Customer Reviews:
The Best Book Ever!.......2005-12-14
At the prompting of my mother, grandmother, and aunt, I first read Celia Garth before I was old enough to even understand half of what Gwen Bristow writes about. Since then, I have read it many, many times, and it remains one of my favorites to this day. Celia is such a vivid character, and getting to see Charleston and the Revolutionary War through her eyes is like being there yourself! I cried my eyes out at the plantation death scene, marveled at Celia's courage through it all, and could barely contain my glee when she finally realizes her true happiness. I would recommend this book to anyone, young or old; if you haven't read Celia Garth, you're missing out. And if you haven't ever visited Charleston, SC--well, need I say more? You can see the harbor as Celia did, walk the same streets, see the spire of St. Michael's, and much, much more. It's not the same Charleston as it was a hundred years ago, but it's close enough and thoroughly enjoyable.
My Favorite!.......2005-05-02
The first time I read Celia Garth was about eight years ago. I found it sitting on a bookshelf in my house, and I couldn't put it down. It immediately became my favorite book, and to this day still is. I just recently started reading Gwen Bristow's others, and I can't put them down either! Her Historical Fiction is amazing, and her ability to combine her fictional characters with non-fictional people and places is the best I have ever seen.
--A classic story of the American Revolution--.......2003-08-29
CELIA GARTH takes place during the American Revolutionary War in the city of Charleston, South Carolina. Celia, the main character is a "sassy" twenty-year-old woman who worked as a seamstress in a very fashionable clothing shop. The inhabitants of Charleston were divided in their loyalties. Some were Tories and supported the king and England; many others were supporters of the revolution. After two months of conflict and bombardment, British forces occupied the city of Charleston.
The local hero in South Carolina was Francis Marion, called the "Swamp Fox," by the British. His goal was to keep the British army occupied in South Carolina, and away from General George Washington who was fighting another British army in the north. Celia and her friends supported the revolution and acted as spies for Francis Marion during the two years of the British occupation of Charleston.
The book is full of the flavor and feeling of the late 1700's. Luke Ansell, an American soldier sings the following little ditty, as he walks home after his first meeting with Celia Garth.
"Now girls why act so shy
When provoking men come by?
You know you're only wondering
how you strike us--
Oh forget the won'ts and can'ts!
For since half the world wears pants,
You might as well own up to it--
you like us!"
I learned a great deal about Charleston and how the people of that town lived through the very difficult years of the American Revolution. The book gives a lot of little tidbits of interesting information. For instance, it was popular for the colonial women to name their male babies, George. They would then tell if their baby was named after King George of England or General George Washington.
This is a well-written and very enlightening story.
Celia Garth.......2001-11-21
I first read this book in high school many years ago. I have not been able to find another copy until Amazon. It is probably one of the best historical fictions next to Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series. Gwen Bristow is a great writer as you can also experience in her Santa Fe Trail. Anyone interested in the Revolutionary War from a woman's prospective will love this book.
Best Historical Fiction Book.......1999-12-21
I read Celia Garth about 12 years ago. It was my mom's copy from when she was a young girl. I have read it many, many times and love it still! Celia's character is so likeable, as are all the other characters, especially Luke and Darren. My next favorite characters. I recommrnd this book to everyone. My mom and I enjoy all our Celia Garth chats. I never get tired of reading about Celia.
Book Description
It's springtime in Charleston and just about every species of South Carolina's flora is in full and glorious bloom at the Spring Plantation Ramble. Once a year, the upper crust open their sprawling gardens to the public, the site of flower shows, rare plant auctions, and a contagious spring fever. Although Theodosia Browning barely knows a Phalinopsis from a Bog Rose, she still enjoys the Ramble, especially since she can pour tea and promote her Indigo Tea Shop-and her latest concoction, Dragonwell Sweet Tea.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent.......2007-07-03
Laura Childs does it again. I love her tea time series. This one provides the mystery and suspense, as expected, mingled with a lovely amount of tea room interaction. The whole series is worth the read. I can't say any one is better than the other. Enjoy!
the charm of historic Charleston.......2007-06-29
The eighth book in a series called The Tea Shop Mysteries. Like the others, it is set in a charming tea shop in the beautiful historic district of Charleston, South Carolina run by the very likable Theodosia Browning. This one involves poisoned tea (something unfortunately already used in this series), rare orchids, charity fund raising, and international finance. I read this series for the charm and atmosphere of both the tea shop, and of Charleston, and both are fully present.
This is very nice series of very "cozy" mysteries. I love to read them in my big easy chair with a cup of tea. ;-)
Dragonwell Dead is Nearly Dead On! .......2007-05-30
I have been a fan of the tea shop series since the first book hit stores. I stumbled on them quite by chance - but now - several years later - I can't wait for the next installment each time I finish a book!
Dragonwell Dead was, in my opinion, a more solid mystery than its predecessor, Blood Orange Brewing. No question - I enjoyed both books just due to the wonderful, fun characters and colorful descriptions of Charleston - but Dragonwell Dead is closer in tone and feel to the first books in the series. The mystery seems more clever - and the ending ties together much better.
Laura Childs offers a wonderful respite for tea and mystery lovers in her warm and charming series. The characters in the books feel like old friends - and each time, I just can't wait to hear more about them!
The one and only thing that bothered me (simply as a fan of the series) about Dragonwell Dead was the lack of interaction with detective Burt Tidwell. I have grown to like Theodosia's constant sparring with Det. Tidwell - and, to me at least, the local sheriff was not nearly as interesting as our good detective would have been. As well - although all of the major players were back for this book (except Tidwell, who made only a minor appearance), I missed hearing about Theo's therapy dog and pet, Earl Grey.
All this in stride - the book is a good, solid read and contains most of the great characters that we've come to know and love, plus some wonderful new mouth-watering recipes as well!
Does anyone know when the next book - The Silver Needle Murder - will be out? I can't stand the wait!
Karen
Theodesia narrows the focus - and finds herself the next target in this absorbing, fun mystery........2007-05-19
Fans of Laura Child's previous 'Charleston Tea Shop' mysteries will find another satisfying culinary mystery in DRAGONWELL DEAD, the latest installment, which continues to tradition of serving up recipes and tea time tips within the context of a riveting mystery story. Here Charleston's annual Spring Plantation Ramble finds Theodesia serving tea on a lovely plantation when the collapse of a nearby b&b owner leads to her investigation of murder. Theodesia narrows the focus - and finds herself the next target in this absorbing, fun mystery.
Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch
Arrmchair travelers invited to Charleston, SC. .......2007-05-14
This series is set in Charleston, SC where the protagonist struggles to be refined at the same time as earning a living operating an upmarket tea shop in the historic district. All aspects of the story are well done; the characters are well-developed and fairly attractive, the description of one of the most interesting US cities is evocative, the mystery is fairly well plotted and developed and you really feel you are traveling right along with the protagonist at she sets about solving yet another nasty challenge to her friends, location and lifestyle.
Book Description
An extraordinary value at the price, this compact, easy-to-use reference offers boaters a complete set of full-color navigation charts for the 1,090-mile Intracoastal Waterway, running from Norfolk to Miami, as well as charts for all the major Atlantic inlets en route. This edition has been fully updated through late 2001 and now features a larger size to allow chart segments to be presented at the same scale as the original NOAA charts from which they are reproduced.
Customer Reviews:
Intercoastal Waterway Chartbook.......2007-01-12
Great book, you have to have them to run the intracoastal and it's MUCH cheaper at Amazon then in the bookstores - or boat stores!!
Intracoastal Waterway Chartbook : Norfolk, Virginia, to Miami, Florida.......2005-10-09
A must for traveling the Intercoastal Waterway. A very detailed illustrative set of information to successfully achieve your trip.
Excellent source... More than a set of charts!.......1999-07-14
Very usable in it's small page spiral format. Flipping pages as one cruises north or south is easy, and takes very little space at the helm. The annotations indicating marina locations save looking in separate guides when a stopping point is desired. Some obvious side trips (e.g. Banana River) are omitted and would have helped increase usefulness if included.
Excellent up-to-date reference.......1999-04-11
The charts are well organized and very reliable. Only a minimum number of aids were missing or changed in number. Some of the bridge info is a little dated but generally did not cause any navigational problems.
Book Description
This full-color photographic portrait paints a picture of one of America's most genteel cities, Charleston. Steeped in history, bathed in southern Atlanitc breezes, and touched with a unique blend of Southern culture and hospitality, these photos reveal the life of a quintessentially southern American city.
Customer Reviews:
Very Good Book.......2007-05-14
This is a very good book to show Charleston. We had a business meeting with members from all over the world and we gave each of them a copy of this book. They really liked it. It has great pictures of the area. I usually like to have alittle bit mmore of hte history shared in a book. This one does share a little but there are others out there that share more of the history of Charleston also in pictures. But this is a great book of present day Charleston and pictures to share.
Historic Charleston.......2007-01-10
Historic Charleston is a place everyone should visit. We've been there several times and this book depicts the majesty of Charleston. I was so pleased with this book, I ordered a copy for my best friend and included it in her 'trip kit' for Christmas. Order your copy and plan to visit Charleston. Savannah isn't far away, so why not see both places. Another tip....the BEST LITTLE MAPS from Navigator Maps are purrrfect; they are very inexpensive and soooo helpful. Have a great trip!
Charleston, South Carolina: A (Beautiful) Photographic Portrait..........2006-02-26
Through the pages of this book one can revisit one of the South's lovliest and friendliest cities...
Average customer rating:
- Love and Tragedy
- Like the old TV show, "You Are There," and It's Interesting, Most Interesting
- Good Historical Fiction -- Worth A Look
- A great read on of Jakes best books
- overview
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Charleston
John Jakes
Manufacturer: Dutton Adult
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ASIN: 0525946500
Release Date: 2002-08-05 |
Amazon.com
Though at times a historically illuminating work, Charleston, bestselling author John Jakes's fictional retelling of the title city's early history through the Civil War, remains a largely uninspiring drama. Charleston offers an account of the burgeoning city from the perspective of the fictional Bell family, whose British immigrant predecessors arrive in Charleston in 1720. The story of the family's lasting, influential link to Charleston begins with Edward, whose political ideas during the Revolution put him at odds with the town's largely loyalist population, including his brother Adrian. Edward fights bravely in the Revolution, joining an effective band of hit-and-run fighters, but is later murdered by a jilted, mentally ill lover. Charleston then leaps forward, following the fortunes of Edward's granddaughter, Alex, who adopts Edward's liberal, abolitionist views, and begins a romance with lifelong black friend Henry. As slave-revolt paranoia heightens in the South, Alex watches Charleston become an isolated, violent police state, and eventually travels north, becoming a songwriter for the abolitionists and a witness to Charleston's downfall. Jakes combines fictional characters with meticulously researched historical settings and figures to give the events of Charleston context, significance, and immediacy. But rather than relying on the simple power of history, Jakes distracts from the narrative with clumsy metaphors and exaggerated characters. --Ross Doll
Book Description
With more than 50 million copies of his books in print, John Jakes is one of the preeminent novelists of American historical fiction. Now this beloved storyteller takes readers to Charleston, South Carolina, in a stunning multigenerational saga that tells the story of two apocalyptic, nation-shaping wars as seen through the eyes of a powerful South Carolina dynasty.
Written in three parts, Charleston follows the lives, loves, and shifting fortunes of the Bells, saints and evildoers mingled together in one unforgettable family, from the American Revolution through the turbulent antebellum years to the Civil War and the savage defeat of the Confederacy. Delving into our country's history as only he can, Jakes paints a powerful portrait of the Charleston aristocracy who zealously guarded their privilege and position, harboring dark family secrets that threatened to destroy them all. Sweeping from the bitterly divided Carolina frontier of the 1770s through the tragic destruction of the city during the Civil War, and peopled by a sprawling cast of memorable characters-patriots and cowards, aristocrats and abolitionists, slaves and freedmen, heroic men and courageous women-Charleston represents America's premier storyteller at his very best.
Customer Reviews:
Love and Tragedy .......2007-06-29
This book is a continuous loop of finding love and losing love. It is filled with stories about family against family. It is a true soap opera in a book woven together with the common themes of Charleston and slavery. My eyes were opened to the fact that adultery probably has not increased in our society as much as I originally thought. It has just become less acceptable and therefore more visible as an issue. It also amazes me how you can degrade the life of humans. It had to be extremely hard to change your thoughts on the freedom of blacks when you have lived in a culture ingrained with the idea of a subordinate race.
Like the old TV show, "You Are There," and It's Interesting, Most Interesting.......2006-09-18
Historical Fiction at its best...Characters are especially evocative...some you love, some you love to hate...Just as it should be in good historical fiction...A sweeping story of Charleston, the heartbeat of the old agrarian South and secession, from the Revolutionary War through the Civil War,"The Recent Unpleasantness" as some call it....A story of the sins of the father being passed on to the son and to ensuing generations...
Well worth the read, well worth it...Gives a greater appreciation for the complexities of life in the South, especially in the urban agrarian South...It wasn't simple, and it wasn't black or white, in color, or in issues of the day, or in Southern reaction to those issues. Does a good job of relating the complexity of life in the South at that time, and, to some extent, in this time...It wasn't simple, but it was enthralling, and John Jakes has told the story well.
Good Historical Fiction -- Worth A Look.......2006-05-29
John Jakes turns his skill at historical fiction to the story of Charleston.
In the typical Jakes style, he follows the lives of the Bells from pre-revolutionary times through the Civil War. Fans of Jakes will find this an enjoyable adventure. I didn't find it to be his best work, but anyone who enjoys Jakes works or a profile of the main cities of the South will not be disappointed.
For newcomes to Jakes, I would still suggest the Kent Family Chronicles.
A great read on of Jakes best books.......2006-04-12
I am a fan of John Jakes after I read the Kent family books and Savanah and seeing all the North and South movies so I had to read this book. It was enjoyable from start to the great shocking ending. The book works in so many levels the charactors are great from every generation, the civil war part is great and of corse the history is great. At times the story is like a soap but it's good but then at other times it's to fluffy. The book is full of romance, murder, deception, blackmail to make this book a great book to read over and over again.
overview.......2006-01-03
Though not one of his best works, John Jakes has written a version of the history of this beautiful city as experienced by members of 3 families, disparate but interlocked by their own early histories. He skims over the great cataclysmic events (Revolution, Civil War, fires) in favor of depicting the actions and reactions of his protagonists and antagonists. While a number of these characters are rather cardboard, an important few are well drawn. The same might be said of plotting, which is often predictable (don't know if Jakes is aware of the broad hints he drops) but sometimes intriguing. While this book is far from perfect, it flowed along, contained some interesting moments, and I did enjoy reading it .
Customer Reviews:
An absolute must if you love architecture and Charleston........1997-12-12
Mr. Poston has done an excellent and exhaustive job with this book. To my knowledge it is the most comprehensive compilation to date. As well as photographs of the houses plans are also shown for many. A 9+ only because I'm reluctant to say that the "perfect" book has ever been published.
Average customer rating:
- Book #4 in this series
- A Fantastic Story!
- The necessary link
- What a letdown!
- Drums of Autumn
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Drums of Autumn
Diana Gabaldon
Manufacturer: Dell
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Voyager
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Outlander
ASIN: 044022425X
Release Date: 1997-11-10 |
Amazon.com
Set in pre-Revolutionary War America, readers finally have the much awaited fourth book in what will probably become a six book series (The Outlander series). The talented Diana Gabaldon continues Claire and Jamie's romantic love affair, and introduces Brianna and Roger's story. Eight hundred pages, and several wonderful new characters later, we wonder why we were waiting for a conclusion. It'll be a long wait for book five, so I recommend you go back and reread Outlander, Dragonfly in Amber, and Voyager to keep yourself sane.
Book Description
The magnificent saga continues....
It began in Scotland, at an ancient stone circle. There, a doorway, open to a select few, leads into the past—or the grave. Claire Randall survived the extraordinary passage, not once but twice. Her first trip swept her into the arms of Jamie Fraser, an eighteenth-century Scot whose love for her became legend—a tale of tragic passion that ended with her return to the present to bear his child. Her second journey, two decades later, brought them together again in frontier America. But Claire had left someone behind in the twentieth century. Their daughter, Brianna....
Now Brianna has made a disturbing discovery that sends her to the stone circle and a terrifying leap into the unknown. In search of her mother and the father she has never met, she is risking her own future to try to change history...and to save their lives. But as Brianna plunges into an uncharted wilderness, a heartbreaking encounter may strand her forever in the past...or root her in the place she should be, where her heart and soul belong....
Download Description
Diana Gabaldon holds a bachelor¿s degree in zoology, a master¿s degree in marine biology, and a Ph.D. in ecology, none of which has anything whatever to do with her novels. She spent a dozen years as a university professor before turning to writing full-time. Diana Gabaldon lives in Scottsdale, Arizona, with her family.
From the Trade Paperback edition.
Customer Reviews:
Book #4 in this series.......2007-08-21
This series must be read in order!!!
This book kinda bombed out for me. Jamie and Claire are not the primary characters here. Brianna (daughter) and Roger (boyfriend later married) are.
I didn't care for Brianna and Roger. They seemed to be lacking in their brains cells a time or two....
They are in present time and find a news article that tells of a housefire killing Jamie and Claire. They plot to go back to that time period to prevent it.
I WAS SO dissappointed in the way Jamie meets his daughter for the first time--standing in the alley urinating off all things.
I didn't think this one was very well written or edited. But, if you really like this series (like I did) you will want to read it.
The next book (#5), "Fiery Cross," was...uh....emmmmmm...it was awful. Sorry. But, that's another review.
A Fantastic Story!.......2007-08-07
Diana Gabaldon takes us back in time into the lives of Jamie and Claire. The author as usual does her research on the topics and settings and when the story unfolds you can feel the detail descriptions she portrays to the scenes, the attire, and characters. I thought Drums of Autumn was a wonderful book and I look forward (I'm a little late to this author) to her next book in the series. I highly recommend this romantic and adventurous story.
The necessary link.......2007-07-28
As promised in previous reviews, I will also keep this one short, sweet and to the point.
Firstly, I must state that this volume HAS to exist.
Bree and Roger have appeared in the previous books, but their links to this tale have not been forged as strongly, simply because the story had not yet required it to do so.
Well .... in this one they bring it home and finally become important players in the Outlander series.
I adore Roger - and personally, without him, Bree would be too big'a chunk to swallow sometimes. (Another itty-bitty reason this volume needed)
Again, as I have said in previous reviews - this one cannot be missed if you are intending to follow the tale to the end.
Get into it people - there is plenty more to follow.
Cheers - Jo
What a letdown!.......2007-07-23
Once I started this series, I literally could not put these books down. I was telling all my friends about these books, staying up too late and going to work with circles under my eyes, but loving the characters, the period detail and the twists and turns of the plot.
Then I came to Drums of Autumn. This is the first book of Gabaldon's series that I thought was unconvincing and could have used more attention from her editor. And that's saying something, considering each previous book is 800-1000 pages at least.
Generally I've enjoyed the anticipation leading up to a major plot point (i.e. the first 350 pages of Voyager) because what's been in those pages has been well-paced, exciting and led to a deeper appreciation of the characters. But in this book, when I got to the part where Brianna has left to find her parents, I said aloud "It's about d**n time!" and by the end of the book I was skipping pages and pages just to find out what happened. And the characters started doing things that made no sense. Eventually between the absurd plot twists and the descriptive passages that just went on and on and on, I got to the point where found myself talking back to the book ("Arggh" and "You've gotta be kidding!" are prime, printable examples) and, alas, losing interest.
Don't get me wrong - there are very riveting and entertaining parts to the book but overall I thought that Gabaldon wasted too much prose on things that didn't further the plot or enhance the characters, only to gloss over areas rife with potential. What about Brianna's memories of Frank (we only learned that he taught her to shoot - what else did they share?), her time living alone since her mother's departure, her arrival/stay at Lallybroch, her observations of her mother's relationship with Jaime and how she finally resolves her issues regarding her mother's betrayal of Frank? We hear at the end of the book that she's seen one marriage with love and one marriage without, and would choose love instead of settling. Really!?! And what were her observations and thoughts that brought her to this conclusion, anyway??
My other gripe with this book is that that Gabaldon obviously thought up the scenario concerning Roger/Jamie/Steven Bonnet simply find a mechanism by which Brianna and Roger get stranded in the 18th century. Come on!! These ploys (mistaken identity, misinterpretation of overheard conversations) are shockingly unoriginal, used in TV sitcoms and by lazy writers who can't think of any other way to get the characters do what they want them to. I know by her previous examples that she's not lazy and has created characters and stories that while they require a little suspension of disbelief, still worked because they at least seemed plausible and in alignment with what we understood about the characters. It would have been much more interesting if Gabaldon had developed Brianna into a person whose decisions and actions actually made sense. Instead of taking stock of her situation and making a well thought out decision, Brianna instead had the decision forced upon her, so to speak, and was turned into a victim. I suppose my disappointment in this book is so much greater because the author had set the bar so high with her previous entries in the series.
I'll keep plowing ahead and read the remaining two books in the series, but seeing that The Fiery Cross has only a 3-star average rating, I'll continue with much less excitement, afraid that I'll be disappointed again.
Drums of Autumn.......2007-06-16
Loved it!!! These characters reach out and invite you into their lives, loves, hurts. I can get enough of this series!!!
Book Description
The third Charleston Junior League cookbook reveals more secrets of the city's legendary hospitality.
Customer Reviews:
Fantastic Appetizers .......2005-01-27
The dozen or more recipes tried from this book have been terrific. I am primarily interested in appetizers that can be made ahead, frozen and re-heated. A large number of the recipes fit this criteria. I have bought several copies as gifts for friends based on the recipes I have tried and I've enjoyed this book as much as I enjoy my new beverage of choice. Made from 100% organic soy, taste just like coffee and no caffeine. Finally, I got rid of that wired up feeling all day and feeling great. Look for it on the net by googling "s o yfee".
A wide variety of outstanding "receipts" from elegant to casual. A collection of recipes that allows the hostess [or host] to theme a party or go eclectic. This book has the original party mix that includes Cheerios. Enjoy!!!
Endless Choices for Parties and Gatherings.......2004-09-01
My mother swears by all the Junior League Cookbooks which she always relies on for parties and gatherings. This was one of the first of many I tried!!!! Filled with endless choices of creative and easy to prepare starters including cold and hot plates and some ample first courses such as shirimp, crab cakes, cheesecakes, quiches and more--All the ingredients are easy to find and common to most well stocked pantries- so you always can find something at the last minute to prepare!! Also, many of these receipes can be made in even less time if you use pre-chopped veggies,pre-cut meats, etc.
The only thing I am not crazy about is that many of the dips and cold startes use commercial cream cheese, sour cream or similar products to create the base of the receipe--just doesn't seem to heart healthy to me...But none the less, they are all yummy in the end if you don't focus on that.
Whether for work gathering, faimly and friends you will be cetain to find one or many starter you can rely on again and again for stress free entertaining!
Excellent Addition to Your Cookbook Library.......2002-07-02
This is by far the best hors d'oeuvres recipe book I've come across. I use it time and again. And like it so much I've given it as gifts many times over!
A True Party Assistant.......2002-02-19
This is geared towards party recipes--- from drinks to demitast soup to finger deserts to all kinds of dips and snack mixes.
Many will find here the ole reliables, and as I can determine, just about all of them--from Party Mix fame to Wassail to many ways of serving crab and shrimp dip.
I particularly am attracted to the unusual, and there is plenty of that here. I enjoy such as Escargots A La San Diego, Goat Cheese Tortillas, and Papaya Stuffed with Curried Crab.
This will assist those looking for some easy but delicious things to serve the party guests that will bring raves.
My Favorite Party Recipes.......2001-11-06
The Party Recipes from the Charleston Junior League is my favorite cookbook. Of all the cookbooks I own I always buy the ones that have lots of pictures. I usually like to see what it looks like first before I make anything. This cookbook was the exception, as it does not have pictures of the food. I looked through the cookbook and immediately saw at least 30 recipes that I knew I wanted to make. I couldn't put it down, as there was such a collection of recipes that I always wanted to try. Whenever I need a recipe for a party or gathering, this cookbook is always the first one that I pick up. I have never seen so many party favorites in one book. I also like the short comments with each recipe from the recipe contributor. The people of Charleston, South Carolina know how to throw a successful party. I'm glad they shared their most popular recipes in this book.
Amazon.com
Writer Edward Ball opens Slaves in the Family with an anecdote: "My father had a little joke that made light of our legacy as a family that had once owned slaves. 'There are five things we don't talk about in the Ball family,' he would say. 'Religion, sex, death, money and the Negroes.'" Ball himself seemed happy enough to avoid these touchy issues until an invitation to a family reunion in South Carolina piqued his interest in his family's extensive plantation and slave-holding past. He realized that he had a very clear idea of who his white ancestors were--their names, who their children and children's children were, even portraits and photographs--but he had only a murky vision of the black people who supported their livelihood and were such an intimate part of their daily lives; he knew neither their names nor what happened to them and their descendents after they were freed following the Civil War. So he embarked on a journey to uncover the history of the Balls and the black families with whom their lives were inextricably intertwined, as well as the less tangible resonance of slavery in both sets of families. From plantation records, interviews with descendents of both the Balls and their slaves, and travels to Africa and the American South, Ball has constructed a story of the riches and squalor, violence and insurrection--the pride and shame--that make up the history and legacy of slavery in America.
Book Description
In 1698, Elias Ball traveled from his home in Devon, England, to Charleston, South Carolina, to take possession of his inheritance: part of a plantation and twenty slaves. Elias and his progeny built an American dynasty that lasted for six generations, acquiring more than twenty Plantations and enslaving close to four thousand Africans and African Americans until 1865, when Union troops arrived on the lawns of the Balls' estates to force emancipation.
Edward Ball, a descendant of Elias, has written a nonfiction American saga that is part history, part journey of discovery. Ball chronicles the lives of the people who lived in his ancestors' lands: the violence and the opulence, the slave uprisings and escapes, the white and black heroes of the American Revolution, the mulatto children of Ball masters and "Ball slaves," and the culminating shock of the Civil War. He reconstructs the genealogies of slave families—from the first African captives, through ten generations, to the present—and travels to Sierra Leone to visit a prison from which his family once bought workers.
Most remarkable of all, Ball has traveled all over the United States to meet descendants of Ball slaves (who number between 75,000 and 100,000 living Americans). In a series of memorable encounters, Ball hears from black families—some of whom are his blood kin—their stories, passions, and dreams, and reveals how the effects of slavery live on in black and white life and memory. Slaves In the Family is a microcosm of America's defining national experience, a story of people confronting their inescapable common history.
Customer Reviews:
History Made Real.......2007-05-19
Edward Ball made a courageous journey into his family's past when he researched and wrote this book about their slave owning history, and took the step of searching out and meeting descendants of their slaves. This paperback edition includes an insightful follow-up exchange between the author and one of his black relatives about the writing of the book, their relationship, and how their views of race relations have and have not changed since its writing. The book inspired me both to think deeply about my attitude towards race and to read more about southern history, using the prism of slave ownership and my own family's southern geneaology as a focus. Related recommendations: The Ruling Race: A History of American Slaveholders] and [ASIN:0465015557 My Confederate Kinfolk
Peninsula of Lies.......2007-04-28
Oh my gosh! I didn't realize that Dawn Langley Simmons had passed away. When I purchased her book about the life of Margaret Rutherford, "A Blithe Spirit", I wrote to Dawn, and was surprised to receive a reply from her or him. For several years she/he corresponded and now I realize that she/he may have mis-represented herself. She did send me several photos of Margaret Rutherford. Interesting story.
Interesting Read.......2007-02-27
I thought this was a good read. I especially appreciated the details of the types of Africans that the planters preferred and detested. I recommend this book. Yes, I do agree that the author's writing style was dry. However, I find most books that have a historical base, unless it is fiction, to be dry as cracker.
man enough to do it.......2006-09-11
Some reviewers below complain that this book is tedious. Well, sure. I bet the US Constitution and the Bible are tedious to someone who has no clue about, or doesn't care about, their context. To anyone with some understanding of US history, the project of writing this book marks a step forward in race relations, however big or small that step may turn out to be. If you care even a little about why this country is the way it is, this book crackles with a searing flame.
Ball writes about visiting a wary African American man in Chapter 6, and what that man says at the end of his interview speaks for me and my opinion of the book. "Someone has to break the ice. I gotta give you credit, you were man enough to do it."
People won't agree whether reconciliation or forgiveness apply in this situation, and I'm not sure either. But this is the author's best effort at telling the objective truth about black-white relations as it was lived by individuals over the centuries. "I decided I would make an effort, however inadequate and personal, to face the plantations, to reckon with them rather than ignore their realities or make excuses for them."
Chapter 9 describes the shocking child mortality figures on the plantations. And on a slave voyage from Africa to Charleston, over a third of the captive passengers died en route - just the cost of doing business to the owners. No wonder some try to deny this history; it's too painful. Yet, the book also provides some episodes of humanity and hope. Readers will emerge with a greater understanding of our history and human nature. Maybe they'll become more vigilant against trespasses on human life and dignity in our own day as well.
An enlightening journey of family history.......2004-09-04
Slaves in the Family chronicles the history of the ball family form 1698 to modern times. Ball explores his ancestor's ownership of slaves and the treatment of slaves. In his journey to learn more about his family, he discovers family members who are descendents of this ancestor's slaves. He also describes how this discovery affected him and how the lives of his family and the lives of the families of the slaves his ancestors owned are still affected by slavery and other racially motivated injustices. Slaves in the Family puts a human face to the history of racial relations in the United States in the way that a teacher in a classroom or a textbook never could.
Book Description
Oh, God!
She's in love with her preacher.
But it's not as if Amanda O'Leary set out to fall for the most gorgeous (and unattainable) man this side of South Carolina Low Country. It's just that he organized building a cozy home for her and her children at a time when the future looked darker than blackstrap molasses. Not even her own father, the arrogant and wealthy Big Max, would have done as much for her. But that's a whole other kettle of fish.
Caleb can count on fingers and toes why his attraction to widowed Amanda is plain wrong. How can he objectively counsel this chin-up spitfire without letting his emotions -- and imagination -- run wild? And now that Big Max has burdened him with not one secret, but two, he knows his priorities should be mending fences between father and daughter -- but he can't help trying to build a place for himself in her heart first . . .
Customer Reviews:
Waking Up In Charleston.......2007-09-09
I got hooked on Sherryl Woods with Flamingo Diner and since look for everything she writes this was the conclusion of an older trilogy her most recent was Magnolia series just all about real people real life, one a person can sink into and forget who they are or where they are, for awhile...............
Pales in comparison to its predecessors.......2006-07-12
In "Flirting With Disaster," we learned that Amanda Maxwell fell in love with mechanic Danny O'Leary and eloped with him, thereby losing the love and respect of her benevolent father, self-appointed town patriarch, Big Max. Danny tragically died and the mountain of debt he amassed to try to give Amanda a great lifestyle resulted in her and her children being penniless. The town rallied under the direction of pastor Caleb Webb to build her a new home. Caleb has always had a soft spot for Amanda, but the reasons for his past divorce keep him from becoming more than friends with her. Friends that kiss, that is.
"In Waking Up in Charleston," Big Max has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's and wants to make amends to Amanda and her brood, but too much time and bad blood has passed. His only link to the family is weekly visits from Caleb and he has forbidden the minister from telling Amanda of his condition since he does not want her to come to him out of pity. He has also been harboring additional secrets about Amanda's past, and wants to come clean before his disease has robbed him of his faculties. Both need to overcome some hefty pride to meet in the middle.
In addition, Caleb is providing guidance to two teens who are determining whether they should get married due to an unplanned pregnancy; Dinah and Cord from "The Back Up Plan" are welcoming their first child, and ever competitive Maggie wants to start her own family.
I was a bit disappointed with this last installment. It pales in comparison to its predecessors - particularly Dinah and Cord's story. There is just too much going on and as a result, this reader just wanted to yell uncle! It seemed a lot longer than 400 pages, and yet I still did not get a sense that the story was complete.
Not my favorite of the series.......2006-07-12
Waking Up In Charleston by Sherryl Woods is the final installment of her Charleston-set contemporary romance series. This is the story of a preacher and single/widowed mom. I loved The Backup Plan (1) and Flirting with Disaster (2) but I found this one slow.
terrific relationship drama .......2006-05-03
Known throughout the South Carolina Low Country as being benevolent, William "Big Max" cut off his beloved only child Amanda when she eloped with loser Danny O'Leary. Several years later, Danny is dead and Amanda raises three youngsters while trying to pay off her late husband's massive debt; she and Big Max remain estranged.
Preacher Caleb Webb arranged for a house to be built for Amanda and her children with supplies contributed from a friend's construction company, labor mostly volunteered by his congregation, and property secretly given by Max (see FLIRTING WITH DISASTER). Caleb loves Amanda while her children think of him as their father. However, he knows that he deceived her by hiding his close relationship with her dad and as she learns more of what he concealed, the angrier she gets. Caleb sacrifices his dreams to marry Amanda in order to reconcile the ailing Big Max, an Alzheimer's victim, and Amanda before it is too late for her children to know their grandfather.
This terrific relationship drama stars likable protagonists who allow pride bias their decisions before learning that is no replacement for the love of family. Amanda is a courageous individual struggling with her feelings for the Preacher who has made life better for her and her children; the kids love him as if he is their father. Max wants so badly to ask his daughter to forgive him, but is unable to swallow the devastation of her possibly rejecting him as he feels he deserves so he works in secret. Caleb is pulled in two directions as he wants to shout to everyone he loves Amanda though that is obvious to all, but also wants to reconcile father and daughter. Sherryl Woods provides a deep character driven tale.
Harriet Klausner
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