On a recent trip to Charleston I took the walking tour based on this book. The tour was great but the book is better by a mile. Even while standing just outside or in some of the haunted areas mentioned in this fine book one didn't get a feel for the story like you get while reading these stories. All of the hauntings are documented and have been seen by several people adding to the credibility of this work. Everyone who has ever been taken by the beauty and charm of this wonderful old city has to read this book. If you have never been to Charleston read this book and you will want to go there.

mr macy this isnt my dad this is william. this book flows like a river hold on to yur seat dont sleep with the lights out to theses edge of the seat thrillers. this book is a jewel. Buxton and macy spent quality time on this. read this book.The best stor is the hanging i almost cried by the way!!!! and the cooper river bridge.These authors should be compared to the likes of faulkner fitzgerald hemingway and more!

Buxton and Macy were able to capture the essence of Charleston in their new book. I had heard a few of the stories before on their tour, but the book has transcended anythinjg previously covered on the subject of ghosts in Charleston. The book is very well written, and flows nicely from story to story. The photos compliment the stories very well, without becoming a distraction. The story about Fire Station #8 kept me up all night. Excellent book!

One of the best books I have ever read. From the first page I was drawn into this world completely and never looked back. One of those rare books that I was devastated to have end, and moped around for months afterward with nothing to read because I knew nothing would be able to equal it. Miz Shange's lyrical prose is incomparable, beautiful and devastating in it's ability to make an intimate connection with the reader. I consider it a 'Must' read.
If you ever have a chance to see Ntozake Shange read in person, which I have, don't miss the opportunity. She is as rare and wonderful as her writing.

this book left a lasting impression on me, and as I was just reminded of it, I wanted to excite other people's interest in a joyous read. after and while reading about the lovely 3 sisters, my daughter and I invented 3 puppets and called them by the sister's names. Perhaps I remember and recommend this book because it is one you can enjoy with an adolescent.

A gift from Mama, one from their dead Father, and one from Santa, each found through a kind of scavenger hunt by clues left for each child under the Christmas tree, and each savored by the individual Child privately, free of "rivalries, jokes, and Christmas confusions."

What a marvellous, inventive Christmas tradition. If I had family, I would initiate this idea. The Christmas chapter is my favorite in this whole book. I also enjoy the recipes scattered throughout the book! I've tried a few and they're great!

I'm not going to analyze this book and try to guess at what the author was trying to do. Seems to me only the author could do that, anyway. All I can do is review this book based on what I got out of it. Besides a new Christmas ritual and some great recipes, what I got out of it was, a beautiful story about a mother and her three daughters, each with their own unique gifts: Sassafrass the weaver, Cypress the dancer, and Indigo the voodoo priestess/midwife. Their mother, Hilda Effania, wants the best for her girls, but she knows they each have to make their own way in the world; and when at the end of the story her three grown girls are reunited in the celebration of the newest member of the family, she lets them know that no matter what, they can always come home. I think this is a beautiful message, and I'm surprised this book hasn't become a movie by now. Not that being on video would improve the story, far be it; in fact, most movies based on books are so intent on sensationalism that it ends up being nothing like the book (think Waiting to Exhale). It's just that, if done right, it could become the type of touchy-feely message film that Touchstone films or even Hallmark should have jumped on long ago.

This is my favorite book, and I don't own/enjoy a lot of fiction. I've had this book about ten years now, my book has a better cover, and I enjoy pulling it down every Christmas just to read the Christmas day story again and again.

I'm seeing some references to this book as reading for grade schoolers. I think that may be a mistake. I wouldn't recommend this book for a young (prepubescent) child; the drug scenes and the passages involving sexuality are a little intense, I think, even though today's children are a lot more worldly about such things thanks to cable!

Mr. Williams' story is filled with rollicking humor, wit, and wisdom. Vividly written, the reader is drawn into 18th century Charleston, and into the lives of two families, the Dorsets and the Symthes. Each and every character is memorable. You will laugh and cry reading this book. It has a permament place in my personal library. I loved it so much, I rushed out and bought several copies to give to friends and family. Mr. Williams deserves far more credit for his writing genius!

Williams' ambitious novel The True & Authentic History of Jenny Dorset is a refreshing medley of life in Charleston's 18th century, seasoned tastily with charming wit and intriguing characters. A truly enjoyable read, the tale is written with a sincere flare and comes alive to the reader.

More notably is the method in which Williams characterizes each member of the families involved in the story's plot - from the dueling heads, Mr. Dorset and Mr. Smythe, to Old Bob in his amusing stages of senility, and the ostentatious Jenny Dorset herself.

The reader will undoubtedly find the rich story line is highly entertaining, and written in a very lively manner. The tale is penned from the perspective of Henry Hawthorne, the Dorset's discerning and subdued family man servant. Hawthorne patiently abides by the family's somewhat eccentric and unruly lifestyle, and writes about his experiences first-hand, in memoir-like style.

Indeed, this novel is a great story-tellers' delight! The True & Authentic History of Jenny Dorset manifests very engaging humour with every flip of a page - more than once have I been in the throws of violent chuckles over it's whimsical comments and situations. It has quickly grown to be one of my favorites. I highly recommend it.

This book is funny and I loved it.

I think that this was one of the best books I've ever read. My favorite part is the biography of West Fraser. The author Phillips is truly a talented author. I recommend this book to anybody who loves art or landscape views

The oil paintings of artist Fraser are unique: they focus on the landmarks, scenery, and life of Charleston and its area. Charleston In My Time blends full-page color reproductions of his paintings with his own reflections on Charleston life and views of his work. Art collections with either an interest in Charleston or regional painting will find this beautiful.

Charleston is the most beautiful city in America, and Fraser's paintings capture its unique charms better than any photo book or travel video. The text by Ted Phillips provides a witty and comprehensive overview to Fraser's work--don't miss it!

This is a wonderful novel about a man who is sleeping through life, and then one day a hurricane hits. And the man decides that he doesn't really like the practice of law anymore, so he's going to do something about that. And the man's been fantasizing about women his entire life, and so now he's going to do something about that, too. A really remarkable book!

One thing that's interesting about Humphreys work is that she focuses so strongly on one character. In this book we are privy to all of Rob's thoughts--and he has a lot of them!--but none of the other characters, and so they remain mysterious, both to us and to Rob. We're not sure why they do things.

The hurricane, which one character calls an "act of God," strongly suggests that there are not only people, but forces Rob does not understand, and will never understand, let alone control.

One imagines that the characters who interact with Rob in the book suspect that he is in the midst of a self-destructive part of his life--again, the hurricane metaphor--and yet we, who are privy to all his thoughts, realize that he is at his most alive, and in his center he is totally calm.

Humphreys will get compared to Conroy a lot, as they are both from Charleston and write "Southern," but I think she is the more subtle of the two. Her characters are not as wounded (or their wounds are more hidden). Also Conroy's work is more extroverted, whereas Humphreys' work is more internal, and suggests deeper ideas, or not ideas so much as a hint of an idea. I am drawn to rereading this particular work, as the underlying hints are just as interesting as Humphreys' use of language. Fireman's Fair is one of my favorite books, a truly outstanding work of art.

I read the Fireman's Fair for the first time seven years ago. This is one of those novels whose characters are so well fleshed-out that you feel as if you know them. I have read the novel, in full, at least three times -- and have opened it up and re-read favorite sections frequently, when I feel like picking up with Rob Wyatt and Billie Poe again.

Josephine Humphries, PLEASE write more novels like this!

Josephine Humphrey's paints an acurate picture of life in Charleston and the surrounding Lowcountry of S.C. I would suggest this book to anyone who lives in or dreams of the sleepy S.C. coast. The characters are true to the region and the story. This book stirs those crazy dreams of leaving everything behind to start new. Humphreys is a welcomed breath of fresh air to S.C. authors shadowed by Conroy. I wish her the best and await her future work.

"Home by the River" refers to Archibald Rutledge's home on Hampton Plantation near the Santee River near the coast of South Carolina. The river here is the Santee. (When Mr. Rutledge was young the Santee was a greater river than today, because in the 1930's much of it's flow was diverted to the Cooper River and Charleston when dams were built upstream in Berkley County.)

Hampton is no longer a plantation-the Civil War put and end to that-but when Archibald lived there it still had all the requisite amenities: a Greco-style mansion with porticos and widows walk, rice fields with floodgates and dikes, and acres of pines and hardwoods forest. Some of the blacks who lived on or near Hampton and who worked there had been Hampton slaves in their youth.

Hamton Plantation fell into disrepair during the 30 plus years that Archibald Rutledge lived in Pennsylvania where he worked as a school teacher. Much of this book describes his efforts to restore Hampton to its former splendor.

One can imagine Hampton in it's heyday when the mover and shakers of Colonial and ante-bellum society frequented the plantation. Great piles of ham, turkey, and duck greeted George Washington, the Marquis de Lafeyette, and other visitors. It seems General George Washington and his French military peer stayed in every notable house along the Carolina coast. There are signs all over reading "George Washington" slept here. I read about a Lafayette visit in a history of Edisto Island. South Carolinians are guilty of ostentatious name dropping when it comes to the father of our country. It is a point of which we are obviously proud.

Archibald Rutledge didn't have a lot of money to rebuild Hampton. (I wonder how he paid the taxes on several thousand acres of land on a teacher's pension and meager book royalties. The tax bill handed over to his heirs must be one reason the land now belongs to the state.) Yet archibald restored each dusty room of Hampton with the help of local carpenters and back-breaking work. We see the old history of the mansion revealed to us layer by layer as he peels away plaster and paint.

I found most enjoyable the sections of the book on hunting and gardening. Archibald Rutledge was a writer and poet whose hunting stories were printed in Field and Stream magazine. He also wrote for Harpers and the Saturday Evening Post. That hunting remains popular while poetry does not must account for the longevity of his printed material. Had he only written poetry his work might have fallen into obscurity-this is not to say it is not good. Rather, people simply don't revere poets like the used to. (Quick: name two poems by Robert Frost. How about Wallace Stevens?)

I read carefully as Archibald Rutledge describes how he carefully transplanted live oak trees, myrtle bushes, and planted azaleas and camellias around Hampton. He describes the tricks he discovered for making these plants thrive and survive relocation. Botanists take note. Live oaks adorned with Spanish Moss, myrtle bushes, azaleas, and camellias are the foliage that defined the Carolina coast. Their great beauty was much appreciated at Hampton.

Of course hunting was Archibald Rutledge's passion and this is where the sports enthusiast will enjoy "Home by the River" most. I read with envy his description of great clouds of ducks as they flew up out of his rice fields. (These great clouds are still there albeit diminished by market hunting which has since been outlawed and wetlands destruction which has been outlawed as well. Most of the ducks still on the Santee River flock to the government-owned Santee Gun club where they are relatively safe from the average hunter who is without political connections. There is much to be said about this government hoarding of ducks I believe.)

Archibald Rutledge hunted turkeys in the fall. Now we hunt turkeys in the spring because that is when the old toms gobble seeking to mate. Such relatively easy prey seemed unsporting in Archibald's day. Then you could only hunt them in the fall. Archibald would sleep in the swamp and crawl on his belly just to get close to one. For the whitetail deer hunter there is plenty of narrative on that sport too. Mr. Rutledge not only hunted deer he observed them as a naturalist to learn their habits. He would sit in a tree all night long to watch when they came out to feed.

It is too bad that Rutledge's book "God's Children" is out-of-print and not listed in the Amazon.com index. No doubt it has been purged from certain card catalogues because the modern reader might find it racist. In it Archibald Rutledge paints portraits of the blacks who worked at Hampton. He talks of one man's great skill with an ax. Of another he marvels at the grace with which he flings a castnet to catch fish. Of others he talks about their propensity to drink, sleep to excess, beat their wives, or fornicate. His greatest reverence is reserved for Old Tom, the man with whom Mr. Rutledge spent countless hours hunting deer, duck, and turkey. (There is a book on Old Tom listed in the amazon.com index.) Some might be aghast at his glowing admiration for the supposedly simple tasks of cutting wood, netting fish, or calling turkey--maybe that is all these simple people can do? That benevolent, paternal manner harkens back to the plantation days when the negroes look admirably on their masters with upturned eyes and cherub faces. But I find "God's Children" a heartfelt memoir and a glowing testimonial to people who Mr. Rutledge considered true friends and skilled workers. And anyone who has fell a tree, tossed a cast net, or hunted turkey will tell you that it is not simple.

In the amazon.com index I also don't see "Old Flintlock" the biography of Archibald Rutledge written by his son.

An intetresting story of the South Carolina Lowcountry, it's history and wildlife. Anyone who enjoys the outdoors, history, or wants to know more about South Carolina should read this book. It is an excellent book by the famed poet laureate of South Carolina, Archibald Rutledge.

Home by the River by Archibald Rutledge provides on with such a down to earth experience, that Hampton Plantation seems to come to life. The author describes his days growing up on the plantation, his leaving, and his returning home to restore the house and grounds. He finds some unique treasures, such as a letter written to his great-great-grandmother from George Washington, a secret passageway inside the house, and a cache of twenty-eight Delft tiles dating from medieval times.Also described in the book are the close relationships with the resident Negroes who helped him restore portions of the house and grounds. One acquires a deep affection for the author and his "home" by the river upon reading this book. My copy of the book is signed by the author and a descendant of one of the plantation's slaves, Will Alston

"Just Jane: A Daughter of England Caught in the Struggle of the American Revolution" holds the status as best Revolutionary War book, in my eyes. Finally, an author who wrote a female character as not rebelling against her female roles in society. Finally, an author who did not sugar coat what happened to torn families or captured men. Finally, an author who didn't need to end everything on a happy note. The beginning may seem slow, but once Jane matures and the war progresses, the story picks up speed, it will make you never want to put the book down. I recommend.

I really enjoyed Just Jane because it told me not only about what happened to an American soldier during the Revolution (Brandon), but about what happened to people in his family who were only trying to say alive and not get involved (Jane, Simon, and many others). Both English people living in the colonies, as well as Americans, who had at one time gotten along and been family and friends, were forced to take sides. Because of that it was really more like a civil war. It makes the story very exciting and suspenseful, since people never knew which side their friends or family would wind up choosing (or being forced to choose), and they never knew what their enemies would do to them if the enemies wound up getting into power. I really recommend it for anyone 12 or over, girls or boys.

This book is about Lady Jane Prentice the orphaned daughter of an English earl.She has rensently moved to Charleston,SC(then Charlestown)to live with her only living fanily.The year is 1776 and the atosmephere is very tense.One side of the family are tories and the other are patriots While exploring the city she meets the hansome Simon Cordwyn a school teacher and patriot.Which side will she choose. the book is really good a must read

My son and I love to read the about the adventures of Lagare and all his lowcountry friends. The illusrations are colorful and simple. The easy rhyming makes for a quick, fun read. Great footnotes, too! Can't wait for #3! Lisa

My son loves these books..the illustrations are simply wonderful!
These are very easy to understand for Little One's and our son just stares at the pictures. A definite book to add to your child's reading. Kim

This was given as a gift to my 2 year old twins. They absolutely love the characters and enjoy reading about Charleston. I highly recommend this.

I know you shouldn't judge a book by its cover, but it was the cover of "Out of the Shadows" that first got my attention. Dark and mysterious, it hints of intrigue in the South, of mystery and secrets and drama. And it accurately points to the success of Brouwer's writing.

This is great fiction. With a strong hook in the prologue, Brouwer draws us into this modern-day mystery. Through a series of flashbacks, we follow Nick Barrett's search for his mother, his ex-wife, his blackmailers...and for secrets he isn't even aware of. Although the tension flags slightly through the middle of the tale, and the dialogue remains clipped, these characters come to life through solid storytelling. As the plot turns tighter, the author parcels out more and more secrets so that the last fifty pages fly by. What I thought would be a solid 4-star book became an enthusiastic 5-star recommendation after reaching the climax of this Southern mystery.

If you've read "Double Helix" and had a lukewarm reaction, let Brouwer prove to you that he's grown as a writer. "Out of the Shadows" is a gripping story, with spiritual and emotional impact. Having only recently moved to Nashville, I've decided that Sigmund Brouwer is one of this areas best-kept Southern secrets.

Sigmond Brouwer has proved to me that not only can he write books that keep kids coming back but, he can write a captivating adult novel as well! "Out of the Shadows", is a story of greed, bitterness, forgiveness and redemption. The main character in this book is Nick Barrett who has returned to Charleston a town that he grew up in and vowed to never return to again. Charleston brings back the childhood memories of his mothers abandonment as well as a very short marriage as a teenager that are too hard to bear. He is sent an anonymous letter telling him to come back to Charleston with the promise that he will be given a chance to find out what happened to his mother. Thus begins a journey of finding out the truth for Nick. As Nick finds out more about his past and who he is, he also begins a spiritual journey back to God. There are twists and turns galore as well as a story of forgiveness and love. Any one who likes a good mystery will throughly enjoy this book!

Sigmund is not only a great writer but a good father too. This is so beautifully captured in the parent/child relationship of this suspensful novel. The pathos this son experiences as he discovers more truths of his mother ...well read for yourself. Once you crack open this book keep going, you will not be disappointed ...and oh the secrets you will discover of this wealthy southern town. So, pour yourself some sweet tea and enjoy another exercise in fine writing by a wonderful novelist. Thanks Sig for a few good hours!

The entire Cheney Duvall Series is excellent reading. This book in particular was fun. The characters had a good time, and yet it was unpredictable as always. I especially enjoyed the historical element of our nations history that is wrapped up in this book.

I couldn't put it down. The characters will "own" you.

I thought that the book was descriptive and greatly recommended for women to read and men will ebjoy iy too.Dr.Cheney Duvall and nurse, handsome Shiloh Irons set out to overcome the trials of a female doctor in 1865.I thought that this was one of Morris's best book series. I will treasure it forever. I love the series so much a made a webpage for it. http://www.angelfire.com/mo/blondgirl/cheney.html The Cheney Duvall sereis is higly recommend from me and my friends.This book series is good for anyone old and young.

Gilbert Morris, much to his credit, refuses to stereotype his characters with one of the two most frequently found attitudes of Southerners in Civil War Era fiction: those that believe slavery is the best way to deal with African-Americans and those that want to set all slaves free and live in some sort of communal bliss. His characters fall all across the spectrum between these two extremes. The book is a fast reader, a good story of Reconstruction Charleston, and a good witness to the saving grace of Jesus Christ