This is a terrific book written by a member's wife and their daughter. I am a big golf fan and have read several books about Augusta National and the Masters in recent years, but this one has an entirely different angle--a woman's perspective, and an insider-woman at that. The authors are respectful of the club, but they also are open in offering dozens of refreshing anecdotes that are funny and border on irreverent. There are also a bunch of photos in the book depicting the golf course from a candid viewpoint.

I started the book about 6 and finished about 12. Every golfer, Masters fan, everyone in Augusta will want one of theses books.

It's full of real inside stories of the Club, its founders, the grounds, the caddies, the famous players.

I know the author personally and figured her book would be interesting but did not expected to be glued to it. The wording contained many of the unique phrases used at the National and un golfing. I could not put the book down.

I am not a golfer, but my dad was and I have heard him day dream about golf; I've seen him high on 72 and down on 90; it seems the author got to the point she day dreamed about sandtraps, the rough, the fairways, how she would handle different shots.

Stories about personal encounters with famous golfers and politicians were great. The stories about the caddies and their betting, "ownership" of golfers, their nicknames were fascinating.

The stories about how one gets into the club gives the Augusta National a sense of intrigue.

The stories about the president of the club presented a man bigger than life, who put fear into the hearts of the wealthy and powerful.

Fishing stories, access to the club during the Masters, access to the club during off season were all highly readable and clearly inside, non-public, unpublished views into a closed society.

That only a few people were there at a time off season was amazing; there is/or was a wonderful wine cellar; there were no socials unrelated to golf and no 5 somes.

This is a wonderful book of private information that every golfer will enjoy, buy 2 of (one to keep and one to give away).

I started the book about 6 p.m and finished about 1 a.m; I could not put it down. Every golfer, every Masters fan, every body in Augusta will want this. Lots of great (and courteous) insider stories about the the Club; the creek, the community power fights about the creek; about great golfers, the caddies; the role of women; the founders of the club; the author's learning golf; rubbing elbows with Washington big whigs.

I know the author personally; I never dreamed her book would be interesting; I certainly never expected to be glued to her book, but it is a gem. I've got a couple of golfing buddies in mind who will want to read this book.

The story about the golfer who would "never" play with a woman was great...he parted with a dollar of two.

The "ownership" of the caddies, the nicknames of caddies and the nicknames given by caddies to their "horses" was fascinating.

The stories about the club president show a man "bigger than life."

Perhaps some of you know what trunk bangers are...now I know.

My grandmother lived a few blocks from the club and she rented to people who attended the Masters...so the book brings back memories...

Anyone struggling with golf, all you addicts out there, who day dream about shots, greens, the rough, creeks and sandtraps will identify with the author, whether male or female.

I'm not even a golfer, but my daddy was; and after listening to him talk golf, get down with 90, high on 72, talk about lights for night golfing, discuss the game over a few drinks, I found this book a clincher. I never expected to enjoy a book so much.

I usually don't read much and I am what some people label a TV fanatic because I watch TV quite a bit, but a friend referred me to Gettin' Down to the "Real" Nitty-Gritty and it was so realistic, funny and such easy reading that I had to pull myself away from the TV to read this book. Miss Madison is a great writer and I look forward to reading her next book.

I find it to be an enjoyable readable book. Reads as if it came from the hearth of a waman in tune with her enviroment and wanting to make it change for the better. Unlike most reads I did not have to have a dictionary to enjoy it.

Gettin "Down" to the Real Nitty-Gritty is very funny, but realistic. The author has a lively sense of humor.

If you haven't read one of the 2 books in the series, I highly recommend you do so. The authors have owned restaurants and are now using that knowledge to write entertaining books. The couple in the story own a restaurant in the south. The husband is Greek. They have hired a Greek friend of his who speaks less English. This couple find themselves in many "jams" but always seem to find their way out. A very likeable couple and an easy reading book.

I've read the first in the series (So Dear to Wicked Men) and loved it for its clever plot and funny characters. This one (Go Close Against the Enemy) is even better. The characters are still funny and the plot still clever and there is an added seriousness that is thought provoking and at times heart-wrenching. I highly recommend this book.

Racism is openly flourishing in Delphi, Georgia. This becomes acutely evidenced at the funeral of a stillborn. April McNabb, daughter of the town preacher, married a black man in defiance of her father's commands. Although he disowns her for this sacrilege, he supports her when she wants her baby buried in his churchyard. However, Deacon Walter Fry objects, wanting the infant buried in the black cemetery. During the burial, a demonstrative and ugly protest occurs.

April pushed to the limit, fires a shot at Fry, but misses. However, Fry is soon found murdered and April is arrested for the crime. She calls on her friend Julia Lambros to help her since Julia has successfully conducted a murder investigations before. Though she and her spouse are having problems with an IRA agent, she decides to help her friend. Her snooping places Julia in danger from an individual who wants to remain anonymous.

In SO CLOSE AGAINST THE ENEMY, the victim has many people wishing him dead who also have the means and opportunity to kill him. This makes the story line very complex and difficult to solve. The protagonists are a working class couple whom strikes an immediate chord with the audience. Takis and Judy Iakovou demonstrate that racism is a destructive force that can tear apart a town. This enjoyable book tells a good story while making a powerful social statement.

Harriet Klausner

I am always on the hunt for a cookbook that will help me keep my families' health and taste in mind. Well I found this just a few weeks ago, and I'm glad I did. The first dish I made was the Five Vegetable Primavera. I served it over Angel Hair Pasta and created a new favorite at my house. I love the recipes that I have tried to date! The recipes are good and good for you. But the best part is the family likes them. (it's a mircle!)

Ms. Kostas provides a great introduction wherein she discusses the basics of sound nutrition. Then it is on to the recipes. Although I haven't counted, there appear to be about 200 individual recipes which fall into 11 separate catagories. Literally there are multiple recipes for every occassion.

This is not a program of deprivation. We have been sampling Ms. Kostas's recommendations for the past six weeks. They have been outstanding without exception. In my case, it has also helped me to shed the extra pounds. I highly recommend the book to anyone that wants to eat well, but healthy.

I thoroughly enjoyed these recipes. The foods are appealing, the recipes are easy to follow, and the outcome is fantastic. The nutritional breakdown for each recipe is very helpful.

Ms. Kostas, I am vice president of a company that is developing a software product, NutritionAssistant, that I believe may well compliment the work that you are doing. We provide a food recording and nutritional tracking system that is easy and intuitive to use. We will also provide menus and recipes that allow users to quickly and easily plan their weekly meal plan.

If you would like to know more about what we're doing, I'd be delighted to speak with you. Our company is headquartered in Phoenix, AZ, but I would be happy to speak with you if you would like more information.

You can call me at (602) 348-7719 or (602) 482-8649, or this E-mail address.

I did enjoy your book very much, and have incorporated many of your recipes into our weekly meal plans.

Sincerely

Christine Spitzer

This book helped me tremendously. It is an excellent resource, especially if you and your spouse can come to agreement on everything - you don't need an attorney if you can agree. I read the book, copied the forms out of the book and filed them with the court, typed up an agreement that both of us signed and everything went smoothly. You really can have a "do it yourself" divorce for the cost of the court filing fee. Highly recommended book.

I found this book at the library, it was soooo helpful! i would recommend it to any one with a divorce issue!i just copied the stuff at a copy machine and filled it in! I only had to pay $65.00 to have it filed and everything!,very good book!enjoy!

Excellent book...There is no telling how much money that it saved me, well into the thousands, because when my now ex-wife and i could not agree on one or two small things and I had to get an attorny, after all. All i did was give my lawyer the Papers that the book helped me write and he basically copied them for the Divorce. He asked me if I had had any leagel training. (NO) Then I showed him the book, and he made the commit under his breath "We hate those things" He then asked to review it and asked for the number were he could get it. The next week, I was in his office to sign some papers and he had a brand new copy of it laying on the corner of his desk. Thanks alot for the help Amazon.com

In the novel, Kinship written by Trudy Krishner, this young girl was Perty (Pert) Wilson, lived with her mother, Rae Jean Wilson and her older brother, Jimmy Wilson in "Happy Trails" trailer park in Kinship, Georgia for many years. Pert was accustomed to the same neighbors, behaviors and habits day to day. Also, Pert has always wondered and longed for her father, James Williams Wilson of what he was like and for him to return home. Since Pert was a young child, she was not able to have what many other girls had, a father who was there for them at their side. As soon as Pert's father arrives, the life that Pert once knew started to change.
Rae Jean Wilson, the mother of Pert and Jimmy was a very strong woman and attended mass at St. Jude's every Sunday. Pert, unlike some daughters, called her mother by her first name, Rae Jean because they had a very close relationship, similar to sisters and best friends. Pert had said that, "She never scolded, never yelled, never laughed at me, never made me feel shame." (Chapter 2, page 15). This was probably once reason as to why Rae Jean and Pert were very close. Rae Jean not only supported her family, but treated her children as friends with loyalty and trust. Rae Jean had worked for Doc Jackson, the animal and people doctor) and Pert had worked at the movie theater. Although their family had worked, it was not enough to keep up with all the bills and the necessities they had needed. The Wilsons family, especially Rae Jean had worked extra hard to work for their money, without the help of James Wilson.
Pert was very accustomed to meeting and talking to neighbors such as Miss Sophie Mulch, Odette Coates and many others. As Pert grew up with these trailer neighbors, she had grown very close to them and many admired her and treated her as her their own child. Neighbors in "Happy Trails" had always admired, loved and were fond of the Wilson kids, especially Sophie Mulch. Sophie Mulch had said that she would do anything and everything for those children. Something that Pert would often do every afternoon was watch soap operas with Miss Mulch. Much like her life, the relationships that Pert had once had with the neighbors would soon change upon the arrival of her father.
When Pert and Jimmy's father had arrived in Kinship, he brought along mixed emotions. With the good times that Pert had with her father, there were also the sad times and the disappointments. Pert's father tried to do things that would make it right for the family, but because of the many years lost, it was not enough. Pert was able to spend quality time with her father, learn more about him and the similarities they had and just had fun with him. Pert also had to deal with some disappointments when her father let her down. Also, problems grew within the trailer neighborhood that had to deal with James Wilson and money.
Along with the relationships and lives that had changed when James William Wilson arrived, there were also situations within the trailer neighborhood. The mayor had informed the trailer owners that they would have to consider moving because permanent buildings were to be built in that land area. Many changes within the trailer land were made and even the name of the area. It had changed from Happy Trails, to Homestead Park and eventually to Homestead Circle Park. Pert learns that it is not the place in which a person lives that determines whether it is home or not; it is the people, the love and the trust.
As time grew, Pert realized what was important to her and what was not. She was able to distinguish from who was family and who was kin. Also, she finally was able to meet her father and learn more about him. Pert realized that Rae Jean, Jimmy and Grams have and will always be there for her. She realized that some people come into your lives and leave, but those who have been there since the beginning, are there to stay. As Pert had said, "I know home was supposed to be special, but it would take this fall to show me the reason why." (Chapter 1, page 9). It had taken Pert, all those ups and downs since her father had arrived, to realize who and what was home. Although it had taken her that time, it was better that then never realizing at all. Her trailer neighborhood has also grown into her family and people she trusts. Even as one of her neighbors, Pee Wee Hale had mentioned, "Family's more important than anything else." (Pee Wee Hale, Trailer 10, page 240). Even those who lived in the trailer park knew that family was important and it was what held everyone together.
Kinship, written by Trudy Krishner, is a great novel to read that deals with family, kin, friends, home and the things that are important in life. By reading this novel, one can see how Pert, the main character grows and learns from the actions and events that surround her. Not only can a person read about how Pert feels and how she acts, but also what others think and say about her and her family members. Also, one can learn more about the trailer life, and how many are assumed to be gypsies and how they are often looked down upon. Also, with the trailer life, a person can learn more of how they often have to move because of the building of "permanent homes". Kinship, is a great, fun and interesting book to read and I highly recommended this to all people who enjoy reading about the importance of family, as well as what "home" really is.

Perty's father abondoned her mother and her at birth but Perty still has hopes and dreams of her father that no one can take away. In fact, she talks to her father all the time by sending him ESP messages, usually to please come home, they need him. Well, Perty believes the last message got through to him because after church one Sunday, her daddy is standing on their front porch. No one was happy to see him much, except Perty, and she just can't understand that. All that matters is the here and now for her and her daddy is here now. She just can't get it, even after helping the trailer park with badly needed repairs, etc, her family, especially her grandma and brother are as cold as ever. Her mother just prays all the time, same as she used to. But Perty's world comes crashing down when he doesn't show up at the Father-Daughter dance, and momma's stashed-money-for-emergencies-comes up missing, and he takes repair money meant for the traier park and gambles it away. No one really comes to Perty's rescue with the truth about her father. Perty is strong willed and friends and neighbors know she must find out on her own how her daddy really is. And Perty finally does, she grows up and she's beyond the dreams of what a daddy really is supposed to be to see what her daddy is really is-a smooth talking, run-when-there-is-trouble kind of daddy. The concept and difference between kinship and family is unearthed in this great novel by a great author. I really could'nt put it down!

A coming of age novel dealing with poverty and the importance of family. Characters are well drawn and really come to life. I like the way the vignettes of the trailer park residents give insight into Perts life. An excellent family oriented book and I would recommend it to students from the 7th grade up.

I got interested in this case after reading a large write up in the local paper, the Atlanta Journal constitution, which is quoted many times in the book. I like historical books and was really amazed at the semitic overtones in the south during the civil war. As stated by reveiwer C. Ellen, it was written well and put into context with other goings on in that period. Being from Atlanta myself, I could very easily relate to the narative and it held my facination throughout. It told what I beleive to be the complete story and facts as well as being updated for NEW release in 1987 by adding an additional preface. Anyone who is interested in civil war reads, the laws of the time , or who lives in or around Atlanta , will be interested in this book. Over 50 pages of it are dedicated to the bibliography and all facts are well documented. It is a story that is all to reminiscent of famous cases that have arrisen in the past few years. It's a sad commentary on just how far the attitudes of this nation have come in the past 100 years or so. If interested in further information after reading this book, then I suggest trying to contact the Atlanta Journal Constitution for their brilliant account of the incident in the June 11, 2000 addition of their paper. It also gives a partial list of the lynching mob, held in secretcy until this time. A great book to own for any historical book collection.

As a judge, a lawyer and an historian I had heard about the Leo Frank case but did not know the details. Leonard Dinnerstein does an excellent job of relating the story of Leo Frank in a fair and unbiased manner. He also puts the entire affair in a historical context. This would be an excellent read for any student of racism in America and of the New South. It is easy to read and has an excellent bibliography.

Dinnerstein does a beautiful job in eloquently presenting the facts of the famous Leo Frank case. All angles of the case are examined in a thorough, impartial manner. A must read for anyone familiar with the Frank case, and well worth looking into for anyone who loves a good murder mystery.

Ludell, was the first book that I read through my school RIF program. It was written by a black author and I told everyone I knew about it. I was in sixth grade and this book changed and enhanced my thoughts. It is a book I will cherish always. I continually passes it on to young ladies and they all have their own personally experience about this book. I have lost my original copy however, I was able to order it again. I lost Ludell and Willie, however, I do have Ludell New York adventure. My first and favorite author will always be Ms. Brenda Wilkenson, she open my eyes to the art of Reading. Please ask you local bookstore to order this book for you. It has some much of pleasant memories of when a Child could really be a Kid.

Ludell is a wonderful preteen book. I read this book as well as Ludell and Willie and many many more when I was 11yrs old. Of all the books I read as a young girl, this was my very favorite. It really helped me to understand some of the things I was going through at that time in my life. Once I picked it up I couldn't put it down until the last page. I cant wait to give it to my girls. Anyone looking for a charming coming of age book for youngsters glued to the television should consider this book.

When I was 10 years old I was an avid t.v. watcher. Much to my mother chagrin that's all I did everyday. After many arguments and threats she decided to take matters into her own hands. She put me on punishment. No t.v. for a month. This was beyond punishment to me. She might as well had told me not to breathe again. I refused to talk to her for days. One day out of the blue she came into my room and handed me a book. We were very poor and to 'waste' money was something that was frowned upon. So she gives me this book and tells me that books are what she used to 'watch' when she was a kid. I grudgingly took the book. I quickly lost myself in Ludell's life. She reminded me of my mom. She's curios and full of life. Ludell's freinds became my frieds. At 10 years old I finished reading Ludell in less than a day! A couple of years later walking aimlessly around the public library (I now 'watched' more books than I watched t.v.) I found Ludell and Willie. I shouted as loud as I could I was so happy. I knew Ludell and Willie belonged together. Now at 21, I'm looking for Ludell to pass down to my cousin. We have similar taste in books. It's a shame that Ludell is out of print. I wish I would have kept the one I had but sadly it got mixed up in some things that were donated to the Salvation Army. Whoever was the lucky person to receive Ludell, I know they loved that book as much as I did.

My 7 year old son, Aaron, and I have just finished reading Macon Treasures Remembered. He was totally fascinated with it! What a wonderfully done work. It was so special to me to be able to tell him about the town in which I grew up.

This book has been needed a long time! The photos are spectacular! The anecdotes tickle your tastebuds for more. It makes you want to go on a tour of each home and learn more. Thank goodness these authors preserved the memories of times past and talents shared of people who cared about building a city of warmth and beauty in which to live out their lives and for generations to appreciate over a hundred and seventy years later. A great book to sit with by the fire and take a journey back in time and be inspired for today.

This is a wonderful book. Venture into the world of antebellum Georgia as you relive the characters and mansions of beautiful, historic Macon, GA--the city that Sherman by-passed but General Layfayette visited. The authors and photographer have taken extraordinary pains in recreating the old South. Outstanding photography and dynamic history. Every home should have one gracing their living room coffee table. Excellent Christmas present for people who have everything.

Kosmoski and Pollack have written an easy to read, easy to apply book. It is a valuable tool for any administrator. Great ideas for dealing with conflict effectively without giving in and without alientating the parent or co-worker who comes to you with complaints and problems.

I've read this book twice since buying it earlier this year. The succinct vignettes allow for easy access and readability.

As a principal, I found this book to be excellent. It provides the reader with vignettes that relate well to the ISSLC standards. It also provides a foundation and understanding to better prepare administrators for those hostile and difficult conversations that we all will encounter.

This book is based on real-world events in every kind of school situation: urban and suburban districts, elementary through high school campuses, adults who are under the influence of drugs or alcohol, confidentiality issues, screaming parents, etc. The authors discuss each situation and how administrators responded. They tell us what parts of the scenario were handled correctly AND WHY, and what might be done differently. I feel more confident in my ability to talk to parents and other adults who have a say in my school district. It is a useful guide for teachers and administrators.