College and University Books

When Jessica dates James Montgomery,She tells people about it and they start a Rally called"Take Back The Night" Lila falls in love with Bruce while stranded in the woods with him. At a Trial for James,Mia Stillwater,One of Jessica's Sorority sisters comes forward and says she was raped by James Montgomery,He goes down. He gets not only kicked out of the fraternity,but the University as well! Way to go,Mia! Bruce and Lila come back to school,from being in the hospital after the plane crash.

it was good but i thought it was kind of lame that the boys were mad that james got kicked out of school. i read it in one night. i couldn't put it down

This book was so good. In this book Jessica is getting over the night before were her boyfriend James tried to rape her on a date.Elizabeth has a witness for Jessica to testify,Mia.She was raped by James but is to afraid to testify.Will Mia change her mind and save Jessica besofre its to late? Alex is having mixed feelings about this guy shes been talking to on the campus hotline,T-Squared and a boy named Noah.But she dosent know that T-Squared and Noah are the same person.Will she find out in time?Bruce and Lila are saved in the wilderness from a plane crash,but do they really have true feelings for each other?William White is back and he wants his x-girlfriend Elizabeth.He leaves her notes and Elizabeth just thinks its some kind of prank.But does she found out that hes back before its to late?This was a very good back and i would recomnd this to any other sweet valley fans.

I think the first 11 SVU books are the best ever-written. this particular book follows Jess/James' trial, and has a relieving, courageous (Maia) outcome. It deals with the outcome of rape-assault, and I think the book emphasizes the importance of speaking out! I think the male reactions in the book are pretty realistic...and Jessica's fear, the whole thing is just so REAL! I also like the march on-campus, I know a lot of colleges are doing those nowadays.

This is one of my favorite Sweet Valley University books. It deals with serious issues, and I reccomend it to anyone. Jessica Wakefield, who was assulted by her former boyfriend, James Montgomery, is wondering what she should do about it. Maia, who was raped by James, is afraid to speak up. Jessica was afraid, at first, but eventually spoke up. Also, she has a trial with James in court. Elizabeth totally supports her, as do Steven and Billie. Also, her former husband, Michael McAllery says a few kind words to her. Anyway, Jessica deals with the fact that James almost raped her, and hopes that people will believe her. Meanwhile, Alexandra Rollins fidns love on the campus hotline, little does she know who he really is. Lila and Bruce fall madly in love and are rescued. Anyway, back to the Jessica/James trial. It was so beautiful! The way Jessica felt confident was so wonderful! And when Maia testified, I was so proud of her. Also, the march was awesome! The way it built up Jessica's confidence was great. The trial was awesome, too. This book deals a lot with date rape and sexual assualt. Jessica and Maia helped save a lot of people. Also, Mike McAllery is so sweet to Jessica. Anyway, this book is a must have!

Judy Gruen just wanted to lose fifteen pounds for a college reunion. In her journey she had to sidestep empty promises and quick fixes. Judy Gruen finally attempts Boot Camp training and when you see her picture on the back of the book, complete with flowered hat, you will know why this quite humorous.

In this book she deals with many of the questions we all ask about dieting. Does dieting actually work or is an entire lifestyle change in order?

How do you really lose weight and keep it off?
What is the chew less, move more diet?
How much water should you be drinking on a daily basis?
Can you handle gaining muscle mass/extra weight to look better?

I was pleased to read another author discussing the initial weight gain when you increase your muscle mass from exercising. This was a great hurdle for me at the start and you almost have to toss or hide your scale at the start.

If you have tried a number of diet solutions like the Apple Cider Vinegar diet, Weight Watchers or Atkins you will relate to Judy's diet frustrations. Fortunately she keeps her sense of humor and this book is her diary. Each entry explores something new she is trying and what does and doesn't work.

Some of the more hilarious (although somewhat dangerous in real-life) portions of the book include cooking experiments gone awry. I myself learned not to pour alcohol onto baked chicken in an oven and then shut the door. Because I will say this, an oven can explode in a most interesting way. Which brings me to this thought: "What was in the raspberry vinaigrette marinade?"

She tries Latin Dance, Yoga and Belly dancing. She tries Cardio-Kickboxing class, personal trainers, she tries going to chocoholic anonymous meetings. After fives months of "semi-dedicated dieting, energetic exercising and rigorous research," she makes ten conclusions and then the May 26th entry ends up being the icing on the cake of this rather humorous book.

I am only left wondering if she has discovered Leonidas Chocolates or read "Why Women Need Chocolate." Then, I can only imagine a journey she would take after reading The Metabolic Plan.

~The Rebecca Review

P.S. Exercise videos that work:

Seane Corn: Vinyasa Flow Yoga
Crunch Boot Camp Training
MTV Pilates Mix
MTV Yoga
Ultimate Bellydance fitness workout
15-minute Workout for Dummies (uses weights)
Carmen Electra's Fit to Strip (no stripping, but
a great workout - Disc 2 in her series)

This is a great book that most people who have tried to diet and exercise can relate to. I had a hard time putting it down because it is a great and funny read. I could relate to alot of the things she did. You won't be disappointed in this book.

I saw myself in allot of the different ways that Judy was tring to lose weight. I love her humor and I too love that chocolate. You must read this one!

I am not a big "humor" reader--but combine humor with the pitfalls of food and my interest was peaked. I'm so glad it was--this book had me in hysterics and reading outloud. Judy Gruen has a way with humor that is much like Erma Bombeck. You won't be able to resist this or put it down. Definitely check this one out.

Nothing is funnier than someone who can take real life and look at it through the lens of humor. Judy Gruen does this skillfully in her new book "Till We Eat Again: Confessions of a Diet Dropout". Judy touches a resonating chord in everyone who has ever tried to diet as you read through her diary style collection of secret thoughts, frustrations, and even occasional victories. Throughout the book you find Judy trying everything she can think of to try to drop fifteen pounds before her 20-year college reunion. Every kind of diet, every kind of exercise, anything else she can find as she works. Although her writing style is so crisp and quick-witted that anyone will find it humorous, it is really written from a woman's point of view and women are more likely to find it laugh-out-loud funny. To test my theory I handed the book to two different women and left the room. Sure enough it wasn't ten minutes before I heard snickering and the occasional laugh floating down the hallway. "Till We Eat Again" is a highly recommended book for anyone who has tried to lose weight and can relate to the hysterical things we do to ourselves in the name of losing a few pounds. Pick up a copy and have a great laugh.

They were not lying when they said this is the best book out there about the IVY LEAGUE. I bought it specfically for one college, but I learned alot (and I mean a lot) about this league of prestigious schools. It sure got me untangled.

Wow-- this is this honestly the best book about college ever... EVER. I am graduating high school next month and I read this book as soon as it came out, and it helped me get into my top choice! There is so much information in here, I even made my older brother read it, and even though he graduated from college already he said it was a really great book, very interesting and lots of facts you never would have known.

College Prowler puts out some great guidebooks, they're all written by current students so readers are given a real insider's look at these schools. The guidebooks typically retail for $14.95 each. For those who are looking at one or all eight Ivy League schools, this book is a great value. You're basically getting eight guides in one, not to mention bonus chapters on admissions, athletics, secret societies and more. I've been flipping through this book since buying it from Amazon and have to say I'm quite pleased with my purchase. I'd recommend it to those currently in the midst of the college admissions process!

This book is just packed with great information. As a Cornell junior I can confidently assert that this book is definitely not just for prospective Ivy-League applicants.

This book is incredible! There are so many facts, figures, anecdotes, statistics etc. about The Ivy League (PAST, PRESENT, and FUTURE) in this book that I was not aware of until now--and I am a Junior at Dartmouth--I attended Yale for a year, and I have visted four other Ivy schools on several occasions. After looking over College Prowler's grading criteria for each of the eight school sections, I determined that their grades and analysis on each aspect of each individual school (including: Academics, Local Atmosphere, Nightlife/Social Scene, Campus Strictness, Athletics, Drug Scene, Overall Experience, and even Parking) are actually very accurate and on-point. College Prowler has seemingly gained credibility over other Ivy League college resources, because they utilize actual Ivy students to author their individual guidebooks--which is why "Untangling" is a steal for under $20, because it includes content from each of the eight individual guides within.

"The Bachelor of Arts" is the second of a thematic trilogy that begins with "Swami and Friends" and ends with "The English Teacher"--three novels that collectively take their characters from the innocence of youth through the disappointment of love to life's first tragedy. Yet this tale of Chandran, a college graduate unlucky in love, is (as Graham Greene notes in his introduction) "a funny and happy book" at its core--particularly when compared to Narayan's later melancholy, tragic books--yet a closer reading shows us the "shadow [that] had been there from the beginning."

The first part of "Bachelor" is an unexpected treat: a farcical, satirical look at the sillier, exhausting rituals of academic life in colonial India. The opening scene features a debate on whether "historians should be slaughtered first"--and Chandran, a history student himself, is required to argue in the affirmative. From there, our poor student is appointed by his professor as secretary of the school's new Historical Association, an honor that adds to his duties but hardly helps his studies. In between, he frequents the cinema with his best friend and dutifully maps out a grand plan for exam preparation--a plan that is revised daily due to the impossibility of following it.

The debate society, his friends, his academic career--all has been poor preparation for life's setbacks. ("The classroom or the club or the office created friendships. When the circumstances changed the relations, too, snapped.") The giddiness of the novel takes a sharp turn when the circumstances do change: Chandran falls in love at first sight and is rejected, causing him to cast aside the comforts of life and to leave home. The rest of the novel follows our Bachelor of Arts (still a bachelor in life) as he educates himself about the one subject neglected during his collegiate career: himself. It's such a simple and simply told story, but it illustrates beautifully the complexities of finding one's place in the world.

A very pleasant and interesting look at the life of a young man in South Asia. Only moderately engaged by his studies at the university, Chandran spends most of his time going to movies, staying out late, drinking at the café, and generally socializing with his friends. With some prodding from his father, he overcomes his laziness sufficiently to graduate, only to find his problems just beginning.

Chandran's predicament should be very familiar to many readers. Bright and charismatic, but lacking any real focus, he has difficulty finding employment. Upon graduation his peer group separates, and he needs to make new friends. And his parents, who are only eager to see him make something of himself, can't help but find fault with his carefree, unproductive lifestyle. What's a Bachelor of Arts to do? His unrequited love for a young girl named Malathi makes for an interesting look at how courting was handled in traditional Indian families not so many decades ago, complete with horoscopes and dowries and class consciousness. But ultimately, isn't it the couples' willingness to commit to each other that matters, and not how they happen to meet? Every bit as fascinating is Chandran's sojourn as an ascetic, which is reminiscent of a Hermann Hesse novel, but with a uniquely critical perspective that only a native Indian could provide.

Narayan's prose has a warm serenity that never fails to evoke small-town South Asia. What his plots lack in excitement and intensity, they make up for in geniality. This particular novel has perhaps a little more excitement than some of the others, and would be a good entry point for young people just discovering Narayan.

The story of Chandran, a final-year student of History, on how love tranforms ambitions, alters goals and changes lives is the theme of this wonderful book.

Written masterfully with just the right amounts of comedy, emotions and twists, and teeming with sarcasm characteristic of Narayan, this book takes a broad look at values and customs. For example, the long scenes wheres discussion about horoscopes and Chandran's disagreement with his mother are all so very close to life in India.

A great book, an excellent read....

I could identify with the main character as he completed his studies and began moving into the 'real' world. His spiritual journey, though not complete at the books end, was very interesting. The (paraphrased) line "they thought they were the first of their type and the last..", referring to his radical friends from his university days, struck a chord. We all slowly realize that our own well-used mold was indeed not broken after they made us. More followed. Alas, we all take our place in society and make the best of it.

Simply written and easy to read. I recommend it.

I have read and liked R K Narayan's works in the past. I picked this one up just based on the fact that it was written by him. It was not recommended to me by anyone. And honestly i am so glad i did.
The main character is a student just out of undergrad and facing the decision of what ahead. In a very straight and simple manner Narayan portrays the character's struggles with choosing a career and then his foray into love. Its simple and yet extraordinary. BTW for those expecting a dramatic ending, don't. This book just ends. I had to turn the page to realise its finished :-)

This is a great book for all basketball fans and all Kentuckians. For those who do not understand Kentucky, or who do not understand basketball, this book will make both of them much more understandable. Truly, there is nothing on Earth like the subculture of Kentucky basketball.

What a great book exploring the UK basketball phenomenon! Anyone who questions the importance of this program to its fans should read this book! You may not come away a fan, but you'll certainly understand those who do! WOW!

This book puts in perspective the "official" religion of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. As a UK student last year during the 1998 National Championship run I never would have guessed the ammount of media attention the CATS draw...can you picture your local TV stations having live feeds when the team plane lands at the local airport...that is just a small glance to the fever that overtakes KY during March. This book puts you into the heart of KY. I met the author at Joseph-Beth Booksellers last year in Lexington as he signed the book...there was not a large crowd there during the signing...the CATS were on TV.

This is a great book for all basketball fans and all Kentuckians. For those who do not understand Kentucky, or who do not understand basketball, this book will make both of them much more understandable. Truly, there is nothing on Earth like the subculture of Kentucky basketball.

...and then I had to read this book after losing a bet (on the 1999 UK/Indiana game, which Kentucky won). As a hoosier fan, it pains me to say that I actually loved this book, and any book that can take the arch enemy of a program and make him/her see the light is a remarkable work. Reading through this book, I actually realized that there were tears in my eyes on several occasions. How could this be? I'm a hoosier--a sworn enemy of the Kentucky Wildcats--and yet, after reading this book, I found myself actually (choke!) liking them! My congratulations to Lonnie Wheeler on an unbelievably good book, and my hat's off to the Kentucky Wildcats--the best program in college basketball!

I really liked Catherine's Heart. It showed girls that not all men are what they seem to be, and you really should really get to know the guy before you agree to marry him. I was glad that this book also continued with the story of Sarah and William.

I read The Maiden of Mayfair a couple of years ago and bought its sequel shortly after. But then I forgot all about it. A few days ago, in the mood for a novel set during the turn of the twentieth century, I was digging through my rather large TBR pile and found Catherine's Heart. As I read it, I remembered the characters in The Maiden of Mayfair and was absorbed with the wonderful historical accuracy, which is set in the beginning of the 1880s. It is eighteen-year-old Catherine Rayborn's new life as an university student at Gilton. She meets two lovely friends and three potential suitors. One is a dashing young man who likes to pull pranks, but possesses a kind soul. He has a great deal of success at his father's business, but there is an empty void in his heart that he can't seem to fulfill. The other is an army officer that Catherine finds charming. The third one is the notorious Lord Holt, a rake and someone who had treated William Doyle, Sarah's husband and protagonists of The Maiden of Mayfair, with contempt for having no rank and being what he considered to be a low-class citizen. Catherine has her heart set out on Lord Holt, or does she? After all, he has admitted to his sins and seems to regret his past actions. But something tells her that not all is right, especially when he wants them to meet up in secret. Will she be able to listen to what God, her family and friends and her very own instincts are telling her about him before it's too late?

The second part of the Tales of London is beautifully written and wonderfully told. You get reacquainted with the characters from the first book and meet some great new ones. A lot of things brought up on the Bible -- including those about disobedient children and overindulging parents, which could be found in Proverbs -- are here, and Lawana Blackwell tells them with a great deal of insight and Christian soul without sounding preachy. But the historical elements are what most impressed me about this novel. I love the way Blackwell describes the turn-of-the-century setting with its development of technology and the way in which women begin to become independent. The telephone is brought up a lot in this installment, and I felt as though I had been transported to this fascinating time period, which happens to be my favorite. The characterization is also excellent. Catherine is sweet and relatable, but she is so naïve that sometimes I wanted to get into the book and shout, "Can't you see that the man you are secretly seeing is a total jerk?" I loved Catherine's Heart and I look forward to reading the Tales of London 3. I hope it won't take as long to get to as it did me with this one though!

Four years have past since we left the lovable cast of characters of The Maiden of Mayfair. For the first part of this story the author splits the focus between Sarah, the main character in the previous book, and Catherine Rayborn, Sarah's cousin, who is leaving for her "fresher" year at Girton.
Young nineteen-year-old Catherine seems to fall in love at a drop of a hat, however, she's convinced she's finally found true love with Lord Holt. Despite warnings from her cousin Sarah, who has discovered their secret meetings, Catherine is determined to see Lord Holt no matter the price. And it is a steep one. Catherine begins a web of lies that could be her undoing. She begins scheming and lying to spend every free Sunday afternoon with the man she believes truly loves her.
Meanwhile, Sarah has married William, the love of her life and they are now blessed with an addition to their family. They've moved their family, and their extended family from Mayfair. The home they've moved into has ties to their past as well as Catherine's future.
Catherine gives up too much of herself for the man she loves, and she pays a dear price. When she finally discovers just what kind of man she's given her heart to, will it ever heal? Can she make things right with her friends and family, who she treated badly? And what about how she treated God?
This story is a good one, however, I did feel a few small lulls here and there. It was almost like, too little time spent here, and not enough time spent there. All in all it's a great read, and I'd recommend this book, and any other by this extremely gifted author.
Reviewed by Katharine L. Kroeker for ShortHand Publishing

Catherine Rayborn is enjoying her first taste of freedom and independence after a sheltered upbringing. Her head and heart are easily turned by any young man who looks her way and gives her a kind word. Even though she knows better and has loving, supportive people in her life to offer Godly counsel, she allows her heart to rule her head.

Kudos to Ms. Blackwell for another wonderful series. Her writing is warm and genuine, and her characters draw the reader into the story at the very beginning. Most series weaken with each new addition, but Lawana Blackwell's characters stay strong and true to form. The storyline does not grow tiresome after several books. Unlike most series, I always regret when hers come to an end. She is probably my favorite writer of Inspirational fiction today. I can't get enough of her realistic, endearing characters and their stories.

Great work, Ms. Blackwell. Thank you for an excellent read.

I have been a fan of Lawana Blackwell for about 4 or 5 years now, and I've learned that you can't go wrong with her books. Catherine's Heart is no exception. This was probably the hardest book for me to get through, not because it was poorly written by any means (I sometimes think that Blackwell could re-write my phone book and it would be an interesting read), but because of the story. As a young girl who has yet to embark into the unknown world of boys and their charms, I found myself relating to the main character throughout the entire story. Catherine makes decisions that you know are not good for her, and it's difficult to watch someone you're investing time and energy into doing so. It was because of this that I believe Catherine's Heart is so powerful. I learned the importance of guarding your heart, especially as a young inexperienced woman. Every young girl should take time to read this book. I'm so thankful that I read it when I did before I do begin that portion of my life. Wonderfully written and beautifully told!

Even after thirteen years as faculty member and five as a college administrator in Upstate New York; this was a reminder of the basics. I found this to be an easy read. I read it in a matter of two evenings. I have decided to take it upon myself to purchase this book for many of my friends who are new administrators.

This would be a great book for all new hires.

This is a book that pinpoints specific issues in Higher Education and how to handle them properly as an administrator.

Each chapter of this book discusses a particular difficult issue in higher education administration. Examples include specific "hot-shot" faculty asking for unfair favors, the handling of controversial issues between faculty members and students, negotiation for shared resources across departments, and handling adult bullies, etc. Each chapter begins with a mini-case to illustrate the difficult problem involved. Then it discusses the related issues and how to handle every detail. At the end of each chapter, it presents the solution for the mini-case.

Reading this book enhanced my understanding of academic issues from an administrator's point of view. I had always thought that managing a higher education institution was less challenging than managing a Fortune-500 company. On the surface, it seemed that everything would just go by the book. Now I know that, it is far more complex than going by the book, though knowing "the book" is crucial. Being a college administrator has its own set of challenges: managing faculty members who do not want to be managed. Due to the employment structure (with tenured faculty, faculty who can bring in a vast amount of resources: publication and research grants, etc.), it is not entirely a direct command-and-control situation. In addition, since a university environment is quite decentralized, there are a lot of complicated interpersonal power issues among faculty, graduate assistants, and students. According to the author, one leverage administrators should use is the established mission and goals of the university. If someone's behavior or performance is against these established statements, this would be a valid means for handling the issues properly.

I think that, explicitly communicating the mission, goals, policies, and expected proper professional behavior to all new employees and new students in detail and in writing ahead of time is equally important. This way, at least every party would have the proper information before problems happen. In addition, this book also implicitly tells job seekers what to look for when applying for an administrative position in Higher Education. To me, it is well-articulated mission and goals, as well as well-established policies that are fair to all parties.

Overall, this book shows that the author is knowledgeable and familiar with the subject matter. It should be very helpful to higher education administrators or administrators-to-be.

Gunsalus' work is a realistic and credible portrayal of office politics in higher education. Written primarily for the new administrator who comes out of the ranks of the faculty at a university, the guiding principles are useful for anyone in a higher education mangement role. Gunsalus focuses on topics related to interpersonal relationships, legal issues, academic freedom, and related challenges in the academic workplace. This is a useful, relevant resource for the newcomer to college and university administration.

I've attended a number of chair and dean conferences and read the literature, but this is tops for practical and political advice. It has relevant case studies (a la Harvard Business Review) that are derived from real time war stories.

If you're in a difficult situation or need an outside perspective, this book will help you sort it out, and keep you entertained as well.
For more on my work; see,
New Playwriting Strategies: A Language-Based Approach to Playwriting (A Theatre Arts Book)

Just bought several copies to distribute to my former Ph.D. students, now professor themselves, and my current grad students. Experienced administrators will ask "where was this book x years ago?" and everyone else will benefit now and in the future.

My oldest child is a high school senior, and we felt so clueless about how to go about starting "the college thing". This book told me everything I wanted to know and much more. Now, I feel so much more informed and confident about the process, espicially the financial aspects.

This book really is unique and the best. I have looked at many college books, and this is the only one that addressed my concerns about whether kids who have money in their name can get financial aid, and whether there is any hope for parents "in the middle" who may have too much money to qualify for financial aid, and too little to pay for private colleges. The answers are much more hopeful than I had thought, and O'Shaughnessy even provides the "formulas" colleges use; something I had tried in absolute vain to find. Other things I found out (wish I'd had this book many years ago) were that retirement funds are not counted against you at all, so that's another reason to sock away the maximum amount; and that you should be spending that money in your kids' names for certain of their expenses, in other words spending down their accounts, so they'll get better financial aid packages (and you can then repay what you spent). Highly recommended!

This book contains useful information for selecting and paying for college. It follows the belief that small private liberal arts colleges generally provide a superior undergraduate education when compared to large universities. It is, of course, not the only book to follow that reasoning. In this book, however, there is a strong emphasis on the issue of minimizing costs and paying the bill. The book covers such topics as financial aid, merit money, scholarships, student and parent loans, education investment accounts, and other sources of funding.

The writer is somewhat critical of the well-known college rating guides. She exposes the weaknesses of such guides, reminding the reader that the ratings are based upon responses to questionaires, the colleges' entry standards, and the opinions of those associated with the colleges rather than on actual knowledge of the colleges. As noted in the book, it would be impossible when evaluating hundreds of colleges and univerities to become intimately acquainted with all of them.

The writer commends the well-known and popular book "Colleges That Change Lives", but notes that even that book has its flaws. For example, she accurately points out that Antioch College is among the 40 colleges covered in the book. Yet, Antioch College is now closed. She does not attempt to tackle the underlying reasons for the declining enrollment that eventually forced its closure, but she provides us with a reminder that there are more issues to consider when choosing a college than just its ability to change lives.

Overall, I definitely feel that this is a book that those who are beginning their college search should read.

As a mother of a HS junior who attends a local school in France, I have to take a more active role with the US college search since his school has no guidance counselor and there are no college road shows in the vicinity. I find myself reliant on word of mouth and written sources : guidebooks, blogs ,, newspaper articles, books /websites & advice and have invested the better part of son's junior year compiling information for the college search.
I ordered this book after reading a reference on a college admissions blog. I finished it during a train ride - and found it so riveting that I missed my stop.
Based on the title, I had expected to find just tips for affording college education but was pleasantly surprised by the author's insistence on quality -how to get your money's worth. So often the writers authoring these books report from the hallowed halls of academia. This author is a parent - and bases her experience as a mother of a college freshman while wearing her financial reporter thinking cap. How many college admission books are written from this point of view?
One innovation is that the book reverses the criteria for the college search by starting with match schools , not reach, where the student has more chance of obtaining scholarship money. The bottom up approach also instructs on how to find the best fit academically with several chapters on grading academic departments and discussions on professor ratings. Not stopping with the college admissions process, she addresses another under looked category - undergraduate research. And thanks to the author's chapter on freebies & best buys, I have added another school to the list.
The book closes with a list of informational websites, helpful cheat sheets and timelines in the appendix.
The author has packed an enormous amount of information here but has addressed the most salient points in a practical college admissions and quality education search. I could have saved a considerable amount of time and money had I read this book first and feel more empowered now for the final year of the search.

I am a college counselor at a large, racially diverse, urban high school. I am going to recommend "The College Solution" to my student's parents beginning at Freshman orientation. There is so much useful information contained within the book's pages,of which most lay people are not aware. It is also time to look away from US News and World Report rankings. There are many other ways to search for colleges, and Ms. Lynn Shaughnessy points out many!! There is also great advice, and strategies for maximizing financial aid.
Kudos to you , Ms. Shaughnessy for condensing everything a parent needs to know between two bookcovers.

Sharon Drell
College Counselor
Cleveland HS
Reseda. CA 91335

This well-written book took me back to Shelbyville IN in the 1950s, when every barber shop displayed a picture of the 1947 championship team and every patron knew all their names. No one would question the effect Bill Garrett had on his home town, but few could have predicted the impact he would have on collegiate sports for years to come.

The little town of Milan provided great sports drama for the movie "Hoosiers," but the life of Bill Garrett is more than a sports story. He did for NCAA athletics what Jackie Robinson did for Major League Baseball. Young people of today would be shocked to learn what he endured just a couple of generations ago.

Thanks to Tom and Rachel Graham Cody for this great read. As a Purdue grad, it pains me to praise a book that casts such a positive glow on Indiana University!

This is a good book and a good read. If you're from small-town Indiana (like me) and old enough to understand what single-class "Hoosier Hysteria" really meant, then you'll like this book.

However I respectfully offer that it's not a 5-star book. It may be a 5-star story in search of a 5-star telling.

I just finished the book yesterday, and I find myself wishing the authors had been less dispassionate. Or more passionate? Whatever.

So who was Bill Garrett? The book talks a lot about his life and times, and provides some ancedotes, but always left me wanting more about Bill. Sadly, Bill wasn't available to be interviewed, but his teammates, friends and wife were all sources for the book.

Here are some examples:

We learn a lot about how Bill came to enroll at IU, but we don't learn about the man himself. Bill left Tennessee State after enrolling, and took a bus to IU. No one was available to meet him there! How did he feel about this?

Bill was on the road and separated from his wife for several years while he knocked around the fringes of professional basketball. How was their relationship affected? We don't know.

Finally - the authors talk about the changes in college basketball in the 1950's (pp 169-175), Branch McCracken's sporadic recruitment of black players, yet fail to mention that IU WON the NCAA championship in 1953!

Sorry 5-star raters...it's a good book and a story worth telling, but could be a lot better. Probably a better movie than a book.

Seldom have I been so touched, entertained, and educated by a book as I was by Getting Open, which I read in two days. It is truly a masterpiece and something I will keep on my bookshelf for the rest of my life.

Although born and raised in Indiana, I didn't know much if anything about Bill Garrett before reading this book, but I was just blown away by his story. Not knowing the story, it was almost like reading a well-crafted novel and I hung on every new development the authors revealed. I also didn't know much about the racial intolerance of the times. My neighborhood and high school were all white, so I really had little if any contact with blacks before I went to Indiana University as a freshman in 1963. It hardly seems possible that such racial intolerance existed in the Midwest so recently before then.

This book exceeded all my expectations and I highly recommend it to anyone, whether you're a basketball fan or not. If you have any ties to the Hoosier State or to Indiana University, you will love it all the more.

At the pinnacle of his high school career - leading Shelbyville High to the Indiana state championship; a team that had three black starters - not one college scout in the arena attended the game to recruit Bill Garrett or his two teammates due to the color of their skin.

At the pinnacle of his collegiate career - leaving the court to a standing ovation that lasted several minutes - Bill Garrett was refused service in a restaurant days later; one that had on its marquee that it welcomed fans of Indiana Unniversity basketball.

And when Bill Garrett was ready to launch his pro career, the team in his home state did not draft him.

But Bill Garrett was stronger than those who attempted to keep those doors closed. And we are better because of him.

For author Tom Graham - with his co-author/daughter Rachel Graham Cody - the book took seven years of reseach, and certainly a lifetime of not denying the facts from the past and understanding the urgency in the present to set the record straight.

Getting Open is more than a biography on Garrett and how he integrated Big Ten basketball by playing and starring for IU. It is a history of institutionalized racial hatred in the State of Indiana - at one point in the 20th Century, the KKK essentially controlled all essential government offices - and the tireless work of person's from different sides of the tracks to fight the good fight.

Graham is a Shelbyville native who was old enough to vividly recall the times, which certainly helped as he meticulously did his research to cut through the fiction that builds from facts as the years tumble on.

It is a book from the heart that will make you realize how we must celebrate those who had the courage then by continuing to challenge those who want to forget - or rewrite - the past.

This book is an incredibly well written and well documented story that should be more widely read. It is an important history that many sports fans, and non-sports fans, will enjoy tremendously. It is an inspiration to us all, and offers many lessons and insights about overcoming racism. Thank you to the father-daughter authors for getting out this story!

When the author contacted me about providing information for his book, I had no idea it would end up being a 438-page walk down Blue Hen memory lane. Mr. Kane did a great job compiling 20 years of school and school-life history from an alum's perspective. It was a fun read.

Great book... I love how you touch on the past and present, talking to all different groups who went to UD. Favorite Chapter - 65 East Cleveland of course!!! Excellent Job!

I've passed this book around Newark Delaware. The Deer Park and East End crowds start reading it and wont put it down. They're laughing and remembering details about dorms or college life that they haven't thought about in years. Anyone who's into the music scene just gets around town will also be surprised how many details are in there that they've forgotten.

The book also does a lot to clear up rumors and truths about the music scene, the history of Newark's biggest community concert "Wilburfest", and the politics and the resourcefulness of students to keep their music festivals alive.

It's rare that a book like this comes out. For a twenty year period; all the hard work of the local musicians, all the good times of so many students, overcoming the obstacles of college living, and just plain growing up is celebrated here.

This book is endorsed by SkidFest - need I say anything more.

This book covers everything that is UD. I know, for me, my memories of college can sometimes be "hazy". This book does an excellent job of bringing back those memories in a clear and concise manner. I highly recommend this book for anybody who set foot on the UD campus.

- Chubbs ('96)

I graduated from Delaware in 1999 and I found myself reading this book and saying "Gosh I haven't thought of that place, or that restaurant, or street, etc. in so long." When you spend four wonderful years somewhere it is nice to be reminded of why you loved it so much and this book truly covers it all!