Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography & Autobiography    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Biography/Autobiography    5. Historical - General    6. History    7. Miscellanea    8. Ohio    9. Pioneers    10. Politicians    11. Regional Subjects - Midwest    12. Social reformers    13. United States - State & Local - Midwest   

Reviews (2)

One of my favorite books
I first read the diary of Mary Dodge Woodward several years ago.Because I love the sound of Mary's written voice, I've reread it several times. It never fails to enchant. Reading this book is almost like time traveling back to the Bonanza Farm days. I found this story so compelling that I actually searched out the site of this old farm and visited with it's current residents. The site of the old Dodge farm is just west of Sheyenne Road, a half mile west of the Garrison Diversion substation. I stood in the remains of Mary's old cellar, and showed my children the location of the old barn that had the skull and crossbones sign painted on it. The location of the machine shop continues to hold so much old oil from Mary's time that grass does not grow on the site. This is a wonderful book for anyone that likes to read about the early days of Dakota territory.

A true picture of life on the Plains in the 1880s
A friend loaned me The Checkered Years, and after reading it, I purchased two copies, one to give away and another to lend and ultimately to keep in my library.From the day-to-day writings of Mary Dodge Woodward, the reader begins to understand the central role of weather in the life of the early Dakota settlers - the awesome cold, wind, and heat; the blizzards, drought, and flood - all matter-of-factly but beautifully described in an unpretentious diary.The diary entries give a hint of the tremendous effort it took on Mary's part and that of her family to build up a large wheat farm, and along with that, the uncertainties she faced as a widow growing old.I wish the book had more background information in its introduction and more diary entries that, even though they probably would have seemed repetitive, may have given more focus to the people mentioned in the selections. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1826-1890    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Diaries    4. Farm life    5. Farmers & Ranchers    6. Farmers' spouses    7. Frontier and pioneer life    8. History    9. History: American    10. North Dakota    11. Regional Subjects - Midwest    12. U.S. Local History - Missouri River Valley States    13. United States - State & Local - Midwest    14. Women    15. Woodward, Mary Dodge,    16. Biography: historical    17. Local history    18. USA    19. Woodward, Mary Dodge   

Reviews (1)

A True Hoosier Hero
This is a must read for every Hoosier,Most physicans would also enjoy reading about this country doctor who did things the rest of us could only dream of doing.The book is warm hearted, entertaining, and well written. After reading the book, I felt as if I had sat by a fireplace sharing a very pleasant conversation with Doc Bowen.He is one of the few politicians I ever heard of who never was involved in any scandal, remained true to his principles, and remained loved by the folks of his constituency. As a fellow family doctor, I felt proud to have someone of my own profession rise to governor and later cabinet secretary on the administration of President Reagan. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography & Autobiography    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Biography/Autobiography    5. Bowen, Otis R    6. Government - State & Provincial    7. Governors    8. Indiana    9. Indiana - State Government    10. Medical - Physicians    11. Physicians    12. Political    13. Politicians    14. Regional Subjects - Midwest   

Editorial Review

This sensitive, restrained memoir searches for answers to the most painful of questions: Why would a bright, athletic, seemingly well-adjusted boy like Kathleen Finneran's 15-year-old brother want to take his own life? Sean Finneran's 1971 suicide is the pivotal crisis in Read more

Reviews (16)

It will move you.
This book reveals the emotional upheaval that only a suicide survivor can put into words.Ms. Finnerman's story of the suicide death of her brother was unfortunalty a subject I can relate to. It is a well told and sensitive book which shines a light on the topic of losing a sibling in such a tragic manner.

Extremely Moving
I recently read The Tender Land and loved it.I admit that I was somewhat hesitant to read it because of the suicide subject matter.But it turns out to be more of a book of how a family copes with sudden death and the grief that follows.I think anyone could relate to this story.Ms. Finneran is a descriptive author that brings the reader into the story to experience it yourself.I will be looking for more of this author's work.

Truly unforgettable
This memoir is one that I will never forget - it affected me in the way that The Lovely Bones did - it's left me with a profound feeling of heartbreak and poignancy.Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography & Autobiography    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Biography/Autobiography    4. Death, Grief, Bereavement    5. Family Relationships    6. Finneran, Kathleen    7. Literary    8. Regional Subjects - Midwest    9. Suicidal behavior    10. Suicide victims    11. Teenagers    12. Biography & Autobiography / Literary    13. Suicide   

Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Biography And Autobiography    4. General    5. Historical - General    6. Historical - U.S.    7. History    8. History: American    9. Kansas    10. Kansas - Local History    11. Regional Subjects - Midwest    12. United States - State & Local - Midwest    13. American history    14. Dictionaries of biography (Who's Who)   

Subjects:  1. Biography / Autobiography    2. Children: Grades 3-4    3. Christmas    4. Customs & Traditions    5. Holidays - Christmas    6. Iceland    7. Regional Subjects - Midwest    8. Social Science    9. United States   

Reviews (4)

Wonderful Piece of Work
At first I thought that reading about a police chief from Detroit wouldn't make the most interesting of stories, and who the heck is Dr. McKinnon? The book was excellent. The story of Dr. McKinnon is a very well written book. As an autobiography it's one of the most interesting I've read. Of all the negative things that some reviewers are saying about it, get it read it and you might wish he'd been more detailed, but I really think the book's greatest strength is that it's an easy readand an inspiration. Sure he could have been a little more accurate and written a 600 pg. novel about the life of Dr. McKinnon in Full. But instead he keeps his story upbeat and enjoyable. And I don't fault him for it at all.

Self-Serving And Superficial
"Stand Tall" was probably the most self-serving autobiography I've ever read.On every other page of the book, McKinnon heroically battles racism.Somehow, with the institutional racism rampant in the Detroit Police Department, McKinnon manages to work as a patrol officer for only about 2 years.As a matter of fact, only about 20 pages of the book are dedicated to his patrol career. Stand Tall, A book of courage/inspiration
I recommend this wonderful book for anybody who wants to become a police officer, especially African Americans and other minorities interested in this field.Dr. McKinnon does an excellent job with expressing his feelings about his experiences with the Detroit Police Department, racism, and why it was important for him to join the Detroit Police Department.Dr. McKinnon's book is a true defition of the American dream (especially for minorities) and I guarantee this book will inspire you to follow your dreams regardless of how tough it gets!I've met Dr. McKinnon once and I hope to meet him again so he can autograph my book.Get your copy today! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. African American police    2. Biography    3. Biography & Autobiography    4. Biography / Autobiography    5. Biography/Autobiography    6. Detroit    7. General    8. Lawyers & Judges    9. McKinnon, Isaiah    10. Michigan    11. Police    12. Police chiefs    13. Presidents & Heads of State    14. Regional Subjects - Midwest   

Subjects:  1. Biography / Autobiography    2. Farmers & Ranchers    3. Regional Subjects - Midwest   

Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography & Autobiography    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Biography/Autobiography    5. Centenarians    6. Frontier and pioneer life    7. Personal Memoirs    8. Pioneers    9. Regional Subjects - Midwest    10. United States    11. United States - 19th Century    12. American history    13. American studies    14. USA   

Subjects:  1. Biography & Autobiography    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Biography/Autobiography    4. Government - Legislative Branch    5. Historical - General    6. Political    7. Regional Subjects - Midwest    8. U.S. House Of Representatives   

Subjects:  1. (Charles Augustus),    2. 1902-1974    3. Air pilots    4. Biography    5. Biography / Autobiography    6. Childhood and youth    7. Historical - U.S.    8. Lindbergh, Charles A    9. Lindbergh, Charles A.    10. Minnesota    11. Regional Subjects - Midwest    12. United States    13. Biography: general   

Subjects:  1. 1890-1972    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Description and travel    4. Jaques, Florence Page,    5. Minnesota    6. Regional Subjects - Midwest    7. Travel    8. U.S. Local History - Missouri River Valley States    9. United States - Midwest - Minnesota    10. Winter    11. Jaques, Florence Page    12. Jaques, Francis Lee    13. Journeys    14. Local history    15. North America    16. TRAVEL & HOLIDAY   

Reviews (2)

A Heartwarming Story
Although, I grew up in South Dakota, I visited my grandparents in Kansas many summers and holidays.I have many memories of warm summer nights catching lightning bugs and just relaxing on the porch swing. This is an enjoyable story and I highly recommend it.

Wonderful read.Quick chapters that feel good
The author captures a sense of nostalgia that our country needs right now.In this day of immediate gratification, x-boxes, playstations, bazillion gigaherze whatevers, it is nice to be reminded that things were not always so fast and furious.The feeling of being close to the land and to your family and community is a welcome change from our daily grind.I would recommend this book to everyone.The author has a real talent for taking the reader back to a time when things were more simple and quiet.I can almost taste the hot chocolate...read the book to find out how it tastes. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography / Autobiography    2. Childhood Memoir    3. Regional Subjects - Midwest   

Subjects:  1. 1871-1931    2. Biography    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. California    5. Christianity - Christian Life - General    6. Iowa    7. Parenting - Fatherhood    8. Personal Memoirs    9. Regional Subjects - Midwest    10. Regional Subjects - West    11. Religion    12. Religious    13. Tallmon, George Albert,   

Subjects:  1. Biography / Autobiography    2. Fishing - General    3. Regional Subjects - Midwest   

Reviews (13)

An Enthralling Saga
Lindbergh took some risks with this book. He wrote it out first person, present tense. (A big "no no".) And he broke up the storyline with frequent flashbacks. Somehow it all works anyway, in spite of or because of these risks.
A very suggested reading
If you want a complete portrait of one of the greatest but most controversial heroes of modern times, you can do no better than Scott Berg's outstanding biography Lindbergh (1998).But if you want to understand what made the Lone Eagle an iconic figure in the first place, you should really read his own Pulitzer Prize winning account of his 3600 mile, solo, trans-Atlantic flight from New York to Paris in 1927.
Strong, clear, accurate, sometimes poetic writing
Great account of an adventure. Includes all the early stages, including conception, financing, building, testing, and monitoring the competition. Especially relevant these days with all the X prize comparisons.
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Subjects:  1. (Charles Augustus),    2. 1902-1974    3. Aeronautical Engineering (General)    4. Aeronautics & Astronautics    5. Air pilots    6. Biography    7. Biography & Autobiography    8. Biography / Autobiography    9. Biography/Autobiography    10. Historical - General    11. Historical - U.S.    12. Lindbergh, Charles A    13. Regional Subjects - Midwest    14. Spirit of St. Louis (Airplane)    15. Transatlantic flights    16. Travelers    17. United States   

Subjects:  1. 1922-    2. 1929    3. Biography & Autobiography    4. Childhood and youth    5. City and town life    6. Depressions    7. General    8. Historical - U.S.    9. History - General History    10. History: American    11. Okemah    12. Okemah (Okla.)    13. Oklahoma    14. Oklahoma - Local History    15. Regional Subjects - Midwest    16. Rutland, Robert Allen,    17. Social life and customs    18. United States - State & Local - General   

Reviews (1)

Totally Enjoyable
For relaxation and enjoyment by a person not directly involved in either sheep
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Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Farmers & Ranchers    4. General    5. Gilfillan, Archer B.,    6. Harding County    7. Nature/Ecology    8. Regional Subjects - Midwest    9. Sheep    10. Sheep Production    11. Shepherds    12. South Dakota    13. b. 1886    14. Animal husbandry    15. Gilfillan, Archer B   

Reviews (1)

A Worthwhile Examination of a World-Class City
Definitely worth more than the minimal cost of this paperback.A nice collection of stories (vignettes) of past, present, & deceased residents of this growing-in-popularity Indiana capital.A variety of subjects and topics, upbringings and backgrounds, histories;a child learning through trial and error, a young woman coming of age, a life-defining role of one's religion, the changing face of a community...positive as well as negative reflections of a city in demand - and a city that demands much of its occupants. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 20th Century American Prose    2. American - General    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. General    5. Indianapolis (Ind.)    6. Literary Criticism    7. Personal Memoirs    8. Regional Subjects - Midwest    9. Social conditions    10. Special Subjects In Literature    11. United States - State & Local - General    12. Cultural studies    13. English    14. Indiana    15. Urban communities   

Subjects:  1. Biography & Autobiography    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Biography/Autobiography    4. General    5. Regional Subjects - Midwest    6. Biography: general