Texas Books

True heroes who are also literary heroes come along only once in a generation. A few that come to mind include Henry David Thoreau (Walden), John Reed ("10 Days that Shook the World"), T.E. Lawrence ("The Seven Pillars of Wisdom"), Anne Frank ("The Diary of Anne Frank"), Ernest Hemingway ("For Whom the Bell Tolls") and Jack Kerouac ("On the Road"). Now there is another name to add to this short list of literary and real-life heroes: Bernard Gordon.
Gordon, a prolific Hollywood screenwriter ("55 Days at Peking," "The Thin Red Line," "The Day of the Triffids," "Battle of the Bulge") was blacklisted in the 1950s because of his politics. Now he has written a great and important book, "The Gordon File: A Screenwriter Recalls Twenty Five Years of FBI Surveillance," which weaves documents from his voluminous FBI file together with his remarkable life story.
Gordon, who is one of the last surviving members of the brotherhood of blacklisted writers, took a courageous stand 50 years ago when he refused to bow to the government's - and the film studios' - pressure to "name names." His brave stand cost him dearly. He had to write under phony names, and then had to leave the country to find work on films in Europe. All this is recalled with great style and remarkable wit, and is masterfully interwoven with more than two decades worth of the FBI's hilariously inaccurate reports that document their surveillance of him.
Never before has anyone shown, in such embarrassing detail, how the government wasted so many resources trying to punish dissent while the country was in real danger. As the world teetered on the brink of nuclear war in October of 1962, the FBI was still fanatically pursuing Gordon. And as Lee Harvey Oswald was preparing to shoot President Kennedy, the FBI was pursuing Gordon.
"And just what of any value did they find out during these...years of unremitting `investigative efforts?'" Gordon asks.
The answer is: nothing.
"From all this effort, any intelligence office with the least amount of intelligence should have been able to see that GORDON never knew anything that could be of any value to anyone, much less to any enemy of the United States," he writes. "It is a comment on the timid bureaucracy of the FBI that no one had the honesty, the courage, or even the common sense to say to someone in authority: `We've been following this guy for years, and it is apparent he has no knowledge of anything meaningful, and has had no contact with anyone like an enemy, so why go on? Why not drop this fruitless pursuit?'"
But this book is not just a chilling - and often very funny - story about a shameful and distant chapter of American history. It is a wake up call for America today.
Gordon reminds us that the same bungling mentality at the FBI that allowed agents to pursue him while the country was in real danger 40 years ago is still prevalent inside the FBI's J. Edgar Hoover Building today - only now they are armed with the First Amendment-crushing powers of The Patriot Act.
And unlike the FBI, Gordon asks the right questions.
"When will we demand that they spend their billions of dollars and millions of hours pursuing perpetrators of crime and true threats to our safety rather than political dissidents?" he writes.
Gordon's book is the best reminder that dissent is not only good, but also that it is patriotic; and that attempts to quash dissent are not only bad, but un-American. Everyone worried about the future of this democracy should read this book. It should be taught in every high school and university in the country.

This is a highly readable, smartly written, surprisingly entertaining, but ultimately sobering look at a very disturbing chapter in our history, the era of the blacklist and the hysteria about 'communists' in our midst. What becomes quickly clear, and what Mr. Gordon effectively shows, is that this sad story is almost certainly being repeated right now in 2004 with the FBI's newly expanded mandate from the Patriot Act and the 'War on Terror'.

Those of us on the left who have been protesting the war, who subscribe to certain progressive magazines or web sites, or who are active in liberal causes will benefit greatly from reading Mr. Gordon's reflections on his FBI files. These files, obtained through the Freedom of Information act, are fascinating and hugely revealing about how our government works. One cannot help but conclude after reading this fine book that little of substance has changed since the McCarthy era, especially with the current administration in Washington. The book makes it abundantly clear that all activist, progressive citizens remain at risk of being treated suspiciously by their own government, and of having their civil rights and rights to privacy violated.

Let's hope that this book is widely read. Mr. Gordon belongs in the company of our best liberal writers, those who are fighting for democracy, justice and human rights (Roy, Zinn, Vidal) and who are not afraid to speak truth to power.

I bought this book for my daughter who lives in Dallas, TX. However, after the book arrived, I found it so interesting that I read the entire book before sending it to her. A wonderful book full of insight into western history in the local Fort Worth, TX area. A must read for women every where. Georgia S.

We gave this book to my mom, a one-time long term Fort Worth resident now living in Colorado. She loves it. She likes skipping around and reading about the different ladies from Fort Worth history. And she greatly admires many of those who have contributed to the book. We recommend this book for your mom... or your grandmother... well, for yourself as well. We heard Katie Sherrod's interview on Public Radio and heard some really great stories.

This is an excellent story meticulously unfolded by the authors about a Texan who was obsessed with grapes. His scientific exploits are nicely chronicled in a very well illustrated book. Most books with this level of information in them are dry as dust to read, but these authors have made the life of Munson fascinating. Highly recommended!

Grape Man Of Texas is the biography of Thomas V. Munson, a Texan credited with saving the world's grape crops from the scourge of "phyloxera" more than a century ago. The collaborative work of Sherrie S. McLeRoy (former museum curator and professional author) and Roy E. Renfro (Vice President, Resource Development, Grayson County, Texas), Grape Man Of Texas chronicles the life and work of a Texas horticulturist who, working from his North Texas base, was able to develop more than three hundred new grape varieties suited for production in the climates and terrains of the Southern United States, this was in addition to his innovative grafting of "vinifera" onto certain native Texas rootstocks and thereby achieving a means of keeping the growing of grapes as a viable commercial operation in the face of the "phyloxera" epidemic of the late 1800s which almost wiped out the world's grape production. Munson was awarded numerous accolades for his achievement, including the "Chevalier du Merite Agricole" in the French Legion of Honor. This informative, recommended biography is enhanced with vintage photographs and color reproductions of Munson's life and work.

What To Expect From This Book:

This book aims to serve both experienced and inexperienced gardeners. Gardening is the #1 hobby in America today. An increasing number of homeowners are no longer satisfied with planting a flat of purple petunias and retiring to the deck with a cold beer. For some, gardening has become a competitive sport. If you are a gardener who would pursue to the ends of the earth a rare Texas native snowbell (Styrax youngae), which can only be found in the wild in a few remote sites in Mexico, I've got your source.

I'm fairly certain that the majority of people who will read this book truly enjoy their gardens, but have limited time to spend. Even homeowners who only mow the lawn to keep the neighbors from complaining should find resources within these pages. I've laced the text with timesaving ideas and, hopefully, introduce you to products to make every aspect of gardening easier and more rewarding.

Good overall design is another matter. You can consign plant mistakes to a compost pile, but a drainage problem, a misplaced patio or an ugly retaining wall won't simply go away. As a landscape architect, I promise my clients that I'll save them money in the long run by preventing costly mistakes. It only seems fair that I should share the same information with readers.

We hope you'll take the time to read the text that precedes the source lists throughout the book. In Chapter One, we've included a brief history of gardening to help you choose your "garden style". Then we discuss the physiography of Texas and divide the state into twelve distinct gardening regions. We think it is folly to attempt to garden without a complete understanding of the soils, climate and native vegetation of your region. Further, we believe that gardeners hold a large responsibility for maintaining the unique diversity of each region.

In organizing a book as comprehensive as this, the first question we asked was, "Where do we begin?" After much deliberation, we decided to begin with North and East Texas, which includes three very different garden regions: Cross Timbers & Grand Prairie (including Ft Worth); Trinity Blacklands (including Dallas); and the Piney Woods (including Tyler and Nacogdoches). Next, we work our way clockwise, along the Gulf Coast, which incorporates: Coastal Prairies & Marshes (including Houston); Coastal Bend (including Corpus Christi and Padre Island); and the Valley (from Brownsville to McAllen). Then we go back up through Central Texas: Rio Grande Plain (including San Antonio and Laredo); Central Prairies & Savannas (including Waco and Bryan/College Station); and the Hill Country (including Austin). Finally we cover West Texas: Red Rolling Plains (Wichita Falls, Abilene and San Angelo); High Plains (Amarillo, Lubbock and Midland); and the Trans-Pecos (including El Paso).

In Chapter Two, we've provided the names and addresses of places to look for design inspiration. We've also provided reading lists, as well as some other important sources of information to expand your gardening knowledge. In Chapter Three, we stress Master-Planning. Then we discuss the walls, walkways, fences and "follies", garden structures, and lighting that are as important to landscape design as plants. And, we list resources for the materials that go into the "landscape."

Before getting into plants, Chapter Four takes up sound gardening practices. We're dwelling heavily on the topic of conservation. We've shared practical ways of improving the soil, feeding plants and coping with pests in the most environmentally sensitive manner. The good news is that these techniques can result in reduced garden maintenance. The sources for plants begin in Chapter Five. Before we get into one-stop shopping at the state's great garden centers, we provide basic information about choosing the plants for your garden. For beginners and "old hands" alike, garden centers offer the widest range of products and services.

Specialty nurseries appear in Chapters Six and Eight. Chapter Six is devoted to "naturescaping", the most important new trend in gardening today. The chapter includes discussions on Texas natives, backyard wildlife habitats, wildflower meadows and drought-resistant plants. Water conservation has been a "hot" issue in environmental circles for years.

Chapter Seven addresses the more sophisticated levels of planting design and lists specialized sources for flowering shrubs, perennials, bulbs, herbs and other edible plants. Chapter Eight is all about special plants for special places. These are the water gardens, the hanging baskets, tropical plants and "living sculptures" that are used to embellish our gardens, patios and interiors. Few gardeners are aware of the small nurseries in Texas that grow specialized, sometimes rare, plant materials. Many began as backyard hobbies and remain labors of love.

Chapter Nine deals with garden furniture and Chapter Ten addresses the decorative accessories that make a garden both livable and memorable. Basically, the book is arranged in the order in which the work of a landscape architect progresses: planning; constructing and conserving; planning; and embellishing the garden.

In the appendices, you'll find a list of landscape architect firms that are known for their residential designs. Mail-order Shopping Tips contains 25 helpful hints for anyone who has ever perused a plant catalog. We've also included a Glossary that defines words you will encounter in this book and in catalogs. The Geographical Index may help you discover some nearby sources you didn't know existed. It should be especially useful on your travels through Texas.

In perusing the library for books on Texas gardening, I came across this title. I almost didn't include it in my stash. Upon flipping through the pages, there weren't any "purdy" pictures. Boy am I glad I brought it home! I started putting a sticky note on the pages I wanted to photocopy and ended up putting one on every other page--that's a lot of sticky notes! So I had to buy it! This book is not only an up to date resource list for Texas by region or city, but has an information header in each category. This is invaluable. Sounds like a "resource" book would be pretty dry--but it's not. It's fun and well written and will go with me in my car always here in San Antonio and thru out Texas. My only regret is that it is a special order with 4-6 week delivery. Don't know why since it was published in 1999.

In The Great Wounded Bird And Other Poems, David Westheimer (winner of the 2000 Texas Review Poetry Prize) presents a memorable, strongly recommended collection of poems about the experiences of men in a time and place of war. Poggio Mirteto: RAF bomber crewman are in the room next to ours/At Poggio Mirteto, the Italian quarantine prison./When we try to talk to them through the wall,/They do not trust us./We might not be what we claim./But when the sing, "That was a cute little rhyme,/sing us another one, do," and we do,/We pass their test, genuine Yanks. We sing/"Sixpence" through the wall./"I've got sixpence to last me all my life."/Our American version innocent,/The British version dirty,/So we adopt theirs.

This review first appeared in DR AHEAD, the newsletter of the Air Force Navigators Observers Association (AFNOA).

AFNOA Member Westheimer (Turner 42-04)is one of the most successful writers of America's World War II generation, most famous for VON RYAN'S EXPRESS. However, for purposes of this review, two other books by him are notable: SITTING IT OUT, his 1992 memoir about being a prisoner of war in Italy and Germany, and SONG OF THE YOUNG SENTRY, a 1968 fictionalized verson of the same experiences.

In this volume of 56 short, crisp poems written in free verse (Westheimer says that it is really prose set up to look like poetry), the author revisits his memoir. The result is a wonderfully moving reading experience. For example, here is part of the poem called "Lucky":

"Sometimes I think how lucky I was To be captured instead of killed. Out of harm's way, mostly, For two years."

Or the first lines of the first poem, "Old Man," which says why this retelling of long past events in important:

"Men are dying old That I knew young. Their tales all told, Their songs all sung." Yes, the "greatest generation" is dying, but their tales still need to be told, and Westheimer does it with power. This is a poetic history of the crew of a B-24 who go to war in 1942 via the southern route, their navigator guiding them from Florida to Natal across the Atlantic and Africa to Khartoum and Palestine. Described in "The Southern Route":

"Every hour I shoot a three-star fix - Antares, Vega, Altair, Peacock, Fomalhaut, Deneb, Alpheratz"

From Palestine, they fly combat missions against targets in North Africa, the Mediterranean, and finally, for them, Italy where, still in 1942, they are blasted out of the sky.

Most of the story is about life in prison camps and the people on both sides of the wire, first in Italy and then, after Italy switched sides, Germany. Before that we get a taste of what it was like for young Americans on leave in such places as Beirut, Damascus, and Cairo. Liberation is a special experience and then there are hints of a long lifetime of memories.

THE GREAT WOUNDED BIRD is one evening of readind, but I have gone back into it several times. It also led me into reading Westheimer's three books which are memtioned above. All provide useful and somewhat unusual insights into the expereince of being a prisoner of war. It's educational, but, just as important, good, fun reading.

Finally, and up-to-date, clear and concise reference for the key Texas water region. A must have for all hydrogeologists, water resource engineers and environmental scientists practicing in Texas.

Groundwater represents an important supply source for municipal and irrigation uses in Far West Texas. The City of El Paso receives about 50 percent of its municipal water supply from surface water and 50 percent from local groundwater. Groundwater pumping in El Paso is from the Hueco Bolson and the Mesilla Bolson. Historic groundwater pumping in the Texas portion of the Mesilla Bolson has not resulted in significant changes in groundwater levels or groundwater quality in existing wells.

Historic pumping in the Hueco Bolson has resulted in lowered groundwater levels and brackish groundwater intrusion. The groundwater level declines have resulted in the intrusion of brackish groundwater into areas that historically pumped fresh groundwater. A 1979 assessment concluded that El Paso would deplete fresh groundwater in the Hueco Bolson by 2030 if groundwater pumping continued to increase. Partly as a result of the 1979 assessment, El Paso reduced its groundwater pumping from the Hueco Bolson by increasing surface water diversions from the Rio Grande, increasing conservation efforts, and increasing reclaimed water use. As a result, groundwater levels in many parts of the Hueco Bolson have stabilized.

Brackish groundwater intrusion remains an issue, and is being addressed with a brackish groundwater desalination plant, currently under construction. The new wells and existing wells that will supply this desalination plant will also assist in the management of brackish groundwater intrusion by intercepting the brackish groundwater before it can flow towards existing fresh groundwater wells.

The 2006 Far West Texas Regional Water Plan contemplates a groundwater transfer project to meet increasing demands in El Paso County beginning about 2030, mostly from the Dell City area in Hudspeth County, Texas. Groundwater management in the Dell City area is governed by a groundwater conservation district that has established limits on groundwater pumping based on existing and historic uses. Groundwater pumping for irrigation began in the Dell City area in 1948, and groundwater levels have been essentially stable for since the 1980s. Future planning for a groundwater transfer project will require a detailed understanding of the hydrogeology of the groundwater in the Dell City area.

Societal changes have consequences, and how a people choose to raise their children reveals much about their values and spirit of place. Andean children (though living with material scarcity) are fully entwined in a network of reciprocal obligations, thereby discovering the meaning of being human. It is this culture of respect that Inge Bolin reveals in this splendid and original book.
Wade Davis - Explorer-in-Residence, National Geographic Society

This is an engaging description of people in a small Andean community who follow many traditions that date back to Inca times. Inge Bolin's focus is childrearing, and through this lens we get to know a whole culture, which is based on reciprocity and respect for all life. Bolin addresses many interesting issues, such as how children who live without most of the resources we take for granted experience a relatively stress-free adolescence and grow up to be well-adjusted and responsible adults. We also learn why these children tend to excel in school and other areas even though in this egalitarian society competition is not encouraged. This is not a dry analysis of other people's customs; it is a vivid description of the lives of individuals and their families in the Andes today. Like any good anthropological writing, it gives us a broader perspective and causes us to question some of our own cultural assumptions. This very readable book will be of value to anyone interested in childrearing, education, Latin America, and in cultural diversity in general. I highly recommend it.
Karoline Herbison, M.A.
Camosun College, Victoria, BC

This book is excellent. Ideal for intermidiate level. A bit challenging for a beginner but I'd buy it anyway; if you have it at the right time in your growth it'll be invaluable to you. The Amazon description says that it plays at half tempo and at full tempo but I believe thats wrong, the riffs are only played once and at full tempo. But the description of how to play each example is so detailed you won't need to hear it slower. He even tells you the song you can find the lick in. So when you're listening to your own cd's, you'll identify the licks you've learned, which also helps you learn how to apply them. Out of all the books I've tried this one was by FAR the best.

I love this book! A really good mix..I love that they were hip enough to include Hopkins a very important early player who is so often overlooked. The CD and tab are wonderful. I will say that this will be difficult if you havn't been playin very long but I would still get it. I really wish they had books like this when I started playing in the early 70's...I would have been miles ahead!

Deb Ralston mysteries are very addictive, and this one is no exception. I didn't get to read them in order, which would have been preferable since developments in the lives of the characters then make a lot more sense. In this one, Deb is almost nine months pregnant with Cameron at the beginning and is the only one who can go to New Mexico to find her errant son Hal and his girlfriend Lorie, who hitched a ride there together without permission during spring break. Of course, Hal is eventually found in a sleeping bag next to the murdered body of a young woman, and Lorie turns up missing. So Deb ends up helping the police chief of this very small town in investigating the murder (and finding Lorie) so that Hal can be cleared of the whole thing and they can go home. Although there is a lot of tragedy and sadness in this book, much humor is evident throughout...I have read this book over and over, laughing at how funny/difficult it is for adults to get through to Hal, who lives seemingly in a world of his own logic. :)

Sixteen year old Hal Ralston and his girlfriend, Lorie Hankins, take off hitchhiking on a whim, never expecting they'd wind up in deep trouble. Deb Ralston sets out after them both, grumbling that the children of police officers should know better, only to locate Hal... in jail. Hal is being held for suspicion of murder of another young girl, April, and Lorie is nowhere to be found. At nine months pregnant, Deb could deliver anytime but she is determined to find Lorie and clear Hal's name.

HAL'S OWN MURDER CASE is part of the Deb Ralston series and, arguably, the best book in the series. This time the case is very personal as the future of her son is in jeopardy. Deb knows Hal didn't commit murder but she has to help uncover the evidence to prove to Chief Alberto Salazar of Las Vegas, New Mexico, that Hal is innocent. Initially, I did find it a bit odd that Salazar trusted Deb so quickly, but as the story unveils, his trust begins to make perfect sense.

Anyone who has ever worked with or actually had teenagers of their own will appreciate Hal's character, as well as the reactions of the adults who interact with him. Hal's vague answers and impulsive behaviors make both Deb and Salazar want to pull their hair out but one has to also admire their patience in spite of it all. I couldn't help but laugh during quite a few of these scenes.

HAL'S OWN MURDER CASE is a fun but quirky murder investigation. The characters really make this story work. Salazar emerges as a very strong character and I found his speech near the end of the story to be quite touching. Lee Martin always writes an excellent story and HAL'S OWN MURDER CASE is yet another excellent example. Easily recommended!

COURTESY OF CK2S KWIPS AND KRITIQUES

HALEY TEXAS 1959 is an American classic. I loved these two fascinating novellas. Don Watt's powerful voice and storytelling ability is as rare as it is mesmerizing. Like John Sayles or Raymond Carver, Watt unflinchingly explores tough questions--racial, spiritual, family--with courage and integrity. The novellas confront the notion of family values as they explore father-son/mother-son relationships and the nature of familial fidelity and ethical responsibility as well as greater social issues of racism, small town politics, spirituality, conscience, honor and truth. Watt is an expert craftsman and first rate fiction writer. With the authority of someone who intimately understands small town life, Watt has created complex characters whose stories are utterly compelling. And he depicts those characters with clarity, intelligence and compassion in language that is never dull or disappointing.

If you're looking for a great read, pick up HALEY, TEXAS 1959. Buy a copy for a friend. It might be the best money you spend all year. You won't be disappointed.

I read the review in the Dallas News Readers Section, Immediately "one click" ordered it from Amazon.com and read it within a week of ordering it. I enjoyed it very much and will read it several more times. Mr. Watt has truly captured the climate of the Henderson County of the 1950s that I remember. I am a year or two older than he, but, as a resident of a near by small Henderson County town during those times, I remember yearning for and saving for firearms in Spencer's Hardware and have even attended some of the churches he describes so well. I relived the effect the mind-set of the condesending old church elder he describes as well as the shadow religious ferver can cast over a family. There is no way I can describe how well he captures the climate of the times and I wish I had the ablility to express myself with such honesty and integrity. He is such a powerful writer. This is a great book...one to treasure and keep.