Georgia Books

Though some may find it somewhat boreing by its length(some 500 pages), I consider Telemacus to be just about the best book I've ever read. It mainly consists in advice upon several subjects, though mainly upon kingship(or any other form of gouverment),and the moral duties implied by such a responsabilty.

As a graduate of a fiction writing program, I've read lots of anthologies. This one really stands out.

The authors range from those I recognized, such as Alice Walker and Ha Jin, to some whom I've never had the pleasure to read--until now.

As the subtitle indicates, the writers all have one thing in common. They have all lived in Georgia. Some, like Ha Jin, a Chinese expatriate, have styles and stories that are not tied to Southern culture. Other, like Janice Daughtarty, grew up in Georgia and their stories have an amazing southern tone.

Like any good anthology, many of the stories contained here resonate. There are many characters and places contained in these stores that I continue to think about many days after I've finished reading them.

If you're looking for a sampling of excellent short fiction, buy this book.

This is the best book on the American Revolution I have every read. The writeing style of Kenneth Coleman is easy to read and understand. I highly recomend this book for anyone interested in the Revolution and the early days in the state of Georgia.

William Marling's fine book is a wonderful introduction to the field of hard-boiled detective fiction for the serious scholar. He traces the historical background of noir fiction, provides several case studies of central texts, and gives biographies of Hammett, Chandler, and Cain. He respects the genre without being fawning. This book is very readable and academically sound at the same time.

Any collection strong in Southern history usually has a heavy focus on the Civil War era; but what of the modern 20th century South and its issues and concerns? For that you have to turn to THE AMERICAN SOUTH IN THE 20TH CENTURY, a gathering of writings in southern history, politics, and other social concerns which documents exactly how the South has and hasn't changed over the decades. Common themes of race, segregation, Civil War lasting effects and Southern identity in the face of modernization emerge from essays which contribute a well-rounded feel for today's evolving Southern identity.

Diane C. Donovan, Editor
California Bookwatch

American Wars American Peace: Notes from a Son of the Empire provides college-level libraries strong in social and political science with an excellent set of essays analyzing the effects and spread of military culture in American society. Essays consider terrorism, patriotism, geopolitics and more, considering the evolution of counter-military movements and their diminishing impact in recent decades. It's food for thought and debate for any college-level collection.

If you're a fan of Professor John Kenneth Galbraith you'll definitely want to get your hands on a copy of this. It tends to stray away from technicality, as he tends to, and focus on getting the message across.
This book is in an interview format, and is hence even easier to read.
It is exactly what is says, and is very good for an introduction to neo-classical economics, and Galbraith's view of the status-quo trends.

I feel a certain closeness to this tome, for I live in this little Georgia town and operate the Restaurant featured in the tale. Michael and his wife have been my land persons for over 10 years . . . This gifted writer has the ability to take an impossibility and build it into a charming character. His habaline grew so believibly in every aspect that I felt a kinship to him and echoed his emotional experiences as they occured. If this is his statement of personal philosophy, Michael Bishop is a very strong and admirable person! Treat yourself to a well-written story that will leave a lasting impression with you.

This little guide fits nicely into a daypack or pocket for quick access. Provides info on more than 50 different mammal, bird, amphib and reptile species. It includes track patterns and a little info on each animal. Not a super specific guide, but one can only fit so much info into a pocket guide.

The autobiographical thoughts (Zagajewski himself does not like describing this volume as "memoirs") collected in "Another Beauty" are truly delightful. I am not sure if they can make a reader who never experienced life in the Communist system understand it (hardly anything could...), but at least they make a valuable source and can explain a lot of its mechanisms and difficulties of people living in Poland then. Probably this was not the main purpose of this tome (which appeared in Poland at the end of the 1990s) anyway...

The memories of the author's student life in Krakow (which seems similar to the Krakow I know, although I was always there only as a tourist and much later) are mixed with thoughts on music, poetry, people and life, and with short images of the surrounding world, all written in a subtle yet sharp manner, which reminds the reader that Zagajewski is a poet. His metaphors and vision of the world are fresh and original. While reading, I was tempted to write down many sentences as they are universal and wise.

Adam Zagajewski is one of the most important contemporary Polish poets, and although he is erudite, being a philosopher, a writer and a man of great personal culture (a representative of Polish intelligentsia, a class, which hopefully is not extinct yet), he is also very modest and critical towards himself. His prose is full of subtle irony and humor.

"Another Beauty" is a pleasure to read, and, although I have read the original, I am sure that Claire Cavanagh's translation (she is also a translator of many of Zagajewski's poems) does it justice.