Although the potential for interesting facts, developments, and history certainly exists in the comparison of Vermont and New Hampshire, this collection falls short. It eventually ends up with rude, false pieces that are of no real interest or value. Too bad the editor did not put more effort into this collection

New Hampshire and Vermont are two small, lightly populated states stuck next to each other in northern New England. Little does anyone know that a major feud has been going on between them for years, a feud that won't end anytime soon. The feud is explored in this book by contributors from both sides of the fence.

Vermont has its liberal political outlook and its statewide ban on highway billboards. New Hampshire, on the other hand, is very conservative and its first in the country Presidential primary makes it the center of the American political universe every four years. People in Vermont wear funny sandals and talk about world peace. New Hampshire residents sell liquor at toll booths and drive without seat belts. The one thing they agree on is their dislike of Mssachusetts.

Every weekend the roads are full of European sedans in custom colors packed with casual clothing and the latest sporting equipment bearing Massachusetts plates. Every driver is in a major hurry to relax; woe to anyone who gets in front of them on the road. But, once they get outside of Massachusetts, they stop at every stone wall, covered bridge and quain country store so quickly that they activate their car's air bags. The other thing that people from Massachusetts do on weekends is shop at outlet malls. Seeing (or more accurately, hearing) several women all wearing noisy nylon jogging suits, and making a beeline for the nearest sale rack, is something to behold.

Vermont looks like a postcard. New Hampshire's largest city, Manchester, has a main street that concludes in a dead end. People in Vermont go out to eat and listen to National Public Radio. The first thing one sees in New Hampshire is a toll booth where the attendant has trouble making change from a $5 bill, followed by a state liquor store.

This book is hilarious and a little eye-opening for this native New Englander. It equally insults the people of both states, it's very easy to read, and is highly recommended.

I have personally read all of Bernadette Pruitt's books, and have loved them all. I thought that this one would be just as good as the others, but I can honestly say that this book was a let down compared to the other stories.

The novel begins conflict between Erin and Wyatt. Wyatt, who was the lawyer of the opposing party, moves in next door to Erin. Erin grows doubtful of Wyatt's selfless reasons for moving in next door, but allows her niece, Lily to associate with the man none the less.

Between the constant black cloud that Erin lives under, and Lily, Erin learns to love Wyatt. Her vulnerablity increases as she grows to care for the man that tried to take Lily away. Wyatt, whom was recoving from a horrible past marriage, believes that a ready-made family is something he DOES NOT need. Yet, he learns to love Lily, as well as Erin. Needless to say, the ending proves to be a happy one. Yet, compared with other Pruitt novels, I found this novel to be less convincing than the others. BUT, I definitly recommend "The Christmas Wish" by Pruitt. It is worth the money.

I know that Bruce G. Hallenbeck, Robert Bartholomew and William Brann co wrote this book with Paul. All in all a great read!

In her fifth mystery tale, B. Comfort again has Tish McWhinney, the intrepid septnagarian sleuth, embroiled in the sometime questionable activities of the inhabitants of Lofton, a fictional village located somewhere in vermont. Like her creator, Tish is an artist. She has just been asked by her octogenarian beau, Hilary Oats, to commit what she views as a forgery. He wants her to do a painting of dogs, something that can appear to be antique and of impressive value. Hillary, it seems, has invested once again in a hare-brained venture by his beloved grandson Bruce, this time it's a mobile supply source of doggy items to be sold at dog shows. Reluctantly, Tish agrees instead to touch up and old painting found in the attic featuring a pair of terrior. With this slightly criminal act, she becomes deeply involved in Bruce's role as a concessopnaire at the forthcoming dog show in Londonderry, and eventually she finds herself tracking suspicious characters who may be involved in more than one murder. Tish doesn't like snoopy people, hates to think of herself as one of them, but "can't think of a gentler word" to describe herself. Luckily she is the narrator, because she has a sense of drama, a very sharp eye for human frivolities and pretenses and a fine sardonic wit. She knows everyone in town, and in fact the wholesale introductions in the beginning chapter mean that it takes a while for the reader to distuinguish the leads from the extras in a variegated cast. Among them is Tish's beuteous niece Sophie who devoted herself to her goat farm, and George, who describes himself as a graduate student, who seems to have moved in with her. Also on the scene are Bruce's daughter and ex-wife and her Texas entrepreneur husband. A couple with dubious credentials has come to towm to take over the Lofton general store and do not appear to e fitting in to local patterns. And there is a gallery owner from Woodstock who specializes in animal art, particularly canines. B. Comfort has perfect pitch and a portraitist's eye in her renditions of the locals, birthright Vermonters, newcomers, summer residents, rural characters, dog people, elders, youngsters, and in between. It is all seen from Tish's well-honed point of view, and if the plot is not particularly challenging, never mind, for it's all gret fun and games, with a chortle on every page. It is to be hoped that Tish continues her dramatic career as a snoop.

This book presents a history of Vermont from pre-historic times until about 1930. Rather than focusing on names, dates, and chronologies, the author seeks to tell us the stories behind the major events in Vermont history. While some parts of the book are quite interesting, others drag on and the book could have used a heavier hand in editing. The strongest and most interesting feature today is that the author communicates to us the beliefs that Vermonters of her generation had about their state.

I'm a Vermonter, right? So, I got a laugh out of this book. Yup. Reminds me of the guy up the road. Do I think it would appeal to non-Vermonters or people without friends or relations in Vermont? Nope. Prob'ly not.

Perfect gift for student who is going to college in Vermont

This book presents a relatively unknown piece of our history through the studied eye of a scientific historian. It doesn't go into sensationalism regarding the unfortunate outcomes of things that the social engineers of the times did, but rather presents them in such a way that some readers may ask "so what?" The seeming normality of the endeavor along with it's ultimate outcome should lead us to ask some serious questions about what we're doing with our genetic knowledge and such things as "women's choice" today. It is an important book by virtue to the maxim that "those who do not learn from the past are condemned to repeat it".

It's disappointing to take home a book which is subtitled "Tales of a Country Doctor," and then read in the fine print of the prologue, "There will be some who ... will complain about the _fact_ of a particular matter [being] ... in need of correction.... You are in the minority. The sooner you learn ... that the greatness of Truth is that it transcends the lowly fact, the better off you will be."

In other words, not only is this another Palmer wannabe, but it's pure fiction masquerading as down-home fact.

A biting, witty, and satirical look at medicine in the U.S.

I have used several of "The Off The Beaten Path" books over the years and have found them for the most part to be accurate. However, I was greatly dissapointed in the Vermont one. I tried for hours to find several locations only to be told by the "locals" that there was no such place or that the structure had been moved several years ago. Some locations were found right off but I found that I have been spoiled but the authors of the New Hampshire book and their accuracy. I have noted that the Rogers are doing the updates. GREAT, now I'll find the places I want to see.

I bought this book hoping it would tell me things I didn't know or at least things I knew presented in a new light. At the time I was doing a lot of Vermont travel. I found this book quite useless, and was put off by its dismissive tone. Vermont is a complex place, but you would not know that by reading this.

Only someone with a personal vendetta against th eauthor would go to such lengths to trash someone's work. If you don't like it, just say so and move on. And by the way, bitter folks like you should be vacationing in Detroit, not Vermont!

I wouldn't bother spending money on this book. It reads too much like a brochure. The author spent the majority of her time talking about the Innkeepers and not the Inns. Not only that, but she didn't rate the Inns, so it was hard to tell which Inns were good and which were bad. I wound up returning this book and purchasing "The Unofficial Guide to Bed and Breakfasts in New England" by Lea Lane. It's a much better book. The author visited each Inn personally and then gave a thorough review. She also rated the Inns. She did not accept any payment from the Inns for inclusion in the book which meant she was able to write an unbiased review.

The author seemed to devote far too much of each review on describing the innkeepers rather than the inn itself. Although the information about the innkeepers may be interesting, it does not help me choose which inn to stay at. So instead of devoting 40% of the review on the innkeepers, I would much rather have the inn described in more detail so that I can make an informed decision. Frustrated by the lack of detail, I returned this book for a refund.

An amazing resource with everything you could ever need to know about B&Bs in New England. It includes everything from the most basic like the amenities to the most specific such as what they serve for breakfast and which dog or cat in residence will climb up in bed with you if given the chance. My fiance and I wanted to have our wedding in either Vermont or New Hampshire at the height of foliage season and with this book we were able to narrow our choices down from our home in New York by the number of rooms, location, and other important things we had to take into consideration. Bernice Chesler made the search for our dream location so much easier! Thank you!