Do not assume that because you enjoyed The Pooh Perplex you will like Postmodern
Pooh. For
one thing, The Pooh Perplex was written in plain English: whilst Postmodern Pooh, being
postmodern, is written in the jargon of postmodern literary criticism which is often
impenetrable
to those who have not learned to think in circles.
For another thing, The Pooh Perplex was gently humorous, humanist and humane, and it
poked
fun at ideologies which are, mostly, well known to the general reader. Postmodern Pooh,
however, (or so it seems to me) is bitingly satirical in the mode of Jonathan Swift. It is
directed at,
and emulates, the most destructive, narrowly focused and distasteful academic wrangling
ever to
have been regarded as educational, and it is too close to the truth of what is currently
happening
in literary criticism to be comfortable or funny.
The excellent Frederick Crews sets a light tone in his 'Introduction', where he offers a
seemingly
honest account of how The Pooh Perplex resulted from his desperate search for a project
which
would ensure him a tenured position at UC-Berkley (or so he says), and of how
Postmodern Pooh
came to follow it thirty-six years later. But nothing in this book can be taken at face
value.
Ideologies such as Crews mentions in this Introduction - "Post-Colonialism",
"Deconstruction",
"Queer Chicana Studies", "Zizekian Lacanianism, Conterhegemonic Post-Gramscian
Marxism" -
and other such obscure things, are the butt of his satire. And this book presents a
collection of
papers presented to the Modern Language Association's December 2000 convention in
(appropriately perhaps) Washington DC by a spurious panel of "leading figures in the
field" of
Pooh studies. The panel is chaired by Professor N.Mack Hobbs, successful businessman,
academic, promoter of self-interest in all fields, and author of The Last Theory Book
You'll Ever
Need to Read, which announced the death of literary theory.
Professor Crews (wisely) hands over all responsibility for Postmodern Pooh to N. Mack
Hobbs,
who convenes and chairs the MLA panel and co-ordinates the production of this book.
But
Crews's belief that humanism will thus be well served, no doubt reflects the extent of his
self-professed state of frailty.
Don't get me wrong. In Postmodern Pooh, Frederick Crews has done a superb job of
demonstrating the very worst aspects of postmodern literary criticism. The trouble is that
he has
done it so well that I felt I had just sat through the worst, most futile, distasteful and
mind-numbing MLA session possible. It demonstrated, ad nauseam, Hobbs' claim
regarding "Sex
and scholarship": i.e. that "in a twenty-first-century literature department, it would be
hard to say
where one ends and the other begins". It was full of Hobbs's, so-called "kinky erotic
obsessions"
and sexual perversion. And it amply demonstrated Hobbs's claim that "even the craziest
reading"
(of Pooh or any other literary text) "can't be excluded on the basis of textual or even
extra-textual
evidence": such things as evidence and plausibility are now "old-fashioned
scruples".
Some critical puffs on the cover of Postmodern Pooh describe it as "deliciously funny"
and
"hilarious". Sadly, I agreed only with the ones which called it "scary" and (if it were any
reflection
of what is actually going on in our universities) "past a joke".
Happily, though, I came to the conclusion that I am inextricably stuck in what Crews
calls the
"freshman casebook" level of literary criticism. And so, I still find The Pooh Perplex
humanist,
humane and funny.
People of the Lightning
Kathleen O'Neal Gear and W. Michael Gear
Tom Doherty Associates
ISBN 0312858523 $24.95
Jean Carroll
Reviewer
Kathleen O'Neal Gears and W. Michael Gear, with backgrounds in archaeology and
anthropology,
bring authority to this novel about pre-Columbian North Americans. They have written
several
books on American Indians, including People of the Lakes, People of the Sea, People of
the
River, and People of the Earth.
People of the Lightning takes place on the east coast of Florida. According to the authors,
the
people of 7,000 to 8.000 years ago buried their dead in ponds lying on their left sides,
heads to
the west and facing north. Conditions in the pond called Windover Pond near Titusville,
Florida,
resulted in incredible preservations of the bodies. DNA analyses indicate that the
Windover people
are not closely related to any other Native American population.
There is much prophecy, mysticism and superstition in this story. Legend says that a
White
Lightning Boy will shoot down the four Shining Eagles at the corners of the sky. The
eagles hold
Hurricane Breather's arms and legs, and when Hurricane Breather is released, the world
will be
destroyed.
Fifteen-year-old Pondwader is a White Lightning Boy. He can hear voices of prophecy,
and he
holds a Lightning Bird in his chest.
Musselwhite, a warrior whose beloved husband is held captive by Cottonmouth, sets off,
along
with Pondwader, to save her husband. Cottonmouth is as dangerous and ruthless as his
name
implies. "The average person feared Cottonmouth, often looking at the man as if he were
a
loathsome creature just emerged from the ocean's darkest reaches. But the elders
considered
him on a par with Brother Earth or Sister Moon "
The story is intricately woven with each character playing his part to carry the plot to its
conclusion, and the language in the book reflects the times, such as this description of a
storm:
"Lightning Birds rode the storm winds. Their jagged tail feathers slashed the sky as they
leapt
from their perches in the clouds and plunged downward, hunting the ocean for whales
and
dolphins."
I found the book fascinating. An over-use of "stage directions" in the writing was
annoying but
not so much so that, when I finished the book, I wanted to start over and read it all again.
I'll be
sure to read their latest in the series
Big Fish
Andrew Osmond
Minnow Press
ISBN 0953944816 7.99 Brit. pounds, 230 pages
Alice Duberry
Reviewer
Big Fish fits neatly into the expanding genre of 'backpacker in peril' novels, which
perhaps began
with Alex Garland's The Beach and which found further commercial success with Emily
Barr's
Backpack. Stuart Ward - the innocent abroad protagonist of Osmond's novel - is far less
cocksure
than Garland's traveller, though, and the book as a whole provides a far more satisfying
mystery
than the predictable Backpack.
On a Gap Year from work, Stuart arrives in French Polynesia as the first stop on a
Round-the-World itinerary. Hopeful of adventure and romance, instead he finds himself
unwittingly drawn into a conspiracy to cover up a fatal road accident, and he quickly
discovers
that the beautiful, paradise islands are no Eden. Events take an even more perilous turn
for Stuart,
when one-by-one his co-conspirators begin to disappear...
The descriptions of the Polynesian islands - and later of New Zealand, where the
dramatic climax
of the story occurs - are particularly evocative, and make the reader want to immediately
contact
their nearest travel agent to check on the latest flight availability, but the beauty of the
surroundings are countered by the ever-present threat of menace which appears to stalk
the young
backpacker. Parents beware! It is probably best not to know what horrors await your Gap
Year
travelling offspring!
If there is any criticism of Big Fish it is that the basic premise of the crime is perhaps
slightly too
similar to that of I Know What You Did Last Summer, and also that the sub-plot,
involving a thief
preying on the backpackers, is a little weak - although entirely accurate, as any students
or
inhabitants of shared accommodation will testify - but these are minor gripes, in what is a
thoroughly entertaining and intriguing novel. Andrew Osmond proves to have both a
light, comic
touch in his observations of the discomforts and embarrassments of travel, but also
reveals a
darker side, reminiscent of some of the writings of J G Ballard, when he explores the
isolation
associated with travelling alone in a far flung country, many thousands of miles from
home.
A must for wannabe globe-trotters, armchair travellers and mystery fans, alike.
Life of Pi
Yann Martel
Vintage Canada div. of Random House of Canada Ltd., Toronto
[orig. pub. 2001 by Knopf div. of same]
ISBN 0676973779 $14.00, Can. $21.00 354 pages
Gardie Hodgins
Reviewer
I read Life of Pi yesterday, and found it both highly original and very funny at times.
Author Yann Martel's take on religions - that is, Hinduism, Christianity and Islam - is
very
thoughtful, but also highly entertaining. The meeting of the three representatives of these
religions
with the family Patel, out on a stroll, is hilarious when all three claim Pi as their convert.
They are
very proud of him, but when they find out that he attends all three services, they all get
rather
angry. They back down, though, when a bemused father Patel, who by the way is a
thoroughly
modern unbeliever, says he hadn't known that his son was attending all the local religions,
but that
he did no harm in doing so.
Pi's thoughts on the fate of Jesus Christ, who was sacrificed by his Father for the good of
humankind, are insightful. He compares that act to his own zookeeper father's
hypothetically
feeding him to the lions, if the lions were misbehaving. Pi just can't understand any
father's doing
that, something I personally have likewise thought about often.
The passage involving a prayer rug to let Pi pray to Mecca is very funny. He first asks his
dad for
a rug, but his completely befuddled dad sends him to his mother. She doesn't know what
to make
of it either, and so she takes the easy way out and buys Pi the rug. Father comes home
and asks
Mother why she did that? She replies, if you don't like it, YOU take the rug back! Father
backs
down too, and leaves Pi very happy with the rug.
Comments Pi's brother Ravi: you should now become Jewish too, and then you will have
four
holidays a week when you won't need to work. The only drawback would be that you
would lose
a snip of your very personal anatomy. Maybe you could also look for three other
religions; then,
with seven holidays a week, you are completely off the hook where work is
concerned.
The family decides to emigrate by ship from India to Canada, taking many of the
zookeeper
father's animals with them. Then comes a shipwreck, with the loss of everyone but Pi and
a few
animals. There follows a drifting period of 227 days, longer than anybody else on record,
during
which Pi keeps a tiger alive for his own survival. The two develop some kind of
understanding,
for Pi uses his knowledge of wild animals in the former family zoo to his best
advantage.
I personally found it very informative to read about the relative contentment of wild
animals in a
zoo. They are well fed, have their own quarters, and find life much easier there than in
the wild
where food is sometimes nonexistent or very hard to get, and where they must fight for
their own
territories.
The most hilarious episode for me is at the end of the book. It is Pi's interview with two
English-speaking Japanese officials investigating the loss of the Japanese ship that had
carried Pi,
his family, and their zoo animals, but that had sunk in the Pacific with no other survivors
and with
very little indication of what had gone wrong.
Pi had stranded in Mexico, the tiger had then disappeared into the jungle, and the
emaciated boy
had been found and hospitalized. The Japanese officials now want to know why or at
least how
the ship had sunk. What the cause may have been, Pi doesn't know - but he does describe
his
entire experience, as told hitherto in the book.
From time to time the two Japanese exchange asides in their own language, which Pi can't
understand. The passages are set in a special typeface that we can read, though, and what
the two
say in private is also often amusing.
When the officials don't believe the story of his long voyage with the tiger, Pi tells them a
different
story and suggests they choose between the two. When they ask which is the real story,
he points
out that neither version will throw any light on the ship's loss in any case, and tells them
to choose
whichever they find more interesting. They select the story of his survival with the tiger
for
company.
Altogether I found "Life of Pi" a very refreshing, original work, and easy to read. The
whole story
just flows, yet it is quite informative on a number of fascinating topics.
An Awful Intimacy
Elizabeth Von Vogt
Writers Club Press
910 East Hamilton, Suite 100, Campbell, California 95006
ISBN: 0595216676 $15.95 279 pages
Joseph Conrad
Reviewer
By
CA WunderLee
Abstractions, the supposition goes, define accurately the marrow of presence. Until, at
some
point, mortality becomes a loose chain of observed theoretical impressions and nuances,
and the
person is, suddenly, a collage of quotables, beliefs, emotional constructs,
communications,
dogmatic confessions, and the like It's about then that they begin to swell romantically,
to be
regarded like a teen-age love letter, a guiltily adored emotive novel, a soap opera starlet,
the
subject of love songs from impassioned acoustical voices weeping with teary words, and
not, as
the evidence suggests, simply tissue and bone.
Where did it all begin, but with acknowledgement of that eesome exterior, and how does
it
translate into absolute, complete, undivided cynosure for a person's infrastructure? From
a
naturally selective inherent response to instant, quixotic monomania of the highest order.
What
starts as admiration hopefully passes into knowledge and intimacy. Suppose, then, it were
possible, not only to have the vision, but actually to know it through study and
observation to
make a profession, a vocation, to stake all your precious time into peeling into the vision.
This is
most often promised on the steps of altars, or over a nearly empty bottle of wine, or in
ultra-crepidarian acceptance of pubescent graustark. However, on occasion, the vow is
taken up
by one who does not have the revelation and most certainly never will. But who still, for
some
inexplicable reason, wishes, in the most profane of itinerant hearts, to know This is the
edacious
focus of Ms. Elizabeth Von Vogt's corpulent novel An Awful Intimacy, in which our dear
protagonist, one Mary Lou Liever, whiling away her midas years, dandles the reader like
her
favorite grandchild through her corporeal, epicurean life shortly after her husband passes.
It's a life
of excess Or, more properly to say, it's a life that appears to be excessive. Only
gradually, we
come to realize, well, that its all fantasy, that the dear old maid knitting softly in the
corner is not
just admiring her handy work, perhaps, occasionally enjoying the scenery No, she's
delving like
Dante into the pits and purgatories of the past, of what might have been, of the
possibilities, both
taken and neglected. What is first on the surface, the paint meeting the canvas, the
scribble on the
paper, evolves from substance to abstraction.
Experiencing the apocalypse of the 20th century, with rampant emotional millenarianism
and
revived tendencies to suppress anything not fit for a child of ten, the language required to
communicate such an endeavor has long gone extinct, the way of the dodo, as they say. It
is an
audacious epeolater that attempts to develop the neology to describe it, let alone one who
would
use the now deceased vernacular, with all of its folly, tantalolagnia, and imprecision. For
Elizabeth
Von Vogt, the effort is revolutionary. Indeed, we meet Mary Lou, as a reclusive old
woman, but
with thewy verse and Wolfian timbre, An Awful Intimacy translates her age, regret, and
fear into a
laudatory biography, exposing her influences, her pains, her sufferings, and her loves in a
triumph
of words dripping with pure experience. She, herself, becomes whole, sensual,
emotional... The
fantasy of the fantasy, the mirage of characters and their own mirages, the play within the
play,
becomes believable. Mary Lou is marketable, useful, she can be at once classical and
contemporary, innocent and perverted, inspiring and contumelious, jocoserious and
mawkish,
lovely and mordant.
However, Mary Lou was not born that way, it took years of whittling, years of influences,
years
of meetings, and years of love and hate her personality, so much like an impressionist's
palette,
develops in the punctuated equilibrium of her own psychological enlightenment there are
men,
quite a few, strong loves and brief encounters, artistic endeavors that make dreams seem
promising, compromises, purposes, meanings, and losses. All of them abstractions save
her dear
Lawrence, who reigns over her conceptual microverse like a devouring god, so
meaningful, he
becomes tangible, utterly translates from verse to man, and his memory, that flickering
vignette of
remorse, becomes a myth. As Mary Lou recounts those days, the demigod and his high
priestess
are merged in their mystery, she who adores him becomes as much of a vision as he
By the time the reader has finished An Awful Intimacy, Mary Lou has become a very real
person.
No longer a character to be admired or scorned, Von Vogt has enraptured her with lovely
impressions and a personality that emerges from the page and fits quite nicely in the
mind's eye, as
if recalling an old friend in a rather tricky s‚ance. To know, that is intimate, to
understand, that is,
at times, awful, in both senses. Elizabeth Von Vogt's An Awful Intimacy is an exercise in
complete expression, a Pygmalion autopsy, an abstraction wholly vested with sinews and
bones.
At any time her lips moved very little but in this instance the intense whisper of these
words
seemed to form itself right in my very heart; not as a conveyed sound but as an imparted
emotion
vibrating there with an awful intimacy of delight. And yet it left my heart heavy.
Remnants of the Night
Jim Morton
Greatunpublished
http://www.greatunpublished.com
ISBN# 1588984672 $15.00 83 pp.
Joyce P. Hale
Reviewer
Remnants of the Night, by Jim Morton, is for those who are addicted to love. Get your fix
here!
Jim Morton has a smooth, mellow style that will have you eating out of his hand; or
better
yet,
reading his heartdeep poetry. The title verse is a perfect lead-in: "it is such an empty
feeling
when I lose you from my sight, so I'm filling up my pockets with the remnants of the
night."
However, it's not all sunshine and roses, as love itself isn't..... "I watched as you were
leaving
til you faded from my view. I'd have traded all tomorrows for one minute more with
you."
He writes of love, and loss, and passion, and loneliness; new love, old love and
longing....
"if never again could I kiss you so deep, all the angels in heaven would lie down and
weep.
There's a heavenly reason for the things that we do and I've never loved any greater than
you."
The Stealing Moon
Troy D Smith
iUniverse
2021 Pine Lake Road-Lincoln, NE 68512
ISBN# 0595293077 $16.95 239 pages
Les Williams
Reviewer
THE STEALING MOON is a collection of short stories by Spur Award winning author
Troy D
Smith. The title story tells about a boy who becomes a man fighting Comanche's and
earns his
father's respect. God Bless Our Home is an interesting view of the reason Jesse James
took off his
guns before being shot by Robert Ford. The Hunters Snare tells about two brothers on
opposing
sides of the Civil War. One is a Union Calvary Major and the other a Confederate sniper.
Both
find themselves staring at each other through field glasses. Will either one give the other
away?
Cherokee Winter is about what happens when Big Foot Spencer leads a surveying party
that is
attacked by Cherokee's. These are just some of the wonderful stories that include Sitting
Bull,
Crazy Horse, Buffalo Soldiers, outlaws and lawmen. THE STEALING MOON is an
EXCELLENT book worth reading for western fans.
Gold . . . then Iron
Marty Duncan
PageFree Publishing
8175 Creekside Drive Ste 200; Portage, MI 49024
ISBN# 1589610989 $14.95 pb 346 pages
ISBN# 1589610997 $24.95 hc
Mary George
Reviewer
Author Marty Duncan has woven a fascinating tale of the second search for "gold" on
Minnesota's
Iron Range. Set in 1938, just prior to World War II, his book Gold . . . then Iron
chronicles the
desperate hunt for the "Eagle of Christus," a golden eagle and ancient relic of the early
Christian
Church secretly transported from Jerusalem to England by the Knights of Godfrey during
the Fifth
Crusade. Seven hundred years later, Godfrey Harris, the last monk charged with
protecting the
Golden Eagle, disappears from an Irish monastery and into the mines of northern
Minnesota.
Taking the relic with him, he melts into the Irish immigrant community to escape the
treacheries
of Nazi spies and eventually, the agents of the Japanese Imperial Army. Three naval
officers
follow the trail from the British Isles to Lake Superior, Duluth and the Iron Range to
recover the
object of international intrigue and find the lost monk.
The fictional plot is woven around the lives of the real spies and officers who were part
of British,
American and Japanese Intelligence in the deadly years surrounding 1938. Overseas,
Hitler was
carving up Europe, the Japanese had defeated China, and the United States was trying to
stay out
of the looming war. It was also a time of great upheaval on the Iron Range when labor
disputes
sometimes ended in the deaths of immigrant miners. The book ends in a mystery. Duncan
invites
the readers of this sweeping mystery to pick up the loose ends and discover where the
Golden
Eagle was hidden.
Sweet Melody
Liana M. Scott
Limitless, Dare2Dream Publishing
100 Pin Oak Court Lexington, South Carolina, 29073, U.S.A
ISBN: 0974412155 $16.00
Rocco DeGasperis
Reviewer
Captivating from page one, Sweet Melody is filled with drama and suspense. I picked up
a copy
because of my keen interest in suspense thrillers, and I was not disappointed. The story
takes the
reader through a lifetime of memories full of surprises and twists.
The well-developed characters are brought to life with meaningful dialogue. I became
quickly
caught up in their mysterious pasts and the distress it carried. Breaking uncommon
ground, this
new author masterfully paints a colorful world of intrigue while skittering around the
fringes of
the occult. Delivering lots of action, Sweet Melody was easily the freshest and most
compelling
story I've come across in years.
Four Faces: A Journey in Search of Jesus the Divine, the Jew, the Rebel, the Sage
Ulysses Press
Berkeley, CA
ISBN: 1569750904 $15.00 237 pp.
Virginia Ward
Reviewer
Those who seek to know where and how Christian belief and practice began will want to
read
Four Faces. Author Mark Tully, well known BBC journalist, admits to a life-long
fascination with
Jesus. He uses his investigative skills and his command of language to search out and
deliver a
down to earth account of the four aspects of Jesus: the divine, the Jew, the rebel, the sage.
Using
ancient writings, plainly spoken research and interviews with historians and theologians,
Tully
reveals Jesus as a man who was born, lived and died a Jew, a man whose words parallel,
in large
measure, the sayings of the rabbis.
As Thomas Moore says in his introduction to the book, "He [Tully] wants to know why
Jesus has
endured throughout our lifetimes ... why Jesus has endured as one of the great spiritual
teachers."
Tully uses myth, legend and poetry more than history and social reconstruction to find the
answers he seeks. He explores the tendency to spiritualize real places and events in
Christian
terms as a reason for having lost touch with the ethnicity of Jesus. Tully goes on to place
Jesus
firmly within the Jewish community of the Middle East of his time.
Tully discuss Jesus' place in the political and social unrest of the time and concludes that,
"All the
indications are that the priests, as the Gospels say, take steps to ensure that Jesus is
labeled a
troublemaker." It is unlikely that Pilate would hesitate in acting against a man whom the
high
priest said seemed bent on causing unrest. Tully points out that the times were hard,
characterized
by debt, taxes, and loss of land. The ruthless suppression of rebellion was the norm, and
since
Jesus was a man of his time there's little to indicate that Jesus would have opposed
violence to
right wrongs. Much of Jesus teaching is geared toward what Tully calls social revolution
because
Jesus believed God was taking care of the political revolution. Tully says it is "likely that
Jesus
was seen as a 'spiritual master' rather than as a crucified and risen lord."
Tully presents a strong case for his points of view. It is only in his discussion of Jesus the
divine
that his presentation falls short. There is heavy dependence on Biblical writings to the
exclusion of
other materials that could have been used to give a more believable view. Nonetheless,
Four Faces
is an enjoyable, scholarly, yet easy to digest volume filled with information rarely spoken
of in
other works of this kind. A must read.
Caution: Under Construction
Vertigo
Limitless Dare2Dream
100 Pin Oak Court, Lexington, South Carolina, 29073
http://www.limitlessd2d.net
ISBN: 0974412198 $18.00
Ann Wesley
Reviewer
In Caution: Under Construction, author Vertigo provides readers with a series of love
stories that
touch the heart and tickle the funny bone. The main story is about a new love between
two
women, Sheridan Landers and Keefer Gibson. But in getting to know these women,
readers also
are treated to lessons about family love, love between friends and the love of self that
allows us
the confidence to open up and be vulnerable with others.
Vertigo's novel stands out from dozens of other lesbian romance titles because her words
allow
readers to feel the passion her characters experience. Reading the story, one stops
thinking about
Sheridan and Keefer as fictional characters and starts seeing them as friends real people
we wish
we encountered in our own lives.
Sheridan Landers is an attractive, muscular, blonde construction worker whose success
with
women is the envy of her male coworkers, to whom she brags regularly. She rules the
club scene
at night, dancing to expel energy and torture women until she chooses one to be her
object for a
night. Her sexual encounters are fast and anonymous as she allows her libido to lead her
life.
But Sheridan also has a loving, caring side that few see. Readers experience it in the way
she
interacts with her developmentally disabled brother Steven. He worships the ground she
walks on
and Sheridan in return is equally devoted to her sibling. Among the other important men
in
Sheridan's life are her two dogs, who she treats as spoiled children, allowing them to
squish her at
night sleeping on her bed and talking baby talk to them when no one is around.
Sheridan's sexual persona crashes with her softer side when she meets Keefer Gibson, a
gorgeous
OSHA inspector who unintentionally captures the attention of men and women wherever
she
goes. Keefer doesn't realize the extent of her attractiveness and is instead sexually
repressed.
Trapped in a loveless, abusive relationship she has no confidence in her ability to love or
be loved.
Naturally when Sheridan makes her move on Keefer she is rejected. And even though
both feel an
immediate pull to the other, they are thrown into conflict as they experience new
feelings.
As Sheridan learns more about Keefer, she experiences feelings of concern that are
foreign to her.
Feeling love is so out of character for Sheridan, her coworkers debate whether they
should
explain to their friend what her new emotions mean.
When Keefer and Sheridan discover Keefer's girlfriend Dani cheating, sparks and fists fly
and a
chain of events begins that will lead the ladies to learn the meaning of love. While
fighting off
Dani, who becomes a stalking maniac, Sheridan becomes patient with her new lover and
starts to
consider someone's needs other than her own. Keefer starts to trust again and believe that
she is
not only worthy of love, but also capable of satisfying Sheridan's desires.
Caution: Under Construction is sensual, romantic story that deserves a place on every
lesbian
bookshelf.
Alyice's Bookshelf
Vacancy: A Mother's Book of Loss and Grief
Linda Lee Berndt
1st Books
1663 Liberty Drive, Suite 200, Bloomington, IN 47403 USA
800/839-8640 (Toll Free) 812/339-6000 (Outside USA and Canada) 812/339-6554
(Fax)
ISBN: 1403328986 $14.50
Death itself is extremely excruciating and unbearable; yet, Berndt has learned to move
forward
and let the healing begin. In Vacancy, grief is explored through a series of poems and
personal
letters letters that offer insight to the road of recovery. If you find poems refreshing and
helpful,
then you will enjoy this book. In the end, Berndt learned to reach out and help others
through her
loss, by educating teens and young adults about the dangers of drugs. If you know
someone
suffering from depression and using illegal drugs to "handle" it, Berndt strongly urges
you to help
that person --even if it means remaining anonymous.
Parenting Power In The Early Years
Brenda Nixon
WinePress Publishing
PO Box 1302, Mount Vernon, OH 43050
ISBN: 157921343X $12.95 http://parentingpwr.com
Did you just give birth to a healthy baby girl? Do you have a toddler who thinks he's in
charge?
Have you never babysat another child, but are about to have one of your own? Parenting
Power in
the Early Years, by Brenda Nixon, is the perfect addition to your family library. While
parenting
can often be a wonderful experience, it can also be a humbling experience and a constant
reminder
that we're not perfect. Nixon accepts the fact that parents have imperfections and gently
guides
them through their child's early stages of life so they walk away feeling normal, capable,
confident, and prepared. The simplicity and casualness of her words gently guides parents
to make
better choices; choices that make for happier homes. Finally, this book comes with
laughter--if
you find yourself having a bad parenting day and want a good laugh, you'll have to read
"I Shudda
Listened;" I promise it'll make your day!
Alyice Edrich
Reviewer
Bethany's Bookshelf
SETS: Teaching Children How To Connect With God
Shirley Hildreth
Muse Imagery
9811 W. Charleston Blvd., Suite 2390, Las Vegas, NV 89117-7519
0974050008 $19.95 1-702-233-5910 www.MUSEimagery.com
In SETS: Teaching Children How To Connect With God, Shirley Hildreth offers a plan to
teach
children how to connect with God through a method she has developed over the years
that
promotes Spiritually Enlightening Thoughts (SETS). SETS can be practiced in even small
amounts of free time, with positive benefits that transcend a lifetime. A practical and
instructional
guide, SETS is very highly recommended to the attention of Christian parents, clergy, and
care-givers wanting to engage children with spiritual values and insights.
A Teen's Guide To Christian Living
Bettie B. Youngs, Ph.D., Ed.D., Jennifer Leigh Youngs, and Debbie Thurman
Faith Communications
c/o Health Communications, Inc.
3201 S.W. 15th Street, Deerfield Beach, FL 33442-8190
0757301010 $12.95 1-800-441-5569
A Teen's Guide To Christian Living: Practical Answers To Tough Questions About God
And
Faith is a soundly written and expertly presented Christian guide offering unambiguous
answers to
such commonplace conundrums as "Who is God, and what does He expect of me?" and
"Does
God have a plan for my life, and how am I to discover it?" A devout and informative
discourse
about exploring and better understanding one's relationship to Christ, A Teen's Guide To
Christian Living is a magnanimous and recommended read for faithful Christians from 12
to 20.
Also very highly recommended as a companion volume is 12 Months Of Faith: A
Devotional
Journal For Teens (0757301215, $12.95).
Jesus Loves Me Devotional
Angela Abraham and Ken Abraham
Thomas Nelson Publishers
PO Box 141000, Nashville, TN 37214
140030184X $10.99 1-800-251-4000
The collaborative effort of Angela and Ken Abraham, Jesus Loves Me Devotional is a
simple,
positive, enthusiastically recommended devotional for Christian children. Featuring
happy color
illustrations, and simple songs, prayers, and activities for praising and pleasing God, the
Jesus
Loves Me Devotional is a warm-hearted and spiritual reminder filled from cover to cover
with
upbeat ways for little ones to reinforce their faith, ranging from interpretations of
simplified
Biblical stories to action rhymes to suggested activities such as making a prayer album
and
more.
100 Ways To Attract Angels
Samara Anjelae
BelleTress Books
2962 N. Middletown Rd., Paris, KY 40361
0970875487 $17.95 www.belletressbooks.com
With an illustrated page border by Anca Hariton, 100 Ways To Attract Angels by Samara
Anjelae
is a prayerful and spiritual collection of recommendations for inviting heavenly servants
into one's
home, heart, life, and soul. From the Angel Horoscope, which never changes and always
reads
"You have free will to make today and every day how you want it. The power to create
lies within
you. Your guardian angel and your league of special angels are waiting to assist" to
leaving out
"angel treats" of spiritual beauty such as flowers, fragrances, candles, and music, 100
Ways To
Attract Angels is a gentle, soulful, and well-meaning guide. Also very highly
recommended for a
Christian readership is the companion book by Samara Anjelae, Angel Prayers
(0970875460,
$17.95)
Prophetic Intercession
Barbara Wentroble
Regal Books
c/o Gospel Light Worldwide
PO Box 3875, Ventura, CA 93006
0830732799 $12.99 www.regalbooks.com
Ably written by Barbara Wentroble (the founder of International Breakthrough
Ministries),
Prophetic Intercession: Unlocking Miracles And Releasing The Blessings Of God is a
straightforward guide for Christians seeking to learn how to pray directly to God and
thereby
opening the door to two-way communication from the Divine. Thematically appropriate
quotes
from scripture combine with quite thoughtful musings on Biblical teachings to
significantly
enhance the devotional advice providing respecting the formation personal connection for
Christians of all denominations with God and His message.
The Hope Of A Homecoming
Brendan O'Rourke and DeEtte Sauer
NavPress
3820 North 30th Street, Colorado Springs, CO 80904
1576833763 $13.99 1-800-366-7788 www.navpress.com
Very highly recommended and very helpful reading, The Hope Of A Homecoming:
Entrusting
Your Prodigal To A Sovereign God is a sympathetic guide written by licensed clinical
psychologist Brendan O'Rourke and addiction recovery specialist DeEtte Sauer especially
for the
parents of a prodigal son or daughter who hope for their child's return to a Christian faith
and
lifestyle. Advice for conquering fear, praying for protection, learning to cope with anger
and put it
to constructive use, remain in harmony with God during difficult times, and more fill the
pages of
this emotional and spiritually powerful resource for tapping into the wellspring of one's
faith.
Relationships Of Grace
Chris Karcher
AdamsKing Publishing
PR/PR Relations (publicity)
PO Box 1043, Layton, Utah 84041-1043
1932356517 $12.95 www.relationshipsofgrace.com
Relationships Of Grace: Spiritual Keys For Creating Loving Relationships, Loving
Yourself, And
Living With Meaning by Chris Karcher is an effective spiritual self-help guide to creating
healthy
and loving relationships that spiritually reward us while spreading the power of faith in
God as
well as the joy and miracle of sharing happiness together. Secrets for dealing with
difficult people,
timeless spiritual teaching, the importance of loving oneself, opening one's heart and
mind to
grace and God, and more fills the pages of this reverential and deeply meaningful guide
to positive
change. Relationships Of Grace is also available as a workbook (1932356533, $12.95); a
CD
(1932356207, $9.99); and as an abridged audio cassette (1932356215, $9.99).
Though The Vision Tarry
Aleathea Dupree
Dathea
6722 3rd Street, NW, Ste. 103, Washington, DC 20012
0971224005 $12.99 1-202-291-4885 dathea@dathea.com
Though The Vision Tarry: Waiting For My Promised Mate is the personal memoir and
testimony
of its author, Aleathea Dupree. Here written down is one woman's journey toward the
promise of
God, fulfilled in finding the one meant to be her mate. A powerful message of faith,
patience, and
lasting love, embracing God's promise to every Christian and offering principles to
illuminate one's
life, Through The Vision Tarry is an uplifting spiritual testimony penned with an especial
grace
and rapture.
A Match Made In Heaven
Wendy Widder
Kregel Publications
PO Box 2607, Grand Rapids, MI 49501
0825441129 $11.99 1-800-733-2607 www.kregel.com
A Match Made In Heaven: How Singles And The Church Can Live Happily Ever After
by Wendy
Widder is a compelling and timely recommendation of how unmarried, divorced, and
widowed
parishioners and the Christian church can and should serve one another better. Though
the
community churches have traditionally been family-oriented, an unfortunate yet common
occurrence is that these churches have begun to substitute programs for relationships
when it
comes to the unmarried. A Match Made In Heaven is an inspired and inspiring
exploration of
positive alternatives to enhance and strengthen the bond of the single person with the rest
of the
Christian congregation through the auspices of the community church.
Susan Bethany
Reviewer
Brenda's Bookshelf
The Perfect Heroine
Delle Jacobs
Awe-Struck E-Books
http://www.awe-struck.net
kdstruck@mcshi.com
ISBN 1587494647 (print)
ISBN 1587494655 (ebook)
Download: $4.75 Disk: $8.95
Lord Reginald Beauhampton was in a quandary. His father, the Duke of Marmount,
intended for
him to marry his dour cousin, Portia. But Reggie had other plans. He wanted to establish
himself
as a writer which he loved even more than sailing. But being a Duke's son set Reggie in a
position
that forced him to be a proper gentleman. And an occupation as a writer was definitely
not
proper.
Chloe Daventry had her own problems. Her sisters were stuck with an abusive guardian.
Her
father had died an untimely death to which her late uncle took advantage and proceeded
to
squander the family fortune. This left her penniless. Chloe needed the blunt to save her
sisters. An
even better proposition was to marry an influential man to gain custody of her sisters. Her
sights
immediately set upon Reggie. Being a Duke's son, he was sure to be able to help her. But
the
Duke had other plans and was not about to cooperate.
If their respective families are not enough to keep the plot moving forward, Reggie's book
debut
featuring her as the heroine takes center stage. While everyone thinks it is cute and
loving, Chloe
is none too pleased. Forget the fact that love is in the air. Chloe is downright mad that
Reggie
took advantage of her sad state. Then again, Reggie is in hot water anyway. The Duke has
found
out about Chloe, her sisters, and his book.
This is an interesting and fun story. Both are besieged by problems not entirely of their
own
making. Their relatives are interfering and refuse to allow love to rule over all. Especially
the
Duke who wants to control everything. He should have learned his lesson years before
when the
Duchess left. But he is about to learn it now for Chloe is not going to let the Duke have
his
way.
Jacobs is one of those writers that need to be watched. The stories are intriguing with a
hint of
mystery, a load of romance hiding in the background, and a need to plant a seed of
happiness in
every reader's mind. Chloe is THE PERFECT HEROINE and Reggie knows it. They just
need to
convince the Duke.
The Hungry Heart
Elise Dee Beraru
Awe-Struck E-Books
http://www.awe-struck.net
kdstruck@mcshi.com
ISBN 1587494019 Download: $4.75 Trade: $15.95
Two lost souls looking for love. Jenny Clarkson thought she had a life of hard times
during the
war. Yet nothing could compare her trials with that of Micah Peterman.
Beginning with the loss of her virtue, Jenny depends on her wits to stay alive. Her fianc‚
had been
killed, her cousins near death and her brother nowhere to be found. Jenny made the only
choice
open to her. And in turn made her belief in the right take a hard downward spiral.
Nonetheless,
Jenny survives her valiant decision to save her home only to have it burn down mere days
later.
All is not lost though for Jenny is a survivor.
Micah is a man of his word. His late wife despised him but he never strayed even though
it had
been years without intimacy. But everything Micah enjoyed as a youth was no longer his
to enjoy
as an adult. Captured and starved, Micah is a walking skeleton. Only problem is that he
does not
care about himself anymore. His friends do but Micah refuses to listen to their
well-meaning
advice. So they watch as he slowly kills himself. And then Micah does the unexpected.
He frees a
woman bound for the gallows. By making her his wife, she had an inkling of freedom.
While
Jenny fully expects to perform wifely duties, all Micah requires is a housekeeper. What
he gets is
something else entirely.
Jenny's road to freedom is a tough climb. At the verdict of the judge, Micah was
essentially her
keeper. He was totally responsible for anything she said and did. Ironically, Jenny also
felt
responsible for Micah's health. And she set out to make him well whether he wanted to
feel better
or not.
Meanwhile, the townsfolk were determined to make their lives horrible. The shopkeepers
made it
near impossible for Micah to buy supplies. And the rest of the town simply ignored them.
Yet,
both were on the road to recovery. Jenny was ecstatic to see each new day and Micah was
beginning to gain the weight he lost in the prison camps.
Then disaster strikes while Micah and Jenny are at the Fair where they prayed the stock
would sell
for a good price. The Fair goes well until Jenny's brother and his partner decide to kidnap
her.
Despair after despair would rip ordinary marriages apart. In this case, each trial cements
the vows
made that fateful day Jenny was to die. Beraru has a strong command in the fictional
world. The
plot used is not a simple "boy meet girl" plot. It is complicated and shows insight to
mundane
tasks, relationships and the hard path to true love. Not many fictional tales can provide
enjoyment
while also repairing damage to the characters involved. Yet Beraru manages this feat
admirably.
This is not the only thing that makes a good story great though. It is a healthy
combination of all
facets of writing that allow writers to put the envelope. While it is true, no writer has the
magic
touch all of the time, THE HUNGRY HEART is an example that surpasses many books
available
on the market today. This is one of those books that sets off the warm fuzzy feelings to
prove that
everything will be okay if you just believe. So as the creatures of the night come out of
the
woodwork, be sure Beraru's newest title is in hand.
The MacAulary Bride
Nancy Pirri
Awe-Struck E-Books
http://www.awe-struck.net
kdstruck@mcshi.com
ISBN 1587494221 Download: $4.75 Trade: $15.95
Harrison MacAulary was not above bribery to get what he wanted. He was the Laird of
the
MacAulay Clan and felt it was his duty to provide for his brother's wife and children now
that
Payton no longer was alive. So Harrison crossed the waters to America where Brianna
made her
home.
Harrison expects to find a distraught woman. He is surprised when Brianna steadfastly
insists she
is not going to move to Scotland. Not one to give up easily, Harrison bribes her
solicitor.
Raleigh McKenna tried to dissuade Harrison from his foolish plan. Yet it was meant to be
that
Brianna and her sons would voyage to Scotland to live with the MacAulay relatives. The
boys
were enchanted with the adventure. But Brianna was bored. Back home in Minnesota, she
had
work to keep her hands and mind occupied. However, in Scotland, Brianna had nothing.
And
Harrison could not understand why she did not like the life of leisure.
THE MACAULARY BRIDE has an entertaining plot that transverses the ocean. This
view
simply gives strength to Harrison's character. Although he outwardly shows the forte to
lead the
clan, he also shows a very human male characteristic. He refuses to think that someone of
the
opposite sex may know more than he does. But when he realizes what a treasure Brianna
is,
Harrison begins to feel guilty about her abduction. Nonetheless, the guilt does not last for
long
because he still needs to accomplish his goal.
Ironically, it is difficult to fall in love with only a picture. Yet this is exactly what has
happened for
Harrison had carried around their wedding picture for ten long years. She was everything
he
thought he needed. So during this time, he coveted his brother's wife as his own. Then at
the first
opportunity, Harrison whisks Brianna off to a new life, a new home, and straight into his
life. This
occurs without Harrison knowing and understanding the woman beneath the beauty.
Meanwhile, the setting was fantastic. Vivid scenes allowed readers to be right on scene
and in the
essence permeating the aura floating off the page. As it is, Harrison is a man worth
having. But
first, Brianna needs to tame his desires. Pirri does a fine job. This is a unique idea that
worked.
Velvet
A Promised Land Romance
Carolyn Brown
Avalon Books
Thomas Bouregy & Co., Inc.
160 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10016
http://www.avalonbooks.com
Erin Cartwright-Niumata, Editorial Director
editorial@avalonbooks.com
ISBN 0803496265 $19.95 192 pages
There was no way he was ever going to doctor anyone or anything again. The last time he
did, he
killed his beloved wife, child, and his brother. He was done with that business.
At least he was until Patty O'Leary showed up.
Patty needed a doctor. So he headed away from the bridal wagon train toward Fort
Laramie
praying they would have a doctor on staff. Unfortunately, the last doctor quit practicing.
Not due
to his ability. Rather, it was due to his lack of confidence. Dr. Hoyt Baxter no longer
believed he
could save lives. But Patty did not care. The man would take this young woman and nurse
her
back to health. Either that or Hoyt would suffer the wrath of the Dulan sisters.
Patty had an extremely easy time in convincing Hoyt to doctor his charge. But only
because no
one was home when Patty came to call. So being a wise man, he carefully carried her to
the bed
and left her trunk on the step. Patty then scribed a note and left as quickly as he had
arrived.
To say Hoyt was angry is putting it lightly. The man was boiling, steaming, and
downright
determined not to help the woman lying on his bed. But then something short of a miracle
transpired. Hoyt found his black bag and nursed her back to health.
Meanwhile, Velvet Jane Duran remembered nothing of her plight. She recalled collapsing
and the
goodbyes from her newly found sisters. And then Velvet awoke to a gruff man intent on
living in
the past. Not having much of a backbone before, Velvet determines it is best to leave as
soon as
possible. She was not about to be beholden to someone who did not want her in the first
place. So
Velvet did what any Duran would do.
VELVET is one of those books that cannot be put down until the last page is turned. The
plot
line is not totally unique but the characters' personalities definitely will bring laughter to
the
rooftops because Velvet is the meekest of the Dulan sisters. Brown then paired her up
with a hero
who could possibly run off the Renegade Indians with a look and a snarl.
Combustion is just waiting to happen.
Readers entering the Promised Land Romance series at this point will think the book is
doomed
right from the start. To fully understand what is going on and why this scenario works,
one must
also know WILLOW, who is the heroine in the first book. She is Dulan all the way
through with a
backbone to match. She does not back down for anything. And truth be known, the rest of
the
sisters seem similar in nature. Except for Velvet. She is shy and holds back on her
feelings. She
would do anything to avoid confrontations. So in a natural course of events, Velvet would
not
have chosen Hoyt as her savior nor as someone she would ever love. However, Velvet is
left
alone to deal with his moods. Fortunately, she gets fed up with his attitude right
quick.
And Hoyt? Well, he does not stand a chance in this game of love.
Brown has created another fun series. Here's to waiting for the next Dulan.
Willow
A Promised Land Romance
Carolyn Brown
Avalon Books
Thomas Bouregy & Co., Inc.
160 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10016
http://www.avalonbooks.com
Erin Cartwright-Niumata, Editorial Director
editorial@avalonbooks.com
ISBN 0803496168 $19.95 192 pages
His time on earth was nearly over. Jake Dulan had been disappointed time and again with
is
choice of wives. They had a bad habit of birthing girls and dying. Frustrated and
determined to
move on with his life, Jake started taking wagon trains to the promised land with his
partner,
Hank Gibson. But now that life was short, Jake decided it was time to summon his
daughters. He
wanted to speak with them one last time. However, they arrived in time for his
funeral.
The first book in The Promised Land Romance Series features the youngest Dulan.
Willow arrives
in St. Joseph, Missouri, just in time for her father's funeral. Upset because she had hoped
to hear a
deathbed confession, Willow is not thrilled about attending the service. As the pastor
drones on,
Willow wonders what she will do now for she had cut all family ties when she left
Pennsylvania to
see her deadbeat father. What surprises Willow the most is that there are only five women
attending the service. Thinking her father was as bad as her relatives claimed, Willow
decided he
did not have any friends. Nothing could have been further from the truth. Yet to a young
woman
growing up without a father, this is what she was determined to believe.
The shocker, however, is yet to come. The services come to a close. Then Hank asks the
women
to join him for the reading of the will. As Rafe Pierce reads Jake's words, they five
women are
shocked to learn they are sisters.
Rafe could not understand his feelings. The youngest Dulan sister made him so angry he
could
spit nails. He was positive Willow - and the rest of them - would be more at home in their
parlors
accepting visitors. They certainly were not cut out to be roughing it along this trail. None
of them
would be able to cope with the dangers and hardships they were sure to experience.
Thankfully,
Rafe was just helping with the first leg of the trip to California.
Rafe does not realize these girls were brought up differently. They have a mind. And each
one
uses it wisely. And Rafe was a bit thankful as one of them saved his sorry hide when his
horse
toppled him during the first ferry crossing. The only problem was that Rafe refused to
believe his
savior was also his nemesis. This person happened to be Willow. Her great-aunt raised
her on a
farm proving that hard work makes a person. In this Willow is a special person. She is
hardened
against men and believes none of them are trustworthy. Only one incites her soul to
anger.
Funny enough, the entire wagon train load of brides going to California can see Willow
and Rafe
growing closer each day. They look for the other. They argue constantly. And everyone
knows of
their infatuation. Rafe claims to hate Willow. Willow claims to hate Rafe. But Hank is
sure he is
going to lose one of his mail-order brides before the trip is finished. And her sisters are
positive
they will lose the sister they just found.
A great beginning to a brand-new series. Brown is a wonderful storyteller. Everything
seems to be
in its proper place pulling off a book that is bound to be a hit among the inspirational
readers.
On a Making Tide: The Nelson & Emma Trilogy, Part One
David Donachie
McBooks Press
ID Book Building
520 N Meadow St., Ithaca NY 14850
Judy Dietz, Marketing Director
http://www.mcbooks.com 607-273-6068 (fax)
ISBN 1590130413 $17.95 416 pages
Horatio Nelson begins his life adventure at a tender age when his father decrees Captain
Suckling
needed him abroad his Navy ship. Nelson comes from a parson home and therefore has
no
understanding for the nautical life. Yet he does have a desire to learn. As his lessons
continue,
Nelson quickly realizes that his uncle permits him liberties others do not have within the
British
Navy. Now Nelson does not necessarily like the association for the simple reason that
many under
his command believe he received his commission because of whom he knows rather than
what he
knows. Young but eager, Nelson sets out to prove himself. In return Nelson begins to
quickly rise
through the ranks while garnering respect and admiration for his daring and courage.
Emma Lyon lived the simple life. While her mother toiled and bargained for a better life,
Emma
sold coal for her grandmother. She was young yet dreamed of being someone. So the day
her
mother promised Emma learning, she was excited to do something different. Soon Emma
was
moved to other duties due to lack of payment. Nothing, however, seemed to fit Emma's
fancy
until she followed her mother to Kathleen Kelly's place where the women are called nuns
and
bodies are sold for a price. Emma is fascinated and intrigued knowing but not totally
understanding what position the women actually hold. Nonetheless, her mother convinces
Emma
to leave. But Emma finds her way back to the house. Shortly after her return, she is
introduced
and learns the trade of pleasing the client.
This is an exciting tale of intrigue and danger at every footstep. The intrigue and danger
vary
depending on the character involved but each is fascinated in learning something new.
Nautical
terms are frequently used and tidbits from British history introduced. For the scope of this
review,
the information relayed is considered correct as this particular reviewer is outside the
comfort
zone and truly uneducated in this respect.
As a skilled writer, Donachie obviously understands the basics of good writing. The
pacing flows
naturally while transitions occur seamlessly. ON A MAKING TIDE could not have been
an easy
book to pen. The historical descriptions of the real person behind the character outline
blends
deeply into the story making it as one with the overall plot. Likewise the understanding of
nautical
terms and the history itself could become twisted. Instead, Donachie has the reader
grasping for
more information to be relayed about these fascinating people taken out of British history.
Unfortunately, Nelson nor Emma would have had their story told if not for Donachie's
meticulous
research efforts. That said, it is definite many readers would be unaware of Nelson and
Emma's
association and accomplishments without the publishing of ON A MAKING TIDE.
While it is difficult to determine if the hard-core nautical readers will enjoy Donachie's
efforts, it is
a fact that Donachie satisfied a reading binge for at least one person not familiar with the
nautical
side of historical fiction.
Fantastic writing! Awesome descriptions! I can hardly wait for the next book.
Loving Lana
Nancy J Parra
Avalon Books
Thomas Bouregy & Co., Inc.
160 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10016
http://www.avalonbooks.com editorial@avalonbooks.com
Erin Cartwright-Niumata, Editorial Director
ISBN 0803496176 $19.95 192 pages
The stallion was smarter than the man tracking his movements. That much was obvious.
Even
Taggart Morgan knew catching the horse would be difficult. What he could not believe
was how
the wild stallion seemed enamored by the woman following his footsteps. To Taggart, she
was a
nuisance and a threat to his very existence. He was not the marrying kind. Still, she was
alone in
the world and his ma taught him to protect the women in his life. To keep his mind at
rest, he
would keep her around to make sure she stayed safe for she was definitely determined to
catch the
stallion herself. Taggart did not want to see the little beauty killed trying to capture the
beast so
he did what any jealous male would do.
Lana Tate had to leave Wyoming. It was the source of all bad things that had happened
since
coming out to live in the wild west. She refused to blame her mother for marrying a
wanderer.
But Lana could try to make a better life for herself. Besides she was tired of watching her
father
drink himself to death. Yet Lana had a slight problem. In order to make a better life meant
she
needed cash. So when Lana heard about the reward being offered for the wild stallion,
she
decided she was going to catch him. Then she could go to San Francisco, sing and make
her
dreams a reality. But before she could do that, Lana had to find a way to get rid of the
pesky
annoyance tracking her every footstep. Besides if he would not have appeared at the
wrong time,
she would have caught that stallion already. Of course, Mr. Important would never admit
that
Lana had the better plan.
Parra's tales are classic. As with the first two books of the Morgan brothers, LOVING
LANA
puts readers right in the middle of the ensuing chaos. The background and scenery are
vivid
leaving no doubt about the time period. Imagination is a definite must though for Lana
and
Taggart seem to roam from one place to another while in the back country. This does get
confusing because the main plot leading to love begins to override the chase of the wild
stallion.
To lessen the confusion, readers must be aware in the first few chapters in order to keep
up with
the character's movements. It is not a difficult task. Yet readers may find their minds
whirling to
recall locations, distance traveled, and why these two cannot seem to get along for the
sole
purpose of catching this horse.
The characters are endearing. The setting is perfect. The back story is slight so if the first
two
books have not been read, there will be no problem at all jumping right into the mix. This
is
Taggart's story. Needless to say, his brothers do not play a part until the very end. While
they are
mentioned in a couple of places, they are clearly explained and as expected, remain in the
background where they belong. Unfortunately, as the story begins to heat up, pacing
begins to be
a problem. There are times when the pacing is quick and then the pacing slows. So when
the story
begins to lag, these may be good times to take a quick break because it is a sure bet that
LOVING
LANA will be read in one sitting. It is that good. It is that enthralling. Parra is an author
to be
watched. Yes, there are problems evident in this book as there are problems in others. But
as
Parra defines her voice, her books will be keepers for a lifetime.
Brenda Ramsbacher
Reviewer
Cindy Lynn's Bookshelf
Handkerchiefs
Helene Guarnaccia and Barbara Guggenheim
Collector's Books
P.O. Boc 3009, Paducah, Kenyucky 42002-3009
ISBN: 1574323653 $24.95 303 pages
One of the reasons I wanted to review this book is because, a while back, one of the
people who
read my web journal asked me if I knew any good books on handkerchiefs...and as I had
no idea, I
pointed them vaguely and with the reassurance that I clueless, really, to Amazon. So,
when I saw
that Collector Books had put out a book on the subject, I had to read it.
Its not what I expected, but still, it's quite a fascinating read. It begins with an
introduction that
succinctly details the history of handkerchiefs, from the Egyptians using them as
talismans, to
Shakespeare's use of them in his plays, to the present, including a really neat fact about
how they
were used to signal some things about sexual preferences in the gay community.
The hankies are predominately from the 1940's through the 60's, during an era where they
went
from being something that you used and needed to kitschy fashion accessories. If you're
used to
white squares with a little lace edging or a flower embroidered on it, then you'll be in for
quite a
shock.
The book is divided up by prints. Animals are first, along with a startlingly large
collection of
handkerchiefs with poodles on them. Other dogs follow, along with cats and an
assortment of
other animals, including a rather bright African inspired print of leopards.
Textile designers often used this as a medium for expressing themselves. As we see in the
designer
section, artists such as Tammis Keefe were able to use the square of cloth to create some
remarkable, but cheap to produce, designs. My favorite, I think, is the one that looks like
a
medieval stone maze, with knights, on horses and off, fighting and traveling
through...with a
dragon in one corner, contently sipping a cup of tea. The works of Faith Austen, Billie
Kampa,
and Pat Prichard are just a few examples of the rest.
The food section is also a lot of fun. You have the regular repeating patterns, but you also
have
hankies with recipes, such as fondue, several cocktails and receipies for men. Another
was a Swiss
airline menu...a common practice at one time. Others list champagne facts and table
superstitions,
a particular favorite of mine.
Of course, there's also a large selection of cloths about love and life. The wedding
anniversary
guide would be particularly useful, but there are also a lot of hankies for luck and
gambling.
It won't surprise you that the prettiest, and the ones that I view as the more traditional
type, are in
the holiday section. Hearts and roses abound, as do clovers and Santa Clauses. In this
section we
are introduced to the hankies that when folded, begin a message that continues as you
unfold it.
What I should not have been surprised at, but was, was the plethora of horoscope and
calendar
related handkerchiefs there are.
Advice is next, and it's actually a really fun part to read. Everything (well, maybe not
everything)
you can think of is written out on napkins. There's "How to Get a Husband," and the
unofficial
sequel, "How to Keep Your Husband". Once you've followed the tips on those, "How To
Cure a
Hangover" and how to stop him from snoring is a must once the Honeymoon's over. The
chapter
is finished up with some hankies to help you learn different languages, which would
become
invaluable in the next section on travel, which, combined with the souvenir hankies for
the fifty
states section, might make up the largest section in the book, and goes well with the
history and
politics handkerchiefs, which, surprisingly, do not include any vote for me ads.
Following that is a short section of abstractions, which even includes a couple of pretty
plaids that
I liked, and that takes us into fashion, which includes a couple more advice hankies, but
are
mostly mixed patterns of things like hats and shoes. The one I thought was the cleverest
was cut
to look like a beach umbrella, and you could see silouttes through it. There's also a
section on
botanicals, children, music, and, of course, advertisements. The final section is rather
neat...it's
about handkerchiefs meant for lipstick, which was used by people to keep women with
the very
popular fire engine red lipsticks from damaging their bathroom towels or dinner
napkins.
The book is wound up with a chapter on care and decorative use, and has a couple of neat
ideas.
By each handkerchief a price is listed...and it looks like collecting hankies are really more
for fun
than profit.
It's definitely a good resource for the handkerchiefs of that period, and I think many
writers would
find it useful in their collections.
The Encyclopedia of Warfare
Adrian Gilbert
The Lyons Press
The Globe Pequot Press
246 Goose Lane, P.O. Box 245, Guilford, CT 06437-0408
ISBN: 1592280277 $19.95 1-800-962-0973
It's true. War...and battles...have never been my cup of tea. I never enjoyed strategy, in
fact, never
had a real flare for it. Chess, despite my ravening love of all things even slightly
medieval, is not
one of my favorite things to do. (You want a guaranteed win at chess? Come play me.
Really.) So
it may surprise you to see me reviewing...and openly loving...this book. History,
especially our
military history, is so important to have a strong grasp of, and Adrian Gilbert discusses
tons of
battles, discussing everything you need to know in such detail that even, I dare say, those
well
familiar with military history will find things they didn't know about, or their knowledge
clarified,
even as he does the impossible. He makes it interesting.
He begins at, well, the beginning, with Ancient Egypt, then the Assyrians and Persians
and the
Ancient Greeks. He continues on through history, ending eventually with the Gulf War,
and
adding a addendum about the future. One of my favorite sections, you may infer from the
above,
was "Calvary and Fortifications" in the Medieval Warfare chapter. I never realized that
the
Assyrians were the first to use siege weapons.
Perhaps this would be a good time to give you some details about the chapters. These
main
chapters are each divided into several subchapters, and are pretty much about what they
are
called...I won't mention all the subchapters, just make a few comments. "Warfare in the
Ancient
World", aside from what I mentioned, features a (relatively) long and interesting chapter
on
Alexander of Macedonia, "Medieval Warfare" has much on the Crusades, but also
discusses
warfare in Mongolia. It also talks about the rise of an actual, professional army. "Warfare
in the
Renaissance World" talks a lot about the Thirty Years War, but also discusses the rise
(that
started in the previous chapter) and fall of the Ottoman Empire. "Warfare in the
Eighteenth
Century" introduces naval warfare to us, as well as the fighting that begins in North
America
between the Native Americans and, a little later, with the French, while the rest of Europe
battles
for a piece of India. "Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars" discusses the American, then
the
French Revolutions before tackling several aspects of Napoleon's war, but it also
discusses South
America's war for freedom. "The American Civil War" discusses the campaigns that
divided then
eventually reunited the United Stares. "The Changing Face of War" discusses how the
change in
technology forced a change in tactics, but not before a terrible price of blood was paid, as
witnessed in the wars he discusses, such as in Crimea, Prussia and Italy, and also
discusses how it
changed naval warfare. It is a much longer chapter than I mention, and shows events from
all over
the world. "World War I" and "World War II" go into great detail about those eras.
"Warfare in
the Modern World" finishes things up, talking about the revolution in China, Korea, the
wars that
still rage between the Arabs and the Israelis, while also discussing the effects of the Cold
War and
terrorism.
Each chapter is lushly illustrated. Art from the time is used well, and I always enjoy
seeing so
many paintings and pictures, but what I really liked were the colored illustrations used to
show
troop movements. With these by my side, I was able to better envision what was going
on. I've
seen other diagrams such as this while I tried to understand what I was reading when I
was
researching for other things, but I really thought these were extremely clear and well
done.
Most of all I recommend this book because if you can get me to read it with interest and
actually
learn some things, I think that anyone would find it a marvelous addition to their
reference
shelf.
Cindy Lynn Speer
Reviewer
Duncan's Bookshelf
Flash Point of Deceit
Larry Stillwell
Gold Fire Publishing
2719 17th St South; Moorhead, MN 56560
ISBN#: 0967270901 $TBA 194 pages softcover.
"Newspapers suggested that they be driven into the wilderness to starve. It was a final
insult to
the first inhabitants of the region, the Dakota." Stillwell wrote an historical fiction of the
Dakota
Uprising (1862) that draws a 'humanistic' picture of the angry, frustrated, humiliated and
starving
Dakota in August of 1862.
Larry Stillwell tells the story of John Other Day and Little Paul (Mazakutemani) who
saved the
lives of hundreds of whites. He describes also the last days of 'departing' and the hanging
of the 38
condemned for murder and rape, and hints that two Dakota were innocent.
The Hard Moon of December looked down on a brick building in Mankato when the
condemned
said their farewells to their wives, giving them small items of remembrance, holding back
the
tears, parting with sorrow.
In the years that followed the 1,500 Dakota were sent to an arid reservation, dependent
upon the
Army for food. Five years later barely 1,000 survivors were moved to Nebraska.
"We cheated them out of their land, stole their annuities, married and abandoned their
women,
lied to their chiefs and proved the 'Wasican' carried a Bible in one hand and the fist of
retribution
in the other." (That's my comment) Stillwell does not say it: the whites succeeded in
driving the
Dakota into the wilderness.
History of the Sioux War
Isaac V.D. Heard
Harpers & Brothers
Franklin Square, New York N.Y.
ISBN#: (none); $3.50 in 1863; 354 pages.
'Honor the treaties,' said Isaac Heard in his last recommendation one year after the Dakota
Uprising devastated the Minnesota frontier. Heard was part of the punitive 1862
expedition led by
Colonel Henry H. Sibley, the expedition that fought two battles with the Dakota and
'recaptured'
276 white women and children. Heard blamed the federal government, "through
maladministration of the Indian department" for the uprising that killed at least 1000 to
1300
white settlers.
Heard should know, if anyone does. He helped record the testimony of the witnesses and
victims
of the Dakota. Heard recorded the trials of 400 Dakota. Sixteen were sent to prison. 306
were
sentenced to death.
The 1862 uprising was the start of the Wars of the Great Plains that some say ended at
Wounded
Knee in 1892. The Dakota were forbidden to wage war on their neighbors (The Ojibwa).
The
Great White father had signed treaties guaranteeing the land and a yearly annuity to the
Dakota.
The white traders were thieves. And lastly, in 1862 the 'cut-hair' Dakota had crops in the
field, but
they were only 200 out of a tribe of 1600 members. Buffalo were scarce and local game
was
disappearing. When the annuity payment came late, the 'blanket' Dakota starved. The
young
braves were angry at the frequent humiliation tossed their way by the German 'Dutchies'
in New
Ulm. The frontier exploded! (pardon the clich‚)
In the period of August 18 to Sept 26, Little Crow's braves killed settlers and drove
thousands off
their farms in central and south-central Minnesota. Of the 306 sentenced to death,
President
Lincoln commuted the sentence of all but 39. One escaped by being ill; on December 26
in a mass
execution 38 were hung in Mankato.
Isaac V.D. Heard was there at Birch Coulee and Wood Lake and Camp Release and the
Lower
Agency. His review of the uprising is first hand information; his attitude is neutral. He
does not
excuse his white neighbors who wanted all the Indians dead or gone from Minnesota. Nor
does he
excuse the Dakota who behaved like fiends. His story of the Dakota Uprising makes for
interesting reading.
The City and the Stars
Arthur C. Clark
SFBC 50th Anniversary
SFBC Member Serv Center, POBox 6325, Camp Hill, PA 17012-6325
http://www.sfbc.com
ISBN#: 0739434217 $ 9.99; 2003; 210 pages
Alvin was the first new person to be born in the city "for at least ten million years." He is,
however, not an allegory for Adam. Alvin is a genetic mutation that was programmed into
the
city's computers back in the dim mists of history. His girl friend is definitely not Eve; she
is only
dim. Alvin is a clone 'born' 20 years before he begins to experience scientific
inquisitiveness. He is
the only person in the city who wants to know what is outside the sheltered bubble of the
city. His
neighbors, and his 'nominal' parents do not want to explore outside the accepted social
norms.
Columbus and Alvin have much in common. They both want to sail off the edge of the
world in a
search for answers. They both succeed. Alvin sails to the known edge of the galaxy and
discovers
that humans abandoned our galaxy eons ago. He returns to earth with the intent of stirring
up
curiosity among the complacent. He knows that man will some day return to the
stars.
For their 50th Anniversary, the Science Fiction Book Club created this special reprint of a
1956
edition. It's a fun read. Fans of the genre will like Clark's creativity.
Marty Duncan
Reviewer
Gary's Bookshelf
The Alibi
Dennie Kuhn
JumpNJupiter
ISBN 0971936218 $11.95
I'm not a big fan of modern science fiction that's why when I read this one I was very
pleased to
get the feel that I was reading something from master storyteller Fredric Brown who
wrote witty
short stories and novels in the 1950s and 1960s. . That's not a bad thing. In fact, it is a
very good
thing because the older sf authors like Brown, Bradbury and others from that era were
more
concerned with character than hard science in their tales. I wouldn't be at all surprised to
find that
Kuhn has, somewhere along the line read something of Browns large body of work. Kuhn
writes
in the same fashion and begins her science fiction story with a simple premise: attorney
Hagan
Lamont has a client on trial for the murder of his wife. Hagan's client says he has an alibi
but no
one will ever believe him. Kuhn's novel races to its conclusion, that is left open for a
sequel.
For Us, The Living
Robert A. Heinlein
Scribner
1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10020
1-800-456-6798
ISBN 074325998X $25.00
Yes, after all this time there is a new Robert A. Heinlein novel to make its debut. This is
actually
the first novel that Heinlein wrote in the 1940's when he was launching his career as a
writer. For
a first novel it is very polished and was the beginning of the thoughts and perceptions as
only
Heinlein could write on time travel, aliens and humans, politics, and many other qualities
so
familiar in many of his later works. There is a foreword by Spider Robinson about
Heinlein and an
afterword by Robert James, Ph.D on how the book came to be published This novel is
worth
reading because it was until, now, a long lost manuscript that few had ever read.
The Cube
Tyler Selph
Trafford
Suite 6E 2333 Government St., Victoria. B.C V8T 4P4 Canada
www.trafford.com/robots/03-0529.html
ISBN 1412001617 $14.95 1-888-232-4444
The author has an interesting premise. A cube is found and is transported to many owners
throughout the ages. This particular cube has magical powers and causes lots of things to
take
place. There are many problems with this very small book. It does not tie together its
characters
and situations. The characters are like those of a TV show or movie who have few lines
and stage
time, and serve no real purpose other, in this case, to move the cube along. Its premise is
lost by
so much of the story jumping around, and the ending is very confusing. Perhaps with a
better edit,
this could have been a much better book. I started out with the idea of liking this book,
but
shortly into it found myself reading over portions several times to get an idea of what the
author
was saying and where he was taking me as a reader.
Odyssey Dreams
Dennis R Archambault
Dane N Life Publishers
P.O. Box 8607, Galabasas, California 91372-8607
ISBN 0972975209 $14.95 www.odysseydreams.com
This novel is the story of pioneers on a wagon train in the old west. One in particular is a
female
slave who through the Underground Railroad is able to escape and be free. Other
characters are
on the trail for a new and better life in the new territories. The novel is full of description
of the
areas the travelers encounter with Indians, wild animals and all the elements that should
make this
a first class period piece novel. But there is something wrong with the story, starting with
many of
the characters who have very similar names; there is very little description of them other
than their
age and there is too much time spent on detail of the lands they go through and not
enough about
them as people. They are not as well fleshed out as they could be. Possibly the problem is
with the
statement the author made in the acknowledgments where he stated, "While this is a lot of
work,
it serves to keep your story lean, visual and rich." Those are all fine words but he should
have
added something about writing believable characters. It would be as if in the fine novel
"Lonesome Dove" there were no descriptions of Gus or Captain Cole and no
characterization of
them. For "Lonesome Dove," that is what set it apart from other western novels and
movies.
"Odyssey Dreams" could have been so much better if only the author had made the
effort.
His Father's Son
Diana Bennett
Publish America
P.O Box 151, Frederick, MD 217505
www.publishamerica.com
ISBN 1592860907 $24.95 240-529-1031
I do not usually read this type of novel that would be classified as fantasy, but there was
something that drew me to it and I am glad I did. First of all, it does not read like a first
novel.
For the most part it is a very polished piece of writing. There are a few typos or so but
otherwise
that is nothing to make a big deal about. I've seen worse books by major writers with
drastic
typos, which change the flow of the story. What I enjoyed about this tale is that the main
character, Dante, is on a quest to find his destiny. I first felt it was like "Lord of the
Rings" trilogy
that I remember reading as a young adult and having the magical senses of those
characters on a
major journey. But there is more here because this is not the average fantasy or vampire
tale.
Bennett handles her characters and situations with style, and from time to time introduces
humor
in generous doses. But it is most interesting because Dante is a character who is
despicable, while
at the same time there is something likable. Perhaps it is because Bennett's writing is so
strong in
colorful detail and her characters are so well fleshed out. At any rate "His Father's Son" is
an
excursion into two realms that is very well done.
Angels of Death
Gary C. King
St. Martins Press
175 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10010
ISBN 0312985231 $6.99
The horror in this book is true. The worst part of it is that the two brothers look like
perfect
angels. These two were tried and convicted for the murder of their own father. The
question so
many asked when this case unfolded was "how could those two children ever do this
horrendous
crime?" The author now tells how and why these two perfectly innocent looking children
savagely
murdered their own father by hitting him with a baseball bat as he lay sleeping on the
couch. This
is the crime that stunned the nation because the boys were tried as adults for their crime.
The
author digs deep into the story and tells all in a first class true crime book that explodes
the myth
that children are not capable of brutal murder..
Nobody Knows
Mary Jane Clark
St. Martins Press
175 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10010
ISBN 0312983832 $6.99
I've always liked suspense novels and this one is a gem. In fact, this is the best one by this
author.
Known for her titles that are song titles, this one breaks that mold and races along to its
final
shattering conclusion. They say write what you know and in this case Mary Jane Clark,
who
works for the news department of CBS, has once again filled the story with believable
characters
who work for a news network. Cassie Sheridan has everything and is on the fast track to
major
things until she makes a critical mistake by revealing something on the air that she
shouldn't have.
She is later sent to Miami to cover a hurricane, a comedown to be sure, but Cassie
stumbles upon
something that could get her back on top or get her killed. This Clark novel is a winner in
keeping
the suspense to the very end. This is a fast paced read that is also very revealing in how
the news
media really works.
Visions of Sugar Plums
Janet Evanovich
St. Martins Press
175 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10010
ISBN 0312986343 $6.99
Fugitive apprehension agent Stephanie Plum is looking for a man named Sandy Claws to
bring
him to justice. At the beginning of the book she wakes up and finds a strange man named
Diesel in
her home. To top it off, she has to go have Christmas dinner with her parents, sister and
grandmother. This special novel of the Plum series is just plum good reading. It is also
one of the
best of the series that usually has a number in the title. Though it is a Christmas book, it
is very
funny and reads at a rapid pace and should be read any time of the year. Thee are two
things that
make this book so much fun. Grandma Mazur, the wisecracking no nonsense
grandmother, is
wittier than ever, and Evanovich has again written situations and dialogue that cause
readers to
laugh hysterically out loud throughout the novel.
Gary Roen
Reviewer
Gorden's Bookshelf
Night Sweats
Victoria Manley
Renaissance E Books
P.O. Box 1432, Northampton, MA 01060
www.renebooks.com
ISBN: 1588731758 $4.00 electronic download 109 pages
Disclosure: I have 3 novels published through Renaissance
'Night Sweats' is a light erotic mystery. The story is sound but the mystery is a little too
easy and
the suspense a little tame. The story is best when it focuses on what is motivating the
characters.
Leann is a bad girl interested in using men for money and sex. She collects men and
leaves them
even if they don't want her to go. One of her conquests is murdered shortly after she
leaves his
bed. Leann is suspected of the killing. With the killer zeroing in on her lovely body,
Leann does
what she has always done and uses sex to solve her problems.
'Night Sweats' is an easy story but mystery readers can find better fare. 'Night Sweats' is
for those
looking for a light erotic escape with just enough details and mystery to keep the story
flowing.
Grave Secrets
Kathy Reichs
Pocket Star Books published by
Pocket Books, a division of Simon & Schuster Inc.
Rockefeller Center
1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020
ISBN: 0671028383 $7.99 366 pages
Reichs has written a good mystery in 'Grave Secrets'. The forensics, as always, are great
but the
storytelling is a little unfocused in the beginning of the novel. The story does suffer from
comparison with Reichs previous novels.
Tempe Brennan is a forensic anthropologist helping to unearth twenty-three massacre
victims
from a well in Guatemala. The victims include women and children. The heartrending
task of
collecting mutilated body parts depresses Tempe. Two colleagues from the recovery team
are
fatally attacked and before Tempe has a chance to regain her balance, Crimes Investigator
Bartolome Galiano requests her help with a decomposed body found in a septic tank in
Guatemala
City. Secrets from the past and present threaten Tempe's life as she tries to uncover the
truth
about the bodies.
'Grave Secrets' is a good story for anyone interested in forensic mysteries. After a
muddled first
half, the story picks up to a satisfying finish. 'Grave Secrets' is a solid representative of
the
growing forensic mystery genre and is a comfortable weekend read.
Red Hat Certified Engineer Exam Notes
Bill McCarty
Sybex, Inc.
1151 Marina Village Parkway, Alameda, CA 94501
ISBN: 0782128122 $24.99 389 pp. plus index
After reading through this book I found that I liked it not only for an exam guide but also
as a
source of quick answers to miscellaneous small questions. For example, I had a minor
problem
where I knew what the problem was and what had to be done, but could not remember
the
specific utility or specific steps needed. A quick turn to the appropriate section of the
book and I
had my answer. This is not a book that you would use to try to learn Linux and it does not
profess
to be such a book. On the other hand if you have a familiarity with Red Hat Linux and
want a
refresher, or a short summary of the most common administrative tasks this is an
excellent book.
If I were to take a good Linux book and write an outline so that I could just jump to the
answers
when I had questions this is the kind of book that I would end up with. "Red Hat Certified
Engineer Exam Notes" is a highly recommended read for anyone wanting a summary of
Red Hat
Linux in a well-organized format.
Dear Dinah
Jeannie Seeley-Smith
Authors of Unity Publishing
575 Madison Avenue, 10th Floor, New York, NY 10022
ISBN: 0972525025 $17.95 246 pp.
Many things about our society and the roles that men and women play within that society
have
changed over the last several decades. Included in this social change has been the return
of so
many mothers to the workforce in an attempt to make ends meet. Unfortunately, many of
the
social norms of the past have not adapted to these changes. "Dear Dinah" author Jeannie
Selley-Smith points out that household roles have been some of the slowest to change and
the
traditional male and female roles are in the greatest need of change. This is nothing new,
as many
writers, women's groups, psychologists, and others have pointed out the inequity of the
man
coming home to relax after work and the woman continuing to come home only to face
the chores
of running the household.
Ms. Seeley-Smith does address basic personality types and how to use them to create
more of a
partnership in your marriage. While she really addresses nothing new, her writing style is
humorous and witty and makes the book a joy to read. If you are looking for a book to
help
resolve the inequity of this situation there are many available, but few are both helpful
and as
entertaining a read as "Dear Dinah". Hopefully we will see more works from the pen of
Ms.
Seeley-Smith, but in an area that has been less thoroughly covered already as this one has
been.
The Stewardship Model
Michael D. Fluker
Abundant Blessing Publishing
PO Box 991, Tallevast, FL 34270
ISBN: 097260720X $12.99 133 pp.
In "The Stewardship Model" author Michael Fluker takes a close look at three types of
stewardship - time, personal and financial. For each of these types he breaks down the
analysis to
four types of stewards loosely based on the biblical parable of the wise steward. The four
categories of stewards in his book are the Good Steward, the Efficient Steward, the
Effective
Steward, and the Lazy Steward. With this framework in mind he develops the
"Stewardship
Model", a basic non-technical model that anyone can follow to improve their personal
management of time and finances. The bulk of the book is dedicated to money, debt,
savings, and
investments. In this section you will find no complex money theories or advanced
economics, just
simple straightforward basic financial advice. This is the kind of stuff that everyone
should have
been taught in school, but with a decidedly Christian slant. "The Stewardship Model" is a
recommended read.
Casseroles to the Rescue: Easy-To-Make Home-Cooked Casseroles
Barbara C. Jones
Cookbook Resources, LLC
541 Doubletree Drive, Highland Village, TX 75077
ISBN: 1931294429 $19.95 266 pp. plus index
"Casseroles to the Rescue" is divided into eight sections including Brunch Casseroles,
Side Dish
Casseroles, Vegetables Casseroles, Chicken Casseroles, Beef Casseroles, Pork
Casseroles,
Seafood Casseroles, and Salads. Salads is an unusual category for Casserole dishes and I
am not
sure what makes one dish a vegetable casserole and what makes another a salad casserole.
Still it
is a complete collection of casserole dishes. The Unforgettable Tortellini Bake and
Chicken-Orzo
Florentine are wonderful. It also has several excellent potato casseroles including
Cheddar-Potato
Casserole and New Potatoes and Herb Butter. "Casseroles to the Rescue" is a
recommended
purchase for those interested in a wide variety of casserole recipes.
The Tabernacle in the Narrative History of Israel from the Exodus to the Conquest
Myung Soo Suh
Peter Lang Publishing
275 Seventh Avenue, 28th Floor, New York, NY 10001
ISBN: 0820461520 $59.95 148 pp. plus bibliography and index
If you have ever been curious about the role of the Tabernacle in Jewish history,
tradition, and
theology you will find a very extensive treatment of the subject in the book "The
Tabernacle in the
Narrative History of Israel from the Exodus to the Conquest". Myung Soo Suh, who
received his
doctorate at the University of Sheffield in England, and is currently an Assistant
Professor of the
Old Testament at Hyupsung University, covers all the bases in this work. He explores the
purposes of the Tabernacle as a military vehicle, a social function, a community focus
point, a
theological function, and other functions. The analysis starts with the exodus from Egypt
and the
gold and silver taken by the Israelites in their flight. These precious metals are then used
later to
create both the golden calf and the tabernacle. Unlike most other works on the
Tabernacle, this
one starts at the very beginning and follows all the items before the tabernacle was built
that affect
it. It is a recommended read for anyone who wants to examine in great detail the
Tabernacle and
its place in the history of Israel.
ZenWise Selling: Mindful Methods to Improve Your Sales... and Your Self
Lee Godden
Telsius Publishing LLC
Two Circles Press Imprint
2021 Obispo Avenue, Signal Hill, CA 90755
ISBN: 0974007609 $19.95 202 pp. plus appendices and index
"Zen Wise Selling" is about achieving the Holy Grail of sales - clearing your mind,
finding calm
and peace within yourself, and selling without any stress despite looming deadlines,
quotas, and
other standard fare of sales. Scattered throughout the book are multiple exercises to help
the
reader find that peace inside their self. This peace translates into a stronger personal aura
and a
strong sense of presence.
One of the most important points of the book besides establishing this internal peace is to
approach each sales opportunity from a fresh viewpoint with no preconceptions. This
allows an
honest relationship to develop between the customer and salesperson and a true
partnership. This
is selling with integrity at it's best. "Zen Wise Selling" is not a sales techniques book but a
book on
the foundation that underlies all relationships, including sales. The information in sales
techniques
books can then be applied to this foundation. Sell more, less stress, more peace, achieve
the Zen
of selling. "Zen Wise Selling" is a highly recommended book.
Williams - Sonoma Savoring China
Jacki Passmore
Oxmoor
80 Willow Road, Menlo Park, CA 94025
ISBN: 0848726448 $39.95 251 pp. plus index
A combination of some of the tastiest recipes of China and an introduction to the
geography,
history, and traditions of China, "Williams-Sonoma Savoring China" is a feast for the
eyes and
mind as well as the body. Each recipe has a picture of the completed dish as well as
complete
instructions for its preparation. Many of the dishes may require a trip to the local Chinese
grocery
as some ingredients may not be readily available in your neighborhood store. This is not
just
another cookbook of common recipes for dishes you are likely to find in the local
Chinese buffet.
This is a book with recipes like Shandong Chicken and Mushrooms, Braised Duck with
Bamboo
Shoots and Mushrooms, or Honey Glazed Beef and Walnuts.
In addition to the recipes there are many pictures and articles that bring the Chinese
experience
into your home. Beautiful scenic pictures, as well as pictures of every day life. A culinary
delight,
a visual feast, and an interesting education, "Williams - Sonoma Savoring China" is a
highly
recommended read.
Text and Concept Analysis in Royal Psalms
Randy G. Haney
Peter Lang Publishing
275 Seventh Avenue, 28th Floor, New York, NY 10001
ISBN: 0820450480 $57.95 226 pp. plus bibliography and index
Three of the Psalms of the Bible have unique characteristics that set them apart. These
three
(Psalms 2, 110, and 132) are often referred to as the royal Psalms because of their
references to
the king and inference that the king was the representation of Yahweh on earth. Was this
a real
king? Is it prophetic or symbolic of God? There are a lot of questions about these
particular
Psalms.
As a student of Rolf Knierim, author Randy G. Haney applies the methods of the Knierim
School
of Old Testament exegesis to these Psalms to try to gain a better understanding of them.
First he
provides some historical background including how various people and groups have
interpreted
these Psalms. Mr. Haney then shows how each of the various interpretations of them has
fallen
short in one way or another. Finally, he then turns his attention to examining the words,
syntax,
and forms of these Psalms to decipher their deeper meaning. He attacks the problem of
how
Yahweh, the king, Israel, and the other nations are their relation to each other as well as
how the
king's position serves as at least an earthly symbol of God.
This is a very detailed exegetic work that is written more in the style of a college thesis
than a
popular book. Because of this it will be a more appropriate text for the seminarian level
student or
those with an existing background in Biblical exegesis. "Text and Concept Analysis in
Royal
Psalms" is an excellent resource for anyone looking to expand their knowledge of the
Scriptures
and willing to put forth the effort to read a detailed scholarly text.
The Holy Way: Practices for a Simple Life
Paula Huston
Loyola Press
3441 N. Ashland Avenue, Chicago, IL 60657
ISBN: 082941441X $15.95 322 pp. plus various after matter
With our hectic lives it seems impossible to slow down, simplify, and deepen our
spiritual relation
with God. Author Paula Huston has been here with all the rest of us, but she has found,
through
her personal experiences, that you can move to a simpler, holier life without moving to a
monastery and completely eschewing the modern world. Paula invites us to travel with
her along
her journey as she shares her experiences successes and shortcomings. She models her
philosophy
on some of the most prominent saints of the early Christian church including some of my
favorites, St. Francis of Assisi, St. Ignatius, and St. Benedict. As she turned to these
people she
tried to practice the things that allowed them their holy walk with God. Some of the
things she
discusses include the need for and ability to obtain solitude, silence, asceticism,
meditation and
other practices of a simple life. Although she does not word it that way, it becomes
obvious that
part of what she is talking about is the ability to break free from the things that enslave us
and
keep us in such a state that we can't even keep our minds quiet for all the thoughts and
worries
that invade it.
Choosing to lead a simpler life so you can have a more peaceful, more holy life, may
sound like an
extreme sacrifice, but what is the price that you put on internal peace? Standing on the
other side
after having made these changes Paula finds it hard to understand why anyone would not
do the
same. Paula Huston is a role model for those who want to simplify their lives and clearly
demonstrates that this path is available to anyone who wants to travel it. "The Holy Way"
is a
highly recommended book for any audience.
The Craft of Argument with Readings
Joseph M. Williams, Gregory G. Colombo, Jonathan D'Errico, Karen Tracey
Addison Wesley Longman, Inc.
75 Arlington Street, Suite 300, Boston, MA 02116
ISBN: 0321026918 $55.00 696 pp.
Logic, argumentation, and influence are three of my favorite study subjects. So it was
with great
interest that I picked up "The Craft of Argumentation with Readings". I expected a lot of
the
usual stuff, an almost mechanical approach to logic and influence. This is not at all what I
received. This book is unique among this genre of books. The authors very clearly take
the reader
into the area of argumentation and influence as an art form.
All the expected education in argumentation is presented in the book. Reasoning,
evidence,
claims, forms of reasoning, meanings, causes, overt and covert force of language,
fallacies, etc.
are all covered. But all these things are in any competent book on argumentation. The
problem is
that most books also end there - a competent education in the mechanics of
argumentation. This
book not only develops those competencies but also closely examines issues such as
developing
the ethos, credibility, and other factors of argumentation. This is where this book pulls
away from
the pack and becomes one of the very few that teaches the art and craft of argumentation.
You
might see the difference by comparing it to the art of dance. Anyone can learn the
movements
required to perform a specific dance and may be able to execute it flawlessly, but it
doesn't
necessarily move the audience emotionally. Another trained dancer can go through the
same steps
and create a thing of beauty that moves the audience and causes them to feel they are a
part of the
dance. Likewise you can go through the mechanics of argumentation and develop a
perfectly
logical and compelling position that moves no one to accept it. Or you can create it as an
art form
that creates an emotional as well as a logical response in the recipient. This is not only a
highly
recommended book for anyone interested in the subject, it should be required reading for
anyone
serious about understanding argumentation and influence.
Powered by Instinct: 5 Rules for Trusting Your Guts
Kathy Kolbe
Monumentus Press
3421 N. 44th Street, Phoenix, AZ 85018
ISBN: 0971799911 $24.95 245 pp.
In "Powered by Instinct" Kathy Kolbe brings together years of research into a cohesive
test that
examines "innate talents" instead of learned abilities. She takes the view that while there
are many
learned behaviors that change over time and the personality itself may change over time,
there are
basic innate abilities that do not change. The Kolbe system examines methods of problem
solving
that she considers instinctual and therefore unchanging. Each one of these methods is not
better
or worse than another but are just the ones that a particular person may use. Once you
know the
methods that various people use you can ensure that you have the right mix of people
when
pursuing creative problem solving. Group interaction and problem solving is not the only
use for
the Kolbe Index. Once you know your innate abilities and problem solving methods you
can
pinpoint your strengths and weaknesses. From this information you can determine the
best
profession for you to enter and other important life decisions. The Kolbe System is
gaining
momentum as an accurate method of forecasting how people will react under various
circumstances and becoming more popular as a psychological evaluation tool. "Powered
by
Instinct" brings the basic tenets of this system to the average reader from the original
developer of
the system. "Powered by Instinct" is a recommended read.
Plastic Gods: A Rich Coleman Novel
William Manchee
Top Hat Publications, Ltd.
3100 Independence Parkway, Suite 311-349, Plano, TX 75075
ISBN: 1929976232 $14.95 346 pp.
"Plastic Gods" is a suspense packed thrill ride through the worlds of power politics, the
legal
system, and finance. This is easily one of the most exciting fiction novels of the year.
When Matt
Coleman starts his bankruptcy legal practice his wife Lynn comes up with a fantastic
marketing
plan - convince people that the credit card companies are manipulating them into a
permanent
state of financial slavery. Since their financial distress is a result of these practices there
is no
shame involved in filing a bankruptcy to get out of their grip and become a free person.
As a
result of this plan business booms and bankruptcy filings climb. Of course several banks
that are
involved in predatory credit card practices are severely hurt. The problem is that these are
very
powerful people and they do not want his success to continue, nor do they want other
lawyers
copying his success in other parts of the country. The head Midsouth Bank is desperate to
stop
Matt at any cost and the story really takes off from there.
This is a very well written book that draws the reader into the storyline and doesn't let
them go
until the very end. I had to read the entire book at one setting to see how Matt would
resolve his
problems. Author William Manchee does an excellent job of keeping the reader guessing
and
makes the book one surprise after another. While his excellent writing style and use of
plot twists
and turns make this one of the most exciting fiction novels of the year, I don't rate it as
one of the
best. The reason is simple. While William Manchee is an excellent writer and I look
forward to
many more great novels tantalizing plot lines from him, the quality of the editing makes
him come
across as more of a hack writer. There are multiple sentences where a complete word is
just plain
missing, wrong words are used (such as "there" instead of "their"), and multiple other
problems.
As you near the end of the book and suspense is building, the problems become more and
more
common. This completely breaks up the flow of the novel and breaks the suspense that he
is so
masterful at creating because you have to stop and play fill-in-the-blank. I looked to make
sure I
did not have an uncorrected proof, but alas I did not. An excellent story, masterfully
done, and
recommended for those who like a good suspense story, it falls back into the category of
mediocre only because of bad editing. Mr. Manchee has the potential to break out of the
pack and
become a well-known name in suspense novels, but only with better editing.
Little Star's Big Day: A Children's Christmas Story
Martha Crikelair Wohlford
Identity Graphics & Printing
500 SW 21 Terrace, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312
ISBN: 1594530335 $14.95 36 pp.
A wonderfully illustrated tale for young children "Little Star's Big Day" tells the story of
how a
hard working little star became the Christmas star. Although he is small and gives up
easily he still
always tries his best. This consistent attitude is what eventually causes him to shine above
all the
other stars. By being the best he could be he is surprised to find that he does win the
competition
and is selected to be the Christmas star. This is a great read for young children and young
readers
and a recommended purchase.
Linux+ Study Guide
Roderick W. Smith
Sybex, Inc.
1151 Marina Village Parkway, Alameda, CA 94501
ISBN: 0782129390 $49.99 670 pp. plus glossary and index
I've been a fan of certification books from Sybex for some time and this one is up to the
usual
standards of quality and content. One of the things that I like best about their books is that
they
are one of the few publishers who provide both the information needed to pass the exam
and the
information needed to actually work in the real world. Generally my experience has been
that
there are good books that provide practical knowledge and good books that provide the
information to pass the certification exams. But there are very few that provide the
information to
do both.
All the common networking and administrative tasks are covered in detail including
installation
methods and problems, security, file services, and troubleshooting. The author does an
excellent
job of walking the reader through all the various processes step by step and explaining
each item
in detail including little quirks to be careful of. In addition each chapter ends with a
chapter
summary, as section on exam essentials that summarize exam critical items, a summary of
commands covered in the chapter, a key terms list, and review questions and answers.
The book
even includes a CD with a test engine, two exam preparation exams, and flashcards. I've
taught
Linux at the college level both for certification and for practical application purposes and
this is
one of the best books available for the new or only minimally experienced Linux user
who is
seeking to pass the certification exam.
Although I do consider this one of the best certification exam books on the market I do
have two
items that I did not like. First, the graphical installation instructions in the book are for
the
Mandrake distribution of Linux. This is not a problem for exam preparation and since that
is the
purpose of the book it is really not a problem. However, in the real world, at least here in
Florida,
RedHat is a much more common distribution and I would have preferred to see the screen
shots
reflect a RedHat distribution than Mandrake. The graphical installation method is the
only place
where this makes any difference of consequence and even the novice can figure it out
with a little
patience and thought. The second item is that the index is rather skimpy given the amount
of
material in the book and all the items covered. All the major items are in the index but
many of the
important minor items are not. For example, if you wanted to know what ipchains is
about or
iptables then you would not find them in the index at all. For purposes of the certification
exam
the main thing you need to know about them is that they are related to setting up a
firewall. Well,
there is an entry in the index for firewall but not for ipchains or iptables. If you knew to
look up
firewalls to know about ipchains then you would have gotten the question right and
would not
need the entry in the index. If you missed it and wanted to know what they are you are
out of
luck.
Even with the small index shortcoming (the only one that is really directly related to
being a study
guide for the exam), the "Linux+ Study Guide" is still one of the best sources for learning
what
you need to know to pass the certification exam. If it had a better index that is more
conducive to
study then I would consider it the best of the best.
There Is No Magic: But There are Alternatives to Parenting Exceptional Children
Stephen Dubropsky, M.A., M.Ed.
American Literary Press
8019 Belair Road, Suite 10, Baltimore, MD 21236
ISBN: 1561678155 $19.95 331 pp.
In a time where everyone seems to be looking for a quick fix to just about everything,
Stephen
Dubropsky is the voice of sanity calling us back to the realization that "There Is No
Magic".
There is not a quick answer to children with emotional problems, ADD, or other special
needs.
Instead you have to provide the right environment to encourage the child's growth and
development in positive ways. Mr. Dubropsky has over twenty years of experience with
Attention
Deficit and Hyperactive Disorders and brings his holistic approach to all parents of such
children.
The book starts off with how children with special needs are diagnosed and defined. This
section
includes not only the expected ADD/HD information but also looks at other challenges
such as
blindness, deafness, developmentally disabled, and even the gifted or talented child. That
section is
followed up with a chapter on parenting styles and learning styles. In this chapter he
provides
information on the typical results of each style of parenting and discusses how to teach a
child
with a different learning style. With this base of knowledge firmly established he then
moves into
how to deal with the special needs child. In the remainder of the book he covers common
medications, their use, misuse, and side effects, the importance of developing a
partnership with
the child's teachers and meeting academic requirements, and other holistic items for the
child with
special needs. These include diet and nutritional factors, yoga, exercise, and breathing
techniques
for calming effects.
This is an excellent book that covers the current literature on the subject very well. Most
importantly it points out that it is not the right answer to just medicate a special child into
a stupor
and think that you have fulfilled your obligation as a parent. It requires patience,
understanding,
and knowledge of some of the techniques presented in this book.... in other words it
requires
actual parenting skills, and skills can be learned if you try. "There Is No Magic" is a
recommended
text for anyone with a child with special needs or anyone who works with them.
The Raven Who Spoke with God
Christopher Foster
Singing Spirit Books
4127 Ash Court, Loveland, CO 80538
ISBN: 0971179603 $12.95 147 pp.
A book written on an adolescent level, but appropriate for all ages, this is the story of a
raven
named Joshua who has a special purpose in life. After witnessing his family killed by
malicious
children he becomes afraid of people. Unfortunately, as it turns out his purpose has
something to
do with people and this fear almost keeps him from following through on his calling. This
is a tale
of overcoming fear, of reaching for your goals despite obstacles, of finding where you
belong, of
healing your life. "The Raven Who Spoke With God" is a lighthearted and fun read that
also
teaches very important moral and life skills.
When the author contacted me about possibly reviewing this book I ignored his e-mail.
He sent a
second request a few days later and I read the synopsis but still decided that it did not
interest me
and did not respond. Finally he sent a copy anyway. I could not be happier that he did.
Many
people try to write symbolic short stories that teach deeper lessons much like an
elongated
parable. Most fall sadly short of that goal; Christopher Foster does not. "The Raven Who
Spoke
with God" is a highly recommended read and it would have been my loss if I had missed
it.
Ghost-Writing For Fun & Profit, Second Edition
Eva Shaw, Ph.D.
Writeriffic Publishing Group
PO Box 524, Carlsbad, CA 92018-0524
ISBN: 097057584X $12.95 192 pp.
If you have ever thought about ghostwriting but really don't understand the industry or
what the
opportunities are then you will want to take a look at this book. Author Eva Shaw has
been a
ghostwriter for almost thirty years. In "Ghost-Writing for Fun & Profit" she shares the
benefits of
her experiences and offers practical tips and advice for anyone exploring the possibility
of entering
this field. Areas covered in the book include the various types of ghostwriting, payment
methods
and when one method is better than the other, typical rates, references, getting clients,
agreements, copyrights, royalties, personalities, interviewing, selling the book, selling the
idea,
and the mechanics of actually ghostwriting an article, speech, book, or other item. Full of
practical
down-to-earth advice, Dr. Shaw has created an indispensable guide to the ghostwriting
business.
"Ghost-Writing for Fun & Profit" is a highly recommended read for anyone interested in
this
business.
Harold McFarland
Reviewer
Harwood's Bookshelf
Against Love: A Polemic
Laura Kipnes
Pantheon Books
c/o Random House
1745 Broadway NY 10019
ISBN 0375421890, $24.00 207 pp.
Laura Kipnes is not a historian. She has no idea what "adultery" meant when the concept
was
invented c 3500 BCE, what it meant to the anonymous Jew of c 800 BCE who composed
a
lawcode retroactively labeled "ten commandments," and what it still meant c 1460 CE
when Sir
Thomas Malory depicted Guinevere and Lancelot copulating like rabbits but scrupulously
avoiding adultery by practising coitus interruptus. All she knows is what "adultery" is
universally
believed to mean today.
Even so, she is "for" it. Scholars specializing in ancient intellectual history are "for"
victimless
pleasure-sharing, because they are aware that the adultery taboo prohibited only the
fraudulent
impregnation of another man's wife. They realize that nonprocreative copulation is not
adultery,
and copulation with an unmarried woman is not adultery. Pinning an "immoral" label on
what the
unquestioning masses think is adultery is as illogical as banning sports fencing on the
ground that
all fencing once had no purpose but homicide. Kipnis is in favor of pseudo-adultery,
despite not
knowing that nonprocreational copulation has only been labeled "adultery" since the
fifteenth
century, because, unlike the brainwashed ignoranti, she is able to put her brain in ON and
recognize that the sharing of nonconsequential pleasure does not constitute a crime
against a
person who is not present, even if he thinks it does. "No victim, no sin."
Extra-marital copulation is only adultery if the participants are a married woman, defined
as a
woman who has voluntarily submitted to an exclusive-breeding contract, with or without
an
accompanying piece of paper, and a man other than her contracted partner. And by the
only sane
definition that has ever existed, such copulation is only adultery if it is not accompanied
by
effective birth control. Since Kipnes does not know that, she justifies what she thinks of
as
adultery, even though she demonstrates a sense of ethics that would prevent her from
endorsing
real adultery, the saddling of an unsuspecting husband with financial responsibility for a
child he
had not fathered. Whether or not she realizes it, Kipnes's refusal to condemn victimless
behavior,
while denigrating behavior that does unnecessarily hurt a nonconsenting victim, makes
her for all
practical purposes a humanist.
It is therefore unlikely that Kipnes belongs to any religion that prohibits such other
victimless acts
as exposing her uncovered hair, drinking coffee, using birth control, eating pork,
transfusing
blood, taking medicine, or watching the Playboy channel. Someone who cannot recognize
every
one of those taboos as insane is not going to recognize the adultery taboo, as presently
defined, as
equally insane. Indeed, the evolution of a ban on fraudulent impregnation into a ban on
victimless
recreation could not have happened if the masses had not already been conditioned to
believe that
right and wrong are whatever a tribal god says they are. And given the pathological hatred
of sex
by Christianity's masochistic "saints," it was inevitable that all mating, even between
contracted
partners, would eventually need to be justified. For the past century the justification has
been,
"We are in love." Before that, no such justification could be offered, because the "in
love" concept
had not been invented yet. But apart from a freethinking minority like Laura Kipnes, the
reality of
"love" as an altered state of consciousness is almost never questioned.
Kipnes does not advocate extra-marital recreation for persons so satisfied with
monogamy that
they feel no need for variation. But (p. 10), "When monogamy becomes labor, when
desire is
organized contractually, with accounts kept and fidelity extracted like labor from
employees, with
marriage a domestic factory policed by means of rigid shop-floor discipline designed to
keep the
wives and husbands and domestic partners of the world choke-chained to the status quo
machinery is this really what we mean by a "good relationship"?
It is victimless recreation by persons who are not satisfied with the status quo that Kipnes
advocates. On the cultural conditioning that convinces people that intrinsically neutral
behavior is
bad, she asks (p. 20), "How can you not admire a system so effective at swallowing all
alternatives that it can make something as abject as 'working for love' sound admirable?"
She
draws a parallel between the western work ethic and personal relationships (p. 22):
"Funny, the
metaphors of the homefront seem to have acquired a funereal ring these days too: dead
marriage,
mechanical sex, cold husbands, and frigid wives."
Kipnes is no disciple of the "my genes made me do it" school. She writes (p. 24) "When
sociobiologists start shitting in their backyards with dinner guests in the vicinity, maybe
their
arguments about innateness over culture will start seeming more persuasive. No, we're
social
creatures to a fault, and apparently such malleable ones that our very desires manage to
keep
lockstep with whatever particular social expectations of love prevail at the moment." Also
(p. 27),
"What a feat of social engineering to shoehorn an entire citizenry into such uniform
household
arrangements, all because everyone knows that true love demands it and that any
reluctance to
participate signals an insufficiency of love." And she is no fan of the cultural conditioning
that
does not question whether taboo behavior actually hurts anybody (pp. 27-29): "After all,
if
adultery is a de facto referendum on the sustainability of monogamy and it would be
difficult to
argue that it's not this also makes it the nearest thing to a popular uprising against the
regimes of
contemporary coupledom . If adultery is a special branch of heresy in the church of
modern
love, clearly it's a repository for other social contradictions and ruptures as well."
While Kipnes is "for" victimless alleged adultery, she does not go so far as advocating it
for
persons not already so inclined. "Adultery is one way of protesting the confines of
coupled life; of
course there's always murder. (Neither is necessarily proposed as a solution.)"
Kipnes finishes her book with the declaration (p.201), "Maybe no one can be against
love. But it's
still possible to flirt with the idea." In other words, the conditioned belief that coupling
should be
initiated by fixational love is not necessarily a bad idea just an unworkable one. And if
victimless
joy-seeking is denigrated as "adultery," the negative element is not such behavior itself,
but its
public perception.
Hidden Memories: Voices and Visions From Within
Robert A. Baker
Prometheus
ISBN 0879756845, $24.00 373 pp.
In 1992, belief in the delusions Hidden Memories examines, explains and debunks was
measurably
higher than it is twelve years later. The media, and particularly tabloid TV, regularly
presented
gullible endorsements of such currently fashionable nonsense as recovered memories,
channeling,
past life regression, ritual satanism, communication with the dead, alien abductions, and
hypnotism. And both the Pentagon and their Russian equivalent were wasting millions of
taxpayer
dollars researching the thing that is not, namely, psychic warfare. Baker consequently
devoted far
more space to the detailed dissection of the various contrary-to-fact beliefs than he would
do
today. And the result was a book that was the definitive rebuttal of those claims in 1992,
but
today reads like a 300-page annihilation of flat-earth theory.
That is not to say that Hidden Memories has outlived its usefulness. If the masturbation
fantasies
of Immanuel Velikovsky are ever resurrected, Carl Sagan's careful analysis of
Velikovsky's
pseudoscience will again be as valuable as it was at the height of the media frenzy that
touted
incompetent drivel as legitimate scientific speculation. And if the delusions annihilated
by Robert
Baker are revived, his book will again be a powerful weapon against the ignoranti.
Baker previews his conclusions in his introduction, declaring that (pp. 26-27), "We firmly
and
emphatically state that in the 1990s on the planet Earth:
(1) There are no extraterrestrial or interdimensional spaceships with either big or little
hominid-like aliens kidnapping human beings;
(2) There are no demons, apparitions, spirits, or genies of either the dead or the living in
possession of the bodies and minds of human beings in the past, in the present, or in the
future;
(3) There is no firmly grounded, scientifically acceptable evidence for the existence of
ghosts,
apparitions, demons, fairies, elves, gremlins, or extraterrestrial living beings at this time
or in the
past;
(4) People's minds do not physically leave their bodies and roam around the countryside,
nor do
they voyage to distant planets or other civilizations in the universe;
(5) People cannot accurately and reliably predict the future with tea leaves, tarot cards,
crystal
balls, or any other sort of artifact nor can they do so by way of imaginary trips into the
future via
hypnotic progression;
(6) People cannot go into a trance hypnotic or otherwise be seized with religious fervor
and
instantly acquire or 'channel' complete knowledge or another unknown or known foreign
tongue;
(7) People cannot communicate with the dead via mediums, telephone, TV, radio, or
through
human channels or any other communication means known to man;
(8) People have not lived before in another lifetime no matter how real or vivid their
memories of
these past lives may be. Past life memories brought into consciousness via hypnotic
regression are
excellent examples of cryptomnesia, confabulation, and imaginative fantasy production
and
nothing else."
Baker goes on to prove all of those conclusions to the satisfaction of all but incurable
believers.
Persons who already recognize "new age" beliefs as self-evidently absurd need read no
further.
Persons who wish to reaffirm that nonsense has indeed been disproven, will find the
evidence in
Hidden Memories. And for those who wish to check further, Baker appends a
bibliography to
each chapter that is as large as the bibliography of many whole books.
Lies And the Lying Liars Who Tell Them: A Fair and Balanced Look at the Right
Al Franken
Dutton
c/o Penguin
375 Hudson St, NY 10014
ISBN 0525947647, $24.95 396 pp.
Does America really need another book exposing George W. Bush and his right wing
goon squad
as lying liars whom America needs like Europe needed the Catholic Inquisition? That
question is
answered by the reality that the lying liar whose appointment to the presidency was a
treasonous
overthrow of the Constitution is still in the White House, and still doing to America what
the
communist commissars did to the Soviet Union, without the Senate of the United States
lifting a
finger to impeach him. To paraphrase Edmund Burke: For the abolition of democracy to
succeed,
it is only necessary for fifty senators to do nothing.
"The media thought [George W. Bush] was kind of stupid. He isn't. He's just shamelessly
dishonest." (p. 3) I trust Franken will forgive my disagreeing with him. Bush is both kind
of stupid
and shamelessly dishonest.
Franken disputes the claim of right wing liars (tautology?) that the mainstream media has
a liberal
bias. But "liberal bias" is surely an oxymoron. Can a person who believes in truth, justice,
freedom
from tyranny, equal opportunity and tolerance be legitimately labeled "biased"? But it is
belief in
those things that makes one a liberal. As Franken notes (p. 3), "The members of the
right-wing
media are not interested in conveying the truth . They are an indispensable component of
the
right-wing machine that has taken over our country." To the right-wing liars, those media
that "at
least try to be fair" have a liberal bias. It is the disinformation dispensers who are actively
promoting the transformation of America into a theofascist dictatorship that is a mirror
image of
Torquemada's Spain on whom the right-wing liars heap lavish praise.
Franken's second chapter is about "Ann Coulter: Nutcase." Until I opened this book I had
never
heard of her. I had been lucky. Exposing a particular example of Coulter's lying, Franken
states
(p. 14) that she "
