Kentucky Books

Timely delivery. Beautiful pictures, interesting bits of information about lives of Kentucky's governors. Had glimpsed copy in bookstore, decided to buy online at cheaper price. Satisfied.

This is a very well conceived niche book on a subject I find quite interesting. The mansions profiled are each unique and beautiful in their own way. Personally I prefer the last and grandest mansion..it's a full on Beaux Art show stopper. It is what a governer's mansion should be, that is grand and refecting the prosperity of the state with which it serves. This book has insightful text and the images are very good. If you have any interest in this subject, I highy recommend it.

I took the class by the same name with Professor Kilillea this past semester. He is a wonderful, knowledgeable man who takes on a subject that many people tend to avoid and consider morbid to address. In a classroom setting, students felt that they may explore the reality of death and what implications it has in the political, as well as social, arenas. There was also a comfortable environment, enabled by the Professor, which encouraged students to explore their feelings with regard to the topic, as well as share their personal experiences with death and the meaning of life. I would recommend this book- preferably in conjunction with the class- to all who feel ready to delve into the abyss of a subject largely avoided yet highly interesting and fulfilling.

One life touches others and so on... In this slim tome, Killilea describes the drive behind all - immortality and how one reaches it through the simplest of efforts. Sometimes soul-searching and always thought-provoking, Killilea's examination of the driving forces behind the politics of mortality reveals the most simplistic of life's truths; that one small gesture, one ripple in the great pool, really does change all the world around it.

Written after the death of his child, Killilea probes the mind-set that causes the individual to excell in life, that causes one to erect statues and monuments, or to make great speeches; in recognizing within oneself mortality, one strives to leave some permanent mark on this world in order to prove that this life has not been in vain. And so, as the individual makes an impression on those around her, whether good or bad, that impression affects their lives which in turn, affects the lives of others. In so doing, man has his immortality.

A short book, but very worth the read.

For her first novel, Wyatt successfully proves herself as an up-and-coming writer of children's novels. It is 1930 during the Great Depression in rural Kentucky, and Artie is tired of being poor, hungry and working in the fields on the family farm. She daydreams of hopping the train to Louisville for a better life than what she has now. She realizes that determination, despite the odds against her, is the ticket to a better life. The characters are well-rounded and the interactions between the family members are realistic. A suspenseful twist keeps the novel from being too predictable.

Twelve-year-old Artie Wilson attends a one-room schoolhouse in Buck County, Kentucky during the Great Depression. She longs to attend high school, but is hindered by her father's lack of responsibility, her mother's illness, and her family's poverty. When the teacher in her one-room schoolhouse announces an essay contest on the topic of heritage that offers a $25.00 prize, Artie determines to win the money and use it to pay for her living expenses so she can attend high school.

Rich girl Sarah Jane Bratcher is Artie's chief rival. Sarah Jane has everything Artie does not: a rich family, cars, horses, nice clothes, and a family heritage she claims stretches all the way back to England.

Artie's older brother Ballard announces to the school that one of the Wilson ancestors buried a treasure in the woods, so Artie goes on a treasure hunt. Always practical, Artie digs for roots while in the woods so she can sell them to buy food for the family and save for high school. To her shock, she discovers Sarah Jane digging for treasure in the woods as well. Artie is furious. Why does a rich girl need to steal the poor Wilson family's heritage?

Artie's struggle structures this novel. She cares for her ailing mother and fights for the life of her newborn baby brother. Using whatever spare time she can wrest from her chores, she works on her essay and tries to find meaning in the struggles and failures of her ancestors. And she uncovers the mystery of her arch rival, Sarah Jane.

This first novel is rich in the family history of author Leslie J. Wyatt's own family story. Historical details are woven into the story with a light touch. Readers get a real feel for life in this backwoods community but the details never slow or stop the story.

This is a very satisfying read. I'm looking forward to more books by the author. The ending seemed a bit forced so I'm giving it four stars, but it is well worth reading!

Artie is a warm character who will win your heart with her sheer pluck and determination. The publisher aims this book at readers 11 and older, but younger readers who are interested in history will enjoy reading it for themselves or having it read aloud. Teachers will find it useful for showing rural aspects of the Depression years - parts of chapter 3 (plowing) or chapter 5 (driving to the 'May meeting' could be read aloud as stand-alones to show aspects of rural life.)

I had searched through a lot of website information for Morgan's Raiders and was looking for a "beginning to end" book on this story. This book surpassed my expectations in getting the historical information along with the overall mood of the time. General Morgan was a very dashing figure and this helps to sort out the truth of many tales of the time. I would recommend this book highly to anyone who wants the whole story.

John Hunt Morgan....This name stirred up the passion of both Northerners and Southerners, and in his biography of the General, James Ramage does an excellent job in telling us why. The Morgan in Ramage's biography comes across to us the readers, as not very religious...deeply rooted in the Southern lifestyle of the times, and as a careful soldier. I found two Morgan's in the book...The Morgan who was at his most successful after the period of his first wife's death, and

the Morgan who seems to lose interest in the war after his second marriage, when failure would always seem to bear its ugly head whenever the General attempted to do anything. Ramage has done a good deal of research, rooting out letters to and from the General, with special emphasis on Morgan's relationship with his second wife. This research helps us to understand the transformation of Morgan as the war went on, and helps the reader to ultimately understand this diverse per! sonality of our great internal conflict. The chapter on the death of Morgan is probably the best in the book, as Ramage tries to put down the various stories and myths that have cropped up over the years. All in all, I found Ramage's work a good read, and I recommend it to all Civil War enthusiasts.

Very interesting to read how the farm and rural areas have changed throughout the years.

The book is clearly written. Readers should compare the crises in agriculture and the actions of government in the 1930's with today's financial crisis and especially how today's government is trying to deal with the financial crisis.

Sadie is feeling kinda glum. She's living in a small town, just got appointed graveyard superintendent (who really wants that job?), and she's having trouble raising her two teens. Plus she's suspecting her husband of an affair and her eccentric dad is driving her and her sisters, April and Hannah, absolutely nuts. The sisters are close but Sadie is given the most responsibility over their father, who took care of them after their mother left them when they were little. Since they are never allowed to discuss their mother, the sisters are kept in the dark as to why she left them long ago. One day when their dad leaves to go find their mother, Sadie and her sisters go to track him down. On their road trip they discover things about themselves they didn't know and learn to strengthen their relationship with each other and with their families back home.

I liked that there were 3 sisters in this book, just like in my family. You see how each sister fit their role as youngest, middle, and oldest perfectly. I'm glad finally took charge and stood up for herself against her daughter, her husband, her sisters, and the townspeople. Small town settings where everyone always knows each other are always interesting to me because I live in largely populated area. It's always refreshing to read about simpler lifestyles. I also liked how the sisters grew closer together as they find out the truth about their mother. A very touching and moving scene. Family is the most important thing in the world. I felt that this book wasn't really chick lit or mom lit. It was more a women's fiction type of book. Still I enjoyed it and am ready to read about Hannah's story in "Mom Over Miami."

All the books I have read from Annie Jones have been good, humorus and clean. I do recommend them.

The Scotia Widows is a tale of courage in the face of crippling grief, an American tragedy oft repeated in the dangerous jobs of men who daily descend into the earth to provide for their families, high-risk employment to be sure. Miner's families harbor no illusions, but they have every right to expect decent, safe work conditions. This small, powerful book describes the events of March 9, 1976, when fifteen miners are killed in the Scotia Mines in Eastern Kentucky, three and a half miles beneath the surface; two days later, eleven rescue workers are lost in a second explosion. The first explosion, caused by a high concentration of methane gas and coal dust, puts a violent end to the plans of fifteen families, a painful example of the volatility of their environment. And the company bears the burden of this outrage, for specific safety violations, inadequate ventilation, a lack of ventilation inspections and no trained rescue workers on the scene. The question is: will "Big Daddy Coal" accept responsibility or hide behind the warren-like hallways of the legal system.

Stern, a trial attorney with intimate knowledge of such cases, the common man pitted against the intractable juggernaut of wealth and power, goes directly to the heart of the matter, the widows. It is through their stories that the public can identify with the enormity of their loss and the long, brutal path to justice that makes close friends of former strangers united in common cause. Challenging the industry is an enormous task and the Scotia widows and their determined attorney face four years of litigation and tremendous legal hurdles, a hostile judge, the determination of the mine owners, a critical lack of disclosure by a trial judge, a pro-coal lead defense counsel and a bevy of expensive attorneys with limitless pocketbooks. Depending on their legal representation to navigate this treacherous landscape, it is the widows who refuse to back down in spite of setbacks and daunting odds. One result: the landmark Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1976.

It is to Stern's credit that he not only achieves a settlement for the original fifteen widows, but also for a number of the families who lost loved ones in the second explosion that took the lives of rescue workers. Yet, years later, there are more such outrageous accidents in Utah and Kentucky, proving that in spite of progress, this is an industry that flaunts safety for profit, the vast wealth of owners insulating them from worker's demands until such disasters once more claim the imagination of the nation. With this book as testament, the widow's cause is deeply personal, but also transcendent in the battle on behalf of the individual, the widows reclaiming their right to the American dream. Luan Gaines/2008.

In this era when too many people -- especially young people -- disdain the thought of going into law, I can envision students reading this small (145 pages) but mighty book and saying, "I want to be a lawyer!" The story of these women, and their David vs. Goliath battle, deserves to be told around campfires -- and made into a movie.

This book provides great insight into the real story behind KFC. Especially entertaining for those that are familiar with KFC, the organization, the franchises, and the restaurant business. Goes into the philosophies of Pete Harman, the first, biggest and most influencial franchisee. Talks alot about the company, the growth, the growing pains, and what made the company successful.

Secret Recipe is a book that offers a good, historical breakdown of the Kentucky Fried Chicken company and the individuals who built the restaurant into the thriving business that it remains today. Darden tries to cover all the important bases, from the original restaurant that opened in Corbin, Kentucky, all the way to the present day business, owned and operating by Tricon, Inc.

I really enjoyed all the facts that this book contains. Until I read this book, I did not know that it was Pete Harman who thought of the name, Kentucky Fried Chicken, and I didn't know that Harman dreamed up the idea of selling buckets of chicken. Like most people, I assumed that the Colonel himself deserved credit for these business discoveries. After reading about the naming of the restaurant, I sure am glad that Harman had the necessary business sense to reject the restaurant name "Utah Chicken". It just doesn't sound right. It makes about as much sense as the "Utah Jazz". This is just oen of many facts discussed in this book.

Throughout the pages of this book, the author includes important quotes that are highlighted in a gray box, set aside from the regular text. There are also a few lists of facts here and there such as "Early Franchise Holders" and "The Colonel's Appearances on Television". You can also find text boxes on many pages titled "Pete's Words of Wisdom", which include quotes from Harman on successful restaurant operation.

One other important note to make about this book is that it was written as a historical summary of the KFC business as a whole. It isn't a biographical sketch of Colonel Sanders. Author Robert Darden does make frequent mention of the Colonel, as he should. But there's just as much coverage given to Pete Harman and other people who were instrumental to the success of this business.

Colonel Sanders has been gone now for more than two decades. Much of his original vision of what a restaurant should be has changed over the years. Even the name of the restaurant has changed from Kentucky Fried Chicken to the abbreviated KFC. But one thing that hasn't gone by the wayside is the image of Colonel Sanders. His familiar, smiling face remains a part of the KFC restaurant chain and is displayed on KFC merchandise and around each KFC store unit. It's a tribute to the man and the legend known as Colonel Harland Sanders. His finger lickin' good original recipe of herbs and spices has satisfied chicken lovers all over the world for more than half a century. And this book is equally satisfying, full of trivia and historical accounts of the KFC company and its rise to the top of its restaurant class.

This is the first Colin Gray book I have read, but I plan that it won't be the last. As one of the leading strategists of our age he takes a very fundamental and realist approach to America in the modern world. However this book is not so much a prescriptive strategy for America as it is a description of the role that America must assume for now and for the foreseeable future, that of the "Sheriff" to protect world order (a role less than a full on global policeman) and one from which any number of appropriate strategies can correctly flow based on temporal conditions.

In a short 150 pages of so or text he lays out that America is already fulfilling this role, is the only nation or institution that can fulfill this role, and depicts the need for the role. His argument is more centered on trying to make people, and particularly American statesman, explicitly recognize this fact and knowingly act within its confines, as opposed to pursue mere opportunistic action that is afforded by our military pre-eminence.

As the world's sole superpower it basically falls on America as the only nation that can protect some semblance of world order, which can maximize peace and prosperity beneficial for all (and particular the US, but should not be confused with an oppressive freezing of the world condition.) The UN, NATO, and G-8 are at best mere figureheads for none can practically act to take on threats such as terrorism or rogue states without the overwhelming influence (and thus overwhelming control) of American military might. This leaves the job to act, or not to act as the case may be, heavily on our shoulders and the author argues that it is one we should adopt with alacrity and dedication. Written largely in response to the RMA (Revolution in Military Affairs) in the harsh afterlight of the Iraq campaign of 2003 the author is urging for an increased appreciation of strategic thought to link and subordinate American military action and developments to foreign policies appropriate to our unique position and opportunity in history.

He provides far too much advice, and pointers, and warnings about how America should act as the world Sheriff to bear repeating here, but to make the book very worthwhile to read, especially for people involved in military or foreign policy matters.

Although overall highly recommended I have to take away a star for the fact that the author is highly repetitive to the point of being slightly annoying sometimes. On a positive note the book is heavily footnoted and the bibliography provides a huge reference library of excellent books to read to understand strategy and the full import of the author's argument.

I feel monumentally ignorant not to have known of Gray, or,
at least, not to have registered his work more securely in the
thoughts. As an admirer of George Kennan and his several
tours d'horizon, as well as of Robert D Kaplan's fantastic
journalism, I kept trying to find an approach that would tie
such work together. I have always heard the word "strategic"
kicked about, but this uncluttered gem makes it clear what
it means, means for the United States, and means for world
stability, all the while admitting that strategy is not easy.
I suggest that you dip into this book, and when you emerge,
you shall need to own it.

Zane Gray's books were the first westerns I ever read. I loved them then and I love them now. "The Spirit Of The Border" takes place in the Ohio River Valley. This is very close to home for me. Zane Gray mixes historical events into his stories. It is fast moving and one you don't want to put down until you complete that last page. If you have not read this, read it you will enjoy the adventure. By Ruth Thompson author of "The Bluegrass Dream" and "Natchez Above The River" Natchez Above The River: A Family's Survival In The Civil WarQualifying Laps: A Brewster County NovelTravelersSins of the Fathers: A Brewster County NovelWriting as a Small BusinessThe Bluegrass Dream: A Wilderness Adventure of Early Settlers

Drawing upon ancestors notes, Zane Gray reconstructs the agony of America's initial transmontane western movement of the frontier away from the original colonies into the OHIO Valley where Indians and Whites contest for souls and Wetzel, and Indian hunter, pursues his cause in a most dramatic fashion. The book is a riveting account of true adventure the veiled backdrop of which is the continued occupation of the teritory occupied by British and Americans. An excellent introduction to further study of the the then misunderstood goal of Manifest Destiny.