Books Reviewed in 1998
Here are the Book of the Month Selections
from 1998. Interested in previous Book of the Month Selections? See our index by year since we started in 1997or search on your own.
December 1998: Fred
Tuttle, Man with a Plan -- a Video by John O'Brien
 This month we review one of our very favorite videos: Fred Tuttle,
Man with a Plan. If you have been following our Vermont Folklore selections, you'll
know that Fred Tuttle decided to run for the Republican nomination for the US Senate this
fall -- for real!
"It used to be that Vermont had two celebrities -- Ben and
Jerry, the ice cream millionaires. Now it's Ben and Jerry -- and Fred." The New York Times
"Fred Tuttle touches an American heartstring that will play
well across the country: a simple, "everyman" story that captures the essence of
community life and real people, while gently satirizing the electoral process -- and
giving it a human touch at the same time. With his loving and often hilarious treatment of
this farmer-turned-candidate story, director John O'Brien has captured a generation and a
way of life that is fast disappearing from our landscape." Kelly Luoma, Vermont Public Television
"John O'Brien uses the hard Vermont countryside and his
neighbors in Tunbridge, Vermont as themselves in the telling of made-up stories. Fred
Tuttle, a wily old country naif, decides to run for Congress and triumphs in his hapless
simplicity over sophistication, money, and power. We do not get a sugared take on pastoral
virtues; we get living people -- cranky, odd, sad, generous.... there's a sharp,
life-weathered Vermont tang to the life we see." Donald
Lyons, The Wall Street Journal
While the real story may not have been quite as triumphant as the
video, Fred managed a very strong showing, capturing approximately one-third of the votes
in the November 1998 election against four-term incumbant Senator Patrick Leahy. Sure to capture your heart and the spirit of Vermont!
--Dr. J
October 1998: Passing Strange:
True Tales of New England Hauntings and Horrors; Joseph A.
Citro; Paperback
 I have to admit.....I was hooked from page one! In Joseph Citro's
introduction to the book, he reminisces about driving from Chester to Rutland, Vermont
when he was a kid. The big thrill for Citro was approaching the Bowman Mansion in the
village of Cuttingsville on Route 103. Since Cuttingsville happens to be where Mile Square
Farm is located and I pass the Bowman Mansion frequently, I had to keep reading.
Check-out an excerpt from another of Citro's spine-tingling books in our Folklore section.
Joseph Citro has managed to provide the reader with
a fascinating collection of bizarre, strange and mysterious stories about New
England....including Vermont. We loved this spine-tingling collection of stories depicting
the haunted history and folklore of New England. A
perfect book for Halloween!
A reader from Alexandria, VA wrote: Extremely entertaining reports of the paranormal...The book is well
written, organized, and indexed, with plenty of interesting stories of today and years
gone by, and I highly recommend the book....
A reader from Massachusetts wrote: Excellent
commentary on New England oddities. The author takes a humorous approach to the oddities
of New England. Many stories are historical dating in 18th and 19th century. This book
makes you think twice about the world beyond. The author has gone to great lengths to
verify all information presented. Wonderfully written; I couldn't put it down.
--Dr. J
Click on the link below to view more
descriptive information, pricing and/or order Passing
Strange: True Tales of New England Hauntings and Horrors from the Amazon.com catalog.
September 1998: Where the Rivers Flow North by
Howard Frank Mosher
 Even if you're not from Vermont, reading this book will make you
feel like you're coming home to Vermont. Howard Frank Mosher captures the essence of the
Northeast Kingdom and Vermont in this selection of short stories. An early collection of
his work, he weaves together compelling plots, fascinating characters, and an
understanding of local community mores and history.
A review by the Worcester Sunday Telegram states: "Kingdom County, Vermont, is an isolated vestige of an earlier New
England. In its rugged hills a proud and resourceful people struggle to live on the land
that is at once their adversary and their life's blood."
"In these six stories Howard Frank Mosher
captures one of the last frontiers of America and draws vivid and wonderfully real
portraits of the men and women who live in its harsh splendor."
--Dr. J
Click on the link below to view more
descriptive information, pricing and/or order Where the Rivers Flow North from the Amazon.com catalog.
August 1998: Spanning Time: Vermont's Covered Bridges by
Joseph C. Nelson
 Covered bridges symbolize small-town America.
Something from the nineteenth century, picturesque and sentimental, "kissing
bridges" or "courting bridges" recall a time when life was simpler. Every
month at Vermont Only, we feature a different covered bridge of
the 106 bridges that dot the Vermont countryside. We've just purchased this beautiful book
and have already found it to be immensely helpful in researching the bridges we
feature each month. Read the following excerpt from the book jacket to give you a flavor
for Joseph Nelson's new book:
"Covered bridges have a special appeal that
goes beyond their unique
appearance and historical interest. The bridges span time as well as rivers and streams,
bringing viewers back to a different era, when craftsmanship mattered and daily life
proceeded at the pace of a horse's trot, not a car's overdrive. Spanning Time: Vermont's
Covered Bridges showcases all of Vermont's historic covered bridges with color
photographs, facts and figures, and written histories.
Yet Spanning Time is more than a book about covered bridges - it is a labor of love.
Author Joseph C. Nelson weaves a rich tapestry of the present and past, the practical and
romantic, and the technical and artistic as he celebrates the bridges and their state.
Beautiful color photographs showcase the aesthetic appeal of the bridges and the
four-season splendor of Vermont. Entertaining and little-known historical anecdotes about
the bridges and the areas
around them introduce readers to local lore.
For those who want to see the bridges for
themselves, the book is organized into fifteen regional tours. Each tour has a map, and
there are precise directions so that travelers can find even the most remote bridge.
Detailed appendices provide information for bridge lovers, including a fact summary for
all of the bridges, an introduction to some of the finer points of truss engineering, and
a bibliography for those who want to read more. There is even a glossary to help readers
understand covered-bridge terminology.
Spanning Time: Vermont's Covered Bridges takes you on a journey of discovery that reaches
across the years and stretches to all corners of Vermont."
Click on the link below to view more
descriptive information, pricing and/or order Spanning Time: Vermont's Covered Bridges from the Amazon.com catalog.
July 1998: Canoe Camping, Vermont and New Hampshire Rivers: A Guide to 600 Miles of
Rivers for a Day, Weekend, or Week of Canoeing by
Roioli Schweiker
 Canoeists will welcome this second, revised edition of the popular guide
to the rivers of Vermont and New Hampshire. Flowing by some of New England's most
unspoiled countryside, these rivers have been selected for both good camping opportunities
and for reliable water through the summer and fall. All fourteen trip descriptions are
accompanied by maps, summary tables and photographs. Information on campsites, picnic
areas, short side hikes and nearby historic sites should continue to make this the
authoritative guide for anyone planning river trips to New England.
Click on the link below to view more
descriptive information, pricing and/or order Canoe Camping from the Amazon.com catalog.
June 1998: Full Duty: Vermonters in the Civil War by
Howard Coffin
 Howard Coffin carefully documents the entrance and participation
of Vermonters in the Civil War. Poignant and unforgettable
stories of Vermonters who fought to save the Union are featured in the book. We excerpt
the beginning of the book in our Folklore section this month. The blurb on the book cover offers insight into Full
Duty.
"Coffin's exciting saga, written with a
keen sense of immediacy, dramatizes why and how a small, poor, remote Northern state
responded so quickly and enthusiastically to President Lincoln's first call to arms in the
fateful spring of 1861. More than 10 percent of Vermont's population -- 34,238 Green
Mountain men and boys -- served bravely, sustaining one of the largest per capita losses
of the entire war."
This is important piece of work about the
Civil War and one we highly recommend.
--Dr. J
Click on the link below to view more
descriptive information, pricing and/or order Full Duty from the Amazon.com catalog.
May 1998: Vermont People by Peter Miller
 Peter Miller captures the essence of the people of
Vermont in this beautifully photographed and eloquently written book. Poignant and unforgettable stories of Vermonters are featured, like the
story of Joe Tuttle, which we excerpt in our Folklore section. The black and white
photos are austerely appropriate and the written vignettes hit very close to home. We were
touched to find a few of our neighbors, Marjorie and Glendon Pierce and Larry Carrara,
showcased in Miller's book.
This is truly a wonderful book and one we
highly recommend.
--Dr. J
Click on the link below to view more
descriptive information, pricing and/or order Vermont People from the Amazon.com
catalog.
April 1998: Plain and Fancy, Vermont's People and their Quilts as a Reflection of America by Richard L. Cleveland and Donna Bister
 We started to write our own review and decided that the
description on the book cover says it all.
"Through quilt masterpieces, the
life of America is reflected in this nostalgic look at the lives of a spirited,
freedom-loving people.
Plain and Fancy brings the land of
Currier and Ives and Norman Rockwell to life. Vermonters will cherish this chronicle of
their state and quilts. And the millions around the world who consider Vermont their
second home will be warmed by it, too.
You will experience life in rural
America, industrialization, westward expansion, the abolitionist movement, the Civil War,
the Victorian era and the Great Depression.
Portrayed are many of the nation's
leading citizens. And here are the stories of ordinary citizens, scratching out livings,
raising families, making quilts we treasure today.
Plain and Fancy will warm your
heart."
This is a wonderful book and one we highly
recommend.The detailed color photographs of the antique quilts were enough to convince me
to purchase the book. If you love quilts and love Vermont, this book is
for you!
--Dr. J
Click on the link below to view more
descriptive information, pricing and/or order Plain and Fancy;
Vermont's People and Their Quilts as a Reflection of America from the Amazon.com catalog.
March 1998: Six Haunted Hairdos by Gregory Maguire
 It's
been awhile since I was ten years old, but this outrageous tale by Gregory Maguire appeals
to young and old alike. Six Haunted Hairdos features Sammy Grubb and his club of Copycats
who try to convince their classmates that ghosts do exist. Thekla Mustard, leader of the
all-girl club of Tattletales, cooks up a plan to spook the boys. With the help of six
wacky wigs, tons of hairspray, and yards of muslin, the tattletales transform themselves
into the Six Haunted Hairdos. But they aren't the only ghostly creatures in this story.
Purchase this book for your favorite 9 to 12 year old and find out who is spooking whom!
--Dr. J
Click on the link below to view more
descriptive information, pricing and/or order Six Haunted Hairdos
from the Amazon.com catalog.
February 1998: My Dog's Brain by Stephen Huneck
 My Dog's Brain, recently released by Penguin Studio, is by internationally
acclaimed Vermont artist Stephen Huneck. This hilarious adventure into the mind of an
everyday dog features Sally, Stephen Huneck's own black Labrador retriever. Illustrated
with colorful woodblock prints, each depicts the predicaments, pleasures and appetites
that make up a dog's life....riding in the car, chewing socks, hogging the bed and more.
Dog ecstasy is perceived as a good belly rub. As owners of a St. Bernard puppy, we loved
this delightful book about the inner workings of a dog's mind. Another thumbs up, oops,
paws up.
--Dr. J
Click on the link below to view more
descriptive information, pricing and/or order My Dog's Brain from the Amazon.com catalog.
January 1998: Groundhog Day Carols by John and Jan Haigis
 As the Mile Square Farm spokeschuck, I heartily endorse this special
selection of songs about me and my relatives. This slim volume is packed with fun songs to
help celebrate my favorite time of year: Groundhog Day! See our Folklore section for one of these timely tunes.Why would anyone bother to write
this book? Here's what John and Jan Haigis, the authors have to say:
"Several years ago, we had an
opportunity to play Santa and Mrs. Claus. We enjoyed singing the songs of the season, but
abruptly the season was over; so we asked ourselves: "OK, what's the next big
holiday?" "Groundhog Day, of course." "What songs are there for
that?" "Me and My Shadow, that's about it." Now, through the wonders of
sleep deprivation and the disease of "Groundhoghaigistis", we present these
songs celebrating this special time of year.....yea Spring!!!"
--PeeWee, Mile Square
Farm Woodchuck
If
you would like to review a Vermont book for us, send us email.
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