Retrato do autor

Michael J. Varhola

Autor(a) de Everyday Life During the Civil War

25+ Works 337 Membros 7 Críticas 1 Favorited

About the Author

Michael O. Varhola is an author, editor, publisher, and lecturer. He is the author of Ghosthunting Maryland, Ghosthunting Virginia, and Fire and Ice: The Korean War, 1950-1953. He co-authored Armchair Reader: Civil War; The Writer's Complete Fantasy Reference; and D-Day: The Invasion of Normandy, mostrar mais June 6, 1944. An eight-year veteran of the U.S. Army, he served as an infantryman with the 1st Infantry Division (Forward) in Stuttgart, Germany, during the Cold War and as part of a Civil Affairs team attached to the 3rd Armored Division during the First Gulf War. mostrar menos

Obras por Michael J. Varhola

Everyday Life During the Civil War (1999) 135 exemplares
Life in Civil War America (2011) 84 exemplares

Associated Works

Etiquetado

Conhecimento Comum

Membros

Críticas

Excellent stories. The storytelling is a little clumsy, but there are moments where it gleams. I especially appreciate the list of resources in the back; this is clearly a labor of love.
 
Assinalado
et.carole | Jan 21, 2022 |
This is an interesting look at the various haunting sites that are scattered throughout Maryland. The author usually gives a brief history of the site and the background of the area and then goes into what the details of the haunting are. The writing isn’t boring or stiff as some of these books can be and often the history of the site is more interesting than the actual haunting. It is important to note that all the places, at the time of writing, were open to the public so anyone that wants to do a little ghost hunting on their own should be able to do so. This is also a good book if you looking to learn a little more about the history of Maryland.… (mais)
 
Assinalado
cahallmxj | 1 outra crítica | Jan 11, 2020 |
So, I'm normally a bit more lenient in my ratings than I'm being right now. I can normally appreciate a book for the intention behind it, the decent facts contained within, or the rich inspiration a good story can inspire. I had hoped to learn a fair bit from this book when it comes to local Maryland folklore, and perhaps even have a few sites to visit that would prove rich in a) local history and b) local folk beliefs. Maybe a few ghost tours would stick out...

I wish I had been so lucky.

Unfortunately this book proved a chore to get through, and didn't contain nearly enough information to satisfy me. This was no idle collection of folkloric legends, nor was it a travel guide, or a wealth of historical fact. his book tried to be all of the above (even going so far as to recommend certain restaurants, pubs, and dishes on occasion) and thus became nothing in particular. It felt more like reading unfinished blog entries or yelp reviews than a proper book. This book had a lot of potential, and it truly disappointed me that it never quite lived up to it.

The most irritating part of the book for me was how many times the author admitted to not having visited a site at the right time to be given a tour, go inside, or truly experience it. The author did not live terribly far away from any of the sites mentioned, and that sort of oversight seems unforgivable. Why wouldn't they visit multiple times, or at least call in advance to ensure they were able to do what it was they wished to? That, combined with typos, mentions of paranormal activity that never was fully described, and the lack of photos the author mentioned taking being included in the book made for a maddening experience.

I wish this book was better than it was. I truly do.

I just don't know what the editor was thinking.
… (mais)
 
Assinalado
Lepophagus | 1 outra crítica | Jun 14, 2018 |
The only reason this book is not rated a five, is because of its length. It is simply too short! An excellent reference work that provides a stunning amount of detail on precisely what its title promises. Lucidly written, this book gives the reader a glimpse of what it really meant to the soldiers and civilians to be fighting for "a way of life."
1 vote
Assinalado
Richard7920 | Feb 10, 2013 |

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Estatísticas

Obras
25
Also by
2
Membros
337
Popularidade
#70,620
Avaliação
½ 3.6
Críticas
7
ISBN
22
Línguas
1
Marcado como favorito
1

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