North Carolina Books

This is an absolutely wonderful collection of stories by some of the country's best current writers. Maya Anglou's troubling story about the difficulty of containing the past and Tim McLaurin's powerful tale of sin and redemption alone are worth the price of admission.

"THE ROUGH ROAD HOME is a stunning collection and a landmark book." --Josephine Humphreys "[A] fine and affectionate anthology." --Will Blythe, literary editor for ESQUIRE "This superlative collection, elegantly and thoughtfully edited by RObert Gingher, shows a wonderful creativity and a wide diversity of voices. THere is real pleasure and excitement here for every reader who cares about contemporary fiction." --George Garrett

in 1964, it is a true joy to have this book. Some of the businesses and photographs feature my ancestors. The only flaw is that the authors get the order of descendants off a bit and a picture showing my great grandfather in the band only correctly identifies him if you read right to left instead of left to right. All in all, it brings back great memories. I now live about 45 minutes away in Raleigh, NC. I will always have fond memories of growing up in Sanford.

Arcadia has really done an outstanding publishing job on this beautiful work by Mr. Haire and Mr. Seymour...the rare photographs and informative captians combine to give the reader a glimpse of North Carolina then and now...The pictoral artifacts take the reader to a far off yet so near place in time...and the colorful comments by Mr. Seymour add clarity and substance to the proceedings...Highly recommended to readers worldwide!!!

This book, a gift from a friend, provides a sensitive portrait of the men and women who spent their lives on or at the edge of the sea. It chronicles their daily battles as well as the beauty and tranquillity that the islands provide. A factual presentation, the book illustrates the relationship of people and the sea from numerous viewpoints. While not written to be glamorous, there is a beauty and passion in the book that captivates and fascinates the reader. One finishes the book with a new viewpoint on those who make their life and living in and near the sea and a new appreciation for the hardships, dedication and passion that these men, women and children demonstrate. We can all take some life lessons from the pages of this handsome volume.

I have been curious about the people who have lived and worked on the Outer Banks in the past. They had a special kind of endurance and obvious love of their wonderful environment, which is apparently inherent in the current residents of the area. When I found this book, I couldn't wait to read it cover to cover. My anticipation was rewarded with a comprehensive look into the lives and livelihoods of the hard-working and family-oriented "Bankers". It is with admiration that I refer to this book again and again for a reminder of why the Outer Banks is such a great place.

"Censorship" is a truly ugly idea, repellant to anyone who values First Amendment rights. And yet, few would argue that in wartime is unnecessary. _Secrets of Victory: The Office of Censorship and The American Press and Radio In World War II_ (University of North Carolina) by Michael S. Sweeney tells a previously untold story. Sweeney has assembled what is surprisingly an inspiring tale on what could have been a dismal subject. The censors did their patriotic duty, and in almost every case, did it well, staying to a middle course that got the job done but was not unduly repressive.

There's a hero in this often dramatic book, a hero who helped win the war not with firepower but with persuasion, common sense, and patriotism. Byron Price was a newsman nominated by Roosevelt to be director of the Office of Censorship shortly after Pearl Harbor. Price had huge amounts of authority and responsibility, but the miracle is that Price got all that power and chose to run a voluntary system whereby the nation's journalists would become their own censors. All Americans wanted to do their part in winning the war, and journalists were no different; Price enlisted them in a cooperative effort. He issued a code of voluntary censorship, and enlisted the help from newspapers and radio stations in following it. Essentially, the code spelled out details of a rule of thumb: "Is this information I would like to have if I were the enemy?" Violations, and there were hundreds of them, got confidential letters from Price's office, detailing the mistakes and asking for more circumspection. There were few serious complaints about the self-censorship program. Sensible rules included that opinions could not be censored, nor could stories that had been publicized in other countries. Even the ACLU approved of the way the censors had done their job.

Sweeney's description of how censorship was applied is fascinating. Even descriptions of sporting events had to contain no mention of the weather, and "lost dog" ads and requests for a certain song dedication were curtailed, for they could contain coded information. There are wonderful details on censoring (or failing to censor) such things as the Manhattan Project, General Patton's slapping of combat stress victims, and the threat of incendiary balloons floated over from Japan. It goes into detail on censoring the movement of the President, who sometimes unfairly hit the road so that political dialogue would be stilled by his silence. This is a fascinating book about an aspect of the war not generally appreciated, but which turned out to be well waged at home. The admirable Price was quite eager to be put out of a job, hounding President Truman before the surrender papers were officially signed to end all censorship. He had an admirable distaste for a job he had executed in an exemplary fashion; he wrote, "It should be understood that no one who does not dislike censorship should ever be permitted to exercise censorship."

"Censorship" is a truly ugly idea, repellant to anyone who values First Amendment rights. And yet, few would argue that in wartime is unnecessary. _Secrets of Victory: The Office of Censorship and The American Press and Radio In World War II_ (University of North Carolina) by Michael S. Sweeney tells a previously untold story. Sweeney has assembled what is surprisingly an inspiring tale on what could have been a dismal subject. The censors did their patriotic duty, and in almost every case, did it well, staying to a middle course that got the job done but was not unduly repressive.

There's a hero in this often dramatic book, a hero who helped win the war not with firepower but with persuasion, common sense, and patriotism. Byron Price was a newsman nominated by Roosevelt to be director of the Office of Censorship shortly after Pearl Harbor. Price had huge amounts of authority and responsibility, but the miracle is that Price got all that power and chose to run a voluntary system whereby the nation's journalists would become their own censors. All Americans wanted to do their part in winning the war, and journalists were no different; Price enlisted them in a cooperative effort. He issued a code of voluntary censorship, and enlisted the help from newspapers and radio stations in following it. Essentially, the code spelled out details of a rule of thumb: "Is this information I would like to have if I were the enemy?" Violations, and there were hundreds of them, got confidential letters from Price's office, detailing the mistakes and asking for more circumspection. There were few serious complaints about the self-censorship program. Sensible rules included that opinions could not be censored, nor could stories that had been publicized in other countries. Even the ACLU approved of the way the censors had done their job.

Sweeney's description of how censorship was applied is fascinating. Even descriptions of sporting events had to contain no mention of the weather, and "lost dog" ads and requests for a certain song dedication were curtailed, for they could contain coded information. There are wonderful details on censoring (or failing to censor) such things as the Manhattan Project, General Patton's slapping of combat stress victims, and the threat of incendiary balloons floated over from Japan. It goes into detail on censoring the movement of the President, who sometimes unfairly hit the road so that political dialogue would be stilled by his silence. This is a fascinating book about an aspect of the war not generally appreciated, but which turned out to be well waged at home. The admirable Price was quite eager to be put out of a job, hounding President Truman before the surrender papers were officially signed to end all censorship. He had an admirable distaste for a job he had executed in an exemplary fashion; he wrote, "It should be understood that no one who does not dislike censorship should ever be permitted to exercise censorship."

Those who came of age after Poitier had receded from the spotlight (such as me) would do well to read Goudsouzian's thoughtful and well researched book. It was a fascinating trip to discover an icon who has been ignored in today's times despite deserving many more accolades than he has been given. What is most compelling about the book, though, is the author's skill in placing his subject in historical context, without which the story would be incomplete. I agree with the previous reviewer -- let's hope Oprah's spotlight on Poitier reflects some light on Goudsouzian as well.

Always suspicious of autobiographies, I picked up a copy of "Man, Actor, Icon" for a historian's take on this legend of the Silver Screen. And this book certainly does not disappoint. I strongly and sincerely recommend Dr. Goudsouzian's book for people who truly aspire to understand Sidney Poitier's place in history.

This work provides its readers with an eloquent and even-handed record of the life and times of its subject. Goudsouzian's work effectively sketches Poitier's place in a broader historical context - a history of African Americans, of film, of race, of tolerance and of America as a whole. I applaud the author for so eloquently piecing together the life and times of such a notoriously private individual. To see the movies is one thing. To read the autobiography is another. But to actually appreciate what this man has meant, what he endured and the legacy that he has created, one needs an accurate idea of the historical settings and prevailing attitudes that put Poitier's actions and accomplishments in the proper context. Goudsouzian delivers on all counts.

Many thanks to Oprah for bringing much-deserved attention to one of America's more unheralded icons. To really appreciate the man behind the screen, "The Measure of a Man" is a wonderful start. But to truly grasp how such an influential figure was rejected, lauded, embraced, used and again overlooked - all in a single lifetime - this book will provide you with all you need to form your own opinion of the measure of this man, this Sidney Poitier.

i love this book-an instant classic in the vein of carl kauffeld's 'snakes and snake hunting',in that it so clearly translates the pleasure of being out in the feild with a friend or two,and more so the thrill of finding the snakes you're out looking for....the author john kemnitzer goes into such vital details as weather conditions,habitat/terrain type being hunted at any given time,time of day,species type(s) found,and how they were found...but a nice balance to such important facts are the anecdotes-the fun and conversation had before,during,and after a day of hunting...i also personally liked how the author translates what he still gets out of snake hunting,even though he does not keep what he finds,instead opting to admire them then leave them as they were...also included is an accurate explanation of the most current snake bite envenomation first aid....a great book,and fun read!

This is a great book to carry in your backpack when hiking through the woods in the Carolinas. If you get bit by a snake, you could look it up in the book to see if it has envenomated you so you can get home and go to a hospital. If it says it doesn't have venom then you can wash it with water and continue your hike.

Mr. Daniel's book is a great place to start if you have an interest in the Confederate Army of Tennessee. It's a soldier's point of view of all things military. To fully understand this interesting army you will still need to go to Thomas Connelly's masterful "Army of The Heartland" and "Autumn of Glory", but start here. If you've already read Connelly then this book is a great compliment to those works.

Finally, A book that goes into detail on the soldiers of the Army of Tennessee. This books quotes from diaries and letters from the Soldiers themselves. This is a true treasure!! I would also suggest The Army of the Heartland and Autumn of Glory by Thomas Connelly in addtion to this book. Both of these detail the Army of Tennessee from its founding until its surrender in Bentonville NC in 1865. I highly reccomend this book!!

The title of my review says it all--this is an essential collection for anyone serious about sound art/theory/poetry or avant-garde music. The CD is a very nice bonus, full of unbelievable rarities as well.

By focusing on "earplay" in texts by James Joyce, Ezra Pound, and other modern writers, this collection's twelve essays investigates the relationship between acoustical technologies and 20th-century experimental poetics. The accompanying CD offers soundtracks of early radio sounds, poetry readings, Dada cabaret performances, jazzoetry, audio-poems and contemporary Caribbean DJ dub poetry.

This is a wonderful book about eating in the South, eating out and eating in, about a whole host of things like family and fellowship that gather around any groaning board in the south, and what you want to eat where and what the people who live there eat, how to cook it and where you're likely to find it at a reasonable price made by food-loving hands. John Egerton clearly ate his way across the south to write this book, and he was careful to stay well off the beaten path. It's anthropology, sociology, recipes, culture and good humor, from the North Carolina mountains to the swamps of Cajun country. This book will make your mouth water and your belly growl, but most of all it's a fine read.

As a Southerner exiled to the frozen tundra of Wisconsin, John Egerton's SOUTHERN FOOD has been food for the soul. And no matter where you are from, this book offers fascinating historical and cultural information about Southern food and many, many wonderful recipes. I have learned as much about Southern cooking in Wisconsin as I did in all my years back home, all because of this wonderful book. It's charming and often lyrical, immensely well-informed, and points the way to both restaurants and recipes. The barbecue instructions have been a lifesaver. I have bought five or six copies of this book--one because I wore out the first copy, and the others because it makes a great gift for practically anyone.

This is an excellent book on the Spanish Civil War. The author is impartial to a fault. The outlines of the crisis of leadership of the Spanish revolution can be clearly be seen. The Stalinists following the direction of the Comintern opted for the chessboard of international relations rather than the shopfloor. The mass revolutionary movement looked to the anarchists for leadership but the CNT and FAI failed to step up to the plate until too late.
The detail in this book is impeccable, Stalins gold buttons? Inca gold. Every last bit of it that Spain stole was in turn stolen by the Russians. Anarchists diging disinterring the remains of priests and nuns and dancing with them. etc. It has been a while since I read it but I cannot give a stronger reccommendation to someone wishing to get a complete overview of the events of the Spanish revolution and civil war.

It's Hugh Thomas'"The Spanish Civil War" the one you want to read if you're looking for a balanced and well-researched introduction to the subject, but it's this one you must go for if you decide to get into the fine print of this chapter of XXth Century history. Impeccable and reasoned, this book has dispelled all doubts regarding the lack of epic corners to a war in which all contemporary riders of the Apocalypse fought for preeminence.