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| We've all been scammed; admit it >> Book Reviews | mariwinn |
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Some readers may be a bit leery over paying any sum to read a book entitled, "Scammed." After all, it would be so easy for an author to borrow what he exposes. Christopher Elliott, however, is ...more |
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| Bi-polar sufferer helps others face life >> Book Reviews | jkennedy |
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By Jack L. Kennedy
Survival stories often are compelling. In The Streets Terry L. Dorn, pictured, tells us his life story as he tries to find new paths for both body and soul. It is a very ...more |
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| Beware when blue water suddenly turns white >> Book Reviews | mariwinn |
| Robert C. Samuels, at about age 45, woke up very early one morning thinking nothing of the slight weakness in his left leg. When he woke up a second time to begin his daily routine, he realizes that ...more |
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| Acing the SAT essay >> Book Reviews | jkennedy |
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By Jack L. Kennedy
How to Write a Killer SAT Essay in 25 Minutes or Less by Tom Clements (TC Tutoring) is a promising venture that appears to be two books in one.
It is what the title ...more |
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| Preserving a sanctuary during wartime >> Book Reviews | jkennedy |
| Small boys with swords and guns often fantasize about defending their neighborhoods, their streets, their homes or their church from bad guys. In Sanctuary, Pittsburg, Kansas native Terry W. Drake ...more |
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| Author immortalizes long-lost Olympian >> Book Reviews | sbranch |
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by Susan Branch
Quick! Name a famous African American athlete who competed in the Olympics. Jesse Owen may come to your mind first, but there are many other possibilities.
You probably ...more |
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| Award-winning author tackles theme of slavery >> Book Reviews | mariwinn |
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Moinette will make you think twice before uttering a racial slur or thinking that African Americans are lucky because they got free passage here. She is the principal character in Susan ...more |
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| How characters evolve in Star Wars series >> Book Reviews | mariwinn |
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A work that "will raise the viewer's consciousness" is how author Michael Kaminski categorizes his unauthorized account of the life and work of filmmaker George Lucas. The Secret History of Star ...more |
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| Heart-wise cooking is double entendre >> Book Reviews | jkennedy |
| Food for thought as found in good books is the perfect Christmas present, and will brighten your Festival of Lights without adding a calorie.
This is certainly the case with Mindless Eating, ...more |
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| Human trafficking for the uninitiated >> Book Reviews | sbranch |
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by Susan Branch
Some read to be entertained, some to be enlightened. There is food for thought for both groups in Pamala Kennedy Chestnut's fictionalized book, More Than Rice--"journey ...more |
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| Mike Pappas shares growing up in New York >> Book Reviews | sbranch |
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by Susan Branch
Those were the days...To the boomer generation, there are many things about Growing Up the Greek Way in the Big Apple (iUniverse, March 2011) that will bring back memories, ...more |
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| When fact and fiction tell the whole story... >> Book Reviews | jkennedy |
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By Jack L. Kennedy
Try wrapping teaching, testing, tutoring, sex, attempted murder, egos, child abuse and discrimination into one book. At times, Chain Gang Elementary (Thornbriar Press) does ...more |
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| Dark side revealed but still mysterious >> Book Reviews | jkennedy |
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By Jack L. Kennedy
Searches often are difficult, winding, and multidimensional. That is certainly the case with The Falling Away by T.L. Hines (Thomas Nelson, Sept. 14, 2010).
The book, ...more |
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| I survived the Joplin tornado--NOT! >> Book Reviews | mariwinn |
| I was on amazon.com finishing the placement of an order when amazon, consistent with its policy, tried to dazzle me with other things to buy. Well, one of the things that popped up was the suggestion ...more |
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| Joplin: a trip down memory lane >> Book Reviews | mariwinn |
| Lovers of history line up at Hastings Books on September 24, 2011, to have copies of Joplin autographed by its author, Leslie Simpson.
by Mari Winn Taylor
A building doesn't have to be old to ...more |
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| Does your toothbrush have dust on it? >> Book Reviews | jkennedy |
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By Jack L. Kennedy
Passion and knowledge are important tools for any communicator. They are just as valuable for dentists who write books on gum disease as they are for great novelists. Dr. ...more |
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| 5:41, insight into the Joplin tornado >> Book Reviews | mariwinn |
| For those who like their information in one place, they will appreciate the efforts of Joplin middle school teacher Randy Turner doing what he does best on "The Turner Report"--chronicling the day's ...more |
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| Bush aide remembers Sept. 11 >> Book Reviews | jkennedy |
| One man’s view of unforgettable events can be chilling and compelling in its simplicity. That is particularly true when the man is an aide to President George W. Bush and the story is lived on Sept. ...more |
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| Sixteen days to say good-bye >> Book Reviews | mariwinn |
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Pictured are David Hallman and Bill Conklin at Casa de los Arcos in Puerto Vallarta where they stayed every February for many years. (Photo compliments of the author)
by Mari Winn Taylor
For ...more |
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| Catching the spirit >> Book Reviews | jkennedy |
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By Jack L. Kennedy
Dave McKenzie's memoir The Spirit's Journey (iUniverse) may be many things.
Often it is what the title says, a tale not so much of an auto engineer turned experimenter, ...more |
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| Everybody's writing a book these days... >> Book Reviews | jkennedy |
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By Jack L. Kennedy
One sure way to chill out during July: read a book.
Surprises are between the covers, particularly if the authors are new or unknown and need your support or solace. The ...more |
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| Rusty describes his dog's life for readers , 4-8 >> Book Reviews | mariwinn |
| The real Rusty, a stray who wound up at the home of author Janus Moncur in Tennessee, says he "escaped from a puppy mill to find a good life."
A new book by first time author Janus Moncur--well, ...more |
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| Soaring with a test pilot >> Book Reviews | jkennedy |
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By Jack L. Kennedy
Some books leave the reader up in the air. In the case of The Lonely Sky: The Personal Story of America's Pioneering Experimental Test Pilot, that is a stimulating, ...more |
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| Crowder College exemplifies author's theories >> Book Reviews | jkennedy |
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By Jack L. Kennedy
Four words might appropriately describe the heart of Kent Farnsworth's cogent collection of thoughts about education: people, plans, caring and rigor.
His thoughtful ...more |
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| Nazis and drug companies share unholy alliance >> Book Reviews | sbranch |
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by Susan Branch
Young Cambridge art historian Adam Locke doesn't believe that his friend and colleague Reggie Crawford died in a car accident, nor yet that he committed suicide. Locke soon ...more |
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| Publishing the insightful black book >> Book Reviews | jkennedy |
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By Jack L. Kennedy
If you have several generations of political clout, history, ego and money in the family, write a book about it. If your name is Adlai Stevenson III and you cannot find a ...more |
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| A glimpse back in time: apartheid South Africa >> Book Reviews | sbranch |
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by Susan Branch
A young boy, growing up in a society that he gradually realizes is corrupt, amidst the turmoil of the 1960's--sound familiar? But this is not just another American coming of ...more |
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| Fiction writer offers intriguing historical trip >> Book Reviews | sbranch |
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by Susan Branch
Valladine! As 10-year-old Henry, his parents, his uncle and his pregnant aunt flee across the Pyrennees to escape from the Nazis, his aunt's labor pains start. He and the ...more |
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| How Joplin earned its naughty reputation >> Book Reviews | mariwinn |
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This image from the postcard collection of Galen Augustus provided the cover illustration for Larry Wood's new book, Wicked Joplin.
Wicked Joplin The name should get everyone's attention. ...more |
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| State of education: teachers at the forefront >> Book Reviews | jkennedy |
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By Jack L. Kennedy
Many believe that the best way to judge something is to experience it firsthand. Others rely on the prophesies of pundits commenting upon things from afar, their academic ...more |
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| The Bible - its significance is debated >> Book Reviews | staff |
| What do you think of the Bible? Swear by it? Swear by it and never even read it? Prefer to have someone else interpret it for you? The following book reviews discuss authors who dare to delve into ...more |
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| Camp's equine saga continues >> Book Reviews | jkennedy |
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by Jack L. Kennedy
Joe Camp knows dogs and did well as the creator and producer of Benji movies a few years ago.
Joe Camp knows and loves horses, too. He went into seven printings with The Soul ...more |
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| Trenton: Past glimpses, present complexities >> Book Reviews | sbranch |
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by Susan Branch
There’s a missing word that book reviewers and literary critics alike could use to describe certain books. Perhaps “impetus” would be the best choice to fill this gap. It’s the ...more |
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| Searching for beauty not just skin deep >> Book Reviews | mariwinn |
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In an article, "Zapping Fat" (Tulsa World, May 2007) science writer Cary Aspinwall writes that Dr. Leslie Masters who at the time operated Advanced Skin Solutions, was making about $2,000 a pop ...more |
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| Eleanor Roosevelt revealed >> Book Reviews | jkennedy |
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by Jack L. Kennedy
Stories about strong, creative, caring and versatile women who are former journalists and educators are always nourishing reading. But when one such figure writes about ...more |
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| Author shares her love of Turkey and tea >> Book Reviews | mariwinn |
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Dear Ms. Branning,
I decided that there was no better way to review your book, An American Woman's Letters to Turkey--Yes, I Would Love Another Glass of Tea (Blue Dome Press, 2010) than to ...more |
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| Author answers, What's the matter with education? >> Book Reviews | jkennedy |
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by Jack L. Kennedy
Buffet lines are the best, this reviewer and pseudo-gourmet thinks.
You can easily take your time, choose from a wide variety at your leisure, and find it all both ...more |
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| La-ti-do, to Dickfish we go >> Book Reviews | jkennedy |
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by Jack L. Kennedy
'Ever know anyone who appeared to be all style and no substance?
Add five more "anyones" to that. Add a wandering plot with lots of spoiled, silly, sensual, ...more |
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| Joe Camp's answer to Who Needs Hollywood >> Book Reviews | jkennedy |
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by Jack L. Kennedy
A wise elder once said, "You can't tell a book by its cover."
He or she must have been referring to Who Needs Hollywood, subtitled "The amazing story of a small time ...more |
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| Baxter Springs author compiles book on cemetery >> Book Reviews | staff |
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Civil War Veterans Buried in the Baxter Springs, Kansas Cemetery, by historian and genealogist Earleene Spaulding is a book that has just been released.
From what started out as a collection ...more |
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| Get to know George Washington Carver >> Book Reviews | staff |
| George Washington Carver on a daily nature walk (Photo courtesy of Tuskegee University)
George Washington Carver's desire to do something significant with his life should be an inspiration to ...more |
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| Be scared to death..or at least fascinated >> Book Reviews | jkennedy |
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by Jack L. Kennedy
Some writers are frightening.
But in Beth Cooper's case, that is a recommendation, not a criticism. Her Ghosts of Kansas (Schiffer) is an excellent volume to take to ...more |
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| Complexity of Jerusalem revealed >> Book Reviews | mariwinn |
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Photographer Marcelo Bendahan captures the look of Israeli society in his book of photos depicting Jerusalem.
Jerusalem is a city of many contrasts. It is a melting pot of people from all over ...more |
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| Ozarkan author pens tale of family relationships >> Book Reviews | jkennedy |
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by Jack L. Kennedy
Back to the Homeplace, a first novel by William Leverne Smith of Hollister, MO (Vision to Action Publishing) is in some ways unique, as it updates the cliche of the "return ...more |
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| Youngest chess author shares secrets >> Book Reviews | k-knapp |
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Boris Spassky, Anatoly Karpov, Garry Kasparov, and Viswanathan Anand, as youngsters under 20 years old, have won the World Junior Chess Championship. In 2007 add Daniel Naroditsky, pictured, who ...more |
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| When politics overcome justice: an exposé >> Book Reviews | jkennedy |
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by Jack L. Kennedy
Perhaps, the televised so-called reality shows have us a bit jaded when it comes to determining what is truth and what is fiction. It is often difficult to tell which ...more |
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| Friend pays homage to Vern Miller, Kansas lawman >> Book Reviews | jkennedy |
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by Jack L. Kennedy
Vern Miller was a character.
To author and apparently good friend Mike Danford, he was Vern Miller: Legendary Kansas Lawman (iUniverse, 2009). To a substantial number of ...more |
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| Greg Dobbs takes us to the wrong lane >> Book Reviews | jkennedy |
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by Jack L. Kennedy
The term "foreign correspondent" for many conjures up the image of someone buckling their swash and charging bravely into battle to prove that the pen is mightier than ...more |
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| Baxter's heyday captured by Joplin author >> Book Reviews | jkennedy |
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by Jack L. Kennedy
Some older cowhands along this Internet trail will recall the early Saturday cowboy shoot-'em-up movies at the Fox, Paramount or even the odoriferous Orpheum theaters.
...more |
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| Arkansas college head reminisces about friendship >> Book Reviews | jkennedy |
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by Jack L. Kennedy
Often the most important things come in small packages and little moves do not loom large until years later.
That may be the major lesson in The Side-Yard Superhero by ...more |
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| Three authors offer tips for life >> Book Reviews | mariwinn |
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Two books, were called to our attention that in some way deal with finding a sense of self worth and with it dealing with what life offers.
Dougie Goes to School, the second in the "Dougie's ...more |
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| If the animals could talk... >> Book Reviews | jkennedy |
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by Jack L. Kennedy
Often, fiction is truer than reality.
Sure, fans of "Survivor Samoa" on television would not believe that, perhaps, but author Mitch Jayne proves it again, in ...more |
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| Searching for true love in the real world >> Book Reviews | mariwinn |
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Stephanie Rockey from the Washington, DC metropolitan area is the founder of a dating service called True Life Partners. She decided to share the knowledge she gained from hundreds of client ...more |
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| Name your reading pleasure: dark side or not >> Book Reviews | staff |
| Vampires, whether in historical fiction or in modern novels requiring blood-curling realism, always are a source of fascination, especially for youngsters. But is there becoming too much obsession ...more |
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| Here's a trio of books to read to youngsters >> Book Reviews | staff |
| Research is showing that children who have been read to at an early age are better prepared to succeed in school. Reading aloud to children helps stimulate brain development as well as to provide an ...more |
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| English exposure to Cumandá >> Book Reviews | mariwinn |
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Noe O. Vaca ("Ozzie"), a former Ecuadoran educator but now an American citizen living in South Carolina, is spending his later years writing short stories and translating and interpreting ...more |
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| Former Globe columnist is memorialized >> Book Reviews | jkennedy |
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by Jack Kennedy
A slice of life
Willa Younger, unfortunately, may represent a declining art.
From 1977 for some 22 years, she was the food editor and a columnist for The Joplin Globe. ...more |
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| Book reviews: Reading with the kinesthetic method >> Book Reviews | jkennedy |
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by Jack Kennedy
Titles can be deceptive, just like people.
A Recipe Book for Tutors; Teaching the Kinesthetic Learner by Cynthia Parsons (Rowman & Littlefield) may at first blush sound ...more |
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| Book reviews: From Branson to Bible verses >> Book Reviews | jkennedy |
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by Jack Kennedy
Three varied volumes which might be worth a few minutes of non-demanding summer leisure time have crossed this reviewer's desk. If you do not expect much from them, these ...more |
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| The joy of communicating with horses >> Book Reviews | jkennedy |
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Review by Jack L. Kennedy
Several years ago, a little girl growing up with her big brothers in a farm town suburb of Kansas City met a horse.
She would tell stories of the part-Arabian, ...more |
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| Inspirational books for gift-giving >> Book Reviews | jkennedy |
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Reviews by Jack L. Kennedy
It is often difficult to find the right words, written or oral, when you are under stress or need to comfort others.
Two authors of recent inspirational ...more |
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| All you want to know about Missouri trolleys >> Book Reviews | jkennedy |
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An early newspaper clipping shows conductors standing at a dangerous crossing where two rail lines intersected. An interesting book for the lover of trolleys--and not of Aaron Buerge's restaurants ...more |
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| Selections from small publishing houses >> Book Reviews | jkennedy |
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Reviews by Jack Kennedy
It is never the wrong time to pick up a good book, if you can find one. The current bibliographic buffet includes a variety of morsels, some tasty, some tantalizing ...more |
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| On being cynically realistic >> Book Reviews | mambo |
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Review by Mark Adams
"A light hearted romp" will not be found in any descriptions about The American Lie: Government by the People and Other Political Fables (Paradigm Publishers, July 2007), ...more |
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| Novelist captures the spirit of the Ozarks >> Book Reviews | jkennedy |
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Ever meet a real, live ghost? That may seem like a chilling contradiction in terms until you read Fiddler's Ghost (Wildstone Media, 2007) by well-known Ozark folklorist Mitch Jayne. Jayne is a ...more |
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| BTK killer incarcerated but still a mystery >> Book Reviews | jkennedy |
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by Jack L. Kennedy--
Kennedy was night police reporter, then education writer, for the Wichita Eagle for nine years before leaving for the Lincoln, NE Journal in October, 1973--three months ...more |
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| First-time author entertains with P.I. yarn >> Book Reviews | jkennedy |
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by Jack L. Kennedy
This book is a mystery not only because it is a detective yarn, titled A Nick Turner PI Novel: Love's Worth by first-time writer F. D. Bersey Jr., but because the ...more |
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| A look beneath the faces of history >> Book Reviews | jkennedy |
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by Jack L. Kennedy
Thrown together in a small book that barely touches their accomplishments, what do 18 leaders have in common?
Not much, at least on the surface--and, perhaps, that is ...more |
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| New guides for ID-ing Missouri birds and flowers >> Book Reviews | sltimme |
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by Dr. Stephen L. Timme,professor of botany and director and curator of the Theodore M. Sperry Herbarium, Department of Biology, Pittsburg State University, Pittsburg, KS
Michael Roedel and ...more |
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| The killer's M.O. makes for a chilling tale >> Book Reviews | jkennedy |
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by Jack L. Kennedy
James L. Castner's novel The Tsantsa Homicides has something for just about everyone. It would be a mistake if the reader were to put it down before the often-chilling ...more |
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| Mindless Eating is a nourishing read >> Book Reviews | jkennedy |
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by Jack L. Kennedy
Mindless Eating may be the most nourishing book you read all year. It is full of tasty morsels dipped in a rich, creamy, sometimes sarcastic sauce of humor, spiced with ...more |
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| Wagner authors book on Eisenhower republicanism >> Book Reviews | jkennedy |
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by Jack L. Kennedy
In 1952 a recent Joplin High School graduate enrolled at what is now Pittsburg State University went downtown to check out the environment. He found, at about Fourth and ...more |
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