Full Text (PDF) - Mississippi Library Association

Page 23 Vol. 67, No. 1, Spring 2003 Mississippi LibrariesAbout BooksAmbrose, Stephen E. and DouglasG. Brinkley. The Mississippi and theMaking of a Nation: From the LouisianaPurchase to Today. Photographs bySam Abell. Washington, D.C.: NationalGeographic Society, 2002. 273 pp.$40.00 hardcover.Two historians and a photographerwent on a journey up the MississippiRiver. While this statement may seemlike the prelude to a joke, this actuallyhappened, and the end result was thebook, The Mississippi and the Making ofa Nation. In honor of the bicentennial ofthe Louisiana Purchase of 1803, theNational Geographic Society asked thelate Stephen Ambrose and DouglasBrinkley (who had both written works onUnited States history and had previouslycollaborated on Witness to America) totravel the length of the Mississippi Riverfrom Pilottown, Louisiana, to Lake Itasca,Minnesota, and discuss historical eventsconnected with the river over the last twocenturies. Sam Abell, a photographer forthe National Geographic magazine,accompanied them, and a portfolio of hispictures is inserted between every twochapters of richly illustrated text.More than a typical coffee table book,in this book one finds a testament to theriver’s beauty, expanse, and power, coupledwith stories about various people andtheir association with the Mississippi.Riverboats, plantations, Thomas Jefferson,Jean Lafitte, Louis Armstrong, MikeFink, Civil War, the St. Louis World’sFair, Mark Twain, Roosevelt and theTeddy bear, floods of 1927 and 1993,W.C. Handy, Underground Railroad,Banvard’s three mile painting, Paul Boyton(the Fearless Frogman), river control,Black Hawk, Grand Excursion of 1854,Charles Lindbergh: all these and morebubble out from the printed page. Whilethe text is not footnoted, there is a twopagebibliography and an extensive index,and the illustration credits alone prove theextent of research.Although not totally devoid of errors –for example, Charles Galigher’s MagnoliaManor in Cairo, Illinois, could not havebeen built in 1969 if General Grantstayed there, and Birth of the Cool refersto Miles Davis recordings made in 1949-50, not 1957 – this book is nonethelessa wonderful celebration of the way inwhich this giant aquatic thread has intertwineditself with natural history, science,historical events, and particularly withcharacters from many walks of life. Readingthe text and gazing at the illustrationswill make one appreciate again the significanceof the “Big Muddy” as the “spineof America” (to quote Ambrose).The Mississippi and the Making of aNation will give clues as to why JorgeLuis Borges walked fully dressed chestdeepinto the Mississippi in order to“understand the essence of America,” orwhy Stephen Ambrose, after he and hisboat tipped over into the muck near oneof the mouths of the Mississippi, exultedin being where “earth meets sea and lifebegan” rather than lamenting his situation.After reading this work, one may beinspired to engage in a similar baptismalritual in the “father of waters.” This isrecommended for public and academiclibraries that serve young adults andadults.Rick TorgersonCatalogerDelta State UniversityHegwood, Martin. Jackpot Bay. NewYork: St. Martin’s Press, 2002. 258 pp.$23.95, hardcover.Jack Delmas does not seek trouble. Itseeks him. A routine insurance jobplaces him in the middle of intrigue, robbery,and murder in Martin Hegwood’snewest novel, Jackpot Bay.Hired by Bayou Casualty InsuranceCompany to “baby-sit” Jackpot Bay Casinoowner Johnnie (the Dime) Koscko andBayou Casualty security auditor TaraConrad, Jack soon discovers major problemswith this arrangement. Johnnie theDime and Tara not only dislike each otherimmensely but are unwilling to worktogether with any kind of tolerance.When Jack and Tara witness theshooting death of a disgruntled formercasino employee, Bayou Casualty ordersJack to begin an investigation into theemployee’s history. Through his investigation,he learns of an embezzlementscheme that has been in progress at thecasino. However, when proceeds fromthe Snow Mountain Band Concert disappearalong with casino manager, RulonHornbeck, Jack suspects that the embezzlementscheme has grown from smalltime petty theft to big time felony robbery.As his search for the truth unfolds, heopens secrets in the past that are best leftalone, and follows a lead to a surprisingend.Hegwood’s mysteries keep the readerturning page after page to find all theanswers. His use of realistic details portraysthe Mississippi Gulf Coast in all itsglory and form while touching on its hiddenand not-so-hidden problems. Withan amazing talent for developing real-lifecharacters who work their way into the lifeof his hero detective, Jack Delmas, Hegwoodoften introduces Southern hospitalityside by side with Southern hostility.With an appealing honesty and a generousfollowing of admirers, Jack Delmashas entered the arena of popular moderndetectives. Hegwood’s continuous developmentof this character’s essence keepsreaders wanting more.Jackpot Bay by Martin Hegwood is amust for all Mississippi libraries, especiallythose catering to a mystery readingpatronage.Donna Phelps FitePurvis Public Branch LibrarianLamar County Library SystemRushing, Felder and WalterReeves. The Mississippi Fruit and VegetableBook. Nashville, TN: Cool SpringsPress, 2002. 312 pp. $19.99.The Mississippi Fruit and Vegetable