US Travel Books

This at least shows the fact that the origins of the USA's civilization is in the South. Spanish-speaking St. Augustine in Florida was the first European settlement, in 1565. The first-ever democratic elections in America were held in the Jamestown colony in 1607, etc. Because the North won the Civil War, they have written the history text books, which make it sound like Plymouth Rock was the cradle of the American nation. When in fact, the beginings of African-America were already one year in the past when the Pilgrims landed in New England, as African indentured servants landed on the Virginia coast in 1619. I am please to find Horwitz revealing the truth about this. I have not gotten there yet, but I am assuming he also credits the existence of the United States to the charity and patriotism of a Jew named Hayem Salomon; this man was an immigrant in New York from Poland, who bacame the wealthiest man in the Anglo-American colonies before 1775. Without his dedication and pocket book Continental Congress would not have had the resources to finance the Revolutionary War. In the middle of the 1780s, Salomon died penniless in a poor flat in New York. Congress never paid him back the vast fortune he contributed. But in recent years Congress did authorize the issue of a postage stamp bearing his likeness.

A really interesting look (and at times very funny) at the odd blank spot in American history between Columbus and Jamestown, especially odd since so much actually happened during that time; Coronado, Soto, the first European colony in the US at Fort Caroline (founded by French Huguenots and now Jacksonville, which was founded later after the colony was massacred by the Spanish). Also very thoughtful at times about a nation's memory and why we revere the jerks at Plymouth Bay Colony rather than any of their predecessors (who weren't exactly saints either).

For those who loved Confederates In The Attic, Tony Horwitz once again travels back into time, following the paths of Vikings, conquistadors and settlers. The main theme is the black hole Americans have of the time between Columbus and the Pilgrims, a not insignificant period of 128 years in which much occurred. Names like Coronado and DeSoto were just names in history books to many people, even well educated ones like Horwitz himself.

Horwitz writes about the historical misconceptions and other tidbits of this time which surround not only the explorers (Ponce de Leon was not in search of a fountain of youth, he never set foot in St. Augustine either) but also the natives (many Indian societies were scattered and loose confederations by the 16th century as opposed to their greater, more prosperous nations in centuries previous).

Some interesting moments in the book:

- Horwitz rightly condemns the lack of proper historical presentation in our time, for example St. Augustine turned into a Ponce de Leon theme park complete with pirates and the new pox of dumbed-down history, ghost tours.

- Regardless of the cruelty and single-minded gold mania of the conquistadors, Horwitz marvels at how they managed to march through inhospitable regions like the desert southwest and the swampy southeast. As for the atrocities they committed, there are many examples here. Still, Horwitz speaks to defenders of their legacy as well.

- Interesting modern day people and places abound: The Kansas Swedish Lutheran town situated at the Spanish Catholic Coronado's furthest exploration north. How the flooding of the Mississippi over the decades destroyed once-prosperous towns like Arkansas City, now a near-vacant settlement. The chaos of the modern Dominican Republic.

- The squandered legacy of the Vikings who failed to make inroads into the New World.

- The first Indian who met the Pilgrims spoke English and asked for beer. The Pilgrims weren't close to being the first people to settle on the east coast of the U.S.

Much more here, written in Horwitz's generally objective and inquisitive style. His trips to historical spots give a lot of modern day perspective. As with his other books, his visits to such places are met with either genuine interest or indifference.

Most of all, Horwitz engages the reader, regardless of political leaning. Contrast this to a book like Assassination Nation by Sarah Vowell, which could have been an excellent book but is poisoned by her bitter partisan rants. For all we know Horwitz could share a similar political viewpoint but he keeps an even-handed approach in this book.

The "truth" about America's origins is uncovered in interesting storytelling fashion. At times it reads like page turner. It might broaden a reader's viewpoint but it will make "little difference", because "...Myths didn't just trump fact; they helped create it." If you have played (or know about) rounders and tried to explain it's connection to baseball to almost any baseball fan you know the author is "right" about that. But that is not necessarily a bad thing it keeps our "foundation" stable and thus strong.

I heard Mr. Horwitz speak a few years ago. He mentioned that he was working on a book about the travels of De Soto. In the source section of this book, he mentions that he enough research on De Soto for three volumes. I suspect that he originally intended to have a book dedicated solely to De Soto and his travels, similar to Captain James Cook in Blue Latitudes. As the book developed, he and his editors thought it best to expand it to the breadth of discovery of North America. The result is somewhat a jumble. There is not the continuity you find in his other books. Chapter to chapter cover different subjects, and are disjointed. He tries to tie it together in a unified theme in the last chapter, but it does not really work.

The initial sections about Vineland and Columbus are a drag to get through. Instead of the usual observations about the current cultures and attitudes of the areas explored, these chapters mainly complain about the bugs, weather, crowds, or lack of crowds. The chapters in the Dominican Republic suffer, I think, because he does not know Spanish. He was not able utilize his greatest gift; effortlessly engaging in conversation with the local population, making them feel comfortable and unthreatened, and capturing their unguarded feelings and reflections.

The sections about Roanoke and Jamestown are the best in the book. These have the good balance between recounting the history and modern reflections that made his other books so great.

Never the less, I would recommend anyone read this, or any of Horwitz's books.

I've been on a bit of a traveling kick lately. I'm really interested in seeing different parts of the world and different parts of the US. I bought this book because I was planning a road trip to quite a few different states and I thought it would be a good reference book.

Let's talk about the positives first. In terms of how it's written, the book is organized by sections of the country (New England, the west coast, etc.) It's not hard to find a specific state. Second, there's something listed for everyone in all of the states. From theme parks to museums, from parks to restaurants, there's quite a bit of information in this book. The writer even mentions the best times of the year to visit a particular area as well as the cost. Also, the writer lists some recommendations (like what to eat at certain restaurants) which is a bonus.

And now for the negatives. I have to say that a good amount of the attractions listed are historical in nature. Now, I'm all for doing historical-related things but I wish there was a bigger selection of other attractions. Second, in my opinion, this book doesn't read like a typical book. I wouldn't find much enjoyment from reading it from beginning to end. This is simply a reference book.

Overall, I think this book is great to have on hand when you're planning a trip to another state. It has some interesting tidbits that may be useful. However, I'm sure there are better books out there.

1,000 places to go before I die? More like 1,000 spas and resorts and resturants. Big deal - the more money you spend, the bigger the wall you create between yourself and the local culture. Who wants to know about exotic resorts and five star restaurants? Don't tell me about the big ticket items! Tell me about quirky offbeat places with personality and charm, things I cant get anywhere else. Tell me about Hole in the Rock, UT. Tell me about The Last Stoplight on I-90. Tell me about a PLACE, not about how to spend money at generic locations.

Worthless.

I was pretty harsh on Schultz's previous international edition of this book. So I am going to be a little nicer here and admit that the book is fun to read through and does let readers know about some great places to visit that they might otherwise have never heard of.

But the fact remains that Patricia Schultz is who she is, a snobby writer for Conde Nast Traveler magazine who has an intense obsession with fancy hotels, restaurants, spas and resorts that are out of the price range of most travellers. I also agree with the previous reviewer that the more you enclose yourself within the gated confines of luxury the less of an authentic travel experience you are likely to have.

I was especially upset by Schultz's international edition because it reinforced the notion, that too many Americans already have, that global travel is only possible for wealthy jetsetters. Instead the truth is that travel on a budget is available to everyone. And, in fact, many backpackers manage to spend a year or more travelling around places like Latin American and Southeast Asia for less then the costs of paying rent and bills at home. Of course, the declining U.S. dollar is making this harder to do now, but that's a whole other story.

I see Schultz's fascination with the lifestyles of the wealthy and fabulous to be slighty less problematic in this book because Americans and Canadians are generally more aware of domestic buget travel options as compared to travelling abroad. Still I think if Schultz focused a little less attention on the Hamptons and Palm Beach, on $700 hotels and $300 restaurants, then she might have been able to write a book that is more useful to the ordinary traveller.

I have an 'undying' love for some of the places listed in this tome... and have a greater appreciation of the diversity and complexity of America to the South. I was hoping to see more similar places and people listed for Canada... but perhaps that is too much to expect from an American Publication. With todays Gasoline prices, reading about those American destinations and searching for them on the Internet is perhaps the only travel my family and I are likely to launch into.

New Mexico, South Carolina, Montana, Vermont, New York, Virginia, and Maine are some of the places I have lived that are well covered and reasonably represented in this guide (with the East certainly receiving more attention than the West). Although anyone can name worthwhile places not included, or argue about the appropriateness of some of the places that are included, overall, the balance of well-known attractions and lesser-known gems is a good one. There seem to be fewer expensive hotels featured in this book than in the world-wide volume, but emphasis on restaurants is stronger--not a bad thing for those of us who consider culinary treats an important part of travel and culture.
As with her other "1000 Places" volume, this guide provides more inspiration and travel ideas than practical travel details--that's what conventional guide books and the Internet are for. I love the book and recommend it to anyone considering travel.
-Lynn Michelsohn, author of Roswell, Your Travel Guide to the UFO Capital of the World!

Anyone interested in the civil war and the south will truely love this book. It is a unique look at reinactors and to the details they achieve for the simple passion they had for the war and soldiers that fought in battle. The author is a great story teller with wit and heart.

In the beginning of his work, Tony lays down the question that the reader expects will guide the course of the book: why does the War remain so important and prominent in the consciousness of Americans, even, and especially, amongst persons who have no family connection? In consideration of the fact that the War primarily was fought south of the Mason-Dixon (Gettysburg and a few major exceptions aside), Tony plans an impressive survey of the Southern States. His journeys take him from North Carolina, which he amusingly relates as trapped between two prideful neighbors, to the Deep South states of Mississippi and Alabama, where Martin Luther King and the racial struggles are of recent memory. He does not visit all the Confederate states (Arkansas, Louisiana, Florida and Texas are excluded) but he does manage forays into the border states of Kentucky and Maryland. A list of sites visited is impressive: Fort Sumter, Sharpsburg, Appomattox Court House, Chacellorsville, Wilderness, Spotsylvania, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, Five Forks, Andersonville, Gettysburg, Harpers Ferry, Shiloh, Manassas, the towns of the Shenadoah Valley. These are just a few that come to mind; there are many others.

Tony's approach for each state is consistent. He first goes to those cities or battlefields that are of known historical importance. Once there, he seeks historical societies or persons to whom he is referred. Two societies that continually appear in the work are the Sons of Confederate Veterans, and their female counterpart, the United Daughters of the Confederacy. He conducts informal interviews, and uses the information provided as a spring for further unplanned encounters in the environs. Inter-weaved with his solo treks are Tony's adventures with Rob Hodge, a "hardcore" re-enactor who crusades for the complete realization of Civil War realism, and who deplores modern intrusions.

I commend Tony Horwitz for attempting to dig beneath the surface, to make analogies and historical connections. He patiently listens to whom he calls neo-Confederates as they expatiate upon their views of the War, the meaning of flying the Confederate (Battle) Flag and how the official history of the war (written by the Northern invaders) distorts the truth behind the South's motives. He also shows that not all Southerners think alike on the War and on the flag issue. Some have little care for the heritage of the War, but have inherited and appropriated symbols of the Cause for their own cause: e.g. using the Confederate (Battle) Flag as a sign of rebellion against the status quo, or as a standard of white supremacy. Some Southerners go so far as to agree: The War is over. Let's get over it. The Southern blacks with whom Tony converses are preponderately opposed to the show of Confederate pride. Interestingly, at the end of the book, Tony relates of black schoolchildren who are just as cynical of Northern motives as they are those Southern. North or South, no difference, the leaders of both were white, i.e. racist against blacks. Even Abraham Lincoln does not escape criticism; the schoolchildren regard him as a "benevolent racist." (367)

Where Tony excels in his reporting, witticisms and the lucid, engaging tone that prevails throughout the work, there are several areas that significantly detract from the quality of an otherwise excellent piece of non-fiction. As the title of my review suggests, Tony understands the War as seen through the prism of the Civil Rights Movement. The two chapters that conclude the work, "I Had a Dream" and "Strike the Tent," in their contents serve as the interpretive crux of all the preceding chapters. In early chapters, Tony is cautious with his personal views, but finally he cannot hold them in any longer and lets loose (paralleling his explosive argument with Rose Sanders, a school teacher). He begins with a manifesto that, while in childhood the Civil War fancied his mind, it was the occurrences of the 1960's, in particular the Civil Rights Movement and the struggles that accompanied them, which developed his "political consciousness" (370). This is fine, except he conflates the racial issues of the 1960's with the issues of the War in the 1860's. Subsequent to this loose conflation, all manner of wild reflections are drawn. Race, segregation and discrimination, huge factors from the racial wars of the 1960's until today, become key issues in the War Between the States. Overcoming these issues would mean a unified country, where people believe and live alike, regardless of class, race or any other distinguishing characteristic. Great idealism, but were the historical motives of the War really of that ideal or to the extent that Tony imposes on it? Because what Tony sees in the South does not fully live up to his own ideal, he concludes wholesale rejection, rather than critical acceptance of what is good and rejection of that which is bad, as the best course of action. He facilely equates the traditional Southern view of the War as "propaganda," and he entertains the notion that the South would be better if it forgot its [War] history, since its history intrinsically relates to the racial strife and inequality of the 20th century. (376) "You Wear Your X, I'll Wear Mine" (in reference to Malcolm X and the design of the Confederate Flag respectively) is Tony's oft-repeated phrase of disgust, which also functions as his experience of the South as an entity: each side, Southern White and Southern Black, having its own history, but each of whose history is fueled by racial prejudices. Both must go.

In consequence on Tony's fixation on the issue of race, he cannot see the "States' Rights" argument as anything more than a concocted veneer to legitimatize darker motives: slavery and the assertion of racial superiority. Unfortunately, Tony does not even address the Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions, which long before the Confederacy advocated states ' rights in the face of an oppressive federal government. Neither does he address the different views of the Founding Fathers regarding the union and whether it was an unbreakable union or one which the states made and from which they could secede under certain conditions.

In the end, Tony Horwitz's presentation of the South is amusing, if wanting at times, especially in the evaluative concluding chapters. After writing so well and humorously on re-enacting, it is disheartening and a sneer, even when taken as jest, for him to conclude of re-enactment activities as "childish things." (388) He makes mention of the "Irreconcibles," a group of Confederates and their descendants that remains to this day in Brazil; but Tony laments he could not visit them. This is a true tragedy. Had Tony visited, he may have gained some illumination as to the Confederacy and the motives behind the Confederacy, and its self-professed advocates of today. The Civil Rights Movement did not impact Brazil as it did the U.S., and the perspectives there would provide a unique complement.

As will be the case with all my reviews, I'm going to record my reaction to the book, not summarize it. If you want to know what the book is all about, read a few of the longer reviews (which, at the time of this writing, numbered about 250.) Or better yet, buy it; it'll only cost you $10.17. Plus shipping, of course - and sales tax, if you live in Washington State.
I approached this book with a full head of righteous indignation. I was ready to be pissed off. I expected a hatchet job. How could anything written about the South by a self-proclaimed liberal, ex-union organizer named Tony be anything other than another perfunctory slap - if maybe a comical slap - at all those redneck, racist , reactionary, drawling good ole boys down there at the bottom of the country - who, moreover, have the temerity to vote Republican? (Full disclosure: I am white, retired, live in Washington State, and voted for Reagan. Twice.) Boy was I wrong! (About the book - not about Reagan.) Maybe I'm too old or dumb to deal with subtle innuendo, but on a quick first reading this book was fun, informative in a non-threatening way - and fair. Sure, the author talked to some people I'm happy I've never met, but heck, there are plenty of those right here in the Pacific Northwest, and I run into them all the time. This book introduced me to some interesting, even fascinating, people - Rob Hodges (on the cover) was worth the price of admission all by himself. Some advice to the potential reader: if you're looking for sober, closely reasoned political or psychological enlightenment, buy some other book - this one, while serious in places, is mainly just good, honest fun. And some advice to the author: Tony - stay out of biker bars. We want you around to write more books.

Well, ever since my seven year sojourn in Frederiksburg, Va., I've been trying to understand the jaundiced eye with which so many people in the south view that war, and the north. I guess the best thing that Horwitz gave us was Shelby Foote's explanation: the war was fought in their front yards. (except for Gettysburg...and here and there in Indiana and Ohio and D.C.) Also, I think they love the glorious romantic sense of loss of it all.
I loved reading this book. Horwitz is a smart fun guy.

A superb book. I'd have given it four and a half stars if possible. It doesn't merit five stars because of some repetitive sections. Laugh out loud funny in parts, ponderous (in a good way), well-researched, and eye-opening. This was a really fun book to read.

This book was not my first read by Bill Bryson and I will move on to other authors after this read. As I was reading this book I wondered why I had read as much of this author as I have.
Bryson tends to look down his nose at people and things that do not meet his obviously cultured standards. His anger whether displayed or passive aggressive has gotten old.
An example of my disappointment in this book is the author's report of New York City. Bryson couldn't find anything interesting within the 5 boroughs of the city.
His politically correct self contentment is no longer of interest to me.

This is my first Bill Bryson book, so I can't compare this book to his others. But I can say that I really enjoyed the sarcastic humor at the expense of middle America. Many authors try and fail to bring the same amount of wit to their books as Bill Bryson.

Bryson's journey took place in 1988, which makes the book a little dated. But you have to wonder how much less fun the trip would be with a cell phone, email, GPS and Yelp. It's a little depressing to read about how much had changed in this country in 1988, and realize that was 20 years ago.

This just doesn't compare to his earlier two books, nor to his recent memoir. I thought Kerry Shale did a poor job of narrating and finding Bryson's pace. Bryson did a wonderful job of narrating his own memoir ("The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid") and should insist upon doing the rest of his stories on CD.

Actually, 3.4 stars. I am always up for a good American road trip book and I have very much enjoyed Bill Bryson's other books. What I got was early Bryson before he found his heart and an America that was beginning to go to seed on its own indifferent overindulgences. If you have not read anything else by Bill Bryson, do not start with this. He got much better in a hurry and wrote some unmissable books, which you might not be inspired to go for if all you've read is this and ended up with a mild case of indigestion. And that would be a shame.

Anyway, in the late 1980's, Iowa native Bryson, who had spent his adult life to date living in England, returned stateside after his dad's death to rediscover America in much the same way his childhood vacations always went--a ramble by car through the heartland. He envisioned stopping in those small town motels with neon signs that had pots of flowers outside and a nice courtyard pool. He envisioned dining on decent local cuisine in a corner restaurant and later shambling about town on foot, discovering its pleasantries. He headed southeast from Des Moines on the first half of a figure eight shaped path that would hit 38 of the 48 contiguous states before he was done, in his mother's old Chevette. After a promising start in Pella, Iowa, things mostly don't go perfectly. He is often bored, the food and food service often not good, and he finds Americans mostly fat and leading unexamined lives while their heritage slips through their fingers.

Bryson makes a lot of bratty jokes and it is obvious he is writing more for his audience in England than here (when he describes the size of a place, for instance, he compares it to Shropshire). He reminds me of people who say they are licensed to tell Polish jokes because they are of Polish descent. That said, the reason I did not demote this more stars is that he was not wrong and not overly cruel about our unexamined lives circa 1987-88. Looking at his picture in time, America was an accident ready to happen. Now obesity is an epidemic, as is the wanton development and lack of municipal planning that has emptied our small towns and ringed our national parks and historic sites. It seemed to him then that we had lost an incredible amount of our cultural heritage already but for those of us who had progressively absorbed it daily without really paying attention, it is really hitting home now.

Bill Bryson drives aimlessly around America by himself and complains. Not his best work. Anyone who tucks into chicken fried steak every night doesn't get to critique restaurants. If he bothered to study about any culture other than Anglo-American, he might enjoy some of the areas he traveled through. He manages to use racial terms I honestly have not heard in three decades.

very good graphics and print quality. The only -ve is that the paper is very thin (for this price don't expect better). Spend few more and get the laminated one. Happy with what I got for the price!!!!

I was happy to see that this map had major roads on it in light-grey. Not overpowering, but you can get a good view of them. Map was in perfect condition rolled up. (The plastic package was marked $4.95 and I paid $5.95, but worth it!)

This is a good map, it is bigger than I thought it would be. I love it.

This is a nice map. I use it in my kindergarten class. I laminated it for durability and hope to be able to use it for many years.

I purchased this and the "World Map" together from Amazon, since they are made by the same company on the same material, much of my review will be the same:

I was hunting for maps large enough for a 6 and 10 year old to look at and comprehend, but cheap enough to be replaced once things change or the kids did too much damage to it.

The positives - this map is correct, it's large (we tacked them up in the hallway to the kids' rooms) and it's very colorful, which is good for 6 year olds. It has time zones, capitals, waterways, and mountain ranges all clearly marked

The negatives - it's not laminated, now if I was buying this for myself that would be fine, but the paper is also some strange form of paper that attracts and holds small sticky fingerprints. Being maps, little fingers are naturally attracted like magnets.

If you are making the purchase for an adult or a classroom, or if you intend to frame it, then I highly recommend this map. If you are buying for little ones, I'd spend the extra money to get a laminated version.

One last note - if you purchase from Amazon, they are not particularly well packed. They put them in a tube that is too large for the map so it bangs around and the ends get a bit bent up. Also they don't tape the ends of the tube so I had to have a second one sent after my first tube arrived empty and without ends on it. (It was actually the world map that was missing from the tube, but this one was packed in the same manner)

I think that this was a very good read. I really enjoyed the characters and the plot. However, I think that for a story that took three books to get to the "battle", the battle should have lasted longer than a chapter. But, while I agree that some of her early stuff wasn't as seasoned as her newer books, I really did like this book. In the Garden is still the best by far!

Whoever said this book is unimaginative is CRAZy! This trilogy is probably the best I ever read. It has everything you could want, fantasy, love, war and a lot more. It ends just perfect. You are missing out if you don't read this series! The first book kindof focuses on two of the main characters but you will hear of the others a lot more in the following books. They are perfect. Nora Roberts is Fabulous!

I don't usually like vampire tales, but I must say Nora Roberts once again has caught me up in her story telling. She transports you from modern day to days of old in this trilogy. Even if your not that crazy about Vampire tales, try this one and the other two. They are a great to read.

This book and the two that followyed it were amazing. Not only did I love them but my Mom who very rarely reads could not put it down!!! I would suggest it to everone!

This one, and the other two in this trilogy pleasantly surprised me. I had no idea Nora Roberts wrote fantasy or paranormal romance. I'm an avid reader in this genre, and not into straight romance, so I've never picked up any of her books before. These caught my eye, and I'm glad they did. Very nice!

A Lion to Guard us Review


The Book, A Lion to Guard us is by Clyde Robert Bulla and illustrated by Michele Chessare. I think the book was good to me because it has a lot of sad moments and a lot of adventurous moments. And when there is a suspenseful part of the story they might end the chapter. Jemmy takes care of the door knocker their father gave them. Meg was the youngest she stayed by Amanda's side She was to quiet to step up and help much.

The main characters are Amanda, Jemmy, and Meg and their father.

Amanda, Jemmy , and Meg's Father gave them a lion door knocker before he lift for Jamestown for three years. They didn't see him since.
Amanda is the oldest of the group. She has to take more responsibility for Jemmy and Meg. [..]. He keeps care of the lion

I won't tell much more or I will ruin the story!!!

Lion to guard us review




I would read lion to guard us if you like not to fast and not to slow books. Lion to guard us is a somewhat sad story a slow and some might put a little dull adventure.
There are three main characters. One is Meg the youngest girl, jimmy is in the middle for the ages. Amanda is the oldest and looks after them. Lion to guard us is a middle problem. Like when people steal oh wait I don't want to give the book away if you want to know read this book. Meg Jimmy and Amanda are going to Virginia for a reason and if you want to know the reason READ THIS BOOK!!!!

Lion to Guard us
Hello. My name is Ryan Adams. I will tell you about my story. The plot is that Jemmy, Amanda, and Meg will reach their dad in Jamestown. He is building houses for the colonists. At the beginning, their dad left them with the cook, mistress tippet, Sir Randolph. When he was about to leave he gave them the lion doorknocker head. He said, "This is the lion to guard you." Then they tried to look for him. Well, I can't tell you the whole story, so I will tell you why the story was great!
I really couldn't put it down because it was so tempting to find out if they find it or not. You should read it to find out too. The style of the author is sort of old fashioned.

See ya later!
Ryan Adams

LION TO GUARD US

This book is very good I really loved it. Amanda, Jemmy ,and Meg Freebold are all alone their mother is dead and their father is in Jamestown. Later Dr. Crider brings them to his house . The next day he took them to the boat heading for Jamestown. The writer tells the story in 1609. I really liked this book. I give this book five stars.

This story is about a girl named Amanda freebold and her 2 younger siblings, Jemmy and Meg. At the beginning the 3 children and their mother live with a rich old lady named mistress trippet In London, England. She makes them work for money, except Meg and Jemmy. Their father went to Virginia to seek fortune. One day their mother got sick and eventually dies, so they run away from mistress trippet. They run into their mother's doctor Dr. Crider who takes them in. the next month they get on a ship to go to Virginia, it shipwrecks in Bermuda, they make a small town and leave on 2 makeshift boats to Virginia.... My favorite part is when Dr. Crider finds the children running away.
By: Patrick

The eloquence of composition surely necessitated infinite use of superlatives and verbs, resulting in a requisite painstaking remostrance to the reader, thus fettering the effusion and disembogulation of the document. In other words, wouldn't it have been better to just leave all of the fluff out of the book and just write as if the reader is someone other than the Queen of England? If you can weed through all of excessive use poems and verbs, it's a halfway decent book

This book is an amazing work of art. At times it's baffling, and at times almost impertinent--like when the author decides to describe every object in an entire home, and yet in all these things and in all the conflicting emotions it evokes, it creates a mood and a feeling and a setting that will seep into your skin and fog your brain for months.
The writing is beautiful, the story it tells--of poor, sharecropping, depression-era families--is heartbreaking, and the experience of reading about it all is like a baptism by fire. This book just might re-wire your brain.
I think this is a much better read than Agee's "A Death in the Family," and that one won the Pulitzer Prize. Read this, for sure.
I read it on a bus trip across Guatemala, and the way Agee's descriptions of the old southern poverty fit the poor little towns full of Guatemalan coffee pickers was uncanny.
Let Us Now Praise Famous Men, and let us start with James Agee.

UPDATE: It's years later, and this book has never stopped haunting me. I think of it almost daily. If I were to review it today, I would definitely give it Five Stars.

Let us Now Praise Famous Men, in all its poetry and prose, reminds me of an epic, like the Hindu Mahabharata or Homer's Iliad and Odyssey. The lyrical narrative reveals just as much, if not more about Agee, than his subjects. His writing style excludes his subjects as readers.

His prose, which tends to be lofty and cerebral, is also beautiful and brilliant. But, I often wondered, who he was
writing for? The New Yorker audience? The distance in his observations often left me feeling cold. I imagine these hardworking sharecroppers exhibiting some joy, some evidence of warmth, of hope. But I had difficulty finding it in Agee's voice.

The length of Agee's sentences and paragraphs were long, each containing an entire scene, and I labored through them, hoping sleep would not steal me from a passage I might not finish. It was as though Agee too, was afraid sleep would come and steal him from his mission, and so kept hacking away at each sentence, adding commas and colons and semi-colons, lingering his thoughts across the page.

Whatever level of consciousness Agee existed, I could not hang with him for any more than a couple of sentences, as I would fall off the page and have to find my way back into the scene. Where was I? You get the picture...

Agee also uses parenthesis and colons, often not giving his parenthesis a mate: (This struck me as rather unusual and often, cold and detached--more like a voyeur. Did he fabricate his own method of communication using punctuation or was this being done elsewhere at the time? I felt left out of his thoughts when he did this, like when two people are communicating via sign language and you can't make out a word they're saying. Was he doing this in a way to urge us to "think," to stretch beyond the ordinary conventions and try something on that is foreign and unfamiliar, like his subjects and their hardship?

Excellent editon of this wonderful, classic work. A series of visual and verbal snapshots of the South as a third world country, the South of the 1930's.

James Agee's painstaking and honest masterpiece is an exercise in empathy. It is a beautiful, tortured writing that speaks to both the deplorable conditions of the Depression-era souther sharecropper and the humanity of trying to present them in a favorable light.

Agee's writing style is at times erratic-- which helps to give the book its character. It is often self-doubting, as Agee calls himself a spy and frequently second guesses his role in accurately reporting the families' lives. Beautifully done and a groundbreaking classic in ethnographic fieldwork-- a must read!

Excellent packaging. Detail is pretty simple, and no boundaries are illustrated for the States, Russia, etc. It's very basic, but good for a quick glance.

I needed a map for a school project. I loved the fact it was already lamenated!

I bought these for my son's 9th b-day, I hung it on his wall with blue painters tape, We didn't need anything fancy just something that if he had a question he could go look it up himself. It's not the worlds sturdiest map, but if you are looking for something simple it's perfect.

I particularly like this this over sized map of the world as it stands out in itself. The finish allows one to point to different places unhesitatingly knowing they will not mar the finish. Because the countries are in tones of varying colors and labeled with eye friendly sizes, it is easier to spend more time checking out places you wish to locate. You also get a better sense of distances versus looking on a globe. This map is not only a great reference and teaching tool, it lends itself to be on the wall of your study or office.

I gave this product 4 stars because Russia is still one big area not broken up into its sections. Guessing it was made before 1990? Expo dry erase markers come off very easily. Map is large and I it's just what I expected!

These maps were exactly what I was looking for. They are large and readable with colors to set apart each state or country. You will enjoy these maps and your children will learn easily from them.

These maps were just what I was looking for. The maps are large enough to actually read. And although they are not laminated cardstock (like what some of the other reviewers were expecting), it is still laminated and serves its purpose. I have one up in my 7 year old's bedroom and he absolutely loves it. And I have the other up in the closet. For the price, I think this was a great buy.

These were two fully laminated 50"x38" beautiful maps shipped in a long skinny rectangular box.
My 2 1/2 yr old loves to put stickers on the map to show where we and our relatives live.
A great value!

I wanted something that didn't cost alot, and that the kids (ages 7&5) could use. These maps are a little bit big, but the kids thought they were great. They are laminated so I didn't have to worry about them tearing while I put them on the wall. I would recommend these maps.

They ARE LAMINATED maps, but in a plastic paper format.
Plus, they are in a long, triangular box, not huge regular box anymore.

The map quality is good. Take a whole week to be ready for delivery, so the total from-order-to-home time is two weeks. Overall, it is a good deal.