An excellent, digestible description and history of the Chautauqua Institution. This book is filled with wonderful photos -- both current and archival -- and a succinct text describing the 126-year history of this remarkable cultural, recreational, educational and religious center. If you've experienced Chautauqua, it's a wonderful description of the ups and downs and ultimate success of this education-vacation community. If you've never been to this Western New York State landmark, read this book and start packing your bags.

The photographs, maps, travelers' accounts, physical reconstructions, and studies of the Bible that are the subject of this book once fired popular fantasies of the Holy Land. Nineteenth century visitors to the Chautauqua Institution used to walk through a large scale model of biblical Palestine, sometimes tucking a blade of grass into their pockets or purses. You can still take a tour and listen to Sunday evening lectures there. At the St. Louis World's Fair of 1904, a replica of Jerusalem covered eleven acres while today, some 300 miles to the southeast, a seven story high Christ of the Ozarks looks over a modern re-creation of the Holy Land set in the hills of Arkansas. For home viewing there were tours via stereoscopic photographs, lavishly illustrated books such as Picturesque Palestine, and the reports of scholars who passed through the American School of Oriental Research in Jerusalem. All reached for an illusory touch of the "real" in the midst of fantasies about the Holy Land, as may still be seen in a reader friendly book written by John Dominic Crossan and Jonathan Reed, Excavating Jesus. These competing visions of the Holy Land were, and are, shaped by forms of Christianity and Judaism, and entangled with various political and ideological debates at home in America.

David Gunn, Bradford Professor of Religion at Texas Christian University wrote that Imagining the Holy Land is "remarkable and important...not only pertinent to an understanding of biblical criticism and popular culture in America...but crucially important to a nuanced understanding of American public discourse about Middle Eastern affairs today."

This book is absolutely enchanting. The descriptions are wonderful, bringing great images into my head of how things must have been like. Honestly it's quite the real life description through part of America's history. J.R. Schultz does justice to the Chautauquas. Certainly a wonderful addition to any bookshelf. Great cover art as well!

Jack Cashill has crafted an elegantly drawn, eminently readable story of epic proportions. His rich characters are placed within a believable framework which expands current political trends to their frightening conclusions. The moment that you open the book, you are drawn into a puzzling mystery which quickly expands to illustrate the consequences of ignoring current popular beliefs. To wit: SUVs are no longer available, tobacco products are available only with a prescription or from Native Americans, totalitarian programs are framed as being "for the children." Even if you have no interest in politics or trends, the mystery story itself is so well crafted that it will draw you into its intricate, well written structure. Fans of good writing, and those who are politically alert will both appreciate and enjoy this well told tale.

A good story and easy to read. This book has everything a mystery thriller needs to hold your interest. An enigmatic figure named John Freeman, unexplained suicides, rotten politicians, a beautiful heroine, a mysterious organization and even Indians. Set in western New York State the author brings it all together using characters who would normally seem alien to one another but united in a common cause. Besides being entertaining the author gives the reader insight on just how broad the so called "right wing" really is and how far "political correctness" might go in the near future.

This book was a fun, easy read. The author did a great job with some wonderful characters. With its setting in western New York I learned so much about the fascinating of the history of the area. And what an interesting mix of the Amish, Native Americans, Catholics, and independents who were forced together in an unlikely scenario. The book has an intriguing twist at the end which took me by surprise. I would highly recommend it.

I found this book very encouraging in living everyday Christian lives. Ruth, Miriam, Flossy and Eureka have returned home from Chautauqua to live out their new lives as newborn believers. They find out that it isn't as easy as they thought. The story takes some interesting and surprising twists. The story drags a little, but the girls discuss such topics such as dancing, card-playing, etc. I highly recommend this book, but it is not really a romance novel.

I personally had a dificult tine getting into this book,but once I did, I wanted to finish to see how it ended. ..Not one of my favorite books, but one worth reading. If you liked this book, or want to read one that goes straight to your heart, read Stolen Moments by Barbara Jeanne Fisher. . .It is a beautiful story of unrequited love. . .for certain the love story of the nineties. I intended to give the book a quick read, but I got so caught up in the story that I couldn't put the book down. From the very beginning, I was fully caught up in the heart-wrenching account of Julie Hunter's battle with lupus and her growing love for Don Lipton. This love, in the face of Julie's impending death, makes for a story that covers the range of human emotions. The touches of humor are great, too, they add some nice contrast and lighten things a bit when emotions are running high. I've never read a book more deserving of being published. It has rare depth. Julie's story will remind your readers that life and love are precious and not to be taken for granted. It has had an impact on me, and for that I'm grateful. Stolen Moments is written with so much sensitivity that it made me want to cry. It is a spellbinder. What terrific writing. Barbara does have an exceptional gift! This book was edited by Lupus specialist Dr. Matt Morrow too, and has the latest information on that disease. ..A perfect gift for someone who started college late in life, fell in love too late in life, is living with any illness, or trying to understand a loved one who is. . .A Christmas gift to be cherished forever.

Millions of visitors of all ages come to Chautaugua Institute. This book is a must for all of them who want to know what it was like at the beginning. It describes in beautiful detail the historical setting of the second summer at Fair Point,NY. The year was 1875 and the multitudes slept in tents or commuted from Mayville by boat. President U.S. Grant made a visit. It is not about girls. This is the story of four young women who come in search of amusement or information, but return home with more than they ever imagined. Now I look forward to reading the sequels: "The Chautaugua Girls at Home" and "Four Mothers at Chautaugua".

A family of three generations spends a week at a cabin that has been the scene of summer vacations for many years. This will be their last visit because the cabin is to be sold.

If you like a book without plot and a lot of emphasis on character this book is for you. It was interesting enough to finish because the author makes the characters seem realisitc, with strengths and weaknesses, but nobody is really any different at the end. It is so detailed that it is almost as if the author had videotaped a week in the lives of these people and then transcribed the action in all detail.

One objection I had was that the author never closed the bathroom door, so to speak. I don't think the graphic descriptions of bowel movements enhances the book.

This book will rank up there with my most favorites. It is one of the very few books that I felt the need to really Read, not just skim through, catching the highlights. O'Nan is able to see life through and capture the emotions of both sexes and all ages. He brings the reader into his characters lives and their thoughts so that you feel for each of them. I had a hard time putting it down. I would highly recommend it.

It's not surprising that a book like this brings out bipolar reaction such as we've seen here: you either love it or you don't. Count me as one of the ones who love it -- for me, this was a page-turner. The depth that O'Nan reaches with each of these characters is remarkable, every one of them so finely constructed. He also nails the general discomfort of family vacations better than anyone.

I've read all of O'Nan's novels, and for me, this is his most accomplished work to date. It is a work that is unafraid to be uncompromising in its scope and its intent.