4 comments about A Wind to Shake the World: The Story of the 1938 Hurricane.

1. Powerful hurricanes are infrequent visitors to New England. 'The Long Island Express' not only paid a visit---it dropped in unannounced on September 21, 1938 just as many summer residents were on the beach and closing up their ocean-front cottages. The weatherman gave no cause for alarm. "Cloudy skies and gusty conditions" did nothing to warn New Englanders of the imminent arrival of a 500-mile wide hurricane with peak wind gusts of 180 miles an hour.

   This is how the book jacket of "A Wind to Shake the World" describes the coming of the storm:

   "No one could have been prepared for the storm's ferocity. Sweeping suddenly northward from Cape Hatteras, building tremendous momentum as it advanced, the hurricane raced over six hundred miles in only twelve hours. Winds of 100 to 130 miles an hour and swiftly rising water of almost tidal-wave proportions slammed into the shore from South Jersey to Boston, most severely from Long Island to Cape Cod."

   The hurricane struck Long Island around 3:30 PM. Few of the summer folk or permanent residents on the Island's south shore had a chance to escape, as waves between thirty and fifty feet high pounded the coastline.

   Entire homes and families were swept into the ocean.

   September 21st was also the day that Everett S. Allen, recent college graduate and future author of "A Wind to Shake the World", began his first 'real' job as a reporter for the New Bedford 'Standard Times.'

   It took Allen over thirty years to recover from his own traumatic experiences during the storm, and write about one of the most under-reported natural disasters of 20th century America. Six hundred New Englanders were killed in less than twelve hours, and yet it is very difficult to find accounts of the hurricane that came to be called "The Long Island Express". I first heard of it in a story told by one of my Down East relatives---

   "On the day of the hurricane, a Yankee farmer received a package containing a barometer that he had ordered through the mail. No matter how many times he tapped it, the mercury remained stuck at the bottom of the glass. Finally, he re-packaged the 'broken' barometer and returned it to the post office. By the time he got back to his own property, his house had washed out to sea."

   If you are an armchair junkie of natural disaster stories such as "Isaac's Storm: A Man, a Time, and the Deadliest Hurricane in History," you should definitely read "A Wind to Shake the World." Although the survivors were interviewed over thirty years after the hurricane, Allen wrote that some of them still wept, "to see again the sick color of sky and sea on that day, to hear the scream of the wind, which was everywhere...to see man himself, face down and weaving like weed in the roiling shallows or open-mouthed and still, half-buried in the damp sand."




2. This is an excellent book, written by the late New England journalist Everett S. Allen, who actually lived through and covered the hurricane for his area newspaper. Because he grew up and had lived in many of the severely affected areas, he wrote with great knowledge and feeling, and you will finish reading the book with the feeling that you have actually gone through that terrible September 21 and its aftermath with the citizens of New England. This is a sad, but fascinating subject matter, and I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys American, and/or New England history. It is truly a great story of the indomitable spirit of the those who had to face a crippling hurricane, head on, with no prior warnings available to them that a killer storm was approaching a place where hurricanes were not in the scope of their reality. Read this book!



3. An absolutely terrifying example of what nature can do to mankind. Well written, and the author makes you feel like you are there, experiencing the horror. You simply cannot look away from what is happening before your very eyes. Some of the stories of what happened to people affected by the hurricane will make you weep, they're so sad. I recommend this book to anyone interested in history or natural disasters.



4. This book is composed mainly of vignettes of people's lives as they were affected by the hurricane as it moved up the coast. It appears to be very well researched; especially considering it was written long after the fact. You experience individual and family disasters by the hundreds as the hurricane moves up the coast. Some were covered in a line or two; others in a page or two. While I initially enjoyed reading about each event, by the time it got to Massachusetts, I was wishing a good editor had excised about 25% of them. I found myself skimming by then and wishing it would end.
   
   I'm not sure if the earlier hardback had photos or maps but the paperback had neither. I eventually got out some old National Geographic maps so I could follow the story. Surely there were some good photos that could have added a lot. At least there is a photo on the cover. Still, an interesting story of a unique (so far) event.

5 comments about Home Landscaping: Northeast Region: Including Southeast Canada (Home Landscaping) (Home Landscaping).

1. Home Landscaping: Northeast Region is a very informative book filled with beautiful photos. I don't think I will need another book while doing our landscape planning. Landscaping designs, expected sizes of plants and trees and shrubs, different colors and species, how to's, this book will cover all your landscaping needs if you live in new england.



2. A neighbor showed me her copy and I had to get one for myself. Great layouts, great plant selections, this book offers great ideas and variations and is FULL of information! I showed another neighbor the garden I am planning and now I'm buying her a copy as well. We are going to have a GREAT looking street!!



3. I recently became interested in gardening (now that I have a yard in which I can plant). This is one of my favorite books on gardening and landscaping. Great resource for those of us living in the northeast. Full of wonderful photos, explanations and illustrations. It gives many ideas for addressing certain areas of your yard (i.e. front entryway, patio, rock wall). Explanations are excellent; I learned a great deal from this book. Very well written. Highly recommended.



4. It's great the way these books are customized for each individual climate area here in the U.S. Saves a lot of wasted planning with the wrong plants and materials.



5. I have so many landscaping books that I never opened again after the first week I bought them. This is not one of those books. It's by far so much better than most of the other ones out there. It's well organized for info, and the plans are numerous and easy to follow. Not just for beginners. a really great book!

5 comments about His Share of Glory: The Complete Short Science Fiction of C.M. Kornbluth.

1. OK, I've read most of these stories already. And I already knew that Kornbluth was a great writer. But reading this volume all the way through -- and in pretty short order because I couldn't stop -- just reminded me how great a writer he was.

   If you have only dim memories of these stories, I guarantee that upon rereading them you'll be amazed at how much *better* they are than you remember. (Not all science fiction of that era holds up so well). If you've never read these stories, prepare to be amazed. This is a book that every lover of science fiction -- or just good writing -- should own, and read.




2. Cyril Kornbluth died almost a half century ago, leaving behind many great stories written in SF's golden age. The short stories have been conveniently collected into one hardcover.

   Kornbluth's stories are not sweetness and light, he writes of the darkness in the human spirit, even in the point of view characters in the books. "The Little Black Bag" is an example of how the urge to do good can fall to evil. "That Share of Glory," perhaps his greatest work, is the tale of a young man of the future who learns that even our urge to violence, that we attempt to keep hidden, is very much a necessary part of the human spirit.

   Every story is a gem. While some are written in a style which now seems somwhat dated, it is easy to get past that and recognize the genius who wrote them.




3. This may be the best collection of stories ever published, science fiction or not. Even anthologies that pluck the classic short stories of an entire decade would have trouble matching the works collected here.

   Cyril is cynical, at least he appears so, but he was also brilliant and entertaining. There is not a weak story in the collection and many are superb. The work is so good it is difficult to be dispassionately critical rather than gush with praise.

   We see many of the tropes of science fiction, common then and now used by Kornbluth, however they will appear new and brilliant even to the most well-read and jaded reader.

   The book may not make you feel good about humanity, but it will make you feel good about buying and reading it. It is one of the most entertaining, well written collections of short fiction I have come across and I am a big fan of short fiction.

   NESFA has done a huge service by collecting and publishing this volume, as well as other collections.

   Also pick up "Not this August" by Kornbluth, as well as "The Space Merchants" by Pohl and Kornbluth.




4. Kornbluth came out of that New York science fiction circle that produced Isaac Asimov and Fred Pohl, among many others. He died in his mid thirties or he would likely have been as familiar as these others to today's readers. Some of the finest moments in mid-Twentieth Century short science fiction are found here, including the award-winning "The Marching Morons." And some very interesting if quirky stuff. Kornbluth was prone to experiment, not content to mine the "mainstream." If you haven't read any Kornbluth, you may want to start elsewhere. His Share of Glory is a treat for the addicted, a newcomer to this author may want to try a lesser dose.



5. I tend to think of collections like these as a public service, an archive of sorts, gathering together all of the writer's stories in one place to save interested parties the trouble of an Indiana Jones-like foray through libraries and used bookstores hunting down anthology and magazine appearances. Speaking for myself, I had only had previous encounters with a couple of these stories, and the most famous of them, "The Marching Morons," I had, by some mischance, never read at all. It seems likely that many readers be in roughly the same situation as me, with the majority of your familiarity with Kornbluth's work coming in the form of his collaborations, most notably with Frederik Pohl.
   
   My first observation: there are a lot of stories here. My second observation: there are a lot of stories here, written over a very few years, all the more impressive considering how much other work Kornbluth, working with others, produced during his short career that isn't even included here. Most of them lack the sort of timeless quality present in stories of a similar vintage by, say, Ray Bradbury; that is to say, they read like SF stories from the 1940s and 1950s, which is what they are, and no shame in that. The sophisticated reader of SF will judge them on their own merits anyway.
   
   An overview (there are entirely too many stories here to evaluate each one individually): "The Marching Morons" is here, of course; those of you haven't read it probably think you know what it's about, but I'll wager that you'll find it's nothing like you imagined. "MS Found in a Chinese Fortune Cookie" is that rarest of gems, a story about science-fiction writing that isn't too inside or too cute for its own good (and its use of the epistlary form is inventive as well). "Thirteen O'Clock" is notable as an early example of the story wherein a person from our mundane world is transported into a parallel world of magic, faries, trolls, and so forth. "The Words of Guru" is simply disturbing, and there is no other word for it. When you read "The Luckiest Man in Denv," you'll think the premise is obvious, and that the twist ending is telegraphed; you're wrong. "Shark Ship" is probably one of the most unique stories I've ever read, taking two original ideas and jamming them together in a manner that took my breath away. And the opening story, "That Share of Glory," is a minor masterpiece of extrapolation and conjecture, wonderfully inventive. There is an appendix of stories that most people would consider hackwork, stories written in a hurry under psudonyms to fill space in magazines. Read these; it's true, they aren't up to snuff (I found "The Core" practically incomprehensible), but there are many interesting ideas here, nonetheless.
   
   His Share of Glory is equal parts hopeful and pessimistic. Many of Kornbluth's futures are, indeed, glorious. But other stories mitigate humanity's technological development with a corresponding cultural and intellectual backslide, and Kornbluth often projects a future in which people have degenerated to the point of imbecility except for a very few who frantically try to keep civilization afloat on their own. In any case, this is a book that may overwhelm you if you try to read it straight through; perhaps it is best appreciated over several readings. But this isn't something you'll want to have just so you can read it through and put it aside anyway; it's not that kind of book, and it serves a greater purpose than that. Kudos to NESFA Press for making this resource available.

3 comments about New England Waterfalls: A Guide to More Than 200 Cascades and Waterfalls.

1. Quite simply, this is the quintessential reference to waterfalls in New England. The guide provides a rating, description, detailed driving directions, and advice on the hike (if applicable) to 200 different waterfalls in Conneticut, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and the 1 waterfall in Rhode Island.

   Having used the book to visit a few waterfalls, I can attest that the directions are fairly accurate, and that I went to waterfalls I simply could not have found any other way. The state maps at the beginning of each section make it easy to plan trips that visit lots of waterfalls, or to "check" to see if you're going to pass one on your road trip.

   I look forward to using this reference for years to come. I thought the ratings were fair, the information accurate, and it was all presented in a useful and readable format.




2. I used this guide extensively on a recent trip to New England. While it has a good deal of information in it, the guide could be greatly improved by changing a few things.

   The organization of the book could be improved by using a sequential numbering scheme to identify waterfalls that are close to one another rather than the current scheme of numbering them alphabetically. Because of the current method, it necessitates a lot of flipping between huge ranges of pages to decide which waterfall to visit in even a very small area.

   The guide includes photos for a large number of waterfalls, but it doesn't include photos for all of them. I found several highly ranked waterfalls that were missing photos, but some waterfalls which were ranked much lower did include photos. The best solution would be to include photos for all the waterfalls included in the book.

   I appreciate the effort given by the authors to include driving directions because I wouldn't have been able to find most of the waterfalls without them. Unfortunately I found that there were times when the directions are confusing & there are also errors in some of the directions. In addition, directions are written less clearly than they could possibly be.

   One final suggestion would be to include the best time to view each waterfall and which direction does each waterfall face. Some of them have eastern exposure so they would be best in the early morning. Others have western exposure and would be best in the late afternoon. A choice few are situated perfectly enough to have southern exposure and they are good all day long. For the photographers in the crowd it would be great to find this final bit of info in the guide.

   Overall the book makes a good start to what could be the ultimate New England Waterfall guide.




3. I like waterfalls. I don't know why. I just do. So I liked this book as I found a bunch of them I had no idea exsisted. A great guide to this part of the country.

2 comments about New Hampshire: An Explorer's Guide, Sixth Edition.

1. The Explorer's Guide series provides in-depth travel information you can actually use, and the New Hampshire entry is no exception. Eating in good--not necessarily expensive--restaurants is a favorite part of my travel experience, and the authors' restaurant suggestions in the Lincoln/Woodstock area didn't steer me wrong.



2. This guidebook is wonderful in showing the many personalities of New Hampshire. With over 500 pages on our Granite State, it reveals the little-known gems that abound here. I checked out a copy from our library recently to explore southwestern New Hampshire, and it was so useful I am ordering a copy. It has excellent in-depth descriptions of inns, B&Bs and restaurants, as well as full descriptions of outdoor recreation opportunities. The writing is crisp and informative, and there are numerous photos. Maps are not plentiful, but the maps that are included are helpful. Recommended for residents as well as adventurous travelers.

No comments about Five Little Peppers and How They Grew (Dover Value Editions).

5 comments about Little White Lies: A Novel of Love and Good Intentions.

1. I really enjoyed this book, which actually kind of surprised me. I thought it was going to just be a bit of fluff -- some escapist chick lit that I could enjoy dipping into at the end of a long day while lolling in the bathtub.
   
   But then I found myself interested in the main character, Natalie, and the tangled web she wove as she took on another identity. She was, of course, a terrible liar, and a number of very entertaining things happened with the story's being neatly resolved at the end.
   
   This isn't deep or timeless literature. The character development is somewhat haphazard and the plot will gently test your credulity, but "Little White Lies" is a fun, interesting, entertaining book for the bath, beach, or comfy nook on the sofa.



2. Great book!! I couldn't put it down, i think I've read all of Gemma Townley's books now can't wait for the next one to come out!!



3. "Little White Lies" isn't an entire waste of time, but it is very predictable and repetitive. Take the plot of "Working Girl" and throw in a little "While You Were Sleeping" and that'll give you about 80% of the plot. Small town girl moves to the city with big dreams only to be initially disappointed. So, due to a few twists, she finds herself impersonating a more accomplished character. Enter the Perfect Guy and his appealing family, who love the protagonist for just who she is. But will they still love her when her deception is uncovered? That is the dilemma. There are all the standard cliches, including the scene where the protagonist is ready to reveal her lie, only to be interupted by someone who spills the beans for her. The ending is pure cotton candy. In fact, reading "Little White Lies" reminded me of why I often avoid chick lit. There are some good writers in this genre (and Townley is a competant writer, just not original) but the plots are so obvious that reading to the end often feels like a waste of time. I'll give this one points for the following: I learned a few things I didn't know (such as that Stonehenge and Bristol are near Bath) and there are at least two twists I couldn't predict (although they're both minor to the plot.) So... reader beware.



4. I read this book in a couple of days and it offered what I expected: fun, wit, romance and escapism from reality. Compared to other chick lit books it was very well written and didn't rely just on the storyline to attract readers. I liked very much the descriptions from Notting Hill although I've never been there and I also liked Natalie, the heroine and totally understood how she got in all that trouble with her white lies.
   
   On the negative side, it focused more in the difficulties a single woman moving in London faces today, even if she's working in a top fashion store and lives in the most hip neighboorhood, and the changes that this move brings to her character, rather than the romance between Natalie and Simon. It's a more of a character developing story than purely romance and this is the reason I had to rate it with 4 rather than 5 stars.
   
   Nice, light chick lit for undemanding readers but well written non the less. Will search other books from this writer ASAP.



5. Gemma Townley definitely knows how to absorb a reader into never letting the book down. Even with the busy schedule I was living,... I finished this book by staying up all night long and not sleeping a wink. This book was something i enjoyed a lot and allowed me to get away from the real world and live a fantasy world just for a day.

No comments about ZAGAT Cape Cod & The Islands Restaurants 2008/09 (Zagat).

No comments about It Happened in Connecticut (It Happened In Series).

1 comments about Backroad Bicycling in Vermont, Fourth Edition (Backroad Bicycling).

1. My husband and I are avid road cyclists, and we found this book to be a perfect guide for our recent vacation in Vermont. Rides are in all geographic locations across the state. The author features great rides with extremely clear directions, as well as tourist-focused descriptions for each of the towns that he takes you through. The rides are incredibly scenic, and the information on places to tour and eat along the way were invaluable to us. The only very minor complaint I have is that the charm of a few of the listed attractions are sometimes a little too enthusiastically stated - although all information was factually accurate. Make sure that you're getting the latest (2006) edition!