East South Central Books

A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail (Official Guides to the Appalachian Trail)

Bill Bryson

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 967 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

Your initial reaction to Bill Bryson's reading of A Walk in the Woods may well be "Egads! What a bore!" But by sentence three or four, his clearly articulated, slightly adenoidal, British/American-accented speech pattern begins to grow on you and becomes quite engaging. You immediately get a hint of the humor that lies ahead, such as one of the innumerable reasons he longed to walk as many of the 2,100 miles of the Appalachian Trail as he could. "It would get me fit after years of waddlesome sloth" is delivered with glorious deadpan flair. By the time our storyteller recounts his trip to the Dartmouth Co-op, suffering serious sticker shock over equipment prices, you'll be hooked.

When Bryson speaks for the many Americans he encounters along the way--in various shops, restaurants, airports, and along the trail--he launches into his American accent, which is whiny and full of hard r's. And his southern intonations are a hoot. He's even got a special voice used exclusively when speaking for his somewhat surprising trail partner, Katz. In the 25 years since their school days together, Katz has put on quite a bit of weight. In fact, "he brought to mind Orson Welles after a very bad night. He was limping a little and breathing harder than one ought to after a walk of 20 yards." Katz often speaks in monosyllables, and Bryson brings his limited vocabulary humorously to life. One of Katz's more memorable utterings is "flung," as in flung most of his provisions over the cliff because they were too heavy to carry any farther.

The author has thoroughly researched the history and the making of the Appalachian Trail. Bryson describes the destruction of many parts of the forest and warns of the continuing perils (both natural and man-made) the Trail faces. He speaks of the natural beauty and splendor as he and Katz pass through, and he recalls clearly the serious dangers the two face during their time together on the trail. So, A Walk in the Woods is not simply an out-of-shape, middle-aged man's desire to prove that he can still accomplish a major physical task; it's also a plea for the conservation of America's last wilderness. Bryson's telling is a knee-slapping, laugh-out-loud funny trek through the woods, with a touch of science and history thrown in for good measure. (Running time: 360 minutes, four cassettes) --Colleen Preston

Weird Kentucky: Your Travel Guide to Kentucky's Local Legends and Best Kept Secrets (Weird)

Jeffrey Scott Holland

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 5 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

"Best Travel Series of the Year 2006!"—Booklist

What’s weird around here?

That’s a question Mark Moran and Mark Sceurman have enjoyed asking for years—and their offbeat sense of curiosity led them to create the bestselling phenomenon, Weird N.J. Now the weirdness has spread throughout key locales in the U.S. Each fun and intriguing volume offers more than 250 illustrated pages of places where tourists usually don’t venture—it’s chock-full of oddball curiosities, ghostly places, local legends, crazy characters, cursed roads, and peculiar roadside attractions. What’s NOT shockingly odd here: that every previously published Weird book has become a bestseller in its region.

Rail-trails Southeast: Alabama, Florida ,georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina & Tennessee

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 1 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

helpful information is provided in this guide 5 out of 5 stars.
4 of 5 people found this review helpful.

I gave this present to my aunt and uncle for Christmas as they have recently purchased new bikes and begun riding trails in our area. They have planned a trip to Florida next month and told me this book has been a great source of information in planning their trip. They really enjoyed this gift.

Editorial Review:

With 55 rural, suburban, and urban trails spanning 630 miles, Rail-Trails Southeast covers Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North and South Carolina, and Tennessee. Visit historic battlefields, see the world's largest cast-iron statue, travel through a gorge, and watch beavers and herons along the Southeast's historic rail-trails. Includes two-color maps for each trip and succinct directions.

Frommer's Nashville & Memphis (Frommer's Complete)

Linda Romine

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Total reviews: 4 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

With Frommer's in hand, you'll discover the highlights of two major capitals of American music: Nashville, country music's mecca, and Memphis, the city that gave birth to the blues. We'll take you to the hottest shows, and to sizzling nightclubs where you can two-step, hear the old masters play, or discover up-and-coming new talent. From the Grand Ol' Opry to the hallowed halls of Graceland, you'll walk in the footsteps of musical giants.

We've also got the lowdown on the region's best restaurants, serving everything from elegant New Southern cuisine to down-home barbecue. And you'll have a wide variety of accommodations to choose from: the classic Peabody, with its signature marching ducks; the bustling Opryland Hotel; B&Bs with true Southern hospitality; and reliable, affordable motels.

Detailed and accurate, it all comes complete with neighborhood maps; a complete shopping guide; the best trip-planning advice; and side trips to nearby distilleries and Civil War battlefields.

Cades Cove: Window to a Secret World

Bill Lea

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Subjects -> Arts & Photography -> Photography -> Travel -> General

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 1 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

A Surprising Look at Cades Cove 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

I bought this book expecting beautiful photos of my one of my favorite places on earth, Cades Cove. I certainly was not disappointed. The photos are masterfully taken with great sense of proportion and composition. The beauty of the mountains and this special valley shine through. The photographer's love for his subject is obvious. What a pleasant surprise to find so much interesting and informative narrative on the people and history of the Cove. I learned so much and will treasure this book for many years. Thank you, Bill Lea.

Editorial Review:

One of the most popular destinations within Great Smoky Mountains National Park is Cades Cove, and this book showcases its splendor and provides an intimate glimpse of the history behind the beauty of this special place. Preserved by the Great Smoky Mountain National Park to look much the way it looked in the 1800's, Cades Cove's pastoral charm, numerous historic cabins, barns and churches, and incredible wildlife viewing opportunities attract over two million visitors each year. Whether planning to visit the park or seeking a keepsake from a recent visit, readers will find this guide packed with stunning photography and insights.

Nashville Then and Now (Then & Now)

Karina McDaniel

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 3 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Photo Journal is both nostalgic and contemporary 4 out of 5 stars.
15 of 15 people found this review helpful.

Long-time Nashville residents remember the city during the 1940s, 50s, and 60s, when downtown was a bustling business district, especially Church Street and Fifth Avenue.

There were various department stores (Harvey's, Castner-Knott, Cain-Sloan, Montgomery-Ward, Sears-Roebuck, Grant's, and Loveman's), five-and-ten-cent stores (Woolworth, McLellans, and Kress), and movie theaters (Paramount, Tennessee, Fifth Avenue, Knickerbocker, Loews, and Crescent). This was at a time before the exodus of such establishments to suburban shopping malls.

Using some extraordinary images from the city's past, paired with the same views today, Nashville Then and Now offers a visual tour of the city's most enduring landmarks, showing how the city has developed over the years.

With side-by-side archival and contemporary photos, the book shows the Parthenon in Centennial Park, a building constructed for the Tennessee Centennial in 1897; Andrew Jackson's Hermitage; and homes and businesses in Germantown (north of the Capitol) and Edgefield (East Nashville).

During the Civil War, writes the author, Nashville was "the most heavily fortified city in North America," a key supply base for the Union army's campaigns in the western theater. The book's cover features a picture of the state's Capitol taken in 1862, showing Union troops camped on the grounds.

Another photo compares the original Fort Negley, built in 1862 on St. Cloud Hill, with the restored fort, which was opened to the public in Dec. 2004. In the background is the modern skyline of Nashville.

The text was written by Karina McDaniel, a Nashville resident who came to Tennessee from her native Germany by way of Brazil and Waterloo, Alabama. McDaniel operates the photographic section for the Tennessee State Library and Archives specializing in the restoration, reproduction and preservation of historic photographs and documents.

Contemporary photographs were taken by Aubrey Watson, a lifelong resident of Nashville. Watson is a freelance photographer, lecturer and writer whose work has been published in books, magazines, corporate annual reports and advertisements.

The Andrew Jackson Hotel stood at the southeast corner of Sixth Avenue North and Deaderick Street. With 350 rooms, the 12-storey building, at that time the largest hotel in Tennessee, was equipped "with every known modern convenience including a luxurious bath and telephone." It was demolished on June 13, 1971.

The 240-room, six-storey Maxwell House Hotel opened for business in 1869 and advertised steam heat, gas lighting, and a bath on every floor. It was destroyed by fire on Christmas night 1961.

The Hermitage Hotel, Nashville's first million-dollar hotel, which opened in 1910 and advertised its rooms as "fireproof, dustproof, and soundproof, with prices starting at $2 a night."

Other photos show the Ryman Auditorium, the "mother church" of country music, which was for many years the home of the Grand Ole Opry; Music Row on 16th Ave. South; and, in the shadow of the Capitol, "Hell's Half Acre," the city's red-light district, where prostitution, bootleg whiskey, and gambling houses flourished.

Sites of interest along Broad Street are Tootsie's Orchard Lounge, the Ernest Tubb record shop, the U.S. Customs House, Hume-Fogg High School, and Union Station.

Among the stately homes pictured are Woodlawn, Sunnyside, Cheekwood, the Belle Meade Mansion, Traveller's Rest, the Grassmere/Croft House, and the Belmont Mansion. We also see Jubilee Hall at Fisk Univ. and Kirkland Hall at Vanderbilt Univ.

My biggest disappointment? No photo is shown of Sulphur Dell, the home of the Nashville Vols, a Double-A baseball team in the Southern League. I have many fond memories from the 40s and 50s, when my dad took me to watch the likes of Charlie Workman, Charlie Gilbert, "Tookie" Gilbert, Smoky Burgess, Carl Sawatski, Pete Mallory, Babe Barna, and Buster Boguskie.

Nashville Then and Now is a delightful nostalgic photojournal of "the Athens of the South" and "Music City, USA."

Roy E. Perry of Nolensville, Tennessee, is an advertising copywriter at a Nashville publishing house.

Editorial Review:

Known today as the Country Music Capital of the World, Nashville was first settled by Native Americans as early as 8000 BC. French fur traders arrived around 1717, and by 1779, 'Fort Nashborough' was officially established. In 1843, the settlement, now renamed 'Nashville,' became the capital of Tennessee. Since its early days, Nashville has had a colorful history, surviving both the Civil War and two cholera epidemics. This city, once home to Daniel Boone and President Andrew Jackson, is now home to the Grand Ole Opry. With side-by-side archival and contemporary photos, Nashville Then and Now gives readers a visual tour of the city's most enduring landmarks, like the Parthenon, built for the Tennessee Centennial in 1897, and Andrew Jackson's Hermitage.

Insiders' Guide to North Carolina's Outer Banks, 29th (Insiders' Guide Series)

Julian Kinglsey

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 6 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

What a travel guide should be 5 out of 5 stars.
5 of 5 people found this review helpful.

This book is fantastic! It gives a very detailed description about everything you'd need for a wonderful trip to the Outer Banks.

I especially like the way it's laid out, with each section going "north to south". For example, the restaurants section starts at the north end of the islands and works its way down to the very south. Same with accommodations, etc.

It also definitely gives you a "feel" for the place - telling the type of vibe each community has and what the general demographics are.

Highly recommended!

Editorial Review:

From Corolla to Kitty Hawk to Roanoke and Hattaras Islands, North Carolina's Outer Banks abounds with beaches, lighthouses, shopping centers, nature trails, wildlife sanctuaries, historical cottages, and more--all waiting for visitors and residents alike to explore. This comprehensive and authoritative guide provides insider tips and insight on all the current attractions, activities, and area information on North Carolina's Outer Banks.

Snakes Of The Southeast (Wormsloe Foundation Nature Book) (Wormsloe Foundation Nature Book)

Whit Gibbons, Michael E. Dorcas, J. Whitfield Gibbons

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 8 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Exactly what you're looking for! 5 out of 5 stars.
8 of 8 people found this review helpful.

This book has everything a child and/or adult needs to know about the snakes that can be found in any given area of the Southeast. Even down to the parish/county you may live in. It gives you hints that let you know which snake is which (enormously helpful for venomous ones). It also shows a way, with only 1 exception (the coral snake), to determine if a snake is venomous by looking at it's shed skin. Now how many times have you or your child come across a snake skin and wondered if it could have been a harmful snake? I bought this book for my 6 year old son who, like his mother, has an interest in snakes and curiosity. I recently noticed my hubby perusing through it & he despises them. Matter of fact, my neighbor has already borrowed it for identification. He then decided to read through it the rest of the way...it's just that insightful!

Editorial Review:

Fifty-two kinds of snakes can be found in the Southeast, almost half of all species native to North America. Filled with more than 300 color photographs and written by two of the region's most renowned herpetologists, this is the most comprehensive educational guide to the snakes of the Southeast. At the heart of the guide are its heavily illustrated, fact-filled descriptions of each species and its habitat. Also included is a wealth of general information about the importance of snake conservation and the biology, diversity, and life cycles of snakes. Useful information about the interactions of humans and snakes is also covered: species that are likely to be found near houses, snakes as pets, what to do in case of a snake bite, and more. Clearly written, cleanly designed, and fun to use, the guide will promote a better understanding of the habitat needs of, and environmental challenges to, this fascinating group of animals.

Along the Edge of America

Peter Jenkins

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 29 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Not nearly as good as A Walk Across America 3 out of 5 stars.
7 of 8 people found this review helpful.

In his book describing his walk across many eastern states Jenkins does an excellent job of describing the scenery and people he encounters. You really feel that he bonds with those he meets.

The boat trip described in this book seems much less interesting - mostly because it seems so forced. It seems that Jenkins looks back fondly on his long walk and wants nothing more than to recreate it - this time on a boat. The trouble is, an adventure like his walk is impossible to recreate.

A Walk Across America was written after the fact. His adventuresome spirit led him to many intriguing places and he only thought to write about it after it was over. In this book however, Jenkins seems to be on a hunt for interesting folks to include in a new book.

Sometimes he succeeds in finding interesting people (a Vietnam vet and his brother, a Texas sheriff) but more often than not the people he describes were a bit eccentric but really not worth writing about in a book.

Editorial Review:

In the past, Peter Jenkins' explorations (The Walk West, A Walk Across America, The Road Unseen) have been confined to land, but now Jenkins takes to the watery edge of the Gulf Coast, traveling in a 25-foot cruiser from the Florida Keys to Texas cattle country. Jenkins's riveting storytelling is all the more fascinating because his adventure is not just a paean to dare-devil accomplishments. Jenkins explains from the start that this trip was meant to renew the confidence he'd had before a bad divorce laid him low. But while he rediscovers his zest for life, he also learns how to operate a boat, navigate a storm, and avoid getting hijacked--all the while sharing the stories of the individuals he meets, from the alligator-wrestling Parker brothers to Mr. James Bloodworth and Bloodworth's Drugstore, where you can still get a hand-scooped milkshake for $1.15. Jenkins relates a great tale, with honesty, humor, and a fine ear for language.

Blues Traveling: The Holy Sites of Delta Blues, Third Edition

Steve Cheseborough

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 9 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

A review by a 2004 Blues Traveler 5 out of 5 stars.
7 of 7 people found this review helpful.

I highly recommend this book for anybody considering a Blues trip into the Delta. It is the best available resource on the market. Looking at its competitors, they all miss the mark due to either outdated, incomplete, or just plain incorrect information.

I have just completed a Delta blues trip and read the book after I returned. Having actually done such a trip provides a very authoritative vantage point from which to judge any such work.

Our trip was preceded by 6 months of online research into every aspect of the Delta and surrounding areas. Over 100 pages of information were accumulated prior to departure. The trip itself covered nearly a 1400 mile loop by car that began and ended in New Orleans. So many of the stops we made along the way ~ Jackson, Ms.; Greenwood, Ms.; Clarksdale, Ms.; Helena, Ark.; Memphis, Tenn.; all the historic gravesites; the prisons and the plantations were all covered in Steve's book. He certainly did his homework. (For goodness sake, he moved there as part of the overall immersion process, LOL!)

We met Steve in Helena while he was lecturing and playing at the `Blues on Main Street' exhibit opening at the Delta Cultural Center on Cherry St. He is proficient at both. It was there we bought the book that got carried home and subsequently read after the fact.

If you don't have 6 months to do your own research, just buy his book and read it in a week. He covers everything. Then take it with you and use it as a guide on the road.

(p.s. Plan your trip so it somehow involves the WC Handy awards in Memphis in late April, as well as the Beale Street Music Festival that follows that weekend).

Editorial Review:

Expanded and updated, a new edition of the indispensable guidebook to the cradle of the blues