Customer Reviews

Voices in the Pines: True Stories from the New Jersey Pine Barrens

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Author Karen Riley has given us the story of a different New Jersey than people know today. Before Esso (now Exxon) built the refineries, before the Wall Streeters built their McMansions; there was a New Jersey with a different set of values that can still be found if one knows where to look.

"Voices in the Pines" tells us where to look. This is Riley's second story set in the pine barrens, and what a story it is. A little known part of the state, the pine barrens sit south of Fort Dix and MacGuire AFB, and is the agricultural area that earned New Jersey the nickname 'The Garden State". Cranburys - corn - tomatoes...from "Jersey Tomatoes" to Ocean Spray Cranbury Juice all come from this region, and she brings us the stories of those who helped build this distinct culture.

It's especially interesting to see her weave in the stories of radium with those of a christian-oriented summer camp, as well as how NJ Gov. Brendan Byrne took such an interest in the area.

Her story is the history of the families and individuals who lived in the barrens over the generations. From the Lee family, Irish immigrants who began farming in 1868, to story of Buzby's General Store (built 1897), Riley invites the reader to participate in a New Jersey style of life unknown to most who live outside it.

Written in a most engaging interview style, "Voices in the Pines" gives the reader a glimpse into a lifestyle hardly associated with New Jersey. Highly reccomended !

Once again, I was not disappointed. This book, Voices in the Pines, is another great work by author Karen F. Riley. She captures the real people of the pines, cementing their stories for the future. Each character tells their unique experience to capture the imagination of the reader. Only a skilled writer like Mrs. Riley can take each tale and make the reader feel as if they themselves met the person and listened to their story right from their own lips. I have lived by the New Jersey Pinelands for 32 years, yet never realized the wealth of the culture that existed so close to me. The illustrations are so well-drawn that they reflect each tale with whimsy and truth, bringing the past alive. I enjoyed this work and can't wait to share it with my friends.