In this volume the author studies the famous New England warning-out system. Benton's sources include court records, statute books, historical works and town, county and state records. Rather than a list of abstracts, the text is an explanation and history of the law and practice of warning-out in the New England states.

Half gardening how-to, half humor, "White Trash Gardening" is guaranteed to raise a few eyebrows along with lots of other plants. It's not for your great-Aunty Matilda, who gets the vapors when things get a little off color -- but everyone else, gardener or not, should love it. I first read the book about three years ago when I was working full time at a newspaper. It was so hilarious that I went around the newsroom quoting from its pages -- and had everyone cracking up. Benton is as funny as Dave Berry, only with a down-home Southern-fried sense of humor.And a green thumb. The book is actually supposed to be "written" by Benton's alter-ego, one "Rufus Thiabeaux Firefly," who is from Arkansas and supposedly a distant cousin of everyone in the state, including a certain president. Rufus, like his (in)famous kinsman occupying the White House, is not the sort Martha Stewart would like at her garden parties. To put it mildly. He's more like the American version of Hyacinth's brother-in-law Onslow in the PBS series "Keeping Up Appearances" -- as common as mud, in other words. Rufus tells you what kind of vines are good for covering up your rusty trailer, and which kind make good ground cover. Not wanting to spend lots of dough on his landscaping, he doesn't advocate grassy lawns. Ground cover, therefore, cuts out the mowing, watering and most work. For "high falutin' people," ivy makes a good ground cover; Firefly's own ground cover, however, is a '64 Chevy Impala on cinder blocks. You don't need a rototiller to prepare your garden. According to Rufus, just tell the neighborhood kids your garden plot is an Indian burial ground and they can have all the arrowheads they dig up. Two ideas for potted plants in your living room: either some ivy or your teenaged son -- you'll get about the same level of conversation from them both. And when you're trying to classify your plants, Rufus's aunt categorizes them as perinnel, annual and bisexual. Rufus says no gardening tasks should take any longer to finish than a six-pack of beer. Now, the book really does have some good gardening tips in between its jokes. And some history behind them all: in less prosperous times a century or so ago, the "po' white trash" truck farmers had to raise vegetables and crops, making sure they got maxium yield with a minimum of money. That was the only way they survived. So they came up with some ingenious methods that really work. These tips were handed down from one generation to the next, but prior to Benton's book, seldom if ever written down. Now that everyone's leaving the farm and getting citified, these methods may be lost forever if not for books like "White Trash Gardening." You'll want a copy for yourself this gardening season, but buy several. They make great gifts and are guaranteed to have Yankees and Southerners alike doubling over in laughter.

The story takes place at a horseback riding camp. It includes a square dance, hay ride, and horseback riding. The antics of the girls during their pillow fights are realistic. The excursion into the night with the runaway wheelchair was quite a surprise! Enjoyable. Rarely do you read stories which include characters who are the heroine who have a physical disability. The mysterious missing horse is a mystery worth reading. The ending was a special surprise. Young equestrian will love this story.

This book will set you on the right path to better yourself in key areas that truly make a difference in creating success and happiness. I've read several of Benton's books and I think this title offers a fresh, realistic approach to age-old dilemmas on leadership and what makes people effective and looked-up to. This is a must read for college bound teens to company CEOs. Life is about human interaction and relationships -- Chapters 2, 5 and 6 should be mandatory reading for everyone.

This book takes the mystery out of why one person excels in business over a comparably qualified individual who wallows in business. The simple, practical steps allow you to immediately put the advice into action. And it's not just for business but for your entire life. I'm the president of a company and I promote people who understand and use these skills. If they don't "get it" they don't move up. It's that simple.

Benton's book takes the mystery out of why one person excels in business over a comparably qualified individual who wallows in business. The simple, practical steps allow you to immediately put the advice into action. And it's not just for business but for your entire life. I'm the president of a company and I promote people who understand and use these skills. If they don't "get it" they don't' move up. It's that simple.

IF YOUR LOOKING FOR ANY HELP FROM THIS BOOK, FOGET IT. IT WAS NOT WHAT I EXPECTED.NOT ONE PIECE OF ADVICE, EVEN OBSCURE ADVICE. SECONDLY,IT IS WRITTEN IN CARTOON FORM.BUT,THE CARTOONS ARE IN NO WAY FUNNY! SOME MAKE LITTLE SENSE AT ALL.AND,REFERENCE TO OBSCURE PLANETS IS PLENTIFUL, BUT NOT FUNNY AT ALL.THIS BOOK WAS LISTED WITH A GROUP OF VERY SERIOUS BOOKS ON THIS SORT OF SUBJECT,WHEN I DID A SEARCH. MAYBE AMAZON.COM SHOULD DO A BETTER JOB OF GROUPING THE BOOKS THEY SELL.

This is the stuff that makes Gary Larson and Jerry Seinfeld go "man, that was funny". If you HONESTLY think this book is for self-help, you need to delve deeper into the "self help" section. If you don't get the cartoons, don't feel bad. Many of you won't. (You don't get the Far Side half the time either, do you?)
For the sick and twisted individuals out there, this book is definitely for you. I was saddened to see this book out of print and so hard to find. I've had my copy for years, and it has lost a couple of pages (the one with the Sausage Gravy Springs cartoon, good stuff)

This book is WONDERFUL. Irreverent, sick and so funny you have to read it in small doses. I wish it was more readily available. Definitely as good as the Far Side!

I was first introduced to Benton when I stumbled upon a copy of "This Is My Beloved" I was blown away. When I again stumbled upon "Never A Greater Need" I just staggered. I was so happy to find Benton again. While I will have to say that "This Is My Beloved" is Benton's climax, "Never A Greater Need" follows along the same path of beautiful verse pulsing with emotion and depth. His words are intense and simple. Some of the best poetry written.

Perhaps a poetic version of the movie, "It's a wonderful life". Here, Walter Benton's poems juxtapose his memories of love with the hardships of war. The sensual nature of his observations remind the reader that love and beauty are present even in the midst of chaos, even if only in your mind; that perhaps one way to fully cope with a temporary insanity is to recall finer moments lived upon the same landscape.

Having recently read Sullivan's Island, I was in the mood for another low country heartwarming story. Filled with likeable characters and interesting story lines, Plantation lived up to my expectations.

This story begins with Caroline Wimbly, a woman raised in South Carolina who ran away as early as she could to New York city. She thought she was better off for leaving her roots behind, but a call from her brother leads her back to Tall Pines, where she grew up. Her brother and his low life wife want to place their wealthy mom into a home so that they can take over her Plantation. Caroline discovers her mother better than she ever remembered her, and soon she finds her old life might suit her better than the one she's created.

Caroline goes home to New York, only to face the truth about her deeply disatisfying marriage. She returns with her son "home" to South Carolina to live in her childhood home. The bond developed between Caroline and her mother is heartwarming and strong, as is that with her brother. The family pulls together to pull him out of his bind.

Although this story has its share of sadness and unfortunate events, the family's ability to pull together and come through makes it more uplifting than depressing. Miss Lavinia, Caroline's mother, is a particularly spirited and enjoyable character. Her friends and helpers -- especially her estate manager Millie, a woman who claims special powers -- are also pertinant and effective people in the story. All of the characters are well developed, and help make this story one you will crawl right into.

Caroline Wimbley Levine was reared in southern tradition, on a plantation that her family has owned for generations. Her brother Trip has strayed a bit but is still part of the "good ole boy" generation that sips their bourbon freely, and never speaks of financial matters or politics when the ladies are present. Miss Lavinia is the Lady of the manor and is about to leave things in the questionably competent hands of her children.

The author gives us characters that ooze with substance and strength. She is luminous in her presentation of family ties and the love between siblings that miles or years cannot erase. There are some amusing secrets to be uncovered as the author weaves a wonderful story of family loyalty and expectation.

I was pleased to find yet another wonderful adventure from the Southern Low Country. After Thoroughly enjoying SULLIVAN'S ISLAND I couldn't wait to pick up another book written by this author. I was not disappointed. I have placed Dorothea Benton Frank on my favorite authors list and so should you. 12/27/01

Great summer read, yanh!

If you are looking for a great summer beach book, try Plantation by Dorothea Benton Frank. Even better than Sullivan's Island, it is such great fun reading this lowcountry tale. The family is dysfunctional enough to be Southern, eccentric enough to make you laugh out loud, and human enough to make you cry. The matriarch, Miss Lavinia, is a hoot! I was torn between cringing at her antics and yet wanting to be like her in my old age. The battles between Miss Lavinia's daughter, Mrs. Caroline Wimbley Levine, and her perpetually pregnant low-life sister-in-law rage on while the crown prince son drinks on amidst gambling, infidelity, and a cast of zany supporting characters. All of the ordinary story elements are here -wealth, marriages in crisis, parenting, the struggle to be independent balanced against the need to go home. However, Dorothea Benton Frank has made the characters come alive in such a delightful way that Thomas Wolfe is proved wrong - you can go home again! After weeks of searching for the perfect summer read, I finally found it! Any book with a chapter titled, "Miss Lavinia Would Like to Have a Word with You", just has to be read!

I live and grew up a stone's throw from Sullivan's Island, and I was delighted to find a book that is chock full of the local color and flavor of Charleston's barrier islands. The author does a wonderful job of evoking the laid-back atmosphere of the Island that exists so close to the often stifling formality of Charleston proper. The characters were instantly recognizeable to me as "true locals",and I particularly enjoyed all of the segments set in the present day. I was a little impatient, however, with the parallel plot, a murder mystery set against the backdrop of the civil rights movement. All in all, it was an entertaining read-ideal for a beach vacation. I loved the voice and humor of the narrator-the author's real gift is evident in her ability to create such a believable and likeable heroine.

I loved this book and just ordered DBF's other novel and urge her to keep writing! I don't think Sullivans Island left my hands for the couple of days that I read it. I was so sad when it ended, having enjoyed Susan's trials and triumphs!

As with so many great novels, the setting is part of the story. I now want to see the lush low country of South Carolina, ht ewatery imagaery is so appropriate to the story!

Susan is a likable heroine. I enjoyed the alternating settings of 1963 and 1999- I always wondered what was happening in each. DBF found a true voice for both of Susan's eras. The other characters, her beloved Livvie and wise sister Maggie ring equally true. I wish that there could have been a bit more emotion when she solved her father's murder.

This was an entertaing, emotional, and truly captivating novel!

Susan Hayes is a character that you can't just forget ... nor is this a book you can just put down and forget. No sir. Susan is a woman in her 40s dealing with an ex-husband who strays and a turblent teenage daughter and in the process, finds herself again.

Set in the steamy and stormy landscape of South Carolina ~~ Susan deals with her troubled childhood and finds the truth that set her free as an adult. Traveling back and forth between Charleston and the Island, Susan finds comfort and refuge in her childhood home and with her sister, Maggie. And though written with droll humor ~~ this book will keep you in stitches. It's wonderfully written and a wonderful book to keep you turning the pages. It's not just a light read ~~ it's a book about life that most women go through in their journeys in life ~~ and it's a fanastic book. Susan is the woman you dream of having as your best girlfriend ~~ someone to giggle with and cry with. And though difficulties beset her ~~ she was always armed with humor. And the memories of her suggorate mother, Livvie, keeps her going.

It's a fun book to read and just like Frank's second book, The Plantation, it's full of humor and sass. You have to read this book and lose yourself from the realities of life in the harsh winter of the north for a few hours. It's a fun read ~~ one that you can read again and again.

1-23-02

I am amazed that this type of writing still gets interest. After reading really meaningful books on this subject, like Stephen Covey's 7 Habits or Tom Crane's The Heart of Coaching, I find no place for books that treat this topic with the recipe approach.
After devouting a whole chapter to sell the idea of proffesional coaching, Benton goes on to cite herself incessantly on successful actions she did for herself. She tries to make her points through self refference and other minor examples and cases.
Honestly, I think there are numerous books on this matter out there that really deserve attention. Not this one

As I am putting together a reading list for our management team, this book stands out as one that will be of great value for all managers, old and new. So it's on my list. I give it top marks and highly suggest it.

i highly recommend this book, if you read it and act what is within is you will be for one year a CEO in your company. the language is very clear, and the cases make the book very understandable Thanks Benton for your book Sayed Omar AUC- Egypt

This is a helpful reference for people who aren't familiar with magazine publishing and gives some useful advice on how to deal with common problems. However, the writing is sometimes convoluted and redundant and the authors' perspective can be narrow. I would expect better writing from people who choose to write for a publishing industry audience.

I work for printing/publishing clients as an advisor for IT strategy. I give this book to consultants new to the media industry, because it does such a good job of laying out basic information in a manner that's quick to read and easily understandable. Its focus is on the different kinds of magazines, the roles and responsibilies within a magazine, and the concerns of the Editor-in-chief. Informative and exactly as long as it needs to be.

I have been in the magazine field for 5 years and then I found myself in a job where I was the only person with magazine experience, instead of being the youngest in the office. I wanted to be sure of everything I had learned in my other jobs and get tips about other things I had not dealt with. This was the perfect book--it had information about all aspects of magazine editing from management to layout to publication. This book is not only for the editor-in-chief (which I am), but it is also for anyone who works at a magazine and wants to have a better insight into the entire magazine process. I readily recommend this book to anyone interested in magazine writing and editing!