The Lapeer State Home has been a large part of the history of Lapeer County since its beginnings in 1895. After starting with three buildings and housing for 200 patients; the facility grew to encompass several hundred acres and; at its peak; accommodating over 4;000 patients. The history of the home includes a variety of memories from staff members; patients; and visitors who once walked its halls. Images of America: Oakdale: The Lapeer State Home provides a journey of this historic institution and attempts to bring some clarity to questions that remain about the home and its past.
2014-08-09 2014-08-09File Name: B00N267LB0
Review
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful. Worth getting to knowBy A CustomerHaving first discovered Vanessa Bell through an interest in her sister; Virginia Woolf; I consider myself entirely unqualified to judge her status as a painter. The woman who emerges from these short pieces; however; is witty; honest; and deeply intelligent. The memoirs of her childhood; which comprise the first three selections; are filled with humor and warmth; with the sharper side of her wit directed chiefly at her elder half-brother; George Duckworth. George is also the primary subject of the fourth essay; and it says much of Bells writing that he comes across as ludicrous (at best) and yet utterly believable. The remaining memoirs are more generous and less acerbic; particularly one about Bells friend and former lover Roger Fry; recalling the ways in which their love converged with the expansion and evolution of Vanessas painting. The portrait of Fry is that of a kind; open-handed man; brilliant as a teacher if not as a painter; Vanessa; despite being "not a writer;" manages to convey deep emotion with dignity and a wonderful lack of sentimentality.Perhaps my favorite piece is the final one; a lecture Vanessa gave to students at her sons school. In addition to being hugely amusing; its one of the clearest and least pretentious discussions Ive yet seen on what it means to be a painter.Read this book--not for the sake of Bloomsbury hype; or for the gossip-value of Bells unconventional personal life; read it because she was an exceptional woman and artist in her own right and this is as close as we can come now to knowing her.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Worth getting to knowBy A CustomerHaving first discovered Vanessa Bell through an interest in her sister; Virginia Woolf; I consider myself entirely unqualified to judge her status as a painter. The woman who emerges from these short pieces; however; is witty; honest; and deeply intelligent. The memoirs of her childhood; which comprise the first three selections; are filled with humor and warmth; with the sharper side of her wit directed chiefly at her elder half-brother; George Duckworth. George is also the primary subject of the fourth essay; and it says much of Bells writing that he comes across as ludicrous (at best) and yet utterly believable. The remaining memoirs are more generous and less acerbic; particularly one about Bells friend and former lover Roger Fry; recalling the ways in which their love converged with the expansion and evolution of Vanessas painting. The portrait of Fry is that of a kind; open-handed man; brilliant as a teacher if not as a painter; Vanessa; despite being "not a writer;" manages to convey deep emotion with dignity and a wonderful lack of sentimentality.Perhaps my favorite piece is the final one; a lecture Vanessa gave to students at her sons school. In addition to being hugely amusing; its one of the clearest and least pretentious discussions Ive yet seen on what it means to be a painter.Read this book--not for the sake of Bloomsbury hype; or for the gossip-value of Bells unconventional personal life; read it because she was an exceptional woman and artist in her own right and this is as close as we can come now to knowing her.
