Books Reviewed in
2002
Here are the Book of the Month Selections
reviewed to-date in 2002. Interested in previous Book of the Month Selections? See our index by year since we started in 1997 or search on your own.
September
2002: The
Northeast Kingdom by Peter Collinson,
paperback
 Peter
Collinson, a pseudonym for thriller writer Chuck Hogan, has written a
thrilling novel, filled with suspense. "The
small town of Gilchrist in the green hills of Vermont was dying until
the townsfolk invited the federal government to build a prison there.
The 312 unit Administrative Maximum Penitentiary houses the most
hardened prisoners men who have no hope of release, parole or escape.
The revenues brought in by the existence of the prison allowed the
town to grow and prosper."
"After years of solitary confinement,
the prisoners revolt and take control of the prison. With the help of
loyal ex-cons, the prisoners escape and next take over the town,
threatening to release a deadly toxin into two different communities
if any counter offensive is attempted. It is up to the people trapped
within the town to do what the federal government is helpless to do:
seize back their community."
Is this the absolute best
thriller around? Well, probably not.....but it is certainly a
worthwhile read. I found that I wanted to keep reading, but there were
a few gaps in the plot and some of the characters were somewhat
superficial. For example, the actual riot and prison-break were
touched-on during a flashback of a couple of paragraphs. However, I
think the reader is given a good flavor of a small town in northern
Vermont. You find yourself freezing in the blizzard and trudging
through knee-deep snow along with the weary band of townsfolk in this
tiny Northeast Kingdom community.
 July
2002: The
Couple's Business Guide: How to Start and Grow a Small Business
Together by Amy Lyon, paperback
A down-to-earth, straightforward
look at starting and growing a small business together, as a couple.
With the number of entrepreneurs on the rise, this guide provides a
good bit of motivation and a large dose of reality. Amy Lyon, a
Vermont author, profiles 10 couples who are operating gourmet food
businesses in Vermont. According to Lyon, "You will read about
their passion and drive, their lessons learned and battles lost. Their
stories are case studies of ten real businesses run by real couples in
the real marketplace. There is next to nothing that these couples
haven't experienced with the ups and downs of running a small
business.....Nothing teaches better than experience. These couples
offer you theirs to help you while you're creating your own."
This book provides a good first
step to those thinking about embarking on the journey of creating
their own small business. It does not provide the nuts and bolts
details of writing business plans, hiring employees, or setting up
operating systems. Rather, the focus is on "what it will feel
like to be in business with your spouse."
 March
2002: Sugaring
in Vermont by Mead Schaeffer, a poster
Print
or Poster Title: Sugaring
in Vermont, Artist: Mead
Schaeffer
Image size (W x H): 26.25" x 30"
 February
2002: Sugaring
by Jessie Haas, Joseph A. Smith (illustrator)
This book has received a  rating from the Amazon.com readers
and reviewers.
This story about Nora and her
grandparents takes you straight to the woods of Vermont during
sugaring time. Cold nights and sunny days make the conditions perfect
for gathering sap from maple trees, hauling wood for the fire and
boiling sap long into the night to make sweet maple syrup. In Nora's
family, the horses work hard too, and she makes sure they get a
special reward. Engaging story by a Vermont author with vivid and
realistic paintings. For ages 4 and up.
See our INDEX by year
since we started reviewing in 1997.
If you are interested in ordering this
book, it is available in our Country
Bookstore. Click on the link below to view more
descriptive information, pricing and/or order
Sugaring
from the Amazon.com catalog or search on your own.
If you would
like to review a Vermont book for us, send us email.
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