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Customer Reviews (1)

The Last Hurricane Pilots Speak!
Brian Milton's HURRICANE, THE LAST WITNESSES is an informative, touching collection of reminiscences from pilots - British and otherwise - who flew the Hawker Hurricane in combat during World War II. Given that 2010 is the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain, a sizeable portion of the book is devoted to BoB reminiscenes but other war theaters are covered as well.

Though it was superseded by the incomparable Spitfire, Sydney Camm's humpbacked fighter played a dominant role in early ETO air battles, accounted for the bulk of kills over Luftwaffe aircraft in the BoB and played substantial roles over the Med, in North Africa, the Far East, etc. Milton tracked down and interviewd 18 Hurri pilots. Ten flew in the Battle of France and/or the BoB. The remaining eight saw combat over Malta, the Western Desert, Dutch East Indies, etc. Readers will instantly recognize some of the pilots such as Billy Drake, Bob Doe, Peter Ayerst, Terence Kelly and Eric Brown. Others like Bill Swan, John Ellacombe, Tom Adams and Graham Skellum are little known, which makes their experiences even more valuable.

After a chapter introducing the 18 fliers, Milton briefly traces RAF history and development prior to WWII and then launches into the Battle of France, BoB, etc., interweaving individual pilot's accounts against the larger backdrop of war. Their sometimes lengthy reminiscences are brutally honest, sometimes caustic, sometimes humorous and inevitably self-effacing. No line-shooting here! Milton wisely lets the men have their full say, little editing being in evidence.

While reading HURRICANE, THE LAST WITNESSES is a treat, a touch of sadness permeates the book. Milton refers to each pilot as 'Last Witness so-and-so.' The reader begins to get a sense that these ARE the last of their breed. Once they 'go west' like their former compatriots Stanford Tuck, Frank Carey, Eric Lock, Douglas Bader, etc., the world will be a sadder place.

HURRICANE,THE LAST WITNESSES is, therefore, not only a lively, first-person account of WWII fighter combat but a tribute to those long-ago warriors who launched themselves and their trusty Hurricane mounts against the forces of evil. Recommended.

*****

NB. One curious gaffe in the book - the chapter on the only Fighter Command VC of the war, James B. Nicolson, is entitled 'Eric Nicholson, VC.' ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (1)

That day
The hurricane and flood occurred on August 29, 2005 NOT the 31st. Am anxious to read and review this book as I live in New Orleans and was here to experience this country's worst manmade disaster.And we are still living it. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

like a hurricane
Love Roxanne, this is the first book of the Mcgrath brothers, she knows how to hook you...

Great sensual read
Well, Roxanne St. Claire did it again.LIKE A HURRICANE was packed full of emotions, heat, sensuality and desire.Mac and Nicole come alive on the page thanks to St. Claire's wonderful descriptive and realistic writing.I actually read this second in the three-book McGrath series, but it flowed just as well.Can't wait for the third installment.

Like a Hurricane
This is the first book I've read by Roxanne St. Claire and I have ordered all of the rest based on this title.It's the first of a series on the McGrath boys and I can't begin to tell you how wonderful, sexy, funny.....it was.I highly recommend it.

The second book in the series is The Fire Still Burns and it's wonderful as well.Both books restore my faith in love and happy endings.

Couldn't put it down for a second!
This story was an awesome read.I've really enjoyed this author's past work and with Like a Hurricane she shows that she can write anything and do a fantastic job.

Sexy and fun
Like A Hurricane is a fun and sassy read. The Florida setting sparkles and the sexy attraction is as powerful as a hurricane. Can't wait for the brothers stories. ... Read more

Product Description
It is one of only two books listed by the Library of Congress that is entirely devoted to Hurricane Camille. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Avoid this book. Not worth the read.
Horrible book filled with numerous inaccuracies. Among the most noticeable was the part about the so-called "Hurricane Party". The party never happened and Mary Ann Gerlach was not the lone survivor, several people survived the destruction of the Richilieu apartments. Seriously get it right. The book also contained numerous meteorological errors. Sad that this book glosses over one of the most well known and destructive hurricanes to have ever hit the United States.

Yawn....A fabulous story ruined by a poor writer
As a native Mississippian, Hurricane Camille has always been rather mythic.Stories of those who lost their lives as well as those who survived the tragedy have been passed on to many.

As a result, I was excited to read this book.My excitement quickly turned to a big YAWN.The writing is so poor, it is laughable.I cannot believe this author won awards for reporting.Clearly, reporting is much different than writing a book.He offered us no emotional connection to the victims.They were not presented uniquely enough to differentiate and the experiences Hearn reported on were strangely similar between the 15 featured families/individuals.

Also irritating was Hearn's repeated mentions of the victims being saved by god, etc.Over and over was this mentioned.I felt that it was an underlying message that Hearn was trying to communicate, and I resented this.

Do not waste your time on this book.It's like being forced to read something for a school book report.

a tease
A book which is not bad as a quickie read on the basics of Camille, but it comes up quite short as an authoritative source on the storm. Many survivors stories, while compelling at times, begin to sound repetitive, and, strangely enough, leave the reader with a sense that not all has been told.
It is also quite apparent that the author is a born-again Christian, as he often elects to print survivor contentions that they were saved from the storm by their personal Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Not that this is bad per se, but is does add to the repetitiveness of the narrative, and after hearing it once it seems superfluous, as well as adding a hidden agenda to the text.
This is not a National Geographic-style book about Camille; it tends to stay on a base emotional level; hardly detached, never scientific, and certainly not the last word on the topic. A disappointment, in short.

My Family is Featured in This Book
The date of August 17, 1969 will forever haunt me.Only nine years old at the time, I stood in the driveway of my family's home in Ocean Springs, Mississippi as the rain began that evening.As people like to describe it, we "hunkered down" to ride it out:my brother, dad, my maternal grandmother, and me.Oh, and the cats, too.Just a few hours later we were fleeing for our lives.The cats were let out to locate higher ground.They would surely die if locked in the house behind us.

Our story is featured in this book, drawn from the interview that my father (John A. Switzer) did with the Oral History Project of the University of Southern Mississippi.Reading the book gave me chills and I realized that childhood trauma really never leaves a person.

Hearn's book is far from perfect.Some might argue that it's not really "well" written.But I recommend it nonetheless, because it does a great service in recounting and preserving in an easily-accessible way, the stories of average people who almost didn't live through the night and early morning of August 17-18, 1969.

There are some unfortunate inaccuracies that I hope will be corrected if this is reprinted.And the style seems rushed.Perhaps Mr. Hearn was in a hurry to get to press.But, overall, it's a chance for the reader to be inserted into the life-and-death struggle of several people and families.For that, Mr. Hearn has my great appreciation.This book is available in softcover, as was the copy I purchased at a local bookstore.

A Minor Account of a Major Catastrophe
Camille was one of three category five hurricanes to strike the United States of America during the 20th Century.

With sustained winds of 200 miles per hour, the second-lowest barometric reading recorded on the face of the earth, and a record storm surge of 24 feet, it came ashore on the Mississippi gulf coast on the night of 17 August 1969.By dawn 131 people were known dead and another 41 were missing, never to be recovered.Communities on the eastern side of the Mississippi gulf coast sustained significant damage; communities on the central and western Mississippi gulf coast were devastated.The remnants of the storm then flashed north, bringing torrential rains that touched off flash floods that claimed another hundred lives in Virginia and West Virginia.

I, all of eight years old at the time, was on the edge of the storm.My family resided in Pascagoula, a Mississippi coastal community near the Alabama border.We evacuated, and although Pascagoula sustained significant damage it was mild in comparison to what we saw when we--like many others--raced to take food, water, and clothing to friends who resided further west.The images are burned into my brain.

For many years I wondered why a historian did not turn attention to the horrors of Hurricane Camille.In 2004 I was pleased to find that one had: Philip D. Hearn, working from documentation at the University of Southern Mississippi, published HURRICANE CAMILLE: MONSTER STORM OF THE GULF COAST.The book debuted with considerable fanfare on the Mississippi gulf coast--but, unlike its subject, just as quickly made a noise like a hoop and rolled away.Consequently I did not come to the book until two years after its publication.Upon reading the book I understood why it failed to satisfy.

Unlike some other reviewers, I do not feel that Hearn is a bad writer per se; it is very clear, however, that he lacks the gift for sustained narrative, and his academic tone undercuts most of the human drama involved.His scope is also remarkably small: excluding preface and end notes, CAMILLE runs to slightly less than two hundred pages in slightly larger-than-usual typeface, and of its seven chapters at least two focus more upon the general history of hurricane strikes and the process of their formation than upon Hurricane Camille itself.

The end result rather like a credible if uninspired master's thesis.It is, at best, a minor account of a major catastrophe--and I found myself repeatedly frustrated with what I considered Hearn's failure to follow up interesting events and details in favor of information that seemed more properly suited to end notes.Still, now and then the personal accounts from which Hearn worked breaks through in a real and very powerful way; Hearn also does, I think, a very effective job in dispelling the myth of the "hurricane party" that was said to have been held at the ill-fated Richelieu Apartments.For these reasons I cannot bring myself to dismiss the book out of hand.

Some thirty years ago Biloxi, Mississippi and coastal cities further west were flattened by Camille.Today, with the advent of casino gaming and the ensuing construction boom, a tourist would be hard pressed to notice anything unusual about the area.But I, who now live in this city, can take you to the beach and point out the island that was split into two sections by the storm; I can take you to the marker, now overgrown with weeds, that notes the point at which the waves of "killer" Camille finally stopped.On the night of 17 August 1969 a monster came out of the sea; those who felt its power, no matter how slightly, cannot forget it; and we still await an account that will do justice to the event.

GFT, Amazon Reviewer ... Read more

Product Description
Called "one of the rawest specimens of classic Nawlins spitfire you'll ever find" by Newsweek, and featured in Spike Lee's HBO documentary When the Levees Broke, Phyllis Montana-Leblanc gives an astounding and poignant account of how she and her husband lived through one of our nation's worst disasters, and continue to put their lives back together.

New Orleans Hurricane Katrina survivor Phyllis Leblanc reveals moment by moment the impending doom she and her family experienced during one of the greatest disasters in contemporary American history. The initial weather forecast, the public warnings from officials, and then the increasingly devastating developments -- the winds and rain, the rising waters -- Not Just the Levees Broke begs the question, What would you do in a life-and-death situation with your family and neighbors facing the ultimate test of character?

Not Just the Levees Broke is a portrayal of the human spirit at its best -- the generosity of family, neighbors, and strangers; the depth of love that one can hold for another; the power to help and heal others. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (13)

Whiny
I had a hard time reading this book. I hate to not finish a book that I've started, so I kept on with it. It was awful that the hurricane happened, it was awful that some people died. And, maybe part of the blame does go to the Army Corps of Engineers. Mostly, it was up to you to help yourself.
But, what I didn't understand is this: just, what, exactly, did you want, Phyllis? You didn't leave when it was first suggested, and when you did, you complained about everything. What kind of help did you expect? It seems as though whatever anyone did was criticized by you. People helped to feed you and thousands of others, and you complained about the food; that it was cheap. It was more than what you had, wasn't it? Could you have done better, if it was up to you to feed so many people? Even though you complained, you never gave any kind of useful alternative. Could you have predicted the path of the hurricane better? Could you have housed and fed people any better?
I also got tired of you bringing race into everything. You're the one who mentioned it all the time.
At one point, early in the book, Phyllis said that she could hear a lady calling for help. Phyllis's mother suggested that Phyllis go and help the woman who was crying. But, Phyllis didn't. Would you have wanted someone to help, if it had been your mother? Probably. Why didn't you help her?
Maybe you're really not someone who wants everything handed to her on a silver platter, but that's how you sounded in the book. I got tired of hearing you complain about so many things. And then, near the end of the book, you were given medication to help you deal with depression and PTSD, but you didn't take your meds. Nor did you talk about your problems and feelings. What did you expect?
I haven't been through anything like Hurricane Katrina. I can only imagine the stress. But, you weren't the only person involved, or the only one stressed out. You wrote that we're all here to be positive and help each other. From you book, you sound like a very negative person, and very whiny. Your husband must be a saint, to put up with you.

Stop whining!
At first the story was compelling and intriguing although not very well written or edited. The author and her family did endure a lot throughout the storm and Ive been sympathetic towards the victims of Hurricane Katrina since it happened. But I lost a lot of respect for the author after about fifty pages into the book when she was redundantly whining about trivial hardships and the help she did not receive. I understand that this is America and agree that the city, state and federal governments should have responded quicker and better than they did. But in the end, the author and victims like her did receive a lot of help in comparison to those in third world countries who suffer tragedies of nataral disaster or war and dont have a stable government or racisim to blame it on. Im a Soldier who has been to Iraq twice and while I had alot of compassion and sympathy for victims of Katrina because they did not choose to endure its terror, I lost some of that after comparing my experiences in Iraq to that of the authors. The author complains countless times about the type of food they were given and how many days they went without bathing or cell phone service and power. If youve been to Iraq you know that we go 3 times longer without these things and the people who live there go 10 times longer without them. Going without a bath is not traumatic, going without steak and merlot is not traumatic. Seeing dead bodies is, losing everything you own is, and for those who have endured these traumas I hold compassion for no matter what country you live in. Bottom line, if you are looking for a story of what it was like during the storm read the first 45 pages or so and then put it down or find another book.

A bit rambling

To be honest, this book was somewhat problematic.

First, let's provide the positive. The book provides a visceral personal account about dealing with Katrina from the ground. Spike Lee felt she kept it real, so to speak, and the reader can tell why. Her belief in God and forgiveness along with caring for her husband/family while being self-effacing about how "crazy" she sometimes got also provided a sense of modesty.

But, the reader after awhile did get a bit sick of her. One problem is that the book reaches its destination, in effect, once she reaches sanctuary and then talks about life at a hotel and FEMA trailer. This is good aftermath stuff.

Still, then she in effect rambles for more than thirty pages, repeating herself and tossing out random cliches in the process.You can respect her voice w/o finding this too useful. The poetry at the end is a good touch. The book seems padded all the same. A shorter book would have worked better.

Also, and I know it sounds harsh, but she does after awhile sound like she is whining. This is so even though she basically has every right to be out of sorts. On one hand, her "craziness" (and she readily admits that) is a realistic account of someone dealing with insanity.

On the other, after pages and pages of it, it gets too much. A person crying in pain is sympathetic, but this doesn't make it good reading after fifty or so pages. And, as one person noted, comments like saying she wants a steak and Merlot over the spaghetti dinner provided (with salad etc. ... sounds like my typical Sunday meal as a kid) does not help her case. She admits this herself at times -- she in effect says she acted irrational at times. Again, after awhile, this is not great reading.

I basically wanted someone with a bit more perspective at times ... it sounded like if her husband or perhaps even her sister narrated, things might have been better.

Get a Grip!
I had a difficult time with this book. While I have a great deal of empathy and sympathy for victims of Hurricane Katrina, and while I know beyond a doubt that the local, state, federal government failed miserably, still, I simply cannot relate to the never-ending whining. And, that is what this book felt like to me...whining.

The author was featured in Spike Lee's documentary When the Levees Broke. Her story is told in a down to earth, rugged, raw, painful way. I have no doubt that it was incredibly frightening to witness the disaster. Still, I could have done without the use of the "F" word heavily overused in almost every other page of the book. The valid points were degraded.

I have no use for street gutter talk in the written medium.The story should be told of the helplessness, the abandonment, but I became disengaged when I read the Jive, slang.Please keep the street jive on the street and off the page!

I'm sorry she went through what she did. Hurricane Katrina was a terrible, terrible occurrence and those stranded needed, had a right to and should have received help.

She was one of those who could have fled. She and her family had transportation. They chose to stay. That isn't the governments fault. That was her choice.

credit given for what she went through...no stars for the writing, the crude language and the whining.

A must for Every American to read
Wow...

I have Spike's Video & had to hear more of what Phyllis has to say about this heart breaking human event.

Every American should read this book with an open heart & open mind & search within for the level of forgivness Phyllis has shown in her words & actions.
... Read more

Product Description
How the Miami Hurricanes rose from a laughingstock to a college football legend-and reshaped American sports.

When fans think of college football, they think of Miami-the cool school with street cred that all the kids dream of playing for. A powerhouse unlike any other, they are a dynasty fueled not by individuals but by the aura of "The Miami Vice"-a swaggering, trash-talking, us-against-the-world mentality. But less than 25 years ago, the program faced extinction. Now, five national championships-and five different coaches-later, Miami is the preeminent football factory, boasting such high-profile NFL alumni as Michael Irvin, Ray Lewis, Warren Sapp, Jim Kelly, Vinny Testaverde, Clinton Portis, and Jeremy Shockey.

Nothing is typical about the 'Canes. Not the brutal, "voluntary" 6 a.m. workouts in July. Or the merciless drilling of teammates who show fear. Not the constant pressure from their Godfathers, the ex-Canes who want them to uphold the legacy-and will make them pay if they don't. And certainly not the reputation that has made the Hurricanes synonymous with excellence-even among superstar athletes. Now, an award-winning sportswriter gives us a rare, behind-the-scenes look at the Miami program-after more than ten years of special access as a former UM student and beat writer. This is the amazing story of how Miami has won more national championships over the last two decades than Notre Dame, Oklahoma, and Florida State combined-and gone from near-death to dynasty. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (25)

Awesome Book
Awesome recap on Canes amazing rise to dominance during the 80's.As a graduate of UM during the same time period - it was great to re-live some very exciting games!

Why so expensive?
for a book with an average of three stars, why are the buying options so expensive?

Great read for any college football fan
I should preface this by saying that I am a recent alumni of "The U" so this was a book of which I was extremely interested in.That being said, this is a very well written book and a quick read that you don't want to put down.It's written in a very easy-to-read style and flows well. It is very well researched and I learned quite a bit about a football program that I thought I knew a lot about already.

If you care about the history of college football and want to learn about one of the most historic and important football programs in the country, definitely check this book out. You won't regret it.

The New Century
Where this book shines is in detailing the run up to the fifth national title in 2001. Everything else has been written before. Feldman does a good job overall. But it's just a starting point for his next book, the excellent "Meat Market."

Good book on A Powerhouse,The BEST! UM.
Excellent stories,True stories, Beatdowns of the Seminoles(FSU! blah!). And how The 'Canes Are Born Winners, A POWERHOUSE. Sapp,Johnson, So much.
Book Is a Must for UM FANS! ... Read more

Product Description
DESCRIPTION:On Sept. 2, 2005, New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin issued a "desperate S.O.S." His city, one of America’s most historic and gracious urban centers, had been devastated by Hurricane Katrina. Now 80% of it lay underwater, while some citizens huddled on rooftops waiting for rescue, and others turned the flooded streets into canals of anarchy. In the first decade of the 21st century, despair, disease and death had transformed a great American city into a scene of third-world privation, even as heroic rescue workers battled to save lives, restore order and aid the suffering.

Now Time chronicles the story of the greatest natural disaster in U.S. history in Hurricane Katrina, An American Tragedy. Here, in stunning pictures and gripping first-hand accounts, is the terrible tale of Katrina’s deadly wrath and savage aftermath. Here is America’s Gulf Coast — from New Orleans to Biloxi and Gulfport, Mississippi — in ruins. Here are the struggling survivors and their valiant rescuers, the looters and the police who fought to control them, the homeless refugees who poured across the southeast and the resourceful agencies that took them in.

It is an epic tale, told as only Time can tell it. Award-winning pictures reveal the scope of the disaster. Oral histories offer unforgettable accounts of nature’s power and man’s resourcefulness. Illuminating graphics show how hurricanes form — and why New Orleans flooded. Powerful reporting puts readers on the scene, while insightful analysis explores the questions left in Katrina’s wake: could the tragedy have been prevented, and why was aid so late to arrive?

Moving and informative, sweeping in scope and ringing with the voices ofthose who were there, Hurricane Katrina, An American Tragedy is the definitive account of a disaster that will haunt Americans for decades to come. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

Media bias as usual
I was offended by the accusation in this book that poor black people were relegated to living in lower land in New Orleans and surrounding parishes.As usual the media wants to push their liberal, racial agenda on the south.Check the actual statistics on this hurricanes.More whites lost their lives than black and many, many wealthy areas (for blacks and whites)were devastated.Not just lower income people.We sick of having to correct people on this point.
Dianne Cochran

Outstanding!
The book was a gift for my dad. He loved it! Very compelling stories and photography.

Past date to raise money, but still an important read
The photos and accounts delivered in this Time representation of Hurricane Katrina are invaluable.Bodies floating by houses, people trapped in their attics, the anger and frustration at the Superdome, the hope and good faith of the people searching for survivors.All of this is captured by great photojournalists and poignant captions.While some reviewers feel this book focuses on only two cities' ordeals with hurricane aftermath, I think the book captures what was happening in the worst cases.Having been published about a month after the occurance, you can leave the job of chronicling the entire event to a sociologist or someone more apt to turn a profit rather than raise money for the Red Cross.This book was published so quickly that I found many typos, ("Sept. 29th" instead of "Aug. 29th" was printed way too many times, and "kids" instead of "kinds", things that spell check wouldn't catch, but an editor should have).With that in mind, I think the goal was raising money and portraying what this country let happen to it's poor and elderly.Citizens don't build levees, governments do, and this government failed.

Biased reporting
This book, like most written and portraying Hurricane Katrina, leads the reader to the conclusion that New Orleans is the only area devastated thereby. For anyone's information, New Orleans was on the West, or weak, side of Katrina. New Orleans was flooded because: 1) elevation there is about 7 feet BELOW sea level and 2)their levy system has NEVER been built to withstand cat 3 or greater storms. EVERY drop of rain that falls in New Orleans has to be pumped out, one way or the other. If the citizens of New Orleans had put more money into improving their levy system instead of the SuperDome, they might very well be living in dry and undamaged homes today instead of morning their dead and trying to put their city back together. New Orleans will be rebuilt someday and I hope and pray that they have learned and benefited from this disaster and won't make the same mistakes again. If you want to read and look at a balanced book coverning Hurricane Katrina, this isn't it.

Time: Hurricane Katrina: The Storm That Changed America
Having lived through the Hurricane Katrina (I worked through it at one of only 3 surviving hospitals in metro New Orleans), the pictures are so profound.It comes as close to representing whatI experienced as can be represented by pictures.I highly recommend.This is one of two books that I've found that paint an accurate picture. ... Read more

Product Description
The Sunshine State has an exceptionally stormy past. Vulnerable to storms that arise in the Atlantic, Caribbean, and Gulf of Mexico, Florida has been hit by far more hurricanes than any other state. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

FINEST WORK OF ITS KIND
If you are interested in the hurricane history of any special state or region, this is probably the finest work of its kind written to date.Following a superb introduction to our subject, the author describes every significant or noteworthy storm to hit Florida since the 1700's.Each entry includes a map showing the storm's track through the state.We learn of the unique impact each had on the sunshine state.Some hurricanes, of course, like Agnes, had major impacts outside of Florida, and Barnes writes of these as well.Looking through these pages also shows us the cyclical nature of storms.In some years disaster hit several times, while other periods (like the 70's), saw little activity of any kind.

I found this edition to be much better than the author's NC one, if for no other reason than Florida's more active history!While some hurricanes listed in the other book may be of interest mostly to locals, the ones here, like the Labor Day and Miami storm, are truly important historically.I would hope Barnes is writing on the hurricane history of other states as well.

A Fascinating Read
My earliest memory was Hurricane Donna, and I have been intrigued by hurricanes ever since. This book offers a considerable amount of historical data along with fascinating accounts. Highly recommended to anybody who would like to learn more about the history of hurricanes in Florida.

Excellent Resource On Florida Hurricanes
What a great book. We've enjoyed the stories of the memorable storms like Donna, Andrew, and Opal and the effect theyve had on generations of Florida residents. The 1926 Miami and 1928 Okeechobee are well covered. Also very interesting reading on those storms we've never heard of. The photographs are stunning-and frightening. Its organized well, and the reading is not too technical. It stays on our coffee table.

Finally, a comprehensive collection of Florida storms.
Great photos, and all the detail you could ever want on Florida hurricanes. The survival stories are frightening! All the weather data is there. It's a great resource for us hurricane junkies! ... Read more

Product Description

THE FINAL BLOW

They were the forgotten members of the Lost Generation, traumatized veterans of the Great War who grasped for one last chance at redemption under Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal. Six hundred of them were shuffled off to the Florida Keys to build a highway to Key West. On Labor Day weekend 1935, the most intense hurricane ever to strike the U.S. took aim on their flimsy shacks, and the two men responsible for evacuating the veterans from harm’s way waited too long.

After the storm, Ernest Hemingway took his boat from his home in Key West to aid the veterans in the Upper Keys but he found few survivors on the wreckage. His public cries of outrage bound him forever to the storm.quotes

“Brilliantly and compellingly captures the events surrounding the 1935 storm, showing how human factors compounded the awful force of sky and sea.”—from the Foreword by John Rennie, Editor in Chief, Scientific American

“Hemingway’s Hurricane describes a scenario tragically similar to the one surrounding Hurricane Katrina . . . little preparedness and no timely rescue for victims.”—The Sacramento Bee

“Phil Scott does a favor with this book, reminding [us] that deadly storms aren’t a new event.”—Chicago Tribune

“A timely topic and a compelling read.”—The Indianapolis Star ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

"Colonel Sheeran," Cutler said, "if you were in temporary charge down here, would you order that train?"
After finishing "Sudden Sea: The Great Hurricane of 1938," I started this book on a hurricane that occurred three years earlier. Whereas "Sudden Sea" went all over the place with the fates of different families and towns, Phil Scott's study was more focused and offered build-up and suspense. The research was very thorough and included depositions of many survivors. He also does not take a completely impartial stance in this book. Villains are painted before the hurricane struck (know-it-all FERA camp chief Ray Sheldon, FERA director Fred Ghent, etc.) and after (the National Guard who were sometimes abusive in their power and would not allow vets into the devastated area to identify bodies that were to be cremated). Sympathetic figures are found, too, like the concerned Sam Cutler who was put in charge with little authority when Sheldon decided it was a good time to go on a honeymoon vacation when there was the chance of a hurricane affecting his camp in the forecast and, of course, the survivors trying to help each other and, later, people like Representative Edith Nourse Rogers who tried to get justice for the veterans in a 1936 House committee.

The study begins with World War I vets marching on Washington in the midst of the Depression to demand the early payment of a promised bonus for their service. In 1934, the Federal Emergency Relief Administration (FERA) gave FDR a way for the veterans to keep their dignity through work and earn money for their families while building a highway and bridge to Florida's economically-floundering Key West. The area was no stranger to hurricanes. Major storms hit during the construction of the Overseas Railroad to Key West that was finished in 1912. As the massive hurricane threatened the FERA camps on the Matecumbe Keys during the Labor Day weekend of 1935, the veterans assumed the government had a plan to get them out in time.

The most suspenseful part of the book was the slow decision to order a relief train to remove the veterans from the camps. Sheldon did not believe the storm would hit the area and did not listen to the advice of locals who understood the unpredictability of hurricanes. A miscommunication regarding the readiness of the relief train also caused a delay. Ordered too late, veterans could not get out in time and were forced to fight for their lives against the second Category 5 hurricane to hit the United States and the most intense on record until the hurricane season of 2005. What survivors and relief workers saw after the storm is described in sometimes graphic detail.

As other reviewers have noted, there is not a lot about Ernest Hemingway as would be expected from the title. He knew some of the victims of the storm because he often swapped stories with fellow veterans at Sloppy Joe's saloon in Key West where he lived at the time. He observed the aftermath of the storm while navigating the area on his boat Pilar. He was so angry at how the vets were treated, he wrote the essay "Who Murdered the Vets" along with the novel To Have and Have Not which contrasted the experience of the veteran laborers at the FERA camps with that of the passengers on the luxury liner Dixie that was grounded during the storm. Scott states that the essay, published in the American Communist Party paper New Masses, played a significant role in Hemingway's demise decades later as the government watched him as a possible Communist spy leading to Hemingway's paranoia and eventual suicide. Was his role large enough to name the book "Hemingway's Hurricane"? That could be debated but it is a clever title and a well-written account of a tremendous storm. It includes a section of photographs (three of corpses).

Most intense storm in US history...............
The hurricane that hit the Florida Keys in 1935 is still listed as the most intense hurricane to make landfall in the US.It is estimated to have had 200 mph winds and although it's eye was not large, the power of this storm surpassed anything imagined.
The victims numbered 423 known dead, 259 of them were veterans of World War I.These men had been "employed" to build a highway connecting the Keys all the way through to Key West. It was a "make work" program seemingly designed to remove the veterans from the spotlight in Washington D.C., like a splinter in the FDR political eye.The veterans had been marching on Washington and camping there demanding pay bonuses that had been promised to them.Many were in desperate situations with the Depression in full form. Sending them far away to the Keys to work and make money must have seemed like the answer to everyone's desires. Tragedy was to unfold.
In September of 1935, as the veterans labored on, the Weather Bureau was tracking atropical storm that would become the most intense hurricane inUS history. Due to a lack ofcoverage in many areas, the path of the storm had to be projected, leaving room for error. Even so, warnings were put out to the Keys and while locals begin to make preparations, the veterans had no prior experience with hurricanes. They depended on their camp director and other in chargeto make theevacuation decisions, which was to include sending a train to remove them from the path of danger.Decisions were either made to late or not made at all and the train would not arrive in time.The train itself,wouldbe washed off the tracks and nearly washed out to sea. 259 veterans would loose their lives.
While there are amazing parallels between this storm of 1935 and Katrina, there are also striking differences.The forecasters urgently warned about Katrina,a more direct and well broadcast warning than in 1935.In both storms people waited to be evacuated by others for a variety of reasons.While the reasons are varied, the reality is that government is not all powerful nor is it capable of dealing with huge scale evacuations.When individuals give up theirpersonal responsibility, the results will be haphazard and even deadly as is proven true in both these hurricanes. When those directly in charge fail to take reasonable steps to protect the very lives they are charged with protecting, the result will be disastrous.In this case the camp director in 1935 and the Mayor of New Orleans seem to have a lot in common.
This is a vivid account of the 1935 hurricane.The stories of the victims andsurvivors as their island is virtually swept clean, inundated by the storm surge is intense andelectrifying.These are stories that have a depth of emotion that was not expected from men who had become inured to hardship and death in WWI. The attempted downplaying of the disaster for political reasons is stunning.While the role of Ernest Hemingway seems nearly minute, he did draw attention to the plight of the veterans.
Phil Scott has written a clear and vivid account of a disaster in the making and the lives that were battered and destroyed.The politics and the human faces of the intrepid veterans combine to form a story well worth the reading.

Uses eyewitness accounts to detail these days of calamity and reconstruct the events in each camp as the hurricane made landfall
The great Florida hurricane of 1935 came as no surprise - in Key West Ernest Hemingway had enough warning to secure his boat and house against the storm - yet superintendents in three nearby government work camps did almost nothing to evacuate the men in their charge. Phil Scott details these days of calamity when the Keys were hit by one of the most powerful hurricane to hit the U.S: Hemingway's Hurricane: The Great Florida Keys Storm Of 1935 uses eyewitness accounts to detail these days of calamity and reconstruct the events in each camp as the hurricane made landfall. The probe of the underlying problems involved in evacuation procedures holds plenty of drama and meaning for today's residents.

History, Politics & Victims=A Great Read!
I found this book to be a wonderful blend; part history lesson, part Political overview and to a large part, tragedy.

Phil Scott concisely provides the necessary background for a complex period in American history, and deftly sets the stage for the main event.

The "Back story" he tells of the forming of the Veterans Bonus Army, the March on Washington DC, and their dispatched to the Florida Keys as much to get them out of the way as to build a Highway across the Keys, is a story in itself. Once we understand the circumstances of their situation, it almost seems inevitable that they will be abandoned in their time of need.

The author does a marvelous job of introducing us to a variety of characters, from many of the imperiled vets, to the seemingly clueless men responsible for their safety, and the locals, like Ernest Hemingway who were forever changed by this tragedy.

While there certainly are parallels with the mistakes made during Hurricane Katrina, I believe this story is compelling, and stands well on its own merit. And while the Gulf Coast in 2005 had advanced knowledge of the terribly destructive force bearing down on it, the hundreds of veterans in their "temporary" housing on the Keys had very little warning of the Category 5 hurricane that would send hundreds of them to their deaths.

I heartily recommend this book to readers with an interest in the History of this period, Hurricane's as a force in nature, or anyone simply looking for a gripping,highly readable and true story of how quickly things can go wrong.

Good story, ironic twist
Phil Scott's book, "Hemingway's Hurricane" is a quick and good read about the century's most powerful hurricane....the category 5 storm that smashed into the Florida Keys over Labor Day weekend in 1935. Finished before Hurricane Katrina hit Louisiana, Scott's book takes on a narrative with some unintended consequences and supreme ironies.

Set as a timeline, the author briefs the reader well with his background of the Bonus Army of World War I veterans, their 1932 march on Washington D.C. and the veterans' subsequent detour to the Florida Keys, courtesy of Franklin D. Roosevelt, to give them low-paying jobs. "Hemingway's Hurricane" centers around these hundreds of veterans, their work in the Keys (much of it building roads) and the misfortune they had at being directly in the path of the hurricane. Scott relates all of this in a nicely paced way. Yet two things stand out in his book....there's very little to do with Ernest Hemingway....he makes not much more than a minor appearance at the beginning and at the end, so the title of the book is confusing. The author also provides too many cameo appearances by others who were part of the storm and the recovery. Fewer characters with more time spent with them would have increased my enjoyment of Scott's work.

Yet it is the comparison to Katrina, not mentioned in "Hemingway's Hurricane" that makes for the unintended attraction. The 1935 storm had its own version of FEMA (FERA) and a major player, Fred Ghent, the director of the veteran's camps, who was the Michael Brown of his day. His decision not to get a relief train down in time to evacuate the veterans was one of the worst miscalculations of the storm. It's almost as if we can hear FDR saying, "Ghentie, you're doin' a heckuva job!" Perhaps the oddest and saddest comparison is that Katrina, hitting Louisiana almost seventy years to the day after the Keys hurricane, underscores that government hasn't come all that far in preparedness, rescue and recovery.

"Hemingway's Hurricane" is a good book but not a great one. However, Scott's attention to detail make it worth the read and the story is one that has needed to be told.

... Read more

Product Description
History is filled with stories of adventure. This account, however, also includes the unmistakable presence of the hand of God. Angel Flight 44: The True Story of Two Dedicated Pilots, a 60-Year-Old Airplane, and the Amazing Hurricane Katrina Mission That Birthed a New Aviation Ministry is a book born out of supernatural flight missions that saved countless lives by the grace of God. Not to be confused with the pre-existing Angel Flight medical air transportation organizations, the new Angel Flight 44 ministry revealed in these pages has its own unique mission, and a most miraculous beginning. The miraculous adventure of humanitarian relief that pilot Glen Hyde and copilot Denny Ghiringhelli experienced is a remarkable tale of mercy in the face of catastrophe, and the love of God expressed through His supernatural intervention. Two world-renowned ministries partnered with a veteran aviator and his Douglas Super DC-3, an American Airlines 767 captain, numerous companies, and a storm-wearied pastor in Slidell, Louisiana, to obey a call from God to help hurting people. However, this relief mission not only saved many hurricane victims, it forever changed the lives of the people who conducted it. The numerous testimonies of this adventure have already profoundly impacted the thousands who have heard them. Now that they are collected within this book, these stories should similarly impact you. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

God Is POWERFUL!!!
A Must Read Book!A True Story about Hurricane Katrina, and How God is in Control!

In His Service,

Rev. Fr. Thomas J. Siltz
Old Catholic Priest

Folks who help in spite of the problems encountered!
OK, it's a little bit preaching, but beyond that it's an excellent story about a group of folks and two pilots who really make a difference in the lives of the folks who survived Katrina.

Marvelous! Simply, marvelous!
There are only a handful of books that I have read more than once, and only one or two that I have read twice or more. Angel Flight 44 is the first book ever that I have read perhaps a dozen times...and I cannot help but think I will pick it up and read it again yet more.

Angel Flight 44 simply moves me. Whenever my eyes find themselves dancing once again upon its pages, I discover fresh nuances that somehow I had missed before. Certain portions moved me to tears the first few times I read them; yet these are not tears of sadness, but of an overwhelming sense of God's goodness and love for mankind. Even the most recent perusals of this magnificent text have caused my eyes to water a bit when I have reviewed these same moments within the story. That said, few books have ever moved this former military man in such a way. For Angel Flight 44 do so is quite a testimony to its uniqueness among books.

I have discussed Angel Flight 44 with other readers, and have found that regardless of gender, race, economic status, or even religious preferences, people are similarly moved. One gentleman was even moved to the point of pursuing flight training so that he could participate in such courageous relief missions himself, should the need once again arise.

Another businessman, whose shadow rarely darkened the door of a church, called his Christian son and began regular attendance at his congregation. His reason? He discovered within the pages of Angel Flight 44 that the miraculous was real, and that Christianity was indeed intended to empower real men of courage and faith.

One Christian woman found similar motivation and commented, "I want to live a life by the power of the Holy Spirit too!" The wife of a certain pastor commented, "This is going to change the way the Church does things forever." My own wife, for that matter, has seemed to be in competition with me to see who can read it the most. We have even purchased copies and given them away to others that they may also be blessed by its pages.

I could expound upon the elements of the story itself, but to do so would spoil the surprise. So I will refrain. Let me note, however, that I am impressed with the design of the flow of the book. Rich Vermillion chose to fashion its order into multiple sections, each apparently designed to simulate some form of other media in its textual flow. For example, the main story reads like a movie. Then it has a "Special Feature" chapter that describes the history of the airplane, which reads like a small documentary. Then the "Extra Scenes" sections adds short stories that seem like movie scenes perhaps cut out by the director. The author comments that these were stories worthy of inclusion, but which either followed the time frame of the main story or were difficult to work into the text, and so were set apart within their own section.

Following these are two "Behind the Scenes" sections about the two international ministries which were involved in the Hurricane Katrina relief effort. Then a "Spiritual Commentary" section wherein a minister involved answers many of the theological questions which arose in Christian circles regarding this storm. Finally, the book ends with a "Future of Angel Flight 44" chapter written by Glen Hyde, and a "Most Important Decision" chapter written by Rich Vermillion. The author credits his inspiration to this unique book organization to his desire to inspire young readers to delve into its pages by simulating media they are more familiar with. Regardless of his motivation, however...it just works.

If you would prefer an abridged edition at a bargain price, I recommend the recently released Angel Flight 44: A True Story, which I have also read. It contains all the same elements of this original edition EXCEPT the "Behind the Scenes", "Spiritual Commentary", and "Future of Angel Flight 44" sections. The "Most Important Decision" chapter is actually expanded quite a bit and, in my opinion, much better than the original version. The main story, "Special feature", and "Extra Scenes" sections are perfectly intact in this abridged edition. The abridged edition is simply streamlined down to the most powerful elements of the original book, and is a much quicker book to read as a result.

Overall, I cannot express enough how impacting this book is to whomever reads it. The miracles, the courage, the testimonies - these cannot be described adequately in an online book review. Simply put: To get grasp how powerful and unique this book is, you will simply have to read it for yourself. ... Read more

Product Description
The 1987 NCAA championship football game between the Penn State Nittany Lions and the University of Miami Hurricanes is often considered the most memorable championship game in all of college football history. Both teams were undefeated going into the game, but the Hurricanes were heavily favored, as they had demolished each of their opponents during the regular season. Penn State pulled off one of the most surprising upsets on January 2, 1987, by handing the University of Miami team its only loss of the season. In The Perfect Season, with help from the Penn State players involved, Missanelli retells the story not just of this championship game but also of Penn State's entire season. Beginning with its Orange Bowl loss in 1985 (Penn State's only loss that year), Missanelli recounts the glorious 1986 season through the eyes of those Penn State athletes. The book also focuses on the media’s buildup of the national championship, explaining why the University of Miami team was considered the villain in this battle. Numerous anecdotes stories are included, such as the incident where the University of Miami team arrived at the Fiesta Bowl wearing combat fatigues in an attempt to wage psychological war on its opponents. But such tactics appeared to have little effect the Penn State Nittany Lions, whose tenacity resulted in victory in the final minutes of the game. Drawing on interviews as well as his own recollections, the author relates the vivid story of one of the most triumphant seasons in the history of Penn State football. Anyone interested in college football, the Nittany Lions, or Joe Paterno's legacy will find this book impossible to put down. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

PERFECT
The Perfect Season.The book proves that the "good guys" can win.Joe Paterno is the perfect man for coaching young people. This season tells how you can"do it right" and still win.A great college football read!

Man, what a book!!!!
Man what a book!!!!Fortunately for me, I was a student at PSU when this game was played.Some of the players were in my classes and some of them I knew on a first name basis.

This book took me back to a time when life was simpler and simple satisfactions, like football, at the time meant little, but over time they mean a lot more.

The author takes you into the game.Not just what you saw on TV and how the announcers made it look, but really takes you into the pre-game, how the Fiesta Bowl people did what they did to get this game played on Jan 2.

He takes you on the field with each of the players 20 years later as they relive the greatest college game that they ever played.Even the insights from the Miami players makes this book totally complete.

I couldn't put it down and am glad I bought it.I gave it to my Brother and he read it in about 4 days.

Great book, great story

Perfectly written: The Perfect Season
Mike Misannelli did a fantastic job on this well researched, well written time capsule. It helped me recall my fondest memories of a magical season.
I strongly recommend reading the book, then watching the D.V.D. of the game. ... Read more

Product Description

Product Description
A comprehensive chronological guide to hurricanes, tropical storms, and near-misses to impact Florida since 1871, this compact volume contains the widest possible range of statistics and information for the 181 tropical cyclones to reach Florida, 72 of them with hurricane force winds, 78 as tropical storms.

Accessible and easy to understand, Florida Hurricanes and Tropical Storms explains the terminology used by meteorologists, demonstrates the use of the Saffir/Simpson Scale, and explores the historical and geographical contexts of each hurricane and tropical storm. A glossary defines all technical terms. Additional features include statistics for each hurricane and tropical storm, first-person eyewitness accounts, one-of-a-kind photos, 10-year tracking charts, and a hurricane preparedness checklist. Readers will also gain a better understanding of evacuation procedures and of what to expect in terms of property damage. References and a list of Internet web sites point readers to additional sources of information.

With 40 percent of its residents living in coastal zones, Florida is a state uniquely threatened by hurricanes. A book as fascinating as it is useful, Florida Hurricanes and Tropical Storms is the definitive reference for the general public, amateur storm trackers, coastal homeowners, and anyone interested in Florida meteorology, written in a style accessible even to young students of Florida weather. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

TOO LITTLE HERE
The basic facts behind Florida's hurricane history are included here.The book is filled with figures and statistics.No storm is left out. Yet much of what is included could probably be found in an internet search.The book is too small to provide much of real value to most readers.Other publications will give the reader more for the money, even if he is interested only in Florida.

A very informative book, a shelf book for all of Florida
Florida Hurricanes and Tropical Storms is a very informative book that will enlighten people in Florida as to the areas most susceptible to hurricanes, the history of hurricanes and the least likely area to bestruck. John Williams adds some personal accounts from him and partnersthat picks an otherwise dry subject for some and makes it a book you don'twant to put down. The book needs updating, as it only covers the hurricaneseason up to 1996, but the pictures and charts are very helpful for theresearcher and casual reading alike. Probably the best book on hurricanesdealing specifically with Florida. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Deep but not stuffy exploration of Christian spirituality
This book surprised me because the author took some common life experiences and held them up to a refraction beam in order to help the reader understand better the spiritual journey. Standish's book is notsimplistic, but it is well written and intended for people who are on thespiritual quest. His understanding of God and God's working in ourlives--as well as our remaining available to God--feels on target.

Hiswriting is not stuffy. Standish is not overly pious. He does not expect thereader to have experienced spirituality exactly as he has. He offerspersonal examples that connect with my experience, but his writing does notforce me to conform to his experience.

This book is truly inspirational for the layman.
This book explores complicated subjects, i.e. having faith or belief, in a clear way so every member of every congregation can understand these everyday thoughts of faith.

Outstanding primer on finding faith in your hectic lifestyle
Not a book for the faint of heart.Standish makes you think and reflect on God's presence in your everyday life.This is a guidebook you will find yourself referring to time and time again as you follow your own spiritualjourney. Recommended reading for anyone of any denomination who seeksguidance on finding God in their home, work and all their life. ... Read more

Product Description

The sleeper history hit of 2008, released in paperback to coincide with the heart of hurricane season

Customer Reviews (14)

HURRICANE OF INDEPENDENCE: THE UNTOLD STORY OF THE DEADLY STORM AT THE DECIDING MOMENT OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION
HURRICANE OF INDEPENDENCE: THE UNTOLD STORY OF THE DEADLY STORM AT THE DECIDING MOMENT OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION
TONY WILLIAMS
SOURCEBOOKS, 2009
HARDCOVER, $22.95, 304 PAGES, BIBLIOGRAPHY


With the winds of revolution blowing about in the fledgling thirteen colonies, Mother Nature had a mind that temporarily put a halt to those rebellious thoughts. On August 29, 1775, a hurricane, sometimes called the Independence Hurricane hit the Outer Banks of North Carolina. It turned northeastward and left the state on 2 September 1775, bringing heavy wind and rain to southeastern Virginia. A letter from New Bern, North Carolina recounted, "We had a violent hurricane...which hasdone a vast deal of damage here, the Bar, and at Matamuskeet, near 150 lives being lost at the Bar, and 15 in one neighborhood at Matamuskeet." The September 9, 1775 edition of The Virginia Gazette reported: "The shocking accounts of damage done by the rains last week are numerous: Most of the mill-dams are broke, the corn laid almost level with the ground, and fodder destroyed; many ships and other vessels drove ashore and damaged, at Norfolk, Hampton, and York. In the heavy storm of wind and rain, which came on last Saturday, and continued most part of the night, the Mercury man of war as drove from her station abreast of the town of Norfolk, and stuck flat aground in shoal water." At least 163 people were killed and triggered one of the early Revolutionary War skirmishes in Virginia and it came close to impacting Georgia and South Carolina on Septemberr 2, 1775 before moving ashore over North Carolina. The storm then picked up steam through Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania. One of the most notable casualties of the storm was the roof of the Maryland State House, which was replaced by a wind resistan dome. On September 9, 1775, a storm struck the seastern coast of Newfoundland. It is uncertain if this storm was the remnants of the hurricane that had crossed the Outer Banks over a week earlier; if so, it was probably extratropical by this time. Newfoundland's fisheries "received a very severe stroke from the violence of a storm of wind, which almost swept everything before it," the colonial governor Richard Duff wrote shortly after it struck." A considerable number of boats, with their crews, have been totally lost, several vessels wrecked on the shores," he said. Ocean levels rose to heights "scarcely ever known before" and caused great devastation, Duff reported. A total of 4,000 sailors, mostly from England and Ireland, were reported to have been drowned, a localized storm surge is reported to have reached heights of between 20 and 30 feet. Losses from the hurricane include many fishing boats and two armed schooners of the British Royal Navy, who were on the Grand Banks of Newfoundland to enforce Britain's fishing rights. This Atlantic hurricane was Canada's first recorded hurricane and Canada's most tragic natural disaster (and by far the deadliest hurricane to ever hit Canada), as well as the eighth deadliest hurricane in history. HURRICANE OF INDEPENDENCE: THE UNTOLD STORY OF THE DEADLY STORM AT THE DECIDING MOMENT OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION is a remarkable contribution to the continuing literature of the American Revolution. Highly recommended reading.


Lt. Colonel Robert A. Lynn, Florida Guard
Orlando, Florida

an excellent reading experience
I enjoyed reading this book immensely. Detail filled, yet not bogged down with minutae. I would highly recommend this for anyone who delights in learning details of our country's history that don't always show up in history books.

"Anything but 'Calm' After this Storm"
Hurricane of Independence, the Untold Story

Imagine a hurricane the size of Katrina, Carla, or Cecilia multiplied by two! Author Tony Williams' new book tells of the fierce hurricane of September 2, 1775.Almost a year before the Declaration of Independence was signed a fierce storm blew in devastating the New England coast. During this time a hurricane was not only considered a natural disaster, but it was felt to be a punishment from a wrathful God.

This book contains a cast of characters that are well known and many that are lesser known. Still, they all help set the stage for what led the American colonists to act in a precise and decisive manner to join together against the British rule. Frustration was added by the addition of new taxes being levied on tea and the outrage of a struggling American economy trying to regroup over the loss of many lives, and the solid settlements that were the backbone of New England. Most prominent citizens had the wealth that they had spent years building lost in a day's time.A possible slave revolt egged on by the British authorities took arms and gunpowder away from secure colonial sites and gave them to slaves who were for the first time given some authority.

All these many things came together and act as a catalyst to make the American colonists move to work together, to gather and secure arms, and to render aid to many that had lost so much. So this added influence from new British taxation put the American colonists into a mode to move beyond their differences.They became unified to act in a desperate way. This is why you see the added importance of the "Boston Tea Party" and other forms of rebellion among the Americans.

Tony Williams taught history a good many years. It shows in his concern for telling the details in a careful and considerate manner. Some chapters I read several times as they are most enjoyable. As I have written a few books on history, I can appreciate how careful you must be to present the details better to be well considered in the proper manner. These are things that we did not learn in school. We should have, but somehow these important details were omitted! This took away from our learning about the "actual" history. Read Hurricane of Independence by Tony Williams. You will learn what you should have learned in school.This book is interesting and informative. Each page shows the detail of American history in a new light: the calm after the terrible storm.

Thank you, Joe Blevins, author of After the Republic, and a few others.

How can a history book have no maps?
Someone else has commented that this reads as if it were written for a high school audience, and I think that is probably accurate.Once I got used to it, it was okay, although I would have appreciated a less episodic narrative style.Each chapter, for example, was self-contained, and I never felt as though I couldn't wait to get to the next one.I sadly didn't enjoy reading the narrative, but it was clear and essentially okay.

Okay, that is, until the discussion of the disaster that was a discussion about the Newfoundland hurricane.There I understand there is little information to go from about this hurricane, but the continual use of imagination as information is really frustrating.The conditional verbiage -- "might have happened" or "may have felt" -- is incredibly frustrating.What the author should have done is rely less on his imagination and more on accounts of other disasters in Newfoundland and on the Grand Banks (he mentions in passing the tsunami of 1929, but there are other hurricane accounts in the 230 years since the 1775 hurricane).So when he says these people might have died in this way, he should tell us that someone DID die in this way, and thus give us something concrete to rely on.What he has here is essentially a fictionalized account based on real events, rather than a history book where he takes scant data and provides a useful reconstruction.I am left with little guiding as to what information might be there.I know this is a tough requirement for a book, but I just bought this instead of some other hurricane book, and I feel I got very very little from it.His account on the east coast of the US is "inspired by" the hurricane, but is really not much about the hurricane but more about other events of the year, and his account of the Newfoundland disaster is largely possibilities rather than research.I think this could have been a superb book (I think there is a superb book in this), but I don't want to recommend this book to anyone who has read the far superior The Perfect Storm (which was written with comparisons from other people's accounts, even though he had a lack of evidence as to what happened to the Andrea Gail itself) or Maura Hanrahan's Tsunami: The Newfoundland Tidal Wave Disaster.

My one complaint that could have been easily dealt with in this book is there are no maps.This is essential, as a reconstruction of the hurricane path would be really helpful.Those of us not familiar with east coast colonial geography should not have to go to Wikipedia to find out where "New Bern" is, as it is not the modern capitol of North Carolina, and thus not a location I ever memorized.And the author insists (it is an arguable point) that there were two hurricanes, the one that hit the Atlantic states and the one that hit Newfoundland.I would have appreciated maps indicating the routes of the two hurricanes, the points at which they were noted, etc.Giving the reader latitude and longitude (as he does on at least one occasion) really isn't helpful without a map to attach the points to.Or maybe it is just my problem, and everyone else has a good sense of their latitude and longitude to tell them exactly where they are on the globe.I have seen hurricane books (and I have read a lot of them) with poor maps, but never one without any maps.I hope when he writes another book he thinks to include maps with it.

I have a long shelf with hurricane accounts on it.This is not worth rereading, and I am taking it to the library as a donation tomorrow.I hope someone else will get more out of it than I did.

Easy read, enjoyable diversion into American history
I found this book enjoyable, because it was a refreshing break from heavier historic reading. It is a quick read for advanced readers, but still well enough written with a good amount of history and a good reflection of the people of the Revolutionary era to be worthwhile. I enjoyed it, though it is probably written more towards younger readers, teen-age level.A nice over view of the colonial areas and the people at the the beginning of the Revolution more than the hurricane itself. Though it is non-fiction, it paces more like a novel, making it informative and pleasant. ... Read more

Product Description
Hurricane Henrietta is famous for something she's never done: She's never cut her hair. It billows like a sail. Little kids play in her hair, her brother's guinea pig gets lost in it, and it starts a tornado at the vegetable market, where rutabagas and eggplants rain down on the startled shoppers! Henrietta enjoys her fame, but now it's time for Safari Camp. How will her mountainous mane fare in the woods? Will it fit in the tent? Will birds and squirrels build nests around her ears? Finally Henrietta visits Francine at the Bald Eagle Hair Salon. The floor becomes a sea of wavy tresses, but at last Henrietta is pleased with her new look, and Harry the wig salesman will have a new line of Henrietta's Wonder Wigs.Lindsay Lee Johnson deftly weaves imagination and realism to create a fast-paced, laugh-out-loud story. Wally Neibart, an illustrator for forty years, brings Henrietta's billowing hair to life, making her a legend in her own time. This is a first children's book for both. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A One of a Kind, Humorous Tale
4-8 yrs. Children will enjoy this story of Henrietta, the girls who has never cut her hair. After her hair gets so long, desperate measures arerequired. But, Henrietta and everyone, are happy at the story's end.

Nodeep meaning here, just a funny story. ... Read more

Product Description
Hurricanes and the Middle Atlantic States is the first book-length reference that examines the 400-year recorded hurricane history of the region. It offers chronological profiles of significant storms, from Jamestown to the present. Also included are 200 black/white photographs--many appearing in print for the first time--and numerous track maps. Human interest stories, as well as an examination of the patterns, characteristics, quirks and dangers of Mid-Atlantic hurricanes, make this book a must-have for those who live in the region and for anyone interested in United States hurricane history. The book's focus is on Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Virginia, as well as the New York City and Washington, D.C., metropolitan areas, but readers from neighboring states will find abundant material. And the many human interest stories have universal appeal! Hurricanes and the Middle Atlantic States contains a collection of unforgettable encounters--tales gleaned from articles and books, private journals and interviews. It tells of the "big ones"--ferocious storms that will cause a run on "I survived..." t-shirts when they occur again. Events that will forever affect those targeted for the worst. Hurricane patterns recur. Storms similar to those of the past will visit in coming years. Learn lessons from bygone hurricanes and better prepare for what lies ahead. Discovery starts here! (Favorable reviews have appeared in the April 2008 issue of Choice Magazine, the April 2008 issue of the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society and the May-June 2008 issue of Weatherwise Magazine.) ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

A bit of a stretch as a cover-to-cover read but a magnificent reference volume.
Over the years any number of books have been written about the devastating hurricanes that have struck coastal New England.Likewise, there are a whole host of books available about the history of hurricanes in the great state of Florida.Yet, when he sought to do some research on the history of hurricanes in the Middle Atlantic states Rick Schwartz discovered to his great consternation that very little had been written about the subject and that no really comprehensive book on this topic had ever been written. So Rick Schwartz decided to correct this glaring oversight himself.After more than six years of painstaking research "Hurricanes And The Middle Atlantic States" was released in 2007.This is a book that proves to be well worth your time and attention.
As the complete title would indicate "Hurricanes And The Middle Atlantic States: A Surprising History...From Jamestown To The Present" traces the history of hurricanes in this region from colonial times until the present day.It is a fascinating study.Rick Schwartz conducted more than 100 interviews in putting together this superb book.He also unearthed old newspaper articles, personal letters and state and local government documents in attempting to cobble together the real story. Consequently, there is an interesting narrative on almost all of the storms Rick decided to cover in his book.Schwartz also made a very wise decision by choosing to include track maps on a good many of these hurricanes.This feature greatly enhances the readers understanding of the storms and underscores just how unpredictable they can be.In addition, the inclusion of more than 200 black and white photographs helps readers to gage the full impact of these powerful cyclones and serves to emphasize the need for coastal communities to carefully reconsider public policies that have allowed for reckless overdevelopment on the waterfront.The question is not "if" these areas will be struck by a major hurricane in the future but only "when". Then there is the enormous toll these storms exact on everyday people. For all too many, life will never be the same again. Schwartz devotes considerable time to those who are victimized by hurricanes as well as those public officials who must find new and creative ways to deal with the devastation.High winds, heavy rain, tornadoes and flooding can all combine to wreak havoc for residents in the affected areas.Finally, I would be remiss if I failed to make mention of some of the fascinating local folklore that Rick Schwartz managed to sprinkle in throughout this book.Outstanding stuff!
Every now and then I come across a book like "Hurricanes And The Middle Atlantic States" that really seems to be much more appropriate as a reference volume. This is no knock on Rick Schwartz.This book is extremely well written, meticulously researched and thoughtfully laid out. Yet the stories inevitably do tend to become a bit repetitive and I found myself losing just a bit of interest from time to time.This is hardly surprising when one realizes that this book covers more than 300 years of hurricane history!Having said that, "Hurricanes And The Middle Atlantic States" remains an extremely important addition to the literature on hurricanes in this nation and deserves a spot not only on the shelves of libraries in the Middle Atlantic region but in other parts of the country as well. It is a book that students, researchers and general interest readers will turn to time and again in the decades to come. Highly recommended!

For non-specialist general readers with an interest in hurricanes and climate-changed influences on storm behavior
Researched, compiled and written by hurricane historian Rick Schwartz, "Hurricanes And The Middle Atlantic States: A Surprising History, Jamestown To The Present" chronicles four hundred years of the Middle Atlantic region's significant tropical cyclones beginning with the experiences of the Jamestown settlers and continuing down to the present day. A unique and exhaustively researched study, "Hurricanes And The Middle Atlantic States" features a substantial chronology profiling all of the Mid-Atlantic hurricanes and major storms, examines the patterns and characteristics of the region's tropical cyclones, and provides a sound basis for comparison, planning and preparation with respect to Mid-Atlantic hurricanes. Of special note is a forecasting history chapter offering insights into past progress and current knowledge about predicting hurricanes. Ideal for weather and meteorology students, "Hurricanes And The Middle Atlantic States" is especially recommended for non-specialist general readers with an interest in hurricanes and climate-changed influences on storm behavior, frequency, and intensity. Enhanced with an extensive glossary, a bibliography, and a geographically oriented index, as well as track maps and some 200 black-and-white photographs, "Hurricanes And The Middle Atlantic States" is confidently recommended for personal, professional, academic, and community library Weather & Meteorology reference collections.

Hurricanes and the Middle Atlantic States (Author: Rick Schwartz)
Fascinating Book!!! Very informative, interesting facts and interviews. A must read for anyone with any interest at all on this topic.

HURRICANES AND THE MIDDLE ATLANTIC STATES - BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW - "HURRICANES AND THE MIDDLE ATLANTIC STATES"
Author: Richard Schwartz(Hardcover - 400 pages)

This incredible book is a first of its kind - dedicated to the storms that have affected the Mid-Atlantic States through the past 300+ years, from the "Year of the Hurricane in 1667" up through Hurricane Jeanne in September 2004. A great reference for all hurricane enthusiasts the book includes explanations of all commonly used technical terms, references, and internet sources for everyone to use. But mostly it covers all the storms that through this extensive historical period had an affect on the mid-Atlantic States region. And Rick has done this with a definite personal touch, going to great lengths to get a "people- perspective" on what actually happened, what people went through during these storms. And he does his best to educate all of us that we are never "out of the woods" as to the future. We may be in a lull for action right now, but that is definitely temporary, and more storms that form in the future will definitely have more profound affects on the Mid-Atlantic region. Anyone and everyone in the mid-Atlantic area should reach out and get this book to have as a reference and to learn about the great effects these powerful storms have on their local areas. As Rick put it, "An understanding of storms past is vital to preparing for those ahead..."

Great read, Informative and inciteful!
Fron the 1600's to the Present, this is the "go to" book for Hurricane history affecting the eastern coastline. But more than just weather and geographical facts, Rick "The Hurricane Man" Schwartz has conducted many personal interviews to put a human interest face in this well-read timeline of the Hurricanes' impact, and stories of miraculous survival and devastatingly tragic loss. As Mr. Schwartz reminds, "Hurricane history repeats" and "The Year of the Hurricane is coming"! Are we prepared? ... Read more

Product Description
Hurricane! The Bob Hannah Story is the first book to explore the life of American motocross and Supercross racing's first superstar. From the time he raced the Husquvarna he bought with "ones, fives, tens, change; all of my savings," until his retirement at Unadilla in 1989, Bob Hannah won races and championships, spoke his mind, and signed almost every autograph-seeker's program. Told as an oral history by Hannah himself and by those who know him best, this book is full of stories that could only have happened to a character as colorful as the Hurricane.

The tale author Tom Madigan tells is the life of an American original, a boy who went from riding dirt bikes in the desert with his father to taking the motocross world by surprise.By the time Hannah retired in 1989, he had collected 70 AMA National wins, seven AMA National titles, a MX des Nations title, and legions of devoted fans. When inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 1999, he was second to none in both total and consecutive wins.Richly illustrated, this is the definitive biography of the Hurricane. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

you had to be there
Bob Hannah is one of the most famous motocross racers in the world, he beat the europeans at their own game (Roger DeCoster to be more specific) when no other Americans could, and got the ball rolling for the American dominance that we still enjoy to this day. Very outspoken and a tough as nails competitor with a hang on till the end style, he would do whatever it took to win. This book follows him from childhood riding the deserts, all the way to his plane business and beyond, if you're even the slightest motocross fan, you'll want to check this book out, the photograghs are awsome, and I like the way it is written. Very informative, and if you lived through those Golden years of MX, this has a lot of nostalgia also.

Mickey and the Monkeys - published 1927
I read this when I was 8 or ten years old, and it is bringing back very fond memories.I am 85 now, so it is a very old book.I believe the SEE NO EVIL, HEAR NO EVIL, SPEAK NO EVILcame from this book.So I was very happy to find this book at Amazon.com

Hurricane! The Bob Hannah Story
This book, written by Tom Madigan, is a great insight into the career of Bob "Hurricane!" Hannah, one of America's top motocrossers. It documents his early years, his rise to fame as a Yamaha factory rider and laterly for team Honda & Suzuki.
Lots of previously unseen photo's and comments from his friends, mechanics and fellow racers. ... Read more

Product Description
Although Easter O'Brian abandons a comfortable marriage and the advice columns of the fifties to pursue her own artistic vision and sexual desires, she remains a devoted mother to her children. 35,000 first printing. $35,000 ad/promo. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

A fictional adventure of life!
Kept me reading page after page.One of my favorite Daniell books.It felt so real and present.A well written story, of the southern women artist that wants to live and love.

Raging Hurricane
This is a gutwrenching book about creativity, addiction, insanity and gender in the Deep South.A truly readable book challenging assumptions about conventional morality and what it means to be an artist, a woman anda mother wherever you are. ... Read more

Product Description
Critical Praise for Infinite Monster

''Infinite Monster is a deeply moving, harrowing account of one America's great cities--Galveston--being ravaged by Hurricane Ike. Highly recommended!'' ---Douglas Brinkley, professor of History at Rice University and author of The Great Deluge: Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans, and the Mississippi Gulf Coast

''Infinite Monster deserves a place alongside Isaac's Storm and A Weekend in September as a tale of a star-crossed city's struggle to endure the ravages of a mammoth hurricane. Leigh Jones' and Rhiannon Meyers' meticulous reporting chronicles the dramatic personal stories that took place on the night Hurricane Ike made landfall and the controversial decisions that had to be made in the storm's aftermath.'' ---Paul Burka, Senior Executive Editor, Texas Monthly

''This is a wonderful book, filled with stories that made me angry (all over again), made me smile, and a few that made me cry. The only story Leigh and Rhiannon don t tell here is their own two young women who lost nearly all they owned to Hurricane Ike but fought on to tell the story. I could not be prouder of these two and the rest of our valiant and resourceful staff at The Daily News.'' ---Dolph Tillotson, publisher of The Galveston County Daily News

Product Description

In 2008, Hurricane Ike swept the Gulf of Mexico into Galveston, submerging 75 percent of the city, shredding entire buildings to splinters, and turning out rich and poor alike from their beloved island home.

Scores of private interviews expose the politics of recovery, the destitution of loss, and the revelry of rebirth. Award-winning Galveston County Daily News reporters Leigh Jones and Rhiannon Meyers deliver the story about one of America's largest hurricanes through the voices of those who lived it.

Survivors who did return to the island waded through not only mounds of toxic debris, but also a dense and seemingly endless bureaucracy that threatened to stifle recovery before it even began.

Like a phantom reincarnation of its 1900 ancestor, Hurricane Ike was the Infinite Monster that would forever cloud the Gulf Coast's future. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

Excellent!! Written well by authors
I searched for books on Galveston and discovered this book on market -- I read
all 5 star reviews and proceeded to order a copy.It is one of those well written
books you don't want to put down -- it keeps your interest and details and
personal experiences are brought to life by these two authors.I am a native
Galvestonian (B.O.I.) "Born on Island" and proud of it. I agree with all readers
who gave this book a 5 star rating - I would recommend this book as a "must read"
The experiences depicted in these personal stories of survivors are describe in
such a manner that you feel you were there as a witness --

Infinite Monster
This is a great book.Only those who lived through Ike can appreciate fully what is written. The horrifying night of the storm is described by many who decided to ride out it out. My wife and I live on Tiki Island just before you cross the causeway bridge into Galveston.The sight and smell of the devastation haunt me to this day and is something I will never forget. This book does a great job of describing it and the arduous task of recovering.It also describes the wonderful grit of Galvestonians who without any national coverage and many with no insurance and the loss of everything got to work and rebuilt.Great work ladies, I loved the book and highly recommend it.

Great read and informative
This is very well written and is very descriptive of the problems suffered in Galveston by the 2008 Hurricane Ike.I was one of the idiots that thought that a Cat 1 - 3 rated hurricane was just a "party" storm.After going through the aftermath of Ike and reading this book, I'll sure pay more attention to the projected storm surge in the future.The pictures of the damage to the Galveston area are worth the price of the book.

You can feel the Anxiety!!!
I am a native of Galveston and watched the news coverage of Hurricane Ike in the safe confines of my apartment in Chicago!!My 73 yr old aunt was one of the 350 people rescued on Saturday morning after the first floor of her home was flooded with 4 feet of water!!!My 85 yr old father died on Sept 24th after the stress of being without oxygen for 24 hours finally wore out his heart,(he stayed with my sister in Clear Lake when they lost power)!!! He told my sister while the winds were raging outside, "This is a SERIOUS STORM!!!When I came down for the funeral, the devastation was incredible with boats on the highway and everyone's possession on the curb!!! A very sad and demoralising site!!! This book brings it all back !!The two journalists did an amazing job of depicting the devastation and despair of all the citizens of Galveston, rich and poor alike!! I do think they need to make new categories of classifying these storms with storm surge taken into full account!! It is the water that caused the most destruction!!! Stayed up all night reading this phenomenal book!! Thanks for writing it!!!

A riveting story on disasters, their effects, and management
A hurricane can devastate and forever alter the lives of whoever it crosses. "Infinite Monster: Courage, Hope, and Resurrection in the Face of One of America's Largest Hurricanes" tells the story of Hurricane Ike which blew through Galveston, Texas in 2008, drowning the town and altering the course of history for the city. Through disaster and bureaucracy, some people would not be kept from the place they call home, and "Infinite Monster" tells their story, a riveting one on disasters, their effects, and management.
... Read more