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Reviewer's Choice
The Iron Road: A Stand for Truth and Democracy in Burma
James Mawdsley
North Point Press
0865476373, $16.00, 416 pp., 2001, www.fsgbooks.com
Viveka Neveln
Reviewer
In this articulately written and thought-provoking book, James Mawdsley shares his incredible
experiences of protesting against the Burmese junta. Though it sounds more than a little foolhardy
to take up with rebels in the jungle, and then stage one-man demonstrations intended to land himself
in prison, Mawdsley remains quite level-headed and sane as he explains the ideology that inspired
him to risk his life for his cause. Quite simply, he could not understand how free nations and people
could ignore others' suffering. So he decided to do something about it.
Mawdsley makes the point that the current autocracy is not Burma's true government because the
people voted for the National League of Democracy in the 1990 election. As the author explains,
"this once-rich and fertile country now knew poverty and starvation. The economy was a disaster.
The people had no rights, no freedom. Liberty had been extinguished. In its place grew fear."
Although just a 23-year-old British-Australian university dropout, Mawdsley was determined to
make a difference.
With riveting vividness, Mawdsley recounts the horrific injustices he witnessed and suffered because
of the junta. He was illegally imprisoned three times, beaten, tortured (including the "iron road," the
book's namesake), and held in solitary confinement for over a year. All Mawdsley did was peacefully
protest the human rights abuses and political injustices destroying a country he loved. Through it all,
the author never gives up his fight, but becomes more determined than ever to challenge the
outrageous oppression all around him.
This book is a rare glimpse into the underworld of Burma and the horrors of a corrupt oligarchy.
Mawdsley exposes everything from the ludicrous judicial system to the unspeakably cruel treatment
of anyone who opposes the junta's rule. With this story, Mawdsley delivers a resounding message of
hope: that Burma will gain its independence, hatred and fear will be extinguished, and that people
everywhere will seek out truth and justice.
What Happened to Johnnie Jordan?
Jennifer Toth
The Free Press
1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020
291 pp. Hardcover. $25.00 ISBN 0684855585
Susan Cronk
Reviewer
At the age of 71, if he survives prison life that long, Johnnie Jordan will be eligible for parole back
into society. The young man who, at the age of fourteen brutally set fire to his foster mother in a
quiet Ohio community as she lay dying on the kitchen floor from multiple hatchet wounds to the
head, face, and body, and who, seemingly as an afterthought, robbed Jeanette Johnson of the few
dollars she had in her possession at the time, will be free to walk the streets. Will it be your
neighborhood he begins life anew in?
Johnnie Jordan was a troubled young man even before he came to the attention of child protective
services of Ohio. His family was seemingly as dysfunctional as families can get. Drug and alcohol
abuse, physical abuse, sexual abuse, coupled with consistent emotional and educational neglect and
lack of parental supervision and control all contributed to the creation of the young man who would
become Jeanette Johnson's murderer. Despite his disparaging upbringing, Johnnie Jordan's act of
violence against Jeanette Johnson cannot be excused. Jennifer Toth's book, however, begs that the
question be asked...Shouldn't Johnnie's parents be sharing his jail cell? Aren't Johnnie's parents
equally culpable for the death of Jeannette Johnson and the suffering of her husband, friends, and
family? Would their incarceration make a difference? And what of Child Protective Services? Do
they not share in responsibility for the death of Jeanette Johnson? There were warning signs and
pleas for help, but it seems no one was listening in this case.
Jennifer Toth explains that repeated attempts were made by the Johnsons and by others to get the
attention of child protective services, but to no avail. How many foster parents today are making
such pleas? Could it be that CPS had given up? Was their indifference to the calls for help their way
of avoiding answering the question of what to do with Johnnie? If the Johnsons would not keep him,
then with whom would Johnnie live his last few childhood years before the system would cut him
loose? Who would prepare him for life as a mature responsible adult? Did CPS already sense that
Johnnie's feet had been set on an irreversible path of destructiveness? Ironically, the State of Ohio in
some regard is still in control of Johnnie's life. He graduated from the Ohio child welfare system to
the adult penal system. The Ohio Department of Corrections answered the unanswered question,
they will see Johnnie into and through adulthood, until he is past the age when most adults are
contemplating the sweet freedom of retirement.
Jeanette Johnson's golden years were stolen as if by a thief. Charles Johnson, her husband of thirty
years, lived but a year after her death, the memory of Jeanette's bloody and charred body on the
kitchen floor of their Ohio home still keeping him company during sleepless hours, the longing of
loss still piercing his heart and soul. If Charles Johnson had lived to see the results of the lawsuit
filed against the Lucas County Child Services and juvenile justice system, would he have noticed any
changes in the following years? It was change, after all, that he was after, not a cash windfall.
Jennifer Toth's recounting of the life of Johnnie Jordan, his parents, siblings, and his ultimate and
tragic encounter with Charles and Jeanette Johnson is an awakening for those parents who do not
even today grasp the irreversible harm that their abusive and self-destructive or neglectful behaviors
can have upon the developing minds of their children. Johnnie Jordan was a product of his parents'
abuse and neglect and not even the kindness of strangers could deter him from a life that would
reflect the harm inflicted upon him by those that were supposed to primarily have his best interests at
heart. Johnnie Jordan is waiting out his life in an Ohio penitentiary. Jeanette and Charles Johnsons'
mortal lives have come to an end. Johnnie's siblings, at least some of them, may even now remain in
the care of the Ohio State Department of Child Protective Services. Johnnie's parents may not yet
have accepted or assimilated their responsibility in the whole matter. Regardless, What Happened to
Johnnie Jordan should be required reading for every parent that passes the threshold of the juvenile
court system. To fully understand their parenting responsibilities it may help them to see what
happens when they fail at the most important part of life-loving their children.
The time has passed for Jeanette Johnson and Charles Johnson to attend to the rearing of other
people's children, but the time for parents to take responsibility for their own children is ever at
hand. What instruments will they place in their children's hands? The tools of education and
compassion, or the weapons of destruction?
The Literary Law Guide for Authors
Tonya Marie Evans, Esq.
Susan Borden Evans, Esq.
FYOS Entertainment, LLC
ISBN 0967457963, $19.95
Sarah Lee Marks
Reviewer
Just when I thought the hard part of being a writer was over, the real difficult work begins.
Contracts, copyrights, permissions and publishing offers arrive in the mail. Now it is time to address
the business of being a professional writer. Where do I begin? Who do I call? Will I look stupid
asking these questions? Enter the Literary Law Guide for Authors. Attys. Tonya Marie Evans and
Susan Borden Evans deliver this material so logically; even the (minimal) legalese is easy to
comprehend. The well-crafted layout, complete with helpful keynotes, markers and illustrations
simplifies the often-intimidating paragraphs of lawyer-speak. The detail given to the whys and
wherefores of contracts and agreements brings new insight to the potential for liability and
protracted entanglements when one ignores the fine print. Whether you are writing for the Internet,
a major magazine or ghosting a best seller, the world of Trademarks, Intellectual Property or Work
for Hire presents the need for legal protection. This guide ushers the reader through the changing
landscape and legislation surrounding the written word. The enclosed CD offers adaptable templates
for most every situation. Keep this one next to your dictionary!
Chasing Shakespeares
Sarah Smith
Atria Books
1230 Avenue of the Americas New York, NY 10020
ISBN: 0743464826, Price: $24 USA, $36 Canada 352 pages.
Helen Heightsman Gordon, Ed. D.
helenhgordon@earthlink.net
In her latest novel, "Chasing Shakespeares," best-selling author Sarah Smith takes us on a romp
through a detective story about forgeries while satirizing those folks who take themselves too
seriously in promoting their own theories about playwright William Shakespeare. She also spins a
tale of romance between two Shakespeare seekers, opposites who attract despite their vigorous
disagreements on the authorship question.
Joe Roper, a Vermont-bred fact-checker for some Shakespeare biographers, hungers to learn more
about Shakespeare-of-Stratford's lost years. Convinced that God is a Librarian, he sorts through
piles of forgeries looking for even one authentic paper written in Shakespeare's hand. He finds a
letter that could be a forgery or could prove decisively that Stratfordians like himself are misguided.
His chance to authenticate the document comes through another Shakespeare-lover, flamboyant
Posy Gould, daughter of a wealthy California movie producer, who takes him to London to consult
an expert.
We get a highly accurate presentation of the arguments swirling around the major candidates - Will
Shakspere of Stratford, or Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford -- as Posy tries to convert Joe to
her Oxfordian viewpoint. This lovable pair, however mismatched in their dialects and lifestyles, seem
destined to solve the mystery because they are genuine Shakespeare aficionados. They can quote
from his works, recognize his style, analyze the music of his vowels, and draw conclusions more
logically than do the cartoonish characters with clamshell minds that they meet -- idolators of the
Bard whose passions range from self-centered obstinacy to doctrinaire obtuseness.
Author Smith weaves her academic background, convincingly yet unobtrusively, through the travels
and travails of her fully-realized protagonists. Her dialogue rings true; her style has refreshing
informality; and she holds our interest to the end. Those who like plots wrapped up in big bows at
the end, those whose taste runs toward violent action, or those whose ears are offended by
four-letter words, might not be entirely happy with this novel. But those who value enduring
mystery, subtlety in love-scenes, and insight into human foibles will enjoy this chase immensely.
Sarah Smith is the author of The Vanished Child and The Knowledge of Water, both cited as
Notable Books of the Year by the New York Times Book Review. Smith received her Ph.D. in
English from Harvard, and as a Fulbright Scholar she studied at the University of London.
Primitive Secrets
Deborah Turrell Atkinson
Poisoned Pen Press
6962 E. First Ave. #103, Scottsdale, AZ 85251
ISBN:1590580176, $24.95
Dawn McKinney
Reviewer
Intelligent. Young and beautiful. Patiently waiting to see if she has passed her bar exam. All is right
in Storm Kayama's tropical world. Until the morning she walks into her adoptive uncle Miles
Hamasaki's law office to find him dead at his desk. She thought he had died from natural causes, but
over the next few days things start to happen. Files are missing, her adoptive family is acting strange,
someone is trying to kill her and people are dying all around her.
Storm and her co-worker, handsome attorney Ian Hamlin, try to fit the pieces together and stay alive
at the same time. Her research duties, as the firms law clerk, lead her from the towering office
buildings in the business district to the dark, seedy slums of O'ahu. At the same time, family
obligations take her to the big island of Hawai'i where her healer Aunt Maile and Uncle Keone live.
It is those same obligations that take her and Ian into the wet Taro fields of Waimanalo and face to
face with things best left alone.
Atkinson's wonderfully, descriptive phrases help to smell the scents and hear the primitive sounds of
the Hawai'ian Islands. She passes along fear and respect for the myths and legends of the ancients
and allows the characters to run the length of the emotional spectrum to develope into those loved
and those hated. Deborah Turrell Atkinson and Storm Kayama are both women I hope to hear more
from.
Flatterland: Like Flatland, Only More So
Ian Stewart
Pan Books
ISBN 0330393774, A$25.00, Paperback, 301 pages
Perseus Publishing
073820675X, $15.00, Paperback, 320 pages
David Skea
Reviewer
I cannot start this review without mentioning the books predecessor Flatland written by Edwin A
Abbott, in 1884, to introduce folk to the new mathematical concepts then being expounded
regarding a universe of more than three dimensions. He introduced the reader to these ideas by using
the analogy of a two dimensional world that he called flatland inhabited by geometrical figures lines,
triangles, squares, pentagons. The rather narrow attitude of the book's narrator is shattered by
rumours of a third dimension confirmed by a visitor from that extra dimension. It ends up with the
narrator being imprisoned as a madman.
Ian Stewart acknowledges this ancestry in Flatterland and he uses a similar vehicle to introduce
today's cutting edge theories about the universe and time. His narrator is Victoria Line, the
great-great-grand-daughter of Albert Square, Flatland's narrator, and the sphere turns up as a
brightly coloured space hopper.
In Flatterland Victoria discovers a copy of Flatland and so reads about the 'disgrace' brought to her
family by Albert and his ridiculous story. But her curiosity is whetted by a secret message that he left
and she learns how to contact the inhabitants of another dimension.
Enter the space hopper who introduces her to the more important concepts about space, gravity,
time that are taxing today's physicists and mathematicians. This is a lot to cover in 14 or so chapters
and although I have read about most of them before, there are a couple that I hadn't, I had trouble in
digesting them in such a short discourse. Rather a case of too much in too short a time and me
ending up with mental indigestion. Not so Victoria. I guess she must be a very bright young
lady!
Flatland was written not only to popularise discussion about the fourth dimension but also as a social
commentary on the rigid divisions in Victorian society and the low status accorded to women at that
time. Flatterland continues this custom and ends with a neat twist in the concluding chapters.
Another explanation why men and women see things differently, perhaps.
A word of warning. Flatterland is written in a whimsical 'chatty' style that some may find irritating.
An example is that you meet Minni Space, short for Minkowski Space, and her sisters Curvey
Space, Bendy Space, Pushy Space and Squarey Space who are rather brash fast-talking spaces who
use a lot of street slang and keep breaking into song-and-dance routines. Also there are People who
live on Planiturth and who for a long time thought they lived in Spaceland defined as the Clockwork
universe of a famous People named Isaacnewton. Some other People also mentioned are
Johanneskepler, Alberteinstein, Richardhamming, Johnleech and the Hawk King. You get used to
it.
Karmic Relationships: Healing Invisible Wounds
Charles Richards, Ph.D.
Jodere Group
P.O. Box 910147, San Diego, CA 92191
ISBN: 1588720195, $23.95, 800-569-1002, http://www.KarmicRelationships.com
Bonnie Jo Davis
Reviewer
Dr. Charles Richards is a licensed psychotherapist in San Diego, California. Dr. Richards has used a
non-hypnotic therapeutic practice called Soul Journeys with over a thousand patients with
staggering results. In this book, Dr. Richards explains the often misunderstood spiritual law of
karma and how it may be affecting your life. He includes a questionnaire to help each reader identify
their karmic relationships, assess the level of intensity of these relationships and helps uncover
unconscious triggers and patterns. Throughout this book readers will learn how to change negative
and damaging relationships and resolve the karmic issues that hold us all back. Included in the book
are dozens of fascinating case studies of the use of Soul Journeys including stories of how this
process has affected Dr. Richards own life and relationships for the better.
Also covered in the book are stories of patients who used the Soul Journeys process to discover in
between life reunions where upcoming lives are planned with other souls that will determine the
course of love and relationships in our present day lives. Additional stories include patients
remembering experiences from their prenatal and birth process that influences, for better or worse,
the lives they live today. Dr. Richards shows us how we can resolve these issues and memories in
order to increas self esteem live a more positive life.
I personally found this such a fascinating book that I read it in one sitting and bought several copies
for friends. This book is particularly recommended for people who have tried unsuccessfully to use
traditional therapy to resolve current difficult relationships and ongoing life struggles. Read with an
open mind this book offers another option to help each reader live their best life.
Vicki's Bookshelf
Shopaholic
Judy Waite
Antheneum Books/Simon & Schuster
1230 Avenue of the Americas, NY, NY 10020
ISBN 0689851383, $16.95, 206 pages, www.SimonSaysKids.com
For 14-year-old Taylor, life at home hasn't been the same since her sister died in an accident that left
her family shattered. Her mother suffers from chronic depression, so it's up to Taylor to manage the
house on her own. It leaves her without much time for her friends, which is just as well, because her
lifelong friends don't seem to give her much thought anymore. So Taylor is desperate for friendship
by the time she meets glamorous Kat, a former model who seems to understand how she feels.
Taylor is willing to do anything to be friends with her even spending her grocery money and
stealing a credit card to treat Kit to shopping sprees -- but soon she finds this kind of friendship has
a price. Can Taylor manage to pay? Even if it means going against everything she knows is right?
"Shopaholic" is dressed up as a breezy "chick lit" novel in the vein of "Confessions of a Shopaholic,"
but, like pretty Kit, looks can be deceiving. This is a fairly standard problem novel dealing with
loneliness and loss. The unrelentingly mopey story is simply set against a potentially appealing
backdrop of teenage bonding via clothes shopping, but with none of the fun. Just a few added high
notes would have made Taylor's lows much more palatable, as would a few less English-isms to
better whet the appetite of American readers who can't entirely identify with "high street"
culture.
Henry Bear's Park
David McPhail
Antheneum Books/Simon & Schuster
1230 Avenue of the Americas, NY, NY 10020
ISBN 0689839677 $16.95, 48 pages, www.SimonSaysKids.com
This newly minted hardback version of the classic "Henry Bear's Park" is bigger and better than the
original, thanks to author-illustrator David McPhail's newly colored drawings augmenting the black-and-white illustrations that were first published in 1976. The colors are gorgeous, enriching the
finely drawn images of darling Henry Bear and his Momma and Poppa, and the assistant gardener,
Stanley, an amiable raccoon. The gentle, yet, sophisticated story is about how Henry follows his
father's footsteps to nurture a neglected park. When his father, a "balloon ascentionist" goes to work
and doesn't return, Henry responsibly takes over the garden tasks. But soon, Henry is torn between
his work obligations and his desire to find his father. So when a pig, Alfred Pine, says he can tell
Henry where his father has gone, Henry neglects his garden duties. The flowers wilt, the fountains
turn green and the nightingale stops singing. But still Henry's father doesn't return. Where can he be?
The delightful story has been adored by generations of children in its original, colorless edition.
There 's no doubt that McPhail's newly painted, "greenthumb" version is bloomin' lovely something
to be admired even more.
Tinka
Rainy Dohaney
Antheneum Books/Simon & Schuster
1230 Avenue of the Americas, NY, NY 10020
ISBN 0689852614 $15.95, 32 pages, www.SimonSaysKids.com
Tinka is the world's tiniest sheep, and one of the most endearing little picture book characters you've
ever laid eyes on. She's the size of a cupcake, just big enough to bear enough wool for a hamster
sweater, and that 's much too small to earn the respect of the big sheep in the barn: Myla, Melda,
Nyla and Welda. They don't let wee Tinka join them in any big sheep activities, and she's even left
out of their cozy manger bed each nighttime. Poor Tinka feels so alone she cries herself to sleep. She
does have one true friend, however, Sooty, the crow, who's twice her size and always manages to
make her laugh. When spring comes, the sheep spy a giant purple spider creeping over a far-away
hill. All the sheep want to check out the site more closely, but are confined by the farm fence.
Teensy Tinka is even too small to see the "baah-aah-aah-eeootiful" and "gigaaah-aah-aah-antic"
spider that the others sheep described condescendingly. Sooty feels sorry for Tinka, and has a big
idea to fly Tinka there on his back so they can discover the mystery of the giant purple spider. The
story's miniature, flying sheep gimmick is a bit offbeat, matching the slightly off-kilter way the story
is told. Ultimately, it's a lesson tale about accepting who you are by finding your individual
strengths. Or in this case, soaring on the backs of others and taking the credit. Well, who says all
moral lessons take the high road?
Joan of Arc: Heroine of France
Ann Tompert
Illustrated by Michael Garland
Boyds Mills Press
815 Church St., Honesdale, Penn. 18431
ISBN 1563976595 $15.95, 32 pages, www.boydsmillspress
Joan of Arc is a fascinating subject for a picture book biography, given that the readers are old
enough to grasp such complex subjects as war, religion, politics and 15th century geography and
that's no small feat. Intended for children age six and up, "Joan of Arc: Heroine of France" is a
straightforward, yet complicated retelling of the life of "Joan the Maid" in France more than 500
years ago. When, at the age of 13 Joan D'Arc began to hear voices and see visions of what she
assumed were saints. The voices instructed her that it was her destiny to defeat the British in their
war against France, in order to help Dauphin Charles be crowned the King of France. With the
exception for her long prison term, Joan's trials and tribulations are mostly accounted for here
without flinching: her typically poor and unschooled peasant childhood, her struggles with faith, her
shocking power as the first female commander of a French army, her pivotal role in the struggle
between two warring nations, and her ultimate political trial and unjust execution. Based upon
letters and testimony presented at Joan's trial, the narrative makes a fair attempt to simplify the facts
of Joan's remarkable life and the times in which she lived. The empathetic illustrator does a fine job
of helping readers feel closer to a distant personality up close and personal.
Arthur's Tractor
Pippa Goodhart
Illustrated by Colin Paine
Bloomsbury
175 Fifth Ave., NY, NY 10010
ISBN 1582348472 $15.95, 32 pages, www.bloomsburymagazine.com
"Chugga thrum, chugga thrum, chugga, chugga CRASH!" Poor Arthur. No matter how much he
oils and fixes and sharpens, there always seems to be something wrong with his tractor or is there
something else going on behind his back? This charming imported picture book stars a hapless
farmer who struggles with what he thinks is a broken-down tractor. But meanwhile, the resourceful
Princess Edith is being chased by a dragon, and is rescued (sort of) by a knight. In a mixed up
adventure, it becomes up to Arthur to save them both, resulting in a unique fairy-tale ending like no
other. "Arthur's Tractor" is the latest from Englishwoman Pippa Goodhart, a nominee for both the
Smarties Prize and Young Telegraphy Book of the Year, and English illustrator Colin Paine has had
experience slaying dragons before as well, with "Big George and the Seventh Knight." Kids across
the kingdom will enjoy the action and, particularly, the illustrative details.
Mama, Don't Go Out Tonight
Sally Gardner
Bloomsbury Children's Books
175 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10010
ISBN 1582347905, $16.95, 24 pages
It's time for Mama to go out for the evening, and her daughter, who is not happy about it, asks why
she can't come too. "Nighttime is grown-up time," Mama tells her. The child says she needs Mama
all the time, and complains that her cat and her stuffed monster are going to miss Mama, and that the
house won't feel right without her. I've got to hand it to this Mama; she doesn't flinch. "Give me a
kiss now," she says, dressed in a ball gown and tiara, "I have to go." The child tries again; telling
Mama there's a dragon underneath the stairs, and later suggesting that if Mama goes, pirates may
kidnap her, or Mama might run away to the circus. "No circus would have me!" Mama calmly
replies; she is as guilt-free about leaving, as her daughter is persistent about keeping her home.
Finally the babysitter arrives and Mama leaves. The rest of the book shows the mother dining and
dancing the night away at an elegant party on the top part of the page, which feels like she's on top
of the world while on the bottom part of the page (though not the world); the child and the
babysitter create their own splendid gala, imagining they too are dancing with capes and crowns. It's
a charming and effective juxtaposition of images, a story simply told and artfully imagined by the
author with her own bright, whimsical illustrations. -- Bella Mahaya Carter
My Hippie Grandmother
Reeve Lindbergh, Illustrated by Abby Carter
Candlewick Press
2067 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02140
ISBN 0763606715, $15.99, 16 pages, www.candlewick.com
Here's a story about a kid who loves to visit her hippie grandmother. What' s not to love? This
family matriarch lives on Pleasant Street, drives a purple school bus, has a cat called Woodstock,
and a fish named Tiny Tim. She grows peas and beans in her garden, eats cracked-wheat-and-honey
bread, and goes around in faded blue jeans and bare feet. The granddaughter gets to do these things
with her grandmother. They also sell vegetables and bread at the Farmer's Market, and
sometimes when war is brewing they picket City Hall. At night they sing "Amazing Grace," and
sleep on psychedelic sheets. This girl, whose mother is a lawyer and whose dad works on TV, isn't
sure what she wants to be when she grows up, but she tells her grandmother that she knows one
thing she'd really like to do: "Become a Hippie Grandmother, so I'll be JUST LIKE YOU!" The text
is written in rhyme, but nothing is forced; the words and images skip across the page as freely and as
unencumbered as the hippie grandmother herself. Author, Reeve Lindbergh (daughter of aviator-authors Charles A. and Anne Morrow Lindberg), who has written other books for children and
adults, says of this work, "A friend told me that she was attending the wedding of a hippie
grandmother. I didn't know anything about this grandmother, but I couldn't stop thinking about her.
Once I started writing, everyone I talked to had ideas about the character, so the poem got more and
more detailed!" When you read this book to children, be prepared to answer the question: "What's a
hippie?" which my six-year-old asked as soon as I read the title aloud, and later, "Mom, what's
psychedelic?" -- Bella Mahaya Carter
Through the Tempests Dark And Wild
Sharon Darrow
Candlewick Press
2067 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA 02140
ISBN 0763608351 $16.99, 40 pages, www.candlewick.com
I'm not a historical fiction fan, but I take great pleasure reading creative picture book histories for
older children (typically ages six and up). In general, historical picture books and biographies have
become more sophisticated and more complex, and, naturally, are covering more and more obscure
and unusual subjects. Case in point is "Through The Tempests Dark and Wild," the historical fiction
story of Mary Shelley, creator of "Frankenstein" -- not your average cutesy-wutesy picture book
material. Children eight to twelve will delight in this mysterious tale of the young author who
published her Gothic masterpiece at the age of nineteen. As a girl, she was orphaned by her mother,
spurned by her stepmother and sent away by her father to spend two years in Scotland. This is where
many believe she was inspired to write her famously dark tale, and so this is where author Sharon
Darrow chose to set her fictionalized tale of Mary's teenage years. Beautifully illustrated with skillful
watercolors, "Through the Tempests Dark and Wild" is a haunting and deeply moving account of a
formative time in the life of the teenage girl who wrote the world's most enduring horror story.
Little Bear's Little Boat
Eve Bunting
Illustrated by Nancy Carpenter
Clarion Books / Houghton Mifflin
251 Park Avenue South, NY, NY 10003
ISBN 0618133356 $12.00, pages, www.houghtonmifflinbooks.com
Little Bear loved his little boat. He rowed it around Huckleberry Lake, fished from it, and dreamed
in it. But after awhile, when Little Bear wasn' t so little anymore, he found he no longer fit in his
little boat. Veteran writer Eve Bunting has written countless picture books for young children, so it's
truly wonderful to read "Little Bear's Little Boat" and discover that she hasn't lost her touch for
heartfelt stories, told with simplicity and empathy. Here she presents a beautiful little tale dealing
with growing pains and the common dilemma faced by every child when they outgrow their favorite
toy. How can they progress gracefully and learn to let go? Little Bear's ability to confidently solve
his problem by himself is inspiring, and will help many young picture book readers make similar
leaps of maturity. A special tip of the hat goes to illustrator Nancy Carpenter ("Twinnies" and "A
Picnic in October") whose elegantly understated art really floats my boat.
Rhyolite: The True Story of a Ghost Town
Diane Siebert
Illustrated by David Frampton
Clarion Books / Houghton Mifflin
251 Park Avenue South, NY, NY 10003
ISBN 0618096736 $16.00, 32 pages, www.houghtonmifflinbooks.com
In fluent verse, this unusual and witty picture book tells the story of the rise and fall of a real-life
Nevada town built near the site of a famous 1904 gold strike. Long ago, the proud desert town
named Rhyolite (named after the ore mined in its region) thrived. Businesses flourished, children
were born, and people had grand dreams of wealth and prosperity. But the economic boom lasted
only a few short years, and before long, the desert reclaimed the once-bustling community. Where
did everyone go? What happened to this once-prosperous place? The haunting tale of a ghost town
is brought back to life by writer Diane Siebert's rhyming verse and storytelling skill, and artist David
Frampton's earthy woodcuts of mines, trains and coyotes. "Rhyolite: The True Story of a Ghost
Town" is not a typical tale of Wild West adventure, but an informative desert tale sure to please
inquisitive elementary students age six to nine.
The Second Summer of the Sisterhood
Ann Brashares
Delacorte Press / Random House
1540 Broadway, NY, NY 10036
ISBN 0385729340 $15.95, 304 pages, www.randomhouse.com/teens
Destined to be one of the summer's biggest hits among teen readers, "The Second Summer of the
Sisterhood" has arrived, and it's sizzling hot. With a bit of last summer's sand in the pockets, the
sequel to the hit "Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" is on another seasonal vacation with the four
girls that wear them. Now 16, the girls again go their separate ways, keeping in touch only through
letters and, of course, by taking turns wearing the amazing pants that fit them all like a glove.
Bridget impulsively sets off for Alabama, wanting to confront her demons (i.e. her family) and avoid
them all at once. Lena spends a blissful week with Kostos, making the unexplainable silence that
follows his visit even more painful. Carmen is concerned that her mother is making a fool of herself
over a man. When she discovers that her mother borrowed the Pants to wear on a date, she's certain
of it. Tibby is not about to spend another summer working at Wallman's so she takes a film course
only to find it's what happens off-camera that teaches her the most. Last summer Ann Brashares'
best selling debut novel swept the scene, winning the hearts of teen girls across the country. Readers
will likely respond just as well to this fun and passionate sequel. After all, nothing feels more
comfortable than a favorite pair of jeans.
The Annette Mysteries
Disney Press
114 Fifth Ave., NY, NY 10011-5690
ISBN 0786834617 $15.99, four book pack, www.disneybooks.com
Here's a blast from the past for all you nostalgic baby boomers out there. Long before Lizzie
McGuire ruled the Disney Channel, Annette Funicello was America's favorite "girl next door" in the
1950s (as the spunky, dark-haired pre-teen star of "The Mickey Mouse Club") and 1960s (as the
buxom teen romantic partner of Frankie Avalon in American International Pictures' series of
fabulously silly "Beach Party" movies). Somewhere in-between, Disney created a line of mystery
novels based on the fictional sleuthing of a smart, teen detective. Sound familiar? The similarity to
Nancy Drew is no accident, but these quickie knockoffs didn't stand a chance of having Nancy's
staying power. With titles like "Annette and the Mystery at Smugglers' Cove," "Sierra Summer,"
"Annette and the Mystery at Moonstone Bay" and "The Desert Inn Mystery," the simple chapter
books offered enviable adventure after adventure to teen fans. Originally published as glossy
hardbacks, those "four swell stories" are here repackaged as paperbacks in "one super slipcase."
Complete with vintage artwork, these books are super neat-o, spine-tingling whodunits packaged for
fun gift giving.
Hulk: The Incredible Guide
Tom DeFalco
DK
375 Hudson St., NY, NY, 10014
ISBN 0789492601 $24.99, 128 pages, www.dk.com
Welcome to the nightmarish world of Dr. Bruce Banner, otherwise known as the Incredible Hulk.
The green 700-pound superhuman is the subject of the latest encyclopedic fan book in DK
Publishing's growing pop culture front list. Like last year's best-selling "Spider-Man: The Ultimate
Guide," this too is edited by former Marvel Comics editor-in-chief Tom DeFalco, to reveal the visual
history of the comic character, and, of course, to coincide with the major movie release of "The
Hulk" this summer. Timing is everything, so expectations are high for this slick, Marvel-branded
coffee table guidebook. It's everything you could expect an authorized guide to be and more,
thanks to DK's high production values. "Hulk: The Incredible Guide" draws its super-strength from
the archives of Marvel Comics, which provided more than 500 images from the original comic
books, plus detailed profiles of all the Hulk legend's major characters. A timeline organized key story
elements decade by decade, and a "Gazetteer" lists comic book titles and the first appearances of
each of over 150 characters. This one's purely for fans, but appealing for all ages.
Smithsonian Children's Encyclopedia of American History
David C. King
DK
375 Hudson St., NY, NY, 10014
ISBN 0789483300 $29.99, 304 pages, www.dk.com
This essential reference book, "Smithsonian Children's Encyclopedia of American History" was
written by award-winning children's historian David C. King ("First Facts About American Heroes,"
the 1997 Children's Book Council Notable Book of the Year), with an admirable mission: to inspire
students at the initial point in their educational lives where learning about American history typically
begins. Dull text books cannot rise to the occasion, so this comprehensive guide attempts to draw
the rapt attention of students with thoughtful text and stunning pictures that are anything but boring.
More than 750 illustrations, photos and period artworks (from fine art to advertisements) make the
pages exciting to view. The cutting-edge visual style is spectacular but merely par for the course
among the consistently exceptional backlist of DK encyclopedias for children, including "History of
the World," "Geography of the World" and the recent "Encyclopedia of the Human Body." The
lucid data is organized chronologically into thematic spreads, and is easily comprehensible at a
glance. Each spread features accessible articles on each subject and clear cross-references that link
related text. Sidebars and boxes focus on important people, technology and historical events
deserving spotlight attention. Quick facts are disseminated by a state-by-state review, an overview of
presidents, and a full index. Unlike standard segmented encyclopedias, this one takes great pains to
show how historic events are more than unconnected and irrelevant dates, names and places. The
book has the stamp of approval from the Smithsonian Institution, although it's unclear the extent of
the organization's participation besides the republication rights of Smithsonian artifacts by two
project managers among the book's 23 editorial staffers. Regardless, "Smithsonian Children's
Encyclopedia of American History" is a reliably authoritative reference book, an impressive
achievement in children's publishing, and a remarkably good bargain considering the wealth of its
contents.
The Man Who Made Time Travel
Kathyn Lasky and Kevin Hawkes
Farrar, Straus and Giroux
19 Union Square West, NY, NY 10003
ISBN 0374347883 $17.00, 48 pages, www.fsgbooks.com
This dramatic picture-book biography for older kids age eight and up, brings to life the fascinating
story of the quest to measure longitude, the thorniest scientific problem of the 18th century.
Thousands of lives had been lost at sea over the centuries due to the inability to determine an east-west position. This is the engrossing story of the clockmaker, John "Longitude" Harrison, who
managed to solve the problem that Newton and Galileo had failed to conquer, yet claimed only half
the promised rich reward. While the scientific establishment at the time was certain that the answer
lay in mapping the starry sky, Harrison, an obscure, uneducated clockmaker, dared to imagine a
different solution: a seafaring clock. It's the same compelling story that made Dava Sobel's
"Longitude" such an engrossing bestseller for adults, and a fascinating television movie. Particularly
intriguing is how, against all odds and faced with public ridicule, Harrison held fast to his vision and
dedicated his life to the creation of a small jewel of a timepiece that would change the world. It's a
memorable piece of history, science and biography rolled into one attractively illustrated
package.
Morris The Artist
Lore Segal and Boris Kulikov
Farrar, Straus and Giroux
19 Union Square West, NY, NY 10003
ISBN 0374350639 $16.00, 32 pages, www.fsgbooks.com
Young Morris loves to paint more than anything -- more than toy trucks, and balls and blocks and
certainly more than shopping. But when he must choose a gift for his friend Benjamin, he reluctantly
goes, though when it comes time, he cannot part with it. Mysteriously the present grows bigger and
bigger in his clutches. When he at last tries to give it to Benjamin, the birthday boy is too caught up
in party fun to open it so Morris tears it open himself. It's a box of beautiful paints! But no one
gives the creative gift much thought, until Morris shows them what he and everyone else -- can do
with a little imagination. The slightly surreal nature of the story is a vivid departure from the overly-sweet "lesson" story this could have more predictably become. The images are a different sort of
surprise. "Morris the Artist" is the first picture book with pictures by newspaper illustrator Boris
Kulikov, whose penchant for distorted heads, and puppet-like expressions, and, inexplicably, human-headed birds, is likely to give many viewers an un-peaceful, queasy feeling.
The Name Quilt
Phyllis Root
Pictures by Margot Apple
Farrar, Straus and Giroux
19 Union Square West, NY, NY 10003
ISBN 0374354847 $16.00, 32 pages, www.fsgbooks.com
Summer evenings at Grandma's house always end just the way country girl Sadie likes with
Grandma tucking her in with the name quilt, a cherished family heirloom. Sadie likes to read the
names of old relatives among the stitching in the quilt, and chose them, one by one, for Grandmother
to tell stories about. The stories are a charming window to the past, tales of hog-riding adventures
and hornet attacks and of Grandma's own wedding. But then the unthinkable happens, when a fierce
storm blows the name quilt off the clothesline, and blows it away. Sadie worries that the storm has
taken more than just the quilt, fearing that the stories would be lost too. But Grandma shows her
that all the important names from the past and their stories are more a part of Sadie than she
realized. "The Name Quilt" resonated loud and clear for me personally, having been raised among
generations of quilt-makers. Hopefully, this sentimental tale will mean a fraction as much to young
readers just starting to piece parts of their lives together.
Wonder Goal!
Michael Foreman
Farrar, Straus and Giroux
19 Union Square West, NY, NY 10003
ISBN 0374385009 $16.00, 32 pages, www.fsgbooks.com
It's not as easy as you think to find picture books for boys that aren't about pirates or robots or
machines or things that "go." In a field that boasts 3,000 new titles each year, why are there so few
storybooks about sports? And, in particular, who so few about the most popular sport in the world:
soccer? The surprising hole in the marketplace is now at least partially filled with Michael Forman's
emotionally stirring picture book tale, "Wonder Goal!" about the perfect, fantasy shot that haunts
the dreams of all soccer players all over the world. Even armchair soccer fans and non-sporty types
can relate to the exhilaration one would feel making a scoring kick and hearing the cheers of
thousands of onlookers. Forman's simple text and watercolor paintings bring the fantasy to life
through the eyes of a boy who's the new kid on a local team. He knows they're just teasing him
because he's new, but it makes him try all the harder to prove himself and come one goal closer to
his impossible dream of becoming a world-class soccer star. One glorious weekend, he does it: he
scores a world-class wonder goal! But his dad was working overtime, and isn't there to witness it.
So the boy dreams on, about the day his teammates stop picking on him, and about the day his father
will see him play the day he wins the World Cup. Astutely, author-illustrator Foreman does not give
his lead character a name; an effective device that allows every reader to imagine the story is about
him. As such, "Wonder Goal!" is a universally winning story, told with heart and soul.
The Little Prince
Antoine De Saint-Exupery
Harcourt Inc.
525 B Street, San Diego, CA 92101
15 E. 26th St., NY, NY 10010
ISBN 0152023984 $24.95, 88 pages, www.HarcourtBooks.com
The beloved classic, "The Little Prince," is now available in a fresh new translation and a beautiful,
cloth-covered slip-case embellished with gold-foil lettering. It's the sixtieth anniversary edition from
Harcourt is a thing of beauty, and a perfect gift item. What could be a better present to the parents
of baby boys than this universally cherished tale of a pilot stranded in the desert, who awakens one
morning to see a most extraordinary little fellow? "Please," aks the stranger, "draw me a sheep." The
pilot realizes that when life's events are too difficult to comprehend, there's no choice but to
succumb to their mysteries. And so he does just that, pulling out pencil and paper. This wise and
enchanting fable teaches the secret of what is really important in life, and it has changed the world
forever for generations of readers. The new translation, sophisticated slip case and restored artwork
make this a glittering addition for giving and keeping.
Arnie the Doughnut
Laurie Keller
Henry Holt & Co.
115 W. 18th St., NY, NY 10011
ISBN 0805062831 $16.95, 40 pages, www.henry.holt.com
At first glance, Arnie looks like an average doughnut: round, cakey, with a hole in the middle, iced
and sprinkled. He was made at one of the best bakeries in town, and admittedly his sprinkles are
standard issue. Still, a doughnut is just a doughnut, right? Nope. Not if Arnie has anything to say
about it (and for a doughnut, he sure seems to have an awful lot to say). Can Arnie launch a
revolution that changes the fate of all doughnuts? Or at least have a hand in his saving his own
chocolate-covered butt? "Arnie the Doughnut" is a deliciously offbeat picture book by the
funny/punny author-illustrator Laurie Keller, who last showed us how to look at the country
differently in "The Scrambled States of America." A weirdly twisted tale, "Arnie the Doughnut" is a
postmodern wonder, filled with creamy jokes and asides, and sprinkled with cartoonish diagrams.
Together the frenetic bits and pieces attempt to answer the question "What would happen if a food
could say `Don't eat me'?" Kids and lucky adult readers will devour every yummy word.
How The Elephant Got Its Trunk
Jean Richards, based on a Rudyard Kipling story
Illustrated by Norman Gorbaty
Henry Holt & Co.
115 W. 18th St., NY, NY 10011
ISBN 0805066993 $16.95, 32 pages, www.henry.holt.com
I approached this classic story cynically, expecting a pale imitation of Rudyard Kipling's witty tale
from "Just-So Stories." Rather, this picture book version is a sweetly simplified retelling for the
youngest readers, told with brevity and a delicate touch that speaks the language of its intended
audience, and invites an enthusiastic read-aloud by adults. How could any yougster not find the story
premise intriguing? The story begins a long time ago, when elephants had short noses like the rest of
us until the day an inquisitive little elephant has an important question she needs answered: "What
does the crocodile eat for dinner?" No one can tell her not her family or the giraffe, the kolokolo
bird, the monkeys, or the lion who all point her toward the "great, gray-green, greasy river called the
Limpopo." Making her way to the banks of the river, she sees a crocodile and can finally find the
answer, so politely asks. Pretending not to hear, the hungry crocodile asks the elephant to come
closer and ask again, but of course, he then snaps his powerful jaws, answering "I eat LITTLE
ELEPHANTS for dinner!" The crocodile won't let go, and the little elephant won't stop pulling
away, and so "the strangest thing happened." "Nosey" readers are invited to open a gate-fold page to
discover the result of the tug-of-war before continuing to the story's conclusion and a fun aside to
readers: "At least that is the story. Do you believe it?" Along the way, I, too was swept up in the
book's rhythm and delicacy, and particularly in its color-blocked and textured art by graphic designer
Norman Gorbaty ("Earthdance" and "God's Gift").
Sahara Special
Esme Raji Codell
Hyperion
114 Fifth Ave., NY, NY 10011-5690
ISBN 0786807938 $15.99, 180 pages, www.hyperionchildrensbooks.com
The exotically-named Esme Raju Codell has been an overnight sensation not once, but twice once
in a good way. She's the author of the best selling "Educating Esme: Diary of a Teacher's First
Year," a remarkable non-fiction account of her tumultuous teaching career, as difficult as it was
brief. Her follow-up book is her first novel for children, and it too takes place into the classroom.
Never mind that the author spent only two years teaching; Codell's passion for educating children is
plainly evident in this fictional tale, a thinly-veiled portrayal of herself as an idealistic new elementary
school teacher. She mirrors many of her own traits in the book's protagonist, Sahara Jones, a fifth
grader who needs special education. Sahara is secretly writing a book filled with letters to her
estranged father, expressing her love for him and wishing for his return. When her mother insists that
Sahara is taken out of special education, she repeats fifth grade where she meets Miss Pointy, a
teacher who has an unconventional way of teaching, and recognizes Sahara's flair for writing. With
"Sahara Special," the author has found a way be rejoin her students in the classroom: by recreating
them fictionally (as well as herself), complete with lesson plans and seating charts. The book's
message about an unfairly labeled but talented student and the teacher who inspires her is clearly
a direct reflection of Codell's own trials and tribulations as a controversial teacher who refuses to
play by the rules. That Codell does so with such humor and spunk is a revelation to celebrate.
Bubbleology
Jim Moskowitz and Casey Carle
Illustrated by Jim Palliot and Mike Dammer
Innovative Kids
18 Ann Street, Norwalk, CT 06854-2258
ISBN 1584761652 $19.99, 34 pages, www.innovativekids.com
Basic bubbles come of age in the hands-on science kit "Bubbleology," a 32-page book and 30-piece
bubble tool kit. It goes a long way to make science a fun learning activity, but although this is
certainly more than just a toy, it's not quite up to curriculum standards -- despite a companion
teacher's guide (ISBN: 1-58476-191-1) that's available separately. Yet this "not for babies" bubble
toy for ages six and up lives up to its billing in fun and inventive ways. "Master bubbleologist" Casey
Carle and science museum expert Jim Moskowitz teach kids how to perform amazing tricks while
learning the science behind the fun. Buoyancy, water pressure and surface tension are the four basic
concepts taught and put into action in more than 30 experiments. Kids can use bubbles and soap
formula to raise a sunken ship, make a submersible bubble diver, maneuver a bubble obstacle course,
measure surface tension, sink a floating object, and sure party pleasers -- make square and
triangular bubbles, double bubbles, bubble snakes and spinning bubbles. Things get competitive with
a list of bubble contests, and get creative with how-to directions for making frozen bubble sculptures
and bubble paintings. It's a tremendously fun gift item that parents can feel good about giving if they
don't mind spending $20 for a boxed book with about $1 worth of plastic tools. (Sorry to burst your
bubble.) .
Zipped
Laura and Tom McNeal
Knopf / Random House
1540 Broadway, NY, NY 10036
ISBN 0375814914 $15.95, 192 pages, www.randomhouse.com/teens
When 15-year-old Mick reads an e-mail never meant fo rhis eyes, his world is shattered. His
wonderful stepmother is cheating on his father, and Mick's loyal dad has no idea. Mick is burdened
with the secret, and nothing can distract him. Not even his crush on a Mormon girl on the the field
hockey team. Not even the surprising affections of a gorgeous college freshman. And not even the
strange robberies at the local old folks home where Mick works. On the day he accidentally meets
the mystery man in his step-mother' s life, Mick realizes al his problems are zipped up together, and
that he may have to go to drastic lengths to find the solutions. Humor and suspense are also zipped
up neatly in this appealingly fresh novel for young adults. Kudos to the writing team of Laura and
Tom McNeal for this zippy follow-up to their first YA novel, "Crooked," the winner of the
California Book Award for Juvenile Literature.
No Ordinary Olive
Roberta Baker, Illustrated by Debbie Tilley
Little, Brown and Company
Boston New York London
ISBN 0316073369 $14.95, 32 pages, www.twbookmark.com/children
Olive is a busy little girl who likes doing things her own way. She enjoys making oatmeal with
pickles and bubblegum-raisin pancakes. When the kids swim at the pond in the summer, Olive
doesn't float and flutter her feet like everybody else; she flaps like a seal, barks like a walrus and
dives to the mud bottom for pirate treasure. At school, Olive tries to behave, and most of the time
she's "close to perfect," but when her class practices writing the alphabet on dotted lines, Olive
thinks they look like railroad tracks and imagines her letters as cars on a train, creating such a
disturbance that she is sent to the principal's office. While she's sitting alone in his office it occurs to
Olive that the principal's office is a gloomy place in need of redecorating. She paints jungle animals
on his desk with her crayons and markers. The art teacher praises her creativity. The drama teacher
says, "What a bold statement!" The science teacher hails Olive's unique science project and asks if he
can borrow the desk for his 'Life in a Rain Forest' lesson. The principal does not share his staff's
enthusiasm about what Olive has done. They accuse him of being boring and dull a man who never
smiles. In the end the principal agrees to keep the desk Olive decorated for him, and to try and smile
more as long as Olive agrees to follow school rules. Also, if she wants to do anything really
different, she has to ask permission first. Olive "tries to be patient, gentle, and calm everything the
grown-ups tell her to be." But ultimately she is who she is and this too is a virtue. -- Bella Mahaya
Carter
When Marcus Moore Moved In
Rebecca Bond
Little, Brown and Company
1271 Ave. of the Americas, NY, NY 10020
ISBN 0316104582 $15.95, 32 pages, www.twbookmark.com/children
For children, moving to a new house is an adventure usually both exciting and scary. Every child
who has been the new kid on the block knows that it 's a time of anxiety and nervousness. "What
will the local kids think of me?" "Will I miss home?" "How will I make new friends?" All these
emotions and worries are dealt with in the fresh images and rollicking words of "When Marcus
Moore Moved In," the latest picture book from the author-illustrator of "Just Like A Baby" and
"Bravo, Maurice!" When young Marcus arrives at his new urban home, he feels completely alone
and apprehensive among the family's furniture and moving boxes that cluttered the sidewalk. Until,
that is, a pig-tailed girl goes skipping by his stoop. Soon he hears a bicycle bell, and there she is
again. Before you know it the mystery girl comes by yet again, stomping and tromping and
swaggering and banging her bucket like a drum. Why all this ruckus "at 44 MacDougal Street when
Marcus Moore moved in." Filled with lots of rhythmic "Ka-LOMP," "BOOM-BA-DEE" and "tap!
Ta-tap! Ta-tapping" sounds, the story marches along on happy feet. The phrase "at 44 MacDougal
Street when Marcus Moore moved in" repeats several times, becoming a comforting chorus for wee
ears, and the natural conclusion is as homey as a comfy chair. "When Marcus Moore Moved In" is a
charming celebration of the moment when one starts to feel part of a new neighborhood, a life lesson
for both new arrivals and old neighbors.
Midnight for Charlie Bone
Jenny Nimmo
Orchard Books / Scholastic
557 Broadway, NY, NY 10012-3999
ISBN 0439474299 $9.95, 406 pages, www.scholastic.com
"Midnight For Charlie Bone" is a riveting fantasy for adventuresome young readers age eight and up
particularly those who simply can't wait for the forthcoming Harry Potter installment. Award-winning fantasy author Jenny Nimmo introduces us to young protagonist Charlie Bone, who's
startled to realize that he can hear the thoughts of people in photographs. Like Harry, Charlie's
special "endowment" means that he is sent to a prestigious new school for supernaturally gifted
students, Bloor's Academy. And like Hogwart's, Bloor's is mysterious place where evil is rampant,
and it is up to the Charlie and his new friends to uncover the cloudy past of a fellow student. Along
the way, Charlie begins to fulfill his destiny as one of the children of the mighty Red King
magician.
Certainly the book's parallels to the Harry Potter tales are a bit too obvious, though at least the
book's thinner storyline and spare text doesn't attempt to mimic J.K. Rowling's literary style. The
malevolent nature of the characters particularly the Red King's five ne'er-do-well offspring is a
bit of a departure, or, rather, an exaggeration of the Potter series' darker undercurrents, but is never
too intense for danger-addicted young readers. Considering the author's considerable skill and the
book's intrinsic appeal for a slightly younger audience of elementary students not quite ready for the
wordiness and complexities of Potter, this should be a slamdunk winner. Despite Charlie Bone's
appeal and the publisher's faith in it as a potential franchise, I find it strange that there was virtually
no interest in it from its target crowd at a recent Scholastic book fair I attended. Perhaps Charlie can
solve that perplexing mystery too.
Blue Horse
Helen Stephens
Scholastic Press
557 Broadway, NY, NY 10012-3999
ISBN 0439431786 $15.95, 32 pages, www.scholastic.com
Making new friends can be difficult, especially if you're a shy pre-schooler. This picture book tells
the comforting tale of sweet, quiet Tilly, a sweet little pigtailed girl who wants to reach out to new
playmates, but just can't work up the courage to do so. So she enjoys the company of her favorite
stuffed animal, Blue Horse, and through her imagination he comes to life, becoming a terrific
playmate for tea parties, movie dates, and pretend trips to the moon. But one day, Tilly longs for a
real friend to play with in the park With the encouragement of Blue Horse, she's finds she's brave
enough to meekly say hello. Delightfully, she discovers that the other girl is just as eager to make a
new friend as long as her dolly friend can play too! Soon Blue Horse joins the new friendship
circle, making things complete. As the parent of a shy girl Tilly's age, this bright and cheerful
storybook really found a home in our hearts.
Days of Jubilee: The End of Slavery in the United States
Patricia C. and Fredrick L. McKissack
Scholastic Press
557 Broadway, NY, NY 10012-3999
ISBN 059010764X $18.95, 134 pages, www.scholastic.com
Patricia and Fredrick McKissack, authors of multiple Coretta Scott King Honor books, have
outdone themselves again. Their distinguished collection of non-fiction books include "Rebels
Against Slavery: American Slave Revolts," "Soujourner Truth: Ain't I a Woman?" and "Black
Hands, White Sails: The Story of African-American Whalers." For "Days of Jubilee: The End of
Slavery in the United States," the husband and wife team tackle the most pivotal moment in the
history of African-Americans: January 1, 1863 when the Emancipation Proclamation was put into
effect, banning slavery in the United States. On that historic day, all salves were declared forever
free in the eyes of the executive government, the military and naval authorities, and the public on
both sides of the Mason-Dixon. The book gives a thoroughly engaging and meticulously researched
account of these liberated slaves and the triumphant days following one of the most crucial turning
points in American history. Children ages 8 through 13 will find the book an honest and accurate
history well worth reading. Numerous black-and-white photographs, slave narratives, letters and
journal entries make this authoritative collection of stories and facts a reliable tool for classroom
study and research.
Getting The Girl
Markus Zusak
Scholastic Press / Arthur E. Levine
557 Broadway, NY, NY 10012-3999
ISBN 0439389496 $16.95, 264 pages, www.scholastic.com
In this sequel to the award-winning novel "Fighting Ruben Wolfe," the Wolfe brothers find their
relationship threatened for the first time by love for the same girl. Nothing is easy for Cameron,
not even the soul-pumping bliss of first love. He meets a special girl, Octavia, that he admires and
enjoys the company of, but unfortunately she's Ruben's girlfriend. It reminds him how everything
comes so easily for Ruben, even romance with a girl he barely gives a second thought to. Cam and
Ruben don't have a touchy-feely relationship, but what they do have is a tremendous, unspoken
bond. A bond that has, to this point, pulled them through every difficult situation they' ve ever faced.
Young teenage readers will identify with the tricky ground Cam walks upon. What would you
choose your brother and best friend, or a shot at true love? As "Getting the Girl" unravels, readers
are taken along Cam's intimate journey exploring the ecstasy, the danger, and the cost of romantic
and brotherly love. An engaging summer read providing more moral fiber and substance than the
average teen romance.
The Magic Gourd
Baba Wague Diakite
Scholastic Press
557 Broadway, NY, NY 10012-3999
ISBN 0590898280 $15.95, 32 pages, www.scholastic.com
Coretta Scott King Award honoree Baba Wague Diakite weaves a satisfying folkloric tale of wish
fulfillment in her new picture book, "The Magic Gourd." He tells a familiar, oft-repeated story ("The
Lad Who Went to the North Wind" and "The Table, The Ass and The Stick") using animal
characters, language elements and original ceramic and mud-cloth art of Mali, the author-illustrator's
native country. In the tale, our hero, Rabbit, helps a Chameleon and is rewarded with a magic object
that brings him infinite security: an inexhaustible food supply to feed his hungry family, and his
neighbors' too. But when word gets out to the greedy king, he steals Rabbit 's magic gourd to make
instant wealth for himself. Cleverly, the rabbit manages right the wrong by recovering his gift while
teaching the king an important lesson about greed. The story's universal wisdom makes it a valuable
tool to help instill fundamental values in young children. The book's culturally rich language and art
makes it an intriguing window to a fascinating foreign world.
Princess Penelope
Todd Mack and Julia Gran
Scholastic Press
557 Broadway, NY, NY 10012-3999
ISBN 0439224365 $15.95, 32 pages, www.scholastic.com
What's an ordinary girl to do when she's absolutely certain she's really a princess? Why act like one,
that's what. After all, the star of the candy-colored new picture book by Todd Mack and Julia Gran
is pretty-in-pink Penelope who has read lots of fairy tales, so naturally she's an expert on the subject.
Penelope dresses like a princess, eats like a picky princess, travels in a chariot like a princess (though
it may look like a stroller to us commoners), sits on a throne (yep, the royal potty), and, well, acts
like a spoiled princess. When it comes to making royal commands and demands, however, Princess
Penelope finally learns that she doesn't rule her kingdom after all. Budding young pre-school
princesses everywhere will enjoy the twisted logic of Penelope's claim, and will be inspired to
borrow elements of her argument to their own advantage. The humorous lesson for adult readers,
however, is the other side of the coin: beware pampering your own little princesses.
Lenny and Mel's Summer Vacation
Erik P. Kraft
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
1230 Avenue of the Americas, NY, NY 10020
ISBN 0689851081 $14.95, 64 pages, www.SimonSaysKids.com
This topsy-turvy chapter book for elementary school readers comes just in time for frivolous
summertime reading. In author-illustrator Erik P. Kraft's crafty sequel to "Lenny and Mel," the
irreverent and silly twin brothers are on the loose in now that school's out. Setting their sights low,
they want to spend their summer vacation doing as little as possible, but, naturally, their parents
have other plans. The opposing plans collide in a series of funny adventures when they boys manage
to have their way with book reports, a trip to Animal Town, a road trip with grandma, and a unique
way of beating the heat. Kraft's goofy black-and-white doodles provide childish chuckles in keeping
with the book's cheerfully immature attitude. Wickedly funny, "Lenny and Mel's Summer Vacation"
is just the ticket for "I'm bored" vacationing members of the "Captain Underpants" crowd, yet
seemingly respectable enough to warrant parental approval. Little do theysuspect that the only
education the book proffers is how to "clam clap," how to make "lunch turkeys" with bologna, and
how to play the annoying game "donut pass" to pass the time during long car rides. A guilty pleasure
for young and old alike.
Fabulous Fluttering Tropical Butterflies
Dorothy Hinshaw Patent
Illustrations by Kendahl Jan Jubb
Walker & Co.
435 Hudson St., NY, NY 10014
ISBN 0802788386 $16.95, www.walkerbooks.com
Butterflies are one of the most beautiful subjects for non-fiction picture books, and author Dorothy
Hinshaw Patent makes the most of her subject by concentrating on the tremendous variety of
tropical species around the world. And she wisely draws attention to the biggest, strangest and most
beautiful examples, from the rare Queen Alexandra the largest butterfly in the world to the
postman butterfly a poisonous species to the owl butterfly a master of disguise. Aside from
fascinating trivia about exotic examples, general facts about these lovely insects are dispersed freely,
and typical questions from children are anticipated well with thoughtful explanations. Information
appears to be thoroughly researched and documented, with up-to-date details. "Fabulous fluttering
Tropical Butterflies" is the third book in a series (following "Bold & Bright Black-and-White
Animals" and "Flashy Fantastic Rain Forest Frogs"), and arguably could have been the most
spectacular one of the three from a visual perspective, if it weren't for the indistinct artwork that
truly cries out for a more exacting hand.
In the Blink of an Eye
Dieter Wiesmuller
Walker & Co.
435 Hudson St., NY, NY 10014
ISBN 0802788548 $16.95, 32 pages, www.walkerbooks.com
Watch out, because people share the Earth will all sorts of creatures, and you can't always be sure
what's watching you. "In the Blink of an Eye" gives a glimpse of the different living things in our
world -- in a variety of habitats from rain forests to populated villages -- and shows readers how to
have the patience to observe our surroundings in order to see that is often just out of sight. Dieter
Wiesmuller's carefully rendered illustrations of landscapes and detailed close ups of eyes, gives a
unique perspective of wild things from leopards to lizards, foxes to frogs. His has a talent for
capturing the beauty of living things, and an unflinching eye for detail. Wiesmuller also has a
sensitive knack for knowing what curious children are fascinated by, and does a beautiful job
opening their eyes to even their once-familiar surroundings so they can figure out what they're really
seeing and what's seeing them too. "In The Blink of an Eye" is a wonderful, and uniquely
sophisticated picture book safari for budding naturalists age five and up.
Two Blue Jays
Anne Rockwell
Illustrations by Megan Halsey
Walker & Co.
435 Hudson St., NY, NY 10014
ISBN 0802788408 $15.95, 32 pages www.walkerbooks.com
This is the fourth collaboration between author Anne Rockwell and Megan Halsey ("One Bean,"
"Pumpkin Day, Pumpkin Night" and my favorite, "Becoming Butterflies"), and perhaps this is the
most unusual. Again taking the perspective of an educator, this book relates the activities of an
elementary classroom when they discover a blue jay nest being built in a fir tree outside the window.
The kids have front row seats to an interesting flurry of activity, and so they make the most of it by
studying the bird's behavior. First they learn how a pair of jays work together to gather twigs for the
nest, then they chart the types of food the male blue jay brought back to the nesting female. Students
note the protective instincts of the male, and his vocal ability to scare away potential predators. They
draw pictures of the four speckled eggs in the nest, and of the chicks starting to grow inside. When
four bald baby birds hatch, the students check their calendar to see that 16 days have passed since
the nest was built. They note that the babies constantly squawk for food, keeping their beaks open
all day for food that their parents bring. Three weeks later those babies, now covered with feathers,
step out for their first flying lesson, and begin to soar. Complete with a brief afterword, the book
acts as a simple, step-by-step observational guide led by a friendly teacher.
Finding Nemo Read-A-Long
Walt Disney Records
350 S. Buena Vista St., Burbank, CA 9521-6241
ISBN 0763420271 $9.98, 24 pages, www.DisneyRecords.com
Kids can relive the animated motion picture adventure "Finding Nemo" by diving into a whole new
world of fun, fantasy, and heartfelt emotion on Read-Along format with this enhanced CD, cassette
and 24-page book telling the movie tail in its own unique way. Young readers and pre-readers alike
can hone their skills with the latest in the popular Read-Along releases from Disney and this one is
better than average. Heads and fins above the dud "Treasure Planet," "Finding Nemo" is a winning
splashy underwater journey of two unlikely friends across the ocean and all the incredible adventures
that happen along the way. The CD Read-Along features a colorful 24 page book with images from
the film, a bonus cassette for simple audio playback, and, best of all, the enhanced story CD that
works like a computer slide show with narration, character coices and vivid sound effects. The
word-for-word narration of on-screen pages helps build vocabulary and encourages independent
reading. When the CD is played in a stereo system, kids can listen to the story and read along using
the storybook. It's versatile and attractively priced, with all the elements neatly housed in a
protective plastic carry-case so, unlike Nemo, it doesn't get lost.
Vicki Arkoff
Reviewer
Tony's Bookshelf
Why Smart People Can Be So Stupid
Robert J. Sternberg
Yale University Press
PO Box 209040, New Haven, CT 06520-9040
ISBN: 0300090331 $29.95, 1-800-987-7323, www.amazon.com
The thinking person's guide to not thinking?
Whether one believes acting stupid to be the antithesis of acting smart or intelligently [most of us?],
or perhaps prefers to regard stupid behaviour as foolishness in the face of misplaced wisdom
[Sternberg], this volume brings together a rich diversity of approaches and opinion to one of life's
persistent questions. Some 15 authors gather here in an attempt to inform the reader what stupidity
and smartness consist in, whilst providing a breadth of examples from both the empirical literature
(laboratory studies, psychometric survey) and the popular press (typically involving embarrassed
politicians). Over the course of some eleven chapters, a number of recurrent themes and proposals
address the ways in which stupid behaviour might best be characterised, identified or defined, but of
more interest (at least to me) was to also find a number of attempts to explain the behaviours so
described. A number of the contributors point (directly or indirectly) to particular instances of
'stupidity' which may well have been construed as having demonstrated adaptive, rather than
maladaptive behaviour under different circumstances. In this respect, the reader is repeatedly lead to
the view that personal trait labels such as smart, intelligent or stupid, should be viewed as context
dependant terms, if not entirely context-specific, characterisations of human behaviour. In short,
what might be considered stupid behaviour under one circumstance, might well be considered smart
behaviour in another. So, why do these authors think that smart people can be so stupid?
Whilst psychometric correlates of the 'smart' and 'intelligent' are cited throughout the book (high IQ,
high 'G'-factor, either high or low scoring on various personality inventory components), no
convincing data is presented in an attempt to directly correlate any independent measure of
'stupidity' with psychological theory. As a result, perhaps, a significant number of this volume's
authors sought to explain 'stupid behaviour' as a person's failure to adapt to novel circumstances.
However, this does little more work than to merely restate the antithesis: that 'good' intelligence
ontologically scaffolds in response to the need for increasingly flexible, dynamic behaviours in the
face of challenges beyond the ken of one's current (and likely more reflexive) response repertoire.
Using examples from business and industry, at least two chapters [Wagner and Austin & Deary]
remind us that circumstances involving unfamiliar, ill-formed or poorly-defined problem spaces will
more likely result in decisions thought stupid in hindsight, but they also point to conflict
management as being a significant variable. Such findings serve to inform us that our attempts to
transfer template problem-solutions (or indeed any previously successful habits of mind) to novel
situations may later prove to have been a poor strategy (think Chamberlain & Hitler), or even
complete folly (think Clinton & Lewinsky). Sociopersonal factors were also frequently cited as being
of importance in explaining stupidity, with managerial incompetence in particular being shown to
correlate with the (personal) emotional stability of managers, as did their degree of insensitivity to
the needs and expectations of their subordinates and co-workers.
But if there is a recipe here for our avoiding stupid behaviour, such may be derived only from our
interpreting the combined arguments and views put forward over the entirety of the volume. If it is
true that we become good at what we spend most of our time doing (as I'm fond of telling my
students is indeed the case) then this book suggests that we should devote a fair proportion of our
time to recognising the significance of all our inter-, intra-, and extra-subjective personal
circumstances. We need to be alert to identifying the critical changes in our situation(s) [Halpern].
We also need to be prepared to adapt to such changes (possibly in novel ways) without recourse to
reflexive habit and reward by immediate gratification [Ayduk & Mischel]. Furthermore, we should
strive to consider the power of uncertainty, such that we might then learn what might be (rather than
concentrating our attention upon what one thinks currently 'is') the case [Modeoveanu & Langer].
Furthermost, we must continue to construct and reconstruct past scenarios in such a way as to only
attach to them, the theories and constraints that do the most explanatory work for us [Stanovich].
Without wishing to offer any guarantees here of increasing one's intelligence, the ideas circulating
this volume nonetheless provide the reader with a window through which we might see a means of
understanding, whilst reducing the frequency of, both our own and others' acts of stupidity.
Visual Attention and Cortical Circuits
Braun, J., Koch, C. & Davis, J.L. (Eds.)
The MIT Press
55 Hayward Street, Cambridge, MA 02142
ISBN: 0262024934, $60.00, 1-800-356-0343, www.amazon.com
Looking and seeing with the mind's I, and its brain.
Aimed principally at the student and researcher working in cognitive neuroscience, this book reports
the findings of the "Visual attention and cortical circuits" workshop held on Catalina Island, USA, in
1999. Its primary focus was to bring together a variety of interdisciplinary approaches to inform a
better understanding of visual attention processing in the cerebral cortex. Some fourteen
contributions are collected here, addessing the long standing implications of dorsal versus ventral
stream visual processing, and, of more recent interest, the functional significance of the (often
reciprocal) connections now known to exist between temporal, parietal and frontal cortical
neurones. Appropriately illustrated throughout with task paradigms and experimental data
presentations, it is perhaps surprising that this volume contains only one putative cortical circuit
diagram [Tsotsos et al.] in an attempt to show the ways in which variously proposed cortical areas
might be critically connected in support of their role in visual attention and/or its modulation.
Although it has been clear since the demonstration of Yarbus (1967) that we employ quite different
brain circuitry when 'looking for', as opposed to 'looking at' something in our visual field, I have
never felt that the physiological significance of this observation has really been considered prior to
single-cell recording from the awake, behaving monkey. At least nine of the contributions to this
volume (both imagers and electrophysiologists, from human and monkey labs) explicitly argue for
the existence of top-down, context-dependant, task effects of attention. One way or another, this
amounts to claiming that at least some 'late' (typically frontal cortex) visual processing activity can
be shown to be affecting the response properties of 'early' visual processing neurons, including
primary visual cortex (V1), V2-V4, and extrastriate areas MT & MST. One clearly emerging story
to be taken away from this book, is that traditional claims for the visuomotor system operating
largely via unidirectional, monolithic 'Retina > RGN > V1 > V2... > frontal cortex' pathway models
must be discarded. Recurrent, massively parallel cortical circuits are the order of the day here.
Throughout its middle six chapters, the results of visual attention experiments using monkey
single-cell recording is variously interpreted as providing evidence for the biasing of response
competition amongst early visual input neurons [Duncan; Reynolds & Desimone], their possible
gating [Heeger et al; Tsotsos et al] and other modulations of their activity [Ito et al; Maunsell &
MacAdams]. Several authors have now expressed support for Schall's notion of the frontal eye-field
area potentially serving as a task-based "saliency map" for the purpose of supporting both the
selection and preparation of visually-guided action [Thompson et al] and a similar model is proposed
to underlay visually-guided search [Sperling et al]. Others rightly encourage our caution lest we
forget the necessarily constraining architectures of bottom-up processing, upon top-down operating
pathways [Braun et al; Pouget et al].
The problem space for attentional research has always been one largely concerned with determining
how the cortex selects and locates targets from a potentially infinite candidate array of such targets
for focused consideration. Furthermore, attention experiments must be conducted in the face of
limited processing capacity and with reference to one's ontogenetic life-history of experience and
learning with any number and variety of tasks. There are no surprises amongst the results presented
in this book emerging from the studies of (visual) attention as reported, but it does provide for a
useful review as to some of the current thinking 'outside the box' of the old monolithic pathways.
However, and more importantly, it also warns that we must continue to explore the neural bases of
behaviour bearing in mind that the subject's task understanding, and the context(s) in which their
tasks are presented, will necessarily affect the very cortical circuitries we are attempting to
characterise. Fortunately, this holds true as much for the researcher's brains, as it does for the brains
of their research subjects, and for the fine details and anatomy of the neural circuits themselves, we
must be content to await the reports of future workshops.
Tony Dickinson
Reviewer
Sullivan's Bookshelf
Uniforms: Why We Are What We Wear
Paul Fussell
Houghton Mifflin Company
204 pages, $22.00, ISBN # 06l8067469
From army enlisted personnel to hotel doormen, Fussell discusses the uniforms (which are not
costumes) of different occupations, clubs, organizations, and professions. He tells how each
uniform came into being, its pupose, and many other tidbits of uniform interest.
"It is a distinction not always easy to make," writes the author, "but still some principles hold.
Uniforms ask to be taken seriously, with suggestions of probity and virtue (clergy and nuns, Judges
when robed), expertise (naval officers, senior chefs, airline pilots), trustworthiness (Boy and Girl
Scouts, letter carriers, delivery men and women), courage U.S. Marines, police officers,
firefighters), obedience (high school and university marching bands, Ku Klux Klan), extraordinary
cleanliness and sanitation (vendors of ice cream on the streets, operating-room personnel, beauty
salon employees, food workers visible to the public, and in hospitals, all wearers of white lab coats,
where a single blood stain might cause shame and even dismissal). [...]."
Frankly, Fussell brings up uniforms that are seldom, if ever, thought about, from that of the Masons
to symphony orchestras. After reading this small volume, the world will never look the same. Just
two categories will prevail: the uniformed and the nonuniformed. And even some elements of
civilian dress have uniformity: blue blazers on men is a good example.
The major point of being in uniform, of course, is to 'belong' to a group. This, perhaps, has more to
do with ego and esteem than it does to looking like everyone else. Military uniforms, not
surprisingly, take up a sizeable portion of this discourse. Fussell himself was a U.S. Army officer
during World War II. And he wore the uniform proudly and with distinction in combat. But being
an iconoclast, he tends toward nonuniformity today, not only in his clothing but also in his thinking.
Still, as he points out, a man in uniform is highly prized by females. That's been a fact throughout
history. And that alone is a good enough reason, at least for most males, to dress alike, particularly
when the uniform worn emphasizes (which the military's tends to do) one's broad shoulders, slim
waist, and narrow hips.
Fussell, an award winning author and retired Professor of Literature at the University of
Pennsylvania, has written numerous other books, notably THE GREAT WAR AND MODERN
MEMORY and DOING BATTLE: THE MAKING OF A SKEPTIC.
A recommended read.
The Fall Of Berlin 1945
Antony Beevor
Viking Press
490 pages/indexed, $29.95, ISBN # 06700304l4
Thanks to detailed new information, much from recently opened Soviet archives, the battle for
Berlin at the end of World War II in Europe, is fully told. This book is a balanced account from both
sides of the gigantic armed struggle.
In l945, Soviet armies lined up to attack and finally defeat Nazi German. The Soviet's specific target
was Berlin, capital of the Third Reich. The 2.5 million men and women assembled, comprised the
largest combat force set for a particular battle ever. And it did the job.
Still, Germans, with far fewer troops, put up a ferocious defense of their Fatherland. And though
the Soviets eventually took the Third Reich's prized capital, the cost in human life and property on
both sides was mind-boggling. The massive firefights, give and take, blood and gore, life and limb
losses, and behind the scenes intrigue, with many generals and field marshals trying to toady up to
their bosses, either Stalin or Hitler, will engage all readers of history.
Though this story essentially concerns the attacks, battles, counter-attacks, and breakouts of the
Soviets and opposing German forces, the real story behind the roar of guns, bombs, and other
explosives is the Soviet's terrible treatment of civilians after liberation and/or defeat.
Almost every chapter details vicious, indiscriminate rape, committed mostly by Soviet soldiers.
They perpetrated this crime mostly upon German civilian woman, of all ages (from children to
mothers to grandmothers), who were in all conditions (pregnant, starving, or injured). The sheer
magnitude of these offenses against humanity is astounding, to say the least.
Rape was virtually condoned Soviet troop behavior. And it was done, not so much by front-line
troops but more by those who followed the combat units. Yes, army officers and political
authorities protested, but did little or nothing to prevent this 'punishment' of Germans for atrocities
that they had committed in Soviet captured lands. Aside from all the raping, which the Soviets have
covered up for many decades after the war, so as not to besmirch the heroics of their warriors, the
killing and looting of and from German civilians was also startling to read.
Perhaps the hardest thing to understand today is why the Soviets, who so jealously guarded their
image, would be so clumsy, inept, and exercise such lack of control over their own soldiers' actions.
Needless to say, Germans were outraged at this treatment. But they could do little to prevent it.
Meanwhile, many true Soviet war heros, especially in the highest officer ranks, ended up being
condemned to Siberian Gulags for the slightest, imagined wrongs against their leader, their country,
or their Communist Party.
The Soviet NKVD and SMERSH (both secret police units) had thousands of behind-the-line
operatives, armed like army divisions, running around looking for spies, turncoats, deserters, and
luke-warm Reds. Such people, once suspected, were arrested and interrogated. Some where shot;
others sent off to prison camps not to be heard from again.
Naturally, the same thing happened to German soldiers who lived through those final days. These
men were marched off to Soviet work camps to do slave labor. Few of them were ever seen again,
either.
Even German Communists (who'd hidden their political affiliation throughout the war to survive)
after presenting proof of their real political bent to Soviet liberators, were treated just as abysmally
as every other German. The same went for Soviet citizens who were released from German
concentration camps. The Soviets lacked compassion even for their on comrades.
Stalin and Hitler come through this narrative as cut from the same dictatorial cloth: brutal, uncaring,
paranoid men. They thought little about anyone other than themselves. Neither leader worried that
his orders were getting thousands of people not only soldiers but also noncombatants, uselessly
killed, maimed, and injured.
Not surprisingly, as further armed effort proved fruitless, German soldiers surrendered to, or tried
to,U.S. or British troops, rather than Soviets. And the Germans had good reason.
Why General Eisenhower let the Soviets press on to Berlin, alone, which is what Stalin wanted,
while allied forces were directed elsewhere in Europe is understandable, in view of the massive
casualities incurred with capturing Berlin. But the negative political ramifications, like the creation
of the Soviet Bloc immediately after the war's end, from Ike's decision, have only recently been
eased with the collapse of Communism in Europe.
After reading this volume, one almost, but not quite, feels sorry for Germans. They were, of course,
just as brutal and guilty, particularly when the Holocaust is taken into account, as the Soviet's were
in their treatment of Germans. So they deserved each other. Still though not as evil as the German
genocide of the Jews and of other disliked minorities, the rape stories are also unforgiveable war
crimes. Moreover, they've been little talked about till now.
"The scale of human tragedy," the author writes, "by the end of the war is beyond the imagination of
everyone who did not live through it, but especially of those who have grown up in the demilitarized
society of the post-Cold War age. Yet this moment of fate for millions of people still has much to
teach us. [....]."
Antony Beevor, an English writer and former army officer, has had many well-written hsitory books
published. Judging by all the book prizes it has won, STALINGRAD would appear to be his most
outstanding volume before the present one.
The Fall Of Berlin l945 is recommended reading!
Jim Sullivan
Reviewer
Skea's Bookshelf
Oryx and Crake
Margaret Atwood
Bloomsbury
ISBN: 0747562598 A$ 45.00 (hardback)
Doubleday
0385503857, $26.00 (hardcover)
"Outside the OrganInc walls and gates and searchlights, things were unpredictable. Inside, they were
the way they used to be when Jimmy's father was a kid, before things got so serious, or that's what
Jimmy's father said. Jimmy's mother said it was all artificial, it was just a theme park and you could
never bring the old ways back, but Jimmy's father said why knock it?"
OrganInc is OrganInc Farms, the bioengineering firm famous for its 'pigoon' project. And the pigoon
is a disease-resistant, fast-growing, transgenic creature, designed to produce multiple organs (livers,
kidneys, hearts etc.) which can be harvested for human transplant. You can even customize the
organs for particular individuals in order to avoid rejection.
What a brilliant idea! And no doubt our scientists are working on it right now. As for the
self-cleaning gym-suit with its sweat-eating bacteria, wasn't there an item in a recent New Scientist
about bacteria-eating socks for athlete's foot sufferers? And a T-shirt with built-in e-mail display,
that nudges you when you have a new message? Surely that's got to be the next "must have" for
teenagers.
The days when Jimmy's father was a kid are gone into our recent past, and Jimmy's childhood world
is probably with us right now. But Jimmy, in Oryx and Crake, has grown up. He is no longer Jimmy,
but Snowman (he dropped the 'Abominable') - a survivor in a world that has changed disastrously,
and the saviour of the Crakers, who are the meek, likeable beings who, it seems, are going to inherit
the Earth.
Oryx and Crake, however, is not Science Fiction. It is 'Fact in Fiction', a genre which Margaret
Atwood defined in a recent interview in the New Scientist magazine (10th May 2003) and which is
akin to Huxley's Brave New World and Orwell's 1984. For her, Atwood said, science fiction is
fantasy, and it was at its best in the 1930s when bug-eyed monsters proliferated. Oryx and Crake,
however, is based on fact and in it Atwood proposes outcomes for some of the things which already
exist in our world: such things as the increasing salination of the land; genetic engineering;
bioterrorism; industrial spying; the desire to live in secure compounds; the proliferation of Internet
pornography.
Oryx and Crake is a deeply pessimistic book, but it is also very funny. Atwood has a wonderfully
wry, black sense of humour. And she clearly had fun inventing advertising slogans and brand names.
In fact, she could well have an alternative career mapped out for herself if her brave new world
comes to pass. But let's hope not.
Juggling past and present in the Snowman's mind, Atwood lets him tell his story. And he tells it well.
He is just and ordinary, amiable, funny fellow, bright but not too bright, disturbed but not overly
scarred by his mother's desertion of the family when he was a child, and he's a suitable foil for Crake,
his long-time, brilliant, manipulative friend. You may not like their taste in entertainment (TV:
Noodie news and "open-heart surgery live time"; Internet: "animal snuff sites", executions in Asia at
"headsoff.com", assisted suicides at "nitee-nite.com", for example) or their appetite for pornography,
but that's just an everyday part of their ordinary world. You may like even less, Crake's personal
research and its results, the power he manages to accrue, and the plan he eventually implements. But
you are never sure what he intends or intended. And I wished Atwood had not dwelt so much on the
Snowman's obsession with Oryx's abused and sordid past. But the world Atwood proposes is
disturbed and disturbing in every way: and it is so much like our own world that it all seems horribly
possible.
At the front of the book, Atwood quotes from Swift's Gulliver's Travels: "I could perhaps like others
have astonished you with strange improbable tales; but I rather chose to relate plain matter of fact in
the simplest manner and style". But this was Swift being ironical. What, then, are we to make of
Atwood's 'factual' tale? Is this what happens, as one blurb for the book suggests, when progress gets
out of hand? Are we really too clever for our own good?
Perhaps not. We live in a technologically brilliant age, and in the 'Acknowledgements' at the end of
the book, Atwood directs us to the oryxandcrake.com web site for a full list of fridge magnet
quotes, parables and media sources of some of her ideas, but the site is so slow and clunky that I lost
patience with it. There is, however, a long extract from the book which will give you a good idea of
whether you want to read it or not. It struck me that if more and more publishers adopt this practice,
then book reviewers might soon join the list of species which have "kakked it in the past fifty years".
Then, some "Extinctathon Grandmaster" gamesplayer could adopt his/her name as a codename, just
as 'Crake', 'Oryx' and 'Snowman (Abominable)' were chosen before the "JUVE killer virus" ended
everyone's game. There's a bit more 'fact in fiction' for you!
Ann Skea, Reviewer
http://ann.skea.com/
Scribbler's Bookshelf
Midnight Sun
Kat Martin
Zebra Books
850 Third Ave New York, NY 10022-6222
ISBN 0821773801 352 pages; $6.99 US / $9.99 CAN, http://www.kensingtonbooks.com
Charity Sinclair was through with Manhattan's way of life. The city girl had plans. Her dreams of
exploring were about to come true. And for the next six months, she would mine The Lily Rose
while enjoying nature in its own solitary environment. In her quest, Charity purchased the land and
cabin sight unseen. So her first introduction to hard work was to make the repairs. With the
contractors hired to fix the roof and plumbing, Charity could focus her attention on what she came
to do. Then Buck gave her worse news. The gold-mining equipment that came with the purchase
was out-of-date.
McCall Ryan Hawkins wanted quiet and solitude. There was no way he wanted anyone invading his
life. And that included the woman who boldly squatted on Mose Flanagan's property. Or so he
thought.
Believing Mose would never sell his property, Call is amazed to learn it had been on the market and
he missed the opportunity to buy. Although he quietly admitted he enjoyed the communication with
Mose, Call had no desire to continue the aggravation with his newest neighbor. But because he
missed the sale, Call would get a chance to argue with that sassy woman named Charity. But Call
had no desire for a woman on any level. Unfortunately, Charity was all woman.
This sets the stage for a tale of thrills between Call and Charity. Unfortunately, the tide of romance
slides to a near trickle when Charity's boyfriend, Jeremy, pays a visit. Although not related, a string
of events is affecting Call and his reentrance into the business world. Some are quite devastating and
others are just frightening. But nothing to make Call believe he really had an enemy out to destroy
his work.
Every movement is choreographed. In lightening feedback, readers are then transported toward
understanding as the villains behind the attacks become visible. These people are the typical
cardboard images designed solely to bring action to a relatively tame story. The real people in this
adventure are in the backwoods of Canada struggling to find themselves amid the layers society
covered over the years.
The style is tightly focused on the end result rather than creating a finely tuned orchestra waiting to
play out the in-depth plot. Each character seems overrated as their libidos controlled every waking
moment. After a point, the believability begins to fade that Call and Charity may be able to form a
solid future together. While it was known both had issues to overcome, the subplots makes Call's
problems stand out. Fortunately, Charity tempered his egotistical mannerisms. Then again, Charity
had some strange ideas of why she believed she had inherited memories from a relative. Of course,
anything is possible.
Kat Martin is a favorite on many lists. Her tales normally wrap a fine mist of realism filled with
suspense of the unknown. MIDNIGHT SUN does not quite fulfill this obligation. But even knowing
this, readers should understand that all of the best books have their own little flaws. Thus,
MIDNIGHT SUN is one of many books that should be sought out as a possible choice for the
conclusion remains solid and true to the romance genre. Brenda Ramsbacher, RIO Member PO
Box 386, Mountain Home ID 83647 scribblers@runbox.com
Where the Heart Leads
Ginny McBlain
Awe-Struck E-Books
2458 Cherry Street Dubuque, Iowa 52001
kathryn@awestruckebooks.net
http://www.awe-struck.net
ISBN 1587493659 $4.75 download; $8.95 diskette
Jan Hollins decided Ashley Lanning had been a widow long enough. Ashley thought differently. Yet
it was difficult to say no to Jan's meddling. So when Jan asked her to come to dinner, Ashley figured
a dinner would not be the end of the world. Besides it saved Ashley the trouble of going shopping
before heading home to cook.
A major in the Army, Kit Garrett arrived at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas for the next Command and
General Staff Officers Course. Since he was three months early, Kit had some free time on his hands.
Of course not all of it his own as they put him to work in another area until classes were ready to
begin. This time Kit hoped to use wisely getting to know his children after a year separation while he
had been in Korea. But he was terrified of making another mistake like he did last time.
Many times, people move to a new place going into the situation of not knowing anyone in the
community. In Kit's case, his old buddy, Charlie Hollins was stationed at Fort Leavenworth too.
Transition was easier but Charlie's wife, Jan, was determined to stir the pot. Unfortunately, her
targets were Ashley and Kit. While Ashley had her own fears, she could not help feeling as if Kit and
her son Jeffrey, belonged together. Meanwhile, Kit's ex-wife had cruelly decided she was tired of
marriage and dumped Marc and Amy at their grandparents while he was still in Korea. Now he not
only had to adjust to single parenthood but Kit needed to make his son, Marc, understand his mother
would never be back. Then there was General Jan playing matchmaker with someone not ready for a
relationship. But she had not failed yet.
Everything seemed to be going in the right direction for Kit and Ashley when Kit receives his orders
to Ft. Bragg. Although it hurt terribly, Ashley wanted a permanent home due to her childhood
wanderings. Kit couldn't give it to her. So she was going to give him up. Not only that, Ashley
worried about his dangerous career and there was no way she was going to live with the daily fear of
losing another man she loved.
Then Ashley finds out the hard way that there are no guarantees in life.
Like other McBlain novels, this one provides endearing characters that tug the heartstrings. Kit will
make you angry as he learns patience in dealing with his children. Yet Kit is lovable as he continually
makes the common parenting mistakes many encounter. Then there's Ashley who is wrapped up in
the past and not wanting to venture into the present except to provide a good home for Jeffrey.
Forcefully lacking, however, is the concept of showing the reader what is happening as the tale
comes to an end. It is true. Every book has a certain amount devoted to telling. Yet one specific
section simply stands out as different. It should be noted that this minor gripe may not be overly
evident unless read in one sitting.
Sometimes WHERE THE HEART LEADS is totally different from what is expected. And as with
many military-related books, McBlain does a fine job of accurately portraying their lifestyle. Great
Job! Brenda Ramsbacher, RIO Member, Scribblers PO Box 386, Mountain Home ID 83647
scribblers@runbox.com
Sky Bounce
Deanna Miller
P.O. Box 63 Merrifield, VA 22116
http://www.deannamiller.com
info@deannamiller.com
ISBN 0972542418 210 pages; $6.50 US
The scariest part of being an Alula was the probability of being Sent. The Council was adamant on
Sending the young through to restore the balance. Hesper was led to understand that aliens had
mastered the technique of riding the interplane. This must have caused the balance to shift. But then
again none of the Alulas seemed to know the reason for the Sendings. They just knew they were
going to help balance the planes before everything merged as one.
For nearly eight years, Hesper had lived with her Aunt Sern. Her mother had been Sent and would
never return to the Skymounts. It was known many Alulas would go. Only the brave would venture
to another plane though. And these would not remember the life they had known among the
Alulas.
Interesting point to understand is that the Alulas are female and have wings. To reproduce they were
forced to merge with the Mantaurs, which are male and supposedly the most terrible thing on their
plane. The Council worked hard to make sure all of their young were terrified of leaving the safety
of the Skymounts. But one night, Hesper flew too far and was forced to land. She sought a cave to
hide within for the dreaded Mantaurs followed. But before they arrived, a Boytaur interfered. From
that point on, Hesper befriended this Boytaur named Tristan. She would sneak out of the Skymounts
to visit this outcast and they would use a combination of her wings and his powerful legs to move
about. Hence the title SKY BOUNCE.
Tristan is the mischievous one of the two. It is Tristan who convinces Hesper to attend the highly
secretive Sending. Although Hesper is doubtful, she agrees and they bounce up until they reach the
location where the ceremony takes place. Everything goes well until one of the Alulas spot
them.
Built into three sections, the first talks about the beginning of the Alulas and their relationship to the
balance. It also introduces Hesper and Tristan. The second part tells of Hesper's flight to the human
plane, the loss of her memories and of Tristan finding her again. The last is of the barren plane where
they will find answers to all of their questions.
Featuring a very simple plot, young readers will be able to follow along easily. The downfall is that
they must first understand the form of a Boytaur, Alula, and Mantaur. It is understood right from the
first sentence they are not human but the exactness is not explained until later. As an adult, this was
an annoyance. However, for a young reader, this slight may go right past their conscience since SKY
BOUNCE is a typical fantasy with a setting of it's very own.
Many children who love the fantasy worlds will enjoy this one. It should be noted that the fantasy
world depicted may be difficult to see in the mind's eye. Quite frankly, this concept simply was not
detailed enough although the writing itself is fabulous and puts you right in the middle of the tale.
Truth be told, Miller has the makings to be a master storyteller for children.
My oldest daughter, Kristina, also had the pleasure of reading SKY BOUNCE. Her version of
events coincide with mine so for this purpose, only the opinion portion of the review will be shared
in this paragraph. The quote on the cover is accurate. This is a very readable tale that is difficult to
put down until the last page is turned. The visualization of the Skymounts and Council Room were
difficult to imagine and more details could have been shared to complete this setting. Yet this fact is
minor because Miller grabs the reader and sucks them in the tight web surrounding the character's
personality.
All in all, Miller tells a good tale.
Brenda Ramsbacher
Scribblers, RIO Member
Kristina Ramsbacher, 13 years
PO Box 386, Mountain Home ID 83647
scribblers@runbox.com
Roger's Bookshelf
From Making a Living to Having a Life
Gloria Dunn
Violin Publishing Company
P O Box 550, Fairfax, CA 94978
ISBN 0066086759, $17.95
It's Coming Back
During the go-go years of the late 1990s, there were plenty of jobs available in a hot economy. For
the first time in history, workers had tremendous freedom in choosing the kind of work they would
do, where they would do that work, and what employer they would work for. Work was
transformed from being a drudgery something that has to be done to an experience that could
actually be enjoyable and fulfilling. In a sellers' market, workers could actually manage their career
destiny and their personal lives. We began to see a movement toward enriching the balance
between work and life.
In 1998, this book was a little bit ahead of its time. People were starting to seek more
meaningfulness in their lives, but still weren't quite sure how to define it. Many of us were not even
sure we were entitled or deserving of such a life, so different from the work-as-central-to-life core
belief.
If the economy hadn't slowed, this book probably would have been a pretty strong seller. If
rediscovered, I'll bet it could be a very popular book. The message is right on target and the book
itself is very readable and well put-together. The chapters are heavily seasoned with brief stories
from workers, identified only by first name. Whether they are true stories or whether they are
created by the author to make her points, they are effectively illustrative and add value to the text.
The same added value applies to the summaries at the end of each chapter. The table of contents is
enhanced to give the reader a strong sense of the messages that are conveyed so well in these
pages.
The book is organized into ten chapters that are revealing in their titles: Work is More Than a
Paycheck, How Core Beliefs Keep Us Stuck in the Wrong Job, Stress and the Workplace, Finding
time to Find Wise Work, When Quitting is the Best Option, What to Do Before You Lose or Leave
Your Job, What to Do After You've Lost Your Job, Managing Change, The Heart of Wise Work,
and Balance Working and Having a Life.
For several years, thousands of people have been out of work and/or trapped in jobs they don't like.
As the economy picks up, these people will be seeking, searching, wondering and hoping. If you fit
in this category, pick up a copy of "From Making a Living to Having a Life." Your insight will
grow, your stress will drop, and you'll be on the way to a new phase of life that will be delightfully
different for you and those around you. This book is coming back...and so are you!
Employing Generation Why?
Eric Chester
Tucker House Books
1410 Vance Street, Suite 201, Lakewood, CO 80215
ISBN 0965144771, $24.95, 212 pages
Outstanding in Content, Flow, and Design
Employers and educators parents, too are befuddled by the younger generation. So, what's new?
We've had that condition for generations. Ah, but this generation is quite different than anything
we've encountered in history. Today's young people seem to be wired differently, making them more
difficult to understand and work with. This book will lift the fog, increasing your insight,
appreciation, and skill to more effectively tap this powerful resource.
The book is divided into three sections. In the first part of the book, Chester explains Generation
Why's traits, values, and perspectives the good, the bad, and the ugly. Readers will gain valuable
insights into a generation that will have a tremendous impact on the workplace and on society. This
section of the book is well-constructed as a sort of stream of consciousness that will hold your
attention as your knowledge expands.
The second section is filled with information and advice for employers. You'll learn about recruiting,
training, managing, appearance, fun, recognition and rewards, and retention in bite-size pieces. The
design of this book is quite appropriate, as it fits the way your mind must work if you are to be
successful in connecting with Gen Why. And that takes us to the third section ways to
connect and disconnect with these unique individuals.
Now the fine points. This book delivers useful information, but it also provides interpretation. You
learn and you understand after reading each section. The consistent format aids in absorbing the
volume of knowledge presented in these pages. Call-outs will help scanning readers grab the high
points, but don't be surprised if they pull you into the text looking for more.
Reading a book with this much detail can be overwhelming. In these cases, I find myself wishing
there were some kind of a summary or explanatory index at the end of the book. Bullet points would
remind me of what I'd read and help me "get" the major concepts without wading through all the
text again. Chester has done us all a big favor by presenting such an executive summary, chapter by
chapter, at the end of the book. You can actually start at the end of the book to get an overview,
then dig into the details.
This book is designed for efficient use, as well as an effective vehicle to deliver a considerable
amount of information. There are no guarantees that you'll be totally successful working with Gen
Whys after absorbing this book, but you'll be miles ahead of those who haven't read it yet.
Side note: as a consultant and speaker, I address generational issues in my work. Even with my prior
knowledge, I gained quite a bit from Chester's work and will confidently recommend it to all my
clients who might employ these young people. Come to think of it, that would be all my clients.
Employers, teachers, parents, preachers read this book!
The Bible on Leadership: From Moses to Matthew - Management Lessons for Contemporary
Leaders
Lorin Woolfe
Amacom Books
1601 Broadway, New York, NY 10019
ISBN 0814406823, $22.00, 240 pages, 1-800-250-5308
Surprisingly Well Done
I have titled my review "Surprisingly Well Done" because I frankly didn't expect the quality of
reading I enjoyed in this book. I'll admit to being a bit jaundiced by one book after another
comparing biblical characters and ancient historical figures like Attila the Hun to today's situations
and leaders. But, if AMACOM, the publishing division of the American Management Association, is
presenting this book, maybe there is some substance in these pages after all.
I opened the book with apprehension, half-expecting a Bible-thumping worship of religious heroes.
Surprise! I was captivated right away by the almost conversational tone of the writing that pulled me
in. The messages are much more "real," than pushy. The preachiness I feared did not materialize.
Instead, lessons were shared on the fundamentals of leadership, with examples from Biblical
characters and modern-day corporate and political leaders.
Woolfe is obviously quite conversant with the Bible, its stories, and its lessons. I am not, so I was
frankly concerned that I wouldn't have the knowledge to relate to the book's teachings and message.
I found that Woolfe described enough about each character and story that I understood. The people
cited Biblical and modern, are used as vehicles for Woolfe to make his points about ten attributes
of leaders: honesty and integrity, purpose, kindness and compassion, humility, communication,
performance management, team development, courage, justice and fairness, and leadership
development.
As you read this book, expect to pause to reflect frequently. It will be a comfortable experience,
rather than an unsettling challenge to your morals. Each chapter concludes with Biblical lessons on
the theme of the chapter not religious, Biblical. It's sort of a comparison of management literature
from two different eras and not at all intimidating. A good set of reference notes and an index add
value to the book.
Commentary: Understandably, this book addresses Judeo-Christian culture both in its themes and
it's content and treatment. It would be interesting to see a set of these books, with similar
comparisons to perceived qualities of leaders and the religious literature of the culture that supports
the written heritage.
It's Not the Big that Eat the Small It's the Fast that Eat the Slow
Jason Jennings & Laurence Haughton
HarperCollins Publishers
10 East 53rd Street, New York, NY 10022-5299
ISBN 0066620538, $26.00, 262 pages, 1-800-242-7737
Some flaws, but overall a good value
There is an old story about the two fellows who went lion hunting in Africa. They searched for days
to no avail, then suddenly right in front of them was a huge lion! The lion saw them, too, and
thought, "lunch!" One of the men reached into his knapsack, retrieved his running shoes, and began
putting them on. His friend, incredulous, mocked, "You'll never outrun that lion." The first man
responded, "I don't have to outrun the lion; I just have to outrun you!"
The speed of business has increased, along with the speed of change. Today, and in the years ahead,
the prizes will go to the companies that anticipate the trends, then move most quickly and wisely to
put themselves in the right place at the right time. Those firms that allow any employee at any
level to tie them to tradition or to get in the way of progress risk extinction. Given the title, we'd
expect to find the secrets in the pages of this book. Readers will find quite a few tips, some great
lessons, snappy writing, and valuable summary lists at the end of each chapter. There's a lot of good
content here, but also some annoying redundancy.
This well-organized book moves steadily and deliberately through a collection of strategies that
stimulate thinking and action. A number of examples are offered to illustrate fast movement and
not-fast-enough movement. Many of the anecdotes and case studies come from the same companies,
which is both good and bad. We see deeper into these companies, but miss the opportunity to
appreciate the strategies and actions of a wider range of organizations. Hearing about the same
companies over and over again made me wonder if the authors had investigated any other examples.
The sameness got old.
Toward the end of the book, the reader may sense some repetition, as if the authors forgot they had
mentioned these things or were looking for filler to complete the manuscript at the end of their
writing process. I sensed some redundancy in the main body of the book, but as the manuscript drew
to a close I almost lost interest because I was reading words I'd already read.
There's a lot of good content in this volume, so I'll still recommend it. Look for the tips, the advice,
and the strategies that will inspire you to make notes, turn down pages, and highlight various
sections. While the book wasn't 100% for me, there are a lot of valuable and thought-provoking
lessons in these pages. Many of the ideas and observations are sufficiently thought-provoking to
stimulate change in the way you do things, particularly if you perceive yourself to be in a
competitive environment.
This review refers to the hardcover edition.
Roger E. Herman, Reviewer
www.hermangroup.com
Shirley's Bookshelf
Desperate Times
Charles Cooper
iUniverse.com, Inc.
2021 Pine Lake Road, #100, Lincoln, NE 68512
ISBN: 0595202357, $18.95, www.iuniverse.com
"This work should definitely be viewed as a journey. It began many years ago with happiness and
faith and journeyed through bitterness and pain to individualism and idealism."-Charles Cooper.
Desperate Times is a collection of poetry by Charles Cooper written and assembled over more than
8 years of his life, which does indeed read as a journey. Mr. Cooper is a graduate of Palm Beach
Atlantic College and the originator of the PBAC Poetry Society. Currently pursuing his graduate
education at Old Dominion University, he spends his time with family and continues his writing.
While journeying through this book, the reader is skillfully led from one poem to the next in
anticipation. This skillful direction can be seen in "Declared Love" which concludes: "We would be
married on the morrow, "No later," she said And our separate lives would end." Leading subtly to
"In Holy Matrimony" "The morrow came with the night far away Expectancy grew for the
marriage today, ."
What appeals most to the reader is the depth of emotion evoked in this poetry. The reader cannot
avoid becoming emotionally involved in this search for self. This emotional connection is apparent in
"Finding Peace":
Would the journey was the goal, Would the fountain was my soul, Forever spouting the words of
the universal night.
Or "Introspection of a Loner"
I am destroying my own self, From the inside to the outside, No man could defeat me, So to myself I
bring demise.
Many references are made to Ralph Waldo Emerson, Roger Waters, Dylan Thomas, Robert
Browning and other great poets throughout this work and the influence of these great men is evident
in the poetry of Charles Cooper.
Desperate Times is full of diversity in both structure and content. The words and patterns hold the
attention and keep the reader focused. In the author's poetry, anxiety and concern over lost love,
faith undone, and a search for the soul are balanced with the power of truth and love. It reflects
desperate times indeed for this poet, who has expressed his spiritual journey in a well-written,
inspirational collection that leaves the reader believing poetry is his life and all of life is poetry.
I end this review with a quote from the final poem in this collection:
"The barge was prepared and the poet laid there, The ship now shoved off from its isle. The arrow
flew; the night away By flames into the night to see The procession standing cold and silent. As the
poet went to be."
Release Your Unique Potential
Ronnee Mcgee
Armadillo Publishing Corp.
Georgetown, Texas/ChooseToExcel
Library of Congress Control Number: 2002113736
ISBN: 1891429469 $11.95 www.choosetoexcel.com
You have the potential for a uniquely successful life. If you desire greater fulfillment in all aspects of
your life, this book is for you. Author Ronnee McGee has taken the framework of her very
successful, professional and personal growth seminars and produced a concise, but highly effective
self -help book titled "Release Your Unique Potential"- The six hour course for Professional
Growth that can change your life. Ronnee McGee graduated magna cum laude with a Master of Arts
in Career Guidance. She earned a Certificate in Experiential Seminars from the Performance
Training Institute and devotes her time and energies to developing her professional books and
growth seminars enterprise, Choose to Excel. She is living proof of the successful life that she offers
to her readers. Unlike many self-help books that lecture the reader to make drastic changes in order
to achieve success, this book takes the reader on a journey of self-discovery. The step-by-step
exercises in the book assist the reader to tap into their own unique potential. The process of
self-discovery and managing that discovery for maximum success is different for everyone and the
style and directness of this book provides maximum diversity of application.
You complete the exercises to improve and discover the principles and practices that apply to your
personal directions and goals. Exercises are easy to understand and short in duration, encouraging
you to complete each exercise and gain further insight into your own unique and limitless potential.
Covering a diversity of topics from relationships, health, spirituality and self-esteem, to financial
freedom and wealth, this book is inspiring and informative for everyone. McGee states, "All of the
lessons work together to create a synergy beyond that of even the most meaningful individual
lessons." You will begin an enlightening, awakening journey of self -discovery as you complete each
exercise. Travel through lessons titled: Harness Stress, Define Your Success, Identify your Potential,
Tap Your Creativity, and many more with a greater knowledge of your greatest asset, yourself.
"Release Your Unique Potential" teaches you to begin to apply the principles and practices that will
maximize your ability to get where you want to go and to make dreams and goals a reality. You will
learn to celebrate your successes as you progress through this book.
The book is well written, in an inspirational, simplistic style that appeals to readers from all walks of
life.
Shirley Roe, Reviewer
www.allbooks.bravepages.com
Pogo's Bookshelf
Go Down Moses
Arline Chase
ebooksonthe.net .pdf HTML format
ISBN: 0970614248 .pdf 36pp 4.50 USD
ISBN: 1594310130 ppbk
http://www.ebooksonthe.net/catalog/eBooks_Catalog_ChildYouth3.html
When people think of the Underground Railroad, they usually think of London's Underground or the
Resistance Movement in Europe during the Second World War. They don't think of the Freedom
Train leading slaves out of the Deep South during the 19th century into the free lands north of the
Canadian border. Today, few are alive that are directly related to the War between the States. The
memories are forgotten except the words of Lincoln at Gettysburg,
"The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they
did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who
fought here have so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task
remaining before us that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for
which they gave the last full measure of devotion that we here highly resolve that these dead shall
not have died in vain that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom and that
government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."
Lincoln well knew the brevity of the nation's memory. Today, the national holidays honor Martin
Luther King, the martyr of human rights of the 1960's, but the world has long forgotton Harriet
Tubman. Her page fell out of the yellowed crumbling books of history long ago, or was relegated to
a brief paragraph in school textbooks as the woman who led the Underground Railroad. What did
she do? Who was she? Certainly she faced more hardship and danger than her successor; but she
never received the recognition due for her struggle against slavery and her contribution to the Civil
War and her continued leadership afterwards.
Go Down Moses: The Story of Harriet Tubman - Slave, Conductor of the Undergraound Railroad
and Spy for the Union Army is a pocket biography that offers insight on her life. It presents her life
with brief ocumentation of the hardships she faced and the dangers she overcame to help her fellow
man escape slavery. Today, we read about the overcrowded conditions of derelict ships that ship
hundreds of illegal Chinese immigrants to the United States. Each one of them has paid for the
horrendous journey in thousands of dollars and puts his life and the lives of his family at risk
through the control of snakeheads smugglers of human cargo. To the sourth, we read articles
about illegal immigrants dying in overheated tractor-trailers that smuggle them over the border.
Locked in the cargo trailer by unscrupulous drivers, each person sells his life for a chance of
freedom and prosperity in the United States. Many die. Some are abandoned in the deserts and die
from heat exhaustion. They are desperate for the opportunity to escape to freedom.
Like the slaves that Harriet Tubman knew, these peope's lives have no value. They are bought and
sold across the borders by those who profit in selling lives. Slaves suffered worse as they were
bought and sold like horses or cattle on the way to the slaughterhouse. Bony, not much worth, so
sell the carcass for glue.
Although environmentalists complain that the government and society has no value on natural
resources, and economists talk about a consumer society; the values of American society really
haven't changed much. Today instead of slavery, there is the skin trade, buying and selling women
for the sex trade, and the working poor have always been exploited by the rich. They are as invisible
as the homeless on the street, yet there are thousands of homeless people in the US who can not
provide for their own basic needs: hme, food, clothes and health. There are no slaves, but slaves to
economics.
Harriet Tubman fought against the enslavement of her fellow man. She understood that political
freedom was not enough, but that a person neeeded skills for a trade or job and a place to live.
Freedom just didn't solve the problems of emancipated slaves. They needed homes, education, and
self-esteem. Poor and landless, they had little hope to live better lives. She didn't step aside when
facing the injustice of the world; she got involved. When Lincoln stood on that field, he was
speaking of her dedication and courage. She raised money to help care for others and provide shelter
after the war. In spite of all the courage and dedication she gave to her country, her country gave
little back.
She died in 1913 without the national recognition she deserved and often her chapter was omitted in
history books. Arline Chase presents the story of her life based on real events with excerpts form
historical documents. Although the presentation is historical fiction, it offers insight and teases the
reader to search further. Ideal for young readers, the book includes a short bibliography for
additional reading.
Kay Thackeray
Sticky Blood Explained
Author Publishing Ltd
Braiswick 61 Gainsborough Road, Felixstowe, Suffolk 1P11 7HS UK
ISBN: 1898030774 144pp 7.95
http://www.author.co.uk/thackray/index.htm
Sticky Blood has a big name, Antiphospholipid Syndrome or APS for those who have difficulties
spitting it out. It was systematically discovered by Dr. Graham Hughes in 1983 and is often
misdiagnosed as Multiple Sclerosis (MS). The two have overlapping symptons and belong to
modern illnesses of auto-immune disseases. Auto-immune diseases are caused by the antibodies of a
person attack the person's system rather than the invading element thus destroying the person's
resistance.
Kay Thackeray speaks openly about confronting the illness. Illnesses like biological weapons come
in two parts: the biological and the psychological. It's very easy to feel defeated by something you
don't understand, especially if you are worn down by fatigue and the unseen enemy is inside your
body.
It's not only Kay's experience and enlightenment through frustration that speaks so authoritatively,
but also her empathy and understanding for her fellow sufferer. it's easy to wallow in the "why me"
syndromw when there is no easy answer to complete the puzzle. Hereditary? Unlike ailments such as
diabetes, it's unclear how much heredity may affect a person or whether it is more related to stress.
However, Kay has tips on how to identify symptons and cope with it. Known as APS, it is frequently
called Hughes Syndrome in honor of the doctor who identified it.
Sticky Blood is intended to be the layperson's guidebook, offering sympathetic voice on identifying
symptons, finding a doctor, and coping with the complications it may add to your life. It's not a
medical text written for the cerebral haematologist or neurologist; but an insider's guide for normal
life.
What does this guide provide? First, Kay identifies the critical tests that are needed to diagnose the
syndrome and supplements it by offering a checklist of the common symptons that are associated
with it. Secondly, she offers advice in coping with a long-term illness not only the personal
handling of fatigue and following medical prescriptions, but learning to monitor yourself. She offers
tips on how to find a friendly doctor since knowledge is not always the primary factor in selecting
one. Medical knowledge, like the internet, changes rapidly. What a doctor learned in school twenty
years ago may no longer be pertinent. There is no way to maintain a thorough knowledge of
medicine; but there are ways of being able to be informed and get recent information which is more
important. She points out that some professionals have heads crammed with facts and grew up with
the attitude that knowledge is everything; but technical knowledge isn't enough in the world of fast
changing medicine. Far more critical is to find someone who has the skill to listen, be sympathetic
and follow up on symptons.
Instead of relying completely on a doctor's medical training, she challenges you to take charge of
your life by finding out basic informaiton for yourself. Learn to care for yourself. Caring for yurself
means to take an active part in your personal daily care plan. maintain a diary and reach out to
others. learn to chart your symptons. Without documentation and some evidence a doctor is helpless
to assist you. Get in touch and communicate with others who also suffer with APS. Listen and
react.
The book offers down to earth practical advice on improving the quality of your life by being active
and taking charge of your life. It offers links to online resources to organizations that can support
your special needs related to the disease. Unfortunately, auto-immune diseases are rather
complicated and can not be isolated easily like other illnesses because they potentially affect every
aspect of your body's system. She presents the stories of three important people in the book,
showing how the illness affected and motivated them not only to improving their lives, but also
improving the lives of others. True, an illness can be a handicap, but it can also be the motivation
that creates a personal breakthrough for a richer life. The book offers hope and inspiration for
developing your personal resources in a time of duress. Kay's been there herself a victim of a heart
attack at a young age. Is thirty too young? Are TIA's only a myth? Blood clots can happen anytime
in any place resulting in minor to major symptons and complications that may bring your life into
chaos.
Take time out to care for yourself. Get out of the rat-race a moment to reconsider your values in
life. Need a companion to help you through a rough time? A friendly voice to face an uncertain
future? Then buy the book and find out about Sticky Blood. it will help you to find information,
others and online support.
Remember, it's a layman's guide to better living when facing an auto-immune disease the unknown,
unseen enemy within your own body.
Pogo, Reviewer
pogomcl@dowse.com
Paul's Bookshelf
Censored 2003: The Top 25 Censored Stories
Peter Phillips and Project Censored
Seven Stories Press
140 Watts Street, New York, NY 10013
ISBN 1583225153, $17.95, 400 pages, http://www.sevenstories.com
Based at Sonoma State University in California, Project Censored is a program that yearly chooses
the top 25 most underreported news stories in America. A national panel of judges whittles a list of
more than 700 nominated stories down to those that are summarized here. Among the requirements
are that the story must contain information that the American people have a need to know, it must
be backed up with solid documentation and hat it must have been previously published, either
electronically or in print.
During Gulf War I, America deliberately destroyed Iraq's water system, causing the deaths of
thousands of people, and did not allow importation of equipment to fix it. Convicted criminals, like
Otto Reich, Elliot Abrams and John Poindexter now hold senior jobs in the Bush Administration.
NAFTA has destroyed farming communities in America and abroad. New laws are restricting access
to abortions here in America. The Bush energy plan threatens public health and the environment.
American policies in Colombia support mass murder. The Bush Administration hampered an FBI
investigation into the Bin Laden family before 9-11. Failing private prisons are bailed out by the
federal government. Hear about these on the "all-news" channels?
The book also considers those stories which were covered in the media. Stories like that of Rosie
O'Donnell's sexuality, Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman, Mariah Carey's nervous breakdown, the
private lives of Prince Charles and his sons and the relationship between Britney Spears and Justin
Timberlake very much deserve to be called Junk Food News. Also explored is a critical analysis of
9-11, before and after, how New York state exams censored literature, the big ten media giants, the
rigors of self-censorship and a guide to independent media resources.
This is another excellent book from the people at Project Censored. It is required reading for
everyone in the news business. I never fail to learn something from each volume. In an ideal world,
the stories in this book are the ones that would be publicized from coast to coast.
Abuse Your Illusions: The Disinformation Guide to Media Mirages and Establishment Lies
Russ Kick (ed.)
The Disinformation Company Ltd
163 Third Avenue, Suite 108, New York, NY 10003
ISBN 0971394245, 350 pages, $24.95, http://www.disinfo.com
This is another in a series of books containing articles on subjects that will not be covered in the
mainstream press. Spanning the political spectrum, the independent researchers, media critics and
other experts behind these pieces (many written especially for this book) blow away the fog that
keeps up confused.
Greg Palast catches the news media in several blatant lies; not just misinterpretation, but actual,
black and white, lies. The most popular antidepressants can cause suicide. The Watergate break-in
may have been all about a call girl ring after all. The producer of the CNN report about Operation
Tailwind (asserting that America used sarin nerve gas in Vietnam) gives her side of the story. A
former federal drug agent describes first-hand how the Drug War is designed to fail. The New York
Times knows about, but refuses to publicize, America's illegal bioweapons program. Howard Zinn
brings the US bombing of Afghanistan down to the individual level, looking at some of those who
suffered and died. Operation Pipeline is a racial profiling program in California that pulls over
minorities on the pretext of minor traffic violations. The editor digs up more neglected information
on September 11, including: some of the highest US officials admitted that the attacks could have
been prevented, a US Senator has said that at least one foreign country actively aided the terrorists,
and one of the warnings received by the US was from the Taliban.
Also covered in this book are the diamond trade, child protective services, fluoridation, the
Resurrection story, government sponsored anti-drug ads, the US military faces a huge rape crisis,
the flexible definition of "terrorism," and corporations that have claimed the "right" to lie.
As with its two prequels, Everything You Know Is Wrong and You Are Being Lied To, this is a
must read of a book that has something to upset or offend everyone. I learned a lot from these
eye-opening articles. This isn't a "liberal" or "conservative" book, but it is very highly
recommended.
160 Degrees of Deviation: The Case for the Corporate Cynic
Jerome Alexander
Llumina Press
P.O. Box 772246, Coral Springs, FL 33077-2246
ISBN 1932047085, $12.95, 110 pages, JBCwiok@aol.com
Even the best organizations have good intentions when instituting new plans or policies. Something
always seems to go wrong, because of a type of manager called the 160 Degree Deviator. These are
people with their own agendas who damage company morale and cause frustration to rise. The
reason that they aren't called 180 Degree Deviators is that the author gives the company 20 degrees
"credit" for having the right idea.
The author theorizes that some people are just born jerks, or become that way after exposure to
other jerks. Such pompous, overbearing people should never be let anywhere near a management
position. Devaitors can be of either gender, and can be found anywhere between foreman and senior
management. They are preoccupied with superficial things, like the look of a report instead of what's
inside. They dominate all conversations with peers and subordinates, and monopolize meetings.
They rarely apologize for a mistake or false accusation, especially when it involves someone lower
than them on the company totem pole. They recruit spies to feed them the latest gossip about others.
Deviators will only hire or promote those who hold them in high esteem. they use a lot of possessive
pronouns, like "my people" or "my department," as if a piece of the company is their personal
property. In short, 160 Degree Deviators have an exaggerated sense of their own self-importance.
They consider themselves the center of the universe, and expect to be treated as such. Sound
familiar?
What to do about such people? It's easy to say that so-and-so is a "kook" or is thinking outside the
box; tell that to their subordinates or people in other departments. At all times, challenge Deviators
to put up or shut up. Meetings should be called for specific purposes with specific attendees; don't
let Anyone monopolize them. People who lie or sacrifice others to cover their mistakes should be
immediately dismissed. If Manager X is considered "harmless" by senior management, transfer them
someplace where they will be harmless, but get them out of that management job.
This book is excellent. A copy is needed in every company in America, Fortune 500 included. The
CEO who says "it doesn't happen here" needs to take a closer look at their company. It is highly
recommended.
Notes on Directing
Frank Hauser and Russell Reich
RCR Creative Press
400 Central Park West, Suite 7S, New York, NY 10025
ISBN 0972425500, 160 pages, $19.95, http://www.notesondirecting.com
This consists of a series of observations and lessons about the art of directing stage productions
gained by Hauser over the years, which Reich expanded into book form. Hauser has served as
director of the Oxford Playhouse for many years and is a veteran of the London and New York
stage.
This book covers the entire directing process, starting from before the first rehearsal and extending
to how to deal with critics. Read the play more than once. Understand that plays depict people in
extraordinary circumstances. Keep the audience guessing. Rehearsals need discipline. Sincerely
praise actors early and often. Listen for actors who drop the ends of lines. Some things are not and
should not be repeatable. Don't keep actors hanging about needlessly. Include the crew. Be decisive.
An audience's interest in the action is only as high as the actors' interest in it. Lighten up. Don't
expect to have all the answers.
Obviously, this is a very specialized book. For someone with zero experience on stage, like yours
truly, these observations feel logical and reasonable; practically common sense. It's recommended for
those on the outside as it will give a good idea as to what it is like to put on a professional
production. For those on the inside, whether actor, director, writer or technical crew, this book is a
must. It tells directors what they ought to know, and what the crew would like them to know.
Puppet Child
Talia Carner, Mecox Hudson
P.O. Box 1405, Bridgehampton, NY 11932
ISBN 1930252986, $13.95 259 pages, http://www.taliacarner.com
Rachel Belmore thinks she has it all. She has a good job in the magazine business, a loving (and rich)
husband, Wes, and Ellie, a beautiful baby daughter. Everything changes the moment that she
discovers that Wes is a sexual predator, with Ellie as his target.
Thus begins a harrowing journey for Rachel through the family justice system. Wes is able to play
the court, and public opinion, like a violin, and have Rachel portrayed as some sort of hysterical
witch. The physical and emotional changes to Ellie after her court-mandated, and unsupervised,
visits with Wes are quite noticeable. But everyone involved with the case, including a seemingly
endless number of social workers, seem to have concluded that Wes is some kind of saint and that
Rachel has lost her mind.
The constant court appearances and meetings with her lawyer also take their toll at work. Even
though Rachel works for a major women's magazine, her boss is not sympathetic. She is even fired,
until the magazine is reminded that the attendant bad publicity for the magazine would be terrible
public relations.
Just before the hearing at which Wes is to get sole custody of Ellie, Rachel's parents, who are retired
and living in an RV, take Ellie and run. The less they tell Rachel, the less she has to tell the court.
When Ellie can't be provided for another unsupervised visit with her father, Rachel is sent to prison.
If things were bad before, now they have gotten worse. But she does find some solidarity with her
fellow inmates. It all comes down to the question: How far is a mother willing to go for her
child?
This is not pleasant reading. For anyone involved in the family justice system, like judges, lawyers
and social workers, it is must reading. For everyone else, this is a gripping and plausible page-turner
that is highly recommended. Remember, the next time a woman makes an accusation of child sexual
abuse, she may just be telling the truth.
Paul Lappen
Reviewer
MyKaela's Bookshelf
Rory: The Adventure of a Lion Club
Gillian Cullinan
Patsy Smith Roberts
Savuti Muti Publishing
PO Box 22096, St. Simons Island, GA 31522
ISBN: 0939801094, $TBA
MyKaela's Review....
Rory: The Adventure of a Lion Cub was a cool book because the pictures were awesome. The lady
who took the pictures was so brave to go there, because those animals could have hurt her. The
lions taught me that it's okay to be different. Your family and friends will still love you, even if
you're different.
--MyKaela
MyKaela's mom says that MyKaela looked at the pictures after reading the story and began
making up her own stories. She thought about each animal and told stories about their families and
what it would be like to meet those animals in person.
Mom's Review...
Rory: The Adventure of a Lion Cub was simply breath-taking. The pictures were wonderfully done
and every photo had us feeling as though we had entered an African Safari along with
Roberts.
While this book was written with the intent of children ages four to seven, smaller children will be so
captivated by the photos that they won't be able to put the book down! In fact, children who can't
read have plenty of pictures to make up their own stories.
I especially love the light-hearted approach of ending the story with a lesson the child can
understand and remember.
Currently, the website is under construction... but if you'd like a copy of this wonderful book, please
visit http://pinkstonemarketing.com. ISBN: 0939801094
About MyKaela:
MyKaela resides in Merrill, WI with her pet bird, Lemon, her brother, and her parents. Edrich is a
contributing author and child entrepreneur. She may be reached at http://mykaelaedrich.com
About Mom:
Alyice Edrich resides in Merrill, WI with her two children and husband of 12 years. Edrich is a
freelance writer and the Editor-in-Chief of The Dabbling Mum.com - - An Online Magazine for
BUSY Parents. http://thedabblingmum.com
Linda's Bookshelf
Feel Better Now. . . Meditation for Stress Reduction & Relaxation
Gary Halperin
Avid Reader Press
6705 W. Hwy. 290, Suite 502-295, Austin, TX 78735
ISBN 097001502X $11.95
Gary Halperin, author of Feel Better Now. . . Meditation for Stress Reduction & Relaxation and
Kripalu Yoga Teacher and Holistic Lifestyle Teacher, defines meditation and also the term "anchor,"
explains how to meditate, enumerates its benefits, and in a review and a "Frequent Questions"
section reiterates his teaching derived from his training in Kripalu Meditation and Siddha Samahdi
Yoga Meditation and study of Transcendental Meditation and Vipassana Meditation and from his
own Meditation for Stress Reduction workshops -- "the genesis for this book" (p. 13).
The author defines meditation as "the practice of being aware when the mind moves off a chosen
point of focus" called an "anchor" or "when the mind moves out of the present moment" (pp.
27-28). He explains that it is imperative not to fret when the mind wanders during meditation, but
gently return to the present by gliding back to the anchor. His writing style parallels the process of
rounding up the mind, for he returns the reader again and again to his original definitions and basic
information to reinforce the concept of meditation in the minds of readers coming to meditation for
the first time. He also refreshes the memories of others more familiar with the various types of
meditation that, he acknowledges, often are named according to their anchors -- breath, sound,
mantra, prayer, affirmation, bodily sensations, or closed-eye visualizations.
Halperin lists the benefits of meditation as relaxation, acceptance, stress-reduction, improved
decision-making, and an enhanced appreciation for life and concludes with the salient point that
because of these personal benefits, meditators are "more likely to show more love and respect for
people and animals and the world" and can contribute "to the world from a place of strength and
peacefulness" (p. 92) -- a noble goal, indeed.
The Little Book of Big Feared Truths
Herbert S. Demmin, PhD
Blue Dolphin Publishing
PO Box 8, Nevada City, CA 95959
ISBN 157733101X $12.95 www.bluedolphinpublishing.com
The Little Book of Big Feared Truths by Herbert S. Demmin, PhD, opens by tearing through a
substantial list of other researchers and health care professionals who have dedicated themselves to
the study, analysis, and dissemination of information to help build self-esteem. While he agrees that
low self-esteem undermines success, he maintains that negative self-talk and dwelling on negative
predictions and negative outcomes cannot merely be replaced with positive self-talk, positive
anticipations, and positive thoughts. If you already have read the books or studied under some of
these professionals with whom he finds fault, and you already hold an allegiance to them for their
support and guidance, you may be turned away by Demmin's introductory message.
Demmin offers 11 mechanisms whereby you can uncover your self-limiting "feared truths," confront
them and give them a "fair hearing," disconfirm or confirm them, acknowledge and accept them and
the feelings they trigger, or work to modify them, or toss out those found to be invalid after rescuing
yourself from your obsession to hold onto them and use them for some misconstrued or
misperceived need.
You will know that you have accepted your feared truths when you become "the authority" on your
qualities and your feelings and emotions and are not influenced by whatever others may say or do.
You can become your own best friend. If others praise you and you know you deserve it, or if they
criticize you and you accept that the quality they condemn is worthy of reproach, then you remain in
charge. You are empowered and stabilized by owning your own situation and by not being pumped
up or squashed down by others. He explains that "having good intentions" is among certain qualities
common in all contexts and purports that "Even in the face of negative outcomes, if you trust that
you meant well, you're unlikely to be as self-blaming, guilty, or doubtful" (p. 58).
If you want to re-do the latticework of your self-esteem that, as Demmin says, was "largely
determined by how others treated you as a child, adolescent, and young adult" (p. 40), then The
Little Book of Big Feared Truths can play a useful step-by-step role in your challenge of reinventing
yourself.
Linda Davis Kyle, Reviewer
www.writingnow.com
Liana's Bookshelf
Nudges From God: An Anthology Of Inspiration
Vanessa K.Mullins
Obadiah Press
607 N.Cleveland St., Merrill,WI 54452
ISBN: 0971326673, 288 pp, US $ 15.95, www.obadiahpress.com
Are you paying attention to God 's little nudges in your life?
This book will make you become aware of the everyday little miracles through which God is guiding
and directing us toward the destiny He has planned for us. Filled with stories of inspiration from
everyday people, whose lives have been touched by God, this book will touch your heart and soul in
a very special way.
Vanessa K.Mullins, a wife, a mother, and a writer, lives in Michigan with her husband and three
children. She has completed two novels and is currently working on another . This book is the first
anthology she has compiled. Read the book and email her with your thoughts /comments at:
vkmullins@comcast.net
NUDGES FROM GOD is an amazing book of inspiration and miracles. Reading these stories from
everyday life, the readers will have the opportunity to discover the power of God in their life via the
little miracles that happen every day. The writers' lives have been touched in unique ways by God,
and having been aware of this magic touch, they forward their experiences to all the readers to help
them discover their own 'nudges from God' in their daily life.
The book is divided into eight parts, starting with 'The Lord Always Provides', where the readers
can realize that everybody can get help from God, one way or another. The readers can also get to
know how Obadiah Press got started- a very interesting story- and flourished.
There are many more interesting stories to read in the 'Coming to Believe' and 'Do Unto Others'
sections. It is worth mentioning the story "Forget me Knots", in part four, where the readers can get
to know how the above series of anthologies sprouted and spread around. This is a great story to
inspire those who feel that they are not able to pursue their goals. The readers will learn that with
the help of God they can certainly fulfil their wishes.
'Are You Listening to Him' and 'Angels Among Us' include more inspiring stories in a variety of
situations. "Anne's Song" is one of the stories that the readers can identify easily with the characters
and situations mentioned, while, "A Gentle Nudge", in part seven, is a story to remember : not a
story of coincidences as some people might say, but a story about God and how He guided the
writer to Him.
'When Love Calls' is the last story of part eight, and the book. It serves as the epilogue of this
wonderful collection of stories that will warm the readers' heart and feelings and drive them toward
God. Reading this last, amazing story of God's nudge, the readers will not fail to realize how
important is, to believe in love and God. After all, God is love.
At the end of the book there is a section with the Contributors' bios, which the readers can use to
get to know the writers of these wonderful stories and may contact them if they wish.
NUDGES FROM GOD is a fine anthology that no one should miss. It is interesting to read, not only
as a life story account, but as an inspirational means of getting guided to God. It caters to a wide
audience : to those who would like to have an enjoyable good read, and to those who yearn to
discover how to find God in their life.
It is amazing how the writers of these stories have discovered God's power and how they have
listened to Him in every different situation. The stories in this book will certainly make the readers
think about their own life, evaluate their priorities in life, and, why not, decide to let God direct them
toward their destiny.
Silver Creek
A.H.Holt
Avalon Books
160 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016
ISBN 0803496001, $19.95, 198 pp, www.ahholt.com
Silver Creek is a novel of the old west in its full glory . It is packed with cowboys, gunfights,
treachery, loyalty and love, traveling the reader through the Arizona Mountains to Silver Creek. An
old fashioned western that will fascinate everybody with its fast moving plot. The readers won't
resist turning the pages till the very end of the story.
Anne Haw Holt, an FSU Grad student and great-grandmother, says:
"Becoming a published novelist at sixty-eight is like a dream. I'm a bit of a celebrity to my
children, my grandchildren, my great-grandchildren, and my friends. In a world that often seems to
prefer that people over sixty-five be neither seen nor heard, that's beyond exciting."
Anne is a Ph.D. candidate in history at Florida State University. She says about her book:
"My heroes are still cowboys. They represent basic American ideals such as right vs. might, the
strong protecting the weak, etc. My favorite part of history is the settlement of the North American,
Canadian and South American West. Cowboys bring that history to life."
Contact Anne: aholt@garnet.acns.fsu.edu
SILVER CREEK is an old fashioned western set in Arizona. The story involves the hero, John
Garrett, who returns to Silver Creek to help his father clear his name, and the heroine of the story,
Andrea Blaine, who falls in love with John without knowing his real identity and intentions.
There is a mystery, two murders, a little romance,and a lot of action till the very end of the story.
The readers will be hooked by the first chapter of the book introducing John and his desperate
attempt to stay alive after his being shot at a gunfight.
"He felt weak and dizzy. Using his left hand, he rummaged in his saddlebag for a spare shirt. He
draped the shirt over his right shoulder with most of it covering the gaping wound created by the
bullet's exit."
Reading this novel the reader will have the feeling of watching a western movie. Vivid scenes of
fights and mysterious encounters, liven up the plot, while a love story unfolds in an old western
setting. As the story gradually progresses, the readers will feel the suspence and mystery envelop
them.
"Death water. It sounds almost frightening when you say it like that." " one slip and it's no telling
where you'd end up."
SILVER CREEK caters to everybody who loves fiction, young and old. It has got all the elements a
good novel should have, and it keeps the reader's attention intact to the last pages.
Being a historian Anne gives a striking description of the area which adds a tint of cultural education
to the novel. Also her own life experiences she grew up on a big farm in Virginia- has helped her
tremendously in writing about riding horses, tending cattle, cooking over a campfire, and guns.
Anne is now working on her new book titled, The Claim Jumpers, a new western . At present, she is
doing a series of mini book tours to promote her book. She also writes poetry and stories for
children and adults.
Liana Metal, Reviewer
http://lianametal.tripod.com
Magdalena's Bookshelf
Fresh Milk: The Secret Life of Breasts
Fiona Giles
Allen & Unwin
268 pp, $A24.95 ISBN 1865089796
Simon & Schuster
0743211472, $13.00, www.amazon.com
Fiona Giles is no prude. Her books focus unflinchingly on those parts of our anatomy often glossed
over. In Dick For A Day, Giles asked well known women what they would do if they had a penis. In
Chick For a Day, she asks well known men what they would do with a vagina. The results were
surprisingly literary, erotic, funny, and sometimes just icky. In her latest piece of scholarship, Giles
turns her query to the mammary glands, breasts, and more specifically, breastmilk. Of course
breastmilk is more than just the fluid of a body part, a sexual orientation, or even a critical
component of the female psyche. It is also the essential food for babies - and in many cases,
worldwide, their sole source of nutrition for the first 6 months or longer.
Once again, Giles' work is thorough, and has a wide scope, looking at breastfeeding, breasts and
breastmilk from as broad a perspective as possible. This is no simple guide for mothers, although
you will find out how some breastfeeding mothers dealt with mastitis, the pain of cracked nipples,
the increased cup size, and even how to buy a sexy maternity bra in a sea of white cotton thick
strapped D cups. There are essays from women who couldn't breastfeed, and others from women
who were liberated by the experience, an essay from a woman who advertised for a wet nurse for
her child, and one by a woman who felt violated when a woman fed her child without consent. There
is a touching piece about a woman who kept pumping milk for a breast bank after her daughter died
- as much a form of therapy as a goodwill gesture. There are stories of outrageous pain (bleeding,
infections, cracks, flat nipples, engorgement, mastitis...), extreme pleasure, those who loved it, and
those who just didn't like it. There is an adoptive mothers' attempts to lactate, pieces on returning to
work, pumping, shopping, feeding in public, feeding triplets, and a lovely piece from a man who
comfort suckled his daughter:
When I relate the story of that closeness between Miyuki and me, I'm always reminded of that look
she'd give me when she latched on, and the feeling of her whole body relaxing against mine. From
being a tense and dissatisfied baby, she would melt into a soft bundle. It was safe. We were close"
(195)
Not all the pieces are about breastfeeding babies though. There are also pieces which explore adult
breastfeeding (maybe this should have another name...), breastfeeding as a sexual act - both for
males and females, and even breastfeeding porn. There are also stories about people who have
cooked with breastmilk, with recipes provided the back of the book.
Giles has written the introduction, and the last story in the book - a revealing look at her teenage
years and relationship with her mother, but throughout the book Giles' voice introduces the pieces,
follows through with the thread, makes sense of the pieces, and generally narrates. Sprinkled in
between the pieces are the results of a number of questionnaires that Giles sent out, including things
like "What single change to the world would have made breastfeeding easier for you?" "If you could
buy breastmilk by the litre from the corner store, how much would it cost?" (ranges from $2.95 to
$1,000) :If your breasts could speak, what would they say?" There are also quotes from children
who remember what it was like, and describe it pretty clearly:
"It tasted like Coke. Lemonade in that one. Coke over here." (226)
Giles is a good editor, and she organises, and narrates her material well. There is always a light
touch, an open mind (and you need it for some of the pieces), and a good sense of humour inherent
in the book. It is hard to pinpoint who this book has been written for. Perhaps the perfect reader is
the modern literate, and relatively experienced mother, ideally feeding a baby while reading (it
worked for me...). I can't imagine the book working for the average person at Playgroup or in my
Nursing Mother's meetings though, and as how-to books go, you'd definitely get more value from
Kitzinger or The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding. Like Giles' other books, when it gets really funky,
it tends to be a pretty gross - with descriptions of masturbating mothers, lactating porn stars
spraying the camera, couples prolonging lactation so daddy can continue to get his nightly feeds, or
the feeding of animals. As a breastfeeding mother, I can't agree with Giles' statement that the need to
be able to feed my child safely comes at the price of joie de vivre (since breastfeeding itself is such a
celebration of life). On the other hand, there aren't many books around which take such a literate,
liberated, and in-depth look at the way in which breastfeeding can impact on women, on babies, and
on society.
For those of us who have experienced the sensual, emotional, and intense power of being able to
feed our children for extended periods, there are many chapters in this book which will resonate.
Those who haven't probably won't be interested. Giles has created a very enjoyable, easy to read,
and thoughtful book which is part social commentary, part literature, and part pop.
The Light of Day
Graham Swift
Hamish Hamilton
ISBN: 0241142040, A$35.00
Knopf
0375415491, $24.00, www.amazon.com
"Something happens. 'Something comes over us.' we say." This is the violet hour in which the real
action of Graham Swift's latest novel, The Light of Day, plays out. It is the nether region of tragedy,
of change, where life suddenly becomes something entirely different from what we always imagined
it to be. Go deep below the surface of any person, and you will find Swift's narrator, George Webb,
a man for whom the normal movements of life have become odd, and replaced by a kind of quiet
obsession - love perhaps, or maybe a kind of metamorphosis, evocative primarily for its own sake.
Superficially, if there is such a thing in Graham Swift's work, the story follows a day in the life of
George, a former policeman turned detective, turned paramour to a woman serving a life sentence.
The novel is full of the most exquisite contradiction, which form its meaning through
incongruity.
The novel reads as quickly as a murder mystery, whose high suspense "whodunnit" propels the
reader forward. We already know who done it though, although we aren't quite sure why, or why it
concerns George, or most importantly, the meaning of the act and why it concerns us. These are the
revelations which move the story along, with almost as much breathlessness as a plot based
narrative. The effect however is much more powerful. In the 'present,' George is visiting Sarah Nash
in prison on the second anniversary of her murder of husband Robert. George leaves his detective
agency, buys flowers at the shop across the street, visits Nash's grave, leaves the flowers, and then
visits Sarah in prison. That's it. The narrative is also contained by the small terrain, Putney Vale,
Christlehurst, Wimbledon. The detective agency, the florist, the cemetery. But the day is expertly
shot through with a range of flashbacks, from George's childhood, his expulsion from the police
force, his marriage breakdown, his relationship with his daughter, and his taking on of the Nash
case, woven so lightly into the stream of consciousness narrative as George moves about his
business, that the story becomes a much broader mosaic.
This revelation of George's backstory follows the terse structure of a mystery, and the Nash's murder
coupled with a smoky, almost cartoon like detective setting is a little trick. The reader feels like he
or she is reading a mystery, but the real mystery is not who killed Robert Nash. Nor is it even how,
or why he was killed. The mystery is George. In his minute observations, he is a detective trying to
find out who he is, at base. Stripped of his role of policeman, and stripped of his family, he is the
classic "down-on-his-luck" detective, staying aloof, until he meets Sarah Nash, and crosses the line.
The book is full of contradiction. George is a tough, relatively cold womaniser who ignores the
"rules" - sleeps with his clients and his assistant, but is capable of love at first sight, and soft
sentiment:
And whether he's up there or not, and whether he's got a net, I don't know. But I think it's how it
ought to be just among us. There ought to be at least one other person who won't let us slip through
their net. No matter what we do, no matter what we've done. It's not a question of right or wrong.
It's not a question of justice.(36)
The narrative itself is sparse, with short, clean, even clipped sentences, but it is also strangely rich in
metaphor and linguistic power:
The screws stand around, keeping an eye. It's not a playground (despite the kids) but it's a kind of
school. Here you have to learn. And here - she explained it more than once, though any fool might
guess - it's not so much what you have to live without but what you have to live with. More words
that you have to take seriously, big wordy words that used to be just words in the dictionary or like
words in someone else's language. But now (I feel their weight too), they're as real as rocks.
'Remorse', for example. Today, of all days, they're real. (46)
Another technique used by Swift, is the almost fugual, Joycean use of the returning detail. Early on a
single thread will appear, and will be picked up on much later. This occurs throughout the book, as
the reader is reminded of specific words, specific characters, and specific discussions. For example,
on the first page, George imagines Rita leaving him: "She'll say 'George' in a way that will make me
have to look up, and after a bit I'll have to say, "Sit down, Rita, for God's sake,' and she'll sit facing
me like a client." Later towards the end of the book, George is really telling Rita to sit down. There
are many recurring details, from Rita's pink bathrobe, Robert Nash's profession as a gynacologist,
the flowers, a cup of coffee brought by Rita, the smell in Sarah Nash's kitchen of the Coq Au Vin,
the goodbye scene between Nash and his lover Kristina, the Empress Eugenie, Chistlehurst,
surburbia, a park bench, George's father on a golf course. These repeating visual images work
poetically, building up richness out of the simplicity. We know the outcome, but the repetition of the
sensual evocative scenes, each time revealing something more, builds the tension. In between the
reflection, and the memories, is the forward motion of the day:
I turn on to the slip road and put my foot down. I'm on my way now, I'm on my way. I whizz out on
to the A3.
Time is circular, but also linear. It's an illusion, but utterly real. Robert was murdered, but he was
already dead, walking into the knife deliberately. This is a black and white, almost cinematic story,
but nothing is black and white. One suspects that there isn't really a "light of day" to this story. If
Sarah gets out of prison at all, she can never really become the happy housewife "sweetheart"
cooking Coq Au Vin for George. It is possibly the very suspended nature of her existence that he
has fallen in love with, rather than a specific person. His love is based on these fleeting images, the
scent of her cooking, the depth of her pain, the backs of her knees. In the end, there is a sense of
fatalism in this story - a propulsion of these characters into their inevitable fates:
Choice? It's in the blood. It's what I do, I am. It's what we all do, I think in our different ways.
Something in the blood, in the nose. Under the chestnut tree, the sticky breath of summer rain. We're
hunters, that's what we are, always stalking, tracking the missing thing, the missing part of our
lives." (105)
The Light of Day is a book that reads quickly, and pleasurably, while insinuating itself below the
skin of the reader.
Magdalena Ball, Reviewer
http://www.compulsivereader.com/html
Leonhardt's Bookshelf
Mama Gena's Owner's and Operator's Guide to Men
Regina Thomashauer
Simon & Schuster.
ISBN: 0743247981, $21.00, http://simonandschuster.com/
OK, ladies. This is aerobics for life. Don't worry, you won't have to lift a knee, but your blood will
start pumping as you read this. Regina Thomashauer, a.k.a. Mama Gena, starts by stretching the
ideas most women have about men and relationships. Then she gets readers whipped up into a
heart-pounding frenzy with her forcibly outrageous, uber-hyped motivational style. For most of the
following two-thirds of the book, she settles into a steady upbeat motivational style, then cools
readers down at the end.
This book is lively. It is motivating. It is fun.
Before I go any further, let me just state for the record that I do not admit actually reading this
book. Mama Gena makes it clear that it is not for men to read. Her second warning, for instance,
is: "If you are a man, shut this book instantly." So if anybody asks you, please insist that I did not
read it.
Having said that, Mama Gena offers an interesting three-part thesis. First, that women deserve
pleasure, that they deserve to be pampered, that deserve to have fun, that they deserve enjoying sex,
that they deserve feeling wonderful. Second, that men want to bring pleasure to women in any way
they can. "Men live to serve us." Third, that men simply do not know what women want and that
women can train their men to give them exactly what they want.
Mama Gena's Owner's and Operator's Guide to Men is full of interactive relationship and dating
exercises for the women she calls Sister Godesses. She urges women to speak up and ask for what
they want. Come on lift those desires. Get them moving. Hup! Hup! This is relationship
aerobics.
All in all a wonderful book, considering that I do not admit reading it.
Turn On Your Inner Light
Debbie Eisenstadt Mandel
Busy Bee
ISBN: 0972216693 $24.95
I don't usually review fitness books. But Turn On Your Inner Light is no ordinary fitness book,
focusing on pumping up the muscles or trimming down the fat. This is a fitness book about how
physical fitness caters to the mind and soul as much as to the body.
Have you ever been afraid? Author Debbie Eisenstadt Mandel offers an exercise regime for fear.
Have you ever felt pain? There's a fitness plan for that, too. Ever been too busy to exercise? You
guessed it, there's a special plan just for you. Need patience? Want intimacy? Been through
trauma? Want to love yourself more? There is a fitness plan specially designed for each of these and
dozens more situations.
Each fitness plan includes mind/body prescriptions that focus on such non-fitness solutions as
eliminating clutter, diet, breathing, mental images and outside activities. Each prescription is
followed by a meditation to reach into the soul. Finally, a series of physical exercises follows,
including detailed explanations with diagrams.
The book is imaginative and well-written, and even inspiring in a number of places definitely a
success for this first-time author. Even if a reader does not follow the fitness regime, the
introductions to each fitness plan make for good self-help reading. The text is punctuated with
subtly humorous cartoons, making the reading more pleasant.
If fitness is the missing link in your personal development plan, then Turn On Your Inner Light
might be the missing book in your collection.
David Leonhardt, Reviewer
http://www.TheHappyGuy.com
Kinni's Bookshelf
Mastering the Complex Sale
Jeff Thull
John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
605 Third Avenue, 4th floor, New York, NY 10158-0012
208 pp, $24.95, ISBN 0471431516, 1-800-225-5945
In Mastering the Complex Sale: How To Compete And Win When The Stakes Are High, sales
consultant Jeff Thull describes "Diagnostic Business Development", his proven system for
undertaking complex, business-to-business sales, in the book of the month. The core process is a
four-stage approach that enables sales pros to discover the best prospects, diagnose their problems,
design optimal solutions, and deliver what they promise.
Saving The Corporate Board
Ralph Ward
John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
605 Third Avenue, 4th floor, New York, NY 10158-0012
232 pp, $34.95, ISBN 0471433837, 1-800-225-5945
"The corporate board simply sucks as a tool for fiduciary oversight," says Ralph Ward, Boardroom
INSIDER publisher and Corporate Boards editor in Saving The Corporate Board: Why Boards Fail
And How To Fix Them. He finds that boards fall victim to ten common traps - such as using the
wrong information, conflicting agendas, and ineffective responses to bad news - and offers practical
advice for avoiding them.
Working The Room
Nick Morgan
Harvard Business School Press
60 Harvard Way , Boston, MA 02163
230 pp, $24.95, ISBN 1578518199, 1-800-668-6780
The best public speakers create a kinesthetic connection with their audience, according to
communication pro Nick Morgan. In Working The Room: How To Move People To Action
Through Audience-Centered Speaking, a practical, engaging book, Morgan shows how to develop,
rehearse and deliver speeches that will achieve their ultimate goal -- changing the world by moving
people to action.
The 1001 Rewards & Recognition Fieldbook
Bob Nelson and Dean Spitzer
Workman Publishing Company
708 Broadway, 6th Floor, New York, NY 10003-9555
384 pp, $17.95, ISBN 0761121390, 1-800-722-7202
In The 1001 Rewards & Recognition Fieldbook, Bob Nelson and Dean Spitzer deliver an
info-packed follow-up to their previous book, "1,001 Ways To Reward Employees" (over 1.5
million copies in print). The seven-part presentation covers recognition fundamentals, getting
started, organizational programs, common issues, implementation tools, best practices, and selected
articles.
What (Really) Works
William Joyce, Nitin Nohria & Bruce Roberson
HarperBusiness
10 East 53rd Street, New York, NY 10022-5299
306 pp, $26.95, ISBN 0060512784, 1-800-242-7737
Based on the results of the five-year "Evergreen Project", William Joyce, Nitin Nohria & Bruce
Roberson find that corporate success requires the mastery of six management practices in What
(Really) Works: The 4+2 Formula For Sustained Business Success. Four are mandatory - focused
strategy, flawless execution, performance-based culture, and flat organizations. The final two may be
chosen from a set of four secondary practices - workforce development, committed leadership,
continuous innovation, or partnering.
The Wal-Mart Decade
Robert Slater
Portfolio
242 pp, $25.95, ISBN 1591840066, www.amazon.com
Access to retailing giant Wal-Mart's operations and leaders lends depth and credibility to business
writer Slater's newest book.The Wal-Mart Decade: How A New Generation Of Leaders Turned
Sam Walton's Legacy Into The World's #1 Company traces the company's progress - and the
reasons behind it -- from Sam's death to Wal-Mart's simultaneous ascension to the top spot on both
the Fortune 500 and Fortune's Most Admired Company lists.
Why Smart Executives Fail And What You Can Learn From Their Mistakes
Sydney Finkelstein
Portfolio
321 pp, $26.95, ISBN 1591840104
Sydney Finkelstein (strategy and leadership prof at Dartmouth's Tuck School), spent six years
investigating fifty-one companies that experienced major breakdowns. In Why Smart Executives Fail
And What You Can Learn From Their Mistakes , he reveals four major causes of failure: brilliantly
pursuing the wrong vision; losing touch with reality; not acting on vital info; and, the personality
flaws of the leaders themselves.
How To Become A Marketing Superstar
Jeffery Fox
Hyperion
77 West 66th Street, New York, NY 10023-6298
192 pp, $16.95, ISBN 0786868244, 1-800-759-0190
Marketing consultant Jeffery Fox is an expert at the short format, advice-driven business book. This
time in How To Become A Marketing Superstar: Unexpected Rules That Ring The Cash Register,
he delivers 57 short chapters full of practical tips for marketing, advertising, sales, and service - all
focused on what he calls the marketing superstar's anthem: "It don't mean a thing, if it don't go
ka-ching!"
Supply Chain Excellence
Peter Bolstorff and Robert Rosenbaum
Amacom Books
1601 Broadway, New York, NY 10019
278 pp, $39.95, ISBN 0814407307, 1-800-250-5308
In Supply Chain Excellence: A Handbook For Dramatic Improvement Using The SCOR Model,
consultant Peter Bolstorff and journalist Robert Rosenbaum deliver a hands-on, project-by-project
guide to building a world-class supply-chain. Using a fictional company, they describe a
seventeen-week effort that traverses and illustrates the five-phase project approach based on the
Supply-Chain Council's Supply Chain Operations Reference (SCOR) methodology.
Kanban Made Simple
John Gross and Kenneth McInnis
Amacom Books
1601 Broadway, New York, NY 10019
259 pp, $39.95, ISBN 0814407633, 1-800-250-5308
U.S. manufacturers still don't understand the 50 year-old system of kanban (demand scheduling)
invented at Toyota, say authors John Gross and Kenneth McInnis. In Kanban Made Simple:
Demystifying And Applying Toyota's Legendary Manufacturing Process, they explain the elements
and advantages of kanban and describe a seven-step implementation process. (Includes tools, forms,
and assessments on CD-ROM.)
Confessions Of A Civil Servant: Lessons In Changing America's Government And Military
Bob Stone
Rowman & Littlefield
4720 Boston Way, Lanham, MD 20706
193 pp, $27.95, ISBN 0742527646, 1-800-462-6420
Bob Stone's entertaining memoir Confessions Of A Civil Servant: Lessons In Changing America's
Government And Military , also offers practical lessons in large-scale organizational change drawn
from his 30 years in government service and his tenure as head of Al Gore's Reinvent Government
initiative. He organizes his stories around fourteen themes ranging from "tackling a job when you
haven't got to clue" to "getting past the barriers to change."
Working Globesmart
Ernest Gundling
Davies-Black Publishing
3803 East Bayshore Road, Palo Alto, CA 94303
385 pp, $29.95, ISBN 0891061770, 1-800-624-1765
In Working Globesmart: 12 People Skills For Doing Business Across Borders, consultant Ernest
Gundling offers a competence model for managers working across national boundaries. He devotes
a chapter to each of the "global people" skills: interpersonal skills - building credibility, feedback,
obtaining info, and evaluating people; group skills - building teamwork, training and development,
selling, and negotiating; and, organizational skills - planning, knowledge transfer, innovating, and
change management.
Make Their Day! Employee Recognition That Works
Cindy Ventrice
Berrett-Koehler Publishers Inc.
235 Montgomery Street, Suite 650, San Francisco, CA 94104-2916
191 pp, $18.95, ISBN 157675197X, 1-800-929-2929
Recognition must be more than a program, says consultant Cindy Ventrice, it has to be a living value
within the company. Make Their Day! Employee Recognition That Works offers practical advice,
including the basic elements of effective recognition - praise, thanks, opportunity, and respect - and
how to build them into a three-step, organization-wide recognition process.
Theodore Kinni, Reviewer
http://home1.gte.net/bizbooks
Hodgins' Bookshelf
Islamic Peril: Media and Global Violence
Karim H. Karim, Ph.D.
Black Rose Books
2250 Military Road, Tonawanda, NY 14225
ISBN 1551641739, Can.$24.99, ISBN 1551641720; hardcover, 204 pp. incl. Intro., Index
This erudite if perhaps not quite unbiased work, whose author is an assistant professor at the School
of Journalism and Communication, Carleton University, Ottawa, is not always easy for a lay person
either to read or to fathom. To exemplify, my onetime professors of civil engineering used
"construct", with the emphasis on the second syllable, as a verb meaning "to build"; it thus cost me a
volte-face to see the same spelling, yet understand it in Prof. Karim's meaning: as a noun, first
syllable emphasized, meaning "concept" or "understanding" or "interpretation". (The related verb is
"to construe" - to interpret or explain.)
Thus on page 4 Karim informs us, "Human perceptions of everyday encounters are the products of
social constructions [the act of construing] of meanings rather than the results of objective
observations." What I think he means is, "Events are interpreted according to expectations
(preconceived notions) rather than realities." I may be mistaken, though.
The next sentence, still early in the 17-page Introduction which follows three pages of Preface and
ends in two pages of Notes, further tells us, "Hegemonic meanings of events are developed through
the engineering of societal consensus, usually by those who are able to influence dominant
discourses." No doubt, no doubt - but what did he say?!
Note that "dominant", almost always preceding "discourses" in this book, apparently doesn't mean
"top" unless, like peaks of the great five-peaked mountain Kangchenjunga, there can be many tops.
What I think "dominant discourses" means, in plainer language, is "major viewpoints".
A fit subject for Karim's next study could be the different jargons English has spawned, each
profession apparently having its own. If however the reader shares Karim's background, he or she
will find this book clear sailing - to use my own preferred jargon.
The meaning of "Islam" itself I have found elsewhere. It means "submission" - implicitly, to the will
of God.
It's both the curse and the blessing of this work's timing that it was published perhaps a year before
the Al Qaeda attacks on the United States. But for that timing accident, those events and two
subsequent Middle Eastern wars should certainly have received a great deal of scrutiny in a book so
focussed on the causes and consequences of such events ... which means an opportunity lost, and an
unexpectedly sudden obsolescence of some part of the book's contents unless a new edition is soon
brought forth.
At the same time, that accident may let us see, with a clarity undimmed by rationalizations and
blame-casting, how great or small was America's understanding or apprehension, and perhaps even
how great were the risks, shortly before the figurative dam of militant Muslim wrath burst in the
onslaughts of 11 Sept. 2001.
The book's chief title, "Islamic Peril", is not Karim's own "construct", but rather one by the
"Northern" (Karim prefers this adjective to "Western") press. In effect, he finds our news media
generalizing-cliche-ridden. He points out that, whereas there are profound disagreements between
numerous Islamic factions, we Westerners are led by an important segment of the media to regard
them all as one. In fact, the Islamic world's internal differences seem tantamount to schism and
mutual opposition, e.g., between the peaceable great majority and the violently
radical/fanatical/fundamentalist minority of whom we hear so much more.
Karim's illustrations 1 and 2, pp. 8 & 9, both showing assembled newspaper headlines clipped from
assorted articles, respectively illustrate "Islam depicted as destabilizing the world" and "`Islamic'
threats in journalistic discourses".
It runs both ways, though. We non-Muslims are regularly called "unbelievers" or "infidels" by our
Muslim brethren, regardless of how strongly we may hold our own beliefs. Why? Because ours are
not THEIR beliefs - and in their eyes, apparently, only their own beliefs are valid and worthy. Vast
seas of mutual misperception thus persist on both sides.
The words Judaism, Islam, and Christianity run parallel to one another, each denoting a particular
religion or system of beliefs; while Jewish, Muslim, and Christian are likewise parallel terms for
adherents of, or for things pertaining to, those religions. Likewise, in the Islamic world it appears
there are, in parallel to those in our non-Islamic world, both major and minor divisions, a good many
former sects now having become extinct, however. Perhaps the survivors are comparable to those
divisions in Christianity between the Orthodox, Catholic, and Protestant branches, on the larger
scale; and, say, among the Baptists, Presbyterians, and Methodists on the smaller.
There are for example not only the Sunni and Shiite branches of Islam, of which we hear so much in
connection with Iran and Iraq; but also the Ismaili (think of the Aga Khan), the Khawarij, and
others. (There also exists a parallel between Christian monks and Muslim sufis.)
Some of the Islamic divisions arose out of differences over the caliphate, or leadership, of the
Muslim world; for Muhammed (the Prophet's name is variously spelled) left his followers no
instructions for their governance at his death. Thus they were obliged to "make it up as they went
along", so that discord became almost inevitable. However, while the caliphs might seem to have
been comparable to the Christian popes, in action they may have performed more as army
field-marshals, during the age of Arab conquests.
Thus the splitting up of the forces of Islam doesn't seem so much like the formation of primarily
religious sects, as like the formation of tribally tinged political, then merely traditional factions.
Again, though, I may well be mistaken on this rather obscure (to me) point.
"Due to the many cases of disagreements about what it truly Islamic," Karim continues against the
abovenoted background, about which, however, he doesn't give as many details, "It is necessary to
distinguish between two dimensions in which the religion manifests itself. The adjective `Islamic' will
be reserved in this study for the `metaphysical, religious, spiritual' dimension of the faith, limiting it
to the fundamental aspects of Muhammad's message as it appears in the primary scriptural sources ...
`Muslim' will be used, in a qualified sense, for `the second level of signification ... the sociohistorical
space in which human existence unfolds.' This will help to distinguish between the theological ideals
and the reality that Muslims encounter in pursuing these ideals."
Putting it more simply still, for present purposes Karim proposes to apply "Islamic" to theory,
"Muslim" to practice. This too he establishes on page 9, possibly the most important reading in the
entire book; for there too he establishes that, whereas Westerners consider it normal that Church and
State be separate, the opposite is predominantly true of Muslim thought, and to force our system
onto them would be as foreign as forcing their system onto us - a point that's essential to understand,
I feel, at this moment in the world's history.
This realization was available, of course, even before the late, deadly Al Qaeda attacks on New
York and Washington, not to say before the recent wars in Afghanistan and Iraq (Gulf War II) - but
does "available" mean "adequately taken into account"? To my regret I don't think so, given the fact
that Al Qaeda still felt it had an adequate casus belli.
Another linguistic point Karim labours to clarify is that such words as "Islam(ic)", "Muslim", and
"Shiite" are being abused when important segments of the news media implicitly equate them to
terrorism or the like. In Karim's book, those who resort to violence to attain their ends, essentially in
the tradition of the Christian Crusaders of old and the superficially Christianized Klansmen of living
memory, are known as "militants".
The great problem here is that, whereas I already have written many paragraphs, I have not yet even
discussed all of the book's Introduction! Let me therefore skip onward to Chapter 1, "Violence and
the Media", beginning on page 18.
The chapter is divided into sections by means of subtitles, the first of which is "The Naming of
Violence". (The same chapter later addresses, "How the Media Explain Conflict" and "Constructing
the [Violent] World Order"; then, in true academic style, it provides three pages of Notes.)
You, unless you're a specialist of Karim's ilk, and certainly I, might well have said, "What's the
problem? If an act is violent, then ipso facto it is `violence'." That observation is true as far as it
goes, but then there arise questions of circumstance, such as the existence of legal warrants, and/or
such perceived justifications as self-defence.
Consider for example a Governor of one of the more severe U.S. states, who plays a role in the
execution (i.e., in the legalized state killing) of felons. Certainly, he is as accomplice in acts of
violence, but many will say his actions are warranted; this despite the circumstance that other states
find executions unnecessary, repugnant, immoral, and, perhaps above all, irreversible in the event
that error is later proven - as do many such entire foreign nations as Canada. In jurisdictions where
state violence is approved, not by God but by the state itself, the existence of such violence may be
obfuscated under such iconic terms as "justice" and even "righteousness". Oh, brother!
"Cowardly" is however never used in that context, even though self-righteous commentators
routinely denounce acts of extreme bravery (if we stop and objectively examine them) as "cowardly"
when they simply run counter to the interests of those commentators. How many times haven't we
heard it said ...
Karim's exposition on the naming of violence differs from the above, however, occupying about 5
1/2 pages and making references to the views of many other experts - Joseph Gusfield, George
Gerbner, Philip Elliot, Robert Fisk, Johan Galtung, Max Weber, Jean Baudrillard, Thomas Friedman,
the Landau Commission, and Noam Chomsky & Edward Herman.
Above all, Karim is not nearly as concerned with the common criminal who is motivated by personal
gain, lust, or rancour, as he is with the more idealistic if wrongheaded adherent of a faction whose
common bond is land hunger, politics, religion, language, race, or the like. Yet many telling points
are registered, only three of which are the following.
Fisk is quoted, on page 19, as writing that, "... `terrorism' no longer means terrorism. It is not a
definition; it is a political contrivance. `Terrorists' are those who use violence against the side that is
using the word. The only terrorists whom Israel acknowledges are those who oppose Israel. The
only terrorists the United States acknowledges are those who oppose the United States or their
allies. The only terrorists Palestinians acknowledge - for they too use the word - are those opposed
to the Palestinians." In other words, those who suppose they will gain by a politically inspired act of
violence characteristically laud its perpetrator(s) as heroic patriots; while those who have lost will
normally denounce the same person(s) as treacherous cowards. The words used don't define the
perpetrators of violence, but only how the commentators see it.
Hypocrisy, it seems, runs rampant over all.
On p. 20 Weber is quoted as saying, "... a state is a human community that (successfully) claims the
monopoly of the legitimate use of physical force ... The state is [also] considered the sole source of
the `right' to use violence." Adds Karim, "Those who carry out violence without authorization from
the state are punished by the state's `bureaucracy of violence (police, army, jails).' However, the
modern state tends to downplay its own massive and systemic use of violence as it simultaneously
emphasizes its opponents' violent acts." Yet more evidence of hypocrisy!
A conclusion I draw is that Karim's Islamic orientation evidently places him, not rabidly but
implicitly, on the side of the Palestinians - who, to put it mildly, are aggrieved by sundry acts of the
Israeli state. Enter the Landau Commission, appointed by the Israeli government itself after "... the
slaughter of Palestinian refugees and others in the Sabra and Shatila refugee camps in 1982".
That Commission "found in 1987 that `abusive interrogation methods' were systematically used by
Shin Bet, the Israeli security police, WHICH HAD BEEN LYING TO MILITARY COURTS IN
THE WEST BANK AND GAZA FOR SEVENTEEN YEARS. [emphasis added] Nevertheless, the
commission's report recommended that none of the Shin Bet agents should be prosecuted or even
disciplined for abusing detainees or for perjury ...
"Whereas structural violence by the state remains almost completely invisible ... [and] is usually left
unpunished ... violent resistance to governmental violence is highlighted as `terrorism.'"
Such truths will not sit comfortably with many of my readers, for - let's face it - at least a hundred
million Americans alone support, or are/were willing enough to go along with, their President's late
war upon the Saddam Hussein Baathist regime in Iraq, and/or they side strongly with the Israelis and
thus, implicitly, against the Palestinians. Nor will Americans be alone; Professor Karim, who lives
and teaches in Ottawa, reports on page 136 of "Islamic Peril" that, during the first war on Iraq -
which Canada had joined - "Even though government statements were made affirming the loyalties
of citizens of Iraqi origins to their adopted countries in the West, populist discourses often blurred
distinctions, making all Iraqis, Arabs and Muslims a common embodiment of the enemy. For many,
this was a war to contain a global problem named `Islam.'"
While "Islamic Peril" may, possibly, not have been the best book on its chosen topic, and while it
now is unfortunately somewhat outdated by the Al Qaeda attacks and two very recent wars, for
those who care at all deeply about the real issues, particularly the more fundamental ones, it is well
worth the trouble of reading, even if they disagree with the work's perspectives.
The Last Templar
Michael Jecks
Headline Book Publishing
338 Euston Road, London
ISBN 0747250618, 375 pages; price, UK 5.99 sterling, www.amazon.com
The Knights Templar were an order of warrior monks dedicated to the service of Christianity
including the protection of pilgrims in the Holy Land, at the time of the Crusades. After the end of
that period, though, on Friday the 13th of October, 1307 French King Philip le Bel (Philip the Fair,
in the sense of "the Handsome") set loose the persecution and utter destruction of the Templars,
with the complicity of a weak Pope Clement V.
They first had the Templars tortured by the Dominicans of the Inquisition; then used the extorted,
false or at best completely unreliable confessions as an excuse to burn all the Knights at the stake - a
most villainous piece of savagery that is still a huge blot upon the supposed virtues (mercy, truth,
etc.) of Christendom, and a mockery of that pope's assumed name, "Clement".
The grisly work of mass torture and execution seems to have taken seven years to complete, if we
may believe the back cover blurb's beginning: "1314 - Paris. Pope Clement has destroyed the Order
of Knights Templar, wrongly persuaded of their corruption. Watching through a veil of tears as his
friends die at the stake, a surviving knight swears vengeance on their accusers."
With further detail, essentially the same story is told in the 15-page Prologue of "The Last Templar".
Already, then, we are supplied with a stated motivation for whatever new foul deed(s) are to
follow.
Author Jecks has made the very plausible speculation that among such a numerous and mobile body
of men as the Templars, some must have been elsewhere at the moment when the main body of
victims to the royal and papal will was rounded up - and some absentees must have avoided any
subsequent capture, as well. (It seems less plausible that a man in such grave danger would so
expose himself, as Jecks also posits, to possible recognition, capture, incarceration, torture, and
excruciating death as to come into the midst of his enemies for no valid reason - but no doubt we
must allow Jecks his artistic freedom.)
Two years later by the back cover's chronology, we meet Simon Puttock, a hereditary upper servant
of the now anglicized Norman upper class in Devon - a southwesterly English shire lying between
Cornwall to the west and Somerset and Dorset, respectively to the northeast and east. Simon, just
made bailiff of Lydford Castle, is soon confronted with his first crisis, an apparent accident that may
well be a murder that's covered up, in part, by a house fire.
Simon is not yet up to such a challenge, but he has just made the acquaintance of an enigmatic
knight whose past is being held secret, whom the reader may quickly recognizes as, or perhaps
mistakes for, a former Templar - one who has previously seen too many burned bodies to be
deceived about this one. (I am not giving anything away, to this point; the same information and
more appears on the book's back cover.)
However, after Sir Baldwin Furnshill, whom I might call the first knight, has set Puttock on the trail
of murder and implies that they will solve this mystery together, he fails to meet Simon as promised
and fades from the story for several chapters.
This may be as good a place as any to remark on the book's cover illustration. It is quite expertly
designed to mimic the Mediaeval style, for instance by having the perspective askew and the houses
too small for their inhabitants. The cover tells much of the story in symbolic graphics typified by a
man ducking into a forest while clutching a bloody blade, and by a house fire with long curlicues of
flame but absolutely no smoke.
Unfortunately the text is less representative of its supposed era.
In the early 14th century, the language spoken in Devon would have been Middle English, of a sort
even earlier than that written by Geoffrey Chaucer (1342-1400), who would be born a
quarter-century after the setting of this mystery. In their original form, even Chaucer's "Canterbury
Tales" are almost impenetrable to us today unless we have specifically studied Middle English; in
fact, the Chaucer that the great majority of modern readers see has been "translated" for us! I don't
say Jecks should have written his tale in pre-Chaucerian Middle English, but I feel he made a bad
choice in writing his dialogue in what amounts to Modern English.
As an historical (but late 18th - early 19th century) novelist, my own policy is judiciously to salt
antique words, usages, sentence structures, and of course technologies into something like modern
speech, so as to evoke "just enough" of that oldtime feeling while allowing rapid reading by the
modern eye. It's a technique I recommend to any historical novelist, but unfortunately my advice
arrives too late to help Mr. Jecks.
Rarely does he compose passages whose wording remind one of the Middle Ages. More typically
sentences such as, "So you want to know where I was night before last, eh?" (pg. 119) reflect a style
of quite modern, perhaps mid-20th century whodunits.
Another aspect of Jecks's days-of-yore opus that made me suspect a long list of anachronisms
through the first third of the work was that his villagers seemed to have an uncanny grip of the time
of day - of what o'clock it was - when queried by the bailiff, playing the role of today's police. You
might almost have imagined, however nonsensical the thought is, that those old, old, oldtimers wore
modern wristwatches!
Until reading this book, certainly, I myself was no expert at all on the state of timekeeping
technology in the 14th century. However, I soon smelled a rat and began to research the topic, much
as Jecks himself should have done.
On page 98 a man being questioned says, "... it was about ten o'clock, sir. Ten o'clock." O'CLOCK?
What kind of "clocks" did peasants have back then, none too long after the Dark Ages? For these
were feudal countryfolk, poor, and with much the status of serfs.
True, the hourglass had been known since ancient times, but it would not have given rise to
"o'clock". Hourglasses also may not have been possessed by the poor, although their priests and
liege lords may have had some.
According to Encyclopaedia Britannica, "A clock [defined as a timekeeping machine] is said to have
been erected at Westminster in 1288, another at Canterbury in 1292 and another ... at St. Albans in
1326." However, "... these early clocks were very poor timekeepers and often varied by as much as
an hour in a day," the pendulum principle not having been discovered by Galileo until 1581. While
clocks of sorts did exist in two principal English cathedrals at the time Jecks describes, then, they
clearly were not widely familiar objects, and they could not have been locally consulted.
Moreover, it seems evident that such timepieces would not have been striking "clocks" (named for
the French `cloche' or German `Glocke', in both cases meaning `bell'), for additional mechanisms
would have required invention - a further reason why time would not have been measured
"o'clock".
The answer to how peasants kept a very approximate track of time, at least during the dark hours
when they'd have wanted illumination anyway, at last appears on page 124. "Have you any idea what
time it was?" asks the bailiff, to which the man being questioned replies in part, "Look, I don't carry
an hour candle with me out of doors ..."
An hour candle - brilliant! No doubt they were homemade, too, and cost no more than any other
candle. It's wonderfully logical, but for no apparent reason hour-candle technology is very obscure,
today. (Did YOU know of it? I rest my case!)
A person staying indoors, say to cook and then to spin flax until going to bed, could more or less
keep track of time, that way; he or she would, however, need some baseline time from which to
measure the passage of the hours. Perhaps, then, it was a function of the town crier (not mentioned
so far by Jecks) to supply that datum.
Nonetheless, an hour candle is no more a "clock" or true machine than an hourglass is, and it
certainly didn't ring a bell, so that the serfs' saying "o'clock" in Jecks's work still looks
anachronistic.
(As a further marginal note about anachronisms, a classical example occurs in the final line of
Shakespeare's "Hamlet", when someone commands that the many dead at the Danish royal court be
saluted: "Go, bid the soldiers shoot." The trouble is that gunpowder and firearms were unknown in
Hamlet's day, while launching smokeless, silent arrows into the air would have been pointless, or
anyway was not the custom.
(Likewise, any reference before gunpowder to "firing a shot" would have been anachronistic; no fire
was involved when arrows were "shot" or "loosed" or "let fly".)
In feudal times, did people call their male superiors simply "sir", as "The Last Templar" often
suggests? It seems to me that honorifics more comparable to "good my lord", "honourable sir",
"your [supreme] worship", or "your honour" might have been in more common use.
The real problem with my doubts in this book, though, is that pausing to reflect upon them, and even
to consult authorities, destroys the momentum and excitement. Unfortunately, there isn't much
momentum or excitement to spare, here.
You probably know people who unconsciously over-use pet (or pat) words or phrases. The actual
number of such uses need not necessarily be great if the saying is sufficiently grotesque or striking as
to lodge in the reader's mind; whereas a very common and innocuous word such as "the" may recur
almost endlessly without calling attention to itself. In Jecks's tale, a pet word is "sneer" - e.g. in, "At
the thought he looked up and sneered at the trees around him," (pg. 134). Perhaps the trees should
have sneered right back; anyway, it's not a word that can be repeated even a few times without
becoming uncomfortably noticeable. The fault is shared by the book's editor, who surely ought to
notice such problems at least as well as I do.
The first knight, Sir Baldwin Furnshill, has not yet reappeared when we meet a second one, Rodney
of Hungerford. Now we can't be certain which, if either, of the two is "The Last Templar", for Jecks
withholds that information - and many knights were not Templars. For all we know, in fact, both the
first AND second knights may have been ex-Templars - or neither may have been! Possibly even the
murdered villager had been a Templar, or he may have been a betrayer of the Templars, for he has
been known in his village as arrogant and apparently wealthy, while not letting his neighbours really
know him.
Jecks doesn't hurry to let us in on such secrets, for a writer's golden secret is a reader's golden
mystery - and that's what this genre or sort of book is largely about. (Unlike Ellis Peters's "Brother
Cadfael" series of mediaeval mysteries, "The Last Templar" has no syrupy subplot romanticizing
some beautiful young girl and handsome young swain.)
The present story contains these two central mysteries, then: first, who was the last Templar? and
second, who murdered the surly, secretive villager and set fire to his house?
The first four lines of the back cover, as quoted in this review's second paragraph, seem already to
indicate the murderer's motive, which in my opinion should have been closely guarded as a third
deep mystery.
The big trick in reviewing a whodunit is to keep the plot's secrets. One must outline the story's
character, but without revealing whatever it is that makes it mysterious. Now, therefore, you have all
the so-called hard information I dare reveal concerning "The Last Templar".
It seems important to provide an impression of the style in which a tale is told, and of the technical
expertise brought to bear in its telling. I feel author Jecks hadn't yet, by 1995, passed through much
of the storytellers' crucible. His success in finding a publisher for "Templar" may well have outshone
his abilities to recreate a bygone age, and to entertain his readers. Eight years later, though, his
recent books, if any, should be providing us far better reads.
Pete Hodgins Sr.
Reviewer
Harwood's Bookshelf
God.com: A Deity for the New Millenium
John A. Henderson, M.D.
Dorrance Publishing Co
643 Smithfield St, Pittsburgh, PA 15222
ISBN 0805954481, 107 pp, ppb, $10.00
It will not come as news to John Henderson when I tell him that his hundred pages of
contemplations about religion will not cure a single god addict. He clearly knows that already.
What he apparently does not know is that books really can cure believers, and books capable of
curing all but the most unteachable are not rare. Western religion does not stand or fall on the claim
that a god exists. It stands or falls on the claim that a god has revealed its existence. And all such
claims have been traced to the same bible authors who assured their readers (in fourteen places) that
the earth is flat. If Henderson wishes to eliminate annoying, if insignificant, errors in his
speculations, he should start by reading Mythology's Last Gods and A Humanist in the Bible Belt.
Fortunately, such errors as his unawareness that goddesses preceded the first male gods by twenty
thousand years, and that the "ten commandments" meant something very different to their
composers than is taught by modern religion, do not invalidate his observations on the difference
between morality and religion.
One element of Henderson's book that had me shuddering every time I encountered it, is that he
persistently capitalized pronouns and possessive adjectives that referred to western culture's
paramount god. Even liberal believers have abandoned that offensive practice. For a nonbeliever to
adhere to such antiquated political correctness is indefensible.
Henderson's argument for what is basically a new religion based on morality rather than pretended
revelation from a less-than-admirable deity sets no precedent. A philosophy not dissimilar from his
own can be found in The Autobiography of God. Henderson recognizes (p. vii) that, "religion, as it
is practised today, does far more harm than good." Most of the book is devoted to proving that
assertion, and he does so very effectively. But in his unawareness that religion can actually be
disproven, he is preaching to the choir. "It is religion that creates gods, not vice versa." (p.3) True
but, as far as his readers can tell, unproven.
But while Henderson provides no proof that he is right and believers are wrong, and for that reason
his book cannot be recommended to persons looking for a definitive debunking of religion, he makes
many valid points. For example:
"Hell hath no fury like a man whose God has been criticized." (p. vii)
"I have had several patients with cancers of the breasts or some other treatable disease who
decided they would pray and forego needed surgery . Needless to say, none of them prayed
away their tumors." (pp. 4-5)
"Can you imagine a human who demands and requires constant praise and adoration? Does God
really have such a poor self image that He needs all of this daily adoration?" God must be like a
cat I had when I was a child. The more I stroked him the louder he purred." (p. 8)
"I have often thought that folks who have caught religion should be quarantined and isolated as we
did with victims of smallpox and polio years ago." (p. 20)
"A logical, reasonable man accepts or rejects statements based upon the evidence. If the evidence is
not there, only a coward or a stupid man will continue to believe." (p. 46)
"You do not have to believe in a god to be kind, humane, and charitable to your fellow man." (p.
47)
"If we really believed in Heaven then funerals would be swinging occasions to celebrate a loved one
going to a better place and a better life." (p. 52)
"Infallibility, which most religions proclaim, leads to hatred and violence." (p. 55)
"If you believe God is perfect and He has never made a mistake, logically you must question why He
created Satan or why He created Hell." (p. 56)
"God is given credit for the good things in our lives but has no responsibility or blame for the bad
things." (p. 65)
"When bad things happen to good people, not of their own making, then logic must tell us that there
is either no one minding the store, or there is poor quality control." (p. 66)
"I believe pornography is when the Pope travels to Mexico and tells a poor married woman with five
hungry children that she should not use contraceptives." (p. 70)
"There are far too many women who think it is all right to have sex as long as they don't enjoy it."
(p. 71)
"When God was our doctor we died in our forties." (p. 79)
"We can be eternally grateful to our founding fathers for their doctrine of freedom of religion even
though freedom from religion would have been better." (p. 93)
God.com expresses the personal philosophy of an author who is certainly not uneducated (M.D.s are
not dispensed in supermarkets), and who is sufficiently observant to recognize that no adult in the
Western world can go twenty-four hours without encountering at least a dozen situations that could
not exist if observable reality was the creation of an omnipotent, omnibenevolent god. (How can
any sane persons watch a television advertisement for tampons, and harmonize the need for such a
product with the existence of a benevolent creator? Ditto toilet paper.) But he is lacking the
relevant education to rebut religion in any definitive way. This book is strictly for persons who
recognize religion's most transparent absurdities, and see no need to demand proof for something
that strikes them as self-evident, but nonetheless want reassurance that the ability to look at
fashionable security beliefs with their brains in ON is not an aberration.
William Harwood
Reviewer
Gorden's Bookshelf
Year Zero
Jeff Long
Pocket Star Books
1230 Avenue of the Americas New York, NY 10020
ISBN: 0743406125,$7.99, 498 pages
Jeff Long has written an adventure novel sprinkled with high tech and topped with a dose of extreme
fantasy. The adventure and high tech portions of the story are worth the reading but the fantasy part
would be better placed in a 1950s comic. Long is a great writer when he sticks to what he knows,
high adventure.
Nathan Lee Swift is a scavenger of relics. After an earthquake hits Jerusalem, he and his boss raid a
landfill where the remains from Golgotha crucifixions were thrown. This is the start of Nathan Lee's
tumble into the unsavory side of relic hunting.
A two thousand year old relic is opened releasing a mutated virus that threatens to destroy
humanity. The search is on for biological relics from the year zero. Since the virus was sealed in a
relic dating to that period, two thousand year old human remains might still contain the antibodies
that will stop the plague.
Nathan Lee has to travel halfway around a dieing world trying to find his daughter before the plague
kills them both. His knowledge of the Golgotha bones and archeology might just be enough for the
scientists in Los Alamos to find a cure.
If you are a reader who can suspend belief, you will love 'Year Zero'. Most readers will still enjoy
the adventure/high tech portions of the story. 'Year Zero' should have been either a complete fantasy
or a high tech adventure. Long was not able to blend everything together into a single story.
A Yank at Valhalla
Edmond Hamilton & Jean Marie Stine
Renaissance E Books
P.O. Box 1432 Northampton, MA 01060
ISBN: 1588731677, $4.00, electronic download, Copyright 2003, 106 pages,
www.renebooks.com
The middle of the twentieth century is in many ways the golden age of science fiction. Science
fiction had come into its own with many great authors pushing the genre out into other areas such as
mysteries and in this case fantasy. In 'A Yank at Valhalla', Hamilton takes a sword and sorcerer type
fantasy and mixes in strong scientific reasoning. The result is a plausible science fiction tale using
Norse mythology. Today the science fiction/fantasy market is dominated by fantasy but back in the
golden age, it was writers such as Hamilton that put the science first.
Keith Masters is a pilot on an Artic expedition. He finds a gold cylinder with runes. The runes give a
warning about hiding the cylinder. The golden tube is a key that binds Loki and his familiars. If the
key is brought back to Asgard, Ragnarok, the Norse equivalent of Armageddon, will occur
destroying Valhalla and all the Norse gods.
Keith doesn't believe the runes and wears the cylinder as a good luck charm. While flying a scouting
mission north of the main expedition, a storm comes up and forces his plane into a region of the
Artic Ocean that blocks light, a gigantic blind spot on the face of the world. He flies through the
light boundary and into the world of Odin, Thor, Freya, and Loki. His landing has just started a war
between a race of humans with the scientific knowledge to control the weather and attain eternal
life.
'A Yank at Valhalla' is a pure fantasy/action story. 'A Yank at Valhalla' is an easy recommendation to
anyone who likes fantasy stories and it is a must read for those who are interested in a science
fiction/fantasy tale that, if written today, would be dominated by magic.
S.A. Gorden, Reviewer
gorden_sa@hotmail.com
Fortenberry's Bookshelf
American: Beyond Our Grandest Notions
Chris Matthews
The Free Press
1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020
ISBN: 0743240863, $25.00, 240 pp., 1-800-223-2336
Chris Matthews, the columnist and popular host of Hardball (the high-rated cable TV news show),
has produced a timely new bestseller. If nothing else, with the downward spiral of the economy, the
endless terror war, domestic discord, and growing international distrust and anti-American
sentiments due to diplomatic blunders, this book has perfect timing. It answers a call made on 9/11
to all of America: what are we and what do we stand for? American: Beyond Our Grandest
Notions is patriotic and up-beat, a positive spotlight on America -- however it is not blind. It is
insightful, not inciting, and goes a very long way towards defining the American character that is
unique in the world. It also spotlights the pitfalls to be avoided, if possible, by our current and
future leaders.
The chapters headings form the core traits of the American: Self-Made, Constant Rebel, Reluctant
Warrior, Person of Action, Common Man, Underdog, Lone Hero, Pioneer, Optimist, and
Exceptionalist. These notions have helped create our nation, our standing in the world, and and
personal character as a people. Matthews uses clear, concise language (modeled after the style of
one of his "character" examples Ernest Hemingway) to explain why and how we are. He uses easily
recognizeable "hero" celebrities to make each point, such as George Washington, Lincoln, Kennedy,
Lindbergh and Amelia Earhart, Muhammad Ali, and even Ralph Lauren, Oprah Winfrey, and Cary
Grant. The book is short, to the point, and easy to grasp and appreciate. It does not talk down to
the readers or dumb down its points in any way, but it makes them simply and pointedly. It is a
rallying cry, a call to honorable character arms, if you will. A jolt to the memory that says, Oh yes,
this is what I believe and stand for, this is why am I an American.
As always, Matthews laces his work with serious drama, biting wit, down home common sense, and
a gentle backhanded humor. It is a fun and interesting read, especially when he relates the
biographies and anecdotes of his models, but most importantly of all it makes us want to stand up, to
reinvent ourselves, to reinvest in our nation's future. This is the hidden agenda of the work, not just
to state a truth, but to deliver a Swiftian kick in the butt. It is a wake up call for America not to
forget, abandon, or lazily lose our values. As usual he gives us the kick with that famed Matthews
whiplash smile, which he acknowledges in the last line of the book. But just prior to that he sums
up: "So that is why we're different. We're rebels, loners, reluctant warriors, pioneers, and
optimists. We believe in the man or woman of action, trust in the merit of the common
individual, root for the underdog. We are a self-made people who see our country assigned to some
great mission.... We are a people raised on such grand American notions. They comprise the most
vital, most provocative, most consequential self-portrait in human history." (207-208) I highly
recommend this book to all who are interested in the character of America and what it is to be
American.
The Courage to Stand Alone: Letters from Prison and Other Writings
Wei Jingsheng
Penguin Books
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
ISBN: 0140275352, $13.95, 287 pp., 1-800-847-5515
"I am enclosing letters.... Please pass them on." This quiet plea came out of the depths of a Chinese
gulag and swept around the world. Wei Jingsheng has passed on to humanity one of the great
accounts of human endurance in striving for freedom. A former Red Guard who dared write a
"revolutionary" poster advocating individual freedom called "The Fifth Modernization"which he
placed on Beijing's Democracy Wall in 1978, Wei Jingsheng quickly became a symbol of Chinese
oppression as he was arrested and imprisoned for well over a decade. Not until 1997, due to
unrelenting American pressure and his desperate medical condition, was he released from horrific
solitary confinement under "medical parole" and allowed to fly to the USA for treatment. Needless
to say he is now living in exile as a distinguished scholar of human rights at Columbia
University.
The Courage to Stand Alone is a remarkable collection. It includes his most famous writings, such
as the aforementioned poster and his defense at trial, but is mainly a collection of his letters written
from prison. These are full of misery, pain, suffering, and tragedy yet by their very virtue and
refutation of these conditions, they are a unique documents of uplift. One is instantly reminded of a
Solzhenitsynesque character sending out missives of hope from a Communist gulag where one's
body is imprisoned and only one's mind and soul are free. However, this is all very real pain, not
fictionalized suffering. It is an amazing testament to human courage. The will power it took to not
only give up, give in to the cruelty and indoctrination, but to reject them and stand alone against the
might of an entire civilization is amazing. What is even more amazing is the calm, quiet dignity of
his words. He is always humble, polite, and kind, even to the very men who try to destroy him,
beginning and ending letters with phrases like "this insignificant person..." or "forgive me for
'bothering' you" or my favorite, "Please excuse my immodesty! This is really too trivial a matter to
trouble such a noble mind as your with, so please forgive me." He never sinks beneath the
floodwaters of barbarity that threaten to drown him. Even when being abused and neglected (as
with his non-existent medical care for extremely grave illnesses) he continued to write polite, kind
letters to his captors requesting his right to health care, to fair and humane treatment. Even, at
times, without hope of release or kindness, the chance of replies, nor any idea if he was being read
and his messages heard, he continued to write authorities and friends and the world at large for over
14 years. Even so, knowing he would be tortured and remain imprisoned, he refused to be silent, to
stop speaking up, and stop condemning the evils around him.
It makes you wonder if you could do the same. Who has this type of courage? Who has this much
fortitude and hope? Not many, which is why in a world of over 6 billion we can look to very few
individuals, such as Mandela or Wei Jingsheng and say, "Ah, yes, here we have a courageous human
being who knows the true cost of living." It is tragic and at the same time uplifting. The tragedy is
that there are not more. But since we have record of a few giants among us like Wei Jingsheng, we
will always have hope and proof that one person can indeed stand against the tide of inhumanity and
make a world of difference.
When Religion Becomes Evil
Charles Kimball
Harper: San Francisco
353 Sacramento Street, #500, San Francisco, CA 94111-3653
ISBN: 0060506539, $21.95, 240 pp., 1-800-272-7737
When Religion Becomes Evil is an extremely important, and timely, volume of study. With the rise
of religious extremism, both inside the USA and internationally, it is vital to understand the who
what where why of it all. 9/11 definitely focused world attention on the rise of Islamist extremism
and its connection with terrorism, which led to an indefinite yet global "war on terror" rather directly
linked with Islamist groups. But less dramatic attention has been focused for decades on the rise of
the "religious right" in America, from its connections to censorship, separatist sects, paramilitary
groups, neofascist racists, church burnings, abortionist doctor murders and clinic bombings, to
mainstream politics and the so-called velvet coup of the last election with some televangelists
claiming it the foundation of God's theocracy on Earth to herald the return of Christ in the End
Time. In the recent Iraq War many religious extremists on both sides on the conflict claimed it to be
a crusade, a battle of Eastern versus Western values, a battle to establish a single world religion,
and/or the beginning of a final apocalypse. Therefore, we have a world in which the most local and
basic to the most global of political and societal policies is being dictated by or fought over and
influenced by religious extremists. Dr. Kimball, one of the preeminent scholars on comparative
religion and an expert in Middle East politics (one of the few experts actively consulted during the
Iranian hostage crisis and allowed into Iran at that time, for instance), has written a fascinating,
insightful study of the root causes and warning signs for when religions veer off course or are
hijacked to become evil. Sadly, he shows that all religions are susceptible to these evil
corruptions.
These five major warning signs are: Absolute truth claims; Blind obedience; Establishing the "ideal"
time or utopia; The End justifies any means; Declaration of Holy War. If you look at the religious
right in America, the Islamists in the Middle East, the Hindu extremists in India, or any of the
numerous cults worldwide, such as the Japanese Aum Shinrikyo or the American Branch Davidians,
they all share these five common traits. The most disturbing, for me as an American, is the fact that
the evangelical extremists of the religious right have ascended to true formidable political power
with the taking of the Southern Baptist convention, the sweeping of local political offices, and the de
facto conquest of the Republican party and hence the Congress and presidency. It has been widely
documented, and I have seen it covered in the past by works as diverse as Harold Bloom's The
American Religion and Bruce Bawer's Stealing Jesus: How Fundamentalism Betrays Christianity,
but Dr. Kimball does something quite unique and important here, by evenhandedly considering the
topic of religion as a whole and broadly studying all the religions of the world while comparatively
tracing the problematic roots and solutions to extremism. This text is a very welcome and necessary
academic guide to the problems, but more importantly, it provides solutions to keep religions
authentic and free from hate-mongering corruptions of faith.
The blurb on the book says that it "offers a reliable guide to this urgent global issue," "real
correctives and solutions to this global threat," and "will have profound consequences for the future
of humanity." Whereas fluffy, pointless books are often marketed with such hyperbole, this is the
rare case of clearly stated truth. Dr. Kimball quietly, authoritatively analyses this dangerous and
complex issue and provides real, workable solutions. On this topic, which is rarely ever debated and
more often hysterically screamed and fought over, he provides rare and needed intelligence and
compassion. I highly recommend this book to everyone, because whether politician or citizen, we
all have direct interest in the future of politics, religion, religious extremism and the chaos and wars
being spawned in their name.
Perpetual War for Perpetual Peace
Gore Vidal
Nation Books/Thunder's Mouth Press
161 William Street, 16th floor, New York, NY 10038
ISBN: 156025405X, $10.00, 160 pp., www.amazon.com
Machiavelli wrote that above all the Prince must be feared. This is the root of the current Bush
policy in America, a tyrannical rule by fear (in fact his Cabinet and advisors often quote Caligula
along these lines saying "They may hate us, so long as they fear us."). The constant drumbeat of
fear, real and imagined, the use of these "weapons of Mass Distraction" with an endless War on
Terror and its daily terror alert color codes, lie at the heart of this new book by Gore Vidal. It is
frightening that a book such as this even has to be written, but sadly it does. As always Gore is
exceptionally good at pointing out the facts, the cold, hard,
make-you-wake-with-a-cold-sweat-in-the-middle-of-the-
night kind of facts. In Perpetual War for Perpetual Peace, he questions the party line and exposes a
disturbing series of intelligence and governmental "failures" and connections between the
government, the recent series of terror events going back to the Oklahoma City bombing, the
growing power of the military-industrial complex (as predicted by one of our own presidents 50
years ago), our current wars, the loss of civil liberties, and the soft coup striking at the heart of
democracy.
The title of the book derives from a quote by the historian Charles Beard, and is quite accurate.
Since WWII the USA has engaged in an endless yet increasing number of undeclared wars and
military actions around the globe, now in the hundreds, resulting in the overthrow or occupation of
nations on every continent. Gore opens the book with a simple observation on a primary law of
physics: for each action there is an equal and opposite reaction. This should present an instant and
irrefutable argument against such wars, yet they continue. Thus we have the predictable results: a
rising tide of anti-Americanism worldwide with entire segments of world society devoted to our
overthrow, destruction, or at least severe harm. When we endlessly subvert or attack nations
throughout the world, often to depose democratically elected governments and impose dictatorships
for profit (such as we did in Chile, Iraq, Panama, etc.), what result can we expect except anger and
outrage? As he notes in the book, the OK City bomber Timothy McVeigh asserts unequivocally the
government's role in such tragedies. The bombing was in response to the murder of the Branch
Davidians, and that without one the other would not have occurred. McVeigh quotes Supreme
Judge Brandeis in his dissent, "Our government is the potent, the omnipresent teacher. For good or
ill it teaches the whole people by its example." This judicial statement continues, "Crime is
contagious. If the government becomes the law breaker, it breeds contempt for laws; it invites every
man to become a law unto himself." The lawless government "invites anarchy. To declare that in
the administration of the criminal law the end justifies the means to declare that the government
may commit crimes in order to secure the conviction of a private criminal would bring terrible
retribution." Yet this is in fact the policy of the Bush administration, and they often state the end
will justify their extraordinary means. And one of these means is the Patriotic Act, the giving up of
liberty and privacy in order to potentially catch a "terrorist." It is interesting to note, that even as
the Patriotic Act was proposed it was claimed only a limited proactive action in response to 9/11
that would be removed afterwards, though it is in fact not a spur-of-the-moment proposal but the
furtherance of a decade old concept first enacted in part after OK City, and already, less than a year
after, is being solidified by the Patriotic Act II, whose stated purpose is to "fill in the cracks" in the
law and make it permanent. Also, as Gore notes with typical humor, to justify the law they use
Lincoln's extreme wartime suspension of habeas corpus as necessary proof, though this too was a
one-time, limited affair and indeed actually Constitutional, unlike the very broad and diverse Patriot
Act. Nevertheless, these facts are all extremely disturbing to consider.
Perpetual War for Perpetual Peace is a slim yet disturbing volume from one of our greatest living
novelist, essayist, and thinker. It asks questions that all patriots should and must ask of their
government, mainly the almighty Why? Something is occurring. It removes the blinders and
provides some startling insights into current events. It would be wise to heed this book's warning,
before it is too late and a book such as this cannot even be printed much less read (note: the
Patriotic Act already allows the government to secretly record who checks out, buys, and reads all
books in America. We know from our Dixie Chicks experience this year that even expressing
personal opinion not in the party line is now directly attacked from the White House down. How
long before the banned book list begins?) by the general public. Gore Vidal is providing a vital
service to the citizenry of America, and hence by example, the world. Isn't that the American ideal?
To stand up for our rights and speak out against the abuses of government? Wasn't that the very
foundation of our nation? We should speak up and act out. As he states, "Once alienated, an
'unalienable right' is apt to be forever lost." America, you have been warned.
A Review of Blue Hope
Robert Waldron
Paraclete Press
PO Box 1568, Orleans, MA 02653
ISBN: 1557252904, $13.95, paracletepress.com
Blue Hope, the new novella from Robert Waldron, is an exquisitely rare jewel. It is on the surface
the tale of a professor who suffers from crippling depression and goes in search of his favorite
author, a reclusive poet who has retired to a Cistercian monastery, in order to write the man's
biography. It takes place in a single week at the monastery while he seeks and finds this famed
poet-cum-monk and himself as well. We have a teacher who needs to learn, a doubter who comes
to believe, and a fearful mate who opens to love, in the company of a writer who doesn't write
famous for hiding, amongst solitary guardians gathered in union and twins separating because a blind
man truly sees. A simple tale? It is far more than that. This multilayered book is both a narrative
and a long poem, a spiritual journey, an intellectual match, an emotional reawakening, and a harsh,
honest mirror for man and society. It is short and sharp, the lyrical prose lean and muscular yet with
such an electrifying beauty that it virtually lifts from the page like a hymn.
He recited the prayers in a voice stripped of inflection, in a diction so pure I couldn't read any of his
feelings into them. His whole self was focused on the celebration of the Mass, even the turning of a
page of the sacramentary was an act of utter attention.
At the approach of the Consecration, an intensification of attention arose until he was seemingly
unconscious of my presence. Leaning over the bread and wine, he enunciated every word of the
Consecration as if each syllable were a cut jewel.
A cut jewel is a vivid and apt description of Waldron's writing, to which I will return in a moment.
But, first to say something more of the beauty and power of his prose. How can someone write
with such beautiful yet hungry words, presenting both narratively and syntactically a questing,
desparate serentity? A simply amazing command of the language is displayed here. Waldron pulls
off something of a literary coup here, by fusing so many elements.
Naturally, the narrator, author-proessor John Highet, was lost in life and is reconnected via his
monastery journey. It seems to me that this book is a manual for life, or a literary verification of
Thomas Merton's dictum, collected in No Man Is an Island: "Without a life of the spirit, our whole
existence becomes unsubstantial and illusory. The life of the spirit, by integrating us in the real order
established by God, puts us in the fullest possible contact with reality not as we imagine it, but as it
really is." Along these lines, I find Waldron's book, especially his theme upon the eyes as windows
of the soul which also is the source of the book's title, reminds me of an excerpt from the brilliant
fantasy author M. A. R. Barker in which he describes reality as being similar to looking into the
heart of a blue sapphire. On the surface you see the stone, but beneath the surface you see the
ever-shifting illusory lights of the multifaceted interior of the jewel. That is the elusive nature of
inner spirituality to the outer surface of reality. Blue Hope captures that aspect of life perfectly.
On my way back to the retreat house, I paused to gaze at the vastness of the night sky and its wafer
moon. I wondered about the countless people who had gazed upon this celestial infinity. Some saw
gods, others mystery. I saw my own insignificance. Shaped liked shrugged shoulders, the dark hills
served as the monastery's last barrier to the outside world, and I wondered how long the monk's
could maintain their solitude.
This riveting tale of grounded pain and soul-wrenching reawakening is a hymn of hope. Though the
narrator is violently ill with reality and his agnosticism, we have here a gentle reaffirmation of what
is important, uplifting, and awe-inspiring. Written like a long Zen koan, Waldron has distilled the
complexities and pain of life into the quiet simple essence of each moment's truth. At one point, he
says, "I recall little of the drive; it was as if I'd disappeared into a temporary Zen no-mind." This
entire book reading experience is like that, where you suddenly turn the last page and say, "Wait.
That's it? It's already over?" Blue Hope leaves us wishing for and wanting more. It is a read that
carries over after the last page and makes us eager to begin our own journeys of self-discovery. I
recommend this book highly for numerous reasons.
9/12: New York After
Eliot Weinberger
Prickly Paradigm Press, LLC
5629 South University Avenue, Chicago, IL, 60637
ISBN: 0971757593, $10.00, 83 pp., www.prickly-paradigm.com
Eliot Weinberger's new collection of essays stemming from the events of 9/11 is breathtaking.
Concise, direct, and utterly powerful, this small volume punches through the vast wall of blather that
has arisen surrounding our great modern tragedy. Everywhere you turn, 9/11 has been turned into a
postcard of sociopolitical commentary or a bumpersticker of patriotic advertising. Weinberger's
essays, beginning the day after and continuing up to the present, provide a raw yet intelligent report
on the state of the state of things. Most importantly, it moves quickly from shock and awe over the
horror of it all to a cold, hard laser of a look at the primary players in the unfolding drama, the
"sleeper cell" which has now seized the reigns of America. And I am not speaking of Al-Qaeda.
Sadly, we must refocus our 20-second attention span on the ascension to power of a select group
and the putting into motion their long range plans (more than a decade old) which is now unfolding
before our very eyes. The Sleeper Cell is a group of uber-rich, powerful warlords of the
military-industrial-Christian fundamentalist complex. Welcome to the world of Cheney, Rumsfeld,
and the Bush Dynasty.
This is a difficult subject and the anguish and confusion felt by us all is captured by Weinberger in
these records of the days and weeks following the World Trade Center destruction. He lives in New
York City near the site and the impact is devastating, the images horrific. This eyewitness with his
child is thus understandably moved to ask a simple, "Why?" The problem being, of course, that the
administration not only blocks all investigation of the tragic events, but seems to recurrently be
discovered to be at the center of all the unfolding events. The unease and terror surrounding this
coup d'etat administration, felt by the entire nation, is captured perfectly in the final sentence of this
book: "To begin to talk about them is to relive the old nightmare of the scream with no
sound."
Lines like that keep me up at night, because it is dead-on true. I myself have had trouble sleeping
this past year with a growing sense of panic, that stomach churning nausea of feeling the world spin
away beneath your feet as you lose total control of your surroundings. All of which is a result of the
unceasing disinformation and terror campaign being waged from the office established to do directly
that in Washington. This is the stated agenda of the Bush administration, who love to quote their
hero Caligula: "Let them hate us, so long as they fear us." I fear the Constitution has been
subverted and the nation is close to being lost. It makes me physically and mentally ill. Weinberger
saves us much stress by being simplified and terse, so that we feel the friendly conversation of the
neighbor not the windbaggage of the thinktank dilettante. Also, he has a merciful wit and humor
that isn't caustic: "When you drill into Bush's skull, what you mainly find is a pool of oil." These
tiny humanities save us from the horror of the actual subject, bolster us and allow us to read on. Of
course, in the end we begin to see the magnitude of the current crisis.
9/12: New York After is a small book which accomplished a great deal. It educates and entertains,
talks to not down to us, and carries us aloft on the rising tide of fearful hatred which has now
become our preemptive doctrine. A simple note to underscore the point: the president deals only
with an extremely small in-crowd of friends and family -- everyone else is shut out and all meetings
and plans are classified and withheld from public scrutiny under the veil of security threats. The
president's team consists solely of longtime partners and members of "neoconservative" thinktanks
which have for years written policies and papers outlining specifically all that has happened since
9/11 on. Amazingly, Afghanistan and Iraq and Venezuela, etc., were all pre-planned and well
thought out oil and power wars, now falling into place like pieces of the puzzle they are. Thankfully
these "pre-administration" plans and documents are publicly known and can be directly compared
with the unfolding policies and actions of the White House. But when we talk of their "Christian"
values and morality, it is interesting that while anyone who dares speak against the administration,
even is mild ways, is all but lynched (think Dixie Chicks), they can constantly act, attack, lie (as in all
the easily discredited proof against Iraq), and say things that are reprehensible to the rest of us.
Bush himself campaigned at Bob Jones University, famous for its racist and hatemongering policies
(they call Catholics Satanists, etc.), while two of the think tanks directly associated with his
"people," the American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research and the Middle East Forum,
constantly harp on the "moral superiority of Western culture" and, almost unbelievably, comment
about stopping "the massive immigration of brown-skinned peoples cooking strange foods and not
exactly maintaining Germanic standards of hygiene." These are direct quotes and when you start
getting into the "Germanic standard" region of policy speak, you know you are stiff-arming beneath
a gigantic Nazi swastika flag. Uber-patriotism indeed! Reminds me of the fact that Bush's
grandfather, was a Senator disgraced for Nazi-sympathizing and laundering money for Hitler. But,
hey, forget about it, that was a long time ago, kind of like W.'s alcoholism and cocaine abuse. It is
just coincidental that the administration and its partners say and do things identical to those nasty old
fascists. He is, after all, our great and infallible moral leader. He wouldn't ever mislead us, now
would he? Nah. And I hear that absolute power creates moral leaders, absolutely.
The True Marriage
Locke Rush
Ilm House
Unionville, PA
ISBN: 0972660704, $11.95, paperback, 76 pp., www.amazon.com
Dr. Locke Rush has written an extraordinary "guidebook for a lifelong journey." The True Marriage
is extremely concise and wastes no time on superfluous rambles, useless statistics, or nifty but
pointless digressions that seem to fill so many self-help and personal growth type books; the things I
refer to as page fillers that serve no purpose whatsoever except to make the volume look weighty
and important when it is anything but. Here we have a slim, honest, and truly helpful book on
marriage. I believe this author's experience is utterly unique, brings together Eastern and Western
philosophies, young and old life experiences as psychotherapist and marriage counselor, the
knowledge of a man who has been both Marine and Zen monk, single and now married with
grandchildren. This confluence of life experiences puts Dr. Rush in a rare position of discernment,
able to bring to the table an immensely wide background of personal and professional
experience.
Dr. Rush notes that often people see marriage as a curtailment of their former freedom, or a struggle
between two individuals to see who is dominant. He notes correctly and with typical
understatement that "marriage changes things" and that often this leads to conflict among the
immature or unprepared. Many see marriage as open warfare between the sexes. "The only war
worth fighting," he warns us though, "takes place in the battlefield of the heart." Marriage is not a
battle of wills between two strangers, but actually a battle of will or ego within one person to
overcome his/her failings and grow in union with the aid of a partner. Marriage is in fact a war of
personal growth. It is dangerous to think of "winning" and "surrendering" as the only outcomes of
marital "battles"; the real fight should be spiritual and within, so that at times to surrender is to win,
and vice versa. He notes that often the "victor" of a battle can lose the whole war, thus the
marriage, whereas the softer road of surrender while seeming to be a loss can ultimately lead to a
perfect union, thus winning the war of marriage overall. "Marriage is a humbling experience." We
might frame it another way: Marriage is a patience builder, and the patient or humble will inherit the
kingdom.
One of my favorite parts of the book compares marriage to a mirror. Marriage reflects all our good
and bad qualities. This is what often disturbs people the most, Dr. Rush urges us to realize, because
in marriage you cannot run and hide from your own faults. It is a moment of truth. Often people
want to assign blame or point fingers like a child. But we have to be adults and responsible for our
actions. We must take charge of our lives. We either face ourselves and grow up, or we give up,
turn and run (out of the marriage and in fact out of our own lives). Marriage is much more than a
union on paper, it can save individuals from themselves and their own lack of fortitude. "It is a
character builder, a furnace, a purifier, and a mirror reflecting our own self back at us-- our ugliness,
our defects, and our potential." People need to seize the opportunity for growth and live up to their
potential. Marriage is indeed a furnace, and like a forge I believe we can burn away all the
impurities in our selves and our union and come out of it as strong as tempered steel.
The True Marriage is a fabulous guidebook. It supplies a much needed dose of honest talk, even
tough talk, without sugar coating but with numerous spiritual blessings as guideposts in abundance
from all faiths, Sufi to Christian to Islamic to Buddhist. It is hard to describe how Dr. Rush has
managed to balance the numerous influences in this book, from real street life to elevated theology,
but that is part of its magic. It is a reasoned, loving, spiritual, and knowledgeable argument for
marriage which goes beyond its specific subject, like marriage itself does, and serves as a cultivation
tool for personal growth of qualities like compassion, peace, self-restraint, selflessness, spirituality,
and love. While urging us to tend to the needs of our marriage, he is of course urging us to attend
to ourselves. I would urge you to read this book.
Thomas Fortenberry
Reviewer
Charisse's Bookshelf
Dance Y'All
Bettye Stroud
Cornelius Van Wright/Ying-Hwa Hu, illustrators
Marshall Cavendish
99 White Plains Rd., Tarrytown, NY 10591
ISBN 0761450653, Hardcover, $15.95, 2001, 32 pages, http://www.marshallcavendish.com
"Goosebumps rippled their way down Jack Henry's arms. He remembered the long coach-whip
snake he had seen in the barn Jack Henry was sorry he told Pa that he and Cousin Sam would
sleep in the barn to make room in the house for everybody."
When a menacing snake threatens the autumn harvest celebration, Jack Henry feels the fear in his
bones. Wagonloads of kinfolk are rolling in one by one, and the hugs and laughter abound. "After
supper, we're gonna dance," says Grandpa Buddy. With the delicious, mixed aroma of cured
smokehouse ham, fresh-picked greens, and mouth-watering sweet potatoes swirling about the
crowded supper table, all Jack Henry can think about is what's in store for him and his unsuspecting
cousin.
Grandpa shouts "Dance y'all" above the waltzing music of the polished Victrola. The couples swirl
and glide across the hardwood floor, and still Jack Henry's thoughts turn to the slithering snake in
the hay barn. His fears continue throughout the night, even after Pa settles the boys down in the
hayloft. At the very moment lightning strikes, Jack Henry awakens to the sight of Cousin Sam
sleepwalking over the edge of the loft.
Stroud is the author of The Leaving, as well as Down Home at Miss Dessa's (Lee & Low Books).
Dance Y'All is her strongest story yet. The plot stirs with the sights and sounds of down-home fun
and family. When Jack Henry comes face to face with a crisis much larger than his own, he unearths
the courage within to conquer his own fears. Armed with Grandpa Buddy's unshakable strength and
years of wisdom, Jack Henry's indomitable spirit takes charge without a single second thought.
Van Wright and Hu, incredible collaborators, are the illustrators of Zora Hurston and the Chinaberry
Tree, Alicia's Happy Day (Star Bright Books), Snow in Jerusalem (Albert Whitman & Co.), and
Coming Home: A Story of Josh Gibson, Baseball's Greatest Home Run Hitter (Troll Assoc.), among
others. The watercolor illustrations for Dance Y'All are alive with the electricity of the celebratory
mood and the escalating tension. Their thin, opaque style resonates with the vibration of life in an
ever-changing shift of movement and energy.
Dance Y'All, for ages 4-8, demonstrates one boy's courage to face life's challenges head on. The
lesson in Jack Henry's dilemma is sure to be of interest to older readers as well.
Black All Around!
Patricia Hubbell
Don Tate, illustrator
Lee & Low Books Inc.
95 Madison Ave., New York, NY 10016
ISBN 1584300485, Hardcover, $16.95, 2003, 32 pages, http://www.leeandlow.com
"Look high, / look low, / look everywhere / The wonderful color black is there!"
When a small, curious child stops to think about the color black, she finds exactly what she is
looking for. Her imagination leads her far beyond the obvious and straight into the endless
possibilities of an open mind.
Black can be found in ladybug spots, the squiggles and doodles on an artsy pad, the deep insides of a
pocket packed with interesting items, and the dark closets where sweaters and jackets are stored.
Black lives in the dead of night, the backside of dreams, and the headline of the daily newspaper.
There are black poodles, black bunnies, and black crickets in the garden spot.
"Sleek and jazzy, / warm and cozy, / Beautiful black, / black all around "
Hubbell, poet and author of many award-winning children's books Sea, Sand, Me (HarperCollins
Juvenile Books), Rabbit Moon: A Book of Holidays and Celebrations (Marshall Cavendish), and
Black Earth, Gold Sun (Marshall Cavendish), writes Black All Around! in celebration of the color
black. Written in a soft poetic form, this jubilant picture book takes a refreshing new look at an
overlooked color in the crayon box. As quickly as the excitement stirs in each line, Hubbell's poem
winds its way back into a sleepy girl's dreams.
Tate, a visual journalist/illustrator for his hometown newspaper the "Austin
American-Statesman" is the celebrated illustrator of Summer Sun Risin' (Lee & Low), Say Hey! A
Song of Willie Mays (Jump at the Sun), and The Legend of the Valentine (Zondervan). His creamy,
acrylic illustrations bring an unexpected air of discovery to the text. Each page is a hide-and-seek
journey for the black that's always there for the eye to see. Tate's artwork embraces the refreshing
details that promise to hold the attention of the read-aloud age group.
Black All Around!, a rhyming picture book for ages 4-8, doubles as an exhilarating choice for a
story hour and a prime selection for a bedtime read. The language is simple and clear, and the
illustrations are a joy to explore.
Priscilla and Rosy
Sharon Jennings
Linda Hendry, illustrator
Fitzhenry & Whiteside
121 Harvard Ave., Suite 2, Allston, MA 02134
ISBN 1550416766, Hardcover, $15.95, 2001, 32 pages, http://www.fitzhenry.ca
Priscilla, a spunky, self-absorbed alley rat, lives in a tiny hole behind the bricks of the neighborhood
restaurant. Her best friend, Rosy, lives across the way near the ice cream shop. Together, they
explore the boundaries of their friendship and the sacrifices they must make to shore up their
relationship.
Monday is their day away from the usual work of salvaging scraps for their food storage. One
Monday, Rosy invites her dearest friend to share in the piecing of a brand-new puzzle. After Priscilla
accepts the invitation to her home, she receives an invitation for an exciting boat ride from friend
Rudolph. Thrilled by this opportunity, Priscilla hastily accepts his offer, too. Her actions only
become an issue when friend Cuthbert eavesdrops on her phone call and reminds her about her
previous engagement.
Priscilla is in a predicament! After a moment of childish tantrums, Priscilla decides to tell her best
friend she is too sick to keep the puzzle date. When she spies an old photo of herself with Rosy
taken on the same day she saved Rosy's life, she is stricken with guilt and knows she cannot hurt her
friend with a lie. Irony steps in when Priscilla learns her friend is too sick to hold up her end of the
their special day together.
Jennings is the author of several children's books, including Into My Mother 's Arms, The Bye Bye
Pie, When You Get a Baby, and Priscilla's Paw de Deux. In this picture book, the first in a series,
Jennings exposes both the shortcomings and strengths characteristic of human nature. The amusing
plot twists that follow Priscilla's discovery of her friend's unforeseen illness are indeed humorous,
but the complex truths at the very core of the story make her character truly believable. Even though
she experiences moments of acute weakness, her heart ultimately knows what to do and triumphs
when challenged.
Hendry is the illustrator of No Frogs for Dinner, Jocelyn and the Ballerina, So Long Stinky Queen,
and the second book in the Priscilla series, Priscilla 's Paw de Deux. Her expressive depiction of
Priscilla is so telling of the kindness and honesty buried deep within. Elaborately detailed, every inch
of Hendry's watercolor illustrations holds something special for the reader. No portion of any page
will be left unexplored.
Priscilla and Rosy is an adorable picture book for ages 4-8, as well as a playful read-aloud for
pre-readers. Priscilla's escapades are sure to entertain.
Henry Builds a Cabin
D. B. Johnson
Houghton Mifflin Co.
222 Berkeley Str., Boston, MA 02116
ISBN 0618132015, Hardcover, $15.00, 2002, 32 pages,
http://www.houghtonmifflinbooks.com
"If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different
drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away." Henry David
Thoreau, Walden, "Conclusion," 1854.
Marching to the beat of a different drummer is precisely what Thoreau did! In Henry Builds a Cabin,
Johnson's picture book takes a closer look at a pivotal event in Thoreau's life. Far from the trappings
of civilization, he decides to build a cabin deep in the woods near Walden Pond and write a book
about the wild outdoors he so loved.
After Henry's decision is clear, he gathers the tools and materials he needs to complete the project.
Then he formulates a step-by-step plan toward his goal. The progression follows a clever cumulative
pattern axe to trees, trees to square beams, beams to corner posts, posts to ceiling beams, and so
on. In the month of April, his friend Emerson, who assists him in raising the cabin, points out that his
cabin is too small for dining in. After Henry shows his friend the garden plot behind the cabin, he
waves his hand in the air and says, "When it's finished, this will be my dining room."
In May, Henry purchased a retired shed for parts and completed the cabin's floor, roof, and
interior/exterior walls. When friend Alcott advises him his cabin is much too dark for indoor reading,
Henry leads him to a sunny opening beside his new cabin and says, "When it's finished, this will be
my library." The plot unfolds in such a way as to reveal the intent of Henry's mission: to enjoy and
savor every adventurous moment in the great outdoors. Only on the last page does Henry divulge
the true purpose for his cabin.
Johnson is the award-winning author of Henry Hikes to Fitchburg, awarded the Boston Globe-Horn
Book Award, 2000 Publishers Weekly Best Books of the Year, 2000 School Library Journal Best
Books of the Year, and the American Bookseller "Pick of the Lists," among others. Included in
Johnson's second in the Thoreau series is a biographical Author's Note that outlines his character's
philosophical motives, as well as an item-by-item chart of specific material costs involved in the
cabin's construction. His uncomplicated story technique reduces Thoreau's objective down to
clear-cut, basic steps for even the youngest child's degree of understanding.
Henry Builds a Cabin, written for ages 4-8, stands as a delightful springboard for environmental,
conservational, and societal discussions in any classroom situation.
Opera Cat
Tess Weaver (Therese W. Gullickson)
Andrea Wesson, illustrator
Clarion Books
215 Park Ave. South, New York, NY 10003
ISBN 0618096353, Hardcover, $15.00, 2002, 32 pages,
http://www.houghtonmifflinbooks.com
"Alma wished she could jump down from her windowsill and explore the city. But her window was
much too high Alma rubbed her cheek against the glass and sighed. Another ordinary day. Or was
it?"
Every day is ordinary for Alma, an apartment cat who lives high above the city streets. She resides
with a world-famous opera singer, Madame SoSo, who never takes her anywhere. Boredom is the
norm. When Alma sees Maestro strolling along the walk with an armful of roses, she knows today
will not be an ordinary day!
Tonight is opening night for the opera diva's starring role, so Maestro works her voice to the full
extent of its range. He waits on her hand and foot, bowing to her every whim, preparing her for the
performance. Alma, who secretly loves the opera, hides behind the drapes and whispers along as
Madame sings. That evening, when the opera star discovers she has laryngitis, she throws a selfish
tantrum in typical diva style. In a surprising move, Alma, empathizing with Madame SoSo's anguish,
opens her mouth and fills the room with her amazing, angelic voice. In this revealing moment, the
prima donna sees what she never saw before. Between the two of them, they devise a devious plan
that is sure to satisfy Maestro and the attending audience, as well as the desires of their own
hearts.
Weaver is the author of the children's musical score, "A Moon and a Mountain Away,"
commissioned by Wizards. Opera Cat, her first picture book written for ages 4-8, is a humorous
read-aloud on the surface, but the underlying lesson cannot be missed. Weaver exposes the selfish
side of human nature and challenges the reader to stretch beyond personal boundaries to appreciate
the gifts and talents of others. When Madame SoSo realizes she has taken her dear cat for granted,
she opens the proverbial door to mutual friendship and companionship never before explored. Both
cat and opera star rise to a new level of importance in one another's eyes.
Wesson is the illustrator of several children's books, including Not Just Another Moose and Jack
Quack, both Marshall Cavendish books. In her lighthearted, whimsical illustrations, Wesson captures
the absurdity of Madame SoSo's personality and increases the laugh factor tenfold.
Stars in the Darkness
Barbara Joosse
R. Gregory Christie, illustrator
Chronicle Books
85 Second St., 6th Floor, San Francisco, CA 04105
ISBN 0811821684, Hardcover, $14.95, 2002, 36 pages, http://www.chroniclekids.com
"The lights we see? They're stars And sirens? That's wild wolves howlin' at the moon. If there's
shots fired, we say it's the light of the stars crackin ' the darkness."
Pretending gets Mama and her youngest son through the noisy, inner city nights. It is Richard, the
oldest, who makes everything seem safe for the youngest, but all that security is thrown to the wind
when Richard aligns himself with the ganger bangers who act like "King Stuff." Once at his little
brother's side in the dead of the dangerous night, now he disappears into the darkness with only lies
to answer for his curious behavior.
Mama holds Richard close, begging him to become someone special for the world to see, but his
actions place him on a destructive road she cannot travel. When it becomes evident that Richard's
path leads straight to the streets, Mama pulls her youngest into her arms and tells him they must stop
pretending everything is right with the world. Together, she and her son decide to face their fears.
While organizing the neighbors into nightly Peace Walks, they confront the gunfire and the violence
in a courageous show of determination and hopefulness for the youngest among them.
Joosse is the author of Mama, Do you Love Me?, Ghost Wings, and I Love You the Purplest,
among others. Stars in the Darkness, published in a font reminiscent of a child's handwritten diary,
zooms in on the anguish and desperation of the innocents hidden behind the horrible violence of
gang activity. Joosse reveals the moving story of Richard, a real person with a secretive past,
through the voice of an adoring brother. When Mama signals the need for a fresh approach to their
lives, he is the one who finds the strength within to fight the evil that has intruded upon them. In a
truly revealing passage, Joosse openly omits the presence of fathers in their neighborhood, a fact
that is all too real for some. At the book's end, she adds a list of resources for preventing gang
violence.
Christie is the illustrator of Only Passing Through: The Story of Sojourner Truth (Dragonfly), one of
the 100 recommended children's books for 2000 at the New York Public Library, as well as Love to
Langston and Deshawn Days, both published by Lee & Low Books. The acrylic paintings for Stars
in the Darkness, filled with short, dramatic rushes of color, are full-bodied and blatantly expressive.
The energy and immediacy in Christie's work pulls the reader into the tragic vortex of Joosse's
not-so-imaginary world, and opens the door to searing pain and the glorious triumph of the
hopeful.
The Grundilini: From the Chronicles of Audelae
Benjamin R. Doolittle
Carrie Kabak, illustrator
New Canaan Publishing Co., Inc.
P.O. Box 752, New Canaan, CT 06840
ISBN 1889658243, Softcover, $12.95, 2002, 208 pages, http://www.newcanaanpublishing.com
"Slaves! Your majesty! Slaves!" he pleaded. "With your permission, I welcome the privilege to
attack the village and supply slaves for your mines." When a banished Knight of the High Baron's
court steals the treasure of a humble village to gain favor in the wicked Grundilini stronghold, the
balance of good and evil tumbles into a spiral of grave uncertainty.
Within the confines of a divided community barely thriving in the desert of Gore, thirteen-year-old
Audelae arms herself with a treasured flower and resolves to lead her people to freedom with the
mighty Wolof giants on their heels. The innocents flee the wrath of the impending force and, as if a
miracle wrought from above, a raging flood miraculously devours and destroys all life in its wake.
Audelae gives credit for the successful exodus to the beautiful flower that led the way. "Our flower's
nectar satisfies every hunger and thirst, and gives life where there is death, hope where there is
trouble." So honored is this botanical glory in its etched, earthenware pot that the people of Audelae
place it in the center of their new meadow village as a point of focus and remembrance.
After a mysterious visit from the cunning Riker, the beloved flower disappears without a trace.
Without its presence, the villagers fear the return of the perilous prejudices of the past. In the midst
of despair, Audelae assembles a team of trusted companions to embark upon the journey for their
righteous symbol of hope. When friend Eo is captured by the Grundilini for the mining of their
Threndor gems, explosive stones mined by slaves and traded as weapons of war, the intensity of
Audelae's journey increases.
Doolittle brandishes the power of mythic structure with the ease of an accomplished storyteller,
every element brilliantly illustrated. His heroine skillfully chooses her comrades for their hidden
talents, crosses into the dark and ominous Amber Forest, seeks priceless wisdom and gifts of
strength, and courageously storms the abominable fortress where evil reigns. The theme daringly
emerges into the forefront in the latter chapters; however, the reader is more than prepared to face
the core of the heroine's inner conflict at this point. Every subtle and explosive plot twist
reverberates with the spontaneity of choice and the heartfelt reality of bitter consequence, a valuable
ingredient for today's teen market.
Black-eyed Suzie
Susan Shaw
Boyds Mills Press
815 Church St., Honesdale, PA 18431
ISBN 156397729X, Hardcover, $15.95, 2002, 167 pages, http://www.boydsmillspress.com
"I have to keep my mind blank. I have to stay in the box. I have to sit quietly. This is how my life
works. If I don't do these things, I will die"
Something unbearable happened to twelve-year-old Suzie last February, something so unthinkable
that she now lives as a tiny, brown dot in the bottom of an invisible, brown box. She sits in a golden,
upholstered chair in the living room with matching wallpaper and drapes, her knees tightly folded
beneath her chin, unable to walk or talk or even eat. Sometimes she leaves the safety of her box, but
not in the usual way. Instead, she floats high above the noise of life on a fluff of swirling pink clouds
where she feels no pain.
As Suzie's mental and physical health collapses into a life-threatening spiral of silence and denial, her
abusive mother refuses to own the truth that belies her mean-spirited behaviors. Suzie finds her own
way to manage the hurt and disappointment by internalizing the pain of her mother's rejection, until
the day the crying does the talking for her. When Uncle Elliot discovers his niece's declining
condition, he insists on medical treatment that leads to her commitment in a mental hospital.
Shaw, a first-time novelist, is a graduate of Temple University in Philadelphia. In this courageous
glimpse into the deteriorating mind of a young teen, Black-eyed Suzie, a young adult novel written
in short episodes, takes the reader on a dangerous journey that makes no prophetic promises.
Although Suzie says she has no voice because she "no longer owns the words," the author
meticulously opens up the mind of her troubled character through stream-of-consciousness, a
literary style that serves the story well. Her intriguing use of color gray, pink, and
peacock-green metaphorically speaks volumes for her character and adds several revealing layers
to the story line. Shaw's strength lies in her power to suck the agonizing, choked-down emotions
from Suzie's gut to the constricted muscles of her voiceless throat, a power so intense it leaves the
reader gasping for air.
As Suzie struggles to find her way back to reality, her determination is propelled into fast-forward
when she learns her older sister has unknowingly stepped into her shoes as the target of their
mother's anger. When she rediscovers her lost voice and leaps forward to protect her sibling, the
timing feels right for recovery. Although the story's resolution is a bit tedious and over-written,
leaving too little for the reader to reason out, the intensity is maintained throughout and burns a
memorable impression on the psyche.
Charisse Floyd
Reviewer
Diana's Bookshelf
The Relationship Handbook
Jan S. Maizler
iUniverse
20221 Pine Lake Road, Suite 100, Lincoln, NE 68512
ISBN # 059525912X (pbk); ISBN # 0595654274 (cloth); 119 pgs $12.95
Ever wonder why you don't see any books for normal rational adults who have questions about
relationships? There are more books about how to deal with dysfunctional relationships than can be
counted. Author Jan S. Maizler in The Relationship Handbook, offers us a way to never need those
books. The handbook he created, gives the groundwork on how to form a healthy relationship from
the beginning, starting with you. This is something unique, to self-help books, the 'ole ounce of
prevention.
I think of this more as an educational tool, for people new to intimate relationships, or people who
know that what they are doing is not working as well as it could be. How much better would the
current state of long term relationships be if a guide of this type was available in our current
education system. Imagine how much easier it would be to have a healthy partnership between two
people, when both parties have been educated and know what that consists of, and what will be
needed from them to achieve permanence, stability, and ultimately happiness with realistic
expectations. Even if you are already involved in a relationship this handbook will be an invaluable
tool, in evaluating where your relationship currently lays and what is to come, as well as giving
insightful reasons as to why things happen in a relationship, and how best to deal with things as they
arise.
Something unique to this handbook is it makes you look at yourself, with no powder coating, and
take responsibility for your role, in every aspect of a relationship. Yet, there is a gentle hand to guide
you away from what you are doing wrong once it has been made clear to you. The author speaks to
the readers in plain human terms, never once drifting off into self righteous psychobabble, making
this book perfect for anyone who is contemplating starting a relationship, be it a teenager looking for
their first love, or a senior citizen wanting to give love one more chance, and everyone in between.
He has laid it out so simply that as you read, you will find yourself thinking, 'yeah, now I get it.'
It is my strong recommendation that any one who is involved or wishes to be involved in an intimate
relationship, on any level, buy a copy of The Relationship Handbook by author Jan S. Maizler, and
read it, every word, cover to cover. The information will prove useful in all of your relationships,
from family to friends, and all the way to romantic.
Emergence of Hope
Jeff Neugroschel
Publish America
ISBN # 1592864082, 165 pgs, $19.95, www.PublishAmerica.com
The events of 9/11 have forever changed the hearts and minds of many Americans. I know that I
personally will never forget that day in all its sad details as the events unfolded before my eyes.
In the novel Emergence of Hope, author Jeff Neugroschel recounts the aftermath of this tragic event
through the eyes of a teenager, Stacy Coombs.
Stacy has dreams in vivid detail, which start with a man trying to make his way down the stairs and
out of the World Trade Center. These dreams continue in sequence as he makes his escape and due
to a head injury, wanders the streets of the city trying to remember who he is.
The real feeling she gets from these dreams cause Stacy to question if they may be the reflection of
an actual event, and prompt her to try to find and help the man. How exactly does one convince the
people around them, a man in trouble has reached out to you through your dreams, when everyone
thinks it is only a reaction to the horrible events and the constant rehashing of those things on the
news. Stacy's friend Nancy Eisen, more of your typical teenager than Stacy, lends her support the
best she can, and adds to the deep cast of characters in a most pleasing way.
Feeling very strongly about what she is seeing, Stacy begins to keep a journal of her dreams, hoping
she will remember enough details to help her begin to unravel the puzzle, and find the man who is so
desperately in need of her help.
Author, Jeff Neugroschel tells a tight gripping story without a word wasted. His compassion is
evident in his telling of the story, with characters so realistic, I cried and felt their emotions every
step of the way. His dialogue is natural and engaging, making it easy to find yourself answering their
questions, and lending the moral support they need. While the story may be on a heavy subject, the
writing is light and flows effortlessly from his pen to your heart; as he pulls you into the lives of his
richly constructed characters, you feel welcome and won't want to leave until well after the back
cover is closed.
I recommend you pick up your copy today, find your most comfortable lounging clothes, sit in your
most relaxing chair, have a cup of your favorite warm comfort drink (mine is coffee, with a touch of
French vanilla) and prepare to spend some time losing yourself in a well told tale by Jeff
Neugroschel. He will tell you a story so deep and so touching and it will move you in ways you
never expected, I know it did me
Diana Bennett
Reviewer
Cindy Lynn's Bookshelf
A General History of the Robberies and Murders of the Most Notorious Pirates
Captain Charles Johnson
The Lyons Press
P.O. Box 245, Guilford, CT 06437-0408
ISBN 1585745588, $19.95, 1-800-962-0973
In the year 1724, Pirates were a major concern, not just the stuff of movies or rumor. People knew
people who'd met Anne Bonny or Captain Gow...usually at the end of a knife. The idea that any trip
out to sea could end in capture was a serious concern, making the actions of these brigands the topic
of much discussion, both of the serious and more prurient kind. So it is little wonder that this book
has done so well over the years. Every time we see an image of a man with a peg leg or a patch over
his eye, every idea of piracy we have from Captain Hook to The Pirates of the Caribbean, we have
Captain Johnson to thank. He says that any account he didn't see personally, he got from a relative
or acquaintance of the pirate...which leads one to wonder what sort of life Johnson lead. We
certainly don't know for sure who he was, people even thought he was actually Daniel DeFoe. We
don't even have an obituary, just two books...the second one concentrating on Highwaymen.
The nefarious possible nature of our author provides a bit of spice to the book...almost all of this
book has been verified (though, as David Cordingly, who introduces and commentates on this book
for us in a fine, informative way, says, it is safe to assume that conversations recorded probably have
a bit of poetic license added to them) making this book important as well as entertaining. This book
is taken from the 1925 edition, with the Captain Kidd section from the 1926 edition added.
Not every pirate is listed herein, but enough to satisfy even the most discerning scholar. There is
Captain Avery, whose tongue was so facile he was able to convince a group of allies to leave all of
their treasure in his possession, which, afterwards, he sailed away with. Captain Teach, known better
as Blackbeard, had fourteen wives...some of them simultaneously. Major Bonnet was so well liked
and of such a good reputation that when his acts of piracy were found out, most pitied him and
thought he had gone mad, not evil. We meet Mary Read, whose cross dressing habits began at a
young age, when her own mother began to raise her as a boy to deceive her dead husband's parents.
Anne Bonny's piracy sprung from passion...she was courted by Captain Rackham himself, and he
convinced her to take to the sea with him. Captains Lowther, England, Low, Spriggs and Gow are
just a few more of the names to be found here. Each chapter is well decorated with wood block
prints, and often have letters and court documents included. Each chapter is well detailed, such as in
the chapter about Captain Roberts, easily the lengthiest, which provided one of the best insights into
an actual trial.
Johnson writes colorfully of these brigands, showing great detail and knowledge. We may never
know who the true Captain Johnson was, but I know one thing...he can certainly tell a story.
The East India Company: Trade and Conquest from 1600
Antony Wild
The Lyons Press
P.O. Box 245, Guilford, CT 06437-0408
ISBN 1585740594, $45.00, 1-800-962-0973
The East India Company is a familiar entity. The words captivate all the senses, I see ships with tall
sails and beautiful women with hair like ink, wrapped in scarves the colors of the rainbow, I smell
dust and salt and curry, I hear pipes and the sound of merchants hawking their wares. This is the
innocent's picture, the picture brought to us by movies and books, the very image that many young
men of the time had, hoping that they would soon make their fortune. As we read this book, we
learn why this image is so naive, as we see how greed, oppression and conquest is as much the cargo
of the East India company as the spices and teas it brought to its consumers.
Queen Elizabeth herself is the one who signed the charter that began this company, and adventurers
and speculators gave it life. The riches it eventually attained would make Microsoft look like a mom
and pop organization. It had an army that, at its height, consisted of 250,00 men.
These facts are just a handful of the things you will learn from Wild's well written, fact filled
narrative. We learn about culture, and how the culture of India and Britain clashed against and
influenced each other. There's a chapter called "Company at Work, Rest and Play" that gives us a
complete look at what life was like for people, explaining the title Memsahib, manners, food,
servants, and various activities. We learn that the Company didn't have interests only in India, but in
China and Japan as well. Every aspect, from goods to people whose names would take on almost
folkloric stature, to the eventual fall of the company are well covered. The chapters are divided into
subheadings, making the reading quick, and allowing you to find different things easily. Also,
historical facts from other places were made stronger for me. For instance, I'd long heard of the Sam
Browne belt, especially in reference to the Canadian Royal Mounted Police...so I always thought of
Sam Browne as a very Canadian entity. To learn that he was a hero who lost his arm during the
Mutiny was really interesting for me.
The jewel of this book's crown (and yes, I am sort of creating a pun here, because the most
magnificent jewel of the British crown is Koh-i-nor, part of whose story is told here) are the
pictures. The riches of these countries are immense...from the ruby studded gold spoon, the
gorgeous carved jade wine cup, to the immaculate care they put into their export goods. The
beautiful paintings, pictures of valuable objects and the maps all help to not just illuminate the book,
but to illuminate the details that Wild is trying to pass onto us. The pictures are not there just to fill
space, but to increase our understanding. One of my favorite things was a partial suit of Elephant
armor.
I thought that this book was a considerably well done piece of research. History books don't usually
cover much about this Company, and reading this book filled a lot of holes in my knowledge and
made my understanding of the times during which it existed a lot clearer. A fabulous reference.
Scottish Clans and Tartans
Neil Grant
The Lyons Press
P.O. Box 245, Guilford, CT 06437-0408
ISBN 1585746673, $16.95, 1-800-962-0973
I have long been curious about the Scottish tartan...something about the tartan as a concept seems
to have its own mystique. Even though the actual assignation of tartans to families is relatively
recent in historic terms, these weavings have a rich and long past that twines itself around the people
of Scotland, an inescapable part of their culture. For many families, the tartan of their clan is a
symbol on so many levels: political, social and familial...and therefore is an extremely important
thing to know about. The weavings of the tartan are the weavings of their own history.
This book is put together well, and I think it makes an interesting resource. Grant begins from the
very start, when the Scotii settled in Argyll in AD 500. He describes conflicts, the origins of clans,
tartans and the political highpoints, covering a space of time until about 1822. There's also a timeline
listing events by ruler, from 1124-1567. These pages of general information are fantastic as they give
the reader a context for the pages to follow. The next section is the clans...names are in alphabetical
order, and each clan has one or two pages. Under the name, printed large for easy flipping and
finding, there is a photograph of the actual cloth. It's a fairly big piece, I'd say 2 inches by 6. This
gives you a really good idea of what the cloth actually looks like. You can study the subtleties of the
colors, and if you were shopping for cloth with which to make your own clan items, this book would
be really ideal for taking to the store. It's slightly taller than a regular book, but narrower, and the
tartan swatch goes all the way to the edge...also, in the corner of the last page of the section, there is
a small swatch, useful both for quick reference and comparison. Under the main swatch, the name's
origins and place are explained. The clan's actual origin is next, followed by the clan's historical
highpoints. Often paintings and photographs of famous members are included, as are pictures of key
places. They are generous with their pictures, giving us beautiful views of old castles and lakes. Just
looking at the pictures alone is a pleasure.
Grant writes very well...he is concise with his words, knowing that he has only a limited amount of
space, but he manages to fill that space with many nifty facts. It's not a book just for those tracing
their history, but a book for anyone who wishes to learn more about Scotland's past...it's a turbulent
past, hard and glorious, and to understand it, we need to understand the clans that made it.
This is a reference I wild definitely enjoy looking through many times.
Lost Light
Michael Connelly
Little, Brown and Company
1271 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020
0316154601, $25.95, 1-800-759-0190, www.twbookmark.com
Harry Bosch retired from the LAPD, taking a stack of never solved cases home with him. One case
has now come back to haunt him. You see, four years ago, two crimes that no one could prove a
connection two took place. A young woman was murdered at her apartment, her clothing messed
up to make it look like she'd been raped. Angella Benton was the production assistant of one of
Hollywood's biggest studios. A clean cut, career minded woman, her life left few clear clues to
follow. A few days after this crime, the studio is setting up a major scene, using two million dollars
worth of real money. This two million is too much temptation for a group of robbers, and although
Harry, there to conduct interviews, manages to get off a few shots, the money is gone for good, and
the case is out of his hands. The investigation, now classified as a robbery homicide, goes to
detectives Jack Dorsey and Lawton Cross, who, though good people, are more renowned for their
poor luck that their case solving. The quality of their luck is made truly evident when a robber
comes into Nat's, where the partners are eating sandwiches...Dorsey dies on the spot, Cross comes
out of a coma with no memories, paralyzed from the neck down. But something has triggered an
important memory in Cross, and now Bosch begins his quest to bring justice for Angella
Benton.
It's not an easy quest...while none of the adventures that we follow Harry Bosch on are, this one is
even more difficult. There's the lapse of time...four years is a long time, and memories, always
uncertain, are now even more vague. Clues have been gathering dust...and anything that's not been
collected in the way of hard evidence is either buried or destroyed. That's nothing...Bosch is more
than equal to that, but now he finds himself hampered in a way he never considered. Without his
badge, he's just a private investigator...a citizen who is no longer on the inside track. He has no
rights, and no back up and power of persuasion that the badge endows its holder. It's a new
challenge, one that gives him a great deal of insight into the way his world works now.
Harry Bosch continues to be a fantastic detective to read...his narrative, as he tells us what's going
on in the first person, is fantastic, filled equally with regret and conscious, honor and keen intellect.
Connelly also does a good job of keeping the thread of Harry's life straight. With every book, things
change for Harry, because things change for all of us.
Michael Connelly is getting better with every book...this volume is a page turner, filled with tricky
clues and murky motives. As with his previous books, I had no idea who the killer was until the
very end. I am consistently surprised and pleased with Connelly's work...the only flaw is that I can't
wait till the next one comes out.
Pale Two: More Comic Scripts by Top Writers
Nat Gertler, editor
About Comics
www.aboutcomics.com
ISBN: 0971633819 206 pages (805) 499-4091
Last year Nat Gertler provided us with a much needed resource when he put together Panel One:
Comic Scripts by top writers. Pulling together scripts from some of the best names in the field, he
gave us an unprecedented look into the backstage area of the comic book world. This year he not
only repeats his triumph, creating a book filled with commentary and scripts of importance to the
comic book medium, but he surpasses it. I learned a great deal from the last book...and this book
just adds to the knowledge.
Groo's Mark Evanier, Nexus's Mike Baron, Gail Simone's Killer Princess, the classic Fatman the
Human Flying Saucer by Otto Binder and Scott McCloud's Zot! are some of the authors and works
represented. There are also some names that people outside of the genre might recognize...Judd
Winick with Barry Ween, Boy Genius was on MTV's The Real World, Peter David also writes some
nifty SF, Miguel Ferrer is better known to me, at least, for his various TV and movie roles, but he
and partner Bill Mumy have created a lot of cool comic books. The final script that I have not yet
mentioned here is by Sara Ryan. I wanted to point it out especially because not only was it first in a
literary magazine (Cicada) but it garnered her an Eisener nomination. So much for the thought that
comics ain't literature.
Each comic script comes with an introduction by the author and several come with an after word by
the artist. Most of us are notorius introduction skippers, but in this case you have to make an
exception. These extra paragraphs give a ton of insight into each script. The author part is
appropriately placed first, since it allows us to see what was going on in the writer's mind when they
sat down to do the script, what their feelings and approach to the process was. Then we get to read
the script, which is often accompanied by art. Finally, we get the artist's words, and are able to
understand their point of view. This is where I think this book improves upon the previous one...we
didn't have this viewpoint, which, to me, as a would be comic book writer whose idea of successful
art is the ability to draw a straight line, is extremely valuable.
As always, the actual script choices are fantastic, giving lots of insight. Evanier's way of writing
scripts, or at least a way he used a couple of times when working with Sergio Aragones, is to
seperate the pages into paragraphs...he numbers the panels and describes them and the dialogue in a
precise, short style that leaves plenty of room for the artist to work. Peter David uses the alphabet,
not numbers, to bullet his panels. Baron actually loosely draws the scripts, including world balloons
in the margins, which gives the artist a really clear view of what he's going for. Scott McCloud
draws thumbnails of the comic on index cards...which we get to see along with the sketched script
that he laid out for one of the rare times another artist was given the chance to draw Zot!
Best of all, while you're learning about this world, you're also having fun. Each script is a pleasure to
read, and even though they often give you the desire to track down the finished product to see how
things turned out, they still manage to do what they're supposed to...entertain.
Strike Swiftly
Kevin P. Grover
AmErica House
www.publishamerica.com
1591292360
Before we meet our hero, two very important events happen. First, Hans and Heinrich, who we
quickly realize are quite a sinister pair, are having a meeting to discuss Han's plans for Tony Wilson.
Hans will never forgive Tony for the imprisonment of his grandson Josef, a loss that, while his old
friend understands the pain of, Heinrich considers a casualty of war, one that trying to change could
ruin more important goals. Hans takes this disagreement seriously, especially when Heinrich
threatens to go to their leaders, and shoots him. After this, we meet a group of desperate men, who
are willing to murder people in their beds in order to ensure the smuggling of the small warhead in
their possession.
Then we get to meet Tony Wilson. Tony is an FBI agent who more than proved himself when he
helped foil the robbery of Fort Knox (as told in the previous book, Strike Hard). He's a good
man...he might not like paper work, and he has a smart alecky sense of humor that's both charming
and funny, but he's definitely someone you'd want on your side in a fight. When he's called into a
top secret meeting he realizes that he's got a new challenge...he finds out that Hans hates him and
looks forward to extracting a fiery revenge upon him, and that revenge may be linked to an
extremely powerful warhead that has been sold to an unknown buyer. He becomes part of the CIA
as well, and, since he might just be the key to the whole thing, he's put under surveillance. The
surveillance doesn't come soon enough, as Hans is waiting for Tony when he gets home. He gives
Tony some Polaroid pictures, inviting him into an intricate game of cat and mouse. Tony and his old
friend Nathan race to figure out the clues that Hans sparingly gives him, each clue, if Hans has his
way, leading Tony not to a solution, but to his own death.
This well paced story is filled with surprises and questions. Who is the mysterious woman with no
memory? Is she Tony's wife, Karen? But how can that be, when he knows that she died in a
horrible accident, crushed to death under an SUV going the wrong way, while he escaped with only
a few cuts and a broken heart? What good will Han's diabolical plan of tricking a forestry Burn
Team to start a forest fire on a hot windy day do for him? And what about the team who, slowly but
surely, are driving the warhead up to Finley Ohio, where it could kill the remaining members of
Tony's family? All these elements come together to create a story that is hard to stop reading.
The characterization is also well done. Hans is as vile and maniacal as they come, made more
frightening by the fact that he's so intelligent. Tony is also very smart, with a talent for getting into
the adversary's head that makes him invaluable. Also, there are a lot of interchanges between
people, political and social, that feel very real, such as the actions of the technicians when they
realize the hard drives are missing...instead of reporting it right away they attempt to track them
down on their own.
I enjoyed this book a lot...it made me want to hunt down Strike Hard to find out the details behind
this first case, and it's made me look forward to reading more from this talented novelist...especially
since the book ends with a huge cliff hanger.
Moonstone Comics
582 Torrence Avenue, Calumet City, IL 60409
www.moonstonebooks.com
Boston Blackie
Moonstone Noir
Stefan Petruska, writer
Kirk Van Wormer, artist
For Blackie, even though he served time for stealing the black diamond, the case is far from over.
Detective Steach, a woman trying to make a major break to prove she has what it takes to be a
detective, is unwilling to let it go, for the diamond is missing...and so is the owner's small boy. If
only Blackie, whose time in prison helped him get clean from years of drug abuse, could remember
what happened the night he tried to steal it. The drugs he was taking at the time have fogged those
memories imperfectly, giving him hardly any clues to work with. What they learn will lead them back
to the mansion...now a flooded underwater world, thanks to the new dam...but will what Blackie
finds redeem his soul, or condemn him for good?
Blackie is a fantastic character...he may be a thief, but he's a thief with morals, who never steals from
anyone who doesn't richly deserve it. His innate goodness is made clear in several scenes, but most
poignantly in one where Steach recalls the first time they met, during the San Francisco Earthquake.
he's collected up a bunch of missing kids, in the hopes that their parents will come by the tent and
find them. To while away he time they play jacks, and with the rag doll that he's sewing out of found
materials. A guy like that, you can't help but really like.
Steach is another interesting character. The first woman detective on the force, everyone is working
against her. The chief of police slaps her around and attempts to use her as a personal sex toy, and
those of lower rank refuse to give her any respect. As gutsy as she is driven, you can't help but
admire her, and feel sorry when she fails the ultimate test. This book does a great job of showing
how tough it would be for a woman to become a cop at that time.
This book is a chapter from Moonstone book's magnificent Noir line. The noir elements are
emphasized by Wormer's magnificent pen and ink drawings. They capture the times well, as well as
aid greatly in the characterization of the people in the book. The art is excellent...I particularly loved
the under water scenes at the old mansion...the details, such as a small school of fish taking a short
cut through an old drive way lamp are too cool. The writing, too, by Petrucha, was fabulous...it is
really hard to make a thief come off as endearing, but he makes it work. I am really hoping to
someday read more of Blackie's adventures.
The Hat Squad
Moonstone Noir
Jay Faerber, writer
Eric Yonge, artist
If you like you Noir hard boiled, The Hat Squad is definitely for you. The members of this elite team
take no-crap-old-time LA police work to a new level. Think Joe Friday...and not the new one,
either, Jake Thurman and his gents could eat that duo for breakfast.
Jake Thurman and his handpicked trio of hard but smart detectives are the best. When a tough case
comes up, they are the first to be called, but when a Hollywood actress calls them to her house, with
only suspicions that her boyfriend's into something heavy, they are less than interested. It's not quite
their thing. It quickly becomes their thing, though, when she's found the next day, beaten to death by
a baseball bat. The Hat Squad quickly follows the clues, following her boyfriend to a local mob
handout. But who really killed her, and why? Was it an actor hoping to keep their rumored affair
secret? Jealousy on the part of her boyfriend? The mob, afraid of something she knows? The Hat
squad will find out, pulling no punches on the way.
I think the charm behind a comic where the main characters are this tough is that it's sort of
comforting. Trust me, this is long before the Miranda Rights were even considered, and these police,
while they are fair, are not afraid to get their knuckles bruised. I think as we watch crime rates grow,
and the obviously guilty get out of jail while the maybe innocent are forced to stay behind, one sort
of wishes that this was still the case. I know that in reality they often went too far, but it used to be
you were scared to face justice...the cops were a deterrent. So, when you see these four, very good
looking, (not as in handsome, per se, but they look good...tough, clean cut...well dressed...perfect
for the part.) tough, no nonsense men, and you feel safe. You know that no matter what happens,
the Hat Squad will see justice delivered. Faerber's dialogue is perfect...crisp, tough. Younge's art,
black and white like a good noir comic should be, is wonderful. The expressions are perfect, and he
uses the panel angles in interesting ways that often make the emotional or action impact of the scene
stronger..
Of course, I don't think they'd get along very well with Blackie, no matter how personable he is. Nor
would they care much for the Invisible Man...
Legacy of the Invisible Man
Dave Ulanski, writer
Art Nichols, artist
When Wayland Hall inherits the journals of Griffin, who terrified the village of Iping years before as
the Invisible Man, he sees a chance for quick cash. What better gimmick to attract tourists to the
slowly failing hotel he now runs than to have their very own ghost? As he reads, he realizes he hasn't
a prayer of figuring the notes out himself, so he does some research...and discovers that Griffin has a
living descendant. He goes to America, where he hires Rochester Ingram to decode the journals.
Roch isn't a bad guy...a little on the unmotivated side, but the idea of some decent money to help
finance his upcoming wedding, along with his fascination for the work, soon get him going.
Unfortunately, Roch may be a good guy, but Wayland Hall isn't so kind...and now Roch has the
police after him, and it will take some fancy footwork to keep out of jail, and a live.
It is hard, if not nearly impossible, to take a single enclosed story such as the Invisible
Man...basically, the original book finishes things up, I believe, and make a credible series. Ulanski
rises to the challenge, by taking an utterly fresh approach to the story, while keeping true to the
themes (such as the temptation this power can create, and the way it perverts people) and weaving
an interesting tale. Nichols continues to put his talents to good use, drawing women who are pretty
and realistic, and creating perfectly flowing action scenes. While the ending satisfies, it makes one
wonder what will happen next.
Calebros
Vampire: The Masquerade World of Darkness
Bryan Edwards, writer
Chris Marrinan, artist
Calebros has just been elected prince of the city, and after many wars between the different clans,
which have damaged the city, his work is more than cut out for him. But is he cut out for it? A
nosferatu, his delights lend themselves more to research and hiding from human kind that for
politicking. Plus, he thinks he very well may be losing his mind...what is going on? Why are all his
undertakings failing? And who is it who seems to so desperately want his downfall?
Edwards does the writing on this one, creating a subtle, cerebral horror. Calebros seems slightly
confused at times, as he searches for the truth. The confusion is what adds to the horror...because
we don't know quite what is going on. He makes some decisions that his followers think are totally
wacky, and even the reader wonders over...has Calebros lost it, or does he have the larger picture in
mind? Marrinan's expressive artwork is done in black, gray and white, creating pools of shadows and
halftones that make exploring this world quite creepy. He also does marvelous work in defining the
different characters...creatures as strange looking as the nosferatu clan members can be hard to tell
apart, but he does a really great job.
The World of Darkness series seems to focus more on individuals than on the different clans as a
whole, but it still defines the world of Vampire the Masquerade, showing what a rich place for
stories it is.
Fianna
Werewolf: The Apocalypse
Joe Gentile, writer
Steve Ellis, artist
A band of werewolf rockers from the Fianna clan are trying to raise money for a wolf refuge...a
place where wolves can be wolves with no human interference. Unfortunately, a mysterious person
named Samhain is willing to stop them at any cost, by bribing officials and hiring people to turn the
pack's individual weaknesses against them.
This is a story with many levels. One level is the forbidden passion between two of the pack,
forbidden because if they should have a child, he or she would most likely be deformed. Another
level is about companionship and clan loyalty. All werewolves are fairly clannish among their own
kind...the Fianna and the Bone Gnawers or Black Furies are all quite different in their customs and in
how they fight the Wyrm. Even so, this closeness seems to be emphasized by the fact that these are
Celtic werewolves, and we humans are used to the strength of the clan ideal as it relates to places
like Scotland. The well done dialect makes the ladies voices, in particular, roll musically, and the
closeness the these people have, despite the fact that they almost let themselves be torn apart, is
rather nice. The final level is action, as these musicians become warriors in the name of their cause.
Gentile's writing is ever subtle...the world of the werewolf is full of magic, whether it be entering the
dream-time like state of the Umbra or in calling the Sidhe. This magic contrasts strongly against the
harsh urban reality, grounding the reader even as it takes us into a different world.
I particularly liked Steve Ellis's art on this one...again, we use half tones, shades of gray and back
and white, which adds to the atmosphere, and his art, expressive, attractive, fits the piece very
well.
V.A.O.
Geoff Ryman & Edward Miller
PS Publishing
Hamilton House
4 Park Avenue, Harrogate HG2 9BQ, England
ISBN: 190288048X, $14.82, 67 pages, 2002
VAO stands for Victim Activated Ordinance. And this isn't ordinance as in a law, but as in a
weapon, a weapon that is meant to protect the people who work in the banks, who live in nice
apartment buildings. It is not meant to be used against them, but that is what one group, headed by
the infamous and untraceable leader, Silhouette, is doing.
Brewster lives at Happy Farms...it's a home for the elderly, and only the richest elderly, at that.
There aren't any homes for anyone who isn't, and so, if he doesn't want to live on the street, he has
to find a way to pay the 100,000 a month bill for himself, and his old friend, Jazzanova, who
sometimes doesn't even remember Brewster's name. When Silhouette and his team start to strike, it
becomes his big concern to stop them, not only because they've hurt his granddaughter, but because
they, being older people as well, are making it really hard for a few honest...and desperate...hackers
to pay their bills.
This story is a very nicely done piece of social commentary...how we treat our people once they gain
that often despised and despaired over title of Elderly. In this world, these people are basically
forced to give up their lives and live in these homes where every move, every aspect of life, is
monitored and recorded. Not only do they have to pay exorbitant fees, but they have to tip
everyone...because that's the only way people like the cleaners or nurses get paid. The way their
children have pushed them away and abandoned them has created a new term, Age Rage. Part of
what drives these people who have figured out how o turn VAO on the victims is this overwhelming
resentment for this treatment. It makes sense...the environment Ryman creates is ripe for it.
This is also one of the few books where the protagonist being involved in something illegal is really
sympathetic...what else is Brewster going to do? He's worked hard all his life, trying to make money
to help his family, but he ends up spending his hard fought money on just trying to live.
It is a short book...but the story is done very well. Strong characterization, interesting technology
and a thoughtful social commentary make this an unusual and powerful read.
Cindy Lynn Speer
Reviewer
Christina's Bookshelf
Moon, Have You Met My Mother?
Karla Kuskin
Illustrations by Sergio Ruzzier
HarperCollins Children's Books
ISBN 0060271736, $16.99 hardcover, 322 pages
This collection of poetry from a poet, who admits to being a grandmother, is a whimsical, sometimes
lyrical romp through a simple world as seen by children.
Starting with an introductory poem, Kuskin gives readers some biographical information that begins,
"Once, sixty years ago, there was a child." Referring to her work as a result of "some storms" in the
child, Karla Kuskin shares her views on cats, birds, bugs, spring and a vast number of other subjects
in this collection. With opinions short, sweet and rhyming at the beginning of this volume, the work
seems to become more complex as the read continues.
"I would like to have a pet
any kind at all.
Something big,
Something small,
Something sleeping in the hall
Would be just fine.
I would like to have a pet.
Will you be mine?" (Pg. 5)
And,
"There is a fence
around our house.
There is a catbird
on the fence.
The catbird will not tie his shoes.
If birds wore shoes
this might make sense." (Pg. 46)
Then, later;
"Moon,
have you met my mother?
Asleep in a chair there
falling down hair.
Moon in the sky
moon in the water
have you met one another?
Moon face to moon face
deep in that dark place
suddenly bright.
Moon,
Have you met my friend the night?"
---Page 191
Rather than title each individual poem, Kuskin has broken the pieces into groups. " I Do Not
Understand Arf," "I Do Not Wish I were a Cat," and "I Need to Read" are only a few of the 17
chapters here.
Proving very enlightening, readers won't want to miss the acknowledgment section where it is
revealed that Karla Kuskin has been writing and seeing publication of children's poetry since, at
least, 1958. This means that many of us, who are grandmothers now, probably read her work as
children. I must admit, some of the work here is familiar.
Fifteen of the poems included here are from In the Middle of the Trees (1958), with other reprints
from publications including The Rose on My Cake, Sand and Snow, Any Me I Want to Be, Near the
Window Tree, Alexander Soames: His Poems, and Dogs & Dragons Trees & Dreams. The index in
the back of the book shows exactly where to find any of the poems included in this volume.
Children will not only enjoy this book, but teachers, parents, and librarians who read the book to
those children will also enjoy it! And, if you are a grandma like me who likes to check the books
out before the grandchildren receive them-you will enjoy Moon, Have You Met My Mother,
too!
Die Laughing
John R. Platt
Medium\ Rare Books Publishing
4218 Atlantic Avenue, Long Beach, CA 90807
http://www.mediumrarebooks.com/index.htm
ISBN 0971116253, 187 pages, softcover, $14.95 USA/$22.95 Canada
If you don't read any other horror book in 2003, you should read John R. Platt's Die Laughing.
I didn't buy this book. A friend at my regular nine to five job gave this book to me. Yes, I had
thought of ordering it from the publisher, but my funds have been very limited as of late. When my
friend received this book, a prize in a contest she had entered, she immediately knew that it was
something I would enjoy. She was right!
It took two pages to engage me with this read.
Beginning with a short story entitled That Old Black Magic, a story about one man's interludes with
an amulet he was given and Lucifer and Satan, Platt uses the rest of the 182 pages to give readers a
treat of side splitting horror.
"The amulet burned brighter, and my antique reading desk started to smoke. Great, I thought, one
more thing to be pissed about. I sat back down, took off my glasses, and pinched the bridge of my
nose between my thumb and forefinger. On top of everything else, I was getting a headache."
--That Old Black Magic (Die Laughing Pg. 17)
This horror is not the scary kind-instead, most of it is the funny kind. All of the pieces are well
written and well executed which is a hard fete to master. Remember, in comedy-timing is
everything. In this book, Platt's humor is right on cue.
The introduction is written by Ty Sebastian, billed here as a worker for the largest organizer of dog
shows in North America (VamPoodle). He shares that the work in Die Laughing is a collection
from 10 years worth of Platt's work.
"And, of course, I must admit," Sebastian tells readers. "I am much more of a fan now that I have
read through this entire collection."
One of several poems included in this collection that will give readers a chuckle discusses the
downfalls of howling at a full moon.
'Dem Werewolf Blues
My shoes don't fit
Since I got bit
It's hardly fair
I tore my underwear
Not to be crude,
But days, I wake up nude!
I'm working my barber to death
I've got doggie breath
My wife hates my claws
This town's got leash laws!
And finally, tell me, please,
How do I get rid of these fleas?
--- John R. Platt (Die Laughing page 51)
All of the work here is not totally humorous. "Waiting," a yarn about a man's nightly visit with
Death, has an element of sadness to it that makes readers realize that comedic horror can also be
somber. No matter the atmosphere, reading this book is like listening to someone read the work.
Platt's voice comes through loud and clear as each story and poem is savored.
Some of the language here is strong, as well as some of the themes. This read is not for children.
Teens would probably enjoy it, but I doubt parents would want this read by them. But for those
looking for a fresh voice in comedic horror, this is for you. Read John R. Platt. You won't be
disappointed.
Christina Kiplinger-Johns
christinajohns@earthlink.net
Taylor's Bookshelf
Modern Physics And Ancient Faith
Stephen M. Barr
University of Notre Dame Press
310 Flanner Hall, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556
0268034710 $30.00 www.undpress.nd.edu
Written by Stephen M. Barr (Professor of Physics, Bartol Research Institute, University of
Delaware), Modern Physics And Ancient Faith offers the fascinating postulate that the great
discoveries of modern science are closer to the central teachings of Christianity and Judaism about
God, than is the atheistic viewpoint of scientific materialism. Using five great discoveries ranging
from the Big Bang Theory to Godel's Theorem to cast doubt on the materialist view and emphasize
faith in the Judeo-Christian perception of God, Modern Physics And Ancient Faith is a thoughtful
and thought-provoking read which is especially recommended for the philosophically inclined who
are struggling with Faith/Science issues.
St. John In Exile
Bridgestone Multimedia
c/o Alpha Omega Publications
300 North McKemy Avenue, Chandler, AZ 84226-2618
1563712962 $19.95 1-800-523-0988
In a tour-deforce, 92-minute, one-man stage production starring Dean Jones and which was
recorded in full color on video and presented to the Christian community by Bridgestone
Multimedia, St. John in Exile is the extended monologue by John as he was held captive by the
Romans. The last surviving member of Jesus' twelve disciples, John remembers and relives the
profound events of Jesus Christ's life which forever changed human history. A powerfully enacted,
masterfully written, and utterly unforgettable presentation, St. John In Exile is a superbly produced
and highly recommended addition to family, church school, seminary, and ecclesiastical studies video
collections.
Reformed Theology For The Third Christian Millennium
B. A. Gerrish, editor
Westminster John Knox Press
100 Witherspoon Street, Louisville, Kentucky 40202-1396
0664225861 $19.95 www.wjkacademic.com
Compiled and edited by B. A. Gerrish (John Nuveen Professor Emeritus at the Divinity School,
University of Chicago), Reformed Theology For The Third Christian Millennium presents testimony
from six different Reform theologists (John W. De Gruchy, Peter J. Paris, Jan Rohls, Dawn Devries,
Nicholas Wolterstorff), in the format of Sprunt Lectures given at Union Theological Seminary and
the Presbyterian School of Christian Education. Discussing the interplay between Reformed
Theology and modern-day culture; the theology and ethics of Martin Luther King Jr.; personality of
the Divine, Reformed Theology For The Third Christian Millennium is an especially recommended
contribution to Christian Theological Studies collections and reading lists.
New Mercies I See
Stan Purdum
CSS Publishing Company, Inc.
PO Box 4503, Lima, Ohio 45802-4503
0788019589 $10.50 www.csspub.com
New Mercies I See is an anthology of twenty very brief Christian short stories by Stan Purdum
drawn from his 25 years as a church pastor. Individually crafted with humor, touching insight, grace,
and reverence for God and His work, New Mercies I See is commended to a Christian readership as
being an especially moving and deeply inspirational anthology, one that resonates with the heart and
comforts the spirit.
Trailing Jesus
James Campion
Gueem Books
c/o Phenix & Phenix Literary Publicists
2525 West Anderson Lane, Suite 540, Austin, TX 78757
0967929628 $18.00 www.jamescampion.com wwww.bookpros.com
Trailing Jesus is a personal testimony of James Campion and his personal journey in the footsteps of
Jesus of Nazareth, in search of truth and the hidden strength that faith brings. Evocative thoughts
and memory, distinctive descriptions and unlikely encounters fill this devoted and faithful account. A
candid journey of spiritual awakening filled with descriptive landscapes arising from a radical
spiritual movement, Trailing Jesus is confidently commended reading for Christians who are in
search of their own spiritual enlightenment.
Prayers To the God Of My Life
Lisa Belcher Hamilton
Morehouse Publishing
PO Box 1321, Harrisburg, PA 17105
0819219223 $16.95 www.morehousepublishing.com
Compiled by Lisa Belcher Hamilton (an Episcopal priest serving a parish in Greenwich,
Connecticut), Prayers To The God Of My Life: Psalms For Morning And Evening is a collection of
morning and evening psalms for every day of the year. Each psalm is accompanied by a one-sentence
meditation to better understand and internalize these devotional prayers. A deeply inspirational guide
to daily worship. "Turn my eyes from watching what is worthless; give me life in your ways." "How
do you discern between that which is worthless and that which is of God?"
Our Restless Heart
Thomas F. Martin, OSA
Orbis Books
PO Box 308, Maryknoll, NY 10545-0308
1570754748 $15.00 orbisbooks.com
Our Restless Heart: The Augustinian Tradition by Thomas F. Martin (Associate Professor,
Department of Theology and Religious Studies, Villanova University) is a informative presentation
introducing the reader to Augustine of Hippo, the theologian, convert, bishop, and polemicist whose
spiritual vision holds abiding insights for the faithful across the span of centuries. A thoughtful and
philosophical treatise covering the legacy of a great Christian historical figure, Our Restless Heart is
a welcome and valued contribution to Roman Catholic Theology in general, and Augustinian Studies
in particular.
The Trinity
Andrew Stirling, editor
Evangel Publishing House
2000 Evangel Way, PO Box 189, Nappanee, Indiana 46550
1928915264 $19.95 1-800-253-9315 www.evangelpublishing.com
Compiled and edited by Andrew Stirling (Senior Minister at Timothy Eaton Memorial Church,
Toronto, Ontario, Canada and Adjunct Professor of Theology at Tyndale Seminary, Toronto,
Canada) The Trinity: An Essential For Faith In Our Time is an impressive and illuminating collection
of writings from ten leading Christian thinkers examining the doctrine of the Trinity, -- which is
embraced by some followers of Christianity and held suspect (at best) by others. Examining the
Trinity as portrayed in Scriptures; questioning it in terms of philosophy, theology, and practical
issues; and much, much more, The Trinity is an erudite amalgamation of diverse viewpoints and very
highly recommended reading for students of Christian Theology in general, and of the Christian
doctrine of the Trinity in particular.
Listening To The Past
Stephen R. Holmes
Baker Academic
c/o Baker Book House Company
PO Box 6287, Grand Rapids, MI 49516-6287
0801026423 $17.99 www.bakeracademic.com
Listening To The Past: The Place Of Tradition In Theology by Stephen R. Holmes (Lecturer in
Christian Doctrine at King's College, London and Senior Researcher in Mission and Theology at the
Bible Society) comprehensively examines the doctrine of communion of saints, bringing together
wisdom concerning atonement, free will, theology, politics, and the importance of listening to and
learning from tradition and history. Each individual chapter focuses on a different aspect of
modern-day questions and conundrums involving God and faith, in a succinctly written study of
lessons already learned throughout the centuries. Listening To The Past is especially recommended
for non-specialist general readers with an interest in Christian Doctrine & Theology.
The World Of Christ And The World Of Culture
Paul Louis Metzger
Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company
255 Jefferson Avenue, S.E., Grand Rapids, MI 49503
0802849466 $38.00 1-800-253-7521
The World Of Christ And the World Of Culture: Sacred And Secular Through The Theology Of
Karl Barth by Paul Louis Metzger (Assistant Professor of Christian Theology and Theology of
Culture, Multnomah Biblical Seminary, Portland, Oregon) is a close and illuminating study of Karl
Barth's revolutionary theological ideals. From exploring the sacred in the creative word to
"theological politics" to the demise of corpus christianum, The World of Christ and the World of
Culture balances centuries of tradition and faith with modern changes in human way of life looking
for a road that unifies faith in God with adaptations to the onward march of Time. The World Of
Christ And The World Of Culture is a most welcome addition to Christian Theological Studies
reading lists and library collections.
Roll Back the Stone
Byron R. McCane
Trinity Press International
PO Box 1321, Harrisburg, PA 17105
1563384027 $20.00 www.trinitypressintl.com
Roll Back The Stone: Death And Burial In The World Of Jesus by Byron R. McCane (Academic
Director of the Sepphoris Excavations in Northern Israel, and Chair of Religion & Philosophy at
Converse College, Spartanburg, South Carolina) is a scholarly, in-depth study of death and burial
practices in ancient Palestine during the Roman and Byzantine periods. From scrutinizing traditional
Jewish death rituals; to a specific study of Jesus Christ's burial; to relocations of the dead in early
Byzantine Palestine; and much, much more, Roll Back the Stone is a highly scholarly and strongly
recommended contribution to both academic Biblical Archaeology collections and New Testament
Studies supplemental reading lists for laymen.
John Taylor
Reviewer
Bethany's Bookshelf
Little Green Apples
O. C. Smith and James Shaw
DeVorss & Company Publishers
Box 550, Marina Del Ray CA 90294-0550
0875167853 $15.95 www.devorss.com
Little Green Apples is a spiritual self-help guide for Christians, written by O.C. Smith (the man who
made the Grammy-winning song "Little Green Apples") with the assistance of James Show. Deep
wisdom and encouragement of the virtues of a Christian faith fill the pages of this warm-hearted
guide of strength and conviction. Little Green Apples is commended to the personal reading lists of
those members of the Christian community with an interest in experiencing joy, love, wisdom and
happiness within a Christian context.
The Hours Of Catherine Of Cleves
John Plummer, introduction and commentaries
George Braziller, Inc.
171 Madison Avenue, NY, NY 10016
0807614920 $45.00 1-800-233-4830
First published in 1966, The Hours Of Catherine Of Cleves is a wonderfully beautiful work that
reproduces a fifteenth-century illuminated manuscript featuring unforgettably beautiful Bible
illustrations of scenes from the Old and New testaments. These artworks were originally created for
Catherine of Cleves on the occasion of her marriage to the Duke of Guelders. Each page of this
splendidly illustrated book is accompanied by the commentary of John Plummer, who offers insight
and a descriptive vibrancy to the splendor of the illustrations. A treasure to read, view, and absorb,
The Hours Of Catherine Of Cleves is recommended for Christian Studies and Christian Art History
collections.
Contending For The Faith
Ralph C. Wood
Baylor University Press
Texas A&M University Press, dist.
PO Box 97363, Waco, TX 76798
091895486X $26.95 1-800-826-8911
Impressively presented by Ralph C. Wood (University Professor of Theology and Literature at
Baylor University), Contending For The Faith: The Church's Engagement With Culture is a drastic
call for Christian churches everywhere to revitalize their role in pointing humankind toward God's
way, especially in the face of self-interest pressures exerted on every side of the raucous modern
world. Examining neo-conservative and neo-liberal alternatives, presenting means to craft a
Christian educational culture, regard for romance in a world where sex is used by the media to sell
everything from cars to cigarettes, and much more, Contending For The Faith is a thoughtful and
thought-provoking manifesto which is commended to the attention of all Christians, regardless of
their creed or denomination.
Running From The Devil
Steve Kissing
The Crossroad Publishing Company
481 Eighth Avenue, Suite 1550, New York, NY 10001
0824521056 $22.95 1-800-395-0690
Running From The Devil: A Memoir Of A Boy Possessed is the personal testimony of Steve
Kissing, a Catholic school student who grew up during the 1970's with problematic seizures and a
sure inner conviction that the Devil was striving for his soul. Instead of seeking help, Steve stayed
silent out of fear, and Running From The Devil is the memorable story of his struggle to keep his
sanity through hallucinations and the difficulties of growing up.
Jay Jay The Jet Plane: Being A Friend
Tommy Nelson
PO Box 141000, Nashville, TN 37214
1400300355 $12.97 1-800-251-4000 www.tommynelson.com
Jay Jay The Jet Plane: Being A Friend is a colorful and soulful 35-minute video created for the
viewing enjoyment of young children preschool through first grade throughout the Christian
community. Featuring the adventures of a lighthearted, anthropomorphic jet plane who learns aboug
God's plans and God's love for all living things, Jay Jay The Jet Plane: Being A Friend contains three
spiritually enriching adventures recommended for young viewers ages 2-6: ""Jay Jay's Winter
Parade"; "Spending Time with Big Jake"; and "Jay Jay meets Captain Hightower". Also very highly
recommended is Jay jay The Jet Plane: Forgiveness & Understanding (1400300363, $12.97)
featuring "Fire Engine Evan"; "Brenda's Mothers Day"; and "Snuffy and the Colors of Fall".
Susan Bethany
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
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