This journey of Jewish song and identity draws the best of both to comprise an inspiring book that is both a good read and a good listen. It will leave the reader singing and praying.

One wonders if an author clever enough to come up with a title as witty and intelligent as Lulu Incognito could ever fail to produce a masterpiece. The answer so far? No.

Kennedy chooses his elegant yet familiar words so carefully, he might well be the Martha Stewart of literary writers. Kennedy, while clearly aspring to grand literary gestures, never truly manages to leave behind his pedestrain persona, and so manages to create works that read like collaborations between John Waters and Barbara Kingsolver.

Tacky? Yes. Faux-intellectual? Certainy. Camp? Oh, without a doubt.

Yet, somehow Kennedy's numerous and painful failings as a writer always seem to mesh, like the tuneless voices of talentless folk singers, into a flawed dissonance that amuses if not inspires.

Buy this book. It's a great laugh and a reliable cure for constipation.

I purchased 'M is for Mayflower' and 'C is for Centennial' for my niece. After reviewing the books, I found that they have several different levels of learning within the illustrations and text that will make these books readable for years to come for her. She seems to like them, and is attracted by the colorful illustrations. Because I live in MA and she lives in CO, she is eager to learn about the place where her auntie is. These books are good, fun learning tools that will help prepare a child for elementary social studies classes.

Great book. I have been traveling to Maine for vacations for years, and this guide still provided me with great new travel tips for areas I thought I knew well. I am returning to Maine again this summer, and will be using this book as my primary reference.

Who creates the ideas that move people and nations? And why do they do it? Surely ideas and convictions motivate many of us to act in important ways. In his revolutionary book, Darren Staloff explores the relationship of intellectuals to the cultural products they create. Read this book to find out about Puritans; but read it thoroughly to learn about ideas and their use. This book may change a lot of what you think about ideas and intellectuals. It is highly recommended for all thinkers and skeptics.

A must-have if you have ever spent time in Marion, or plan to do so. The text outlines the interesting historical aspects of Marion while 'walking you through' this beautiful village by use of photos and captions describing 200 historic houses in this small seafaring town.

One of the most fascinating accounts of sailing, history and economics I've ever encountered, this book is a must if you have an interest in the great age of sail.

Certainly more than a dry recounting of historical events, Morrison helps you understand the passions, motivation and impact on the economic development of the western world of those who came and went from Boston and other East coast ports in the early to mid-1800's.

The last two chapters, in particular were absolutely rivetting. The era of the clipper ships was not only amazingly brief, but possibly one of the biggest catalysts for economic change in the 19th century. In particular, the extremely detailed description of the activities on the deck of a huge clipper moving into a berthing at a Boston pier, completely through the skill of the experienced captain literally moved me to tears. Understanding the pride of a seaman in presenting the best face of his ship and crew to the watching throngs on shore is something that any sailor can readily identify with.

You'll find it a very rewarding read.

MARTHA'S VINEYARD: HOUSES AND GARDENS ALLOWS THE READER TO EFFORTLESSLY VIEW A MOST UNIQUE ISLAND. THE WELL THOUGHT OUT TEXT COMPLIMENTS AND HELPS ONE ENJOY EVEN MORE THE BEAUTY OF MARTHA'S VINEYARD. LISL DENNIS'S PHPOTOGRAPHS CIRCUMNAVIGATE THE ISLAND IN PICTORIAL SPLENDOR. THE AUTHORS OF THIS WORK SHOULD BE COMMENDED FOR THEIR ABILITY TO CAPTURE THE BEAUTY AND ESSENCE OF A VERY SPECIAL PLACE CALLED MARTHA'S VINEYARD.

The Thirteen Colonies series explores the roots of the United States by tracing the history of each of the original colonies, from its indigenous people and earliest European arrivals to eventually becoming a state in a new nation. In writing about the Massachusetts Colony author Lydia Bjornlund has to contend with the fact that your standard American history textbook is going to focus primarily on the Pilgrims and Plymouth up north as well as John Smith and Jamestown in Virginia. These two colonies were just on a completely different level when it comes to the years leading up to the birth of the United States of America. If you are writing about New Hampshire, Delaware, or Georgia then it is easy to come up with new information for your readers, whether they be young or old. But if you are dealing with Massachusetts the focus shifts to being able to cover a lot of material in a concise and interesting manner.

Bjornlund tackles this task by beginning with an analytical perspective. In her introduction to The Bay State she establishes the idea that the people of Massachusetts were different from the rest because of their unique "Yankee" character. This book divides the transformation from colony into state into five chapters: (1) In the Beginning touches on the native Algonquian tribes of the area but focuses mainly on the early exploration and first settlements in Massachusetts Bay, ending with the Mayflower Compact that becomes pivotal in marking the beginning of the idea that the colonists were separate from their mother country; (2) The First Settlers covers a century-and-a-half of early history, from the early alliances with Native Americans and the Massachussetts Bay Charter to the idea of being "a city upon a hill" and the first key signs of discontent with England; (3) Life in Colonial Massachusetts forgoes chronology and talks about the routine of daily life during this period; (4) The Revolutionary Spirit details the fifteen years before blood was shed at Lexington when Massachusetts was at the center of the idea of revolutionary; and (5) Early Statehood and Beyond focuses on Massachusetts's part in moving beyond the Articles of Confederation and adopting the Constitution.

As I indicated above, a lot of this should be familiar to even young readers. Overall, the first, third and fifth chapters are the most informative in terms of providing information beyond what you will find in your history textbook. But we already knew that the history of the movement towards American independence was essentially the story of Massachusetts at this time, since it was almost always this colony that was breaking the King's peace. This volume includes quotations from primary and secondary sources, a time line, black & white illustrations many of which are contemporary to colonial times, annotated bibliographies, and an index. The history contained within may well be familiar to us all, but that does not take away from the fact that Bjornlund tells that story well. I especially like the subheadings that help provide a clearer sense of the book's organizational structure.

Once again, Robert Kaufman has done it! Take a trip through Massachusetts with this incredible talent.