 |
Book
Reviews,
Book Lover Resources, Advice for Writers and Publishers |
| Home / Reviewer's
Bookwatch |
Reviewer's Bookwatch
Table of Contents
Reviewers Recommend
Seasons in Basilicata: A Year in a Southern Italian Hill Village
David Yeadon
Harper Collins
10 East 53rd Street New York, New York 10022
ISBN: 006053110X $25.95 463 pages
Andrew Martino
Reviewer
At what point does a tourist become a traveler?
Seasons in Basilicata: A Year in a Southern Italian Hill Village is a major new work from
seasoned
traveler and illustrator David Yeadon. The basic premise of the book is to spend all four seasons
in
places that are off the crowded tourist beat. Seasons in Basilicata is the first in a series of such
books. Yeadon's reasons for traveling to Basilicata are revealed to be as literary as they are
exploratory.
Yeadon (accompanied for most of the year by his wife, Anne) has done what all serious students
of
literature dream about: he has followed the trail of one of his favorite books, Christ Stopped at
Eboli
by Carlo Levi, to experience for himself the uncanniness of southern Italy, replete with its
superstition, poverty, ancient ways, curses, and the supernatural. "Levi's book on Basilicata was
our
first and most transforming inspiration. His descriptions were Siren calls to us" In a very Catholic
country, southern Italy has always suffered a kind of annexation-complex from the rest of the
nation.
Nonetheless, its allure for Yeadon and his wife is contagious as the reader navigates his or her
way
through the marvelous strangeness of southern Italy.
Yeadon's writing style is straight-forward and lyrical at the same time. His descriptions of food
preparation and consumption are not only informative, especially for those of us who enjoy our
food
wrapped in the sanitary plastic containers laid out in regimentary formation in supermarket isles,
they are celebrations of the art of living. The meals described throughout the book are social
events
which bring people together in order to talk. Yes talk. Absent are the meals on the run we have
become chained to in this velocity-determined culture in the United States. There are no mothers
driving minivans rushing to get their kids to soccer practice here. In fact, what Yeadon and his
wife
are continually rushing off to (sometimes to their dismay, it becomes impossible to refuse) are
meals
that turn into impromptu feasts
Seasons in Basilicata is a book that defies classification: part travel book, part history, part fiction
(so I'm told by a "reliable" source close to the Yeadons), part cook book, part literary criticism.
Seasons in Basilicata has an allure that pulls the reader in and reminds us just how unexplored our
world still is. More importantly it is a book in the most magnificent way. One does not have to be
familiar with the works of Carlo Levi in order to enjoy this meditation, but it helps. The reader
only
has to bring his or her imagination and willingness to turn himself or herself over completely to
what
is uncanny while traveling. Part of the travel experience, Yeadon reminds the reader continuously,
is
the willingness to encounter that which is not planned. The Yeadon's did not have an
excruciatingly
structured itinerary (which ruins all spontaneity while traveling); this was no ordinary family
"vacation." Seasons in Basilicata offers us a glimpse into the real lives of its citizens; citizens who
are for the most part poor and forgotten by the rest of Italy. The "southern question," as it has
been
called, still remains a fundamental stumbling block in the Italian collective identity. The
southerners
are often considered backwards, superstitious and uncivilized, while the northerners are
technologically advanced and civilized.
Seasons in Basilicata is an armchair feast for those who are unable or unwilling to leave behind
"responsibilities" for more than a week or two. David Yeadon is a traveler in the most resonant
sense. He travels to experience in order to understand. Although his writing is firmly planted in
the
19th century era of travel writing as a form of knowledge production, Yeadon, for the most part
(at
one point he loses patience in a store while an old woman checks out her purchases), is willing to
sacrifice the comforts of "civilization" (read velocity and convenience) and wade thoughtfully into
a
stream that is more calm, more serene.
The Secret Life of Bees
Sue Monk Kidd
Viking/Penguin Putnam
375 Hudson St., New York, NY 10014
ISBN: 0670894605 $24.95 302 pp.
Anika Paaren-Sdano
Reviewer
In The Secret Life of Bees, Sue Monk Kidd describes with accuracy and warmth the journey of an
adolescent girl in search of familial love. Lily, our central character, leaves "home," a peach farm
in
South Carolina, with her African-American nanny, Rosaleen. Her leaving is not so much a running
away, as it is the beginning of her trek to find love. Her abusive father, T.Ray, whom she cannot
even bear to call Dad, and mysterious objects left by her deceased mother, lead Lily to flee the
peach
farm and find herself in the home of the Boatwright sisters. Along the way, Lily breaks the law
and
the unwritten societal rules of the Civil Rights Act era in the South.
Kidd realistically depicts the mixed swirl emotions experienced by the adolescent Lily as she
contemplates her mother's death, and her personal memories of her mother. As the story is written
in first person, the reader is keenly aware of Lily's innermost thoughts. She experiences great
conflict, internally seesaws between hatred and love, as she searches for the answer: did her
mother
desert her? Did she ever have the intention of coming back to get her? Lily, at times, shows the
stubbornness of an adolescent, the innocence and dependence of a child, and the rationality of an
adult.
Not only are the characters and story engaging and loveable, but Kidd's description of rural South
Carolina in the dead of summer charms a reader as well. She writes of the smells and sounds of
the
region, the affects of the stifling heat and humidity on human capability and last but certainly not
least, the natural process of bee-keeping. Bee-keeping is central to the story, as it is the
Boatwright
sister's livelihood, but it also serves as metaphor for Lily's search for her mother's love. The book
is
infused with scenes of nature and organic living. Readers can almost smell Lily's sweat as she
works
in the honey house, or the South Carolina jasmine in bloom.
In the genre of Southern fiction, especially that which is intended for a female audience, The
Secret
Life of Bees is a confident and insightful effort by the author. The story and setting are entrancing.
The book is nearly impossible to put down, even after a long day at work. The intriguing
characters
as well as the glimpse into the Southern summer, make for a highly enjoyable, yet intelligent,
read.
Dry, A Memoir
Augusten Burroughs
St Martin's Press
175 5th Avenue, New York, NY, 10010
0312272057, $24.95, 293 pp.
Coletta Ollerer
Reviewer
Augusten is a young advertising copywriter who is also gay. In his biography, he walks the reader
through the swamp of alcoholism leaving us both horrified and amused
We meet him as his devoted colleagues participate in an intervention where he reluctantly agrees
to
seek help for his drinking problem. He chooses a facility which caters to gay men called The
Proud
Institute "A rehab hospital run by fags will be hip. Plus there's the possibility of good music and
sex." (p23) After a time in detox he enters into the routine of institutional life: morning
affirmations
where one reminds onself of one's worth, group therapy, one on one therapy, evening
affirmations.
He becomes friendly with a Brit named Hayden. He misses his true love who goes by the name
Pighead, an AIDs patient and an investment banker.
His counselor at the Institute, Rae, assures him that Rehab is just the start. He will need
counseling
four times each week for six months, then AA meetings every day. Upon release he begins to see
another counselor and attends AA meetings daily. He struggles, "I miss alcohol. Like it's a person.
I
feel abandoned." (p117)
While attending an AA meeting he meets a dazzlingly handsome gay man, Foster, and finds
himself
falling in love. The feelings are returned and they embark on a relationship even though a
romantic
relationship with another alcoholic is strongly proscribed.
We get a glimpse of his heavy duty battle against the tentacles of inebriety when he agrees to meet
his friend, Jim, in a bar for the purpose of becoming acquainted with Jim's new girl friend. As he
enters the bar he notices that "colorful liquor bottles are lit from below like fine art. They look
breathtakingly beautiful. Seeing them, I am filled with longing. It's not an ordinary craving. It's a
romantic craving. Because I don't just drink alcohol. I actually love it." (p130) He exits as soon as
he
is able.
His relationship with Foster continues even though Foster has `slipped' back into his addiction to
crack and is on a downward spiral. Pighead is hospitalized. Things are beginning to become
uncontrollable and Augusten is sick of AA and is positive he can handle everything without the
aid
of meetings. He knows Foster is dragging him down and he can't bear the thought of the
impending
death of his beloved friend, Pighead. He finds himself inside of a bar. "I would like to conveniently
sidestep what is happening in my life at the moment." (258) He takes a drink. "An odd thing
happens. Instead of getting sloppy drunk I get focused drunk. . . I have the clarity of mind to
know
that the reason I am drunk and in a dark bar with a strange guy is because I am desperate to
control
something." (p259)
Since a fair amount of intemperence has appeared in my family, this reviewer appreciated
Augusten's
bio for the insight it offers into the mind of those who contend with the bottle. I read the book in
a
day and a half and found it both revealing and entertaining. Augusten is a funny guy in addition to
being very smart and gifted. I enjoyed getting to know him.
Deception Point
Dan Brown
Atria Books
1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020
ISBN#: 0743490304 $24.95 384 pp.
Marty Duncan, Reviewer
www.omagadh.com
Put on the coffee. Get a warm comforter to wrap around yourself. Tell your spouse that you are
busy for the next three days. Ignore food and water. Pour yourself a cup of coffee and sit down to
read Deception Point, Dan Brown's scientific thriller. It's a ride you will enjoy in the comfort of
your own easy chair.
Deception Point has all of the scientific gadgets that any reader could possibly want: satellites, cell
phones, new Army weapons, a gun that spits ice bullets, a nuclear submarine and the proof that
there
is life elsewhere in the universe. The action begins when a Special Ranger group of four grabs a
geologist, throws him in a plane and at 10,000 feet over a glacial rift shoves him out the door,
sans
parachute. We learn later that the geologist made a low frequency radio call to tell NASA that
there
was a large meteorite embedded in the Milne Ice Shelf. NASA responds after their PODS satellite
spots the meteorite.
Technologists and civilian specialists arrive on the ice shelf to verify the data that the President
will
announce. It's a discovery that is bound to bolster the President's chances of re-election. How
fortunate it was discovered two months before the election. Is it coincidence or careful planning
by a
senior White House aide?
Pull your comforter around you. You will enjoy the deception and the twists and even the final
little
slight of hand (in plain view of 30 cameras).
My Sister's Wedding
Hannah R. Goodman
iUniverse, Inc.
2021 Pine Lake Road, Lincoln, NE 68512
www.iuniverse.com www.hannahgoodman.com
ISBN 0595312659 $10.95 108 pp.
Franci McMahon
Reviewer
Wish I'd read this book when I was a teen. Perhaps I'd have had a bit more insight into the
mysteries
of a family complicated by too much alcohol.
Hannah Goodman's ability to tell the tale of My Sister's Wedding is clear. This novel will appeal
to
all Young Adults, whether there is too much alcohol in their family or not. We all know someone
struggling with this particular affliction.
The story is told through the eyes of Madeline, or Maddie, who is a likeable teen who wants
answers. She gets her sister out of awful jams and covers for her screw-ups. Her life is coming
apart.
Maddie's two best friends, Peter and Susan, have dropped her, enmeshed in their own romance.
Her
average, quirky parents seem to wear blinders. Maddie's boy friend, Justin, is supposedly acting
out
the grief of the death of his father through drinking. For her sister Barbara is it normal growing
pains, or is there a larger problem? No one wants to talk about it, except Bubbie, a real life
Grandmother. She's a gem.
The central focus of Maddie's sister Barbara's wedding is where it all hits the fan. Maddie can not
tell herself anymore lies. She no longer makes excuses for her sister, or her boyfriend. Breaking
the
secrets is one of the hardest things to do when you grow up in a family clouded by alcohol.
For the most part the characters all do an excellent job of living the story, but occasionally
Maddie
wants to explain more than she needs to.
Ms. Goodman lives in Rhode Island and is a High School English teacher and counselor. This is
her
first novel. I look forward to her new novel about Maddie and her universal family. Ms. Goodman
does a great job writing an amusing, lively novel which takes the wool away from our eyes.
Goddess in the Grass: Serpentine Mythology and the Great Goddess
Linda Foubister
Ecco Nova Editions
Victoria BC
www.ecconova.com
ISBN: 0973164824 $19.95 204 pages
Rose Glavas
Reviewer
"The serpent - is it a symbol of evil and pernicious sex, or is it a form of the life-renewing great
Goddess?"
This quote is found on the back cover of this title.... the cover of which features the lovely 'Lilith'
by
John Collier. If you haven't seen it, the painting portrays a naked young woman with long hair
being
caressed and coiled by a large serpent from foot to shoulder. The imagery is naked and
erotic.
Before I got my copy of "Goddess in the Grass", I wasn't really sure what to expect... the title
sounded interesting in it's own right.
Once I received it, the described cover got my interest straight away... I couldn't wait to learn
more
about serpentine mythology and the great goddess. Part of this meant learning about the author -
Linda Foubister.
I looked through the title for information about Linda, but wasn't able to find anything about
her....
my next step was to search the net. I found the publisher's website at
http://www.eccenova.com/goddess_in_the_grass.htm where the author's background as a
biologist
who has studied snakes, and has combined this study with her interest in mythology is explained.
Linda lives in Victoria, B.C. in a grove of oak trees - lucky thing!
"Goddess in the Grass" is her first book. It has a depth and complexity that is well worth investing
in
particularly if you are interested in a female perspective of mythology through the various cultures
and historical periods of time. Linda has done a spectacular job in covering this complex subject in
easy to read language and logical layout so that the structure keeps relevant subjects easy to
navigate.
The chapters are set out as follows:
The Primordial Serpent Goddess
The Serpent Goddess Overthrown
The Renewing Serpent Goddess
The Fertile Serpent Goddess
The Prosperous Serpent Goddess
The Copulating Serpent Goddess
The Womb of the Serpent Goddess
The Deadly Serpent Goddess
The Two-Faced Serpent Goddess
The Contemporary Serpent Goddess
As can be seen, the various aspects of the serpentine mythology are thoroughly examined from a
number of viewpoints.
The dictionary of serpent goddesses is another section of this book I think is worthwhile - this is
approximately 50 pages long so is quite detailed. This alone is worth having, so is an added
bonus.
I would recommend "Goddess in the Grass" to anyone interested in mythology, women's issues
and/or the use of animals as symbols in history and contemporary times. This is an excellent
reference book and comparison of serpentine mythology from all parts of the world.
Unbelievably Good Deals and Great Adventures That You Absolutely Can't Get Unless You're
Over 50 (2005-2006)
Joan Rattner Heilman
McGraw-Hill
300 Water Street, Whitby, On
ISBN: 0071438297 $14.95 US $21.95 CAN
Norman Goldman, Reviewer
Bookpleasures.com
No age group represents such an enormous market of potential consumers than those over the
age
of fifty. According to author Joan Rather Heilman, author of Unbelievably Good Deals and Great
Adventures That You Absolutely Can't Get Unless You're Over 50 (2005-2006), more than a
quarter of the population of the United States is over 50, and by the 2020 it is expected to reach
one
third. It is little wonder why the business community actively courts this sector of the population
that controls most of the wealth of the USA.
If you are one of the lucky ones who have reached the "big five O," hold onto your wallets before
you fork out money for hotels, car rentals, tour packages, college courses, airfare, entrance
admission to parks, restaurants, buses, trains, sports activities, and even shopping. Heilman passes
out all kinds of "goodies," as if we are children in a candy shop, with hundreds of tips as to how
to
stretch your vacation dollars.
Dividing the book into twenty chapters, the author presents excellent insights pertaining to
various
value-added possibilities. However, as stated by the author, it is essential that if you are over fifty,
you must very often ask for these discounts. Most vendors and their representatives will not
voluntarily offer them to you.
Most of the book is devoted to savings the over fifty crowd can enjoy from the travel industry.
Realizing that this sector of the population is the most ardent travelers, it is only logical that the
travel industry would offer all kinds of price reductions. Heilman details the offerings of the
various
airlines with their names, phone numbers and web sites. Similarly, discounts pertaining to hotels,
motels, car rental companies are listed.
Are you looking for some alternative lodging? Did you know that Del Webb Sun Cities, the
largest
builder of active communities offers a Vacation Getaway program, where you can enjoy low-cost,
short vacation stays so that you can sample the lifestyle to see whether you would like to move
in?
Bear in mind, however, that in order to qualify one partner in a visiting couple must be over the
age
of 55.
In addition, the reader will discover all kinds of deals concerning trains, buses and boats
pertaining
to North America and elsewhere. Companies such as Amtrak, Via Rail in Canada, Greyhound
Lines,
train passes in Britain, France and other European countries offer some kind of a discounts,
although
requirements as to age may differ.
If you are a sports enthusiast, Heilman presents a comprehensive rundown of assorted clubs,
tours,
associations, and other institutions that offer different vacation possibilities as skiing, cycling,
walking, golfing, even softball, where special privileges and discounts are offered. Names, phone
numbers, and website addresses are included.
In addition to being a nifty addition to one's library, this reader friendly book would make a great
birthday gift for anyone celebrating his or her big five O.
The Warren Buffett Way
Robert G. Hagstrom
John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030
Wiley.com 800-762-2974
ISBN 0471648116 $24.95 245 pages
Peter Hupalo
Reviewer
The Warren Buffett Way by Robert G. Hagstrom provides insight into the investment principles
used by America's greatest investor, Warren Buffett.
In 1956, Buffett started his first investment partnership with $100. He cashed out after 13 years
with
$25 million, achieving a compounded rate of investment return of 29.5% for his investors. Today,
Buffett's net worth is about $43 billion.
We learn two different schools of investment thought influenced Buffett. Ben Graham taught
Buffett
to seek value. Philip Fisher and Buffett's investment partner Charlie Munger taught Buffett to
seek
quality companies with the potential to grow their earnings.
To determine a stock's value, Buffett examines the business behind the stock and evaluates the
company's worth by making an estimate of the future cash flows of the company and then
discounting these cash flows back to their present value. Buffett only purchases the company if
the
purchase price is below its discounted value. This provides Buffett a margin of safety.
Hagstrom explains that Buffett uses a focused approach to investing and often only holds a
handful
of stocks. And, Buffett invests within his "circle of competence" which usually involves traditional
companies Buffett understands. Buffett avoids high-tech investments in companies he doesn't
understand. Buffett prefers companies he could hold forever. He avoids businesses without a solid
track record or businesses lacking honest and competent management.
Quoting Buffett, Hagstrom writes: "In evaluating people, you look for three qualities: integrity,
intelligence, and energy. If you don't have the first, the other two will kill you."
The Warren Buffett Way shows how Buffett's investment criteria came into play for several major
companies he purchased, including GEICO (Berkshire Hathaway, Buffett's company, owns 100%
of
GEICO), Clayton Homes (mobile homes), The Pampered Chef (kitchenware sold direct at
in-house
parties), Gillette, and Coca-Cola. The book's appendix lists Berkshire's major stock holdings each
year from 1977 to 2003.
Buffett is most likely to purchase entire companies today. Smaller successful investments do little
to
grow Berkshire Hathaway.
So, can investors today benefit from Buffett's investment approach? Yes and no, argues
Hagstrom.
For example, Buffett spends a great deal of time reading annual reports to learn about a
company.
Hagstrom writes: "It must be said here, with sadness, that it is possible that the documents you
study
are filled with inflated numbers, half-truths, and deliberate obfuscations. We all know the names
of
the companies charged with doing this; they are a rogue's gallery of American businesses, and
some
of their leaders are finding themselves with lots of time in prison to rethink their actions.
Sometimes
the manipulations are so skillful that even forensic accountants are fooled; how then can you, an
investor without any special knowledge, fully understand what you are seeing? The regrettable
answer is, you cannot."
Hagstrom shares a few of Buffett's tips for spotting accounting problems and irregularities in
financial documents, such as looking for "unintelligible footnotes."
Also, today, the stock market is composed of many more companies. Hagstrom relates the story
of
Buffett's interview on the show Money World:
"Appearing on the PBS show Money World in 1993, Buffett was asked what investment advice
he
would give a money manager just starting out. 'I'd tell him to do exactly what I did 40-odd years
ago, which is to learn about every company in the United States that has publicly traded
securities.'
Moderator Adam Smith protested, 'But there's 27,000 public companies.'
'Well,' said Buffett, 'start with the A's.'"
Further, Hagstrom argues too many desirable investments are in the field of high technology. To
those investors wishing to follow Buffett's approach to investing, Hagstrom suggests: " expand
your circle of competence by studying intently the business models of the companies participating
in
the New Economy landscape " Investors who are less willing to spend time understanding
business
might want to consider indexing their money in a low-cost mutual fund instead.
If you want to understand the investment principles of Warren Buffett, I highly recommend The
Warren Buffett Way.
The Elf King-Part I
Jude Hatcher Bangs
Advocate House
an imprint of A Cappela Publishing
www.acappela.com http://www.elfkingbooks.com
ISBN: 0972497978 $14.95 192 pages
Jodi Grant, Reviewer
http://www.acappela.com
WHERE DO ELVES COME FROM?
If you've ever wondered why elves were created or who created them, find out, along with Kai,
an
orphaned boy who discovers that he is the son of The Elf King.
We follow Kai through exciting adventures as he searches for his heritage and undergoes many
trials
of character. He is beset by enemies in the form of dragons, trolls and humans. But he is protected
and befriended by unicorns, elves, white owls, ghosts and humans (not to mention his own
powerful
father, the Elf King.).
The Elven characters add an exotic element to this tale of a mythic quest, and the down-to-earth
qualities of the humans and half-humans balance the adventure with humor and practical
action.
This is a timeless tale. It will appeal to readers of all ages anyone who enjoys traveling to realms
beyond the ordinary. In addition to Kai's quest for his identity, there is a romantic sub-plot which
will delight and tantalize you; dragons and dungeons to get your heart pumping, and fearies and
unicorns to soothe your soul. A must-read for all!
To read an excerpt or find out more about this book, its sequels and the author, please visit
http://www.elfkingbooks.com
Suffer in Silence
David Reid
Virtualbookworm
P.O. Box 9949, College Station, TX 77842
1589396480, $16.00, 340 pages, www.davidreidbooks.com
Julie Merritt
Reviewer
Popular culture is saturated with references to Navy SEALs. These silent warriors are the focus of
dozens of books, documentaries, movies and video games. To make his mark in a crowded field,
new author David Reid needed to produce a truly memorable book. Luckily for us, that's exactly
what he did when he wrote Suffer in Silence.
Many authors have delved into the rigors of SEAL training. Thousands of pushups, endless
torture
in the freezing surf, 120 hours without a wink of sleep -- these are surely the elements of gripping
human drama. Nevertheless, I didn't truly appreciate both the horror and the beauty of Basic
Underwater Demolition/SEAL training until I found myself entangled in Reid's compelling
novel.
While struggling to survive the first few months of SEAL training, Ensign Mark Grey develops a
strong bond of friendship with Seaman Murray, an irascible sailor who constantly garners
unwanted
attention from the instructor staff. Convinced that a particularly fearsome instructor is determined
to
force him out of training, Murray opts to delve into blackmail in an attempt to save his career.
Despite his raunchy sense of humor and fatally flawed judgment, I found myself enthralled by
Murray's antics. Grey is an equally sympathetic character, and he brings an unusual sensitivity to
one
of the toughest places on earth. And as a Tennessee native, I was pleasantly surprised that Reid's
description of Seaman Jones (a.k.a. "the Tennessee Wonder") was spot-on.
The one weakness in Reid's novel is the skeletal nature of its plot. Although the central drama of
the
story unfolds slowly, I was so mesmerized by Reid's engaging characters and crisp descriptions of
training that I never lost interest. In a particularly vivid scene at the end of Hell Week, an officer
known for his ability to rattle off classical poetry stands high up on the diving platform while the
rest
of the class engages in a violent melee below. Reid juxtaposes stanzas of poetry with glimpses of
the
chaos unfolding in the pool. Wielded by a less skilled author, this ruse could easily have failed.
However, Reid manages to enhance the mystique of SEAL training by seamlessly melding the
sequence with the semi-lucid thoughts of the sleep-deprived students.
Suffer in Silence is not for the feint of heart. You may learn some things that disturb you: the
instructors' obsession with pornography and homosexuality is troubling, the students' injuries and
infections are gruesome, and a surprise visit by a drunk instructor in the middle of the night results
in
astounding abuse. Nevertheless, the author paints a fair picture of SEAL training. Despite the
endless litany of tortures the instructors employ with glee, the allure of joining ranks with our
nation's finest warriors shines through in Reid's novel.
Suffer in Silence is thoughtful, fearsomely honest, and expertly crafted -- a genuine triumph.
David
Reid is a rising talent, and he will have to create something remarkable to exceed my expectations
for his next effort.
The Colonel's Dream
Charles W. Chesnutt
Harlem Moon/Broadway Books
1745 Broadway, New York, New York 10019
http://harlemmoon.com 212-782-9000
Amazon Rating: 4 www.amazon.com
ISBN: 0767919513 $12.95 336 pages
Kim Anderson Ray, Reviewer
www.suburbansista.blogspot.com
To Whom Much is Given, Much is Required
Originally published in 1905 and re-released in 2005 with a new introduction by esteemed author,
editor, activist, MacArthur Fellow and professor, Ishmael Reed, THE COLONEL'S DREAM is a
fine example of turn of the century utopist literature. Charles Waddell Chesnutt was born during
slavery, but was a free person of color. He was a prolific writer, producing numerous works, but
never received the acclaim of similar writers of his time. Part of that reason may be because,
unlike
his contemporaries, he chose to write THE COLONEL'S DREAM from the perspective of a
white
Confederate officer, newly returned from the North as a successful businessman and enlightened
philanthropist. People, at that time, were uncomfortable with African-American writers exposing
the bigotry of America, only reluctantly accepting it from their own kind, and not even then, if
possible.
THE COLONEL'S DREAM takes place in the post-Reconstruction South, a period sometimes
referred to as Confederate Restoration or Southern Redemption. The widowed protagonist,
Colonel
French, returns to his hometown of Clarendon, North Carolina with his young son, Phil, to rest
and
recuperate following a period of illness in New York. The Colonel is struck by the apathy of the
town's residents, both white and black, and sets a plan in motion to restore economic progress to
the area. Although he has plenty of money to finance his endeavors, the greater challenge lies in
winning over hearts and minds. Surrounding himself with a few loyal followers who agree with
his
utopian view of what it will take to resurrect the town's economic base, he makes some progress
only to be set back numerous times by members of the former lower class of whites who have
now
risen to power as loan sharks, labor contractors, and political bosses.
The Colonel's nemesis, Bill Fetters, has a firm hold on the convict labor contracts created by this
new middle class to control the freed slaves. If a black person could not demonstrate steady
employment, which of course there was little of in the depressed South, he or she was arrested for
simple offenses like vagrancy, fined exorbitant sums (which they could not pay), then auctioned to
the bidder that would pay the fine in exchange for the shortest period of indentured service, i.e., a
"new" form of institutionalized slavery. In this manner, Fetters accumulated more and more
"workers" for his plantation, acquired great wealth, was elected to the legislature, and loaned
money
at such high rates that he held the mortgage, and thus the loyalty, of almost every former southern
aristocrat, businessman, politician, and judge in the area.
Dethroning Fetters becomes the Colonel's sole purpose in life and contributes to events that lead
to
personal tragedy and the end of his dream. Although anyone who is even remotely acquainted
with
American history could predict the outcome of this story, it is still a literary treat in its
examination
of southern culture and northern industrialism, the fall of the southern aristocracy and the rise of a
new middle class representing both lower class whites and independent black entrepreneurs. The
most striking example of the latter phenomenon in this novel is Nichols, the town's black barber,
who now lives in the Colonel's ancestral mansion and pays an impoverished southern aristocrat to
give his daughter piano and voice lessons.
THE COLONEL'S DREAM resurrects a time when our nation was recovering from one of the
bloodiest wars in history and struggling to regain its identity as a unified country. Colonel French,
although a former Confederate, has become enlightened and feels obligated to share his reformed
view of American society with his old friends and neighbors. Aided by his devoted servant and
freed
slave, Uncle Peter, the Colonel makes a life for himself and his young son in the town of
Clarendon
and works toward making it a prosperous place to live for both blacks and whites. Unfortunately,
everyone is not on his side and the powers-that-be are only interested in maintaining the status
quo.
It is the Colonel's valiant efforts to lay the foundation for a progressive community that moves the
action in this novel and provides the reader with a certain sense of ethos, humanity, and
encouragement to see this novel to its final conclusion.
Mysterious Ways
Terry Burns
River Oak
4050 Lee Vance View Colorado Springs, CO 80918
ISBN# 1589190270 $12.99 320 pages
Les Williams
Reviewer
Terry Burns is a 5th generation Irish story teller. Terry has published over 200 articles and short
stories as well as a small book of poetry and short stories entitled COWBOY'S DON'T READ
POETRY. Two of Terry's inspirational books are DON'T I KNOW YOU and TO KEEP A
PROMISE. Also coming out in 2005 is TRAILS OF THE DIME NOVEL.
Amos Turnbuckle spots what he feels will be the perfect disguise to use after his next robbery. So
he
takes a preaches black-frocked suit off a clothes line. Unknowing to Amos, this pilfering of a
preachers clothes will have a far reaching effect on Amos life that he ever imagined. With his new
disguise in his saddle bags, Turnbuckle stops the stage headed for Sweetwater, taking money
from
all the passengers except Judy Valentine.
Leaving the passengers and driver standing by the side of the road, Amos takes the coach further
up
the trail where he changes clothes and returns to begin his charade. Entering Sweetwater, Amos
as
expected, is mistaken for the new preacher. Now his life begins to get interesting. Turnbuckle
meets
Joseph Washington a blind black man, although educated, plays the part of an ignorant
ex-slave.
Joseph upon first meeting Amos, knows immediately that Turnbuckle is not a preacher, however,
Washington does see the Lord working through Amos in his disguise as a preacher. Amos after a
time decides he needs a road stake to get out of Sweetwater before he is discovered for who he
really is.
Amos schemes will come back to play an important part in his newly discovered faith in the Lord.
Terry Burns throw in some clever plot twists, in particular, Amos preaching on the book of Amos
along with the trial of Amos and the verdict handed down by the judge. MYSTERIOUS WAYS is
an excellent book worth reading.
Going Deeper: How to Make Sense of your Life When Your Life Makes No Sense
Jean-Claude Koven
Prism House Press
69115 Ramon Road, Suite 1386, Cathedral City, CA 92234
www.prismhouse.com 1-888-600-9689
ISBN: 0972395458 $24.95 436 pages
Mayra Calvani
Reviewer
Who am I?
What is my purpose?
What is the meaning of life?
If you are the type of person who often ask yourself these age-old questions, then this is a book
worth considering. In a simple, straight-forward style accompanied by light, fun dialogue,
Jean-Claude Koven explores profound metaphysical subjects and presents it in a manner any
intelligent reader can understand.
The story begins a week after 9/11, when Larry, a successful LA lawyer, ends up adopting a
puppy
in the strangest of circumstances. Important to point out is the restless state of Larry's mind at this
point, as it symbolizes how many people think and feel in these times:
"Little by little it was dawning on him [Larry] that reality doesn't lend itself to containment in tidy
packages. Certainty was receding, replaced by a newborn voice in his psyche that demanded
answers
to a host of unspoken questions. Despite all his education and apparent success, the life he'd
constructed for himself didn't quite make sense to him anymore. Something about it was a
complete
sham. Whatever he was doing now, whatever he had done in the past, no longer had much
relevance. And he had no answers."
One day Larry decides to make a "nature" trip to Joshua Tree National Park with his beloved, and
quite inseparable adopted dog, Zeus. On the way, Larry suddenly hears a voice talking to him.
Stunned, he realizes it comes from Zeus. Thus Larry's spiritual journey begins A journey that will
completely transformed him, heighten his level of awareness and change his old sense of illusion
vs.
reality.
Larry learns that he is, in fact, a Wanderer, an advance soul from a distant dimension come to
earth
in love and service to assist the transition into the next paradigm. Through the engrossing,
sometimes hilarious dialogues between Larry and Zeus, Larry and a racoon, Larry and a juniper
tree,
and Larry and stones, metaphysical concepts are explored, among these the Higher Self, Akashic
records, Levels of Awareness, densities, chakras, indigo children and reincarnation. Timeless
subjects such as religion, science, faith, free will and intuition are also discussed. At the end of the
book there is also a helpful and informative glossary with all the metaphysical terms.
This novel should not only be in the shelf of every metaphysical enthusiast, but also in the hands
of
anybody who desires to enrich his/her spiritual life. All throughout the novel you'll find
enlightening
words and quotes, like Einstein's "No problem can be solved from the same level of
Consciousness
that created it." Or "When caught in a fog bank, you can always see more clearly by moving
above
it." I specially like Zeus' advice at the beginning, when he tells Larry that human beings shouldn't
focus so much on the imagined destination and instead learn to enjoy the actual journey in getting
there.
Even for those of you who don't believe in concepts like Wanderers, Light Workers, Planetary
Servers, reincarnation or chakras, any open-minded, intelligent reader will be able to derive wise
tips
on how to become a better human being and live a better life.
Bindi Babes
Narinder Dhami
Delacorte Press Random House
1745 Broadway, NYC NY 10019
ISBN: 0385731779 $14.95
Molly Martin, Reviewer
http://www.angelfire.com/ok4/mollymartin
Entertaining Read ... Recommended .. . 5 stars
The narrative told by twelve year old Amber Dhillon opens at school: Coppergate Secondary
School
where the sisters are known to be too cool and too attractive and too chic. Amber regales her
friends with a description of the new trainers she is getting as soon as she persuades her dad to let
her get them, while older sister Geena, 14, is showing her new mobile phone to a group of friends.
Amber's sort of friend Kim needs help, again. Kim seems to need help a lot. This time she is
running
from George Botley who is trying to stuff a worm or something down her back. Jazz, aged 11,
takes
her classes at the lower school. It was just an average day until the girls arrived home after school
to
find their father was already there. Dad did not come home early. He had the most dreadful news:
his sister was come to live with the family.
Merchant Mr Attawal, disagreeable next door neighbor Mrs Macey, head of the lower school Mr
Grimwade, teachers Miss Thomas and Mr Agora, a clumsy newspaper boy, inspectors coming to
visit Coppergate, Ms Woods and a special assembly, sharing a room and of course Auntie all
figure
in this entertaining tale. The girls are determined to marry Auntie off, doesn't matter to whom.
Just
to get her out of the house and out of their hair becomes the main focus of life for the sisters.
That,
and the assembly and Kim and her problems, and the newsboy who sails his newspaper anywhere
but
on the porch. Before long the meddling aunt has set about to make friends with the disagreeable
neighbor, provide a listening ear to Kim and the newsboy and Mr Attawal and refused to be
married
off to anyone including the oh so cute school teacher. What are the girls going to do? Just when it
seems that Auntie has finally gotten a clue, their rude behavior has worked and Auntie will leave
the
girls find a most significant letter.
Narinder Dhami has set down a captivating, absorbing anecdote certain to enchant girls in the
target
audience of 11-15 year olds. The interaction among the sisters, their dealing with having their
lives
turned topsy turvy first by the demise of their mother and later with the introduction of an aunt
they
don't really know, don't trust, and don't want to like; is plausible. Conversation between the girls
moves the account along in satisfying fashion. The conspiracy and machination undertaken by the
girls in trying to marry their aunt off to someone, anyone at all, just to get her out of the house is
so
similar what might as a matter of fact take place in a comparable life situation.
Filled with generously contrived characters, anticipated strife appropriately determined, snappy
colloquy and a ingeniously interwoven tale 'Bindi Babes' is a well written anecdote. Author Dhami
dexterously captures the vitality of girls in the target age and composes a vibrating yarn which
grabs
reader appeal from the first lines and holds interest fast right to the last paragraphs as the Bindi
Babes come to perceive that life cannot always run precisely as we wish. Death, transformation,
expectancy and longing all play a part in what our lives were, are, and will be.
Banner, engaging work appropriate for the upper middle grades to high school library, the home
personal bookroom and home school library. Girls especially will delight in the publication.
Written
by a British woman Bindi Babes contains colloquialisms sure to fascinate the US American
reading
audience.
Enjoyed the read, happy to recommend.
Jerome and the Seraph
Robina Williams
Twilight Times Books
www.twilighttimesbooks.com www.amazon.com
ISBN: 1931201544 $15.50 171 pp.
Shirley Roe, Reviewer
www.allbooksreviews.com
Brother Jerome slips in the graveyard, hitting his head with a thud. Later he finds himself in a
rather
strange place accompanied by a dear old friend that he knows is deceased. The situation is most
abstruse as there are no cherubs, no angels, no fluffy clouds- none of his expectations of beyond;
he
soon accedes to his irreversible situation. His greatest surprise is the arrival of his beloved cat,
Leo
in the afterworld. Leo, who we learn is actually Quant, the cat/lion alter ego, it seems, can travel
at
will between the two worlds being both alive and dead.
Jerome's ingrained beliefs are challenged, as he learns the answers to life long spiritual questions.
He
comes face to face with the hound of Heaven as the trill of Pan's flute fills the air.
Brother Jerome and his cohorts, both living and dead are most enchanting characters. Full of
human
frailties and believable character flaws, they charm the reader with their humorous encounters and
escapades.
The author makes reference to several nineteenth century paintings including St. Jerome in the
Wilderness, adding a touch of refinement and artistic interest to the book. Amusing, entertaining
and
charming, Robina Williams has a winner with her bumbling friar and his amazing ginger.
The author lives in north- west England and has an M.A in Modern Languages. This book is the
first
in the Quantum cat series; she has finished her second book Angelos and is working on the
third.
Highly recommended, this reviewer looks forward to the next book in the series.
The 4 Hundred and 20 Assassins of Emir Abdullah-Harazins
Joseph DeMarco
AuthorHouse
1663 Liberty Drive, Suite 200, Bloomington, IN 47403
888.519.5121
1418441023 $12.95 148 Pages
Tyler Tradere
Reviewer
This is a well thought out and clever book about the American Drug culture. The author combines
a
fictional history of the assassin (The Hasan of Sabbah) into everyday comic book folklore, and the
result is The 4 Hundred and 20 Assassins of Emir Abdullah-Harazins. The story is a humorous
tale
that follows Anazasi (an assassin) on his quest for paradise into the dark jungles of Harazin's lair
to
look for a garden of unearthly beauty, filled with beautiful flowers, alluring animals, and a bunch
of
exotic naked women. The book is set a thousand years ago, but is really an introspective look at
the
mind of a 21st century pot smoker. Phish and Dead fans will identify with this quasi-myth about a
garden so beautiful and prince so infamous, his very name is synonymous with assassin.
The Big Questions: Paul Davies in Conversation with Phillip Adams
Paul C. W. Davies
Penguin Books Australia Ltd
http://www.abc.net.au/science/bigquestions/
ISBN: 0140259376 $TBA 159 pp.
Tzelee Low
Reviewer
A married couple went hiking in the mountains. In the middle of the night, the husband woke the
wife up. Pointing at the night skies, he asked the wife: "What do you think of this?" The wife
thought for a moment and answered: "I think that the multitude of stars is breathtakingly
beautiful,
and that our problems are really small and insignificant when compared to this... Why do you
ask?"
The husband answered: "Our tent has been blown away."
Reading this book reminded me of this famous joke. Some people look at the night skies and
wonder about the beauty and splendour of the stars. Others look at it and wonder: "How did it all
begin?"
I must confess that I belong firmly to the former camp. Questions like the beginning of the
universe,
the riddle of time, or the evolution of the earth never did bother me much. Yet, when I came
across
this book that promised to explain it all to me, I was immediately intrigued.
What made this book more attractive was the fact that it was adapted from a television series of
the
same name. In fact, it was a word for word record of the conversations that a popular Australian
broadcaster, Phillip Adams, had with world-reknowned physicist Paul Davies. If the content was
meant for consumption by average couch potatoes, how hard would it be to understand the
concepts
by reading them, with all the luxury of time to pause and chew on the difficult passages?
I was not disappointed by the book. While I underestimated the difficulty of the content - there
were
some places where no matter how long I paused, I did not fully understand what Davies was
expounding - the book was pitched at a level that people with an average knowledge of science
would be able to understand. In fact, I had many "ah" moments while reading the book. "Ah"
moments are what I call moments when the world suddenly became a little bigger when you are
able
to think about it from a totally new perspective.
What made the book even more interesting was the passion that Davies exhibited when explaining
the concepts. While reading this book, I was concurrently reading another book on cosmology
that
promised to introduce the concepts to beginners with humour, irreverence and wit. I found the
Davies book much more interesting, because you could really feel Davies' excitement when he
explained certain concepts that he believed in.
And cosmology is very much about belief. It is a special branch of science much scoffed off by
some
scientists because its theories are difficult to prove, and seem a lot like hocus-pocus to scientists
and
laymen alike. In fact, the term "big bang" was originally a pejorative - a joke - that a British
astronomer came up with while he was heaping scorn on the theory.
There is also a tension between cosmology, theology and philosophy that I found most
interesting.
These are three branches of human thoughts that entangle themselves like the buttress roots of a
tropical tree. What is intriguing is the fact that, contrary to what we would think, Paul Davies is a
scientist who believes in God. Instead, it was the broadcaster who was a staunch atheist. In one
chapter, they openly discussed the subject of science versus faith. From that chapter, I obtained a
fascinating glimpse of the plethora of beliefs that could be derived from these three schools of
thoughts.
Reading this book, you will feel like you are eavesdropping on the conversations of two very
intelligent human beings. While they are talking, you will be busy having conversations with
yourselves too, as their talk will stimulate you to think about things that you have never thought
about. That is the beauty of reading a book that inspires you to think.
January's Paradigm
J. Conrad Guest
GreatUnpublished / Booksurge LLC
ISBN: 1588987442 $14.99 342 pages
Zinta Aistars
Reviewer
I hate this man, Joe January. Hate him. Even as my respect for him grows, possibly even a
begrudging sort of affection. Who knows? Maybe someday we will see eye to eye and I will be
able
to say January, you're a helluva man, and I'm enriched to know you.
This is precisely what makes January's Paradigm such a remarkable book. I have read it once,
twice,
and will read it yet again. January and I have an ongoing relationship, and that's how alive, how
real,
how tantalizingly, aggravatingly vivid his author has made him.
J. Conrad Guest has created a kind of anti-hero, a Bogey sort of tough guy, a man's man who I
suspect, deep in his isolated, walled-in heart, would very much like to be understood, appreciated,
and oh shivers, but yes, loved. His motto in life is to move through it unscathed by petty emotion.
His relationships are not relationships at all they are brief physical encounters. He cheats on the
one woman who matters most in his life, and that is unforgiveable.
Or is it?
Because here is the intrigue of the book, here is Guest's sheer mastery of the art: he has created a
character who transcends boundaries of reality and fiction, who pops through the shell of the
author's skull and speaks to him, speaks from inside of him, and one man transforms the other and
is
then transformed himself in the process. He is the strength of a man as well as his most despicable
weakness. He is the muscle as well as the whimper. He is the beacon in the storm as much as he is
the shadow every man winces to find in himself if he is a man at all. If nothing else, January has
courage. The kind of courage necessary to face his own weakness, his own shadow, his inner
beast.
He has the courage to recognize his cowardice in seeking only the most shallow of encounters
with
the parade of women in his life. How many men can do so? For all his fist-fighting,
damsel-rescuing,
tough-talking bravado this is January's true gold. He can look in the mirror, and he is willing to
see.
Infidelity is a wound inflicted on so many of our relationships, yet it scarcely draws the attention
of
anyone, save those involved. So many marriages split at the seams, so many families are broken,
so
many lies told, so many temptations succumbed to for so little, if any, reward. But have we the
courage to understand why? Have we the courage of Joe January?
Society has taken a microscope to the suffering of women caused by infidelity. Women, after all,
are
the warm-hearted sex that speaks freely of emotional pain, and sheds tears in public forums.
Women's emotions are socially acceptable. Men, on the other hand, are encouraged from boyhood
to be tough and thick-skinned and to hide their softer emotions. Joe January is very much a man
society has created. If he is a man closed off from emotional intimacy, from the ability to love,
have
we the courage to acknowledge that we have required him to be this way? That we have made
this
sort of man our hero? While whining about the lack of sensitive men, have we indulged in
doubletalk, still stubbornly giving the nod of respect to the man who is mean and hard and
difficult
to pin down? Have we encouraged the warm-hearted man to wear his heart on his sleeve, while
secretly still pining for the bad boy?
J. Conrad Guest has written a novel that reveals this conflicting message society sends to its men.
He has created in January's Paradigm a hero who struggles with his emotional barriers. He writes
about a male perspective on infidelity. Yes, men hurt, too.
January's Paradigm is the first of a promised trilogy books that will, the author says, stand alone
but also show a continued evolution of this intriguing character, Joe January. I am most eager to
read the next one, One Hot January. I expect at some point I am going to be won over by this
tough
character. The process is well underway.
Alyice's Bookshelf
Small Business Taxes Made Easy
Eva Rosenberg
McGraw-Hill
http://taxmama.com
ISBN: 0071441689 $16.95
Eva Rosenberg has written a wonderful handbook for both new and veteran small businesses. She
covers everything from home office deductions to hiring employees. She warns you when
something
may cause an audit, and how to keep your papers organized so you not only have back-up to
prove
your deductions, but so you don't miss important tax deductions. She talks about the pros and
cons
of hiring family, and shares resources a plenty. But what I like best about her book, besides the
fact
that she steers clear of tax-break scams, is the fact that she writes in a conversational tone which
makes it easy to understand some of the more complex tax laws.
If you're worried you've forgotten to include something in your tax records, or not sure about
how
to get started with your recordkeeping, you'll want to pick up a copy of Small Business Taxes
Made
Easy, today.
Web Metrics
Jim Sterne
John Wiley and Sons, Inc.
605 Third Ave., New York, NY 10158-0012
http://targeting.com
ISBN: 0471220728 $30.00 212-580-6011
Whether you're a small business owner, a corporate manager, or someone just starting a business
venture, Web Metrics is a must-read. Written with a well-balanced mix of technical jargon and a
conversational tone, Sterne digs deep and gets to the heart of running, not just a successful
website,
but a profitable one.
For small and new business entrepreneurs who cannot afford a marketing department, Web
Metrics
gives an inside look into how experts in leading industries improve their online marketing
strategies.
As a small business owner, myself, I dutifully took several pages of notes all geared towards
improving customer-company relations, visitor stickiness, ad to buyer conversions, traffic and
revenue driven content, and finally, site design and navigation.
Advanced Email Marketing
Jim Sterne
Lyris Technologies, Inc.
2070 Allston Way, Ste 200, Berkley, CA 94704
http://targeting.com
ISBN: 0974439304 $19.95 800-768-2929
Advanced Email Marketing really should have been called, "Email Marketing Strategies for
Beginners." I don't say that to be a put down, it's quite the contrary.
This is a fantastic book on understanding the vital role email marketing plays in selling products
and/or services. Sterne breaks the concept of email marketing down into bite-size pieces, then
explains each piece in great detail using storytelling.
Each chapter advances the story a step further, thus leaving the reader with a more realistic
understanding of the whole process. Then to bring home his point, Sterne gives the reader a set of
questions to answer all geared towards solving email marketing issues within the reader's own
company.
If all business and/or technical books read like Sterne's we'd have a lot more small businesses
showing black instead of red.
If you plan to use any form of email to get the word out about your business, products, services,
or
promotions, you'll want to pick up a copy of Advanced Email Marketing.
The Complete Crockery Cookbook
Wendy Louise
Champion Press, Ltd.
4308 Blueberry Rd., Fredonia, WI 53021
http://www.championpress.com
1891400290 $16.00 262-692-3897
Finally! A crockery cookbook for real people! With the need to be different, unique, and on the
best
seller's list, many cookbooks include recipes for the more serious chef. Leaving the rest of us too
busy, or untalented chefs wishing we'd never bought the cookbook in the first place.
The recipes are truly easy to implement. They require staples and ingredients we already carry in
our
cupboards, and they truly save both time and money! You just prepare the ingredients, throw
everything into the crock pot, turn it on, and walk away. When you return at the end of the day,
you
have a delicious, great smelling meal waiting to be devoured by everyone in the home.
A Child's Missal
The Patmos Group
967 Bee Hollow Rd., Shohola, PA
http://www.patmos.us
ISBN: 0974174815 $17.95 570-685-5168
Not being a Catholic myself, I have often arrived at the church, with my in-laws, to find myself in
awe of the beauty of the Catholic ceremonies. The rituals always seemed to have deep meaning
and
the stained glass windows always stood out with such vibrancy. Yet, the symbolism and rich
culture
left me a bit bewildered. That is, until I read A Child's Missal. It is a beautifully illustrated book
showcasing the various stages of a Catholic Mass. It explains the different stages of the mass
through photographs, paintings, drawings, and short blurbs. In my humble opinion, this visual
prayer
book would make a great gift for anyone entering the Catholic church, graduating from
Catechism,
or getting baptized. Finally, it would make a nice conversational piece and/or coffee table book
for
devout Catholics.
Stop Bullying Bobby! Helping Children Cope with Teasing and Bullying
Dana Smith-Mansell
New Horizon Press
PO Box 669, Far Hills, NJ 07931
http://home.infionline.net/~stopbullyingbobby/
ISBN: 0882822535 $8.95
While I felt the story was "too grown up" to have been told by the seven-year-old narrator, I do
believe the story was very well thought out and offers a valuable lesson for both children and
adults,
alike.
Stop Bullying Bobby shows how verbal and physical abuse can stifle victims while instructing
children in healthy, safe ways to protect other children from bullies. It also reminds children that
it's
okay to be different and that in our differences, we're special and worthy of love and
acceptance.
Finally, the book ends with great, short, but concise tips to help parents and teachers stop bullying
in
their community as well as tips on helping bullied children find protection and safety.
Alyice Edrich, Reviewer
www.thedabblingmum.com
Ann's Bookshelf
The Master
Colm Toibin
Picador
ISBN: 0330364669 A$22.00 359 pages
"Sometime in the night he dreamed about the dead - familiar faces and the others, half-forgotten
ones, fleetingly summed up".
So Henry ponders, as this book begins. And in many waysThe Master is like a dream. There is a
mesmerizing languor to Toibin's prose; and Henry James, who is 'The Master' of the title, moves
amongst familiar faces, family, friends and "others, half-forgotten" in the four years through which
we follow him.
It is a strange undertaking for an author to try and resurrect the dead using the deceased one's
letters, notebooks and novels. Even with the letters of family and friends, and the pictures drawn
by
biographers, one can never be sure how genuinely life-like the restoration is. But Toibin is an
artist
and he has done his work superbly. He also has the grace to call his book a novel (not a
biography,
as others might), so, we are free to accept his Henry James as an imaginative creation and to
regard
these four years of his life as a story.
In fact, there is no need to know anything about the Henry James (1843 - 1916) of literary fame,
or
to have read any of his work, in order to enjoy The Master. Toibin's Henry is a fully realized,
sympathetic character. He is educated, sophisticated, well-travelled, but a bit of an enigma. Family
and friends, clearly, are important to him, but he guards his privacy and a certain solitude, not
fiercely (there seems to be little fire in his blood) but with meticulous care. Through his own
thoughts and actions, we come to see him as a person whose emotions are complex; as one who
enjoys the privileges of his status as a well-known writer, and can use this status to remain aloof
and
watchful; and as one who is sensitive to the undercurrents around him and aware, always, of the
narrative potential in any situation.
The life of Toibin's Henry follows the pattern of his literary namesake between January 1895,
when
his first play opens (disastrously) in London's West End, to May 1899, very shortly after the
suicide
in Venice of his close friend and colleague Constance Fenimore Woolson. He moves between
England and Italy; buys Lamb House in Rye as his permanent writing retreat; allows a society
friend,
Lady Wolseley, to furnish it with treasures for him; and employs the Scot, William McAlpine, as
his
stenographer. All the time he labours at his writing - looking for themes, planning and imagining
his
stories, and dictating them sentence-by-sentence to McAlpine. He is a prolific writer.
Yet it is through his thoughts and memories that we come to know him. he thinks often of his
family, especially of his dead sister, Alice, and his cousin, Minnie Temple, who also died young.
He
admires these women for their intelligence and idependence, much as he admires Constance
Fenimore Woolson. His thoughts about men, other than those of his close family, are more
guarded
but his respect for his young "treasure" of a servant, Burgess Noakes, is clear, as his admiration
for
Hendrik Andersen. It is consistent with Henry's own reticence and self-doubt that nothing about
his
sexuality is spelled out. We may speculate or guess, as did his friends and acquaintances, but
Toibin
declines to do this for us.
Toibin realistically recreates the atmosphere, social mores, gossip and style of the Victorian
society
within which Henry lives and thrives, and it is the curiosity of members of that society about
Henry's
sexuality which Toibin conveys. That sort of delicate, beautifully imagined and evoked
atmosphere
pervades The Master and, using all his skills, Toibin has managed to immerse himself in Henry
James's life and work until he feels he understands the man and can present him to us.
This is not biography, although Toibin's Henry may very well be as like the Henry James of
literature
as is actually possible to convey: but it is absorbing fiction. I don't now feel inclined to rush off
and
read everything Henry James wrote, but I did enjoy The Master, and I will happily read anything
else
that Colm Toibin's writes.
A Tomb in Seville
Norman Lewis
Picador
ISBN: 0330435388 A$25.00 150 pages
"Didn't you object to having to hold your hands up when you went for a stroll?"
"It was all right if you didn't have far to go. That is to say apart from crossing the Gran Via on
one's
hands and knees."
Madrid in October 1934 was in the throes of an armed insurrection and Norman Lewis and his
brother-in-law, Eugene, were caught in the middle of it. They had arrived in Spain that September
with the intention of visiting Seville, but the declaration of a State of Emergency closed the
railways
and made straightforward travel impossible. Being young and adventurous, however, and having
embarked on a "quasi-religious pilgrimage" funded by Eugene's Sicilian father, Ernesto Corvaja,
they
determined to stay.
Seville, long ago, had been the home of the Corvaja family. There was a Corvaja palace to be
found,
and the Corvaja tomb in Seville's cathedral to be visited. One of Ernesto's ancestors had,
apparently,
been part of the entourage of the viceroy Caracciolo, "sent from Spain to Sicily following its
conquest" and Ernesto wanted his children to study in Spain and maintain the family's Spanish
connections. His son, Eugene, was reluctant: and this visit to Seville was their compromise.
Norman Lewis first wrote of their journey in Spanish Adventure, which was his first published
book.
Decades later, shortly before his death in 2003 at the age of ninety-five, he wrote A Tomb in
Seville.
The two books see that journey through Spain in the months before the Spanish Civil War quite
differently. The first book was a young man's adventure story, written by a fledgling travel-writer.
The last, a re-casting of that journey by a mature writer whose position as "the father of modern
travel writing" is, as Julian Evans writes in the Introduction, "unassailable".
Lewis's skill, as Evans rightly notes, lay in "his sensuous and civilized descriptions, his
poker-faced
wit" and in his fluid, self-effacing style. Lewis was an old-fashioned travel writer in the sense that
there was no gimmickry in his story-telling, no conscious search for the exotic, no histrionics: just
fascination with the world and the people around him and a wry appreciation of odd situations
and
unusual characters.
A Tomb in Seville gives the reader a fine picture of Spain and (briefly) Portugal in those early
days
of civil unrest, when life went on much as usual for most people. The first part of the young mens'
journey took them on foot from the French/Spanish border, 110 miles through "old Spain" (as
Lewis
puts it) to the industrial city of Zaragoza, which was a Communist stronghold. Eugene Corvaja, as
a
card-carrying member of the Communist Party, made contacts there, and his engagement with the
country became rather different to Lewis's, but it gave them both a greater insight into the
unrest.
From Zaragoza, they took an "armoured train" to Madrid, arriving in the middle of a gun battle
between revolutionaries and infantrymen which stranded them in the station buffet. From that
insecure position, they watched people going about their daily business with hands raised or
crawling, depending on the frequency of gunfire. Eventually, they, too, hazarded a crossing of the
road to the nearest hotel. Most hotels, however, were closed for the emergency, so they find
lodgings in a working man's boarding hostel several miles from the station.
From their top-floor room in the hostel, the men had a birds-eye view of the effects of sniping on
the
streets below and watched machine-gun volleys rake the shops on the far side of their street. Later
that day they peered into a butcher's shop and discovered that the volley "had inflicted
posthumous
lesions on the porkers still suspended on their hooks". The Spanish people, however, seemed to
be
used to such situations. Buying a newspaper had become a dangerous business and "apart from
cafe-visiting there was very little [they] dared do" but rubbish was still being collected from the
streets and the trams were still running.
Eugene, keen to meet up with the Liberation Army in a local village, persuaded Lewis to
accompany
him. They survived an attack by the Assault Guards but Lewis tore his leg badly on barbed wire
and
needed hospital treatment. So, their stay in Madrid was prolonged and, as things quietened down,
they went to a bullfight in the old bullring. Lewis's description of this is as short as it is
fascinating:
but it is graphic, and one can well understand Lewis's revulsion and his avoidance of "such
spectacles" ever after.
Eventually, the two men left Madrid on a battered local bus bound for Salamanca. From there,
following local advice, they travelled to Portugal and, after a brief detour to a village where a
witch
had recently been burned, they made an illegal crossing of the border back into Spain and, finally,
reached Seville.
The final chapters of A Tomb in Seville sum up the results of the quest for family memorials and
describe the lasting effects which the journey had on Eugene Corvaja. He was "amongst the first
from England to enlist in the International Brigade" and participate in the Spanish Civil War and,
as
Lewis notes in a Postscript, although he escaped injury, "ill-health through periods of
semi-starvation throughout the campaign...abruptly shortened his life".
The effect on the journey on Lewis, too, was significant. His marriage to Ernesto Corvaja's
daughter
did not last, but his love affair with Spain did. A Tomb in Seville is a fine expression of Lewis's
life-long fascination with Spain.
Ann Skea, Reviewer
http://ann.skea.com
Arlene's Bookshelf
Fall Guy
Claire McNab
Bella Books
PO Box 10543, Tallahassee, FL 32302
ISBN: 1594930007, $12.95, 173 Pages
Claire McNab's sixteenth addition to the Detective Carol Ashton Mystery series, Fall Guy, finds
the
Detective Inspector at yet another scene of the crime. However, the victim was neither shot,
strangled, poisoned, nor stabbed. Mega-millionaire, wily entrepreneur, and practical joker
extraordinaire, Milton Ryce has plummeted to his untimely death when both his main and reserve
parachutes fail to open. An expert skydiver who maintained his own equipment, Ryce realizes all
too
late that his last joke will unfortunately, if not deservedly, be at his own expense. His last
conscious
thought falling through the clouds was, "This couldn't be happening to him!" [Page 2]
Ashton and her right-hand man, Detective Sergeant Mark Bourke, have been summoned from
Sydney to take charge of another high-profile case. Enduring a three-hour car ride to Hash's
Creek,
they are met by a rather irritating and ineffective Sergeant Huffner, whose lack of proper police
procedure does not bode well for a speedy resolution of the case. The investigation is further
complicated by a variety of suspects: a drug-addled daughter, a wanna be like Dad son, a
mysterious
wife, a scheming mistress, a few questionable business partners, and a foppish gossip columnist,
just
to mention a few.
As the story progresses, various motives surface, additional suspects are added to the list, and
new
witnesses come forth. Ashton and Bourke work diligently both to shorten their stay in the
scorching
Australian backcountry and to bring to justice any and all who may be guilty. Add to this scenario,
the facts that Ashton's latest love interest, Leota Woolfe of the FBI, has concluded her
counter-terrorism assignment and returned to the States, alone, and her elderly environmental
activist aunt has "volunteered" Ashton's home for a small gathering of a few hundred sister
protesters. As always, the good Detective Inspector has more to handle than just a little thing
called
murder.
McNab has created a worthwhile addition to her long-running Ashton series. The plotting is deft
and
the events flow naturally and seamlessly. There are enough plausible twists, turns, and surprises to
keep the reader guessing and engaged throughout the course of the novel. The prose is tightly
constructed and retains the flavor of previous books in the series. Conflicts are astutely created
and
satisfyingly resolved. Those readers who have enjoyed McNab's previous entries will be especially
pleased with the last few scenes.
Carol Ashton appears more comfortable with herself in the midpoint of her life with this latest
installment. After ascertaining some information from the recalcitrant Sergeant Huffner, she
responds to Bourke's teasing comment with, "I'm aging fast, Mark. Have to wring every little
advantage out of my blond charm while I've still got it." [Page 7] She is still the efficiently calm
investigator and competently deliberate interrogator, but the author has exposed and softened
some
of the emotional edges of this career woman which allows the reader to more fully comprehend
the
character. Her tendency toward the terse response and sardonic retort still display that Aussie
charm
and wit. However, McNab has created an intriguing sub-plot involving more of Ashton's personal
struggle and her realization that making truthful life-changing decisions may terminate one
episode
while enabling her to re-visit another.
Fall Guy is an appealing and satisfying mystery experience. The reader is fully engaged from the
intensely suspenseful prologue to the reasonable yet unexpected conclusion. McNab has
succeeded
in expanding her enormously likable major character and again has included those recurring
secondary characters that are part of her professional and personal life. At the same time, the
reader
is introduced to another cabal of the most loathsome and repugnant people which befits the
mystery
genre. After having read Fall Guy, the reader will be as anxiously awaiting the release of the
seventeenth installment in this outstanding series as this reviewer.
Love Letters in the Sand
Sharon Stone
Alyson Books
P.O. Box 4371, Los Angeles, CA 90078-4371
ISBN: 1555838529, $13.95, 221 Pages
Sharon Stone's first novel, Love Letters in the Sand, opens with L.C. Hackett, a Grammy
Award-winning rock star, sitting at the bar in the Bel-Air mansion of her best friend and sister
rocker, Mandy Gilbert. Drifting in and out of the spacious rooms are many on the A-list of
talented
women in the entertainment world. While bemoaning the state of her recent haircut, L.C. first
hears
and then meets Sydney Sanders, a Pulitzer Prize-winning author who has just sung a snippet from
one of L.C.'s past hits. After a fleeting moment together, Sydney is lost in the sea of revelers. By
the
end of the evening the two women meet again, have a brief conversation, and L.C. offers Sydney
a
place to stay instead of her hotel. From this moment on, the lives and aspirations of these women
will intertwine, and they will discover that their personal values and priorities may never be the
same
again.
As these women begin a friendship, it becomes obvious that the seemingly-straight Sydney and
the
womanizing openly-gay L.C. are destined to have more than a merely uncomplicated platonic
relationship. Consequently, as is too often the case, life seldom moves forward without those
unexpected and often painful complications. An unscrupulous record producer, a jealous backup
singer, dark family secrets, and some startling sexual revelations all conspire to thwart whatever
happiness L.C. and Sydney hope to share.
Stone began her career working in Hollywood as a screenwriter, and in several respects, this
novel
reflects that script style of writing. The two main characters, for the most part, are likable, but
appear too superficially developed, too hastily drawn to create any real connection between
themselves and this reader. They often seem too self-absorbed, too lacking in insight to fully
comprehend the events affecting them and their own reactions to those events. Had the author
created a more extensive and meaningful narrative, a more realistic plotline could have been
achieved, and this in turn could have provided this reader with a more compelling and significant
story. Good editing is a must when preparing for publication. Perhaps a stronger editorial role
would
have avoided some of the shortcomings found in this book.
Well crafted dialogue in a novel enhances those who speak it; it imbues those characters with a
degree of realism that most readers crave. Much of what Sydney Sanders has to say is either quite
trite or embarrassingly na‹ve, and this is surprising considering the level of accomplishment
Sydney
has supposedly attained. For the most part, L.C. Hackett believably manages to talk the talk of a
once popular rock star. However, at times, her speeches, too, seem to lack credibility; they are
rather glib and void of believable emotion, both of which produce a degree of boredom for this
reader.
Thematically, Stone's novel attempts to deal with several important issues: abusive partners, fame
at
all costs, and the realization of love's power to transcend all obstacles. These are complex issues
worthy of careful exploration. This novel, however, tends to gloss over these points in its attempt
to
be clever and contemporary. If there had been a more substantive treatment of this material, it
would
most certainly have been a more worthwhile reading experience.
Love Letters in the Sand, is a book which provides a few hours of escapist entertainment. It's easy
and light reading which presents a brief glimpse into the often petty world of show business and
provides an introduction to a few of the characters who operate in that world. Despite the
weaknesses found in this freshman novel, Stone does appear to be a writer with potential. This
reader looks forward to her next novel which, hopefully, will reflect a more fully-developed
narrative style and a more skillfully woven storyline.
Arlene Germain
Reviewer
Bethany's Bookshelf
Our Hearts' True Home
Virginia Nieuwsma, editor
Conciliar Press
PO Box 76, Ben Lomond, CA 95005-0076
1888212020 $12.95 1-800-967-7377 www.conciliarpress.com
Our Hearts' True Home is an anthology of inspirational stories written by fourteen different
women
who learned to embrace the Orthodox Christian faith. Each woman's struggle has been uniquely
different, yet all share a common experience with God's love and mercy. Black-and-white
photographs of the authors intersperse this heartfelt, passionate, and devoted anthology, which
awakens compassion and spiritual empathy in the reader.
Beautiful Places, Spiritual Spaces
Sharon Hanby-Robie & Deb Strubel
Northfield Publishing
215 West Locust Street, Chicago, IL 60610
1881273180 $12.99 www.amazon.com
Interior designer Sharon Hanby-Roby is the resident home-decor expert for QVC Home Shopping
Network. Deb Strubel is the Director of Foundation Relations for the Institute of American
Values.
Together, this two experts present Beautiful Places, Spiritual Spaces: The Art Of Stress Free
Interior Design, a combination interior design guide and Christian devotional that can show
readers
just how to create a beautiful and spiritually serene living environment for themselves and their
loved
ones. Enhanced with a section of color photography, this superbly presented guidebook to
stress-free decorating will show women with busy lives and family obligations how to conquer
clutter, combine patterns with confidence, gain five minutes of peace, make big changes on a
small
budget, discover true color personality, and nurture their spiritual needs. Beautiful Places,
Spiritual
Spaces is especially commended to non-specialist general readers throughout the Christian
community who would like to order their living spaces to reflect their efforts to enhance and
maintain their spiritual values.
Guilt-Free Motherhood
Julianna Slattery
Faith Communications
c/o Creative Media Resources
PO Box 1865, Sandpoint, ID 83864
0757302262 $12.95 1-800-858-9388
Parenting Without Guilt: How Mothers Can Break Free From Feelings Of Inadequacy by
Christian
psychologist, public speaker, wife and mother Julianna Slattery directly addresses the all to
common
pangs of guilt that plague even the most conscientious mother when it comes to raising children in
today's secular values dominated culture -- including the necessity for most mothers to be out of
the
home earning wages from employment. Julianna Slattery believes that guilt is a natural produce of
a
mother's God-given influence over her children -- a kind of gentle reminder of her stewardship
responsibility over the well-being of her children. Guilt-Free Motherhood offers the whole picture
of
godly wisdom arising from a significantly different approach to motherhood. With sound
experienced-based advice, Julianna Slattery will help mothers to keep their faithfulness and focus
on
the modern challenges of motherhood, and offers practical, applicable tools for replacing guilt
with
positive action. Enhanced with questions for personal reflection and a 12-week study guide,
Guilt-Free Motherhood is especially recommended to the attention of single mothers, working
mothers, mothers of children with a physical or mental handicap, mothers having to cope with the
illness or even death of a child, and mothers with concerns for their adult children.
Ordinary Losses
Elisa Stanford
Paraclete Press
PO Box 1568, Orleans, MA 02653
1557254036 $14.95 1-508-255-4685 www.paracletepress.com
In Ordinary Losses: Naming The Graces That Shape Us, Elisa Fryling Stanford (non-fiction editor
for Shaw Books at WaterBrook Press, a division of Random House) deftly explores the losses
that
are the common experience of young adulthood, with an especial focus upon the healing that
comes
through naming the losses that accompany each transition from childhood to adult responsibilities.
Drawing upon her own life for illustration, Stanford reveals the major life changes presented by
marriage, career, and parenthood. Sharing personal stories of her losses and how they shaped her
character and views, Stanford shares how the recognition of loss brought her hope and the
possibility of redemption. Specific chapters cogently address a range of issues including home,
relationships, courage, and identity. Ordinary Losses is welcome and recommended reading for
anyone within a Christian community seeking to see "the pattern of God" in the workings of their
own personal life history.
Find It In The Bible
Bob Phillips
Howard Publishing Company
3117 North 7th Street, West Monroe, LA 71291-2227
1582293988 $12.99 www.howardpublishing.com
Compiled by marriage and family counselor Bob Phillips, Find It In The bible: Lists, Lists And
More
Lists is a compendium of listed items drawn from the Old and New Testaments that range from
theology and biblical personalities, to wisdom and humor. Ranging from 33 contrasts between
Christ
and the antichrist; to 59 titles of Christ; to 25 animals in God's "special zoo"; to the 43 kings of
Israel and Judah; to 125 counseling helps from the Bible; to 5 major ways God reveals Himself,
this
244-page compendium is a great resource and reference which is enthusiastically recommended
for
ministerial sermons and Sunday School discussions.
Pilgrim's Progress
Tim Dowley, author
Steve Smallman, illustrator
Candle Books
c/o Kregel Publications
PO Box 2607, Grand Rapids, MI 49501
0825472741 $16.99 1-800-733-2607
Pilgrim's Progress is a picturebook retelling of John Bunyan's classic narrative, intended for
younger
readers yet powerful for all ages. John Bunyan was a Baptist pastor who started to write the
original
tale when he was jailed in Bedford, England for preaching. Since then his story has become a
widely
beloved, metaphorical saga of a pilgrim named Christian in search of the Celestial City. Many
monsters seek to lead him astray or devour him along his quest - the wicked Judge Hate-good, the
giants of Doubting Castle, the diguesed and deceptive Flatterer, and even the Athiest strives to
convince him that the Celestial City does not exist. Yet Christian also makes steadfast friends,
such
as Faithful, who speaks out against unjust laws at the cost of his life, and Hopeful, who keeps
Christian's head above the darkest waters. Colorful, slightly cartoony illustrations decorate a story
that despite its elements of whimsy, is at its heart a profoundly powerful parable of the many
hardships encountered on the road the faithful walk. Highly recommended.
Easy Homeschooling Techniques
Lorraine Curry
God's Gardner
PO Box 95, Boelus, NE 68820
0970996527 $18.95 1-308-996-4497 www.easyhomeschooling.com
Now in an updated third edition, Easy Homeschooling Techniques is a no-nonsense resource by
mother and homeschooler Lorraine Curry. Chapters address how to set realistic educational goals,
keep high school credits, train homemaking skills, guide young people into careers, and more.
Easy
Homeschooling Techniques emphasizes the importance of faith in God, and how homeschooling
can
be used to reinforce God's teachings as well as techniques for worldly survival in young people. A
wealth of lists, including classic authors and poets, recommended courses of study through
twelfth
grade, a sample class schedule planner, lists of useful resources, and much more round out this
excellent guide recommended for Christian homeschoolers to consult for a master plan before
they
purchase costly materials.
Susan Bethany
Reviewer
Betsy's Bookshelf
Sandcastle In A Box
Ted Siebert
Running Press
125 South Twenty-Second Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103-4399
0762418370 $12.95 1-215-567-5080 www.perseusbooks.com
Containing everything anyone would ever need to craft sandcastles on the beach or in a
playground
sandbox, Sandcastle In A Box: Tools And Tips For Building Classic Sand Sculptures by sand
sculpting champion Ted Siebert (who has set a total of six world records in the "Guinness Book
of
World Records) comes with a mold for making sand cylinders; a window template; a small cone
for
tower tops; a palette knife; a brush for clearing loose sand; a straw for carving; decorative flag;
plastic tool bag; and a 64-page book of simple, easy-to-follow instructions, expert tips,
illustrations
for building towers, windows, stairs, moats, and other sandcastle features. Also included are
informative chapters on the history of sand sculpting; American sandcastle building competitions;
sandcastle jargon, and more. From 6 to 66, all you will need for a day's fun-in-the-sun is a pile of
sand and Ted Siebert's Sandcastle In A Box!
Easy Does It Dating Guide
Mary Faulkner
Hazelden
PO Box 11, Center City, Minnesota 55012-0011
1592851002 $12.95 1-800-328-0094 www.hazelden.org
Mary Faulkner is a therapist working with people in recovery from addictions and abuse. Owner
and
director of the Institute of Integrated Healing Arts in Nashville, Tennessee and founding editor of
"Recovering Magazine", she draws upon her many years of experience and expertise in Easy Does
It
Dating Guide to guide the reader through the "traps, triggers, and traumas" of recovering from
romantic involvements -- especially the ones that end badly because of alcoholism or addiction.
Readers will learn how to know when they are once again ready to start dating; whether it is wise
to
date other alcoholics and/or addicts in recovery; what happens if they are attracted to a problem
drinker or drug users; how much information should be shared about their past; and what's
realistic
to expect (or not expect) from relationships. The Easy Does It Dating Guide is a powerful and
effective tool for getting over relationship fears, getting past roadblocks to intimacy; dealing with
false romantic fantasies, and more. If you are in recovery (or dating someone who is), then give
Mary Faulkner's Easy Does It Dating Guide a careful reading from cover to cover.
The California Poem
Eleni Sikelianos
Coffee House Press
27 North Fourth Street, Minneapolis, MN 55401
1566891620 $16.00 1-800-283-3572
The California Poem is a book-length epic poem, sparsely illustrated with black-and-white
photographs of the California landscape, that spans the time, science, history, and scenery of the
Golden State. The sweeping lyrics, evocative of the resilience and beauty of nature, distinguish
this
breathtaking celebration of California in free verse. "My goal is to relate the descriptions to living
animals / Who is truly flea-bitten here? on hills hanging over beaches thatched / with reticent
brush,
the yellow intensities shining on cliffs, and below, it's / riffled with blue. Which animal?"
The Keepsake Storm
Gina Franco
University of Arizona Press
355 South Euclid Avenue, Suite 103, Tucson, AZ 85719-6654
0816523290 $15.95 1-800-426-3797 www.uapress.arizona.edu
Strongly recommended reading from first page to last, The Keepsake Storm showcases the lyrical
talents of academician and poet Gina Franco who draws upon an impressive tradition of
storytelling
in Latino literature to explore the transformative power of compassion. Dealing with such diverse
themes as cultural alienation, lost family roots, the ambiguous nature of the self, Gina Franco uses
her poetry to reaffirm the power of self-awareness, history, and places. Everything Goes Down a
Changeling: A great cloud of tiny insects--ingenious,/the summer light sifted through all those
wings/like that, like a thought shifting/over a bog veined in bright water./The air was coming
down/with an imminent rain--I could feel it./And you were there, shaking your head,/smiling at
the
camera though I felt slighted./Everything goes down a changeling, you said./You've got to have it
how you can./So it was hopeless already when I noticed/that my legs were running/with blood,
with
mosquitos thickly drowning,/when you turned from me saying,/well, it's what you wanted.
Voluntary Servitude
Mark Wunderlich
Graywolf Press
2402 University Avenue, Suite 203, St. Paul, MN 55114
1555974082 $14.00 www.graywolfpress.org
Voluntary Servitude is a compilation of the impressively original poetry of Mark Wunderlich
(Professor of Literature, Bennington College, Vermont). Hallmarked verse that is a once
implacably
honest and deftly scripted with a memorable rhetoric, this is a body of work that will linger in the
mind long after this slim, 64-page volume has been set back upon the shelf to be read again
another
day. Lamb: Inside the sheep's hot center, lambs tangle,/soft joints press a tender twin.//I am
brought
to the barn, soap my arm in a sink./Orion stabs the sky with his arrow of ice.//I unwrap one sister
from her awakening sister,/carefully, for the flesh is tender and this is an animal will.//Hand in the
cave where blood shapes into an other,/I will bring them forth, bleating into January.//Good
shepherd, I will shelter them from fangs,/chase stray dogs with a gun, turn them onto grass in
spring.//They will come when I call, press against woven wire/even though I call them to the
gleaming hook.
100 Top Picks for Homeschool Curriculum
Cathy Duffy
Broadman & Holman Publishers
127 Ninth Avenue, North, Nashville, TN 37234
www.broadmanholman.com
0805431381 $21.99 1-800-251-3225
Expert homeschooling curriculum consultant Cathy Duffy presents 100 Top Picks for
Homeschool
Curriculum: Choosing the Right Curriculum and Approach for Your Child's Learning Style, a
thorough guidebook to designing the proper educational program for one's child. Approaching the
topic from a Christian worldview, 100 Top Picks for Homeschool Curriculum is nonetheless
useful
for any homeschooling family regardless of faith. The first portion of 100 Top Picks for
Homeschool
Curriculum discusses different types of learning styles, and how to know when one's child should
learn what. The bulk of 100 Top Picks for Homeschool Curriculum focuses upon individual texts,
study guides, and CD-ROM software ideal for giving one's child a firm grounding in phonics,
literature, mathematics, history, science, foreign language, and much more. The pros, cons, and
unique features of each study aid is discussed in depth, in this superb catalog of the best of the
best
educational resources.
The American Sign Language Handshape Puzzle Book
Linda Lascelle Hillebrand
Gallaudet University Press
800 Florida Avenue, NE, Washington, DC 20002-3695
1563683105 $19.95 1-800-621-2736
The American Sign Language Handshape Puzzle Book is a supplementary resource for classroom
or
self-teaching American Sign Language. It consists of 54 different puzzles featuring 899 ASL
signs,
to help students review and strengthen their signing vocabulary. Simple diagrams of signs
illustrate
the words that belong in the crossword, word search, and four other types of puzzles, all divided
into three different skill levels. A complete answer key for every puzzle is included, in this clever
and
captivating educational tool.
Betsy L. Hogan
Reviewer
Betty's Bookshelf
Guardians of the Flame: To Home and Ehvenor
Joel Rosenberg
Baen Books
P.O. Box 1403, Riverdale, NY, 10471
http://www.baen.com
074348858X $24.00 499 p.
Originally, The Road to Ehvenor (1991) and The Road Home (1995) were two separate books.
Here, the lucky reader has them both in his sweaty little hands, to be read one after the other,
eschewing sleep, regular meals, and social activities until the last page is turned. Seriously, they're
that good.
I discovered the Guardians of the Flame series several years ago and devoured each book in the
series as quickly as possible, eager to answer the question, "Now what??" Normally, books that
contain a lot of violence turn me off, but somehow, Rosenberg's series grabbed me by the scruff
of
the neck, pushed me into a chair, and wouldn't let me up until I was done with it.
It was wonderful. From the neat trick of taking a bunch of sword-and-sorcery gamers and
trapping
them in their made-up identities in another world, to the characters Rosenberg developed them
into
and the adventures he dragged them through, I was hooked. And finding this double book on the
shelf last week made my day (and stole a good number of my hours of sleep and
productivity...)
It starts out with Walter Slovotsky's nightmare (which repeats throughout): he's caught in a
crowd
of people he knows and loves as they flee from hell through open gates, with demon hoards right
behind them. As his loved one escape, one by one, familiar heroes step forward to stem the flow
of
evil. Copernicus, George Patton, Joan of Arc, Cincinattus... And then, they need one more to
close
up the ranks, and Walter's second-best friend (on both This Side and The Other Side, Emperor
Karl
Cullinane) reaches out to Walter to ask for his help... and before he can decide what he will do,
Walter wakes up. Again.
Not getting a good night's sleep is getting old. But then, so is Walter. Of course, the rest of the
original group is, too (except poor Jason Parker, who didn't even make it 24 hours on The Other
Side, and Karl, now missing and presumed dead), but Doria and Andrea (Karl's wife) still look
hot,
Louis Ricetti is doing fine (engineers don't care how old they get, as long as they can still make
things), and James Michael (AKA Ahira) is aging gracefully. Dwarves do, you know.
Walter, though - his reflexes aren't what they were, his sneakiness has lost a bit of its edge, and it
takes him more effort to win a fight... and longer to recover from it. His wife will no longer let
him
touch her (due to old nightmares of her own) and Aeia, the woman he has his eye on, is not only
Karl's adopted daughter, she's being courted by a younger and more attractive baron. His sex life
pretty much doesn't exist anymore.
And Karl, the guy that everything and everyone depended on, is gone. Andrea has driven herself
almost to the point of madness using magic to try and find him, and his son, Jason, is a bit too
young
to fill the hole Karl left. He has a bit of growing up and maturing to do before he can come close
to
filling his dad's shoes, but it's possible that the Slavers' Guild and the rest of his family's enemies
won't let him live that long.
And there's Walter, struggling with getting old,and surrounded on every side by danger, evil, and
changing circumstances. Does he still have what it takes to protect his loved ones and the world
that
has become his home? One way or another, he'll do it. Giving up isn't in his nature. A novel about
midlife crisis, set in a world totally unlike ours... who'd have thought it would be so good? (Be
sure
not to miss the words of wisdom that start each chapter, one from a famous person in history and
one from Walter Slovotsky himself. They'll make you think, they'll make you laugh, they may even
make you head for a pen and a scrap of paper.) Again, Rosenberg has turned out a real
grabber.
LightLand
H.L. McCutchen
Orchard Books
c/o Scholastic, Inc.
557 Broadway, New York, NY 10012
ISBN# 0439395658 $16.95 144 p.
When Lottie Cook's dad makes her a magical StoryBox from the cherry tree her mother planted
before she was born, he tells her to keep her memories in it. Instead, Lottie and her best friend,
Lewis Weaver, discover it is actually a doorway to another realm, when they're taken through it
by a
rainbow-colored bird named Umber.
Umber and his friends explain to the children that the people of LightLand, who are made up of
real-world memories, are slowly dying. Their memories are being stolen, bit by bit, by the evil
Nightking. No one in LightLand seems to know who he is, but if he is allowed to steal the last
memory, LightLand and its people will cease to exist. Everyone is convinced that Lottie and
Lewis
have been sent to break the Nightking's power over the land, but no one is quite sure how, and
time
is running out. Can they figure out what to do before the Nightking steals their memories, too?
And
will it help that they know who the Nightking really is?
Betty Winslow
Reviewer
Buhle's Bookshelf
Legacies of the Turf: A Century of Great Thoroughbred Breeders, Volume 2
Edward L. Bown
Eclipse Press c/o Blood-Horse Publications
National Book Network (dist.)
3101 Beaumont Centre Circle, Lexington, KY 40513
158150117X $29.95 www.amazon.com
Award-winning author Edward L. Bown continues his chronicle of the most skilled, wise, and
successful racehorse breeders in Legacies of the Turf: A Century of Great Thoroughbred
Breeders,
volume 2. Picking up where volume 1 left off, Legacies of the Turf covers the last fifty years and
traces both equine and human family lines with exacting precision. Black-and-white photographs
illustrate the meticulous narration; all equine geneaology material is heavily researched and
condenced in tree form at the close of the book. A "must-have" for horse enthusiasts avidly
interested in following and learning from generations of human and animal legends.
The Complete Guide To Zoning
Dwight H. Merriam, FAICP, CRE
The McGraw Hill Companies
Two Penn Plaza, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10121-2298
0071443797 $21.95 1-877-833-5524 www.books.mcgraw-hill.com
The Complete Guide To Zoning: How Real Estate Owners and Developers Can Create and
Preserve
Property Value is a no-nonsense guide to understanding what zoning is and how to use it to
protect
one's property rights and interests. Zoning and Land-Use Law controls what can be done with
land
and how it can be developed; The Complete Guide To Zoning offers the lay reader a very short
course in the law, the importance of knowing what one has, what one wants, and how to get it,
the
value of creating and leveraging relationships, when to reach out for support, preparing winning
applications and making successful presentations, strategies for winning zoning battles, and much
more. Chapters give equal focus to pursuing one's desire to develop land commercially, or the
desire
to see that adjoining lands to one's residential area are not developed commercially. Written in
plain
terms, The Complete Guide To Zoning is highly accessible regardless of the reader's legal
background, and a "must-read" for property owners everywhere.
Balinese Dance, Drama and Music
I. Wayan Dibia and Rucina Ballinger, authors; Barbara Anello, illustrator
Periplus c/o Tuttle Publishing
364 Innovation Drive, North Clarendon, VT 05759-9436
9625931953 $35.00 www.tuttlepublishing.com
Extensively illustrated with over 200 full-color photographs, Balinese Dance, Drama and Music:
A
Guide to the Performing Arts of Bali takes the reader on a captivating tour of the history, style,
and
function of Balinese gamelan music, dance, drama, and puppetry. Suitable for all ages, Balinese
Dance, Drama and Music covers how performing arts are learned in Bali, the principal Balinese
values that artistic media passes on, and discussion of individual forms of performing arts, such as
Gameland Gong Kebyar, Lgong Keraton, Baris, Wayang Kulit, and the relatively recent
phenomenon of women's and children's performing groups. A bibliography and discography round
out this superbly captivating survey, written by expert dancers and choreographers.
Incubation of Reptile Eggs
Gunther Kohler
Krieger Publishing Company
PO Box 9542, Melbourne, FL 32902-9542
www.krieger-publishing.com
1575241935 $38.50 1-800-724-0025
Incubation of Reptile Eggs is a scientific account that collects available information and
experience
from a wealth of experts concerning the proper incubation of reptile eggs, knowledge that is vital
to
the success of captive breeding programs that are one defense against species extinction. Charts,
full-color photographs, and technical details spell out the crucial importance of temperature,
humidity, and special care that must be taken for various species (for example, monitor lizards eat
their own eggs). A superb, in-depth resource especially for herpetologists and reptile
caretakers.
The Encyclopedia of Restaurant Training
Lora Arduser and Douglas Robert Brown
Atlantic Publishing Group
1210 S.W. 23rd Place, Ocala, FL 34474-7014
www.atlantic-pub.com
0910627347 $79.95 1-800-541-1336
The Encyclopedia of Restaurant Training is a no-nonsense, thorough resource covering the
necessary training for all positions in the food service industry, from professional chef to maitre d
to
bartender and much more. Written in clear, easy-to-understand terms and charts spelling out
explicit
training instructions, and illustrated with some diagrams (such as a picture of how to properly set
a
formal table), The Encyclopedia of Restaurant Training spares no effort to be as understandable
as
possible. No background knowledge in any trade is needed to grasp explicit instructions ranging
from a step-by-step breakdown of the hostess' job to the proper order of service for a luncheon
handout to how one can go about creating a memorable presentation to food service employees,
and
much more. A CD-ROM accompanies this absolute must-have for anyone preparing for a career
in
food service, or charged with the responsibility of training food service recruits.
In The Path Of Hizbullah
Ahmad Nizar Hamzeh
Syracuse University Press
1600 Jamesville Avenue, Syracuse, NY 13210
0815630530 $24.95 1-800-365-8929 www.SyracuseUniversityPress.syr.edu
Associate professor of political science Ahmad Nizar Hamzeh presents In The Path Of Hizbullah,
a
thorough examination of the history and present-day situation of the Islamist group known as
Hizbullah, or the Party of God. Consisting of mainly Lebanese Shiite Muslims, Hizbullah is well
known for using both militant and moderate tactics to pursue its goals. Indeed its changing back
and
forth between extremes has puzzled those who would study it or those who are forced to confront
it. In The Path Of Hizbullah details the crises that led to Hizbullah's emergence, its clerical
leadership
and hierarchical structure, and examines its shifts between militancy and gradualist pragmatism.
Research, statistics, and tables flesh out the close scrutiny of Hizbullah's activities, in this unbiased
examination of all that Hizbullah is and speculation upon what Hizbullah will become. A welcome
contribution to contemporary Middle Eastern studies shelves.
Willis M. Buhle
Reviewer
Burroughs' Bookshelf
That Toddlin' Town
Charles A. Sengstock, Jr.
University of Illinois Press
1325 South Oak Street, Champaign, IL 61820-6975
0252029542 $35.00 1-800-545-4703 www.press.uillinois.edu
The latest volume in the "Music in American Life" series, That Toddlin' Town: Chicago's White
Dance Bands and Orchestras, 1900-1950 is an economic history the band business of Chicago
prior
to World War II. Written by an experienced jazz and dance band researcher, That Toddlin' Town
covers big names such as Edgar Benson, Jules Stein and James Petrillo, and more, as well as the
endeavors of dance bands, the role of early dance halls, ice rinks, and beer gardens, how dance
bands earned popular respect, the impact of the Great Depression, and much more. A thoroughly
researched account, featuring an extensive bibliography and index, That Toddlin' Town is a
"must-have" for jazz and dance band historians.
Parting Ways
Stephen F. Szabo
Brookings Institution Press
1775 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20036-2188
0815782446 $24.95 1-800-275-1447
Parting Ways: The Crisis in German-American Relations is the first in-depth examination of the
German-American relationship written since the recent invasion of Iraq. While America's tensions
with France over the war has held a higher profile, America's relationship with Germany suffered
severe deterioration. Professor of European studies Stephen F. Szabo suggests that the clash
between Germany and the U.S. regarding policy in Iraq reflects even greater changes shaping the
relationships between the two nations, as the U.S.-German relationship loses strategic importance
in
the post-cold war era, a new German identity rises within Germany, and the U.S. foreign policy
serves the will of what is arguably the most ideological administration since the mid-twentieth
century. A meticulous, in-depth study of the cutting-edge political climate, paying special
attention
to the legacies of the Holocaust on the German psyche - both the older and the younger
generations.
A "must-read" for anyone closely researching German-American relations, written in detail yet
using
terminology highly accessible to the lay reader.
Echoes from the Smithsonian
John McCollister, Ph.D.
Spotlight Press c/o Sports Publishing
804 North Neil St., Suite 100, Champaign, IL 61820
1582612455 $19.95 1-877-424-2665 www.SportsPublishingLLC.com
Echoes from the Smithsonian: America's History Brought To Life is an engaging anthology of
vignettes of American history connected to historical artifacts on display in the Smithsonian
museum. Short stories about amazing turning points in the nation and in the lives of its most
famous
and notable figures, and a handful of black-and-white photographs illustrate such priceless items
as
the allegedly cursed Hope Diamond, a portrait of President William Henry Harrison (whose
determination to brave below-freezing temperatures to give a long inaugural speech led to his
contraction of pneumonia and untimely death one month after taking office), to a photograph of
the
doctor who revolutionized the method of saving lives with blood transfusions, and much more fill
this entertaining compilation that can be read all at once or savored a bit at a time. An enjoyable
way
to skim highlights of America's grand history.
The Ultimate Dimension
Thich Nhat Hanh
Sounds True Audio
413 South Arthur Avenue, Louisville, CO 80027
1591791952 $69.95 1-800-333-9185 www.soundstrue.com
Written by Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh, nominated for the 1967 Nobel Peace Prize by Martin
Luther King Jr., The Ultimate Dimension is an audio book on CD that examines two classical
Buddhist texts, the Avatamsaka Sutra and the Lotus Sutra. From essential Buddhist principles to
wondrous interconnection of all that exists, to the "ultimate dimension" that is the infinite realm
beyond birth and death, The Ultimate Dimension reminds listeners of the Lotus Sutra's promise -
that regardless of one's traditions or background, all beings share the potential to become
enlightened. A compassionate, profound audiobook with a quintessential Buddhist message of
wisdom, understanding, and learning to open oneself to a higher way.
Irish Secrets
Mark M. Hull
Irish Academic Press/ISBS, dist.
920 NE 58th AVenue, Suite 300, Portland, OR 97213-3786
071652807X $29.50 www.isbs.com
Irish Secrets: German Espionage In Wartime Ireland 1939-01945 by Mark M. Hull (Assistant
Professor of History, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, Missouri) is a 383-page exploration of
why
World War II German intelligence basically failed in the Irish State, and offers the documented
view
that the german effort represented a genuine menace to the Allies (including Northern Ireland) as
well as the wartime neutrality of the Irish Republic. So much more than a stodgy historical study,
Professor Hull offers the reader a truly gripping and comprehensive account of the intelligence
war
in Ireland and showcases the story of a brilliant, creative, and ultimately successful Irish Military
Intelligence in waging a counter-espionage campaign that would overwhelm the German
intelligence
operations. Strongly recommended for personal and academic World War II Military Studies
collections, Trust Yourself To Transform Your Body draws upon newly released intelligence files
in
several countries, in-depth interviews Professor Hull was able to conduct with surviving
participants,
and other previously unpublished primary sources.
The Designed Self
Carolo Strenger
The Analytic Press
Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, dist.
101 West Street, Hillsdale, NJ 07642
0881634190 $39.95 www.erlbaum.com www.analyticpress.com
Volume 27 in the "Relational Perspective Book Series" from The Analytical Press, The Designed
Self: Psychoanalysis & Contemporary Identities by Carlo Strenger (Senior Lecturer in the
Department of Psychology, Tel Aviv University) chronicles academician and psychotherapist
Strenger's therapeutic encounters with five extraordinarily gifted young adults caught up in a
compulsory web of experimentation in defining themselves. These perpetual self-experiments
were
constantly reinforced by the media and ranged from career choice to hair color to body shape to
gender identity. These case studies reveal that factors in the drive for self-creating empowerment
include the absence of a clearly felt authority, issues of sexual attractiveness, personal finances,
demands based upon ethnic identity, and more. The Designed Self is a meticulously presented
scholarly study which is especially recommended to the attention of academic library Psychology
Studies reference collections and adolescent/young adult psychotherapy supplemental reading
lists.
John Burroughs
Reviewer
Carson's Bookshelf
Summer Of The Red Wolf
Morris West
Bolinda Publishing
PO Box 307, Shelton, CT 06484
1740935357 $64.00 1-888-235-2019 usa@bolinda.com www.bolinda.com
Dramatically narrated by Stanley McGeagh, Summer Of The Red Wolf by Morris West is the
riveting story of one man who struggled to deal with and ultimately overcome the complexities
and
torments of his everyday life. Traveling to Scotland to fight his own inner demons, he discovers
love, honor, and himself along the way. Morris West is an experienced and accomplished novelist
whose books have been translated into 27 languages. Summer Of The Red Wolf, which brilliantly
showcases those feelings of restlessness and yearnings for self-discovery which so hallmarks
contemporary life, is another of his masterfully written, reader engaging novels which tend to
linger
on the mind long after they are read and put back upon the shelf. Also available in an
audiocassette
format (1740935233, $64.00, 8 cassettes), this 8 CD Bolinda library edition is a superbly
recorded,
complete and unabridged production which is confidently recommended for library audiobook
collections.
The Longest Winter
Alex Kershaw
Da Capo Press
Eleven Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142
0306813041 $25.00 www.perseusbooks.com
It was freezing on the morning of December 16, 1944 when the Intelligence and Reconnaissance
Platoon of the 394th Infantry, 99th Infantry Division found itself desperately holding up a brutal
German attack at a small town called Lanzareth, the point of the main thrust of Hitler's massive
and
last ditch military offense. By nightfall the men of this beleaguered American platoon had killed
over
500 elite German troops while defending a strategically vital hill without reinforcement or artillery
support. Outnumbered almost 40 to 1, yet told to "hold at all costs", these valiant American
soldiers
repulsed three German assaults in a day-long battle. Only when the men had run out of
ammunition
did they surrender at gun-point -- after which they were taken to German prisoner-of-war camps.
There Lt. Bouck and his men (who were eventually separated from their officer) began an ordeal
far
worse than combat -- surviving the last days of the Third Reich when brutal guards were
increasingly trigger happy, Allied bombers raided almost daily, and thin soup was the only
sustenance. When Bouck was finally liberated from the prison camp, his entry weight of 180
pounds
had dropped to 112 pounds. A gripping true life saga and one that belongs in every World War II
Military History collection, The Longest Winter: The Battle Of The Bulge And The Epic Story Of
World War II's Most Decorated Platoon is an impressively written military history by author Alex
Kershaw, and published on the 60th anniversary of that famous and infamous battle.
Guardians Of The Holy Grail
Mark Amaru Pinkham
Adventures Unlimited Press
PO Box 74, Kempton, IL 60946
1931882282 $16.95 1-815-253-6390 www.adventuresunlimitedpress.com
In Guardians Of The Holy Grail: The Knights Templar, John The Baptist, And The Water Of Life,
author and spiritual instructor Mark Amaru Pinkham lays out the history of the Knights Templar
and
the legendary Holy Grail. During their one hundred year presence in the Middle East, the
Templars
received the Holy Grail from a lineage of Holy Grail Guardians that had already been in existence
for
many thousands of years. Originating on Sri Lanka (the island paradise recognized within the
Arab
world as the true location of the fabled Garden of Eden), this ancient Grail lineage included John
the
Baptist, Jesus Christ, and John the Apostle. Readers will learn of the relationship of John the
Baptist
and the Mandean from Sri Lanka; the mystery of Baphomet (the Templar "Demon"); the gnostic
and
sexual tantric rites practiced by the Knights Templar; the alchemy and mystery of the Black
Madonna; secrets of the Rosslyn Chapel and the Sinclairs of Scotland; the mysteries of the
Freemasons and Johannites; and the Knight Templars of today. Also very highly recommended
from
Adventures Unlimited Press are two earlier books about the Knight Templars: Charles G.
Addison's
The History Of The Knights Templars (HKT, $16.95) and Francine Bernier's Templars' Legacy In
Montreal (TLIM, $21.95).
Strength Band Training
Todd S. Ellenbecker
Human Kinetics
PO Box 5076, Champaign, IL 61825-5076
0736054936 $17.95 1-217-351-5076 www.HumanKinetics.com
Strength Band Training is co-authored by sports and orthopedic physical therapist Phillip Page
(Manager of Clinical education and research for Thera-Band Products) and licensed physical
therapist Todd Ellenbecker (Clinic Director at the Physiotherapy Associates Scottsdale Sport
Clinic
in Scottsdale, Arizona, and who draws upon his 18 years of professional experience as a sports
clinical specialist and an orthopedic clinical specialist) and offer health and enthusiasts more than
one
hundred physical exercises employing resistive bands and tubing. Resistance bands and tubing
allows
fitness training in minimal time, at very little cost, and can be practiced in virtually any setting, on
the
road or at home. Individual chapters cover "Strength Training with Elastic Resistance";
"Shoulders
and Arms"; "Chest and Upper Back"; Abs and Lower Back"; Hips and Thighs"; Lower Legs and
Ankles"; "Combination and Circuit Training"; Power, Agility, and Speed Exercises" "Stretching
Exercises"; Functional Training Programs"; and "Training on the Road". Enhanced with a
bibliography for further reading, Strength Band Training is highly recommended reading,
especially
for fitness enthusiasts, professional athletes, fitness trainers and professionals, physical therapists,
and non-specialist general readers seeking an inexpensive, versatile, and mobile training regime for
their own personal health and physical well-being.
Michael J. Carson
Reviewer
Christina's Bookshelf
Roadworks
Gerard Readett
Writer's Exchange
P.O. Box 372, Atherton OLD 4883 Australia PB 204
ISBN 1876962771 $13.99
Roadworks is about a city from the future that's thrown into gridlock. An African terrorist finds a
way to bring the smooth-running city to a halt. Either the greatest humanitarian aid package in
history goes to Africa, or he'll kill all Western nation's leaders. Hugh Ryan is an ordinary guy and
a
transport authority controller. He rises above the chaos created by this narrow-minded terrorist.
Order is gone. There are citywide traffic jams, stranded motorists, exploding buildings and
malfunctioning parking terminals. Lives are lost, and multitudes threatened. Ryan, the main
character, puts his life on the line trying to right the situation. His bravery surprises even himself.
The atmosphere is vivid, with tight-wire action and absorbing characters that keep pages
turning.
The year is 2022 in Brussels, Belgium. Ryan and his co-workers monitor transport inside the city.
They pull up the problem-reporting system, displayed on a massive 5x7 meter flat LCD color
screen.
On it, is an outline of the city, a graphical representation of their jurisdiction that is their area of
responsibility. From this, Hugh and his co-workers see when a train stops, when there is a lot or a
little traffic and when air inside the city reaches the allowable pollution percentage if it does, they
direct motorists go to P&R (Park and Ride) terminals immediately.
Ryan feels responsible when the system falls apart, even though it's not his fault. He works to
enable
motorists again, to save them from chemical spills, and exploding buildings. He's an ordinary
person,
yet begins a series of unordinary heroics. His injuries keep adding up though, and the next one
could
kill him.
The fact that something like Readett's energized story could happen, adds special interest.
Technology is growing at break-neck speed, along with the population. It's only a matter of time
before a better way to help city traffic go smoother is planned. This author supplies readers with
food for thought, as well as non-stop excitement. Readett's story dares question humankind's
reckless urge to use progress to gain power, even if intentions are good.
Readers with a taste for high-action and in the future settings will love this book. More than a
first-rate techno thriller. Entertaining. Oh, and it would make a terrific movie.
Doomstalker
Gary Brandner
Fawcett
The Ballantine Publishing Group
1540 Broadway, New York, NY 10036 PB 234
ISBN 0449145778 $3.95
Six-year-old Brian secretly watched and listened to his father, Reverend Harlan Kettering, argue
with the large, dark, unearthly form. Moments later, he watched as he died. It was the first in a
chain
of unspeakable events for Brian, his sister, and mother that would forever twist and haunt their
lives.
Time eventually brought a better way of life for forty three year old Detective Sergeant Brian
Kettering. He was a damn good cop, married to a woman who took care of herself and her family,
and he had a seventeen-year-old son. Then, the dreams and headaches were back. Brian wondered
how his luck had all changed. Suddenly, he found his life crumbling around him. His wife, Mavis,
of
eighteen years began to see another woman, and they weren't quilting together. His son, Trevor,
whom he'd never been close to, began to work at a nightclub that soon drew him into a cult.
Granted, his family wasn't perfect like the ones on some television sit-coms, but whose was? If
that
wasn't enough, things became even worse. The unearthly, dark form came back. It showed up
everywhere Brian went, murdered his friend, and went after his wife. Somehow he knew it wanted
something from him, but what? How could he fix things between he and his family, and save them
from the demon dating back to the Egyptian era until he found out?
Doomstalker is tightly written. Even if the supernatural element weren't in the story, it would still
be
a good work of fiction. Because of this, I've read the book a couple of times. There is little slash
and
gore, and every page will not put you on the edge of your seat, but that is okay because the plot is
strong and the characters especially believable. This story is about an imperfect man in an
imperfect
situation who attempts to salvage the relationship between himself and his family first.
Christina Francine Whitcher, Reviewer
http://www.CFrancine.bizland.com
Debra's Bookshelf
Journo's Diary
Chris Thomas
Metropolis Ink
5629 Windstone, Cave Creek, Arizona 85331
ISBN: 0957952880 $15.95 266 pages
Twenty-three-year-old Rick Hughes's troubles begin five days before he starts his new job as a
journalist (he is the "journo" of the book's title) at an Australian weekend paper, the Weekend
Star.
His drunken sexual encounter with a 40-something "nice Valkyrie-type called Helga" leaves him
walletless and plagued, for months thereafter, by his own stupidity: his "Helga" is in fact a certain
Heidi Delsminka, wanted throughout Australia for credit card fraud and armed robbery. Over the
next year, while struggling in his job, eating poorly, and vaguely looking for sex, Rick chronicles
the
problems that ensue from his interlude with Heidi in daily entries in his diary. At the same time he
details for readers the minutiae of his life: his argument with a fast food place over the availability
of
Diet Coke in bottles in the restaurant; evidence that his roommate George may be having sex with
chickens on the sly; his vague efforts to determine the identity of the "phantom pant scrubber,"
someone who spends an inordinate amount of time in the men's bathroom at work apparently
scrubbing his underwear with steel wool. ("What the hell is wrong with his arse?" Rick writes.)
There is much crude talk of bowel movements and their ilk in the book and a fair number of
post-Heidi drunken interludes that do not, however, end with Rick pantsless and broke. Rick also
includes in his diary the text of the articles he writes for the paper, with increasing competence, on
usually uninteresting small-town issues.
Journo's Diary, as its name suggests, is written in the form of a diary, and the book stops when
the
pages in Rick's diary run out. The book is chapterless, but its organization into journal entries
segment it into bite-sized chunks. The book itself is a quick and sometimes funny read, though its
pace is slowed by the inclusion of the text of Rick's newspaper articles. These do contribute to
our
understanding of Rick's life as a disillusioned first-year journalist, but they are not interesting of
themselves. Detailing as it does a twenty-something lifestyle--Rick's life is at least more raucous
than
mine has ever been (though that's not saying much)--Journo's Diary will appeal in particular to the
younger crowd, and to anyone who's ever worked as a journalist.
The Finishing School
Muriel Spark
Doubleday
ISBN: 0385512821 $16.95 181 pages
Rowland and Nina Mahler run an itinerant finishing school, College Sunrise, located for the time
being in Lausanne, Switzerland. Rowland, an aspiring novelist, teaches the school's nine students
creative writing, while Nina--whose fondest desire, strangely enough, is to be married to a
scholar--instructs them in etiquette. ("There's no need to jump to your feet if one of your friend's
parents comes into the room, far less your own. It looks too well trained.") Problems develop
during
the year described in Muriel Sparks' The Finishing School when Rowland conceives a powerful
jealousy of 17-year-old student Chris Wiley. Chris is at the school to work on his own book, a
historical novel about the murder of Lord Darnley, husband of Mary Queen of Scots, that takes
jealousy as its theme. Chris manages to interest publishers and film producers in his unfinished
manuscript with unlikely and, for Rowland, maddening ease. With Rowland's marriage suffering
as a
result of his obsession with Chris and with Chris himself showing signs of instability, with several
of
the book's characters announcing that the situation is ripe for murder, the end of the school year
holds the promise of high drama.
Not that high drama is in fact delivered. Nor will readers care very much how the year wraps up
for
the College Sunrise students and faculty, for we never come to know the characters of Sparks'
short
book. Most are one-dimensional creatures whose names one needn't bother remembering from
one
page to the next. The two characters whose emotions are explored in the book--Rowland and
Chris--are only slightly more fleshed out. Throughout, Sparks keeps readers at an emotional
distance, "telling" rather than "showing," the reverse of the old saw about writing: "Nina now
perceived that Rowland's jealousy was an obsession." Sparks' prose, sometimes stilted, fails to
charm. ("The Sunrise group comprised eight, the ninth, Princess Tilly, having a pain in her
stomach
and so forced to lie on a sofa for some hours, on this her bad day of the month.") When the end
comes--an abrupt section in which the characters' fates are revealed a la the film Animal
House--one
feels that one has read the literary equivalent of empty calories.
An Evening of Long Goodbyes
Paul Murray
Random House
ISBN: 1400061164 $24.95 424 pages
Twenty-four-year-old Charles Hythloday resides at Amaurot, his family's estate some ten miles
outside of Dublin, with his sister Bel, an aspiring actress, and their Bosnian housekeeper Mrs. P.
Charles wiles away his days in apparent indolence and drunkenness, mourning a love affair gone
sour, watching Gene Tierney movies into the night, overseeing the construction of a folly on the
property. But to Charles's mind his purpose in life is a serious one: he means to revive "the
contemplative life of the country gentleman, in harmony with his status and history." For the first
third of An Evening of Long Goodbyes Charles is thus an amusing anachronism, a Wodehousian
character thrust into a less polite modern world. This makes for some wickedly funny writing,
both
in dialogue and narrative. (Out to a seedy pub with Bel and her Golem of a boyfriend Frank,
Charles
looks around with some unease at his fellow drinkers. "Was I the only one in evening wear?") But
one senses that Charles's retreat from society is motivated by an underlying sadness.
Unfortunately, Charles's idyllic lifestyle cannot last. Events conspire to push him out of Amaurot
and
into productive society, where he engages in activities--paying work, for example--that were
previously unthinkable. Charles grows as a human being, developing empathy, for example, and
he is
eventually compelled to confront the imperfections of his childhood at Amaurot, which he had
long
glorified.
While Charles's development is interesting to watch, he becomes a less interesting character as he
changes from a wry commentator on a society that is alien to him to a productive participant in
that
society. The book, too, loses charm as it moves from the farce of its early pages to the melodrama
of
Charles's post-Amaurot life. Still worth reading, a lighter book that kept Charles in tails and
gimlets
would surely have garnered five stars.
A Son Called Gabriel
Damian McNicholl
CDS Books
425 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10017
ISBN: 1593150180 $22.95 343 pages
Gabriel Harkin is growing up in the 1960s and '70s in a working-class Catholic family. Northern
Ireland at the time is riven by political and religious differences, and the Troubles form a backdrop
to
Gabriel's childhood and adolescence. But the more immediate cause of Gabriel's unhappiness
during
these years is his homosexuality. Bullied for his effeminacy, tormented by guilt when he gives way
to
what the Church tells him are sinful urges, Gabriel worries too that he is a disappointment to his
father, who appears to favor Gabriel's athletic and mechanically-inclined brother James. Gabriel
cannot confess his desires, not even to his beloved uncle, Father Brendan, but he does come to
realize that his sexual proclivity is not the only secret being harbored in the Harkin family: some
disgrace which his parents refuse to discuss evidently lies behind Brendan's entrance into the
priesthood.
Damian McNicholl's A Son Called Gabriel is written in the first person and reads like a memoir.
As
such it will inevitably be compared to Frank McCourt's Angela's Ashes. Remarkably, McNicholl's
novel does not suffer from the comparison. It is so well written, and the author's portrayal of
Gabriel
is so vivid, that readers will be hard-pressed to remember they're holding a piece of fiction in their
hands. A Son Called Gabriel creates a fully realistic community--Gabriel's parents and siblings and
extended family of aunts and uncles and grandparents, the boys who taunt or befriend him at
school--and a likable main character with whom readers cannot but sympathize as they watch him
grow to manhood. It is a perfect novel. And, quiet story though it is, the book packs a wallop in
its
final pages when the secret of Brendan's retreat into the clergy is finally revealed.
May the Best Man Die
Deborah Donnelly
Dell
ISBN: 0440241294 $5.99 319 pages
Seattle-based wedding planner Carnegie Kincaid has a lot on her plate. Dry rot has forced a
temporary evacuation of her home and office, a rented houseboat moored on the east shore of
Washington's Lake Union, and from her interim quarters she is overseeing the final preparations
for
two end-of-year nuptials. Preparations for the Buckmeister/Frost Christmas Eve wedding aren't
unusually problematic, but the blowout Carnegie's planning for New Year's Eve proves to be a
trial.
For one thing, bride-to-be Sally Tyler--the daughter of renowned conductor Charles Tyler and his
superstar CEO wife Ivy--is a spoiled rich girl with the people skills to match. For another, the
groom's disagreeable best man turns up dead the morning after the bachelor party, and
Carnegie--spying on the debauch for her own reasons through a pair of binoculars--may have
witnessed the prelude to his murder.
May the Best Man Die is the third book in Deborah Donnelly's series of Wedding Planner
Mysteries.
(I have not read the first two books in the series but plan to remedy that fault.) It's a
tightly-plotted
mystery with a likable protagonist and good, breezy writing: "So, roundly cursing Ms. Tyler and
the
stack of wedding magazines she rode in on, I climbed into my van [the Vanna White Too, by the
way] and drove south." Readers looking for a quick, well-written cozy will find Donnelly's series
delightful.
Debra Hamel, Reviewer
http://www.tryingneaira.com
Gary's Bookshelf
It's My Party Too
Christine Todd Whitman
The Penguin Press
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
www.penguin.com
ISBN 1594200408 $24.95
Whitman, a moderate Republican who was Governor of New Jersey and head of the
Environmental
Protection Agency 2001 - 2003, makes a solid case against the religious right that has taken over
the
Republican Party. She goes all the way back to the presidential race of Barry Goldwater 1964,
when
she says the far right portion of the party began to take power. She goes on to talk about Jerry
Falwell, Pat Robertson, and others who are the architects of the modern movement that is rigid
and
uncompromising. She points out these religious leaders are ruining the political party she grew up
with and shows how drastically different it is. She makes a very convincing argument also that the
party must go more to the center as opposed to where it is presently and is heading. But "It's My
Party Too is also about Whitman herself. She tells about the campaign against popular Democrat
Bill Bradley, her runs for governor, her stint as head of the Environmental Protection Agency and
why more women should be a part of the process. Like Dan Quayle did in his book, Whitman
shows
how the press can make or break a politician. The writing is interesting and has a lot to say about
where the Republican Party should be. I also liked how she shows the difference in campaigns of
earlier years that were run with respect of the opponent, as opposed to today where the goal is to
destroy the opposition at all costs. My only objection or difference of opinion is when she makes
her
argument on the one hand that she is so opposed to what has happened to her party, then
continues
to support the very candidates who spout off the religious right agenda. Maybe I missed
something,
but to me the two don't add up to the goal she says she wants accomplished of having a more
moderate party.
Living History
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Scribner
1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10020
ISBN 0743222253 $16.00 1-800-456-6798
Those of us who like Hillary Rodham Clinton have a greater respect for her after reading her
account of her life in and out of politics. Hillary tells her story in an easy to read format that gives
the impression she is in the same room with the reader. In unflinching honesty she is not afraid to
tackle any subject. One of the things that impressed me was her retelling of when, how, and why
she
changed from the Republican Party to become a Democrat. She also demonstrates very well that
we
all have others who have a great deal of influence on where we go in life. This is what she tried in
her other book "It Takes a Village" to show. Instead she was lambasted so fiercely by the negative
Republicans who didn't have a clue of what she was talking about or just did not want to join with
her because it, they feel would not be proper behavior to work with the opposing party. What also
emerges is that she is a fighter for children's issues, seniors, and other social issues other
politicians
do not want to deal with. These are the qualities that reveal the very best of what the Liberal
Democrat Party stands for. She also shows her family values by trying to protect her daughter
from
the vicious press. Unlike Christine Todd Whitman, there is no confusion on who she is and what
she
stands for. Hillary is a very positive, remarkable role model, for anyone in this country. We should
all be very proud of her many accomplishments.
Murder a la Carte
Prudy Taylor Board
ArcheBooks Publishing
9101 W Sahara Ave, Suite 105-112, Las Vegas, NV 89117
www.archebooks.com
ISBN 1595070303 $27.99
I've read Ms. Board's horror novels and am delighted to say that this is a darling tale that is the
first
of a series of Clyde Colby mysteries. The novel is fun reading fare for genre fans, but also
encompasses the fine art of cooking. The novel is told on several different levels with wonderful
likable characters and a plot that just moves along to its revealing end. One of the things I very
much
enjoyed is that we get to see what it takes to produce a cooking show for television, while at the
same time former journalist Clyde Colby now TV star has her crime reporter skills kick in at the
first
murder and all through the rest of the story as the bodies pile up. As an added bonus there are
numerous recipes and they appear to be quite delightful. Board and Colby are off to a wonderful
start with this charming first book.
America's Curious Ways, Holidays, Customs and Apple Pie
Beverly Ely
Outskirts Press
www.outskirtspress.com
ISBN 1932672176 $13.95
All yearlong we observe different holidays but how many of us know where and why they began?
Author Ely reveals those two criteria and more about our celebrations in an easy to read style that
is
fun and educational. Veterans Day, our birthday, Halloween are just a few of the ones she deals
with. She delightfully has included daylight saving time, income tax day, and Election Day.
Little Girl Lost
Richard Aleas
Hard Case Crime
Dorchester Publishing Co. Inc
200 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016
www.HardCaseCrime.com
ISBN 0843953519 $8.99
Mysteries are always interesting but this one for me was a lot of fun. Written in the style of the
best
private eye stories of the 1940's, Aleas takes the reader on a grand excursion through a world not
too many know very much about, while at the same time providing interesting characters and a
plot
that is easy to follow. PI John Blake finds out that the girl he dated in high school did not pursue
her
dream of becoming an eye doctor. Instead he finds that she was murdered. For personal reasons
he
wants to know what happened to her that could get her killed. What he uncovers surprises him
into
wondering why and how she got herself taken off course of her medical ambition. I look forward
to
seeing a series of novels of PI John Blake as well as other titles in the Hard Case Crime line.
Policing Needham a Story of Suburban Cops
Lisa Brems
Rivercross Publishing Inc.
6214 Wynfield Court, Orlando, Fl 32819
ISBN 1581410913 $22.50 1-800-451-4522
Brems has detailed Needham, Massachusetts and how its police department evolved and changed
over the years to the present time. She begins with an account of a bank robbery in which two
police
officers were shot and killed by the robbers, and how they were later caught and brought to
justice.
The crime was so shocking because the killers didn't think a thing about the two men they killed.
This particular crime is very much like that of Bonnie and Clyde, but the book is more than just
this
vicious felony. It is also the story of how a police department has grown and changed, as well as
the
equipment used to meet the times. The book has a very nice flow that is enhanced by the author's
use of actual documents of police reports that give a different perspective for those of us who do
not
work in the law enforcement profession.
Kipton and Gruff
Charles L. Fontenay
Royal Fireworks Press
First Avenue, PO Box 399, Unionville, NY 10988, USA
www.royalfireworkspress.com Fax: 845 726-3824
ISBN 0880921706 $5.00 845 726-4444
This is the opening story in a series of YA books about the character named Kipton, a 14 year old
girl living in an earth colony on the planet Mars. Throughout the series she has adventures that
involve a number of science fiction themes and mysteries that she solves. Kipton, with the aid of
her stuffed teddy bear named Gruff who thinks and talks, investigates the
murder of her Uncle Charlie who was the research director for the science center Marsaire. The
pair
follow the trail that leads them to many interesting twists and turns until they solve the case.
Winners Don't Quit Today They Call Me Doctor
Dr. Pamela McCauley-Bell
IP Books
P. O. Box 150823, Altamonte Springs, Florida 32715-0823
www.ippublishingonline.com
ISBN 0972991263 $16.95
Though the author endured her fair share of negatives in her life, she never let them take her off
course of where she wanted to be. Hers is a simple story that should be an inspiration to those
who
feel they can't make it. Clearly and concisely McCauley-Bell tells her life and how she was able to
get to where she is today a professor at the University of Central Florida in Orlando. Several
things
that helped drive her along were the belief in herself, parents who were there for her, not letting
her
pride get in the way and having others who challenged and goaded her to go on. What she shows
over and over in her book is that you can make it; you just have to want to and then work toward
what you want. This is a fine example of someone who said I can and did.
Planet of the Apes an Unofficial Companion
David Hofstede
ECW Press
2120 Queen Street East Suite 200, Toronto Ontario Canada M4E 162
www.ecwpress.com
ISBN 1550224468 $17.95 416-694-3348
This is the book to have for any fan of the Ape movies and TV show. The author has provided a
complete listing of the five movies, episodes of the show, conventions around the nation, the
books
and merchandise, the man who started it all, and the most recent incarnation a few years ago.
There
are also many photos that add a lot to the whole Ape phenomena. I found this to be useful
resources
when watching episodes on DVD for episode story lines and telling a little about many of the
actors.
Six Steps for Financial Fitness
Tony Bland
IP Books
P. O. Box 150823, Altamonte Springs, Florida 32715-0823
www.ippublishingonline.com
ISBN 0972991220 $13.95
The author, who is anything but his last name, talks to readers in terms all can understand on how
to
achieve financial security. Bland deals with making different types of goals and keeping them,
picking advisors to work with, having a cash flow, credit, banking. Though the book is just over
one
hundred pages it is packed with a lot of good information. What I liked here is how Mr. Bland
could
relay the most, of the time, confusing information and put it into terms I could relate to.
Consequences
Sylvia Masters
Writers Club Press
5220 S.16th St Suite 200, Lincoln, NE 68512
www.iuniverse.com
ISBN 0595141366 $12.95 877-288-4737
Masters heats up a presidential race with this very timely fictional political tale. Presidential
candidate Leigh Nalley and a mystery woman slip away from the nominating convention in St.
Petersburg, Florida in spite of the fact that he made a statement that said he would remain in
seclusion during the convention. A reporter at a local daily stakes out the residence and later
photographs the pair leaving the city. So determined is he to get the big story the journalist
doesn't
care who is harmed by his actions. He has no idea who the woman is or why Nalley left with her,
and does nothing to find out. He just knows this is the biggest story of his career. The writing is
strong with very believable characters while the real question is, how far will a reporter go to get
a
story. I found "Consequences" to be a thrilling political story that shows how the mainstream
press
have become tabloid journalists.
Gary Roen
Reviewer
Gorden's Bookshelf
Blacklist: A V.I. Warshawski Novel
Sara Paretsky
Signet
New American Library a division of Penguin Putman Inc.
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
ISBN: 0451209699 $7.99 458 pages
Paretsky is an author who just keeps on writing good gritty detective novels. Detective thrillers
fall
into three large groupings, the cozy safe suspense, the close to realistic, and the push the limits
world shattering fantasy. Paretsky is just close enough to reality that you feel you need to check
your shoes for evidence but pushes into the edges of fantasy enough so you feel safe reading the
story.
Private detective V.I. Warshawski is hired by a rich corporate client to do a comfort investigation
for his elderly mother who is seeing lights in the old family mansion from the window of her
retirement home. While investigating the family mansion, V.I. struggles with a young girl trying to
break-in and finds a dead reporter floating in the fish pond. V.I. soon enters the corrupt lascivious
world of the super rich. She becomes entangled in a web of lies and deceit stretching from the
communist blacklists in the fifties to the nearsighted actions of the Patriot Act. The death count
escalates as the haters of others try to manipulate the actions of the police to their private
agendas.
'Blacklist' is a gritty detective suspense novel. Any reader looking for the shamus they remember
from the late night movies or from the pulp magazines will be happy to find this novel. The reality
of
'Blacklist' is held far enough away so the reader can stay comfortable in the living room chair with
only a slight uneasiness when the doorbell rings. 'Blacklist' is an easy recommendation for the
mystery reader.
The Hanged Man's Song
John Sandford
Berkley Books
c/o Penguin Group Inc.
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
ISBN: 042519910X $7.99 US 340 pages
John Sandford is best known for his Lucas Davenport novels but I think his Kidd series is much
better. Kidd is a hero with flaws and Sandford's stories push to the edge of fantasy. Sandford
blends
the high tech world of computer hacking with the spice of flawed characters that seem like they
might just be real.
A legendary computer hacker, Bobby, is murdered and his laptop is stolen. The secrets on the
laptop
could send his friends to jail and bring down the government. Kidd, a friend, has to find Bobby's
killer and the laptop before the government and before the killer uses the information to destroy
Kidd. A race with death from the levies of the Mississippi to the powerful in Washington, DC
starts
between the murderer and Kidd. The winner will live, hopefully outside of jail.
If you like hard edged stories that bring you breathless to the edge of reality today, you will love
'The Hanged Man's Song.' Characters you identify with, nail biting plot and a story you can
pretend
to believe in will bring you into the best place a reader can be the alternate world of a great
book.
S. A. Gorden
Reviewer
Greenspan's Bookshelf
The Book Unbound
Sian Echard and Stephen Partridge, editors
University of Toronto Press
10 St. Mary Street, Suite 700, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M4Y 2W8
0802087566 $50.00 1-800-565-9523
Originating in a workshop held at the University of British Columbia in September 1999, The
Book
Unbound is an anthology of essays by scholars and editors discussing how to most effectively use
new technological tools and methodologies in studying artifacts of medieval literature and culture.
Contemplating texts from multiple periods in English, French, Anglo-Norman, and Latin, each of
literary, dramatic, legal, historical, and musical significance, The Book Unbound includes essays
about how to edit sung objects, digitizing nearly unreadable fragments, using server-side
databases,
and much more. A welcome contribution to medieval studies shelves for its insight into
modern-day
means of scrutinizing historical relics.
Recovering the U.S. Hispanic Literary Heritage
Ramon Gutierrez and Genaro Padilla, editors
Arte Publico Press
University of Houston, 452 Cullen Performance Hall, Houston, TX 77204-2004
1558850589 $17.95 www.artepublicopress.com
Volume one of a five-volume series to be published at the rate of one volume every two years,
Recovering the U.S. Hispanic Literary Heritage is a collection of articles by leading scholars on
American Hispanic literary history. Intended to update both field experts and neophytes on the
past
and modern-day role of American Hispanic literature, Recovering the U.S. Hispanic Literary
Heritage covers the histories of various individual Hispanic groups in America, specific genres,
the
question of canon-formation and socio-literary implications of the literary recovery project, and an
introduction to numerous literary sources that chronicle American Hispanic imaginations. Edited
by
prize-winning historian Ramon Gutierrez and highly acclaimed literary critic Genaro Padilla, these
articles along with research notes and bibliographies make for an excellent contribution to literary
criticism and Hispanic literature studies shelves, especially in college libraries and
curriculums.
Approaches to Teaching Gothic Fiction
Diane Long Hoeveler and Tamar Heller, editors
The Modern Language Association of America
26 Broadway, New York, NY 10004-1789
0873529073 $19.75 www.mla.org
Approaches to Teaching Gothic Fiction: The British and American Traditions is an anthology of
essays by experienced editors concerning specific issues that address the study of Gothic fiction
and
literature. Especially intriguing to critics due to its dark portrayal of the bourgeois and the
psychological fallout of social conflict, Gothic literature endures in various forms in England,
Ireland, the United States, and more, and often includes such motifs as ghosts, castles, animated
corpses, and heroines trapped in dire peril. Classical and contemporary authors discussed include
Bram Stoker, Mary Shelley, Edgar Allan Poe, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Anne Rice, and Stephen
King.
Part One of Approaches to Teaching Gothic Fiction is a brief survey of critical approaches used in
teaching literature; Part Two is far more extensive, as it is comprised of the individual writings
concerning everything from how to define Gothic literature to specific issues pertaining to
teaching
African-American Gothic literature to using role-playing and identity-writing to explore Gothic
themes, and much more. A superb tool especially for college educators seeking to design a
syllabus
that balances the challenge of the material with the need to communicate core principles and
stimulate critical thought.
Enhancing Teaching And Learning
Jean Donham
Neal-Schuman Publishers
100 William Street, Suite 2004, New York, NY 10038-4512
1555705162 $59.95 1-866-672-6657 www.neal-schuman.com
Now in a newly revised and expanded second edition, Enhancing Teaching And Learning: A
Leadership Guide For School Library Media Specialists by Jean Donham (Library Director,
Cornell
College, Mount Vernon, Iowa) is focused upon helping school media specialists to become
influential leaders and collaborators in elementary and high school libraries and media centers. All
of
the diverse elements of successful school library media programs are covered in specific detail,
including benchmarks; emerging technologies; collaborative planning, scheduling; collections;
literacy; information literacy; student assessment; evaluation; and leadership. Enhancing Teaching
And Learning is a veritable compendium of practical strategies and applicable methods for
achieving
school library goals. All of the contemporary issues relevant to school library and media center
operations are addressed including new formats in collections, reading, the Web, information
literacy
standards, state-mandated tests, data collection and analysis, benchmarking, and so much more.
Ideal as a classroom text for Library Science students, and as a field guide for practicing school
librarians and media center specialists, Enhancing Teaching And Learning is an indispensable
addition to academic library reference collections and professional resource reading lists.
The Way Into Jewish Prayer
Lawrence A. Hoffman
Jewish Lights Publishing
PO Box 237, Woodstock, VT 05091
1580232019 $18.99 1-800-962-4544 www.jewishlights.com
The Way Into Jewish Prayer by Lawrence A. Hoffman (Professor of Liturgy Worship and Ritual,
Jewish Institute of Religion, Hebrew Union College) provides the reader with an accessibly
informative introduction into the reasons for Jewish personal and ritual prayer, and the manner in
which these prayers are performed. The six articulated chapters comprising this superbly
presented
instructional volume include "God and the Jewish People: To Whom Jew Pray"; "Prayer as
Discipline and as Art: How Prayer Works"; "The Synagogue Sanctuary: What's What and Why It
Is
So"; "The Community at Prayer: Who's Who and What They Do"; "The Ideas of Jewish Prayer:
What Matters Most"; and "A Prayerful Person at Home and on the Way: When the Ordinary Can
Be
Sacred". Enhanced with Notes, a Glossary, Suggestions for Further Reading, and an extensive
Index, The Way Into Jewish Prayer is a welcome addition to the growing library of Judaic
Studies,
and is especially commended to the attention of Jewish and Non-Jewish readers seeking to better
understand the traditions, meaning, and role of prayer in Judaism.
Dynamic Psychotherapy
Marc H. Hollender & Charles V. Ford
Jason Aronson Inc.
Rowman & Littlefield, dist.
230 Livingston Street, Northvale, NJ 07647
0765702614 $25.00 www.psychotherapylibrary.com
The collaborative effort of Marc H. Hollender (Professor of Psychiatry Emeritus, Vanderbilt
University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee) and Charles V. Ford (Professor of
Psychiatry,
School of Medicine, University of Alabama-Birmington), Dynamic Psychotherapy: An
Introductory
Approach is a impressively presented compendium of concise, practical, step-by-step
introductions
to the basic principles of applied psychotherapy. Especially recommended reading for novice
psychotherapists and students of psychotherapy wanting to learn more about dynamic
psychotherapy, the emphasis is on the application of psychotherapy rather than psychotherapy's
theoretical or conceptual framework. Individual chapters range from the "what, when, and why"
of
psychotherapy, to the termination of psychotherapy. Enhanced with a Reference section, as well
as a
name and a subject index, Dynamic Psychotherapy is a work of impressive scholarship made
thoroughly accessible to specialist and non-specialist readers alike.
Egypt
Michael Haag
Cadogan c/o The Globe Pequot Press
PO Box 480, Guilford, CT 06437
1860111637 $24.95 1-800-243-0495 www.cadganguides.com
Michael Haag's Egypt is a substantive compendium of practical travel advice noting more than
240
hand-picked places for the traveler to stay, as well as over 150 quality tested restaurants, bars and
cafes. Enhanced with color maps of Egypt and the city center of Cairo, 47 additional maps and
site
plans, full coverage of the new, state-of-the-art library at Alexandria, and a completely revised
chapter on Nubia (including full details of cruise itineraries on Lake Nasser), and with a
thoroughly
"reader friendly" and eloquent text, Egypt is the complete, comprehensive, dependable, portable,
indispensable travel guide recommended to tourists, businessmen, students, and anyone else
planning
a trip to the fabled lands, cities, and monuments of Egypt.
A Traveller's Companion To Moscow
Laurence Kelly, editor
Interlink Books
46 Crosby Street, Northampton, MA 01060
1566565766 $16.95 1-413-582-7054 www.interlinkbooks.com
Compiled and edited by Laurence Kelly (son of a former British ambassador to Russia and a
regular
visitor to Moscow for most of his life), A Traveller's Companion To Moscow is a collection of
selections from letters, diaries, memoirs and novels tracing the story of Moscow from Neolithic
times to its formal establishment in 1147 A.D. as one of many royal hunting camps and fortified
settlements (Kremlins), to its history as the city of Moscow invaded by or in thrall to the Khans,
the
Tartars, the Poles, and the French. This is the story of a turbulent city as recorded through the
voices of visitors and residents from Catherine the Great, to Pushkin, Stendhal, Gogol,
Dostoevsky,
Tolstoy, Chekhov, and so many, many others. Also specifically designed and intended as an
on-site
travel guide for the use of visitors this vibrant, complex metropolis, A Traveller's Companion To
Moscow is replete with maps, engravings, notes on history, art, architecture, and city life. Highly
recommended reading for armchair travelers and students of Muscovite history.
The Lure Of The Linguistic
Shelley Frisch
Holmes & Meier Publishers
160 Broadway, New York, NY 10038
0841914508 $28.95 1-800-698-7781
The basic assumption of academia and religious leaders from recorded antiquity down to the
present
day is that language forms the foundation of human thought and societal interaction, and is what
fundamentally distinguishes homo sapiens from the other species. The Lure Of The Linguistic:
Speculations On The Origin Of Language In German Romanticism by academician and translator
Shelley Frisch is a seminal and ground breaking study focusing an impressive scholarship
addressing
how Romantic speculations on the origin of language blended eighteenth-century European
mystical
and Enlightenment musings about language to produce lyrical and compelling depictions of its
origins and development. The first work of substantive scholarship to bring together divers
strands
of mystical and Enlightenment speculations on language, The Lure Of The Linguistic descriptive
showcases the unique manner in which eighteenth-century thought has shaped our modern
twenty-first century understanding of language. No academic library's Linguistic Studies
collection
can be considered either comprehensive or complete without the inclusion of Shelley Frisch The
Lure Of The Linguistic!
Afoot & Afield San Francisco Bay Area
David Weintraub
Wilderness Press
1200 - 5th Street, Berkeley, CA 94710-1306
0899972918 $16.95 1-510-558-1666 www.wildernesspress.com
The newest title in the outstanding "Afoot & Afield" series from Wilderness Press, Afoot & Afield
San Francisco Bay Area by David Weintraub features no less than 102 memorable hiking trips
around the greater Bay Area ranging from a 1.5-mile stroll through Golden Gate Park, to
rigorous10-mile treks. From M. St. Helena (near Caistoga) the tallest summit in the North Bay
(4339 feet), to the Sonoma coast's Kortum trial skirting the Pacific ocean, to the waterfalls of the
eastern Santa Cruz mountains near San Jose, to the Peninsula's Purisima Creek Redwoods Open
Space Preserve, this is the ideal guide for hikers, dog walkers, bikers, backbackers, and outdoor
enthusiasts. An invaluable, "user friendly" guide to personally exploring the coast, canyons, and
ridges around the San Pablo and San Francisco bays and beyond, Afoot & Afield San Francisco
Bay
Area is the ideal and enthusiastically recommended planner for day trips, weekend excursions, or
holiday outings.
War Is All Hell
Randall Bedwell
Cumberland House Publishing
431 Harding Industrial Park Drive, Nashville, TN 37211
158182419X $12.95 1-888-439-2665 www.cumberlandhouse.com
Compiled and organized by Randall Bedwell, War Is All Hell: A Collection Of Civil War
Quotations
is an impressive and revealing anthology of notable states relating to the American civil war.
Drawn
from such diverse sources as letters, speeches, diaries, and recorded battlefield pronouncements,
these poignant snippets showcase attitudes and observations from both Union and Confederate
perspectives. Each individual chapter begins with a brief introduction, highlighting significant
events,
and describing the progress of the war. In addition to the 462 quotations from persons directly
involved with the civil war, Ware Is All Hell is enhanced with the inclusion of dozens of period
photographs arranged in accordance with civil war chronology -- adding depth and dimension to
the
quoted citations from common soldiers to commanding generals. No Civil War Studies collection,
academic or personal, can be considered complete or comprehensive without the inclusion of
Randall Bedwell's War Is All Hell.
Able Greenspan
Reviewer
Gypsi's Bookshelf
Darkly Dreaming Dexter
Jeff Lindsay
Doubleday
c/o Random House, Inc.
1745 Broadway, New York, NY 10019
(212) 782-9000
ISBN: 038551123X, $22.95, 304 pages
"I felt a lot better. I always did, after. Killing makes me feel good. It works the knots out of
darling
Dexter's dark schemata. It's a sweet release, a necessary letting go of all the little hydraulic valves
inside. I enjoy my work; sorry if that bothers you. Oh, very sorry, really. But there it is. And it's
not
just any killing, of course. It has to be done the right way, at the right time, with the right
partner very complicated, but very necessary."
Darkly Dreaming Dexter by Jeff Lindsay
Dexter is a blood spatter analyst, helping the Miami police capture killers by day, while by
night--certain nights, when the moon is right and all preparations are made--he creates his own
justice. You see, Dexter is a serial killer of serial killers.
His sister, Deborah, is a Vice Officer on the same police force, and she comes to Dexter for help
on
the case of a new serial killer that is preying on the Miami prostitutes. Though Dexter is a "nerd
cop" (as he puts it) and not an actual detective, he has gained a bit of a reputation for having an
special insight into the minds of serial killers. If they--especially Deb!--only knew why...
Dexter is torn between his desire to help Deb succeed and move up the career ladder, and his
desire
to save this new, artistic and terribly appealing killer for himself. There's never a question that
Dexter wants to stop the killer. Or is there?
This killer seems to be calling to Dexter, speaking specifically to him, asking him to come play.
And
oh how Dexter wants to play! As more bodies pile up, and more "Dexter, come play" messages
appear, Dexter struggles to stay sane working on this case. There are times he wonders if he
himself
could be this latest amazing serial killer, especially as he begins dreaming about the latest killings
before they happen!
The result: a disturbingly enjoyable novel, well-written mystery and suspense, lots of laugh out
loud
dark humor and a hero that I almost feel guilty for liking. But like him I do. Lindsay has created a
complex character and a book that deserves a full five stars. Even if I feel a wee bit guilty for
recommended it!
The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists: A Novel
Gideon Defoe
Pantheon Books
c/o Random House Inc.
1745 Broadway, New York, NY 10019
ISBN: 0375423214, $15.95, 144 pages
"I should say we'd reach England by Tuesday or thereabouts, with a decent wind behind us. It
would be a lot quicker than that if we could just sail straight there, but I was looking at the
nautical
charts, and it's a good job I did, because it turns out there's a dirty great sea serpent right in the
middle of the ocean! It has a horrible gaping maw and one of those scaly tails that looks like it
could
snap a boat clean in two. So, I thought it best to sail around that."
FitzRoy frowned. "I think they just draw those on maps to add a bit of decoration. It doesn't
actually mean there's a sea serpent there."
The galley went rather quiet. A few of the pirate crew stared intently out of the portholes,
embarrassed at their Captain's mistake. But to everyone's relief, instead of running somebody
through, the Pirate Captain just narrowed his eyes thoughtfully.
"That explains a lot," he said. "I suppose it's also why we've never glimpsed that giant compass in
the corner of the Atlantic. I have to say, I'm a little disappointed."
The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists by Gideon Defoe
The Pirate Captain, a dashing man very fond of ham, attacks The Beagle thanks to a false tip from
Black Bellamy, the pirate with a knife between his teeth and, finding no treasure, becomes
involved
in an adventure with the not-yet-famous Darwin. Darwin's brother, Erasmus, has been kidnapped
by
the "blackhearted Bishop of Oxford" to keep Darwin from exhibiting Mister Bobo, who he
(Darwin)
has trained to communicate with word cards. The Pirate Captain and his crew return to London to
assist Darwin in rescuing Erasmus, a feat which forces all the pirates to pretend to be scientists,
and
some of them to pretend to be scientists pretending to be women.
What do you mean it doesn't make any sense? It's not supposed to! That's the beauty of this little
gem: with one outrageous chapter after another, The Pirates! is full of puns, jokes and allusions.
It's
purposefully written with no sense of historical accuracy, adding an extra layer of fun, and uses
every piratical cliche and stereotype to the fullest humorous advantage. Scurvy, a hot air balloon,
ham, a grisly murder machine, swashbuckling, an exciting chase scene in the Museum of Natural
History, talking primates, breakfast cereal and pirates! What's not to love?
The Pirates! is Defoe's first novel and, for me, is the best comic novel debut I have ever had to
fortune to read. Not only was it hard to put down, but it demanded to be read aloud, first by me
to
my husband, and then by him back to me as he read it! The book cover says that he "wrote the
Pirates! to convince a woman to leave her boyfriend for him. She didn't". I just hope that her
failure
to follow through won't stop him from writing another Pirate Adventure.
Tong Lashing: The Continuing Adventures of Sir Apropos of Nothing
Peter David
Pocket Books
Simon & Schuster, Inc
1230 Avenue of the Americas, NY 10020
ISBN: 0743449126, $25.00, 464 pages
Thanks to angering a powerful supernatural being (so what's new?), Apropos is shipwrecked and
washes up in the alien country of Chinpan. Everything about Chinpan is different from what
Apropos is accustomed to, from their looks to their odd over-developed sense of honor. He
stumbles upon a small farming village, made up mainly of the Chin family, and to his surprise,
makes
himself at home with them as a simple farmer. He is encouraged to study with the village's revered
teacher, Chinpan Ali, who begins to teach Po how to empty himself and find peace. Apropos finds
himself in the unusual position of being happy and he waits for the axe to drop. Which, naturally,
it
does.
Chinpan Ali is murdered and Po seeks vengeance biting off way more than he can chew. Again,
what's new?! He angers the Hamunri Clan, the criminal organization the Forked Tong, the Tong's
Skang Ke family, the Anais Ninjas, and pretty much everyone else he encounters. The Imperior,
the
head of the Skang Ke family (Skang Kei Ho), an annoying person named Mitsu, and a former
acquaintance also make Po's revenge and life more difficult and he goes from one bizarre situation
to the next.
Like the first two Apropos books, Tong Lashing is filled with that bizarre humor that makes a
Peter
David book so darn good. Puns, the outrageous, satire, sarcasm and the just plain funny run
rampant, making the reader groan and laugh at the same time.
Unlike the others, Tong Lashing is rather introspective. (Consider the dedication: "to all those
who
had the chance and passed".) Po begins to change, sometimes subtly, sometimes obviously, and to
rethink his prior way of living. Whereas it used to be every man for himself and Po first, others
start
taking a more important role in his life.
While still enjoyable, and still a four-star book, I want to warn the reader that it IS different from
the
previous books. Not different in a bad way, but definitely different. There is a more serious tone
to
this book, with humor taking a back seat to Po's development, with an ending that leaves one
confused and thinking, just like Po. If you've read the first two, you need to read this third and
possibly final volume of Apropos' life. (I say "possibly final", as David leaves one potential
opening
for a forth book. I can't help hoping he does, as I wasn't fully satisfied with leaving Po as Tong
Lashing did.)
Gypsi Phillips Bates, Reviewer
blueampersand.com
Harwood's Bookshelf
The Fundamentals of Extremism: The Christian Right in America
Kimberly Blaker, editor
New Boston Books
PO Box 195, New Boston MI 48164
e-book can be downloaded free from www.newbostonbooks.com
ISBN 0972549617, $14.35 287 pp.
The Fundamentals of Extremism chronicles in minute detail the Talibanization of America. It
exposes both the high profile theofascists whom even moderate religionists recognize as a threat
to
their freedom to practise the belief system of their choice, and the behind-the-scenes theofascists
who pull the visible fanatics' puppet strings. Among the former the most prominent emulators of
the
Great and Powerful Oz are the unholy trinity of Pat Robertson, Pat Buchanan and Jerry Falwell.
The
man behind the curtain, manipulating them like the mindless blockheads they are, is the Catholic
Church. Ranking between the loudmouths and the whisperers are James Dobson, a radio
propagandist with a following as large as his TV equivalent Robertson, and the Republicanazi
moron
in the White House, known to those Americans who yearn for the restoration of democracy as
Mad
King George, Gee Dubya Shrub, and Nim Chimpsky Bonzo II.
While most god addicts, both fundamentalist and moderate, tried to disclaim, or at least minimize,
their supposedly omnipotent, omnibenevolent god's responsibility for the World Trade Center
atrocity (and more recently the Asian tsunami deaths), the maddest of the mad dogs, Jerry
Falwell,
in effect embraced bin Laden as the instrument of his god's vengeance against America for its
failure
to conform to Falwellite fundamentalism. Even fundamentalist extremist George W. Bush
repudiated
Falwell's remarks while continuing to enforce theofascist policies taken straight out of Falwell's
own manifesto.
After Falwell's tirade, Blaker observes that, "This comment tarnished Falwell's reputation even
among Christian conservatives [euphemism for theofascists]. People noted how these words could
just as easily have come from the lips of Osama bin Laden." (p. 183) She adds, "Both Falwell and
Robertson have influenced countless numbers of Americans through media saturation, but they
have
both opened themselves up to ridicule with periodic outlandish statements that might play well
with
only Christian conservatives." (p. 182)
In contrast, "While Robertson and Falwell earn high negatives in public opinion polls, respondents
regard Dobson as a kind, gentle, indulgent uncle." (p. 183) In fact, "James Dobson displays a
hunger for mind control of youth, scarcely different from Pakistan and Afghanistan's Islamic
fundamentalists." (p. 7) "Dobson knows exactly how to wield his powers, by threatening to pull
out
of the Republican Party if the party leaders do not meet his demands." (p. 183)
But while Falwell and his ilk are the obedient Pinocchios, it is primarily the Catholic Church that
is
the Geppetto. When Blaker wrote some letters to the media drawing attention to the Catholic
Church's determination to enslave America to its sectarian taboos, the paranoid response from the
ayatollah of the Catholic League that is the American church's propaganda wing could have been
orchestrated by the Scientologists, who similarly utilize any tactic available to intimidate and
suppress all criticism. The observable reality is that, "The Catholic Church is one of the main
organizers and supporters behind the Christian Right. However, it has kept its identity concealed
by
calling on Baptists and other Christian sects to do its bidding." (p. 13)
But even the Catholic Church would be impotent without puppets in high places to do its dirty
work, particularly a puppet who believes that his imaginary playmate talks to him and orders him
to
commit atrocities. "The Bush administration's objective to exterminate terrorism abroad has
called for more of what contributed to such an atrocity [9/11/01] in the first place the intrusion of
religion into government." (p. 9)
Bush has consistently undermined the First Amendment's prohibition of an establishment of
religion.
And how could he do otherwise when he is convinced that his imaginary playmate is preparing to
terminate the human race? The archetypal example of godworshipthink was demonstrated when
"James Watt, the Secretary of the Interior under Reagan claimed, We don't have to protect the
environment. The Second Coming is at hand.'" (p. 38) And Bush's own conviction that he can
safely destroy Planet Earth as a human habitat by refusing to ratify the Kyoto Accord can only be
explained by his certainty that humankind cannot commit species suicide, because his deus ex
machina will intervene to save us in the last act.
In trying to maximize religious indoctrination in schools, Bush is showing himself to be a good
puppet of the Christian Taliban. "Jerry Falwell remarked that he was looking forward to the day
when all schooling in America is run by churches.' And Reconstructionist author Gary North
explained the importance of destroying public schools. Until the majority of Christians pull their
children out of the public schools,' North pointed out, there will be no possibility of creating a
theocratic republic.'" (p. 187)
Subverting the schools is an essential part of the theofascist conspiracy. "Fundamentalists are also
often opposed to colleges, because they see Christians lose their faith with higher education. By
not
obtaining higher education, fundamentalists never learn to think critically about religion, politics
and
social issues." (p. 64)
"Teaching creationism and intelligent design' alongside the science of evolution is the equivalent
of
teaching a math class that two plus two make four, except that it may also make three." (p. 67)
And
a chapter by Herb Silverman quotes Robert Boston's Close Encounters With the Religious Right,
"Creationists are responsible for the dumbing down of an entire generation of American students
and
have done great damage to science education in this country." (p. 191) Silverman's chapter also
spells out multitudes of state laws that violate the First Amendment by barring nontheists from
political and government office.
Religious control of schools also contributes significantly to teenage pregnancy. "Perhaps the
most
disturbing part of this whole right-to-life effort is that they have gone to great lengths to prevent
appropriate and adequate sex and family planning education. And they have worked to make birth
control difficult, if not impossible, to obtain." (pp. 111-112) . "Providing condoms in schools
increases condom use among students who are already sexually active. But it has no impact on
those
who are not, neither in the amount of sexual activity nor in the number of partners." (p. 69)
Blaker draws attention to the correlation between religious belief and criminal activity. The more
convinced an individual is that he has no one to answer to except a god that forgives all offences
on
request, the more likely he is to commit crimes. "Although the U.S. is the most religious of all
industrialized nations,' it has a murder rate five times higher than that of Sweden, six times that of
Britain, and seven times the murder rate of France . In Louisiana the churchgoing rate is the
highest in the country, yet it has a murder rate greater than twice the national average." (p. 136)
While the correlation between religiosity and homicide is observably valid, Blaker might have
forestalled possible criticism by acknowledging an equally significant factor, that obtaining
firearms
in America is far easier than in the other cited countries.
Nonetheless, "A study conducted by the Federal Bureau of Prisons found Catholics, which
represent
twenty to twenty-five percent of the U.S. population, make up thirty-nine percent of the prison
population. Less than one percent of the prison population consists of atheists, who make up
between thirteen and sixteen percent of the U.S. population." (p. 98)
The satanizing of all opponents and critics of the Religious Right is not restricted to the most
obvious targets of their hatred. "Interestingly, nonbelievers to fundamentalists are not only
atheists
and adherents of other religious beliefs. They are also liberal and mainstream Christians who do
not
accept the dogma of Christian fundamentalism." (p. 136)
Blaker's delineation of the Bush administration's conspiracy to abolish education in America and
replace it with theofascist indoctrination is frightening, and should be required reading for anyone
who still does not grasp that the Christian Taliban is intentionally doing to America what
Torquemada did to Spain, Khomeini did to Iran, and Hitler did to Germany. With a talking
chimpanzee in the White House, and the theofascist Republicanazi Gestapo wielding absolute
power
over the Fourth Reich of Greater Texas, the fact that this book can still be distributed is proof
that,
for all of Mad King George's efforts to exterminate all opposition, the Land of the Free is not
dead
yet. But it is being systematically strangled. Anyone who does not recognize that the theofascists
Talibanizing America are as dangerously insane as the imaginary playmate they created out of the
evil they see in the mirror, has not read this book.
The Pagan Christ: Recovering the Lost Light
Tom Harper
Thomas Allen Publishers
390 Steelcast Road East, Markham ON, L3R 1G2, Canada
ISBN 0887621694, CAN $5.95 124 pp.
"I will clearly document that there is nothing the Jesus of the gospels either said or did from the
Sermon on the Mount to the miracles, from his flight as an infant from Herod to the Resurrection
itself that cannot be shown to have originated thousands of years before, in Egyptian Mystery rites
and other sacred liturgies such as the Egyptian Book of the Dead." (p. 10) That sentence shows
how
far Tom Harpur has come since his days as an inflexible dogmatist (although he denies that he was
ever a fundamentalist). He is not unteachable.
"Our own potential for Christhood, and for experiencing the indwelling spirit of God here and
now,
sounds forth a clear and relevant message for everyone. Hope for a truly cosmic faith is kindled
and
fanned into full flame." (p. 4) That sentence shows that he still has a long way to go.
"What I have written is not intended primarily for scholars, although I hope they will be deeply
challenged and learn from it too," (p. 6) Sorry, buddy. Anyone who has anything to learn from
Tom
Harpur is assuredly not a scholar. This book should be mandatory reading for the Canadian
Taliban
that in four federal elections has failed to convince voters to give it the power to turn Canada into
a
totalitarian theofascist ayatollahdom. But it has nothing to offer the educated.
Harpur is aware that good people do good things and evil people do evil things despite religion;
whereas good people do evil things because of religion. Yet despite religion's being the observable
cause of ninety percent of all man-made evil for at least 3,000 years, he clings to the delusion that
the god concept has something positive to offer. Why? Is it moral cowardice? Does he desperately
need an afterlife belief to overcome his terror of the permanence of death and get through the day
without having to be institutionalized? Is it pragmatic economics? Would acknowledging that his
imaginary playmate is no more real than the tooth fairy or the great pumpkin deprive him of his
only
source of income? Or is he so embarrassed by his immoderate denunciations of Stephen Hawking,
Stephen Jay Gould and Carl Sagan for their logical defense of nontheism, that he cannot bring
himself to admit that they were right?
Harper knows that the Jesus described in the gospels never existed, and on the question of
whether
there was ever a historical Jesus onto whose biography the savior-god myths were posthumously
grafted, he declares (p. 158), "I have very grave doubts." He acknowledges (p. 12) that "the early
Christians did everything in their power, through forgery and other fraud, book burning,
character assassination, and murder itself, to destroy the crucial evidence" of Christianity's
plagiarism of older religions, "by hunting down and eliminating all traces of its Pagan past." In
other
words, Christianity's earliest pushers were not simply ignorant of the evidence that what they were
perpetuating was a fraud. They deliberately suppressed it. And Harpur is not unaware that this is
still
happening. The continued publication of bibles that falsify "the gods" into "God" cannot be
attributed to ignorance. Harper himself only learned the facts on which this book is based when he
was pressured into reading the books of Alvin Kuhn. He could have saved a few years by reading
Mythology's Last Gods which is still missing from his bibliography. Is he so embarrassed by his
fatuous boast that he would never read a book published by Prometheus, that he prefers to remain
ignorant of the information available from no other source?
"Consider this: comparative religions studies reveal that almost every traditional faith the world
over
rests on a central story of the son of a heavenly king who goes down into a dark lower world,
suffering, dying, and rising again . Comparative religion scholars have made lists of thirty to fifty
such avatars or saviours, including Osiris, Horus, Krishna ." (p. 37) That information is unknown
to the great majority of North Americans, not merely the fanatic Religious Right. When a letter to
the editor in an Alberta newspaper drew attention to the "fifty virgin-born resurrected savior gods
who preceded Jesus," a convicted hatemonger whom even the Canadian Taliban rejected as an
embarrassment to right-wing extremism responded, in effect, that if he had never heard of a fact
of
history, then it never happened. And subsequent letters made clear that dogmatism based on
self-inflicted ignorance had widespread support.
If Harper can recognize that his bible is a work of fiction, and that all claims of a god revealing its
existence can be traced to that bible, why does he insist that its "God" concept should be taken
seriously when everything else is myth? He justifies his fence sitting in a chapter subtitled, "Myths
Aren't Fairy Tales." And if he believes that, I have a bridge for sale in Brooklyn that I think will
interest him. More useful chapters are, "Christianity before Christianity," "The Greatest Cover-up
of
All Time," "Horus and Jesus Are the Same," "The Bible History or Myth?" and "Was There a
Jesus of History?" So this book has a lot to offer curable believers. But it contains nothing that is
not spelled out in far greater detail in Mythology's Last Gods.
William Harwood
Reviewer
Henry's Bookshelf
Letters from the Woods - Looking at Life through the Window of Wilderness
Michael C. Hurley
Ragbagger Publishing
6325-9 Falls of Neuse Rd. - No. 353, Raleigh, NC 27615
www.ragbagger.com; info@ragbagger.com
ISBN 0976127504 $23.95 228+xvi pp.
Like all good nature writing, Hurley's reaches for more than simple narration and description of
moments with nature; although these serve as the grounds for the deeper meditations. For Hurley,
nature draws out reflections on God's Creation and one's place in the greater scheme of things.
But
Hurley does not only look beyond himself to see a grandeur nature is the threshold for; he also
looks
inward to explore how his attachment to nature shaped him throughout his life and instilled in him
an
sense of closeness to others. "Through these essays I wanted to express to [readers] something of
the hidden, eternal meaning of the wilderness through my experiences of it as a child and later as a
husband and father." The 33 essays are collected from the author's periodical "Paddle & Portage"
which was discontinued when he turned his attention to his law business to support his growing
family. Many hazy-edged photographs intermixed with the text put the reader in the mood of the
author's writing and evoke experiences with nature.
Eric Voegelin's Dialogue with Postmoderns - Searching for Foundations
edited with an introduction by Peter A. Petrakis and Cecil L. Eubanks
U. of Missouri Press
2910 LeMone Blvd. Columbia, MO
ISBN 0826215645 $37.50 187+ix pp.
"Voegelin's lifelong meditation on transcendence...led him to search repeatedly and consistently
for
appropriate symbolizations that provide an understanding of the ground of being without
resorting
to rigid and dangerous concretizations...We have called that a search for foundations without
foundationalism." What this means is that the influential mid 20th-century philosopher Eric
Voegelin
searched for ways to stay in touch with the spiritual, historical, and existential fundamentals giving
life substance, meaning, and direction without resorting to the extremes of dogma or
totalitarianism.
By his own experiences as an emigre from Europe threatened by Nazism and his philosophical
interests growing out of them, he had a unique, and fertile, understanding of modernism's yearning
for new, enriching dimensions of spirituality and for reliable, meaningful stability behind the era's
new forms of politics such as Nazism and Communism and the delusions and conceits of modern
individuals. Voegelin makes trenchant criticisms of these and other radical, misguided modernist
creeds and styles. Gnosticism as arising in the modern era is one aberrant attempt to gain
heightened
spirituality he criticized especially. A philosopher, not a political scientist or social critic, Voegelin
only rarely refers directly to specific errors and evils of modern culture. But one familiar with the
contests of the modern world continuing into this day understands those which his work grapples
with. The editors, both with Louisiana universities, collect five articles relating Voegelin's
voluminous writings with other major late 19th-century and 20th-century philosophers and
thinkers.
The names Nietzsche, Ricoeur, Deleuze, and Husserl crop up in different essays. Classical sources
of
Voegelin's extensive works based on a few simple precepts are also discussed. The essays are
rounded out with introductory and closing sections by the editors which provide biographical
information on Voegelin and put the project of the book into perspective. The collected academic
philosophical articles demonstrate the continuing relevance of Voegelin's thinking on the main,
though often elusive, issues of modern culture, politics, and individual lives while also serving as
an
introduction to this philosopher whose influence continues to grow.
Peaceful Painter: Memoirs of an Issei Woman Artist
Hisako Hibi (1907-1991)
Heyday Books
PO Box 9145, Berkeley, CA 94709
www.heydaybooks.com
1890771901 $20.00 75+xiv pp.
Hisako Hibi never had an easy life. She came to the U. S. in 1920 from Japan hoping to find a
better
life for herself. But in the 1940s, along with tens of thousands of other Japanese-Americans, she
was
put into a detention camp. After the war, she worked in dress factories after her husband died.
The
constant changes in her life never gave her the opportunity to pursue her artistic ambitions beyond
some brief education in her early years in the U. S. But she picked up enough to paint oil
paintings in
a bright, bold, somewhat cubist style. Many of these offer views of the detention camps she was
held
at. Hibi was also an observant, competent writer of English who kept a journal, lengthy passages
of
which are also included. This Issei woman's daughter has also added photographs to this
commemoration of her mother's life which typifies the experiences of Japanese on the West coast
during World War II. At the same time, it draws a memorable portrait of this woman who
recorded
in pictures and words historical and personal incidents in her quiet, determined, accomplished
way.
Drawn West - Selections from the Robert B. Honeyman Jr. Collection of Early Californian and
Western Art and Americana, from the Bancroft Library
Jack von Euw and Genoa Shepley
Bancroft Library
U. of CA-Berkeley/Heyday Books, PO Box 9145, Berkley, CA 94709
www.heydaybooks.com
ISBN 1890771929 $39.95 197+xv pp.
One finds works by Albert Bierstadt, Currier and Ives, and other familiar artists. But "Drawn
West"
is most appealing for its view of California in the nineteenth century by little-known artists from
all
around the world. This gives this collection of Robert Honeyman's now at the Bancroft Library of
the U. of California-Berkeley, a unifying factor which allows for much diversity. These aspects of
the unique collection are in evidence with the skilled, artistic arrangement of the diverse art work
as
well as some commercial art and California memorabilia in thematic chapters; e. g., Inhabitants
and
Travelers, The Land Beheld, Enterprise. This design--better than a chronological presentation for
this collection--allows the reader/viewer to take in the single works by numerous unfamiliar artists
on a wide range of subjects, some surprising and others educating, in a sensible way without being
overwhelmed. Among the subjects are scenes of the Gold Rush, cities and towns, ships and
railroads, hunters, Native Americans, settlers, breathtaking nature scenes. Lithographs and oil
paintings mix with transportation posters and crude folk-art drawings. The roughly 11" x 11",
large-size book with high-quality reproductions on glossy pages does justice to this one-of-a-kind
collection that is pleasing and memorable for its distinctive art and its historical value on
California.
The Druids - A Study of Keltic Prehistory
T. D. Kendrick
Kegan Paul
London, ENGLAND
www.keganpaul.com, books@keganpaul.com
distributed in U. S. by Columbia University Press
www.columbia.edu/cu/cup
ISBN 0710310854 $144.50 227+xiv pp.
Kendrick's scholarly historical, anthropological, and archaeological study of the Druids and
subjects
necessarily related to them for an accurate understanding of them--which is to some extent a
contingent understanding--was first published in the latter 1920s. He makes no attempt to
popularize
the Druids, as has been done by so many recent authors of New Age bent singling out the Druids
as
exemplary models of nature worship. Today, the Druids are popularly identified with ancient
Ireland,
adding to their mystique by the suggestion that their spirituality remained pure by being so distant
from continental Europe and apart from the British Isles. But Kendrick is not swayed at all by
popular beliefs or even more solid presumptions about the Druids found among some scholars. "It
seems likely, however, that the druidic caste in Ireland was never anything but a very faint
reflection
of the Gallic system, and one that speedily became isolated and degenerate." In discussing the
subjects of Druidic religion and their temples, including the intriguing stone monuments found in
England and also places in Europe, he stays in touch with the archaeological evidence
complemented
by surviving written documents. In trying to answer the question about the pacific nature of a
society figuring into the origins of the Druids, he points out that farming tools found in ancient
burial
sites far outnumber weapons. But he also notes that this is not conclusive, and makes the point
that
the proportion changes if one regards a certain kind of ax as a weapon. Kendrick's main purpose
for
the book was "to provide a complete and well-documented summary of the whole of the pertinent
material upon which a study of this subject should be properly based." Kendrick's achievement,
then,
is to lay out the grounds for study of the Druids, not search doggedly for any conclusions or paint
a
picture rooted in his own spiritual yearnings and romanticism. The author lays this ground out in
the
broad topic areas of Tradition, Prehistory, History, Religion, Temples, and Origins, with an
appendix of passages from Greek and Roman texts in their original languages. Other passages
from
Greek and Roman writings are quoted in English in the main text. Fifty-one illustrations and maps
are mixed in with the chapters. No matter what one's beliefs about the Druids, Kendrick's
wide-ranging, authoritative study is a fascinating study of ancient European culture and
history.
Collecting Japanese Antiquities
Alistair Seton
Tuttle Publishing
Airport Industrial Park, 364 Innovation Dr., North Clarendon, VT 05759
www.tuttlepublishing.com; info@tuttlepublishing.com
ISBN 0804820945 $50.00 302 pp.
This is not your typical collector's handbook listing objects and possibly briefly describing them
and
listing going prices. This coffee-table quality book with the title "Collecting Japanese Antiques" is
a
survey of Japanese art works and cultural items with sections of advice for collectors. The
historical
and cultural background on the different items favors what would be of interest to collectors. But
it
is also informative and relevant simply for its artistic, historical, and cultural material. Readers
looking for concentrated information on Japanese art and culture accompanied by attractive color
photographs would find this work exceptionally suitable. For the collectors it is meant for
particularly, there's sections on "Tides and Trends in Collecting," guidance in developing
collections
of certain items (e. g., baskets), lists of artists, notable regions and schools for certain antiques,
and
especially desirable objects in certain categories. Seton also moves to the technical subjects of
materials, production, and workmanship which are important for collectors not only in
appreciating
items and assessing their value, but in making a preliminary decision about their age and
authenticity.
Among Seton's 13 categories of antiques are screens and scrolls, ceramics, furniture, sculpture
and
metalwork, dolls, and tea ceremony utensils. Seton has lived in Japan since 1972, where he
currently
teaches Japanese art and poetry. In 1993, he founded the quarterly magazine "Daruma" to cover
Japanese art and antiques; which he still edits. "Collecting Japanese Antiques" is a work any
collector or lover of Japanese art and antique objects will want for sound education and easy
reference, and at times for enjoyably looking at the numerous color photos of the varied Japanese
objects.
The Rise and Fall of the Broadway Musical
Mark N. Grant
Northeastern U. Press
360 Huntington Ave. - 416CP, Boston, MA 02115
www.nupress.neu.edu
ISBN 1555536239 $40.00 365+x pp.
Grant dates the golden age of the Broadway musical between 1927-1966, epitomized by the
legendary pair Rodgers and Hammerstein and their musical "Oklahoma," among others. No one
would argue with this. But Grant is concerned with more than expounding why this was the
golden
age. He is also concerned with what happened in Broadway and the general culture toward the
end
of the 1960s to bring this golden age to an end. He finds his answers in both technological and
social
changes which practically everyone is aware of, but which readers would not look to as reasons
for
the decline of such musicals. The spread of electronic music changed what audiences became
accustomed to. Rock and other popular music ruined an appreciation for the brightness,
simplicity,
and style of the type of music and songs of the classical Broadway musical. Along with this,
changing tastes in entertainment favored special effects, dancing, and often celebrities as actors
over
fetching scores and memorable melodies. "Director-Choreographers Co-opted a Writer's
Medium" is
how Grant puts it. The factors Grant sees as responsible for the decline in the quality--if not
always
the box office receipts--of Broadway musicals at their best is evident in the way Broadway
musicals
are advertised and marketed today. The author is a composer and writer who had done concert
music and theater pieces performed in the U. S. and Europe. His previous book is "Pen: A History
of Classical Music Criticism in America." This is a work combining literary and artistic criticism
and
history with cultural studies on one of the most characteristic American popular art forms.
The Orvis Ultimate Book of Fishing - Secrets from the Orvis Experts
edited by Tom Rosenbauer
Lyons Press
246 Goose Ln., Guilford, CT 06437
www.LyonsPress.com patrick.straub@lyonspress.com
ISBN 1592285848 $40.00 256 pp. 800-962-0973
The visual elements of color photos of fishermen, flies, and fishes, and detailed illustrations of
fly-fishing techniques discussed in many of the 34 chapters by expert fly fishermen make this
fishing
manual particularly informative as well as attractive. The four-page detailed Index in smaller print
is
another reason for the manual's particular relevance and usefulness for fishermen. The contents
and
writing evidence that the editor and the several authors know their prospective readers. With their
identification with them, editor and authors know the challenges and questions on fly fishermen's
minds, and also understand the allure and satisfactions of this sport. In "How Trout Feed," the
editor
in one of his articles advises readers, "If water temperatures rise above seventy degrees F. in
summer, both insect hatches and trout feeding dwindle." Lou Tabory tells "How to Read a Beach"
in
salt-water fly fishing for bluefish. The first eleven articles are on the general subjects of casting
and
flies. Subsequent sections deal with fishing for trout, steelhead (salmon), and bass, with a closing
section on salt-water fishing.
Happy Trails - A Pictorial Celebration of the Life and Times of Roy Rogers and Dale Evans
Howard Kazanjian and Chris Enss
Globe Pequot Press
246 Goose Ln., Guilford, CT 06437
www.GlobePequot.com; jane.reilly@globepequot.com
ISBN 0762730897 $24.95 167+vi pp.
The long marriage and professional relationship of Roy Rogers and Dale Evans throughout the
1940s and '50 is presented in a mostly sunny light, as it was in their popular TV series and movies.
Not that there aren't some dark moments: Roy Roger's first wife died; and three of the couple's
nine
children died. But while the sorrows of such moments are not overlooked, it is the strength of
Roy
and Dale which comes shining through, as when dealing with culprits or problems in their films.
The
popular, largely pictorial biography contains a number of heretofore unpublished family photos.
Fans
of these stars of early TV and aficionados of popular culture will take to this book. While not
undermining or even threatening the fond popular image of the couple, it presents them as not just
stars, but ones who had a life outside of the limelight as well.
The Etruscans Outside Etruria
edited by Giovannangelo Camporeale
translated by Thomas Michael Hartmann
Getty Publications
1200 Getty Center Dr., Los Angeles, CA 90049
800-223-3431; www.getty.edu; mcrowley@getty.edu
ISBN 0892367679 $49.95 314 pp.
"The goal of this volume is to provide a survey of the movement of Etruscan culture into the
various
regions of ancient Italy, the Mediterranean, and continental Europe: to follow as its title
states--the
Etruscans outside Etruria." Etruria was an area in northwestern Italy. As the Preface notes, there
has
been much study on the Greek and Near Eastern influences on Etruscan culture, but not much on
the
influence of Etruscan culture on these--a deficit this work aims to make up for. In keeping with its
goal, archaeological evidence in areas outside of ancient Etruria is examined for this Etruscan
influence. This examination begins with the broad regions of the Mediterranean and Europe; then
continue methodically through 14 specific areas in Italy, including the islands of Corsica, Sardinia,
and Sicily. Most of these areas had Greek colonies. Many questions about Etruscan culture,
especially its relationship to early Rome, have been at least partly answered in recent decades.
This
work of essays by Italian experts in the field and related visual matter takes Etruscan studies to
the
next level--namely, following the influence of Etruscan culture on a much wider area. As expected
with this publisher connected with the Getty Museum, the book has the highest standards of
production, design, and content.
The Origins of War - Violence in Prehistory
Jean Guilaine and Jean Zammit, translated by Melanie Hersey
Blackwell Publishing
350 Main St., Malden, MA 02148
www.blackwellpublishing.com
ISBN 1405112603 $29.95
With a "somewhat evolutionary approach," the in-depth, wide-ranging investigation looks to
economic changes, environmental use, technological progress, and social structures as not only
prompting war at different times, but also as bringing about changes in the ways wars were
waged.
The authors accept that the penchant for waging war is innate in human beings. This attribute was
not engendered at some point in human evolution. The authors show that violence can be seen in
archaeological findings of the earliest groups. The earliest violence was the use of techniques in
hunting against other human beings. Human sacrifice, and possibly torture, can be seen in cave
drawings. Even the development of agriculture and settled communities did not quell the penchant
for violence, but in some ways carried it to the next level. The authors have no political or social
agenda--they do not go into implications of their well-substantiated postulate that warfare is
derived
from inherent characteristics of human beings. Zammit is a doctor and paleopathologist whose
knowledge of these fields brings a special insight into signs of violence on human remains and
psychology and behavior which are the sources of war and go into war when it breaks out.
Guilaine's fields are archeology and social science; which allow him to offer unfamiliar, yet plainly
pertinent and unassailable disclosures about societies' penchants for war. With their different
perspectives, the co-authors hone in on the core human characteristics accounting for the
constancy
of war in culture.
Pigment Compendium - A Dictionary of Historical Pigments
Nicholas Eastaugh, Valentine Walsh, Tracey Chaplin, and Ruth Siddall
Elsevier/Butterworth Heinemann
30 Corporate Dr., Burlington, MA 01803
www.elsevier.com
ISBN 0750657499 $195.00 499+xi pp.
The authors' note right at the start of this encyclopedic work for art historians, conservators, and
forensic specialists cites historic complaints that the names artists have recorded for the pigments
they used in their paintings, frescoes, etc., are notoriously unreliable. Hence, the hundreds of
cross-references to help researchers get to the pigment an artist used in a work despite what he or
she may have called it. The reference also works from the standpoint of wishing to confirm a
particular pigment by describing in detail its physical and chemical properties. This incomparable
art
reference for determining important matters of works of art goes beyond such scientific
information
to include as well historical notes on many of the pigments. The entry "Burnt Ochre" is an
example
of most of the thousands of entries: It begins with the general comment that the "phenomena that
yellow ochre when heated converts to red ochre" has been known since pre-historic times. This is
followed by a note that the fourth-century B. C. philosopher Theophrastus wrote a detailed
description of the process of "producing burnt ochres." Then comes the physical and chemical
information--"The process in action is the thermal transformation of goethite...to iron(III) oxide,
whereby the goethite begins to dehydrate...," and so on for about 20 more lines. (The chemical
equations in the quote are omitted in this review.) After this comes a few short paragraphs on
comments later writers have made on burnt ochre, with the entry ending with remarks on the term
for this pigment and related terms. The "Pigment Compendium" is an exhaustive, reliable guide to
resolving important matters about works of art using pigments--matters which may involve
accurate
dating, and in some cases also involve large sums of money for museums or private collectors.
Every
museum, art library, and serious art collector should have a copy.
Cultured Force - Makers and Defenders of the French Colonial Empire
Barnett Singer and John Langdon
U. of Wisconsin Press
1930 Monroe St. - 3rd floor, Madison, WI 53711-2059
www.wisc.edu/wisconsinpress; publicity@uwpress.wisc.edu
ISBN 0299199002 $45.00 483+xi pp.
Singer and Langdon, professors at Canadian universities, reassess French imperialism; which
along
with the imperialism of other Western nations, has been negatively portrayed in the colonial and
postcolonial studies of recent decades. They do so through biographical and historical studies of
key
French proconsuls in French colonies in Africa and Asia. They do not try to make the simplistic
point that French imperialism and colonialism was good, or even desirable. But they aim to
balance
the picture of this colonialism, and by extension all Western colonialism. While not trying to gloss
over brutalities and atrocities committed by colonial masters, the authors note that colonialism
also
worked to "reduce feudal inequalities, abolish serfdom, establish constitutions, build roads...and
extend educational opportunities." This was seen by France--and other colonial powers--as
"civilizing backward peoples." But it could also be seen as raising the living standards of the
inhabitants of the colonies. Shedding a light on French colonialism by biographically and
analytically
looking at the specific colonial officials of Thomas Robert Bugeaud of Algeria,
Louis-Hubert-Gonzalve Lyautey of Southeast Asia, and others, the authors inject a human
dimension, with all of its aspirations and faults, into the subject. This is a scholarly work which
reads
almost like history for the general reader for dealing with historical characters and seeing
historical
issues in terms of their personalities and actions. With its balanced, broader view of French
colonialism, "Cultured Force" restores an ambiguity to its subject, thus making it a subject of true
history and human enterprise rather than an ideological or myopic one.
Great Courage - The First Black Sheriff Elected in the South Since Reconstruction
Lucius D. Amerson, with A. E. Amerson
What's Your Story
PO Box 441224, Ft. Washington, MD 20749-1224
www.sheriffamerson.com; greatcourage@comcast.net
ISBN 0975923803 $17.95 234 pp.
The son of this ground-breaking black sheriff during the days of the Civil Rights struggles in the
South recounts the father's character, beliefs, aims, hopes, and experiences. It's not just a story of
the
expected resistances Lucius Amerson faced in his work as sheriff, but also the unexpected support
he received from some others. Author Amerson writes mostly in a true-life style recreating scenes
of
arrests, racial confrontations, and community interactions. The admirable individuality of Lucius
Amerson, a former Army paratrooper and Koren War veteran, is mixed with occasional references
to the broader racial tensions and political developments of the 1960s.
Charles Ives and Aaron Copland - A Listener's Guide
Daniel Felsenfeld
Amadeus Press
512 Newark Pompton Turnpike, Pompton Plains, NJ 07444
www.amadeuspress.com; mail@amadeuspress.com
ISBN 1574670980 $19.95 156+x pp.
Brief biographies of the two premier American composers are followed by tutorials on their music
focusing on better-known, widely-aclaimed pieces. The guide succeeds in making the music
accessible without dumbing it down at all or trying to popularize it. Felsenfeld is himself a
composer
and a music writer bringing to the task not only compatibility with Ives and Copland, but also an
educator's understanding of the reader's position in wanting to learn more about them and enhance
appreciation of their music. With the book is the treat of a CD offering ample samplings of music,
including Copland's complete "Appalachian Spring" and four pieces of Ives', who wrote shorter,
intense works.
The Future of Christianity - Historical, Sociological, Political and Theological Perspectives from
New Zealand
edited by John Stenhouse, Brett Knowles, and assisted by Antony Wood
ATF Press/Australian Theological Forum
Adelaide, Australia
www.atfpress.com 800-758-3756
dist. in U. S. by International Publishers Marketing
PO Box 605, Herndon, VA 20172-0605
ISBN 1920691235 $25.00 241+xii pp.
The circumstances, possibilities, and issues concerning Christianity in New Zealand are a
microcosm
of these elsewhere in the Western world. This multidisciplinary work aims to inform readers of
perspectives and realities regarding contemporary Christianity not reflected or suggested in the
popular media. Focus on certain anomalies is especially revealing, as well as to some degree
predictive of Christianity's possible future depending on how these are resolved. Kevin Ward, a
lecturer of Church issues in the modern world, explores how the "fragmentation and religious
pluralism" in postmodernism not only limit and distort understanding of beliefs and developments
in
Christianity, but also shape strategies for Christians wishing to be a part of modern culture.
"Believing Without Belonging" is part of the title of Ward's article. Another by Bruce Knox,
Executive Director of Bible College in New Zealand, explores the apparent anomaly that
"Christian
Allegiance Is Declining, Yet Theological Education Is Booming." The role of religion in shaping
the
New Zealand national identity, even as the nation was "set up more or less decisively independent
of
any denominational church influence," is another relevant topic; while a couple of other articles
take
up political solutions for dealing with the desire of Christians to see their beliefs and values
reflected
more plainly in government policies and activity. The number of articles by theologians, historians,
and sociologists, among others, with their fingers on the pulse of contemporary Christian
situations
and concerns offer a variety of views on the persistent matter of religion in contemporary life and
current affairs.
The Early Coptic Papacy - The Egyptian Church and Its Leadership in Late Antiquity, The Popes
of
Egypt, Volume One
Stephen J. Davis
American U. in Cairo Press, Cairo, Egypt/420 Fifth Ave., New York, NY 10018
www.aucpress.com 800-758-3756
dist. in U. S. by International Publishers Marketing
PO Box 605, Herndon, VA 20172-0605
ISBN 9774248309 $26.50 251+xvi pp.
The history by an assistant professor of religious studies at Yale follows the Coptic Church from
its
origins to the coming of Islam about the seventh century mostly through the men heading it.
Volumes Two and Three of this series by other authors deal with different stages of this Egyptian
Christian Church. This first clearly definable period of this volume laid the grounds for the
survival
of the Coptic Church down to today even though with the coming of Islam, it was marginalized
and
its members often discriminated against. In many ways, the study of the Coptic papacy resembles
the
study of the Catholic papacy and the first years of the Catholic Church. There were similar
decisions
important in establishing the Coptic Church; the personalities of the early Coptic popes were
especially important in creating the internal nature and public image of the Church; and there were
theological controversies over basic doctrines and beliefs. "Apostolicity, martyrdom, monastic
patronage, and theological resistance" are the four major themes during this formative period for
the
Coptic Church. "The Early Coptic Papacy" along with the companion volumes substantiates the
Coptic Church as a subject in religious studies with its own history worthy of study.
Gregorian Chants - An Illustrated History of Religious Chanting
Colin R. Shearing
Mercury Books, London
www.mercury-books.com 800-758-3756
dist. in U. S. by International Publishers Marketing
PO Box 605, Herndon, VA 20172-0605
ISBN 1904668526 $35.00 144 pp. music CD
Most of the content is on the Gregorian chants of the Catholic Church. But there is some material
on
the precedent of religious chanting in early and classical Mediterranean cultures, and also short
sections on chanting in the world's other major religions. Gregorian chants getting their name
from
Pope Gregory of the late sixth century are regarded as the most mature development of Christian
chanting. This Pope is "believed to be responsible for arranging the Gregorian chants which
became
the central pieces in religious services" with his historic reformation of Roman Catholic liturgy.
Shearing puts the Gregorian chants in the context of the history of the Catholic Church, and
discloses how spiritual and ecclesiastical concerns shaped them. Some technical, musicological,
material on them is also included. This heavily illustrated relatively popular treatment of the chants
is
fortuitous considering their popularity on CDs, which takes them out of their religious context.
The
CD with this book contains 16 Gregorian chants. Shearing is a writer and lecturer who has
traveled
widely in pursuit of his spiritual interests.
The Big Book of Cigarette Lighters - Identification and Values
James Flanigan
Collector Books
PO Box 3009, Paducah, KY 42002-3009
www.collectorbooks.com
ISBN 1574324098 $29.95 205 pp.
Colorful photos capturing details of hundreds of all kinds of lighters make this a prime guide for
collectors. The captions right beside each photo note material, manufacturer, date, size, and price
range--e. g., "Chromium lighter/case, made for king-size cigarettes, by Evans. Circa early 1950s.
4-3/4"h, 2-1/2w. $30.00-50.00." Animals, Art Deco, Beyond the Ordinary, Decorative,
Miniatures,
and Sets are among the many different categories. The category Miscellaneous Tobacco
Accessories
for pipe holders, match boxes, cigarette tins, etc., comes at the end. Numerous sharp photos,
simple
informative captions, and clear organization make this a ready reference for collectors and dealers
at
all levels. With its many photos arranged orderly, it is particularly useful to beginners to scan
through to find out what types of lighters and related items to keep their eyes open for at flea
markets and other resources.
Henry Berry
Reviewer
Lori's Bookshelf
The Wave in the Mind: Talks and Essays on the Writer, the Reader, and the Imagination
Ursula K. LeGuin
Shambhala Publications, Inc.
300 Massachusetts Ave., Boston, MA, 02115
www.shambhala.com
ISBN: 1590300068 $16.95 305 pgs
Having read and enjoyed LeGuin's previous non-fiction works (particularly DANCING AT THE
EDGE OF THE WORLD, THE LANGUAGE OF THE NIGHT, and her writing book,
STEERING
THE CRAFT), I expected an interesting and entertaining volume of essays. What I got far
exceeded
my expectations. I was enchanted from the first words, and I could hardly wait to read as many of
these pieces as I could gulp down each night. When I finished, I was unhappy it was all
consumed. I
wanted more.
The book is a cornucopia of variety. There are serious essays, playful performance pieces, literary
commentary, a long and wonderful poem entitled "The Writer on, and at, Her Work," and even
some sketches LeGuin has done. The volume is separated into four sections: Personal Matters,
Readings, Discussions & Opinions, and On Writing. The first section gives the reader a glimpse of
who Ursula LeGuin is. She talks a bit of her family, of her parents' occupations (anthropologist
father and biographer mother), and of her love of libraries and islands imaginary and real. The
next
two sections cover all sorts of topics. Whether she was discussing awards and gender or the
submerged humor of Mark Twain's "Diaries of Adam and Eve" or literacy or rhythm in the works
of
JRR Tolkien, I felt I was in sure hands. I must admit that I expected the essay, "Stress-Rhythm in
Poetry and Prose" to be deadly dull. Instead, I was surprised beyond my wildest imagination to
find
that for the first time in my entire life, someone had actually explained meter and rhythm so that it
made complete sense to me. I had one of those "Aha!" moments, suddenly understanding it in a
way
that I had never quite managed. (So _that_ is how iambic pentameter works so effectively!) I've
been raving ever since about rhythm to all who will listen.
The final section of the book is about writing and was my favorite section. LeGuin addresses
many
angles of craft and technique. The name of the book, THE WAVE IN THE MIND, refers to an
explanation of style that Virginia Woolf once wrote in a letter. Concerning what rhythm is, Woolf
had written, "A sight, an emotion, creates this wave in the mind and then, as it breaks and tumbles
in the mind, it makes words to fit it" (p. xii). LeGuin obviously agrees with this. She writes that
"every novel has its characteristic rhythm. And that if the writer hasn't listened for that rhythm and
followed it, the sentences will be lame, the characters will be puppets, the story will be false. And
that if the writer can hold to that rhythm, the book will have some beauty. What the writer has to
do
is listen for that beat, hear it, keep to it, not let anything interfere with it. Then the reader will hear
it
too, and be carried by it" (p. 183). This is sage advice.
All of LeGuin's ideas and advice every chapter of it is wonderful. I loved this: "Trust your story;
trust yourself; trust your readers but wisely. Trust watchfully, not blindly. Trust flexibly, not
rigidly. The whole thing, writing a story, is a high-wire act there you are out in midair walking on
a
spiderweb line of words, and down in the darkness people are watching. What can you trust but
your sense of balance?" (p. 234).
The examples, stories, and allusions throughout are clear and strong and elegant. Her Voice is
powerful and wise, humorous and reflective. Ursula LeGuin quite clearly displays true genius.
This
is a book to savor, to keep, to read again and again over the years. I cannot recommend it highly
enough.
Cinatis: Book I in the Twilight of the Gods series
Ronald L. Donaghe
Two Brothers Press
5341 Dorchester Rd. Suite 16, North Charleston, SC, 29418
ISBN: 159457619X $18.95 585 pages
As with many good fantasy novels, this story begins with a youth who must set out on a Quest.
Sixteen-year-old Jeru, the youngest of three brothers, finds his life is turned upside down by a
plague
that has beset the land of Omoham. Before the onset of the panic, Jeru worked the family farm
and
dreamed at night of a shadowy man. His life was fairly simple, though it didn't feel complete. Now
everyone in the region is fleeing in fear. Jeru's brothers and parents have already left the farm, but
Jeru has chosen not to accompany them. Instead, he goes south, to Cinatis, in an effort to
discover
what is causing the plague and to try to discover why he feels such a disturbance in the earth.
Jeru's
special gift is as a stone felder. He can feel in the stones under his feet that something evil is quite
literally affecting the land.
One thing that becomes apparent as Jeru makes his pilgrimage south is that as fast as his
countrymen
leave Omoham, the neighboring Ch'turks come in and take over their land and holdings. This
doesn't seem right. Then on the road long before he even reaches Cinatis, Jeru is attacked by
Ch'turk rogues. Jeru is saved from death by Eril, a mysterious young man who Jeru soon realizes
is
the one who has been haunting his dreams. The two discover they are soul-mates and form a
strong
bond. They continue on the journey to Cinatis only to find that things are worse than they had
imagined. The Ch'turk's religious orders have posted new rules for the society that can only be
described as joyless, discriminatory, regimented, and fundamentalist. They've outlawed
relationships
like Eril and Jeru's, as well as disallowed the use of any sort of earth gifts, stonefelding included.
Jeru's abilities are not ones he has ever had to hide or refrain from using and everything about
this is wrong and unnatural for him. The penalty for not following these new rules, though, is
death.
At the urging and with the assistance of other powerful characters, Jeru and Eril set out on a
quest
to learn the truth, and it is this journey of exploration that encompasses Book One of the
"Twilight
of the Gods" trilogy. The next book will be called GWI'S WAR and is due out very soon, with the
third book, WAR AMONG THE GODS, to come later in 2005.
I've been meaning to read this book for a long time, but it is a big one 585 pages and that
seemed a little daunting. Once I started it, however, it rolled along smoothly, revealing layer upon
layer of information about a captivating world at the precipice of change. Jeru is a worthy
protagonist, and his relationship with Eril is richly drawn. The villains are appropriately villainous,
the "good guys" are engaging, and the land in which this epic plot takes place is fascinating. I very
much look forward to the next installment of this series.
Under the Witness Tree
Marianne K. Martin
Bywater Books
PO Box 3671, Ann Arbor, MI, 48106
www.bywaterbooks.com
ISBN: 1932859004 $12.95 210 pgs
When an estranged great-aunt she's never met dies and leaves Dhari Weston the ancient Grayson
house outside Atlanta, Dhari is both curious and irritated. Traveling from Michigan to dispose of
the
old monstrosity sounds like a lot of extra work, and Dhari's life is already far too full. Her time
and
energy are taken up by her job as a grant-writer for an AIDS coalition, a less-than-committed
girlfriend, and serious problems in her family of origin. Little does she know that she's at the
crossroads of change and is about to be sorely tested by new experiences.
Erin Hughes, a professor well-versed in Civil War era architecture and history is brought in to
assess
Anna Grayson's house, and Dhari feels an unexpected attraction to her. Dhari also meets the
elderly
Nessie Tinker, descendant of the slaves who worked the land in the 1800s and who eventually
became landowners and neighbors to the Graysons. Nessie served as caretaker and friend to Anna
Grayson, and unbeknownst to Dhari and Erin, Nessie knows many of the secrets of the past some
of which go all the way back to Civil War times that the two women are exploring.
Dhari is gradually drawn in to the mysteries of the old house and its former occupants, but at the
same time, her wandering girlfriend and mentally ill mother back in Michigan exert pressures upon
her that keep her stressed and worried. Dhari has her own secrets, and as the story is revealed, the
reader gradually comes to understand the depth of her pain and the extent to which she has gone
to
prevent anyone from knowing about it even her girlfriend. When she lets slip to Erin some vital
details, Dhari is appalled. "She'd been first-time lucky that Erin Hughes thinks the bones in her
own
closet shine just as bright white as hers. Most people, however, aren't that honest. They lock their
skeletons up behind propriety and self-protection and make choices that to the casual observer
seem
entirely normal. Just like Dhari Weston. It's the closer inspection, the one that rattles the door,
that
has to be avoided" (p. 103).
The ways that Dhari ends up "rattling that door" make for an engrossing read. The book itself is
slight, but the issues raised and the secrets revealed make for powerful and unforgettable reading.
This book was entertaining, and the way the pieces all came together was ultimately quite
satisfying.
Read it for the tight plot, for the mystery, for the romance just don't miss this engaging story.
GoblinQuest
Jim C. Hines
Five Star of the Gale Group
295 Kennedy Memorial Drive, Waterville, ME 04901
www.galegroup.com/fivestar/
ISBN: 1594142300 $25.95 330 Pages
Jig is a goblin with little social status. He has been assigned to the lowliest muck duty far longer
than
others his age, and he can't help but feel shame. He also can't help that he is a clumsy,
near-sighted
runt, and his cousin Porak and his buddies never let him forget it. Only in his fantasies is Jig a
brave
and respected warrior, and he longs for the chance to prove himself.
Finally Jig is given the opportunity to guard the mountain tunnels from intruders, which is a scary
proposition since so many of the tunnel guards wind up dead. He resolves to do what needs to be
done in order to stay alive. Imagine his surprise when he is accosted by a party of treasure hunters
made up of two humans, a dwarf, and an elf who are searching for the Rod of Creation thought to
be guarded by a dragon named Straum.
Jig is forced to join them for the hunt or die. "Jig knew what a real hero would do. A hero would
scream something defiant, wrestle Darnak's club away and use it against the dwarf and the human.
A
hero might even slay them both before making his escape. Of course, Jig knew all the goblin
songs,
so he knew what happened to goblin heroes . He had not desire to be a hero. He only wanted to
go home, curl up with a hot bowl of lizard-egg soup, and feed dead cockroaches to Smudge" (p.
25).
The prospect of successfully making such a journey with his captors doesn't look good to Jig. He
doesn't even know where Straum's lair is, but instead of mounting what would be a suicide attack,
Jig reluctantly agrees to help the adventurers find their way around the tunnels. What follows is a
series of action-filled, entertaining, and often funny adventures as they battle hobgoblins, worms, a
necromancer, and various other foes.
This book will appeal to both adults and young adults. Teens will very much enjoy Jig's quest and
his attempt to define himself in a world that doesn't necessarily value his skills. Adults will also
enjoy the humor and the upending of various aspects of the fantasy/quest genre. Prepare to be
entertained throughout and completely satisfied with Jig's journey by the time you reach the
end.
Colder Than Ice
Helen Macpherson
Quest Books
Regal Crest Enterprises
PMB 210, 8691 9th Avenue, Port Arthur, TX 77642-8025
www.regalcrest.biz
ISBN: 1932300295 $18.95 265 pgs
What happens when two driven and independent professional women are forced to work together
under circumstances neither can fully control? This is the situation archaeologist Allison
Shaunessy
and psychologist Michela DeGrasse find themselves in. Part of the problem from the beginning is
that Allison craves control in her work life because she doesn't really have it in her personal life.
She's been dating an oaf, and she hasn't yet figured out that he's a selfish jerk. She wants to focus
on and run the expedition, but the sponsor who put up the money knows Michela and specifies
that
the psychologist be the one in charge. From the beginning, then, there's a rivalry that's not helped
by
the fact that seemingly straight Allison is drawn to Michela, who has, unfortunately, just lost her
lover to a scheming colleague.
So with both women in their own little barely contained crises, they set off on an trek into a
remote
part of Antarctica to investigate what might be the remains of the long-lost 1895 Finlayson
Expedition. As they prepare and then travel, they are beset with all sorts of obstacles - from the
money issues at the outset - to seasickness, illness, frightening weather conditions, stupid,
risk-taking behavior, and the threat of violent death.
Both Allison and Michaela are stubborn and wounded in their own ways, and neither is able to see
that if they could just drop their guards and open up to one another honestly, they actually have a
lot
in common. That process makes for entertaining reading as do the twists and turns of the
expedition,
some of which are not expected. Ultimately, the book is more a romance than an adventure, but
this
cross-genre novel affords some thrills and more than a few chills.
Lori L. Lake
Reviewer
Lynne's Bookshelf
What Did You Do Today? The First Day of School
Toby Forward
Illustrated by Carol Thompson
Clarion
c/o Houghton Mifflin Company
215 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10003
www.hougtonmifflinbooks.com Ages 4 - 8
ISBN 061849586X $15.00 29 pp.
This charming concept book for pre-schoolers/kindergarteners begins its telling as early as the
binding, with anxious illustrations of children and their parents rushing off to school. Who could
not
get caught up in the fun and frenzy of this exciting day?
What Did You Do Today? The First Day of School is one little boy's tale of this life changing
experience, as told to his mother. On the left side of the double-page spreads, our brave hero
expresses his thoughts about his day in pictures and simple text. On the right side, illustrations
depict
his mother's day. This results in a clever comparison of the two as they do their work and still find
time to think about each other!
The story is endearing, the watercolor illustrations darling. What a wonderful way to teach
children
about what their first day of school will be like, while reinforcing that it's okay to miss their
mother
(who will be missing them too).
Mary Middling and Other Silly Folk: Nursery Rhymes and Nonsense Poems
Rose Fyleman
Illustrated by Katya Bandlow
Clarion
c/o Houghton Mifflin Company
215 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10003
www.hougtonmifflinbooks.com Ages 4 - 8
ISBN 0618381414 $16.00 24 pp.
If you've run out of nursery rhymes or have grown tired of the same old Mother Goose material,
you'll enjoy meeting up with Mary Middling (& pig) and the other silly folk in the late British poet
Rose Fyleman's fabulously fun picture book. This selection of twenty poems taken from her
Fifty-One New Nursery Rhymes (1931) are as fresh as the day they were written, and catchy as a
cold in a doctor's sick room. It's hard to decide which of these quirky poems my favorite to read
aloud is. So I read them again, and again. Someday, I'll figure it out!
German illustrator Katya Bandlow's colored Chinese ink illustrations give just the right sort of
tone
and whimsy to Fyleman's short rhymes. With such silliness going on in the words and pictures,
children will love hearing these rhymes again and again, as well as seeing them on the page time
after
time. A low-calorie rhythmic treat for one and all!
Lynne Marie Pisano
Reviewer
Magdalena's Bookshelf
Wrong About Japan: A Father's Journey with his Son
Peter Carey
Random House
ISBN 1740513258, A$24.95, 122 pgs
Wrong About Japan begins with a series of Saturday morning visits to the video shop and
Forbidden
Planet comic shop to procure Japanese anime films and manga comics. Carey the father initially
comes along as censor, but soon becomes accomplice as he and his son Charley develop a
fascination with the unusual and intricate popular art form. Both want more, and Carey arranges a
working trip to Japan, where together, the Careys explore their differing notions of cultural
meaning,
art, and above all, the difficulty of communication, both within and between cultures. As one
would
expect from an author who can write well about anything, the book is full of the kind of detail
which
makes for good travel writing: setting, character, anecdote, and scenery descriptions, but this is
much more than a portrait of Japan, or a visit log. What makes Wrong About Japan a powerful
book
are the parallel themes of Carey's desperation to get under the skin of his tall, shy twelve year old
son, coupled with his desire to get under the skin of Japanese culture. The tension drives the book
forward, and Carey's depiction of himself and his son are as loving and detailed as any character
he
has created in his extensive body of fiction.
The book is peppered with plates, drawings, and a few personal photos so that even the most
manga
illiterate readers get a good visual perspective. We learn about visualists, people who dress up in a
costume and perfectly recreate characters from fiction or films. We explore Tokyo, watch Kabuki,
examine the otaku (a kind of loner unable to interact with other people), and get a good sense of
the
smells, tastes, and experiences that a foreigner would have in Japan. Carey lines up a series of
interviews with well known manga creators, including Hayao Miyazaki (creator of My Neighbor
Totoro), Yoshiyuki Tomino (creator of Mobile Suit Gundam), and Hiroyuki Kitakubo (creator of
Blood: The Last Vampire). In an attempt to tease out the deeper implications of their work, Carey
asks questions about connections with Hiroshima, with children in a post-war world, with the
relationship between public and private entertainment, about the meanings of characters, themes
and
national identity, but his questions seem to be senseless to those who receive them, based on
cultural
misunderstandings occurring at the deepest level:
Mr Kitakubo responded to my written questions in the same style as every other damn Japanesse
I'd
questioned. That is, he made it clear that nothing in this country was as I thought it was. My
misunderstandings were very interesting, he said. By which he did not mean to claim that his film
did
not have meanings-of course it did but after a long,e xhausting Q&A it became clear that he
would
reveal none of them to me. (112)
A similar tension occurs between father and son, although perhaps there is a greater basis for
understanding love easing the gap between generations. Nevertheless, underneath the serious
attempts at both bonding with Japan and bonding with reticent Charley, is a kind of gentle panic.
It
is important, we feel, for Carey to connect with his son; for the two of them to do this trip in a
way
which brings them together before the big ice age of adolescent really gets underway. But Carey
Sr
arrives in search of a place which is very different from the one Charley wants to explore.
Communication is so difficult, at every level, and not just between cultures, but between
generations. Carey unwittingly insults Charley's e-friend Takashi, who couldn't understand how
Carey's desire to meet Miyazaki would take precedence over an invitation to his grandmother's
house. In the name of the "real Japan" which Charley eschews, Carey takes young Charley to a
four
hour long Kubuki performance: "Bored and restless, the poor boy endured play after play,
expecting
each one to be the last." (51) and drags him to meet a sword maker, and a war vet, all in the
hopes
that some point of understanding of the real underlying sense of Japan and its inhabitants' life,
might turn their interest in manga into something deeper. Instead, Charley longs for (and thrills to)
Sega world, insists on eating at Starbucks and Mr Donut, where they spy Takashi working,
shopping for electronic gizmos, brightly coloured sci fi toilets, and sending SMS messages instead
of
looking at scenery. In other words, he's a normal twelve year old, and Carey his normal, doting
father, trying to get through. This struggle, and above all, Carey's almost overwhelming modesty
and
honesty (which calls to mind Oscar Hopkins from Oscar and Lucinda) as he delicately explores
and
teases out the relationships between these twin themes about understanding and communication,
is
what makes this small book such a joy to read, even for those who have neither knowledge nor
interest in manga or anime.
Carey isn't really wrong, just a little bit trapped, as we all are, in our selves, our history and our
culture. A kind of connection does take place, between Carey and his son most certainly, as they
both come to realise their limitations. There is also a moment, and perhaps several moments when
language is discarded and beauty provides a point of agreement between West and East:
He took us to the computer and showed a new work that featured the grandmother of the magical
animated car-bus that Totoro had ridden on. And, thank God, we had no language. Thank God,
there were no questions to ask, just the privilege of sharing the joy of a great artist telling a story
to
an audience. (116)
This is a charming, sometimes funny, tender story which has many bonuses for lovers of manga,
but
will appeal to any reader for the rich humanism which is a mark of all Peter Carey's work.
Waiting for Kate Bush
John Mendelssohn
Omnibus Press
ISBN 1844494896 $31.72
It's a cold night. Lesley Herskovits perches on the end of a tall tower block in London, ready to
jump. This begins a story ostensibly about Herskovits, who has a serious image problem,
imagining
himself as grotesquely overweight and ugly, cowardly, and pining after the artist Kate Bush,
whose
next album shows no signs of appearing 11 years after The Red Shoes. The novel primarily takes
places between the ledge, and the final leap, either Herskovits' only act of courage, or his biggest
act
of cowardice. Living at a boardinghouse for Kate Bush fans, Herskovits sends Bush e-mails,
letters,
and regular gifts, bags Tori Amos, a "brazen imitator" and peppers his prose with bits and pieces
of
biographical information. His suffering is compounded by his perceived fear of confrontation, the
ruin of his relationship with his daughter "Babooshka," and his sketchy relationships with his
landlady, Mrs Cavenaugh, and a fellow Overeater Anonymous member, the beautiful but
overweight
Nicola. An interesting sub-plot is formed around a television talent show called Fab Lab, a kind of
mock Idol for the disabled, where winners get voted for by other members and the studio
audience.
Waiting for Kate Bush is funny, and an easy fast-paced read. The characters are full of interesting
Dickensian qualities, quirky parallels, and twists which tease out the theme that nothing is quite
what it seems. Fame is a fleeting and strange quality, which others seek to feed off, and this is
perhaps the thing that ties Herskovit's story to Bush's. Herskovits himself is a former model (the
"Marcel Flynn pants bloke" - one thinks of Calvin Klein), whose sense that he hideously ugly and
overweight is countered by the reactions of other people to him his landlady's shock when he tells
her he can no longer fit outside of his door or make it down the steps for dinner because he is so
grossly overweight, or the outrage of other truly fat members when he shows up for a meeting at
Overeaters Anonymous. Although there is much of Kate Bush in this novel, it isn't really a
biography. Kate is ancilliary a missing character that the other's use to offset their own neuroses.
Her music surrounds the book, and is hummed, sung, quoted, and analysed. Her life is chronicled,
timelined, and surmised. But she never appears, and the only thing we learn about her, is what we
gleam from interviews, or other people's projections:
"I love Kate Bush," I blurted. "Being nearer to her, in fact, is one of the reasons I moved to this
country." Their looking at me blankly inspired more bluring. "I find much of her later music
inexpressibly beautiful. In my darketst hours, in my moment of peak despair, it gives me a reason
to
live. A world in which music of such beauty exists can't be intolerable. That's how I look at it."
(21)
That said, this is a book which will certainly appeal to Kate fans. The centre of the book contains
attractive photographs of La Bush, moving from grammar school years to her most recent public
appearance in 2002. Real die-hard fans will probably know most of what the book contains, but
for
your average, "I like her music," fans, the book will re-invigorate a sense of the music, as lyrics,
critical appraisals, and performance highlights are detailed in recount by the obsessive Herskovits.
Characters like Cyril, Nicola's father, a tiny hired thug who enjoys being brow-beaten by his huge
wife, or Mr Chumaraswamy, Mrs Cavenaugh's other lover, a self-proclaimed anti-bullying
vigilante.
But no one is exactly as they seem. Bully and bullied are often consentual. Self-image isn't the
same
as other's perception. Mendelssohn cleverly discredits his narrator early on, and although this is a
first person narrative, we can't take the narrator's account as reliable. This creates an interesting
tension which leaves the reader wondering about the real relationship between Herskovits and his
daughter, or about his relationships with other characters in his life; his wife or his schoolyard
experiences:
From the age of 15 until the time the girl who'd become my first girlfriend agreed to go out with
me,
I was myself a sidekick. Daring to imagine that one of their admirers might notice me, I insinuated
myself into the entourages of a succession of good0looking, athletic, confident classmates hating
both mysel ffor having done so and them for having things I hadn't, and perhaps never would
have.
But I didn't come to be perceived as attractive by association.(186)
Unfortunately, this theme is only lightly touched upon, subsumed into the more overt purpose of
ensuring that every opportunity to mention Kate Bush is taken, probably, one imagines, so that
the
large number of consumer hungry Bush fans will buy the book (a good enough marketing
strategy).
That is a shame though, as there is a reasonably story here, and the way in which the plot twists
and
the worms turn is probably enough to make this into a decent quality fiction. However,
Mendelssohn
sacrifices the story for the biography, and for his own musical cleverness, which does a good job
of
picking up a wide range of musical and cultural icons, interpreting the lyrics of Bernie Taupin (I
never thought about how silly the metaphors in most of Elton John's songs until the press savaged
Candle in the Wind post-Princess Diana's funeral), or using his "sharp" American wit to slice
through everyone's "crap" but his own. So this isn't literary fiction, and can't really be taken too
seriously, especially with its ridiculous deus ex machina ending. That's okay. Waiting for Kate
Bush
isn't meant to be a serious read. It is, instead, a light, fun, easy piece of summer reading by a
writer
who is very capable and experienced at writing about popular music. Kate Bush fans will snap this
up. The rest of us (even those who like Tori Amos as much as Kate Bush) will enjoy it for what it
is,
and find themselves listening to the Bush back collection with renewed vigour. Too bad
Herskovits
couldn't wait just a little longer. Apparently a new Kate Bush CD is due for release in March
2005.
Magdalena Ball, Reviewer
http://www.compulsivereader.com/html
Pogo's Bookshelf
The English Patient
Michael Ondaatje
Vintage Books
Random House: Toronto
039428013X / 0679745203 $9.75 302 pp.
http://isbndb.com/d/book/the_english_patient.html
other editions: http://isbndb.com/d/person/ondaatje_michael/subject/italy_fict
Across the internet the Battle Royale rage concerning the identity of the English Patient as that of
the Hungarian Count Almasy. Film and book critics alike, divide into sides, bitter opponents of
being
caught flat-footed, take up their rocks to stone the author for betraying them and false character.
They scream, "he lied!" without ever stopping to read the small print in the back of the book:
"While some of the characters who appear in this book are based on historical figures, and while
many of the areas are described such as the Gilf Kebir and its surrounding desert exist, and were
explored in the 1930's, it is important to stress that this story is a fiction and that the portraits that
appear in it are fictional, as are some of the events and journeys." (Acknowledgements)
In May 2004, MI5 opened the files regarding Almasy, renewing the siege on a novel, demanded
to
be true to life. This is almost as good as the anonymous authority at the Vancouver border
demanding of the Booker Prize Winner what kind of fiction he wrote, whether true or not. In the
wake of the film, reviewers have had ample time to seek out survivors to recall dim memories to
support one side or the other regarding the nefarious activities of Almasy, accused of being a Nazi
spy, incompetent bungler, revolting, besotted homosexual as they wish to paint the man, spawning
at
least another forthcoming book by John Bierman, "The Secret Life of Laszlo Almasy: the real
English patient" published by Viking and reviewed by James Holland in "Alone in the Desert,"
New
Statesman, 21 June 2004.
According to the rules of fiction, things aint necessarily so:
Almasy seemed obsessed by two things: the myth of Zerzura and its whereabouts and the legend
of
Cambyses' 50,000 men engulfed in a sandstorm; but not a fullblown, nasty Nazi spy, willing to
trade
lives for ready pocket money to defeat the English in North Africa.
Screaming protests at the top of the lungs, The Telegraph printed an article by Michael Smith and
Peter Day on 21 May 2004, entitled, "English Patient was 'ugly, gay' Nazi spy," claiming he was a
bungling, ill-dress, schnable-nosed klutz better suited for Peter Seller imitations or an O'Toole
wouldbe, most incomptetently leading two miscreant fleshpotters across the Libyan desert to
Cairo,
assidiously watched by those of Bletchley Park for his devious but not deadly manuevers.
However,
there is no proof of the intent as being an effective operative of the German intelligence or going
into the interesting trade of war arena tourism for the sole benefit of pocket money.
Sandy Mitchell dug amongst the desert bones to uncover Brigadier Rupert Harding Newman, for
an
interview in The Age, "The real Count Almasy," printed on 2 July 2002, to gain enlightenment on
the controversial figure and received the personal distaste of Almasy's reputation as a loner and
homosexual, but branded as an Abwehr company man handing over maps and intelligence to the
Germans as early as 1940, dying of dysentery in a Salzburg sanatorium in 1951.
Each side presents its view, challenging the others to come up with new evidence to prove that a
work of fiction should be somehow true relatively hard to do. Strangely, no one seems to demand
this same validification fo the other characters, such as David Caravaggio whose name is
ostensibly
borrowed from a sixteenth century Italian Painter, Michelangelo Merisi de Caravaggio,
1573-1610,
or of the lonesome Hana whose shadow flickers against the broken walls of the Villa San
Girolamo.
No one doubts the existance of the Villa Medici, the hospital in Pisa, the caged rancour of the
mad
poet, Ezra Pound or a thousand other things which are all substantiate credible fiction. The furor
is
about a single man: Almasy. Nor does anyone dare question the rather ridiculous story of how
Caravaggio lost his thumbs, after getting caught naked trying to retrieve his camera while
interrupting someone's nocturnal gymnastics. Tell me, what kind of man wanders down a hall,
ducking into unlocked rooms in his birthday suit?
Yet in close examination of the story, does the English Patient himself ever actually disclose his
identity? Even the characters within the book take their various turns, pointing fingers at him,
accusing him of being the inscrutable with Caravaggio administering his own devilish concoction
of
morphine as a truth serum to get the facts from him. He doesn't actually succeed as the English
Patient is portrayed with the shifting of his environment, as slippery as sand from one variation to
another, sliding through states of half consciousnness and narcotic induced awareness. He rarely
even offers anything in direct speech or dialogue, his thoughts presented obliquely. How often
have
novelists allowed their audiences to go madly on some literary goosechase, trying to identify the
familiar voice or face presented to them? Is it not the mark of mastery to concoct a novel to
perplex
and leave readers intrigued, searching for the missing person hidden behind say, an Iron Mask?
The
Kipling archives have long been open with people pouring over them, still hazarding guesses over
the identities of those heard in Plain Tales from the Hills or the Purun Dass, KCIE, who appears
in
The Miracle of Purun Bhagat of the Second Jungle Book, and the fingerprinting of Larry Darrell
and
Elliot Templeton of W. Somerst Maugham's Razor's Edge. Isn't this what is usually classified as
"staying power" the mark of an extraordinary tale? Intriguing generations to seek for new angles
and insights on history that would otherwise remain long-forgotton or overlooked as the western
world remains ungrateful for the contributions of the Indian military or ignorant of the brutal
mining
and bitter combat of reclaiming Italy?
Are there rules, demanding that a novelist be forthright, validate every detail with a certificate of
authenticity or may he,. ahem, mix a potent brew of fact and fiction, possibly concocting
composite
identities from those dead as well as living at the time?
Who else wandered the Middle East, far more famous in Hollywood than Almasy, well-educated
at
Oxford with a perchance of making foot tours of deserts and charting medieval castles in search
of
the solution to a question (presented by Hogarth) whether the pointed arch and vault was
transferred
into Europe through Arabian influences of the Crusades or vice versa? Are there not previous
examples of the Great Game played out in other literary works, such as Childers, Riddle of the
Sands (1903) or Conrad, the Secret Agent (1907), Kipling, The Man Who Would Be King (1889)
or Kim (1901) or perhaps more legendary, the Seven Pillars of Wisdom (1926) ? Aren't famous
generals known to pocket editions of ancient classical works which they consult in times of
bombardment and conflict, the ever ready handbooks of assault and pontoon bridges? And
certainly,
intelligence officers are not unknown for being educated and translating such jewels as Homer's
Odyssey, or plotting seven day wars on the basis of Josephus.
"I am a man who can recognize an unmanned town by the skeletal shape on a map. I have always
had information like a sea on me. I am a person who if left alone in someone's home walks to the
bookcase, pulls down a volume and inhales it. So history enters us. I knew maps of the sea floor,
maps that depict weaknesses in the shield of the earth, charts painted on skin that contain the
various
routes of the Crusades." (p18)
Eh? Crusades? Castles? Medieval fortifications? Oxford? Medieval Literature? A person who
knows
without doubt that there ar no brunettes among the Florentine Madonnas and the personal history
of
nearly everything that ever happened in Europe. Sounds a bit like a Medieval Literature student
going off on Carchemish digs rather than an Austrian car peddlar surviving on bad tourism
gigs.
So speculation continues on the identity of the chief hero or villain in the center of the story while
ignoring the skill of the artisan who crafted an unforgettable, riveting and intriguing novel.
What makes the illusion so credible is Ondaatje's mastery of weaving myth into contemporary
reality, dropping into our world a flaming Icarus:
"I fell burning into the desert... I flew down and the sand itself caught fire. They say me stand up
naked out of it. The leather helmet on my head in flames..." (p 5) Overtones of Ovid echo through
the lines as the writer uses his craft to convince us of a mirage visible but not quite tangible; the
memories of swimmers in a cave, evoking and awakening dim recollections of Mediterranean
mosaics and broken villas crumbling from the Roman Empire. The voice alluring, convince and
beguiling, leading the reader into the speculative blackhole where historical fact opens, yawning
an
enigma, the disappearance of a team, an airplane, lost in the desert and never quite adequately
explained.
This is the art of a writer, beguiling us to believe what we should recognize immediately as fiction
as
it twists the story to fit the shape required by the various characters within the book. The sudden
appearance of the sapper arising out of the water like a freshwater submarine, following a
madonna
and exiting equally suddenly on a motorcycle down the winding roads of Italy, skidding off a turn
onto a bridge and flying with his steed into the voracious water-- a dim memory awakens the
legendary myth of another figure, dying abruptly after the retirement of war.
Why should an audience demand "the facts" from fiction when they gullibly allow political leaders
to
spew out fiction as plain facts? Consider the myth of WMD, the single determining factor for the
invasion of Iraq. or the Inaugural Address, demanding Democracy at all costs, so long as Muslim
chaplains can be detained under suspicion without evidence and local taxi drivers rounded up and
sent to detention in Cuba on basis of unverified tips of being aiders and abettors of those who
destroyed the Twin Towers or secret henchmen of Saddam? And the definition of torture changed
and Geneva Convention violations white-washed over What is truth, demands Pilate, washing his
hands.
Shouldn't a novelist ply his trade when so many crowing political truths fail? Wanting for
footnotes?
No, I doubt it, for there shall be years of guessing the identity of the man hidden behind the
blackened face, the Icarus of Ondaatje's English Patient. Perhaps like Eliza Doolittle, he's not
Hungarian at all
Pogo
Reviewer
Robyn's Bookshelf
One for Sorrow, Two for Joy
Clive Woodall
Ace Books
ISBN: 0441012655 $19.95
A malignant evil is creeping across the land of Birddom. The time for birdsong has passed and
survival depends on silence. A dark covenant of magpies, led by a sadistic dictator called Slyekin,
plots the demise of lesser birds and the revered Council of Owls. The last of his species, a lone
robin
named Kirrick is driven by revenge to undermine their total domination. Trying to flee an
unrelenting
chase, the tiny bird struggles to survive an onslaught of murdering magpies, led by Slyekin's top
henchman, Traska. An unyielding foe, Traska haunts Kirrick's every move as the small bird tries
to
rally others to aid in the fight. But Kirrick is not alone in his quest to save Birddom. Tomar, an
elder
owl from the Council hopes to foil Slyekin's master plan, but he hasn't heard from Kirrick since
the
beginning of the attack. Has the little bird accomplished his mission or was it just folly to send
such a
small creature up against such brutality? A war erupts and another deadly leader emerges. This
time
a son steps up to take down his father. The division of good verses evil aligns unlikely allies
between
species and forges some unusual packs. Although evil and hatred run deep, love and goodness
simmer below the surface. Heart felt scenes and deep emotions guarantee the reader will feel the
intensity of the hunt; understand how deep the evil and the extent to which it can flourish. The
violence and some adult scenes are not recommended for younger children, but teens to adult will
turn page after page to see how the saga unfolds.
Angelina of Italy
Maya Angelou
Illustrated by Lizzy Rockwell
Random House
ISBN: 037582832X
ISBN: 0375928324 $3.99
What makes children from different countries uniquely different? Is it their physical features,
connection to a vast history, or food? For the little Italian girl Angelina, it's pizza. Angelina loves
pizza. In fact, she loves it so much that when she hears about the famous leaning Tower of Pisa,
she
believes it to be the leaning Tower of Pizza. And that is upsetting because if the leaning Tower of
Pizza falls over, the pizza pies stacked on top of each other will never be eaten. "Don't worry,
darlinghissima," said Angelina's mama. "The tower is made of marble and concrete and metal."
But
the words are not comforting to the little girl and the family leaves on a visit to Pisa. When the
tower is within reach a guard keeps Angelina from getting closer. Crocodile tears fall from the
distressed girl. A scuffle incurs and Angelina is finally able to see the tower up close. The
illustrations are simple but favorably depict various details of Italian culture. One unique feature
of
the Maya's World Series is the collectable cut-out doll printed on the flap.
I Don't Want to Go To Camp
Eve Bunting
Illustrated by Maryann Coca-Leffler
Boyd Mills Press
815 Church Street, Honesdale, PA 18431
ISBN: 1563973936, $14.95
ISBN: 1590780744, $8.95
At five years old, you too might dislike the notion of your mother going away from home to
attend
camp. Especially if you don't know anything about it. Lin and her stuffed animal, Loppy Lamb,
discover the wonders of camp through a light-hearted but engaging story that begins with her
mother purchasing a sleeping bag and harmonica. Lin's anxiety about the unknown is shown
through
imaginary conversations shared only with her dear stuffed friend. When her mother mentions Lin
will
be able to attend camp herself in two years, Lin objects and mom wisely sympathizes, knowing
there
are enticements to come. Mother invites the family to attend Visitor's Day and Dad, Lin, and
Loppy
Lamb set out to bake delicious goodies to take with them. Once they arrive, they find mother has
made many friends, attended midnight campfires where they enjoy marshmallow mushies, played
volleyball and gone horseback riding. By the end of the day, Lin trades friendship bracelets with a
new friend of her own, and she realizes camp might not be so bad after all. Illustrations in
watercolor
and pen paint a delightful and loving world where children feel safe to learn and express
themselves.
Robyn Gioia, Reviewer
http://www.robynleslie.com
Roger's Bookshelf
It's Never Too Late to Plant a Tree: Your Guide to Never Retiring
Mel Helitzer and Morrie Helitzer
University Sports Press
PO Box 2315, Athens, Ohio 45701
ISBN 0963038745 $19.95 328 pages
Inspirational, Thought-Provoking, Evidentiary
The subtitle of this book, "Your Guide to Never Retiring," is misleading. Compared to other
books
in the field of the lives of older citizens, this is not a guidebook. This volume will not tell you how
to
deal with taxes, medicare, sex, or estate planning. The other phrase on the front cover is the true
description: "65 Inspiring Stories That Can Renew Your Life."
The stories illustrate that people after (you pick the age) have all sorts of opportunities available
to
them to live life to the fullest. There's no reason to stop or even slow down when you reach
some chronological milestone. Each of these stories is inspiring unto itself, so you can imagine
what
a whole book of these anecdotes must be! I enjoyed reading page after page, finding myself eager
to
return to bed each night to lift this book from my bedside table to learn more.
While the stories are inspiring, they are also instructive. As you learn what people have done with
their lives, and look at the positive difference they've made, you'll find yourself challenged to
emulate them. Considering carefully the lessons of what they have accomplished and how they did
it, you'll see some stepping stones to the path into your later years. Each of us can make a
difference some large, some much smaller. Reading this book might energize you to make a more
significant difference than you believe is possible at the moment.
Enjoy "It's Never Too Late to Plant a Tree," then take some action to make a difference in your
life
and in the lives of others.
Running Training Like a Business
David van Adelsberg and Edward A. Trolley
Berrett-Koehler Publishing
ISBN 1576750590 $27.95 218 pages
A Welcome Guidebook
Training has been viewed as an expense in most organizations, a poor step-child to human
resources, at best. It's a cost center in the minds of most executives, a necessary (or is it really?)
evil.
With the move toward lean organizations, practically every department is expected to be a profit
center instead of a cost burden. "If you can't make a positive difference on our bottom line, we'll
out-source you" is the attitude of many executives today. So Running Training Like a Business is
a
book for the times. Like it or not, if you're in the training field, you'd better be reading this
book.
Credibility. Trainers, like many professionals, are wary of all the garbage that poses as valid
information. They need to cut through the noise to get the real meat, and they don't have a lot of
time to wade through extraneous space-filling material that doesn't contribute to what they need
to
know. The authors understand. They're senior executives at The Forum Corporation, one of the
premier global consulting firms on training and training management.
The authors get right into content. No wasted time here. The writing is concise, supported by
graphics where needed. Bullet points at the end of each chapter reinforce what needs to be done
to
achieve solid accomplishment of objectives. It's a good business approach.
The book is organized into three parts: The Business Case for Transformation, Making the
Transformation, and The End of the Beginning. The design is a familiar model to professionals
engaged in behavioral change, making the content easier to absorb and apply. Organization
change is
what this book is all about, and the questionnaires in the back of the book will help the reader
assess
what needs to be done, progress made, and challenges yet to be overcome.
This book may be a bit difficult, in places, for some trainers. That's understandable; many trainers
have not had sufficient exposure to the business side of business. There's plenty of training
language
to build comfort and a sense of familiarity, enabling readers to find a number of jumping-off points
to stay with the theme.
As the author of "Lean & Meaningful," I can say that what van Adelsberg and Trolley have
presented is very congruent with what we see in today's corporate culture. The role of training
will
grow in importance, but it must also grow in producing and measuring bottom-line results.
Quantum Organizations
Ralph H.Kilmann
Davies-Black Publishing
ISBN 089106155X $45.00 344 pages
An Organizational Development Treasure
The recurring theme today is transformation. Corporate transformation. Personal transformation.
As
I see this book, it's an insightful guide to understanding and leading change. It's a full book, with
helpful color illustrations---the kind of manuscript that will consume a considerable amount of
time
to move through. It's a deep intellectual work, not a pop management publication.
Kilmann begins by focusing the reader on current conditions, then a comparison and
comprehension
of "two dueling paradigms" of where we are and where we're going. The new paradigm is
explored
using the language and concepts of quantum physics that will stimulate and challenge the minds of
organizational development readers.
Most of the book is devoted to an exploration of eight tracks, organized by sections titled
Quantum
Infrastructures, Formal Systems, and Process Management. The sixth chapter, on Critical Success
Factors, intertwines the corporate and the personal with an emphasis on consciousness and
meaningfulness. Readers will journey through tracks on culture, skills, teamness,
strategy-structure,
rewards, gradual process, radical process, and the learning process.
A broad bibliography and index make this deep content book even more valuable.
Roger E. Herman, Reviewer
http://www.hermangroup.com
Sherry's Bookshelf
Justice Denied: A Detective's Dilemma
Joseph A. Horak
Bookman Publishing
Martinsville, Indiana
www.bookmanmarketing.com
ISBN: 1594530955 $19.95 450 pages
Justice Denied is a true story of youth, sex, drugs, suicide, and murder. It is a story of a
committed
detective and a chief betrothed in the quest for the truth. The author meticulously takes the reader
through the days, months and years showing that no stone was left unturned in investigating and
trying to bring the killer(s) of two young girls to justice. There is another underlying theme in this
book. It is a description of the power and greed in the police department and how personalities
get
in the way of determining the outcome of such intense investigations.
The investigation started on July 12, 1973. Two pretty young teens at the tender age of 15 were
brutally murdered. Diane Compagna and her friend Anne Psoradelis encounter an unsteady
situation
on July 4th, which seemingly led to their cruel untimely and crude deaths. The reader becomes
privy
to all activity including the eerie scene of parents combing through and identifying the collected
belongings found on the victims and at the murder scene.
Many of the town's people engaged in the gossipy wickedness fueling rumors about the two girls
which actually resulted in shedding light on more pertinent information. Lots of fingers wagging
at
different suspects but most of the leads seemed to sharply point in one direction. Mr. Horack
believes
he knows and names the person(s) responsible for stamping out the lives of these two young girls.
Yet, after all these years, they still have not been able to prove it.
The book is written in a Dragnet style. Very heavy in detailed conversations, emotional aspects,
the
personal lives of the police, the victim's families, and the suspects.
Mr. Horack wrote this book to have a legacy to these murders. From the beginning when he went
81 days with no help from the numerous friends, his curiosity was peaked and at the same time he
became bonded to the families to bring the killer(s) to justice. Now, in 2004, his goal is to give the
families some sort of closure if there is such a thing to this type of violent death. The author
believes
this collection of pertinent and extremely detailed information will carry on and hopefully
someone
will step forward and put the pieces to this unsolved murder together. Mr. Horack exemplifies the
bloodhound never ceasing attitude of a true humanitarian detective.
Betrayed: Murder in the Bahamas
Robert Terwilliger
Spring Trade Publishing
Palm Beach Shores, Florida
www.mymelodyyacht.com
ISBN: 0976557800 $18.95 351 pages
Robert Terwilliger has delivered a suspenseful page turner with a bombshell ending set in islands
of
rich beauty and history. The handsome young main character, Chino, is a natural master salesman
with optimum organizational skills. After joining up with Big Dawg's local drug gang in 1992,
Chino's abilities develop as the gang's power and trade grow. He soon calculates a three phase
plan
to catapult himself into his desired position.
Chino continues to walk the fine line of a high wire without a net in his callous desire to become
the
kingpin. He cultivates his business into a superior stealing machine by putting education at the top
of
his list. He makes sure his thieves are adept in their trade which yields him a thriving business with
over 200 stolen boats. This activity allowed him to expand his retail drug business from 2 to 9
million dollars a year.
All is well in the stealing and drug business until they take the Edgewater owned by, the not to be
messed with, Bob Edwards (Viper).
Add in a government surveillance team, high jacking, murder and there are enough twist and turns
to
satisfy any mystery crime reader.
This book will treat you to a thrilling Caribbean Cruise with Treat yourself lots of swash buckling
adventures. Betrayed is complete with an introduction about pirates to a helpful hints and nautical
terms guide.
Adult Content
Miss Bumples Lands on Earth
Jennifer E. Sheehan
Bumples
37 Naromake Avenue, Norwalk, CT 06854
www.bumples.com
Ages: 3-8, Order No. Bk03
ISBN: 0970095260 $15.95 32 pages
Miss Bumples, a blue Martian creature with a magic cane, finds herself on Earth. By tapping her
head, she instantly and mysteriously understands what the earth characters say to her. Miss
Bumples
is spunky and fascinating in her resourceful search for a way back to Mars. As she romps and flies
to
different places, Miss Bumples stumbles upon all kinds of pleasurable characters and
adventures.
Miss Bumples takes a young reader on a journey to New York, the ocean, the rain forest, the
South
Pole, the desert and the jungle. This is a gentle-hearted flight of fancy with wonderful illustrations.
Recommended for a child's first read alone or a read aloud with a parent.
Sherry Russell
Reviewer
Smith's Bookshelf
Memories Stir the Heart
Barbara K. McDonald
Infinity Publishing.com
1094 New Dehaven St Suite 100, West Conshohocken, PA 19428
1-877-BUY-BOOK
ISBN 0741407388 $13.95 167 pages
History fans and readers of romantic stories will both be blown away by the historical detail and
heartwarming plot of Memories Stir the Heart, by Barbara McDonald. Set in the mid-1800s, a
time
when the Oregon Trail was the primary means of traveling west, Barbara paints a very vivid
picture
of life in a wagon train. Her main character's personal struggles as a wife of a less-than-decent
man
keep the reader interested, as does the final companionship found, and lost, between herself and a
cattle-driver named Jesse Hoehne.
As she works through the memories in her wooden chest, Molly Hoehne recalls her pain, sorrow,
and joy at each item. While the memories stir her heart, the reader sees the longing and the hope
for
perfect love. It is a hope that drives her, in the last paragraph of the book, to say, "Well, who
knows
what tomorrow will bring?" The very fact that the reader is left, after all of the trials of the main
character, with the hope of a new day is only the first reason to read and enjoy this debut
novel.
Think Like a Pancreas: A Practical Guide to Managing Diabetes with Insulin
Gary Scheiner, MS, CDE
Marlowe and Company
245 West 17th Street, 11th floor, New York, NY 10011-5300
646-375-2570
ISBN 1569244367 $15.95 241 pages
This truly is a very practical guide to managing diabetes. Drawing on his experience as a certified
diabetes educator, exercise physiologist, and insulin pump trainer/user, Gary Scheiner expertly
lays
the foundation for diabetes management. Once the foundation is laid, he goes through the process
of
diabetes management and then takes the reader through the extreme cases management. Far from
being a difficult textbook, however, Think Like a Pancreas takes an almost conversational
approach
to explaining the situation. Even as a person without diabetes, I was able to navigate the book and
understand the details with ease.
The book is replete with visual aids as well. Scheiner uses graphs, tables, and flow charts not only
in
basic instruction, but also for troubleshooting insulin/blood sugar problems. Each chart is laid out
in
a very informative manner, and even laypersons unfamiliar with studying diabetes (such as a
family
member or someone newly diagnosed with the disease) will understand the concepts, problems,
and
solutions.
Not enough can be said about how well this book was written. The author's style, combined with
his
knowledge on the subject of diabetes is a must for every sufferer's bookshelf. Furthermore,
persons
with loved ones who suffer from diabetes will also gain a great deal of insight, just as I did, from
Think Like a Pancreas.
The Lone Samurai: The Life of Miyamoto Musashi
William Scott
Wilson Kodansha International
17-14 Otowa 1-chome, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 112-8652
ISBN 477002942X $24.00 287 pages
If you are a student of martial arts or history, and were looking for the same Miyamoto Musashi
who slashed his way to stardom in ancient Japanese tomes (writing a few of them himself), then
you
would find him in the first few chapters of Lone Samurai. In the rest of the book, you'll find the
rest
of Musashi. Even after living in Japan for over two years, I found the book very insightful. Aside
from being perhaps the greatest swordsman who ever lived, he was also a dedicated poet,
sculptor,
and gardener, as well as knowing the "Way of the Tea; and was adept the recitation of Noh
drama,
garden design, and perhaps even carpentry."
Wilson points out this made him the true version of the Bushido code warrior, a design and dream
of
martial arts since the Confucian days in ancient China. Other things learned, for many it may be
the
first time, is that he had a "Family" in the loosest sense of the word. A courtesan in Edo had
attracted his attention, and Miyamoto is known to have made at least one trip to Edo with no
military value whatsoever just to see her. He also adopted two young men as his own sons,
although
the woman who briefly shared part of his life did not raise them.
Perhaps one of the most interesting parts of Wilson's book is that he goes through other literature
written about Miyamoto. This is not done out of competition, but rather as a cultural study, and a
very intriguing one at that.
Whatever you may already know about the life of Japan's greatest swordsman, you will find
yourself
intrigued and able to learn more in the pages of Mr. Wilson's work.
S. Daniel Smith
Reviewer
Sullivan's Bookshelf
Will in the World: How Shakespeare Became Shakespeare
Stephen Greenblatt
W.W. Norton and Company
ISBN# 0393050572 $26.95 430 pages/indexed
Status, that's what Will Shakespeare's father desired. John Shakespeare was a commoner and a
glove-maker. But he wanted a coat of arms. A lifelong quest, this mark of status was never
bestowed upon him. And his fortune in life never materialized. What little he had tourned sour,
perhaps it was his own doing. His son, Will, seems to have quested for that higher social
recognition, too. And thanks to his successful playwriting, he got that status.
Will was born in April of 1564. At 18, he married 26-year-old Anne Hathaway. They would have
three children, a daughter, Susanna, born six months after her parents were wed, and then twins, a
boy and a girl. The lad, with the auspicious name of Hamnet, would die before his teens. Those
youngsters grew up in a virtual single-parent home with their mother in Will's hometown of
Stratford. He himself, early on, had gone to work in the thriving community of London, where he
began to write.
In that bustling city, he chummed around with stage actors and other writers, like the brilliant, but
volatile, Christopher Marlowe, who would be killed at age 29. Some of these men were quite well
educated, coming from wealthy and/or titled families. But, rich or poor, Will's friends all liked to
party.
Will collaborated with a few in this group in writing plays that their company of actors, all males
in
those days so they had to act the female roles, too, enacted. Usually an aristocrat supported the
acting ensemble. Often they had their own theater, also. Eventually, Will became part owner of
the
Globe Theater where his plays were staged.
The times were Elizabethan, named for Queen Elizabeth l, daughter of King Henry the VIII and
his
second wife, Anne Boleyn. And during these years, England's state religion was Protestant.
Catholics were forbidden, on pain of death, to practice their religion. Only a short while earlier,
Catholics had been killing Protestants for not following the old time religion.
This had all come about earlier, thanks to Henry the VIII's having lost his argument with the Pope
in
Rome. He wanted his marriage (or marriages) annuled. After that event, the rotund royal officially
made England a nonRoman Catholic nation. Even priests and nuns had to convert to the
Protestant
religion or leave the country. Most complied. But some didn't. And they paid the highest
price.
When Henry the VIII died, his son, Edward VI, keeping his nation Protestant, ruled for a few
years.
But then his sister, Mary Tudor, a Catholic, became the English monarch briefly. The results were
as
might be expected. But Protestant Elizabeth was next on the throne. She quickly reversed Mary's
edicts.
Against this awkward, not to mention dangerous, background Shakespeare wrote his plays. Being
from a formerly Roman Catholic family, he had to be especially careful about subject matter and
how his plays were written. Greenblatt has a strong suuspicion that Will's father secretly remained
true to his old faith till his death. Perhaps Will, too, speculates Greenblatt, remained clandestinely
faithful, though the evidence is scant.
Early on in London, Will seems to have fallen in love with a young male aristocrat, Henry
Wriothesley, third Earl of Southampton. Shakespeare wrote several flattering, and suggestive,
sonnets, apparently to this younger man who appears to have been moved by the heartfelt verses.
Of
course, Shakespeare would have had serious trouble with authorities if he had ever even tried to
consumate this liaison. Greenblatt doesn't think Will ever did.
Greenblatt, throughout his book, speculates on the various motivations behind Shakespeare's
plays.
Many of them were written without any direct experience with the subject matter or personal
knowledge of the characters involved. This is all the more amazing because Shakespeare truly
captures realistic characters and their all too human emotions in his plays. A case in point is The
Merchant of Venice. Shylock, the Jewish merchant and money lender, one of the primary
characters
in that play, is not based on any actual Jewish businessman Will might have known. The Jews had
been driven out of England years before. The few who remained in England had converted to
Christianity or had pretended to do so. Fellow writers who had written plays about Jews,
however,
may have been Will's reason for doing so. He may, also, have picked up on Jewish stereotypes
from
those other plays.
Was there a connection between his Hamlet play and the death of Will's only son, Hamnet?
Perhaps.
But it was not obvious, for in Hamlet, the father dies, not the son.
Of the more interesting facts a reader learns about Shakespeare's plays is that he borrowed heavily
from much of the day's written materials. Yes, he reworked story lines, plots, character traits,
endings, etc. But his sourcing has been relatively transparent to those authors, including
Greenblatt,
who have written about Shakespeare down through the years One such conspicious source was
Plutarch's Lives, which Shakespeare mined of material for Antony and Cleopatra, Timon of
Athens,
Cariolanus, and Julius Caesar.
Shakespeare was wealthy enough at his death in April 1616 to leave an estate, mostly to his eldest
daughter, though not to her husband. All Will left his wife was his second best bed. Could there
have
been spousal hard feelings? Very likely.
Greenblatt writes, "This is a book [Will in the World], then, about an amazing success story that
has
resisted explanation: it aims to discover the actual person who wrote the most important body of
imaginative literature of the last thousand years. Or rather, since the actual person is a matter of
well-documented public record, it aims to tread the shadowy paths that lead from the life he lived
into the literature he created."
A Harvard University professor, Greenblatt is a prize winning writer of other books on
Shakespeare.
Recommended.
Rights from Wrongs: A Secular Theory of the Origins of Rights
Alan Dershowitz
Basic Books
ISBN# 0465017134 $24.00, 261 pages/indexed
Dershowitz suggests that the best place to come up with citizens' individual rights in relationship
to
their government, and to protect people from the majority, is to look at the wrongs governments
have perpetrated, or allowed, against their own people: the Holocaust, the internment of
Japanese-Americans in World War II, the toleration of slavery, the Inquisition, etc. From those
wrongs and from many others, rights could be discerned, and enacted into law, that would
prevent
such terrible occurrences from ever happening again.
Dershowitz explains where rights are now derived: "The first classic answer is that rights come
from
a source external to law itself, such as nature, God, human instinct, or some other objective
reality.
This theory (or, more precisely, set of theories) is generally called natural law. Our Declaration of
Independence explicitly cited natural law--'The laws of Nature and of Nature's God'--as the
primary
source of the colonists' right to separate from Great Britain. The second classic answer is that
rights
are internal to law--that they are granted by the law itself. This is generally called positive
law."
But the question for both external and internal law is: based on who's nature and/or on who's
definition or revelation of Nature's God? In short, who shall be the judge of what nature or God
wants humans to have as rights. And as far as positive law, it has to do with existing law, which
is,
of course, subject to different interpretations, changes over the years, and adjustments made by
different political administrations. Not all law currently on the books is or should be the law.
The reason wrongs are a more judicious source for rights is that most everyone can agree that
they
should be prevented. Thus, there's more consensus, and less Godlike interpretation. Surely, for
instance, no one wants any American, or anyone else for that matter, to be a slave, even if some
think it's okay. So a basic right for every citizen is to be free and not to be enslaved. That's a right
from a wrong.
As is the case in all of Dershowitz' books, the argument is laid out like the lawyer he is: logical,
concise, and just repetitive enough for the layman to understand it. He does, however, in the final
chapter, go off on a tangent, the 9/11 legal situation and Justice Scalia who follows the policy of
reading the U.S. Contitution as unchanging, or as a 'dead' document, and those other Justices on
the
present Supreme Court who believe this governing document is a living, breathing instrument of
law
subject to interpretation in the present world. Nevertheless, the concluding portion of the book
makes for interesting reading.
The author is a professor of law at Harvard. A resident of Cambridge, Massachusetts, Dershowitz
has written numerous other books. He appears as a legal/political commentator often on various
TV
news and talk shows.
Recommended.
Jim Sullivan
Reviewer
Taylor's Bookshelf
No Such Thing As Luck
Charlie P. Johnston, Jr.
Johnston Publications
PO Box 13, Greenwood, FL 32443
0974333913 $21.95 www.johnstonpublications.com
In No Such Thing As Luck: A Biblical Perspective, Charlie Johnston dismantles such ancient
deceptions as fate, destiny, lot, fortune and chance -- all elements of the traditional concept of
"luck". Drawing upon a biblical foundation for his enlightening insights into the idolatrous nature
and wayward meaning of belief in a "luck factor", a condition that simply does not exist, Charlie
Johnston explains in detail the origin and development of luck's meaning from antiquity down to
the
present day; alerts the Christian reader to the idolatrous nature of a belief in luck; proves that luck
is
not a source of enduring prosperity; takes the romance quite out of the concept of destiny;
exposes
false beliefs about luck, chance, fate and fortune; prizes the value of separating truth from and
error
and shows how to distinguish between the two; and reveals how a Roman goddess named
Fortuna
established the modern meaning of fortune -- how luck became a lady. Commended to the
attention
of those who lay blame for what goes wrong in their lives or activities to "bad luck", as well as
attributing their successes to "good luck", No Such Thing As Luck should be required reading for
any Christian who is concerned about a gambling oriented culture that is hallmarked by casino
gambling, poker playing, four-leaf clovers, and "lucky" item fetishes in support of sports
teams.
The Bankrupt Spirit
Vivi Monroe Congress
Little Light Productions, LLC
PO Box 540741, Grand Prairie, TX 75054-0741
097480200X $12.95 www.littlelightprod.com
The debut self-help book by Christian author Vivi Monroe Congress, The Bankrupt Spirit:
Principles
For Turning Setbacks Into Comebacks deals with the common inner state of being she calls
"spiritual bankruptcy". Drawing upon the wisdom of Jeremiah 1:10, The Bankrupt Spirit shows
how
to identify and deal with the catastrophic effects of life events and problems that can damage our
divine inheritance of spiritual, physical, and financial well-being. Financial terms are aptly
integrated
to parallel the bondage (or debt) that occurs when there is a state of brokeness in our ability to
draw
upon our "faith account" in the Word (or bank) of God and how Christian men and women can
overcome life adversities by applying life skills secured through the wisdom of God. The
Bankrupt
Spirit is an excellent addition to any Christian Living reference collection or Christian Inspirational
Studies supplemental reading list.
365 Ways To Know God
Elmer L. Towns
Regal Books
1957 Eastman Avenue, Ventura, CA 93003-8085
0830733418 $19.99 1-800-235-3415 www.regalbooks.com
There are one thousand names for God in the Bible. In 365 Ways To Know God: Devotional
Readings On The Names Of God, Elmer L. Towns (Dean of the School of Religion at Liberty
University -- a Christian college that he co-founded with Jerry Falwell in 1971) provides reference
to
365 of those names. By analyzing God's character as reflected in the naming passages, Dean
Towns
enables the reader to delve deeper into a personal spiritual commune with God in the form of daily
devotionals featuring comprehensible teachings and accessible scripture readings. Highly
recommended reading for students of theology as well as non-specialist general readers, and
arranged chronologically from January through December, this 400-page compilation is enhanced
with additional appendices including "Jesus: Names, Titles, Metaphors, Figures of Speech and
Pictures of Jesus"; "Jesus: Preeminent Pronouns of Jesus in Scripture"; "The Father: Preeminent
Pronouns of the Father in Scripture"; The Holy Spirit: The Names, Titles and Emblems of the
Holy
Spirit"; The Trinity: The Names of the Lord (Jehovah) in the Old Testament"; "The Trinity: The
Names of the Lord God (Jehovah Elohim; Kurios Ho Theos) in Scripture"; and "The Trinity: The
Names of God (Elohim) in Scripture".
The Unknown Life of Jesus
Nicolas Notovitch, author
J. H. Connelly and L. Landsberg, translators
Quill Driver Books/Word Dancer Press
1831 Industrial Way, #101, Sanger, CA 93657
1884956416 $12.95 1-800-497-4909
A controversial manuscript since its first publication in 1890, The Unknown Life of Jesus is the
original text of Nicolas Notovitch's efforts to learn of the years of Jesus' life unaccounted for in
the
Bible - when he was between the ages of 13 and 29. During Notovitch's travels through India, he
learned of ancient manuscripts allegedly documenting Jesus' visit to Buddhist monasteries.
Notovitch
eventually persuaded a monk to read from these documents, and as an interpreter translated,
Notovitch transcribed. The resulting text resembles the Gnostic Gospels, and offer remarkable
insights - they portray Jesus as angering the priests of Brahma due to his teachings that all humans
are equal regardless of caste, and as one who claimed that within each person resides "a part of
the
spirit of the Most High". Originally disdained as a hoax by scholars and theologians, The
Unknown
Life of Jesus has since acquired some credibility as corroborating information surfaced. The
Unknown Life of Jesus features explanatory notes and extensive information about Notovitch's
journey as well as the original text itself, and is especially recommended for theological and
spiritual
studies shelves.
Tumultuous Times
Fr. Francisco Radecki, CMRI and Fr. Dominic Radecki, CMRI
St. Joseph's Media
PO Box 186, Wayne, MI 48184
0971506108 $29.95 www.stjosephschurch.net/media.htm
Written by two priests who are identical twins and members of the Congregation of the Mary
Immaculate Queen, Tumultuous Times: Twenty General Councils of the Catholic Church &
Vatican
II and Its Aftermath is an exhaustive look at the history of the Catholic religion. The first half
extensively describes the history of the "Twenty General Councils of the Catholic Church" from
325-1870 AD and their role in defining and clarifying Catholic doctrine. The second half
scrutinizes
"Vatican II and Its Aftermath" (1962-1965), including the New Mass and Sacraments.
Emphasizing
the importance of constancy in church doctrine despite pressure from outside and constantly
changing environments, Tumultuous Times is a resource that reflects the abiding faith of its
authors,
as well as their passionate conviction that that there can only be one true church. A powerfully
written blend of extensive research and deeply held belief in the value of staying true to faith and
tradition.
Multiple Paths to Ministry
Lance R. Barker and B. Edmon Martin, editors
The Pilgrim Press
700 Prospect Avenue, East, Cleveland, OH 44115-1100
0829816100 $25.00 1-800-654-5129 www.pilgrimpress.com
Written with various Protestant branches in mind, Multiple Paths to Ministry: New Models for
Theological Education asks the question: how can churches and theological institutions prepare
ministers for the diverse and changing demands of the twenty-first century? Professors emeritus of
the United Theological Seminary and editors Lance Barker and B. Martin affirm that American
Protestantism can no longer rely solely on graduate theological schools to provide aspiring
ministers
with all the preparation they will need. Multiple Paths to Ministry collects essays by diverse
authors
concerning such topics as alternative paths to ordination, a historical inquiry into the role of the
seminary, radical reformation and renewal of ministries in small churches, and much more. A
cutting-edge discourse of how to meet the changing needs of those who follow the Protestant
faith.
The New Universal Morality
Hua-Ching Ni and Maoshing Ni
Seven Star Communications
13315 Washington Blvd., Suite 200, Los Angeles, CA 90066
1887575111 $16.95 1-800-578-9526 www.sevenstarcom.com
The New Universal Morality: How To Find God in Modern Times is a sharp-tongued answer to
the
scandals riddling modern-day Christian churches, lapses of ethics in big business, shady politics,
and
more. Scorning the platitudes of conventional religions that are themselves rife with histories of
corruption and bloodshed, The New Universal Morality offers truths for living a healthy, positive
life
cleansed of negative energies. Chapters discuss how spiritual self-discipline can save the world,
contemplations on the question "Who is God"?, how to identify with the virtues of God, and
much
more. Grounded firmly in techniques and traditions that have been used throughout Asian cultures
for centuries, and emphasizing the importance of following one's conscience to spiritual
fulfillment,
The New Universal Morality is a strong, ethics-based answer to the confusing press of conflicting
religious exhortations in today's increasingly globalized world.
The Gospel of Mary of Magdala
Karen L. King
Polebridge Press
PO Box 6144, Santa Rosa, CA 95406
0944344585 $20.00 www.amazon.com
The Gospel of Mary of Magdala is a new translation of the recently recovered Christian Gospel of
Mary, lost for more than fifteen hundred years. Professor of Ecclesiastical History at Harvard
University and translator Karen L. King also introduces the reader to this manuscript with a brief
history of its recovery. The Gospel of Mary of Magdala offers a radical new interpretation of
Jesus'
teachings, denounces the view of Mary Magdalene as a prostitute, and disputes the claim that
Jesus'
suffering and execution are the path to eternal life. The Gospel of Mary of Magdala extensively
interprets the ancient word, aiding the reader in coming to terms with the archaic text's literal and
metaphorical meaning. A "must-have" for both personal and library theology and reference
shelves
devoted to apocrypha. The Gospel Of Mary Of Magdala is a seminal and strongly recommended
addition to academic library collections and critically important reading for students of the earliest
centuries of the Christian movement, as well as non-specialist general readers with an interest in
Christian gnosticism.
Young and Catholic
Tim Drake
Sophia Institute Press
PO Box 5284, Manchester, NH 03108
1928832938 $16.95 1-800-888-9344 www.sophiainstitute.com
Veteran Catholic journalist Tim Drake presents Young and Catholic: The Face of Tomorrow's
Church, is a positive-minded and heartwarming glimpse into the lives of up-and-coming young
Catholic people striving to spread good works, prayer, and the message of their faith. From
web-savvy Catholics seeking to evangelize secular culture through the Internet, to the celebration
of
World Youth Day when thousands of young people gather and pray to show their love for the
Pope
and Jesus Christ, to teen groups dedicating themselves to Christian service, chastity, and
promoting
the Church's teachings, Young and Catholic observes the next generation of the passionately
faithful
taking root and flowering. A brightly optimistic look at the future of a global faith.
Beyond The Next Mountain
Vision Video
PO Box 540, Worcester, PA 19490
Catalog # 4790D, ISBN 156-364-7907, $24.99, 1-610-584-3500, www.visionvideo.com
At the close of the 19th century, the occupying forces of the British Empire cited the Hmar people
of northeast India as "the worst headhunters". An appellation that was well deserved. But in 1910
a
single copy of the New Testament Gospel of John came into the Hmar village and changed the
course of history for the Hmar people. Through that one copy of the Gospel of John, Chawnga
(the
father of Rochnga Pudaite) was introduced to a "new life in Christ" that was to revolutionize his
life
and the life of his fellow tribesmen as he and some of them "forsook all and followed Christ".
Chawnga believed that Rochunga was God's chosen instrument to bring the Scriptures to the
entire
Hmar tribe in their own language. Beyond The Next Mountain is a full color, 97 minute, DVD
production showcasing the story of Rochunga's personal pilgrimage. This true life saga of one
man's
dedication to a vision and of seeking God's direction for his life was filmed in India, Hawaii,
Scotland and America. The DVD format allows viewing in English, Spanish, Korean, or Hindi
with
or without English subtitles, chapter titles providing easy scene access, and biographical
information
on Rochunga Pudaite. Also available in a VHS format, Beyond The Next Mountain is a dramatic
and superbly produced feature film which is enthusiastically commended to the attention of
Christian
communities everywhere.
The Market Driven Church
Udo W. Middelmann
Crossway Books
1300 Crescent Street, Wheaton, IL 60187
1581345097 $14.99 www.crossway.com
The Market Driven Church: The Worldly Influence Of Modern Culture On The Church In
America
by Udo W. Middelmann (graduate of Covenant Theological Seminary and President of the Francis
A. Schaeffer Foundation) reveals that although America is the single most Christian country on
the
planet where there are even street signs directing people to local churches, worship services are
routinely broadcast on radio and television, politicians attend prayer breakfasts, and even school
children regularly proclaim America as "one nation under God", the church is becoming more like
the secular American culture than the American culture is like the Christian church community.
Middelmann observes that church attendance is most often an individual choice dictated by
convenience and pleasure rather than commitment and dedication. Bible knowledge is more a
matter
of personal edification, "do-it-yourself" spirituality, and idiocencratic private interpretation. In
contemporary American culture, the Bible and its message are seen as products to be packaged
and
marketed, while individual Christian attitudes become more self-serving. Especially recommended
to
the attention of anyone concerned about the trend toward honoring the mere trappings of
Christianity while ignoring the life-changing and culture-altering influence of the Bible, The
Market
Driven Church is a clarion call for reform and an advocacy for pastor, ministers, priests,
parishioners
and churchgoers to renew their focus upon the true teaching of biblical, historic Christianity.
How To Relate Science And Religion
Mikael Stenmark
Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company
255 Jefferson Avenue, S.E., Grand Rapids, MI 49503
080282823X $28.00 1-800-253-7521 www.eerdmans.com
How To Relate Science And Religion: A Multidimensional Model by Mikael Stenmark (Professor
of
Philosophy of Religion, Uppsala University, Sweden) introduces the reader to two disparate and
seemingly opposing perspectives on the relationship of religion and science. The first is the view
that
there is no limit to the competency of science to explain ourselves and the world in which we
exist.
The second view is that religion has a prober role to play in shaping scientific inquiry and
interpretation. Professor Stenmark accessibly presents the central issues of the on-going debate
between these two views and offers a "multidimensional model" of science and religion that does
not
automatically give dominance or priority to either perspective. Thoughtful and thought provoking
reading, How To Relate Science And Religion is especially recommended to the the attention of
non-specialist general readers with an interest in a reconciliation between the two most influential
approaches to discovering and explaining the world in terms of logic and of faith, of
experimentation
and revelation.
Unveiling The Mystery Of Christ
John A Parry
P & P Publishing
PO Box 1051, Warren, MI 48090
0974574015 $14.95 www.truelightbooks.com
Unveiling The Mystery Of Christ introduces the reader to the "Risen Christ". Through an array of
Biblical translations, John Parry draws upon fifty-two years of spiritual study and an array of
Biblical
translations to make plain the Spiritual knowledge that was given to mankind to further our quest
for Life Eternal. By transposing the Bible's historical analogies into eternal truths, the reader's
perception of life's content is radically altered. New plateaus of Spiritual understanding are
accessed
and the gate of entry into Life Eternal is revealed. Unveiling The Mystery Of Christ is thoughtful
and
thought provoking reading recommended to the attention of Christians seeking to understand
Christ
Jesus and the concept of an "Eternal Mind".
Life And Livelihood
Whitney Wherrett Roberson
Morehouse Publishing
4775 Linglestown Road, Harrisburg, PA 17112
0819221368 $14.95 1-800-877-0012 www.morehousepublishing.com
Life And Livelihood: A Handbook For Spirituality At Work by Episcopal priest Whitney Wherrett
Roberson (Associate Pastor of Grace Cathedral, San Francisco) addresses the necessity for
spirituality in the setting where most people spend so much of their waking day -- their place of
employment. Providing "nuts and bolts" instructions for running a workplace spiritual group,
Pastor
Roberson covers everything from forming a workplace group to facilitating a meeting, even to the
pint of including detailed agendas for 45-minute meetings exploring such issues as to whether or
not
work can be sacred; the definition of real wealth, and how language shapes values. Thoroughly
"reader friendly", Life And Livelihood is strongly recommended for Christians of all
denominations,
affiliations, and backgrounds wanting to instill Christian values into their workplace activities and
relationships.
The Journey from Texts to Translations
Paul D. Wegner
Baker Book House
PO Box 6287, Grand Rapids, MI 49516-6287
0801027993 $29.99 www.bakeracademic.com
The Journey from Texts to Translations: The Origin and Development of the Bible is a highly
detailed explanation of how the Bible that Christians use today came to be in its present form.
Explaining how various books of the bible came to be collected into a single canon text,
describing
how the Bible was passed through generations, discussing how and why early versions were
produced, exploring myriad subtle differences in English translations, and more. Black-and-white
photographs illustrate this extensive and fascinating documentation, as informative and compelling
for lay readers as for professional scholars.
Informed by Faith
Mark Francisco Bozzuti-Jones
Cowley Publications
4 Brattle Street, Cambridge, MA 02138
www.cowley.org
1561012637 $15.95 1-800-225-1534
Episcopal priest and award-winning author Mark Francisco Bozzuti-Jones presents Informed by
Faith: A Spiritual Handbook for Christian Educators and Parents, which examines the history and
purpose of Christian education, as well as the meaning of being a Christian. Enumerated
discussion
ideas and "Watering Hole" thoughts for further reflection enhance this guide borne from the
author's
personal experience in teaching youth, adults, and parents about Christianity and spirituality.
Chapters discuss the state of religious education today, teachings that involve death, what it is to
find God in all things, and much more. A recommended supplement to Christian studies and
educational shelves.
Moral Education in America
Gary J.Quinn
iUniverse.com, Inc.
2021 Pine Lake Road, #100, Lincoln, NE 68512
0595319912 $15.95 iuniverse.com
Moral Education in America: Its Future in an Age of Personal Autonomy and Multiculturalism is
a
hard-hitting Christian essay intended especially for educators, counselors, parents, and anyone
else
involved in teaching and administrative roles. Questioning the loss of moral principles that affect
learning and behavior in modern education and society, Moral Education in America reflects
Christian principles and spirituality but also comes to grips with serious practical questions.
Chapters
address ethical skill-training, biblical understanding of the human soul, balancing anima, animus,
and
spiritus, the limits of intuition in a world of reason and authority, and much more. Scriptural
quotation and a reasoned understanding of pratical ethical problems complement one another in
this
welcome discourse of reclaiming moral and spiritual rectitude as a society.
Lifting the Burden
Brendan Byrne, S.J., D.Phil.
The Liturgical Press
St. John's Abbey, PO Box 7500, Collegeville, MN 56321-7500
081463026X $19.95 1-800-858-5450
Written by a professor of New Testament at Jesuit Theological College of Melbourne, Australia
Lifting the Burden: Reading Matthew's Gospel in the Church Today is a scholarly study of the
book
of Matthew, in particular looking at how Matthew relates Jesus Christ's interpretation of the
Torah
as "burden-lifting", as opposed to the "burden-imposing" interpretation of the Toray as held by
the
scribes and Pharisees. An extensively researched, in-depth dissection of scripture spanning early
and
later Galilean ministry, Jesus' journey to to Jerusalem, and His sacrifice. Extensive index of
scripture
and referenced modern authors allow for quick cross-examination in this welcome contribution to
Christian and religious studies shelves.
The Veil Will Be Lifted
John Wallace Carter
ACW Press
5501 North 7th Avenue, #502, Phoenix, AZ 85013
189252595X $12.99 jwcarter@usmo.com
In The Veil Will Be Lifted: An Accurate Chronology Of Future Events Based Solely On
Correlated
Prophecies Taken from Scriptures In The Holy Bible, John Wallace Carter (a retired federal
Administrative Law Judge who has been studying Bible prophecy for the past five years) surveys
and analyses all of the biblical prophecies that have yet to be fulfilled. He puts each of these "still
pending" prophecies ranging from rapture of Christians with respect to the second coming of
Christ,
to the ten nations to be allied with the Anti-Christ, into their proper order of future fulfillment
thereby providing the reader with a picture of the future. This is a future in which cataclysmic
world
shaking events are presented and arranged in the chronological order in which they will occur . Of
special interest are Judge Carter's five rules for interpreting Bible prophecies. The Veil Will Be
Lifted is thoughtful and thought provoking reading which is recommended to Christians and
non-Christians with an interest in biblical prophecy and the future of the human race.
John Taylor
Reviewer
Terry's Bookshelf
A Salty Piece of Land
Jimmy Buffett
Little, Brown
ISBN: 0316908452 $27.95 480 pages
Recommendation: ***
Cleopatra v. Tully
I'm an avid reader AND a parrothead, so I had great expectations for A SALTY PIECE OF
LAND.
Bubba does a good job with the story's set up and he ties it up pretty well at the end, but the
middle
seemed to wander all over the place.
I was much more interested in the crusty Cleopatra's story than Tully's. I wish Bubba had built the
story around her, with Tully as an ancillary character.
With that said, I did enjoy the sailing stories and I have an itch to make it to Belize before it
becomes too commercialized.
I look forward to more tale tales, but maybe they would be better served in short story form, not
held together by anything other than the binding on the book's spine.
I also think Cleopatra's life and adventures deserve another look.
State of Fear
Michael Crichton
HarperCollins Publishers
ISBN: 0066214130 $27.95 603 pages
What They're NOT Telling Us
This book blew me away. Like everyone else on the planet, I've been following the global
warming
story for years. I embraced the stories/facts/data the media has been reporting. However, I don't
think I've ever read/heard/seen as thoroughly researched argument from the other side until
STATE
OF FEAR.
I'm no scientist, but Crichton's skills at blending fact with fiction sure kept me interested until the
last
page was turned.
I know there is conflicting data on this issue, but I can't say I've ever been as entertained and
educated while learning how to read charts, graphs and digest the information Crichton puts in
front
of his readers.
I finished this book about 3:00 in the morning, got out of bed, booted up my computer and
googled
"global warming". I'm going to do some research of my own.
Crichton has hit a home run with STATE OF FEAR. I just hope the "leftists" won't disregard it as
right-wing radical propaganda.
Keep an open mind and look up some of the author's references. He gives you a LOT to think
about.
Enjoy!
Terry Mathews
Reviewer
Vogel's Bookshelf
Keeping Shadows
David Acton, et al.
Hudson Hills Press
National Book Network, dist.
74-2 Union St., Manchester, VT 05254
1555952518 $70.00 hudsonhills.com
Enhanced with an introductory essay relating the history of photography at the Worcester Art
Museum and across central New England, Keeping Shadows: Photography At The Worcester Art
Museum by David Acton (Worcester Art Museum curator of prints, drawings, and photographs)
and with contributions by Stephen B. Jareckie (Curator of Photographer Emeritus at the
Worcester
Art Museum) and Ben Charland (curatorial assistant at the Worcester Art Museum) provides a
comprehensive survey of the development and history of photography in the United States.
Drawing
upon the museum's impressive collections of French, German, British, and Soviet photography,
Keeping Shadows showcases noted photographers the "pictorial era" of 20th century New
England.
Originally serving as the catalogue for the autumn 2004 Worcester Art Museum exhibition and its
subsequent national tour, Keeping Shadows is a truly seminal work of impeccable scholarship
which
is most especially recommended for academic library "History of Photography" reference
collections.
Developing Semantic Web Services
H. Peter Alesso & Craig F. Smith
A.K. Peters, Ltd.
888 Worcester Street, Suite 230, Wellesey, MA 02482
1568812124 $59.00 www.akpeters.com
The collaborative work of technology innovator H. Peter Alesso and research engineer Craig
Smith,
Developing Semantic Web Services presents the complete Language Pyramid of Web markup
languages, including Resource Description Framework (RDF), Web Ontology Language (OWL)
and
OWL-Services (OWL-S), along with numerous examples and software demos. Developing
Semantic
Web Services also describes the semantic software development tools including design and
analysis
methodologies, parsers, validators, editors, development environments, and inference engines.
Additionally, the source code for the "Semantic Web Author", an Integrated Development
Environment for Semantic Markup Languages, is included on an accompanying CD-ROM.
Reflecting their expertise arising from their many years of extended research experience at the
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, the co-authors have succeed in producing a seminal,
essential, professional level instruction manual and reference work.
Journey Into Community
Steve R. Parson
Eye On Education
6 Depot Way West, Larchmont, NY 10538
1930556675 $29.95 1-914-833-0551 www.eyeoneducation.com
Journey Into Community: Looking Inside The Community Learning Center provides the reader
with
a kind of instruction manual and roadmap of what to expect when a traditional school decides to
end
its isolation from the community it services. Community Learning Centers will provide teachers,
administrators, parents, and community leaders with every tool needed to successfully achieve
important education goals with such a transition including improved and high levels of student
academic performance; after school programs providing enrichment activities in a safe
environment;
acquisition of essential technological skills by students and other members of the community;
expanding leadership opportunities for teachers, students, and community members; and
unlocking
the storehouse of educational resources present in the community at large in support of the
education of the community's youth. Also very highly recommended reading on this seminal and
important subject is Steve Parson's earlier work published by Eye On Education: Transforming
Schools Into Community Learning Centers.
The Violin Player
John Knoerle
Mayhaven Publishing
PO Box 557, Mahomet, IL 61853
193227801X $24.95 www.amazon.com
When his mother dies suddenly of a heart attack, 44-year-old Walter Sumner must take his place
at
the head of the family table. Among his responsibilities is the posting of his mother's date of death
on
the family's GenealoG webpage. But when he goes to do just that, Walter finds that her date of
death is already posted there. Stranger still, it was posed before she actually died. As the primary
heir to his mother's estate the police consider Walter the prime suspect. Then another family
member's death date is posted! Walter must find the person responsible before death strikes again.
This is John Knoerle's second novel and continues to demonstrate his genuine storytelling talent.
A
well crafted mystery., The Violin Player is a treat for dedicated mystery buffs who will enjoy
every
plot twist, turn, and surprise in this nicely crafted and highly recommended story of suspense.
Power Up
Chris Kohler
Brady Games
800 East 96th Street, 3rd floor, Indianapolis, IN 46240
0744004241 $19.99 www.bradygames.com
Power Up examines video games in general, and Japanese video games in particular, as an
interactive storytelling medium. But video games were not always regarded as art - Japanese
influence pioneered cinematic techniques that transformed games from primitive, non-story
playthings
such as the classic Pong to sweeping epic sagas such as the hero's complex journey in role-playing
games like Final Fantasy 7. Though non-Japanese games are included in the discussion, Power Up
especially examines how storytelling ideas in Japanese videogames have so thoroughly permeated
the gaming world, from the first-ever game cutscenes in Donkey Kong onward. Author and
dedicated game fan Chris Kohler presents his research of and personal interviews with industry
movers and shakers such as Shigeru Miyamoto (creator of Mario), Hideo Kojima (designer of
Metal
Gear Solid), and many more. The impact of classic series on game storytelling and narrative
include
discussions of specific series such as a Mario games, Pokemon, Final Fantasy, and Grand Theft
Auto
among others. Black-and-white photographs and screenshots illustrate this fascinating exploration
of
everything from how videogame music evolved from bleeps and boops to full-symphony
orchestras
to the adventures that might await any truly hardcore gaming fan who dares to shop in Akihabara.
Though Power Up concentrates especially on video game history, references to modern
developments up through 2004 keep this survey current. A highly recommended treat for gamers
in
particular, and a valuable resource for students and researchers seeking to better understand the
cultural shifts in video games as a communicative, interactive, expressive artistic medium as
vibrant
(and popular!) in its own right as books and movies.
Animation On DVD: The Ultimate Guide
Andy Mangels
Stone Bridge Press
PO Box 8208, Berkeley, CA 94707
188065668X $24.95 1-800-947-7271 www.stonebridge.com
Animation On DVD: The Ultimate Guide is a comprehensive listing of over 1,600 animation and
anime films currently available on DVD. While the majority of the DVDs listed are Japanese
animation, non-Japanese DVDs from Superman cartoons to Disney movies are also included. A
black-and-white photograph of each DVD prefaces every listing; the capsule entries include a
summary of the animation contents, a listing of special features and notes whether it is subtitled,
fullscreen, has any inserts, and the like. Animation On DVD is divided into two sections, a general
animation section with the majority of entries, and a mature/adult section expressly for DVDs
rated
R or X (note that the DVD photographs of entries in the mature section do include suggestive
images inappropriate for young children). The mature/adult section descriptions does contain
"laundry lists" of sexual acts within explicit DVDs, in order to inform the reader beforehand what
he
or she would encounter viewing the DVD in question. An index makes individual titles easy to
find,
and an easter eggs segment includes hidden tricks one can find in one's DVD collection! Packed
cover to cover with useful and practical information for anyone who enjoys animation, whether
the
casual viewer or serious collector, Animation On DVD is a superb quick and easy browsing
reference.
Understanding the Contemporary Middle East
Deborah J. Gerner and Jillian Schwedler, editors
Lynne Rienner Publishers
1800 30th Street, Suite 314, Boulder, CO 80301
1588260623 $23.50 www.rienner.com
Now in its second edition, Understanding the Contemporary Middle East is an anthlogy of essays
by
learned authors offering introductions to help lay readers and scholars better comprehend the
history, geography, politcs, and culture of Middle Eastern societies. From the historical and
modern-day role of religion in Middle Eastern society, to the role of women, the structure of
politics, and the often violent history of armed conflict within the region, Understanding the
Contemporary Middle East presents complex reality in layman's terms. A "must-read" primer for
any
beginning student of Middle East society, and a vital resource for anyone striving to better
understand the setting and driving forces behind world news headlines.
The Horn of Africa as Common Homeland
Leenco Lata
Wilfrid Laurier University Press
Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, N2L 3C5
088920456X $24.95 www.wlupress.wlu.ca
The Horn of Africa as Common Homeland: The State and Self-Determination in the Era of
Heightened Globalization is a sober treatise, written with scholarly attention to detail yet
addressing
an issue of great immediate concern to far more than scholars. Nation-states established among
the
Horn of Africa have boundaries that were drawn with little regard to the natural and cultural
divisions, creating nation-states that have conflicts within and between them in an overlapping
pattern. Author Leenco Lata, who has lived in most of the nations of the Horn of Africa between
1978 and 1993 and experienced the conflicts firsthand, draws the conclusion that the Horn needs
to
adopt multi-dimensional self-determination. Chapters discuss the political history of the Horn
since
decolonization, including emerging trends in self-determination, interactive state formation, and
the
difficulties of nation-building. The Horn of Africa as Common Homeland is vital and timely
reading,
not only for its identification of severe problems, but for its reasoned, rational, and practical
suggestions for solutions. Also highly recommended is Lata's "The Ethiopian State at the
Crossroads", a comprehensive study of why transition to democracy did not succeed in
Ethiopia.
Edoardo Weiss
Paul Roazen
Transaction Publishers
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
35 Berrue Circle, Piscataway, NJ 08854-8042
0765802708 $34.95 1-888-999-6778 www.transactionpub.com
Edoardo Weiss: The House that Freud Built is the biography of Edoardo Weiss (1889-1970), a
favored disciple of Freud and the acknowledged founder of psychoanalysis in Italy. Drawing
heavily
on interviews that author and professor Paul Roazen personally conducted with Weiss, Edoardo
Weiss: The House that Freud Built covers political issues (including the difficulties of
accomplishing
pioneer psychological work under the government of Mussolini), moral principles in the clinic,
Weiss' and Freud's differences of opinion in how to best work with psychotic patients, and much
more. An index rounds out this aptly researched biography, which due to its focus on Weiss'
achievements in psychoanalysis is an especially vital contribution to personal and library
psychology
history shelves.
Studies On The Neoplatonist Hierocles
Ilsetraut Hadot
American Philosophical Society
PO Box 481, Canton, MA 02021-0481
0871699419 $24.00 1-800-821-7823 www.amphilsoc.org
Ably translated from the original French by Michael Chase, Studies On The Neoplatonist
Hierocles
by Ilsetraut Hadot is an informed and informative treatise on the neoplatonist Hierocles who lived
in
the fifth century A.D. and taught in Alexandria. Drawing upon the surviving fragments of his
seven
books "On Providencer" and his commentary on the Pythagorean "Carmen aureum", we learn of
many important details on the development of neo-platonic doctrines between Iamblichus and
Syrianus-Proculs. A seminal work of impressive scholarship featuring extensive notations and
comprehensive indexes, Studies On The Neoplatonist Hierocles is an extraordinary and strongly
recommended addition to academic library "History of Philosophy" reference collections and
supplementary student reading lists.
Paul T. Vogel
Reviewer
Volk's Bookshelf
Low Carb 1-2-3
Rozanne Gold with Helen Kimmel, M.S., R.D.
Rodale Press, Inc.
400 South Tenth Street, Emmaus, PA 18098-0099
159486165X $16.95 www.rodale.com
Low Carb 1-2-3 presents 225 low-calorie, low-carbohydrate recipes that utilize only three
ingredients apiece. Simplicity is the key to this light and healthy food preparation guide, written
by
award-winning professional chef Rozanne Gold. A simple rundown of total carbs, fiber, total fat,
saturated fat, protein, and calories accompanies the delicious recipes such as Homemade Turkey
Sausage, Wasabi Salmon, Chocolate-Dipped Strawberries, Iced Cucumber-Yogurt Soup, and
much
more. Especially recommended for health-conscious cooks short on grocery shopping time.
Spoonfuls Of Germany
Nadia Hassani
Hippocrene Books
171 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016
0781810574 $24.95 1-212-685-4371 www.hippocrenebooks.com
There is more to authentic German cuisine than sauerkraut and knackwust! Spoonfuls Of
Germany:
Culinary Delights Of The German Regions In 170 Recipes, showcases the breadth and diversity of
German cooking from the shores of the North and Baltic Seas to the Alps. There are regional
recipes for appetizers, main course, side dishes, desserts, sweets, and drinks. Encompassing a
wide
variety of vegetables, as well as showcasing savory dishes of meat, poultry, seafood, diary
products,
and more, the regional specialities combine under one cover to present the full spectrum of fine
German dining. Of special note is the "Sources for German Mail-Order Food" and a bibliography
for
further study of authentic German cuisine. From Blueberry Soup with Caramelized Croutons;
Bratwurst with Curry Ketchup; Pickled Pumpkin; and Potato Pancakes with Applesauce; to
Chicken
in Riesling with White Grapes; Pork Roast with Beer Glaze; German Ravioli with Meat or
Spinach
Filling; and Bavarian Cream with Raspberry Coulis, Spoonfuls Of Germany would make an
impressive and welcome addition to any kitchen cookbook collection.
Seafood Cookbook
Carol Ann Shipman
Hancock House Publishers Ltd.
1431 Harrison Avenue, Blaine, WA 98230
0888395140 $10.95 hancockhouse.com
One of the outstanding titles in Carol Ann Shipman's "Nature's Gourmet" series from Hancock
House Publishers, Seafood Cookbook showcases wonderful recipes that are as easy to make as
they
are palate pleasing and appetite satisfying. Superbly illustrated with color photography of the
finished dishes, the seafood-based recipes are organized into sections devoted to Appetizers;
Breakfast & Brunch; Soup & Salad"; and Main Course. Enhanced with attention to condiments
and
cooking tips, the recipes range from Soy Glazed Mushrooms with Smoked Five Spice Shrimp;
Poached Salmon with Mustard Sauce; and York Harbor Inn Lobster-Stuffed Chicken with
Boursin
Cheese; to Jamaican Orange Sea Bass; Grilled Tuna with Pineapple-Ginger Marinade; and Open
Faced Catfish Sandwich with Jalapeno Tartar Sauce. Also very highly recommended for kitchen
cookbook collections are Carol Ann Shipman's other fine titles comprising the "Natural Gourmet"
series: Wild Game Cookbook (0888395116, $10.95); Salmon Cookbook (0888395159, $10.95);
Berries Cookbook (0888395124, $10.95); and My Personal Cookbook (0888395698, $10.95)
which is a blank cookbook into which you can write, record, and paste in your own favorite
recipes.
All of these thoroughly "kitchen cook friendly" titles are spiral bound so that they can lay out flat
upon the kitchen counter.
Maggie's Music
PO Box 490, Shady Side, MD 20764
1-410-867-0642 www.maggiesmusic.com
Two new CD releases from Maggie's Music are a "must" for dedicated fans of celtic music in
general, and the Maggie Sanson/Ensemble Galilei in particular. With a total running time of 55
minutes and 56 seconds, Music In The Great Hall ($12.00) showcases superbly performed and
technically flawless recordings of Irish airs from the Bunting and O'Carolan Collections, as well as
jigs and reels from the Isle of Mann and 15th-century Welsh tunes. Employing impressive
instrumental combinations as the dulcimer, recorders, a Celtic harp, and hand drums, Ancient
Noels
($12.00) offers up an an unblemished collection of just under an hour's worth of carols, medieval
cantigas and Renaissance dances that celebrate Christmas and the Christmas season. Devotees of
Irish instrumental and vocal music are encouraged to send for a complete listing of all the
outstanding CD recordings which are available directly from Maggie's Music at
maggie@maggiesmusic.com
Studio Stories
Dave Simons
Backbeat Books
Hal Leonard Corp., dist.
600 Harrison St., San Francisco CA 94107
0879308176 $24.95 1-866-222-5232 www.backbeatbooks.com
In Studio Stories: How The Great New York Records Were Made: From Miles To Madonna,
Sinatra To The Ramones, musician and music history expert Dave Simons surveys more than 30
years of New York City's recording industry during a time noted for its expertise, brilliant
improvisation, and off-beat eccentricity resulting in the creation of truly classics records for some
of
the best known and most popular artists working in such diverse fields as pop, rock, soul, jazz,
and
folk music. Readers are provided the perspective of producers, engineers, songwriters, and
recording artists associated with the New York music industry expansive years between 1950 and
1980. Comprehensive, detailed, authoritative, informed and informative, Studio Stories is a
superbly
written and presented slice of American music history that is especially recommended reading and
a
simply outstanding contribution to 20th Century Music History and American Popular Culture
Studies.
Santorella Publicatons' Dictonary Of Musical Terms
Jessy Sauchuk, production
Santorella Publications
13 Pleasant Avenue, Denvers, MA 01923
TS220 $7.95 www.santorellapublication.com
Packed from cover to cover with more than 2500 concisely defined music terms and reference
charts, the Santorella Publications' Dictionary Of Musical Terms is 109-page dictionary that is a
perfect complement to student and professional music theory reference collections. Laid out in an
alphabetical sequence, the entries are enhanced with the inclusion of reference charts for Notation;
Meters; Key Signatures; Scales; Modes; Intervals; Signs; Seating Arrangements; Composers &
Periods. Known primarily for their excellent musical instrument instruction manuals and sheet
music
publications, this Santorella Publications musical terminology dictionary is an inexpensive yet
invaluable teaching aid. Also very highly recommended for academic and personal Music Studies
collections is Santorella Publications' Encyclopedia Of Music Knowledge (TS221, $10.95) which
is
edited by Dr. William F. Lee and includes a "History of Music Timeline" and twenty music
reference
charts.
Hip Knits
Better Homes and Gardens
Meredith Publishing Group
1716 Locust St., Des Moines, IA 50309
069622092X $19.95 www.bhgbooks.com
One of the newest needlecraft titles from the editors and writers of Better Homes and Gardens
magazine, Hip Knits: 65 Easy Projects From Hot Designers offers diverse knitting and crochet
projects that will please even the most experienced needlecrafter while being presented with such
easy-to-follow illustrated directions as to make every "do-it-yourself" design accessible to even
the
most novice beginner. These projects range from charming baby sets, stylish sweaters and vest,
useful totes, warm mittens, imaginative hats, lovely scarves, and more. Each project comes
complete
with a materials list, step-by-step instructions, and project diagrams. Enhanced with knitting and
crochet basics, Hip Knits is a welcome and enthusiastically recommended addition to any
needlecrafting reference collection.
1001 Tips For Buying And Selling A Home
Mark Nash
Thomson/South-Western
5191 Natorp Boulevard, Mason, OH 45040
0324232896 $0324232896 $16.95 www.thomson.com www.swlearning.com
1001 Tips For Buying And Selling A Home by real estate broker and author Mark Nash is a
compilation of invaluable "insider information" to engaging in a smooth and successful home or
estate transaction whether the reader is a buyer or a seller. Comprehensive, "reader friendly", and
authoritative, 1001 Tips For Buying And Selling A Home cover all aspects of a home sale from
listing to closing. Included in up-to-date information on real estate trends, key internet "do's and
don'ts," stress buster advice, as well as important observations and suggestions "from the
trenches"
of the real estate business. Enhanced with flow charts, bulleted lists of tips and tricks, valuable
negotiating tactics, and candid advice to guide sellers and buyers through the step-by-step process
from beginning to end, as well as a glossary of real estate jargon and terms, a resource appendix
to
additional information via websites, organizations, and government agencies, 1001 Tips For
Buying
And Selling A Home is "must" reference for non-specialist general readers who are in the market
to
buy or sell their own home.
Carol Volk
Reviewer
James A. Cox
Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review
278 Orchard Drive
Oregon, WI 53575-1129
phone: 1-608-835-7937
e-mail: mbr@execpc.com
e-mail: mwbookrevw@aol.com
http://www.midwestbookreview.com
Copyright ©2001
Site design by Williams Writing, Editing &
Design