No one knows when the Observers originally arrived on Earth, but their unveiling was an event
not
to be forgotten. Somewhere in the world, nuclear warheads where launched escalating into war.
Everyone was glued to the television with TV announcers giving us 20 minutes until the end of
the
world. Then they appeared on TV with an offer no one would refuse - We will save Earth from
destruction if you allow us to study man-kind. The Observers got what they requested with no
resistance.
Zara Mitchell is just a small town owner of a dinner trying to make ends meet. After her parents
died, she was forced to support her younger brother. When the Observers first appeared on TV
that
fateful day, Zara's life became a nightmare. She began sleepwalking with horrid nightmares. Zara
is
convinced the Observers have nefarious designs on humanity, but no proof. Everyone in the small
town Zara lives is convinced she is crazy.
Life is just beginning to get easier. Zara is finally able to move on - an application to the local
community college awaits her at home, the diner has enough staff to allow her free-time, and her
brother is currently in college. Then in walks an Observer, a silvery eyed alien. Everything in
Zara's
life changes once again.
The Observer, Caelan is convinced Zara is the fulfillment of a prophecy and he will do anything to
gain her compliance. Zara is very confused. She doesn't know if she can trust Caelan. Everything
in
her life has been destroyed in some way by the Observers. How can she trust a being whose
existence caused her so much pain? Why is another Observer trying to kill her?
Thus begins The Silver Spoon by local Chicago author Stacey Klemstein. The storyline slowly
evolves with a mystery woven into the story that has some unanticipated twists and turns.
Klemstein
sets a pace that allows the reader to become involved in the storyline. Caelan and Zara are very
likable characters who have many layers to their personalities. Zara has a wonderful sense of
humor
that comes out in her dialogue.
While it would be easy to classify The Silver Spoon as a romance, which would vastly underrate
the
book. The book has a romance element, but it is more of an entertaining science fiction
adventure.
European Confession
Timothy Edward Jones
Publish America
P.O. Box 151, Frederick, MD
ISBN: 1413728677 $17.95 124 pp.
Steve Bond
Reviewer
Once in a blue moon there is a book of contemporary poetry that is released that simply takes a
reader's breath away. European Confession is that book. Author Timothy Edward Jones reveals a
fresh new twist in poetry by experimenting with Gonzo journalism, Outlaw prose and mixing hints
of
Classic Country music.
This is Jones's first full length book but he is no stranger to the literary community. As traditional
Country music began to flounder in Nashville, Jones found his calling in writing hard-hitting
articles
for various music publications in Music City. His Hunter S. Thompson-esque style found a stable
of
fans on the famed Music Row. Now he is back with a collection of Gonzo poetry that is gaining
an
underground following unlike any in the past 20 years.
European Confession is somewhat of a roadtrip that takes the reader halfway around the world
from
rural Alabama to a brothel in Heidelberg, Germany. Somehow Jones is inventive enough to tie in
Jim
Morrison and the high lonesome harmonies of the Louvin Brothers as the seedy scenes of life's
highway unfolds.
In the poem "Ambition", Jones opens with the best line I've ever read: 'Let's hurt each other/On
the
Merry-Go-Round love/Painted with kisses and lies.'
This no-holds-barred selection from the book details life's hypocrises in small town America. With
a
John Mellencamp overtone, Jones rounds out the poem with another great line:
'Let's open a drug store/And hang a sign/In the window that says:/"Just Say No."
Jones paints the perfect picture of a down and out southerner stranded along Route 66 in his
brilliant
"A Barstool In Barstow." He describes being holed-up in a dive of a bar in Barstow, California
and
ties it to being in search of something or someone that he will not find until 2 years later...And
from
where he started. In the second to last verse of "A Barstool In Barstow", Jones captures some of
his
best descriptive poetry: 'The high lonesome harmonies from the jukebox fits./The beer tastes
better./The cigarettes smoke faster./The few girls that are here look a little better/As Charlie and
Ira
blend voices/As smooth as old scotch./Mandolin sounds cut deep tonight./It is a message from
home.'
From riding the Santa Anna winds through the joshua trees with the ghost of Gram Parsons to
waiting for the subway in a Paris metro station with Jerry Jeff Walker, European Confession is a
story told in free-verse poetry. It is a story of the fall from grace to redemption through the most
powerful thing in the world...Love.
Fans of Hunter Thompson and Jack Keroac should enthusiastically embrace this debut work by
Timothy Edward Jones. It is a new breed of poetry that I like to call 'Acid Prose with a Country
Twang.'
European Confession is readily available through Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble.com. As for
the
author, as the book jacket implies: "Jones is currently M.I.A. ..... 'Missin' In Alabama.'"
Spin Sisters
Myrna Blyth
St. Martin's Press
175 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York, 10010
ISBN 0312312873 $24.95 342 pages
S. Daniel Smith
Reviewer
For years I had heard about the evils of the "liberal media" and thought little of it. After all, the
same
people making this claim are media too! The profession is filled with so many people that it's hard
to
put a name or face with the title. Finally, however, Myrna Blyth has done so. In her hard-hitting
book, Spin Sisters, she places a much-needed list of names to the "liberal media" label. From the
moment she begins the book until the end, Diane Sawyers, Barbara Walters, and others bear the
brunt of her frustration. The fact that she too, was once a sort of "spin sister" as the
Editor-In-Chief
of Ladies Home Journal makes this frustration real.
Spin Sisters examines how women in the liberal media attempt to victimize women of America by
creating the feeling of, and then preying on, hectic schedules, stress levels, and health issues. In a
country with the most privileged women in generations, Blyth believes that today's liberal media is
leading women astray for its collective political agenda. The only thing that Blyth seems to leave
out
is the fact that, while women in liberal media may pick the issues and victimize women in
America,
women in America continue to purchase these magazines, listen to the radio broadcasts, and
watch
the television shows.
Conservative women who don't necessarily do the above, but want to know what really happens
in
the minds of the liberal media gurus, need to read this book. While the historical lesson of the
chapter called "How We Got From There to Here" mentions people not readily recognized by
younger women, it is still extremely noteworthy in its detail. Women who share the same season
of
life as Blyth will receive a great deal of insight into the women's movement of the 60's and 70's as
well as how liberal media affects them today.
Blyth ends the book with "6 Secrets the Spin Sisters Won't Tell You," a fascinating summary of
her
hardback. I personally recommend that readers indulge in this short section first and then go
through Spin Sisters as a whole to gain a deeper understanding. It's a great book about how the
liberal women's media spins political agendas.
Brandywine's War: Back in Country
Robert Vaughan
Skyward Publishing
813 Michael Street, Kennett, MO 63857
ISBN# 1881554414 $24.95 300 pages
Les Williams
Reviewer
Robert Vaughan has written over 250 books, I including THE VALKYRIE MANDATE, which
was
nominated for the Pulitzer Prize and ANDERSON VILLE. Among his other books is a WW2
inspirational trilogy: TOUCH THE FACE OF GOD, WHOSE VOICE THE WATERS HEARD
and
HIS TRUTH IS MARCHING ON. BRANDYWINE'S WAR: BACK IN COUNTRY is the
sequel
to his 1971 book BRANDYINE'S WAR.
Chief Warrant Officer Three W.W. Brandywine is a free spirit who flies helicopters in Vietnam.
In
order to make his tour of duty less stressful, Brandywine finds ways to get around the system. In
BRANDYWINE'S WAR: BACK IN COUNTRY, you will meet some of Brandywine's eccentric
comrades.
There's Unsoldier, a civilian who while protesting was knocked out by a soldier, stuffed in an
Army
duffle bag and shipped to Vietnam. First lieutenant Jefferson Freemont Kirby is awarded his first
Purple Heart from a simple thorn prick. Brandywine's best friend B. Dowling Mudd was
recommended the Medal Of Honor, but instead was charged with the murder of enemy soldiers by
a
general who wanted to be known as a "Peace General". As a result of some behind-the scenes-
maneuvering, Brandywine was able to get the medal presented to the general and the
court-martial
of B. Dowling Mudd dropped. Lieutenant Jane gray is a nurse who comes into Brandywine's life
at a
time when he thinks he will never love again.
While in Vietnam, Brandywine writes and sells his first book, BRANDYWINE'S WAR. The deal
hinges on going to New York to sign the contract, which gets tied up in an agreement with his
CO
Colonel Cleaver that Brandywine extends his tour of duty for another six months. W.W.
reluctantly
agrees and is off to New York. In New York, Brandywine not only signs his book contract but is
surprised when his wife asks him for a divorce.
Back in Vietnam, Cleaver has Brandywine assigned to his unit. Using the Colonel's own orders to
his advantage, Brandywine manages to avoid reporting directly to Cleaver. W.W's CO finally
catches up with him and charges Brandywine with being AWOL. Once again Brandywine is one
step
ahead of Cleaver and proves he has not been AWOL.
All is not fun and games for W.W. Brandywine. Men are getting killed in this war. Even some of
those close to Brandywine will not be going back home. BRANDYWINE'S WAR: BACK IN
COUNTRY is a light-hearted yet serious look at the Vietnam war as Robert Vaughan brings his
characters to life. Characters you soon won't forget.
My Favorite Mistake
Beth Kendrick
www.bethkendrick.com
Downtown Press
1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020
www.simonsays.com 1-800-456-6798
ISBN: 0743470346 $13.00
Melissa Brown Levine
Reviewer
My Favorite Mistake is a contemporary romance novel that displays the resilience of true love
even
when the love struck run away from each other. Author Beth Kendrick has created characters
with
complexity and sarcasm who trudge through the heaviness of loving in spite of themselves.
Faith Geary is pulled out of her life as a food writer who travels all over the globe when her baby
sister, Skye becomes in need of rescuing after her husband leaves her for another woman and she
must take control of the bar of which Faith is co-owner. Skye's is also pregnant and traditionally
the
frail sister who has to be picked up and pulled back together whenever things go wrong. After
some
extensive begging from Skye and a tense call from Flynn, her high school sweet heart, Faith
makes
the trip back home to Minnesota against her better judgment.
Faith and Flynn loved each other for years before he proposed to her at the end of their senior
year
in high school and she responded by leaving town with another guy. After ten years, Flynn has not
let go of the pain of betrayal. Although it takes time for Faith to admit it, she has not released the
love she felt for Flynn. Their encounters are tumultuous and passionate. Faith must accept
undesirable aspects of her character before she can admit the severity of her love for Flynn.
Ms. Kendrick's work is fluid, the action moves at a steady tempo, holding the reader's interest.
The
characters with their quick tongues and chaotic lives encourage involvement and concern. My
Favorite Mistake is fun, genuine, and fulfilling.
Going Deeper
Jean Claude Koven
Prism House Press
ISBN: 0972395458 $24.95 434 pp.
Shirley Roe, Reviewer
www.allbooksreviews.com
A bright, new and truly inspirational look at the spiritual quest.
Entertaining, engaging and subtle this book carries a serious underlying message. Author
Jean-Claude Koven has chosen a humorous fictional character named Larry to make his point.
Larry
and his wise-cracking dog Zeus make their way to Joshua Tree National Park for, what Larry
thinks
will be, a relaxing holiday. Zeus however has other ideas. Yes the dog talks however before you
scoff and disregard this book, you should know that Zeus speaks with the wisdom of the ages.
Larry
begins a journey of spiritual awakening and true enlightenment with the help of Zeus and his
unusual
friends. Larry learns that the Earth and all of her inhabitants are depending on him to move them
smoothly into the next dimension.
Author Jean-Claude Koven has studied with the Masters and lectured on six continents. He
stimulates the hidden memories deep within and seeks to help realign this planet's inhabitants with
their souls.
With bookshelves bulging at the seams with technical often boring information on enlightenment,
spiritual awakening, finding the Self, etc. this book is a refreshing change that not only covers
most
topic for the spiritual voyager, but does it in a most enjoyable format. The cover photograph is
representative of the book's contents and most pleasing to the eye. Well written, informative and
nicely presented-- this book is highly recommended.
Dangerous Comrades: A Misadventure In Gang Affiliation
Julie Bonn Heath
Publish America
www.publishamerica.com
ISBN: 1413708447 $14.95 86 Pages
Shannon Louise Nelson
Reviewer
"'What in the world is the matter with you?' her mom asked. 'You look like you've seen a
ghost.'
Dani was speechless. 'I ' she faltered."
-From the book, Dangerous Comrades.
Dangerous Comrades is a compellingly honest story about the struggles of Dani Winters, a young
twelve year old girl. After her move from Oregon to Washington state, she finds herself
awkwardly
shy and without friends. When she meets Pepper, Shy and Loco, members of the Fifty-Fourth
Street
Pirates, they take her under their wing; calling her after school, dropping by her window for a visit
and even giving her fifty bucks for a new game she wanted! She finally feels accepted and loved.
Yet, almost before she realizes it, she begins lying, sneaking out of her bedroom and eventually
becomes a member of the gang as she tries to repay them for their friendship. Dani finds herself
caught between doing what's right and pleasing her friends, including the good looking M-Dog.
Will
she realize she doesn't owe them her life before it is too late?
In her first novel for youth, Mrs. Heath does a beautiful job of truthfully painting as one would
see
them, the struggles, pain, peer pressure, indecision and isolation of a young girl. Dani's desperate
need to find acceptance from others, to the rude awakening that they betrayed her will strike a
familiar chord in the heart of all who read her story. It is as much a book on real friendships as it
is
on gang affiliation! Unlike the all too common practice of leaving the reader hanging after the
climax, Mrs. Heath brings her readers through with Dani till the end, creating an artful picture of
the
aftermath and emotional feelings that come with gang affiliation. More importantly, she shows
practical ways on how to get out and stay out, leaving her reader with a sure feeling of
contentment.
Dangerous Comrades opens the doors of hope for trapped gang members as well as, in the same
word, brings understanding and relevance for young people who don't even realize the danger of
becoming involved in a gang.
Dangerous Comrades is a great tool and enjoyable treasure for youth leaders to share with their
group, parents to read with their preteen/teen and of course, the teen themselves! It brings
understanding on a subject so vitally important yet so often forgotten. Dangerous Comrades is a
must read for youth of all ages and - for those who love them.
The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair that Changed America
Eric Larson
Vintage
ISBN: 0375725601 $14.95 464 pages
Terry Mathews
Reviewer
Recommendation: ******
Author Eric Larson has managed to weave two very diverse subject matters -- the creation of the
1893 World's Columbian Exposition and the inner workings of a madman -- into a very cohesive,
well-told tale that holds the reader's interest from the Author's Note at the beginning until the
book's
last page.
It was a finalist for the 2003 National Book Award. As well it should have been.
There might be errors in this book . . .I'm not a World's Fair historian . . . but they didn't have
anything to do with the author's ability to pull you in and keep you turning the pages long after
the
lights should have been out. I'm not a fan of non-fiction, but this story is the exception to the
rule.
The parallel stories of the struggles to realize the dreams of a fabulous world's fair and the
diabolical
deeds going on near the fair sight at the same time were compelling enough to hold my interest . .
.even though I know little about engineering, construction or physics.
I'm surprised the book hasn't been optioned for a feature film. Who would play brilliant architect .
. .
Brunham? Who is evil enough to play the devil incarnate . . . Holmes?
Enjoy.
A Posturing of Fools
Brewster Milton Robertson
River City Publishing
1719 Mulberry Street, Montgomery, AL 36106
ISBN 1579660517 $27.95 463 pages
Tracey Broussard
Reviewer
The promise of a wild ride is implied in the opening stroke of Brewster Milton Robertson's third
novel, A Posturing of Fools (River City Press, 2004). From the moment we meet our dubious
hero,
Logan Baird, being "launched skyward, tumbling ass over HUMVEE," on a "bomb-pitted
Bosnian
back road," the reader is hooked.
From here we move to Logan leaving his henpecking, harridan of a wife to attend a medical
symposium at West Virginia's venerated Greenbrier resort. Robertson sustains his promise as our
ride continues on a manicured minefield laced with scruffy CEO's who drive dented cars, and
sommeliers who double as successful authors, at a place where most of us would have to spend a
fortnight's wages to properly enjoy.
A salesman for a pharmaceutical company, Logan is duly grateful for the opportunity to enjoy the
opulence of the Greenbrier in the name of work. Through his unjaded eyes (and Robertson's
loving
details), the reader is treated to a vicarious visit to paradise. As with any paradise, however, there
must be a snake. In this case he makes his appearance in the guise of Rush Donald, Logan's
haughty,
buffoon of a boss. An excellent foil for the not-so innocent Logan, Rush has a gift for grandiose
pronouncements that reminded me a bit of George Bernard Shaw, and had me laughing out
loud.
Were it not for Rush's obnoxiousness, we might find ourselves having a hard time liking bad boy
Logan Baird. Between his inability to keep his pecker in his pants, and his cavalier reaction to his
best friend's death, we're not sure whether we want to sit him down for a lecture or bop him
upside
the head. Logan's character, as well as the novel, is elevated by the masterful exploration of class
and values deftly woven by Robertson.
Logan's all too obvious weaknesses along with his frequent bouts of questioning and self-loathing
serve to both humanize him and create likeability. Robertson manages to address pretentiousness
along with our dollar driven, label obsessed society without being heavy handed. When Rush
whines
about not having a fancier golf bag, Logan muses, "Growing up I had learned that charisma
transcended the trappings of things like clothes and automobiles." Later Logan wraps up the
novel's
message, "In the end our personal value systems determine how we feel about ourselves. That's
the
true essence of class. Self-esteem is the most important thing there is."
By the book's end, Logan isn't much less of a cad than he was at the beginning. But we like him
anyway. In the span of four days he has managed to re-examine his life, addressing the questions
we
are all too often afraid to ask ourselves. Reading A Posturing of Fools is akin to enjoying a grand
fairy-tale. The story is fun, the ending happy, the message lingering somewhere in our
subconscious.
The Crow on The Golden Arches
Leo Dangel
Spoon River Poetry Press / Cross+Roads Press
Post Office Box 6, Granite Falls, MN 56241
ISBN# 094402453X $10.00 51 pages
Barbara Fitz Vroman
Reviewer
Cover art "McCrow: Homage to Tisnikar #2" by Norbert Blei
New writers are often told "show don't tell." The best writers know how to show intangibles like
love, heartbreak, triumph, and lust. In this collection of poems titled The Crow on the Golden
Arches, Leo Dangel is a master at doing that.
He has particularly aced the love between fathers and sons without ever using the word. His
spare,
evocative accounts never use the word, never mention a caress or stoop to sentimentality. But in
poems like What Comes with Late Fall Watermelons, the depth of closeness is revealed as clearly
as
ten foot letters paiinted on a barn.
Father and son sit on the porch and eat watermelon...I am tasting all at once the blended flavors of
melons, bike, and his clean overalls/ we both are speechless/but the tiny seeds/are like words as
we
spit them into the grass/ with extra emphasis, trying for distance.
In Men and Boys, the poet records that moment when farm boys are teetering on the edge of
manhood by making little pulls on the tractor throttles and roaring the engines while their fathers
visit. My neighbor takes a sideways look/at what the boys are doing,/but we keep talking about
hay/pretending not to notice/ so we don't have to tell them/to knock it off
Dangel was born and raised on a South Dakota farm near Turkey Ridge,
and his poetry is so permeated with the images and emotions of farm life that it comes as a shock
to
learn in the back of the book that he is an Emeritus Professor of English at Southwest Minnesota
State University. He writes about rural electricity, deserted barns, farms sales, with a grace and
understanding that is beyond nostalgia.
Occasionally he will move a few feet from the farm to tell us about being wrapped in Darleen's
silky
arms, or to confess that in a test with ink blots he saw a naked Blessed Mother, which he tactfully
reported as "It looks like the Virgin Mary."
That's another delight of Dangel. He can be taking you down a somber road, then suddenly make
a
sharp curve, and have you laughing. Like in the poem, What He Saved. The narrator is getting
ready
for a farm sale with all the poignancy that carries, then the poem surprises us with an unusual
celebration.
This poet takes one far into the country of the heart. It would be a hard heart indeed that would
not
embrace such poems as A Memory of Bears, or God is an Owl.
Alyice's Bookshelf
Peterman Rides Again
John Peterman
http://johnpeterman.com
Prentice Hall Press
240 Frisch Court, Paramus, NJ 07652
ISBN: 0735201994 $25.00
Ever wonder what it was like for a multi-million dollar company to be build from the ground
floor?
Ever wish you could've been a fly on the wall or afforded the luxury of requesting mentorship
from
the founder?
In Peterman Rides Again, you'll not only get an inside look into a multi-million dollar company
that
got it's start on a mere $500, but in Peterman's own words, you'll get a first-hand glimpse at what
it
was like to build that million dollar company from scratch.
But what I found most inspiring about Peterman Rides Again was the openness and honesty of
Peterman as he shares his mistakes, comments on how things could've been done better, and takes
you on the ride of a lifetime.
While Peterman may have had regrets as his company was put on the auction block, it's his
attitude
towards life that is inspiring. Peterman reminds us that it is never wrong to follow our dreams, to
dare to be different, to keep honesty at the forefront of any business, to build relationships within
a
business, and that it's never too late. In the words of Peterman's Uncle Joe, "Once you realize that
most people are keeping up appearances and putting on a show, their approval becomes much less
important." What a profound statement to ponder as we strive to reach our dreams and "never
give
up."
Update: In 2001 Peterman regained ownership of his name and company. Check it out at:
http://www.jpeterman.com/
Down the Cereal Aisle: A Basket of Recipes and Remembrances
Alice J. Wisler
wister@mindspring.com
Daniel's House Publications
5008 Rolling Meadows Drive, Durham, NC 27703
http://www.mindspring.com/~wisler/danielshouse.html
ISBN: 0967674034 $12.95
In Down the Cereal Aisle, Wisler says many parents believe "the cereal aisle is a tough one to
walk
after the death of a child." For me, it was the baby aisle, full of newborn scents: baby wipes, baby
food, diapers, talcum powder, baby lotion, and baby shampoo. As soon as I got the slightest hint
of
that special smell the tears would well up, my heart would skip a beat, and then it would race
uncontrollably as it urged me to run as fast as I could away from that aisle. That smell was
bittersweet, indeed. I avoided the baby aisle for years, so when I heard about Wisler's book I
know it
was going to be a tough one to read.
Emotional? Yes. But, oh-h what a beautiful tribute. Each story was filled with emotion some
stories brought me to tears, but all the stories screamed my child lived! And in some mysterious
way, these stories brought comfort as it reminded me to cherish the little moments as they sneak
their way back into my mind and my memories to cherish the little bursts of joy as I recall a time
with my little one. While our children may have found a home in heaven, and feel so very far
away,
they are as close as our memories and there, they'll remain alive forevermore.
Child Out Of Place: A Story For New England
Patricia Q. Wall
Fall Rose Books
P.O. Box 39, Kittery Pointe, ME 03905
www.fallrosebooks.com
ISBN: 0974218502 $12.00 207-439-2878
Set in historic Portsmouth, New England, Child Out Of Place allows children to experience life as
a
young slave girl named Matty. It's through Matty's eyes that children can begin to understand a
deeper, more emotional aspect of slavery and what it means to enjoy personal freedom, endure
hardships, and find self-respect.
Matty's family was taken from Africa and forced into slavery, but when they're finally free to live
as
they choose, the family is torn apart. Matty's father leaves to find a better life, leaving Matty
behind
to be cared for by her grandmother and great Uncle: two people who fear change and stay on, as
servants, in their former master's home.
Child Out Of Place reaches back through time to share a heartwarming story of triumph over
adversity of duty, honor, courage, faith, hope, and most of all, family. It's a story of a family who
struggles to keep safe while longing for something more freedom. And when they finally get that
freedom, it becomes a struggle to step beyond fear and accept the new life that awaits them.
Alyice Edrich, Reviewer
http://thedabblingmum.com
Arlene's Bookshelf
An Intimate Ghost
Ellen Hart
St. Martin's Minotaur
175 5th Avenue, NY, NY 10010
ISBN: 0312317476, $24.95, 307 pages
This latest installment of Ellen Hart's Jane Lawless series is entitled An Intimate Ghost, and it is,
perhaps, her most intricately plotted piece to date. Our heroine Jane, restaurateur/sleuth, is
confronted with her worst nightmare: people are sick and near death after having eaten her
catered
wedding meal. Somehow, hallucinogenic mushrooms have "spiced up" the menu, causing the
guests
to experience a new kind of revelry not usually associated with post-nuptial bliss. Add to this a
back-story of murder and kidnapping spanning several decades, and indeed, Jane has a full
plate.
The novel opens on Halloween night in Cottonwood, Kansas in 1972, when sixteen year-old
Jimmy
Shore is reluctantly escorting his trick-or-treating eight year-old sister Patsy. Although a hero in
his
sister's eyes, Jimmy is involved in some unsavory drug dealings, and one of his associates has
come
to collect on a debt. Unable to fulfill this obligation only serves to anger Frank. While holding a
gun
to Jimmy's head, the intimidating Frank orders his henchman to grab Patsy and throw her into the
back of their van. As the van moves off into the night, all Jimmy can hear is Frank's menacing
threat,
"If I can't get my money one way, I'll get it another." [page 7]
Chapter One transports the reader to Minnesota, and it is thirty-one years later, 2003. Alden
Clifford
is standing face to face in his high school classroom with a suicidal student, Cullen Hegg. Unable
to
dissuade the boy from his intended plan, Alden can only manage to lunge halfway toward the boy
when Cullen pulls the fatal trigger. Six months later, Alden has hired his friend, Jane Lawless, to
cater his son Nick's wedding, and as they say, the plot thickens.
This novel is richly developed with strong characterizations, multi-faceted characters that are not
quite what they seem, or are they? Hart has created an intricate series of sub-plots, all of which
totally engage the reader. There are several mysteries to be solved here, enigmatic clues abound,
and
it remains a conundrum throughout most of the story as to who is the true antagonist. And,
amidst
all this, Jane may have an opportunity to pursue a new love interest. Only time will tell.
Jane's sidekick and comedic foil, Cordelia, has a delicious storyline here. Imagine! Cordelia as a
mother figure! Her sister Octavia has virtually "dumped" her twenty-month old daughter on the
doorstep to go pursue other matters. After having given the child a slice of Brie, Cordelia wails,
"Perfectly good Brie, and she treats it like Play Doo Doo." [page 83] It is now her mission in life
to
ensure that her niece be exposed to all the necessities of the cultured life, such as the merits of
film
noir and the "thea-tahh."
Hart is a master of dialogue, no words wasted, the ideal adjectives, and the appropriate amount of
wit, whimsy, and gravity. Her characters speak as real people, fully reflecting the nuances of their
personalities. These speeches are crafted and honed to a fine degree as only an experienced and an
adept author can achieve.
Many themes are touched upon here: drug abuse, teen suicide, child molestation, infidelity,
parenting, and murder to name just a few. Certainly, these have been written about before, but
Hart
approaches them from a fresh point of view and imbues them with a timeliness that is both
refreshing
and rewarding. There is more food for thought here than merely solving a whodunit.
In some ways this novel is a departure from the sometimes formulaic books the author has penned
in
the past. It is certainly one of, if not, the best in this series thus far. The length of the novel is a
definite plus as it affords Hart the opportunity to full explore all the dynamics of plot, conflict, and
characterization. I particularly enjoyed the Jimmy Shore storyline because not only does Hart set
up
an intriguing premise for her novel but also she has an uncanny ability to capture the essence of
the
teenage characters, from the swaggering bravado to the lost innocence of some young adults who
seemingly have no choices in the paths they choose to follow. I enthusiastically recommend An
Intimate Ghost not only to her legions of fans but to all discerning readers who want to
experience
an all too rare quintessential and well-crafted mystery novel by a master storyteller.
A Moment's Indiscretion [A Classic Reprint-2004]
Peggy J. Herring
Bella Books
www.bellabooks.com
ISBN: 1931513597 $12.95 150 pp.
Jackie Knovac, an attractive late-thirties advertising executive, has finally decided that she has
endured the last of the unfaithful and irrational lovers who have populated her love life of late.
She
has assiduously erected the necessary emotional barriers with the hope that all interested women
will
look elsewhere. All proceeds as planned until the beautiful twenty-four year-old Valerie Dennison
strides into her office. The electricity between them is undeniable, yet Jackie is hesitant to
succumb
to the charms of her new assistant. Meanwhile, Jackie's best friend, Carla, is also involved in an
older-younger woman affair, but she is thoroughly enjoying herself, and try as she may, she
cannot
convince Jackie to just let things happen naturally. Jackie's life is further complicated by the
re-appearance of an unstable and violent ex-lover who simply refuses to let go. Add to this a
completely different and mysterious side of Valerie Dennison, a side which is known only to her
closest friends, and you have a love story which will test the foundations of true love, convention,
and commitment.
Peggy J. Herring is a seasoned author, having begun her writing with the now-defunct Naiad
Press.
This is a reprint of her 1998 romance classic. It bears the trademarks of a Herring novel: likable
characters, witty dialogue, unusual situations, and
a surprise twist or two. As the title states, A Moment's Indiscretion, can affect changes in one's
life
over which one has little or no control and whose consequences can bring to bear events that can
appear both threatening and beneficial. The fine line between love and lust is explored as a result
of
this lapse in Jackie Knovac's otherwise cool and dispassionate judgment. Decisions will be made
that
will alter Jackie's belief in both herself and her carefully planned future. -
The plot development is two-fold. Part One, entitled Jackie, tells the story in the first person
narrative and would seem to establish the plotline that will carry the reader throughout the novel.
However, Part Two, entitled Valerie, appears at an unexpected moment, and thus the plot veers
off
in another direction which is certain to both please and amaze the reader. It too is told in the first
person; thus, the reader is given the opportunity to more fully understand these two main
characters,
their motivation for their actions, and their complex and evolving personalities.
Pacing and continuity carry the story along at a rapid pace. It is truly a book one can read in
ninety
minutes. This has a drawback as well, though. As with many Bella Books, the novel seems too
brief
at a mere 150 pages. One wishes the author had expanded the second half to more credibly
conclude
the narrative. The concluding two or three chapters seemed somewhat rushed and not as fully
developed as the rest of the story deserved them to be. A heretofore excellent story idea was
diminished by an unfortunately hasty finale. A sequel may not have been indicated or even desired,
but the reader does come away with the feeling that certain key elements of the plot received
short
shrift. To be as believable as Part One, more concrete and specific detail should have been given
to
this second set of new characters and storyline.
Overall, A Moment's Indiscretion is an enjoyable romantic read. However, if one were to compare
Ms. Herring's latest books, White Lace and Promises [July 2004} and Once More with Feeling
[August 2004], one can see that at 226 and 212 pages respectively, there is more significant
attention to detail and development. These better represent the author's ability to spin a
thoroughly
memorable story. Consequently, do yourself a favor and read all three!
Arlene Germain
Reviewer
Bethany's Bookshelf
A Mind Patient and Untamed
Ben C. Ollenburger and Gale Gerber Koontz, editors
Cascadia Publishing House
126 Klingerman Road, Telford, PA 18969
1931038201 $24.95 www.cascadiapublishinghouse.com
A Mind Patient and Untamed: Assessing John Howard Yoder's Contributions to Theology,
Ethics,
and Peacemaking is an anthology of essays by a variety of learned authors, each dissecting of the
works of John Howard Yoder, known for "The Politics of Jesus" and other writings in which he
scrutinized the Bible and his own Anabaptist tradition. Yoder's astutely reasoned theological
discourse, his opposition to allowing Christian doctrine to be easily reshaped by contemporary
dogmas, and more are analyzed in depth; while A Mind Patient and Untamed offers some
controversial interpretations, this collection is akin to Yoder himself in its emphasis on keeping
one's
mind open and the importance of understanding what individual authors truly have to say rather
than
what one's own preconditions impress upon others' words. Highly recommended for academic and
church libraries, as well as anyone interested in further examination and reflection upon Yoder's
works.
Growing People Through Small Groups
David Stark and Betty Veldman Wieland
Bethany House Publishers
11400 Hampshire Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55438
0764229125 $12.99 1-800-328-6109 www.bethanyhouse.com
Co-written by the director of Changing Church through Prince of Peace Lutheran Church and a
leader of Christian Reformed Home Missions, Growing People Through Small Groups is a
practical
guide for leading a small Group ministry that focuses upon what the people need rather than rigid
programs. Delineating ideas that have been successfully put into practice for years, Growing
People
Through Small Groups discusses the importance of staying in touch with God's will, stages and
principles that people follow for individual development, knowing when a study group is ready to
be
transplanted and learn on their own, the role of the leader as gardener and shepherd, and much
more. Combining deep personal faith with time-tested experience and practical wisdom, Growing
People Through Small Groups is a superb resource highly recommended for ministers and
spiritual
leaders.
Iraq: A Journey of Hope and Peace
Peggy Faw Gish
Herald Press
616 Walnut Avenue, Scottdale, PA 15683-1999
0836192877 $17.99 1-800-759-4447 www.heraldpress.com
Iraq: A Journey of Hope and Peace is a memorial of one woman's experience among the Christian
Peacemaker Teams' work in Iraq before, during, and after the 2003 war. A deadly serious
assessment of struggling to help those who have suffered in the aftermath of war, and also a
sharply
critical account of American disregard for human rights in its use of military force, indiscriminate
detainment, and even horrific abuse such as that publicized about the Abu Ghraib prison. Iraq: A
Journey of Hope and Peace warns how America is alienating even those Iraqis who supported the
invasion, and characterizes the ongoing occupation as one that is not striving to rebuild, turn over
power, and get out but attempting to stay long-term in order to reap financial benefits. Above all,
Iraq: A Journey of Hope and Peace strives to present the viewpoint of those who are directly
affected by the American war with Iraq and its aftermath, unshielded by propaganda or political
agendas beyond the desire to promote healing. Highly recommended.
Why Not Take A Chance
Mary Wiles
Bluetail Records & Publishing
1101 Boren Ave, #107, Seattle WA 98104
MW1004 $15.95 1-877-323-4550 bluetailrecords@aol.com
A superlative and highly recommended example of a modern Christian CD music album, Why Not
Take A Chance by adult contemporary music artist Mary Wiles mixes heartland rock and country
blues with reflective and beautifully performed ballads that will encourage Christians to a closer
walk
with Christ and invites non-Christians and lapsed Christians to take up the opportunity Christ
offers
for a wonderful new life within the Christian communion and community. With a thirty-eight
minute
running time, the ten performance pieces comprising this flawlessly recorded album include Little
Bit
Closer (2:51); Worship Avenue (2:52); Thanks for the Times (3:55); Ticket to Enter In (3:29);
Trainliner (3:36); Ancient Roads (5:09); It Takes a Long Time to Learn (4:11); Moonlight in Her
Eyes (3:40); Waymaker (4:20); and the title piece, Why Not Take A Chance (3:40).
Choose a Better Road: Tips for Life's Traffic Jams
Michael J. Mayer
Tomahawk Publishing
PO Box 3463, Springfield, MO 65808-3463
0975252607 $14.95
Choose a Better Road: Tips for Life's Traffic Jams is a Christian self-help guide by licensed
psychologist and consultant Michael J. Mayer. Opening with the importance of making room in
one's heart for God, Choose a Better Road is divided into one and two-page long sections
dedicated
to improving oneself, from learning how to evaluate all options before making a negative decision
to
becoming more accomplished at setting limits and consequences for young children, to learning
how
to move on from past rejections and more. A simple and direct self-improvement manual that
emphases the power of choice and free will that lies within the reader.
We Won the Battle... Are We Losing the War?
Beverly Gutierrez
Leathers Publishing
c/o Squire Publishers
4500 College Blvd., Leawood, KS 66211
1585972320 $10.95 1-888-888-7696 www.leatherspublishing.com
We Won the Battle... Are We Losing the War? is a serious look at social problems plaguing
America
from a Christian perspective. Grounded in ethical interpretations of The Ten Commandments (for
example, the first commandment is "I am the God that made you, you shall worship no other
gods"
and a summary of the author's ethical interpretation is "You shall not put yourself above society in
order for personal gain or power), We Won the Battle... Are We Losing the War? warns against
the
devastating toll of excessive sexual freedom which can bring the consequences of abortion, which
the author stringently condemns, or children whose parents are unwilling or unable to properly
care
for them. Other social ills that the author announces included the tendency to devalue hard work,
self-destructive female attitudes that make one cling to a harmful relationship, self-destructive
male
attitudes promoted by the media and peer pressure that encourage one to risk one's life or health,
or
even harm women, and much worse. An outspoken invective against systemic human problems
that
turns toward the importance of moral rules and guidelines to help people help one another.
The Mysterious Golden Seed
L. E. Lane
Christian Visionary Communications
PO Box 63, Sharon Center, OH 44274-0063
0974686700 $6.95 www.christianary.org
Book 1 of The Christian Visionaries series, The Mysterious Golden Seed is a fantasy novel
written
especially for young Christians ages 9 to 13. A sharp young girl thinks she has life all figured out
until her six-year-old brother talks her into planting a "magic" acorn. She soon finds herself lost in
a
fairy-tale like world, ignorant of who to trust and desperate to sort the mixed-up reality and find
her
way home. An enchanting adventure, tempered with an underlying message of faith, devotion, and
the importance of searching one's own heart.
The Children of God "The Family"
J. Gordon Melton
Signature Books
564 West 400 North, Salt Lake City, UT 84116-3411
1560851805 $13.95 1-800-356-5687 www.signaturebooks.com
The Children of God "The Family" is the true story of the most successful communal movement
of
the hippie era. Founded in the 1960s, The Children of God came to blend Christian belief with
sexual
freedom and a rejection of materialism. Modern era brought changes, including alterations in their
practice in response to child sexual abuse charges (all dismissed) and efforts to conform more
accurately to cultural expectations. Yet to this day they live communally, proselytize full-time
(none
hold traditional jobs), engage in sexual "sharing", and a number of talented musicians have sprung
from their ranks. The Children of God "The Family" is an objective assessment of the history, and
direction of the movement, as well as the laws that guide them and the principles that drive their
cohesion. Evaluations and interpretations of "The Family" are left up to this reader in this
excellent
fact-filled resource.
The Perfect Prayer
Philip Mathias
Augsburg Publishers
100 Fifth Street, Suite 700, Minneapolis, MN 55402-1210
0806651563 $17.99 1-800-328-4648 www.augsburgbooks.com
In The Perfect Prayer: Search For The Kingdom Through The Lord's Prayer by Philip Mathias (a
now retired journalist whose 45 year career had him writing on faith, politics and religion)
approaches the search for the Kingdom of God examines the six specific petitions in the "Lord's
Prayer as recorded in the Gospel of Luke (11:2-4) wherein Jesus provided his followers a
template
for their daily communications with God. These six notated request statements are: Father;
Hallowed by the name; Give us this day our daily bread; And forgive us our sins as we forgive
those
who trespass against us; And lead us not into temptation. Additionally, Mathias examines in detail
the role each of these six petitions plays in achieving the ultimate goal of the Lord's Prayer -- the
coming of the kingdom of God. Examined as a whole, The Perfect Prayer reveals that this
cornerstone prayer of Christianity is so much greater than the mere sum of its individual parts.
Very
highly recommended reading for all Christians regardless of their denominational affiliation.
Susan Bethany
Reviewer
Betsy's Bookshelf
Master Your Panic And Take Back Your Life
Denise F. Beckfield, Ph.D.
Impact Publishers
PO Box 6016, Atascadero, CA 93423-6016
1886230471 $16.95 www.impactpublishers.com
Now in an updated and expanded third edition that takes the latest techniques into account,
Master
Your Panic And Take Back Your Life: Twelve Treatment Sessions To Conquer Panic, Anxiety
And
Agoraphobia by clinical psychologist Denise F. Beckfield is a straightforward self-help guide to
taking one's life back from panic attacks. Chapters explore step-by-step how to discover one's
personal triggers for panic, including thoughts, physical habits, and emotional traps, and
deconstruct
them. Extensive discussion and instruction concerning the nature of panic attacks, their causes,
diagnostic criteria, types of exposure therapy to combat them, and useful, reproducible
record-keeping forms round out this excellent supplement to professional help for anxiety
disorders.
Disaster Psychiatry
Anand Pandya and Craig Katz, editors
The Analytic Press
101 West Street, Hillsdale, NJ 07642
0881634182 $29.95 www.analyticpress.com
Collaboratively compiled and co-edited by Anand Pandya and Craig Katz, Disaster Psychiatry:
Intervening When Nightmares Come True is a selection of essays by experienced professionals
concerning the difficulty of providing psychiatric help in dramatic and radically difficult settings -
amid the Gaza strip, in the wake of disaster in Australia, El Salvador, India, and Turkey, or
following the September 11th attacks. Firsthand accounts of pursuing the psychiatric calling in the
wake of extreme trauma provide a useful model in this highly recommended anthology for
students
and practitioners of psychiatry. Case studies, invaluable observations, and highly accessible
narrative
styles make Disaster Psychiatry indispensible to academic libraries and personal psychiatric
reference
shelves.
The Pilates Prescription For Back Pain
Lynne Robinson, Helge Fisher, and Paul Massey
Ulysses Press
PO Box 3440, Berkeley CA 94703-3440
1569753946 $14.95 1-800-377-2542 www.ulyssespress.com
Three Pilates experts and teachers combine their knowledge in The Pilates Prescription For Back
Pain: A Comprehensive Program For Developing And Maintaining A Healthy Back, a
no-nonsense
health guide featuring Pilates exercises and routines chosen especially to help prevent back
problems. Black-and-white photographs and diagrams as well as simple instructions offer the
reader
a crystal clear, easy-to-follow regimen. The exercises presented are not unduly advanced or
difficult;
any able-bodied individual can perform them at safely at home. Sample workouts comprised of
various exercises for different days offers a starting point for planning one's own routines, and
additional sections offer advice for avoiding undue stress on one's back and body while sitting at
work, gardening, sleeping, or engaging in sexual activity. Highly recommended.
Flashback Through The Heart
Angela M. Salas
Susquehanna University Press
c/o Associated University Presses
2010 Eastpark Blvd., Cranbury, NJ 08512
1575910829 $41.50 www.susqu.edu/su_press
Flashback Through The Heart: The Poetry Of Yusef Komunyakaa by Angela M. Salas (Associate
Professor of English, Clarke College, Dubuque, Iowa) is a literary study of African-American
poet
Yusef Komunyakaa's works and of interpretations and reactions to it. In particular, author Angela
M. Salas stresses the importance of a balanced perspective when taking Komunyakaa's race and
the
race-related themes within his poetry into account. Reading Komunyakaa solely for his views
upon
race diminishes the full impact of his work as surely as neglecting the role race plays in his work.
A
literate, knowledgeable dissection, meticulously reasoned extensively documented in its
conclusions
and subjective judgements.
Blue Venus
Lisa Russ Spaar
Persea Books
853 Broadway, Suite 604, New York, NY 10003
0892553065 $14.95 1-212-260-9256 www.perseabooks.com
Blue Venus is the newest poetry collection by Lisa Russ Spaar (winner of the Rona Jaffe Award
for
Emerging Women writers and Director of the MFA program in Creative Writing, University of
Virginia) and one that continues the theme of insomnia by exploring the sleeplessness of such
fascinating personalities as Virginia Woolf, Dorothy Wordsworth, Thomas Merton, the great
hypnotist Mesmer, and others. An impressive anthology of original work, Spaar's poetry also
reveals
the intimate relationship between the sensual and the sacred, as well as other seemingly opposing
or
juxtaposing elements of the human experience. The Insomnia of Mesmer: In our afternoon
sessions,
lockets of magnetic light blur/the spines of firs in the private holiday of her induced
sleep,//childish,
her eyes widen, devoted to a glair/of inward, fabled knowledge I choreograph and keep//secret.
At
night, in the desolate hair shirt/of her absence, I own the lodestone of her weeping://it bespeaks
the
silence of her cloistered tongue--/a zone I cannot enter but whose passion I reap,//lured like geese
honing off over the Danube, restlessly/obedient to laws chauvinistic and infidel--and
deepening.
The debut poetry collection of Katrina Vandenberg employs a language and flair for expression
that
transcends time while drawing upon personal family artifacts, memories, ideas, and friends.
Marrying
Late: When I think of what it means not to marry/the high school sweetheart, but to find each
other/as we did at ages thirty and forty, I think/of John and I singing along to an old cassette/of
Jackson Browne on car trips, and how, as we sing,/a part of me is hearing the song for the first
time/in Detroit, on WRIF with my first boyfriend/in his truck as he took curves, shifting hard and
fast./And probably John is making love with a black-haired girl/in the carpeted back of his van in
1979, out west,/the cassette new and popular, draining the battery./How unlikely that we ended
up
traveling together/singing a song we each learned with someone else./Neither of us minds that, the
way we might have then.
Signed With Their Honor
Lester LaFreniere
American Literary Press
8019 Belair Road, Suite 10, Baltimore, MD 21236
1561678589 $7.95 1-800-873-2003 www.amaericanliterarypress.com
Signed With Their Honor is an impressive introduction to the contemporary poetry of Lester
LaFreniere who draws upon poetic history, literary commentary, and even music appreciation,
and
whose verse is laced with pop-culture icons and easily recognizable familial bonds. Coffee Pearl:
Thin brown fingers wrote these letters./time will wash their ink away./Bonecold hollows deep
within
me/will return, perhaps to stay.//Firefly eyes invite the memory./Duskwine lips and thin brown
ears,/a neck with the grace of an ancient queen/take their toll in unseen tears.//Still the clock
remains
unmoving/and the gay and open charm/I remember in her young blood/drives my madness wild
and
warm.//If some claustrophobe-Caucasian/couldn't nest a nut-brown girl,/he never knew my
long-limbed angel,/willow-waisted coffee pearl.
Farming In San Francisco
Daniel Richman
Fithian Press
c/o Daniel & Daniel, Publishers
PO Box 2790, McKinleyville, CA 95519
156474440X $12.00 1-800-662-8351 www.danielpublishing.com
Farming In San Francisco is a compendium of original, lyrical poetry by Daniel Richman in
celebration of the city in which he has lived, loved, worked, and played in for thirty years. These
are
poems that focus upon the people of this famed American city set on the seashore of the great
Pacific. Loaves and Fishes: It rained all day/upsetting the crows/on the cross/atop Saint Phillip's
Church,/who leaned east/and leaned west/in search of a dry inch.//The peak grew sharper/by the
hour/and darker/the choked gutters dropping cold sheets/And when the ladies left/they stepped in
lakes.//But remember,/lovers of the sun,/each drop becomes a crumb.
The Hope Of The Air
Barry Spacks
Michigan State University Press
Suite 25, Manly Miles Building, 1405 South Harrison Road, East Lansing, MI 48823-5202
0870137328 $14.95 www.msupress.msu.edu
The Hope of the Air is a collection of poems by songwriter, actor, literature teacher and
award-winning poet Barry Spacks. Each poem is no longer than a page or two, but all have an
indefinable lighter-than-air quality that lends a whispered, lingering impression upon one's
consciousness. An absorbing treasury of simple reflections, sometimes witty, sometimes wistful,
upon the simple challenges and celebrations of daily life. "Message to the Widower": In an
envelope
in a favorite book / she left him her final message: a lock // of her hair... and with it the thought
that
she knew / surely one day he would find it there // and how he would feel, / finding it there.
Madam Pele
Rick Carroll
The Bess Press
3565 Harding Avenue, Honolulu, HI 96816
157306145X $11.95 1-800-910-2377 www.besspress.com
Madam Pele: True Encounters with Hawaii's Fire Goddess is an anthology of personal testimonies
from twenty-three authors concerning Hawaii's legendary fire goddess. Pele's form changes in
response to the perspectives of those who claim to have seen her, and it is left to the reader to
sort
through myth, exaggeration, legend, and reality in this marvellous and exciting anthology. Truly
fun
to read for the thrill of recounting modern-day testimony of meeting a goddess, Madam Pele is an
excellent addition to folklore and fable shelves.
Betsy L. Hogan
Reviewer
Betty's Bookshelf
O Worship the King.
John MacArthur, Joni Eareckson Tada, and Robert and Bobbie Wolgemuth.
Crossway/WaterBrook
1300 Crescent Street,Wheaton, IL 60187.
http://www.gnpcb.org/home/books
1581342152 $19.99, 126 p. + CD-ROM.
In O Worship the King, John MacArthur, Joni Eareckson Tada, and husband/wife team Robert
and
Bobbie Wolgemuth have come up with a book that lives up to its subtitle, Hymns of Praise and
Assurance to Encourage the Heart. The book covers twelve of the most loved hymns of the
Christian church (among them A Mighty Fortress Is Our God, It Is Well With My Soul, and Be
Thou My Vision) and it includes a fully orchestrated CD of the book's hymns.
The chapter for each hymn begins with that hymn's words and is followed by stories about it from
three different angles. At the Heart of the Hymn is personal testimony by one of the authors about
that hymn's effect on his or her life. In the Light of the Word covers the theological viewpoint and
scriptural references contained in the hymn, while From Out of the Past briefly tells the life story
of
the man or woman who wrote the hymn.
Songs in the Night, another book about the inspiring stories behind famous church hymns, was
written by Salvation Army Colonel Henry Gariepy and covers many more hymns than this one
does.
However, with the inclusion of the words, music, and CD, O Worship the King allows readers
and
listeners who were unfamiliar with the chosen hymns to come away with a new appreciation for
the
music and the message.
The Complete Idiot's Guide to Starting Your Own Business.
Edward Paulson.
Alpha Books
375 Hudson St., New York, NY 10014.
www.idiotsguides.com
1592571387 $24.95 409 p.
Although The Complete Idiot's Guide to Starting Your Own Business is written in the the
short-attention-span, Sesame Street generation style for which the "Complete Idiot" guidebooks
are
famous (chock full of sidebars, icons, and bulleted lists), the value of the contents of this one
outweighed my usual annoyance with this particular writing style. If you're interested in starting
your
own business or already have a business that you want to take to the next stage of growth, this
book
is where you'll want to start.
Edward Paulson, who has been starting and running small and medium-sized businesses (as well
as
writing about it) for about twenty-five years, has covered just about everything you will need to
know about how to start your own business or ramp up the one you own to the next level. Some
of
the topics covered in the book include how and why to write a business plan, various methods of
funding (several of which were new to me), picking a business type, whether to work at home or
away, how to set up credit card sales (and when not to encourage them), marketing and sales,
dealing with employees, tax realities, collecting customer debts, and making use of the Internet -
and
there's more, too much to mention here.
He even includes a business plan he himself wrote years ago, to show you how it's done, a
resource
list, a Business Buzzwords Glossary, and a comprehensive index. Then, he throws in a CD-ROM
which contains dozens of forms, agreements, and documents that will help you keep from
reinventing the wheel, as well as loads of extra information not covered in the book, such as doing
business internationally and additional ideas on using the Internet effectively.
There are other books in this series that may be more useful to freelance writers, such as The
Complete Idiot's Guide to Publishing Magazine Articles and The Complete Idiot's Guide to
Getting
Published, but if you want to expand into other areas (consulting, publishing, or web design, for
example), the information you'll need is probably in here. My 19 year old son fell on this book
with
cries of delight. He's been wanting to start his own web design business since he left high school
and
wasn't sure where to start. This book has everything he's going to need to help him decide how to
go
about making it happen.
Betty Winslow
Reviewer
Buhle's Bookshelf
Fort Worth
Richard F. Selcer
Center for Studies in Texas History
c/o The Texas State Historical Association
1 University Station D0901, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712
0876111975 $9.95 www.uts.cc.utexas.edu
Illustrated with occasional historic photographs ranging from the Tarrant County Courthouse
under
construction in 1895, to the Fort Worth Medical College opening in 1893, to Meacham Field in
1937, and the Light Crust Doughboys Western swing band in the 1940s, Fort Worth is a
descriptive
history of an amazing Texas community and its people from it's days as a military outpost on the
banks of the Trinity, to it evolution into the Dallas/Forth Worth Metroplex. Ably researched and
written by Fort Worth native son Richard Selcer, this historical survey of Fort Worth's history is
one
of leadership with men and women of vision building a flourishing community at a river crossing
on
the north Texas plains through the troubled times of the 1850s, the years of the Civil War, the
Great
Depression of the 1930s, and the economic difficulties of the 1970s. Fort Worth is a unique and
very
welcome addition to American History reference collections.
They All Sang My Songs
Jack Lawrence
Barricade Books
185 Bridge Plaza North, Suite 308-A, Fort Lee, NJ 07024
1569802793 $27.95 www.barricadebooks.com
Jack Lawrence was a successful song writer whose melodies and lyrics helped to launch more
than a
dozen top show business stars including Frank Sinatra ("All or Nothing at All"), Bobby Darin
("Beyond the Sea"), Rosemary Clooney ("Tenderly"), Dinah Shore ("Yes, My Darling
Daughter"),
and The Ink Spots ("If I Didn't Care"). In his autobiography, Lawrence describes his Jewish
upbringing in Brooklyn, his difficult and distressing realization that he was gay, and his show
business career ups and downs. Readers will also have an insider's view of the music industry's
Big
Band era, as well as Lawrence's personal and professional relationships with the top performers of
his day. They All Sang My Songs: The Times Of My Life is a memoir laced with humor, candor,
and
a wealth of anecdotal stories drawn from an unusual life. Highly recommended reading, They
Sang
All My Songs is enhanced with many of Lawrence's lyrics and the stories behind their creation as
well as the inclusion of two 16-page photo inserts.
Meeting The Professor
Alexander Blackburn
John F. Blair, Publisher
1406 Plaza Drive, Winston-Salem, NC 27103
0895872943 $18.95 www.blairpub.com
Meeting The Professor: Growing Up In The William Blackburn Family is the autobiography of
novelist, essayist, editor, and academician Alexander Blackburn (Professor Emeritus of English,
University of Colorado at Colorado Springs). Meeting The Professor provides a kind of dual
portrait
of Alexander and his father William Blackburn (a legendary crative-writing professor at Duke
University and mentor to such authors as Reynolds Price, William Styron, Anne Tyler, and Fred
Chappell). Born in Iran to mission parents, William Blackburn became a Rhodes scholar at xford
and
earned a Ph.D. from Yale. He was a brooding, taciturn and ultimately unknowable man who died
blind and speecless at age 73, with one of his most beloved students, Reynolds Price, staying at
the
bedside night after night playing Mozart for him. Alexader Blackburn would follow the literary
life,
becoming a teacher of writing like his illustrtous father, as well as maturing into a novelist.
Meeting
The Professor is enhanced with 40 black/white photographs and is a compellingly written and
inherently fascinating memoir.
A Tenderfoot In Montana
Francis M. Thompson
Montana Historical Society Press
PO Box 201201, Helena, MT 59620-1201
0972152229 $14.95 1-800-243-9900 www.montanahistoricalsociety.org
Aptly edited and with an informative introduction for contemporary readers by Kenneth N.
Owens,
A Tenderfoot In Montana: Reminiscences Of The God Rush, The Vigilantes, And The Birth Of
Montana Territory is Frank Thompson's autobiography detailing his experiences in the upper
Missouri country at the beginning of the Montana gold rush. Avoiding the Civil War, Thompson
had
headed west aboard a steamboat from St. Louis in 1862, arriving at Fort Benton (in what would
eventually become the Montana Territory) and lived their for two and a half years searching for
gold, running a Bannack mercantile business, traveling to the Pacific Coast, serving in Montana's
first territorial legislature, and speculating in mining properties. Having a relationship with sheriff
Henry Plummer, Thompson draws upon his intimate personal knowledge of one of the deadliest
incidents of vigilante justice in American frontier history. A Tenderfoot In Montana is a welcome
and informative contribution to 19th Century American Western History Studies collections and
highly recommended reading for anyone with an interest in how the Montana Territory developed
during the mid-1860s.
How Cartels Endure And How They Fail
Peter Z. Grossman
Edward Elgar Publishing
136 West Street, Suite 202, Northampton, MA 01060-3711
1858988306 $115.00 1-800-390-3149 www.e-elgar.com
Expertly compiled and deftly edited by Peter Z. Grossman (Clarence Efroymson Chair
inEconomics,
Butler University), How Cartels Endure And How They Fail: Studies Of Industrial Collusion is an
anthology of graduate studies level essays by leading researchers of industrial organization study,
examining real-world cases of industrial collusion across the world. Striving to answer why some
cartels fail and others succeed, and examining examples that do not always follow textbook
models,
How Cartels Endure and How They Fail applies extensive scholarship and research to illustrate its
advanced theories and insights, from the role of governmental policy in cartel survival in Japan to
the
stability of ocean shipping cartels to international commodity agreements as internationally
sanctioned cartels, and much more. A superb resource especially for policymakers, lawyers and
economists involved in matters of industrial organization and competition.
Binge Drinking & Youth Culture
Malcolm Maclachlan and Caroline Smyth, editors
The Liffey Press
c/o Dufour Editions, Inc.
PO Box 7, Chester Springs, PA 19425-0007
1904148425 $23.95 1-800-869-5677
Collaboratively compiled and deftly co-edited by Malcom Maclachlan and Caroline Smythe, Binge
Drinking & Youth Culture: Alternative Perspectives is a scholarly discussion of binge drinking
and
its connection to serious social problems such as suicide, especially with regard to the youth
culture
in Ireland and the UK. Multiple perspectives draw heavily upon statistical research, painting a
clear
portrait of social ills and the individual, social, and cultural attitudes that contribute to them - in
one
writer's term, the old adage that there is little to do in Ireland except go to the pub is all too close
to
the truth. Binge Drinking & Youth Culture acknowledges that there are no easy answers but
strives
to present as many facts and as much sociological insight as possible to aid in addressing the
problems to public health. A superb reference text for college-level students of addictive drugs
and
behavior.
Willis M. Buhle
Reviewer
Burroughs' Bookshelf
Stones And Marks
Peter Elliston
Lodima Press
PO Box 367, Revere, PA 18953
1888899107 $85.00 1-888-421-0388 www.lodimapress.com
Stones And Marks is a impressively splendid, superbly presented, black-and-white photographic
showcase of inscripted stones and stone monuments left behind by humanity's ancestors
worldwide
since prehistory. With images ranging from megalithic structures to block reliefs, crumbled city
walls, petroglyphs and so much more, each two-page spread features a revealing photograph on
the
right, accompanied by a brief text description of the stone's origin on the left. A captivating legacy
of
immortal messages and landmarks, and the next best thing to personally traveling to view
enduring
ancient wonders, Stones And Marks would make an especially appropriate Memorial Fund
acquisition for academic and public library systems.
The Lo-Tech Navigator
Tony Crowley
Seafarer Books
c/o Sheridan House Inc.
145 Palisade Street, Dobbs Ferry, NY 10522
1574091913 $17.95 1-888-743-7425
The Lo-Tech Navigator is a straightforward and practical guide to navigating at sea without the
use
of modern computers and advanced navigational devices. Such devices are useful, but sometimes
they fail; and sometimes sailors can't afford such tools to begin with. The Lo-Tech Navigator
discusses how to build and use simple compasses, sextants, and other simple tools that can
cultivate
navigational skills while saving hundreds of dollars. The basic mathematical formulas for
calculating
such things as longitude are described with examples. Color photographs and poetry releated to
seafaring sprinkle amid this superb resource, recommended for all sea voyagers - it's always good
to
back up one's aids and gadgets with good old-fashioned knowledge.
Uncharted Journey
Harold G. Ross
Sunflower University Press
c/o KS Publishing, Inc.
1814 Claflin Road, Manhattan, KS 66502
0897452771 $14.95 1-785-776-3771 www.kspublishinginc.com
Set in America in the 1860s, Uncharted Journey is an exciting adventure of a young man
orphaned
and driven from home by greed-consumed relatives determined to see him dead. His step-aunt
Lucia, a voodoo priestess, plots against his life while he treks through the wide spaces of the
American West, through gun-toting frontier towns, and earns wealth of his own in the vast Utah
territory before returning to engage in a deadly showdown with his parents' killers. A fast-paced,
riviting struggle of good, evil, and rough justice in the days of yore.
Deaf Hearing Boy
R. H. Miller
Gallaudet University Press
800 Florida Avenue, NE, Washington, DC 20002-3695
1563683059 $21.95 1-800-621-2736 http://gupress.gallaudet.edu
The second volume of the Deaf Lives series, Deaf Hearing Boy: A Memoir is the true story the
author, born in 1938 as the oldest of four hearing boys to deaf parents. Deaf Hearing Boy
chronicles
growing up in changing times, and the author's own experience as the sometimes unwilling liaison
between his deaf parents and hearing grandparents. The end of World War II brought poverty to
the
family, as returning soldiers displaced his parents' jobs and they had to resort to scraping by on the
family farm. Deaf Hearing Boy chronicles an era when small farms gradually faded from the
landscape, and cultural connectivity began to erode the isolation of deaf people. It tells of
prejudice
against the deaf, from fathers who would not let the author date their daughters for fear that the
author carried a gene for deafness that would be passed on, to misunderstandings within the
family
and more. And it tells of a young man's abiding respect for his parents, despite the problems
unique
to a deaf couple striving to raise hearing children. A compelling testimony drawn directly from
heart
and memory.
All American: The Rise And Fall Of Jim Thorpe
Bill Crawford
John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5773
0471557323 $24.95 1-800-225-5945 www.wiley.com
All American: The Rise And Fall Of Jim Thorpe is the biography of one of the greatest athletes of
the twentieth century - who was also at the center of one of the greatest scandals. Jim Thorpe was
a
grand football running back, a proud Native American, a college player who led his Carlisle Indian
Industrial School team to victory, and the winner of gold medals for the decathlon and the
pentathlon at the 1912 Olympic Games. Yet a scandal ensued over whether he was truly worthy
of
"amateur" sports status, whether playing in certain professional ball games required that he be
stripped of his titles. The scandal dragged his reputation through the mud and left a black mark on
his life, even though he would go on to play professional baseball and become president of what
would one day be the National Football League. All American is the candid portrayal of a
courageous and dedicated athlete, and one who was essentially used as a guinea pig to determine
the
rules - who is an amateur, and who is a pro, and what amateurs and pros are allowed to do or not
do. Enjoyable in its own right, All American is a welcome addition to prominent Native American
biography collections, and highly recommended for American sports history shelves.
America's First Frogman
Elizabeth Kauffman Bush
Naval Institute Press
291 Wood Road, Annapolis, MD 21402
1591140986 $28.95 1-800-233-8764 www.navalinstitute.org
Written by Draper Kauffman's sister Elizabeth Kauffman Bush, and featuring a foreword by
President George H. W. Bush, America's First Frogman: The Draper Kauffman Story is the
biography of the father of the American Navy SEALs. From surviving his time as a prisoner of the
Germans, to his acclaimed wartime service disarming enemy bombs and establishing bomb
disposal
schools, to the underwater demolition teams he led at Saipan, Tinian, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa,
America's First Frogman is an amazing true story of skill, courage, dedication, high standards, and
excellence under extreme pressure. A handful of black-and-white photographs illustrate this
fascinating story of a great man's life and resolute determination.
Team of the Century
Al Pickett
State House Press
McMurray Station, Box 637, Abilene, TX 79697-0637
1880510871 $16.95 1-800-421-3378
Veteran sports writer Al Pickett presents Team of the Century: The Greatest High School
Football
Team in Texas is the true story of the Abilene High School Eagles, who won an incredible
seventy-eight games and lost only seven from 1954 to 1957, earning three consecutive state
championships. Led by a coach who knew how to garner support from the whole community for
his
program that transformed ordinary high schoolers into virtual legends, the team earned its place in
Texas history when they were designated the "Team of the Century" by the Dallas Morning News
in
1999. A well-researched history of a truly phenomenal high school team's hard-earned
success.
Visual Effects for Film & Television
Mitch Mitchell
Focal Press
200 Wheeler Road, 6th floor, Burlington, MA 01803
0240516753 $TBA www.focalpress.com
Professional digital effects pioneer Mitch Mitchell presents Visual Effects for Film & Television, a
thorough guide to visual effect processes used in television complete with step-by-step guides,
integrative approaches to film, video and digital techniques, chronologies of development from
the
oldest to the newest processes, and much more. Mitchell has worked in visual effects since the
early
days of color television at BBC, and his list of achievements ranges from effects for "Doctor
Who"
to the recent smash hit movies "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban", "Troy", and "The
League of Extraordinary Gentlemen". Chapters cover photography for effects, composite
photography, combining action with pre-shot backgrounds, computer-based technqiues and much
more. Organized for quick and easy reference or on-the-job use, Visual Effects for Film &
Television is a "must-have" tips, tricks, and techniques manual especially for professionals, yet
also
invaluable for students and amateurs seeking to push their talents a step beyond simple home
movies.
John Burroughs
Reviewer
Carroll's Bookshelf
Blessed Child
Bill Bright and Ted Dekker
Word Publishing, A Thomas Nelson Co.
Nashville
0849943124 $14.99
Jason Marker of the Peace Corps, instead of fleeing Ethiopia when the Eritrean Peoples
Liberation
Front attacks, makes his way to an Ethiopian Orthodox monastery. His mission, to save one
young
orphan and get the child to the United States.
Arriving only minutes before the monastery is destroyed and all in it are killed, Jason rescues the
young boy, Caleb, and a Red Cross nurse who also had just arrived. They speed away followed by
a
truckload of EPLF soldiers firing machine guns at them.
Although a strange incident occurs allowing them to escape, the three are chased again, far past
where EPLF soldiers should be. Why is the EPLF so intent on capturing or killing Jason, Leiah
and
the boy?
If the opening of this novel is intriguing, the intrigue only grows as the boy is taken to the
U.S.
Caleb, raised in the monetary and never seeing the outside world, is in shock. He begs to be taken
to
a church. When it appears that Caleb has performed a miracle in the Greek Orthodox church they
happen to choose, Jason and Leiah must surrender Caleb. The priest, Nikolous, gains custody of
him.
Miracles abound as Nikolous greedily capitalizes on Caleb's innocence and his abilities to
heal.
Danger lurks in several areas around Caleb. The bad guys Martha, who looks after Caleb;
Crandal,
the man running for president of the U. S; Roberts, Crandal's cohort; and Nikolous are all
depicted
as so evil that it is hard to see them as real people and not one dimensional characters in the book,
especially Martha, who has little to gain..
However, the story centers on whether Caleb's power is a gift of God or some psychic
phenomena.
Scientists, theologians and religious leaders of all faiths debate the question, people believe or
disbelieve, and arguments for and against the possibility that Caleb's power is God given or not
are
expounded upon.
The story also centers on Jason and his struggle to believe. The attraction between Jason and
Leiah
grows as they continue half-heartedly, it seems to get Caleb back.
An engaging story that is bound to linger in the mind.
Jean Carroll
Reviewer
Carson's Bookshelf
A Silver Camp Called Creede
Richard C. Huston
Western Reflections Publishing Company
219 Main Street, Montrose, CO 81401
193273810X $32.95 www.westernreflectionspub.com
A Silver Camp Called Creede: A Century Of Mining is an in-depth historical account of Creede
Camp, one of the last of the Colorado boom towns from the days of the wild west.
Black-and-white
photographs pepper this accounting of Creede Camp's ups and downs from the late nineteenth
century to the early twentieth century. Extensive excerpts from primary sources and documents
flesh
out this captivating portrait of a hardy mining town. An enjoyable case study to read, giving a
picturesque portrait of life in Creede throughout a century, and an especially welcome
contribution
to Colorado state history and reference shelves.
Crisis Management In Japan & the United States
James L. Schoff, editor
Brassey's, Inc.
22841 Quicksilver Drive, Dulles, VA 20166-2019
1574888943 $25.00 1-800-775-2518
Compiled and edited by James L. Schoof, Crisis Management in Japan & the United States:
Creating
Opportunities For Cooperation Amid Dramatic Change (a joint American/Japanese project
conducted by The Institute for Foreign Policy Analysis and The Osaka School for International
Public Policy, Osaka University) is a close examination of how the United States and Japan have
each overhauled their crisis and consequence management structures in order to prevent and
respond to disasters. Studying four recent crises in particular - including the Kobe earthquake, the
Tokaimura nuclear accident, and the September 11th terrorist attacks - Crisis Management in
Japan
& the United States offers logical suggestions for further improvements in policy that can not only
improve national responses but also promote cooperation and take maximum advantage of the
U.S.-Japan alliance. A professional, no-nonsense compilation of finely distilled expertise.
Secrets Of Connecting Leadership & Learning with Humor
Peter M. Jonas
Scarecrow Education
c/o Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group
4720 Boston Way, Lanham, MD 20706
1578861519 $27.95 1-800-462-6420 www.scarecroweducation.com
Secrets of Connecting Leadership & Learning with Humor by academician, research consultant,
and
technology expert Peter M. Jonas is an engaging guide to how the power of humor and laughter
can
revitalize daily leadership activities and lesson plans in the business world. Jokes, stories, puns,
exercises, activities and expressions all can be integrated as needed in order to better captivate
one's
pupils and grease the wheels of human interaction. A chuckle-inducing read even for the
layperson,
and a very handy supplementary resource for anyone in the business world charged with
education,
instruction, and leadership tasks.
Office Superman
Alan Axelrod
Running Press
125 South Twenty-Second Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103-4399
0762419717 $24.95 1-800-345-5359 www.perseusbooks.com
Office Superman: Make Yourself Indispensable In The Workplace is a no-nonsense guide to
making
oneself an invaluable asset to one's workplace, using the classic DC comic book character
Superman
as a metaphor. A scattering of black-and-white artwork from the Superman comics illustrate
down-to-earth office techniques such as practical business etiquette, learning how to quickly
understand people and situations, recovering quickly or even profiting from mistakes, and much
more. The Superman theme allows for a strong context with which to deliver winning business
and
career survival strategies, and the numerous references to the comic stories both clarify the points
raised and reveal the author to be a true Superman fan - so much so that Office Superman is as
recommended to fellow fans looking to explore deeper themes and ideas presented in the vintage
comics as it is to business workers looking to forge a career path worthy of legend.
Perl Core Language Little Black Book
Steven Holzner
Paraglyph Press
4015 North 78th Street, Suite 115, Scottsdale AZ 85251
1932111921 $29.99 www.paraglyphpress.com
Now in its second edition, Perl Core Language Little Black Book is a practical guide especially
for
Perl programmers of beginning to advanced skill, which focuses on presenting useful solutions to
common problems. From an overview of basic Perl syntax, to built-in resources and functions,
data
structures, CGI programming, how to write a cookie, and much more, Perl Core Language Little
Black Book lends itself to quick use and ease of reference with problem-by-problem arrangement,
sample code, and thumb-sized chapter reference marks. An indispensible resource for Perl
programmers unparalleled for its ease of use.
Psychiatric Movements
Leston Havens and S. Nassir Ghaemi
Transaction Publishers
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
35 Berrue Circle, Piscataway, NJ 08854-8042
0765808404 $34.95 1-888-999-6778 www.transactionpub.com
Featuring a new introduction by the authors, Psychiatric Movements: From Sects to Science
examines how, in the 1970s, four divisive schools - existentialism, psychoanalysis,
interpersonalism,
and behaviorism - each arose, yet rather than engaging in a cooperative dialogue each sect battled
the others for the title of "true" psychiatry. Psychiatry Movements reveals just how destructive
this
competition was, and stresses that if for no other reason than ethics and the Hippocratic Oath,
patents in need of psychiatric treatment should receive the type of treatment they need most - not
the
one variety a given doctor dispenses. Psychiatric Movements: From Sects to Science calls for the
importance of recognizing contributions of all the sects in the attempt to forge a more productive
future for psychiatric treatment, and is an enthusiastically welcome contribution to academic and
psychiatric reference and history shelves.
Pulpit and Politics
Corwin E. Smidt
Baylor University Press
One Bear Place, #97363, Waco, TX 76798-7363
1932792139 $34.95 1-800-710-3217 www.baylorpress.com
Based on data accumulated during the 2000 presidential election, Pulpit and Politics: Clergy in
American Politics at the Advent of the Millennium is a selection of essays by learned authors
concerning the interconnection of theology, politics, and social activism among clergy from a
wide
variety of religious groups, including Roman Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Baptist, and more.
From
distinctions in politics between mainline and evangelical clergy, to patterns that can be seen to
surface at the intersection of faith and electoral convictions, Pulpit and Politics is a seminal
contribution to political science shelves. Especially recommended for academic libraries, Pulpit
and
Politics is also highly accessible and immersive for lay readers.
Michael J. Carson
Reviewer
Christina's Bookshelf
Luna Yoga
Adelheid Ohlig
Ash Tree Publishing
P.O. Box 64, Woodstock, NY 12498 USA
ISBN# 096146206X $11.95 192 pp.
Women are women, not men, and deserve to follow their natural femininity. That's what Luna
Yoga
is about. The book isn't just about exercises; it's about attitude, an embracing empowering
one.
This type of yoga isn't new. It's an old philosophy and healing art. Indications show the origins of
yoga to be feminine, but today yoga is thought to be a man's expertise. In a man's world women
learn to look, think, act, and walk like a man. Adelheid teaches that there is nothing wrong with
being a woman with natural body movements, with our moody moods and freely moving
hips.
Adelheid uses evidence with care and discrimination, but not everyone will be open to her
theories.
Some will call her a feminist and a New Ager, as if those are bad things to be. Some will refuse to
hear her out. Luna Yoga is directed towards women seeking natural ways in healing and/or
maintaining health, especially in the fertile and sexual areas.
Luna Yoga Contains (in this order):
Introduction
Publisher's Preface
Editor's Preface
Why Luna Yoga?
Author's Foreword
Part One - The Roots of Luna Yoga
Part Two - Using Luna Yoga
Part Three - Luna Yoga Exercises
Part Four - Luna Yoga Healing Sequences
Part Five - Sensuous and Sensible Additions
Part Six - The End, and the Beginning
Resources and Further Reading - Adelheid presents the reader with well-constructed work that
covers theories from research along with experiences that instruct, inform, and empower. She
discuses technical and factual information gathered about her experience. Adelheid brings classic
yoga together with Aviva Steiner's menstrual calisthenics and provides detailed instructions for
breathing exercises, sketched illustrations, tribal fertility dances, and recipes. Her content is
original,
her style of presenting and authenticity of facts, excellent. She wrote Luna Yoga in second person
making her encouraging words come alive.
It began for Adelheid when a diagnosis confirmed cervical cancer and her search led to an
alternative
besides surgery. She studied her life style, lack of satisfaction with inner longings, and wondered if
they had anything to do with the cancer growing inside her. "Cancer is a very strong signal. It
shows
you are bored with life." Therefore, Adelheid decided to quit her job, discover alternative
medicine,
and take time for herself. After she studied with Aviva Steiner, another test later revealed a class 1
PAP; healthy cells.
Excerpt From the Book:
"Luna Yoga works by stimulating and tonifying the endocrine system. With great probability, due
to
the intense concentration on our sexual organs, a feedback cycle is formed with the pituitary gland
which directs our entire endocrine system. The gentle sensing exercises, the focusing of our breath
on the sexual organs, and the dances all help to regulate our hormones."
Publisher Susun Weed says this about the book:"I went to Adelheid's class expecting the usual
breathing, stretching, and meditating. What a delightful surprise to find myself in the midst of a
quiet
revolution in the way yoga is offered to women."
Editor Amy Sophia Maroshinsky says this:
"Adelheid writes of the importance of menstruation and the need for women to heal and empower
themselves."
I'd never tried yoga before, but Adelheid's book inspired me to place my body into unusual
positions.
At first, I felt apprehensive, but later found the exercises liberating. I suspect further examination
into this style of yoga is in my future.
As a woman who believes women are as good as men, only different, I agree with her
philosophies
and exercises. A book worth looking into. Recommended.
New Menopausal Years (The Wise Woman Way)
Susun S. Weed
Ash Tree Publishing
P.O. Box 64, Woodstock, NY 12498 USA
ISBN# 1888123036 $12.95 280 pp.
Susun Weed has done it again. Is there no limit to her knowledge of aiding the body naturally? In
this new revised and expanded edition readers will find an abundance of information to guide
them
through the second major change in their life. The first being when they went from a girl to a
fertile
woman and the second from a fertile woman to a wise crone. Weed's book is not only memorable;
it
will change the way women think every day about aging. 'New Menopausal Years' is written in
third
person, but offers first person questions a woman might ask and answers from 'Grandmother
Growths' point of view. This creates a personable read.
One of many positive traits about Weed is how she looks at life. Her attitude is upbeat, optimistic,
inspiring, and "A-La-Natural." She helps women feel good about themselves, gain insight, to
accentuate this second step in their life as one to look forward to and as a position of respect and
wisdom. Weed tells women their body will change and this doesn't have to anger or frighten them.
It's their body's way of preparing to care for itself and store proper nutrients for seasoned years.
As
if this isn't enough, Weed also provides recipes, first-aide, herbs to use, places to order herbs,
vitamins and minerals, tips, things to avoid, resources, and much more - all this in an effort to aid
readers before, during, and after menopause.
Weed's guide book provides information and remedies for the pre-menopausal years such as sore
breasts, hot flashes, emotional uproar (depression), sleep disturbances, migraines, flooding and
fibroids and later in the book post-menopausal anxiety over a healthy heart, memory loss,
osteoporosis, broken bones, aching joints, and more.
Table of Contents
At the end of each abundant and thorough chapter Weed provides References & Resources,
Herbal
Allies for Women Beginning Menopause, and Ritual Interlude.
Introduction
What are The Menopausal Years?
Using This Book
Using Herbs Safely
Foreword
Author's Preface
Chapter One - Is This Menopause? Preparing for the Journey
Chapter Two - Post Menopause: She-Who-Holds-the-Wise-Blood-Inside
Appendix 1 - Herbal Sources of Vitamins and Minerals for the Menopausal Years
Appendix 2 - Recipes and Pharmacy for the Menopausal Years
Appendix 3 - Minerals in Selected Herbs
Glossary (love books with these)
Endnotes
Index (love books with these)What are others saying?
- "It is further flattery, but true! Susun Weed is a gifted writer. Her Crone passages, in which the
old
woman is giving advice and encouragement often possesses poetical beauty."
---Juliette de Bairacli Levy
- "Such an important book. Women come into our library seeking this material all the time."
---Maggy Brown
Center for Medical Consumers
Quotes From The Book:
- "The frequency, intensity, and duration of hot flashes is unique to each woman, but in general,
healthier women have more hot
flashes."
- "Great Granddaughter, it is time to prepare for your journey. I am Grandmother Growth. I, my
plant friends, and my stories have come to guide you on your menopausal journey, your
metamorphosis to Crone, woman of wholeness."
Susun Weed began studying herbal medicine in 1965 and wrote her first book, 'Wise Woman
Herbal
for the Childbearing Year' (1985). Her other books include: 'Healing Wise' (1989), 'Breast
Cancer?
Breast Health! The Wise Woman Way' (1996) and she stars in a video called 'Menopause
Metamorphosis." Weed appears on many television and radio shows, and in herbal magazines
such
as 'The Herb Quarterly.' She teaches workshops at her Woman Center in Woodstock, New York
too.
This book exceeds because of Susun's relaxed approach, gentle teaching, and offer to hold your
hand through the second biggest body change in a woman's life.
As a woman in her early forties, Weed's book soothed my apprehensions and demons. Her words
enlightened, empowered, and calmed. It was like having a conversation with a wise, loving, old
friend. I know what to expect when my menopausal years start now and there is comfort in that.
She
reminded me to embrace and accept them as a natural part of life.
I recommend any woman looking for enlightenment empowerment, and peace about their
menopausal years to read this book. Every woman in the world would benefit.
Christina Francine Whitcher
http://www.CFrancine.bizland.com
Christy's Bookshelf
Saratogan Trees
Kenneth Hutcheson
PublishAmerica
P.O. Box 151, Frederick, MD 21705-0151
www.publishamerica.com 1-301-695-1707
ISBN 1413728308 $19.95, 200 pages
In the early 1940's, Ark Griffith lives with his mother and brother, Crackers, in a small cotton mill
community in Alabama. Ark's father died when Ark was small, and his Uncle Boyd has stepped
into
his father's shoes, making himself available to the family and acting as surrogate father to Ark and
Crackers. Next door lives their cousin, Nell, who is mentally slow and shunned by some of the
villagers. When a young child is found drowned, the townspeople at first assume the wild
Buckalew
boys are guilty, which leads to a tragic showdown. Suspicion begins to mount against Nell, who is
taken away from her family to await trial.
In a style reminiscent of Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird, Kenneth Hutcheson depicts a
close-knit, loving family and their efforts to face, with dignity and understanding, troubling
pre-war
times, threatening characters, violent deeds, prejudice, and loss. With genteel Southern overtones,
Hutcheson's narrative grabs the reader's attention and holds tight until the story ends. This is one
book the reader will not want to leave and one that won't be forgotten once the read is finished.
Excellent work.
What Matters Blood
Tom Wallace
Behler Publications
22365 El Toro Road #135, Lake Forest, CA 92630
www.behlerpublications.com 800-830-2913
ISBN 1933016086 $16.95 337 pages
Homicide Detective Jack Dantzler is legendary among the cops of Lexington, Kentucky. Dantzler
has a 100% solve rate for the 33 homicides he has investigated. But when three college women
are
brutally murdered by a serial killer whose signature consists of leaving Catholic artifacts on the
bodies of his victims, Dantzler's reputation falters. Associating the killings with the murder of his
own mother when he was 14 years old, Dantzler becomes distracted and begins to deteriorate.
When
the killer singles Dantzler out via letters, insinuating he knows who killed his mother, the
detective
begins a desperate search to find the murderer while trying to solve his own mother's death.
Tom Wallace delivers a wallop of a thrill with What Matters Blood. With masterful
characterization,
his portrayal of the serial killer is chilling, as well as authentic, enough to elicit goose bumps. The
arrogant, aloof Dantzler may take awhile to warm up to, but to counteract that is his developing
relationship with Sergeant Laurie Dunn, an intelligent, skilled investigator. The story is fast-paced,
the dialogue realistic, and the search for the killer intriguing. One galvanizing read that will hold
the
reader's interest throughout.
Christy Tillery French
Reviewer
Debra's Bookshelf
Corpse de Ballet
Ellen Pall
St. Martin's
ISBN: 0312980108 $6.99 293 pages
In Corpse de Ballet, the first installment in the Nine Muses Mystery series by Ellen Pall, historical
romance novelist Juliet Bodine is called on to act as muse herself. When an old college friend,
choreographer Ruth Renswick, asks for Juliet's advice on the staging of a ballet of Great
Expectations, the former professor of English literature finds herself a regular observer of the
Jansch
Repertory Ballet Troupe's rehearsals--and an observer as well of the rivalries and romances that
animate the dancers. But an accident involving the hyper-sexual dancer playing Pip leads Juliet to
suspect that someone is out to sabotage her friend's production by injuring, or worse, its male
lead.
While lovers of dance will enjoy amateur sleuth Juliet Bodine's immersion in the world of
professional dance, others may find the lengthy descriptions of the choreography of Great
Expectations slow going. The book's plot is likewise on the slow side (as if often true of cozies),
its
character and culture intended to carry the book forward rather than any thrills. By the end of the
book Juliet has become likeable enough, a character whom some readers may want to revisit in
further episodes, but I was not immediately drawn to her. (I would have been happier, too,
without
as intimate a knowledge of her pudendal maladies: "On the minus side, however, she was--was
she?--a bit raw about the netherbones. On Monday morning, she was definitely itchy. Yeast
infection, she diagnosed. She ate a container of yogurt for breakfast and another for lunch, then
crossed her fingers. And her legs.") My chief problem, however, was with the character of Ruth
Renswick. I found it difficult to believe that this successful, driven choreographer would require
Juliet's hand-holding so pathetically and for so long a period, especially considering that the help
Juliet provided over the course of weeks of attendance at the rehearsals was minimal.
The second book in Pall's series, Slightly Abridged, is available now in hardcover.
Dreamer of Dune
Brian Herbert
Tor
ISBN: 0765306476 $16.95 576 pages
The author Frank Herbert (1920-1985) is best known for his wildly popular novel Dune, winner
of
the Hugo and Nebula awards in 1965 and arguably the best science fiction novel ever written. In
his
biography Dreamer of Dune, Frank Herbert's son Brian tells us the story behind the desert planet
of
his father's imagination, breathing life into the brilliant but imperfect character of the bearish man
who so dominated his own life. In straightforward, no-frills prose, Brian Herbert tells the story of
his
father's life chronologically and in great detail, from Frank's dangerously independent childhood in
the Pacific northwest--at the age of nine he sailed on his own in a row boat from his home town of
Burley, Washington to the San Juan islands and back, a distance of more than two hundred
miles--to
his sudden death at the age of 65 from a pulmonary embolism. Along the way Herbert's life was
dominated by two focuses, his writing--he was a prolific author who wrote with a feverish
intensity
and demanded that his time at the typewriter remain inviolate--and his wife: Beverly Herbert,
Brian's
mother, was Frank's partner in life and in the business of writing for nearly forty years, theirs the
sort
of marriage that grew in intensity over time and which seems to have been a stronger bond than
either shared with their children. Beverly predeceased her husband by slightly more than two
years.
(Frank's devotion to Beverly is perhaps called into question by the fact that he was married again
so
soon after her death, to a woman thirty-six years his junior. He pronounced himself "in love" with
this young woman less than three months after his wife's death.)
The picture Brian paints of his father is not wholly flattering. Frank Herbert was a larger-than-life
personality, the benevolent and booming host of dinner parties, a witty raconteur. He was a doting
husband and a loyal friend. A man filled with curiosity and energy, Herbert was always planning
new
projects--literary, ecological, architectural. Prior to his death he was planning on becoming the
oldest man to climb Mt. Everest. But his personality had a less attractive side, the ego and
arrogance
that came with his genius. Brian Herbert writes of his father: "He dominated every conversation,
even when a room was full of people, and sometimes I found his ego hard to bear. But that was
his
way, and he was, after all, the most interesting person any of us knew." Herbert demanded that
others bend to his writing schedule to an unreasonable degree; he required a surprising degree of
assistance, of gophering, from Brian in his adulthood, and he became wroth when his directions
were not followed to the letter. Most importantly, although he made up for it to an extent in later
years, Frank was a lousy father, impatient with his children (and, years hence, with his
grandchildren), whose noise threatened to interrupt his work. He was a strict disciplinarian who
hooked his sons up to a lie detector he'd procured and sweated the truth of their peccadilloes out
of
them. Brian and his brother Bruce--we hear very little about the latter in the book--were both
estranged from their father at various points in their lives, though Brian became very close to
Frank
in his adulthood.
Weighing in at more than 500 pages, Dreamer of Dune is a long slog of a book which would have
benefited from energetic editing. Part of the problem is that material is sometimes repeated. We
are
told three times, for example, that the Herberts may be descended from Henry VIII. The worse
problem is that the book is overflowing with insignificant details, as if the author were attempting
to
include in the biography the text of every journal entry he ever made and every last bit of family
lore
he could lay his hands on. These tidbits are strewn about the book in passages that could readily
have been cut from their surroundings. Thus, for example, we are told early in the book about
Frank
Herbert's dental hygiene:
"From an early age Frank Herbert was fastidious about his teeth, spending as much as fifteen
minutes at a time brushing them. In his entire lifetime he never had one cavity, and his teeth were
so
perfect that dentists marveled upon seeing them."
And later on we hear about the character of a yawn Frank Herbert yawned at about ten o'clock on
a
Saturday in July of 1980:
"Just before ten o'clock Dad bid us good night at his usual time, so that he could rise early the
next
morning and write. He kissed Mom and whispered something in her ear, which caused her to
smile.
As he shuffled off to bed he yawned, simultaneously making a drawn-out, mid-range tone that
was
punctuated with a high pitched 'yow' at the end. He entered the master bedroom and closed the
door
behind him."
It is remarkable that that "yow" business made it into Brian Herbert's journal, let alone into his
published biography of his father.
On a second discussion of the Herbert teeth, we hear also of Frank's difficulty sleeping one night
in
August of 1981:
"I recall seeing him in our bathroom in boxer shorts one morning, flossing his teeth. He had
always
taken care of his teeth. They were perfect, without a cavity. He said he didn't sleep well the night
before, and that when he drifted off he snored more than usual, and it kept waking him up. His
back
was bothering him a little, too, though he propped a big pillow under the head of the mattress as
he
normally did. We offered him some aspirin for the pain, but he said he was all right."
Banal as these details are, they do serve to paint for persevering readers a very intimate and
surprisingly moving picture of a life lived in Frank Herbert's circle. After this 500-odd-page entree
into his father's family life, one cannot be left unmoved by Brian Herbert's loving account of his
parents' relationship, of the tragedy of his mother's lingering illness and death, of Frank Herbert's
singular devotion to his wife. Readers interested in getting to know the man behind the
masterpiece,
boxer shorts, floss, and all, will enjoy Brian Herbert's biography.
Debra Hamel, Reviewer
http://www.tryingneaira.com
Fortenberry's Bookshelf
Sex, Lies, & Politics: The Naked Truth
Larry Flynt
Kensington Books
New York
www.kensingtonbooks.com
ISBN: 0758204833 $24.00 263 pp.
Larry Flynt has always been a lightning rod of controversy, but oddly, Sex, Lies, & Politics is his
least controversial work ever. Here we have a blended memoir and critique of modern politics
that,
though perhaps shocking to some in the details of its revelations, is nothing more than a
recounting
of the truth. This is a very level-headed listing of facts about recent and current politicians, their
crimes and hypocrisies, with an overlay of Flynt's sarcasm as narrative. Benign and easily
accessible
to all, despite the source. I believe the stigma associated with Flynt is far beyond the reality. The
man is absolutely normal, and stands out solely because he is an outspoken defender of the First
Amendment who has actually had assassination attempts made on him because of his frontline
defense of the law. Some would call that downright heroic.
But if you just give it a chance and read it, the facts alone will simply infuriate you. Flynt's humor
and comments actually help, because they take some of the sting off the corruption and
immorality
of the self-appointed guardians of American culture. The fact that these politicians have absolutely
no scruples (like Bob Barr defending marriage after repeatedly leaving his numerous wives by
committing adultery, and perjuring himself under oath about it while trying to impeach the
President
for it, and attacking abortion as murder while paying for at least one wife to have an abortion, or
crusading for morality while being caught licking whipped cream off a stripper's nipples) and yet
declaim themselves our moral police is simply mind-boggling. As page after page in this history of
hypocrisy in the rise of the police state unfolds, you could become despondent and lose faith in
truth
and justice in America, but then you realize people like Flynt are (metaphorically) standing up and
pointing it out, so all hope is not lost. Furthermore, Flynt still, despite being attacked for years
and
even shot and crippled by these same moralists for daring stand up, has a wonderful sense of
humor
and his quips throughout the book lighten the mood enough that you can start laughing at these
morons in power instead of just crying. Every page of his book has a little boxed quote that
invigorates the text like a breath of fresh air. Such as this soft poke in the (Adam's?) rib of
conservatives, "If the human body is obscene, complain to the manufacturer!" These barbs keep
the
text moving and the mood hopeful and upbeat despite the subject matter. This is a living breathing
story of our culture told at the fireside by the town clown -- and like all stories, it is ultimately one
of
hope and potential.
True patriots stand up, tell the truth, and fight for what they believe it. Larry Flynt has done so
throughout his life and does it here again. He's not afraid to expose the truth and demand answers
for hard questions. It is whatevery American should do. Whether or not you agree with his other
job
-- that of pornographer -- you have to honor his convictions and his voice. Because America is
exactly about upholding diversity and letting all voices be heard as equal. Flynt has more than paid
his dues. And unlike a lot of the pompous asses he kicks in this book, I admire his tenacity.
The Church That Forgot Christ
Jimmy Breslin
Free Press
New York
ISBN: 0743266471 $26.00; 239 pp.
The Church That Forgot Christ is a healthy dose of righteous anger. Breslin has always had a wry
sense of humor, a street-smart way of putting every one and every thing in its place, but that is
almost totally lacking here. He's not laughing in this book; he's crying. This is a scream from the
street into a sealed cathedral. This is a lone, sobbing man rattling the chained and barred doors
protecting the golden calf inside from the poor rabble outside, asking simply, "What have you
done?
Have you no shame? Have you forgotten God?"
The evidence abounds in the news and reverberates in every page of this book. The stories of
survivors are gut-wrenching and Breslin makes no attempt to sugarcoat what has happened.
These
are nightmares brought into the full light of day. As you read of these still-suffering victims, you
can
feel your soul slowly, word by word, tearing apart in abject disgust. You can't decide whether to
cry
or punch some one. How has this ever been allowed to happen, not just once, but decade after
decade with full knowledge and active official cover-up? It is particularly horrific when Breslin
juxtaposes the crimes with the official responses, or non-responses as is the case all too often.
Once,
after a priest named Porter is jailed for molesting over a hundred known children in the Boston
area
and we hear tales of him holding down children and humping them like dogs, we see Cardinal
Law
denouncing the press for being "anti-Catholic" and blowing it up into a front-page story. This
insane
official of the church then attacks us all with his holiest of holies solution to the problem: Law,
"By
all means we call down God's power on the media, particularly The Boston Globe."
The Church That Forgot Christ is a shocking read in many ways: shocking to hear the sordid
details
of behind-the-scenes abuse, scandal, and cover-up; shocking to read of such a devout man's heart
torn asunder; shocking to read the outrage and damning language of a true believer; shocking to
read of the official wall of silence and denial; and of course, as always, it is shocking to hear the
very
simple, yet so strongly condemned (by some) and ignored (by most) message, "Could we simply
have some Christianity put back in Christianity?" But I think that endless battle for common
human
decency, honesty, and humility is what Christ's message and death was all about. It is certainly
what
Breslin's moral outrage of a book states clearly. He should be praised for his courage and truly
undying faith in the face of this on-going nightmarish church crisis. Because his faith is real and he
turns his anger into action by calling for a renewal of the church. Instead of just giving up on God,
he turns to God and calls on the church to do the same. This is one case where the best solution
just
might be to turn out the fossilized hierarchy of theologians in their ivory and gold towers, and
listen
instead to the lowly heart of the street, return to the common sense of the common man. Hell, it
certainly couldn't be any worse, and, just like the passionate example that started the church, some
times a common man has the real answers. We can build on that.
The New York Times Book of Fossils and Evolution
edited by Nicholas Wade
Lyons Press
New York
ISBN: 1585742643 $16.95; 258 pp.
The first dinosaurs with wings. The first dinosaur eggs and nests. Amber treasure troves of
ancient
DNA. Legged snakes and land-walking whales losing their legs at sea. Cometary birth. Asteroid
extinction. The co-existence of ancient species of mankind. To paraphrase the opening line of this
book: Nothing is as dead as a fossil yet nothing is livelier than this study of fossils. The New York
Times Book of Fossils and Evolution is a treasure trove of articles on some of the most amazing
scientific discoveries of our times. Culled from the Science Times section of the famed paper just
as
its fossilized subjects are from the ground, these articles chronicle our growing knowledge, the
endless scientific debates about our evolving understanding of the past, and the most startling
discoveries made so far. For instance, far beneath the glaciers of Antarctica (over two miles) there
lies a massive pristine ancient lake sealed like a prehistoric vault. Is it teeming with the still-living
remnants of or the long lost evidence of ancient life? There is a debate underway currently among
the superpowers over whether or not we should drill into it and study (or unleash or contaminate)
its
contents. Sounds like the start of a good thriller.
This is a brief, informative read which highlights some of the great discoveries and deepest
arguments in evolution. The articles are short and loosely grouped by subjects. You can skip
around
or read it straight through, but never cease to be amazed. Beyond gaining details about stories
you
may have heard in the news (is Lucy our earliest ancestor? Can we clone dinosaur DNA?), you
also
begin to have a feel of personalities and some of the behind the scenes maneuvering by the
scientists
involved. The debates and outright catfights flow and ebb throughout. There is also the sad
revelation of fossil hunting and theft by unscrupulous individuals and groups whose profit motives
end up destroying invaluable scientific knowledge. On the other end of the spectrum you get
entrenched scientists unwilling to touch or share finds with the world at large. It is all part of a
fantastic detective tale of revelations on the origin of life.
This informative book is good for most ages, due to the brevity of the entries, illustrations, and
the
common man language or lack of overwhelming scientific jargon. Straight forward and accessible,
Nicholas Wade has compiled a great collection for all to enjoy. The good news is, of course, that
as
long as there is a rock left on earth or a spade full of dirt somewhere to turn over, we'll still be
discovering new things about our past. So perhaps in a decade or so we can look forward to a
newly
updated collection of fossilized discoveries from Mr. Wade. Thus the obligatory pun: I'll certainly
be
waiting to dig write in.
The Essential Shakespeare Handbook
Leslie Dunton-Downer and Alan Riding
DK
New York
www.dk.com
ISBN: 0789493330 $25.00; 480 pp.
In the past decade or so DK has produced some of the most gorgeous and useful guidebooks ever
printed. They basically reinvented the educational picture book on a whole new level of graphics,
photography, and bold layouts. Dinosaurs to space to dictionaries, learning has never been so
breathtaking to behold. They've done it again producing an absolutely beautiful Essential
Shakespeare Handbook. The design is stunning and each selection has an explosion of
photography,
film, charts, artwork, etc., that perfectly illuminate the subject at hand. It is a busy, crammed full
of
life work, but what better way to celebrate Shakespeare? This book is dense yet accessible (plus
easy to use with a color code system for forms -- tragedies, comedies, histories, romances,
poetry),
well-informed and complete, covering every aspect of Shakespeare's life and works.
One thing that is nice about this volume is the combined review of all Shakespeare's works and
their
numerous adaptations. Most guides concentrate only upon the man, the texts, the plays, the times,
or some such narrow niche of research. This book does study the man, his life, times, works,
theaters, languages, and the canon in detail. However, it moves far beyond that. It is hard to ever
find a compiled listing, say, of Richard the Third in its written and all its performed versions. This
book does exactly that. For instance, the Romeo and Juliet screen adaptations mentioned here
include not only the famed Olivia Hussey Juliet or worshipped West Side Story forms, but a 1920
silent film, some soft-porn, Mexican (Romeo y Julieta), and Arabic (Shuhaddaa el-gharam)
versions,
all the way up to the popular 1996 Di Caprio-Danes in gangland California film.
Like I said, this is a very thorough book. It has extensive referencing, which includes bar graph
comparisons of such things as prose to verse percentages per play, sizes of the acts, dates and
lengths of plays, etc. Beyond the usual listing of dramatis personae and summaries of each act,
these
listings give behind the scenes stories of how and why the play was developed and performed. It
fully explores all aspects of the plays, from the writing, to the production, casting, performing,
seeing, and study of said plays. Its "Beyond the Play" sections feature extra information,
anecdotes,
and little known stories, triumphs, or troubles about varied productions, actors, directors, etc., on
each play. To quote All's Well That End's Well, "...great floods have flown / From simple
sources."
This is an absolutely amazing guide to Shakespeare. I have yet to find a more compact yet
complete
study of this global literary master. Nevermind the fact that it is a joyous riot to behold. The
Essential Shakespeare Handbook should become a mandatory reference text in every
classroom.
The Ancient American Civilizations
Friedrich Katz
Castle Books
Edison, NJ
Originally pub. in Germany, Kinder Verlag 1969, as Vorkolumbische Kulturen
ISBN: 0785818340 $9.99 386 pp.
Castle Books has reprinted The Ancient American Civilizations in a handsome, sturdy volume
complete with extensive notes, bibliography, glossary, and maps. Professor Katz's work, though
dated, is still a fantastic read and a detailed study of the ancient indigenous civilizations of North
and
South America. Though he concentrates most heavily on the Aztec (his long standing expertise in
Aztec affairs shines here) and Inca, he also covers the entire histories of these regions, from
earliest
times until their widespread cultural decimation under Spanish occupation.
The only real failure in the book is not the author's fault. Katz presents every conceivable
argument
and source for information and theories (available at the time of writing) and then argues them all
through on their own merits. He has great intellectual curiosity plus the laudable quality of always
asking questions out loud and providing all possible variations of answers and research on given
topics. Furthermore, as was the case with his Tiahaunaco-Hauri-Inca debate on p. 244, he will
readily admit when there is no good answer to a question based on the current level of evidence
or
knowledge. Which brings us to the only area lacking: the Mayans. Originally a book at the
forefront
of Amerindian studies, this work is now somewhat dated, especially when it comes to the Mayans.
The Mayan studies revolution in the last ten to twenty years has changed the entire nature of both
Mayan and Amerindian studies. Before, little was known of this people, their hieroglyphic
language
was not deciphered, most of their cities and lands were unexplored or unexcavated, and hence
they
were labeled mysterious and strange. This opened them to every form of speculation from
theocratic
scholars to Atlantean survivors to extraterrestrial super-scientists. Katz already was ahead of the
times in contemplating real broadened theoretical horizons, such as a Chinese or wider Asiatic
origin
for these American civilizations, so his work is still surprisingly up-to-date and fresh, even given
the
recent advances such as the breaking of the Mayan language code. But the Mayan studies
revolution, one of the great successes of modern archaeology, has left all scholars in the dust.
That said, The Ancient American Civilizations is one of the best historical overviews of this
subject
available. Easily readable, yet deep, thorough, and expansive, it provides one of the best
single-volume sources around. I'm glad this book has been reissued for the general public's
consumption (even if the striking cover photograph of a turquoise face mask scared my youngest
son a bit with its skeletal intensity). With growing unification of the Americas (economically,
culturally, and politically) it is now more important than ever to have a common understanding of
our shared past and for Americans to have a deeper comprehension of the history of our
continents.
Thomas Fortenberry
Reviewer
Gary's Bookshelf
Tans the Tans Collection Volume I
Edited by John Klawitter
Writers Showcase
5220 S.16th ST Suite 200, Lincoln, NE 68512
www.iuniverse.com 877-288-4737
ISBN 059521729X $14.95
Most of the writings are about the war in Vietnam but some are about WWII. The common
thread is
that all are personal memoirs and recollections by intelligence personnel of their tours of duty.
"This
isn't a fictional, made-up world, but rather the true tales of young Americans, often fresh out of
high
school and college, sent around the world on interesting, difficult and sometimes dangerous
assignments vital to the National Security."
The pieces are straightforward, and revealing, while some are not for the faint of heart. In one of
the
stories the writer tells how a judge gave him a choice "go to prison or enlist in the military".
Another
tale is about a young soldier's first encounter with a Vietnamese prostitute. This piece, like many
others, shows how different the Vietnam War was, because the enemy was among us. For
instance,
the young boy who shined many soldiers' boots by day was the same person who thought nothing
of
slitting a soldier's throat when he was in his bunk, or the prostitute, purchased for sexual pleasure,
who thought up new ways to harm the soldier. He had no idea if he would be a victim or not.
The name TANS stands for as the author says, "some say TANS may stand for the 1st four letters
of
Tan Son Nhut, the airbase in South Vietnam where many members of the Old Spooks & Spies
were
stationed in the 1960's and early 1970's. Others will insist TANS stands for the words, That ain't
no
s****, an enthusiastic reminder that truth can, indeed, be interesting as fiction.
This first installment of TANS is a first rate collection by many unknown writers.
Monkey Pudding
Jerold B. Pozner
1st Books Library
1663 Liberty Dr., Bloomington In 47404-5161
www.authorhouse.com 888-280-7715
ISBN 1591460077 $16.95
Pozner shows what happens when Steve Simmons, a highly decorated soldier, returns home to
find
his wife in bed with someone else. Simmons is so enraged that he pushes his wife down the stairs
of
their home. It is later revealed that she suffered from a brain tumor that is believed was the cause
of
her fall. Simmons knows the truth and has to live with it the rest of his life. He moves away and
begins a new life in Florida where he finds a woman who is an exact double for his dead wife.
Pozner fills the novel with rich characters and great writing that moves the story along to its final
smashing end. Look for more good things from this very fine author.
Face of the Enemy
William Russell
1st Books Library
1663 Liberty Dr., Bloomington In 47404-5161
www.authorhouse.com 888-280-7715
ISBN 1403338035 $13.95
An American army combat reporter and a Red Chinese line officer meet each other in the Korean
War. The author shows, with the American journalist Purvis that Korea was very different from
World War II "Purvis always thought that sniping was a dirty way of fighting a war, dirty in the
respect that it didn't seem ethical or morally right to him. But Purvis knew there were no rules in
war
and killing, no matter how it was accomplished, was a way of life and death on the frontline.
Acts of horror were committed by belligerents in all wars and Purvis recalled what the North
Koreans did to American prisoners in the early part of the war. When rescuers reached them their
hands were bound behind them and they had been shot in the back of the head, execution style.
And
more recently he had heard about "staking" committed by the North Korean and probably the
Chinese on the eastern front "
Once upon an Evil Time
Dieter Steiner and Diane Marcou
