But First... Connecticut Firsts, Bill Faude & John Friedland This book is a one-hundred or so page compendium of all the things that first happened, or were invented, in Connecticut. Well, that's not true, as it would be impossible to create a fully comprehensive list of all of those things. There are just too … [Read more...]
Book Review: Saint of Circumstance
Ain't of Circumstance Saint of Circumstance, Sheila Weller Alex Kelly is a serial rapist. I believe every woman who came forward with stories of Kelly's rapes and assaults in the 1980's. This book chronicles Kelly's life from childhood through his conviction in 1997. Want to know something crazy though? After … [Read more...]
CT Books, Movies, People, & Stories
Connecticut Books, People, & Essays I probably shouldn’t have ever begun reading and writing about Connecticut books. It’s just one of those lists that I can’t possibly “finish” in any meaningful way. But that’s fine, I don’t mind. If you’re into books, I also review non-Connecticut hiking books and the Modern … [Read more...]
Book Review: Barkhamsted Lighthouse
You Never Know What Comes in My Mail... Barkhamsted Lighthouse By Kenneth Feder I'm on a current kick of ripping through a giant stack of books I've had stacked for years. Literally years. Literarily years? Literally. Many of these books are what I lump into the category of "Connecticut books," which surely … [Read more...]
Book Review: Connecticut Beer
From Nutmeg Beer to Beer with Nutmeg Connecticut Beer; A History of Nutmeg State Brewing By Will Siss Reading this book in 2019 is a surreal experience. At least for close watchers of the Connecticut brewery and beer scene. Published in 2015, Waterbury-American columnist and school teacher Will Siss simply could … [Read more...]
Book Review: Picture Book of Old Connecticut
Old Timey Sam Tuttle's Picture Book of Old Connecticut By Sam Tuttle... I think. I've no clue how I came to own this book, but it's been sitting in a pile of "Connecticut books" at my house for years. I'm on a recent kick to plow through that pile (and others) these days, so here we are. I don't really know … [Read more...]
Book Review: Where Water Meets Land
Truss This Book Where Water Meets Land: Historic Moveable Bridges of Connecticut By Bruce Clouette You won't be surprised to learn that I live in this weird world of Connecticut miscellanea. After all, that's all CTMQ is, really. As a result, I've met lots of people with deep interest in Connecticut... stuff. … [Read more...]
Book Review: The Devil’s Rooming House
Okay, it was Hot in 1911 The Devil's Rooming House By M. William Phelps This story is absolutely fascinating and the research effort put into it was certainly impressive. But I must be missing something here, because this book - by a prolific author mind you - is rather terrible. An utter slog to get … [Read more...]
Book Review: Wicked Hartford
Dude. Wicked Good. Wicked Hartford, Steve Thornton Borrowed from the library I tend to approach most books on Connecticut travel and culture quite cynically. At least the travel bit. Sorry, but if I can be honest for a moment, I’ve been to all those places and have also written about them. It’s that “been to all … [Read more...]
Book Review: The Brittle Thread of Life
The Brittle Thread of Life: Backcountry People Make a Place for Themselves in Early America By Mark Williams When I began putting together the CTMQ Town Guides in late 2016, I thought it would be a good idea to try to include books ostensibly about each town – should such books exist. In the case of Granby, I … [Read more...]