Family Book Corner

The Essay Writing Books

Beyond Belief: Finding the Strength to Come Back
by Josh Hamilton
Amazon Price: $16.31
Customer Reviews:
» Josh Hamilton, through his performance in the 2008 baseball season, was given the platform, to be able to have a book published about his life. The book detailed much about his drug use and stays at t...

» I bought this book for my son, who plays college baseball. It was to be a Christmas present for him, but I decided to read it myself. I picked it up at 4:00 one Sunday afternoon and could not put it ...

» Amazing, uplifting and a testimate as to Gods power in even the most dire
circumstances.
Gary D.
Coppell Texas

» Great story that transcends baseball. This is a story about life and struggle and overcoming adversity while still having to wrestle with demons each and every day. Every teenager and parent should ...

» I received my book on a Friday. I had it finished by that night - I couldn't put it down. My wife started it as soon as I was finished, and she had it read in less than 24 hours. I have loaned it s...

State by State: A Panoramic Portrait of America
Amazon Price: $19.77
Customer Reviews:
» Having read a number of the WPA guides when I was younger, I had to say I had much higher hopes when reading this book and have to say that I found it to be all in all terrible. By and large it is a p...

» I had high hopes for this collection of essays after reading the first one, Alabama. The problem is that many of the others are not very interesting or well written, in fact some are just plain boring...

» "State by State, a Panoramic Portrait of America," edited by Matt Weiland and Sean Wilsey -
Surely this is no great book but it has a fascination. Fifty contemporary writers piece together e...

» Although some of these essays are much better than others, overall this is a fascinating view of the 50 states from unique perspectives.

» The thick book of essays by 50 writers describing 50 states is an interesting anthology. The essays are very different in style, form and length. I believe there are ones to suit anybody's literary ta...

Roads to Quoz: An American Mosey
by William Least Heat-Moon
Amazon Price: $17.03
Customer Reviews:
» "Samuel Johnson said it in five words: `Solitude is dangerous to reason,'" writes the author. "I can think of no greater reason for taking to the American road."

In 1982, William Least He...

» I wasn't sure there was a word for what happens to me when I read Heat-Moon's works. I find treaures in them that seem to be written just for me to find. How can that be?

"PrairyErth" was...

Assassination Vacation
by Sarah Vowell
Amazon Price: $11.20
Customer Reviews:
» I just finished Sarah Vowell's Assasination Vacation and found it to be more interesting and cohesive than Partly Cloudy Patriot. Vowell wit and inquisitiveness are endearing and the book is a page tu...

» This was the first book by Sarah Vowell I've read, although I've been familiar with her work on NPR for many years. Since Sarah Vowell came to fame by writing personal stories and essays, it comes as...

» The book made me laugh out loud, but the NPR-approved author is glib, always nervously searching for her next punchline, or attempting to insert a proud, treacly story about her nephew Owen.

» The more things change, the more they remain the same. So what can we learn from an examination of three U.S. presidential assassinations -- those of Abraham Lincoln, and Presidents Garfield and McKin...

» I received this book as a gift and when I read the inside cover, I knew I was going to love it. I enjoy reading about certain events in history, but a lot of the books written about them are slow read...

Eat Me: The Food and Philosophy of Kenny Shopsin
by Kenny Shopsin, Carolynn Carreno
Amazon Price: $16.47
Customer Reviews:
» I think the book has a lot of good "diner recipes" and I definitely like the story part of the book more than the actual recipes. You can tell that Kenny ,even with his tough exterior, is nice man who...

» You don't have to be a foodie or even like to cook to love this book. Kenny Shopsin's philosophy on cooking, running a restaurant and people in general is unlike anything I've ever experienced. Brilli...

» This was a great read, and has workable, enjoyable recipes as well. That's pretty much all I want from a cookbook.

» Those of you who expect this to be just another cookbook will be disappointed. I think that to truly understand this book, you have to watch "I Like Killing Flies" to get the humor, wit and fun. Other...

» I've already cooked several recipes and it's a great cookbook.....just reading it though is a pleasue, since it's almost half memoir. Google the New Yorker article that is used as an introduction and...

In a Sunburned Country
by Bill Bryson
Amazon Price: $10.17
Customer Reviews:
» I read this book right before a trip to Australia, finished on the first leg of the flight. The whole time traveling around the country (great place by the way), I found myself seeing and hearing thi...

» I've read this book three times and I'm sure I will read it many more. Bill's insightful commentary on his travels through Australia is fascinating. His prose is easy to read, making this a great ba...

» I ran into this audio book on a used mp3 player I bought,,hmm hmm on ebay. Rather than just delete everything, I thought should check things out. I don't get time to read books, though I would like to...

» I'm sure there are tons of reviews like mine. Anyways: I loved that book. It's very funny and loaded with information. Since I'm planning to go to Australia in December, I'm glad for all the tips and ...

» I read Bryson's "A short history of nearly everything" and I did enjoy the book. However when reading "In a Sunburned Country" I have to say I was disappointed at the overall tone of the book.
...

The Best American Science and Nature Writing 2008 (The Best American Series)
Amazon Price: $10.78
Customer Reviews:
» This anthology, edited by Jerome Groopman, is exactly what one would hope for - a wide-ranging collection of well-written, fascinating articles which will expand the reader's horizons and are fun to r...

» I love this series and it gets better every year! Wonderful articles--all well-worth reading and very unique!

» Not much hard science, but every essay is compelling reading - a good way to bring your scientific side up to date yearly. I have not missed one in the entire series and every year I end up thinking ...

Eats, Shoots & Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation
by Lynne Truss
Amazon Price: $9.20
Customer Reviews:
» If you've been living in a cave, the subtitle explains what Eats, Shoots and Leaves is about: "The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation." Since I'm a bit of a grammar geek (albeit an imperfect and o...

» This book was recommended to me for my bad grammar, but it didn't do much to help. My problem with this book is that after you read it, you feel like a third-grader. I'd prefer less opinion and more i...

» I have never received my book. The seller rushed me leave her a positive feedback, before I received the book, by sending me multiple emails. In the end, I still do not have that book. Neither did I r...

» If you must: I suggest your local library. That, or you could buy it used. They are currently selling used copies of the hard back for one cent.

That's about all it's worth. Her info...

» My punctuation is definitely not perfect, but I enjoyed "Eats, Shoots & Leaves" a lot because I too am frustrated by the insanity that has writers putting an apostrophe before the "s" in any word endi...

The Best American Travel Writing 2008 (The Best American Series)
Amazon Price: $10.70
Customer Reviews:
» Anthony Bourdain, the guest editor of The Best American Travel Writing 2008, is determined to shake us up, get our attention, make us uncomfortable. No package tours here, no excursions to familiar pl...

» I loved almost every piece in this collection. The River is a Road is amazing. Dark Passage is amazing. David Sedaris' piece... amazing. I read through this way too quickly. Must go back and really sa...

» The problem of misprinting disclosed by Terri Ph.D. below seems to have been fixed. I received my copy of this book today, and it contains none of the problems she discussed. Thanks to Terri Ph.D. f...

» I pre-ordered the book and was excited when the book finally arrived. I settled in reading in bed and then I got to page 46 and had a rude shock. The next page was numbered "45" with a different tit...

One Man's Wilderness: An Alaskan Odyssey (Annivers
by Sam Keith, Richard Proenneke
Amazon Price: $11.53
Customer Reviews:
» THERE AREN'T ENOUGH STARS TO GIVE THIS BOOK. SIMPLY SAID THIS BOOK SHOULD BE REQUIRED READING FOR THE HUMAN RACE. WELL WRITTEN AND EASY TO READ, YOU CAN PROBABLY FINISH IT IN ONE OR TWO SITTINGS. BUT ...

» I was not prepared for this book but it totally consumed my outdoor longing. I couldn't put it down.
Massive impact on my dreams
/PJ

» A fantastic account of this man living in Alaska all alone. Most of the book is basically a diary of day to day activites, but if this is interesting to you, you will enjoy it. He built his own cabin ...

» This is a great book. It was delivered quickly and was in excellent condition. A must for any library.

» Preserving Alaska's Natural Wonder

Based on the 1960's journals kept faithfully by Dick Proenneck, an archetype of the Sierra Club's advocate, this book presents an amazing sto...