North Carolina Books

Southern Fatality is a fast paced book that will hook you from the first page. Jersey Barnes, a newly retired private security specialist, is looking forward to spending some time relaxing on her boat with her boyfriend to start her retirement off right. Things do go exactly as planned when her boyfriend "convinces" her to look into a problem for a friend of his. What should be a fairly easy favor gets Jersey caught up in the middle of a kidnapping, and some other hair raising situations. The ending really took me by surprise! You will not be disappointed with this book! I can't wait for Jersey's next adventure!

Private security investigator Jersey Barnes was retiring, at least that was her intent. She wanted to spend the nights with her boyfriend Bill, and her days lolling around the deck of her boat, The Incognito. Determined to celebrate her first official day of retirement in style, she made arrangements to meet Bill at the bar. She dressed for an evening out on the town and a night of hot, sweaty sex.

Bill was waiting for her at the bar, but unfortunately he wasn't alone. Lolly, an old college friend, had joined the party. Jersey took the intrusion in stride. Her plans for the evening were a bust, but they still had the night. When Lolly's lighthearted banter turned to sobs, Jersey pulled back. Okay, so Lolly thought her husband was cheating on her, it wasn't Jersey's business or her concern. Besides, why would any newlywed cheat on a bombshell like Lolly?

When both Bill and Lolly turn to Jersey for help, she relented. It wouldn't take more than a day or two, and as long as she didn't get paid for it, it wouldn't affect her retired status.

Instead of uncovering a secret lover, Jersey uncovered a plot to release a computer virus that would cripple a major bank, and transfer millions of dollars from the social security system into private accounts.

Jersey called up her Carolina crew and together they averted the disaster.
SOUTHERN Fatality is an entertaining regional thriller. It was fast paced and breezy, a delight to read.

Southern Fatality is an exciting read. It's cliché, but true; you will definitely not want to put this one down until you've finished reading it. The main character, Jersey Barnes, is sexy, intelligent and capable. The supporting cast, including father and his poker buddies, adds humor. Her interactions with her boyfriend (Bill), and her business partner (Ox), lend the romantic interest to the story. I found myself hoping that she would have more than a business partnership with Ox. The plot was interesting, and definitely not predictable. The surprise twist at the end is worth the wait. I highly recommend this one; but I warn you: you will get hooked on Jersey

SOUTHERN FATALITY is a great read with fun and interesting characters. Set in the coastal town of Wilmington, North Carolina, this novel takes you through the South on an exciting and sexy adventure. The characters are well-developed and author T. Lynn Ocean is able to make readers feel right in the middle of things with main character Jersey Barnes. This is a great piece of "Southern fiction" that everyone can enjoy. I can't wait for the next book by Ocean!

Former military police officer Jersey Barnes became a private security investigator since leaving the marines. Now the South Carolina resident is considering retiring. However, while she muses about life after work with her boyfriend Bill, he asks her to take on a case. Bill's beautiful recently married friend Lolly wants to know if her wealthy spouse is already cheating on her.

Jersey wants to say no especially after seeing how lovely the blonde bombshell of a client is; but for Bill she takes on the case. Her first reaction is why a newlywed would cheat on such a lovely new wife. However, as she investigates whether the husband is a stud or a muffin Kersey instead uncovers diabolical plans to release a computer virus that would devastate a large bank and much more; she brings in her Carolina corps of pals to help her prevent a disaster.

Jersey and her eccentric crew turn SOUTHERN FATALITY into an amusing regional investigative thriller. Readers will enjoy the antics of Jersey's moralist Ox, former Federal IT guru Soup, undercover expert Trish, and the heroine's bluffing dad Spud and his greybeard poker pals. The fast-paced breezy story line is fun to follow as there is plenty of action, but it is because of the offbeat cast that fans will want more Jersey escapades in the Carolinas.

Harriet Klausner

Michael Hardy is the consummate writer- he does his research-in depth, collects his material-much of it first-hand, then writes a book that is a cross between a textbook and a biography. I,too, am descended from men who were in the 37th NC of whom I knew nothing before I read this book. Now I do.

Even if you are not related,this book is excellent reading in order to understand how and why young men from rural western NC were willing to risk it all for a cause they did not all support. This is a tremendous book and a great read.

this was a great written book ,i had relatives that served in company E of the 37th nc and it was great getting to know there effords in supporting the southern cause.i suggest this book for anyone.

This book is loaded with in-depth research and provides a well written history on the 37th. My great-great Grandfather served in Company H and it has been a pleasure to learn of his exploits.

My husband and I are reading this book at present. His great-great-grandfather was in the 37th NC Infantry of the CSA, and this book helps bring to life what these soldiers endured. From the beginning of the War to the end, anyone who reads this account will be moved. The book is very well-researched and is very detailed. I highly recommend it to anyone wanting to know more about the experience of a Confederate soldier.

Michael Hardy has written a detailed and fascinating account of the 37th North Carolina in the Civil War. It is especially good in its use of first-hand sources - letters, diaries, etc. - of the soldiers who served in the unit. Formed in the late summer of 1861, the 37th participated in most of the major campaigns in the eastern theatre, beginning at New Bern and continuing through Gaines Mills, Second Manassas, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Fredericksburg, and Petersburg to Appomattox. Hardy traces the whereabouts and actions of the unit in rich detail, sometimes on a day-to-day basis, which is especially useful while they were on the march. In addition to their battlefield actions, Hardy provides a complete roster of the 37th by company and a list of all the unit's courts-martial during the war. The book is an excellent history of the 37th and a useful reference source as well. And Hardy's generous use of the soldiers' words themselves make for very interesting reading. The book is another excellent addition to the many regimental histories published by McFarland in the last half-dozen years or so.

Fun sequel to the first Kate Dennison mystery story. Hopefully there will be more to the series. The herone has a refreshingly honest viewpoint regarding the developments that surround her new position as a reporter for a Wilmington, NC newspaper.

Judy Nichols has written another fast paced murder mystery. I was drawn into single mom Kate's world, where her new job at a small town newspaper has her reporting on a shadowy eco-terrorist group accused of arson and murder. But while getting the story, Kate's humanity always shines through - her struggles with trying to be a good mom, dealing with her ex-husband, and nurturing a new romance. Along with the suspense and danger, the characters are realistic and the story often tugs at your heartstrings. This book is a page turner that won't sit on your nightstand once you start it. A great beach read for this summer.

I really enjoyed this book. It's a good story with a nice variety of characters. Ms. Nichols has a real flair for dialogue, and her female protagonist, Kate Dennison, is wholly believeable as a young single mother trying to maintain her balance while handling parental responsibilities and a new, unexpectedly dangerous job. I only wish the book had been somewhat longer, with more description and maybe a slightly more leisurely pace. However, it is fine as it is. Not to wish Nichols a lifetime of writing about the same character over and over, I hope she will give us at least one more Kate Dennison book so we know how the romance is working out.

In the manner of Scott Turow, Ms. Nichols keeps her stories fresh by having a new protagonist in the same fictional world. In Tree Huggers the amateur sleuth is Kate Dennison, a newly divorced mom re-entering the work force as a reporter for a small struggling newspaper. She mixes investigative reporting with motherhood and a newly budding romance. The author combines mystery and danger with a realistic portrait of a woman balancing work and mothering. The characters seemed so real. I really cared what happened to them. As a special treat, it was fun to see Kate use her mommy knowledge to save her own life with the bad guys seem to have her cornered. I couldn't put it down.

Not all tree huggers fit into the stereotype of the peaceful environmentalist. "Tree Huggers" follows Kate, a fresh reporter who follows the story of an environmental terrorist group and their alleged arson. She covers the trial of the man who is directly charged, but soon finds that what the public believes may not be the truth, and that the truth is far more deadly than the accepted fiction. A gripping mystery and thriller, "Tree Huggers" is a must for mystery fans everywhere and libraries catering to them.

I was amazed what a page-turner this was, for a story so carefully documented. Even so I found myself frequently in the middle of a deep muse pondering what his story teaches us about communication, isolation and contingency, not to mention injustice stemming from racism and patriarchal attitudes toward the minority who communicate without speech. I noticed I was also learning a surprising amount about broader social and historical movements (American, southern, racial, psychiatric, deaf cultural, and more), without ever feeling bogged down. Truly impressive.

I learned much about the social movements that I've long found fascinating (reconstruction, Jim Crow South, the KKK), have been a part of (mental health, deinstitutionalization, disability rights & ADA) or been close to (deaf culture). How inspired of the authors to recognize that this one man's life story could illustrate so much modern American social history. I was profoundly moved by the suffering, silent dignity and enduring humanity of Junius Wilson. This is an elegant, revealing and vivid story.

Burch and Joyner have produced a wonderful example of what historical research can teach us. Mr. Wilson's story is heartbreaking but treated with respect and a gentle touch by this authors. The horrors experienced by this man speak for themselves and artfully told by these researchers and writers. This is a book that will appeal to many for many different reasons and leave all shaken. Perhaps it will also inspire others to help make the future brighter for others. I can think of no better use of historical facts than to improve the future.

i happpened to move to wilmington, n.c just when this story was coming to light in the press. i was gripped by the story and read every article that came out in follow up. when this book came out i had to have it.
to find out a deaf man was treated this way for a crime he did not commit is just.....well uspeakable.
the begining starts with a nice history of area and people. a lot of the begining is spectulaion and dead on at that. no one will ever know what junius' thoughts were in those early years. the story becomes more gripping when the facts start to arrive, via medical reports and staff and friends. it is truly a heartbreaking read. it still haunts me.
i recommend to everyone. the book is a nice piece of historical racial record. schools should add this to their curriculum.

It's a Southern horror story, and a courtroom drama, and an exploration of language and isolation, and a biography of an ordinary man caught in a senseless system. And it's all true. And it's frightening, and it's fascinating. It's the twentieth century US, through one man's story.

Charles F. Price is one of the best kept secrets in the Appalachian Mountains. His book, "Where the Water-Dogs Laughed: The Story of the Great Bear," contains sophisticated character development and a true to life historical treatment of the time just after the Civil War. Those who were wealthy and powerful got that way by exploiting the land, and most everyone else scraped by and wished they could do the same, except for Hamby, a half Black, half White man who spends much of the story working out his anger toward the injustices he faces.

I was thoroughly taken by the main character, Hamby, and the Great Bear Yan-e'gwa's intertwined fates and of course the crooked dog Cattywampus' role in the end. The dog, who had previously been damaged by a bear so severely he could not walk straight quite literally had to be made straight again by Yan-e'gwa.

The idea of recognizing the life force of the land made the book feel so much more contemporary than the typical story written about the era of the Civil War and after. The strength of humans is measured not in their defeat of the land as adversary, but in their connection to it as steward. In this, Hamby comes out superior to all.

This was the first Charles F. Price book I have read and I highly recommend it. His is not a genre I normally read, but I found it a pleasant surprise and plan to read the rest of his work.

The other reviews here are more detailed than mine. but I do want to add that "Where the Water Dogs Laughed" is a marvelous book, one that shows some literary cohones and ingenuity. When Price writes in the voice of the bear, the font changes to clue you in, but even if it didn't, you would know it isn't the voice of a person. It's hard to put my finger on exactly how (the magic!) Price does this but he does it so well that going from people narrative to the voice of the bear is totally seamless. It works really well.

Hamby McFee makes his last comeback here in a truly poignant story of family loyalty, complex racial issues, accurate local history such as the typhoid epidemic of 1889 ( I hope I have the correct date!) The ending of this book is spectacular, one that is not only surprising but has a vivid luminous quality that left me breathless. It reminded me of Nuala O'Faolain's 2002 novel "My Dream of You" that has a mystical and also surprising ending.

Why no large publisher picked up this book, even for a possible movie version, is almost shocking. This is a wonderful book full of great characters and exquisite storytelling. Charles Frazier, move over!

In WHERE THE WATER DOGS LAUGHED, the last in a series of four books by Charles F. Price, the author has reached his full stride as a writer. His characters, especially the protagonists, Hamby and the Great Bear, are finely drawn and the way their minds work, is the most fascinating part of the book. In addition, his skillful blending of Cherokee legend and family history creates an accurate and telling picture of that part of western North Carolina that never seems to be included, on a map, with the rest of the state.
The time is the turn of the last century, when the first glimmerings of antipathy between "progress" and "ecology" become apparent. As often happens, the need to provide a livlihood for one's family, is frequently at odds with what is good for the land and its' inhabitants, including bears. This Bear is the standard bearer for his race and his thoughts and memories form his purpose.
Hamby, the main human character has appeared in the earlier books, but without the sensitivity and definition given him in this novel. He is a man who lives alone, spiritually, from the rest of the world and has his own set of standards, from which he never deviates. As a result, he misses some of the gentler experiences, of human life. These two uncompromising characters are brought together in a stunning, yet trimphant collision, that will ring through the mountains for years.
Charles Price is considered a regional writer, but this book makes him a universal one, in my opinion. No matter where you live, this book is a great read. Don't miss it.

This book is about grace. Where the Water-dogs Laughed is peopled with characters so real I experienced their triumphs, failures, and thoughts as my own. Set in the late 1800's in the mountains of Western North Carolina, the characters are engaged in struggles that echo many of today's troubles including the devastation of the environment, the need to make money from the land, domestic emotional abuse, and hard economic times. The Great Bear and Cattywampus Dog are as real as the people. The Cherokee belief about the covenant between bears and man is told through the Great Bear. I found this a surprising approach and became intrigued with the Bear's voice and experience of his world. My favorite character is Hamby McFee, an ex-slave, who takes over the book from beginning to end. He struggles with feeling separated from others and yet bound to them through their shared place in the Hiwassee valley. His desire to maintain his integrity by protecting himself from the judgment of others with a hard, bitter attitude results in a loneliness I found familiar. Hamby is one of the most original characters I've encountered and I found myself wanting to defend him whenever he was misunderstood by the other characters. Price incorporates the romance of his own grandparents, Lily Carter and Will Price, into the story. Their courtship is formal and old-fashioned and ultimately inspiring as they overcome the obstacles laid out for them by Will's adopted father. Another love relationship takes place between Absalom Middleton and Cassandra Weatherby; Price does an incredible job of evoking an erotic, passionate relationship without ever depicting a sexual encounter. Adding balance, humor, and grace is Irish Bill Moore who is as rooted to the land as the Great Bear. Like an elf who lives in the forest he emerges from the mountain mists beating his Civil War drum, gaily teasing the wife he adores, mourning his two sons who are lost to a typhoid epidemic, longing for his youth, and wisely seeing the ability of man and Mother Earth to endure. This book is gritty, true, and full of the struggles of daily existence and it raises us up to taste something larger than ourselves.

With this novel Price brings to a close a remarkable multigenerational saga set in the mountains of North Carolina, a remote corner of the world in which the brutal aftermath of the Civil War is up-close-and-personal and seemingly without end. But what an end to this four-volume feast of the senses! Price engages the reader in the rawness of human nature and lets us rise to the level of myth and timelessness, right alongside his characters, touching the best and worst in all of us and causing us to think about our own need for finding meaning and seeking redemption. Price skillfully and sensitively lets us share in the journeys of both Hamby McFee and the Great Bear; and his drawing us inside the minds of both of them, raised to the level of myth, is storytelling at its very best. Supporting the central story of Hamby and the Great Bear are richly textured themes that create the fabric of the mountains and her people---environmental, economic, societal, political, spiritual---and never once does Price lapse into a gratuitous or stereotypical treatment of these themes. These books will linger in your mind long after you read the last page, and I recommend you treat yourself to a real feast by reading all four novels in the order they were written: Hiwassee, Freedom's Altar, The Cock's Spur, and Where the Water-Dogs Laughed.

For the past several years Ihave been a student of late 19th and early 20th century Europe. A starting place had to be found, which is much easier said than done. My readings kept leading me back to Germany, i.e., Prussia. I only wish I had discovered Professor Cecil earlier. His two-part biography of Wilhelm II has proved indispensable. I can't fathom reading one volume without the other, but since this review speaks to Volume II, "Wilhelm II,Emperor and Exile, 1900-1941,we'll have a go. The best way to read Volume II is to read the last sentence of the book first, where Professor Cecil applies a paraphrase from the Duke of Wellington who was describing the late George IV. Cecil thusly applies it to Wilhelm: "a sovereign who lived and died without having been able to assert so much as a single claim on the gratitude of posterity." The joy of the book is getting to that last sentence. It's all in there: feuding with his uncle, King Edward VII of England; the "Mad Hare" Telegraph article; the absolute idiocy of the naval arms race with England;his ill-fated dependence on the rotting Habsburg Empire; his hatred of any form of parlimentary government; and finally his almost tragic descent when he had lost the confidence of German Military Command, members of his own family, and millions of the German people. Good books on Wilhelm are hard to find. This one, especially when taken with Volume I, is outstanding.

Lamar Cecil should be applauded for writing an objective biography of Wilhelm II. Whilst this volume is in keeping with the high standards of the first, I am a little bit disappointed that his life after his 1918 abdication is a bit too sketchy, possibly due to the fact that Wilhelm II managed to outlive most of his contemporaries. This book is not about Wilhelmine dilpomatic history, or the Great War, but a well researched treatise on the malignant effects of autocratic rule by an unstable, pompous incompetent.

Lamar Cecil presents a suspenseful yet satisfying book in Willhelm II. Not only does he express the inner thoughts of Willhelm, yet shows a personal side which expresses the crown prince's poryphia stricken reduced him to a stalk raving mad wildabeast. Not only was he stalk raving mad, the wildabeast confronted his homosexual tendencies with Eulenburg and Walderee.

One of the most critically acclaimed studies of Wilhelm II is Lamar Cecilýs two-volume biography (1989, 1996 ), deemed by one reviewer as ýthe best-available English treatment of the waning years of the last Kaiserý available. Cecilýs portrait of Wilhelm is largely critical: the emperor ruled ýmaladroitly,ý throughout a ýbarren career that was without virtue or accomplishmentý (ix); ýbluster, rhetoric, and natural swagger cloaked a profound emptiness, for ignorance and self-indulgence were his primary characteristics.ý (1). Cecilýs assessment of the Kaiserýs war role is no less disapproving. ýDomestic issues rarely interested Wilhelm II,ý he notes (191), and emphasizes that the Kaiser was far more enamored by foreign policy and military minutiae. Despite this martial enthusiasm, Wilhelm was ýby nature peaceful,ý (194) and opposed war in 1914, afraid that a European conflict would distract Germany from the internal threat of socialism.
Once the war began, Cecil shows, Wilhelmýs function was symbolic and superficial, at least as far as the imperial army was concerned. He often resided close to the front, was occasionally exposed to hostile fire, and relished hearing the roar of the guns. Cecil makes it clear that the Kaiserýs duties were limited to sending telegrams, war zone tours, medal presentations and other purely ceremonial tasksýýit was as empty an existence as he had had in peacetime.ý Cecil flatly asserts that Wilhelmýs ýpart in the war, especially as it concerned the army, took a secondary place behind the role of his officers.ý (210). He was for the most part shielded by his ubiquitous military entourage, fearful that his inability to ýwithstand the strains of warfareý would break him. ýThe Kaiserýs ignorance of the true nature of the struggle in which Germany was engaged,ý Cecil frankly summarizes, ýwas profound and his utility to his military leaders quite limited.ý He was in essence a figurehead, ýcontent merely to hear and endorseý the opinions of his generals. Soon after the war began, Cecil concludes, Wilhelm became ýa ýshadow Kaiserý (schattenkaiser), out of sight, neglected, and relegated to the sidelines in imperial Germanyýs hour of trial.ý (212)

This is the gold standard of Kaiser Wilhelm II biographies.

For a German history junkie, these volumes are a good 'fix'. The text is written humorously and yet fairly, without the usual bias one sees when "the victor writes the history". The analysis of the last Kaiser's life is placed in the context of the monarchical attitude of 19th century Europe, as well as the influence that his relatives in the British Empire had on his outlook. I've read the books twice. Without understanding at least some german it would be difficult to get the complete gist of what the author is trying to convey without it.

I bought this book for my husband for Christmas, as he loves this show and the shows are not out on DVD yet. He loves the book and can't put it down. He advised it is very easy to read and understand.

It's amazing how many books Rod Underhill has written. Woodcarving! Internet business! Music! He seems to be today's version of Issac Asimov, tackling books on every known subject. All of his books, especially this one, are very well written. Maybe he should stop writing books with his brother Roy, and move out on his own.

I first saw Roy Underhill on a local PBS station back in the early 1980s. Instantly, I knew that this was the kind of woodworking for me. Screaming routers, finger-chopping table saws and jointers, and multi-horsepower lathes seemed not just dangerous but downright obsolete after witnessing Roy's talents. Honestly, who needs modern woodworking technology when the old methods are clearly better in so many ways? Better for your health and the health of your bank account, and better for the environment. Roy's wonderful series of woodworking books tell you everything you need to get started. They will positively change your woodworking, and your life. Thanks to Roy's books, and others, like Dunbar's _Restoring, Tuning & Using Classic Woodworking Tools_, power tool woodworkers look at my woodworking projects in awe... those amazing and elegant hand-cut dovetails, those silky-smooth hand-planed surfaces, those sweet touches that set my work apart as obviously hand-made. Once you've mastered hand-tool woodworking, you see that the products of woodworking machines stand out as brutal and clumsy. Guys, do not hesitate to purchase the entire series of Roy's woodworking books!

This is one of the finest things ever written! I sincerely hope that a copy of this book lives on the shelf of everyone who has a love for tools and wood and what happens when the two come together. Underhill gives us a look into the world of real hand tool woodworking - no electricity, please. "Start with an axe and a tree and make first one thing and then another until you have a house and everything in it." It can be (almost) that simple, but you have to restore a fractured culture first, and also learn to speak the language of trees and wood and steel. This book will accomplish both those aims.

Underhill, former Master Housewright at Colonial Williamsburg, did the amazing hat trick of turning something as offbeat and esoteric as pre-industrial woodworking into a highly successful career, and became a beloved personality and celebrity in the process. When you read his books, you'll know how he did it. Instantly, you get the sense that his deep affection for his trade, and the trades that support it, illuminates his life. He "sees" things, he doesn't just look. Like ripples in a stream allude to rocks below the surface, he looks at the bark of a tree and understands what lies within - twisted firewood or beautiful furniture? Dissecting an old piece of furniture or part of a house tells you about the tools that made it, and the men who used the tools, and the community they lived in, and what their lives were like. But all of this could be ponderous and self absorbed if it weren't infused front to back with an infectious sense of humor and a Tom Sawyer/Peter Pan view of the world, where if we're lucky we'll all get to run away and be pirates together.

Poetic, lyrical, sad, happy, this book has it all. A true classic from an amazingly talented person. Maybe the 60's hippy culture did ONE thing right - it gave us Roy Underhill, boy genius, and set him loose upon a (hopefully) grateful world. His books, and the first two particularly, make a perfect gift for that tired, world weary person in your life who is thinking that there is something missing in his or her work, that their long days are filled with meaningless seeking, and who might like to turn their hands to something slower, calmer, more beautiful, and decidedly valuable for a change.

This remarkable book by the even more remarkable Roy Underhill will inspire you to forget the breathing and ear protection apparatus and get out your hand tools! It has to be the singularily most inspiring woodworking book available. Enjoy the soft smells and quiet sounds of real craftmanship. The rest of the series is indispensible also. And if you enjoy this book you'll also love the book "Restoring Tuning & Using Classic Woodworking Tools" by Michael Dunbar. A MUST for any true craftsman at heart.

Jeff Girvan has done what has been overlooked for over 150 years; he reveals the valor and honor of the common soldier over the over-inflated previously recounted feats of Picket's command. Namely, that the common farmers-turned-soldiers from Cleveland County (and environs) of southwestern North Carolina fought as valiantly as any of the units representing the CSA. In a clear, concise and well-documented account he presents factual data as well as the human side of the Southern Cause in this great conflict. You'll enjoy this quick read and keep this as a ready reference for descendants of these gallant men.

I have read several regimental and general Civil War histories, and Jeffrey Girvan's is up there at the top. His narrative is very readable, and the roster and unit listings of those killed in action, missing, and those that died from disease are helpful for any one interested in the 55th NC. The narrative tells the story of a regiment from Gettysburg to Appomattox, but also has information on the little known battle for Washington, NC that occurred in September 1862, and the Sufolk campaign. Girvan's use of primary sources provides the reader with a better understanding of what it was like to fight in the Civil War. The every day camp life, but also the combat. As one man from the unit says about Pickett's Charge at Gettysburg it was like being in "the jaws of death." Also, the description of the 55th and Heth's division on May 5, 1864 in the Wilderness is exceptional. One can feel the desperation these men must have felt after being assaulted numerous times and out numbered 4 to 1. Col. Belo, then commander of the 55th hears of his brothers death during the battle but must keep commanding his troops and is almost forced to order a bayonet charge when the men run out of amunition.A great read!! I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the American Civil War.

I have read many Civil War books, including regimental histories like Pullen's 20th Maine and J Girvan's book about the 55th North Carolina ranks as one of the best. The 55th did not join Lee's army until after the great string of victories, but was there for Gettysburg and, although green, was able to prove its worth. So many exciting incidents stand out in this book. On July 1st the 55th was one of the first on the field, and the regiment's youthful leader Colonel John Kerr Connally wanted his men to prove themsevles to their brigade (which except for the 55th NC wer all unit's from Mississippi under the command of President Davis's nephew Joesph R. Davis) As his men moved forward their color bearer was shot and Connally, wanted to motivate his men, picked up the regimental standard and charged only to be shot several times and severally wounded. When asked if he needed help the brave colonel's response was to instruct his men to keep going and not to let "the mississippians get ahead of you."
The 55th would again face death at Gettysburg on the third day when they participated in the famous charge, and several officers from the unit would be credited with going farther than any other. Again during the Overland campaign the 55th would find themselves in desperate figthing throughout the summer and fall of 1864, and finally to surrender, all 83 left of more than 1000 when the regiment was formed in May 1862, with Lee at Appomattox. But this book is more than a chronical of battle it is a story of the men who fought and sometimes died for the Southern cause. After reading Mr. Girvan's book I gained a better understanding of what it was like to serve in the Army of Northern Virginia. Some men fighting with their fathers, sons, brothers, and cousins. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in learning about the life of the Confederate soldier during the Civil War.

This is one of the best regimental histories I have ever read. Girvan's use of primary sources provided a better understanding of what is was like to serve in Lee's Army. Also, the battles covered in the book were described very well, especially the battle for Washington, NC, and the Suffolk campaign, which are two engagements I knew little of before. Gettysburg was a watershed for the Confederacy, but also for this regiment. The 55th NC went in with little experience, but proved their worth by participating in some of the battles bloodiest engagements. Again during the Wilderness the 55th found it self in a tight spot, and after numerous assaults by Federal troops was low on amunition. Colonel Belo, whose own brother had just been killed during the day's battle was prepared, as Chamberlain at Gettysburg, to order a bayonet charge, but relief came. For anyone interested in Civil War regiments, soldier life, and seeing a battle from the eyes of the combat troops I highly recommend this book. J Johnson

This book is fun to read. For those who work with animals everyday, it hits home and brings numerous smiles. The kids will hardly believe these stories are true!

In The Animals Of Grandfather Mountain, wildlife biologist and animal habitat manager Laurie Jakobsen showcases a wonderfully illustrated collection of engaging and informative stories about the boisterous bear cubs, inquisitive deer, secretive cougars, playful otters, chattering eagles, and others who live in the Grandfather Mountain wildlife habitats of North Carolina. The Animals Of Grandfather Mountain is wonderful reading for children of all ages and an enthusiastically recommended addition to school and community library wildlife reference collections and reading lists.

This is a wonderful book for the young and the young at heart who are interested in animals and love to laugh and learn.

Reading "The Animals of Grandfather Mountain" was great fun from start to finish. I laughed out loud at some of Jakobsen's stories about day to day life running a wild animal habitat. Everyone, young and old, enjoys watching our furry friends while strolling through zoos. But this book shows you the behind-the-scenes work that makes such experiences possible. But perhaps the biggest treat the books gives readers is insight into the great personalities these animals have. The photographs make the book even more fun. I recommend this book to children and anyone who loves animals, whether they have visited Grandfather Mountain or not.

I recently purchased 'Aunt Arie: A Foxfire Portrait,' along with two Foxfire guides, to assist me in establishing an Appalachian setting (and characters)for a story I am working on. I've only skimmed the guides at this point, but I haven't put "Aunt Arie" down! I've still got a couple of chapters left to read, but so far the story of this woman's life, as told by her to the folks at Foxfire, has proven indispensable to my research.

The editors of the book have attempted, most successfully (they offer an explanation of ways and means at the beginning of the book)I think, to reproduce/preserve Aunt Arie's dialect and colloquialisms, as transcribed from the hundreds of hours of taped interviews. In this book, HOW she says things is just as important as WHAT she's saying...and what does she say? Where do I begin? Besides offering a virtual treasure-trove of information on the subjects of gardening, healing, economy, and food storage and preparation, she also delves into stories of her friends and neighbors, living and dead, speaks often of her life with her beloved husband, and before that her childhood, and all her talk of the people she's known, whether she loved them or could have done without them, is tinged with her faith, her basic love of and respect for humanity, and her simply ideology: you get what you give.

If any of the above appeals to you, get this book. You won't regret it. I'm back here b/c I'm about to get one for my grandmother. Just thought I'd leave a more complete review than the ones I'd seen.

terrific read - inspirational - one tough and lovable character who will be missed for many years to come

From the cover:, " The students, none of whom had ever been to Aunt Arie's before, were awed, drawn inexorably into the little circle of activity that surrounded this 5' 6" dynamo who laughed and pecked on each of them and tapped their shoulders and grasped their knees and tried to remember their names and loved them, instantly, and without reservation-strangers all". This book is wonder full, and heart full, and shines a little light into a way of being that is fast becoming a just catchy phrase on a hall mark card.

WHAT A GREAT "AMERICANA" STYLE BOOK, FANTASTIC ADDITION TO A FOXFIRE COLLECTION OR GREAT ON ITS OWN. AUNT ARIE HERSELF, HER OWN STYLE FROM COOKING TO HARVESTING, THOGUHTS, RELIGION AND HER FEELINGS ABOUT LIVING ALONE! SHE WAS AN HONORABLE WOMAN!