 |
Book Reviews,
Book Lover Resources, Advice for Writers and Publishers |
| Home / Reviewer's
Bookwatch |
Reviewer's Bookwatch
Table of Contents
Reviewer's Choice
Tales From Grandfather And Bacus The Swamp Troll
Louise R. Roarty
PublishAmerica
P.O. Box 151 Frederick, MD 21705
ISBN: 1592866980 pgs: 41 illustrated pages, www.publishamerica.com
George Wilson
Reviewer
Tales From Grandfather And Bacus The Swamp Troll by Louise R. Roarty is a true product of
mixing beautiful art and literature all into one book. The book is set on a farm in Wisconsin where
a
grandfather and an old swamp troll called Bacus exchange old, mystical stories. I found it hard to
just classify this as a children's book, as it captivated my mind as an adult with the beautiful old
world flavor of the stories. I am also intrigued by the detailed, spiritual art which is woven
throughout the stories. What a rare treat to read a book in this day and age which does not dumb
down your senses, but invades your dreams, and lives in the late moments of a good bedtime
story.
This is indeed a book in which I would pass down to my future grandchildren.
Oaxaca Journal
Oliver Sacks
National Geographic Society, Washington, D.C.
ISBN: 0792265211, $20.00, 159 pp., 2002, www.nationalgeographic.com
Viveka Neveln
Reviewer
This book offers a friendly, informal look at Mexican flora and fauna, a hobbyist's passion, and the
joy of traveling to new places and discovering different ways of life. Oliver Sacks accomplishes all
of
this in his travel log of his visit to Oaxaca with the American Fern Society in 2000. Though he
added
a bit of background on Mexican history and a few plants like chocolate (have some nearby as you
might be inspired to indulge), this short book is essentially his original journal.
A chapter is devoted to each of the ten days of the trip. In flowing present-tense prose, Sacks
details
what he saw and did each day. The reader sees Oaxaca through the author's eyes: meeting the
people, exploring the ruins, and of course, discovering the unique ferns and other plant life native
to
the area. The style is very stream-of-consciousness and personal. Any activity or object or person
more than likely triggers tangential musings on a variety of topics such as evolution, history, and
archeology. In the end, Sacks makes it plain that true appreciation for the new and exotic is
achieved
through knowledge.
This book feels like a real peek into the workings of Sacks' mind and it's a pleasure to follow the
many fantastic and surprising interconnections he makes between seemingly unrelated, even
unremarkable, things. As Sacks says, "this has turned out to be a visit to a very other culture and
place, a visit, in a profound sense, to another time The power and grandeur of what I have seen
has shocked me, and altered my view of what it means to be human." Not only does Sacks bring
the
world of ferns and lower plants to life, he also demonstrates that every place is multi-layered and
rich with meaning.
Sacks shows his readers that journaling on a trip keeps first impressions and thoughts fresh and
vibrant. A journal helps us remember a place in three dimensions and with all five senses. This
book
is a wonderful example of how to keep our eyes and minds fully open when visiting new places.
Only this way will we fully experience everything a place has to offer.
Star Witness
Dudley W. Buffa
Putnam Pub Group
ISBN: 039915034X 388 pages $24.95
Terry Mathews
Reviewer
I didn't expect to like this Hollywood murder/courtroom drama as much as I did. The material has
been done in a thousand other books....famous film director marries younger star...she's killed in a
dramatic fashion....he's framed/arrested/put on trial....good attorney is hired to represent
him/figure
out who actually did it/restore the director's reputation.
What surprised me about this book was the author's literary craftsmanship. He employs a simple
writing style to shed a harsh light on Hollywood glitz and glamour, showing what actually
happens
in the world of show business. There isn't a lot of action...and he doesn't overuse dialogue.
Reading this book was like being in the presence of a very good storyteller who makes you want
to
sit a spell and listen to what he has to say, because you know it's going to be good and it's going
to
be worth your precious spare time.
Enjoy!
Poetry for Young People: William Butler Yeats
Edited by Jonathan Allison, Illustrated by Glenn Harrington
Sterling Publishing Company
ISBN: 0806966157 $14.95 (Canada $22.95) , 48 pages (all in color), 8 1/2 x 10
1 (800) 805-5489 www.sterlingpub.com
Sarah Shey
Reviewer
Among its other virtues, POETRY FOR YOUNG PEOPLE: WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS is to
be
admired for appealing to Game Boy players and ascot wearers alike. The illustrated volume of
twenty-six poems serves as an introduction to Ireland's most esteemed poet. Drawing on
omniscient
forces--folk sources such as fairies and myths and the elements of earth, wind, fire and air--Yeats
(1865-1939) created an oeuvre that is at once accessible yet sophisticated and always musical.
Some
poems are as joyous as ditties. Others are as melancholic as dirges. This contrast keeps readers
attentive, which is especially important for children.
The collection starts with "The Sad Shepherd" who is strolling along a sea shore and attempting
to
tell his tale to the elements. The scene underscores the smallness of humanity, a theme to which
Yeats often returns. Who among us hasn't told our problems to a rock, a stove or a lake only to
be
ignored by them? Likewise, the shepherd receives no sympathy from the stars, that "Among
themselves laugh on and sing alway:"; or the sea that "swept on and cried her old cry still, /
Rolling
along in dreams from hill to hill"; or from a seashell. He remains uncomforted.
That lesson will not be lost upon children. Talking to seashells or being too small to control their
ultimate fate is easy to relate to when you must attend school, take baths, wash faces, face
broccoli
and deal with omniscient forces also know as parents. In "The Cat and the Moon" a feline named
Minnaloushe frolics under the light of the moon: "The cat went here and there / And the moon
spun
round like a top, / And the nearest kin of the moon, / The creeping cat, looked up." The moon,
like a
parent, knows what the innocent cat has yet to learn, the hardships and the sorrows to come. The
all-knowing fairies, which aren't the sweet Tinkerbell kind, know those sorrows too well and
tempt a
youngster in "The Stolen Child" to leave his parents for fairyland, a story-line straight from Irish
legend: "Come away, O human child! / To the waters and the wild / With a faery, hand in hand, /
For
the world's more full of weeping than you can understand." The luminous refrain mesmerizes,
making it easy to believe the enticements the youngster faces outside his parents' home.
In particular, the musicality of Yeats' writing and the conventionality of his stanzas help make his
work approachable. In "Sailing to Byzantium," an old man wishes to surpass the limitations of
mortality by transforming himself into a bird that sings. He muses that "An aged man is but a
paltry
thing, / A tattered coat upon a stick, unless / Soul clap its hands and sing, and louder sing." In
another poem about the transcendence of music, the musician of "The Fiddler of Dooney" finds
his
book of songs as religious as a prayer book and muses, gleefully, about his debut in heaven: "And
when the folk there spy me, / They will all come up to me, / With 'Here is the fiddler of Dooney!' /
And dance like a wave of the sea." Yeats found poetry and music inseparable and his lines can
hush
like lullabies or invigorate like fresh air.
Overall, the dreamy illustrations by Glenn Harrington, an artist based in Pennsylvania, manage
both
to illuminate the poems and heighten their mystery. Each page presents one engrossing scene after
the other: a luminescent fairy gazing straight ahead, a swan stretching to fly, fairies galloping on
horses. For those too young to grasp Yeats' mellifluous language, the watercolors ground it.
An introduction by Jonathan Allison, a professor of English at the University of Kentucky who
edited the collection, provides biographical details about Yeats--from his nights spent sleeping in
caves to his 1923 award for the Nobel Prize in literature. Commentary precedes each poem;
explanations of challenging words like "nigh" or "rapturous" follow. And for those who are
inexperienced with the nuances of poetry, this book, part of a series that includes Emily
Dickinson,
Carl Sagan and Robert Frost, provides keys, making adults look smart: Unless a fairy bewitches
them, they won't be caught off guard.
I Know I'm In There Somewhere
Dr. Helene Brenner
Gotham Books
c/o Penguin Putnam
http://www.penguinputnam.com/static/packages/us/about/adult/gotham.htm
ISBN: 1592400280 $24.00
David Leonhardt
Reviewer
Have you ever felt like you spend your whole life pleasing others complying with their wishes,
doing what's best for them, second-guessing if they would approve of your decisions that you
never seem to live life for yourself? Well, so do dozens or hundreds of patients of Dr. Helene
Brenner, and she reports about them and their challenges in I Know I'm in There
Somewhere.
Books written by therapists are often teeming with tales of patients, and this book seems to follow
that pattern. In fact, Brenner uses patient anecdotes more than most therapist-authors. At first,
this
disturbed me, but Brenner does a very good job of weaving the tales together in a fashion to
inspire
the reader.
Along the way, Dr. Brenner leads readers through a couple dozen "innercizes" to help them tune
in
to their inner voices, but these are not the strength of the book.
In the epilogue, Dr. Brenner reveals herself to be a bit of a feminist, which shows throughout the
book in a very apolitical way. While it might be true that the topic of this book applies more to
women than to men, I hasten to add that there is little or nothing in this book that does not also
apply to many men.
Is there anything in this book that makes me cry out "WOW!"? No, but it is a gentle inspiration
for
anyone who sees herself (or himself) in my opening question ... or who wants to better understand
a
friend or partner who might fit that description.
I give I Know I'm in There Somewhere a 7 out of 10.
Lines on Lake Winnebago
Gary C. Busha, poet
Marsh River Editions
M233 Marsh Road, Marshfield, WI 54449
ISBN 0971890927 $8.00 34 pages
Karla Huston
Reviewer
Each time I read Busha's book Lines on Lake Winnebago, I am hooked and pulled back to the
days
when my grandfather picked me up from the neighborhood ice-skating rink, skates still attached
to
my feet, and plunked me on the surface of Lake Neshonoc. He'd chip holes in the ice while I
circled
his tarpaper shanty with a snow shovel, making a path to nowhere in particular.
With each thunk of the chisel
the clear ice chips catch the sun
and glint in cascades of light.
.
As I chop, the ice shoves to shore
tearing itself to shards.
The shoreline braces itself
like a man pulling up his collar.
(6)
Lines on Lake Winnebago takes me back to Lake Onalaska, where my husband and friend speared
carp and left them for me to guard in the August sun, the carp, fly-speckled and sweating in the
middle of the flat-bottom boat.
when days tumble over dusty-headed men
at work, gaffing the innards of earth,
some will regret the action of lack of it
and point to a waning moon squatting
on stagnant pools where fat,
yellow-bellied carp gulp at the surface
before sinking, unlike the sun.
(25)
Lines on Lake Winnebago reminds me of simpler times, of "tanned river boys" with cane poles,
hair
bleached white hot, and bare feet. It reminds me of tree frogs hissing from the shore, the call of
Red-wing blackbirds, and dragon flies dipping off the gunwales of boats. This is a time when boys
made do with what they had, made lures out of liver and worms, learned about life from the end
of a
bull-nosed pliers and an adult who knew that catching fish and being outside were the cure for
nearly
everything that ailed you.
Busha's images are fragrant with memory, of lazy days, of summer water, "warm as pee;" of
autumn
"blistering yellow and black;" of winters of sail skating with a bedsheet, ice chips glinting a "mist
of
fine ice." His lines recall lessons learned from his ol' man, his ol' man's cronies and a hefty swallow
of
black berry wine, "the warm liquid [that] sing[s] in my throat."
Busha uses the language of reverence and respect for the natural world. The color yellow seeps
into
many poems, from the yellow sun to "fat yellow-bellied carp," to bullheads sputtering in "hot
butter." In the poem "Spider Island," "Each autumn blisters yellow and black," while the boys trap
garden spiders that "hang plum-like" from webs. In the poem "Nothing Biting, "Each autumn lily
pad / draws from my center / its yellow belly of age, / drunk with murmurs." These are poems in
celebration of nature of solitude. In a tribute to Whitman, he celebrates:
An unknown voice
and the thump in the dark, I celebrate,
and I celebrate butter-fried fish
and scent of mustard,
and wet wood in autumn.
I celebrate people with beating hearts,
who keep time in rockers on wood porches.
(21)
A surprise in the center these poems is a short story about trading baseball cards. Two friends
make
a late-night deal on a dock, but there is more. Busha shows the reader how to pull nightcrawlers
from their holes, how to thread them on hooks and lower their squirming bodies into the dark
lake.
He shows us how to trap bullfrogs in weeds. He shows us how to catch, handle, and skin bull
heads.
He shows us about chewing bubblegum, about making trades for baseball players, about the tug
and
pull friendship.
"If you don't want Slaughter, I can get rid of him at school. I can get Mantle easy. Aww, I forgot.
Ma won't let me buy anymore bubblegum until I chew up what I got." (14)
From crayfish to carp to crappies to bullheads, pickerel, bluegills, bullfrogs and northern pike and
large mouth bass, Busha's poems remind us that there is much to learn from the end of a fishing
pole, much to hold close and dear. Mostly these poems are filled with a kind of happy loneliness,
of
becoming, of following the line back to his roots. He reminds us that "it's a perfect day for
fishing"
and remembering.
Pen & Sword: A Journalist's Guide to Covering the Military
Ed Offley
Marion Street Press
PO Box 2249, Oak Park, IL 60303
http://www.marionstreetpress.com/
ISBN: 0966517644, $24.95 US, Softcover (312 p)
Reviewed by Judy Brown
http://www.creativepurrsuits.com/
The author tells us: 'The military constitutes an entirely separate culture within the larger
boundaries
of American society.' (p.14)
Writing from the perspective of a military reporter with over twenty year's experience, Offley
encourages writers to get into this specialty. He believes that, 'American journalism is responsible
for
monitoring and charting the major institutions of our society, the military beat is a critically
important specialty.' As his work has taken him to foreign countries and involved him in a variety
of
interesting and provocative subject matter, the author's comments and anecdotes demonstrate the
concept that writing on military topics doesn't have to be boring or limited to the obvious. It is a
specialty that can lead to very interesting assignments.
Like any culture, the government and the armed forces have jargon that needs translating; and
each
branch has its own distinct lexicon. The acronyms alone can set the uninitiated head to spinning. If
you aren't familiar with the language, the many acronyms or the military ranking system, you may
be
thinking that writing about the military would be on par with writing your will. Not so!
Think again, what a wide open market! Everything from family interest stories, to news and
investigative reporting - name it and you'll find unlimited markets about and within the military
community. The events of September 11th and the ongoing War on Terrorism have created an
insatiable demand for stories and articles by savvy military writers. If all that is holding you back
is a
lack of knowledge, this book will give you the information you need and the confidence to get
started writing in this field.
Don't think you are limited to military topics, the author also points out related industries and
governmental activities to write about: the space program, the intelligence community and the
defense industry. You'll also learn how to cover and write about airplane crashes, how to identify
fake war heroes or POW's and how to handle interviews and tragic subjects like the death of a
serviceperson.
Other topics covered include:
' Using the Freedom of Information Act
' Deciphering the defense budget
' The Pentagon beat
The book's extensive table of contents provides a handy reference. Readers can access any part of
the book quickly by turning to the pertinent section for just the information needed. There is also
an
extensive index and appendix with reading lists referencing related reports, books and articles.
The
twelve-page glossary of military acronyms will be especially helpful for anyone new to writing
about
the military, I don't recall ever seeing anything as comprehensive on this in other books or
government publications.
Chapter one sets the tone for the great insider information you can expect. The author explains
military structure and includes an extensive section on identifying military rank, complete with
pictures of the various insignia of the five branches of the US armed forces.
Subsequent chapters deal with everything from setting up your desk to packing for war
assignments.
Throughout the book are great stories and examples of the concepts under discussion taken from
the
author's personal experience, as well, there are anecdotes and quotes from other writers and
various
military personnel.
Readers will learn three strategies for getting started:
' Defining your beat coverage
' Personal preparation
' Beat organization and sustainment
Broadcast and TV journalism is also covered. The reader will find out how to prepare for war
broadcasts, learn about the technical aspects of reporting and get ideas and tips on what to do
during
those problem times when things don't work just exactly right.
What is a Public Affairs Officer (PAO) and how do you find one' The author provides all that
information and supplies you with the telephone numbers, for Paso, at the Penthouse in all
branches
of the military.
You'll find out how to get along with officials in government and the military with little insider
gems
like this one from an experienced PAO, 'If you screw one PAO for whatever reason, you've got a
lot
to overcome because he's going to be talking to other PAOs informally.'
The author's superb journalistic skill is demonstrated throughout the book. The writing is tight
and
to the point ' no fluff ' no wasted words. It is easy to see why Offley was nominated for the
Pulitzer
Prize for his series of articles about a disabled Vietnam War Vet.
Pen & Sword is not for the lazy writer. It will be especially helpful to journalists or anyone who
wants to learn about writing and interacting with military personnel and government but is a good
resource for any writer who wants to learn more about organizing and researching at all stages of
the writing process. THE definitive manual on all matters military, Pen & Sword is a self-directed
workshop and is a must-have for any writer's reference shelf.
Is Religion Killing Us?: Violence in the Bible and the Qu'ran
Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer
Trinity Press International
ISBN: 1563384086 $24.00 182 Pages
Brian Berginz
Reviewer
Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer is trying to save the world. An ambitious project for a 148 page book, not
including the index. He attempts to do this by exposing what he calls the violence-of-God
traditions
in the Torah, New Testament, and Koran, and proposing a new, skeptical way of approaching
sacred texts. It's a worthy goal and Nelson-Pallmeyer should be lauded for taking on the project.
But
unfortunately the book is mealy mouthed, contradictory, and presents a poorly defended theology
that is unlikely to win many converts.
In the introduction, subtitled "The Elephant in the Room", a spotlight is shone on an obvious, but
oft
ignored elephant: "My fundamental claim is that religiously justified violence is first and foremost
a
problem of "sacred" text and not a problem of misinterpretation of the texts." So Osama bin
Laden
didn't need to twist syntax or muddle meaning when he claimed to have justification for violence
in
the Koran. Nor, for that matter, did Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson need to cut and paste the
Bible
when they agreed God had lifted his protection from an America that "probably" got what it
deserved because of its secularism and other iniquities.
At the end of the introduction Nelson-Pallmeyer gives a brief defense of religion:
I still assent to the claim that religion is good, necessary, and at the heart of life because it deals
with
issues of ultimate consequence and meaning. I do so, however, only in the context of an honest
assessment of the destructive role violence-of-God traditions within "sacred" texts play in a world
fractured by violence, inequality, war, intolerance, and hate. Treating texts rooted in the
violence-of-God traditions in the Bible and the Quran as "sacred" distorts God and faith and gives
religious legitimacy to human violence.
Nelson-Pallmeyer makes such claims of the distortion of God throughout the book. He argues
that
one can religiously justify violence without misinterpreting sacred texts, then states this correct
interpretation of sacred text "distorts" God. He attempts to reconcile this by using much of the
middle chapters of the book to put quotes around the word sacred in the phrase sacred text, and
the
last chapters to throw these defrocked "sacred" texts out the window. Sort of. A fatal flaw of the
book is that it provides no argument justifying the position that the true nature of God is peaceful
and kind. Though taking a cursory look at the world, and as Nelson-Pallmeyer himself readily
admits, taking a cursory look at scripture would tend to contradict this conception of God,
Nelson is
hell bent on sticking with the notion.
This myopia is further demonstrated in the middle section of the book. In it Nelson provides a
selection of violent passages from the three monotheistic holy books punctuated by commentary.
He
mines deeply the Torah and Koran, but is relatively easy on the New Testament, it's chapter being
slimmer with fewer passages sited. When several unflattering passages from Matthew that show a
vengeful and menacing Jesus are confronted, Nelson deflects responsibility from Jesus by claiming
that " Matthew frequently places threatening and hateful words on the lips of Jesus." How he
knows these are instances of ventriloquism rather than accurate accounts remains obscure, though
one suspects the mechanism behind his certainty is faith.
Oddly enough, faith is what he tries to distance religion from in the remaining chapters of the
book.
Or, at least, faith that the holy texts are faultless documents handed down by God. If fact, this
doubt
is "vital to our prospects for survival", and "Doubting the authority of sacred texts that legitimate
violence is an essential act of faithfulness." Though reading sentences like: "We desperately need
to
doubt the violence-of-God traditions at the heart of the Bible and the Quran." gives one the
impression that it is doubt specifically in the sections which perpetuate the "violence-of-God"
traditions, sections Nelson-Pallmeyer doesn't like, that he considers beneficial; it is never
acknowledged that doubt in a benevolent God, or doubt in the existence of God might be
worthwhile.
What's presented is a fuzzy, peaceful, feel good theology that rejects the sacred texts but keeps
them
around for ornament. Nelson-Pallmeyers's philosophy toward the holy texts is most succinctly
expressed in this passage:
"The key point is that we do not need to throw our "sacred texts way in order to come to terms
with
their violence. In fact, we can learn as much or more from their distortions of God, God's power,
and human power as we can from their positive insights. Accepting human authorship of the Bible
and the Quran and the inevitable distortions of God that accompany all human efforts to interpret
human experience as religious experience would open up many possibilities."
In the end Nelson-Pallmeyer wants to ignore or "interpret" the sections of the holy texts that don't
substantiate his conception of God, the sections he claims "distort" God. You see, the Bible and
Koran aren't particularly "holy" or "sacred", being as they are the work of mere fallible mortals,
but
we shouldn't discount them because they can apparently help us on what Nelson-Pallmeyer calls
our
"faith journeys".
It's hard to image the faithful willing to castrate their religions in this way. Without the comfort of
dogma anchored in a holy text, of a serene and complete absence of doubt, religion would lose its
appeal, and in fact cease to be religions in the sense most know of monotheistic religions. Can you
imagine a Christianity in which Jesus "might" be divine? An Islam where Mohammed "maybe"
received revelations from Allah? No you can't, and there are billions of faithful around the world
who can't either.
The book does acknowledge that ascribing the holy texts to human authorship and rejecting large
sections of them will not sit well with the pious. But it quickly moves on to a brief account of
effective non-violent movements, starring Mahatma Ghandi and Badshah Khan. Oddly brief,
considering how important the effectiveness of non-violence is to the whole premise of the book.
Nelson-Pallmeyer states it its "beyond the scope of this book to present the impressive history of
successful nonviolent movements and discuss fully the dynamics and methods of nonviolent
resistance and nonviolent social change.", but it shouldn't be, as a detailed proof of the efficacy of
non-violence is needed in light of the claims running throughout the book, though a helpful
footnote
is provided pointing to several selections for further reading on the topic.
Reading this section of the book it becomes obvious that there is an elephant in the room that
Nelson-Pallmeyer doesn't want to discuss: the fact that violence works. Violence gets results.
Presenting the impressive history of violent movements is beyond the scope of this review, but for
further reading pick up any history book. One doesn't have to like the fact, but ignoring it or
denying
it while you praise the effectiveness of peaceful methods is not the epitome of intellectual
integrity.
Ultimately this book that purports to confront the ugly truth of violence in sacred texts is
unwilling
to admit to and confront the effectiveness of violence, and unwilling to present agnosticism and
atheism as reasonable responses to flawed "sacred" texts. This book is what happens when a
decent,
pious individual bites their nails over what religious dogma has wrought: An earnest, brief, and
essentially toothless religious critique.
Bonnie's Bookshelf
Media Star Power: ABCs to Successful TV, Radio, Print & Net Interviews
Judy Jernudd
MindShelf Publishing
270 North Canon Drive, #1175, Beverly Hills, CA 90210 310-306-6999
ISBN: 0972239839 194 pages, $14.95
http://www.MediaStarPower.com
Judy Jernudd is a former newscaster and television talk show host turned professional speaker and
media coach. Her unique background has given Ms. Jernudd the insight into what makes a great
media interview and she shares this insight in her book.
Media Star Power covers the terminology of the media world with concise descriptions, quotes
and
gold star tips. The book starts with "Advance Work" and ends with "ZZZ" and covers just about
everything you need to know about media interviews in between. This book will help you become
a
media savvy guest, market your product and business, position yourself in the media, improve
your
confidence and help you prepare for a crisis.
All of the topics covered are helpful but some of the most interesting are: creating an on camera
look with tips on dressing and jewelry for both men and women, how to react to the media
covering
your company crisis and how to manage on camera anxiety. This book is a must have for anyone
seeking or preparing for media coverage and is sized just right to fit into a purse or briefcase.
Readers can use this guide while launching their own media campaign on a budget or to prepare
themselves for working with a media coaching company.
Rat Race Blues: How To Break The Stranglehold
Darlene Arechederra
DAR N-Centives
ISBN: None, Format: E-book 92 pages, $16.95
http://www.RatRaceRemedies.com
Rat Race Blues is a beautifully designed and easy to navigate e- book with valuable strategies for
living the life you want and deserve. This e-book begins with an analogy that most of us can
understand: comparing our lives to a merry-go-round. How many of us spend our days
overworking, overspending, frustrated and feeling like we can never get ahead? We work harder
to
pay the bills, overspend in response to the stress and work harder to pay for the overspending. On
and on it goes. Darlene Arecheddera offers readers a way to get off the merry-go-round, improve
their lives and reduce their stress.
This e-book is not about budgeting or finding yet another part- time, work at home job to
accelerate
bill paying. It is not about which credit card to pay off first - although it does cover that issue.
This
e-book is about living within the income you make without working dozens of hours of overtime
unless you really want to. It's about reducing stress, analyzing what it costs you to work and
breaking down what you owe and what you own. Filled with worksheets and examples, Rat Race
Blues helps readers make calculations, offers suggestions and provides examples that make you
look
at your money in a completely different way.
Early in the e-book we are introduced to Marcy and Paul, a married couple working too hard and
spending too much. Marcy discovers the techniques taught by Rat Race Blues and begins to apply
them to her life. Later, her husband Paul sees the change these techniques make in Marcy's life
and
he begins to use them as well. The story of Marcy and Paul keeps us entertained and engaged
while
learning how to live better within our means. We learn along with Marcy and Paul how to save
rather than spend and in return gain a new respect and appreciation for the money we work so
hard
to earn.
This e-book is appropriate for anyone caught on the merry-go- round of modern life. It offers
clever
money saving strategies and encourages readers to keep a small notebook of expenditures, goals,
lists, etc. I started my "Life Book" as the notebook is called the day after finishing Rat Race Blues
and found $200.00 in unnecessary expenditures from this month's income. I thought of new ways
to
save money and began calculating how little I could actually spend every week. For an investment
of
$16.95 readers will find ways to save hundreds of dollars every year while reducing the number of
hours they work. Rat Race Blues is a life changing e-book that everyone should read.
Bonnie Jo Davis, Reviewer
http://www.DavisVirtualAssistance.com.
Brenda's Bookshelf
Just Grace
Carolyn Brown
Avalon Books
ISBN 080349596X $19.95; 192 pages; hardcover
Expectations run high for the last book in the Land Rush Romance Series. The day begins with
Grace Listen planted on a tree attempting to convince a kitten to come down. She figures no one
will be the wiser that she had climbed the tree for it is early and many had opted to remain indoors
as
the temperatures had dropped. Besides it would not have taken long. Except the terrified kitten
refused to cooperate. Meanwhile, the new doctor in Dodsworth was coming down the lane. Not
really paying attention to the surroundings but lost deep in thought, Dr. Gatlin O'Malley did not
notice the commotion up in the tree until the kitten fell, his horse reared, and a flurry of petticoats
landed atop him.
After his disastrous engagement with Carolina, Gatlin had decided he would not come within
talking
distance of any woman unless they came in for medical care. Of course, if an angel happened to
fall
from heaven, he could be persuaded to change his mind. As luck would have it, Grace did just
that
and broke her arm in the process. And Gatlin wanted nothing to do with the sassy woman.
Enter in the Bonney Boy Gang. With a posse on their tail, they came upon the town of
Dodsworth
searching for medical care. Because High Pockets caught the wrong end of a bullet, they made
their
way into the good doctor's office. As they were about to leave, Grace comes in to have her
broken
arm checked. Picking up Gatlin's lead, Grace reluctantly assumes the position of his wife. Then
the
posse shows up. Determined to get out of town alive, the Bonney Boy Gang takes both Gatlin
and
Grace as hostages. Along the way, the leader, Joe Bud, decides to give them a proper
honeymoon.
So they are taken to his mountain cabin. With plenty of supplies, Gatlin and Grace have no
worries.
Besides as soon as the day breaks, they can make the trek down the mountain. Unfortunately, the
weather has other plans.
It is true that Grace and Gatlin probably should have been terrified when took hostage by this
gang.
However, they were treated kindly by this strange group of men. In their own way, the Bonney
Boy
Gang had ethics and they stood by them. Nonetheless, it was expected the fear should have been
rolling in anticipation. While Gatlin had heard about the gang before and knew that they were
basically harmless unless provoked, Grace had no such knowledge. Therefore, it was difficult to
believe that she meekly went with them but perhaps that was the fear talking.
Brown is well known for her sweet historical romances that touch hearts everywhere as the plot
moves swiftly along. JUST GRACE is no exception as Gatlin and Grace find a way to exist in the
mountains with no one but themselves for company. This is one of those stories that is just perfect
for a day at the beach.
While She Was Sleeping
Grace Gray Simple
Avalon Books
160 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10016
ISBN 0803495994 192 pages; $19.95
As a purchasing agent at Berkley's in Minnesota, Nicole Downing is returning to her childhood
home in Iowa. The reason is twofold. The first is to decide what to do about her inheritance now
that she has turned twenty- one. The second is to visit with her relatives while at the same time try
to solve the mystery of her mother's death. Of course, she also wants to get her brother and father
talking again.
Her father adamantly opposes Nicole returning. He feels that the Wingates will brainwash his
daughter into finally taking their side. But then that side of the family has always believed Milton
murdered his wife and nothing would persuade them to change their mind. Yet Milton also
realizes
that Nicole must claim the inheritance he saved for the children. He did not have to like her
leaving
though.
Her arrival at the Wingate house is unusual to say the least. They all seem to protest too much at
Nicole staying in her parents' home. While Claire had died there and her husband convicted of
murder, Nicole did not remember much of the day. Except that Rebecca had come and taken her
away from her play. As an adult, Nicole now remembered another person being in the room when
her Aunt had come. Yet she could not remember who it was. And Rebecca was not about to
tell.
Finally Nicole is to see the house. Her first impression is of memories. But then she recalls seeing
the
light in her mother's room the night before. So she heads to that door to look inside. And finds the
door locked! This does not deter Nicole. Even her brother could not convince Nicole to stay in
comfort at the Wingate house. So reluctantly, Peter helps Nicole move her meager belongings
into
their house. Peter returns to work while Nicole explores the old house. Opening the door to her
mother's deathbed, Nicole is startled at seeing a red rose lying on the pillow. This is a direct
reminder of her father for he was known to leave a red rose on the pillow for her mother.
At this point Nicole stubbornly believes of her father's innocence. And with her return, she is
determined to solve the mystery. But Nicole's success lies on her staying alive.
Protecting your family is one thing. Killing is another. The tale begins when Nicole is only four.
As
the years float by, Nicole's father is finally freed from prison and asks his children to go to
Minnesota
with him. Peter refuses but Nicole goes even though the Wingates want her to stay with them.
Now
that Nicole has returned to her childhood home, so has her memories. And the killer is bound and
determined to keep her from learning the truth.
Dreams are important. Sometimes they explain the obvious and others are mere hints to the truth.
Such is the case in the dreams Nicole carried into adulthood. The title is intriguing in itself as it
could be related to either Nicole's dreams or her mother's death. The clues are fascinating and the
plot tricky while the characters are definitely not what they appear to be. WHILE SHE WAS
SLEEPING is definitely one book to curl up with this summer.
Mudlark
Delle Jacobs
Awe-Struck E-Books
ISBN 1587494191
Phaeton Regency Romance
England 1816
The first impression of Izzy Daventry reflects compassion and a caring nature toward the children
around the Daventry Manor. Although she was quite unschooled herself, Izzy knew enough to
teach
the basics to these children who would otherwise not have any to help them in their later years.
But
in a most unpleasant turn of events on a brisk day, Izzy found herself rescuing a kitten one of the
boys had tossed in the stream. With the temperature shockingly cold, Izzy's feet were numb by the
time she reached shore. And then she fell. Thankfully, the only ones who witnessed her unladylike
tumble were less than ten years of age.
Back at the manor, Izzy's only concern is to go to her room and get warm. Never mind the fact
that
the shortest way happened to be through the grand foyer. And right past her father's study where
Izzy promptly ran into the handsomest man she had ever seen.
Shock is putting it mildly when a drenched, mud- streaked girl elegantly passes his way. To make
matters worse, this girl managed to muddy his pristine undress white uniform. If things could not
be
more annoying, Tristan Trowbridge was appalled at the lack of sensitivity her father had shown
over
Izzy's mishap and near frozen state. Yet it could be that he was already disgusted with the two
men's
antics. One who just happened to be his own father.
Old friends have a habit of trying to plan their children's lives. This is exactly what happens. Their
fathers had planned and schemed cunningly with no one being the wiser. The ball is dropped on
their
children one night after the evening meal. Deep in their cups but with clear minds, the mention of
marriage is presented. Horror- stricken, Izzy cannot fathom what her father is thinking. He knows
she has plans to marry her dear Donald. But she realizes quickly that their announcement had been
planned so she whisks Tristan off to the garden for a little talk. Unfortunately, Tristan is not prone
to believing the tale. Until he learns that her name really is Melisande Isolde. The pieces begin to
fall
into place as he recalls the tales his father told of Tristan and Isolde. To think the dimwits who
sired
them had thought up such an ingenious plan was imaginable. But for two men who had believed
they
would be soldiers had inherited the estate. With it came responsibilities neither wanted. Of course,
it
did not include arranging a marriage between their children. Especially when the children in
question
could not be civil to one another for more than just a few minutes. Not to mention that the
children
already had marriage plans of their own. But it sure did not stop these two men from having their
way.
Then the most amazing thing occurred. Tristan and Izzy began to work together in order to
overcome their fathers' wishes.
This is a cute tale. Jacobs' wicked pen finds an unusual twist to normal Regency romances. While
proprietary is upmost, consequences to their actions deem satisfactorily to the extreme. And Izzy
is
just the character to pull off the unusual twists and turns to any scheme destined to go haywire.
MUDLARK may be pushed to the bottom of the stack based on the title alone. Yet the unusual
title
is a necessary evil and aptly fits this perilous tale.
Perfect Together
Lisa Plumley
Zebra
Kensington Publishing Corp
850 Third Ave, New York NY 10022
ISBN 0821773410 352 pages; $6.50 US / $8.99 CAN
One minute Jake Jarvis was the average everyday sportscaster. The next, he was a sex symbol
courtesy of his boss. Secretly, Jake thought it was an honor to be a celebrity but he did not need it
now. He was a single parent with an impressionable little boy. He did not want females ogling
him.
He did not want to be the center of attention. Jake simply wanted to do his job as anchor on
KKZP
Sports at Six. Instead of getting what he wanted, Jake received a slot on the hottest prime-time
game show, "Dream Date," as part of the station's newest publicity campaign. Whether Jake
wanted
to or not.
Her career was in ruins. When the sitcom, "Fantasy Family," was cancelled, Marley Madison did
not
know what to do. Every audition, producers told her she was not right for their part without
looking
beneath the exterior of Tara, the character she played for so long. And now it seemed Marley
would
lose everything. Her days as an actress was over. Unless her manager's outrageous idea
worked.
The audition went seamlessly. Jake and Marley passed
the first test. Then they waited to find out whom they
would date. Much to their surprise especially after the
disastrous first meeting, Jake and Marley found
themselves together and on their first date before either
knew what to think.
This all seems quite ordinary for game show contestants. But a lot was riding on the line for these
two characters. Jake could not imagine having to hop to another station. He liked his job at KKZP
Sports at Six. But he would have to move he lost the contest. Then there's the actress who's
attempting to play a role beyond her capacity. Marley - or Carly in this case - never had a
childhood,
was never left alone, never had to cook her own meal, and most definitely did not know how to
act
the part of an everyday average girl. Her goal was to show producers she could be something
other
than a bimbo no-nothing. And she was going to make sure she won the contest for that reason
alone.
This is a comical parody of errors. Marley certainly miscalculated thinking she could pull off
playing
the poor little rich girl. Meanwhile Jake is having the time of his life yet wondering about Carly.
He
could certainly see that she does not seem capable of taking care of herself. But Marley is a quick
learner. And she has a conscience. Especially when she starts feeling more than she should toward
her dream date. But wait! Marley should not be worrying about feelings because this is just a
means
to her ultimate goal.
Plumley is an artist. The settings are molded and tended with care that allows the characters an
atmosphere to find the right mixture of love. It just remains to be seen if Jake and Marley can
cooperate. If they can, they will be PERFECT TOGETHER.
To Charm a Prince
Patricia Grasso
Zebra
Kensington Publishing Corp
850 Third Ave, New York NY 10022
ISBN 0821774727 352 pages; $5.99 US / $7.99 CAN
The night of her first ball, Aunt Rosie declared that Samantha Douglas' future husband would be
in
attendance. Although Aunt Rosie had an uncannily ability, Samantha was still positive she would
remain a wallflower. It wasn't that Samantha wasn't pretty. It was her self-confidence which was
at
an all-time low. Nothing changed her outlook on life except her clothes and status. Now that she
had
turned from a pauper into a lady, Samantha still wallowed in bitterness over the carriage that had
run
over her leg when she was small. Now she walked with a limp. Her memories continually drifted
back to her younger years when many children had called her Hopping Giles. Now it terrified
Samantha to be in a crowd for she knew that everyone would look at her and laugh in a pretty
manner. No one would look at her alone. They would see her limp. But because Aunt Rosie was
adamant, Samantha buoyed her self- reserve and attended the grand ball which would be held at
Charles Emerson's Grosvenor Square. It should have been a beautiful time but to Samantha and
her
sisters, it felt as if they were returning to the scene of the crime.
Unaccustomed to someone telling him no, Prince Rudolf Kazanov was amazed he was about to be
turned down for a dance. When he realized it was a slight imperfection that caused the lady's
distress, Rudolf commandeered her to the dance floor. To Samantha, he was everything Aunt
Rosie
had declared her future husband to be. Yet Rudolf comes complete with baggage when he decides
to
make his home in England with is mother and young daughter. He didn't know if he would survive
because his brother wanted him dead. And Rudolf feared it would happen for his younger brother
aspired to be on the Russian Throne and just as controlling as their father. Fortunately, the
younger
sibling was nothing like the heir to the Russian throne.
As the tale continues, Samantha is left with a promise by Rudolf to call. His call came later than
expected. But just in time to stop her betrothal announcement to another man. Of course, Rudolf
did
not expect to be kidnaped or forced to flee the country with a woman in tow or he would have
never
called on Samantha in the first place. During the trip Samantha bemoaned her ruined reputation
while Rudolf continually stated he had no need for a wife. This is even after he claimed her as
such
at every conceivable moment. Their idealistic retreat seemed heavenly neither wished to end.
Unfortunately reality looms. Vladimir still wants the Venus and Samantha's guardian wants
marriage.
The characters undoubtedly stem from previous stories. The back story is slight and not as
well-developed as it should have been leaving readers to use their imagination to complete the
picture. The characters themselves are endearing and run true to form within the well-defined
stereotypes. While this novel was for Samantha and Rudolf, the youngest Douglass sister,
Victoria,
takes the limelight for her devious machinations surrounding Samantha's well-being.
Readers should be aware that although TO CHARM A PRINCE is set in 1812, Grasso has
penned a
typical historical based in London during the Regency era. The writing includes mild to medium
sensuality unusual to many Regency era books. Additionally the writing does not flavor the
Regency
tone. This is not said to be disparaging to the book as a whole but rather to let readers know of
what
lies within the pages for Grasso does tell a deep abiding tale of wickedness, vengeance, and
resolution. This is one book that will be read until the wee hours.
Brenda Ramsbacher, RIO Member
Reviewer
Christy's Bookshelf
Picture Me Dead
Heather Graham
MIRA Books
225 Duncan Mill Road, Don Mills, Ontario, Canada M3B 3K9
www.mirabooks.com
ISBN #1551666812 $24.95 US/$30.95 CAN 416-445-5860
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Heather Graham has published greater than
100 books, most of which take place in Florida. Graham grew up in Dade County, Florida, and
acted, modeled, waitressed, and tended bar before turning to writing.
The locale for Graham's latest endeavor, the romantic suspense Picture Me Dead, is Miami,
Florida.
Ashley Montague is nearing the end of her training with the metropolitan police academy when
she
chances upon a tragic hit-and-run accident involving her high school friend, Stuart Fresia. Ashley
uses her artistic talent and photographic memory to portray the accident on paper, which reveals a
mysterious person in black on the side of the highway. Although this has been ruled an accident,
Ashley begins to suspect someone was trying to kill her friend, who lies in the hospital in a coma.
When she learns Stuart has been accused of being high on heroin when he ran out in front of
traffic,
Ashley begins to investigate on her own, knowing Stuart's dislike for drugs and especially
needles.
Jake Dilessio is a somewhat jaded homicide investigator with the Miami-Dade Police Department.
Jake has been haunted for years by the death of his former partner, Nancy Lassiter, with whom he
was in love. Jake and Nancy had been investigating the deaths of women surrounding a religious
cult
five years before when Nancy tragically died. Although ruled a suicide, Jake believes Nancy
discovered information concerning the cult, which led to her death.
Ashley, like his former partner, is persistent and impulsive, and Jake finds himself unwillingly
attracted to her. Ashley is likewise attracted to Jake, although he treats her with impatience and
tries
to ignore her.
When a woman's body is found in the Everglades, mutilated in the same way as the women five
years before, Jake reopens the investigation and becomes more determined than ever to find
Nancy's
killer. Ashley is asked to join the civilian force as a forensic artist/photographer and this brings her
into more contact with Jake. Ashley asks Jake to help in her investigation of Stuart's accident and
discovers a startling connection between the two cases. The two begin an affair as they try to
unravel the mystery concerning the deaths and Stuart's accident.
Jake Dilessio is cynical and tough, but a good counterpart to Ashley, who is young, ambitious and
somewhat overzealous. The romance between the two of them sizzles, and Graham conveys the
tension between the two, which is in conflict with the attraction they have for one another, in a
fun
style. The storyline moves at a fast pace and manages to flow smoothly and without lagging. Of
course, various suspects are thrown at the reader throughout the book, but most are easily ruled
out.
The true mastermind behind the murders, although blatantly obvious through hindsight, may
surprise
some readers.
A fun read and one that will not disappoint Graham's fans and may draw more into the fold.
Fat Ollie's Book
Ed McBain
Simon & Schuster
1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020
www.SimonSays.com
ISBN# 0743202708 $25.00 212-698-7544
Evan Hunter, writing under the pseudonym Ed McBain, is the only American to receive the
Diamond Dagger, the British Crime Writers Association's highest award. Writing under his own
name, Evan Hunter is the award-winning author of the 1954 classic The Blackboard Jungle and
the
screenplay for Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds.
Fat Ollie's Book is the 52nd novel in the 87th Precinct series by McBain. For those not familiar
with
the 87th Precinct novels, Fat Ollie is Detective Oliver Wendell Weeks, who McBain describes as
an
equal opportunity bigot. Ollie, however, doesn't see himself as prejudiced in any way but as simply
a
discerning individual. A character obnoxious to the point of hilarity, Ollie doesn't like anyone
other
than himself and is fond of telling ethnic jokes. Although Ollie is an obese man who eats
continually,
he thinks of himself as only a large man and is critical of those who are overweight. Ollie likes to
end
his sentences with "ah, yes," mimicking W. C. Fields, but most people mistakenly think he is
parroting Al Pacino, to his constant consternation.
Ollie has written a book of 36 pages entitled Report to the Commissioner under the pseudonym
Olivia Wesley Watts, reasoning that most of the mysteries on the bestseller list are written by
women. When Ollie is called to the Martin Luther King Memorial Hall to investigate the murder
of
city councilman Lester Henderson, someone breaks into his car and steals his Gucci dispatch case,
which contains his manuscript. Ollie wrote the manuscript using a typewriter and has no other
copy.
Of course, no one sees a thing when it is stolen.
87th Precinct Detectives Steve Carella and Bert Kling are assigned to work with Ollie on the
Henderson case, not knowing that he is only interested in tracking down the person who stole his
manuscript. Ollie lets the two other detectives do most of the legwork while he goes after his
beloved book and is involved in the investigation peripherally at most.
Ollie's manuscript reads like an actual police report involving a stash of conflict diamonds hidden
in
a basement in which fictional Detective Olivia Watts is being held prisoner. Emilio Herrera, the
man
who stole the manuscript, is a cross-dressing prostitute and dim-witted thief who thinks he has
actually stumbled upon a real police report. He believes the report is written in code and tries to
deduce from clues within the chapters of Ollie's book where the detective, as well as the
diamonds,
could be. Emilio begins to think of himself as Olivia's savior as he searches the streets, trying to
find
the basement in which the detective is imprisoned.
Emilio accidentally runs into Detective Eileen Burke, who looks exactly as Ollie has described
Detective Watts. He thinks she is the fictional detective and has somehow escaped. When he
overhears a conversation she is engaged in about a cocaine buy going down in a basement, he
believes this all relates to Ollie's book and makes plans to be there in order to steal the money
being
exchanged for the cocaine.
During the course of the Henderson investigation, Carella and Kling discover that the councilman
was having an affair with a 19-year-old college student. A homeless drunk reports having seen
someone wearing a blue ski jacket and black baseball cap running from the alley the morning the
councilman was shot. However, the gun from which the shots were fired is found in another alley
on
the other side of the building.
Fat Ollie's Book is a hilarious romp, filled with McBain's quick wit and somewhat complex plot
twists, featuring the beloved 87th Precinct characters. Although this is the 52nd book in the
series,
McBain manages to keep it vibrant and entertaining.
Ollie Weeks is a delight, a man who is crude and insensitive, yet sees himself as a master detective
who has now joined the literary field. He is a character readers love to hate and the opinions he
expresses are sometimes so obnoxious you can't believe what you're reading. His running debate
with himself on the use of was as opposed to were, whether a phrase would be a simile or
metaphor,
and the proper rules of grammar will appeal to any reader who writes.
Fat Ollie's Book is one of the best 87th precinct novels McBain has given us to date. As with each
book in this series, McBain comes through with "the joke," something many readers look forward
to. Although there is not much of a mystery here and most of the 87th detectives are not primary
characters in this book, Oliver Weeks carries the story along and the read is all the better for
it.
Hollywood Tough
Stephen J. Cannell
St. Martin's Press
175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 1001-7848
ISBN# 0312291027 $24.975 US/ $34.95/CAN 212-674-5151
Stephen Cannell is not only a published author but an Emmy award-winning writer and producer.
He
is the creator of more than 40 TV shows, including The Rockford Files, The A-Team, and The
Commish. To date, he has seven national bestselling novels under his belt and his novels King
Con
and Final Victim are currently being developed as feature films.
Hollywood Tough is the third in Cannell's crime fiction series featuring Los Angeles police
detective
Shane Scully. After being off the job on medical leave, Shane is ready to return to the Los
Angeles
Police Department and rejoin the Homicide Division. He and his wife, Alexa, attend an
engagement
party in Hollywood for a mutual friend, where Shane meets Nicky Marcella, a small-time con
artist
Shane has busted in the past. Nicky now claims to be a producer and asks Shane to track down an
actress named Carol White, whom he is interested in casting for a movie.
Shane easily locates Carol, who supports her heroin habit by prostituting. Shane is surprised to
find
himself feeling empathy for her and is distressed when he is called to the scene of a homicide and
finds Carol is the victim. Shane soon discovers that Carol's death is linked to mobster Dennis
Valento, aka Champagne Dennis Valentine, who has devised a scheme to take control of the
International Alliance of Theatrical and State Employees (IATSE) in order to eventually control
the
movie-making industry in Hollywood.
Shane devises an elaborate scheme to bring Valentine down, which casts him as a disgruntled cop
turned movie producer. He forces Nicky to accept him as his partner, and before he knows it, they
are producing for film a screenplay called "Heaven's Gate". The production costs quickly begin to
spiral out of control, much to Shane's and the LAPD's disdain.
Adding to Shane's worries is an escalating drug war between the Mexican Mafia called the Emes
(Spanish for the letter M) and two rival gangs, the Bloods and the Crips, who have teamed up
against the Emes. Scully's wife, Alexa, head of the Detective Services Group, is heavily
investigating
the case, and their son, Chooch, becomes involved through his friendship with the leader of the
Emes.
When Valentine narrowly escapes being gunned down by the Emes, Shane begins to piece facts
together and discovers a connection between the mobster and the Bloods and Crips, who are
planning to introduce a new form of drug to the West Coast.
Hollywood Tough is actually based on a scam by Al Capone in the early 1930s to control the
IATSE
union, which lasted for almost five years. The novel offers a hilarious look at the quirky egos of
some of the major players within the film industry. Cannell pokes fun through absurd characters,
such as an actor who has a phobia for just about everything including a fear of germs, clocks, and
left-handed people; a writer who has written what is perceived as the worst screenplay of the
century, yet once Shane and Nicky begin to produce it, everyone wants a piece of it; a director
who
believes in the upside-down logic of the film industry, which is, why make a 10 million dollar film
when you can make the exact same one for 50 million; a mobster who is a vegetarian and
constantly
lectures on the perils of eating meat; a producer who is illiterate and has to have scripts read to
him;
and an agent who infiltrates his conversations with Latin phrases no one can understand. Adding
to
the mix is Nicky, the grifter who has found Jesus. Even though he claims he is legitimate, Shane
quickly finds Nicky has been running a scam involving porn.
Shane is a great character to counteract all the wacky characters Cannell throws his way. He is a
strong, self-assured guy with a no-nonsense attitude. His interactions with the major players of the
movie industry are humorous and fun. His wife, Alexa, is strong, intelligent, and warm, and can
stand her ground with anyone. The relationship between the two of them reveals that they are not
only lovers but friends who respect one another. The fact that Alexa is Shane's boss and he does
not
feel threatened by this proves his strength of character.
In this installment, Shane begins to reevaluate himself and his life. He is beginning to question his
reasoning for being in law enforcement. He seems more sentimental and appreciative of his family
and his love for them. He begins to reach out, enfolding others into his life.
Cannell has written a story that will delight readers. The book moves at a fast pace and Cannell
displays his wit throughout. The research he has done involving gangs within Los Angeles,
especially the Mexican Mafia, is clearly evident in the colors they wear, tattoos they sport, and the
dialect they engage in.
Christy Tillery French
Reviewer
Cindy Lynn's Bookshelf
Always a Thief
Kay Hooper
Bantam
0553585681 $7.50
Quinn is the king of cat burglars...his ability to elude pursuers and get the goods without
physically
hurting anyone has served him well in the past. Now, helping the authorities in exchange for his
freedom, he is setting a trap for a cat burglar who isn't shy about committing a murder or two
when
it suits him. This thief, Nightshade, almost makes Quinn one of his victims, but Quinn's fast
reflexes
turn a potentially fatal shot into a shoulder wound. He still needs a safe haven...and so he goes to
Morgan West's house. Morgan West hasn't forgotten the charming burglar, either. Despite
protestations of disgust over the symbolism of the only gift he ever gave her...a beautiful
concubine
ring...she studies it every night. She's even tried to warn him that the exhibit of the Bannister
Collection is a trap, convinced that Quinn is the very prey they are hunting. When she discovers
that
Quinn is actually on the side of the angels, she's relived, happy not to have to feel guilty over the
warnings, over the fact she helped him when he showed up wounded on her doorstep, or over the
fact that she the director of many prestigious shows, and is falling for someone who's as likely to
pilfer from the objects in her trust as admire them.
There are complications aplenty in this romantic thriller. First, Quinn and Nightshade aren't the
only
cat burglars around. A lady burglar is in town...though at times we're not sure if she really isn't the
deadly Nightshade after all. Or maybe she's another killer...a Jane Doe found not far from the
museum doesn't fit Nightshade's MO, causing Police and Jared Chavalier, Quinn's brother, to
suspect another player. Which brings us to another interesting conflict...Jared is a member of
Interpol...and isn't exactly pleased to find out that his own brother has been the very thief he'd
spent
years trying to catch. In any case, the game of cat and mouse that Quinn and Nightshade engage
in is
extremely well done, keeping the tension high.
Sometimes, though, this book tips the edge strongly towards romance. This isn't
surprising...Quinn
was born as a minor character in a Loveswept book. The strong romantic conventions...the gentle
love scenes, the fact that Quinn's trying to be chivalrous and not, for once take what he wants
without regard for the consequences, while Morgan is determined to enjoy having him around
while
she can, weaves into the suspense perfectly. It helps that Quinn is not exactly a typical
character...he
doesn't make excuses for what he us, and we don't discover some dark past that forced him into
crime. He's a rouge, addicted to adventure. He also has a charming, credible personality that
makes
the reader agree heartily with Hooper's desire to give Quinn his own story. Morgan's heart is not
the
only one stolen.
I'm pretty sure that this is not a direct sequel to Once a Thief. I thought it was, because the
characters seem that they should be familiar, and sometimes the story feels like context...as in
where
the author is reminding us what's gone on before. When I read the (rather nifty) excerpt in the
back,
I was no longer so sure. I do know that, if you were wondering, you do not need to have read
Once
a Thief at all to enjoy this book. It stands...and charms the reader...all by itself.
Art Deco Fashion
Suzanne Lussier
Bulfinch
www.bullfinchpress.com
ISBN: 0821228323 $19.95 USD
According to the introduction, the term Art Deco "Identifies an aesthetic in architecture, the
decorative arts, textiles and fashion; it also influenced the fine arts, film and photography. Art
Deco
displayed stylized motifs and shapes borrowed from national traditions, folk art and ancient
cultures,
and was strongly influenced by the art of the avant-garde." I jumped on the word
aesthetic...aesthetics deal with beauty...the nature and the judging thereof, and so, already you
know
that the who point of Art Deco is beauty...and beautiful non conformity. There. Only the
introduction, and I have a better understanding of what the people of the era were trying to
accomplish.
And the rest of the book is even more helpful. It's a relatively small book, but it covers a lot of
ground, and provides beautiful illustrations. She starts with Paul Poiret, whose Empire waisted
inspirations led the way to straighter outlines, and whose Oriental inspired fashions brought an
appreciation of the exotic into modern fashion. We also see how the decade of the 1920's itself
inspired many of the huge leaps in fashion that were experienced at that time. Other major
designers
discussed include Vionnet, Chanel, Natalia Goncharova and Sonia Delaunay.
The main thing is, of course, fashion. The fashion is covered wonderfully, covering picture
dresses,
embroidered coats, and tennis dresses. Daywear and lovely evening gowns are well pictured,
using
pictures from the times, design sketches and advertisements, as well as photographs of real
dresses
still in existence. She explains how the styles came about, explaining the impact of Africa
(particularly in patterns and jewelry, such as slave bracelets), Russia and the Orient. She also
discusses the Avant-garde movement, which gave birth to some very over the top looking things.
Heavy embroidery and beading were major characteristics, and inspired some very intricately done
and beautiful things. One of the dresses I particularly like is one I'd never seen before...Vionnet's
lilac lawn day dress, which, with its simple bodice and skirt like rows of overlapping pink leaves
promised to look good night or day. Lussier doesn't neglect any aspect of the lady's
trousseau....bathing suits, winter coats, underwear, hats, shoes and makeup are all covered. She
also
discusses fashion illustration, fashion photography and Cinema. These things may seem off topic,
slightly, but in fact bring greater understanding to how all aspects locked together to influence and
direct the course of fashion history.
My interest in fashion history is pretty much from the writer's direction. My question is always, if
I
needed to dress a character from toe to head from that era, could I? Could I knowledgably discuss
the aspects of fashion in a dinner party setting? Yes, to all these questions. This is a very solid
reference resource, that not only would help you visualize what a person from this time would be
wearing, but allow you to understand the reasons, attitudes and inspirations behind it.
A Gentleman's Tale
J.A. Short
http://www.ebooks2002.bravepages.com/
ISBN: 1591095425 $TBA
Jacques Murlione has just lost his grandmother, the last living member of his family and the
person
who raised him and influenced his life the most. His boyhood friend, who also lived with them, has
decided to seek greener pastures in London. Haunted by the memories of his true love Amy
Barstow, he isn't ready for the changes that the new school teacher's family will bring to his life.
First, they move into his house, while he moves to the shed, wiping away the last traces of his
grandmother's presence. Andrea, the oldest daughter, looks much like his departed Amy, and, like
Amy, encourages his prodigious talent for music. Just as he thinks that he may be starting to heal,
he
whispers Amy's name after he and Andrea share their first kiss, possibly ruining everything that he
has not yet dared to truly hope for. Amadeus Barloni, Andrea's father, has encouraged and
sponsored him to play his music at the London Musicfest. Recently, he's turned cold, causing
Jacques to wonder if he's discovered the mistake he made with Amy...or something worse.
Anyway,
does it matter? How can a poor man, used to milking cows and hard work in the 1860's ever hope
to
rise above his station?
This book has but one flaw...it's too short. Short creates engaging characters that you'd like to live
with a bit longer. Otherwise, it's rather well done. The change in Jacques from boy to man is
realistic, and this story of love and music is quite triumphant and charming. Short employs all the
things that we want to see in this kind of story, huge, unbeatable odds, a well done background
and
people that you can genuinely care about, using them to create a story that is very pleasing.
Cindy Lynn Speer
Reviewer
Diana's Bookshelf
The Kafka Effekt
D. Harlan Wilson
Eraserhead Press
www.eraserheadpress.com
ISBN # 0971357218 211 pgs $13.95
Throw out any preconceived concepts or notions you may have about your perception of this
reality
and all of its trappings, and be in awe as a new one stretches out before you for your perusal.
From
the opening word of the first story, all the way through to the last period of the last tale, you will
laugh, ponder, and cringe at the words on the pages as they form meanings different from the way
you ever knew them to exist.
That is the feeling I had during and after reading The Kafka Effekt, by D. Harlan Wilson. Over the
years since his death, Franz Kafka has become one of the most influential writers of this century.
Virtually unknown during his lifetime, his works have gone on to be recognized as a symbol of
man's
alienation in a world filled with anxiety and despair. Few have ever tried with any amount of
success
to emulate him, yet this author has, and by my understanding of the research I have done on
Kafka
since reading this book, achieved his intended goal in spades. Not having read any Franz Kafka
before, I had no idea what to expect and found myself immersed deeply in each and every passage
as
I flipped from story to story. In author Wilson's debut book you will find forty-four short works,
each as entertaining as the next. The stories are in such a unique vein, I found them to be
incomparable to anything I have ever read in the past, and they far surpass any collection I
currently
have on my shelves. To say it is slipstream and surreal is only touching on the tip of what we have
been given here and does not do the wonderfully abstract work justice in the least.
The difficult task is what to say when talking about a short story; one sentence is too much in
most
cases, and I certainly wouldn't want to strip away any of the joy to be had by reading the stories
for
yourself. I get the distinct feeling that the meaning contained will be something different to every
person who has the great fortune to pick up a copy of The Kafka Effekt. The situations
confronted
by the subjects of these stories run in a dimension of the mind that has never been explored before
and I certainly hope to see explored in the future.
Do I have a favorite? Yes, Beneath the Husband, though I must admit all of them gave me a high
degree of reading entertainment, and something to ponder, never a small feat when it comes to
short
stories.
With what D. Harlan Wilson has created in The Kafka Effekt, he has earned my highest regards. I
await the immense bliss of stepping into his mind again with any works he graces the shelves of
the
literary world with in the future. This is definitely an author to keep your eye on.
More Stories That Won't Make Your Parents Hurl
Selina Rosen, editor
Yard Dog Press
710 W. Redbud Lane Alma, AR 72921-7247
www.yarddogpress.com
ISBN # 1893687422 185 pgs paperback $18.00
My daughter and I have read and re-read Stories That Won't Make Your Parents Hurl, and when
I
found out there was a part two, More Stories That Won't Make Your Parents Hurl, you can
imagine
my delight. These anthologies have a beautiful concept: quite simply, you make bad choices and
bad
things happen.
Welcome to the modern version of Grimm's tales. Stories with hard moral value are no longer
outdated. You can actually enjoy what you read to your children and delight in the fact that you
aren't teaching them that the world is sugar coated in a saccharine sweet layer. It is a fine balance
to
provide a fun scare for children without really traumatizing them, and yet each story in the
anthology
accomplishes that task with great success.
As a parent, I was so tired of reading stories to my daughter that ended with 'happily ever after',
and
tucking her in for the night. In doing this, I was teaching my child that the world is a happy, fluffy
place where everything, no matter how horrible, always works out before the words 'the end.'
Now
there is nothing wrong with that if you want your child to think all they ever come across will
dissipate with a mere wish -- not this mommy. Thanks to this anthology, I can now read stories to
my daughter that have endings that are more realistic, and actually teach her that she needs to
think
before she takes an action.
The editor, Selina Rosen, has done a marvelous job again in selecting stories that entertain both
children and the adults who are reading to them, the painstaking work of coordinating such a
project
should not be overlooked. The contributors should also feel a great deal of pride, in what they
have
accomplished. Writing for children has several challenges. I know my daughter has a very short
attention span, yet she sits glued to my every word as I read these tales to her, begging for just
one
more, and then yet another. I also wanted to note that at the age of ten she could read these
stories
without my help, the authors have truly made them child friendly.
The most beautiful thing is while your child will think of it as simply entertainment, they are
actually
learning how to be rational and responsible adults -- horror with learning value. Thank you, Selina
Rosen, for such a novel concept and thank you to all the authors, for having the gift to pull off
such
a feat with such grace.
If you are a parent, and even if you are not, pick up a copy. You certainly won't regret it, and I
have
a suspicion that even those of you with no children will have a hard time stopping after just one
story. From cover to cover, these tales are engrossing, enthralling, and a wonderful read. And I
didn't hurl once.
Tooth & Claw Volume 1
J. F. Gonzalez and Garrett Peck, editors
Lone Wolf Publications
13500 SE 79th St., Oklahoma City, OK 73150
www.lonewolfpubs.com
CD-Rom $17.95
Class product is the first thing that comes to mind when I think of my reading experience with
Tooth
& Claw Volume 1, a horror anthology edited by the duo of J. F. Gonzalez and Garrett Peck.
As my first CD-Rom/PDF reading experience I would like to walk you through as I experienced
it,
in all of its rich and detailed glory. Before you even put the disk in your computer, you'll notice
the
exceptional cover art by Allen Koszowski, which made me, a jaded horror reader, smile with
devilish
delight. Opening the insert, I found it to be signed by all of the authors, an especially nice treat, as
well as being a numbered limited edition.
Now, with mouth watering, you'll open the program to find sixteen scrumptious tales for you to
devour. You may have noticed from my descriptive terms that the theme is food related. That
would
be an evil understatement, as the main courses in these stories are generally people. The editors
put
it best; the stories are in the 'munch out' vein of horror.
Every story in the anthology is exceptional and, despite it being themed, a very eclectic
compilation
of styles and plots. These are real horror stories, well written and sure to chill even those with the
hardest of skin. The editors and writers have amassed as fine a collection as this prolific reader has
seen in many years. In order of appearance:
Bugs, by F. Paul Wilson, sure will make you think hard about the fact that insects outnumber
humans by such a ratio that they are the most dominant species on the planet. However, what
would
happen if the flies, worms, and caterpillars we all know were to become monsters, and hungry for
human blood? In a not too distant future as real as today, mankind finds the term worm food
takes
on a completely new meaning. Author Paul Wilson weaves a captivating and terrifying tale of one
man's struggle not only against the insects, but also against his fellow man.
Red Wood, by Brian Keene, is so rich in character and atmosphere; it feels as if you are right
there
struggling against the trees. Yes that is right, trees. Just what do you imagine you could do to
defend yourself if you happened to be in the woods where the trees actually ate humans? Devour
is a
more appropriate word, and thanks to the stunning storytelling you can actually visualize the
process
of tree roots and branches devouring an entire person, leaving only the husk. Pack the guns for
your
next hunting trip, but don't be lulled into a false sense of security. This is a deliciously disturbing
story.
More Maggots, by Wrath James White, details, details, so lovely and grotesque, absolutely
horrifying. Imagine your body infected by the flesh eating disease, is that scary enough? Not if you
are poor Anthony, who makes a judgment call to seek the help of Mama Luanda, over the help of
modern medicine. The cure? Simple enough, allow maggots to eat away the infected flesh. White
has a wonderful way with details, and I am thankful that dinner time was well over by the time I
read
this tale.
Dam Beavers, by Edo Van Belkam, will most assuredly make you rethink any preconceived
notion
you may have had about a certain woodland animal. If you have ever thought of beavers as being
nothing more than cute little flat-tailed woodland creatures that just chew on trees and build
dams,
think again. This story about a farmer who has problems with their dam being built affecting his
crops, written in a folksy way by Edo Van Belkom, will have you seeing these animals in a new
light-'dam it'.
Mighty in Battle, by Hugh B. Cave, is an intense read. Mattie, alone with her cat, awaits her
husband
in their honeymoon bed, unaware that the area outside has fallen to gangs. Cave does an
exceptional
job of conveying what Mattie goes through as four teenagers hold her captive. Her thoughts are
so
on the money as the kids talk about how they are each going to have a night with her, it incites
fear
into your soul as if it were you being ordered to do the laundry for and feed the filthy kids. And
Scooter, the cat, is nowhere to be found. He must be very hungry, being gone for so long.
Scrumptious storytelling.
Scavengers, by Roger Range seems innocent enough. Anyone with children understands how hard
it
is to keep their interest, especially while on vacation. Richard Freeberg wanted to share some
childhood memories with his three children, but as with most family vacations things don't always
go
as planned. First came the flat, leaving his wife and kids alone to wait while he walked to the
store.
Coyotes approach and then a mother's worst fear, losing a child; watching as your first-born son is
shredded by a pack of hungry animals. Things get out of control and Range goes to great pains to
describe being eating alive, as the mother and remaining male child are decimated, leaving only the
daughter. But there is more to this story. It is very rarely that you finish a short story and are just
blown away by the unexpected ending. What a wonderful treat.
Fish Story, by Selina Rosen, hooks you and keeps you engaged right to the last word. I am sure
we
have all heard some unbelievable fish stories in our time. The characterization used by the author
pulls you right into his mind as you search around for the information, simply needing to know
what
has this good ole boy so scared. At first, I felt sympathy for the state trooper, having to deal with
a
lunatic, but that quickly changed to urgency, hoping they would listen, and do so before it was
too
late. This is dark humor at its finest, and sure to tantalize your depraved funny bone.
Do You Know This Girl, by, Jeffrey Thomas, is a perfect blend of science fiction and horror. One
of
the scariest things that a writer of horror can accomplish is making you feel that you are alone,
and
fighting against an unknown foe. Author Thomas does just that, with a unique and original
monster.
Something is killing the inhabitants of Punktown; and Toskins, an average business man, is about
to
find out just what it is, or I should say come face to face to face with it, as I am not sure what it is
myself, but I do know it is frightening. The image of this monster devouring humans with half of
an
already dead torso atop it will forever haunt my mind-A superb job, bravo.
Teacher's Pet, by Simon Clark & Tim Lebbon, makes clear that sometimes being teacher's pet
does
not mean the teacher's favorite student, sometimes it means pet in the literal sense as some
students
at the school after hours to pull some pranks discover much to their dismay. The authors manage
to
capture the speech, feelings, and actions of these children as if they were true kids, never an easy
feat to accomplish, making the story not only a scary read, but one that reads true to life.
Raingods Dancing, by Michael Laimo, takes a natural disaster and gives it a dark twist. Rain of an
unnatural origin fell, flooding the camp as high as the second storey on those cabins which had
them.
When the sheriff comes out to investigate, he is surprised to find giant prehistoric tadpoles
attacking
him and his deputies. If that wasn't bad enough, you do know what tadpoles become don't
you...especially giant prehistoric tadpoles. This story is yet another that had me engrossed from
beginning to end, kudos to author Laimo.
Friends of a Forgotten Man, by Gord Rollo, is a revenge story deluxe. What would you do if your
wife were killed? Lock up the responsible party in a small dark hole, and feed them only enough
to
keep them alive and suffering of course. Sounds fair enough to me. But the story is not about the
husbands' revenge. It is about the man in the hole, the forgotten man, and his friends. Friends who
just so happen to be the leeches that bond with him as they feed off his body. And one never
forgets
promises made to a friend, not even a leech. This is highly imaginative and thoroughly
entertaining.
Savage Safari, by Guy N. Smith, is the kind of story that makes you think, 'cool,' when you read
the
last word. I have never been a fan of hunting or gaming, feeling that it is just wrong to go into an
animal's home with the intent to catch it unaware and kill it before it has a chance to react. That
may
explain my delight when the hunters became the hunted. They would have been much better off
had
it been the bull elephant they were hunting, however it was something much older, bigger and far
more deadly. I must say this was edge of the seat gripping storytelling.
Eldon Weeks and the Salem Witch, by Scott Thomas, takes place in a world now ruled by The
New
Gods. All women are dead and the men are being picked off one at a time by gulls. Eldon is the
Gull
Slayer and there is a bounty on his head. Much to his surprise, he and his traveling partner
Davenport find a woman still alive. The sad irony is that she is a nun. Thomas poses the age-old
question, what if we were the last two humans alive? This was wicked fun and told in a unique
style
which I found to be very engaging.
Curly's Story, by John Pelan, touches on my own personal fear of spiders. As Curly tells his tale of
the huge spiders found in the Steens, a secluded wilderness perfect for hunting, my skin literally
crawled with fear. Pelan gave me enough detail to perfectly picture horrible spiders large enough
to
drain a deer of its internal organs in an hour. And even though the spiders only reside in the telling
of
a story from the local drunk, you will most defiantly be left to wonder just what happened in the
Steens after Curly left. The story telling was smooth and chilling.
Dust Bunnies, by Mary Ann Mitchell, proves what I have been saying for a long time, housework
is
bad for your health. Pruncella was not very good at housework. Cleaning was never her
forte-with
the exception of dust bunnies-those she just could not tolerate to have around her house. She kept
constantly at her vigil, until the night she discovered the dust bunny from Hell crawling out from
under her bed. Ms. Mitchell writes with such perfection that I felt I was there being attacked as
well.
Once Upon the End, by Weston Ochse, is a powerful tale of survival. The earth is infested with
maggot-like creatures, and the story is about a small band of people bent on helping each other
get
out of this alive. I got to say it is a rare treat to have characters so rich and so diverse in a short
story. I am usually a big fan of the bad guys, but Ochse draws you into his cast and makes you
care,
deeply, about the outcome. I must admit grandma was my favorite and seeing 'Little Bunny Foo
Foo'
in written word for the first time since childhood made me smile. Horrified and moved all in the
same tale.
Not only are you the reader treated to deliciously horrifying tales, but also the CD is loaded with
bonuses. The first I want to mention is the fact that if you are not one to read on the computer, a
print friendly version is in the menu. But it doesn't stop there, you also get: a video introduction,
video dramatizations of two of the stories; Dam Beavers by Edo van Belkom, and Friends of the
Forgotten Man by Gord Rollo, a real audio reading of The Fish Story by Selina Rosen, and you
can
read the script for Once Upon the End, by Weston Ochse.
I want to go back to the art for a moment while we are talking about bonuses. Not only is the
cover
amazing, but there is also an equally amazing piece appearing before each story, and if you still
crave
more work from Allen Koszowski, you will find some of the most well-done and disturbing pieces
of
art in the creature gallery.
If you have yet to be filled with horrible thoughts that will keep you up all night with the lights on
and still haven't had enough, then in the 'about the contributor' section, you will find information
about everyone involved, and links to find out even more.
Without hyperbole, this is the best themed anthology I have read in years. Kudos to everyone
involved, and I eagerly await the next volume. If you don't own this now, you had best grab your
copy while you can. No horror collection will be complete without it in its midst. When is the
next
volume?
Diana Bennett, Reviewer
Drayvenn@aol.com
Fortenberry's Bookshelf
My Soul Has Grown Deep
Classics of Early African-American Literature.
John Edgar Wideman
Running Press Publishers
125 South Twenty-second Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19103-4399
www.runningpress.com
$29.95, 1270 pp. ISBN: 0762410353
John Edgar Wideman, the first author to ever win two PEN/Faulkner awards, continues to fulfill
his
promise as one of the most important authors in America today. My Soul Has Grown Deep is an
anthology of classics, but is destined to become a classic itself. It is a must-have collection for any
serious scholar of American culture, whether focused on literary, historical, social, economic, or
political studies. It is so rich a heritage, it almost defies description. Collected here we find the
works of Sojourner Truth, Frederick Douglass, Booker T. Washington, Ida B. Wells, W. E. B.
DuBois, and Paul Lawrence Dunbar, for example. Any one of these names instantly sets the
standard
and we begin to see the immense impact upon our society and indeed the world these thinkers
have
had. This tome and it is a great tome in the grand old notion of the heavy, thick book o'
knowledge
is indispensable Americana.
Wideman provides quite a service here, in numerous ways. Not only has he anthologized in one
convenient volume a distillation of some of our nation's greatest authors, but he carefully
introduces
each one with a biographical essay and study of their works. These works are presented as they
were
originally written. The excerpts have not been edited or their language "modernized" to help out
our
soft headed reading skills. They are historical documents and should be analyzed and
comprehended
in context. This isn't McHistory we are studying through the reconstituted McLiterary
advertisement
side order of the biggie fried book. This is a gigantic slab of real literature. It is a heavy, bloody
slice
of humanity's soul. We have a lot to learn and should be thankful. To quote Dunbar in his "Ode to
Ethiopia": "Be proud, my Race, in mind and soul; / Thy name is writ on Glory's scroll / In
characters
of fire." Here is that fiery scroll. The contribution of the "black man" should not be seen as solely
for
the black man, either. This is a legacy for the human race, a lesson and a light for the world. As
Dunbar continues, "No other race, or white or black, / When bound as thou wert, to the rack, / So
seldom stooped to grieving; / No other race, when free again, / Forgot the past and proved them
men / So noble in forgiving. / Go on and up! Our souls and eyes / Shall follow thy continuous rise;
/
Our ears shall list thy story." (1171) The history of slavery and freedom in America, much like the
recent liberation of South Africa, or the tragedy of the Holocaust, has much to teach us all about
our
own humanity. More importantly, perhaps, is the lesson learned by our responses to and attitudes
about these tragedies. As Ida Wells notes, despite the later indictment of the "Negro a moral
monster," the enslaved blacks of the South preserved:
inviolate the womanhood of the South which was entrusted to his hands during the war. The finer
sensibilities of his soul may have been crushed out by years of slavery, but his heart was full of
gratitude to the white women of the North, who blessed his home and inspired his soul in all these
years of freedom. Faithful to his trust in both of these instances, he should now have the impartial
ear of the civilized world, when he dares to speak for himself as against the infamy wherewith he
stands charged. (802)
As Wideman comments in the introduction to the book, "DuBois attempted to gauge the future
by
looking backward first." This is the rallying cry of any great historian, for the past is indeed alive
and
the mother of our present. It is never, as he quotes Richard Holmes, "simply 'out there,' an
objective
history to be researched or forgotten at will, but lives most vividly in all of us...." Wideman
compares our current time to that in which DuBois composed The Souls of Black Folk, the turn
of a
century, on the cusp of great uncertainties and great prospects, "poised at the edge of the
unknown."
The purpose of his book is to engage us, to teach us, and to open us up to all potentialities. Some
possible answers to our future lie in these commentaries and perhaps solutions to the problems
facing the Twentieth Century. We have much to learn here, even if it is nothing more than the
attitudes of these thinkers. Because no matter how dire the situation, no matter what form or
color
or distance a problem may have to us, its solution lies in the mind and will. Clear thinking cannot
exist without the proper attitude, the proper education, and the proper resources. What we have
here is a fantastic and irreplaceable resource. We all owe Mr. Wideman a debt of gratitude for
compiling this excellent collection.
A Modern Buddhist Bible: Essentials Readings from East and West
Donald S. Lopez, Jr., editor
Beacon Press
25 Beacon Street, Boston, MA, 02108-2892
www.beacon.org
$16.00 266 pp. ISBN: 0807012432
Donald Lopez, Jr. has compiled a fantastic collection of Buddhist writings in A Modern Buddhist
Bible. In it we find a wonderous diversity of thought, including The Dalai Lama, Thich Nhat
Nanh,
D.T. Suzuki, Alan Watts, Allen Ginsberg, Willliam Burroughs, and Jack Kerouac. Each writer's
section is introduced with a brief biographical essay that places person and thought in the grand
vision as explained by Lopez. He notes that modern Buddhists are "forging a universal doctrine
from
the divergent traditions of China, Sri Lanka, Japan, Burma, Thailand, and Tibet...", and also, one
presumes without saying, Europe and America. He notes that the "new" doctrine put far less
emphasis on traditions, rituals and relics, instead focusing on an active spirituality of mediation
and
compassion. These readings provide fascinating insights into Buddhism from numerous directions,
much like light striking a prism from all directions. These thoughts both illuminate the core of the
crystal and project new and varied rainbows of light in all directions.
I found fascinating and brilliant writings in here. Some old favorites -- often just for the collegiate
rebelloius hell of it-- such as Kerouac or Williams, sparkle all over the place with there literary
magic
(Who else but Jack could pull off a straightedged line like, "It's a satori of your foolish flesh, you
lecher."), while other more "serious" studies from Suzuki, Watts, or Hanh illuminate the depths.
Thich Nhat Hanh has a section on "suffering is not enough," which is something I very much
believe
it. It says we must always look beyond suffering to the beauty of the world ("sunshine, the eyes of
a
baby"), to be truly peaceful and happy. Also, he includes some lesser known or sometimes
forgotten
authors and their works, such as Sir Edwin Arnold or Henry Steel Olcott, which add some nice
flavor to the collection. In one of the simplest, but purely wonderful statements on religion ever
made, Shaku Soen said this in an address to the National Geopgraphic Society in 1906, "I was
once
asked whether there was such a thing as religious life particularly. To which my answer was
simple
enough: 'Attend to your daily business, do all you can for the promotion of goodness in this
world,
and out of fullness of heart help your fellow-beings to gain the path of enlightenment. Outside of
this
there cannot be anything to be specially called a religious life.'" Yet again, this shows the
simplicity
and direct power of Christ and Buddha, "Do unto others...." It can't get much simpler.
There is however one slight problem with this collection. Or as I like to call it, now to nitpick the
trivial. The back cover states that this "is the first anthology to bring together the writings from
Buddhists from both Asia and the West that have defined Buddhism in our era." This I think is
accurate, far more so than the title of the book. I had some problems with using A Modern
Buddhist
Bible as the title. It is in fact a unique, diverse collection of mainly modern Buddhist thoughts, but
these are often by non-expert, sometimes halfhearted devotees who simply have some cache or
notoriety of name. I mean when we are talking William Burroughs and Madame Blavatsky as
Buddhist core writings, we aren't necessarily at the heart of Buddhism. He could just as easily
include Richard Gere and the Beastie Boys as experts. I believe though the intention is good, the
title and its implications simply miss the mark. A "bible," as perceived in the West at least, has
marked connotations. It is a core testament, a bedrock book from which all else springs or to
which
all else is added. I believe a Buddhist Bible, per se, would be more along the lines of the sutras of
the
Buddha himself, and then maybe adding things like Zen koans as a "new testament" of historical
texts alongside the "old testament" heart of diamond, as it were. While I can see The Dalai Lama's
writings as a relevant modern core resource, I cannot see Madame Blavatsky's theosophy as a
core
teaching, even though she so obviously based it upon Buddhist principles. She also talked about
everything from lost lemurians wizards to outer realms visitors and ghosts as her teachers. So, I
think you have to place her blatherings, and say Alan Ginsburg's poetry and the dharma bums
meanderings, in a Buddhist subcategory or interesting or literary or complimentary or artistic
complimentary writings to the core, but not the core itself. But then, maybe he wishes them to
simply be gateways to the core. Like a sand mandala or tantric chant, maybe it is a beautiful,
artistic
gateway, though of course not the core itself. At any rate, I thought perhaps the subtitle,
Essentials
Readings From East and West, would have made a more accurate title. But then, I may not have
noticed it on the shelf if it weren't called a Buddhist Bible. Sigh. We'll leave all that to the
marketers.
Time to sit and relax.
The Crime Writer's Reference Guide
Martin Roth
Studio City, CA: Michael Wise Productions
11288 Ventura Blvd., Suite 621, Studio City, CA 91604
www.mwp.com
$19.95, 280 pp. ISBN: 0941188493
Writing a mystery no longer has to be a mystery. Martin Roth's updated second edition of The
Crime
Writer's Reference Guide is a smarter, more comprehensive, and (could it possibly be, in this day
and
age?) easier to use manual for the writer of crime tales. We no longer need an inside scoop, with a
buddy at the bureau or an old sergeant on the force who was friend's with our dad, to get to the
real
deal. Roth has performed an invaluable service for writers everywhere, compiling a very thorough
yet lucid and light compendium on crime writing, or as the quaint subtitle runs, "1001 Tips for
Writing the Perfect Murder."
Coordinated under hard to confuse headings such as criminals, crime, cops, courts, investigations,
prisons, and language, the necessary information is succinctly presented and accompanied by
charts
or lists where necessary. Roth provides-at-a-glance breakdowns of federal and local investigatory
bureaucracies, laws and legal codes, types of weapons and drugs, and official and slang
definitions.
Furthermore, each section ends with lists of additional references for more detailed studies. I
could
easily break this book apart and coat my walls with charts and lists of vital information to craft the
next Mary Higgins Patterson nee Grisham bestseller, but it's bound in such a nice little package
that I
hate to mess with perfection. Besides, as I learn reading this book, sloppiness does not a perfect
crime writer make.
Roth answers our questions and solves all our basic crime problems in this book. From scene of
the
crime staff operations and proper investigatory procedures, to charges, court procedures or
forensics, this is the guidebook. While it can't solve the writer's greatest challenge interesting,
dynamic characters it can provide the concrete world in which they operate. I urge all crime and
mystery writers to use this resource. It is invaluable and will save an immense amount of research
time. Or, to use some of the legal jargon I am picking up from it, this argument is ab incovenienti
"an argument that not following a certain course will result in hardship." Writers, don't cause
yourself hardship. Pick up this quick reference guide to lay the technical groundwork so you can
focus on developing those characters racing through a finely convoluted plot. Or to put it another
way, buy this so you can start killing quicker.
The Seventy Great Mysteries of the Ancient World: Unlocking the Secrets of Past
Civilizations.
Brian M. Fagan, editor
NYC: Thames & Hudson
$40.00 304 pp. ISBN: 0500510504
From the earliest age I remember being fascinated by tales of "lost" empires and ancient
civilizations.
It began with the mysterious Mayans (at that time seen as something bizarre between
astronomer-priests and magician-warriors who suddenly vanished from the earth and left behind
an
indecipherable glyphic language that hinted at vast cosmic knowledge, which of curse fueled an
entire mini-genre on ancient astronauts). I retain a lot of that wonderment to this day, though now
it
is grounded in science and realistic theories, and love reading still about those places of mystery
and
magic where our facts tend to run out and speculations run wild. The Seventy Great Mysteries of
the
Ancient World fits the bill. It is a mature, serious look at some of histories greatest turning points
and conundrums.
Though it does cover the usual ground like the myth of Atlantis, the Garden of Eden, Moses,
Biblical flood, the shroud of Turin, Stonehenge, and King Arthur, it deals with them exceptionally
well, exposing the speculations and providing the latest theories and research. For instance it
updates the "Ten Lost Tribes of Israel" topic with the latest DNA finds in South Africa and Asia.
But this book is a very good blend of hard science with cool musings, with weight given to
factuality. The vast bulk of the book deals with more firmly grounded and serious historical
arguments, such as the origin of language and writing, the enigma of paleolithic cave art and fate
of
the Neanderthals, beginnings of agriculture and cities, mummification and pyramid building, the
fall
of Roman and Moche civilizations, the origin of Indoeuropeans and Aborigines, Polynesian
navigation, and the tombs of Alexander the Great and China's first emperor. One section, on
ancient
and undeciphered scripts such as Proto-Elamite, Etruscan, Linear A, Meroitic, Indus, Zapotec,
and
Runes, I found extremely fascinating. I love languages and realized this entire section is a gold
mine
of research opportunities. But back to the book at large. The text is lucid, flowing with quiet
authority, and easy to grasp though detailed. Furthermore, each topic is presented in a very
concise
sections to enable brief readings on the run or in stimulated conversations. The book is illustrated
throughout with gorgeous photography, explicit maps, graphs and charts, all laid out in an
attractive
and balanced design. It also has a nice section in the back before the index that provides further
reading suggestions on every topic covered in this volume. It is slightly oversized, so would make
an
easy to handle coffee table book as well as a weighty bookshelf addition. For the thorough
collection, there is a companion volume The Seventy Great Wonders of the Ancient World: The
Great Monuments and How They Were Built, edited by Chris Scarre.
Overall I have to jump for joy about this grown-up "mysteries of history" book. My hat is off to
Mr.
Fagan for gathering such an impressive and controlled collection of data on a hot, yet often totally
misconstrued topic. The subject is infinitely rich and there is never a need to go for
sensationalism.
The most serious, well-reasoned arguments in the book are sometimes the most shocking to read
and astounding to grasp. This book is such a pleasure to read that I actually read it twice before
writing my review.
Thomas Fortenberry
Reviewer
Gorden's Bookshelf
Hulk
Peter David
Del Rey Books/Ballantine Books
www.randomhouse.com
ISBN: 0345459679 price: $6.99 May, 2003, 338 pages
Peter David has written a number of screenplays into novels. With 'Hulk,' David comes close to
writing a great novel but misses the mark.
Bruce Krenzler has always kept his emotions under control; this tight control has estranged him
from his girlfriend, Betty Ross. His haunted past lurks just beyond his consciousness. At a
laboratory
in Berkley, Bruce, Jake Harper, and Betty experiment with ways for the body to regenerate
damaged
tissues. An accident occurs during an experiment and Bruce is exposed to radiation, a dosage that
should have killed him but doesn't. Everyone seems to want a part of Bruce including his
murderous
father, David Banner.
The 'Hulk' is a story about the damage visited on children by parents who think about themselves
alone. It tells the story of a child's anger manifested in a green Hulk who is able to bring the might
of
the world down to the toys of a child. The novel comes up short in bringing the psychological
damage to the understanding of the reader but does deliver on the action/adventure parts of the
story. If you like any of the Marvel comic characters, you will love the 'Hulk.' If you want a
deeper
understanding of the psychological damage that can be done to a child, find a good Alex
Delaware
mystery.
Bones of the Earth
Michael Swanwick
HarperTorch
10 East 53rd Street, New York, NY 10022
ISBN: 0380812894 price: $7.50 paperback 383 pages
Michael Swanwick has written a tale filled with the paradoxes of time travel. The story is a fun
confusing mix of spectacular action and the anomalies of time travel. The story has weaknesses
but
the unique twist between the hundreds of millions of years in the past and the unforeseen technical
science of the future overcomes any problems with the writing.
Richard Leyster is a world-renowned paleontologist when a man by the name Griffin walks into
his
office and leaves him with a fresh Stegosaurus head in a cooler. The surprises, tension, murder
and
mayhem come non-stop until an end that is just as much of a paradox as the beginning.
'Bones of the Earth' is well worth the time it takes to understand the twists and turns. It offers a
new, but sparse, speculation of the life and death of the dinosaurs. It also takes a look at the
paradox
of time travel, without the science, but filled with details a layperson can grasp. Swanwick has
written a fresh story filled with old questions and just enough answers to make the reader
comfortable. Anyone who likes to read a book that makes you think should read 'Bones of the
Earth.'
S.A. Gorden
Reviewer
Harold's Bookshelf
When Life and Beliefs Collide: How Knowing God Makes a Difference
Carolyn Custis James
Zondervan Publishing
5300 Patterson SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49530
ISBN: 0310250145 $12.99 Pages: 256
Carolyn James starts her book with a personal experience at a large evangelical seminary. As one
of
the first five women to enroll in the seminary after it opened its door to women, she experienced
both support and condemnation for being there. But one remark from one professor caused her to
go on a search to prove him wrong. That remark was that there "have never been any great
women
theologians". In a field where admittance of women to theological institutions has been very rare
it
seems logical that there have not been any great women theologians, not because they could not
have been but because the system prevented them from existing.
From this point she begins the real meat of the book, and what a fine meal it is. By first pointing
out
that theology is really about knowing God and not about graduation from a seminary, she then
shows that there have been women in the Bible who came to know God and lived their theology
every day. Through a detailed examination of Mary and Martha with an emphasis on Mary, she
demonstrates how Mary grew into a strong relationship with Christ.
Carolyn James examines why women often shy away from theology. She examines how Mary's
experiences parallel our own in many circumstances. Starting with chapter five she looks at
Mary's
disappointment with Jesus as Lazarus lay dying. How did this circumstance affect her relationship
with Christ as the teacher and as the healer? Why does God often seem to not be there when we
need him most? How do we handle our unbelief when presented with things contrary to our
beliefs?
While she builds a very good case for Mary as the first great theologian who seemed to
understand
the mission of Jesus even when his disciples were confused, that is not the totality of the book.
Chapter nine is not to be missed by anyone seeking to understand the male/female or
husband/wife
relationship. It is an insightful, sound and refreshing chapter. Looking beyond tradition, she does a
fantastic job of shedding new light on the subject. This book is worth the price just for chapter
nine.
While it is directed toward women as the primary reader, it is a recommended book for anyone.
However it is especially appropriate for women who feel that their theology is not important
because
they need to be under the headship of a husband. Your theology, your understanding of God, your
relationship with God is important whether you are single, or married. For women readers it is a
highly recommended book and a source of encouragement for those seeking a deeper
understanding
and relationship with God.
Total Tai Chi
Matthew Rochford
Thunder Bay Press
5880 Oberlin Drive, San Diego, CA 92121-4794
ISBN: 1571459340 $19.98 Pages: 192
"Total Tai Chi" is one of the more practical instructional and informational texts on the subject. It
begins with an exposition of the history and philosophy of Tai Chi. In this section the author
points
out that Tai Chi is both an ancient martial art and a form of "moving meditative practice".
Matthew
Rochford discusses the history of the various styles of Tai Chi and how it is used today for health
and exercises. These health benefits are quite extensive and include blood pressure regulation,
more
energy, better balance, increased white blood cell count, better breathing capacity, better posture,
improved heart health, improved concentration, and a general state of calmness.
The second part is where the actual practice and forms are introduced. This section is heavily
illustrated and well written. The author does well with the formidable writing challenge of trying
to
explain various physical movements in sufficient detail that the reader can duplicate the
movement.
In addition, the author takes a unique approach by first concentrating on just the upper body
movements, then on leg movements, before combining them to produce the whole body
movements.
Finally an eight posture movement and a sixteen posture movement are introduced and explained
in
detail. The section concludes with how to work with a partner.
The book concludes with suggestions on how to use Tai Chi throughout the day including doing
some of the exercises while seated and a short morning, afternoon and evening routine. For those
interested in learning this ancient form of fitness this is an excellent book on the subject and a
highly
recommended read.
Season of Peace Devotional
Russell Pond
Season of Peace
2803 Needles St., Euless, TX 76040
ISBN: 0971884005 $15.00 Pages: 203
Not just everyday devotional messages, "Season of Peace Devotional" has contains devotionals
directly related to problems with anxiety, fear, and panic attacks. Each devotional is short, taken
from a particular passage of Bible scripture, has three primary points to think about, and ends
with a
prayer. Each is well thought out and speaks to a specific aspect of those who experience anxiety
and
fear in their lives. Whether helping to remove the grip of a fear or establishing hope about the
future
they are all powerful devotionals. This is a highly recommended book for anyone dealing with
fear,
anxiety, or hopelessness in his or her lives. Get it, read it, work toward a season of peace.
Northern Mysteries and Magick
Freya Aswynn
Llewellyn Publications
PO Box 64383, St. Paul, MN 55164-0383
ISBN: 1567180477 $14.95 Pages: 242
This is the fourth printing of "Northern Mysteries and Magick" and if you are into runes or
Scandinavian mythology and mysteries then it is easy to see why it has been so popular. Starting
with a short piece on the northern tradition in perspective, it proceeds quickly into a detailed
section
on runes. For each rune it gives the Germanic, Anglo-Saxon and Old Norse names, the phonetic
value and the traditional meaning as well as an illustration of the rune. Beneath this there is a
detailed analysis of the rune in terms of the culture of the time, it's derivation when known, other
words it is associated with, how it was related to specific Norse gods and myths, and various
other
pieces of information as appropriate. While the information is detailed the writing style is not very
technical in nature and so creates a flowing, easy to follow read that anyone can understand.
Following this section is an excellent piece on runic divination including the nine worlds of Nordic
mythology and how they relate to the conscious. Divination methods discussed include the basic
fourfold wheel and the more detailed eightfold wheel techniques. This is followed by a very
informative section on runic magic and traditional magic techniques and beliefs. Each of the
traditional Scandinavian gods is presented with a detailed profile that includes their name in
Norse,
English, Dutch, and German, their primary element, secondary element, color, number, totem
animals, personal sigils, magical items, the purpose for which they are typically invoked and the
runes used for them.
The book ends with a chapter on feminine mysteries that includes a short piece on the practice of
Seith (mostly the casting spells and enchantments), an examination of Odin and how he related to
the feminine mysteries, and detailed profiles of the feminine gods such as Frigga and Freyja. For
those who are interested in runes, northern magic beliefs and systems, or just a detailed account of
how runes and magic were used historically and what they meant to the people of that time it is a
highly recommended read.
Louisiana's Award Winning Recipes
Missy Armstrong, Dottie Brewer, Harrietta Randazzo
Billion $ Baby Publications
22817 Ventura Boulevard, Suite 408, Woodland Hills, CA 91364
ISBN: 0970794517 $14.95 Pages: 135
When I started reviewing the book "Louisiana's Award Winning Recipes" I expected to find some
fine Cajun style recipes. While I was not disappointed and found several such recipes, it also
contained many old-fashioned favorites. One of my favorites, old-fashioned skillet cornbread, was
included in the text and is a recipe that is not easy to come by with most cornbread recipes
including
a fair amount of sugar (this one does not).
The book is divided into several sections: appetizers, beverages, breads, soups, salads, vegetables,
meats, poultry, seafood, pies, tarts, and desserts. Other really good recipes include Party Shrimp
and
Mushrooms, Stuffed Peppers, and Poulet Luzianne. Unusual recipes that you are unlikely to find
in
other cookbooks include Crawfish and Corn Soup, Turtle Soup Manchac, Catfish Gumbo, Soup
Du
Crocodile, Jambalaya, Spicy Okra Puffs, and Creole Shrimp Stew.
This book is not about fancy cooking but the kind of dishes that you are likely to encounter at a
church potluck dinner or a backyard family get-together. It is the traditional home-style cooking
common to Louisiana and sure to please anyone looking for such recipes. "Louisiana's Award
Winning Recipes" is a highly recommended read for those looking for Cajun style cooking or
old-fashioned, traditional recipes.
Organizing Your Home Business
Lisa Kanarek
Made EZ Products, Inc.
384 South Military Trail, Deerfield Beach, FL 33442
ISBN: 1563825155 $14.95 Pages: 275
For those who have made the switch to working at home this book is directed to organizing your
home office so it actually functions as a business. "Organizing Your Home Business" addresses a
lot
of the little things that may make or break your business if you don't do them right. At a minimum
they help to make the business run more as a business and less as a hobby. First she addresses the
creation of a useful workspace including what you should consider before deciding where to work
and how to organize it for efficiency.
One of the problems that most people don't think much about is the problem of office supplies.
How
much do you purchase? Where do you store them until needed? What supplies need a monitoring
system so you know when you are running low and which ones don't need to be watched as
closely?
One of the biggest problems that I have seen in this area is printer ink. There's nothing like having
to
stop what you are doing, run out to a store, and get another printer cartridge so you can finish
getting something out today. If you let your supplies determine your schedule you will find
yourself
frantically trying to get everything done.
The rest of the book deals primarily with organizing paperwork, creating a daily planner, home
filing
systems, how to handle incoming information so it is addressed efficiently, organizing receipts,
time
management, and even ways to turn your car into a home office if that is what you need. If you
have
minimal experience with office management then "Organizing Your Home Business" is a good
place
to start gaining an understanding of the details of organizing a home business.
The John Hopkins Medical Guide to Health After 50
Simeon Margolis, M.D., Ph.D.
Rebus, Inc.
632 Broadway, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10012
ISBN: 0929661737 $39.95 Pages: 638 plus multiple appendices
From the highly respected John Hopkins University Medical School, "The John Hopkins Medical
Guide to Health After 50" provides extensive information in an easy to use and easy to understand
format. It is logically divided into three major divisions plus several extremely useful appendices.
The three major divisions are Disease Prevention, a thorough Body Atlas, and the alphabetic
Guide
to Medical Disorders.
The section on Disease Prevention includes information on longevity, exercises, diet, Weight
control, smoking, alcohol, and screening tests. It carefully discusses each of these items and their
importance to keeping healthy.
The section on the Body Atlas is exactly what you would expect from the name. It is thoroughly
illustrated and covers all major organs and structures of the body including the skeletal system,
eyes,
ears, endocrine system, digestive system, and others. The only one that I found lacking was the
part
on the muscular system. With a frontal view of the muscular system it clearly shows how they
relate
to each other, however, there was no illustration of the muscular system of the back. Since back
problems are fairly common as we age I would have like to have seen a view of the back muscles
in
addition to the frontal. All the illustrations provided are detailed, in full color and well
designed.
The Medical Disorders division is by far the most extensive section. It covers all the expected
items
such as arthritis, breast cancer, chronic pain, coronary disease, and emphysema. But it also
includes
some unexpected topics such as bipolar disorder, sleeping problems, and even wrinkles. Each
disorder typically include information on causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment options, side
effects, involved structures, current research, and alternative therapies. It is easy to look through a
particular disorder and come away with sufficient knowledge to intelligently discuss the condition
with your physician. Knowing what questions to ask and the purpose of a suggested treatment
regimen is a critical step in taking control and responsibility for your own health. This book
provides
you with that knowledge.
A very highly recommended book, it is extensive in its coverage, filled with excellent illustrations
that clearly demonstrate the accompanying text, contains a medical glossary, and a thorough
listing
of support groups and organizations for various disorders. With over a hundred specific ailments
common in people over 50 this is an important reference text for any home.
Java Script Bible - 4th Edition
Danny Goodman
Hungry Minds, Inc.
909 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10022
ISBN: 0764533428 $49.99 Pages: 1200 including appendices and index.
The "Java Script Bible" is one of the few technical books that live up to its title. It starts with the
author's view of Java Script's role in the Internet, some of the challenges of dealing with the
different
browsers, and writing your first Java Script. This section is followed by an extensive tutorial. The
tutorial covers browsers and document objects, HTML Documents, programming variables,
expressions, data type conversions, decisions structures and loops, functions, arrays and windows
objects. No area is left uncovered from the DOM model to Cascading Style Sheets, to XML. The
book ends with a detailed section on the core language reference.
The book has examples of work-arounds for bugs, example scripts (most of which are also
included
on the enclosed CD-ROM). There are other excellent books available but none cover all the
details
of Java Script to the extent this book does. This is the most highly recommended book on Java
Script that I have read to date - an absolute must on any Java Script programmer's bookshelf.
History of Science: Antiquity to 1700
Lawrence M. Principe, lecturer
The Teaching Company
4151 Lafayette Center Drive, Suite 100, Chantilly, VA 20151-1232
VHS, CD, Audio Tape, DVD
Lectures: 36
Science has advanced more and more rapidly over the years and it is easy to lose sight of the
foundations of science. What seems obvious to us now is only obvious because we have been
taught
it from childhood, but at some point in time someone had to develop or recognize even the most
basic principles. Dr. Principe guides the listener through the early history of science in thirty-six
lectures. These lectures include not only what you learned in high school but he develops each
person as a complete individual. Not only does he include the well-known information and
successes
of each person but also their frailties and disappointments.
One of the themes that he examines closely is the relationship between science and religion. While
we have been taught about the problems between Galileo and other scientists and the Catholic
Church, we have not generally been taught the many, many times that the church was the primary
supporter of scientific research and inquiry. How does this historical information affect us today?
Would you believe that the sixty minutes to the hour is from a Babylonian base-60 math system?
With aqueducts that had to cover great expanses but only decrease a few feet and keep a constant
grade for the entire distance, the feats of Roman engineering are nothing short of amazing.
Dr. Principe clearly examines each advance in science within the culture of the time and in doing
so
makes it much more interesting. One of the more interesting lectures covers the contributions of
the
Arab world. There were great advances in astronomy, mathematics, optics, and terrestrial
navigation. If you had to face Mecca each day for prayer then they had to develop reliable ways to
determine the shortest distance to Mecca no matter where you were on the earth. This need lead
to
the creation of astrolabes, which could be used with considerable accuracy.
Not content to just discuss the successes of science, Dr. Principe also examines the fascination
with
alchemy and astrology. At one time these were serious pursuits and the scientific community in
general took them to be serious research. Dr. Principe has provided a delightful trip back in time
to
understand science as it was and how we eventually moved to the brink of the Scientific
Revolution.
The lectures are highly recommended for anyone desiring a complete understanding of the history
of
scientific thought from the ancient beginnings to the 1700s.
The Complete C. S. Lewis Signature Classics
C. S. Lewis
HarperCollins
HarperSanFrancisco Division
10 East 53rd Street, New York, NY 10022
ISBN: 0060506083 $49.95 Pages: 498
Clive Staples Lewis, better known as C. S. Lewis was one of the most influential Christian
thinkers
of all time. Whether through symbolism in the Great Divorce, biting satire in the Screwtape
Letters,
or unflinching logic in Mere Christianity his brilliance shows through clearly. "The Complete C. S.
Lewis Signature Classics" contains his seven most popular works - Mere Christianity, The
Screwtape Letters, Miracles, The Great Divorce, The Problem of Pain, A Grief Observed, and
The
Abolition of Man. While I read many of these years ago as a young Christian and college student
this
is the first compendium that I have reviewed. Make no mistake about it; this is a collector's
edition in
all respects - hardbound, nice dust jacket, crisp quality printing, and even an attached ribbon
bookmark.
"Mere Christianity" presents the basic tenets of Christianity. C. S. Lewis breaks the book up into
four parts - Right and Wrong as a Clue to the Meaning of the Universe, What Christians Believe,
Christian Behaviour, and Beyond Personality: Or First Steps in the Doctrine of the Trinity. This
book is one of the most commonly recommended books for new Christians and those who want
to
understand basic Christian doctrine from a well-rounded apologetics point of view.
"The Screwtape Letters" has been one of my favorite books for many years. While it is fictional it
soon becomes quite clear that we are dealing with real world problems. Through thirty-one letters
to
his nephew, Wormwood, Screwtape consoles and instructs him in how to keep his "patient" from
becoming a Christian or at least from becoming an effective one. Using the vehicle of these letters
C.
S. Lewis examines various issues and problems of the Christian life. For example, he points out to
Wormwood that if he can make his "patient" start going all over town looking for a church that
"suits" him instead of being loyal to his local church it will reduce his effectiveness. By searching
for
the "suitable" church he learns to be a critic of churches instead of a pupil of Christianity. Not to
mention that the "congregational principle" makes each church into a kind of club for a specific
type
of person and eventually that becomes a faction. Each letter points out one or more of the
insidious
ways that a Christian or church can be slowly changed into nothing more than an ineffective
shell.
"Miracles" is an examination of the possibility that supernatural events happen in the world.
Within
the pages C. S. Lewis develops a compelling argument for the existence of miracles and God's
personal interaction with the world. Lewis examines miracles not only in the light of Christian
belief
but also addresses the positions of agnostics and rationalists and shows why their view is less
tenable
than the existence of miracles.
"The Great Divorce" is another fictional tale in which the narrator takes a bus ride and visits both
heaven and hell. On this fanciful trip he meets supernatural beings and those who have passed on
to
be consigned to one or the other. Through discussion and observation he soon realizes that the
people who are consigned to hell are there because they refuse to give up even minor sinful
thoughts
for the greatness of heaven. It is sure to challenge your concept of sin, heaven, and hell.
In "The Problem of Pain" C. S. Lewis examines one of the most common questions of
Christianity.
If God is all-knowing and all-loving then why is there pain and suffering? He deftly deals with that
question from a generic point of view and does an excellent job. You have to realize that it is not
specific and so will not answer why something happened to someone in particular. However,
reading
it does help provide a positive understanding of how pain and suffering can actually be a tool to
grab
our attention and to purify us for heaven.
"A Grief Observed" is one of the best books on grief and working through the effect that it can
have
on your faith. After losing his wife, C. S. Lewis comes to face grief and the feelings of anger and
doubt toward God that often accompany such a loss. Here we see a strong Christian and
apologeticist having his faith shaken to the core and come to understand that these feelings are a
normal part of grief. However, over time he comes around to working through his grief to a
stronger understanding and deeper relationship with God.
"The Abolition of Man" examines moral relativism and education. C. S. Lewis argues that all
morals
are not relative, some are absolute. His examination of the issues also applies very well to today's
concerns with situational ethics. Lewis points out that due to poor education, bad logic, and the
advances of science mankind will eventually destroy itself.
If you would like a collection of some of his best known works in a solid collectible single volume
you will want to add this one to your library. "The Complete C. S. Lewis Signature Classics" is a
very highly recommended purchase whether to read for the first time or as a quality edition for the
C. S. Lewis enthusiast.
Grill Cookbook
Barbara Grunes
Weldon Owen Publishing
814 Montgomery St., San Francisco, CA 94133
ISBN: 1892374064 $10.00 Pages: 95
If I had to summarize this outdoor grill cookbook in one sentence it would be "Not your ordinary
grilling cookbook". "Grill Cookbook" starts with a section on types of grills, maintenance,
accessories and similar items. From there it makes a sudden turn from the ordinary grilling
cookbook
and moves out into a category of its own. Sample recipes that include Thai Shrimp on
Lemongrass
Skewers, Grilled Portobello Mushrooms on Salad Greens, Grilled Ravioli with Spinach and Two
Cheeses, Halibut Veracruz Style, Pacific Rim Chicken with Peanut Sauce, Poundcake Kabobs
with
Chocolate-Coffee Sauce, or Pear Bruschetta (absolutely delicious). Of course it also has the
obligatory backyard hamburger and barbecue chicken but that is where any similarity with other
grilling cookbooks ends. Wonderful recipes that produce an elegant dining experience, it is a
highly
recommended book.
The Complete Book of Activities, Games, Stories, Props, Recipes, and Dances for Young
Children
Jackie Silberg and Pam Schiller, compilers
Gryphon House, Inc.
PO Box 207, Beltsville, MD 20704-0207
ISBN: 0876592809 $29.95 Pages: 640
One of the most valuable resources you can have if you are a teacher, daycare worker, or just like
to
have a lot of fun with young children, "The Complete Book of Activities, Games, Stories, Props,
Recipes, and Dances for Young Children is a delightful read. Within the text Jackie Silberg and
Pam
Schiller have compiled a wonderful collection of over 600 ways to have fun with young
children.
Divided into various sections, the first one consists of activities. In it you will find lots of useful
ideas for every day objects from empty soda bottles, to boxes and rubber bands. From pattern
matching to tactile activities, imagination activities, tops, folding a paper hat, and a great number
of
other activities, it's all here and you are sure to find something that suits your needs.
Following this is a section on games. Again, they don't require any special or hard to find props
but
simple, fun games that young children would enjoy. Cat and Mouse, Drop the Clothespin,
Flashlight
Tag (one of my favorites as a child), Freeze Tag, Grass Tug of War, Spider Walk, and Walk a
Crooked Line are just a few from the large collection.
The next section contains Action Stories. Each story has a set of actions that goes along with it.
From the currently very popular Going on a Bear Hunt and Hey, My Name is Joe, to lesser
known
ones like A Spring Walk young children are sure to enjoy them all.
Other sections include Stories for Flannel Boards and Magnetic Boards, Listening Stories, Prop
Stories, Puppet Stories, Rebus Stories, Arts and Crafts Recipes, Food Recipes, and Dances. The
book is easily worth the price just for the craft recipes section that includes such favorites as Salt
Paste, Gak, Fingerpaints, Playdough, Scratch and Sniff Paint, and Soap Crayons. And what child
hasn't squealed with delight while dancing something like the Bunny Hop, Chicken Dance, Go In
and Out the Windows, the Hokey Pokey, the Macarena, The Mulberry Bush, or Skip to My
Lou.
The book finishes off with a very large appendix (slightly over half the book). The appendix
contains
patterns to copy and use for the activities, flannel board stories, props, puppet stories, rebus
stories
and all the other things mentioned in the book. Finally there are two indexes. One is an
alphabetical
listing and one is a listing by theme so you can lookup appropriate activities for a particular focus.
"The Complete Book of Activities, Games, Stories, Props, Recipes, and Dances for Young
Children" is very highly recommended and the ultimate reference for anyone dealing with young
children on a regular basis.
The Complete Book of Rhymes, Songs, Poems, Fingerplays, and Chants
Jackie Silberg and Pam Schiller, compilers
Gryphon House, Inc.
PO Box 207, Beltsville, MD 20704-0207
ISBN: 0876592671 $29.95 Pages: 507
If you are a teacher, daycare worker, or just like to have a lot of ideas for young children you will
love this book! Jackie Silberg and Pam Schiller have compiled a collection of over 700 children's
rhymes, songs, poems, fingerplays and chants. What a wonderful nostalgic trip as I turned through
the pages and read rhymes and chants that I have not heard since my early childhood. Jumprope
chants, skipping songs, songs for hand clapping games, they are all here. Examples include Aiken
Drum, Baby Bumblebee, the Bear Went Over the Mountain, The Cow, Dr. Foster Went to
Gloucester, Five Little Ducks, Going on a Bear Hunt, I Have a Loose Tooth, John Jacob
Jingleheimer Schmidt, Over in the Meadow, Sippin' Cider Through a Straw, and Zum Gali Gali.
Each of the items is followed by a Theme Connection to allow you to quickly apply the song or
chant to a particular theme such as counting, chickens, cooking, pets, emotions, or families. While
most people would have no problem figuring out a theme to which they apply, the advantage here
is
that not only are the songs and chants listed alphabetically in the index, but there is also a thematic
index to allow you to quickly find an appropriate song or chant. "The Complete Book of Rhymes,
Songs, Poems, Fingerplays, and Chants" is a very highly recommended purchase for anyone
dealing
with young children.
The Complete Book of Tai Chi Chuan
Wong Kiew Kit
Tuttle Publishing
364 Innovation Drive, North Clarendon, VT 05759
ISBN: 0804834407 $16.95 Pages: 302
The title says it all with "The Complete Book of Tai Chi Chuan". With many Tai Chi Chuan books
just detailing the sequence of one particular form, it is refreshing to find one that details the
history,
philosophies, various styles, philosophy, and spiritual development. Author Wong Kiew Kit, a
Grandmaster living in Malaysia, does a thorough job of describing and detailing the various styles.
This is the first Tai Chi Chuan book that I have read that covered more than one or two styles in
detail. Wong Kiew Kit details Wudang Tai Chi Chuan, Chen-Style, Yang-Style, Wu Yu
Xiang-Style,
Wu Chuan You-Style, and Sun-Style. The illustrations are line drawings that sometimes take
some
effort before you really understand the movements to be made. However, if you are looking for a
reference on Tai Chi Chuan that will bring a complete understanding of the subject in all of its
nuances including history, philosophy, patterns, and just about anything else, this is a highly
recommended purchase.
Awesome Game Creation: No Programming Required (2nd Edition)
Luke Ahearn and Clayton Crooks II
Charles River Media
20 Downer Avenue, Suite 3, Hingham, MA 02043
ISBN: 1584502231 $49.95 Pages: 601
Now in its second edition "Awesome Game Creation" is a complete course in computer game
creation. The first chapters cover the basics of graphics and sound creation, manipulation, and
editing. This is followed by a somewhat nostalgic chapter on the history of game development and
the various genres of games. Finally, the last of the foundational information is supplied in the
chapter on game designing elements.
With that background firmly in mind, the authors take you on what is basically a visual tour of
game
development history. First you start out making simple two-dimensional games with simple
graphics
and move from there up to making three-dimensional games with advanced polygon
graphics.
Some of the software supplied with the book are complete versions, some allow you to create a
fully
functional game but don't allow you to make a game you can distribute, and others are thirty-day
demo versions of the software.
Besides basic image editors and sound editors, the supplied software includes game creation
engines
and commercial game editors. The game creation software includes Game Maker, Games Factory,
Pie 3D Game Creation System, and 3D Gamemaker. Other software includes GMax to modify
commercial games, MilkShape 3D polygon modeler, and Paint Shop Pro.
How awesome of a game can you create with the knowledge gained from this book? Well that is
actually a function of the creativity of the game creator. Even with the best software you can't
create
a truly awesome game if you have limited creative ability. On the other hand, I have seen creative
people make amazing games with far more simplistic software than this. This is a recommended
book for anyone with more of a creative spirit than a knowledge of programming.
The Complete Crockpot Cookbook
Wendy Louise
Champion Press, Ltd.
4308 Blueberry Road, Fredonia, WI 53021
ISBN: 1891400290 $16.00 Pages: 230
If you think that crockpots are basically for some sort of variation on stew and that is pretty much
it
then you will be surprised by the variety included in this book. Although I enjoy cooking, I use a
crockpot about every six months and then it is for pretty much similar recipes. "The Complete
Crockpot Cookbook" has opened my eyes to the possibilities of this piece of cooking equipment.
Of
course it has the expected wide variety of soups, stews, beans, chowders, and chilis (with a great
Tex-Mex chili recipe). From there it moves on to the unexpected recipes like Chicken Pattow,
Beef
Roast with Onion-Mushroom Gravy, Swiss Steak, Barbequed Ribs, Pork Chops, Meatloaf, and
many others. When appropriate a quick tip ("Cook's Note") is included at the end of many of the
recipes to help make sure it comes out like it should. There are also short "A Tip From the
Kitchen"
sections scattered through out the book. These contain suggestions and short pieces of general
information not specifically related to a specific recipe. It is a surprising collection of recipes that
will please anyone looking for new ways to use their crockpot for some delicious meals. "The
Complete Crockpot Cookbook" is a highly recommended read.
All the Men of the Bible
Herbert Lockyer
Zondervan Publishing
5300 Patterson SE, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49530
ISBN: 0310280818 $15.99 Pages: 381
In 1958 Herbert Lockyer originally published "All the Men of the Bible" and it has been in print
ever
since. More than just a listing of the men of the Bible, it starts with a history of Bible name,
followed
by an alphabetical listing of all the men named in the Bible, then a listing of the unnamed men of
the
Bible, and finally with an examination of Jesus Christ.
Some listings are just that - a listing of the name, the meaning of the name, and where it is located
in
the Bible. Where more is known about the person it is included in the listing. For example, the
listing
for Hezekiah covers a page and a half and includes a short synopsis of his life. The unnamed men
section includes a basic listing of men such as the Good Samaritan, the rich man, the creditor, the
centurion, etc.
For those who might desire an examination of the men of the Bible, the ability to quickly be
reminded of who Abimelech was, or to quickly get a handle on a Biblical literary reference this is
a
recommended reference book.
All the Doctrines of the Bible
Herbert Lockyer
Zondervan Publishing
5300 Patterson SE, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49530
ISBN: 0310280516 $15.99 Pages: 310
In 1964 Herbert Lockyer originally published "All the Doctrines of the Bible" and it has been in
print
ever since. While this is hardly all the doctrines that are found in the Bible by the various religious
groups, it is the thirty most important doctrines that are held by pretty much all of the Christian
doctrines.
The book starts with a brief introduction to how to study Christian doctrine. From there it starts
into
the doctrines of Divine Revelation, Divine Inspiration, God, Christ, the Holy Spirit, the Trinity,
Angels, Satan and Demons, Man, the Covenants, Predestination, Sin, Salvation, Grace,
Repentance,
Regeneration, Substitution, Redemption, Reconciliation, Faith, Adoption, Assurance,
Righteousness, Peace, Sanctification, Christian Ethics, Eternal Security, Prayer, the Church, and
Last Things.
For each doctrine the chapter clearly defines it and follows with the development of the doctrine
using specific Bible verse references. On some matters, such as baptism, it provides thoughts of
other great thinkers of the past. This is an excellent book for the young Christian who wants to
learn
the basis for common Christian doctrine and a recommended read.
Abuse Your Illusions: The Disinformation Guide to Media Mirages and Establishment Lies
Russ Kick, editor
The Disinformation Company, Ltd
163 Third Avenue, Suite 108, New York, NY 10003
ISBN: 0971394245 $24.95 Pages: 350
Similar to their previous publications "Abuse Your Illusions" by The Disinformation Company,
Ltd.
is a collection of articles from various sources. Each source is well documented as to their
background and why their information and opinion should be seriously considered. Although it
follows quickly on the heels of "You are Being Lied To", which we gave a high recommendation
last
year, this book far better. It contains much better written articles with a great deal more
evidentiary
matter presented for each article.
A fine example is the article "Pieces of the 9/11 Puzzle". While it does not attempt to reach a
conclusion, it does point out several very interesting facts that have generally not been released to
the public. There are so many strange coincidences that it caused Senator Richard Shelby to
remark
in November of 2002 that "The American people must know the full story has yet to be told". The
article includes photographs from CNN of WTC Building 6 that appears to explode before the
twin
towers fell on it. The photograph of it afterwards also shows that it blew apart in the middle and
apparently did not collapse as the result of the Twin Towers debris falling on it. The author also
brings up the myriad problems with Mohamed Atta's luggage, the request by President Bush to
Tom
Daschele to limit the investigation into September 11, the lack of black boxes from the planes, the
fact that for a few weeks before September 11 the employees of the towers were evacuated
several
times, the fact that the head of the independent probe, Thomas Kean, has had many business deals
with Osama bin Laden's brother in law, Khalid bin Mahfouz who is suspected of financing al
Qaeda,
and many other problems.
The articles are sometimes very conservative and sometimes quite liberal, but they are all
interesting
and pose many, many questions about dozens of media mirages and official establishment
positions.
Some articles may go too far with a sort of conspiracy theory approach, but most of them present
solid evidence complete with thorough documentation. While you will probably not agree with the
positions of some of the authors, you can't take an informed position without at least being aware
of
the information presented in this book. For those who want to know the other side of the story so
you can get a whole picture it is a highly recommended read.
Writing Measurable IEP Goals and Objectives
Barbara D. Bateman and Cynthia M. Herr
IEP Resources
PO Box 930160, Verona, WI 53593-0160
ISBN: 1578611490 $25.00 Pages: 75
If you are involved in education and in the Individualized Education Program (IEP) process in
particular, this book may be a lifesaver. Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
(IDEA) an Individual Education Plan (IEP) is required for those individuals with a disability. How
to
write an IEP that complies with the law is the crux of this book.
The IEP goals are required to be measurable, an item that educators often think they have covered
when in fact they have not. The authors do an excellent job of detailing how to document the
Present Level of Performance (PLOP), Objectives, and Goals.
The last half of the book contains sample Best Practice PLOPs, Objectives, and Goals. Although
it is
filled with acronyms (as are most texts involving government regulation) at least they define each
of
them before proceeding to use them. For those involved with the IDEA and the IEP process in
particular and feeling overwhelmed with the legal requirements "Writing Measurable IEP Goals
and
Objectives" can bring some relief by providing much needed guidance on how to meet the needs
of
the students while complying with the IDEA.
The Story Factor: Inspiration, Influence, and Persuasion Through the Art of Storytelling
Annette Simmons
Perseus Publishing
11 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142
ISBN: 0738206717 $16.95 Pages: 254
Although I read about three books a week (over 120 per year) it is only once a year on average
that
I find one against which to lodge the following complaint. This book throws my reading schedule
completely off track. When you find one that is so well written and so full of useful information
you
tend to slow down your reading speed to make sure that you don't miss anything important. What
should have been a couple of hours to read ended up taking over a week as I read one part,
digested
it, then went back to read another one.
The text covers the most important story types to tell in order to exercise influence over others,
gain
credibility, etc. It also defines a story and how it can influence in ways that bare facts cannot,
provides information on the psychology of how a story influences, and the important "dos and
don'ts" of a storyteller. Annette Simmons provides multiple examples throughout the text so the
reader understands how to apply the principles right away.
If you are studying storytelling, how to inspire others, how to influence others, how to change
corporate culture, or any other aspect of change on a personal or organizational level then your
education will be lacking if it does not include the information in this book. "The Story Factor"
receives the highest recommendation that I can give.
Tree of Life: A Book of Wisdom for Men
Eric Kampmann
Beaufort Books, Inc.
27 West 20th Street, New York 10011
ISBN: 0825305314 $14.95 Pages: 373
"Tree of Life" is a book of 365 excerpts from the New International Version of the Bible. Each
one
of these excerpts has been carefully selected to be appropriate for common life situations. Eric
Kampmann doesn't include page after page of personal commentary or direction for the reader.
Instead he has selected the verses and the title for the devotional and left it up to the reader to
determine what it means to them. I actually found this format to be much more beneficial than
many
devotional books that provide a single verse and multiple lines of commentary. For this format to
work well it is critically important that the verses are carefully selected to reflect a deeper truth
and
enough verses from the passage are selected to make that deeper truth easily accessible. Eric
Kampmann had done an excellent job of selecting perfect verses. "Tree of Life" is an excellent
devotional book that I would recommend to anyone, not just men, as the subtitle would
indicate.
Talk Your Way Out of Credit Card Debt
Scott Bilker
Press One Publishing
PO Box 563, Barnegat, NJ 08005-0563
ISBN: 0964840154 $19.95 Pages: 316
"Talk Your Way Out of Credit Card Debt" provides solid advice on getting your rate reduced,
annual fees waived, removing a late payment fee, handling disputes, and many other common
problems when dealing with credit card companies. More than just advice, it is a collection of
detailed examples of phone calls including complete transcripts. Each transcript demonstrates how
the author handled a particular issue and the results of the call. Not content to just give one
example
of getting an interest rate lowered or removing over limit fees, each type of problem has several
transcripts so you can get a good feel for what to expect and how to handle it. Most people are
not
aware of how much power they have when dealing with a credit card company and how to get
things changed. This book walks the reader through the process from beginning to end and is a
recommended read for anyone looking to gain control of his or her credit card situation.
SAS Survival Handbook: How to Survive in the Wild, In any Climate, On Land or at Sea
John Wiseman
HarperCollins Publishers
77-85 Fulham Palace Road, Hammersmith, London, W6 8JB
ISBN: 0007158998 $24.95 Pages: 576
The "SAS Survival Handbook" is the most comprehensive survival handbook I have ever seen.
Most
books have some basic advice (the importance of the correct mental attitude, finding water and
shelter, etc.), a handful of edible plants, and a couple of ways to start a fire. While this book
covers
all those areas, it also has sections on camp craft, determining directions, rescue signals, dealing
with
different climates and terrains, reading clouds for weather prediction, and many others. A good
example of the thoroughness of the coverage would be the food section. It covers your energy
needs
and how they are met from various foods, testing unknown plants in desperate situations, plants
to
avoid, identification of plants, using animals for food, extensive and detailed trapping mechanisms,
fishing, gutting and cleaning, and other advice. The number, types, and detail on the various traps
are amazing. I've never seen so many different designs. It includes several that I have not seen
anywhere else before. I would consider this the authoritative text on survival skills in the wild and
give it the highest recommendation for anyone interested in survival techniques.
A Short Course in Kindness
Margot Silk Forrest
L. M. Press
3920 Broad St., Suite 5-520, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
ISBN: 0970804903 $11.95 Pages: 122
If you desire to have a kinder, gentler, more compassionate soul when dealing with others or
when
dealing with life itself then this book provides a roadmap to get there. "A Short Course in
Kindness"
points out the difference between just being nice, which many people are at times, and being truly
kind. Kindness is a way of life, a way of being. The author points out techniques to learn to be
kind
by empathizing with others and as well as techniques to learn how to be kind to yourself (an
aspect
of kindness that many people overlook). Not just content to explore kindness, she also explores
the
enemies of kindness and how to keep them at bay. If you want to change yourself and change
your
world you can't go wrong with this book. "A Short Course in Kindness" is a recommended
read.
Why Johnny Doesn't Behave: Twenty Tips and Measurable BIPs
Barbara D. Bateman and Annemieke Golly
IEP Resources
PO Box 930160, Verona, WI 53593-0160
ISBN: 1578614902 $35.00 Pages: 122
If you are involved with children in the education system this book may be what you are looking
for.
The authors take the reader through creating a measurable Behavioral Intervention Plan (BIP).
"Why Johnny Doesn't Behave" is not a detailed psychological text on dealing with problem
children.
It is a primer on dealing with the more common problems through an explanation of how to
replace
the negative behavior with positive behaviors. Perhaps the most valuable part of the book starts in
the third section with detailed explanations of Functional Behavior Assessments (FBA) and
Behavioral Intervention Plans. The information includes detailed flowchart analysis of behavior
and
how to integrate an intervention plan into the flowchart so that the results are clear and
measurable.
Sections three and four cover these in detail and are an excellent analysis of how to make an
assessment and document both the assessment and the intervention plan. With the increasingly
litigation against schools, knowing how to document the behavior and intervention that was taken
becomes more and more important not only for the child but for the school and educator as well.
It
is a recommended read for anyone dealing with children in an educational environment.
The 2,000 Percent Solution
Donald Mitchell, Carol Coles, and Robert Metz
Amacom
1601 Broadway, New York, NY 10019
ISBN: 0814404766 $24.95 Pages: 247
The crux of "The 2,000 Percent Solution" is exposing and resolving situations where the company
is
stalled. Stalling comes in many forms from the "that's the way we always did it before" to the
overconfident "we have no real competitors". Stalled thinking, in any of its manifestations, stops a
company in their tracks and prevents growth and change. Examples of things that cause stalled
thinking include disbelief, misconception, unattractiveness, communications, bureaucratic, and
procrastination.
The authors provide an eight-step process for breaking up stalled thinking and allowing creative,
productive thinking to occur. These steps include measuring performance, deciding what to
measure, identification of the future and the best practice to measure it, implementing for beyond
the
near-term future, pursuing the theoretical best practice, identifying the right people and right
motivation, then repeat the process.
One of the most important points is that things change and you need to be able to change with
them.
Creating a best practice scenario based on wrong information, sticking to it when things change,
failing to see the change, and similar items all lead us to stalled thinking. The problem with many
companies is that they don't even realize they are stalled until it is too late and they have been
leap-frogged by their competition. This text does an excellent job of teaching how to spot stalled
thinking and do something about it. On the other hand, following the process moves past stalled
thinking whether you recognize it or not. "The 2,000 Percent Solution" is a recommended read
for
any businessperson.
The Reluctant Messenger of Science and Religion
Stephen W. Boston, Ph.D. and Evelyn McKnight Boston, Ph.D.
iUniverse, Inc.
Writer's Showcase imprint
2021 Pine Lake Road, Suite 100, Lincoln, NE 68512
ISBN: 0595268218 $17.95 Pages: 294
"The Reluctant Messenger of Science and Religion" is a study in how science and the world
religions are not in conflict with each other and need each other to form a complete picture. To
make it less of a laborious read it is presented in the format of a novel. It starts with two members
of
debate societies debating over whether science is correct about the creation of the earth or
religion is
correct. From there we follow both the losing and winning debater through a series of life
changing
and illuminating events that effectively illustrate the authors' beliefs. It is very well written for a
book
of this sort and teaches the viewpoint that there are other interpretations of various Bible passages
that are not in conflict with science. In fact there are several areas where the teachings are actually
a
return to the older beliefs. The book also freely examines other religious views from Islam to
Hinduism, Buddhism to Sufi and brings them into the discussion.
Strong conservatives from almost any religious teaching will probably have a problem with this
book
as it attempts to bring harmony between the various beliefs and show that they are all parts of a
more complete whole. Since most conservatives by definition believe that their view is right and
any
other is blasphemy I would expect them to have at least some difficulties. On the other hand,
those
with an open spirit will probably find it one of their favorite books.
Having said this, I would be failing my obligation to my readers if I did not point out that there
are
several editing problems of a nature that I would not expect in a finished product. While I did not
make a note of them as I went along there are maybe ten to fifteen in the book - far more than the
two to three maximum that I expect. As an example, page 235 has the sentence "Chester spoke to
know one in particular". Although annoying, they don't interrupt the flow of the book too much
and
the authors make their point very clearly. It is only because of these errors that this is a
recommended read and not a highly recommended read.
You Can Market Your Book: All the Tools You Need to Sell Your Published Book
Carmen Leal
Write Now Publications
5501 N. 7th Ave., #502, Phoenix, AZ 85013
ISBN: 1932124004 $15.00 Pages: 245
"You Can Market Your Book" is a thorough exposition of how to market your book to the
Christian community. While the principles and techniques in the book are applicable to the
marketing
of any book, the resources listed and writing style clearly slants the focus to the Christian writer.
The book covers all the standard stuff from selecting a good title to getting reviews, creating a
press
kit, book signings, developing a speaking platform, online promotion, and using subcontractors.
Each section is well written and contains a wealth of detailed information. "You Can Market Your
Book" is a highly recommended book and is simply the best marketing manual for the Christian
publishing community that I have reviewed.
The Publishing Game: Publish a Book in 30 Days
Fern Reiss
Peanut Butter and Jelly Press
PO Box 590239, Newton, MA 02459-0002
ISBN: 1893290859 $19.95 Pages: 131 plus appendices
This is one of three books titled "The Publishing Game". Each of the books sets itself apart from
the
others by the subtitles "Publish a Book in 30 Days", "Finding an Agent in 30 Days", and
"Bestseller
in 30 Days". Taken together they are a comprehensive set of instructional resources for
everything
you might want to know to get your book published and marketed.
The areas covered in "Publish a Book in 30 Days" include deciding to self-publish, hot topics for
publishing, choosing a title, setting a book's price, writing a business plan, choosing a company
name, the legal structure of your company, getting an ISBN, filling out an ABI, discount
schedules,
planning for the future, creating a website, ordering a barcode, copyrighting, advance galleys,
getting CIP data, book layout, printers, listing with publishing houses and listing with online
bookstores.
There are several items that set this book apart from similar titles. One is the thoroughness of the
information on how to create the impression that you are a large publisher and not a
self-published
author. In fact, it walks the reader through the process of becoming a publishing house from
beginning to end. How detailed is the information? For example, the discussion on how to get an
ISBN details not only how to apply and the cost, but also what each section of an ISBN number
means and how that affects the impression your book makes. Buying a small block of just ten
ISBNs
makes you appear to be a small publisher of only two or three books (since hardcover and
softcover,
audio versions, and new editions all require their own ISBN). How will anyone know that you
just
purchased ten ISBN numbers? Actually the ISBN number gives that information. The second set
of
numbers in the ISBN is five, six, or seven digits long. If it is five then you purchased a thousand
ISBN numbers. If it is six then you purchased a hundred ISBN numbers. If it is seven digits then
you
purchased ten ISBN numbers.
Another example of the way this book differs from similar titles is the tremendous amount of
detailed, step-by-step information. This is a cookbook approach on how to become a publisher.
As a
result, you can feel confident that if you follow the directions you will get the same results every
time. Unlike most other similar books, the author not only instructs you on what to do but also
provides all the necessary details to actually complete the task. For example, when discussing
Print-On-Demand options for printing your books Fern Reiss supplies the names and contact
information for several reputable firms. This pattern is followed throughout the book and makes it
well worth the price just for the detailed contact information.
This is one of the best books available on the subject of becoming an independent publisher. "The
Publishing Game: Publish a Book in 30 Days" is a highly recommended resource for anyone
looking
to become an independent book publisher, publish their own titles, or just wanting an
comprehensive
inside look at the publishing market for the small press.
The Princess and the Pekinese
Trisha Adelena Howell
Howell Canyon Press
PO Box 448, Tonasket, WA 98855
ISBN: 1931210039 $15.95 Pages: 32
Age Level: 4 - 8 yearsBeautifully illustrated by Paul Lopez "The Princess and the Pekinese" is a
delightful children's story. It is the story of a little girl who was the only focus of her parents'
affection until a small Pekinese dog joined the family. As a result she becomes jealous and from
there
her adventure really begins. After a rough time on the streets she comes to realize and appreciate
her
blessings. This is a great children's story that has a positive message. As I read through it I quickly
realized how positive this would be for children who suddenly have an additional brother or sister,
grandparent, or pet come into their home and are feeling that they are not getting the attention
they
are used to receiving. It is a highly recommended children's book.
Expert Witnessing in Forensic Accounting
Zelph Telpner and Michael Mostek
CRC Press LLC
2000 N. W. Corporate Blvd., Boca Raton, FL 33431
ISBN: 0849308984 $69.95 Pages: 331
Written specifically for accountants who wish to become expert witnesses for accounting matters
and for the lawyers who wish to use them effectively "Expert Witnessing in Forensic Accounting"
provides a solid base on which to build. The book provides well-reasoned advice to teach the ins
and
outs of expert witnessing that is specifically oriented toward accounting.
Some of the questions answered in this book include:
Do I need the expert witness to be a CPA?
What other experts might be better for a particular case?
How do I determine the best expert for my needs?
How does the expert prepare and what legal documents are needed?
How does the relationship with the lawyer and client affect attorney-client privilege?
How does the relationship affect the work product?
How do you determine the significant issue?
How do you explain accounting procedures to non-technical jury members?
"Expert Witnessing in Forensic Accounting" covers it all from the theoretical underpinnings of
things like qualifying and testifying as an expert witness to the practical aspects of things like
engagement letters and preparation for testifying. While most accounting or litigation texts have a
section or two on the use of a forensic accountant as an expert witness, I have seen none that
cover
it as extensively as this text. For the accountant trying to get into forensic accounting, for the
lawyer
wishing to make better use of a forensic accountant, or for either seeking to improve their
professional recognition in this area this is a highly recommended read.
Once Upon a Campus
Trent Anderson and Seppy Basili
Kaplan Publishing
1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020
ISBN: 074324933X $10.00 Pages: 256
Before heading off for college what if you could get tips and advice from hundreds of other
people
who have already been there. "Once Upon a Campus" is a collection of short quotes from
hundreds
of successful college students. The quotes cover every aspect of college life from what the
students
liked about college, to what they did not like, to what they would do different if they had a
chance.
Specific areas of advice include admissions, dealing with housing, roomates, campus safety,
dating,
time management, studying, dining, money management, dealing with professors, and study
techniques. If you are heading off for college or have a child, neighbor, or friend heading off for
the
first time this is full of good advice and would make a great gift. "Once Upon a Campus" is a
highly
recommended read for first time college students.
The Publishing Game: Find an Agent in 30 Days
Fern Reiss
Peanut Butter and Jelly Press
PO Box 590239, Newton, MA 02459-0002
ISBN: 1893290832 $19.95 Pages: 131 plus multiple appendices
This is one of three books titled "The Publishing Game". Each of the books sets itself apart from
the
others by the subtitles "Finding an Agent in 30 Days", "Publish a Book in 30 Days", and
"Bestseller
in 30 Days". Taken together they are a comprehensive set of instructional resources for
everything
you might want to know to get your book published and marketed.
The areas covered in "Find an Agent in 30 Days" include why you might or might not want to use
an
agent, creating a title for your book, writing a pitch letter, finding a hook, wooing an agent,
submitting a book proposal (and everything that should and should not be in that proposal), how
to
approach an agent, and agency agreements. What sets this book apart from similar ones is the
tremendous amount of detailed, step-by-step information. This is a veritable cookbook of how to
get
an agent. As a result, you can feel confident that if you follow the directions you will get the same
results every time.
Not only do you get extensive guidance on acquiring an agent but also several highly valuable
appendices. For example, Appendix A includes additional books for additional study in specific
areas
of interest. Appendix B is an extensive list of reputable agents. Appendices C and D are detailed
examples of a pitch letter and a proposal letter.
I have reviewed several books on publishing and this is one of the best on the subject of getting
your
book represented by an agent. "The Publishing Game: Find an Agent in 30 Days" is a highly
recommended resource for anyone looking to sell their book through an agent.
The Essential 55: An Award-Winning Educator's Rules for Discovering the Successful Student in
Every Child
Ron Clark
Hyperion
77 West 66th Street, New York, NY 10023-6298
ISBN: 1401300014 $19.95 Pages: 196
"The Essential 55: An Award-Winning Educator's Rules for Discovering the Successful Student in
Every Child" is a collection of Ron Clark's 55 rules that he uses every day in his teaching career.
Why should his rules matter? Well for one thing he has won the Disney Teacher of the Year
Award
as a top educator in the United States. Ron Clark attributes much of his success to making sure
that
the students follow the 55 rules. Many of these rules are common courtesies; others are good
manners, ethics, or even good hygiene. These may seem simple but people react to you differently
when you display good manners and this positive feedback creates a better self-image and other
positive side effects.
These are not just rules for children and students but should be followed by everyone including
adults. The rules are also applicable to a wide variety of adult situations. Use the rules at home
with
your child and help him or her to mature with good manners and develop a positive view of life
that
will follow them everywhere. "The Essential 55" is a highly recommended read for everyone.
Change Your Aura Change Your Life
Barbara Y. Martin and Dimitri Moraitis
WisdomLight Books
PO Box 1099, Sunland, CA 91041-1099
ISBN: 0970211813 $16.95 Pages: 226
A refreshing diversion from the typical aura book, "Change Your Aura Change Your Life" delves
into the theory of auras and the use of meditation to focus and change your life. Most similar
books
spend a great deal of time discussing the spiritual aspects of auras and leave very little space to
understanding and using them to improve yourself. That is where this book differs. It starts with a
step-by-step guide to understanding the aura; it's shape, colors, and meaning. This is followed by
a
section on how to change your aura via meditation. This section details the colors to meditate on,
where to concentrate, what to visualize, and similar factors. The third and final section is about
using
the meditations and aura focus to change mental and emotional states such as anger, grief, worry,
forgiveness, affirmations, and visualizations. The book contains several four-color illustrations in
the
middle of the book to help the reader visualize and understand the text. For those interested in
auras
and using them as a focus point for meditation as a method of change this is a recommended
read.
Celebrate Simply: Your Guide to Simpler, More Meaningful Holidays and Special Occasions
Nancy Twigg
Counting the Cost Publications
8715 Brucewood Lane, Knoxville, TN 37923
ISBN: 0972839607 $12.95 Pages: 173
Are you one of the many people who look upon holidays as just another deadline in life? For
many
people the additional financial stress, time pressures, and other factors seem to take the pleasure
right out of holidays and other special occasions. Nancy Twigg starts with an illustration of a
holiday
gone wrong that we can all sympathize with - Christmas. From there she discusses gift giving in
general and the "rules" of gift giving that create stress. She shows how these "rules" are not valid
in
the context of meaningful gift giving.
The remainder of the book examines specific holidays and provides a healthy, historical
perspective
of the holiday as well as simpler and easier methods to celebrate. Throughout the book her
Christian
perspective is in the forefront even to the point of quoting several Bible verses at appropriate
places.
Specific holidays and special occasions examined include Christmas, Valentine's day, Easter,
Mother's Day, Father's Day, weddings, Halloween, Thanksgiving, birthdays, and anniversaries.
The
final chapter gives many selected resources to implement the ideas in the book.
Some of the ideas are wonderful lessons for children. I especially liked the Resurrection Cookies
that are part of the Easter Holiday suggestions. Complete with the recipe and suggested Bible
verses
that apply to the preparation and cooking process it is a truly innovative activity. If holidays
represent additional work and stress for you instead of holiday joy and excitement then this book
is
for you; especially if you are a Christian and want suggestions on alternative ways to recapture
the
holiday spirit with a religious focus. "Celebrate Simply" is a highly recommended read.
Bulletproof News Releases, Second Edition
Kay Borden
Franklin-Sarrett Publishers
3761 Vineyard Trace, Marietta, GA 30062
ISBN: 0963747711 $24.95 Pages: 172
"Bulletproof News Releases" provides exactly what the title indicates - advice from 150 American
Media Professionals that details what gets a news release published and what gets it trashed.
Author
Kay Borden details why so many people, advertising companies, and publicity firms spend so
much
money on news releases and get nothing for their efforts. The last part of the book covers writing
the release, and how to target it to the selected audience so that it will be printed. One of the
points
that is made very clear is that a news release that does not contain something of interest to the
newspaper or magazine's readers will not be published.
The thing I liked best and found the most useful about the book were the comments by various
editors included on just about every page. Since the comments are set in the side margin it is very
easy to open the book and read through them as a quick review of what editors are looking for,
what they don't want, what causes them to discard an otherwise good release, and how to get
your
release published. "Bulletproof News Releases" is a recommended read.
The Publishing Game: Bestseller in 30 Days
Fern Reiss
Peanut Butter and Jelly Press
PO Box 590239, Newton, MA 02459-0002
ISBN: 1893290883 $19.95 Pages: 198 plus appendices
This is one of three books titled "The Publishing Game". Each of the books sets itself apart from
the
others by the subtitles "Bestseller in 30 Days", "Finding an Agent in 30 Days", and "Publish a
Book
in 30 Days". Taken together they are a comprehensive set of instructional resources for
everything
you might want to know to get your book published and marketed.
If you purchase only one title on how to market your book, this is the one you want. Thorough,
detailed, well organized, and a step-by-step procedure to marketing your book, it provides all the
information that you could possibly need. Unlike similar books there is absolutely nothing left out.
After providing a good review I am often asked how to get the book listed on Amazon, how to
get
it carried by major and minor bookstore chains, and similar advice. Now I know how to easily and
quickly answer those questions - pick up a copy of "Bestseller in 30 Days". This is a thorough
examination of the book marketing industry that includes many tips and tricks for getting publicity
that I have not seen anywhere else.
The areas covered in "Bestseller in 30 Days" include dealing with getting an ISBN, ABI, EAN
Barcode, CIP information and a Copyright, creating a discount schedule and terms, planning
future
titles, getting reviews, generating quotations, selling to chain stores, getting listed in Online
Bookstores, selling to Libraries, print media campaigns, broadcast media campaigns, speaking
tours,
catalog sales, foreign sales, and even syndicating yourself.
An example of how this book differs from similar titles is the tremendous amount of detailed,
step-by-step information. This is a cookbook approach on how to make your book into a
bestseller.
As a result, you can feel confident that if you follow the directions you will get the same results
every time. Unlike most other similar books, the author not only instructs you on what to do but
also provides all the necessary details to actually complete the task. For example, when Fern Reiss
discusses a print media campaign she not only provides valuable instruction but actually provides
detailed referral information for her favorite person to write a press release, people who provide
fax
services to get the review to media contacts, reputable public relations firms, etc. For each one of
these she provides full contact information so you can easily move forward with your marketing
campaign. The book is well worth the price just for this detailed contact information.
"The Publishing Game: Bestseller in 30 Days" receives the highest recommendation I can give. It
is
clearly the best of the best.
6 Steps to Free Publicity
Marcia Yudkin
The Career Press, Inc.
3 Tice Road, PO Box 687, Franklin Lakes, NJ 07417
ISBN: 1564146758 $14.99 Pages: 265
Marcia Yudkin is a name that shows up in a lot of places when it comes to marketing. When you
want a million dollar marketing plan but have a thousand dollar budget her name is the first one
on
many lips. In "6 Steps to Free Publicity" she shares some insight into the various methods of
getting
free or low-cost publicity. Whether it's writing articles, becoming a recognized expert, driving
traffic
to your website, or getting testimonials it's all covered in this book. One of the more useful
chapters
is the one on creative ways to find new marketing angles, images, and exploits for your products
or
services. If you want to understand the principles of inexpensive publicity techniques you can't go
wrong with this book. If you are responsible for the publicity program for your business you will
find the book a great resource. After reading "6 Steps to Free Publicity" you will probably want to
follow up with a visit to her website (www.yudkin.com/marketing.htm) for more information and
tips. This is a recommended purchase for anyone trying to gain a high level of visibility with a
shoestring budget.
Harold McFarland
Reviewer
Harwood's Bookshelf
Pseudoscience and the Paranormal: Second Edition
Terrence Hines
Prometheus
ISBN 1573929794 $21.00 500 pp., ppb.
First published in shorter version in New Zealand Skeptics, Winter 2003.
"Those who are skeptical about pseudoscientific and paranormal claims are frequently accused of
being closed-minded in demanding adequate evidence and proof before accepting such a claim .
But the believer, who likes to paint him or herself as open-minded and accepting of new
possibilities,
is really extremely closed-minded . Saying, 'There is no conceivable piece of evidence that will
cause me to change my mind.'" (pp. 14-15)
"Extraordinary claims demand extraordinary proof. For example, consider the following two
claims
about transcendental meditation TM: (1) TM can make you feel better; (2) TM can teach you
how
to defy the law of gravity and float in the air at will. Most people would accept the validity of the
first claim based simply on the testimony of several people who say that they felt better after they
learned how to meditate. Clearly one would demand more proof for the second claim. Most
people
wouldn't accept statements from several people that they knew how to levitate at will. Additional
evidence would be needed . You'd probably demand that someone actually levitate right in front
of
you. And you'd want a professional magician present as an observer to ensure that no trickery was
involved. In short, you would demand more rigorous confirmation of the second claim than of the
first." (p. 18)
Hines is himself not free of belief in pseudoscience. He authenticates the reality of hypnotism. In
case he has not read the definitive debunking book: "Hypnotism does not exist, has not existed in
the
past, and will not exist in the future." (Robert Baker, They Call it Hypnosis) He has, however,
withdrawn his endorsement of multiple personality disorder and acupuncture, mentioned favorably
in
his 1992 edition.
He also continues to authenticate the claim that victims of Tourette's syndrome who engage in
"uncontrolled swearing and use of racial and ethnic epithets" (p. 84) are not consciously
playacting.
The only evidence for the existence of MPD was that the playactors claimed to be externally
controlled, and gullible psychotherapists swallowed that lie. The only reason Tourette swearing is
viewed as involuntary is that the patients similarly say so. I am not going to accuse Hines of
gullibility. Ninety percent of his book proves that he is not. It is the psychotherapists who
diagnosed
(actually invented) imaginary illnesses who are gullible. Hines is merely ignorant of the reality that
all
psychotherapists are glorified tealeaf readers posing as medical practitioners.
"Of all the proponents of pseudoscience, faith healers and psychic surgeons are the most
dangerous they kill people." (p.38) While Hines cites no statistics, one estimate puts the number
of
deaths caused by the hypocritical humbuggery of Oral Roberts alone as high as ten thousand.
Maybe
Christian Scientists and Jehovah's Witnesses can plead "sincerity" as an excuse for the
premeditated
murder of their children. America's avaricious televangelists have no such defence. If even one of
them believes that the great Hippocrates in the sky actually exists, I have never encountered
him.
"The continued claims by proponents of pseudoscience constitute nothing short of consumer
fraud.
And it is a massive fraud that costs the American public billions of dollars each year. In this
situation, scientists have a strong responsibility to investigate pseudoscientific claims and to speak
out vigorously when those claims are shown to be false. Unfortunately, communication of the real
data on the truth of pseudoscientific claims is often hampered by the media . The media, both print
and electronic, have often acted with extreme irresponsibility in covering pseudoscience and the
paranormal. In the case of uncritical coverage of faith healers and psychic surgeons, the lack of
responsibility on the part of the media has resulted in injury and death . Only through careful
evaluation of pseudoscientific claims and seeing that the results of those evaluations are reported
by
the popular media can the public be fully informed." (pp. 36-37) On the likelihood of the
prostitute
media developing a conscience and giving higher priority to truth than ratings, Hines does not
need
me to tell him: Don't hold your breath.
"Proponents of the reality of UFOs as extraterrestrial spacecraft argue that some of the strongest
evidence for the reality of UFOs is the many reports of UFOs that have been seen and reported by
reliable, trained sane observers. Yet even a short perusal of the literature on witchcraft will reveal
hundreds of similar reports of witches turned in by reliable, trustworthy witnesses. Of course, not
one of these reports was true." (p. 39)
"What of the scientists such as Hare and Wallace, who were convinced by what they saw at
s‚ances?
Were they incompetent scientists, dupes, or just plain gullible? The answer is none of the above.
They had simply ventured out of their own area of expertise an often fatal mistake . The training
of a chemist, physicist or psychologist confers no ability to spot magicians' tricks. To detect such
cheating requires a magician." (p. 52) Hines was writing about spiritualism, but the same applies
to
parapsychology. That physicists Puthoff and Targ were venturing out of their area of expertise is
certainly true, although I doubt that Hines would today dispute that they are also "dupes or just
plain
gullible." And their refusal to allow their raw data to be examined by other investigators strongly
suggests that they knew perfectly well that their alleged positive results could not survive close
inspection.
Hines thoroughly demolishes the pretence that laboratory experiments in ESP have produced
statistical evidence for the phenomenon's reality. But like almost all writers on the subject, he
treats
telepathic communication and precognition as merely alternative forms of the same thing. ESP
does
not exist. But telepathy conceivably could exist, if there was a "fifth force" to explain it, whereas
precognition would require that information travel backward in time an absurdity that can be
refuted by the reductio ad absurdum it would produce. Every time even a skeptic treats
non-sensory
information transfer and precognition as qualitatively equal, he reinforces the ignorance of the
masses on the difference between the merely nonexistent and the ridiculous.
Hines' several pages on how cold readings are accomplished are sufficiently detailed to satisfy all
but
the incurably gullible that the psychic scam relies on the Barnum dictum that there is a sucker born
every minute. And in debunking perhaps the most widely believed claims of psychic prophecy, he
shows that a passage by Nostradamus widely interpreted as a foretelling of the rise and fall of
Napoleon could equally well be applied to Ferdinand II, Adolf Hitler, or any European ruler
whose
governance was less than beneficial. As for the writing of a novel retroactively interpreted as a
prediction of the sinking of the Titanic, he writes (p. 70), "An iceberg was just about the only
thing
that could sink such a ship, short of enemy action in war. Thus, if one were going to write a story
about a large passenger liner sinking, an iceberg practically had to be involved. The requirement
that
the fictional ship strike an iceberg further constrained where and when the accident could take
place.
After all, a ship isn't likely to run into any icebergs when sailing from Marseille to Rio de Janeiro
in
July."
In discussing the Alice-in-Wonderland rationalization of parapsychologists for the impossibility of
obtaining positive results of ESP tests under conditions that rule out non-ESP explanations,
namely,
that "psi is shy," Hines classifies the rationalization as just one more non-falsifiable (and therefore
unscientific) hypothesis, as indeed it is. But he might have made his point better by asking: If one
force of nature, ESP, can feel insulted and refuse to manifest itself in the presence of a skeptic,
how
come magnetism does not refuse to do so? How come the nuclear forces are not shy? How come
gravity is not shy? How come only psi is shy?
Hines' chapter on psychoanalysis should be mandatory reading for all persons who still believe
that
Freud's imbecilic masturbation fantasy differs in any way from spilling one's guts to a bartender, a
taxi driver or a hetaera, particularly scriptwriters for such TV programs as Law and Order who
regularly portray psychoshrinks as something other than self-deluded humbugs. He ends the
chapter
with a debunking of hundreds of incompatible procedures lumped together as "humanistic
psychology," (p. 203) describing them as "all couched in layers of vacuous psychobabble and
containing considerable amounts of pseudoscience." Right on!
"Knowledge of astronomy and astrophysics has changed immensely since the Greeks looked up at
the stars and saw their gods there. In spite of this, astrology has not changed at all it is a static,
stale pseudoscience." (p. 208) Hines does not blame the prostitute media for astrology's continued
existence, despite the attitude of congenital suckers that, "It must be true. It's in the paper." If all
newspapers carrying an astrology column stopped doing so, belief in such bovine excrement
would
disappear overnight.
On extraterrestrials contacting human beings: "Somehow the aliens always forgot to give their
contacts any proof that they existed. They also must have been very bad psychologists, because
the
people they chose to carry their messages were almost invariably crackpots, lunatics or
charlatans."
(p. 236) If Steven Spielberg had read that, he might not have perpetrated the obscenities called
Close Encounters of the Third Kind and Taken.
Hines catalogues an abundance of evidence that polygraphs are no more effective as lie detectors
than tossing a coin, heads for Truth and tails for Lie. The most definitive is an experiment
conducted
by the TV program 60 Minutes in 1986 (p. 430): "Several polygraph firms were called by CBS
and
told that there had been a theft . In fact there had been no theft and all the 'suspects' knew that
they
were taking part in an experiment. Each polygraph operator was given a hint that one particular
employee was the leading suspect, but the hint concerned a different employee for each operator.
The operators in each case identified the 'leading suspect' as the guilty party. Not one operator
failed
to make this incorrect judgment." After such exposure on the world's most watched news
magazine
program, how in the name of science can polygraphs continue to be mistaken for "lie detectors"
by
law enforcement agencies, state and federal governments, major corporations, and TV scripts?
The
answer is that believers in the validity of polygraphs are as impervious to an infinite amount of
falsifying evidence as believers in astrology, UFOs, chiroquackery, homeoquackery, creationism,
psychics, reincarnation, psychotherapy, faith healing, cryptozoology, dowsing, graphology, the
Turin
Shroud, subliminal advertising, and pyramid power, all of which Hines demolishes, hypnotism,
which
he at least partly endorses, and religion per se, which he pointedly ignores, even though, like the
other paranormal delusions the book evaluates, it too is a combination of a non-falsifiable
hypothesis
("a god exists"), and a myriad of subsidiary hypotheses that can be and have been falsified.
William Harwood
Reviewer
Hodgins' Bookshelf
"The Widow of Jerusalem"
Alan Gordon
Minotaur/St. Martin's Press
U.S.$23.95, Can.$33.95, ISBN 0312300891.
By chance my wife, Gardie, brought home from the local public library this work, whose subjects
relate quite closely to those of the last two books I've reviewed for MBR. I say this because one
might have thought I'd developed a sudden enthusiasm for Mediaeval and/or Islamic studies, but
such was not particularly the case. A major criterion for the present work's selection was simply
its
recent publication date: 2003. The period of the Crusades, particularly the Middle Eastern theatre
where they were fought, is so unfamiliar to me that I felt obliged to do a goodly amount of
research
just to "come up to speed", in hopes of writing a competent critique. I recommend that process to
those who wish to understand the full background of today's Middle Eastern troubles. Certain
words
used in Gordon's book are among the items needing research. For example, what is, or rather was,
a
"Saracen"? It turns out that Mediaeval Europeans simply continued the practice of Ancient
Greeks
and Romans who called all Arabs Saraceni, named for a geographic feature in the Sinai Peninsula.
That term is a reasonable counterpart for the contemporaneous Arabic name of "Franks" for all
Europeans, the Franks (properly speaking) having been a Germanic tribe that had settled in, and
were now giving their name to, France. If one of those misnomers, either Frank or Saracen, was
somehow contemptuous, then both were. In the second line on page 49 and elsewhere, Gordon
suggests that the great Muslim political and military leader, Saladin (1137-93) - himself a Kurd of
Armenia, according to Encyclopaedia Britannica - led an army of "Turks". Indeed there likely was
a
component of Turkic warriors, but Saladin's army consisted of Muslims from the many lands he
had
brought together. Among them, Arabs apparently then predominated; Turks would gain the
ascendancy in the Middle East considerably later. Saladin (really Salah ud-Din, Arabic for
"Honour
of the Faith") was a remarkable man, well worth studying. For one thing, he seems to have been
more chivalrous even than his near-nemesis Richard (who might well have won their war, had he
kept better control of his men when they scattered to pillage the fallen in battle ... another story,
however.) At no point did religion play much role, within Gordon's account. Largely, the
Crusades
seem to have been opportunities to satisfy personal ambitions of participants in the field. A
frequent
ambition evidently was to win the Church's absolution from all sins as a payoff for doing the
"right"
thing - a corrupt motivation, in my view.
Gordon's writing style is sprightly and amusing but, with rare exceptions, his work is composed in
a
modern idiom and sometimes in a distinctly American dialect. For instance, on a few occasions
Gordon uses the "in like Flynn" sense of "in" - that is, the sense of being approved or accepted.
Yet
the tale, told in the first person, is set in the Middle East and Southern Europe, hundreds of years
before Columbus "discovered" the New World and long before American English developed (if
long
after Old Norse-speaking Vikings had colonized parts of what is now Canada.) "The Widow of
Jerusalem" thus is, in essence, told in modern words by a man living hundreds of years before
Columbus. I've recent discussed a partially comparable book's composition - Englishman Michael
Jecks's "The Last Templar" - and so it seems unnecessary to make some of the same points again
here; let me add only that this new work's editing also seems occasionally imperfect, as in the
apparent invention of a new verb to "coronate" - more normally, "to crown" - on page 50.
As an unusual feature, "The Widow of Jerusalem" is narrated by a Mediaeval court fool (no doubt
a
term derived after 1066 from the Norman French fou, fol, folle, "mad, insane, foolish,
extravagant,
..."). Charles I is said to have been the last English monarch to have an official court fool, but the
same basic tradition of creating diversions, in some cases laughable ones, continues to this day in
the
form of the circus clown or comedian of stage, film, or TV; in the form of entertainers generally.
As
we listen in, the jester narrates his experiences to his wife, who must stay at home and share his
adventures only at second hand. She creates a fairly strong impression, though, by interjecting
often
acidic comments and questions, which author Gordon invariably writes in italics. That major
subgroup of so-called fools called jesters owed their positions, not at all to foolishness or
stupidity,
but rather to a quite opposite quality of flashingly clever wit. Some also were known for their
outstanding musical, gymnastic, acting, or other abilities; while still others were thought to be
"funny" simply by suffering from dwarfism or other physical quirks, on which they might make
further play through the exercise of their self-deprecating wits. All this may not be your cuppa tea,
but, as a corny old Broadway song put it, "That's Entertainment." To be called "Fool" in those
days
was not always abusive, then, especially if the word merely stated your chosen calling in life.
Indeed,
a certain number of youths worked hard to become accredited fools in that Mediaeval sense,
much
as today they work hard to become professional musicians, stand-up comedians, gymnasts, and so
forth. The main changes are in their more specialized professions' names.
During the era portrayed by this book there apparently was a fools' guild with its own Guildhall,
although the latter's location is left somewhat vague - probably in Austria, though. As serfs, fools
were "owned" by nobles and others of wealth. As guild members, though, Gordon suggests they
were well connected to one another to form a sort of underground society of great dash and
daring,
even (in the situation described) shaping the course of the Crusades to which they were attached
by
their masters. Fools enjoyed considerable licence to hurl sly but often breathtakingly impertinent
insults at their patrons - another peculiarity of their work. However, they no doubt needed an
acute
sense of just how far they might with impunity go, if they were to survive. Almost all the fools we
meet in "The Widow of Jerusalem" are of the super-intelligent, multilingual sort. The narrating
fool
is physically normal, but his leader is the mental giant but physical dwarf Scarlet, who dresses to
suit
his name.
Author Gordon is credited with the publication of three previous books, of which the second,
"Jester
Leaps In", clearly is also about at least one so-called fool. All four books may in fact be serial
novels
centring upon a single protagonist. That's only one man's guess, though. Gordon is right in stating
that English King Richard II "the Lionhearted" (more exactly, "Coeur de lion", French then being
the court language in England) committed the atrocious war crime of executing more than 2000
Saracen prisoners outside the walls of Acre. Gordon places the number of those murders at 2700,
a
precision not available in my encyclopaedia. From this example it seems Mr. Gordon has not been
behindhand in his homework regarding salient points of history but, owing to his own jesting tone,
we are a bit uncertain how seriously to take his assertions.
Yet he may not explain quite everything. For example, fairly early on he mentions, but without
explanation, the Assassin branch of the Ismaili sect of Islam, deriving its name from hashishin,
"taker
of hashish". According to Encyclopaedia Britannica, "The Assassins made a number of changes in
Ismaili doctrine and practice ... [including] the adoption of 'assassination'; i.e., the murder of the
sect's enemies as a sacred religious duty."
As a prominent victim of the Assassins, the Encyclopaedia mentions Conrad of Montferrat who
figures quite largely in Gordon's tale. However, the book ends in a Puckishly written Historical
Note
which, if it may be taken seriously, states other possibilities than that the Assassins were to blame;
for even the most basic facts are not always clear in history. Is this book solid history, then, or is it
a
fool's "take" on historical events, one wonders throughout? Historical it is, according to all the
checking I've done (limited though my time for such work is), but an awkward fact of this genre
of
small-l literature is, the more historical the work, the less fiction it can contain; for "historical
fiction" is something of an oxymoron, which literally means "sharp-dull", i.e., combining opposite
traits (as in "military intelligence", a very common example.) Thus, technically speaking, a work
that
relates predominantly straightforward history has difficulty in maintaining its sometimes preferred
status as a novel. However, real history tends to be rather dry and academic in tone. As a rule,
little
dialogue, and likely almost no inward thoughts, are recorded in historical accounts; for in real life,
how many historians are on hand 24 hours per day, tirelessly jotting down everything that anyone
says or even thinks?
Thus concerning Acre - a harbour town in the of his book's action - the Encyclopaedia only states
about the Crusading era, "The Arabs took possession of the city in 638. Baldwin I. captured it ...
in
1104 (1st crusade). Saladin re-captured it in 1187 (2nd crusade). In 1191 after a siege by Guy de
Lusignan of about two years, it was taken on the arrival of Richard Coeur de Lion (3rd crusade)
and
was finally lost in 1291." Instead of the foregoing few lines, Gordon's work, largely one of
imagination, includes whole chapters of minutiae concerning supposed conversations and other
happenings in Acre, although these occur over a short period of time. (Acre would later be called
Ptolemais and now is Akko, lying near the port city of Haifa or Hefa.)
It's just not credible that such profuse details as Gordon writes were recorded eight centuries ago,
or
that they could have survived until now. To me it's clear they are fictional. All in all the book's
fictional content is really quite high, despite its historical framework. This sentence, immediately
following the Encyclopaedia passage quoted above, throws further light on Gordon's use of
"Turks"
in describing Saladin's army: "The Turks under Selim 1 entered into possession in 1517, after
which
the city [of Acre] fell into decay." Assuming that the Turks didn't take Acre from themselves, the
former possessors must logically have been predominantly non-Turkish; in fact, for more than two
centuries after Saladin's victory they must evidently have been overwhelmingly of Arabic and
related
tribes.
Linguistic aspects of Gordon's work would not be disturbing in a story about modern American
life,
but new meanings for old words, not to say neologisms, don't lend themselves to the creation of a
convincing Mediaeval aura. At least, though, the sheer incoherence of such talk as, "Like, y'know,
I'm going, hey, he sucks an' she's like cool, man," never appears; let us be thankful for great
mercies!
Toward "The Widow of Jerusalem"'s end, an apparent error we might call a geographic
non-sequitur
may be detected by comparing geographical information from several pages. On pg. 224: "We
found
a ship that was leaving for Acre the next day"; on pg. 232: "We docked in Acre on the fifth day of
September"; on pg. 234: [said of German soldiers] "... I am surprised to see the likes of them in
Tyre". There being no evidence of a two-day journey (of about 60 km or 40 mi., afoot or on
horseback) between those two port towns at that point, Gordon appears to have confused Tyre
with
Acre. However, on pg. 245 we read, "'Have you come to Acre to stay?' she asked." Implicitly,
matters are now back on track - but the work would read better without the evident slip at pg.
234.
All that being so, this is inherently a compelling story that breathes life into ancient events that
might
otherwise remain obscure to us. If you can forgive certain details in its crafting, and also if you
like
history, you are almost sure both to enjoy and to learn much from this entertaining example of the
storyteller's art.
Pete Hodgins Sr.
Reviewer
Hunter's Bookshelf
I and Claudie Dillon Anderson
Texas Tech University Press
ISBN: 0896724298, $15.95 256 pages
This is a reissue by Double Mountain Books of the 1951 book first published by Little Brown and
Company. The book won the Texas Institute of Letters Award for best fiction in the year of
publication. The characters and incidents originally appeared as a series of short stories in
"Atlantic
Monthly Magazine." Its humor and sense of the absurd still serves it well. In addition, the stories
give us a peek at the mores of a time when jobs were hard to find, money was short, and ordinary
folks had to survive by ingenuity and wit
"I and Claudie" describes the adventures of two unlikely itinerate partners as they scramble to eke
out a living in 1930's Texas. Clint Hightower, a scam artist with a good heart, will claim expertise
in
any profession that allows him to get his foot in the door and an opportunity to make a quick
buck.
Claudie Hughes, a big na‹ve gullible lug with an eye for the ladies and voice suited for singing or
hog
calling depending on the situation at hand, teams with Clint as they travel Texas. The two literally
bump into each other in a New Orleans restaurant where circumstances make it necessary that
they
team up and leave town as soon as possible In Claudie's worn out Ford, they decide to head for
Texas. Always on the verge of complete bankruptcy, Clint usually finds a scheme to keep them
going for a while longer. In their unusual partnership, Claudie does the manual labor while Clint
does the thinking. Often, however, it Claudie manages to pull their iron from the fire with last
moment flashes of unexpected common sense
Anderson describes their adventures with wry humor and a sense of irony. In Beaumont, their first
stop in Texas, Clint manages to talk his way into a job as an undercover detective. He and Claudie
do their undercover work guarding the coats and jewelry of wealthy socialites at a reception at the
Beaumont Hotel. They are in for a surprise at the identity of one of the honored quests. Discretion
being the better part of valor, Claudie quietly returns a gift and after helping themselves to the
buffet, Clint and Claudie accept their pay and hit the road for points west.
In a later incident, while Claudie works in the oil fields of Anahuac, Clint whiles away the days
watching jury trials at the courthouse. Under fortuitous circumstances and in typical style, Clint
bluffs his way into an appointment as receiver for a business partnership involving two feuding
brothers, pens full of hogs, and a flock of turkeys. With his usual aplomb, he manages to conclude
the dispute and leave slightly richer than he arrived.
Their next escapade involves a stint with Professor E. Ludington Pye who bills himself as a
renowned phrenologist and travels in a trailer house from carnival to carnival, especially when he
can find a partner who has a car. Clint and Claudie fit the bill. Clint signs on as a psychologist and
Claudie works as a photographer in the cavalcade. As usual, things go awry. Clint and Claudie
end
up with no money, an inventory of painted turtles and in dire need of mobile if not dependable
transportation
Further adventures find Clint and Claudie destroying a farmer's windmill while posing as windmill
fixers, Clint posing as an auctioneer, the two working on a dude ranch, and both providing
musical
entertainment for Horace Q. Ball's bid to be elected governor of the state.
Clint and Claudie are two remarkable, entertaining, and unforgettable characters in a delightful
and
enjoyable book
Duty: A Father, His Son, and the Man Who Won the War
Bob Greene
William Morrow & Company
ISBN 0380978490, $25.00 304 pages
Bob Greene's father, a World War II veteran, often spoke in admiration of Paul Tibbets who lived
in
quiet solitude in their hometown in Ohio. Tibbets was, in the eyes of Greene's father, "the man
who
won the war." After Greene's father passed away, Greene began a quest to better understand his
father and the generation from which he came. Tibbets, who piloted the bomber that dropped the
atomic bomb on the Japanese city of Hiroshima, became a mentor and friend. Through Tibbet's
remembrances and Greene's memories of his father, the book becomes an interesting and intimate
tribute from a son to his father and to a generation whose values were embodied in the concepts
of
honor, duty, and courage.
This is a wonderfully well-written book replete with fascinating insights into the personality of the
man who triggered the most devastating act in the history of man. It is well worth reading today
as a
reminder of the courage and unselfishness of past Americans who did their duty in a time of war. I
recommend it not only as a reminder of those veterans but also as an interesting and insightful
look
at the importance of determination and strength during anxious times.
The Yokota Officers Club
Sarah Bird
Ballantine Books
ISBN: 0345452771, $14.95 367 pages
When her parents dropped her off at the University of New Mexico on their way to her family's
new
duty station at the air force base in Okinawa, Bernie seemed shy and introverted. A loner, she
related mainly to her mother, Moe, and her youngest sister, Bosco. The year at the University of
New Mexico changed some of her perceptions of world politics (she joined the school's Damsels
of
Dissent Club), but not her basic personality. Now, on her first visit to the island military base, she
discovers a drastic among her family members as well.
Her father, Major Mason Root, once a hotshot pilot with a seemingly unlimited future, now
serves
as Community Liaison Officer responsible for maintaining good public relations with the native
inhabitants of the island. Major Root, who once looked with disdain at all desk jobs, finds himself
bitter and unhappy. Her mother, Moe, seems a shell of her former self. She no longer runs a clean
and efficient household. She seems remote, lethargic, and frequently sleeps until mid-afternoon.
Bernie's younger sister, Kit, now blossomed into a wild and beautiful young woman and the desire
of
many of the young airmen on the base. Only the youngest children, the twin boys, seem as
carefree
and uninhibited as they were when Bernie left. Even more puzzling to Bernie is the awkward
silence
at the mention of Fumiko, the family maid and Bernie's confidant during the family's tour of duty
in
Tokyo at the Yokota Air Base.
The long held sibling rivalry between Bernie and Kit manifests itself, and both enter a dance
contest
with the winner receiving a trip to Tokyo and the opportunity to perform with local comic Bobby
Moses, an entertainer who meets his expenses with bit of illegal business on the side. When Bernie
wins, she finds a chance to locate Fumiko and discover the secret thatpoisoned the relationship
between Fumiko andthe family.
When Fumiko and Bernie finally meet, Fumiko agrees to tell the whole story. She relates a history
of
grief, self-sacrifice, and courage. Bernie experiences shock and surprise at Fumiko's story, but the
revelations lead her to a greater understanding of herself and her family.
This wonderfully written story captures the reader's emotions from page one and never lets them
go.
Clint Hunter, Reviewer
Hunter40@earthlink.net
Jennifer's Bookshelf
Six Enchanted Princesses
Elizabeth Jewell
Ellora's Cave
www.ellorascave.com
ISBN 1843604728
Patrick Fitzcairn is, for the most part, a private detective. But he has some hidden talents, and
that's
what it will take to save six beautiful girls from a strange enchantment. Set in modern day USA,
this
transplanted fairy tale was captivating from page one. Patrick is an intriguing hero, and his case
protecting six nubile sisters seems easy at first. But all is not what it seems, and the girls have
been
cast under an enchantment by an evil fairy. Magic is not an option for the girl's father though, and
Patrick knows that nobody would believe him if he told the truth. His only chance of saving the
girls
is to win the trust of one of them, and penetrate the enchantment himself. Patrick, you see, has
had
dealings with evil before and he knows how powerful and dangerous it can be.
Annabeth, the eldest sister, tries to keep him from her secret, but Patrick has ways of getting by
her
defenses, and finally she tells him everything. In exchange, he swears to help her and her sisters.
But
it won't be easy. Their wealthy father has kept them virtually imprisoned since their mother's
death,
and the girls only escape is through the fairy doorway that opens magically every other night.
Once
through the doorway, the girls can engage in wild, unrestrained sex with the inhabitants of fairy
land;
but the leader, the elusive and dangerous Eoin, has marked Annabeth for his own and now she is
his
slave. Only Patrick can save her, but it will put both their lives in danger.
If you love fairy tales with lots of spice, then you'll enjoy 'Six Enchanted Princesses'.
Highly recommended
Wildcat
Cheyenne McCray
Ellora's Cave
www.ellorascave.com
ISBN: 1843604663
Catie Wilds has a problem; someone is rustling cattle. She and her brother Steve own a small
ranch
and cattle are their main income. When the rustler isn't caught right away, she storms into the
sheriff's office, intending to give him a piece of her mind. What she didn't expect was finding the
sheriff hotter than a branding iron. When she looked into his deep, green eyes, Catie had one
thought only getting to know him better. But first things first, and her ranch and cattle definitely
come first. So, after giving Sheriff Savage a few choice words about what she thought of his
work,
she goes back to the ranch. She's got a mindful of the new sheriff, but she also has a little hobby
of
her own and that involves well, let's just say that I don't want to give it away, but Catie's secret
hobby is so hot it sizzles, and the sheriff just happens to catch her in the act, shall we say.
Between
Jarrod and Catie, things are soon sizzling, but Catie has trouble with commitment, and is afraid to
get too cozy with her new boyfriend. But much to her horror, she finds herself falling in love.
Things
might go smoothly, but then something happens with her brother, and Catie's love for Jarrod turns
to
hatred.
Well, this was a wild rollercoaster of a story. Catie and Jarrod are great characters, and their story
had me on the edge of my seat. Add the fact that Ms. McCray can write the hottest love scenes
imaginable, and you have a romantic, erotic story about a feisty cowgirl determined to save her
brother and her ranch.
Very highly recommended
Heroes in the Dust
Jennifer Macaire
236 pages
www.jacobytebooks.com
ISBN (paperback) 1741001307
(e-book) 1741001285
This is the second book in the Iskander Series, and continues the story of Ashley, the time
traveling
journalist, who has become the lover and "goddess" companion of Alexander the Great. Ashley,
third wife of the mighty conqueror, is still hoping her lover will recapture their abducted baby
son.
Ah, the perils that lie in wait for the cross genre writer--but Ms. Macaire, with great success,
fuses a
romantic time travel with a healthy dose of the real historical thing. Alexander's legendary
campaigns, as well as food, clothing, auguries, medicine, surgery and the games played by his
army
create a well-drawn framework for this page-turner.
The troops alternately fight and build cities, ultimately adding a few drops of Greek blood to the
veins of the warring nations of the Middle East. Amid military and political struggle, daily life in
the
general's tent, with its eternal jockeying for favor, goes on. These scenes are particularly realistic
and
amusing, written with a deft hand. For the adventurous romance reader, there is plenty of heat
but,
be prepared for "Harlequin Rules of Engagement" to be broken. The heroine, the intrepid and
beautiful time traveler, does not shrink from the all-embracing nature of Classical sexuality.
---Juliet Waldron
Author of 'Genesee
Jacobyte Books
Kieren the Black
Julie Templeton
Ellora's Cave
www.ellorascave.com
ISBN 1843605112
Kieren the Black was a notorious Norman knight, who, rumor has it, decapitated the heads of
three
Saxon soldiers with a single swipe of his sword, a sword that measured six and a half feet in size
the very height of the great warrior himself!
So starts this very engaging tale of a woman swept back in time and into the arms of a handsome
Norman knight! Lizzie gets the shock of her life when she lifts Kieran's sword in a museum, and
wakes up in a bed back in the year 1066. It would seem that the curator of the museum is a
match-making witch with powers of time travel, for Lizzie is transformed into Kieran's young,
Saxon wife. Instead of Dowdy Lizzie Johnson, she is now Lady Elizabeth of Aedalmaer, with a
sumptuous body and a husband to die for. Determined to make the best of everything, Lizzie sets
about seducing her husband. The real Lady Elizabeth didn't care for him, as he had conquered her
lands, but Lizzie is thrilled with the sexy warrior. The change in his wife comes as a pleasant
surprise, and Kieren falls in love with Lizzie. However, Lizzie has a dilemma. She knows from her
history studies that someone betrays Kieran and that he's killed in battle. How can she save
him?
This was a light-hearted romp through history, with a handsome Norman knight and a spunky
time-traveller. The setting is interesting and the characters engaging. Sit on the porch with a
chilled
drink (the love scenes sizzle!)and prepare for a pleasant afternoon's read!
Highly Recommended
Port Of Paradise
Lisa Marie Rice
Ellora's Cave
www.ellorascave.com
ISBN # 1843604809 $6.20
Hope Winston is in Italy running a school for her best friend, Kay Summers, who was injured in
an
accident. Things are going smoothly at school, but back at Kay's house, there are strange goings
on.
Hope doesn't want protection and she doesn't want help. She hates policemen after she doesn't
want
anyone, particularly not devastatingly sexy Capitan Franco Rivers, head of the elite anti-mafia
squad.
Hope hates cops. So how did she end up sleeping with one?
Hope Winston is the most delectable woman Franco Rivers has ever seen. There's only one
problem.
Hope keeps sticking her pretty little nose in trouble. She needs a keeper. And Franco Rivera is
just
the man to keep her...there's only one problem. Franco is a cop and Hope hates cops. She had a
terrible experience with the police, and now she regards all of them with deepest suspicion. But
Franco isn't the kind of man to take no for an answer, or to give up something he is interested in,
and he definitely has interest in Hope. Since the first time he saw her, he can't get the beautiful
woman out of his mind. Now he's supposed to protect her, and whether she wants it or not, he's
going to do his duty!
Needless to say, duty and pleasure go hand and hand in this book! Franco and Hope are
interesting,
likeable characters and their romance blooms under less than auspicious stars. But despite the
very
real danger, and despite Hope's misgivings, they find that they are meant for each other. But will
fate
let them stay together? Passionate and fast-moving, this book had me turning pages well after
midnight to find out what would happen. Keep the fan on, because this is one hot book, and I
dare
anyone not to fall in love with sexy Franco Rivera!
Highly recommended.
Time Travail
Howard Waldman
Jacobyte Books
www.jaocbytebooks.com
ISBN 1740530985
What do a mad scientist, a beautiful Austrian war refuge, and a retired professor of literature have
in
common? A time machine - or rather, a machine to give a glimpse back in time from certain
locations. Jerry Weizman has known Harvey Morgenstern all his life and was his best friend until
the
tragedy that befell the girl they both loved. Rachel Rosen, a Viennese refuge, gassed herself in
Harvey's home, destroying the house and Harvey's laboratory. In the beginning, the narrator of the
story, Jerry has just been contacted by Harvey after decades of silence. Harvey has a proposition
that
Jerry, in dire financial straits, cannot refuse. He goes to visit Harvey who now lives next door to
where his old house used to be. Jerry hardly recognizes his old friend, now ill with a mysterious
cancer. Harvey is obsessed with the past to the point of inventing a machine that produces
strange,
flickering images of the dead. But he needs to set up his devices in his old house in order to see
his
beloved Rachel - and here Jerry comes in. He is to make friends with the woman living there are
help
Harvey with his morbid task.
Seldom does a book capture my attention as this book did. I started and simply could not put it
down, and when I did, out of necessity, I couldn't stop thinking about it. Horrifying and comic,
creepy and compelling, Time Travail was a book I didn't want to end. As I read, I was sucked into
a
world where dementia lurks just beneath the surface and normalcy doesn't exist. As Harvey
Morgenstern's nightmare expands to entrap everyone around him, Jerry, the narrator, tries to
escape.
If I say anything more, I'll give away the plot. If you like psychological thrillers and suspense, if
the
past intrigues you, or if you simply like a good book, don't miss 'Time Travail'. It is a complex,
satisfying read right to the unexpected, astonishing end. Very highly recommended.
Jennifer Macaire, Reviewer
http://monsite.wanadoo.fr/Iskander
Kinni's Bookshelf
How Breakthroughs Happen
Andrew Hargadon
HBS Press
$29.95 ISBN 1578519047
Breakthrough ideas are more about networking than inspirational strokes of genius, says
UC-Davis
professor Andrew Hargadon in How Breakthroughs Happen: The Surprising Truth About How
Companies Innovate. In the best book of the month, he studies the genesis of big product ideas
from
the light bulb to biotech and finds that "technology brokering" - the combination of pieces of ideas
drawn from different markets and industries - drives the innovation process that generates many
breakthroughs.
Heroic Leadership
Chris Lowney
Loyola Press
$24.95, ISBN 0829418164
In Heroic Leadership: Best Practices From A 450-Year-Old Company That Changed the World,
former Jesuit and ex-J.P. Morgan managing director Chris Lowney examines the history and
development of the Jesuit religious order for lessons in leadership. He finds a compelling and
effective leadership development system based on four characteristics: self-awareness, ingenuity,
love, and heroism.
A Business Tale
Marianne Jennings
Amacom
$19.95, ISBN 0814471978
In A Business Tale: A Story of Ethics, Choices, Success [And A Very Large Rabbit], Arizona
State
ethics professor Marianne Jennings describes what it means to behave ethically in business and life
in
this entertaining fable inspired by the movie Harvey and Aesop's "The Tortoise and the Hare."
The
bottom line: ethical players may not always be the frontrunners, but they "finish first eventually,
and
with peace of mind."
Corporateering
Jamie Court
Tarcher
$24.95, ISBN 1585422282
Are you a corporateer? The executive director of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer
Rights
says you are if your company compromises individuals' rights, freedoms, power, and the
democratic
systems that protect them. Corporateering: How Corporate Power Steals Your Personal Freedom
And What You Can Do About It explores the corporate impact on our judicial system, education,
and the public spaces that define community.
The Global Negotiator
Jeswald Salacuse
Palgrave
$35.00, ISBN 0312293399
Global business requires global negotiating skills, says Tufts' professor Jeswald Salacuse.The
Global
Negotiator: Making, Managing, And Mending Deals Around The World In The Twenty-First
Century is a handbook offers advice covering the life of an international agreement: a process for
deal-making and understanding of the common barriers; power tools for managing established
contracts; and renegotiation and mediation skills to fix contracts gone wrong.
Right Risk
Bill Treasurer
Berrett-Koehler
$15.95, ISBN 1576752461
Daredevil high-diver (aka Captain Inferno) turned consultant, Bill Treasurer says in Right Risk:
10
Powerful Principles For Taking Giant Leaps With Your Life, that there is no way to avoid risk, so
we should learn how to determine and successfully undertake the "right risks." Toward that goal,
he
offers a set of rules that describe what to do before, during, and after the moment of risk.
Mao In The Boardroom
Gabriel Stricker
Griffin/St. Martin's Press
$14.95, ISBN 0312310854
In Mao In The Boardroom: Marketing Genius From The Mind Of The Master Guerilla,
communications consultant Gabriel Stricker applies Mao's axioms to marketing in this
entertaining,
lessons-based read that illustrate the primary elements and strategies of guerilla companies and
leaders. Each lesson includes Mao's words, the business application, and corporate examples.
Selling With Emotional Intelligence
Mitch Anthony
Dearborn
$22.00, ISBN 0793161282
Goleman's concept of emotional intelligence beats IQ in the world of sales, too, according to
consultant Mitch Anthony.Selling With Emotional Intelligence: 5 Skills For Building Stronger
Client
Relationships shows sales pros how to develop and apply EQ using the ARROW model, a set of
five
interpersonal traits: awareness, restraint, resilience, empathy, and rapport.
Inevitable Surprises
Peter Schwartz
Gotham Books
$27.00, ISBN 1592400272
The potential for progress and disruption are enormous and equally great, says futurist and
chairman
of Global Business Network Peter Schwartz of the outlook for next several decades in Inevitable
Surprises: Thinking Ahead In A Time Of Turbulence. On the horizon is an explosion of the
elderly, a
flood of migration, an economic boom, terrorism, environmental crises and as-yet-unknown
diseases.
Coaching C.L.U.E.S: Real Stories, Powerful Solutions, Practical Tools
Marian Thier
Nicholas Brealey
$19.95, ISBN 1857883373
Master Certified Coach Marian Thier presents her CLUES (Characteristics, Language,
Underlying
motives, Energy and Stories) model for observing and understanding clients' behaviors. Coaching
C.L.U.E.S: Real Stories, Powerful Solutions, Practical Tools is a practical handbook which
includes
case studies and a dozen skills and corresponding tools for using the five CLUES to improve your
performance as a coach.
Balancing Acts
Barbara Glanz
Dearborn
$14.95, ISBN 0793165202
You can't perfectly balance your life, says consultant Barbara Glanz, but you can blend its most
important elements. In Balancing Acts: More Than 250 Guiltfree, Creative Ideas To Blend Your
Work And Your Life, she offers a host of simple ideas for making sure that family, friends, health,
spirit, and service are considered and represented in your work life.
Broadbandits
Om Malik
John Wiley
$24.95, ISBN 0471434051
In Broadbandits: Inside The $750 Billion Telecom Heist, journalist Om Malik tells the story of the
five-year bandwidth boom and bust by focusing on the major players. Malik covers now-notorious
leaders, such as Winnick, Ebbers, and Rice, and the swamis of broadband, Grubman and Gilder.
Malik's conclusion: they were all "two-bit bandits" who brought down an industry that comprised
one-sixth of the nation's economy.
Lean Advertising
Stephen Hawley Martin and Bruce Goldman
Oaklea Press
$14.95, ISBN 1892538105
In Lean Advertising: How To Get Breakthrough Work Faster And Cheaper, advertising execs
Stephen Hawley Martin and Bruce Goldman think advertising agencies should apply the principles
of lean manufacturing to their work, too. After short histories of both advertising and lean
manufacturing, they get to the key elements of a "lean agency" - one that is work-driven,
team-based, free with information, highly proficient, and cross-functional.
Theodore Kinni, Reviewer
http://home1.gte.net/bizbooks
Liana's Bookshelf
When a Woman Prays
Tina L.Miller
Topic
Is something missing in your life? Have you drifted away from God? Are you asking yourself , " Is
this all there is to life?" This book can teach you how the power of prayer can change your life. It
is
never too late to start finding God and sharing with Him your daily life. Read the book and let
Tina
inspire you to pray and feel good!
Reviewed by Liana metal
When a Woman Prays
Tina L.Miller
Obadiah Press
607 N.Cleveland Street, Merrill, Wisconsin
www.obadiahpress.com
ISBN: 0971326614, 176pp, US $ 15.95, paperback,
Very Highly Recommended
Tina L.Miller is a freelance writer and motivational speaker with a personal mission: to motivate
and
inspire others. Her work has appeared in print and online publications including : the Wausau
Daily
Herald, Milwaukee Business Journal, Merrill Courier, COBRA Advisory, The Writing Parent and
a
lot more.
Tina lives in Merrill, Wisconsin, with her husband, John, and two children. Readers can visit her
site
at http://www.tinamiller.com
WHEN A WOMAN PRAYS is a unique in concept book that will motivate readers to fit praying
into their daily lives, as the author makes prayer seem simple and easy to do. The book is
dedicated
to all women who feel they need a closer , more personal relationship with God.
The book is divided into 16 chapters. In the Foreword, Tina says:
' Miracles can happen when a woman prays miracles in the lives of the people she prays for,
miracles in the lives of the people she loves, and miracles in her own life.'
'My purpose in writing this book is to help you feel the emptiness in your life in your soul. It is to
help you develop and enjoy the most intimate and fulfilling relationship you will ever have a
relationship with God.'
There is a short introduction where the writer assures the readers that this book will help both
those
who have never prayed before, and those who wonder if they are praying the "right" way.
The book starts with The Search for God and reaches in chapter 6- a format of formal and
informal prayers to help readers get started. It is easy to follow the instructions Tina displays , and
the readers can practise instantly their first prayer to God:
' Writing a letter to God or writing your innermost thoughts and prayers in a journal is an
excellent
way to pray in silence, clarify your thoughts and desires , and communicate them with God.'
This excellent book deals with a variety if prayers and situations, such as Praying for others, for
purpose, and praying for your enemies:
' Pray for your enemies. Boy, this one can be difficult. This is the hardest prayer of all to utter and
still harder to say sincerely. Yet God has called us to do just this. We are all called to forgive the
people who hurt us.'
The chapters end up in The Journey, where the writer states that "the intimate relationship with
God
is a journey, not a destination". Tina invites the readers to pray:
' Today the journey begins. Open your heart to Jesus. Miracles can happen when a woman prays
Miracles can happen when you pray.
If you are having trouble getting started, let me pray with you. Email me at : tina@tinamiller.com
. I
will personally pray with you.'
Each chapter ends up with a number of questions that are meant to motivate readers sort out their
own needs and problems, thus helping them understand how to plan their life and their family's life
in
order to enrich and enhance it with God.
' Do you remember the first prayer you ever learned?
How are you teaching your children to know God?
What prayers do your children know?'
At the end of the book there is a section on Resources where the readers can find prayers for
every
situation needed. There is also a list of people who want to pray with you, and a list of More
Books
on Prayers for further reading.
WHEN A WOMAN PRAYS is an exceptionally practical book that will inspire all women to
change
and enhance their daily life. Those who feel that something is missing in their life will find Tina's
advice and prayers a great comfort and help-and that is what this book is meant for: to help
women
live better.
Tina sends the readers a message from God: to have faith , hope , inner peace and love. She tells
them how to discover a new life via praying to God, and she certainly succeeds in doing so!
WHEN A WOMAN PRAYS caters to all women who need to find God and have a closer
relationship with Him in order to feel happy and fulfilled. Those who are willing to read and
practise
this material will undoubtedly benefit a lot, and see life from a new, more positive
perspective.
The Way of Wonder
Jack Haas
Topic
Would you like to explore the great enigma of life, and think about God?
Jack Haas has written this book with this concept in mind and has enhanced it with a variety of
quotes from famous people. So, if you want to enter the world of wonder and explore yourself as
well, then this book will undoubtedly satisfy your inner needs.
The Way of Wonder, a return to the mystery of ourselves
Jack Haas
Iconoclast Press
Suite 144, 3495 Cambie St, Vancouver, BC. V5Z 4R3
243 pp, e book, Highly Recommended
Jack Haas, is one of those people who wonder about the mystery of ourselves and the miracle of
being. He would like to help people find out which they are, and to find God.
THE WAY OF WONDER is a different book about God. It is packed with quotes from famous
people, and through them the writer tries to explore the mystery of life and God.
The book is divided into 4 parts. It starts with the Prologue, where the writer says:
' This is a book about wonder, about the great enigma of life, about ourselves, and about
God.'
He also adds:
' There is a cornucopia of quotes in this work, the magnitude of which seemed essential to reveal
the
extent of diverse individuals who have , throughout history, attempted to express their personal
exhilaration with being.'
Part 1 , Of Heaven , Hell and Redemption, refers to 'wonder' and offers the readers a general
respective into this issue.
' "Wonder" , then, is the moment when the answerless questions of the universe become not only
fully obvious, but electrifying.'
The writer tries to analyze the quotes he displays throughout his book, thus supporting his
views:
'We must learn again to understand with the mind of a person who knows that they do not
understand; we must understand, not-understanding, and then endure existing without " why?",
without attempting a subterfuge around this.
"All I know is that I know nothing."
Socrates
Part 2, The Marriage of East and West, is about the eastern and the western concept of God and
existence , while, Part 3, The Whole and The Broken, follows offering the readers a more
in-depth
analysis on the issue of God and the mystery of existence:
'We must exorcise the old, before we shall give birth to the forever new.'
"To re-create yourself anew always
this is the purpose of life."
God
Part 4, The Mystery of God, is about seeking and finding God.
'Seeking the mystery of God is like seeking the mystery in all things ' , the writer says.
At the end of the book there is a Bibliography section and an Index.
THE WAY OF WONDER is a very sophisticated book that is worth reading. It offers an analysis
of
all the quotes cited and these, at the same time, help to support the writer's concept on this
difficult
issue. It is a philosophy book that will satisfy all those who seek explanations on this matter.
It caters to all the people who are keen on reading philosophy and religion.
Liana Metal, Reviewer
http://lianametal.tripod.com
Lori's Bookshelf
The Wolf Ticket
Caro Clarke
Firebrand Books
http://www.firebrandbooks.com/
2232 So. Main St. #272, Ann Arbor, MI. 48103-6938
1998/$12.95 Softcover/214 pgs.
ISBN: 1563410982
World War II is a few months from ending. The Germans have been repelled, and it's only a
matter
of time before the Allies prevail. Troops are on the move, as are many soldiers and staff who
provide
administrative support for the war effort. Pascale Tailland, an American translator, has been
stationed in Germany, but now her unit is reassigned. The novel opens with Pascale and her fellow
WACs on the train awaiting departure. She catches sight of a blond-haired youth whom she
correctly assesses is a refugee. He is "gaunt, hardened, and bleak" but despite his desperate
appearance, something is familiar. At the last minute, she pulls him aboard the departing train.
And
with one touch, Pascale is aware that this slender youth is not a man.
The Polish Bronia "Bron" Rukowicz is passing herself off as Witold Rukowicz. She's escaped one
forced labor camp and with cunning and verve is doing all she can to stay away from the horrors
of
the war. She has no desire to go back to the deprivations in Poland. After all she has been
through,
she is closed off emotionally. In conversation over the next few hours, Pascale gradually draws
out
the aloof refugee. When Witold tells Pascale that life is basically "cruelty, wars, and massacres,"
Pascale insists that life itself gives meaning. Witold is quick to counter: "The only meaning I see is
the law of the wolf, kill or be killed" (p. 22). She has stopped believing in goodness or altruism.
This, the way of the wolf, has been the refugee's defense against the horrors she has
encountered.
For the rest of the short time they travel together, Pascale puts herself on the line in order to
prevent
Witold from being discovered and either captured or sent off to a refugee camp. By the time the
two
part, Pascale has made a crack in carefully constructed defenses, and Witold has fallen
head-over-heels for the American. Pascale is also smitten.
What follows is the fascinating, engrossing tale of these two women trying to find one another
again
in the chaos of the war-torn countries of Europe. Bron continues her masquerade as Witold, and
her
situation is much more dangerous and unpredictable. Both women have to find trustworthy
helpers
in order to track one another. Pascale's search and Bronia's arduous journey make for a gripping
tale. I couldn't put this book down and read far into the night until I reached the surprising
conclusion.
Clarke's prose is fluid and literary, and she knows her history, not to mention more than a
smattering
of several languages. The details about Bronia's persistent attempts to survive are particularly
rich.
For instance, at one point, while locked up in the hospital ward of a camp, she is considering all
possibilities for escape, and she realizes "every place could be escaped from if you looked hard
and
thought like a mouse." Bron's resourcefulness and resilience is truly a miracle.
The Wolf Ticket is one terrific story. I highly recommend it and wish Clarke would publish
another
novel with great speed.
In a Family Way
Rochelle Hollander Schwab
Orlando Place Press
3617 Orlando Place, Alexandria, VA, 22305
http://members.aol.com/orlandopl/index/
1995/$10.95/316 pgs./ISBN: 0964365006
Janice and her partner, Sonya, would like to have a child. Sonya has three grown kids, but she lost
them in a custody battle when they were young, and after all these years, she is ready to be a
parent
again. The two women meet with two acquaintances, Keith and Aaron, a long-time gay couple,
and
after a variety of fits and starts and concerns from lawyer Aaron, Keith agrees to help out the two
women by being a sperm donor for Janice. After the first try, little Heather, who is the spittin'
image
of her father, is conceived and born. Janice and Sonya are over the moon with joy.
Of the four main characters in this book, only Aaron has a good relationship with his family.
Janice's
mother has no understanding of her daughter's lifestyle, and Sonya and Keith are exiled from their
families. This has a major impact on the two couples when tragedy strikes. Suddenly, two of the
characters are in a tug-of-war over Heather, and their families, the media, and the legal system are
all embroiled in it, too.
I liked the fact that both gays and lesbians were given equal time in this book, and I was delighted
to
see how Keith so very quickly came to love Heather in a fierce and protective manner all the more
moving because of how unexpected it was to him. Not many books have focused on gay dads, but
there are far more gay fathers out in the world than people realize.
What is compelling about this novel is that the reader truly comes to understand that there are no
easy answers in custody battles, especially when the laws are not only subjective and imprecise,
but
also anti-homosexual. The tension and conflict were marvelously rendered. Depending upon
whose
point-of-view I was seeing things from, I found myself understanding that person's situation and
being totally supportive of him or her. And then the perspective would change, and suddenly
someone I thought was wrong came into focus as having valid claims and sympathetic issues.
Everyone was right; everyone was wrong; and there were no easy answers.
The novel has a satisfying resolution, albeit one that becomes apparent to the reader long before
the
battling litigating parties catch on. Still, it's not a happy ending where everything is wrapped up by
the last page. If these characters existed in real life, I know there would be pitfalls and future
problems for them, but by the end of the story, I felt hope that little Heather would get the best of
all
worlds.
This is a book for gays, lesbians, straights for anyone interested in the ways that the law and
prevailing attitudes have not kept pace with biology and all the possibilities of new family
arrangements. It's an ambitious book full of heart and hope, and I highly recommend it.
Secret Matter
Toby Johnson
Lavender Press/re-released by Peregrine Ventures, Inc.
PO Box 684704, Austin, TX. 78768-4704
1990/$10.95/197 pgs./ISBN: 0938743139
Kevin Anderson is moving along through his life, finishing up college, and getting ready to leave
New York City for a prestigious internship in San Francisco when issues about his sexual
orientation
begin to bother him. His roommate, Tim, is gay, but Kevin has been so busy with school that he
has
purposely not given it much thought. When Tim confronts him, Kevin ends up feeling rather glad
they are going different directions upon graduation. Kevin flies out to the West Coast for an
internship with a company that is helping to rebuild after a giant earthquake. He couldn't be more
excited.
And then the Visitors arrive. A race of oddly human-like space people touch down in several
cities
around the globe, including San Francisco, and nothing will ever be the same. Everyone around
Kevin: his neighbors, his boss, new friends, and coworkers are profoundly affected by these new
beings, especially when Kevin's company is given a contract to build a facility for them. By
accident
Kevin meets up with a Visitor named 'Bel, and their connection blossoms into a friendship. But is
'Bel so alien after all? And what's with the Visitors' periodic changes in skin color? They seem so
human, albeit much larger, but they possess some odd characteristics, and they seem to be hiding
something. Are they dangerous? What secrets do they carry, and where, exactly, are they
from?
Before Kevin can get to the bottom of his questions, political disasters and miscommunications
occur, and the Visitors are expelled. 'Bel and his emissaries are very clear that certain actions on
the
part of the U.S. will have grave consequences upon his people and their world, but no one listens
except Kevin, who has fallen for 'Bel. Now the young man is on a mission to unravel the Visitors'
secrets in order to prevent the death and destruction of Visitors and millions of Americans.
The secondary characters are critical in wrapping up the story and resolving the mystery of the
Visitors. Very quickly the reader feels sympathy for Kevin and his struggle to deal with both his
internalized homophobia and the new experiences that confront him. The book is a mystery, a
coming out story, a sci-fi adventure, a romance, and an insightful twist on biblical themes and
philosophical debates. Secret Matter is an enjoyable read most worthy of the Lambda Literary
Award it won.
Cemetery Murders
Jean Marcy
New Victoria Publishers
PO Box 27, Norwich, VT., 05055-0027
1997/$10.95 Softcover/192 pgs./ISBN: 0934678839
P.I. Meg Darcy works for her Uncle Walter, at Miller Security where they are steadily active in
both
investigations and security for local unions, businesses, and individuals. When a friend, Ann
Yates,
comes to Meg for help in the wake of her grandmother's murder, Meg reluctantly takes on the
case.
The old woman had apparently wandered away from a nursing home and was strangled by a serial
killer who the cops have been unable to catch.
In the course of the investigation, Meg meets up with an old acquaintance, the enigmatic and
distant
police detective, Sarah Lindstrom, to whom Meg has always been attracted. The further Meg
delves
into the case, the more contact she has with the taciturn cop, and it's only a matter of time before
fireworks begin, both on the case and with Lindstrom. As it turns out, all is not as it seems in the
cemetery murders.
The story is told in first person, and Meg's sense of the world around her is wry and insightful.
She is
particularly amusing when pondering over the remnants of her love life. The cast of characters
involved in this twisty mystery, including her best friend Patrick, are richly drawn, and the writing
is
crisp and focused. Cemetery Murders is an excellent debut, and I look forward to reading the next
three installments.
From the Ashes
Meghan Brunner
First Books Library
http://www.faire-folk.com
2002/$25.95 Softcover/560 pgs./ISBN: 0759681708
Ryna Tully is a "Road Rennie," one of the talented folks who entertain at Renaissance Festivals,
and
she's been doing it all her life. She has red hair, is literally and figuratively hot-headed, and is still
hurting from a breakup with Liam, a dashing character from the Village Militia. Ryna isn't looking
forward to running into Liam over the next seven weeks at the Pendragon Festival, and she is in a
foul mood at the beginning of the book.
Bea Saunders' brother Daniel has finally talked her into assuming a role at the Ren-Fest. The
kind-hearted Bea becomes Phoenix, an exceedingly cranky old herb-witch who, over the course of
the book, develops a suitably caustic and funny way of dealing with the Festival patrons. Liam
sets
his sights on Bea, and she is flattered, but as the story goes on, it's not Liam she becomes
emotionally entangled with but Ryna.
So, at heart, this novel is a romance, but it is also oh-so-much-more. The book is immense, and
every page is packed full of colorful characters, the hustle-bustle of the crowds, and all the wit
and
humor found at a Renaissance Festival. Seen mostly through Ryna's and Bea's different
perspectives
(with some flashbacks to the 1500s), the story unfolds at a pace in keeping with the best stories of
old. I am reminded of all the interconnectedness of an Austen novel, the breadth and scope of
Dickens' work, and the wit of The Canterbury Tales.
Ultimately, Ryna and Bea's relationship is central, but there are so many sub-plots running
throughout the novel that many of characters become dear to the reader's heart (mine being the
gender-reversed Robyn Hood & The Merry Maids who count one lone male, Lord Marion, as a
member. They get into a lot of funny scrapes.)
The book truly is a tour-de-force about the Renaissance Faire traditions. From the Ashes contains
a
wonderful mixture of the Gypsy, Irish, Italian, and English characters we associate with the Olde
World: Knights, Lords, and Ladies, peasants and witches, fairies and rogues, minstrels,
fortunetellers, a little bit of Magick, and Harvey, the Privy Monster. To keep us on track, the
author
has provided a glossary of the peculiar lingo that the Rennies use as well as a character
listing.
If you enjoy Ren-Fests, King Arthur, Robin Hood, or stories about Merry Olde England, or if you
ever wanted to be a part of a benevolent group working toward an entertaining and rollicking
common cause, this book's for you. I highly recommend it.
Lori L. Lake
Reviewer
Magdalena's Bookshelf
Feminine Wiles: Creative Techniques for Writing Women's Feature Stories That Sell
Donna Elizabeth Boetig
Quill Driver Books
ISBN 1884956025 $14.95, Trade Paperback, 191pp
Available in bookstores and from the publisher at 1-800-497-4909
Warning. If you are trying to finish a novel or do any kind of writing other than woman's feature
stories, Donna Elizabeth Boetig's Feminine Wiles is a dangerous book. It will entice you, inspire
you, and otherwise encourage you to devise story ideas, pull together excellent queries and
engross
yourself in the lucrative world of top magazine publishing. The book is written in the same clean,
snappy, easy-to-read prose which makes reading a magazine such a pleasurable experience.
Drawing
on her extensive experience in publishing her writing in top paying magazines like McCalls,
Reader's
Digest, Family Circle, and Women's Day, Boetig provides a fun, step by step guide to breaking
into
big time feature writing. Boetig is a good teacher. Self-deprecating without being insecure, funny
without losing focus, specific and factual but still very personal, Boetig's book is a pleasure to
read.
There are chapters on how to come up with appropriate story ideas, how to make inappropriate
ideas into publishable ones, how to query the editor of a woman's magazine in a way that will
really
stand out, how to avoid stereotyping, how to get people to tell you their intimate secrets in an
interview, how to get expert testimony, how to come up with semantic images, and how and why
to
avoid "gushing."
The heart of the book is a series of easy to follow formulas which can be used for any kind of
article.
There is a very simple and effective 3 step "system" for writing a story without an outline.
Another
excellent 'must read' is Boetig's "Little Black Dress of article formulas," which provides a 7 step
format for any feature article. There is also the Reader's Digest secret formula - SCAMP - for
writing "real life dramas."
Real life dramas, relationship pieces, channelling, and coming up with enticing titles are all
covered.
There is also information on what happens once your piece is accepted, including fact checking,
editorial involvement, and photography. Throughout the book are examples from Boetig's own
work, some of which you may well have come across if you read one of the big magazines like
McCalls or Reader's Digest. There are also anecdotes, most of which are quite amusing, from
Boetig's experiences, and all of which are used to make the bigger point:
As soon as I realized that morning that I had screwed up I swung into action, phoning the hotel,
calling a cab, etc. I acknowledged my emotions, but didn't onder them, didn't let them control me.
I
acted. Same with writing. Analysis is fine, but then get going. The mere act of putting one word
after another, in spitfire succession, overcomes the critic, the censor, the litle voice that tells you
you're a fraud and you should be selling Amway. (172)
Feminine Wiles is a quick read, and unusually for a non-fiction "how to" you will probably get
through it in one or two sittings. Because of its accessible style, it is easy to gloss over how much
information is being provided. Boetig shows just why this type of writing is serious, and
important:
Women's stories are by nature emotionally driven so it's a given that the issues we write about
touch
lives in ways we can only imagine. You'll never know how many people will live because you've
written about organ transplants, or how many relationships are mended when you tell stories of
forgiveness.(185)
If you are looking specifically to break into writing for women's magazines, this is one book you
really should invest in. If you do other sorts of writing and want to dabble in this field (and the
women's magazines really pay well), the book is also valuable. On the other hand. if you are not
interested in writing women's features, I strongly suggest you avoid this book. There is almost no
way you can read it and not be tempted to send out at least one little query. After all, there are so
many good stories just waiting to be written up, and a regular, captive market. Which is more
than
you can say about the market for fiction. Perhaps that novel can wait just a little longer.
Zero Hour: Oryx and Crake
Margaret Atwood
Bloomsbury
ISBN 0747562598 RRP $A45 2003, hc, 374pgs
"How much is too much? How far is too far?" It's zero hour on snowman's blank faced, stainless
steel watch, which can mean anything. Has time stopped altogether? Is it the end of the story, or
the
beginning? "Nobody nowhere knows what time it is." Snowman is the protagonist in Atwood's
latest
novel, Oryx and Crake, a true science fiction distopia in the mould of The Handmaid's Tale with a
post-modern twist. The story follows Snowman's struggle for survival and meaning in the face of
post-apocalypse as he fends off dangerous man made hybrid animals gone wrong while fending
off
starvation, UV poisoning, and infection. Snowman may be the last human alive. There are some
other creatures though ? the childlike and beautiful Crakers ? for whom Snowman is a kind of
demi-God. The plot of the novel is Snowman's trip back to the science laboratory to find food,
and
weapons, and his internal trip back in time to work out what happened to mankind.
The story is great fun, and although the picture is as bleak and frightening as any produced in
literature, Atwood's comical touch is evident everywhere. Right from the start we know that this
is
going to be a linguistic feast, as Snowman struggles with scraps of sentences, "archaic" words, a
female voice in his head:
"Everything in his life was temporary, ungrounded. Language itself had lost its solidity; it had
become thin, contingent, slippery, a viscid film on which he was sliding around like an eyeball on a
plate. An eyeball that could still see however. That was the trouble."
Snowman is afraid of the pigoons (a feral version of a pig and baboon cross bred for organs and
rapid growth), and the Wolvogs (bred to deceive), and is bothered by cute but pesky Rakunks.
There are various consumer objects populating the recently destroyed world ? "A plastic
BlyssPluss
container, empty; a ChickieNobs Bucket O'Nubbin, ditto." The recently alive world was a post
modern science fest, where chickens don't even have heads, and people drink HappiCuppa coffee,
and eat SoYummie Ice Cream in roasted dandelion green tea soy (the flavours are familiar
enough),
and there are pills for everything, including longer life, increased (and risk free) sex drive, and the
line between manufactured and "real" is thin indeed as childless couples get to pick out children
from
catalogues. Atwood's science appears impeccable and is close enough to the currently possible to
appear plausible.
As Snowman relives his youth, we find out that he was once called Jimmy, and had a brainy
genius
friend called Crake, with whom he played a range of computerised D&D games like her they surf
sex-and-murder sites and play computer games: Blood and Roses, Extinctathon, and watch the
noodie news on the net. There are a few moments in which the book edges on the silly, especially
to
those not used to the futuristic world of sci fi, especially when Crake shows Jimmy, whom he
introduces as a "neurotypical" though the Willy Wonker like "wonders" of the high class super uni
Watson Crick. There are projects like D‚cor Botanicals, where wallpaper and bathtowels can
change
colours to match your mood, although: "they hadn't yet solved the marine-life fundamentals: when
algae got wet it swelled up and began to grow, and the test subjects so far had not liked the sight
of
their towels from the night before puffing up like rectangular marshmallows and inching across
the
bathroom floor." (202)
What makes this book so superior though, and saves it from just being an excellent and engaging
read (though it is certainly that), is that every bit of the book raises serious and thought provoking
questions. Snowman/Jimmy is a terrific character who struggles with his very human desires for
love, understanding, care, and meaning in his world. His love for language and books, and right
brain thinking in a world where science, mathematics and left brain are the gods makes him an
exceptional hero. Nor are the questions raised pat ones, despite the clear sympathy readers will
feel
for Snowman/Jimmy. He wants to know whether the butterflies at Watson Crick are real. Crake
answers that the process is no longer important , "If you could tell they were fake?it was a bad
job.
These butterflies fly, they mate, they lay eggs, caterpillars come out." (200)
Immortality too comes into question: "If you take 'mortality' as being, not death, but the
foreknowledge of it and the fear of it, then 'immortality' is the absence of such fear. " (303)
Snowman/Jimmy accuses Crake of sounding like "Applied Rhetoric 101," but this sounds like the
very essence of Buddhism. The big life experiment, the Paradice project, creates Crakers who are,
at
least in Crake's definition, as real as Snowman/Jimmy, although their short life span, and perfected
bodies make them less romantic than a real human. But then, as Crake suggests, at what point
does
plastic surgery, make-up, hair dye, etc change the nature of a person, and when does it matter.
This
novel touches on the very nature of what it means to be alive, and it isn't easy to criticise the
manufacturers of chickieNobs for removing chicken's unnecessary cerebral functions and even
more
unnecessary desire to roam, or for the life saving properties of the pigoon's fast growing organs.
The
greed of the large chemical companies is clear enough though, and it is hard to work out whether
Crake is a greedy meglomaniac, or a Conrad styled anarchist like The Secret Agent's Verlock.
One
suspects the latter, though the tension, and lack of easy answers is marvellous.
Atwood's world is thoroughly formed, her imagination extraordinary, but only just one step in
front
of the world of today. She touches on serious biological concerns, terrorism both individual and
corporate, on the big philosophical concerns, without losing the beauty and power of everyday life
?
the here and now of love, pain, loss, and dysfunctional families. Her linguistic skills are as poetic
and
powerful as ever: "From tree to tree he limps, elusive, white, a rumour. In search of his own
kind."
(372)
The ending is both shocking in its lack of revelation and in its suggestion. It is, after all, zero hour.
Anything is possible. It is hard to imagine a reader that wouldn't love this novel.
Magdalena Ball, Reviewer
http://www.compulsivereader.com/html
Nemeth's Bookshelf
Monster Kid Memories
Bob Burns, as told to Tom Weaver
Dinoship
105 West 73rd Street, Suite 1B New York, New York 10023
240pp., pb, $14.99. ISBN: 0972858520
Monster Kids are a devoted, and for the most part, generous group. When a Kid acquires some
particularly interesting, rare, or noteworthy piece of information or collectible, we don't hesitate
to
share it with fellow Kids (but collecting a few oohs and aahs along the way doesn't hurt!).
To my mind, there is no greater Monster Kid than Bob Burns. Burns has lived (and continues to!)
the life that every Monster Kid dreams of. He has met some of the giants in the field; become
friends
with many other lesser-known, but equally interesting personalities; participated in the making of
some of the classic films of the genre; appeared on television as part of Shock Theater; has
accumulated an untold number of props and other memorabilia over his more than 50-year
association with monster and science fiction films; and produced some of the most talked-about,
elaborate, and awe-inspiring Halloween "haunted attraction" spectacles of all time.
Yet, despite his extreme good fortune, which could turn lesser men selfish and possessive, Bob
Burns never hesitates to share his stories, anecdotes, collection, and super big heart with
others.
At long last, Burns, in collaboration with horror/science fiction genre writer Tom Weaver, has
gathered a collection of his wonderful experiences in Monster Kid Memories. Here, Burns shares
many of the highlights of his life with fellow fans, in addition to hundreds of amazing, seldom-seen
photos (the book contains over 300 illustrations), including one very special, never-before seen
shot
of the Martian costume from War Of The Worlds.
Ever the selfless, generous Kid, Bob turns the spotlight on others, allowing them to shine. We:
listen
with envy as he describes seeing Bela Lugosi on stage and relates his encounters with Karloff,
Elsa
Lanchester, Chaney Jr., George Pal, and William Castle; visit the sets of films (Destination Moon,
Unknown Island, the 2002 remake of The Time Machine); learn the intricacies of portraying a
gorilla; discover the man behind the genius that was Jack Pierce; help Bob rig the seats for a
showing of The Tingler; and learn of Bob's innumerous movie prop acquisitions over the decades
(he owned the original Time Machine!) and how he came to possess them - these are just a
handful
of the many treats awaiting the reader.
The book contains numerous highlights, but a few deserve special mention:
The chapter where Bob discusses his friendship with Glenn Strange (the man behind the
Frankenstein monster in the Universal House films and Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein) is
touching and sweet. The two men first met when Bob was a teen, but a genuine friendship started,
and lasted until the day Strange died in 1973. The two men shared many experiences together,
and
such a bond developed, that Burns came to think of Strange as a second father. It's wonderful to
read of a friendship between two men like this, and to have Strange step out of those huge
Frankenstein monster boots (which Strange gave to Burns by the way, along with an unused
Monster headpiece) and learn that he was just a down-to-earth, regular Joe.
A chapter detailing Bob's friendship with George Pal is illuminating. We learn that Pal was a
warm
and fun-loving man, in addition to fascinating facts about the making of DESTINATION MOON,
THE TIME MACHINE, and WAR OF THE WORLDS. Unfortunately, the chapter is also
heart-breaking. To learn Bob's opinion of what really killed Pal is to want to storm the offices of
today's Hollywood bigwigs with torches and pitchforks.
The fact that Bob relates the lives and stories of many "behind-the-scenes" people - people whose
names won't ring any bells and often don't receive any of the credit and recognition they deserve,
is
refreshing and very welcome. Some of the make-up artists, stuntmen, bit players, prop and special
effects people that Burns knew receive their just due here, and I was grateful to learn of some of
the
"invisible" people behind some of my favorite old-time films and serials.
Lastly, the chapter that details the history of each of Bob's Halloween "haunted spectaculars"
made
this reader greener with envy than Elsa as the monster in BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN. Reading
of
the amount of time, effort, and talent that went into producing each of these shows, merely for the
entertainment of friends and neighborhood children, is a testament to just how big Bob Burns's
heart
really is.
The mere fact that these memories, and much more, are captured in one book is reason enough to
recommend it. But quite often the telling of one's life to another can make for a dull, difficult read.
Not Monster Kid Memories. Although many of these memories occurred decades ago, you
wouldn't
know it to read it. When he's relating one of his many stories, there is such genuine excitement
and
enthusiasm emanating from Burns that you swear you're sitting in a chair across from him,
listening,
caught up in his excitement - several times while reading I found myself actually exclaiming, "Oh,
WOW!"
This sense of fun and "gee-whiz!" excitement, perfectly captured and transferred to the page by
co-author Weaver, is the book's grand accomplishment. For several hours, the reader once again
becomes a little 15-year-old boy (or girl!). Only a handful of books can accomplish magic like
this,
and Monster Kid Memories is one of them.
My only regret is the fear that the title might turn away a wider audience. While the book does
concentrate primarily on Burns's association with monsters and science fiction, a potential reader
should know that these stories will appeal to anyone. You don't have to love monsters and aliens -
Bob Burns does, and the kid-like joy and genuine love that he has for his subjects spills over onto
the page and will captivate any film fan.
Just a terrific book.
Jim Nemeth, Reviewer
Jim_nemeth@mindspring.com
Peter's Bookshelf
What Every Business Owner Should Know About Valuing Their Business
Stanley Feldman, Timothy Sullivan, and Roger Winsby.
McGraw-Hill
Two Penn Plaza, New York, NY 10121-2298
http://www.books.mcgraw-hill.com
Author's Website: http://www.bizownerHQ.com
ISBN 0071409920 $21.95
Any entrepreneur who contemplates buying or selling a business or who wonders what their
company might be worth should read What Every Business Owner Should Know About Valuing
Their Business by professional business valuation experts Stanley Feldman, Timothy Sullivan, and
Roger Winsby.
Feldman, Sullivan, and Winsby tell us that most small businesses are too small to be sold for
anything more than net asset value. We learn that of the 24.5 million businesses in the U.S., 17.1
million are owned by only one or two people and are often part-time endeavors operated from
home.
These ultra-small businesses typically have zero value as a going concern, because they are often
highly dependent upon the owner's labor and they have limited income potential.
Using an ultra-small-lawn-care business as an example, the authors point out that an entrepreneur
wishing to start a lawn-care business would probably just purchase the necessary tools and start a
new company, rather than purchase an existing company. These ultra-small businesses have little
"goodwill" value beyond the value of their net assets.
Small businesses with several employees and an established client base often have value as a going
concern. These companies often sell for more than net asset value. The amount paid above the net
asset value is called "goodwill."
Because buying or selling a company is probably the biggest financial decision you'll ever make,
you
should understand the valuation process and consider utilizing the assistance of professional
business
appraisers. The authors tell us that professional business appraisal is costly, often ranging from
$5,000 to $25,000 to appraise a company.
Using several case studies, Feldman, Sullivan, and Winsby discuss the main business valuation
methods used today, including:
1) Valuation based upon earnings, which typically involves adjusting reported earnings
appropriately
and determining a proper industry-specific multiple of earnings for which the business should sell.
Often, "similar" businesses are examined to see the valuations given to those companies.
2) Valuation based upon revenue, which usually involves determining an appropriate number that
is
multiplied by the company's revenue to determine company value.
3) Valuation based upon discounted cash flow, which involves estimating the future stream of free
cash flow the business is expected to provide and then discounting this stream of cash flow to the
present. Sometimes, the basic discounted cash flow calculation is further adjusted to allow for a
small company's lack of liquidity or other factors.
Feldman, Sullivan, and Winsby write: "There is a growing consensus among professional
valuation
experts that the discounted cash flow method produces the most accurate valuation results for an
ongoing, established business if there are no current transactions of very comparable
businesses."
What Every Business Owner Should Know About Valuing Their Business shows the valuation of
several specific businesses, including an insurance agency, an environmental consulting business, a
law firm, and a metal fabrication company.
Each case study provides a current tax return for the business (one company is a C-corporation;
two
are S-corporations; and one is a partnership), and each company valuation demonstrates several
aspects about the valuation of different types of businesses.
For example, for O'Toole Insurance Agency, we learn several things:
1) An important part of valuation is convincing the other party that there is a reasonableness to
your
valuation.
2) Large expenses can be incurred in valuing a business and preparing it for a sale. In one failed
transaction, the buyer and seller collectively spent $44,880 in accounting, appraisal, and legal fees,
and, in the end, the deal fell through.
3) Sometimes, it's important to separate different parts of a company for valuation purposes.
O'Toole Insurance Agency owned its building and rented space to other occupants. If the
potential
buyer only wished to purchase the insurance business, the insurance business would need to be
separately valued from the property and rental business. Also, because the new agency, sans
building
ownership, would need to pay rent, the insurance company earnings would need to be lowered by
the new rental expense.
4) Discretionary expenses and "missing" expenses must be examined, and adjustments might need
to
be made to reported earnings when valuing the company. Feldman, Sullivan, and Winsby point
out
that many business owners incorporate discretionary expenses into their business in an attempt to
lower taxation. These expenses reduce taxable income, but can be eliminated without
compromising
the earnings power of the company. (Some buyers might be willing to accept that the true
earnings
of the company are higher than taxable earnings due to these discretionary expenses, thus
increasing
the true value of the business.)
Feldman, Sullivan, and Winsby include a solid chapter about maximizing the value of a business.
The
authors say business owners planning for the sale of their businesses must start thinking less about
minimizing taxes and more about maximizing company value. Over a period of several years,
owners
should prepare for the eventual sale of their company by making their operations more transparent
and disentangling personal expenses from business expenses.
Suppose, for example, an entrepreneur incorporates $30,000 in discretionary expenses in his
business, including expensive club memberships, that really aren't necessary business expenses.
Assume these "expenses" generate little or no added sales and don't really help customer retention
nor benefit non-owner employees. If the business sells for eight times earnings and we use the
taxable earnings for valuation, this $30,000 in discretionary expenses will reduce the company
valuation by $240,000.
Feldman, Sullivan, and Winsby write: "A dollar saved on taxes can cost $$$ in lost value."
The authors also discuss the possibility that expenses the owner claims are "discretionary" are, in
fact, necessary. For example, the club memberships may be crucial to meeting potential clients.
The
authors tell us that a new owner who does less networking might need to increase advertising
expense appropriately. And, thus, it's useful to examine the advertising expenses of similar
companies.
What Every Business Owner Should Know About Valuing Their Business discusses other "life
business events" such as divorce, death, transition planning, and portfolio diversification. There is
also an excellent discussion of the different types of business structures, such as S-corporations
and
C-corporations.
Overall, I highly recommend What Every Business Owner Should Know About Valuing Their
Business to entrepreneurs buying or selling a business.
The Ultimate Competitive Advantage: Secrets of Continually Developing a More Profitable
Business Model
Donald Mitchell and Carol Coles
Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Inc.
235 Montgomery Street, Suite 650, San Francisco, CA 94104-2916
Tel 415-288-0260
www.bkconnection.com
ISBN 1576751678 $36.95
Entrepreneurs and business executives looking to improve their business operations will enjoy The
Ultimate Competitive Advantage: Secrets of Continually Developing a More Profitable Business
Model by Donald Mitchell and Carol Coles.
After studying 100 select public companies, Mitchell and Coles conclude that the key factor in
improving a company's sale's growth and profitability is constantly refining and improving the
company's business model.
The authors define a business model as: "...the who, what, when, where, why, and how much a
company uses to provide its goods and services and receive value for its efforts."
Mitchell and Coles say the most successful entrepreneurs often made improvements to their initial
business model, leading them to focus upon continual business model innovation and to constantly
seek new ways of doing business.
Mitchell and Coles write: "Nothing else ... worked as well for them for improving performance. In
the process, they created companies that enjoyed astonishing success for many years compared to
competitors, as measured by market share, profitability, employee satisfaction, customer loyalty,
recognition, and stock-price growth."
Using the radio station Clear Channel as an example, Mitchell and Coles describe the process of
business model innovation:
- The radio station became more profitable by realizing advertisers are crucial radio station
stakeholders and developing more advertiser-focused programming.
- Using what it learned about making its programming more desirable to advertisers, Clear
Channel
began acquiring other radio stations and implementing its knowledge to make the acquired
stations
more advertiser-friendly and, hence, profitable.
- Clear Channel focused upon building a "portfolio" of stations, designed to give advertisers
maximum advertising exposure over a geographic area. Clear Channel wanted to reach listeners in
a
given location, regardless of the type of radio station the listener preferred.
- Clear Channel began selling bundled advertising packages which gave them a strong competitive
advantage over competing radio stations, which only reached listeners interested in a particular
type
of music or programming.
- Clear Channel realized that bundling advertising gave a key competitive advantage over other
radio
stations, so it moved into billboard advertising to add a dimension to its advertising
packages.
- Focusing even more upon providing advertisers a strong incentive to advertise through Clear
Channel, the company began representing talent and attaching stars to advertising packages.
Continually improving its business model, Clear Channel moved from being just another radio
station into becoming an advertiser-friendly media powerhouse.
Quoting Sun Tzu, Mitchell and Coles point out that "Opportunities multiply as they are
seized."
How do you continually find improvements to your business model? Mitchell and Coles write:
"The
best way to get more innovations is to be sure that there are lots of ideas in the pipeline, and that
low-risk and low-cost ideas proceed rapidly into experimentation and testing."
According to Mitchell and Coles, how a company cost-effectively accesses the best thinking of
industry experts and experts outside the industry is itself an area for innovation.
As an example, Mitchell and Coles describe gold-mining company Goldcorp's innovative online
program that offered geologists cash prizes for discovering better ways of finding and extracting
gold from its fifty-year-old Red Lake mine, which many experts believed was tapped out.
Mitchell and Coles write: "More than 1,400 prospectors registered for the challenge. ... A year
after
the contest ended, the company announced that exploration based on the winning submissions had
located six million additional ounces of gold reserves. ... The ultimate revenue from mining the
newly found gold will exceed one billion dollars, and profits will probably be several hundred
million
dollars. The prizes cost only $575,000, much less than the unproductive exploratory drilling that
would otherwise have occurred."
The Ultimate Competitive Advantage says Red Hat, the company selling a Linux-based operating
system, is another company seeking to benefit from top-notch expertise acquired at a low-cost
innovative way by relying upon open source code as the kernel of its operating system. This gives
Red Hat a chance to compete with powerhouse Microsoft.
Other areas of innovation described in The Ultimate Competitive Advantage include:
- Changing pricing structure or price perceptions to increase profitability.
- Have partners and suppliers help you find ways to add desirable benefits to your company's
products and services.
- Add benefits that expand a company's market share by offering benefits to your customer's
customers. For example, Linear Technology, a manufacturer of semiconductor chips for wireless
devices and cell phones, found that by decreasing the power drain of its chips, it could
significantly
extend battery life, making it the preferred chip maker for wireless devices.
-Walk in your customer's shoes to discover their true needs and wishes.
- Eliminate unnecessary costs that burden the customer. For example, drop-off dry cleaning bins
eliminate the expense of a dry cleaner staying open 24 hours a day to offer service at all
hours.
- Outsource certain company functions to allow time to be refocused into more profitable
endeavors.
Too many companies seek ways to improve things they didn't do well in the past, rather than
finding
more profitable future endeavors. Mitchell and Coles write: "Work on a business model that has a
hundred times the potential of your current one, and even a weak beginning can turn into runaway
success."
- Consider ways to customize offerings to make them more nearly match an individual customer's
needs.
The Ultimate Competitive Advantage says entrepreneurs should avoid any business model which
harms any stakeholders and should seek to fairly divide the benefits of business model innovation
among all company stakeholders.
The Ultimate Competitive Advantage is a great addition to any entrepreneur's or executive's
business
library.
Peter Hupalo
http://www.thinkinglike.com
Pogo's Bookshelf
Cat's Eye
Margaret Atwood
Viago Press; Little Brown and Company
London, UK
http://212.22.11.106/search/search.asp
ISBN 1853811262 $13.95 420pp
Have you ever pondered the arcane knowledge lurking behind the diamond slit of a cat's topaz
eye?
Have you watched it sleep with one eye cracked open, aware of external movement as it chases
the
frightened mouse through tall grass in its dreams? The terrified beastie scurrying back and forth
on
the same track along the kitchen wall while the cat merely stretches forth its extended claws to bat
it
around the floor? While the cat feigns ignorance and disinterest, its eye narrows into a slit as it
surveys a bird and calculates its jump. Dreaming, the cat unconsciously watches the world around
it
in its sleep.
"For marbles you're either the person stting up the target or the person shooting... Usually the
targets are more valuable: cat's eyes, clear glass with a bloom of colored petals in the centre, red
or
yellow or green or blue; puries, flawless like coloured water or sapphires or rubies; waterbabies
with
undersea filaments of color suspended ion them; metal bowlies; aggies, like marbles only bigger.
These exotics are passed from winner to winner. it's cheating to buy them; they have to be
won.
The cat's eyes are my favorite. If I win a new one I wait until I'm by myself, then take it out and
examine it, turning it over and over in the light. The cat's eyes really are like eyes, but not the eyes
of
cats. They're the eyes of something that isn't known but exists anywy..." (p62)
Although her brother Stephen is the champion player, collecting marbles stored in Crown
preserving
jars, he rarely crows about his skill and inexplicably buries all of them along with a detailed
treasure
map down inside the ravine somewhere to be forgotten and rediscovered by a lucky stranger.
Elaine Risley recounts the memories of childhood when they accompanied her father, meandering
through the Canadian woods, following the caterpillar infestations and collecting samples of
blue-striped caterpillars that rivalled Nabokov's butterfly collection.
Often they stay in cabins belonging to other people or abandoned logging camps, drifting from
place
to place until they settle for a few weeks in housekeeping cottages where they live on slices of
bread
spread with molasses and hunks of cheese. With the War over, life normalizes into a routine of
doing
homework under her mother's direction. Isolated in the Canadian woods by their vagabond
lifestyle,
Elaine enters a book to meet Dick and Jane who live in a enat house with ruffled curtains and
surrounded by a tidy picket fence. Jane always wears prissy dresses and Spot is always clean.
"After school Carol and I walk home, not the way the school bus goes in the morning but a
different
way, along back streets and across a decaying wooden footbridge over the ravine. We've been
told
not to do this alone, and not to go down into the ravine by ourselves. There might be men down
there, is what Carol says." (p48)
School brings new friendships as Carol introduces Elaine to Grace Smeath who is a year older.
Grace is always the teacher whenever they play school. Carol lives with chintz drapes and takes
piano lessons while Elaine sleeps on the floor in an unfinished house. The Smeaths go to church
on
Sunday and live a rigid life without make-up. Grace, in turn, introduces Elaine to Cordelia. They
formed a trio in the summer while Elaine was with her wandering family trailing caterpillar
infestations. Cordelia dominates. Elaine accedes, wanting the security of social acceptance.
Together they walk home from school, a trio that expanded into a quartet, passing their way
through
the back streets to cross the rickety wooden bridge spanning the ravine. Carol gets frightened by
stories that Cordelia spins and Cordelia dares. Elaine knows that it is just a game, like the cat with
the half-slit eye watching the wretched mouse.
And their lives are like marbles scattered apart in life's game. Who knows what the sleeping cat is
thinking or the sadistic pleasure it enjoys when tossing the terrified mouse about.
Susupenseful, Atwood presents psychological drama that rivals Henry James with the lyricism of
Satre's Nausea. The reader is drawn into the story like a moth attracted to the wavering flame,
winding about it in a spiral. Meticulously crafted, there is not a false cue or misplaced word as the
reader remains spellbound during the performance of the tragedy.
Angela's Ashes: A Memoir of Childhood
Frank McCourt
Flamingo; HarperCollins Publishers
http://www.amazon.com/
ISBN: 000649840X $14.00 1996 426pp
Surviving Catholic Ireland aint easy for the drinking man down on his luck and on the dole with a
passel of children. It aint easy for his family, either.
The Troubles all started even before Frank McCourt was born. Ask any child. He can tell you that
he didn't create the misery of this world it pre-existed and Troubles are inherited with the
genes.
His mother, Angela, was born a straddler "with her head in the New Year and her arse in the Old
or
was it her head in the Old Year and her arse in the New," which began a complete muddle of
humanological progress. A prodigy, she learned to read, write and calculate by her ninth year,
completing her education sufficiently to become a charwoman, " a skivvy, a little maid with a little
white hat opening doors, but she could not manage the little curtsy that is required and her mother
said, You don't have the knack of it. You're pure useless. Why don't you go to America where
there's room for all sorts of uselessness? I'll give you the fare" (p5)
So Angela got packed and shipped accordingly to New York just in time to arrive there for her
first
Thanksgiving Day to lend praise to the Great Depression which depressed many and was the
downfall of many happier folks. There she met up with Malachy which was the beginning of the
end
that stretched out for a few more miserable years in between. Where she met him, God alone
knows,
but she was attracted to that hangdog look that he had from getting caught for trying to hijack a
truck of canned pork and beans; but he didn't know how to drive and his accomplice didn't either
which complicated the matter. The cops pulled it over on Myrtle Avenue because of its suspicious
lurch and jerk driving technique and took Malachy into custody but couldn't quite comprehend
what
anyone would want a truckload of buttons. Them was hard times. Malachy spent three months
thinking it over in a free hotel room. The food was lousy, but still better than none. He took a
liking
for Angela and she liked him in return on account of that hangdog look of his. Naturally enough,
it
caused a knee-trembler which put Angela into an interesting condition. This all explains how a
Yank
like Frank McCourt ended up on the boat back to Ireland and getting dusted off in Limerick.
"The boys in Leamy's want to know why we talk like that. Are ye Yanks or what? And when we
tell
them we came from America they want to know, Are ye gangsters or cowboys?
A big boy sticks his face up to mine. I'm asking ye a question, he says. Are ye gangsters or
cowboys?
I tell him I don't know and when he pokes his finger into my chest Malachy says, I'm a gangster,
Frank's a cowboy. The big boy says, your little brother is smart and you're a stupid Yank."
(p83)
This starts a ruckus that the master Mr. Benson stops. All the masters in Leamy's National School
have instruments of torture to inflict on any small infraction that you make. There are ten
thousand
reasons why they hit you. Each one of them has some small prejudice that they are especially
taken
with, but all of them will whack you if ever you say something good about Oliver Cromwell.
Frank McCourt recalls his misadventures of poverty in Limerick: the house that flooded through
the
ground floor so they packed up the furniture and moved upstairs to Italy; the Angel that dwelt on
the Seventh Step; the outhouse by the kitchen door that served the entire street and how they
lived
up in Italy until a wall collapsed and left the house half-demolished.
While other folks are singing aobut the goose getting fat, Angela takes Malachy and Frank with
her
to St. Vincent de Paul Society to stand in a long queue to acquire something for the Christmas
dinner. Dreaming of turkeys and ham, don't help much as McGrath is plumb out of them and
offers a
pig's head instead-- turning it into a right theological discussion:
"Mam says the pig's head isn't right for Christmas and he says, 'tis more than the Holy Family had
in
that cold stable in Bethlehem long ago. You wouldn't find them complaining if someone offered
them a nice fat pig's head.
No, they wouldn't complain, says Mam, but they'd never eat the pig's head. They were
jewish.
And what does that have to do with it? A pig's head is a pig's head.
And a Jew is a Jew and 'tis against their religion and I don't blame them." (p105)
So McGrath wraps it up in nespaper and Frank carries it home, holding it against his chest,
dreading
school the next day and what the boys will say.
There's no hope for a labourng man with a North of Ireland accent getting a job in Limerick, so
his
dad goes on the dole and swigs the occassional shillings in the evenings. In a house, cursed by the
River Shannon and adjoining the neighborhood outhouse, its mighty damp and there isn't a fire.
Oliver takes ill so Angela wanders the streets with Malachy and Frank looking for an onion to
cure
Oliver.
"True for you, missus. You can't beat the onion boiled in milk. And look, little boy, here's a sweet
for yourself and one for the other little boy, the brother, I suppose.
Mam says, Ah sure, you shouldn't. Say thank you, boys.
The woman says, Here's a nice onnion for the sick child, missus.
Mam says, Oh, I can't buy the onion now, missus. I don't have a penny on me.
I'm giving you the onion, missus. Let it never be said a child went sick in limerick for want of
onions." (p 72)
Ill, Oliver goes to the hospital with his father, but never comes back. Eugene cries for Ollie. He
misses him. They're twins that slept in the same bed. Not so much later Eugene follows him so
that
Oliver, Eugene and Margaret are all happy and warm in heaven. The Angel on the Seventh Step
brings another baby. Another comes; another dies. Frank gets typhoid and spends months isolated
in
the local hospital. Frank survives. His father disappears. At nine, Frank rebels against the
irresponsible nature of his father, taking on odd jobs to ease the dire poverty of his family by
helping
Unle Pat deliver papers. Reliable, he soon finds himself reading to a local townsman and picks up
a
bit more. By eleven, he's assisting Mr. Hannon with his wagon hauling coal and later becomes a
telegram delivery boy. Each day is a fight against the mericless poverty that confronts him, yet he
persists in resisting the oppressive privation that envelopes his family. Although many blame their
neglected childhood for inflicting misery on others, Frank McCourt overcomes his past and jumps
a
boat back to New York.
Difficult to put aside, the book has the lilt of a soft Irish lullabye filled with compassion and ethos,
expressing the despair and desperate hope of better life. For anyone who has suffered gnawing
hunger that persists through days or knows the discomfort of taking the path down the path to the
little shack in the back, you won't be half so alone as Frank tells your story to a listening world.
Frank McCourt mixes the laughter with the tears and fills the pages with a gentle melancholy.
pogo, Reviewer
pogomcl@authorsden.com
Polisar's Bookshelf
To Be or Not To Be: The Life and Times of Ellemar Why
Vladimir Chernozemsky
Triumvirate Publications
7944 Capistrano Avenue, West Hills, CA 91304
ISBN: 0970997558 $24.95
Ellemar Why has a problem he's not who he says he is. In fact, he's not even who he thinks he is.
In the sociological melting pot of 1950's Istanbul, Ellemar could be an actor fleeing
from Communist-dominated Bulgaria or, possibly, the heir to Ataturk, found of modern Turkey.
The
true essence of the story, and of the author's writing, reveals itself as Ellemar Why is submerged
into
this split personality of time travel while being possessed and manipulated by society's rich and
powerful echelons.
Vladimir Chernozemsky's writing style is passionate and direct, and the dialogue is free-flowing
and
realistic. This book carries the hallucinogenic quality of Graham Greene's Steppenwolf, and a
similar
motif to The Patriot Proposition impersonation. But in the case of Ellemar Why, the reader is
never quite sure whether he's dead or alive, whether he truly has a double or, instead, an addiction
to
drugs. Supernatural fantasies do not appeal to every fiction reader. But the book's primary theme
is
universal a man searching not for his destiny or his life but for the truth of his own identity. The
story carries the flavor of Russian writers Bulgakov and Nabokov, in its complex relationships
between characters, a potent, almost surreal landscape of the interpersonal complexities of
longing,
loneliness, love, and betrayal.
How To, With a Dash of Inspiration
Joe Sails and Dick Olenych
Lone Tree Publishing
5572 War Admiral Road, Virginia Beach, VA 23462
ISBN: 0972411704 $18.95
Joe Sails is a copier salesman for ACME. He goes around to different businesses, meets with their
office manager or purchasing executive, and tells them that their equipment is out of date and tries
to sell them digital copiers. But this book isn't about a modern Willie Lohman searching for the
soul
behind his salesman identity it's about the tragic identity of the modern, American business.
Olenych's message is that bringing dignity, poise, and increased competency to a company's
employees will have lasting effects on their "bottom line," their community and industry
credibility,
and the ultimate their customers. Many of this genre's most successful books are either geared
too
far down to offer intelligent comprehension or unreadably academic. Joe Sails, in essence an
inspirational book about the plight of US companies, offers a neat alternative to "7 Habits of
Highly
Influential People" and "Who Moved My Cheese."
Wonder Woman in Quebec: The Patriot Proposition
Thomas Thorpe
Port Town Publishing
601 Belknap Street, Superior, WI 54880
ISBN: 097162397X $7.95
Elizabeth Darmon is a brave woman, and not just for 1830's Quebec. While on vacation, her
entire
family vanishes. So she enlists the help of some local officials to find them, and insists that she be
allowed on the search party unheard of in this day. This is not the first time Darmon has broken
society's rules to get what she wants. She's alone, scared, but refuses to succumb to fear.
Intriguing title, good sense of history, good research, I expected to feel the same way about this
as I
do about other historical mysteries (a/k/a "yawn"), but The Patriot Proposition was, by all
accounts,
a historical thriller! There's lots of action to keep the pages turning, and the main character, the
prim
and proper Elizabeth Darmon, is uncannily three-dimensional. One minute, she's a lady of her
time,
sitting in a floor-length dress drinking tea out of bone china. And the next her room's been
ransacked, she's leaping from a moving carriage, escaping from a wine cellar and held captive on a
leper colony. You think you're reading about Arnold Schwartzenegger in the film "Eraser" with
nonstop action, chases, and locked room conundrums, not to mention lots of clever ploys and
devices, such as impersonations and the revolving disappearance of her family. One of the book's
greatest assets is its sense of setting and region, along the St. Lawrence River in Quebec. Here
they
find Indians, both friendly and unfriendly, as well as a number of other surprises.
"The Patriot Proposition" has as many dead bodies as a James Patterson novel. Its yoyo quality
and
pace keeps the reader intrigued page after page, and a panoply of intriguing secrets debt,
kidnapping, impersonating killers, and deceit, make it a wild ride.
Lisa Polisar, Reviewer
www.lisapolisar.com
Rick's Bookshelf
Deadly Dance
Darville Knowles M.D.
Milligan Books
1425 West Manchester Avenue Suite C, Los Angeles California 90047
(323)750-3592
ISBN # 0971974985 $15.95
Some first novels are like a canned broth, sure they have some taste, but there is no essence of
what
the main ingredient was. Others are as a fine wine, once savored, each drop lingers joyfully
relished
by the mind far after the experience is over. "Deadly Dance" by author Darville Knowles is the
equivalent of a Rothschild 66 or a 1970 Chateau La Caronne, delicious to consume and
remembered
long after the experience itself has passed.
First novels can be tough, yet in the hands of a writer as gifted as Dr. Knowles, the characters and
situations that he presents spring to life as if of their own accord. He has a style that allows the
readers to experience not only the external, but also the internal motivations, feelings, and turmoil
that they are going through.
The lead character of this story is Dr. Evander Parker, a noted psychiatrist that had everything
going
for him; a successful practice in a high rise office, a great secretary, everything that could be taken
as
signs of success. Then, in a series of trials and tribulations that would make Job feel sorry for him,
he loses everything. Now a homeless fugitive and wanted for a murder that he didn't commit, he
struggles to not only clear his good name and restore some resemblance of his life, but to help
bring
those that caused this to happen to him to be brought to justice. Luckily he has Taylor Nash, a
Private Investigator, to help him-or is he?
This novel manages to weave several parallel stories at the same time, yet never in a confusing
way,
until you are swept up in the onslaught of plots and characters as they rush to their final fateful
rendezvous. Along the way, we are treated to views on topics ranging from racial prejudices to
medical malpractice and religious extremism.
This was an enjoyable read from an author that I am sure we will hear more from as time goes by.
In
fact, I would not be surprised to find out that there is more in store for this unlikely dynamic duo
to
come, and I for one will look forward to their adventures.
"No One's Even Bleeding"
Lenny Castellaneta
Publish America
PO Box 151, Frederick MD 21705-0151
ISBN # 1591291275 $19.95
It has been said that some men seek greatness, while others have greatness thrust upon them. I am
here to offer up another option-Sometimes life happens while you are trying for greatness, and if
it
works out to be just what you should be doing anyway, that is pretty great too.
This is the story of Lenny, a man that wanted to be a writer of TV shows, and of him moving
from
Long Island to the warm climate of Los Angeles, giving himself five years to make it in show
business. Before he knows it, he becomes a teacher in the L.A. school system, but not just any
kind
of teacher, no he becomes the best kind-a substitute teacher. You all remember substitute teachers
don't you-they were the ones that took the place of the regular teacher when they were sick or
hung
over or something. The ones that if you were lucky, came in on a test day, and didn't know there
was supposed to be one, or, if you were really lucky, believed you when you said that your
regular
teacher NEVER gave out homework. And if you were really really lucky, they would be young,
neat
and funny, and you would wish they would always be the teacher. I was never really really lucky.
But if I had been, I would have wanted a teacher like Lenny.
I have to tell you that this book was perfect. It is not so much a novel as a series of vignettes,
short
stories of the misadventures that he goes through as he is trying to catch that lucky break. It feels
like tales told by an old friend that you haven't seen in a while, and you want to catch up with
what
they have been doing. It is laugh out loud funny at times; at others, it made me go 'awe'. In
reading
this, I could feel what he was going through. Who hasn't had a dream they wanted so bad, yet was
always just out of reach, and had to settle, then come to find out that settling isn't so bad after
all.
In this book, Mr. Castellaneta has done what many writers strive to do, yet few pull off, that of
making you care. When he succeeds in something, you cheer right along with him, when he
doesn't,
you feel his anguish. I had no idea the trials and tribulations of a substitute teacher could be so
moving. And believe me, this book will move you.
How can I describe this book? Let me try this-take one part 'Up the Down Staircase', one part
'Dangerous Minds', throw in a heaping helping of 'Welcome Back Kotter', and stir liberally with
the
knowing that this is a true story and you end up with something that will make anyone smile. He
might not have ended up a writer for television, but he has ended up being one heck of a
wordsmith
in a book, and that is an accomplishment of which to be very proud. And you know one other
thing
he does that I like a lot? The title of the book is actually IN the book! It's not some esoteric
phrase;
it's actually in there. It's little things like that I like so much, but hey, that's just me.
This book has one of the highest recommendations that I can give, it is a perfectly crafted tale told
with heart and humor. I hope this is just the first in a series, c'mon Lenny, there has to be more
stories in you to tell...I'm waiting.
In The Lonely Fen
Richard Moore
Publish America
www.PublishAmerica.com
PO Box 151, Frederick MD 21705-0151
ISBN # 1591299624 $19.95
Mental Hospitals have made for some interesting stories; One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest,
K-Pax,
Arkham Asylum, are but a few that have become some of my favorite stories ever. I think it is
because there is such a richness of characters in a confined area, and they are forced to interact in
such an offbeat way. The problems they have which brought them there, in most cases, are
secondary to the characters themselves. When done well, each character comes alive as you
experience them, with one outstanding one who leads the bunch. Moreover, if the story is well
written, the central character can take you on an adventure that is a joy. I can now add one more
to
that list with the novel 'In The Lonely Fen', by Richard Moore.
Keith is nineteen years old, and suffering from bipolar disorder also know as manic-depressive.
Henry, although he may be twenty, has the mind of a child. Then we have Allan who suffers from
schizophrenia, hearing voices telling him his medications are poisoned, so he refuses to take them,
causing his behavior to become more erratic and unstable. When the night shift at the home they
stay
at fall asleep and this motley crew sneak out, their adventures lead to some very surprising results.
Keith meets with a girl from the local video store, Henry gets a drug dealer more than a little
upset
at him (to put it mildly), and Allan decides to go in search of his mother who abandoned him
many
years ago. I won't go into more details, as you should really read this for yourself; to say too
much
would be the ruination of some carefully laid out story elements you should really experience.
Author Richard Moore (I have to admit, what a great name for an author-if you don't know what
I'm talking about, go back to the name of this reviewer) has written a story of which he should be
very proud. He has taken what can be normally dreary types of characters in dreary type situations
and made them burst into life in a full three-dimensional way. His use of characterization and
conversational skills are excellent, and he has put together a story to be enjoyed by any reader,
regardless of genre preference, no easy feat for an author to do.
I hope there will be more to come from his pen (or computer, or whatever he writes with). Even
though I have said it before, it is time I say it again. I have had the pleasure of reading quite a lot
of
really good authors since I have been doing this. Don't let the fact the publishing house might not
be
one of the big name ones, or the books might be a little hard to find. Search them out, invest the
time and money, and curl up with the work of an author that will surprise you. In that roll call,
Richard Moore and his book 'In The Lonely Fen' will be near the top, I can guarantee it.
"Sock Monkey Blues": A Joe Box Mystery
John Laurence Robinson
Publish America
P.O. Box 151, Frederick MD 21705-0151
ISBN 1591290201, $21.95
I am running out of superlatives. I have read so many great books lately that in all honesty, I am
finding it harder to develop ways to express myself that isn't a rehash of what I have said before.
That would be, not only unfair to you as a reader, and most of all to the authors if it sounds like
all I
am doing is hyping one book after another. However, in all honesty, Sock Monkey Blues is a
fantastic book, one that I think is worthy of all the praise and accolades that I can bestow.
Author John Lawrence Robinson has put together a mystery that has so many things going for it
on
so many levels, it is hard to narrow it down to just one or two or even ten. Let me start with the
style of Mr. Robinson's writing. He has captured the nuance of conversational dialogue perfectly.
His characters live, move, and feel with the use of first person conversation and narrative coming
from the main character, Private Investigator Joe Box. The best way to describe this is to picture
those old Sam Spade/Phillip Marlow detective movies from the 1930's where the characters
would
speak in a voice over, so we would get to know not only their thoughts, but also their feelings on
what is going on around them. I have to tell you, I love those movies and that style of writing
when
it is pulled of well, and Mr. Robinson does that in spades. (Spades, get it-Sam Spade and he never
mind) Yet, even though that style of writing may have a retro feel, it is as fresh as anything else on
the shelves.
Part of the charm of Joe Box is his sense of humor as well as his homespun colloquialisms
courtesy
of his Granny. This detective could stand next to any of the famous ones, Thomas Magnum, the
afore mentioned Sam Spade, even the great Columbo, and hold his own. However, if you go into
to
this thinking you're going to be reading some good ole boy P. I. you will be in for a real surprise.
There is a range and depth to the character that snuck up on me and bowled me over. My
compliments Mr. Robinson on pulling that off. You Sir, made this go from a bunch of words on
paper to an adventure that I was on with an amazingly witty yet tragic friend. And I use the word
friend correctly, because in reading Sock Monkey Blues, that is how I began to think of Joe, as a
friend that I not only cared about, but wanted to see nothing bad happen to. And it wasn't
supposed
to, it was supposed to be a simple missing child case-it should take a week no more.
Enter "Ground Chuck", a sick twisted individual that lives only to maim and destroy. He is as evil
a
character as I have ever read in a book, or seen in a movie. Chuck is cold, heartless,
calculating-everything that a nemesis should be. Joe is out manned, outgunned, out smarted and
out
of time. My heart ached as my fingers turned each page, and I won't ruin the suspense by telling
what happens here, I can however sum it up in one word-wow.
This book, as I said, is deserving of every bit of praise that I can give it. If I have not conveyed
how
much I enjoyed reading it, the fault lies only in my lack of ability to present that fully, not in the
well-crafted writing found in this book itself. If you like mysteries, if you like adventure, if you
like
humor and pathos, if you like reading an author at the top of his form, then get a copy of "Sock
Monkey Blues". This deserves to be a best seller. This deserves to be a movie. This deserves to be
the first of a series. Please.
Rick Mohr
Reviewer
Shirley Roe's Bookshelf
Fires of Time
Barry Wilson
Epoch Press
ISBN Number: 0972561501, Paperback $7.99 Length: 482 pages
Fifth generation firefighter, Scott McLean is given the opportunity to travel back in time to
observe
history in the making. The only stipulation he is given is: "Observe Scott-just observe. Try not to
do
anything or touch anything that could change history." Will our compassionate, hands-on hero be
able to stand by while fire consumes cities and threatens lives?
Scott McLean, wife Patty and their best friends Brian and Jo find themselves in an unusual and
potentially disastrous situation. Brian the scientist, has invented a time machine which enables
travelers to visit days gone by. Will our travelers be able to leave well enough alone or will their
sympathetic, loving natures demand that they interfere? What happens when one of the time
travelers unintentionally returns with a passenger from 1906? Can Brian return him or is he
doomed
to stay in the future? We meet the grandson of our transported historic figure and learn how Dr.
Tyler Hunter changed the world of medicine because of his meeting with Scott. When faced with
a
rescue mission concerning their own family, Scott and Patty must face their own challenges and
more. Will they be tempted to manipulate the past and challenge destiny to save one of their own
or
will fate be victorious in spite of their efforts? Not until the suspenseful, surprising conclusion do
we
learn these answers.
Author Barry Wilson is a 26-year veteran firefighter paramedic who breathes life into his
character,
Scott McLean. Only someone who has experienced the devastation of fire first hand could
provide
the reader with such graphic scene setting and realistic descriptions. In depth research provides
accurate historic details of the San Francisco earthquake and the Great Chicago Fire, as well as
firefighting throughout history. This book has a little of everything: history, adventure, action,
romance and science fiction. An exciting read that will keep the reader coming back for
more.
A Gentleman's Tale
Author: J. A. Short
Available at: Imprintbooks
ISBN: 1591095425 Number of Pages: 70
"It's London that holds the future". Frank's words will echo in our hero's mind many times
throughout this tale. Author-J.A. Short takes the conflicts of modern youth and brilliantly
entwines
them with the essence of Victorian England.
Our hero, having lost the only two people he has ever loved, finds himself faced with a decision
whether or not to leave his home. Frank is all Jacques has left in this world, but does Jacques
want
to leave his lifelong home and all that is familiar? Later, Jacques struggles with a promise made to
his deceased lover and a growing, undeniable passion for someone new. Andrea Barolini, young
and
innocent, but with a fiery determination is quite the challenge for young Jacques. Andrea's father,
Armadeus Barolini, with some secrets of his own, goes from sponsor to antagonist in the course
of
"A Gentleman's Tale." The wonderfully faithful servants provide the necessary allies in this
romantic,
yet captivating story.
Music lives in the fiery soul of the impoverished, uneducated Jacques. He waits only for a chance
to
free it from the chains that bind. Will the trip to London be his golden opportunity or is it just
false
hope? Will London society applaud him or laugh him off the stage, amused by the simple country
boy's attempt at music? Shorts own love of music is reflected in Jacques' musical passion and the
intense emotion he feels while performing.
The author's historic reference to the Enclosure Movement places our time frame in the mid
1800's.
The Enclosure Movement was a time when open fields and common grazing lands were divided
into
privately owned plots, as government and nobility denounced the lack of profitability of common
ownership systems. This privatization greatly affected the commoners and provided more land
acquisition for nobility. It led to large- scale conversion to livestock farming and the closure of
many
small family farms. The story exposes the upper class prejudices and depicts the lengths to which
Victorian aristocracy will go to secure their social status.
The plot is easy to follow with several twists and turns to hold the readers interest throughout the
story. Character descriptions are strong and we come to know each character's strength and
weakness. The ending leaves the reader anxious to know more.
This story is similar in style and setting to the many, very successful novels by British writer,
Catherine Cookson. We are transported to a time of arranged marriages, male dominance, and the
ever-prominent social order. This reviewer was captivated by the author's style and flair for
setting
the scene and the intensely descriptive dialogue throughout. I would highly recommend this book
as
an intriguing and easy flowing read for all ages. Shirley Roe can be contacted at:
www.allbooks.bravepages.com
Shirley A. Roe, Reviewer
www.allbooks.bravepages.com
Roger's Bookshelf
HR from the Heart
Libby Sartain with Martha I. Finney
AMACOM
ISBN 0814407560 $24.95
Educational, Inspiring, Reinforcing
If you're employed in the human resources field, you'll get a lot out of this book. You'll enjoy a
conversation about a wide range of relevant topics with someone who's become a sort of legend
in
the human resources (HR) field. If you're not in HR, thinking about going into HR, or related to
someone in HR, this book will have less value for you.
That said, we must appreciate that a book written in one specialty field may also have value for
professionals in another field. While many of the stories and perspectives won't be germane for
marketing people, financial folks, or sales professionals, there are some cross-functional lessons to
be learned. Although the book is obviously intended for an HR audience, it will have value for
people in other professions in the corporate world.
Over the course of 44 chapters, Sartain, who gained fame as Vice President of People for
Southwest
Airlines, shares her experiences and some advice with readers. She shows how valuable HR can
be to an organization and how meaningful a career HR can be. This volume will be powerfully
reinforcing for people in the field, describing some of the ups and downs and lessons of the
author's
experience. Anyone contemplating entering the field or debating about staying in HR should read
these pages.
Readers will gain a better understanding of what Sartain did to build her career, as well as where
things didn't go so well. This is not a touchy-feely gushy book as the title might imply, but a
realistic
report that confronts a wide range of issues in the profession head-on. The chapters are full of
advice, some presented directly and some inferred by the lessons learned by the author.
HR from the Heart is the kind of book that will be read thoughtfully by a senior or mid-level
professional in the HR field, then passed around to colleagues. Thought-provoking, its reading
will
stimulate conversations that will raise sensitivities, intensify reality, offer balance, and probably
hold
some people in the profession that have given some thought to leaving. HR is a field in transition,
in
search of its rightful place in the corporate design. The contents of Sartain's book, assembled with
the able assistance of the insightful professional writer, Martha Finney, comfortably address issues
in
a way that will aid in the growth of respect for HR and its influence on the corporate world.
Quantum Creativity
Creativity is so important, readers are offered a wide range of books on the topic. This one has
several advantages that make it worth the investment of your time and money.
While it contains a lot of information, insight, and inspiration, this is not a long book that makes
the
acquisition of knowledge a laborious process. Less than 200 pages tight and comfortable. The
text
is highly readable nicely designed and easy on the eyes.
The subject matter is well organized. Meyer offers nine principles, each succinctly presented in its
own discreet chapter. The chapters are all presented in the same format, making it even easier for
the reader to grasp the concepts. The principle is presented, followed by a section on Learned
Blocks the things that get in our way of applying the particular principle of creativity. The third
section of each chapter is Doing Things Differently how to get out of your own way and gain the
greatest benefit from application of the learning.
The language of the book is appropriate for smooth movement through the material. I didn't
encounter stumbling blocks of words, phrases, or explanations that forced me to puzzle out what
the
author was saying. There's a sort of conversational tone, enriched by the author's personal
anecdotes
and illustrative stories about others' experiences with her creativity principles.
The book closes with a valuable bibliography. No index not needed. The author's background is
broad and significant for the reader. She practices what she preaches as a consultant, professional
speaker, and university instructor. Her background in improvisational theatre contributes to her
expression of creativity in ways readers "get it."
Herman Trend Alert: Manufacturing Maturing
July 16, 2003
American manufacturing is maturing and changing, but not going away. Technology, innovative
supply chain systems, and dedicated employees will keep manufacturing strong. Employment
opportunities will grow with the demand for specialized skills, customized manufacture, and
customer responsiveness. The challenge will be attracting young people to manufacturing
occupations and providing the necessary skills training.
While many manufacturing and assembly jobs have migrated to countries with lower labor costs,
some products will continue to be produced in the United States. Furniture produced for years by
proud craftsmen in American factories is now manufactured in other countries. Furniture
produced
in China, for instance, is making great inroads into the American market. A significant part of the
geographic shift of textile manufacturing is linked to furniture. The furniture manufacturing
industry,
like many others, is in the midst of unsettling change. American manufacturing will concentrate on
design, short-run production, quality goods, and merchandise best made domestically.
In response to market demands for higher quality products, the mattress business, a subset of the
furniture industry, is changing. Shoppers-- individual, and also institutional--are becoming much
more discriminating about what bedding they purchase. While the low end market will always be
part of the landscape, there is noticeable growth in the high end of the product lines.
More hotels are shifting to higher quality, recognizing that part of their competitive positioning
for
valuable business travelers is a restful night's sleep. Some hotels are so well known for their
mattresses that happy guests want to buy the same kind of mattress for their homes. Relationships
between the hotels and their mattress manufacturers allow those purchases to occur on a fairly
regular basis.
Mattress production in the United States is symbolic of a segment of manufacturing.
Craftsmanship,
price, and delivery time are all factors in an industry which has become highly responsive with
something similar to a just-in-time supply chain. But mattresses do not manufacture themselves.
Talented workers---from designers to production specialists---are needed to get the job
done.
Smart manufacturers will train people effectively, lead them well, and schedule production to
maintain a stable workforce to assure quality and efficiency.
Finance for the Non-Financial Manager
Gene Siciliano
McGraw-Hill
ISBN 0071413774 $14.95
Corporate finances are becoming increasingly important in a tight-economy world. The word is
out:
manage your finances well or you're in trouble. Even as our economy improves, this topic will
continue to be critical. Every executive, manager, and aspiring manager must be familiar with the
concepts of corporate finance.
If you are not a financial wizard, and most of us aren't, this book will give you the depth and
breadth
of understanding to "speak the language." Twelve well-organized chapters present the vital
information about the role of financial management, the various reports that are generated why
and
what they mean, profit and cash flow, and critical performance factors. The author, a Certified
Management Consultant and Certified Professional Accountant with years of advisory and
teaching
experience under his belt, then delves into specialized areas. Readers will learn about cost
accounting, business planning, budgeting, financing a business, and attracting outside investors.
There is a tremendous amount of information packed into these pages.
As part of McGraw-Hill's Briefcase Book series, this book is filled with seven types of call-out
boxes: Smart Managing, Cautions, Tricks of the Trade, Key Terms, Examples, Tools, and
Mistake-Proofing. This is the kind of book you will read through to get a comprehensive picture,
then return to as a reference book for yourself and others. The author's writing style is personal
and
conversational---like having a chat with an accountant who can explain what you don't
understand and what you don't even know that you don't understand. The depth is here.
There have been a number of books written on this topic over the years, many of them thick,
heavy,
and filled with small print and hard-to-comprehend charts and graphs. This book is designed to be
enjoyed and absorbed: larger type, lightweight, and readable. Graphs and charts are clear; they
make
sense.
If you're going to read---and keep---a book on finance for people who don't go there frequently,
this
is the book. Clear some space on your bookshelf. This one's a keeper!
It's Your Ship: Management Techniques from the Best Damn Ship in the Navy
Captain D. Michael Abrashoff
Warner Books
ISBN 0446529117 $24.95
Your Ship, My Story
This book and its author have received a lot of media exposure, so I decided to check it out.
While
Abrashoff espouses proven leadership techniques, the only really new learning is how one man
applied the principles on a Navy ship with a complement of 311 sailors.
This is more a story of one man's awakening to how leadership is considerably more effective than
management; how getting out of people's way is wiser than micromanaging them.
Leadership is emphasized in the book, and in every endorsement quote on the back cover. Yet,
the
subtitle says "management techniques," not "leadership techniques." Leadership did not come easy
to Abrashoff; he had a lot of learning to do and undo. As he moves through the chapters, this
retired Navy Captain talks about his experiences in leading by example, listening, communicating
purpose and meaning, creating a climate of trust, focusing on results, taking calculated risks,
building people and unity, and strengthening quality of life.
Good leaders can tell you all about these concepts and how they are applied in their organization.
Aspiring leaders and those who have not yet seen the light will be awe-struck by what Abrashoff
accomplished. Solid, experienced leaders will see this book as more of a case study and a
reinforcement of what they're already doing. As I have observed today's military leaders as a
citizen and as a consultant who has had the privilege of working with military leaders, the
"system"
is not as counterproductive as the author would lead us to believe. Bureaucracy is still
bureaucracy,
but Abrashoff is not alone in his practice of leadership skills.
Abrashoff applied leadership skills on his ship to achieve significant measurable results. I'm glad
he
documented his achievements so others might be inspired. I noted that he compared and linked his
military experiences and perspectives to civilian applications. Through relationships with Fast
Company magazine and other organizations, this author is now giving speeches and probably
consulting. This book and the attendant publicity could be viewed as effective tools to position
him
as a sought-after speaker.
In all fairness, while the leadership principles and anecdotes from the USS Benfold are certainly
present, this book struck me as more of an autobiography of the growth of a leader. For a treatise
about leadership and considering the title, I was surprised to see such heavy use of first person
pronouns in the writing.
Company owners and senior executives will find the book valuable as a case study of one man's
experience. Managers will learn principles and techniques that can substantially improve their
performance. Some readers will feel reinforced; others will feel discomforted by the heavy sense
of
ego and rationalization. It's a shame that Abrashoff did not choose to stay in the Navy to effect
those
changes he says are so needed; instead he left the service to write a book focused on two years of
his
work and hit the lecture circuit.
Balancing Acts
Barbara A. Glanz
Dearborn Publishing
ISBN 0793165202 $14.95 214 pages
This Book is Fully Loaded
Barbara Glanz is balanced. Well, no she's not either. Barbara Glanz is multi-focused, coming from
her heart (the soft stuff) as well as from her head (loads of information and advice). Result: she
produced a heart-felt tool to enrich your life.
The title is deceiving, but is clarified in the subtitle. Balancing Acts. Hey, we're all trying to be
better
balanced in today's rush-rush life where work, family, personal, spiritual, and community aspects
compete for our time, attention, and devotion. Glanz's advice? Give it up. That elusive "balance"
won't happen. Instead, blend your work and non-work lives so the ever-changing combination
works
for you. The formula will be different for each of us, and many of us need some good ideas about
how to design our own personal mix. As the subtitle tells us, this easy-to-use volume delivers
more
than 250 blending ideas for your consideration.
The chapters are well-organized, following an introduction that nicely sets the stage for why this
issue is so important for people like you and me and for employers. Following a foundation
chapter and a section on understanding the various facets of our lives, the text is organized into
chapters exploring ideas to blend work with family, friends, health, spirit, and service. A summary
chapter pulls it all together.
The writing is conversational in tone; this is a very comfortable book to read. Call-outs and
cartoons
enhance the ease and fun of the experience. Supplementing the chapters are an appendix of
questions
that will prompt productive discussions with family (and yourself). You'll also find pages of
resources, including notes and a bibliography that will empower you to continue growing even
beyond where this book will take you.
Expect to mark up the pages, turn down the corners, and keep this book around for a while. This
attachment means you'll probably purchase additional copies for your friends, relatives, and
co-workers. Be sure to inscribe the copy you give to your boss!
Roger E. Herman, Reviewer
roger@hermangroup.com
www.hermangroup.com
Sullivan's Bookshelf
Before the Flood: The Biblical Flood as a Real Event and How It Changed the Course of
Civilization
Ian Wilson
St. Martin's Press
ISBN # 0312304005, $27.95, 336 pages/indexed
This tome follows up on the eye-opening book NOAH'S FLOOD, published in l998. Its authors,
William Ryan and Walter Pitman, not related to nor connected with Ian Wilson, employed the
most
up-to-date scientific methods, like testing core samples of the Black Sea floor to prove: that this
sea
was once a much smaller fresh water lake and that it was flooded with Mediterranean Sea salt
water
that burst through the Bosporus land-bridge in 5600 BC. That was, in fact, at a time when global
seas, like the Mediterranean, had been filling rapidly with water from the last ice age meltdown.
Further, and more significant, those authors' hypothesis, bore out that this inundation event was
the
renowed Biblical Flood with Noah and his ark.
Many other cultural traditions had recorded a 'flood' occurring around the same time. Such a
story,
for example, from the Assyrio-Babylonian cultures, is found in the Gilgamesh Epic. Wilson, in this
new volume records further evidence found, both circumstantial and scientific, like underwater
photography from the latest submersibles to digging on the sea floor for biological evidence, that
was discovered: Mussell shells that existed only in fresh water. The author also goes into the early
history of what is today Turkey and an archaeological dig at the city of Catal Huyuk that is
located
in the south central portion of that country. This community is important because it just may be,
because of the antiquity of artifacts found there, the site of the 'cradle' of civilization. In any case,
the
city was abandoned just prior to the flood. And similar cultures, with matriarchal dominated
society
with its Great Mother Goddess worship, then spread around the Mediterranean and the Black
Sea.
Moreover, these relocations seem to have all been caused by severe changing climatic
conditions.
When the monumental flood ["Every day 200 times what flows over Niagara Falls, enough to
cover
Manhattan Island each day to a depth of over half a mile." from Ryan and Pitman on Black Sea
flooding], did come in 5600 BC, most everything in the flooded area [the known world at the
time],
had to be left behind. But contrary to the Bible account, though many humans perished, a number
of
people survived to move elsewhere. Some of those migrations have been traced.
Though religious believers always considered the flood story true, nonbelievers thought it was just
another myth. The latest evidence proves that there actually was a flood, and of Biblical
proportions,
too. Although the characters and details of the flood story may differ somewhat, from culture to
culture, the basic narrative holds up.
Bye the bye, readers will recall that Noah's Ark was supposed to have come to rest, after the
flood
receded, on Turkey's Mount Ararat or in that vicinity. To this day, after much searching and false
finds, none of that vessel's remains has ever been located. The author of the current book, Wilson,
writes and quotes " 'The days are long gone when one, or even two scholars, could master as
many
diverse fields as this book [NOAH'S FLOOD] covers'. With those words Mark Rose, managing
editor of the admirable American journal ARCHAEOLOGY, dismissed the undeniably daunting
hypothesis ventured in William Ryan and Walter Pitman's NOAH'S FLOOD.
"Rose published his remarks in January l999, and was not to know that by October of the same
year
Dr. Robert Ballard of TITANIC fame would find the first serious evidence of the truth of Ryan
and
Pitman's hypothesis. Or that this would be followed in September 2000 by Ballard finding the
most
astounding proof of this same. [that there were human settlements, before the flood, on the
northern
Turkish rim, now under water, of the Black Sea.]" Ian Wilson, and his wife, make their home in
Australia. He has written numerous other volumes, including THE BLOOD AND THE SHROUD
and THE COLUMBUS MYTH.
His current book is a gripping read with serious implications. And it's highly recommended!
Secrets A Memoir of Vietnam and the Pentagon Papers,
Danial Ellsburg
Viking Press
ISBN # 0670030309, $29.95, 2002, 498 pages/indexed
"On the evening of October l, l969," writes the author, "I walked out past the guards' desk at the
RAND Corporation in Santa Monica, carrying a briefcase filled with top secret documents, which
I
planned to photocopy that night. The documents were parts of a 7,000-page top secret study of
U.S.
decision making in Vietnam, later known as the Pentagon Papers. The rest of the study was in a
safe
in my office. I had decided to copy it all and make it public perhaps through Senate hearings or
the
press, if necessary. I believed this course, especially the later possibility, would probably put me in
prison for the rest of my life. How I came to do this is the focus of this memoir."
Ellsberg reveals details leading up to, through, and following his public exposure of the 'Pentagon
Papers.' It's compelling reading. His story of having a good upbringing, having a distinguished
education that included a Ph. D., his military service as a Marine Corps officer, a RAND analyst,
and
a government official in the Defense Department reveals a man of intellect with complete trust in
his
government and president. But following that service, particularly his time in Vietnam, during
which
he, as a civilian government employee, assisted U.S. troops during firefights with the enemy,
started
changing his mind abou trusting what his government said. And after reading the full Pentagon
Papers, which with his top secret clearances he was allowed to see, he changed his mind
completely.
Primarily a history of choices made about Southeast Asia by U.S. presidents, from Truman up to
Johnson (the study comes up only to l968), the Pentagon Papers indicated that those chief
executives had all lied to the American public, especially about Vietnam. So, Ellsberg thought that
the U.S. should quit fighting a war there and taking casualties needlessly. Many people within the
U.S. government felt the same way, but no one had the nerve to do anything about it. In fact, they
were helping to expand the war.
Dr. Ellsberg came to the conclusion that if the Pentagon Papers were revealed to the public, it
would
insist that the U.S. president (by then Nixon, who as later facts would bear out, was just as guilty,
if
not more so, as were his predecessors), without delay end the war. Of course, at this time and for
years, there had been an active anti-Vietnam War campaign waged mainly by U.S. college
students
and other young people. Still, the war escalated under Nixon, with Kissinger's help, with the
secret
bombings of Laos and Cambodia.
The Pentagon Papers, or Ellsberg's photocopies of them, were first offered to several prominent
anti-war U.S. senators, Among them Fulbright, McGovern, and Gravel. They or staffers read the
Papers, but turned down the offer to use them. One member of the House was approached to no
avail, too.
Now, Ellsberg, with nowhere else to turn, offered the full set of Papers to the NEW YORK
TIMES
through his friend, the journalist Neil Sheehan. The Times took the Papers but with no promise to
publishg. Several weeks later, Ellsberg found out accidentally that the Times would indeed
publish.
But after the Times printed a few, though large excerpts from the Pentagon Papers, the
newspaper
was enjoined by the federal government from publishing further. Anticipating this might happen,
Ellsberg distributed copies of the Papers to various other newspapers, including the
WASHINGTON POST, the BOSTON GLOBE, and the L.A. TIMES. They published excerpts,
too, and were also enjoined. But this was 'prior restraint' and not allowed under the U.S
Constitution. The courts, therefore, disallowed the government's action. Thus, the newspapers
resumed printing the Pentagon Papers. In the case of the NEW YORK TIMES, they put the entire
7,000 words into publication. Though the Pentagon Papers were a dramatic revelation, people in
power were not moved to stop the conflict. The U.S. government did, however, put forth an
effort
to find out who had given the Papers to the media. Since Ellsberg had talked to so many
prominent
peole and politicians about this matter previous to publication, trying to get the information to the
public, he was, almost from the start, the leading suspect. He knew he would be and went into
hiding to finish his mission of disseminating the Papers. Once he did that, he gave himself up to
the
authorities. And he and an accomplice were charged with the crime of releasing top secret
documents. But the prosecution's case against Ellsberg went from bad to abysmal. First, the
government prosecution dicovered that the U.S. (contrary to Britain) had no 'official secrets act'
making what Ellsberg did illegal. But Nixon's people weren't going to let that little detail stop
them.
His operatives, known collectively as 'the plumbers,' broke into Ellsberg's psychiatrist's office to
steal
Ellsberg's file. Other deeds were committed prejudicing the case. Perhaps the worst, though little
known about at that time, was the Whitehouse offer, during proceedings, to the judge presiding
over
Ellsberg's trial, of the FBI Director's job! To his credit, that presiding judge dismissed all charges
agains Ellsberg.
Those same plumbers would be implicated in the Watergate Scandal that would lead to Nixon's
resignation just ahead of impeachment and removal from office for 'high crimes and
misdemeanors.'
Daniel Ellsberg, and his wife, Patricia, spend part of their time residing in Washington DC and the
other part in California. Still an activist, speaking out on important issues of the day, Ellsberg
makes
his living as a speaker and writer.
Highly recommended reading (unless, of course, you trust your government officials under all
circumstances!).
Jim Sullivan
Reviewer
Thakur's Bookshelf
Lesser Breeds - A Novel
Mrs. Nayantara Sahgal
HarperCollins.
HarperCollins India , New Delhi.
ISBN: 8172234449 Rs. 395. 375pp.
Paradise forever lost
Nayantara Sahgal
"If drunk with sight of power we loose
Wild tongues that have not thee in awe
Such boasting as the gentiles use
Or lesser breeds without the Law"
These lines from Rudyard Kipling's "Recessional", printed on the first page of Mrs. Nayantara
Sahgal's latest novel- "Lesser Breeds", suddenly arrest our attention providing a hint of what lies
ahead in the next three hundred and seventy add pages.
The so-called 'lesser breeds' struggling against the self-decreed superior ones- this is what a
considerable part of human history has been and it is to this breed-mania that racism, imperialism
and
colonialism owe their parentage. Mrs. Sahgal's novel is set in a period when these evils were
rampant in the world and the struggle of the oppressed against the oppressors was the
fiercest.
This struggle was on with all might in the colonies in Asia and Africa in the first part of twentieth
century but there was something different with it in India where the struggle was on with a
weapon
that the world had never seen or heard of before: the power of soul. This power of soul was
supposed to combat the power of bayonets, machineguns and bombs.
This was the weapon of the 'new creed', which the world was watching evolve with awe. A creed
that declared:
" If blood must be shed in this battle, let it be your own".
The world was watching with wide eyes, the prophetic Mahatma proclaiming this mantra to
millions
of India's men and women. "If the enemy realized", he was telling them, "you have not the
remotest
thought in your mind of raising your hand against him even for the sake of your life, he will lack
the
zest to kill you".
Gandhiji's Great Experiment of Non-violence was definitely being watched tongue tied by the
world,
but did it work? Or was it a lunatic's fantasy? Dreamy idealism? Does it have any significance for
us
today?
Mrs. Sahgal's novel brilliantly discusses these still burning questions that history has put to
us.
The novel opens in early 1930s, one of the most turbulent epochs in Indian as well as world
history.
Nurullah, the protagonist, is a young man of twenty-three who arrives at the historic city of
Akbarabad to teach English literature to the 'first years' at the university. For nearly ten years
since
1932, he lives with a non-violent family, actively involved in the freedom struggle, in their once
splendorous domed mansion, that after the family's plunge into the quest for freedom, has now
become a 'national monument'. It is during his stay here, that Nurullah feels the heat of the
freedom
struggle and gets closely acquainted with the ebb and flow of the movement through Nikhil, Bhai,
as
he is affectionately called, the head of the family who himself is a freedom fighter and a firm
believer
in Non-violence.
Nurullah, however, is sceptic about this new creed. Such things as the power of soul verses the
power of bayonets and such commandments as "Love will disarm the enemy" are beyond his
comprehension and throughout his stay with the family and his later life, he remains a stubborn
non-believer in non-violence.
But Edgar Knox, an American journalist, faithfully believes it matters. During the Salt March of
1930, Gandhiji's command to, "Let the fist holding salt be broken but let there be no voluntary
surrender of salt", sounded to him as "some thing new under the sun" and intrigued him to come
to
India. Wonderstruck, he watched on the beeches of Dandi, unarmed, non-violent people getting
their
bones crushed under ruthless blows of unscrupulous lathis and butts with their faith in that 'new
creed': "If blood must be shed in this battle, let it be your own" remaining unshakable. Spellbound
to
see this great drama, he inevitably becomes a firm believer in the new creed.
The character of Edgar Knox is enchanting and leaves a lasting impression upon as. He is a firm
believer in democracy and the freedom of the individual. His conscience is awake, unlike most of
the
people of his race in that age and he has a heart full of sympathy for those who are suffering
undeservingly in the furnace of colonialism and he fully understands that what is going on in India,
Vietnam and elsewhere in Asia and Africa is history in the making. We appreciate him as a
visionary
when he says-
"I tell you, these are legendary times in Asia and these men are living legends, heroes to their
people.
Now is the time to befriend them."
All in all, one feels but compelled to admit that the character of Edgar Knox is a remarkable
achievement on the part of Mrs. Sahgal.
Afterwards, the fate of both Bhai's family and Nurullah is caught in the whirlwind of the turbulent
strife of freedom struggle. Nurullah, however, remains stubbornly opposed to non-violence, after
all,
he has seen Bhai go into hiding and break the principle of the new creed: "We don't work in the
dark, we have nothing to hide."
The first part of the novel ends in 1942 with a moving account of Bhai's arrest during the 'Quit
India'
movement.
The second chapter opens our eyes to the New World 'An Island called America', which is far
for
away from all the tumult in the rest of the world and is virtually undisturbed. Dr. Sahgal describes
which great dexterity and profound insight, the America of 1940s giving us even the most subtle
details of their lifestyle, their attitude towards life, love, sex, relationships and their way of looking
at
things happening with their fellow beings. Shan, the daughter of Bhai is in America for higher
education and many times we see the land from her perspective. We subtly pursue the American
life
of the 1940s, their obsession with 'dating'- that has become their 'exhausting national way', their
preoccupation with sex, their frequent cries of 'putchorarmsaroundmehoneyholdmetight', their
Saturday night goodnight ceremonies- all of which go to show the grossly materialistic and
hollow
life that they are leading. Edgar's sisters Leda comments eloquently on this hollowness of
contemporary American life describing America as an island where "victuals are sectioned and
served for giants, not human appetites, where sexes meet in combat at Thermoplyae, where men
fall
in love with butcher cuts of women and the plight of the American woman arouses the traveller's
heart to pity"
Apart from being a thought provoking discussion of the relevance of non-violence, Mrs. Sahgal's
novel is also a whipping satire against racism and colonialism, which were horribly rampant during
the first half of twentieth century. The strain of this satire runs as an undercurrent through the
entire
narrative and the satire is almost always well meant. We counter the ugly face of British India in
the
first chapter. Company Bagh and the same hideous face of racism is to be seen again in 'An Island
called America' where dark skinned people cannot walk around after sunset. Leda's haunted love
affair with a 'nigger' adds a pathetic perspective to the situation.
The horrible ancient racism is reminded to us by the novelist who often walks in the past lifting
curtain from the barbaric ways which the so called Superior Breeds have followed to establish
empires and colonies. The savagely hostile manners of the After Columbus Americans adopted to
get rid of the primitive inhabitants of America being but a part of it all.
Towards the end of the novel, we see the war hysteria at its peak. We are taken aback, when
Shan's
father Nikhil, the non-violent freedom fighter, is hanged back home in India for sabotaging a
military
train a crime that he has not committed. This was the justice in British India where "Jungle
justice was justice enough for all that was not Europe, where punishment need never fit the crime
or
wait for the crime to be committed."
The novel ends in 1968, when the world is in the grasp of another war- the Cold War and when
disarmament has remained a mirage. Edgar Knox has lost the power of his pen and the favour of
his
government and has been labelled as a communist. But he is still championing the cause of the
oppressed colonies, and making fearless pleas for them- a humanist to the core that he has
remained
throughout his life.
Nurullah however has come to terms with what matters the most himself and is living peacefully
in
Akbarabad in a house that has been left as a legacy for him.
In 1968, Peter Ryder, a young American student of politics, researching non-violence and its use
of
soul force, comes to India, searching for its remnants and meets Nurullah to have, what he calls, "
impressions from the players on the scene".
Nurullah has narrated him the whole story. He is still as stubbornly opposed to non-violence as he
was in its heyday. He believes the paradise has been forever lost and there is no hope of regaining
it.
We read Nurullah prophesying in the end that
" Oil and allied treasure will exact a more nutmeg or teak and diamond ever did. Asia, and who
knows, Africa, will be the battle fields of war immemorial."
Today, with the economic imperialism staring the world in its face, we have seen this prophecy
come
true in the form of the Gulf War II.
Timely and relevant, Dr. Sahgal's novel is a journey through turbulent waters of history, at the end
of which, one is left with questions that have still remained unanswered.
Mrs. Sahgal, the doyenne of Indian English fiction, has progressively mastered this difficult art.
She
dexterously storms her way through the narrative. The plot construction is almost impeccable and
one never yawns except while reading a few digressions and descriptions that are too minute. She
recreates the atmosphere of the 1930s and 40s with such richness and fullness that we seem to be
living through the turbulent era. One is not surprised by her exceptional grip on historical facts
and
her deep understanding of the currents of history, particularly of Indian history, as she belongs to
the
'first family' of Indian politics, the Nehrus. Her mastery on the English tongue and her
marvellously
keen knowledge of the Western and particularly American lifestyle and culture of 1930s and 40s
certainly command our praise.
It is quite a while since her last novel was published, but she has come up with a truly awesome
piece of fiction a moving tale of paradise former lost.
Prithvirajsingh Thakur
Reviewer
Vicki's Bookshelf
Runaway Girl: The Artist Louise Bourgeois
Jan Greenberg and Sandra Jordan
Harry N. Abrams, Inc.
100 Fifth Ave., NY, NY 10011
www.abramsbooks.com
ISBN 0810942372 $19.95, 80 pages
This fascinating biography of renegade fine artist Louise Bourgeois presents her as an inspiring
role
model for young teens, especially girls. "Runaway Girl" is a rare look at one of the most
controversial artists of the 20th Century, providing a distinctive, intimate look at the life and work
of
the sculptor. Born in 1911, Bourgeois became known for her graphic, sometimes disturbing, yet
always personal artworks, Bourgeois broke down barriers for women in the male-dominated art
world as she struggled to make sense of her own troubled past. "I was in effect a runaway girl,"
says
Bourgeois. "All my work in the past 50 years, all my subjects, have found their inspiration in my
childhood." Family photographs and reproductions of Bourgeois' artwork from "Deconstruction
of
the Father" to "Maman" are interspersed with exclusive interviews, selections from the artist's
journals, and clear, insightful text. "Runaway Girl" offers a dynamic, thought-provoking look at
the
life and work of an artist ahead of her time. From the authors of acclaimed young adult books
about
Chuck Close, Frank O. Gehry and Vincent Van Gogh.
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
Laura Ljungkvist
Harry N. Abrams, Inc.
100 Fifth Ave., NY, NY 10011
www.abramsbooks.com
ISBN 0810942410 $14.95, 38 pages
This sure isn't the "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" we grew up with. Author-illustrator Laura
Ljungkvist ("Toni's Topsy-Turvy Telephone Day") gives a hip, contemporary twist to the beloved
fairy tale using spare, straightforward text and boldly original graphics. She uses her signature
style
of a single line running throughout the artwork to breathe new life into the ages old tale.
Youngsters
can trace the progress of the story with a finger as they read the enchanting tale via the
color-blocked pictures. Snow White is white, and Prince Charming is purple, but nothing can stop
them from stealing their love with a kiss! The post-modern picture book's lower-than-average
price
point and higher-than-average page count makes this a particularly good value. The book's
biggest
critics will be young girls devoted to Disney trademarked characters, who are likely to insist that
their storybook princesses be glamorously pretty not sculptural, Calder-like constructions of
geometric shapes.
Zolo A B Z: An Alphabet Book
Byron Glaser and Sandra Higashi
Harry N. Abrams, Inc.
100 Fifth Ave., NY, NY 10011
www.abramsbooks.com
ISBN 0810942607 $15.95, 48 pages
In this gloriously-colorful alphabet book, Z, naturally, stands for "Zolo," the popular construction
toy. So, yes, this is another example of the children's publishing trend in books based on a branded
product for cross-marketing purposes. "Zolo A B Z" is far more artful than most tie-ins, however,
reflecting the wonderfully whimsical nature of the modern-art-styled Zolo toy in the book's
vibrant
pages. Eye-catching color is the name of this game, and it's everywhere: in the striped
boomerangs,
plaid and polka-dotted kidneys, space-age orbs, optic checkerboard, googie starbursts and more
squiggly bits worthy of a Calder cutout. Mix all the shapes together with ping-pong ball eyes and
they become assorted characters just like the ones kids make at home. Here they have been given
names Bing, Arti, Scoot, Curly, Squish and Sqwawk, for instance though the text gives them
no
individual personality traits. The Zolo mascot -- Ozlo the dog simply wags his two tails and leads
readers on a typical A-to-Z journey, with lots of alliterative words loosely tied-together in couplet
rhyme for each spread's corresponding letter. "Zolo A B Z" was created by the enormously
talented
Zolo toy designers themselves, Byron Glaser and Sandra Higashi, so it's no surprise that the book
looks fantastic. The text, on the other hand, is throwaway stuff unworthy of the images, causing
the
pretty eye candy to add up to empty calories. The book's final two pages of stickers seem a way
of
rewarding kids for stealing time that would have been better spent with the endlessly imaginative
Zolo toys.
The Orphans of Normandy: The True Story of World War II Told Through Drawing of
Children
Nancy Amis
Antheneum Books for Young Readers/Simon & Schuster
1230 Avenue of the Americas, NY, NY 10020
www.SimonSaysKids.com
ISBN 0689841434 $17.95, 48 pages
This non-fiction picture book is a remarkable look at war from a child's point of view. "Orphans
of
Normandy" is created from the drawings and hand-written accounts of French children who were
forced to flee their orphanage when the World Ward II Allies invaded Normandy on June 6, 1944.
Forced to flee the only home they'd ever known, the 100 girls trekked on foot to a safer location
150
miles away. As the war raged on all sides of them, the girls, led by their teachers, bravely marched
south, keeping one step ahead of the fighting while bravely waving little white flags for
protection.
With no place to sleep and very little to eat, they comforted themselves by drawing pictures of the
place they left behind, and of their adventures on the road to safety. The result was handed down
to
Agnes Fulton Amis, a teacher with the American Relief for France, and later, to her great-niece,
Nancy Amis, who compiled the orphans images and stories for this book. "The Orphans of
Normandy" is a documentary of extraordinary beauty and emotional impact a moving journal of
courage, innocence and triumph amid the horrors of war. Highly recommended to make
elementary
school history lessons come alive in a most profoundly personal way.
Hazel Green
Odo Hirsch
Bloomsbury
175 Fifth Ave., NY, NY 10010
www.bloomsbury.com/usa/childrens
ISBN 1582348200 $14.95, 190 pages
Each year, on Frogg Day, a parade fills the streets and children are not allowed to take part but it
hasn't always been that way and it certainly doesn't seem fair to Hazel Green. So she decides to
rally
the children of the Moody Building to build a float for the parade. But things go awry when she is
accused of stealing a recipe from her favorite baker and giving it to his rival. Meanwhile, the
children
ban her from participating in the parade because she tried to convince them that their float would
topple. But with the help of her friend Yakov, a.k.a. "The Yak," Hazel proves her innocence and
leads the children to glory on Frogg Day. In the capable hands of Australian author Udo Hirsch
("Bartlett and the Ice Voyage"), Hazel is a charming new everyday heroine that will greatly appeal
to fans of Harriet the Spy, Anastasia Krupnick, and other equally spunky, capable young female
characters. Readers 7 to 12 years of age will recognize a lot of themselves in Hazel, and will enjoy
getting to know her.
The Little Blue Rabbit
Angela McAllister, Illustrated by Jason Cockcroft
Bloomsbury
175 Fifth Ave., NY, NY 10010
www.bloomsbury.com/usa/childrens
ISBN 1582348340 $16.95, 32 pages
Ever wonder how a beloved stuffed animal feels when separated from its equally-beloved owner?
Author Angela McAllister ("Barkus, Sly and the Golden Egg") presents the answer in her bedtime
picture book, "The Little Blue Rabbit." It's a gentle twist on the classic lost-toy story, featuring a
sensitive little plush rabbit. Blue Rabbit is loved by his favorite person (universally named here as
"Boy"), and vice versa, and so everything is well with the world until one night that Boy doesn't
come to his bed as usual. Used to sleeping together every night, Blue Rabbit is deeply concerned.
He
solicits the help of the other stuffed animals to help him search the house, but all they can come up
with is a photograph of the boy the real one is nowhere to be found! Inconsolable, Blue Rabbit
hides away in the bed to cry, until, that is, an eye peeks under the covers. It is Boy! Blue Rabbit
cherishes the reunion, but notices that the boy is "browner and his clothes have shrunk," assuming
"he must have been left out in the garden in the rain." In truth, of course, the boy has simply been
away on a summer vacation, and though he seems a bit different, when they hug each other tight,
Blue Rabbit knows his boy hasn't really changed at all. The highly sentimental tale will strike a
chord
with many, but for many others will seem unnecessarily manipulative.
Polly's Picnic
Richard Hamilton, illustrated by Sophy Williams
Bloomsbury
175 Fifth Ave., NY, NY 10010
www.bloomsbury.com/usa/childrens
ISBN 1582348197 $16.95, 32 pages
Written by Englishman Richard Hamilton ("Violet and the Mean and Rotten Pirates"), "Polly's
Picnic" is a sweet, simple picture book story for young children age three to seven to provide a
pleasant lesson in the joys of sharing. Polly is a pretty young pig-tailed girl whose blissful picnic in
a
field is ruined by uninvited animals who greedily eat up all the goodies. First some ducks dig into
the
feast, then a fox, two cats and a horse. Each is invited to take a bite, but they gobble up every last
bite. A goat even wolfs down the basket itself, leaving pretty Polly alone and hungry, crying in the
woods. "Who's been greedy? Who's been rude? Who has stolen Polly's food?" the animals ask one
another, knowing that they're the culprits. Feeling guilty, they hatch a scheme to remedy the
situation in a most unexpected way. The summery, pastel illustrations by Sophy Williams ("When
Grandma Came") bring a sense of realism to the story and its entirely unrealistic twist ending.
Vicki Arkoff, Reviewer
varkoff@yahoo.com
Skea's Bookshelf
The Wreck At Sharpnose Point
Jeremy Seal
Picador, Macmillan
ISBN: 1330374656 A$ 22.00 (paperback) 316 pages
"It was not long after my arrival at my new abode that I was plunged into the midst of a fearful
scene of the terrors of the sea."
Such, was the beginning of the Rev. R.S. Hawker's account of the wreck of the Caledonia. And in
many ways it describes Jeremy Seal's experiences in writing this book. It is full of the terrors of
the
sea and (after a slow start) it is gripping reading, but it is an odd book: definitely and delightfully
odd. It is a mixture of mystery, detective story, history, memoir, travelogue, and imaginative
fiction;
and all this works so well that by the end of the book one can hardly tell fact from fiction: which is
exactly what Seal discovered as he was writing it.
On the cover of the book is a photograph of the woman who started the whole thing off. "She
stood
in the graveyard and stared at the sea, as if to understand the hurt it had once done her", Seal
writes.
But the woman is Scotia, "national emblem of Burns and Scott", and she is an old wooden
figurehead, salvaged from the Caledonia, which was wrecked in 1843 on the rocks below this
graveyard at Morwenstow in Cornwall.
Seal's interest is aroused. This Scottish ship had been wrecked on a coast notorious for
shipwrecks,
but also notorious, in local lore, for wreckers who deliberately lured ships onto the rocks in order
to
steal their cargoes. And when the famous (or infamous) Reverend Hawker turned out to have
been
vicar of this Morwenstow church at the time of the wreck and to have written an account of
somewhat questionable accuracy, Seal sets out to discover the truth.
His quest takes him around Great Britain; he encounters some unusually interesting character,
living
and dead; and he discovers (or rather fails to rediscover) a mysterious letter in a bottle, which for
years has been linked to the Caledonia. Occasionally, as he gets to know the ship's crew and more
of
the ship's history, he invents imaginary scenes from her journey from Rio de Janeiro to her
terrifying
destruction on the rocks, where the crew clung onto the main rigging until all but one of them
were
swept to their deaths. Little bits of social, maritime and political history become important to the
story. Odd facts which clearly fascinated Seal, are dropped in (like the death of William Huskins,
who was knocked down and killed by Stevenson's Rocket on its first public appearance). And
Seal's
evocation of the Elizabeth and the St. Agnes making a run for Bude harbour in the storm which
wrecked the Caledonia on that same coast, is riveting.
Seal has used a large range of sources: letters, broadsides, public records, historical accounts,
local
gossip, and much much more, all of which he carefully documents at the end of the book. But he
also lets his imagination range freely, only restricting it when facts and common sense make it
necessary. By the end of the book, I was so immersed in his quirky quest, so convinced by his
smooth combination of facts and imaginative reconstructions, that the historical documents
reproduced in the Appendix read like another adventure story and I had to remind myself that
they
did really exist.
Altogether, Wreck at Sharpnose Point is a great read.
The Secret Life of the Dyslexic Child
Robert Frank with Kathryn E Livingstone
Rodale, Macmillan (June 2003)
ISBN: 1405006757 A$ 30.00 (paperback) 271 pages
This is a very useful, practical and clearly written book for anyone who has to deal with a dyslexic
child, or who is concerned that their child might be dyslexic. The author, Robert Frank, is
dyslexic.
He also has a doctorate and works as an educational psychologist and a family therapist. So he
not
only understands the condition, he also knows from personal experience the special difficulties of
study and the strategies needed for success.
The chapter headings in the book give a fair indication of the range of topics, Frank covers: the
Secret Life; Getting inside your Child's Secret Life, My Perfect Child is Dyslexic, The Programme
for Success. And he describes clearly and simply such things as diagnosis, the difficulties both
child
and parent will encounter, strategies, and where and how to get help. He also gives many specific
and detailed examples of the individual experiences of dyslexics and stresses that each child is
different both in the nature and the extent of their disability and in the ways they cope with it.
The book was written for an English market, and some of the specific schooling strategies and
services will differ for other countries. Frank's advice, however, is applicable anywhere. And if
your
school's headmaster says, as one I queried about the support available for dyslexic children did,
that
they "don't have any dyslexic children", there are addresses in this book where you can find the
necessary advice and services you will need.
Add this book to Susan Hampshire's wonderfully readable and funny autobiographical account of
her own experiences with dyslexia, and you will have a pretty good idea of what your child's
secret
world is like.
Monsoon Diary
Shoba Narayan
Bantam, Random House
ISBN: 1863254137 A$ 22.95 (paperback) 223 pages
"For one who eats so little, my father had an unquenchable fascination with food"
So begins Shoba Narayan's very personal memoir of growing up in India, of her family, and of the
food around which so much of her life has revolved.
She starts with the "rice-eating" ceremony at the Guruvayar temple in Kerala, where she was
persuaded to eat her first solid food, progresses through shared multicultural foods at school and
on
train-journeys; shares the anxieties she endured over a money-raising banquet she created as an
impoverished foreign student in America; discusses her Indian arranged marriage; and ends with
the
"Descent of Relatives" on her American home. Food and culture are inextricably mixed, and this
is a
mouth-watering memoir.
The recipes, however, look daunting, even for someone like me who frequently cooks Indian
meals
in the traditional way and has a wide range of Indian spices in my cupboard. There is an
ingredient,
'cilantro', which I do not recognize and which is not in any of my cookery-books, even those I
bought in India. And there is an instruction to fry urad dal and channa dal in hot oil, which leaves
me
confused: are the raw lentils to be fried or should they be cooked first?
But I do wonder how many readers of books like this (and Like Water for Chocolate, to which it
is
compared on the cover) actually get around to trying the recipes. Maybe just reading the stories
and
savoring the wonderful food descriptions is satisfying enough.
The Good Women of China
Xinran
Vintage, Random House
ISBN: 0099440784 A$ 22.95 (paperback) 230 pages
This is a harrowing, depressing and dreadful book. Not because it is poorly written (in fact, its
impact is largely due to the skill with which the words and the stories are shaped) but because
every
woman in it, including the author, has been damaged by the culture and history of China which
she
and her family have endured. Their stories are about rape, oppression, madness, bleak
faithlessness
and cold loveless survival.
The author, Xinran, who was born in Beijing in 1958, tells us of her own childhood traumas, but
she
survived these to become a highly successful, very popular radio presenter in a medium which is
completely controlled and censored by the Communist Party. How she achieved this, in the face
of
the seemingly impossible conditions of women's lives as she presents them here, and how she
came
to be a sole parent bringing up her son on her own, she does not tell us. Perhaps her own story
would have given the book some balance. Perhaps not. As it is, the picture we get from this book
of
a 'good woman's' life in China is terrible.
In 1989, Xinran was the presenter in Nanjing of a programme called 'Words on the Night Breeze'.
It
was a new venture for her and for the radio station : part of Deng Xiaoping's "opening up" of
China.
In the programme, she discussed "various aspects of daily life" and used her own experiences "to
win the listeners' trust and suggest ways of approaching life's difficulties". This approach, in itself,
was dangerously innovative, but Xinran's next initiative was to persuade the authorities to allow
listeners to phone in with questions, views and experiences. Like all such on-air discussions with
members of the public, there was a time-delay and a kill-switch to monitor the calls. But unlike
Western presenters, Xinran's position(and that of her supervisors) was made especially precarious
by
complex Party rules, censorship and the acute sensitivity to reactionary views and debate. She
notes,
towards the end of her book, that in 1995 journalists ranked fourth in the list of professionals who
had the shortest life span, and she puts this down to their being forced to say and write things they
disagreed with.
Xinran's phone-in programme was enormously popular and prompted many listeners to write to
her.
Following up one particular letter led her to considering and discussing on air various aspects of
the
lives of Chinese women, and this book was the eventual result of her investigations. Some of the
'stories', as she records here, dealt with dangerously sensitive subjects - homosexuality and mental
illness, for example - and many could never have been discussed on air at all.
Xinran presents herself throughout the book as a sensitive, journalistic investigator, surprisingly
ignorant of the lives of other women, and her journalistic skills are evident in the human interest
and
the intimacy of the narrative. This makes the book flow easily, and I am full of admiration for the
way in which she has written and crafted her work (and for the quality of Esther Tyldesley's
translation). However, I was often aware that a journalistic hand had shaped her interaction with
these women and her presentation of their stories and I did end up thinking "Surely women's lives
in
China can't all be this bad".
I am bothered, too, about the ethics of this kind of reporting and publishing. I don't doubt that
Xinran is sincere in her shock and distress about these women's lives, or that she feels the need to
tell their stories. But, however anonymous the women remain, to have their lives exposed to
foreigners who can afford to buy books and sit in comfortable homes to be shocked and, perhaps,
titillated by their pain, is surely one more indignity inflicted on them. It cannot benefit them. Nor
is it
likely to change a cultural bias which has existed unchanged for thousands of years. Meanwhile,
the
publishers and the author (in professional terms, if not also financially) benefit from this
exposure.
The stories in this book are not, as Amy Tan is quoted on the book's cover as saying, "Stories that
must be read". They are, as John Snow (also quoted) says, "Shocking". And they are a reminder
of
the huge and devastating changes which have taken place in China and which have dramatically
affected the lives of this present generation and their families. China, still, is an enigma to most
Westerners. No doubt it is not the strange, romanticized place of many stories; but Xinran's
stories,
too, must be only part of the picture. It is a pity that she seems to suggest, even in her
presentation
of today's young women, that for the women of China there is no hope, other than to do as she
has
done and leave.
Year of Meat
L. Ozeki
Macmillan
ISBN: 1330490443 A$ 22.00 316 pages
"Meat is the Message. Each weekly half-hourly episode of MY AMERICAN WIFE must
culminate
in the celebration of a featured meat, climaxing in its glorious consumption. It's the meat (not the
Mrs.) who's the star of the show!": Fax to Tokyo from Jane Takagi-Little.
WARNING: This is not a recipe book. Nor is it one of those books in which the story is seasoned
with mouth-watering meals. In fact, if the thought of a nice juicy steak makes you salivate, this
book
may well spoil your appetite. In spite of that, this is a very funny, very quirky and very
entertaining
story, and Ruth Ozeki clearly knows a lot about documentary-making, Japanese and American
cultural idiosyncrasies, Sei Shonagon's Pillow Book and also (like her heroine, Jane) about
meat-farming, meat-processing, meat-marketing and the preparation of such delicacies as Prairie
Oysters and Beef Fudge.
The structure of this book is unusual, too. Each month is given its exotic pre-Heian name.
Chapters
with titles like "The Rice-Sprouting Month', 'The Poem-Composing Month' and "The
Gods-Absent
Month', give resonance to the events which take place in that month. WE read the faxes which fly
backwards and forwards between America and Tokyo as misunderstandings and gross disregard
of
the requirements (generally Jane's disregard of Tokyo's requirements) are sorted out. Fragments
of
video script illustrate the work-in-progress. And Sei Shonagon's 1000-year-old Pillow Book
thoughts are both directive and inspiring.
The framework on which Ruth Ozeki hangs her story is deceptively simple:
Jane Takagi-Little is commissioned by the Japanese Trade and Marketing syndicate, "BEEF-EX",
to
make a programme which shows an interesting American family in their own home as the wife
prepares her favourite meat meal. Back in Tokyo, Akiko Ueno, wife of one i=of the chief
marketing
directors, must view each episode, rate it for interest and authenticity, and must prepare the
featured
meal for her husband's approval.
Jane is given clear instructions by the Tokyo office in lists which, like Shonagon's lists, describe
"DESIRABLE THINGS" (which including the admonition "Pork is Possible. But Beef is Best!")
and
UNDESIRABLE THINGS (such as "obesity", "physical imperfections" and "2nd class peoples").
Jane, however, prefers Shonagon's imaginative and poetic lists, and her programmes quickly
diverge
from the stereotype "All American Family" which Tokyo expects. The episode which features a
lesbian couple with their two children, is the last straw. So, finally, Jane has to give Tokyo exactly
what it wants and she makes a programme set on a Texas cattle ranch and meat-processing
property,
and featuring the wife, Bunny, who is an ex rodeo queen. As it turns out, the programme is totally
unsuitable for marketing purposes.
Akiko, meanwhile, has followed each episode with increasing interest and has found her view of
American wives and families vastly enlarged by Jane's programmes. She compares the lives of
these
wives with her own wifely role in an already tense and difficult marriage and she begins to
question
things. The outcome of this is, predictably, disastrous. It is also dramatic and dangerous for Akiko
but, ultimately, worthwhile.
To summarize the plot like this is simple but boring. To give you more of a taste of the meat of
the
book might tempt your appetite, but it would hardly indicate the varied nature of the feast. The
book
is very funny, very readable and very disturbing. It's characters are believable and unbelievable.
Fiction is interwoven with fact. As a picture of the variety of American lifestyles it is wonderful.
As
the story of the two women caught up in the daily events it is delightful and harrowing, happy and
sad. But as a comment on meat-farming and processing it is bloody and horrible and deeply
worrying. And all meat-eaters should read it.
Ann Skea, Reviewer
http://ann.skea.com
Burrough's Bookshelf
Boardwalk Empire
Nelson Johnson
Plexus Publishing, Inc.
143 Old Marlton Pike, Medford, NJ 08055
0937548499 $18.95
Boardwalk Empire: The Birth, High Times, And Corruption Of Atlantic City by Nelson Johnson
studies the history, politics, and personalities (both good and bad), that shaped and influenced
Atlantic City during the years of the twentieth century. Ranging from corrupt crime bosses, to the
influence of Republican politics, to the present day characterization of Atlantic City as a haven for
entertainment and gambling, Boardwalk Empire is an absorbing, informative, and at times startling
chronicle of an American city. Boardwalk Empire is a strongly recommended addition to Political
Science and 20th Century American History collections.
Native American Sovereignty On Trial
Bryan H. Wildenthal
ABC-CLIO, Inc.
130 Cremona Drive, PO Box 1911, Santa Barbara, CA 93116-1911
1576076245 $55.00 1-800-368-6868
The latest in the "On Trial" series from ABC-CLIO, Native American Sovereignty On Trial
examines the history of court litigation and important legal controversies involving Native
American
treaty rights, especially concerning the historical background and modern-day implications of
Native
American sovereignty. Painstakingly compiled by Bryan H. Wildenthal (Associate Professor and
Director of the Center for Law and Social Justice at the Thomas Jefferson School of Law, San
Diego, California), Native American Sovereignty On Trial presents primary source documents
such
as court decisions and rulings, as well as an A-Z list of crucial individuals, laws, and ideas, a
chronology. All this and more fill the pages of this informed and informative casebook which is
especially commended for inclusion with Native American Studies reading lists and American
Jurisprudence Studies reference collections.
Siblings Of Children With Autism
Sandra L. Harris, Ph.D. & Beth A. Glasberg, Ph.D.
Woodbine House, Inc.
6510 Bells Mill Rd., Bethesda, MD 20817
1890627291 $16.95 1-800-843-7323 www.woodbinehouse.com
Now in its second edition, Siblings Of Children With Autism the collaborative effort of Sandra L.
Harris (a Board of Governors Distinguished Service Professor at the Graduate School of Applied
and Professional Psychology) and Beth A. Glasberg (a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and
Research Professor at the Douglass Developmental Disabilities Center at Rutgers University) and
offers the reader a straightforward, authoritative, instructional resource addressing questions,
concerns, and issues for the siblings in a family with an autistic child -- children who may require a
disproportionate amount of care and attention from the parents. With its thoroughly "reader
friendly" text, Siblings Of Children With Autism is a vital contribution the field and a strongly
recommended reference, especially for the non-specialist general reader who is a member of, or
has
dealings, with the brothers and sisters of an autistic child in the family.
Echoes Upon Echoes
Elaine H. Kim and Laura Hyun Yi Kang, editors
The Asian American Writers' Workshop
c/o Temple University Press
1601 North Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19122-6099
1889876135 $19.95 www.temple.edu/tempress
Collaboratively compiled and edited by Elaine Kim (Professor of Asian American Studies,
University
of California - Berkeley) and Laura Kang (Associate Professor of Women's Studies and
Comparative Literature, University of California - Irvine), Echoes Upon Echoes: New Korean
American Writings is an impressive and seminal anthology of the literary writings of Korean
Americans. These brief stories, poems, vignettes, and insights contain a unique emotional core
and
offer a wide variety of perspectives upon the dual challenge of finding a personal ethnic identity
while adapting to the unending press of mainstream culture. Echoes Upon Echoes is a very highly
recommended contribution to Asian American Literature collections and supplemental reading
lists.
Understanding Spanish-Speaking South Americans
Skye Stephenson
Intercultural Press
PO Box 700, Yarmouth, ME 04096
1877864919 $27.95 1-800-370-2665 www.interculturalpress.com
Understanding Spanish-Speaking South Americans: Bridging Hemispheres by Skye Stephenson
(who draws upon his many years of experience in directing study programs abroad through South
American, and especially in Chili) examines the nine Spanish-speaking nations of South America:
Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Columbia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela. History;
geographical influences; the mix of Spanish, African, and European cultures and settlers and their
effects upon on each of the nations; and a great deal more combine nicely for a college-level,
informed and informative presentation. Understanding Spanish-Speaking South Americans is a
unique and highly recommended addition to International Studies reference collections in general,
and South American Studies reading lists in particular.
Inside the Campaign Finance Battle
Anthony Corrado, Thomas E. Mann, and Trevor Potter, editors
Brookings Institution Press
1775 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20036-2188
0815715838 $28.95 1-800-275-1447
Collaboratively compiled and edited by Anthony Corrado (Professor of Government, Colby
College), Thomas E. Mann (W. Averell Harriman Chair and Senior Fellow in Governance Studies
at
the Brookings Institution), and Trevor Potter (Nonresident Senior Fellow in Governance Studies
at
the Brookings Institute), Inside The Campaign Finance Battle is a fascinating collection of court
testimony and the legal odyssey surrounding the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act, which was
passed by Congress in 2002, and which was the first major revision of federal campaign finance
law
in a generation. The submitted testimony, once presented only to lawyers, political scientists, and
others involved in the litigation, is now offered to all concerned readers looking to better
understand
how our government works and the struggles over how, or if the system is to be modified in the
present and future. Inside The Campaign Finance Battle is very highly recommended -- and as
timely
as it is a welcome addition to Political Science Studies reference collections and reading lists.
Achievement Now!
Dr. Donald J. Fielder
Eye on Education
6 Depot Way West, Suite 106, Larchmont, NY 10538
1930556462 $29.95 www.eyeoneducation.com
Achievement Now!: How To Insure No Child Is Left Behind by educator and school
superintendent
Donald J. Fielder offers readers a results-oriented, research-based, set of strategies that classroom
educators can use to increase student achievement. Ranging from tips for eliminating practices
that
lower student achievement; to increasing time-on-task and academic rigor; to creating a
supportive
accountability system for all staff members; to introducing an achievement audit process; and the
introduction of cooperative competition, Achievement Now! offers a mix of envelope-pushing
and
plain common-sense tactics, and is a confidently recommended resource compilation of practical,
effective, "teacher friendly" suggestions for educators serving all grade levels.
Schools Across Frontiers
A. D. C. Peterson
Open Court Publishing Company
332 S. Michigan Avenue, Suite 1100, Chicago, IL 60604
0812695054 $36.95 www.opencourtbooks.com
Featuring a foreword by the Prince of Wales, Schools Across Frontiers: The Story Of The
International Baccalaureate And The United World Colleges by the late educator and academician
Alec Peterson (and now in its second edition), presents the story of the International
Baccalaureate
and the United World Colleges. The International Baccalaureate is a college examination
recognized
by universities in any country, and a curriculum that adheres to a common standard amidst diverse
cultures; the United World Colleges is a chain of schools in multiple nations where young folks
from
around the world can live and learn together. Schools Across Frontiers is commended as an
insightful, scholarly, and at times inspirational saga of the establishment and spread of knowledge
to
build a better future across national borders and political boundaries.
Banned in the U.S.A.
Herbert N. Foerstel
Greenwood Publishing Group
88 Post Road West, Westport, CT 06881
0313311668 $54.95 1-800-225-5800
Now in a newly revised, substantively expanded, and thoroughly updated edition, Banned In The
U.S.A.: A Reference Guide To Book Censorship In Schools And Public Libraries by Herbert N.
Foerstel (formerly Head of Branch Libraries at the University of Maryland, College Park, and
currently one of the Board of Directors for the National Security Archives), offers a thorough
study
of the current state of book-banning in schools and public libraries, as well as being a superbly
organized, "easy to look up" reference resource concerning major incidents of book banning
(including legal cases arising from book banning), and authoritative information concerning the
most
frequently challenged books -- in 1996 through 2000 the Harry Potter series tops the list of
banned
books! Simply put, Banned In The U.S.A. is a straightforward and fact-filled resource which
should
be found on the shelf of every academic and public library in the country.
John Buroughs
Reviewer
Bethany's Bookshelf
Uprock Headspin Scramble And Dive
Patrick Rosal
Persea Books, Inc.
853 Broadway, New York, NY 10003
089255293X $13.95 www.perseabooks.com
Uprock Headspin Scramble and Dive is a ground breaking work of poetry by a gifted young
Filipino
poet by the name of Patrick Rosal. Filled with emotion, energy, and the geist of trying to sort out
one's life, loves, and ambitions, Uprock Headspin Scramble and Dive is a singularly vivacious and
memorable work of poetic insight and energetic commentary. Igneous: Within the body too
there's
grit/sawdust slag The hard-at-work/capillaries the chugging veins And deeper://the dark quarries
where slabs of sun/gird the ragged digs of the body's rock/the handsome jags How can I arrive//at
the innermost core/the sun-absent center of me:/slow flowing tectonic molten/and luminous?
J'Accuse
Aharon Shabtai
New Directions Publishing Corporation
80 Eighth Avenue, New York 10011
0811215393 $14.95 1-212-255-0231 www.ndbooks.com
Deftly translated from Hebrew into English by Peter Cole, J'Accuse is a collection of verse written
by Aharon Shabtai, an Israeli poet who sharply denounces Israel's current policy toward the
Palestinians. Resolutely criticizing the occupations of the West Bank and Gaza, this emphatic
collection contains a dramatic signature of determination that what is wrong should be put right
for
the sake of both the Palestinians and the Israelis. To A Pilot: When next you circle/in your
chopper/over Jenin,/pilot, remember the children/and old women/in the homes at which you
fire./Spread a layer/of chocolate across your missile,/and do your best to be precise --/so their
souvenir will be sweet/when the walls start to fall.
Road Signs On Life's Journey
Jan Yager
Hannacroix Creek Books, Inc.
1127 High Ridge Road, #110, Stamford, CT 06905-1203
1889262919 $21.95 1-203-321-8674 www.hannacroixcreekbooks.com
Compiled by professional speaker Jan Yager, Road Signs On Life's Journey: Sayings And Insights
To Help You Find Your Way is an inspirational "do-it-yourself" book comprised of quotable
quotes
of wisdom, all of which are presented as "road signs." Enhanced with an extensive bibliography,
as
well as sections for writing down one's own thoughts, Road Signs On Life's Journey is
enthusiastically recommended for anyone seeking to improve their perspectives on life as well as
they way they live. As much fun to browse through in its own right as it is to provide food for
thoughtful reflection, Road Signs On Life's Journey invests its quips with heart and soul. "Don't
try
to see the past through the prism of the present." - Dr. Jackson, History 137
Canine Oregon
Lizann Dunegan
Fulcrum Publishing
16100 Table Mountain Parkway, Suite 300, Golden, Colorado 80403
1555913288 $17.95 www.fulcrum-books.com
Canine Oregon: Where To Play And Stay With Your Dog by Lizann Dunegan is a handy travel
guide for Oregon pet owners who reside there, or who simply come a pleasant vacation with their
canine companion. Listing suitable canine accommodations, pet-oriented shopping, doggie
daycare,
hiking routes, and more, Canine Oregon: Where To Play And Stay With Your Dog is an excellent
fact-filled information resource which is especially commended to the attention of Oregon bound
dog owners.
Philosophical Truisms
Gerhard C. F. Miller
Vantage Press Inc.
516 West 34th Street, New York, NY 10001
0533143527 $14.95 1-212-736-1767
Philosophical Truisms by poet, writer, and artist Gerhard C.F. Miller (co-founder of the Miller Art
Museum, Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin) is an impressive and easily accessible collection of aphorisms,
axioms, witticisms, catchy phrases, and quotable passages. Lighthearted, and collecting famous
insights from Aristotle to Groucho Marx, Philosophical Truisms offers plenty to ponder over and
is
at times is down right inspirational. "Ideas won't keep. Something must be done about them." -
Dr.
Denton Cooley
Persons
Warren Bourgeois
Wilfrid Laurier University Press
Waterloo, Ontario, Canada N2L 3C5
0889203792 $29.95 www.wlupress.wlu.ca
Now in an amended second edition, Persons: What Philosophers Say About You by academician
and philosopher Warren Bourgeois is an impressively thoughtful work which is influenced by the
tragedy of a loved one's slow unraveling into dementia. Professor Bourgeois carefully sifts
through
Western philosophical ideas to ponder what truly constitutes a "person", and deftly presents his
results with an evenhanded delving for literal and spiritual truth. A work of considerable
scholarship,
Persons is an important contribution to Philosophical Studies collections and commended to the
attention of non-specialist general readers as well.
Susan Bethany
Reviewer
Taylor's Bookshelf
Victim/Victor: It's Your Choice
B. Kay Coulter & Janet K. Crews
Xulon Press
11350 Random Hills Road, Suite 800, Fairfax, VA 22030
1591601312 $13.99 1-703-279-6511 www.XulonPress.com
Written by B. Kay Coulter and edited by Janet K. Crews, Victim/Victor: It's Your Choice - A
Healing Journey Through The Psalms is a powerfully presented instructional guide for Christians
regarding how to set about turning to God's Word in order to heal terrible emotional pain, and
seek
practical, problem solving advice for the many problems with which life confronts us all. The
means
to transcend generations of abuse while rising above inflicted evil through God's eternal love is
succinctly encapsulated within this meaningful testimony. Victim/Victor arises from a
Christ-centered ministry for women and very highly recommended reading for Christians of all
denominational backgrounds who are struggling the life's vicissitudes.
In The Heart Of The Desert
John Chryssavgis
World Wisdom
3850 Inverness Farm Rd., Bloomington, IN 47401
0941532518 $17.95 1-812-336-1120
In the Heart of the Desert: The Spirituality Of The Desert Fathers And Mothers by Fr. John
Chryssavigis (Professor of Theology at Hellenic College & Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of
Theology) surveys a treasury of ancient texts regarding Christianity, particularly those written by
earliest Christian peoples who lived and survived in the desert as an act of Christian faith. Their
exhortations, spiritual guidances, prayers, encounters with God, internal struggles, and
testimonies
have survived down the centuries, and here they are presented in an informative overview
enhanced
with extensive thought, wisdom, and meditation concerning the lives that have worshiped God
throughout the centuries. An especially welcome contribution to Christian studies and reference
shelves, In The Heart Of The Desert is a work of considerable scholarship and easily accessible by
non-specialist general readers.
Biblical Figures Outside The Bible
Michael E. Stone & Theodore A. Bergren
Trinity Press International
PO Box 1321, Harrisburg, PA 17105
1563384116 $20.00 1-717-541-8130 www.trinitypressintl.com
Winner of the 1999 Biblical Archaeology Society Publication Award for Best Book Relating to
the
Old Testament, Biblical Figures Outside The Bible, and knowledgeably compiled and deftly edited
by Michael E. Stone (Gail Levin de Nur Professor of Religion and Professor of Armenian Studies
at
the Hebrew university of Jerusalem) and Theodore A. Bergren (Associate Professor of Religion at
the University of Richmond, Virginia) offers the reader a truly ground breaking survey and
analytical
presentation of an ancient lore that directly affects major figures from the Bible through a series of
thirteen scholarly essays by some of the very best scholars working in the field today. An
extensively
researched work of impeccable scholarship and a meticulously documented historical survey,
Biblical Figures Outside The Bible is very strongly recommended for personal, academic, and
professional Biblical Studies reference collections and supplemental reading lists.
God & Caesar
Shirley Williams
University of Notre Dame Press
310 Flanner Hall, Notre Dame, IN 46556
0268010463 $30.00 undpress.nd.edu
Written by Shirley Williams who is the Leader of the Liberal Democrats in the House of Lords
and a
practicing Catholic, God & Caesar: Personal Reflections On Politics And Religion is a
soul-searching discussion of the political process, both in the secular world and in the recently
scandal-rocked Catholic Church hierarchy. The effects of globalization have left particular impact
on
public and political life the world over; God & Caesar offers insights on ways to balance the
worldly
with the spiritual on both a personal and a worldwide level. A welcome addition to Political
Science
collections, God & Caesar is based on the second annual Erasmus Lectures at the University of
Notre Dame and highly recommended reading for Catholics as well as members of other Christian
denominations with an interest in national and international affairs.
The Case for Classical Christian Education
Douglas Wilson
Crossway Books
1300 Crescent Street, Wheaton, IL 60187
1581343841 $15.99 1-800-323-3890
In The Case For Classical Christian Education, Douglas Wilson articulately and persuasively
denounces the state that American public schools have fallen into with endemic and rampant
illiteracy and below-grade literacy; poor performance in math, science, history, and geography;
and
even the prevalence of crime and drugs among the student population. The only way to improve
things is to restore classical Christian education, which provides religious answers to the basic and
profound matters of life, as well as the more mundane answers to practical everyday problems.
The
Case for Classical Christian Education is strongly recommended reading and a welcome
contribution
to the current national dialogue over public education reform and the role of the church sponsored
school.
Show Them No Mercy
C. S. Cowles, Eugene H. Merrill, Daniel L. Gard, and Tremper Longman III, authors
Stanley N. Gundry, series editor
Zondervan Publishing House
5300 Patterson Avenue, S.E., Grand Rapids, MI 49530
0310245680 $16.99 zondvervan.com
Compiled by series editor Stanley N. Gundry, Show Them No Mercy brings together four
disparate
views by C. S. Cowles (Professor of Bible and theology, Point Loma Nazarene University, San
Diego, California), Eugene H. Merrill (Distinguished Professor of Old Testament Studies, Dallas
Theological Seminary), Daniel L. Gard (Associate Professor of Exegetical Theology, concordia
Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Indiana), and Tremper Longman III (Professor of Old
Testament, Westmont College, Santa Barbara, California), on God and the genocide of the
Canaanites, with a very close eye on both events of Biblical history and their relevance to
modern-day crises such as the September 11th attacks. A diverse, scholarly, thoughtful and
thought-provoking addressing of issues that do not, on the surface, seem to reconcile with the
teaching of Jesus Christ that commanded love for thy neighbor, Show Them No Mercy is very
highly recommended reading, especially for those who are having difficulty reconciling the
Yahweh
of the Old Testament with the teachings of Jesus Christ in the New Testament.
How We Got Over
Trevy A. McDonald and Bettye J. Allen
Reyomi Publishing
PO Box 43255, Chicago, IL 60643
0967071216 $15.00 1-877-473-9664 www.howwegotover.org
Collaboratively compiled by Trevy A. McDonald and Bettye J. Allen, How We Got Over:
Testimonies Of Faith, Hope, And Courage is a thoughtful and thought-provoking collection of
Christian experiences, as well as testimonies of faith, hope, courage, and the wisdom of listening
to
one's elders. These brief yet poignant stories range in tone from sorrowful and reflective, to the
profound and uplifting, and work together as a whole to reinforce the strength of the human spirit
and the power of God's love within a Christian context.
Church & State: Lutheran Perspectives
John R. Stumme and Robert W. Tuttle
Augsburg Fortress
Box 1209, Minneapolis, MN 55440
080063604X $20.00 www.fortresspress.com
Collaboratively compiled by John R. Stumme (Director of Studies for the Division for Church in
Society, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America) and Robert W. Tuttle (Associate Professor of
Law, George Washington University Law School), Church & State: Lutheran Perspectives
collects
the investigations, commentaries and analysis of seven experts concerning the meaning of religion
in
public life in a world with growing religious pluralism and secularism. Legal contexts of
church-state
interaction; the role of Lutheran social ministry in promoting general welfare; issues of land use
regulation; and much, much more comprise the balanced and in-depth discussions that are
presented
in this very highly recommended contribution to Church/State Studies reading lists and reference
collections.
Introducing Christianity
Sally Bruyneel and Alan G. Padgett
Orbis Books
PO Box 308, Maryknoll, NY 10545-0308
1570753954 $18.00 www.maryknoll.org
The collaborative effort of Sally Bruyneel (Azusa Pacific University, Azusa, California) and Alan
G.
Padgett (Professor of Systematic Theology, Luther Seminary, Saint Paul, Minnesota), Introducing
Christianity is a basic and straightforward introductory survey of Christianity, ranging from
elementary religious concepts, to the story of Jesus, to the Bible itself, and surveying the principle
differences between distinct Christian denominations. Introducing Christianity is confidently
recommended as being an excellent primer text for Religious Studies curriculums, as well as
self-instruction reading lists.
Little Sins, Big Problems
Sarah Onderdonk
AMG Publishers
6815 Shallowford Rd., Chattanooga, Tennessee 37421
0899571409 $10.99 1-800-266-4977 www.amgpublishers.com
Little Sins, Big Problems by Sarah Onderdonk is a thoughtful and compelling examination of the
internal obstacles to personal spiritual growth which we routinely encounter in everyday living.
Written especially for Christians, Little Sins, Big Problems aptly discusses the negative effect of
small yet taxing sins, ranging from unfair judgements, to materialism, to indolence, and then
focuses
on how to strive to be a better person in one's own and God's eyes. Little Sings, Big Problems is a
welcome and thoroughly "reader friendly" contribution to individual and study group Christian
Life
reading lists.
Marriage And Modernization
Don S. Browning
Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.
255 Jefferson Ave. S.E., Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503
0802811124 $30.00 www.eerdmans.com
Marriage And Modernization: How Globalization Threatens Marriage And What To Do About It
by
Don S. Browning (Alexander Campbell Professor Emeritus of Ethics and the Social Sciences,
University of Chicago Divinity School) is a meticulous and scholarly study of how globalization
has
impacted traditional matrimonial bonds worldwide (and for the worse) and just what can be done
about the deteriorating state of marriage today. Clarion warnings and suggested ways to combat
the
erosion of marriage fill the pages of this critical, timely, thought-provoking and involving study of
the integrity of the family, the nature of the threats it is under from militant feminism and other
global trends, and strategies for its defense and continued survival through Christian-oriented
cultural, social, and educational strategies.
Call To The Center
M. Basil Pennington
New City Press
202 Cardinal Rd., Hyde Park, NY 12538
1565480708 $9.95 www.newcitypress.com
Call To The Center: The Gospel's Invitation To Deeper Prayer is a collection of meditations by
M.
Basil Pennington (a Cistercian monk of St. Joseph's Abby in Spencer, Massachusetts) on the
Gospel
of Matthew. This reflections fairly reverberate with an abiding faith and the power of opening
one's
heart to God. Light, duty, faith, and reverence form core principles in this enlightening work
which
is a very highly recommended addition to Christian Studies reading lists and library
collections.
A Matter Of Life And Death
Charles Hoffacker
Cowley Publications
907 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02139
1561012157 $12.95 1-800-225-1534 www.cowley.org
A Matter Of Life And Death: Preaching At Funerals by Episcopal priest Charles Hoffacker is a
heartfelt testimony written especially for Christian ministers who are called upon to speak to and
comfort the friends and family of the deceased. Offering guidelines for speeches that celebrate
resurrection and eternal life through Jesus Christ, A Matter of Life and Death: Preaching at
Funerals
is recommended a sober, serious, thoughtful, and inspirational reading.
Looking For God In All The Wrong Places
Marie D. Jones
Paraview Press
PO Box 416, Old Chelsea Station, New York, NY 10113-0416
1931044422 $14.95 www.paraview.com
The effort of writer, video producer, progressive activist, and New Thought minister with a
background in metaphysical studies Marie D. Jones, Looking For God In All The Wrong Places,
is a
spiritual self-help guide written with a dash of humor and a great deal of wisdom concerning the
many pitfalls of drugs, alcohol, or unrestrained lust for sex, money, or power that interfere with
achieving and maintaining a closeness to God. Offering paths for the faithful to follow in order to
focus one's mind and truly open one's heart to God's love, Looking For God In All The Wrong
Places is a recommended and astute contemplation for Christian readers.
Be A Contender, Not Just A Contestant!
Reverend Kenneth L. Gainous
American Literary Press
8019 Belair Road, Suite 10, Baltimore, Maryland 21236
1561677655 $16.95 1-800-873-2003
Be A Contender, Not Just A Contestant! by Reverend Kenneth L. Gainous (Pastor of the
Christian
City of Praise, a non-denominational church fellowship in Augusta, Georgia) is an inspirational
and
instructive self-help guide for Christians of all denominations and backgrounds, concerning the
struggle for faith, spiritual strength, and the determination to stand tall in one's unyielding faith.
Denouncing the path of compromise as seeking to "satisfy and find peace with others rather than
God", Be A Contender, Not Just A Contestant! is a powerful and provocative testimony for those
Christian who strive for enthusiasm and focus in the fundamentals of their religion amidst a
secular
world that ranges from the passively indifferent to the actively hostile.
Texts, Rock, And Talk
John R. Lanci
The Liturgical Press
St. John's Abbey, PO Box 7500, Collegeville, MN 56321-7500
0814658830 $19.95 1-800-858-5450
Texts, Rock, And Talk: Reclaiming Biblical Christianity To Counterimagine The World was
written
by John R. Lanci (Associate Professor of Religious Studies, Stonehill College, North Easton,
Massachusetts) as an answer to extreme distortions of Christianity. Professor Lanci advocates the
power of Jesus Christ in the midst of humanity and brings the reader on a theological journey
through the Bible's pages. An extensive study of Biblical narrative with a forward-thinking
perspective on social justice, Texts, Rock, And Talk is very highly recommended reading for
Christian of all denominations and backgrounds who are seeking to get back in touch with the
roots
of their faith in God and Jesus.
A Way Was Opened
Ruth Brunk Stoltzfus
Herald Press
616 Walnut Avenue, Scottdale, PA 15683-1999
0836192036 $24.99 1-800-759-4447
A Way Was Opened is the memoir of Ruth Brunk Stoltzfus, the first woman to be ordained by the
Virginia Conference of the Mennonite church. Collecting journal entries, her candid reflections on
her family, church appearances, syndicated newspaper ads and pastoral work, A Way Was
Opened
presents a strong and faithful life in service to God and the church. A Way Was Opened is
enthusiastically recommended to Christians of all denominations as being a most heartwarming
and
inspirational read.
Mint's Christmas Message
Mary Y. Spitz & Joanne Y. Pierce
Mother Moose Press
PMB #435 21010 Southbank Street, Potomac Falls, VA 20165
0972457003 $17.95 1-866-571-5159 www.mothermoosepress.com
Mint's Christmas Message by Mary Y. Spitz is a powerful holiday story set during a stormy
Christmas Eve, as Rebecca's Grandfather Tom tries to save a freezing pony. After all his attempts
fail, Tom learns a lesson that will transform his spirit about the meaning of the Savior and
Christmas
itself. A soulful story, heart-touchingly illustrated by Joanne Y. Pierce, Mint's Christmas Message
is
a children's picture book that will delight young readers the year round.
In The Shadow Of Your Wings
Norbert Lohfink
The Liturgical Press
St. John's Abbey, PO Box 7500, Collegeville, MN 56321-7500
0814651461 $21.95 1-800-858-5450
Ably written by Norbert Lohfink (a past member of the Pontifical Biblical Commission and the
faculty of the Biblicum), In The Shadow Of Your Wings: New Readings Of Great Texts From
The
Bible is a close and scholarly study of Biblical passages and psalms, examining both literal and
symbolic wisdom of the sacred texts and their relevance to modern-day dilemmas. A meticulous
interpretation for advanced scholars of the Bible, In The Shadow Of Your Wings is a seminal and
highly recommended contribution to the field of Biblical Studies.
They Will See His Face
Richard C. Eyer
Concordia Publishing House
3558 S. Jefferson Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63118-3968
0570067715 $12.99 www.cph.org
They Will See His Face is a thoughtful and thought-provoking Christian testimony about the
power
of healing through faith, prayer, and the embrace of God's love. Author Richard C. Eyer
(Assistant
Professor of Philosophy, Concordia University, Wisconsin) deftly explains that the answers to
guilt,
anxiety, loneliness, depression, grief, and more come from turning to God and opening one's
hearts.
Very highly recommended as an emotional vehicle of faithful expression, They Will See His Face
closely peruses the Scripture with discussion questions for the reader to ponder.
Before You Say "I Do"
H. Norman Wright
Harvest House Publishers
990 Owen Loop North, Eugene, Oregon 97402-9173
0736909222 $7.99 1-800-547-8979
Before You Say "I Do": Building a Spiritual Foundation for Your Life Together by family
communication and marriage expert H. Norman Wright is a collection of meditations for Christian
couples contemplating the holy physical and spiritual union of marriage. Wright deftly addresses
several key issues that couples must discuss and consider, including role expectations, joint
finances,
the difficulty of balancing family and career, establishing a healthy sexual relationship, and more.
A
solid foundation of prayer, trust in Jesus Christ, and the wherewithal to do God's will and honor
one's beloved partner in life underscore the message of this thoughtful, thought-provoking, and
highly recommended guidebook.
The Cross And The Switchblade
Gateway Films
Vision Video
Box 540, Worcester, PA 19490
1563646293 $24.99 www.visionvideo.com
The Cross And The Switchblade is the special anniversary edition DVD, which was digitally
restored from the original 35mm negative. This is the now classic story of how the life-changing
message of Jesus Christ gave a gang leader the inspiration and opportunity to transform his
violent
life into something better. Reaching out to the hopes and fears of young folks everywhere, The
Cross And The Switchblade is dramatic, vivid, and very highly recommended viewing. This 105
minutes, fully color DVD production is enhanced with extra features including 8 language tracks,
English sub-titles, commentary by writer/director Don Murray and associate producer Dr. A.
Kenneth Curtis, actor biographies, and more.
One Year Book of Psalms
Oasis Audio
William F. Petersen and Randy Petersen, editors
Aimee Lilly and Mike Kellogg, readers
289 South Main Place, Carol Stream, IL 60188-2425
1589260279 $24.99 www.oasisaudio.com
The collaborative project editorship of William F. Petersen and Randy Petersen, One Year Book
Of
Psalms is an audio cassette collection of all 150 Psalms (plus 20 passages elsewhere in Scripture),
taking from the New Living Translation of the Christian Bible. Divided into 365 highly accessible
daily readings, and narrated clearly with faith by Aimee Lilly and Mike Kellogg, this production of
One Year Book Of Psalms is an excellent resource for prayer, meditation, and turning one's
thoughts
to God. One Year Book Of Psalms is also available in a CD format (1589260287, 10 cds,
$29.99).
Remembering The Prophets Of Sacred Scripture
Marianna Mayer
Phyllis Fogelman Books/Penguin
345 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
0803727275 $16.99 penguinputnam.com
Enhanced with simply gorgeous artwork throughout, Remembering The Prophets Of Sacred
Scripture by Marianna Mayer is a Judeo/Christian picture book suitable for young readers of all
ages. Impressively, handsomely, classically illustrated in full color, and offering brief yet
memorable
synopses of the lives of major and minor prophets of the Old Testament, ranging from Amos to
Zephaniah, Remembering The Prophets Of Sacred Scripture is an inspirational and beautifully
presented account which is enthusiastically recommended for inclusion into family and church
collections of books for young readers.
John Taylor
Reviewer
Buhle's Bookshelf
Bembeya Jazz
Bembeya
c/o Rock Paper Scissors
5340 Old State Rd., 37 S. Ste. B., Bloomington, Indiana 47401
468013 $14.99 worldvillagemusic.com
Bembeya Jazz is the latest music CD of a band with a powerful West African history. A showcase
of
ethnic African popular music that embraces traditions of a generation ago and then blazes forth
with
the lively and catchy rhythm to ensnare modern-day listeners, Bembeya Jazz is a proud and
audacious album marking the triumphant return of the Bembeya band and their distinctive style.
The
eight selections comprising this outstanding and highly recommended recording include Bembeya
(4:24); SanFaran (6:31); Sabou (5:17); Gbapje (5:17); Lefa (4:22); A Koukou We (7:23); Yelema
Yelemaso (5:54); and Soli Au Wassoulou (7:31).
Everybody's Dancin'
Geno Delafose & French Rockin' Boogie
Times Square Records
c/o Rock Paper Scissors
555 8th Avenue, #1803, NY, NY 10018
TSQ-CD-9034 $16.98 1-812-824-1461 www.rockpapersscissors.biz
Everybody's Dancin' is a spicy, energetic collection that fully captures the soul of Creole sense,
cowboy life, and all with a distinctively Southwest Louisiana flavor. Multi-accordion highlights
add
a special zest to the waltzes, two-step blues, and soul tunes that make for a most vivacious
listening
experience. The selections comprising this enthusiastically performed and superbly recorded CD
album include Zydeco with Geno; Good Time Woman; What a Wonderful World; What Do You
Want With His Love; Port Arthur Blues; Belizaire Waltz; LeBluerunner; Can I Change My Mind;
allezVoir Ma Tit Fille; He-Haw Breakdown; Gotta Find My Woman; La Pointe Aux Pins;
Canaille;
Les Flammes D Enter; and the title piece, Everybody's Dancin.
In a Beirut Mood
Jalilah's Raks Sharki 6
Pirahna Musik
c/o Rock Paper Scissors
5340 Old State Rd., 37 S. Ste. B., Bloomington, Indiana 47401
CD-PIR1788 $18.98 www.piranha.de
In a Beirut Mood: Pure Delight of Oriental Dance is a magnificently presented collection of
undulating rhythms and melodies of Raks Sharki, -- the dance form obliquely called "belly dance"
by
westerners since the old European colonial days in the Mideast. A sensual and involving
composition, recommended for dance practitioners, as well as those who simply wish to take in
the
rich and rewarding splendor of the musical ambiance, In A Beirut Mood is one of the finest CD
albums of its kind to become available for western audiences in quite some time.
Willis M. Buhle
Reviewer
Lorraine's Bookshelf
Cooking Lighthouse Style: Favorite Recipes From Coast To Coast
Frederick Stonehouse
Avery Color Studios Inc.
KSB Promotions (publicity)
511 D Avenue, Gwinn, MI 49841
ISBN 1892384191 $16.95 1-800-722-9925
Cooking Lighthouse Style is a treasured collection of North American lighthouses with associated
recipes, either traditional, historic, or contemporary. Featuring black and white photos of each of
the
lighthouses (some of which no longer exist), and a brief historical sketch, each recipe encapsulates
an essence of that particular lighthouse keeper's daily life. In addition to the unique recipe
collection,
there is an introduction which covers more of the history of North American lighthouses,
including
sections on organization, construction, lamps, lenses and lights, fog signals, flashing lights, and
daily
routines. In an impressive bibliography on lighthouses is also included on page 13.
The cookbook is divided into four sections by coastal location: the Great Lakes, Atlantic Ocean,
Pacific Ocean, and the Gulf of Mexico. Recipes for each section are varied, colorful, and take
advantage of local produce imaginatively. Recipes for salads, desserts, and soups and appetizers
are
included, as well as those for popular entrees. When the recipe is a historic one, editorial
comments
assist the would-be lighthouse cook to adapt creatively. Contemporary recipes are already
adapted
and tested. Here are some examples of recipes along with their associated lighthouses:
Ocracoke Sweet Potato Donuts (Historic)
Ocracoke Island Lighthouse, N. Carolina
Death By Chocolate (Contemporary)
Execution Rocks Lighthouse, Long Island Sound
Rose Island Clam Boil (Historic)
Rose Island Lighthouse, Newport, R.I.
Walnut Greens with Chicken, Dried Plums, and Spiced Pecans (Contemporary) Assateague
Lighthouse, Chincoteague, Virginia
The last recipe contains a wonderful sub-recipe for Apple Walnut Vinaigrette dressing which must
be tried to be believed. This is the jist of it: In blender, process half of a peeled, cored, cut up
Granny Smith apple, one peeled shallot, 1/4 c. apple cider vinegar, and 1 tsp. sugar until smooth.
With motor running, slowly add 2/3 c. vegetable oil and 1/3 c. walnut oil until creamy. Season
with
salt and pepper to taste.
Bon appetit to lighthouse lovers everywhere!
Nancy Lorraine
Reviewer
James A. Cox
Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review
278 Orchard Drive
Oregon, WI 53575-1129
phone: 1-608-835-7937
e-mail: mbr@execpc.com
e-mail: mwbookrevw@aol.com
http://www.midwestbookreview.com
Copyright ©2001
Site design by Williams Writing, Editing &
Design