The Abandoned Baobab
Ken Bugul
Lawrence Hill & Co
c/o Independent Publishers Group
814 North Franklin St., Chicago, IL 60610
ISBN: 1556521146 $9.95 159 pages
Akua Sarr, Ph.D.
Reviewer
First published in 1984 as Le Baobab Fou and translated into English in 1991 as The Abandoned
Baobab, the novel chronicles Ken Bugul's experience from her childhood and adolescence in
Senegal
to her young adult life in Belgium. Alienated from her family after her mother's year-long
departure,
Ken immerses herself into her studies at the French school. She lives with different family
members
while going to the French school, including an aunt and brother, but never has a sense of family or
home. She leaves for Europe after being awarded a scholarship to continue her studies. Her
feelings
of isolation and loneliness only increase during her stay in Belgium and she soon foregoes school
in
search of herself and the warmth of home through various sexual exploits, drugs and alcohol.
After a
near suicide, Ken comes to understand that the home for which she longs is not in Europe, her
ancestors are not the Gauls but they are the Africans who settled her village among the baobab
trees.
Marietou Mbaye uses the pseudonym Ken Bugul -- a Wolof name that can be translated as the
person no one wants, or the unwanted one-- on the advice of her publishers who feared the
scandal
that her disclosures would cause in Senegal. Names such as hers are chosen for children who are
born after numerous deaths of previous siblings. It is believed that these same children continue to
return to be taken once again by evil spirits. Giving the child names such as Bougouma, meaning I
dont want him or her, Sagar, meaning rag, or Ken Bugul, is an attempt to trick the spirits and
keep
them from taking the child. The belief is that if the spirits think that the child is not wanted by
anyone, they will not want the child either. The child will then live.
By telling her story, authoring herself, Mbaye rejects imposed definitions of what it means to be a
Muslim woman in Senegalese society. Her disclosures may be considered disgraceful by her
family,
society, and nation because, as a woman, she is expected to remain silent publicly, but the power
of
Mbayes narrative, is that it reveals a previously unspoken discourse. By having the courage to
publicly disclose her private self, Mbaye is able to heal and come to an awareness of self and
society.
The Adventures of Little Fox: Generations
Marlin L. Houser
Marhouse Inc.
PO Box 150605, Altamonte Springs, FL 32715
ISBN: 0975270311 $7.95 http://adventurefox.com
Alyice Edrich, Reviewer
http://thedabblingmum.com
The Adventures of Little Fox is not only a heartwarming book filled with valuable life lessons, it's
a
book filled with adventure! Through each captivating page, children learn what it's like to be a fox
-
how they bond, how they hunt, how they protect themselves from predators, how they learn to
watch out for human hunters, and how they live. They even learn the importance of passing down
family values and family history.
In the beginning, we learn about Trecar, a little fox born to two, loving, caring parents. Her
parents,
Serena and Timmeno instruct Trecar in the way of the fox: her daily training consisted of learning
to
hunt, stalk, track, and hide.
Halfway through the story Trecar is living on her own when a stranger, a fox by the name of
Cody,
happens upon her den. Cody got separated from his family and never learned to hunt or mark his
territory. Trecar could sense that he needed someone to guide him so she offered to let him stay
with
her while she trained him in the ways of the fox.
Time passes and the two fall madly in love. They conceive a child together and begin to build a
life
for themselves when Cody is injured and taken away by a human. The human nursed Cody back
to
health, while Trecar and her new pup searched high and low for their loved one. After a few days,
Trecar gave up hope of ever finding her husband again and began teaching her little pup, Little
Fox,
the ways of the fox.
But one day, while Trecar was hunting, Little Fox wanders off on his own - in search of his
mother.
He meets many interesting creatures along the way, he befriends a squirrel, learns to swim and so
much more. By no short miracle, Little Fox, Trecar, and Cody find each other and their little
family
is reunited with tears and laughter. This is a wonderful book that is sure to become a family
treasure.
Death by Death
Claire McNab
Bella Books
P.O. Box 10543, Tallahassee, FL 32302
ISBN 1931513341 $12.95 167 Pages
Arlene Germain
Reviewer
A smiling young woman approaches Senator Jonathan O'Neven, throws her arm around his neck,
and as she says to him, "I am come to you," her free [p. 2] hand pulls a metal loop hidden within
her
clothing. Death for both is instantaneous. Thus begins the latest novel in the Denise Cleever series
written by Claire McNab, Death by Death. This mystery/thriller follows the exploits of
thirty-something Denise Cleever, an undercover agent for ASIO, the Australian Security
Intelligence
Organization, which is similar to the CIA. In her latest assignment, Denise must assume the
persona
of one Dr. Constance Sommers, a respected psychotherapist, and join the staff of the exclusive
Easehaven Clinic, which is run by Dr. Graeme Thorwell who is believed to be behind this murder
for
profit suicidal bombings. As she undergoes her training sessions, any doubts about not being
familiar
with the psychological world are put to rest when she states, "All I have to say is: 'And how does
that make you feel?' at regular intervals. Simple, really!" [p.10]
Once ensconced at the clinic, Denise must deal with erratic "guests," there are no patients here,
officious staff, a very mysteriously beguiling nurse, and the bizarre behaviors of both Dr. Thorwell
and Dr. Harry Gerlich, the head of the enigmatic Sanctuary Project at the clinic. Throughout the
plot
twists and turns, Denise's only link to the outside world is her cell phone and her attractively
composed and efficient control officer, Cynthia, for whom "I had a long-term, slow-burning yen ."
It's a race against the clock when Denise must ferret out the [p. 23] truth before the next target,
Kenneth Henders, an up and coming politico, meets his maker.
Structurally, this book differs little from the previous four Cleever adventures. Ms. McNab uses
the
first person narrative to tell the story which affords our heroine the opportunity to show her
likable,
witty, and at times, sardonic personality. The author's style comes through in her typically
forthright
and lean expression. At 167 pages, it makes for a rather short book with somewhat shallow
characterization and plot development. Some scenes are far too brief, if not non-descript.
Although
not too contrived, the conclusion did appear to be too abrupt. The idea of brainwashing a la The
Manchurian Candidate style is nothing new, but this reader would have liked the author to have
been
a bit more inventive by conceiving a more intricate storyline with much more of an insight into the
two main characters, both Denise and her antagonists. The intimate scenes seemed too static, too
underdeveloped. One doesn't expect nor necessarily desire graphic sexual depiction from Claire
McNab, but the reader should feel more engaged than is the case here.
The Cleever series stands on its own merits and should not be compared to McNab's popular
Detective Inspector Carol Ashton series of mystery/police procedural novels. These
counterintelligence novels are light, entertaining, quick reads which leave you wanting and waiting
for the next release. Bet you can't read just one sort of thing. In that sense, Ms. McNab has the
formula down pat. With a heroine one would actually like to sit down with, have a drink, and
shoot
the breeze, this installment of the series provides readers, both those familiar and unfamiliar with
Ms.
Cleever, the chance to discover an interesting and feisty young woman who manages to play with
the big boys, if not always by their rules. The Australian setting provides a delightful change from
those mysteries set in some metropolitan area in the States. However, there does seem to be one
thing in common between this country and Australia as one reads through the chapters.
Unfortunately, the bureaucratic routines and people at times appear to be just as inept, pompous,
and officious. Denise Cleever is indeed a refreshing breeze blowing through those halls of
government.
The Consciousness Of Earth
Multicultural Books
307 Birchwood Court, 6311 Gilbert Rd, Richmond, BC V7C 3V7
ISBN 0973330139 $14.95 238 pp.
CarrieAnn Thunell
Reviewer
I have recently been privileged to read Esther Cameron's book. I learned of the book through a
flyer
that gave a very brief synopsis describing the work as a document of formal poetry on the topic of
deep ecology. When it arrived, I was daunted to discover that the first 223 pages consist of a
treatise
on the evolution of our planet written entirely in blank verse, and pages 224-238 are devoted
entirely
to footnotes! What I had in my hands was an impeccably well-researched master-work! I felt a
sense
of awe mingled with profound intimidation!
The author has selected each word with pinpoint precision as to every shade of meaning, and
combines these with eloquent and fresh metaphor to create a work of unsurpassed poetic
beauty.
"Till then our kind might live - a life so long,
our heretofore would be the sapling ring
within the trunk of an immense sequoia,
had we but wisdom equal to our knowledge." (p. 11)
Her grasp of the natural sciences on which this work is based is astounding for one who claims
not
to have an in-depth scientific background. Her ability to synthesize highly complex information
from
such diverse fields as astronomy, evolution, physics, social psychology and more, and weave it
into a
holistic pattern of global proportions is stunning! Yet because she is writing as both a poet and a
layperson, the work is highly readable and endowed with sublime beauty.
I quote here from page 16, chapter 3:
"Nor are we simply
a product of the laws that set the force
of gravity, the tension in the atom,
devised the alphabet of particle
and quark, spelled out the elements composed
the phrases of the molecule, the stanzas
and cantos of the chromosomes. The laws
of chemistry could not have been predicted
from physics, nor from inorganic forms
the laws of living things; the rules of grammar
do not imply, again the Shakespeare sonnet
of which they are foundation, but not cause."
It is my conviction that the highest and most courageous calling of a poet is to write a new
scripture
and credo that is contemporaneous with our planetary needs. Ms. Cameron does just that.
"Thus Mystery rocked the cradle of our logos,
inseparable the two, as form from message.
And there where mystery and logos meet
there looms, as if it were a shape that lived
within the heartwood of the human tree,
the Poet. Shaman, healer, storyteller,
lawgiver - sometimes one or more of these,
but always keeper of that rhythmic vocal
murmur that rose before articulate speech" (p. 50)
As she outlines the evolution and follies of humanity, she scrutinizes the history of our religious
mythos dispassionately. She is unafraid to point out religion's misuse and its implication in
numerous
tragic wars. But she does not stop there. She dares to do theology, by illuminating the thread of
divine intelligence that is with us throughout our ascent from the primordial ooze. To do this, she
draws on many scientific disciplines that are impeccably footnoted with detailed notes that
support
her vision.
Then, in the fashion of a true poetess, she becomes something of an oracle, pointing out a possible
future that is ours if we can tap into our poetic mysticism. By shedding clarity on the direct
relation
between our beliefs and values on the one hand, and our technologies and orientation towards the
Earth and her creatures on the other, she demonstrates how religions based on human supremacy
and exploitation have given license to the global destruction of our ecosystems. She goes on to
illustrate the need for a more comprehensive belief/value system that will enable humankind to
cherish the global life support system, and all the creatures therein.
"Not to abolish
the old traditions, not to break the vessels
that hold ancestral memory, would the Mother
enter today on faith's disordered stage,
but gradually to sort, to rearrange
and reconcile, as fits the careful housewife,
averse to waste.
Thus, opening some future
book of common prayer, where beside psalms
and hymns to God the Father we would find
words that invoke the Mother-form, now let
me try this instrument. Now, as a child" (p. 171)
Whether or not one agrees with her conclusions, it is not so easy to discount the well-researched
evidences she brings to bear on the topic. Nor is it easy to discount the many points she raises
concerning the globally destructive path humanity has tread that now endangers the continuation
of
life on the entire planet
It is my belief that Ms. Cameron has a great love of God, and an equally great love of Earth and
her
creatures. Her epic poem is an attempt to unite these two loves by drawing on the strength of the
one, to heal the other, and in so doing, to heal the human heart as well. It is my belief that this
poetic
work shall be highly controversial, but it will also impel people to examine the assumptions of
their
own belief systems, and how the misuse of religion has given license at times, to activities that are
in
direct opposition to the intent of their founders. Hopefully out of such courageous interfaith
dialogue, each faith system shall gain an opportunity to hold itself accountable and renew its
commitments to assist humanity in its efforts to find hope, and meaning, and to create a better
world.
This document requires deep study, perhaps within a group setting, to plumb its depths. Ms.
Cameron invites each of us to join in the dialogue, and to add to a new global theology by
contributing blank verse to her website. See Point and Circumference, located at
http://www.pointandcircumference.com
The editor of this magazine neither endorses nor opposes the ideas proposed in this epic poem,
but
seeks to create a poetic space where such poetic visions may be discussed.
Scream Queens of the Dead Sea
Gilad Elbom
Thunder's Mouth Press, Avalon Publishing Group
245 W 17th St, New York, NY 10011
1568583222, $22.00, 295 pp.
Coletta Ollerer
Reviewer
A trek through life in the state of Israel seen through the eyes of a young man with a degree in
comparative literature and linguistics from Hebrew University but who has taken a job as an
assistant nurse in a mental institution. He is obsessed with his girlfriend, Carmel, who is possessed
of
an activist mindset. Their sexual encounters continue even though they have resolved to keep
their
feelings for each other purely platonic. He is also consumed with writing a book, she with
imposing
her views on his consciousness.
Gilad Elbom's stream of consciousness style is engaging and pulls the reader along. We become
interested in his charges at the hospital. He seems to have an affection for them while Dr
Himmelblau, the psychiatrist in charge, advises, "the best thing to do when dealing with the
mentally
ill is to keep a distance." (p4) Gilad finds this difficult since the unit is so small. "For some reason,
maybe because systematic vilification of those who try to help them is one of the symptoms of
their
illness, all my patients seem to hate me." (p4) He tries conversing with those under his care. "Dr
Himmelblau says that I ought to keep doing my job regardless of any protest on the part of the
patients, because one of the most important objectives of the rehabilitation process in the unit is to
teach them how to engage in everyday conversations." (p25) While he finds the job frustrating, he
enjoys working the relatively quiet evening shift.
The frequent seemingly co-dependent arguments between Gilad and Carmel add interest to the
story
as the two reveal themselves to the reader. Their conflicts are both entertaining and energetic. I
find
myself enjoying them as if I were overhearing them in a crowded room. I am happy, however, to
keep my literary distance.
They decide to go to Jehrico for an overnight to get away and visit a gambling casino. "Gambling
is
illegal in Israel, but now that Jericho is under Palestinian self-rule, it's okay for Israelis to go
there."
(p224) While Gilad is taking a shower at the hotel, Carmel exits the room. He begins a frenzied
search for her assuming she is engaged sexually with an Arab activist they encountered
earlier.
Gilad has an extensive interest in and knowledge of Heavy Metal Bands which an enthusiast
would
find very entertaining. "I play Countdown to Extinction while I'm making myself breakfast. I like
Megadeth. No embarrassing orchestral maneuvers, no megalomaniacal lawsuits, no premature
dinosaur status. It's not quite as good as Rust in Peace, but they're still aging a little more
gracefully
than, say Dave Nustaine's old band." (p107)
Gilad Elbom is a funny guy and his take on life removes the reader from the mundane and even
brings a chuckle or two.
The Poetess Within
Stacia Shaina Star
Outskirts Press, Inc.
10940 S. Parker Rd - 515, Parker CO 80134
ISBN: 1932672877 $17.95 www.outskirtspress.com
Dennison Rey
Reviewer
I'm cynical by nature. In fact, I'm cynical about nature. I drive a Hummer, spray aerosol cans
toward
the ozone layer, and eat ostrich eggs for breakfast. What's more, I loathe poetry. I approach it
with a
closed mind and tepid tolerance. Poets are leotard-wearing, Renaissance festival nogoodniks.
So it was no small miracle when The Poetess Within, by Stacia Shaina Star, caught me off-guard
and
filled me with surprise. Here, at last, was a poetry book that shunned the narcissism inherent in the
craft.
To suggest that The Poetess Within is not for leotard-wearing, Renaissance festival nogoodniks
would be a falsity, however. It's for everybody. How does Star manage to turn a SUV-driving
SOB
like me into a Shakespearean fancy-pants? By approaching poetry as both an art and a craft.
There's fine poetry here, to be sure, but where The Poetess Within shines is with the extras. Much
like a deluxe-edition DVD, Star provides "Poet's commentary" on select poems. In some instances
she covers the craft and in others, the soul.
Ergo: "Written in the Italian sonnet format of the following: abbaabba cc dd ee."
Or: "Everyone has experienced loving someone and not having that love returned. It is one of the
most painful experiences in living life fully. But we lose out, if we deny our feelings of love
anyways,
and hope and faith still guide us in living day to day."
So enjoyable are the author's commentaries (albeit grammatically troubling) that I found myself
seeking them out prior to the poetry. Unfortunately, there are too few of them and they are too
brief
-- two characteristics that demonstrate just how much they contribute to the book as a whole. To
learn this much about an author is a rarity and exemplifies the spot-on accuracy of the title. This
really is the poetess within.
Here is a poet (excuse me, a poetess) with a scholarly affinity for poetry who also opens her heart
and reveals her soul (quite poetically, I might add). Her author biography begins with the words,
"I
am intense," and the themes inside range from unrequited love to road rage to the trials of weight
management. Star shares herself with the reader in a manner few authors dare, all for the benefit
of
the reader.
When we read a sonnet to her mother (definitively titled, "A Sonnet for my Mother") we're
tugged.
Pages before, we absorb a tear-jerking soliloquy to her daughter and we're moved. Most
importantly, we're invested. The only reason we care about mother and daughter is because we
share
a connection with the woman behind the words.
No, I don't drive a Hummer, nor do I eat ostrich eggs (yuck!) but to picture me as such lends a
foundation to these words. Stacia Shaina Star understands that concept in spades, and it pays off
here. Rarely do works of poetry amount to more than a quick lick of frosting, but The Poetess
Within provides a recipe that other aspiring poets would do well to imitate (it is the greatest form
of
flattery, after all). By blending a liberal dose of talent with a pinch of acumen, Star has cooked up
a
tasty morsel -- one that proves to nogoodniks everywhere that you can have your cake and eat it,
too!
A Woman's Touch: The Fingerprints You Leave Behind
Amy Nappa
Howard Publishing Co., Inc.
3117 N Seventh St., West Monroe, LA 71291
http://www.howardpublishing.com/pcsite/main/index.asp
ISBN: 1582291594 $15.99 198 pages 318-396-3122
Dian Moore, Reviewer
www.handsforhope.com
Amy Nappa writes with warmth and humor and draws women into her book while leaving her
own
enduring imprint on the reader's life. Nappa employs delightful, tongue-in-cheek scenarios to
illustrate some of the main points, such as The Chocolate Touch and Naomi's Diary.
Nappa explores the many ways a woman's actions can leave marks on the lives of loved ones,
friends, and strangers. She challenges women to recognize the permanent record of their own
prints
left behind through actions, words and touching. Are your prints leaving a bruise or are they
lifting
people to God's higher touch? Does your touch cause pain in someone's life or does it promote
healing?
The book consists of ten chapters, each divided into short sections illustrating the different types
of
touches a woman may experience either through her own actions or the actions of others:
Your Fingerprints Are All Over the Place! - The Mark of a Woman's Touch
He Touched Me - God's Touch on Your Life
The Touch Treatment - Helping the Hurting
As Good as New - The Touch of Restoration
A Gentle Touch - The Soft Caress of God's Love
Home, Sweet Home - Touching Your Family
Won't You Be My Neighbor? - Touching Your Community
The Hands of God - Touching in and through Your Church
Touch and Go - Random Touches Both Near and Far
I'm Touched - Touching Your Own Heart
This book encourages women to discover their spiritual gifts and offers advice on how to find out
what those gifts really are. Spiritual gifts, when used wisely, can oftentimes guide women to leave
their very best fingerprints behind.
Included in A Woman's Touch are lists of activities which may inspire women of all ages to begin
leaving lasting, encouraging fingerprints that leave hope in lives, such as: Mentoring,
gift-wrapping,
house-cleaning, even changing the oil for single mothers.
Throughout the book, readers are introduced to real-life women who have left, or who are
leaving,
permanent fingerprints of kindness in the lives of others. Nappa uses short vignettes of the lives of
these women to illustrate her points.
Each chapter begins with a memorable quote and ends with a short prayer which is accompanied
by
an applicable bible verse to remember.
Nappa concludes with a section that reminds women to finally touch their own hearts.
This book is recommended for several uses: Women's Group Leaders, Young Women's Groups, a
study guide for women and as a basis for a series of sermons directed at women. However,
pastors
should not hesitate to use "A Woman's Touch" when teaching men. Many of the principles
involved
can be applied to either sex.
A Woman's Touch is easily readable and appealing to women aged 16 and older, and would make
a
wonderful 16th birthday gift for all young women.
Blueberries for the Queen
John and Katherine Paterson
Illustrated by Susan Jeffers
Harper Collins Publishers
ISBN: 0066239427 $17.99 30 pages
Elizabeth McKlemurry
Reviewer
John and Katherine Paterson delight their audience with a true-to-life story dating back to John
Paterson's childhood. As Paterson's main character, William, struggles to find his place among
family
and friends in helping with War World II efforts, he learns that even he can make a difference,
despite his age. William is excited to learn that his new neighbor is Queen Wilhelmina of the
Netherlands; she is visiting America for the summer and he wants to meet her. Follow this knight's
tale as he and his valiant steed deliver a basket of "peace work" to her majesty!
Blueberries for the Queen is a thrilling tale for young children, ages 4 to 8 years old, who dream
of
conquering evil and saving the world! This knightly tale is a wonderful lead-in for both parents
and
teachers to World War II and the perils involved.
John and Katherine Paterson wrote this book in remembrance of John's childhood. Katherine
Paterson has received numerous Newberry Medals, the National Book Award, and the Hans
Christian Andersen Medal.
Illustrator Susan Jeffers has won several recognitions, including the Caldecott Honor. The
Metropolitan Museum of Art, the National Museum of Women in the Arts, and other recognized
museums have displayed her works.
The Occult
Colin Wilson
Simon & Schuster Australia
Lower Ground Floor, 14-16 Suakin Street (PO Box 33)
Pymble NSW 2073 AUSTRALIA
Watkins Publishing Ltd. (US)
ISBN: 184293080X $16.95 795 pp.
Rose Glavas, Reviewer
www.astrologyrealm.com
I thought it would be helpful, before trying to get a better understanding of this book, to gain a
clear
understanding of the title. At www.dictionary.com, occult is described as:
1. Of, relating to, or dealing with supernatural influences, agencies, or phenomena.
2. Beyond the realm of human comprehension; inscrutable.
3. Available only to the initiate; secret: occult lore.
4. Hidden from view; concealed.
From this description I get a better understanding of what this book will be about... topics that are
beyond the realm of our current comprehension.
The author, Colin Wilson is one of the most prolific, versatile and popular writers at work today.
He
was born in Leicester on June 26 in 1931 (at 4:30 a.m.), and left school at sixteen. After he had
spent years working in various industries his first book The Outsider was published in 1956. It
became an immediate bestseller.
Since then he has written many books on philosophy, the occult, crime and sexual deviance, plus a
host of successful novels which have won him an international reputation. His work has been
translated into many different languages.
For those interested in astrology, Wilson's birth chart shows his Ascendant at 29 Degrees of
Gemini
and an Aquarian Midheaven at 22 Degrees. His Sun is at 3 Degrees of the caring and intuitive
Cancer conjunct his Ascendant. The author's Scorpio Moon in the 5th House gives a depth to his
ability to understanding occult matters at a deep level... and gaining enjoyment through doing
this.
At first I found it difficult to 'get into' The Occult.
Having said this though, working through the first part of the title was very worthwhile - I am
glad I
invested my mental energy and time reading this book. I usually take a couple of weeks to ready a
book but this one needed months to read, understand and digest - every moment was worthwhile.
Some of the topics covered include:
Magic, poetry, witchcraft, telepathy, precognition, second sight, water divining, development of
self-consciousness in man, unconscious exercise of the 'evil eye', mysticism, Egyptian Book of the
Dead, I Ching, Jung, Taoism & Zen, Seances, black magic, travelling clairvoyance, Kabbalah,
racial
memory, symbols, tarot, evolution, tantric yoga, Order of Oriental Templars, shamans,
poltergeist,
sorcery, Atlantis, Egyptian religion and magic, the Essenes, Orphism, worship of Dionysus,
numerology, Gnosticism, the Manichees, Sephiroth, paganism, Christianity, astrology and
hypnotism.
Some of the historical figures that were covered include:
Peter Hurkos, Jim Corbett, Bertrand Russell, Fiona Whittaker, John Cowper Powys, Louis
Singer,
A.L. Rowse, Irene Muza, Yeats, Ramon Medina, T.S. Elliot, Keilner, Aleister Crowley, Ivar
Lissner, Levi-Strauss, Hoerbiger, Denis Saurat, Plato, Edgar Cayce, Hitler, Colonel Olcott,
Gilbert
Murray, Herodotus, Pythagoras, Apollonius of Tyana, Simon Magus, St Augustine, St Paul,
Emperor Constantine, Julian the Apostate, Joseph of Copertino, Thomas Mann, and Johann
Jetzer.
While I was digesting the ideas in this book I came across a couple of statements that caught my
attention. These are:
The difference between a magician and a sorcerer is that the magician is disinterested, ...the
sorcerer
wants personal power. p. 199
on Swedenborg 'He rejects the notion that God is neither vindictive nor petty-minded, and that
since
he is God, he doesn't need atonement.' p. 364
Most people are excessively personal - they brood too much on their ills and their worries and
resentments. When this happens, the vision becomes narrow. I have elsewhere suggested a
convenient term for this narrowness: mono-consciousness. p. 740 - 741
... there is something wrong with human beings... all human beings are suffering permanently from
a
kind of spiritual head cold, and they are not aware of it.
We have a deeply ingrained habit of passivity which is more dangerous than cigarette smoking or
drugs. ...Because it produces an inner condition of boredom and stagnation that makes us long for
crisis, for excitement, and which explains, for example, the steady rise in the crime rate... p.
749
This chemical serotonin seems to have a great deal to so with evolution of species. The primates,
men and apes, have more serotonin than any other species, far more. p. 752 - 755
So far... all that we really know is that minute quantities of serotonin affect mental states, alter
perceptions, and that new dimensions of conventional reality accompany changes in the level of
serotonin in the brain, ...serotonin is crucial to rational thought. p. 752 - 755
But consciousness is not the master; it is the servant. It lacks the power and drive of the
instinctive
life forces. p. 759 - 761
And so the basic paradox of human nature seems to be inherent in the force of life itself: without
challenge or crisis, it takes things easy, and collapses into mediocrity. p. 759 - 761
With the development of art, science, philosophy, man has acquired the possibility of a positive
purpose, a purpose towards which he can drive forward, instead of being driven from behind. p.
759
- 761
The comment about serotonin is of particular interest considering that depression is such a
widespread disease (in the Western World). Particularly since it is connected to people not having
enough serotonin available in their bodies to keep them 'up' - based on my understanding of this
problem.
The Occult is a title that will appeal to anyone who is interested in the mysteries of life - any type
of
unexplained phenomena such as ghosts, UFOs, psychics, magic, consciousness, psychological
theories, and anything else that brings better understanding to our lives.
I would recommend this title to anyone who has even the most remote spark of curiosity about
the
world around them.
I got more out of The Occult than I even imagined I would, on many different levels.
Deep in the Darkness
Michael Laimo
Leisure Books
New York
http://dorchesterpub.com
ISBN 0843953144 $6.99 369 pages
Jeremy M. Hoover, Reviewer
http://hooverreviews.blogspot.com
For me, horror writing falls into two types - one type features strong, bone-chilling suspense that
could have its foundation in reality (if we imagine hard enough); the other type features the same
spine-tingling suspense, but the premise is so far-fetched that I have difficulty taking the story
seriously. Examples of the first, for me, are King and Straub, ghost and vampire horror (and its
ilk),
and dark suspense. Even Lovecraft, much criticized for his ambitious prose and poor dialogue,
imagines a world where things not too far from us come too near.
Of the latter type, sadly, is Michael Laimo's effort, Deep in the Darkness. Dr. Michael Cayle
moves
his family to a quiet New England town (Ashborough) to get out of the hectic pace of the city.
The
town's previous doctor was mauled by "dogs," and Dr. Cayle moves in to take over as the new
town
physician. On his first day of work (no less!) he visits his neighbour and is set up by him to check
in
on his wife, who also appears to have been mauled by "dogs" (yet survived), even though she is
described as having cancer.
Things digress from there. Cayle's neighbour, Phillip Deighton, takes him on a trip into the woods,
leading him back to a mysterious area of stones surrounded by a circle of oaks. The center stone
appears to be an altar, and Deighton spins a tale of ancient evil that is living in the woods. From
this
point on, the story revolves around that evil's contact with Cayle as it requires his aid to keep its
program going. Should Cayle decide not to help, he has an abundance of evidence from other
townspeople about what happens when you defy this evil.
Of course, the tension escalates and the plot twists with the involvement of someone very close to
the Cayle family. As Cayle ponders the origin of the ancient evil in the woods the connections he
makes are too easily come by; they seem forced. And when the end comes, it is resolved too
cleanly,
with a disappearance that, although foretold in the prologue, doesn't make much sense in the logic
of
the story, other than to leave us with a tortured hero at the end, considering the unthinkable.
The suspense is top notch and the writing very good (though verbose at times). But the story falls
short with the explanation of what is actually in the woods, what happens after that, and the
too-neat
tie-up of loose ends. That stated, if you are in the mood for a good read that will keep you turning
the pages and perhaps (in places) keep you up at night, this one is affordably priced enough that it
will not bother you if you are as unsatisfied with the implausible premise as I was.
Deadly Choices
Shelly L. Foster
Royal Peacock Publications
P.O. Box 931, Dayton, NJ 08810-0931
ISBN 0976493004, $26.45 hc $17.50 pbk, 363 pp.
Kathleen Jackson
Reviewer
This book is definitely a best seller and I can't wait to read the sequel!!
Cynthia Evans, a woman on the edge of making partner in a major architect firm in Chicago, is
married to Jordan, a man who abused her mentally and physically for years. Finally, fed up with
the
abuse, Cynthia decided to leave Jordan. She took her 15-year old daughter, Chris, by Jordan,
packed
up and left in the middle of the night.
Jordan, who eventually found out where they moved, came back into their lives with the same
broken promises of never hit Cynthia again. The night that Jordan mysteriously died, once again,
he
beat Cynthia, blackening her eye. After his death, Cynthia and Chris, instead of being filled with
overwhelming grief, was relieved that he was dead.
Cynthia, who'd been the perfect wife and mother, decided it was time for her to spread her wings,
but that came with deadly choices. Her addiction to sex caused her to sleep with women and men
she'd just met. Her daughter had many issues with her mother's newfound freedom and way of
life.
After three people Cynthia had been involved or had sex with, turned up dead, she began to feel
like
her their life was in danger.
In the meantime, Chris was starting to act out; wearing her mother's wig to pretend she was
Cynthia,
going out clubbing. That was fun to Chris until she was raped, which she never told her mother
about.
Cynthia, needing sometime away from her life in Chicago, decided to go to New York. In New
York, she met and fell in love with a suave man named Thomas. He seemed to be her knight in
shining armor, the person who would solve all of the problems she had to face in Chicago. That is,
until the truth behind who he really was came to light.
This is a story of many twists and turns that will keep you up all night reading, because you can't
wait to get to the end of the book. This is Shelly Foster's first novel, and I guarantee it will not be
her last. This is a must read novel, one which you won't be able to put down!!!!
MovieMind for Screenwriters, Write It Right and Get It Written
William Ronald Craig
On the Flats Publishing
510-273-9917
ISBN: 0972080228 $24.95 316 pages,
Johnny Nine Lives, a Screenplay (companion book)
ISBN: 0972080279 $19.95 192 pages
Mayra Calvani
Reviewer
Fellowship recipient and professor of screenwriting William Ronald Craig takes the mysticism out
of
writing a screenplay with this practical, step-by-step, easy-to-follow method.
The author states his objective right at the beginning: "This book is designed to assist you in
writing
a commercial 'speculation' screenplay in four months." Mr. Craig developed this method while
teaching one-semester courses at San Jose State University for over a decade. His assumption is
that
if students with a full load of classes and papers to write succeeded in completing a screenplay in
four months, so can you.
What does the aspiring screenwriter need? "A good story with interesting characters, basic
language
skills, and a commitment to do the work." In other words, what all writers of all kinds of genre
need.
In fact, this is a book not only aspiring screenwriters can profit from. Novelists and short story
authors can derive useful information from this work.
The chapters are broken down into many short sections under different topics, and this technique,
together with his straightforward, simple, pragmatic language and style, make the book easy and
pleasurable to follow. Subjects discussed include: the writer's mind, getting ready, story elements,
character elements, dramatic tension, sequencing your story, format layout, style, dialogue, fist
drafts, the rewrite, marketing preparation and strategies, The Writers Guild of America, rights,
and
making money in Hollywood. Within these general chapter subjects you'll find a long list of
specific
topics which cover all aspects of screenwriting. For instance, under Story Elements you'll find:
Suspension of Disbelief, Story and Plot, The Three-Act Structure, Original Stories, Genre
Storytelling, Derivative Storytelling, High-Concept Storytelling, Didactic and Nonlinear
Storytelling,
Subplots, The Present Tense, The Collective "We," Limited Personal, Limited Omnipotent and
Unlimited Omnipotent.
The author supports most explanations with a target example, making concepts easy to
understand.
In addition to what to do, he also offers advice on what not to do and how to avoid common
pitfalls
which are the sign of the amateur. Most interesting is all the "behind-the-scenes" information
given
about how things really work in Hollywood and its misconceptions - what really drives producers
and directors, who ends up reading the screenplay you have submitted, how to approach an agent,
etc. Especially helpful are the author's explanation of the legal issues and the surprising
importance
that The Writers Guild of America has upon a screenwriter's life and career.
Included at the end of the book are a resource section as well as samples of query letters, releases
and legal agreements.
As a companion to MovieMind comes "Johnny Nine Lives," an adult screenplay which
demonstrates
some of the points discussed in the book. Definitely not for the faint of heart, this screenplay is a
thriller about a grandfather and a father who kidnap a man from death row believing the man is a
serial killer who has brutally murdered their granddaughter/daughter. In an abandoned warehouse
they built a "homemade" electric chair to do what the government hasn't been able to do in nine
years - bring justice. But what if the man is innocent?
The screenplay follows the current simple format followed by Hollywood professionals. Though
not
an excellent screenplay on its own, as I thought the ending was somewhat predictable, the
characters
and dialogue at times stereotypical, it does serve to clearly illustrate how a screenplay should be
written.
These two books complement each other to make a set that should be in every aspiring
screenwriter's reference bookshelf. An entertaining and valuable read.
Help! Was That a Career Limiting Move?
Pamela J Holland & Marjorie Brody
Career Skills Press
815 Greenwood Ave STE 8, Jenintown PA 19046
www.BrodyCommunications.com
ISBN: 1931148139 $14.95
Help! Was That a Career Limiting Move? is not a story book. The work is divided into ten
general
areas consisting of one to three page chapters covering a melange of topics. Interpersonal
Communication has twenty two proposals for how to accomplish more successful communication
skills. 'Come Again,' 'But on the other hand,' and 'Don't let the door hit you on the way out' are
eye
catching titles and descriptive quick reads. Know your Business offers titles such as, 'Will they
like
me,' 'Don't get trampled in the most pit,' and 'The "write" stuff.' 'Don't straddle the fence,' presents
a
worthy argument for comprehending the fine line between diplomacy and perhaps presenting
oneself
as vacant of self-reliant, sagacious thought. There are times when we each need to voice our own
notions. Oh, Behave! Is a section of thirteen snippets meant to shepherd the reader into judicious
conduct in a variance of settings. 'Don't put your elbows on the table!,' 'What's in a name? Plenty!,'
and 'Make the most of meetings' are titles designed to draw the reader to a particular info bite. 'A
touchy subject' offers a three page debate of office romance and possible drawbacks to entering
into
the situation. Professional Presence offers the reader advantageous wisdom covering a medley of
topics. 'Read my lips . And other rules of good body language,' 'That stinks,' and 'It's not easy to
love a slob' will assist reader understanding for how to get along in a crowded office filled with
co-workers. 'What school you went?' presents a humorous view on a serious subject. Poor
grammar
and the way language is used and/or abused can make the difference between success and
remaining
at the bottom of the corporate rung. Grow Up! Consists of sixteen snippets guiding the reader to
an
understanding for why certain business practices are in place and what outcome the reader can
expect when they are followed or ignored. 'Make it before you spend it,' ' You want me to do
what?!,' and 'My bad' are all absorbing, enlightening short works easily read when you have a
moment to spare. 'The dreaded pink slip,' presents an assortment of ways the employee may be
told
they no longer have a job with the company. Included in the short discussion are proposals for
dealing with the loss of job, and what to improve/change when beginning to look for another
position. It's all about Character may be the most important part of the work. '100%
responsibility,'
'Diversity is not a spectator sport,' and 'Make excellence a personal core value,' will steers the
reader
into career building understanding. 'You gotta deal with it,' presents the notion that three
inevitables
we face in life are: death, taxes and change. The writers offer that it is how we deal with change
that
determines much of our success in personal and business life. Learning the Hard Way is a
collection
of CLMs Career Limiting Moves, the writers have found in their travels. 'Be careful with
bathroom banter,' 'Proper preparation shows you care,' 'Habla "Oops?" are filled with useful
information. CLMs of the rich and famous round out the work.
Help! Was That a Career Limiting Move? is an excellent tool for the beginning, just graduated
business enthusiast as well as the 'old work horse' who is trying hard to hang onto their job in this
ever changing time of downsizing and corporate lay offs. Each of the short one to three page
snippets are filled with good advice, what works and what will kill your career type
information.
Writing is good, easily read and meant to be perused whenever the reader has a moment to delve
into a particular topic or quick read. The format leads readers toward what they need right now,
and
is not meant to be something for the reader to begin one page one and slough forward to the last
page without stopping.
I received a paper copy for review. Excellent tool for every employee or those who hope to
become
an employee in future. Help! Was That a Career Limiting Move? deserves a place on the office
library shelf, and in the Senior year homeschool and classroom setting.
Enjoyed the read, happy to recommend. I do not keep all books I receive for review; Help! Was
That a Career Limiting Move? is a book I am placing on my own office library shelf.
Tilli's Story: My Thoughts Are Free
Lorna Collier and Tilli Schulze
iUniverse.com
2021 Pine Lake Road, Suite 100, Lincoln, Nebraska
ISBN: 0595322700 $21.95 284 pp.
Sherry Morse
Reviewer
This book is the true story of Tilli, a little German girl who lives through World War II and the
Russian invasion of her village after the war ends. It is very well-written -- like a novel, with good
descriptions and interesting characters. The book showed what some German people had to go
through under Hitler and then what happened after Germany lost the war and the Russians took
over
their country. It's a perspective I have never seen before and it taught me that not all Germans
supported the Nazis. It also showed what terrible things happened to Germans after the war
ended.
For example, when the Russians invaded Tilli's village, she had to hide with many other girls in a
tiny
hidden space under the eaves of her house, with no light and not even room to stand up. The girls
had to do this for months on end, because they were all afraid of being raped by Russian soldiers,
who had been told they could do whatever they wanted to do to the Germans living in the town.
The
way the girls had to hide reminded me of the "Diary of Anne Frank."
There are many sad moments in the book, such as when Tilli is raped when she is only 11 years
old
by three Russian soldiers. I also cried when Tilli said good-bye to her mother and left home when
she was only 16 to escape to West Germany, all by herself. But the book also has exciting and
happy
moments, such as when Tilli finally gets to America when she is 18, and meets her husband-to-be
on
the ship coming over.
I heard about this book from a friend of mine who is a teacher. She is thinking about using this
book
with her sixth-grade students next year, when they talk about World War II. I think this is a great
book for teenagers as well as adults of any age. It shows how much we take our freedoms and
quality of life in America for granted. The book made me proud to be an American. It is one of
the
best books I have read in my life!
Revolt of the Masses
Jose Ortega y Gasset
W.W. Norton & Company, Inc.
New York, N.Y.
ISBN 0393310957 $9.95 179 pages
Dr. Pedro Blas Gonzalez
Reviewer
Jose Ortega y Gasset published what is considered to be his seminal work, The Revolt of the
Masses, in 1930. However the book's title does not mean prima facie what some people have
come
to think. Instead, 'revolt' does not signal herds of people 'revolting' against some genuine or
alleged
evil, even though examples of this can be found in recent times. Neither does it depict individual
rebels without a prescriptive cause. What the phrase does suggest - as Ortega clearly states - is a
historical turning on its head of all valuation. The reason? Surprisingly, his answer in many
respects
is no more complicated than: existential boredom, a "liberating" nihilism, or the negation of
responsibility for our own destiny.
Revolt of the Masses is such an insightful book because the analysis that Ortega offers is a
universal
prescription of the coming of a full-blown positivistic age. While Ortega does not argue for such
an
age as the definitive "development" of man, like Comte, for instance, he does offer a substantive
explanation of its causes and overall direction. The Revolt of the Masses, then, is a narrowing
refinement of the themes that its author began to formulate in the second part of Espana
Invertebrada, a book that he published the previous year. Ortega begins his analysis of mass man
with an appropriately titled chapter: "The Coming of the Masses." While Ortega recognizes the
coming of the masses to power as an historical fact, however, nowhere does he suggest this to be
merely a historical phenomenon. From the outset Ortega refuses to make his analysis a
political-sociological diatribe. The words: rebellion, masses, and social power, he tells us, are not
to
be construed as being "exclusively or primarily political."
First-time readers of this now classic text will encounter a first rate philosopher, a creative
visionary
who struggled to cite the undeniable correlation that exists between the differentiated essences
that
serve as inspiration and motivation for human actions, and the spirit of any given age.
Immediately,
the reader of Ortega's lucid prose witnesses the clear, rational and wisdom loving effects of a vita
contemplativa, marking a radical difference between the thinker as one whose aim and motivation
is
the discovery of reality, and today's conception of "theory" as that which merely defaces and
exploits
it.
The initial problem of the masses, Ortega goes on to say, is one of simple agglomeration. "This
fact
is quite simple to enunciate, though not so to analyze. I shall call it the fact of agglomeration, of
'plenitude." The initial stage of the problem, then, is one of physical space. However more
important,
Ortega argues, is that the masses now possess the instruments that technology furnishes them with
without recourse to their origin. Lost to the mass mind, he explains, is the general sense of
wonder
that has always served as the vital inspiration of the noble man.
In all respects, Ortega is quick to point out; mass man signifies a diametrical opposition to the
virtues of the life of reflection. However, a clarification in this regard seems warranted: the life of
reflection is not necessarily equated with the life of the philosopher, per se. In fact, the main
notion
that Ortega explores in The Revolt of the Masses is that the masses by definition lack autonomy.
Self-reflection is one of the safeguards of human autonomy. That the masses should pass this
virtue
off as too demanding does not take Ortega by surprise. What does seem new to the mass mind is
that today the masses should become of one mind, where before this phenomenon existed in
isolation. What has occurred, Ortega argues, is that what used to be a metaphysical reality has
now
been institutionalized. The mass mind now understands itself to be the recipient of rights and
privileges. He writes: "Not only in any direction, but precisely in the best places, the relatively
refined creation of human collective habits, including our fashions both of dress and of
amusement."
He also forewarns how post-modern epistemology displaces all notions of a metaphysics of
essence
with an "all-is- political" approach to human reality.
The crucial point in The Revolt of the Masses is Ortega's contention that "society is always a
dynamic unity of two component factors: minorities and masses."
The "average man" is the commonplace slipshod mind that signifies a degenerative qualitative
moral
outlook on life. Early on, Ortega's book becomes confusing for today's reader who is accustomed
to
viewing all reality through the vague generalizations wrought by lazy social-political analysis. The
Revolt of the Masses cannot be read with the cognitive idleness of a wayfarer. When Ortega
speaks
of mass man as lacking the ability to become "differentiated from other men" he does not squabble
this opportunity in yet a further attempt to "legitimize" human existence on vacuous political
theory.
This is precisely the problem, as he sees it, with what today we call post-modernity. Instead, the
generic type called mass man now finds an impetus to carry out its plan in full given the protection
and solace that he receives in quantitative terms. The existential make-up of mass man is that of a
qualitative phenomenon because it naturally gravitates towards the greatest common denominator
where it can effectively release and fuse its tension with others. Yet what matters to the mass
mind is
not the like-minded others in the group, but rather the notion and perception of the group as
refuge.
However, the great importance of this particular clarification is that Ortega designates the actual
day-to-day life of mass man as a quantitative phenomenon - the great number. Contrary to this,
the
coming-together of the minorities - noble man - takes place out of sheer coincidence.
Philosophically, what Ortega attempts is a re-construction of the meaning of the self, especially
with
others. The key element in this analysis will be the introduction of Ortega's notion of conviction,
where the latter stands alone and is willing to interpret reality at every instance. The significance
of
this statement lies in that "the select man is not the petulant person who thinks himself superior to
the rest, but the man who demands more of himself than the rest, even though he may not fulfill in
his person those higher exigencies." "The decisive matter," he continues "is whether we attach our
life to one or the other vehicle, to a maximum or a minimum of demands upon ourselves." The
Revolt of the Masses could have easily been titled "The Metaphysics of Strife and Resistance"
given
that Ortega's analysis throughout this timeless book remains on the fringes of an exploration of
universal essences. Fine examples of this can be seen in his dissection of the division of society
into
masses and select minorities. While he refuses to accept this division as a mere social-political
construct, he advances the argument of the inherent differences amongst men and the constituent
types that they naturally represent. A necessary condition of this ratiocination is to notice the
interaction that ensues between mass man and select minorities and the places and institutions that
either type engenders or that welcome them. What is significant in this respect is that while both
types are naturally predisposed to create or dismiss corresponding life-conditions, he aptly
describes
the major characteristic of a time of decadence as "the pre-dominance, even in groups traditionally
selected, of the mass and vulgar." Ortega explains this as the erosion of institutions and modes of
existence that were garnered by select minorities and that now have been taken over by mass
man.
Ortega's metaphysical study in The Revolt of the Masses is essentially one that, like Wilhelm
Dilthey's geistewissenschaften looks at the underlying spirit that informs human reality. The
exhilaration, the freshness and sincerity of reading a thinker's depiction of reality that does not
take
its cue from ideology, this alone is enough to warrant a careful reading of this marvelous text and
then a second. And like other reasoned and measured classics of western culture, The Revolt of
the
Masses has now attained the status to warrant it a book for the ages.
The Blind Assassin
Margaret Atwood
McClelland and Stewart Ltd
Toronto
0385720955 $14.95 544 pp.
Pogo
Reviewer
Awaiting the return of an absent grand-daughter, Iris Chase Griffen reviews the events of her long
life as she compiles the final pages of her personal memoirs to be left in the old steamer trunk that
once held her trousseau alongside her sister's old homework notebooks: Mathematics,
Geography,
French, History and Latin. Not that they really learned much from their tutors, Miss Violence and
Mr. Erskine, but that her confessions belong with the cribbing of Dido's immolation: the heroine
engulfed in flames, as Laura catapulted to death off the St. Clair Avenue bridge in Toronto on
May
18, 1945, ten days after the war had ended.
Written in retrospect, Blind Assassin borrows many of the devices that made Cat's Eye an
enigmatic
haunting novel, capturing the elusive Booker Prize. Blind Assassin opens in 1998 with the
bestowal
of the Laura Chase Memorial Award in Creative Writing of two hundred dollars for the
graduating
student of Colonel Henry Parkman High School of Port Ticonderoga with the best short story
judged by the Alumni Association members. The endowment is made from the estate of the late
Winifred Griffen Prior and presented by Iris Chase Griffen, the surviving but aged sister-in-law, in
honor of her sister, the noted authoress. The Chase family was well-established before the First
World War with thriving commercial interests in the button industry that serviced many enlisted
men
in their fight for liberty.
The narrative of Iris Chase opens in 1998, but returns to the decade spanning the Second World
War, taking up where Dos Passos left off, but across the border, recalling the strikes and labor
unrest following the the Great Depression and the paranoia of the Red Scare. Atwood effectively
employs the techniques of Dos Passos in utilizing sections subdivided into brief sections creating a
panoramic view of the characters in their social conflicts. Snaking through the book are news
briefs
and gossip columns, bringing the characters into the camera's eye, allowing us to glimpse the busy
socialite life of the leading characters through the pages of Mayfair magazine and Toronto Star,
just
as they themselves would want to be seen, appearing at annual balls and ladies' luncheons,
preening
the feathers in their caps and trailing their dresses across manicured lawns as peacocks on parade.
The more intimate aspects of their hidden lives are taken up in the personal memoirs of Iris Chase
as
she recalls past conversations and subdued hints of her husband's manipulations. Fantasy,
however,
is best left within the pages of the pulpy cheap science fiction magazines with the war of the
Zycronites and the Xenonians in the siege of Sakiel Norn.
Burning with irony, Atwood enjoys a joke, employing her protagonist as an author hidden behind
a
pseudonym. She asks what every writer does:
"For whom am I writing this? For myself? I think not. I have no picture of myself reading it over
at a
later time, later time having become problematical. For some stranger, in the future after I'm
dead? I
have no such ambition, or no such hope..." (p43)
Obviously she knew upon entering the task of publishing yet another novel that it would be read
while she was still alive and most likely read several times more after she is dead, analyzed and
dissected by literary crib sheets and study guides. Playing with her paper protege, she describes
techniques bandied about the writers' newsgroups: giving characters letters in the development of
a
plot and assigning names later, moving the figures about as chessmen on the board while the
opponent placed on defensive tries to second guess the next move. No doubt, two hundred dollars
for a writing prize is scanty money to be called an endowment for a winning short story coming
from
Margaret Atwood. The war of Sakiel-Norn Wars is first told as a love story, but is edited
differently
when it is published later.
"The only way you can write the truth is to assume that what you set down will never be read..."
(p283)
More than invaluable advice, Iris charts the progress of the book as she gives insights to author's
frustrations with publication and the belated satisfaction of success, which can be interpreted in
more
than one way.
"When the book came out, there was at first silence. It was quite a small book, after all, and
hardly
best-seller material; and although well received in critical circles in New York and London, it
didn't
make much of a splash up here, not initially. Then the moralists grabbed hold of it, and the
pulpit-thumpers and local biddies got into the act, and the uproar began. Once the corpse flies had
made the connection--Laura was Richard Griffen's dead sister-in-law-they were all over the story
like a rash. Richard had, by that time, his store of political enemies. Innuendo began to flow." (p
510)
Like W Somerset Maugham in reverse, Atwood has a little story to tell, but ever so well, of
corporate intrigue, power takeovers, blackmail and scandals related to the violations of the fifteen
forbidden sexual relationships. Playing with three against two, using similar devices as found in
Cat's
Eye, she sets her characters in fierce contention, exposing betrayal and treachery through devious
means of a pulp writer's pen. The motif of a triptych reappears, this time in the form of a tinted
photograph of two young ladies and a man at a community picnic, duplicated and cut in two. The
bridge reappears, but with reverse connotations. Elaine crossed her bridge both physically and
metaphorically to arrive safely on the other side. When she descends into the ravine, she also
ascends, crossing through the abyss in a coma to revive reborn a new person in defiance of
Cordelia
and her friends whereas Laura drives through the blockade on St Clair to plunge in a fiery death.
True, she does survive the catastrophic accident, but only as a ghost of conscience that drives
Richard Griffen to his grave.
Convincing in its sharp black and white detailed stills of newspaper accounts, time is anchored
through the sporadic clips as Iris recalls bits of family history, piecing together the mysterious
circumstances of her sister's sudden disappearance and equally sudden reappearance nearly eight
years later. Laura was seventeen when she was interned at Bella Vista. Eight years silence is
unexplained. The war is over. Alex Thomas is dead. His death announced by impersonal war
telegram for the next-of-kin. Through the figures recorded in the Mathematics notebook, Iris
deciphers the manipulative nature of her husband and his sister Winifred, but too late.
Calculating, manipulative, scheming are all adjectives which describe the author of Blind Assassin.
Take your pick. If you live with two tigers in a cage, there's a possibility of becoming a tiger
yourself
or being swallowed up as a mouse.
When criticizing Atwood, be sure to write better than the author. Intriguing, the novel leads you
through a maze of emotions and complications without revealing the identity of the Blind Assassin
or the true nature of Richard's death, but presents an interesting question regarding the revocation
of
public domain rights if the author is found recently dead.
The Selected Journals of L. M. Montgomery 1935-1942, Volume 5
Mary Rubio and Elizabeth Waterston
University of Oxford Press
70 Wynford Drive, Don Mills, Ontario, M3C 1J9, Canada
ISBN 0195421167 $35.00 410 pp.
David Rehak
Reviewer
I love reading diaries. Especially by interesting young women. The private diaries of Anais Nin
and
Marie Bashkirtseff are among my favorites. I became hooked on the life of L. M. Montgomery
after
seeing a documentary on her life. I was deeply intrigued by it and so I picked up the first volume
of
her selected journals. I had already been a fan of her fiction--novels like her classic Anne of Green
Gables and my personal favorite, The Blue Castle. So, I expected that I might, just might, enjoy
reading her diary as well. Boy was I surprised--pleasantly surprised. What I had expected would
be a
mildly interesting, quaint little life-story of a literary woman stuck in a dull rural farming
community
from the turn of the previous century, in fact turned out to be a highly captivating and richly
amusing
read, full of one exceptional young woman's deepest and most personal thoughts, the things that
brought happiness to her life, and the things that brought her sadness and grief. Here in detail she
recounts her friendships, her romances, her successes as an author, her pleasures in the beauties of
nature, etc etc etc and the reader is never bored. I was confronted by an intensely personal and
comprehensive record of her day-to-day events and most private feelings on things. Hopelessly
hooked, I then continued on to the second volume of this unfolding real-life saga where she
marries
and has children. I was always compelled to read on. L. M. Montgomery has a clear and
compelling
writing style that keeps the narrative entertaining and easy to read, much like in her novels.
However, when I heard that the fifth and final volume of Montgomery's journals was recently
published, I couldn't resist the temptation to momentarily skip past volumes 3 & 4 and to read this
last volume next, just to see how the story of her life ends.
Volume 5, which begins in spring of 1935 and ends exactly a month and a day before her death, is
a
document of endless depression, frustration, worries, illness, and heartache culminating in utter
despair. The last journal entries are just heart-breaking, to put it mildly. However, all this gloom
makes this work none-the-less gripping as a reading experience. It's an intriguing lesson in human
nature through the eyes of an exceptionally talented person who nevertheless has good qualities
but
also flaws like the rest of us. There are moments of contentment in this woman's life, but they
always
seem to be overshadowed by the bad, whether it's various different problems and scandals
involving
her sons, or her and her husband's failing health, or another world war. One feels that L. M.
should
have been one of the most fulfilled and enviable women in Canada, with the honor, fame and
prestige that was cast upon her name during her lifetime, in addition to all her financial success as
an
author and the fact that she gave so much pleasure to so many people through her books. It is the
irony of ironies that no thanks to external problems in her personal life and the resulting
psychological anxiety-stricken and depressive problems of the mind, the happiness that she craved
and so deserved, eluded her. She once wrote: "There are many happinesses, and one never knows
them all at once because that would be perfect happiness. And that is something the gods do not
allow us mortals." Lucy Maud Montgomery died in 1942, proving that she too is mortal... but the
fact that her books live on many, many years after her death, treasured by each new generation of
readers of all ages and genders, testifies to the fact that she is one of the immortals. While her life
belongs to her time and is representative of her age, her work belongs to the age of classic
literature.
Little did she realize (or maybe she did realize?) that her Journal would contribute in equal
measure,
with the best of her novels, to this literary immortality.
Eddie Would Go
Stuart Holmes Coleman
St. Martin's Griffin
175 5th Avenue, New York, NY 10010
ISBN 0312327188, $14.95, 288 pages
Tyler Tradere
Reviewer
Few who live outside of Hawaii or California know the saying, "Eddie would go." It has appeared
on bumper stickers by the hundreds, and has become a battle cry for surfers, as well as a motto
for
many Hawaiians. The saying represents a life of taking risks and a brotherhood of surfers that
span
many nationalities. It represents letting go in angry ocean where he who hestiates really may be
lost
at sea.
Before the bumper sticker, the surf contest, and the motto, there was the man Eddie Aikau,
"Hawaiian Hero and Pioneer of Big Wave Surfing." Eddie Would Go is a biography of the
fascinating life and tragic death of Eddie Aikau. Eddie was a professional surfer. He was one of
the
first to ride Waimea Bay whom many considered at the time to be unrideable. When Waimea goes
off the richter scale it can house a thirty to fifty foot wall of water that has killed many. In Eddie's
spare time he was a lifeguard at the Bay. He saved hundreds of lives mostly military men who
didn't
know the seriousness of Hawaii's big waves and riptides. But Eddie's love was big waves, he
embodied the free and noble sport. He was a master in the water, and was said to move through
huge waves like no other on the planet. He was a hero to many and has become a surf icon. He is
remembered and honored every year (If the surf is big enough) by the Quiksilver Eddie Aikau Big
Wave Invitational at Waimea Bay.
In 1978 Eddie was invited along the Hokule'a a Hawaiian voyaging canoe that was supposed to
retrace the steps of the ancient Polynesians. Near Lana'i the canoe capsized and was stranded on a
shallow reef. Being the true altruist and excellent swimmer that he was Eddie offered to paddle on
his surfboard for help. The waves were extemely big. He was never seen again. His spirit lives on
in
surfers and the words, "Hey why you neva go. Eddie would go." On March 17th, 1978, Eddie
went.
Bethany's Bookshelf
50 Ways To Improve Women's Lives
National Council of Women's Organizations
Inner Ocean Publishing
PO Box 1239, Makawao, Maui, HI 96768
1930722451 $12.95 1-800-916-3308 www.innerocean.com
50 Ways To Improve Women's Lives: The Essential Women's Guide To Achieving Equality,
Health,
And Success by the National Council of Women's Organizations (a nonpartisan coalition of 200
women's groups representing more than 10 million woman across the United States) addresses a
diversity of subjects of particular interest to women including pay equity, reproductive health,
child
care, racism, education, social responsibilities, political leadership, and more. Very highly
recommended and accessible reading, 50 Ways To Improve Women's Lives provides practical
advice that will enable the reader to become actively involved in advancing the quality and
independence of her life, and to more effectively pursue her personal and professional
agendas.
The Meaning of Food
Patricia Harris, et al.
The Globe Pequot Press
PO Box 480, Guilford, CT 06437
0762738375 $22.95 1-800-243-0495 www.globepequot.com
The companion to the PBS Television series hosted by Marcus Samuelsson, The Meaning of
Food is
the collaborative effort of Patricia Harris, David Lyon, and Sue McLaughlin and is not only a
recipe
book, but dwells upon what truly makes a meal, why some food is considered sacred or
inseparably
tied to emotions, connections between food, culture, and family, and much more. Full color
photographs illustrate this narrative global history of the role cuisine has played in cultural
evolution
and expression since ancient times. A bibliography and index round out this involving chronicle
recommended for anyone interested in a matter-of-fact overview of why we are what we eat and
so
much more.
Agnes: I Have Tampered With The Divine Plan
Tony Cochran
Andrews & McMeel
4520 Main Street, Kansas City, MO 64111
0740750003 $10.95 1-800-851-8923
Agnes: I Have Tampered With The Divine Plan is cutting-edge humor in the form of an Agnes
comic strip collection. Agnes is a young girl with a name far older than she is; she is given to deep
thoughts and lengthy ramblings, when she is not gluing Froot Loops on hats, or practicing a dance
number in a vain attempt to impress a teacher asking her to multiply 14 x 13. As a strip, Agnes is
a
much-needed antidote to overly warm and fuzzy scenarios flooding the newspapers, as its young
heroine does not enjoy the security of many of her comic strip peers - she lives in a trailer with her
elderly grandmother, who tries to stretch diminutive family funds and enrich quality of life through
culinary creations a la spam. Agnes' personal poverty, not to mention her biting insight into the
world around her, limits her friends circle of friends to one person: the tomboyish Trout, named
after
one of her father's favorite hobbies (she was only a few numbers away from being named
"Powerball"). Together, this duo of unlikely girlfriends produce a dynamic reminiscent of Calvin
and
Hobbes, particularly when one contrasts Agnes' contemplative albeit self-absorbed musings to
Trout's more practical and simple realism-based approach to life. Yet Agnes is a unique formula
all
its own, one in which the quest for self-identity, rather than rampant misbehavior, is the central
tenet
of the main character's personal struggles. And it's sidesplitting, milk-snorting,
feel-sorry-for-the-goldfish-drowned-in-tomato-sauce-but-can't-help- laughing-about-it funny.
Highly
recommended.
Hoofbeats, Hair Balls, and Three-Dog Nights
Lowell Streiker, author; Ron Rush, cartoons
Alpine Publications, Inc.
225 South Madison Avenue, Loveland, CO 80537
1577790669 $7.95 1-800-777-7257 www.alpinepub.com
Written by experienced humorist and speaker Lowell Streiker, and illustrated throughout with
whimsical black-and-white cartoons by Ron Rush, Hoofbeats, Hair Balls, and Three-Dog Nights
is a
collection of short, touching, sometimes funny, sometimes sad vignettes of beloved pets and the
unconditional love they provide to their owners. Short (often just one-page) stories cats, dogs and
horses and more will resonate with pet lovers and provide smiles and chuckles aplenty, while the
heart-touching pieces about losing a pet offer comfort in trying times. A delightful read and a
highly
recommended giftbook for pet lovers everywhere.
The Debt Diet
Ellie Kay
Bethany House Publishers
11400 Hampshire Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55438
0764200011 $12.99 1-800-328-6109 www.bethanyhouse.com
Personal finance author, conference speaker, and national radio commentator for "Money
Matters"
Ellie Kay presents The Debt Diet, a straightforward guide for ordinary people striving to reduce
their spending, balance their personal budget and get out of debt. Self-test quizzes allow for quick
and easy personal evaluation of one's money smarts, as well as reinforcement of lessons learned.
Chapters cover the importance of one's attitude toward money, factors to keep in mind in order to
increase savings, how to raise financially fit and self-sufficient kids, reducing the expense of
college
money crunches, and much more. Packed with tips, tricks, techniques, and figures, The Debt Diet
is
an enthusiastically-recommended antidote to the "spend spend spend" consumer mentality all too
saturated in today's credit-hungry culture and advertising.
Susan Bethany
Reviewer
Betsy's Bookshelf
Milking The Painted Cow
Tarthang Tulku
Dharma Publishing
2910 San Pablo Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94702
0898003687 $16.95 1-800-873-4276 www.dharmapublishing.com
Soundly grounded in Buddhist tradition and cognoscente of the Western world view, Milking The
Painted Cow: The Creative Power Of Mind And The Shape Of Reality In Light Of The Buddhist
Tradition by the visionary Tibetan lama Tarthang Tulku draws upon years of dynamic interaction
with western students to detail the traps and pitfalls faced by Westerners as they approach
Buddhist
teachings and offers sound guidance for building a healthy foundation for a satisfying and
productive
spiritual life according to Buddhist tenets. A welcome addition to the growing library of Buddhist
literature for western readers, Milking The Painted Cow is strongly recommended reading which
is
as informed and informative as it is inspired and inspiring.
Leonardo's Chair
John DeSimone
RiverOak
c/o Cook Communications Ministries
4050 Lee Vance View, Colorado Springs, CO 80918
1589190319 $12.99 1-800-323-7543 www.cookministries.com
Vincent LaBont is a world-class artist who attributes his creative ability to a very special char that
he
claims was created and empowered by none other than Leonardo Da Vinci. When his home
catches
fire, Vincent is severely burned trying to rescue the chair. It's only later that he discovers that the
chair was stolen before the fire was set. Distraught, Vincent send his son Paul (a painter like
himself)
to Italy where the chair is suspected to have been taken. Is the chair truly a metaphysical source of
artistic power? If so, should it be used to recreate one of Leonard's paintings. What is the chair
true
power and purpose? Leonardo's Chair is a riveting novel from first page to last and will led the
reader on a roller coaster ride leading ultimately to an appreciation of what truly inspires an
enduring
artistic greatness.
The Snowbird Poems
Robert Kroetsch
University of Alberta Press
Ring House 2, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, T6G 2E1
0888644264 $24.95 www.uap.ualberta.ca
The Snowbird Poems is an impressive anthology of the poetry of Canadian literary icon Robert
Kroetsch. There is the matter of the crabapple tree./There it stands, wintering, you might say,/in
the
small front yard/between the veranda and the sidewalk.//Snow, you may have noticed, has seated
itself/in the two wicker chairs on the veranda./As for the sidewalk,/we'll get to that in a
moment.//The crabapple tree appears to be posing/for a woodcut, possible by Hiroshige,/his
Japanese trees precise, angular, yet graceful/in their delicate tracings of snow.//But this is a
January
morning/on 18th Avenue SW, Calgary./I have just now shoveled the sidewalk/for the fifth time in
the past three days.
Divide These
Saskia Hamilton
Graywolf Press
2402 University Avenue, Suite 203, Saint Paul, MN 55114
1555974228 $14.00 1-651-641-0077 www.graywolfpress.org
Saskia Hamilton is an established and published poet who teaches at Barnard College and resides
in
New York. Her poetry as anthologized in Divide These is hallmarked with an spare but
determined
energy that results in the deft fashioning of word images that are intellectually provocative and
emotionally riveting. Entrance: No one in the house but the two, the one/on the way to death, the
other/on the way to earth. Above, the white sky, not ready/to rain, below, lush, the mid-summer
garden,/the thrush, or the young of the thrush,/or the seventeenth generation thrush.//Below, a
door
opens. No one moves about/but you, in the white chair, typing.
Mirei Shigemori
Christian Tschumi
Stone Bridge Press
PO Box 8208, Berkeley, CA 94707
1880656949 $18.95 1-800-947-7271 www.stonebridge.com
Mirei Shigemori (1896-1975) was the imaginative creator of very special gardens and a scholar
who
was trained in painting, flower arranging, and the tea ceremony. Shigemori is still admired for his
contemporary designs, the result of his life's objective to restore the evolution of the Japanese
garden. In Mirei Shigemori: Modernizing The Japanese Garden, practicing landscape architect
Christian Tschumi explores ten major Shigemori projects ranging from the checker-board garden
of
Tofukuji (1939) and the "Hidden Christian" dry landscape at Zuiho-in (1961), to the masterful
stone
settings at Matsuo Taisha (1975), all while utilizing a design/cultural analysis, garden plans, and a
profusion of illustrative photographs taken by visual artist and photographer Markuz Wernli
Saito.
Mirei Shigemori: Modernizing The Japanese Garden is a welcome and respected contribution that
will be of immense interest to professional gardeners, landscapists, horticultural experts, and
non-specialist general readers with an interest in Japanese gardening and culture.
Betsy L. Hogan
Reviewer
Betty's Bookshelf
Crown Me!
Kathryn Lay
Holiday House, Inc.
425 Madison Ave., New York, NY, 10017
www.holidayhouse.com
0823418456 $16.95 202 p.
Texas author Kathryn Lay has written for many magazines (see www.kathrynlay.com for more
details), but Crown Me! is her first novel. It's hard to believe it's only her first one, though; she
doesn't put a foot wrong. From the opening chapter's title - "Equal Rights for Boys, Too: Future
Politician's Rule #1 - Never get caught." - to the satisfying ending, Lay creates a thoroughly
believable story that is fun to read out loud or to yourself.
Lay's hero, Justin Davies, needs experience in leadership, since he wants to be the president of the
United States someday. In order to get such experience, he decides to run for president of the
fifth-grade student council. As he says, "We were the Payton Penguins, and I planned to be the
head
penguin." He figures that leadership will be a cinch.
However, running for student council isn't the least of Justin's troubles. Mr. Bailey, Justin's
teacher,
has changed the rules on the weekly essay contest, and instead of simply winning another hat for
his
growing collection, Justin's essay on "If I Were King or Queen of Payton Intermediate School I
Would" wins him the position of king of the fifth grade - for two whole weeks! Unfortunately,
arch-enemy Andrea Carey has also won and will rule with him as queen, but he can put up with
that.
Just think - everyone in the class has to do whatever he says. And they have to bow or curtsy
whenever he passes. Cool!
But things aren't that simple. Mr. Bailey will be the final judge of their rules and commands, so
they
can't command anything illegal or dangerous. If a subject disagrees with a command, the rulers
must
explain their reasoning to the whole class. And although either one can throw someone in the
dungeon (an area of the classroom set aside for disobedient subjects) for any reason , they both
have
to agree in order to set someone free.
Worst of all, at the end of the two weeks, all the students will have to turn in thorough two-page
reports about how it felt to be a ruler, a knight, a lady-in-waiting, a peasant, or whatever they
ended
up being. Will absolute power over their classmates make Justin and Andrea bossier or will it
make
them more compassionate? Will Andrea and Justin learn to work together for the good of the
class?
And will anyone be speaking to either of them when the two weeks are up?
Dining on a Dime Cookbook
Tawra Kellam and Jill Cooper
T & L Group
3802 Antelope Trail, Temple, TX, 76504
www.LivingOnADime.com
0974255211 $19.95 478 p.
This book was first called Not Just Beans: 50 Years of Frugal Family Favorites, in response to the
vast number of people who think budget dining has to be "just beans." It's in its third printing
now,
spiral-bound in a nice hard glossy cover that can be wiped off, and has been renamed to make its
purpose even more clear.
By the way, before I go on to tell you about the contents, you should know that the fifty years in
the
original title refer to Kellam's mom, who raised two kids on a limited income as a single mom, and
did it without making her kids think life was grim or uncomfortable, too! However, Kellam herself
has been using her mom's methods (along with some original ideas) for over twenty years to help
her
family of five eat and live not only well, but within their means.
The book starts out with "Basics of Frugal Cooking" and a familiar saying: Use it up, wear it out,
make it do, or do without. This section covers a lot in a few pages: ideas for frugal eating and
shopping, meal planning, menu ideas (including ones for quick dinners and picky eaters), using
herbs
frugally, making your own baby food, freezing food, snack and lunch ideas, and time-saving tips
for
making the most of your time in the kitchen.
The rest of the book is divided into sections such as Beverages, Breads, Meats and Main Dishes,
and
(a really nice one for frugal gift-giving) Mixes, Gift Baskets & Jars. One of my favorite chapters is
Kids, where Kellam gives recipes for such fun things as Tub Crayons, Sidewalk Chalk, and
Easy-Bake Oven (TM) mixes. Where was this book when my kids were little? I can't wait to use
her
ideas with my grandchildren someday!
The book also contains more than just recipes; interspersed throughout are cooking tips,
substitution
charts, instructions on how to set a table, cleaning hints, inspiring quotes, and other interesting
stuff.
It even has a chapter called "Pretty for Pennies" that contains recipes for such treats as Almond
Lotion, Chocolate Lip Balm, and Bath Bombs.
If you're moving into your first apartment, getting married on a shoestring, or trying to live within
your means, invest in this cookbook. It also makes a great gift. Actually, no matter what your
circumstances are, you may want to buy and use Dining on a Dime. After all, you can always
think
of something else fun to do with the money it saves you!
One of my favorite recipes:
Sidewalk Chalk
2 qts. plaster of Paris
water
food colors
Mix plaster of Paris with 1 quart water. Mix in desired color. Pour into paper towel or toilet
paper
tubes (about 3 inches high). Let dry thoroughly (This may take several days). Remove from tubes
and let the kids draw away.
Clutter's Last Stand: It's Time to Dejunk Your Life, 2nd ed.
Don Aslett
Adams Media
57 Littlefield St., Avon, MA, 02322
www.adamsmedia.com
1593373295 $9.95 262 p.
When Don Aslett was a college student, he had a typically messy dorm room, until he decided
that
the junk crowding him out had to go. He found cleaning and dejunking his space so exhilarating
that
he started a cleaning company, Varsity Contractors, which paid his way through school and
eventually became one of the largest cleaning firms in the country. When, upon graduation, he
asked
himself what he wanted to do with the rest of his life, he decided to stick with what he knew best
-
cleaning. He's never regretted it.
In fact, Aslett is often billed as "America's #1 Cleaning Expert", a title he is very proud of. He
owns
and operates several businesses related to cleaning, has a busy schedule of speaking engagements,
and is very involved with his family and community. Despite all that, he has turned out a stream of
books (thirty to date, with twenty more in the works) which have sold over three million copies in
the US alone. And his books have been translated into nine languages so far, thus proving that dirt
and clutter seem to be universal problems.
In his latest book, Clutter's Last Stand (an update of one that he wrote in 1984), he helps readers
tackle one of the toughest jobs there is: dejunking your house. In chapters like 101 Feeble
Excuses
for Hanging Onto Clutter, Committing Junkicide, and Getting Off the Excess Express, Aslett lays
out the problem of clutter, dissects and explains it, and then shows you step by step how to take
your house (your office, your car...) from disaster to delightful. He even makes it seem almost
fun!
Here's what he says about Clutter's Last Stand, in a personal note at the book's beginning: "[It is]
the
ultimate self-improvement book. [It] will make you happier, freer, neater, richer, and smarter.
With a
little help from you, it will solve more home, family, marriage, career, and economic problems
than
any book you've ever read. Dejunking your life will cost nothing and will pay 100 percent returns.
You'll immediately lose 100 pounds without dieting."
OK, he is a salesman and you may be thinking, right about now, "Sure. Easy for him to say. But
nothing can help me. Besides, he's just trying to sell his book." Well, I challenge you to read it and
see what you think then. I'll bet that you end up joining thousands of other readers who are
saying,
"Thank you from the bottom of our hearts (and drawers and rubbish bins) for setting us free." Get
a
copy today. You have nothing to lose but your junk.
Betty Winslow
Reviewer
Bob's Bookshelf
Asian American X: An Intersection of Twenty-First Century Asian American Voices
Arar Han and John Y. Hsu, Editors
The University of Michigan Press
839 Greene Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48104-3209
0472068741 $19.95 284 pages
An unusual and poignant collection of essays edited and written by young Asian Americans, the
coming-of-age stories in this volume capture the joys, conflicts and struggles of trying to
comfortably exist in two cultures.
The diversity within the category of Asian American is apparent as one reads these short four to
nine
page narratives. Titles such as "Language and Identity", "A Place Where I Want To Be", "Seoul
Searching", and "Another American Mutt" suggests the range of experiences the authors write
about
and share with the reader.
The editors explain that their intent is to offer an array of well-articulated identity essays which
will
"contribute to the ongoing evolution of American culture by promoting discussion about who
Asian
Americans of our generation are and how we ought to understand ourselves within our current
American context".
Han and Hsu have done an admirable job achieving what they set out to accomplish. Candid,
erudite, and, at times, emotionally gripping, these selections will surely engage the reader.
The heightened awareness of conflicted cultural identity and the dialogue addressing this problem
is
long overdue. Books of this nature will hopefully open the door to further discussion of this
dilemma
facing many young people.
Screenplay by Disney: Tips and Techniques To Bring To Your Moviemaking
Jason Surrell
Disney Editions
114 Fifth Ave, New York, New York 10011
0786854405 $15. 95 175 pages
Don't expect to find any Disney trade secrets but this is still a book that anyone interested in the
process of creating a screenplay from scratch will want to read.
The story artists and screenwriters behind the company's legendary movies share some of their
expertise that will help the reader create a professional, finished product.
Opening with a section titled "Inspiration", Surrell discusses how ideas evolve: the use of tales,
myths, and legends as source material, and the time honored dramatic technique of telling an old
story in a new way.
"Perspiration" delves into the act of writing. A few of the areas covered include constructing a
three-act structure, developing characters, understanding the role of subplots, and creating
devices
that will deepen the plot and provide twists and turns.
The all important task of rewriting is the subject of "Culmination". The author also offers tips on
staying motivated and how to survive the highs and lows that accompany the creative
process.
Not overly technical in nature, "Screenplay by Disney" is an excellent introduction to what
screenwriting is all about. Read this and then decide if this is an endeavor you wish to commit
time
and effort to.
The Movie Business: The Definitive Guide to the Legal and Financial Secrets of Getting Your
Movie Made
Kelly Charles Crabb
Simon & Schuster
0743264924 $28.00 503 pages
This guide to the legal and financial ins and outs of getting a film from the idea stage to the big
screen is written in terms the novice can understand.
As he explains the practical side of filmmaking, Crabb looks at such thorny subjects as copyright
and
intellectual property law, obtaining financial backing, and selecting and hiring the key players. He
also discusses overseeing the filming process, distribution of the finished product, and
understanding
merchandise licensing.
Taking the approach that all of these things can be dealt with as the need arises can be a costly
mistake, Crabb explains. Ignoring legal matters or waiting until the last minute to make
arrangements can complicate matters and cause more angst than necessary.
A valuable resource, "The Movie Business" is a must read for anyone thinking about a career in
the
production side of the movie business. Yes, the material is technical in nature but the author, an
entertainment law attorney, makes it as palatable as possible.
And Tango Makes Three
Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell
Illustrated by Henry Cole
Simon & Schuster
0689878451 $14.95
There are all kinds of animal families in the zoo but Tango's family is quite different than all the
others. Every year when the boy penguins start noticing the girl penguins, it's time to start a
family.
Roy and Silo, two boy penguins and the best of friends, avoided the girl penguins but come
nesting
time, they suddenly realize they have nothing to keep warm in their nest.
Mr. Gramzay realizes Roy and Silo have a problem and knows just how to handle the situation.
He
transfers an egg that needed a good home to their nest. Eventually Tango, a little girl, hatches.
Tango is the first penguin in the zoo to have two daddies.
A true story, visitors to the Central Park Zoo in New York City can view Tango and her two
daddies in the penguin enclosure.
With Love, Little Red Hen
Alma Flor Ada
Illustrated by Leslie Tryon
Aladdin/Simon & Schuster
0689870612 $6.99
Utilizing an epistolary format, Tryon's animal characters send a series of letters to one another
that
develop this tale of misadventure. Little Red Hen and her seven chicks have just moved into a
new
neighborhood. As she writes to her cousin, Hetty Henny, sharing her impressions of the new
surroundings, some of the hen's neighbors are also spreading the news of the new arrival.
Fer O'Cious, a cat, alerts his buddy Wolfy Lupus that a chicken dinner has presented itself. The
toothsome twosome's culinary plans are obviously foiled in this tale that also features cameo
appearances (letters) from Red Riding Hood, Goldilocks, Peter Rabbit's clan and Turkey
Lurkey.
Alma Flor Ada's unusual approach to developing a children's story coupled with her fertile
imagination puts an interesting spin on some very familiar characters. The appropriate level for
this
picture book would be children five years of age and up.
My Therapist's Dog: Lessons in Unconditional Love
Diana Wells
Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill
P.O. Box 2225,Chapel Hill, NC 27515-2225
1565123719 $16.95 183 pages
This is a far reaching book about all types of relationships: parent-child, patient-therapist,
owner-dog, and friend-friend. After her son's suicide Diana Wells sought out a therapist for help
to
get over the tragedy. Her therapist's dog Luggs created a bond between the two women that
transcended their professional relationship.
Wells offers a beguiling patchwork book about dogs and people.
Her candid narrative explores the nature of healing, the positive effect canines have on humans,
and
the nature of love. The author's personal story and how her friendship with Beth, her therapist,
eventually resulted in another heartbreaking situation could stand alone as a personal memoir
about
coping with loss. But what really sets this book apart is the clever way Wells works in interesting
tidbits about dogs. Quotes from famous people about dogs coupled with snippets of information,
such as the derivation of the word "Salukis" will make many readers want to "dog ear" various
pages for future reference.
I have to honestly admit I didn't plan to really read this book. Out of curiosity I scanned one of
the
short chapters in the middle of the book, read another and then was compelled to read more.
Perhaps even more curious, I read to the end of the narrative and then went back and tackled the
opening chapters. Had I started in the usual manner with the first page, I doubt I would have
gotten
very far into "My Therapist's Dog" before setting it aside.
Bob Walch
Reviewer
Buhle's Bookshelf
The Linux Enterprise Cluster
Karl Kopper
No Starch Press
555 De Haro Street, #250, San Francisco, CA 94107
1593270364 $49.95 www.nostarch.com
The Linux Enterprise Cluster is a straightforward guide to building a network of multiple
computers
that pool their resources to act as one powerful computer. An accompanying CD-ROM provides
all
the software needed to build a Linux Enterprise Cluster on top of one's current Linux distribution,
including the Linux kernel, rsync, the Systemlmager package, the Heartbeat package, the Linux
Virtual Server package, the Mon monitoring package, and the Ganglia package. Chapters cover
everything from handling packets and compiling the kernel to synchronizing servers, applying
theory
and practice, balancing loads, simple maintenance and management protocol, and more. Though
intended for Linux users who are already familiar with the software's basics, The Linux Enterprise
Cluster walks one through projects and pitfalls step-by-step with the expected thoroughness of a
No
Starch Press manual. A "must-have" for anyone interested in harnessing the power of a cluster
using
a much less expensive Linux base rather than purchasing a large, monolithic server.
At Home in Maine
Christopher Glass, author; Brian Vanden Brink, photographer
Down East Books
PO Box 679, Camden, ME 04843
0892726393 $40.00 1-800-685-7962 www.downeastbooks.com
At Home in Maine: Houses Designed to Fit the Land is a showcase of Maine architecture
especially
designed to be aesthetically pleasing and fully integrated into the environment. Stunning full-color
photographs reveal dwellings inside and out with a richness of texture and a smoothly harmonous
design. The text by an architect with decades of experience offers insight into the subtle nuances
of
each house, noting its distinguishing features with a practiced eye in an easygoing, conversational
manner that will appeal to lay readers and experts alike. A truly eye-pleasing book to page
through,
and a valuable resource for architectural design ideas.
The New Bullwhip Book
Andrew Conway
Loompanics Unlimited
PO Box 1197, Port Townsend, WA 98368
1559502444 $12.95 www.loompanics.com
The New Bullwhip Book is a straightforward self-teaching and informational guide to the care
and
handling of the bullwhip. From choosing the right whip for one's purpose, to whip cracking
basics,
volleys, cutting targets, wraps, tricks and stunts, whips as weapons, notes on history and more,
The
New Bullwhip Book outlines whip use in plain and simple terms for the lay reader, with
computer-rendered diagrams illustrating the movements. The New Bullwhip Book offers a
realistic
view of the whip as a self-defense tool - it has its limitations, and be warned, the loud cracking
sound of a whip can be mistaken for a gunshot and is hazardous to one's health around nervous
police and other firearm owners! . A "must-read" for anyone looking to learn more about whips
and
whip use, especially the specific motions involved in handling a whip, from would-be performers
to
martial arts students to writers and artists striving to make the whip come to life in their
work.
The United States and the World Economy
C. Fred Bergsten
Institute for International Economics
1750 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20036-1903
0881323802 $26.95 www.iie.com
The director of the Institute for International Economics presents The United States and the
World
Economy: Foreign Economic Policy for the Next Decade, a scholarly and extensively researched
but
nonetheless emphatic treatise concerning what America needs to do both at home and abroad to
adapt and profit from the ongoing transformations of an increasingly global economy. From
stressing the urgency to reduce the budget deficit - a problem that has America dependent on
foreign
investments that are at risk of being pulled - to the need to persuade China and other Asian
countries
to stop blocking currency realignment, to the need to sell off oil reserves as needed and implement
a
substantial gasoline tax to force a reduction of US energy demand, and much more, The United
Stats and the World Economy does not shy from presenting difficult yet possible solutions to
highly
complex problems. An absolute "must-read" for economists; regardless of whether one agrees or
disagrees with the recommendations proffered, the current and impending troubles of adapting to
globalization are unquestionably real and can be ignored only at America's peril.
Willis M. Buhle
Reviewer
Burroughs' Bookshelf
100 Most Popular Genre Fiction Authors
Bernard A. Drew
Libraries Unlimited
88 Post Road West, Westport, CT 06881
1591581265 $65.00 www.lu.com www.greenwood.com
100 Most Popular Genre Fiction Authors: Biographical Sketches and Bibliographies is a
straightforward reference for librarians, researchers, and teen readers. Authors featured include
beloved figures such as Robert Jordan, Tom Clancy, J. R. R. Tolkien, Louis L'Amour and many
more. Each profile offers a black-and-white photograph (if obtainable) of the famous author, a
brief
biographical sketch often with quotes and snippets from interviews, a list of works, and a list of
articles and websites for further information. An easy-to-use quick-reference guide, ideal for
surveying the creators of some of the most widely beloved authors as well as the nature of their
creations.
The Genocidal Mind
Dennis B. Klein, Richard Libowitz, Marcia Sachs Littell, and Sharon B. Steeley
Paragon House
2285 University Avenue West, St. Paul, MN 55114
1557788537 $19.95 www.paragonhouse.com
Drawn from the 32nd annual Scholar's Conference on the Holocaust and the Churches, The
Genocidal Mind is an anthology of writings by learned authors that analyzes mass-murder in the
20th
century and strives to explain how elements of a genocidal mentality can be detected in behavior,
law, religion, philosophy, literature, and psychology. Essays discuss the virulent hatred spewed by
modern individuals such as Ernst Zundel; Christian Hope as a factor in how some Protestants
followed Hitler; an "early warning system" that comes as a lesson of the Holocaust; and more.
The
genocide examined in The Genocidal Mind is particularly focused upon the Holocaust, yet the
valuable insight gained is directly applicable to a wide variety of genocidal and potentially
genocidal
individuals and situations. Especially recommended for Holocaust studies and mass psychology
shelves.
John Burroughs
Reviewer
Carroll's Bookshelf
The Bride Wore Chocolate
Shirley Jump
Zebra Books
0821776916 $5.99
Of course you know this contemporary romance by Fort Wayne author Shirley Jump will end
happily. But just how Candace Woodrow goes from her commitment to marry Barry Borkenstein,
to
the arms and bed of Michael Vogler is the question, and the entertainment of the book.
Candace's head tells her to stay away from Michael Volger, but Michael is a client of her business,
"Gift Baskets to Die For." And he is determined to be involved with all aspects - including
Candace
- of what is going on.
Candace is surrounded by well-meaning friends and co-owners of the gift basket business, as well
as
her flighty, oft-married mother, and her kookie grandmother, each one ready to offer advise to
Candace.
Each chapter of the book begins with a recipe such as "Grandma's Soul-Mate-Worthy Chocolate
biscuits," or "Maria's The-Devil-Made-Me-Do-It Parfait," or "Candace's My-Life-Sucks-Rocky
Road Chocolate Fudge."
You'll find 26 recipes plus one for a happy ending. Each recipe (with chocolate, of course) offers
good advice: "Make a list of all the things you want to change about your life while the fudge
cools
to 120 degrees. Add the vanilla, beat the daylights out of the mixture. Then add nuts and
marshmallows - add extra, depending on how bad your day as been."
Jump's humor keeps the story moving as Candace struggles to stay true to Barry - well, that's not
quite right, since Candace barely struggles at all, but at least she tries to struggle.
The Cat Who'll Live Forever
Peter Gethers
Broadway Books
0767909038 $12.95
This is the third book by Peter Gethers about his cat Norton. The first two books, The Cat Who
Went to Paris, and A Cat Abroad, told of the adventures of Gethers and his Scottish Fold cat, a
breed of cat with distinctive ears that fold down. Gethers, a writer and editor, traveled extensively
with Norton as his companion.
I'd read one of the previous books about Norton. I love cats and cat stories, and enjoyed the way
Gethers filled the story with humor and tales of the places they visited and the people they met, all
-
or mostly all - who loved Norton.
The title of this book, The Cat Who'll Live Forever, told me I probably didn't want to read this
one.
Norton was aging. There was only one possible ending. I figured I knew what it was, but I read
anyway.
The story begins when Norton is ten years old, and continues on through more of his life and
travels
with Gethers, and the celebrities he met and charmed - or didn't quite charm. Anthony Hopkins,
Lauren Bacall, Roman Polanski, Harrison Ford are a few of the names dropped.
The humor found in the previous book I read is still there, and the obvious love that Gethers had
for
his little cat is even more apparent. At one point, Gethers learns his cat is suffering kidney failure.
When the doctor tells Gethers there is a new kidney transplant operation for cats, Gethers says,
"I'd
definitely be willing to do that," meaning, of course, that he was willing to donate his kidney.
When it becomes apparent that Norton's life is nearing its end, Gethers forms a plan. "My idea
was a
simple one: Norton and I had spent much of our lives together traveling. We'd been all over
Europe.
We'd flown around most of America. We'd spent a huge portion of our existence together in
hotels
and motels and fantasy houses in medieval villages, in cars and planes and buses and boats. We'd
dined out together in exotic places, sharing meals and unique experiences. We'd gone to major
sporting events and nightclubs and offices and sales conferences and we'd met interesting, weird,
brilliant, sometimes crazy people."
Gethers plan was one final trip with his cat, and he shares that trip in the final heartwarming and
heartbreaking chapters of the book.
Jean Carroll
Reviewer
Carson's Bookshelf
Rattlesnake Bomber Base
Thomas E. Alexander
State House Press
McMurray Station, Box 637, Abilene, TX 79697-0637
1880510901 $18.95 1-800-421-3378
Rattlesnake Bomber Base: Peyote Army Airfield In World War II by Thomas E. Alexander (a
commissioner with the Texas Historical Commission) is the story of a major military bomber
airfield
that was established in a remote corner of West Texas in 1942. The base was nicknamed after the
western diamondback rattlesnake because of their massive presence during the construction of the
Peyote Army Airfield. Eventual the airfield expanded to include nearly three thousand acres of
Texas. Rattlesnake Bomber Base is the story of this World War II microcosm that is fairly
representative of what was happening to suddenly established and burgeoning military bases all
over
the country as a result of the pressures, needs, and demands of America's participation on the
battlefields of the world. A very strongly recommended addition to World War II Military History
library collections and supplemental studies lists, readers will encounter colorful characters and
gain
informed insights into how such feats as the establishment and maintenance of an American-based
bomber facility and training ground was achieved.
The Templars And The Grail
Karen Ralls
Quest Books
The Theosophical Publishing House
PO Box 270, Wheaton, IL 60189-0270
0835608077 $22.95 1-800-669-9425 www.questbooks.net
The Knights Templar was a monastic order of Christian warriors that grew out of the medieval
campaigns to free Jerusalem and Palestine from the domination of the Muslims in several waves of
invasion known collectively as the Crusades. These warrior monks were believed to conduct
mystical rites, guard the famed Holy Grail, and possess the lost treasures of Jerusalem. The
order's
wealth and political activities evolved to provide banking services to kings, act as trusted
diplomats,
engage in far flung business enterprise, and even work as navigators. The order was ultimately
doomed to succumb to political intrigue and the malevolent greed of kings. In The Templars And
The Grail: Knights Of The Quest, Oxford-based medieval historian Karen Ralls presents the
dramatic story of the Knights Templar, presenting the many beliefs and theories about their
presumed powers and arcane knowledge. Drawing upon both popular and academic sources, this
impressive, exceptionally well written, and thoroughly accessible history is especially
recommended
to
students of Metaphysical Studies and Medieval History.
Movies And The Meaning Of Life
Kimberly A. Blessing & Paul J. Tudico, editors
Open Court Publishing Company
332 South Michigan Avenue, Suite 1100, Chicago, IL 60604
0812695755 $17.95 www.opencourtbooks.com
Collaboratively organized and edited by Kimberly A. Blessing (Assistant Professor of Philosophy,
Buffalo State College) and Paul J. Tudico (Philosophy Department, East Tennessee State
University), Movies And The Meaning Of Life: Philosophers Take On Hollywood is an impressive
collection of nineteen articles and essays on the impact popular films have had on the popular
culture
in terms of philosophical values. Organized into five sections, each contributor takes on a specific
film ranging from "The Truman Show", to "Fight Club", to "Shadowlands", to "American
Beauty",
to "Groundhog Day", and more. Enhanced with a section providing descriptive credentials of the
individual contributors and a thoroughly "user friendly" index, Movies And The Meaning Of Life
is a
welcome contribution to academic library "Philosophy" reference collections and highly
recommended, accessible reading for film buffs as well.
Five Days In October
Robgert H. Ferrell
University of Missouri Press
2910 LeMone Boulevard, Columbia, MO 65201
0826215947 $19.95 1-800-828-1894 www.umsystem.edu/upress
Five Days In October: The Lost Battalion Of World War I by Robert H. Ferrell (Professor
Emeritus
of History, Indiana University, Bloomington) is the incredible story of five hundred American
soldiers comprising elements of two companies from the 77th Division who were entrapped on
the
side of a ravine in the Argonne Forest by superior German forces from October 2 to 7, 1918. The
courage displayed against overwhelming odds as they fought under siege in the midst of rifle,
machine gun, mortar, and artillery fire both day and night, with nothing to eat after the morning of
the first day, and with water that was highly dangerous to obtain, is among the finest examples of
the
American troops under fire as is recorded in the annals of American military history. With Five
Days
In October, Professor Ferrell offers new material that was previously unavailable in earlier
treatments of this event and reveals what really happened during those horrific days in the
Argonne
Forest. Although "Lost" is not an accurate description because American high command knew
where the men were, during the five days the men were on their own Five Days In October will
elaborate striking details of the ordeal, and includes the findings of court-martial records and 77th
Division files that contain full accounts of the taut relations between the Lost Battalion's brigade
commander and the 77th Division commander providing the most complete account now
available.
Five Days In October is an impressive work of scholarship and a welcome contribution to the
growing library of World War I Military History.
Michael J. Carson
Reviewer
Cheri's Bookshelf
Justice in the Shadows
Radclyffe
Bold Strokes Books, Inc.
1029 Livezey Lane, Philadelphia, PA 19119
ISBN 1933110031 $18.99 302 pages
Justice in the Shadows, by award winning author Radclyffe, is the fourth action-packed mystery in
the Justice series following the engrossing prequels, A Matter of Trust, Shield of Justice, and In
Pursuit of Justice. To her credit and her fans delight, Radclyffe has successfully produced another
wonderful addition to her impressive writing resume. She is the author of twenty (and counting)
published novels. Her writing is posted on-line, included in anthologies, and is available in other
venues. Not surprisingly, Justice in the Shadows is a 2005 Golden Crown Literary Society award
finalist.
In the latest Justice book, two cops have been assassinated, a young girl is dead, and an innocent
woman lies in a coma, all the result of a child pornography ring. Philadelphia Police Department
(PPD) Detective Sergeant Rebecca Frye wants to find out who is behind the murders of her
partner
Jeff Cruz, Officer Jimmy Hogan, a young prostitute, and the attempted murder of J.T. Sloan that
is
until Clark Avery, the Justice Department Investigator, pulls the plug on the investigation.
Something reeks of an inside job and Rebecca Frye will not rest until justice is done; she does not
intend to add the unsolved case to the dead pile. Captain Henry gives the okay for Frye to head
her
own secret task force to see what she can uncover.
Rebecca puts together a team of unlikely candidates including her new partner, Detective William
Watts, internet sleuth J.T. Sloan, and Sloan's business associate Jason McBride. Other members
of
her team include rookie cop, Dellon Mitchell; young prostitute and certified informant, Sandy; and
Rebecca's lover, PPD psychiatrist Dr. Catherine Rawlings. With a great cast of characters, the
reader
can't help but root for each one. Sloan's lover, Michael Lassiter, lies in a coma after she becomes a
mistaken target meant for Sloan who will go to any lengths to avenge her attackers.
Radclyffe is a master at combining intense police drama and mystery along with an in-depth look
at
three loving and fulfilling lesbian relationships. She keeps the reader interested, excited, and
guessing; it's hard to put the book down. As always, Radclyffe's work has compelling narrative,
enough conflict and drama to sustain the story, unforgettable characters, natural sounding and
credible dialogue. In addition, her writing is a perfect example of how sex does not get in the way
of
the plot; the sex scenes move the plot along and add depth to her characters. The author shows us
the tough exterior of Rebecca when she is commanding her team, then contrasts that with her
tender
side when she makes love to her soul mate, Catherine. The same can be said about the budding
relationship between Mitchell and Sandy. Mitchell is a hotheaded young cop, while Sandy is a
street
wise, smart mouthed kid. The growth of these two characters is particularly captivating.
As in all good series, several major story lines are resolved, while a few loose threads remain to
keep
us on edge for the next book in this series. I'm looking forward to the continuing adventures when
Justice Served comes out June 2005. I recommend Radclyffe's Justice in the Shadows to anyone
who enjoys intense crime stories with lots of intrigue, and with hot sex thrown in for good
measure.
If you like this kind of drama, don't miss Justice in the Shadows...a five star novel.
Hunter's Pursuit
Kim Baldwin
Bold Strokes Books, Inc.
1029 Livezey Lane, Philadelphia, PA 19119
ISBN 1933110090 304 pages $15.95
Hunter's Pursuit by Kim Baldwin will keep you on the edge of your seat every step of the way.
Readers who enjoy action, adventure, intrigue, and a delightfully budding romance will find
Hunter's
Pursuit every bit as thrilling as Terminator. But instead of Arnold Schwarzenegger, Baldwin gives
us
Katarzyna Demetrious, alias Hunter - a mean, lean fighting machine! Hunter is a memorable and
appealing heroine even though she is a trained killer, hired gun, and bounty hunter. The tables are
turned however, when she learns there's a contract out on her. She's no longer the hunter. She is
now the hunted.
Hunter is holed up in her secluded bunker a few miles south of the Lake Superior shoreline.
Usually
a loner, she never allows intimacy to cloud her judgment. On one of her first outings from the safe
house, Hunter witnesses a car accident and is torn whether or not to get involved. She prefers not
to
risk being found as she's close to retirement and is looking forward to a normal, quiet
existence.
Against her better judgment, she opts to save the victim, and takes the young woman back to her
bunker. Although she suspects the mystery woman may be after the bounty on her head, Hunter
can't ignore her feelings for the beautiful "patient." Throughout the story, the longing and sexual
tension between Kat and Jake is palpable and positively entrancing. Suffering amnesia from the
accident, they decide to call the mystery woman, Jake. Uncharacteristically, Hunter tells Jake her
real nickname (that few people know), Kat.
Falling in love, intending to stay alive, and keeping her friend safe, has the usually restrained and
cautious Hunter distracted. She's fearful of revealing too much of her clandestine life. As Jake
tries
to learn more about Kat's past, she asks, "So, you're a paramedic chef who plays a mean cello
when
she's not saving damsels in distress?" [p. 54] While Hunter is thinking about her growing
affections
for her captive, she's concerned with surviving the hardships of a treacherous Michigan blizzard,
and, at the same time, fighting off would be assassins.
Clever surprises and suspenseful drama resonate on each page setting the wheels in motion for an
exciting ride. Action sequences fire rapidly in succession leaving the reader breathless. The total
effect will have you riveted to Kim Baldwin's book. Once you pick up Hunter's Pursuit, there is no
putting it down. Each character is fleshed-out in detail, the dialogue is snappy, and you can't help
but
root for Kat and Jake to make it out of the hiding place unscathed, alive, and in love. Hunter's
Pursuit by Kim Baldwin has been nominated for a Golden Crown Literary Society Award for
2005
and deservedly so. It is a truly fascinating, five star, entertaining read in one of the best
action/adventure/mystery novels I've read this year. Don't miss it! I have added Kim Baldwin to
my
list of favorite authors. I am looking forward to reading her new romance novel, Force of Nature,
and anything else penned by this talented novelist.
An Intimate Ghost
Ellen Hart
St. Martin's Press
175 Fifth Avenue, New York, N. Y. 10010
ISBN 0312317476 $24.95 307 pages
Ellen Hart is the mistress of mystery. An Intimate Ghost is no exception to the wonders of the
remarkably talented, award-winning author known for her intricate plots, witty dialogue, flawless
characterizations, and engrossing stories. An Intimate Ghost, the continuation of the Jane Lawless
series, touted as the best one yet, has been deservedly nominated for a Lambda Literary Award
and
the Golden Crown Literary Society Award for 2005.
Jane Lawless has had formal training as a restaurateur, consummate chef, and caterer. In the
continuing saga about the amateur detective, wedding guests start acting weird after ingesting
gourmet food catered by her company. WHO poisoned the food, WHAT did they use, WHERE
was
it executed, WHEN did they do it, and WHY are the questions Jane wants to figure out. Never
mind that the police have started their investigation. Jane could be found culpable, and wants to
clear her company's name. Even if the wedding hadn't been for her friends, Nick and Lauren
Clifford,
and Nick hadn't ended up in critical condition from a drug-induced dive into an empty pool, Jane
still
would have had to solve the mystery. It's not surprising that she enlists the help of her trusty
sidekick, Cordelia Thorn, if for nothing other than comic relief. Jane and Cordelia are just
hysterical
together and they make a perfect crime solving team.
The fact that Cordelia, the creative director of a repertory theater, is a bit pre-occupied when her
sister, Octavia, literally drops her kid in her aunt's lap and takes off for stardom, doesn't stop the
dependable Cordelia from helping her best friend Jane. Cordelia is hardly the mother hen type and
her life is disrupted beyond compare by the addition of niece Hattie. Ellen Hart depicts the toddler
so convincingly that this reviewer almost got up on more than one occasion to prepare a "kid
friendly" snack, but was reminded that she was just a fictitious character.
Hart is not only a master mystery writer, but her storytelling is as delectable as restaurateur Jane
Lawless's culinary treats. An Intimate Ghost is appetizing, fulfilling, and deliciously funny with
Jane's
deadpan humor and Cordelia's catchy comebacks. Hart also writes with a contemporary flair that
goes a long way to add to the believability of the story. Even the cars Jane and Cordelia choose to
drive fit their personalities perfectly.
In An Intimate Ghost, nothing is ever as it seems even when things seem to be crystal clear.
Readers
will find the story riveting, and the conclusion of each chapter keeps the reader hungering for
more.
To me, this is mystery writing at its best and I am quick to recommend anything penned by this
outstanding and deserving award-winning author. Ellen Hart has written another funny,
fast-paced,
first rate, five plus star novel. Do not miss this gem. I highly suggest you purchase a copy
today!
Cheri Rosenberg
Reviewer
Christina's Bookshelf
Hearts Over Fences (An Equestrian Romance)
Toni Leland
Parallel Press
Equine Graphics Publishing Group
285 Taylor Street, Zanesville Ohio 43701
ISBN# 1887932682 $15.95 252 pp.
Sometimes a heart makes it over the fence, sometimes it doesn't, and sometimes a heart is
reluctant
to try because its safety might be lost.
This is a charming and clean love story set in the heart of horse country and the horse industry.
It's
centered around the characters first, and story second - something I like. Leland explores her
character's fears and ambitions. Her piece profiles the sensitive dance of deciding whether
someone
is right for you. Just loving them doesn't mean they are. They also must be good for you and your
dreams. Leland creates this situation with a backdrop of the business world of horses in Lexington
Kentucky.
This story is about a fiercely ambitious and stubborn horse woman in her early thirties who tries to
continue building a world-class equestrian training facility after an accident leaves her in a
wheel-chair. Bethany Webb's largest investor continually acts as a thorn in her side. She didn't
trust
him, but what choice did she have? His money funded an enormous chunk of her dream and his
brother was her best friend. To make matters worse, the town didn't seem friendly, especially
when
Beth hired out-of-town help. Then, she found herself attracted to a most unlikely person. She
needed to walk and if possible, ride a horse again too. If she didn't keep her mind on recovery
though, her dreams would fail. She prided herself on her independence and ability to stay focused.
Conner Hall awakened new sensations and delightful thoughts; definitely complicating her
focus.
As with her first romance book, 'Winning Ways,' Leland places her main character in the world of
equines. Readers who've never been around horses will get to sample what it's like, and for those
who've spent time with these animals, will enjoy a yarn spun around the familiar.
How does 'Hearts Over Fences' measure up?
Title fits the story perfectly.
The book-cover fits the story perfectly.
Development and structure is logical, orderly, and cleaver.
Entertaining and knowledgeable. Readers will learn a little about horses and the horse world.
Modern day setting in Lexington Kentucky.
For those who like a romance built around an Olympic-level backdrop in the sport world of
horses,
and those who've had a life-altering physical accident, especially those ending up in a wheel-chair
because of it.
Because I'm a horse woman with an independent and ambitious streak myself, just like the main
character, and because Leland knows how to tell a good romance tale, I liked this book. I'm a
sucker
for romance. Leland's description and knowledge placed me into her created world easily. I
smelled
hay and horses, saw barns and party dresses, and also felt the main character's pain
