Sixty Million Frenchmen Can't Be Wrong.
Jean-Benoit Nadeau and Julie Barlow
Sourcebooks Inc.
1935 Brookdale Road, #139, Naperville, IL 60563
ISBN: 1402200455, $16.95, 1-800-432-7444
Shauna Singh Baldwin
Reviewer
To many Americans, Edith Piaf and Maurice Chevalier represent France. For others, France is the
place where style matters more than substance, the country that broadened our adjectival palette
to
describe fine wines. To others, it is the country that has been "ungrateful" for being saved in
WWII,
that inexplicably challenged George Bush's plans for unilateral military intervention in a foreign
country. The Canadian view of France is less extreme. Many English-Canadians associate France
with de Gaulle's 1967 "Vive le Quebec Libre" that was interpreted as support for Quebec
separatism, others with cheese, food as religion, and the creation of the EEC. So why do most of
us
love France but hate the French?
In Sixty Million Frenchman Can't be Wrong, coauthors Jean-Benoit Nadeau and Julie Barlow with
10 years of business journalism apiece, renovate our ideas about this paradoxical country.
French-Canadian and English Canadian respectively, this married couple moved to France and
spent
two years researching this rare book of cultural anthropology for the general reader.
Like many cultural guides to France Polly Platt's French or Foe?, and Sally Adamson's Culture
Shock! France they enumerate many ways in which France is "a clock that runs on a different set
of gears" but Benoit and Barlow also show us how it got that way. In the process they challenge
our
cultural assumptions and expectations. Reasoning from history and geography, the authors explain
French differences, offering cross cultural statistics and anecdotal comparisons along the
way.
Take North American myths of France as insular: the authors describe France's continuing global
reach as a still-surviving colonial power. Using Guadeloupe as example, they describe the
homogenous administration of colonial possessions. Why is France so far behind even
less-developed countries in its business use of the Internet? The authors introduce us to France's
Minitel system. Why are the French against globalization, as Thomas Freidman complains in The
Lexus and the Olive Tree? The authors tell us the French accept globalization, but are against the
model and impact of the current progress of exploitive globalization as promoted by the US and
the
WTO. The French, like many other countries, have even proposed a global tax on financial
transactions for redistribution of wealth from wealthy states to poor nations, a "solidarity
tax."
Keenly aware of the power differentials between French and English in the foreign and business
affairs of France and North America, Sixty Million Frenchman Can't be Wrong celebrates French
self-assurance, French interest in international politics. A recurring theme is the impact of that
provocative and consummate politician, Charles de Gaulle in setting France on an independent
path
in foreign policy and economics. In every area, the authors show how de Gaulle's single-minded
pursuit of French interest, from refusing American control and reconstruction after WWII to
creating the myth of total French resistance to the German occupation, to the creation of the
Fourth
Republic and France's current democratic institutions.
From a book co-authored with a woman, you might expect more information about French
women
and French feminism. Is it still "Vive la Difference" - how have cultural expectations for French
women changed over the years? But beyond noting that France passed a law in 2000 that requires
50% female representation among political candidates presented by any party, the authors skirt
this
issue.
They replace our myths with a picture a highly authoritarian and formerly homogenous country
just
emerging from the control of Paris and its elites, waking to local representation, decision making
and
participative democracy. A country that has only in the last ten years woken to the assimilation
problems of its Muslim population, and realized the dangers posed by its many conservative,
anti-semitic and fascist elements. A powerful participant on the global stage. A country not so
different from the USA.
Sixty Million Frenchman Can't be Wrong is a delightful book, a must-read before your first trip to
France, and also one that can illuminate, interpret and deepen your last experience of the
country.
Staying Sane at an Insane Time
Adrienne J. Rosenberg, MSW
Mystic Publishers
www.successforchange.com
ISBN: 0972784012 $12.95 Adrienne2171@aol.com
Sarah Lee Marks
Reviewer
I started reading Adrienne's book when all was calm in my life --then all h-ll broke loose.
Words are often an attempt to ease the pain of our affliction. Making sense of the trials that
prevail
upon all of us at one time or another is what Rosenberg does for a living. Aptly named, Staying
Sane at an Insane Time is not a clich‚. We all question our sanity when control and
comprehension appear beyond our grasp.
Coping skills from A-to-Z covers every possible trauma, conflict or personal crossroads including;
Dealing with the Unexpected, Coping with Financial Insecurity, Dealing with the loss of a Loved
One, Weaning away from Addictions, The Pain of Divorce, Retirement and the Adjustment to
Aging. Young adult to golden agers will find solice in this work. Adrienne's backround in social
work and therapy mix well with her teaching skills, providing a concise GET TO THE POINT
approach, that keeps the chapters short and simple making for an easy read. The Here's
How-To-Fix-It, as in the problem or issue, is not so much a software patch but a well scripted
lesson
plan.
Bullet points carry the reader through the logical progression, including a time frame for the
process
and the anticipated results. When discussing the concept of risk taking, Adrienne offers a list of
steps and suggestions beginning with the age old Ben Franklin list. She then adds; "Talk to others
you trust who have your best interest at heart " and "Be certain to the best of your knowledge
that
you are making decisions based on strong facts and being in the best mindset, rather than out of
desperation, anger or fear. You want to feel good as you change the course of your life, or even
(as
you) decide to keep things the same." She avoids the obvious: Don't Panic, Listen to your Inner
Spirit, the new age platitudes that often leave one Ohmmming in hopes of a handwritten note
from
the other side.
The concepts Adrienne imparts are steeped in common sense, and professional coaching. I learned
to slowdown and pay attention to my feelings. First by understanding that not accepting all the
responsibility was permission-based and I needed to give myself permission to slow down. Once I
had made the time to listen by reducing my work load, I was better equipped to focus on my plan
for
change. Writing down thoughts, lists, ideas and issues as a way to sort through the noise, is a big
part of the "Staying Sane " program.
This book is a keeper for your reference shelf of life.
A Journey of Work-Life Renewal: The Power to Recharge and Rekindle Passion in your Life
Bonnie Michaels and Michael Seef
Managing Work & Family, Inc.
912 Crain Street, Evanston, IL 60202
ISBN 0972811508 $13.95
Roger E. Herman
Reviewer
Educational, Inspiring
Ever wish you could just take some time off? I mean, real time off. Like a year. Just travel with
your
spouse, another loved one, a friend or even by yourself? A year-long sabbatical could be a
fascinating, rewarding, and renewing experience. If we were honest with each other, we'd
probably
all admit that we'd love to live this way. It's possible - and practical for the right kinds of
people.
To learn if this is right for you, it's wise to do some exploring - into what others have done.
Bonnie
and Michael, husband and wife, took the Big Leap. Most of the year they spent together, but they
did separate for a while to pursue their own needs, their own dreams. Their time was spent
volunteering, sightseeing, learning, and renewing. This book tells their story - the good, the bad,
and
the ugly. It's a captivating read that draws you in and makes you want to read more while you
dream about what you might do.
Your imagination will be stimulated, your curiosity piqued.
A lot of your questions will be answered as you read the story of Bonnie and Michael's
adventures.
The rest of your questions, about resources and all the specifics, will be answered in the
comprehensive resource listing in the back of the book. Everything you ever wanted to
know detailed information about what was referred to in the book, and even more.
There are all sorts of things to consider if you want to take off for a year, a few months, a month,
a
couple of weeks, or even two years. The authors will take you through the process, even
providing a
planning guide for your convenience. Anticipate challenges the unexpected. You'll learn about the
kind of things that could happen in the frank discussion in the text. Upon completion of this
reading,
you'll be much more ready than you were before especially for international travel.
Added bonus: throughout the book there are quotes from other writings in the field of life-work
balance and sabbaticals. These references are enlightening, thought-provoking, and stimulating -
to
read the other books, too.
Ready to take some time off, to renew? Prepare well; start with this book.
Hug Your Customers: The Proven Way To Personalize Sales And Achieve Astounding
Results
Jack Mitchell
Hyperion Books
77 West 66th Street, New York, NY 10023
www.HugYourCustomers.com
ISBN 1401300340 $19.95
Peter Hupalo
Reviewer
Hug Your Customers: The Proven Way To Personalize Sales And Achieve Astounding Results by
Jack Mitchell is a great book for entrepreneurs who operate service businesses and, especially, for
business owners who operate retail operations.
Jack Mitchell is co-owner and CEO of Mitchells/Richards, the upper-end clothing retailer. Today,
Mitchells/Richards sells $65 million in apparel annually. Mitchells/Richards dresses many Fortune
500 executives. However, the store began as a modest family business, started by Jack's dad in
1958.
Mitchell writes: "When the store opened, there were a few dozen shirts, some socks, a couple of
sweaters, and a few ties. Plus, exactly three Doncaster suits, the brand Dad created for the store,
priced at $65 apiece. A size 40 banker's stripe. A 42 navy blue. And a 42 charcoal gray....
Nowadays
we stock over three thousand suits - for men and women."
Mitchell credits his family store's success to making the store a home, where customers feel
welcome. Mitchell says his parents: "...understood that customers wanted five things more than
they
wanted a great location or enormous inventory:
1. A friendly greeting
2. Personal interest
3. A business that makes them feel special
4. A 'no problem' attitude
5. Forward thinking"
Mitchell says that to be successful in the service industry, you must build a customer centric
organization - one that hugs the customer. It's not enough to have satisfied customers. You need
extremely satisfied customers.
Mitchell writes: "When you have strong relationships, customers will do more of their buying
from
you. They'll refer other customers. They'll communicate with you better and tell you what they
like
and what they don't like, in turn making your business more efficient and effective."
Mitchell points out that hugging is difficult to quantify, and many companies ignore customer
satisfaction and customer profiling altogether. While inventory is recorded on the balance sheet,
Mitchell tells us that a company's greatest asset - repeat customers - doesn't appear on any
financial
statements.
Further, while companies invest significant amounts in computer systems, they rarely develop
computer systems that support a hugging culture.
Mitchell writes: "What's amazing is that although personal relationships are absolutely crucial to
any
company's success, they are rarely tracked by any system. Hotels don't know who likes
queen-sized
beds and who wants extra pillows. Airlines don't know who prefers aisle seats and who prefers the
window."
Mitchell is a big fan of profiling customers to provide more personal service. He likes his sales
associates to know which customers like M&M's and what nicknames they prefer.
With over 115,000 customers, knowing personal information about each customer is nearly
impossible without a database to support this information. When a customer visits
Mitchells/Richards, the customer's sales associate can pull up the customer information easily
allowing the associate to recall information about the individual.
Hug Your Customers also contains solid advice about running a family business.
A Humanist in the Bible Belt
William Harwood
lstBooks
1663 Liberty Drive, Bloomington, IN 47403
ISBN 141070985X $13.50 www.1stbooks.com.
Norman Pridmore
Reviewer
First published in Freethinker, August 2003.
If something can be clearly thought, then it can be clearly stated. Flannel and gobbledygook
(components of what A C Grayling elegantly calls "the perfumed smokescreen") are far too often
simply an attempt to conceal the illucidity of a writer's ideas. It is no coincidence that flannel and
gobbledygook constitute the essence of theology.
Dr William Harwood will have no truck with vagueness, and this makes his writing consistently
stimulating and urgent. He also largely eschews nuance and ornament. His directness is at times
almost supercharged. This means that when confronted with a Harwood essay, letter, article or
review the reader is able to deal without distraction with what is being said. His latest book, the
imposing A Humanist in the Bible Belt, brings together a large number of Harwood pieces that
were
previously widely scattered and available only in newspapers and periodicals. In addition, readers
will find in this volume substantial chunks of his fine (if strange) novel The Autobiography of God
(reviewed in the January 2003 Freethinker). In producing this book the publisher 1stBooks has
performed a very useful and undoubtedly important service.
This collection has many virtues. However, a word of warning is in order. Because what lies
between the covers is such highly concentrated stuff it is perhaps advisable not to imbibe too
much
at a single sitting lest an overdose ensues. The material is best read, in my experience at least, a
few
items at a time. This method also reduces one's occasional sense of deja vu. Dr Harwood has a
number of favoured pithy phrases that pop up in different places, and to read too many of these
too
often is sometimes disconcerting. Another virtue of the "little at a time" method is that the best of
the points that Dr Harwood does repeat fold more easily into the memory. This is entirely to the
good, as they are well worth remembering.
The term "polymath" is frequently misused. In Dr Harwood's' case, it is probably an accurate
description. He knows a great many things, and knows about a great many things (there is a
difference). In an age of intense specialisation there are very few who can or are prepared to
venture
with confidence beyond a relatively narrow field of expertise. Dr Harwood is not one of these.
The
fact that he is not a university academic (though eminently qualified to be one) may have some
bearing on this.
He knows the languages of the Bible well enough to have undertaken a scholarly translation of
significant portions of it (copiously annotated). He is at home in history, myth, and textual
analysis.
He is well acquainted (as anyone on the editorial board of that excellent magazine Free Inquiry
should be) with modem secular humanist thinking over a wide range of issues. He is a
contributing
editor of American Rationalist. And he seems to know in mind-bending detail the whole spectrum
of
kooks and kookiness, from Ayurveda and alien abductions to Zero Point Energy. Oh, and don't
get
him onto hypnotism. He was an advertising manager for hypnotic stage shows and will tell you
very
definitely that there's no such thing - not as understood by most folk, anyway. He's right, by the
way.
The earliest piece in the book dates from 1974 and concerns the quality of education given to
Canada's future teachers. He deprecates the quality of the training they are given, and roundly'
castigates the intellectual standard of what is on offer. It is "puerile balderdash" and "unintelligible
gibberish," he says. Dr Harwood should know: himself an educator (in the widest sense of that
word) he is well placed to make such an assessment.
From this robust beginning, Dr Harwood covers a vast amount of territory. Some readers may
find
his ideas about sex rather challenging, and any religious persons perusing the book will be
appalled
at these (and at much else besides). Religion, he believes, has twisted and depraved our normal
human impulses to a degree that is not only scarcely believable but certainly unacceptable. A
rational
ethics, he suggests, would not place an arbitrary boundary around sexual behaviour and impose
consequent limits, but would recognise and accept the legitimacy and importance of sexual
experimentation and relations between young people (by which he means those presently
considered
to be below the "age of consent"). Those disturbed by his proposals will probably not be mollified
by
his carefully delineated scheme for ensuring that exploitation does not take place. In his ideas
about
sex Dr Harwood gets very close to saying the unsayable. Bravely and consistently, however, he
follows the dictum that in the realm of ideas, there should be no holds barred. He ridicules
"accepted" notions such as the innate harmfulness of "adultery" too. Unsurprisingly, he is not a
fan
of the Pope's teachings concerning contraception. His anger is at times palpable.
Nor is he a fan of President George W Bush. Not only does he consider him an illegitimate
usurper
(he's in the excellent company of Michael Moore and Gore Vidal here) - he also considers him to
be
one of history's biggest mass murderers. This is based of course upon Bush's record as Governor
of
Texas, during which time he had power to prevent, but did not prevent, the murder by the state of
around 150 fellow humans. (Executions on this scale smack of human sacrifice, surely?).
In reading his analyses of what the Bible actually says (an extraordinary self-imposed task for
someone who rates the book as being ethically on a par with Hitler's Mein Kampf and De Sade's
Justine), I began to entertain a plausible but mildly disturbing fantasy. Certain pieces in this book
would lend themselves to photocopying and to sending at suitable intervals to the professionally
religious. For most of the time these paragons of dissimulation go about their ghostly trade
unopposed. A few Harwood "anti-tracts" sent in their direction could be just the thing they need
to
awaken their dormant critical faculties. It would probably be far too optimistic to expect that any
would seriously alter their opinions, but any offer of food for thought to the mentally starved
would
be an act of charity. The confused Rowan Wilson, author of a recent sermon in which he
"challenged" secularism to explain and justify itself, might he a worthy recipient of a Harwood
sandwich.
When getting to grips with Dr Harwood's biblical interpretations and analyses, I did have
something
of a problem. It's not that I doubt his competence as a translator or analyst - it's simply that I am
not
qualified to make any assessment based on the primary sources that he uses.
I fell to wondering as a consequence of this whether his ideas really did stand up to scrutiny. With
this in mind I turned to that very useful and subversive book The Unauthorised Version by
historian
Robin Lane Fox (author of the equally useful Pagans and Christians). I was surprised at the extent
to
which Fox and Harwood supported each other - if not in detail, then at least in the general tenor
of
many of their conclusions. Any lingering doubts were removed when I turned to the work of M A
Screech, classical scholar, Fellow of the British Academy, Emeritus Fellow of All Souls, Oxford,
and, since 1993, Anglican priest. He describes most revealingly how even in the 16th Century the
internal inconsistencies and self-contradictions in the Bible were so well known that John Calvin
(amongst others) felt obliged to cobble together so-called "harmonies" in order to explain and
justify
the anomalies - and how they ceased to explain them (surprise, surprise!) as the work of critics
became ever more sophisticated. I strongly suspect, as a result of this and a few other careful
comparisons, that Dr Harwood is right. I turned also to Dr Harwood's own very impressive
Mythology's Last Gods. It was reassuring to discover that where alternative points of view to
those
Dr Harwood posits are possible, he explicitly recognises the fact in the abundance of footnotes he
offers. In this and in many other ways his work is lifted beyond the suspicion of being less than
thoroughly scholarly.
Rationalism is not just for Christmas, but for life. In other words, everything is fair game. With
this
in mind Dr Harwood sets about UFOs, the alien abduction craze (as exemplified in the work of
Harvard professor John "The Wack" Mack), and "psychics." He also reflects with pungency on
matters like "recovered memory" and "multiple personality disorder" (curiously enough, a little
problem that the Christian god seems much affected by).
A little under half the book is composed of a collection of book reviews. This might sound like
thin
gruel, but in Dr Harwood's hands a review is not simply a review. Instead, it frequently becomes
an
argument - or an expos‚ of some unfortunate's dismal research or linguistic incapacity. Readers
put
off by the thought of ploughing through 200 pages of reviews should be assured that all are
readable, many are witty, and that in a good number a very entertaining display of fireworks is on
offer. Some of his comments may be thought by some to be rude. All I can suggest to those who
object is that they should perhaps re-read their Swift and Pope (Alexander. that is - not the
fanatical
bigot referred to earlier fading slowly away amidst the splendours of the Vatican).
If it is true (which it is) that in the realm of ideas there should be complete freedom of speech,
then it
is reasonable to insist that all ideas should be subject to criticism. Dr Harwood has no time for
those
who believe that ignoring the questionable and imbecilic is a sensible or reasonable strategy. This
is
an important point to remember when the argument is proposed that to debate such and such an
idea
only "gives it credibility." Dr Harwood rightly will have none of this. He points out several times
in
various places that the effect of such a refusal is to lend credibility to the fatuous, malicious or
devious by giving the (entirely false) impression that their claims cannot he countered. Those who
believe, for example, that creationism or holocaust denial will be conquered or that they will
somehow lose their power, appeal and influence by ignoring them should pay careful heed.
Dr Harwood's aims are not trivial. He wants to change minds. And he goes about trying to do this
in
a very thorough way. He offers facts - especially the facts of history. He offers evidence in spades
taken from the holy writings of the religious themselves. But he recognises too that, for some
minds
at least, this is not enough. So he brings in the artillery of logic. Those wanting a flavour of how
he
does this should take a look at section seven of this book - the one called "Is Religiosity a Form of
Unsanity?". It's just one of many sections likely to give the deluded pious a few nasty moments -
before they remember and head for that convenient refuge known as the Mystery of God....
And in case anyone is wondering about the use of the word "unsanity," Dr Harwood gives some
excellent reasons as to why it might be preferred to the more pejorative "insanity" when
discussing
religious beliefs. He also makes a good case for adopting the use of "non-theist" as opposed to
"atheist," on the grounds of both clarity and strict accuracy.
As I do with any author, I sought hard to disagree with Dr Harwood. Thirty years ago this would
have been easy: I would have disagreed quite effortlessly with just about everything he said. Now
older and wiser, for me to discover any bones of contention meant some hard digging. I finally
found
one bone in the form of his antipathy to what is loosely termed "sociobiology." This came as
rather a
shock. He seems not only dismissive of, but hostile to, many of the ideas of Richard Dawkins and
(especially) E O Wilson (the two he mentions by name). Surprisingly he offers little by way of
argument in defence of his position. At one time the opinion was widely held that any acceptance
of
the conclusions of sociobiology must result in the acceptance of the imposition of an illiberal
social
policy, this being the inevitable result of sociobiology's implicit assertion of strong genetic
determinism. This always was something of a straw-man argument, and is one which today simply
cannot stand up to scrutiny. Given Dr Harwood's commitment to the reality of the body and his
acceptance of a completely non-transcendental naturalism, I would have expected a greater
degree
of sympathy to the "sociobiology project" - which at its simplest is about asserting the primacy
and
interconnectedness of the natural world. Perhaps any misunderstanding is mine. I feel sure,
anyway,
that should he choose to, he could provide a very cogent defence of his position. That said, it is
astonishing (given his remarkable productivity) that there is even room for sociobiology on his
radar.
The second bone of contention turned out not to be a bone at all. When I first read Dr Harwood's
brief article "Is This 1984 - Or What!" I did a double take when I read that 1984 was really about
Anglicanism. Dr Harwood writes of "Orwell's fictionalized Anglican religion (disguised as Russian
communism) " Whoops - my mistake. It's not about Anglicanism at all, and Dr Harwood knows it.
He was making a point about the persistence of "The Big Lie" as propounded by religion - the lie
that "religion, specifically Christianity, is on the increase." It's typical of Dr Harwood that he's able
to illuminate an issue by drawing on an example that is apparently so remote. After the shock
wears
off, one realises that the "Big Lie" to which he refers really is thoroughly Orwellian in its
insistence
that, despite all the evidence, black is white, two and two really do make five, and that there really
are two billion Christians in the world.
Inevitably, the experience of reading a collection such as this is ultimately less satisfying than
reading
a complete work would be. One is often left wanting more, to see how Dr Harwood might
develop
this or that idea, or to see better how various of his assertions fit together in a larger pattern.
Nevertheless, given that Dr Harwood frequently manages to say in just a few pages what many
other
writers say (or fail to say, as Nietzsche said of his own work) in an entire book, the satisfactions
that
do remain are very considerable.
The work of William Harwood stands in a great tradition of rationalist writing. His is not,
thankfully,
a lone voice. But it is without doubt one of the strongest and most individual voices speaking
today,
and it is one well worth attending to.
Paraplegic and former movie actress Monica Vincent is dead. Her sister, Anna Vincenzi, is
arrested
for murder. The residents of Carson Springs are shocked--not because of Monica's death; she was
a
cruel, vindictive woman who played the pity card to manipulate others. Anna's friends are shocked
because they don't believe she is capable of such a heinous crime. WISH COME TRUE, the third
book in the Carson Springs trilogy, begins with Anna's arrest, then takes the reader back six
months
to view the events that led up to the murder.
Anna cares for her Alzheimer's-afflicted mother, Betty, as well as assists Monica many hours each
day. Monica is an alcoholic and makes Anna's life a living hell. Things finally reach a breaking
point,
and Anna and her other sister Liz convince Monica to enter rehab. During family week, Anna gets
to
know Marc, a counselor with troubles of his own. The two grow closer, and over the next few
months forge a relationship. Marc joins Anna in the search for Monica's killer. Will they fall in
love
or just remain close friends? Will they find Monica's true murderer, or will Anna go to jail?
WISH COME TRUE also revisits some favorite characters from Eileen Goudge's previous novels.
Finch is on a mission to find out more about her birth family. Laura and Hector proceed with the
adoption of a baby. Sam, Claire, Gerry, and many others are also featured. Who is the mysterious
woman with the same name as Finch, are they related?
Eileen Goudge has a talent for creating believable characters who overcome obstacles for love. I
enjoyed getting to know Anna in the previous two novels in which she was a peripheral character.
In
WISH COME TRUE, she has a voice and comes to find herself in the midst of the needs of
others.
Marc is an ideal match for Anna, although he is not without faults. The cracks in his armor are
what
make him a believable and interesting person. Ms. Goudge writes in such a way that the
transitions
between past and present flow smoothly. In the end, she paints a seamless picture with a
conclusion
that even most mystery lovers will not figure out in advance.
One issue that really bothers me about this book is the treatment of the characters from past
books.
The previous novel, TASTE OF HONEY, featured Gerry finding the daughter, Claire, she had
given
up for adoption thirty years before. Most of that book is a struggle of choices for Claire--between
Gerry and her adoptive parents, between her new love in Carson Springs and her hometown
boyfriend. In WISH COME TRUE, it is mentioned almost as an aside that Claire is now married,
and that Claire's mother had passed away. I felt cheated that this was only worthy of one sentence
when I had grown to know and care for these people.
I hate to see this trilogy end. There are so many more stories to tell in Carson Springs, hopefully
Ms.
Goudge will revisit it again someday. Although WISH COME TRUE is the third in a series, Ms.
Goudge gives the reader enough background that it can stand alone. I recommend reading all
three
books: STRANGER IN PARADISE, TASTE OF HONEY, and now WISH COME TRUE, to
get
to know the special people of Carson Springs. The idyllic scenery and warm residents will make
you
wish to live in this corner of heaven on earth, or at least visit for a little while.
Pharaohs and Kings: A Biblical Quest
David M. Rohl
Crown Publishing, Inc.
ISBN: 0517703157 $135.00
Maurice A. Williams
Reviewer
Ancient Egyptian names, like Raamses, Tutankhamun, and Nefertiti are familiar to everyone.
Egypt
is mentioned often in Scripture along with Joseph and Moses. Champollion's deciphering of
ancient
hieroglyphics from the Rosetta Stone was the key that opened a storehouse of Egyptian history as
the Egyptians themselves experienced it. Scholars were surprised to see very little confirmation of
Biblical accounts in the original Egyptian texts. The city and place names, persons and their titles
are
so different in ancient Egyptian and Hebrew that scholars, with great difficulty, could match only
four events to known dates. Based on these four dates, historians tried to intermesh all the other
events mentioned in Egyptian history. They then tried to match the dates with events in Biblical
history. So little affirmation with Biblical events caused many historians to view the Biblical
accounts as myths rather than history. Debates arose challenging the intermeshing of dates. In
1952,
Immanuel Velikovsky in his "Ages in Chaos" proposed that Egyptian history is mismatched with
biblical history by almost six centuries. He tried to show that some Egyptian history is repeated:
that
the same pharaohs appear with different names twice in Egyptian history.
Forty-three years later, David Rohl published "Pharaohs and Kings." Rohl, an eminent
Egyptologist,
spent twenty years examining the basis for the four pillars (or known dates) in Egyptian history.
Benefitted by recent archaeological research on a catch of mummified Apis bulls, which were
considered the sacred dwelling place of gods by the ancient Egyptians, Rohl and others
constructed
an unbroken line of dates intermeshing when the bulls were alive with the pharaohs who reigned
when the bulls lived.
Rohl also found misdating in Egyptian history, some dynasties being parallel rather than
sequential,
some being repeated. Of the four "known" pillars, only one is correct. The misdating amounted to
several centuries. The reason Biblical events do not match Egyptian events is because of the
misdating. Examining a steep rocky cliff housing the Nile where the yearly crests of the river were
inscribed and dated with the reign of certain pharaohs, Rohl saw that there were indeed seven
years
of plenty (because the Nile crested high) and seven years of famine because the Nile crested low,
bringing too little water and rich loam into the Nile valley where crops were grown. This
happened
in 1682-1668 B.C. Rohl was, therefore, able to date when Joseph arrived in Egypt to around
1662
B.C. when Amenenhat III was pharaoh. Amenenhat III empowered Joseph to be magistrate or
vizier
administering the storage and distribution of grain. Amenenhat III had a palace built for Joseph at
Tel-el-Daba, Area F. Rohl found the tomb of Joseph from which the Israelites took Joseph's bones
when they fled Egypt. Rohl also found a statue of Joseph at the tomb, but the statue was defaced
by
angry Egyptians during the Exodus. Finding a solid date for Joseph, Rohl concluded that the
Exodus
occurred around 1417 or 1450 B.C. when Dudimose was pharaoh.
This intriguing book by David Rohl has many illustrations, photos, and charts that take the reader
step-by-step through the evidence as Rohl, himself, sorted out the evidence. Thought written by a
highly qualified scientist, the book is very easy to understand and fascinating from cover to cover.
A
"must read" for anyone interested in ancient Egypt and the sojourn of the Israelites in Egypt.
Tribal Bible
Kajira Djoumahna
P.O. Box 14926, Santa Rosa, CA 95402-6926
ISBN 0972848606, $40.00, http://blacksheepbellydance.com
Laura Giles
Reviewer
Webster's dictionary defines "bible" as "any book regarded as authoritative or official." Thus, The
Tribal Bible is aptly named. It contains everything that an enthusiast of American Tribal (ATS)
style
belly dance would ever want.
It appropriately starts at the beginning, telling the story of how this new and unique dance
evolved.
Personal accounts from people who were there make this an interesting read. You can feel the
tension and excitement from both the dance and the dancers. It has all the expected drama of the
birth of a new phenomenon.
Djoumahna progresses by exploring the influences that continue its evolution today. She
acknowledges the closely associated styles that resemble ATS and respects their position in the
dance world, while pointing out their differences. She covers the globe in search of ATS hot spots
and contributors to the ongoing creation. It's a fascinating blend of east and west, traditional and
modern.
The book goes on to visit costuming, movements, music and more. Peppered throughout the
book
are practitioners' comments on why they dance, how it has enriched their lives, and their thoughts
on
a wide variety of dance related subjects. Through these comments, Djoumahna paints a spiritually
uplifting picture of womanhood and sisterhood that personifies the whole tribal spirit. While
non-dancers may not connect to many explanations of movement or music, this quality expands
the
audience from dancers to all women interested in connecting with the divine feminine and
releasing
the goddess within.
The reader will appreciate the abundance of photographs. There are pages of women from all
over
the world in various costumes and from different places in time. Tattoos, jewelry, make-up,
movement, and the beauty of the dancers could not be adequately described without these photos.
The photographs alone are worth the price of the book.
Djoumahna's conversational tone makes The Tribal Bible an easy and entertaining read. I applaud
the liberal crediting of her sources. It is particularly important in the creation of an authoritative
reference book such as this; however, the way in which credit is written sometimes interrupts the
flow of the book. I would have preferred footnotes where possible. With all the book has to offer,
this is a small thing worth overlooking. I highly recommend this book to Middle Eastern dancers,
dancers of other forms, women interested in exploring their inner goddess, collectors of Orientale
art, and the curious. The Tribal Bible is a book you will return to again and again for inspiration
and
wonder.
None of Our Business: Why Business Models Don't Work in Schools
Crystal M. England
Heinemann
361 Hanover Street, Portsmouth, NH 03801-3912
0325004447 $14.00 www.heinemann.com
Kristen Tucker
Reviewer
None of Our Business: Why Business Models Don't Work in Schools by Crystal M. England (a
former teacher and administrator and current publications editor for the Wisconsin Association of
Middle Level Education) is an honest and at times shocking look at the failure of the factory
model
in the current system of education. Ms. England denounces the use of high-stakes testing as the
sole
measure of learning and paints a bleak picture of socio-economic segregation as a result of
vouchers
for school choice. She points out the faults of the No Child Left Behind Act and the impact that
societal changes such as homelessness, poverty, and divorce have had on children who must come
to
school each day and try to learn. With research and anecdotal evidence that comes from actually
being an educator for many years, Ms. England's provides an accurate description of what takes
place in the classroom and the enormous needs of students, teachers, and schools that must be
addressed by society. This book should be read by anyone looking for reasons that schools are
failing, but especially by legislators and policymakers who created the atmosphere of failure, and
who hopefully, one day, will be able and willing to fix it.
A Working Stiff's Manifesto
Iain Levison
Random House Trade Paperbacks
ISBN 0812967941 $11.95 164 pages
John T. Walbaum
Reviewer
The world is full of successful people admonishing their lessers to do as they did, go forth boldly
into the unknown and achieve their destinies. Iain Levison isn't buying it. After serial failures as an
employee in everything from stevedoring to trawler fishing, he has settled into a state of blissful,
hand-to-mouth mediocrity. Short-term employment is his lot in life, and he is okay with that.
Besides, for Levison not having any ambitions beyond paying the rent is liberating: It allows him
to
train his razor-sharp wit on the heartless companies, impossible bosses and inept co-workers that
populate the American economic underbelly.
Levison's book, A Working Stiff's Manifesto (Random House, 2003) is billed as "A Memoir of
Thirty Jobs I Quit, Nine That Fired Me, and Three I Can't Remember." There are actually far
fewer
in the book (12, by my count), and his adventures on the "slime line" at two Alaskan crab-packing
plants account for about one-third of the slim book. Despite its Marxist-sounding title, this is no
screed about economic injustice, and Levison is not a poseur like Barbara Ehrenreich, who did a
George Plimpton-style tour of a few low-paying jobs for her best-selling book Nickel and Dimed
before pronouncing capitalism broken. This is simply a man in a deep but very funny rut.
You can't always tell how long Levison spends in each stint, but six months would be a long time.
Each position offers a new form of physical or psychological torture, though he handles both with
aplomb; it's the lack of a steady income he can't stand. Levison frequently blames his major in
college for his condition: "...if you advertise for people who have English degrees, you're reaching
a
great demographic: people who are frustrated and gullible, with a proven track-record for poor
decision-making." Levison, however, is far from a typical college graduate. He has, we quickly
learn, some issues apart from his education. In short order we find him lying about his
background,
feeding alcohol to a minor, stealing cable television, talking back to his boss and filching food.
Still,
Levison is model employee compared to the miscreants he works with, especially in the nearly
lawless, no-questions-asked world of Alaskan seafood.
Levison delivers his career lowlights with excruciatingly humorous anecdotes, like blowing the
head
off a concrete donkey by attempting to fill it with heating oil, discovering naked pictures of the
woman whose possessions he is moving across the country, and having tons of spiny perch
dumped
on him, leaving Levison looking like a "giant red porcupine." One of the best vignettes is not a job
at
all, but an attempted con to where he is goaded to pay money to be trained to sell water filters.
Levison, the ultimate cynic, quickly figures it out: "Ohmygod, they've stocked the audience. This
is a
sales seminar, and they've put salespeople in the audience to make the meeting go smoothly, like
B-girls in a New Orleans dive bar. You can't tell the customers from the employees." If you've
ever
fallen for one of these scams yourself, you know how accurate this account is.
His jobs are so demeaning, so unfulfilling and pay so poorly that Levison is a world-class stoic if
you
take the book at face value. But could anyone be this much of a glutton for punishment? There
are a
number of situations where a little brotherly advice would have come in handy - such as when he
starts stuffing Chilean sea bass down his pants at the local market where he works to make up for
being mistreated - that might have saved his very thick skin. Yet he accepts his inevitable firings
with
such detached humor that one can't help but wonder if this book was in the back of his mind all
along: a three-martini daydream to help him get through the day.
A Writer's Reference, 5th Edition
Diana Hacker
Bedford/St. Martin's Press
33 Irving Place, New York, NY 10003
ISBN 0312397674, $46.15 US, 2003, xxii + 466
Janis Butler Holm
Reviewer
What can a college textbook offer those outside the classroom? Since its initial publication in
1989,
Diana Hacker's A WRITER'S REFERENCE has found a place on many a writer's shelf. The fact
that it is the best-selling composition textbook in the U.S. (used by over a million students) has in
no
way lessened the appeal of this well-designed and user-friendly handbook.
What A WRITER'S REFERENCE offers is a clear and unpretentious guide to standard
English--its
uses and abuses. Hacker is concise and readable, and the book's tidy, systematic layout pleases the
eye. Tabbed dividers make access to topics such as "Word Choice," "Punctuation," and
"Mechanics"
quick and easy. Each tabbed page includes a menu of the items addressed in that section,
organized
in outline form. And the coverage is thorough. Rare is the writing predicament that is not
addressed
within this book's covers.
Particularly helpful is the "glossary of usage" included in the section on word choice. There one
can
learn when to use "lie" or "lay," "like" or "as," "due to" or "because of." Hacker distinguishes
between standard (e.g., "enthusiastic") and dialect (e.g., "enthused") forms and helps the reader
sort
out sound-alike words (e.g., "sometime," "some time," and "sometimes"). Throughout, she
provides
explanation in simple, direct language.
Is A WRITER'S REFERENCE worth the price it commands as a best-selling textbook? Yes.
Given
what this manual offers, most consider it a bargain.
Heartbeat - George Bush in His Own Words
Jim McGrath, ed
Scribner
c/o Simon and Schuster
1230 Avenue of the Americas, 14th fl., New York, NY 10020
ISBN: 0743224795, $24.00, 224 pages, 1-800-223-2336
Clint Hunter
Reviewer
"Heartbeat" is a collection of excerpts from the speeches and writing of President George H. W.
Bush.
The compilation delineates those core values that defined the policies and personal goals of Bush's
presidency. The book is organized into chapters corresponding to his presidential years
(1989-1992)
with an additional chapter concentrating on his post-presidency.
The writing which characterize the core values appears in sub-sections in each chapter. These are:
Faith,
Family, and Friends; The Vision Thing; A Legacy of Service; and In the Arena. This is a
convenient
organizational tool which allows the reader, should he/she choose, to follow a particular thread
through
each of the four years of the presidents term. Of course one may choose the conventional method
of a
chapter by chapter reading. Some may actually do both, occasionally flipping back and forth
through
the chapters to remind themselves of a particular point previously made.
The book provides absorbing and entertaining reading. Readers who have previously visited the
Bush
Library in College Station, Texas, will not be surprised by the sense of honor, duty and love of
country
that permeates the text nor the wonderful rather self-deprecating sense of humor that pops up in
sometimes unexpected places.
All-in-all this is an effortless way to get an elementary grasp of the issues and complexities which
confronted America at a time when events leading to The World Trade Center atrocity were
already
continuing to build.
The Ultimate Astrologer
Nicholas Campion
Random House Australia
20 Alfred Street, Milsons Point, SYDNEY NSW 2061 AUSTRALIA
ISBN: 0712610200 $AUD 34.95 http://www.randomhouse.com.au/
Rose Glavas
Reviewer
"A simple guide to calculating and interpreting birth charts for effective application in daily life",
is what
is says on the cover of this book. I found that this statement, in my opinion, is true.
Nicholas Campion is a well-respected astrologer who has written several other astrology titles -
Mundane Astrology: the astrology of nations and organisations (with Michael Baigent and
Charles
Harvey), The Book of World Horoscopes, The New Astrology: the art and science of the stars
(with
Steve Eddy), and Zodiac: enhance your life through astrology. He is also an award winning,
internationally authority on astrology as well as past President of the Astrological Association of
Great
Britain and the Astrological Lodge of London.
The author has taught astrology around the world since 1980 and helped to devise the first ever
BA
course in astrology in the western world. His articles have appeared in a variety of newspapers
and
magazines. Nicholas Campion is also on the web at www.NickCampion.com.
The Ultimate Astrologer is divided into 17 Chapters covering everything from the planets to
becoming
a professional astrologer. Also included are the necessary tables for calculating a birth chart so
that you
don't need to go and buy extra books if you want to have a go at working out your own birth
chart. The
tables provided are aimed for the reader in the UK and USA and include the tables of houses,
ephemeris
(from 1960 - 2010) and daylight savings times.
From the beginner to the more experienced astrologer, this title has something to offer readers
with a
wide variety of knowledge. The chapters start off with the basics, such as the meaning of the
planets,
zodiac signs and houses. It was good to see Chiron included with the other planets/points, since it
is a
relative newcomer to the astrological scene. There is a comprehensive chapter devoted to
calculating
a birth chart as well.
For the more experienced reader there are several chapters introducing prediction, relationship
charts,
horary, electional and financial astrology as well as several other branches of specialised topics
that
come under astrology
Overall, this is a worthwhile investment for the student of astrology that includes nearly
everything you
need to draw up a birth chart. While you are exploring astrology this is a perfect book because it
will
save you from having to buy an ephemeris, book of tables and daylight savings book - in a sense
The
Ultimate Astrologer pays for itself. That in itself is an achievement! I would recommend this title
for the
beginner/intermediate astrology student.
Horses By Email
Staci Layne Wilson
Amber Quill Press, LLC
www.amberquill.com
ISBN 1592791247 (electronic) $5.50
ISBN 1592799140 (paperback) $12.50
Franci McMahon
Reviewer
"My name is Melaina," the letter began, "and I live in Norfolk, England. I have two matched
dapple
ponies, and both are Connemara geldings---I live and breathe horses, and want a key pal who
does the
same. If you are mad about horses and ponies, email me as soon as possible!"
How could you not?
The cover image of a horse leaping out of a computer screen urged me to ask for this book to
review.
Horses have been central to my life, as an equestrian and teacher of young riders. I wasn't
disappointed.
The book is rich in horses, dapple-grays, chestnuts, and bays. Staci Layne Wilson is a competent
writer,
crafting interesting characters in a believable setting. The novel is suitable for teen/Young Adult
with
an age range of twelve to eighteen, containing no violence, sex, or alcohol and only a hint of
romance.
The two fifteen year old girls are Mariana, an experienced horsewoman, and Karen, a horseless
dreamer
meet across an ocean. Email is an interesting and probable way for two horse crazy girls to meet,
exchange information and grow. By the story's exciting and suspense filled conclusion, both girls
are
eighteen and come together under the most exciting circumstances.
The story line is not predictable and lots of horse information is sprinkled between the pages. At
times
this information becomes over-teaching, but for the most part readers will devour it. There are
many
other characters in the novel, a few too many to keep sorted out, both equine and human. They
are
however, distinct. Colleen, a woman in a wheelchair resulting from a horse related accident, is an
interesting player who could have been more developed, internally. Colleen is Karen's mentor,
vicariously riding the horse both women love. Sky, a stallion takes Karen to the top of her riding
world.
In her next horse adventure, which I will look forward to, I would like to see Ms. Wilson use
dialog
effectively throughout the book, not just in the last third. Every writer benefits from careful and
thoughtful editing. Amber Quill's lack of care let down not only Ms. Wilson, but their own press,
as
well. There are many missing words, time line problems and basic research could have been
better. I will
recommend this book and hope that by print press-time many of the problems have been dealt
with, as
this book deserves.
Long For This World
Michael Byers
Houghton Mifflin
039589171X $24.00 432 pages
Diane Payne
Reviewer
Unlike Byers's first book, a collection of rapid paced realistic short stories titled The Coast of
Good
Intentions, his first novel travels at a much slower pace. By the time we reach the third chapter,
we're
finally in Dr. Henry Moss's lab learning necessary details about the fictional medical condition
Byers
calls the Hickman Syndrome, which resembles the Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome (U.S.
and
French scientists linked a genetic defect to progeria in April 2003, and like the novel, may be on
the path
for finding drugs to treat this disorder), a genetic disorder that causes young children to
deteriorate
through the aging process, and most end up dead by heart failure or effects of old age by the time
they're
nineteen. Byers is such a talented writer one will trod through this tedious beginning about how
the
parents fell in love at a medical conference and the details about the gymnasium where their
daughter
plays basketball to follow the author's fascinating story.
Byers's father is a geneticist who specializes with people whose lives are shortened because of
their
medical conditions, and to some degree, Henry's character is a reflection of Byers' father. Henry is
deeply attached to one of his patients who lives in Seattle, a rarity, like the disease.
Fourteen-year-old
William Durbin has lost all his hair, his head is swollen like an alien, body crumpled, but his mind
is
sharp, and he loves science and keeping up with the stock market. Henry has a son the same age,
Darren, who develops a secret friendship over the phone with William, and never reveals this
relationship to his father. Ever. Henry introduces the boys when they visit a planetarium together
and
the father is constantly feeling plagued by guilt thinking his son feels jealous over the affection he
feels
for William. Byers's writing is brilliant when he shows these intricate relationships between his
characters.
The miraculous medical breakthrough occurs after Henry completes the routine blood work on
the
family of three-year-old Giles Benhamouda, who is also inflicted with the disease. Henry
discovers that
Giles' seventeen-year-old brother, Thomas, has the Hickman gene, and is his first asymptomatic
positive.
Henry marvels over Thomas' incredibly good looks and health and starts conjuring fantasies about
patenting a cure for Hickman's, and an even more profitable cure for longevity. Not only does
Henry
see himself living to be two hundred, but also he foresees a life of wealth and good health.
Throughout
the book, we hear characters talking about their great success with their dot.com fortunes. Henry
jeopardizes his career and bypasses the normal protocol of utilizing mandated research and starts
injecting William with Thomas' enzyme, believing it's both William's last chance for survival, and
his only
chance for personal success.
Watching Henry secretively inject William is compelling because of the nature of their
conversations.
The parents are always in the background, and they remain in the background. William's father is
a
high-powered attorney who is Henry's partner with the patent. The conversations with his son
usually
involve the stock market, whereas the good-natured joking and disturbing discussions regarding
death
remain between Henry and William. Oddly enough, we know more about the athletic build of
William's
mother than how she feels as a mother. Thomas, the boy with the wonder gene, is a saucy
character
who's always worried the doctors aren't telling him something and that he too may die, though he
has
unnaturally good health. Like William and Darren, Henry's seventeen-year-old daughter Sandra
develops
a heavy petting relationship with Thomas, much to her father's horror since Thomas has been
rather
blunt about his past sexual conquerors. Unfortunately, we don't hear much about the Benhamouda
family, though they relocated to Seattle to be a part of this experiment, and we rarely see Giles
and
Thomas together. It's Thomas's embarrassment over his brother's appearance, his coldness toward
him
that helps readers understand the fragility of the disease and Thomas' vulnerable position. Nothing
is said
about why Henry doesn't secretly inject Giles since he's much younger and in better health than
William.
It is Giles's brother, after all, with the miraculous enzyme. Like the disappearance of Giles'
importance
in this study, Thomas also disappears from the novel when Sandra meets another boy at basketball
camp. Thomas is the character that lends this book the realistic, cynical edge. The Moss family
keep
everything a secret and are too even keyed to make us appreciate the darkness alluded to Henry's
nightmares. The family joke about their father's nocturnal gibberish, and he moves to another
room so
everyone can have a good night's sleep, and that's that, even though the nightmares are mentioned
throughout the novel.
At times, the novel seems to be straining to reach a large audience. We have a long series of fart
jokes
between William and Darren, we hear more than necessary about the Sandra's love life, and we
get fairly
lengthy descriptions about a neighbor's continuous remodeling projects, which Ilse condemns. Ilse
suffers a midlife crisis and gives up her hospital administration job so she can do something more
useful
for the Asians downtown. After her neighbor buys an expensive Suburban, Ilse buys an old Vespa
so
she can scoot around town. The more her neighbor remodels, the more Ilse makes trips to
Goodwill to
decorate her new office. The differences between these women are too obvious, making their
conversations tedious and predictable.
Another character who receives an unusual amount of attention is a neighbor who commits
suicide.
Henry and his teenaged daughter seem to obsess over this death, though no one in the
neighborhood
really knew this man, including them, and nothing really comes of it. Perhaps it's something that
happened in the author's neighborhood, something authentic to him, but it serves as a muddling
distraction in the novel. Even though the pace of the book is hampered by the lengthy
descriptions, and
the audience appeal seemed to grovel for universal and Universal Studio's appeal, the novel will
be
recognized as another family social novel, one that Oprah would have grabbed for her old book
club.
It's hard to put the book down because of William's relationship with Henry and Darren, and the
allure
of the deception and secrets. When Byers is seriously writing, he's seriously intriguing.
The Man from Shenandoah
Marsha Ward
Writers Club Press/iUniverse.com, Inc.
2021 Pine Lake Road, #100, Lincoln, NE 68512
0595263089, $14.95, www.TheManfromShenandoah.com, www.iuniverse.com
Cindy Lynn
Reviewer
Carl Owens thought that his fighting days were over when he made his way home after
Appomattox.
A solider for the now disbanding Confederate Army, he finds he has very few rights...not even the
right
to keep the buttons on his uniform, which a group of trouble making Yankee solders cut off of
him.
When he gets home he finds that one of his brothers is dead, the farm destroyed, and it is only
thanks
to his mother's quick thinking that they have any food at all. His father decides that he has the
perfect
plan to solve their woes...sell the farm and move to Colorado, where he is certain that he'll be able
to
start a prosperous cattle ranch. He gathers others from the area to go with him, a store owner, a
blacksmith and their families begin packing for the long trip. He engages two of his sons to girls in
the
group, as if forming alliances. This would have worked perfectly save for a few things: James,
Carl's
brother, is in love with someone his father doesn't want him to marry, and so is engaged to Ellen
Bates.
Ellen knows that she can't replace James's true love in his thoughts, and besides, she's in love with
Carl.
Carl tries to ignore this attraction, determined to do right by the flirty and beautiful (if
manipulative) Ida,
but Ellen, who is everything Ida is not, makes it harder just by breathing. One day they stop in
town,
and Berto Acosta starts to attack the girls in the troupe...only to be stopped by Carl. This chance
encounter with Acosta may ruin everything...an outlaw whose taste for blood rivals with his pride
and
greed, he will stop at nothing to get the Owens family back for this perceived slight.
Whatever happened to good, old fashioned westerns? If you've ever gazed over the shelves
wondering
this, then Ms. Ward has a definite book for you. It recaptures the simpler, more genteel times that
used
to be essential to the Hollywood Westerns starring people like Henry Fonda and Gary Cooper. It
has
all the elements. Most of the characters, especially Carl, are straightforward, hard working people
who
don't have time for nonsense. They live very hard, unforgiving lives, where a sense of honor, such
as
Carl has, is not core to just being a decent human, but to survival. Ellen is very sweet...she's also
more
fit to live the type of life Carl is planning, because she isn't a town girl, she's a woman who knows
about
things like caring for wounds and child birth and caring for animals. This makes Ellen a more
logical
choice, and also her sort of wistful long distance affection for Carl makes the reader root for her
all the
more. This is particularly true when we meet Ida, whose manipulative, but strangely naive way of
dealing with Carl, not to mention her clueless nature, shows how miserable both she and Carl
would be
if they married.
The setting is very well done, capturing the flavor of pioneering. The many setbacks the group
have,
including one where the very cattle meant to sustain them are killed by an unexpectedly bad
winter,
make the triumphs they share all the more uplifting. This book is a pleasant journey indeed.
Across The Plains In The Donner Party
Karen Zeinert
Synergebooks
www.synergebooks.com, synergebooks@aol.com
$5.00 EBook
Michael Bogert
Reviewer
Across the Plains in the Donner Party is a true account of the trials and tragedies several families
faced
on the trek to California. The Donner family and others began the journey in 1846 to find good
land and
better weather conditions in California, which at the time was still under Mexican authority. Using
the
diaries and notes from those who endured the hardships, Karen Zeinert has compiled a
comprehensive
account of what exactly happened during the long months in the wild, and raises old questions
that are
still being debated today.
I found Across the Plains a very detailed and accurate book. Karen has done her homework in
research
for this book, including some exciting photographs and artwork from the time. The story will pull
you
in; especially considering the events actually took place. One can truly appreciate modern travel
and
conveniences after reading about these brave people.
For those who enjoy tales of yesterday, I would recommend this book. In fact, I believe anyone
who
loves stories (especially true stories) to read Across the Plains. Great job!
Westering Home
Audrey McClellan
Beaver's Pond Press
7104 Ohms Lane, Suite 216, Edina, MN 55439
www.BeaversPondPress.com
1592980147 $17.95 1-952-829-8818
Robert O. Barclay
Reviewer
Westering Home is a standard genre romance novel. Jean, the heroine, has run away from a
philandering
husband. She shows up on a remote island off the coast of Scotland in the Middle Hebrides called
Eileen
Dubh. Here she meets and falls in love with Darroch Mac an Righ, a popular local actor and laird
of the
island. Jean comes from Milwaukee. Her husband Russ has been very successful in the computer
business, and has provided well for his wife and children. Up to now, she sees her life as almost
idyllic;
but when her husband admits to an affair then tells her it is one of many affairs, she takes off to
the other
side of the world to try and sort things out.
This could have turned out to be one of those soppy romantic romps, where a couple of rich
spoiled
characters climb all over each other and have wild frenzied sex whenever the mood strikes them.
Not
generally my sort of reading. But it isn't like that. In fact, the writing is sharp and punchy, the
characters
are well drawn, the story is interesting and engaging and the author has done a marvelous job of
adding
a special insight and depth mixing in Scottish history and culture, and lacing the plot with
powerful
details of a world where tradition and fidelity mean everything.
The supporting characters are smart and talented, multi-layered, with complicated lives of their
own and
that complexity helps to make this work highly believable. There were a couple of areas that
personally
bothered me, but I wouldn't be doing my job as reviewer, I wouldn't be able to hold on to my
professional objectivity, if I were to allow those silly foibles to cloud my judgement.
No book is perfect. But this certainly qualifies as one of those that comes close. I have to admit
this is
not the sort of book that I would normally pick up to read, but it only took me a few pages before
I was
hooked. There are enough twists and turns to keep the reader constantly off guard, and I felt a
genuine
urgency to read one more chapter and then another before I could finally set the book aside for
the
evening. Congratulations to the author for creating the kind of characters and setting that make
me care.
In the past, I have used stars as a measure of excellence. Generally, four stars is as high as I'm
willing
to go, but Westering House has made me feel very generous. I don't know if it rates a perfect five,
but
it definitely warrants high praise, two thumbs up, grade A, first rate. Whatever your particular
likes or
dislikes in fiction, Westering House is a novel that is well worth checking out.
Enjoy.
Vicki's Bookshelf
Robin Hood
Paul Crestwick
N.C. Wyeth, illustrator
Antheneum Books for Young Readers
c/o Simon & Schuster
1230 Avenue of the Americas, NY, NY 10020
ISBN 0689854676 $18.95 www.SimonSaysKids.com
Those men in tights are back in this slick reissue of the "Scribner Storybook Classic: Robin
Hood." The
new edition the tall tales of Robin Hood, Little John Friar Tuck, Will Scarlett, Maid Marian and
the
dastardly Sheriff of Nottingham, based on the vintage Paul Creswick retelling. The story also
draws on
the rich lore surroundint the beloved outlaw as he takes to Sherwood Forest and begins his
campaign
to free the English people from tyranny and oppression. The book's crowning achievement is the
beautifully reproduced artwork by the prolific illustrator N.C. Wyeth. The book contains just 11
paintings in all, but each is a masterpiece, particularly a scarlet beauty of Marian flirting with
"Robin o'
th' Hood." Abridged for younger readers, this is the fourth addition to the Scribner Storybook
Classics
line, joining "The Last of The Mohicans," "Treasure Island" and "Robinson Crusoe" in fine
form.
Where Wild Horses Run Free
Joy Cowley
Layne Johnson, illustrator
Boyds Mills Press
815 Church St., Honesdale, Penn. 18431
ISBN 1590780620 $15.95, www.boydsmillspress
Subtitled "A Dream for the American Mustang," Joy Cowley's newest picture book is a romantic
ode
to the last of the wild mustangs, and their struggle to survive. Specifically, "Where Wild Horses
Run
Free" is a tipping-of-the-hat to Dayton O. Hyde, an American rancher who established the Black
Hills
Wild Horse Sanctuary of South Dakota, where wild horse continues to run thanks largely to his
efforts. "Once the wild horse ran free, across the open plains," begins the book's somber narration.
"But
then the settlers came. They built fences that divided the land and the horses had nowhere to go."
Squeezed out of their last natural habitat, the beleaguered horses were relocated to overcrowded
corrals
much like Native American tribes were thrust into undesirable reservations; a poignant parallel
the
story seems unaware of and are repeatedly cast aside as "useless animals." The story doesn't do
much
to dispel that repeated thought, unfortunately, creating a less-than-satisfying conclusion.
Bus-A-Saurus Bop
Diane Z. Shore
David Clark, illustrator
Bloomsbury
175 Fifth Ave., NY, NY 10010
ISBN 1582348502 $15.95, www.bloomsbury.com/usa/childrens
All aboard the silliest school bus of all time. "Bus-A-Saurus Bop" is a wild ride of a picture book,
told
in singsong verse that virtually screams to be read aloud. Its rhythms and rhymes delightfully
invite
readers to c-r-e-e-e-k and s-q-e-e-e-k along, and to stomp their feet as the story's kids "STOMP!
STOMP! STOMP!" up the steps of the monstrously alive bus-a-saurus. Uh, rather, up the tongue
of the
bus-a-saurus, right past the teeth and bulging eyes/headlights, and into the stomach. The
bus-a-saurus
keeps a-truckin' along its route, to chomp-chomp-chomp up kids one by one. Once his tummy's
full of
school-bound kids, he pulls up to their destination and burps 'em out. Despite or because of its
gross-out factor, "Bus-A-Saurus-Bop" is all fun and games, a terrific read-aloud sure to put grins
on
the faces of pre-readers. Parents and caregivers will find it a nice choice for young children
suffering the
back-to-school blues.
The Nine Lives of Aristotle
Dick King-Smith
Bob Graham, illustrator
Candlewick Press
2067 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA 02140
ISBN 0763622605 $14.99, www.candlewick.com
The immensely-popular author of such children's books as "Babe: The Gallant Pig" and "Lady
Lollipop"
has come up with a light little tale for younger readers, as sweet and innocent as its tiny, fluff ball
of a
protagonist. Aristotle is an adventurous kitten who is adopted by a kindly witch, Bella Donna,
who
always seems to be around when the kitty gets into a mess. Not a day seems to pass without
curious
Aristotle getting into one mishap or another. He tumbles down a chimney, is chased by a train,
and
nearly drowns in a pitcher of milk one day and in a stream the next. But Bella Donna is always
there in
a flash, helping him escape unscathed and letting Aristotle know that his nine-lives countdown is
fast
diminishing. The simple text and plot is surprisingly elementary, giving one the impression that it
was
written as a lark between more substantial projects. Still, it's a pleasant chapter book for
self-readers
and, thanks to Bob Graham's delightful pen-and-ink sketches on every spread, a fun and enjoyable
romp.
The DK Children's World Atlas
Editor Consultant: Dr. David Green
Simon Adams, Mary Atkinson & Sarah Phillips
DK Publishing
375 Hudson St., NY, NY, 10014
ISBN 0789492768 $24.99, www.dk.com
"The DK Children's World Atlas" does a wonderful job introducing young readers to the many
different
societies, cultures, histories and landscapes of our changing world. Geared expressly for children
age
8 and up, the lavishly illustrated book provides hundreds of photographs, illustrations and
diagrams,
making this more extensive a reference than a simple atlas. Vivid, fact-filled descriptions focus on
key
social, cultural, historical and climatic features of countries and continents. Fact boxes and
information-packed captions reveal each country's cultural traditions, while large full-color maps
reveal
detailed physical geometry. These maps, naturally enough, are the book's primary focus. There are
more
than 50 large-scale maps in all, each generated from satellite photography; the result clearly shows
each
nation's major rivers, lakes, mountains, and cities. The arresting visuals make this a fascinating
book for
browsing, while a comprehensive gazetteer and index make information retrieval simple.
Moominvalley in November
Tove Jansson, translated by Kingsley Hart
Farrar, Straus and Giroux
19 Union Square West, NY, NY 10003
ISBN 0374350132 $17.00, www.fsgbooks.com
Tove Jansson's magical 1940s novels about a family of trolls had a bigger influence my early
childhood
than any other children's books --- more fantastic than "Alice In Wonderland," more compelling
than
"Charlotte's Web," and more mysterious than Nancy Drew. Yet the Moomin family of creatures
became
faded memories as I grew older and the worn books were retired from library shelves. Were they
aliens?
Elves? Only a vague recollection of their fascinatingly quaint, alternate-universe remained.
Thankfully,
decades later, Farrar, Straus and Giroux began reissuing the Finnish books starting in 1989 and
now
FSG completes the series republication with the final chapter saga of the Moomin family,
"Moominvalley in November." Funny enough, the 1971 book (poetically translated into English
by
Kingsley Hart) only features a glimpse Moomin family themselves, though it does take place at
their
house. That's where familiar secondary characters converge Snufkin, the Hemulen, Fillyjonk and
other
musically exotic names -- seeking out the Moomins, only to find them missing. Like them, I found
myself nostalgically missing my old literary friends for years, and am thankful to be reunited with
them
again.
How I Became A Pirate
Melinda Long
David Shannon, illustrator
Harcourt Inc.
525 B Street, San Diego, CA 92101
15 E. 26th St., NY, NY 10010
ISBN 0152018484 $16.00, www.HarcourtBooks.com
Shiver me timbers! Little landlubbers around the world have been waiting for a picture book like
"How
I Became A Pirate." In this terrific new picture book by Melinda Long ("Hiccup Snickup" and
"When
Papa Snores") and illustrated by the irrepressible David Shannon ("No, David!" and "The Ballad
of the
Pirate Queens"), young Jeremy Jacob is innocently minding his own business building sand castles
at
the beach, when a ship of jolly pirates admire his digging skills, so enlist him to join the crew to
bury
a treasure chest. Soon Jeremy has learned how to sing sea chanteys and "talk pirate," and decides
to
teach them a little something too: how to play soccer until a shark eats the ball. Except for
swabbing
the decks, our little hero decides it's the pirate life for him because "no one tells pirates to go to
bed, to
take a bath, or to brush their teeth. (Maybe that's why their teeth are green.)." There's no spinach
or
carrots either, so its no wonder he wants to be a pirate forever. Until, that is, he discovers that at
bedtime there' s no tucking in, kissing or story. Curses! How can Jeremy escape his pirate clan
and get
home again? The satisfying conclusion winds up a thoroughly fun adventure, cleverly told from a
kids-point of view. And when it comes to all the bells and whistles of pirate legend, Long and
Shannon
don't miss a thing here: all the catch phrases are strewn about with wild abandon, as are parrots,
Jolly
Rogers, eye-patches, hooks for hands, and all the other fantasy elements of a swashbuckling good
time.
Bicycle Madness
Jane Kurtz
Beth Peck, illustrator
Henry Holt & Co.
115 W. 18th St., NY, NY 10011
ISBN 080506981X $15.95, www.henry.holt.com
Set in the late 1880's "Bicycle Madness" tells a personal come-of-age tale set against the backdrop
of
American women's history. In Jane Kurtz's ("I'm Sorry, Almira Ann") latest middle-grade novel,
its
young protagonist, Lillie, is experiencing a difficult year. She is still struggling with her mother's
recent
death, and now her father has uprooted the family by moving them to the other side of town. But
when
Lillie's new neighbor decides to learn how to ride a bicycle, Lille finds promising change all
around her.
Although her father disapproves of their modern neighbor, Lillie and the neighbor become fast
friends.
Not only does she teach Lillie about such newfangled inventions as the bicycle, but also about the
struggle for women' s rights, child-labor laws and better conditions for American workers.
Together the
two take on the challenges a bike, a spelling bee and social politics and find the will to meet
them
head-on. "Bicycle Madness" is a compelling historical novel that will do wonders to put pivotal
social
history into context for young readers age 8 through 12.
My Pony
Susan Jeffers
Hyperion
114 Fifth Ave., NY, NY 10011-5690
ISBN 0786819952 $15.99, www.hyperionchildrensbooks.com
In the first picture book illustrated and written by Caldecott honoree Susan Jeffers ("Three Jovial
Huntsmen"), she ponders the imaginings of a young girl who wants a horse more than anything in
the
world. "My Pony" takes readers inside the bedtime dreams of a girl who like thousands and
thousands
of other just like her longs for the companionship of her very own horse. For practical reasons,
her
parents explain that owning a horse is simply not possible, so the story's nameless protagonist
contents
herself with fantasies of riding, and even flying, on the back of a dappled gray mare named Silver.
Jeffers' realistic illustrations beautifully capture each scenario, but never quite manage to make the
minimal text's emotions soar. Readers will find it easy to relate to the protagonist's desires, but
difficult
to connect personally to the spare story. More engaging storytelling could have provided the key
to
Jeffers timelessly appealing idea.
Eleanor, Ellatony, Ellencake, and Me
C.M. Rubin
Christopher Fowler, illustrator
McGraw-Hill Children's Publishing
8787 Orion Place, Columbus, Ohio 43240-4027
ISBN 1577684125 $14.95, www.Mhkids.com
Shirley Ellis' hit song "The Name Game" comes to mind while reading this rollicking new picture
book.
See, little Eleanor has a problem. Everyone in her family has a different nickname for her and
insists
that's how she be known. There's "Ellatony," mom's "little elbow mararoni," "Eleanora" for the
superstar
with so much "mora," "Elle" for short, and "E" for even shorter. All the inventive name-calling is
driving
Eleanor up the wall. She tries on each name like a hat, imagining herself adopting the different
personas,
but, naturally, each one is a disastrous flop. When she gets up the nerve to tackle the problem, she
rings
up her Great Aunt Bertie "who changed her name when she was thirty. She says she's glad
because she
had the longest name she's ever seen: Begonia Eucalyptus Rose Tulip Iris Evergreen." Cute?
Sure, but
also an unfortunate example of the book's sometimes-wonky rhyming scheme. Most of the ample
rhyming text is right on the money, however, and the tender subject of unwanted nicknames
should be
a popular subject for many young readers.
Alice In Pop-Up Wonderland
Lewis Carroll
J. Otto Seibold, illustrator
Orchard Books
c/o Scholastic
557 Broadway, NY, NY 10012-3999
ISBN 043941184X $19.95, www.scholastic.com
Alice's mind-bending adventures become even more hallucinogenic with this novelty adaptation by
illustrator J. Otto Seibold. The artist's wild style is employed here in full-effect to illustrate six
scenes
from the classic "Alice In Wonderland": Alice's decent into the rabbit hole; meeting the caterpillar;
the
Duchess and the pig-baby; the Mad Hatter's tea party; the Queen's croquet game; and the
courtroom
verdict. Characterized by boldly disfigured characters, we've seen Seibold's visual, satirical slant
before
when he gave a similar pop-modern twist to such iconic figures as Santa's reindeer (Olive: The
Other
Reindeer") and classic forest elves ("Gluey: A Snail's Tale"). This time, however, he sticks with
the
original "Allice In Wonderland" text by Lewis Carroll, condensing it drastically to just six spreads.
It
gives a postcard view of the great work, of course, dispensing with cohesive storytelling to
concentrate
instead on the sheer novelty of creating a handful of pop-up paper construction pieces,
lift-the-flaps,
pull-tabs and a cacophony of hand-lettered text fragments. It's a dizzying and discordant mix that
oftentimes confounds. The pop-ups in particular are a disappointment, leaving viewers wanting
for more
complex designs and, frankly, for more structurally-sound constructions that work as they should
upon
each page turn. The timing of the release couldn't have been worse, coming just one month ahead
of the
exceptional "Alice's Adventure's In Wonderland" (Little Simon/Simon & Schuster
0-689-84743-2) by
Robert Sabuda, the best pop-art artist in the business.
Late For School
Mike Reiss
Michael Austin, illustrator
Peachtree Publishers
1700 Chattahoochee Ave., Atlanta, GA 30318-2112
ISBN 1561451460 $16.95, www.peachtree-online.com
Smitty is having a really, really bad morning in this rollicking story by "The Simpson's"
screenwriter
Mike Reiss in his picture book debut. See, Smitty's just a normal kid who's never late for school,
but
on this ill-fated day his shoes suddenly stick like glue in a sea of thick, black tar. Then the sky
rains
snowmen on the crowded city streets. And if that's not enough, he's swallowed by a whale,
attacked by
a Martian, and chased by a hungry T-Rex. Vividly imaginative, the surreal scenarios of "Late For
School" strike just the right chord with children age 4 through 8, and give caregivers plenty to
laugh at
too. Kids will love the lively, rhyming language, the ridiculous plot escalation of calamites, and
the
funny, exaggerated illustrations by Michael Austin ("13 Monsters Who Show Be Avoided"). One
caution: be prepared for kids newly-armed with a wealth of new tardiness excuses.
How Can You Say That?
Amy Lynch with Dr. Linda Ashford
Pleasant Company
8400 Fairway Place, Middleton, Wisconsin 53562
ISBN 1584857706 $12.95, www.americangirl.com
Words are the most powerful weapons on earth: they can hurt or heal. "How Can You Say That?:
What
To Say To You Daughter When One Of You Just Said Something Awful" is a parenting guide
that
attempts to provide the right words to improve communication between parents and their
adolescent
daughters. Written by the founding editor of "Daughters" newsletter, and a psychologist on the
pediatrics faculty at Vanderbilt University, this straightforward guide explores scenarios in which
harsh
words are said, and provides real-life advice to ease communication, promote forgiveness and
build
healthy parent-daughter relationships. Numerous scenes are clearly presented on each topic, and a
number of articulate responses are provided to send parents on the right path. Recommended for
parents
of girls age 8 through 14.
The Sisters Club
Megan McDonald
Pleasant Company
8400 Fairway Place, Middleton, Wisconsin 53562
ISBN 158485782X $12.95, www.americangirl.com
From the best-selling author of the Judy Moody books, comes a hilarious, heartwarming story of
three
memorable sisters. Stevie, Alex and Joey are "The Sisters Club," a top-secret trio who stick
together
to survive the Tuna Noodle Fiasco, kissing rules, and daily life in a family of eccentric actors. Like
all
sisters, sometimes they agree, sometimes they don't, but no matter what, they're friends to the
end.
Megan McDonald (who also releases her new "Judy Moody Predicts The Future Book" this
season,
published by Candlewick Press) has a flair for honest girl-speak, and is a whiz at creating scenes
both
entertaining and touching. She creatively chooses to alter the story's point-of-view to reflect the
internal
thoughts and anxieties of all three sisters, through journal entries, dialogue snatches, poems,
homework
assignments and rough sketches. It maintains the slap-stick pace beautifully and makes "The
Sisters
Club" a breezy read and a solid launching pad for a new series.
Gregor The Overlander
Suzanne Collins
Scholastic Press
557 Broadway, NY, NY 10012-3999
ISBN 0439435366 $16.95, www.scholastic.com
When eleven-year-old Gregor follows his little sister, Boots, through a grate in the laundry room
of their
New York apartment building, he hurtles after her into the dark Underland beneath the city. In
this
parallel universe humans coexist uneasily with giant spiders, rats, bats and cockroaches but soon
the
fragile peace is about to shatter. Against his will, Gregor is drawn into the conflict between these
creepy
creatures. He just wants to get back home, until he learns that he might find his missing father if
he goes
along with a strange prophecy that names him as a future leader of the Underland. Gregor begins
his
dangerous quest with only his wits, an old hard hat, and a dusty can of root beer. The journey
ahead will
change him and Underland forever. First time novelist Suzanne Collins does a lovely job
creating
and sustaining suspense in this middle grade fantasy. Like many classic fantasies before it, "Gregor
The
Overlander" takes place in a harrowing alternate world located in our own backyard, making the
drama
all the more exciting and believable. The first in a new fantasy trilogy, perhaps? Let's hope
so.
Little Vampire Does Kung Fu!
Joann Sfar
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
1230 Avenue of the Americas, NY, NY 10020
ISBN 0689857691 $12.95, www.SimonSaysKids.com
So this is why they call them graphic novels. On just the first page of this sequel to "Little
Vampire Goes
To School," the widow-peaked little "hero" rants about flies on poop, his dead parents, taking his
pants
off in front of a girl, and responding to bullies by taking "a shotgun and kill(ing) every last one of
them!"
Bedtime reading this is not. Does the publisher really feel this is suitable for elementary school
kids
age"10 and up" as their recommendation says? Then something must be lost in the translation of
this
French comic book, particularly post-Columbine. Sure graphic novels are a tough breed, filled
with sex,
drugs and violence that Archie and his gang never experienced. But when the story premise is
about
seeking revenge through violent means, maybe it's not kid stuff anymore, and shouldn't be
misguidedly
packaged in the standard picture book format.
I.Q. Goes To The Library
Mary Ann Fraser
Walker & Co.
435 Hudson St., NY, NY 10014
ISBN 0802788777 $15.95, www.walkerbooks.com
The American Library Association has declared September "Library Card Sign-Up Month,"
making it
perfect timing that I.Q. the mouse returns in a picture book story "I.Q. Goes To The Library." In
this
sequel to the delightful "I.Q. Goes To School" picture book, the smart rodent sinks his teeth into
a few
good books. In his first visit to the library, he discovers, in fact, that books are not the only
treasures
there. During Library Week he joins his human classmates for a Reading Corner presentation that
made
him "laugh until his eyes watered and his tail curled." After further exploration he discovered
books of
all kinds, of course. But to his surprise there were also rows and rows of videos, CDs, DVDs,
audiocassettes, magazines, puppets and newspapers. Only one thing was preventing I.Q. from
checking
out all the wonderful items available to borrow: a library card. What's a little mouse to do? In his
marvelously inventive way, I.Q. meets the challenge, encouraging young readers to do the same.
"I.Q.
Goes To The Library" is a delightful addition to what appears to be a growing series.
Vicki Arkoff
Reviewer
Sullivan's Bookshelf
Anything Goes Notes on My Inadequate Life and Yours
Roger Rosenblatt
Harcourt, Inc.
ISBN # 0151008663 $l8.00
This is a book of snappy essays. They're all brief, funny, and/or think pieces. Some are only a
sentence
long; others are half a page; and the longest are merely a few pages. The whole book can easily be
read
in a couple of brief sittings. And after dipping into it, you'll come away feeling like you've had a
pleasant
time.
An example of the foregoing: In an essay entitled "Twenty Things One Would Like to See in
Movies
1. The Amish family is extremely nasty and abusive., 2. The African-American cop is not the first
one
killed., 3. No dances, no wolves., 4. The central male figure is not an architect., 5. No one says:
'Get
our butt in here (or out of here)., 6. The serial killer leaves no clues, does not get in touch with
the
pursuing detective, and does not want to be caught., 7. We enter a black inner-city neighborhood
and
no boom box is playing rap...," and much more.
Rosenblatt is a writing professor at Long Island University. Besides having written several books,
the
author is a regular guest essayist on THE NEWSHOUR WITH JIM LEHRER presented on PBS
television. The author lives in New York.
Recommended.
A Round-heeled Woman My Late-Life Adventures in Sex and Romance
Jane Juska
Villard
ISBN # 1400060117 $23.95
Juska is a gentle, refined, single woman in her upper sixties. Thanks to years of therapy, she
knows what
she wants and has the gumption and courage to go after it, regardless of the consequencs or what
others
might think.
Being human, of course, she had moments of doubt, but then who doesn't? Mostly, she remained
resolved in her decision. Specifically, she opted to advertise for a male sexual partner. As a
well-read
person, she placed her ad in a literary periodical. Juska wanted a man to not only be her lover but
to love
books as well. And she was partial to those who enjoyed the novelist Anthony Trollope, or at
least knew
who he was.
Her 'sex ad' netted, amazingly, over 60 responses. Most of the men were totally unsuitable. But
several
sounded interessting enough to meet, and so she wrote back to them.
That took real guts bcause it brought condemnation, not from any of those men, but from family
and
friends, though she had a few supporters. This follow-up correspondence, even after she told the
men
some of her not-so-glamorous personal details, brought further reply.
To meet potential lovers found through her want ad, she had to travel across the U.S. Careful to
arrange
liaisons in public places, usually during daylight hours, she found soom of these male respondents
rich,
well educated, suave, urbane, erudite, and others rude,poor, crude, two-timing, and lying. As to
their
ages, most were older, some close to her age, and one, who worked out quite nicely, was half her
age.
Sexually capable, many were sophisticated in the art of love. She came to really like, perhaps to
adore,
a few of these men.
"A few months ago," writes the author, "I turned sixty-seven. My hair is mostly white, with glints
of
what once was blond, brown, gray; my face is lined--with wisdom, ahem; my eyes--blue as ever
they
were--are bifocaled. My teeth, not as sparkling as they used to be, remain American sturdy,
straight and
made to last. Signs of age notwithstanding, dressed--with all my clothes on--I look pretty good.
Undressed is a different matter: my body is not twenty-five or forty-five; it's not even fifty-five;
and,
because it has never been interferred with by plastic surgery, what once was firm is loose, what
once
went up goes down. Intimations of mortality are all about. [....]"
This memoir is hard to put down. It's not obscene, yet it is titillating, engaging, poignant, and
funny.
Recommended!
Jim Sullivan
Reviewer
Stephanie's Bookshelf
Watchers: The Coming of the King
William Meikle
Black Death Books
PO Box 588, Effort, PA 18330
http://www.khpindustries.com/
ISBN: 0967922046 $16.00
The year was 1649. Charles Stuart, the King of both England and Scotland sat in his cell waiting
to be
executed, not for being the King, but also for being the Vampire other known as The Blood King.
At
dawn, he was put to horrible death by stake.
Almost 100 years later, rumor has it that a new Blood King, a young Charles Stuart, is on his way
to
claim his throne, but first he must go through what William refers to as 'Watchers", those chosen
to
stand guard on 'Hadrian's Wall', for the day the new Blood King emerged. Unfortunately, the
Watchers
have been waiting so long for this feared Blood King, that they are out of practice and unprepared
for
his arrival.
A strange visitor from the North by the name of Campbell comes to Milecastle with his bitten yet
oddly
unturned daughter, Mary, who is wanted by The Blood King, and news that the Blood King is
coming
along with an army of blood suckers and mortal men. Shawn, one of the Watchers, takes Mary on
a
journey to a healer, becoming smitten with the young blue-eyed girl. Mary remains in her own
little
world, quiet, still and starring. When she does speak, it is in a dream Shawn has, only it wasn't her
voice,
but the voice of the evil that desires her.
Campbell accompanies another Watcher, Martin, over Hadrian's Wall to spy on The Blood King's
army
and find out what horrors they have in store for England. During this time, they meet with a
magical
woodsman, who gives them insight on what lies ahead and saves the life of Martin.
When The Blood King finally comes to England, his need for Mary Campbell seems to be much
more
important than his throne. She could be the one who was chosen to keep the bloodline
thriving.
The interesting twist of Vampire romance intertwined with historic battles makes William Meikel's
book
an absolute masterpiece. This is a lot coming from me, I'm not the historic battle type of person,
but this
book had pizzazz, wonderful characters and an array of gory moments. I also liked the way
William used
dreams to explain some points in the book. It gave it a magical and whimsical feel, although some
of
the dreams were what I would classify as nightmares. The ending leaves you dieing to dig into the
next
book in the series, 'The Battle for the Throne'.
'Watchers: The Coming of the King', has proved to be a book for any horror lover, no matter the
time
or place in which the book takes place. Being part Scottish myself, it was nice to see a familiar a
favorite
creature of mine from the horror genre brought to life in such a terrifically different type of
Vampire
tale.
Black Moon Rising
Damien Ashton
Publish America
P.O. Box 151, Frederick, MD 21705
www.publishamerica.com
ISBN: 1592862578 $16.95 (240) 529-1031
'Black Moon Rising' is your not-so-basic werewolf tale which includes all of the great horror
elements:
blood, sex, more blood, drugs, even more blood and college youth at their finest. I loved it!
Damien
Ashton is not an author for the timid, that's for sure.
He reaches out to today's horror fans with a clever, grotesque story about your bad boy, gone
even
worse, Chris Jansen, a college student and resident of Sheridan Heights, who is known for his
rudeness
and his yearly shit-bomb escapades which take place on the porch of old man Willard's house.
This year
was like any other. Sheriff Daren Griggs once again got the familiar call from old man Willard
who had
again been tricked by Chris and his friends, except this year, he threatens to kill whoever was
responsible.
Unaware that Mr. Willard had his number, Chris and his best friend, Kevin Sheppard take their
girlfriends out to a secluded cabin for the weekend, hoping to relax and have a good time, but
they
barley make it through their first night alive. Chris is violently attacked by a strange, wild beast
and
rushed to a nearby hospital.
Back in Sheridan Heights, Sheriff Griggs and his men discover a body of a local resident in the
woods,
a body barley recognizable because it had been torn limb from limb and left half devoured by
whatever
had killed it. When Kevin calls the Sheriff and tells him about Chris' misfortune, he rushes up to
the
hospital and realizes that whatever it was that killed the gentleman in the woods had also attacked
Chris.
The question was, how did it get from point A to point B in such a short time?
The next day, Chris is released from the hospital, his ghastly wounds healing magically over night.
When
he thinks life is some-what back to normal, he is plagued by dreams, horrible, gut wrenching
dreams that
are placed upon him by the creature that had assaulted him. The creature was not happy, not at all
about
the fact that he had escaped and was now like him. Chris didn't deserve the gift that the animal
had
unintentionally bestowed upon him. Now it was up to the werewolf to hunt him down and destroy
his
mistake as well as his friend who had saved him.
Chris ends up staying at Kevin's house, his dreams getting worse and sometimes causing him to
black
out. While he is at Kevin's, Mr. Willard camps out at his house waiting for him to return so he can
get
revenge for the years of torment he had been subjected to. He had lost his marbles, gone crazy,
killed
his wife and hungered for Chris' death. To his surprise, the police stop by to question Chris and
end up
in a shoot out with old man Willard.
"The whole town has gone crazy!" Sheriff Griggs says at one point in the book, and indeed it
had.
They had 4 deaths, a shitty porch and what they thought to be a rabid bear who had gone insane
and
craved human flesh, as Ashton comically describes it.
Racking his brain and searching for anything remotely like the creature that stalked Sheridan
Heights,
Sheriff Griggs stumbles upon a Website containing information about a similar creature in another
part
of the country. When the deformed webmaster of the site gets an e-mail from the Sheriff
explaining what
had been going on, he rushes to Sheridan Heights to destroy the creature, the same kind of
creature that
had ruined him and killed his family when he was a young boy, ending up caught in the middle of
a face
off between the Werewolf, Kevin, the Sheriff and a new addition to the Werewolf family, Chris
Jenson.
Damien Ashton describes his characters with a clever pen and the tragic deaths of the victims with
bloody ink. 'Black Moon' rising is a viscous book with a tight story line and a fresh perspective
which
will catch the eye of both werewolf fans and those who have recently discovered the horror genre.
Damien's writing style is blunt, vulgar and at times will make you bust out into laughter, all
together
leaving you gutted at the end. Oh, and did I mention that it was bloody?
Stephanie Simpson-Woods
Reviewer
Rick's Bookshelf
Curt Swan: A Life in Comics
Eddy Zeno
Vanguard Productions
59-A Philhower Rd. Lebanon N.J. 08833
www.creativemix.com/vanguard
Hardcover - ISBN # 1887591379 $34.95
Limited Edition Deluxe S/N Hardcover - ISBN # 1887591451 $49.95
Trade Paperback Edition - ISBN # 1887591400 $19.95 (Copy Reviewed)
If I ask you to picture Superman, what image comes to mind? To most, I'm sure it is Christopher
Reeve,
star of four movies in the 70's and 80's. To others, George Reeves (no relation) who played him in
the
1950's TV series; or maybe even Kirk Alyn from the early movie serials, Dean Cain from Lois and
Clark,
or any of the numerous animated versions stretching from the Fleischer cartoons in the 40's up to
The
Justice League currently airing on Cartoon Network. However, for me, it is, and always will be,
the
image of the Man of Steel from the comics, and that of the one artist whose interpretation will
always
be the definitive version for many fans-Curt Swan.
Curt Swan: A Life in Comics by Eddy Zeno is a beautifully packaged tribute to not only the artist
who
drew Superman and his many assorted cast of characters for over 30 years in a parade of different
titles,
but the man behind the pencil as well.
We follow him from his early days in the Army working for Stars and Stripes as a staff cartoonist
during
World War 2, through his burgeoning career working on different characters for National
Periodical
Publications (later to become DC Comics) and on to his several decades long stint on Superman
and
related characters, to his eventual semi-retirement and passing. As a testament to the talent of one
of
the most respected artists in the business, this book has been crafted with love and respect for the
man
and his ability, and it shows on each page and with each illustration.
And what illustrations they are! If you have ever read a DC comic, even if has been more years
than you
would care to admit, you'll be surprised of the memories that will coming flooding back with each
page
turned. Don't be surprised if you find yourself transported back to the days of comics sold at drug
stories
and Mom and Pop grocery stores all over the country, not just at specialty shops. When they were
meant to be rolled up and stuffed in your back pocket, not put into a plastic bag with a backing
board
and taped shut, never to be opened again. Page after page filled with images of not only the Last
Son
of Krypton, but including, and in no way limited to; Lois Lane, Jimmy Olsen, Batman, Robin, as
well
as The Legion of Super-Heroes. This book even has, what in my opinion was one of the weirdest,
yet
neatest villain ever created: The Composite Superman-half Superman on one side, half Batman on
the
other, and with all the powers of the previously mentioned Legion of Super Heroes.
I'm glad to see the life and art of Curt Swan get the respect it is due. Raves from colleagues in the
industry accompany the many illustrations, adding a depth to how his work was admired not only
by the
fans, but also by other professionals. What could have been a boring textbook of the man ends up
being
a glorious celebration of his life and career.
Whither you get this book because you are a comic fan like me, or because you remember the
days of
sipping a cold soda on the front porch with the latest four-color adventures of Superman and his
'family',
this is the kind of book that will make you appreciate the art as you get to know the man. Who
could
ask for any greater biography than that-you should be very proud of the work you have done here
Mr.
Zeno, and I think Mr. Swan would be as well.
Recompense
Joyce Morgan Hammock
Writers Showcase
c/o iUniverse
5220 South 16th Street, Suite 200, Lincoln, NE 68512
ISBN # 0595221750 352 pgs $18.95
Recompense: from the Latin word 'recompensare' meaning to return in kind. Or, if we want to use
a
modern term-payback. Moreover, we all know what the infamous 'they' say about what payback
is,
right? This is a story about deserved payback against one of most vile man I have read about in a
while.
Eddie had it rough growing up. At the age of six, he was taken from his drug abusing negligent
mother.
Once placed into foster care, he came to live at the home of Elliot Bowers, a well-respected
member
of the Baltimore Police Department, working as a narcotics detective; his wife Marian, and their
daughter Caroline.
Time passes and eventually he is accepted as one of the family. Until, now seventeen, Eddie
decides to
skip school one day. He heads back to the house, thinking it deserted since everyone was at either
work
or school. However, what he finds completely devastates him as he walks in on Caroline being
raped
by her father. He threatens the older man, but all that does is just make him angry. He asks Eddie
just
who he thinks would believe the word of some foster kid that had some trouble with the law
against an
upstanding member of the Police Department. Eddie, seeing he would really have no chance, says
he
will not mention anything as long as it never happens again, and Bowers agrees.
Eddie thought that would be it, until three days later and he is greeted by police cruisers when he
gets
home. The officers are there to arrest him for the rape of Caroline, and Detective Bowers is the
one that
filed the charges. Now arrested for a crime he didn't commit, Eddie needs all the help he can get
from
even the most unexpected places. Detective Bowers, on the other hand, begins to lose his grip on
reality,
causing him to spin further and further into a realm of violence and hatred that is far beyond his
control.
Part of what makes this story riveting are that the things author Joyce Hammock writes about
could
happen to anyone. In this country, it seems the days of innocent until proven guilty have fallen by
the
wayside, especially with the circus that the media has devolved into, and the all to often arrest of
someone who has sworn to uphold the public trust being found guilty of corruption on some level.
I
think the phrase should be changed to read, 'innocent until proven guilty unless you have enough
money
or influence, and then it doesn't matter'. That would be, unfortunately, much more realistic.
This is a hard book to stop reading since Ms. Hammock has created a story that is both
compelling and
terrifying at the same time. The characters and storyline drag you along page after page as you
feel with
Eddie, and what he is going through, and watch Detective Bowers descend deeper and deeper
into the
abyss of lies, hatred, and rage. This real page-turner will keep you guessing as to the outcome
until the
very end. She shows the system at work, both the good and bad, and not pulling any punches in
the
process. Bravo to you Ms. Hammock on a story well told, but I don't think I could read another
like it
anytime soon; emotionally this one wore me out.
"The One Who Would Be King"
Gareth Blackmore
Author's Publishing
104 Lake June Road NW, Lake Placid FL 33852
ISBN # 0972890211 368 pgs $14.95
Fantasy epics are a unique type of book. Not only does the author have to create an entire
universe, but
also he has to inhabit it with creatures set in an environment that is conducive for their existence,
and
still tell a story that will keep the reader enthralled. In the novel, The One Who Would Be King,
author
Gareth Blackmore has managed to do exactly that.
This is the story of Djar and his companion, a sprite named Cookie (I loved the interplay of the
names
by the way) and their adventures in the land of Mahhrain, a kingdom once ruled by Djar's father,
yet now
torn apart by the unjust and evil rule of Captain Karn and his hordes of goblins. Djar, with a
reluctant
Cookie in tow flee, to travel to the home of Dymorla, a witch that exists as a legend, to see if she
can
help restore peace in the lands, and the return of the rightful ruler. However, as with all of these
type
stories, nothing ever goes as simply as planned, and as their party grows larger, they find there is
one
needed ingredient to help them in their trials.
Dymorla tells them of a prophecy that records the appearance of a young man from earth that will
help
them. They magically pluck one from our world, a boy named Zack. In a unique twist to most of
these
types of tales, he is no savior in waiting, or granted with hidden magical powers, he is just a kid
that they
use to fulfill a prophecy they don't even believe in, but figure that it can't hurt and might get them
some
help from other factions for the battles to come. This really helps add to the reader's viewpoint,
allowing
the character of Zack to ask any questions that they might have, or explaining a viewpoint or
situation
clearly to him (he being a stranger) without it sounding like some thrown in necessary evil that
can all
to often bring a story to a grinding halt.
I want to compliment author Blackmore for something else he does, which I have been seeing
with a
lot more frequency lately, and this is one trend I really enjoy. It is clear that he has a story to tell,
and
he does it well, yet he is not bogged down with descriptive nuances or long boring narratives,
taking
the time instead to move the story along. I don't need to have a suit of armor described to me in
excruciating detail. It is a suit of armor. Same goes for a horse, a castle, a tree, all of the standard
accouterments. Now of course, if there is something special about something, then yes, there is
time
taken to stop and tell the unique qualities, then back to the tale. Too many times, I have read
stories that
have spent pages describing a tree, and you want to know what I do when I hit those? Probably
the
same that I'm sure every other reader does-skips past them to get to the story. So what is the
point Mr.
and Ms. Author, just to show us you can describe a leaf ad nausea, or are you being paid per
word? Tell
the story, describe what you need to; I can manage the rest myself, thank you, and get on with the
story.
But I have digressed, sorry.
The One Who Would Be King by Gareth Blackmore is a refreshingly told tale of fantasy with epic
proportions that would make any fan of this genre pleased that they have taken the time to get to
know
the wonderful world that has been crafted between these covers. Pick up this book and find
yourself
transported to a world where magic is real, adventure is afoot, and righteousness can still prevail,
providing you have a sword that glows of course. This was a fun read Mr. Blackmore, and I thank
you
for allowing me to share in the adventure.
Rick Mohr
Reviewer
Pogo's Bookshelf
Robert Hartwell Fiske
The Dictionary of Concise Writing
Marion Street Press, Inc
Oak Park IL
http://www.marionstreetpress.com
http://www.vocabula.com
ISBN 0966517660 $19.95
"Be parsimonious," Dr Chisholm exhorted students, discouraging padding and flabby writing. "Be
terse." Sections, chapters and books are dedicated to improving language usage and excising
extraneous
words by restricting redundancies and tightening tautologies. Certainly writing CIP for the title
verso
requires skilful ellipsis in contrast to the sprawling verbosities that bloom and flourish in the
bureaucrat's
or marketing agent's weedpatch of speech, befuddling the already confused mind.
Creating the snappy summary and keywords to synposize a book's content borders between acute
intelligence and profound insanity too arcane for average brains. However, repetition is a boring
business, recalling scenes of Charlie Chaplin employed in the factory, a small cog in the
impersonal
industrialized complex churning out identical products with slightly different serial numbers,
canned hash
that is recycled twice for the consumer to ingest. Fiske argues that we become what we read and
write
just as food faddists and doctors warn patients of becoming what they eat. Too much fat, you get
fat
on the brain. Similarly, the headlines and articles duplicated and cloned repeatedly on the internet
add
little or no new news, but fill cyberspace with the same banalities. Repeating an incorrect scale
three
thousand time ingrains the habit of singing off-pitch so that the deluded singer believes he's
correct, but
the listener truly suffers.
Joining the Outspoken Minority Against Language Abuse, Fiske provides a weapon for defending
the
integrity of English usage with trenchant diligence, cutting through the sprawling vines of
verbiage to
expose the roots of recondite thoughts. "Illiterate" and "illiteracy" are chiefly associated now with
the
definition used by the Department of Census or Education, disregarding the broader
understanding that
intimates ignorance of letters or unread. It is not whether the person can read, but what he reads
or
writes. Although Mark Twain's formal education ended when he was twelve, shortly after his
father's
death, he is the paragon of American writing with a proclivity for wordcraft. Opening Fiske's
book, an
anecdote is cited, regarding Twain's advice to a twelve-year-old boy:
"I notice that you use plain, simple language, short words, and brief setences. That is the way to
write
English - it is the modern way and the best way. Stick to it; don't let fluff and flowers and
verbosity
creep in." (p11)
Twain, the wordwright, defies the Census definition of illiterate, because officially he is. He had
approximately five years of formal education when he apprenticed himself to a printer. Many
other
recognized writers are also officially unlearned. Although Kipling studied in England, he left the
school
just prior to his final examinations. Dickens is another - yet they did not allow formal education to
restrict their abilities. Anyone struggling through "The Notorious (Celebrated) Jumping Frog of
Calaveras County", knows that Twain is not renown for his short sentences or for limited,
repetitious
vocabulary. The sentences stretch nearly as long as his name. He recognized the relationship
between
vocabulary and characterization to indicate intellectual level. He did not restrict his children's
stories to
a boring 12000 word vocabulary for the convenience of the student or the teacher. Yet a long
sentence
can wrap around the throat with the tenacious grip of a ravenous boa constrictor, paralyzing the
reader.
The brain freezes, the reader rendered helpless, is unable to comprehend the tangled sentence
choking
him and desperately struggles to survive to the end.
Fiske presents three basic tenets for good communication. They are:
Wordiness is an obstacle to success.
Wordiness is an obstacle to companionship.
and
Wordiness is an obstacle to self-knowledge.
We hide behind words, hoping for acceptance, desperate to be a jackdaw in peacock feathers. In
adding
plummage, we sharpen the quill, feathering the sentence with fuzzy down as a nest for laying
eggs.
Easily recognized, abuses hatch like cuckoos and propagate as we write Journalists, limited by
word
counts and column sizes, write inarticulately.
The art of deletion is learned through applied personal discipline with the careful study of
examples for
revision. Fiske presents ways of clipping the overgrown verbiage sprouting like hedges that create
barriers to effective communication. The maze is better kept in the garden than scrawled on the
page.
"A society is as lax as its language," he warns. Why such wordiness? Such shoddiness among
generations of high-tech people having access to information, education and literature that never
existed
in Twain's day. It's impossible to blame on the Educational Department or the school system.
Language
is learned first through imitation, but to be articulate-- discipline and study is needed. Can I really
blame
it on a teacher? Fiske adduces that habit, ignorance and imitation contribute to the profusion of
wordiness that exists in daily reading, writing and speech today. Habitual slovenliness is difficult
to
eliminate, demanding concentrated effort, regimented like a diabetic on a strictly controlled diet.
Ignorance can be overcome, but not passively. Requiring personal application and effort, the
writer must
study outstanding examples of literature and criticize himself. Imitation is the most difficult to
correct,
for even a bird can parrot, but original thought always risks rejection.
Writing skill has long been attributed to the direct influence of literature upon the reader. Crack a
writer's handbook or style manual to find paragraphs and chapters dedicated to the proposition
that not
all writing is equal. Some is definitely terrible and some admirable. Hours are spent analyzing
what
makes one "good" and the other "bad" while boring is usually self-evident. Teachers intone, "Use
one
word for three; the precise over the obtuse; the concrete over the abstract," to each new crop of
students. The desiderata continues to deaf ears with the never-ending refrains that resonate of the
Litany
of All Saints.
The frustrated editor tips another overweight manuscript into the gaping trapdoor yawning at his
feet.
"James Bond survived, but he won't" he mutters, coolly signing the rejection slip for the aspiring
author's
death warrant. Nor is it an editor's exaggeration to remind the budding writer of the contact scene
in
the Marx Brothers' film, "A Night at the Opera" while wishing to tap Chico's shoulder to pass on
his
scissors. Film producers delight in announcing the miles of cuts curling on the editing floor, but
why
can't writers, politicians and copywriters make the same claim? Why don't they imitate this
singular
Hollywood trait to make cuts? Eliminate redundancies to articulate concisely? To exercise the
brain,
take the Dictionary of Concise Writing off the shelf and challenge yourself with improving the
examples
and expanding your dreary, dull vocabulary. A weighty volume, made for customized grip, it fits
neatly
besides the Roget's Thesaurus when inserted vertically on your bookshelf. A more practical tool
than
being a doorstop. Use it.
The Dimwit's Dictionary: 5000 overused words and phrases and alterntives to them
Robert Hartwell Fiske
Marion Street press, Inc
Chicago IL
http://www.marionstreetpress.com
http://www.vocabula.com
ISBN 0966517679 $19.95
Robert Hartwell Fiske joins the League Against Language Abuse to preserve the intergrity of
English.
Muddled thinking produces muddled writing and muddled writing produces muddled thinking can
be
sung to "There's a hole in the bucket, oh Henry." Try it, repeat the first "muddled writing" thrice
and
you'll have caught the tune that Fowler and Fowler were singing decades before from the
trenches.
Naturally, you won't mind that we slip out while you rehearse this ditty?
More directly, a grade school teacher used to announce regularly, "The brain is a muscle -
exercise it"
intimating that we were flabby thinkers. Just as slouching in the chair deforms the spine, so
slovenly
writing corrodes the brain and distorts communication, rendering the effort ineffective.
Stylebooks and manuals are produced by gross tonnage to lift the writer into better literary habits,
but
without routine application, writing slides into slipshod performance like a fishtailing Cadillac with
bald
tires on black ice. Fiske identifies Dimwitticisms a foreign, ineffectual and infantile phrases,
grammatical
gimmicks, moribund metaphors, topid terms, withered words and quack equations; but in doing
so, he's
also guilty of offensive alliteration to create such terms.
Although the terminology is unique, the problems are not. By Grammatical Gimmicks, Fiske
indicates
unnecessary parenthesis or unwanted interjections that add nothing to the meaning, but break the
flow
of communication. Ineffectual phrases are all those windy additions that lengthen but do not
strengthen--
it is important to realize; the writer wishes to inform you - being nothing more than undesirable
wordiness or replicating useless verbs.
The litany of sins continues with Insipid Similes and Plebian Sentiments, Popular Prescriptions
and
Withered Words. Guilty I now stand before My Maker awaiting the Day of Judgment: mea culpa,
confiteor ideor; I have failed in what I have done and left undone; Alvinu malchenu. Unrepentant,
I
delight in humongous chunks of chocolate fudge cake with aromatic coffee spiced with cinnamon,
allspice and badyan and search about high and low for the whippinhg cream. Moreover, a plebe, I
am
gulity of plebian sentiments as never attained the snobbishness of aristocracy. I'm not stupid you
know,
just low-brain. And frequently, I am in a bad mood, but Gates was in a black one which blew the
software out on Sunday night. An electrifying experience. Humongous isn't just an Infantile
phrase, but
permament Infantile Phase.
However, from my bad example of low-brain, plebian sentiments and infantile phrases, you can
recognize the true need of this book to educate me-- a book reviewer with a regular roost on the
Midwest Book Review --until they realize that I am neither articulate nor intellectual; but dismally
illiterate.
Written in a practical A-Z form, crack the book open to examine your state of illiteracy. Each
entry is
identified by classification and given an example and form of revision, making it a practical
thesaurus
for avoiding overused words and redundant phrases. A Handbook of Moribund Metaphors, it
offers
unlimited creativity for next year's Wergle Flomp Poetry Contest. Imagine creating a sonnet with
nothing but Moribund Metaphors and Wretched Redundancies! The National Library of Poetry
will
surely honor your courageous literary forays with a plaque that will cost you only 125 USD.
And truly, I stand guilty of sowing Withered Words amongst the rows of sentences with optimism
that
they will regenerate and sprout yet another crop. My childhood education recalls the Parable of
the
Sower. It was not the seed, but the barren ground that hindered growth. Words flourish in varied
envronments, and Europeans staunchly use vocabulary that Fiske does not, but has nothing to do
with
the level of education or sophistication. They are differences of preference in usage.
Certainly, a worthy dictionary to add to your reference shelf for broadening vocabulary usage and
exercising the brain to become fitter and quicker for revising text.
Pogo
Reviewer
Paul's Bookshelf
The Ugly Princess
Elizabeth K. Burton
Zumaya Publications
P.O. Box 44062, Burnaby, BC V5B 4Y2 Canada
http://www.zumayapublications.com
ISBN 1894942094, 207 pages, $14.00
King Edrick of Nadwich chokes to death on a chicken bone on his wedding night (not his first
wedding).
It's bad enough that the person next in line to the throne is his daughter, Jahmelle; she is said to be
so
ugly that she has spent her entire life locked away in a faraway castle with only trolls as
company.
Jahmelle is the product of a very brief marriage between Edrick and the daughter of the chief of
the
Moldori. They are a race of fearsome warriors who fight like alley cats when insulted (which
happens
very easily) and are into ritual face scarring. It's up to the King's Champion, Sir Christopher
Evergild,
to bring Jahmelle back to assume power, and to keep her from suffering an "accident" along the
way.
Meantime, back at the castle, the throne is not empty. Benifaz, one of the King's Ministers, has
declared
himself Regent, charged Evergild with treason and called Jahmelle an impostor. He has also
stripped
the Ruford Seneschal, a senior member of the castle staff, of his position and put him on the
equivalent
of Death Row. He escapes with much help from Dagger Jack Tarragent, a former noble and kin
of
Edrick, until he was forced into a life of crime. Jack is an expert at getting into places where he is
not
welcome, then getting out with no one the wiser.
Knowing that they are being sought by Benifaz's men, Evergild begins to look on his escorting of
Princess Jahmelle as more than just a duty. Even though she remains veiled through the entire trip,
Evergild begins to fall in love with her. The thought of marriage between a person of royal blood,
like
Jahmelle, and someone not of royal blood, like Evergild, is very rare, but not impossible.
I really liked this story. It's good, lighter, summertime-type reading that also has a few things to
say. It's
very much worth reading.
Mother of Kings
Poul Anderson
Tor Books
175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010
http://www.tor.com
ISBN 0312874480, $27.95, 444 pages
Set in the tenth century, this is the story of Gunnhild, Queen of Norway and England (a real
person).
This was the waning days of the Age of Vikings.
As a child, Gunnhild learns the ways of withcraft from a Finnish concubine of her father, a
powerful
Norse chieftain. She also notices Eirik, son of their king. Growing up, Gunnhild keeps her eyes
open
and learns the relationship between the powerful and the weak. But she doesn't want to stop
there. She
becomes a spaewife, a master in witchcraft and sorcery, a knower of the Gods.
She marries Eirik, and things are wonderful for a while. She gives him seven sons, all of whom
become
great warriors, and one daughter, Ragnhild. Forced into a political marriage, Ragnhild gets a
reputation
as someone whose husbands tend to die before their time. Eirik's strength and Gunnhild's
craftiness and
knowledge of sorcery make them formidable foes.
Haakon, another son of Eirik's father, has an equally strong claim as Eirik to be King of Norway.
This
is a time of building alliances for both men among the groups in that part of the world. The
fortunes of
Eirik and Gunnhild start taking a turn for the worst. They are forced to flee Norway and live for a
time
in York, England. Anotherv time they flee to the Orkney Islands, part of present-day Scotland.
Eirik dies
in battle, as do his sons, one by one. Meantime, Christianity comes to that part of the world.
Haakon
embraces this new religion, partly because his best friend becomes a priest. He expects those in
aliiance
with him to do the same. But, there are those, including powerful people, who are not happy with
the
old gods being tossed aside.
This is a great novel. It's a big novel, both in size and in scope, so it is not easy or quick reading.
Once
again, Anderson shows why he was a master of the genre. The style of writing gives the
impression that
it was actually written a thousand years ago. Recently translated, it was mispackaged as Fiction
instead
of History. I know of no other contemporary writer in the field who can consistently do that like
Anderson.
This book will take some patience, but it is highly recommended.
Working the Hard Side of the Street
Kirk Alex
Tucumcari Press
P.O. Box 40998, Tucson, AZ 85717-0998
tucumcaripress@earthlink.net
ISBN 0939122251, $14.95, 366 pages
This is a group of short stories and poems about life in present-day Hollywood,
