From Kentucky To The Shining Seas

As
you gear up for basketball’s March Madness, await horse-racing
season, or plan the trek into Kentucky’s vast selection of tourist
attractions for the summer, take advantage of these last few cold
days to add some titles to your reading list.

James Archambeault has a
longstanding reputation for his magnificent photographs of various
Kentucky scenes. He has compiled these photographs into three
editions, Kentucky, Kentucky II, and Kentucky III,
all containing accompanying text on Kentucky’s history interwoven
among beautiful images caught on camera. The first and second in
the series, Kentucky and Kentucky II (Graphic Arts
Center Publishing, $39.95), had been out of print until just
recently, disappointing many Archambeault fans. However, due to
the efforts of independent booksellers, these are again available.

John S. Moremen brings his
Korean War experience and his Kentucky heritage into his fictional
account of a family-owned distillery in A Kind of Glory
(The Sulgrave Press, $21.95). In a post-war economy, the small
Crane Distillery faces changes to compete with the larger spirits
companies. Follow Sam Hunter who, after a military childhood in
Korea, guides Crane through these changes while fighting against
traditions and "old money" to keep the company afloat.

Honoring the state’s largest
city is The Encyclopedia of Louisville, edited by John
Kleber (University of Kentucky Press, $39.95). Many facts and
firsts are packed into more than 1,800 entries referencing
Louisville’s history. Learn about the national influences started
in Louisville such as the hot brown, the cheeseburger, and the
"Happy Birthday" song. Study the famous men and women
who are Louisville natives, such as President Zachary Taylor and
Muhammad Ali.

Having children is not
necessary to enjoy Mr. Persnickety and Cat Lady, the new
children’s book written and illustrated by University of Kentucky
grad Paul Brett Johnson (Orchard Books, $15.95). Mr. Persnickety
and Cat Lady are next-door neighbors who don’t even know each
other’s names, much less get along with each other. Cat Lady is
the proud caretaker of 37 cats. Mr. Persnickety is allergic to
them, or so he says. He has to eat his protests, however, when he
develops a severe mouse problem in his home. Cat Lady and her 37
kitties save the day for Mr. Persnickety when she agrees to let
the cats come over and scare away the mice. This cute story is
perfect to teach children how to get along with others.

Ever considered walking from
Los Angeles to New York City? Kentuckian David Stoess did just
that and recorded his travel adventures in Right Foot in the
Pacific, Left Foot in the Atlantic (Hellgate Press, $17.95).
His trip started with the question of how many coins one might
find between Los Angeles and New York City. He did indeed pick up
each coin he found along the way, revealing the total to the
reader at the end of the book. Each chapter details the people and
places he found at particular stops along the way. Some stories
are quirky, some are hilarious, some are insightful. Put together,
this is an enjoyable read about the everyday life of Americans.