The Two Pound Tram
William Newton
Bloomsbury
ISBN: 0747573336 A$21.95 186 pages
Ann Skea, Reviewer
http://ann.skea.com
We walked the length of the tramshed and into the yard. It held trams of every description, many
decrepit and obviously out of use for a long time, but also there were ones like the picture in the
advertisement.
"All these 'ere are two pounds." said Alf. "You can 'ave whichever you likes."
So Wilfred and his older brother, Duncan, bought a tram. How they came to do so, and all that
happened to them after that, Wilfred relates, although, as he says, this is "a story which starts in a
world now vanished".
In some ways, Wilfred's vanished world is the rosy world of childhood memory. In the 1920s and
1930s, Wilfred and Duncan grew up in a big house in Sussex, cycled the countryside, camped,
hunted small animals, collected butterflies and dreamed of owning a tram like the one they had
seen
advertised in the Daily Mail. But illness, family breakdown and war changed all that.
Familiar as this scenario might seem, this is no commonplace story. Duncan suffers a bout of
meningitis which leaves him dumb, and he and Wilfred learn to communicate through their own
sign
language; the boys' mother drives off in her Hispano-Suiza car and disappears from their lives, and
their father take up with "a succession of ladies", none of whom like the boys. Then, in early
1937,
Hitler walks into Austria: and Pale Clouded Yellow butterflies invade the Sussex fields. In pursuit
of
butterflies, the boys trespass on a nearby property and are seized by the gardener and hauled
before
the owner, Mr Schwayder, who is German. But this is not a spy story.
As a result of all these events, the boys (now young teenagers) decide to be independent. They
scrape together their meagre savings, leave home, and go to London to buy a tram. What they
will
do with their chosen tram once they have it, they have not considered, let alone how they will get
a
tram out of the depot without tracks and wires. Alf, the tram-depot foreman, saves their dream by
offering them an ancient horse-tram - a 'penny-bumper' - which has wheels which can be taken on
the road. And, in a tour of the Acton totters' yards ['totters' were the London rag-and-bone
collectors], the boys find an ancient draught horse, used to hauling coal, whose owner no longer
wants it.
So, with the tram comes, first, Homer (the horse) and his inseparable companion, Tiger, the dog;
then Hattie, a girl of about the boys' own age; then, by chance, a private tram-line in Worthing;
followed by bombs, unofficial signalling duties, a German bomber seemingly shot down by
Duncan's
catapult, a letter from Winston Churchill, and a visit from the King and Queen.
All of this sounds fantastic, but the charm of this story is that it could all, just possibly, be true.
William Newton tells it so simply and so plausibly that you end up wanting to search for
corroborative evidence. And if you do so, I'm sure you will find some, although the details may
not
be sufficient for you to verify Wilfred's version of events.
Whether the story is truth or fantasy, however, is not important. It is a wonderful story, told by a
story-teller who, if nothing else, can embroider facts so imaginatively that you suspend disbelief. It
reads like a memoir, and it captures with deceptive simplicity and humour, the adventure,
optimism,
delights and disappointments of the vanished world of youth. It is a pleasure to read.
Harbor
Lorraine Adams
Alfred A Knopf
201 E 50th St, New York, NY 10022
ISBN 1400042332X, $23.95, 292 pp.
Coletta Ollerer
Reviewer
A tale with three prongs: The escape from a life in a homeland that was so desperate, so
horrifying
that it made the lonely and dreadful prospect of becoming a stowaway look attractive. The
frightening and solitary life of an alien in the USA. The terrifying awareness of an illegal that he
might be of interest to Federal agencies.
In several flashbacks we are taken into the military experiences of Aziz in Algeria including the
brutal killing of a woman, and his unending fear of being tortured himself by his own comrades
and
superiors as he watched others in the throes of agony. He trusts no one. "Now there was nothing
Antar (the local warlord) did not believe was his right. There were those among Antar's men who
took to depravity the way birds take to air. They had imaginations bloated with ways to inflict
suffering, and they saw the permutated hell of their nighttimes as an underground heaven they had
never hoped to enter." (p157) This was the atmosphere that drove Aziz to escape his
country.
He manages to get back to his family and intends to leave the country but his inability to get the
proper papers from his government forces him to take the risk of becoming a stowaway. He is
dirty,
hungry, cold and without the native language when he drags himself onshore in Boston. A stroke
of
good fortune brings him to the attention of an Egyptian whose Arabic tongue allows him to
provide
help. Aziz manages to get in touch with a friend, Rafik, from Algeria who he knows is living in
Boston. Rafik is glad to hear from him and he invites him to live at his flat. He knows he must be
careful when dealing with Rafik who is known to be untrustworthy but this relationship is the only
one he feels comfortable with in Boston. Illegals come and go at Rafik's apartment.
Aziz' lack of language skills and his unsettled background left him feeling isolated. He doesn't
understand a lot of what is going on "Mostly, he had no one to discuss most things with, so their
weight and importance were all too often equal. Anything could matter. Anything could be
anything." (p65) He watches people closely in an attempt to better understand this place. He feels
invisible but lucky because he is here and not in Algiers where terror is the order of the day.
The federal agents have numerous meetings to determine if they have a case against Aziz and
others
who pass through Rafik's apartment in Boston. They decide to arrest them. Those arrested are
people who fled the fear and intimidation of life in Algeria only to find themselves faced with
anxiety
and suspicion in the land they hoped would give them a chance of refuge. The story gives us a
glimpse into the lives of these unfortunates and into the Federal agencies charged with their
surveillance.
The Devil in the White City
Erik Larson
Random House Inc.
ISBN: 0375725601 $14.95 464 pages
Craig McAndrew
Reviewer
Heard the one about the architect and the serial killer? It's not a bad joke, but it is a great book.
The
architect was Daniel Burnham, the driving force behind the Chicago World's Fair of 1893; the
killer
was H.H. Holmes, a Svengali-type figure who lured young women to his hotel and did the most
gruesome things, the least shocking of which was murder. The two men never met, but The Devil
in
the White City brings their stories together, and although it reads like a novel, everything is
thoroughly researched fact.
The book:
The Great Columbian Exhibition of 1893 was Chicago's big chance to shake off its old image as a
hog-slaughtering, dirty and dangerous town and to take its place as America's second city.
Although
the fair's theme gave a backward nod to the 400th anniversary of Columbus bumping into the
Americas on his way to India, its vision was futuristic: for the first time, electric lighting, clean
water, and planned green spaces could be experienced on a massive scale. Innovations - the Ferris
Wheel, the hamburger, an elevated railway, Juicy Fruit gum, the zip fastener and shredded wheat
among them - enhanced the feeling that the next century would belong to America. The buildings
were monumental, the exhibits eclectic (one example: a map of the USA made entirely of pickles)
and the visitors were awestruck. They called it the White City, from the colour of main buildings
that were imposing by day, dazzling by night.
Much of this was down to Daniel Burnham. His can-do reputation for building skyscrapers made
him a natural choice as project manager. But we're frequently reminded that he had to push
himself
to the limit and step on quite few toes to ensure the Fair's success, a job made all the more
difficult
by economic recession, bickering architects, striking workers, pompous politicians and Chicago's
notorious weather.
As if all this weren't enough to occupy the reader, a parallel story takes us inside the grim world
of
H.H. Holmes. Capitalising on the advent of the Fair, Holmes built his own hotel to attract single
young women who were streaming into the city from across America in search of work,
independence and a new life in the big city. One such unfortunate believed she was on the
threshold
of marriage to this enchanting gentleman; in reality, she was destined for a gas chamber in the
hotel
basement. She was not to be the last to fall for his charms, but even in death there was no rest.
Holmes literally picked over the bones of his victims, selling their remains to medical students
eager
to examine recently deceased corpses - no questions asked. At first, the benefit for Holmes was
financial, but as time passed, the chase, the kill, the post mortem had become ends in themselves.
A
single-minded detective and a stroke of luck brought Holmes to justice, but even when he realised
the game was up, he managed to keep his unsettling cool.
My thoughts:
I had a strong feeling that I would take to this book, and from start to finish I was never
disappointed. It fairly zings along, both stories proving absorbing, while casting out facts like
frisbees.
Although Burnham and Holmes are the book's dominant characters, there are walk-on parts for
numerous figures who made their own mark on the White City. Buffalo Bill, Thomas Edison, and
Scott Joplin are among the famous names, and the description of George Ferris's efforts to debut
his
eponymous wheel is a story in itself. But the lesser-known characters are also worthy of note. I
pitied poor Frederick Olmsted's attempts to landscape the exhibition in the midst of an enormous,
muddy construction site and a fit of depression. But I can see how ahead of his time he really was,
insisting on natural greenery instead of a regimented collection of flower beds. Then there was
Patrick Prendergast, whose descent into madness was to have a shocking impact on the Fair's final
days; it's here that Larson's descriptive powers really come into their own.
As for the serial killer, the author doesn't dwell on the sensationalist aspects of his more grisly
activities, but what he leaves to the imagination is far more powerful. Extracts from letters written
by a child kidnapped by Holmes are among the most upsetting words I've ever read - a reminder
that
the worst of human nature may not only be found in our own times.
But my lasting impression from this book is one of optimism, of Burnham straining every nerve
and
sinew to achieve the impossible, and the ordinary folk of Chicago bursting with pride at what had
been achieved.
The U.S. edition of the book has the subtitle "the fair that changed America" - and that's certainly
true, right down to the Pledge of Allegiance which can trace its origins to the exhibition's opening
day. Beyond that, the Chicago Fair of 1893 not only showed America how it could be, but how it
would be - better living and working conditions, convenience foods, domestic appliances, gadgets
and more time for fun. In short, it heralded the prospect of a decent day's pay for a full day's
work, a
clean, safe environment, and of course the God-given right to eat shredded wheat.
Who would you like this book?
I enjoyed it because of an interest in cities and architecture. But it would equally appeal to readers
who are into engineering, politics, social history, horticulture, true crimes; does that leave anyone
out?
The Other Brother
Geoff Elliott
Allen and Unwin
ISBN 1741143241 A$24.95 194 pages.
David Skea
Reviewer
The Other Brother is the story of Simon Holmes … Court, the younger brother of Robert, the
West
Australian billionaire. Unexpectedly it's a fairly ordinary story of a rather quiet, shy young man
making a career first as a wild life protection officer in the then Bechuanaland Protectorate (now
independent Botswana). After independence, having to leave the British Crown service, he
decided
to start up a yacht charter business but first had to find a boat and learn to sail. Unfortunately this
enterprise did not prosper so he then decided to make a wild life documentary film whilst sailing
round the world. He completed his filming and spent a year or so editing the film footage he had
taken but found no takers for the finished film. He then returned to Botswana starting out again as
a
sculptor.
What is puzzling is that in June 1977, at the age of 37, he suddenly disappeared. His vehicle was
found abandoned some two days drive away from his home in a remote forest. Moreover the
vehicle
identity had been defaced as if someone did not want the identity of the owner to become
known.
Three years later some girls out cutting twigs to make brooms stumbled across a skeleton which
was
presumed to be that of Simon. Alongside was a double-barrelled shotgun, one shell still unfired.
An
inquest was held and the case closed. The official cause of death was found to be an accident or
suicide and it was also found that no one else was responsible for the cause of death.
All of this was reported in the South African press but did not get exposure in Australia where his
mother and brother lived. This is not really surprising as he wasn't an Australian or a resident of
Australia and his story wasn't unique.
So how did Elliott get involved? It seems that Elliott began his career as a journalist in Western
Australia where, amongst other stories, he reported on the rise of Robert Holmes … Court. Later
he
moved to Europe and then to South Africa, working in Cape Town. A colleague there mentioned
that he had gone to school with the Holmes … Court brothers and that Simon had disappeared.
This
was the first time that Elliott knew that there was a younger brother and he became intrigued
(obsessed) by the story. This book is the result of the research that followed.
It would appear that Simon was a somewhat foolhardy young man and early on in his sailing
career
was 'lost at sea' between Maputo (Louren‡o Marques) and Durban. Fortune smiled on him and he
was rescued by a passing oil tanker. However he had run up a huge debt for the rescue. In
settlement for the rescue and towing, and to pay the cost of repairing his yacht, he agreed to a
sailing trip up the east coast of Africa, ostensibly a charter trip for two rich tourists. In reality this
was electronic surveillance or spying trip where he also honed up his skills as a sailor. Another
sailboat and a round the world sailing trip followed, ostensibly to film wild life. Unfortunately his
film was not the commercial success Simon had hoped for and he ended up back in Botswana
starting a new career as a sculptor. His friends say that he had a natural ability and could have
become well known. During this time, he apparently became involved with a married woman who
was living apart from her husband. The night before he left there was a tiff she said she needed a
breathing space, time alone to work things out. Simon left early next morning for Johannesburg,
ostensibly to purchase casting supplies for his business but he never reached there or returned
home.
Elliott's style is easy to read and my only complaint is where he comes into the story himself as a
fictional reporter. As he says, he had trouble with writing this part of the story and this was his
way
of managing it. All-in-all a light read useful for passing the time on a long air trip.
The Artist's Quest for Inspiration, second edition
Peggy Hadden
Allworth Press
10 East 23rd Street, Suite 510, New York, NY 10010
ISBN: 1581153589 $19.95 279 pages
Rose Glavas
Reviewer
The Artist's Quest for Inspiration is a book that will appeal to artists at many different stages of
their
career and in most artistic fields. If you are creative at any level this is a title that will help you
find
new ways of being inspired.
The author offers many suggestions to help you break through any creative blocks such as:
journal
writing, working with other artists, meditation, and music... just to name a few techniques!
Throughout The Artist's Quest for Inspiration you will find highlighted ideas for you to try. One
of
them that I like in particular goes like this:
'I think creative responses are helped by singing old songs. I know it can lift my mood. Even in
private, singing can help you remember incidents from your past that might have drifted off to a
corner of your mind's attic.'
This is NOT a how-to book with step-by-step instructions in using various media or lessons in
perspective etc. However, this is a book that will draw on your true creativity and individual
offerings to the world that will truly reflect what you have to offer.
The author has done a fabulous job in providing you with a multitude of 'block' busters that will
help
you break through any creative barriers you may be suffering from. Even if you don't suffer from
this
problem The Artist's Quest for Inspiration is bound to provide you with even more energising
ideas
than you already have! The language is easy to understand and friendly.
I would recommend this book to anyone involved in a creative pursuit - particularly if you are
looking for new ideas - but also for those of you looking for a fresh approach. I must admit that I
don't suffer from a shortage of ideas, but this title certainly gave me a lot more to think
about!
Minding Her Own Business: The Self-Employed Woman's Essential Guide to Taxes and Financial
Records, 4th Edition
Jan Zobel, E.A.
Sphinx Publishing
P.O. Box 4410, Naperville, Illinois 60567-4410
630-961-2168 SphinxLegal.com
ISBN 1572484551 $14.95 239 pages
Peter Hupalo
Reviewer
Minding Her Own Business: The Self-Employed Woman's Essential Guide to Taxes and Financial
Records by Jan Zobel is a solid introduction to taxes and recordkeeping for small business
owners.
We learn there are 10.6 million women-owned businesses in the U.S. (48% of all businesses),
employing 19.1 million people and generating total annual sales of $2.46 trillion.
During her career preparing over 8,000 small business tax returns and teaching small business tax
classes, Zobel says she learned that many people women, in particular are frightened by financial
and tax issues.
Zobel writes: "Taxes don't differentiate between men and women the complexity of the laws
leaves
everyone confused! This book was written with the belief that anyone no matter how unfamiliar
with or afraid of numbers can learn to take charge of her finances."
Minding Her Own Business covers these topics especially well:
* Tracking Expenses
* Understanding What Makes an Expense Tax Deductible
* Car Expenses and Home-Office Expense
* Depreciation and Amortization
* The Importance Of Tracking Business Revenue and Other Sources Of Income
* What Records the IRS Expects You To Keep and How Long
* Financial Statements
* Inventory and Cost-of-Goods Sold
* Retirement Accounts
* Understanding the Audit Process and What To Expect If You're Audited (Yikes!)
* Sole Proprietorship (Schedule C) Taxes
* Self-Employment Tax (IRS Schedule SE)
* Estimated Tax Payments (IRS Form 1040-ES)
New business owners (and most business owners) operate as sole proprietorships and need to
understand the three basic IRS forms for sole proprietor tax reporting and payment. Those forms
(Schedule C, Schedule SE, and Form 1040-ES) are covered in detail. One-member limited liability
company (LLC) owners also file as if they were sole proprietors.
Zobel writes: "Sole proprietorships file a Schedule C with their tax return, showing their business
income and expenses. For this reason, the IRS calls sole proprietors Schedule C filers. Schedule C
filers are audited more often than other people because the IRS thinks they may not be reporting
all
their income. There is less focus on businesses that don't have a lot of cash transactions than there
is
on businesses, such as restaurants and hair salons, where much of the business is done in cash.
Nevertheless, all businesses need to keep good records."
Zobel does a good job of explaining the rationale behind IRS requirements and explaining tax
issues
in simple, real-world terms.
For example, in discussing car expenses, Zobel uses a little drawing showing commuting between
home, a regular job, a second job, and a temporary work location to show when car mileage is
deductible.
Zobel writes: "When asked how many miles their cars were used for business in the prior year,
many
taxpayers stare at the ceiling as if the answer's written up there. Some tax preparers call this the
PFTA (Plucked From The Air) approach to recordkeeping. It will not stand up in an audit.
Business owners sometimes claim that they use their car 100% for business. If you have a
deductible office-in-home, 100% business car use is possible if you have another car available for
personal transportation. If you don't have a deductible office-in-home, your car generally won't be
used 100% for business because you have at least some commuting miles. Often, the business car
is
also used for a vacation trip or to pick up groceries. True 100% business use is rare for a
passenger
vehicle."
Minding Her Own Business is completely updated for 2005 and covers important tax
considerations
for today. The deductibility of health insurance premiums to small business owners is discussed, as
are education expenses and the lifetime learning credit.
One of my favorite chapters covers retirement planning for small business owners. With worked
examples showing how much an individual could save tax-deferred with SIMPLE-IRAs,
SEP-IRAs,
and the new one-person 401(k), it becomes clear the newer one-person 401(k) (also known as the
self-employed 401(k) or the solo 401(k), among other names) is a particularly desirable option for
those entrepreneurs who don't have employees but who wish to maximize their tax-deferred
savings.
Zobel also discusses the new Saver's Tax Credit which is designed to give a tax credit up to
$1,000
to lower-income individuals for a $2,000 contribution made to a retirement account. (My first
reaction: What?! A tax credit for low-income people? How did that find its way into the
legislation?). Essentially, if you qualify, you can get $1,000 back from the IRS if you contribute
$2,000 to a retirement account. As Zobel points out, this tax credit expires in 2006 (You had to
know they'd catch it eventually!). This demonstrates the importance of staying current on tax
issues.
Reading the current edition of Minding Her Own Business and taking advantage of this credit,
could
instantly get some entrepreneurs $2,000 from the IRS for the next two years.
A great chapter focuses on IRS audits and what to expect if you're audited. We learn that your
chances of being audited is very low. Zobel writes: "In reality, only a small percentage of people
are
audited each year. Just 1.91% of all Schedule C filers were audited in 2003 but this was nearly
triple the rate for other taxpayers. Those who believe their income is too small for the IRS to care
about may be surprised to learn that in 2003, 3% of sole proprietors with gross receipts below
$25,000 were examined."
I think every new business owner who isn't already familiar with business taxes should get a copy
of
Minding Her Own Business. I highly recommend this book to both men and women, especially
entrepreneurs who plan to operate as sole proprietors or as one-member LLCs. Because the book
is
updated for 2005, I recommend people who own previous editions also acquire a new edition for
current information about one-person 401(k)s and other changes affecting entrepreneurs.
The Culprit and the Cure
Steven G. Aldana, PhD
Maple Mountain Press
935 East 900 North, Mapleton, UT 84664
ISBN 0975882805 $24.99, 272 pages
Jamie Engle
Reviewer
Most everyone knows a healthy lifestyle includes eating right and exercising, yet many people
don't
eat right or exercise regularly. What will it take to get you committed to a healthy lifestyle? For
me,
it was Dr. Steven Aldana's book The Culprit and the Cure.
The Culprit and the Cure clearly connects the dots between a healthy lifestyle and the prevention
of
chronic diseases, a prolonged life, and a higher quality of life. It also shows you what you need for
a
healthy lifestyle and how to achieve it. Dr. Aldana, a professor of lifestyle medicine in the College
of
Health and Human Performance at Brigham Young University, "read just about every scientific
article ever published on nutrition, physical activity, and chronic diseases." He uses them to make
a
convincing case for permanent lifestyle changes and to define healthy nutrition and exercise
guidelines. It's his engaging, but matter of fact, presentation that gets your attention. For example,
" approximately 40% of all cancers are caused by the typical American diet, lack of physical
activity and obesity, and that cancer is mostly a preventable disease." And, "Chronic diseases are
among the most common and costly health problems to treat, but they are also among the most
preventable."
Have I heard these facts before? Probably, but study results tend to go in one ear and out the
other
because the results seem to conflict. One study says, "Do this," and the next one says, "No, don't."
Because of his extensive research and background, Dr. Aldana can state,"17 studies show this, 3
studies show this, and 2 show this. Taking all of them into account, here's what we know." I feel
like
I'm finally getting the whole picture, not just part of it. Having convinced you of the need to make
permanent, healthy lifestyle changes, Dr. Aldana next gives you the tools to make them. No quick
fixes or meal-by-meal plans. Dr. Aldana doesn't advocate giving up all red meat, or all white
breads,
or extremes of any kind. He advocates something much more realistic: a balanced diet and regular
exercise. He lays out nutrition and exercise guidelines, such as a new food pyramid, and a
thorough
explanation of why food closer to its natural state is healthier. He gives you a blueprint for
planning
how to incorporate proper nutrition and exercise as a natural and permanent part of life. You'll
find
tips on how to overcome obstacles, helping children accept healthier food, setting goals, useful
websites, and more.
Making lifestyle changes happens when you see benefits outweighing the barriers. The Culprit and
the Cure had a profound impact on me. It tipped my benefit/barrier scale to the benefit side,
thereby
changing my life. If I feel barriers creeping back up, I can refer back to the book to reinforce the
benefits. I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone who wants to be healthy or raise
healthy
children.
The Amateur Marriage
Anne Tyler
Knopf
1745 Broadway, New York, NY 10019
1400042070, $24.95, 320 pages
Julie Merritt
Reviewer
We have all read books that rehash the same tired motif of the fairy tale relationship. Even when
these stories are laced with reality, the authors seem to wrap up the stories neatly with a nice
ending.
Life is not always so tidy or sweet. Anne Tyler graces her readers with a beautiful story that
would
rival that of a fairy tale, but it is about real life, with real characters with only the most understated
notions of glamour.
Tyler's gives us her first dose of reality when Michael and Pauline fall in love in the romantic
frenzy
of early WWII. Young men are running off to enlist in the Army, and young women are busy
romanticizing the soldiers' struggle to protect their homeland. Michael enlists in the Army and
quickly returns home from boot camp after he is accidentally shot during a training evolution.
Although his wound is not serious enough to cripple him, it does keep him from serving
abroad.
There the real journey begins. Michael and Pauline marry without any of the misty-eyed romance
of
a soldier returning home to his war bride. Their marriage isn't a glorious reunion after
angst-ridden
months of separation. Instead, it is subdued, entirely human, and far from perfect. Pauline wants
more from life than Michael can give her. She is ambitious, manic, and largely unsatisfied with the
life her grocery-store-owner husband provides for her. In contrast, Michael seems emotionally
distant, content to steer clear of life's many peaks and valleys as he plods through his daily
routine.
Tyler truly shines as she defines the course of their marriage. A subtle tension ripples just below
the
surface, and she skillfully hints at the larger problems that inevitably result from the pairing of
such
mismatched personalities. Tyler recognizes that marriage is a partnership, and that far too many
people slip into flawed relationships based on an ill-founded infatuation. Michael clings to an
image
of his wife seared into his mind during the passion of their initial encounter, all the while longing
for
a wife who only wants to share his peaceful existence. The quiet desperation that permeates 'The
Amateur Marriage' is all too real. Tyler is a first-rate author, and her beautifully drawn novel is a
wonderful success.
What You Owe Me
Bebe Moore Campbell
http://www.bebemoorecampbell.com
G.P. Putnam's Sons
375 Hudson St., New York, New York 10014
http://www.penguinputnam.com
ISBN: 0399147845 $25.95 640 Pages
Kim Anderson Ray
Reviewer
Rating: 4
Corporate Revenge
Los Angeles in 1948 marks a crossroads for both Hosanna Clark and Gilda Rosenstein. Both are
running from violent pasts. Hosanna from the vicious mob that raped her sister and stole her
family's
farm and Gilda from the death camps of Nazi Germany. Tapping their resilient inner strength, the
two women manage to start a small cosmetics company catering to women of color. But their
success doesn't last long because one day Gilda simply disappears taking all of the small
company's
assets with her.
Gilda's defection plants a bitter seed of retribution inside Hosanna that lives even beyond the
grave
and continues to grow inside her youngest daughter, Matriece. Gilda has resurfaced many years
later
and heads one of the most successful cosmetics companies in the world. Now it's time for
Matriece
to collect her dead mother's due.
Bebe Moore Campbell skillfully revisits a period when black people were migrating to Los
Angeles
with little more than dreams. It is a story that spans fifty years and all the poignant drama of three
dynamic women, their friends, children and lovers. It is tantalizing, edgy, and sexy at times; sure
to
keep you turning the pages to discover who comes out on top in this corporate drama.
The Lilypad List
Marian Van Eyk McCain
Findhorn Press, 305a The Park, Findhorn, Forres IV36 3TE, Scotland, UK
www.findhornpress.com
ISBN: 184409037X $14.95 182 pp.
Linda Davis Kyle, Reviewer
www.writersfriend.com
In her wonderful book, The Lilypad List: 7 steps to the simple life, Marian Van Eyk McCain helps
you to find 'The Way of Consciousness' to simplify on all levels -- not just the "surface
manifestations of the simple life: how to recycle things; live on less money; tie-dye your old
T-shirts;
clean your windows with vinegar" as in some other also useful books. But her book delves into
the
"most profound level of all" to help you to align with the "greater whole of which we are a part,
i.e.,
the Earth" (p. 115). In inspiring and poetic prose, McCain offers ideas "upon which to build a life
that's simpler, sweeter, and more fulfilling than the one you have been leading up till now" (p.
141).
In addition, at the end of her book, McCain suggests additional books to read. Having been a
certified psychotherapist for many years, she also shares a self-therapy technique "to use for
peering
more deeply into the corners of your unconscious mind," and a "tape measure to estimate the size
of
your ecological footprint" (p. 141). The Lilypad List is a must read for anyone on a quest to
simplify
and revitalize life and restore health to help not only oneself but also to make a difference in the
lives
of those near and far and to respect and nurture the very Earth itself. Rather than offering a
prescription for the simple life, McCain shares the pathway that she has used with the hope that
she
will "enable you to create your own, unique prescription" (p. 152). If The Lilypad List enchants
you,
you will find McCain's Elderwoman a must read, too. I highly recommend both books.
What Does Bunny See? A Book of Colors
Linda Sue Park, author
Maggie Smith, illustrator
Clarion
ISBN 0618234853 $15.00 32 pp.
Lynne Marie Pisano
Reviewer
Follow Bunny through a cottage garden in Linda Sue Park's sometimes-rhymed, morning-to-night
story. In this colorful garden, Bunny discovers a variety of flowers in red, yellow, purple, green,
pink, orange and blue. Maggie Smith's charming watercolor and pencil illustrations drive the
reader
through the sometimes awkward (though sometimes rich in assonance and consonance) verse
with
near-rhymes: In a cottage garden/ past the pussy willow/ bunny nibbles tender shoots/ what she
sees
is---/ yellow!/ Primroses are nestled low/ in their leafy pillows. Surprisingly, this picture book
lacks
the usual Linda Sue Park polish. Still, little ones may enjoy identifying the bold colors, as well as
locating the small insects pictured on each spread.
Knock Their Socks Off: A Freelance Writer's Guide to Query Letters that Sell
Mridu Khuller
WritersCrossing.com
http://www.writerscrossing.com/queries.html
e-book, $12.95 130 pages
If you are looking to make a living as a freelance writer, you'll need to become very familiar with
the
query letter. It is the basis of any assignment, from a brief point by point article to a full length
non-fiction (and even fiction writers need to produce good queries). Mridu Khuller is the editor of
WritersCrossing.com, and has written for hundreds of magazines, websites, newspapers and
anthologies around the world. Many of the books targeted to freelance writers come out of the
USA, and tend to be just a little bit US-centric (to coin a word). Although Knock Your Socks Off
is
applicable to writers working anywhere in the world, for those freelance writers who don't live in
the
USA, the global applicability of the advice and anecdotes is refreshing. Khuller writes in clear,
accessible and friendly prose, designed to encourage and inspire new, and experienced freelancers
in
the art of finding ideas, markets and putting together query letters with those ideas, for those
markets, in order to land writing assignments.
Khuller presents a number of "assignments," brainstorming techniques and practical suggestions
designed to give you targeted and viable ideas --the obvious basis of any query. The assignments
provide activities which will help you understand the limits of your own knowledge, and ensure
that,
when you do get a sale (as you will if you follow Khuller's advice), your work is relevant to you,
for
example: "Make a list of all the jobs you've held previously and for each, come up with an idea
that
would appeal to a mass audience." The idea generation questions in this section are guaranteed
block busters, and will provide the basis for magazine articles for the rest of your working career.
Some of the suggestions, like itemising your big successes, or noting the compliments that others
give you may seem obvious, and they are, but just the process of working through the questions in
writing, with article ideas as the agenda, is enough to generate a huge number of fairly original
topics. Khuller provides advice on how to ensure that your idea is original too, by using a very
common title for one market (like an article about good eating for a pregnancy magazine) and
switching the market (an article on your pregnant spouse's diet for a man's magazine).
If you've followed Khuller's advice in the idea chapter, you will probably already have a number of
markets lined up, but Knock Their Socks Off provides a detailed guide to the different types of
markets, generally focussed towards the non-fiction magazine markets, both online and print. She
also provides links to some of the more respected online market e-zines and instructions on how
to
set up an manage a market/query database for the huge number of potential markets. Once you
have
a good list of markets, it is critical to determine whether the piece you are pitching is a good fit
for
the market and Khuller provides a number of techniques for customising your queries in a way
which will be most attractive. She also provides advice on how to obtain and make good use of
quotes and expert opinion, with tips on using online websites like Profnet and NewsWise.
The rest of the book goes into the nitty gritty of putting together an actual query, from the
salutation
through the lead or hook, the brief, the bio and clips. Throughout the book are examples and
anecdotes, quotes from queries that worked, and those that didn't, and tricks for making your
queries stand out above others. Hints on using photographs, formatting, e-mail querying, one
sentence queries and resubmissions, with a range of real life templates/queries that you can use
yourself with a few modifications. Khuller also suggests a workable schedule for ensuring a steady
supply of queries goes out (2 queries for each rejection). Although at 130 pages, this isn't a
lengthy
book, it is a pleasurable, humorous read full of pithy information designed solely to get the reader
writing for the potentially lucrative magazine/freelance article market. By the time you've finished
Knock Your Socks Off if you haven't already begun the process of writing a series of weekly
queries, and receiving a reasonably number of acceptances, you probably aren't serious about
being a
freelance non-fiction writer.
Beach Girls
Luanne Rice
Bantam Books
Bantam Dell, Division of Random House
NY, NY
www.bantamdell.com 1-800-733-3000
ISBN: 0553587242 $7.50 428 pp.
Martha Robach
Reviewer
Within the magic circle Emma has drawn in the sand, Stevie, Emma and Maddie chant, "Beach
girls
now, beach girls tomorrow, beach girls till the end of time." The three girls enjoy blissful summers
on the beach at Hubbard's Point, Connecticut, during their youth. But now years later there are
only
two surviving "beach girls," and they are lonely women whose lives have turned into an emotional
wasteland. Stevie Moore, artist and author, after three failed marriages and having "fallen in love
too
hard and too wrong," lives hermit-like at her beach house on Hubbard's Point until nine-year-old
Nell Kilvert bolts past her "Please go away" sign, skinning her knees on the rocky path leading to
Stevie's door.
Nell is the daughter of Emma, who Stevie lost touch with years before. Emma married Maddie's
handsome older brother Jack, making Emma and Maddie sister-in-laws. But now Emma is dead.
And something that occurred during the traffic accident that killed Emma and seriously injured
Maddie a year before has driven a wedge between Jack and his sister. Nell grieves the loss of her
mother and the beloved aunt she is forbidden to see and strives to come closer to them through
Stevie's beach memories. With Nell, Stevie begins again to feel the warmth of the sun, and that
sun
glows even hotter when Stevie meets Jack. There is an instant attraction between them, but Jack
is
bewildered, struggling to cope with his wife's death while building a new life for himself and
Nell.
In Beach Girls, Luanne Rice probes gently but realistically some of life's darkest trials: the loss of
one's mother during childhood and the suffering at the end of a marriage. As Stevie, Nell, Jack
and
Maddie attempt to pick up the shattered pieces of their lives and find a way to fit them together
once
more, the book progresses like a wander through a maze, with each character allowing his or her
feelings to lead them, submerged as they are in the dark substance of life's tragedies. Rice extols
the
beneficial effects of psychotherapy during deep trauma, and emphasizes the importance of taking
care of the environment and all living things. Even when her characters appear to lose all hope of
happiness, they are pulled back from the abyss by the bonds of friendship, family and the coherent
force of beloved surroundings.
I read Beach Girls at the suggestion of my daughter, who is a big fan of Luanne Rice and eagerly
awaits the appearance of her latest novel. Rice is a prolific and popular writer. Her former novels
include Dance With Me, The Perfect Summer, The Secret Hour, Safe Harbor, Summer Light and
Firefly Beach. The author's in-depth descriptions of emotions and romantic settings will be most
appreciated by women, but her topics are universal.
Detailed and lyrical descriptions of New England's beaches draw the reader into the story. A
full-moon night on Hubbard's Point is pictured: " the moon would crown the surface -- a
copper-colored orb slipping out of one element into another. It would shimmer, then clarify, turn
glowing white, and grow smaller as it rose high in the sky, its light trickling onto the surface of
the
Sound."
This book is an enchanting, sincere and positive read, with an ending that demonstrates the
redemption and solace family, friends, love and nature can bring in times of loneliness and
sorrow.
Rich Dad's Escape from the Rat Race: How to Become a Rich Kid by Following Rich Dad's
Advice
Robert T. Kiyosaki with Sharon L. Lechter, CPA
Little, Brown, and Company
Time Warner Book Group
1271 Avenue of the Americas, NY, NY 10020
ISBN: 0316000477 $9.99 www.lb-kids.com
Don't let the comic book format fool you! Money is serious business. But let's face it -- that's
bor-ring! Yet Tim Turtle makes a strong case for achieving financial intelligence when he runs out
of
money at the amusement park. He thinks the answer to his money problems is to get a job. When
Red Rat laughs at him and says he'll never get rich by working at a job, poor Tim is totally
confused.
But isn't that how to make money? Instead Red Rat shows him the difference between working
for
money and making money work for him. Based on Kiyosaki's bestselling book "Rich Dad, Poor
Dad", this comic book adventure into the world of finance brings money issues to life. How to
find
moneymaking opportunities and create assets are explored in ways that are fun and easy to
understand.
Fluke
Christopher Moore
Perennial
ISBN: 006056668X $13.95
Terry Mathews
Reviewer
I had a ball reading this book. I've just finished ISLAND OF THE SEQUINED LOVE NUN and
THE LUST LIZARD OF MELANCHOLY COVE, too.
Christopher Moore is a New Age Hunter Thompson. Irreverent. Cheeky. Cynical. And
thought-provoking.
Set in Maui, FLUKE centers around an expert whale researcher seeing the words BITE ME on
the
tail of a humpback whale. Of course, he was the only one who saw it and the pictures he took
didn't
turn out, so he has to prove to himself that he's not going crazy from too much time in a
boat.
Moore has filled his book with rich characters, a plausible plot (mostly), and some really wild
adventures.
Moore has many gifts, but the one that shines brightest is his skewed view of what most of us see
as
normal. He makes his readers pause and think: "Could this really happen?"
Enjoy!
Alisa's Bookshelf
The Good, the Bad, and the Undead
Kim Harrison
http://www.kimharrison.net
Harper Torch
ISBN: 0060572973 $6.99 453 pp.
The Good, the Bad, and the Undead is Kim Harrison's follow-up to Dead Witch Walking. The
world
of this duo is a future Cincinnati which has survived a genetically engineered tomato plague that
has
exposed 'supernaturals' to the world. The supernaturals have staked out a community called the
Hallows. To humans, the Hallows is like Vegas or New Orleans during Mardi Gras - a definite
walk
on the wild side and tourist trap.
Rachel is back with a vengeance along with Jenks, her pixie sidekick, and Ivy, the living vamp.
The
story begins about a month after the conclusion of Dead Witch Walking. Rachel is still struggling
to
earn her half of expenses at the church with Ivy. Rachel's new association with FIB - the Federal
Inderlander Bureau, police force for humans, finally pans out. On the surface the case appears
simple
- Sara Jane's warlock boyfriend has disappeared. Normally IS, police force for supernaturals,
would
handle the case, but they have a 72 hour waiting period. Rachel jumps at the chance to be
involved
for the money and Sara Jane is Trent Kalamack's secretary.
As normal, nothing is as it seems. Dan, Sara Jane's boyfriend, may be one in a string of grisly
murders of ley line witches. Ley line witches tap into the Ever-After using ley lines for their
power.
Rachel is at a disadvantage as she failed the ley line witch class she took in college. She is also
very
leery of the Ever-After due to the demon attack in Dead Witch Walking and the death of her
father.
Rachel finds many links to Trent, but is unable to find hard proof to satisfy Detective Edden of the
FIB.
The Hallows is the incredible world created by Kim Harrison. The alternate world of the
Ever-After
with a demon city is very interesting. Rachel finally takes us to Pizza Piscary and we get to meet
the
master vampire Piscary himself. Kist and his motorcycle are back to torment Rachel. During the
course of the novel, we finally get a much clearer picture of what Trent Kalamack is and what his
motives are.
The Good, the Bad, and the Undead far exceeded my expectations after Dead Witch Walking.
The
storyline branches out in many directions that are unexpected and thrilling to read. I thoroughly
enjoyed the ride and am anxiously awaiting the third installment, Every Which Way But Dead due
out in July of 2005.
Kim Harrison describes herself as born in the Midwest. She has been called a witch, among other
things, but has never seen a vampire (that she knows of). She loves graveyards and midnight jazz,
and wears too much black. Please be sure to visit her website at:
http://www.kimharrison.net/
The Autumn Castle
Kim Wilkins
http://www.kimwilkins.com/
Aspect/Warner
http://www.twbookmark.com
ISBN: 044652381X $24.95 435 pp.
The Autumn Castle, first in the Europa series is a very fascinating urban fantasy from Australian
author Kim Wilkins. I highly recommend this wonderfully imaginative series.
The Autumn Castle introduces use to a group of artist who are currently working under a
fellowship
which allows them to live at the Hotel Mandy Z. in Berlin, Germany. The fellowship is through a
very eccentric artist, Immanuel Zweigler whom everyone calls Mandy Z. Jude, one of the artists,
lives with his girlfriend, Christine Starlight. Christine is an American who lived in Berlin as a child.
The artists are rounded out by Gerda, Pete, and Fabiyan.
Christine has had a very difficult life. While living in Berlin, she befriended a neighbor child
everyone
called little May. May and Christine were inseparable. One night, May disappeared and was
presumed dead. Christine and her parents moved back to America shortly after May's
disappearance.
In 1989, she lost her parents in a horrific car accident that left her with horrid injuries. The car
accident was caused by another driver who never even paused to see if anyone survived. Life was
bleak for Christine until Jude appeared in her life like a knight in shinning armor.
Mandy Z. is a very complex and creepy man. He is a world renowned sculptor and is also color
blind. Along with being incredibly wealthy, he is also an insane sociopath. He is secretly working
on
a bizarre sculpture he calls the Bone Wife. This sculpture is not made of marble or any other
stone,
but of fairy bones. Mandy Z. has a unique gift that allows him to know when a person is really a
Fairy.
One fateful day, Christine injures herself and is transported to Ewigkreis, Fairyland. In this strange
land, Christine encounters a talking fox named Eisengrimm and the Fairy Queen. Queen Mayfridh
is
Christine's childhood friend, May. As children, they preformed a 'blood bond' that allowed
Christine
to enter Ewigkreis. One characteristic of Fairyland is residents forget about humans and our world
once the seasons change. Queen Mayfridh is amazed and intrigued to be reunited with her friend
Christine. After Christine returns to the real world, Mayfridh longs for all she lost when she
entered
Ewigkreis. Soon a plan is hatched to allow Mayfridh to visit the world she left as a child.
The residents of Hotel Mandy Z. are on a collision course with Mayfridh. She brings out many
dark
secrets and tempts Mandy Z. to commit unspeakable acts. Mayfridh's visit brings all these horrors
and more to pass. Christine, Jude, and the rest are never the same again.
Kim Wilkins has created an incredible tale of morality and madness to delight. Her characters are
rich and multidimensional. The plot does seem to lag at times, but that is a result of dealing with
character development. We get to know the residents of Hotel Mandy Z. and Ewigkreis very
intimately. The twists and turns created in the plot are amazing in their ingenuity. This is not a
typical Fairytale nor is it a typical fantasy. At the end, Wilkins treats us to a real Fairytale that
closes
the plot in such a way that you crave more.
Kim Wilkins lives in Australia and is the author of numerous books. Her Europa series continues
with the Giants of the Frost - available in Australia, and the Snow Witch - to be released July,
2005
in Australia. For more information, visit her website at http://www.kimwilkins.com/
Elphame's Choice
P.C. Cast
http://www.pccast.net/
Luna
http://www.luna-books.com/
ISBN: 0373802137 $13.95 551 pp.
Elphame's Choice by P.C. Cast is a wonderful follow-up to Cast's first novel, Goddess by
Mistake.
Elphame's Choice is set in the same world, Partholon about 125 years after the events in Goddess
by
Mistake.
Elphame, the great-granddaughter of Rhiannon and the daughter of Etain, the current Goddess
Incarnate is struggling to find her way. Born part-human and part-centaur, she is worshiped by the
people of Partholon and she hates it. Elphame is a woman - not a goddess. Epona, the Goddess,
has
never directly spoken to Elphame. As a matter of fact, Elphame has never experienced anything
magical except her hybrid looks.
MacCallan Castle, according to Goddess by Mistake was the site of a terrible atrocity. The
Fomorians, vampire-like demons attacked the castle, murdered all the men and used the woman as
incubators for their children. Fomorians had lost the ability to reproduce and had discovered that
human woman could be used for children. These women died a horrible death at the birth of these
Fomorian off-spring. With the help of Rhiannon and Epona, the Fomorians were defeated and
driven
into the Wastelands. MacCallan Castle was destroyed when it was used a funeral pyre for the
dead.
Elphame has decided MacCallan Castle should be rebuilt. She hopes those who join her endeavor
will accept her just as a woman and not a goddess. To assist her in rebuilding the castle are her
brother, Cuchulainn, Danann, Stonemaster and centaur, Brighid, a Huntress and centaur, Brenna,
a
Healer, and many others. This band of young people are hopeful that MacCallan Castle will be a
place for them to start over and have a better way of life.
The Fomorians are not done with Partholon. While the original Fomorians have long since died
off
of a plague, their children have survived. Epona, in her infinite wisdom, allowed some of the
mothers to survive. These mothers loved their children, even though they where fathered by
Fomorians. These hybrid children raised by loving mothers fight a constant battle to retain their
humanity. Lochlan, their leader, believes in a prophecy told to him by his mother - the hybrid
Fomorians will gain salvation from madness with the blood of a dying Goddess. Lochlan believes
this to be Elphame - who is also his lifemate.
P.C. Cast has created a wonderful and rich mythology for Elphame's Choice. The intricate
characterizations make the book very interesting to read. This is not just as standard romantic
fantasy. There are no buxom heroines in distress. Elphame is strong in both character and body.
While some parts of the story are traditional romance, most is not. The storyline has a few twists
that are not anticipated. The fantasy element of the book is what dominates the storyline. The
ending
will even surprise most. It is not your typical 'happy ever after.' I enjoyed reading this book.
P.C. Cast is a professional teacher and speaker. Her first book, Goddess by Mistake won the Holt
Medallion in the category of best paranormal romance, The Prism Award, and the Laurel Wreath
Award for Excellence in Published Romance Fiction. Goddess by Mistake will be re-released by
Luna entitled Partholon by Mistake in the fall of 2005. Her other works include Goddess of
Spring,
Goddess of the Sea, and Goddess of Light. For more information, please visit her website at
http://www.pccast.net/ .
Sister of the Dead
Barb & J.C. Hendee
http://www.nobledead.com/
Roc
ISBN: 045146009X $7.50 405 pp.
Sister of the Dead is Barb & J.C. Hendee's third book in the Noble Dead series. Once again, we
join
Magiere and Leesil on their journey for the truth - no matter where it takes them. Wynn, an
apprentice sage, and Chap, a Fay spirit in dog form, round out this intrepid traveling group.
Magiere is a dhampir, half-human and half-vampire. She is a hybrid created for unknown reasons.
In
Dhampir, Magiere was introduced to Welstiel Massing, a Noble Dead (vampire) who told her she
was created to kill other Noble Dead. In Thief of Lives, Welstiel is unmasked and Magiere learns
his
true intentions - to force her to find an artifact that will allow Welstiel to become human again.
Needless to say, Magiere is not one to appreciate being manipulated and has vowed to never help
Welstiel in his quest.
At the conclusion of Thief of Lives, Magiere and Leesil have decided two different treks are in
order. Leesil, half-elf and half-human, has just found out that his elvish mother, Nein'a is still alive.
Leesil has vowed to find out her fate. He believed his parents were executed after he deserted
employment as an assassin to a powerful lord.
Magiere seeks to find out why she was created. Her mother, Magelia was impregnated by a Noble
Dead with Magiere the result. Magelia died shortly after Magiere's birth and she was raised by her
Aunt Bieja in the small village of ChemestŁk in the country of Droevinka. Life was hard for
Magiere
as the other villagers never accepted her.
Leesil and Magiere decide to head to ChemestŁk first as it is closer. This decision brings about
much
knowledge and even more questions. The events around Magiere's birth are even more complex
then
anyone had previously considered. The journey is arduous for all and much is revealed.
Sister of the Dead is a wonderful addition to the Noble Dead series. While certain mysterious are
answered, even more are created. Leesil and Magiere's relationship deepens. We learn more about
Chap and what his intentions are. Sister of the Dead leads us on an amazing adventure that will
keep
you engrossed until the final chapter.
The Noble Dead series is a mix of high-fantasy and traditional vampire fiction. This makes the
series
unique and interesting. The fantasy elements are interwoven with the vampire lore. Magiere is a
hybrid and as such struggles with her nature. Leesil has similar struggles as he is also a hybrid.
The
two together present both sides of the mixed genres. This is a series that will appeal to both
horror
and fantasy fans.
Barb & J.C. Hendee are a husband/wife pair of writers. Dhampir is the first in the Noble Dead
series,
followed by Thief of Lives, and Sister of the Dead. Traitor to the Blood, fourth in the series, is
scheduled to be published in January, 2006. Barb Hendee is the author of another vampire novel,
Blood Memories published in 1999. Both authors have written many short stories. They have a
website at www.nobledead.com with many extras for the series.
Alisa McCune
Reviewer
Arlene's Bookshelf
Dreams Found
Lyn Denison
Bella Books
P.O. Box 10543, Tallahassee, FL 32302
ISBN: 0931513589; $12.95; 201 pp.
In Lyn Denison's novel, Dreams Found, Australian carpenter Riley James is a twenty-five year-old
woman who has decided to locate her birth mother who gave Riley up for adoption. She has the
complete love and support of her adoptive mother, Lenore. "As I see this, love," she continued,
"the
most important thing is whether or not you want to contact your birth parents." (Page 9) Through
some vigorous research Riley finds the woman and makes that all-important first telephone call. "
I
was born on September twenty-fourth." (Page 13) To which Margaret Easton whispers into the
phone, "My baby girl." (Page 13) Thus begins one woman's journey to discover a family she never
knew, and at the same time, to meet a young woman, Jayne, who could affect Riley in a myriad of
ways. Throughout this passage there are the reassuring confirmations as well as the unexpected
pitfalls that serve both to inspire and discourage Riley. Friends, some calmly and steadfastly loyal
and another the epitome of outrageous egocentricity, take part as she tries to put into perspective
how her life is, should, and will evolve.
Denison has crafted a novel with likable and realistic characters whose exceptionally believable
seamless dialogue flows smoothly and effortlessly. Riley James is a proud and out lesbian who
sometimes questions whether her birth mother will be accepting of this fact, while at the same
time,
Riley never denies who she is. Mac Bradford, her straight male best friend, provides the comic
relief
with his easy self-deprecating swagger and magnetism. Jayne Easton captures the angst and
uncertainty of a thirty year-old woman who has followed the corporate and conventional path and
the expectations of others for too long and far too intensely. She also is on a journey of
rediscovery
and renewal. "Looking back, I suppose I settled ." (Page 194) It remains to be seen if Jayne can
overcome the obstacles in her path and trust in her own judgment. Darren Wardell, Jayne's
business
partner, exhibits that smarmy, suffocating, and superficial charm of a fundamentally insecure man
that wears thin and tedious for most whom he encounters, and that feeble charm increasingly
exasperates and infuriates Riley. Their skillfully written pivotal verbal confrontation is one to be
savored and re-read with delight.
Denison develops the plot in a sequential, straightforward, and comprehensible fashion. Conflicts
are
created with just the precise degree of foreshadowing which enables the reader to actively
anticipate
and participate. Becoming part of any scene is the hope and desire for most readers, and they will
be
neither disappointed nor dissatisfied here. One can indeed identify with these two main
protagonists,
Riley and Jayne, and their trials, uncertainties, and aspirations. Events fall so neatly and believably
into place that the reader never has to think or utter those five dreaded words, "Where did that
come
from?" In a subdued, yet controlled and quiet style, Denison creates tension and suspense that
ring
true. These actions never appear to be maudlin, gratuitous, or unwarranted.
Lyn Denison's novel Dreams Found is, indeed, undeniably one of those exceptional books that one
is
reluctant to put down; it truly is an indisputable page-turner. Denison effectively manages to take
a
rather routine occurrence, seeking one's birth parents, and transforms it into a particularly
plausible
and richly rewarding narrative. What makes this book so different from so many others of this
genre
is this author's ability to imbue her characters with such a degree of coherent vulnerability and
fortitude that the reader cannot help but be enchanted with them from the very start. The
realizations
that Riley and Jayne discover, as they examine who they are and desire to be, create empathy
within
the reader that is both satisfying and enjoyable. This reader is eagerly looking forward to a sequel
to
Dreams Found for two crucial reasons. First, this novel has only two-hundred and one pages; at
times one does feel slightly rushed toward the finale. Secondly, there is undeniably more to
explore,
amplify, and expand with these attractive and engaging characters. Of course, it could very well
be
simply a matter of this reader's not wanting a good thing to end.
Saving Grace, Second Edition
Jennifer Fulton
Yellow Rose Books
PMB 210, 8691 9th Avenue, Port Arthur, TX 77642-8025
ISBN 1932300260; $15.95; 167 pp.
Dawn Beaumont, a once promising Australian champion swimmer with Olympic aspirations, is
again
bemoaning the sad state of her twenty-two year-old life to her cousin Trish. It's been six months
since Dawn's accident shattered any prospects for an athletic career. To make matters worse, she
has
returned to her parents' home which causes her to proclaim dramatically, "It's driving me 'round
the
bend living at home" (page 1). Trish explains that she has planned a holiday get-away for Dawn, a
return trip to the isolated Moon Island, so that she can relax, strengthen her body, and generally
get
her priorities in order. Recognizing an opportunity to escape from her parental strangle-hold,
Dawn
reluctantly accepts her cousin's offer to return to a place which has less than pleasant memories
for
her. However, at this stage in Dawn's life, any alternative would be better than her present
situation.
Grace Ramsay, a thirty-two year-old scientist and savvy career woman from New York City, is on
her way to Moon Island where she will be conducting discreet geological studies for Argus
Chemco,
a worldwide conglomerate searching for a new dumping ground for toxic wastes. Grace, too, has
a
past, one she has neither accepted nor dealt with. However, this is only one of the reasons why
this
so very cool and composed woman careens from one meaningless affair to another, consumes far
too much alcohol, and is so ruthless in both her professional and personal dealings with
others.
The two women soon find themselves sharing the small island, and this proves to be a challenge
for
them both. Add to this mix a former lover, an unscrupulous businessman, a casual one night
stand,
and another's sexual awakening, and you have all the elements necessary to keep you reading until
the very last word of the epilogue.
Jennifer Fulton has created credible conflicts, both internal as well as external. The main
characters,
Dawn and Grace, are beset with numerous problems which each can no longer avoid, deny, or
escape. Yet these struggles are described through viable actions and believable dialogue. Both
women have realistically reached that pivotal point in their lives, and for better or worse, the
choices
each woman will make will affect more than simply themselves.
This novel offers well-rounded, three-dimensional characters, not stereotypes or stock players.
The
secondary characters are endowed with personality, insight, and humor. There are people the
reader
grows fond of, wants to spend time with, and hopes only the best for like the septuagenarian
nurse
living alone on a Pacific atoll or the bi-sexual personal assistant who, after having spent only one
brief evening of lust with Grace, understands Grace better than Grace cares to admit or even
recognize.
Fulton's writing style is fluid, fast-paced, and compact yet it is extremely descriptive, " watching
the procession of colors from sapphire to heliotrope to amethyst, until finally the blood-red sun
fused with the ocean." (Page 35) The diction chosen captures the mood of the scene, "blinking in
the
buttercup light of morning" (page 50). This appreciation for just the right word enhances the
narrative, "In the moonlight, she glowed marble-smooth, her hollows and contours deeply
shadowed" (page 74). Proficiency in word choice too often is a neglected skill. Being able to
strike
that natural balance between the trite and the florid is a talent which is most evident in this novel.
Imagery is not given short shrift here.
Ethics, moral principles, integrity, self-worth, acceptance, and societal accountability are some of
the
themes touched upon in Saving Grace. However, the author has managed to seamlessly weave
them
throughout the intelligent plotting that the reader never loses sight of the fact that she is reading a
true romance novel of two women on a journey of discovery. It is to the author's credit that the
reader can so easily read between the lines; there is depth to this novel.
Jennifer Fulton's Saving Grace is an enjoyably entertaining and rewarding way to spend a few
hours.
The exceedingly likable and believable characters find themselves in the midst of various
intriguing
and startling developments. The delicate convolutions of personal relationships, sexual
awakening,
and past misfortunes will keep the reader thoroughly engaged and satisfied. Although this novel is
Book II in Fulton's Moon Island Series, it is not a prerequisite to have read the first installment.
This
is an excellent stand-alone novel, complete in its detail and current issues. Saving Grace has all the
hallmarks of a well written romance novel: unique setting, superb characters, plausible dialogue,
and
realistic and exciting sexual depictions. This is a tale that will make you want to pack your bag,
buy
an airplane ticket, and check into that tropical cottage on Moon Island where you can read the
rest
of the series.
Arlene Germain
Reviewer
Bethany's Bookshelf
The Book of Daniel
Mary Breeden, illuminator
Elderberry Press
1393 Old Homestead Drive, 2nd floor, Oakland, OR 97462-9506
1932762264 $20.00 elderberrypress.com
The Book of Daniel is an illuminated rendition of Christian Biblical text, chronicling the
experiences
of Daniel, a man "greatly beloved" by God and an excellent role model for today. Colorful
artwork
in the style of Persian courts - Persia is the site of ancient Babylon where the story takes place -
lends vivacity to this timeless classic. Though it resembles a child's picturebook at first glance,
The
Book of Daniel is a faithful rendition of the Biblical story and equally meaningful to young and old
readers.
So Who Is This Jesus?
Russell Boulter, host
Vision Video
PO Box 540, Worcester, PA 19490
#4806D $19.99 www.visionvideo.com
So Who Is This Jesus? is a superbly produced, 48 minute, full color, DVD documentary that
offers
viewers a basic introduction to Jesus. Specifically designed for young people who have no idea
who
Jesus is, and ideal viewing for anyone needing a helpful overview about Jesus, host Russell
Boulter
takes an engaging and thoroughly "viewer friendly" approach in providing a tour of the very
places
Jesus lived and ministered in the Holy Land. We meet a Jesus who changed people's lives then and
who continues to do so now. A co-production with Christian Television Associates of Bristol,
England, and organized in a three part presentation, this outstanding and DVD is also available in
a
VHS format. So Who Is This Jesus? is an ideal addition to family, church school, and Sunday
School multi-media resource collection.
Raising Maidens Of Virtue
Stacy McDonald
Books On The Path
20770 Westheimer Parkway, Suite 504, Katy, TX 77450
0974339016 $17.99 www.booksonthepath.com www.raisingmaidens.com
It has always been a primary task of Christian parenthood that fathers and mothers raise their
daughters to grow up exhibiting such moral values and personal behaviors as modesty, purity,
cleanliness, compassion, industriousness, courtesy, guarded of speech, peaceable with their
siblings,
honoring their parents, and keeping faith with their God. These are all attributes ascribed to
biblically based standards of feminine beauty both in appearance and in conduct. In Raising
Maidens
Of Virtue: A Study Of Feminine Loveliness For Mothers And Daughters, wife and homeschooling
mother of nine uses stories, conversational teachings, illustrations, and memory-making projects
to
aid mothers in teaching their daughters on how to best comport themselves as Christian women
and
to deal with the inevitable decisions that will confront those daughters with respect to family life,
peer relations, courtship, marriage, and all other aspects of womanhood in the world today.
Raising
Maidens Of Virtue is strongly recommended reading for parents wanting only the best for their
daughters and seeking to help their daughters to want only the best for themselves.
Earth, Wind, & Fire
Carol J. Dempsey & Mary Margaret Pazdan, editors
Liturgical Press
Saint John's Abbey, PO Box 7500, Collegeville, MN 56321-7500
0814651100 $21.95 www.litpress.org
Assembled, compiled, organized and co-edited by Carol J. Dempsey (an instructor in Biblical
Studies and Theology, University of Portland) and Mary Margaret Pazdan (Professor of New
Testament, Aquinas Institute of Theology, St. Louis), Earth, Wind, & Fire: Biblical And
Theological
Perspectives On Creation consists of twelve papers by experts in their fields that together provide
the reader with a compelling dialogue between feminist exegetes and theologians on the subject of
creation. Common themes running through these diverse contributions concerning distinct texts in
the Jewish and Christian Scriptures celebrate the biblical traditions of creation inclusive of plants,
animals, non-human and human life, as well as the male and female genders. An impressive body
of
academic and theologic work, Earth, Wind, & Fire is a testament to the creative artistry of God
within the Judeo/Christian tradition, and highly recommended reading for both seminary students
and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the Genesis story of creation as interpreted
and
reference in both the Old and New Testaments.
Susan Bethany
Reviewer
Betsy's Bookshelf
Sylvia Plachy: Self-Portrait with Cows Going Home
Sylvia Plachy
Aperture
20 East 23rd Street, New York, NY 10010-4463
193178843X $50.00 1-800-929-2323 www.aperture.org
Sylvia Plachy: Self-Portrait with Cows Going Home is a moving and personal photographic
memoir
by expert photographer Sylvia Plachy. Forced to depart her native Hungary at age thirteen with
her
parents, she arrived in America in 1958 and became a U.S. citizen in 1963; Self-Portrait with
Cows
Going Home reflects upon the Eastern Europe of her childhood, her changing homeland, and the
trials and travails of growing up in America. The black-and-white images throughout offer a
unique
look into the stages of her life and the world around her, and her commentary is a candid window
of
insight into her difficulties and joys. A moving and emotional collection.
Beyond the Reach of Time and Change
Simon J. Ortiz, editor
University of Arizona Press
355 South Euclid Avenue, Suite 103, Tucson, AZ 85719-6654
0816523606 $24.95 1-800-426-3797 www.uapress.arizona.edu
Beyond the Reach of Time and Change: Native American Reflections on the Frank A. Rinehart
Photograph Collection features one hundred photographic portraits taken during the very late
nineteenth century by professional Frank A. Rinehart. Rinehart practiced his trade upon Native
Americans in their traditional dress during the an event known as the Indian Congress; his
landmark
photography, which unlike that of others did not pander to shameless stereotypes, rests in the
Haskell Indian Nations University today and is widely regarded as one of the best photographic
documentaries of the era. In addition to the powerful black-and-white photographs of individuals
and groups from a wide variety of native tribes, Beyond the Reach of Time and Change features
14
essays by modern Native American writers, artists and educators - including some descendants of
the individuals photographed - offering various reflections upon the role of these timeless images
in
their heritage. Highly recommended for native studies shelves and personal collections, and an
emotional collection to page through.
The Art of Photographing Children
Cheryl Machat Dorskind
Amphoto Books
c/o Watson Guptill Publications
770 Broadway, New York, NY 10003
0817435476 $24.95 1-800-451-1741 www.watsonguptill.com
The Art of Photographing Children: Techniques for Making Better Color, Black and White,
Handcolored, and Digital Pictures is a no-nonsense guide for amateur and professional
photographers alike. Chapters discuss optimum equipment, lighting, composition, and more, such
as
how to capture an important moment, and tips for running a smooth photo shoot. The
easy-to-follow narration accompanies a wealth of black-and-white and color photographs that
keenly illustrate points and principles discussed. Highly recommended for proud parents seeking
to
succinctly capture their child's milestones on film, family portrait experts striving to improve their
craft, and every photographer in between.
Charms and Charm Bracelets: The Complete Guide
Joanne Schwartz, author; Robert N. Schwartz, photographer
Schiffer Publishing Ltd.
4880 Lower Valley Road, Atglen, PA 19310
0764321293 $39.95 www.schifferbooks.com
Charms and Charm Bracelets: The Complete Guide is a price guide to charm bracelets from the
19th
century to the present, illustrated with over 300 color photographs and featuring jewelry ranging
in
composition from gold to plastic. Written by an enthusiastic collector of antique jewelry, Charms
and Charm Bracelets discusses techniques in making charms, trends in charm and jewelry making
throughout the decades, factors to consider when evaluating and appraising specific pieces of
charm
jewelry, and much more. A "must-have" resource for serious collectors, and a treasury to page
through for art lovers interested in this unique form of adornment.
Eyeshot
Heather McHugh
Wesleyan University Press
215 Long Lane, Middletown, CT 06459
0819566721 $20.00 1-800-421-1561 www.wesleyan.edu/wespress
Eyeshot is a collection of free-verse poetry. The common theme of the wide range of human
blindness - from literally being unable to see to willfully refusing to see what lies before one -
permeates these often dark verses, sometimes brooding and anxious, sometimes laced with black
humor. "Through" (After Sully Prudhomme) In blue or black, all lovely and beloved, / Some
countless human eyes have seen the dawn. / They're sleeping at the bottom of the grave. / Here
comes the sun. // But far more delicately than the days / The nights ignite in countless eyes a
spark. /
The stars are always sending out their rays: / Eyes fill with dark. // That they should lose their
glimmer, one and all- / No way. It simply isn't possible. / I say they've turned toward the side we
call
/ Invisible. // And like the stars that must incline to set / They too are somewhere out there in the
sky; / The eye-lights may go down at times and yet / They do not die. // All lovely or beloved, in
black and blue, / To any dawn's immensities disposed / On earth's far side they're seeing through /
The lids we closed.
Vitamins: Their Role in the Human Body
G. F. M. Ball
Blackwell Publishing
350 Main Street, Malden, MA 02148
0632064781 $199.99 1-800-216-2522 www.blackwellpublishing.com
Vitamins: Their Role in the Human Body is a single-source reference and textbook that
assimilates
the latest knowledge about vitamins' biological properties with regard to human nutrition.
Introductory chapters cover historical and nutritional aspects of vitamins, detailed aspects of
physiology and functional anatomy, biochemistry, immunology, the regulation of protein synthesis
by nuclear hormone receptors, and much more. The subsequent thirteen chapters scrutinize each
specific vitamin in turn. A glossary, bibliography, and index round out this expert resource
intended
especially for nutritionists, biochemists, physiologists, physicians, food scientists, food
technologists,
and other health professionals whether in the fields of research, teaching, or study. An in-depth
overview of vitamins, that does not shy from advanced scientific detail but is packed with tools to
help the lay reader understand exactly what vitamins are and what they do. Highly recommended
especially for health and science student and library collections.
Workouts for Women
Joni Hyde
Healthy Living Books
c/o Hatherleigh Press
5-22 46th Avenue, Suite 200, Long Island City, NY 11101
157826183X $16.95 1-800-528-2550 www.healthylivingbooks.com
Certified Personal Trainer Joni Hyde presents Workouts for Women: The 12-Minute Total Body
Sculpting Workout, a straightforward introduction to circuit training, offering a program designed
by a woman for women. Focusing on a total body exercise session that builds feminine lean
muscle
tone, increases strength, and cultivates aerobic endurance in a time-efficient workout that can be
condensed into as little as 12 minutes a day, Workouts for Women also offers tips for fitting
exercise
into one's schedule and eating right for optimum health. Over 90 different exercises, illustrated
with
black-and-white photographs as well as meticulous instructions, make Workouts for Women an
easy-to-use resource to tailor a fitness regimen right for the individual.
Strength Training For Women
Lori Incledon
Human Kinetics
PO Box 5076, Champaign, IL 61825-5076
0736052232 $18.95 www.HumanKinetics.com
Lori Incledon is Vice President of Human Performance Specialists, and for more than a decade
has
been highly involved in personal training, sport-specific conditioning, physical therapy, athletic
training, and injury prevention. Specializing in women's personal training with an emphasis on
strength training, Lori draws upon her considerable experience and impressive expertise in
Strength
Training For Women to present a unique, individualized, highly recommended approach to
strength
training specifically designed to teach women how their muscles function so that they can take
maximum advantage of every workout they do. Sample training programs and exercises are
provided to work every area of the female form, and are presented in such a way as to be easily
customized for individual training objectives. Organized into three main sections ("Designing
Women"; "Results-Oriented Training"; "Movements and Muscles", Strength Training For Women
is
the ideal do-it-yourself instructional guide which is enhanced with an Appendix, Glossary,
"References and Resources", and an index.
Betsy L. Hogan
Reviewer
Betty's Bookshelf
Feminine Wiles: Creative Techniques for Writing Women's Features Stories That Sell
Donna Elizabeth Boetig
Quill Driver Books
c/o Word Dancer Press
1831 Industrial Way, Ste. 101, Sanger, CA 93657
http://www.quilldriverbooks.com/
1884956025 $14.95 184 p.
If you want to make it into the pages of magazines like Ladies' Home Journal or Woman's Day,
Donna Elizabeth Boetig can show you the way. The cover of her book, Feminine Wiles, is as
eye-catching as the covers of popular women's magazines, plastered with headlines that grab your
attention and make you want to read what's inside, just like the newsstand magazine covers: Get
Intimate With Your Readers. Why Gushing Doesn't Sell. Stark-Naked Interviews - Getting a
Woman to Bare Her Soul. Inside, Boetig divides her information into four cleverly-titled sections
that will move you from reading women's magazines to writing for them.
In the first section, The Chase, Boetig tells you how to come up with ideas and how to massage
them to fit the magazine you want to sell them to. In addition, she gives you tips on how to write
attention-getting query letters, how to do a good interview, how to get permission to tell
someone's
story, and how to use quotes appropriately and effectively.
The second section, (The Drama) demonstrates the use and importance of pictures and emotions
to
illustrate and add oomph to a story, while the third section, (The Main Event) gives several
formulas
and lists of steps for writing the actual meat of an article.
Finally, in The Bye Lines, Boetig demonstrates showing, not telling, fact-checking, marketing, and
other end-of-the-process details. If being published in a big name women's magazine is one of
your
goals, reading Feminine Wiles will be a great jump-start. In fact, once you've finished, you'll be
overflowing with ideas and possibilities. I find it so inspiring that it's one of the books I keep
handy
for days when I'm threatened with writer's block!
Until the Last Dog Dies
John Laurence Robinson
River Oak
c/o Cook Communications Ministries
4050 Lee Vance View, Colorado Springs, CO 80918
www.CookMinistries.com
1589190211 $12.99 381 p.
Until the Last Dog Dies is a Joe Box mystery, the second by author John Laurence Robinson.
(The
third Joe Box title, When Skylarks Fall, is due out from RiverOak in October 2005, and Robinson
is
currently writing Skin the Cat.) Sadly, the first Joe Box book, Sock Monkey Blues, is currently
unavailable, as it was originally published by a Publish-On-Demand company that refuses to return
the rights. Robinson is currently in negotiations with said company, and I look forward to
eventually
being able to read Sock Monkey Blues, too.
Meanwhile, my enjoyment of Until the Last Dog Dies was not hampered much by not having read
the first book. A few questions did crop up, but none made a big difference in following what was
going on (and most were answered by the end of the book, through the use of back story). Back
story is often known among writers as "infodump", a pejorative term that means the author took a
bunch of material he thought the reader needed to know and inserted it whole. It usually sticks
out
like a sore thumb and many readers skip over it without a qualm.
However, Robinson does it with scarcely a ripple by alternating chapters of Joe's present life as a
newly-Christian private investigator with chapters of his past life as a skilled soldier in Vietnam.
The
story starts with Joe being dragged from sleep by a phone call. It's Little Bit, an army buddy he
hasn't heard from in over thirty years, and it isn't good news. A man Joe and Little Bit's unit
captured during the war has escaped, according to the terrified Little Bit, and he was gunning for
all
of them.
Joe couldn't believe it. Martin ten Eyck, the son of a powerful senator, had become a sadistic and
talented killer during the war, and after Joe's unit had tracked him down and captured him, he'd
been
locked up for life in an asylum for the criminally insane. True, ten Eyck had sworn to kill them all,
one by one, but he couldn't be out. No one would be that careless with someone that deadly.
But Little Bit has gotten a threatening phone call and he's sure it was ten Eyck, coming for him.
Joe
finally hangs up, still unconvinced, only to be aroused a few hours later by a call from Little Bit's
wife. Little Bit is dead. He was electrocuted while working on a radio that was still plugged in.
The
authorities have written it off as an accident, but Joe knows better. Soldiers spend a lot of time
talking, and he knows Little Bit was terrified of electricity. No way he'd have been working on
something still plugged in.
Then, Joe begins to find out about other deaths in the unit. Vlad, who feared blood and being shot
at, dead of a self-inflicted gunshot. Ed, who's afraid of driving and always lets others drive him
around, dead at the bottom of a cliff in a car he was supposedly driving. Each man had died in the
way he'd been most terrified of, and Joe can't convince the authorities that they were murdered.
Then, there are more murders, and now Joe is one of only three men left alive. Time to find out
what's going on!
When he talks to one of ten Eyck's doctors from the asylum, he discovers that ten Eyck is even
more
dangerous than before. Over the thirty years ten Eyck has been imprisoned, the asylum treatments
have included LSD and unrestricted involvement with the occult. As a result, ten Eyck is
possessed
by more evil than Joe has ever faced before. He may not be able to stop him from killing again,
but -
armed with a borrowed gun and backed up by the prayers of the church he attends - he has to try,
for it isn't just Joe in danger now, it's everyone he cares about. Will his faith in God, bolstered by
prayer, be enough to help Joe stop ten Eyck from killing again?
Betty Winslow
Reviewer
Buhle's Bookshelf
Words of Wisdom: Beginning Buddhism
Master Hsuan Hua
Buddhist Text Translation Society
3106 Crescent Avenue, Unit 7, Marina, CA 93933
0881393029 $12.00 www.bttsonline.org
Words of Wisdom: Beginning Buddhism is an anthology of introductory talks concerning
Buddhism
by Tripitaka Master Hua, who was born near Manchuria in 1918, became a monk at age 19, and
brought orthodox Buddhism to the United States in the 1960s. Words of Wisdom discusses such
topics as the potential of all living things to become Buddhas, warnings against the three poisons
of
greed, anger, and sexual misconduct, the Six Guidelines of no fighting, no greed, no seeking, no
selfishness, no pursuit of personal advantage, and no lying, and much more. Presented in plain
terms
easily accessible to the reader who knows little or nothing of Buddhism, Words of Wisdom is a
superb introduction to Buddhism as a faith that embraces people of all backgrounds and strives to
alleviate the suffering inherent in all life.
Hooked!
Stephanie Kaza
Shambhala Publications, Inc.
Horticultural Hall, 300 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston, MA 02115-4544
1590301722 $16.95 www.shambhala.com
Hooked! Buddhist Writings on Greed, Desire, and the Urge to Consume is an anthology of essays
by a wide variety of learned authors that scrutinize the overpowering desire for material items
from a
Buddhist viewpoint. From how yearning for material things can have a corruptive influence, to the
value of Buddhist tools in restoring balance to one's life and wants, to ethical principles of
Buddhist
consumption (ranging from how to successfully be generous in a consumerist world to Green
Power
in contemporary Japan) and much more, these essays strike directly to the heart of modern
materialism - what it is, how much is too much, and how to put the craving in its place before it
escalates into untold misery. Highly recommended; one does not have to be a Buddhist to see the
value in moderation in an increasingly advertisement-saturated world.
Peace Begins Here
Thich Nhat Hanh
Parallax Press
PO Box 7355, Berkeley, CA 94707
1888375450 $14.00 www.parallax.com
Peace Begins Here: Palestinians And Israelis Listening To Each Other by Nobel Peace Prize
Nominee Thich Nhat Hanh focuses on the importance of Palestinians and Israelis working
together
for peace and stability of the Middle East and the world as a whole. Thich Nhat Hanh highlights
individual stories arising from Palestinian and Israeli participation in "peace retreats" which he led,
and how the participants found peace and shared an experience of deep listening, deep relaxation,
and "mindful walking". Relying on his lifelong commitment to Buddhist teachings and non-violent
action, Thich Nhat Hanh reveals how the opportunity for making peace is possible through daily
peace practices. Peace Begins Here offers a kind of blueprint for the readers to join in the
peace-making process within their own lives. Peace Begins Here is especially recommended for
Buddhist Studies, Peace Studies, Middle East Studies, and International Studies supplemental
reading lists and reference collections.
Frege Explained
Joan Weiner
Open Court Publishing Company
332 South Michigan Avenue, Suite 1100, Chicago, IL 60604
0812694600 $18.95 www.opencourtbooks.com
Written by a Professor of Philosophy at Indiana University, Frege Explained: From Arithmetic to
Analytic Philosophy is an in-depth examination of Frege's career and legacy. Frege's work was
marked by his determination to show that arithmetic is really a part of logic; while that effort
ended
in failure, in the process Frege revolutionized philosophic understanding of logic and set the
foundation for analytic philosophy. Chapters survey Frege's life and character, his "new logic" and
definitions of numbers, his logical investigations and speculations upon the foundations of
geometry,
his impact upon recent and modern philosophy, and much more. Especially for philosophy
students
and scholars, Frege Explained presents complex concepts in as straightforward a manner as
practically possible, and is especially recommended for college library philosophy shelves.
An Ordinary Person's Guide To Empire
Arundhati Roy
South End Press
7 Brookline Street, #1, Cambridge, MA 02139-4146
0896087271 $12.00 1-800-533-8478 www.southendpress.org
Award-winning writer Arundhati Roy presents An Ordinary Person's Guide To Empire, an
anthology of her lectures and essays highlighting the injustice, greed, and corruption behind the
"poverty draft" of the United States (in which the military is disproportionately made of
individuals
of indigent backgrounds, and very, very few politicians have a child serving in Iraq), murderous
pogroms against Muslims in India with atrocities that bring so-called ethnic cleansing to mind, the
transformation of South Africa that ultimately only further concentrated wealth and power in the
hands of a few, and more. From the obsessive nature of crisis reporting in the media that ignores
underlying problems and history, or summarizes them in a backward progression if at all, to
propaganda as a tool of empire-building, to the ruthlessness of the police state in so-called
"democracies" that get their hands as bloody as any fascist, An Ordinary Person's Guide To
Empire
spares nothing in its effort to show the raw, real, and often vicious truth. Highly
recommended.
Tribute To A Mathemagician
Barry Cipra, et al.
A K Peters, Ltd.
888 Worcester Street, Suite 230, Wellesley, MA 02482
1568812043 $38.00 www.akpeters.com
Collaboratively compiled and edited by the team of Barry Cipra, Erick D. Demaine, Martin L.
Demaine, and Tom Rodgers, Tribute To A Mathemagician is an impressive compilation of
mathematical games and puzzles contributed by a roster of "Who's Who" in the world of puzzles.
This 464 page collection includes Tripos, Black Jack, Chinese ceramic puzzle vessels, paper
folding,
Mongolian interlocking puzzles, rolling block puzzles, sliding puzzles, cryptic crosswords, The
Panex Puzzle, polyonimo puzzles, and so much more. Tribute To A Mathemagician is a "must"
for
dedicated puzzle enthusiasts, mathematicians, and gaming enthusiasts of all kinds and
categories!
Faith In Science
Gabriel R. Ricci
Transaction Books
Rutgers - The State University
35 Berrue Circle, Piscataway, NJ 08854
0765808420 $24.95 www.transactionpub.com
Volume 34 in the Transaction Books "Religion and Public Life" series, Faith In Science is
compiled,
organized and edited by Gabriel R. Ricci (Associate Professor of Humanities and Chair of the
Department of History, Elizabethtown College, Pennsylvania). The focus of the expert
contributors
draw from diverse historical, religious, and scientific vantage points to explore and analyze the
relationships of religion and science. After an informed and informative introduction by the editor,
Faith In Science is composed of these scholarly essays: A Tech Approach to God and Religion
(Guy
Consolmagno); On Being an Intellectually Fulfilled Theist: A Critique of Darwin's Dangerous Idea
(Anthony Matteo); The Clergyman-Scientist: Locating the Conflict between Science and Religion
(William A. Durbin); Teilhard and Evolution: Faith in the Cosmos, Faith in Person, Faith in the
Divine (Kathleen Duffy); Valuing Nature: Vital Reconstructions of Anne Conway 1631-1679
(Carol
Wayne Wright); Science and Religion: A Reconstructive Postmodern Perspective (Dave Ray
Griffin); A Place for Religion in Science? (Robert Pollack); and Science and the Bible: Two
Views
of One Reality, The Most FAQ's in the Science/Bible Debate (Gerald Shroeder). Faith In Science
is
especially recommended reading for students of philosophy, religion, and the sciences.
Willis M. Buhle
Reviewer
Burroughs' Bookshelf
The Underground Rail Road
William Still
Plexus Publishing, Inc.
143 Old Marlton Pike, Medford, NJ 08055
0937548553 $49.50 www.plexuspublishing.com
Originally published in 1872, The Underground Rail Road presents firsthand accounts of
African-American slaves who escaped north via the human support network known as the
Underground Railroad. Collected by William Still, the son of emancipated slaves, who helped
guide
fugitives to safety as an Underground Railroad "conductor" based in Philadelphia, The
Underground
Rail Road collects letters, testimonies, news articles, and reflections upon extraordinary individual
journeys to freedom. Collecting these records, let alone participating in the Underground
Railroad,
was a dangerous endeavor in an era when merely failing to report slave escapes could get one
imprisoned or worse. William Still hid his manuscripts in a crypt to protect himself and the people
they documented; he never expected to witness emancipation or the opportunity to publish them
in
his lifetime. The Underground Rail Road remains a classic first-person anecdotal documentary of
history itself, and is highly recommended for American history and library collections.
A Century Apart: Maine Then & Now
Cindy McIntyre
Down East Books
PO Box 679, Camden, ME 04843
089272613X $28.00 1-800-685-7962 www.downeastbooks.com
A Century Apart: Maine Then & Now is a gorgeous visual and historic tour of Maine's landscapes
and cities. Author Cindy McIntyre was an avid collector of Maine postcards; inspired by the
vintage
photographs, she sought to compare snapshots of present-day Maine with images past, revealing
striking differences and similarities. The text recounts changes in the last hundred years in various
Maine towns, while the full-color paintings and photographs often display striking contrasts when
placed side by side. A superb souvenir book for Maine vacationers, and a trip down memory lane
for
longtime Maine residents.
Ohio Archaeology
Bradley T. Lepper
Orange Frazer Press
PO Box 214, Wilmington, OH 45177
1882203399 $39.95 1-800-852-9332
The companion book to the Ohio Archaeology project, which also includes a public television
documentary series, an "Ancient Ohio" art series, and a companion website Ohio Archaeology:
An
Illustrated Chronicle of Ohio's Ancient American Indian Cultures is a superb history of prehistoric
cultures in Ohio and their legacy to this day. Full-color artworks, maps, and photographs on
almost
every page lend a vivid touch to this accounting of ancient migration to and settlement within
Ohio,
how the first Ohio people lived over thousands of years, Native American earthworks that survive
to
this day, and legal and ethical controversies concerning the research and display of human remains
and funerary objects - while much of scientific use can be learned from such things, many Native
Americans consider digging them up a violation of the sanctity of their ancestors' gravesites. Ohio
Archaeology is a truly wonderful, balanced, and in-depth read revealing fascinating new details
about Ohio's lively past.
The International Book of Days
Stephen G. Christianson
H.W. Wilson Company
950 University Avenue, Bronx, NY 10452
0824209753 $140.00 1-800-367-6770
The International Book of Days is a companion volume to the fourth edition of "The American
Book of Days". For each of the 366 days in the year (including February 29th), The International
Book of Days remarks on extraordinary and pivotal events in world history, as well as
international
holidays and observances, from the debut of Beethoven's first symphony to Evacuation Day
commemorated in Egypt (celebrating the withdrawal of British colonial forces) to Respect for the
Aged Day in Japan. A unique and useful reference, especially recommended for public, school,
and
private library collections, enhanced with appendices and a straightforward index.
Encyclopedia of the Library of Congress
John Y. Cole and Jane Aikin, editors
Bernan Press with The Library of Congress
4611-F Assembly Drive, Lanham, MD 20706-4391
0890599718 $125.00 www.bernanpress.com
The most comprehensive book yet published about the largest library and research institution in
the
world, Encyclopedia of the Library of Congress: For Congress, The Nation & The World is a
resource categorizing details about the American Library of Congress in alphabetical order.
Entries
include biographies of all 13 Librarians of Congress, essays, articles, and more than 300
black-and-white photographs, descriptions of the Library's collections, functions, and
administrative
units, and much more. An easy-to-use, in-depth, information-packed resource written for lay
people
as well as students of library science, especially recommended for educational and public
libraries.
Walk Around F-8 Crusader
Ed Barthelmes, author; David Gebhardt, illustrator
Squadron/Signal Publications
1115 Crowley Drive, Carrollton, TX 75011-5010
0897474848 $TBA 1-972-242-1485
Walk Around F-8 Crusader offers the reader an in-depth tour of the F-8 Crusader airplane, a
carrier-based supersonic fighter first designed in the 1950's to serve the US Navy and used as a
front
line interceptor until December 1999. Known as "The Last of the Gunfighter" because the F-8
Crusader was the last US fighter plane designed with guns as its primary weapon, these planes are
examined inside and out, in this guide packed with black-and-white and color photographs.
Paragraphs of text delineate technical details of the F-8 as well as convey the craft's strengths,
weaknesses, and limitations, as well as the bravery of those who risked their lives to fly them.
Recommended for anyone with a keen interest in specific details of military aviation history and
the
indissoluable contribution made by The Last of the Gunfighters.
Colors: Architecture in Detail
Oscar Riera Ojeda and James McCown, authors; Paul Warchol, photography
Rockport Publishers Inc.
33 Commercial Street, Gloucester, MA 01930-5089
1592531075 $50.00 www.rockpub.com
The third volume in the "Architecture in Detail" series, Colors: Architecture in Detail explores the
work of top architects and interior designers working today. Especially focusing on the
form/color
duality, Colors is filled cover to cover with beautiful photographs illustrating rooms and exteriors
based around the impact of various colors: white, black, red, blue, yellow, brown, gray, green,
and
polychrome. Paragraph highlights draw attention to specific details, but the majority of Colors
focuses squarely upon the almost dreamlike images themselves. A truly captivating volume simply
to
page through.
2005 National Construction Estimator
Dave Ogershok and Richard Pray
Craftsman Book Company
6058 Corte del Cedro, Carlsbad, CA 92009
1572181427 $52.50 1-800-829-8123 www.craftsman-book.com
Now in its 53rd updated edition, 2005 National Construction Estimator is a no-nonsence resource
designed expressly to aid in estimating labor and material costs, manhours, and city cost
adjustments
for residential, commercial, and industrial construction. 2005 National Construction Estimator
consists almost entirely of tables listing prices for each piece of hardware (or manhours); an index
allows for swift lookup of individual components. Monthly price updates are automatically
available
on the web throughout 2005, for free; an accompanying CD-ROM features "National Estimator",
a
program that will aid the reader since it has all the book's cost estimates plus an easy-to-use
Windows program that allows one to quickly and efficiently add up totals for a final ballpark
figure.
A program called Job Cost Wizard transforms estimates into invoices and exports to QuickBooks
Pro. A superb, professional-quality, industry-standard reference.
John Burroughs
Reviewer
Carey's Bookshelf
Get Out of Your Own Way!
Jovita Jenkins
Ajides Publishing
5875 Doverwood Drive, Suite 211, Culver City, CA 90230
www.GetOutOfYourOwnWay.net
ISBN 0974988715 $15.00 108 pages
Are you searching for just the right book that will help you to jump start a new career or
makeover
your current one? Well, this maybe the book for you. Get Out of Your Own Way! is a new
motivational book by executive coach, Jovita Jenkins. Unlike other self-help books, I found this
one
to be realistic and easy to follow. This thought provoking book encourages the reader to think
differently about their life, goals and dreams. Jenkins challenges the reader to think outside of the
box, while offering creative strategies along with some age old wisdom that will not only help the
reader to reorient their thinking but to reinvent themselves in the work place. I think this book is
also a great resource for high school seniors and college students who are in the mist of
discovering
their purpose in life.
A former engineer and executive in a Fortune 500 aerospace company, Jovita Jenkins, MBA is a
Certified Professional Coach and the founder/president of Ajides International, Inc. She lives
between Culver City, CA and New Orleans, LA with her husband.
Black Sheep
Achebe Toldson
House of Songhay
P.O. Box 74084, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70874
www.toldson.com
ISBN 0910758530 $15.00 252 pages
Black Sheep is a desperately needed wake up call for inner city youths and the professionals who
are
trying to save them. In addition to offering insight and intellectual nourishment, Black Sheep also
gives us hope.
Achebe Toldson invites the reader into a world filled with social stigmas, systemic challenges and
ill
fates and fortunes that are the familiar stumbling blocks for individuals who are growing up in
crime
infested and poverty stricken environments. A haunting suspense novel, Black Sheep is told
through
the eyes of Duce, a prominent graduate student who has become obsessed with his thesis, which
tries to explain the mindset of youth offenders. In the mist of his self absorption Duce loses sight
of
reality and begins to live through his thesis. He soon discovers that his greatest challenge will not
come in the form of a research paper, but in learning how to fight the demons of his past and
confronting his present fears.
Toldson does a remarkable job of challenging the reader's current perspective on life as we know
it
and he helps us to understand the present state of our inner city youths. The human mind is
tantalized with psychological proses, biblical quotes and sometimes just the plain truth as he
pushes
us to the brink of reality. A modern day Harlem Renaissance writer, Toldsons' impressive style
will
surely leave a mark in the literary world.
Achebe Toldson, Ph.D. is a native of Baton Rouge, Louisiana where he lives with his lovely wife
Marshella. Dr. Toldson is a psychology professor at Southern University and he is currently at
work
on two additional novels: Birthright and Blackened Mississippi.
Characters of Lust
Karlyn LeBlanc
iUniverse
2021 Pine Lake Road, Suite 100, Lincoln, NE 68512
www.iuniverse.com, www.charactersoflust.com
ISBN 0595325394 $15.95 225 pages
Characters of Lust is a riveting novel by literary newcomer, Karlyn LeBlanc. In this eye-opening,
one of a kind novel, LeBlanc takes the reader on an intoxicating journey through the eyes of a
Christian woman who is torn between lust and her religious convictions.
Shelby Tate is the main character and as the story opens, she has just ended a five year
relationship
with her first love. Determined to stay on the right track, Shelby has recommitted her life to the
Lord and has begun to attend weekly bible study and Sunday church services, but one night of
backsliding and hanging out at the club leads her back into the life she desperately tired to avoid.
Readers become mesmerized as Tate and her friends venture into a wild life filled with sex,
clubbing,
gambling and lusting to name a few, but a life threatening event changes their lives forever.
A combination of Zane meets Christian, this novel is filled with subliminal messages that are sure
to
hit home with many mature readers, but will also raise a few eyebrows with its thought
provoking,
erotic and hard-core content. Characters of Lust is a great book if you are an open minded
adult.
Karlyn LeBlanc is a native of Chicago, Illinois, and resides in Baton Rouge, Louisiana where she
works as a medical social worker. LeBlanc is currently at work on her second novel, When Lust
Steps Back In.
A Bird in Flight
Troy Buckner
Hytara Productions
P.O. Box 19049 Anaheim Hills, CA. 92817
www.abirdinflight.com
ISBN 0972793305 $16.95 US $22.95 Canada 267 pages
A Bird in Flight (Hytara Productions) is a beautiful novel that shares the pain, passion and
struggles
of one woman, Rachel Howard, as she struggles to find inner peace, truth and compassion within
the
world that she lives in. Rachel's story is a familiar one that many readers can relate to. From being
raised by a single parent to living with a spouse who is a drug addict, her story is about courage,
strength and spirituality. Each chapter begins with a related scripture that is taken from
Ecclesiastes
and the basis for what is about to transpire in the novel. The inspiring words and details are heart
warming to the human spirit and you feel as if you have been transplanted into the life of the main
character, with the reader taking on her pain and suffering. Buckner's novel is hypnotic, often
taking
a slow and methodological tempo as the story of one woman's determination to make it, despite
all
of the obstacles that are placed in her way, unfolds before your very eyes. Although this novel is
based on spirituality there is some language and materials that may be offensive to some readers,
but
despite this factor I found this book enlighten and would recommend to anyone who is struggling
with a difficult situation in their life or who is trying to strengthen their relationship with
God.
Troy Buckner is a graduate of Southern University and holds a degree in Accounting. She is the
founder of My Broken Wings Women Organization and currently resides in Anaheim Hills,
California. Buckner is currently traveling throughout the US to promote her play which is based
on
the novel.
Carey Yazeed
Reviewer
Carroll's Bookshelf
The Last Dance
Ed McBain
Simon & Schuster.
ISBN 0684855135 $25.00
Ed McBain (Evan Hunter) has written 50-plus 87th precinct novels as well as numerous other
novels. He also writes books for children.
In "The Last Dance," cops Carella, Meyer, and others hunt the killer of an old man who, it at first
appears, has nothing of value to anyone.
For fans of a good cop novel, this is a step-by-step police investigation.
For fans of a good mystery, this book provides an intricate tapestry that unravels bit-by-bit,
keeping
the reader puzzled and surprised.
For those not fans of McBain's 87th precinct books, and those who like character driven fiction, it
may be hard to get into this book. There is no character to care about but there are many
characters to keep track of and only the crime, the investigation and the mystery to move the
story
along. The dialogue is true-to-life, often repetitious the way people talk, and often hilarious.
Although I couldn't get into the story I didn't care about the murder victim or the detectives--I
kept reading to see what all the guys were wearing. Like Robert B. Parker, McBain describes
what
every male who steps into the story has on, ". . .black jeans, a black turtleneck sweater, and a
fringed suede vest." ". . .a moss-green corduroy suit over a black turtleneck sweater, black loafers
and black socks, a massive gold ring on the pinky of his left hand." Evidently detectives, or at
least
detective story writers pay attention to those details.
The women, however, got "The woman had fake teeth but she smiled a lot nonetheless." or
perhaps
" a green cardigan sweater and a brown woolen skirt." (evidently no blouse, shoes or socks).
Try this book. Skim through the somewhat boring parts to get to the dialogue where you will be
captivated, as I was, by the natural flow of the back and forth discourse. If it hadn't been for that,
the
fashion show, and Fat Ollie Weeks, a total bigot of a cop, I might not have stayed for "The Last
Dance."
All That Matters
Jan Goldstein
Hyperion
ISBN 140130110X $17.95
The story question of All That Matters is, "Can a 76-year-old woman with severe emphysema
help
her depressed and suicidal granddaughter, Jennifer, before the young woman kills herself or
before
her father carts her off to a mental hospital?"
Jennifer is depressed over the death of her mother and blames herself in some ways. The father, a
busy, take-charge movie maker, feels the only solution is to get Jennifer professional help. Gabby,
the grandmother, a holocaust survivor, is determined to help Jennifer overcome her suicidal
thoughts.
"I did not hide away in an attic, jump from Hitler's death train, and escape the burning hell of
Poland
to see my granddaughter locked up in a loony bin," Gabby says.
Against the father's wishes, Gabby takes Jennifer to New York, and the first thing she does is take
Jennifer to shovel horse manure. This is also the first time the reader might pause to wonder. How
would this extremely ill grandmother be capable of such strenuous work?
Gabby and Jennifer next go on a trip through new England to places Gabby and Jennifer's mother
used to go. Stories about Gabby's life and the life of Jennifer's mother come to light. Some scenes
are quite touching, occasionally there is humor.
There are little inconsistencies in this book, and there are also big errors. The biggest, in my mind,
is
when the author has Gabby confront Jennifer. Jennifer is "staggering bleary-eyed" drunk.
Certainly
not a good time to have a heart-to-heart. Jennifer, in turn, carries on a totally coherent
conversation
with Gabby while in this drunken state.
Gabby also picks this point in time to tell Jennifer about her own life as a child in Poland. What
could have been a very moving story stopped me cold when Gabby said she clung by her fingers
to
the slanted walls of an attic all day so her feet wouldn't touch the floor. Maybe. But it is very
difficult to picture a ten-year-old being able to do that.
Jan Goldstein has a good story and the novel is at times a tear-jerker, but also at times the reader
is
jolted right out of the story by something said or done.
Jean Carroll
Reviewer
Carson's Bookshelf
Rousing Songs and True Tales of the Civil War
Wayne Erbsen
Native Ground Music
109 Bell Road, Asheville, NC 28805-1521
www.nativeground.com
1883206332 $5.95 1-800-752-2656
Rousing Songs and True Tales of the Civil War is an anthology of vintage songs and anecdotes
from
the American Civil War. Each song is fit onto one page, in simple musical notation with the lyrics
printed both within the music notation and separately for easy reading. Black-and-white
photographs
and illustrations embellish the histories behind individual tunes and some just plain eye-popping
tales.
Especially ideal for Civil War buffs as well as anyone interested in singing vintage pieces or
performing them on any simple instrument (the tunes appear to work especially well with a
harmonica), Rousing Songs and True Tales of the Civil War perfectly captures the spirit of a
troubled and transforming era.
Matthews
Edward C. Matthews III
Southeast Missouri State University Press
MS2650, One University Plaza, Cape Girardeau, MO 63701
0976041308 $19.00 www.semo.edu
Matthews: The Historic Adventures Of A Pioneer Family by Edward C. Matthews III is the
biographical story of the author's family who settled in Southeast Missouri two hundred years and
eight generations ago. A superbly written family history, this is the story of generations of men
and
women whose ambitions and perseverance were to shape and influence the entire region.
Beginning
with the settlement of the then newly acquired Louisiana Territory, nd continuing with the
subsequent growth and development of Southeast Missouri, these are very human stories of
Matthews family members complete with the private tragedies, public accomplishments, and
diverse
personalities. At the core of the story is C.D. Matthews who was born a poor farm boy in the
1840s
and who grew up to risk his life supplying corn and wheat to the Confederate forces during the
Civil
War. Surviving the war, he went on to amass a fortune in the fields of banking, lumber, railroads,
and land. Also available in a hardcover edition (0976041316, $35.00), Matthews: The Historic
Adventures Of A Pioneer Family is informative and fascinating reading, and could well serve as a
template for others who are thinking of writing their family histories.
Watching Your Back
Anthony L. Schmieg, M.D.
The University of Hawaii Press
2840 Kolowalu Street, Honolulu, HI 96822
0824828232 $20.95 1-888-847-7377
Emergency physician and martial arts practitioner Anthony L. Schmieg presents Watching Your
Back: Chinese Martial Arts and Traditional Medicine, explores the symbiosis of traditional
Chinese
medicine and the martial arts. Chapters reflect on how the martial arts grew out of the need for
survival, their history and intent, the distinction between martial and military disciplines, the
influence of Daoism upon the evolution of an ancient system, and much more. Watching Your
Back
debunks common myths such as misinterpretations of the yin/yang dichotomy, and over-emphasis
on
the role of Shaolin temples in the genesis of Chinese martial arts (the Shaolin temples reflected
Buddhist culture specifically and isolated their warrior-monks from Chinese society, and therefore
could not be prototypical of Chinese martial arts). An articulate, well-thought-out philosophical
treatise revealing the far-reaching depths of Chinese martial arts, reflecting meaningfully on their
purpose and greatness in human history.
The Scandinavian
John Emms
Everyman Chess
c/o The Globe Pequot Press
PO Box 480, Guilford, CT 06437
www.everymanchess.com
1857443756 $19.95 1-800-243-0495
Now in an updated second edition, The Scandinavian is a guide for intermediate to advanced
chess
players concerning the Scandinavian Defense, its various strategies and tactics, and tips for using
it
to the fullest advantage or reacting to it. Written by John Emms, one of Britain's most well-known
Grandmasters, The Scandinavian is packed cover to cover with examples and sample games,
many
of which are taken directly from matches between expert players, to illustrate its points. Changes
made to the new second edition include revisions of personal opinion and analytical amendments,
which by the author's own admittance, are so common that he elected not to highly each and
every
one. A superb resource for the serious chess player striving to improve.
Living Smart: New York City
Craig Wroe
Hal Leonard Corporation
151 West 46th Street, 8th floor, New York, NY 10036
www.halleonard.com
0879103086 $16.95 1-800-637-2852
Living Smart: New York City: The Ultimate Insider's Guide for the Budget Savvy is a resource
packed with tips, tricks, and techniques for living frugally in the big apple. From avoiding health
insurance scams to discount internet service providers to stretching the dollar while shopping to
partaking of high culture on a low disposable budget and more, Living Smart: New York City
balances quality with economy. Written in a lighthearted, fun-filled tone, Living Smart: New York
City is a quality of life advice guide that quite literally pays for itself.
Essential Deren
Maya Deren
McPherson & Company
POB 1126, Kingston, NY 12401
0929701658 $18.00 1-800-613-8219
Essential Deren is an anthology of writings concerning cinema theory by acclaimed filmmaker
Maya
Deren. From the poetics of "Cinema as an Art Form" to tips on "Creative Cutting" to scrutiny of
fims in medias res and much more, Essential Deren is a treasury of insight reflecting a life and a
professional career dedicated to the highest potential of expression movies can bring. Appendices
present Deren's articles in the "Village Voice" as well as manifestoes and program notes; a
bibliography, filmography, and list of resources points the reader toward more useful and
fascinating
discussion of the film as trade and medium. Especially recommended reading for cinematography
students, connoisseurs and critics, and college libraries and references shelves.
Families Of The King
Alice Sheppard
University of Toronto Press
10 St. Mary Street, Suite 700, Toronto, ON, Canada, M4Y 2W8
0802089844 $70.00 1-800-565-9523
Families Of The King: Writing Identity In The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle by Alice Sheppard
(Assistant
Professor, Department of English, Pennsylvania State University) directly addresses the central
interpretative question with respect to the student of five primary manuscripts that together offer
a
contemporary history of Anglo-Saxon English ranging from the ninth to the twelfth centuries, and
materially contribute to understanding the body of Old English prose and poetic texts which in
turn,
enabled scholars to document how the Old English language evolved and changed. The question
is
how those five manuscript function as history. Professor Sheppard shows just what has been read
as
a series of disparate entries and peculiar juxtapositions are upon closer scrutiny a compelling
articulation of collective identity and provide academia with a coherent approach to writing the
secular history of invasion, conquest, and settlement. The central theme for Families of the King is
that the king's performance of his lordship obligations was recorded and transformed by annalists
into literary representations of a political ethos offering insights and an understanding of the
Anglo-Saxon aristocratic culture and the impact upon that culture by the Normans who
conquered
them. A work of impressively articulate scholarship , Families Of The King is an invaluable, core
addition to academic library collections and will prove to be of immense interest to students of
Medieval Studies.
Bending Spines
Randall L. Bytwerk
Michigan State University Press
1405 South Harrison Road, Suite 25, Manly Miles Building, East Lansing, MI 48823-5245
0870137107 $24.95 1-517-355-9543 www.msupress.msu.edu
In Bending Spines: The Propagandas Of Nazi Germany And The German Democratic Republic,
Randall L. Bytwerk (Professor of Communication, Calvin College, Grand Rapids, Michigan) has
created a seminal, groundbreaking work of painstaking scholarship in the often obscure field of
governmental propaganda and the influence such controlled and goal oriented communication has
upon those who create it as well as upon those to whom it is directed. With the benefit of
extensive
archival and field research, Professor Bytwerk reveals that inevitably propagandists come to
believe
their own distortions while the recipients of their work grown increasingly cynical as the
ideologically driven announcements diverge from real world experience and observation.
Professor
Bytwerk also underscores how even though Nazi and German Democratic Republic propaganda
took diametrically opposing stands, the mechanics, dynamics, and consequences of their
propaganda
efforts were far more similar than dissimilar. Bending Spines is especially recommended and
informative reading for students of rhetoric, mass communication, and twentieth century German
history.
Michael J. Carson
Reviewer
Catherine's Bookshelf
The Coal Tattoo
Silas House
Workman Publishing, Inc
ISBN: 1565123689 $22.95 336 p.
Rating 5 stars
Silas House embodies a sense of family and community, an appreciation and a disdain for the
simple
life and forgiveness and tolerance of others in his latest book, The Coal Tattoo.
It is an intricate tale of two sisters, Easter and Anneth Sizemore, raised under the watchful caring
eye of their grandmothers, Vine and Serena after the sudden tragic death of their mother. But the
Lords calls them home, first Vine and then Serena, leaving the girls to their own devices.
Easter gives up her scholarship to Berea College and her dreams to become a teacher to care for
Anneth, who is still a minor and quite the handful. Easter is a woman of faith; a devout
Pentecostal
who would never dream of straying from the righteous path to salvation for fear the fires of hell
would rise up and claim her.
Anneth rebukes her family's rigid faith and enjoys the life of a sinner. But to Easter's dismay, her
sister embraces the darker side of drinking, smoking and men, and makes no apologies for her
reckless behavior.
But Easter does stray from the church after she falls in love and marries El. Together they get
their
fill of bars and immorality until Easter's guilt consumes her and she finds herself standing at the
church altar asking for forgiveness for her wickedness. Her request comes too late as she will pay
the ultimate price years later.
Anneth never ask for forgiveness even after she elopes with Matthew, a promising country and
western singer, and runs off to Nashville. Some life's teaching are etched in stone as Anneth insists
on a Pentecostal preacher to perform the wedding ceremony. Like a wildflower in a clay pot,
Anneth
struggles against the concrete and the high rises of Nashville and seeks solace down by the river -
a
river whose waters had passed through her own small town before washing over the banks of
Tennessee.
The sisters, who seem like water and fire on the exterior, are undistinguishable on the inside,
where
their Grandmothers molded them with strength to overcome even the most devastating of losses,
to
love as if it is their last day on earth, and the taught them of forgiveness and tolerance. These gifts
caused their souls to mesh as one.
Silas House brings The Coal Tattoo to life against the backdrop of the beautiful and magical
Appalachian Mountains and the tyranny of the coal mining companies whose decades of treachery
and abuse of the powerless local community is about to come to an end. It encompasses all the
elements for a classic and his slow, sensuous style will take your breath away. Well done Silas
House.
Carry Me Home
Sandra Kring
Dell Publishing Company
ISBN: 0385338139 $13.00
