The Cleveland Play House has mirrored the achievements and struggles of both the city of Cleveland and the American theatre over the past one hundred years. This book challenges the established history (often put forward by the theatre itself) and long-held assumptions concerning the creation of the institution and its legacy.
2014-07-01 2014-07-01File Name: B00LCM8VSS
Review
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Ode to the heroes of Flight 93 -- the passengers of the 9/11 plane who fought backBy LMOn 9/11 two airplanes crashed into the World Trade Center in New York City and one into the Pentagon. A fourth plane was destined to do more destruction; but was diverted by the actions of the passengers of United flight 93; who orchestrated their own rebellion and caused the flight to crash into farmland in central Pennsylvania. This is a wonderfully written; elegant ode to the events of 9/11; the heroes of Flight 93; and the men and women of Shanksville; PA; who kept the memory of the heroes of that flight alive. This is more than a record; it is a love story of the town and the families of the victims of the flight. Add in a mini-suspense (the selection of the design team that create a memorial to the flight) and you have a top-notch read from start to finish; filled with human interest and compassion. A great read for every American!1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. A unique and wonderful story of our times as AmericanBy John reynoldsThis is a great book! I spent 10 years chairing the advisory commission that worked with the National Park Service; the families of those who died and local people to create Flight 93 National Memorial; a unit of the National Park System; near Shanksville; PA. Bill Thompson has written a wonderful unique book that has no peer. His account of what happened from the day of the crash to the creation of the memorial is enlivened by personal interviews and reflections of people involved. These include family members of those on the plane; local residents and officials; and many others. He read all of the over 600 oral histories that have been recorded. His telling of the tales is sensitive and informative. It tells much of the story in the words and emotions of real people. It brings to life the feelings of a wide variety of those affected and involved. It is truly a pleasure to read. No other book brings the story to life in such a complete and compelling way. After you read this book you will feel that you were there from the day the plane went down to the completion of the memorial. And if you have not gone to see this unique place of Americas story; you will want to go. Do both...read the book and go to the Memorial.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. A MODEL FOR NARRATIVE WRITINGBy frank martinThis compelling new book is a model for narrative non-fiction writing about landscape architecture; 9/11mdash;and specifically; how the community of Shanksville; Pennsylvania moved from grief to building a lasting memorial.As the former editor of Landscape Architecture magazine; J. William Thompson is one of the leading design writers in the country. Moving beyond a standard magazine feature style; he builds on the fact-based storytelling tradition of Truman Capote; John Hershey; and Tony Hiss to give readers the sense that they are part of the story unfolding around themmdash;that they are rooted in a place and community.Starting with that September morning in 2001 when United Flight 93 crashed deep into the ground on the edge of Shanksville; Thompson traces the years as the town and the families of passengers from all over the world forged a memorial of healing and long-term acceptance.Ever since the controversies over Maya Linrsquo;s Vietnam Memorial; we have known that creating memorials that satisfy everyone is almost impossible in an increasingly pluralistic nation. There are no longer universal symbols for honor; patriotism; and heroism. And this diversity and debate played out in Shanksville.But; Thompsonrsquo;s remarkable narrative also shows howmdash; even though Americans interpret symbols and memory differentlymdash;there are moments when we find a process to overcome old divisions and to move on.For this reason alone; Thompsonrsquo;s book deserves to become a lasting part of college reading lists for courses in design; art history; architecture; and journalismmdash;just to name a few.
