Review: The Long Winter Ends by Newton G. Thomas for the Reprint Edition 1998. Original Book Published in 1941.

A first edition The Long Winter Ends has been in our family since 1943 when Newton G. Thomas gave my mother an autographed copy. Dr. Thomas, his wife and my mother had been friends and classmates in college and kept in touch through the years. Thus, my mother knew about the writing of this book. Dr. Thomas told her many of these personal stories and incidents which are the true oral tradition that had come down from "Jim" to his children and their children. So when you read this remarkable book, it is not fiction, but a true story of an English mining family who came to work in the Michigan iron mines after their mines in Cornmwall had been shut down permanently. All the characters in this novel are real people who lived out being "downsized" from the Cornwall mines; being separated for months when the husband came alone to find work work in Michigan; who experienced living with other men in a boarding house where they all came home after working twelve hour shifts. How would you have liked getting up at 6 a.m. to go to work and as you were dressing, your co-worker coming off the night shift climbed into your bed and slept there until you were ready to climb in for the night? You will be challenged by the powerful and vivid description of the breakup of the Cornwall community in which we discover how people lived through such radical involuntary detachment, and survived isolation and loneliness while discovering new hope and growth into a new community. If you had been Jim's newly wedded wife could you have said to him, "It's you and me for it, comrade, whatever comes!" You will discover the true meaning of what America actually was, and did for all immigrants such as our own families who came to the "land of freedom and opportunity." Then there will come to you a new appreciation from the way in which thousands of people along these Cornwall miners have made the vast wilderness of our continent into a truly great nation. Jim, Dr. Thomas' ancestor, is the central person in this saga. When he came to Michigan he could neither vote nor write even his native dialect. It is a very interesting story of how and why he learned to read and write; how to reason, evaluate, and understand all that comes through communication. You may even be led to think about the language problems our own immigrating ancestors had when they came to America. He begins his learning by looking at a child's picture book of animals, and when she sees him reading her book, he takes her on his lap and they read the book together. He said of this experience, "This was my first lesson and she my first teacher." Then there are other incidents and experiences in which he is aware of his shortcomings and recognizes how important it is for him to learn. I have read this book four times over the years and will read it again and again. Why? Because it is a genuine portrayal of people just like us, with skills, character, emotions, minds and hearts. And they are people with hopes and fears, joys and sorrows, successes and failures as we are. It makes me glad to be alive and "doing". Do not be put off by the fact that these people are just common, ordinary folks like us. Actually, you will want to read this story because you will meet yourself, your families, friends and co-workers and discover that "we the people" are America.

Ronald V. Wells * I have a black and white picture of Dr. Thomas, his wife and daughter sitting in their living room. Since he dedicated the book to his wife and daughter, it occurred to me that you might want to think of reproducing the page with these items on it. It would also be possible to add his photograph for my mother. If you happen to decide that this is the review you would like to use, and wish to make these addition, you can reach me at: 3030 Park Avenue Bridgeport, Ct 06604 or by phone: (203) 373-6661. Thank you for your consideration.

Review of THE LONG WINTER ENDS

Newton Thomas' THE LONG WINTER ENDS tells a story related to the great European migration that brought more than 30 million people to America in the nineteenth and early twentieth century. Through the life of one illiterate miner named Jim, the novel describes the Cornish experience in the New World. The action begins with the closing of a mine in Cornwall, UK, conversations over limited prospects, a decision, and Jim's inevitable parting from his home, his parents and his young wife, Pol. In simply drawn scenes Thomas dramatizes what must have been the decisive moments in the lives of millions. The story continues on the Upper Peninsula of Michigan when copper was king.

The rest of the novel deals with Jim as he comes to terms with America, a land of limitless opportunity and limited social structure. His fine singing voice makes him an asset to the local church, and the self-improvement ethic of Methodism propels him forward. Eventually, though, Jim must overcome a narrowly Sabbatical faith and other limitations of his former life. He must become a sort of American Adam, finding his own way with the help of a sagacious older friend, a school master, and the stream of letters from Pol.

The fact that much of the story revolves around letters gives the novel its chaste quality, and gives us a relief from the lurid that has become fashionable in literature. THE LONG WINTER ENDS, published before the United States entered the war in 1941, appeared just as tastes were changing. The reader won't find much in the way of gritty detail, though the boarding house scenes, and the beds where miners sleep in shifts, give an edge to Thomas' world. Much of the dialogue is written in a Cornish dialect, which the reader will get the hang of after a few pages. (It's easier reading than HUCKLEBERRY FINN). The speech sustains a sense of reality. Thomas, who was born in Cornwall (in the village where Jim and Pol begin) and who was educated in America, no doubt knew the dialect fro! m his parents. Having been a miner and a country schoolteacher (he later became a dentist and and a professor), he wrote of what he knew. His novel is a remarkable achievement.

Most of the story focuses on the life of the mind, Jim's developing mind, and a growing sense of personal responsibility. Being re-published at a time when the work life of America is drastically changing, and when workers from the board room to the shop floor are being required to take greater responsibility for their careers, this novel has never been more relevant. I highly recommend it.

Gage McKinney

Roberty Myers has filled a void the body of knowledge concerning Lake Michigan shipwrecks with this Lost on the Lakes, Shipwrecks of Berrien County. The area around St. Joseph, Michigan saw large-scale commercial traffic extremely early in Lake Michigan's history and consequently, hosted many wrecks. Myers is the first to give us a comprehensive and accurate picture of the many marine disasters the area has hosted. His research is impressive, uncovering several previously unknown losses and adding detail to several others. The book is also an entertaining read and includes many interesting side stories and relevant historical details. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in Lake Michigan maritime history.

Robert C. Myers has once again captured the essence of an era that has long been forgotten in Southwestern Michigan. The age of the passenger vessels travelling to Chicago, Michigan City, etc. now has a chance to be relived through the words of Robert C. Myers and the photo's of many generous institutions and private individuals. For those who have ancestry in the shipping industry, this is an excellent source. I am proud to live where so much history has taken place and I have such a tremendous amount of respect for those who lost their lives and those who made St. Joseph/Benton Harbor the way it is today. This book will give history buffs plenty of shipwreck lore and genealogists will savor the well-researched data. It goes without saying that I highly recommend this book!!!!

If you are looking for a gift book that someone will remember, this is it. This is the kind of book that imparts information in a clever and entertaining way. Readers learn about mail delivery to the Great Lakes freighters, while enjoying the heartwarming story of a little girl sending her Dad a birthday card while he is working on the freighters. The illustrations are beautiful, and really add to the story. This book should be in every school's library.

This is a beautiful book, it is well written and extremely accurate. The book tells a story about a young girl who wants to send her father a birthday card. Her father works as a sailor aboard a Great Lakes freighter and she is happy to learn that a boat in Detroit, Michigan delivers U.S. Mail to all ships passing Detroit. She sends his card and he receives it a few days later when his ship passes Detroit. The illustrations are also wonderfully done and very accurate. What I liked best about the story is that it is educational and emphasizes a strong family bond. I rated this book five stars and have bought several copies as Christmas presents and have donated a copy to my daughters school library.

I sat in my back yard and read and read and read. I had to put it down to prepare dinner or I would have been there throughout the night! I LOVED this book! I particulary enjoyed the character of Nathan who told the story. He is a young man who befreinds a difficult seventy year old man who holds a secret. I could not let go until I discovered that secret.
I found the descriptions of the scenery in Vermont, whether it be the trees, mud season, snow covered mountains, rushing rivers or whatever. fascinating. I I have never been to Vermont but am already planning a trip based on what I have read. The title "Mirror Lake" is appropriate because it plays a large part in the story. If there is an actual Mirror Lake, I would like to find it. I intentionally seek out first time authors and this book is one of the best in that category that I have read. It reads with clarity which I do not come across often. I can visualize the characters and can certainly see it as a film and hope that that will be the case. There is something for every reader: love, mystery, beautiful scenery, characters you can believe in. I am looking forward to re-reading it - I found myself cheating by skimming through it in order to find answers!

I couldn't put this book down. It was riveting as so little fiction is. Beautiful writing, suspenseful and really teaches something about life and love. one of the best books I've read in years.

Greene is a natural born storyteller. I fell quickly under the spell of "Mirror Lake" and its story within a story. The prose is very lyrical, with lovely descriptions of the Vermont landscape. There's a little bit of everything: romance, suspense, drama. I read the whole thing in one weekend - I just kept coming back to it! Summer reading at its best...

The Story: The title refers to the name given to an enormous albino sperm whale who is being hunted by Captain Ahab, the ruthless, single-minded, driven master of a whaling ship. Ahab hunts Moby Dick because, in a previous hunt, Moby Dick amputated Ahab's leg in a failed attempt by Ahab to catch the white whale. The story is told in retrospect by a crewman, Ishmael, of the ship, who was a young, somewhat naive man at the time.

This is not a novel for everyone; it takes a patient and persistent reader to tackle the rich but complicated writing style of Melville, as well as the author's penchant for going off on detailed, descriptive tangents. However, the writing style almost becomes poetic at times, and symbolism and metaphor abound. The closest thing to Melville's style I've found amongst contemporary writers is Gene Wolfe ("The Book of the New Sun", "The Book of the Short Sun", "The Book of the Long Sun"). Wolfe also borrowed from Melville the device of telling the story from the viewpoint of young, naive observers, who report what they see with little bias or editorializing, which leaves the reader to interpret the story on his/her own. Melville drew a clear picture of life on a whaling vessel of that era.

To me, this story is a detailed and adventurous tale of obsession verging on insanity. Ahab is so focused on catching and killing Moby Dick that he loses sight of his own welfare and the welfare of his men. He never questions his own motives; he is out after revenge for losing his leg, as well as out to redress the insult of a simple beast not accepting the dominion of Man. Moby Dick's defiance of Mankind's superiority and sovereignty is seen as an outrage, a matter of honor for Captain Ahab to resolve. But, why did Moby Dick bite off Ahab's leg in the first place? Ahab sees it as an act of war by the whale, a refusal to bow down to the Master of the Earth (Mankind). Might it not just as easily be an animal naturally defending itself against a predator (Mankind) invading his (Moby Dick's) domain?

Jay Nussbaum wrote a book called "Blue Road to Atlantis" which is a gem of a story that retells Hemingway's "The Old Man and the Sea" from the fish's point of view. Mr. Nussbaum could make quite a story out of Moby Dick's point of view of this puny maniac who keeps harassing him and trying to kill him.

I'm still reading the book, but this version is quite helpful because in the back it has explanations for Melville's sometimes confusing allusions.

Ellen Tifft deftly paints a story of the past, of a time when carnival sideshows traveled the country, when carved wooden horses seemed to come to life on carousels, and when simple things like truth and honor and love were still important. Tifft masterfully weaves together two stories of love: one is the tale of a young sideshow dancer named Zelma who somehow manages to find the keeper of her heart even though fate seems to have other plans, and the second is the Indian myth of two doomed lovers forever associated with the bottomless Aldridge Lake. But the true beauty of the novel is the fact that Tifft has the commendable ability to take the reader to a deeper level of involvement with the characters, beyond that of mere observers of the central love stories. She allows the reader a unique and uninhibited look into the very essence of her soul, and the experience proves to be both exhilirating and cleansing. The further one delves into the lives of the characters of Tifft's novel, the more real they seem and, despite the difficulties they endure, the more at peace the reader feels. Mrs. Tifft's poetic powers are obvious, and the imagery she employs lends an almost magical element to her prose, sweeping the reader up in a tale of love and sacrifice and courage. Zelma is no cardboard character, she is full of innocence and desire and verve. She is a dreamer whose naive actions lead to consequences which appear to wipe out any chance of her realizing her dreams, which would smother the passion and exuberance of most, yet she somehow manages to persevere. Zelma is a wonderful example of the modern literary hero, as she encounters various faces of evil and despair without losing her sense of intergrity and hope. Mrs. Tifft offers the reader a remarkable ride on a carousel of the imagination which is sure to haunt and to please.

Ellen Tifft, lifelong resident of Elmira, New York, has published poetry and short fiction in a variety of literary magazines, including The New Yorker and Poetry, for the past forty some years. Moon, Moon, Tell Me True is her first published novel, but it reads like something she's been preparing for all her life. Set in Annovia, a fictionalized Elmira, from 1947 to 1956, the novel's heroine is 19 yr old Zelma Prokova, daughter of Gene Tunney Prokov and his wife Peg. Gene and Peg are the stick man and fat woman of a traveling sideshow that spends five months on the road and six months in Annovia. Zelma has been performing since she was five and is a regular dancer in the "girly show," but she dreams of performing for much larger audiences than the side show world brings in. All of this sounds realistic, but Tifft is a home grown magic realist. Her characters, from Mister and Al, the side show's Indian fortune teller and hermaphrodite, to Raymond-Guy, the itinerant, foreign-born sidewalk chalk painting artist, who sweeps Zelma off her feet, inhabit a world in which the villainous Dwain Slocum, sideshow manager, attempts the rape and even murder of our heroine Zelma. Zelma dances herself into mystical trances, falls in love, gives birth on a river barge, and is almost lured into death by drowning in the lake at Aldridge Park. And all of this Tifft achieves through a language, half dialect, half poetry that captures the offhand way people talk better than anything I've ever read. But you really have to read this unique novel for yourself. It will take you on a journey through mythic realms to a resolution as satisfying as the end of The Tempest or The Magic Flute.

This is a book filled with love of the environment and respect for all iving things that share this universe. Great Book for all kids and adults too!

My four-year-old daughter loves this book. It describes three outings a modern Chippewa grandfather and grandchild take together. They encounter loons, an eagle, and some timber wolves. The child absorbs the grandfather's respect and love for the natural world. The illustrations are luminous and the tone is realistic and serene. One of the best kid's books I've seen all year.

Rebecca, Robbie and their dog Thatch are 11-year old ghosts who died 50 years ago. When Mr. Shook moves his daughter "Kim", son "Scott" and their cat "Smudge" into the twins house - the fun begins. You will laugh when the twins practice their haunting skills on Kim & Scott, and sit on the edge of your seat when someone needs rescued. It's fun to listen in on the twins conversations on the items Kim & Scott brought with them, that we take for granted but that someone living 50 years ago hasn't seen. The fun continues as they try to help Kim solve the mystery of the treasure at Kickingbird Lake. This book is interesting, suspenseful, and funny. I was helping my 9-year old son with his book report and found myself sitting down to read the entire book. I'm looking forward to reading the next book.

this was a good boo

I have the cassette collection of all four seasons of News from Lake Wobegon, and have worn them out. Time to buy the CDs! Winter is my favorite. It warms your heart and makes you laugh.

The five stories in this CD set are all majestic, and they include every aspect of winter one can think of. "Guys on ice" is a rather self-explanatory title, chronicling the thoughts of guys on ice; always interesting. "James Lundeen's Christmas" is the story of a boy who finds Christmas as it is truly meant to be. "Christmas story re-told isn't as magical as it is in the Bible, but Keillor comes as close as one can in his re-telling. "New Year's from New York" details Keillor's appreciation for the event from a child's perspective. "Storm Home" brings to life the things that can make school and home life tolerable. This is a terrific compilation of Keillor's winter work.

Caroline's mother has a suprise. Caroline is getting a new Pa. Mr. Holbrook. While Caroline likes having a new Pa her brother Henry doesn't quite feel the same way. Then disaster strikes. Cholera. Everyone catches it except for Joseph and Thomas. Then when everyone gets over the cholera. Then a disaster of a different sort happens frost they have to harvest their vegtables before it hits.

This book is wonderful edition to the Caroline books. I really hope this one isn't the last on in the series.