Georgia Books

The Golden Isles of Georgia are mysterious and fascinating. The Spanish moss, tabby walls, the "shout" of the Sea Island Singers, and cloudy past reach out to visitors today. The author of this book, a salt-water Geechee, grew up on Sapelo. Her story is wonderfully interesting. The beliefs of the slaves' descendants were so little changed for so many years. Traditions born in western Africa are still hanging on to life even today on Sapelo. I hope the government, even in the name of saving the environment, never succeeds in taking the land away from the Geechee families who lived such true lives there. Their life deserves to continue as long as their faith lives.

Being a life-long resident of the South Carolina Lowcountry, many of the things Bailey described in her book hit home. A fear of the otherworldly, grave respect for elders and ancestors, and contentment with life in its natural simplicity are telling traits that Bailey has really invested herself in the life she describes. The book shifts in interests as Bailey describes her experiences of reaching maturity in the natural, social, and spiritual senses, but her worldview remains consistent with the old traditions.

For those who are interested in the actual speech patterns of Geechee (or Gullah) people, this is not really the book for you. There are sparse renditions of the Lowcountry/Island way of talking, but one gets the sense that Bailey was a good code-switcher; indeed, any Geechee with solid home-training would try to avoid speaking with one's home accent in public. Nevertheless, the culture that came up with the language is presented panchronologically; the very distant past is treated with the same sense of importance as the events that took place during Bailey's lifetime, and just as much gravity is given to as much as she can foresee of the unknown future.

I really enjoyed this book. It gave me a sense of culture and was an excellent reference concerning the culture of the greater African-American culture overall. It is filled with lively stories, unforgetable anecdotes, thoughtful philosophizing, and hope.

This is a great book to learn about the culture, history and traditions of a Geechee community on Sapelo Island, GA. Compared to other books I have read about this area, Ms. Bailey really focuses on the folklore and superstitions that shaped life on this isolated island during the second half of the 20th century. Although some of these traditions continue, many are fading away as this unique community shrinks in size. Ms. Bailey considers it her duty to be a storyteller, to pass these stories down to whoever will listen, and to keep the traditions alive. Ms. Bailey succeeds by telling her story with a vibrant narrative - a very fast and rewarding read.

Part memoir, part cultural history, part plea on behalf of a fragile culture, God, Dr. Buzzard, and the Bolito Man is as affecting as the best magic realism. You do not simply read it, you savor it and absorb it into your very soul.

In the book, Cornelia Bailey, resident griot of Sapelo Island off the Georgia coast, spins the story of her growing up in that place and in a time when lives were governed equally by religion, magic, and chance. She admits us deep into the culture of her proud people and introduces us to folkways strong enough to have survived the Middle Passage and the centuries since. So it is with infinite sadness we learn that the forces of progress are rendering these same folkways as fragile as a paper-thin fig shell that washes onto the beach.

It goes without saying that God, Dr. Buzzard, and the Bolito Man will appeal to cultural historians, anthropologists, naturalists, and environmentalists. The book's strongest appeal, however, will be to lovers of lyrical prose -- and to anyone who delights in the sheer magic of the way words fall on the ear and follow one another on a page.

This is a special book, one that should find a home on every reader's short shelf of well-thumbed volumes that are read and referenced time and again.

God, Dr. Buzzard, and the Bolito Man transports the reader to the Georgia sea islands. You swear you can smell the marsh, hear the sea birds cry and taste the sweet potatoes. The writing is so pure and the people so true that you come away afraid of Mama Lizzie, furious at Bukra and proud of Grandma when she faces down the deacons. The issues the book tackles are important - ownership of the land, the insidious effects of slavery, the origins of sea island culture in Africa - but it is also a book that captures your heart. A must for anyone who is interested in people. Highly recommended.

I can't stop recommending this to all who will listen. My kids love it. My mother loved it. Great storyteller. Fun for all.

Of course, being Cuban myself, I could relate to many of her anecdotes.

Everybody should have this.

Carmen Deedy is a wonderful storyteller and author! My daughter and I have worn out the tape version listening over and over again! The stories are heartfelt, funny and so real- you will feel as though they are told just for you!
Her stories (books & CD) are so well written and told, young and old will laugh out loud - although it may be for two different reasons! She is a favorite at our house (and in our car!)You won't be dissapointed!
I have had the amazing opportunity to see Ms. Deedy present her stories to an elementary school and everyone (kids and grownups) loved every minute of her storytelling! I was able to visit with her for a short while and she is such a nice, down to earth person and it was truely a joy and honor to have this opportunity.

Carmen Deedy tells hilarious stories of her family, her home, and growing up in Decatur, Ga. Definately worth listening to over and over!

I wish I could introduce everyone to Carmen Agra Deedy. My daughter and granddaughters have talked about her for years. On my vacation, it was my great pleasure to attend a story telling session at a Borders in Georgia. What a wonderful story teller Ms Deedy is. I bought several of her books for children while at the store, charming stories, beautifully illustrated. When we returned to my daughter's home, my daughter handed me an audio tape of Ms. Deedy narrating her stories of Growing up Cuban in Decatur, Georgia. I listened, I smiled and I had a great urge to have everyone I know enjoy the same happy experience. With no trouble at all, I was able to sit at my daughter's computer, ask Amazon.com to send me three copies of the tapes. They arrived at my home before I did, and have given some happy, peaceful moments to my dear ones here in Rhode Island. I highly recommend her books and her tapes.

The only thing better is seeing her live, and my only complaint is that it wasn't longer. She's wonderful to listen to.

I hated the thought of this book ending. This adventure book became one of creativity in survival with some interesting twists and turns, too exciting to put down. When I finished the last page I knew there had to be a sequel....here's hoping to see the next adventure of Millie!

This book was a fabulous account of the growth of a middle aged woman from someone always dependent on her man (father or husband) to a self assured independent individual. I hope no one ever has to go through the process through which she learned her true self, but the story pulls you in and holds you fascinated, always taking a twist that you did not forsee. It was easy to read and made a cold, rainy weekend bearable.

This book was a fabulous account of the growth of a middle aged woman from someone always dependent on her man (father or husband) to a self assured independent individual. I hope no one ever has to go through the process through which she learned her true self, but the story pulls you in and holds you fascinated, always taking a twist that you did not forsee. It was easy to read and made a cold, rainy weekend bearable.

Mildred is MY kind of woman. A real survivor. She uses not only her physical strength, but her mind to overcome the obstacles placed in her path. I really liked the way the book was written in the form of a journal. I found that I could read a while and then if I had to leave it for a day or two, it was easy to pick up the continuity of the story. Mildred was portrayed in a very realistic way and Ms. Purtee's descriptions of the problems she encountered were at times mind-boggling. Good work, Georgia! When is the sequel coming out?

As a man, I thought I wouldn't like this book. My wife almost forced me to read it so we could "talk" about it. But after the first few pages, I got hooked and could hardly put it down to go to supper. Again I say, "What a woman!" She's a little paranoid, but has to be, I guess. Anyway, when Mildred finally finds her inner strength and begins to kick butt and take names, i almost yelled out loud. This book had the two things I like most, humor and action. I didn't like one or two of her descriptions, that's all.

Eleven-year-old Molly Moon, hypnotist and time-traveler, has recently found her parents and learned she has a twin brother, kidnapped shortly after birth. Along with her friend Rocky and canine pal Petula, Molly plans to go back in time to rescue her brother. There is no time to tell her parents, and they would just try to talk her out of it. So, armed with a compass, a ketchup sandwich, her time-travel crystals and not much else, the three set off to find the brother Molly never knew about, much less knew.

Molly, Rocky and Petula travel back in time to the hospital where the twins were born. Present-day Molly has no trouble finding herself and her twin brother or spotting the moment he is taken from the nursery. But the kidnapper is a skilled time-traveler, and to save her brother, Molly and her friends have to travel hundreds of years into the future. There they find Micky Minus, as the twin was named by his captor, hostage of the evil Princess Fang who forces him to study science and philosophy only to suck out his knowledge with a giant mind machine.

The action is swift and non-stop as Molly tries to free her brother from Princess Fang's clutches. She meets up with a sympathetic nurse and a mutated and ousted royal family who lend their help. But are they a match for the demented child princess who has hypnotized an entire country and brutalized countless others? Along the way Molly discovers she has the power to read minds, which, along with the help of the quirky supporting cast, just may save them all.

Molly is brave but humble, a heroine of character and kindness. Her adversary, Princess Fang, is cruel and bizarre and a great villain to root against. MOLLY MOON, MICKY MINUS AND THE MIND MACHINE is a fabulously irresistible page-turner --- a fun and action-packed story about family, friendship and the powers residing in even the most unlikely child.

--- Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman

I love long books so Molly Moon is one of my favorite series. I've read 4 of them.I never dreamed Molly
would have a brother . Georgia Byng has a wonderful imagination. Princess Fen Fang Feng Yang Yong Yin
Ying Kai-Ying is a dangerous 6 yr. old.I like professor Selkeem AKA Meekles. Molly Moon is a great series.

Yes, Molly Moon is back! But this time, only Petula is on her side. Rocky is hypnotized, everyone else is at home, and Molly is up against her twin and his evil guardians! Bratty Princess Fang has drained Molly's power, her twin Micky hates her for crashing into life as he knows it, and just as Molly and Micky are on the same side, the controlled Rocky ruins it with his hypnotism. How will Molly return to her normal life?

Another great book in the Molly Moon saga-filled with action and suspense. It ends withe the hint that this isn't the last. My kids and I are excited!

I bought this book for my 12 year old son. He has read all of the Molly Moon books. He thought it was as good as the other books in the series. If you are a Molly Moon fan, the book is a must!

A page turner.....I could not put it down until the END. One of the best written books I have read in several years....

My mother is from Meriwether County Georgia. I was first introduced to this book as a youngster and have listened to the oral accounts from my grandmother and other relatives and friends who were there to witness these events first hand. I own the video and the book. I am fascinated by the wit and demeanor of Sheriff Lamar Potts.

I took pleasure in reading this book and watching the video because I am familiar with the area and I could go to actual people who were and still are living in the area at that time and listen to thier stories about this gruesome murder. The made for TV Movie was the topping on the cake!

Margaret Barnes' detailed description of the events puts you right in place as though you were there in the 1940's. I highly recommend this book for all who want to know a part of history in rural Georgia.

This is one of the most gripping true crime stories I have ever read and I have read many,many of these. This wonderful story relates actual incidents during a horrendous, brutal murder, undeluted arrogance of power, sheer stupidy on the part of the perpetrator and a brave sheriff whose singular determination to arrest and prosecute the offender will warm the heart of anyone with a sense of justice and equality for those of us with a lesser standing in a community.

This is a great story with great characters and like all good true stories, its better than fiction. For those who would read it, understand it is NOT, as some reviewers suggest, a commentary on Southern oppression. It is instead a great account of good actually winning over evil. The sort of corruption represented by the land baron in this story could be found in every State of Union during the period discussed. This book is not about racism (the victim was white) but was instead about the abuse of power on one hand and the contrast of honor on the other. It is NOT about the South, though the incident occurred in Georgia. It is about right vs. wrong. That even applies in the historically corrupt, post-depression Northern regions of the U.S. It is a great read about a honorable law man standing against criminal behavior and political corruption. Don't miss it if you enjoy true crime and great characters and you like to admire honorable Southern Sheriffs who will stop at nothing to do what is right.

I saw the television movie prior to reading the book and was blown away by the superb acting done by Johnny Cash and Andy Griffith. Never would I have believed that the Sheriff of Mayberry could be so cruel and brutal. Upon reading the book, I was struck by the closeness with which the movie tracked with the book. My list of heroes was growing rather short but Sheriff Potts became a permanent addition. His dedication, perseverance and honesty represent the best of those qualities we seek in a public servant. It's a pity he can't be cloned. Buy the book, see the movie and be impressed.

Even if you don't live in the Southeast, this book will wow you with truly gorgeous photography. Highest recommendation from me!!

I saw the book over at a friend's house and started looking thru it...limited on time and cound not read much. The pictures are the first thing that caught my attention; so much nature and serenity. I couldn't help but come home and order the book thru amazon and have not been disappointed. It sits in my living room where I can pick it up and look thru it on a regular basis. The stories of their travels make you feel you are there with them. Would highly recommend this book to anyone who is into nature, the river or just down to earth living.

I ordered this book for research on a screenplay I'm writing about Atlanta. The detailed information was thorough, easy reading and quite useful. I wasn't really expecting the beautiful photographs, which also added a certain "atmosphere" to the screenplay as it developed. Makes a great coffee table book.

If you appreciate old fashioned values and true Americana, get this book. Truly unique and is capturing a part of our histroy that is being lost to development.

This book has won a Southern Books Competition Award of Merit in Book Design from the Southeastern Library Association. This award is given in recognition of the book's aesthetic appeal and design and for fine craftsmanship in its printing and binding. Congratulations to authors Joe Cook and Monica Cook, designer John Langston, printer Pacifica Communications, and the University of Alabama Press.

After dining at this restaurant in Savannah, Georgia I just had to have the cookbook. It is fantistic and the advice on herbs/spices is awsome! I have tried several recipes and cannot wait to try everthing. My herb garden just got larger.

We dined at the restaurant and we had the 'tasting menu' - it was fabulous. But, I was dreaming of the stuffed vidalia onions. The recipe is in this book - stuffed with sausage! We made it and it was rather easy and tasted like I remembered. We've also tried a few other recipes and have been very pleased.

Everything in the book is great, unique, flavorful and simple! A family favorite -- everyone wants the recipie when I have dinner parties and they think I slaved for hours -- really most take a bit of pre planning and chopping -- some can be done ahead of time and then you can truly relax! Chicken, fish, pork, sauces, and other fun items to make you look like a pro!

I loved looking through this book and dreaming of making these dishes - but then I woke up. I realized quickly that most of these dishes were beyond my means - not to mention my finicky husbands palate. Living in the lowcountry, I have access to the shrimp, crab, and various other seafood she uses. But being from a very rural area I couldn't find most of the spices she recommened (at least not without driving to Savannah or Charleston for them). If you are looking for a cookbook to use when you want to make an impressive meal - this is a good choice. But if you are looking for a cookbook with good downhome cooking like Granny used to make, well then keep on looking. In meantime, insted of slaving over the stove trying to cook these complicated concoctions - visit her place of business and let Elizabeth Terry do the work for you.

I bought this book after a visit to Savannah and Elizabeth Terry's wonderful restaurant, more as a memento of my trip than a book to actually use in the kitchen. It has become one of my most frequently used cookbooks. I have tried about a dozen recipes so far. They are simple and foolproof, but taste as if you spent much longer preparing them. Her marinades are especially creative, and her fish dishes have all been wonderful. I am planning to give several copies as Christmas gifts this year.

I really like the color key. It's a must for avid gardeners, professioals and beginners.

This book is THE BEST!! My absolute favorite wildflower book for the North Georgia Mountains... and I have tried MANY. I am a professional naturalist and lead wildflower hikes all spring. This book is my bible! I carry it everywhere I go. Easy to use, lots of species covered, wonderful ethnobotany information (great "stories" to use while leading hikes). Detailed enough to get the ID right, general enough for anyone to use. Wonderful wonderful wonderful wonderful book... (as are Lone Pine's other plant books covering other regions.) HIGHLY RECCOMMENDED!!

I've been cataloging thousands of wildflower photos over the past six years and probably own or have "borrowed" most wildflower field ID guides that are out there. This book is easily my favorite. Why?

Easy to use: A color key w/thumbnail images for more than half of the flowers in the book makes finding the right flower much easier if you do not know which family of flowers to search in. If you do have to browse all the pages then the placement of flower photos along the outside edges of the pages makes thumbing thru the book easier than most. The pages are substantial enough to make for easy browsing too.

Ethnobotanical info: Most flowers have a special paragraph about the historical and current usages of the flowering plants for purposes other than visual pleasure, i.e. medicinal, food, ceremonial, dyes, etc.

I'd been using Jack Carman's book "Wildflowers of Tennessee" as my "bible" for TN wildflowers but now this book with a similar name is my favorite. I still use the Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Wildflowers as a "family locator" because of its easy-to-use key (flower color plus bloom type) when searching for that unknown flower. One big aggravation with the Audubon book is that the details are in the "white pages" somewhere in the back of the book. The Wildflowers of Tennessee book has all of the info right there on the same page as the photo.

For newbies the color key makes this book user friendly--even though the flowers are grouped by family, genus then species (as are most wildflower field guides).

Downside? There are still many, many species flower flowers that have only a description rather than an actual photograph. However, this book is small enough to be practical in the field.

The price is great! I paid almost thirty dollars for the Carman book and it was worth every penny. I don't know how they can sell this fabulous book for such a low price.

Highly recommended. If you want to buy only one wildflower ID book for the Smokies then this is it.

I love this book. Great photo's. Easy to use. Small enough to take along. Interesting plant lore on every page.

I purchased this book for a friend's birthday and after looking through it, nearly kept it.

I first read this book after coming across it in my local library. I checked it out and found myself lovingly dipping into it, looking forward to it each time I picked it up, savoring every moment, and thinking of it all the time I had to put it down. I soon found that I couldn't bear to turn it in (although I loved the idea that others would discover it there as did I). So I came here and bought it, to treasure:

For anyone who loves the richness of this land (or ANY land), and have wondered about its history, this book is a treasure. If you've wondered about the wildness that lives unseen deep in the hills, this book is a treasure. If you just want exceptional armchair adventure high in the Smokies and the Blue Ridge, this is ... well, you know.

But instead of reading this as my recommendation, read this as what I experienced in this book. Which is what ANY good book should do - not just read through, but to EXPERIENCE fully, as if you are there. And, better, to CHANGE you and enrich you.

Of course, I am a lifelong Appalachian mountain devotee, so I'm biased. But anyone who loves mountains, and loves the rich history and culture (wild and human) of a place, you will appreciate it. Camuto's writing takes you there, so that you feel the wind on your face, smell the crisp mountain air, hear the howl of the red wolf -
But I digress.
I deeply enjoyed this book, and I hope it will move you as it did me.

PS - If you liked this, you will enjoy "Where There Are Mountains: An Environmental History of the Southern Appalachians" by Donald Edward Davis. While somewhat more technical, it still will take you back to the southern Appalachians, long before the white settlers and explorers came to take it from the Cherokees and cleared so much of the land. The picture it paints of vast open forests of old-growth Chestnut trees (pre-blight), with deer and bison grazing on its mast beneath, massive flocks of wild turkeys nearby... is enough to fire your imagination.

Most of all, get out there and enjoy the mountains!

to be rushed through while reading it. It is a book meant to be savored, thought-upon and reflected upon. This book is haunting in its thoughts and language as the author travels the backcountry of the Great Smoky Mountains. It is also a book on the re-introduction of the Red Wolf back into its natural habitat. It is also a book that explores the history of the Cherokees, who used to roam over the land and lived off the vast wealth of the forest, mountains and rivers before driven off in the unnatural (or perhaps natural) stem of progress. It is a reflective book meant to be savored over a period of time, as the language of the author is dense, lyrical and very thoughtful. It is a beautiful book. It is a sad book. It is a book meant to capture a time now lost to the mists of time.

I picked this book up while visiting the Great Smoky Mountains last September. Out of the pile of books I bought then, this was the first one I picked up and I put it down after a month since it was too much to read in the midst of a crazy lifestyle. I picked it up again several months later to savor the words and thoughts of this author. Then I put it down again. This last few days, I picked it up since I have a craving to go back to the Mountains and teach my children what has happened in the past and what may happen in the future ~~ and I finished it in two days.

Christopher Camuto is a wonderful naturalist writer and a keen observer. I have only been to the Great Smoky Mountains once and we did your basic touristy things simply because my boys were too young to even hike the regular trails. That doesn't mean that we're not going to eventually because we do want to in the future. We want our children to preserve their heritage, what is left of it. We want them to see the magical wonder of being so close to nature and see the natural beauty of this world. And reading this book helped confirm that "want." Camuto goes back and forth from talking about the Red Wolf program in the Great Smoky Mountains, the Cherokee visions and his own observations while hiking along forgotten trails. They all tie together in a beautiful book that is sure to be treasured.

Need an introduction to Mother Nature and her history? I think you should start with this one. It's an unforgettable journey back through the mists of time.

7-30-06

Have you ever read a book that you loved reading so much you could not stand to finish? Another Country was such a book for me. I have felt so alone for so long as I have both loved my time in the outdoors and equally mourned the loss of it. Every time I pass a mountain and see the red-dirt scar of a new home perched atop it, every time I see a wooded lot scalped completely clean of all life for a new development, I mourn. Christopher Camuto has helped me feel less alone and helped me more completely appreciate the oft-ignored gift of beauty, variety, and history that the land, the Cherokee, and the wolf give us.

Another Country is a search for the soul of a land almost destroyed. Christopher Camuto writes a powerful narrative describing his exploration of the Cherokee homeland in the appalachians. He seeks communion, a connection he can sense in what is left of the natural landscape and wildness around him. It is as elusive as the dying Cherokee myths, as tangible as the arrowheads and village sites he finds. Camuto refers to the Appalacians as the Cherokee Mountains, their former nomenclature, because it is to the Cherokees they really belong. The rape and exploitation of their land parallels the rape and exploitation of their culture. Camuto's search for a wildness, that now remains only in remnants, is set in counterpoint to the reintroduction of the red wolf into the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The most important clan animal of the Cherokee, it is symbolic of the differences between the Cherokee and the early Europeans. One revered its wildness and sought to preserve it. The other despised and killed it. One honored the wolf's home, seeking harmony with the land and its spirits. The other saw something untamed that must be destroyed. The author's journey begins as the wolves are being set free. Like many of the members of this first Canus Rufus release who step beyond their shrinking boundaries, Camuto confronts the vestiges of civilization at almost every turn. Set against continual references to Native-American mythology, and the history of the area, Camuto's book allows the reader to share his insight into the Cherokee view of the world. Unlike many who write about early culture, he does not attempt to steal it as his own. His statement that he is not Cherokee and thus can never totally understand, adds credibility to the objectiveness of his observations. It also demonstrates humbleness of endeavor, a bow of respect to the Cherokee nation. The book is firmly rooted in place as it combines the ethereal with the tangible landscape. Those who cherish wildness and honor those first here, will also treasure this book. In many ways , it is a sad obituary, lamenting that which was, as it examines what is left. The reintroduction of the red wolf represents one small, but hopeful, step in the restoration of that which is lost.

I've searched for years for just the right book that sums up my feelings for lost wilderness and finally found it with this book. I find Mr. Camuto's contrast with William Bartram's descriptions of the mountains both startling and sad. I've walked these mountains for over 30 years and in just the last 10 have I begun to realize the tragic consequences of overdevelopment and urban sprawl. Mountains and streams once largely clean and pristine now are considered off limits for fishing and drinking and I wonder why we have no love for the complexity of our natural environment. Like a Sand County Almanac, Chris Camuto has begun a modern discussion of the land ethic. An ethic our country, I fear, has so far refused to acknowledge or accept.

I could not put this book down! I grew up in Coffee County and knew some of the descendants of the people in the book. One of them was my school bus driver! Very well written story of children and their obedience to their father.

I really enjoyed this book! I couldn't put it down - I read it in 2 days. TRUE CRIME is my reading of choice but to have it take place so close to my hometown of Douglas is unusual! I live about 20 miles from the burial place of most of the people in this book. This book is really entertaining for history buffs wanting to know what life was like in turn-of-the-century rural Georgia including Coffee County and Lowndes County. Back then trials were the biggest source of entertainment available. The book mostly takes place in Jacksonville, Broxton, Ambrose, Hahira, and Valdosta, Georgia. REALLY INTERESTING READING!

Being involved in the modern day south Georgia legal system and a one-time resident of Lowndes County, I thoroughly enjoyed this very detailed and well-written novel. The author's attention to the details of the trial and testimony is very exact, but the narrative flows almost like a suspenseful thriller. It is obvious the author spent a great deal of time talking to people about the background of the feud, as well as absorbing the tremendous amount of written material on the case and aftermath. Even 100 years later, this book puts you on the bustling streets of downtown Valdosta during the frantic days of the trials as if you were a spectator yourself. I highly recommend this novel.

This was a very involving book for me as I am the Great-grandson of Jesse Rawlins. The book flows very well. The facts are presented in a History channel type format where you get the information needed while at the same time you become starved for more after each page is turned. I would recommend this book to anyone in the SE United States, and History buffs across the world.

The book, Blind Obedience, is truly a well-written story. I grew up very close to the site of the Rawlins & Carter farms near Val-Del Road a few miles east of Hahira, Georgia. My grandfather knew the families involved. A few years after the trials, my Uncle Ivey Johnson bought the old Carter place and lived there for several years. Anyone living in South Georgia should especially be interested in reading this text. Any book that I can read in slightly more than one days time has got to be good. Bill Boyd deserves praise for his writing efforts.