Kentucky II

Rating:
Summary: BUY THIS BOOK! NOW! SERIOUSLY!
Review: It is also hard for me living way from Kentucky - as I attend Auburn University. When I do get homesick, I get out Kentucky II and it takes me there. It takes me back to the times of working on the farm, enjoying the beautiful fall colors, and the being with a brand of people like no where else. If you are a native Kentuckian or just want to enjoy the beautiful scenery of our state - from the Western Kentucky tobacco farms, to the Bluegrass, to the rugged mountains and forests of Eastern Kentucky - buy this book! As a amateur photographer, I can say James Archambeault is a hero!

Rating:
Summary: Kentucky II is a fantastic journey through the Bluegrass
Review: It is difficult living far from "my old Kentucky home" so to speak. However, a quick trip to the bookshelf for James Archambeault and Thomas Clark's Kentucky II quickly brings me home again. Kentucky II is predominantly a picture book that focuses on the natural beauty of Kentucky. Oh, and what wonderful pictures they are! The plunging cliffs of Red River Gorge seem almost within reach. The endless miles of streams and rivers look close enough for a swim. Kentucky II captures magnificently the beauty and serenity that is Kentucky. On the other hand, the book does focus too much on the natural side. Kentucky II is primarily devoted to nature, rural culture, and horse racing. There are very few pictures of city or town life. The book itself says "the cities, towns, and villages that today hold slightly more than half of Kentucky's population" (17). This half was nearly snubbed by this book. Louisville, Kentucky's first class city, gets one picture outside of the Churchill Downs horse racing track, while Kentucky's numerous second-class cities get two pictures total, one of Lexington and one of Covington. Kentucky II fails to deliver a complete picture of Kentucky. However, the pictures that are there are so wonderful that this book deserves at least a four star rating. If this book had been named Natural Kentucky, then it might seem less unsure of its mission. This book is a must have for those who wish to have the natural beauty of Kentucky at their fingertips.