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Table of Contents
Reviewers Recommend
1000 Strawberries
Ms. Liza Berry
Self-published
P.O. Box 12362 Wilmington, North Carolina 28403
No ISBN $14.95
Alyice Edrich, Reviewer
http://thedabblingmum.com
1000 Strawberries is a collection of recipes, activities, and ideas used to encourage family
members
to spend time in the kitchen. The 8" x 6" book is individually shrink-wrapped and includes a
strawberry huller.
If you love strawberries you'll love this book! Honestly, who knew you could do more with
strawberries than make strawberry shortcake, pie, or Slushies?! Ms. Berry's collection of things
to
do with strawberries is outstanding! She shares wonderful recipes like Zesty Berry Spread while
entertaining children with fun kitchen projects like building strawberry castles!
Order 1000 Strawberries by contacting the author at mslizaberry@juno.com today! You can also
order by snail mail by sending $17.95 ($14.95 plus $3 shipping) to P.O. Box 12362 Wilmington,
North Carolina 28403
The Turtle Warrior
Mary Relindes Ellis
W.W. Norton & Company, Inc.
ISBN 0670032654 $25.95 261 pages
April Whyte
Reviewer
There are those who believe Vietnam has been so written about that, topically speaking, it is
passe.
Perhaps. But it is difficult to believe that it will lose its fascination --- morbid or otherwise --- so
long as there is even one Baby Boomer still breathing. Just as our parents were defined by the
Depression and Pearl Harbor, so too are we marked by the spate of 60s assassinations and the
undeclared war in Southeast Asia.
Mary Relindes Ellis writes with grace and insight about emotional battle in the quiet farm country
of
Wisconsin juxtapositioning it alongside traditional combat in mid-twentieth century Vietnam.
Artfully woven throughout the horrors perpetrated by one man on his family, are threads of
compassion in the form of Amerindian wisdom's love of nature in both its animate and inanimate
forms.
The setting can, particularly during winter months, come across as depressing. One wonders how
Claire retains any sanity at all on the dreary, failing farm where she lives with an abusive husband
and a pair of bright, sensitive boys. John is frequently away, spending many nights at the local bar
after finishing his sustenance-paying shift at the town sawmill. Claire's loneliness is a blessing she
recognizes, since hubby's homecoming usually involves rage, marital rape, and both physical and
emotional torture. When Jimmy grows stronger, taller and sharper than his father, and is taught to
be
a crack rifle shot by the neighbor on the next property, John goads him into enlisting in the
Marines.
It is, after all, one way to reassert his own Alpha male status in the household. Since America is
busy
bogging itself down in Vietnam, both know the likelihood of his being sent there.
Obviously, Jimmy has merely traded one hell for another. The tragedy is that with his departure
there is no one left to protect his mother who, embarrassed by the downward plunge her life has
taken, isolates herself from everyone. This includes close neighbors Rosemary and Ernie, a
childless
couple who have loved both boys from the day they arrived. Bill is only nine and tries,
after.Jimmy is
declared MIA, to help his disintegrating mother. Claire does not learn until years later how this
unintentional abandonment of her younger son left him utterly unprotected.
There is plenty of guilt to go around --- mostly for the things left undone and unsaid because it
always seems less complicated that way. But as in all good storiess, there is a time of
redemption.
This too, Ellis handles skillfully, reminding us that oftentimes what we most want from good
story-telling is the very thing so easy to lose as we march the hard jungle of life: hope.
Turtle Warrior is Ellis' debut novel. One hopes to hear more from her. And soon.
I Think I Am Happier Than I Think I Am
Reverend James O'Leary
Battle Creek Area Catholic Schools
63 N. 24th Street, Battle Creek MI 49015
ISBN 0972619402 $14.95
Jean Carroll
Reviewer
This book is a collection of some of the weekly columns written for the church bulletin over a
period
of years while Father O'Leary was pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Battle Creek, Michigan.
The columns are as delightful as the title of the book, each focusing on a thoughr, an idea, a
memory, a holiday. . .
One column begins "When I was young, I dreamed of living until the year 2000. I knew that in
that
year I would be 65 years of age. I thought I would be too old to enjoy the event, but it is here
and I
am not too old."
Another states, "The great challenge of life is to decide what is important and to disregard
everything else. I know men who loudly proclaim that their children are the most important
factor
in their lives, yet they work 90 to 100 hours a week."
He adds: "If we put all our energy into one direction, we cannot help but take energy away from
another direction."
I met Father O'Leary in Coldwater, Michigan at a book signing. He had been Pastor in Coldwater
for some years, but is presently in Battle Creek.
Ten authors from the general area were featured at the book signing. There were four tables for
the
authors situated about the room in Taylor's books store. I was fortunate enough to be at the table
with Father O'Leary. Because he was well known to the area, he drew a crowd, but during idle
moments we had a chance to talk.
I was intrigued by the title of his book and he explained where it came from. I told him about my
new and used book shop in Huntington, and said I would like to offer his book to my
customers.
The books arrived and I thoroughly enjoyed what he had to say.
One selection in the book deals with perfection and what perfection is and isn't, and how a
perfectionist defends his behavior.
He writes: "Everywhere you hear people say, 'Well, the trouble with me is I'm a perfectionist.'"
Speaking for himself, he says " I find it rather comforting to say, 'Well, the trouble with me is that
I'm a perfectionist.' It is so much better than saying, 'Well, the trouble with me is that I'm a
neurotic
fuss pot.'"
He explains that "If your form of perfectionism makes you a pleasure to be around, it is 'the real
thing.' If it drives your loved one crazy, your 'perfectionism' has nothing to do with
perfection."
The entries in this book deal with everyday life. They touch on time, conversations, burn-out, and
baseball as an anology to life. A quick but thought-provoking read.
The Ordinary Seaman
Francisco Goldman
Atlantic Monthly Press
841 Broadway, New York, NY, 10003
ISBN 0871136716, $23.00 381 pp.
Coletta Ollerer
Reviewer
Esteban, a 19 year old former Sandanista guerrilla, decides to start a new life and signs on as an
ordinary seaman on the ship Urus anchored at Brooklyn. Fourteen other Central American men
do
the same. Their hope was to return home with money in their pockets but instead they find
themselves held hostage on the ship by virtue of their lack citizenship and withheld wages.
Frustration and anger build while the deceitful 'Captain' Elias leads them on. His friend and 'first
mate', Mark are engaged in dishonest get rich-quick scheme. The Central Americans are unaware
of
this and have no one but them to trust.
After many months, Esteban decides to leave the ship at night and investigate the neighborhood.
"Esteban waits by the rail awhile after Cabezon has plodded chuckling off to his cabin. Then
walks
swiftly back to the foredeck, steps over the rail, and hangs on in a crouch, looking down between
his
legs at the rope emerging from the mooring pipe and the black water underneath and in one
motion
pushes off and grabs the rope to his chest as he falls and wraps his legs around it, finding a center
of
balance after a few scary lurches." He loves the feeling of freedom away from the ship at first but
later comes upon some warehouses where he is able to steal food to bring back to the ship, frozen
shrimp, blueberries, a side of beef. The others are very grateful for this addition to their meager
menu of rice and sardines.
Bernardo, hired as the ship's waiter, is doing laundry on the dock one day and an elderly couple
comes strolling along. The men have never seen people on the dock before. Bernardo decides to
tell
them of their plight and to ask for help.
Bernardo receives severe burns to his leg when he spills hot oil in a cooking accident . The others
do
not know what to do. Elias and Mark are not around for days. The condition worsens and later
Mark insists on taking him to a hospital himself. Elias hears of it afterward and tries to find the
hospital where Bernardo is staying. He tells the crew that Bernardo has received treatment and
was
sent back home.
The old couple who had spoken to Bernardo on the dock went to the authorities and alerted them
of
the plight of the men. A Ship's Visitor, John, comes aboard and promises to take them to see a
lawyer. He returns later with food and clothing. This is a tale of sailors marooned aboard ship
amid
privation and deception and the resultant strength of the surviving spirit of man.
Clive Cussler
Valhalla Rising
Penguin Fiction
ISBN 0140287973 UK 6.99 Brit. pounds, AUS $19.95
John Gautry
Reviewer
Clive Cussler is at his literary best with the novel Valhalla Rising. The story begins in the year
1035
somewhere in America where a tribe of Vikings led by Bjarne Sigvatson explore the fjords of
America. Cussler manages to transport you to the Viking era without going into too much
historical
detail but gives the reader enough information to imagine the hardships the main Viking character
had to endure in his struggle to find new land for his tribe.
We are then transported to the year 1894 in the middle of the Caribbean Sea where a "monster" is
terrorising local shipping
It is the year 2003, a luxury liner Emerald Dolphin is suddenly engulfed in flames and sinks to the
bottom of the ocean. Dirk Pitt comes to the rescue of the passengers and embarks on a perilous
task
of determining the cause for the sinking and who or what was behind it.
In a short space of time a major upheaval will change Pitt's life forever, he will come face to face
with a series of extraordinary monsters, human and mechanical where many lives will be lost and
saved.
Because I Remember Terror, Father, I Remember You
Sue William Silverman
University of Georgia Press
330 Research Drive, Athens, Georgia, 30602
ISBN 0820321753 $16.95 www.amazon.com
Garrie Keyman, Reviewer
www.LititzPa.com
Powerful in its lean simplicity, gripping in its honesty, Sue Silverman's voice rivets the reader with
its
sensual evocation of imagery and ability to draw a reluctant audience into the painful world in
which
she was raised.
Written in vignettes snapshots of memory Silverman's book, published by the University of
Georgia Press, courageously shares the stark terror of growing up a victim of incest. Masterfully
alive in her words are the confusion, shame, and overwhelming dissolution of self such
experiences
engender.
Yet for all its unspeakable tragedy, Because I Remember Terror is also a tale of recovery, of a
woman's unbreakable inner being and her ability to rise beyond the crushing dust of a shattered
childhood.
Like many other readers, I read Silverman's 272-page memoir in a single day, unable to set it
aside.
Still, one could never claim like Silverman's book any more than one would claim to have loved,
say,
Shindler's List. Be moved by it, yes. Be forever altered, indeed. But like? Love? No sane person
can
wade into the pool of another's suffering and enjoy it. Still, Silverman's words and her tale
beckon,
an immersion we all need if we, as society, are ever to begin cleansing this festering, hidden
wound
that surrounds us in silent horror.
Silverman is to be applauded for her advocacy of others in similar straights, to be respected for
not
submitting, in the final analysis, to the terror to which her sadistic father subjected her, a terror to
which her mother turned a blind eye and hardened heart. Parents, teachers, psychologists, doctors,
teenagers should read this book. Hers is a voice crying out in a veritable wilderness where
children
are being lost to violence every day. Yes, here. In America. Maybe in the house next door to you.
Maybe in your own.
Please. Hear her.
Legacy of a Hanged Man
Peter J. Hedge
1st Books
ISBN Number: 1410774309 $14.50 174 pages
Shirley Roe
Reviewer
"It's about ten hours since the judge put on the black cap and sentenced me. All of a sudden it's
over
and the waiting has begun."
Steven Matchin's life is about to end. There is nothing more to do but wait. He takes pen in hand
and writes about what he is feeling. This is his story.
A teenager so influenced by peer pressure, in an attempt to impress his older friend Shell, shots a
policeman in a robbery gone wrong. Now he sits in a jail cell, a Padre and prison guards, his only
companions. The reader is taken on a roller coaster ride of emotion as the days tick away. Short
bursts of humor dispel the tension only to be replaced by dark depression and fear. Steven
becomes
as familiar to the reader as one of the family in the brilliant exposure of his character by the
author.
Steven tells of his many attempts to earn money, some a success but most a failure, he and his
best
friend Shell, working side by side, always sharing their adventures. But where is his friend now?
The
murderer is transformed into a typical teenager in the minds of those that listen. Colorful
vocabulary
makes this a believable story. Vivid imagery of the prison allows the reader to envision not only
the
state of Steven's surroundings but also the bleakness of his future. Padre Llewellyn consoles,
listens
and comforts until the end when he becomes the keeper of the manuscript. Upon his death the
manuscript finds its way into the hands of a famous writer, Vincent Sutherland. Sutherland is a
man
whose life is in turmoil, haunted by his past. Why does the manuscript come to him? What is the
connection?
Author Peter Hedge's ability to tell a story shines in this novel. Long after you set it down, the
book
haunts you. How often have you said, "He deserved what he got, justice has been served?" This
book will make you think twice.
Highly recommended.
Mother Teresa: The Final Verdict
Aroup Chatterjee
Meteor Books
170/43 Lake Gardens, Kolkata 700 045, India
ISBN 8188248002 9.90 UK pounds from Amazon.co.uk, 427 pp., ppb.
Xavier William
Reviewer
I fear to call myself a rationalist, for the reason that, by adding the "ist," I label myself, and then
paint myself into a corner. Thus I have often found that even rationalists are sometimes as
dogmatic
as theists. So I would like to define myself as a man who tries to be as rational as possible in all
thoughts and actions.
I have found many rationalists and atheists rave against Mother Theresa. Mother Teresa: The
Final
Verdict, by Aroup Chatterjee, is one such. While Chatterjee argues that Mother Theresa did not
do
as much charity as she claims, Sanal Edamaruku of the Indian Rationalist writes that by her work
she
projected Calcutta and India as a land of beggars and thereby did India incalculable harm. So
either
way Mother Theresa is condemned to be burnt at the Rationalist stake. As for Chatterjee's
comment
that no one in Calcutta knew or cared about MT's death, I can assert that it was almost a day of
mourning here in India. We felt the tremors even here in Kerala, over 1500km down south-west
of
Calcutta.
Here we have to distinguish between MT the Catholic and MT the human being. I wonder if
Chatterjee or any rationalist would have been as illogically acerbic about MT if she had been an
ordinary woman without religious affiliations. What is wrong with anyone promoting
himself/herself
if the outcome is beneficial? Jesus said not to let the left hand know what the right hand does
when it
comes to acts of charity. To me, it is better to do charity for the entire world to see than do no
charity at all. It is downright malice and cynicism to do no charity at all and to disparage others
who
are engaged in charitable work, whatever their motives.
Missionaries followed the colonist armies everywhere, and they came to India too. It is not for us
to
judge them. For every MT or Father Damien, the church has created thousands of inquisitors,
conquistadores and slave traders. All organized religions are evil political entities and Catholicism
leads the pack of these diabolic forces. But the work done by missionaries in India and the third
world cannot be vilified simply because the missionaries are Christians or Catholics. Christianity
and
Catholicism are indeed pure evil. That does not mean that all believing Christians, including
priests
and nuns, are incarnations of Satan. Rationalists are irrational when they do not distinguish
between
Christians and Christianity, Islam and Muslims, Hinduism and Hindus. Christians, Hindus,
Muslims
and all other believers are people who have been misled by their own parents and society, and it is
for us to teach them to throw off the yoke of superstition and misbelief.
Coming to the work of missionaries in India: Even after fifty-six years of independence, most of
the
schools, colleges and hospitals in India are run by Christian institutions. When it comes to the
quality
of these services, they have no peers. There are many government-run schools here in Kerala,
India,
where I come from. But because of the abominable standards of these institutions, many of them
have been forced to close down for lack of students, though it is free. The state run hospitals too
have a shameful story to tell- a story of inefficiency and corruption. Any Indian worth his salt,
including Mr. Chatterjee, is sure to have studied in a Christian institution or made use of the
excellent health services provided by the Christian institutions, at one time or another in his
lifetime.
In our land of arranged marriages, matrimonial advertisements are the best means of finding a
mate.
Most ads by girls used to describe themselves as "convent educated," irrespective of what their
religion was. Hindus, Muslims and others used to advertise their daughters as "convent educated,"
and then some of them turn around and talk bullshit.
When it comes to charitable institutions, there are none to beat the Christians or come anywhere
near them. Over 95% of the orphanages and institutions for the old and mentally impaired are run
well by Christian institutions. Kerala is the most advanced state in India when it comes to literacy
and social services. I have seen a few government-owned orphanages. But many of them have
been
entrusted to priests and nuns to run. I am yet to see an orphanage or charitable institution run by
Hindus, although there are a few run by cults led by god-men and god-women and charlatans.
There
are Muslim institutions running a few orphanages, called Yathim Khanas. But these take in only
Muslim orphans, whereas Christian-run institutions do not make any discrimination when it comes
to
the needy.
Christians have, or rather used to have, large cash inflows from the West that enabled them to
take
up such charitable works, whereas Hindus and Muslims did not have such resources or the
Western
O & M facilities that the Christians have and had. It may also be true that some of these resources
have been channeled into nefarious activities such as conversion. But conversion or no
conversion,
India would have been much worse off but for the great inputs by missionaries, and that goes for
Chatterjee, Calcutta, and most of the Third World.
Now reverting to MT and her works: I am twice married, and have two sons by my first marriage.
(I
split up with my first wife, as we did not get along.) My second wife has some problems that
prevent
her from conceiving. It is a matter of concern here in India for the married not to have children,
and
we felt bad about it too. So we decided to adopt an infant. All of the orphanages here are
Christian-run, and the one we went to was run by MT's Daughters of Charity. We found some
sisters washing the floor, with their saris hitched up and another was rocking a baby and feeding it
from a feeding bottle. There was no scope there at all in that institution for the ostentatious luxury
Chattejee talks about.
Alisa's Bookshelf
Daughter of Exile
Isabel Glass
TOR
175 Fifth Ave., New York, NY 10010
http://www.tor.com
ISBN: 0765307456 $24.95 368 pp.
Daughter of Exile is a first novel from Isabel Glass. Readers who enjoy fantasy with a hint of
romance will enjoy this unusual first novel. This fantasy is a fun read with an interesting and
unusual
heroine, Lady Angarred Hashan.
Angarred, a fiery red-head, is a lady of the realm, but she has grown-up far from court. Her father
was banished from court by the King many years ago. Her mother died around the same time,
leaving Angarred to the care of her bitter, power obsessed father.
One fateful day, Lord Hashan is killed while hunting with hangers-on, leaving Angarred with a
decrepit, poor inheritance. Angarred travels to Pergodi, the capital of the realm, to seek out the
King
to gain vengeance for her father.
All is not well in Pergodi. Angarred fights an uphill battle to gain access to the King and to
unravel
the mystery of her father's death. Court intrigue is alien to Angarred and she finds few friends to
help
her.
All this takes a backseat when Angarred learns of the stone the King's magician wants it along
with
other kingdoms and races want it for the power it can wield. The stone has many secrets that
Angarred and her magician friend, Mathewar must unravel.
Daughter of Exile slowly evolves as the story progresses. Angarred is a feisty, young woman who
faces many adversaries. She is an interesting character not your normal heroine in a fantasy.
There
is nothing 'soft' about Angarred. Mathewar is another interesting puzzle to unravel. He is a sattery
addict and therefore, not your typical leading man/love interest. Angarred and Mathewar are
somehow fated to find the stone and bring peace to the realm.
The Shivered Sky
Matt Dinniman
http://www.mattdinniman.com/
Silver Lake Publishing
11 S. Mansfield Rd., Landowne, PA 19050
http://www.silverlakepublishing.com
ISBN: 1931095515 $19.95 448 pp.
Imagine waking up naked in the middle of a vast beach with no ocean in site. Not only do you not
know who you are but you have no clue if you are dead or alive in heaven or hell. Then others
begin arriving in the same condition. So starts the Shivered Sky by Matt Dinniman.
The world of the Shivered Sky is not heaven or hell it is another existence altogether. Cibola, the
city of Angels has been overrun with demons from other worlds. The billions of Angels are caught
unawares and the city is lost on fateful day.
The war is over and the angles are trying to just survive. Our wayward humans; Indigo, Gramm,
Dave, Ricco, and Hitomi find themselves thrust into this war without knowing whose side to fight
on. The Demons attack them, but the Angels treat them like slaves. Confused about all this, our
gang realizes nothing is as it seems. Luckily, this group has been given possession of an awesome
weapon, periscepters. These weapons look like a simple flashlight, but the light blasts from them
disintegrate any Demon in its path. Periscepters have 'true light' which destroys Demons but is
harmless to Angels and humans. The war between the Angels and Dominion controlled Demons
escalates with our human's caught in the middle.
Shivered Sky is not what it seems. This Dark Fantasy is extremely engaging with an original story
line. Each chapter brings more understanding of the world and its inhabitants. The ending is
climatic
and a complete surprise. Cibola is an amazing city with incredible buildings with unknown
characteristics. Dinniman has created a diverse, imaginative world that will entertain you just with
its
descriptions.
Another interesting aspect of the Shivered Sky is that God is missing. The book is not about any
religious theology, but about the struggle to survive and learn from past mistakes. God is missing
for
a reason that will become apparent towards the end of the book
According to the author's website, Matt Dinniman currently resides in Tucson, Arizona with his
wife
and family. He is the senior editor at Artichoke Down Press, and has had many occupations
throughout his life. He has worked as a pizza delivery driver, a security guard, an EMT, a private
investigator, an editor, a telephone psychic, and an obituary writer--and that's just the beginning.
His
award-winning fiction and non-fiction has been published all over the world. The Shivered Sky is
his
first novel.
Mortal Companion
Patrick Califia
http://patcalifia.com/
Suspect Thoughts Press
2215-R Market Street, PMB #544, San Francisco, CA 94114-1612
http://www.suspectthoughtspress.com/
ISBN: 0971084696 $16.95 282 pp.
Mortal Companion is not for the easily offended or those who are not comfortable with explicit
sex.
Subtitled as "an erotic tale of love and vengeance" like no other, Mortal Companion delivers.
Patrick
Califia has created a world where everything is possible and nothing is taboo. This world is
opened
up to the reader layer by layer chapter by chapter until the final climatic end which leaves us
panting and waiting for the sequel.
Mortal Companion introduces us to Ulric, a very depressed vampire. Life, as he experiences it has
become drudgery. Nothing gives him pleasure even feeding leaves him wanting. One evening, in
an
unknown small town, Mary Beth Wolcott reveals herself. Ulric is immediately smitten and begins
a
sensual assault that Mary Beth is unable to resist. Ulric wins her heart and soul and makes her his
mortal companion, renamed Lilith.
Lilith and Ulric begin a journey to San Francisco and to Ulric's past. Lilith learns how Ulric was
the
victim of the Germanic Knights of the Sepulcher. He was made a vampire by rape of the mind,
body,
and soul. This horrific beginning culminated in the rape and a feeding from Adulfa, Ulric's own
half-sister. Adulfa swore vengeance on Ulric for his rape and forcing vampirism on her.
Adulfa is more then just a vampire. She began life as a shapeshifter. She is a reckless woman bent
on
seeking pleasure through domination of the body and mind. She has been planning her revenge
against Ulric for hundreds of years and nothing will stop her. Lilith is her ticket to making Ulric
pay
for violating her.
Lilith and Ulric are aware of Adulfa's rage, but are so caught up within their insulated world they
have a false sense of security. Ulric introduces Lilith to the BDSM community and a sex slave is
born. Lilith gives herself over completely to Ulric. This trust is pivotal in what is to come.
Mortal Companion is an interesting and entertaining book. While the sex is explicit and violent at
times, it has a purpose. Lilith and Ulric continuously switch roles. Neither is completely dominate
over the other. It is clear that complete domination is not love, but sharing roles gives Lilith and
Ulric a true, heart wrenching, undying love. While it can be argued this their undoing, it is
beautiful
to read of that kind of bonding. Each chapter switches character point of view effortlessly, giving
the
reader a voyeuristic journey. Each perspective - male/female - top/bottom draws the reader
further
into a San Francisco most have only heard of.
My favorite characters by far are the vampire cats; Luna, Anastasia, Charley, and Hecate. These
cats
guard Ulric's house in San Francisco and play a very important role in the ending of the book.
Califia
has created the cats with individual personalities and separates voices. Luna speaks so eloquently
that her words are like poems within the book.
Parts of Mortal Companion have appeared is various anthologies. Author Patrick Califia has
written
many different short stories and books on sexuality and Lesbian issues. He currently suffers from
fibromyalgia and lives in San Francisco. When he is not reading other people's vampire stories,
Patrick is spoiling his kitty cat or disciplining deserving masochists. He says, "Cats, unlike people,
are innocent."
Alisa McCune
Reviewer
Bethany's Bookshelf
Word Group
Marjorie Welish
Coffee House Press
27 North Fourth Street, Minneapolis, MN 55401
1566891574 $15.00 1-800-283-3572
Award-winning poet, painter, and critic Marjorie Welish presents Word Group, a collection of
inspirational lyric poems that fuse raw imagination with dynamic patterns of rhythm, dialogue,
spacing, and descriptive imagery. A refreshing window into a unique style of using words as a
canvas to impress the critical struggles of daily survival and aspirations beyond. "This Sort": In a
plane, plot, or gravitational pull, negative or interrogative. / Glosses / Without pronouncing it /
The
zone in sun // gravitational accident / gravitational microphones // Histories of the subjugated read
as
serious scatter / vernaculars / smote by a microchip / "And he does so." // His effort to talk /
through
and through
Earthstepper/The Ocean Is Very Shallow
Seitlhamo Motsapi
Deep South
c/o ISBS
920 Northeast 58th Avenue, Suite 300, Portland, OR 97213
www.deepsouth.co.za www.isbscatalog.com
0958454221 $15.95 1-800-944-6190
First published in 1996, and now in a redesigned second printing, Earthstepper/The Ocean Is Very
Shallow is an anthology of free verse poetry by South African author Seitlhamo Motsapi.
Refusing
to capitulate to toe-the-line rhetoric or the lure of vanilla banalty, these free-verse works present
the
concepts of pan-Africanist militancy, romantic spirituality, and a vicious attack against all forms of
neo-colonialism. A vibrant and determined voice, refusing to be shackled by corporate or political
expectations and demanding to be heard. "Sol/o": my love / there are no accidents / in war - no
kisses / on the belligerent lips of crocodiles / no loves greener than / the dancing hearts of children
/
no reveller jollier than the worm / in columbus's boiling head
Bertolt Brecht: Poetry And Prose
Reinhold Grimm with Caroline Molina y Vedia, editors
The Continuum Publishing Group
15 East 26th Street, #17, New York, NY 10010-1505
0826415059 $24.95 1-800-561-7704
Bertolt Brecht: Poetry And Prose is an anthology primarily of poetry, but also offering the prose
works "Socrates Wounded" and "The Unseemly Old Lady" by Bertolt Brecht (1898-1956), which
reveals his skill in the free-verse that he calls "rhymeless lyrics with irregular rhythm." The poetry
is
presented both in its original German and English translation. A classic anthology of literature,
charged with emotion and a stark view of ills besetting individuals and society at large. "To Those
Born Later": Truly, I live in dark times! / The guileless word is folly. A smooth forehead /
Suggests
insensitivity. The man who laughs / Has simply not yet had / the terrible news.
Susan Bethany
Reviewer
Betsy's Bookshelf
How The Bible Became A Book
William M. Schniedewind
Cambridge University Press
40 West 20th St, NY, NY 10011-4211
0521829461 $27.00 1-800-872-7423 www.cambridge.org
How The Bible Became A Book: Textualization In Ancient Israel by William M. Schniedewind
(Chair of the Department of Near Eastern Languages and Cultures at UCLA) combines recent
archaeological discoveries in the Middle East, linguistic anthropology, and insights drawn from
the
history of writing to present as close an understanding as reasonably possible in this day and age
of
how the Hebrew Bible was written and edited. For two hundred years, scholars have presumed
the
Bible was written during the Persian and Hellenistic priods (the fifth through second centuries
B.C.E.); new evidence has come forth that the late Iron Age (eighth through sixth centuries
B.C.E.)
may have been a crucially formative period for Biblical literature. Exploring the evolution of
literature in society and its secular as well as religious ramifications, How The Bible Became A
Book is a welcome addition to Biblical studies shelves, as readable and articulate as it is
scholarly.
A Canoeist's Sketchbook
Robert Kimber
Countrysport Press
PO Box 679, Camden, ME 04843
0892726547 $14.95 www.countrysportpress.com
A Canoeist's Sketchbook is an anthology of canoeing essays written by a dedicated canoeist,
covering topics that range from exploring the wilderness, to the joy of paddling, to practical
advice
for canoeing and camping in remote locations. A handful of black-and-white illustrations add a
genteel touch to this fond reminiscence of experiencing nature, as vivid as can be experienced
short
of going out to see for oneself. Recommended, enjoyable, and practical reading for anyone
interested in taking up canoeing as a hobby.
Drunk With Pleasure
Nick Wadley
Pomegranate Communications, Inc.
PO Box 808022, Petaluma, CA 94975-8022
www.pomegranate.com
0764924915 $12.95 1-800-227-1428
Drunk With Pleasure is a collection of simple, sketchy yet wickedly humorous cartoons and visual
puns, all involving wine or alcohol. Drawn in a minimalist style with splashes of color, these
chuckle-inducing single-panel scenes include a play on the phrase "Life is unfair!" as "Life is un
verre!", i.e. a delicious drink. A glossary of wine terms to better contribute to understanding the
cartoons rounds out this amusing collection especially recommended for giving wine connoisseurs
a
chuckle.
Parenting At The Speed Of Teens
Search Institute
615 First Avenue, N.E., Suite 125, Minneapolis, MN 55413
www.search-institute.org
1574828452 $11.95 1-800-888-7828
Parenting At The Speed Of Teens: Positive Tips On Everyday Issues is a quick-reference and
lookup guide packed with tips, tricks, and techniques for parents to better understand and give
guidance to often rebellious teenagers. From steering youngsters away from junk food toward
healthier eating habits, to promoting safety while one's teens date and dealing with dilemmas of
sexuality, to the importance of positive communication and establishing boundaries, and much
more,
Parenting At The Speed Of Teens is extremely practical, useful, and down-to-earth with advice
that
is easy to absorb and learn from. Highly recommended for parents and guardians of teenagers
everywhere.
A Chicken's Guide To Talking Turkey With Your Kids About Sex
Dr. Kevin Leman & Kathy Flores Bell
Zondervan Publishing House
5300 Patterson Avenue, S.E., Grand Rapids, MI 49530
031025096X $16.99 zondvervan.com
Family psychologist Dr. Kevin Leman and sexuality educator Kathy Flores Bell present A
Chicken's
Guide To Talking Turkey With Your Kids About Sex, a straightforward guide for parents and
educators about teaching young people about the first period, first nocturnal emission, dating
relationships, STDs, molestation, and much more. A Chicken's Guide To Talking Turkey With
Your
Kids About Sex offers useful advice in down-to-earth terms concerning what needs to be taught,
how to build a bond of trust and support, and how to sound fully credible when promoting
abstinence in a culture that is media-soaked with sexual imagery, as well as more basic tips
concerning trials of puberty such as proper hair and skin care, oral hygiene, and more. Highly
recommended.
Betsy L. Hogan
Reviewer
Betty's Bookshelf
Maid Marian
Elsa Watson
Crown Publishers
Random House, Inc.
1745 Broadway, New York, NY 10019
www.randomhouse.com
ISBN# 1400050413 $23.95 307 pp.
I am very fond of the legend of Robin Hood and his merry men, but far too many Robin Hood
stories portray Marian as a typical twelfth century female afterthought, content to sew clothing
for
the men, stroke Robin's fevered brow, and stay out of the way of the action. Native
Washingtonian
Elsa Watson's representation of Marian as a young woman determined to wrest her fate out of the
hands of others and make it comform to her own dreams, while still working within the known
parameters of that day and age, is different and refreshing.
Elsa Watson's Marian is a landed heiress who is orphaned as a small child and married to her
playmate, Lord Hugh of Sencaster, at the age of five. After years of living apart from each other,
Marian is abruptly informed that Hugh has died, suddenly and inexplicably. Now a widowed
virgin,
seventeen-year-old Marian becomes a ward of the court, without the title and property due her as
Hugh's widow, due to Hugh's mother's machinations.
As court ward, Marian's life (and future) rest firmly in the hands of Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine,
who is ruling the country in the absence of her son, King Richard. Queen Eleanor knows very well
the value of a young, lovely, and rich widow in the royal games of power, and she intends to get
the
full benefits of properly bestowing Marian's hand.
However, Marian doesn't intend to be used as a political prize; she wants to control her own
destiny,
a thing unheard of in that day and age. And as she fights society's expectations of her, she begins
to
suspect not only that Hugh's own mother may have been involved in Hugh's death, but that she
isn't
done with Marian yet, either. When she discovers that the queen and Hugh's mother have set into
play secret plans to marry her off again, she and her nurse go into the forest to seek Robin Hood
and
beg his help in changing the direction of her future.
Meeting Robin Hood face-to-face changes everything for Marian. He is charming and handsome
and
independent of society's ways, and she becomes convinced that a life spent with Robin Hood is
her
destiny. When Robin spirits her away from the very threshold of her wedding and takes her back
with him to the forest, she thinks he is sure of it, too.
Love can take many disguises, though, and when her past and Robin's cause their relationship to
sour, it becomes apparent that sometimes destiny needs a little help. So Marian becomes
determined
to do whatever it takes to make her dreams come true. Even if it's more than she thinks she can
do -
and far more than Robin or his men - or the queen - ever expected.
This book would make an interesting choice for one of the reading groups that are springing up
all
over to give readers a sense of community and a sounding board for the thoughts and decisions
various books bring to life. Some groups, loosely structured, just chat about the book, but others
prefer to use a series of questions as a guide for their meetings, and that's where this book shines.
Watson includes a page of extra information in the back which can be used as a jumping-off point
for groups that like to come up with their own questions, while groups that prefer prepared
material
can go to the Crown Publishing Group's web site at http://www.randomhouse.com/crown/ and
click
on "Discussion Guides". There, group members will find a prepared guide to Maid Marian,
complete
with questions about leadership, group dynamics, and the societal impact of poverty that may
cause
their next meeting to erupt into a discussion more animated than usual.
The circumstances under which Watson began writing this book are interesting enough to be
worth
mentioning: while she and husband Kol Medina were serving in the Peace Corps in
Guinea-Bissau,
West Africa, she wrote what turned out to be the beginning of this book, in longhand by
lamplight.
Eventually, she and Medina returned to Washington and settled near Seattle, where she now
writes
full-time. I hope that having access to the benefits of modern life won't stop her from delving
again
into the past; she does it so well!
Buster
Denise Fleming
Henry Holt and Company, LLC
115 West 18th St., New York, NY, 10011
www.henryholt.com
ISBN# 0805062793 $15.95 40 pp.
Denise Fleming's newest book, Buster, introduces a dog named Buster whose perfect life with
Brown Shoes (his owner, who appears only as the tip of a brown shoe in one scene, hence the
name)
is invaded by a little white bundle of feline trouble named Betty. Buster, who is afraid of cats, is
terrified and decides that if he ignores her, she'll leave him alone. When that doesn't work, he runs
away to the park, where he revels in not having Betty's attentions to annoy him - until he
discovers
he's lost and needs help to find his way back home.
As usual, Fleming tells the story with her trademark-style bright colorful paper pulp paintings.
Buster (who looks a little like the dog on "The Simpsons") is a hoot, running in and out of his
house
through a doggy door, dancing to the radio set to his favorite station, and demanding Brown
Shoes'
attention to take him on a walk. Betty is cute and cuddly and completely unthreatening, which
makes Buster's fearful reaction even funnier. And the way Fleming presents people and scenery
from
a dog's point of view (mostly knee-high) gives the illustrations extra appeal.
Fleming includes a map (complete with legend) at the end of the story, which can be used to give
little readers a sense of how maps work. Be sure to notice the streets, which are named after some
of Fleming's friends and family members (including husband David Powers, daughter Indigo, and
Henry Holt editor Laura Godwin) and don't miss the picture of Fleming (aka Red Toes) on the
back
flap of the book jacket, shot from Buster's and Betty's point of view.
The Business Card Book: What Your Business Card Reveals About You... and How to Fix
It
Dr. Lynella Grant
Off the Page Press
P.O. Box 1269, Scottsdale, AZ, 85252
www.quick-and-painless.com
ISBN# 1888739509 $17.95 500 pp.
A typical business card is 2" X 3 1/2". Small, right? So, who would've thought that anyone could
think of enough to say about them to fill a 500 page book? Dr. Lynella Grant did, and even she
says,
right in the book's beginning, "Clearly, this book contains more than you ever thought you wanted
to
know about business cards," while the back of the book proclaims, "The only book on business
cards you'll ever need!" Well, yeah. And when I first laid eyes on it, I groaned. 500 pages about a
subject that only slightly interested me? What had I done to deserve this? It surprised me, though
- it
was actually pretty interesting! Business cards. There's a lot to say about them. Who knew?
This book covers everything you'd expect it to, from the visible and invisible messages a business
card gives off (its "body language"), to graphics and font types that make a card stand out, to how
to make your card into a successful silent ambassador for your business (because, as Grant says
several times, "Your business card is the handshake you leave behind!")
However, that doesn't fill 500 pages. There's more. Lots more, including stuff you probably didn't
realize you needed to know: How to work successfully with designers and printers. How to use
your
card in networking, sales, and trade shows, and organize and follow up on the cards you receive.
How to use your cards internationally, while avoiding blunders and pitfalls caused by cultural
differences.
Grant even goes into the history of business cards and introduces the reader to both the Business
Card Museum (yes, really), in Erdenheim, Pennsylvania, and the Business Card Archives, home of
a
collection of 50,000,000 business cards, located in Fairfield, Iowa. (Yes, you read that correctly -
a
5, followed by 7 zeros. Seven!!)
An interesting side note: Many of the cards in the aforementioned archives came from the
overwhelming response to a famous urban legend, the Craig Shergold story (you know, the little
English boy who has cancer and is collecting greeting cards? Or postcards? Or business cards?)
Some of the business cards that were sent to Craig by well-meaning victims of this story via the
Children's Wish and Make-a-Wish Foundations (both involved against their will in the
ever-spreading legend) eventually got sent to Iowa, to the archives. They got two shipments -
once -
and there are so many boxes of cards there now that they can't find time to catalogue them all! It's
over now. Really. But still, cards continue to pour into the post office near where Craig is from
and
into both foundations, even today.
So, listen up, people - for the sake of both foundations, the U.S. and English postal services, and
world resources in general, please help put a stop to this story. Craig Shergold is grown up now.
He's fine, honest. And he doesn't want anyone to send him anything else. If you absolutely must
send
something anyway to either foundation because of him, send money. Money, they can use. Cards,
gifts, and so on, not so much. Stop!!
Now, back to business - err, business cards. As we (finally) reach the end of this book, we find
that
even the back-of-the-book stuff is interesting. Want to know where you can have an offbeat card
made up? Holographic? Outsized? Made out of metal? Talking? Printed in Braille? There are
companies listed that can help you out. Want to have Dr. Grant look your card over and diagnose
the problem areas? There's an address for that, too.
There's also a Quick Reference Guide, to help you find exactly what you're looking for, an
appendix
that explains the difference between an employee and an independent contractor, and one that
shows
you a sample standard form of agreement for graphic design services. There are end notes. A
glossary. An index. Trust me, people, if you've gotten this far and you still have a question about
business cards that this book doesn't answer, you don't need to know. Either that, or the answer
doesn't exist.
Betty Winslow
Reviewer
Bogert's Bookshelf
DIY Portfolio Management
Lyle Wilkinson
Selact Publishing
P.O. Box 3182, Wailuku, HI 96793-3182
097283950X $29.99 304 pp.
DIY Portfolio Management provides the tools for those who wish to manage their personal
investments, thus eliminating the fees of an account manager. Mr. Wilkinson describes each facet
of
managing ones own investment with the clarity of apparent years of research. Readers of this
book
will find they can manage their own portfolio by applying discipline and hard work. Mr. Wilkinson
provides graphs and visual data throughout the book, even websites where one can download
helpful tools in managing their nest egg. I recommend DIY Portfolio Management to those who
want to break free from the fees and hassles of other financial institutions, and start managing
their
own investments.
Chase After The Wind
Bennett H. Bracken
Sunset Readers Publishing
ISBN: 0974933309 $12.95 291 pp.
Chase After The Wind is a tale set in the Rockies in 1838. The west is still wild and largely
unexplored, wherein the Bretton family decides to settle. After a vicious attack by Indians, Zack
and
his brother Danny find their family dead, with the exception of their sister Elizabeth who was
taken
captive. Being the oldest brother, though only sixteen, Zack begins a quest to find his sister,
which
brings him in contact with several people, and teaches him valuable lessons in life
As a long time fan of Louis L'Amour, I've always enjoyed stories of the west. Mr. Bracken has
done
an excellent job at bringing out the
harsh but beautiful ways of the frontier. The story was well written and the reader will find the
characters easy to follow. Emotions flow through the characters throughout the story, and
provide
the basis for the 'flavor' of the west, which I believe is a key element for writing a work of this
type.
I heartily recommend Chase After The Wind to anyone who loves a good story, whether a fan of
the
west or not. Very well done!
One With The Land
Preston L. Gorbett
Publish America
www.publishamerica.com
ISBN: 1413712983 $12.98 322 pp.
One With The Land is a story that begins with a young man, Scott Walker, who travels into the
west
after an accident that kills his friend. His adventures lead him through the beauty of untamed but
beautiful lands, accompanied by two others that he finds along the way.
Every so often I review a book that completely grabs my attention, both in the quality of the
writing
and detailed descriptions of the setting. Mr. Gorbett has done a great job incorporating the
characters into a landscape you can really 'get into'. As I myself live in an area of Florida that's still
considered 'wilderness', I can appreciate the events and trials the characters faced. The story itself
is
strong, and the characters are well conceived (I especially liked Man-with-no-hair!)
I give a hearty approval for One With The Land, and would recommend it to any reader,
outdoorsman or not, who enjoys a well-written story that keeps you turning the pages!
The Healing Conscious
Kifle Bantayehu
Lulu Enterprises, Inc.
www.lulu.com
ISBN: 1411600770 $15.80 106 pp.
The Healing Conscious is a collection of poems written from the heart of a man who came to
America from Ethiopia. His words speak of himself and his family, reaching into the emotions
spanning from joy to sorrow, and everything in between.
I don't get to review poetry books too often, which I feel is unfortunate. But I must say that Mr.
Bantayehu's collection in this book is a wonderful read. Each poem is written from the heart (as
should all be done, in my opinion) and they collectively tell the story of one man's life, and some
of
those whom he loved.
The book itself was well written, and in reading one can appreciate the trials, joys, sorrows and all
the emotions that a man would have as he journeyed through life.
I would recommend this book to all types of readers, even those who aren't accustom to reading
poetry. It would be an excellent addition to any library!
Michael Bogert
Reviewer
Buhle's Bookshelf
The Commonsense Way To Build Wealth
Jack Chou
Griffin Publishing Group
18022 Cowan, Suite 202, Irvine, CA 92614
1580000924 $19.95 1-800-472-9741 www.griffinpublishing.com
The Commonsense Way To Build Wealth: One Entrepreneur Shares His Secrets is a practical
guide
to accumulating capital, whether to purchase a business, start a franchise, develop a product,
invest
in real estate, or a number of other goals. Combining the author's personal experiences with plain
and simple guidelines, The Commonsense Way To Build Wealth covers basic legal issues to be
aware of, tips, tricks, and techniques for successful negotiation, warnings against common
business
and personal money matter pitfalls, and much more. A highly readible "must-have" introduction
for
any dedicated or aspiring entrepreneur.
Free Trade Agreements
Jeffrey J. Schott, editor
Institute for International Economics
1750 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20036-1903
0881323616 $31.95 www.iie.com
Expertly compiled and edited by Jeffrey Schott (academician, economist, and Senior Fellow at the
Institue for International Economics), Free Trade Agreements: US Strategies And Priorities is an
anthology of essays by learned authors concerning American initiatives to enter free trade
negotiations with nations around the world, from the Asia-Pacific region to the western
hemisphere
to Afica. Discussing major policy questions, the importance of setting priorities and objectives,
the
conceptual case for FTAs, discussions of specific agreements being pursued (including ones for
Australia, Central America, Morocco, and the Southern African Customs Union) pack this
scholarly
and heavily researched compendium. A technical appendix with results of simulations of the trade
and welfare effects of prospective agreements rounds out Free Trade Agreements, a welcome
addition to economics shelves in public libraries, educational libraries and private collections.
The Oz Principle
Roger Connors, et al.
Portfolio
c/o Penguin Putnam Inc.
375 Hudson St, New York, NY 10014
1591840244 $24.95 1-800-847-5515
The collaborative work of management consulting experts Roger Connors and Tom Smith, with
the
assistance of author Craig Hickman, The Oz Principles: Getting Results Through Individual And
Organizational Accountability is now available in a substantially revised and newly updated
edition.
Drawing upon concepts, characters, and scenarios from the classic "The Wizard Of Oz" authors
Roger Connors, Tom Smith, and Craig Hickman offer crucial lessons for facing the challenges of
the
modern business world. The importance of accountability, both individual and collective, cannot
be
understated; The Oz Principle shows how to harness the drive human nature to claim
achievements
and live up to greater heights for effective financial success.
Linking Customer And Employee Satisfaction To The Bottom Line
Derek R. Allen & Morris Wilburn
Quality Press
c/o American Society for Quality
PO Box 3005, Milwaukee, WI 53201-3005
0873895010 $50.00 1-800-248-1946 http://qualitypress.asq.org
The collaboration of Derek R. Allen and Morris Wilburn, Linking Customer And Employee
Satisfaction To The Bottom Line: A Comprehensive Guide To Establishing The Impact Of
Customer And Employee Satisfaction On Critical Business Outcomes is organized into eleven
distinct chapters focusing on the issues thematically related to developing and improving
corporate
fiscal success through sustained customer and employee attitudes toward products and services
provided at every step of the corporate process. From the "Six Stigma" approach; to employee
retention issues, to diverse analysis frameworks, to "The Future of Linkage Research", this
compendium of superbly organized and presented information is as meticulously competent and
"user friendly". Enhanced with an appendix focused on "Matrix Algebra in Statistics"; a glossary
of
specialized terms, an extended bibliography for further study, and a comprehensive index, Linking
Customer And Employee Satisfaction To The Bottom Line is a seminal addition to professional
reading lists, as well as corporate, and Business School reference collections.
Willis M. Buhle
Reviewer
Burroughs' Bookshelf
Europe Inc., new edition
Belen Balanya, Ann Doherty, Olivier Hoedeman, Adam Ma'anit, and Erik Wesselius
Pluto Press
c/o Stylus Publishing, distributor
22883 Quicksilver Drive, Sterling, VA 20166-2012
0745321631 $24.95 pbk. $75.00 hc
Now in a fully revised new edition, Europe Inc. examines the ways in which major industrial
corporations have gained so much power as lobbyists within the European Union that they pose a
threat to democracy itself. From the factors that have promoted the domination of corporate
influence, to how that influence has pressured governments to privatize public services, deregulate
industry, and remove social and environmental protections, to the roughshod treatment of small
business, organized labor, and individual citizens, and much more, Europe Inc. is a devastating
wake
up call. Highly recommended.
Culture From The Inside Out
Alan Cornes
Intercultural Press
PO Box 700, Yarmouth, ME 04096
193193004X $24.95 1-866-372-2665
Culture From The Inside Out: Travel - And Meet Yourself by training and development
consultant
Alan Cornes is a self-help guide that focuses on why and how some people adapt to a new culture
easily while others find it a protracted struggle. Exploring ways by which business travelers and
others can learn to not only build skills and understand new customs, but also come to a better
realization of one's own personality and use that knowledge to aid one's endeavors in a strange
land,
Culture From The Inside Out presents solid advice in clear, accessible terms. An excellent primer
to
mastering the skill of learning new things quickly and fluently.
Information War
Nancy Snow
Seven Stories Press
140 Watts Street, New York, NY 10013
1583225579 $9.95 sevenstories.com
Information War: American Propaganda, Free Speech, And Opinion Control Since 9-11 is a
candid
and disturbing look at how government and media have used spin control and propaganda to
shape
popular opinion and guide the nation toward a specific political agenda regardless of dissent since
the September 11th attacks. Identifying common propaganda techniques such as card-stacking
(selectively quoting facts in order to build a case against an opponent that ignores the whole truth
of
situations the facts refer to), labelling, bandwagon appeal (building support for an idea by
perpetuating the sentiment that "everybody" is in favor of it) and much more, it goes on to spot
these techniques used in recent quotes from individuals and spokespeople in the turbulent and
often
militaristic speeches since the attacks. A caustic, keen-eyed, and highly recommended "must-read"
for anyone seeking to understand what is really going on underneath recent American
rhetoric.
The Geneva Accord
Rabbi Michael Lerner
North Atlantic Books
1435 Fourth St., Berkeley, CA 94710
1556435371 $9.95 1-800-337-2665 www.northatlanticbooks.com
The Geneva Accord And Other Strategies For Healing The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict is a
document, developed by representatives of the Israeli and Palestinian people, that incorporates
key
points of agreement from the Oslo Accords and Camp David Summit in an attempt to seek a
reasonable negotiation and a peaceful resolution to the dispute between Israel and Palestine.
Acknowledging the cultural histories of Israel and Palestine alike, and presenting an ethical, legal,
and militarily secure agreement between two semi-contiguous states, The Geneva Accord is a
much
needed offer of a solution for a political situation fraught with problems. Highly
recommended.
John Burroughs
Reviewer
Carol's Bookshelf
Meditation In Motion
Barbara Bartocci
Sorin Books
PO Box 1006, Notre Dame, IN 46556-1006
1893732622 $12.95 1-800-282-1865 www.sorinbooks.com
Compiled by freelance writer and public speaker Barbara Bartocci, Meditation In Motion presents
forty-eight stories revealing people who discovered (often quite by chance and under unexpected
circumstance) connections between their physical activity and the spiritual awareness. Drawn
from
all backgrounds and life conditions, these stories range from people who engage in cycling, sky
diving, and hiking the Appalachian Trail, to others who swim laps at the "Y", surf the Pacific
Coast,
or "walk the mall". Enhanced by the author with twenty ways to help her readers become fit both
physically and spiritually, these are stories that combine "how to" ideas with anecdotal
inspirations.
Meditation In Motion is especially recommended for spirituality enhancement and personal
growth
reading lists and reference collections for members of the Christian community regardless of
denominational affiliation.
Last-Minute Liturgies
Donna M. Cole
Resource Publications, Inc.
160 East Virginia Street, Suite 290, San Jose, CA 95112-5876
0893905887 $19.95 1-408-286-8505 www.rpinet.com
In Last-Minute Liturgies: Creating Prayerful Responses To The Unexpected, pastoral ministry
activist Donna M. Cole shows her readers how they can utilize basic resources like the lectionary,
sacramentary, and "Book of Blessings' quickly and effectively in the facilitation of their response
through liturgical services to crises and sudden unexpected events. Readers will learn how to
create
a prayer service with music, symbols, and light; how to involve the assembled Christian
community
in the liturgy; and how to lead a prayer service with grace, dignity, and focus. Last-Minute
Liturgies
is a welcome, practical, "user friendly", and highly recommended addition to any pastoral, clergy,
or
layman support services reference shelf.
How To Have Purr-Fect Faith
Laura Thomas
Abiding Books Publishing
PO Box 243, Condon, OR 97823
097442840X $12.95 www.abidingbooks.com
How To Have Purr-Fect Faith is a Christian testimonial from an expert in breeding, raising, and
showing award-winning Persian cats. Expressing the author's reflections on what it truly means to
have faith in God's unconditional love, and His involvement in everything His creations do, even
the
daily events of a cat show, How To Have Purr-Fect Faith is a bountiful expression of warmth,
spirit,
and abiding love. A moving and emotional narrative reflecting the author's deep conviction.
Voices From Beyond
Isaac Nwokogba
The Writers' Collective
780 Reservoir Ave., Ste 243, Cranston, RI 02910
1932133445 $14.95 1-401-537-9175
Voices From Beyond: The God Force, The Other Side, And You is a spiritual account that
studies
the questions, "Can we really communicate with our loved ones who have died?" "What happens
to
us when we die?" "Can we change our life path?" and "Is it possible to have more than one soul
mate?" Presenting laws and forces that govern human existence beyond the veil, author Isaac
Nwokogba offers comfort to the bereaved and fascinating, spiritual answers to deeply troubling
issues. A compelling, well-written and smoothly presented exploration beyond the limits of
science.
The Making Of A Prophet
Ron Rendleman
Sterling Productions
PO Box 41, Sterling IL 61081
096508843X $11.95
The Making Of A Prophet is the personal testimony of a man on a mission from God. Devout
Christian Ron Rendleman offers his view of God's will, why God allowed the September 11th
attacks to happen, steps that Christians can take to promote their survival should the Apocalypse
come, the evil failings of the Christian church, the horrors all too prevailant in modern society,
and
much more. As scathing and severe as Rendleman's invective is, his vivid warning stems directly
from observations of all too real failings of society, from the shameful price-gouging behaviors of
prescription drug cartels to violence in the streets.
I Don't Have Enough Faith To Be An Atheist
Norman Geisler & Frank Turek
Crossway Books
1300 Crescent Street, Wheaton, IL 60187
1581345615 $13.99 www.crossway.com
The collaborative effort of author and international speaker Norman Geisler (who has spent more
than forty years in Christian ministry and academia, and currently serves as President of the
Southern
Evangelical Seminary, Charlotte, North Carolina) and Frank Turek (an articulate advocate in
defense
of Christianity and traditional moral principles), I Don't Have Enough Faith To Be An Atheist
argues
that all worldviews (including atheism) require faith and that, surprisingly, Christianity requires
the
least faith of all the competing belief systems because it is the most reasonable in addressing the
fundamental questions of where we came from, why are we here, how should we live, and where
are
we going. I Don't Have Enough Faith To Be An Atheist reveals the flaws in thinking that religion
is
merely a matter of opinion or preference, that the existence of evil and the silence of God defy
explanation for the believer, and that only what can be tested in a science lab can be accepted as
truth. Offering a logical twelve-point progression, the authors document that the truth about
reality
is knowable, that God does indeed exist, and that the Bible is a reliable document upon which to
explore and understand the answers to life's basic questions. Strongly recommended to the
attention
of the Christian community regardless of denominational affiliation, I Don't Have Enough Faith
To
Be An Atheist is as intrinsically interesting a read as it is informed and informative.
The Gospel According To Dr. Seuss
James W. Kemp
Judson Press
PO Box 851, Valley Forge, PA 19482
0817014578 $10.00 1-800-4-JUDSON www.judsonpress.com
In The Gospel According To Dr. Seuss, James W. Kemp (now retired from fifteen years service
as a
United Methodist pastor) reveals the popular children's stories penned by Dr. Seuss are more than
simply imaginative and highly entertaining, a great many of them are also inspirational. Kemp
finds
parallels between the doings of cats in hats, Grinches, Snitches, Sneetches, and other whimsical
creatures with lessons embedded within the Scriptures. The meaning and relevance of many Bible
passages come to life within the originality of such stories as "How the Grinch Stole Christmas!",
"Horton Hatches the Egg"; Yertle the Turtle"; "Green Eggs and Ham", and other Dr. Seuss tales
of
whimsey and rhyme. Highly recommended to the Christian community regardless of
denominational
distinctions, The Gospel According To Dr. Seuss is lively, entertaining, inherently fascinating, and
spirituality enthusiastic reading.
Jesus Wept
Bruce Marchiano
Howard Publishing Co., Inc.
3117 North 7th Street, West Monroe, Louisiana 71291-2227
1582293503 $10.99 1-318-396-3122
Actor and speaker Bruce Marchiano, known for his portrayal of Christ in the movie "The Gospel
According to Matthow, presents Jesus Wept, a poignant and deeply reverent Christian view of
Christ's ongoing pain. Marchiano describes the agony and tears Jesus cries in response to
unspeakable wrongness in today's world, and proffers a message of compassion, and the love of a
God who feels human pain and reaches out in comfort. An emotionally moving testimony of
unfettered faith.
Why x 2
Thomas Vaillancourt
Self-Published
47 Greencrest Road, Goshen, NY 10924
1418418536 $9.95 AuthorHouse.com
Why x 2: Existential Questions Seen Through The Eyes Of Science And Christianity seeks to
bridge
the gap between modern Christians and the church, especially the rift that comes from a perceived
adversarial relationship between the church and science. Calling for renewed acknowledgement in
both the best science has to offer and the deeply spiritual benefits of opening one's mind and heart
to
a higher power, Why x 2 is a philosophical yet moving discussion that seeks to strike the chord of
reason in the logician and the believer alike.
Carol Volk
Reviewer
Christina's Bookshelf
Curiosity
Gerald Allen Wunsch
1st Books
PO 108, Bloomington, Indiana
ISBN# 1410736997 $11.45 1-800-839-8640
This book will interest children in learning about the Underground Railroad. To effectively
demonstrate the Underground Railway to them, Wunsch uses a contemporary setting, something
no
other book has tried. He entertains as well as educates.
With their parents vacationing in Europe, Ginger and her best friend, Irene, stay with Ginger's
grandparents. However, the girls feel they're the ones to find adventure. Who would believe rural
Indiana held excitement? It all began when Ginger's grandfather took them and his fox terrier, for
a
ride to the Browns, in his highly prized MG TF sports car from the 1930's. His friends offered the
girls a tour of their house and then of something special. The girls soon learn the Brown's home
was
once a stationmaster's house for the Underground Railroad. Stationmasters hid slaves escaping
north. The stationmaster hid them in secret areas such as behind closets, rooms under staircases
and
secret cellars.
Days later, back at Ginger's grandparent's the girls hear Laird barking, yet can't find him. After
searching, they discover a place no one alive knows about. Oh, what interesting items they
uncover.
Their secret is threatened though and they wonder if they should tell.
Quote taken from the story:
After a few seconds, I took the plunge and said, "Grandpa, what if that old cellar was actually a
hiding place for slaves escaping on the Underground Railroad?"
"I'll tell you what. I'll take one more look down there with the flashlight before I tear the roof
off."
He'd turned toward the door again so he didn't see the panic on my face and on Irene's face. I
knew
I'd better say something quick.
Later. . .
As we picked our way through the old tunnel, we came across two bone buttons and a rusty
lantern.
The lantern was very fragile after so many years in the dirt.
Book contents include:
Story with sketches
Information sections on:- Fox terriers with photographs
- The country Suriname on the coast of Brazil, along with a map.
- MG T series sports cars with a sketching and photograph
- Genealogy with a reproduction of Harriet Beecher Stowe's genealogy.
- America and the Underground Railroad, along with photographs, a picture from an Almanac
dated
1839, and a sketching of Harriet Beecher Stowe as a young woman.
- Buffalo nickels along with a photograph.
- For more information on Underground Railroads with phone numbers and websites.
- Acknowledgements and credits with websites and phone numbers for even more research.
- About the author with a photograph of Wunsch and his fox terrier, Laird.
- Back page with a photograph of the illustrator as well as her biography. Irene Joslin is an
award-winning cartoonist.
Wunsch is a retired lawyer who served as a diplomat with the U.S. State Department. He had
foreign assignments in Mexico, Suriname and the Netherlands.
He fashioned his story to help children find historical information interesting. Artifacts are
explained
well with supplemental photographs. The narrative is light in tone, adventurous, and told in first
person. For further interest, Wunsch also places his playful, real life dog, Laird, into the
story.
Wunsch handles the subject creatively for parents, teachers, and children. His book is user
friendly,
informative, instructional, and entertaining. A delight. Recommended.
When I Wished I Was Alone
Dave Cutler
Joan Schweighardt, Publisher
GreyCore Press
2646 New Prospect Rd., Pine Bush, N.Y. 12566
http://www.greycore.com
ISBN# 0967185106 $16.95 34 pp.
"I don't love you anymore. I wish I didn't have a family and could always be alone!" Children get
angry just like adults and sometimes say things they don't mean.
Here is a warm-hearted picture book with an enlightening moral.
Cutler's story, told in first-person, is about a boy who wishes to be away from his family. He gets
his
wish, but before long yearns to share extraordinary sites while on a floating chunk of land. He
sees
rainbows in the sky, a beautiful moon, and glorious stars. Although no one bothers him, tells him
what to do, or hurts his feelings, he wished his family could share it with him.
How will the boy get back home? With a magical mix of stars, birds, and a pile of silvery string,
an
amazing thing happens. When he does finally arrive, he runs to tell his family about his adventure
and most importantly, that he loves them.
The book will inspire family conversation about how everyone experiences times when they want
to
be alone, and the reasons why. If it's for too long though, we become lonely. Cutler's message:
spectacular sites, moments, and every day life are best when shared with special people.
Rich illustrations also enliven this charming story. The jacket is a glossy replica of a night sky.
They're bound to be a favorite amongst children and adults alike.
Cutler wrote and illustrated 'When I Wished I Was Alone,' and it is his first children's book. His
images have appeared on the cover of Business Week and in Time, Forbes, N.Y. Times, Glamour,
Newsweek and other major publications. His work has also favored UNICEF holiday cards.
Spectacular. Is best when shared with loved ones. Ripe, and waiting to be picked up and added to
a
child's collection. Healthy and well told. Recommended.
Christina Francine, Reviewer
http://www.CFrancine.bizland.com
Debra's Bookshelf
Men in Black
Scott Spencer
Knopf
ISBN: 0679434526 $23.00 321 pages
Sam Holland, one-time serious author of two well-received novels, can barely pay his bills until a
book he tossed off and published pseudonymously starts flying off the shelves. His Visitors from
Above is a hit among conspiracy theorists, all UFOs and alien abductions and the enigmatic
disinformation specialists of Scott Spencer's title--those fellows who, "sallow of complexion" and
inappropriately dressed, can convince alien spotters, Tommy Lee Jones-like, that they haven't seen
anything whatever out of the ordinary. But financial success and the celebrity of a national book
tour
are difficult to swallow when they spring from a product Sam can neither feel proud of nor claim
as
his own. They are, moreover, empty rewards against the backdrop of Sam's crumbling personal
life,
his failing marriage, his teenaged son's recent disappearance.
Scott Spencer's Men in Black offers readers a complex story about one man's belated recognition
of
his life's value. Unfortunately, Spencer's late bloomer was not a man I could empathize with. Sam
and his wife and son, the characters through whose eyes the story is told, are unlikable creatures
who are dissatisfied with their circumstances--the perfectly good, indeed arguably enviable
circumstances of their lives--and they make matters worse for themselves by behaving badly. In
the
end I did not care what the Hollands wound up doing with their lives--though I was certain alien
abduction was not in the cards for them--figuring that they had merited whatever unpleasantness
(divorce, incarceration) might lay in store after the last page. A good premise, then, but Men in
Black fails, finally, because its characters cannot engage the reader's emotions.
The Prisoner of Vandam Street
Kinky Friedman
Simon & Schuster
ISBN: 0743246020 $24.00 228 pages
Confined to his New York apartment at 199B Vandam Street for six weeks after contracting
malaria--the "only truly deadly strain" of the disease--private detective Kinky Friedman (not to be
confused with his creator, author, country singer, and potential future governor of Texas Kinky
Friedman) happens to see, Rear Window-style, a woman brutally beaten in an apartment across
the
street. The problem is, feverish and delirious as he's been, Kinky does not make the most
convincing
of witnesses, and neither the police he summons nor his gang of variously accented, frequently
inebriated cronies--the so-called "Village Irregulars," the collective Grace Kelly to his laid up
Jimmy
Stewart--believe him. When further investigation suggests Kinky wasn't imagining things, the
game,
as he and Sherlock like to say, is afoot.
But the mystery in The Prisoner of Vandam Street is in a sense beside the point, entertaining
though
it is, for Kinky Friedman's novel is a departure from standard mystery fare. The author's prose is
bursting with word play and Conan Doyleisms and pop culture references and irreverent
philosophical musings. If at times it borders on the cloying, his writing is far more often
downright
funny:
"Now, I'm not making light of people who are deaf or losing their hearing. I am not mocking a
disability that afflicts millions of Americans as they grow older, effectively cutting them off to
varying degrees from the hearing world. All I'm saying, and I'll try to speak loudly and slowly and
enunciate clearly, is that they should get medical help or a hearing aid or a large, metal ear-horn
like
the kind that was used in medieval times, and stop constantly blaming hapless, sensitive friends
like
myself for mumbling."
Friedman also has a serious side, evidenced in the book's closing parable and in the sweetly
moving,
brief chapter on his--Kinky the character's as well as Kinky the man's--continued sense of loss
after
the death of his parents.
In short, mystery lovers with a taste for off-color jokes and pun-punctuated prose will get a kick
out
of Kinky.
Superstition
David Ambrose
Warner Books
ISBN: 0446607827 $6.99 432 pages
Parapsychologist Sam Towne runs a research facility that conducts investigations into paranormal
anomalies--observable instances of psychokinesis, the movement of matter through psychic
power.
When he meets Joanna Cross, a staff writer for the magazine Around Town who has just
published
an article exposing a couple of mind-readers as con artists, an interesting group project suggests
itself: Sam and Joanna decide to enlist volunteers to help them conjure up a ghost. The phantom
they have in mind is not your run-of-the-mill, graveyard-haunting variety, but rather a
thought-form
that the group members will hallucinate into being, after extensive research into the time period
from
which their ghost hails, and after creating for him an elaborate back-story. The problem is, once
you
will something into being, it may not be eager to give up the ghost, as it were, when you'd like it
to.
David Ambrose's thriller Superstition is intelligent and genuinely scary in parts, and its conclusion,
despite being hinted at in a prologue, is impossible to figure out in advance. Part Jack Finney's
Time
and Again (a book the characters in Superstition in fact discuss), part ghost story, the book--if not
offering the sort of suspense that will keep you glued to the pages all night--is well worth the
read.
Mortal Fear
Greg Iles
Signet
ISBN: 0451180410 $7.99 622 pages
Thirty-something Harper Cole makes a comfortable living trading commodities from his isolated
Mississippi home, but it is his second, less lucrative job that offers the more interesting
perquisites:
Harper is a systems operator of an exclusive online sex forum, EROS (Erotic Realtime On-line
Stimulation), whose members pay hundreds of dollars a month to engage in anonymous sex chat
in a
hyper-private environment. As a sysop Harper can cruise the hundreds of discussions within
EROS,
his presence in allegedly private chat rooms undetected by the participants, and he can take part in
discussions himself under assumed identities. It is an avocation his wife Drewe--a beautiful and
highly intelligent obstetrician--has become uncomfortable with in recent months.
As it happens, there is much to be uncomfortable about. When author Karen Wheat, an EROS
client
with whom Harper is more than passably familiar, is found beheaded, Harper contacts the
authorities: a number of EROS clients have gone missing, and he thinks he knows who's behind
their
disappearances. But Harper's noble attempt to stop a serial killer's grotesque butcheries lands him
and his family in peril.
Greg Iles's Mortal Fear is not a perfect book. There are some loose threads left dangling in the
narrative (particularly the "Eleanor Rigby" side story), and Harper is made on p. 439 to consider
briefly an action entirely unworthy of his character. Some of the middle chapters, too, are rather
slow going. But the book builds to a breakneck pace, so that in its final 200 pages you will forgive
the story its flaws, cursing the interruptions of impertinent employers and offspring while you
neglect your responsibilities and read Iles's exciting conclusion.
The Music Lesson
Katharine Weber
Picador
ISBN: 0312252854 $12.00 178 pages
Art historian Patricia Dolan is biding her time in a rented Irish cottage, waiting for the perilous
business she's become involved in to pan out, waiting for her newly discovered distant
cousin/lover
Mickey to join her. In the meantime she is enjoying the life rural Ireland has to offer in the
off-season--solitude and an unprecedented closeness to and awareness of the elements, a barely
electrified dwelling that's not "on the phone," stoic donkeys and an abundance of mostly nameless
cats, the unspeakable beauty of her surroundings. Contrary to the expectations of her unknown
masters, Patricia is writing about her experience in Ireland, an account that turns out to be more
personal than art historical, as was her original intent. Her journal, the notebook she hides behind
a
secret panel in the cottage, is the text of The Music Lesson. From it we learn of the life Patricia
has
put on hold in New York and of the personal tragedy that has left her numbed for several years,
and
we are told of the family history and the subtle indoctrination that have culminated in her current
situation.
Katharine Weber's The Music Lesson is an elegant little novel about loyalty and loss and
disillusionment. Its protagonist is not always empathetic--Patricia crosses a line, foolishly and
devastagingly, perhaps not quite believably, when she follows Mickey's lead--but she regains our
support in the tense but quiet action of the book's end. As with her first book, Objects in Mirror
Are
Closer Than They Appear, Weber's sophomore effort proves that she is an author worth
watching.
Debra Hamel, Reviewer
http://www.tryingneaira.com
Emanuel's Bookshelf
The Burglar on the Prowl
Lawrence Block
www.lawrenceblock.com
William Morrow
HarperCollins Publishers
ISBN# 0060198303 $24.95 320 pp.
In "Burglar on the Prowl," Bernie Rhodenbarr is presented with a bit of an ethical dilemma. While
the slick burglar hides under the bed of a woman he's robbing, he hears her being raped. Should
Bernie come to her rescue and risk jail time (and a possible pummeling from the rapist) for his
thievery? Or should he just sit tight and hope he's not caught? To find the answer, you'll have to
read
the book.
"Burglar on the Prowl" is the story of the misadventures of bookstore owner and long time
criminal
Bernie Rhodenbarr. When one of his friends asks him to rob a mutual acquaintance in an act of
revenge, Bernie can't refuse. After all, the loot is pretty handsome. But during a practice run, he
encounters a delicate situation that he had not expected. To top it off, his face has been spotted
on a
security crime near another burglary. Only in this theft, the victims are murdered. When Bernie is
robbed himself, he can't help but wonder if the murderers have something to do with it.
New York writer Lawrence Block, author of "Hope to Die" and a Mystery Writers of America
Grand Master, uses some good old-fashioned style and humor to make this book a joy to read.
With
characters like Carolyn, his best friend who happens to be a lesbian with dating issues, and Ray, a
policeman straight out of a sixties film, how can you go wrong? This book is an intriguing
mystery
that will make you think, laugh, and have an all around good time.
Recommended.
Check It While I Wreck It: Black Womanhood, Hip-Hop Culture, and the Public Sphere
Gwendolyn Pough
Northeastern University Press
ISBN# 1555536077 $20.00 256 pp.
Throughout the history of Hip-Hop, its relationship with women (particularly Black women) and
feminism has been strained. Though there have been a few success stories regarding women on
the
scene and behind the scenes of the Hip-Hop movement, women's place in it have been, for the
most
part, invisible, degrading, and kept to a minimum. In Gwendolyn's Pough's exciting new book,
Check It While I Wreck It, the assistant professor of women's studies at the University of
Minnesota
examines the dysfunctional relationship between Black women, feminism, and Hip Hop.
The book commences with a history of Black women in the public sphere who have contributed
to
the betterment of African-Americans such as Angela Davis, the historical Black clubwomen, and
women who were trailblazers in the blues music industry. Pough reveals how Black women laid
the
foundation for future successes for the entire race. Pough writes "Black women were major
players
through Reconstruction, the civil rights movement, and the Black Power movement." In fact,
because of their exclusion, the author even suggests a re-writing of history.
Later the author gives us a more recent history of women's contributions to the arts and Hop,
including Sylvia Robinson, the label owner of Sugar Hill Records, break dancer Baby Love, and
female rapper Roxanne Shante. The book gives major props to Grammy-winner Queen Latifah,
Sista
Soulja, MC Lyte, and poet Jessica Care Moore.
Pough also critiques the products of popular culture such as movies like Boyz N The Hood and
Just
Another Girl on the IRT, books such as Sista Soulja's The Coldest Winter Ever and Omar Tyree's
Flyy Girl, and of course rap records such as L.L. Cool J's I Need Love, and Latifah's
U.N.I.T.Y.
The book is best when examining the problems that exist between women and Hip-Hop, from the
objectification of women in music videos to the acts of hyper-sexual rappers such as Lil' Kim and
Foxy Brown. Pough writes "Today, in addition to the old images of the sexually promiscuous
Black
women we have the bitches, hos, stunts, hoochies, pigeons, chickenheads, and baby mamas put
forth by Black men rappers. The need to struggle against stereotyped images is still present." Let's
hope this book will keep the discussion that invokes change alive.
"Check It While I Wreck" is a thoroughly researched, erudite, and culturally relevant work that is
virtually impossible to put down. Reminiscent of the writings of bell hooks, this scholarly work in
feminist theory and Hip-Hop culture is destined to be an instant classic taught in college lecture
halls
across the country.
Highly Recommended.
Don't Play in the Sun
Marita Golden
www.maritagolden.com
Doubleday
ISBN 0385507860 $23.95 200 pp.
The color complex has been a problem with African-Americans since the days of slavery, where
the
some of the lighter sons and daughters of slave owners were given preferential treatment over
darker
ones. In Marita Golden's (Migrations of the Heart) new memoir, "Don't Play in the Sun," she
examines the intricacies of what it means to have grown up a dark-skinned African-American
woman where women of lighter complexion were favored.
The book commences with snippets of Golden's experiences dealing with color including the
recollection of mother's stark warnings not to play in the sun or else she will have to get a
light-skinned husband for the sake of her children. The statement causes the young Golden to
question her beauty and self-worth based on skin tone and hair texture throughout her entire life.
Witnessing intra-racial preference influences her decision not to American University instead of
Howard because of the favoritism shown towards lighter-skinned Blacks at the all-Black school
and
influences how she views the portrayal of dark-skinned women on television. The author also
reminds the reader that light-skinned women are subjected to discrimination as well, particularly
objectification and sexism.
Golden recalls her world travels in Nigeria where many women surprisingly use skin-lightening
creams to attract men, Cuba, where darker-skinned denizens hold menial jobs as maids, doormen,
and even prostitutes while their lighter-skinned neighbors hold more visible, success-oriented
positions, and Belgium, where her romance with a European man was, for the most part, socially
accepted.
The book not only serves as an intriguing memoir but also a critique on popular culture, social
norms, and political practices throughout the world. Golden offers her opinion on the popular
Hip-Hop videos, the Grammy awards, the works of Zora Neale Hurston, and much more. People
of
all colors and gender should be able to find something enlightening and didactic about "Don't Play
in
the Sun." Golden has penned a wonderful, succinct, page-turner that examines the complex
relationship between lighter skinned and darker skinned people. One can only hope that the reader
will take Golden's life lessons to heart and grow from them.
Highly recommended.
Getting the Second Appointment: How to CLOSE Any Sell in Two Calls
Anthony Parinello
John Wiley & Sons Inc.
www.sellingtovito.com
ISBN 0471487236 $16.95 245 pp.
In the sales game, the road to closing is oftentimes difficult to navigate. The roadblocks that show
themselves in the form of gatekeepers, decision-makers, self-sabotage, and more are plentiful. In
Anthony Parinello's new book "Getting the Second Appointment," he sheds light on how to
negotiate the sometimes vicious sales cycle from the initial cold call to the request for
business.
In this book, Parinello (Selling to VITO) takes on the tremendous task of teaching salespeople
how
to sell in a relatively short amount of time, specifically after two phone calls. He schools
salespeople
on how to approach each key player in the sales hierarchy, including approvers, recommenders,
influencers, and decision makers. The author infuses Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs and applies it
to
the personality types of the top officers of any organization. Parinello even gives great advice on
how to approach gatekeepers and use them as allies.
"Getting the Second Appointment" is part motivational book and part step-by-step instructional
manual. Parinello uses practical examples that are especially useful for those people who are in
phone sales. The book also offers online collateral for continued education after reading the book.
This is by far, one of the best, groundbreaking, easy-to- follow books ever written on the topic of
sales. It is a must read for any salesperson, from the novice to the top bell ringer.
Highly Recommended.
Plain Heathen Mischief
Martin Clark
www.martinclark.com
Alfred A. Knopf
ISBN 1400040965 $24.95 400 pp.
When defrocked minister Joel King is released from prison for having sex with a minor, he is
befriended by Edmund, a member of his congregation who happens to be an insurance scammer.
Edmund offer the ex-reverend a ride from Virginia to his sister's house in Montana and a piece of
an
insurance hustle. All King has to do is insure a few pieces stolen jewelry and file a claim when a
robbery is staged. When Joel agrees to go along with the scam, the plot for "Plain Heathen
Mischief"
is set in motion.
Upon his release from prison, King discovers that he is being sued for divorce and alimony by his
wife. He is also being sued by Christy, the bratty, alcoholic teenager he was convicted of
molesting.
To help him with his legal woes, Edmund introduces Joel to his partner in crime, Sa'ad X. Sa'ad, a
smarmy attorney whose personality is more like Don King than Johnny Cochran. Sa'ad gives Joel
legal advice on how to fight the divorce and the civil lawsuit worth millions of dollars.
When the somewhat na‹ve reverend discovers that he may have been set up by his new friends, he
soon devices a scheme of his own to keep himself out of trouble and to get himself a bigger piece
of
the pie. Meanwhile, after discovering how difficult it is for a felon to find employment, he tries to
establish some normalcy in his life by working two jobs while helping his sister take care of her
young son. To make matters worse, his probation officer is threatening to send him back to jail if
he
doesn't pay him a bribe.
Though "Plain Heathen Mischief" is full of twist and turns involving lowlife criminals, a conniving
teenager, and FBI agents, the plot is somewhat unbelievable, especially when the protagonist
shares
a secret with his sister Sophie that may have kept him out of the whole chaotic mess in the first
place. While the book is crammed with unnecessary subplots that lengthen but don't necessarily
add
to the overall story, Martin Clark (The Many Aspects of Mobile Home Living) does a superb job
in
capturing the quirky behavior of a na‹ve ex-minister facing life-altering, moral challenges that
threaten to challenge his religious beliefs.
Transmission
Hari Kunzru
www.HariKunzru.com
Dutton
ISBN# 0525947604 $24.95 278 pp.
When Arjun Mehta is offered a tech job working for an American software company, it's like a
dream come true. Since Mehta began his love for computers at an early age in India, it was only
natural that he'd be offered a job doing what he did best. The programmer imagines himself
becoming the pride of his family, rich and successful. Once his H1B visa is approved; and he
arrives
to the U.S., the dream becomes a nightmare. Instead of fulfilling his dream, he ends up "on the
bench," with other immigrants in a crowded apartment while waiting for a position to open up.
When a job with a virus checking software company is finally offered, it doesn't take long for the
realities of employment in the tech industry to set in, particularly the layoffs. When Arjun gets
canned, he turns to drastic measures in order to keep his job. He unleashes a computer virus. So
begins the plot for "Transmission" the latest book from London author Hari Kunzru (The
Impressionist).
When Arjun's virus (named Leela after his favorite actress) is released, it is felt around the world,
shutting down businesses, elevators, and ER departments. It causes so much havoc, the day it is
released becomes known as Grayday, "an informational disaster, a holocaust of bits [where] a
number of major networks dealing with such things as mobile telephony, airline reservations,
transatlantic e-mail traffic and automated teller machines went down simultaneously."
The real Leela is affected by the virus as well. The twenty-one year old actress must squash
rumors
that the virus is a publicity stunt to help her promote her latest movie, while dealing with her
overbearing celebrity mom.
The virus also affects romantic couple Guy Swift and Gaby Caro, the CEO of a marketing firm
and a
pr manager respectively. Guy, who relies on technology to drive home ideas to clients, must deal
with the pressure from venture capitalists too succeed. He must also try to not to lose Gaby.
Meanwhile, insatiable Gaby is given the task of handling Leela's bad press.
"Transmission" is a thought-provoking tale taken from a real-life story, reminiscent of an episode
of
TV's Law and Order. The author, much like Hemingway, is a master at painting an intricate
picture.
However, Kunzru describes a scene with such vivid detail that it tends to overload the story with
uninteresting facts. Readers may find themselves searching for more dialogue. To top it off, there
are
a few words and phrases written in Hindi that may cause readers to feel they're not in on the joke.
Though the language may be a tad high-brow for the average reader, the stimulating plot,
absorbing
characters, and melancholy yet satisfying conclusion makes it all worth while.
Recommended.
Emanuel Carpenter, Reviewer
www.geocities.com/emanuelcarpenter
Gary's Bookshelf
Bleachers
John Grisham
www.jgrisham.com
Bantam Dell Publishing
ISBN 0440242002 $6.99
It's been a while since I'd read a book by Grisham. "The Street Lawyer" was the last one where he
continually hit you over the head with his message about the homeless. It turned me completely
off
to ever read another book by him. For some reason I decided to give "Bleachers" a try. I'm happy
to
say that it has totally changed my view of Grisham. This is a very different story from his usual
legal
fare. High school coach Eddie Rake, a legend in the town of Messina dies. The community holds
services that include those who played for him throughout his long career. In particular star
quarterback Neely Crenshaw has mixed feelings about his former coach. Crenshaw, like other
former players, is not sure if he loved or hated Rake. The most charming part of this novel is
where
the former athletes sit in the bleachers of the stadium named after Rake and reminisce, then
ponder
his effect on their lives. This is an easy to read tale that is filled with memorable characters and
great
writing.
Four More for George W?
Gene P. Abel
1st Books Library
1663 Liberty Dr., Bloomington In 47404-5161
www.authorhouse.com
ISBN 1414076347 $11.95 888-280-7715
At first because of the title it appears to be another favorable book for George W. Bush to win a
second term. I was most impressed that the author is a Republican who feels that Bush doesn't
deserve to be president a second time because of his lousy first term. Abel shows that Bush has
such
a poor record on the environment, the economy, the war in Iraq, and the fight against terrorism,
civil
rights, and social security that he should not be given a second chance to govern the nation. Abel
also asks two questions voters this year should ask themselves. How have the policies of this
administration impacted them and what effect is there in the future if he is returned to the White
House for 4 more years. This is a book that should be read by anyone who feels this is a
compassionate conservative presidency
Worse Than Watergate
John W. Dean
Little Brown and Company
Time Warner Book Group
1271 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020
ISBN 031600023X $22.95 www.twbookmark.com
Think Michael Moore's movie Fahrenheit 911 is made up? Then read this book by former counsel
to
President Nixon and ask, Who better than John W. Dean who was there throughout the scandal of
Watergate could you have telling how bad the present administration really is? Dean shows that
this
is the most covert administration to ever hold office. He compares the Nixon presidency to this
one
and also shows that Vice President Dick Cheney is the power behind the scenes, unlike any vice
president in history. I was so enraged at how secretive, manipulative and downright dishonest this
government has become in just four years. The rage turned to anger that built on each page
throughout this very revealing picture of the two worst men to ever hold the two highest offices
of
the country. Dean compares Bush to Nixon on several aspects and makes Nixon look like a saint
compared to this vicious, corrupt, deceiving, underhanded team that now hold the offices. His
charges are far worse than anything Nixon ever did. I came away from this book with the
statement
"So this is really what compassionate conservatism is all about." Dean sums up and says that Bush
and Cheney should both be impeached for the things they have done in their term of office. This is
one voters should read and believe, because Dean has no ax to grind with Bush and Cheney.
Hair Loss Answers
Peter J. Panagotacos, M.D.
Card Publishing
San Francisco CA
www.hairdoc.com
ISBN 1932428348 $19.95
If I need to know how to restore my hair loss, this would be the book I would use. Panagotacos
has
written a valuable resource that has the most up to date information on the different ways to
restore
hair for men and women. We hear all the time commercials for products like Rogaine but no real
details. This is the place to learn such things as effects, how safe each way is, and risks, side
effects
if any. If you are considering a hair growth process this is the book to go through before you have
it
done.
Bring Your Brain on Vacation
Roddy J. Dryer
1st Books Library
1663 Liberty Dr., Bloomington In 47404-5161
www.authorhouse.com
ISBN 1414076340 $11.50 888-280-7715
At first I thought since I live in the Central Florida area this book is of very little value to me but
then again some of the tips he gives are good even for me when I take a trip. Some of the things
he
tells are about Disney and other attractions. What was most interesting to me were the advice he
gives on protecting your belongings and yourself. This is a very easy guide, written by someone
who
works in the hospitality and tourism industry.
Plonk Goes the Weasel
Joan Del Monte
Infinity Publishing.com
519 West Lancaster Avenue, Haverford. PA 19041-1413
www.buybooksontheweb.com
ISBN 0741417782 $14.95 877-289-2665
I loved this author's idea of a small town of people who plan to get revenge because they feel they
were used by a film company that promised to do a major TV show there but instead ends up
leaving. The problem is that the author has too many characters that are very hard to follow and
the
book just seems to plod along.
Unknown Victim
Gennadiy Faybshenko
Infinity Publishing.com
519 West Lancaster Avenue, Haverford. PA 19041-1413
www.buybooksontheweb.com
ISBN 0741413450 $9.95 877-289-2665
This could have been a much better mystery if the author had taken the time to think it out a little
better. My problem with it is that he has a character in the beginning that seems to know a little
too
much before he should. It is an easy read that just didn't get to where it should have.
The Magic of Writing
Linda J. Falkner
iUniverse
5220 S.16th ST Suite 200, Lincoln, NE 68512
www.iuniverse.com
ISBN 0595294359 $9.95 877-288-4737
To publish or not to publish, that is the question. Falkner tells ins and outs of how to write and
get
published. She is positive, helpful, and gives a lot of good information for starting out writers who
want to learn the field of writing. She deals with such things as plotlines, characters, type of
writing,
getting published, mainstream or print on demand publishers, self publishing.
Tears of Joy
Jerry Hanks and Bobbie deCordova-Hanks
Infinity Publishing.com
519 West Lancaster Avenue, Haverford. PA 19041-1413
www.buybooksontheweb.com
ISBN 0741413450 $12.95 877-289-2665
This is a very touching positive account of living through the ordeal of cancer. What I enjoyed
was
the way the two authors wrote this book. They each took a chapter and told their perspective on
what was happening at the time in their lives. The book ends on an optimistic note, showing how
they have helped others deal with the disease.
Bad Hair & Nothing To Wear
Katie Harper Jones
Trafford
Suite 6E 2333 Government St., Victoria. B.C V8T 4P4 Canada
www.trafford.com/robots/03-0529.html
ISBN 1412012104 $14.63 1-888-232-4444
Harper-Jones has the lowdown on things to do at the salon, what to wear for whatever occasion,
and just about everything you wanted to know about anything that has to do with looking your
best
for every circumstance. The author passes her expertise in the field on in a simple and easy
manner
to follow.
Slow Down
David Essel
Hay House
P.O.Box 5100, Carlsbad CA 92018-5100
ISBN 1401900836 $13.95 1-800-654-5126
Society has for a long time said that you have to move fast in business or relationships because if
you don't, you'll miss it. Well, Essel is saying the exact opposite. Slow down and still get whatever
you want just take your time and enjoy yourself. He gives sound logic that is reminiscent of the
old
statement "stop and smell the roses." Which I agree with. He is giving insightful gems of
information
on how to have a better life.
Scholastic Children's Encyclopedia
Scholastic Inc
557 Broadway, New York, NY 10012
www.scholastic.com
ISBN 0439438160 $19.95 212-343-6100
Can't find what you are looking for? Check out this wonderful new edition. Whatever you want to
find is all here with easy to read descriptions photos of famous people, to animals. This is the
biggest
easiest research tool for kids to use that does not cost an arm and a leg. This version has 600 all
new
entries with 2,000 illustrations. What's also nice is you don't have to be a kid to use it.
SCHOLASTIC BOOK OF LISTS
By James Buckley Jr. and Robert Stremme
Scholastic Inc
557 Broadway, New York, NY 10012
www.scholastic.com
ISBN 0439419050 $8.95 212-343-6100
This book is filled with lots and lots of stuff that even I didn't know. It has such things as the
biggest
cities in the nation, obscure famous people, sites of the Civil War, women in science that are just a
few of the 250 lists the authors have compiled.
Mystery in the Sunshine State
Stuart Kaminsky, editor
Pineapple Press Inc
P. O. Box 3889, Sarasota, Florida 34230
www.pinapplepress.com
ISBN 1561641855 $14.95 1-800-746-3275
The interest in the State of Florida has grown so much through the years. This is a very fine
collection of stories has been published, Some of the tales here are a bit weird while others are
great
mysteries, but all are by authors who live Florida. Some of the names are Robert W. Walker, Les
Standiford, Edna Buchanan, Harold Q. Masur, and 18 other writers. I had a very fun time reading
the many different interoperations of Florida
Belly of the Dragon
Jack E Romig
1st Books Library
1663 Liberty Dr., Bloomington In 47404-5161
www.authorhouse.com
ISBN 1759622019 $17.50 800-839-8640
Romig's novel of the Korean War that shows how a covert mission can go bad. Word is leaked to
officials in Washington that China is about to help the North Koreans by making jet engines to fit
Russian built airframes. This could completely alter the air superiority the U.S. presently
maintains.
The president and his advisors decide that the U.S. must act swiftly to eliminate the threat posed
by
the Chinese made jet engines. Therefore they decide to send in a small covert unit of soldiers to
eliminate the threat, knowing that the odds are against them succeeding in their mission. The
characters are believable and the combat scenes are realistic in a tense tightly written thriller.
Gary Roen
Reviewer
Goldman's Bookshelf
Civilization And Its Enemies: The Next State Of History
Lee Harris
Free Press
A Division Of Simon & Schuster Inc
1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020
simonandschuster.com
ISBN: 0743257499 $26.00 U.S. $39.00 Can 1-800-456-6898
The over-whelming sentiment of Lee Harris's timely Civilization And Its Enemies The Next Stage
of
History is pretty much summed up in the Preface when he asserts: "The subject of this book is
forgetfulness."
Harris, who could be described as a "philosopher's philosopher," convincingly places 9/11 into
perspective with carefully crafted arguments reminding the reader that we have learned little from
the past.
Concepts such as who the enemy is and why it is imperative to react ruthlessly are extensively
examined in the light of past historical events as the French Revolution, World War 1 and the
teachings of the great political philosophers.
No doubt, the book is a riveting attack on many naive liberal ideals that refuse to believe that the
enemy is motivated by a fantasy ideology bent on destroying the very foundations of Western
democratic principles and ideology no matter what it takes.
Harris argues that it is a grave mistake to adopt out-dated rationalizations espoused by many
intellectuals that the enemy can be a viable negotiator, notwithstanding that they may be
misguided,
misunderstood or politically immature-that in the end things can be worked out. This na‹ve and
complacent view of the world as it should be and not as it is a gross misunderstanding of the
collision we are presently facing. Unless, as the author points out, we are prepared to look
seriously
at the historical stakes in America's world-historical gamble, we will completely misunderstand the
enemy.
To explain the notion of "world-historical gamble," Harris relies on the writings of the German
philosopher, Hegel, who believed that such gambles arise from situations of historical impasse or
deadlock for the human race. In such instances, it is vital that mankind doesn't ignore these
situations and bury its head in the sand, as if they don't exist. This would be far more dangerous
than
taking the "world-historical gamble."
Many other concepts examined within the context of the present day crisis are origins and
importance of leadership, team spirit, tolerance, the origin of the enemy, the rare virtues of the
West,
ruthlessness and Hegel's origin of civilization.
Harris's gets top marks for his clear and precise writing that contains a great deal of substance that
avoids generalizations that are often the shortcomings of books of a similar nature. You get a
sense
that Harris knows what he is talking about without talking down to his audience.
The Full Matilda
David Haynes
Harlem Moon
an imprint of Broadway Books
1745 Broadway, New York, NY 10019
www.harlemmoon.com
ISBN: 0767915690 US $14: CAN $21.00 1-888-591-1200
David Haynes latest novel, The Full Matilda, focuses on the memoirs of a tough and feisty
fictional
character, Matilda Housewright, who was born during the early years of the last century, and
grew
up in Washington, D.C. in the home of a head steward or majordomo to a US Senator.
The story is recounted through the voice of Matilda as well as various male members of her family
passing from one generation to the next.
Haynes' delightful work of fiction is resplendent with warm dialogue, mesmerizing words and
descriptions. You almost have the feeling that the narrators are in the same room as yourself. Just
reading the title of the first chapter, The First Thing I have To Tell You sets the theme and tone
of
what is to follow. Immediately, the principal narrator, Matilda Houswright, informs us that
although
her father may have been in the service of a well-known US Senator, her family was to remain
invisible.
It is this invisibility that continually runs through the book, reflecting the poignant remarks made
by
Matilda at her father's funeral when she states: "Jacob Housewright, a man who, although almost
always there in the corner of the room just waiting to respond to every need, seemed at the same
time to be invisible, seemed not to be there at all."
Readers are also provided with an insightful perspective through the eyes of three generations of
the
life and times of African Americans, who although may not have grown up in the ghetto, were not
spared the blatant racism as well the insensitivity that surrounded them.
When Matilda's brother Martin goes into the catering business, that eventually propels him to
wealth
and success, he is still constantly reminded that he and his staff are African Americans and are to
"remember their place." Matilda, who initially joins her brother in his catering business, passes on
instructions to their staff that they are to accept their role as invisibility although they may not like
it.
These were the lessons that she was taught by her father and she or they were not to question
their
justification. On the other hand, she makes it clear that "although on the surface it might seem
otherwise, our lives have almost nothing to do with blind obedience. The blindly obedient do not
think. We do. What our lives are about is easing the way, smoothing things over; we are a kind of
social Vaseline." The Housewright's principal role in life was to take care and to perform their
tasks
as flawlessly as possible.
Haynes, who is an underrated novelist, has fashioned a great story that once you have completed
this
latest novel will entice many to read some or all of his previous work, if they have not already
done
so.
Blood From Stones
Douglas Farah
Broadway Books
1745 Broadway, New York, NY, 10019
www.broadwaybooks.com
ISBN: 0767915623 US $24.95 CAN $35.95 1-888-591-1200
Disturbing is an understatement when I try to come to grips with the American intelligence
community's failure to understand the complex financial workings of al Qaeda pre- and
post-9/11.
An award-wining investigative reporter for the Washington Post as well as other publications,
David
Farah delivers an outstanding expos‚ in his book Blood From Stones of just how extensive this
financial network spreads itself throughout the world, something akin to an octopus with its
multitude tentacles.
In 2000 Farah was named as the Post's West African chief. It is little wonder that he had to flee
for
his life from the Ivory Coast, where he had been stationed, if the information he uncovered and
revealed in Blood For Stones is any indication of his findings.
Prior to 9/11, tracking down the financial networks of terrorist groups was given very low priority
within the western intelligence agencies. In fact, when it finally began to show up on their radar
screens indicating how vital financing was to the lifeblood of these groups, many in the
intelligence
community were caught in a state of disarray. It also depicted just how uncreative these
intelligence
agencies were when its members failed to understand the mentality and culture of these various
groups.
Farah's findings divide itself into nine chapters, each of which deals with different aspects of the
intricate architecture of the financing of terrorists organizations. Using historical narrative
peppered
with hard investigative facts, the author effectively succeeds in divulging just how far and deep
the
system has extended.
Beginning with the terrorists' forays into the diamond fields of Liberia and Sierra Leone, and how
money is exchanged for diamonds in order to escape the conventional banking system, readers are
subsequently apprised of other avenues of creative terrorist financing.
We learn how charitable organizations, individuals, and businesses funnel millions of dollars to the
coffers of al Qaeda as well as other terrorist organizations as Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Muslim
Brotherhood, who incidentally, contrary to some wide-held belief, do in fact collaborate with one
another. How small-time scams and petty crimes committed by terrorist sympathizers in the
United
States help their cause. These crimes include skimming the profits from drug sales, stealing and
reselling baby formula, illegally redeeming large quantities of grocery coupons, stealing credit
card
numbers, and many more.
Farah also explains to the reader that one of the vital ingredients of the system of financing of
terrorists is the 'hawala." One built on trust, family relationships and regional affiliations - a
concept
foreign and little known to the intelligence community. According to the author, "hawala" means
to
change or transform, and also carries a connotation of trust. The money that flows through it
often
actually does not move at all.
The author's superb investigative skills do not shy away from the difficult realities exposing the
incompetence of the American intelligence services, although he does attribute part of the blame
for
the extensive cutbacks that had occurred after the end of the cold war. No doubt, had the
intelligence services followed up on the many leads presented to it from various sources including
the author, a different picture and understanding of al Qaeda and its collaborators would have
emerged. In part, it may be that pre 9/11's principal focus was on stamping out illegal drugs,
rather
than bothering about the smuggling activities in West African countries or the petty crimes in the
USA. There was also a general philosophy within the intelligence services that "thinking out of
the
box" or creativity on the part of their personnel was unacceptable. In fact, there was a kind of
self-denial that such an intricate financial system would be possible.
Farah gets top marks for his crisp and intelligent writing avoiding quick generalizations, and many
of
his findings are corroborated with concrete evidence found in the "notes" section at the end of the
book. Definitely, this is a must read for anyone wishing to know more about the intricate
workings
of these terrorist groups.
Norman Goldman, Reviewer
www.bookpleasures.com
Gorden's Bookshelf
Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them, A Fair and Balance Look at the Right
Al Franken
Dutton
Penguin Group Inc.
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
ISBN: 0525947647 $24.95 379 pages
'Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them, A Fair and Balance Look at the Right' is not an
accurate
title. Franken bases his narration on correct facts and real research. The people and stories he
lambastes in 'Liars' start with fiction that looks and sounds like fact. Franken can't be fair and
balanced when he starts with something so unusual as the truth.
'Liars' does depend on facts but the fictional portions of the narration are so mockingly vicious
you
will either hate Franken or love him. Franken is at heart a satirist. He cannot write anything
without
adding his biting wit to it. This gives the book a petty nasty feel but the information and details he
supplies serves the needed task of pointing out the inconsistencies in the stories propagated by the
conservative right.
Distortions told by the political right are seldom questioned by the mainstream media because of
the
malicious feel of disclosing the truth about others in your own field. It harkens back to your days
in
school when the teacher calls a student to the chalkboard to show the correct way of solving a
problem. The student is embarrassed he/she got it right and the others in the class got it wrong.
The
mainstream media doesn't want the role of being the one with the correct information and calling
to
task the schoolyard bullies. This is unfortunate because it does lower the credibility of all
media.
You might not like the nastiness of 'Liars' but if you want to learn the facts about the politically
active right wing media, it is a great source of information. 'Liars' is a 'must' read for anyone
planning on voting in the upcoming elections. It doesn't matter which party or political affiliation
you
have. The facts you find in the book are important. Do not judge this book by the anger it incites
but
on the facts you can learn from it.
Picture Me Dead
Heather Graham
MIRA Books
225 Duncan Mill Road, Don Mills, Ontario, Canada M3B 3K9
ISBN: 0778320103 $6.99 413 pages
Graham has written a detailed and complex mystery in 'Picture Me Dead.' It has all the features
anyone would expect in a mystery novel. But, to keep the tension high, Graham manufactures too
many unnecessary side threats. A little less heavy handed suspense and the story would read
smoother.
Ashley Montague is in her last weeks of police training when she sees an apparent accident on the
highway. There is an unconscious, nearly naked, man laying in the middle of the road. Later, she
finds out the injured man is a very close friend. Nothing she finds out about the accident makes
sense. The more she learns the more she knows it was not an accident.
Her life takes on even more twists when Detective Jake Dilessio moves into the marina next to
her
home and she is asked to become a crime scene sketch artist. The attraction between Ashley and
Jake is immediate and their professional and personal lives become quickly tangled.
Dilessio is investigating a series of murders and somehow Ashley's
unconscious friend is linked to the crimes. The more Jake and Ashley uncover
the more danger they are in as the killer or killers try to cover their
crimes.
'Picture Me Dead' is a solid well thought out murder mystery with everything a reader would like
in
the story. The heavy handed plotting detracts from the otherwise well written story. 'Picture Me
Dead' is recommended as a solid story that is worth reading.
Naked Prey
John Sandford
G. P. Putnam's Sons/Penguin Putnam Inc.
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
ISBN: 0399150439 $26.95 359 pages
Sandford has written another great Lucas Davenport detective novel. He has gotten the location
and
characters of a Northern Minnesota prairie town down pat. The characters are blended into a
believable well rounded detective mystery. Sandford is easily one of the best detective mystery
writers today.
Lucas Davenport is specialist working directly for the Governor in the Minnesota BCA, Bureau of
Criminal Apprehension. His job is to defuse those tough politically dangerous cases before they
become a problem. A white woman and black man are found hanging from a tree in Northern
Minnesota in the middle of winter. They are naked and the possible racial implications are not lost
to
the Governor. He sends Lucas to solve the crime before any political problems occur.
Lucas follows the clues and avoids the politics. With each step closer to the truth, another body
falls
as the schemer behind the crimes tries to eliminate anyone who can trace the killings back to the
murderer. Lucas has to solve the crimes before everyone involved is found dead.
'Naked Prey' is about the best you can find in the detective mystery genre. The last ending twist is
given away but it is so adroitly done that the anticipation serves as added flavoring for the finish.
My
recommendation is simple. Read it.
'The Chronicles of Riddick'
Alan Dean Foster
Del Rey Books/Ballantine Books
A division of Random House, Inc.
New York, NY
ISBN: 0345468392 $6.99 342 pages
Foster is one of the best writers to convert screenplays into novels. 'Star Trek,' 'Star Wars,' 'Alien,'
'Alien Nation'... is a short list of the many screenplays that have been made into novels by Foster.
He
has the knack for adding just enough words to make the screenplay expand beyond its visual
format
and into the imagination of the reader that a novel requires.
'The Chronicles of Riddick' continues the story of Riddick from the movie 'Pitch Black.' In
'Chronicles,' Riddick becomes a reluctant superhero battling a military mystic order of humans
bent
on conquering every human world. This order, Necromancers, is a death cult. To them, life is
cheap
and death is the goal of the living. Killing nearly every person on a planet is a religious
triumph.
The Necromancers next target is the planet Helion Prime. Riddick is forced out of hiding and
tricked
into coming to Helion Prime. He is the one person who has a chance of turning the Necromancers
away from the human populated worlds.
'The Chronicles of Riddick' seamlessly brings you into the fantasy worlds of Helion Prime and the
Necromancers. Foster creates a believable super hero in Riddick by giving him everyday human
thoughts and doubts. The novel is a great escape with only a few problems pulled from the
screenplay that couldn't be fully novelized. The most apparent one is a little too abrupt ending.
'Chronicles' is highly recommended for any fantasy or science fiction reader. Foster pulls you
smoothly into a fantasy the reader can escape in.
S.A. Gorden, Reviewer
www.paulbunyan.net/users/gsirvio/content.html
Harwood's Bookshelf
A Charge To Keep: My Journey To The White House
George W. Bush
Perennial
10 East 53rd St, NY 10022
ISBN 0060957921, $14.00 253 pp.
Reprinted from American Rationalist
The back cover of Junior Bush's book begins, "I was not elected." That is probably the only true
statement in the entire book. Unfortunately, by the end of the sentence it becomes clear that Bush
is
claiming that he was elected. I would suggest that he could give Richard Nixon lessons in lying,
except that Bush's chronic intellectual handicap makes it not unlikely that he believes he really was
elected.
The first thing that strikes the reader on opening this ghostwritten book is that it is written in
comprehensible English, in sharp contrast to the unelected president's own illiteracy. The
following
Bush utterances are taken from George W. Bushisms, edited by Jacob Weisburg:
"That woman who knew that I was dyslexic I never interviewed her."
"They misunderestimated me."
"I know the human being and fish can coexist peacefully."
"I know how hard it is for you to put food on your family."
"Families is where our nation finds hope, where wings take dream."
Bush's ghostwriter, Karen Hughes, is acknowledged on the back cover but not on the title page.
That she is a Republican is no coincidence. Nobody but a Republican could have peddled such
self-serving fiction with neither a twinge of conscience, nor any apparent awareness that the
unelected president stretches his intellect to the limit just remembering to unzip in the bathroom.
Ghostwriters are expected to shut out the reality that, if their principal says it is raining outside, he
is
parroting something he was told, not expressing a personally derived conclusion. In all likelihood
Bush believes to this day that, when he filled his administration with yes-men he could count on to
assure him that Iraq had whatever it took to justify an invasion, they were stating established
facts,
not simply gratifying his whims.
The early chapters of Bush/Hughes' book are the kind of autobiographical trivia that even Bush's
admirers are likely to find boring, but which must be expected, since without them the number of
pages would fall below an acceptable minimum. He attributes his status as a religious nutcase
(although of course he does not so describe himself) to the influence of Billy Graham, as ignorant
a
hillbilly as ever cashed in on the gullibility of the American people. According to Bush, translated
into correct English by Hughes (p. 136), "He sat by the fire and talked. And what he said sparked
a
change in my heart . The Lord was so clearly reflected in his gentle and loving demeanor." The
"Lord" referred to is a mistranslation of the Hebrew proper name, Yahweh, protagonist of the
Judaeo-Christian Bible, the most obscene paean to evil ever written, with Adolf Hitler's Mein
Kampf
and the Marquis de Sade's Juliette fighting it out for second and third place.
The god Yahweh is itself the most sadistic, evil, insane serial killer in all fiction, and as such an
appropriate role model for a pseudo-president who is the most prolific serial killer in American
history, with over 120 homicides on his resume. Bush devotes a whole chapter to defending his
state-sanctioned ritualistic revenge murders. He writes, "Some advocates of life will challenge
why I
oppose abortion yet support the death penalty; to me, it's the difference between innocence and
guilt." (p.147) In other words, since fetuses with zero brainwave activity indicative of human
thought have committed no crime, they should be allowed to evolve into self aware sentient
beings,
who can then be morally killed if they violate laws attributed to Bush's imaginary playmate. But he
grants no similar right-to-life to chickens, which do have measurable brainwave activity. So a
religious nutcase is not morally consistent. So what else is new?
Bush describes himself as a compassionate conservative. (p. 235) Newsflash! Compassionate
conservative is as much an oxymoron as sane god, educated godworshipper, or creation science.
And he heaps his highest praise on Ronald Reagan, whose Star Wars masturbation fantasy Bush is
attempting to revive, even though it is the identical warmongering policy that bankrupted the late
unlamented Soviet Union.
In Time Traveling with Science and the Saints, George Erickson described Ronald Reagan as,
"perhaps the least intelligent man ever to be elected president until George W. Bush." But as
aforementioned, Bush was not elected president. He was appointed to the office by a treasonous
coup d'etat simply because he was a Republican, and the five Republicans who appointed him may
very well end their lives strapped to gurneys with needles in their arms for their overthrow of the
Constitution. Bush himself is unlikely to face such a penalty, as he has the legal defence of
diminished responsibility.
Nowhere in Bush's memoir is there any hint that, before he himself became an unelected dictator,
he
was already plotting to rectify his father's error in not marching into Baghdad and unseating Iraq's
unelected dictator. He probably was, but Hughes would have convinced him not to admit it.
"Plausible deniability" is a basically Republican concept. And Bush consistently defends his
innumerable treasonous violations of the First Amendment, giving preferential treatment to all
kinds
of sneaky circumventions of an Amendment he knows he cannot repeal. To a pea-brain who got
his
job by five acts of treason, how significant can further violations of the Constitution be? And he
actually boasts that his favorite philosopher, from whom he derives his values, is a dead
hunchback
dwarf psychopath whose most notorious sermon was, "Cheat those who are no longer useful to
you,
and use the stolen money to rob those who are in a position to do you good." (Luke 16:1-9)
Whether Bush can be elected in 2004 almost certainly depends on whether Iraq's alleged weapons
of
mass destruction turn out to be real or imaginary. Already America's reputation is suffering, even
though it is still conceivable that the weapons may yet turn up. But it is not his invasion of Iraq
that
is going to win Bush a place in the record books as the greatest criminal in American history. It is
his
callous, egocentric determination to destroy the United Nations, causing planet earth to revert to
an
anarchy where a conscienceless bully can impose his will on our whole planet, as the Soviet Union
imposed its will on a third of the planet. Probably the most damning indictment I, as a Canadian,
can
level against the moron (IQ 70-84 SB) in the White House is this: He is America's Stockwell
Day.
Dreaming War: Blood for Oil and the Cheney-Bush Junta
Gore Vidal
Thunder's Mouth Press
161 William Street, 16th Floor, New York, NY 10038
ISBN 1560255021 $11.95 208 pp.
The subtitle of Gore Vidal's book is misleading. "Cheney-Bush Junta" implies that the criminals
who
spent four years turning America into the Fourth Reich are no different from the tinpot dictators
of a
dozen banana republics. They should have been identified as the "Cheney-Bush Gestapo," no
different from the monsters indicted at Nuremberg for doing to Germany what Bush is doing to
America.
Vidal's description of the American Taliban as the "Cheney-Bush Junta," rather than the
"Bush-Cheney Junta," is best interpreted in the light of his recognition of Bush's diminished
responsibility: "But bad scenario or good scenario, we shall see very little of the charmingly
simian
George W. Bush. The military Cheney, Powell, et al. will be calling the tune." (p. 8) "Although
one candidate [Gee Dubya] was immediately perceived to be something of a dope and dyslexic to
boot (defense: it's not his fault, so why are you picking on him?), there are, we were sternly told,
worse things in a President." (p. 70) "But Bush, pere et fils, in pursuit of wealth and office, is
beyond shame or, one cannot help but think, good sense." (p. 35) Vidal apparently sees Cheney as
the blockhead's Geppetto, even though Cheney is himself a prime candidate for a brain transplant.
But certainly Bush is the puppet of theofascists who see his intellectual handicap as their greatest
asset.
One doesn't need Gore Vidal to tell us that George W. Bush is a liar comparable with Richard
Nixon
and 100 percent of the theofascists who have turned the Republican Party into their private
empire.
But for those who did not already know that, he writes, "The American global empire rests on a
number of breathtaking presidential lies that our court historians seldom dare question. It would
seem that the Hitler team got it right when it comes to human credulity: the greater the lie, the
more
apt it is to be believed." (p. 72) And as an opponent of the American Taliban, Vidal has himself
become a victim of their lies. In responding to theofascists who called him an "America-hater," he
replies, "This is on a par with those Nazis who, aware that Thomas Mann hated Hitler, declared
that
he hated Germany, a very different thing." (p. 65) Does Vidal hate Bush (while loving America)?
Let
me put it this way: What sane, intelligent, educated person does not?
Concerning the failure to scramble fighter jets to prevent the 9/11 disaster even after four hijacked
aircraft were known to have made unauthorized course changes at the same time, an
unprecedented
situation, Vidal concludes, "Certainly the hour-twenty-minute failure to put fighter planes in the
air
could not have been due to a breakdown throughout the entire Air Force along the East Coast.
Mandatory standard operating procedure had been told to cease and desist." (p. 32) That stops far
short of accusing the pseudo-president of allowing the attacks to happen in order to give him the
excuse he needed for a war of personal glorification. But it does suggest that he underestimated
the
threat to a far greater degree than even the 9/11 commission recognized. And some kind of hostile
act was clearly desired: "The 342 pages of the USA Patriot Act [that created the Fourth Reich]
were
plainly prepared before 9/11." (p. 53) As for the claim that the Bush Gestapo had no warning,
President Clinton disagrees: "When we left the White House we had a plan for an all-out war on
al
Qa'eda. We turned it over to this administration and they did nothing. Why?" (p. 53) Vidal's
observation is, "We had planned to occupy Afghanistan in October, and Osama, or whoever it
was
who hit us in September, launched a preemptive strike. They knew we were coming. And this was
a
warning to throw us off guard." (p. 187)
Several of Vidal's collected essays are about periods of recent history in which, despite being a
historian, I lack competence. Did Roosevelt deliberately provoke Japan into committing a hostile
act
that would enable him to lead America into the European war? Did Truman drop two atom
bombs
despite being well aware that Japan wanted to surrender, simply to intimidate the Soviet Union? I
find myself thinking that Vidal is probably right, but I lack the information to decide for
myself.
Concerning Vidal's use of the expression, "We the people," as an idiom that he uses in both the
nominative (correct) and accusative (incorrect) case, he did put the expression in quotation marks
once, so perhaps he considered it unnecessary to do so every time. But his use of the ridiculous
"octopi" as a plural of "octopus, even though "octopus" is derived from Greek, not Latin, is
indefensible, especially since he elsewhere reported correcting another writer who made an
analogous error.
Writing in 2002, Vidal made a prediction that, sadly, failed: "Certainly, this is one of the questions
that will be asked during the coming impeachment trial of George W. Bush, Jr. Let us hope that
Chief Cheney has explained the Pakistan connection to him." (p. 56)
Coming from probably the most talented and most intelligent analyst of the Bush Gestapo, an
author
who should have been the ultimate whistle-blower, Dreaming War is surprisingly lightweight. It is
neither as hard-hitting nor as definitive as similar exposes by Vincent Bugliosi (The Betrayal of
America), Michael Moore (Stupid White Men), or Al Franken (Lies and the Lying Liar Who Tell
Them). But it provides one more proof that the treason of November 2000 (and since) has not
escaped the notice of influential Americans, even if the failure of the betrayed masses to storm the
White House with attack helicopters and Sherman tanks and transfer the unelected Tyrannos to a
cell on death row is the most criminal complacency in the United States of America's two-century
history. No sane person can support capital punishment. But since the puppet ayatollah of the
American Taliban is also the most prolific serial killer in American history, with 150 executions on
his resume, his own execution, like that of Maximilian Robespierre, would be nothing less than
poetic justice.
A Piece of Blue Sky: Scientology, Dianetics and L. Ron Hubbard Exposed
Jon Atack
Carol Publishing Group
600 Madison Avenue, New York 10022
ISBN 081840499X, $21.95 440 pp.
reprinted from Freethinker, July 2004.
A Piece of Blue Sky is not the latest expose of the Scientology scam. More recent dissections of
brainwashing cults have touched on Scientology. But there has not been a later book sufficiently
focused to justify including the word Scientology in the title, perhaps because Atack does such a
thorough job of exposing this moneymaking scam posing as a religion, that there is little more to
say.
Human beings are not descended from any terrestrial lifeforms. The first humans were brought to
earth by benevolent aliens millennia ago from a galaxy far, far away. If you believe that, you are
not
necessarily a Scientologist. But if you are a Scientologist, you are required to believe it, since the
alternative is to recognize that you have been hoaxed by a cult that originated in the imagination
of
L. Ron Hubbard, a science fiction writer with such total contempt for anyone who could take his
fantasy seriously, that he gloated to an associate, "Let's sell these people a piece of blue sky." (p.
iii)
When the associate expressed skepticism, Hubbard bet him that he could invent a new religion
and
have it showing a profit within a year. He won the bet. While no other evidence survives that
Hubbard had a sense of humor, his naming the Thetans' (aliens) residence Arslycus cannot have
been
a random choice. (p. 134)
But while it was L. Ron Hubbard who first organized the conspiracy to pass off science fiction as
a
religion, the cult leaders' true role model was Benito Mussolini. When A Piece of Blue Sky was
first
published, the Scientology gangsters were able to intimidate the dirty little cowards at Amazon
into
removing it from their catalogue, out of fear of the kind of vicious reprisals that got eleven
members
of the cult, including Hubbard's wife, convicted and jailed in 1979. In 1978 Hubbard was himself
convicted of fraud in a French court, in absentia, and sentenced to four years imprisonment.
Amazon
only re-listed the book when public outrage threatened them with more serious consequences than
even Hubbard's mobsters could inflict.
It was Hubbard himself who initiated the cult's ongoing policy of filing frivolous lawsuits to
intimidate opponents into ceasing to oppose it. As he explained to his deputies (p. 139), "The
purpose of the suit is to harass and discourage rather than to win. The law can be used very easily
to
harass, and enough harassment on somebody who is simply on the thin edge anyway will
generally be sufficient to cause his professional decease. If possible, of course, ruin him utterly .
We should be very alert to sue for slander at the slightest chance so as to discourage the public
press
from mentioning Scientology." Probably as a preemptive measure against an investigation of
himself,
Hubbard wrote several letters to the FBI claiming that communists and psychiatrists were
targeting
him. The FBI eventually stopped replying, and on one of Hubbard's letters an agent wrote,
"appears
mental."
Because even pretend-religions are such sacred cows in America, practitioners of American
religions, afraid that allowing Scientology to be treated as a criminal conspiracy would lead to
their
own cults being similarly categorized, pressured much of the world into accepting Hubbard's
swindle
as a legitimate religion. While three Australian states for several years categorized Scientology as
the
criminal conspiracy to defraud that it clearly is, they eventually backed down under American
pressure. Only Germany continues to recognize Scientology as a moneymaking scam posing as a
religion, and refuses entry permits to cult members. And it was lobbying by other fringe sects that
won Scientology tax-exempt status as a religion, in the hope that if Scientology was categorized
as a
religion, their own cults could then claim the same status.
But Scientology is not merely a fruitcake cult like the Southern Baptists, which peddles mind
pablum
to the braindead because its pushers are themselves braindead. Like America's 1st and 2nd ranking
brainwashing cults, Catholicism and Mormonism, Scientology has been exposed as a fraud so
many
times and in so many ways, that anyone who thinks the pushers of any of those Big Lies are
unaware
that they are peddling falsehoods is being unrealistic. (Notable exception: Pope Wojtyla is far too
feebleminded to comprehend that a Bible that states in fourteen places that the earth is flat must
be
fiction.) Scientology is a conscious, money-grubbing swindle, perpetrated by persons who know
full
well that their pretend-religion has as much resemblance to reality as the fairy tales of the Brothers
Grimm. In recent years the cult succeeded in convincing a jury that an anti-cult website was
legally
culpable for an attempted deprogramming. The brainwashers not only forced them out of
business.
They also took over the website and, in the pretence of being the same anti-cult site, have since
been
peddling their propaganda to persons looking for information on how to combat such cults.
Much of Atack's book is a biography of Hubbard, or more precisely an analysis of Hubbard's own
published accounts of his life, which are so impossible to harmonize into a single biographical
chronology, that the only reasonable conclusion is that they are a pack of lies from start to finish.
One detail, however, seems to be accurate. Hubbard's medical scam that preceded Scientology,
Dianetics, only took off when it was actively promoted in the 150,000 circulation Astounding
Science Fiction by the magazine's unbelievably gullible editor, John Campbell. (p. 107) Even Isaac
Asimov, who got his start with Campbell, was embarrassed by the man's superstitious ignorance.
It
was in Campbell's presence in 1949 that Hubbard casually mentioned, "he would like to start a
religion, because that was where the money was." (p. 137)
That several prominent Hollywood actors are Scientologists raises a chicken-and-egg question:
Are
they Scientologists because they are stupid, or are they stupid because they are Scientologists? No
one has ever mistaken Foundation or Dune for nonfiction, and no one with a functioning human
brain has ever mistaken Ron Hubbard's imaginative fantasizing for nonfiction.
There are two kinds of Scientologists: the conscienceless gangsters who run the cult the same
way
Mussolini ran Italy, and the mindless marks whom the gangsters believe were put on earth to line
their pockets and eat their excrement. In the words of Justice Latey, ruling in the High Court in
London in 1984:
"Scientology is both immoral and socially obnoxious it is corrupt, sinister and dangerous. It is
corrupt because it is based upon lies and deceit and has as its real objective money and power for
Mr. Hubbard, his wife and those close to him at the top. It is sinister because it indulges in
infamous
practices both to its adherents who do not toe the line unquestioningly and to those who criticize
or
oppose it. It is dangerous because it is out to capture people, especially children and
impressionable
young people, and indoctrinate and brainwash them so that they become the unquestioning
captives
and tools of the cult, withdrawn from ordinary thought, living and relationships with others." (p.
xiii)
"Deprived of property, injury by any means, trickery, suing, lying or destruction have been
pursued
throughout and to this day with the fullest vigour . Mr. Hubbard is a charlatan and worse as are
his
wife Mary Sue Hubbard and the clique at the top privy to the Cult's activities."
In America, Judge Breckenridge ruled (p. 2), "In addition to violating and abusing its own
members'
civil rights, the organization over the years has harassed and abused those persons not within the
Church whom it perceives as enemies. The organization clearly is schizophrenic and paranoid, and
this bizarre combination seems to be a reflection of its founder LRH [L. Ron Hubbard]. The
evidence portrays a man who has been virtually a pathological liar when it comes to his history,
background and achievements. The writings and documents in evidence additionally reflect his
egoism, greed, avarice, lust for power, and vindictiveness and aggressiveness against persons
perceived by him as disloyal or hostile."
Scientology is a criminally felonious swindle. That verdict is not offered as the personal
conclusion
of either the book's author or its reviewer. It is the recorded judgment of law courts in America,
England and France, and governments in Australia, New Zealand, Rhodesia and Germany. That
we
both agree with it is beside the point.
William Harwood
Reviewer
Henry's Bookshelf
Hollywood Flatlands: Animation, Critical Theory and the Avant-Garde
Esther Leslie
Verso
180 Varick St., New York, NY 10014-4606
www.verso.book.com
ISBN 1844675041 $19.00
In this book of breadth and continual insights on the aesthetics of animation and cinema and of the
culture of modernism, Leslie regularly refers to various facets of the works of Walter Benjamin,
Theodor Adorno, Leni Riefenstahl, Sergei Eisenstein, Bertolt Brecht, and other leading artists and
critics of the 20th century. At the same time, she develops her own exceptionally informed,
clear-sighted view on animation. Although the subject matter dealt with is mostly from the earlier
days of animation--notably the Disney animation--the animation aesthetics, the characters such as
Mickey Mouse, Dumbo, and Popeye, the interpretations of the characters, and the interaction
between the cartoons and viewers relate as much to later and current animation. Leslie is a
lecturer
in English and Humanities at Birkbeck College in London. With its frequent citations of works
and
ideas of major cultural figures of the 1900s and Leslie's own lively, timely criticism of
animation--which is becoming more popular and sophisticated--"Hollywood Flatlands" is a work
students of film studies and modern culture will want to read.
The Hawaii Pet Book: Keeping Your Cat and Dog Healthy, Happy and Housed in the
Tropics
Toni Polancy
Barefoot Publishing
32 Uilani Road, Kihei, HI 96753
ISBN 0966625315 $19.95 340+viii pp.
Polancy gives advice and tips on finding an apartment that will accept pets, traveling with pets,
grooming, and other topics of interest to pet owners. The content of particular interest to pet
owner's unique with this handbook is Polancy's experienced information on bugs, lizards,
mammals,
and plants found in Hawaii and other tropical areas that are harmful to dogs and cats. Such
lizards,
etc., can be harmful to dogs and cats either because these household pets would eat them or they
would be attacked, bitten, or pricked by them. Polancy's handbook applies to just about any
tropical
location.
Tyranny in America: Capitalism and National Decay
Neal Wood
Verso
180 Varick St., New York, NY 10014-4606
www.verso.book.com
ISBN 185984572X $22.00 147+x pp.
A former professor of political science at York U., Toronto, Wood distinguishes the old tyranny
from the new tyranny. The old tyranny was typified by ruthless monarchs, Communist dictators,
and
the like. The new tyranny, by contrast, has "turned the world of human relations topsy-turvy" by
replaced the older morality centered on Christian morality renouncing greed and money as an
absolute value with a "totalizing capitalist tyranny." In Wood's view, with no political or economic
rivals in today's world, capitalist has become totalitarian. It has accomplished this "under the
beguiling cover of democracy, legal and judicial equality, individual freedom," and other appealing
principles that it cynically exploits. Wood's critique is not new. Noam Chomsky, most notably, has
been putting it forth for some time. Yet Wood's "Tyranny in America" stands out among such
analyses and critiques of American society for its lucidity. Wood does not engage in heated
polemic,
but rather makes a sound case using recent phenomena in U. S. society and global trends.
Lewis and Clark Passed Here: New Perspectives Beyond the Adventure
Phil Scriver
Heritage Books
1540 Pointer Ridge Place - #E, Bowie, MD 20716
www.HeritageBooks.com
ISBN 0788424785 $30.00 297+xv pp. 866-282-2689
With the intention of broadening knowledge about the legendary Lewis and Clark expedition,
Scriver relates innumerable little-known facts and tales about it. For example, one learns that the
leaders Lewis and Clark were not the only ones recording sights and findings. Before the
expedition
started, there was a military order directing each sergeant to keep a journal of "all passing
occurrences and such other observations on the country, etc., as shall appear to them worthy of
notice." Scriver then names the sergeants and tells what is known about journals they kept or
which
are unknown. Elsewhere, the author discusses the relatively sedentary society of Indian tribes of
western Idaho, as indicated by archaeological evidence. One learns interesting new facts relating
to
the expedition on just about every page. Scriver's encyclopedic-like collocation of all sorts of
details
and facts having to do with the expedition and surrounding it is a commendable companion to go
with many of the other works on this historic episode that changed the course of American
history.
First and Second Maryland, C.S.A.
Robert J. Driver, Jr.
Willow Bend Books
65 E. Main St., Westminster, MD 21157-5026
www.willowbend.books.com
ISBN 1585499013 $35.00 800-876-6103
With its 200 pages of Muster Rolls, 10-page bibliography, and copious footnotes, this surely must
be the definitive work on this Confederate military unit. The First and Second Military Infantry,
C.S.A., was really the same battalion, as the Second was promptly formed after the First was
disbanded in 1862 after taking part in the first Battle of Bull Run, Stonewall Jackson's
Shenandoah
Valley campaign, and the Seven Day Campaign. The Second Maryland continued to see action in
major campaigns and battles until the end of the Civil War when they surrendered at Appomatox
Court House in Virginia. About ninety percent or more of the text in the first half of the book
before
the Muster Rolls begin consists of quotes from writings of members of the Maryland Infantry at
all
levels. Driver's work as author/editor is to string these writings together with short commentary
or
narrative from a paragraph or two to just a phrase in some cases. This makes for an immediate,
dramatic picture of this active Confederate unit, like a prose version of the popular PBS Civil War
series by Ken Burns.
Labour after Communism: Auto Workers and Their Unions in Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus
David Mandel
Black Rose Books
2250 Military Rd., Tonawanda, NY 14150
www.web.net/blackrosebooks
ISBN 1551642425 $29.99 283+x pp. 800-283-3572
The situation of the major trade unions of auto workers and farm-machine workers exemplifies
the
difficulties in moving to a capitalist economic system after the collapse of the Soviet Union and
also
the movement toward a higher standard of living, but one which is attained only partially and
tentatively. Russia, the power center of the old Soviet Union, continues to exert a strong and
mostly
deleterious influence on the new states of Ukraine and Belarus bordering it. The activities,
defeats,
and occasional successes of the major labor unions in the three important states formed in the
breakup of the U.S.S.R. reflect conditions and problems in them. With the book's generally
sociological style and methodology, it is mainly for academics and others with a special interest in
Eastern Europe since the fall of Communism. For such readers, Mandel's material up-to-date and
well-organized. The author describes himself as a "post-Soviet" scholar, and is a social activist
who
teaches political science at the U. of Quebec. He is also a co-founder of the School for Worker
Democracy involved in labor education in the Eastern European states he writes about. With this
background, Mandel's "Labour After Communism" offers facts, other material, and assessments
not
found anywhere else.
The Uncanny: Experiments in Cyborg Culture
Bruce Grenville, editor
Vancouver Art Gallery/Arsenal Pulp Press
103-1014 Homer St., Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6B 2W9
www.arsenlpup.com
ISBN 1551521164 $27.95 279 pp.
Sigmund Freud's early 1900s essay on "The Uncannny" is the jumping off point for this treatment
of
the virtually mythic figure of the "cyborg," a person whose "physical abilities are augmented and
extended by machine technology." The imaginary figure has played a central role in identity of
persons in modernism, with its dreams of Promethean powers, transformation, and employment of
technology to enter a new, transcendent, immortal way of life. The 12 essays and excerpt from
William Gibson's futuristic novel "Necromancer" go far afield from Freud's psychological insight
that
the uncanny is an eerie mix of the familiar and strange brought on by lingering childhood
neuroses.
The title of the Japanese contributor Masanori Oda's essay is "Welcoming the Libido of the
Technoids Who Haunt the Junkyard of the Techno-Orient, or the Uncanny Experience of the
Post-Techno-Orientalist Moment." All of the essays except for Freud's seminal essay are by
contemporary authors involved in the arts field and steeped in postmodern culture, as the title of
Oda's exhibits. Considerable visual matter further elucidates the concept and realization of the
cyborg. To some extent, with miraculous medical technology, video games and other computer
operations, and a plethora of mechanisms in modern life, the vision of the cyborg has come to
pass.
The collection of imaginative essays interweaving aesthetics, analysis, history, and cultural studies
carries this primary interest of modern society to its limits.
Mendel's Legacy: The Origin of Classical Genetics
Elof Axel Carlson
Cold Spring Harbor
Laboratory Press
500 Sunnyside Blvd., Woodbury, NY 11797-2924
www.cshlpress.com
ISBN 0879696753 $45.00 332+xix pp. 800-843-4388
The European scientific interests of the latter 1800s in the areas of evolution, cytology,
embryology,
breeding, and hybrids merged about 1900 in America into the field of genetics. American
scientists
were able to synthesize the separate European scientific fields into the single field of genetics and
engage in studies and experiments leading eventually to the discovery of the human genetic code
because of advanced laboratories in the U. S., the cooperation and competition among scientists,
and teaching of science in leading U. S. universities. Carlson presents the work in the different
European sciences laying the groundwork for genetics and follows the involved, sometimes
wayward, but always progressive development of the science of genetics which has come to play
a
central role in modern life for its contributions to longevity and improved health. While the
scientists, scientific work, and history of genetics is the main part of the book, Carlson touches on
the effects of genetics on society. Although the text is not beyond the general reader, for its detail
and technical material, it is best suited for those with an advanced interest in and knowledge of
science. For these latter readers, it is an exemplary work on the history and nature of genetics by a
highly-qualified author who is a former professor and author of other books in this area.
Samye: A Pilgrimage to the Birthplace of Tibetan Buddhism
Mikel Dunham
Foreword by His Holiness the Dalai Lama
Jodere Group
6295 Ferris Square - Suite D, San Diego, CA 92121
www.jodere.com
ISBN 1588720837 $45.00 244+vii pp. 800-569-1002
Samye is the remote monastery where Buddhism took root in Tibet. It was founded in 770A.D.
The
treasures of the monastery were believed to have been destroyed when it was ransacked by
Communist soldiers when China invaded Tibet. But the photographer Mike Dunham found on a
trip
to Tibet that Samye was largely preserved, although with conspicuous reminders of its
desecration
by the Communists. Photographs he took show Communist propaganda spray-painted on a wall
of
the monastery and a holy room that was used for a time as a stable. But his 150 color
photographs
are not meant to make a political statement, but rather to record the treasures which were thought
to
have been destroyed and give a picture of the Tibetan inhabitants, town, and terrain surrounding
Samye. The monastery's stupas, details of sacred art work, monks in their routines and rituals, and
Sayma's rooms and architecture are the main subjects of the photographs. Dunham took the
impressive and historic photographs over two trips to Samye. As an artist who trained with a
Buddhist master in the Tibetan style of religious painting, he brings a special sensitivity and eye to
this subject.
Island of the Minotaur: Greek Myths of Ancient Crete
Sheldon Oberman
Blair Drawson, illustrator
TradeWindBooks
Vancouver, Canada
www.tradewindbooks.com
ISBN 1896580645 $19.99
"Here are the mythic tales of the Minoan Civilization woven into a continuous story of heroic
quests, clever tricks, puzzles and disguises." King Minos is a central character making for this
continuity as he interacts with the varied mythological characters of Ariadne, Jason, Daedalus,
Hercules, and others. "King Minos was furious. Theseus had killed the Minotaur and escaped
from
the Labyrinth...." Oberman's seamless tellings are written like simple short stories with dialog,
settings, action, and description not necessarily found or even implied in the sparse original myths
as
they have come down to us, but which faithfully enhance them. Drawson's bold, somewhat
expressionistic illustrations effectively portray the extraordinary mythic figures and the drama and
emotions of the myths. Oberman has written previous works for children, and Drawson has done
illustrations for previous books as well as illustrations for Esquire, The New Yorker, and other
popular periodicals.
Seek the Frozen Lands: Irish Polar Explorers, 1740-1922
Frank Nugent
Collins Press, Ireland
U. S. distributor Dufour Editions
Chester Springs, PA
www.collinspress.com
ISBN 1903464242 $39.95 292+x pp.
Nugent's "Seek the Frozen Lands" shows that Irish explorations of the North and South Pole
regions
rival those of other nationalities such as the Swedes and Americans that have received much more
notice in the recent revival of interest in polar expeditions, mountain climbing, and other extreme
adventures. Period photographs, archival illustrations, roughly-drawn maps, and excerpts from
ships'
logs and other documents interspersed with the history and stories of the Irish explorations impart
to
the reader a vivid impression of the adventurousness, drives, and occasional worries of the
explorers. Nugent's handsome, oversized work belongs beside the few other outstanding
recently-published books recounting the major polar explorations in the light of newly-uncovered
material.
Plagues and Poxes: The Impact of Human History on Epidemic Diseases
Alfred Jay Bollet, M.D.
Demos Medical Publishing
386 Park Avenue South, NY 10016
www.demosmedpub.com
ISBN 188879979X $29.95 230+xii pp.
Bollet writes about how in the course of history, human behavior has brought diseases to
humanity.
The common understanding is that diseases "attack" persons. But Bollet refines this by showing
how
societies have brought diseases to themselves or others. This can be unintentional, as with the
growth of cities and their concentrations of populations and continual coming and going of new
inhabitants, many from foreign lands; or it can be intentional, as in the pollution of an enemy's
wells
to deny him fresh water or today's biological warfare. "Historical developments have always been
causal factors in the production of disease, at least since the first agriculturalists domesticated
previously wild animals and caught their diseases." This is the second edition of Bollet's book
bringing a new perspective on disease to the general reader. The author has an extensive
background
in the field of medicine. "Civil War Medicine" is a previous book of his.
The Betrayal of Dissent: Beyond Orwell, Hitchens and the New American Century
Scott Lucas
Pluto Press
22883 Quicksilver Drive, Sterling, VA 20166-2012
www.plutobooks.com
ISBN 0745321984 hc $65.00 324 pp.
ISBN 0745321976 trade paper $19.95
Lucas follows how some supposed dissenters speaking out against overreaches or abuses of
power
by governments have subtly come to in fact stifle or marginalize dissenting voices. In the present
circumstances of unrivaled U. S. power and the war in Iraq, they have become a part of the
network
of government officials, right-wing newspapers, and religious absolutists who have painted
dissenters (e. g., Susan Sontag) as unpatriotic and inveterate and myopic America-bashers. The
influential British author Christopher Hitchens is singled out as one former dissenter who now
regularly leads attempts to undermine and denigrate dissent about American and British
government
actions which affect their own and other countries and great numbers of people around the world.
Hitchens and these others have managed to create such a solid position for themselves by claiming
to be doing the work of George Orwell in defending honesty and openness, when they are actually
twisting Orwell's motives, language, and values. Hitchens has written a recent book on Orwell.
Among the others the author puts in this camp dismissing dissenters are Michael Walzer, Bernard
Crick, and Michael Kelly. Lucas is a professor of American and Canadian Studies at the U. of
Birmingham, England. With its many detailed deconstructions of articles in political/current
interest
periodicals such as The Nation and of newspaper editorials and articles, the book reads for much
of
it like one of those literary quarrels playing out in the pages of publications popular among
intellectuals and authors. Even so, with its obvious relevance to war and death in Iraq and
elsewhere, dissembling of high U. S. government officials making fateful decisions, and the social
phenomenon of muting alternative points of view, many will want to take up "The Betrayal of
Dissent" to gain an understanding of the workings of today's media and to take in its main points
about the systematic, and largely effective, blanketing of dissent.
Is it in Your Genes? The Influence of Genes on Common Disorders and Diseases That Affect
Your
Family
Philip R. Reilly
Cold Spring Harbor
Laboratory Press
500 Sunnyside Blvd., Woodbury, NY 11797-2924
www.cshlpress.com
ISBN 0879697210 $19.95 288+xvi pp. 800-843-4388
Reilly begins each of the many sections with a simple question--e. g., "My husband and I have
blue
eyes. How can our child have brown eye color?"; "How much of the risk of lupus is genetic?";
"Both
my brother and I had eczema as children. My wife did not. What are the risks for our children?"
He
then proceeds to answer each question for one to two pages explaining the role of genes in the
medical or physical matter raised and estimates the probability based on genetic data that any
particular individual will be affected by it. The numerous medical problems or physical conditions
dealt with roughly follow the life cycle from pregnancy through infancy, childhood, and finally
adulthood. This is a work which ideally meets the concerns and curiosities of different sorts of
readers. With its organization and knowledgeable, accessible style, it could be a family medical
guide. The questions Reilly poses shows he's reading the minds of many individuals with respect
to
genes and health. Or for its breadth, "Is It In Your Genes?" could be read by other sorts of
readers
for an overview of genetic research to date.
Mark Twain: The Mysterious Stranger, A Ghost Story, and Ten More Great Tales
Graphics Classics Volume Eight
Rick Geary, Simone Gane, Lance Tooks, Milton Knight, and others
Eureka Productions
8778 Oak Grove Road, Mount Horeb, WI 53572
www.graphicclassics.com
ISBN 0971246483 $9.99 144 pp.
Fifteen of Mark Twain's stories and articles are turned into illustrated stories in the style of
comic-novels by comic and graphic artists who have made names for themselves in the field.
Twain's
"Advice to Little Girls" is a collaboration of seven artists, each one contributing a full-page panel
of
a comic drawing going with one of Twain's bits of advice. The diversity, liveliness, and
inventiveness
of the illustrations makes the reader look forward to getting to each story or article. The
entertaining
art also offers another opportunity to appreciate Twain's inimitable wit. Similar Graphic Classics
on
writings of Bram Stoker and Edgar Allan Poe are other recent additions to Graphics Classic's
ongoing series.
The Diplomacy of War: The Case of Korea
Graeme S. Mount, with Andre Laferriere
Black Rose Books
C.P. 1258, Succ. Place du Parc, Montreal QC H2X 4A7 Canada
www.web.net/blackrosebooks
ISBN 1551642397 hc $53.99 204+xxxiv pp. 800-283-3572
ISBN 1551642387 trade paper $24.99
The topic is how the nations of the British Commonwealth--United Kingdom, Australia, New
Zealand, Canada, etc.--came together, to the extent that they did, in the Korean War to curb the
potentials and considerations of the United States. One issue dealt with is the degree to which the
Commonwealth persuaded Truman not to use the atom bomb in Korea. Both authors are teachers
in
Canadian schools. Delving into the diplomatic activity in each of the Commonwealth nations, they
see that the Commonwealth did not sway the U. S. much from its chosen course because each
nation
had particular internal political considerations and an international position and related aims which
kept them from working in concert effectively to counter the overwhelming, preeminent, position
of
the U. S. From their readings of newly-released documents, the authors deduce that Truman did
not
seriously consider using an atom bomb in the Korean War anyway. But the authors also make out
those areas and decisions where the Commonwealth despite their differences and disunity did have
some effects on U. S. policies and actions. An investigation of diplomacy between the U. S. and
the
Commonwealth both collectively and individually with a look at what effects this had on the
United
Nations, in whose name the coalition headed by the U.S. waged war, "The Diplomacy of War" is
also a test case of how or if U. S. power and conduct can be affected in the international
arena.
Southern Manhood: Perspectives on Masculinity in the Old South
Craig Thompson Friend and Lorri Glover, editors
U. of Georgia Press
330 Research Dr., Athens, AL 30602-4901
ISBN 082032423X hc $49.95 233+xvii pp.
ISBN 082032616X trade paper $19.95
Nine essays by professors of history and one Woodrow Wilson Postdoctorate Fellow "bring the
new
tools of masculine studies to the Old South, enriching both masculine studies and southern history
by pushing them beyond the white male paradigm of honor and mastery." In getting beyond the
stereotype of the Southern male based largely on the figure of the plantation owner in the period
from the Revolutionary War to the Civil War, the essays turn to other classes and types of males
found and recognized in Southern society. Among these are militia men, students, artisans,
laborers,
and businessmen. African American males and males in regional Native American tribes also come
under scrutiny in the essays which collectively revolutionize the understanding of Southern
masculinity in early America by pointing to varied types of Southern males and going into the
sources and influences with respect to them. In the end, one sees that the Southern society was
not
so "hierarchic" or stable as it is generally thought to have been. During the decades of the early
1800s, the comic figure of the male huckster--recognizable in any age--was familiar in popular
literature. As one Georgian man was described, "He could assume any character which his
humour
required him to impersonate, and he could sustain it to perfection." Such shysters, liars, and
braggers
widely recognized in Southern society at the time surely present other evidence of Southern
masculinity besides the stock figure of the aristocratic plantation owner adhering to a code of
honor.
Dictionary of Smoky Mountain English
Michael B. Montgomery and Joseph S. Hall
U. of Tennessee Press
Suite 110 - Conference Center, Knoxville, TN 37996-4108
www.utpress.org
ISBN 1572332220 $75.00 710+xxx pp.
The two editors treat the dialect of Smoky Mountain English as a distinct language with its own
grammar, syntax, and linguistic and literary resources. "This Dictionary presents the speech ways
of
the mountains of East Tennessee and western North Carolina, especially the central part of that
region known as the Great Smoky Mountains." This is not a large area; but the colorful, inventive,
fetching regional dialect has long caught the notice of not only linguists and historians, but
writers,
filmmakers, and language mavens. From the size and volume of their Dictionary, it's clear the
editors
do not mean simply to satisfy the interests of the casually curious--although they do this--but to
put
this distinctive, enduring dialect on a firm, organized, and accessible footing for all time, a task
they
accomplish superlatively. In keeping with the aim of defining as well as cataloguing the Smoky
Mountain English, the front matter of the large work has sections like those found in ordinary
dictionaries--Grammar and Syntax of Smoky Mountain English, Pronunciation Key,
Abbreviations
Used in the Dictionary, and others. Back matter is a Chronological List of Works Cited in the
examples of usage in the word entries. This begins at 1784 to goes to 2002 for more than 20
pages;
this List is then reorganized alphabetically. The front and back matter is of special interest to the
grammarians, linguists, cultural historians, and the like. The Dictionary itself--i. e., the catalog of
words--offers hours--even a lifetime--of enjoyable, entertaining, and informative perusal by
readers
of all sort. One never having been exposed to this regional language except occasionally in
popular
culture and the entertainment media will be struck at first by the great number of words and
phrases
belonging to Smoky Mountain English. If the editors' introductory sections on syntax,
pronunciation, etc., are not enough to indicate to the reader that this dialect merits individual,
specialized, and extensive treatment and documentation, the sheer volume of words comprising it
makes the point. Smoky Mountain English is not merely a local variant of some words from the
common language. It has its own identifiable origins and sources and traceable development. Like
the Oxford English Dictionary, word entries include not only definitions, variants, and
cross-references, but citations of usage, which in many cases trace subtle or mark pronounced
changes in the word usage. And like the Oxford English Dictionary--which may have been its
model--the "Smoky Mountain English" is the product of "sustained work." The surviving editor
Michael Montgomery cites the years from 1990 to 2003. But he also notes that the work of Hall
(d.
1992) leading up to this work goes back to the 1930s. And like the OED, this Dictionary will
stand
the test of time to delight and educate generations of readers.
Art Deco Bookbindings: The Work of Pierre Legrain and Rose Adler
Yves Peyre and H. George Fletcher
Princeton Architectural Press in association with the New York Public Library
37 East 7th St., New York, NY 10003
www.papress.com
ISBN 1568984626 $35.00 119 pp.
This attractive book with an art deco-like cover itself pictures the outstanding and imaginative Art
Deco book covers of the leading French designers Pierre Legrain and Rose Adler featured in a
recent exhibition at the New York Public Library. Able to incorporate the Art Deco style into
book
covers because of advances in bookbinding developed in France, Legrain and Adler "exponentially
propelled the binding into a new category as an artistic entity, while retaining its structural
integrity";
as Fletcher notes in his introductory essay. Twenty-four of Legrain's distinctive Art Deco covers
are
pictured in full color one or two per page, as are 22 of Adler's. The two historic book-cover
artists
designed covers for leading French authors of the early and mid 1900s--Valery, Gide, Colette,
Roussel, and others. Informative captions and annotations for each cover are supplemented by
longer notes following the more than 50 photos of the covers. Legrain and Adler were really in a
class by themselves as far as their brilliance in book-cover design. It was more their vision and
example rather than their styles which left a lasting impression on the fields of publishing and
book-cover and book jacket design. Though covering but a slice of these areas, this is a work not
to
be missed by book lovers and readers interested in the history of the book and book art.
Protocol: How Control Exists After Decentralization
Alexander R. Galloway
MIT Press
5 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142-1493
http://mitpress.mit.edu
ISBN 0262072475 $32.95 260+xxvi pp. 800-405-1619
Galloway moves discussion of what is mainly significant about computer technology and its
effects
on society beyond the topics of blogs, spam, pornography, and such which the popular and even
most of the computer trade media focus on. Galloway sees the clue to the fundamental nature of
the
technology and to its effects as the coding by which computers operate. This coding is a language;
and like any language, it can be studied. It is by the language of coding that individual computers
work and form a network whether this be a home or office network or the vast network of the
Internet. And it is by utilizing this coding that individuals get their computers to do what they
want
them to and communication with either data or other individuals at other computers; though with
all
the graphics, commands, passwords, etc., relating to computer use, individuals are in general but
dimly aware that they are complying with and utilizing the coding. The author brings this basic,
though for the most part marginalized subject out of the arcane language of computer
programmers,
engineers, and designers to educate interested readers about how computers are able to have such
a
dominant place in modern society--and it is not how this is commonly thought. Galloway is an
Assistant Professor of Media Ecology at New York University.
Dolls of the Art Deco Era, 1910-1940: Collect, Restore, Create & Play
Susanna Oroyan
C&T Publishing
1651 Challenge Drive, Concord, CA 94520
www.ctpub.com
1571202234 $29.95 128 pp.
The Art Deco dolls are colorful, varied, and sometimes eccentric. The dolls of this period can be
dressed in Victorian-like fashions of frills, full dresses, and large hats or the skirts and blouses
found
in nightclubs. The dolls can be different nationalities in customary dress. One doll dangles a
cigarette
from her mouth. There's color photos of the attractive dolls and details of them on nearly every
page
as Oroyan tells what to look for for collectors and how to make repairs in the antique dolls; and
also, how to replicate the dolls as a craft for fun or profit.
The Knights Templar in the New World: How Henry Sinclair Brought the Grail to Acadia
William F. Mann
Destiny Books/Inner Traditions
One Park St., Rochester, VT 05767
www.innertraditions.com
ISBN 0892811854 $16.95 295+xii pp.
Allowing that some will find his book "too eclectic and far ranging," Mann nonetheless undertakes
an engrossing investigation involving obscure historical and semi-legendary material, hidden
references in paintings and maps, Masonic and Christian symbolisms, and lore concerning the
Knights Templars to tender the claim that the Knights Templars' brought the Holy Grail entrusted
to
their care to what is today Nova Scotia in Canada about 100 years before Columbus's voyage.
The
14th-century Scottish prince Henry Sinclair is a fundamental figure in Mann's scenario. Mann sees
Sinclair's settlement in Nova Scotia recorded in legends of Native Americans in the area. Mann's
investigations and inferences are challenging and entertaining for the reader. Whatever one's own
conclusions, one is taken on a mind-expanding investigation involving many disregarded,
fascinating
historical facts and connections.
The Mary Magdalene Tradition: Witness and Counter-Witness in Early Christian
Communities
Holly E. Hearon
Liturgical Press
PO Box 7500, Collegeville, MN 56321-7500
www.litpress.org
ISBN 0814651208 $24.95 236+xi pp.
The Mary Magdalene tradition is rooted in the oral tradition of the region where Jesus lived and
died. This oral tradition has long been lost. But it inheres in the gospels of Matthew and John, as
well as other literary remnants of this ancient Near East region. Differences in the portrayal of
Mary
Magdalene in these different writings and remnants both indicate the richness of this central early
Christian figure and belie the writer's slant or agenda. Although the extant materials give rise to
questions over the "true" Mary Magdalene and her relationship to Jesus, that she was taken into
the
oral tradition and written about in fundamental early Christian writings attests to her importance.
Hearon, who teaches the New Testament at Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis,
works
her way through what is known about ancient Near East story-telling and different versions and
translations of the gospels to elucidate the Mary Magdalene which prompted the multiple stories
and
gospel vignettes. Though little can be determined definitively because there is barely any
biographical evidence for Mary Magdalene, Hearon's exegeses support the point that women, and
Mary Magdalene especially, played a significant part in the formation of Christianity and its
survival
in its early days.
Bucket of Blood: The Ragman's War
R. S. Sukle
iUniverse
2021 Pine Lake Rd. - Suite 100, Lincoln, NE 68512
www.iuniverse.com
ISBN 059530155X $17.95 257+xiii pp.
Sukle deals with the strike by coal miners in western Pennsylvania in 1927-28 in a novelistic style.
The miners were unionized, but this did not mean much at this time. They were subject to violent
retaliation and attempts to control and intimidate them by Coal and Iron police hired by the mine
owners, who for the most part had the support of government officials at all levels. Individual
miners
committed some violence too. But the violence is only part of the story Sukle relates. With
dialogue,
scenes, and other techniques of the novel, she enters the stressful family lives of the miners and
their
wives; organizing, defensive measures, and other activities of the miners; and relationships among
the different factions involved in the strike. Ragman is a mine mechanic who is the central
character.
Each chapter opens with newspaper reports about the strike followed by the author's novelistic
embellishment of the particular events or subjects. Sukle, the daughter of a coal miner, is a social
activist living in the area of the coal mines.
Silvio Berlusconi: Television, Power and Patrimony
Paul Ginsborg
Verso
180 Varick St., New York, NY 10014-4606
ISBN 1844670007 $25.00 189+xvi pp.
Italy's controversial President Berlusconi is the apotheosis of the trend of the melding of politics
and
the media over the past couple of decades. Berlusconi had become a multimillionaire by creating a
national television and media company in Italy. His coming to power as the head of Italy's
government is as if Rupert Murdock had become president of the U. S. It is much too early to
assess
Berlusconi's lasting effects on Italian society and government; or to see his career and
accomplishments as a lesson for good or ill. What Ginsborg concentrates on is Berlusconi's life,
achievements, and political leadership; although it is evident that the author has serious
reservations
about the Italian president based on his ownership of major Italian media, demonstrated
willingness
to control it for his own advantage as a politician, and his behavior as a businessperson before he
became the head of Italy's government. A teacher of history at Florence U. in Italy, Ginsborg
presents a comprehensive, though not completely unbiased, look at this Italian leader who has
attracted much interest.
The Cowboy and the Senorita: A Biography of Roy Rogers and Dale Evans
Howard Kazanjian and Chris Enss, with a Foreword by Roy "Dusty" Rogers
TwoDot Press/Globe Pequot Press
246 Goose Ln., Guilford, CT
ISBN 0762730536 $19.95 237+xiv pp. 800-962-0973 x4538
A scriptwriter and performer on cruise ships and stage and a producer and entertainment
executive
respectively, Enss and Kazanjian have just the right backgrounds and combination of interests to
write this appreciative entertainment biography of the renowned Western couple of TV, radio,
and
movies, Roy Rogers and Dale Evans. The biography begins with the early days of each of them
when they had not met, and had different names. It follows the development of their talents and
their
careers until they eventually teamed up and gained fame for their TV series and their wholesome
images. Their careers were never assured, however; and their lives were not easy in the early days.
Dale Evans, then with the name Frances Fox, had a child in her early teens, and was divorced a
few
years later. The authors tell the full story of the couple in a way that shows the continuity of their
ambitions and the choices they made along the way, the right ones as it turned out for them. Roy
Rogers and Dale Evan's story is also interesting for its picture of Hollywood of an earlier
day.
Indian Popular Cinema: A Narrative of Cultural Change, New Revised and Updated Edition
K. Moti Gokulsing and Wimal Dissanayake
Trentham Books, England
distributed in U. S. by Stylus Publishing
22883 Quicksilver Dr., Sterling, VA 20166-2012
www.styluspub.com
ISBN 1858563291 $24.95 161+xiv pp. 800-232-0223
Only is the past couple of years have Indian films started to find an audience in the U. S. beyond a
small circle of critics and film historians. "Bollywood," combining Hollywood and Bombay, is the
name applied to the popular Indian films. But popular films have been produced in India for 90
years, almost as long as in Western societies. The authors distinguish popular Indian films from
artistic ones. Lacking the complex stories, psychological depth, and social vision of the artistic
films,
the popular Indian films are characterized by a "unique combination of fantasy, action, song,
dance,
and spectacle" appealing to Indian mass audiences for portraying a range of types of average
Indians
and dealing with issues of class, the place of women, ethnicity, religion, and other topics of
concern
to them. This updated edition (first edition, 1998) is a good introduction to the world of Indian
films
beyond the handful that are shown in the U. S. and England. It takes into account the new
directions
in Indian popular films which have resulted in wider interest in them. The development of Indian
regional films and films produced by Indian emigres have contributed to this.
Thorstein Veblen and the American Way of Life
Louis Patsouras
Black Rose Books
2250 Military Rd., Tonawanda, NY 14150
800-283-3572
www.web.net/blackrosebooks
ISBN 1551642298 hc $55.99 289 pp.
ISBN 155164228X trade paper $26.99
Veblen was born in Wisconsin in 1857. He is, in Patsouras's estimation, "America's premier social
and economic thinker." Practically everyone has heard of Veblen's term "conspicuous
consumption"
for the spending and living habits of American consumers in the latter 1800s and early 1900s. This
term still applies to American consumers today, as does Veblen's analyses of and insights into
American society. In this volume, Patsouras gives a nod to Veblen's sociological writings and
perspectives. But he's mostly concerned about Veblen's political position--namely, socialism,
radical
and anarchic in relation to some issues and conditions--and for the bases for this position.
Patsouras,
history professor at Kent State, places Veblen in the context of his time; which included influential
writers such as Marx, Mencken, and Emma Goldman. While giving a well-researched, sober, and
comprehensive picture of Veblen, the author does not summarize Veblen simply or categorize
him.
As evidence of Veblen's influence and acknowledged and abiding stature, Patsouras refers to the
innumerable studies done on Veblen, many by foremost intellectuals and critics--"probably no
other
social thinker, except Marx, has received such a wide range of varied commentary as Thorstein
Veblen." Veblen is in rare company indeed.
Making Great Television: Four Essential Ingredients
Dee LaDuke
GGC Publishing
5107 13th St. NW, Washington, DC 20011
www.GoGardner.com
ISBN 1589650182 $24.95 192+x pp.
Dee LaDuke is the executive producer of the UPN TV series "Girlfriends" with four successful
seasons to her credit, among other impressive credentials. Her "four essential ingredients" are
immediacy, the mirror, character, and time. But this is not giving anything away. For it is
LaDuke's
experienced, professional, proven instruction on these which makes the difference to filmmakers.
In
this instruction, she frequently makes reference to popular TV programs nearly every reader
would
be familiar with. Importantly, LaDuke helps the filmmaker develop her or his eye in watching TV
programs to learn from them. She talks about principles involved in pulling off the four
ingredients
to produce an appealing show; for the most part, leaving the technicalities of equipment, camera
angles, etc. to others. Aspiring filmmakers will find in LaDuke's deft, generous book principles
and
points they will not pick up so easily and plainly anywhere else.
Amnesia
Jonah Winters
Oberlin College Press
10 N. Professor St., Oberlin, OH 44074
www.oberlin.edu/ocpress
ISBN 0932440967 $14.95 64 pp.
Although one's life may be taken away from one by drink, sadness, loneliness, or misery leaving
one
in a state like amnesia, one is not forgotten--as these lines from the opening poem "Psalm"
proffer,
"See that man who drinks himself to sleep,/how his face is pressed against the kitchen table--/see
how the light from his kitchen shines through the window/of the old farmhouse?/Somebody sees
that
light." In Winter's poems, such amnesia-like states do not result in a tension between subject and
what has been lost. Rather, the individuals and in some cases a setting exist as in a state of grace;
their life or being is buoyed by a state of grace. This grace is sometimes hinted at by light-hearted
passages.
Wail of the Arab Beggars of the Casbah
Ismaeil Ait Djafer
translated by Jack Hirschman
Curbstone Press
321 Jackson St., Willimantic, CT 06226
www.curbstone.org
ISBN 1880684969 $12.95
The Introduction by the translator, Jack Hirschman, locates the disturbing inspiration for Djafer's
long poem and traces its zigzag, fortunate route to publication and notice, including 1945
publication in Sartre's Paris magazine "Les Temps Modernes." Djafer was a 22-year-old student
when he wrote his long poem in 1945. This was a time before the conflict between France and its
colony Algeria has broken out with all its fierceness. Djafer alternates between describing the
unhappy lot of native Algerian's under French rule and mildly chastising and occasionally mocking
the self-satisfied French. The inspiration for the poem was an incident where a beggar with
tuberculosis threw his young daughter under the wheels of a truck, killing her in his desperation.
The
poem is a long lament in the name of all Algerians in the days of French colonialism in the mid
1900s.
Elegy with a Glass of Whiskey
Crystal Bacon, Foreword by Stephen Dunn
Boa Editions
260 East Ave., Rochester, NY 14604
www.boaeditions.org
ISBN 1929918534 $14.95 80 pp.
Bacon has a beguiling, almost preternatural way of getting to the elusive essence of experiences,
the
ground of memory. "But what if your soul is that angel,/not the cast-off dress, but the
warmth/which
filled it...," she writes in recollecting someone from her past; and ends this poem with the lines,
"listen, here's a story about the mist/in the corner of the field." At times, she refers to aspects of
Greek mythology, one of the earliest means of trying to represent the surrounding world and the
emotions, and experiences it engendered in individuals. The poems are not academic or formal,
however. They stir up thoughts and feelings much beyond those which come to one ordinarily.
One
senses Bacon is trying to catch life at its deepest levels. Her poems are like nets cast into the
waters:
much escapes but some things are retained.
Riding Low on the Streets of Gold: Latino Literature for Young Adults
Judith Ortiz Cofer, editor
Arte Publico Press/U. of Houston
452 Cullen Performance Hall, Houston, TX 77204-2999
www.artepublicopress.com
ISBN 1558853804 $14.95 198+ix pp.
As Cofer says in her "Introduction, "Whether set in the time of the Mexican or Cuban
Revolutions,
or the beginning of the big Puerto Rican migrations to this country [the U. S.], the writers in this
collection are talking about you and me, telling the stories of every one of us who has felt isolated
by
language, skin color, or anything else that did not fit the big picture." The editor with a wide
background in Latino and Hispanic literature adds that this ethnic group has "learned to add our
stories to the story of the new place"; and that they are privileged to have two languages and two
cultures to "draw from and celebrate." The 14 authors, including the editor who adds two stories
of
her own, span the 1900s. The earliest, Jesus Colon, was born in Puerto Rico in 1901. Mike Padilla
was born in Oakland, CA, in 1964. Jose Marti from Cuba, and Beatriz de la Garza from Mexico,
are
two other writers. All are recognized Latino or Hispanic writers. The bibliography lists works of
theirs. This is a fine anthology in its field for readers of any age--representing the best in
Latino/Hispanic literature.
From Walt to Woodstock: How Disney Created the Counterculture
Douglas Brode
University of Texas Press
PO Box 7819, Austin, TX 78713-7819
www.utexas.edu/utpress
ISBN 0292709242 hc $55.00 252+xxxii pp.
ISBN 0292702736 trade paper $22.95
Brode takes up the incomparable, extensive influence of Walt Disney on the counterculture of the
1960s. Disney's influence is seen in the 60's utopian social ideas, psychedelic art, rebellious
individuality, and subversion of traditional, middle-class, family values, among other attributes of
the
time. Needless to say, this is not the common view of Walt Disney. But Brode's drawing together
of
a great amount of material from diverse, but inter-related fields such as psychology, fairy tales,
and
cinema is persuasive. The author sees into the seemingly innocuous Disney animated and film
characters and the surface sentimentalities raised by their personalities and situations. For
instance,
Brode exposes how the infectious liveliness and optimism of Mary Poppins played by Julie
Andrews
called into question family values. Similarly, the Davy Crockett character played by Fess Parker
was
an almost visionary individualist going against authority. In "Fantasia"--cited also as "the ultimate
trip" reminiscent of an aesthetically awesome, mind-changing drug-induced "trip"--the Mickey
Mouse character transcends the dislikable world of physical labor by learning the wisdom of
ancient
texts. And so on through numerous comparisons between the abundant works of Walt Disney and
aspects of the 1960s counterculture. Besides teaching cinema at Syracuse U., Brode is also a
screenwriter and journalist. "From Walt to Woodstock" is cultural analysis at its most
illuminating.
The Trail We Leave
Ruben Palma
Curbstone Press
321 Jackson St., Willimantic, CT 06226
www.curbstone.org
ISBN 1931896097 $14.95 166 pp.
Palma fled his native Chile for Denmark when the dictator Pinochet came to power in 1975. The
10
short stories here were originally written in Danish, where Palma gained notice as a writer. His
stories deal mostly with the disconnections of the emigre in a foreign land. These disconnections
are
seen not only in a melancholy with respect to a homeland, but also in everyday activities in an
adopted land, relationships, and reflection on oneself. Thus, the difficulty of the aspiring artist
Artemio Sandoval to fully and confidently grasp his artistic abilities in the story "The Return of
Roy
Jackson" is seen as an effect of the break with his native land of Colombia. For Artemio, his
situation was evidence that everyone has "to walk a particular path which is frequently just as long
as it is inscrutable before we can embrace our fate." As this brief quote indicates, Palma has a
sensitivity such that his attention on the unsettled emotions and predicaments of the emigre relate
as
well to the lives of most persons. Alexander Taylor's translation effectively conveys Palma's
relatively short, often simply declarative sentences which both reflect the fragmentations of the
author's life and his effort to bring the pieces together. Readers of short fiction will be glad to
come
into contact with Palma in this translation of his fetching stories.
Political Waters: The Long, Dirty, Contentious, Incredibly Expensive but Eventually Triumphant
History of Boston Harbor, A Unique Environmental Success Story
Eric Jay Dolin
U. of Massachusetts Press
PO Box 429, Amherst, MA 01004
www.umass.edu/umpress
ISBN 1558494456 $34.95 240+xi pp. 800-537-5487
The pollution of Boston Harbor arguably began with the founding of the city of Boston with
colonists dumping their refuse into it. But no matter when its start, by the latter 1900s, the
pollution
became so severe that something had to be done. The commerce and quality of life of Boston
were
being threatened, as was Boston's image as a progressive city appealing to tourists. After tracking
the sources and rise of the pollution, Dolin turns to the various organizations and individuals from
local civic activists to state politicians to Federal officials who became involved in cleaning up the
Harbor. In addition to the bureaucratic, political, environmental, business, and citizen factions
each
with its own agenda coming together, the engineering feats and new technology and machinery
for
reducing pollution are also covered. Independent scholar Dolin ably keeps all of the many factors
of
the complex and lengthy task of getting control of Boston Harbor's serious pollution problem.
Considering the diverse influential and in many ways oppositional parties involved in the daunting
challenge, it's a wonder it was ever accomplished--a wonder the author follows from start to end
with clarity and a well-orchestrated narrative.
The Palace of the People: The Crystal Palace at Sydenham, 1854-1936
J. R. Piggott
U. of Wisconsin Press
1930 Monroe St., 3rd floor, Madison, WI 53711
www.wisc.edu/wisconsinpress
ISBN 0299200949 $35.00 230+ix pp.
After the Great Exhibition in Hyde Park in 1851 was over, a group of wealthy Britains moved the
Crystal Palace which was its main feature to Sydenham, a park in the south of London. The men
wanted to preserve the Palace for the enjoyment and education of their contemporaries and future
generations. The Crystal Palace with its extensive use of glass and iron hearkening the
architecture
of modernism was envisioned as a "palace" for all the public, much as the palaces of British and
European royalty had been centers for the aristocrats and court favorites of olden times. Until it
was
destroyed by fire in 1936, the Palace served this purpose by permanent and changing exhibitions
of
just about anything. At different times, visitors could see sideshow-like curiosities or
performances,
paintings and sculptures of prominent artists, artifacts from ancient cultures, or plants, stuffed
animals, and other aspects of the natural world. For a time, there was even an exhibition of
dinosaurs. The Crystal Palace was a combination of circus, museum, and arts gallery. Color
pictures
of prints, old photographs, and Victorian-era illustrations play a part in conveying the diversity
and
ambitious scope of the Crystal Palace, which were meant not only to appeal to, but to recognize
and
in some ways to shape the heterogeneous, restless population that would come to figure so
strongly
in the emerging society of modernism. Piggott has been associated with universities around the
world and has organized art exhibitions.
Tart Cards: London's Illicit Advertising Art
Caroline Archer
Mark Batty Publishers
6050 Boulevard East - Suite 2H, West New York, NJ 07093
www.MarkBattyPublisher.com
ISBN 0972424040 $24.95 120 pp.
"Tart cards" is the name for the business cards put up by London call girls and prostitutes in
telephone booths, subway stations, parks, and other busy public places to solicit customers. As
expected, most of the cards are raunchy, but not shockingly so. It's more the congestion and
ubiquity of them in the public places that attracts notice--for individually, most are only a little
more
risque or suggestive than many magazine ads or television commercials. Archer presents
innumerable examples of these cards familiar to all Londoners both as a statement about the ribald
character of popular culture and also a generous sampling of the visuals, graphics, and lettering of
contemporary advertising. A 12-page glossary takes the reader through the accessories, props,
and
various sexual activities which are a part of the prostitute's trade, many of which are referred to in
the tart cards. There's also a bibliography of 30 or so books. With a professional and academic
background in typography and graphic communication, Archer is the ideal author for this focus on
the tart cards in a vivid, collage-like format with informative text on the London sex scene.
The Orchard
Bright Pegeen Kelly
BOA Editions
260 East Ave., Rochester, NY 14604
www.boaeditions.com
ISBN 1929918488 $14.95 79 pp.
This volume follows previous ones by Kelly receiving special notice--one, in 1987, a Yale Series
of
Younger Poets Prize; and in 1994, a Lamont Poetry Selection awarded by the Academy of
American
Poets. The poems of "The Orchard" are like Gardens of Eden, self-sufficient worlds removed
from
the everyday world. But Kelly's Gardens, or orchards, are not overseen by an almighty God giving
them organization or a morality. Rather, these worlds apart are places vitalized and sustained by
the
movement of emotions and feelings. In most cases, these are heartening, feeding on themselves as
roots feed on soil; other times, though, the emotions are forbidding and ravaging. In Kelly's
artfully
isolated worlds, passions are at play in their pure state. "The heart will put on for a moment/Its
royal
robes and become a grave man/Standing before an open crypt/With an air of such command...." -
from "Masque."
Whatever It Takes: How Professional Learning Communities Respond When Kids Don't
Learn
Richard Dufour et al.
National Education Service
304 W. Kirkwood Ave. - Suite 2, Bloomington, IN 47404-5132
www.nesonline.com
ISBN 1932127283 $24.95 263+xvi pp. 800-733-6786
One page of one of the appendices shows the "Pyramid of Interventions" followed at Adlai
Stevenson High School in suburban Chicago to help students who fall behind in learning and to
keep
a school's collective academic performance up to par. The first, bottom, stage of the "Pyramid" is
"Freshman Advisory/Freshman Mentor Program"; the last, top, stage is "Special Education
Placement." The 17 helpful steps between the bottom and top include Good Friend Program,
Social
Work Contact, Guided Study Program, and Insight Class. Other tools for elementary or high
schools
found in appendices include sample letters, evaluation/background forms, and checklists. In the
text,
the four authors--three former school principles and one director of student services--relate how
these and other tools as a part of their schools' policies and practices were effective in reaching
the
goal of improving academic achievement. The book is patently of interest to professional
educators
at all levels, and would be useful to mentors as well. The backgrounds of the authors in schools in
four different types of communities make for guidance applicable to all public schools.
The Sons of Maxwell Perkins: Letters of Scott Fitzgerald
Ernest Hemingway, Thomas Wolfe, and Their Editor
Matthew J. Bruccoli, with Judith S. Baughman, editors
U. of South Carolina Press
937 Assembly St., Carolina Plaza, 8th floor, Columbia, SC 29208
ISBN 1570035482 $29.95 361+xxxiii pp.
In one 1936 letter of more than 20 pages, Tom Wolfe writes to Maxwell Perkins, "However, I am
now going to write my own Ulysses...Like Mr. Joyce, and like most artists, I believe, I am by
nature
a Puritan. At any rate, a growing devotion to work, to purpose, to fulfillment, a growing intensity
of
will, tends to distill one's life into a purer liquor." In a 1933 letter to Perkins from Paris, referring
to
a critic, Hemingway wrote, "[W]hen he labelled [sic] me as approaching middle-age was trying to
get rid of me that way--Others have failed." Perkins writes in a 1924 letter to Fitzgerald that the
character Gatsby in the novel he is working on is "more or less a mystery, i. e., more or less
vague,
and this may be somewhat of an artistic intention, but I think it is mistaken." Then Perkins
suggests
how Fitzgerald might make up for this vagueness. The letters are filled with such choice remarks.
It
was Fitzgerald who in a 1938 letter to Perkins called himself, Hemingway, and Wolfe this fabled
editor's "sons." The letters display, among other things, why Perkins earned this lasting
reputation.
Perkins tried to bring these three major mid twentieth-century American authors together into
some
relationship which would benefit their writing, and perhaps ease any troubles they were
experiencing. But he did not get far with this as they were too independent, but mainly because
they
were too individualistic as writers. Most of the letters are between Perkins and one of the authors.
But there are some from one author to another usually making comments on human nature or
writing. The letters selected by editor Bruccoli are for the most part free of the chattiness that is
often found in collected letters. The letters covering about two decades, from 1922 to 1943, allow
one to see differences among the three authors leading to a deeper grasp of their unique natures
and
aims as writers. And the exchanges between Perkins and the authors allows for an uncommon,
elucidating picture of the thoughts, decisions, and work going into creative literature.
The Poem Behind the Poem: Translating Asian Poetry
Frank Stewart, editor
Copper Canyon Press
PO Box 271, Port Townsend, WA 98368
www.coppercanyonpress.org
ISBN 1556592000 $18.00 269+xv pp.
Susie Jie Young Kim sees from her own work of literary translation of Asian poems into English
that "the text is filtered and contaminated through the translator and thereby transformed" so that
the finished translation is an "arrested moment of such fluidity." About 20 essays by translators of
Korean, Japanese, Vietnamese, Khmer, and other Asian poems relate this fluidity Kim describes in
their own work of translation. Kiza Lowitz likens her translating to midwifery. W. S. Merwin,
Gary
Snyder, and Jane Hirshfield are among the number of other translators. Using examples of finished
translations, lines of poems, and even phrases and single words, the exceptionally skilled
translators
keenly sensitive to such considerations as veracity, meaning, cultural differences, and the
temperament of the poet of the originals--which combined might be called the ethics of
translation--write cogent and illuminating essays on the tricky, generous art of poetic
translation.
Word of Mouse: The New Age of Networked Media
Jim Bannister
Agate
1501 Madison St., Evanston, IL 60202
www.agatepublishing.com
ISBN 0972456260 $24.95 216 pp.
Banister deals with the broad, deep, and revolutionary, impact of the new media on all parts of the
society with a business slant. Currently a consultant in the media field who has worked for Time
Warner, Walt Disney, and Steven Spielberg, he tries to offer a "roadmap to those interested in
how
to employ networked media...in ways that are native, self-sustaining, and profitable (if that is the
aim)." In doing this for business readers, he also offers a timely, succinct picture of the ways the
Internet, mobile communication, digital photography, and other parts of the new, networked
media
are affecting education, politics, consumer behavior, news gathering and reporting, and family life
and other relationships. Banister helps businesspersons recognize opportunities brought by the
changes in all these fields. For general readers, he specifies the effects of the current and
developing
networked media on the fields in the manner of cultural studies. The general effect inherent in the
varied localized changes is a change in the nature, and the meaning, of literacy. "Symphonic
literacy
and the feminine touch [based on the visual]" are the essentials of the new literacy Banister sees
shaping up.
Indian Country: Travels in the American Southwest, 1840-1935
Martin Padget
U. of New Mexico Press
MSC01 1200, University of NM, Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001
www.unmpress.com
ISBN 0826330282 $37.95 250+xiv pp. 800-249-7737
The writings of white Americans about the Southwest over the century from the 1840s to the
1930s
reflected their respective interests, proclivities, and personalities. This is true even for the
relatively
more objective writings, such as those of natural history. John Wesley Powell is a case in point.
As
head of the Bureau of American Ethnology from 1879 to 1902, he was one of the country's most
influential scientists. Exploring the Colorado River and adjacent areas in the 1870s, he was aware
that there were many who were waiting to learn about the possibilities of the area for
development.
Particularly, would the Colorado River serve as a waterway from the Rocky Mountain region to
the
Gulf of California? Thus, on the basis of his own high position in government and U. S. historical
circumstances of the time, Powell sustained "a sincere and rather grand vision of how the nation
as a
whole would benefit through exploration and survey" of this area even though he had no personal
interest in profiting financially from its development. Nonetheless, this predisposition is evident in
his
descriptions and drawings. Padget--a lecturer in American Studies at the U. of Wales--similarly
analyzes how the writings of others, as well as art and photography, contain the predispositions
and
sometimes conscious aims of the different artists. Among these Helen Hunt Jackson, author of the
novel "Ramona"; the self-promoting travel writer Charles Fletcher Lummis given to extravagantly
romanticizing every place he traveled to, including the So uthwest; and the early 1900s painter
Elbridge Ayer Burbank, whose portraits of Geronimo and other Southwest Indians had much to
do
with the way they were visualized by Americans. Overall, Padget's work demonstrates how, as
has
so often been the case throughout history, encounters of individuals of European background with
native peoples have resulted in images and comprehension of the natives which reflect the values,
inclinations, and dominance of the Europeans rather than a grasp of the roots, fundamentals, and
societies of the natives.
Hearing History: A Reader
Mark M. Smith, editor
U. of Georgia Press
330 Research Drive, Athens, GA 30602-4901
www.ugapress.org
ISBN 0820325821 $59.95 413+xxii pp.
ISBN 082032583X $29.95
One of the articles taken from academic journals goes back to 1985. Some are from the mid and
latter 1990s. A few appeared in the last few years. "Aural history," or historical acoustemology or
auditory culture, as it is sometimes called, is a developing field. Chapters with titles such as
Soundscapes and Earwitnesses, Hearing Renaissance England, Listening to Souther Slavery, and
American Noise, 190-1930 impart its approach and subject matter. As one author notes, the
acclamation "God save the queen Elisabeth" directed to the English Queen Elisabeth I by groups
of
petitioners waiting to see her signified her as the "chief soundmark" indicting the structure and
procedures of the court. As expected, music sheds much light on particular historical eras; but less
expected, so do audience reactions at plays and other public activities, sounds of battle, and street
noise. A few of the chapters deal with technical matters such as recordings preserving the aural
record of a time, or its history as oral history in the case of some aboriginal groups. In reviewing
the
21 articles in his Introduction, the editor Mark Smith notes that some are historians and
musicians.
But unfortunately the reader has to pick out the references to positions and conventional fields of
study; and in some cases, the reader is left in the dark about a particular author's background. The
usual self-standing section headed "Contributors" citing such information in collections of articles
such as this is missing--surely an oversight when readers would be particularly interested in the
sources of this new field of aural history. The oversight is peripheral, however; it does not detract
from one's recognition on reading the articles that indeed the sounds of a period are representative
of it as is its distinctive images, figures, events, and art.
Marc Just Couldn't Sleep
Gabriela Keselman, author
Noemi Villamuza, illustrator
Kane/Miller, PO Box 8515, La Jolla, CA 92038
www.kanemiller.com
ISBN 1929132689 $15.95 32 pp.
In this translation of the original Spanish children's book, the young boy Marc cannot sleep
because
of his worries. When he tells his mother he is worried a giant mosquito will get into his room, his
mother gives him a helmet and sword to protect himself from them to go with the special pair of
mosquito-proof pajamas she has made for him. Marc's mother becomes tired out doing different
things to stop his worries, including shutting all the windows and doors of the house to keep out
the
mean wind Marc is worried about. But eventually Marc's mother gets fed up with trying to allay
his
bottomless worries. Taking away his helmet and other defenses, she sits down beside Marc on the
edge of his bed--at which point Marc readily falls asleep, thus demonstrating the true solution to
his
worries. Villamuza, the artist, was a finalist in the 2002 Spanish National Prize of Illustration.
You Have to Admit It's Getting Better: From Economic Prosperity to Environmental Quality
Terry L. Anderson, editor
Hoover Institution Press
Stanford University, Stanford, CA
www.hoover.org
ISBN 0817944826 $15.00 212+xxiii pp.
The six articles more than challenge the widely accepted notion that economic growth, including
globalization, is threatening environmental disaster. With data, extrapolations, and plain evidence,
the authors make the case that overall environmental quality is improving. No innovative,
specialized, and in some cases alarmist environmental programs or wide-reaching legislation is
required to ensure desirable environmental quality. The traditional, current concepts of property
rights and limited government along with existing laws are proving effective in not only
protecting,
but improving the environment for most persons, including those in underdeveloped countries. As
economic progress improves the standard of living and quality of life of individuals, families, and
national populations, they desire and require of their leaders a safe, enjoyable environment.
Persons
with a particular interest in the environment will have to deal with the points and policies of the
collected essays. The starting point of them is the findings of Bjorn Lomborg that despite
exceptional economic growth in many countries and the spread of capitalism by globalization,
resources in fact are not becoming scarcer and environments are not being destroyed. The essays
deal with the major facets of growth--technology, rising standard of living, free trade, laissez-faire
economics, and population growth.
I Love My India: Stories for a City
Avinash Veeraraghavan
Tara Publishing
www.tarabooks.com/Dewi
Lewis Publishing
www.dewilewispublishing.com
ISBN 8186211659 $29.95 212 pp.
Born in Bangalore, India, and working in Italy as a artist, Veeraraghavan presents contemporary
India in a postmodern collage of photographs and images where past clashes with new, traditional
culture with modernity. The photos are so vivid in color, so unexpected, and often so abbreviated
and concentrated that they seem to go by as if in a film. Veeraraghavan's imagery presents India in
a
way that it has never been seen, or even imagined. The work divided into the three sections of
Billboard City, Weak Architecture, and Remote City is a statement about a world culture which
has
developed in this age of postmodernism and globalization.
Murder on the Reservation: American Indian Crime Fiction, Aims and Achievements
Ray B. Browne
Popular Press/U. of Wisconsin Press
1930 Monroe St. - Third Floor, Madison, WI 53711
www.wisc.edu/wisconsinpress
ISBN 0299196100 hc $65.00 289+viii.
ISBN 0299196143 trade paper $19.95
"My purpose in this study is to analyze and evaluate the individual works of the authors, and
equally
important, to point out how they comment, if they do, on the individual's reading of and attitude
about the race relations between the several groups in the United States." Browne does this by
looking at the authors as individuals coming out of particular backgrounds and developing in
individualistic ways and also studying their crime fictions. As Browne says in his Introduction, he
is
as much concerned about sociological matters, especially race relations, reflected in the fictions as
he
is about them as a recent, and revealing, genre of popular literature. Browne is professor emeritus
of
popular culture at Bowling Green State U. With short interviews with authors in the appendix,
"Murder on the Reservation" is an authoritative, comprehensive study of the genre of American
Indian crime fiction.
Digging the Dirt: The Archaeological Imagination
Jennifer Wallace
Duckworth, London, England
www.duckworth.co.uk
distributed in U. S. by International Publishers Marketing
PO Box 605, Herndon, VA 20172-0605
ISBN 0715632787 $25.00 220 pp. 800-758-3756
Wallace engages in an extended literary treatment of archaeology. This attachment to archaeology
built up in her in her travels to different places around the world where she explored
archaeological
sites real and reputed. With her literary temperament, she sees archaeology as involving a "poetics
of
depth." Not so much concerned with the discipline and deductions of archaeology, Wallace sees,
and
feels, it as a desire to uncover the millennial secrets of human nature and as a countervailing
activity
to the centrifugal tendencies of the postmodern world. Beginning her book with an anecdote
about
Schliemann--who discovered the site of ancient Troy--believing that the face of a buried warrior
he
came upon was that of the king Agamemnon only to have the face disintegrate upon being
exposed
to the air, Wallace writes of the romance of archaeology as it has affected noted and unknown
archaeologists, writers, and artists, and also herself. "Digging the Dirt" makes good reading for
Wallace's literary style, and for its occasional lucid notes of social critique implicit in the author's
romantic view of archaeology.
Willing Obedience: Citizens, Soldiers, and the Progress of Consent in America, 1776-1898
Elizabeth D. Samet
Stanford U. Press
Stanford, CA
www.sup.org
ISBN 0804747253 $55.00 273+xii pp.
Samet uses presidents, generals, and fictional characters in American 19th-century literature to
bring
into focus the formation of allegiance to the democratic nation of the United States even as the
fledging nation enshrined the ideals of freedom and individuality. An associate professor of
English
at West Point, Samet is especially interested in American citizens in military service. After the
rout
of the Union army in the Battle of Bull Run in the early days of the Civil War, a disgusted General
Sherman exclaimed that he was looking for "no more hurrahing, no more humbug...[but instead
for]
cool, thoughtful, hard-fighting soldiers." In Sherman's observation is a recognition that large
numbers of Americans did not yet realize what was required of them by obedience to their leaders
in
this critical time. Samet scrutinizes the mixed questions of obedience, conscience, humaneness,
and
personality in presidential and military leadership (e. g., Grant); concepts of allegiance inhering in
public monuments and ceremonies; and imaginative treatments of patriotic obedience in poems by
Whitman and stories by Melville playing a role in the formation of proper obedience as a citizen.
Her
interdisciplinary work especially pertinent in this time of war for the U. S. is deeply sensitive to
subtleties in a genuine and meaningful obedience that is different from "hurrahing." In examining
the
many facets of her subject and developing her ideas about it, Samet shows in the end how it is that
such obedience, though it may appear to be absolute, is not blind obedience.
Reading Thai Murals
David K. Wyatt
Silkworm Books
Thailand
www.silkwormbooks.info
distributed in U. S. by U. of Washington Press
PO Box 50096, Seattle, WA 98145-5096
ISBN 9749575474 $24.95 80+xii pp.
The colorful, complex murals in Thai temples are different types from those found in Western
religious buildings. The Thai murals are not iconic. Nor do they tell stories; nor are they meant to
invoke reverence. They are more historical or in some cases personal than that. The Thai murals
are
primary means of communication and memory within a community. In most cases, a single
individual
commissioned a particular mural to "educate or inform those they assumed would for the next
several generations be gazing upon those walls." A mural could represent a commitment made by
the entire community. Or if the one paying for the mural was a leader in the community--which
was
not uncommon--a mural he commissioned might illustrate the direction he hoped to lead it in.
Wyatt
opens up the Thai murals for the reader. The author is a leading historian of Thailand who taught
at
Cornell.
Formed in the Image of Christ: The Sacramental-Moral Theology of Bernard Haring C.Ss.R.
Kathleen A. Cahalan
Liturgical Press
PO Box 7500, Col legeville, MN 56321-7500
www.litpress.org
ISBN 0814651747 $26.95 252+viii pp.
Haring was born in Germany in 1912. His ideas about the morality he would expound in his
writings
which became influential among moral teachers and students of morality were formed as he
witnessed the varied adaptations and responses of the German populace under the dictatorship of
Hitler and his Nazi government. Haring's central concern over his life was the relationship
between
religion and morality. He saw that each could be taken as a separate subject, even though they
were
inevitably inter-related in unique, essential ways. He explored how sacrament,prayer, and worship
deepened religion even as these elements of religion clarified morality. As Cahalan demonstrates
in
her expositions on Haring's writings and thinking on morality, this stimulating, influential moral
teacher offers "a systematic approach to moral theology that is systematic and
thematically-integrated...[one that] accounts for both personal and social dimensions of the moral
life." Cahalan teaches pastoral theology and ministry in the School of Theology at Maryland's St.
John's University.
The Logic of History: Putting Postmodernism in Perspective
C. Behan McCullagh
Routledge
29 W. 35 St., New York, NY 10001
www.routledge.com
ISBN 0415223997 $32.95 212+viii pp. 800-634-7064
McCullagh, a Senior Lecturer in philosophy at La Trobe University, puts postmodernism into
perspective by going over the sources, methodology, deductions, and limitations of history as a
discipline. He does this at times by stating precepts of postmodernism, and then countering these
with explanations of how the study of history is actually engaged in; which in most cases makes
the
postmodernism precepts appear to be unfounded and idle. At other times, McCullagh goes
directly
to aspects of history, thus implicitly countering some postmodern viewpoint toward it. The basis
for
postmodernism's low regard of history is postmodernism's assertion that there is no such thing as
truth. But as the author rejoins, history has never claimed to represent or to proffer absolute truth.
At most, historians "are asserting that the historical descriptions are a part of an excellent
explanation of the evidence available to them, indeed part of the best explanation that can be
imagined...." By taking up in turn causes, human nature, cultural factors, and other elements of
history and how these are dealt with in analyses or narratives, the author makes his point that
history
uniquely proffers relevant and reliable readings of human affairs. McCullagh takes the reasonable
position that while history cannot and does not presume to present absolute truth, it is nonetheless
foolish and short-sighted to deny the information and knowledge it can and does relate.
The Will to Technology and the Culture of Nihilism: Heidegger, Nietzsche, and Marx
Arthur Kroker
U. of Toronto Press
5201 Dufferin St. North York, Ontario M3H 5T8 Canada
800-565-9523
228 pp.
ISBN 0802087868 hc $50.00
ISBN 0802085733 trade paper $24.95
Kroker applies the critiques and ideas of the three major modernist thinkers to the increasingly
technological world of the 21st century. Marx foresaw the ruthless efficiencies of capitalism which
are coming to pass in globalization. With his philosophy of Being involving both its appearance
and
its absence, Heidegger is the "key philosopher of fully realized technological society, a theorist
who
provides both a fundamental metaphysics of virtual capital and a searing vision of the twisted pairs
of desolation and freedom as technological destiny." Nietzsche's nihilism captures the quality of
the
hyper-technological society where humans are "objectless objects" subject to the indifferent laws
and
ends of technology. In such a society, the image will rule, much as a monarch ruled absolutist
societies of the past--"A digital future under the global control of the masters of the digital
universe
[i. e., those who control the means of devising the image and impressing it on society] means a
future of the image under the control of an acquisitive and accumulative mentality driven on by a
strange, restless, but nonetheless relentless desire to possess the future of the image." Seeing
conditions and trends in today's global culture as realizations of the worst fears of the three major
thinkers of Western culture, Kroker draws a picture of a future as bleak as any portrayed in a
dystopian science fiction film or novel.
The Texas Post Office Murals: Art for the People
Philip Parisi
Texas A&M University Press
4354 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843
www.tamu.edu/press
ISBN 1585442313 $50.00 181+x pp. 800-826-8911
The 100 murals found in 69 Texas post offices were part of FDR's New Deal Federal government
program to try to bring the country out of the De pression. Although most of the murals survive
and
feature historical and regional subjects of interest such as cowboys, Indians, longhorn cattle,
pioneers, Sam Houston, and factory workers, they are not readily visible, but mostly obscured
behind lighting fixtures, air ducts, and other equipment in the present-day post offices. This work
remedies this neglect of the priceless American murals by brightly-colored illustrations of them
along
with the notes of their artist, location, medium, and condition as well as short essays on subject,
aesthetics, and the artist's work on them. Parisi is an instructor at Utah State U. and freelance
writer
who came into contact with the impressive murals while on the staff of the Texas Historical
Commission. The murals' fate is uncertain. In any event, they are saved from being virtually
unknown by this handsome art book.
Distant Voices Drawing Near: Essays in Honor of Antoinette Clark Wire
Holly E. Hearon, editor
Liturgical Press
PO Box 7500, Collegeville, MD 56321
www.litpress.org
ISBN 0814651577 $29.95 258+x pp.
In a lecture, Antoinette Clark Wire once said that she was "at rock bottom...one of three sisters"
in
her family. This fundamental, constant, almost insistent identification of herself as being a part of
the
group of sisters, even though her individuality as a person and scholar has been recognized by
others, has led Wire to studies on the place, meaning, and influence of women in early
Christianity.
Since 1973, Wire has been the Robert S. Dollar Professor of New Testament Studies at San
Francisco Theological Seminary. Sixteen colleagues in the field of theology contribute to this
volume in honor of Wire. The essays do not deal with her work, but rather encouraged by her
novel
and extensive explorations of the long-neglected relationship of women and Christianity, highlight
and offer interpretations of women figures in the Bible and other ancient literature and art.
Serpents in the Garden: Liaisons with Culture and Sex
Alexander Cockburn and Jeffrey St. Clair, editors
AK Press
674-A 23rd St., Oakland, CA 94612
www.akpress.org
ISBN 1902593944 $15.95 348+xxiii pp. 800-283-3572
Over 40 essays cover the terrain of popular culture in an entertaining, and in many cases
freewheeling style. Cockburn is familiar as a regular writer for the "Nation" magazine. He even
throws in his list of "Best Books of the Twentieth Century." Along with Cockburn, St. Clair is the
co-author of the book "Whiteout: The Cia, Drugs, and the Press" and editor of the online journal
"CounterPunch," from which these pieces were taken. The Trade Towers, Bob Dylan, Frank
Lloyd
Wright, Freud, Dali, Edward Said, Hollywood, Gay Pride, the Kinsey Institute, and John Lennon
and John Ashcroft are some of the eclectic popular culture and cultural topics dealt with in the
sprightly essays meant mainly to pique the reader.
Henry Berry
Reviewer
Karla's Bookshelf
Saying Grace
James Lenfestey
Marsh River Editions
M233 Marsh Road, Marshfield, WI 54449
ISBN 097189096X $10.00 33 pages
Saying Grace is a delicious book of poems, small but well-crafted pieces that indeed offer
blessings
and thanksgivings. Within the framework of these poems, Lenfestey journeys back and forth
through
miles of time and miles of space to childhoods and passages and the process of living a life.
Some pieces comment on difficult social issues. For example, in "Requiem for the Iraq National
Library," ancient Baghdad burns and yes, a cruel ruler is brought down, but this is only part of the
story. A history is destroyed, too, a legacy guarded by "three hundred generations / of goutish,
near-sighted men." Sad and frustrating is this destroyed literary record where, "Scrolls of papyrus
and the thin skins of sheep / crackle in fire eagerly as rage and ignorance / flames all scriveners
fear"
(9).
For other poems, the natural world runs headlong into civilization. In "Driving Across Wisconsin
September 11, 2001," the narrator notices that all of nature mourns the losses of that day:
"Bouquets of asters, purple and white, / offer themselves from the side of the road / to all the
wounded passing by" (15). In the poem "Nanaboujou, Awake!" (Nanaboujou is the mythic figure
who was said to have founded the Ojibwa Midewiwin peoples.) Nanaboujou sleeps as his lands
are
destroyed by mining, by paper production, by progress. The narrator implores him: "Will you
please
awake and save us?" Can Nanaboujou bring back what was lost to the waters and forests of
northern
Minnesota and Wisconsin? "Or can [he] still not stand the smell?" (8).
Not all the pieces contain social commentary. Some are filled with a wry, poignant, wit. In
"Highway Alphabet," for example, the narrator traces his trip home by naming the highways and
what he sees along them--in a not-quite abecedarian fashion:
Accelerate on D past Drambuie's crumbled shed,
he who steals bellybuttons from lazy boys.
Slow down on Highway P near farmer Gilson's
empty pen of pignapped sows. 1
In another, Lenfestey narrator plays tennis with a kid thirty-nine years younger. "In the dark," he
says, "I have no idea / I am too old" 12. The narrator wins a few but imagines his opponent as his
future son-in-law where the kid is "taciturn" and his daughter "giddy." Maybe this is another way
to
"win" the game.
Lenfestey's poems are carefully crafted with fine attention to words and line. His language and
imagery are lush and rich with sensuality, loneliness, and resignation. In his elegy to "Roadside
Flowers," the narrator describes:
periwinkle blue hands that scale their Gaudi stalks,
wild yellow sunbursts ride slender ropes,
a hundred luscious lavenders clump in bowls. 18
The narrator describes himself as not living in the woods "cloaked in doeskin and bear scat," but
as
dwelling in the margins, in the "space between" the highway and the deep woods.
My colorful friends and I, we are poplar, soft
but swift, first in after fire, leaves flashing.
Blueberries too, tart, big as hatpin heads.
Our birds are buzzard, crow, and raven,
our fur coyote. 18
Lenfestey's poems live in the spaces between trips, between treks back--and forward in time--to
places of memory and longing. These poems are journeys home again to reluctant reunions, to
valediction, and to finding the way back from grief and time's inescapable passage.
Life trills
at encounters like this
choices to make,
then the race forward at full speed.
Signs of failure are everywhere.
Every few miles
red entrails spray the center line,
bloated bellies float in shoulder weeds,
crows pick at crumpled hide and bones,
white tails flag the passing wind.
And between those bloody markers?
Ten thousand invisible successes
swift, decisive contrails melting
into the soft, nibbling bark
of next year's wobbly fawns. "Crossing the Freeway" 30-31
Karla Huston
Reviewer
Kellogg's Bookshelf
The Mirror of Diana
A.R. Homer
Llumina Press
8055 West McNab Road, Tamarac, FL 33321
ISBN: 1932560637 $13.95 256 pages
"To all the treasures lost in war" reads the dedication of The Mirror of Diana, a novel that has as
its
centerpiece a major, yet little-remembered, archaeological disaster of World War II: the
mysterious
burning of the monumental ships of the Roman Emperor Caligula as the German army retreated
from Rome. Having been for many years intrigued by this mystery, I chose this book for my
summer
reading list. But I found in it much more than fascinating archaeological background I found a
novel as touching as it is exciting, and one that breaks many of the rules. A German officer in love
with an Italian woman? A good German?
Klaus Schmidt, an artillery officer and a lover of antiquities, is the protagonist. In 1943 in Nemi, a
small town south of Rome, Klaus visits the ancient ships of Caligula, housed in a museum by the
side
of Lake Nemi, whence they were recovered a decade earlier in an engineering feat almost as
remarkable as the ships themselves. (Lake Nemi, incidentally, was the setting of the Temple of
Diana, the bizarre rituals of which inspired Sir James Frazer's classic, The Golden Bough.)
At the museum, Paolo, the ship museum's curator, overcomes his dread of his German visitor (by
September 1943, the Germans were no longer allies of Italy but occupiers) and discovers a
kindred
spirit in Klaus, who is also bewitched by the ships. The two develop a warm friendship, although
Paolo's dread returns as his daughter, Rosanna, and Klaus are inexorably drawn to each other.
Klaus
and Rosanna's deepening love leads to complications that worsen exponentially as the pages fly
by.
"The Mirror of Diana" was the name by which the ancient Romans called Lake Nemi, the
cobalt-blue, perfectly spherical crater lake in which the Temple of Diana was reflected. In the
novel
it is a double entendre - it is also a priceless artifact Paolo has found, a silver mirror upon which is
carved the legend of Diana and Acteon, a metaphor for the theme of the book: "It not only
embodied the myth of Diana, it embodied the eternal human conflict of mind versus heart, of
need
versus want, of duty versus love. Since the birth of the gods it was ever thus."
Writing in clean and elegant prose, A.R. Homer evokes a vivid image of wartime Italy and draws
the
reader into the thoughts and feelings of the characters: " Klaus looked across the folding field
desk
on which stood a family photograph; he thought of his own family and the legions of families that
peered out from such pictures to German soldiers all over Europe. For how long would they have
to
trace their fingers over the cold images instead of embracing the living warmth?"
The author breathes life into all the characters. The idealistic Klaus often vacillates and broods
while
Rosanna, although brave and determined, displays the immaturity of youth. Maria, Paolo's
unsentimental and survival-focused wife, is in sharp contrast to her husband, whose
head-in-the-clouds obsession with the safety of the ships triggers more than one round of
henpecking. Gianni, the street-smart and ever-hungry urchin, is wise beyond his years. Gunther,
Klaus's savvy sergeant, longs to be back on the farm in Bavaria, but until then believes that just
following orders is the simplest way to survive (a philosophy that has brutal consequences). But
Dressler, the SS commander with whom Klaus locks horns, made my stomach lurch every time he
appeared on the scene: "Dressler's extended arm lowered as it pointed an invitation through the
large
door, like some black vulture arrogantly inviting his prey to dinner."
This book will appeal to a wide audience. It is well-researched and will be appreciated by those
interested in World War II and in antiquities. But this fascinating book will attract all who like
pulsating historical fiction: the breathtaking plot twists and the relentless suspense will hold the
reader in thrall. And, of course, the poignant story of the star-crossed lovers will appeal to the
romantic in all of us. I give The Mirror of Diana my highest recommendation.
Carol W. Kellogg
Reviewer
Lori's Bookshelf
Night Diving
Michelene Esposito
Spinsters Ink
P.O. Box 22005, Denver, CO. 80222
www.spinsters-ink.com
ISBN: 1883523524 $14.00 228 pgs
In Rose Salino's life, bad things happen in threes: she's dumped by her lover, loses her job
(because
she worked with her lover at a restaurant she had always considered "ours" which wasn't), and
then her grandmother dies necessitating a flight from San Francisco to her childhood home in
Long
Island, NY. And so begins a journey in the present as well as in the past.
Rose's first person tale is bookended by events in the present, while the bulk of the novel tells the
story of her youth. In a crisp, fresh, and often funny voice, she tells of her early struggles with her
manic-depressive mother, of feeling alone and outside the pale during her school years, and most
of
all, of her friendship with Jessie who not only had a screwed up mother similar to Rose's, but also
carried hidden wounds of traumatic abuse.
Much of Rose's description of her childhood is moving, and with her fine prose, Esposito never
lapses into melodrama. "I was nine the first time my mother got sick, leaving me with an
emptiness
that clawed at me like some little trapped animal. It was as if some faceless man had taken her
away
in the middle of the night and because I could not yet feel where she ended and I began, had taken
me with them. I awoke one morning to find her shell and a hugeness that grew louder and louder
and more panicky inside me. The first aloneness" (p. 34).
The way Rose attempts to make sense of her world, to grow up, to find a place for herself is by
terms touching and comical. I laughed out loud when Rose describes her friend's enormous
Newfoundland dog: "She was, I was sure, some mix of black bear and water buffalo, definitely
bigger and heavier than me, with long black fur and a mouth I envisioned snapping off my leg in
one
jagged bloody chomp" (p. 22).
Esposito has a delightful sense of timing as well as the ability to evoke character, particularly
Rose's,
in ways that kept me glued to the book. For instance, at her grandmother's funeral, she nervously
connects back up with childhood friend Jessie, and thinks this: "I can't even tell you why I'm so
damn nervous except that I don't know where to start. You can't start from where you left off
because that was a dozen years ago and you end up feeling like William Randolph Hearst
clutching a
sled, rocking back and forth in some dark room, whispering, 'Rosebud, Rosebud'" (p. 116).
Esposito's ability to juxtapose flashes of comedy into the story is illuminating in the way that
unexpected lightning allows for brief glimpses into dark places.
By the time the events of the past catch up with the quandaries and disasters of the present, it's
clear
that Rose has the ability to rise above her circumstances but will she make the right choices in
order to do so? She has the possibility of a life with Jessie, but can she let go of her hang-ups and
really communicate with the people she loves? "Love is knowing a person's tender spots, the
places
where the skin is transparent, not fully formed, like the clear membrane that holds a yolk round
even
after you separate it from the white. Love is standing guard over a beloved's yolk" (p. 219).
Musings
like that are just lovely and endeared Rose to me forever. How she gets to the point where she
can
stand over someone else's yolk, much less her own, makes for a wonderful story. This is a book
that
shouldn't be missed.
Frontiers
Michael Jensen
Pocket Books, a div. of Simon & Schuster
1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY. 10020
www.simonsays.com
ISBN: 0671027212 $14.95 312 pgs
John Chapman, a 24 year old town-dweller who is hiding that he is homosexual, ends up on the
run
in November 1797. He's had an affair with a Major in the British Army and been found out. From
the unexpected violence of the opening pages to his journey first in Lower Canada, then
Pennsylvania and onward as he travels West it is clear that Chapman is an innocent. He has no
frontier skills, no horse, no weapons, and some serious doubts about his courage, most of which
were implanted by his abusive father. But he does have determination to try to make it to free land
in
the West to stake his claim or die trying. If he can make it to the Warren Outpost and get free
supplies and a parcel of his own land, he thinks his troubles will be over.
Despite the snow and ice, he manages to cross the Allegheny Plateau, but is lost, physically spent,
and out of food. Days perhaps hours from death, he comes upon a cabin in the wilderness where
he is reluctantly taken in by the threatening and mysterious Daniel McQuay.
From this point on, the characters he meets (Daniel, George Chase in Franklin, the solitary Indian
woman Gwennie, and the charmingly handsome Palmer Baxter) all have a huge impact on his life.
Over the long winter, Daniel teaches him survival skills, but he wants something and eventually
scares Chapman away. George Chase then lets him stay in a vacant cabin, but he wants
something.
Chapman doesn't know what Gwennie wants. It's clear Palmer wants Chapman, but our hero isn't
about to succumb to the kind of love and attraction that has already gotten him in trouble and cost
a
man his life. Despite the fact that Chapman manages to resist Palmer's charms initially, he still has
to
deal with small-mindedness, sexism, racism, the ignorant swath of compassionless "Christians,"
bad
weather, and new enemies. And old enemies. Lurking in the midst of Chapman's seemingly safe
world is an evil enemy who has the capacity to turn his world upside down and who, of course,
does
just that. Injuries, deaths, and intrigue ensue, and I was at the proverbial edge of my seat through
most of the last half of the book.
The tale is wonderfully told. Jensen's dialogue is fresh and realistic, giving an accurate flavor of
late
18th century while not overwhelming the reader with colloquialisms. Chapman has a sense of
humor, especially about his failure to be a tough, he-man type. He displays a gentleness and
humanity many of the settlers lack that made me identify with and love him. His narrative of the
weather and environment is balanced perfectly as in this lovely description: "Lightning flashed
against the darkening sky, giving me an excuse to turn away. Already dark clouds the color of
ugly
bruises and hateful intentions were closer, bearing down on us as surely as winter on autumn.
Occasional gusts of wind rumbled own the valley rippling through the treetops, their leaves
trembling suddenly in the sunlight like a million green-winged birds in flight" (p. 263).
Jensen has crafted a compelling story the likes of which I have never read before. I am not aware
of
any historical drama/adventure/romance based upon such a well-rounded and mesmerizing gay
character. John Chapman's first person account is riveting. This is bildungsroman of the highest
order, a story of love, lust, greed, and striving set against the unforgiving American frontier. I
can't
recommend it highly enough!
Gay Spirituality: The Role of Gay Identity in the Transformation of Human Consciousness
Toby Johnson
Lethe Press
102 Heritage Avenue, Maple Shade, NJ, 08052
www.lethepress.com
ISBN: 1590210220 $16.95 280 pgs
On a daily basis, gay people are inundated with negative messages in every realm: social, political,
cultural, and religious especially religious. Many, if not most, mainstream churches have deliberate
proscriptions against homosexuality, and with all that we've seen lately in the news, there seems to
be no end in sight to the strife. Despite the fact that each year scientists offer more proof that
sexual
orientation is genetic (i.e. that's the way God made us), many churchgoers and clergy discriminate
against gay people.
Lost in the midst of the polemics and condemnations are millions of non-heterosexual people
trying
to make their way in a world where matters of the Spirit are land mines and the path of that same
Spirit does not always appear accessible. In his marvelous new book on this topic, Toby Johnson
writes: "There is a Sufi saying: 'If the rose knew what the gardener's care would result in come
spring, it would joyfully bend to the pruning knife.' Gay people experience pruning in late
childhood
and early adulthood. We realize the truth of our orientation and have to give up familial and
cultural
expectations of what our lives will be. Often we experience ridicule and ostracism by schoolmates
and peers, along with rejection and disapproval by parents. Even if we grow up feeling it is okay
to
be gay, we experience confusion and trauma because we will not follow in the path that our
parents,
teachers, and role models have laid before us" (p. 239) It's this very phenomenon that tends to
alienate gay people from churches and from the life-force of the Spirit.
For gay men, in particular, Toby Johnson' book GAY SPIRITUALITY is a lifesaver. Johnson's
thesis is that gays are very much "Outsiders" in American society, and because of that, gay people
possess valuable knowledge and inspiration about the true nature of the Spirit. Gay people
experience the world differently than others do, including being more aware of the polarities.
Rather
than exclusion from the world of God, religion, and spirituality, Johnson calls for all people to
listen
to and heed the wisdom gay people have to offer. Because human knowledge and understanding
continues to grow, Johnson wants any person struggling with gay issues to know that we are in
the
middle of a huge transformation of human consciousness a major paradigm shift. Because of this,
there is much to learn and room for growth, all of which is likely to give anyone struggling with
issues of the Spirit a fair amount of hope.
Drawing from world religions, the Hero Cycle, Jungian thought, and dozens of other sources,
Johnson discusses religion, spirituality, and sexuality from a variety of angles. With his
background
as a teacher, theologian, ex-Roman Catholic monk, and writer, this book has much to offer any
person exploring spiritual paths. Ultimately, I found myself resonating strongly while reading part
of
the conclusion: "Being gay is a blessing This discovery is an important part of spiritual
maturation. As we understand how blessed we are, we begin to put out good vibes. When we
realize
that being gay is drawing a long straw in this life, we can forgive the world. We can accept things
as
they are with all the pain and loss that goes with being human. And when we do that we change
the
world" (p. 259).
It is clear from this book's premise (and that of the companion volume, GAY PERSPECTIVE:
Things Our Homosexuality Tells Us About the Nature of God and the Universe), that Johnson is
offer viable and life-changing alternatives for people, both gay and straight, to understand the
search
for a meaningful spirituality. This is a wonderful book to assist in that search.
The Art of the Book Proposal: From Focused Idea to Finished Proposal
Eric Maisel, Ph.D
Jeremy P. Tarcher
Penguin
375 Hudson St, New York, NY, 10014
http://us.penguingroup.com/
ISBN: 1585423343 $15.95 275 pgs
In addition to five fiction titles, Eric Maisel has written somewhere in the vicinity of twenty
non-fiction books, mostly about writing, creativity, and the writing life. Having already read a
dozen
of his books, I came to this new volume with excitement. I wasn't disappointed.
Several authors and experts have covered the topic of writing book proposals, but none have
done it
in the organic, yet sensible, way Maisel does. Drawing on his experience as both author and
creativity coach, he walks the reader through all parts of the process, including shaping the idea,
titling the book, creating all aspects of the proposal, and understanding the agent and publisher's
expectations. Particularly useful are his checklists and suggested formats for keeping track of
project
and proposal.
Any writer serious about creating a work of non-fiction should run don't walk! to your nearest
book outlet, get this book, and read it from cover to cover. The few hours spent will be
immensely
worthwhile not just for writing the proposal, but also for devising the general (perhaps even
specific)
outline to follow in the actual writing of the book.
Maisel includes a tremendously helpful Appendix: a sample book proposal for what turned out to
be
his previous book, THE VAN GOGH BLUES, which is a mind-blowingly wonderful book. With
his
focus on helping authors succeed and to access their creativity in the most profitable and
satisfactory
ways, Maisel has made this a book no writer should miss.
Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life
Anne Lamott
Anchor Books
http://www.randomhouse.com/anchor
ISBN: 0679435204 $12.95 240 pgs
Ten years after its original publication, Anne Lamott's wise and witty book about the writing life
is
still going strong. As with the popularity of Natalie Goldberg's wonderful oeuvre, people never
seem
to tire of reading Lamott's advice in BIRD BY BIRD.
Lamott, author and long-time writing teacher, broke this book into five parts: Writing, Writing
Frame of Mind, Help Along The Way, Publication And Other Reasons To Write, and The Last
Class. In a warm and friendly (which can also be occasionally a little risqu‚), she speaks to the
reader as though we were students/seekers hearing the advice and cautions of a wise traveler
already
long on the writing road. Her suggestions for generating first drafts are priceless: "For me and
most
of the other writers I know, writing is not rapturous. In fact, the only way I can get anything
written
at all is to write really really shitty first drafts. The first draft is the child's draft, where you let it all
pour out and then let it romp all over the place, knowing that no one is going to see it and that
you
can shape it later. You just let this childlike part of you channel whatever voices and visions come
through and onto the page" (p. 22-23)
If you haven't ever read this book, the reason for the title becomes apparent when Lamott tells a
tale
from her childhood. When the author's brother was ten years old, he was assigned to do a school
report on birds. He'd had three months to work on it, but of course had waited until the night
before
it was due. He was "at the kitchen table close to tears, surrounded by binder paper and pencils and
unopened books on birds, immobilized by the hugeness of the task ahead. Then my father sat
down
beside him, put his arm around my brother's shoulder, and said, 'Bird by bird, buddy. Just take it
bird
by bird'" (p. 19). Of course, this advice resonates with every writer, particularly those working on
long or complex works.
All of Lamott's advice tends to resonate, especially because every word she has written feels
honest.
And deep. She seems to have a very deep understanding of the writer's psyche as well as the
writing
process and how it intertwines with one's life. I agree with her heartily when she writes, "We write
to expose the unexposed. If there is one door in the castle you have been told not to go through,
you
must. Otherwise, you'll just be rearranging furniture in rooms you've already been in. Most human
beings are dedicated to keeping that one door shut. But the writer's job is to see what's behind it,
to
see the bleak unspeakable stuff, and to turn the unspeakable into words not just into any words
but
if we can, into rhythm and blues" (p. 198).
Buy this book and open the door! And once you've taken in Lamott's wit and wisdom, put the
volume on your shelf and reread it every four or five years. It will prove to be the best thirteen
bucks
you've ever spent.
Lori L. Lake
Reviewer
Magdalena's Bookshelf
Bright Planet
Peter Mews
Picador
ISBN: 0330364588 $22.00
Peter Mews' second novel, Bright Planet, is a fun filled and comic romp. Well researched and
cleverly detailed, the novel follows the adventures of Botanist Quiet Giles, Captain Elijah Blood,
the
self-serving thief Edward Robins and a whole cast of Dickens-like characters as they map the
interior of Australia on a ship called Bright Planet under the jurisdiction of the Royal
Geographical
Society in London. The novel is set in 1841, and moves over a year from its initial gathering of
elite
explorers at the St James Raleigh Club in London to a mythical Melbourne, ending up in the
remote
and unchartered parts of Australia's inland. The timing is always clear to the reader, as the
narration
is broken up by Blood's ship logs which keep track of the time, as well as the chapter headings
which tell us exactly what day into the journey we're at. The structure of the novel is unique,
following the Fibonacci numbers (0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, ... Where you add the last two numbers to
get the next). The result is that we begin with a tightly sequential story which moves at greater
and
greater intervals, like a nautilus shell, a pinecone spiral, or the rate that rabbits breed, which was
the
inspiration for Fibonacci's experiments in 1202. Despite the elegance of this organisation, it is
hard
to say whether this structure aids, or hinders the novel. On the upside, it provide an interesting
sensation to the reader which mirrors experience, that is, of time moving forward at an ever
greater
pace (eg, the older we get the faster time seems to move). It also has the effect of speeding up the
action and moving the story along more quickly as time progresses. However on the downside,
the
increasing intervals of time doesn't directly derive out of the storyline and is therefore a little
unsettling to the reader, who has to make up the difference in this or her head, sometimes by
going
back and trying to re-clarify who each character is and why they might have died or disappeared
in
the intervals. It can be confusing, although the narration does compensate by providing
information
on the missing characters.
Bright Planet is definitely a novel driven by its setting, and this is where Mews excels. From the
detailed descriptions of Bareheep (an early Melbourne) to the descriptions of inland Australia, the
novel is infused with the sensual qualities of its period:
He stopped reading. He shook his head as is to clear it, and then took up his quill. The candles
had
burned low and the light was flickering, but the sounds had returned. Giles could hear the voices
now, the songs that carried across th river to his cabin, the raucous clamour of Mollies in their
rooms, an argument rising and falling, and the swift crack of a leg breaking on the waterfront. He
could hear Elijah Blood coughing in his room, a keening impatient sound, and Giles thought the
Captain must be drinking
The characters themselves have been designed to be amusing, but sometimes Mews sacrifices
depth
for a very deliberate humour which at times seems gratuitous, such as Doctor Moribund's
flatulence:
"Ohh! He moaned. 'I just ate Hic fart. tHup too much." (186), Captain Elijah Blood's continual
vomiting, or the many sexual scenes with their acrobatics, yawning fannies, "gamahucheing," or
"piercing thrusts of his dart of love." (136) It is hard to understand why Blood's longings would
make him so nauseated (vomiting isn't generally a symptom of love), or why Giles would be so
afraid of his wife Mary's "clitorisme." The reader never learns why Giles is hooked on laudanum,
why Edwin Robins absconds in the first place (and why the jewellery wasn't noticed missing), or
even the origins of Giles and Bloods' dream that sustains the journey well beyond the danger point
or the dictates of their English sponsors. Despite the shallow characters the story if full of
enjoyable
word play, such as "Stately plump Septimus" Sploon's shaving ritual, which (perhaps along with
Doctor Moribund's fart) is a nod to Joyce's Ulysses. Other clever wordplays include the
alliterative
names, not only Septimus Sploon, but Jerker Jenkins and William Weed to take only a few
examples. Although the two major characters, Blood and Giles are a little too unreal and lightly
sketched to be taken seriously as heroes, especially in light of the pain which both characters are
in,
minor characters like the desperate Edward Robins or the dumb and dumber styled Cormac and
Angel seem to be a better fit for this novel which steadfastly refuses to take itself too seriously.
They
further along we move into the novel, the more we realise that the characters aren't really the
point.
It is the setting, the beautiful and squalid surroundings that the crew encounters which pre-dated
the
adventurers arrival, and certainly pre-date the predatory ambitions of the colonial interest in trip.
This is perhaps the heart of the novel: that this beauty, a thing which exists solely for itself rather
than to glorify the ambitions of mother England, will be there after the crew has gone (and most
of
the crew are gone by the time we get to the novel's end):
The orange cliffs rose high on both sides, shading the river from the fierceness of the sun. A
pleasant
breeze cooled Mr Bonney's cheeks, a moment of relief he had not expected. the aeons had carved
a majestic gorge out of the rock, a silent channel between one place and the next. It was a
dangerous
and lonely fall in the landscape. The geological strata were plainly visible in the walls of rock.
Trees
clung where they could, but for the most part of rock was bare, and the many ledges and
overhands
were like so many steps up to a giant's lair. In which ancient place, amongst the boulders, the
timekeepers knelt."(243)
This is a fast moving, enjoyable adventure tale which resolutely refuses to become too serious
about
its purpose. Instead it is a very visual, funny, historically rich, and occasionally silly trip through
an
Australia that may or may not have ever existed but is well drawn enough to create its own
reality.
Bright Planet is rather more than a simple historical fiction - it is a fun, self-referential adventure
tale
full of bravado, swashbuckling, and the surprising joy of its own language.
Jake with a Snarly Smile on His Chops
Matthew Ward
Independence Jones
ISBN 097520937X $TBA 56 pages
Jake is a pretty unlikely hero. Free of regrets, he attributes his great fortune and personal
well-being
to booze, sex, greed, and 'a little extra something.' Written in modern Kerouac styled prose that
eschews punctuation, uses ampersands for 'ands,' and has a colloquial style which not only
permeates
Jake's dialogue but also those of the narrator, Jake with a Snarly Smile on his Chops is a fun, racy,
and light hearted read.
The story is engaging enough, and the reader is drawn into the evocative world of the 1984
Sydney,
from the leafy suburbs to Kings Cross, and the promises it holds for a couple of hungry young
men.
The narration is done in two distinct parts which vacillate between the "present" which is set in
2015
(though it could be anytime), and Jake's reminiscing, set in 1984. The 47 year old Jake starts the
story by providing his take on life, and how to be a winner, to Larry, an eager 18 year old he
meets
in an RSL club. The story moves between Sydney and Newcastle at a very rapid pace, and the
lack
of punctuation gives the reader a sensation of breathlessness which also mirrors the drunken mind
of
its double narration. The narrator's voice is equally colloquial, and isn't presented as a character,
which leaves the reader wondering who is winking at them. At one point the narrator even
presents
the reader with an emoticon, which will only work if the reader is really yawning, otherwise it has
the effect of a joke which doesn't make its audience laugh.
Other tricks in the story include a liberal use of CAPs, dialogue inconsistently set out in play form
with colons after the names, lots of dashes, the occasional use of + instead of &, a liberal use of
"Okker" expressions (which will confuse anyone not Australian) and exclamation marks. The
effect
is to signal to the reader that this is a comic work, and one to be read quickly, without pretension.
Once the reader gets used to the lack of punctuation, it is easy to slide into Jake's head, and
experience the stream-of-consciousness motion along with the characters:
Past the TVs there on the platform this time #6 & into the train as whistles all shrill countered the
loud roar of the engines that stunk like the diesel 4 wheel drives that bellowed over near their
school
on afternoons when the sea was calm & the sky pristine & blue; then to a place at the end of one
of
the carriages where there was an in-built drinking fountain in the wall carrying icy water that
tasted
like smoke, & waxy paper with cups mounted upwards, hidden a few shelves in the corner to
place
luggage & through the little door window, chest-height, into the carriage you'd se the colour of
the
seats was a filthy olive green. (17)
The pace and rich detail of Jake with A Snarley Smile on His Chops work well. The dialogue is
believable, and Ward presents a clear sense of place, with lots of kaleidoscopic detail. On the
downside, none of the characters are well developed, and Jake himself, or what we get to know of
him, is deliberately unlikeable. Once the story finishes, the reader won't spend a moment thinking
about Jake and his snarley fate. That is, of course, equally deliberate. This is something of a boys
own adventure story, billed by the author as a few hours entertainment, and as that, it succeeds
admirably. There are plenty of chuckles, and lots of mouth watering detail which bring the setting,
both time and place, at least the 80s part, to life. You won't like, or begin to care about Jake
during
this relatively brief novella. But you will find his antics amusing, his comeuppance satisfying, and
the
prose which surrounds him, exhilarating.
Magdalena Ball, Reviewer
http://www.compulsivereader.com/html
Molly's Bookshelf
From the Kitchen Table To the Conference Table
Laura Michaud
http://www.lauramichaud.com/about.html
Cameo Publications
PO Box 8006, Hilton Head Island, SC 29938
ISBN: 0974414948 $17.95
Interesting Read . Recommended .. 4 stars
From the Kitchen Table To the Conference Table is not a cutesy how to, or a storybook. It IS a
short, to the point work of 117 jam packed pages filled with the type of information every
communicating person needs to accomplish more with greater success with those around them.
Laura Michaud, who well knows the pitfalls of lack of communication between co workers,
supervisors and workers, or family members holds a MBA, is President of The Michaud Group,
and
was involved in her family's business for many years. Today writer/speaker Michaud shares the
knowledge she gained from her nineteen years experience as VP of Sales and Marketing, board
member and third generation family member for Beltone electronics by conducting seminars on
customer loyalty, employee retention and personal growth.
Writer/speaker Michaud has taken what might be a boring subject in the hands of a less capable
person and has produced a highly informative, highly readable work sure to aid those who have a
desire to increase their own ability to deal with co-workers, workers, or family members.
Comprising six well developed chapters From the Kitchen Table To the Conference Table is
offered
as a tool for improving work and personal relationships. Family Meetings are suggested as a
method
for improving family and business relationships. Joys and pitfalls of working with those in your
own
family is approached in a no nonsense manner laced with good straight forward hints, information
and wisdom as well as a bit of humor and plain old common sense. I found Michaud's discussion
of
communication and behavioral styles and how they affect business success to be especially
enlightening. The chapters on The Value and Richness in Diversity and How to Make the
Difference
Work were filled with excellent examples, suggestions and wit done up with creativity and a finely
focused sense of significance.
Writer/speaker Michaud gets down to gritty basics as she examines/explains the fact that each one
in
the family may have different needs and goals; and the necessity for not just recognizing but
encompassing those personal needs if the family business is to succeed
I liked the layout of the book itself margins wide enough to pencil in notes are always helpful in
books of the self help genre. I also found open areas for making lists, or rating the difficulty the
reader may be face when working with a specific family member, a sample agenda, a behavioral
style
assessment tool and a blank page between chapters for jotting more notes. All excellent if the
book
is to be used with greater meaning by the reader.
Filled with approaches for shaping a flourishing, successful family business From the Kitchen
Table
to the Conference Table is designed to be the preeminent guide to aid family businesses in
reaching
their purpose.
Enjoyed the read. Happy to recommend.
Revelations Alpha and Omega
David Allen Rigsby
http://www.thetruthishere.com
iUniverse
http://www.iuniverse.com/
ISBN: 059521293X $24.95
Interesting Read . Recommended .. 3.5 stars
In deep space God recognizes He can bring light from darkness. Soon He creates man in His own
image and creates for Himself a flying machine of gold. Over a span of six millenniums God
creates
the world, life and Eden the home for His last creation: man. After taking a millennium to rest
God
checks in to see how things are going with His creation only to find one third of the angels, man
and
the most beautiful angel Lucifer have fallen into sin. The movie opens with prophet Elijah being
transported back and forth in time in a flying chariot that looks pretty much like an UFO. The
audience meets David Smith, a P-51 Mustang pilot who has been shot down over Berlin during
the
midst of WWII. David has fallen in love with Katy Weiss, a Jewish woman. Next the audience is
sent to the Garden of Eden to meet Adam and Eve. God must intervene when Lucifer/Satan
moves
to corrupt the offspring of man through his captains taking human wives and producing children
with them. Noah, the flood, huge monuments to honor Adam and Eve: pyramids are built, giants,
fire, the tower of Babel, God's confusing language thus scattering man over the face of the earth,
birth of a Redeemer: Jesus, introduction of technological warfare, the attack on World Trade
Center
Towers all figure in the work.
Revelations Alpha and Omega is a fictional account screenplay trilogy based on the Biblical book
of
Revelations. Writer Rigsby has spent many years researching how the Bible and recorded history
go
together. Revelations: Alpha and Omega transports the reader back to the Garden of Eden where
the fall of mankind and one third of all the angels is explained. Nostradamus, World Wars I and II,
The French Revolution, Notre Dame Cathedral, Tsar Nicholas II and the apparition of Fatima all
appear on the pages of the narrative. Revelations Alpha and Omega blends written annals with
Biblical teaching as it explains the puzzlement circumfusing many of the common myths, tales and
legends humans enjoy. David Allen Rigsby's heroic tale carries the reader on a imaginary
expedition
through time and space, unveiling the inter-relation of religious accounts and non-fictional episode
along the journey.
At nearly 200 pages respectively Revelations Alpha and Omega the pace of each work is busy,
characters are often portrayed in cursory fashion and chronological adherence is frequently
fleeting
at best. Rigsby is a Bible scholar who believes he can prove the Giza pyramids and sphinx were
actually built by the Righteous seed of Seth (son of Adam and Eve) in order to tell future
generations about mankind's Redeemer. Rigsby has just published his research in a fictional tale,
"Revelations, Alpha and Omega." The reader needs a working understanding of Biblical teaching
to
gain the most from reading the screenplay.
On his website writer Rigsby offers the novice valuable information for understanding
screenplays:
'To READ a screenplay, you should know these basics: EXT. means Exterior. INT. means
Interior.
This designates where the scene takes place. (Indoors or outdoors) POV means Point Of View.
CLOSER VIEW means the camera shot is very close on the subject; WIDER VIEW is a wide
shot
etc. (O.S.) means the person is Off Screen. (V.O.) means Voice Over. B.g. is background and f.g.
is
foreground. M.O.S. means without sound. AD LIB means the charactor's are talking audibly, but
their lines are random and not scripted.
Happy to recommend.
The Role Players
Dorien Grey
http://www.authorsden.com/
GLB
http://www.glbpubs.com/trp.html
ISBN: 187919449X $15.95
Exciting Read .. Highly Recommended 5 stars
When PI Dick Hardesty's old flame Chris Wolff and his companion Max Rawls issue an invitation
to
Dick and his partner Jonathan Quinlan to come to New York the pair leap at the chance. A
vacation
is soon planned for taking in the sights and attending the opening night of 'Impartial Observer'
written by Gene Morrison. Max just happens to be the stage manager while Chris is the set
designer.
Old friends Tim and Phil agree to feed Jonathan's fish and care for his plants while the duo are
away
from home.
Leading man Rod Pearce was murdered just prior to the trip planned by Dick and Jonathan. Tait
Duncan of The Whitman Theater group, financial backer for the play suspects someone involved
in
the play may be responsible for Rod's death. He is adamant that he does not want adverse
publicity
to taint the upcoming opening. The offer of a sizeable fee prompts Dick to accept Duncan's offer,
however, the trip is supposed to be a vacation. Duncan's proposal that Dick do only what he can
during the time he and Jonathan are in New York along with Jonathan's agreeing to the plan
clinches
the deal. Before long Dick is embroiled in the investigation. Tourist ventures, tickets to see Cats,
afternoon rehearsal, an understudy who is proving to be a bit of a problem, lunch on a high rise
balcony, the world trade center, Christopher Street, the Statue of Liberty, a torn note and a man
with a beard and a matchbook from a rough bar, 'The Hole,' and solving a murder are all part of
the
tale.
Murder first brought Dick and Jonathan together. And now, in The Role Players, one more
murder
draws the pair into the seamy underbelly of rumors, animosities, and ego trips peculiar to the New
York theatrical group. Dick's sound reasoning and purposeful inquisitiveness are put to good use
as
he sorts through the circumstances surrounding the killing. It does not take Dick long to realize
that
while Rod's death is a blow for everyone involved in the production; Rod was a slut. Suspects
abound. There are plenty of men who might want to see him dead.
With The Role Players Writer Grey furthers his zestful, reader pleasing series featuring PI
Hardesty
and with the introduction of Jonathan offers the reader a duo of fascinating characters certain to
delight the most demanding reader. Grey crafts another pleasantly puzzling mystery, filled with
spine
tingling, fast-paced action, quick-witted dialogue, a hefty dollop of jocularity and not a little
artifice
destined to keep the reader turning the pages.
The Role Players may be author Grey's prime nisus to date, but then, this reviewer tends to think
that of each of this writer's works as they appear. Grey's genius as a novelist advances with each
new
thriller he produces. Well-fleshed characters, hard hitting dialogue, backdrops filled with all the
points of interest, resonances and aroma of the locale pull the reader straight into the book from
the
opening paragraph as we sit with Jonathan and Dick on the airplane descending into LaGuardia.
Reader interest is held tight through each of the steps and missteps encountered along the
pathway
until Dick reveals to the murderer, and to us, that he has done it again. the culprit is exposed and
the conclusion is acceptable.
Excellent addition to the home library where The Role Players will be read and enjoyed by those
who enjoy a touch of romance, the out of the ordinary and plain good writing when enjoying a
'whodunnit.' The Role Players is sure to please those who enjoy the genre.
Entertaining read, happy to recommend.
Amethyst of the Gods Book Seven Sword of Heavens
Richard S. Tuttle
http://home.earthlink.net/~richtuttle/
KBS Publishing
Formats: Microsoft Reader / Adobe eBook / Hiebook
ISBN: 0971089738 $5.99
Interesting read Recommended 5 stars
As with the other volumes of the Sword of Heaven Amethyst of the Gods opens with a Map
detailing the land in which the tale is taken. A recap of what has taken place to date is included to
reacquaint the reader with some of the action included in the previous works. The Alcea Rangers
Five collapse children Arik, Tedi, Tanya, Nikki and Fredrik set out to restore the sapphire of the
fairies to the Sword of Heaven thus opening the way for the darkness covering the land to be
broken, light is now restored to the land of Cordonia. Alex and Jenneva Tork; Garth and Kalina,
serve as mentors to the youngsters in their quest. Two of the young people are children of the
ancient prophecy. Other stones are sought next to complete the Sword and return the land to its
rightful inhabitants. The Unicorn's Opal, Diamond of Edona, Dwarven Ruby, Emerald of the
Elves,
Dragon's onyx all must be located. Wylan, Master Khatama, King Arik, all figure in the tale.
Emperor Hanchi attacks to find himself facing both Sordoan armies and Melbin guards
Lanoirians breach city wall only to be repelled, magically tossed away from ladder. Arik is aware
that Dalgar has nine black devils with him and decides that he will not the magic produced either
Tanya or Jenneva's until the right time. Tanya's offer to weaken axles on siege engines, catapult
arms
are quickly accepted by Arik.
The Army of Lanoir is huge, however Sarac is willing to lose many men in his headlong quest to
crush Tagaret
At the Tagaret Sword and Shield inn Alex and Jenneva meet a spider: a spy and an old
comrade.
A siege, a flag of truce, wild horses and the evil priest of Leda all figure in the tale. The mountain
of
death, an ancient bridge, the amethyst, trolls, and Tanya falling into an abyss are more of the
adventure. A door that will not open, a battle with demons, a plan, love realized, and a wedding
round out the tale.
With Amethyst of the Gods writer Tuttle rounds out the Sword of Heaven series in the same
exciting fashion readers have come to expect. Powerful motivations, shrewdly interwoven,
suspense
filled story line, a complicated yarn of treachery, strife judiciously resolved and a gratifying
culmination are all part of this impressive read.
Richard Tuttle's rich imagination has carried the reader on an exciting journey from the days when
we first met the Alcea Rangers, suffered in the eternal darkness and came to dread the evil Sarac
to
adventure upon adventure as the various stones needed to complete the Sword of Heaven and
restore the light were located, retrieved and placed into the handle of the weapon. Credible
characters, well fleshed, struggling against all odds, colloquy filled with poignancy, tingle and grit,
all perform against an environment of noteworthy scenes, reverberations and fragrance. The
people
and land all come to life under Tuttle's skillful pen.
Exciting read sure to please those who enjoy a good fantasy complete with quest, hero, magik and
divertissement. Nice addition to the home and school library where Amethyst of the Gods is sure
to
be read by the upper grade youngsters who enjoy the genre.
Happy to recommend.
Aidan of Oren
Alan St. Jean, author
Judith Friedman, illustrator
Moo Press
PO Box 54, Warwick NY 10990
www.MooPress.com
ISBN: 097248535X $19.95
Interesting read Recommended 5 stars
Aidan thinks he may be dreaming when the words "Awake, Awake" ring out in the stillness of the
night. Aidan has lived with Grandmama from infancy, and has never known either his father or his
mother. Grandmama is a good story-teller, Aidan lays in his bed in the room beside the fireplace
room and listens to Grandmama and her friends as they quilt and visit in the evenings. He hears
tales
of dragons, the legend of Gorgon, elves, and other beings who are said to live in the land. Sounds
coming from the well startle Aidan as he and his friend McKenzie go to draw water. Aidan's best
friends are two girls who are also orphans and Charles The Great; a falcon who talks but does not
fly. He walks or is carried wherever Aidan and the others are going. The arrival of a strange,
frightening hooded man worries everyone in the village. War has been ongoing for some time and
men with bandages are seen everywhere. In the old days the guardians kept law, but one day they
all
left. When the hooded man reaches for McKenzie a sudden tremor causes him to leave. Where the
hooded man comes destruction follows.
Lionsgate is the only village in the land that is still free, the men are fighting to hold back the
terror
sure to come if they do not prevail however, they are weakening and it is only a matter of time.
The
Guardian must be found and returned to keep the peace. Aidan's friend Lilly has made Aidan a
leather neck band, not to be outdone McKenzie gives Aidan a beautiful red 'rock' she has found.
Aidan is surprised to learn that McKenzie's gift is not a rock at all, but it is a scale of a dragon.
The
guardian must be found. The guardian must be found or lionsgate will fall. Before the tale ends
Aidan, Charles, Lilly and McKenzie will find elves, stand in presence of the guardians, come face
to
face with dragons and learn something of Aidan's parents. The group will meet Bernard a talking
fish, battle trolls, encounter the frightening Kartha, and travel to the Dead Forest. Damon, a baby
dragon, the Great Sitting Rock, and a huge spider all figure in the tale.
Aidan of Oren: the journey begins is an enchanting tale sure to please the target audience of
middle
grades to young adult readers. Young readers as well as those who are not thrilled by gore and
gloom fantasy tales will especially enjoy The Journey Begins. Writer St. Jean has crafted a fast
paced, exhilarative read set off to perfection with the outstanding line drawings provided by
illustrator Friedman. The style of the work is reminiscent of that found on the pages of Baum's
long
time favorite Oz series.
The land of Oren is presented in map and detailed word pictures drawing the reader straight into
the
narrative where we are treated to the unintentional humor of irascible Charles, listen as McKenzie
dances and sings a stirring melody, and feel the water under a magnificent waterfall. The quest to
locate the Guardians is filled with all the tingle, amazement and machination readers of exemplary
fantasy demand.
Dialogue, descriptions of settings and characters are all presented in glorious well-written
prose.
Aidan of Oren: the journey begins is a commendable addition for the home and school library.
Matchless volume for a long, lazy summer day spent out in a hammock, sipping lemonade and
enjoying an enchanting story.
Enjoyed the read, Happy to Recommend.
Summer Replacement
Ann Herrick
http://ann.herrick.home.att.net/mybooks/bk_summerr.htm
Hard Shell Word Factory
PO Box 161 Amherst Junction WI 54407
http://www.hardshell.com/
www.barnesandnoble.com
ISBN: 0759941688 Download, $4.50 Paperback, $9.00
Interesting Read .. Recommended 4 stars
Fifteen year old Cathy Price is not at all certain that she really wants to join her parents John and
Louise and little brother Jason aged 7 for the family vacation on the coast in Chatfield. Cathy
would
rather stay home, spend time with her friend Samantha and try to figure out a way to attract the
attention of handsome seventeen year old Dan Stedman. Ralph the family cat does need someone
to
stay home and care for him, doesn't he? Mom is adamant and Cathy joins the family for the trip.
When Cathy discovers Dan is also in Chatfield she feels much happier than when she first arrived.
Dan is working in the local market, his parents and Cathy's find they have a lot in common and
soon
the summer appears to be close to perfect. A job baby sitting for Jason and Dan's little sister
provides more than enough money for Cathy to buy the things she wants, a 'pretend romance' with
Dan to thwart the attention of a gaggle of little local girls becomes more than just pretend for
Cathy.
Lots of time spent with Dan swimming, taking the little kids on picnics and the like, cookout with
Dan's family and her own only add to Cathy's enjoyment. Arrival of Lisa Kendall, Dan's
sophisticated, conniving old girlfriend from school and her family throw a clincker into Cathy's
plans.
With Summer Replacement Ann Herrick has produced a delightful tale sure to please girls in the
target group of eleven to young adult. The light romantic overtone, personable reality presented
by
Cathy as she muddles along trying to figure out what her role in high school is to be, and the
tangle
of beginning boy friend relationships are a large part of the interest of the target audience.
Characters are well fleshed even though the book is not long. Settings are described in enough
detail
to draw the reader into them. We hear the crash of the sea during storm, feel the grit of the sand
and
stroll aisles in Little's Store while reading the words presented by talented author Herrick.
Summer Replacement is a quick fun read certain to be read and reread by girls in the target
audience. The paper copy will be nice for a lazy afternoon spent in the porch swing reading and
sipping lemonade. The easy to pack, 'doesn't take up much room' eBook version is perfect for
taking
along on vacation, perhaps for a trip to the sea?
From the opening lines as Cathy tries to convince her mother that staying home would be a good
idea Cathy is a very likeable, typical teen. She laughs at herself, exhibits the same uncertainties
and
self-deprecations as are found in most teens and is completely believable. Writer Herrick subtly
guides the young reader into realizing that fretting over hair, and boyfriends, and fitting in are
natural, to be expected and are all a part of growing up. Cathy, as are most fifteen-year-olds, is a
delight.
Summer Replacement will be a nice addition to the home and school library.
Enjoyed the read, happy to recommend.
The Edge Chronicles: Stormchaser
Paul Stewart, author
Chris Riddell, illustrator
David Finkling Books
Random House
ISBN: 0385750706 $12.95
Engaging Read . Highly Recommended . 5 stars
Twig is now 16. It is midday in Undertown. The tale opens with Twig meeting a none too
successful
slaughterer hawking leather talismans. A playful prowlgrin cub, Twig's old friend the caterbird,
and
the breaking of the chain tethering the floating rock whereupon the seat of learning, Sanctaphrax,
is
perched add to the excitement of the moment. The caterbird knows the story behind Twig's father
and how he became Cloud Wolf captain of the sky ship The Stormchaser. A wrecked sky ship
caught on a treetop, Mim the leader of the gnokgoblins, Mother Horsefeather, and Twig's
understanding of the woodtroll ways move the tale forward at a dramatic clip. When Cloud Wolf
presents Twig a lesson into the flying of a sky ship they are interrupted by the approach of a
leagueship. Near disaster follows when a jammed stern-weight must be freed. Twig volunteers for
the job. And things only go from bad to worse. Loss of their load of Iron Wood, a crippled ship
and
his father's anger leave Twig feeling more than a little anguish.
A daring plan is hatched between Cloud Wolf and Mother Horsefeather, but Twig is not to be
part
of it. Chicanery, quartermaster Spleethe's treachery, stowing away on The Stormchaser, the Great
Storm, and storm chasing and a gigantic battle onboard the sky ship lead to more excitement than
Twig had ever dreamed was possible.
From the ample imaginativeness of the team of Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell comes a thrilling
yarn
of conspiracy, conniving and complicity. The story presented on the pages of Stormchaser is
entertaining, the often eerie and extraordinary characters are not only engaging but creditable as
well. The fantastic world created by writer Stewart is elaborate, marvelously detailed and
illustrated
to perfection by artist Riddell. This is not a book for the youngest readers, or for the squeamish.
Death produced in all manner of gruesome methods leaves the reader more than a little
breathless.
Life becomes no easier for Twig in Book two of Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell's Edge
Chronicles.
Stormchaser brings Twig into the fiendish, malignant machinations of the floating city
Sanctaphrax.
Younger readers should be aware brutality is offered in occasional violent bursts. The Screed Toe
Taker in particular is a particularly gruesome character with little to redeem him to the reader.
Stormchaser is a abundantly creative fantasy filled with absorbing characters sure to please the
most
demanding reader. The story line presents an enthralling tale set against a backdrop of fascinating,
rather surreal settings. Characters are richly portrayed, illustrations are a genuine asset to the
work.
From the opening lines as Twig ponders how to free his friend the caterbird from a cage where he
has been imprisoned straight on to the last pages where we follow Twig on board a new sky ship
the
reader is carried on a roller coaster ride of adventure. We leave the caterbird, Twig and his crew
setting sail to find Cloud Wolf who is now in grave danger and in need of help somewhere in the
'monstrous, misty wasteland beyond the Edge.'
A good addition to the home and school library. Stormchaser is sure to be a hit with middle to
upper
grade readers. Enjoyed the read, happy to recommend. Anxious to read book 3.
The Leadership Talk: The Greatest Leadership Tool
Brent Filson
http://www.actionleadership.com/
Williamstown Publishing Co.
PO Box 295, Williamstown MA 01267
ISBN: 0974904201 $24.95
Beneficial Read .. Recommended .. 4 stars
The Leadership Talk: The Greatest Leadership Tool is meant to be used as a self teaching tool for
those in leadership positions. The author offers methodology for improving communication to and
with co-workers. The Book is divided into two key components: Section I Concepts: Einstein, the
Universe and Leadership in-depth presentation motivation. Author Filson offers The Eight Needs
Questions: Lessons, Practice, Belief, Motivational Transfer Process, Action as he explores the
fundamental thesis of the Leadership Talk. Filson offers: The Three Trigger Motivational Process:
Needs, Belief and Action. Each trigger according to writer Filson is divided into three learning
parts:
Dialogue, Lessons and Practice. Through many years as a speech writer and consultant in the
corporate field the writer came to realize leadership challenges tend to remain the same whatever
the
setting.
Lessons offered in The Leadership Talk: The Greatest Leadership Tool present important points
derived from the concepts presented by the author. The most important realization I discovered:
the
important of talking with people face to face rather than relying on PA systems, huge group
meetings, or paper broadsides.
Filson's Unified Field Theory: Organizational success is a function of Leaders achieving results by
having people get results through motivation presents the crux of attaining success.
Section II Application: Bringing it all together through use of Motivational Elements: Need,
Validation, Logical Response, Defining Moment, Support and Action. Filson points out an
obvious,
but often overlooked notion: People's needs are their reality. Validation Filson states, means for
leader and audience to come to agreement with the audience about what the needs really are.
Positive results will result when the group is provided a logical response to the problem of needs.
The Defining Moment may appear at any point along the process: flash point of experience that
serves to cause major change Support: leave audience with understanding of exactly where, how
and
who to go to for help if it is needed. Action: feed back.
Writer Filson offers concrete suggestions for the Leadership Talk Process along with a flow chart
and suggestions for getting the Leadership Talk done. Filson says every leadership talk should
contain least three of the Motivational Elements. A Glossary of terms is included for those who
may
not yet be up to speed with some of the jargon.
The Leadership Talk: The Greatest Leadership Tool is an easily read volume filled with proven,
workable suggestions for those who find themselves facing today's more cynical workers present
in
the present corporate world. Instilling the 'want to' into co-workers is the job of the leader:
supervisor, manager, administrator. Motivating employees has been made more difficult in today's
corporate atmosphere when wages are poor, corporate demands are unrealistic, job security is
often
nil and dedication to company is predictably lacking. Filson's suggestions are sure to prove helpful
to
those whose job it is to motivate their employees to more and better results.
I liked the many illustrations, anecdotes and the like. It helps to know others are beset with the
same
problems, and practical methods can be achieved for presenting Leadership Talks that bring
desired
results.
Excellent reference for the library of those in leadership positions. Not for company executives
only,
anyone in a leadership role: Boy Scout, Scout Master to corporate CEO is sure to gain insight
into
better leadership techniques after reading The Leadership Talk: The Greatest Leadership
Tool.
Happy to recommend.
The Promised Ones
Robert Lee Beers
Writers Exchange E-Publishing
PO Box 372 Atherton QLD 4883
Ebook Formats: pdf, pdb (palm), rtf, html and microsoft reader
ISBN: 1920741178 Download $3.00, CD $13.95 (Includes Postage)
Exciting Read Recommended . 5 stars
Labad, a dying warrior who records a prophecy is the subject of the 'storytellers' tale. Charity, her
twin brother Adam and Aunt Doreen listen enthralled. Long ago the Empire was ruptured by war.
Now the various fiefdoms exist in an apprehensive truce while they wait the arrival of the
Guardians
who are Promised to return and restore peace. In the hamlet of Beri Doreen and her husband Bal
appear as simple village folk, they are not. Someone is after the twins. After the twins are grabbed
by unknown abductors Bal and Doreen are told to leave Beri by 'the storyteller' Nought. Gilgafed,
the Sorcerer, sent the kidnappers after the twins.
The Dwarflands, Fire Island, pestilence, and a long extinct volcano are part of the tale. The last of
the descendants of Labad are the ones who will effect the return of peace to the land. Nought, a
wizard, follows fearful Ogren. Galtru, a dwarf, a Cave, Dwillkillion, and an extraordinary amulet
continue the narrative. Escape from a frightful wyrm, a dwarf with a parcel holding clothing for
the
twins, and a parchment with Labad's words figure in the tale as well. A trolljin attack adds
excitement. There is a Sword for Adam, and a Bow for Charity. Mr Bustlebun Chauncey, a deal
struck, and a huge fight keep the reader turning the page. A kitten, a blind child who gains sight,
soldiers are captured, and an Elven village where a human/elven child is born continue the reader's
remarkable pilgrimage. Morgan the blademaster, a war, wolves, a bathtub, a dragon or two and
the
reader is left wanting more.
Writer Beers presents a generously drawn tale occupied with all the conniving, commotion and
intrigue fantasy lovers have come to anticipate. The Promised Ones is a well-written tale filled
with
twists, complex story line and potent motivations. Plausible, thoroughly matured characters stride
through the account carrying the reader along on an exhilarating journey. Beers adroitly presents
the
wonderment, consternation and tumult necessary to hold the reader fully engrossed.
Believable, at times gritty conversation pulls the reader into the narrative from the opening lines
and
maintains reader attention right to the last paragraphs where we find Adam entering into a new,
zestful part of his life.
A compelling read certain to satisfy the target audience made up of those who enjoy a
commendable, well written fantasy.
Fine book to enjoy by the fire place on a long winter evening or in the porch swing during a hot
summer afternoon.
Enjoyed the read, happy to recommend.
Nine Lives and Three Wishes
Jennifer St Clair
http://www.bcwg.org/jennifer%20st.%20clair.htm
Twilight Times books
http://www.twilighttimesbooks.com/NineLives_ch1.html
PDF, HTML, Palm List
ISBN: 193120165X $4.50
Interesting Read . Recommended 4 stars
Misty, a cat, who lives with Carla and her three year old daughter recounts a agreeably puzzling
yarn
of his finding a bottle laying in a puddle, scratching it and watching as a mysterious red haired boy
appears. Tib, Tiberius, is a being only the cat can see, offers Misty three wishes and he disappears
when he touches the bottle. Misty unselfishly wishes for Carla who is always fretting about bills to
pay to become financially secure. Little does Misty initially realize that the bottle comes from
Faerie.
Carla soon finds a small silver box containing a ruby, a roll of bills, and 77 cents. The population
of
Faerie have inflexible regulations about granting wishes; they want something in return. Maddie
soon vanishes into the forest where a veil separates the human world from the Faerie. Faerie
consents to but one possibility to return a loved one home from Faerie. More than that; Cats are
not
allowed in Faerie, they do inexplicable things to its magic. However, a human who loves Maddie
can
liberate her. Misty has a wish left but Tib warns: If Misty becomes a human the feat cannot be
undone and human Misty will remain. Misty as human Matthew willingly sets out to rescue his
tiny
companion. Many doors, a fall that breaks Tib's bottle and Tib who is afraid to go to meet the
faeries, the Faerie queen, a spell around the hill and a castle where Maddie is being held all figure
in
the narrative.
On the pages of Nine Lives and Three Wishes writer St Clair has crafted a fast-paced, imaginative
account filled with challenging experiences, enchantment, authentic devotion and machination.
Characters are acceptable, fascinating and credible. Misty as both cat and boy is a strong
presence.
Faerie as deftly portrayed by St Clair is offbeat and entertaining. The mission presented to Misty
is a
life-affirming quest certain to be enjoyed by those who take pleasure from the genre. Characters
appear, act out their role and depart; some forever, others to reappear. The story line holds reader
interest, Misty and Tib move from challenging experience to daring feat. The yarn is fun, easy to
trace and hazardous enough to delight the most hard to please reader. It has a gratifying ending
sure
to satisfy.
Nine Lives and Three Wishes is an entrancing, well written fantasy tale completed with a plot
presenting a perfect blend of realism and fiction sure to enchant the target audience of strong
middle
grades readers to young adults. Writer St Clair adroitly paints a sharply focused unclouded
illustration of each milieu and the character's populating it. Nine Lives and Three Wishes will keep
the reader guessing from beginning to end.
This is an easily read tale certain to be reached for often for pleasure reading among the 11-15
year
old set. Nine Lives and Three Wishes is an excellent choice for the home and school library. The
tale
will intrigue the 'read to set' as an older student mentor reads aloud to them. Nine Lives and Three
Wishes will nicely do for the 'teacher' reading time in middle to upper grades during the 'quiet
time'
following the lunch recess and will be often read by youngsters.
Enjoyed the read, excellent for a warm summer afternoon reading time. Happy to
recommend.
The Secret of the Labyrinth
C.J. Lewis
www.ForrestTales.com.
Publish America
www.publishamerica.com/books/4173
PO Box 151 Frederick Md 21705
ISBN: 1413710352 $19.95
Interesting read Recommended 5 stars
Twelve year old Edward Forrest lives in a meager home with mom Olive and two sisters; Amy 14,
Crystal 16. There is little money for lights, heat or food. The local library where it is warm and
filled
with friendly faces and books to carry him far from his bleak existence is a refuge for the lonely
youngster. Edward's life changes when he awakens at 6AM as usual only to discover neither Olive
nor his sisters are in the house. Two weeks later Edward is becoming desperate, bills are due,
there
is no food in the house, and his attempt to pawn the family TV goes awry. Finding a map in a
hidden
compartment near the fireplace sets in place adventures Edward never thought he might face.
Brynnfeld where Edward is one of the first-year students attending the Academy of the Oracle is a
spot where the kids learn how to unleash the wonderful powers they hold within themselves. It is
a
place where powers for good are honed. Evil waiting those who venture away from the light is
never
far away. The Dark Lord's realm is found in the shadows cast by the Academy walls. Edward
Forrest finds he always walks on the verge of disaster. Edward wonders whether he can stand up
to
the Dark Lord's plan of destruction. Most momentous for the worried youngster; can he pass the
final test that awaits him in the cryptic passageways of The Great Labyrinth? The Secret of the
Labyrinth is a gripping narrative of valiancy, not giving in to enticement, understanding how to
forgive others and at length learning to 'be in the light' and out of darkness. The latter portion of
the
book is meant to be inspirational.
The Secret of the Labyrinth is the initial work offered in the Forrest Tales series by talented writer
Lewis. Featuring Edward Forrest, a young fellow who is abandoned by his family and must make
it
on his own, Lewis crafts a keenly focused tale presented as a middle grades/Young Adult fantasy.
The first book deals with peer pressure, making both appropriate and inappropriate choices, and
coming to realize that mistakes can be rectified and used as a learning experience. As with a
labyrinth, Life is filled with dead-ends and open paths. The Secret of the Labyrinth helps the
young
reader appreciate their own mistakes as opportunities for growth. The easily read, fast paced tale
is
satisfactory, writing style is commendable and characterization is excellent. Writer Lewis paints an
intense portrayal in the mind of the reader. The story is gripping as the characters find mystery
and
adventure while attending the Academy of the Oracle. Each book in this fantasy series has a value
theme designed to help young people as they face struggles in a troubled world.
From the opening page when the reader meets Twelve year old Edward awakening to the sounds
of
the 6AM train, down to the last pages of The Secret of the Labyrinth when Edward really
understands what true treasure is reader interest is held fast.
The Secret of the Labyrinth is a good addition to both the home and school library where it is
certain
to be reached for often for pleasure reading.
Happy to recommend.
Molly Martin
Reviewer
Proctor's Bookshelf
A Season for Justice: Defending the Rights of the Christian Home, Church and School.
David French, Broadman & Holman
Nashville, TN
0805424911, $12.95, 215 pp.
I selected this book after learning that David and Nancy French were neighbors here in Lexington,
KY. They moved (last 3 weeks) to Philadephia where Mr. French is now CEO of a Christian civil
rights organization. David's father, Dr. Austin French, a professor of math at nearby Georgetown
College still lives in the home immediately next door to where David and Nancy lived. I actually
found the book title on Mr. French's web page "theculturecurve." He did not elaborate on the
book's
content from the blogosphere.
Dr. Austin French and I had the opportunity to get acquainted a few weeks ago as I greeted
him while he was tending the dandelions in his front yard. He immediately gave me "his
testimony"
and I walked away convinced "I had talked with an authentic fundamentalist." Dr. French, David
and
Nancy and other members of the family have been long associated with David Lipscomb College
in
Nashville. Many years ago I read the church newsletter of a church in Louisville, Kentucky
pastored
by by a rather extreme religious figure, Harold Hazlip, who became president of David Lipscomb.
He has since retired.
I was fascinated, as a young man, by Rev. Hazlip's newsletters as they were a full frontal assault
on
the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church. Apparently Hazlip was a firebrand within his circles,
if
not known very well nationally. He seemed to be attempting to recruit Catholic priests in the
streets
of Louisville to debate him in church on Catholic doctrine.
Incidental to all of this is that David French grew up in Georgetown, Kentucky which is featured
in
this book and my wife graduated from the Baptist college there.
Thus, I feel a number of "connections" to both the issues raised in the book and the circumstances
in
which it was developed. I also feel that the author is honestly struggling with some issues that he
may not treat so even- handedly as he gets more locked into an occupational focus of very narrow
advocacy.
I have two degrees from the University of Kentucky and am now retired. I was General Manager
Human Resources of Starkist Seafood in Long Beach, CA before returning to Kentucky. I was an
Army Security Agency cryptoanalyst in norhtern Japan. I have worked in and consulted with both
Japanese and American companies. I wrote some "Affirmative Action" Plans and was tutored on
Affirmative Action laws by Ellen Shong Bergman, the first director of the OFCCP under President
Reagan and by Dr. Robert Holmes, a law professor at Bowling Green State University in Ohio.
We
have lived in London, England, Japan and traveled in Europe, Africa and the Carribean. I have
had a
long term fascination with the practice and dynamics of human psycholgy and public religion.
The book appears to be written for the non-specialist and church members. The author writes well
and articulates some issues that will not be fully grasped by many of his readers. For example, his
plea to evangelicals not to seek government endorsement may not be internalized at all! The book
will alarm most of his audience especially those who have limited insight into American pluralism
with all of its faults. The book does not clarify how secular ideas and institutions have provided a
historical "buffer" between hostile contending religious viewpoints in America. Mr. French is
perfectly capable of understanding and even articulating this "buffer" perspective. The question is:
will Mr. French ultimately ignore and even willing to sacrifice this "buffer" which afterall, may be
more precious than the Constitution itself? As thoughtful as the author is, many will take a
singular
message from this book: the sky is falling! Maybe this is not the author's intent, just the
effect!
The tile of this review is taken from the author's text.
"From Mars to A Petri Dish"
The author provides few hints that he has studied the basis for his beliefs. Certainly, he has
thought
about how to defend public religious expression. Understandably, he talks about his faith. At the
same time, he claims those disagreeing with his belief are advancing their "faith" in so doing. (In
this
context he borrows the phrase..."the church of the left"... from the rather superficial essays of Dr.
Stan Kurtz).
He consistently toys with straw man constructions in this polemic without admitting his faith is
that
of one hoping for substance unseen. It is not likely this hope will ever be commonly shared by all
of
humanity.
It is rather interesting to see him start asserting matters of "proof" when engaging a fellow law
school student who is gay. Surely, proof is hard come by and an unlikely companion when making
such traditional assertions of faith. Many passages in this book begin with the author being
"stunned" or being "shocked" at what he observes. This rightly characterizes the emotional basis
for
both his convictions and the religious ideas he endorses.
Impressionable children weeping their way into a church auditorium fully reveals how dramatically
emotional is so much of the faith he espouses. And yet he attempts to portray liberal opponents as
similarly locked in into a faith while not recognizing... much of their profound distrust of what he
presents as that faith... is based on antagonism to the widely seen religious emotional extremism
that
he actually describes. He finds grace in such experiences while others of us recoil at the Old Time
Religion that drags sinners down the aisle to the "mourners bench."
Emotion may be natural to the human condition but as the basis of religious zeal it has proven to
be
dangerous throughout history. Such strong emotional responses usually exclude rational and calm
discourse. The author paints emotional palettes to advance his ideas while apparently thinking that
emotion validates his arguments. A better understanding is that emotion is the basis and content of
the religious ideas he celebrates. Emotion validates little or nothing in this context.
Typically, it crowds out facts. Of course, certitude characterizes such intense emotion. Liberals
cannot be demonized just because they lack such emotional certainty and such can hardly be
described as a "faith". Learning greatly tempers certainty while emotional intensity fosters rigidity.
Neither may rise to a "worldview!" Ambiguity may be the nature of the cosmos and is, of course,
no
friend to rigid, inflexible belief systems. Much more than "civil rights" seems to be involved here.
Neither can the issues be simplified as "secular" liberalism versus straight- arrow religious faith.
The
presence of emotion excludes problem solving. The greater the emotion the less problem solving
will
occur.
Religious communities that define faith and practice it in terms of emotion are not likely to
problem
solve. More importantly their emotional intensity creates barriers with others in the larger
community who might be willing to problem solve. This is not a matter of a "liberal" faith standing
in
hard headed opposition to simple religious folk. It is a matter of understanding the lessons of
history
where zealotry rages.
A second matter needs mention. Those, the author champions and has great affection for, those
who
deny or distort what we have come to understand about human beings. One might say that the
worldview he espouses is a crippled and inadequate view of humanity. The cultural split he alludes
to is truly great. His co-religionists continue to insist their worldview is the only accurate view, as
it
was authored by divinity. No values outside of this worldview can be recognized nor celebrated.
This is the magical thinking that is so often considered to be the remarkable religiosity of
Americans.
Supportive of the contention that the faith being discussed here is of extreme emotional intensity
is
this: the constant conditioning of church members with song, prayer, sermon, testimony is not
seen
as conditioning. In fact, the very idea, if put to religious folk, would be rejected as offensive.
Somehow the well-understood conditioning that occurs to all of us at work, at home and in
school
never happens at church. This is a denial of the first order that thoughtful people, liberal or not,
should not ignore. Such a lack of insight should make every thoughtful person wary of many
religious affiliations.
The limitations of the author's views are obvious. What may be less obvious is that some religious
people seem bent on turning every courthouse, every stadium, every school, every government
facility, even private work spaces, into a church. This "handbook" may well help. Some of his
more
cautious and carefully weighed thoughts may pass unnoticed. They are worth reading as they
reveal
some underlying conflicts felt by the author. There are signs here that if Americans don't grant this
"right" to "share" as a civil right religious people will opt out as many are doing.
Does "share" signal a strategy to make converts of the entire majority? Can a mere 8 percent of
the
population who are evangelicals accomplish this? Whatever the goals, there is no civil right that
can
protect us from stupidity whether it be from school administrators in Chelmsford , Massachusetts
or
town administrators in Georgetown, Kentucky.
There was a time when religious folk, the church, were fully in charge...of everything. Do we wish
to return to that time the Middle Ages? Civil rights posed no problem. Sacred law was the
measure, the only measure, for all matters.
Mr. French seems to carefully weigh these considerations in his argument especially as a minority
religionist, but when push comes to shove, will he attempt to do more than just "share" his faith?
Does he not understand there would be no church today, as we understand it, without the political
power of a Constantine and others?
Just maybe, as the foundations of faith continue to quake, with faith-based emotion proving
inadequate to cope with the modern age, the author will wish government had picked a faith for
the
state his!
The author may well be a master of arms in the "culture wars." The reader will find the subtext of
this book is that the good and wise are not just being discriminated against but seriously
persecuted.
As those of his faith seem to portrayed as without blemish or rancor, only an invalid opposing
"faith"
of distorted origins can explain such negative treatment. It is just possible that more cases could
be
added to those discussed by the author here.
Unfortunately, as all members of his faith have not been uniformly kind, charitable and loving to
others, the unkind feelings generated in others towards them will not abate. Was it not written,
somewhere, that one should be mindful " of the beam in one's own eye "? While all citizens
should have recourse to the law, one might ask what marks authentic faith? Is government to
protect
all those " persecuted for righteousness sake "? Does this stance reflect the early days of this
faith?
One last comment. The author discusses the Middle School and homosexuality on pages 52-53.
He
hesitates to affirm the incident he cites is wide spread. He says... without sharply delineating
"secular"... the following, "Because the content of the program was 'secular,' it was legally
acceptable for government officials to use government funds to promote behavior incompatible
with
evangelical Christianity."
This assertion is nothing short of incredible. How can a Harvard trained consitutional specialist
begin to suggest government test all its actions against what evangelicals, Mormons, Moonies,
Jehovah Witnesses, Scientologists or any other "recognized" religion deem "behavior
incompatible?"
Please Mr. French, let's not go there! Maybe this is evidence that we should shear Samson's locks,
in
a literary sense, lest he pull the temple down on us all?
Proctor S. Burress
Reviewer
Roger's Bookshelf
The Richest Man in Babylon for Today
Fred Siegel
Grammaton Press
601 Poydras Street, New Orleans, LA 70130
ISBN 0967936632 $19.95 137 pages
Age-Old Wisdom, Easily Digested
Untold numbers of books have been written about how to build wealth. They range from the get
rich
quick schemes to solid advice on investments. Some are so thick or so filled with formulas and
charts that it takes an economist to understand them. Some are inspirational volumes that are
filled
with platitudes and little else.
In this short book, Siegel spins a story that, at times, almost seems like a fable that's come to life.
The story centers on two men having difficulty building wealth and a rich man who mentors them
to
success. In each chapter, the author imparts, through his fictional wealthy character, advice that
we
all know but fail to follow religiously. His advisees learn from practicing what they are taught and
become successful in their own right.
While there are places that the dialog becomes more of a monologue, the rules of wealth
accumulation are delivered, illustrated, and repeated for emphasis and easy reference. The
teacher the man behind the curtain of the fictional story is well-qualified to present this message
to his readers. Siegel is a highly successful businessman who functions as an investment advisor
and
owns two other companies. He knows what he's talking about, and presents the cogent advice in a
form that's easy to digest.
This book is recommended for anyone who wants to learn the steps to accumulated wealth
through
savings, building, and investing. It's not a deep volume, just comprehensive enough to stand well
on
its own and perhaps stimulate some readers to explore Siegel's previous books or other books on
investing. The best time to begin this kind of program is twenty years ago, to paraphrase one of
the
quotations Siegel uses to season the book; the second best time is now. This is a valuable book
for
parents to give their children, so they can start the process early in life.
Talent Management Systems
Allan Schweyer
Wiley
ISBN 0470833866 $45.00 253 pages
Outstanding! Awesome!
My title for this book review may seem a bit out of the ordinary, but so is this book. If you're
thinking about buying it, you're probably hesitant because of the unusually high price. Forget the
high price issue. If you are an executive, a company owner, or a human resource professional, this
book has more value-per-page than practically any other book you'll read this year.
The whole concept of talent management is undergoing major change. The whole field is in a state
of evolution as a result of the economy, technology, new approaches to employment, outsourcing,
the increasing use of metrics, the emerging strategic partnership of the CEO and CHRO, legal and
ethical issues, diversity, and more. Talent management has turned into a jungle that seems to get
thicker with every step we take.
With the increasing complication, this field becomes more difficult to understand at the same time
that more people and more companies are entering the arena. Somebody who knows what it's all
about needs to write a guidebook that will explain the terms, dig into the issues, and make sense
of
all this. "Talent Management Systems" is that book. And Allan Schweyer, Executive Director of
the
Human Capital Institute, the leading comprehensive not-for-profit organization in the field, is the
ideal author.
This book covers just about every topic you want to learn about in the talent management arena.
The depth is appropriate for the reader who wants a solid overview with enough detail to "get"
the
picture and be able to relate all the parts. My problem in reading it was overcoming my habit of
turning down page corners. When you turn down almost every page, you eventually give up and
realize that you'll probably use the index for reference and re-read at least parts of the book over
and
over.
In these pages, you'll find lots of best practices. That resource makes this book a valuable asset.
Even more valuable, however, is the clarity of presentation as the author explains the terms, the
processes, the benefits, and the interrelationships. It's all here. I was a bit concerned when I
thumbed
through the book and found precious few graphics. As I got into the text, I discovered I didn't
need
graphics. The illustrative nature of the words is quite sufficient to convey the messages.
The book is current, state-of-the-art. If you're in this field, it should be on your shelf or better: on
your desk. If you're considering any aspect of workforce recruitment, management, development,
or
retention as a career, read the book now. In fact, suggest that your university professor add it to
the
class reading list. Read the book before you talk with the prof, and you'll probably discover you
know a lot more than the academic does! I've been in this field and its predecessor fields for over
two decades. Remember, I'm the one who was turning pages down.
"Talent Management Systems" is highly recommended for practitioners, aspirants, and the
teachers
and mentors who want to help their prot‚g‚s, but also keep a step ahead of them.
Roger E.Herman, Reviewer
http://www.hermangroup.com
Sherry's Bookshelf
Show Me Teach Me Heal Me: A Beginner's Guide to Natural Answers
Acaysha Dolfin
Trafford Publishing
Suite 6E, 2333 Government St., Victoria, BC, V8T 4P4, Canada
www.trafford.com 1-800-232-4444
ISBN: 1412001315 $22.00 217 pages
Show Me, Teach Me, Heal Me is an alternative how to manual for getting in touch with your
angels,
the empowering use of colors, the use of oils and herbs, Reiki, the art of meditation, recuperating
massage and raindrop therapy along with a revealing interpretation of the healing abilities of
Dolphins.
The author's true story put her on a path to a different drum for discovery that led her to
gathering
unique wellness information. Acaysha challenges us to take an active responsible role in creating
our
own wellness. By reflecting on the information she collected and devised, she was able to
generate a
spiritual bucket load of ideas for people to adopt.
The book is smoothly written in conversation style with bulleted points for easy to follow
directions.
The author shares her poetry talent with one particular special poem titled I Believe. It starts out
with the superb wisdom of "I believe that we don't have to change friends if we understand that
friends change".
Sometimes when life seems like one long process of getting tired, reading these easy to follow
alternative ideas will help the reader jump start the lazy body battery. The book offers a way to
empty ourselves of the old and allow the new to come in for a refocused energy and enthusiasm
for
living a radiant life.
New Horizons and My Angels
Acaysha Dolfin
Trafford Publishing
Suite 6E, 2333 Government St., Victoria, BC., V8T 4P4, Canada
www.trafford.com 1-800-232-4444
ISBN: 1553694597 $22.00 224 pages
New Horizons and My Angels is a study in triumphant over the author's true life frightening and
threatening struggles. The author unselfishly exposes with annotated reality how life was and how
her angels caressed her into her new being. With a stunning combination of a gutsy knuckle down
determination and the silky graciousness of spiritual insight, the author weaves in and out of
medications, surgery, suicide attempts, severe migraines and hallucinations. Her brutal collisions
with her own brain and her family conclude in birthing her anew to a fresh meaningful
archetype.
Acaysha's story starts with the affliction of epilepsy when she was two. At the age of 25, she was
overwhelmed with 22 seizures in one month. Foraging for better answers to the seizure
strangulation
hold on her, she conferred with the Mayo Clinic. After extensive testing, she was accepted as a
good
candidate for a complex innovative surgery to remove the damage to her brain. This sparked the
beginning of an amazing journey.
After the brain surgery, the author regressed in many ways back to being two years old. As she
learned how to climb the ropes of life all over again, she painstakingly and miraculously created a
bridge over this crater of emotional pain to get to the other side of her new reality. She goes on to
discover a surprising revelation about the seizures. They had served her well as her attention
getters
and her stress boundary keepers.
New Horizons and My Angels is a megaphone cheering people to wake up and celebrate life no
matter your situation. The author has proven that a wee little boat against the mightiest of cruel
winds can make it through the storm to witness a dazzling rainbow.
Santa's Socks
D.H. Gauvey, author
Peter Fasolino, illustrator
Brown Books Publishing Group
16200 North Dallas Parkway, Suite 170, Dallas, Texas 75248
www.brownbooks.com 972-381-0009
ISBN 0974628700 $13.95
Santa's Socks is a warm-hearted encouraging tale exemplifying the authentic meaning of giving.
Santa narrates the story of how he came to occasionally wear white socks as mittens.
Enchantingly,
he describes his wondrous experiences on one special Christmas. Lo and behold, while he dutifully
looked out for the masses, heaven above looked out for him.
The author writes "He was feeling a very special warmth, the warmth that only comes from
sharing
something special of yourself with a friend". This sentence tallies up the book's special message
while the fanciful and colorful illustrations will charm any young child.
Curiosity
Gerald Allen Wunsch, author
Irene Joslin, illustrator
1st Books Library
Bloomington, Indiana
www.authorhouse.com 1-888-519-5121
ISBP: 1410736997 $11.45 108 pages
Curiosity is a fun, educational treat. A grandfather, a grandchild with best friend in tow, a lively
dog,
and an old 1955 MG set the stage for extraordinary historical discoveries.
The tale starts out with a wise sturdy small Wire Fox Terrier named Laird tearing up the yard with
tenacious determination. His hard work uncovers the makings of an Underground Railroad. Two
fifth graders, Ginger and her best friend Irene, enter into the newfound discovery and find a
remarkable coin which turns out to be a Hard Times Token.
Throughout the story, the reader is directed to a unique "Learning More" area located in the back
of
the book giving more detailed explanations and information about Wire Fox Terriers, the country
of
Suriname, MGT series sports cars, genealogy, slavery in America and the Underground Railroad,
Buffalo Nickels, and additional information on Underground Railroad websites.
Curiosity will heartily fascinate and pique awareness about the Civil War and the Underground
Railroads. Recommended for middle grade students.
Rainbows From Heaven
Lynn Ellen Doxon
Artemesia Publishing
PO Box 6508 Rocky Mount, North Carolina 27802 252-985-2877
www.artemesiapublishing.com
ISBN: 1932926984 hc $24.95 288 pages including 8 pages of photos
ISBN: 1932926982 sc $14.95
Rainbows From Heaven is a heart melt respecting and honoring the divine power of family love. It
chronicles the trials and tribulations of a couple adopting children half way around the world in
the
Ukraine.
The author spotlights the stench of the foster care system in our own country focusing on the
questionable policy of reunification, which may put a child back into harms way. The trip to the
Ukraine comes after being foster parents and losing three "therapeutic need" children. These out
of
their control circumstances lead the author to decide to take her church up on an offer to go to
the
Ukraine. Once there, three little girls become the objects of her affection and the fight for
adoption
begins.
This true-life story details the shattered sadness of a child snatching food from a dog so she could
eat only to get mauled. The reader learns about children being forced to use the bathroom on
demand as if they were pups being housebroken. A maze of factors twines through situations of
poverty, abuse, and heart wrenching emotional isolation. Yet, this book proves to be an
inspirational
story of boundless faith. Tender passages like "She held my face between her hands and rubbed
my
nose with her nose, then hugged me and snuggled into my lap while I cried" peels back the layers
of
depression and frustration.
Ms. Doxon bears witness to the pain and anguish of her fight while she shares her jubilant
ravishing
love for three incredible beautiful children proving that even the near impossible can be
achieved.
Sherry Russell
Reviewer
Stephanie's Bookshelf
Witchblood
Timothy Whitfield
Black Death Books
www.khpindustries.com
ISBN: 0967922054 $16.00 Pages: 287
Author Timothy Whitfield uses the combination of his delightful imagination and knowledge of his
home state, PA, to bring forth a tale of inner-city madness. Within the Industrial city of Pittsburgh
evil awaits, desiring the Moonchild who, with her womb, can bring forth disaster.
After faking her death, Michele, the Moonchild's mother, is reunited with her daughter at a
deserted
church. Michele and her younger sister, Rachael, the siblings being witches, try to keep the young
Moonchild hidden from the horrid graveworm. They are terrified, afraid that their powers couldn't
withstand those of the graveworm.
Michele's boyfriend, Nicholas, is searching for her. The body the authorties found at the bottom of
the bridge where she had jumped wasn't Michele's. She's alive somewhere in the city, and after
one
of his friends is brutally murdered he sets out to find her. While doing so, he learns more about his
past and his destiny than he would have liked too. He is also part of the Witchblood, a male
Wichblood sent to protect the Moonchild, and the entire world.
"Witchblood" was not only a wonderful read, but Timothy Whitfield has an amazing sense of
setting.
His descriptions of PA, and the fictional places within were not so over done they would put you
to
sleep. He paints a vivid picture of the character's surroundings without the wordiness. Instead of
choosing a more forward style of writing, he takes the beautiful approach, combining words that
blend romantically, yet still have the ability to frighten the reader.
The book is very dark, gothic and extremely sickening in some spots. I sometimes found myself
visualizing things I would normally have felt guilty picturing, but that just adds to the book's
haunting appeal. It's definitely one that will stick with you after you finish it. Cheers to Timothy
Whitfield for the wonderfully horrid visuals, and a delightfully dark book that will make you
question your own destiny.
Fangs and Angel Wings
Karen E. Taylor
Betancourt and Company
P.O. Box 301, Holicong, PA 18928-0301
http://www.wildsidepress.com
ISBN: 1592246125 $32.95 269 pp.
The power went out. I had no television, radio and worst of all, no computer. Then an angel came
to
me in a white, two-door pick-up truck with a package addressed to me from author Karen E.
Taylor. Inside was the brilliantly written, part horror, part erotic horror, short story collection
"Fangs and Angel Wings". Karen E. Taylor saved my day.
I sat in bed near the window and read it from cover to cover. I made a few trips into the kitchen
for
a glass of water (this book was so steamy in places, I needed it) and kept and eye on my son, but
spent most of my powerless day curled up with this mind-grabbing read.
In the book's first dark tale, "Blood of the Rose", Adam finds himself attracted to a widow, who is
mourning her husband at the funeral home where he works. Little does he know that her grief will
soon come to an end after a little not-so-harmless flirting.
A few more pages into the book, I found myself pondering over a couple of questions: What is a
woman to do when driving alone, and is tricked, taken to a clearing where seven men are waiting
to
violate her? That's easy. She relies on her "Contacts". And is a little bit of witchcraft going to
harm
anyone? It all depends on what you ask for in "Forever".
"Romeo Falling", another tale that sticks out in my mind, takes place on a prehistoric planet,
where
Miranda, an intergalactic saleswoman, has landed in her broken spaceship. When she befriends a
winged alien by the name of "Romeo", she allows him to live up to his name. Unfortunately, there
is
much more to his species than he leads on.
Although I loved those and all of the other stories in "Fangs and Angels Wings", I have to pick a
favorite: "The Presence", a spooky, erotic tale about a tenant, a landlord and a very seductive
ghost.
Mara Hawthorne moved into her dream apartment. It was a tad bit chillier than she would have
liked
it to be, but there was plenty of room for her to paint. Her landlord, Jonathan Webber, takes a
liking
to her, and although she isn't up for it, the two share a quick bit of romance. But lurking in her
apartment, is another interested suitor, who toys with her while she sleeps.
"Fangs and Angel Wings" is a book that will not only keep you very entertained during a
blackout,
or any other time you decide to read, but will make your entire body tingle, especially your skin.
Karen E. Taylor uses a beautiful blend of romance, horror, and erotica in her stories, but not so
much that it would make you sick to your stomach- queasy from mush, or gagging with fright.
Her
stories are relentless, but she does it tastefully, like a homicidal songbird during the first waking
days
of spring. If you haven't picked up Karen. E. Taylor yet, I suggest you do so. You'll never know
when you will need her to swoop in save the day.
Stephanie Simpson-Woods
Reviewer
Terry's Bookshelf
When Washington Was in Vogue
Edward Christopher Williams
Amistad
ISBN: 0060555459 $23.95 320 pages
Recommendation: ***
Society Rules Even in the Roaring Twenties
I liked this novel, originally published in THE MESSENGER, a black journal from 1925 through
1926. The details of Davy Carr's middle class existence were sometimes too tedious for my liking,
but for anyone interested in the daily lives of middle-classed African Americans during the
Roaring
Twenties, this book is a must read.
I've read a lot of Edith Wharton and WHEN WASHINGTON WAS IN VOGUE fits nicely with
Wharton's insider look at polite society and its pitfalls. There was a lot of discussion in this book
about "passing" and "light skinned" girls, but the story didn't shed much light on the real issues of
race. Instead the reader learned about dazzling dinner parties, weekends in the country and late
night
card games.
There is a love story buried in the book, too. Although there's no real action in this book, it's
worth a
few afternoons of your time.
Enjoy.
The Goodbye Summer
Patricia Gaffney
HarperCollins
ISBN: 0060185295 $24.95 400 pages
Recommendation: ****
Lessons Lived Lessons Learned
Patricia Gaffney's THE SAVING GRACES is one of my favorite reads. She takes ordinary lives
and
shines a light on them like very few writers can. Fast paced? Action packed? Not one whit. But, if
you'll take time to savor her stories, Gaffney can teach you a lot about human nature.
I liked Caddie Winger, her offbeat grandmother and all the folks at Wake House. I even liked
Christopher the Cad. All of Gaffney's characters in THE GOODBYE SUMMER have specific
shoes
to fill. Without even one of them, the story would be incomplete.
I want to be THEA when I grow old. I have a list of things to do before I die, too, although
dyeing
my hair red isn't on it. *Grin*
Treat yourself to a slow, calm, studied look at real people facing life's challenges. Growing old is
not
for sissies. Neither is growing up.
Enjoy!
Terry Mathews
Reviewer
Taylor's Bookshelf
Doing Business By The Good Book
David L. Steward & Robert L. Shook
Hyperion
Jane Wesman Public Relations (publicity)
77 West 66th Stree, New York, NY 10023-6298
1401300626 $19.95 www.HyperionBooks.com
In Doing Business By The Good Book: 52 Lessons On Success Straight From The Bible, Dave
Steward (Founder and CEO of World Wide Technology, a privately held, billion-dollar company
headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri), draws upon his many years of personal experience and
professional expertise to show his fellow Christians how they can succeed in building their
business
enterprise upon the solid foundation of Scripture. With the assistance of author Robert L. Shook,
Steward has organized his presentation into specific chapters deftly addressing such issues as the
entrepreneurial spirit and integrity, the concepts of delegation and adaption, finding a niche,
providing good leadership in the service of others, building long-term relationships, taking a
stand,
the necessity for consistency, teamwork, risk-taking, operating a customer-driven company,
handling confrontation, accountability, the role of praise and recognition, letting go and allowing
God to work His will, and so much more. Doing Business By The Good Book should be
considered
"must reading" by all dedicated Christians in positions of managerial responsibility whether it be a
local enterprise or an international conglomerate.
The Bonhoeffer Phenomenon
Stephen R. Haynes
Fortress Press
PO Box 59304, Minneapolis, MN 55459-0304
080063652X $22.00 1-800-328-4648
The Bonhoeffer Phenomenon: Portraits Of A Protestant Saint by Stephen R. Haynes (Associate
Professor of Religion, Rhodes College, Memphis, Tennessee) offers a groundbreaking assessment
of
Dietrich Bonhoeffer and his continuing mystique and popularity among seminar students,
theologians, and the Christian community so many years after his martyrdom at the hands of the
Nazis. After the informative introduction "Beyond the Historical Bonhoeffer", this descriptive
analytical history addresses the question "Who is Bonhoeffer for Us?" in terms of Seer (The
Radical
Bonhoeffer), Prophet (The Liberal Bonhoeffer), Apostle (The Conservative Bonhoeffer), and
Bridge
(The Universal Bonhoeffer). The next major section is dedicated to "Interpreting the Bonhoeffer
Phenomenon" in terms of Saint (The Function and Form of Christian Hagiography), Cult
(Expressions of the Bonhoeffer Phenomenon), and Domestication (The Perils of Protestant
Sainthood). Enhanced with expensive notes, a substantial bibliography, and a thoroughly "user
friendly" index, The Bonhoeffer Phenomenon is informed, informative, fascinating reading and a
"must" for academic as well as non-specialist general readers with an interest in Dietrich
Bonhoeffer's life and writings.
Church And Civil Society
Francis Sullivan
Australian Theological Forum
c/o International Publishers Marketing
22841 Quicksilver Drive, Dulles, VA 20166
1920691138 $22.00 www.internationalpubmarket.com
In Church And Civil Society, Francis Sullivan (Executive Director of Catholic Health Australia,
Canberra) and Sue Leppert (Executive Director of Anglicare, Canberra and Goulburn) expertly
collaborate to compile, organize and edit a number of informed and informative contributions
focused on the relationship between theology, church, state, markets, and civil society. The
tension
between the churches' responsibilities and contractual obligations as a service provider in a
particular
political and economic context, with its commitment to being an agent of social justice, advocacy,
and responsive action for the disadvantaged and the marginalized is analytically presented. Also
explored are the way community services are currently expected to operate in a climate of
Australia's market driven economic objectives, privatization, competition policy, and government
social policy reforms. From terms of engagement, to images of church, to issues of spirituality and
engagement, Church And Civil Society is strongly recommended to the attention of the Christian
community as thoughtful and though-provoking reading.
Max Q
Andy Stanley and Stuart Hall
Howard Publishing Company
3117 North 7th Street, West Monroe, LA 71291-2227
1582293600 $20.01 1-800-858-4109
Two respected leaders in the Christian community present Max Q: Developing Students Of
Influence, a guide especially for Christian parents and teachers that covers six core principles to
help
one's children and students thrive in spite of the greatest external pressures, and spread the
message
of Christ to their peers. Chapters also address the importance of understanding the lasting power
of
influence as well as its limitations. Motivational, and drawing heavily on the wisdom of scripture
as
well as practical advice and experience, Max Q is highly recommended for anyone concerned
about
passing on their cherished values to the next generation.
Making Sense Of The New Testament
Craig L. Blomberg
Baker Academic
c/o Baker Book House Company
PO Box 6287, Grand Rapids, MI 49516-6287
0801027470 $14.99 www.bakerbooks.com
Making Sense Of The New Testament: Three Crucial Questions by Craig L. Blomberg
(Distinguished Professor of New Testament, Denver Seminary) informative addresses three
critically
important issues in New Testament studies: Is the New Testament Historically Reliable?; Was
Paul
the true founder of Christianity? How are Christians to apply the New Testament to their lives?
Enhanced with an excellent introduction, extensive notes, a Subject Index and a Scripture Index,
Making Sense Of The New Testament is confidently recommended reading for students of the
New
Testament as well as non-specialist general readers with an abiding interest in New Testament
Studies from a Protestant perspective.
The Caleb Quest
Mark Atteberry
Thomas Nelson Publishers
PO Box 141000, Nashville, TN 37214
www.thomasnelson.com
0785261877 $14.99 1-800-251-4000
The Caleb Quest presents one Christian man's search for answers to the troubling question: "If
God's
promises are true, then why are so many of His people walking aroud with dashed hopes and
unfulfilled dreams?" The answers discovered lie in the message of Caleb, the boldest dreamer of
the
Bible, who dared to make the right moves and was rewarded with riches. Written with both
spiritual
and earthly concerns in mind, The Caleb Quest strives to present the wisdom of God and the Bible
in
tangible form with discussion questions, and solid advice than anyone can ponder and follow in
their
struggles to make their own dreams come true. A moving personal testimony combined with a call
to take action and stay true to one's faith the Lord.
Music Of The Heart
David Adam
The Pilgrim Press
700 Prospect Avenue, East, Cleveland, OH 44115-1100
0281052204 $13.00 1-800-654-5129
Music of the Heart: New Psalms in the Celtic Tradition presents 140 contemporary psalms in
sections titled "Singing", "Seeking", "Sorrowing", "Straying", "Saved", and "Seasonal", all written
by David Adam in an effort to reach out and keep in close with God throughout the ups and
downs
of daily life. These poetic prayers reverberate with abundant faith, and speak of God as the One
who
is with us always, welcoming all who turn around and embrace His love. An emotional,
passionate,
and inspirational anthology of devotion.
The Ultimate MBA
Gary L. Moreau
Augsburg Publishers
100 Fifth Street, Suite 700, Minneapolis, MN 55402-1210
www.augsburgbooks.com
080664947X $12.99 1-800-328-4648
The Ultimate MBA: Meaningful Biblical Analogies For Business is a Christian guidebook to
bringing integrity worthy of faithful believers and harmonizing it with the business need to turn a
profit. Chapters address the importance of doing the right thing, leadership for the common good,
applying one's experience, taking chances when needed, staying focused, and much more. The
Ultimate MBA draws upon the wisdom of the Bible to illustrate the power of positive,
compassionate, and upstanding policies, and describes in plain terms the importance of building
lasting institutions upon values. Highly recommended for anyone seeking to balance seemingly
opposing business and conscience goals.
Playing A Jewish Game
Michele Murray
Wilfrid Laurier University Press
Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, N2L 3C5
0889204012 $44.95 1-519-884-0710 www.wlupress.wlu.ca
Playing A Jewish Game: Gentile Christian Judaizing In The First And Second Centuries CE by
Michele Murray (Assistant Professor, Department of Religion, Bishiop's University, Lennoxville,
Quebeck, Canada) proposes the theory that significant strands of early Christian anti-Judaism
were
actually directed against Gentile Christian judaizers, Christians who combined their faith with
varying Jewish practices yet did not see their own behavior as contradictory. Drawing evidence
from
canonical sources, including Paul's Letter to the Galatians, and inviting the reader to reflect upon
the
events of history and the evidence of Gentile Christian judaizers in the era of the first and second
centuries, Playing A Jewish Game offers a new perspective upon history and religious definition
that
reverberates as vital to better understanding Judaism and Christianity alike in contemporary
times.
Read The Way You Talk
Jack Hartjes
The Liturgical Press
St. John's Abbey, PO Box 7500, Collegeville, MN 56321-7500
0814629725 $5.95 1-800-858-5450
Read The Way You Talk: A Guide For Lectors was specifically written by Jack Hartjes (an
elementary school teacher, lector, and instructor of lectors at St. Paul's Parish, St. Cloud,
Minnesota) for Catholic clergy and laymen assigned to read the "Liturgy of the Word". This
slender
(56 pages) instructional showcases the principle that readings should be delivered with the
cadences
and vocal inflections normal to ordinary speech to be most effective. Three informed and
informative
lessons are provided to give invaluable and applicable instructions in eighteen distinct areas which
include pronunciation and inflection. While specific to the role of reading the liturgy in a church
setting, Read The Way You Talk is also very highly recommended as a tutorial for anyone having
to
do recitation or readings in any public, clerical, pastoral, or devotional setting.
John Taylor
Reviewer
Tracey's Bookshelf
Sleep
Kat Meads
Livingston Press
The University of West Alabama
www.livingstonpress.uwa.edu
ISBN 1931982287 $14.95
To label the novel, Sleep, by Kat Meads, simply fantasy or science fiction, is to do it a disservice.
Sleep is a novel that transcends genre with bold and beautiful writing. It offers an honest and
sometime painful assessment of the human condition, while entertaining us with a tightly woven
plot
that takes place in a world which could very well be our future.
I started to read the novel while waiting for my children to be dismissed from school. Immediately
plunged into a place where one either sleeps too much or too little, I fell into the book's rhythm
and
had a hard time pulling myself away. Whether reading about the band of revolutionaries, or
envying
the monastic dreamers (I get way too little sleep), I was compelled. I cared about the characters,
and
was driven to know the outcome of their stories.
Would the teenage dreamers rebel or live primarily through REM? What will happen to the
hungry
revolutionaries once winter hits? Will the recovered teen find her mother? And why did her
mother
abandon her in the first place? Meads' masterful prose will keep you wondering. Her strong, often
poetic and sometimes satiric writing is a welcome respite from the pressures of the day. I won't
spoil
the outcome of Sleep, but will say that if you miss it, you've missed a great read.
Mother Love
Candace Flynt
Louisiana State University Press
Baton Rouge 70803
ISBN 0807126977 $18.95
Mother Love was originally published in 1987, and lucky for us, recently re-released. A sweeping
study of three sisters, Mother Love is a book I won't soon forget. The fragility of family ties
amidst
a mother's divorce, alcohol dependence, and selfishness is explored with a deftness and clarity that
are rarely seen.
To enter the lives of Katherine, Jude, and Louise, is to enter into an exploration of what is means
to
be a sister, a mother, a friend, and how the sacrifices we make for love of family affect our lives.
Katherine is the oldest, and as such, tries to compensate for her mothers lack of mothering by
doting
on her sisters. Jude and Louise react differently to Katherine's efforts, and it is through the
retelling
of stories about their mother that we come to understand the sisters.
I couldn't read Mother Love all at once. I wanted to savor the sisters' stories, to take my time with
their lives. Wonderful all the way through, the book has a most satisfying one-sentence ending. By
the time I had finished Mother Love, I had laughed and cried, thanked my mom, and called my
sister. This book is definitely a keeper.
Tracey Broussard
Reviewer
James A. Cox
Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review
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Oregon, WI 53575-1129
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