For anyone planning to hike the River to River Trail across the Shawnee Hills of Southern Illinois, this guide is a MUST. It contains a narative discription as well as topographic maps. I was able to obtain my copy by calling the River to River Trail Society at 618-252-6789, they are the not for profit group that tends to the trail. I later joined the society which also has a web page at ... All and all you can't hike the trail without the guide. Most folks think that Illinois is flat. It's not! And the River to River Trail proves it. The best times to hike in Southern Illinois are from September to mid -December and February to the end of May.

This is a great tale of life along the Mississippi. Brings back a lot of memories!!

Scripts: Sketches and Tales of Urban Mississippi, is one of the most thought provoking books that I have read. Among the pages you will find several short stories where a character is mentioned, turn the pages and you will find more insight into that particular character as he/she is introduced in their own short story. The book provides the reader with life in urban Mississippi and the Delta area of Mississippi.

The opening story, Transition, is the tale of a family's flight from rural Mississippi to Jackson, Mississippi. The following story, Poni's Trail, takes the reader to New York City, back to rural Mississippi and finally Jackson, Mississippi. Along the way, you meet engaging characters with anger and confusion. One theme that resonates through the pages is ART. The reader is provided with what art and making art means to the characters. There is much confusion as to creative art and the business side of art. The reader also gets a glimpse of some historical issues and my favorite piece is the explanation and history of the HBCU existence, its failures and successes.

While the short stories are entertaining, they provide a sociological and psychological view of the people of Mississippi. If you are a native of Mississippi, a student in the Mississippi school systems or a college student, this should be required reading. Warning: some violent content, but the history provided is enormous.

Reviewed by Dawn

This 297 page book, plus index, contains the journal, some letters, and medical reports written by Doctor Thomas Neely Love, Surgeon of the 2nd Mississippi Volunteers in the Mexican War. There are some photos, paintings, and simple maps, along with a roster of Company "A"-The Lowndes Guards.

The journal begins Dec 25, 1846. It covers the politics of selecting officers and the surgeon, the hardships faced by the men on land and at sea, and the bitter fued between the commmander (Col Ruben Davis) and the Surgeon T.N. Love. The journal ends May 6th 1847, but the correspondence continues unitl Dr. Love's return to Columbus Mississippi in Oct 1848.

There are NO BATTLES, but the medical situation is covered in depth. Someone familiar with medicine may find this book very interesting, but those unfamiliar with mid-19th century medical terminology may find it a challenge because there is no glossary of terms.

This book is good for serious students of the Mexican War as it answers an important mystery. Namely, a unit with an over-abuundance of personnel with medical training had 167 deaths and 134 medical discharges in an extremely short time. The doctors and Col. Ruben Davis, who was also a physican, disagreed among themselves and with others on the causes, but after reading what a descendant of Dr. Love has written the terrible cause comes to light ( I will not spoil the mystery- you'll have to read to the end of the book )

The fued is also a topic which might lead readers to read between the lines in a search for truth. Needless to say, Love casts himself as the good guy, but is forthright in telling some of the things said against him and in favor of Col. Davis. The reader can make a judgement, and is almost drawn into the fray by the journal and documents. During the Mexican War conflict was not unique to the 2nd Mississippi, so this can be a good case study.

There are a few letters to friends & family, which mention people and events unknown to the reader. The letters to home last a number of pages. Included is Dr. Love's medical theis on Hereditary Transmission from the Medical Univ. of South Carolina, Charleston. These items give insight into Dr. Love, but may not be as exciting to read as the medical crisis and fued.

Although I have not read all of his short stories, I find Faulkner's tales to be poigniant reflections of American life, without being overtly obvious in their symbolism. The reader draws as much, or as little, as he wishes from Faulkner.

Being a work of 'uncollected' stories, it does not have the consistency as, say, These 13, or others arranged by Faulkner, but it does have its gems.

Consider it the "B-side" to a great album collection, some of which you may otherwise never have read, but worth it read, nonetheless.

Madson's book is a refreshingly accurate and honest disclosure of the lives of those who have made their lives along the banks of the upper Mississippi. He takes the time to get to know those people and then he welcomes the reader into their homes, stores, and living rooms. Reminiscent of a Steinbeck, "Travels With Charlie", the reader is charmed into the history and personality of the river towns and their people from Beaver Island to Harper's Ferry. Madson's understanding of the river and his ability to share it with all readers, regardless of their previous Mississippi River experience, is a tribute to "River Rats" everywhere. This book is a Terry Redlin in text form.

Captain Ron's book begins with the early French explorers and hardy fur trappers. He covers the history of the paddle-wheel steamboats from the first one on the Mississippi River in 1811, the "NEW ORLEANS", to the founding and growth of the paddle-wheel steamboat companies on the upper Mississippi River, from passenger and freight steamboats to excursion paddle-wheel steamboats fo today. Added to all this history are stories and tales from river pilots about the names and landmarks along the upper Mississippi River. Reading this book is like riding in the pilot house listing to Captain Ron telling his river stories.

Received this as a gift, and enjoy searching these for those outstanding, unique recipes you'd never find in other sources.

There are some good ones in here, besides all the collection of basic, good food with southern emphasis. Finds include: Collection of recipes from former Miss Mississippi, Hostess Twinkie Dessert,Shrimp-stuffed Catfish, Bass and Artichoke Supreme, Oysters Bienville, and Fruit Tea.

As a Southern Woman writer, Elizabeth Spencer explores the issues familiar to her during her childhood and her adult life in this intricate novel. Race, friendship, loyalty, secrecy, and contradiction all make this novel's characters come alive in a way I have seldom experienced in a first-time read. Spencer completely sucked me in and wrapped me up in her plot. I thought it was fabulous, of the caliber of Harper Lee's "To Kill a Mockingbird." It is a book I will enjoy picking up for the rest of my life.

Being a frequent visitor to Louisiana (to visit In laws) I decided I had better find some places to visit and something to do other than the typical visit the in law stuff. So, I bought this book.

It is a wonderful book. I particularly like how it is divided into sections so that it is easy to find the area you are traveling in.

My only two negative comments regarding this book would be 1- the author gives information regarding stores and restaurants. I would rather not have this listed in a book because these kind of things tend to change. Also, finding places to shop and eat is the easy part, it's finding the places to go and knowing what to do when you get there that is difficult (I think). and 2- The places listed are, for the most part, typical tourist attractions. If you are looking for a book FILLED with off the beaten path types of things, this is not the book.

However, if you are looking for a book that has a lot of great places to visit mixed in with a little bit history this is a good book to get. The organization is easy to understand and it is easy to find places to visit and things to see when using this book.