The Elegant Gathering of White Snows

The Elegant Gathering of White Snows
Average customer rating:

Put this on you List of Books You Want to Read

A book about the Strength of Women!!

loved it loved it loved it!

Every woman I know who has read this book loves it.

Extraordinarily bad

The Elegant Gathering of White Snows
Kris Radish
Manufacturer: Bantam
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0553382411
Release Date: 2003-06-10

Book Description

Eight Women on a Journey That Will Change Their Lives as Lovers, Wives, Mothers, Daughters, Friends

Just after midnight in a small town in Wisconsin, eight women begin walking together down a rural highway. Career women, housewives, mothers, divorcées, and one ex–prom queen, they are close friends who have been meeting every Thursday night for years, sharing food, wine, and their deepest secrets. But on this particular Thursday, Susan, Alice, Chris, Sandy, Gail, Mary, Joanne, and Janice decide to disappear from their own lives.

Their spontaneous pilgrimage attracts national attention and inspires other women from all across the country. As the miles fall away and the women forge ahead on their backroads odyssey—leaving small miracles in their wake—each of their histories unfolds, tales of shattered dreams and unexpected renewal, of thwarted love affairs and precious second chances.In luminous, heartwarming prose, Kris Radish deftly interweaves the women’s intimate confessions into the story of their brave, history-making walk.

A breathtaking achievement, The Elegant Gathering of White Snows tells an incomparable tale of friendship and love, loss and liberation.

Customer Reviews:

Put this on you List of Books You Want to Read.......2007-09-05

Although this was the third of Kris Radish's books that I read, I found myself totally taken with her writing, her characters and the delightful story that she so beautifully wove. I consider myself a true admirer of both what she has to say, and how she says it. A Must Read... you'll be so glad you did!

A book about the Strength of Women!!.......2007-07-21

I purchased this book upon the recommendation of two friends of mine. Within the first 15 minutes I had laughed out loud and cried tears. This book strikes a chord with women everywhere - the pain we feel and the joy we experience. Grab a hanky and enjoy!

loved it loved it loved it!.......2007-04-13

this is not the type of book i would buy but i agreed to read it for a book club and i'm soooo glad i did! it was about a group of woman who have been meeting for once a week for years and one day decided to just get up and go walking. they walked for several days and made world headlines and most importantly talked about and got off their chest deep dark secrets that was holding them back from living and getting on with their lives. basically they decided that they were not happy and decided to start making changes in their like that would make them happy! lovely book! ronda

Every woman I know who has read this book loves it........2007-03-18

I purchased this book after it was recommended by a client. I have since recommended it to my book club and numerous other women who have read and enjoyed it and purchased copies for their friends. To me this book highlights how women can be acquainted for long periods of time but not really know one another until they begin to reveal their untold stories. As relationships are forged among the characters, we become closer to their hearts and notice the treads of their stories that mirror our own.

I found the dialogue and descriptions in this book fun. It's an easy read and one that I continue to recommend.

Extraordinarily bad.......2006-12-09

This is a book that will make you ashamed of liking women's fiction.

It's like Kris Radish did a marketing survey of what themes are of interest to the demographic that buys women's fiction, picked the ten most "serious" (ie, whiny and sad) themes, and threw together a short story about each theme, with a minimum of thought, effort, or editing. Then she sent the characters from these stories off on a pointless hike together, so she could claim her collection of short stories was really a novel. But when she read back through it she realized that it had no spark, that the characters were all boring, and the walk they were on was pointless and stupid. But rather than fixing this, she added a bunch of observers who would point at the characters in the short stories, and proclaim them to be interesting, and their walk to be deeply meaningful. This does not make any of it meaningful or interesting.

I'm waiting for some mysogyinist to pop up on the talk show circuit and tell us that Kris Radish is his pen name, and he wrote his books as a thought experiment to prove that women will buy anything that lets them believe they are the victims while claiming to empower them.

Average customer rating:

Adventure story.
Some Light History
Tom Sawyer for girls
An uplifting pioneer story for girls
Caddie Woodlawn

Caddie Woodlawn
Carol Ryrie Brink
Manufacturer: Aladdin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1416940286

Amazon.com

At age 11, Caddie Woodlawn is the despair of her mother and the pride of her father: a clock-fixing tomboy running wild in the woods of Wisconsin. In 1864, this is a bit much for her Boston-bred mother to bear, but Caddie and her brothers are happy with the status quo. Written in 1935 about Carol Ryrie Brink's grandmother's childhood, the adventures of Caddie and her brothers are still exciting over 60 years later. With each chapter comes another ever-more exciting adventure: a midnight gallop on her horse across a frozen river to warn her American Indian friends of the white men's plan to attack; a prairie fire approaching the school house; and a letter from England that may change the family's life forever. This Newbery Medal-winning book bursts at the seams with Caddie's irrepressible spirit. In spite of her mother's misgivings, Caddie is a perfect role model for any girl--or boy, for that matter. She's big-hearted, she's brave, and she's mechanically inclined! (Ages 9 to 12)

Book Description

Caddie Woodlawn is a real adventurer. She'd rather hunt than sew and plow than bake, and tries to beat her brother's dares every chance she gets. Caddie is friends with Indians, who scare most of the neighbors -- neighbors who, like her mother and sisters, don't understand her at all.

Caddie is brave, and her story is special because it's based on the life and memories of Carol Ryrie Brink's grandmother, the real Caddie Woodlawn. Her spirit and sense of fun have made this book a classic that readers have taken to their hearts for more than seventy years.

Customer Reviews:

Adventure story........2007-07-24

My 9 year old granddaughter loves it as I did when I was in the 3rd grade and she knows interesting, worthwhile books! So, buy it for your grandkids, too.

Some Light History.......2007-06-10

This is the somewhat true story of a real girl living in pioneer Wisconsin in the mid 1800s. The story starts when Caddie is eleven years old, and used to spending most of her time with her older brother Tom and her younger brother Warren. Caddie also has three sisters and another younger brother, but Tom and Warren are the most fun for her and the three of them often have adventures together.

Caddie's mother was brought up to be a polite lady in Boston and Caddie's sister Clara is a nice young lady like her mother. But when they first moved to Wisconsin when Caddie was very young, she was sickly and her father decided that it would be healthier for her to run free outside with her brothers instead of spending her days shut up inside learning how to be a proper lady. Therefore, Caddie at eleven is a tomboy.

Although Caddie's mother is exasperatd by her tomboyishness, Caddie enjoys her young life and has a wonderful time with her brothers, whether they are visiting the nearby Indian tribe, telling stories to each other near the fields or playing practical jokes on their snobbish cousin Annabelle.

This was an interesting book, providing some details about what life was like from the point of view of a likable girl. However, this book indicated that life was easy and things always went well for the Woodlawn family. Everything in their lives was too happy to be taken seriously.

Tom Sawyer for girls.......2007-01-21

I read this children's classic in my last year of elementary school, right before reading The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. All I could remember was how similar the two books are, and indeed looking back at both books now, they do seem quite similar in content. Both are about boisterous youngsters living in America during the mid-1800s. Both books deal with relations with family, other non-whites, school friends and school enemies, and of course, love. In this book's case, Caddie the tomboy is the joy of her father and woe of her mother. This is similar to Tom Sawyer, who constantly frustrates his aunt. This is a good book to read by both boys and girls and can easily occupy a weekend of time for most 10-year olds.

An uplifting pioneer story for girls.......2007-01-04

I read this book for the first time as an adult and found it delightful. Caddie Woodlawn is an excellent role model for girls -- daring and generous, thoughtful and independent. She tries to do what she knows is right, even if the whole town is against her. And she has the self-confidence to be herself and behave as a tomboy, no matter what society expects of her.

The book, written by the real Caddie Woodlawn's granddaughter, focuses on one year in her life. It tells of her adventures in the pioneer wilderness and shows her growing up and finding her place in the world. That theme is timeless, and I would recommend this book to anyone.

Caddie Woodlawn.......2006-12-22

"She was the despair of her mother and of her elder sister, Clara, but her father watched her with a little shine of pride in his eyes, and her brothers accepted her as one of their own without a question."
This book is about Caddie Woodlawn, a pioneer tomboy growing up in Wisconsin. When her family moved from Boston, she and her sister Mary were fatally sick. Mary died, and Caddie's father begged her mother to let Caddie grow up with her brothers, Tom and Warren, so she would be stronger and healthier. Caddie is a wild animal and isn't ready to give up being a tomboy. However, Caddie's mother wants Caddie to be a proper young lady. She wants Caddie to sew, bake, and cook instead of plowing, hunting, and visiting Indians. Caddie isn't ladylike, and her mother sometimes treats Caddie unfairly because of it.
This book is perfect for any girl who is a tomboy, or has ever been pushed to be something they're not.
You will believe every word Brink tells about Caddie is true, because it is. Based on the life of Carol Brink's grandmother, Caddie Woodhouse, the book is entertaining and keeps you drawn in while it tells about Caddie's life. From her crazy uncle, tattling sister, stuck-up cousin Annabelle, and adventurous brothers to her kind Indian friends, beloved dog, and important family decisions, you will savor every word.
Caddie Woodlawn is the winner of the Newbery Medal, and has a sequel, Caddie Woodlawn's Family.

Average customer rating:

My Very Favorite Book Ever!
Wonderful heartwarming story
An Absolutely Charming Story
Beautiful full-color illustrations
I double-dog dare you to read just one of them (especially THE LONG WINTER) and not be hooked!

Little House in the Big Woods
Laura Ingalls Wilder
Manufacturer: HarperTrophy
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0064400018

Amazon.com

Although the Little House stories are traditionally seen as "girl" books, boys might be happily surprised if they take another peek at their sisters' shelves. Little House in the Big Woods--the first book of the series and Laura Ingalls Wilder's first children's book--is full of the thrills, chills, and spills typically associated with "boy" books. Any boy or girl who has fantasized about running off to live in the woods will find ample information in these pages to manage a Wisconsin snowstorm, a panther attack, or a wild sled ride with a pig as an uninvited guest. Every chapter divulges fascinatingly intricate, yet easy-to-read, details about pioneer life in the Midwest in the late 1800s, from bear-meat curing to maple-tree sapping to homemade bullet making.

Wilder's autobiographical tales ring with truth and excitement. Readers will receive a perfectly painless history lesson, and in fact will clamor for more. Beloved illustrator Garth Williams spent years researching young Laura's pioneering family. His soft-line illustrations bring to life the full, simple days and nights in the family's log cabin. No one can read just one Little House book! (Ages 9 to 12) --Emilie Coulter

Book Description

Laura Ingalls's story begins in 1871 in a little log cabin on the edge of the Big Woods of Wisconsin. Four-year-old Laura lives in the little house with her Pa, her Ma, her sisters Mary and Carrie, and their trusty dog, Jack.

Pioneer life is sometimes hard, since the family must grow or catch all their own food as they get ready for the cold winter. But it is also exciting as Laura and her folks celebrate Christmas with homemade toys and treats, do the spring planting, bring in the harvest, and make their first trip into town. And every night they are safe and warm in their little house, with the happy sound of Pa's fiddle sending Laura and her sisters off to sleep.

And so begins Laura Ingalls Wilder's beloved story of a pioneer girl and her family. The nine Little House books have been cherished by generations of readers as both a unique glimpse into America's frontier past and a heartwarming, unforgettable story.

Notable Children's Books of 1940'1970 (ALA)
1958 Lewis Carroll Shelf Award
1988 Choices (Association of Booksellers for Children)
Horn Book Children's Classics 1976

Customer Reviews:

My Very Favorite Book Ever!.......2007-10-03

I've read this book over and over. Just thinking about it gives me such a warm fuzzy feeling. All of the "Little House" books have had such a huge impact on my life. Thank you, Laura!

Wonderful heartwarming story.......2007-09-27

Most kids read Little House on the Prairie first, but this book actually is the first book in the series. In this Little House story book, readers get a taste of the 1870s midwest and join Laura, her Ma, and her Pa, and her sisters at the little house in the big woods.

An Absolutely Charming Story.......2007-08-14

Writen during the Great Depression, "Little House in the Big Woods" is Laura Ingalls Wilder's memoir of growing up in Wisconsin in the years immediately following the Civil War. The book chronicles a year in the life of Laura's family. The writing is absolutely charming in its simplicity and I found myself caught up in the details of the family's material culture. I was reminded of Eric Sloane's "Diary of an Early American Boy", another classic of the genre.

I think memoirs are better heard than read. The narrator, Cherry Jones is a charasmatic performer whose voice twinkles with humor and warmth. In addition, the recording also includes a violin accompaniment to Cherry Jones' singing of the many songs that appear in the story. This is a beautiful recording and I give it my highest recommendation.

Beautiful full-color illustrations.......2007-07-04

This review is from: Little House in the Big Woods (Little House) Full-Color Collector's Edition

My husband just finished reading this great book to our 4y/o daughter and she really liked it. In my opinion, the "Full Color" version is the best choice when reading this book to younger kids. This version uses high quality white paper with a glossy finish.

I double-dog dare you to read just one of them (especially THE LONG WINTER) and not be hooked!.......2007-06-05

Laura Ingalls Wilder was born in 1867 into a warm and loving family. She lived in a log cabin, traveled across the country in a covered wagon and shared the story of her life in the classic Little House book series, which millions of readers have loved since 1932 when LITTLE HOUSE IN THE BIG WOODS was first published.

Because there was a period of Laura's life that she didn't include in her series, well-known author Cynthia Rylant wrote another Little House book called OLD TOWN IN THE GREEN GROVES to fill in the gap, and William Anderson penned LAURA INGALLS WILDER: A BIOGRAPHY. Within these 11 books, readers will discover an honest portrayal of the life of a pioneer girl --- from her travels as a toddler in a covered wagon to an airplane ride when she was elderly.

Aside from the excellent stories, the Little House books are full of fascinating facts. Have you ever wondered how the old-time settlers made butter? Here you will find out each step in the process, along with the surprising way that Mrs. Ingalls colored the butter yellow. When Laura's mother needed a vegetable grater, Laura's father made one by punching an old pan full of nail holes. When the family wanted to eat meat in the winter, Mr. Ingalls went out to the shed and hacked off a chunk of frozen meat with an ax.

Through good times and bad, sorrow and pleasure, danger and celebrations, the Ingalls faced hardships and fortunate times alike, united in grace, humor, love and hard work. It's a pleasure to join them in these tales, which are as relevant and gripping today as they were 75 years ago.

P.S. Attention, boys! Do you think this series is only for girls, since Laura is the main character in all of them except FARMER BOY? Think again. The Little House books are actually exciting, gritty survival stories filled with adventure and danger. I double-dog dare you to read just one of them (especially THE LONG WINTER) and not be hooked.

--- Reviewed by Terry Miller Shannon

Average customer rating:

Candid, introspective, one-of-a-kind
Dahmer's father able to provide truth or not?
I feel bad for Jeff
the (lack of) sins of the father
Sad, but a very brave man indeed....

A Father's Story
Lionel Dahmer
Manufacturer: William Morrow & Co
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 068812156X

Customer Reviews:

Candid, introspective, one-of-a-kind.......2007-06-27

Lionel Dahmer's memoir is the story of the dark journey of a father who was faced with the grisly reality of one of America's most notorious serial murder, mutilation, rape, necrophilia, and cannibalism cases. Lionel was a father who had to grapple not with losing his son to these unspeakable horrors, but with the fact that his son was the perpetrator. As a father, Lionel was asked if he could forgive his son, but before he could determine that, he had to forgive himself. The book presents Lionel's struggle with guilt, bewilderment, anger, and personal chaos during his son's life and in the aftermath of his arrest.

The memoir stands alone in its straightforward prose, introspection, and complete lack of blame shifting. Lionel provides broads stroke of details of the crimes, focusing more on the individuals than on the headline-grabbing depravity of Jeffrey Dahmer's deviance. Throughout Jeffrey's youth, and during the trial, Lionel grappled with his own responsibility for his son's social maladjustment. He identified with his son's need for control, extreme fear of abandonment, and general solitary nature. Lionel even contrasts Jeffrey's zombie experiments with his own hypnosis-control experiments in childhood. After Jeffrey's arrest, Lionel never wanted him to go free, but he did hope and work for psychiatric treatment for the son he was never able to save.

Lionel, I applaud you condor and introspection. You've written a book that will no doubt provide comfort to many parents of difficult children, and will help frame many of the "why?" questions felt by Americans with regards to your son's crimes.

Dahmer's father able to provide truth or not?.......2007-04-29

I loved this book and I love to read and study about Dahmer. This is a great book but after seeing a documentary on tv about it, I am a little concerned about the authenticity of the information that his father is giving in this book. He makes a lot of claims about the state of Jeffrey's mother that she denies..... so that leaves me feeling ..hmmm??
I have to imagine as a father, this book would be very hard to write, talking about the heinous nature of his son's life before prison. What is his motivation for this? Due to some of his comments, I believe perhaps he is a little bit "off" himself too and able to detach himself and provide mostly truths.
On a personal note, I'm very disappointed that the prison left him in a situation where he ended up murdered. He could have and should have been studied. Not that the studies of Manson has answered all our questions, but when you get someone like Dahmer, it's got to be studied. He was willing to discuss his crimes and do all he could after his sick, twisted lifestyle came to an end.

I feel bad for Jeff.......2007-03-28

After recently seeing the unshown interview Stone Phillips did in April, 1994, nine months before Jeff was set up and murdered in prison, my heart goes out to him. The mother and her mother were drunks. Jeff became an alcholic at 14, was molested as a child and seemed to be left out of the family.

I do believe Lionel cared and did the best he could. I also believe if Jeff had been born a few years later, he could have found a slave on the internet.

Jeff seemed like an intelligent man and was easy on the eyes. I have heard people at his trial said, "He looked like an angel and I would have gone home with him."

I wish they had studied Jeff's brain and I wish I could have met him. I do believe he was remorseful and full of guilt. Like most of us, he just wanted to be loved and not be alone. He was proud of his father for writing this book.

RIP Jeff With Love

the (lack of) sins of the father.......2006-04-25

Since Biblical days, common people have asked if parents are responsible for the shortcomings or bad acts of their children. This book tries to answer that from the father of a famed serial killer. Though the father's Ph.D. is not in psychology, this book felt very Freudian. The father finds things that he had in common with his son. However, at the end of the day, none of his actions caused what his son did.
Whether it's divorce, custody battles, or workaholicism to escape the homefront, Mr. Dahmer experiences what many parents, and especially fathers, do. Surprisingly, he never asks, "How was I able to get a Ph.D. yet my son could not finish one semester of undergrad?!" What stands out is how Jeffrey Dahmer failed at everything: he had no friends, he didn't survive college, he didn't survive the military, etc. Though his father doesn't mention it, journalists even wrote in the early 1990s that he was a sloppy murderer. Many parents of underachieving children will relate to this, whether they are famous or unknown.
The racial issue was barely addressed here, unfortunately. Mr. Dahmer said his son targeted black men, due to their lower socioeconomic standing, (and muscular bodies), not due to race. However, he never says whether Dahmer attended a diverse secondary school, had interest in other cultures, or had black friends. The father never once answers whether he encouraged his son to treat everyone the same or to celebrate diversity. The editor should have pushed him harder in this regard.
The gay issue was obviously a catch-22 for Mr. Dahmer. The grand majority of men do not do what Jeffrey Dahmer did, regardless of sexual orientation. So the father begins by referring to his son's "secret desires," "dark passions" etc. This is in reference to some of his nefarious acts. It is only deep into the book when the father says, "I come to things slowly. It took me forever to realize that my son was homosexual." Notice he uses "homosexual," rather than "gay." This failure to recognize may be a sign of homophobic denial. However, many fathers just do not get a clue about their children's sexuality or general personality. When Mr. Dahmer admits that his son went to bathhouses and liked male-on-male videos, this was an honesty that took courage to write. Celebrities (Cher, Sonny Bono, Betty DeGeneres, Madonna, inter alia) have spoken of having gay relatives. I think this book may be helpful to the PFLAG crowd. Mr. Dahmer tries hard not to offend gay men and lesbians that would not want to be spoken in the same breath as his son.
This book could have benefited from a postscript. Jeffrey Dahmer was killed the same year this book was produced. The man who killed so many black men was killed by a black man. What would Mr. Dahmer have said about transforming from the father of a killer to the father of a murder victim? Did the murder affect his job and neighbors as the serial killing did? The book doesn't answer this.
More than a decade has passed since the news broke out. Still, this was a fresh, insightful, quick, and enjoyable read.

Sad, but a very brave man indeed...........2005-03-18

Jeffrey Dahmer was unique amongst killers -- and I have studied many of them. Jeffrey was a tall, handsome, and articulate man. He went to great lengths to avoid his victims suffering. He was open and honest about his crimes. He was remorseful and ashamed of his actions. There is no doubt in my mind he suffered greatly all his life almost. We can never condone his actions, but we were never in Jeffrey's shoes. Jeffrey didn't choose to have these morbid desires....How can we be so sure we could control ourselves if we were in his shoes??????

I have read and seen much material on Mr. Dahmer, and have indeed read Mr. Dahmer senior's book. Lionel Dahmer, I firmly believe, was in no way responsible for his son's actions...sure he PROBABLY did pass on an obsessive nature to young Jeff, but so did my Dad to me....I became obsessed with tennis....others are in the same position as me, they become obsessed with healthy things. But Jeffrey, I believe, unconsciously became conditioned to relating sexual stimuli with thoughts of total possession, and I believe his obsession with the dead bodies and storing of them, somehow stemmed from his double hernia operation.

In summary, Lionel Dahmer, I firmly believe was, and still is, a decent, educated and caring individual. And he is immensly brave in coming out by writing this book. He is immensly brave by being in court showing support for his son. Maybe we actually need more fathers like Lionel Dahmer? I feel bad that he has suffered too. Also, as one reviewer stated, what was the point of pointing Jeff in jail? It was absurd in my opinion. Doesn't society want to stop these acts??? Well maybe if they had Jeff studied intensly in a psychiatric hospital, we could uncover some of the secrets of why he became so sick.

Jeffrey Dahmer was a sick man, not an evil man. He deserved to live. I truly believe this.

Lionel Dahmer, a decent human being, is not culpable at all for his sons actions.

At the start of the book, Lionel, pledges that a "portion" of profits would be given to the victims families. Some people have critisized him, saying all money should go to the victims families. But in actual fact, the remaining money went to court cases in which Lionel was wrongly sued as a irresponsible father. He didn't use the money to fly around the world, he used it for court costs!

RIP Jeffrey Dahmer
RIP to all the victims and sympathy to the victims
Stay strong Lionel Dahmer, you are brave indeed

Deviant: The Shocking True Story of Ed Gein, the Original Psycho

Average customer rating:

PsychoKiller Quest que cest?
Short and to the point
Couldn't put it down!
One of the best true crime books I've read...
Murder & Graverobbing

Deviant: The Shocking True Story of Ed Gein, the Original Psycho
Harold Schechter
Manufacturer: Pocket
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0671025465

Amazon.com

Harold Schechter is a historian: he takes old files and yellowed newspaper clippings, and brings their stories to life. Deviant is about everyone's favorite ghoul, Ed Gein--whose crimes inspired the writers of Psycho, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and The Silence of the Lambs. Schechter deftly evokes the small-town 1950s Wisconsin setting--not pretty farms and cheese factories, but infertile soil and a bleak, hardscrabble existence. The details of Gein's "death house" are perhaps well known by now, but the murderer's quietly crazy, almost gentle personality comes forth in this book as never before. As Gary Kadet wrote, in The Boston Book Review, "Schechter is a dogged researcher [who backs up] every bizarre detail and curious twist in this and his other books ... More importantly, he nimbly avoids miring his writing and our reading with minutiae or researched overstatement, which means that although he can occasionally be dry, he is never boring."
Also recommended: Schechter's books about Albert Fish (Deranged) and Herman Mudgett a.k.a. Dr. H. H. Holmes (Depraved).

Customer Reviews:

PsychoKiller Quest que cest?.......2007-10-16

Quest que cest,yes, just what is it about those psychokillers past,present and future that holds our attention.Words are used to define their acts such as ghoulish,fiendish,psychotic necrophilic deviants etc, but why do they do it and just what is the root cause of their extreme antisocial behaviors.How can one live with these episodic,violent bloodbaths and continue to function as if all was right with the world.Deviant is an excellent start on your quest for comprehension.It chronicles the life and times of one of the most notorious killers who wasn't all that notorious at all, at least during the daylight hours.Edward Gein,a local town simpleton who took the oedipal complex way too far and acted out in the only way he knew how, was well on his way to becoming a legendary boogieman. The research is sound and factually based on the circumstances of his early life, his distorted relationship with his mother and those around him.His penchant for nocturnal,necrophilic activities such as grave robbing, his unique use of skin and bone applications in home decorating ideas you would never find in Better Homes and Gardens,and the art of human butchering are all here for the reader to digest.For those who enjoy this stuff it is a fast read,a real page turner.Gein is practically iconic now given that this occurred in the late 1950's.The setting is yet another rural,midwest,one horse town described by some as the dead heart of Wisconsin,an appropriate description for Plainfield, a dismal,barren,isolated patch of mostly dead farmland with nothing to do except slowly go insane.Ed Geins actions are considered to be the bedrock of most of our literary and cinematic killers,all fashioned and linked in some way to what he did and how he did it.Schechter does a good job in keeping with the facts without too much conjecture or sensationalization.Deviant is all you'll need if you want to know about the grandaddy of them all,the actual example all of our most nightmarish killers were modeled after.Just how many deaths,local disappearances and actual grave robbings took place has remained a mystery. He admitted to some things but could not recall others.A real cool character that Ed Gein.He was someone you would never suspect which is why he evaded detection for over a decade.How could the local idiot commit such horrible acts?This is the crux of the facinating field of forensics and psychiatry with regard to the criminal mind.There is a potential Ed Gein in every town in America,hell the world as well.Read and learn about them and hopefully you might not be next on the menu for decapitation and flaying which for Ed Gein assisted in his hobbies of dress and jewelery design. This book is a winner and will enhance the macabre section in your library.

Short and to the point.......2007-09-02

Ed Gein was just CRAZY INSANE!!!!! The author did a good job in trying to figure out what in the WORLD could have compelled someone to such insanity. Good read

Couldn't put it down!.......2007-08-06

This was a great book! I was completely obsessed with reading it. I finished it in two days. The prose wasn't terribly difficult. This book really went into the facts of the case in an interesting way. You end up feeling a little sorry for Ed Gein, but still never wanting to have been around him in any way. I recommend this book for anyone who loves true crime stories or like to read about psychopaths.

One of the best true crime books I've read..........2007-06-12

Ok, so I'm kind of cheating because I haven't finished reading it yet, but since I got this a couple of days ago I haven't been able to put it down. It starts with Ed Geins parents and go's into very detailed chapters about everything leading up to Ed Gein. I personally only read true crime books because for myself I try to understand how people become killers, its my finding that 98% of serial killers, mass murderers etc are the way they are because of over possessive mothers and weak fathers, if they even had a father at all. I highly recommend this book and another book called "Cannibal" which is about a man called Armin Mewes who posted an ad on the internet for someone to surrender themselves to be eaten. If you love true crime you will LOVE this book!!

Murder & Graverobbing.......2007-02-22

Harold Schechter presents 'Deviant', the true crime book about Ed Gein, the inspiration for Psycho, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and Buffalo Bob in Silence of the Lambs. Schechter gives us a run down of Gein's life from childhood up to around age 12, then jumps forward into his adult life with the death of his father, brother, and mother. From there we get into the public interest of this man, the murders and grave-robbing followed by his arrest and institutionalization and eventual trial. The atrocities Gein performed are covered almost a tad bit lacking in detail but that's one of the good things of the book is the presentation of the facts rather than the exploitation of the crimes.

I'm split on this book. Schechter presents a pretty thorough covering of the events of Ed Gein and the media circus surrounding it. However, he spends a lot of time naming police officers, judges, and doctors that have little interest to us, the readers. After reading Schechter's excellent book on Albert Fish, I just expected more from this one on Ed Gein. Don't get me wrong, it's a good book but the flow just didn't work for me this time around.

German Milwaukee: It's History- It's Recipes

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German Milwaukee: It's History- It's Recipes
Trudy Knauss Paradis , and E. J. Brumder
Manufacturer: G Bradley Pub
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0977451216

Product Description

This book, by history and photograph, recipe and anecdote, recounts the lately forgotten story of the Germans in Milwaukee and the profound influence these German-speaking immigrants and their descendants had upon the dynamic city of today. Author Trudy Knauss Paradis, with the assistance of E.J. Brumder, beautifully sets forth this extraordinary history; from the early German-speaking arrivals to Milwaukee County in the 1830s, to the vibrant German Athens on Lake Michigan which these immigrants and their children created, to the suppression of German identity following the two World Wars, to the renaissance of German ancestral pride of today. Together, Ms. Knauss Paradis, Director-in-Charge of Cultural Exhibition for German Fest Milwaukee and a child of German-born immigrants; and Mr. Brumder, local historian and scion of the Brumder German-language publishing empire, provide a well-rounded view of not only what it has meant and still means to be German in Milwaukee, but also an insightful portrayal of an often brilliant, culturally vibrant and always industrious community which has enriched Milwaukee at every conceivable level.

B is for Badger: A Wisconsin Alphabet Edition 1. (Discover America State By State. Alphabet Series)

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Great Book
GREAT BOOK.

B is for Badger: A Wisconsin Alphabet Edition 1. (Discover America State By State. Alphabet Series)
Kathy-jo Wargin
Manufacturer: Sleeping Bear Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 1585361356

Book Description

The intriguing facts and faces, history and places of Wisconsin are revealed to readers young and old in B is for Badger: A Wisconsin Alphabet. From its leaders in fine arts and architecture (Georgia O'Keefe and Frank Lloyd Wright) to its pioneers in nature conservation (John Muir and Aldo Leopold), Wisconsin has been an influence on major movements in education, industry, and use of natural resources. Brought to life with lyric rhymes and expressive, original artwork, B is for Badger showcases for natives and visitors alike the splendors of Wisconsin.

Customer Reviews:

Great Book.......2006-08-20

This book is one of a kind. Great illustrations and well written!
A must have for children in WI!

GREAT BOOK........2004-07-01

This is a beautifully done book. It is good for little children and their older siblings (and parents) as it is written on two levels. The illustrations are wonderful.

Average customer rating:

Includes everything wonderful about Wisconsin
Finding your way.
Wisconsin Atlas
Everyday Travel?
Excellent book, but missing information.

Wisconsin Atlas and Gazetteer

Manufacturer: Delorme Mapping Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Map

Atlases | Atlases & Maps | Reference | Subjects | Books

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Utah Atlas & Gazetteer
Nevada Atlas & Gazetteer
Idaho Atlas & Gazetteer
Virginia Atlas & Gazetteer (Virginia Atlas & Gazeteer)
New Mexico Atlas & Gazetteer

Product Features:

Note:Image may not fully represent product.

ASIN: 0899333311
Release Date: 2004-01-01

Product Description

EVERYTHING you ever wanted to know about a State! These Atlas & Gazetteer Books give you detailed geographical information, GPS grids, complete travelways for fishing and hunting areas (indexed by type of game), hiking, canoeing... even seaplane routes, for Pete's sake! Large 11 x 15 1/2" soft cover books, most topographical (see below). Select State, as available in the Shopping Cart below. *Note- Florida, Maine, Michigan and Ohio are Non-topographical maps (elevations not shown) but with same information otherwise. Atlas & Gazetteer

Customer Reviews:

Includes everything wonderful about Wisconsin.......2007-09-30

This gazeteer is very useful for planning outdoor trips...canoeing, camping, etc. It even includes wineries and seems to be very accurate so far.

Finding your way........2007-01-11

Excellent source for finding all of those back roads that lead me to those favorite fishing streams. Also great for navigating my way through the bigger cities.

Wisconsin Atlas.......2004-06-14

Once again DeLorme has put together an extremely valuable resource. Backroads, lakes, trails, all seem to be accounted for. I spend nearly all of my time in Burnett County and could not find anything missing or incorrectly labeled.

I use this book as a companion to the Minnesota Atlas. Both are well organized. It helps when weather watches and warnings are issued, the small crossroads and hamlets mentioned on the television are often confusing. These atlases are very helpful.

Finally the book is fun to read. Just browsing can teach one much about what is located where in the state. These books are very well done.

Everyday Travel?.......2001-12-05

The cover lists "Everyday Travel." Common sense and experience with other atlases led me to believe I would see cities mapped as well as parks, lakes and swamps. NOT SO. I was better-off squinting at Mapquest.com.

Excellent book, but missing information........2001-05-19

First of all I absolutely love this atlas!! I look at it all the time. Its great for taking a trip through the state because it doesn't leave out a detail (or so it seems until you look harder). It features parks, forests, tourist attractions, natural features, fishing spots and more... The ONLY reason that I give this otherwise 5+ star atlas four stars, is that it has a good amount of missing information. I own the 1989 edition of this book and recently looked at the newest edition (2001) to find that there was NO added information from the old edition. I couldn't find a single difference between the two versions. The problem is, there is probably a couple DOZEN roads within 10 miles of my home that are not listed! I've also found one of their phone numbers for a state park to be the wrong one. Well, they do say to contact them "if you should find conditions other than what is listed in this atlas". So that's what I'll do and I hope to help other people by stepping in and making the right changes. (The changes will be listed in the next edition).

Book Description

"The Making of Milwaukee" is the first comprehensive history of Milwaukee County to be published in nearly twenty years. Gurda's book traces the evolution of Wisconsin's largest city from its origins as a Native American settlement to the present day. John Gurda is well-known for his numerous publications on the history of the city, including a monthly column in "The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel."

Customer Reviews:

A history of my hometown........2002-11-14

Milwaukee, how I love thee. Let me count the ways. Those of you who have never been to Milwaukee, or -God forbid- only know what makes the news (kids beating a man to death on a porch, how much the Brewers suck, or Jeffrey Dahmer) ought to invest some time in this midwestern jewel. This is a nice book that helps explain the vibrant background of this metro area of 1.7 million. Famous folks weave through the narrative and we learn about the making of such places as the world famous Milwaukee County Zoo, Milwaukee Art Museum, Miller Brewing, the world reknowned Milwaukee County Museum of Natural History, the Schlitz Audubon Center, and the Mitchell Park Horticultural Domes. John Gurda, resident historian, provides an in-depth view of these places and many other items that have shaped Milwaukee; the settling of the area, bridge wars, the growth of the city and suburbs, annexation battles, public services, neighborhood developent and decline, civil rights, urban blight, changes in industry and service trades, freeway construction etc. etc. The book is also peppered throughout with wonderful archival photographs. A must for any student of urban studies or public administration.

Recommended.

The Making of Milwaukee.......2001-11-13

For anyone who has lived in Milwaukee or has ancestors who have lived there, this book is definitely a "must read". What makes it so interesting and informative, apart from the author's lucid and refreshing style, is the liberal use of photographs of persons, places, things and events representing the era being described, as well as, numerous maps and charts clarifying the subject matter. We found it helpful to have a street map of Milwaukee, which we frequently referred to. By the effective use of illustrations on almost every page to illuminate the text material, author Gurda has succeeded in producing as close to a "living history" as a book can become.

Beginning with the area's first native inhabitants encountered by French fur traders Jacques Vieau and Solomon Juneau near the confluence of the Milwaukee, Menomonee and Kinnickinnic rivers where they empty into Lake Michigan, the author fashions a detailed and colorful mosaic of Milwaukee's history down to the close of the twentieth century. In the second half of the nineteenth century the population of the city grew rapidly as immigrants from Europe sought escape from political persecution and successive crop failures. Most of the new arrivals were from Germany and they were very successful in transferring their customs and culture to their adopted city. Milwaukee reigned as the nation's "Deutsch Athen" until the beginning of World War I. "Gemutlichkeit", a cozy atmosphere for making one's self at home, became Milwaukee's trademark. The city's Teutonic influence was apparent in its beer gardens, choral and gymnastic societies, stage productions and German language newspapers, as well as in the thrift and industry characteristic of its workers.

Political and social scientists are sure to delight in author Gurda's account of Milwaukee's Socialist government and the manner in which successive municipal governments dealt with the social problems of an era. With but few interruptions, Milwaukee's Socialist Mayors ruled from 1910 to 1940. The first was Emil Seidel whose private secretary was Carl Sandburg who went on to win Pulitzer prizes in poetry and history, but the most noteworthy of them was Daniel Hoan who ruled Milwaukee for 19 years. A former city attorney who had parlayed his role as protector of the public weal against The Milwaukee Electric Power Company, he brought honesty and efficiency to the city's government. Time magazine, in its cover article of 1936, wrote: "Daniel Webster Hoan remains one of the nation's ablest public servants, and under him Milwaukee has become perhaps the best governed city in the U.S." It must be noted, however, that Milwaukee's Socialists were pragmatic rather than extremist in practice. Without abandoning their principles, they were able to accomplish many significant things by compromise and example despite the fact that they most often lacked a majority on the city council. The book clearly points out that Milwaukee bcame famous for many things other than beer and Harley Davidson motorcycles. To name but a few: its world famous system of neighborhood parks, its zoo, harbor and dock facilities for ocean going vessels, heavy industries, tanneries, foundries and machine tool manufacturing. It also became famous for the pride with which homeowners maintained their property. The extensive eight page bibliography provides a valuable resource to the reader wishing to further explore a particular historical point, and the twelve page index proved to be an easy route to the book's subject matter.

It is not hyperbole to say that author John Gurda's book seems destined to become one of the most fascinating and easily read accounts of American municipal history ever written. Genealogists, in particular, will appreciate the following wise observation found in the author's Forward: "I am firmly convinced that, as the velocity of change increases, it is increasingly important to rebuild our connections with the past, whether the past involves our families, our home communities, or our entire society. We do so not for comfort but for context, not to feed a misplaced sense of nostalgia but to broaden our understanding of the world around us. History, at its root, is why things are the way they are."

Thorough, honest, and fair.......2001-10-29

I picked up this book on a whim at a local bookstore, and found it to be a wonderful read. I've always been curious about the history of the area I grew up in, and this book gives a solid introduction to the area. I cannot speak for history buffs of the region, who might quibble with a fact or two, but I'm glad to find such an engaging book on the subject.

yah heh.......2000-11-16

Hard to understand the first reviewers remarks.if you buy a book called the making of milwaukee then it better have tedious detail on the subject. this book delivers. the whys and wherefores of milwaukee icons unfold for the reader and visits back to milwaukee become all the more memorable when you know the true history. this is an excellent read not only about milwaukee but about the history of the european melting pot as it grew in the midwest.this book reads like the 'forest gump' narrative of milwaukee...all of the icons come alive in a quick and thorough way.

making of milwaukee.......2000-10-16

A dull book only of interest to those whose sole interest is "Milwaukee". Though the author is earnest, he is a very tedious and flat writer who doesn't really have his wits about him. It is shame because the subject deserves much better.

Yesterday's Future: The Twentieth Century Begins (Voices of the Wisconsin Past)

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Future past

Yesterday's Future: The Twentieth Century Begins (Voices of the Wisconsin Past)

Manufacturer: Wisconsin Historical Society Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0870203134

Book Description

"In the year 2001, you will not see a single horse on Broadway, New York; only autos will be seen. The people of the Earth will be in close communication with Mars by being shot off in great cannons." -Arthur Palm, age 14 years, Milwaukee, 1901

One hundred years ago, Americans celebrated the beginning of a new century. Yesterday's Future gathers nearly one hundred excerpts-some wildly funny, others somber and thoughtful-that show Wisconsin citizens reflecting on America's accomplishments in the previous century and speculating about changes the future would bring. They are drawn from the mainstream press, school newspapers, church bulletins, and periodicals aimed at such audiences as German-language speakers, African-Americans, farmers, and the hearing impaired.

Some speculations come strikingly close to future realities: medical imaging like x-rays and MRI, central air conditioning, snowmobiles, air travel, motion pictures and radio, woman suffrage, and the growth of the suburbs. Other predictions were simply wrong ("the electric stove will never prove much of a factor in the kitchen"), a reflection of their era's interests (admission of Nicaragua and Mexico to the Union), or overly optimistic (communication with beings from other planets). Voices of the Wisconsin Past Series Edited by Michael E. Stevens

Distributed for the State Historical Society of Wisconsin

* A related exhibit at the State Historical Museum in Madison, Wisconsin, opens in November 1999 and continues through 2000.

Customer Reviews:

Future past.......2007-10-17

Yesterday's Future is an excellent collection of various primary sources from Wisconsin about the birth of the 20th century, the progress of the 19th century and the great expectations people had towards the 20th century. The book contains various articles from local newspapers from Wisconsin from ca. 1899-1901.

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