2 comments about Insiders' Guide to the Great Smoky Mountains, 5th (Insiders' Guide Series).

1. I got this out of the library and read thru it and although it is very densely printed it didn't have the kind of information needed for someone travelling to the area.
   It had a lot of stuff that just seemed like someone paid them to write about such as the history of a certain inn or why area workers are non-union ("because business owners can readily draw replacements for them from a large and eager pool.")
   Just weird writing for a travel book.
   The B&W photos are substandard. All in all a book I won't buy.



2. This book was a big disappointment. The author spends a great deal of time describing routes. Most of the book focuses on shopping and glitz in the area. It has only 10 pages on the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. There is virtually nothing on the North Carolina side of the mountains or the spectacular Blue Ridge Parkway. If you are going for hiking and to experience the park, there are much better books available, many of which can be found at the Sugarlands Visitors' Center in Gatlinberg. The National Park Service website is much more useful.

No comments about State Parks of the South: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Tennessee.

5 comments about Trials of the Monkey: An Accidental Memoir.

1. I bought this book on vacation. I'm a person that frequently judges books by their covers and this one looked interesting. If it weren't good, it would be cute on my bookselves later. I read it in about 5 large chunks spread out over 3 days. Got a little preoccupied by it to be quite honest. It drew me right in.

   I've reccommended it since to friends who have all thanked me. It has a lot going for it: history, personality, humor, honesty, insight. Memoirs are hit or miss, but Matthew Chapman is a genuinely intruiging person. What is different about this memoir is that it wasn't intended to be one. The author realized ultimately though, that his own story is the one that should be told. He wrote it with a sense of humor, candidness, perspective, and without being self-indulgent. It's a great, well-written story.




2. I had this book for several years, given to me as a birthday present by my wife along with Will Self's Great Apes (which I've also reviewed on Amazon.com), before finally getting around to reading it. I should have picked it up earlier. What starts out as a story of Matthew Chapman, great great grandson of Charles Darwin, traveling to Dayton, Tennessee to observe the annual re-enactment of the Scopes Trial becomes something more, the "accidental memoir" of the title. Chapman recounts some highlights and lowlights from his life, including "f-ing" himself out of an education and falling into a career as a Hollywood director and screenwriter, his relationship with his alcoholic mother. In the present, he interacts with a variety of interesting people in Dayton, Tennessee, who bend and in some instances break his stereotypes of backwoods fundamentalist Christians. An example of the latter is his "favorite creationist," Bryan College creationist Kurt Wise, to whom Chapman devotes an entire chapter and part of another.
   
   Several chapters give a vivid account of the Scopes Trial itself, and Chapman gives references at the end for more comprehensive details. While the book does center around Dayton and the Scopes trial, the re-enactment doesn't become the planned centerpiece of the book when Chapman arrives too late to see it. He ends up speaking with the director of the play, and meeting some young Christians who are further examples of stereotype breaking, as he finds them to be quite cosmopolitan.
   
   In the end, Chapman doesn't end up too far from where he started from, but he indicates that he's willing to give up the term "atheist" for himself in favor of "agnostic," and that his experiences in Dayton gave him a better appreciation for the multiple spiritual views endorsed by his Brazilian wife, Denise Texeiria.
   
   I found the book a quite enjoyable read, especially with my familiarity of creationism and the Scopes Trial. I recommend it.



3. I was interested in reading this book because I knew a person who went with a group to see the Scopes Trial reenactment in the mid-1990s, and I was pleasantly surprised to see Matthew Chapman mention them with a one sentence acknowledgement in his book (yes, a group of atheists from Atlanta, it has to be them!). I really enjoyed reading this account of a British person's perspective on the South and the Bible Belt. He's a self-admitted atheist who struggles with religion because of all the inconsistencies (which any honest person will admit that religion has a lot of), but the surprise is that he also admits to having a certain kind of admiration towards people of faith, because of the effect it has on believers that he never got. He's quite honest about his own past and unfortunately goes into too much detail about his sexual discoveries as a teenager, which I didn't think fit well with the main premise behind this book.
   
   This book is kind of two books in one, and while I bought it for information on the Scopes Trial (which I did learn quite a bit more than the little I knew about it--since he goes into fascinating detail about the trial itself), I didn't expect it to be his biography/memoir also. He alternates every few chapters between these two story lines and I thought it was too much focused on his own back history, which wasn't really fascinating to me (sorry guy, but your sexual exploits aren't worth bragging about!). A lot of it was focused on his troubled relations with his alcoholic mother, with one long, drawn out chapter about her death and funeral. I didn't see what that had to do with the Scopes Monkey Trial, and my guess is that he figured that he was only going to get one published book and it would be his only opportunity to tell his life story, now that he captured our attention with the premise of the Scopes Trial. That's the reason why I subtract a star. If he had slimmed down his life story/memoir and focused more on the Scopes Trial, I would have enjoyed this book a lot more and given it five stars. As it is, it is interesting, and I suppose you can skip the chapters on his life story and still enjoy it tremendously. I absolutely agree with his main tenets of a personal religion/faith he feels a need to develop: 1) responsibility to self; 2) responsibility to family and friends; and 3) responsibility to the world at large. His critiques of religion and materialism are right on, but he seemed to hint at his own life being driven by society's ratrace (his daughter goes to a private school in NYC, he drives an SUV, and he claims that even though he makes over a million dollars a year writing screenplays, he's having financial difficulties...sounds like he's living beyond his means, if you ask me and anyone who makes that much money and still has debt problems isn't going to get my sympathy). By the way, I bought this book marked down in price at a discount bookstore, so I hope I'm not contributing to his "affluent lifestyle". Stay on the spiritual path, Chapman! And listen to your wife more. She sounds really cool.



4. Matthew Chapman is a great talent. He is a naturally gifted and funny writer. That being said, for most of his life he was convinced he was the center of the universe. Now he is not so sure. Matthew Chapman is the great great grandson of Charles Darwin, and that is a lot to live up too. In this autobiography, Chapman's first book we discover he is the worst possible combination of human beings. He is a committed Darwinist, an atheist, a Hollywood liberal, and on top of all that, Eurotrash.
   
   I have been doing some reading on Evolution and the Creation/Evolution conflict and came across Trials of the Monkey: An Accidental Memoir. It was a quick and enjoyable read, and for most of the book, I really wanted to hate this, Chapman's first book. But, I could not put it down. As a human being, for most of his life he was a poor excuse for a man, but by the end of the book I came to like him. The book is about Chapman's adventures in Dayton, TN home of the infamous "Monkey Trial." In between writing about going to Dayton, visiting Dayton, and leaving Dayton we learn about the life of Matthew Chapman, his parents, especially his mother, and his siblings.
   
   While Chapman certainly has no place for organzied religion, he does admit that "faith" has a place in humanity. He also came to respect those fundamentalist Christians he interacted with in Dayton. I could say more, but would give away too much.
   
   Are there better books about Evolution, Creationism, and The Scope's Trial, yes. That being said Trials of the Monkey: An Accidental Memoir is an enjoyable and amusing read.



5. Not your typical atheist's perspective of religion, Matthew Chapman writes with poigniancy and wit about life, love and faith.

3 comments about The Heroine of the Titanic: A Tale Both True and Otherwise of the Life of Molly Brown.

1. Well-received by my Titanic-crazed kids (ages 7 & 9). They enjoyed Molly's spirited story & loved the poems that appear periodically, summing up milestones in the heroine's life. I loved the illustrations & overall quality of the book. Nice gift-giving item.



2. As one of the real "unsinkable" Mrs. Brown's great granddaughters, the more I read this book, the more I enjoy the spirit and warmth of it. Molly's life was gradually embellished into legend even in her own lifetime and through her own telling, so it is appropriate that the book takes her dramatic flair to extremes with the Mississippi River story, a yarn Ms. Blos invented. Now that the 1997 movie has renewed the interest in Titanic and endeared her character to a generation of teens, this book is a good version of her great American legacy, in-a-nutshell, for the younger kids. No, it's not all true, but neither is Washington's cherry tree story. The illustrations are fabulous and include many real-life outfits and decor Molly owned, down to the family photographs on her wall.



3. This was a great book! I used it as my subject for a book report on a bigoraphy and it gave all of the info. i needed. Wonderful book...lots of specific details and fun facts!!! awesome book for kids AND adults who are interested in the Titanic. VERY nice picures and fun to read!!!!! Two thumbs up!

No comments about Historic Knoxville and Knox County.

4 comments about Adventure Guide to the Great Smoky Mountains (Adventure Guide to the Great Smokey Mountains).

1. This exciting update covers Eastern Tennessee, Western North Carolina and Northern Georgia. Outdoor activities, plus craft hunting and fairs. All the information you need for an activity-filled vacation. Maps. Index. Photos.



2. "[Adventure Guides] direct you away from the theme parks and into the great outdoors... the information on trekking routes, canoeing, wildlife refuges - even golf courses - is well researched." The Sunday Telegraph



3. "...intended for the adventure-minded travelers with special affection for the outdoors and nature. Each Adventure Guide packs in outdoor-oriented activities set in different regions. There's something for nearly everyone." Midwest Book Review



4. "Recommended for visitors who want to research a trip ahead of time and take the book along for repeated reference. An outdoors-oriented guide which includes all the best fishing spots, hiking trails in largely uncharted areas and whitewater rafting. An excellent guide." The Bookwatch

1 comments about Seasonal Guide to the Natural Year-North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee: A Month by Month Guide to Natural Events (Seasonal Guide to the Natural Year).

1. In the sea of books that detail the locations of the best restaurants, souvenir stores, waterslides, amusement parks, and putt-putt that humans have to offer - this book and the other seasonal guide books float on their own - and tell readers where they can find the best that Mother Nature has to offer.

2 comments about The Natural Arches of the Big South Fork: A Guide to Selected Landforms (Outdoor Tennessee Series).

1. The bookshelf above my desk is filled with hiking guides, one for nearly every hiking destination in the eastern US. This guide is unlike any other on that shelf.

   First, let me give some basic information about this book. Destinations described in this book are grouped into three geographic areas: Big South Fork NRRA, Pickett State Park (located in Tennessee just west of BSF), and southern Daniel Boone National Forest, located in southern Kentucky. These three adjacent areas contain more arches than just about any area in the east, so there is plenty of material for a book of this sort. Also, the book contains 29 photos of BSF arches and landforms, so even though they are not color photos, you can take a tour of BSF arches without leaving your living room by reading this book.

   The book describes 25 hikes, each one leading to at least one arch. Most of the hikes are extremely short (0.5 mile or less), though a couple are longer. There are five hand-drawn maps in an appendix that cover areas of high arch concentration, but most hikes do not have maps accompanying them. Further, trail descriptions focus on the arch rather than the hike (see next paragraph). This fact combined with the lack of maps caused me to get lost a couple of times when I was hiking to these arches, but I always found myself easily since the hike was short and I am an experienced hiker.

   Now back to my introductory thought, namely why this hiking guide is unique. Most hiking guides emphasize trail descriptions, with descriptions of scenery along the trail included as part of a trail description. This book is organized around arches with a secondary treatment given to the trails. Indeed, this book is only 100 pages long, and the first 22 are devoted to an introduction to arch formation and BSF geography, geology, and history. You won't find this much detailed information on landforms in most hiking guides, but it doesn't leave much room for trail descriptions as you would find in most hiking guides.

   In sum, if you are looking for a good, general hiking guide to the BSF, this book is not for you. With the focus geared so heavily to arches, this book is simply not designed to serve that purpose. However, if you are looking for a book that specializes in BSF arches to supplement your collection of BSF hiking guides (or your personal knowledge of the area), this book would make an excellent addition to your library.




2. This guidebook to the natural arches of the Big South Fork area is the only guidebook to these fascinating geologic features of the area. I have used it extensively, and it is a great addition to the growing list of books on the Big South Fork area. The author has taken care to give accurate and detailed instructions about how to get to AND appreciate these wonderful geologic features in the Big South Fork Country.

   The book not only gives accurate and detailed information about how to get to these fascinating rock features, but it also gives a survey of the human history of the rugged Big South Fork country of Tennessee and Kentucky. The author, Arthur McDade, also fully stresses hiking and backcountry safety, and refers the reader to additional reference books about the area, including trail guides and topographical maps.

   This book is a must for all folks who are interested in the Big South Fork country. Get it in addition to the other trail guides to the area, to round out your library. I recommend it wholeheartedly, as I have hiked and backpacked all over the country, and this book is one of the best I have seen about geologic features and history.

2 comments about 52 Weekends in the Tennessee Valley.

1. Though I currently live in Atlanta, I grew up near Huntsville, which is in the heart of the Tennessee Valley. This guide, which I received as a gift, took me back to my childhood roots, as well as showed me some new sights that I didn't even know existed. This book disproves the theory that there's nothing to do in Alabama/Tennessee. From the stereotypical Civil War reenactments and bluegrass festivals to exploring Huntsville's Space and Rocket Center, this book has a wide variety of activities. Scenic photos are supported by colorful descriptions for all 52 events. I highly recommend this book for anyone who just moved to Huntsville, Madison, Athens, Nashville, Chattanooga, or anywhere in the area, or to anyone traveling through the Tennessee Valley looking to explore.



2. The Frews know travel. They were raised around the Huntsville area and know the area like the backs of their hands. I know the family and they are wonderful folks who enjoy sharing places and activities with people. 52 weekends in the Tennessee Valley shows the many adventures you can have in Alabama and Tennessee. The photographs are stunning, and they take you into the action. A really good book that shows the variety the area can offer.

2 comments about An Outdoor Guide to The Big South Fork.

1. The 2000 Edition of this book is certainly NOT UPDATED. The cover claims: "A thoroughly updated, comprehensive guide to the Big South Fork..." This is misleading. One wonders who reviewed this edition and why the information is so misleading and why changes due to a huge 1998 snow storm are not discussed or reflected in the trail maps and descriptions. I would like my money returned!

   Since Manning's First Edition in 1994, the Big South Fork area suffered a 100-year snow storm which devastated the forest knocking millions of trees down, closing hundreds of miles of trail. This storm occurred in February 1998. I have recently tried to follow two separate horse trails in Manning's book and found one barely passable - had to dismount my horse and very carefully squeeze under fallen trees not once, but several times. The other trail described simply does not exist due to trees downed. The directions for this trail are so poor that once you have traveled several miles into the gorge, there is no way you could find the route described in the book even if it did exist. The acknowledgements in the new addition indicate the same people reviewed this edition's content as did in 1994. Several of these people have been gone from Big South Fork since 1996,'97, and 98.

   One gets the impression that a new cover has been put on the 1994 edition and a few sentences changed. The book advises visitors to check with a ranger on trail conditions, but totally omits any discussion of the effects of this huge storm event on the environment, and does not warn visitors of its possible consequences in planning a trip that depends on trails being open. Also, in Manning's 2000 Edition, trails do not match the trails system shown on the official Trails Illustrated Map by National Geographic for Big South Fork published in 1998. This edition does not benefit the trailrider!




2. Mr. Manning provides a lot of background info on the geology, biology and history of this area of Tennessee & Kentucky - info that greatly enhances the visit! While I'm one to use guidebooks, I always ask for more current info from the Park staff when visiting a new Park. He gave very practical advise regarding hiking & biking in the Park - as well as info on paddling the river!! He did give an overview of the trails - but, in his "100 Trails of the Big South Fork" he strongly suggests that one always check with local Rangers for trail conditions in the Park. So, enjoy your trip!!!
   
   Also, there's a review of this book that blasts Mr. Manning for not mentioning the snow storm and its effects. I don't think she understands the publishing process. Books go to press only every few years - and the updated draft is sent in many months before they are actually printed. It's impossible for a guidebook to be current at any particular time.