Book Description
Coal is still king in much of Appalachia, yet the heritage and history of the people who enabled the United States to become an economic superpower in the Industrial age are slipping away. This remarkable book presents arresting black and white photographs and powerful oral histories that chronicle the legacy of coalmining in southern West Virginia. Ken and Melanie Light traveled hundreds of miles through rugged, isolated terrain recording the stories of a range of people whose lives were shaped by coal: retired miners, men and women who have been jobless their entire lives, a contemporary coal baron, a justice of the State Supreme Court of West Virginia, a writer who bravely ran for governor on a third party ticket, and people who returned to the hills when their lives failed elsewhere. What emerges is a complex portrait of people locked into an intricate web of geography, history, and unfettered profiteering. In Light's poignant images and in their own distinctive voices the residents of Coal Hollow--a fictional composite of the communities the Lights surveyed--reveal how the intersection of mountain culture and the greed of the coal companies produced the most powerful economy in the world yet brought crushing poverty to a region of once-proud people.
Customer Reviews:
Outstanding example of documentary photography.......2006-11-03
I attended a talk Ken Light gave at the Photo SF show this past summer in San Francisco. He discussed this book at length, and shared stories from his career. I also met his wife, Melanie, who conducted the interviews and wrote the text of the book. They are both wonderfully committed to social justice and the use of photography and oral history as a mechanism for communication. I purchased the book later and found the photographs to be both beautiful and informative. Ken remains committed to film and uses medium format cameras. The quality of the images shows that it really works for him. The quality of writing is superb and adds tremendously to the enjoyment of the images. This is a model for anyone interested in documentary story telling and could be used as a complementary text for a course in this subject. I'm glad that Black and White images, along with stories from the "visits" Melanie and Ken had with the families still can find a publisher.
"BULL" Hollow?.......2006-07-05
I am a native of McDowell County where many of these photographs were taken, and I cannot recall ever seeing people living in such squalor as was depicted in this book. I am surprised that the Lights were able to come up with so many photographs that represent the southern part of West Virginia in such a bad light. West Virginia does suffer from a depressed economy, but locations with the appalling conditions shown in these photos are not typical of the area. This must be a work of fiction. I hope people won't judge my beautiful state by this book.
What a Fallacy!!!.......2006-07-05
Having lived in southern West Virginia for nearly 50 years, I find this work to be insulting to the people of southern West Virginia. The Lights must have looked long and hard to find places with the appalling conditions that have been depicted in this book. Granted, the economy of West Virginia is not stellar, but the majority of its citizens and its communities are not represented in this book. Yes, this state has been shaped by its coal heritage, but it has not been destroyed by it. Southern West Virginia still struggles, but not to the extent implied in these photographs. Those seeking a more accurate portrayal of life in coal communities should look elsewhere, or, better yet, visit and see for themselves.
Bogus review!.......2006-06-13
I'd skip the review by Mike Fox as he is on the Board of Directors at Fotovision.org, where the Board's President is none other than Ken Light. I hereby urge Mike to remove his review, and I will remove mine.
Pop journalism advocacy at its worst........2006-02-25
While Light's pictures are moving and brilliantly taken, he uses his talent to make a second rate piece of agitprop.
This book would have been an accurate representation of coal mining in Appalachia in the 1920's, but it is grossly misrepresenting of this way of life as it exists today and it plays off some of the worst stereotypes of Appalachia including toothless hillbillies and Klansmen. Contemporary coal mining is dangerous work, and always will be, but mineworkers are well paid highly trained individuals who take pride in their ability to survive lean times.
Anyone interested in Appalachia should forego this piece of garbage, get in a car and go see it for themselves.
Book Description
This digital document is an article from The Oral History Review, published by Thomson Gale on January 1, 2007. The length of the article is 679 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.
Citation Details
Title: Coal Hollow: Photographs and Oral Histories.(Book review)
Author: Mildred Allen Beik
Publication:
The Oral History Review (Magazine/Journal)
Date: January 1, 2007
Publisher: Thomson Gale
Volume: 34
Issue: 1
Page: 152(3)
Article Type: Book review
Distributed by Thomson Gale
Average customer rating:
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See & Draw: Drawing from Observation
Karl V. Larsen
Manufacturer: Davis Pubns
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 0871922428 |
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Inside the CIA: Architecture, Art & Atmosphere of America's Premiere Intelligence Agency
F. Clifton, Jr. Berry
Manufacturer: Community Communications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 1885352816 |
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Herman for Pet Fanciers
Jim Unger
Manufacturer: Andrews McMeel Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
General
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ASIN: 0836219961 |
Amazon.com
In Grown-Up Marriage, bestselling author Judith Viorst uses her abundant gifts to consider how marriage pulls, cajoles, and commands us to grow up. By viewing marriage "as a problem we have to solve again and again," Viorst offers a fresh view of both the mirages of marriage and how readers can adjust their expectations to create an enduring state of the union. Complacency, warns Viorst, is the bind that unties. "If we imagine that marriage is where we can burp, bitch, snicker and snipe day after day without paying a price, we are wrong." She crafts a smart synthesis of decades of psychological research, case studies, and examples drawn from popular culture. Viorst rounds up the usual suspects--the routines that kill marriage, the outlaw in-laws, the mommy-daddy trap--and the unusual ones, including marital sibling rivalry and why second marriages often fail. Each subject is illuminated with nuanced, mirthful details about creating a mature marriage. Her insights are sometimes diluted with too many expert quotes or her own poetry. Still, her shrewd observations will make this book required reading before your next anniversary. --Barbara Mackoff
Book Description
Although marriage is for grown-ups, very few of us are grown up when we marry. Here, the bestselling author of Suddenly Sixty and Necessary Losses presents her life-affirming perspective on the joys, heartaches, difficulties, and possibilities of a grown-up marriage -- and no, that's not an oxymoron!
Featuring interviews with married women and men, the findings of couples therapists, the truths offered by literature and movies, and a bemused exploration of her own marriage, Judith Viorst illuminates the issues couples struggle with from "I do" through "till death do us part." Examining marital rivalry, marital manners, marital sex (extramarital, too), marital fighting and apologies, what kids do for (and to) marriage, and the boredom and bliss of everyday married life, Viorst leaves no marital stone unturned. From the early years when we wonder "Who is this person?" and "What am I doing here?" to the realities of divorce, remarriage, and growing older (and old) together, Viorst offers insights and advice with honesty, humanity, and humor -- all the while recognizing how tough it is to be married and, when it works, how very precious it can be.
Customer Reviews:
A Marital Must Read .......2005-07-29
This book should be compulsory reading for any couple contemplating marriage. In a sometimes gut-wrenching analysis of modern marriage, Viorst spells out the fallacies of our society's view on marital bliss in a way that will challenge and, on occasion, shock you with its ability to reflect your own romantic relationship.
One of the most provocative chapters is, "The First Shocks of Marriage." This chapter outlines the expectations we bring into marriage and the feelings of betrayal that result when those expectations are invariably, and sometimes brutally, crushed. As a divorced, middle-aged woman with many female friends who maintain a 'revolving door' of romantic relationships, the concept of feeling emotionally betrayed is one that will speak to every woman...and should be understood by every man. Viorst cites the common female viewpoint that "marriage should be nothing less than love, adoration, companionship, physical intimacy, emotional availability, respect, humor and tolerance." And the male viewpoint Viorst cites is one that expects a wife to "respect his need for autonomy and give him plenty of room to do his own thing." Yet, if anything, the reality of marriage teaches us that we often won't get all, or even some, of what we expected.
One lesson every individual who reads this book should learn, and learn, and learn yet once again, is that marriage is work...Work...WORK. This book, like no other I have read, made me question whether I'm up to it. :-) It also made me realize that, when it does work, when both halves of the couple (not either/or) are willing to work diligently at keeping the dream alive, the reward is priceless.
Great book........2005-06-27
I've been married one year, have just read this book and I loved it. The book promotes standing by your partner. My parents were divorced, and according to this book it puts me at a greater risk of getting divorced. With that in mind, I'll work as hard as I can on taking good care of my marriage.
May have saved my marriage!.......2004-07-10
This is a terrific book for anyone at any stage in marriage - I read it as I was on the brink of divorce, I read most of it and had suggested to my husband that he read a chapter of it. Things have turned around and we are on the road to repair and re-comittment it seems, this book may have saved us.
Judith has wit and charm and sensibility combined to talk about various aspects of marriage, about everyday marriage - and how to improve it, about how various factors can affect marriage at various stages. Thumbs, fingers and toes are all up for Judiths book!
Wow! Insightful book on married life.......2003-12-16
Judith Viorst has articulated some profound insights on married life- why do we choose to get married, why do marriages fail, why do we stay married. She addresses some of the problems marriages today face- infidelity, "sibling rivalry", yet the book is a surprisingly uplifting celebration of married life and the value of sticking it out through the tough times.
Terrific insights into relationships.......2003-04-06
I wish this book had been written a year ago when my own "starter marriage" was falling apart. There were so many instances in the book where I could point to a passage and say, "Yep! That's us." "That's totally what happened to us too!" etc. It might have saved my marriage. But I'm glad to have read this book later rather than never. With an impressive understanding of human nature, Viorst touches upon the many delicate interrelational factors that causes strain in people's marriages as well as second (and third) marriages, and why seemingly happy couples divorce while destructive, unhappy couples stay together. This is a worthwhile, mandatory read for every couple who plans to get married or is already married or might be thinking of divorce. Do your loved ones a favor and give this book to a future bride or bridegroom as a wedding gift. It's one of the best relationship tune-ups you'll read.
Average customer rating:
- Funny!
- When Keillor Demanded to be Taken Seriously
- Inconsistent, often warm & whimsical without sentimentality
- What a Snore
- Not about Lake Wobegon, but still worth a look
|
We Are Still Married: Stories and Letters
Garrison Keillor
Manufacturer: Penguin (Non-Classics)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
United States
| World Literature
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Similar Items:
-
Happy to Be Here
-
The Book of Guys: Stories
-
Leaving Home
-
Lake Wobegon Days
-
Love Me
ASIN: 0140131566 |
Customer Reviews:
Funny!.......2007-07-03
This was the first book I've read by Garrison Keillor, and while it was slow in parts - there were some definite laugh out loud stories. I was completely amused that he used the F word, too ;)
When Keillor Demanded to be Taken Seriously.......2005-09-08
Before he decided to throw in the towel and become what his fans wanted him to be, Garrison Keillor really wanted to see himself and his society from the outside. He spent a lot of time in New York and Denmark. In that, as we learn in this book, he became who he thought he wanted to be.
In our collective lives of quiet desperation, most of us don't get that chance. We don't have the money, talent or perceived time to do so. But Keillor did.
The ostensible lesson is that who we are IS who we want to be. But these notes were written before he drew that conclusion. My favorite passage is called "Episcopal," where he makes up new words to an old Fats Waller tune to describe the attractions of being Episcopalian:
I'm slow to anger
Don't covet or lust.
No sins of pride except sometims I really must.
Episcopalian, saving my love for you.
The theology's easy, the liturgy too.
Just stand up and kneel down and say what the others do.
Episcopalian, saving my love for you.
With this, Keillor sums up the current (and probably end) state of his career.
Oh, hear that old piano, from down the avenue...
I smell the dry rot, I look around for you...
This book was written before he gave up, and you'll enjoy it.
Inconsistent, often warm & whimsical without sentimentality.......2003-12-04
Not really fair to review this now - I'm a bit hazy on it. Because it's an anthology of humorous/whimsical articles and a few daydream stories, I wisely only read it in small doses over a while - the pieces suffer if you read too many in a row, and weren't written for this. Still it means I'm not as up on exactly why it got an A-.
Several pieces are definitely not worthy of an A, though few would drop below a B. I recall really relishing 'Who do you think you are?', a reflection on dealing with the assumption of mediocrity. 'The Current Crisis in Remorse' was a clever satire on the much (legitimately) pilloried denial of guilt in the courts. How to write a letter was on the money, and particularly the first of 'Three Marriages' was quite touching and felt authentic.
He's in the same category as P.J. O'Rourke, but less biting, and his humour is not so much the clever one-liner as a slow characterisation. He rides on the edge of sentimentality but somehow rarely crosses it, managing warmth and definitive whimsicality.
What a Snore.......2003-04-22
This book is just about the worst thing I have ever read. One thing though... it talks about the end of the prairie home companion show... was there some break there or what? the show is on every weekend. Purple Monkey Dishwasher.
Not about Lake Wobegon, but still worth a look.......2002-08-31
This work represents a *hodgepodge* of Garrison Keillor works that would not have fit well published in any of his other books. If you are looking for a book about the life and times of Lake Wobegon, MN, this is not it. Even so, there are a good many short pieces in this book that make it a DEFINITE ASSET to your collection. My favorites include "The Young Lutheran's Guide to the Orchestra" (a hilarious parody on "The Young Musician's Guide to the Orchestra"), the poem "The Old Shower Stall", the essay on sneezing, the essay on letter writing, and Keillor's commentary on being voted one of the sexiest men in America. Though not typical in his established "The News From Lake Wobegon" story form, the poetry and prose in this collection are definitely typical Keillor humor!
Average customer rating:
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We are Still Married
Garrison Keillor
Manufacturer: Faber & Faber
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Contemporary
| General
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General
| Short Stories
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ASIN: 0571194192 |
Average customer rating:
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We are Still Married
Manufacturer: Viking Penguin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000HM9OUI |
Book Description
This series of CDs teaches essential swing guitar repertoire to bluegrass flatpickers. Steve's unique method features three levels: a beginner's version in which he teaches the basic melody; an intermediate arrangement that will give players a solid musical grounding; and finally, a full-blown solo that will challenge any aspiring swing guitarist. Backup tracks make for productive and exciting practice sessions. Tunes: After You've Gone * Back Home Again in Indiana * Blue Moon * Danny Boy * Georgia on My Mind * Honeysuckle Rose * I Got Rhythm * Kansas City Kitty * Lady Be Good * Limehouse Blues * Little Rock Getaway * Minor Swing * Miss Molly * Panhandle Rag * It's Only a Paper Moon * Remington's Ride * Over the Rainbow * Sugar Foot Rag * Summertime * The Sunny Side of the Street. 160-PAGE BOOK WITH 6 CDs * INCLUDES MUSIC + TAB * LEVEL ALL
Customer Reviews:
Ouaouh !!.......2007-04-02
Steve Kaufman is a good teacher, from the beginner to the advanced player,3 versions of each tune, well done for me.
JY C
FRANCE
Book Description
The first published writing of the jazz giant, covering his life from his days in New Orleans through his success in Chicago and New York.
The first autobiography of a jazz musician, Louis Armstrong's Swing That Music is a milestone in jazz literature. Armstrong wrote most of the biographical material, which is of a different nature and scope than that of his other, later autobiography, Satchmo: My Life in New Orleans (also published by Da Capo/Perseus Books Group). Satchmo covers in intimate detail Armstrong's life until his 1922 move to Chicago; but Swing That Music also covers his days on Chicago's South Side with "King" Oliver, his courtship and marriage to Lil Hardin, his 1929 move to New York, the formation of his own band, his European tours, and his international success. One of the most earnest justifications ever written for the new style of music then called "swing" but more broadly referred to as "Jazz," Swing That Music is a biography, a history, and an entertainment that really "swings."
The music section, edited by Horace Gerlach, includes special examples of swing music by:
Benny Goodman
Tommy Dorsey
Joe Venuti
Louis Armstrong
Bud Freeman
Red Norvo
Claude Hopkins
Carl Kress
Stanley Dennis
Ray Bauduc
Product Description
Original sheet music
Average customer rating:
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Swing, That Modern Sound
Kenneth J. Bindas
Manufacturer: University Press of Mississippi
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 1578063825 |
Book Description
This digital document is an article from The Register-Guard (Eugene, OR), published by The Register Guard on April 22, 2005. The length of the article is 623 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.
Citation Details
Title: For Swang, it don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing.(Entertainment)(Eugene band likes that old-timey music that gets listeners moving)
Publication:
The Register-Guard (Eugene, OR) (Newspaper)
Date: April 22, 2005
Publisher: The Register Guard
Page: T7
Distributed by Thomson Gale
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It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing) (Jazz Vocal Series)
Manufacturer: Warner Bros Pubns
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 0757934838 |
Average customer rating:
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The Color of Jazz: Race and Representation in Postwar American Culture
Jon Panish
Manufacturer: University Press of Mississippi
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 1578060338 |
Book Description
This digital document is an article from Relations Industrielles/Industrial Relations, published by Relations Industrielles on September 22, 2001. The length of the article is 1456 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.
Citation Details
Title: Globalization and Labour in the Asia Pacific Region. (Book Reviews).
Author: Basu Sharma
Publication:
Relations Industrielles/Industrial Relations (Refereed)
Date: September 22, 2001
Publisher: Relations Industrielles
Volume: 56
Issue: 4
Page: 824(4)
Article Type: Book Review
Distributed by Thomson Gale
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- Contemporary Quilting: Exciting Techniques and Quilts from Award-Winning Quilters
- Design for Communication: Conceptual Graphic Design Basics
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- Drawing on the Artist Within
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