The Sword and the Chrysanthemum
Susan Scharfman
1stbooks Library
ISBN: 1410710777 $15.95 300 pp.
Ben Jonjak
Reviewer
Growing up, the two films that had the greatest impact on me were Akira Kurosawa's "7
Samurai" and "Star Wars." Although this may seem like an absurd pairing, there is actually more
than a passing similarity between the two works. The relationship becomes less surprising when it
is revealed that George Lucas actually based "Star Wars" on one of Kurosawa's other films, "The
Hidden Fortress." Both "Star Wars" and "7 Samurai" take full advantage of the mythological
character archetypes that have reoccurred throughout the literature of humankind. One archetype
is the youthful ideological hero (sometimes a prince) searching for his identity who is represented
by Luke Skywalker in "Star Wars," King Arthur in Arthurian legend, and even, more recently,
Harry Potter. Another is the strong-willed princess such as Princess Leia in "Star Wars" or the
peasant girl Shino (not technically a princess except in the manner in which all daughters are
viewed as princesses by their fathers) in "7 Samurai."
Because of the cultural impact of movies like "Star Wars" and "The Lord of the Rings," most
people have a pretty inherent understanding of what stories with a strong foundation in
mythological archetype are like. They are generally works that concern themselves with "greater"
themes such as: honor, love, friendship and good vs. evil, and which tend to paint their
conclusions on these topics in rather broad brushstrokes of black and white. Their greatest
advantage is that the tales tend to be larger than life and sweep you away. Their greatest
disadvantage is that they are often seen as simplistic; a criticism I personally think is rather
unjustified due to the fact that the material is only required to present its themes, it is then up to
the audience to deal with them in the appropriate fashion.
"The Sword and the Chrysanthemum" by Susan Scharfman has many of the elements of the classic
myth or archetypical format. The book can best be described as a love story/adventure set in
seventeenth century Japan. The driving force of the plot is the forbidden love between Arashi, an
orphan fisherman, and Lady Michiko, the daughter of the shogun. Surrounding this predominant
theme are, among other things, a strong fantasy element, and several interesting discussions
involving both Buddhism and the Samurai code.
As the book develops, the reader bears witness to the development of both Arashi and Lady
Michiko. The Lady Michiko grows from a defiant young girl to a unquestionably effective
international diplomat. It is during the course of her journeys under the protection of her Samurai
guard, that we are shown the benefits and limitations of the Samurai code. Meanwhile, Arashi
undergoes his own transformation from an awkward fisherman to the disciple of a Zen monk
endowed with mystical powers. These passages are as enjoyable as the "Jedi in training"
sequences from "Star Wars" but with a greater emphasis on the real world religion that was the
inspiration for the film.
Although I am no expert, Scharfman seems to have a pretty educated understanding of both
ancient Japanese culture and religion. My knowledge doesn't go any further than the films of
Kurosawa and the novels of James Clavell, but there was nothing in Scharfman's work that
contradicted either of those sources. To a reader completely unfamiliar with the codes of ancient
Japan, Scharfman's novel would be an interesting and accessible starting point.
The writing of "Chrysanthemum" is effective if a little bit rushed. There are a few more sex scenes
than battle scenes, but neither are exceptionally graphic and are not the book's defining
characteristic. Scharfman concentrates far more on the spirituality of her protagonists, and creates
several compelling characters. But for me, the main attraction of this book was merely that it took
place in Japan and it engaged in the same themes that used to draw me when I was younger.
I found "The Sword and The Chrysanthemum" to be an enjoyable read. It lacks the weight and
power of something like "Shogun," but in many ways it is more accessible and sweeter. If you're a
fan of this genre, or simply want to be taken away to another world that doesn't limit itself to the
same rules of nature and culture that we are forced to live by, then this book is a good
choice.
Confessions of an Art Snob: The Politics of Aesthetic Judgment
Barbara R. Walters
University Press of America
0761827234 $26.00 166 pp.
Bonnie Ruth Beebe
Reviewer
During a recent symposium at the Courthouse Galleries in Portsmouth, VA, Jewish sculptress
Linda Gissen exhumed her muse. "We are," she said, "all that we are from," a wrinkled brow
underlining her conviction.
I like that. I like art that contains within it the sweep of history. In fact, I have trouble validating
art that claims to shun convention in order to slap us with the shock of the new. Leave me a little
crumb trail to your artistic forebears, I say. Show me where you are from so I can see where you
are going.
Still, progress in art, as in nation-building, is often accomplished by leaps of revolution. Donald
Rumsfeld's AWOL etiquette notwithstanding, emerging cultures have routinely planted their flags
on the heap of discarded sensibilities lately referred to as "old Europe," "Machiavellian" or "the
Dark Ages."
So I was delighted to receive a newly minted copy of The Politics of Aesthetic Judgment by
Barbara R. Walters (University Press of America, December, 2003), because it is an eloquent
analysis of the fateful and fortunate wave of Impressionist art that rode in on the tide of "the
declining discipline and moral probity brought about by industrialization and other changes
toward modernity."
Dr. Walters is a sociologist by training and she focuses on the commercial records to demonstrate
that Impressionist painters benefited significantly from their transactions with third generation
French Jews, independent minded Americans and deserters from the French art police, all of them
anxious to distance themselves from the near universal adoption of the "one correct style of
painting."
The groundwork for this analysis is laid in the first of three sections contained in the book. Here,
Dr. Walters treats us to a brief and entertaining history of the unshakable Academy which ruled
the arts in nineteenth century France. Patrons and collectors, as well as the public at large, relied
on the official, proscribed methods of training and producing art, a system that was constructed to
accommodate a few hundred students and professional painters. After the National Assembly
ordered the annual Salon, or official exhibit, opened to all artists in 1791, the system was
overwhelmed when thousands of works were submitted to the jury for consideration.
It was this "expanded participation," Dr. Walters concludes, that "led to departures from the
standard Academic style." She further states that "a growing interest in landscape painting, an
authentic focus on the subjective basis of knowledge, and a shift from idealization to observation
began to shape competing factions within the art world."
Casual readers may be forgiven for skimming the middle section of the book, which includes 55
pages of charts and graphs, weirdly described by Dr. Walters' mentor, Lewis A Coser, as
"beautiful." However, it is the analysis of the data, accumulated bit by bit from the library of the
Durand-Ruel Gallery in Paris, which produced the central plot of the Impressionist drama. By
sorting through the financial transactions that moved the art from easel to parlor - and thus saved
it for future generations to judge Dr. Walters discovered that "Real market choices transformed
the meaning of affinities between artists and their patrons." In numbers dramatically
disproportionate to their census, Impressionist art was purchased by "patrons [in] sympathy with
the new ideas, values and largely secular worldview associated with the rise and institution of the
Impressionist style." This "shared world-view held in common among French Jews in
fin-de-si‚cle France predisposed them to a preference for Impressionist art [and] was amplified
during the Dreyfus Affair."
The third and final section of the book illuminates the political forces in play during the
transformation of Jewish patrons from an "arriviste" population, which was "inspired by an
assimilation model and thus emulated the landed aristocracy in their aesthetic choices," to "later
generations of collectors [who] were emboldened to search for the new." The lightening rod for
this transformation was the arrest and subsequent trials of Jewish Army officer, Alfred Dreyfus in
1894, on charges of treason. In response to the "vicious anti-Semitic press, La Libre Parole," the
"aesthetic orientation of French Jews" became "a conscious political stand." Just as the
aforementioned Rumsfeld's impolitic dismissal of "old Europe" may well have helped codify
anti-war sentiment on the continent, French Jews closed ranks around their rejection of a value
system that permitted "the active and uncensored press [to] unfurl across France unfettered by
basic legal protections against libel."
So, for those untold millions of us who adore crooked sunflowers and foggy haystacks, Dr.
Walters has shown that we have to thank, not only the artists themselves, but also the early
adopters who had the chutzpah to defy convention and embrace the shock of the new. I, for one,
am extremely grateful to them all.
Barbara R. Walters is Assistant Professor of Sociology, Kingsborough Community College-
CUNY.
The Man Who Died Twice
Peter Thompson and Robert Macklin
Allen and Unwin
ISBN 1741140129 A$32.95 380 pages
David Skea
Reviewer
'Only as a newspaper correspondent can I expect to distinguish myself above the common
herd In spite of all that is said to the contrary, it is the noblest in my opinion of all the
professions as energy, courage, temperance and truthfulness are necessary to its success.'
G E Morrison, 1882, aged 20.
It was 16 July 1900 and the Boxer siege in Peking was a month old. Three of the besieged, the
London Times correspondent, Dr George Morrison, the senior British officer, Captain Strouts
and a Japanese officer, Colonel Shiba, making their way to an adjacent building came under fire
from the Boxers. Captain Strouts and Dr Morrison were wounded, Strouts later dying from his
wounds.
That same day The Times in London ran a report headlined THE MASSACRE IN PEKING
which stated that Dr Morrison and every other foreign defender in the diplomatic quarter had
been wiped out. Back in Australia there was shock at the news. In Geelong the flags flew at
half-mast to mourn the death of its most famous son, the legendary Morrison of Peking.
In actual fact there was no massacre in Peking, the siege lasting another month before being
relieved by the Allied Relief Expedition. Morrison was alive and, not for the first time, recovering
from his wounds.
So who was this Dr Morrison? And how many today, in Australia, know about him? Those who
do probably have read more about his long walks across Australia, his voyage with a Queensland
'black-birder' and his abortive expedition to walk across Papua New Guinea where he was speared
and almost died, than his journalistic work for The Times of London.
George Ernest Morrison was born in Geelong in 1862. His father was the principal of the Geelong
College and his uncle was headmaster of the prestigious Scotch College in Melbourne. When he
was 18 he walked alone from Geelong to Adelaide, a journey of 752 miles which he completed in
some 6 weeks living off the land. He kept a diary and, at his mother's suggestion, sent a version to
The Age in Melbourne. The Age's companion weekly magazine-style paper, The Leader,
published 'The Diary of a Tramp', paying Morrison seven guineas. The experience of seeing
himself in print was, he wrote, 'not bad; not bad at all'.
Morrison's father was not enthusiastic about his son taking up journalism as a career and
suggested that he study medicine. He therefore enrolled in the medical school at Melbourne
University. During his first summer holiday he explored the Murray by canoe, again alone and
living off the land. It was a successful trip, as The Leader published his travel diary and the fees he
earned more than paid for his expenses. However, at the end of his second university year he
failed a major medical exam and withdrew. He made up his mind to become a journalist and wrote
to his mother: 'I go to Queensland to commence the apprenticeship of a profession in which I
earnestly hope some day to make my mark'.
An eight-part series 'A Cruise in a Queensland Slaver', Morrison's account of a one hundred day
voyage recruiting Kanaka labourers for the Queensland sugar farmers was the result. Next he
walked from Normanton to Melbourne, alone and with only what he could carry in his swag,
emulating the famous Burke and Wills. It took him four months and The Age paid him ś4 10s for
his article.
The Age then commissioned him to lead an expedition to cross Papua New Guinea, an enterprise
that ended in disaster as Morrison was attacked and badly wounded, parts of two native spears
remaining in his body. He returned to Melbourne in great pain and despite the best efforts of
Melbourne's leading surgeon made so little progress that he was advised to go to Edinburgh for
treatment. Here, some 260 days after his attack, he was operated on and a wooden spear head 3
inches long and a quarter inch in diameter was taken from his abdomen. He then rapidly recovered
his strength.
Morrison now bowed to his father's advice and resumed his medical studies, graduating in 1887.
The next few months were spent in North America and Jamaica. Finding work difficult to get he
returned to Scotland where he then applied for a job at the Rio Tinto mine, in Spain. He next
went across the Straits of Gibraltar to North Africa. Finally, returning home at the age of 29, he
found a position at the Ballarat District Hospital where he remained for two years, the committee
dispensing with his services after disagreements over staffing and costs. Morrison's experiences in
Ballarat hardened his attitude to staying in Australia and he never again took up an appointment in
his own country even when highly paid jobs were offered him. He left Australia for the
Philippines, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Peking.
The wanderlust had got hold of Morrison again and his next exploit was to walk across China
from Shanghai to Rangoon in Burma. 'In the first week of February 1894 I returned to Shanghai
from Japan. It was my intention to go up the Yangste River as far as Chungking, and then,
dressed as a Chinese, to cross quietly over Western China to Burma'. So begins 'An Australian
in China' one of the monumental travel books of the English language. After Rangoon he travelled
to Calcutta and after a bout of malaria, returned to Geelong.
February 1895 saw Morrison back in London where he found a publisher for his travel book and
time to research and write up his doctoral thesis. In August that year he graduated MD in
Edinburgh. A chance recommendation led to an interview with Moberly Bell, the manager of The
Times, who was looking for a new Peking correspondent. Bell liked Morrison and offered him the
job on 6 months probation. His first commission was to travel to Yunnan City via Vietnam, Siam
and Burma. Morrison reached Saigon late December 1895 and returned after reaching Yunnan
City a year later. He received a message from Bell that he should proceed immediately to Peking,
and that many of his stories that he had filed en-route had been published; he had passed his
probationary period with flying colours and had been appointed to the permanent staff. In March
1897 he arrived in Peking and wrote 'My new life was now to begin'.
Morrison was The Times' correspondent in Peking from 1897 to 1912. During this time he was
present at the Boxer siege of the foreign nationals in Peking, saw the end of the Ching Dynasty
and the founding of the Republic of China. He also met his future wife Jean (Jennie).
In 1912 Morrison married Jennie Robin and resigned from The Times to become a senior adviser
to the new President of the new Republic of China. Now began what appears to be a most
frustrating time for Morrison. How often do people in authority appoint advisers and then ignore
their advice? Such was the situation in which Morrison soon found himself.
Morrison continued to advise the Chinese Government although his role was more tenuous as the
power of the central government waned and less able figures assumed positions of responsibility.
Also, his health was starting to trouble him and in 1917 he set sail for Australia. Morrison visited
Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne and New Zealand. Towards the end of his visit he met with the
Prime Minister, Billy Hughes who asked him to 'do certain things'. Hughes wanted Morrison to
use his position and gather intelligence for Australia.
So in April 1918 Morrison left Australia for the last time. It was clear that his long absence from
Australia and his independent cast of mind made it impossible for him to seek political office in
Australia. Commerce was not his fort‚ and Australia's diplomacy was mainly conducted by the
British Foreign Office. He was 56 but paradoxically his celebrity status depended on him being
absent from his homeland. In fact, China had now become Morrison's homeland.
Thompson and Macklin find this sad and compare Morrison's achievements to those of Bradman
who is well remembered and continues to be so. But is it? Bradman played in Australia and
represented Australia always in the Australian public's eye. Morrison on the other hand worked in
Peking for a London journal. Any reference to him in Australia was second hand.
Morrison attended the Paris Peace Conference as adviser to the Chinese delegation. His health
was not good and in May 1919 he returned to England for medical examination and treatment.
Although an exploratory operation found no evidence of malignancy, Morrison became weaker
and died on 30 May 1920.
I found it a very interesting book to read. It covers Morrison's life in great detail and I am amazed
at the extent of his achievements. Fortunately Morrison was a great diarist and these records have
been preserved. I'm also aware that Morrison was born in the Victorian era a time of great
exploration and expansion of British interests and when great deeds were expected. In Morrison's
case he lived life to the full, so much so that I'm tempted to bowdlerise the famous epitaph of that
other great Victorian, Cecil Rhodes. 'So much to do; so much done'.
Snake Hips
Anne Thomas Soffee
Chicago Review Press
5017 Cullen Rd. Virginia Beach, VA 23455
ISBN: 1556525222 $14.95 262 pp.
Laura Giles
Reviewer
Snake Hips is a wonderfully moving story of self-discovery. The cultural insertions read like "My
Big Fat Greek Wedding"... Arab style! The honest portrayals of heartache and desire remind us of
our innocence and vulnerability. And it's all artfully woven in an unapologetic, yet hilariously
funny way. This book is sure to appeal to readers everywhere.
If you thought only Italians Mafia types have a reputation for being murderers with a heart of
gold, check out the Lebanese in Snake Hips! Each character comes to life in such a way that you
wonder how the story could have been told without them. Only Soffee could make such
unconventional and contradictory folks seem adorably commonplace.
Soffee has a knack for revealing the wounded side of life and herself. You feel her raw grief as she
smashes the Tiffany stained glass window when packing to leave after being dumped. Her
insecurity of not being young, thin, pretty, or cool enough echoes throughout the book. Her
encounters with totally inappropriate suitors has you standing on the sidelines shouting, "Dump
him, girlfriend!" But don't let the sadness fool you! Oh no, Soffee's got a super weapon on her
side. She's got- BELLY DANCE!
Once Soffee begins her journey of healing through belly dance, you can see her bruises mend and
her passion and confidence grow. I found myself smiling at the acquisition of the long-lost Port
Said album. I could feel the exhilaration of her Tilt-a-Whirl ride after her debut performance. By
the time she does "dump him,"you know that she is going to be just fine.
Dancers will love this book because they can't help but identify with the "scene."Anyone with a
sense of humor will find at least a chuckle or two staring them brazenly in the face (subtlety is not
Soffee's strong point!) that's worth the price of the book and the time to read it. But I believe the
appeal is bigger than either of those things. The human drama of torment, healing, identity, and
self-acceptance is shown throughout Snake Hips. You don't ever have to have danced a step to
know what it feels like to wrestle with those issues. Soffee touched all those things with a honesty
rarely revealed in a memoire by a person still living. For that, she gets my highest praise. Read it.
You won't regret it.
Authentic Happiness: Using The New Positive Psychology To Realize Your Potential For Lasting
Fulfillment
Martin E.P. Seligman, Ph.D
The Free Press
A Division of Simon & Schuster, Inc.
1230 Avenues of the Americas, New York, NY 10020
ISBN 0743222970 $26.00 321 pages
Peter Hupalo
Reviewer
Authentic Happiness is a readable and fascinating, but somewhat academic, treatise about
happiness by Martin Seligman.
The book begins with a discussion of the nun study a study that followed nuns throughout their
lives and examined factors such as longevity and health. The study found the greatest predictive
factor of successful aging and life satisfaction was optimism reflected in essays the young nuns
wrote about their lives when they first took their religious vows.
Those who were happy and optimistic when young tended to remain happy, healthy, and
successful. Those who expressed more pessimism in their essays tended to age less successfully
and tended to have less life satisfaction.
Other researchers found similar early predictive value using yearbook photos.
Seligman writes: " yearbook photos are a gold mine for Positive Psychology researchers. 'Look
at the birdie and smile,' the photographer tells you, and dutifully you put on your best smile. Some
of us break into a radiant smile of authentic good cheer, while the rest of us pose politely. There
are two kinds of smiles. The first, called a Duchenne smile (after its discoverer, Guillaume
Duchenne) is genuine. The corners of your mouth turn up and the skin around the corners of your
eyes crinkles (like crow's feet). The muscles that do this, the orbicularis oculi and the zygomticus,
are exceedingly difficult to control voluntarily. The other smile, called the Pan American smile
(after the flight attendants in television ads for the now-defunct airline), is inauthentic, with none
of the Duchenne features. Indeed, it is probably more related to the rictus that lower primates
display when frightened than it is to happiness."
Follow-up studies of people with Duchenne yearbook photos showed that they tended to have
more personal life satisfaction into their thirties, forties, and fifties than did people without
Duchenne smiles.
Seligman tells us that "external circumstances" only have a minimal effect ("no more than between
8 and 15 percent of the variance ") on happiness. Here are a few circumstances Seligman says
tend to correspond slightly with happiness:
1) Living in a wealthy democracy, rather than a poor dictatorship. Unsurprisingly, this has a
relatively strong effect on happiness relative to other circumstances. Extreme poverty and
dictators are a real bummer.
2) Marriage. Married people tend to be happier. "Marriage is a more potent happiness factor than
satisfaction with job, or finances, or community," Seligman writes.
3) Rich social network. Seligman points out that this might not be a causal relationship. In other
words, happy people might tend to build richer social networks more naturally.
What about staying healthy, getting a good education, and making more money? Seligman says
none of these are highly correlated with happiness.
Also, it's a person's subjective feeling of health, not objective health that matters for determining
happiness. Some people facing extreme illness remain happy, while other people in relatively good
health feel they aren't healthy and are depressed about it. Of course, extreme health problems have
a tendency to drag us down.
I found the relationship between money and happiness fascinating. It appears winning the lottery
or extreme wealth won't make a person happy.
Seligman writes: "In very poor nations, where poverty threatens life itself, being rich does predict
greater well-being. In wealthier nations, however, where almost everyone has a basic safety net,
increases in wealth have negligible effects on personal happiness. In the United States, the very
poor are lower in happiness, but once a person is just barely comfortable, added money adds little
or no happiness. Even the fabulously rich the Forbes 100, with an average net worth of over
$125 million dollars are only slightly happier than the average American."
However, a person's obsession with making more money can lead to less happiness. Seligman
writes: " people who value money more than other goals are less satisfied with their income and
with their lives as a whole "
While external circumstances account for less than 15% of a person's happiness, Seligman tells us
that genetic disposition plays a significant role, probably contributing over 50% to a person's
characteristics.
So, why do people become unduly pessimistic or unhappy? Seligman argues that negative
emotions prepare us for conflicts or for win-lose games. In contrast, positive emotions help us be
more creative and helps us to build social and intellectual resources. Happiness prepares us for
win-win situations.
Seligman writes: "When we are happy, we are less self-focused, we like others more, and we want
to share our good fortune even with strangers. When we are down, though, we become
distrustful, turn inward, and focus defensively on our own needs. Looking out for number one is
more characteristic of sadness than of well-being."
In addition to providing us with an understanding of happiness, Authentic Happiness provides
several tests for evaluating our own happiness. Many of the tests are available online at
AuthenticHappiness.org.
Seligman also offers a prescription for finding more happiness. He suggests that people are
happiest when they're using their signature strengths. Studying major religions and philosophies,
Seligman has identified six admirable and largely culturally-independent strengths. They are:
* Wisdom and Knowledge
* Courage
* Love and Humanity
* Justice
* Temperance
* Spirituality and Transcendence
Seligman says that if we discover a calling, something that links to a greater good, which utilizes
our signature strengths, we tend to be happy. The book also has practical advicee for using your
knowledge of happiness to improve marriages and help children become more
future-oriented.
I highly recommend Authentic Happiness to readers who are interested in studying happiness,
who want to test their own level of happiness, or who want to attain richer, more fulfilling
lives.
Tales of a Female Nomad
Rita Golden Gelman
Three Rivers Press
http://www.randomhouse.com
ISBN 0609809547 $14.00 312 pages
Joyce P. Hale
Reviewer
Rita Golden Gelman's subtitle to this book, Living at Large in the World, is exactly what this
book is about. She starts out at the age of 48 with the end of her marriage of 24 years to a
prestigious husband, a life of glamour and privilege; a marriage that produced two children who
are now grown and out on their own.
She begins her journey in Mexico, learning to enjoy the life of backpacking, meeting new people,
and living among natives of a country. Each chapter is anothr country which she visits; the people
she meets, lives with, and comes to know as family. We travel with her to Guantemala,
Nicaragua, Israel, Galapagos Islands, Indonesia, Canada, New Zealand and Thailand. We meet
her friends, loved ones, and families. I am amazed at the way people around the world opened
their homes to her at a word or note from a friend, or even an acquaintance. If I came away with
anything, it is this universal outreaching and friendliness.
We learn of the languages, the people, the foods and cooking, and customs. My only criticism
may be that occasionally it is slightly too detailed. As a whole, it is a fascinating book by an
adventuresome, interesting woman. I highly recommend it.
"I laughed again at my ragged tortillas and wailed with the woman who was holding her dead
baby. I sang in the mountains, fell in the mud, and blew bubbles with a little boy and his mother in
the middle of New Guinea. I ate green mussels and gloried in 'ho mok' and whizzed through Bali
on the back of (...a) motorcycle. And I communed with Tu Aji's spirit." So did I, through Rita
Gelman's book!
Old Rugged Cross
Catherine Ritch Guess
CRM Books
ISBN 097135345X $14.00 224 pp.
Kristina Nelson
Reviewer
Working as an exotic dancer to pay her way through college, Michigan college student Maggie
Matelli, decides to take a vacation to search for a "perfect" man in her life. En route, heading
south for the beach, she encounters bad weather and traffic delays that eventually force her to
take up lodging in Findlay, Ohio.
Meanwhile, she visits areas of the city, including the city park where a local man is building a life
size sand castle of Christ on the cross. Though she tries to get back on the road, heading south,
she finds herself staying in Findlay. Maggie takes a spiritual journey through her visit, rediscovers
herself, and finds something she was looking for after all.
OLD RUGGED CROSS is an inspirational passage that takes you to places with your own
spirituality. It is a contemporary story that takes place at Easter, and leads the reader to a better
understanding of their own relationship with God. Uniquely written, it is "reality fiction" that
merges real places and comprehensible characters, with fiction that easily connects with the
reader. This book ends with Questions and Reflections, useful in book clubs or group study. It is
the first of a series that the author has titled, The Sandman Series.
Mouse or Rat? Translation as Negotiation
Umberto Eco
Weidenfield & Nicholson (Orion)
Jan 2004, hardback, 200 pages, RRP A$35.00
If you consider the complexity involved, it is a wonder that anyone is able to produce an adequate
translation at all. Umberto Eco is so clear thinking and erudite - a true Renaissance Man - that it
would seem he can turn his mind to any subject at all, and produce insights which are wholly new,
and even seminal in their impact while keeping his prose entertaining and lighthearted. His latest
book on the difficulties of translation is no exception. The ultimate message of Mouse or Rat, is
that translation is so much more than the conversion of one language into another, but rather, a
subtle negotiation between texts - so that the meaning of one reflects the meaning of another. If
that sounds trite, believe me, this book is anything but. One of the world's most eminent
Semioticians, as well as an author of fiction and non-fiction, and a translator, Eco understands
intimately how difficult the notion of "meaning" is, and carefully proves the interplay between
author, reader, and translator, working within the shifting context of culture, time, linguistic and
social mores, and place. Serious enough to engage its target audience of translation students, but
entertaining and broadly focused enough to also interest the serious reader, this is a book which
belongs on the bookshelf of anyone who is interested in the creation of meaning through
words.
Many of the essays in this book have been taken from the Weidenfeld Lectures given at Oxford
University in 2002, and cover topics such as the nature of equivalence in meaning, where Eco
uses AltaVista's Babelfish to prove the impossibility of translating without a human context or
thought processes, the idea that all forms of translation will involve a transformation which is a
kind of loss, the importance of reference and context, the difficulties between a source from one
culture and a target in another, hypotyposis, or the why in which a text needs to render a visual
scene, the re-creation of the deep sense of a text and the importance of interpretation,
transmutation and adaptation, and the suggestion of a working philosophy based on a perfect
language. Throughout the writing is rich, often funny, pointing out some classic mistakes in
translation, always pithy, and strives, as do all of Eco's writings, to put the ideas in the broadest
context possible. It isn't always easy, since the book carefully toes the line between speaking to a
technical and extremely literate audience (those who, perhaps, reach towards an Eco-like
erudition), and making the work globally interesting. For the casual reader, as with any reader of a
work in translation, there will be passages which have to be glossed over. Many of Eco's examples
move through translations in a variety of language, and, for example, readers who can't read
French, Italian, German, and Spanish will miss some of the more complex points which Eco is
making. It is still possible to get some semblance of what he is saying by reading the English and
imagining the differences, but the real subtleties will be lost. This is nevertheless a pithy way of
proving his point.
Examples are taken from a very wide variety of work, both classic as in Shakespeare and Dante,
and modern, with many examples from Eco's own work and translations, as well as references as
broad as Walt Disney, Woody Allen, The Bible, Nicole Kidman, Eliot, Joyce, Rabelais, Homer,
Melville, Goethe, and Bly, to name just a few. The writing, done in English in this case, is elegant
and beautiful in itself, and the sentences are tight enough to warrant multiple readings:
Perhaps there are source texts that widen out in translation, and the destination text enriches the
source one, making it enter the sea of a new intertextuality; and there are delta texts that branch
out in many translations, each of which impoverishes their original flow, but which all together
create a new territory, a labyrinth of competing interpretations." (102)
Fans of Eco's considerable fiction oeuvre, will also enjoy his deconstruction of multiple versions
of his own work, and the insights into his own creative process, as there are many accounts and
anecdotes from the translation processes of works like The Name of the Rose, Foucault's
Pendulum, and The Island of the Day Before. Eco also doesn't skirt the big and difficult
philosophical question that sits behind much of what he says, about whether there is really a
reality that language refers to - something which we must find whenever we are doing a
translation:
It is curious to remark that, while so many philosophical discussions have cast doubt on the very
possibility of translation, since each language represents an incommensurable structure, it is
precisely the empirical evidence of translation that challenges the philosophical assertions about
the dependence of world views on language. Thus translation re-proposes to philosophy its
everlasting question, namely, where there is a way in which things go independently of the way
our languages make them go. (182)
Eco refers to his own phenomenal work which addresses just this issue, Kant and the Platypus,
albeit in a slightly different context. For those who are themselves translators, or writers who
intend to have their works translated, this book is sure to become the kind of classic primer which
will be referred to again and again, not just for the lessons which Eco makes so clearly, but for the
thought provoking clarity of his arguments. For anyone else who loves words, this delightful work
will repay the effort required, as above all else, Eco's arguments are based on a similar passion:
"Among the synonyms of faithfulness the word exactitude does not exist. Instead there is loyalty,
devotion, allegiance, piety." (192). Who could argue with that. Eco's depth of knowledge, his
sense of playfulness, and his clarity of expression makes his work as pleasurable as it is
important.
The End of Eternity
Isaac Asimov
Science Fiction Book Club
401 Franklin Ave, Garden City, NY 11530
www.omagadh.com
ISBN#: 0739435574 $9.95 185 pp.
Marty Duncan
Reviewer
There is Reality and there is Eternity. In Reality, the great mass of people live their lives according
to random chance. There is also Eternity where Technicians and Supervisors make the smallest
changes in the past to create a future that is for the betterment of mankind. The people who live
and work in Eternity are not 'Eternals' but the people who live in 'Real-Time' think they are.
In the 484th century Technician Andrew Harlen is assigned to spend a week in 'Real-Time' with
an aristocratic young lady who has all the pre-requisites of a sex goddess and an urge to make
herself Eternal by sleeping with Technician Harlen. That's when the fun starts. Technician Harlen
checks her 'Life-Line' and finds it has died out by the 510th century. He requires other
Technicians to determine why and they finally report that she 'does not fit' into the 484th
century.
Too late, you say to yourself, it's too late. And it is. Harlen has fallen in love with the seductress
and she with him. They flee to an upwhen (far future) where Harlen leaves her protected. This
story also involves a downwhen (from Harlen's physioreality) back to the 24th century.
That's all I can say. 'Eternity' is an easy read by a master writer with a surprising twist at the
end.
I am no Asimov, but his book reminded me of the espionage thriller Gold then Iron, two
chapters of which can be read at www.omagadh.com. Thank you.
Memories Die Last
Tim Smith
AmErica House
ISBN 1591292425 $19.95 188 pages
Shirley Roe
Reviewer
Nick Seven sits on the deck of Calhoun's Yacht Club, glass of scotch in hand watching the yachts
return from a day of leisure. Sun is low in the sky and all is well with the world. So why change
it?
Our hero, Nick is a retired CIA, one of the best and they want him back. It isn't long before Nick
and his old partners Felicia and Brodie are back in action searching for their nemesis, Lavender.
Nick is still mourning the death of his first wife Gwyn, but Felicia is hoping for more. The hunt
leads them to Europe, however things are not what they seem and it doesn't take Nick long to
figure out just who is behind all of the terrorist murders. Can Nick settle an old score or will it be
him or one of his partners that winds up dead?
Lively, and full of suspense, Memories Die Last is action packed from beginning to end. Mystery,
espionage and a sprinkling of romance provide the reader with a good entertaining mix.
Dialogue is believable with character's personalities merging and working well together. Vivid
imagery brings the Florida Keys to life for the reader. Writing style flows smoothly from chapter
to chapter. All in all an intriguing read.
Save Karyn: One Shopaholic's Journey to Debt and Back
Karen Bosnak
Harper Collins Publishers Inc.
10 East 53rd Street, New York, NY 10022
ISBN 0060558199, $13.95, 441 pp.
Susan Cronk
Reviewer
Karyn Bosnak's book, mildly amusing but often offensive in construct, leaves one feeling that the
author came away from her near-debt experience, having utterly missed the forest for the trees.
She began the journey over $20,000 in debt. At its conclusion the whole trip cost Karyn Bosnak's
$7,000 and a few months of nail biting, and left those who freely contributed to her plight over
$13,000 poorer for their generosity. Praise them. Consider her.
Millions of Americans struggle under the weight of debt. They live off of a delicate balance
between their checking accounts and their credit cards, the "robbing of Peter to pay Paul"
principle in all its glory. Karyn Bosnak knows the principle too in a personal way. She took a hard
spiral from a lucrative career and financial solvency into a the abyss of insolvency in a few short
months, part in due to the loss of employment but primarily due to an all-too-obvious lack of
financial self-control.
Despite a common bond of indebtedness with Karyn Bosnak, Save Karyn's readers, particularly
those from the Midwest, may have difficulty garnering sympathy over her former financial woes.
They will likely be left feeling that the fear and pain she experienced were just-desserts for her, a
young woman who seemed to labor hard at a life of self-gratification and excessive
materialism.
At the beginning of her tale, Karyn Bosnak tells of a move to New York, where she earned more
in a week than most Americans earn in an entire month. That alone makes it difficult to
sympathize with her mourning the loss of a daily Cappuccino fix and being forced to drink
Maxwell House coffee; her inability to afford $1,000 coats, $200 shoes, and $140 T-shirts; and
ultimately her relegation to shopping at places like Old Navy and the Dollar Store, for what she
considered the lesser off-the rack clothing and grocery-store quality personal care products. There
Readers may be stunned and offended by Karyn Bosnak's teetering between feelings of pleasure
and shame over the discovery of the Dollar Store, as if it were uncharted territory, glad that it
offered items so inexpensively and yet insulted and embarrassed to be shopping there. Perhaps for
Karyn Bosnak places like Neiman Marcus, Bloomingdale's, and Barney's are common excursions,
but for millions of working-class Americans the Dollar Store rates higher than Bloomingdale's
ever will because the Dollar Store is a gift to the working classes while "Bloomies" is a distant
fantasy whose marbled floors they will never trod. Miss Bosnak does not appear to intend cruelty
or insult in her tale, rather she comes across as being ignorant of an entire population of
Americans who are longtime pros at financial juggling, budgeting, and penny-pinching because
failing to do so threatens their survival. For them, living within their means has less to do with a
negative debt-income ratio and more to do with limited financial means to begin with. Miss
Bosnak comes across as a pampered and privileged young woman, and by her own admission, she
wasn't wanting for a lot when growing up. Perhaps that was part of the problem. She learned
early the power that brand names carry and came to like them, like a heroin addict likes their illicit
friend, and so it was at age 29 that Karyn Bosnak learned what all addicts learn eventually,
whether they be shopaholics or otherwise, the ride usually comes to an abrupt and painful end.
The question remains, did Karyn Bosnak learn anything from her financial misadventure? Perhaps
this lesson: That there are a great number of people in America with kind hearts and giving hands.
It is sad that the greater lessons seem to have escaped her altogether.
Conservative readers will have a difficult time identifying with Karyn Bosnak's flaunting of her
questionable personal values, despite her creative problem solving. They will have a difficult time
accepting and stomaching her "pain" at not having money to go out on a date, though staying
home seemed only a fleeting thought soon overcome. Male readers may empathize more with her
dates than for her as her admissions drive home the impression that she was more concerned over
who was going to be picking up the tab than she was encouraged by the probability of meeting
and getting to know a genuine human being. The stress and worry she put herself through and the
frantic "emergency" shopping trip and rudeness to store clerks was simply evidence that the
deeper message wasn't getting through. Did she get her just-desserts again? Just let her eat
cake.
Readers certainly could live without the expletives that Karyn Bosnak peppers her pages with.
This reviewer found herself mentally rewording the author's sentences and editing out the
offensive language, at times dreading the turning of another page. More than once the urge was
there to put it away, but when one is reviewing a book, it is expected the reviewer will have read
it cover to cover in order to do it proper justice. A futile attempt is made by the author to justify
the offensive language, insisting it necessary to convey the intensity of her emotions, but
professional writers know such a claim to be an excuse, the use of profanity being merely a crutch
for weak writing.
In addition to the unnecessary expletives, the pages are littered with filler material. The exclusion
of two-thirds of the emails and blog excerpts would have been welcomed. Without them, the
book certainly would have been blissfully shorter. Despite the filler however, unlike books of
great substance, Save Karyn was still a quick read, though one has to wonder if it is worthy of the
investment of time.
Christian readers will want to steer clear of Karyn Bosnak's book. They will certainly take offense
with her repeated taking of the Lord's name in vain. Again, she comes across as being ignorant of
the extent of her offense. Christian readers, and anyone else for that matter, would do well to
apply their $13.95 to some other literary work, despite the author's pitch that she was considerate
enough to publish in softcover in order to save book purchasers the hardcover cost. Should we all
bow down and give thanks to her now?
Save Karyn is not a lesson in debt management or financial accountability. It is a confession of
materialism and poor stewardship that led to the disintegration of a woman's financial state. In the
end, readers come away with...nothing. The same nothing that those who sent her money to help
her pay off her debt got. There is a long list of acknowledgments at the end of the book for those
who helped to Save Karyn. She forgot one all-important "thank you," however, that due the
Almighty, the most significant contributor to her freedom from debt. There are one or two places
where the author mentions God, in that flippant off-handed way many do, quickly noting that He
was "looking out" for her. For all His heartfelt efforts to move her mountain of debt, God didn't
even rate a simple "thanks" on the last page of SaveKaryn. Save Karyn indeed.
Tales of Psychology: Short Stories to Make You Wise
Alma H. Bond, Ph.D.
Paragon House
$TBA
Trish Riley
Reviewer
Tales of Psychology is both a self-help instructional manual and a fine collection of literature
offered by highly regarded authors such as Joyce Carol Oates, John Cheever, Anne Tyler and
Woody Allen. Dr. Alma Halbert Bond lends insights gained through her 35-year career as a
psychoanalyst, analyzing each story as if its protagonist were prone upon her office chaise,
introducing readers to classic dynamics of Oedipal complexes, depression, death and grief.
Dr. Bond's comments following each story don't attempt to resolve the dilemmas presented, only
to help readers recognize the psychological indicators and implications. The stories themselves,
culled from a lifetime of personal and professional study, present compelling struggles of life.
Ranging from emotional insecurities to alcoholism to parenting to suicide, each delves into a
different theme threading through the path of survival. Some are even horrific, like, "A Distant
Episode," by Paul Bowles, which tells of a man's struggle to cope with physical attack and
confinement through distancing and repression. But eventually the pain of his reality breaks
through his mental barrier, as it must always, in some way.
In analyzing these hand-picked favorite tales, Dr. Bond gives of herself in unexpected ways. In her
summation of the first story, "A Small, Good Thing," by Raymond Carver, she writes, "The end
of the story made me break down and sob," revealing that even the psychoanalyst is also a human,
feeling person. It seems rare for an analyst to shed the professional shield and admit to her own
wrenching emotional reaction.
"In a Region of Ice" is Joyce Carol Oates tragedy of unreleased emotional love, Anne Tyler's
"Teenage Wasteland" gives a glimpse into the heavy responsibilities of parenting that extend far
beyond shelter, food, clothing and education to include the more important intangible qualities of
caring and understanding. Dr. Bond says she's certain many lives have been saved when suicidal
patients were instructed to read "Paul's Case," by Willa Cather. It is a tale of a young man's
dreams of a grand life being dashed by his reality, plunging him into an unforgiving escape. But
just as his body falls through the night and into the path of an oncoming train, he realizes all that
he has robbed himself of, suddenly remembering the beauty of a sea he'll never see.
In the end, Dr. Bond reveals her own concern with death, and how her quest for understanding
has led past the existentialists, to the philosopher Seneca and finally, surprisingly, to Woody
Allen, whose wit confirms her greatest fear - that death is an unspeakable horror. In his quick
story "My Apology," Allen concedes a fear of unknown horror when contemplating death.
Perhaps the wisdom promised is the knowledge that ultimately there are no right ways of thinking
and behaving, and no definitive precedent or authority on such matters. Life presents a complex
buffet of experiences and means of coping with its challenges. Unraveling its mysteries is a
personal quest for each individual to undertake. Learning from one another's experiences with the
helpful perspective of a professional will help readers navigate their own paths more successfully.
Learning with Dr. Bond is a pleasure.
Alisa's Bookshelf
A Taste for Blood
Diana Lee
Harrington Park Press
http://www.haworthpress.com
ISBN: 156023461X $19.95 http://home.earthlink.net/~goddess_songs/Book%201.html
A Taste for Blood is lesbian erotica at its best. This book is not for the faint at heart as the sex is
very explicit. It is a refreshing look at vampirism.
Ryan is an 800-year-old vampire with an amazing history. She currently masquerades as the
mysterious Lord Wolf, a Scottish noble. Ryan dresses and acts as a man to allow her to function
in the male dominated 1800s. Ryan has a very long history with the descendants of her first love,
Bryn. Carissa, a descendant of Bryn, becomes Ryan's companion, lover, and vampire child. As the
story progresses, Ryan's history catches up with her. All her secrets are revealed and Carissa is the
ultimate price in her game for revenge.
While I would not generally recommend this book due to the explicit sex, it was very well written.
Ryan is a very powerful, intelligent, cunning protagonist. Her story takes us on a journey from the
Celts of the twelfth century, to the royal court of thirteenth century France, and finally to Scotland
of the 1800s. Each auxiliary character is involved in the plot intimately. The primary focus of the
book is female orientated, but men are included. Heterosexual men are generally weak or evil with
a few exceptions. The book is interlaced with mystery and erotic tales.
Diana Lee is the author of numerous novels and textbooks. She has been published by numerous
magazines and is the editor by NOLOSNE News, the quarterly publication of the National
Organization for Lesbians of Size.
Way of the Wolf: Book One of the Vampire Earth
E. E. Knight
ROC
http://www.vampireearth.com/
ISBN: 0451459393 $6.50 391 pp.
In 2022 the world as we know it comes to an end. Aliens who call themselves Kurians have taken
over Earth. The Kurians are not harmless and have very sinister designs on humanity. Each Kurian
controls a group of Reapers - a vampire like wraith who prowls the night stealing a human's
lifeforce or aura. The auras are the means with which the Kurians remain immortal. The Kurians
have some of humanity in league with them. Many people have agreed to help the Kurians by
selling out their neighbors. Most of humanity is now a farm animal for the Kurians.
David Valentine has had to grow up very fast. His entire family died a senseless death. It wasn't
Reapers - but humans. Valentine was forever changed that day. When Southern Command, the
remnants of the military protecting everyone from the Kurians, comes calling for volunteers,
Valentine is intrigued. His father was a Wolf, an elite military unit that engages in guerrilla
warfare. By becoming a Wolf, Valentine is driven to find a way to defeat the Kurians and salvage
what is left of humanity.
Way of the Wolf is the first of the Vampire Earth series. As such, much of the book is spent
creating the post-apocalyptic Earth and setting up Valentine as our hero. Valentine is very well
fleshed out and likeable character. He endears himself to the reader. The story line of Way of the
Wolf is slow to start, but once the action begins, it does not let up. The action is gripping and
enthralling. The dichotomy of an 'elite' group with immunity from the Kurians and all the other
'sheep' presents many opportunities for the story line to take unseen twists. Who is more devious
and deadly? The Reapers or your neighbors?
Way of the Wolf is E. E. Knight's first book. The sequel, Choice of the Cat will be published in
May, 2004 with a third novel, titled Tale of the Thunderbolt to follow in 2005. Lara Croft: Tomb
Raider: The Lost Cult, an adventure in the Tomb Raider world will be published in August, 2004.
E. E. Knight has a very extensive website at http://www.vampireearth.com/
Stolen
Kelley Armstrong
Viking Penguin Group
http://www.penguinputnam.com/
http://www.kelleyarmstrong.com/
ISBN: 0670031372 $24.95 416 pp.
Stolen is Kelley Armstrong's second installment in the Women of the Otherworld Series. In Bitten
we are introduced to Elena and her fellow werewolves. Stolen introduces us to other
supernaturals; witches, vampires, demons, voodoo practitioners, shaman, and so on.
Someone is kidnapping supernaturals and they are never heard from again. Elena, Jeremy, and
Clay are invited to a 'United Nations' for the supernatural world in an attempt to stop the
kidnappings. Unfortunately for Elena, the council is unable to stop her abduction.
Elena finds herself alone, cut-off from the pack, and held captive for study. An unstable,
megalomaniac man with money has decided it would be 'fun' to study supernatural beings and
when the study is completed to have a little hunt. Elena must draw on all her resources to find a
way to protect herself physically, mentally, and emotionally. As the hunt draws closer, Elena
struggles to free herself and the other captives.
Stolen is one huge adrenaline rush that can be addictive. As the story unfolds, it brings us into the
supernatural world deeper and deeper. We learn about demons and their offspring in our mists.
While werewolves have many advantages over other supernaturals, they are still vulnerable. Each
supernatural has abilities that must be harnessed for survival. This blending of beings evolves into
a partnership and friendship between groups that have never cooperated with each other
before.
The supernaturals of Stolen are written with a great deal of care. Each being is unique and strong
in their own manner. Kelley Armstrong has created a world where everyone is a mixture of good
and bad - only a few are truly evil. Elena may be feral and a killer, but she is a moral sentient
being. Her outrage at captivity allows the reader to identify deeply with her.
Werewolves have considered themselves too strong to be held captive. Their experiences in
Stolen show them just how vulnerable they are. Elena, Clay, and Jeremy are forced to rely on
others, in contrast to their nature.
Kelley Armstrong has published three books; Bitten, Stolen, and Dime Store Magic. A fourth in
the Women of the Otherworld series, Industrial Magic is to be published late in 2004. She has an
extensive website at http://www.kelleyarmstrong.com/ On her website are two novellas from the
Women of the Otherworld series.
Bitten
Kelley Armstrong
Viking Penguin Group
http://www.penguinputnam.com/
http://www.kelleyarmstrong.com/
ISBN: 0670894710 $24.95 400 pp.
Elena Michaels is women going places. She has a great job as a journalist, a nice apartment in
Toronto, a very attentive boyfriend, and a serious problem. She is a werewolf. The only female
werewolf in existence.
So starts Bitten, Kelley Armstrong's first book in the Women of the Otherworld series. Elena is
summoned by her old pack's alpha, Jeremy to return to Stonehaven, his estate. With much
trepidation, Elena embarks on a journey that will alter her life once again. The pack represents all
that Elena resents male domination and treating women like dirt. In addition, there is Clay
who longs to posses Elena completely once again.
Kelley Armstrong's werewolves are feral and strong. They hunt and run at will. These beasts are
wild but still retain a trace of humanity. There are only two ways to become a werewolf by
bite or heredity. Only males can inherit the werewolf tradition. The werewolves spend a good
amount of time procreating with only interest in their male progeny.
Nipping at the heals of the pack are the mutts usually lone werewolves who challenge the
stability of the pack. Mutts have been known to indulge themselves in killing humans and the pack
does its best to guard against this. Elena finds herself drawn into the pack once again and as she
struggles to accept her nature.
Bitten is a wonderful, fresh look at werewolves. The pack is like a close knit family unit with all
different types. Elena is written as a strong woman and werewolf. Yet Elena has many emotional
barriers that do not allow her to evolve. She is unable to truly let others care for her. She fights
her feral instincts and tries to conquer them.
Throughout the book, Elena is in constant struggle with Clay. This relationship is very complex
and wonderful to read about. While reading the book, you find yourself wanting Elena to give into
Clay at other times you want Elena to cause bodily harm to him. This seesaw of emotions is
laced with love, bitterness, lust, loneliness, and so much more. Upon finishing this book, all you
want to do is read the next installment, Stolen.
Kelley Armstrong has published three books; Bitten, Stolen, and Dime Store Magic. A fourth in
the Women of the Otherworld series, Industrial Magic is to be published late in 2004. She has an
extensive website at http://www.kelleyarmstrong.com/ On her website are two novellas from the
Women of the Otherworld series.
The Journal of Professor Abraham Van Helsing
Allen C. Kupfer
Forge
http://www.tor.com/
ISBN: 0765310112 $19.95 208 p.
With the impending release of the movie, Van Helsing, we are given the Journal of Professor Van
Helsing as a way to further our understanding of this mysterious character of Bram Stoker. The
journal suggests that Van Helsing was a real man and that many of the events in the original
Dracula are fact and not fiction.
Van Helsing was a doctor and a scholar from Amsterdam. A trip to the Balkans to visit a
colleague was his introduction to the plague of vampirism. Much to Van Helsing's horror, the
vampires became very interested in his activities. This journal chronicles his adventures and the
terror wrought by vampires.
The Journal of Professor Van Helsing is presented as the supposed scholarly documentation
written by Van Helsing himself and preserved by a friend. According to the author, Allen C.
Kupfer, the journal fell into his hands by accident. The journal is laced with commentary by
Kupfer's grandfather and himself. This commentary gives the journal 20th century references and
gives the impression of authenticity.
The writing style of this book was difficult to delve into. The language was very proper with
descriptions that left out many of the more titillating aspects of vampires. As I have not seen the
movie this book is tied into, I do not know if this work will enhance it. I found parts of the journal
to be interesting but the vast majority was written in a narrative that left me wanting more.
Allen C. Kupfer is credited with two RPG novels; The Luck of Llewellyn the Loquacious, based
on the Realms of Magic and Nocturne, based on the Tales of Ravenloft.
Blood and Mind
Melanie L. Bonnefoux
Publish America
http://www.publishamerica.com/ http://www.bloodandmind.com
ISBN: 1592864422 $24.95 302 pp.
Blood and Mind is Melanie Bonnefoux's first book. All the raw materials of a great book are
present - it just needs some more refinement.
Our heroine, Holly-Anne Feather is not your average co-ed. She posses incredible PSI abilities
and is an empathy. Because of these powers, she is noticed by the local vampire community.
Lucien, the vampire 'Holder' or master, takes a very keen interest in Holly. Of course, Holly is
torn. Lucien is technically a dead man - reanimated flesh. These facts are not very appealing.
Instead, Holly finds herself lusting after Lucien. Into this mix comes Ryan, a fellow student that is
also interested in Holly.
Then the bodies start to appear. Edwards University students are being murdered in a very
gruesome, ritualistic manner. Holly finds herself at the epicenter of the murder investigation and
her love-life only gets more complicated.
Blood and Mind is a fun book to read. Holly-Anne is a wonderful, strong characterization. She
has sass and fire with a tinge of very sarcastic, acerbic wit. Holly is the girlfriend we all want to
know. The ending of the book held some twists that where unexpected and very daring. My main
criticism of the book was the very poor copy editing. The numerous spelling and grammar errors
made it difficult to read the book.
Blood and Mind can be compared to Laurell K. Hamilton's Anita Blake series. While there are
similarities, Melanie Bonnefoux incorporated many unique aspects to her story that sets it apart.
Bonnefoux's vampires are described as an alien species with unknown beginnings.
Melanie Bonnefoux is a first time author and a 'lover of things that go bump in the night.' She is
currently working on a sequel to Blood and Mind. Please visit her website for more information
http://www.bloodandmind.com
Alisa McCune
Reviewer
Alyice's Bookshelf
Mommy & Me: Playgroup Favorites
Mary Panzer and Gregg Field
Concord Records, Inc.
100 N. Crescent Drive, Suite 275, Beverly Hills, CA 90210
http://concordrecords.com
ASIN: CCD-224-2 and CCD-2225-2, $9.98 310-385-4455
I worked as a licensed in-home daycare provider, a preschool teacher, and an assistant childcare
director. I'm also a mother and an auntie so I can speak from experience when I say this music CD
is a MUST for parents, playgroups, and teachers of young toddlers. In fact, I believe this CD
would make the perfect baby shower gift!
The music is easy to sing along to, the beats are uplifting, and many of the songs are time-honored
traditions. In fact, the time you spend bonding with your young children will become more
enjoyable because you'll no longer be concentrating on "what to do next," but you'll be enjoying
the process of playing and interacting with your little ones.
On a side note, my 9-year-old-daughter, MyKaela, thought she was "too old" for most of these
songs since she's now 9, you know. But we'll let you in on a little secret. They brought back great
toddler memories and MyKaela couldn't help but stomp her feet and dance to the music. We even
caught her singing the songs and later, whistling their tunes.
Serendipity And The Dream Catcher
Gwyn English Nielsen
CGS Press
Biblio Distribution
http://www.bibliodistribution.com
ISBN: 0966072626 $5.95 1-800-462-6420
Serendipity And The Dream Catcher was a fun book! My favorite parts were the dreams. I loved
how the author had the words in a different writing so that I knew when a dream was coming. I
liked acting out the dreams with Serendipity and The Dream Catcher.
MyKaela Edrich, Age 9
http://mykaelaedrich.com
MyKaela's mom says that MyKaela was really into this book. It kept her attention, had her
envisioning each scene, and as soon as the dreams began, MyKaela was up and re-enacting the
dreams as her mother told the story.
Gwyn English Nielsen is a master storyteller! I found Serendipity And The Dream Catcher to be
one of the best young reader's books I've read this year. Not only does she captivate the minds of
young readers, but she captivates the minds of adults as well.
Serendipity is a young girl filled with nightmares. But once she receives her very own dream
catcher, her nightmares turn into adventures and those adventures help Serendipity face real life
problems head on.
I found Gwyn's technique of implementing the use of a dictionary as part of the story to be a
remarkable way to encourage children to enhance their use of the English language by looking up
words they're stuck on. This book not only entertains, but it's educational and inspiring.
Murphy's Safety Songs
Tim Young
Murphy's Bone
P.O. Box 56835, Sherman Oaks, CA 91413
http://murphysbone.com
ISBN: 0974822604 $19.95 1-818-906-8196
MyKaela's Review
Murphy's Safety Songs makes learning more fun. It teaches you how to care for dogs and that's
important because if you don't know how to care for dogs, they could die or get hurt. The main
character is really funny. I liked it when he said, "I have no thumbs if you noticed."
Mom's Review...
Murphy's Safety Songs book and music CD is not only educational, but it's cute, fun, and
uplifting. I couldn't help but giggle, wiggle, and dance to the fun beat. The songs are simple and
catchy which means any toddler can memorize them and since toddlers learn by memorization,
this is the perfect tool to teach little ones how to care for their pets.
Kindergartners can also have fun with Murphy's Safety Songs. Learning to read has never been
more fun as preschoolers read along while listening to the songs on the CD. And finally, moms
and dads can get a refresher course on many safety issues dealing with dogs by reading the short,
concise tips in the back of the book. This is definitely a book meant for the whole family!
In fact, it's the perfect gift for anyone looking to rescue a dog from the pound, for preschool
teachers looking for a new circle time activity, or kindergartner teachers looking for a fun, new
way to help their children learn to read.
Veggie Tales Personalized Music CD
Veggie Tales
2000 Mallory Ln. Suite 130-215, Franklin, TN 37067
http://justmemusic.com 615-309-5606
MyKaela's Review
Just ME! Music Veggie Tales is great. My name sounds like it belongs in the song and real
Veggie Tales sing to me! The songs are fun to sing to and they teach me about God. I like having
fun with God. My favorite song is Veggie Tales because I love to dance to it.
Mom's Review...
Just Me! Music Veggie Tales music CD was a welcome surprise. I was expecting to hear my
daughter's name mechanically inserted, but instead I was delighted to hear real Veggie Tale
characters singing her name. Not only was this professionally done, but the CD carries all our
favorite Veggie Tale songs.
One of the great things about Veggie Tales is that the characters introduce biblical truths in fun,
silly ways without making a mockery of our religious beliefs. Every song refreshes and awakens
our minds to learn and understand sound biblical truths in a new light.
Children learn best when they are having fun. And they retain more when they can laugh and play
as they learn and that's just what Veggie Tales does. If you love Veggie Tales movies, then
you'll love Just Me! Veggie Tales Music CDs!
Alyice Edrich
Reviewer
Bethany's Bookshelf
For Christians Who Are Seriously Dating Or Would Like To Be
Elreta Dodds
Press Toward The Mark Publications
PO Box 02099, Detroit, Michigan 48202
0966039033 $15.95 1-888-833-8889
For Christians Who Are Seriously Dating Or Would Like To Be by Elreta Dodds (an ordained
minister certified in Advanced Church Ministries and a Certified Social Worker) is a
thought-provoking book of questions that every faithful Christian should ask himself or herself
before becoming engaged. A frank, no-nonsense discussion of core issues, with numerous blank
lines after probing questions that the reader can use to fill in his or her own responses, For
Christians Who Are Seriously Dating covers matters concerning religion, lifestyle, the "ex" factor
(former marriages or relationships on both sides), family and friends, children, issues of domestic
violence, and more. For Christians Who Are Seriously Dating Or Would Like To Be is a superbly
presented work and very highly recommended for its patient, non-judgmental manner of
prompting the reader to think about serious issues before making the lifelong commitment of
marriage.
Off My Rocker
Gracie Malone
NavPress
3820 North 30th Street, Colorado Springs, CO 80904
1576833895 $12.00 1-800-366-7788
Off My Rocker: Grandparenting Ain't What It Used To Be by Gracie Malone is a warm
guidebook to the challenge of grandparenting both as a proud parent of adult children, and as a
dedicated Christian. From how to balance assisting one's children in the tasks of being parents
without interfering; to teaching little ones about Jesus; to passing on important family values while
retaining a strong sense of fun, and so much more, Off My Rocker is a welcome compilation of
sound advice which is as practical as it is insightful.
Hollywood And Catholic Women
Kathryn Schleich
iUniverse.com, Inc.
2021 Pine Lake Road, #100, Lincoln, NE 68512
059530303X $13.95 www.iuniverse.com
Knowledgeably written by Kathryn Schleich (an adult convert to Catholicism), Hollywood And
Catholic Women: Virgins, Whores, Mothers, And Other Images blends two seemingly disjoint
questions into a thoughtfully reasoned whole: "Why do Hollywood roles for women tend to
typecast them as virgins or vamps, with little depth or complexity?"; and "Why are Catholic
women to this day restricted from full participation in many meaningful practices of the Church?".
Deftly exploring the history of how women have been perceived in Catholicism, and meticulously
deconstructing female roles in movies such as "The Song of Bernadette", "True Confessions",
"Sister Act", "Dogma", and others, Hollywood And Catholic Women is a unique, thoughtful, and
thought-provoking survey and commentary of institutionalized of Catholicism and Hollywood
studio perspectives with respect to and its lasting impact upon the female gender.
Mary Of Canada
Joan Skogan
Banff Centre Press
PO Box 1020, Banff, Alberta T1L 1H5
1894773039 $17.95 1-403-762-6279 www.banffcentre.ca/press
Engagingly illustrated with compelling black-and-white photographs, Mary Of Canada: The
Virgin Mary In Canadian Culture, Spirituality, History, And Geography by journalist and author
Joan Skogan is a thoughtful and original study of the Virgin Mary's perception, incorporation, and
frequent presence in Canadian culture. Exploring images and evocations of the Virgin in Canadian
literature, history, art, and geography, Skogan deftly takes the reader on an imaginative and
engaging tour through Canadian history, the human heart, and Christian spirituality.
For Those Who Serve
Carol Lee Hall
Baker Book House
PO Box 6287, Grand Rapids, MI 49516-6287
0801064627 $9.99 www.bakerbooks.com
For Those Who Serve: A Devotional For Church Volunteers by Carol Lee Hall presents more
than 90 devotions for Christians striving to keep up in a busy and demanding world and balance
the call to serve as a volunteer for the community or the church with responsibilities at work and
home. Each thoughtful devotion includes a bit of Scripture to reflect upon, recommended Bible
readings for study and reflection, a Biblical story, ideas for applying the parables to modern-day
problems, and a short prayer. An excellent tool for soulful reflection, meditation, and opening
oneself to a higher power, For Those Who Serve is especially recommended reading for any
member of a Christian community feeling the strain between their volunteer activities and the rest
of their personal lives, daily commitments, and familial responsibilities.
What Jesus Is All About
Dr. Henrietta C. Mears
Regal Books
2300 Knoll Drive, Ventura, CA 93003-7383
0830733272 $11.99 www.regalbooks.com
Knowledgeably written by the influential Dr. Henrietta Mears, who founded the Gospel Light,
GLINT, the Forest Home Christian Conference Center, and a ministry that continues to thrive
today, What Jesus Is All About is a meaningful introduction to the eternal significance of Christ's
life on Earth. Offering a clear overview of the Gospels and the book of Acts, with special
attention to scripture passages that fulfill the Old Testament's messianic prophecies, study
questions for group discussion, and a great deal more, What Jesus Is All About is a superbly
authored and highly recommended resource for individual study or a group enrichment
curriculum.
Who Will Save You?
Tauno Saila
Kiva Enterprises
10534 Penrose Street, Sun Valley, CA 91352-2123
0967017815 $14.00 www.amazon.com
Who Will Save You? Not God, Nor Religions; You Must Save Yourself by Tauno Saila is a
religious and spiritual manifesto exhortation encompassing the will of God, the sacrifice of Jesus
Christ, and most important of all, the critical responsibility that each and every human being has
for his or her own salvation. A bold accounting that makes no apologies for the spiritual demands
and responsibilities that are placed upon all who are alive today, Who Will Save You? is written
with passion and presents a highly compelling argument for personal and moral self-policing that
will be of specific and enduring interest to Christian and non-Christian alike, regardless of such
considerations as race, ethnicity, nationality, or culture.
Susan Bethany
Reviewer
Betsy's Bookshelf
Stitch 'n Bitch
Debbie Stoller
Workman Publishing Company
708 Broadway, NY, NY 10003-9555
0761128182 $13.95 workman.com
Expertly written by Debbie Stoller (an experienced knitter who is also the co-founder of the
feminist magazine BUST), Stitch 'n Bitch: The Knitter's Handbook offers complete step-by-step
instructions and explicit diagrams for creating a wide variety of hip, warm, and practical knitted
items ranging from cat beds to punk rock backpacks, "pippi kneestockings" and so much more.
Stockinette stitch, rib stitch, seed stitch, fringes, tassels, intarsia, crab stitch, and many more
techniques are accessibly detailed, and a section of full-color photographs reveals finished works
any dedicated knitter can aspire to create. A sassy, vivacious, trend-setting crafting guide as bold
and uncompromising as its title, Stitch 'n Bitch is a welcome and appreciated addition to any
dedicated needlecrafter's knitting projects reference shelf.
The Complete Guide To Bread & Breakfasts
Pamela Lanier
Ten Speed Press
PO Box 7123, Berkeley, CA 94707
1580085288 $16.95 1-800-841-2665 www.tenspeed.com
Knowledgeably compiled and organized by recognized travel expert and B&B connoisseur
Pamela Lanier, The Complete Guide To Bead & Breakfasts descriptively rates over 4,000 inns
and guesthouses worldwide, complete with contact information, brief descriptions, payments
accepted, and so much more. Organized state-by-state for easy reference, the entries are quite
brief, easy to peruse, and collectively comprise a superbly presented resource which is ideal for
vacationers and business travelers alike.
Light Of My Heart
Ginny Aiken
Fleming H. Revell
c/o Baker Book House Company
PO Box 6287, Grand Rapids, MI 49516-6287
0800758749 $12.99 www.bakerbooks.com
Book one of the Silver Hills Trilogy, Light Of My Heart by Ginny Aiken is a soulful novel set in
1892, in the booming town of Hartville, Colorado that has sprung up next to a silver mine. Letitia
Morgan is a beautiful young woman determined to practice medicine in the wild frontier land,
only to find herself caught amidst potentially deadly quarrels and subject to personal attack. It will
take far more than courage to prove herself and establish her career, and when the young Dr.
Morgan becomes embroiled in the fate of three orphans, her life will never be the same. The first
title in the "Silver Hills" trilogy, Ginny Aiken's Light Of My Heart offers a thoroughly compelling
narrative that will leave the reader eager for more.
Love Among The Greats
Edith Pearlman
Eastern Washington University Press
705 West 1st Avenue, Spokane, WA 99201
0910055807 $15.95 1-800-508-9095
Winner of the 2001 Spokane Prize for short fiction, Love Among The Greats by Edith Perlman is
an enthralling and enthusiastically recommended anthology featuring characters ranging from
children, to the elderly, toy makers, lovers, invalids, schmoozers, angels, and others. The
captivating and superbly crafted portrayals of human dilemmas and enduringly powerful bonds
developed in each of these outstanding stories combine to fashion a common, compelling theme
that will keep the reader thoroughly hooked from tale to tale.
The Water Lily Pond
Han Z. Li
Wilfrid Laurier University Press
Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, N2L 3C5
0889204314 $24.95 www.wlupress.wlu.ca
Han Z. Li's The Water Lily Pond: A Village Girl's Journey In Maoist China is the true story of a
young girl's adolescence and womanhood in Maoist China. Han Li recounts life in a small rural
village, where everything had value except the lives of girls and women as reflected in such
incidences as a childhood friend who drowned herself rather than live in an arranged marriage,
and a gentle neighbor who hanged herself after her husband beat her brutally for not bearing a
son. Han Li tells of having the opportunity to attend a university, yet being subject to harsh urban
snobbery and "student-thought spying" that made the ability to hide one's real thoughts central to
personal survival. A tale of how political change in the Maoist regime had deep and lasting effects
upon ordinary people, The Water Lily Pond is a poignant and compelling insight into that old
Chinese curse of "living in difficult times".
Your Kids & Sports
Michael Koehler, Ph.D.
Sorin Books
PO Box 1006, Notre Dame, IN 46556-1006
189373272X $14.95 1-800-282-1865 www.sorinbooks.com
Your Kids & Sports: Everything You Need To Know From Grade School To College by
educator, coach and parent Michael Koehler is an impressively written parental guide which is
packed cover to cover with a wealth of practical advice and information concerning everything
from helping a child find the right sport for him or her; to learning to accept and teach one's child
to accept losing; to the physical conditioning needs of young athletes; to the warning signs of drug
use including alcohol, tobacco, and steroids, and so much more. An excellent and expertly written
resource, Your Kids & Sports is a welcome and appreciated contribution to both Parenting
Studies reading lists and Sports/Athletics Coaching reference collections.
Dealing With Disappointment
Elizabeth Crary
Parenting Press
PO Box 75267, Seattle, WA 98125
1884734758 $11.95 1-800-992-6657 www.ParentingPress.com
Written by Elizabeth Crary (a parent educator of 25 years' experience), Dealing With
Disappointment: Helping Kids Cope When Things Don't Go Their Way offers parents, teachers,
child care providers, and anyone else who works with children a straightforward guidance to
teaching children how to meet and deal with seemingly insurmountable challenges. From learning
to recognize when children are truly upset or shaken; to the dangers of trying to make or keep
children happy at all times; to teaching young ones self-calming and problem-solving skills with
step-by-step guides and games; to learning how to keep one's cool when the kids lose theirs,
Dealing With Disappointment is an excellent and strongly recommended resource filled from
cover to cover with positive and practical guidance and guidelines.
Knowledgeably written by Laura Dyer (a speech-language therapist especially skilled in working
with children), Look Who's Talking! How To Enhance Your Child's Language Development,
Starting At Birth draws upon academic research and field work alike in order to show how
parents just how they can help stimulate their children's ability to use language. Individual
chapters address such topics as proverbial signs and gestures; common language development
concerns and warning signs; steps for successful sign language usage; bilingualism and
second-language learning; the unique challenges of international adoptions; using music to
enhance language development, and so much more, Look Who's Talking! offers straight answers
to common questions and is highly recommended reading for the parents of bubbling young
personalities wanting to express themselves with an articulation suitable to their age.
The Horses Of Proud Spirit
Melanie Sue Bowles
Pineapple Press, Inc.
PO Box 3889, Sarasota, FL 34230-3889
1561642851 $18.95 1-800-746-3275 www.pineapplepress.com
Melanie Sue Bowles' The Horses Of Proud Spirit is the true story of Melanie's efforts to take in
and care fore broken, abused, and neglected horses. Each year, over 70,000 horses in the United
States are sent to slaughter; hundreds of thousands more suffer terrible conditions. Proud Spirit is
a place where even the most severely hurt animals are given a chance to relearn how to trust, and
experience love and companionship with human caretakers and other horses. A noble and
inspirational true-life presentation, The Horses Of Proud Spirit is a unique and welcome
contribution to both school and community library Pets/Wildlife collections -- and is most
especially recommended reading for dedicated horse lovers of all ages.
The Power Of Losing Control
Joe Caruso
Gotham Books
c/o Penguin Group USA
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
1592400485 $13.00 www.penguin.com
Written by Joe Caruso (cancer survivor, business consultant, speaker, workshop leader, and
author of the syndicated column "Cup of Joe"), The Power Of Losing Control: Finding Strength,
Meaning, And Happiness In An Out-Of-Control World is a down-to-earth anthology about
adapting to, and making the best of, events that are beyond an individual's power to change.
Individual chapters cogently address such topics as knowing when to stop beating the proverbial
dead horse; the importance of making connections count; the power of faith to stand against fear;
and a great deal more. A motivational, practical, and expert assessment of dealing with the
hazards of reality, The Power Of Losing Control is confidently recommended for personal
self-help, self-improvement reading lists and reference collections.
Provoking Theater
Kama Ginkas and John Freedman
Smith and Kraus, Inc.
177 Lyme Road, Hanover, NH 03755
1575253321 $19.95 1-800-895-4331
The collaboration of Kama Ginkas and John Freedman, Provoking Theater: Kama Ginkas Directs
is an extensive interview offering insights especially recommended for theater professionals and
students, but open to all who have a keen interest in this evolving art form as reflected in the
concerns and observations of the inspirational genius Kama ginkas -- one of Russia's most widely
acclaimed theater directors working today. In lengthy and descriptive question-and-answer
format, Kama Ginkas himself speaks of his roots in the Stanislavsky system, to inspiration gained
from the cutting-edge work of Vsevolod Meyerhold, to difficulties of communication and the
vulnerability of the actor on stage. Dramatic, inspirational, revealing, Provoking Theater is a
uniquely presented insider's viewpoint and not to be missed by students and enthusiasts of
contemporary theater.
Flight And Earlier Poems
Vona Groarke
Wake Forest University Press
PO Box 7333, Winston-Salem, NC 27109
1960630123 $11.95 www.wfu.edu
Composed by native-born Irish poet Vona Groarke (whose awards include the Hennessy Award
for New Irish Writer and for Best Poet of the Year (1994)), Flight And Earlier Poems is a
breathtaking anthology of original verse. Flight was the author's third collection of poetry and
short listed for the Forward Prize for Best Collection in the UK and Ireland, and awarded the
Michael Hartnett Poetry Prize in 2003. Flight And Earlier Poems combines the award-winning
compilation with works from Vona Groarke's more formative years, but all entries resonate with
similar resounding empathy for the cultural intricacies of Ireland's rich and sometimes brutally
harsh history. "Drama": Even the drama of the laburnum tree / backed into the evening sun- / a
Roman abundance, a gilded spree- / is nothing compared to the look / on your face when I
directed you to it.
Betsy L. Hogan
Reviewer
Betty's Bookshelf
When the War Is Over... A New One Begins: Rebuilding Relationships After Trauma
Chuck Dean and Bette Nordberg
Wordsmith Publishing
P.O. Box 68065, Seattle, WA 98168
ISBN# 0972727930 $11.99 151 pgs.
Although the fighting continues, the war in Iraq is officially "over". When the troops finally come
home, they're going to expect to pick up where they left off. Everyone may be surprised to find
it's not that easy, even ones who should know better.
A friend of mine recently told me that her son, home after months of desert fighting, hasn't
unpacked his gear yet. He's still living out of his duffel bag, in the middle of his old bedroom. He
doesn't talk like he used to, and when he does, he's sharp with everyone in a way he never was
before. He's different, she says, and living with that is a challenge.
She's fortunate. As the contact person for her son's unit, she was trained in what to expect, so her
son's responses to being home haven't taken her completely by surprise. She knows how to treat
him, when to let him be distant, how to listen when he talks. Even so, it's been hard. To an
untrained mom - or wife or boyfriend - it will probably seem impossible.
Author Chuck Dean can relate. He brought home a full-blown case of PTSD [Post-Traumatic
Stress Disorder] from the Vietnam War, although he didn't know it then, and for years, it cost him
jobs, relationships, and other things normal people take for granted. Finally, during one
particularly bleak period, this ex-soldier did the unthinkable: he surrendered. Not to despair,
though. Dean surrendered to God and, in the process, found the peace he'd been so desperate for.
Now, he spends much of his time writing and talking about PTSD and how to overcome it.
If PTSD is new to you, here's what Dr. John P. Wilson (of Cleveland State University's
department of psychology) said, during his testimony before a 1980 Senate Subcommittee on
Veteran Affairs. "We know now that PTSD is a dynamic survivor response to the catastrophic
stressors experienced in the war and to the intense social stressors after it."
Dean puts it more simply. "PTSD is a perfectly normal human response to a profoundly abnormal
event." PTSD is not malingering. It is not a mental disease. It can happen to anyone and affects
sufferers mentally, physically, emotionally, and socially. It's been diagnosed after all sorts of
traumas and can be difficult to recognize, let alone handle without help.
And PTSD affects relationships. That may be a no-brainer in situations where the stressor affects
both members of a relationship equally, like the death of a child, but it's less clear-cut when it's
one person going off to war while the other sits home and waits.
Few civilians have been surrounded by danger every moment, have seen friends die, have had
people shooting at them. Few have been so scared it actually hurt. Civilians tend to expect the
traumas of war to go away once a soldier's home again. Meanwhile, the traumatized soldier can't
explain what he (or she) has been through and may not know or be able to express why it's
affecting home life.
So, what do you do if PTSD rears its ugly head in your life? If your answer is, "It won't; I don't
know any soldiers," remember: it isn't only soldiers that experience PTSD. Do you know someone
who's been assaulted, survived a car wreck, or experienced a loved one's death? You may already
be watching PTSD in action. Are you close to a policeman or a fire fighter or an EMT worker?
You may be dealing with PTSD every day, without realizing it. And what if you have it
yourself?
You're in luck. Dean (with the help of fellow Washingtonian Bette Nordberg) has volunteered to
be point man [the soldier who leads a patrol in hostile terrain and takes the brunt of an attack] in
his latest book, When the War Is Over... A New One Begins: Rebuilding Relationships After
Trauma. All you have to do is read it, as Dean and Nordberg take you through chapters such as
Coping With Trauma, Finding Middle Ground, and Victory Is Possible, and explain how trauma
affects relationships and how to heal the damage.
Even if you don't live with PTSD, read this book. Why? To quote the back cover, "[This] is not
only a book about personal trauma - it is required reading for anyone serious about restoring
relationships with those they love." Reading this book could change your life.
Grace by the Cup: A Break from the Daily Grind
Louise Bergmann DuMont
Fleming H. Revell
P.O. Box 6287, Grand Rapids, MI, 49516-6287
ISBN# 0800758889 $11.99 158 pgs.
Reading Grace by the Cup: A Break from the Daily Grind, by Louise Bergmann DuMont, can
make having a cup of coffee seem like a spiritual experience, as DuMont writes about how her
lifelong love affair with coffee has made her look at life a little bit differently than most
people.
She gets insight in the strangest ways, too. Grinding coffee beans makes her reflect on how life
experiences can roast and grind people, releasing what is best in them in a way nothing else could.
Drinking gas station coffee, instead of waiting until she can get to a real coffee shop, reminds her
that there are things in life worth waiting for, while a cup of expresso makes her think about the
wisdom of using moderation even in the good things of life. The warm brown color of a cup of
her favorite beverage inspires a list of all the things she loves about the color brown. My favorite?
The story of how her parents' wedding rings were paid for in postwar Germany with American
coffee beans!
If you love coffee (or know someone who does), keep a copy of this book on your coffee table.
DuMont's method of drawing life lessons from the pleasures of coffee drinking just might help
you slow down and really enjoy your next cup!
From Dust and Ashes: A Story of Liberation
Tricia Goyer
Moody Publishers
820 N. LaSalle Blvd., Chicago, IL 60610
ISBN# 0802415547 $12.99 463 pgs.
Tricia Goyer may not have been alive during World War II, but according to the men of the 11th
Armored Division who were actually there, the research job she did for her historical novel, From
Dust and Ashes, has produced a story as riveting and accurate as though she'd gone back in time
and lived through it all herself.
Although the book is meant for adults, older teens may benefit from Goyer's take on the topic. My
seventeen-year-old daughter, who is fascinated by the era but hates to read, read it all the way
through and thoroughly enjoyed it!
The book opens in Austria, as the G.I.s of the 11th Armored Division have been told to take and
hold a bridge near a small Austrian town. Here, to their horror, they discover a prison camp filled
with dead and dying prisoners and more grief and pain than they can comprehend.
Goyer uses three points of view (a prison guard's wife, a young G.I., and a liberated prisoner) to
explore the camp's liberation from several angles, and although she doesn't pull any punches, she
doesn't wallow in the details, either. She deftly uses only enough darkness to make the subplots of
brokenness and healing, love, forgiveness, and new beginnings shine like stars.
In order to do this story justice and get the details and emotions right, Goyer interviewed many of
the men who served during World War II with the 11th Armored Division, who have since
heartily recommended the book as a must-read, saying that she "tells it like it was".
Best of all, in a field that too often concentrates on the horror and darkness of the events of those
days, Goyer doesn't just record the plain truth about the evils of the concentration camps. She
leavens that truth with human emotion and weaves into it all an even greater truth - God can make
new life and beauty out of anything, even the dust and ashes of a concentration camp.
Heroes at Home: Help and Hope for America's Military Families
Ellie Kay
Bethany House Publishers
11400 Hampshire Ave. South, Bloomington, Minnesota, 55438
ISBN# 2002015282 $8.99 206 pgs.
Ellie Kay, author of Heroes at Home: Help and Hope for America's Military Families, grew up as
a military brat and then married U.S. Air Force fighter pilot Bob Kay, whom she affectionately
calls "The World's Greatest Fighter Pilot". She has survived over thirteen years of marriage in the
military, including several deployments and eleven moves, the raising of a large family (two adult
and five school-aged children) and life in rural New Mexico. Being part of a military family is all
she knows, which makes her an ideal candidate to write a book about life in the military from a
military spouse's point of view.
She does an excellent job of it, too, listing things military spouses need to know, ways the civilian
spouse can bless the military spouse, ideas for things to send in care packages, items that need to
be dealt with before a deployment, and loads of resources that military families can investigate or
get involved with. She even adds interviews with six other military spouses to round out her own
experiences (including one with her own mom). If you're part of a military family or know
someone who is, this book should be on your bookshelf.
It comes as no surprise to me that this book was a finalist in the 2003 Golden Medallion Awards.
The surprise comes when you hear Kay say that she wrote it in thirty days. To me, it reads as
though she spent years crafting it. I guess when you've lived and breathed a topic as long as she
has this one, you can't get it down on paper fast enough!
Betty Winslow
Reviewer
Brenda's Bookshelf
Leah's Way
Richard Botelho
Windstream Publishing Co.
303 Windstream Place, Danville CA 94526
Phone: 925-742-9251 Fax: 925-742-9562 264 Pages
ISBN 0964392682 $19.95 (Hard Cover)
ISBN 0964392690 $12.95 (Soft Cover)
Her formative years should have been a delight. Instead Leah was tormented by her mother every
step of the way. Perhaps it was because Leah was the youngest. Or perhaps it was due to the rest
of Margaret's children who ignored their mother more often than not. Whatever it was, Leah felt
the switch on a regular basis. This is one of the reasons why she married Vic. So she could get as
far away from her family as possible.
LEAH'S WAY follows a woman throughout her childhood years into adulthood. The first chapter
speaks of her older years. This is at a time when Leah does not take care of herself at all. She is
homeless. A vagabond. A woman who has given up. Immediately the tale sucks the reader into
the web. Then just as quickly pushes the reader back in time.
Botelho produced a fine tale with the literary slant in mind. It is sad yet LEAH'S WAY proves
that faith in God can bring eternal happiness. Unfortunately for Leah, she was sad and depressed
most of her life. Therefore, she never could see the blessings in her life until it was too late.
LEAH'S WAY is a spiritual tale that lets everyone know God loves all His children. Beautifully
told with the expected ending, many will see similarities within their own life.
Past Indiscretions
Susanne Marie Knight
Awe-Struck E-Books
ISBN 1587493837 $TBA
They were all back in East Prairie, Missouri. Glenda lived there with her husband and children.
Drew lived just over the border. Jacko was visiting his mother. Tommy came in for a business
trip. And Savannah was having nightmares.
The quick reunion goes downhill swiftly. Upon Jacko's entrance, Savannah immediately suffers
another attack. This time much more severe than the rest. Tom knows something is terribly wrong
but even with his medical training, he has no idea how to help. Meanwhile, Savannah finds herself
on the world of Atlantis with people resembling those closest to her. Some mean her harm just as
they do in real life. Her only piece of sanity resides with Tom who frantically tries to keep
Savannah in this world to no avail. As the tale continues, it becomes known that the only person
who can save Savannah is Savannah. And her time is running out.
Set in a modern contemporary setting with time travel and paranormal elements, PAST
INDISCRETIONS is a fun tale to read. Knight weaves an awesome spell over her readers easily
blending the lines between reality and fantasy. The mixture does not quite cover the secondary
characters as they seem to be out of the loop on everything happening to Savannah. They also
seem static and uncaring with their actions. Yet, those looking for an entertaining read where time
is a consequence, PAST INDISCRETIONS is a hot commodity.
Brenda Ramsbacher, Reviewer
http://www.scribblers.net
Buhle's Bookshelf
Your Own Mysteries
Philip Armstrong, C.S.C.
Ave Maria Press
PO Box 428, Notre Dame, IN 46556
0877938385 $8.95 1-800-282-1865 www.avemariapress.com
Your Own Mysteries: Praying Your Life Through The Rosary by Philip Armstrong (teacher,
missionary, author, and religious brother in the Congregation of Holy Cross) explores the
personal meaning prayers and the symbolism of a rosary, as prayer relates to mysteries of
imagination, divine inspiration, and all of the diverse stages of life. A deeply spiritual delving of
the depths of what it means to open one's mind to God, Your Own Mysteries is a transcendental
work of unfettered faith and highly recommended reading for members of the Roman Catholic
community.
Precious As Silver
Bishop George H. Niederauer
Ave Maria Press
PO Box 428, Notre Dame, IN 46556
0877939985 $9.95 1-800-282-1865
Bishop George H. Niederauer presents Precious As Silver: Imagining Your Life With God, a
spiritual reflection upon biblical images of the Christian life. A poignant exploration of how prayer
promotes growth, as well as the joys of living a life centered upon Jesus Christ and his teachings,
Precious As Silver is a memorable response to such difficult and thoughtful questions such as
"What is God like?"; "Does God have a plan for us?"; "What does it mean to be a disciple?"; and
"How do we serve God in the Church?" Very highly recommended reading, Precious As Silver is
a compendium of thoughtful and thought-provoking meditations that dedicated Christians in
general, and Roman Catholics in particular, will appreciate.
Apparitions, Healings, And Weeping Madonnas
Lisa J. Schwebel
Paulist Press
997 MacArthur Boulevard, Mahwah, NJ 07430
0809142236 $16.95 paulistpress.com
In Apparitions, Healings, And Weeping Madonnas: Christianity And The Paranormal, Lisa J.
Schwebel (Assistant Professor of Religion, Hunter College, City University of New York),
examines a broad set of phenomena that have been claimed to be direct interventions of God into
the mortal realm. Looking at these various accounts from the twin points of view of theology and
parapsychology, Apparitions, Healings, And Weeping Madonnas offers an enormous amount of
insight, as well as providing suggestions for a reliable criteria with respect to discerning whether a
vision is genuine. A thoughtfully reasoned and meticulously analyzed account that pays due
respect to science and faith alike, Apparitions, Healings, And Weeping Madonnas is inherently
fascinating and impressively informative reading.
Wake For A Fat Vicar
Fray Angelico Chavez and Thomas E. Chavez
LPD Press
925 Salamanca NW, Albuquerque, NM 87107-5647
1890689068 $25.95 www.nmsantos.com
The third title in a trilogy of works showcasing the lives of Hispanic leaders of the Roman
Catholic Church in New Mexico during the middle of the nineteenth century, Wake For A Fat
Vicar: Father Juan Felipe Ortiz, Archbishop Lamy, And The New Mexican Catholic Church In
The Middle Of The Nineteenth Century is an in-depth account of the life and contributions of
Padre Juan Felipe Ortiz and his activities with and in behalf of the Catholic community he served.
Extensively researched, richly detailing Ortiz's life, virtues, and weaknesses, Wake For A Fat
Vicar transports the reader through time in its deft accounting of an era gone by, populated with
the people who lived, strived, who believed with a fervent faith and comprised an active and
enduring Christian community.
Hans Urs von Balthasar's Theological Aesthetics
W. T. Dickens
University of Notre Dame Press
310 Flanner Hall, Notre Dame, IN 46556
0268030642 $30.00 1-800-621-2736
Hans Urs von Balthasar's Theological Aesthetics: A Model For Post-Critical Biblical
Interpretation is a critical and academic examination and study of this twentieth-century
theologian's views and uses of biblically sourced theology by W. T. Dickens (Visiting Assistant
Professor, Cornell University). Exploring the repercussions of Balthasar's analogies between
God's glory and earthly beauty, encompassing the legacy and views of historical criticism of
Balthasar, as well as focusing on how the Bible is portrayed in Theological Aesthetics. Also
available in a hardcover edition (0268030634, $60.00), Hans Urs von Balthasar's Theological
Aesthetics is a thoughtful and scholarly volume for students of Balthasar's work and thought, and
a very highly recommended contribution to Biblical literature and academic studies reference
collections and reading lists.
Return Of A Runaway Spirit
Gunilla S. Hodkin
Wind Whisper Magic
PO Box 292 497, Los Angeles, CA 90029
0974426407 $18.99 www.windwhispermagic.com
Return Of A Runaway Spirit: The Call To Inner Peace & Freedom is the compelling and
heart-wrenching inspirational story of surviving unspeakable trauma. Author and counselor
Gunilla S. Hodkin speaks openly of the loss of her infant brother due to severe neglect by Catholic
nuns, and her own horrific sexual abuse by a priest of the Catholic Church, which had such a
brutal impact on her life that it prompted a stress disorder and suicidal depression for many years
thereafter. Yet Return Of A Runaway Spirit is ultimately a tale of inspiration and hope, of coming
to terms with the horrors of the past and making peace with the unthinkable, rebuilding one's life
and spirit, healing, and learning to experience the positive things life has to offer little by little.
Highly recommended reading, Return Of A Runaway Spirit is critically important reading --
especially for those themselves who (or whose with friends and family members) have had similar
experiences with clergy and/or the church.
Willis M. Buhle
Reviewer
Burroughs' Bookshelf
Lobbying For Libraries And The Public's Access To Government Information
Bernadine E. Abbott-Hoduski
Publicity Department
Scarecrow Press
4501 Forbes Blvd., Suite 200, Lanham, MD 20706
0810845857 $39.95 1-800-462-6420
Bernadine E. Abbott-Hoduski is the founder of the American Library Association's Government
Documents Round Table. In Lobbying For Libraries And The Public's Access To Government
Information: An Insider's View, Bernadine narrates the inherently fascinating story of her
twenty-one year crusade to get funding for libraries and to establish systems that would
substantially improve how information is distributed to the American public. Drawing upon
Bernadine's impressive personal experience and considerable expertise, Lobbying For Libraries
And The Public's Access To Government Information offers a wealth of valuable tips, practical
techniques for effective lobbying as an individual or as a group, along with advice for influencing
the legislative process, as well as common mistakes to avoid when seeking to change the way
things are done. A superb accounting and a solidly useful read Lobbying For Libraries And The
Public's Access To Government Information is most especially recommended for government
document librarians, lobbyists, and policy makers. Also very highly recommended is the
Scarecrow Press edition of Richard S. Halsey's Lobbying For Public And School Libraries: A
History And Political Playbook (0810847833, $36.00).
Graphic Classics: Edgar Allan Poe
Tom Pomplun, editor
Eureka Productions
8778 Oak Grove, Mount Horeb, WI 53572
0971246491 $9.95 www.graphicclassics.com
Compiled and edited by Tom Pomplun, Graphic Classics: Edgar Allan Poe is an outstanding
graphic novel anthology of diverse comic-book style adaptations of classic stories and poems by
the legendary Edgar Allan Poe. Included are "The Raven", "The Cask of Amontillado", "The
Tell-Tale Heart", and nine others. Each black-and-white rendition is by a different artist, and the
styles range from gruesomely realistic to extravagantly bizarre; all of them deftly capture Poe's
brilliant and sometimes shocking dialogue, plots, and the helplessness of man. Also very highly
recommended from their "Graphic Classics" series are the Eureka Productions graphic novel
editions of H.P. Lovecraft (0971246440); Ambrose Bierce (0971246467); and Bram Stoker
(0971246475).
Music Business Made Simple
J. S. Rudsenske, author
James P. Denk, editor
Schirmer Books
c/o Music Sales Corporation
445 Bellvale Road, PO Box 572, Chester, NY 10918
0825672953 $14.95 1-800-431-7187 www.musicsales.com
Knowledgeably written by J. S. Rudsenske and expertly edited by J. P. Denk, Music Business
Made Simple: A Guide To Becoming A Recording Artist is a straightforward, real-world guide to
pursuing a career in the highly competitive recording industry. Individual chapters cover how to
develop songs and a stage presence; design promotional materials; knowing when to hire an
attorney, manager, booking agent, or producer; the ins and outs of getting a record deal; and
more. An excellent and practical guide, Music Business Made Simple is very highly recommended
-- especially for anyone aspiring to or working daily in the commercial business of making and
selling music.
Gilgamesh: A Novel
Joan London
Bolinda Publishing, Inc.
PO Box 307, Shelton, CT 06484
1740308654 $TBA www.bolinda.com
Gilgamesh: A Novel (winner of the 2002 Age Book of the Year award) is a wonderfully crafted
novel by Joan London which is adroitly narrated by Deidre Rubenstein in this complete and
unabridged audiobook version of this award winning saga. Drawing upon ancient myths to put
together a hero's story of struggle, battles, the never ending search for acceptance, and finally his
return home, Gilgamesh: A Novel is a profound and memorably entertaining "theatre of the mind"
experience. Flawlessly produced, Gilgamesh: A Novel is a highly recommended addition to
community library audiobook collections.
C & Data Structures
P. S. Deshpande and O. G. Kakde
Charles River Media
20 Downer Avenue, Suite 3, Hingham, MA 02043
1584503386 $59.95 1-800-382-8505 www.charlesriver.com
The collaboration of academicians and computer science experts P. S. Deshpande and O. G.
Kakde, C & Data Structures is a comprehensive and highly commended instructional text
covering general C programming and most especially the implementation of data structures, as
well as how to analyze complex data structure problems. Ranging from the most basic aspects of
the C language including operators, control structures, and functions; to practical applications
with data structures and advanced problem-solving techniques ; as well as a medley of topics and
features including graphs, arrays, searching and sorting methods, stacks and queues, files and
preprocessing, and more, C & Data Structures is a well-rounded classroom text, an ideal
self-study tool, and an easy-to-consult reference. An included is a CD-ROM which features all of
the source codes referred to in the text, as well as supplemental C programs on data structure
problems.
Degrees Kelvin
David Lindley
Joseph Henry Press
500 Fifth Street, NW, Washington, DC 20001
0309090733 $27.95 www.jhpress.org
Degrees Kelvin: A Tale Of Genius, Invention, And Tragedy by David Lindley is the remarkable
biography of Lord Kelven, a revolutionary thinker who made breakthrough discoveries in the
1800's. Lord Kelven earned immortality for his name when it was adopted for the temperature
scale that begins at absolute zero. Yet in Lord Kelven's senior years, he was outspoken against
new ideas to such an extent as to be a detriment to the scientific community, publicly proclaiming
his doubt of the existence of atoms, vehemently opposing the discussion of Charles Darwin's
theories of evolution, and more. Degrees Kelvin is a striking portrayal of human greatness and
human limitations, all in one man's lifetime -- and reads with the smooth expertise of a well crafted
novel.
A Splendor Of Letters
Nicholas A. Basbanes
HarperCollins Publishers, Inc.
Gulotta Communications (publicity)
10 East 53rd Street, New York, NY 10022
0060082879 $29.95 www.harpercollins.com
A Splendor Of Letters: The Permanence Of Books In An Impermanent World by Nicholas A.
Basbanes is an absorbing contemplation of issues concerning books in contemporary society,
ranging from the destruction of books and libraries in Sarajevo, Tibet, and Cambodia; to the
matter of "discards" at various libraries; the many types of materials used to record information
from ancient times down to the modern day; debates about preservation whether in regard to
storing books on paper or keeping them in electronic format; and so much more. An amazing
study of issues critical to bibliophiles worldwide today, A Splendor Of Letters is a seminal and
impressive work which is most especially recommended to the attention of dedicated bibliophiles,
cultural historians, and Library Science reference collections.
Reference And Research Guide To Mystery And Detective Fiction
Richard J. Bleiler
Libraries Unlimited
88 Post Road West, Westport, CT 06881
1563089246 $78.00 www.lu.com
Now in an updated and expanded second edition (including 2003 publications), Reference And
Research Guide To Mystery And Detective Fiction is an award-winning research tool that
contains evaluative reviews of approximately 1,000 reference works on mystery and detective
fiction. Listing encyclopedias, biographical dictionaries, genre guides, national bibliographies,
media studies, reader's guides, web sites, and much more, Reference And Research Guide To
Mystery And Detective Fiction is a broad-based guide which is superbly organized for quick and
easy lookup of the most appropriate reference or resource specializing in literary genre of mystery
and detective fiction.
Roman Imperialism
Craige B. Champion
Blackwell Publishing
350 Main Street, Malden, MA 02148
0631231196 $34.95 1-800-216-2522
Painstakingly compiled and expertly edited by Craige B. Champion (Assistant Professor of
Ancient History in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, Syracuse University),
Roman Imperialism: Readings And Sources collects ancient documents in translation alongside
carefully selected scholarly essays, in order to give students and lay readers alike an in-depth tour
of Roman history and the unique consequences and problems that beset Roman Imperialism. From
complicated political, economic, and cultural interplays between Romans, their allies, and people
forced under Roman rule, to military theory, and a framework of ideas concerning the expansion
of empires in general, Roman Imperialism is an excellent contribution to the field of Greco-Roman
Studies and especially recommended for any academic library's World History reference
collection.
Wealthy Choices
Dr. Penelope S. Tzougros, ChFC, CLU
John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5773
047145396X $24.95 1-800-225-5945
Wealthy Choices: The 7 Competencies Of Financial Success by Boston-based financial planner
Penelope S. Tzougros is an impressively accessible financial self-help guide to easy and small
steps that any for non-specialist general reader can take to improve his or her financial situation.
From dealing with problems paying the bills; to guarding against financial losses; to realistically
evaluating financial dreams and lifestyle aspirations; to dealing with gift obligations in a thoughtful
yet affordable way, and so much more, Wealthy Choices is a superbly presented resource for
people of all financial standings which offers a wealth of tips, tricks, techniques, and insights to
balancing fiscally related responsibilities and conserve hard earned dollars.
Mathematics By Experiment
Jonathan Borwein and David Bailey
A. K. Peters Ltd.
63 South Avenue, Natick, MA 01760-4626
1568812116 $45.00 www.akpeters.com
The collaborative work of Jonathan Borwein and David Bailey, Mathematics By Experiment:
Plausible Reasoning In The 21st Century provides a complex and informative text for advanced
mathematics students which offs an historical context and rationale behind experimental
mathematics, as well as how modern technology enables the analysis of new examples and the
discovery of patterns in a previously unimaginable "laboratory" of raw processing power. A
thoroughly detailed work, Mathematics By Experiment offers a veritable wealth of meticulously
presented examples which are most especially recommended for graduate-level mathematics
studies.
Mastering Digital Photography And Imaging
Peter K. Burian
Sybex, Inc.
1151 Marina Village Parkway, Alameda, CA 94501
0782142907 $29.99 1-800-227-2346 www.sybex.com
Mastering Digital Photography And Imaging by digital photography expert Peter K. Burian is a
full-color, thoroughly detailed, "user friendly" tutorial to making the most of a digital camera or
scanner, as well as affordable image-editing software. Specifically intended to aid digital imagers
of all skill and experience levels, the individual chapters include cogent and practical advice for
selecting the right scanner, image-editing software, and printer, techniques for getting high-quality
scans from prints, slides, or negatives, professional-quality methods for fine-tuning digital images,
and so much more. Mastering Digital Photography And Imaging is confidently recommended as a
truly superb all-around reference, resource, and self-teaching tool.
Check Point NG/AI
Chris Tobkin, author; Daniel Kligerman, technical editor
Syngress Publishing, Inc.
800 Hingham Street, Rockland, MA 02370
1932266895 $59.95 www.syngress.com
The collaborative work of Chris Tobkin and technical editor Daniel Kligerman, Check Point
NG/AI: Next Generation With Application Intelligence Security Administration is an extensive
tutorial, user manual, and professional reference to the Check Point NG suite of products.
Meticulous instructions and sample computer screens show how to install and configure Check
Point VPN-1/FireWall-1 NG AI on Windows, Solaris, Nokia, or SecurePlatform, as well as how
to write a security policy, implementing user authentication at one's firewall, configure virtual
private networks, secure remote clients, register for a 1-year upgrade, and much more. Check
Pont NG/AI is confidently recommended as a user-friendly guide which is written in
down-to-earth terms explaining each step of its processes as thoroughly as possible.
The Eighteenth-Century Common-Wealthman
Caroline Robbins
Liberty Fund, Inc.
8335 Allison Pointe Trail, Suite 300, Indianapolis, Indiana 46250-1684
0865974276 $10.00 www.libertyfund.org
First published in 1959, The Eighteenth-Century Common-Wealthman by the late Caroline
Robbins (1903-1999) is an expertly compiled history of the men whose writings espoused the
principles of liberty in eras bygone (the late seventeenth century down to the end of the eighteenth
century), when such drastic political changes were considered dangerous at best. Seeking to
better understand the philosophical tenets of ideas that would come to form the core of Western
democratic government, The Eighteenth-Century Common-Wealthman offers a unique and
seminal study of both the principles and the human beings who so eloquently communicated them,
and were responsible for bringing about great political changes toward personal freedom and
liberty in the irresistible tides of history.
Optimizing The Power Of Action Learning
Michael J. Marquardt
Davies-Black Publishing
3803 East Bayshore Road, Palo Alto, CA 94303
0891061916 $39.95 1-800-624-1765
Optimizing The Power Of Action Learning: Solving Problems And Building Leaders In Real Time
by educator and consultant Michael J. Marquardt (Professor of HRD and Program Director of
Overseas Programs, The George Washington University), is a "user friendly" guidebook to an
effective learning technique for facing increasingly intimidating and complex organizational
challenges, especially with regard to global business concerns. Impressing the power of "action
learning" to respond to the need to create new products, improve service quality, and transform
organizational cultures, Optimizing The Power Of Action Learning is a confidently recommended
success guide complete with a well-thought-out process for introducing and sustaining action
learning among groups to the reader's particular and maximum advantage.
Jack Burroughs
Reviewer
Carson's Bookshelf
Art Of The Japanese Postcard
Anne Nishimura Morse, J. Thomas Rimer, and Kendall H. Brown
MFA Publications
c/o Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
465 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115
0878466703 $29.95 1-800-338-2665 www.mfa.org
The collaborative project of Anne Nishimura Morse, J. Thomas Rimer, and Kendall H. Brown,
Art Of The Japanese Postcard is a gorgeous, full-color gallery of Japanese postcards from the late
19th and early 20th centuries. Far more than casual items to mail, most of these cards were
designed by prominent artists and feature striking use of color and imagery. A few companion
essays delineate the history of this unique art form as well as the immortalization of heart-stirring
pictures meant to be sent and shared. Art Of The Japanese Postcard is an impressive and seminal
work which is particularly recommended to students of Japanese Popular Culture.
Racketeering In Medicine
James P. Carter, M.D., Dr.P.H.
Hampton Roads Publishing Company
1125 Stoney Ridge Road, Charlottesville, VA 22902
187890132X $12.95 1-800-766-8009
Racketeering In Medicine: The Suppression Of Alternatives by physician and health issues
consultant James P. Carter is a sharply worded expose of just how the financial bottom line is
warping and skewing the manner in which medical treatments are researched, tested, and
approved. A vociferous and articulate warning against the undue influence of pharmaceutical
companies, and the suppression of the benefits of less costly alternative treatments, Racketeering
In Medicine is a stimulating account of a very real problem present in American health care today
and should be mandatory reading for health care activists, health care policy makers, and health
care providers.
The Great Pint-Pulling Olympiad
Roger Boylan
Grove Press
841 Broadway, New York, NY 10003
0802140327 $14.00 www.groveatlantic.com
Very highly recommended reading, The Great Pint-Pulling Olympiad: A Mostly Irish Farce is a
rollicking roller coaster of a novel by Roger Boylan and set in the days leading up to the
Pint-Pulling Olympiad in the town of Killoyle, Ireland. A cross-dressing church sexton, a drunk
who loses his job as a car tester and sues for wrongful termination, unemployment seminar hosts
who sell missiles to the IRA on the side, and other memorable characters populate the pages of
this engaging and topsy turvy tale with surprises hiding around every corner.
The Essential Guide To Werewolf Literature
Brian J. Frost
The University of Wisconsin Press
1930 Monroe Street, Madison, WI 53711
0879728604 $17.95 1-800-621-2736 www.wisc.edu/wisconsinpress
The Essential Guide To Werewolf Literature by Brian J. Frost is a thoughtful and informative
survey of werewolf literature, covering both fiction and nonfiction works ranging from popular
Victorian tales; to scholarly treatises and medical papers; to the short stories that peppered pulp
magazines in the 1930s and 40s. An inherently fascinating examination of the human response to
the werewolf phenomenon and its powerful, continuing influence on aspects of popular culture,
The Essential Guide To Werewolf Literature is an impressively thorough and scholarly
contribution to Popular Culture supplemental reading lists and Literary Criticism reference
collections.
Warrior Soul
Chuck Pfarrer
Random House
1745 Broadway, 17th floor, New York, NY 10019
1400060362 $25.95 1-800-726-0600
A welcome and highly recommended addition to the growing library of military autobiographies,
Warrior Soul: The Memoir Of A Navy Seal is Chuck Pfarrer's personal memoir of training and
participating in an elite fighting unit, one that was renowned for never surrendering, never being
captured, and never leaving a teammate or a fallen comrade in field. A vivid and gripping personal
testimony of fighting with every tool at one's disposal and never giving up, as well as the
heightened awareness and the skills that keep one alive in the midst of a war zone, Warrior Soul is
an utterly unforgettable true-life read that lives up to its title.
JavaServer Pages
Hans Bergsten
O'Reilly & Associates, Inc.
1005 Gravenstein, Hwy N., Sebastopol, CA 95472-2811
0596005636 $44.95 1-800-998-9938 www.oreilly.com
Now in an updated third edition covering JSP 2.0 and JSTL 1.1, JavaServer Pages is an extremely
practical guidebook especially recommended for server-side Java Developers, uses explicit
instruction, examples, and sample codes to instruct the reader in JSP application basics,
development, and applying JSP in J2EE and JSP component development. A technical user's
manual that goes into express detail, offering explicit syntax and step-by-step discussion of
technical applications. No professional level Java reference collection can be considered complete
or up to date without the inclusion of Hans Bergsten's JavaServer Pages.
