Nonfiction

“Memphis has always been a theatrical town—a crossroads in the center of America for entertainment as well as commerce. Movies are among the many things that travel through the city, both for distribution and exhibition. Thousands of people who have lived here or just passed through, especially during and after World War II, found their way to the movie theaters.”

“Venable studies the world about him. Yes, he writes about nuttiness, but he is an appreciator, indeed a lover, of people and place. . . . Spontaneous joy leaps from the page. I would rather be in Hell with my back broken than spend a day fishing, but Venable almost seduces me into wanting to spend time in a bass boat—listening to him.”

“By emphasizing Jackson’s southern identity—characterized by violence, honor, kinship, slavery, and Manifest Destiny—Cheathem’s narrative offers a bold new perspective on one of the nineteenth century’s most renowned and controversial presidents.”

“The end result is something quite astonishing, an engaging and enthralling window into humanity’s collective soul.”

“Jenna’s writing is deep, philosophical and true to her heart. … [her] little book changed my perspective to one of appreciation for all we have now, for next season with even more growing space and for a bug-free October day with dirt-covered hands and knees. … Thank you, Miss Woginrich, for the reminder to savor each day.“

“Tennessee during the Civil War was a state in conflict with herself. She provided more than 120,000 troops to the Confederacy, mostly from Middle and West Tennessee, while 40,000 men from the eastern part of the state joined the Union forces. Overall, more than 16 percent of Tennessee’s total population entered the fray on both sides. Sadly, many of those men, and their families, failed to survive the brutal years that followed. This collection of biographical essays by noted Civil War historian and native Tennessean Randy Bishop provides insight into the lives of sixty-one sons of Tennessee who fought for home and country in both the Confederate and Union forces. While their military careers are the primary focus of the text, Bishop delves into their lives before and after their service to examine the impact their self-sacrifice had on their families and their state”