5 comments about Ten Hours Until Dawn: The True Story of Heroism and Tragedy Aboard the Can Do.

1. Michael J. Tougias, Ten Hours Until Dawn: The True Story of Heroism and Tragedy Aboard the Can Do (St. Martin's, 2005) ***
   
   After the runaway success of The Perfect Storm and In the Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex, I rather expected there to be a flood, pardon the pun, of nonfictional tales of derring-do on the high seas. It never happened; Sebastian Junger turned his attention landward, Nathaniel Philbrick has only released a single book since, and the rest of the literary world seems to have met this possible developing trend with a thundering silence. Until, that is, Mike Tougias released Ten Hours Until Dawn, set in the same basic space of The Perfect Storm, but a number of years in the past, during the Blizzard of 1978, a storm that will long be remembered by anyone who happened to be living in the northeast at the time.
   
   Ten Hours Until Dawn was written by a journalist, which is not normally a bad thing. The downside to it is that journalism makes for great half-pagers, but across two hundred-odd pages, it can get a little dry. Tougias has a very worthwhile story here, and tells it competently; however, it could have been told a bit better.
   
   It's the story of Frank Quirk and his pilot boat Can Do, based out of Gloucester, Massachusetts. When the Global Hope, an oil taker, runs aground a few miles south of Gloucester, the harbor patrol sends a couple of boats out after it, and those two boats get caught in the Blizzard of '78, which roars out of nowhere. One gets lost, and the Can Do goes out after it. Eight hours later, the Can Do, also lost, makes its final radio transmission. From the radio transcripts and the aftermath of the storm, Tougias weaves the tale of what may have happened aboard the Can Do that night, as well as the tales of what happened to those two Coast Guard ships (both of which made it back to port) and the Global Hope. There are a number of times during this narrative where Tougias' journalist style serves it well; the simple just-the-facts-ma'am delivery adds a depth to the action. It stumbles, however, when the subject is the humans themselves; even when Tougias is relating the worlds of the survivors, the prose seems oddly wooden in spots, as if the goal is to check in, get a quote, and get back to the action.
   
   Don't get me wrong, it's a good book, and an incident that certainly deserved to be enshrined in the national consciousness. Pick it up, give it a go. ***



2. As a former active Coast Guard sailor (Korean War) I found this book reading at it's best. Tells the life Coast Guard people, along with the harbor pilots, fishermen and others that "Go Down To The Sea in Ships" can encounter.



3. A very well researched and documented story. As a member of the USCG and having been stationed at Gloucester Station and having been born and brought up in the area of the story I found the book extremely interesting. Highly recommend this book to any persons interested in the true story of the men and women of the Coast Guard.



4. This is a compelling story about real people doing what most wouldn't think of doing. It's infuriating that the captain of the freighter was so thoughtless. If he had been anything but a complete waste of time, Can Do would still be here. Read this book carefully and learn what is happening out there. The media ignores fishing and the ocean unless something bad happens. Your life is affected by the ocean and you should know how.



5. I think the author really is a good writer and researcher, and enjoy the book where it is telling the story which is promises to tell. The book shows evidence that Tougias didn't want to take the time to rewrite the plot progression as he discovered critical new details after the book was half written. Also, there are not enough "interesting" details of the story to fill a book which can be sold for a standard book price, so the author and editors saw fit to fill it up with digressions, side stories, and over-the-top speculation.
   
   Side stories: No problem with a side story or two with a close association to the primary story, but many of the stories have no relation to the Can Do at all. These stories are interesting in themselves and I'd like to read them in an anthology of nautical disasters. But when story-after-story like this are inserted between chapters of a chronological story, it massacres the suspense and the flow. For those side stories which are justified, instead of setting them up chronologically so you learn to love the characters, they are thrown in where the author happened to be at when writing the book (author says that he had already written the first two chapters when he found out about... )
   
   Digressions: Lessons about nautical history, emergency survival, survival psychology, and any many other topics would be fine if they were short enough to not stop the flow--- but they are very distracting here because they are very long and very frequent. If I want to learn all about emergency survival for mountain climbing, I would much rather find an "expert" on that topic on the web or in a dedicated book than reading the haphazard and distracting summaries here.
   
   Speculations: A little speculation may be necessary when covering an event with no surviving witnesses, but some of the late chapters are 95% fanciful speculation about what each crew member may have been thinking, and even how they looked at each other. One egregious speculation which totally conflicts with the other speculations, which praise the determination and pertinacity of the principals, is that they may have discussed the cowardly option of killing themselves with Frank's hand gun.
   
   Subjectivity: It's apparent to anybody who reads this book that the author lost all objectivity by the time he wrote the later chapters, probably from the close and emotional relationships he had formed with surviving family members by then. Every single incident discussed attributes the most noble sentiments and impulses to the primary characters, and to the author's friends. It's funny that at the time of the accident, each character with a family had a perfect family life. Frank was the perfect family man, though he slept on his boat instead of at home most of the time. A suicide occurs late in the book, but it somehow happened in spite of the perfect family environment, with no influence of drugs, loneliness, or romances... of course it was the inevitable outcome of a death in the Can Do 4 years earlier.
   
   Childish mysticism: I put this last, because most people in the US do prefer to pretend that guardian angles protect people, that dead people visit and help survivors, that the dead float around in heaven chit-chatting with people who died years earlier, and that ghosts serve as muses for writers. However, it annoys educated people when adult writers start with the assumption that these fictions are true, and apply no skepticism when, for example, an alcoholic reports waking up in the middle of the night to a visitation, then goes back to sleep. A responsible adult must at least consider the possibility that in the middle of the night people may dream about what they wish for. Suggestion for Tougias: Grow up.

3 comments about Nantucket Ghosts.

1. I bought this book while vacationing on Nantucket in hopes for a good scare. Written by a children's book author, I was expecting the scares to be watered-down and the fantasy to be fluffed up. This was not the case. The stories are well-written and captivating. The author includes first-hand accounts from witnesses and has managed to round-up some really bizarre and extremely creepy ghost stories.



2. The people you will meet in these accounts are lovely people. People you'd want to have over for dinner, or ask to recommend a book to you. People you might have sit your dog or borrow a cup of sugar from. And they have some very scary things to say. You may or may not believe in ghosts when you begin this book, but after finishing it, you'll have to wonder. Not recommended for bedtime reading!



3. This book was a page-turner right from the beginning. This is quite simply one of the best ghost story collections I have ever read, especially for one that is concerned with such a concise regional area. The stories are well varied, the writing is snappy and moves right along, and the storytellers keep nicely to the point. There's no embellished fluff or rehashing of old legends here. ALL of these stories are first-hand accounts witnessed by contemporary people. Some of these tales will make you smile, some will make you chuckle, and others will quite effectivley put a lead ball in the pit of your stomach.
   
   The author has nicely captured the essence of Nantucket by letting the people describe their heritage for themselves. Her detailed descriptions of the architecture bring alive these places for you. Nantucket is one of those places you'll never forget once you have been there, and these candid people will help show you why. In addition to all the local history and genealogy, doors open and close, sturdy latches won't stay shut, lights turn on and off, voices of all types haunt present day residents, ghostly footsteps abound, and much more! I was especially intrigued by the lady whose entire family of ancestors seems to be staying on in her house with her.
   
   Having grown up in a Massachusetts home built in 1788, I can appreciate the value the residents place on preserving their historical and generational traditions. This book will give you a real sense of how these people relate to their island, their homes, and their living history. If you are interested in Nantucket, or just love curling up with a good ghost story or two, this one's for you.

1 comments about Fodor's Maine, Vermont & New Hampshire, 11th edition (Fodor's Gold Guides).

1. FODOR'S MAINE, VERMONT & NEW HAMPSHIRE, 11TH EDITION is an excellent overview of the northernmost New England states. In addition to telling the reader about available opportunities in each area for recreation, dining, nightlife, shopping, and lodging, it also discusses the history of the area and mentions where you can go to learn about the history of each state. Anyone who, in 1984, saw the based-on-fact movie WHY ME?, in which the lead character's face is virtually destroyed in a car wreck caused by a drunk driver, might enjoy reading the Maine section's blurb on the home of anti-alcohol crusader Neal Dow, who invented Prohibition in 1851, while people who want inspiration to fight for what's important to them will love the parts of the Vermont section about Ethan Allen-related sites. Granted, this book does manage to miss some independent book and record stores, and includes little or nothing about radio stations in each area, but overall, it gives you a great picture of what northern New England is really like.

5 comments about The Heart and Stomach of a King: Elizabeth I and the Politics of Sex and Power (New Cultural Studies).

1. If you are intrigued by the life and reign of Elizabeth I, you will enjoy this book, whether you agree with all the author's conclusions or not. She gives some interesting insights to the challenges Elizabeth faced as a female monarch and describes how Elizabeth both compensated for her femininity and used it to her advantage during her reign. You will also get a taste of how Elizabethan culture affected the politics of her reign. The book takes an academic approach but is very readable by a layperson. I gave it a 7 only because it slows down in places and I think the author is reaching in making some of the connections between gender and politics that she does. But overall, interesting insights to Elizabeth as leader.



2. Carole Levin's study of Elizabeth I is unprecedented. This study not only gives readers who are unfamiliar with Elizabeth an idea of her life and desires, but it is explicates the problems behind a woman being a monarch in her own right in 16th century England. If one is interested in both English Monarchy and Women's Studies, this study will be enjoyed.



3. This is a beautifully researched, well written, thought provoking study of how one of the most interesting and powerful women in history negotiated gender restrictions during her 45 year reign. Not just a standard biography, "Heart and Stomach" looks carefully at Elizabeth's use of gender perceptions and roles to present herself as the great queen that she was. I've used this book as a text in the classroom and I've recommended it to readers and scholars who are interested in all things Renaissance and in women's history. It's always a hit!



4. "I may have the body of a weak and feeble woman, but I have th heart and stomach of a King" - Elizabeth I

   This quote from Elizabeth I says a lot about this book. Professor Carole Levin examines how Elizabeth I was able to use her role as a woman (where traditionally, the public viewed women as incapable, weak, dependant) to her advantage and at the same time she ruled like a "King". Levin also examined how Elizabeth was so successful in her reign and at the same time, she was not the typical "woman" of her time; she was childless, and unmarried. She portrayed herself as a "Virgin Queen" - as in she was married to her country.

   It is important to note that this is not a biography of Elizabeth I but a book that gives a new perspective of Elizabeth I, that helps us to understand the overlapping of politics with gender and sexuality. Levin did an excellent job in using unconventional sources such as gossips, rumors, religious works, diplomatic correspondence that makes it a distinctive scholarly work. This book is also very easy to read, and even if you don't have a substantial backgroup in pre-modern European history, you will not have a problem in reading this book




5. In an age when the English government lacked a professional bureaucracy or a standing army, the authority of a monarch rested on their legitimacy. As a woman occupying a position traditionally held by men, Elizabeth I faced a special set of challenges in this regard. Trapped between the contrasting expectations of sexuality and politics, she sought to represent herself in a way that allowed her to maintain her legitimacy - and thus her power - in a tumultuous age. In this book, Carol Levin analyzes Elizabeth's efforts to project this image, as well as how she was perceived by her contemporaries as both a woman and in her role as a monarch.
   
   In a series of overlapping essays, Levin focuses on her court's manipulation of images of royalty and the public's reaction to them. The essays are roughly chronological, as the early ones examine the problems of her succession and the early response to her rule, while the later ones consider the challenges she faced as her reign came to an end. Throughout the chapters, Levin charts the ways in which Elizabeth balanced the contrasting expectations she faced, in the end successfully assuming the masculine roles her position required while still exhibiting the femininity her people expected of her.
   
   Levin's book is an interesting, if fragmented examination of Elizabeth's images and how they were received. Her study of these often overlooked elements of Elizabeth's reign helps the reader understand how Elizabeth succeeded as a woman in one of the most masculine of jobs. While few of the arguments she makes are original, she presents her case effectively with a convincing analysis backed by considerable research. For anyone seeking to learn how Elizabeth balanced the demands of her position with those of her gender, this is a good book to read.

5 comments about Giant Bluefin.

1. As a life-long Cape Cod reader it was a treat to read of people and places I recognized. From the familiar trip out of Barnstable to"Nick" Nickerson, who taught my drivers education class in 1973 before going back to fishing full time. I gained a new regard for my neighbors who work on the sea. A very good read.



2. Excellent book In depth behavior of fishermen for this fish and of the fish



3. I thought this was a great book to learn about the bluefin and the fishng for them. It is crazy the amount of money these fish go for. These fish hav incredible power I believeit states in here that if you tied a bluefin to a marlin tail to tail the blufin would win. great book give it a try.



4. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and found it surprisingly engrossing. It introduced me to a whole other world, the world of commercial fishing, one I knew little about, a world filled with rivalries, friendships, a long history, a world I think most Americans don't appreciate. Though focusing primarily on the harpoon fishery of the giant bluefin tuna or "jumbo bluefin" (known by the scientific name of _Thunnus thynnus_) of New England waters, the author Douglas Whynott discusses fishermen who use other methods (such as trolling or using a purse seine) as well as problems that the fishing industry and that individual fishermen face in general as well as some topics in marine biology.

   The giant bluefin fishery is a lucrative market, with individual fish often worth $40 or more a pound (when fat after having feed all season on local prey fish), some fish bringing in at market prices as high as $50,000 per fish (though often much lower than that). The highest prices are obtained in Japan, where red tuna meat (maguro) is highly prized. Individual fish are packed in ice and air-lifted over to Japan, each specimen analyzed there at market in a method not unlike a raw diamond is regarded by professional jewelers so that the best cuts could be made, all so Japanese restaurant goers can pay upwards of $75 for a single serving of raw fish.

   Whynott relates how the bluefin tuna fishery has come a long way; the bluefin was once called the "horse mackerel" and worth a mere five cents a pound, generally being served as cat food. In fact in the early 20th century they were even thought to be poisonous and were primarily caught so that the fish could be boiled to produce lamp oil. Fishermen who specialized in bluefin have often had to get other jobs when the fishing season was over, whether fishing for cod or other fish, shrimping, harvesting mussels, or even working non-fishing jobs, something that has been slowly changing as the market for bluefin has become more lucrative though not still quite prevalent.

   The fish obtained for the sushi market are provided by the harpoon fishery of New England, an industry that while using spotter planes to locate schools, sophisticated devices to measure water temperature, and a knowledge of esoteric regulations in international committees and national organizations that govern quota size for each season's catches (regulations that are often the subject of intense debate, a topic well-covered in the book), Japanese market preferences (to properly grade fish often takes year of experience, as each fish taken to market is graded on freshness, color, fat, and shape), and even currency fluctuations (as upward or downward exchange rates of the yen versus the dollar can mean large differences in prices received), still relies on a single man hand-throwing a bronze-headed harpoon at a fast moving fish (albeit a harpoon rigged so that a powerful 800-volt electric shock can be delivered to the animal). No other method will do, as purse seining damages the fish and no other method can reliable catch the giant bluefins that the Japanese so highly prize. The harpooners operate from boats that are often called "stick boats," constructed with long pulpits built off the bow and out over the water, the pulpit sometimes more than 25 feet in length (designed so that they could be cranked up while in harbor), a stand at the end of which is where the fishermen hurls his 12 foot harpoon.

   What made this book so interesting in part was the portrayal of individual fishermen, the author following their trials and tribulations over several seasons. Whynott focused mainly on two fishermen - Bob Sampson, captain of the _Scratcher_ and his son Brad Sampson - and a spotter pilot, Fred Brooks or "Brooksie," going out with them in all manner of weather, relating their hopes and aspirations and the many problems that they have faced. It was not hard not to root for them after a while.

   The tuna themselves are of course well-covered in the book, a fish species that arrives every year to the Gulf of Maine to fatten on the locally abundant schools of mackerel, sand eels, and herring, a rich feeding ground that attracts all manner of marine life including several species of sharks, whales, and porpoises, throughout the summer increasing their body weight by more than 7.5 percent per month. The bluefin is a fascinating animal, the largest of the finfish (up to ten feet in length and a thousand pounds in weight), among the fastest (which can swim in 50 mile an hour bursts, able to beat their tail fins at frequencies of thirty cycles per second, providing 90 percent of their locomotive power), and one of the most migratory of all animals (with some tagged individuals known to have made 8,000 mile round trips feeding and spawning forays through the Atlantic). Bluefins have a very sophisticated physiology, having large blood volumes and the highest proportion of oxygen among fishes, concentrations of hemoglobin as high as that of humans, their gill surface area the highest of any fish species, producing what is the metabolically active of all fish species; an animal that is "warm-blooded" or endothermic, able to maintain body temperatures of between 77 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit while swimming in waters between 45 and 86 degrees from Brazil to the Gulf of Mexico and the Mediterranean to Norway. The bluefin is truly one of the ocean's top predators, essentially a tropical fish that has evolved to take advantage of underutilized food resources in subpolar waters.

   An absolutely excellent book, one I would highly recommend.




5. so well-written and in-depth coverage of a dying and classic method of fishing for the richest fish in the sea.

5 comments about New England Forests Through Time : Insights from the Harvard Forest Dioramas.

1. Imagine yourself transported back in time to an ancient forest in central New England prior to settlement. As in a time lapsed movie, the ecosystem is transformed before your eyes into a subsistence farm surrounded by forest, to one dominated by prosperous farms with only remnant patches of forest dotting the land, to the forest reclaiming the abandoned farm landscape. This was part of an ubiquitous land use history that was replicated througout much of New England. The history is superbly depicted in Foster's and O'Keefe's "New England Forest Through Time: Insights from The Harvard Forest Dioramas". The narrative and photographs of the breath-taking dioramas capture the economic and natural forces that shaped the New England Landscape. The description and pictorials cover the abuses the land suffered from deforestation, overgrazing, and widespread clearcutting, and exacerbated by unnaturally high incidence of fire. The book expounds upon the different wildlife habitat associated with the changes that have occured as well as forest management techniques and current forestry issue. This book is an excellent tool for natural resource managers and educators as well as the layman who wants to know why there are apple trees, stone walls, cellar holes in the middle of the woods.



2. Perhaps microcosm is not quite the world, Forests Through Time offers a fascinating angle of insight into one aspect of the ecological development of New England. For a wider angle, one reads Bullough's Pond, and for the complete picture of the land in colonial times, Changes in the Land. This however is a fascinating view and well worth perusing.



3. Many people do not realize that Harvard University has its own forest in New England. The forest has been a source of study for silviculture since its founding in 1907 for almost 100 years.

   In the late 1920s, Harvard professor Richard T. Fisher joined with a philanthropist, Dr. Ernest G. Stillman, and talented artisans in the studio of Guernsey and Pitman in Harvard Square to develop a remarkable series of dioramas to capture conservation issues for future generations of silviculture students to study. These dioramas are the basis for the text and illustrations in this book.

   New England was mostly ancient forest when the European settlers arrived. The small Native American population cleared only a modest portion of the forests, and used the game from the forests rather more than the timber. With immigration, New England rapidly became one big farm. So much for the original forests. Next, the New England farms were put out of business by richer, midwestern farms shipping their goods to the east. Within a few decades, new forests arose to cover the temporarily cleared and abandoned fields. With rapid growth in pines, a second wave of clearing occurred about a hundred years ago, leaving the forests to start to regrow again. The current hardwood-dominated forests are a result of this man-driven process. These experiences provide many lessons for understanding the impact that people have on forests, and for suggesting better practices for the future.

   In one sequence of seven dioramas depicting the same place over time, you can see the whole historical process take place. I found it fascinating. I recognized in each image places that I had visited in New England. Now I can connect each site to what it represents in terms of environmental circumstances. That is like learning to read nature in the way I can read a book to get a message.

   Today, we think ahead further (but probably not yet far enough) to consider the implications of our actions on future generations and other species. These dioramas show the importance of capturing the natural history of an area to begin to draw those lessons.

   Another set of dioramas were designed to exemplify the conservation issues in New England forests, including loss of old-growth forests, habitat needs for wildlife, natural losses due to hurricanes, erosion from cutting forests, imported pests that feed on forests, and the impact of natural fires and fighting forest fires.

   To me the most fascinating part was in the suggested good principles of forestry management. Each stage of forest growth and regrowth is displayed, along with what needs to be done for each stage. This reminded me of being asked about what to do by a client with very large holdings of forests in Maine a few years ago. If I had known about these dioramas, I could have given much more appropriate and valuable advice. I do feel quite a pang of regret at the missed opportunity, as a result.

   The final section of the book shows the detail of how the dioramas were created.

   The book also tells you about the history of the Harvard Forest and how to reach the Fisher Museum where the dioramas are displayed. I recommend the visit!

   The reference to Bullough's Pond in the title of this review is for the highly regarded book that slightly preceded this one, about the ecological history of a man-made pond in Newton, Massachusetts. If you have not yet read that fine work, you have a real treat ahead of you. Anyone who is interested in understanding the rhythms between humans and nature can learn much from these two books.

   Having read these two books, a new question occurs to me. At one time, forest fires were aggressively avoided in New England. The current view is that these are a natural process and should not be so aggressively countered. Where else do our views need to be shifted to reflect the long-term best interests of all?

   How should use of forests and water reserves be adjusted to reflect optimum benefits for the next ten generations? How would our use change if this question were stretched to cover twenty generations? Do we even know how to think about these questions? Do we have plans to be able to learn how?

   Overcome the presumption that only the here and now is important. What we do here and now is very important, but our decisions need to be much more independent of momentary needs and perspectives.




4. This book is the result of a three-way collaboration between a scientist, a philanthropist and artist dedicated to producing a diorama depicting 300 years of New England's natural and cultural history.

   The work, started in the late 1920, captures the essence of the Harvard Forest approach to environmental science, in which a solid understanding of the landscape history provides a basis for interpretation and conservation of nature.

   Lifelike and detailed, the dioramas' historical and ecological approach remains relevant today as it becomes more apparent that changes in nature can only be assessed through long-term perspectives.




5. Major overlook. The Indians did not cut down many trees, but changed the forest ecology dramatically by burning out the underbrush once or twice a year in massive fires, so that they could move and hunt more freely (and move silently). This omission spoils the understanding of forest life by injecting a modern political angle of environmentalism that would be better left out.

1 comments about MTEL Early Childhood 02.

1. While this book has a lot of information - it is full of typos, mistakes, and is light on innovative test prep tips. Common sense test taking tips are provided - but none that are specific enough to make a difference. It is clear that this book should have spent more time on the editor's desk (and that is assuming it ever was edited in the first place). There are so many typos and errors that one must question if the book is a good use of the user's time and effort. While the range of information was helpful - it was not very pertinent to the test I took (MTEL Early Childhood). Very few (if any) questions posed in the book were on the test. I think the editing issue must be a problem with this publisher since a fellow test taker expressed the same frustration with the mistakes in her Xam book in a different subject. I would not recommend this series of test prep books.

4 comments about On a Wing and a Prayer.

1. I just LOVE the characters in this series and Katherine Valentine's newest installment does not disappoint. Just a few pages into the first chapter, and I'm transported back to this wonderful New England town filled with funny and heartwarming characters. I feel like I never left.
   
   On A Wing and A Prayer begins when the Gallagher twins fall through the ice while playing hockey. Rodney is saved, but by the time the rescue team arrives to save Dudley, his prognosis is bleak. Making matters worse, Doc Hammon must entrust his patient to a stranger in order to undergo heart surgury. As always, the people in Dorsetville rally round, stocking the Gallagher's freezer to overflowing with food, and round the clock prayers. The ending was quite a surprise and one I thoroughly enjoyed.



2. Katherine Valentine is one Christian writer who can deliver an uplifting message without being preachy or sappy. Her latest installment about the folks at St. Cecilia's is no exception. I can't wait to see what she does in her new series (?) about Bend Oaks due out in June 2006!



3. I love Katherine Valentine's subject matter, her characters and her lively and humorous writing style. I read this book in one sitting, then immediately purchased the next 3 Dorsetville books, and the first book in what I hope will be another series.
   
   The only reason I've given the book 4 stars instead of 5 is because the story is almost too idyllic. Yes, we'd all love to believe that somewhere out there a town filled with people like this exists, but for most of us, it just sounds too good to be true.
   
   Despite that, I still loved these books and they all have a permanent place in my collection because I know I'll read them all again, and again.



4. This was yet another great sequel in the Dorsetville series and I once again had trouble laying it down.
   
   The mischievous Gallagher twins are playing ice hockey at the beginning of this story, and a horrible accident occurs when Rodney falls over into the pond which is smothered in ice. Dexter, terrified for his twin chases him and falls in too. The rescue team manages to get both boys out of the ice. Rodney only has a case of hypothermia from which he rapidly recovers, but Dexter is near death and in a serious coma.
   
   The whole church family of St. Cecilia's and Father James gathers round with prayers, even though the doctors know that Dexter will never wake up. As time goes on, the hospital staff is asking their parents to pull the plug, and they just cannot bear it. Time will tell here what happens.
   
   Arlene Campbell is trying to stick with her husband Fred who is becoming worse with his Alzheimer's condition. Things become more and more difficult with Fred, especially after he nearly starts a big fire and almost burns the house down. It is then that Arlene knows she must consider a nursing home.
   
   Deputy Hill is more wreckless then ever while driving and wrecks another cruiser again. Sherriff Bromley is about to give up on him until Hill saves the governor's life in a car accident.
   
   Wendy, the devoted waitress is having her own share of troubles. On top of everything else, she fears that her husband is having another affair.
   
   The book is very down home and what I call a cozy read. The people in Dorsetville all have a strong faith that carries them through life and the many turns of events.

2 comments about The Vermont Encyclopedia.

1. This is a great book! It's an encyclopedia just like it says and it's a good one! I love opening it up and just flipping the pages to find something that intrigues me. If you love the history of Vermont than you'll love this book!



2. The book was perfect for browsing before my vacation. It came quickly and was in good condtion.

5 comments about Fire in the Grove: The Cocoanut Grove Tragedy and Its Aftermath.

1. The "Fire in the Grove" is about a night club in Boston that caught fire 1942 and killed 492 people. The fire started in a fake palm tree and only took 8 minutes for the whole Cocoanut Grove to go up in smoke. "Fire in the Grove" goes in to how corrupt politics,safety and fire hazards contributed to one of the worst fires in American history. We're from Las Vegas ,Nevada. There are alot of clubs out here. After reading the "Fire in the Grove" every time I go out to the clubs, Im always looking for all the EXIT signs! Its a good book.. Julio.
   (grove group Christy,Mike and Julio)



2. Book came in the time frame and in the condition specified.



3. Author John C. Esposito presents a moving account of this 1942 "Fire In the Grove." It is hard to believe that 490 people lost their lives in one one night. What is so tragic about all of this is that this deadly fire could have been prevented, had it not been for the gross negligence of the owners/management, as well as city officials who turned a blind eye toward safety issues. I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to other readers.



4. I have been a fire investigator for over 30 years and thought I was fairly knowlegable with respect to this historical fire. That's until I read this book. John Esposito's attention to detail is second to none - and I learned facts about this fire never mentioned in any book, trade publication or even the National Fire Protection Assoc. analysis. My hat is off to Mr. Esposito and I recommend this book to anyone who thinks history doesn't repeat itself.
   m. keegan



5. I thought the book was poor because it lacked academic structure and therefore is of little use to the historian. The book itself is nicely presented including photographs. However there is no list of photographs at the front of the book and not all of the photographs are referenced. The book has no endnotes or list of references, and direct references are rarely made within the book. Considering the book is one of four that I have found about the fire at the Cocoanut Grove the author rarely compares or contrasts his findings with those of the other authors. For example Paul Benzaquin (page 32) in his book Holocaust gives the impression that John Bradley and numerous others escaped via a hidden backdoor. However Esposito claims on pages 36 and 43 that Bradley didn't use this exit and instead escaped through a kitchen window in the Basement. Importantly Esposito does not make a note of this difference and as a reader I found this and other examples like it quite irritating. Whilst reading this book I found myself constantly referring to the two other books I had read about the fire to see how the author's interpretations of events differed. Esposito writes as though he is an authority on the subject however with no comparisons, references or endnotes I was unable to see how he came to some of his conclusions.
   
   I found the author's style of writing very confusing and at times rambling. Fortunately there is an Index in the book which I had to use to piece together peoples individual stories. Considering the nature of the tragedy I expected to have to do this to some extent but nowhere near as much as I did. At times the author wants to follow one persons escape fully and at others he seemed to pick up and drop peoples stories as and when it suited. The style of writing also meant that there seemed to be alot of repetition. Descriptions such as those of the main dining room as a 60 by 60 foot square room with a 600 square foot wooden dance floor in the middle and a 900 square foot rolling roof see pages 59-61. If that is possible! Failed to impress me.
   
   The author wrote about Lynn Andrews the Grove photographer who survived the fire and according to him chronicled events. However none of her photographs are used in the book. Although the author describes one even this isn't used as an example, why wasn't it used in the book? If you are interested there are examples in Paul Benzaquin's book Holocaust.
   
   Ultimately the subject of the fire at the Cocoanut Grove deserves a better and more definitive account than this.