Newport (now called Avondale) was founded in 1760 by a group of New Englanders moving in after the Arcadians were forced out. This book details many generations of those (20+) families, with references to additional resources. There is also a long section on the town itself, which is very interesting, in and of itself. If you have any family in the area, they will be found in this book. Before the internet, this was the only source for this data. Given the sheer volume of data, the number of corrections to what Duncanson published is minor in deed. Good work, John, we'll miss you.

Three days ago I opened "The Witches of Eastwick" and immediately fell in love. Updike's language, his uncommon imagery, and his *knowing* of "what women think" is astonishing. He so beautifully captures the underlying currents of living in a New England seaside town, with its shifting tides and changing seasons merging with the mood and purpose of its inhabitants. The dialogue is sharp, accurate and scathing. His characterizations of the three women/witches shows he has done his homework, ( only straying a wee little bit in a few scenes for dramatic/comic effect.) His depiction of the "Devil" is laugh out loud funny, ironic, and satirical. This book was pure pleasure. I only wish he would write about witches more.

This extremely rich novel is an outstanding sample of American society (in New England)in the late 60's*, also because the main characters are mostly centered on women.I believe it is not mere coincidence.
It is an extraordinary novel for a "europeanized" analysis. Thanks to one of Updike's most delicious characteristics, the description into minimal details -(is there anything wrong with a surgical look on reality? Is it not a sign of accurate awareness and of extreme lucidity?)- allows to cross all the cultural references in the novel and to some extente we understand all the research that must have been carried out to write this novel (sorcery and witchcraft history, just to mention one).
Updike goes through several chief aspects of human existence (as we grew accustomed to with his books), from religion and all co-related metaphysical anxieties to a very soft criticism to the America of the huge urban centres, going through daily life in small communities, sexual intercourse, violence, moral values in crisis... What else could one wish for? And all this is presented to us in a somehow humorous tone, not really a comedy. One gets a sweet and sour taste, after all. I would rather not make any reference to the film. Being a European and living in Europe I missed the musical, therefore no opinion whatsoever.
Again, it is no coincidence that this particular novel by Updike was to be chosen, among others, by H. Bloom in "The Western Canon".

*Obviously, any attentive reader could argument with the "Rabbit" tetralogy, but to synthetize is always harder than to analyse, so if in ONE novel you concentrate so many concerns of contemporary society, then that is an achievement.

The Witches of Eastwick takes a touchingly funny jab at the concept of witchcraft. As well written as Updike's other novels, Witches allows us to cringe, laugh, scream, and fall in love. (And, according to male friends, is definitely not a "chick book.")

What a joke that a misleading impression of this book has to be left on visitors to this site based on the ridiculous "reviews" of the first two "reviewers."

This book is a wonderful, comprehensive overview of one of baseball's best teams of the 1970s (ranking only with the Charley Finley A's dynasty) that succeeds because it is willing to go into each season from 1970-78 in depth and provide more than just a skimped over rehash of events. You get the full picture of how the "Big Red Machine" was put together on the field and off, and also get candid insights into how the dynasty ultimately declined as the free agent revolution hit baseball in the late 70s.

My only complaint with the book is the authors decision to stop their study after the 1978 season with the departure of Pete Rose and the dismissal of Sparky Anderson. The Reds won a division title in 1979 with most of the "Big Red Machine" still intact (Morgan, Bench, Foster, Concepcion) and also put together baseball's best record in 1981 and this final phase of Reds quality baseball merited analysis as well, and not just the quick, casual dismissal the authors give it.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The Big Red Machine of the 70's dominated my childhood. They are my all-time favorite team and I found this compilation entertaining, enlightening and well-researched. This is my #1 reference book for the Reds of the 70's. Great going guys!

There are great photos and anecdotes that I'd never read before. It's an entertaining and easy to read book.

John Casey's modern novel of the sea is a good read with some interesting characters and situations (including what could have been an exciting tale about survival in the midst of a strong hurricane). The primary character of focus is Dick Pierce, a struggling fisherman, husband, father of two, and a man attempting to build his dream boat (and hence a means to a better future). "Spartina" is the story of Dick Pierce, his boat, and the moral dilemmas he finds himself facing while trying to make a better life for himself and his family.

Whether he succeeds or not is left for the reader to decide. Pierce wants his own boat to captain and has been working on a 54-footer in his back yard for several seasons. He's about $10,000 short of funds to finish his boat and must make some difficult decisions as to how to come up with these funds. His wife is running out of patience (you can't blame her) and Pierce is struggling just to make a living as a commercial fisherman along the coast of Rhode Island. As a result, he makes some dubious decisions including poaching crabs and running drugs. These decisions seem thrust upon Pierce as if he had little say in the matters. And that's one of the failings in this book--the moral dilemmas are glossed over with an aura of inevitability. You get the impression Dick Pierce is a good man in bad circumstances, and these circumstances continue to present themselves.

Along the way, Dick has an affair with a much younger woman, the scheming and patently unredeeming Elsie. This affair fills the center of the novel and reveals more about Elsie than Pierce or his relationship with his family. Naturally, Pierce continues to make misstep after misstep, but ultimately is able to finish his boat after borrowing the necessary cash. As luck would have it, a strong hurricane approaches the Rhode Island coast just as his boat (the Spartina of the novels title) is christened (and still not yet insured). In yet another curious decision, Pierce (again seemingly with little control over the decisions he makes) takes the boat out to sea in an effort to get out the hurricane's path. This scene could have been one of great action, interest, and soul searching (he is, afterall, torn between two women and potentially about to lose his boat/life's savings), but is rather short-lived. Casey really lost an opportunity to bring some excitement and meaning to this somewhat predictable story by shortchanging the storm at sea portion of the story. It's a minor quibble, but one that left this reader dissatisfied.

Pierce faces several unresolved problems back on shore and the book concludes fairly rapidly once the Spartina is cast to the sea leaving the reader a little unsure what to make of Pierce's choices or the results of those choices. Overall, a book with a lot of promise and missed opportunities. Worth reading, but don't expect to be enthralled or enlightened.

John Casey, author of "American Romance" as well as this National Book Award winner, has here crafted a masterpiece. His characters are true, in the way of great fiction, and his story is as well. Notable for the accuracy of how he catches the tiny, verifying details as well as the generally more memorable "big" scenes, such as the harrowing encounter of his protagonist, Dick, with a hurricane, this is a book that belongs on the shelf of every great reader, student of fiction, and writer, aspiring or lauded. The committee giving out the National Book Award has often led me to wonder about the sanity of any committee deciding on the best literature, but here is an example of how their selection process can, on occasion, find real gold. If you've never read "Spartina", read it now. If you have but find it's been a while, repeat the task. You'll be better off for the doing

I have unpleasant memories of the Old Man and the Sea from Junior High English class, so I purchased Spartina with some misgivings, as the premise of both books seemed similar. But, this is one of the most well-crafted books I have read in a long, long time. Unlike most popular novels, the book did not revolve solely around the plot. Unlike most literary novels, the book did not revolve solely around character development. Rather, both plot and character were woven together to create a splendid story that was hard to put down, even at 2 a.m. on a work night. The writing was intelligent without being self-consciously clever, and I kept thinking about the book long after I had finished it. Bravo!

Those interested in colonial New England biography would do well to pay close attention to the title of this slim volume. This book is relatively long on early New England Baptist theology and practice, and the politics of securing Rhode Island's charter of 1663, but very short on John Clarke and his times. Consequently there is little here for the non-professional historical reader and even less on material culture. The book has the feel of something unfinished, not surprising when one learns that the author died before he completed it. There are no illustrations, although a portrait believed to be of Clarke exists. William Dyre's role in revoking Coddington's patent of 1651 and obtaining a new patent with Clarke in 1652 goes without mention. The footnote for the quote in the chapter 2 title is missing. Some descriptions seem outright silly, such as that Coddington's house in Newport was large and Clarke's must have been much smaller. The flaws are not hard to notice. It is difficult to write the biography of a second-tier figure of early New England when so little documentation remains, but the author could have done much more. This is the history of religion and politics, but not of John Clarke.

Right and honorable? Not exactly what I'd use to describe Mr. Rhodes. Gag me.

The author is too self absorbed and never succeeds in his quest to find the "true south" because he can't see beyond his own limited view.