis for your sensitivity, accuracy and unbaised portrayal of my roots. As you have energized my hope, my wish is that you know, like Denzel knew based on the real Coach Boone's reaction, that you did a great job!

The voices in "Writing Who We Are" come from the depths of Kentucky women's souls in the form of flaming poetry. Notorious for their gracious silence, the Kentucky women in this collection used megaphones. Some of the poetry dealt with hardships faced; others spoke of the love of mothers and other powerful, influential women in their lives. Many honed in on the rich landscape of Kentucky, using flowers, earth, and homesteads to weave their "stories" into poems. Those are my favorites--those so rich one could smell the soil, feel the "grit." This is a wise and moving collection that I think every woman would enjoy--not just those from Kentucky or the South. I don't often buy poetry books, but I'm glad I bought this one. Everytime I read it, I discover something new--feel something real.

The title is slightly misleading as the bulk of the narrative focuses on the first-person accounts of Laura Glenmorris and her daughter Medora, as told to George Delmont, the young philosopher. Smith parodies the romanctic/Gothic genre of the eighteenth-century while simultaneously using both modes to her own advantage. She critiques the English legal system, especially as it relates to women, and the views of Delmont, and other philosophical idealists, as inadequate to fight against the corruption of English law. Originally published the same year as _Maria, or the Wrongs of Woman_, 1798, fans of Mary Wollstonecraft should enjoy this novel for Smith shares many of Wollstonecraft's social views. Additionally, fans of Ann Radcliffe and Jane Austen should also enjoy _The Young Philosopher_. The inset tales are suspenseful and humorous while the main plot of the novel is more complex than a simple love story between Delmont and Medora (told by an omniniscient narrator). As a student of Smith's romantic poetry I was pleasantly surprised to discover this enjoyable and thought-provoking novel.

I read this book 19 years ago and just finished it again after a family member mentioned their dentist was Tom Lynch.

I met Tom and Suzie when he first came to Albuquerque and worked with the Gianni's (the mafia, according to the psychos). I recall she had a very hard, cold, dark stare. She gave me the creeps, I guess that's why I remember her.

This book is a great read and the historic details help the reader understand each character and their motivations.

What happens when you take a narcissist, pampered and over indulged in a somewhat delusional well to do old southern family, and mix her with a psychopath from a more twisted and more delusional branch of the same family? Well it spelled disaster for the innocent people who ended up dead as a result of this volatile incestuous combination.

This book was a long, but very interesting look into a horrific series of murders and those tasked with investigating them. I know when I finished this book, I was convinced that the ultimate fate of this pair seemed insufficient, and makes one hope for an eternal brand of justice. I was also amazed at how some families can delude themselves in regard to the true character of their members, and regardless of all evidence to the contrary can continue to make excuses for their evil acts.

It is very well written and researched. I highly recommend this book. It's unbelieveable that this person was able to get away with the things he was doing for so long. How this mother could let something like this happen to her children is scary.

Twenty years late I find a copy of this at a yard sale this weekend. Murder, Mayhem and Mystery being my favorite genre, I found it irrisistible. All 573 pages. I sat down to read it right off and rushed home to keep reading between my regular Sunday obligations. This story is uncommonly horrifying, and for such an overwhelmingly complicated, convoluted story, it was exquisite in its detail; character development; and in the smooth flow of its unweildy, appalling, riveting, repulsive, terrifying, mysterious, chilling, absolutely gripping story. I coudn't put it down. Thank you, Jerry Bledsoe, for all the work it took to research all those details and then to write with the tons of skill and talent it took to suck me into it right in the beginning and not let me go. How did you do that? I was greatly rewarded when you kept going and kept going and kept going... wanting with all your bone marrow to do the right thing by this book and the people in it, no matter how many obstacles and family secrets and denial and skanky politics; and questionably inept or inadequately trained or poorly organized and led, the takedown finally was, you wouldn't let me go. And I grew to care about those people as much as you did, and so repelled by others, and I was at long last satisfied with where you took me, and lamented the end because I would have loved to keep on reading and learning more. EXCELLENT job. I'll be reading more of your books. This one will be a hard act to follow though! Thank you very much.

This is about as engrossing a true crime book as one can get. Well researched and compellingly written, it tracks the story of three families whose lives intertwine only to culminate in boodshed. It is a story that will enthrall the reader, as well as tug at the reader's heartstrings, because of the tragic familial implications.

At the heart of the horror that this book reveals is a beautiful southern belle, Susie Sharp Newsom Lynch, who together with her first cousin and lover, Fritz Klenner, the mentally unbalanced son of a prominent doctor, goes on to be involved in unspeakable acts. It is a riveting book that will keep the reader turning the pages and is one of the best books in the true crime genre.

this is , in my opinion, the definative book on the lincoln assassination, and the escape of john wilkes booth. not only does the author give a clear and concise accounting, he takes us out of the vacuum and explains the minute details of the very knotted relationships between the conspirators, and the links of the confederate underground to canada and back. there is no mistaking the intention of any one of the people involved. he also establishes the money trail that funded booth. im surprised that more people were not prosecuted. it doesnt let anyone off the hook.

Without a doubt this is the most accurate accounting of Mr. Booth and Mr. Lincoln leading up to and after April 14th, 1865. Ed Steers, Jr. did his research well and has the talent to present the story in an enjoyable fashion. The final page tells it all. A must read.

Last year, I visited the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Musuem in Springfield, Illinois. At the Musuem, they had a temporary exhibit called "Blood on the Moon". It was a fascinatating exhibit and when I saw that the exhibit's name was taken from a book, I started looking for the book to go slightly more in-depth about the assassination. The book is pretty good. The beginning is good and I liked all the photos that were included in the book. But there are two reasons why I couldn't give this book 5 stars: there were parts that I had a hard time keeping myself interested in. A slight bit of dry reading. The second reason is the author's repeated repeatings of somethings in the book. I'm not quite sure if the author forgot that he had already mentioned those facts or perhaps is underestimating the readers intelligence in remembering what they've read but I was annoyed that some things that I had already read kept popping up. I prefered the parts of the book when the author wasn't just reeling off facts and put things into action. The story of the assassination was fascinating and I liked how the author included maps of all the various Booth getaways. I also found the information about Lincoln's final trip back to Springfield very interesting.

So I wouldn't say this would be a book for anyone who is more interesting in maybe the story-telling aspect of this part of history since the telling of fact upon fact might bore some people slightly. But I would recommend this to anyone who is interested in learning about the Lincoln assassination and especially anyone who was lucky enough to see the Blood on the Moon exhibit at the Abraham Lincoln Musuem.

Edward Steers wrote one of the best accounts of Lincoln Assassination in recent history. Although his writing style is bit dry as many reviewers in the past have noted, his research is untouchable and this is a very readable account to anyone who have any interest in this subject. The author laid everyone and everything out in a clear and understandable matter. He take a careful reading to all who was involved, their backgrounds and the roles they played during the war. He also take study to Lincoln's own lackluster desire for security and how that encouraged men like Booth to take him on. Lincoln didn't realized that perception of protection can deter an assassination then the actual protection itself. The author take the efforts to debunked many myths and self-serving stories surrounding Lincoln assassination plot including if the real John W. Booth was really died on the porch of the Garrett house. The author also explained the legal definitation of the case and how it may be applied even in modern era.

One of the great services of the book comes surrounding the role Dr. Samuel Mudd played. The author made it loud and clear that Mudd was clearly guility of the role he played and richly deserves his life sentence although he only served four years before being pardoned. Dr. Mudd is definitely not an innocent bystander and he was deep into the plot to assassinate Lincoln. Most of Mudd's guilt ironically come from Mudd himself which is a testament to the author's research. Mary Surratt's role was also clearly pointed out. Whether she deserves to hang or not is up to the moralists but she was definitely guility as Mudd.

If I had a singular gripe, I would have to say that the author could have included the very last photographs of Lincoln taken on 10 April 1865 (by Alexander Gardner), the one which have him smiling would have been a better choice then his Nov 1863 photo on the cover of the book or Lincoln's Springfield photo since the author states quite often in his narrative how happy Lincoln seem to be during his last days.

I would regard this book as a mandatory reading material for anyone interested in the Lincoln's assassination story. Although it little dry but still readable, superbly research and highly informative.

Steers write one of the most accurate and detailed books on the Lincoln assassination. He provides a history of the times when the "black flag" of warfare was raised after the Union's infamous Dahlgren raid that was part of a two prong attack on Richmond. The mission was to free prisoners and disrupt Richmond and allegedly included plans to kill Davis and his cabinet. This controversial raid, As Steers points out, may have raised the ante of warfare without rules as the Confederates start their own controversial plans such as biological warfare that included an attempt to spread yellow fever. Steers starts breaking myths early with the Baltimore controversy where Lincoln switched trains to avoid a real plot to assassinate him as his train passes through Baltimore earlier than scheduled with no sop on his way to his inauguration. Steers documents how surprisingly accessible Lincoln was to the public and how he was relatively poorly protected or at times not at all at his request due to his intuition that anyone could commit the crime regardless of a guard detail. The author provides fascinating detail on Booth and his companions as they initially plot the kidnapping of Lincoln and in failing to do so, turn to assassination as the war is closing and Lincoln's sentiments toward "black human suffrage" raises Booth's ire to an intolerable level. The high points of the book are the well documented associations between Booth with not only his immediate quadrant of conspirators but also with Mary Surratt and a number of Confederate agents in Maryland, D.C. and Virginia. Steers' analysis breaks any myth that Dr. Mud was innocent of aiding and abetting Booth. A recent book offers that Mud may have not recognized Booth when Booth appeared at Mud's home during his escape but that seems circumspect since Mud met Booth several times before and Booth was a relatively famous actor. The manhunt for Booth is covered in great detail and it is extraordinary fascinating as Booth escapes to Virginia with the help of established agents. Steers describes the temporary haven that Booth and Herold finally reach outside of Bowling Green at the Garrett farm but Stanton's dragnet discovers Booth's trail in Virginia. Although quite by accident, that accident puts them amazingly right on the trail of Booth at Port Royal, Virginia just west of Fredericksburg and a handful of miles from Booth's quiet and seemingly safe haven. As Steers notes, there is some interesting speculation as to why the three Confederates, who provide Booth assistance to his temporary haven, suddenly turn up to offer assistance at Port Royal. The author also presents excellent bios on the men involved in the conspiracies; the incompetent George Atzerodt who not only abstains from killing Andrew Johnson at the last minute but leaves evidence and a relatively easy trail to follow; Lewis Powell, the mysterious young veteran soldier who wounds virtually the entire Seward family in his attempt to kill the Secretary of State and goes stoically to the hangman; and young David Herold who deserts Powell but is Booth's guide in his escape through Maryland and into Virginia. Along with these prime conspirators, Steers brings in Booth's early associates that also get captured in the dragnet even though they withdrew from Booth's later plans. And finally Steer's aptly dismembers the theories that Booth escaped and that an imposter was buried in his name. Steer's even tells of an odd character that drags a corpse around for years eerily claiming it is Booth in an attempt for notoriety and money. The final chapter covers Lincoln's long funeral train trip that stopped at several large cities on his long trek back to Springfield, allowing a large population to view Lincoln's open casket. As the author notes, Lincoln returned to his hometown as he inferred when he left, that he might not return with the ability to enjoy his homecoming.

Ben and Me: An Astonishing Life of Benjamin Franklin by His Good Mouse Amos This was the book that started my youthful enjoyment of both history and becoming an avid reader. The tail of Ben Franklin's mouse, Amos, who gives him all the help he needs in inventing his now famous inventions and the founding of our nation is a timeless story. A fine start to give any child who shows an inkling of interest in history, or one whom you would wish be encouraged to do so.
It may be confusing for those too young to separate fantasy from fact, but the story is memorable enough, and cute and funny enough, to be picked up more than once in any one childhood, and will undoubtedly be properly inculcated as the allegory it is meant to be. Children will undoubtedly finally understand what a great and interesting man he was. And the humour makes the story enjoyable and palatable rather than a dry, dreary assignment from a school-teacher. And those old enough to understand on the first go around will take both characters in the book, Amos and Mr. Franklin, to heart, on friendly terms and most probably be driven to learn more. Of course, it can always be shared with a parent or other adult who can explain the difference for those too young to understand the difference on their own. Another great habit,...to read with a child.
I must mention that even as an adult, although I obviously read deeper histories these days, that this book is still in the back of my mind as I do so, as a memory of the impetus for me to begin my lifelong voracious habit of reading.
One should also note that the same author has a book by "Paul Revere's Horse", written in a similar voice and vein. Reading one means the child read a fun and decent book, having read two, it may be the beginning of a lifelong habit that can only improve one's life.

Lawson's 1939 spoof of the life of Benjamin Franklin in his elder years proves delightful literary fluff and a quick read for kids of all ages. It may even serve as a spring board to true history in middle school. This easy introduction to the Colonial era will entertain elementary schoolchildren with its mouse's eye view of Philadelphia and of France. Having decided to make his way in the world, though not too far from his extensive family who reside in penury in a church Vestry, Amos moves in with an inquisitive and enterprising older gent named Ben Franklin. Despite the vast difference in size--and seeming incompatibility of species--these two great minds are able to converse with ease.

The clever houseguest credits himself with much (unrecognized)
inspiration for the author of POOR RICHARD'S ALMANC. Amos shares his more opinions and suggestions on a variety of topics: the printing press, the portable stove, lightning, electricity--in fact he actually helps Ben prove that they are one and the same phenomenon. (Apparently spectacles were invented Before Amos moved in.) The only time their staunch friendship is seriously threatened is when Ben betrays mouse trust and his own word by using the little fellow in a dangerous meteorological experiment.

This humorous version of Ben's later years culminates in a mock preview of the French revolution (on a mouse scale, of course). The unfortunate result? the American diplomat was banned from the palace of Versailles, but what matter, so long as Sophia's family was rescued and reunited. It is truly amazing how mouse lives parallel human endeavor... By the time of Ben's 81st birthday Amos--ever the bachelor--is content to relax and enjoy the antics of the younger generation. He figures that Ben is old enough to manage his affairs pretty much on his own. The moral seems to be: When a man is not smart enough to assume the credit, a Mouse may boldly step in!

I read the book Ben and Me. This book is interesting. In the story, a lonely, rude, gray mouse named Amos finds Benjamin Franklin's house and sleeps in it. Amos becomes Benjamin's only pet and together they make their own, hot, big Franklin Stove. One cold, stormy, night Benjamin puts Amos on his big kite so Amos keeps getting shocked by lighting. Then, Amos and Benjaman go on a huge, wooden, brown ship to Paris and they become famous. A nice, pretty, girl rat named Sophia tells Amos that there are children stuck under the queen's throne. Amos calls all of the other mice in Paris to go save the children and together they do. I learned some interesting facts. I learned that Benjamin Franklin invented something called the Franklin Stove. I also learned that Benjamin Franklin had a gray mouse named Amos. Then, I learned that Benjamin loved inventing new machines. I would recommend this book for three reasons. First, I would recommend this book because it is well written with plenty of the adjectives. Second, I would recommend this book because it tells you a lot of information about Benjamin Franklin and his mouse Amos. Finally, I would recommend this book because it tells you what Benjamin Franklin liked to do when he was alive. Ben and Me is a great book to read.

There are many boring, dull biographies on Benjamin Franklin. Then there is Ben and Me written by Robert Lawson, which is not the case. It is a Mr. Lawson calls it "A new and astonishing life on Benjamin Franklin as written by his good mouse AMOS."
It starts out in Philadelphia, where Amos, the oldest mouse of a huge family, leaves home in search of food and shelter. Bitterly cold, he stumbles upon Ben Franklin's house, goes inside and spots Ben Franklin's fur cap to warm up in. Ben notices him, but instead of shooting him, he enjoys Amos' company. After being together a little while Amos has already come up with a successful idea for an experiment for Ben, which was later named the "Franklin Stove".
Ben now thinks that this little mouse would be a great (talking) animal to have around the house for as an assistant. Next thing you know they are making an agreement where Ben will provide just what he was looking for ¬¬ food for him and food delivery for his family, plus the old warm fur hat to hang out in. And all the mouse has to do is hanging out and make comments, or as Ben calls it to "give advice."
It sounds like an ideal plan for Amos until two things happen. Ben takes up electrical experiments and Amos becomes the testing guinea pig. On one occasion Ben attempts to find out if lighting is electric. Amos was then strapped to a kite in the middle of a thunderstorm. He was up there for about a half hour to find out. His answer was `yes'.
It was a great book where Amos, the little mouse follows Ben through his life. I would recommend this book to anyone 6-10 years old.

ISBN 0440420385 (which now belongs to another book) - Really well-done, tongue in cheek "biography" of Benjamin Franklin, a man who is "undeniably stupid at times", according to Amos, the mouse, whose brilliant ideas seem to be all that stand between Franklin and certain death with his crazy experiments.

Amos, oldest of 26 children, comes from a family of church mice. Knowing how hard it is to feed such a brood, Amos sets out to try to find some way to help his family and stumbles into the home of Ben Franklin. Ben is sneezing away in a room thick with smoke from the fireplace until Amos gives him almost every detail Ben needs to create the famous Franklin Stove. Thrilled to have such a great mind at hand, Franklin works out an agreement with Amos and the two go on living and working together. When the Revolutionary War takes a financial toll on Washington's army, the two go to France to borrow from the French and Amos is able, with a great deal of help, to save one beautiful female mouse named Sophia and her seven children. After this final adventure, Amos is ready to settle down to a quiet life in his old age and thinks Ben should, too.

The back cover says the book is for ages 8-12. I think it might be a little tough for 8 year olds, with a large number of big words, but it's amusing enough that an 8 year old might make the effort to learn the words and expand their vocabulary. For the parents who worry about every little word in every book their kid reads, there's a couple disparaging "stupids" and one sentence that has Ben Franklin "tossing off" a shot of brandy. For those who just want their kid to enjoy a book and learn new words, this one's WELL worth it.