Industrial Magic is Canadian author Kelley Armstrong's fourth installment in the Otherworld
series.
The Otherworld series is a world not much different from our own, but includes demons, deities,
vampires, werewolves, witches, sorcerers, shaman, druids, necromancers, clairvoyants, and much
more. The supernatural world lies just under the surface of the known world and definitely has
nasty
teeth. With Industrial Magic, we are once again treated to a delightful adventure that will suck
you
in and not let go until the end.
At the conclusion of Dime Store Magic, Paige and Lucas have become guardians of Savannah.
Since
Paige's house was destroyed, they spent the summer driving around the country ending up in
Portland, Oregon. Industrial Magic opens with Paige being approached by Lucas' father, Benicio
Cortez. Benicio is a sorcerer and the CEO of the Cortez Cabal, a large company that employees
supernaturals and has shady moral dealings. Since Lucas is estranged from his father, Paige was
never supposed to be approached by Benicio.
Benicio is not to be denied his meeting with Paige. It would seem he has a case he wants Lucas to
take. Someone is killing Cabal children. The latest victim is Dana, a homeless teenage witch.
Paige and Lucas want nothing to do with the Cabals; especially after Savannah's father of the Nast
Cabal tried to take custody of her in Dime Store Magic. Kristoff Nast paid with his life for this,
but
Paige lost everything she held dear; her house, her reputation, and most of all, her coven. A trip to
Miami is taken to politely refuse Benicio and set clear boundaries with the Cabal regarding
Paige.
The adventure begins to unfold in Miami as Lucas and Paige struggle to keep clear of Benicio's
manipulations and still help the supernatural children being targeted. Nothing is ever as it seems in
the world of Cabals. This case pits Lucas and Paige against the killer and the Cabals. We quickly
realize why Lucas wants nothing to do with Benicio and the other Cabals.
Many of our favorite characters from previous novels appear in Industrial Magic Elena, Clay,
Jeremy, and Cassandra. We meet a new character, Jamie a TV personality who talks to the dead
and just happens to be a necromancer. Jamie really livens things up for Paige and Lucas.
Industrial Magic is a book not to be missed. The action is fantastic and the drama is very intense.
Kelley Armstrong creates such fun characters that really jump off the pages. The book is fast
paced
with lots of unexpected turns. Like the other books in the Otherworld series, I wanted more after
finishing Industrial Magic.
Kelley Armstrong is the Canadian author of four books in the Otherworld series; Bitten, Stolen,
Dime Store Magic, and Industrial Magic. The fifth book in the series, Haunted is to be published
in
the Spring of 2005. Available on her website, http://www.kelleyarmstrong.com, are three online
novellas that further the werewolves' storyline.
Reading Lolita in Tehran: A Memoir in Books
Azar Nafisi
Thorndyke Press
295 Kennedy Memorial Drive, Waterville ME 04901
158724487X, $13.95, 609 pp.
Coletta Ollerer
Reviewer
Azar Nafisi is a professor of literature living in Tehran during the rule of Ayatollah Khomeini.
Women are repressed in many ways including the wearing of the veil. Azar has lost her position at
the University of Tehran for refusing to veil her head and decides to meet with former students to
read western fiction and thereby study western ideas. They meet every Thursday at her apartment,
arriving veiled but removing them in the safety afforded there.
The first book they tackle is Lolita. They come to see how Lolita's character compares to their
lives
with respect to her powerlessness. Lolita has lost her parents. She is alone in the world and needs
to
depend on this terrible man, Humbert. He takes advantage of her circumstances and imposes his
will
on her. The little group comes to see the parallel under the rule of the Ayatollah. The Iranians are
powerless and have no place to turn to get away from the Ayatollah. The girls and their professor
came to see that "life in a totalitarian society is where you are completely alone in an illusory
world
full of false promises and where you can no longer differentiate between your savior and your
executioner." (p49)
The next book they study is The Great Gatsby by Fitzgerald. Gatsby's dream is to find entrance
into
the world of the wealthy. The dream is so intense that "it removes from him the power to
differentiate between imagination and reality." (p260) Azar proposes that what the Iranian people
had in common with Gatsby was "this dream that became our obsession and took over our reality,
this terrible, beautiful dream, impossible in its actualization, for which any amount of violence
might
be justified or forgiven." (p260)
In discussing Henry James' novel, Washington Square, Azar compares the ordinary Iranian citizen
to
its heroine, Catherine. None of those who interact with her have the slightest empathy with her.
Their concern is with their own needs and desires. In Ayatollah Khomeini's Iran, the government
is
without empathy for its citizens while forging ahead with its own agenda. In the end Catherine is
victorious in her quiet steadfast way as are the Iranians who remain after the death of the
Ayatollah.
"A stern ayatollah, a blind and improbable philosopher-king, had decided to impose his dream on
a
country and a people and to re-create us in his own myopic vision. So he had formulated an ideal
of
me as a Muslim woman. . .and wanted me to look, act and in short live according to that ideal."
(p295)
Austen was among others of her century's novelists who made marriage the central idea of their
work. What women said and did and thought were the ingredients of the story and gave it its
momentum. With Austen it was not "the importance of marriage but the importance of heart and
understanding in marriage." (p542) Austen's ladies wanted the right to choose, a precious tenet of
democracy. Azar is pleased to understand that the girls in her reading group "by refusing to give
up
their right to pursue happiness, had created a dent in the Islamic Republic's stern fantasy world."
(p498)
This is a story which reveals the intricacies of life in a totalitarian, fundamentalist Islamic society,
how some in its members remain strong and others buckle and get lost in the political fog. "Like
all
great mythmakers, he (Ayatollah) had tried to fashion reality out of his dream, and in the end, like
Humbert with Lolita, he had managed to destroy both reality and his dream. . . . Yet he had done
this with our full compliance, our complete assent and complicity." (p438)
Executive Orders
Tom Clancy
Harper Collins
103 Westerhill Road, Bishopbriggs, GLASGOW, G64 2QT
ISBN 0006479758 8.99 Brit. pounds 1273 pages
John Gautry
Reviewer
Capitol Hill is obliterated along with the president and the entire congress when a plane crashes
into
it. Is this a terrible accident or is it a terrorist act?
Jack Ryan is thrust into the top seat at the White House with an entire congress to appoint. His
presidential style is refreshing and to the point. I like the way Jack Ryan comes across as a no
nonsense President who tells it as it is in no uncertain terms.
The US and Saudi Arabia become involved in a War with a new United Islamic Republic. The
White
House faces Terrorism on the home front on an unbelievable scale. Can Jack Ryan use his power
of
the Presidency to save the US from disaster at home and abroad?
How to Write Modern Poetry
Geoff Tims
Cool Publications
www.coolpublications.com
ISBN 1844811018 4.99 Brit. pounds 100 pages, PDF Format
ISBN 1844811026 11.99 Brit. pounds, CD format
Hugo Dell
Reviewer
An expert guide on how to get beneath the skin of poetry
Modern poetry is a literary minefield. Its seeming disregard for all the obvious rules of more
traditional poetry forms has often made it an easy target for critics who found it hard to
understand
and a difficult arena for budding poets who struggled to adequately find the form needed to bring
their thoughts to life.
As a journalist I'm wary of How-to books because they tend to marginalise the true effort
required
to create anything that's remotely adequate, let alone good. Their prescriptive approach tends to
favour a "now we do this and next we'll do that-" formula that rarely works.
All of which makes Geoff Tims' How to Write Modern Poetry the exception that proves the rule.
A
working poet who never stops seeking ways to improve his craft Tims' book has forsaken the
formulaic approach on How-to do anything for a compressed masterclass on the writing of
modern
poetry.
Opening with 'What is Modern Poetry' Tims analyses not just the genre but the form itself. He
makes
the point that good poetry is good poetry irrespective of style and draws real parallels between
the
different art forms, asking the reader to first look inside themselves before they think of putting
pen
to paper.
As you'd expect in a How-to book there is the inevitable step-by-step approach that, in this case,
feels entirely natural, chatty and unforced. The exercises at the end of each chapter have a specific
aim: to bring out the poet inside the reader. To sensitise us to the world around us, to make us
aware of the potent power of words and to teach us the secrets of the craft of modern poetry that
successful poets find out about the hard way.
Taking the unusual, and very brave, tact of developing a poem alongside the reader Geoff Tims
explores what exactly makes a poem great and then goes on to give examples, create crisis points
the budding poet must resolve and offer advice.
Watching the poem develop is akin to taking an apprenticeship beside a master craftsman. The
digital format of the book makes it perfect for skipping around through all its bookmarks and, for
once, I was able to read three chapters on the train and do the exercises without having to suffer
the
supercilious glances of fellow travellers prepared to make judgement about anyone trying to be a
poet.
Geoff Tims' book is thoroughly exhaustive of its subject as only a How-to book can be and
passionately personal in its arguments as you'd expect from a poet who's very much at the centre
of
his art. It is also tremendously helpful, full of insight, occasionally witty and always gentle in its
guidance. If all How-to books were like this the genre itself would see a revival beyond anyone's
expectations and there would be fewer badly-attempted poems about.
This book also helps with writing novels and short stories.
The Credence of Christopher Craig
C. D. Webb
AuthorHouse
1663 Liberty Drive, Suite 200, Bloomington, IN 47403
888.519.5121
ISBN: 1403374287 $18.95 259 pp.
Ben Jonjak
Reviewer
"The Credence of Christopher Craig" is a good book. It might even be a great book, but I would
like
to hear the opinions of some other reviewers before I make that assessment. Certainly it has its
flaws, but all books do, and the characteristic of a great book is that even its flaws lend a certain
charm and character to the work that supports it and authenticates it rather than making it
unreadable. "Christopher Craig" belongs in that group of works that is, at the very least,
ambitious
and cognizant of the make-up of a literary masterpiece. It does not always hit its mark, but it does
have enough success to be a wholly worthwhile read.
"Christopher Craig" is the story of two young men of privilege. They are both handsome,
moderately wealthy, appreciative of art and all things of the so called "higher class," and fortunate
in
their sexual exploits. Their names are David Dellacordia, and Christopher Craig, and the only real
difference between them is that David is straight while Christopher is unabashedly homosexual.
Despite this difference in sexual orientation, they form an extremely strong friendship that is
undeniably laced with sexual tension.
The novel is narrated from the present by the divorced and lonely David. It is an obvious nostalgic
recollection of what he considers to be the best time in his life. The device of David's narration is
a
superb approach to this story. It allows C. D. Webb to magnify the exploits of Christopher Craig
and
make him seem larger than life by keeping the reader forever at an arm's length. It is also a device
that humanizes David, and allows the reader to make some rather personal assessments of him
that
are strongly implied but not implicitly stated by the actual text.
The characters of "Christopher Craig" are extremely well fleshed out and believable. C. D. Webb
pulls no punches, and by the end of the work you understand both the highs and the lows that the
character's choices have produced. The writing is sometimes overly complicated, but in a way that
is
amusing and enjoyable to read. It is always appealing to see a writer take pleasure in their craft,
and
the faults of the writing of "Christopher Craig" are a result of too much enthusiasm rather than
incompetence. The only problem is a lack of variety in approach. The long, poetic descriptions are
always expertly crafted, but too many of them linked consecutively together becomes a little
tiring.
"Christopher Craig" is a book that belongs outside my typical preferred reading genre. It reminded
me fleetingly of "The Great Gatsby," but I'm really not familiar enough with this type of book to
make an accurate assessment of its quality. Still, I found it to be an enjoyable read, so I am very
curious as to what a person who is a fan of this variety of work might think. I believe there is the
real possibility that with one more rewrite, this could be a truly great book. Then again, it might
be
already.
Prot U
Eva Augustin Rumpf
Booklocker.com, Inc.
http://www.booklocker.com
PO Box 2399, Bangor, ME 04402-2399
Fax number - 207-262-5544
ISBN: 1591135095 $13.95 paperback, $6.95 ebook 184 pages
Lenore Thomson Bentz
Reviewer
This is a deceptively easy book to read -- a bit like last generation's medical-center satire, The
House
of God. The latter, once described as Catch-22 with stethoscopes, employed dark humor to
mount a
devastating indictment of the way physicians were trained in the 1970s. The ambitions of Prot U
are
not as large, but the book subjects academia to a similar farcical viewpoint, offering campus life as
a
microcosm of the perennial clash between politics and social responsibility.
For this reason, the book is fun to read simply as a short and well-paced novel about the colorful
characters fictional Protestant U has brought together for a single academic season. However, the
fact that the story is set in Texas allows the reader to infer a wry and subversive commentary on
the
corporate style of administration that emerged under the Bush governorship, and the difficulty of
journalists to buck the system on which their livelihoods depended.
As a journalist herself who has worked in Texas, Rumpf knows this territory well, and she clearly
enjoyed the opportunity to skewer some of the class and social roles that Texas culture appears to
encourage. The book manages, however, to keep its humor light, skirting the mean-spiritedness of
genuinely black comedy. At its core is a warm affection for the unsung heroes of our time, whose
refusal to delegate individual responsibility to the corporate body always has its price.
Eva Augustin Rumpf is a former reporter, university journalism instructor, and student media
adviser. Her articles have appeared in newspapers and magazines around the country, and she is
co-author of a self-help book on divorce. She lives in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with her husband.
PROT U is her first novel.
CityRats
Peter Z. Mantarakis
http://home.socal.rr.com/pzmworks/
Publish America
P.O. Box 151, Frederick, Maryland 21705
www.publishamerica.com
ISBN: 1413723969 $16.95 (301) 695-1707
Melissa Brown Levine
Reviewer
Stickball, street gangs, mischievous pranks, and a lost eye are major themes through out Peter Z.
Mantarakis' novel, CityRats. It is the coming of age story of Nick, a young Greek American
growing
up in New York's Hell's Kitchen during the '50s and '60s. Young Nick and his friends navigate the
mostly Irish and Italian lower middle-class neighborhood fending off gang attacks and hungry
black
rodents while playing a myriad of street games: punch ball, curb ball, and a tag, hide-and-seek
hybrid
called Ringalevio. Their pranks range from the tossing of water balloons off apartment roofs to
the
igniting of a Molotov cocktail.
Although the plot moves slowly after the reader is introduced to Nick during an examination
where
his doctor decides the boy's left eye (damaged after a group peeping-tom session goes bad) must
be
removed, Mantarakis does a skillful job setting the background for the profound changes Nick
eventually makes in his life. Nick's experiences in the streets of New York shape him into a savvy,
resourceful young man. The author, who also hails from The Big Apple, makes good use of his
own
background in crafting this well-developed story of one boy's perilous journey to adulthood.
The Rite of Passage
Joseph McCullough
Six Gallery Press
www.sixgallerypress.com
ISBN 097460335X $13.99 95 pp.
Have you ever wondered about life? About the meaning of your existence on earth? In this poem,
Joseph McCullough tries to analyze our existence on earth using a deluge of imageries and poetic
devices that will entice readers and keep them hooked from the first page to the very last.
Joseph McCullough, a teacher of Handicapped and English, and a graduate of Girard College,
Philadelphia Community College and Temple University, lives in New Jersey with his two
children.
THE RITE OF PASSAGE is his fourth book.
THE RITE OF PASSAGE is a rhapsody on life, eternal life, life on earth, but includes parts of the
author's own life as well. The readers can learn about the author's life on page 13: ' I venture to
add
to my generation but remain within my own life,/ one began at nine months before birth and by the
same time after/ left fatherless, raised in infancy by the concept of post world/ war housing
projects,removed by the state of law to be reared/ .'
Joseph deals with the concept of Religion on page 12: 'Religion must retreat from its words that
condemn persons/ if the lifestyle of its leaders exceeds those of its followers, /especially those
hard
pressed to have a place to breathe;/ .'
He talks about his country, America, on page 56: 'America, land of one continent abridged by the
oceans,/rifted by the spirographic turn of a galaxy in its universe/ .' The concept of being alive is
on page 65: 'Ever the present is there, the appearance of being in life,/ever the present,the
sensation
of being alive,the speed/ .' He then addresses the issue of women on page 66: 'Hidden by the
years and the slow decline of facades,/the woman looked about the earth,not that it mattered/
.'
There is an inspirational part on page 72: 'See for yourself the day, not from inside your
memories/but as new thoughts in life, without fear in being, with light / of darkness and clear of
shadows ' The issue of Religion is addressed once more on page 73: 'Religion, the speaking of the
mind to a creator of its origins,/the voice of being, life formed of the universal elements,/the spirit
before conception .'
On page 75, Joseph writes about his work and himself: 'Now this poem, a poet's analogue of
thoughts,abbreviated/from master scrolls of purist taste,saturate in repetition/ .' Next, on page 77
the author exhorts readers to self-inquiry to discover themselves: ' look at your own selves and
see
in silence your true vision.'
On page 88 the writer tries to find the purpose in life: ' Me, who I am, a person of self recognized
when requested/of life, chosen as a being of time rendering all associations/of humanity .' His love
for being alive is displayed on page 91 while the last part of his poem tells the readers that life
goes
on . At the epilogue,on pp.93-94, the author exhorts readers that their 'emotional passage of life's
journeys', 'are not in vain solitaire rides'.
To sum up, Joseph's work is amazing. The title is oblique and intriguing. The 'rite of passage', the
way we live our life, has both a literal and a metaphoric meaning . Focusing on the 'rite' we
understand that 'traveling' is the important element in our life's journey. The impulse and emotion
behind the poem seem true and the author leads us to a journey of discovery .
The poem is written in 'free verse', that is, he uses none of the established metrical patterns . It
mainly relies on alliteration and assonance. In this way, the author succeeds in giving readers vivid
detail for our imagination to work with.
This Rhapsody on the meaning of life is exciting in every aspect. It is a wonderful poem that will
satisfy all the poetry lovers and not only them. Prose lovers can read this poem too, as the
'free-verse' is appealing to a wider audience. Rich vocabulary selection and rich images comprise a
poem that will speak to the readers' hearts and make them question their existence on earth.
Screams From the Furnace
Marjaree Mayne
iUniverse.com, Inc.
ISBN: 059515414X $15.95; 303 pages
Patricia M. Moore
Reviewer
I have chosen this book to review for several reasons. The author is a friend of mine. I helped
with
proofing it for her and it is now being considered by another publisher. Due to adult content, it is
geared for the older crowd of mystery lovers.
The title alone, Screams From the Furnace, sets the tone for this psychological thriller. Ms.
Mayne's
main characters, comprised of some of Florida's street people, are well-researched. So well, in
fact, I
wouldn't be surprised if she hadn't actually lived on the streets herself for a time, her descriptions
of
street life are so realistic. She also seems to have an in-depth understanding of serial killers, at
least
this particular serial killer.
Although we know who the killer is almost from the beginning, that takes nothing away from the
anticipation and dread as he systematically sets out to cleanse his little piece of Florida of every
street person he can. Nor does it alleviate the excitement as the street people take it upon
themselves
to discover the killer's identity, intent on retribution.
Ms. Mayne's use of graphic detail and wording holds your attention:
He took another bite of his hot dog, chili dropping to the wood floor. Alfred looked down at the
reddish brown glob of food that had fallen onto the boardwalk by his feet. He set his hot dog
down
on the counter and, grabbing some napkins, he bent down to clean it up. When he stood back up,
he
froze, his hand still holding the dirty napkins. The most beautiful girl Alfred had ever seen was
walking straight toward him. Her exotic features and coloring, and her tiny, slim body and long
tanned legs held him motionless.
Once you have read Screams From the Furnace, I'm sure you'll want to read another of Ms.
Mayne's
unique psycho thrillers, Mirror Murder and, soon to be released, Don't Go Alone.
Erik Hazelhoff: In Pursuit of Life
Erik Hazelhoff
Foreword by Len Deighton
Sutton Publishing
Phoenix Mill, Thrupp, Stroud, Gloucestershire, GL5 2BU, United Kingdom
www.suttonpublishing.co.uk
0750932813 $25.00 396 pages
Pedro Blas Gonzalez
Reviewer
There are "intellectual" biographies and autobiographies, works that purport to demonstrate
cultural
pedigree, and then there are vital autobiographies. The latter type signifying more than a mere
succession of events instead the pulse of a conscious vitality that recognizes itself as passing
through life. Erik Hazelhoff: In Pursuit of Life is a trek through the Dutch writers' diverse
encounters with life. The work is a tale that, in juxtaposing life's most vexing and sublime aspects,
also succeeds in demonstrating its unity. Len Deighton writes in his introduction to the book:
"How
can one man have lived a hundred lives? A hundred lives! And not dull."
Erik Hazelhoff Roelfzema was born in Java in 1917. Amongst his long catalog of exploits we can
count MI6 agent, RAF De Havilland Mosquito pilot, Director of Radio Free Europe, co-creator
of
NBC's Today and Tonight shows, and writer, including Rendezvous in San Francisco and Soldier
of
Orange. In Pursuit of Life showcases a life of diligence, discipline, and the self-assuredness that
comes from resolve. The reader comes across this resolution early on in the work. Hazelhoff
writes:
"At the age of six I thoroughly approved of life." But the book is also sincere, witty, and
consistently
comical. The work is not stuffy, and heavy-handed as is the case with so many autobiographies.
Hazelhoff's cavalier manner is also made known in his many instances throughout the book where
he
pokes fun at his shortcomings. Concerning his failures on the domestic front, he tells us: "Perhaps
I
wasn't cut out for it, for in the course of this period all these elements somehow vanished my job
evaporated, my wife took off, my son became a hippie, my cat was run over, my dog got heart
worms, my cars were sold and I found shelter in the old Lambs Club on West 44th Street, New
York."
From the outset In Pursuit of Life proves to be a reflection on the nature of self-discovery. Early
on
the reader witnesses someone who, even though, aware of the role of chance, nevertheless
remains
cognizant of the importance of taking control of his life. In the first couple chapters we encounter
Hazelhoff trying to deal with the stratified Dutch society of the 1930's. Irony, too, is a staple
characteristic of this book. One day, as a teenager, he decides to move out of his upper class life.
He
attempts to accomplish this by becoming a writer. He then goes off on extended travels through
the
world. He becomes a deck hand on a fishing trawler, contemplates studying law, and tries his luck
at
making a living as a sidewalk guitar player. As a ranch-hand in Argentina he learns from his
employer, Don Mauricio Pieper that, on balance, "You will gain more in life than you'll lose." This
was to become a valuable lesson for one who would soon risk his life in the European skies. The
middle chapters of the book describe his experiences as a pilot in World War II. This section of
the
book details his military training and flying exploits with the same relish that Zorba the Greek,
Katzantzakis' greater than life character reserves for dolphins. The latter chapters are a reflection
on
the nature of business and the pleasures of private life. But regardless of the subject matter, the
book
is well balanced, displaying equal attention to the diverse aspects of his experience.
The final chapters convey a sublime sense of a man running out of time. In fact, the book reads
like
an adventure tale infused with a profound pathos. In the finale chapter titled Grande Finale
Hazelhoff says a final farewell to his friends and family. Concerning wisdom, which he describes
as
unteachable he has the following to say: "Scriptures seminars, books lectures, tracts, sermons,
nothing can convey it except silence, through meditation, contemplation of nature, introspection
and
similar profound practices. Wise men don't speak, and if they do it's usually in obscure terms
merely
hinting at an area to be explained. If you are searching for wisdom, only listen to people who keep
their mouths shut."
Erik Hazelhoff: In Pursuit of Life is more than a sterile recounting of his dealings with strange
people, places, and events. In the midst of adventures and worldly discoveries we find an
individual
who is consumed by the thought of passing time. And perhaps still more significant is the
depiction
of a time when the world was fresh, embracing the whims of visionaries and the vital energy of
individuals. In Pursuit of Life laments the loss of a world of possibility where mobility both,
vertical and lateral was once sanctioned by freedom and imagination.
O Cat West Encounters of the Heart
Emily Jean Carroll
Hats Off Books
Wheatmark, Inc.
610 E. Delano Street, Ste. 140, Tucson, AZ 85705
www.bookpublisher.com (888) 934-0888
ISBN 1587362163 $13.95
M. L. Rigdon
Reviewer
Emily Jean Carroll's O Cat West is not just another animal book; it's a heartwarming tale about the
impact this feline wanderer has on the people he encounters on his way home.
You see, O Cat is a frou-frou kitty, a ritzy looking fellow that looks out of place on a farm. When
circumstances take him far from home, O Cat proves that he's not all fluff. On his event-filled trek
west, we see humanity's problems through his eyes; a teenager in trouble, a lonely tramp, a
malicious
jerk, a woman on the edge of discovery and the loneliness of growing old. O Cat makes a defining
impression on everyone he meets.
What sets this book apart from most animal stories is its clarity and bare bones writing style. Ms.
Carroll's ability to intimately draw us into O Cat's world, where humans are alternately perplexing,
affectionate, violent and kind, does not rely on the cheap trick of sentimentality but does illustrate
a
deep-rooted understanding of compassion. O Cat's story is a study of the human condition
through
an impartial observer's eyes impartial as long as you feed him and scratch him in just the right
spot.
This book is a must for animal lovers. We know how pets bless our lives with comfort, loyalty,
companionship and frequent doses of comic relief. In Ms. Carroll's story, a feline becomes an
observer of how ordinary humans can rediscover and redefine themselves through surmounting
personal struggle.While winding his way homeward through this often-jumbled mess we humans
call
life, O Cat stays true to his own code and teaches us to take time for an in-depth look at the world
around us.
Healing Through Empathy
Francis V. Adams M. D.
iUniverse
ISBN: 0595316263 $12.95 112 pp.
Shirley Roe, Reviewer
www.allbooksreviews.com
Healing through Empathy is a collection of actual case histories, which demonstrate the
importance
of empathy in the diagnosis, treatment and outcome of disease.
We are introduced to Louis Goodman, suffering from chronic snoring with sleep apnea, Mary
Kelly
a young woman with her entire life ahead of her, stricken with cancer and five other fascinating
patients, all who benefit from a little old fashion caring on the part of the physician. Some are
healed
and some are left to face the inevitable with the help of their doctor.
Francis Adams is a pulmonologist in New York City and is the author of several other medical
books. In Healing through Empathy he challenges physicians and care institutions to restore the
balance between a hands on, personal approach and modern technology.
The case studies are written to inform and enlighten the general public to the great difference, the
choice of physician can make. The subject matter is often heavy however the author has managed
to
inject hope and wisdom, as only a Doctor could do. An interesting read for anyone facing a major
health issue or for those in the profession looking for a better approach.
In the back of the book the author has provided a list of resources available to readers who wish
more information. It's available from Amazon.com or www.adamsmd.com.
Alyice's Bookshelf
Rhinoceros Tap
Sandra Boynton, Michael Ford
http://rounder.com
info@rounder.com
ISBN: 1579401015 $11.87
Rhinoceros Tap is a very uplifting, danceable music CD. The upbeat, whimsical sounds allow
parents to get loose and act silly with their children.
I enjoyed the vast variety of musical styles it's a fantastic way to introduce young children to the
many styles of music without them realizing you're broadening their horizons, so-to-speak.
From country square dancing to rock to a touch of jazz to the sounds of theatrical performances,
this children's music CD is sure to become a household favorite!
With the short attention span of preschoolers, parents often find it difficult to teach their children
the
fundamentals of the alphabet, let alone how to read. After throwing their hands up in frustration,
they send their children off to preschool or kindergarten in hopes that the teachers have better
luck
than they did, but not anymore! Anchors and Sails is a fun, practical, easy-to-use program
designed
to help every parent teach their children to read in less than 10 minutes per day!
With so many "hands on" learning tools on the market, why would I recommend this particular
program? It was written by a mother who also happens to be a teacher. She knows first hand the
frustrations parents go through, but also understands the importance of a good, early start. Her
program does more than teach children how to memorize words, or use phonics. She helps
parents
become their children's first teacher by including a wonderful caution and tips chapter, and a
preface
that explains her method or style of teaching.
"F" is for Farm
Featuring: GoBabies (R)
Director: Burke Wood
http://alphabetroad.com
ISBN: 0972572406 $19.99
Are you tired of Sesame Street (R) reruns? In the grand tradition of Sesame Street (R), the
GoBabies (R) take young children on a journey of exploration, visual hands-on learning, and loads
of giggles! The Alphabet Road (TM) hasn't been this much fun in years.
But what makes the video series really stand out is the fact that you no longer have to
fast-forward
to your child's favorite part just click a button and you're there. This wonderful feature allows you
to pick different sections depending on your child's mood for the day and makes it feel like you
have
several videos on one disk.
"F" Is for Farm will have your children singing, dancing, signing, reading, and spouting off so
many
fun, yet smart facts that they'll have your relatives and friends thinking you have a child genius on
your hands!
One Incredible Dog! Lady
Chris Williams, author
Judith Friedman, illustrator
6 High Street, 2nd Floor, P.O. Box 54, Warwick, NY 10990-0054
http://www.moopress.com
dtinney@moopress.com
ISBN: 0972485333 $11.17 845-987-7750
All I can say is fantastic! One Incredible Dog! Lady is a real treat. The illustrations are done in
charcoal sketches which is great because they don't take away from the important lesson the
author
is trying to get out, but at the same time, compliments the book, beautifully.
In a world where life can sometimes be hectic, and often about self, it's nice to read a children's
book
that offers hope while teaching children the importance of reaching out and touching the lives of
others.
Lady is, indeed, an incredible dog. Her gentle nature nurtures many back to health through playful
acts, but more importantly Lady reminds us that sometimes, all we need to do is be there for the
ones we love.
While I understand that dogs like Lady don't come by easily, it would be a blessing if every
hospital
in the United States could have at least one such dog on staff!
Dr. Tootsie
Dr. Suzanne B. Knobel
Alexie Books
P.O. Box 3843, Carmel, Indiana 46082
http://alexiebooks.com/
sales@alexiebooks.com
ISBN: 096794161X $12.97
Dr. Tootsie is a cute story about a young girl who grows up on a family farm, hangs out with her
Gramp, and learns about life in some unusual ways, such as the time she picked up a copperhead
snake and didn't get bit!
Dr. Tootsie is a great story about how life can prepare each of us for becoming anything we want
to
be, including following in the footsteps of our parents. On the farm, Tootsie learned many things
about farm life, including the importance of life and hard work, but it was her dad's profession
that
intrigued her the most thus began her lifelong study of medicine.
I highly recommend Dr. Tootsie to preteens. It's a great book that teaches children to look
outside
themselves and towards helping others whether it be animal, nature, or human.
So What, Saw-Whet?
Rochelle Frank
Hummingbird Mountain Press
P.O. Box 127, Midpines, CA 95345
http://hummingbirdmountain.com/
hummingbirdmountain@sti.net
ISBN: 0974679208 $9.95
Young children are often fascinated with birds: wondering what they can do, what they eat, and
how
they live. But many books on the subject can be "too much book" for small children, leaving their
curiosities left unanswered. In So What, Saw-Whet, the author holds a conversation with the owl,
itself leaving children wanting to know what the owl is going to say next.
My son has been intrigued with the lifestyles of animals ever since he could walk, so when I heard
about So What, Saw-Whet? I just had to read the book. It's a very cute, simple book that teaches
young children the truth about Saw-Whet owls in a way that isn't overwhelming or
complicated.
The pictures are fantastic! Up close and personal, full of rich detail, and very lively. What a
wonderful match!
Pearls of Wisdom
Paula Le Flohic
Zodiac Publishing FZ, LLC
Dubai Media City, PO Box 502127
Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 971-4-3903505
http://pearlsofwisdombooks.com
general@zodiacpublishing.org
ISBN: 1904566545 $17.99
Pearls of Wisdom, From Pregnancy to Pre-school is packed with bite-size bits of information
geared
towards making life easier for busy moms. With over 1,000 tips, this book isn't about the
psychological aspects of child-rearing, and it doesn't contain deep thoughts on how you should do
such and such to your child. Instead, Pearls of Wisdom shares insight from moms who've been in
the
trenches of motherhood and found some simple, and perhaps cost-effective, ways to help new
moms
transition into their parenting roles. If your tired of all the hype and philosophical debates, and just
want the facts, you'll enjoy Pearls of Wisdom, From Pregnancy to Pre-school
Mommy, I Can't Sleep! Music Therapy For All Ages
Carol Cartledge and Tina Dutcher
11919 Hemlock Ave., Hesperia, CA 92345
http://www.catentertainment.net
info@catentertainment.net
No ASIN or ISBN $14.95
Is your child having trouble sleeping? Wish you could get a good night's sleep? Tried every
"sleepy
time" musical CD on the market, and they just aren't working? Than you'll want to give Mommy,
I
Can't Sleep! a try. This gentle, soothing musical CD may just save your sanity!
Instead of singing lullabies to your child, which often cause a child to want to get up and dance
around, or at least sing in bed, the creators of Mommy, I Can't Sleep! use gentle musical tones
mixed with the soothing, relaxing sounds of nature. This combination of music and nature gently
guides your child into a natural sleep state. I highly recommend it for infants, toddlers, and even
that
snoring husband.
The Day The Zoo Came To Visit
James D.D. Smith, Ph.D., author
Stina Brown, illustrator
Xenopus Books
PO Box 84114, Canada Post, Market Mall
3625 Shaganappi Trail N.W. Calgary
Alberta, Canada T3A 0C0
http://members.shaw.ca/xenopus/
xenopus@shaw.ca
ISBN: 0973114207 $12.95 403-547-0633
The Day The Zoo Came To Visit reminds me of a book I relished as a young child, though the
name
of that book now escapes me. So when this book was delivered to my doorstep, I couldn't help
but
rush to read it.
To my delight it was everything I expected it to be and more. The book is beautifully illustrated
with
realistic looking animals, all proportioned to their correct sizes. The story is cute, comical, and
easy
to read.
But what makes this book unique is that is has a real educational value. Not only do children get
to
practice reading rhymes, they learn the alphabet as each animal is introduced in alphabetical order
and each letter of that alphabet is bolded for emphasis. There's even a game of hide-n-seek where
children are encouraged to find lemmings, which have been strategically hidden throughout the
book. And finally, Mr. Smith includes a few questions to ask your child to make the book more
interactive.
Finally, the ending touches on having good manners. The children had tried everything to get the
animals to leave, but they just wouldn't go. Until the children learned to say, "please" that is.
If you're looking for a colorful book that engages the interest of young children, while introducing
them to the love of reading, and still has educational value, you'll want to get your hands on a
copy
of The Day The Zoo Came To Visit, today.
Alyice Edrich, Reviewer
www.thedabblingmum.com
Arlene's Bookshelf
The Heart's Desire
Anna Furtado
Yellow Rose Books
PMB 210, 8691 9th Avenue, Port Arthur, TX 77642-8025
ISBN: 1932300325, $15.95, 198 Pages
Anna Furtado's debut historical romance novel, The Heart's Desire, is set in England during the
post-Norman Medieval Period, the early Renaissance. Henry VI is on the throne, and in the small
township of Willowglen, Catherine Hawkins, the local spice merchant and herbal healer, is about
to
encounter the meaning of the book's title. As she prepares for the annual Harvest Faire, Catherine
notices a young noblewoman, Lady Lydia Wellington, staring at her from across the street.
Catherine is both captivated and confused. "That grey-green gaze had probed into the depths of
her
soul and left her overwhelmed with puzzling emotions" (p.1).
Soon the two women meet, which leads Lydia to ask her aunts, the Ladies of Briarcrest, if she
may
remain after the Faire and learn more about herbs and spices from Catherine. Lydia and Catherine
begin working together, and a friendship is forged which perhaps promises more. Along the way,
the
reader meets Sarah, Catherine's amiable and spunky young assistant, Isadore, a cleric with both a
secret and an obsession, Lord Wellington, Lydia's self-serving father, and the irrepressible Ladies
of
Briarcrest, Beatrice and Hilary. Through various trials and tribulations inherent in the genre of the
historical romance, the reader is pleasantly swept along as each new conflict appears, as each new
impediment to possible happiness occurs, and as the two heroines find purpose and resolve they
never knew they had.
Furtado has created a novel that is rich and vibrant in its authenticity. Having spent two years
researching the period to insure the accuracy of the setting and the events, she has, quite
remarkably,
reconstructed a vivid interwoven tapestry of everyday life, the social mores, and these
unconventional women of the times. The descriptions of the ordinary workday scenes and of the
beginnings of the "enlightenment" in Catherine's Willowglen Township provide the reader with the
opportunity to become part of the story, and this is especially important when reading an
historical
romance. The timeframe in which the action takes place must be again brought to life, dusted off,
and given new insight and vigor. Furtado manages rather effortlessly to accomplish that. The
section
headings, no chapters here, inform the reader as the plot progresses of the place and time. It reads
similarly to diary entries.
The characterization is written succinctly and compactly, yet the reader never feels that Catherine
and Lydia have been slighted as determined, intelligent, and independent women in their
increasingly
dynamic evolution. There is a good deal of internal dialogue for both of these characters, which,
at
times, seems repetitious. Occasionally, the diction of the period reads a bit imperiously. However,
neither of these points detrimentally affect the storyline. The antagonists in this novel are not the
typical mustache-twirling villains. They are not so stereotypical as to be nothing more than
cartoon
figures, which all too often people the pages of this genre. In fact, all the characters who live their
lives on these pages are credible individuals with the same kinds of plausible hopes and aspirations
as
do those of us living in the present.
The Heart's Desire is Book One in a series entitled "The Briarcrest Chronicles." The conclusion of
this novel will very skillfully segue into Book Two. Furtado has a vision for this historical
romance
series, and her first published novel more than promises an admirable foundation. It strays
somewhat
from the formulaic historical genre, but this surfaces to be one of Furtado's strengths. The Heart's
Desire uses an intriguing and innovative approach with wonderfully vital and fascinating women.
This will surely compel the reader to enthusiastically, if not impatiently, await the next
installment.
Until Soon
Maya Indigal
Yellow Rose Books
PMB 210, 8691 9th Avenue, Port Arthur, TX 77642-8025
ISBN: 1932300317, $19.95, 285 pages
Andi Marlowe is a twenty-three year-old graduate assistant in the English department and a
part-time instructor at a small New England liberal arts school, Northeast Valley College. While
making a bothersome yet obligatory appearance at another boring fundraiser, Andi meets Cara
Jane
Lipinski, a senior history major, who also happens to be CJ Lipinski, the senior star of the college
basketball team. A spilt drink prompts the two women to strike up a conversation. Before CJ
leaves
the party, Andi offers assistance to CJ who is struggling with the completion of an important
history
research paper.
Soon after, the basketball star is dropping by Andi's office for research mentoring, and Andi
begins
to realize CJ is popping in for more than merely information about how best to write note cards.
There is a definite attraction for the beautiful graduate assistant. As the story progresses, Andi
also
realizes that her feelings for CJ go beyond simple friendship, and this presents a variety of
conflicts
for her as well as for those around her. The teacher/student boundary line, a spurned suitor,
unpleasant memories of a past love, and an entirely unforeseen medical crisis are but a few of the
troubling events that befall these two young women and which will affect the course of each
woman's life.
Until Soon is Maya Indigal's first novel, and it is an outstanding effort and worthwhile entry into
the
genre of lesbian romance. Indigal has meticulously fleshed out her characters completely and
carefully. The calm and cautious Andi and the sassy CJ represent their age group quite well, but
one
does not need to be in that set to appreciate the uncertainty, the humor, and the vulnerability of
these two very affable characters. CJ's interactions with her roommates are often quite raucous
and
humorous, and her relationship with her teammates and her understanding of the word team ring
true. The exchanges between CJ and her coaches also capture the mood and spirit of an athlete
and a
team that want to win that all-important championship.
The plot development, overall, is straightforward and most definitely comprehensible. Series of
events flow effortlessly into one other with a distinct rhythm and purpose. The only thing this
reader
found a bit excessively drawn was the devotion of so much of the storyline to the recuperation
scene. It was too repetitive of actions toward the last third. However, when Indigal recreates a
magical sledding scene, it is virtually a verbal snapshot of a wonderful time, on a perfect day, with
that ideal someone.
Conflict drives any story, and there are several struggles that present themselves for these main
characters that fully involve the reader. In addition, this reader would have preferred more
emphasis
on the conflict that involved Andi, CJ, and Jen, the assistant coach. There is a fair amount of
internal
conflict and internal dialogue involving Andi and CJ. Unlike some other novels, Until Soon
refreshingly avoids the often overdone, tedious, confusing, and mundane expression of this plot
device.
Indigal possesses an easygoing and comfortable writing style that is one reason this reader sat
down
and finished the novel in several hours. It is the sort of writing that deals with the kind of
believable
and common experiences that immerse a reader, a genuine "put yourself in their places" novel.
Until
Soon gives the reader that sense of having met some very congenial and agreeable people, the sort
one would like to invite over for an evening of good food, drink, and conversation. Until Soon is
an
enjoyable way to spend a few hours, and Maya Indigal is an author worth remembering. Here's
hoping she's working on her next novel!
Arlene Germain
Reviewer
Bethany's Bookshelf
Shining Through
Hugh Prather
Conari Press
c/o Red Wheel/Weiser
368 Congress Street, 4th floor, Boston, MA 02210
1573249548 $12.95 1-800-423-7087 www.redwheelweiser.com
Shining Through: Switch On Your Life and Ground Yourself in Happiness is a thirty-day self-help
guide for Christians seeking to revitalize their self-esteem, their faith, and the love in their hearts.
Brief essays and affirmations, along with mental projects to confront and higher goals of the soul
to
aspire to comprise this powerful guide that challenges one's way of thinking about God and
inspires
greater depths of dedication to Christian principles. Highly recommended as an eye- and
soul-opening experience. "Affirmation: Learning to respond to now is all there is to learn. Guide:
Each instant I remember, I will take a closer look at this present moment and all it contains. The
journey to God is the journey into now. To ascend into Heaven is to sink so deeply into now that
I
lose all interest to past and future. The ego was and will be, but only God is."
The Catholic Faith Handbook For Youth
Brian Singer-Towns with Janet Claussen and Clare van Brandwijk
Saint Mary's Press
702 Terrace Heights, Winona, MN 55987-1318
0884897672 $26.95 1-800-533-8095 www.smp.org
The Catholic Faith Handbook For Youth is a basic guidebook concerning all things Catholic.
Intended for young adults, yet accessible to anyone who may be fuzzy on the details of
Catholicism,
The Catholic Faith Handbook For Youth covers creed, sacraments, morality, and prayer, along
with
articles concerning information on current events from a Catholic point of view, advice for prayer,
profiles of thirty-seven Catholic saints, notes on the history of the Catholic Church, and more.
Full-color illustrations pepper this highly readible introduction to a spiritual way of life. Especially
recommended reading to share with one's preteen and teenage children in order to teach them
more
about Catholicism and what it means to live one's life by Catholic religious principles.
History Makers
William Ford III
Regal Books
2300 Knoll Drive, Ventura, CA 93003-7383
0830732454 $12.99 regalbooks.com
History Makers: Your Prayers Have the Power to Heal the Past and Shape the Future is a
Christian
self-help guide to renewing the faith and sincerity in one's prayer. Emphasizing the need to look to
biblical forefathers and pray for the renewal of their covenants with God, History Makers forsees
the
synergistic effect of combining prayers as having a lasting impact upon God's goals for humanity,
America, and the world. History Makers does not put forth such naive beliefs as to claim that
prayer
alone allows for earthshaking events such as the capture of Saddam Hussein, but it does stress the
positive repercussions prayer can bring on all walks of human life, culminating in what can only be
described as a translation "from censer to scepter". A zealous yet profound exploration into the
role
that faith can have, and an instructional in how to fire up one's faith to transcent curses of the
past.
Gifts of the Wise Men
Colleen Reece
Kregel Publications
PO Box 2607, Grand Rapids, MI 49501
0825436079 $14.99 1-800-733-2607
Gifts of the Wise Men: A Treasury of Christmas Stories is an anthology of simple, heartwarming
tales to share with readers of all ages. Color illustrations and a warm and loving theme pervade
the
stories. Some Christian themes are touched upon, such as the songs of angels and Jesus Christ's
personal Christmas wish list. Most of the tales are quite brief, and make for enjoyable holiday
bedtime or storytime reading. An enchanting and endearing anthology.
The Old Shepherd's Tale
Henri Sorensen
Housatonic Press
c/o The Myrin Institute
187 Main Street, Great Barrington, MA 01230
091309885X $16.95 www.myrin.org/hp
The Old Shepherd's Tale is a beautiful children's picturebook that contemplates the miracle of
Jesus
Christ's birth from the point of view of an old shepherd, and the animals thast shared the manger
where His life began. Moving oil paintings portray scenes of the ox, the cow, and the donkey, as
each is a witness to divine wonder and each offers their own gift to the newborn savior. The
message of an angel, concerning importance for the respect of the pain and contributions that each
animal gives to humans, is one that resonates with compassion and reverence for life at the
end.
The Lord's Prayer
Heidi Holder
Front Street
862 Haywood Road, Asheville, NC 28806
1932425039 $16.95 www.frontstreetbooks.com
Beautifully illuminated throughout by the museum quality artwork of Heidi Holder, The Lord's
Prayer is presented in the manner and form of a medieval manuscript with each spectacular
illustration accompanying each phrase of the short text of Jesus' famous example of prayer as
found
in the New Testament gospels. Holder's meticulous renderings of animals, birds, insects,
traditional
religious symbols, gardens, wildlands, and distant castles transform this picturebook into an
inherently impressive work of inspired and inspiring art. If you only have budge enough for
acquiring
a single picturebook for a Christian child, make it Heidi Holder's The Lord's Prayer.
Thank You, God
Charlotte Lundy & Miriam Sagasti
Bay Light Publishing
PO Box 3032, Mooresville, NC 28117
0967028094 $15.95 1-866-541-3895 www.baylightpub.com
The collaboration of author Charlotte Lundy and illustrator Miriam Sagasti, Thank You, God is
especially recommended for young readers ages 4 to 8, and features a prayer which was written
by
former president Jimmy Carter and is a wonderful picturebook about Patrick, who dreams of one
day flying airplanes. When Patrick's flight instructor tells him that he's a natural at flying, Patrick's
father explains to him how God gives everyone special talents in life like with Dr. Campbell and
his
special talent of compassion and caring for the sick, or neighbor Hankins with her special talent of
feeding and caring for the hungry, or Mr. Wilson with his special talent for building houses. Thank
You, God is ideal reading for children. Also highly recommended are the other titles comprising
this
outstanding children's picturebook series by Charlotte Lundy: Thank You, Moses; Thank You,
Noah; Thank You, Mary; Thank You, Paul; Thank You, Peter; Thank You Esther; Thank You
Solomon; That You, Ruth & Naomi; and Thank You, Jesus.
So That's What God Is Like!
LeAnne Hardy & Janet Wilson
Kregel Kidzone/Kregel Publications
PO Box 2607, Rand Rapids, MI 49501
0825427827 $TBA www.kregel.com
In So That's What God Is Like! author LeAnne Hardy draws upon her ten years of experience in
Africa serving as a missionary librarian to create the story of Temba, a young African boy who
tends
his family's goats with his big brother Sipo but is so small that he can only climb where his brother
can leap. When his mother carries a heavy tin of water upon her head to irrigate the corn plants in
the family garden, Temba is so small that he can only carry a little can of water upon his. Temba's
family are Christians and he loves his village church and his teacher. But Temba thinks he is too
small and unimportant to ask anything of God. With the help of Temba's Granny he learns that no
one is so small, so little, or so unimportant that God would not want to help and protect them.
Temba discovers that God is like a shepherd who is interested in the well-being of every member
of
the flock. Especially the little chicks, the little babies, and the little goats, and the little boys like
Temba. Janet Wilson's museum quality artwork adds a very special supportive imagery to this
original and heartfelt picture story for young Christian readers ages five to eight.
Christopher's Adventures: A Prayer On Angel Wings is a wonderfully written picturebook on
prayer
for young readers. Beautifully illustrated with Doina Paraschiv's artwork, the poetically lyrical text
is
about a little boy who goes to sleep one night and dreams an angel named Matthew shows him
what
Jesus wants him and all other children to do. Acts of prayer and kindness to those and for those in
need of help anywhere in the world. Christopher's Adventures is a welcome and enthusiastically
recommended addition to family and Sunday school children's books collections and reading
lists.
God Of The Valley
Steve Griffiths
Augsburg Publishers
100 Fifth Street, Suite 700, Minneapolis, MN 55402-1210
0806651520 $12.99 1-800-328-4648 www.augsburgbooks.com
God of the Valley: A Journey Through Grief is the personal testimony of a church minister who
works with bereaved families, and who lost his own wife at the far too young age of thirty-six.
Biblical passages are woven into this journey of faith in difficult times, which is penned as the
personal experience of one who is strengthened and comforted by God rather than as a clinical
advice book for grieving. A profound meditation on the sadness of life and the difficulty of
moving
on, as well as the immeasurable love of God.
The Truth Will Set You Free
Samuel L. Hoard
Concordia Publishing House
3558 South Jefferson Avenue, Saint Louis, MO 63118-3968
0758605471 $9.99 1-800-325-3040 www.cph.org
The Truth Will Set You Free is Samuel L. Hoard's autobiography. Beginning with his childhood
in
St. Louis, Missouri, going on to his college years in Ft. Wayne, Indiana, and continuing with his
service to people from all walks life as a pastor and military chaplin, this personal memoir is laced
with anecdotes revealing the subtleties and cruelties of racism both with society and withing the
church. The Truth Will Set You Free is an account of an enduring passion for communicating the
Gospel despite social, cultural, and racial roadblocks. The life story of Pastor Samuel L. Hoard is
strongly recommended reading, especially for those engaged in their own struggle against injustice
and discrimination both within the Christian community and the broader secular society.
Susan Bethany
Reviewer
Betsy's Bookshelf
Ride 'Em Cowboy
Stefan Czernecki
Simply Read Books
501-5525 West Boulevard, Vancouver, BC, V6M 3W6, Canada
189496506X $16.95 www.simplyreadbooks.com
Engagingly written and distinctively illustrated with photography utilizing authentic folk art and
handcrafted props in make-believe scenarios, by Stefan Czernecki, Ride'Em Cowboy takes young
readers ages 4 to 7 seven through a day's work on the range. Beginning with the crow of a rooster
in
the morning and the cowboys saddling up their horses for a days work of roping, riding; and a
whole
lot more, to the end of a long day's work and time to kick up a little fun square dancing, singing,
and
spending their pay, to bedtime and dreams of riding the rodeo, this colorful, lively, wonderfully
entertaining picturebook story is a welcome and recommended addition to any child's reading list
--
especially if they have cowboy dreams of their own!
Becoming George's Brother
Maria McCool & Don Berry
Privately Published
1594572496 $16.99 www.mariamccool.com
Written by Maria McCool and illustrated by Don Berry, Becoming George's Brother is a
picturebook without a spine that addresses a fundamental question in family relationships - can a
younger brother ever earn equal respect and friendship with his older brother, who enjoys a
reputation for being everything the younger brother is not? Following two siblings as they work
hard
on a family farm, Becoming George's Brother is a heartwarming tale that offers a strong,
inspirational message of family togetherness and working to overcome difficulties. An enjoyable
tale,
Becoming George's Brother written with enough complexity to appeal to young readers just
approaching intermediate level comprehension skills.
It All Began With A Bean
Katie McKy & Tracy Hill
Tanglewood Press
PO Box 3009, Terre Haute, IN 47803
097493030X $14.95 www.tanglewoodbooks.com
It All Began With A Bean is a delightfully whimsical picturebook exploration of what would
happen
if 5 flies feasted on beans, 15 pigeon dined on raisins, 45 cats chomped on cheese, 135 dogs
woofed
down potato chips, thousands of kids (and their teachers!) chewed bubble gum, half a million
people
ate eggs; a million fish swam through soda, and more than a million people gulped big breaths
before
a race -- and then they all farted at the same time. Katie McKy's original story is wonderfully
illustrated by Tracy Hill -- the result is a modern classic that will thoroughly engage the
imaginations
of young readers ages 4 to 8 from beginning to end.
The Monster Run
MyLinda Butterworth & Matthew Mercer
KSB Promotions (publicity)
Day To Day Enterprises
17212 Canoe Creek Road, Oviedo, FL 32766-8533
1890905232 $14.95 www.TheMonsterRun.com
Nicole is afraid of the dark, but her father knows just how to get rid of night monsters and leave
her
feeling safe and loved. In The Monster Run, author MyLinda Butterworth draws upon her
experience as the mother of two children to write a superbly crafted children's book about being
scared of the dark in the middle of the night. This engaging and reassuring story for young readers
is
perfectly illustrated by Matthew Mercer. The Monster Run is a welcome addition to family and
community library collections for children -- especially children needing a little help at coping with
night time anxieties.
Milton's Dilemma
Patricia Gatto & John De Angelis, authors
Kenneth Vincent, illustrator
Providence Publishing Company
834 Tanglewood Drive, Tanglewood Lakes, Greentown, PA 18426
0965166198 $15.95 www.joyfulproductions.com
Milton's Dilemma by the husband and wife writing team of John De Angelis and Patricia Gatto
deals
directly with the consequences of bullying in a sensitive, practical, entertaining manner as young
readers ages 6 to 10 follow the journey of Milton from loneliness and anxiety to friendship and
self-acceptance. Kenneth Vincent's rather impressive artwork is a perfect enhancement of a reader
engaging story. Milton's Dilemma is a respected and commended addition to school and
community
library collections for children, nd especially recommended reading for any child having to deal
with
the issues of bullies and bullying.
The Sleepytime Ponies Trick A Trickster
Lana Jordan, author; Kd Allen & Teresa Giraud, illustrators
Lullaby Mountain, Inc.
PO Box 2882, Cedar City, UT 84721
0971069611 $12.95 www.sleepytimeponies.com
The debut title in a new series of read-aloud bedtime storybooks for children. Mother, Katie, and
Ben are flown to Thailand by flying ponies. There they shop at a floating market, make their own
kites, pursue Mouse Deer through the rain forest, and wonderfully enjoy themselves. Mouse Deer
is
a clever little southeast Asian character who can outwit and outrun just about everyone while
playing tricks and practical jokes. Along with their new friend Napat, they all try to catch up with
Mouse Deer and, with the help of the Sleepytime Ponies, beat him at his own game! An original
story by Lana Jordan which is nicely enhanced with illustrations by the team of Kd Allen and
Teresa
Giraud, The Sleepytime Ponies Trick A Trickster will leave young readers enthusiastically
awaiting
the next thrilling and entertaining picturebook adventure with the Sleepytime Ponies.
Betsy Hogan
Reviewer
Betty's Bookshelf
Nam Vet: Making Peace with Your Past
Chuck Dean
ACW Press 1200 Hwy 231 South #273, Ozark, AL 36360
http://www.acwpress.com/index.html
0967937108 $13.99 176 p.
The war in Iraq is winding down now, leaving in its wake thousands of men and women who have
seen and done things beyond their imagination. Some of them will return to the U.S. with joy at
resuming life-before-the-war. Others will return with PTSD [post-traumatic stress disorder].
What is PTSD? In 1980, during his testimony before a Senate Subcommittee on Veteran Affairs,
Dr.
John P. Wilson (from Cleveland State University's department of psychology) stated, "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."
PTSD is not malingering. It is not a mental disease. It can happen to anyone and affects sufferers
mentally, physically, emotionally, and socially. It can be difficult for a sufferer to recognize in
himself
or herself, let alone handle without help. It has been diagnosed in survivors of automobile wrecks,
rapes, POW and concentration camps, and catastrophes such as house fires and earthquakes, in
policemen and firemen and EMT workers... and in returning veterans, especially the men and
women
from the Vietnam War.
If such a veteran (or policeman, fireman, EMT worker...) is your friend, your spouse, your child,
you already know what havoc PTSD can wreck on a life, not only the sufferer's life, but the lives
of
all those in his or her circle of family, friends, and co-workers.
If you don't know such a person and think that you don't need to know about PTSD, consider
this:
72% more vets have killed themselves since returning home from Vietnam than died in the
conflict
itself. That is an unmistakable cry for help and the results of ignoring it (or denying that it can be
answered) leaves a whole generation of warriors to battle through it all alone. The Vietnam War
produced thousands of men and women who have never really come home, who are still fighting
their battles in the dark of night and the depths of their souls.
Add to that survivors from other wars, conflicts and catastrophes (including Sept. 11, Operation
Iraqi Freedom, and the car wreck down the street) and you come up with an inescapable fact:
sooner
or later someone you care about will be diagnosed with PTSD and you'll want to be able to say,
with
Seattle author and Vietnam veteran Chuck Dean, "...It doesn't have to be that way. ... there is real
help available, though it may not come from the quarter you expect... PTSD can be licked."
Chuck Dean, former international director of Point Man Ministries, knows firsthand about the
effects of PTSD on a person's life. Dean was one of the first paratroopers of the advanced forces
of
the 173d Airborne Brigade sent into Vietnam in May of 1965, the only American unit that never
set
foot on American soil during its entire existence and the first regular ground troops to be
deployed
to Vietnam to begin the war escalation.
After his year-long tour of duty in Vietnam ended in April of 1966, he returned home, where for
the
next twenty years he battled the demons of PTSD through two divorces and sixty-five jobs, with
every weapon he could put his hands on: drugs, alcohol, militia involvement, bouts of rage, you
name it, he probably tried it. Finally, in 1986, he did something he had never done before in all his
years of military service - he surrendered. Not to a foreign military power, though, and not to the
demons of PTSD, either. Dean surrendered to God - and was inducted into a new army - God's.
His
life changed dramatically as a result.
Since then, Dean says, "My trauma was brought into 'remission' over a decade ago. Now, I'm
giving
my time, strength, and resources to help brothers [in arms]... find release and final healing for this
inner sickness." One of the resources he uses is his book, Nam Vet: Making Peace With the Past,
which has sold over 90,000 copies and which he gives free to any veteran who wants one,
through
his web site (see below).
In Nam Vet, Dean first educates readers about the disorder itself and the effects it can have on
people. He then lists a series of small, doable steps that can be taken, one at a time, to pull PTSD
sufferers out of the pit they've been thrown into.
If you know someone who is struggling with PTSD or you would like to understand the issue of
the
Vietnam veteran as well as PTSD itself, this book is the place to start. Be forewarned - reading it
may not only change the way you look at others, it may change the way you look at yourself.
Chuck Dean has written many books for and about servicemen and they can all be ordered from
his
web site at: http://www.namvetbook.com/ or by calling his distributor's warehouse at
1-866-301-7323.
Runt the Brave
Daniel Schwabauer
Clear Water Press
P.O. Box 62, Olathe, KS 66051
www.tiranor.com
0974297216 $16.99. 224 p.
When you are small, it is easy for others to overlook you - and underestimate you. Runt isn't
taken
seriously by the other mice of Tira-Nor, not even his own family. Few outside his family even
know
that his real name is JaRed, for he has been called "Runt" all his life. He is smaller than the rest of
the
mice and his main talents are slipping about silently, making himself almost invisible, and believing
with all his heart in the words and ways of the unseen Maker, ElShua.
Although JaRed loves the safety and familiarity of Tiranor, he also hates it, for he longs for
adventure in the wide world outside, away from the sneers and bullying of his brothers and the
covert laughter of the other mice. His discovery and subsequent report of rat spies outside
Tira-Nor
brings him favorable attention from King SoSheth, who makes him a kingsguard. This makes his
brother HaRed jealous, and when he overhears the kingdom's seer secretly anointing JaRed as
king
over Tira-Nor, he tattles to King SoSheth.
Then the rat horde comes, sent by Lord Wroth, ElShua's bitter enemy, and led by the biggest rat
anyone has ever seen: GoRec. GoRec challenges the mice to send out a champion to fight him,
and
in the end, only JaRed has enough faith in ElShua's words to ask King SoSheth to send him. Can
he
prove to everyone that it takes more than size and strength to win a battle against evil? Runt the
Brave may be Missouri author Daniel Schwabauer's first novel, but it reads as smoothly and
grippingly as though it were only one of many. I look forward to his next book.
Betty Winslow
Reviewer
Buhle's Bookshelf
Teamster Rebellion
Farrell Dobbs
Pathfinder Books
306 W. 37th St., 10th Floor, New York, NY 10018-2852
087348973X $19.00 www.pathfinderpress.com
Farrell Dobbs was a coal-yard worker and one of the central leaders of the 1934 strikes when in
his
twenties. Some forty years later Dobbs was the national secretory of the Socialist Workers Party
and
wrote down an account of his experiences working in the coal yards and becoming involved in
unionist movement organizing the drive to establish Teamsters Local 574 and the rise of the
Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO) as an effective nation-wide instrument to better
working
conditions for men and women like himself. Teamster Rebellion is Dobbs account of the
hard-fought
strike actions which were often all out battles with law enforcement and hired thugs operating as
strike breakers in the employ of the exploitative company owners and such big-business fronts as
Citizen Alliance. Teamster Rebellion is a welcome and recommended addition to academic and
community library American Labor History collections.
Socialism Betrayed
Roger Keeran and Thomas Kenny
International Publishers
PO Box 3042, NY, NY 10116
071780738X $14.00 www.intpubnyc.com
The collaborative effort of authors Roger Keeran and Thomas Kenny, Socialism Betrayed: Behind
The Collapse Of The Soviet Union 1917-1991 reveals the true story of what led to the overthrow
of
the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. a multi-faceted and meticulous presentation of historical
facts and personalities, the authors provide a wealth of insights and an especially perceptive
analysis
of the campaign to introduce capitalism from the top down, leading to the abandonment of
collectivism, socialism, and the communist ideal. Socialism Betrayed is a welcome and much
needed
contribution to the continuing international and scholarly dialogue regarding how capitalism came
to
replace socialism as the governing economic and cultural systems of the Soviet Union, the
downfall
of global dominance of Russia, and the rise of the bloody ethnic conflicts and civil wars that we
now
see happening between sister states within the former communist coalition.
Against the Tide
Debbie Hagan
Hamilton Books
c/o Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group
Gulotta Communications Inc. (publicity)
4501 Forbes Boulevard, Suite 200, Lanham, MD 20706
0761828389 $30.00 1-800-462-6420 www.univpress.com
Against the Tide is the true story of a law school that dared to buck the American Bar
Association's
requirements for admitting candidates. In an era when only those who score high enough on
LSATs
and have the money to attend the most costly colleges can even attempt the bar exam, the dream
of
becoming a lawyer is open largely to those with money and privilege. The Massachusetts School
of
Law was not the first law school that attempted to be affordable, accessible to students of all
socio-economic groups, and relying on its own admissions standards rather than ABA-dictated
criteria, but it put up a fiercer fight than its predecessors. The MSL took the ABA to court more
than once after they withdrew their accreditation, accusing the ABA of antitrust violations and
anti-competitive tactics, arguing that the MSL attempted to fulfill as many ABA requirements as it
could, but the demanding costs of fulfilling them all would have resulted in a tuition spike that
would
price their courses out of the reach of the very community they were trying to serve. Against the
Tide is a courageous David and Goliath story, and even though The Massachusetts School of Law
did not gain accreditation from the ABA, it was victorious in other ways - for one, it earns
accreditation from the reknowned New England Association of Schools and Colleges. Highly
recommended.
Christ and Apollo
William F. Lynch
ISI Books
PO Box 4431, Wilmington, DE 19807-0431
1932236228 $15.00 1-800-526-7022 www.isibooks.org
Originally published in 1960, Christ and Apollo: The Dimensions of Literary Imagination is a
classic
examination of the works of Greek dramatists, Dante, Shakespeare, Proust, Camus, Graham
Greene,
and other great writers in light of their gravitation toward two opposing tendencies. One aspect,
symbolized by Apollo, is the tendency to desire escape from the finite real world and the human
condition of embodiment. The other tendency is symbolized by Christ, and offers a glimpse of the
infinite world. Christ and Apollo evaluates these traits with articulate philosophical reasoning, and
educated author and literary critic William F. Lynch explains why he feels limitation and finitude is
the great human good. An erudite and deeply thought out compendium, intended especially for
advanced literature and philosophy students.
A Chimp in the Family
Vince Smith
Marlowe & Company
c/o Avalon Publishing Group
245 West 17th Street, 11th floor, New York, NY 10011-5300
156924460X $14.95 1-800-788-3123
A Chimp in the Family is the true story of an ecologist and conservationist who took an infant
chimpanzee into his home when she was abandoned by her mother. Six months later, his son was
born. A Chimp in the Family is the unique account of rearing two babies side by side as one's own
kin. Offering heartfelt tales of struggling with infant care and the milestones of early childhood, A
Chimp in the Family also offers the unique difficulties in attempting to persuade a hand-reared
chimpanzee to socialize with others of its kind. Happiness and heartbreak blend in A Chimp in the
Family, which details social and emotional bonds between humans and animals from an intensely
personal point of view.
Genomic And Genetic Analysis Of Plant Parasitism And Defense
Shinji Tsuyumu, et al.
APS Press
3340 Pilot Knob Road, St. Paul, MN 55121-2097
0890543232 $79.00 www.apsnet.org
The collaborative work of editors and contributors Shinji Tsuyumu (Shizuoka University, Japan),
Jan E. Leach (Kansas State University), Tomonori Shiraishi (Okayama University, Japan), and
Thomas Wolpert (Oregon State University), Genomic And Genetic Analysis Of Plant Parasitism
And Defense is a compilation of the articles and essays that were presented at the 9th Japan/U.S.
Science Seminar on Plant-Pathogen Interactions, held the week of November 2, 2003 in
Shizuoka,
Japan. This seminar had as it focus a genome-wide analyses and the use of large-scale, high
throughput genomic tools in combination with classic genetic tools and resources to decipher the
molecular basis of plant-microbe interactions. Representing the cutting edge of research, Genomic
And Genetic Analysis Of Plant Parasitism And Defense is a seminal work and a strongly
recommended addition to professional, corporate, academic, and governmental Agricultural
Studies
reference collections and supplemental reading lists.
Genetics Of Populations
Philip W. Hedrick
Jones & Bartlett Publishers
40 Tall Pine Drive, Sudbury, MA 01776
0763747726 $82.95 www.jbpub.com
A superbly presented and comprehensive introduction to population genetics as one of the
fundamental underlying principles and processes of the evolutionary process, Genetics Of
Populations is now published in a newly updated and significantly revised third edition. Author
Philip W. Hedrick (Arizona State University) integrates theoretical issues with a clear and
acceptable
presentation of experimental population genetics with empirical data providing students and
researchers with one of the most articulate and up-to-date texts available. Features new to this
latest
addition is a focus on data from genome projects that compare population samples to identify
patterns of genetic diversity and genes that have been under selection. All of the individual
chapters
have been completely updated with the latest examples and approaches in this rapidly evolving
field
of study. Of special value for curriculum development are the new and updated tables, chapter
exercises, end-of-chapter problems, art, photographs, featured researchers, extensive
bibliography,
and detailed index. Highly recommended.
Morocco
Barnaby Rogerson
c/o The Globe Pequot Press
6 Business Park Road, Old Saybrook, CT 06475
1860111610 $24.95 1-800-243-0495 www.cadoganguides.com
The native land of the Berbers, Morocco is a fascinating land with a long history of invasions and
occupations by Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Romans, and the French. It is the Islamic country of
such ancient cities as Casablanca, Marrakech, and Tangier. Now in a fully revised and updated
edition, Morocco is a superbly organized and enthusiastically recommended travel guide to
Morocco's regional highlights featuring more than 600 "hand picked" places to stay, as well as
restaurants, bars and cafes. Enhanced with 50 maps and town plans, Morocco provides the
traveler
with expert insights into Moroccan history, art, religion, culture, festivals, and even local market
days. Of special note is the wealth of ideas and advice for planning a trip.
Why Birds Do That
Michael Furtman
Willow Creek Press
PO Box 147, Minocqua WI 54548
1595430598 $15.95 1-800-850-9453 www.willowcreekpress.com
Birds provide endless fascination with their evocative songs, their complex and occasionally
comical
behavior, their variety, and their seasonal comings and goings. Why Birds Do That: A Collection
Of
Curious Avian Exploits by nature writer and photographer Michael Furtman explains forty
distinctive bird behaviors. Enhanced with more than one hundred color photographs and very
highly
recommended for ornithology students and non-specialist general readers with an interest in bird
behavior, Why Birds Do That explains why birds sing; why the singing principally takes place in
the
morning; why males of many species sport bright colors; why some birds hatch naked, while
others
come with thick and fluffy coats of down; and other common (and not-so-common) questions
concerning the birds we see in our backyards, our farms and fields, our meadows, glens and
forests.
The Army Of The Potomac: Volume II
Russel H. Beatie
Da Capo Press
Goldberg McDuffie Communications (publicity)
Eleven Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142
0306812525 $45.00 1-800-242-7737 www.dacapopress.com
The commanding officer of the Army of the Potomac, General George B. McClellan is one of the
most disputable and often denigrated figures of the Civil War. His personal character and his
military
performance were constantly under scrutiny during his lifetime, and down to the present day
continues to be a subject of controversy among Civil War historians. In The Army Of The
Potomac:
McClellan Takes Command, September 1861-February 1862, civil war historian Russel H. Beatie
offers the most accurate and unbiased account to date of McClellan and his fellow commanding
officers in the Union Army. Beaties spent years of research piecing together the details of
McClellan's command from original documents spread all over the world (many of which had
never
been dealt with previously) to humanize the leaders of the Union Army and illustrate how their
personalities influenced their command decisions. The second volume in Beaties' superbly written
"The Army Of The Potomac" series, The Army Of The Potomac: McClellan Takes Command,
September 1861-February 1862 cogently addresses such issues as why McClellan deserves a great
deal more credit than his is traditionally accorded for building the Union army; how McClellan
tried
to improve his communication difficulties and accede to the wishes of President Lincoln; why the
inter of 1861-1862 (the worst in forty years) and his nearly lethal case of typhoid fever had such a
profound impact on McClellan's actions. This definitive history is a core addition for any Civil
War
History reference collection or Civil War Studies reading list. Also very highly recommended is
the
first volume in this outstanding series from Da Capo Press, The Army Of The Potomac:
McClellan
Takes Command.
Willis M. Buhle
Reviewer
Burroughs' Bookshelf
Photoshop Masking & Compositing
Katrin Eismann
Peachpit Press, Inc.
1249 Eighth Street, Berkeley, CA 94710
0735712794 $54.99 1-800-283-9444 www.peachpit.com
Digital photography expert Katrin Eismann presents Photoshop Masking & Compositing, a
straightforward guide to techniques and applications that utitlize the fine points of digital imaging
software for optimum results. Chapters address how to select and mask difficult elements such as
fine hair or translucent objects; mastering the Pen tool; working with layer, channel and vector
masks; and much more. Full-color illustrations throughout make the step-by-step guidelines
explicitly clear in this "must-have", user friendly instructional and reference resource for dedicated
digital photography artists and professionals.
Java Reflection In Action
Ira R. Forman and Nate Forman
Manning Publications Company
209 Bruce Park Avenue, Greenwich, CT 06830
1932394184 $44.95 www.manning.com
Java Reflection In Action by the collaborative team of Ira and Nate Forman is a practical "how
to"
manual for applying reflection to computer programming. Reflection is the ability of a running
program to look at itself and its environment, and change what it does according to what it sees.
It is
an inbuilt feature of the Java language and allows one to sidestep a common source of
maintenance
woes. Java Reflection In Action walks the programmer through a complete understanding of
reflection and some of the most useful reflective solutions to replace "hard-coded" ones. An
excellent self-teaching resource for intermediate to advanced students and practitioners of Java
programming, Java Reflection In Action is packed from cover to cover with examples, flowcharts,
sample code, and more, all effectively designed to facilitate instruction.
Visual Quickstart Guide: C Programming
Larry Ullman & Marc Liyanage
Peachpit Press, Inc.
1249 Eighth Street, Berkeley, CA 94710
0321287630 $21.99 1-800-283-9444 www.peachpit.com
Co-written by Larry Ullman and Marc Liyanage (professional trainers of software engineers),
Visual
Quickstart Guide: C Programming is a text specifically intended for beginning to
intermediate-level
programmers who need to assimilate the basics of programming in C as swiftly as possible. Using
a
visual, picture and example-centered approach to show how to perform basic tasks, C
programming
eschews long-winded passages for direct results and an easy-to-follow system for immediately
looking up what one most needs to know. Individual chapters expertly and accessibly address the
basics of data types, control structures, creating one's own functions, managing memory, working
with strings, installing and using C tools, and much more. Visual Quickstart Guide: C
Programming
is an absolute "must" for students or professionals who need to learn or refresh their knowledge
of C
and have little time to spare.
Adobe Photoshop 7.0
Adobe Press
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96h Street, #300, Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
0321115627 $45.00 1-800-428-5331 www.mcp.com
Adobe Photoshop 7.0: Classroom in a Book is a comprehensive guide to mastering the nuances of
the latest version of Adobe Photoshop. Intended for digital photographers of all skill and
experience
levels, from rank novice to expert, Adobe Photoshop 7.0 has black-and-white sample menus and
images on almost every page to illustrate various details of handling the software. An included
CD-ROM with lesson files rounds out this superb resource covering everything from basics such
as
photo corrections and retouching to advanced issues such as layer techniques, adding interactive
slices and rollovers, creating animated images for the web, printing consistent color and much
more.
A must-have all-purpose resource manual, Adobe Photoshop 7.0 is the book to get if you can
only
afford a single "how to" instructional guide to Adobe Photoshop.
The Model Railroad'er Guide To Freight Yards
Andy Sperandeo
Kalmbach Publishing Company
PO Box 1612 , Waukesha, WI 53187
0890245762 $18.95 1-800-533-6644 www.kalmbachbooks.com
The Model Railroader Guide To Freight Yards by model railroading expert Andy Sperandeo
presents a compendium of overviews with respect to basic freight yard functions and operations;
strategies for modeling freight yards based on specific prototypes; examples of interesting scenes
and structures to model; ideas for saving space when designing a yard plan; and track plans from
successfully modeled freight yards. Enhanced throughout with maps and illustrations for easy
planning and designing, and with an inspirational photo gallery concluding each chapter, The
Model
Railroader Guide To Freight Yards is a welcome and enthusiastically recommended addition to
any
dedicated railroad modeler's reference shelf collection.
Firearm Supressor Patents
N. R. Parker
Paladin Press
Gunbarrel Tech Center, 7077 Winchester Circle, Boulder, CO 80301
1581604602 $45.00 1-800-392-2400 www.paladin-press.com
A very highly recommended addition to dedicated firearm enthusiast's personal and professional
reference collections, Firearm Suppressor Patents, Volume 1: United States Patents is the first
book
in more than 25 years to specifically address the subject of firearm suppressor patents and reflects
some truly amazing advances in the technology, art, and science of devices that suppress the
sound
of gunfire. Author N. R. Parker is a silencer industry expert who presents the reader with analysis
of
37 significant, historic, and effective silencer designs patented in the United States. Also covered
are
some unusual suppressor device designs, as well as a few notable failures! Parker takes the reader
through the technical jargon of patent language to identify noteworthy, unique, and revolutionary
aspects of each design covered, detailing both the important construction elements and the
concepts
behind sound-suppression technologies. Of special note are the interviews with three of today's
top
suppressor device designers and the special section on the evolution of cutting-edge silencer
mounting systems.
Craftsman's Construction Installation Encyclopedia
Stephen Diller & Janelle Diller
Craftsman Book Company
6058 Corte del Cedro, Carlsbad, CA 92009
1572181516 $65.00 1-800-829-8123 www.craftsman-book.com
A 787-page compendium with an accompanying CD of all the material in the book (including the
figures and tables), Craftsman's Construction Installation Encyclopedia offers step-by-step
installation instructions for any residential construction, remodeling, or repair task that a
do-it-yourself homeowner or professional construction worker is apt to face. Organized
alphabetically and written with clear, accessible language that is ideal for the non-specialist
general
reader, Craftsman's Construction Installation Encyclopedia is enhanced with literally hundreds of
diagrams and illustrations showing how to build, install, or remodel each part of a specific job, as
well as providing information on handy materials, equipment, and even tools for designated
projects.
From Acoustic tiles, to bathroom fixture, to cabinetry, to heating & air conditioning, to painting,
to
plumbing, to stone masonry, to wall paper to wood flooring, Craftsman's Construction Installation
Encyclopedia covers every aspect of residential construction, remodeling, or repair. There are
even
manhour tables for each work item covered. Filled with charts and tables, Craftsman's
Construction
Installation Encyclopedia is also the ideal and recommended reference for creating estimates and
bids, as well as monitoring work crews and construction schedules.
John Burroughs
Reviewer
Carson's Bookshelf
The Economic Dynamics of Modern Biotechnology
Maureen McKelvey, et al.
Edward Elgar Publishing
136 West Street, Suite 202, Northampton, MA 01060-3711
1843765195 $125.00 1-800-390-3149 www.e-elgar.com
Collaboratively compiled and edited by Maureen McKelvey, Annika Rickne and Jens
Laage-Hellman, a trio of economic experts, The Economic Dynamics of Modern Biotechnology is
a
seminal and invaluable resource presenting insight into the economic influence of modern
biotechnology. Drawing upon examples from Europe to illustrate global trends, The Economic
Dynamics of Modern Biotechnology applies theory to unravel the modern issues of exactly how
new
facets of knowledge interact with market processes and the formation of industries. Raising
important theoretical and practical questions, chapters adddress such topics as risk management
and
the commercialization of human genetic testing, the impact of emerging bioinformatics, how to
conceptualize and measure modern biotechnology, and much more. The Economic Dynamics of
Modern Biotechnology is a welcome and recommended addition to modern economics shelves for
students, teachers, and professionals alike, shedding light on a newly emerging dimension of the
interplay between economic and life science forces.
The Future of Higher Education
Frank Newman, et al.
Jossey-Bass, Inc.
989 Market Street, 5th floor, San Francisco, CA 94103-1741
0787969729 $33.00 1-800-225-5945 www.joseybass.com
A collaborative effort by academics Frank Newman, Lara Couturier, and Jamie Scurry, The
Future
of Higher Education: Rhetoric, Reality and the Risks of the Market is a no-nonsense scrutiny of
the
risks inherent in making higher education a market rather than a regulated public sector
institution.
Revealing findings from a thorough four-year examination of the forces transforming the
American
system of higher education today, The Future of Higher Education covers intensified competition
between institutions, globalization of colleges and universities, the increase of for-profit and
virtual
institutions, the growing influence of technology on learning and its methodologies, and much
more.
A critical account that suggests strategies for adapting to the new era without sacrificing the
virtues
of the old, The Future of Higher Education is especially recommended for college professors and
administrators seeking to chart a successful future for themselves and their students.
Death In A Texas Desert
Carlton Stowers
Republic of Texas Press
c/o Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group
4720 Boston Way, Lanham, MD 20706
1556229771 $18.95 1-800-462-6420
Compiled by true crime writer and newspaper journalist Carlton Stowers, Death In A Texas
Desert
is a very highly recommended anthology of seventeen crime stories taken from the pages of the
Dallas Observer. These were horrific cases of notorious events that range from the search for
alleged
murderer Ira Einhorn, to the legacy of racist killer bobby Frank Cherry, to the last, angry days of
George Hennard who opened fire in Killeen's Luby's Cafeteria killing 23 patrons. These are stories
of human experience at hits darkest as exemplified by Andrea Yates who killed her five children
and
the impact Rusty Yates, her husband and the father of her children whose life was irrevocably
shattered in a few short hours. Other stories are about missing children, a rest home murderer,
and
murders solved almost a century after they were committed. Through each and every story,
Carlton
Stowers takes his readers seriously and provides them with stories that are devoid of gossip and
exaggeration as we explore the darkest sides of criminology as they played out in the lives of real
people with real consequences for themselves and their communities.
Michael J. Carson
Reviewer
Christina's Bookshelf
Wise Woman Herbal Childbearing Year
Susun Weed
Ash Tree Publishing
P.O. Box 64, Woodstock N.Y. 12498
ISBN # 0961462000 $9.95
"Aren't herbs dangerous, especially during pregnancy?" a woman asks.
"I've heard they cause cancer," says another. "I can't imagine what they'd do to my unborn
baby."
"It's witchery," adds a third, "and I'll stick to regular doctors, thank you."
These are still many women's view on using herbs, a mid-wife, or a holistic approach, pregnant or
not. Vast numbers though, are looking into treating themselves, pursuing holistic doctors, and
using
midwives. They seek natural. In essence, women are going back to the skill they learned millions
of
years ago. They knew their bodies then and how to care for them. Then, along came those who
wanted further power and named this skill witchery. Suddenly men knew women's bodies better
than
they did. Weed leads readers back to this natural skill and power. She provides preventative and
healing remedies, herbal preparations, and points of safety, for before, during, and after
pregnancy.
Weed even added a chapter on newborns.
Book Contents Include:
-Foreword
-Introduction
-Using This Book
-Using Herbs Safely
-Before Pregnancy with sub-headings & categories (pages 1-12)
-During Pregnancy with sub-headings & categories (pages 17-49)
-Childbirth with sub-headings and categories (pages 55-74)
-After Pregnancy with sub-headings and categories (pages 77-84)
-Your Infant with sub-headings and categories (pages 95-114)
-Herbal Pharmacy with sub-headings and categories (pages 121-139)
-Appendix 1 (Herbal sources of vitamins & minerals)
-Appendix 2
-Glossary
-Index
Regular doctors and conservative medicines have their place, but herbal doctors and medicines do
as
well. Just why are many women going back to treating themselves, visiting holistic doctors, and
interested in natural? I believe deep down women know what works, what's safest, and what feels
right. They're reacquainting themselves with nature, and listening to and taking responsibility for
their own bodies.
'Childbearing Years' is for women wanting to take care their growing baby and of their bodies
naturally. Weed's style of presenting, and authenticity of facts, is straightforward and easy to
understand. Sketchings, alongside pages, are charming, as well as added notations. Everything
about
this book is comforting, nurturing, and encouraging. A valuable resource.
The Guess Who What When & Where Picture Trivia Book Series
Dave Cutler
GreyCore Press
2646 New Prospect Rd., Pine Bush N.Y. 12566
ISBN# 0974207446 $17.95 320 p.
You say you know movies? Can you name a film by a single photograph with a bit of trivia to
boot?
Okay, how about specifics? Can you remember the actors? The title? When it was released? Who
was the director? Well, Cutler's book will find out. What about your friends? Can they remember
film specifics better than you?
This book is incredibly easy to use. A large spiral ring binding allows for fast flipping and the
pages
stay put. Each movie's picture and trivia questions are neat and organized. This makes instant
quizzing and reference a breeze.
For each movie presented, Cutler provides two pages. On the left is a photograph from that
particular movie and on the right; is the trivia. The trivia is broken into four sections. One section
features 'PICTURE TRIVIA' WITH FOUR questions (who, what, when, who) and are worth
certain points. Another is titled 'BONUS TRIVIA' WITH three questions, worth ten points each.
The largest area covers interesting anecdotes and is titled, 'ABOUT THIS MOVIE.' To the far
right
of the page and sitting at an angle, the answers to the questions; all in small print of course.
Book Mechanics:
150 favorite movies
Easy-to-hold, easy to pass 6x6 format with large spiral binding.
Color and black and white photographs (depending upon film being color or black and
white).
Snappy colors, pictures, and questions.
Protective sturdy cardboard case enabling quick and easy slide in and out use.
Back matter that includes a listing of all the films featured with the companies that filmed
them.
Book Excerpts:
(actual picture examples of outside cover, film photographs and trivia questions available at
http://www.picturetrivia.com)
Who are the actors in this film?
What is the title of this film?
When was this film released?
Who is the director of this film?
Bonus Trivia
What classic rock song did the lead characters belt out in the "mirthmobile"?
In what city and state did they live?
To whose concert did they have backstage passes?
About This Movie
Before Austin Powers and Dr. Evil, there was Wayne and Garth, one of the more successful
"Saturday Night Live" sketches to be parlayed into a feature film. The stars of this comedy about
a
pair of friends with their own local public access show have indelibly made their mark on popular
culture with the catchphrase "Excellent!" and "Party On!"
The creator of this book, Dave Cutler, is an award-winning freelance artist. His images have
appeared in leading publications and corporate literature for 18 years. His fascination for
moviemaking began as a little boy and continues today. He's also published a children's book
titled,
'When I Wished I Was Alone,' Oct. 2003.
The publisher, GreyCore Press, says "This book is the first in a unique series of picture-based
trivia
books that use great b & w and color photographs to test reader's knowledge of their favorite
entertainment pastimes." Their next in the series will be PICTURES TRIVIA: SPORTS
EDITION,
scheduled to release in 2005.
My Rating
Quality excellent
Style of presentation and authenticity of facts, sources, etc. excellent
Ability to prove points excellent
Target audience or age group anyone, especially movie buffs of all ages.
Usage easily used as a game for one or more.
Cutler's trivia book is a treat for those bitten by the movie madness bug. A playful way to test
movie
knowledge and memory. Perfect on a coffee table, a desk, or as a gift.
Christina Francine Whitcher, Reviewer
http://www.CFrancine.bizland.com
Christy's Bookshelf
A Mouse Among Us
Allen Parker
PublishAmerica
P.O. Box 151, Frederick, MD 21705
www.publishamerica.com 301-695-1707
ISBN 1413740529 $12.95 146 pages
Humorist Allen Parker brings delightfully zany Christian nudist Chester back for more hilarious
antics in this sequel to Nudist Among Us. Along for the ride are Chester's long-suffering wife,
Karalyn, and amiable son, Ajay. This collection of short stories is guaranteed to not only entertain
the reader but to evoke smiles, if not side-splitting laughs. The stories ramble through Chester's
childhood and adulthood, with Parker's unique sense of humor shining through to perfection. It is
suggested that the reader may want to keep this book near at hand for those times when a good
laugh is needed. Is laughter the best medicine? You'll definitely feel good after reading A Mouse
Among Us.
Emeralds in the Snow
Maggie Bishop
High Country Publishers, Ltd.
197 New Market Center #135, Boone, NC 28607
www.highcountrypublishers.com 828-964-0590
1932158561 $12.00 188 pages
Lucky Tucker, member of the Sugar Mountain Ski Patrol, rescues Emerald Graham from a fall
while
skiing, and the two are instantly attracted to one another. Emerald is the granddaughter of
recently
deceased Everett Graham, a well-respected, wealthy businessman, and has lived a privileged life.
Raised in a family that never seemed to have enough money, especially after his grandfather
disappeared, Lucky has had to struggle to make ends meet. He is unsettled that Emerald has a
doctorate in math while he only attained a high school education, yet this does not seem to matter
to
Emerald. Despite their diverse backgrounds, the two cannot deny their feelings and enter into a
relationship. They discover a treasure map belonging to Emerald's grandfather, which guides them
to
land Lucky inherited from his grandfather. Lucky and Emerald hope this will lead them on a path
that will bring good fortune; however, the secret they uncover threatens to separate them
forever.
Maggie Bishop once more unveils a treasure-trove of information about the Appalachian region as
well as the sport of snow skiing. The familial connection between characters from Ms. Bishop's
first
book, Appalachian Paradise, and this one will, for some readers, feel like visiting old friends. The
author skillfully builds the story, with enticing characters and sweet romance, then offers
impending
doom to a relationship the reader has been rooting for, leaving a spiraling sense of anticipation
until
the end of the story. An engrossing read, one the reader will not want to put down.
Running of the Bulls: Book One
Frederick A. Babb
PublishAmerica
P.O. Box 151, Frederick, MD 21705
www.publishamerica.com 301-631-9073
ISBN 1413738648 $19.95 248 pages
Efigenia Hanns is orphaned at the age of ten, when her father is killed by a bull, her mother having
died in childbirth. Efi's aunt, Herminia, steps in to care for her and to run the ranch Efi's father left
her outside of Seville, Spain. Efi, in honor of her father, chooses not to sell the ranch, which is
used
for raising bulls for bullfights, although she receives a generous offer. When Efi is 18, the son of a
man interested in purchasing the ranch tries to rape her in order to control her, leaving Efi with
emotional scars about men.
Peter Collins' father is a surgeon who moves his family from Liverpool, England to Madrid, Spain
when Peter is ten. Throughout his young life, Peter has been fascinated with seeing a bullfight,
and
when he is 20, travels to Seville to visit with a family friend and attend his first.
On the train to Seville, Pete meets Efi and the two share an instant attraction. They begin to see
one
another and quickly fall in love, and with patience, tenderness and care, Peter helps Efi overcome
her secret fears about men. When Peter attends his first bullfight, he is disappointed and repulsed
by
the cruelty exhibited toward the bulls, the way they are tortured before dying. When he learns
Efi's
ranch provides bulls for the fights, he questions whether their love can survive this conflict. Efi,
however, feels this lifestyle is part of her heritage and does not understand Peter's feelings about
the
sport. Peter decides to return to Madrid, although Efi has hinted there may be a compromise. Will
their love survive this rift?
This first novel in a Spanish romance trilogy proves Babb to be a wonderful storyteller, offering a
powerful tale of love, passionate romance, and conflict. He educates the reader about the sport of
bullfighting in Spain, along with treasures of historical information, while weaving a spellbinding
romantic story. The ending leaves the reader anxious to read the next book in the series. A
compelling, thoroughly entertaining read.
The Black Pond
Chris Shanley Dillman
Publish America
P.O. Box 151, Frederick, MD 21705
www.publishamerica.com 301-695-1707
ISBN 1413738613 $17.95 126 pages
Annie Day, devastated over the death of her parents from a car accident caused by a drunken
driver,
accepts a position as live-in helper to Mrs. Sterling, an elderly blind woman who lives near the
college Annie will be attending. Annie befriends a stray dog she names Stormy, and when Stormy
is
struck by a car, Daniel, a veterinary student, helps rescue the dog and becomes Annie's
friend.
Annie begins a new life with Mrs. Sterling and quickly grows to love the log cabin they live in, as
well as the state park that backs Mrs. Sterling's property. During her forays into the park, Annie
discovers a black pond, which becomes her special place. She also finds a diary written by Mrs.
Sterling's daughter, who died tragically at a young age and who also was drawn to the black
pond.
Annie's rage over her parents' deaths begins to dissipate as she grows closer to Daniel and Mrs.
Sterling, but when she discovers a secret her parents kept from her, she allows her anger to lead
her
back to the black pond, a place that also harbors death.
This lovely story will leave the reader with a cozy, warm feeling. But beware, tears will be shed
along the way. Ms. Dillman's writing style is exceptional, her descriptive eloquently delivered, the
characters portrayed in such a way that the reader will quickly identify with and come to love
them.
With plenty of smiles to counter the tears, at its core is a heartwarming love story to lift the spirit
and brighten the day.
Christy Tillery French
Reviewer
Debra's Bookshelf
No Plot? No Problem
Chris Baty
Chronicle Books
San Francisco, CA
ISBN: 0811845052 $14.95 176 pages
Chris Baty, the author of No Plot? No Problem, is the founder of National Novel Writing Month,
a
bizarre, web-based movement, now in its sixth year, in which would-be novelists are invited to
unleash their inner muses, register (for free) at the NaNoWriMo website (NaNoWriMo.org), and
crank out the rough draft of a novel during the month of November. Incredibly, more than 25,000
people attempted to do just that in November of 2003, with some 3500 of them crossing the
finishing line. (Anyone who writes 50,000 words in the allotted time is declared a winner.) No
Plot?
No Problem is Baty's brief (about 50,000 words) and breezy companion volume to the literary
marathon.
In the first part of his book Baty offers readers mostly playful advice. Those undertaking the
month-long novel-writing challenge are advised to turn their loved ones into effective agents of
guilt, for example. Writers, too, are urged to procure a "wearable, writing-enhancing object" such
as
a baseball cap, the better both to put themselves in the mood to write and to signal to family
members "that you've slipped away into the shadowy Realm of the Novel, and that you are not to
be
disturbed unless they--or one of the more likable of the family pets--are on fire." Baty also
provides
practical advice about carving out time in one's schedule for writing. (One past NaNoWriMo
winner,
a woman from Indiana, reports escaping from her children to find writing time on the toilet. This
may be the way things are done in the Midwest, but I'm afraid a bathroom door is insufficient to
stop
the determined young of New England.)
In the second, more meaty part of his book Baty provides a week-by-week guide (intended to be
read at the appropriate points in the novel-writing month) to the writing process, with
week-appropriate pep talks, exercises, and tips. (For example, the tips provided for week one
"center on leveraging the adrenaline rush of the first few days, avoiding the pernicious desire to
self-edit as you write, creating a convenient home for your castaway thoughts, and maintaining
the
momentum by keeping your story a mystery to those around you.") These four week-specific
chapters are followed by a helpful section on the rewrite, the more exacting business of turning
one's
raw, hastily-scribbled prose into a passable novel once your novel-writing month is over.
No Plot? No Problem probably does not provide any advice about writing that readers would not
be
able to find elsewhere. But Baty is a very good, funny writer, and his enthusiasm for this insane
project is infectious. Having begun his fetching* little book a skeptic, you'll finish thinking that
writing a novel in a month is not so daft an enterprise after all. It may be that Baty's argument for
casting aside one's inhibitions and striving for quantity of words over quality will be just the
inspiration you need to sit down and produce a viable first draft.
* I love the book's subtly-textured, colorful cover, but the dark gray background of the book's
inset
notes make for difficult reading.
Carl Melcher Goes to Vietnam
Paul Clayton
Thomas Dunne Books
St. Martin's Press
ISBN: 0312329032 $22.95 197 pages
Carl Melcher, the reluctant draftee of Paul Clayton's title, arrived in Vietnam at eighteen half
believing that his good karma would be sufficient to ensure his safety during his tour in the
infantry.
A host of needless deaths and the better part of a year later, Carl emerged from the jungle a more
mature figure, still the likeable, duty-bound character he had been when he went in, but a world
removed from the boys his age who had remained stateside.
Clayton's simply titled Carl Melcher Goes to Vietnam, narrated in the first person by the title
character, succeeds in reading like the first-hand account of a naive GI's wartime experiences.
(The
novel is presumably autobiographical at least in part: the author is himself a Vietnam veteran who
served in the same infantry division in which his character finds himself.) The book is interesting
as a
primer in the day-to-day living conditions of a soldier in Melcher's shoes--the friendships with
fellow
soldiers formed quickly in the confines of a bunker, and sometimes terminated even more quickly
by
gunfire, racial divisions among the troops mirroring those ripping the country apart back home,
hard
slogs through a dense jungle in which an unseeable enemy may or may not lie hidden. Carl himself
never lays eyes on an enemy soldier during his tour, at least not a live one. He describes battle as a
hazy experience of firing blindly into the green without knowing who or how many one is
opposed
against. The overall feeling one has when reading about Carl is that he is a very small figure on a
large canvas, his fate entirely out of his hands, yielded to the army and to chance.
Despite the losses Carl suffers during his tour and the carnage alluded to in the book--there are no
grotesque descriptions of ripped flesh here--Carl Melcher Goes to Vietnam does not grip the
reader
emotionally. This may be deliberate on the author's part, his readers intended to observe Carl's
experiences at a remove just as Carl is in a sense removed from them, unable even to see the
camouflaged enemy he fires at. More a memoir than a novel, Carl Melcher Goes to Vietnam tells
its
protagonist's story in spare, sometimes inelegant prose which, if not rousing, makes for a very
quick
read. Anyone interested in a straightforward account of a soldier's experiences in Vietnam will
enjoy
Clayton's detailed account of Carl Melcher's tour of duty.
Codex
Lev Grossman
Harcourt
ISBN: 0151010668 $24.00 348 pages
With two weeks of free time to fill before he is due at his new job, a prestigious position in the
London office of his current employer, twenty-something investment banker Edward Wozny is
unsure what to do with himself. More accustomed to 18-hour work days than sleeping in, Edward
finds himself open to two time-consuming experiences he would never have considered
previously.
For reasons that are unclear to him, Edward is singled out by an English duchess and asked to
take
on the job of cataloging her family's library of neglected medieval manuscripts. He is at the same
time directed to keep an eye out for the work of a certain Gervase of Langford, the codex of
author
Lev Grossman's title. Edward thinks the job the duchess offers (through her representative) is
beneath him, and he is by no means qualified to perform it, but he nevertheless allows himself to
be
hired. Sucking up the rest of Edward's free time is an (allegedly) addictive computer game with
unusually realistic graphics that is lent to him by his friend Zeph. Edward manages through his
ineptitude to stumble into levels of the game that more experienced players are not even aware
exist.
In the weeks before his move to England, Edward becomes engrossed in both these activities, the
game and his search for the codex, to the point that he questions whether he will in fact return to
the
work that had until recently meant everything to him.
There is much to recommend Grossman's Codex. The book is filled with beautiful, vivid writing,
as,
for example, this description of Edward's childhood winters in Bangor, Maine: "It took a lot of
snow
to cancel school, but fortunately for Edward, Bangor got a lot of snow. If it started before he
went
to bed--and the later it started, the better his chances were--he would lie awake listening to the
snow-muffled silence, and once his parents were asleep he would shine a flashlight out the
window,
watching each snowflake gleam once as it passed through the beam and then vanished into
collective
anonymity on the lawn." The book's dialogues are well-written also, particularly those
conversations
in which Edward's friend Zeph has a part. Grossman manages to grab the reader's attention
immediately with a charming scene in which Edward first encounters the duchess, and he keeps us
interested for a surprisingly long time in the ostensibly unexciting question, Why did these people
hire Edward to catalogue their library?
In the end, however, the book is a disappointment, principally because its plot is incredible. I
cannot
believe that Edward became as captivated as he did by his search for the codex, by the duchess
herself--who for a time bewitches Edward from afar--or by the computer game, which despite its
spiffy graphics does not come across as all that intriguing and does not warrant the many pages of
description it is given in the book. Indeed, the subplot of the game might have been excised from
the
book without detriment to the narrative. One comes in the end not to care very much why the
duchess is interested in finding Gervase of Langford's codex--one of the book's great
mysteries--but
when the answer is finally given it too is difficult to credit. Further, when Edward is hired the task
of
finding the codex is presented to him as an afterthought, as something he might think about while
engaged in the more important task of shelving books. Yet Edward is somehow intended to
understand--and remarkably he does understand--that the discovery of the codex is all important.
Edward is so sure of himself on this point, in fact, that he goes to the length of hiring, on his own
authority, an assistant to help him with the task--graduate student Margaret, whose encyclopedic
knowledge of medieval manuscripts is yet another unrealistic element of Grossman's novel.
Lev Grossman certainly knows his way around a sentence. Given his talent, Codex could have
been
a great literary thriller. It's unfortunate that the book's plot does not hang together better.
Things My Girlfriend and I Have Argued About
Mil Millington
Villard
ISBN: 081296666X $12.95 384 pages
It can't be a good thing when your boss tracks you down to ask what you know about extradition
treaties. But Pel Dalton, Supervisor of the Computer Team in a university library--er, Learning
Center--is too busy mowing down children at the time to think much of it:
"I jerk myself above the barricade and let rip with laser death at some attackers. One dives behind
a
box in panic like some kind of silly eight-year-old (admittedly he does look about eight years old)
but I catch his companion (who's eleven if he's a day) on the shoulder and take him down."
Tapped to fill his abruptly resigned boss's shoes, Pel finds it harder than usual to feign
competence.
(He has about as firm a hold on his new responsibilities as Seinfeld's George Costanza did when
called upon to handle the Penske file.) Yet Pel might yet keep things under control at work--the
requisite meetings with Chinese mafiosi, the disappeared colleagues, the nerve gas and would-be
poltergeists--were his home life not so chaotic. Pel lives with his German girlfriend Ursula and
their
two sons, and virtually every waking moment in their household is filled with the happy couple's
bickering. Over every topic imaginable. Happily, their arguing does not arise from a deep-seated
problem in their relationship: that would make it difficult reading. Petty arguments are simply their
preferred mode of communication, and they do it marvelously.
"Did you hear that?"
"No."
"I'm sure I heard the door bang."
"It was probably just a dog somewhere."
"Yes, because--at night--a dog barking is almost indistinguishable from the sound of a door being
smashed open, isn't it? Idiot."
"I didn't say a dog barking..."
Mil Millington--who, as it happens, lives with his German girlfriend Margret and their two
children
and who is apparently found wanting by Margret at least as often as Pel disappoints Ursula--is a
writer worth watching. Things My Girlfriend And I Have Argued About is a hilarious, clever read
about which I couldn't possibly say enough good things. Just do yourself a favor and buy it--buy it
*now*, I mean--and read it, then get a few copies for your friends. It's really that good.
Debra Hamel, Reviewer
http://www.tryingneaira.com
Duncan's Bookshelf
The Notebook
Nicholas Sparks
Warner Books
1271 Avenue of the Americas, N.Y. 10020
ISBN: 044667609; $12.95 206 pp plus extra material
"I wait. Her words will hurt me. They will tear a piece from my heart and leave a scar. Who are
you?"
She is his wife, Allie. He is her husband of 49 years. For the past four years he has begun each day
by shuffling down the tiled halls, past the closed doors of other residents, to her room. He sits and
watches her looking out the window. Then Noah reads from their notebook a story of love that is
eternally optimistic.
Noah reads poetry. Together they watch a sunrise. They share a summer that ends when Allie
moves
away.
The Notebook spins a web around this question: will Allie return to Noah and will she break her
engagement to a successful lawyer to be with the man who truly loves her? (Nuff said) Read this
book. Be prepared to shed a tear or three. Be prepared for visions of two lovers holding hands
with
tenderness. Be prepared to feel sad for them both. That's all that needs to be said.
The Guardian
Nicholas Sparks
Reader's Digest
PO Box 262 Mount Morris, IL 61054
ISSN#: 1521-2661 Volume 130, $14.95 subscription; 283 pp
Sorry, Mr. Sparks! Your novel was explicitly unmemorable.
Have you ever started reading a novel and had that feeling, 'I think I have read this book?' I was
beyond page 60 when I rediscovered familiar territory. At page 120 I checked my file of book
reviews. There was no review for The Guardian. After page 200 I wondered, how could I read a
novel and not remember it? At page 260, on the beach at novel's end, I suddenly remembered the
ending when the stalker tries to kidnap the heroine and her guardian (the Great Dane) attacks the
stalker despite being immobilized by rat poison. The dog dies. Then I knew I read The Guardian,
once.
Sorry, Mr. Sparks! After reading your novel a second time I found it to be uncommonly insipid.
Don't ask for a recommendation.
Marty Duncan, Reviewer
www.omagadh.com
Fortenberry's Bookshelf
Mountain Cabin Mystery
Max Elliot Anderson
Winona Lake, Indiana
Tweener Press
ISBN: 0972925635 $10.95 123 pp.
Max Eliot Anderson's latest book in the Tweener adventure series is Mountain Cabin Mystery.
Three friends, Scott, Al, and Benji, get accepted to a wilderness training camp in the Rockies. But
this summertime trip into the mountains to learn outdoor survival skills is only the backdrop to a
rollicking adventure that climbs up your spine and hangs by its fingertips from the cliff of your
skull.
This book has a thrill-a-minute, from getting lost and scared half to death at night in the deep
woods, to crossing a frayed swinging bridge over a fathomless gorge, and wild animal attacks.
But
bear with me a moment (har-har) because even that's not all. This survival story takes a wild turn
for
the worse into the frightening world of international terrorism and kidnapping with the discovery
of
a remote cabin on the wrong side of a mountainous world of danger. Terrorists,* bears, and
hunger
stalk three defenseless kids -- the hunt is on! What can some lost kids just hoping for temporary
shelter, warm food, and a quick way home do against these odds? I do not want to spoil it by
giving
any thing away, so let's say that we can all easily relate to Benji's mom fainting when she merely
hears what her son has survived at the end of the book. Twice.
