Reviews (9)

Superb
This is a beautifully written memoir of childhood hardship, cruelty, and neglect. The author's candor and equanimity in examining a painful history is remarkable, as is the poignant outcome.

Another famous author belabours us with his supposedly-sorry childhood?
Not exactly. If you arrive at this book as I did, mildly inquisitive after enjoying his two masterful, definitive tomes on nuclear weapons, you are in for one HELL of a ride.
Rhodes' tale of survival and a brother's courage...
I came to this book quite late, just finishing it a month ago. I read a few non-fiction books by the author and liked them quite a lot, so I grabbed this recently at my local Friends of the Library used book sale. Actually, since I am a domestic violence social worker, reading autobiographical accounts of various kinds of abuse experiences is part of my continuing education. Sad to say, I have read tales of abuse suffered in childhood which are even more disgusting than what Richard and his brother endured, and which lasted much longer than the two-plus years of horror the Rhodes kids experienced at the hands of a vicious stepmother. This is well-done, and the suffering depicted is probably understated...my sense is that Rhodes did not want to rub the readers' noses in his agony, but rather present a message that acting to protect the multitude of neglected and abused kids all around us sometimes does pay off in big ways. If you have an interest in the survival of a bad childhood, this one should be read, but probably would be even more powerful if paired with Dr. Laura Schlessinger's upcoming book, "Bad Childhood, Good Life" due to be published in January, 2006. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography & Autobiography    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Biography/Autobiography    5. Childhood Memoir    6. Childhood and youth    7. General    8. Kansas City (Mo.)    9. Missouri - Local History    10. Regional Subjects - Midwest    11. Rhodes, Richard    12. Social life and customs    13. United States - State & Local - General    14. Biography: general    15. Child abuse    16. USA   

Reviews (57)

A great ride
Some seem to feel that Hugh Travis Cully is nothing more than a dilettante and a poseur who appropriated as his own a culture that he merely dabbled in. Yet it's hard to imagine that his voice, an articulate sort of strangled scream, is made up of whole cloth. This is the story of a young man, channeling his energy and yearning into a challenge immediately at hand. He is, in a modest, urban, latter-day way, our Odysseus polytropos and his experience is a remarkable one, enhanced in his telling of the tale. He has given a voice to a culture that is, on its own, voiceless, insular and hostile to outsiders. Sour grapes can't quiet it. This is a book about bike messengers for the rest of us. Read it.

Highly recommended
If you want to read a book just about bike messengers, this book may not be for you. If want to find a deeper political and more philosophical meaning behind cycling, and the way it can transform our communities, this is it. Beautifully written.

Breaking Barriers
A truly thought provoking read full of insights into the bike messenger culture.It's very accessible to both bicyclists and non-bicyclists.Based on the other reviews it's clear that all of this prose has to be taken with a grain of salt as he's not basing all these stories on his own experience and is a bit preachy.Personally, I enjoyed the romanticized view of bicycle culture that he holds.The almost child-like fascination is something that people can lose over time when biking for transportation or work. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Bicycle messengers    2. Biography & Autobiography    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Biography/Autobiography    5. Chicago    6. Communication (Specific Aspects)    7. Cycling    8. General    9. Ground Transportation    10. Illinois    11. Messengers    12. Regional Subjects - Midwest    13. Sociology - Urban    14. Specific Groups - General    15. Biography & Autobiography / General   

Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Family    4. Farm life    5. Farmers    6. Farmers & Ranchers    7. General    8. History    9. History: American    10. Kansas    11. Kansas - Local History    12. McPherson County    13. Mennonites    14. PcPherson County    15. Penner family    16. Penner, Mil    17. Personal Memoirs    18. Regional Subjects - Midwest    19. Sociology - Marriage & Family    20. United States - State & Local - General    21. 20th century    22. Agriculture & Farming    23. Agriculture & related industries    24. American history: c 1800 to c 1900    25. American history: from c 1900 -    26. Biography: general    27. Christian & quasi-Christian cults & sects    28. Social history    29. c 1800 to c 1900   

Reviews (1)

Excellent reading
My husband and I enjoyed this book very much.It was very informative and very enlightening.I have recommended it to all of our friends who are interested in Chicago history.Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography & Autobiography    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Biography/Autobiography    5. Chicago (Ill.)    6. Illinois - Local History    7. Portraits    8. Reference    9. Regional Subjects - Midwest   

Reviews (3)

Mama, Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Ranchers...
Is there anything GOOD about ranching, except seeing baby grass erupt in the spring and hearing the birds?The ranchers I knew when I lived in SD (1987-90) didn't leave piles of afterbirth and dead calves lying around for weeks at a time, although they existed.I don't know where they were, but of all the time I spent on ranches, they were never apparent. And, none of the people I knew lived within 1/4 mile from a highway.Why would a rancher keep breeding a big Charolais bull to little Angus heifers if it's going to tear them apart to deliver, or deliver calves that have to be sawed in pieces to get them out?I grew up on a farm with cattle, but I must be missing something here. The Thrills of a Year of Ranching
As I approached the end I thought, "If I have to read about feeding cattle or fixing fences one more time, I'm going to scream!"But these are major elements in ranching and, and this is a diary of one year in a rancher's life, so they must be included. A poet's daily log of life on a family ranch in South Dakota
This book is about people living strenuous lives in an environment ofextremes -- drought and prairie fires in summer and fierce cold andblizzards in the winter. And there seem to be no moderating seasons inbetween.Read more

Subjects:  1. 20th Century American Poetry    2. 20th century    3. Authors, American    4. Biography & Autobiography / Women    5. Diaries    6. General    7. Hasselstrom, Linda M    8. Literature - Classics / Criticism    9. Ranch life    10. Ranchers    11. Regional Subjects - Midwest    12. South Dakota    13. Women's Studies - History    14. Women   

Editorial Review

Haven Kimmel's memoir Read more

Reviews (34)

Zippy's Memoir, "Chapter 2" Just Leaves Us Longing for More!
In this "sequel," Kimmel continues sharing her story of growing up in small town America."She Got Up Off The Couch" picks up where "A Girl Named Zippy" left off.Not surprisingly, Zippy is growing up: she's no longer smart but niave -- she's smart and realizing that the world is not just full of fun and magic, and things are not just peachy within her family. Her mom, virtually frozen on the couch for the entire period covered in Zippy, decides to go to college. Dad is not supportive. The family seems to be disintegrating.Although darker than the first installment, "She Got Up Off The Couch" is written with the same wry humor and charm.We can only hope that Kimmel will, again, bow to her readership's requests and write "Chapter 3."

Zippier yet
A Girl Named Zippy was fun and touching.She Got Off the Couch is funnier and so much richer. Finally the truth about her childhood comes out around the edges, and you learn what you suspected in Zippy, that there was much not right in her world. This is a happier story by several removes than The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls, but it reveals some of that perplexing realization that children do love their parents, no matter what.If we are ever going to fix the world we will need to start with this truth.

Good Summer Reading
Gave as a gift & reports are good, provides laughs & reflexions. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography & Autobiography    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Biography/Autobiography    4. Personal Memoirs    5. Regional Subjects - Midwest    6. Women    7. Biography & Autobiography / Personal Memoirs   

Reviews (7)

Makes me homesick but not a how to.The how to is up to you.
This book is about the idea that we can go back to a slow, sane and thoughtful way of life.The story is autobiographical and describes the life of the author in a rural area of north western Ohio. He leaves home to train for the priesthood but decides that he isn't cut out for it.He goes home for a while, goes to college, gets married, moves to Philly to write for Farm Journal, sells a book and moves onto a small farm near his folks' old place.He's been there ever since.
The Contrary's Farmer Autobiography
Gene Logsdon has published his autobiography. Telling the story of his life - from farm boy to the Roman Catholic seminary, studying for the priesthood, dropping out, graduate school, and editor of a farm magazine and finally back to Ohio - he describes how his life comes to a circle. He returned to the good life of his childhood - at least almost. As a witness of the great change in agriculture, he feels a little bit like the last of the dinosaurs, one of the last generation who grew up on a traditional farm before agrobusiness destroyed the culture of rural America. Logdson does not present great programmes, but he has rather chosen to change his life by living an alternative life and work for in his home area for a resurgence of rural America. With his writings he nevertheless exercised a great influence. If you have enjoyed any of Logsdon's books, are interested into rural living and agrarian thought, this book is definitely worthwile reading.

We're doing it -- Coming home
I *am* going home again. After nearly 20 years in Texas, my family is moving back to Ohio. We feel that call that Gene Logsdon describes so movingly, hilariously. Now, most people, considering the fact that we aredoing it by going first and finding jobs later, think we are certifiable.How wonderful to read Gene's work and find encouragement in values that gobeyond acquisition and comfort. We're college [over]educated andemployable, and jobs are the least of our worries.Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography & Autobiography    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Biography/Autobiography    5. Customs & Traditions    6. Farm life    7. General    8. Logsdon, Gene    9. Ohio    10. Ohio - Local History    11. Regional Subjects - Midwest    12. Rural Sociology    13. Social life and customs    14. United States - State & Local - General    15. Biography: general    16. Local history    17. Rural communities    18. USA   

Reviews (6)

WOW ... What a Ripple Effect
I never knew Bob Muzikowski ... nor did I know of the book prior to last month (April 2004). However, I was fortunate enough to meet this amazingly honest, articulate, straight-shooting gentleman [yes ... gentleman] at a prayer breakfast in Albany, NY. After hearing him speak [him being the featured speaker] and hearing his story I simply needed to know more. I spent a little time researching Bob and was interested in reading the book. Inspiration
This is one of the most AMAZING books I have ever read.Touching, heartfelt and gutsy!I have passed this book on to many friends and they have all had the same response.One of those books that changes your outlook on pretty much everything.

Batter Up!
Although Bob Muzikowski's book, "Safe at Home," is catagorized as an autobiography, it is so much more! This book is a real life story of THE Author's plan for one man. Bob Muzikowski has shown us how one man (and woman, Tina!) can make a difference when he chooses to please an Audience of One - the blessings of God on Bob Muzikowski's life have been multiplied exponentially to others! "Safe at Home" has been described as "inspiring," but Bob's story will only be truly inspiring if it generates a response from its readers; one that takes them out of their comfortable church pews and into the God-prescribed place that He wants them to be! "Batter Up!" The choice is yours: you can take the challenge as the designated hitter or warm the bench in the dugout! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography & Autobiography    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Biography/Autobiography    4. Chicago    5. Christian biography    6. Illinois    7. Little League baseball    8. Regional Subjects - Midwest    9. Religious    10. Societies and clubs    11. Sports - Baseball    12. United States    13. Youth   

Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Dust Bowl Era, 1931-1939    4. General    5. History    6. History: American    7. Oklahoma    8. Regional Subjects - Midwest    9. Tenant farmers    10. United States - 20th Century    11. United States - 20th Century/Depression    12. United States - State & Local - Midwest   

Subjects:  1. Bibles    2. History    3. History: World    4. Personal Memoirs    5. Regional Subjects - Midwest    6. World - General    7. Biography & Autobiography    8. North Central & Mid-West states   

Reviews (1)

Very humorous biography about teenage boys in the 50s.
Jackpine Savages is a very humorous biography about the life of teenage boys in the 1950s.It will bring back memories for men especially who were growing up in the 50s in a small town or rural area, this taking place innorthern Wisconsin. The writing consists of chapters focused on topics ofinterest including school, sports, getting a job, and skinnydipping in thenorth woods. Interspersed in the humor are some valuable life lessons whichadults can appreciate and from which youth can benefit.Because many oftoday's teenagers are interested in life in the 50's, they shouldespecially enjoy this 170 page book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography / Autobiography    2. Psychology    3. Regional Subjects - Midwest    4. Biography    5. Childhood and youth    6. Humor    7. Larson, Frank   

Reviews (3)

Excellent!Great for anyone that grew up on a farm.
I really injoyed this book, laughed out loud several times.I really enjoyed all the old farm ads also. Great picture of how farming used to be.

An inviting chronicle of changes in farming over the decades
Farm values and management can offer many lessons, especially when told through humor, as Jerry Apps demonstrates in Every Farm Tells A Story; A Tale Of Family Farm Values. Tucked into an inviting chronicle of changes in farming over the decades and resulting changes in values and methods, readers receive a fine blend of business savvy, history, and humor lending to light, easy reading.
A wonderful nostalgic romp, a letter to my cousins.
I have just come across a book you all should read: it is called EVERY FARM TELLS A STORY, A TALE OF FAMILY FARM VALUES, by JERRY APPS. it is published by Voyageur Press and is a wonderful story about growing up on a farm near Wild Rose Wisconsin in Washara County in the north central part of the state. As most of you know, Cousin Tom Larson and I spent a number of summers on theBergum farm north of Wheeler in Dunn County; and almost everything that Jerry Apps describes in the book is something we did with Uncle Nelmer (who Tom and I still consider the greatest man in the world) and Aunt Selma (our second mother) and Kon and Stanley on that farm: threshing, making wood, cultivating, feeding chickens, stripping cows; old fashioned crank telephones, freeshows, feed mills--everything. The book is illustrated with period advertisments. This is a brilliant nostalgic journey. It's a neat
Read more

Subjects:  1. Agriculture - General    2. Anecdotes    3. Bibles    4. Childhood Memoir    5. Family Farms    6. Farm Management    7. Farm life    8. Farmers & Ranchers    9. Form - Essays    10. Regional Subjects - Midwest    11. Satire And Humor    12. Science/Mathematics    13. Technology    14. Wautoma Region    15. Wisconsin    16. House & Home / General    17. Local history    18. Nevada   

Subjects:  1. 1934-    2. 20th Century American Prose    3. 20th century    4. American - General    5. Authors, American    6. Biography    7. Biography / Autobiography    8. Biography/Autobiography    9. Childhood Memoir    10. Childhood and youth    11. Country life    12. Dalton Region    13. Essays    14. Literary Collections    15. Missouri    16. Missouri - Local History    17. Regional Subjects - Midwest    18. Vance, Joel M.,    19. Vance, Joel M   

Reviews (4)

Vintage Teddy
From someone who has lived this life on the great plains from cowboy to hunter, this book is in every detail right on. It is written in Teddy's classic modest style (who else could float the Missouri during spring break up chasing criminals with guns and describe it with as much excitement as buttering toast).
TR's Writing At Its Finest!
"Ranch Life And The Hunting Trail" is Theodore Roosevelt's narrative of his life and experiences during his time in the Dakota Territory of the 1880s.Published in 1888, it displays Roosevelt's writing at this finest.His picture words make the scenes come alive in all their splendor.This is a TR I never knew existed.For anyone with a love of western adventure, this book is it! TR's Writing At Its Finest!
"Ranch Life And The Hunting Trail" is Theodore Roosevelt's narrative of his life and experiences during his time in the Dakota Territory of the 1880s.Published in 1888, it displays Roosevelt's writing at this finest.His picture words make the scenes come alive in all their splendor.This is a TR I never knew existed.For anyone with a love of western adventure, this book is it!Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography & Autobiography    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Biography/Autobiography    4. Cowboys    5. Hunting    6. North Dakota    7. Presidents & Heads of State    8. Ranch life    9. Regional Subjects - Midwest    10. United States - 19th Century    11. West (U.S.)   

Reviews (3)

A WONDERFUL TRIP BACK HOME
My mother is in her eighties and her dictum has become (for gifts), A book with heart
This is a beautiful book written by a writer and illustrator who grew up on an Iowa farm in the 1930's as the "age of the horse" was giving way to the "age of the tractor."The author, Bob Artley, illustrates with detailed sketches and color drawings of such things as walking through the spring mud from barn to barn carrying a bucket of feed, a birds eye view of the farmstead, one of father and son cleaning oat seed with a hand powered fanning mill, planting corn behind a team of horses, milking a cow the old fashioned way, the details of a cream separator, threshers at harvest time and much more.Mr. Artley writes a description of the work they did, what was hard, what was fun and a few of his personal memories of the feelings that he as a child had living this life.It is a touching book written with love and realism describing a lifestyle that has passed by.I especially loved his description of the barn chores where each cow had her chosen place where they were fed silage topped with ground oats and linseed oil, and where they would bed down in the straw with their heads in the stanchions feeding on clover hay.Mr. Artley is not overly sentimental in his memories.He also explains the distastefulness of cleaning out the gutters, working in the cold and the heat etc.He gives us a balanced look at farm life prior to telephones, electricity and indoor plumbing.This is a wonderful book for both those who also experienced farm life in the 1930's as well as younger people like myself who are simply interested in the lives of an older generation.

Boy, do the memories come back with this one!
This book is incredible. It's like a technical manual for those who wish to draw back upon fond memories of a rural life they either once had, or wish they had. I picked this book up and couldn't put it down, the thoughtful attention to detail that Artley puts into this thing just blew me away. On one side, as an artist and someone who appreciates clear, instructive visual art, I loved this book, and when you combine that with the fact that I also have specific visual memories of the farm, this book delivers on a number of levels. I immediately gave it to an elderly in-law who was also fascinated by it's images and stories; I'll get myself another copy right away. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Artley, Bob    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Childhood Memoir    4. Farm life    5. Farmers & Ranchers    6. Hampton    7. Hampton (Iowa)    8. History    9. History: American    10. Iowa    11. Regional Subjects - Midwest    12. United States - 20th Century    13. Agriculture & Farming    14. Nature in art, still life, landscapes & seascapes    15. Other prose: from c 1900 -   

Reviews (4)

Mark Twain meets Garrison Keillor
Writing from a narrative center somewhere between Mark Twain and Garrison Keillor, author Roger Welsch memorializes the town and inhabitants of Centralia (aka Dannebrog, pop. 356), Nebraska, in what he calls "Bleaker County." Centralia itself is either the center of this windswept prairie state or the center of the universe, depending on who you ask in this small town. It's located not far north of the Platte River and its farmlands, and not far south of the Sandhills, with its population of cattle and cowboys. Life in Centralia gravitates toward the Town Tavern, where many of these story-essays take place, and we meet Welsch's fictionalized friends and neighbors: Lunchbox, Goose, Slick, Woodrow, and Cece -- the regulars. There are also his wife Lily, daughter Jenny, an Indian friend Cal, a kind-hearted bachelor uncle named Grover Bass, a film crew from public television in Lincoln, a mean cuss named Royal Cupp, a rip-tearing adventurer, Luke Bigelow, and many others. Great
This is life and this is fun! Beautiful pictures of Great Plain - Small Village life written -so well!- by an expert.

CUDOS from a once Small Town Boy
In "It's Not the End of the Earth,..", Roger Welsch does an excellent job bringing out the humor of small town life by simply telling stories about his friends in Centralia, NE.He has a witty way of givingvalue to each of the members of this rural community bringing to light thepeculiar habits and expressions that make them all unique, interesting, andmemorable.I applaud Prof. Welsch's folkloric expose' of the kinds ofeveryday things that I used to laugh about with my dad - some of myfavorite things. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. American Satire And Humor    2. Biography    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Country life    5. Fiction    6. General    7. Historical - U.S.    8. Humor    9. Nebraska    10. Regional Subjects - Midwest    11. Social life and customs    12. Welsch, Roger L    13. Modern fiction    14. Short stories   

Subjects:  1. Biography / Autobiography    2. Ethnic Cultures - Native Americans    3. Regional Subjects - Midwest    4. Religious    5. Biography & Autobiography-Regional Subjects - Midwest    6. Biography & Autobiography-Religious   

Reviews (1)

Wonderful real life story that hits close to home!
This is a wonderful book that examines a father and son relationship in a Midwestern farming community.The struggles between generations and the authors own internal conflicts brought me to tears.The author capturesthe German-Lutheran morality and displays it affectionately. I loved thisbook because it showed the difficulty in following ones own dream, perhapsat the cost of someone elses dream.How to be true to oneself and findrespect for making lifes difficult decisions. Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography & Autobiography    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Biography/Autobiography    5. Farmers    6. Farmers & Ranchers    7. General    8. Kohn, Fredrick    9. Kohn, Howard    10. Michigan    11. Regional Subjects - Midwest    12. Agriculture & Farming   

Reviews (1)

Chicago captured!
This book captures the personality of our amazing city, in all its honesty, in all its glory. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Anecdotes    2. Biography    3. Biography/Autobiography    4. Chicago (Ill.)    5. General    6. History - General History    7. Portraits    8. Regional Subjects - Midwest    9. Subjects & Themes - Travel - U.S./Midwest    10. United States - Midwest - Chicago   

Subjects:  1. 1870-1945    2. 20th century    3. Artists, Architects, Photographers    4. Biography    5. Biography & Autobiography    6. Biography / Autobiography    7. Biography/Autobiography    8. History    9. Kansas City    10. Missouri    11. Missouri - Local History    12. Pendergast, Tom,    13. Political    14. Political Corruption    15. Politicians    16. Regional Subjects - Midwest    17. American history: c 1800 to c 1900    18. American history: from c 1900 -    19. Biography: historical    20. Pendergast, Tom