Massachusetts Books

The writing in Bring Everybody is elegant, witty, and intelligent. These are well crafted short stories. But what I clearly appreciate is the streak of melancholy that runs through each story. Yates' characters are thoughtful, introspective, and distinct. He captures locales of Southern California, from the somewhat vacuous, surfer optimism of Oceanside to the smog laden, hot inland valley summers. His characters are dealing with family, infidelity, desire, and the great unknown--death. His prose is sharp, pleasurable. I recommend this collection.

If you are researching the life and work of Charlotte Perkins Gilman this book will be an incredible resource for you. The author of the book does a great job of presenting historical context that shaped Gilman's attitudes. Details of Gilman's life are insightful and useful for connecting her life with her works of both fiction and nonfiction. And, the reason that this is one of the best books about Gilman is that it provides a very straight-forward and concise outline of her philosophies concerning socialism and feminism. Overall, this has been the most useful and insightful book about Gilman that I have found so far, and I would highly recommend that if you are doing research about her, start with this book.

Cambridge is that fun place I used to hang around when I was young and crazy. Who can forget Harvard Square after all. But there are many other memories of Harvard and student life there. This book really made me nostalgic. The natique postcards are charming; the scenes depicted, the costumes, the cars. I can't wait to give this book to my grandfather, who always talks about his Years at Harvard

"Sixteen essays explore the relationship between style and homosexuality, showing how camp has made its way into every aspect of cultural life: theater, popular music, opera, film, and literature. Beginning with an overview of what camp is, where it came from, and how it operates, the chapters address topics ranging from the 'high camp' of Whitman and Proust to the 'low camp' of drag queen culture and gay fanzines. No index."--© zebraz

What a great book! Mcfeely's writing is so effortless and chatty you may not realize how much there is too learn.

She takes you, historically speaking, from the time when women HAD to bake the family bread (and had to remember the correct, locally produced flour that would actually work) to where we are blase about our optional and hands-off bread machines.

She gives mini-bios on people important in cooking history, and also her opinions on them--she cheerfully skewers Irma Rombauer (Joy of Cooking) for being opinionated yet admires Rombauer's personality just the same.

She is strangely taciturn on Martha Stewart--arguably the best known cook today. A criticism here and there on how Martha's _techniques_ are difficult, but nothing like her pleasant gossip on Julia Child and on Rombauer. Is Mcfeely, too, afraid of Martha's wrath?

This is a history book and a social criticism that is also a lot of fun to read.

This book details the history of the settlements on the Cape Cod peninsula in the first eight decades of the English period. It covers the establishment of the towns, the social structure, the political and religious controversies, the economics, and a whole lot more. It's a scholarly work, extensively documented; but unlike a lot of academic historians, this author can write. It is, therefore, highly recommended for anyone with an interest in Cape Cod history. If your interest in Cape Cod is genealogical, there's a wealth of detail about many of the early settlers that I've seen nowhere else.

This book captures the prestige and elegance of America's most beautiful island.

As the author of this guide, I am partial to thinking IT IS THE BEST guide to Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard, and Nantucket. I will be researching the region from June through August 1998 and would appreciate any comments or suggestions for the next edition. If your suggestion/s is/are used, the publisher will send you a free copy of the third edition.

This beautiful book should be in the library of anyone who loves the open spaces on Cape Cod. It is packed wiht information that can't be found elsewhere. And that information is authoritative--the authors are botanists who really do know what they are talking about.

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to hover magically over a coffee table while watching your husband sprinkle plant food on your neighbor's dandelions? This is the amazing book that will no doubt show you how.