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Reviewer's Choice
Seasoning Fever
Susan Kerslake
The Porcupine's Quill, Inc.
68 Main Street, Erin Ontario, Canada, N0B 1T0
ISBN 0889842345, $24.95, 2002, 320 pages, www.amazon.com
Kathy McNinch
Reviewer
Susan Kerslake has created a story reminiscent of the myths of ancient Greece. Seasoning Fever is
about a homesteading couple that faces external and internal challenges while living their
dream.
Matthew and Hannah are teenagers who marry and leave their families to homestead in the west.
They are both dreamers who relish the challenge of creating a new life that is distinct from their
established identities.
They are the na‹ve newcomers who depend on the kindness of their neighbors. Hannah notices
early
on how jaded and resigned the locals are but Matthew is too engrossed in living the dream to see
the
reality around him. "The answer to all my prayers, she thought. But it isn't wonderful, isn't
anything.
There must be something else. She scanned the horizon. What is it? I thought it would be
here."
They endure the hardships of building a home, dealing with Natives and having a child. Hannah
finds
it hard to bear the loneliness of living on the prairie. Matthew finds the isolation invigorating
because
he is building a life for his family with his own hands and he can see progress every day.
Kerslake has added supporting characters that help to illuminate the inner needs of Matthew and
Hannah. A travelling musician seems to understand their base desires and he encourages each of
them to fulfill these needs.
Hannah is disillusioned fairly quickly but Matthew has no regrets about leaving their home. He
relishes the challenges he faces every day. He thrives on adversity and courts excitement by riding
horses for
betting men. He sees every obstacle as a test of his worth and does anything he can to win.
He never notices that Hannah is not as content as he is in their home. But Hannah does come to
accept the drawbacks of prairie life. "Then sometime later, there came a day when he said, 'We
are
still the same after all of these years,' and she touched him, having come there to that point in the
only way possible, through the long stretch of time, the pains and the triumphs. Her touch was
both
softer and heavier. And what they thought would never end, had and had been replaced. And
what
they thought could not be borne, was. And what they thought would not endure, did,
unchanged."
Kerslake's rich language is a stark contrast to the barren prairie it describes. She depicts the land,
the
people and their dreams with candor and poetry. Her writing transforms a simple prairie story into
a
fertile myth with many layers and perspectives.
Susan Kerslake was born in Chicago but has lived in Halifax since 1966. She has four previous
books and one, Book of Fears, was short-listed for the Governor Generals Award in Canada.
The Shipping News
E. Annie Proulx
Scribner
0671510053, $14.00, paperback, 352 pages
068485791X, $25.00, hardcover, 352 pages
Simon & Schuster
No ISBN, $15.50 (Canadian), 337 pgs.
Gerry Recouso
Reviewer
E. Annie Proulx has woven as delicate a narrative as that of the ecological systems of the Atlantic.
The Shipping News is a rewarding journey into the understanding of life in Newfoundland. In fact
it
can be argued that the main character in the novel is indeed the island itself. Newfoundland is
revealed as a mysterious place of harsh beauty and stagnant creativity. Proulx portrays the island
as
an isolated contradiction, covering Newfoundland's devastating and unmercifully fierce yet
stunning
and awe-inspiring weather systems to the overwhelming poverty that technological progress was
supposed to eliminate. Through her main vessel or character Quoyle, Proulx navigates through an
arsenal of characters as worn and weathered as the island itself.
The novel is rich in atmosphere, with Proulx providing an eerie sheen around the island, Quoyle's
family history and the mysterious Wavey. The story seems to meander at a slow pace, but in
retrospect upon its completion actually covers a lot of space and time. Never in the novel is there
a
sense of true peace, Proulx writes with a frank style befitting of islander temperament and culture.
Behind every sentence there is the lingering threat of impending disaster and the understanding
that
there is very little that can be done in the way of prevention. It is in the accepting of fate and the
beauty in that acceptance that lies at the heart of the journey of her characters. Life is presented as
a
chain of simple complexities that link together to form life.
The Shipping News is the kind of novel that makes one want to both experience Newfoundland
firsthand and at the same time stay as far away as possible.
The Coming Islamic Invasion of Israel
Mark Hitchcock
Multnomah Publishers, Inc.
Post Office Box 1720, Sisters, Oregon 97759
ISBN 1590520483, $7.99, 101 pages, 1-800-929-0910
Helen E. Zanatta
hzanatta@satx.rr.com
The Islamic terrorists' attacks on September 11, 2001, the ensuing war against terrorism and all
the
talk about Jihad (the traditional Muslim word for 'holy war' against the unfaithful) spark interest in
Mark Hitchcock's simple read of Israel's last invasion.
This short, convincing interpretation of Ezekiel 38-39 accomplishes its purpose of relating current
events in the Middle East and throughout the world to Bible prophecy. Pastor of Faith Bible
Church
in Edmond, Oklahoma, Hitchcock, a Dallas Theological Seminary graduate, authored four other
books on end times and Bible prophecy. Skillfully, he translates the where, who, when, why, what
and how of the Israeli invasion described in Ezekiel. His relationship of Biblical names like Rosh,
Magog and Meshech to present day countries will surprise, and perhaps even astound, some
readers.
Hitchcock generates new respect for President Bush as we learn one of the nations on his axis of
evil
matches God's account in Ezekiel. His skillful presentation of the final Jihad and the One-Day War
lends credence to Hitchcock's claim-"Ezekiel is God's war correspondent for today's newspapers."
Through this book, one sees the nations lining up on God's calendar and hears the cry of the last
chapter calling out for everyone, everywhere to personally encounter God in relationship before
the
calendar runs out.
A Dena'ina Legacy K'tl'egh'i Sukdu: The Collected Writings of Peter Kalifornsky
James Kari and Alan Boraas, editors
Alaska Native Language Center
c/o University of Alaska - Fairbanks
University of Alaska, Fairbanks
Fairbanks, Alaska, 99775-7680
1555000436, $27.00, 489 pages, 1-888-252-6657
Jody Pryor
jody@jodypryor.com
I found A Dena'ina Legacy: The Collected Writings of Peter Kalifornsky while searching for
information on Alaskan Native legends. This is the only book I've found that pertains to the
history
of the Tanaina (Dena'ina) Athabaskan. Mr. Kalifornsky recited many of these stories orally and in
the last years of his life wrote the stories in the Dena'ina dialect before translating them into
English.
This collection contains both versions, the Dena'ina version on the right hand page, English on the
left hand page. Mr. Kalifornsky explores the Dena'ina folklore, religious practices, and their sense
of
territory through the stories. The book also includes a history, including old photographs of the
Dena'ina Athabaskan's who live in Cook Inlet Basin of South Central Alaska.
Some may find the language uncomfortable. "The Ones who Turned into Bears" is the story of
two
sisters of one tribe and two brothers from another tribe. The youngest brother marries the
youngest
sister. The older sister leaves and the older brother follows her so he can marry her. This is how
people formed different tribes. But the older sister was disagreeable, which caused conflicts
between
the tribes. Mr. Kalifornsky's explanation adds texture and meaning to the stories.
The original story is not as clear: "There were two sisters. The older sister was mean. The
younger
sister was good-mannered. And two brothers came to them. And the younger brother married the
younger sister.
"That older sister was mean, and she left them. She went across the ocean. And the older brother
said, 'If she takes another form, that will be bad. I will go after her.'
"And he followed her and it got dark. He paddled up to her where she had a fire going. She was
lying under a bear skin. She did not look at him. 'Lie down with me,' she said to him. And he lay
down with her.
"In the morning, when they got up, they had become bears. And the younger brother and younger
sister too had become bears."
Yet, the collection of writings allows us to peek into a culture that is rich in tradition and stories.
This collection is used to teach Dena'ina children not only the Dena'ina language, but the history.
It's
written in such a way that anyone can benefit from the collection as long as the reader is aware
that
these stories do not follow the same approach as modern stories. These stories do not focus on
plot,
theme, or character. The stories are meant to unfold over time and with the explanations provided
for several of the stories, it becomes easier to see the meaning with each story.
Mr. Kalifornsky's other works include: Kahtnuht'ana Qenaga: The Kenai People's Language
(1977),
K'tl'egh'i Sukdu: Remain Stories (1984) and Five Legends of the Dena'ina People (1980).
Hershey Bar Sandwich
Helga Rule
Pagefree Publishing, Inc
733 Howard St., Otsego, MI
$19.95 Paperback ISBN 1589610261; $32.95 Hardcover ISBN 1589610644
(1-269-692-3885)
Richard Lundeen
Reviewer
"Something woke me up. It's dark in our room, and I can barely see Grandmother's figure sitting
in
her chair. She holds her rosary between her hands, letting the beads run through her fingers.
"Grandmother told me how hungry and cold those soldiers are, and still they have to fight. They
do
not have a place to get out of the cold and wet weather. Grandmother Lang told me why I don't
remember my papa. I was only three years old when I last saw him. Mutti and grandmother talked
to
me a lot about papa, but I can't remember him at all. Now I'm almost five. I can't remember
Grandfather Schneider either, because I was only two years old when he died. He worked for I.G.
Farben."
In that innocent style Helga Lang Rule begins Hershey Bar Sandwich, the story of a girl growing
up
during WW II. But for the use of the word "mutti" you would not realize that the locale is
Ludwigshafen in southern Germany near Mannheim, not London.
In the bomb shelter, "My face is pushed into the bottom of the woman in front of me. The smell of
her sweat is so strong it makes my empty stomach roll. I want to cover my mouth to keep my
vomit
off her."
After suffering illness, deprivation, repeated American and British bombing raids, cramped
quarters,
then destruction of their house, and refugee status, the family, mother, two daughters, and
grandmother, flee to the relative tranquillity of a farming town. The deaths of brothers and friends
wear them.
Finally, the father of little Helga, the narrator, returns, but all is not well. Helga's mother is
pregnant.
Helga's father does not appreciate this, and has other serious problems. He is prone to incest.
Snippets of history lessons entwine with the delightfully simple narrative. Through the course of
the
book, the voice changes naturally from the five year old, through adolescence, to a young adult,
without losing its innocence and honesty.
Did war ruin the father? What if there had been no war? Most of us know it from the Allied side,
from the stories about the bombing of London. This perspective will humble and broaden
you.
Keep this absorbing book where you can find it. You'll want to read it again in a few months. This
work is not bad strictly from an historian's viewpoint, and is a wonderfully written, necessary
addition to any well-rounded collection.
Ladies Night
Claudia Rose
Ellora's Cave
ISBN: 1-84360-349-7, $TBA, Published:2003
Jennifer Macaire, Reviewer
http://monsite.wanadoo.fr/Iskander
In a near future, the masses scream for new and different distractions. One of the more violent
forms
is cage fighting. Although not officially approved of, cage fighting is tolerated because it channels
the mob instincts of the teeming crowds. There, convicts tore themselves to pieces in the name of
entertainment.
Chief Sociologist, Dr. Helena Jewel, has a newly enhanced body and a newly enhanced sex drive.
In
the future, one can change appearances and also adjust one's libido. Helena's libido is set on high,
something that doesn't usually bother her; but her life is about to take a drastic change. She's
going
to ladies' night cage fighting, where ladies only are admitted. For Helena, the visit is to be
educational. She watches as two men fight to the death. She is horrified, but the crowd loves it.
Convict Brandt de Vos wins his fight and afterwards, the speaker announces a door prize. One
lucky
lady gets to take the winner home for a week, and guess who wins? Dr. Helena Jewel finds herself
saddled with a fighting convict for a week! She has a stun bracelet to use on him if he tries
anything
funny. The stun bracelet will control him. This is not at all what Helena planned, but she can't
back
down now. So she brings him back to her apartment, determined to make the best of things. But
the
best of things is not what she ever imagined!
This was a hot, fast read about a sexy, intelligent woman and a great, alpha hero. Brandt is a
convicted murderer, but the reader finds out all about that. His story is an integral part of the
book.
Helena is a great heroine, always keeping an open mind. The sex is great; Claudia Rose writes
terrific, descriptive sex scenes that are so hot I suggest you keep the ice-cubes handy! I
particularly
liked all the shower scenes they are many and varied! -- Highly recommended
Civilizations: Ten Thousand Years Of Ancient History
Jane McIntosh and Clint Twist
DK Publishing
95 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016
ISBN: 0789478307, HB, $29.95, www.dk.com
Thomas Fortenberry
Reviewer
Civilizations is a fabulous history book in content as well as appearance, being designed in
over-sized hardback coffe-table style with DK's usual commitment to high quality, breathtaking
photographic production. However, this book is quite different than the usual ancient civilizations
books of this type in that it gives a very broad and at times deep overviews of the last ten
thousand
years of history. That is, this isn't a fluffy picture book; it is a serious study complete with graphs,
maps, and pictures to highlight its points. Not only does it cover the usual suspects like Egyptians,
Persians, Romans, Incas, and the Aztecs, but it covers more recently understood and explored
civilizations, such as Tiwanaku, Nazca, Moche, Indus, and the steppe cultures of Central Asia.
Likewise, beyond covering pyramids, cities and major wars, it tackles the origins and
advancements
of agriculture, pottery, copper, bronze, and iron metalurgy, textiles, medicine, art, recreation,
trade,
mathematics, religion, coinage, engineering, etc. Basically it does an amazing job of covering the
entire breadth of human civilization in short format (only 240 pages).
I was most pleased to see informative, up-to-date studies of numerous civilizations from different
time periods and often obscure corners of continents. Such as the study of the Indus civilizations.
Beyond merely mentioning Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa, they provided an in-depth analysis of the
culture, its history, and its interaction with the world at large. This is very welcome, especially
after
decades of nearly identical renderings of mysterious lost cities of the Mayans and Asia. Here we
have fact and explanation. With exquisite photography, they were able to expose new finds and
illuminate cultural differences as well as similarities between different continents and times which
might be unknown to the common reader. On the back cover they say their goal is to inform and
delight the reader. They have done so admirably.
If we must find something to complain about, I would say that this book suffers a bit from the
modern age style of hypertext. In the middle of the study of each civilization, when we reach an
interesting topic like alphabets or weaving or navigation or burials, a page on that topic is
suddenly
inserted and wanders off across the globe and the ages to explore it. These are like pop up links
on
the Internet, and you can easily see this text as fully interactive and hyperlinked. So, if you aren't
careful, it is very easy to get lost in all these meandering albeit fascinating asides and at times
difficult to follow a single civilization from start to finish. You may be reading a chapter on
ancient
Egypt and suddenly somehow wind up in Mississippian mound building 5,000 years later. But if
this
is the only complaint, so be it. We can live with a little informative distraction now and again. I
highly recommend this easy to read and comprehend text to anyone young or old interested in the
history of the world. It certainly doesn't hurt to get our global history in a condensed yet beautiful
format.
The Work We Were Born To Do: Find The Work You Love, Love The Work You Do
Nick Williams
Element Book Ltd (National Book Network, dist.)
Old School House, Bell St., Shaftesbury, Dorset SP7 8PL, United Kingdom
ISBN 1862045526, $18.95, 381 pages, www.amazon.com
Grace Tierney
grace.tierney@ireland.com
Have you ever been stalked by a book ? You know, every time you're browsing in a book shop
you
pick it up because you're drawn to the cover, or friends insist that you must it ? Well this is one of
those books for me. I found it while waiting for my other half to finish selecting a dreary
textbook. I
couldn't bear to look at more technical books, so I strayed towards the self-help shelves. I was
proud of never having read a self-help book in my life but there I was, with time to kill, and a
golden-covered book before me called 'The Work we were Born to Do' by Nick Williams. It had a
distinct dog-earred look about it from customers sneaking a peak at the contents so I just let it fall
open at the most used section. I was halfway through the chapter before he caught me, 'Are you
buying that ?'
'Me ? A self-help book ? No way !'
I bought it a week later.
The subtitle explains the book's purpose quite clearly 'find the work you love, love the work you
do'.
Williams won't tell you how to quit your job and make a fortune, but he will guide you to
improving
what you currently do and how to find different work, if that's what you need.
His twelve principles cover the process of working out what you really want to do, helping you to
stop using money as an excuse to avoid change, unleashing your creativity, and learning what
success means to you. Each principle is explained clearly and then illustrated by a series of
questions
that he recommends you answer in a journal. The first will get you to outline your beliefs about
some aspect of work, the second will make you realise that you're merely repeating something
you
absorbed from others, and the final one helps you to decide for yourself. It's a simple ploy and it
works well. Even if you decide not to change anything in your life as a result, I am sure that you'll
understand yourself better.
He provides dozens of life examples from his work as a consultant for businesses and individuals
on
career issues. Bravely he has also included references to his own setback-plagued struggle to find
the
niche where he is now clearly happy. Reading stories about others who have been forced by
illness,
misery or inspiration to change their lives from being bankers to yoga teachers (and vice versa)
provided great encouragement. It is always good to know that others have survived the
transition.
His friendly style of writing, which is laced with inspirational quotations from sources as diverse
as
the Bible, Woody Allen, and the Dalai Lama, charms the reader into admitting their weaknesses
and
understanding that the cost of not changing may outweigh any risks involved in trying that new
chance or starting a small business of their own.
For those who use the 'But where on earth could I start ?' excuse there is no escape, as Williams
gives hundreds of practical steps to discovering and creating your ideal career. They vary from
thanking a current colleague for being helpful, to finding a mentor who loves their own work and
can be a positive example, through to using visualisation and deep breathing to focus your
energy.
There's plenty of food for thought in the book. It is worth reading slowly (or reading twice) and I
hate to recommend homework but keeping that question journal is a good idea. I defy you to read
this book and not learn something about yourself from it, even if you're not thinking about
changing
your work. Its only weakness is that you will need to be honest with yourself to get anything from
this sort of self-analysis, and honesty can be hard to come by.
So am I glad that this book stalked me ? Yes, I am. It helped me to realise some important facts
about my attitude to work, money, and dreams. Halfway through reading the book I saw an
advertisement for a freelance job that I would have normally have talked myself out of applying
for.
I applied in the spirit of 'nothing ventured, nothing gained'. I got the job, and I love it.
Serpent's Dance
Larry Brooks
Signet Books
c/o New American Library
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
ISBN 0451207955, $6.99, 464 pages, 1-800-847-5515, www.amazon.com
Terry Mathews
Reviewer
Larry Broooks' latest offering to the world of paperback fiction is ultimately a dark tour de force
about family loyalty, friendship and forgiveness, but the author takes us on a long and tortuous
route
to salvation.
Bernadette Kane does not believe the police reports that say her sister Peggy committed suicide
after
a love affair went south. Bernie knows only that Peggy was involved with a computer magnate
named Wesley and that Wesley had a jet. With the help of her long-time friend, Eric Killen, Bernie
tracks Wesley to Arizona and lands a programming job at his company.
Bernie's appearance sets off a series of sinister events. While she thinks she's the lead dog,
watching
it all unfold, Bernie is actually just a pawn in two deadly games of greed and dark sexuality.
Do people like Damien and Diana exist? Are we so jaded that authors must resort to bleak plot
lines
to attract readers? I sure hope not....on both accounts.
I'm no Pollyanna, but the book's dark plot lines and somewhat incredible denouement stop me
from
giving the novel a thumbs up. I hope Brooks will use his considerable creative talents on a more
upbeat story next time around.
Birth: A Literary Companion
Kristin Kovacic and Lynne Barrett, editors
University of Iowa Press
119 West Park Road, Iowa City, IA 52242-1000
ISBN 0877458316, $19.95, 259 pages, 1-800-621-2736, www.amazon.com
Tracey Broussard
tracywrite@aol.com
I recently bought this anthology as a gift for a pregnant relative, then found myself unable to put it
down. In thumbing through Birth, A Literary Companion, I realized that it was not simply a book
for expectant mothers. It is a companion for both parents, which comforts before during and long
after the blessed event has occurred.
During my three pregnancies, my reading consisted mainly of childbirth classics such as What to
Expect When Youre Expecting. While offering plenty of information on the mechanics of birth,
the
books I read left me ill-prepared for the barrage of bullets to be dodged on the minefield that is
parenting. The physical changes and challenges faced during this time, while legitimate concerns,
were nothing compared to the terrifying emotional terrain I was to encounter.
This broad range of emotions are eloquently addressed within the poetry and prose presented in
Birth. As stated by writer, Edward Hirsch, Kristin Kovacic and Lynne Barrett have identified a
new
genre, birth literature, and delivered something extraordinary: a companionable anthology, an
imaginative guidebook a spiritual Baedeker to the daunting country of parenthood.
If parenthood is a country, then Kovacic and Barrett have mapped it with brutal honesty. Pain,
one
of the most feared aspects of giving birth, is addressed in stories such as Breastfeeding in Indiana,
by
Jane McCafferty. In the story a character says Pain was nothing in the face of the joy shed ushered
in
by being born, and confesses, Youll fall so crazily in love with your own baby. As silly as it
sounds,
no one ever told me that I would unabashedly fall in love with my babies.
I would like to have been forewarned with the Propaganda Poem: Maybe for Some Young
Mamas,
by Alicia Ostrika. She says of babies, they limit your libertythey limit your cashthey limit your
sleepthey whine until you want to murder them. My mother didnt confess until after I had children
that there were times she would have liked to pitch me through the window, and that I, too,
would
experience murderous thoughts.
And why is it the Lamaze people lie? Phillip Lopate hilariously writes about training for birth and
labor in his story, Delivering Lily. The central character relates that during prenatal Lamaze pep
talks, the husband was always being built up as an essential partner, then questions this
propaganda
about the husbands importance.
During labor he tries to comfort his wife, by giving her a neck rub or caressing her hand, all
recommended consolations by the Lamaze instructor. She shook me off like a cockroach.
The experiences of fathers are presented throughout the book, in stories such as the touching,
Saul
and Patsy Are in Labor, by Charles Baxter, and poetry by the likes of Stephen Dunn and Campbell
McGrath. And while many wonderful male writers are represented, the whole table of contents
reads
like a dream team of writers; Sylvia Plath, Rita Dove, Margaret Atwood, Sharon Olds, and so
on.
One of my favorite pieces is the poem, Prayer for My Children, by Kate Daniels:
I regret nothing.
My cruelties, my betrayals
of others I once thought
I loved. All the unlived
years, the unwritten
poems, the wasted nights
spent weeping and drinking.
No, I regret nothing
because what Ive lived
has led me here, to this room
with its marvelous riches,
its simple wealth
these three heads shining
beneath the Japanese lamp, laboring
over crayons and paper.
These three who love me
exactly as I am, precisely
at the center of my ill-built being.
Who rear up eagerly when I enter,
and fall down weeping when I leave.
whose eyes are my eyes.
Hair, my hair.
Whose bodies I cover with kisses and blankets.
Whose first meal was my own body.
Whose last, please God, I will not live
to serve, or share.
Amen. In the introduction to Birth, Kovacic and Barrett state, Like a traditional guidebook, Birth
is
organized chronologically, from early pregnancy to late infancy. New parents are inside a very
real
experience, and we think its one of the uses of literature to be a thoughtful companion to lifes
realities, one we wish wed had when our children were born.
I would argue that they have shortchanged themselves by stating, new parents. Although I havent
been a new parent for many years, I found myself buying a second copy of Birth to give to my
relative. The first copy I am keeping as a present to me.
Painted Lady
Peter Abresch
Intrigue Press
PO Box 102004, Denver, CO 80210
ISBN: 1890768472, $24.95, Phone: 303-777-0539, Fax: 303-756-8011,
www.intriguepress.com
Phillip Tomasso III
Reviewer
It is good to see author Peter Abresch back in the saddle again. Painted Lady is Abresch's fourth
James P. Dandy Elderhostel Mystery. Though it is a series, you do not need to read one in order
to
understand the other. Each novel easily stands on its own as a witty, well-plotted out amateur
detective mystery. Like all of Abresch's novels, the chapters are short, the dialogue is real, there is
history involved and a murder or two that needs to be solved.
Elderhostel is an actual group. It's for people over 55. They get together and take trips to various
locations around the country. Abresch has secured the permission of the group in order to have
his
mysteries take place on Elderhostel trips.
In Painted Lady, the Elderhostels are taking a trip along the Sante Fe Trail. Everyone is gathered
at
a hotel in Denver, waiting for the adventure to begin. James P. Dandy met Dodee at an
Edlerhostel
years ago, and the two have been together ever since (read to Bloody Bonsai). Dodee is an artist
who is a painting portrait in the hotel lobby, while Dandy is mingling with guests of the hotel,
when
a woman across the street either falls or is pushed off a balcony. As an emergency medical
technician, Dandy shouts for someone to call 911 as he rushes out of the hotel to the side of the
fallen woman. She's dead. She's dressed in Native American clothing. Later everyone learns that
the
woman was a Shaman, like a witch doctor. To make things more odd the unexplainable image in
the
likeness of the Shaman begins showing up on the work Dodee paints.
Reports gathered by the police and inferred by the media claim that Dandy swiped something off
the
Shaman at the scene. The Mayan Falcon. Dandy had been certain that the Shaman jumped to her
death. He did not believe the woman was pushed. That would indicate a murder had taken place.
However, when it becomes clearly apparent that some people think Dandy either has this
mysterious
falcon artifact, or that he knows where it is, murder isn't as unlikely a cause of death as he once
thought.
Priests, reverends and mystic mediums. Ninety-three year old athletes, handlebar mustache men,
and
rusty old green Buicks. The historical Sante Fe Trail, a kidnapping and more murder. A s‚ance,
dandelions and relationships. Peter Abresch knows what he's talking about. He spices the chapters
with history, romance and intrigue. He is craft and clever, weaving a tight-knitted plot. Fast, easy
to
read and satisfying. Another winner by a talented storyteller.
Roger's Bookshelf
Work 2.0
Bill Jensen
Perseus Publishing
Eleven Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142
ISBN 0738205699, $25.00, . Hardcover. 194 pages, 1-800-242-7737
This is the first book I've read that tempted me to write my review before I reached the last page.
The content and the style inspired me to spread the good word before I finished the book. I forced
myself to wait, and was continually delighted with what I gleaned from each page.
The world of work is changing-dramatically and quickly. Few people really "get" what is
happening,
let alone what to do about it. In my work as a Consulting Business Futurist, I face a daily
challenge
of motivating leaders to open up, shift their perspective, and begin to function differently than
they
ever have before. I'm almost embarrassed that I didn't write "Work 2.0," but still will have no
difficulty at all in recommending it to my clients. I'll also recommend it to corporate executives
who
are not yet enlightened enough to become clients! Reading this book will shake them up enough
to
do something.
The message of this book is powerful, direct, and in-your-face. It's compelling; you won't want to
put this book down. Employees are becoming more demanding-they want recognition, respect,
empowerment, and all the rest, but with a different twist and different intensity than we've ever
seen.
Have you read the books about disruptive events that change history? Jensen closes-after the
endnotes, acknowledgements, subject index, and people index-with a list of 55 disruptive events.
Number 55 is 9/11/2001. And more has happened since then. You, dear reader, will be part of the
sequel. It's unavoidable.
Corporate leaders: Read this book. Now, before your competitors do. Human resource
professionals: "Work 2.0" will unsettle you and stimulate you to advise management in a whole
new
way. Allow me to quote from the FAQ page at the end of the book. "Dear Loony Author: Are
you
nuts? Have you read the papers? Employees are in no position to ask for anything but
breadcrumbs.
As far as I'm concerned, there's no way the My-Way is coming our way. Sincerely,
Exec-in-Charge."
Jensen heard this message from senior executives, just as we have. Executives excited about being
back in control as the economy slowed.
Guess what! The economy's picking up. As we report in our book, "Impending Crisis: Too Many
Jobs, Too Few People," employers are moving into the most severe shortage of skilled labor in
history. Employees will be in the driver's seat again. The new contract with employees, described
in
vivid detail in "Work 2.0," is being written now-by workers, not by employers. Executives who
don't
get the message of this book risk being written out of the contract. -- The choice is yours.
Influence: Science And Practice
Robert B. Cialdini
Allyn & Bacon
160 Gould Street, Needham Heights, MA 02494
ISBN 0321011473, $21.99, Trade Paperback, 262 pages, 1-781-455-1250,
www.amazon.com
Here's a recipe for an enjoyable and useful book. Begin with one respected professor of
psychology
from Arizona State University. Sweeten with Regents Chair and Distinguished Graduate Research
Faculty distinction. Mix in comments from readers of previous editions ("we get mail"). Fold in
pop
psychology twist and plenty of examples. Season to taste with just enough irreverence to spice up
the text. Bake with three previous editions, improving on each version. Absorb and chill for 262
pages and gain a deep, fun, yet realistic understanding of how humans influence each other.
Marketers will benefit tremendously from this book. So will executives, managers, business
owners,
students, and everyone who has an interest in how we are influenced to make decisions. Those
decisions may affect what we buy, where we work and live, and what relationships we have with
others. The illustrations sprinkled throughout the volume offset the small print used to cram a
tremendous amount of content into a book that is small enough not to be intimidating. No wonder
over a quarter million copies have been sold. It's an Everyman's book on the topic, yet it's an
academic treatise as well, with 16 pages of references preceding the index.
Each chapter includes a summary and study questions-both on content and to stimulate critical
thinking. All those features you'd want in a book like this are all there, waiting for you. Expect to
curl up with this book, nod your head, laugh, shake your head, and wonder in amazement while
gaining insight. Cialdini grabs your attention and won't let go. Expect to make notes, write in
margins, underline or highlight, and repeat your reading.
Readers of "Influence" will look differently at the world around them. Even if you merely scan
through this book, you'll gain a new appreciation for advertising, group behavior, and even how
you're treated by salespeople, co-workers, bosses, parents and friends. The conscious and
unconscious heightened awareness will be well worth the time and money you invest in this
book.
How To Build A Winning Team: And Have Fun Doing It
Peter A. Land
Skyward Publishing
813 Michael, Kennett, MO 63857
1881554147, $18.95, Trade paperback, 156 pages, www.skywardpublishing.com
The shelves are filled with books on teams, team-building, team performance, team ad nauseum.
Do
we need another one? How will this book be any different, any better?
As I opened the cover and began reading the introduction, I felt very comfortable. There's a
human
quality to this author's writing style that invites you to keep turning pages. Land shared the story
of
his experience building a team within a United States Air Force squadron during the Viet Nam
War.
As I learned of the results he achieved, my interest was piqued.
Land is a Certified Management Consultant with a wide range of engagements under his belt. He
relates some of his experiences as we move through the book, teaching and sharing in a style that
is
more conversational than preachy. How refreshing! He even cites work done by other experts in
the
field, demonstrating that he's writing to help the reader instead of pumping his own
self-worth.
You'll read six chapters, taking you from an understanding of terms and concepts into
organizational
and team values. Chapter 4 explores the transition from traditional to team values, followed by a
chapter of the role of conflict in the process. In chapter 6, our helpful consultant takes us through
a
Team Building Process that Really Works. Five appendices provide tools for leaders to use in
building teams in their organizations.
After reading this book, you'll have a different perspective and confidence about what can be
done.
Apply what you've learned and you'll build higher results similar to what Land built with the Air
Force squadron when he began the process he helps us understand.
The Care And Feeding Of Indigo Children
Doreen Virtue, Ph.D.
Hay House
P.O. Box 5100, Carlsbad, CA 92018-5100
ISBN 10561708461, $13.95, Trade paperback, 242 pages, www.hayhouse.com
Indigo children, a recognized group among today's young people, have been diagnosed, studied,
and
supported by psychologists, educators, and lay people. Born after 1978, they are described as
bright,
intuitive, strong-willed, and sometimes self-destructive individuals. I learned about them from
some
educators I served in a consulting capacity and read The Indigo Children: The New Kids Have
Arrived" by Lee Carroll and Jan Tober. I learned a lot from that book and found myself wanting
more. That drive led me to this book.
Compared to "The Indigo Children", this book fell short of my expectations. Because of the
author's
strong spiritual leaning, the topics, content, and treatment went much further into angels and
prayers
than it did into how to work practically with these special young people. Perhaps I should have
expected this when I saw the author's photo on the back cover. It's a rather unusual shot of a
woman
in a forest with a Koala bear and she does not appear to have clothes on. Different kind of author
photo than I'm accustomed to.
Virtue is described as a PhD "spiritual doctor of psychology." She's heavily invested in angels
(author of "Healing with Angels"), which is quite obvious in the book. There is significant text
devoted to angels, prayers, and the evils of pharmaceuticals like Ritalin.
Some readers may find the pre-written prayers helpful for them. My Indigo step-daughter was less
than enthusiastic about prescriptions for communicating with spirits, though the book suggests
that
some Indigos are really into that sort of experience.
The book includes a number of valuable tips about diet, concentration, and overcoming insomnia.
I
would have personally preferred more emphasis on these practical techniques than the heavy
spiritual component. If you are into the spiritual, you'll enjoy this book, becoming immersed in all
of
its aspects. If you are not so spiritual, you'll still find some concrete ideas interwoven in the
text.
Would You Work For You?
Sam Geist
Addington & Wentworth, Inc.
ISBN 1896984126, $24.95, Hardcover, 181 pages, www.amazon.com,
http://www.samgeist.com/
In today's turbulent world, we face a dangerous scarcity of effective leaders. The whole concept
of
quality leadership seems to be a foreign concept to many of the people charged with the
responsibility of running organizations-whether those organizations are multi-national
conglomerates, discrete departments, or a mom-and-pop store down on the corner.
Geist begins, aptly enough, by defining leadership and the interconnectivity of the leader, people,
skills, and vision. Chapter two gets us right into self-awareness and the need to manage your own
emotions more effectively. Management is logical; leadership is emotional. As we move through
this
chapter, we slide from one set of advice to another. Ten Steps to Develop Accurate
Self-Perception
is followed by topics like relationships and human behavior principles, trust, and self-control.
Chapter 3 explores the people aspect of the interconnectivity model. What are people looking for?
What's the most effective way to deliver it to them? We learn how to meet employee expectations
with praise, recognition, mentoring, work-life balance, and inspiration. Chapter four emphasizes
skill
development, beginning with the hiring process to be sure you have the right people on board.
Team
building, time management, delegation, conflict resolution, and decision making are addressed,
providing insight into the fundamental skills that build leadership success.
Chapter five deviates from the four components of interconnectivity to address the all-important
communication skills. The basics are all here-writing, speaking, reading, non-verbal. Chapter 6
returns to the model with a focus on the vision and how to move an organization forward.
Innovation, change, culture development, and execution are discussed. A summary chapter
reminds
us that we're all still human, and that humanness is a vital part of leadership.
There is a series of "tough questions" at the end of each chapter, with some blanks for you to
record
your answers in workbook fashion. Insightful and inspiring quotations are sprinkled throughout
the
text. An index is included for later reference.
This is a good primer for supervisors or people without management experience. It's a broad and
shallow survey of the myriad of concerns that face leaders. In the space available, Geist does not
go
into great depth in any of the topics; you'll find that penetration in other books. This is also not
one
of those books that will rock you to your very foundations and make you uncomfortable. It's a
good
starter book for people moving into leadership in corporate, non-profit, or civic organizations.
The
principles are universal, and essential for people moving up the leadership ladder.
Roger E. Herman
Reviewer
Rick's Bookshelf
The Eternal Battle
Keith Gouveia
1st Books Library
ISBN # 1-4033-1318-0 (ebook), www.1stbooks.com
ISBN # 1-4033-1319-9 (paperback), 298 pp, $14.95
In his debut novel, The Eternal Battle, Keith Gouveia does what the horror field has needed for a
long time, that of breathing life into an over written sub-genre. He has expanded the horizon of
modern day vampire stories into an area that, at least to this reviewer, is one never seen before.
As
Gouveia writes, the eternal battle between good and evil rages on each and every day, but this
particular battle stands out as one of both great courage and tragedy. That is the premise we are
given in the beginning pages of the novel, the author setting up the cosmic level this takes place
on
by the mention of God and Lucifer, yet manages to not make it sound preachy, instead
informative
and doctrinally sound.
The story then switches to a small cargo plane as it makes its way from London to Boston. The
two
men flying the plane have no idea that they are transporting two vampires, but once the sun sets
on
their travels, the unholy pair awaken, thirsting for blood. In the onslaught of violence that follows,
both the pilots and one of the vampires, lose their lives, leaving one lone vampire to see to the
survival of his bloodline. As the plane goes down, the vampire escapes, and begins a search of the
area for a meal.
The novels' main character, Police Detective Mike Caisse, finds himself thrown into a strange
world
of vampires and their zombie slaves after his wife Julie has a physical affair with the last of the
vampire bloodline from Europe that escaped from the plane, Jean Pierre. From this unholy union a
child named Daniel is born, half human and half vampire. Not long after, Mike's wife willingly
becomes one of the undead, leaving him with the responsibility of raising the child alone. Daniel
begins aging at an alarming rate, and Mike realizes that he needs to put an end to the vampires
before any more innocent lives are affected.
The story becomes even more enthralling when Julie and Jean Pierre want their son. Mike, with
the
help of John, his friend and partner on the police force, and Daniel, now aged to that of a teen,
make
it their mission to eradicate the vampire couple along with any newly created vampires. Julie seeks
vengeance on Mike, and in a failed attempt to turn him into her slave, she unwittingly grants him
powers beyond those that her and Jean posses. The battlefield now much more evenly matched,
both
sides make the necessary preparation for the melee that is to result.
The vampires need to come up with a way to destroy Mike before he has a chance to end what
they
have worked so hard to establish. They must build up their forces and gather the necessary tools
while hoping that Mike will not find them as they rest. Mike has to destroy his wife, the woman
he
once loved, in order to save humanity, and free himself from the curse she placed upon him.
However before he has a chance to do this, John is drawn in further, making the decisions Mike
faces that much harder. His own fate, as well as that of Daniel, and John now relies on him being
able to win this battle.
The style of writing shown by Mr. Gouveia draws you in quickly and keeps you through the end,
making it hard to put the book down. The story is not bogged down with unnecessary descriptive
narrative as you find with so many stories of this type, no endless paragraphs describing leaves on
a
tree, or the cut of someone's coat. It is refreshingly, highly character driven, and filled to the brim
with action and dialogue. No matter what you feel for the characters, they will grab hold of you,
as
you are drug right into the center of the melee, with the eternal battle ensuing around you.
Perhaps
the highest compliment that I could pay is that once the story ends, I want to see more of the
characters. I hope a sequel is forthcoming.
Degree Of Caution
Sibyl Avery Jackson
Milligan Press
1425 West Manchester Suite B, Los Angeles California 90047
ISBN 1881524272, $15.95, paperback, www.amazon.com
It has been said that the best murder weapons are ones using common items. Not only is the
weapon
itself often overlooked as being capable of causing a death, but it is easy to hide it in plain sight,
and/or dispose of it readily. With Hitchcock, it was an icicle; it's sharp, melts, and leaves no
fingerprints, even if it somehow manages to hold its shape. With author Sibyl Avery Jackson, it is
a
cell phone, and therein lies the beauty of this work.
In her novel "Degree of Caution", Ms Jackson has shown a mastery of storytelling that makes for
a
gripping and compelling story. From the cover art to the final page, she manages to craft a tale
that
made me as a reader stop and think over the chance of this being more truth than fiction-if not
already, then someday in the not too distant future. Add to the mix Ms. Jackson's history in the
cellular phone industry, and coupled with all the reporting in the media regarding cell phone
safety,
you have to wonder was she conjecturing or confiding?
This is a story of Corporate America caring more for the dollar than the consumer, and the town
of
Bastrop Texas having to pay the cost for that greed in the lives of it's citizens due to the testing of
a
new cell phone. The Excalibur is a next generation wireless that is given to some of the people in
the
town to try out, and not long after the test marketing is completed, those that received the new
phone begin to get sick and fall into a coma, some even die. The manufacturer, along with
divisions
of the U.S. government begins a cover-up, the likes of which has never been seen before. Enter
FBI
Special Agent Monica Sinclair, who goes undercover to try to find the truth behind what really
happened in that small town. But they are ready to ship The Excalibur worldwide-can she stop
them
before mass carnage is unleashed?
Ms. Jackson has not only crafted a tightly wound mystery that unravels at just the right pace to
keep
the reader interested, but she has also created characters that exist in a real world, with all of the
concerns, misgivings and apprehensions that go with being a living breathing human being. Her
characters have a three dimensional feel that makes the reading of this 400 page novel not a
chore,
but a thrill. Her heroes are heroic and her villain's evil without being caricatures, my compliments
to
her for doing so well. I think that any filmmaker worth his salt should pick up this story and run
with
it, it would make one terrific movie, and any reader who is looking for a solid well told tale should
buy this book. Then you too will be like me and ask when is the next adventure with Special
Agent
Monica Sinclair going to be out? I hope it's soon.
Rick Mohr, Reviewer
http://www.pcisys.net/~drmforge/rickmohr.htm
Pogo's Bookshelf
Pathways To Publication: Ways For Writers To Reach Readers
Bernie Ross and Trevor Lockwood
Author.co.uk
61 Gainsborough Road: Felixstowe, Suffolk IP11 7HS UK
1898030170 ppbk 304pp, 2002, 10 UK
189803060X .pdf 207pp, 2002, http://www.author.co.uk, sales@author.co.uk
So you want to be a writer? Get published and have folks stand in line for your autograph? Have
them fall at your feet for your ingenuity and creativity? Be famous like Grisham and dominate
headlines like J K Rowling?
Stop. Fantasies like cobwebs are easy to shred. Successful publication is more sturdy enduring
like
good linens, and the best you know, are made from the humblest weeds, like nettles and thistles.
Expect to to get your ego pricked in the process with the bloody, hard work of weaving together
a
story.
Bernie Ross and Trevor Lockwood present insights into the creativity of successsful writing. The
book is well-organized for the reader to glance through the table of contents to find tips and tricks
for improving his skills and productivity in developing daily discipline and alternative viewing for
twisting the perspective.
The authors point out that writing cannot be purely internal reflection without becoming static,
egocentric and boring. For lively expression, a writer needs external relationships whether
grouching
with an editor, kicking the reviewer or talking with a friend. Use Grouching Therapy to improve
your level of work; become more objective and critical of your writing. The authors warn,
"You might think you've written a good book and you may have indeed written a good story, but
the
skill goes well beyond good grammar and a good yarn, and too many nascent writers find it hard
to
understand this. Writing must be tight, concise and daring if it's to stand out in the ocean of words
that arrive on publisher's desk every week. " (p10)
Thus said, the authors systematically begin your education of twisting the writing perspective until
it
unfolds in seductive reading that leads us into a different world. To do this takes creativity
balanced
by craft. Being wise, the authors caution to begin with the end,
"One aim may be to produce a book; just an ink-smeared-on-dead-trees-book. Whatever process
is
finally chosen, the production of the final book must be as good as can be achieved. It's not just
about the content, which must be subjected to close scrutiny by a disinterested third party,
preferably
a professional editor or proof-reader, but also the physical quality of the work."
For self-publishers and writers going with the POD route, this is particularly true. Although things
are seldom what they seem, cover art, layout and typeface attract or repulse the reader or the
publisher. The authors cover all aspects of the practical aspects, including basics about copyright,
permissions, editing and formatting the manuscript so attract the eye of a busy editor or agent,
giving insights on the variety of publishing avenues that are presently available: traditional, POD
and
electronic.
Unsure of yourself? Well, try the many exercises out to find your strengths and weaknesses.
Explore
the variety of genre and take a fresh look at resources available in your local library or on the
internet to help you identify your personal strengths. The authors provide a broad range of
creative
exercises to exoricise the devilry inside of you. Find your Rostrum and get Literary Clout. Argue
and trigger debate. That's what it is about: Creating conflict with the magic of resolution. Talk,
tell
and visualise as you send your characters into plots and predicaments. Learn to listen and identify
different voices so that they speak across the page and into the reader's room. So start at the
beginning with the tools of the trade and get a life. Write.
Rising From The Ashes
Michael laRocca
NBI Novel Books Inc
PO Box 661, Douglas MA MA 01516
1-59105-085-5 ppbk 220pp 2002 14.95 USD
1-59105-0060-X electronic version 5.50 USD, http://www.novelbooksinc.com
Rising from the Ashes invokes the image of a phoenix fledging from the fiery nest. Michael
LaRocca
evokes poignant scenes of a life shattered by hardships as his mother struggled for independence
and
social respect in a world unfriendly to single women. Reassembled in fragments to form a brilliant
kaleidescopic reflection of his childhood, LaRocca recounts the ups and downs of daily life in the
lower caste of American society. Forget watching Ozzie or Joe Millionaire: what you find here is
reality where the ordinary and the not-so-ordinary blend together to make an intriguing mosaic of
American life.
Reality begins with page one:
"My mother left my father when I was two. When she remarried, she didn't know that she'd end
up
raising my little brother and me alone... After Barry was born, Daddy picked up Mom and Barry
from the hospital and took them to a motel room where I waited with a baby-sitter. He had lost
the
house in a poker game.. A few days later, he won it back."
The reader lands some heavy bumps in the see-saw of life. Michael's mother not only experiences
the
loss of a familial roof in her time of new role of motherhood, but also gets bashed about quite
badly
by an irascible husband. Like a mother eagle facing extinction, she fights to protect her nestlings,
hoping for a better toehold in life. The breaking point comes when Daddy Sam viciously tosses
Michael, who crosses the forbidden den as a shortcut to the kitchen,.against a wall
"You get away from him!" she screamed. She was mad, but it wasn't scary because she wasn't
mad
at me. She was mad at Daddy Sam. "You can hit me all you want, but don't you dare touch my
son!"
(p6)
Without much hesitation, she packed their few things and gathered them together to leave.
"Where are we going?" Barry asked.
"I'm going to leave you at Eleanor's house for a little while so I can find us a place to live."
"Are we ever going back to Daddy Sam?" Barry asked.
"No." Mom's smile vanished and her expression turned hard.
"Did Daddy Sam really hit you?" Barry asked.
Mom nodded, and swallowed. "You don't have to call him Daddy Sam. Just call him Sam."
"I don't like Sam," Barry said.
"Me either," I agreed.
"Don't worry," Mom told us, "You'll never see Sam again." (p7)
Unlike Dorothy in the wonderful world of Oz, life didn't follow along a yellow brick road. After
their removal from the house of dispute, they settle in the Eutaugh Apartments. Life goes on with
making new friends, learning new prohibited words and going to school; but by Chapter Two,
another seismic tremor hits with the announcement:
"Mom," Barry siad one day, "you said we moved to Durham to be close to Gramma. But that's
not
the only reason is it?" "No, it's not. We had to leave Eutaugh Apartments because I didn't have
enough money to pay the rent." "Why?" he asked. "It's hard raising two boys with what I get
paid."
(p27)
The harsh realities of seeking work and moving house has already become cyclical, causing the
family to become transient in settled middle America. Unable to fulfill all the obligations of work
and
parenting with financial restraints, the family is often confronts more hardship.
Michael opts to move in with Daddy Jim and Ruby, offering insight to the problems of split
families.
Whether Daddy Jim is much better than Daddy Sam is unknown. Realistically drawn, the cussing
redneck American, he accidentally shoots a doe out of season. Why? Just for kicks to frighten her.
He wanted to see her run. Ruby puts on a front of an strict abstainer, but stocks the kitchen
cupboards with whiskey, while Daddy Jim downs beer out brown paper bags while driving.
Michael,
seeking escape from his little brother, Barry's meanness, finds a new opponent in Mark, Ruby's
son.
Instead of wearing jeans, he gets stuck with Ruby selected clothing, which when soiled or torn by
the overfriendly dog, he gets a belting. Burdened with chores, threats and more physical abuse,
Michael learns that every trade-off has a price. Now he lives in a roomy house with a semi-private
bath, new clothes, television and beer; but there seems to be little emotional security. In a year he
contracts the mumps and has an ear infection that both need medical attention and gets bounced
back to his single mother.
Poignant, well-written, the writer leads you through the years and experiences, from living in an
apartment to living in a car. Personal, it lends an intimate picture of struggling America, of the
conflicts and obstacles that confront kids from split families. Clearly voiced, it could be used as a
documentary on single parenthood to support the argument that single-parents ought to receive
financial support from the government to help them maintain their integrity and personal pride.
With
very little outside support and financial resources, Michael's mother faced difficult personal and
ethical choices. When jobs are low-paying, and the kids too young to bring in their own pocket
money, women are often forced into humiliating circumstances to be dependent on boyfriends or
casual relationships to help out with basic necessities. Unfortunately, women who suffer abuse,
tend
to fall back into abusive situations as a result of social pressures and lack of financial resources.
Society puts women at risk by refusing responsibility for social welfare. Enter Eugene.
Eugene piles their things into the old Plymouth Fury to take them on a ride to California for a new
life, but teaches them to steal and cheat instead. The ride comes to an inglorious end as Eugene
runs
out of tricks and Micheal makes an emergency call to Daddy Jim.
Moving, startling and spell-binding, the narrator leads us on through one adventure after another,
reading like a modern Tom Sawyer in the electronic age. Headlines scream about Florida's
disappearing children and the notorious negligence of the social-welfare system. Whether New
Jersey or Washington State, the stories echo the dilemma of broken families, of neglected and
abused children throughout the United Sates, framing their lives within these pages. Unable to
accept defeat, Michael's mother fights back after every setback to establish a new toehold in life.
We
see Barry and Michael grow from scrappy kids into responsible adults. With no easy breaks, the
cycle of temporary work and moving is finally vanquished. Just when life should be the sweetest,
fate turns cuts threads.
Suspenseful, warm, chilling and humorous, we await to see the phoenix rise again from the
ashes.
Pogo
Reviewer
pogomcl@dowse.com
Peter's Bookshelf
The Self-Publishing Manual: How To Write, Print, and Sell Your Own Book, 13th Edition
Dan Poynter
Para Publishing
P.O. Box 8206, Santa Barbara, CA 93118-8206
1568600739, $19.95, 430 pages, http://www.ParaPublishing.com
The Self-Publishing Manual: How To Write, Print, and Sell Your Own Book (13th Edition, 2002)
by Dan Poynter is one of the great, classic books about self-publishing. As a self-published author
with hundreds of thousands of books sold and over twenty-years experience in the publishing
industry, Poynter is one of the most highly-respected experts in the field of self-publishing.
The revised edition of The Self-Publishing Manual: How To Write, Print, and Sell Your Own
Book
expands upon earlier editions to discuss ebooks and Printing-on-Demand (POD) books, as well as
conventional self-publishing.
Poynter tells us a self-publisher using conventional offset printing should budget about $15,000 to
launch a new self-published book. Poynter also discusses digital printing technology (sometimes
called POD books), which makes small press runs feasible, allowing self-published books to be
launched for only a few hundred dollars in production costs.
With the offset-printing route, Poynter suggests printing 3,000 copies, because he says a good
non-fiction book should sell at least 2,500 copies in its first year, and promotion might involve
sending out as many as 500 review copies to book reviewers and industry leaders. Poynter tends
to
favor free publicity over paid advertising to market books.
The Self-Publishing Manual: How To Write, Print, and Sell Your Own Book has chapters about
writing a book, book production, book promotion and marketing, starting a publishing business,
and
book fulfillment options. The Self-Publishing Manual also contains an extensive resource section
for
self-publishers.
Poynter is a big fan of seeking non-bookstore sales. Poynter writes: "Fifty percent of the
customers
in a bookstore are looking for a particular book. These particular-book seekers are more likely to
be
younger and female. About 47% are looking for a nonfiction title, 27% for a particular book of
fiction and 28% want textbooks. Although 20% do not find the book they are looking for, 54%
buy
one or more books before they leave. Then there are those people who never visit a bookstore.
Bookstores are a lousy place to sell books."
What about college bookstores? Poynter writes: "Don't put too much energy into college stores.
Many of them primarily stock text books and reference materials. Students generally don't spend
money on much more than assigned texts, CDs, and beer."
In marketing your self-published book, Poynter says you should start by evaluating the people
most
likely to purchase your book. Poynter writes: "Ask yourself what stores they frequent, what
magazines they read, what associations they join, what conventions or events they attend, what
channels they watch, ... and so on. Where can you find a high concentration of people interested
in
your book? Analyze carefully the type of person who is a prospective purchaser of your book.
This
is perhaps the single most important thing to consider."
The information, insight, and resources about book marketing alone make The Self-Publishing
Manual: How To Write, Print, and Sell Your Own Book a necessary addition to the
self-publisher's
or author's bookshelf. (As Poynter notes, authors, even if published by major publishers, are
largely
responsible for promoting their own books.)
Although The Self-Publishing Manual: How To Write, Print, and Sell Your Own Book is as
up-to-date as any other self-publishing book, the book publishing industry is constantly changing.
For example, the Ingram Express program for small publishers has been radically redesigned, so
the
terms and conditions of the program are far different from those listed in The Self-Publishing
Manual. (Ingram is the world's largest book distributor).
The Self-Publishing Manual doesn't mention any of the professional, online discussion lists, such
as
Publish-L (Publish-L.com), among its resources. These discussion lists can be valuable to new
self-publishers and keep them up-to-date about industry changes. Other than this oversight of
omitting publisher discussion lists as resources to keep current about the industry, The
Self-Publishing Manual: How To Write, Print, and Sell Your Own Book is a nearly perfect
introduction to self-publishing.
Presentation Magic: Dazzle & Deliver Talks With Confidence
Marisa D'Vari
DEG International Publishing
220 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02116
1931094020 $21.95, 143 pages, softcover, http://www.deg.com
Presentation Magic: Dazzle & Deliver Talks With Confidence by Marisa D'Vari helps people who
want to improve their presentation, public speaking, and networking skills.
"Behind Every Power Player is an Effective Speaker," writes D'Vari, who tells us that in today's
package-focused society, everyone is a brand and we're always on display.
D'Vari writes: "In today's competitive world, your professional and social success depends on
your
ability to present your ideas to your colleagues, make more effective client presentations on the
job,
feel more confident in social situations, and handle media opportunities with panache."
While much of how others evaluate us is subconscious, D'Vari says there's a lot we can do to
control
and hone the image we project.
D'Vari tells us about a young, "...unhappy boy in a bleak English town...who yearned for a better
life." By studying the mannerisms, speech, dress, and behaviors of those he admired, the boy
polished his image. Eventually, the boy decided to become an actor and changed his name to Cary
Grant.
"Are you stuck in a rut? Changing your image can have a huge impact on how you see yourself,
and
how others see you," writes D'Vari.
To improve your presentation skills, D'Vari suggests these steps:
- Analyze your audience, especially their level of knowledge about the topic and why they've
come
to listen to you.
- Make your presentation "you centric," establishing an emotional connection with the audience
and
showing how your speech can improve the listener's life.
- Use stories and anecdotes
- Create key units of information
- Vary your presentation. Smile, move, establish eye contact, and pause from time-to-time at key
points.
- Take an acting class
D'Vari says it's important to prepare for your presentation, to visualize yourself being successful,
and
to "banish mind yapping" to positively influence your subconscious mind before delivering a
presentation.
D'Vari writes: "... The mind/body response does not differentiate between past, present, future, or
imagination. Each registers an image. Conditioning your mind to see yourself as confident and
positive is one of the fundamental components of this process to achieving excellence while
making
a presentation."
As part of preparation, D'Vari says you should test any visual aids in advance, especially things
like
overhead projectors. Be sure everything works, so you don't become discombobulated right
before
your speech.
D'Vari asks us to consider the image created by unpolished shoes, a spot on the shirt, being
overwhelmed by the overhead projector, or other apparently minor items.
Consider entering a house of worship where the religious leader has a spot on his shirt. D'Vari
observes: "Here we are, anticipating someone who can lead us to salvation, and he can't even get
the
coffee stain off his shirt."
"We are 'pre-wired' to take appearance into account in every area of our lives," writes D'Vari,
"...In
any presentation situation, the audience looks to our appearance first, then our manner of
delivery,
and finally, the content itself."
Presentation Magic: Dazzle & Deliver Talks With Confidence by Marisa D'Vari also has great
advice for anyone wishing to improve his or her networking skills.
Peter Hupalo
Reviewer
Sullivan's Bookshelf
A Brilliant Solution: Inventing The American Constitution
Carol Berkin
Harcourt, Inc.
15 East 26th Street, 15th floor, New York, NY 10010
ISBN # 0151009481, $26.00, 1-800-543-1918, www.amazon.com
Most Americans don't know much about their U.S. Constitution. Carol Berkin corrects that and
makes it interesting. Taking the scant U.S. Constitutional Convention records, mostly James
Madison's personal notes, which were sealed until long after his death, she traces the ebb and flow
of
political debate in the summer of 1787 within the closed and secret meeting place, the East Room
of
the Pennsylvania statehouse that would become known as Independence Hall.
For a long time during that unusually hot summer in Philadelphia, the new consstitution, known
about only by convention attendees who were required to remain silent outside the hall about
what
was going on inside, was in serious doubt. Debates pitting small states, like Connecticut,
Massachusetts, and Rhode Island (derisively called Rogues Island), against large states, like
Virginia, New York, and Pennsylvania. Then there were the nationalists versus the states
righters.
Small states were afraid of losing their equal clout with big states. And states had to count slaves
as
only 3/5 of a man for population purposes to determine how many congressional representatives
they got.
But perhaps the most devisive debates were between those who favored a strong Federal
government and those who wanted the states to keep all their powers. The solution to most such
debates was a bicameral (two chambered) legislature: a House of Representatives, whose number
were elected by the people based on their state's population. The other legislative part was the
Senate, two senators per state, elected by that state's legislature.
A sidelight to this was that George Washington participated, since he was the presiding officer, in
only one debate. He believed that there should be one representative per 30,000 people. This was
agreed to.
The resolution quenched the protracted battle concerning the legislative branch of the Federal
government. The chief executive's position, seen subordinate to the legislature, brought new
argument. Some at the convention wanted a three-man office of the executive. Others thought the
president ought to have a seven year term of office and no more. Such debates raged on. Mostly,
those at the gathering were worried that the presidency could easily slide into that of monarchy
with
the president becoming king.
Though the field of psychology hadn't been formed, nor would it be for many years, the founding
fathers knew mankind and its faults only too well. Such distinguished men knew through history
and
their own experiences the temptations a president might face. Thus, such powers as that of
declaring
war was put in the hands of congress and not in the presidency to prevent his acting rashly or
recklessly.
Establishing the judiciary, the Supreme Court, was less contentious and much less defined by the
convention.
The author makes this story come alive with dynamic, daring actual characters who participated in
this Constitutional Convention. Most everyone knows about Ben Franklin, the oldest man there.
And all high school students should be aware that George Washington was chosen to preside over
this august gathering. But fewer people realized that James Madison was the real force behind the
convention. And he, along with fellow convention delegates, such as Alexander Hamilton, would
push for, and win, the nationlist cause.
Other interesting people also in attendance were Gouverneur Morris, (with his wooden leg and
proclivity for the females), Eldridge Gerry, from whom the term 'gerrymandering' comes, and
James
Wilson, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, one of the best lawyers from Pennsylvania,
and
the person who read Franklin's speeches for him on the floor of the conventon. All of those people
are hardly household names but were powers to be reckoned with.
George Washington's presidential inauguration ends the book's story. But that's followed by short
biographies of all convention delegates, the complete U.S. Constitution, and the full Articles of
Confederation (which ruled the country before the U.S. Constitution was ratified). Consequently,
this volume makes an ideal, handy reference guide.
Berkin writes in her introduction, "... Madison's remarkable record of the debates in the
convention
reveal, on virtually every page, a collective anxiety about what they were doing and a
near-paranoid
fear of conspiracies springing up around them--and among them. If they assumed a set of
enduring
truths, many of these truths were negative. Chief among them were that men were corruptible and
that power always corrupted. Greed and lust for power, as Franklin frequently pointed out in the
convention debates, were unquenchable in mortal men."
A professor of American History at C.U.N.Y. and at Baruch College, Berkin has authored
numerous
other history tomes. She resides in New York City. -- Recommended!
Whoever Makes The Most Mistakes Wins: The Paradox Of Innovation
Richard Farson and Ralph Keyes
The Free Press
1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020
ISBN # 0743225929, $22.00, 1-800-223-2336, www.amazon.com
The authors' main point, told in numerous interesting and informative anecdotes, is that a person
shouldn't be afraid to fail in trying to accomplish something worthwhile. That goes for individuals
as
well as for companies.
Too often, the goal is to succeed everytime an attempt is made without ever making mistakes,
coming up short, or outright failure. But this book asks readers and executives to treat success
and
failure similarly.
Admittedly, few companies and corporations are willing to accept unsuccessful efforts, even
though
they were sincere and well thought out. Those types of firms tend to be rigid. And their
employees
are afraid to take chances or creating something for fear that if they fail, they will be out of a job,
demoted, or shunted to the side.
The authors write in their introduction, "Relying on conventinal, outmoded ideas about success
and
failure stands in the way of your ability to innovate, compete, and stay ahead of the curve in a
changing economy."
Richard Farson, who resides in California, has written other books, among them Management Of
The Absurd.
Ralph Keyes, at home in Ohio, has authored The Courage To Write and other volumes.
This book is highly recommended for all high school and college graduates, not to mention every
CEO in America!
Jim Sullivan
Reviewer
Magdalena's Bookshelf
The Enigma Of Arrival
VS Naipaul
Vintage Books
c/o Random House
1745 Broadway, 17th floor, New York, NY 10019
0394757602 $15.00, 354 pages, 1-800-726-0600, www.amazon.com
Nobel Prize winner VS Naipaul is well known for his statements about the "death of the novel" -
his
criticisms of plot, character and a forward moving narrative structure. His recently re-released
1886
book, The Enigma of Arrival, which he labels a 'novel,' proceeds with very limited plot,
characterisation and a structure that takes it form much more closely from memoir and even diary
writing than a formal narrative. That the work has been widely praised is certain. The dust jacket
contains gushing accolades from no less than Anthony Burgess, Bernard Levin and Jan Morris.
Although the writing is richly descriptive, it is hard to see The Enigma of Arrival as a novel at all,
but rather a self-indulgent account of a short period of Naipaul's own life. Of course all novelists
take their material partly from their own life, but Naipaul never refines this vision of his into
something universal, never pulls together anything more than the most internally focused and
concurrently self-aggrandising and depressing vision.
There are 5 chapters, or "sections" as Naipaul describes them. The second section, "The Journey"
follows Naipaul as he leaves Trinidad for England for the first time. The final section, "The
Ceremony of Farewell" is really an epilogue, although much of the book reads like an epilogue.
The
other sections take place in a small Wiltshire village during a period where the narrator rented a
cottage, worked on a number of other books, and had a serious spell of illness. During this time
he
observed, from the detailed perspective of an outsider, the people, and natural world around him.
The narrator himself is so obviously and clearly Naipaul that it is impossible to see him as a
character, and although we find out much about him through his first peron observations, there is
little of formal development of this person aside from these impressions. We know little about his
life in between his travel from Trinidad to England and his later stay in Wiltshire. It is as if the
reader
were being asked to rely on our understanding of Naipaul's own body of work, referred to, his
unwritten biography and his considerable reputation to understand who this narrator is.
As the narrator's contact with the people around him remains cursory, we don't really get to know
any of the other characters either, except in a very superficial sense. We hear a little gossip, and
learn much about the clothing they wear, but aside from a few rather cliched surmises by the
narrator, we learn almost nothing. Jack, a man with a whole chapter dedicated to him, is a quaint
farm labourer, wont to work with his shirt off and devoted to his garden until his health fails. The
descriptions of Jack's features, his waxen face, his clothing and his connection to his plot are some
of
the best pieces of writing in the book, but we see it as a passing observation by the only real
character - the narrator:
"His eyes were far away. It was his eyes, oddly obstreperous, oddly jumpy, that gave him away,
that
said he was after all a farm worker, that in another setting, in a more crowded or competitive
place,
he might have sunk. And the discovery was a little disconcerting, because (after I had got rid of
the
idea that he was a remnant of old peasantry) I had found in thatbeard of his, a man with a high
idea
of himself, a man who had out of principle turned away from other styles of life." (29-30)
Other characters are equally glossed over, with detailed surmises about who they are and how
they
see the world taken solely from the clothing they wear, the manner in which they walk or talk, and
the odd greeting or bit of news. There is Brenda and Les who provide a bit of local colour and
even
some minor plot material with Brenda's scandal and sudden murder, but all we know of them is
this:
"And that took some understanding, that people like Brenda and Les, who were so passionate, so
concerned with their individuality, their style, the quality of their skin and hair, it took some
understanding that people who were so proud and flaunting in one way should be prepared in
another corner of their hearts or souls or minds to go down several notches and be servants."
(70)
One begins to learn more about the prejudices of the narrator with each character who joins the
reminiscence but ultimately the characterisation of the Phillipses, Brenda and Les, Pitton the
gardener, the landlord, Bray and the failed writer Alan (who at least gets some degree of dialogue
and his own voice) is no more in depth than one of those games you play on a bus or at a cafe
where
you look at a person and try to guess their lives and motivations by their clothes and manner.
The natural world is well described, in great detail and often beautiful prose:
"The river curved here. On the opposite bank the down ended abruptly in a wooded cliff, giving a
great depth, and a hint of surrounding forest, to the river colour. There was also a new channel
here
from the bare down, a spring breaking out of the chalk and quickly turning into a noisy cascade.
So
that again, in this neat, tame, smooth landscape, with a bare green-white down and with a river a
few
feet deep divided neatly into numbered beats, there was a reminder of the unpredictable force of
water." (226-7)
I suspect that this may be the main source of the praise for this book. The prose moves very
slowly
and the narrator gives this single piece of the world such detailed attention, viewing it from a
number of different seasonal angles, rendering it, like an impressionistic painter, in different hues
and
at different times of the day. So much detail though, without sufficient characterisation becomes
more a kind of catalogue of botany - heavy, dull and difficult to wade through. Although the
narrator takes some delight in his natural world, the overall effect is of lassitude - of a kind of
personal ennui, which it is impossible to avoid feeling as a reader. This is compounded by his own
stated melancholy, which permeates the book:
"...I began to be awakened by thoughts of death, the end of things; and sometimes not even by
thoughts so specific, no even by fear rational or fantastic, but by a great melancholy. This
melancholy penetrated my mind while I slept; and then, when I awakened in response to its
prompting, I was so poisoned by it, made so much not a doer (as men must be, every day of their
lives), that it took the best part of the day to shake it off. And that wasted or dark day added to
the
gloom of preparing for night." (375)
The more interesting theme, of displacement - of trying to find a new home and acquiring
belonging
could have lifted this work out of the morass of self-indulgent reflection into the universal,
creating a
good story. This is certainly touched upon in "The Journey" section, which seems to have little
connection with the rest of the book. The importance of this theme is hinted at by the book's title,
and the "Enigma of Arrival" painting by de Chirico which inspires Naipaul:
"My story was to be set in classical times, in the Mediterranean. My narrator would write plainly,
without any attempt at period style or historical explanation of th eperiod. He would arrive...at
that
classical port with the walls and gateways like cut-outs. He would walk past those two muffled
figures on the quayside. he wouldmove from that silence and desolation, that blankness, to a
gateway or door. He would enter there and be swallowed by the life and noise of a crowded
city..."
(106)
The book would be a meditation on the journey of life, on death, on the dislocation of travel and
exile and how we recreate those places in our own images. Presumably this "novel" The Enigma
of
Arrival, the very work he is talking about writing, is the work itself. With a decent unifying story,
and the kind of characterisation which Naipaul is certainly capable of, it could have been a
powerful
piece of work. As it stands, The Enigma of Arrival, never quite comes together as the surreal and
beautiful tale of a traveller. It is too self-obsessed. Too much a portrait of the artist as a young
and
then old man and very internally focused. There is too much pastoral, too much surmising about
other people without actually letting us get to know them, and finally too much subjectivity to
allow
the richness of the theme to develop. We certainly feel the sadness of the narrator, and we clearly
see, in great detail, what he sees as he walks out day by day, speaks to a few people, observes
change, but we never realise anything more than that. Things appear, bloom and decay, and
people
appear, bloom and decay. Britain too has begun to decay, and indeed the narrator is also
decaying.
For true fans of VS Naipaul, this book forms an important biographical piece of his work. If you
aren't familiar with Naipaul however, this is not a book I would recommend. Neither memoir nor
story, the descriptive detail is fine, but it lacks any overall movement, is slow going and painful to
read, and ultimately leaves the reader with nothing more than a brief impression of the mental
state
of the narrator and a very detailed understanding of a single cottage, a single manor, and single
place.
Step Across This Line: Collected Non-Fiction 1992-2002
Salman Rushdie
Random House
ISBN: 0679463348 $25.95
Salman Rushdie is as good an essayist as he is a novelist. That is a serious accolade. It is possible
that he is one of the finest novelists of our century. His imaginative, distinctive and extraordinary
novels have earned him significant awards, as well as the dubious distinction of a Fatwa, one
imagines partly for the intensity and beauty of his prose and his strong adherence to a philosophy
of
truth, and a humanistic secularism which is strongly informed by the mythological heritage of his
multiple cultures. Rushdie's non-fiction, which includes Imaginary Homelands, a collection of
essays
and criticism, The Jaguar Smile and The Wizard of Oz, along with a wide range of published
essays
and columns from newspapers and magazines is similarly powerful, full of insight, conviction,
humour and the love of both language and life which have made him famous.
Rushdie's latest collection, Step Across This Line is split into four parts, the first is a series of
randomly published essays on topics as diverse as The Wizard of Oz, literary criticism, writing,
film,
rock music, bread, on being photographed, religion, US politics, South East Asian politics and his
first trip to India after the Fatwa. The second part is a series of writings on "the plague years" - a
10
year period when he was in hiding from the death sentence issued by the Iranian leader Khomeini.
The third part, is a chronological sequence of New York Times columns, running from December
1998 to March 2002, and which look at a range of current events during that period. The fourth
part, which inspired the title, is the transcript of the 2002 Tanner Lectures on Human Values,
given
at Yale University.
The essays in this collection are, without exception, witty, intelligent, acerbic, moving, thoughtful
and above all, truthful. Celebrating secular freedom of thought and speech, personal responsibility
and courage, together they form a thesis. The book reads quickly, and all of the pieces are
interesting, illuminating their subject matter while always putting things into a larger context. The
first , "Out of Kansas" is a superb piece of literary analysis focusing on the film The Wizard of Oz.
The topic of one of Rushdie's non-fiction books and one of his earliest literary influences, his
deconstruction and reconstruction of this apparently lighthearted film is a terrific piece of work, at
once courageous and respectful, leading us through the range of straw men and illusions to
Dorothy's ultimate crossing of the boundaries of Kansas to the discovery of herself. In his essay
"In
Defence of the Novel, Yet Again," Rushdie takes on George Steiner's comments that we are
getting
very tired in our novels. Celebrating the novel's diversity, Rushdie argues that: "The novel is
precisely that 'hybrid form' for which Prof. Steiner yearns. It is part social enquiry, part fantasy,
part
confessional. It crosses frontiers of knowledge as well as topographical boundaries." (58)
Eloquently
Rushdie states that: "literature, good literature, has always been a minority interest. Its cultural
importance does not derive from its success in some sort of ratings war, but from its success in
telling us things about ourselves that we hear from no other quarter. And that minority - the
minority
that is prepared to read and buy good books - has in truth never been larger than it is now."
(60)
Even in essays celebrating football, rock and roll or his influences, there is always an aim to
produce
something universal:
Afloat and terrifyingly free upon these boundless seas, the writer attempts, with his bare hands,
the
magical task of metamorphosis. Like the figure in the fairy-tale who must spin straw into gold, the
writer must find the trick of weaving the waters together until they become land: until, all of a
sudden, there is solidity where once there was only flow, shape where there was formlessness;
there
is ground beneath his feet." (69)
The importance of a broad minded secularism which celebrates freedom and the intrinsic good
runs
through the section on the plague years. Rushdie's refusal to be silenced, to give us his life, his
sense
of self-worth, and his ability to depersonalise the Fatwa is inspiring:
"I have had to understand not just what I'm fighting against...but also what I am fighting for, what
is
worth fighting for with one's life. Religious Fanaticism's scorn for secularism and for unbelief led
me
to my answer. It is that values and morals are independent of religious faith that good and evil
come
before religion: that...it is perfectly possible, and for many of us even necessary, to construct our
ideas of the good without taking refuge in faith." (252)
The topical columns, many of them written quite recently, span the USA 2000 Presidential
campaign
(with a very funny Seuss inspired verse), Arundhati's dam protest, film festivals, the Sept 11th
attacks and a very powerful piece on the Hindu-Moslem bloodletting in Gujarat. Even for this
diehard athiest, Rushdie's last sentence is, like much of his writing, hard hitting in its clarity "So
India's problem turns out to e the world's problem. What happened in India, happened in God's
name. The problem's name is God." (403)
Rushdie has been criticised for his egoism, and there are a number of self-referential pieces in this
book, but never does he trivialise or focus too far inwards. There is humour, generosity, even a
relaxed good natured quality to this work which makes it very enjoyable to read - light, even
while it
makes the heaviest points. It is exceptionally well written, with crisp, joyful prose, light puns and
the
deepest insights. Even at its most personal, when writing of his attempts to get a film made of
Midnight's Children, a trip with his son to India, on being photographed by Avedon, his struggles
against Britain's refusal to show solidarity during the height of his troubles, or a visit onstage with
Bono of U2, there is always a turning point where the basic thesis of freedom and secular decency
becomes the point of the piece, as he writes to the six billionth person in the world: "Imagine
there's
no heaven, my dear Six Billionth, and at once the sky's the limit."
Magdalena Ball, Reviewer
http://www.compulsivereader.com/html
Susan's Bookshelf
Caring Hands: Inspiring Stories of Volunteer Medical Missions
Susan J. Alexis
Fairview Press
2450 Riverside Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55454
ISBN 1577491289, $14.95, 240 pp., Softcover, www.amazon.com
Many individuals have contemplated involving themselves in missions work. Often, they harbor an
inexplicable number of doubts, questions or fears that prevent them from ever moving forward to
fulfill that desire to give back to their fellow man. Caring Hands helps to dispel many doubts and
fears by offering a concise, objective, and positive look at missions from the people serving. The
obstacles faced by volunteers are not hidden behind quaint cliches or syrupy prose. The benefits of
the Volunteers' presence in the countries to which they have traveled are evidenced clearly in
photographs, before and after, and through the stories they share. Readers should not be surprised
at
feelings of both in joy and sadness in tandem with regard to the stories offered. Readers should
not
be surprised if they finish this book with a deep aching in the soul to join a missions group and
lend a
helping hand. Caring Hands is a small taste of a huge labor of love, and labors of love, as
experienced by members of the volunteer medical missions, are habit forming.
It is all too easy to airily click past the ads for charitable organizations seeking sponsorship and
aid
for impoverished families in third world and war-ravaged countries around the globe. It is difficult
for those comfortable in overstuffed furniture and sitting down to plentiful meals three times a day
to
imagine or comprehend living without the most basic of conveniences such as stores selling
wholesome foods, electricity to operate a wide variety of appliances, clean drinking water, and
functioning sewage disposal systems. It is unpleasant to think that in some countries, there are
children and adults dying of starvation, curable diseases, common and treatable injuries, and
illnesses
brought on by unsanitary living conditions. For want of education, supplies, and properly trained
medical help, hundreds of thousands are dying off the planet daily. Caring Hands is not a book
about
hopelessness, however. It is about possibilities. It is about all the good that can be done by
individuals sponsoring and participating in volunteer medical missions to places such as
Guatemala,
Thailand, Nigeria, Russia, Vietnam, Bolivia, and many others. Medical training is not mandatory
to
joining such operations, a will to give is.
People with a variety of skills, talents, and abilities in addition to medical professionals are needed
to
fulfill roles in faraway places where inhabitants have little or no contact with the outside world,
and
little hope of long-term survival, save for the infrequent visits and aid provided by missions
personnel.
Caring Hands is a wonderfully inspiring collection of thirty short essays - interviews with
volunteers
who have served. Many of the volunteers have found in missions work a tangible way to use their
gifts and abilities in a profoundly humanitarian effort to allay the suffering of neighbors across the
oceans. The volunteers depicted range from medical professionals, to administrative assistants, to
maintenance personnel, and retirees from different walks of life. One central theme underlies every
one of their stories - missions are a humbling experience, one that forever changes an individual's
perspective on what is truly important. Nearly every story tells of volunteers being happily and
graciously received by the people they are sent to help, peoples whose need to survive
overshadows
contradictory political agendas. Volunteer medical missions hurdle most political boundaries.
Once
hostile governments become welcoming and accommodating of volunteers, knowing they are
there
for the sustaining of life not the promotion of political ideologies. Volunteers concur through
individual testimonies that they came away with much more than they gave during their short time
abroad. They yielded a deeper sense of caring, of living life "in a way that feels worthwhile," as
stated by retired surgeon David Harris.
Caring Hands should be on the shelf of every pastoral library of every church whose congregation
is
considering sponsorship or sending teams on trips, whether to preach the gospel through words
or
through good works. Caring Hands should be required reading for every sociology student
desiring
knowledge not carried in clinical textbooks - eyewitness accounts of the basic human struggle to
survive, develop, and grow. Caring Hands should be in the hands of those in leadership, the
decision
makers responsible for funding such trips. Caring Hands tells of the good that is accomplished
when
an organization's focus is on improving lives, giving freely, expressing more profoundly the
inherent command to "love thy neighbor as thy self."
Storms From The Sun: The Emerging Science of Space Weather
Michael J. Carlowicz and Ramon E. Lopez
Joseph Henry Press
2101 Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20418
ISBN 0309076420, $27.95, 197 pp. Hardcover, www.amazon.com
Did you know that the rings of trees on earth tell about the cycles of the sun? If someone asked
what the Van Allen Radiation Belts were, would you tell them they were a part inside your
microwave? Do you believe that the greatest contribution the sun makes to our planet, in addition
to
helping crops grow, is its ability to provide sunbathers a deep tan? Storms From The Sun- The
Emerging Science of Space Weather provides a unique look at the fiery mass of energy, a few
millions miles away, which hurls radiated plasma particles en-mass toward the Earth on a daily
basis.
Michael J. Carlowicz, science education specialist, writer, and former worker at NASA Goddard
Space Flight Center, and Ramon E. Lopez, C. Sharp Cook Distinguished Professor of Physics at
the
University of Texas at El Paso and Fellow of the American Physical Society, invite readers into a
field of space science, still in its infancy, that may prove to be an area of great discovery for the
present and future generations of humanity.
Storms From The Sun gives readers an opportunity to consider how space weather affects their
daily
existence. Carlowicz and Lopez encourage a serious study of solar activity in relationship to
international dependencies upon satellites and other technologies necessary to daily
communications,
public energy distribution, and the design of national defense systems - systems that can be widely
affected or disabled through increased electro-magnetic charges resulting from the sun's CMEs
(Coronal Mass Ejections). The solar storm of 1989 is a primary example of the profound effect
space weather can have on Earth's habitat. Massive disruptions in communications and public
utilities, damage and loss of costly equipment, and economic repercussions in the billions of
dollars
were felt around the globe. Despite the fact that space storms are quite common, Carlowicz and
Lopez are careful to point out that a thorough study is needed of the sun, it's composition, and its
cyclical patterns and emissions before Earth's inhabitants can hope to invent and implement
protective measures. Storms From The Sun also shows how space weather can effect and even
hamper progress of space exploration. Space weather, particularly from periods of intense solar
activity, increases danger to astronauts, space stations, and equipment vital to survival and work
in
space. For humankind to be successful in intensive and distant exploration of the universe, it must
understand space weather and how it moves and changes in the solar environment. The way to
understand is to study.
Storms From The Sun is an example of how educational textbooks should be written. Dry, static
fact has been reshuffled and served up with a generous helping of historical record, open
discussions
of past and present-day theory, and a subtle sprinkling of wit to keep it lively and captivating.
Public
school educators and parents of home-schooled children, as well as industry leaders, government
officials, and anyone with an interest in science and the space around them, will draw many
valuable
lessons and discussions from the information provided. Carlowicz and Lopez have taken strides to
carefully define and explain theories and their applications in relationship to the subject. They have
provided in-text explanation of acronyms and abbreviations, as well as a glossary, and they have
included a useful appendix of web sites and recommendations for further reading. Unique color
photographs, drawings of solar observations from the journals of ancient astronomers, and charts
of
solar cyclical patterns provide valuable visual reference points and support.
After reading Storms From The Sun - The Emerging Science of Space Weather by Michael J.
Carlowicz and Ramon E. Lopez, it is doubtful that anyone will be able to look at the sun the same
way again. Contrary to its visual serenity, its beauty, and its pleasant warmth, it is a roiling mass
of
furious energy spitting particles at the Earth at millions of miles per hour. Storms From The Sun is
an electrifying challenge for the mind to decipher the seemingly unfathomable secrets of the sun.
The
authors should be applauded for their I.E.I. (Insightful Emission of Information). This book will
undoubtedly spark interest in space weather among present and ever-emerging generations of
scientists, industry and government leaders, and educators.
Photographs; illustrations; bibliographical references; and index.
Susan Cronk
Reviewer
Lori's Bookshelf
Deceptions
Lauren Maddison
Alyson Publications, Inc.
6922 Hollywood Blvd., 10th floor, Los Angeles, CA 90028
ISBN: 1555834906, $13.95, 424 pps., www.Alyson.com
When Connor Hawthorne's estranged lover Ariana is murdered, Connor is knocked into a tailspin
of
grief and confusion. She's got her father, former senator Benjamin Harrison, and her best friend,
cop
Malcolm Jefferson to lean on, but her world is empty without her beautiful and enigmatic lover.
The
police have no leads on the murder, and it might have ended up a cold case, except that Connor's
house is ransacked and booby-trapped. If not for Malcolm's fast thinking, Connor and her father
would both have been killed by the explosion. Now it seems clear that Ariana's death could be
connected to Benjamin, but Connor is not sure how.
Time passes, and Connor comes to understand that she must get on with her life. She gets back to
work and attends a writer's conference in New Mexico. A Navaho chauffeur, Laura Nez, shows
up
to squire her around-but is she trustworthy? Who is the culprit who stalks Connor leaving
destruction in his or her wake? Is it a lone nut or a frightening conspiracy? And why was Ariana
killed?
Gun battles, explosions, and high speed chases are nicely offset by Connor's introspection, by
Laura's subtle humor and toughness, and by Maddison's literate style. Told from several
points-of-view, the novel is plotted well and executed with grace. Oddly enough, the secondary
characters in this debut novel (Laura and Malcolm especially) are more compelling than the
protagonist, but there is plenty of room for Connor to grow in the subsequent books. The Native
American "woo woo" spiritualism at the end was almost over the top, but ultimately didn't detract
from this solid and entertaining first novel in what promises to be a compelling mystery
series.
Fans of tightly plotted, exciting books such as Cornwell's Kay Scarpetta series should like this
book.
My sole complaint is that the spine of the physical book did not hold up well after one reading,
with
pages threatening to pull away. This is a shame since Deceptions is a novel many mystery readers
will want to revisit.
Second Chances
Lynne Norris
Renaissance Alliance Publishing, Inc.
PMB 238, 8691 - 9th Avenue Port Arthur, TX 77642
ISBN: 1930928297, $19.99, 424 pps., www.rapbooks.biz
Regina Kingston, a new hospital resident, is a woman on the edge: in addition to being on the
edge
of completing her training to become a full-fledged doctor, she's also on the edge of realizing she's
not straight, a fact about which her insensitive boyfriend has not been informed. When Regina
joins
the ER at St. Xavier's for her final rotation in the emergency services area, she's in for a lot more
trauma and surprise than just the medical aspects.
Regina's chief attending doctor is Alex Margulies, a mercilessly driven perfectionist who
possessing
an unexpected past and an entire doctor's kit full of emotional issues. Her friendship with Regina
comes as a complete surprise to her, and as it grows in intensity, Alex has serious choices to
make.
She's kept her past at bay for years, but if she is to have a future with Regina, she must face the
consequences of her old life.
With the backdrop of internecine political battles, medical crises, the daily grind of long hours in
the
ER, and the constant responsibility of saving lives and losing patients, two women seek to forge a
connection. Will their mutual attraction be thwarted by outside forces, both past and present?
The author writes with authority about the medical situations faced in a busy ER, and much of the
book reads like a gripping and entertaining season's worth of episodes of Chicago Hope or ER.
An
inviting debut from a talented writer, Second Chances is highly recommended for fans of
well-written lesbian drama.
Lori L. Lake
Reviewer
Paul's Bookshelf
Understanding Muslim-West Alienation: Building A Better Future
Arshad Khan
Writer's Club Press
5220 S 16th Street, #200, Lincoln, NE 68512
0595237096, $14.95, 151 pages, http://www.iuniverse.com
The conflict between Islam and the West, specifically America, did not start the day that New
York
and Washington were attacked. It is because of religious, social and political factors and has been
brewing for many centuries. This book attempts to fill in the details.
The Islamic religion was started by the prophet Muhammad approximately 1400 years ago in
Arabia.
It spread quickly, reaching from Spain to China. When an area was conquered, there were no
forced
conversions to Islam. The right of the residents to freedom of religion was guaranteed. Honest
and
efficient governments run by early Muslim rulers, who found that simply conquering an area
wasn't
enough, brought about the rise of a civilization that lasted for centuries.
While Europe was going through the Dark Ages, the Islamic world was The center of learning
and
culture, especially during the years 750-950 AD, Islam's Golden Age. The conflict between Islam
and the West started approximately 1000 years ago with the Crusades, a number of attempts to
take
Jerusalem from the Muslims and return it to Christian rule. That conflict still goes on today.
Moving to the present, the perpetrators of the 9/11 attack violated several basic principles of
Islam.
They killed innocent civilians, the committed suicide, they killed more than 200 Muslims who
were
working in the World Trade Center, and one of the hijackers was reportedly consuming alcohol in
Florida the night before, all of which are totally against the teachings of Islam.
Islam has many complaints with America. Support for Israel is one-sided; Jewish influence in the
Senate is too strong; America is widely perceived as anti-Muslim; the West talks a lot about
democracy and human rights, but supports some of the worst dictators in the world; American
media is biased and driven by business needs. Part of the "blame" for present conditions in the
Muslim world lies with Muslims themselves. They suffer from a widespread lack of education, the
control by religious fundamentalists is great, Muslims lack role models, the majority of Muslims
care
only about their personal sphere, otherwise, they are silent and apathetic, their leaders have failed
them consistently.
The author talks about "jihad," which is mostly a personal struggle against one's inner self. It is
not a
tool of oppression or forced conversion against non-Muslims. On both sides, people have hijacked
the term and turned it into something that it is not.
This book is a basic look at the Muslim view of the West, and it succeeds very well. It doesn't try
to
be a complete reference source. It is clearly written and very easy to read. It is also eye-opening
and
highly recommended.
Screaming At A Wall
Greg Everett
Grundle Ink Publications
P.O. Box 231, Chico, CA 95927
0970815255,$10.00, 448 pages, http://www.grundleink.com
This is the autobiographical story of one person's journey through 1990s youth culture.
Greg is your average resident of the Bay Area of San Francisco, more interested in drugs and the
opposite sex than school. A couple of teachers along the way attempt to "reach" him, thinking
that
he is some sort of troubled teen, when a much better diagnosis might be "smart but bored with
school."
He has a variety of jobs during this time, including spending a couple of years working behind the
counter of a local bike shop. It's the sort of place where items like air guns and super glue are
used
in all sorts of intesesting ways. After high school, he intentionally gets out of town and enrolls in a
sort of alternative college in Arizona to learn search and rescue. He leaves there after he finds that
the school is the sort of place where the faculty would rather look at the goodness inside each of
the
students than actually teach search and rescue. During this time, Grundle Ink Publications is born,
as
Greg hand binds copies of his writings and hands them out to friends.
Everett eventually ends up in the college town of Chico, California, where Grundle Ink becomes
more of a "full-time" job. The fact that he knows absolutely nothing about the publishing business
is
irrelevant; nothing like learning the hard way. He also makes several attempts to get off
drugs.
Throughout this book are many relationships with the opposite sex. Some of the women Everett
meets are decent, reasonable people, while others can best be described as one-dimensional idiots.
He is unable to break off the relationship, so he intentionally acts like a jerk until the woman gets
frustrated and does the breaking up. The conversations recounted are not literary masterpieces;
sometimes, they consist of little more than "dude" and "(insert swear word)."
Because of the very large amounts of drugs and swearing in this book, it is not for the faint of
heart.
To attempt to understand youth culture of the 1990s, this does an infinitely better job than the
various stories and films of adolescent hijinks. The writing is honest, sobering, and, in places, very
funny. I loved it.
The Perseids And Other Stories
Robert Charles Wilson
Tor Books
175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010
ISBN 0312873743, 2000, $12.95, 224 pages, http://www.tor.com
This group of speculative fiction stories take place in, and around, the city of Toronto,
Canada.
An amateur astronomer buys a telescope at a local shop, and starts dating the female sales clerk.
With a little hallucinogenic help, what starts as a relationship story turns into a tale of the next
stage
of human evolution. In 1950s California, young girl who claims to have been visited by aliens and
is
spending the summer with an uncle has a strange encounter with astronomer Edwin Hubble.
Another story is about an ever-changing group of friends who get together for some intellectual
conversation. One person says, "Invent a religion."
A writer of New Age books has a genuine encounter with the extraordinary, courtesy of a mirror
that shows very interesting things to those who stand in front of it. In another story, a man
speculates a being as far above humans as we are above a house cat among us right now, but we
wouldn't know it. At a local used bookstore called Finders (locale for several of these stories) the
man bought a rock as a paperweight. It's actually a scrying rock, which lets the holder of the rock
see into their future.
I loved these stories. They could be set in any large city, they're sort of like Twilight Zone stories
(a
mixture of fantasy, science fiction and horror), and they are very thought-provoking. Wilson is
one
of my favorite science fiction writers, so I don't claim to be totally unbiased, but this is highly
recommended.
Paul Lappen
Reviewer
Vicki's Bookshelf
Hello Kitty Hello Color
Harry N. Abrams, Inc.
100 Fifth Ave., NY, NY 10011
ISBN 0810985411, $12.95, 24 pages plus art kit, www.abramsbooks.com
Cute, cute, cute. Seeing this darling novelty gift book and art set has given me Hello Kitty fever
too.
The package looks like a hardback book, but when you swing open the cover you find a
collection
of eight colored pencils, nine chubby, stubby crayons, a ruler, eraser and pencil sharpener, all
bearing
the face of lovable Hello Kitty. On the right is a paperback coloring book featuring
you-know-who
and her favorite colors. "Red, yellow, green, blue Hello Kitty knows her colors! Do you?" Well,
yes I do, as a matter of fact, and last I checked pumpkins were orange and swans were white, but
for
some reason they appear on the book's "Hello red!" spread. The cluster of unrelated images on
each
spread are mismatched and arbitrarily placed on every spread, as it turns out, with grapes and
bubble
gum and cotton on the "Hello yellow" page, a grasshopper, peas and a hamburger on the "Hello
orange" page and so forth. There's no reasoning here. The lesson does not compute. Nor does the
"Learn to draw Hello Kitty!" lesson at the back, as children learning colors are simply haven't yet
developed the hand-eye coordination for such multi-step tasks. Such are the mysteries of the
inscrutable Hello Kitty.
Hello Kitty's House & Garden
Illustrated by Jean Hirashima
Harry N. Abrams, Inc.
100 Fifth Ave., NY, NY 10011
ISBN 0810942305, $13.95, 12 pages, www.abramsbooks.com
Say hello to "Hello Kitty's House & Garden," an irresistible novelty book for the legions of little
girls
who're fans of the silent Japanese feline. As with perennially popular Color Forms toys, these stiff,
slick pages act as the backdrop for nearly 200 reusable plastic "stickers" that can be arranged and
rearranged at whim. The book offers brief text that simply introduces readers to the various
scenes
and suggests a few activities that children might imagine happening there. Each of the book's five
two-page spreads offers a different landscape or interior scene, namely a sunny cottage garden,
yellow and blue kitchen, pretty bedroom, busy family room, and a grassy back yard garden. "Hello
Kitty's House & Garden" is a wonderful gift item for young girls Pre-K and up who enjoy solitary
play, and would make a particularly nice travel kit.
Mikhail Baryshnikov's Stories From My Childhood
Edited by Joan Borsten
Harry N. Abrams, Inc.
100 Fifth Ave., NY, NY 10011
ISBN 0810910179, $24.95, 128 pages, www.abramsbooks.com
This compilation of 11 fairy tale stories is based on a promising concept: to gather fairy tales
known
around the world, but particularly beloved in Russia. Famous Russian dancer Mikhail
Baryshnikov's
smiling face smiles from the cover, along with a sampling of the characters to be found inside:
Ivan
and his Magic Pony, the Golden Rooster, Cinderella, a crowned bird from "The Wild Swans, and
Pinnochio. Like the wooden Italian boy himself, most tales here are European, but several are
indeed
Russian folktales, most notably "The Golden Rooster" and "The Prince, the Swan and the Czar
Saltan" (both based on poems by Alexander Pushkin), "The Snow Girl" and "The Last Petal." The
book's above-the-title recognition of ballet star Mikhail Baryshnikov is a bit of a stretch. He in
fact
did not compile or rewrite any of the stories. Rather, he contributed a brief introduction about his
childhood in Latvia, and that's all, aside from giving the collection star cache and a Russian
context.
Truly, this is more a salute to Russian animation than anything else, the variety of fairy tales
stories
merely serving as glue to connect approximately 90 somewhat randomly-chosen film stills
reproduced here to illustrate the stories. And that's where this book succeeds best: as a
retrospective
honoring the little-known achievements of Russian film animation. Although the reproduced stills
appear somewhat blurred with muddy colors, that's clearly due to the repurposing and restoration
processes that the cels have had to undergo to be reproduced here. The unique folkart style of the
1950s images is intriguing, and will likely encourage readers of all ages to seek out the original
films
from which these animation stills and stories came.
Starting With Alice
Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
Atheneum Books for Young Readers/Simon & Schuster
1230 Avenue of the Americas, NY, NY 10020
ISBN 068984395X, $15.95, 182 pages, www.SimonSaysKids.com
"Starting With Alice" is the first in a trilogy of prequels written by prolific children's novelist
Phyllis
Reynolds Naylor to introduce her popular character, Alice McKinley, to a younger audience. In
previous series, middle-grade fans followed Alice through her adventures in junior high and high
school. Now Naylor turns back the clock so elementary students age seven and up can enjoy
Alice's
tales of third grade when the eight-year-old gets off to a rough start at a new school upon her
arrival
in Takoma Park, Maryland. Even at such a young age, however, our young heroine demonstrates
that she has the pluck she'll need to get beyond the meanness initially shown to her by the local
girls,
and past her own misbehavior. How can she make up for the lie about her uncle? Or the
crossing-guard incident? Or the fact that "the Terrible Triplets" seem to have it out for her?
Eventually she warms up to her new home, makes some new friends, and is clearly on her way to
becoming the older Alice that older readers know and love. Designed to enlarge Alice's reading
base
as well as for fans who can't get enough of Beverly Cleary's "Ramona" -- "Starting With Alice"
is a
strong start for a welcome new series, adding depth to a beloved character.
Fields Of Fury
James M.McPherson
Antheneum Books for Young Readers/Simon & Schuster
1230 Avenue of the Americas, NY, NY 10020
ISBN 0689848331, $22.95, 182 pages, www.SimonSaysKids.com
Pulitzer Prize-winning author of "Battle Cry of Freedom," James M. McPherson, has again tapped
his unparalleled knowledge of the American Civil War to produce his latest non-fiction children's
book on the subject. From start to finish, it's a fascinating look back at the most significant
conflict
on American soil, bringing to life the drama and tragedy through impeccably researched facts and
personal anecdotes. "Fields of Fury" is rich in detail and thorough in its scope, yet remarkably
concise and beautifully edited into clear chapters and subsections, allowing for easy reference as
well
as casual browsing. The 41-chapter outline from "The Origins of the Civil War" to
"Reconstruction" -- is simplicity in its purest form, listed by subject or battle, without unnecessary
exposition or bells and whistles of any kind. The appealing format includes short
subject-by-subject
chapters of no more than 10 paragraphs each, plus a bullet-pointed "quick fact" full
page-illustration
whether it's an historical black and white photo or gorgeous color illustration and at least one
additional illustrative element. With a generous illustration-to-text ratio of nearly 2:1, the format
is
extremely attractive, adding tremendously to reader enjoyment and comprehension. Completing
the
picture are illustrative maps, documents, political cartoons, timelines, an age-appropriate glossary,
bibliography, index and list of civil-war sites on the web. It's an exceptional addition to any
school,
home or public library.
Pigs Can't Fly!
Ben Cort
Barron's
250 Wireless Blvd. Hauppauge, NY 11788
ISBN 0784155326, $13.95, 28 pages, www.barronseduc.com
The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence. That's the basic premise of this picture
book path to the discovery that being yourself is the best thing you can be. In "Pigs Can't Fly" a
pink
porcine protagonist battles boredom by coveting the adventures of other animals. "I bet exciting
things happen to giraffes," he decides, and so tries his talent at stilt walking. But when a zebra
points
out that he's about to fall, CRASH! Now, the pig decides a zebra's life seems grand, so he paints
himself in black and white stripes. An elephant laughs at the silly sight and squirts the paint off
with
his trunk. Undeterred, pig decides he'd rather be an elephant. On and on the story goes, through
more mishaps as pig pretends to be an elephant, kangaroo, parrot. Just when he thinks he's
suffered
his final humiliation, he discovers that he's accidentally found his true calling in life. The simple
lesson of finding happiness by just being yourself is a lovely one, and it's well told in an
easy-to-follow repetitious manner, with plenty of fun action and variety.
The Child's Gift Of Art
Laurence Anholt
Barron's
250 Wireless Blvd., Hauppauge, NY 11788
$16.95, 4 book set, www.barronseduc.com
This pocket-sized gift set is an irresistible introduction to four great fine artists. Inside the colorful
cardboard case are four miniaturized editions of the popular picture books by illustrator artist
Laurence Anholt, namely "Picasso and the Girl With a Ponytail," "Camille and the Sunflowers"
(about Vincent Van Gogh), "Degas and the Little Dancer" and "Leonardo and the Flying Boy."
Each
relates stories of the artist's life and life's work through the eyes of four young people who were
inspired by the artists through personal, real life encounters. Camille was a French boy whose
family
befriended the troubled Van Gogh and were rewarded with personal portraits. Sylvette was a shy
muse who inspired several Picasso paintings and sculptures. Marie was a struggling ballet student
who posed for Degas to pay for lessons. And Zoro was an apprentice of da Vinci's who may have
been the first human to test a flying machine. Aside from the Picasso story, which was told to
Anholt
personally by "Sylvette" (aka Lydia Corbett) herself, one gets the feeling that much that is
presented
as fact is conjecture or, at best, wishful thinking. But the fact-based legends Anhold presents so
beautifully among gorgeous illustrations incorporating the subject's own artwork, certainly do
make
for riveting picture book stories that young readers can't help but love.
Dougal Dixon's Dinosaurs
Boyds Mills Press
815 Church St., Honesdale, Penn. 18431
ISBN 1563977222, $19.95, 160 pages, www.boydsmillspress
Dinosaur authority Dougal Dixon isn't content to rest on past laurels. He'd rather evolve than see
his
best-selling reference book become extinct. His "Dougal Dixon's Dinosaurs" encyclopedia for
juveniles is enjoyed around the world, having been translated into 18 languages, yet Dougal has
now
expanded and updated the winning original to create this better-than-ever second edition. Much
more than a simple A-to-Z listing of dinosaur species and classifications, Dixon's dynamic text
contains a clearly organized and wonderfully detailed account of all things dinosaur, and now it
includes upated information and all the latest dinosaur discoveries, including, among others,
Argentinosaurus, the biggest dinosaur known. As before, the revised "Dinosaurs" helps young
readers discover 14 of the largest dinosaurs and several of the smallest, but more importantly, its
concise chapters explore how dinosaurs evolved and disappeared, teach about dinosaur biology,
and
relate exciting stories about fossil hunters. It uses plentiful full-color illustrations, charts, timelines
and cross-sections to make the informative journey visually stimulating as well as entertaining.
Color
photos of modern animals give compare-and-contrast lessons that young readers can relate to. An
80+-entry glossary and 4-page index provide simple cross-reference, and the "Do You Know?"
section reiterates major lessons in a no-nonsense question-and-answer format. There's a reason
the
first edition of "Dougal Dixon's Dinosaurs" is found in nearly every children's library: it's an
immensely readable and thorough account that stands out like a 100 ton Argentinosaurus in a field
of 20 pound Heterodontosaurus. When those well-used editions become worn out and are
rendered
extinct from all the eager use, this second edition will be waiting.
Look What You Can Make With Dozens of Household Items!
Kathy Ross, editor
Boyds Mills Press
815 Church St., Honesdale, Penn. 18431
ISBN 1590780582, $24.99, 384 pages, www.boydsmillspress
Children's arts and crafts devotees are well aware of the clever "how to" book published by Boyds
Mills Press, the parent company to stalwart "Highlights for Children" magazine. The "Look What
You Can Make" book series organizes projects by common household materials from boxes and
paper bags to egg cartons and plastic bottles. Recyling trash into treasures is the name of the
game,
so it's no surprise that the publisher has recycled the paperback book series by combining the all
eight books into one hardback, spiral-bound edition called "Look What You Can Make With
Dozens of Household Items!" The infomercial-sounding title tells it all. It features eight count
'em,
eight! books in one, totaling more than 500 pictured crafts. But wait! There's more! "Dozens of
more ideas!," to be precise. Each craft is clearly and colorfully- photographed with step-by-step
instructions and a brief "you will need" checklist. But perhaps the book's best stand-out feature is
the
tabbed organization, allowing a crafter to seek projects based on their available stockpile of paper
bags, tubes, paper plates, egg cartons, craft sticks, newspapers/magazines and plastic bottles and
tubs. It's just the ticket for inexpensive rainy-day activities to entertain the kids from preschoolers
through 6th grade. The level of difficulty varies, but there's something for everyone who can
handle
basic tools of the craft trade: glue, scissors and paint. Self-readers can safely achieve fun results
on
their own, with no parental supervision necessary. Wee ones will need a tad more help, and more
discretion in project choice, but there's plenty here for every skill level. My four year old and I
tested
a few projects with varying results. The egg-carton creatures, toilet-paper roll dog and magazine
valentines were simple and satisfying successes, but when we converted our milk jug birdhouse
into
a dollhouse, our noses soon realized no self-respecting doll would dare live in a home smelling of
sour milk. Making some treasures from trash, it seems, require a few extra hints not found in this
otherwise comprehensive "how to" activity book.
Big Baby Book
Helen Oxenbury
Candlewick Press
2067 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA 02140
ISBN 0763620165, $7.99, 10 pages, www.candlewick.com
Illustrator Helen Oxenbury has a soft touch for babies. Her pastel-hued babes are endowed with
adorably big, round heads, tiny dot eyes and wee grins that make parents go "ahhhhhh." This large
format board book, however, is designed with babies in mind. Its simple, interactive concept is to
engage pre-literate children with drawings of the things babies experience. "I touch a worm, my
ball, Granddad's beard, our cat, my blanket, water." Each word is accompanied by an illustration
of a
cherubic child in action as he eagerly explores the immediate world around him. Each spread
tackles
a difference sense or ability: touch, sight, hearing, movement and imagination. There is no story
here, no academic lessons, no touch-and-feel interactive bells and whistles. Just a simple list of
actions and illustrations that star Oxenbury's charming artistic touch.
My Perfect Life
Dyan Sheldon
Candlewick Press
2067 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA 02140
ISBN 076361839X, $16.99, 202 pages, www.candlewick.com
Ella Gerard and her high school friends are back in the young adult novel sequel to "Confessions
of
a Teenage Drama Queen." This time, the school election is at hand, and Ella's subversive best
friend
Lola Cep is itching to start a revolution by dethroning the shoe-in candidate, Carla Santini. Will
Miss
Popularity be handed the election on a silver platter? Not when Lola secretly nominates reclusive
Ella and "bad boy" Samuel Creek as the surprising and surprised -- alternate candidates. The
basic
plot and underlying themes parallel the novel/film "Election" a bit too closely, but then I suppose
it is
about a scenario that is repeated in high schools (and presidential races) across the nation on a
regular basis. Author Dyan Sheldon's breezy narrative and spunky dialog keeps things moving at a
sit-com pace, making this a pleasant, light addition to the growing stock on the junior "chick lit"
shelves alongside "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" and other comfortable teen tomes.
Tom Finger
Gillian McClure
Bloomsbury
175 Fifth Ave., NY, NY 10010
ISBN 1582347824, $16.95, 32 pages, www.bloomsburymagazine.com
Somewhat reminiscent of Aesop's gingerbread house tale mixed with Puss 'n' Boots, this quixotic
tale is a about a mysterious tabby cat who brings a series of gifts to a young girl who's lost her
cat.
Her brother warns that the silent stranger is a "witch's cat", but the girl ignores him, instead
pinning
her hopes that the cat can lead her to her own lost kitty. One day she decides to follow the cat's
trail
to wherever it is he came. An unraveled string of yarn leads her through a snowy winter landscape
to
the home of a blind woman who thanks her for returning the objects her cat had taken. In the end,
the girl's curiosity and faith in the goodness is justly rewarded. It's a satisfying conclusion to a
murky
story that unfortunately clouds the lessons parents warn their children about wandering off with
strangers. Though told in a quiet manner, "Tom Finger" may prove to be a bit too disquietly
menacing for fear-prone youngsters.
Sumo Mouse
David Wisniewski
Chronicle Books
85 Second St., San Francisco, CA 94105
ISBN 0811834911, $16.95, 28 pages, www.chroniclebooks.com
For his latest picture book, Caldecott Medal winning artist David Wisniewski ("Golem") wrestles
with the notion that a mouse can use his sumo wrestling strength to become an unlikely
superhero.
"Is this some lawless lump in leotards? Or a chubby champion of justice?" poses the satirical
narration with tongue-in-cheek humor as our hefty hero battles a feline crime spree in Tokyo. And
the jokes keep coming, from the jacket copy ("He's not lean and mean. He's round and profound")
to
song lyrics spoofing themes from "Mighty Mouse" to "Godzilla" ("If Mount Fuji blows its stack /
If
a monster should attack / Don't just hide inside your house! / Give a call for Sumo Mouse!") The
action-packed plot pits Sumo Mouse against Doctor Claw and Tiger Tanaka, catty 007-type
villains
whose plan to make squeaky toys of all Tokyo's mice is foiled by the superhero rodent. They
discover Sumo Mouse's secret identity is Gachinko, the grand sumo champion, and so build a
giant
robot to clobber him in the ring. Leading up to the big showdown Wisniewski takes the
opportunity
to introduce young readers to sumo terms such as "rikishi" (champion), and various sumo moves
(oshi-dashi, amki-otoshi and tsuma-dori). The multi-cultural lessons end there, although this
picture
book could be viewed as a stylized introduction to Japanese "manga" style comic books so
popular
with readers just a few years older. The story itself is complex, confusing and ultimately
forgettable.
The unique subject matter earns the book deserved attention, but ultimately it's Wisniewski's
amazingly intricate cut paper collages that save the day.
Secret Heart
David Almond
Delacorte Press / Random House
1540 Broadway, NY, NY 10036
ISBN 0385729472, $17.99, 206 pages, www.randomhouse.com/teens
This is David Almond's fourth home run hit. That's four out of four, mind you -- quite a batting
average for this thoughtful Englishman, the winner of a Michael L. Printz Honor Book for his
debut
("Skellig"), the Printz Award for his second ("Kit's Wilderness") and numerous nods for his third
("Heaven Eyes"). "Secret Heart" confidently strides into familiar territory with themes of
peer-pressure vs. individuality, reality vs. spirituality and other adolescent themes set among
otherworldly mysteries. In fact, the line between reality and fantasy is artfully blurred time and
time
again, keeping readers on their toes aw they wonder how to distinguish between the two. The
outsider story centers on sensitive young Joe Maloney, a loner out of step with his peers, who's
looked at as "different" even by his only ally, his mother. Taunted by classmates, Joe seems unable
to grow up or express the deep feelings that dwell in his "secret heart." When a traveling circus
comes to his isolated town, Joe can't help but be drawn toward the ragtag community of strangers
who help him come into his own. He's especially intriqued by Corinna, a trapeze performer his age
who seems oddly familiar. The sense of belonging he feels among the circus folk contrasts
dramatically with his abhorrent reaction to the pressure he gets to join his peers in a deadly tiger
hunt. The plot's escapist fantasies provide thought-provoking layers of hidden meanings,
contrasting
with Almond's more mysterious previous works. The inherent messages lack subtlety
occasionally,
but will still greatly impact middle grade readers.
My Memory Book: Angelina Ballerina
Based on text by Katharine Holabird, Illustrated by Helen Craig
Pleasant Company
8400 Fairway Place, Middleton, Wisconsin 53562
ISBN 1584857153, $14.95, 32 pages, www.americangirl.com
Decorating each page of this novelty gift book for young girls is sweet Angelina, the little
mouseling
ballerina, and the cast of characters from the popular "Angelina Ballerina" picture book series.
Little
human ballerinas will particularly enjoy this spiral-bound scrapbook designed to provide a perfect
place to gather thoughts, memories and favorite keepsakes. There are pockets on every page for
photos, drawings, postcards, newspaper clippings and other paper treasures. There are places to
document newborn baby details, a personal growth chart, and a very basic family tree. Souvenirs
of
first friends are to be gathered on the "friends forever" autograph page and "my best friend"
fill-in-the-blanks description, while pets are remembered too (even favorite stuffed animals).
Budding personalities are documented in elementary diary pages such as "my favorite things," "my
least favorite things" and "when I grow up" including a space for a self-portrait of one's future
self.
It's a darling introduction to journaling and archiving for girls ages 3 to 7, that's likely to open a
Pandora's box for new scrapbook fanatics in the making.
Rudy's Beauty Shop
Rosemary Wells
Viking / Penguin Putnam Books for Young Readers
345 Hudson St., NY, NY 10014
ISBN 067003553X, $15.99, 28 pages, www.penguinputnam.com
The beloved picture book bunnies Max and Ruby are back in a new comic caper involving
makeup,
wigs and stick-on nails. When Ruby and her friend Louise decide to play beauty shop with a toy
beauty kit, Max the rabbit is their willing guinea pig. He pleasantly agrees to don red nails, eye
shadow, lipstick and a "Blond Bombshell Wig moussed into a beehive 'do. But while the girls are
distracted, Max decides to give himself a makeover or his own, and ends up dying himself in
bright
colors, from head to toe. The girls are shocked, but then the colorful trend catches on with
Grandma, and Max is a surprise makeover success. The beauty shop concept is a delightfully
appealing one, but the story is too simplistic to be told in the usual 32 pages, but even has
difficulty
sustaining the 28 pages allotted here. It's wandering plot centers on the oddity of a boy being the
subject of beauty treatment, but it's a weak one-note joke; after all, what boy or girl pre-schooler
doesn't love face painting? As a result, the tale just doesn't translate well to the young picture
book
audience that so loves creator Rosemary Well's funnier Max and Ruby (and Timothy, too)
books.
How Angel Peterson Got His Name
Gary Paulsen
Wendy Lamb Books / Random House
1540 Broadway, NY, NY 10036
ISBN 0385729499, $12.95, 160 pages, www.randomhouse.com/kids/
Personal memoirs just don't get any more charming and funny than this. Award-winning author
Gary
Paulsen ("The Winter Room," "Dogson" and "Hatchet") has written the personal history of the
head-bashing, numbskull stunts of his boyhood, accomplished with his fearless (and sometimes,
brainless) friends in Northwestern Minnesota. They were bored rural kids with big imaginations
looking for some fun and adventure. So, intentionally or not, Paulsen and his pals found
themselves
speed skiers, hang-gliders, bungee-jumpers and skateboarders decades before they became know
as
extreme sports, and in some cases, decades before the activities were even imagined. It's that
innocent, accidental nature of their ludicrous stunts, and the boneheaded ways that they found
themselves risking life and limb, that's so absolutely hilarious and imminently relatable. "This book
is
dedicated to all boys in their thirteenth year," Paulsen says at the outset. "The miracle is that we
live
through it." Subtitled "And Other Outrageous Tales About Extreme Sports," the contemporary
spin
on the cover gives no hint that the book's insides contain personal tales from Gary Paulsen's
1940's
childhood, when PF Flyer sneakers, nickel Cokes and radio dramas were the rage. The joke's on
us,
and it's a good one; the cover is bound to pull in pre-teen boys in droves, thinking it 's a modern
history of x-game sports. By the time they realize it's a nostalgic account -- set in the dark ages
before most kids had TV, for God's sake it'll be too late: they'll be hooked on the jaw-droppingly
dangerous stunts shockingly performed without helmets, parental supervision or common sense of
any kind. Considering the sadistic popularity of full-throttle sports and idiotic programming like
MTV's "Jackass," the snappy stories here are strangely contemporary in their own folksy way,
despite the absence of pop culture shock. Still, essentially these new testosterone-generating kids
aren't unlike boys today, given the means and some extra time on their hands. They didn't hink
anything of dragging a friend on skis by car going 80 miles per hour to beat the old record they
saw on newsreel footage at a matinee movie. Why not? The record doesn't say anything about
having ski downhill, by yourself. Could, in fact, these kids have built the first skateboard with
chunky skate wheels and a plank? Well, hmm, maybe. Will an army surplus target kite fly with a
hockey stick handle? Yep, as it turns out. But it might have flown better if Emil had let go before
disappearing in the stratosphere. Bear-wrestling? Sure, anything to impress the girls. Paulsen's
naturally deadpan storytelling is a marvel, giving doomed glimpses into the disasterous outcomes
at
just the right moment, and coloring the misadventures with slapstick humor and remarkably
familiar
characters. In the end, Paulsen leaves us with unforgettable stories so crisp, so warm and so
detailed
that readers will find it comfortingly hard to forget.
Beatrix
Jeanette Winter
Farrar, Straus and Giroux
19 Union Square West, NY, NY 10003
ISBN 0374306559, $15.00, 64 pages, www.fsgbooks.com
This "little book for little hands" is a melancholy tribute to Helen Beatrix Potter, one of the
earliest,
and most-enduring authors of children's books, most notably "The Tale of Peter Cottontail" and
his
friends. Written entirely as a first-person "autobiographical" account, this is a story of how a
lonely
and somewhat neglected young Victorian girl of wealth found company in the animals in and
around
her London home. More importantly, the animals provided escapism and inspiration for the
budding
artist, and were the unwitting models for young Beatrix's early drawings and paintings. With the
nanny taking care of her little brother, and her neglectful parents taking care of non-family
matters,
Beatrix filled her days caring for her growing menagerie of mice, rabbits, birds, hedgehogs and
reptiles, illustrating them in fine detail, and dressing their images in adorable clothes. "I don't
know
what to write to you, so I shall tell you a story about four little rabbits whose names were
Flopsy,
Mopsy, Cottontail and Peter." And the rest, is literary history. Likeminded author/illustrator
Jeanette
Winter ("Emily Dickenson's Letters to the World") wisely avoids illustrations imitative of Potter's
own style, instead approaching the intimate images more seriously. Her slightly primative pictures
and intimate framing reflect Potter's somber, solitary existence exquisitely, and without
inappropriate
sweetening, despite their muted jewel tones. The first-person narration is alluring, but because it's
often unclear which lines attributed to Potter actually originated with her -- from journals, letters
and
other quotation sources readers are led to mistakenly assume this is an actual autobiographical
account. A post-script explanation seems called for as clarification to make this a perfect little
"first
biography" picture book treasure.
George Washington's Teeth
Deborah Chandra and Madeleine Comora, Illustrated by Brock Cole
Farrar, Straus and Giroux
19 Union Square West, NY, NY 10003
ISBN 0374325340, $16.00, 40 pages, www.fsgbooks.com
Finally, here's an historical picture book with teeth and a biting sense of humor. Witty poets
Deborah
Chandra and Madeleine Comora give a snappy twist to the old "wooden teeth" fable about the
first
American president's tooth trouble. First they provide readers with a hilarious poetic account of
what really happened to Washington and his teeth, because, as their research reveals, all his life he
waged a fierce battle with his choppers and worked hard to save them. "The Revolutionary War /
George hoped would soon be won / But another battle with his teeth / Had only just begun. /
George Washington rushed into town / The dentist heard his shout / `Hold still,' he said, then gave
a
yank / A rotten tooth popped out!" One by one (or two by two) they went, all the while George
returned to battle, sailed to New York and crossed the Delaware. By the time he chased the
Redcoats from Valley Forge he was down to five teeth. When he had just one rotten tooth left, he
at
last solicited a dentist to make false teeth. "George put them in, but when he smiled / Springs
snapped against his tongue / Out flew those teeth `Aagh!' George shrieked. / `They've knocked
out
my last one!'" The rest, as they say, is history. Or is it? The surprise ending just goes to show you
that famous stories are often just that -- stories -- with little regard for the facts. And so the
authors
take the opportunity to set the record straight in a wonderfully researched timeline on the four
pages
after the end of the charming rhyming story. It's a treasure trove of Washington tooth trivia that
puts
to rest the old "wooden teeth" tale, for, in fact, he had teeth carved from hippo, walrus and
elephant
ivory, and cow, elk and human teeth but never wood. To prove their point, the delightfully fun
and
informative book concludes with visual artifacts from the National Museum of American History
at
the Smithsonian Institution. The irresistibly fun evidence? Two photos of the false teeth
themselves.
Now that's something to chew on.
Ancient Egypt Revealed
Peter Chrisp
DK
375 Hudson St., NY, NY, 10014
ISBN 078948883, $12.99, 38 pages, www.dk.com
Human Body Revealed
Dr. Sue Davidson & Ben Morgan
DK
375 Hudson St., NY, NY, 10014
ISBN 0789488825, $12.99, 38 pages, www.dk.com
This interesting new series of slim reference books from DK is, quite literally, revealing. The first
two non-fiction "Revealed" titles present DK's famously bold, illustrative visual style with one
clear
difference: transparent pages that "lift" from the object being discussed, revealing layer after layer
beneath the surface. In effect, it dissects the subject at hand, giving you-are-there views normally
reserved for dissection of the real deal. For "Human Body Revealed," for instance, readers can get
inside one's head, pealing away the scalp, cranium and brain matter; or "cut" through the chest,
past
the ribs and lungs to the heart; or peel back the layers of the abdomen and legs. "Ancient Egypt
Revealed" is less obvious in its mission to provide cutting-edge graphics among the compelling
facts
and figures. The cross-sections revealed here allow readers to lift the lid off an ancient
sarcophagus,
for instance, to excavate the mummy within as an archaeologist might; or explore life on the Nile
by
investigating the cargo hold of a sail boat; or enter the great temple at Abu Simbel; or see what it
was like to discover the contents of a royal tomb for the very first time. Each book presents four
transparent cross-section views for a variety of discoveries. Both books are fascinating and
informative learning tools, with concise information presented in a unique format. At less than the
price of the average picture book, these books are an excellent value, making them an attractive
purchase for home libraries as well as schools. Future titles will include: "Ancient Greece
Revealed"
and the intriguing "Secrets of the Deep Revealed."
Timelines of World History
John B. Teeple
DK
375 Hudson St., NY, NY, 10014
ISBN 0789489260, $40.00, 666 pages, www.dk.com
This weighty desktop reference book is an extensive visual chronicle of human history and
development, from the emergence of modern man to the dawn of the 21st century. Designed to
help
students navigate through time, it includes every significant historical figure and key political and
military events, with special emphasis on milestones in the arts, science, technology, exploration,
discovery, philosophy and religion. The beautifully designed book offers an innovative approach
to
traditional date-by-date chronology, by organizing entries in a matrix based on both dates and
geographic regions. As a result provides a fascinating visual record of the changing face of the
earth
by giving a clear sense of the passage of time, and to enable compassion between different
civilizations and cultures. Among the deluxe extras are gatefold overviews of key historic eras,
and
detailed full-color maps illustrating changing civilizations, cultures and societies through time. The
book's final pages contain a "concordance" index of more than 200 pages, yielding a significant
encyclopedia of additional information in the form of brief biographies, outline histories of states
and
empires, lists of major rulers and leaders, and individual chronologies of each country around the
world today. Authoritatively researched for 15 years by the late John Teeple and an editorial staff
of
30, it's clear that this is a labor of love as well as an exemplary reference that no school or public
library would be complete without. It's a terrible shame he passed away before he was able to see
his
grand efforts fully realized.
Ultimate Spy
H. Keith Melton
DK
375 Hudson St., NY, NY, 10014
ISBN 0789489724, $30.00, 208 pages, www.dk.com
"Ultimate Spy" gives readers top-secret clearance to the history, covert techniques and fascinating
gadgets of the spy game. It's both exhilarating as a James Bond film, and as frightening as the
daily
headlines, given the current world crisis dripping with espionage, surveillance, ciphers, sabotage,
concealed arms and covert operations. Originally published in 1996, this new edition contains
several expansions, including an fully revised introduction to international espionage, and new
sections on the Robert Hanssen conviction, and CIA and FBI counter terrorism efforts. Somber
introductions -- by Richard Helms, former Director of the CIA, and Marcus Wolf, former Head of
the East German Foreign Intelligence Service give chilling authenticity to the encyclopedic
chapters that follow. After clear rundown on the Who's and What's of spying, and a crystal ball
peek
at the future of the field, it's time for a thorough history lesson. Famous spying operations are
covered from early espionage (court intrigues, the Civil War, World War I and revolutionary
Russia), to World War II (including subsections on the Office of Strategic Services, the Special
Operations Executive, German secret services, code-breaking, Soviet and Japanese intelligence),
the
Cold War (Berlin spy networks, U.S security agencies, the Walker spy ring, spying from space
and
more) to Post-Cold War spying, bringing us up to date. But clearly the most thrilling part of the
book is the extensive "Equipment and Techniques" section. Spy kids and "I Spy" fans will salivate
at
the amazing photographs and descriptions of hundreds of cameras, listening devices, secret
operations tools, detectors, anti-bugging devices, special issue weapons, assassination devices,
and
on and on. It's enough to make anyone giddy with excitement or panicked with paranoia. The final
chapters on "How to Be a Spy" is perhaps the most unnerving, as it makes things frighteningly
clear
how easily technology and greed can "turn a spy" or lead anyone with restricted intelligence to
sell
ut his country. Perhaps the morbid fate of many spies -- assassination, torture, imprisonment,
suicide
using deadly items secretly carried in case of capture is discouragement enough.
Stray Voltage
Eugenie Doyle
Front Street
20 Battery Park Ave., Asheville, NC 28801
ISBN 1886910863, $16.95, 144 pages, www.frontstreetbooks.com
When a severe ice storm hits northern Vermont, it's an apt metaphor for the cold, bleak,
unforgiving
six months in the life of the 11-year-old Ian Daley and his family. Times are hard for the Daleys.
The
dairy farm is struggling, and the family can't seem to cope with the internal dynamics. When the
winter storm brings down the power lines, showering stray voltage on the farm, the random
shocks
parallel the random shock to Ian's daily existence: his mother abandons the family, his younger
brother distances himself from everyone, and his father shows no interest in Ian. Anger, apathy
and
resentment fester among the three males, until Ian's gruff dad acts out by setting the barn on fire.
It's
up to Ian to find the courage to rescue the animals inside, and to try to salvage the remnants of his
family. In this, her first novel, Eugenie Doyle employs tough circumstances and rough language to
tell a realistic story that angst-ridden adolescents can latch onto. Middle-grade boys in particular
will
find solace in the plight of young Ian and his ability to overcome.
My Mommy
Susan Paradis
Front Street
20 Battery Park Ave., Asheville, NC 28801
ISBN 1886910731, $15.95, 30 pages, www.frontstreetbooks.com
It was only a matter of time that illustrator Susan Paradis should follow-up her picture book "My
Daddy" with the female counterpart. Like the first, this is a quiet celebration of a child's special
relationship with a parent; this time, it's a close-up look at the deep bond between a daughter and
her
mother. Written in list form, each two-page spread uses just a few words to describe a common
act
or expression of parental love, from preparing the food that starts the day, to the bedtime tucking
in
ritual. Most entries are highly sentimental in nature, with some sure to invoke adult tears of
understanding. For instance: "My mommy holds me tight and lets me go," is a well-wrought
phrase expressing the joy and pain of helping young ones on their way to becoming independent.
The simplicity of the sentiments is deepened by the deep-hued illustrations. Each of Paradis's
painterly pictures of a mother and daughter is rendered realistically, but then she adds to each
fanciful wild animals to draw readers attention to the parallel lives of caring animal mothers and
their
young. And so as a mother braids her daughter's hair, a mother chimpanzee grooms her baby.
While
the mother builds her daughter's self-esteem by telling her she's beautiful, a graceful swan in the
mirror reflects the notion. It's a lovely fantasy that will appeal most to caregivers who enjoy
emotional lap-reading material with their children.
Mr. Putter & Tabby Catch The Cold
Cynthia Rylant, Illustrated by Arthur Howard
Harcourt Inc.
525 B Street, San Diego, CA 92101
ISBN 015202414X, $14.00, 42 pages, www.HarcourtBooks.com
Emerging young readers age 6 to 9 are familiar with the lovably cantankerous Mr. Putter and his
loyal cat Tabby from "Mr. Putter & Tabby Feed the Fish," "Mr. Putter & Tabby Take The Train,"
"Mr. Putter & Tabby Bake the Cake" and so on. The eleventh episode in the popular easy-reader
chapter book series falls into step like a marching soldier, awkward title and all. After all, would
the
more common phrasing "Mr. Putty & Tabby Catch A Cold" really have been too blasphemous?
Inside, the four short chapters also follow the formula precisely; not a word is out of synch with
the
"level 2" reading level constraints, not a phrase conflicts with the author's patented style, and not
a
scraggly hair is out of place with its still-charming, and comfortingly homey characters.
This Gum For Hire
Bruce Hale
Harcourt Inc.
525 B Street, San Diego, CA 92101
ISBN 0152024913, $14.00, 130 pages, www.HarcourtBooks.com
"As I struck out on one clue after another, the trail led me straight to my least favorite place on
earth: P.E. class. And there I learned the truth about sports: If you watch a game, it's fun; if you
play
it, it's recreation; if you work at it, it's football." Once again, author Bruce Hale hits satirical pay
dirt
with his funny chapter-book mystery series about cantankerous Chet Gecko, green-scaled
detective.
"This Gum for Hire" admirably follows in the comic footsteps of the gumshoe's previous
mysteries
including "The Hamster of the Baskervilles," "The Big Nap" and "Farewell, My Lunchbag. Here
Chet is faced with the mystery of a disappearing football team. One by one, players seem to be
kidnapped, and all clues point to Chet's old nemesis, Herman the Gila Monster." But when he
takes
the case by going undercover as a football player, what will be more dangerous to Chet: Herman
or
P.E. class? Filled with snappy dialogue, deadpan first-person narration, and hilariously inventive
similes, Hale artfully pays homage to classic Raymond Chandler stories and crime pulp fiction,
while
giving the genre a slapstick kick in the pants. The carefully stilted first-person narration in itself is
a
terrific spoof on all those great Humphrey Bogart and Fred McMurray film noir roles, and the
story's
sporty (and middle-grade friendly) setting gives ample ammunition for hilarious sport pun after
pun.
Penguin Post
Debi Gliori
Harcourt
525 B. Street, San Diego, CA 92101
ISBN 015216765X, $16.00, 32 pages, www.HarcourtBooks.com
Children reluctant to become older siblings will be wowed by the potential pleasure of their new
duties, thanks to this cartoonish picture book tale. It stars little Milo as the youngest penguin in a
long line of penguin postmen, who is not looking forward to the impending hatching of a new
baby
in the family. While his mother hunts for food and his father watches the egg, Milo agrees to help
out with the mail. To Milo's dismay, each time he makes a delivery, his customers ask eagerly
about
the egg's delivery date. Lo and behold, Milo is surprised to hear a "crack" coming from his mail
bag,
and discovers that he's been carrying the egg all along. Milo's special delivery becomes personal
when he sees his baby brother for the first time, and proudly rises to the challenge. "Delivery"
puns
aside, the book's assuring message is a sweet one that will ring loud and clear for new big brother
and sisters. Young readers will greatly enjoy repeat readings, thanks to Debi Gliori's vibrant,
funny
and imaginative illustrations, which provide seemingly endless details just waiting to be
discovered.
What Happened To Lani Garver
Carol Plum-Ucci
Harcourt Inc.
525 B Street, San Diego, CA 92101
ISBN 0152168133, $17.00, 308 pages, www.HarcourtBooks.com
Just who is the stranger new high school kid on Hackett Island? The isolated small community is
never particularly warm to strangers, but how can they be expected to thaw at all toward such a
stranger stranger? Who is Lani Garver? Where did Lani come from? And most puzzling, is Lani a
boy or a girl? The gender-bending issues are mind-bending to the town, but are particularly
intriguing to popular girl Claire McKenzie. To the dismay of her clique of friends, she befriends
Lani, and finds her world turned inside out. In the blink of an eye, the social torment of Lani turns
tragic, leaving Claire to sift through the clues on a path to discovery and her own coming-of-age
development. "Lani Garver" is confidently written by Carol Plum-Ucci, the multi-award-winning
author of "The Body of Christopher Creed." The compelling story has its feet firmly on the
ground,
but is unafraid to go where even angels fear to tread. Set in the world of teen counterculture, it's a
vivid and compassionate exploration of homophobia and tolerance, reality and spirituality,
peer-pressure and individuality, love and hate. "What Happened to Lani Garver" can now be
counted on the growing list of young adult novels tackling the now-common "do angels walk on
earth" question, but it has an entirely original, thoughtful and intense take on the subject that will
leave readers speechless.
Anase And The Lizard: A West African Tale
Pat Cummings
Henry Holt
115 W. 18th St., NY, NY 10011
ISBN 0805064761, $16.95, 40 pages, www.henry.holt.com
Created by veteran children's book author/illustrator Pat Cummings, a Coretta Scott King Award
winner, "Anase and the Lizard" is vividly retold African folk tale about a devious spider and a
cunning lizard. Anase wishes to wed a princess and become chief, but to do so he must guess her
name. But because the penalty is death, Anase tricks a lizard into being his messenger and bearing
the fatal penalty should they fail. But the lizard becomes suspicious, so in a nifty switcheroo, he
manages to foil Anase's plot, winning the princess' hand for himself. It's an enormously satisfying
trickster tale, artfully told and boldly illustrated. The lengthy picture book is quite wordy and is
more
than 20% longer than average, making this most appropriate for older picture book readers (age 6
and up) with a general understanding of foreign cultures. Only a more sophisticated audience can
appreciate Cummings' glorious illustrations incorporating Ghanaian fabric colors and patterns
woven
throughout the book.
Chimp Math
Ann Whitehead Nagda and Cindy Bickel
Henry Holt
115 W. 18th St., NY, NY 10011
ISBN 0805066748, $16.95, 30 pages, www.henry.holt.com
Subtitled "Learning About Time from a Baby Chimpanzee," this non-fiction chapter book has
struck
upon a fun yet academic teaching approach. Using the kid-friendly subject of baby animals,
"Chimp
Math" introduces young elementary readers such concepts of time lines, clocks, charts, graphs
and
calendars as measuring tools to monitor the growth of baby "Jiggs," a tiny chimpanzee baby at the
Denver Zoo. Each spread lets readers learn more about Jiggs "hour by hour and day by day."
While
the left-had pages give simple academic lessons (time line of chimpanzees in the 20th century,
time
line of a day, how Jiggs grew each week, and so on), the right-hand pages feature a chronological
photo album of his daily activities and progress, with explanatory text. Kids will love the
snapshots
of the chimp with his toys, toothbrush, and zoo friends, particularly Giorgio the jaguar cub, and
will
naturally be inclined to absorb and begin to apply the mathematical information accompaniment.
Students and teachers wanting more can read "Tiger Math: Learning to Graph from a Baby
Tiger."
Mammoth
Patrick O'Brien
Henry Holt
115 West 18th St., NY, NY 10011
ISBN 0805065962, $16.95, 36 pages, www.henryholt.com
Kids can't possibly resist this exceptional non-fiction picture book devoted to the fascinating
wooly
mammoth. Once again, the author of "Gigantic" and "Megatooth!" reveals a knack for making
prehistoric creatures come alive for young readers, particularly those ages 5 through 9. This time,
he
admirably accomplishes the task by telling the tale of how the creatures coexisted with early man,
how their long-buried bones were discovered and misunderstood, and how they evolved into
modern
elephants. Kids will relish the treasure trove of facts and stories, particularly those involving
human
error; for instance, the Siberian theory that mammoth bones were those of giant underground rats,
which they named "mammut," hence the name "mammoth." Goofing again in the middle ages,
"experts" proclaimed fossils the bones of 20-foot-tall giant men. The author/illustrator generously
puts the data into context by explaining other amazing ice age stories, including how early man
hunted the giant beasts; what other ice age creatures roamed the earth 20,000 years ago; how the
earth's geography and weather has changed; and what life was like for mankind when the last
mammoths lost their struggle to survive. "Mammoth" is a giant feat, a benchmark work for
non-fiction picture books.
The Rudest Alien On Earth
Jane Leslie Conly
Henry Holt
115 W. 18th St., NY, NY 10011
ISBN 0805060693, $16.95, 256 pages, www.henry.holt.com
This "tween" novel's middle grade readers who aren't familiar with Robin Williams as "Mork from
planet Ork," now have their own out-of-this-world misfit in the form of rebellious Oluu the alien.
Having refused to fall into line like her fellow youth who are programmed to follow the advice of
the
elder Wise ones, Oluu is given a chance to redeem herself by going on a mission to Earth. She is
given a serious ultimatum, however: follow the rules or else. But where Oluu goes, trouble seems
to
follow, even when she tries to disguise herself by morphing into a series of earthly forms. First
she's
an unusual dog, and is befriended Molly, a Border collie living on a dairy farm in Northern
Vermont.
A close call causes her to try out life on earth as a bird, and then a pony. When she attracts
attention
from a horse-loving boy named Jack, Molly begins to worry that it will mean the end to her
intergalactic friendship. Newberry Honor book author Jane Leslie Conly ("Crazy Lady!", "Trout
Summer") continues her winning streak with an enjoyable and lively tale about friendship, self,
and
finding one's own place in the universe. She infuses the hefty tome with enough plot, pranks and
pratfalls to win over 8-to-12-year-old boys and girls alike.
Waiting To Disappear
April Young Fritz
Hyperion
114 Fifth Ave., NY, NY 10011-5690
ISBN 0786807903, $15.95, 316 pages, www.hyperionchildrensbooks.com
Young teenager Elizabeth Mullens known as Buddy to her friends is consumed with too many
real life woes to enjoy her last summer before high school. Ever since her brother was killed in a
car
accident, Buddy's mother has been inconsolably depressed, even to the point of suffering a
breakdown just before the big Fourth of July picnic. Missing the usual lighthearted summer
activities
of her peers, Buddy makes great efforts to do all she can think of to help her mother through the
darkness. Will it ever be enough? Will the family ever be the same? Given the dire circumstances,
can Buddy live up to everyone's expectations? Typically moody teens who enjoy connecting with
sad, intimate stories will find a lot of honest emotion in these pages. It's easy to identify with
Buddy,
feel her pain, and struggle right there alongside her as she considers her quandary: how can she
stand by her mother's decision to give into the pain by leaving the family? Is she being disloyal to
her
mother by enjoying the fact that her exciting aunt Sherry comes to stay? Can she ever succeed in
bringing her real mother back home? Novelist April Young Fritz clearly gives Buddy's struggle
with
issues of loyalty a lot of heart and soul that will resonate deeply with readers.
Pig Tale
Verlyn Flieger
Hyperion
114 Fifth Ave., NY, NY 10011-5690
ISBN 078680792X, $16.99, 322 pages, www.hyperionchildrensbooks.com
The old adage "you can't judge a book by its cover" is given a run for its money with the
unattractive jacket art for "Pig Tale." There's something about the sullen girl's expression and
asymetical features that's repellant from the start, and as for her pig companion, well, "Charlotte's
Web" this is not. Inside, the 300-plus pages contain a dark fantasy that somewhat uneasily offers a
muddy porcine spin on Shirley Jackson's "The Lottery." The complex coming-of-age story centers
about protagonist Mokie, an orphan who is half-heartedly taken in by the people of Little Wicken
as
a baby. When the town folk discover her special gift with animals, she is dubbed "little pig girl"
when
she becomes the town's pig herder. At 15, however, Mokie reaches a crossroads when she suffers
a
brutal attack from the village 's teen boys. She flees with her pig, Apple, to the mysterious and
feared Wickenwood, a rumored portal to the Crystal Country, home to supernatural queens,
phantoms and gypsies. Together, they teach Mokie skills she will need to become one of them,
leading her to wonder whether her journey to the forest is linked with both her future and her
past.
Was she destined to come or return to this spiritual place? Questions arise of fate, duty, the
true
meaning of relationships, sacrifice, death and resurrection. Ostensibly written for children 12 and
up,
"Pig Tale" will certainly stoke the imaginations of fantasy devotees with a taste for musty Celtic
folklore, cruel characters, complex relationships and generally dank events. The more obsessive of
the bunch will enjoy dissecting the roots of its transformation myths, motifs and imagery, and will
be
able to devote many hours analyzing the symbolism and metaphors, if that's to their liking. But for
most readers, too much ugliness and too many unpleasant descriptive details ritualistic pig
stonings, human sacrifice nightmares, and a too-graphic rape scene -- are determinably offsetting
and
ultimately unredeemable.
Toot And Puddle On Top Of The World
Holly Hobbie
Little, Brown and Co.
1271 Ave. of the Americas, NY, NY 10020
ISBN 0316365130, $15.95, 32 pages, www.twbookmark.com/children
Toot and Puddle are back in prime form in this round-the-world picture book adventure. The two
piggie friends are happy as, well, pigs in mud at their cozy home in Woodcock Pocket until
Puddle
fails to return home from a walk. Puddle misses him terribly and tries desperately to try to find his
friend. He traces his steps by thinking like Puddle, and so he's struck by a whim to jump on a
train.
That leads him to the airport where he figures his wanderlust friend Puddle probably couldn't
refuse
the lure of flying somewhere. Landing in France, Toot remembers that Provence is one place Toot
has never been, and so, as crazy as it seems, decides to ride a bike there to find out. Will the two
like-minded friends ever find each other this way? Creator Holly Hobbie's characters are at their
best
exploring the world, so it's a pleasure to see them back in their element. The warm lessons about
friendship, home sweet home and new adventures in the big world will resonate with kids of all
ages,
and the rich variety of settings and scenes is a delight, making this a story trip worth repeating
again
and again.
Travels With Toot & Puddle
Holly Hobbie
Little, Brown and Co.
1271 Ave. of the Americas, NY, NY 10020
ISBN 0316145645, $11.99, 3 book set, www.twbookmark.com/children
This boxed trio of books by successful picture book author Holly Hobbie is a delightful treat,
capturing the antics of porcine best friends Toot & Puddle in three mini-versions of the characters'
first three books. In "Toot & Puddle" (a 1998 Children's ABBY Honor Book), readers are
introduced to the two residents of Woodcock Pocket: Toot, who's always seeking around the
world
adventures, and Puddle, who prefers to make his own fun at home. Always thinking of his friend,
Toot regularly sends postcards of his exotic exploits to his stay-at-home Puddle, who's having a
divine time of his own. In "Toot & Puddle: You Are My Sunshine" the Woodcock Pocket gang
try
their best to cheer up a melancholy Toot. And in "Toot & Puddle: A Present for Toot" the parrot
character Tulip is introduced in an adventure about Puddle' s desire to give Toot a special
birthday
surprise. The three mini books (approximately measuring 7 _" x 6") are a better than average
value,
modestly priced under $12 for three winning picture books in a portable size, housed within a
sturdy, handled carrying case, with three bonus postcards young readers will be inspired to send
to
their own friends.
I Love You Like Crazy Cakes
Rose Lewis, Illustrated by Jane Dyer
Little, Brown and Company
1271 Ave. of the Americas, NY, NY 10020
ISBN 0316525383, $6.99, 24 pages, www.twbookmark.com/children
First published in 2000, this story is emotionally deep one about the adoption of a Chinese baby
girl.
Written in first person from the adoptive mother's perspective, the words are moving. Most
heart-tugging is the confession that the mother's tears not only express her joy, but also the
sadness
of the child's Chinese mother who had to give her away. But this lovely picture book by Rose
Lewis
and Jane Dyer is an odd choice for board book adaptation. Firstly, the picture book format suits
the
book well; it's an intimate story that appeals to adoptive families, but it's too small a target market
to
cater too in a mass-market edition. Secondly, the sweet cover and chunky board book format
misleadingly suggests that this is a playful toddler book. To the contrary. The board book-buying
public expects something entirely different from toddler books: simple lessons, bright colors,
sing-song rhymes, upbeat encouragement and word repetition. "I Love You Like Crazy Cakes" is
a
lovely, lovely picture book, but conceptually inappropriate as a board book. Just because it's
about a
baby doesn't make it a book for babies.
If You See A Kitten
John Butler
Peachtree Publishers
1700 Chattahoochee Ave., Atlanta, GA 30318-2112
ISBN 1561451088, $13.95, 24 pages, www.peachtree-online.com
My, what big eyes, these little critters have. Illustrator John Butler ("Hush Little Ones") excels at
cute and cuddly animal close-ups, and "If You See A Kitten" features some of his most darling
picture book kittens and mouselings yet. The rest of the animal parade, however, isn't so adorable,
and that's just the point. "If you see a cuddly kitten say 'Ahhh!', the text suggests, but "If you see a
pudgy pig say 'Peee-ew!" Slimy slugs elicit "yuck," a slithery snake elicits "yikes," a prickly
porcupine elicits "ouch" and so on. It's a refreshing twist on the usual "Cows say 'moo'"
see-and-say
routine. It instructs children how to articulate a range of emotional responses to a variety of
different
animals, although some of the reactions here needlessly teach stereotypes for the sake of
exaggeration. As a result, spiders and pigs get a bad rap; after all, most spiders are harmless and
pigs
don't stink. Surely, Butler could have drawn a skunk instead, for instance, rather than produce a
counterproductive lesson. With just 22 pages of simple pictures and text, this brief picture book is
a
natural for adaptation as a board book. The large images seem to pop out at the reader from their
clean, white backgrounds, and the simple one-animal-at-a-time text could easily be reduced to just
the best few. The large, square hardback has sturdy paper-stock pages to help little fingers
transition
from board book to traditional picture books, so as is, it's just right for lap-time snuggling
between
caretakers and emerging talkers.
Peep!
Kevin Luthardt
Peachtree Publishers
1700 Chattahoochee Ave., Atlanta, GA 30318-2112
ISBN 1561450464, $15.95, 36 pages, www.peachtree-online.com
At once nostalgic and post-modern, illustrator Kevin Luthardt's wonderful new picture book
"Peep!"
is a laugh-out-loud joy. The book jacket is dressed in the classic 1960s picture book colors of
bright
yellow and green, and the duck hatchling on the cover harkens back to classic characters of that
era.
Inside, the anonymous little boy protagonist goes about his business is a serene landscape, naively
whistling without a care in the world. It would be very "Mayberry R.F.D." if not for Luthardt's
refreshingly modern graphic style and exaggerated gestures. The wholesomely na‹ve boy happily
discovers an egg and witnesses its hatching. "Peep!" announces the duck. "Peep! Peep!" echoes
the
boy. When he waves bye bye, the duck responds, of course, with "Peep! Peep!" and follows the
boy
home. With a hopeful grimace, the boy silently asks his parents if he can keep the duck. Indeed he
can, and so together they humorously enjoy television, school, and, most silly of all, a soccer
game.
While out for a walk one day, they encounter a flock of quacking ducks, inspiring the now-grown
orphan duck to try out his voice. "Quack!!," says he. "Quack?" puzzles the saddened boy,
knowing
his father will say it's time to set the duck free to join the mature flock. Soon after they say their
farewell quacks, however, the boy hears a quiet "Mew! Mew!" and we're left to laugh along with
him as a stray kitten follows the boy home to start the whole process all over again. Luthardt is
skilled in the art of storytelling through nearly wordless pictures and it's not an easy task. His
boldly colored images act as stills from a cartoon, with only sound effects and the occasional
dialog
bubble breaking the silence. In a crowded world of picture books, this will stand out as a wholly
unique, witty and timeless achievement.
Scholastic Book Of World Records 2003
Jenifer Corr Morse
Scholastic Reference
557 Broadway, NY, NY 10012
ISBN 0439420970, $9.95, 320 pages, www.scholastic.com
It's not easy competing with such stalwarts as the "Guinness World Records" book and "The
World
Almanac" for the accolade "Best Book of World Records." But Scholastic gives it a good shot
with
its own fact collection of the world's biggest, heaviest, tallest, smallest, youngest and fastest. Each
page contains one of 300 world or state records, complete with a color photo, a brief explanation,
and a color graph comparing the record holder to competitors or other examples in the category.
And so we learn that the world's smallest guitar is one micrometer smaller than a human cell, and
254 micrometers smaller than a speck of dust; that Finland drinks the most coffee, followed by
Norway, Denmark and Sweden; and that golfer Jack Nicklaus still remains the man with the most
major tournament wins, with Tiger Woods in a distant fifth place. The brevity of the
single-paragraph entries unfortunately means that important details are sometimes omitted, such
as
the year the most valuable Barbie was manufactured, or where the world's most poisonous
mushroom (the Death Cap) grows. And due to current events, some categories are already
out-of-date, such as the "World's Largest Industrial Company" which ranks now-bankrupt Enron
at
number four. With less than one-third the entries of Guinness' perennial tome, "Scholastic Book
of
World Records" concentrates on making a unique presentation with photographic documentation,
graphic design, and at-a-glance absorption of information of select records of interest to the
greatest
number of young readers. Records are clearly organized in categories of nature, sports (the
consistently favorite section), pop culture, money, technology, the solar system and the United
States.
Scholastic Visual Sports Encyclopedia
Scholastic Reference
557 Broadway, NY, NY 10012-3999
ISBN 0439317215, $19.95, 224 pages, www.scholastic.com
The "Scholastic Visual Sports Encyclopedia" is an illustrated guide to more than 100 different
sports
designed to instruct elementary and middle-school school students through descriptive overviews.
Each two-page spread covers a different topic with a thumbnail introduction, sidebar discussions,
and several illustrations with charts and captions. The result is a cross between standard juvenille
textbooks and the highly visual reference books by DK Publishing. The primary difference is in the
visual impact. Rather than follow DK's practice of using color photos that eye-poppingly stand
out
on stark white backgrounds, Scholastic favors computer-generated graphics. These illustrations
are
based on photographs, but go where photography can' t, resulting in illustrative examples that are
detailed, and extensive, versatile and action-packed teaching tools. The book's 14 color-coded
chapters cover track and field; cycling' gymnastics; aquatic sports; nautical sports; equestrian
sports;
precision and accuracy sports (archery, curling, golf and bowling); ice and snow sports; ball
sports;
racket sports; combat sports; wheeled sports; motor sports; and multi-sports. More than 80
individual sports are covered, from traditional team sports and Olympic categories, to such
"extreme" sports as snowboarding, skateboarding and BMX racing. It's a lot of territory to cover
in
such brief one or two page chapters, so readers will quickly become aware that a great amount of
detail had to be omitted for space reasons in these introductory passages. Also: the rules of each
game or sport discussed here mainly reflect those used in Olympic competition, but different
geographic regions may find differences in some details. More comprehensive study will require
additional reference research.
The Passover Seder
Emily Sper
Cartwheel Books / Scholastic
557 Broadway, NY, NY 10012-3999
ISBN 0439443121 $9.99, 20 pages, www.scholastic.com
This "touch, turn, open and learn" novelty book for toddlers unfortunately doesn't have what it
takes
to make an engaging interactive experience. It utilizes all the usual design elements:
touch-and-feel
textures (a silk swatch, for instance, to replicate a pillow "to remind us how lucky we are to be
free"), lift-the-flaps ("Can you find the afikoman?"), slides ("Quick! Slide the fleeing slaves up the
page before Pharaoh's arm catches up!), wheels ("Spin the seder plate [to] match the symbols on
the
plate with their names!"), and so on. Everything except "scratch and sniff" discs, it seems. The
somewhat random text does a decent job Passover seder details. The information given is clear
and
concise, but it's stretched thin to make excuses for the novelty design elements. Is the stiff
Astroturf
inset really meant to simulate limp parsley-like "karpas"? And what additional knowledge or
entertainment is to gain by sliding a picture of people up and down to accompany the story of
Moses
parting the red sea? The tale is normally thrilling on its own, but here the sea doesn't split, the
people
don't go anywhere, and Pharoh's advancing army is no where to be seen. As well intentioned and
well designed as "The Passover Seder" is, it ends up a fruitless exercise in gilding the lily.
Math Appeal: Mind-Stretching Math Riddles
Greg Tang, illustrated by Harry Briggs
Scholastic Press
557 Broadway, NY, NY 10012-3999
ISBN 0439210461, $16.95, 40 pages, www.scholastic.com
Mathematician Greg Tang is a man with a mission: to make math and problem-solving a fun part
of
every child's life. He's devoted to the difficult task of making math "just as engaging and appealing
to kids" as "hands-on [science] experiments that inspire curiosity and wonder [and] colorful
picture
books filled with exciting stories." Tang has combined those two elements by creating his own
series
of colorful picture books that engage the senses, simulate the imagination and give a fresh
perspective when it comes to the way kids perceive math. In Tang's able hands, the old methods
of
rote memorization are rendered obsolete. He prefers to use poems and pictures to promote
creative
new approaches, such as thinking out-of-the-box to find strategic sums, using subtraction to add,
and simplifying through patterns and symmetries. The bottom line is that he teaches creative
thinking, with practical applications that will last a lifetime. Best of all, it works because it's fun.
It's
difficult to surpass his New York Times bestseller "The Grapes of Math" which bridged the gap
from addition to multiplication for 7-10 year olds so Tang's fourth book in the series gets back
to
basics. Like "The Grapes of Math," "Math Appeal" features rhyming riddles that inspire readers to
count and group numbers. It emphasizes the four basic rules in problem-solving: keeping an open
mind, looking for number combinations, applying math skills, and recognizing numeric patterns.
Snappy titles, clever rhymes, and Harry Briggs' sophisticated graphics make each riddle exciting.
For
instance, "Frog-Gone!" teaches how to use subtraction to add: "It's roll call at the local bog/ Can
you count each friendly frog?/ Some are sitting calm and pleasant / Some are swimming they're
not present./ Here's a tip to help you add/ Don't ignore a lily pad!" The illustration features five
lily
pad rows of five, some with frogs, some without. Kids are encouraged to take in the clues to
figure
out the easiest way of counting all the seated frogs. The time-conuming way of counting
one-by-one
would be the usual method, but Tang's clue to not "ignore a lily pad" hints that it's easier to
imagine
a frog is sitting on all the lily pads by multiplying five rows by five lily pads in each. Clever young
mathematicians will then discover that it's easier to count the six missing frogs and subtract them
from the lily pad total of 25. If a hopeless math failure like me can catch on in a flash and enjoy
the
challenge, just imagine how it will spark young minds eager to learn.
When Marian Sang
Pam Munoz Ryan, Illustrated by Brian Selznick
Scholastic Press
557 Broadway, NY, NY 10012-3999
ISBN 0439269679, $16.95, 42 pages, www.scholastic.com
Caldecott Honor medalist Brian Selznick and Pura Belpre Award-winning writer Pam Munoz
Ryan
will simply have to make more room in their trophy case, because the accolades are bound to
keep
pouring in for their newest non-fiction picture book. "When Marian Sang" is an exquisite
introductory biography about an important cultural and sociological figure: the world's first black
operatic singer. Most likely, few of the book's intended elementary school audience has heard of
Marian Anderson, but all will be won over by the story of how her enormous talent and
unrelenting
drive helped her overcome significant obstacles in pre-Civil Rights America. Readers will find
themselves enthralled by Marian's powerful life story -- due to Ryan's beautifully chosen words
and
Selznick's goreously detailed renderings -- and will especially be haunted the moving images of a
young Marion singing with closed eyes, enraptured by the power of song. The subject's courage
and
subsequent success holds enormous appeal to a wide audience, particularly elementary school
children seeking to study cultural role models. "When Marian Sang" is a first class tribute that
deserves to join the creative team's previous effort, "Amelia and Eleonor Go For A Ride," on
every
children's library shelf.
Sleeping Beauty
Retold by Mahlon F. Craft, Illustrated by K.Y. Craft
Sea Star Books / North-South Books
11 East 26th Street, NY, NY 10010
ISBN 1587171201, $15.95, 32 pages, www.northsouth.com
Like the subject of one of her many previous books, illustrator Kinuko Y. Craft has the Midas
touch
when it comes to fine art illustrations for fairy tale picture books. Her elaborate paintings are like
rich tapestries: tremendously elaborate, beautifully detailed and richly colored by a steady hand.
The
finely-nuanced, amber-tinted images evoke comparisons to European masterpieces, especially
Renaissance paintings, French weavings and gold-leafed book manuscripts. In fact each spread is
presented as if taken from a newly discovered artifact; very traditionally, Craft introduces the first
word of each page with an elaborate capitol letter painting framed by craftsman flourishes. Each
unique painting is stunningly beautiful, and filled with wonderful surprises just waiting to be
discovered by lingering eyes. It's just what's needed to hold the attention of young listeners and
older
self-readers enraptured by the wordy, charmingly formal text. It's sheer beauty, indeed.
The Final Reckoning
Robin Jarvis
SeaStar Books / North-South Books
11 East 26th Street, NY, NY 10010
ISBN 1587171929, $17.95, 298 pages, www.northsouth.com
First came "The Dark Portal," then "The Crystal Prison," and finally English author Robin Jarvis
concludes the spooky Deptford Mice Trilogy with "The Final Reckoning," a dark-themed animal
fantasy that will appeal greatly to the legions of "Redwall" fans. In this volume, evil sewer cat
Jupiter returns from the dead, and only the Deptford Mice can save the world from his plot to
extinguish the sun. Additional troubles arrive in the form of Old Stumpy, Jupiter's henchman,
leading
to Jupiter's theft of the Starstone, causing a harsh winter to descend. Against such odds, how can
the
rodents, bats and squirrels possibly save the day? This is no cuddly animal tale. Not for the
faint-hearted, "The Final Reckoning" is a true anti-hero story action-packed with evil characters,
fierce fighting, and gruesome elements of the horror genre. Murders abound as the rats and their
allies' battle their terrible enemies in modern London among humans oblivious to the
life-and-death
drama being played out at their ankles. To truly appreciate the bigger-than-life conclusion, and to
fully grasp the plot points and the complex back story, new readers to the series are advised to put
"The Final Reckoning" aside until after books one and two are first read. Not advised for sensitive
readers or those under 10 years of age.
Counting Kisses
Karen Katz
Little Simon / Simon & Schuster
1230 Ave. of the Americas, NY, NY 10020
ISBN 068985658X, $7.99, 28 pages, www.SimonSaysKids.com
How many kisses does a tired baby need? "Ten little kisses on teeny tiny toes Nine laughing kisses
on busy, wriggly feet " and so on down to "One last kiss on your sleepy, dreamy head." Dressed
in
candy-colored pastels and sweetly patterned color blocks, this "count and kiss" countdown book
for
tots illustrates kiss after kiss in a new board book format. The generous dimensions
(approximately
7"x6") and thick, sturdy pages (3/4" thick altogether) make this more attractive than many other
1-2-3 board books adapted from picture books. The transition is a graceful one, and, in hindsight
more natural than the larger, thin-paper original edition.
Chicken Soup By Heart
Esther Hirshenhorn, Illustrated by Rosanne Litzinger
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
1230 Avenue of the Americas, NY, NY 10020
ISBN 0689826656, $16.95, 32 pages, www.Simon SaysKids.com
Here's a picture book for "Chicken Soup for the Soul" fans who like their stock flavored with a
heaping spoonful of Yiddish spices. In it, little Rudie decides it's his turn to take care of his elderly
babysitter when she gets sick with the flu. And what's a better cure-all than a pot of homemade
chicken soup? Well, there's one thing better soup made with extra love and a secret ingredient: the
sitter's own stories about the "soon-to-be soup-eaters," that's what. While the soup simmers,
Rudie
recalls three stories of his own that underscore the special bond he shares with his caregiver. The
endearing, heart-tugging recollections are as warm and comforting as, well, a bowl of
you-know-what, making this a lovely read-aloud opportunity, particularly for babas and boychiks
to
share.
Bear Wants More
Karma Wilson, Illustrations by Jane Chapman
Margaret K. McElderry Books / Simon & Schuster
1230 Avenue of the Americas, NY, NY 10020
ISBN 068984509X, $16.95, 36 pages, www.Simon SaysKids.com
Appropriately enough, "Bear Snores On" was quite a sleeper hit. Quite simply it was the best
debut
picture book of 2002, it so naturally whetted the appetite of smitten readers to want more from
newcomers Karma Wilson and Jane Chapman. The new "Bear Wants More" picture book for
children age 3 through 7 was created to meet the demand, and unlike most sequels, this one
sparkles
nearly as bright as the original gem. It follows the original book 's format to a tee with the same
rhythmic rhyming scheme and alliterative bounce. It also stars the same cast of characters the
not-so-menacing Bear, Mouse, Hare, Badger, Gopher, Mole, Raven and Wren in the same
woodland setting. Only the season has changed, from the snowy winter landscape of "Bear Snores
On" to lush green spring time for Bear to awaken from his long winter hibernation. "When
springtime comes, in his warm winter den, a bear wakes up, very hungry and thin! He waddles
outside and roots all around. He digs and he paws, fresh shoots from the ground. / He nibbles on
his
lawn, till the last blade is gone. But the bear wants more!" One by one his woodland buddies join
him in the hunt for strawberries, clover and fish. Meanwhile, back in the den, the birds and
burrowers are preparing a surprise party for Bear, complete with tea and honey cakes. "Bear
sniffs
and he snuffles as a sweet breeze blows. He romps to his home. He follows his nose." Returning
to
his den Bear soon discovers he's not the skinny bear he was when he first awoke, creating a
charming dilemma that the animals work together to solve. By the time Bear snuggles in the grass,
snoring big snores, it's so sweet, sweet, sweet that we'll all want more.
Henry And Mudge And The Tall Tree House
Cynthia Rylant, Illustrated by Carolyn Bracken
Simon & Schuster
1230 Ave. of the Americas, NY, NY 10020
ISBN 068981173X, $14.95, 40 pages, www.SimonSaysKids.com
Puppy Mudge Takes A Bath
Cynthia Rylant, Illustrated by Isidre Mones
Simon & Schuster
1230 Ave. of the Americas, NY, NY 10020
ISBN 0689839804, $14.95, 28 pages, www.SimonSaysKids.com
The long-running "Henry and Mudge" easy-reader series continues with "Henry and Mudge and
the
Tall Tree House," the 21st book of their adventures. It's geared well for beginning readers at
"level
two" who can independently read varied sentence structure, brief paragraphs, and simple chapters.
The characters will likely be familiar to devoted new readers: Henry is a charming young boy
whose
best friend is the big, lovable dog Mudge. Here they welcome a favorite uncle, Jake, who arrives
with lumber to build Henry a tree house. It's a wonderful gift, providing Henry with his own
getaway high in the trees. But he soon grows sad, and gradually realizes it's because he's missing
his
dog who, naturally, can't climb with him to the tree house. Does that smile on Uncle Jake's face
mean that he has a solution to the problem? Designed for younger readers than the "Henry and
Mudge" line, "Puppy Mudge Takes a Bath" is an emergent reader picture book intended for
children
just beginning to recognize simple words and phrases and simple sentences. The story is told in
stilted sentences in the tradition of the original "Dick and Jane" stories: "This is Henry. This is
Henry's puppy Mudge. Mudge loves mud." The story is simple and satisfying: Mudge gets dirty,
Mudge takes a bath, Mudge gets dirty again. Kids will relate to the mischief, and enjoy the humor,
while Parents will love basking in the sense of accomplishment their children feel when they begin
to
read. The only sour note here is the steep price point for such a skimpy reader. Do Henry and
Mudge fans really have to take a bath purchasing reduced-value "pre-level 1" hardbacks until
reasonably priced paperback versions are available? Also questionable are the misleading spine
credits claiming that these two new additions to the series were illustrated by the original "Henry
and
Mudge" co-creator Sucie Stevenson, when that is not the case.
Hairy Maclary's Rumpus at the Vet
Lynley Dodd
Tricycle Press
P.O. Box 7123, Berkeley, CA 94707
ISBN 1582460949, $5.95, 32 pages, www.tenspeed.com
Hairy Maclary Scattercat
Lynley Dodd
Tricycle Press
P.O. Box 7123, Berkeley, CA 94707
ISBN 1582460957, $5.95, 32 pages, www.tenspeed.com
"Kerfuffle" is my favorite word of the month, thanks to wee Hairy Maclary and his innocent, yet
wild, rumpus at the veterinarian's office in this paperback picture book edition. When a
cantankerous
cockatoo gives Hairy's tail a tweek, it starts a hilarious chain reaction. "What a kerfuffle, a
scramble
of paws, a tangle of bodies, a jumble of jaws " In the companion paperback release, "Hairy
Maclary Scattercat," our dogged protagonist is feeling spunky, chasing all the neighborhood cats
one by one. Until, that is, he meets up with Scarface Claw "who bothered and bustled him, rustled
and hustled him, raced him and chased him all the way home." Satisfyingly told with non-stop
action and simple, rhyming text, the sing-song antics of Hairy Maclary have sold more than 4
million
copies internationally, making him one lucky pup indeed, despite his tendency to get into trouble.
The popularity of this book series is an intimidating factor when it comes to altering the New
Zealand creator's works for the American market. Even so, these paperback versions would
benefited from having simple foreign terms such as "lead" translated here as "leash" instead. It's a
small complaint for the small pleasures of more Hairy adventures.
Professor Aesop's The Crow And The Pitcher
Stephanie Gwyn Brown
Tricycle Press
P.O. Box 7123, Berkeley, CA 94707
ISBN 1582460876, $15.95, 28 pages, www.tenspeed.com
A hot, dry desert. A tired, thirsty crow. A tall pitcher of water. Think you've heard everything
about
the famous "The Crow and the Pitcher" by Aesop? Think again. In illustrator Stephanie Gwyn
Brown's reinterpretation of Aesop 's classic fable of logic and perseverance, she cleverly leads
readers through all six steps of the scientific method from question to communication with
Crow as the model scientist. But it's not an easy task, and it takes a several comedic tries before
Crow figures out a scientific way to raise the water level high enough to drink. Not content to let
simple storybook text and pictures relate the well-known tale, Brown ingeniously adds sidebar
charts, graphs and other exacting tools to give scientific credence and creative insight -- to the
plot's actions. And so, for instance, a blueprint illustrates the problem ("Beak [too short]. Pitcher
[too narrow], Water [too low]"); dials measure the ebb and flow of Crow's determination; a
"Thirst-O-Meter" registers Crow's rising danger level as he plucks rocks to drop into the pitcher;
and a "Pebble Indicator" monitors the number of pebbles it takes to accomplish the task. In
Brown's
capable hands, the fable becomes much more than a passive picture book story. Rather, its
ultimate
moral about how to seek active solutions is put to work, teaching valuable critical thinking skills
and
acting as an interactive catalyst for out-of-the-box problem-solving. Highly recommended as an
exciting Pre-K through 3rd grade classroom story-time activity that's sure to lead to animated
discussion and inspired hands-on implementation.
Vicki Arkoff
Reviewer
Leonhardt's Bookshelf
Not "Just Friends"
Shirley P., Glass, Ph.D
The Free Press
1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020
ISBN: 074322549X, $25.00, 1-800-223-2336
Shirley Glass is a relationship counsellor and psychological researcher with 25 years of
professional
experience to her credit. Not "Just Friends" seems to be the culmination of a life's work.
Glass combines personal observations with a well-documented trove of scientific sources to
provide
a "prevention manual and survival guide". It is on the basis of her own experience and the many
other well-documented sources that the book stands as credible.
Although based on a strong academic foundation, the book is made easy to read by numerous
stories
and examples, by several quizzes, and most of all by following a single couple through the entire
betrayal and recovery process.
Perhaps the strongest point about Not "Just Friends" is that Glass is careful to address the issues
and
feelings of all concerned parties, those who have been unfaithful, those who have been betrayed,
and
also the betrayal partners. She debunks several myths about infidelity, explains how today's affairs
differ from those of the past, and draws us inside the various players to understand their fears,
their
pain, and their motivation at each step along the path.
Prevention and survival are not necessarily the same thing, of course, as the markets for the two
are
quite different. In fact, the weak point of this book may be an attempt to include too many ideas
into
one volume. I could easily recommend the prevention chapters at the beginning to anyone in a
marriage, but I doubt they would be interested in reading the majority of the book, which focuses
on
coping with an affair. Similarly, someone looking for advice on how to cope with a fair is unlikely
to
want to read through the prevention aspects.
This is a sensitive, well-founded, easy-to-read book, but make sure it is for you before buying
it.
Depression Fallout
Anne Sheffield
Quill Trade Paperbacks
c/o William Morrow & Company
10 East 53rd Street, New York, NY 10022
ISBN: 0060009349, $13.95 1-800-242-7737
It is no pun to say that reviewing a book such as this is depressing. However, that won't stop me
from saying a few positive things about Depression Fallout.
Unlike many books on depression, including Anne Sheffield's previous works, Depression Fallout
is
written for the oft-forgotten spouse of a depressive rather than for the victim of the disease
itself.
Sheffield draws on her own experience as a depressive, as well as on thousands of postings to a
message board on her web site. It is this interactive nature of her research that brings a unique
vigor
to her subject. These combined experiences provide the fodder for coping strategies she offers
spouses to get past feelings of confusion, guilt, frustration and anger.
The writing is boring, which may be comforting to someone coping with depression but perhaps
less
so to a spouse, although it is clear and free of excessive jargon. Those who know they are
suffering
from depression or depression fallout will find this book useful. However, as Sheffield herself
points
out, most depressives and spouses do not recognize depression, so those who could most benefit
are
unlikely to seek it out.
It is hard to recommend this book, mostly because it is hard to find or define the prime audience.
However, professional therapists and personal coaches might find it very helpful for their
practices.
David Leonhardt, Reviewer
http://www.TheHappyGuy.com
Kinni's Bookshelf
How Customers Think
Gerald Zaltman
Harvard Business School Press
60 Harvard Way, Boston, MA 02163
ISBN 1578518261, $29.95 1-800-668-6780 www.amazon.com
Traditional market research methods are ineffective because they don't plumb the 95% of the
consumer buying process that takes place subconsciously, claims HBS marketing professer Gerald
Zaltman. In the best book of the month, How Customers Think: Essential Insights Into The Mind
Of
The Market , Zaltman advocates a paradigm change that uses a systems-approach and tools, such
as
metaphors, response latency and neuroimaging techniques, to understand and shape the
relationship
between marketers and consumers.
Connecting The Dots
Cathleen Benko and F. Warren McFarlan
Harvard Business School Press
60 Harvard Way , Boston, MA 02163
ISBN 1578518776 $35.00 1-800-668-6780 www.amazon.com
Your company's projects - the collection of initiatives it is pursuing -- represents its "future
currency," writes consultant Cathleen Benko and HBS Professor F. Warren McFarlan. In
Connecting The Dots: Aligning Projects With Objectives Unpredictable Times, Benko and
McFarlan
examine how to maximize return on your "project portfolio" by evaluating existing and future
projects, aligning them with strategic intent and environmental conditions, and managing portfolio
risk.
Use What You've Got & Other Business Lessons I Learned From My Mom
Barbara Corcoran with Bruce Littlefield
Portfolio
ISBN 1591840023 $24.95 www.amazon.com
Real estate maven Barbara Corcoran built a $2 billion company out of $1000 loan. Her humorous
take on attaining sales success in Use What You've Got & Other Business Lessons I Learned
From
My Mom, is organized into 24 lessons from her mother and illustrated with a plethora of
examples
of the imaginative marketing and high energy approach that Corcoran used to establish and grow
her
business.
Brilliance Marketing Management
Celia Rocks
Facts On Demand Press
ISBN 1889150398 $14.95 www.amazon.com
The key to business success, says PR professional Celia Rocks, is your company's "brilliance" -
the
unique element that sets it apart from the competition. Brilliance Marketing Management: Let
Your
Strengths Build Your Business is an accessible paperback offering solid practical advice and a
five-step approach to managing brilliance by identification, enhancement, practice, highlighting,
and
focusing on it.
The Success Case Method
Robert Brinkerhoff
Berrett-Koehler Publishers Inc.
235 Montgomery Street, Suite 650, San Francisco, CA 94104-2916
ISBN 1576751856 $24.95 1-800-929-2929 www.amazon.com
SCM (success case method) is a story-based technique for evaluating change efforts on the fly. In
The Success Case Method: Find Out Quickly What's Working And What's Not , psychology
professor and consultant Robert Brinkerhoff describes how to use SCM to quickly and accurately
answer four questions: what's really happening; what results are being achieved; what is the value
of
the results; and, how can it be improved.
The Power Of Appreciative Inquiry
Diana Whitney and Amanda Trosten-Bloom
Berrett-Koehler Publishers Inc.
235 Montgomery Street, Suite 650, San Francisco, CA 94104-2916
ISBN 1576752267 $27.95 1-800-929-2929 www.amazon.com
The Power Of Appreciative Inquiry: A Practical Guide To Positive Change is a guide to
"Appreciative Inquiry" (a change methodology based on the use of positive questioning), and
describes its history and the basic principles for conducting organizational inquiries. The authors,
Diana Whitney and Amanda Trosten-Bloom , are consultants with the Corporation for Positive
Change, and use an extended case study drawn from Hunter-Douglas to describe the 4-D AI
cycle:
discovery, dream, design and destiny.
Making Rain
Andrew Sobel
John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
605 Third Avenue, 4th floor, New York, NY 10158-0012
ISBN 0471264598 $27.95 1-800-225-5945 www.amazon.com
Making Rain: The Secrets Of Building Lifelong Client Loyalty , which is aimed at professional
service firms, describes three main drivers of customer loyalty: the value you add; the trust you
develop; and the extra mile you are willing to go. Consultant Andrew Sobel offers practical tips
and
advice for achieving all three using short, concise chapters and the examples of some famous
advisors, including Ben Franklin and Leonardo da Vinci.
The Cure
Dan Paul and Jeff Cox
John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
605 Third Avenue, 4th floor, New York, NY 10158-0012
ISBN 0471268305 $24.95 1-800-225-5945 www.amazon.com
Jeff Cox, author of The Goal, delivers consultant Dan Paul's process for creating the
boundaryless,
market-driven company in The Cure: Enterprise Medicine For Business , a compellingly written
business novel. Told from the perspectives of the various senior execs at fictional Essential Corp.,
The Cure describes the journey toward and the common pitfalls in the alignment of strategy,
processes, and culture.
And Now A Few Words From Me
Bob Garfield
McGraw-Hill Book Company
Two Penn Plaza, New York, NY 10121
ISBN 0071403167 $24.95 1-800-722-4726 www.amazon.com
Bob Garfield (who writes the influential ad criticism column "AdReview" for Ad Age), now
provides his brazen take on the ad industry. And Now A Few Words From Me: Advertising's
Leading Critic Lays Down The Law, Once And For All enumerates and illustrates the reasons
why
so much advertising is ineffective: its rule-breaking mentality; misuse of sex, celebrities, humor,
and
special effects; lack of consumer focus; and, sheer bad taste.
The Art And Discipline Of Strategic Leadership
Mike Freedman with Benjamin Tregoe
McGraw-Hill Book Company
Two Penn Plaza, New York, NY 10121
ISBN 007141066X $27.95 1-800-722-4726 www.amazon.com
The president (Mike Freedman) and chairman emeritus of consulting firm Kepner-Tregoe
(Benjamin
Tregoe) team up to describe the firm's integrated approach to corporate strategy in The Art And
Discipline Of Strategic Leadership. The five-phase system includes: intelligence gathering and
analysis; strategy formulation; master project planning; implementation; and, monitoring, review
and
correction.
The Power Of Full Engagement
Jim Loehr and Tony Schwartz
The Free Press
1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020
ISBN 0743226747 $26.00 1-800-223-2336 www.amazon.com
Peak business performance requires four kinds of energy: physical, mental, emotional and
spiritual,
say this pair of consultants, Jim Loehr and Tony Schwartz. In The Power of Full Engagement:
Managing Energy, Not Time, Is The Key To High Performance And Personal Renewal, toward
the
creation of those energies, they collaborate to present the Corporate Athlete Training System, a
personal improvement system that addresses energy shortfalls by designing and executing new
habits
or "rituals."
Creative Training Idea Book
Robert Lucas
Amacom Books
1601 Broadway, New York, NY 10019
ISBN 0814407331 $39.95 1-800-250-5308 www.amazon.com
Creative Training Idea Book: Inspired Tips And Techniques For Engaging And Effective
Learning,
training consultant Robert Lucas has written a computer manual-sized collection of training tools
that emphasize fun, participation, and "brain-based" learning. The Creative Training Idea Book
covers practical ideas for training preparation, openers, setting, group dynamics, visual aids,
communication and reward.
Lean Lexicon: A Graphical Glossary For Lean Thinkers
Compiled by the Lean Enterprise Institute
Lean Enterprises Institute
ISBN 0966784367 $25.00 www.amazon.com
Lean Lexicon: A Graphical Glossary For Lean Thinkers is a spiral-bound dictionary of lean
manufacturing is a good way to make sure everyone is speaking the same language. Lean
Lexicon:
A Graphical Glossary For Lean Thinkers includes 55 graphics, mapping icons, common acronyms,
and 145 definitions ranging from "A3 report" to "yamazumi board."
Theodore Kinni, Reviewer
http://home1.gte.net/bizbooks
Marya's Bookshelf
Chesapeake 123
Priscilla Cummings, Illustrated by David Aiken
Tidewater Publishers
c/o Cornell Maritime Press
PO Box 456 , Centreville, MD 21617
ISBN: 0870335421, $11.95, Ages 3 to 6, 1-800-638-7641, www.amazon.com
The Chesapeake is a beautiful part of the country, with so much to offer and so much to learn
about.
There is fishing and wildlife, boats and beaches, and all these things can be counted. With clever
rhymes and bright cheerful illustrations, this is a clever twist on the traditional counting book.
Best
of all, at the end of the book the various elements of the Chesapeake Bay come together to form a
wonderful collage of animals and people, boats and scenery. Can you find nine sting rays and
eight
blue crabs or two ospreys and three sails? A delightful book which not only helps one learn to
count
but which also shows how a place is made up of many different parts that all come together to
make
an environment. In the classroom the teacher could ask the class to come up with its own
counting
environment, for example a cityscape or a farm.
Saving Birds: Heroes Around the World
Pete Salmansohn and Stephen W. Kress
Tilbury House, Publishers
132 Water Street, Gardiner, ME 04345
ISBN: 0884482375, $16.95, Ages 10 to 13, 1-800-582-1899, www.amazon.com
Black Robins, hornbills, black cranes, lesser kestrels, quetzals, and common mures, are all species
of
birds which have been rescued from possible extinction by remarkable people who care about the
future of these wonderful animals. Protecting and increasing the numbers of these birds has been
very hard work and on occasion has required that the scientists and their helpers perform what
amounts to a miracle or two. At one time there were five black robins left in the world. Thankfully
Don Merton and a team of helpers got on the job and by 1999 the number was up to 250, a
remarkable achievement attributable to the resourcefulness of the scientists and the cooperation of
two hard working female black robins. In Chiapas, Mexico, pair of puppeteers tell a story about a
beautiful quetzal called Rainbow. Through their story they teach school children about the need to
protect the quetzal and its environment. Despite a difficult political situation, several groups of
scientists have also managed to recruit children to help them protect and study the lesser kestrel in
Israel. Ingenuity has played an enormous part in the protection and recovery of the Sarawak
hornbill
and the common mure. Hornbills have beautiful plumage, prized by local tribal peoples. Luckily
Liz
Bennet and her companions noticed the white turkey feathers look very much like those used by
the
tribal people. A little paint and you couldn't tell the difference. Deception has also been used in
California where common mures have been cajoled to return to an old breeding ground by the
clever
use of mirrors, decoys and sound recordings. In China a different tack was taken to save the black
crane and its environment. A dedicated group of environmentalists raised small amounts of
money.
These were used to help build an infrastructure that would benefit both the people living near the
wetlands, and the cranes which call that area home. In the classroom children could discuss how
they would go about protecting an endangered species that they know about.
George Washington's Teeth
Deborah Chandra and Madeleine Comora, Illustrated by Brock Cole
Farrar Straux Giroux
19 Union Square West, New York, NY 10003
ISBN: 0374325340, $16.00, Ages 4 to 7, 1-888-330-8477, www.amazon.com
A toothless George Washington! How is it that we have never heard about this side of our first
president's life? It is with great enjoyment that we read the amusing rhyming lines about poor
George Washington's trials and tribulations on the teeth front. One by one his teeth fell out as he
bravely went forth and fought the British. When Washington came home at last, the redcoats
vanquished, he only had five teeth in his head. Then, try as he might, those five fell out too. What
was this leader of leaders to do? It is with great relief that we read that it was George
Washington's
own ingenuity which saved the day. He found all the teeth he lost and had a pair of false teeth
made.
As we follow Washington on his various adventures, we participate in events of those early days
of
the American Republic, and we see that even the most famous of people had very commonplace
problems. With lively watercolor illustrations this is a book to read again and again.
How Groundhogs Garden Grew
Lynne Cherry
The Blue Sky Press
c/o Scholastic, Inc.
557 Broadway, New York, NY 10012-3999
ISBN: 0439323711, $15.95, Ages 3 to 7, 1-800-242-7737, www.amazon.com
The Groundhog is a thief. He steals from the gardens of others to get his food. But soon Squirrel
catches him in the act. "If you take food that belongs to others, you will not have a friend in the
world!" she says. The embraced Groundhog is told that he should grow a garden of his own and
Squirrel takes it upon herself to teach him how to go about doing this. The animals collect seeds
to
plant in the spring and then settle down for a long nap as winter approaches. Snug in warm beds
in
trees and underground they sleep while snow lies on the ground. Soon enough spring arrives and
it
is time to plant. As promised Squirrel shows Groundhog how to create a garden. He learns how
to
plant, how birds and insects pollinate the flowers of his plants, and how birds eat up the insects
that
may damage the tender shoots and flowers. With delight Groundhog soon finds himself the proud
owner of a wonderful and fruitful garden. He and squirrel cook wonderful food and then everyone
joins Groundhog for a big Thanksgiving dinner. With her striking artwork, Lynne Cherry has once
again produced a remarkable book. Her trademark border art offers the eye lots of beautifully
drawn
information and the easy pace of the story reflects the pace of the seasons. This book would be a
wonderful tool in a classroom to help show the students where our food comes from and how
much
work goes into growing and harvesting it. Readers who have enjoyed this book would also enjoy
Cherry's other books: "The Great Kapok Tree," "A River Ran Wild," "The Armadillo from
Amarillo," "The Shaman's Apprentice," and "Flute's Journey."
Marya Jansen-Gruber, Reviewer
mjansengruber@mindspring.com
Gorden's Bookshelf
Daredevil
Greg Cox
Onyx
c/o New American Library
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
ISBN: 0451410807, $6.99, 250 pages, www.penguinputnam.com
Novelizations of movie screenplays can be great stories to read. Greg Cox does a good job of
bringing a screenplay to print but to fully enjoy this novel you need to have the edge of reading
the
comics or watching the TV shows that feature the Daredevil. Taking into account the main
character
is blind, the story is curiously filled with visual images.
Matt Murdock grows up in the Hell's Kitchen area of New York. His father knows that only with
a
good education can his son escape the poverty and crime of their home. In a freak accident, a
barrel
filled with chemical waste is punctured. The toxic liquid pores into Matt's eyes destroying his
sight
but somehow expanding his other senses to miraculous levels. In their struggle to rise above the
misery around them, Matt's father losses the fight and is murdered. "A man without fear can do
anything." are the words Matt's father told him every time he met a challenge. Without fear is how
the child survives to adulthood to become the Daredevil.
The 'Daredevil' is a fun tale but it lacks the spark needed to stand on its own. Anyone who knows
about the Daredevil from before will not be disappointed with the novel. But if you haven't read
the
comics, it might be best to wait until you have seen the movie before reading the book.
Primal Shadows
Alan Dean Foster
Tor Books
175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010
ISBN: 0812565800, $6.99, 424 pages, www.tor.com
Foster creates worlds. He tells a story filled with action but he clothes it in a world rich in detail
and
imagination. In 'Primal Shadows', Foster starts with Papua New Guinea and using just the facts
makes a world larger, stranger, and more powerful, until it seems he is talking about a different
planet. You read Foster's stories for the action. You love Foster's tales for the worlds he takes
you
to.
"They are now all dead. Except me, of course." That is the starting line to 'Primal Shadows'. It is
all
that is needed to tell you where the story is going.
We all remember the jungle explorer tales. From the factual accounts of Richard Burton to the
fantasies of Edgar Rice Burroughs, the explorer genre is filled with tales you can find comfort in
with their familiarity and thrill to with their action. Within the first few pages, you know that
Steve
Bohannon, rolled by a woman he met in Port Moresby, will follow her into the savage back
country
of Papua New Guinea. The story seems safe until the killings start. Why Bohannon is ready to
face
death to follow a woman who stole a few dollars from him is an easy question but one with only a
partial answer. Every character in the tale has a motive, an agenda. Most are hidden at first but all
are answered with violence or death.
If you like adventure tales that are fast paced and raw, 'Primal Shadows' is for you. Although it
isn't
the best that Foster can offer, it is worth the reading. 'Primal Shadows' brings you into a savage
world that you wish still exists in some corner of the world but is best seen from your recliner. A
world you still somehow hope one day to have the guts to visit.
S.A. Gorden, Reviewer
www.paulbunyan.net/users/gsirvio/content.html
Grant's Bookshelf
The Best School Year Ever
Barbara Robinson
HarperTrophy
c/o HarperCollins Publishers
10 East 53rd Street, New York, NY 10022
ISBN: 0064404927, $4.99, http://www.harpercollins.com/hc/aboutus/imprints/trophy.asp
Hilarious! The Best School Year Ever is one funny story after another and the humor revolves
around the Herdman family, Ralph, Imogene, Leroy, Claude, Ollie and Gladys. These sibling
students are something of a legend at Woodrow Wilson Elementary School. Not for being
academically advanced and not for athletics. They are infamous for causing disruptions, bullying,
stealing, and driving their classmates and teachers crazy.
Beth Bradley's class is given a yearlong assignment. Compliments for Classmates. Every student
has
to compose a list of compliments about each other student in the class. It would be a simple task
if
Imogene Herdman weren't in her class. What could she, or anyone else have to say that could be
considered a compliment when talking about Imogene? Luckily, they had the entire year to
complete
the assignment.
In the meantime, Barbara Robison spends the rest of the novel explaining exactly why the
Herdmans
were so notoriously recognized. An example from the book:
"We used to have a pet parade every year on the last day of school, till the year Claude Herdman
entered her cat. The Herdmans' cat was missing one eye and part of an ear and most of its tail and
all
of whatever good nature it had so you wouldn't expect it to win any prizes in a pet parade so that
was the end of the pet parade."
Throughout the novel, however, as Beth closely monitors Imogene for signs of humanity, she
learns
more about her classmate than she ever thought possible. And soon she is able to develop a list of
compliments. When the end of the year comes and the class is to share the compliments in front of
everyone, how will Imogene respond?
Light and humorous. The essay like chapters are fun. The story is easy to follow, despite all the
characters. Kids will easily associate with Robinson's easy writing style and wit. Enjoyable from
beginning to end, and satisfying. I look forward to reading, The Best Christmas Pageant
Ever.
Skinny-Bones
Barbara Park
Random House, Inc.
1745 Broadway, 10th Floor, New York, NY 10019
ISBN: 067988792X, $3.99, www.randomhouse.com
Hilarious! Laugh-out-loud funny! The original middle grade novel, released in 1982, celebrated its
fifteenth anniversary in 1997. Author Barbara Park decided to re-release the work with updated
revisions. In an opening letter to fans, Park writes about how a lot has changed since 1982 and
kids
reading the book today have no idea what some of the references mean. For example, one reader
asked Park what wax lips were. Another asked, who is Steve Garvy? But aside from updating
some
of the references, Skinny-Bones appears identical to its original version.
Alex Frankovitch is an only child. Of course he sees his parents as indifferent. They don't
understand
him. How could they? They weren't 12 years old. Alex learned to appreciate humor during his
kindergarten year of school. Whenever he does not know an answer to a question, he turns to
humor. Whenever he feels uncomfortable, he turns to humor. Whenever he is nervous, scared,
hungry ? breathing, Alex Frankovitch turns to humor. He's a wiseguy. It's a way of life for him.
The
only trouble is that his big mouth and smart-alleck replies never seems to get him out of trouble.
They only manage to make life more difficult.
Though Alex has been playing baseball nearly all of his life, he isn't a very athletic person. He can't
really catch. He can't really hit ? he can bunt, but everyone knows it. So it doesn't help his game
any
? And he can't throw. So why would he ever challenge T.J. Stoner, the best Little League pitcher
ever?
It wouldn't be so bad if Stoner wasn't always picking on him. But things go from bad to worse.
Stoner invites everyone to the baseball diamond to watch the pitching showdown. The following
Saturday, Stoner's team plays Alex's team. Stoner is going for a Little League record. The stands
are
packed. Television news media people are there to cover the event. Alex seems stuck on a track
that
leads him from one humiliating moment to the next.
Barbara Park writes believable dialogue, and some of the best 12-year old narrative I've ever read.
Very insightful. Though this 1997 release is a revised version it needn't have been. The work is
timeless. Funny. Satisfying and timeless. It is no wonder Park has won more than 15 Children's
Choice Awards. She knows what her audience wants. They want more books from Barbara
Park.
Jake Drake, Bully Buster
Andrew Clements
Aladdin Paperbacks
c/o Simon & Schuster
1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020
ISBN: 0689838808, $3.99, www.simsonsayskids.com
I used to think the only kids who don't know what it's like to be picked on by a bully, must be
bullies. After reading Jake Drake, Bully Buster, I realized I might be missing something. Jake
Drake,
Bully Buster is a Read-for-Chapter middle grade novel that says it all about bullies. Andrew
Clements writes like a man who has experienced it all growing up. Clements uses compact
chapters
and crisp dialogue. He knows how to set a scene, let the tension build, and the humor flow.
"But if a kid starts to bully me now, it never lasts?Bullies don't fool me anymore. Because back
behind those mean eyes and that bully-face, there's another face. A real face. And if I keep looking
for that real face, I see it. And the bully sees me see it. And BAM, just like that, another bully gets
busted. By me. Jake Drake, Bully Buster."
Those are the words of Jake Drake. But the young fourth grader didn't always feel that way. It
seems his life has been plagued by bullies since his early days at preschool. You know the bully.
The
snot nosed kid who grabs your cookie at snack time, takes a bite and then gives it back to you, all
slobbered on.
It isn't until Jake meets the new kid, Link Baxter, before he truly understands there are different
types of bullies. Those that take your food. Those that like to hit you. And those that get inside
your
brain and try to mess you up. Baxter knew how to get into Jake's brain and made it seem easy at
messing him up. He made fun of Jake's name so everyone could hear, so all the kids would laugh.
And they did laugh. He throws water on Jake, he almost makes him miss his bus stop. He is
downright mean. And even Link's younger sister, who's in the same kindergarten class with Jake's
sister, is a bully, taking crayons and threatening to snap them in two if anyone tells. The Baxter
Bully
family.
Jake works hard at handling the issues himself. Telling on a bully would only make matters worse.
Even though Jake keeps his mouth shut, things get worse. The teacher pairs the two of them up
to
complete a Thanksgiving Day project on Native Americans. Link expects Jake to do all the work.
That is the last straw for Jake and he tells Link, "No."
Want to find out what happens? Check out a copy of Jake Drake, Bully Buster. Andrew Clements
is
funny, while making many subtle points about dealing with bullies. An enjoyable story in an
enjoyable series. Clements is the type of author who writes the type of books kids want to read.
Hard to beat that combination.
Grant R. Philips
Reviewer
Harold's Bookshelf
Sadie Listens
James M. Steele
Steele Studios
PO Box 3093, Glenwood Springs, CO 81602
ISBN: 0971681139, $TBA, 43 pages
Sadie Listens is a short children's story about Sadie and the emptiness that she feels inside after
the
death of her cat. It elegantly discloses her feelings and the failure of activities to fill her loss. She
learns to turn inside and listen to herself and to her feelings. It is a book about feelings, confusion,
social expectations, and healing. A highly recommended purchase for anyone with a child going
through difficult times of any kind, Sadie Listens can easily be used to open a discussion with
children about honoring their feelings and moving on to healing.
The Doubleday Roget's Thesaurus In Dictionary Form
Sidney I. Landau and Ronald J. Bogus
Doubleday
1540 Broadway, New York, NY 10036
ISBN: 0385239971, $16.95, 804 pages
I recently needed to pick up a new thesaurus and looked at several of them before deciding on this
one. After using it on several occassions I know that it was the right choice. The Doubleday
Roget's
Thesaurus In Dictionary Form is not only easier to use than the old Rogets format but is much
more
comprehensive and a better reflection of today's english language. The Doubleday Roget's
Thesaurus
In Dictionary Form is highly recommended due to the level of user friendliness and
comprehensiveness.
Honeymoon Marriage: Discover The Secrets To Achieving The Marriage Of Your Dreams
Darren McNees and Donna McNees
Blue Sail Publishing, Inc.
PO Box 6271, Aurora, IL 60598
ISBN: 0972190309, $24.95, 312 pages
The Honeymoon Marriage takes the reader through a clear discussion of many of the problems
that
take the honeymoon elation and happiness out of a marriage and for each one offers sound advice
on
how to keep your relationship fresh and alive. The authors discuss such topics as differences
between the needs, desires and communication techniques of men and women, the differences
between romance and passion and how to keep both of them in your relationship, and how small
things can make a big difference.
Some of the information is nothing new, such as taking your spouse out on a date like you did
before you were married. Other parts of the book contain more creative ideas designed to spice
things up. Parts even contain various techniques that are almost workbook style processes. For
example, there are several specific steps to help you learn about each other by examining your
desires, attributes, skills, and talents. Recognizing that growth as a couple requires growth as an
individual, the authors provide techniques and advice for empowering and growing as an
individual.
Since money matters are often the cause of stress in a relationship there is a section on financial
abundance and basic financial techniques.
The reader should think of The Honeymoon Marriage as the introductory course into improving
their marriage and keeping it alive. As an introduction it covers about every possible area of
problems and solutions and is most useful for determining what type of problems need to be
addressed and how to address them. However, once the suggested path to reenergizing your
marriage is found, there are many more books available in specific areas. If you use Honeymoon
Marriage and find that you want some more romance in your life, you can use the suggestions
here,
but you will probably find that there are many other books with many, many more ideas for
romance.
Honeymoon Marriage is a good book to start with as it will help you determine the path that you
need to be on and start you on that path. It is not the book to end with as there are many others
available to help you down that path once you know the path you should be on..
Bipolar Disorder: Rebuilding Your Life
Rev. Dr. James T. Stout
Cypress House
155 Cypress Street, Fort Bragg, CA 95437
ISBN: 1879384442, $18.95, 287 pages
Bipolar Disorder is not a book of technical diagnosis and treatment techniques for the disorder.
Quite different from similar books on the subject it is the personal story of the life and experiences
of
the author. Rev. James T. Stout opens up his heart and his life to public scrutiny in order to
provide
a thorough picture of the thinking patterns and problems of people with bipolar disorder. And yet,
as
he goes through his various experiences, interlaid within the story itself is the story of how rebuilt
his
life, the strategies that worked, the techniques that benefited his life, and how he has become
more in
control of his moods. It is a story of hope and practical guidance for those dealing with bipolar
disorder or those who know someone with the disorder. The author masterfully leads the reader
through learning to rebuild their life without resorting to jargon or a cold, sterile treatise on the
disorder. Intensely personal, highly educational, it is a highly recommended read for anyone
wanting
to know more about bipolar disorder for whatever their reason.
Your Depression Map: Find The Source Of Your Depression And Chart Your Own
Recovery
Randy J. Paterson, PhD
New Harbinger Publications
5674 Shattuck Ave., Oakland, CA 94609
ISBN: 1572243007, $19.95, 307 pages
Randy J. Paterson, PhD has spent years treating depression. The results of everything he has
learned
through both education and experience are distilled into Your Depression Map. The author points
out that there are many, many different causes of depression and many, many different types of
depression. Each of these different kinds of depression requires a solution that is designed to
relieve
that particular type. Based on this idea, he leads the reader through an understanding of the
different
types, how to determine the type that you have, and a pathway to recovery. He deals effectively
with
myths about depression, building your personal recovery plan, and a discussion of the journey to
recovery and what you should expect. Even issues of how to deal with depression in real life are
covered. For example he deftly covers the kind of professionals that you may need to seek help
from, medication, living with emotions, building and maintaining a social network, and preventing
future difficulties. If you are dealing with depression or know someone who is fighting that battle,
this is an excellent book and a highly recommended purchase.
Harold McFarland
Reviewer
Jennifer's Bookshelf
Man With Wounded Bird
B. C. Douglas
1st Books Library
2595 West Vernal Pike, Bloomington, IN 47404-2782
ISBN: 075965493X, $11.95, Soft Cover, $3.95 e-book, www.1stbooks.com
Man With Wounded Bird is a wonderful fictional story that tells a stunning tale of imagination
using
cultures of Jamaica. Coming from Long Island in a white suburban community, Belle Brair
sometimes felt uncomfortable by the Jamaican qualities that her mother so proudly wore. Her
mom's
accent, strange spice smells, and untraditional Thanksgiving dinners, get the locals attention, thus
embarrassing Belle to no end. She didn't like being different. After Belle's mother dies, she finds
herself needing answers to help fill in her emptiness, but while visiting her grandmother in
Jamaica,
Belle seeks answers to her heritage and soon discovers the disappearance of a priceless work of
art.
Man With Wounded Bird is a spectacular, energetic, novel for young adults, and I thoroughly
enjoyed reading it. Her well-thought out characters have unique personalities and the setting takes
your breath away. Douglas's plot-driven book is sure to be a winner! I highly recommend B. C.
Douglas and her book Man With Wounded Bird. B. C. Douglas was born in Watford, England,
but
was raised in both England, and Jamaica. She has seen many parts of the world, and she currently
lives in Florida with her husband.
Out Of The Ordinary: Short Stories
Floriana Hall
1st Books Library
2595 West Vernal Pike, Bloomington, IN 47404-2782
ISBN: 14033-602514 (e-book), 140336026X (trade paperback), 1-800-839-8640,
http://www.1stbooks.com
In reading the first few sentences of the first story in Floriana Hall's magnificent book, I knew it
would be a hard book to put down. By the end, a day later, I found that I was right.
Throughout the gold-covered book are 41-short stories and poems written from the heart. Her
positive messages, in most, are remarkably clear, in others; they become embedded in your mind
forever. The book will delight almost any reader whether they read fiction of nonfiction. Peas,
Anyone? Is a comical, yet lesson-learning story with the moral message of-"Don't pass the peas
where they are not wanted or you'll never hear the end of it." Shaun's Quest-A Bunny Rabbit's
Tail,
written for children, describes the life of a pink bunny who felt he had to travel the world to find
someone just like him, but he ends up finding love very close to home. At the same time, it
teaches
children not to judge a book by its cover. Hall's stories will fill the reader with enjoyment,
inspiration, laughter, and encouragement.
This reviewer enjoyed reading Hall's book Out Of The Ordinary, and highly recommends it, as
well
as all works by this talented and wise author.
Being Kind to George
Jo Dunningham
Writers Exchange EPublishing
http://www.writers-exchange.com/epublishing
Format: Ebook in PDF, HTML, RTF, CD, Price: Electronic download: $4.95, CD: $9.95, 39
pages
Oliver, a dog with long legs, overly large feet, and scared of every little thing, wandered into the
reeds he came across a honking noise that caused him to run frantically towards his owner, Greg.
Seeing that he was terrified of something, Greg investigated and found that the honking sound
was a
little scrawny and undernourished white goose. Oliver and Greg befriended the goose and decided
to
take care of him and feed him since it was winter time and the goose would find little to eat.
Every
morning, they took food to the goose and watched as he gobbled them all up. In no time, the
goose
grew stronger and fatter. Greg led his newly named goose George to the clean pond in the park
across from his caf‚ and hoped that George would be happy there. George was, but as time grew
on, spring and summer turned into winter, George noticed that not everyone was like his summer
friends, and he grew very sad.
People thought he was a threatwas he? Find out by reading Jo Dunningham's delightful book
"Being
Kind To George".
Based on a true story, this book is a beautiful tribute to wild animals everywhere. Moreover, it is
a
great tool to teach children the meaning of a goose's honk and why people shouldn't try to
befriend
wild animals. The story is well written, and children any age will enjoy the charming goose and his
friends. It teaches children the importance of kindness, friendship, and helping your environment
to
thrive.
Jo Dunningham is the author and illustrator of this wonderful children's book. She has been telling
stories and drawing pictures to amuse her children for over twenty years. With a fresh approach
to
life, she now finds the time for the things she most enjoys-her family, and her writing.
Dunningham
lives in Wiltshire, England with her husband, three of their five children, and their youngest
granddaughter.
"Being Kind To George" by Jo Dunningham comes highly recommended by this reviewer and her
children. Look for more of her work, "Why Does the Tooth Fairy Want My Teeth?" which she is
currently working on. You can check out her personal website at http://www.dunningham.be and
view "real-life" pictures of George. Readers will also be able to download George's illustrations
from
the actual book to color.
Time in a Bottle
Karen Anzalone
Wings ePress
ISBN: 1-59088-073-0 eBook, 1-59088-950-9 Trade Paperback
Price: $6.00 eBook, $9.95 Trade Paperback, Formats: eBook (PDF or HTML), Trade
Paperback
After Kevin Larson's brother breaks the antique glass bottle he planned on basing his school
history
project on, he and his friends, Naomi, Tasha, and Michael get together to search the Internet for a
new project. However, when an accident turns the computer into a time machine, it transports
Kevin
and his three friends into the past-October 18, 1880 in Bodie, Californianow the adventure
begins.
Ms. Anzalone's "Time In A Bottle" is an exciting young adult novel full of adventure, with
realistic
characters, while weaving in historical facts that is sure to intrigue its readers.
"Time In A Bottle" is well-written and told in an understandable and simple manner. Ms.
Anzalone's
plot is clear and moves the story along so that young readers will be able to keep up with the
storyline.
Anyone, not only middle-grade students, will find "Time In A Bottle" a delightful read and will
definitely put Karen Anzalone on their "must" read lists.
My ten-year-old son, Nicholas, who has recently found an interest in chapter books, thoroughly
enjoyed the tale of Kevin Larson and his friends.
I highly recommend "Time In A Bottle" by Karen Anzalone.
Magnolia
Barbara J. Robinson
PublishAmerica.com
PO Box 151, Frederick, MD 21705-0151
ISBN: 1591294304, $19.95, www.publishamerica.com
This coming-of-age book is a touching story of a girl who has had to deal with family loss,
disappointment, and sorrow at a very young age. What makes this book more remarkable is that
Barbara Robinson was that young girl! Readers will appreciate the events that unfold, and grow
inspired as they read this heart-warming tale from a very talented author.
The Bible That Wouldn't Burn
Louise Ulmer
Peach Blossom Publications
136 Centre Line Ave. Williamsport, PA 17701
ISBN 0941367010, $7.95, 32 pages, paperback, www.amazon.com
"The Bible That Wouldn't Burn" by Louise Ulmer makes for an interesting read, as it is a book
that
covers many topics. Readers will find history, religion, and adventure included on each page
accompanied by delightful black and white hand drawn illustrations.
This intriguing book, first published in the 1980s by Concordia Publishing House, is the story of
how
the Tyndale English version of the New Testament came about.
William Tyndale, the main character, struggles against much hostility as he translated the Latin
Bible
into English just before he smuggled it into England. His hope was to bring God's word to the
English people so that they could read it in their own language. William meets many different
people, friendly and unfriendly on his journey.
Cleverly, Ulmer wrote this book through the eyes of a young boy named Edward Walsh so that
English reading children will understand it perfectly. The language is simple, making a fast and
easy
read for children 8 and up. Some of the words can be difficult, but with the help of an adult, they
will have no problem getting through the entire book.
"The Bible That Wouldn't Burn" would be perfect for teachers to use as a lesson guide, and
would
make a wonderful gift.
Louise Ulmer discovered the joy of paper doll design when she was 10 years-old, while playing
paper dolls wither sisters and friends. She began with children's books in the world popular Arch
Book Series at Concordia and "The Bible That Wouldn't Burn". She has been a writing instruction
and editor for fifteen years, and has recently started writing novels for middle grade readers.
This text refers to the first printing of this book in soft bound format by Concordia Publishing
House.
The Legend Of Koolura
Michael L. Thal
Adventure Books
http://www.puzzlesbyshar.com/adventurebooks
ISBN: 1553131789, Price: $5.99 Canada, $3.99 US, Formats: PDF electronic book
It's Koolura Akopyan's first day at a new school and she's realizing that no matter where she is or
what school she is she attends, everyone treats her and her remarkable abilities the same. Koolura
is
in the sixth grade at Bethune Elementary. Mr. Major is impressed with her knowledge, Linda is
jealous; Armine and Enrico think she's kool, all because of the same reasons. Koolura and her
friend
are able to vanish and reappear whenever they want, they can move objects with their minds, and
they can float up off the ground.
"The Legend Of Koolura" is a wonderfully written book that tells the story of friendships,
rejections,
and of course, magic powers. Koolura and her story will keep your middle grade reader turning
the
pages. The dialogue will thrill them and they'll find themselves thinking about the realistic
characters
long after they've finished reading.
"Michael Thal, a veteran teacher of twenty-eight years, is a freelance writer living in Los Angeles
with his daughters, Channie and Koren. He's had a passion for writing since his college days at the
University of Buffalo. The Light: An Alien Abduction, has been a work in progress for many
years.
The completion of this novel has been a dream fulfilled, proving that goals set and focused upon,
are
goals completed."
I highly recommend "The Legend Of Koolura" and Michael Thal as an author to label as a new
favorite.
The Computer's Nerd
W. Royce Adams
Rairarubia Books
ISBN: 0-9712206-2-X, Price: $17.95, http://www.rairarubia.com
Bullies rule at most schools, but at Arthur's school, they get what they deserve. Arthur is known
as a
computer nerd, and he is constantly being picked on at school. After strange things happen to the
bullies, Arthur starts to think that his computer, that has a strange program called The Game, has
something to do with it. Nevertheless, Arthur doesn't understand how The Game knows all the
things that it does, nor does he understand why it wants to help him. Or does it?
Arthur is enjoying life until The Game takes control, spinning lies all around him. Then and only
then, Arthur starts to wonder if The Game is on his side.
"The Computer's Nerd" is full of dangerous action that will fascinate and delight its readers.
Young
adults will surely get hooked on Adams's books. This well-written book deals with the troubles of
many children today. The characters are intriguing. The dialogue is life-like. I found myself
engulfed
with the main plot, which kept me reading with interest until the very end.
I highly recommend "The Computer's Nerd" by W. Royce Adams for all middle grade
students.
Jennifer LB Leese, Reviewer
http://www.geocities.com/ladyjiraff/aswbr.html
Frank's Bookshelf
Byzantium: The Bridge From Antiquity To The Middle Ages
Michael Angold
St. Martin's Press
175 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10010
ISBN 0312284292, $24.95, 186 pp., www.amazon.com
The Byzantine Empire, centered in Constantinople and based on the Eastern Orthodox churches,
lasted from about AD 324 to 1453. During the sixth century, and at some other times, it ruled a
region from what became known as the Holy Land-Syria-Iraq to Turkey, the Balkans, Italy,
Sicily,
most of the Mediterranean Sea, southern Spain, and nearly all of North Africa. It was one of the
great pillars of the world along with China, India, Islam, and western Christendom. This unusual
book, which some might call a collection of essays or lectures, was written by the Professor of
Byzantine History at Edinburgh University who also wrote The Byzantine Empire, 1025-1204: A
Political History (1997). It is in part a survey of Byzantine culture and part history of selected
topics. It has a glossary, bibliography, index, but no footnotes, endnotes, or a chronology which
would have been very helpful to most non-specialist readers. There are three simple maps and 33
black and white illustrations, mainly photographs, of Byzantine and Islamic art and architecture.
The
most interesting sections of Byzantium: The Bridge From Antiquity To The Middle Ages, at least
to
this reviewer, were on Islamic culture, Byzantine iconoclasm, Byzantium and the West, and
Norman
Sicily (which is something of an extraneous topic given the book's subject). There are only scraps
of
information about Byzantium's economy and trade and the Balkan region, which was often
Byzantium's most important hinterland, and Russia.
The Oxford History Of Mexico
Michael C. Meyer and William H. Beezley, eds.
Oxford University Press
198 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10016-4314.
0195112288, $31.50, www.amazon.com
This is a panoramic and interesting anthology of essays written by 23 experts, all from Canadian,
American, and Mexican universities, and edited by two professors from the University of Arizona.
It
has black and white maps, color photos, a glossary of important terms, a bibliography, and an
index.
I will most likely be of interest to general readers, advanced high school and university students,
and
scholars. It is presented as a general history of Mexico as a pre-colonial state until the end of the
one-party era which started during the 1930s and just recently ended. The most important topics
covered are agriculture, the arts, banditry, colonialism, popular culture, domestic and foreign
affairs,
ecology, economics, education, emporors, ethnicity, flora and fauna, industrialization, military
leaders, moderization, politics, poverty, presidents, Spain and Spanish history, and viceroys. The
sections that seem especially strong (since there is always a certain unevenness with anthologies)
deal with Mesoamerican eras, Mexica/Aztec cultures and societies, 19th century Mexico and
Mexican leaders, the Mexican-American War, the severe turbulence caused by the repeatedly
violent
attempts by both military strongmen and civilian idealists to start and complete viable revolutions,
the contributions of Pancho Villa and Emiliano Zapata, the struggle to free Mexican resources
from
foreign control, the importance of Mexican artists, and the background to the problems and
advances of today's progressive Mexico. If a reader or small library has room for only one book
on
Mexico, The Oxford History Of Mexico would be a solid choice.
A Brief History Of Canada
Roger Riendeau
Facts on File
11 Penn Plaza. New York, NY 10001
0816031576, $45.00, www.amazon.com
This useful history, which emphasizes domestic politics and economics with some discussion of
culture and foreign relations, is a model of what can be well done briefly with national histories. It
has 20 chapters, an index, bibliography, 20 black and white photos, eight maps, and no footnotes
or
endnotes. Mature students and general readers will find this to be an enjoyable read. The author
works at the University of Toronto.
The author has organized his chapters into the following sections: Exploring the Northern
American
Frontier; the French Empire, 1608-1760; British North America, 1760-1867; Foundations of
Canadian Nationhood, 1867-1931; and the Modern Era, 1931 to the 1990s (including
NAFTA).
One of the themes developed throughout is Canadians' difficult, tense search for a national unity
and
identity while they have found themselves living in the four traditional regions: the Maritime
provinces; Quebec and southern Ontario; the Prairie provinces; and British Columbia.
Riendeau in his preface writes "The central role of the historian is to instill a sense of order out of
the chaos of the past and to make the past come alive so that it can inform the present and the
future." (p. vii) He has accomplished this difficult goal exceedingly well.
Frank P. King
Reviewer
Donna's Bookshelf
Grimm's Fairy Tales
Illustrated by Arthur Rackham
Sea Star Books/North-South Books Inc.
11 East 26th South, 17th floor, New York, NY 10010
ISBN 1587170922, $19.95, 2001, 160 pages, www.northsouth.com
A cat with a face as long as a wet week, a braggadocios tailor who manages to kill seven at one
blow, various beautiful princesses, several little, gnarly men, wise simpletons, foolish elder
brothers,
plus other old friends greet us in this imaginatively illustrated abridgment of the 1909 edition of
Grimm's Fairy Tales, Illustrated by Arthur Rackham. In fact, the illustrations are the important
point
here. These twenty two tales are illustrated with no less than forty nine of Rackham's lavish,
fantastic, intriguing paintings and dynamic pen and ink drawings. Using the words of the 1909
edition, this book is slightly less expurgated than fairy tales modern children read. We meet a
slightly
disobedient Red Riding Hood just before she is eaten by the wolf, as well as a Rapunzel pregnant
with twins. And that frog did not metamorphose into a prince via a kiss, but through being
smashed
against a wall. An afterward gives brief histories of the Grimm Brothers, Arthur Rackham, and the
pairing of their talents.
Other collections of these tales are available. Other books present Rackham's work. What makes
this
book distinctive is the marrying of the two in a new edition. If your library does not have Grimm's
tales illustrated by Rackham, this book is a worthwhile edition. The morals behind the stories are
obvious for both children and adults. These tales are precursors of today's science fiction, making
this book useful for young fantasy and science fiction writers and buffs. Families and classes will
enjoy reading these stories together and acting them out. With its front cover beautifully
displaying
Rackham's painting of the original Cinderella, Ashenputtal, Grimm's Fairy Tales will intriguingly
decorate any coffee table.
I Love You This Much : A Song of God's Love
Lynn Hodges and Sue Buchanan; illustrations by John Brunello
Zonderkidz/ Zondervan Publishing House
5300 Patterson Avenue, S.E., Grand Rapids, MI 49530
ISBN 0310232686, $14.99, 32 pages, zonderkidz.com
"I Love You This Much," sing Adult Bear and Baby Bear as they spread their arms wide
preparing
for a hug. With book and accompanying CD before them, the loving reader and preschool listener
will learn to sing along with the Bears. Starting with the NIV wording of Ephesians 3:17 & 18,
the
words and pictures lead the reader and listener through a whole day of love: waking with a
smiling
face, learning about deep, wide love, and that it comes from God, praying to this trustworthy
God,
finally falling happily asleep with words of love ringing in their ears. The accompanying sing-along
lullaby CD has two sections: 1. Words and music, the music tailing into sleep; 2. music only, also
tailing into lullaby tones.
John Brunello's happy, colorful illustrations tell the story as much as do the engaging words
written
by Lynn Hodges and Sue Buchanan. A large book, I Love You This Much, easily spreads across
two laps for cuddled up reading. Children will enjoy noting the dedication at the beginning of this
book includes Billy, the illustrator's cat. I Love You has many uses, among them: a gift for the
new
baby; a baby sitting tool; in secular or church nursery and preschool; an attractive first reader for
the
child who has heard it; for the children's choir.
Donna J. Eggett
Reviewer
Hodgins' Bookshelf
Love In The Time Of Cholera
Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Penguin Books
c/o Penguin Putnam Inc.
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
ISBN 0140119906, $10.95, Can. $8.95, 1-800-847-5515
About this edition of Love In The Time Of Cholera: a banner across the top of the front cover
proclaims the novel as "THE NATIONAL BESTSELLER" of its day, although it doesn't specify
of
which nation. May the banner refer to Colombia where the work is set?
At all events, upon conducting a Websearch for the book's title and finding many entries, I have
looked under the first listing, that by Barnes & Noble of the U.S., and find they offer a dozen
versions. Half of those are in Spanish; four of them are translated into English by Edith Grossman;
and the other two are now unavailable. (One of the lastmentioned is expected to appear in
mid-May.
The other seems out of print.)
At the time of writing, therefore, essentially one translation is available, in four formats. In terms
of
fictional content, I expect each of these versions to prove identical to any other. Thus a
shortcoming
in one will surely apply to all - at least until the forecast Tom Fahy effort appears some months
hence, under the altered title (and presumably with altered contents), Gabriel Garcia Marquez's
Love
In The Time Of Cholera.
No judgement is yet possible concerning the Fahy product, which I'd hoped to see before a
scheduled vacation. In literary terms, it also is my hope that the story's style will be altered to
create
greater interest, but all we can do is wait and see, while keeping our minds open. Meantime, I've
had
no response concerning the Fahy version and so can only report, with my personal regrets, on a
paperback that's now 13 years old.
About language: the original Spanish title of Garcia Marquez's novel was "El amor en los tiempos
del cole'ra". Here I have approximated the Spanish vowel-accentuation mark with ', but doing so
carries some risk of reader confusion. Hereafter, then, that mark will be omitted altogether, but
the
accent ought by rights to appear twice in the book author's name - over the i of "Garcia", and
over
the a of "Marquez".
These two words taken together are in the customary form (except more often hyphenated) of
family names in Spanish; the author is properly addressed as "Mr. Garcia Marquez", and Thomas
Pynchon of The New York Times Book Review mentions "The Garciamarquesian voice", an
adjectival form I've seen fit to borrow here.
About the author: author notes appear in the frontispiece area of the Penguin paperback edition of
his book.
About the country: the locus of this story is Garcia Marquez's native Colombia. For those who
can't
remember their geography and have no map handy, Colombia occupies the northwesterly corner
of
South America, where, with Panama as a divider, the country has both Caribbean and Pacific
coasts.
Inland, Colombia is divided very approximately in half between, in the northwest, three forks of
the
great Andes mountain chain and the intervening valleys; and, in the southeast, a vast wilderness of
headwaters of the Orinoco and Amazon Rivers. At a wildly unscientific guess, about 10% of
Colombia lies south of the Equator.
About the title disease, other than love: as readers may or may not know, the true Indian or
Asiatic
cholera is an acute, usually fatal, infectious diarrhoeal disease of the intestinal tract, caused by the
Vibrio cholerae organism which is ordinarily transmitted by polluted drinking-water supplies. In
developed countries it has been brought under such control in modern times as to have lost its
former familiarity, for which reason these notes explain aspects not mentioned in the novel.
The protagonist, at least near the outset, is a medical doctor who has done a great deal to combat
the last onslaught of Colombian cholera.
Although, given the paucity of particulars furnished by Garcia Marquez, in my old Encyclopaedia
Britannica I've found mentions of malaria, dysentery, yellow fever, and hookworm as major
diseases
of Colombia circa 1950, my admittedly limited research failed explicitly to connect that country
with
cholera. People do travel, though, and in theory the title's reference could have been to an
epidemic
in some other country, quite possibly in North America or Europe.
It turns out most clearly on page 43 (these page numbers refer to the 1989 Penguin paperback
edition) that the protagonist has studied in France, with implications also of wider European
travels.
It nonetheless seems that no law obliges an encyclopaedia to be comprehensively informative.
Eventually it convincingly emerges in the novel, not in the encyclopaedia, that cholera struck
South
America, too.
In my view this sort of information should be provided in a novel almost as soon as a topic is
brought up - in this book by its title, in fact, which we read even before the volume has been
cracked
open. If nothing else, a Foreword could have stated the salient facts.
It also is long left unclear just which of many "times of cholera" the book's title means. Back in
mediaeval times, the disease seems to have destroyed the army of one Ahmed Shad (about whom
I've discovered nothing else) in 1438 - more than half a century before Columbus's voyages. It
became pandemic in India in 1817, reaching into Russia by 1823. That wave was followed by
another beginning in India in 1826, which reached as far as Edinburgh in 1832; it also was carried
by
ship to ravage North America, and didn't disappear until 1838. Further pandemic waves in
1840-49
and 1863-66 reached Europe overland via Mecca and Egypt, again creating at least North
American
outbreaks in 1867 and 1873.
Nor were these the last of cholera's widespread recurrences but, given the paucity of solid
information concerning Colombia, we may almost as well equate "the time of cholera" to "once
upon a time". Only another reviewer's comment places the book's setting around a century ago. I
only hope he's right!
On page 42 the initial protagonist, 81-year-old Dr. Juvenal Urbino, dies in a fall while trying to
catch
an escaped parrot. There follows a quasi-epitaph on p. 43, providing a series of important insights
although no date. An epitaph is a static type of statement, though, and it is approximately here
that
Garcia Marquez's tale seems to bog down.
More exactly, the Garciamarquesian style falls quite flat after the death and burial of the doctor
who
is the initial central character of Love In The Time Of Cholera. That collapse happens dismayingly
early in the story, and very little dialogue occurs in this work, thereafter. One may randomly open
the book almost anywhere to discover a pair of facing pages containing few quotation marks, or
none at all.
For instance, beginning with page 85 there is no dialogue whatever (assuming quotation marks to
be
indicative) until, on page 92, we discover in quotes, "If you don't tell me what you want me to
find, I
don't know how I am going to find it." Again there is nothing thereafter until page 97 says, "I turn
over to you the keys to your life." The void then resumes until page 102 where there are less than
four quoted lines ... and two of those are written in letter form.
Thus there may be an average of two or three words of dialogue per page, in much of this book.
The
characters don't seem bound by vows of silence, but they're rarely given speaking parts.
It has been said that a reviewer absolutely MUST read a book through from cover to cover, "in
case
the narrator awakens on the last page to find the whole thing has been only a bad dream". No
conceivable last-minute surprise, though, can compensate for hundreds of pages of flat - "so flat
you
could sleep on it," as someone once said - writing, as if to create, by retrospective magic, a new
work of excitement and intrigue. I admit it, then; I've committed the heinous crime of growing too
bored to continue through the bulk of this self-proclaimed national bestseller.
In summary, I'd guess that Love In The Time Of Cholera has been bought most frequently for its
author's reputation - but celebrity can be deceptive! - for its evocative title, and for its exotic
cover
design. I doubt, though, that it has often gripped its readers all the way through.
If/when Mr. Fahy's version becomes available, I hope (but can't be sure) to report on it too.
Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone
J.K. Rowling
Raincoast Books
9050 Shaughnessy Street, Vancouver, B.C. Canada V6P 6E5
Bloomsbury Publishing Plc.
38 Soho Square, London, W1V 5DF, England, 1997
ISBN 155192398X; Can. $9.95
Harry Potter obviously is a goldmine. On what I may call page 224, numerous versions of the first
four Harry Potter books, from Raincoast, are listed. They come in cloth binding, paperback, adult
paperback, "deluxe gift editions", and boxed sets (collections of vols. 1-3 and 1-4). You can't do
things that way without having plenty of financial re$ource$.
Also listed are two related paperback books, e.g., "Fantastic Beasts & Where to Find Them", by
the
same author using pseudonyms.
A curious thing is that none of the p. 224 listings agrees in ISBN number with the review
volume's
front cover or flyleaf. What appears to be the exact version I have here is given the ISBN of
0747532745 on p. 224, whereas 155192398X appears on cover/flyleaf. I can't explain it - can
you?
This first of the H.P. series makes easy reading, at least in the non-adult form I have. No doubt
that's
one of the features making "Harry" so popular with the younger set. Yet middle generations also
seem quite charmed - perhaps because, unlike myths recorded from ancient tradition by the
Brothers
Grimm, these are novel-length books with complex story lines.
Jacob and Wilhelm Grimms' lives make fascinating reading. Both were university professors, and
particularly Jacob, the elder by one year, is credited with founding both scientific folklore and
philology, complete with "Grimm's Law". However, a closer parallel to Joanne K. Rowling may
be
Hans Christian Andersen.
Andersen is called a fabulist rather than a folkorist, and the same term should, I believe, apply to
Rowling. She spins her fairytales out of thin air with the aid of such pre-existing concepts as
wizardry, witchcraft, ghosts, and imaginary animals or semi-humans: dragons, unicorns, centaurs,
trolls, and an enormous three-headed dog. Never mind that these notions derive from the lores of
far
separated lands! (Today's famed Komodo "dragon" is a large and dangerous monitor lizard
inhabiting Komodo, one of the Lesser Sunda Islands in the west-to-east series,
Bali-Lombok-Sumbawa-Komodo-Flores ... The animal neither breathes fire nor possesses wings,
although it's a fast runner with a very strong bite.)
Except in reminiscences, this volume covers less than a year of the youth of Harry Potter. He, it
turns out, is a hereditary wizard whose supernatural parents had been killed during his babyhood
by
an evil wizard, although the lastmentioned had suffered a failure of his magic when he'd also
attacked little Harry. The baby had then been raised for a decade by his hateful aunt and uncle, a
pair
of "Muggles" - ordinary mortals lacking both magical charms and, this time, ordinary human
charm.
I recognized in that relation a stereotype closely akin to one in the "Cinderella" fairytale; for Harry
was being abused by his people much as Cinderella had been by her cruel stepmother and
-sisters.
At last the wizard world comes to reclaim Harry, offering to train (or perhaps educate?) him at
Hogwarts, a remote school of wizardry. Although apparently situated in some far corner of
England
or perhaps Wales, Hogwarts must exist in dimensions other than our usual three; not only is
Muggle
society ignorant of the school's very existence, but also the place is approached by a magical train
invisible to ordinary eyes and running, presumably, on its own invisible trackage out of
London.
Numerous bizarre adventures and experiences await Harry at Hogwarts, but to spell them out
here,
even in outline, would be to betray too much of the story, and so to ruin the pleasure of reading
it.
The magic is pretty much no-holds-barred stuff, e.g., with a flying motorbike and, later, whole
teams
of broomstick-riding players of "quidditch", a gravity defying, aerial ball game. However,
whenever
the plot requires limitations, they appear. For instance, various characters must be given time to
interact; that seems why they travel by oldfashioned steam train rather than being, say, teleported
in
up-to-some-future-date, Star Trek style.
At times it seems as if wizardry/witchcraft is capable of absolutely anything, and yet a feat as
elementary as Superman's x-ray vision seems unavailable. Why? In this case I think it's because
nobody at Hogwarts could get away with any exciting skullduggery whatsoever if it were possible
for the teaching/security staff to watch each other, as well as watching the students, through solid
walls, ceilings, and floors.
Inconsistency tends to kill many fantastic tales, for me. For instance, while flames capable of
actually
burning flesh can be magically created at a mere wand's wave, it seems that nothing can be done
about the weather by using the cost-free fire to warm all outdoors in wintertime.
The Potter series has been attacked on semi-religious grounds over the prospect of teaching
children
to believe in all sorts of folly. Is it not time that we ourselves practised greater consistency? How
can we allow all sorts of fantasy comics, cartoons, etc., even Halloween charades, while wishing
to
disallow what is, in essence, simply more of the same? Why are parents happy that their kids
watch
"The Magic School Bus" on TV if they're unhappy about their reading "Harry Potter"?
That word "more" nearly says it all, in respect of this book's character. Whereas there seldom are
complaints about traditional ghost stories, those usually involve just one ghost at a time; here
ghosts
fly through walls in squadrons, or anyway in multiples. We're accustomed to one witch at a time,
piloting a broomstick; Harry and his crowd fly broomsticks in two seven-lad teams at a time.
Could
it be the "more" aspect, then, that upsets a few people? Well, as the Brits put it, in for a penny, in
for
a pound.
Here's a last observation. If I read once more the babytalk word "ickle" in place of "little", I shall
throw up.
Mrs. Dalloway
Virginia Woolf
Oxford Worlds Classics*
ISBN 0192839705; Can. $13.50 (quoted by Chapters bookstores)
Harcourt
ISBN 0151009988, $18.00, hardcover
Harvest Books
ISBN Harvest Books, $12.00, paperback
* Of many "Mrs. Dalloway" editions beginning in 1925, the Oxford Worlds Classics version
(2000)
may be most widely available in book-retailers' shops today, although it's not quite the most
recent.
In principle, all versions should tell one identical tale - but there may be assorted additions, such
as
biographical notes and professorial commentaries. My reading is based specifically on the
Harcourt,
Brace and Company, Inc., New York, 4th printing, 1927, but the data cited above refer to the
2000
Oxford edition. However, any features unique to the still unseen Oxford edition cannot be
described
here; as to my 1927 hardcover Harcourt, Brace edition, it could scarcely be plainer.
** I've discussed the literary term "trade" previously. One recognized authority doesn't explain it
at
all in his "A Glossary of Literary Terms". Other sources provide differing definitions.
Here we probably have a format-based definition similar to, "Softcover books the size of a man's
hand [my hand measures about 7 x 4 1/2 inches, 7" x 4.5" or 18 x 11.5 cm] are `mass market';
those
a couple of inches (5 cm) taller are `trade' books." Examples of the latter in my home shelves
commonly measure about 9" x 6" (22.5 cm x 15 cm).
However, paper can be cut to an infinite variety of dimensions, and one wonders how to classify a
book that's just halfway between "mass market" and "trade"?
It's unclear, too, whether there is any upper size limit to "trade" books; my softcover illustrated
copy
of Coleridge's "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" is twice the foregoing "trade" size, measuring
12"
x 9" (30 cm. x 23 cm). What is that format to be called?
Then again, other definitions of "trade" are based on either production quality or contents ...
Virginia Woolf's "Mrs. Dalloway" has received considerable recent attention in connection with
the
film, "The Hours" - which I can't usefully see, alas, until in appears on video with closed
captions.
From a brief description I've heard, it appears that "The Hours", although using the original title
of
"Mrs. Dalloway", introduces important characters and episodes from elsewhere, almost inevitably
omitting vast amounts of the "Mrs. Dalloway" tale. Keeping it in mind that Woolf's novel was
copyright in 1925, a "The Hours" character who suffers from AIDS must have come along at
least
six decades after the book was written; Woolf, who killed herself in 1941, never heard of AIDS,
in
this world anyway.
Newer works based on older ones have by no means been uncommon - especially on Broadway,
as
it seems. Shakespeare, for one, has been ripped off time and again. To the best of my recollection,
his "Romeo and Juliet" inspired "West Side Story", while "The Taming of the Shrew" gave rise to
"Kiss Me, Kate". The origin (perhaps "Much Ado About Nothing"?) of "The Boys from
Syracuse",
however, escapes me at present.
At all events, there are plenty of precedents for the use of material from "Mrs. Dalloway" in "The
Hours", although one would think that Woolf's copyrights must subsist today, and must surely
have
been taken carefully into account. Anyway, if you've seen the movie, just don't go away imagining
that you've "as good as read" Woolf's book.
"Mrs. Dalloway" is a rather formless novel, lacking divisions into chapters, parts, etc. - but here
and
there, blank lines do occur between paragraphs. One might even call this "a book-length short
story".
I'm told that doing new things is a hallmark of capital-L Literature, but it's hard to be certain that
no-one has ever, say since the days of Homer, written a book in just this form. However, I've also
read someplace that this whole story occupies a single day; someone may nod off for a few winks,
but at no point does anyone go to bed. That fact eliminates the natural chapter breaks of standard
day-night cycles.
I don't consider a lack of chapter divisions helpful, but rather a throwback toward chaos. If you're
reading when you're called to dinner you can't say, "Just give me two minutes, dear; I've almost
finished this chapter." Instead you may have to plead, "Just give me two days, dear ..." Keeping a
bookmark handy, though, should ease that problem.
A charming bit of nonsense occurs early in the book, concerning a skywriting aeroplane (airplane)
whose pilot, watched by perhaps hundreds of thousands of fascinated onlookers on the ground,
seems unable to write a complete word. "T O F", the crowd reads; "T O F", again and again.
Of growing importance during the story's development is a party that Clarissa Dalloway plans to
throw that evening. With few exceptions, everyone we meet will be in attendance, and there will
be
others present, too. Clarissa is not deeply involved in preparations, though, other than buying the
flowers, for she is of the British Upper Class; she has permanent and temporary servants to set up
the entire evening. Thus the book begins, "Mrs. Dalloway said she would buy the flowers
herself."
While the novel's title makes it clear that Clarissa Dalloway is to be viewed as the work's
protagonist, for many pages at a time the plot drifts into telling the stories of other people
altogether, while Clarissa seems to all intents forgotten.
Whoever is "in the driver's seat", we are often but not invariably treated to a privileged view from
someplace inside that person's head, watching his or her stream of consciousness flow by - often
turbulently, often opaquely.
One "alternative or temporary protagonist" is Septimus Warren Smith, who in my inexpert
opinion
shows many of the classical signs of schizophrenia. As is the case of most other people introduced
in
this novel, at intervals we see the world through Septimus's eyes for pages at a time, and a strange
world it then is! We also see it, occasionally, from the perspective of his mild, loving, rather
pathetic,
deeply concerned wife, Rezia (really Lucrezia; she was Italian, and they'd met in Milano at the end
of
World War I, Italy then having been on the Allied side. Septimus had survived the war with
distinction, then discovered he could no longer FEEL - surely an after-effect of shell shock,
stemming especially from his friend Evans's death in battle.)
A seemingly incompetent Doctor Holmes has assured Rezia that her mentally ill husband is quite
all
right. To him, Septimus is merely in a funk; to cheer up, he should go out and play a round of
golf.
Now, though, Rezia is filled with new hope. "They were going to Sir William Bradshaw; she
thought
his name sounded nice; he would cure Septimus at once."
I quote those lines from page 125 of my inherited, 296-page 1927 edition of "Mrs. Dalloway".
Mathematically, the same passage may appear near page 106 of the 250-page Oxford 2000
edition.
Whatever its location, it provides an example of author Woolf's ironies, and also exemplifies
passages in which she strays from her stream-of-consciousness style into her straightforward
narrative one.
Modern readers who know no Latin may not recognize "Septimus" as meaning merely "Seventh".
In
pagan Rome large families were common, although high mortality rates restrained population
growth. After fruitful parents had run out of regular given names, such as Didius and Iulia, for
their
first half-dozen children, they not uncommonly began naming new additions Seventh, Eighth, etc.:
Septimus or Octavius for boys or, for girls, Septima or Octavia.
A likely intentional, further irony develops a couple of pages later when Woolf, still in her
narrative
mode, writes, "London has swallowed up many millions of young men called Smith; thought
nothing
of fantastic Christian names like Septimus with which their parents have thought to distinguish
them." For, of course, the name is not of Christian origin; moreover, its formulation was prosaic,
not
fantastic at all.
Another person who sometimes occupies centre stage alone in this book is Peter Walsh, a onetime
swain of Clarissa's until she'd thrown him over to marry Richard Dalloway. The now tenuous
connection between Clarissa and Peter is typical of many another such means for a smooth
transition
to be effected from one person's stream of consciousness into another's, almost without our
noticing
it - and, of course, without the use of chapter breaks. Difficult as this tale sometimes is to follow,
there can be no doubt that it is a work of genius in its conception, development, and exposition,
ideally displayed in those transitions.
Some other persons who get the limelight are Hugh Whitbread; Lady Bruton and her
sour-tempered
and resentful secretary Miss Brush (who can't stand Whitbread's attempts at civility); Clarissa's
only
child, the oriental-featured 17-year-old Elizabeth; and ill-featured, impecunious,
religion-is-my-refuge Miss Kilman, who secretly but impotently loves Elizabeth and is jealous of
her
overprivileged mother.
The complex interactions of so many people within the confines of London's West End on a single
day amount to a remarkable tour de force. At times, though, we have a fairly commonplace
portrayal, almost a lampoon, of the failings of a paternalistic, egotistical medical profession. Is it
possible that Woolf created Septimus and his wife, Doctor Holmes, and Sir William Bradshaw
solely
as an adjunct to, or excuse for, some private war she wished to wage against doctors?
Meanwhile Mrs. Dalloway is nowhere to be seen for perhaps 30 pages at a stretch. It's a strange
way
to handle a title character, I feel.
A few pages past the book's midpoint, Rezia's disillusion with the great Sir William has already set
in
after a single, brief meeting. Far from being "cured at once", Septimus is to be committed to a
long
period in a glorified madhouse. Meanwhile the doctor is enjoying another of his richly profitable
ego
trips. Woolf bitterly comments, "Naked, defenceless, the exhausted, the friendless received the
impress of Sir William's will. He swooped; he devoured. He shut people up ... But Rezia Warren
Smith cried, walking down Harley Street [noted for its rich medical practices, at least in those
times
before Medicare or socialized medicine], that she did not like that man."
Woolf's smooth transitions from describing one character's day to the next character's may be
exemplified by further following Rezia's walk. "Shredding and slicing, dividing and subdividing,"
writes Woolf, "The clocks of Harley Street nibbled at the June day, counselled submission, upheld
authority ... until the mound of time was so far diminished that a commercial clock, suspended
above
a shop in Oxford Street, announced ... that it was half-past one." The medium of clocks, then,
brings
us, with scarcely a figurative ripple, to a new location, where we begin a new series of central
characters. The first of these will be Hugh Whitbread.
Almost all the foregoing analysis, though, deals with form and style, or at most with thoughts and
the exchange of words. At last a real and shocking event occurs, the nature of which I won't
reveal -
not least because real events are so scarce in Literary works. You will be glad to know, though,
that
action isn't absolutely ruled out.
The Dalloways' party that evening is affected only tangentially, because the news of the happening
reaches only a few of the gathering when the evening is already well advanced.
I've noticed only one clear error in this book. With luck, it will have been corrected for the more
recent editions. The blunder proves, though, that even the formidable Virginia Woolf wasn't quite
perfect, and neither was her first editor. There's still hope for us ordinary, muddle-headed scribes,
if
the great can get away with even one such goof.
The foul-up occurs on the third-last page of the volume. Old friends Sally and Peter have been
exchanging confidences, but Woolf writes, "That they're damnable humbugs,' said Richard ..."
Said
RICHARD? He's away over there, talking quietly with Dr. & Mrs. Humbug on the far side of this
large, noise-filled room!
Pete Hodgins, Sr.
Reviewer
Denise's Bookshelf
Whippoorwill
Sharon Sala
Loveland Press
P.O. Box 7001, Loveland, CO 80537
ISBN: 0966269667, $14.95 www.amazon.com
Sharon Sala has once again proven that she is among the top in her field as a best-selling author
with
her latest work, Whippoorwill. While Sala takes a departure from her usual offerings with this
novel,
her daring has paid off in this wonderfully witty yet thought-provoking tale of the Old West, the
world's oldest profession and lost souls seeking everything from acceptance to redemption to
love.
Letty Murphy is a prostitute by trade and a woman yearning for love by nature, who passes her
days
working at the White Dove Saloon in God-forsaken Lizard Flats. Another lost soul and town
drunk
Eulis Potter cleans the saloon by night for a three-beer ration from the owner, totes Letty's bath
water and digs graves by day when needed.
The inhabitants of Lizard Flats come to life when they hear that a real preacher man is on his way
to
marry their town banker and his sweetheart. Word of the preacher's impending arrival travels fast
on
the prairie and before you know it, Lizard Flats becomes a Mecca of sorts to a handful of
characters
desperately in need of burying, marrying, christening and redemption.
Only problem is, when the preacher finally arrives, he succumbs to Letty's charms and ends up
paying for his sin by dying in her bed. Fearful of being hanged and desperate for help, Letty turns
to
the unlikely Eulis. Before he can even sober up and see straight, he finds himself posing as the
good
reverend himself. And so it is that two of the most looked-down-upon citizens of Lizard Flats
become its very hope for their dreams and desires. Whether the two of them can pull off the
deception before the truth is discovered is the question.
Ms. Sala excels in creating wonderful characters and compelling plot lines. With Whippoorwill,
she
has outdone herself. Mountain men, gunfighters, dirt-poor farmers and ranchers add colorful
sub-plots and detail to this endearing tale, and each of them and their stories could become a
novel
in itself. And while the style and plotline of this offering from Ms. Sala may prove a departure
from
her norm, her readers will certainly not be disappointed - Whippoorwill is one of her best!
Promise & Honor
Kim Murphy
Coachlight Press
1704 Craig's Store Rd., Afton, VA 22920
ISBN: 0-9716790-2-9, 248 pps. $14.95, www.coachlightpress.com
Amanda Graham has been widowed after her Colonel husband John is killed during the First
Battle
of Manassas in July of 1861. While she, along with most of the nation, hopes that this War
Between
the States will end quickly, such is not the case. Approached by Lt. Colonel Will Jackson, a
Confederate officer and long time friend of her husband's, Amanda agrees to smuggle medical
supplies to the Southern troops from her home in Fredericksburg, just across the river from the
Northern boundary.
At home, she also cares for the infant daughter of her long time friend, Lt. Sam Prescott, who
recently returned from duty in New Mexico, is now serving in the Union forces. Torn between
loyalty and compassion for soldiers of both sides of this new war, Amanda does what she can for
them, risking danger, capture and even prison and hanging if captured. As the war draws on, and
everyone begins to understand that it will not end any time soon, Amanda is caught in a
tug-of-war
that involves her heart. Both Will and Sam vie for her heart, sending Amanda into a maelstrom of
conflicting emotions, desires and uncertainty. Desperate to love and be loved, Amanda is faced
with
making a decision, and must do so before the dangers of war does it for her and she loses
everything
and everyone she holds dear to her heart.
Ms. Murphy's Promise & Honor brilliantly captures the mixed feelings of a woman caught in the
middle; of not only a war she wants no part of, but of the two men from opposite sides who hope
for
her affections. The author's ability to write gritty yet realistic battle scenes effectively portrays the
sacrifices made by the men of both sides. Well fleshed out characters bring that intensity to life,
and
her exciting narrative propels the reader on a grim and realistic journey into the heart of one
woman's struggle to find an enduring love in the midst of hell. This reader/reviewer certainly
hopes
to see more from this wonderful new author.
Denise M. Clark, Reviewer
http://www.denisemclark.com
Cindy Lynn's Bookshelf
The Pirate Hunter: The True Story of Captain Kidd
Richard Zacks Theia
Hyperion
77 W. 66th Street, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10023
ISBN 0786865334, $25.95, 426 pages, Hardcover
"But the novelists and historians and relentless treasure hunters have gotten it all wrong. Master
Mariner William Kidd, who lived at 56 Wall Street, was no career cutthroat, no cartoon
Blackbeard,
terrifying his prey by putting flaming matches in his hair. Kidd was a reputable New York sea
captain empowered by a secret commission from the king of England to hunt pirates, confiscate
their
wealth, and divvy the spoils among his investors."
And with that paragraph, four pages into the book, he had me. The first page, there were was a
line
that really killed my suspension of disbelief, and kind of disgusted me, and so I was thinking, well,
I
promised to read it, I'll slog through somehow. When I hit this paragraph, he grabbed me and
didn't
let me go through the rest of the 426 page book. Though I'm interested in pirates and privateers,
my
books, mostly scavenged at library sales have been relegated to the "To be read...eventually" pile,
and so the majority of my pirate knowledge comes from Errol Flynn movies, and Polanski's rather
cool Pirates, starring Walter Mattahau. So, whenever anyone mentioned Captain Kidd, I saw the
Jolly Roger flying from the main mast, a wild haired, eye patched man with a colorful outfit and a
peg leg laughing with his hardees.
Now I know differently. And I know much, much more about the naval history and context of the
time than I thought I ever would. Zacks has a real gift for compacting knowledge and making it
all
as exciting as any fictional account. He squeezes in so many facts during the narrative. For
example,
you'll be reading the main story, "England, unfortunately for these mercenaries, was at peace, and
was actually clamping down on illegal privateering. Captain Henry Morgan, the notorious
buccaneer
who relentlessly attacked the Spaniards and been rewarded with a knighthood, had recently died
in
Port Royal, Jamaica, a bloated man, rum-drunk, his body swathed in magic clay by a local witch
doctor." with that, he sets the scene for Kidd to meet the man who would become his nemeses,
Robert Culliford, and drops in a little bit of information that enlightens us even further about
piracy...or, in this case, privateering. It might also make you think twice before drinking any
Captain
Morgan rum.
The story isn't just about William Kidd. It's about Robert Culliford, and how the two men's fates
seemed perversely intertwined, one a privateer who played pretty much by the codes of honor and
rules that defined a privateer from a pirate, one who embraced piracy with exuberance. Both
would
see the insides of the most notorious prison of London, Newgate, but only one would leave a free
man.
This is a fabulous retelling of Kidd's story. In fact, with this take, and all the facts that Zacks has
dug
up, including actual trial transcriptions, calling it a retelling does it a disservice. Kidd, a sometimes
sarcastic, honorable, restless man trusted far too much in the crown and his financial backers. He
ended up making mistakes, not playing the politics with the wisdom so desperately needed for
survival. He becomes both legendary and human, in some scenes expertly sailing silently through
dangerous waters and leading his men to impossible victories, yet so capable of making silly
mistakes that I can see myself making. An excellent read.
Cross Stitch Myth And Magic
David and Charles
c/o F & W Publications
1507 Dana Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45207
0715312219 $24.99 1-800-289-0962
This book of seventy designs brings together a group of very talented people...Teresa Wentzler,
Susan Penny, Sue Cook, Linda and Rodger Garland and Rungrat Puthikul name about half of the
familiar designers who have added their works to this collection.
Cross Stitch Myth And Magic is a beautiful collection, sectioned off by themes, and at the end of
each section little spot cross stitch pieces and borders give stitchers a variety of small accents they
can add to their things. In "Myth and Magic", a princess pets a dragon, Merlin casts a spell, and a
medieval style black work castle and dragon are the main patterns. "Winter Magic" feathers a
cloaked visitor on a horse delivering presents to a far off castle, a frost fairy cleverly done in pale
pastels and white on a blue back ground, and an angel seated on a crescent moon. "Oriental
Fantasy"
has a lovely goddess of Mercy, an oriental dragon and good fortune symbols. "Angelic
Messengers"
consists of an angel blowing a horn, and a princess riding a unicorn. "The Mystic Deep" features a
mermaid sunning herself on a rock outside a fantastical city, dolphins, and some other undersea
motifs. The final section is named for the pattern it features, "Celestial Heaven". This piece is a
blue
and gold Greek-themed Zodiac design that tempts even those who do not know one sign from
another.
The book also shows you how you can take different patterns and create mobiles, coasters, hand
towels and wall hangings. The patterns are all worked in a straightforward way, only a few
requiring
any blending, and mostly not requiring any special stitches. The one major exception to this is
"The
Princess and the Unicorn." The reviewer would like to advise people who choose to use the tufted
stitch to give the mane and tail of the unicorn a three dimensional look...you will read that it
doesn't
tell you to knot your ends as you go...indeed, I don't think you could, and I would like to advise
you
to do this part last. This is because when you wash your project, you might mess it up...consider
washing and preparing your project, then taking a few minutes to do the tufted stitch, then iron
and
mount it. Otherwise, the instructions are clear and easy to follow, so that even beginners could
make
things from this book. The patterns themselves are full color, which makes them easier to
follow.
All the floss numbers are DMC, so a person who uses a different brand will need to download a
conversion chart from the internet. There are many free resources for this, so it shouldn't be a
problem. I think this is a really nice collection of fantasy related cross stitch projects. Crafters
looking to add a bit of magic to their lives will find some wonderful projects here.
Making And Dressing Doll's House Dolls
Sue Atkinson
David and Charles
c/o F & W Publications
1507 Dana Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45207
0715387634, $19.99 1-800-289-0962
If you're like me, doll house store shopping is rapidly becoming more of a window browsing
experience, rather than a buying one. Some places have some truly exquisite dresses, for
well-earned
yet exquisite prices, while some places have none at all...and sometimes it's hard to find just the
right
doll with just the right dress for your house.
If you're reasonably crafty, then this book is a true treat. She starts from making the mannequin
and
goes on to discuss, by type then by periods, women's, children's and men's clothes. She wraps up
with wigs, hats and accessories, dispensing practical advice a long the way.
I've always wanted to make my own dresses, but never knew how to start. She makes it easy,
giving
plenty of patterns for you to copy out. She suggests that you make the dress on the doll, because
it's
easier, shattering my own cherished notion that I'd be able to change my doll's clothes much like I
used to change Barbie's.
She begins, as I said, with making the dolls. She explains how to mold them using various
techniques, and how to use pipe cleaners, bound around with batting, which then can be covered
with thin white jersey or felt for bodies. She also describes how to make an all pipe cleaner dolly,
or
string an all bisque body. This chapter also emphasizes her cleverness...throughout the book there
are scenes created with her beautifully dressed dolls, and this one, with its duo of grandparenty
looking dolls carefully working on their own mannequins while a third, just finished and ready for
her clothes watches with great interest is ironic and fun. I found her dress making equipment and
materials chapter to be very useful, and it details what we'll most likely need to have on hand,
while
the following chapter on "Dress Making Methods" shows us how to make several nifty tools that
will help us, such as a simple tool for making roses. Her instruction are very clear and easy to
follow, giving me confidence that I'll be able to create some truly elegant dresses.
She discusses a "Brief History of Fashion", explaining the trends for all genders so that we can
understand and choose what we are looking for, before going into how to actually dress the dolls
in
the next chapter. This will be the order in which you create the clothes...you won't be making the
dress until you've made the underwear, and it also writes a lot of important information about
how
to shoe them. It includes patterns for corsets and petticoats as well as other under-things.
The next chapter about women's fashions begins the main part of the book. She tells us how to
make
each dress in order of time, giving us many beautiful and lavish illustrations to inspire and give us
examples. She explains the best methods and materials for each pattern, giving us a lot of tips to
help
make the project more successful. She uses a lot of quaint pen and ink drawings that capture the
flavor of the past to illustrate single dresses next to the patterns themselves, and larger full color
group scenes that show the dresses off nicely.
Of course, no doll would look right with out a nice head of hair, and she easily explains how we
can
help our dolls look perfectly coiffed. She explains how to get the proper look for all periods, and
the
best materials for getting a natural look. The final chapter details hats and accessories, showing us
how o make all sorts of hats, parasols and fans. There is also jewelry, mittens, muffs, reticules,
baskets and toys, giving us a wide variety of things we can use to go with the doll, or add to the
decor of the house itself. There are several hat patterns included in this section.
Impossible not to pick up and browse through, it is clearly and well written by someone who not
only loves what she's doing, but has obviously done it a lot and so understands the pit falls as well
as
the pleasures. This book is an incredible addition to any doll house crafter' library. Highly
recommended.
Jennifer Government
Max Berry
Doubleday & Company
1540 Broadway, New York, NY 10036
ISBN 0385507593, $19.95, 320 pages, 1-800-726-0600, http://www.MaxBerry.com
In Max Barry's satiric view of the near future, corporate culture takes over the world. People take
the name of their company or school, much in the way a wife often takes her husband's name, and
so
Hack Nike works for Nike, Hayley McDonald's goes to a MacDonald's sponsored school, and
Jennifer works for the Government. There are no taxes, and in order to get an ambulance, you
have
to be able to prove you can pay for it. In order to fuel an investigation into the murder of their
daughter, a pair of parents will sell their home to give Jennifer and her partner Calvin a budget. It
is
a strange world that Barry invites us into, all the stranger because it feels possible.
It starts with John and John Nike offering the desperate Hack Nike a promotion. They fast talk
him
into signing a terrible contract with out looking at it, a contract where he agrees to kill ten kids.
The
idea is simple. Nike has been with holding the newest shoe, Mercurys, from the public, only
selling a
few pairs in order to increase demand. Now to give the shoes street cred, they intend to have
Hack
kill ten people who have bought the shoes, making it look like a gang-related incident. Left with
no
choices, Hack goes home, determined that he can't carry out such a horrible scheme. His self
centered girlfriend, Violet, tells him to go to the police. Instead of helping him, they offer to
subtract
the deal out, taking care of it themselves to help him avoid prosecution. Hack, backed once again
into a corner, agrees.
Jennifer has heard a whisper of this, and so she and several agents head out to various Nike Town
stores, hoping to prevent the murders. She is too late to save one girl, and almost gets herself
killed.
When she gets out of the hospital, she is determined to revenge the dead, and even her own score
with John Nike.
A novel like this is a very fine three way balance. It can become pretentious or downright
insulting,
or, it can take all the elements and blend them together so that it comes out perfect. Barry
definitely
does the later. A book where America annexes about 60% of the world to its borders, including
Barry's own homeland of Australia, (where much of the book takes place) can feel like it may be
tapping a sore spot. Unfortunately, the need for money, the need to drive the economy forward
despite risks and loss of human lives is a concept universal to humans of all stripes, which is why
this
vision of huge corporations getting bigger and making political/commercial alliances works
despite
its frightening nature. The corporations force you to make choices, drawing the line between
preferences and freedoms...if you like Whoppers, then you'll never be permitted to go across the
street for a box of MacDonald's fries. It is also a world where the roots of problems that we can
see
now increase and feed upon each other. The nuisance suits of today become major problems
when,
for instance, Jennifer lands on and destroys a Mercedes...and the dealer is suing her for landing on
it.
It takes a sharp mind to see our world of today and extrapolate to a possible future.
Most satires rely on caricatures rather than characters. And while, like any good satirist, he points
up
the flaws and weaknesses of his people rather than tucking them away, he does it in such a way
that
it does not take away their ability to drive the story or be likable. Jennifer, in herself, while being a
tough no nonsense copper, is also a caring, guilt stricken mother, a woman who is almost shy
when
it comes to certain circumstances.
Irreverent and clever, Jennifer Government warns us that in the future, everything will be counted
cheap and be made to be thrown away...even human lives.
Crossroads Of Twilight
Robert Jordan
Tor Books
175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010
ISBN 0312864590, $29.95, 700 pages, http://www.tor.com
The story is well known to us who have long read the series. Rand Al'Thor, the Dragon Reborn,
struggles against the Dark One, with the help of a huge and varied cast. In this episode, Matt
Cauthon has found the woman of his heart, the Princess of the Nine Moons, who he knows he is
fated to marry. She is not quite so sure that this is her destiny, and so he kidnaps her. Perrin
Aybara's
wife Faile has also been kidnapped...by the Shaido, and he desperately searches for some clue to
track her with. Meanwhile, Elayne and Egwene each fight their own desperate battles for power.
Elayne fights for the Lion Throne, Egwene, recently given the position of the Amyrlin seat by a
rebel
faction of the sorcerous Aes Sedai, fights to unite the white tower under herself. A short
summary,
true, and you will see why if you read on.
The first thing is, that this is very much not a stand alone book. The structure of the series is such
that each addition is just another chapter of a very large concept. While I admire the sweep of
what
he is attempting, in writing such a huge work, it has some side effects that I am not sure I care
for.
For example, in this book we have a little bit of Perrin's story here, a little bit of Egwene there. I'll
just be really getting into the story, really cheering the character on...and then the chapter will
end,
and we may not see that person again for many pages...maybe not even for the rest of the book. I
grind my gears, trying to shift into a new situation, another character who I may not have seen
since
the last book. He could probably fix a lot of this if he had a cast of characters in the back, and a
summary of what has gone on before in the front, rather than spend story time trying to plant it all
...nine books worth, now, and probably many more ...into the context. As it is now, I find myself
not
enjoying the book as much because there is so much going on at once, so many people to keep
track
of. It blunts the impact of the story because nothing ever finishes. We rarely, if ever, come to an
end
of anything, and the supposed main idea of fighting the Dark one becomes second fiddle.
Characters
that he built up strongly and made you care about are abandoned. I can't help but think if he had
grouped things together more, maybe having one whole book assigned to this set of
plotlines/characters, resolving them, then going on with the next or using all the characters, but
having each story arch pretty much complete in the book...where some small plot lines are
resolved
but they all strengthen the main goal, I would have been happier. As it is, I feel like he's just
dragging things on too much, and I feel depressed because all these people I care about, all these
interesting stories, are never finished...and may never be finished.
This book in itself, has some interesting things that it adds to the story as a whole, some well done
surprises that make the story interesting, while recalling some of the past things, reminding you of
why the are/will be important in the future. The characters are all well done -- the main characters
extremely likable, while some of the minor ones are definitely not ...some of these people have a
love
of beating people that borders on perverse glee. So the book does move the story forward.
So, why do I read this series? When the first four books came out, I read them, adored them...the
first four books showed Robert Jordan to be one of the most interesting and talented voices in
fantasy...and since I loved those first four books so darn much, I guess I keep coming back, just in
the hopes that this one is the last, and that I'll see and understand everything that Jordan was
building towards, and how it works out, and Rand, Perrin and Matt, who started out together on
this
road so long ago, will finally get to live happily ever after.
Cindy Lynn Speer
Reviewer
Harwood's Bookshelf
Controlling Technology: Second Edition
Eric Katz, Andrew Light and William Thompson, editors
Prometheus Books
ISBN 1573929832, 550 pages, paperback, $34.00
As an undergraduate, I had my attention drawn to an inverse correlation between success in the
Faculty of Engineering and the ability to read English literature. After reading this book, I am now
convinced that there is an inverse correlation between whatever it is that these authors do, and the
ability to write comprehensible English. The whole book is devoted to an issue about as profound
as
how many angels can dance on the head of a pin, and in places is equally metaphysical. Consider
(p.
84):
"A primary consequence of the epistemological picture I advance is that no single unified account
of
knowledge will serve science and technology. In advancing a materialist account of
epistemology-thing knowledge-I do not also argue for the negative doctrines that propositional
and/or mechanistic accounts of knowledge are wrong. On their own, however, they do not
provide a
sufficient framework for an adequate epistemology of technology and science. More is needed
and a
critical part of this in an articulation of how the material dimensions of science and technology do
epistemological work. Things and theory can both constitute our knowledge of the world. But I
deny that there is a unified epistemological treatment for both. Even within my material
epistemology, there are fundamentally different ways that different kinds of instruments constitute
knowledge."
Anyone who sees the foregoing as something other than a close relative of The Jabberwocky may
be
the book's intended market. Certainly I am not. The last time I encountered so much
incomprehensible gibberish in a single volume, it was in the Judaeo-Christian bible.
In the introduction to Part 1, the editors write, "Men do not actively conspire to destroy the
planet
that sustains them; toxic wastes, acid rain, ozone depletion, and changes wrought by the
greenhouse
effect are unintended 'side effects' of our intended goals. Nonetheless, we may, by incremental
steps,
so alter the ecology of the biosphere that life on earth is no longer viable. Our world may end in a
whimper, not a bang." After such a succinct statement of the problem, I expected to be offered
solutions, or at the very least suggestions for alleviating it. I did not find them.
"Are there philosophical aspects to technology? Of course there are.... if there is a philosophy of
science, language history and art ... how can there not be a philosophy of technology?" (p. 175)
Newsflash! There is not a philosophy of science, history, etc., and all who earn a living by
proclaiming that there is, are parasites preying on the masses by peddling the thing that is
not.
Is technology a good thing, a bad thing, or neutral? One could with as much justification ask such
a
question of grass growing or paint drying. Technology simply IS. Only persons incapable of
rational
human thought could mistake this compilation of glossalalia for a meaningful discussion of a
legitimate issue. The world needs whatever discipline these doubletalkers practise like it needs
theology, astrology, psychology, Velikovsky or the Maharishi. If this book has any value, it is for
propping up a short leg on a kitchen table. Don't waste your money.
Mind Games: Are We Obsessed With Therapy?
Robert A. Baker, Ph.D.
Prometheus Books
ISBN 1573920711, 460 pp, cloth, $36.00
The good news is that Robert Baker agrees with the conclusions I gave the world in The
Disinformation Cycle (Xlibris, 2002), that psychology is pseudoscience, psychiatry is
pseudomedicine, "mental illness" is psychobabble for undisciplined behavior, and psychotherapy is
the same kind of cold reading practised by bartenders and taxi drivers, but without the real
experts'
ability to recognize that their conclusions are just as likely to be wrong as right. The bad news (for
me, not for the world) is that Robert Baker reached those same conclusions in a book published
six
years before my own.
So with writers such as Baker, myself, and Thomas Szasz (The Therapeutic State, Prometheus,
1985) exposing the practice as unmitigated fraud, why is it that (p. 64), "nearly 40 percent of all
Americans will enter psychotherapy at some point in their lives"? Surely that 40 percent cannot
fail
to have noticed that such "treatment" simply does not work? The primary answer is that, as with
religion, astrology, child minding posing as education, and chiroquackery, there are hundreds of
thousands of professional pushers with sufficient collective clout to compel the mass media to
continue disseminating disinformation for the simple purpose of preserving their bread and butter.
"So many professionals in the mental therapy field have become so disillusioned that they have left
the occupation entirely and no longer believe that mental therapy of any sort is desirable." (p. 153)
Unfortunately, that group of defectors includes very few of the quacks who call themselves
"psychotherapist" because they have no entitlement to the designation, "Doctor," and who cannot
change their specialties because they cannot actually do anything.
Psychotherapists kill. "When age and alcohol took their toll in the case of Ernest Hemingway and
he
became severely depressed, his therapist resorted to electroshock. After a few sessions of this, the
subsequent amnesia got steadily worse as a result of the ECT treatment and pushed Hemingway
over the line. Tearfully confessing that life was not worth living without his memory, Hemingway
took a shotgun and blew out his brains. His therapist killed him just as surely as if he had held the
gun and pulled the trigger." (p. 173)
The number of deaths caused by psychotherapeutic humbuggery, usually patients but more
recently
innocent caregivers whom the patients have been manipulated into accusing of monstrous crimes
as
a consequence of therapeutically-induced false memories, is infinitesimal compared to the
estimated
one million victims of the conscienceless mass murderers known as faith healers. But even one
patient who goes to a self-styled therapist with a minor problem and leaves with a major problem
is
one too many.
The only difference between psychotherapists and "psychic" Uri Geller is that, while both earn
their
livings by encouraging the belief that they can read minds, Geller is fully aware that he is a
common
trickster pretending to utilize mental powers that do not exist, whereas psychotherapists
brainwash
themselves into believing they really can see inner truths not apparent to bartenders and taxi
drivers.
The classic example of the species is psychiatrist John Mack, who published a book authenticating
alien abductions because he sincerely believed that a psychiatrist such as himself could not be
deceived by lies. He was deceived by lies, as was demonstrated when one of his alleged abductees
acknowledged that she had fed him a pack of lies for the purpose of ascertaining whether he could
recognize if a patient was lying.
As Baker puts it (pp. 18-19), "Today, for the most part, psychiatrists are either pill-pushers or
analysts. Neither approach is either effective or relevant in the care and treatment of any of the
major
human behavioral problems.... Most of the time, fortunately, what is done in the name of
psychotherapy is fairly harmless and innocuous or even, on rare occasions, of some help. But the
occasions in which the fundamental principle of medicine, 'first do no harm,' is violated are much
too
frequent for either public comfort or individual complacency."
As a former teacher who daily faced classes of inattentive pupils whose real problem was that they
were being forced to remain in school long past the point at which they had learned everything
they
would ever know, I have long been convinced that "Attention Deficit Disorder" is a psychobabble
name for simple lack of interest in whatever a teacher (or other adult) wanted a juvenile to learn.
Baker's chapter on the subject settles the issue. Attention Deficit Disorder does not exist.
Whole books, including Multiple Personality Disorder: An Exercise in Deception, which Baker
cites
in a footnote, have been written spelling out the proof that MPD is a psychobabble name for a
form
of compulsive playacting. Baker convincingly summarizes the evidence in a twenty-page chapter.
Multiple Personality Disorder does not exist.
Baker devotes a short chapter to The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, the
official psychiatric catalogue of mental disorders to be covered by medical insurance. He indicates
(p. 331) that, "The original DSM listed only sixty types and subtypes of mental disorders."
DSM-II
raised the number to more than two hundred, and DSM-III to so many that they had to be
subdivided into five "axes." He concludes that "DSM-V will probably consist of only one line on a
single page: All human behavior is pathological!" (p. 332) He suggests that DSM should stand for
"Dense, Stupid and Moronic." (p. 339) And the persons who accept DSM as something other
than
science fiction are permitted to call themselves doctors! If psychiatry is medicine, then religion is
science.
In his chapter on Iatrogenesis, Baker writes (p. 250), "The majority of people can be persuaded to
relax, close their eyes, and take slow, deep breaths.... When a therapist suggests to patients who
are
in this relaxed, susceptible state that they were abused as children (possibly by Satanists), or that
they have been abducted by aliens, the ideas become 'memory,' and an iatrogenic [doctor-induced]
disorder is born." Refuting specifically the book most responsible for the false memory pestilence,
he
writes (p. 253) that the authors of The Courage to Heal "go on to argue that the clients' failure to
remember specific instances of abuse proves they were in fact, abused. Therapists reading and
believing this nonsense and repeating it to their clients are laying another dozen miles of asphalt in
hell." ("paved with good intentions") (This chapter was later expanded into a whole book, Baker's
1998, Child Sexual Abuse and False Memory Syndrome, probably the definitive work on the
subject.) The extent of the problem was revealed when I recently posted a scathing indictment of
The Courage to Heal to Amazon's website. Within two weeks, the site was displaying the
message,
"2 out of 12 people found this review helpful." In other words, for every two people capable of
being told that recovered memories and really false memories, there are ten others who still
cannot
be told.
If I might insert a further personal note: Somewhere in my writings I cited the case of a woman
who
claimed a recovered memory of being raped by her father as a pre-teen, twice giving birth, and
watching her babies being sacrificed by Satanists. A medical examination eventually revealed that
she had never been pregnant. I did not name the fantasizer or give a source for the anecdote, as I
was repeating it from memory and could not relocate it. Baker (p. 277) names the book in which
she
spelled out her fantasy, Satan's Underground, and the publication in which her story was falsified,
Cornerstone, January 1989, pages 23-38. On the role of the media in promoting such superstitious
hogwash, Baker writes (pp. 277-278), "Mincing no words, David Alexander lays part of the
blame
for Satan mongering right on Geraldo Rivera's doorstep for his October 25, 1988 NBC-TV
special,
'Devil Worship: Exposing Satan's Underground.'" There was no follow-up TV special
acknowledging that the program "watched by more people than any other television documentary
in
history" had since been definitively falsified. To broadcast a withdrawal, NBC would have had to
place truth ahead of ratings. Anyone who expects that to happen is living in the same fantasy
world
as the Satan-mongers.
Mind Games is a logical, scholarly refutation of the hoax of psychotherapy, aimed specifically at
practitioners of the discipline responsible for selling the emperor's new clothes: psychiatrists
(MDs),
psychologists (Ph.D.s), and self-styled psychotherapists, persons holding no higher qualification
than
Master of Bar Tending and not legally required to have even that. But definitive debunking of the
psychotherapy hoax by psychiatrists of the eminence of Robert Baker, Thomas Szasz, and the two
dozen others named in Baker's dedication, has clearly had little influence on the nonsense peddlers
who need it most. Auto-reinforced brainwashing is still as prevalent in pseudomedicine as it is in
religion and the paranormal. Why? Economic self-interest has been mentioned already. But there
must be more to it than that.
God addicts who intentionally bury their heads in the sand have the legitimate excuse that, if they
accepted the reality that death is the end of existence, a large percentage would have to be
institutionalized and diapered. What defence do psychoquacks have for continuing to peddle the
psychotherapy hoax? One explanation that comes to mind is that admitting they have spent years
practising humbuggery would be too embarrassing. But that seems too simple. The persons who
created the first gods came to believe in their own fantasy. Could it be that the persons whose
fanciful imaginations first created "mental illness" feel the need to justify their delusion by
experiencing it themselves? If anyone is truly mentally ill, it is surely the person who thinks that
mental illness is a valid concept.
The Courage To Heal
Ellen Bass and Laura Davis
Harper Perennial
1350 Avenue of the Americas, NY 10019
0060950668, $22.50, 608 pages
HOW TO DESTROY INNOCENT LIVES IN ONE OBSCENE FANTASY:
Can all memory of a traumatic childhood event such as sexual abuse be repressed and then
recovered twenty years later at the prompting of a psychotherapist whose other patients all tend
to
recover similar repressed memories? Since no evidence has been found in sixty years of research
that
"repression" even exists, and since the techniques used to "recover" lost memories read like
something out of The Manchurian Candidate, the answer is almost certainly No.
The main weapon for propagating the recovered-memory hoax is The Courage to Heal, a piece of
fiction by authors best described as the Charles Berlitzes of false memories. The book is the bible
of
the National Center for Prosecution of Child Abuse, an organization that believes that half of all
women were sexually abused as children and that recovered memories are more valid than a ouija
board or tealeaf reading. They assert that, "Children must be believed at all costs, except when
they
deny that abuse has happened.... People who don't believe the child must be protecting molesters,
are probably molesters themselves." Can anyone doubt that the propagators of such paranoia are
not
sparking on all neurons? By the criteria proposed in The Courage to Heal, a strong case could be
made for the real existence of the tooth fairy, the Easter Bunny, the Great Pumpkin, and the serial
killer known as God.
At a time when a growing number of innocent victims of false child-abuse allegations made by
patients of the therapists touted in this book have been awarded several million dollars in damages
against the quacks who put false memories in their patients' minds, the continued peddling of this
validation of fantasies straight out of the sick imaginings of the Marquis de Sade is criminally
irresponsible.
William Harwood
Reviewer
Judine's Bookshelf
The Way Of Wonder
Jack Haas
Iconoclast Press
Suite 144, 3495 Cambie Street, Vancover, BC, V5Z 4R3, Canada
ISBN: 0973100702 paperback, 0973100729 ebook, $TBA, 243 pages.
As young girl stood at the base of a Ferris wheel, she wondered if she could stay in the heavens
when her seat reached the highest heights. But, she soon became a young woman who studied
how
the laws of gravity effect nature. She learned that although some Ferris wheels stood over 150
feet
tall, if she went up, she was sure to come down. So she stopped wondering when she stood at the
base of the Ferris wheel. As the years rolled past, the young woman matured into an older adult.
Now as she stands at the base of a Ferris wheel, she wonders if she could see the face of God
when
her seat reaches the highest heights.
The Way Of Wonder inspires us to rediscover the mystery of ourselves. Unfortunately Western
culture teaches us at an early age to confine our thoughts to societal truths.' There is little room
for
thinking out-of-the-box, without feeling outside-of-the-box. Age usually brings the wisdom of
wonder, and it is then that we can appreciate the enchantment of not-knowing. The Way Of
Wonder
brings this Eastern or Oriental wisdom to the reader before you get too old to enjoy it.
Jack Haas delivers a wonderful message with thorough research. There are quotations about the
positiveness of wondering' from people who have traveled all walks of life. He does not use plain
language as often as he could, but he explains his topic from so many perspectives, the basic
meaning is understood. I would recommend The Way Of Wonder to anyone searching for the
answers to a wonder-ful' life.
The Leader's Voice
Clarke & Crossland
The Tom Peters Press and SelectBooks, Inc.
http://selectbooks.com/index.htm
ISBN: 1590790162, $21.95, 168 pages, Hardback
The Leader's Voice reveals how to change static communication and poor performance into
dynamic
communication for extraordinary results. A manager speaks to only ensure the job gets done. The
leader's voice uses facts, emotions and symbols to motivate and create change. A leader carries
out
authenticity, and foresight to not only get the job done, but to also promote a willing to go the
extra
mile. Providing plenty of proven examples from leaders throughout history, with the ABC's of
leadership, The Leader's Voice equips the reader with the necessary information to remove any
obstacles preventing success.
Clarke and Crossland practice what they preach. Their written communication style is direct and
to
the point, with the determination to make a difference. Using the pictures to stir emotion, the
various type fonts to personify symbols and the straight facts from the lives of other leaders
immediately captured my attention. They did a fantastic job organizing the material and appealing
to
my creative core. I would recommend "The Leader's Voice" to anyone attempting to motivate a
crowd of one to one hundred and one or more.
Now let me reflect . . .
I used to complain about my mother fixing so much tuna casserole. Her response, "There are alot
of
starving people in the world. You should be thankful we have food on the table." When my father
knew I didn't feel as smart as my sister because of my grades, he would tell me, "You're
intelligent.
You just need to study a little longer." And when I cried after being hit by a car, my
grandmother's
words consoled me with, "If God looks over the sparrow, surely he'll take care of you." These
voices addressed me with emotion. These voices encouraged me with facts. These voices
motivated
me with symbols. I now realize these are the voices of the leaders in my life.
The Legend Of Kokobono
Charles Steed
Gold Standard Press, Inc.
350 South Center Street, Suite 500, Reno, Nevada 89501
ISBN: 0965439631, $14.95; 176 pages, paperback
Is it live or is it Memorex? A few years back, that was the hook line on a television commercial
for a
company that sold blank cassette tapes. The viewer watched Ella Fitzgerald belt out an extremely
high note, which caused a wine glass to shatter. Or so we thought that was what we were
watching.
Apparently a Memorex tape replayed her voice the whole time -- to say that their cassette tapes
sounded just like the real thing. I had a similar reaction while reading The Legend Of
Kokobono.
Let me get something straight before I continue. The actual legend of Kokobono sounds like
fiction.
There is an island called Lialah, a mysterious food ingredient termed Shee, a group who became
the
family Soon, and of course Kokobono. In order to influence many civilizations, Kokobono
personifies himself through the power of facial and bodily transformation to interact with different
cultures. Now he needs someone to record his stories.
An alias John Smith tracks down Charles Steed, the author, to write a book about Kokobono's
experiences. Just imagine putting yourself in Charles' shoes, and that's when the story starts to
sound
like the truth. Like me, Charles doesn't believe the legend. Several conversations transpire to
convince him that this mission is his purpose. At the very point Charles questions certain things,
the
very same questions arise in my mind. You know the saying, "Took the words right out of my
mouth." Well, that's exactly what happens. By the end of the "Talent Scouts," Charles eagerly
agrees
to be the messenger. I then begin to think to myself, "Is this truth, or is it fiction?"
Charles Steed "transcribes" the conversations, and two of Kokobono's stories with vivid realism.
His
words swept me into my subconscious events which seemed so far fetched that they just could be
true. Mark Twain's quote -- "Truth is stranger that fiction, but it is because fiction is obliged to
stick
to possibilities; truth isn't." describes his style of writing exactly. I recommend The Legend Of
Kokobono to those who might want to read about reality adventures, instead of watching them on
TV.
Judine Slaughter, Reviewer
http://www.eybooks.com
Alyice's Bookshelf
Outsmarting Goliath
Debra Koontz Traverso
Bloomberg Press
100 Business Park Dive, Princeton, NJ 08542-0888
1576600319, $19.95, 225 Pages, Paperback, 1-888-388-2749
Outsmarting Goliath picks up where traditional work-at-home/small business books leave off.
What
I admired the most about Traverso's style is the way she delves deep down into the issues that
both
small and home-based businesses face on a daily basis and boldly gives examples from the
trenches
of her clients! All too often, business books tell and don't show. Outsmarting Goliath does
both-Traverso tells the reader what works as well as what doesn't, and then shows solutions by
example. I especially loved her checklist on "Don't be a blabbermouth." This is definitely a book
to
be read and re-read.
101 Best Home-Based Businesses For Women
Priscilla Huff
Prima Publishing
3000 Lava Ridge Court, Roseville, CA 95661-3034
0761528172, $14.95, 463 Pages, Paperback, 1-800-632-8676
When searching for the perfect home business, many stay-at-home moms have no idea where their
talents lie, let alone what to do with those talents once they realize they actually possess
marketable
skills. Huff's book is the perfect starting point for women looking for ideas to help them work
from
home. Each of the 101 businesses are explained in the most basic form, then enriched with
recommendations, tips, and resources that allows each reader to go beyond the book and delve
deeper into the business that best fits her talents. Order 101 Best Home-Based Businesses For
Women today!
911: The Day America Cried
Victoria Walker
Obadiah Press
607 N. Cleveland Street, Merrill, Wisconsin 54452
0971326657, $15.95, http://www.obadiahpress.com/
"Only in America do we face adversity in the face and make something good come from it. The
idea
for 911: The Day America Cried came from Victoria Walker, who wanted to help those who
suffered a loss from the 9-11 events. Being an author herself, she knew the healing power of
words
and put them to good use. 911: The Day America Cried isn't about re-living the nightmare of the
terrorist attacks, it's about sharing compassion, hope, and yes, the healing power of words. The
proceeds from 911: The Day America Cried will go to the Todd Beamer Foundation. I am very
proud of this book. I stand up and applaud every author and person behind the scenes that made
this
book possible."
Tales Of Adventure And Discovery
Mary Emma Allen
MEA Productions
55 Binks Hill Road Plymouth, NH 03264
096516750X, $9.95, http://homepage.fcgnetworks.net/jetent/mea/
Have you ever wanted to sit down at night and read a wholesome short story to your children or
grand-children? One that would instill a bit of virtue and leave you feeling like you have taken a
step
back into your childhood? Then Tales Of Adventure And Discovery is a MUST READ! The
stories
are short enough that you can fit them into any busy life style, and simplistic enough that even a
five
year old can understand! The best part, however, is the fact that everyone in your family will
actually
enjoy these stories!
Alyice Edrich, Reviewer
http://thedabblingmum.com
Taylor's Bookshelf
The Pilgrim's Italy
James Heater & Colleen Heater
Inner Travel Books
14618 Tyler-Foote Road, Suite 171, Nevada City, CA 95959
0971986002 $17.95 1-866-715-8670 www.innertravelbooks.com
Collaboratively compiled and written by James and Colleen Heater, The Pilgrim's Italy: A Travel
Guide To The Saints is a travel guide geared toward those Christians who want to follow the
paths
of Christian saints, seek out Christian shrines, and learn more about the lives of these notable and
pious men and women while traveling in Italy. Enhanced with a wealth of information, maps,
descriptions, and accessibility of holy sites, The Pilgrim's Italy is a first-rate guide to spiritually
enriching travel and an invaluable aid in finding lodging in monasteries along the way.
Bible And Government
Dr. John M. Cobin
Alertness Ltd.
PO Box 25686, Greenville, SC 29616
0972541802 $10.95 1-866-492-2137 www.PolicyOfLiberty.net
Bible And Government: Public Policy From A Christian Perspective by John M. Cobin (a devout
Evangelical Christian, father of six homeschooled children, and Visiting Professor of Economics
and
Public Policy, George Mason University) is a sharply written, critical account of the expansion of
American governmental power and the threatening implication said power has for Christians and
the
Christian community in particular. Professor Cobin offers noteworthy and insightful evaluations
on
public policies ranging from speed limits to food stamps, all with an eye to what Christianity
demands in terms of obeying the government. Bible And Government is a thoughtful and
thought-provoking read with ideas imminently worthy of serious consideration by students of
Public
Policy, Political Economy, and Christian Social Issues Studies.
Inspired Preaching
C. Richard Wells & A. Boyd Luter
Broadman & Holman Publishers
127 Ninth Avenue, North, Nashville, TN 37234
0805424172 $19.99 1-800-251-3225
Collaboratively written by C. Richard Wells (President and Professor of Pastoral Theology, The
Criswell College, Dallas, Texas) and A. Boyd Luter (Dean of Faculty and Professor of Biblical
and
Theological Studies, The Criswell College, Dallas, Texas), Inspired Preaching: A Survey Of
Preaching Found In The New Testament is an exciting and innovative treatise on Evangelical
Christian theology focused on interpreting the essence of Biblical preaching. Drawing upon the
work
and wisdom of great biblical preachers such as Jesus, Paul, and Peter, Inspired Preaching offers
the
Christian reader a vision and testimony for bringing the Bible's words into the context of modern
daily life.
The Exiles
Gilbert Morris & Lynn Morris
Thomas Nelson Publishers
PO Box 141000, Nashville, TN 37214-1000
0785270027 $13.99 www.thomasnelson.com -- Phenix & Phenix (publicity)
Book One of "The Creole Series", The Exiles is a romantic novel collaboratively written by
Gilbert
and Lynn Morris, and set in nineteenth-century New Orleans. Chantel Fontaine is a young and
devoutly Christian woman who is searching for love, the strength to persevere, and the baby sister
she thinks might be lost forever. The Exiles is confidently recommended as being a truly
memorable
story which vividly brings a multicultural city of New Orleans to life!
The Lost Letters Of Pergamum
Bruce W. Longenecker (with extracts from Ben Witherington III)
Baker Academic
PO Box 6287, Grand Rapids, MI 49516-6287
0801026075 $14.99 www.bakerbooks.com
Bruce W. Longenecker's The Lost Letters Of Pergamum: A Story From The New Testament
World
is a compelling and thoroughly entertaining novel written in an unusual style -- a collection of
letters
telling the story of Christian life in the eastern Mediterranean during the first century. Bringing the
New Testament world to life, blending history and fiction into a compelling whole, The Lost
Letters
Of Pergamum is enthusiastically recommended to readers of Christian fiction as being an
evocative
and interesting page-turner, the kind of novel that is so easy to pick up and so hard to put
down!
The Bible And The Comic Vision
J. William Whedbee
Augsburg Fortress Publishers
PO Box 59304, Minneapolis, MN 55459
0800634861 $20.00 1-800-328-4648
The Bible And The Comic Vision by J. William Whedbee (Nancy M. Lyons Professor of Biblical
Literature and History, Pomona College, California) is an original, scholarly, and informative
study
of comedy in the Hebrew Bible. Analyzing the Old Testament book by book, The Bible And The
Comic Vision offers a body of unique insights into the wry side of the Holy Book, with an
especial
emphasis on the "dual faces" of comedy. The Bible And The Comic Vision is very highly
recommended as being a truly fascinating work delving into a little-discussed and
underappreciated
aspect of The Bible.
God With Us
Herbert O'Driscoll
Cowley Publications
907 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02139
1561012084 $11.95 1-800-225-1534 www.cowley.org
God With Us: The Companionship Of Jesus In The Challenges Of Life by Anglican Priest Herbert
O'Driscoll is an informed and informative treatise about the presence of Christ in the darkest
places
of our lives - those times of sorrow, heartbreak, and challenge. Drawing from the stories of the
Gospels, God With Us is very highly recommended to a Christian readership as being an
especially
strong affirmation of faith in Jesus and in His walk alongside us all.
God Is With You
Larry Libby & Corbert Gauthier
Zonderkidz
c/o Zondervan Publishing House
5300 Patterson Avenue, S.E., Grand Rapids, MI 49530
0310703433 $12.99 www.zonderkidz.com
God Is With You: That Is All You Need is a Christian picture book by Larry Libby that deftly
reminds children of the presence of God even in the darkest hours, and shows prayer as the way
to
invite Jesus Christ into one's heart. Beautifully enhanced with panoramic color illustrations by
Corbert Gauthier, Biblical quotations, and a message of faith and hope fill this profound and very
highly recommended narration for young readers ages 4 through 8.
Thank God For Rocks
Esther Bender & Mary Anne Lard
Morehouse Publishing
4775 Linglestown Road, Harrisburg, PA 17112
0819219029 $14.95 www.morehousepublishing.com
Thoughtfully written for young readers by Esther Bender, Thank God For Rocks is a vibrant,
full-color picture book imbued with Christian values. A poor man becomes the owner of a small
farm; yet he is grateful for all God has given him, -- especially the rocks. For the rocks themselves
become vital material in his construction of a new house, a warm barn, and a stone fence for the
garden. The rich colors of the impressionistic-style illustrations by Mary Anne Lard are an
especial
highlight in this simply outstanding children's book which is very highly recommended for ages 3
to
7.
Stories Of Jesus
Edward & Sarah Bolme
Crest Publications
PO Box 3195, Rendton, WA 98056
0972554645 $23.99 www.crestpub.com
Beautifully enhanced with colorful "animation-style" illustrations by Tim Gillette, and
collaboratively
written by Edward and Sarah Bolme, Stories Of Jesus is a superbly produced set of four 5"x5"
board books designed specifically for children newborn through five years. The individual titles
comprising this very highly recommended series includes Jesus Feeds the People; Jesus Heals a
Little
Girl; Jesus Helps a Blind Man; and Jesus Stops a Storm. Christian parents and church sponsored
preschool centers concerned with instilling faith-based feelings of calm and security in their
children
during these troubled and troubling times are well advised to acquire the Stories Of Jesus for the
edification of the youngsters in their charge.
John Taylor
Reviewer
Vogel's Bookshelf
Israel/Palestine
Tanya Reinhart
Seven Stories Press
140 Watts Street, New York, NY 10013
1583225382 $11.95 1-800-596-7437
In Israel/Palestine: How To End The War Of 1948, Israeli scholar Tanya Reinhart presents an
unprecedented history and analysis of the myths and facts surrounding the diverse offers and
agreements that were made at Camp David and later. Also covered are Israel's controversial
military
strategies with respect to the Palestinian Intifada (largely unreported in the American mainstream
media). Drawing from official government sources as published in the Israeli media, Reinhart's
analysis is impeccably researched, persuasively argued, and thoroughly "reader friendly" in its
presentation. Israel/Palestine: How To End The War Of 1948 is very strongly recommended
reading
for students of the continuing Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Circuit Analysis I With MATLAB Applications
Steven T. Karris
Orchard Publications
39510 Paseo Padre Parkway, Suite 315, Fremont, CA 94538
0970951124 $55.95 1-800-242-7737
Circuit Analysis I With MATLAB Applications by electrical engineer and educator Steven T.
Karris
(Adjunct Professor, UC Berkeley Extension) is a highly technical but accessibly written,
college-level textbook for teaching engineering students how to analyze potential difference of
voltage in a wide variety of increasingly complex circuits and much more. Embodying advanced
math and physics material (all theorems and definitions are accompanied by carefully detailed and
presented explanations and illustrations), the numerous exercises and practical applications are
specific to the MATLAB software. Circuit Analysis I With MATLAB Applications is highly
recommended as a scholarly text intended for (and appropriate to) undergraduate as well as
advanced students in the field of electrical engineering.
Defending Zion
Roger Robin Ekins, editor
The Arthur H. Clark Company
PO Box 14707, Spokane, WA 99214
0870623214 $42.50 1-800-842-9286
By the time he was 30 years of age, George Q. Cannon had been a printer's devil, a religious
refugee, an 1847 Utah pioneer, a member of the great Mormon trek of 1849 across the southern
Great Basin to California, a gold miner, a Mormon missionary to the Hawaiian Islands, and
finally,
the editor and publisher of the San Francisco "Western Standard". Compiled and edited by Roger
Robin Ekins (Professor of English and Chair of the Honors Program at Butte College, Oroville,
California), Defending Zion: George Q. Cannon And The California Mormon Newspaper Wars of
1856-1857 is the latest and fifth volume in The Arthur H. Clark Company's outstanding
"Kingdom in
the West: The Mormons and the American Frontier" series and which details the published
journalistic defenses of Mormonism in the 19th Century by a capable and articulate defender in a
time when the newspaper was the most potent and powerful means of mass communication and
persuasion for social, political, and religious causes. Defending Zion is a welcome and invaluable
contribution to Western American History Studies in general, and The Utah War episode which
saw
President James Buchanan launching a military expedition to Utah so costly that it almost
bankrupted the United States federal government on the eve of the Civil War.
Paul T. Vogel
Reviewer
James A. Cox
Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review
278 Orchard Drive
Oregon, WI 53575-1129
phone: 1-608-835-7937
e-mail: mbr@execpc.com
e-mail: mwbookrevw@aol.com
http://www.midwestbookreview.com
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