No comments about River Runts.

4 comments about Return to Appalachian Magic.

1. I read this book in a day; obviously I could not put it down. It reminded me of times my grandmother talked about, the "simple days". Ms Rice writes of times when life and possesions were appreciated and not expected. To be in a world so different and uncomplicated would surely be a vacation and rest from my life.
   
   I look forward to more writings from Ms. Rice.



2. I read this book after my girlfriend gave it to me and told me I should try this. To my surprise, I enjoyed the story. I do not believe in psychic abilities but I admit I am questionning my beliefs. (I will never tell my g/f that.) I would recommend this book to believers and non-believers as well as anyone interested in stories "from the hills".



3. 
   i read the first book by the author and just finished this one. it is great to see people giving reviews. i give it 5 starts. it was awesome!



4. A friend of mine told me about this book and highly recommended it. She was so RIGHT! I loved how Janey captured the peace and simple life she was brought up in. I found myself dreaming of a place like that for me.
   
   I have sent Ms Rice an email from her website (www.janetrice.com) and I am getting a reading next week! This is VERY exciting. I will keep you all posted on how it goes!

1 comments about One Two Three.

1. Extremely entertaining, well written, author had a broad knowledge of history which he used to infuse humor into the various stories of his childrens' lives. A MUST READ!!!

1 comments about No Silver Spoon.

1. "No Silver Spoon" is a comfortable read-a nostalgic return to our youth. The location for the essays of youthful experiences is in Minnesota. The time remembered is during the Great Depression years, when a young child's mind is reborn. Respect, discipline, and the integrity of family and home are related as the young child grows in discernment and judgment.
   "No silver Spoon" will bring back memories. They are the smile type of memories which will brighten your day. I particularly liked "No Silver Spoon" because of the smooth, but descriptive narrative. I felt I was in the midst of living each portrait of Mr. Stimler's early years. Not many of us had a silver spoon either.
   Reviewed by: Esther H. Moon

No comments about A Tenant Farmer's Daughter.

No comments about Memories of My Childhood.

No comments about Oh Those Youthful Years.

1 comments about In Search of Bisco (Brown Thrasher Books).

1. Erskine Caldwell takes us on a journey in search of a childhood friend whom he never forgot. Erskine and Bisco were good friends as children but were torn apart due to the segregationist mores of their times. Bisco was a so-called Negro and Erskine a so-called White. The two were destined to inhabit a land and culture which promoted inequality and friendship for both young people.

   In Search of Bisco is a chronicle of Caldwell's search not only for his friend (now that he is an adult) but also an examination of the root sources of hatred and racism that separated the two. He takes us to South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas and Louisiana and their varied communities and asks about his friend. He gets a wealth of information about attitudes both black and white concerning Bisco.

   Caldwell's south as he knew it doesn't exist today but the attitudes that it nurtured still persist. Bisco is more than a mistreated Black man but for Caldwell has become a metaphor for the oppression of Blacks throughout the south. In every state, whites share their contempt for the Biscos of this world. When encountering Blacks Caldwell finds rebellious Biscos, conservative Biscos and proud Biscos who refuse to bow to the conventions of their day. The reader is given a superb portrait of the struggle of African-Americans in the south prior to the civil rights movement and the attitudes of their white counterparts.

   Bisco is a commentary on race but most of all it is a look at a friendship that could have blossomed but was stunted early in these men's lives. Bisco and Erskine show us the possibilities of what could have been in the south in terms of enduring friendships. Erskine presents us with the harsh realities. This is an excellent book worth your reading and reflection over a time and a friendship that is no more.

No comments about Up Harold's Branch: A Collection of Childhood Memories.

2 comments about Cornbread And Beans For Breakfast : The Misadventures Of A Boy.

1. The book held my attention. I couldn't put it down until I read the entire book. It is filled with humor and easy to read. I highly recomnmend this book for all ages. It is a must for reading about the South during the Great Depression.



2. I read this book and then passed it on to other friends. Each of them, from children to an 85 year old, said that it was such easy reading and written just like someone was talking. It is good for any age. The illustrations were kind of "down home", too. I would recommend this to anyone.