2 comments about Cherokee Roots, Volume 1: Eastern Cherokee Rolls.

1. How do I become a member of a cherokee nation of Oklahoma? please post on internet because I don't have an email! I'm using a friends computer thanks!



2. Good book, but for the $800 it's listing for on Amazon? Crazy. It is a must have and if you must have it, order it from the Museum of the Cherokee Indian for $10.

No comments about North Carolina: Change and Tradition in a Southern State.

2 comments about North Carolina: A History.

1. I thought the book gave very detailed facts and important information about our great state and the people in it. The photographs are old, but it is actuallt kind of neat to see people and cars from the sixties. It is also interesting to compare our view of North Carolina now with the view of NC from the sixties.



2. This short history of North Carolina is a selective history, told from a very summary level, but that's not a criticism as much as simply a general observation. It's a very rapid read, and a well-written concise history. It's meant for the general reader, and is not intended to be a scholarly work, per se.
   
   The first three quarters of the text are dedicated to the period before the Civil War, and the colonial period gets extensive treatment, particularly the details of foundation. There's very little here about the Civil War at all, and even less about modern North Carolina. I would call this a history of "Old North Carolina."
   
   Powell's narrative style is lovely.

1 comments about Cherokee Roots, vol. I & II (Set).

1. This set contains the Official US Census Rolls of Cherokee Indians recorded between 1817-1924. Volume one covers those Cherokee living East of the Mississippi River, Volume 2 covers Cherokee who were living West of the Mississippi River. These same rolls are still used today in determining tribal enrollment eligibility, along with the 1924 Baker Roll and the Dawes Roll for Cherokee people. If you are looking for your Cherokee ancestors, this set is a MUST have!
   Raven SiJohn,Managing Editor
   

1 comments about Subduing Satan: Religion, Recreation, and Manhood in the Rural South, 1865-1920 (Fred W Morrison Series in Southern Studies).

1. Ted Ownby has put together a tremendous book that shows how the culture of the Southern male was influenced by the dramatic changes which followed the War of Northern Aggression ( a.k.a. Civil War). If you have ever wondered how these men could stay out all Saturday night drinking, gambling, running coon dogs, etc. and then drift bleary-eyed into the Sunday morning Church service, this would be an interesting book. Actually, there were very distinct characteristics of the masculine culture and the evangelical culture in which the Southern male lived concurrently. Ownby's book covers many facets of Southern life, such as farm life, the growth of towns as social centers, recreation, church, revival meetings, politics, and improvements to things such as roads. When I read about how mail order catalogs opened markets for many products, I thought about how internet-based shopping was having a similar impact today. I also appreciated Ownby's description of how a cash based economy emerged and increased the interdependency of rural families. The resulting interaction created a need for the community to establish its norms, whereas they were more self-sufficient earlier and isolated from what other people were doing. Ownby has collected data from all over the South. He may even discuss an area with which you are familiar, but if not it is still a great book to read. The change process that is described could apply to almost any Southern area. I have found myself pulling this book down from time to time to review some of the chapters. I recommend it to you and hope you enjoy it. Bobby Lane, Tennessee

3 comments about A Genealogical Chart of Greek Mythology.

1. The New York Times recently ran a glowing front page story on this work, with almost a page more inside. Having received my copy, it is easy to see why. The book is beautifully produced. A sturdy orange and black hardcover protects 263 pages, each 16 inches long by 10 and a half inches high. This is a big book. The work was begun in 1964 by Harold Newman, an well-known and highly regarded attorney in Connecticut who died in 1993 at the age of 93. His son, Jon O. Newman, then took the book up and finished in it 2002. Jon Newman is one of the greatest jurists of our times, serving on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. His reputation for brilliance and attention to detail are legendary, and are well-reflected in this work. Given that Judge Newman's father hand-lettered the copious charts on large cardboard sheets, the statement in the Preface that "appropriately for a work of genealogy, this has been a father-son project" hits the mark.
   But why would a busy, towering figure in law complete a genealogical chart on Greek mythological figures? One answer is that it was a great mitzvah for a son to complete a work his father spent almost 30 years on. A second answer is tradition; in circles of Jewish learning (a circle which certainly includes Judge Newman), there is a Hebrew saying "Lomdei Toratecha Lishmah," loosely translated as "the study of Torah for Torah's sake." One learns because it is one's obligation to. The subject of study may vary, but the obligation is always there. "A Genealogical Chart of Greek Mythology" is an exemplary work of Lomdei Toratecha Lishmah. Only a love of learning could lead to a work so thorough and beautifully presented. But there is a third reason, and one that should commend others to purchase the book. It is a really useful book, for serious and amateur students of Greek mythology, and for crossword puzzle fanatics, such as my wife. One need never miss a question about Greek mythology again.
   In an age when books have become a corporate commodity, "A Genealogical Chart of Greek Mythology" reminds of what it was once like, when great scholars labored for love and we the public could soak in that both the love and the learning they poured into their books. It was a mitzvah for Judge Newman to complete the work and it is a mitzvah for the rest of us to buy it support future projects (and five stars for the University of North Carolina Press for undertaking and publishing it): besides, you'll have a great time with it.
   William Patry



2. This beautifully bound masterpiece not only offers fans of Greek mythology an excellent source for information on thousands of figures, major and minor, it also ties information together by showing the genealogical connections between different members of greek myths.
   This book is an integral part of the library of anyone interested in Greek mythology, at any level. For an expert, it provides detailed genealogical charts. For those just starting out in their study of Greek mythology, it is an indespensible resource that helps everything make sense. Five stars



3. Be aware that this book contains only genealogical charts; there are no myths discussed in it. The charts are extensive, if not exhaustive, though.

4 comments about The Outer Banks of North Carolina, 1584-1958.

1. This is the premier history of the Outer Banks area, written by the region's premier historian. It begins in the 16th Century, when European explorers first touched the sandy barrier islands. It carefully traces the course of human and environmental events through the modern era, with special emphasis on the Revolutionary War and Civil War. This is a truly remarkable piece of work that will enlighten anyone interested in Carolina history.



2. To discover the unique beauty and history of the Outer Banks, David Stick is THE author to read. His lovely blend of history and legend, written in great style, is the perfect book to learn about the lighthouses, people (and horses!) of the Banks.



3. We recently took a vacation to the 'Banks, and bought this book because we were simply fascinated by the history of the area. It offers a very nice comprehensive history by someone who has lived in the area for many years. Excellent for the vacationer or casual visitor, it covers all the "hot spots" I wanted more information on, like the Roanoke settlement, Revolutionary War, Civil War, lighthouses, horses, shifting inlets and in general how tourism got started. Offers enough detail to whet your appetite without bogging you down with unnecessary details. My only beef is that the book was published in 1958 and a lot has happened in the last 50 years. This oversight on my part was overshadowed by the fact that it's actually entertaining to catch references to the area before "commercialization" really set in or before the Bonner bridge was built (oddly, the author refers to a bridge over the inlet as "inevitable"). Highly recommended for anyone with the Banks on their "to do" list. Just be smarter than I was and read this before you go, because we'd have gotten much more out of our trip if I had known all the history first!



4. New paperback reprint of a book originally published in 1958, with no editorial updates, works as both a history of the Outer Banks, and as a piece of history itself. The 50 years since Stick's original writing have seen the realization of the Outer Banks real estate boom that Stick witnessed birthing, but have also seen the passing away and obliteration of much of the old Outer Banks culture that spoke of piracy, fishing, and the sea.
   
   Overall, Stick does a good job telling about the history of the Banks, although his chapters on the wars, revolutionary and civil, tend to recitations of people and place names and do drag a bit. The virtually unnavigable Outer Banks were not a geographical key to the outcome of the Civil War, unlike the superhighway Mississippi River, and were quickly won back by the Federal invading troops, including some early experience with marine invasion. In fact, as Stick points out, many Bankers quickly swore loyalty to the Union and elected a representative; sent to Washington, Congress debated the merits of seating the rump legislator, but declined on the grounds that a few voters on nearly deserted coastal islands could hardly speak for a state the size of North Carolina which was otherwise seceded.
   
   Stick provides a brief synopsis of the Wright Brother's time in Kitty Hawk, covered in greater depth in other books, but his tales of whaling villages built and deserted (see the chapter on Diamond City), of pirates plundering and captured, and of islands open and alive make the book worth reading as both history and time piece. I was reminded again that while the Outer Banks have been blamed for blocking navigation and coastal port development that has limited the population and economic growth of the state, they have also contributed a physical beauty, isolation, and majesty that is worth more, both economically and aesthetically, than any "progress."

3 comments about A New Voyage to Carolina.

1. Young John Lawson describes his adventure canoing and hiking through the Carolina Coastal Plain and Piedmont in the winter of 1700. Lawson's descriptions are detailed, especially of the many generous Native Americans who helped him on his way. His journey started in Charleston, continued through the Charlotte area, then east to Okeneechee Village on the Eno River (now Hillsborogh) and on to the coast near New Bern. This book is an unknown classic.



2. Being born and rasied in South Carolina, I thought it a very interesting read. I know a lot of the places he is referring too.
   
   Ray



3. John Lawson is my immigrant ancestor, and a legend in my family, and yet I was 52 years old before I knew this book was still in print. I was thrilled to find out, and gave it to my siblings and cousins for Christmas. Reading the book was an amazing experience to me, because I felt I was reading it from the inside out. I understand John Lawson so well, and he gave me the gift of understanding myself better.
   
   For people who don't have a personal stake in the story, it's still an amazing read. Lawson was an excellent writer, a keen observer and his sensibilities are such that he was able to see all that was admirable about the native Americans without losing sight of all that was horrific. He was a victim of that paradox, as he was burned alive by the people he so admired.
   
   He is known as one of the nation's first humorists, I learned, and in my own generation I see his dry wit. It's also interesting to me that in my generation, there are two professional writers and one humor columnist, and we all recognized our own voices in his.
   
   He was a man who left a very comfortable life in London to come and trek through North Carolina before it existed. He chose to begin his trip at the end of December -- a fact that I find astounding -- and he describes life-threatening incidents as if they were minor inconveniences. The courage and love of adventure that define his spirit shine through on every page. Regardless of my lack of objectivity, he was a remarkable man; he wrote a remarkable book.

4 comments about Aunt Arie: A Foxfire Portrait.

1. From the cover:, " The students, none of whom had ever been to Aunt Arie's before, were awed, drawn inexorably into the little circle of activity that surrounded this 5' 6" dynamo who laughed and pecked on each of them and tapped their shoulders and grasped their knees and tried to remember their names and loved them, instantly, and without reservation-strangers all". This book is wonder full, and heart full, and shines a little light into a way of being that is fast becoming a just catchy phrase on a hall mark card.



2. WHAT A GREAT "AMERICANA" STYLE BOOK, FANTASTIC ADDITION TO A FOXFIRE COLLECTION OR GREAT ON ITS OWN. AUNT ARIE HERSELF, HER OWN STYLE FROM COOKING TO HARVESTING, THOGUHTS, RELIGION AND HER FEELINGS ABOUT LIVING ALONE! SHE WAS AN HONORABLE WOMAN!



3. terrific read - inspirational - one tough and lovable character who will be missed for many years to come



4. I recently purchased 'Aunt Arie: A Foxfire Portrait,' along with two Foxfire guides, to assist me in establishing an Appalachian setting (and characters)for a story I am working on. I've only skimmed the guides at this point, but I haven't put "Aunt Arie" down! I've still got a couple of chapters left to read, but so far the story of this woman's life, as told by her to the folks at Foxfire, has proven indispensable to my research.
   
   The editors of the book have attempted, most successfully (they offer an explanation of ways and means at the beginning of the book)I think, to reproduce/preserve Aunt Arie's dialect and colloquialisms, as transcribed from the hundreds of hours of taped interviews. In this book, HOW she says things is just as important as WHAT she's saying...and what does she say? Where do I begin? Besides offering a virtual treasure-trove of information on the subjects of gardening, healing, economy, and food storage and preparation, she also delves into stories of her friends and neighbors, living and dead, speaks often of her life with her beloved husband, and before that her childhood, and all her talk of the people she's known, whether she loved them or could have done without them, is tinged with her faith, her basic love of and respect for humanity, and her simply ideology: you get what you give.
   
   If any of the above appeals to you, get this book. You won't regret it. I'm back here b/c I'm about to get one for my grandmother. Just thought I'd leave a more complete review than the ones I'd seen.

4 comments about Ribbon of Sand: The Amazing Convergence of the Ocean and the Outer Banks (Chapel Hill Book).

1. I picked this book up during a recent week's stay on Topsail Island (one of the southernmost of the Outer Banks). Having never read a book on natural history or the ecology, I was prepared for the paper-pulp equivalent of Sominex.

   Never have I been more wrong in my preconceptions about a book. Ribbon of Sand captures PERFECTLY the true mystique of North Carolina's Outer Banks -- how a half-mile wide band of barrier islands survive both because of nature . . . and in spite of it. Each segment of the book ties together both human and natural history. How the wind the shapes the wonderfully high dunes near Kill Devil provided the Wright Brothers with the means to test their gliders and to develop the first airplane. How shifting tides and currents that continue to shape the Outer Banks both abetted . . . and spelled doom for Blackbeard the Pirate.

   In short, Ribbon of Sand captured my imagination and instilled in me a greater appreciation for the fragile balance of nature and man on the Outer Banks. I very highly reccomend this book!




2. I purchased this book to learn more about the Outer Banks, which I have long wished to visit and where we will spend a week this summer. It is an amazingly interesting and informative book. Geology, geography, biology, weather, ecology, politics, and more are all discussed as is the importance of each in relation to the others. I found the book engrossing and would recommend it even if you are not going to this unique area of the world. Now when the kids ask me why there is a forest in the dunes I will be able to tell them and I will be much better able to appreciate the beauty of the place.



3. Anyone who has visited the Outer Banks -- and many who have only seen them from the famous 1970-era Apollo space shot -- knows that the islands are unique, fragile, and someday going to be overrun, either by trashy tourism or, eventually, nature. Alexander and Lazell hope, but are hardly convinced, that nature will get the chance to run its long course. Beyond the fascinating subject, the authors' chapter by chapter analysis of the forces that compete on the Banks -- sand, wind, land, forest -- is a clarifying approach to writing about the science of the Banks. In separate chapters, Alexander and Lazell then effectively show how the forces combined to impact Blackbeard's last battle and the Wright Brothers efforts to fly. The final chapter, Convergences, is like reading a decade-early preview of the impact on the islands of Hurricane Isabel. I would call Alexander and Lazell prescient, but I suspect they themselves would be the first to admit they were simply documenting the inevitable future. Only problem with this excellent book is that the writing feels as if it was done either in turn or by compromise, and is often far less compelling than its subject matter. Still, Ribbon of Sand offers some science, some entertainment, and a whole lot of appreciation for this wonderful speck of the world.



4. ........of history, science, poetry and politics. I can't think of an existing category that this book properly belongs to; perhaps the literature of place, if I create one for it. I don't know of another book that so accurately and beautifully gives a true sense of a real place in all of its complexity.
   
   And what a place! A unique treasure that has somehow been substantially preserved while it continues to evolve according to contemporary usage. Not without struggle and controversy, of course. Don't just read the book, go there and experience it in your own way.
   
   Using some kind of specific guide book for planning is probably a good idea: I thought "North Carolina Beaches" by Glenn Morris (Chapel Hill) was useful and pleasant.