I became interested in "Ten Sisters" when I noticed that the story took place in my home state of Illinois, but specifically central Illinois. I just graduated from EIU which is located in Charleston and just next door to Mattoon. Reading about the Waggoners in those towns was such a joy, but meeting nine of the sisters was an even greater honor. They signed my book at the mall in Mattoon and were extremely gracious at my interest in their stories. I wasn't able to finish the novel before I met them, but even so, reading the chapters after I had met the authors gave the book a personal touch. I was in disbelief at some of the personal trials they went through. It is amazing that any of them survived so much heartache and uncertainty! My favorite aspect of the book is how Jenny and the older sisters wrote about the same period of time, but by the time you get to Vera's, Audrey's, and Doris' chapters, you are set in a completely different timeframe with completely different lifestyles. It is amazing how so many different stories come out of one very close, very special family. They told me that they will be coming out with an audio version of the book and they'll be featured in a popular women's magazine in Nov. or Dec. I'll be sure to check it out, and you should too!

I really don't like to read...let alone do a report on something that I have read! I don't know why, but I actually like doing it for this book...... It has some really funny, sad, and just odd things in it. I mean who would have a pet goat as a kid? I am in Highschool and lots of my friends and teachers were all dying to read this book. I would sit in class and read bits and pieces and the kids around me would always want to hear more...it was weird! Stuff like having a boxing ring in the front yard, or ten sisters sleeping in one bed not knowing who wet the bed in the morning...for some reason that sparked their interest???? Then there was the sad stuff in the book that was described in detail. It really made me learn a lot more then I already knew about these ladies, it's like stepping into their shoes (although they didn't wear them too often) I really like the book, after I read it there were just soo many things to tell about it in the report I did for my sophmore English class that it ended up getting an "A"...which is odd for me! :) This book is great...there are just soo many things to like about it, so many stories. The part I really like about the book though was that sometimes the sisters had different view points about the story, it was kinda neat to see what each one said about certain things...if they remembered or included it. And living in Iowa, it was a big highlight of my life...not many things can do that here! thanx-AM

Courage comes at an early age... these women had it in 1942 and even today display that same courage. As I know each one of these women personnally, my review may be a bit biased...but anyone that reads this work will see that I am only telling the facts. Each sister is a remarkable work of art. This book is a true "Love story" about "Family" and the meaning it gives to our lives. "Divided" as a family at such an early age has given great meaning to "togetherness" as each sister worked their way from mid 20th Century to present day.... Their style of writing is free and bold as they tell of perceptions and feelings. Just to get ten sisters to sit down and author a book together is almost fiction. Yet again their spirit of "one for all" won out, and I, a reader won too. This book is "true LIFE" at its worst, and best

Based on their non-fiction book "Ten Sisters: A True Story" by Virginia Rackley, Deloris Hart, Rhita Brniak, Mary Hickmott, Irma Swierk Allen, Pauline Ariel, Phyllis Ferguson, Vera Barber, Audrey Alford, and Doris Wenzel, Ten Little Sisters is a truly delightful and original picture book about ten female siblings and the enjoyable activities they do together, such as fishing, climbing trees, or visiting a real courthouse. Years later, when they are all grown up they enjoy a grand family reunion in this happy tale with upbeat, crayon-style color illustrations by Lana Hill.

Allen de Hart's The Trails of Virginia:Hiking the Old Dominionis a classic and exhaustive study of places to hike throughout a statethat is known for its beauty and history but less acknowledged for its vast array of outdoor recreational opportunities. The author doesn't just cover his personal favorites or the 50 best walks, but every trail in the state. He's included information on distance, history, scenic features, degree of difficulty, and directions - every piece of information the hiker will need. I've used this book countless times in not only planning a hike, but also in the process of researching and writing my own outdoor guides. No matter where you plan to hike or what your level of fitness is, a well-worn copy of the Trails of Virginia should sit on your bookshelf as it does on mine.

Despite others raving about this book, I wasn't really crazy about it. The premise - a young woman struggling to find her place in a world with a beautiful younger sister and a father who won't let her pursue her true longing - is interesting, but somehow, I just couldn't become emotionally invested in the characters. At the end, I felt like my time would have been better spent reading something else.

I read Lenore Hart's "Waterwoman" with great interest, as she set her story in a region of the country that my ancestors have lived and worked - as watermen - for 300 years. She beautifully depicted the life of the people of the barrier islands off of the coast of Virginia - it could have been my grandmother's story! Hart's characters's dialog, motivations, and actions were dead-on, and yes, you weep for Annie's losses in the end. But! Hart knows what she is doing - she writes what she knows to be true to the characters she has created so close to "the real thing."

I just finished this book today and I could not put it down. From the very beginning you know that something rather tragic happens but I had no idea what was to come. I really felt the characters and was crying for the last 20 pages or so. I thought the writing was great and would definitely recommend it.

If I were to choose one word to sum up this book, it would be "quantity." Allen states that he describes over 500 trails, and though I did not count them, that number sounds about right. Trail length ranges from about 1 mile to overnight backpack trips. Some background information is provided for each area, and a brief trail description (usually one paragraph) is provided. Maps are provided for the national forest lands (about half the hikes) but not for state parks or other land. The book is pocket-sized so that it can be carried easily on hikes. No matter how much hiking you have done in West Virginia, you will certainly find some destination in here you have not been.

Unfortunately, to fit 500 trails into 350 pages, something has to be omitted, and in this case what is omitted is details. I already mentioned the lack of maps, but many of the trail descriptions are nothing more than directions for walking. Few insights are given as to what will be seen on the trail. This lack of detail combined with a lack of trail summary (a table listing all the trails in the book) make it very hard to choose a trail to hike.

In summary, if you are looking for a comprehensive trail guide to the state of West Virginia, this is definitely the book for you. If you are looking for the best hiking West Virginia has to offer, this guide will help only slightly. Despite its shortcomings, this is still the best guide to West Virginia hiking on the market. It should be considered by those planning a hiking trip to the Mountain state.

This book has excellent information on a large number of trails in the Mountain State. The descriptions are detailed and, on the trails I followed, are very accurate. However, little attention is paid to summit data such as elevations, directions for side trips to reach summits, etc. As a person who is interested in "peak bagging", I was somewhat disappointed. There are about 173 summits in West Virginia over 4,000 feet and there is almost no reference to this attribute. This book is essential and has a tremendous amount of useful information, but does not go far enough.

The story starts during Medievel times and ending in the present day. All the stories revolve around this one book, a love story written when books were rare and costly. This book brings couples together...they love the love story. Some of the stories don't flow as well as others. hence only the four stars. Overall a really wonderful book, makes you laugh and it makes you cry.