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Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Polaris Vac-Sweep 280 Pressure Side Pool Cleaner; Brand: Zodiac; Review: I have an outdoor pool, no lanai,and surrounded by trees. After years of struggling to keep it clean, I decided to get one of these auto pool cleaners. I should have done this a long time ago. Before,I would have to literally spend 3-4 hours a week keeping my pool in working order. If I didn't, it would become a complete mess. You all know what I am talking about. In one day this cleaner had my pool sparkling clean, and it had been somewhat neglected for a couple of weeks. A couple of tips: Make sure to follow the directions and fine tune the cleaner. Things such as setting the valve to acheive proper wheel rotation speed and setting the jet in the correct adjustment. You'll see. I took my time, and in a couple of hours I had it out of the box and into the pool doing the work for me. This thing gets all the leaves and dirt. the tail sweeps around and sort of scrubs the floor and walls. It has an auto reverse every 3.5 minutes, so it gets itself out of any tight corners. the bag is easy to remove and clean, and the debris stays in it very well. it has all the pieces you need to connect either to a dedicated line or one of the return lines. I just had to remove one of the caps and eyeballs, then screw in the adaptor. It has a quick disconnect so you can easily remove the vacuum line and unit for backwashing. It also comes with a quick connect cap/eyeball assembly to replace it when you'll have the cleaner out for a while. It does not send any debris to your filter, unless you count the finer dirt that gets stirred up by the tail. but this is an advantage and relieves you of having to sweep. Otherwise, all leaves and stuff go into the bag. Just clean it out when it is half full. Overall I rate this unit as easy to use and install; and a great deal for the price. Get one.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Council Tool 3.75 Inch Pulauski Axe, 36 Straight Wooden Handle; Brand: Council Tool; Review: I run a earth friendly landscape company. We remove small to medium trees manually, no machines. So we chop the root system out of the ground. This axe quickly became the most popular tool during this phase of the job. Everyone wants to use the pulaski. It is well balanced, strong, shock feedback is minimal, and the pick on the other side is great for prying out your prize after it is cut. I highly recommend this brand. We also have a brush cutter that is a great specialty tool for clearing.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Briggs & Stratton 85310 2-Compartment 1-1/2 Gallon Gas and 2-1/2 Quart Oil Fuel Can; Brand: Briggs & Stratton; Review: 7/17/2015 UPDATE: DO NOT recommend this product. after only a few short weeks in our work gear, the two piece sliding nozzles simply popped apart. There is some poorly designed spring loaded mechanism that if you brush up against it the thing pops off and goes flying. I found the can tipped over and all my gas spilled out in the back of my truck. Which of course means I have to run back out and get gas again. The can is good and solid, which is why I gave it two stars, so if you buy this, just plan on buying a couple of new nozzles too. Very well made, and solves the problem of having to lug around two jugs while out cutting. Premix in one side, bar oil in the other. Pretty smart. Also has the added benefit of saving your bar oil. I by the larger jugs of bar oil, and without a funnel, it simply spills everywhere when trying to fill my saws. With this you get it in the chamber with minimal mess. I estimate it will pay for itself over time.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: National Diversified 422 4-Inch Pop-Up Drainage Emitter; Brand: NDS; Review: These things work. This is an excellent design and as a landscape contractor we count on this component and use several at just about every project we do. The pop up in the center pops up when water drains, it closes when there is no drainage, and keeps debris and other varmints out of the pipe. A brilliant idea. You will need an adaptor to fix it to the standard 4" black corrugate pipe used for sub terrain drainage, and there are two types. Search Amazon for the following: "NDS #451 4" Corr Hub Fitting" and you will find it. I am surprised the site does not automatically suggest this. Make sure you have some black gorilla tape on hand and tape any connections.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Taylor Jumbo 26" Easy-Read Rain Gauge with Mounting Bracket; Brand: Taylor; Review: Best one I could find.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Patio_Lawn_and_Garden |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Bayon Boutique; City: Siem Reap Siem Reap Province; Review: Clean and comfortable, huge rooms and bathroom, comfortable beds, great location. Only things I would say are missing are a desk in the room and blackout curtains. Street noise was also audible from the room and can be quite a bit loud in the day. Staff are very friendly and helpful.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Waldorf Tetra Serviced Apartments; City: Auckland Central North Island; Review: Located walking distance from town center, if coming from airport and don't have a car the bus stops not far away. Clean though quite basic and small. We had a room on the ground floor which felt a bit like the basement and was cold, but heating can be turned on. Beds were very comfortable. Staff were polite but not overly friendly.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Best Western BK s Pioneer Motor Lodge; City: Mangere North Island; Review: My friend and I had half a day to stay in Auckland decided to stay here as I had a very early flight the next morning. The free shuttle is a nice service but "free" is only a return trip for the registered guest. My friend was not staying the night but even though I had paid for a double, she had to pay for the ride to the airport (10 dollars). I had a ride for 5am the next morning and at 0455 they started chasing me even though it was not even 5! Note that the shuttle isn't really a shuttle - it is a minivan and does not fit many people or luggage. Room itself is big but looks a bit dirty, walls are very thin and can be noisy. The only highlight was the lovely elderly Indian man who picked us up from the airport. Very friendly and helpful. Also if you have a few hours to kill, there's nothing to do in the area and getting into Auckland city center is expensive. There are lots of other hotel options in that area and would recommend you try one of the others.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Ibis Rotorua Hotel; City: Rotorua Rotorua District Bay of Plenty Region North Island; Review: Stayed here for a couple if nights, had a comfortable room, location right next to the main eating places. No free wifi which is disappointing. Staff were friendly and helpful. Note that there is a credit card surcharge if not paying with cash.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Trinity Hotel; City: Wellington Greater Wellington North Island; Review: Good location walking distance from Cuba street. Our room though was small and looked very old. Windows couldn't open, radiator did not work, furnishing was dark and old fashioned. Gave the whole place a rather creepy feeling. Had a car but parking was not free. Upside was the electric blankets which were quite nice!; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Via Hotel Loft; City: Zhongshan District Taipei; Review: Stayed here twice already, great location near Shuanglian subway in the center of town. Lots of local eating options nearby and near the Ningxia night market. Free snacks and drinks all day in the communal area including a simple breakfast, laundry facilities (though never used), friendly staff. Rooms are nicely decorated, comfortable and modern. Only downsides: not all the rooms have windows (both times I stated didn't have rooms w windows), there is also a perpetual smell of cleaning products in the hallway, and we had some plumbing issues because the building is old.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Airlines Travel Hotel Shanghai Pudong Airport Branch; City: Shanghai; Review: I was transiting and just needed a hotel near the airport. Picked this one as it had a free shuttle. Horrible!! Hotel staff were unfriendly and disinterested but worse were the rooms, which were just dirty. Strong smoke smell for a non-smoking room, carpets were beyond disgusting as was the bathroom. Am glad I was there for just a few hours for sleep! For the price, better try another hotel near the airport - don't stay here!; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Residence Inn Boston North Shore Danvers; City: Danvers Massachusetts; Review: I stayed here for 2 weeks in March. Big spacious suites with full service kitchen and a living area complete w a fireplace makes it a good choice for long stays. Breakfast in the morning is quite decent in the main lobby (also w a nice fireplace), and the hotel provides a free light dinner 3x a week. There's even self service laundry services and a grocery shopping service of you need it. Cons: I had a ground floor room which looks into the parking lot so have to keep curtains drawn at all times for privacy making the room dark. Decor not really to my liking but ok. What bothered me more was housekeeping's lack of detail - carpet not vacuumed, food stains in the microwave. Also the hotel claims to be a green partner but I noticed housekeeping would use the whole dishwasher for ONE mug (dishwashing liquid can be obtained from reception for free to wash the mug yourself and save some water and electricity). Also, the turning off route 1 is easy to miss (turn at the Friday's sign). If you miss it, do not take the next turning which will take you on I-95 and a 7mile detour. Instead, continue up route 1 and there should be another way to U-turn back on route 1 south (then need to U-turn again onto route 1 north to reach the hotel). Overall though, good value for money and I would stay here again.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sama Sama Hotel; City: Sepang Sepang District Selangor; Review: The hotel is right in the terminal which makes it very convenient, and room is clean and comfortable enough. But considering most people are just transiting, a room is very expensive, especially considering you have to pay extra for every hour over 6 hours. Unfortunately there are limited convenient choices in the area so pay for the convenience if you can afford it.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Rhombus Park Aura Chengdu Hotel; City: Chengdu Sichuan; Review: In the center of chengdu, just walking distance from lots of shopping and eating places. Modern decor and very comfortable at very reasonable price. Good choice for a getaway! Only thing is that after a certain hour, the "bar" is deserted and the wait staff pretty much ignores it. Better off eating and drinking elsewhere!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Shama Heda Hangzhou; City: Hangzhou Zhejiang; Review: Well appointed, comfortable studio apartments. If just going for a short business trip, the kitchen is unnecessary but still nice to have the suite layout. Right opposite is a big mall with a supermarket and lots of eating places, subway just down the street. Also includes a simple breakfast (not great western selection but ok to fill stomach). Recommended to those who are in the area for work, but probably want to stay somewhere more central if in hangzhou for holiday.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: November Wellness Resort; City: Rawai Phuket; Review: For the price of this place, I would expect a lot more, which makes me wonder how they retained such a high rating. Upon arrival, the ceiling over the reception was leaking with no one paying attention until I told them to fix it. The whole place was deserted and looked like an abandoned Chinese villa. Room is dark and lacks attention to detail, only tea and no coffee, not even bottled water. Pillow cases not ironed properly, furniture and paintings crooked, even found a stain on one of the towels. Staff uniforms looked dirty and the whole place just looks like it is past its glory days.; Rating: 2.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: San Juan Marriott Resort Stellaris Casino; City: San Juan Puerto Rico; Review: Good hotel, location is ideal and 15 minutes from airport. Watch out for the casino since it doesn't paid out much. Beach and pol area are nice. I liked that non all-inclusive hotel since its not over crowded and full of drunks peeing in the pool. I would go back again for sure but at the right price.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Gaithersburg Marriott Washingtonian Center; City: Gaithersburg Montgomery County Maryland; Review: Great location at the Rio. Rooms are nice and the beds are great. Clean room, has a pool. Device is good. Restaurants and bar are a little expensive but expected at a hotel. Go for a drink or dinner at the other restaurants since there are lots of options around the lake. Parking is free and there is plenty of it. Pool is nice. Is a full service Marriott so you know what to expect.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Buffalo Marriott Niagara; City: Amherst New York; Review: Stayed here for only one night on October 4th. I liked that it was full service with a bar so I could watch the NFL game at night. Location worked for me since I had business in the area. Room wasn't anything special but they were clean an the room service was good and customer service excellent. 30 minutes to Niagara for those looking to see the falls.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Omni Austin Hotel Downtown; City: Austin Texas; Review: Great downtown location and a block or so from all the bar and music action. Hotel had nice rooms with a view of Austin. Staff is great and an easy quick check in service. We had catered meals since it was a business meeting; food was fresh and excellent. I definitely would stay here again.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Westin Seattle; City: Seattle Washington; Review: My room had a king and plenty of space; was surprised how big the room was. Beds are great. I needed security to open my safe and they didn't come at the first some had to call again, a minor inconvenience but the staff was excellent. The hotel store is overpriced for things you may have forgotten; go to a pharmacy across street. Couldn't ask for a better location, the market is a quick walk away.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Chicago Marriott Suites Downers Grove; City: Downers Grove DuPage County Illinois; Review: Rooms are suites and have a ton of space. There are restaurants within walking distance which is a plus. I stayed for two nights for a business meeting, 45 minutes away from Midway. Gym was way too hot. I couldn't breath in there, don't think they had any ventilation. Other than that it's a nice business hotel.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hilton Americas Houston; City: Houston Texas; Review: Well placed in city center next to convention center and arena. Good selection of restaurants in site and a short walk. Entrance is beautiful and my room was amazing with a great view. No complaints you will be happy here.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Courtyard by Marriott St Augustine Beach; City: Saint Augustine Beach St Augustine Florida; Review: The staff at this hotel are amazing. We stayed for two nights and loved it. Our room could have been a little larger but other than that we are very happy. The hotel is newer and the beach is a quick walk across the street.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: The Bridge Inn; City: Ratho Edinburgh Scotland; Review: Located in Ratho, the Bridge Inn is in a quiet village alongside the Union Canal in the countryside. There are four rooms (we stayed in the Baird) above a pub/restaurant. The staff were exceptionally friendly and the room was clean and surprisingly quiet. Breakfast is included and is all you could ask for, including the wonderful Full Scottish Breakfast which you can get in half-size just by asking. We met the locals in the pub while enjoying excellent beer and made new friends. This being our first trip to Scotland and Edinburgh, we found everyone to be very friendly and social. The Inn also has a canal barge dinner cruise which is well worth it. The food in the pub, restaurant, and barge was excellent. The bus stops right outside the Inn and it is about a 50-60 minute ride (on the 12 or X12) to downtown Edinburgh, and we used that each of our 4 days exploring Edinburgh, which we would say is one of the most beautiful and entertaining city we have seen). If you are flying into the airport it is not far from Ratho, and a taxi ride into Waverly Station in Edinburgh is about 20-25 minutes. Truly, this stay was the most fun we have had and made our vacation the best. We would highly recommend the Bridge Inn to anyone who wants to see the real Scotland. Should we return to Edinburgh, we would certainly stay here again.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Berlin Berlin; City: Berlin; Review: A nice clean and relatively inexpensive place to stay in Berlin. Easy access to the U-bahn and not a bad taxi ride to or from the Tegel airport. The room was fairly large and as we asked for a quiet room received one that overlooked the courtyard and it was quiet. Also, as we arrived about 0900 and hoped just to check our bags with them, the staff was very accommodating and got us a room at that time (after a long flight all we can say is "thank you!). Very clean and the staff was quite friendly. The food on the premises was good, and you can eat out in the courtyard, which despite the hot temperatures, remained quite comfortable. Should we return to Berlin we certainly would stay here again.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Best Western Plus Rama Inn; City: Redmond Central Oregon Oregon; Review: I spent 2 nights at this hotel and was quite pleased with the room, the excellent breakfast, and the wonderful staff. All of the employees there were very pleasant and helpful and they obviously take pride in their work and hotel. Wifi was quick and easy, and the pool and hot tub both looked inviting (although I did not have the time to make use of them). The breakfast was the best that I have had at hotels that offer one. All in all a great stay with no complaints at all. I will stay here again on my next visit to this area.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hampton Inn By Hilton Chilliwack; City: Chilliwack British Columbia; Review: The Hampton Inn is two exits on Highway 1 from downtown Chilliwack, which is only a couple of minutes away. Very quiet and I was told the hotel is only about 1 1/2 years old. The rooms, lobby, and breakfast area were all very nice. Staff were very pleasant and welcoming. The breakfast was one of the best that I have had at hotels that offer them. There is free Wifi (for up to 3 devices) that was easy to use. The hotel had a pool and slide that looked very nice, although we did not have the time to use them.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Comfort Suites Kelowna; City: Kelowna Okanagan Valley British Columbia; Review: This is the second time that we have stayed at this hotel while in Kelowna on business. The facilities are excellent - clean, modern rooms with highspeed Wifi that we connected 4 devices up to with no problems. The staff are very friendly and welcoming and made our stay very enjoyable. They provide the kind of customer service that any business would love to have. Breakfast was very good and allows you to have just the amount that you want before leaving the hotel to start the day. There's a great indoor pool and slide, and while we didn't have the time to make use of it, we did observe a number of adults and children having a good time in it. The hotel is located on Highway 97 which gives you access to all of the restaurants and shopping. We'll stay here again on our next trip through Kelowna.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Quality Inn Downtown 4th Avenue; City: Spokane Washington; Review: We picked this hotel based on the reviews here and also the fact that it is right off the Interstate and easy to get to. It appears to be an older hotel, but if so, has been nicely refurbished. Its quite clean and the room we had was great. We faced the freeway, but found the noise to be minimal. A nice simple breakfast is included and that's just the right amount of food to get the day started. You are not far from downtown (easy driving distance). The staff were quite pleasant and we had a good night's sleep. Would stay there again when passing through Spokane.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Pinnacle Hotel At The Pier; City: North Vancouver British Columbia; Review: This is one of the nicest hotels that we have stayed at. The room was exceptionally nice and clean. The staff were very friendly and helpful. We had dinner in the restaurant off of the lobby and it was quite enjoyable. Overall an excellent stay.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Best Western Williams Lake Hotel; City: Williams Lake Cariboo British Columbia; Review: We stayed here on our last work trip to Williams Lake and selected this hotel based upon its #1 rating here on Tripadvisor. Quite happy with that choice. The hotel is new and in a quiet location with a view of the lake. Easy access from the highway. Very nice beds and very clean room. Free parking and free wireless Internet which was speedy and didn't drop connections. Within easy walking distance to the Laughing Loon Pub (basically next door), which is an excellent lunch/dinner stop. We'll stay here on our next trip through town.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Ontario 6504 OKC3S Marine Bayonet (Brown); Brand: Ontario Knife; Review: Always like an Ontario knife. The OKC3S is probably the best looking and put together Ontario I've had so far. Bought mine out of nostalgia for my Marine Corps days. Only gripe is that mine has slightly different wording on the base of the blade and is laser etched instead of the stamped which is what I was used to seeing several years ago. A little annoyed there. The edge bevel was evenly ground and "sharp enough" for cutting tasks and certainly for stabbing bad guys with if the need arose. If you want a hair-popping, razor edge you'll need to touch that up yourself which is the usual case for any Ontario knife. Only other issue is that while the bevel was even, the straight edge part of the blade was ground up a little too high on mine where it meets the serrations so it has this slight "kukri-ish" shape to the look of it. Doesn't affect the blade at all and it's not a problem but it is that little "something" that I notice every time I look at it. IMO, the best bayonet type knife out there. Regardless of the minor issues that may or may not be on yours, you'll be happy with this one. It's just mean looking.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Condor Tactical Rain Cover; Brand: CONDOR; Review: Haven't tested out the waterproofing yet but I'm sure it will work great. Fits over my entire 5.11 Rush 72 (which is a 55L bag) that is fully packed out. Legit, licensed Multicam pattern is used and works great in the Northern woodlands throughout the entire year and seasons. Not sure how well the durability will be as material seems a little light. I was hoping for a slightly tougher and thicker material like you would see with gore-tex type material but it will do.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Birchwood Casey PERMA BLUE LIQUID Air Gun Shotgun Blueing 90ml [13125] Blue Rifle; Brand: Birchwood Casey; Review: A must have item for any gun owner. Works great on so many other tools as well. Stripped and blued a Cold Steel Pipe Hawk and it came out better than I hoped for. Always have some Perma Blue on hand.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: McNett Tactical Camo Form Protective Camouflage Wrap; Brand: McNett Tactical; Review: This stuff is awesome. Perfect option for those pretty and expensive hunting rifles that you want camo'd but don't want to paint. Thinking about McNetting my house at some point. Don't judge.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: McNett Tactical Camo Form Protective Camouflage Wrap; Brand: McNett Tactical; Review: This stuff is awesome. Perfect option for those pretty and expensive hunting rifles that you want camo'd but don't want to paint. Thinking about McNetting my house at some point. Don't judge.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Light My Fire Swedish FireSteel 2.0 Army 12,000 Strike Fire Starter with Emergency Whistle; Brand: Light my Fire; Review: Still one of the best ferro rods out there. Get a few.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ontario Knife 7025 Ontario Old Hickory 7" Butcher Knife Wood Handle, 7-1/4 in x 11.81 in L, Brown; Brand: Ontario Knife; Review: Hands down BEST, cheap woods blade option. All Ontario knives are quality blades. Unfortunately, as also with all Ontario knives, they come with ROUGH edges. I put in a little time on a rainy afternoon fixing the grind and putting on and polishing a scary sharp and uniform edge on this guy and it's easily my "go-to" all-around blade. Fine carving, food processing, etc....it does it all and yet is very light. The spine throws sparks on a ferro rod like a beast. This knife is ALWAYS with me in the wilderness in or on my pack. Weighs next to nothing for doing the work and capabilities of many other much more expensive knives out there. Hunting, fishing, bushcrafting, or even just in the house....a must have.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Sports_and_Outdoors |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Color of Deception - Kindle edition; Brand: Khara Campbell; Review: This story took me in many different directions and I loved them all. I truly felt sorry for Pete and his grief. His feelings were real life feelings. I also felt bad for Carlisha. Life started hard and didn't get any better. However, she stayed strong throughout. Her family supported her to the end and I loved that. Roger needed to step up and be a man. I didn't care for his character but you can't and won't love all the characters. The author did good job . Her characters were developed and believable. I would recommend this book to my friends.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Brothers Black: Wyatt the Heartbreaker - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's Blue Saffire Page; Review: Wyatt is a true Alpha man in every sense of the word. He starts out rough but he gets it together in the end. It doesn't hurt that he has a great woman in his corner. Despite her issues, she is capable of being quick witted when it comes to Wyatt. I enjoyed the store but it is becoming reoccurring theme. Alpha male see woman. Alpha male wants woman. Woman falls for Alpha male. It doesn't make me like Wyatt any less. I just want To read something different. Give him some dang insecurities like real men. Just a thought. Despite the rant, I would still recommend this book to a friend. Happy Reading!; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Historical Romance: A Slave to Love - Kindle edition; Brand: Alexa Montrose; Review: It was too short and on the unrealistic side.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Farmer & The Belle (Baymoor Book 1) - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's D. A. Young Page; Review: I enjoyed reading this story. I think I loved it even more because it depicted an alpha black male that took care of his woman. Yes she dB fought him every step of the way but soon she came to her senses.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Black and White (Storm's Soldiers MC Book 1) - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's Paige Notaro Page; Review: It was ok. I feel like the characters could have been better developed. I couldn't figure out why Vaugh like Megan in the beginning or even what he liked about her to make him change years worth of hate in an instant . Could have been better with a little more work.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Legally Bound - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's Blue Saffire Page; Review: If you read a book in less than 24 hours, you can't give it less than 4 stars regardless to how you may truly feel about it. The story was enough to keep me up till 3 in the morning and get me up early enough the next morning finish it. So it earned the 4 stars! The story between Paige and Bobby was ok. Paige seriously annoyed the "shit" out of me for lack of a better word. I can understand being driven but come on.....she had a list. Paige's character was well developed as I seem to refer to her as a real person. Yet Paige and Bobby just really didn't do it for me like some of Blue's other characters did. Bobby lacked Alpha-ness to me. I've read about Alphas in love and Bobby didn't fit the bill. I think for me he lacked a strong alpha name like "Wyatt " or "Noah" to start and it went from there. Just the idea of him being a sexy powerful attorney wasn't enough for me. I needed more. He gave passion and a strong sexual appetite. Nevertheless I would still recommend me because that's what makes for a good discussion, differences of opinions. Happy Reading !; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Dipping Into Sin (a BWWM Alpha Male Romance) - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's DJ Parker Page; Review: I was very disappointed in how this story ended. After all the male character went through, the ending was extremely unexpected and even angered me to a point. I must say if there is a book 3, I expect him to be a force to be dealt with. Anything less will be unacceptable.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Venture Capitalist (The Jungle Fever Series Book 1) - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's LaVie EnRose Page; Review: I expected something different from this story after reading 50 Shades of Jungle Fever. I wanted to see something other than what was shared in 50 Shades of Jungle Fever. I wanted Tristan to tell me something different. However it was not there. Therefore I was disappointed.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Aiden's Game; Brand: Visit Amazon's Sienna Mynx Page; Review: The story started out slow . I wasn't initially impressed with Daisy's character. She seemed a little slow and it had nothing to do with where she was from. She spoke using double negatives. If that was intended to demonstrate her accent, it almost lost me. I am interested in how it all turns out. I'm heading to the 2nd book. Happy Reading!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: 7 Degrees of Alpha: a collection of seven new BWWM, Alpha Male novelettes - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's Sara Allen Page; Review: This collection is filled with cliffhangers. I'm not a fan. I thought I was going to get alpha short stories but was left wondering what happened next.; Rating: 3.0/5.0 | amazon_Kindle_Store |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Courtyard Birmingham Colonnade Grandview; City: Birmingham Alabama; Review: Comfortable bed and safe neighborhood surrounded with lots of shopping /eating places within a short driving distance. Very friendly/helpful staff. We were disappointed that our toilet wasn't working properly and the AC seemed to have some issues. We did not mention problems until we left because we were too tired and didn't want to wait on maintenance to come fix it.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Hampton Inn and Suites Decatur; City: Decatur Texas; Review: Room was clean. The bed was very very comfortable. We had a great night's sleep. I know the hotel was very full the night we stayed, but it still seemed to be very quiet in our room. The only "bad" thing was a fairly large place on the wall that was all scratched up and needed to be painted (an easy fix). Breakfast area was large with comfortable seating. It also seemed to accommodate a lot of people for eating. Breakfast setup seemed to be very spacious, clean, and easy to get around. You could tell the employees took pride in their work and their hotel. They were all very helpful and polite, as well. We would definitely stay here again. We were very comfortable here.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Village Hotel on Biltmore Estate; City: Asheville North Carolina; Review: This hotel was built within the last couple of years. It is very nice. We stayed for 3 nights. We never heard any of our hotel neighbors talking or anything. We only heard a few people talking in the hallway, once. Very quiet hotel. Nice place to stay. Close to the Village and the winery, etc. We liked that very much. "The Kitchen" (located in the lobby area) was a good place to get coffee, oatmeal, or other breakfast items. You can refill your coffee for free all day long. Just wish this place had longer hours. We enjoyed the fireplace on the second floor, a very cozy area. Food prices are a little high, for us, but right outside the gate of the estate you can find lots of eating places. If you go on the dates where a house tour reservation is needed, we were told that hotel guest have priority and do not need a reservation. It was unexpectedly snowy and cold during our stay, so we did not walk around outside too much. We will stay here again when we come back during warmer weather. Really enjoyed our 3 nights stay here.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Greystone Inn Suites; City: Vance Alabama; Review: We were traveling through Alabama and a relative suggested this hotel as a good stopping place. The hotel provides complimentary cookies and soft drinks (or water). That was a nice change of pace. The bed was comfortable and our room was quiet enough. The carpet seemed kind of old and probably needs to be replaced. Our shower had hot water, but our bathroom sink did not. We mentioned it to the front desk upon checkout. Eat dinner before your arrival, there is not much (if anything) nearby to eat at and breakfast is only a continental breakfast.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Chetola Resort at Blowing Rock; City: Blowing Rock North Carolina; Review: At the recommendation of a good friend, we booked a one night stay at this resort. My friend even pointed us to a Groupon special for our stay. Upon arrival, we were in awe of the beautiful grounds. So much to do and a wonderful place to relax. We loved our stay, from the very first minute we drove onto the property until the last second. The staff was SUPER kind and helpful. Our room was very large (for a standard room) and spacious. A lot of thought went in to the design of the bathroom because we had everything we needed... extra hooks for towels, a vanity to sit at with a magnifying mirror, etc. Our beds were comfortable. The breakfast (that was included in our Groupon price) was one of the best we have ever had. Huge buffet of choices. We will be back here, but next time we will stay more than just one night! I am including a picture of our view at breakfast time. We really loved this place!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Best Western Cades Cove Inn; City: Townsend Tennessee; Review: My favorite thing about this hotel is that they provided Pantene shampoo/cream rinse! Best ever! :) It appeared to us that this room may have recently been renovated. The room seemed clean and comfortable enough, but we did notice that the bottoms of our socks got pretty dirty, so maybe they could clean the hardwood floors a little better. It met our needs for this one night.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Courtyard Burlington; City: Burlington North Carolina; Review: Most comfortable beds, ever! I took the best nap! We had been traveling (flying and driving) since 3 am today. The staff was friendly, and very helpful when we arrived to checked in at 4 pm. For dinner we ventured out to see what our options were and there was a lot to choose from! This is a great little booming area.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Holiday Inn Express Blowing Rock South; City: Blowing Rock North Carolina; Review: From the outside, I was not very impressed and thought I might have the wrong hotel. But once I got inside, I relaxed and was very pleasantly surprised. Lobby was very up-to-date. Staff was cheerful, and checking in was very easy. We freshened up before venturing to main street for dinner. I loved the massaging shower head. Room was very clean and there were plenty of towels left in the bathroom for us. We had a refrigerator and a microwave in the room. My only complaint would be the lack of electrical outlets in our room... we seemed to need more, but we managed.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Holiday Inn Express Suites Hendersonville SE Flat Rock; City: Flat Rock North Carolina; Review: Don't let the blandness of the outside fool you...the money has been spent on the INSIDE of the hotel. This is a fairly new hotel and it is beautiful on the inside. It opened in May 2017. We thought the staff was very friendly and upon arrival informed us that we had earned an upgraded room. We liked that very much! We were placed in a King Suite. It was VERY clean and comfortable. Someone planned the layout of this room very well. My favorite detail was the little triangular shelf, with an electrical outlet, just to the left of a very large floor to ceiling mirror. That was the perfect place to fix my hair and apply some makeup while other family members were taking a shower. (Believe me, it is not always an easy feat in a hotel room.) We had a great night's sleep. The beds were comfy and the hotel was quiet. At breakfast time, we went downstairs for the complimentary meal and it was also planned out to the last detail. Easy to get coffee, eggs, muffins, etc. I saw the lady in charge of the dining area taking extra care of the area... everything was stocked well, if running low somewhere it was immediately refilled, if someone spilled then it was cleaned up quickly. The food was very good. We have stayed in several hotels over the last week and this one has been our favorite. I felt like the employees here cared about the quality of service being delivered, from the very beginning to the very end. We will stay here again. We were extremely pleased. :); Rating: 5.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with news articles as follows:
Title: Tiger Woods is finally writing a memoir and it has the perfect title; Abstract: HarperCollins Publishers has acquired the rights to the first-ever memoir authored by Tiger Woods.; Category: sports
Title: ALCS Game 4 postponed for rain, Yanks-Astros resume Thursday; Abstract: Game 4 of the AL Championship Series scheduled for Wednesday night has been postponed because of rain in the forecast.; Category: sports
Title: That Little Hole at the Top of Your Sink, Explained; Abstract: Have you ever wondered about that hole near the top of your bathroom sink? The post That Little Hole at the Top of Your Sink, Explained appeared first on Reader's Digest.; Category: lifestyle
Title: 'Tarzan' Actor Ron Ely: Actor's son allegedly killed his mother before deputies shot and killed him, sheriff's office says; Abstract: The son of "Tarzan" actor Ron Ely killed his mother before he was shot and killed by deputies on Tuesday, according to the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office.; Category: tv
Title: Subtle Signs You May Have Clogged Arteries; Abstract: These surprising clues can point to clogged arteries and underlying heart disease.; Category: health
Title: The decisions that have backfired on the Yankees in the ALCS; Abstract: ; Category: sports
Title: MLB umpire Eric Cooper dead at 52; Abstract: Cooper served as an MLB umpire for 21 years.; Category: sports
Title: Paris Hilton Attends Funeral Service for Grandfather While Her Brother Barron Gives Heartfelt Eulogy; Abstract: Paris Hilton Attends Funeral for Grandfather, Brother Barron Gives Eulogy; Category: tv
Title: A Diamond Club view of Jose Altuve's winning homer; Abstract: Jim Crane peered up at a TV while he waited for the elevator to bring him to the field level. He is not much of an extrovert. His permanently relaxed demeanor makes it hard to know when panic sets in, if it ever does for the self-made shipping magnate, former college pitcher and current billionaire owner of baseball's winningest team this season. He'd seen his Astros lead the Yankees for eight innings in Game 6 of the American League...; Category: sports
Title: Watch: How the skins were won at the MGM Resorts The Challenge: Japan Skins; Abstract: Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, Hideki Matsuyama and Jason Day competed Monday in the MGM Resorts The Challenge: Japan Skins. Here's a look at how the action played out.; Category: sports
Title: Retiring KPRC 2 anchor Bill Balleza looks back on his nearly 50-year career; Abstract: After 39 years of anchoring KPRC (Channel 2)'s evening news, Bill Balleza is ready to do absolutely nothing when he retires in January.; Category: news
Title: Dog 'Randomly' Drops By Family Reunion Then People Check His Collar; Abstract: The other day, Leslie Kowash was at a family reunion in Georgia when a friendly local decided to drop in on the party, seemingly out of nowhere. It was a sweet brown pup and a rather plump one, at that.; Category: lifestyle
Title: Where to watch the World Series for free in Houston; Abstract: ; Category: lifestyle
Title: Tiger Woods' worst stat, Rickie Fowler's sponsored honeymoon, and Jason Day gets a little (clothing) help from his friend; Abstract: The Grind: Tiger Woods' worst stat, Rickie Fowler's sponsored honeymoon, and Jason Day gets a little (clothing) help from his friend; Category: sports
Title: Opinion: MLB needs to address Houston Astros' troubling history of toxic behavior; Abstract: An Astros executive shouted vulgar praise for Roberto Osuna, pitcher banned for domestic abuse, toward female reporters. Then, the team lied about it.; Category: sports
Title: Astros fan dies on way home from ALCS win; Abstract: ; Category: lifestyle
Title: Watch: Simone Biles with most creative first pitch ever; Abstract: One of the greatest athletes alive showed you why on this first pitch.; Category: sports
Title: McIlroy backs Woods to give all as Presidents Cup captain; Abstract: McIlroy backs Woods to give all as Presidents Cup captain; Category: sports
Title: HPD divers working to recover body from San Jacinto River; Abstract: The HPD dive team is working to recover a body from the San Jacinto River. The Lake Houston Patrol is also assisting in the recovery. The victim was spotted in the river around 10:15 a.m. Friday. Homicide detectives are on the scene in the 200 block of Hamblen Road. No other information is available at this time. Check back for more on this developing story. ALSO POPULAR ON KHOU.COM Search continues for man who jumped from Galveston-based cruise...; Category: news
Title: Opinion: Astros still don't get it, and must pay a steeper price beyond firing assistant; Abstract: Astros assistant GM Brandon Taubman was fired for his expletive-laced tirade last week, but the team's reaction shows it still doesn't get it.; Category: sports
Title: From brutal crime scene to beautiful memorial: How a Sugar Land mom is honoring her daughter's life; Abstract: The scene of a brutal crime is transformed into a beautiful memorial. The mother of a murdered Houston woman is taking her pain and turning it into her life's purpose. "Brittany loved these colors. These are colors you could find in her apartment," said Tricia Valentine of the deep red and forest green painted on a Southwestern Bell manhole over in Houston's Third Ward. "We took the old and we painted it to be beautiful. That's something...; Category: news
Title: Tiger Woods wins Zozo Championship, ties Sam Snead's PGA Tour record of 82 victories; Abstract: Tiger Woods won the Zozo Championship to tie Sam Snead's PGA Tour record of 82 victories. The 43-year-old American played the final seven holes Monday in the rain-hit tournament, completing a 3-under 67 to beat local favorite Hideki Matsuyama by three strokes at Accordia Golf Narashino Country Club. "It's just crazy. It's a lot," Woods said. "I've been able to be consistent most of my career. ... Today was one of those days where I was able to...; Category: sports
Title: LIVE BLOG: With Scherzer scratched, Astros have golden opportunity to take World Series lead; Abstract: WASHINGTON, D.C. Wow does it look like the Astros caught a break in Game 5. Max Scherzer, the Nationals ace and expected starter, was scratched early Sunday with neck spasms in what was supposed to be a rematch of Game 1's head-to-head matchup with Gerrit Cole. Washington manager Dave Martinez said Scherzer woke up with neck pain Saturday and it only got worse today. Martinez said Scherzer's neck is "jacked up." In his place, Houston will face...; Category: sports
Title: Astros swat Nats in Game 5, take 3-2 World Series lead; Abstract: WASHINGTON The crowd wore red and rose as one, serenading a spot starter soon to be shellacked. Chants of Joe Ross' name engulfed this excitement-starved ballpark the Astros overtook. Washington waited 86 years for World Series baseball, only to be delivered a dismantling. Embroiled in uncertainty when they entered, the Houston Astros exited Washington on the cusp of a championship. Twenty-seven innings were played inside Nationals Park. Not...; Category: sports
Title: Carrasco wins Roberto Clemente Award after battle with leukemia; Abstract: Cleveland Indians right-hander Carlos Carrasco is the winner of the 2019 Roberto Clemente Award, Major League Baseball announced Friday. .@Cookie_Carrasco is an inspiration and the 2019 Roberto Clemente Award winner. pic.twitter.com/jZYdQxQxT4 MLB (@MLB) October 25, 2019 Carrasco is the third Indians player to ever win the award, which is handed out on a yearly basis to the major leaguer who best represents the game on and off the field. He's...; Category: sports
Title: MLB bans women who flashed their chests behind home plate during Game 5 of World Series; Abstract: MLB has indefinitely banned two women who flashed their chests on television during the seventh inning of Game 5 of the World Series on Sunday night.; Category: sports
Title: Mississippi woman found after being missing for days by writing S.O.S. with rocks; Abstract: "S.O.S" spelled out with rocks saved a woman missing in a national park for days, according to a release from the National Park Service.; Category: news
Title: Daylight saving time is ending this weekend. These states want to make DST permanent; Abstract: Adjust your clocks back one hour Nov. 3 at 2 a.m. lest you wake up an hour early to everything in the days ahead. But some states might change that.; Category: news
Title: 'RIP Tonight is for you' | Alex Bregman's grandfather dies hours before Game 7; Abstract: Astros third baseman Alex Bregman is going into Game 7 of the World Series with a heavy heart. His grandfather died a few hours before the game. Bregman was chatting with Mattress Mack during batting practice when Mack mentioned his mom. "Well if you see her today, she's not doing really well ... my grandpa died about two hours ago," Bregman told Mack. "RIP Tonight is for you," the slugger posted on Instagram with a family photo that included...; Category: sports
Title: Kylie Jenner Throws Dinner for Caitlyn Jenner's 70th Birthday See Which Kardashians Attended; Abstract: Kim Kardashian, Kourtney Kardashian Attend Caitlyn Jenner's Birthday Dinner; Category: tv
Title: Hinch: "I'll have to live with" bullpen decision in Game 7; Abstract: HOUSTON (AP) Astros manager AJ Hinch had options. There was Zack Greinke, a veteran ace showing his first signs of fatigue. Out in the bullpen, Gerrit Cole was watching. And of course, Will Harris was warming. What came next, Hinch will contemplate for years. "It's a decision I'll have to live with," he said. After Greinke allowed a homer to Anthony Rendon and walked Juan Soto, Hinch handed a 2-1 lead to Harris in the seventh inning of World...; Category: sports
Title: 'There are no villains, only victims' | Family speaks following deaths of mother, 3 children in Deer Park; Abstract: *Editor's Note: The above video was originally published on Oct. 29, 2019* Deer Park police still guard the house where officers discovered four bodies Tuesday morning. They were later identified by Deer Park police as a mother and her three children: Ashley Auzenne, 39; Parrish Auzenne, 11; Eleanor Auzenne, 9; Lincoln Auzenne, 7. Police initially declined to say if they suspected a murder-suicide. However, they stated they weren't pursuing...; Category: news
Title: Solomon: A surprising but familiar end in Houston; Abstract: The Astros' season was not supposed to end this way. They had played too much outstanding baseball for far too many months for their effort to go to waste. At home, no less. But it is baseball, where the best doesn't always win. And this is Houston, where heartbreak and disappointment come with playoff games like humidity and mosquitoes come with afternoon thunderstorms. We expect it. We deal with it. These Astros were supposed to be different....; Category: sports
Title: Was the Astros' 2019 season a failure?; Abstract: In one word: Yes.; Category: sports
Title: South Florida principal who made controversial comments about the Holocaust is fired; Abstract: The South Florida principal who stirred national controversy after refusing to say the Holocaust was a "factual, historical event" was fired Wednesday during a school board meeting at the recommendation of the district's superintendent.; Category: news
Title: Game 7: Where memories and champions are made; Abstract: The believers of both sides started streaming in at 4 p.m. The Crawford Boxes. The standing-room only sections. Right field, first base … the team store. It was Game 7 of the World Series. There was nothing after Game 7. And they were there. "This is a first for me, a Game 7. I don't fully know what to expect," said Ryan Smith, a 41-year-old Clear Lake resident. "I'm excited. I've got a little gameday jitters. We're diehard fans. I grew up...; Category: sports
Title: Nats star who won World Series in Houston: Only 1 thing would be sweeter; Abstract: ; Category: sports
Title: Gerrit Cole's open letter thanks 'friendly, welcoming' Astros fans; Abstract: ; Category: sports
Title: Kids go nuts when Jose Altuve passes out Halloween candy; Abstract: ; Category: news
Title: A way-too-early look at the favorites to win the 2020 World Series; Abstract: With the 2019 World Series in the books and the Nationals champions, it's time to look forward to 2020. Which teams are favorites to win it all?; Category: sports
Title: This Foster Kitten Smiling for a Photo Will Make Your Friday; Abstract: Blossom the cat clearly loves her new foster family. Photos of the kitten smiling for the camera have gone viral and melted hearts everywhere.; Category: lifestyle
Title: Mets hire Carlos Beltrán as manager; Abstract: A person familiar with the decision tells The Associated Press the New York Mets have decided to hire Carlos Beltran as their manager.; Category: sports
Title: Tiger Woods takes adorable photo with kid dressed up like him for Halloween; Abstract: A young lady sure picked the right year to dress up as Tiger Woods for Halloween when she ran into the man himself.; Category: sports
Title: Trying to find the market for J.D. Martinez; Abstract: It's the key to his opt-out decision.; Category: sports
Title: With Carlos Beltran hire it's clear the Mets learned nothing from the Mickey Callaway mess; Abstract: In hiring Carlos Beltran to guide their fortunes next year, the Mets hierarchy once again out-thought themselves by going "outside-the-box" for someone who had never managed anywhere before.; Category: sports
Title: Yankees, closer Aroldis Chapman agree to deal; Abstract: Reports indicate that the Yankees have reached an agreement to keep closer Aroldis Chapman in pinstripes through 2022. New York will add a third year; Category: sports
Title: Stephen Strasburg opts out of contract with Nationals. What now?; Abstract: The World Series MVP is opting out of the four years remaining on his old contract, becoming one of the top free agents in baseball this winter.; Category: sports
Title: The Washington Nationals Championship Parade; Abstract: The Washington Nationals Championship Parade; Category: sports
Title: Trea Turner calls for Nats to bring back Anthony Rendon at championship parade; Abstract: Turner knows how vital Rendon is the Nats, as he had a career year across the board with a .319 batting average, 34 home runs and 126 RBI.; Category: sports
Title: 2019 Gold Glove Award winners announced; Lorenzo Cain finally included; Abstract: Lorenzo Cain finally won a Gold Glove Award. Find out who else won some defensive hardware on Sunday night.; Category: sports
Title: MLB free-agent predictions: Rankings, rumors for the top players on the market; Abstract: We'll take a quick look at why 10 players will be attractive as free agents, a couple of places they might wind up and then a prediction.; Category: sports
Title: Greg Norman upset Tiger Woods didn't respond to his handwritten letter: "Maybe Tiger just dislikes me"; Abstract: Greg Norman tells Men's Health he hand delivered a letter to Tiger Woods following his Masters win in April, but never got a reply.; Category: sports
Title: Astros Offered Gerrit Cole a Qualifying Offer; Abstract: Some Early November Astros Roster Moves; Category: sports
Title: Astros owner doesn't rule out 'making a run' at re-signing Gerrit Cole; Abstract: Could Cole end up back in Houston? Jim Crane seems open to the idea.; Category: sports
Title: 10 players receive qualifying offers; Abstract: Stephen Strasburg, Anthony Rendon, and Gerrit Cole were among the 10 free agents who received $17.8 million qualifying offers from their teams on Monday.; Category: sports
Title: What do the 10 proposed Texas constitutional amendments on the ballot mean?; Abstract: Texas voters are about to weigh in on 10 proposed amendments to the state constitution, which deal with everything from retiring law enforcement animals to the state's tax code. Voters in three state House districts will also participate in special elections to fill empty seats. Proposition 1 How it will read on the ballot: "The constitutional amendment permitting a person to hold more than one office as a municipal judge at the same time." What...; Category: news
Title: Tiger Woods: As Presidents Cup captain he's all in, makes picks tonight; Abstract: ; Category: sports
Title: Will any player take the qualifying offer?; Abstract: Ten players received $17.8M qualifying offers this winter. The clock is now ticking on their decisions to accept or decline, with a final call due one week from Thursday.; Category: sports
Title: The Curious Case of Kyle Tucker's 131st At-Bat; Abstract: You never forget your 131st, and by that I mean Kyle Tucker's career 131st at-bat that ended his 2019 season, making him ineligible for the 2020 Rookie of the Year award. Let's examine that final at-bat where innocence was lost.; Category: sports
Title: Sergio joins Westwood with dubious WGC distinction; Abstract: Sergio Garcia joined Lee Westwood as the only players to have competed 60 times in the World Golf Championships without ever winning.; Category: sports
Title: Predicting the Cy Young and MVP Winners in MLB; Abstract: The Fantasy Sportsbook crew predicts the Cy Young and MVP winners in the American and National League this season.; Category: sports
Title: Astros' shakeup: Jim Crane's son moves in as Reid Ryan moves to background; Abstract: Putting in place an early plan for his succession, Astros owner Jim Crane appointed his son Jared to help oversee the franchise's business operations in place of longtime team president Reid Ryan. "We felt at this time it was time for him to step in," Crane, 65, said Thursday. "I'm past retirement age, and he needs to learn the business if the family is going to retain the team." Jared Crane, 36, will "assist Jim and his executive team in a...; Category: sports
Title: All My Children: Front Office Changes for the Crane and Ryan Families; Abstract: Front Offices changes a go-go with new roles for Jared Crane and Reid Ryan, a departure of Nolan Ryan, and a possible additional movement in Jeff Luhnow's staff.; Category: sports
Title: Missing California hiker found dead at top of glacier just weeks before baby was due; Abstract: A missing hiker from Huntington Beach California was found dead on Thursday at the top of the Darwin glacier in the Inyo National Forest.; Category: news | mind |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: The Day After Tomorrow; Author: Allan Folsom; Review: This is a book I kept reading... and reading ... and reading, hoping for an ending clever enough to justify the effort I was making. Alas, the pay-off never came. Along the way, we meet the "hero" of the story, Paul Osborn, a Southern California physician adrift in Europe in search of his father's killers, who is so unsympathetic a character that I found myself wishing he would get knocked off by the bad guys just because he was such a total jerk. A more interesting character is the homicide detective, McVey, who switches from being Osborn's nemesis to ally over the course of the plot - a plot so totally implausible as to be almost a parody of this genre of thriller. The villain of the piece, a sinister, resurgent Nazi organization of true believers left over from the Third Reich is so ridiculously omnipresent, omnipotent and omniscient that the reader is left amazed at the ease of its anticlimactic collapse. I cannot recommend this book unless you're stuck on a long plane flight with nothing else to read but the emergency instruction card - as I was.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: James Stewart; Author: Visit Amazon's Donald Dewey Page; Review: The memory of Jimmy Stewart suffers not at all in this well-researched biography. A nice touch is the brief summary and review of each movie in which Stewart appeared over the course of his lifetime, and the impact, for better or worse, that each had on his career. However, the author's prose style is dry as toast and lacking in any humor whatsoever. What could have been an outstanding work is, in the end, only a competent treatment of his subject.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: London; Author: Visit Amazon's Edward Rutherfurd Page; Review: Being an Anglophile of long standing, I particularly enjoyed the author's previous work, "Sarum". Furthermore, I regard London as my most favorite place on this planet. Therefore, I was deeply disappointed in "London", and overlong telling of the city's history through the eyes of a multitude of mundane characters on fictional family trees growing through the centuries from pre-Roman Britain to the present. This was alchemy in reverse: London's golden history transformed to leaden boredom. There were too many characters about whom the reader could say, "Who cares?" I certainly didn't.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Einstein's Bridge; Author: Visit Amazon's John Cramer Page; Review: As a professional in the life sciences, the physics of the Superconducting Super Collider and wormholes were inadequately explained. I remained a somewhat mystified outsider unsympathetic to all the main players, and the concept of the Iris character was just plain silly. Moreover, on page 48 of the paperback edition, the author has a traveler passing directly from Alabama into Louisiana without having to transit Mississippi. Now THAT'S a wormhole!; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Wait Till Next Year : A Memoir (AUDIO CASSETTE); Author: Visit Amazon's Doris Kearns Goodwin Page; Review: Within the pages of Doris Goodwin's affectionate, poignant, and nostalgic memoir of growing up in the 50's, the notion that "you can never go back again" is proved false. Though I'm 6 years younger than the author, and was a childhood resident of the West Coast rather than the East, her memories transported me back to a time when life was as carefree and golden as it would ever be. If only we'd known. Her Fantasy Theater was my Bay Theater, her St. Agnes my Corpus Christi, her Bryn Mawr Meat Market my Slutzky's, her Dugan's Bakery man my Helm's truck, and her Dodger heroes Robinson, Campanella, Snyder, Hodges, Reese and Roe my Koufax, Drysdale, Howard, Wills, Fairly and Davis. Forty years have since past, and life has been , and is, very good. However, the Bay Theater is closed, Big D is dead, the Helm's Building is a shopping mall, and Corpus Christi has lost its relevance. I'm weary of the media's assault on my senses with endless accounts of drive-by shootings, excesses of political correctness, presidential peccadilloes, OJ and his ilk, and the deeds of strident, ofttimes violent, true believers of every sort. Thank you, Doris, for taking me "home" again.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Edward I (The English Monarchs Series); Author: Visit Amazon's Michael Prestwich Page; Review: Undoubtedly well researched and competently presented, I was left with the wish that the author had leavened his work with an occasional touch of humor. Only my deep interest in English history kept me going to the end, especially through long descriptions of the activities of the king's household that could have cured insomnia. Considering the inglorious end to the reign of his son, Edward II, an epilog chapter to Edward I's biography would have been welcome, or at least more attention paid to the relationship between the latter and his heir.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Rocket Boys (The Coalwood Series #1); Author: Visit Amazon's Homer Hickam Page; Review: The movie was superb, the book was even better. I remained captivated throughout the story, finishing the entire book while in the air from Los Angeles to Raleigh-Durham. My only complaint is that no pictures of the people involved from the time period described were included.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bitch; Author: Elizabeth Wortzel; Review: The subtitle of the book, "In Praise of Difficult Women", is misleading if it is judged by the examples of so-called "difficult" women that Ms. Wurtzel pushes forward onto her stage. Delilah (of Bible infamy) can't be termed "difficult"; she's too obscure a reference. Sylvia Plath and Anne Sexton weren't "difficult"; they were psychological cripples that became casualties of life. Amy Fisher isn't "difficult"; she's just pathetic. Hillary Clinton isn't "difficult", just annoying. Nicole Brown Simpson wasn't "difficult", but pathetic AND irrelevant to those of us with real lives to lead. Oh, please! I would rather Ms. Wurtzel had chosen women that were "difficult" because they strove mightily to be masters of their own lives, made a significant impact on the societies they lived in, were otherwise "normal", and died of natural causes with assured places in human history. As an amateur student of England and all things English, two remarkable women immediately come to mind: Eleanor of Aquitaine and Elizabeth I. The former (and my favorite), first Queen of France then Queen of England, confounded the lives and kingdoms of her two royal spouses, was divorced by one and imprisoned by the other, yet managed to outlive both with honor, possessions and identity intact. The latter, daughter of Henry VIII and Queen of England, had no man as master during a long reign that saw the beginnings of Britannia's rise to superpower status. I'm sure there must have been (and are now) women of other nationalities and cultures that Ms. Wurtzel could have chosen rather than the misfits and/or outright losers that she did. (In all due fairness to Hillary Clinton, she doesn't fit into either category quite yet. However, she's got a long way to go before she's anything other than a footnote to history and Slick Willy.) Also, the author didn't always seem quite convinced that her ideal, feminist world could, in fact, be realized. At several points in the narrative, she'd appeared almost willing to regress into a more traditional role simply because it would take too much of her life's energy to do otherwise. This backsliding rendered her message ambiguous, and the point she was trying to make with this book exceedingly murky. Of course, being a man, I probably just don't, and can't, understand. With all this said, however, and despite Mr. Wurtzel's style that was too often rambling and directionless, I very much enjoyed her occasional nuggets of wisdom and insight, especially in those chapters that had Hillary and Nicole as the main players. After all, I finished the book, and that makes it at least a "6" on a scale of 10. Life is too short, with too many books to read, for anything less.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Just Checking; Author: Visit Amazon's Emily Colas Page; Review: Emily's dry humor allows the reader to finish this appalling and heartrending account of OCD without getting too depressed over the author's bizarre behavior. One is left simply amazed that her husband stuck around for as long as he did. Even Emily's picture on the book jacket transmits a sense that profound psychological distress lies just underneath her quite comely exterior. The reader can only hope the author has been permitted, through therapy, a more serene existence.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Blood and the Shroud: NEW EVIDENCE THAT THE WORLD'S MOST SACRED RELIC IS REAL; Author: Ian Wilson; Review: True Believers of the authenticity of the Shroud of Turin as the burial raiment of Jesus will mutter that the author, a True Believer himself, does not go far enough to propound their position on the matter. Those That Scoff, however, will howl their ridicule and dismay that the author could be so blinded by personal bias. Can't win, poor devil. However, as a non-Christian who has only an academic interest that the image on the shroud is that of Jesus or not, I found the book to be an enlightening and thoroughly fascinating treatment of the enigmatic cloth as a historical object. There are Mysteries for which we'll never have an answer, and I suspect this is one of them. Best leave belief to the faith of those who are so inclined.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: DEAD CENTER: A Marine Sniper's two year odyssey in the Vietnam War.; Author: Visit Amazon's Ed Kugler Page; Review: In the introduction, the author, Ed Kugler, claims "it's the best damned Nam book you'll ever read!" Well, maybe. But even the "best damned" of anything gets tiresome after awhile. Admittedly, Ed tells a good tale of his coming of age in Nam as a Marine sniper while learning to lead the "good guys" of his side, and kill the "bad guys" of the other side. It's told with the unflagging energy and Weltanschauung of a 20-year old. But that's the problem. The book was published in 1999, presumably recently written by the author while in his early 50's. Until the epilogue, I didn't see any evidence of wisdom accumulated in the three decades since Nam that might have otherwise tempered his narrative. Too bad, since Ed has been at the top management levels of both PepsiCo and Compaq Computer Corporation. I mean, he must have grown up just a little since the 60's, right? Ed, I'm in my 50's too, and your book left me none the wiser from your experience.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Gold of Exodus the Discovery of the Most; Author: Visit Amazon's Howard Blum Page; Review: While reading this book, I was reminded of a couple of boys telling how they sneaked over a fence to partake of forbidden fruit. "Boys" is the operative term. What a bunch of amateurs!; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Penguin Classics Road To Oxiana; Author: Robert Byron; Review: Another travel essayist whose work I recently read called "The Road to Oxiana" the "greatest travel book ever written". Sorry to say, I found it dry as toast and couldn't manage the energy to finish it. The problem lies mostly with the author's understated English sense of humor, which in this case is taken to an extreme. Too bad. I wanted to like it.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Dinner with Persephone; Author: Visit Amazon's Patricia Storace Page; Review: Before I savage this work, I must admit to having read only a third of it. Life is too short to have suffered through to the end when there are so many books on my "to read" list. According to the author's short bio, Ms. Storace is an accomplished essayist and poet. "Dinner With Persephone" is her first book of prose. I think she should stay with her old job. I was hard pressed to see any evidence that she enjoyed the experience about which she was writing, i.e. living in Greece. She trudges from one vignette to the next with no apparent relish. Her prose is too often interspersed with such thoughts as: "The Greeks made their constellations out of myths and immortalities, but I am not Greek, so I trace my own out of history and mortality. I draw my imaginary line between two fireflies who have traveled an immense distance, a firefly conqueror audible for a moment in a word it was in his character to speak, and a temporary firefly consciousness who recognizes it." Oh, PLEASE, lighten up! I myself travel for the joy of it. I read travel essays to either picture in my mind's eye places I will probably never arrive at in person, or to begin to experience places to which I have a confirmed ticket. Neither purpose was served by this joyless, tedious book. I regret having spent the money to buy it.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: The First World War: An Illustrated History; Author: Visit Amazon's John Keegan Page; Review: Keegan's work is a competent, intelligent and well-researched narrative summary of the War to End All Wars. Unfortunatly, it is also very dry reading. Also, even at the relatively superficial level of detail with which the war's great battles are outlined, there is a disappointing paucity of maps. As the author describes the movements of armies, corps and divisions here, there and everywhere relative to cities, rivers, lakes and other topographical features, the reader is left with an incomplete picture of the tactical situation. However, I liked the book enough to finish it, and was left with much greater degree of knowledge about the subject than I had when I started. A marginal "thumbs up".; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Potato: How the Humble Spud Rescued the Western World; Author: Visit Amazon's Larry Zuckerman Page; Review: This book's tongue-in-cheek title led me to expect an entertaining and informative history of one of the world's great foods. I discovered, rather, an informative but tediously boring history of the rural peasantry of Ireland, England and France in the 18th and 19th centuries. I can only recommend the book as a potent soporific capable of curing the most pernicious case of insomnia. If your sleep habits provide sufficient rest, don't bother.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Picketts Charge Pa; Author: Visit Amazon's George R Stewart Page; Review: The author has written an eminently readable, thoroughly enjoyable, and well-researched book on the third day of the Gettysburg battle, July 3, 1863. An especially rewarding read if one has toured, or plans to visit, the battlefield site. The author's unpretentious, conversational style of writing succeeds in putting the reader on the ground occupied by both the Confederate and Union forces before, during and after Pickett's and Pettigrew's famous assault on Meade's Second Corps. Interspersed with humor and down-to-earth observations concerning battlefield conditions, the author conscientiously describes all aspects of the battle, from massing of the assault columns and pre-assault artillery barrage to the last shots and the flight of the surviving rebels back to the safety of their lines. Having visited Gettysburg several years ago (my chief interest then being Joshua Chamberlain's heroic defense of Little Round Top on the battle's second day), this superb volume makes me want to go again.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Meadowlands: Wilderness Adventures at the Edge of a City; Author: Visit Amazon's Robert Sullivan Page; Review: The author, Robert Sullivan, lives in Portland, Oregon, having grown up in the New Jersey - New York City area. By his own admission, he can "walk in the woods outside of the city where I ended up living and see beautiful trees and huge mountains topped with spectacular glaciers", an experience that only causes him to "miss the world's greatest industrial swamp". Thus, he "began taking cross-country trips to the Meadowlands and spending more and more time there". This book is a result of Bob's preoccupation. No, let's call it what it is - a curious obsession in need of some serious therapy. It's not that the book is poorly written or overly boring. It's just that it's about people, events and a place that are so excruciatingly MUNDANE. Get a life, Bob! There was absolutely nothing in the book that makes me want to get anywhere near the Meadowlands! Isn't that one of the motivations, overt or subliminal, for writing a travel essay about this, or any other, place? Please say you're not planning to make a travel documentary on the same subject!; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Dutch : A Memoir of Ronald Reagan; Author: Visit Amazon's Edmund Morris Page; Review: During the last third of the book, I was prepared to give it only 2 stars. The author's technique of telling the story from the first-person viewpoint of a fictional acquaintance of President Reagan's did, I thought, add unnecessarily to the length of the book, and didn't seem particularly clever. However, the twist given to the ending on the very last page of the Epilogue caused me to reconsider, and award 4 stars. Had there been more hard information about Reagan's years in the White House, I would have given 5. I had the honor of shaking Mr. Reagan's hand in the late 60's when he was Governor of California. At the time, I was a teenage stock boy in the pharmacy of St. John's Hospital in Santa Monica, CA. He was admitted for some minor procedure, and the pharmacy staff (minus a diehard Democrat) sent him a get well card. The Governor came down to shake hands all around when he was discharged. The cynic would say he was simply running for re-election. Perhaps so, but I was impressed. Critics of Reagan will point to this book as confirmation that he was but a shallow B performer acting out the role of Governor, then President. They may well be right. But damn, what an academy award performance it was! God bless, Mr. President.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Chocolat: A Novel (A Vianne Rocher Novel); Author: Visit Amazon's Joanne Harris Page; Review: "We came on the wind of the carnival. A warm wind for February, laden with the hot greasy scents of frying pancakes and sausages and powdery-sweet waffles cooked on the hot plate right there by the roadside, with the confetti sleeting down collars and cuffs and rolling in the gutters like an idiot antidote to winter." Thus the first two sentences of a book that was instantly captivating, and remained so, despite a story line that veered away from the promise of whimsy to grapple with some of the darker aspects of the human condition - spousal abuse, social prejudice, religious zealotry and intolerance, and heavy-handed "management" of the aged. I only wish the author had dwelt more at length on the subjects of Anouk's Pantoufle and Vianne's talents as a witch(?). But for these omissions, 5 stars for a thoroughly enjoyable and satisfying book.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Terrible Hours: The Man Behind the Greatest Submarine Rescue in History; Author: Visit Amazon's Peter Maas Page; Review: Despite the fact that 26 men died in the submarine Squalus sinking 61 years ago, at no time did I, as a reader of this narrative, feel that the 33 survivors were in acute danger. The description of events that happened inside the boat immediately before, during, and after the sinking made it obvious that there were indeed survivors (because who else could've remembered such detail?), so that key element of suspense was removed almost from the beginning. Had the author told the tale from the perspective of the rescuers only, the book would have been more gripping, but much shorter - and it isn't long as it is, 259 pages in hardcover. The most glaring deficiency is the lack of any visual reinforcement. There're no photographs of the men and rescue equipment involved, despite the fact the rescue operation was a "media event". There's not even a diagram of the sub's interior for the reader to get his/her bearings. While the dedication and competence of Charles Momsen and his rescue team was unquestionably admirable, I just wasn't inspired to cheer as the last survivor was plucked from the deep. In the end, the book is not much more than a tribute to the laudable career of "Swede" Momsen.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Testament; Author: Visit Amazon's John Grisham Page; Review: In "The Testament", we have an obscenely wealthy businessman committing suicide after devising the perfect plan to vengefully deprive a flock of vulture-like heirs from inheriting his $11 billion estate. Rather, he leaves it all to an illegitimate daughter working as a missionary to the Indians in the remote outback of Brazil. Our hero, Nate, is a burned-out lawyer just out of alcohol rehab sent to find the will's sole beneficiary. Even though she doesn't want the money, he returns to the States to defend her interests against those of the money-desperate ex-heirs and their just-as-greedy lawyers, probably the largest school of razor-toothed sharks ever encountered in a single volume. Suffice it to say that Nate is one of the most appealing characters conjured by Grisham in a long time. By the end of the book, he finds professional, spiritual and emotional redemption stemming from his surprisingly brief encounter with Rachel, the elusive missionary daughter, and a somewhat longer bout with dengue fever. That, in itself, makes this story worth reading. The fact that the truly avaricious get their comeuppance is frosting on the cake. A delicious read!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Gettysburg Nobody Knows (Gettysburg Civil War Institute Books); Author: Gabor S. Boritt; Review: This volume is a collection of essays by nine "leading authorities" on unanswered, or previously unasked, questions surrounding the battle of Gettysburg. Some of the contributions were marginally interesting, inasmuch as the actions of several of the battle's more famous, or infamous, commanders - Chamberlain, Sickles, Ewell, Stuart - were examined from new perspectives. I was particularly interested in the somewhat revisionist view of Joshua Chamberlain, an erstwhile personal hero of mine, taken by Glenn LaFantasie. Maybe, just maybe, the savior of Little Round Top wasn't quite the paragon of honor and integrity I thought him to be. (Oh well, another bubble burst. At 51, I should expect such disillusionment.) A couple more of the essays fell into the category of "Who Cares?", e.g. the one by J. Matthew Gallman on the effect of the battle on the town of Gettysburg itself. Yawn. Finally, a couple more were nothing more than windy exercises by "experts" who probably like seeing their views in print regardless of content. Since I don't wish to be accused of the same, I'll stop here. My advice, don't bother buying unless you're really obsessed with the subject.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: There's No Toilet Paper on the Road Less Traveled: The Best Travel Humor and Misadventure (Travelers' Tales Guides); Author: Doug Lansky; Review: This relatively brief volume (184 pages in paperback) is the perfect departure-to-arrival gate light read - and I do mean light - for any plane prisoner wishing to isolate him/herself from the petty annoyances of modern day air travel, and harvest a few chuckles in the process. The travel misadventures described therein brought to my recollection the time I locked myself INSIDE my car in Portsmouth, England, the time I was grandly fleeced by gypsy pickpockets in Rome, and the experience of donating blood in Leningrad (St. Petersburg). I found the most amusing of the 28 stories to be Sterling's "The Deep Fried Potato Bug", Mayle's "The Great Goat Race", and Wallace's "Shipping Out". So, unless you're so unfortunate as to have never journeyed outside of you own neighborhood, you're sure to find something here that strikes a cord of sympathy or remembrance, or an outright funny-bone.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Blood: An Epic History of Medicine and Commerce; Author: Visit Amazon's Douglas Starr Page; Review: I've worked in the blood industry for almost 30 years, in the front trenches (hospital blood banks/transfusion services) and in the rear support areas (community blood centers, research institutions, and pharmaceutical/medical device manufacturers) in technical, sales, marketing and production management positions. For me, Starr's admirable volume works best during the first half, when the historical evolution of blood and blood product therapy from the 17th century up to the end of World War II is described. After that, it becomes repetitive of the excellent work previously authored by Randy Shilts, "And the Band Played On". The hepatitis and AIDS crises of the late 20th century have certainly revealed the various international and national elements of the blood industry to be conservative, cantankerous, shortsighted, jingoistic, sometimes lacking in social conscience, occasionally unethical, often self-serving to the point of greed, and with leaders of monumental egos. Sounds like any other human group endeavor to me. What else is new? Maybe an industry that provides wire clothes hangers might be more idealistic, but I doubt it. The bulk of the later chapters is "bad news". But then, to the author, who is a former newspaper reporter, the only news worth telling would naturally be bad news. In any case, Starr has clearly done a mountain of research. I would highly recommend this book to anyone outside of the blood industry who wishes to understand the broad mechanics of collecting, preserving and distributing blood and blood products. I would also recommend it to a person such as myself, immersed in the day-to-day technology of getting blood to the patient, who has never been exposed to the history of the art. Personally, I don't view the book as a "thriller", though it has been so described by other reviewers. It's a solid, informative description of an industry in constant change. Some might say turmoil. As an example of the latter (not mentioned by Starr), many agencies concerned with the blood supply are adopting a stance promoting "universal leukoreduction", i.e. the practice of depleting cellular blood products (both Red Blood Cells and Platelets) of white cells, or leukocytes. Contaminating leukocytes are known to cause immune suppression, CMV virus transmission, and refractoriness to platelet transfusions. This universal leukoreduction is being promoted by national professional and regulatory agencies (which got burned by the AIDS scandal) for political reasons, by the blood filter vendors for obviously commercial reasons, and more or less by practicing physicians in the field. There is the counter view that universal leukoreduction will cost the patient-consumer, or his insurance company, too much, especially since it's not been proven that all patient populations requiring transfusion need leukoreduced blood. Thus the current brouhaha, yet to be resolved to everyone's satisfaction. Maybe Starr can write a second epilog.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Istanbul: The Imperial City; Author: Visit Amazon's John Freely Page; Review: When, in the popular film "Notting Hill", the bookseller character (Hugh Grant) prominently recommended this book to the famous actress/bookstore customer character (Julia Roberts), I thought the volume had to be a studio prop. But, on checking Amazon.com, I discovered that it wasn't. It is instead a very real, readable and excellent history of the city of Istanbul, formerly Constantinople, from the time of its founding in the distant past to the modern day present. A nice feature is the section at the back that describes in more detail the various historical monuments alluded to in the main body of the text. Istanbul is one of the last remaining entries on my personal list of the world's great cities that I intend to visit in my lifetime. After reading this wonderful book, I'm ready to buy the plane ticket and go. Now, all I have to do is convince my wife.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Archangel; Author: Visit Amazon's Robert Harris Page; Review: This tale of post-Soviet era derring-do has the protagonist, Fluke Kelso, in Moscow, during which time he comes into possession of a handwritten notebook previously possessed by Stalin. After much preliminary dashing about in the capital, the contents of this notebook send our hero careening north to the rusted-out city of Archangel on the Barents Sea, where he confronts this potboiler's version of Evil. There are several aspects of this book that I found unusual. First, Kelso is not some smarmy Yank defending Mom, Old Glory, Apple Pie and the American Way against the forces of Chaos. Rather, he's a tweedy Brit manning the walls in support of Queen, Union Jack, Spotted Dick and what's left of the Empire. (Unfortunately named, Spotted Dick is, like apple pie, a dessert. Steamed pudding with currants, topped with a custard sauce. If you don't believe me, there are recipes for it on the Web.) Second, Kelso is not of the usual hero Right Stuff - a swashbuckling spy, or a world-weary cop, or a brilliant physician, or a hard-charging lawyer. Rather, he's a perfectly ordinary - almost too ordinary - bloke who happens to be an historian, whose chief talent is a knowledge of Soviet and Russian history. (We'll soon be seeing CPAs or convenience store clerks in Defender of the Free World roles, for Chrissake!) Third, Kelso fails to bed the woman passing as the story's female lead. As I recall, he doesn't even manage a kiss. Maybe it's because she's a part-time hooker. (A little too lower class, old boy. Perhaps even Bond would hesitate, what? And the Queen would not be amused.) In any case, the action is well paced with reasonably satisfying plot twist and ending, and the dialogue is not inordinately inane. It also raises the very valid question as to modern Russia's propensity for a return to Stalinism. As Kelso observes, the Russians have no tradition of democracy, and are quickly weary of the social debate and wrangling associated with such. Under these circumstances, what they are likely to want is a Strongman with a Hard Line, and any hard line will do. Quite right, I think.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Emperors of Chocolate: Inside the Secret World of Hershey and Mars; Author: Visit Amazon's Jol Glenn Brenner Page; Review: All my life I've loved chocolate. Not candy so much, but rather chocolate chip cookies, chocolate donuts, chocolate cake, etc. However, after finishing this literary treat, I find myself eating more chocolate candy in the space of a week than I used to eat in a year. I've discovered there IS a distinct difference between the taste of Hershey's chocolate and the European brands, particularly Cadbury's of England. Even the Cadbury's manufactured under license by Hershey in Hershey, PA tastes different than Hershey's! (I hate to appear un-American, but Cadbury's is Number 1 to my taste buds. And, surprisingly, the Polish brand, Wedel, is next best.) This book is extremely informative and GREAT FUN. You'll become privy to such arcane facts as to why the owners of Mars, Inc. hesitate to put peanuts or peanut butter in their candies, or how some of the Hershey's workers used to get the Kisses to stick to the foil wrapping on a drafty assembly line. (Let's hope the latter is PAST practice!) If you enjoy chocolate in any way, shape or form, BUY THIS BOOK. You'll thank me for the recommendation.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Testosterone Planet: True Stories from a Man's World (Travelers' Tales Guides); Author: Visit Amazon's Sean O'Reilly Page; Review: Touted as a book of men's away-from-home stories, presumably collected to illustrate the courage and /or foolishness of Manly Men under the influence of excessive testosterone in a dangerous world, it has merit. However, I'm acquainted with females of the species that would happily go off on similar adventures, so I'm not convinced that the experiences related are totally a Guy Thing. In any case, there are some very funny, as well as very horrific, yarns to be found in these selected twenty-five. Ray Isle's confrontation with a wild turkey while on a solo, very macho camping trip is hilarious. Jim Wickwire's memories of a friend's death and his own survival on a mountain glacier are heartrending, as are Michael Herr's recollections of the effect of combat on the American troops stationed in `Nam. Positively chilling is the gritty story of survival under torture in Moscow's Lubyanka by Slavomir Rawicz. Finally, Larry Habegger makes a convincing case for middle-aged man's ability to return to the summertime of youth, however briefly. Admittedly, some of the essays are not memorable. I may have dozed off while reading William Ashton's "A Room of Men" - some blather about a painting. George Wright's "Applause in Calcutta" must have been too deep for me because I totally failed to see the point. "No Like A-feesh?" by Paul Roberts verged on being just annoying. A fine read for a Real Man. In the same spirit of sharing after I do the laundry and ironing this weekend, maybe I'll write and tell you all about it.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: ICON; Author: Visit Amazon's Frederick Forsyth Page; Review: When I read a spy novel by the likes of Frederick Forsythe or John Le Carr, the excellence of such a work reminds me how much trash is written by other authors in the same genre. Forsythe unfolds the events in the book's first half by switching back and forth between two timelines. The first, in the year 1999, finds the British Embassy in Moscow coming into possession of the "Black Manifesto". This document, written by Igor Komarov, reveals his secret plan for his rule of Russia once he wins the presidential election scheduled for January 2000. Since Komarov is far ahead in the polls, and his Manifesto espouses both military aggression against surrounding countries and genocide against certain Russian minorities, the Brits are understandably worried. The second timeline, from 1983 to 1994, follows the upwardly mobile career path of CIA officer Jason Monk, as he becomes case officer for several key spies within the Soviet military, intelligence and scientific communities. Over time, Monk watches helplessly as his agents are betrayed by the real-life CIA turncoat Aldrich Ames, and subsequently captured, tortured and executed by the sadistic KGB Colonel Anatoli Grishin. The second half of the book has Monk, separated from the CIA since 1994, returning to Russia in 1999 on behalf of Western interests to discredit Komarov and destabilize his campaign for the Russian presidency. In the process, he matches wits with Grishin, now serving as Komarov's Chief of Security. One of the strengths of this novel, besides the intricate plot and fine cast, is the (apparently factual) history of the Aldrich Ames betrayal, an absolute fiasco on the part of the CIA. This sort of background information adds immeasurably to any novel, yet is not a part of so many. In my mind, this writing technique is one of the reasons why Forsythe is at the top of his profession. The book's action proceeds at a crisp, clear and riveting pace. It was a book that was difficult to put down in deference to life's more mundane responsibilities. My only criticism, and one that prevents me from awarding 5 stars, was the heavy-handed ending lacking the finesse of what came before. It was as if Forsythe suddenly found himself faced with a publisher's deadline, and he had to achieve closure quickly. The final confrontation between Monk and Grishin was both clumsy and anticlimactic. Despite these closing flaws, however, the novel is top tier.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: A Booke of Days: A Novel of the Crusades; Author: Visit Amazon's Stephen J. Rivele Page; Review: This powerful novel of a young officer's maturation in the crucible of war is most notable for the conflict it describes. Not a war most Americans might otherwise be familiar with - the American Revolution, or the Civil War, or Second World War, or Viet Nam - but rather that exercise in barbarism, treachery and brutality commenced in the name of God in the Year of Our Lord 1096 - the First Crusade. Roger, Duke of Lunel, is a minor French noble in the army of his overlord, Raymond of Saint-Gilles, Count of Toulouse. Roger's "Booke", a diary, is a record of events as he follows Raymond across Europe, to Constantinople, and into the Middle East. Along the way, he participates in various battles and slaughters of the overt enemy, the Moslem Turks and Egyptians - most notably at Antioch and Jerusalem respectively - and witnesses and survives the treachery of Raymond's supposed Greek and European allies. Enduring the most profound hardships, Roger discovers "himself", faith, honor, love, disillusionment and, finally, loss. After four years, he returns to France in the same state as he found the Holy Sepulcher - empty. Despite the unhappy ending, this is a truly wonderful and instructive book, especially for anybody who is generally interested in the general subject of the Crusades, but seeks a more specific knowledge. As near as I can tell, the author has recounted with reasonable accuracy the events of the First Crusade. While some license has undoubtedly been taken with the major historical characters - Raymond of Toulouse, Bohemond of Taranto, Godfrey of Bouillon, Bishop Adhémar of Puy, Pope Urban II, Baldwin of Boulogne, Robert of Normandy, Peter the Hermit, Emperor Alexius I - it does not, I think, distort the major brushstrokes of history. More than anything, this novel describes the emptiness left in a man's soul after all of life's efforts are focused and expended on one goal, worthwhile or not, to the exclusion of all others. It is an eloquent argument for a Balanced Perspective.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Angela's Ashes : A Memoir of a Childhood; Author: Visit Amazon's Frank McCourt Page; Review: Via his childhood memories, Frank McCourt offers a poignant, unflinching view of a poverty so grinding and oppressive as to certainly be almost unimaginable by most readers. Indeed, I had to frequently remind myself that the years described were endured not in some pestilential Victorian-era slum, but in the mid-1900's. My only criticism is the lack of an epilogue to the story. What ever happened to the elder Malachy McCourt, Frank's father, a devastating testimonial to a life wasted by alcohol abuse and a peculiar melancholy which is endemic, I suspect, to the Irish? And Angela, Frank's mother, a sure candidate for sainthood if measured by her daily struggles to keep her children fed and alive? I hope God blessed Angela's ashes and rewarded her with riches in heaven. Oh, and the book is much better than the movie adaptation (3 stars) as the former has better continuity between events, though the latter has stunning visuals and superb acting performances.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Gallipoli; Author: Visit Amazon's Alan Moorehead Page; Review: It was hearing John McDermott's heartbreaking rendition of Eric Bogle's "And the Band Played waltzing Matilda, the ballad of an Aussie soldier who fights and is maimed at Gallipoli, that inspired me to buy this book about the World War I campaign, one of the British Empire's greatest fiascoes. It is certainly clear that the military planners in London should have been court-martialed and shot. This work by Moorehead is eminently readable, and with sufficient maps to follow the action - oftimes something lacking in what are otherwise commendable battlefield histories. I would tend to agree with other reviewers that the story is told too much from the Empire's point of view. However, though the Turks won the battle, they lost the wider war with their German allies. So, since a war's victors usually tell the tale, what's so surprising? If one requires the Turkish or German perspective, feel free to visit a bookshop in Istanbul, or maybe Amazon.de.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Blood Moon; Author: Visit Amazon's Sharman DiVono Page; Review: What makes "Blood Moon" notable is that it evolves into such a horrible muddle after commencing with a reasonably clever scenario - NASA has lost contact with the 6-member crew of its base on the moon's farside, and sends a rescue team to discover what has happened. (The base is named Farside. Clever.) What they find is that the missing men and women have been murdered, or are missing or insane. From there, the plot barely meets minimum expectations before its lackluster end 441 pages later. One of the books chief problems is that there are too many characters. The number of rescue team members shouldn't have been more than 5 from the beginning, and no one of them is ever clearly defined to the point that this reader gives a damn. In an awkward attempt to make the team's commander, Colonel Po Tseng, less of an automaton, the author has her in an intense sexual encounter with one of her crew at the story's approximate midpoint - an event totally unrelated to anything prior or subsequent. The situation back at Mission Control on Earth isn't much better. There's chief CAPCOM Dave Christiansen, who, as the possibility of demonic interference with the moon mission is explored, launches off on monologues concerning Mormon theology that are totally useless. He might as well been a Buddhist. Then there's Project Director Dolores Bianco, as faceless a government bureaucrat as you'll ever have the misfortune to encounter, whose only claim to prominence in this fractured fairy tale is her adolescent crush on Lt. Gutierrez, a local homicide cop wheeled in to investigate from afar the obvious foul play on the lunar surface. "Investigate" is a loose use of the term here. He would have served the story line just as well had he been some hunk called in to fix Bianco's office copier. The major fault with this stinker, however, is that the reader, much less the rescue team, never learns what happened at Farside. Was it demonic possession, a crew mutiny, occult rituals, or temporary insanity brought on by severe electromagnetic disturbances as the moonbase went from sunlight to darkness? Like the rescue team actually does (with only 20 pages left to go), the reader's best hope for answers would seem to be consultation of a .... Ouija board, for cryin' out loud! Besides the fact that Amazon's reader review system allows for nothing less than a 1-star rating, there were, to be fair, a couple of reasons why I assigned such a generous score. The description of the technology used to build Farside is reasonably interesting, especially MILTON, the mission's robot explorer. Moreover, the design of the paperback's front cover is visually striking. Please, oh please, don't buy this book. Doing so will only encourage the author to churn out more of the same.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Open Lands: Travels Through Russia's Once Forbidden Places; Author: Visit Amazon's Mark Taplin Page; Review: In 1992, The United States and Russia signed an accord allowing the citizens of each country the right to travel freely throughout the territory of the other, thus reversing years of Cold War policy that had closed off access to cities and immense tracts of land to the respective peregrinations of both "commie comrades" and "imperialist warmongers". In this book, Mark Taplin, an employee of unexplained duties who represents Washington's Foggy Bottom in Mother Russia, records his observations as he visits newly "Open Lands" at the far margins of his host country. Taplin is one of those intelligent, observant individuals who can write a travel monologue that is appealing to intelligent, curious readers that want more out of life than driving to Disney World in the family SUV. His honest, yet sympathetic, portrayal of post-Soviet Russia and the condition of its people in such places as Vorkuta (the former center of Uncle Joe's Gulag), Tannu Tuva (on the edge of Mongolia), and Vladivostok ("Lord of the East"), reveals much of what is wrong, and right, in today's Russian Federation. What is more, he provides histories of the regions in which he wanders, salt to the literary meal devoured by those of us who, though we may travel extensively, will likely never visit these corners of the earth. Finally, Taplin writes with a sense of humor, an indispensable character trait that served him especially well as he semi-surreptitiously makes his way to the interior of the Kamchatka Peninsula and an almost comic encounter with the Russian secret police. My only complaint, but one that prevents me from awarding 5 stars to this entertaining and informative volume, is the failure of the author to include the photos he says he took along the way. Instead, at the head of each chapter, we are offered a fuzzy, unenlightening, boring image created by some freelance photographer hack that adds virtually nothing to the text that follows. A significant, disappointing oversight!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Every Trace; Author: Visit Amazon's Gregg Main Page; Review: As a very young girl, Ellen is in her father's office when he is murdered by two intruders. The actual shooter is never identified or caught. His accomplice, Walker, is convicted and serves 30 years in prison. On his release, Ellen tracks Walker down with the intent of forcing him to tell her who the shooter was (or is, so she can find and kill him). To accomplish this, she disappears suddenly and without warning out of the suburban Dallas life that she shares with her recently-adulterous husband, Pete, intentionally obliterating "every trace" of her plan and movements as she stalks her quarry. Pete, in turn, is left to frantically track her down because, of course, he still loves her. This is the first novel by Greg Main, an occasional screenwriter, and it shows. The plot and characters are painted in broad brushstrokes that lend the story to a Sunday night, TV-movie adaptation. However, just as it doesn't have the makings for a big screen film, it's also not of the caliber of a first rate piece of fiction. The story line sprints to a predictable finish: the good guys win and the bad guys are killed off, and, for good measure, Ellen's marriage with Pete is saved. The one particularly good plot element is the love/hate relationship that develops between Ellen and Walker. Because of this twist, I've given Greg 4 stars for effort, though the novel as a whole is closer to a 3.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Year 1000: What Life Was Like at the Turn of the First Millennium, An Englishman's World; Author: Visit Amazon's Robert Lacey Page; Review: To get the reader started in this delightful little book, the authors introduce the Julius Work Calendar, another book created around the year 1020, now in the British Library in London. In its time, it served as a perpetual calendar, which allowed the user to determine the dates of ecclesiastical holidays (such as Easter) and festivals, occurrences of the new moon, the dates of a particular day of the week, and the number of hours of daylight and darkness during any of the year's twelve months. Each month's page in the Calendar is illustrated with the drawing of an activity associated with that month, e.g. plowing in January, feasting in April, sheep herding in May, harvesting in July and August, boar hunting in September, and so on. In following chapters of "The Year 1000", one per month, life for the first millennium English citizen is described in loose association with the activity depicted by the drawing. It's as if, in the year 3000, an author was to describe life in the year 2000, using as an entre into the subject a calendar contemporary to the period - no, NOT a swimsuit calendar - which had photos of activities that we in America associate with each month, e.g. snow skiing in January, baseball in April, boating in August, football in October, Thanksgiving dinner in November, etc. Maybe the very front of the Y2K calendar would feature a picture of freeway gridlock in Los Angeles, since it seems to be a perpetual state. As the authors point out, there is more historical documentation concerning President Clinton's dalliance with Monica than has survived concerning all of everyday life in England at the end of the first millennium. Thus, the shortness of the book. However, I was absolutely charmed by it, no doubt due to my love for all things English and British. Well, maybe not Lemon Shandy or haggis. In any case, it is written in an easy, conversational style incorporating many tidbits of non-earthshaking fact. Did you know, for instance, that Y1K ale had the consistency of porridge, or that the concept of five baths per year was considered fanatical overkill, or that thunder on Sunday was thought to presage an increased death rate among nuns and monks? No? Well, you'll never guess which group's mortality is supposedly increased by thunder on Wednesday. This is the perfect book for an afternoon's reading on a rainy day, or the last couple of hours of the plane ride to ... England.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Falling Off The Map: Some Lonely Places of the World; Author: Visit Amazon's Pico Iyer Page; Review: In "Falling Off the Map", Pico Iyer's tales of wanderlust transport the reader to North Korea, Argentina, Cuba, Iceland, Bhutan, Vietnam, Paraguay and Australia, all of which are Lonely Places outside the world's mainstream either by choice, geography or circumstance. I was a bit surprised that no country on the African continent was included, as I have to believe that some backwaters of one or another decayed, European, colonial empire have acquired independence to become, well, backwaters by other names. Perhaps Pico hasn't looked at an atlas lately, or he didn't find the prospect of the Dark Continent's climate particularly appealing. Because Vietnam monopolized so much of America's collective consciousness in the 60's and 70's, the chapter dedicated to that country was, to me, the most informative and intriguing - and I didn't even serve there, or anywhere near it, during my years with the U.S. Navy. Though ostensibly a communist state, Iyer is careful to note that Vietnam's lingering animosity is with the Chinese, not the U.S., even though it was the latter that bombed, defoliated and napalmed the country for years. Americans, and their $, are most welcome. I've decided that I owe it to myself to visit the place, just to see the patch of real estate that we made such a fuss over. The author's observations of all the Lonely Places are recorded as viewed through lenses of keen perception and dry humor. He was, after all, born British. In "Falling Off the Map", Iyer has accomplished what I think most travel writers set out to do, i.e., convince their readers to see for themselves what will otherwise remain simply as mental images conjured from a page. Though I will likely never visit all, or even a minority, of these quirky locales, I really wish I could.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Shackleton; Author: ROLAND HUNTFORD; Review: This LENGTHY biography of the British polar explorer Ernest Shackleton is unquestionably fully researched, highly detailed and competently written. Yet, long tracts left me bored to tears. The essence of this great man's life is more concisely presented in Alfred Lansing's "Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage", a much shorter work that specifically chronicles the quest of the ship Endurance, a failed South Polar expedition that metamorphosed into a remarkable odyssey of incredible hardship and gritty survival, and a tribute to Shackleton's ability to lead men to hell and back - without the loss of even a single life. Buy the latter rather than the former, especially if you have too many books to read and too little time.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Encore Provence; Author: Visit Amazon's Peter Mayle Page; Review: Twelve years ago, Peter Mayle gifted us with "A Year In Provence", an account of this expatriate Brit's plunge into Gallic life, revolving around the pleasures and pitfalls of establishing a residence in rural France in an old country house that was somewhat of a "fixer-upper". Several Provence-related books later, and after a period of time living on Long Island, Peter and his wife return to the land they (and we) love. The result is "Encore Provence". The latest book doesn't hold together as well as "Year", the elements of the latter forming a more cohesive whole. However, "Encore" is certainly much better than some of his other books written in the interim. In "Encore", Peter briefly revisits several topics covered in the original, as well as several more which were apparently overlooked. The range is quixotic: the cultivation of olive trees, an explanation of the three grades of virgin olive oil, the smelly art of selecting fragrances for designing perfumes, foie gras as the key to longevity, discovering the perfect corkscrew, touring Marseille, the almost-underworld of the village truffle market, how to execute the Provenal full shrug, the obligatory elements of the Provenal village, and, umm ..... the shotgun murder of an amorous meat cutter. And, of course, many hedonistic references to the local food and wine. All are treated in the utterly charming and dryly humorous Mayle-style that makes his books so delightful. Bravo and merci beaucoup, Mr. Mayle! You've provided another enjoyable spice to my life.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: My Cat Spit McGee; Author: Visit Amazon's Willie Morris Page; Review: Accomplished writer Willie Morris was a lifelong dog-lover and cat-hater, an ailurophobe. Growing up in Mississippi, that was only way a Manly Man could be. In "My Cat Spit McGee", the author describes his conversion to an ailurophile, or cat-lover, an epiphany apparently of the same magnitude as that experienced by Saul of Tarsus (a.k.a. St. Paul) on the road to Damascus. Through association with his second wife, JoAnne, and after a series of response-modifying events, the author finds a boon companion in Spit McGee, a shorthaired, all-white male cat with one blue and one gold eye. It's in this short book's - 141 pages, hardcover - second half that Willie describes both the understanding that develops between himself and his new feline pal, as well as the personalities of Spit and several other family cats that won him over. If you're not an ailurophile, or not someone confronted by fickle circumstance with a forced conversion, there's no reason to even crack this book open. For myself, a cat-lover of long standing, this gentle and heartwarming story made me appreciate more than ever my calico buddy, Trouble. Willie died in 1999, leaving Spit behind. Since I'm 51 and Trouble is approaching 9, there is a good chance that my furry friend will predecease me. I will rue the coming of that day. I shall miss her terribly.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Blind Eye: How the Medical Establishment Let a Doctor Get Away with Murder; Author: Visit Amazon's James B. Stewart Page; Review: In this lucid and riveting piece of non-fiction, author James Stewart turns over a rock, and out crawls Michael Swango - clean-cut, all-American physician and ostensible serial murderer. We follow Swango from his upbringing in a terminally dysfunctional family, through medical school at Southern Illinois University, on to (failed) specialty residencies at Ohio State University, the University of South Dakota, and the State University of New York, and finally to a bizarre stint as a practicing physician at two hospitals in the Republic of Zimbabwe. Beginning at OSU, he leaves behind a trail of dead patients and some very sick acquaintances, friends and lovers. No Dr. Kildare this, his favorite pharmaceuticals are the likes of arsenic, ricin, and cyanide. Despite the evidence, he has been convicted only twice - once for poisoning coworkers, none of whom died, and once for falsifying information on a residency application. I have not been, nor will I ever be, a fan of the "true crime reporting" genre of books. Any minimally aware individual knows there are a lot of sociopathic, psychotic and otherwise dangerous people on the loose. It's the good luck of most of us not to run into any in the course of a lifetime. It doesn't add to the pleasures of my life to read about them, and will usually only do so if their impact on real-life history has been disproportionately great. Therefore, I confess to an occasional fascination with the likes of Hitler and Stalin. (And the villains in the fictional works I enjoy generally get a satisfying comeuppance.) Personally, I found "Blind Eye", though admirably written, to be frustrating and infuriating. Infuriating because it shows how Swango breached the barriers supposedly set up to protect society at large, with the help, in this case, of a particularly spineless, arrogant and self-serving group of physician-administrator weasels at the OSU Medical Center. Frustrating because Swango has yet to brought to justice for murder, mostly because of the difficulties in garnering evidence that will support indictments for crimes committed many years ago, or in a foreign country, by methods that leave nebulous traces at best. Currently serving a federal prison term for fraud, he is due for release no later than July 2000. The author feels he will certainly try to practice "medicine" again - somewhere. It should give the reader pause to consider where that might be. (Been looking for a new family doctor lately? Hmmm?) In a reasonable society, a solid citizen would not be condemned for shooting a mad dog on sight. Michael Swango is one twisted, sick puppy. Unfortunately, we don't live in a society that is always reasonable.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Nice: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Jen Sacks Page; Review: Enter Grace, a thirty-ish young woman who hasn't the self-assurance to say "no". Thus, when faced with the escalating sexual demands of male friends, she doesn't know how to ratchet down the intensity. Rather than hurt their feelings with rejection, she kills them. Nothing personal, you understand, she only wants to be decent about it. Enter Sam, a former KGB crack assassin. Now that the Cold war is over, he lives in the U.S. working as a contract killer. He encounters Grace while randomly testing a wireless eavesdropping system, and something in her demeanor prompts him to begin following her around. He becomes witness to her killings, and is fascinated by her modus operandi and what he speculates to be her motives and state of mind. He is smitten. The book's 55 chapters - they're short - alternate back and forth between the Grace and Sam viewpoints. As the two eventually meet and establish a relationship, each acts as a therapist for the other. Grace acquires self-assurance and fortitude. Sam becomes a more compassionate hit man. This novel by Jen Sacks is quirky enough to be worth buying. Some readers may also perceive in it nuggets of insight regarding the dating/mating ritual between the sexes. The ending is neither profound nor unexpected. It's, well ...NICE.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Koufax; Author: Edward Gruver; Review: On a balmy, summer's evening in Southern California during the mid-60's, I tune my transistor radio to KFI, and loop the handstrap around my bicycle's handlebar. Peddling aimlessly through the darkening twilight, my thoughts are solely on the vision conjured up by the Voice of the Dodgers, Vin Scully. I remember as if it was only yesterday... "On the mound tonight for the Los Angeles Dodgers ... number 32 ... the great left-hander... Sandy Koufax". "Koufax", by Edward Gruver, brings it all back. It's more than just a straightforward biography. The backbone of the book is a narrative of Sandy's gutsy, phenomenal performance in the seventh game of the 1965 World Series with the Minnesota Twins, relived batter by batter and pitch by pitch, at roughly one inning per chapter. The author fleshes out each inning's action with the story of Koufax's life: parents, childhood, education, religion, early baseball career, peak baseball career, teammates, adversaries, pitching style, injuries, retirement, and post retirement. And enough pitching stats to satisfy even the most hardball of fans. My only criticism might be that the author's evident hero worship of his subject is almost slavish. However, who am I to criticize considering the knuckle-biting attention I paid to Sandy's every outing, every pitch and every decision? This is a must-have book about a truly great gentleman and ballplayer. Thirty-four years after my hero's final walk to the mound, I'm no longer a baseball fan, much less a follower of the Dodgers. Nowadays, star baseball (and football, and basketball) players seem to get more media attention when they abuse drugs, commit felony assault or rape, or are just downright obnoxious. Yes, I suppose professional athletes have always had their darker side, but the paying fans rarely heard about it, and the reputation of The Game was the better for it. For me, there are no present-day heroes. But, if I surrender to memory on a balmy, Southern California, summer evening, I can still hear Vin Scully across the decades ... "Sandy looks in to Roseboro for the sign ... He goes into his wind-up ... Now the pitch... FASTBALL! ... Swung on and missed! Strike three!... Oh, my!"; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Kitchen Confidential Updated Edition: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly (P.S.); Author: Visit Amazon's Anthony Bourdain Page; Review: As a 9 year old Enfant Terrible at the beginning of KITCHEN CONFIDENTIAL, the author, Anthony Bourdain, discovers the power of food while on a vacation in France with his brother and parents. More to the point, he discovers food's power to shock and amaze as he eats local delicacies that otherwise make the rest of his family gag. By his own admission, he enters young manhood as " a spoiled, miserable, narcissistic, self-destructive and thoughtless young lout, badly in need of a good ... kicking". Then, he got his first job as a restaurant dishwasher. By the end of the book, Bourdain is executive chef at Brasserie Les Halles in New York City. In between, we follow his upward advancement through the culinary hierarchy: salad station, broiler station, independent caterer, line cook, sous-chef, executive chef. More often than not during the first half of his career, he admits to being stoned on one or another controlled substance. However, Bourdain also has an evident talent for cooking and organization, and by the book's second half he's sobered up and on his way to a career of distinction. Reviews of CONFIDENTIAL laud the author's wicked wit as he reveals to us the uninitiated the secrets of the kitchen behind those swinging doors. Was it witty? Not really. Was it informative? Yes, but do I really need to know that the Rainbow Room's locker-room was a "gruesome panorama of dermatological curiosities ... boils, pimples, ingrown hair, rashes, buboes, lesions and skin rot ..." Or, that the odors of the place "combined to form a noxious, penetrating cloud that followed you home, and made you smell as if you'd been rolling around in sheep guts". Hmm, local color perhaps. To be fair, there are one or two terrific chapters, particularly "How to Cook Like the Pros", in which Bourdain lists and describes what the pro absolutely needs, and "A Day In the Life", in which he describes a typical, grueling day on the job from 6:00 AM to near midnight. Clearly, it isn't a career choice for a couch potato. I guess my greatest objection, and disappointment, was that I just never liked the guy. While enormously talented, he's also way too self-absorbed. He's an Enfant Terrible grown into a Jerk. His best buddies, also in the biz, are apparently just as professionally talented and personally dysfunctional. He barely mentions Nancy, his wife, who has to put up with him, and is quite likely a saint. His disdain for the paying public is often glaring, as when he refers to weekend diners as "rubes". Well, this is one Rube who would just as soon dine on slop at the local Denny's than sit down to his finest creation END; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: What Would Machiavelli Do? The Ends Justify the Meanness; Author: Visit Amazon's Stanley Bing Page; Review: Back in the early 90's, the world was presented with LEADERSHIP SECRETS OF ATTILA THE HUN, which, as I recall, was a book with some serious points to make that happened to have a cute title. WHAT WOULD MACHIAVELLI DO?, also with a cute title, is apparently a parody of the former volume and others of the same ilk. At least I hope it's a parody. The author, Stanley Bing, can't be serious, can he? The book is a do-it-yourself guide to getting ahead by being the most paranoid, meanest, most selfish, most amoral, most secretive, greediest, most narcissistic, and most treacherous SOB on the block. Assuming this is a parody, it's written with a modicum of cleverness and twisted humor, eminently suitable for those moments dedicated to light reading in the bathroom. Bing's brief reference to the virtue of patience is typical: "You know ... I could go on about this but screw it. Patience is for pussies. We don't need to spend a lot of time on this concept, do we? Good. Let's move on." And, concerning rudeness: "Rudeness: Watch people reel back when you put your hand over their faces and push real hard." Okey-dokey. How about these for your library: NERO'S FIRESIDE CHAT COLLECTION, or UNCLE JOE STALIN'S FOLKSY ADVICE ON RURAL IMPROVEMENT, or, my personal favorite, TIPS FROM THE REICHSKANZLER ON POLITICAL CORRECTNESS by A. Hitler.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Birds Of Prey; Author: ; Review: In BIRDS OF PREY, it is the year 1667, and we are introduced to the 17-year old Englishman, Hal Courteney. Hal is a crewmember on his father's ship, the "Lady Edwina", as it sails the high seas off the southern tip of Africa. England is at war with the Dutch Republic, and the ship's captain, Sir Francis Courteney, has been given license by the British Admiralty to prey on Dutch trading ships of the United East India Company as they return to Amsterdam from the East Indies via the Dutch settlement at the Cape of Good Hope. Sir Francis captures a Dutch ship carrying the newly appointed Governor of Good Hope and his wife, Katinka. During the period when the Governor and his wife are held for ransom, Hal loses his virginity to Katinka, a sadistic, treacherous, highborn slut. (Well, good breeding isn't everything.) Subsequently, Sir Francis, Hal and the rest of the Lady Edwina's company are betrayed by a former ally, the Scottish Earl of Cumbrae, with the help of a former crewmember, Sam Bowles, and imprisoned at Good Hope. Sir Francis is brutally tortured and executed. Hal and a handful of survivors later escape, acquire another ship, and go on to defeat their primary tormentors, Cumbrae and a Dutch army colonel named Schreuder, against the backdrop of a war between the Christian Emperor of Ethiopia and the Moslem Sultan of Oman. Along the way, Hal inherits his father's captaincy and finds true love (as opposed to hormonal-driven sex with Katinka) - twice. As painted by the author, Wilbur Smith, the chief characters of this swashbuckling adventure are almost caricatures. The "good guys" - principally Hal and his loyal buddies, Aboli, Ned, and Daniel - are brave, noble and heroic. The "bad guys" - Katinka, Governor van de Velde, Bowles, Cumbrae, and Schreuder - are cruel, dishonorable and totally vile. The action, much as in Harrison Ford's Indiana Jones film trilogy, is wildly improbable, especially over the book's latter half. Similarly, however, that same action is scripted with such exuberance and energy that it's totally engaging. Finally, I read to be transported to places that, in most cases, I will never visit. I doubt that I shall ever ply the Indian Ocean or South Atlantic aboard a frigate under sail. This book took me there in grand style.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: What Would Machiavelli Do?: The Ends Justify the Meanness; Author: Stanley Bing; Review: Back in the early 90's, the world was presented with LEADERSHIP SECRETS OF ATTILA THE HUN, which, as I recall, was a book with some serious points to make that happened to have a cute title. WHAT WOULD MACHIAVELLI DO?, also with a cute title, is apparently a parody of the former volume and others of the same ilk. At least I hope it's a parody. The author, Stanley Bing, can't be serious, can he? The book is a do-it-yourself guide to getting ahead by being the most paranoid, meanest, most selfish, most amoral, most secretive, greediest, most narcissistic, and most treacherous SOB on the block. Assuming this is a parody, it's written with a modicum of cleverness and twisted humor, eminently suitable for those moments dedicated to light reading in the bathroom. Bing's brief reference to the virtue of patience is typical: "You know ... I could go on about this but screw it. Patience is for pussies. We don't need to spend a lot of time on this concept, do we? Good. Let's move on." And, concerning rudeness: "Rudeness: Watch people reel back when you put your hand over their faces and push real hard." Okey-dokey. How about these for your library: NERO'S FIRESIDE CHAT COLLECTION, or UNCLE JOE STALIN'S FOLKSY ADVICE ON RURAL IMPROVEMENT, or, my personal favorite, TIPS FROM THE REICHSKANZLER ON POLITICAL CORRECTNESS by A. Hitler.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Conceived In Liberty: William Oates, Joshua Chamberlain, and the American Civil War; Author: Visit Amazon's Mark Perry Page; Review: On the second day of the Battle of Gettysburg, July 2, 1863, the left end of the Union line came under attack by the right end of the Confederate line. On the slope of Little Round Top, the very last Union regiment in the line, the 20th Maine, commanded by Joshua Chamberlain, desperately fought off repeated assaults by the 15th Alabama regiment, commanded by William Oates. It is quite likely the Gettysburg battle could have been won for General Lee's Army of Northern Virginia if the Alabama troops had successfully flanked the Union position and gotten into the rear of General Meade's Army of the Potomac. For the Federals, it was a close run thing. The 20th Maine prevailed only when, after running out of ammunition, Chamberlain ordered the famous bayonet charge that finally routed the exhausted Southern troops - a feat of arms thrillingly depicted in the 1993 film "Gettysburg". CONCEIVED IN LIBERTY is a double biography of both Oates and Chamberlain painted in broad brushstrokes. For each, it spans the time from birth, through the formative period of young manhood, then the army career, concluding with the post-war years of public service, and finally death. Interestingly enough, Chamberlain and Oates faced off only once during the Civil War conflict, and only twice in life. The second instance, when both were old men, involved a squabble over where the 15th Alabama's regimental marker could properly be placed on the Gettysburg Battlefield Monument. Chamberlain won that round also, as the marker was never erected. For the Civil War buff seeking detailed accounts of the major battles, this is not the book to read. Only those major engagements at which Chamberlain and/or Oates were present are described, and then only to the degree that establishes the "big picture", or otherwise provides the details of each man's participation in the larger conflict. For example, the author, Mark Perry, gives a reasonably detailed 7-page overview of Gettysburg's first day, then provides an 11-page narrative summary of the Little Round Top confrontation between our two heroes. Pickett's Charge is relegated to four paragraphs over two pages, and the battle for Culp's Hill is mentioned not at all - the latter rarely is, it seems. This volume is extensively researched, clearly written, and straightforwardly told. Maybe too straightforwardly told. You'll not find herein any of the wry wit exhibited by Shelby Foote in his marvelous Civil War trilogy. (I could continue reading Foote forever. I've had my fill of Perry with this one, relatively short book.) Nevertheless, this is a sober, balanced accounting of both men's careers that does not become overly slavish in its admiration of either. A solid "thumbs up" achievement; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Rose; Author: Visit Amazon's Martin Cruz Smith Page; Review: (3 stars actually, but not 4. I do wish Amazon would adopt a more flexible rating system!) In ROSE, it is 1872. Jonathan Blair, a down-on-his-luck explorer/mining engineer/surveyor, is sick with malaria in miasmic, damp London. His only desire is to return to his beloved Africa. To that end, he approaches his sponsor on a previous surveying expedition to the African Gold Coast, Bishop Hannay, and pleads for renewed employment. Hannay agrees, on the condition that Blair first visit the bleak coal mining town of Wigan in the English county of Lancashire to investigate the disappearance of the local Anglican curate, one John Maypole. (Here, I must briefly digress. Bishop Hannay is also Lord Hannay, the family head of a huge industrial empire that manufactures everything from bricks to locomotives, and owns the principal mine in Wigan, itself a Hannay company town. I'm not sure why the author, Martin Cruz Smith, bothered to make Hannay a bishop, since no reference is ever made to his episcopal see, cathedral, or duties.) In any case, Blair reluctantly accepts the task. In Wigan, he encounters mysterious deaths, local thugs, the rest of Hannay's dysfunctional family, and the enigmatic "pit girl" Rose Molyneux. Our hero soon discovers that the missing Maypole, though engaged to Hannay's cold and waspish daughter Charlotte, had become amorously obsessed with Rose, a passion eventually shared by Blair, and which complicates his life enormously. If the plot of this potboiler had taken place in a contemporary time in, say, New York or Los Angeles, or even rural Appalachia, it would not have gotten off the ground. The action tends to plod. What saves it, in this case, is the period and location. I trust Smith researched the environment of 19th century, English coal towns and mines before undertaking this novel. Inasmuch as his research is presumably accurate, the local color is instructional and interesting. Moreover, there is an unexpected plot twist at the end when Blair discovers Rose to be ... well, you'll find out when you read it. And, if you come to harbor any sympathy for Blair whatsoever, the very last sentence of the tale is particularly satisfying.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Voodoo Science: The Road from Foolishness to Fraud; Author: Visit Amazon's Robert L. Park Page; Review: VOODOO SCIENCE: THE ROAD FROM FOOLISHNESS TO FRAUD is a book length editorial by Robert Park addressing the various manifestations of voodoo science that have surfaced, and, in some cases still persist, in contemporary modern society. Himself an accomplished physicist, Park divides "voodoo science" into pathological science, junk science and pseudoscience. Pathological science occurs when scientists fool themselves. Junk science involves tortured theories unsupported by evidence, such as those presented to juries to secure big personal injury awards. Pseudoscience is humbug dressed up in the symbols and language of true science. At any one time, a manifestation of voodoo science will occupy a non-static position in the continuum between foolishness and downright fraud. Self-delusion being what it is, it's sometimes difficult to judge when an individual crosses the line between True Believer and Scam Artist. Park takes issue with voodoo science via a list of examples long enough to probably offend just about anyone who thinks him/herself a forward thinker on the Cutting Edge. Among those that Park asserts are clearly debunked, or should be, by now: cold fusion, x-ray lasers (a.k.a. Reagan's Strategic Defense Initiative), perpetual motion machines, gravity shields, the Roswell Incident, cancers caused by power lines, and pathologic conditions caused by ruptured silicone breast implants. Then, there are those still considered acceptably mainstream, but equally dubious: touch therapy (i.e. aura manipulation), magnet therapy, the manned Mars mission, the International Space Station, and homeopathic medicines. Park editorializes with a sense of humor and mild outrage against the natures of the government and the popular media that promote the acceptance of such foolishness in our collective psychology, rather than providing standards for critical analysis. After all, it's National Enquirer-like journalism that sells papers and generates high TV ratings for the media fat cats. And the government ... well, what could one expect from a group composed mostly of scientifically unsophisticated dunderheads. In any case, though the book rambled on somewhat, I did enjoy it. Oh, and now I know what to do with those strap-on magnets my Mom gave me for alleviating minor aches and strains; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Autobiography Of Joseph Stalin: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Richard Lourie Page; Review: In the last chapter of THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF JOSEPH STALIN, it is a week after the August 1940 assassination of Leon Trotsky in Mexico City, and the Soviet dictator is wrapping up his narrative history of the events that led up to the successful ax murder of his archrival by a conspiracy that he personally directed. In previous chapters, Stalin tells the story of his life as a young boy in Russian Georgia, as a young communist revolutionary, as an associate of Lenin before and after the Revolution, and as the dictator that assumed total power after Lenin's death in 1924 by destroying all of his old Bolshevik comrades. All events are related in the context of his paranoid fear and hatred of Trotsky who, in his Mexican exile, is apparently assembling a biography of the Soviet leader - a biography that will reveal to the world Stalin's ultimate crime against Russia and the Revolution, and which will hopefully spark his downfall. Thus, according to Stalin, the necessity of having to effect Trotsky's murder. (After all, even paranoids have enemies.) Of course, Stalin wrote no autobiography for the world to ponder. This book is a novel written by Richard Lourie. It is absorbing and interesting only to the degree that the facts of Stalin's life and Trotsky's death, as related herein, are historically true. Since Lourie has a Ph. D. in Russian, and has written previously on Russian history, I give him the benefit of the doubt. I was both absorbed and fascinated by the author's Stalin, a personality so isolated and megalomaniacal as to be able to "write" at the very end: "Now I know what my name really means: Stalin is the strength to bear a world in which there is only nothing and yourself. At last I have defeated God at loneliness".; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Man of the Hour; Author: Visit Amazon's Peter Blauner Page; Review: In MAN OF THE HOUR, the reader is reminded that glory is fleeting, especially when driven by the capricious print and television media. David Fitzgerald is an English teacher, and a darn good one, at the Coney Island High School. (I consider teaching one of the most honorable of professions, more so than even medicine or law. I can still remember the handful of really excellent teachers in my life. But, I digress.) One day, the bus on which David is to take his class on a field trip is destroyed by a bomb. Luckily, only two people were aboard at the time, the driver and a pregnant student. The driver dies, but Fitzgerald risks his life to save the girl. He immediately becomes the media's darling hero of the moment. Unfortunately, because of circumstance, ambiguous evidence, and confused statements David made after the blast, he soon becomes the chief suspect, and the media turns on him with a savage vengeance. We know from the very beginning that the real bomber is limo driver Nasser, an ex-student of Fitzgerald's, who is a 24-year old of Palestinian birth previously imprisoned by the Israelis. This experience leaves him hating Israel and, of course, the pro-Zionist American society and everything for which it stands. Now, in America, Nasser has fallen in with a couple of moth-eaten, sad-to-be-alive Arab terrorists that manage to give even that profession a bad name. Thus, the plot inspired very little suspense in this reader, only a mild curiosity as to how the author would redress the balance in order to achieve the de rigueur happy ending. David is a likable enough character, especially as he's also embroiled in a child custody battle with an ex-wife who, in the technical jargon of psychiatry, is "just plain nuts". As a bombing suspect, he also faces loss of his job and imprisonment. Definitely the makings of a bad hair day. Nonetheless, neither my sympathy for Fitzgerald, nor my esteem for teachers in general, compels me to award this novel anything more than a marginal "thumbs up".; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Kings in Winter; Author: Visit Amazon's Cecelia Holland Page; Review: The stage for THE KINGS IN WINTER is Ireland, 1014 AD. Our hero - a loose use of the term - is Muirtagh, chief of the Clan Cullinane, who becomes reluctantly embroiled in a resumption of a blood feud that almost wiped out his clan when his father was chief. After the High King of Ireland refuses to intervene on behalf of peace, Muirtagh's brother is slain by men of the Cullinane's main rival, the Clan mac Mahon. In order to draw off his enemies from pursuing the surviving remnants of his clan, Muirtagh renounces his claim to the chieftainship, and departs into the wilds of western Ireland as a self-declared outlaw. Subsequently, he joins forces with the Irish rebel leader Maelmordha and his Viking allies in a confrontation with the High King and his army. It all sounds terribly exciting, but isn't. The book is relatively short (205 pages in paperback), and the author spends fully the first half establishing for the reader the relationship between Muirtagh and his wife, his children, his brother, the High King, and his clan's rivals. Several pages would've sufficed. Then, there's a brief flurry of activity when Muirtagh's brother is killed, followed by another stretch of boredom until the final battle in the last twenty-five pages. At the conclusion of it all, the extent of the happy ending is that Muirtagh still lives as a free man. Nothing else is decided, won, regained or achieved. By then, I didn't care. The book has a superfluity of unpronounceable names, incoherent conversations, and minor characters. While the whole might serve as a couple of chapters in a longer novel, by itself it is utterly and totally pointless. Had it been any longer, I would have disdained to finish. Normally, I give my books away to friends. This one I simply trashed.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Biting the Dust: The Joys of Housework; Author: Visit Amazon's Margaret Horsfield Page; Review: I wouldn't have thought that the subject of dirt could be so interesting. However, in BITING THE DUST, author Margaret Horsfield relates the history of housework. More specifically, she focuses on housecleaning, an activity that acquired a life of its own during the period of society's industrial expansion and the decline of traditional cottage industries, when the wife was left stranded at home while the husband joined the factory workforce. It evolved to an obsession beginning in the late 19th century when the germ theory of disease became widely accepted, and "germs" became synonymous with "filth" - most alarmingly, all that household filth: dust, grease, flies, mold, excrement, hair, drain slime, fungus, mites, cockroaches, bacteria, fleas, dry rot, cobwebs, rust, exfoliated skin, mildew, waxy buildup. Oh, yuuuuck! Margaret is British-born, so the focus of her study is more on England than the United States, the latter being the place where the "science" of housecleaning reached its zenith first, the UK being inhibited by its proximity to two world wars. However, being British, she writes with a wry and self-deprecating humor that is most entertaining. In my mind, the best chapters are four. "Mothers and Mentors: The Influence of Mothers On How We Clean" is self explanatory, as are "Clean Freaks and Crazies: The Extremes of Housecleaning" and "Purge and Purify: Bugs, Beasties and Other Household Intruders". Then, since the book is otherwise mostly about (and probably for) women, there's "Looking for Mr. Clean", a chapter devoted to those two human subspecies: the Man Who Cleans and the Man Who Doesn't Care, the latter existing in overwhelming numbers, much like pigs. What prevents me from awarding five stars is the fact that Ms. Horsfield occasionally goes on longer than necessary. Her chapter on the development of home economics and household advice and that on the rise of domestic consumerism are cases in point. Overall, though, I found the book both engaging and instructive - a minor miracle, I suppose, because I'm Male. It served me well this past weekend during my breaks taken while doing the laundry and ironing. And I'm trained to put the toilet seat down, too. Imagine that.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Fear Nothing: A Novel (Christopher Snow); Author: Visit Amazon's Dean Koontz Page; Review: XP. Xeroderma pigmentosum. A genetic disorder characterized by a severe sensitivity to UV radiation, especially sunlight that results in cumulative and irreversible damage to one's DNA. Thus afflicted, Chris Snow in FEAR NOTHING has lived his 28 years in the Central California coastal town of Moonlight Bay. He cannot expose his eyes or skin to the least amount of sunlight lest he risk the certainly fatal onslaught of cancer. He sleeps by day, and wanders the environs of his community by night, financially supported by his writings and a substantial trust fund. At the beginning of the brief, but busy, thirty-six hour period spanned by this novel's plot, Chris attends the death of his father, his last surviving parent. Subsequently, he discovers his father's body has been switched on it's way to the crematorium for that of a dead vagrant by a mysterious stranger, is attacked (several times) by a band of murderous super monkeys, is present at the murder of one of his best friends, kills the town's chief of police, is almost bludgeoned by the local priest, learns his deceased mother was the brains behind a top secret military project involving inter-species gene transfer experiments, and comes to learn that his pet dog, Orson, can understand spoken English as well as you or I. It seems Orson, a gift from his mother, was a product of those same genetic experiments, which have since taken a decidedly sinister and cataclysmic turn. Of course, the wicked government is trying to cover up the whole debacle. It isn't stated whether it's the Republicans or Democrats in power. (Oh, for a return to the more benign peccadilloes of Bill and Monica! The only casualty of that... um, gene transfer experiment ... was the Blue Dress.) This is a standard offering by Dean Koontz, whose brand of scary stories has always seemed a bit more twisted and raw than those of the other Terror Meister, Stephen King. Nevertheless, it's a swell read. Snow is a sympathetic character, and Orson is way cool. Since the world as we and Snow know it is doomed, it's readily apparent from the somewhat anticlimactic ending that Koontz intended this book to be the first in a series about Chris, Orson, Moonlight Bay, and the secret project gone awry. (His next book, SEIZE THE NIGHT, continues the tale.) A good book to take on your next trip up California Highway 1 - but watch out for the Black Helicopters.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: War Of The Rats; Author: Visit Amazon's David L. Robbins Page; Review: WAR OF THE RATS is a superb novel of combat. Combat in a theater of World War II that most Americans, dismally familiar only with the fighting role of the US in the Pacific and Europe, know little about - the Russian Front. Specifically, in this book, the Battle of Stalingrad at the end of 1942. Chief Master Sergeant Vasily Zaitsev ("The Hare") is an expert sniper in the 62nd Army, that force of the Red Army desperately maintaining a toehold in Stalingrad, under siege by the German 6th Army. Zaitsev is so good at his job that he is ordered to establish a sniper school. One of his students is Tania Chernova, an American woman of Russian descent fighting to avenge the execution of her grandparents at the hands of the Nazis. The graduates of The Hare's training become so proficient at killing Germans that the morale of the 6th Army's front-line troops is seriously threatened. Zaitsev becomes a Red Army hero and a winner of the Order of Lenin. As a counter, the Reich's most expert sniper, SS Colonel Heinz Thorvald ("The Headmaster"), is flown from Germany into the Stalingrad battle. His orders - to find and kill The Hare. There is no superlative too extravagant to describe this book. At 470 pages in paperback, I absorbed it at one sitting on a flight from Washington, DC to Los Angeles. Zaitsev, Chernova and Thorvald were all actual combatants in Stalingrad. Their roles, as well as the movements of both the German and Russian forces in the battle as a whole, are facts lifted from historical sources researched by the author, David Robbins. The insight Robbins gives the reader into the skills and training of the military sniper is absolutely riveting. The action is gritty and realistic. The characters are finely drawn. One measure of a novel's excellence is its ability to inspire the reader to delve further into the subject. I've just added to my Amazon.com Wish List a history of the Stalingrad siege.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Red Mafiya: How the Russian Mob Has Invaded America; Author: Visit Amazon's Robert I. Friedman Page; Review: RED MAFIYA by Robert Friedman is a disquieting book. In it, he chronicles the waves of arrival and expansion of the Russian mob in the US. The first wave came during the period of the Cold War, when the criminals arrived in the guise of Jewish dissident refugees, settling in Brighton Beach, New York. The second wave came after the dissolution of the USSR, when the new freedoms allowed by perestroika opened the floodgates to the Russian "wiseguys", some with previous connections to the KGB and military, now swarming into Miami, Denver and Los Angeles. Since then, the Red Mafiya has relentlessly extended its tentacles into, and sometimes completely around, such diverse activities and entities as the Russian government, Wall Street, the Russian and Swiss banking systems, the State of Israel, and the US National Hockey League. One of the Mafiya's most startling characteristics is the viciousness of its members. A viciousness forged into a steely hardness under Soviet totalitarianism, and which makes the dons of the Italian Mafia look like a bunch of kindly grandfathers. It causes one to look fondly back on the bad old days of the Cold War, when at least the Soviet security apparatus had its indigenous criminals under some measure of control, i.e. in some Arctic gulag where they could tear at each other's throats instead of ours. I have mixed feelings about this book. First of all, it's not one I would've bought on my own - it was a gift. I mean, living in Southern California I `m well aware that there are loathsome elements "out there": mafias of whatever national origin, Latino gangs, Armenian gangs, Chinese gangs, Vietnamese gangs, South American drug cartels. Hell, maybe even brotherhoods of Eskimo assassins for all I know. The best I can do is stay out of their way, much as I avoid dog excrement on the sidewalk. There's not much I can personally do about them except support law enforcement agencies with my tax dollars, which, by the way, are legally extorted from me at 33% or more of my income. (I might well wonder which group is hurting me the most.) On the other hand, as the author points out, the damage that the Red Mafiya is doing to the Motherland may eventually cause a disgusted populace to elevate to leadership a Hitler-like figure - and he's going to have nukes to play with. This is a scary thought. On that basis, I have to applaud Friedman on the courage it took to write such a fine and informative piece of investigative journalism in the face of extreme personal danger. Honor is due.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Every Move She Makes; Author: Visit Amazon's Robin Burcell Page; Review: Robin Burcell, a police officer herself for many years, presents EVERY MOVE SHE MAKES, starring SFPD's first female homicide detective, Kate Gillespie. Kate has a lot on her plate. She can't seem to get rid of her jealous ex, an investigator in the DA's office. She's receiving death threats from a local mobster about to go on trial, in which she's to give evidence. She's got a dead John Doe, found in a vacant warehouse freezer with mysterious seeds tucked under a finger ring. The pathologist who performed the autopsy on the stiff is then found dead herself, her throat cut, apparently the next victim of the SoMa Slasher. Her partner, who happens to be the pathologist's husband, is implicated and on the run. Then, to make life just perfect, there's a lot of unrelieved sexual tension between herself and a strong, silent type lieutenant working Internal Affairs. I hope Burcell isn't planning on hanging up her service pistol anytime soon. While this novel represents a 2-star commendable effort, it doesn't stand out in the glut of books of the same genre. Kate, as the Protagonist of the plot, just barely elicits sympathy. (For a brief moment, I almost liked her for the relationship she has with her landlord's orange tabby, Dinky. But, alas, Dinky is briefly mentioned maybe twice, then ignored.) There's no single, clear Antagonist, just several possibles - and none of them exude evil intent. Finally, the disparate elements come together in a nearly incoherent ending that is anticlimactic even for this pedestrian plot. There was no cleverness here - nothing that elicited from me an admiring "Way cool!" I suspect the author plans on making Kate the centerpiece of a continuing series of cop stories, and doesn't want to wear out her character, or get her into the sack with the IA lieutenant, too quickly. Too bad. She's lost me as a fan already.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Conquering Family; Author: Visit Amazon's Thomas B. Costain Page; Review: THE CONQUERING FAMILY is the first book of four by Thomas Costain on the Plantagenet kings of England. In my opinion, this set, and the 3-volume masterpiece by Shelby Foote on the U.S. Civil War, are the best historical series I've ever read. (The last three volumes in the Costain quartet are: THE MAGNIFICENT CENTURY, THE THREE EDWARDS, and THE LAST PLANTAGENETS.) THE CONQUERING FAMILY chronicles the reigns of Henry II (1154-1189), and his sons Richard I "the Lionhearted" (1189-1199) and John (1199-1216). Henry II, in my opinion the greatest of English monarchs, created an empire that included not only Britain, but perhaps as much as two-thirds of present day France (thanks, in great part, to his marriage to the dynamic Eleanor of Aquitaine, the Duchess of that province and the former Queen of France.) By the end of John's reign, virtually all French possessions were lost and England was racked by civil war. No chip off the old block was John. The general public usually associates Henry II with his quarrel with, and eventual murder of, Archbishop Thomas Becket of Canterbury. Richard I is, of course, "the Lionhearted" king who crusaded in the Holy Land against the infidels, and who has a fictional association with Robin Hood. And, lastly, there's the misfit King John, of Magna Carta fame. A perfect companion piece to this volume is the 1968 film THE LION IN WINTER, starring Peter O'Toole as Henry and Katharine Hepburn as Eleanor, the latter winning an Academy Award for her performance. The film's story evolves over Christmas, 1183, in the royal castle of Chinon, as Henry, Eleanor, and sons Richard, Geoffrey and John quarrel, backstab, and plot amongst themselves as to which son will inherit the thrown on Henry's death. It's my all-time favorite film for reasons given in my review of it on this website. More to the point, the book and the film are consistent in their portrayal of this royal family as dysfunctional with a capital "D". It's a quote from Hepburn's Eleanor that heads this review, and which says it all. (By comparison, the current English royal family is merely a bunch of trivial sissies.) Both the book and the film are powerful portrayals of a ruling dynasty, the likes of which the world will likely never see again. If you're at all interested in English history, you absolutely must not overlook either the Costain series or the movie.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Fludd; Author: Visit Amazon's Hilary Mantel Page; Review: The doleful, English, mill town of Fetherhoughton is the stage for this short, delightful novel, FLUDD, by Hilary Mantel. There are four principal players. Father Angwin, pastor of the Roman Catholic church of St. Thomas Aquinas, has lost his belief in God's existence, but determinedly continues to serve his flock while suffering the oversight of his idiot diocesan bishop. Miss Dempsey, his spinster housekeeper, lives in terror of a small wart above her upper lip, thinking it a portent of cancer. Sister Philomena, a nun teaching in the parish school, is an Irish girl forced by her family into the convent, where she endures the petty tyranny of its Mother Superior. Then there's FLUDD, a curate ostensibly sent by the obnoxious bishop to help Angwin modernize his pastoral approach. Or is he? Once Fludd is in residence, people begin to ... transform. The engaging aspect of this story is that the reader never understands the nature of the being called Fludd, a mystery also grazing Angwin's perception during his first meal with Fludd, when the former observed: "Whenever (he) looked up at (Fludd), it seemed that his whiskey glass was raised to his lips, but the level of what was in it did not seem to go down; and yet from time to time the young man reached out for the bottle, and topped himself up. It had been the same with their late dinner, there were three sausages on Father Fludd's plate, and he was always cutting into one or other, and spearing a bit on his fork; he was always chewing in an unobtrusive, polite way, with his mouth shut tight. And yet there were always three sausages on his plate, until at last, quite suddenly, there were none." Is Fludd a man, or something ... else. He can tell fortunes by looking at the palm of one's hand. He alludes to having once been the practitioner of another profession that sounds a lot like alchemy. Odd talents for a Catholic priest. In any case, by the satisfying end of the tale, you, the reader, is left to decide for yourself - if you can.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Glorieta Pass; Author: Visit Amazon's P. G. Nagle Page; Review: Historians and novelists seem to traditionally fixate on those great battles of the US Civil War fought in the East - Antietam, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg. Occasional attention is paid to the equally great battles in the West - Shiloh, Vicksburg, Chattanooga. It's therefore both refreshing and unusual, in GLORIETA PASS, for a writer to focus on that forgotten backwater of the conflict, the Southwest - specifically New Mexico in this historical novel. There are five main characters (and a regiment's worth of minor ones I won't mention). Jamie Russell is one of three sons of a Texas family who join the Southern Cause. Jamie marches west, his two brothers east (and out of the plot.) Lacey McIntyre is a lieutenant in the regular US Army stationed in the New Mexico Territory at the outbreak of the rebellion. Lacey's family is from Tennessee, so his loyalty to the Union is tenuous at best. Alastar "Red" O'Brien is an illiterate Irishman working the Colorado mines near Denver. He organizes a group of his fellows into a unit of the Colorado Volunteers, and is awarded a captaincy by the state's governor. Also in Red's unit is Charles Franklin, an Eastern dandy that becomes one of Red's lieutenants. Finally, there is Laura Howland, a young woman recently orphaned, who is invited to New Mexico by her dead father's brother. Suffice it to say that all players come together at GLORIETA PASS, the book's climactic Blue vs. Gray encounter. The military action proceeds at a relatively sedate pace. But, since the facts of it were passably researched by the author for background material, and I knew relatively little about this theater of the war, the novel held my interest in that respect. With the exception of Jamie, the female author characterizes the principal male players as usually drunk, loutish, treacherous, or otherwise in the grip of base passions. (Men are such brutes!) It's virtuous Laura, the story line's Female in Distress, around whom much of the action coalesces, especially as she attracts the attention of just about all the love-starved male leads at one point or another. Most intriguing is the Charles Franklin character, a very unusual trooper. And, it's a measure of the reader's perception as to how soon he/she can answer the question "What's going on with this guy?" The book doesn't measure up to THE KILLER ANGELS, or even the prequel and sequel to that classic, GODS AND GENERALS and THE LAST FULL MEASURE, respectively. However, it's still fairly good, especially if you're a Civil War buff. I also suggest that it will appeal to women as much as men, if not more.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: No Human Involved; Author: Visit Amazon's Barbara Seranella Page; Review: Author Barbara Saranella's first novel, NO HUMAN INVOLVED, is an exceptional debut. In it, we have "Munch" Mancini, a street wise, world weary, over-the-top-cynical ex-prostitute and recovering heroin addict, hiding from both a brutal biker and Mace St. John, the latter a street wise and world weary cop investigating a series of murders in the Los Angeles of the 70's. Munch is a prime suspect in one of the slayings. She's also a crackerjack auto mechanic, a skill she utilizes to bring in a paycheck while she lies low. As for Mace, he lives in a lovingly restored, 1927-vintage Pullman car parked on a spur of unused Southern Pacific track in an unprepossessing part of town. In so many works of this genre, the author attempts to create sympathetic characters, apparently using some arcane formula that only results in very two-dimensional personae. I can't tell you how many crime thrillers I've finished not caring one iota about the story's hero(es). Somehow, in her first time out, Saranella manages to transcend this trap, creating in Munch and Mace people I cared about from the very first page. This is so refreshing! The plot of NO HUMAN INVOLVED is revealed to the reader in a manner as smooth and sharp as a scalpel's incision lays open the inside of a cadaver during an autopsy. There's even a bit of humor and pathos along the way in Mace's relationship with a new girlfriend, and with his aging father, the latter suffering a mental deterioration following several strokes. The manner in which Mace acquires two dogs near the book's conclusion is particularly amusing. The story's end involves a satisfying plot twist. Judging from subsequent releases by the same author, Munch is to be the central character in a continuing series. Bravo! I, for one, immediately added Saranella's two latest books to my Wish List.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Forest: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Edward Rutherfurd Page; Review: With THE FOREST, author Edward Rutherford continues his love affair with England begun with SARUM and LONDON. (His other book, RUSSKA, was apparently an aberrational dalliance.) In all of his novels, Rutherford goes back in time and selects fictional families living in a specific geographical area, then visits members of each family at key points down through history as they interact with each other and the environment of the chosen area. In SARUM, it was the land surrounding the English town of Salisbury, including Stonehenge. In LONDON, it was ... well, London. In THE FOREST, it's the New Forest in the English county of Hampshire, a triangular patch of land approximately anchored by Salisbury, Christchurch and Southampton, and on the mainland immediately northwest of the Isle of Wight. "Forest", a French term, originally meant "reservation", and the New Forest was such a place set aside by Duke William of Normandy as a royal hunting preserve after becoming William I, King of England, in 1066 by defeating King Harold at Hastings. Rutherford begins his narrative in 1099, and continues in chapters headed 1294, 1480, 1587, 1635, 1794, 1868 and 2000 respectively. From previous exposure to the author's style, I've found it convenient to consider each chapter a short story more or less independent from the overall chronology. That way, I don't get too confused by the intersecting genealogical lines of the featured families as they thread through the centuries. This is a collection of vignettes portraying the human dramas encountered in the everyday lives of ordinary people, both gentry and commoners, as influenced by the time and place of their life spans. Thus, one becomes acquainted with Adela, a Norman noblewoman in search of a husband soon after the Conquest, and Brother Adam, an abbey monk suffering a crisis of faith after being seduced by a local housewife. Then there's Jonathan, a young boy living in the port of Lymington, caught in a storm at sea during a boat race, and Clement, a young gentleman threatened by his crazy mother's treasonous behavior as the Spanish Armada seemed poised to invade. And Alice, caught in the turbulent and dangerous times of Cromwell's Civil War and the subsequent Restoration. Or Fanny, an heiress pulled in opposite directions by love and an age-old family vendetta, on trial for shoplifting a piece of lace. Finally, Colonel Albion, fighting to save the forest he loves from the depredations of the London politicians. If you're looking for a thriller, or epic conflicts between a series of protagonists and antagonists, then THE FOREST is not for you. However, if you love England - especially that - and you enjoy vicariously immersing yourself in the everyday joys, heartaches, triumphs and defeats of others, then you'll love this book. Moreover, THE FOREST contains interesting information about non-human elements of the region: the mating rituals of the local deer population, the life cycles of the forest's oak trees, the method for harvesting salt from seawater, the formation of bogs, the proper use of timber in the art of building wooden sailing ships. Additionally,; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sleeping Arrangements (Plume); Author: Visit Amazon's Laura Shaine Cunningham Page; Review: SLEEPING ARRANGEMENTS is an utterly irresistible and engaging memoir by Laura Shaine Cunningham, which describes her life growing up in the Bronx between the ages of 5 and 16. At the beginning of the book, she is taken care of by her mother and sole parent, Rosie. (It isn't until the end of the memoir that the reader has anything approaching a clear idea of what happened to her father, Larry. Even then, it stays fuzzy because Laura never finds out herself.) Soon, however, Rosie dies, apparently of cancer. Young Laura ("Lily") then comes under the care of her mother's eccentric brothers, 38 year old Gabe and 40 year old Len - two "O.B.s", i.e. "old bachelors". A bit later, the group is enlarged when Lily's senile maternal grandmother, Etka, moves in. Since I did my growing up as a little boy, it was enlightening to see a glimpse of how it was endured by the other half. It was also quite amazing to read what details Lily remembers of her earliest school experiences. I can barely remember at 5 going to the Hill & Dale Nursery School in Pacific Palisades, California, and that we were expected to take afternoon naps - perhaps for the mental relief of our minders, not ourselves. In any case, Laura relates the events of her childhood with humor and pathos. When her grandmother moves in, she expects the old lady to conform with her experience of her friends' grandmothers, i.e. to be a cookie maker. Yet, when left alone with her for the first time: "I look at her, expecting her to toss off her tailored jacket, tuck up her cuffs, and roll out the cookie dough. Instead, she purses her lips in an expression she learned as a child, and tilts her head in a practiced way: `Now, perhaps, you could fix me a little lunch?'. It isn't supposed to be this way, I think as I take her order: `toasted cheese sandwich and a sliced orange'". Later, when on a child's guilt trip reliving the sins of her young life, Lily remembers: "And last and worst, on the final night of my mother's life, when Gabe held the phone to my ear and said, `Say goodbye to your mother', I had made a joke of it, and said, `Goodbye', only it was ... forever." Today, when the repercussions of a broken home loom large in society's consciousness due to the well publicized meltdowns of a sick few, SLEEPING ARRANGEMENTS serves as a gentle reminder that home, for a child, is where the love is - whether it comes from a father, mother, uncles, aunts, or grandparents. I liked this book a lot, and I think you will too.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Back to the Moon: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Homer Hickam Page; Review: Three and a half stars. BACK TO THE MOON by Homer Hickam should be shelved in "Science Fiction Fantasy" in the brick-and-mortar bookstores, but is probably improbably in "Literature". At the very start, we have the Apollo 17 astronauts discovering the isotope helium-3 in a moon crater in 1972. Fast forward to the present. Helium-3 is a necessary component of a hydrogen fusion process that will produce unlimited amounts of squeaky-clean energy. Of course, the only local source is the moon, long since forsaken by the US space program. Bummer! Ex-NASA wonder boy Jack Medaris, now head of his own space engineering firm, Medaris Engineering Company (MEC), is hired by entrepreneurs to retrieve some of the isotope from the lunar surface before a world treaty is signed that would ban any nuclear energy-producing process, including hydrogen fusion. When Jack's robot lunar miner is destroyed by the inevitable evil conspiracy - probably the same one now boosting premium gas to $2+ a gallon, his solution is to commandeer the shuttle Columbia on the day of its launch, and take it BACK TO THE MOON to retrieve the precious helium-3 "dirt". He does all this with the help of his engineering wizards at MEC, and a smart lawyer that writes a slick contract, signed by MEC, NASA and the Department of Transportation (DOT), that ultimately makes the hijack legal. This last wrinkle really puts a twist in the knickers of the female US Attorney General, a figure obviously reminiscent of Janet Reno. The predictable plot is nothing more than a series of ludicrously preposterous and impossible action sequences. However, the ingenuity of Hickam's space scenes, and the characters of Jack and Penny High Eagle, make the novel palatable. Penny is a spoiled, self-absorbed Ph. D. biologist, who, like the now-deceased Carl Sagan, has become more of a media personality than scientist. It doesn't hurt her image that she's also a Cherokee Indian, and the first Native American to visit the South Pole, climb Mt. Everest, and dive to the Titanic hulk. Originally added to the Columbia's original (all-female) crew as a payload specialist, she's the only one to get aboard the shuttle before Jack and his sidekick Virgil abscond with it. The initial personal interaction between Jack and the bratty High Eagle gives new meaning to the term "bicker". But, it just so happens that Jack was previously tragically widowed, and Penny is very much a "babe", so you can see where that set of circumstances is going. Like I said, I give this work a reluctant "thumbs up". However, there was one question left dangling. One of Penny's original, space experiments was to test the effects of weightlessness on the feline sense of balance. Thus, Paco the cat gets seized along with High Eagle, and spends his time happily clawing his way around the Columbia's cabin. Now, how does one get a cat to use a litter box in zero-g?; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Tripwire (Jack Reacher, No. 3); Author: Visit Amazon's Lee Child Page; Review: This is the third novel by Lee Child featuring his tough guy hero, Jack Reacher, the previous two being DIE TRYING and KILLING FLOOR. Jack, once a hard-boiled Major in the U.S. Army's Military Police, has been (in all three novels) drifting from here to there to no place in particular, and getting enmeshed in unusual situations that force him to fight assorted scum. His modus operandi makes him a worthy drinking buddy and soulmate of the Clint Eastwood 1970's screen character, Dirty Harry. In TRIPWIRE, Jack inherits from Gen. Leon Garber (ret.), his former Army commanding officer recently deceased, the task of tracking down for an aged and ailing couple the fate of their pilot son, Victor Hobie, still MIA many years after the Vietnam war in which he flew helicopters. Perceived by the reader, but unbeknownst to Jack, Hobie is now a sadistic, extremely vicious, burn-scarred amputee now operating in the Big Apple as a high end loan shark to financially desperate CEOs. (Or is he?) His specialty is torturing and killing the family members of his debtors should they default. One sweet teddy bear. Having read the previous two Reacher yarns some time ago, my memory may be suspect. However, I recall the action in those two being more constant and sustained. In TRIPWIRE, the plot develops with more serenity (such as it is), with the tension for the reader being the knowledge that Jack and Hobie will eventually face off against one another - the classic confrontation between the Guy Wearing the White Hat vs. the Guy Wearing the Black Hat. The only thing lacking is the famous Eastwood squint. Being sufficiently Neanderthal to have loved all of the Dirty Harry films, it's no surprise that Reacher has swaggered into my pantheon of fictional heroes. Child's fourth thriller in the series, RUNNING BLIND, is definitely on my Wish List. However, I remain puzzled and just a little disappointed that Jack, at 38 and supremely self sufficient, remains without a clue when it comes for him to do his ... laundry. I'll bet even Dirty Harry knew how to press and fold a shirt - those were the days when my heroes were made of iron.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Waiting : The True Confessions of a Waitress; Author: Visit Amazon's Debra Ginsberg Page; Review: Debra Ginsberg is a writer, and obviously a good one. But, for most of her life, she's also earned the bulk of her income from being a waitress. In WAITING: THE TRUE CONFESSIONS OF A WAITRESS, she describes what it's been like serving demanding, hungry humans, and possibly you or me, since her first job at 16 in her father's luncheonette. Debra's table-waiting odyssey takes her from upstate New York to Yellowstone to Portland, Oregon to Southern California. In various chapters, she educates the reader on the theory and practice of tipping, the waitress's definition of "personal service", the hierarchy of restaurant employees, the relation between food and sex, the screen image of the waitress as portrayed since 1970, the highs and lows of the various dine-out holidays (Mother's Day, Valentine's Day, Christmas Eve, New Years Eve, etc.), the uniqueness of the cocktail waitress, the reality of choosing wines, the perils of the "split shift", and the art of triaging multiple food orders from several tables. And, because she was, and is, a single mother, the image of the pregnant waitress as perceived by customers and restaurant management. WAITING could be considered a companion piece to KITCHEN CONFIDENTIAL (also reviewed by me on this website), an "expos" of the restaurant business as seen from the perspective of a professional chef. However, there is one big difference between Ginsberg and the author of the other, Anthony Bourdain. I like the personality of the former, while that of the latter I found truly obnoxious and annoying. My only disappointment with Ginsberg's style was its relative lack of humor compared to what it might have been. Her chapter on the relation between food and sex was funny, not because of the way she made the connection, but because humans naturally seem to put themselves in comedic sexual situations. Now that the desert is consumed and the tab is waiting to be paid, I'll gratefully leave Debra much more than the standard 15%. Nice job!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Gideon; Author: Visit Amazon's Russell Andrews Page; Review: This release by a two-headed author (Peter Gethers and David Handler) is a thriller of many layers. Perhaps too many for one to write a short, succinct review that is yet intelligible. Carl Granville is a wannabe novelist living in New York. His ex-girlfriend is Amanda Mays, deputy metro editor at a major Washington, DC rag. His brand new girlfriend of one night is Toni, an aspiring actress who lives upstairs. Carl is hired by Maggie Peterson, the rapacious editor of a New York publishing house, to ghostwrite a novel based on memoirs obtained from a high-level Washington source named GIDEON. By necessity, Gideon's identity must remain secret. Carl must crank the book out in three weeks, writing from notes made from examining original material brought in daily by a gun-toting heavy, then taken away. Carl soon realizes that his book will be the vehicle to expose a horrific incident in someone's past. However, within a week of starting, Carl's apartment is ransacked, and his fledgling creation stolen....With clues remembered by Carl from the original source material, both flee to Mississippi, pursued by an efficient assassin named The Closer, to seek an answer to the Gideon riddle. Implicated in the conspiracy is the President of the United States. (Well, hey, what modern day Chief Executive isn't at the heart of one sort of conspiracy or another?) And above everything, seemingly pulling all the strings, is a power hungry, international media mogul. (Sure, why not. Let's give Bill Gates the day off on this one.) Whew! By the last 100 pages of this 466-page paperback, I was prepared to award 3 stars. The characters are well drawn, the action tightly paced, and the plot reasonably ingenious, but not more so than in many other potboilers on today's racks. I did like the unusual choice of the Delta region of northern Mississippi as the location for much of the action. (I lived in Tupelo for 15 months, and not much happens in that region - or the entire state for that matter - except kudzu vine.) However, the let's-kiss-and-make-up interaction between Carl and Amanda was old hat. (For a change, how about two ex-lovers hating each other even more by the end of a forced alliance. Now, that would be different!) But then came the double-take plot twists, especially the completely unexpected identity of The Closer. So, by the last page, I had to polish up another star. I would have awarded 5, but the incredibly intricate storyline was tidied up way too efficiently for my taste. Sometimes, a few remaining hanging threads are appropriate.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hart's War; Author: Visit Amazon's John Katzenbach Page; Review: At first look, the basic plot of HART'S WAR is nothing extraordinary. A black man is framed by a racist populace for the murder of an ostensibly popular white man. And, of course, a novice lawyer, with zero experience in capital murder cases, is assigned as defense counsel for the trial. Ho-hum. The premise is so threadbare that I normally wouldn't have read beyond the jacket. But, hang on a minute ... In this multi-faceted thriller by John Katzenbach, the place is Stalag Luft 13, a Luftwaffe prison camp for allied flyers shot down in WWII. The accused, Lincoln Scott, is a fictional black pilot of the real-life, famed 332nd Fighter Group (the Tuskegee Airmen), who was downed while heroically defending a crippled B-17 bomber. He's the only Negro prisoner in the camp, and a aloof loner by choice because, you understand, he distrusts whites. The victim, Trader Vic, is a respected bomber pilot from Mississippi that had become the stalag's expert trader in forbidden goods. Lt. Tommy Hart, the navigator of a downed B-25, stands for the defense. Tommy, who left law school to join the Army Air Corps, has essentially finished his law studies while as a POW by reading every legal text he can lay his hands on. The Senior American Officer, Col. MacNamara, and the camp commandant, Luftwaffe Oberst Von Reiter, only want to get Scott's court-martial wrapped up quickly without undue embarrassment to either the Americans or the Germans. This novel unfolds on many levels. It is, of course, a courtroom drama. But it's also a war drama, a detective drama, a prison drama, and an escape drama. Young Hart is clearly the reluctant, white-hatted good guy, but the moral and ethical issues revealed as he squares off against the rest of the camp remain elusively gray. Who, for instance, is the most evil, black-hatted bad guy? Even the battle-maimed and bitter camp adjutant, Hauptmann Visser, is a man possessing a certain honor, and doing his duty as he perceives it. And, when the identity and motive of the real killer are uncovered, would you, the reader, condemn and convict? This is a question that Tommy himself must ultimately answer as his personality is hammered to maturity in the forge of "growing up". I liked this book very much, finishing it over a 4-day business trip to DC. I especially liked the irony presented by the 84 hats, an "in-your-face" consequence thrust into Tommy's consciousness, the unforeseen result of a decision he, essentially a non-violent person, had to make to survive.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Resurrection Day; Author: Visit Amazon's Brendan DuBois Page; Review: If you're old enough to remember the Cuban missile crisis of 1962, then your attention may be captured by RESURRECTION DAY, an exercise in alternative history. Within its pages, it's 1972, and the United States is still convalescing from a military invasion of Cuba ten years earlier that had resulted in several of America's cities being nuked to oblivion by Soviet warheads, including Washington, DC, and the First Family of Camelot. In retaliation, SAC had bombed the USSR back into the nuclear Dark Ages, an act for which the US is regarded almost as a pariah state. It's only apparent friend is Great Britain, which continues to send food and aid to America's struggling populace, otherwise governed by a weak civilian administration dominated by the military and a shadowy, retired Air Force general. The protagonist of this fairy tale is Carl Landry, an ex-Army sergeant now working as a reporter for Boston's major newspaper. While covering the murder of an aged vet of the Kennedy era, Landry stumbles onto the trail of yet another guv'mint conspiracy, this one with a decidedly British accent. This potboiler hardly simmers through its first half. It's only when Carl and his English gal pal, Sandy, a reporter for the London Times, are chased through the ostensibly uninhabited city of New York by military thugs that the plot heats up beyond lukewarm. As a matter of fact, the love affair between Carl and Sandy suffers from the same lack of heat. I've seen more passion between two snails. To be fair, some amount of frigid water is thrown on Carl's ardor as he begins to suspect that Sandy is not quite what she purports to be. (A secret agent for the Queen Mum, perhaps. Her mission, to find good Indian take-out.) The biggest problem with this "thriller" is that the Landry character is painted in such wishy-washy tints. The reader has no idea even what he looks like, much less develop any sympathy for his predicament or root him on to final triumph. He doesn't have an obnoxious drinking buddy, favorite parakeet, nasty chewing tobacco habit, or weakness for cold spaghetti - anything that would flesh out his persona. In any case, as the true nature of the conspiracy is revealed and our marginal hero saves the day, it was hard not to stifle a yawn, or two. Perhaps my drowsiness was a function of the intrigue's level of evil - it wasn't as horrific as usual in most fiction, but just real-life banal. (I mean, the Florida Ballot Chad Machination was more Machiavellian than this.) I grant this novel three stars, not because it's that good, but because the author was well-intentioned and gave a good effort. Towards the end, however, I hastened to finish the book only because I wanted to get on to the next one on my shelf, which I trust will be much better.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: MacArthur's War : Korea and the Undoing of an American Hero; Author: Visit Amazon's Stanley Weintraub Page; Review: Douglas MacArthur will forever be remembered as one of America's outstanding generals. Nonetheless, every great warlord, if he survives long enough, has his twilight, and MACARTHUR'S WAR documents his - that period from June 1950 until April 1952 when his career and reputation became mired in the Korean War, the first of America's post-W.W.II Asian debacles. Author Stanley Weintraub's volume is a well researched, albeit dry, history of the general's last campaign. Within its pages, we encounter a wealth of players, both major and minor. MacArthur himself, America's aging postwar proconsul of a defeated Japan, sometimes brilliant, too often insubordinate, but always egotistical, self-aggrandizing, and militantly anticommunist. The staff toadies who surrounded him and sustained his narrow view of the universe, at the center of which was always Douglas himself: generals Wright, Willoughby and Whitney. His combat commanders: the hapless Gen. Walker (8th Army) and the self-important flunky Gen. Almond (X Corps). The wretched South Korean dictator, Syngman Rhee. General Peng Dehuai, the capable Chinese commander who infiltrated 200,000 of his troops into North Korea right under MacArthur's very nose. The plucky female war correspondent, Marguerite Higgins, who defied the clubbish, men-only mindset of her peers to go out and bring back the story. The home-front military and ex-military, in particular JCS Chairman Bradley and Defense Secretary Marshall, both so in awe of Douglas as to be rendered virtually ineffectual. Truman, the politically beleaguered Commander-In-Chief, who finally brought MacArthur to heel in a fit of righteous pique. And finally, MacArthur's eventual replacement as Supreme Commander, the humorlessly efficient Gen. Ridgeway. If your previous exposure to the Korean "police action" has been nothing more than "MASH" reruns, then you'll find this book to be a valuable introduction. It includes a center section of about 30 photos. Woefully, it includes only one map - a single page rendering of the entire Korean peninsula, which, more often than otherwise, doesn't even show the places where the action takes place. (The map is so extraordinarily useless, I wonder why the author bothered at all.) In the end, MacArthur was a victim of his own Weltanschauung, which became increasingly outmoded and dysfunctional as the Cold War swiftly monopolized the world stage. Had it not been for Korea, MacArthur's place on Mt. Olympus would certainly been assured. Instead, he died in relative obscurity in 1964 in the Waldorf-Astoria.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The General Danced at Dawn; Author: Visit Amazon's George MacDonald Fraser Page; Review: George MacDonald Fraser served in the "other ranks" of the British Army in Burma late in WWII. Commissioned as a subaltern (2nd lieutenant) following the Japanese surrender, he served as a platoon leader in a Gordon Highlander battalion posted to the Middle East before being "demobbed", i.e. released from active duty. His experiences serve as the basis for THE GENERAL DANCED AT DAWN, initially published in 1970, a first person account by the fictional Dand MacNeill, subaltern of a platoon in an unspecified Highland battalion posted first to Libya, then to Edinburgh, during the period 1945-1947. THE GENERAL DANCED AT DAWN is a work of wry humor, inasmuch as Lt. MacNeill describes the unintentionally comic situations encountered with his Jocks (men) during garrison life both in Scotland and abroad, mostly the latter. The book is actually a series of short stories, in which a common thread tying all together, besides Dand himself, is Pvt. McAuslan, the dirtiest, most slovenly soldier in His Majesty's service. As described by MacNeill: " ... he lurched into my office (even in his best tunic and tartan he looked like a fugitive from Culloden who had been hiding in a peat bog) ..." McAuslan may be the focus of a particular chapter, as when he is court-martialed for refusing an order to enter a pillow fight contest to be held during a gathering of the various Highland regiments. Or, he may make nothing more than a brief cameo appearance, as when he is upbraided by MacNeill for fighting one of the crewman aboard the coastal steamer ferrying the battalion's soccer team on a road-trip against the teams of neighboring British commands - a fight brought on by the sailor's comments regarding McAuslan's unsanitary appearance. The squalid presence of McAuslan notwithstanding, the central character of the book is Dand MacNeill, whether he's coping with the unfathomable questions of the officer selection board, pressed into command of an overnight troop train from Cairo to Jerusalem through unruly Palestine, mounting the ceremonial guard at Edinburgh Castle, or taking lessons in regimental piping history from the god-like Regimental Sergeant Major. Dand's narrative of military service is of such good humor and wit that it's evident his alter ego, Fraser, remembers his own time in uniform as an enriching life experience, despite the hardships of WWII combat. This positive slant on the book's theme, and Fraser's/MacNeill's fine sense of the ludicrous, make the volume one that I couldn't put down. (I've encountered so-called "thrillers" that were less absorbing.) Note: THE GENERAL DANCED AT DAWN is currently out of print in the US. However, it and Fraser's two sequels in the McAuslan series, MCAUSLAN IN THE ROUGH and THE SHEIKH AND THE DUSTBIN, are all contained in THE COMPLETE MCAUSLAN, available from Amazon.co.uk. This is a superb volume, worth to an Anglophile every pence spent in postage to deliver it across The Pond to The Colonies.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: McAuslan in the Rough; Author: Visit Amazon's George MacDonald Fraser Page; Review: MCAUSLAN IN THE ROUGH is George MacDonald Fraser's 1974 sequel to THE GENERAL DANCED AT DAWN. In the former, Dand MacNeill continues to reminisce about his time spent as a subaltern commanding a platoon of tartan-kilted Scottish Highlanders during the period 1945-1947 while the battalion is posted to both Libya and Edinburgh. One of MacNeill's Jocks is Pvt. John McAuslan, by consensus the filthiest, most unkempt soldier in the British Army. As Dand records: "... (his) grey-white shirt was open to the waist, revealing what was either his skin or an old vest, you couldn't tell which. His hair was tangled and his mouth hung open; altogether he looked as though he'd just completed a bell-ringing stint at Notre Dame." Each of Fraser's books is a collection of short stories relating to events experienced by Dand and his battalion, and particularly his platoon, and which are based on Fraser's own service in the Gordon Highlanders during the same time period. So, in this volume, the lieutenant and his comrades-in-arms garrison an isolated desert outpost for a month, face the controversial inclusion of a black piper in the regimental band (it is, after all, 1946), compete in a general knowledge quiz contest with the Fusiliers regiment, contemplate McAuslan's dubious success with the ladies, mount a nighttime raid on the local Souk to apprehend two deserters, and engage the Royals regiment in a golf tournament. And, lastly, what happens when Dand and McAuslan are released from active duty ("demobbed") on the same day. Whereas in GENERAL McAuslan's contribution to events was erratic and usually of brief duration, in ROUGH his role is expanded to the point where he's a key player in four of the seven chapters. As always, MacNeill's first person narration, both witty and good-natured, ties it all together. Note: MCAUSLAN IN THE ROUGH is currently out of print in the US. However, it and Fraser's two other books in the McAuslan series, THE GENERAL DANCED AT DAWN and THE SHEIKH AND THE DUSTBIN, are all contained in THE COMPLETE MCAUSLAN. I found this to be a captivating and entertaining volume, which I heartily recommend to anyone who is a student of the British military's former role in establishing and policing the Empire. One notable characteristic of Fraser's writing is his ability to quote Dand's Jocks, and put their heavily accented Scottish dialect on paper. By the end of the book, I could actually understand what was being "said".; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: You Are Worthless: Depressing Nuggets of Wisdom Sure to Ruin Your Day; Author: Visit Amazon's Scott Dikkers Page; Review: YOU ARE WORTHLESS is one of those bathroom readers that one gives or receives as a gag gift. That's how I got my copy ... from an ex-boss. (Hmmm... at least I think it was a gag gift.) The book's hypothesis, made with one-liners and short observations, is that you and your life are essentially worthless and meaningless from the points of view of your friends, co-workers, boss, lovers, children, pets, and God. I guess one would have to be careful to whom to give this volume as a present. If the recipient was already suicidal, or maybe just enduring a 50th birthday, it might be enough to push him or her over the edge ... literally. Some of the passages are particularly warm and fuzzy: "Killing yourself would be a good idea. The only problem is that you don't have the guts" "The bus driver would just as soon slit your throat as give you a ride." "Next time you have sex, fixate on just how horribly unattractive your body is." "You hate your job. And it's safe to say that no one at your job is particularly fond of you either." "When you pray, no one is listening. Furthermore, you look ridiculous." And my personal favorite, because I have a pet cat, Trouble, that I regard as my good buddy: "That special bond you think you have with your pet is imaginary. As long as it has food and water, you could get hit by a train tomorrow, and your pet wouldn't think anything of it." I'm enormously lucky in that I have a healthy level of self-esteem. Otherwise, I think I might close this book and go looking for a garden hose to attach to my car's exhaust pipe.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The World Is Not Enough; Author: Visit Amazon's Zoe Oldenbourg Page; Review: "At Christmas time their parents had settled the amount of the dowry and the other details. The bridegroom's father was old and he wished to see grandchildren of his race and lineage. That was why tonight Alis of Puiseaux would have to go to bed with a boy." Thus begins THE WORLD IS NOT ENOUGH, when 14 year-old Alis marries Ansiau of Linnieres, himself only 16. Ansiau is the son and heir of a minor baron whose fiefdom is centered on a dreary, inconsequential castle in the countryside southwest of Troyes in central France. Once the Old Man dies, Ansiau becomes Lord of the Castle, and Alis his Lady. This historical novel is about the relationship between Ansiau and Alis from the day of their marriage in the Year of Our Lord 1171, to well into the first quarter of the 13th century. The book's strengths and weaknesses derive from the details about their lives, and their kinships within an extended family, as they grow old together. It's an epic of multiple pregnancies, miscarriages, births, diseases, wounds, deaths, infidelities, debts, superstitions, treacheries, feuds, battles, flea-ridden castles, mud, cold, mold, damp, dust, heat, flies, mosquitoes, and other assorted attractions of the good ol' days. The two defining incidents of their marriage are arguably the Crusades that Ansiau embarks upon in 1179 and 1190. During his first absence from home, the storyline focuses on Alis as she learns to be a strong, self-reliant mistress of her domain. During his second adventure, we follow Ansiau and his adult sons to the Holy Land as they fight Saladin alongside England's Richard the Lionheart. Upon the baron's return to Linnieres, the couple is followed through ever increasing marital difficulties to final old age and infirmity, but still loyally together as the book's last lines indicate. (There's a lot to be said for togetherness in old age.) "She (Alis) shook her head and rested her cheek on the baron's shoulder. A huge red sun set behind the forest." The author, Zo Oldenbourg, took a great liberty with the dating of the Crusades in which Ansiau participated - a liberty that seemed unnecessarily cavalier. The Third Crusade certainly took place around 1190, but none whatsoever occurred in 1179. Rather, Oldenbourg seems to have altered the date of the Second Crusade (?) of around 1148 to fit the plot. For some reason, that really annoyed me. Despite my pique over the dating, I rate this as a creditable, maybe exceptional, piece of historical fiction. But, it certainly isn't an uplifting one. Moreover, I found it way too long at 490 pages in a large paperback format. (That doesn't sound like much, but the print is really small.) If you want to read a novel about roughly the same time period, and which also depicts a Crusader's experience, I would suggest the much more focused A BOOKE OF DAYS, also rated by me on this website.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Every Dead Thing; Author: Visit Amazon's John Connolly Page; Review: Once upon a time, Charlie "Bird" Parker was an NYPD cop ... with a drinking problem. One night, while out on a binge, his wife and daughter are butchered in a manner so horrific that it defies description here. (This is, after all, a family website.) Leaving the force, Charlie's obsession is to track down the killer, since identified as The Traveling Man. This crime novel is actually a two-for-one deal. A large part of the book's first half is devoted to Parker's investigation of a missing person incident, taken on at the request of an old pal on the NYPD. It bears no relation to his search for his family's executioner, but mainly serves to acquaint the reader with the larger concept of "serial killer", and introduce several players that remain in the plot to the novel's end, including Bird's disheveled FBI pal, Woolrich. (I didn't know "disheveled" was in the FBI dress code. Where's J. Edgar when you need him?) This is a hard-boiled, gritty book - a triumph of a first novel by author John Connolly. He introduces us to villains that are truly nasty in the scariest sense, and who make Vlad the Impaler and Josef Mengele look like a kindly grandfathers in comparison. In any case, the identity of The Traveling Man is not resolved until twenty pages from the end, and involves an eye-popping plot twist that will have you looking forward to Connolly's next offering. However, if his subsequent thrillers continue to cast such monsters, I don't know if my imagination can take it. I'm getting to be a sissy in my old age.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Selling 'em by the Sack: White Castle and the Creation of American Food; Author: David G. Hogan; Review: SELLING `EM BY THE SACK can be perceived and read for any one or more of several reasons. As an informal textbook on business management, or maybe marketing. As a social commentary on the rise of fast food, or possibly what defines America to the rest of the world. Or, as just a history of the hamburger from a culinary standpoint. The author, David Hogan, effectively makes the case that White Castle and its founders, Billy Ingram and Walt Anderson (especially the former), were the originators of the fast food "carryout" concept, and that they established the humble hamburger as the distinctive ethnic cuisine of the USA. The evolutionary history of White Castle from the early part of the 20th century to the present is described, from its founding in Wichita in 1921, through the Depression and two wars (W.W.II and Korea), to the era of the big chains (like McDonald's and Burger King), which, miraculously, have not brought about its demise. Along the way, Billy Ingram and his successors have successfully coped with an endless series of challenges, the first of which was to make the hamburger perceived as a sanitary and healthy food at all. Then came standardization of the product, national expansion, gaining credibility with and acceptance from the middle class, coping with war rationing, the hiring of women, surviving the rise of the superchains, adapting to suburbanization of the cities, defending against rising urban crime, facing increasing government regulations, and answering the health-conscious critics' attacks on the fast food lifestyle. Today, White Castle survives as a barely medium-sized chain in the north-central and northeast regions of the United States. It has kept alive the guiding principles of its founders, has acquired a fanatical following, and remains profitable at a time when even larger chains, like Burger Chef and White Tower, have since disappeared from the American landscape. SELLING `EM BY THE SACK is not a "thriller", offers no high drama, is written with no humor whatsoever, and is actually a little dry. Had it been about a brand of toothpaste or bread, I wouldn't have bothered. But, it's about hamburgers. (Oddly enough, cheeseburgers are never mentioned in any context.) So, I read it, was entertained, and learned a lot. I've never eaten a White Castle. Where I live, in Southern California, the brand is represented only by its frozen burgers that one can buy in the supermarkets. I've seen them in packages of a dozen. They seem ridiculously small when compared with McDonald's, Wendy's, Burger King, Jack-In-the-Box, Carl's, or In-`n'-Out. I think I'll buy a "sack".; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: No Offense Intended; Author: Visit Amazon's Barbara Seranella Page; Review: In NO OFFENSE INTENDED, author Barbara Seranella continues the perils of her misfit heroine, "Munch" Mancini, a recovering drug addict and ex-hooker in 1977 Los Angeles. Munch still works as an ace mechanic at Happy Jack's Auto Repair, a job she initially landed in Seranella's first novel, NO HUMAN INVOLVED, also reviewed by me ( 5 stars) on this website. Munch just can't seem to stay out of hot water. Or, rather, it seems to find her. One day, she is visited at work by a friend from her low-life days, one Sleaze John. That same afternoon, he's shot dead, apparently by a sniper, while driving along the freeway. This murder, and two others, propels Munch into new difficulties with the local law, represented by LAPD Homicide Detective Jigsaw Blackstone, and the FBI. It also gets Munch her first-ever plane ride into the "friendly skies". (From the fact alone that she seems to enjoy the experience, the reader knows it isn't 2001!) In NO HUMAN INVOLVED, the LAPD's lead player, Detective Mace St. John, lived in a renovated 1927 Pullman car. In this thriller, Blackstone inhabits a renovated brewery. (I'm impressed, but don't any of LA's Finest reside in normal houses like us regular citizens?) This notable eccentricity aside, NO OFFENSE INTENDED doesn't measure up, in my opinion, to Seranella's first offering. Even though she remains a sympathetic character, Munch has lost some of the antisocial edginess that made her so endearing the first time around. Moreover, the latest storyline hasn't the same sort of humorous elements or ending plot twist that so impressed me in the previous. However, I do plan on reading Seranella's third novel in the Mancini series, UNWANTED COMPANY, and hope for the author's return to unqualified excellence, and Mancini's re-acquisition of a bad attitude.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Muse; Author: Visit Amazon's Michael Cecilione Page; Review: Mobius Strip - a continuous one-sided surface that can be formed from a rectangular strip by rotating one end 180 and attaching it to the other end. MUSE by Michael Cecilione is breathtakingly clever. Unfortunately, it's also difficult to coherently review because its impact is almost all in the ending, the last 20 pages. Not wanting to run afoul of Amazon's book review gendarme by submitting a "plot spoiler", I can only say that the conclusion's plot twist immediately brought to mind a Mobius Strip. (A geometrician - is that a real word? - might criticize me for the analogy, but that's what comes to mind. Hey, I was only a life science major, OK?) Johanna is a terminally struggling wannabe actress living in New York. On a visit to the local book barn, she meets author Matt, who gives her an autographed copy of his latest psychological thriller. This leads to a couple of hot dates, after which Matt invites Johanna to his isolated Maine chalet to be his guest while he writes his next book. So far as described, this is the meat of most of MUSE, except for the mysterious stranger, dressed all in black, who is able to enter at will Johanna's locked NY apartment in the middle of the night just to watch her. Who is that masked man, anyway? Faint clues to the direction of the storyline can be discerned in the following four excerpts: On the plot of the initial book given to her by Matt, as described by Johanna: "But the book had everything: love, violence, sex, a resolute heroine, a twisted male lead, and a surprise ending." On the book's heroine, again as observed by Johanna: "It was so realistic, though. I felt like I was the heroine." Later, at the chalet, Matt ponders the ending of his potboiler-in-progress: ""Endings are funny things. I never plan them... more often than not, they come as a complete surprise..." And finally, regarding the title of his latest book, Matt says: "I've given the title a lot of consideration. Come, let's drink to MUSE." The four snippets quoted in no way reveal the "gotcha" conclusion. It'll knock your socks off. I'll most certainly buy Cecilione's next release.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Stalingrad; Author: Anthony Beevor; Review: Several months ago, I reviewed (5 stars) a novel entitled WAR OF THE RATS, ostensibly based on the factual battlefield achievements of the real-life, Soviet Army master sniper, Vasily Zaitsev, during the German siege of Stalingrad during World War II. Wishing to learn more about this horrific struggle, I sought out this book, STALINGRAD, a narrative history of the fight authored by Antony Beevor. STALINGRAD begins, as it must, on June 21, 1941 with the launching of Operation Barbarossa, Hitler's invasion of the Soviet Union by three Army Groups - North, Center and South. Beevor first summarizes from a wide perspective Army Group Center's attack on, and repulse from, Moscow, and Army Group South's surge towards the Volga River and the Caucasus Mountains. Then, the focus is narrowed onto the Sixth Army's and Fourth Panzer Army's drive to Stalingrad and the Volga in the summer of `42. The last three-quarters of the volume then limits itself to the Stalingrad siege, the Soviet counterattack on, and encirclement of, the Sixth and Fourth Panzer armies, their subsequent subjugation, and, finally, the fate of the 91,000 Germans taken prisoner. The main characters of the drama are all brought onto the stage: Hitler, Paulus, Schmidt, von Richthofen, Stalin, Zhukov, Yeremenko, Chuikov, and Rokossovsky. This is a very reader-friendly account for the simple reason that the author supplies enough information, including maps, to keep the narrative moving along without getting bogged down in the minutiae of minor troop movements and a superabundance of unit designations. He's also included (in the paperback edition) two adequate sections of photographs - always a much appreciated touch. The volume met, if not exceeded, my expectations, and I learned a lot. During the Siege, there was desperate heroism on both sides. But, it was also war at its most brutal in ways too many to recount. I shall finish with two excerpts, both regarding war prisoners, first from the Russian viewpoint, then the German. " `When the (German) retreat started on 20 November, we (Soviet POWs) were put instead of horses to drag the carts loaded with ammunition and food. Those prisoners who could not drag the carts as quickly as the Feldwebel wanted were shot on the spot. In this way we were forced to pull the carts for four days, almost without any rest.' " "Anger at the (prison camp) conditions led to (German) prisoners scraping handfuls of lice off their own bodies and throwing them at their (Soviet) guards. Such protests provoked summary execution."; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: In the Land of White Death : An Epic Story of Survival in the Siberian Arctic; Author: Alison Anderson; Review: Navigating the Barents Sea north of Russia and Siberia can be a dodgy proposition. Nevertheless, in August 1912 the Russian ship "Saint Anna", with 25 men and one female nurse aboard, set sail from Murmansk for Vladivostok (7,000 miles distant via the Northeast Passage), with the expressed purpose of discovering new Arctic hunting grounds. By mid-October, the vessel was trapped in the ice, and, for the next 18 months, drifted helplessly northwards. In April of 1914, ten of the crew and the ship's navigator, Valerian Albanov, despairing of the vessel's eventual release, voluntarily left their shipmates in an attempt, with kayaks and sledges, to reach the Franz Josef island group somewhere to their south. IN THE LAND OF WHITE DEATH, subsequently written by Albanov, is based on his diary of the 3-month, 235-mile odyssey over the ice pack, frigid water and deserted island shores to reach Cape Flora on Northbrook Island, from which point he anticipated rescue. There are many points of similarity between this book and ENDURANCE: SHACKLETON'S INCREDIBLE VOYAGE, by Alfred Lansing, which describes the same sort of gritty survival journey achieved by Sir Ernest Shackleton and his 27 men after their ship, "Endurance" was trapped and crushed by Antarctic ice in 1915 during an abortive attempt to reach the South Pole. Notwithstanding the facts that Shackleton was a more charismatic leader, that Shackleton's men were of better mettle, and that their journey to safety was over a longer distance, the Albanov narrative remains a gripping, tautly told account of men against the elements. One of its chief attractions, for those with short attention spans or too many books to read, is its brevity --190 pages in small-format hardcover. Sadly, there is no photo section (as is included in ENDURANCE). One might wonder why this tale took so long to be noticed by the reading public as opposed to various accounts of the Shackleton ordeal. Perhaps it's because it first had to be translated from Russian, or because Albanov, unlike Shackleton, died in obscurity, or because Shackleton was already a figure of some fame by 1915. Or because all of the Endurance's crew came back alive, while the Saint Anna's crew, well ... In any case, WHITE DEATH is a little gem of a book, and I unreservedly recommend it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Why We Buy: The Science Of Shopping; Author: Visit Amazon's Paco Underhill Page; Review: WHY WE BUY should be required reading for anyone enrolled in Marketing 101, and recommended reading for anyone who has disposable income. Author Paco Underhill, the founder of a research and consulting firm that advises businesses on how to boost sales, has written an engaging revelation on the ways vendors can design their merchandising operations and locations to better relieve you of your fluid assets. (It's not quite as cynical as I've made it sound, because, after all, shoppers are willing participants in the retail dance. We all like to acquire Stuff.) Underhill covers a lot of ground, most of which shoppers rarely notice or consider: the placement of signage, the width of shopping aisles, the height of shelving, the importance of having two hands free, the shopping habits of men vs. those of women, the influence of kids, the critical importance of the five senses in evaluating goods, buying habits of the youthful vs. the aged, the point size of type on packaging, traffic flow patterns within stores, the location of the cash/wrap stations, the placement of promotional materials, the advantages/disadvantages of Web selling, and more. The subject matter could've made Underhill's narrative, however informative, also as dry as peanut butter-covered graham crackers without milk. Happily, the author exhibits a wry sense of humor that makes WHY WE BUY worthy of casual reading. Two examples follow to give you the flavor of it. When discussing the reinvention of certain household products so as to appeal to men: "The manliest monikers used to go on cars; now they go on suds. A very successful soap introduction in the `90s wasn't anything frilly or lavender. It was Lever 2000, a name that would also sound right on a computer or a new line of power tools. I'd drive a Lever 2000 any day." Regarding the absence of seating for the use of menfolk while their ladies shop in a certain apparel store, and the male solution: " ... they gravitated toward a large window that had a broad sill at roughly the height where a bench would be. And where exactly was this ad hoc bench? ... It was immediately adjacent to a large and attractive display of the Wonderbra ... On the day we visited the store, there were two elderly gents loitering there, unabashedly discussing the need for Wonderbras of every woman who was brave enough to stop and shop. Did I mention that few Wonderbras were purchased there that day?" I doubt if having read this book will raise my awareness of the subtle stratagems by which retailers hope to have the opportunity to swipe my plastic, but it was worth a chuckle nevertheless.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Cats in the Sun; Author: Visit Amazon's Hans Silvester Page; Review: My wife and I are the pets of two calico felines, Tessa and Trouble. Knowing that we're cat people, friends tend to give us gifts with that relationship in mind. I wish they or we would snap out of it, because some of the Stuff, while well meant, is way too cute or too tacky, or both. (Instead, Amazon gift certificates are always welcome - hint, hint!) However, one offering, CATS IN THE SUN, was well received, and is much appreciated. This is a coffee table tome with five pages of introductory text. Then, on each of the following 137, not a solitary word is printed, but rather a single, rich, 5.5 X 8.25-inch color photograph. The images were all taken by Hans Silvester on the sun drenched Greek islands of Mykonos, Milos and Naxos, where large populations of domestic cats run semi-wild. While the islands' inhabitants allow none indoors, the animals are tolerated, and sometimes actively cared for, with a detached affection. In return, the rodent populations are suppressed with a vengeance. Too many books and calendars featuring kitty pictures are cloyingly cute, usually because they tend to emphasize kittens. Refreshingly, this book is not. It features cats, both kittens and adults, in unstaged, natural situations. Cats on streets, steps, rooftops, harbor quays, walls, tree limbs, rocks, chairs, ledges and pathways. Cats sleeping, lounging, climbing, washing, eating, hunting, leaping, courting, fighting, carousing, watching, sitting, exploring, running and walking. Cats alone. Cats in pairs. Cats in groups. Rarely, cats with people or dogs. Short and long-haired cats, in all sizes, colorations and fur patterns. I think Silvester burned through a lot of film. Among all the glorious pigments, textures, patterns, sunbeams and shadows, I have two favorite images. One, a group of seven cats, all with tails raised and end-curled, walking along with a local codger who is carrying something edible in a plastic sack. (I know it's edible, because that's what our owners look like at six in the morning as I carry the can of TigerChow to the opener.) The other, a cat standing on its hind legs, inquisitively peering into the lower end of a roof's downspout. Then, there are those two curious photos, one of a man painting the base of a wall, the other of some sun-dappled steps, in which no cat is visible at all. Am I (not) seeing the local Cheshire Cat? I consider most coffee table books as useful as Christmas fruitcakes. (You know, the ones with those hateful little green bits.) However, if you like cats, then CATS IN THE SUN is worth savoring.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Monsoon (Courtney Family Adventures); Author: Visit Amazon's Wilbur Smith Page; Review: MONSOON continues the swashbuckling saga of seagoing adventurer Hal Courtney begun in BIRDS OF PREY, also reviewed by me (5 stars) on this website. As MONSOON opens, Hal has been landlocked on his English country manor for a couple of decades. He's fathered 4 sons (William, Tom, Guy, and Dorian) by three different wives, all now dead. Yearning for one last seafaring exploit, he accepts a commission from the reigning British monarch, William III, and the East India Company to mount a punitive expedition to the Indian Ocean to eradicate a band of cutthroat pirates, led by the evil Jangiri, that have lately taken sore toll of Company shipping and profits. So, leaving his heir, William, to manage the family holdings, Hal sails away on the "Seraph" with his three youngest sons and his three old comrades from BIRDS, Aboli, Ned Tyler and Big Daniel, to confront the buccaneers off the coast of East Africa in the waters surrounding the Spice Islands. During the first several pages of MONSOON, we're introduced to son Tom, who's persuaded a saucy scullery maid to share her amorous favors with him and his fraternal twin Guy, while the younger Dorian stands watch. And where is this steamy tryst taking place? Why, on his grandfather's sarcophagus in the burial crypt of the estate chapel, of course. This startling introduction of Tom to the reader should presage the fact that, by the end of the book, he's the main character and hero. Well, subtlety is not one of author Wilbur Smith's strongpoints. I sometimes think that Smith develops his plots by stream of consciousness writing. He zigzags flamboyantly from one outrageous situation to the next. In the MONSOON storyline, Hal, Tom and their faithful companions go from sea to land, and back again, doing all that Guy Stuff that Manly Men do: seducing (or being seduced by) willing young beauties, battling with corsairs and slavers, rescuing damsels in distress, capturing much treasure, slaughtering infidels, vanquishing assorted evil doers in single combat, and killing elephants for their tusks. (This last activity will outrage African wildlife preservationists everywhere.) However, whether the tapestry of his tale calls for bravery, cowardice, fratricide, homicide, vengeance, love, lust, betrayal, loyalty, greed, generosity, or just plain serendipity, Smith weaves with a panache and energy that make for fabulous escapist reading. MONSOON has an ending that I thought just a bit too precipitate. But, it's evidence of another sequel in the works. And, even though I'll be the first to admit that this series is pure trash, I can't tell you how much I'm looking forward to the next volume.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bear Flag Rising: The Conquest of California, 1846; Author: Visit Amazon's Dale L. Walker Page; Review: In the spring of 1846, President Polk and the United States instigated the Mexican War, arguably the least honorable exercise of militaristic American foreign policy in the nation's history prior to the disgraceful Spanish-American War. While the decisive battles were fought in Mexico's interior by Gen. Winfield Scott, additional posturing and skirmishes played out in that country's neglected northwestern province. BEAR FLAG RISING is a solid, comprehensive narrative history of the events that brought California into the Union; events that, if they hadn't been taken so seriously by the participants, could have served as the script for a farce. Certainly, all the Keystone Cops were present for the American side: Gen. Stephen Kearny, Commodore Robert Stockton, and Lt. Col. John Frmont. The Mexican side was only marginally better represented, although they at least had the honor of being the aggrieved underdogs: Gov. Pio Pico, Gen. Jos Castro, Andrs Pico, and Jos Flores. The book begins with a brief history of the Spanish and Mexican custodianships of California, and the rise of the Californios, i.e. the actual residents, when the central government in Mexico City decided to leave the province to its own resources. The bulk of the text, of course, recounts the disjointed efforts of the opportunistic Frmont, the puffed-up Stockton, and the martinet Kearny to effect a conquest. (At least Frmont had the charm of being an officer of the U.S. Topographical Corps rather than a "real" army man.) The fact that they succeeded at all is more a commentary on the Mexicans' pitiful lack of preparedness and resources than any competence on the part of the U.S. forces. To underline the dysfunction of the American effort, author Dale Walker concludes with a chapter detailing the subsequent court-martial of Frmont on charges of mutiny and insubordination brought by Kearny. BEAR FLAG RISING is competently researched, well written, instructional, reasonably entertaining, and sobering. Would I advocate a return of the Golden State to Mexico? Well, decidedly not. California has prospered as part of the Union more than it ever would have under successive corrupt and incompetent Mexican governments. However, as an American and Californian, I'm not particularly proud about the strategy and tactics that resulted in its acquisition.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Timeline; Author: Visit Amazon's Michael Crichton Page; Review: Historically, Crichton has been one of those authors to whom I'll give the benefit of the doubt, and buy his books without too much premeditation. Never again. In TIMELINE, International Technology Corporation, headed by a brilliant jerk, Robert Doniger, is doing research in advanced applications of Quantum Theory. Among other things, ITC has succeeded in creating the world's first quantum computer. In southwest France, ITC is sponsoring the archeological excavation of a site that encompasses the ruins of two castles on opposite banks of the Dordogne River, plus those of an adjacent monastery and river mill. The excavation team leader, Professor Edward Johnston, begins to suspect that ITC knows more about the site than it's sharing, so he flies back to company headquarters near Santa Fe, NM, to demand answers. Within a couple days, the rest of the team loses phone contact with the professor, and (conveniently) discovers objects belonging to or originating with Johnston amidst the ruins, including a note that says, "Help me!" Trouble is, the objects can be dated as contemporary with the rubble in which they were found, i.e. mid 14th century. Upon reporting this to ITC, several members of the team are flown back to company HQ ASAP. There, they learn that ITC has achieved the capability of sending people between the parallel universes postulated by quantum mechanics, and that Johnston was transmitted to the Dordogne parallel, or "back in time". Unfortunately, ITC has since lost track of the professor, and a search team must be dispatched. (Up to this point, TIMELINE is marginally interesting. From here on, it degenerates.) The search team includes several members of Johnston's archeological crew: Professor Andr Marek, Chris Hughes, and Kate Erickson. Andr is the professor's second-in-command, a man obsessed with the Middle Ages, even to the point of being trained in the use of period weaponry. Chris and Kate are graduate students, i.e. upscale gofers. There's so much wrong with this book, it's hard to know where to begin criticizing. First of all, Andr, Chris and Kate remain unsympathetic characters. As crafted by Crichton, they're nothing more than functional warm bodies with names used as vehicles to advance the action. Within the storyline, they could be interchangeable, especially Kate and Chris. Second of all, the action itself seems so purposeless. All three, plus Johnston, have been dropped into the year 1357, during which time the castles, monastery and mill are the focus of a local war between two knights, neither of which are very nice men. The professor plays a hazy role as the ally or prisoner - it's not always clear which - of one of the two. (Indeed, Johnston remains an enigma from beginning to end.) To rescue their mentor, our three heroes spend their time confusedly scrambling over, under, and through the various buildings that they'd previously been excavating in the 21st century, all the while fending off assaults by assorted armored and chain-mailed thugs, or escaping imprisonment. Finally, there's the hint early on that ITC has a secret, menacing agenda. (After all, what red-blooded American corporation; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: England As You Like It: An Independent Traveler's Companion; Author: Visit Amazon's Susan Allen Toth Page; Review: Susan Allen Toth is a successful writer and professor of English. She's also been carrying on a shameless affaire d'amour with England for some time. (Husband James, obviously an Enlightened Male, is tolerant.) In any case, her affection for that green and pleasant land makes her a soul mate of mine. I've devoured all three of her travel essay books on England, of which ENGLAND AS YOU LIKE IT is one. (The other two in the series are MY LOVE AFFAIR WITH ENGLAND and ENGLAND FOR ALL SEASONS.) In an unpretentious, humorous, and thoroughly charming style, Susan shares a multitude of suggestions and experiences. How to independently create one's own English travel itinerary. The almost-sublime usefulness of the Ordnance Survey series of maps. ("These are distinctly royal maps. Each, in fact, carries a discrete notation: "Made and published by Ordnance Survey, Southampton. Crown copyright"." The art of flying Coach. The case to be made for overpacking. ("Don't waste time and money looking for it abroad if you can possibly take it with you.") The strategy for buying souvenirs for friends back home. The practical aspects of keeping a travel journal. The joys of shopping locally for food, and eating "in". Of course, she also shares some of her favorite places, beginning with the shire of Cornwall in general, and the town of Padstow and castle of St. Michael's Mount in particular. Then, it's on to Ashdown Forest (Winnie the Pooh Country) in East Sussex. Later, we stay with her and James at the Victorian country house of Standen. ("It is not easy to recline with aplomb in one's bath while receiving strangers, but James carried it off very well.") And, the small harbor town of Lynmouth in Devonshire, ominously referred to in a local guidebook. ("Beware the twin honey pots of Lynton and Lynmouth.") For those visitors with more esoteric tastes, there's London's National Postal Museum, at which one can pick up an application to join the Letter Box Study Group, whose avowed aim is "to accumulate and disseminate information on all aspects of Letter Boxes". While in London, she seeks out several of that city's secret public gardens. Then, for those of her fellow Yanks wretched enough to consider England and Great Britain synonymous, she includes two chapters on the Scottish Highlands, and another on two Scottish battle memorials: Culloden (1745), and the site of a B-24 crash in June 1945 on Fairy Loch. Finally, I must to refer to Susan's thoughts at the very beginning of Chapter One because I myself have luxuriated in the experience before each of my several trips to England (and Scotland): "Months before we leave for England, I begin to travel. Night after night, I happily settle down with stacks of books, maps, and tattered clippings ... On a large pad of paper I list all the days we will be gone ... Now the work - and the fun - really begin. Curled up on the sofa, I sip my decaf, ponder my list of dates, open a map, and begin to dream." Susan,; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: England for All Seasons; Author: Visit Amazon's Susan Allen Toth Page; Review: "Cloudy with outbreaks of rain at times. However, there will be drier interludes." Thus might an English weathercaster ambiguously predict the day's weather, as noted in the first chapter of ENGLAND FOR ALL SEASONS, the third book in a series by travel essayist Susan Allen Toth on her ongoing romance with England and all things English. (The other two books in the series are MY LOVE AFFAIR WITH ENGLAND and ENGLAND AS YOU LIKE IT.) Granted, for someone residing where the climate is livable year round, say Los Angeles, CA, such a weather prediction might not offer much inducement to make the eleven-hour trip across The Pond. However, if living in a place with beastly humid, hot summers and teeth-chatteringly frigid, snowy winters, say Downer's Grove, IL, there's a lot to be said for England's temperate climate, however uncertain its application. ENGLAND FOR ALL SEASONS is chock full of so many of Susan's reminiscences and recommendations, all presented in her usual humorous and relaxed style, that it's hard to summarize the book without writing a review of similar length. The twenty-five chapters cover a multitude of topics. The art of garden visiting, and the temptations of the "sweet trolley", a.k.a. the restaurant dessert cart. Buying books in England, and the exploration of literary landscapes, i.e. the exploration of those locales in which the country's legion of authors lived and wrote about. "Lolloping" around London, perhaps best translated as a relaxed peregrination to the city's numerous attractions, including some of the major museums (Transport Museum, Imperial War Museum, Theatre Museum, National Portrait Gallery) and grand historic houses. Then there are those quirky depositories outside the capital devoted to the oddest of interests: bagpipes, thimbles, ceramics, plasterwork, waterways, oast houses, lawn tennis, stained glass, and (!) lawnmowers. Susan whisks us away on a tour of the Thames as it meanders its way through London. Then it's off to the Roseland Peninsula in Cornwall, the Scottish island of Mull (popular Skye's "shy sister"), and the Welsh island of Anglesey. If you're a creature lover, you'll be delighted on field trips to various animal sanctuaries for donkeys, otters, seals (near the village of Gweek), and owls. It's apparent that the author escorts the armchair traveler well beyond England's boundaries deep into Wales and Scotland. This is not because England is wanting in things to do or see, but rather in recognition of the fact that many, if not most, of her fellow Americans are woefully insensitive to the distinction between England and Great Britain. Bloody Yanks. I can conclude with no better than Susan's very words, because my several trips to the United Kingdom would cause me to advise the same: "But, when I finish a book, I'm a little sad, too. Writing about my trips reminds me that they're over; I will never have exactly that experience again... Perhaps that touch of sadness has to do with my realization that places and people change. Travelers know this. Perhaps we take those snapshots because we know that even if we return to this precise spot, it; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Lambs of God; Author: Visit Amazon's Marele Day Page; Review: "They were unkempt, practically savages. Their teeth were yellow, their skin lined and leathery. They wore no shoes. Everything about them suggested that they let nature just take its course." Such is the disconcerting observation concerning Sister Iphigenia, Sister Margarita, and Sister Carla by Father Ignatius in LAMBS OF GOD. (No immaculately white wimples here!) When I was a young lad attending Catholic elementary school, the nuns, though occasionally intimidating, were blessedly cut from different cloth. Fr. Ignatius is the bishop's private secretary sent to reconnoiter the property of a deserted and forgotten island abbey (presumably in Ireland, though the book never states). The diocese wants to sell the site to a land developer, which has plans to create a posh resort. To the cleric's consternation, the abbey is still inhabited by the three named nuns and their flock of sheep. The sisters believe the sheep harbor the souls of the nunnery's deceased members. Isolation from the rest of the world has rendered the three just a little ... well, touched in the head, and their religious observances a peculiar blend of pagan and Christian. When Ignatius announces that the nuns are to be relocated and the sheep butchered, it doesn't go over well. This novel by Marele Day is a gentle and low key fable of confrontation between the religious women, determined not to lose the only life they know, and the ambitious, young priest from the mainland. Managing to incapacitate the cleric and hold him incommunicado, it's their intent to "convert" him to their community lifestyle. On the other hand, Ignatius knows that to escape, he must divide and conquer, so to speak. In the course of this test of wills, we discover some deep and startling secrets harbored by the sisterhood. (It's a pointed reminder that beneath their habits and clerical garb, nuns and priests are "just folks". Perhaps this lesson is one of the novel's biggest strongpoints.) While I like LAMBS OF GOD enough to recommend it, female readers will probably better appreciate it. The predicament in which our lone male hero finds himself is decidedly embarrassing, and not one to elicit much sympathy from passing Real Men. In recognition of this gender-based bias, I gave the book one more star than I would have otherwise. And this comes after accepting the precarious premise that the Holy Mother Church could lose total contact with a religious house - a material and financial asset, after all - and its residents during the last years of the 20th century when the storyline apparently unfolds. It illustrates the benefits of staying in touch.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Gravity; Author: Visit Amazon's Tess Gerritsen Page; Review: "All at once his body went rigid. The wetness had slid beneath the edge of the cap. It was now squirming towards his ear. Not a droplet of water, not a stray trickle, but something that moved with purpose. Something alive... He thrashed left, then right, trying to dislodge it. He banged hard on his (space) helmet. And still he felt it moving, sliding under his comm assembly... He caught dizzying glimpses of earth, then black space, then earth again, as he flailed and twisted around in a frantic dance ... The wetness slithered into his ear." Bummer. Makes you want to swear off space walks. According to the jacket of Tess Gerritsen's GRAVITY, Dr. Emma Watson finds herself aboard the International Space Station (ISS) facing a zero-gravity experiment gone bad, a culture of single-celled organisms run amok. The crew is infected one by one, with fatal results. The world's population is put at risk. The ISS is quarantined. O dear, how does our heroine survive and get home? After the first third or so of this thriller, I was tempted to put it down, and write it off as a two-star effort. Too many of the elements seemed tired, potentially leading to a predictable plot. Beautiful, hotshot young doctor rockets into orbit before being able to sign divorce papers. Her estranged husband, also a hotshot physician, is an astronaut permanently grounded because of kidney stones. (He still loves her, of course.) A maverick U.S. company has developed a quick-turnaround alternative to the space shuttle. And, while the first prototype blew up on launch, the second is untested, but, hey, ready to fly. A mysterious, Southern California (where else?) research outfit that owns the haywire experiment knows more than it's telling. I admit that I'm probably jaded, but puhleeze! Then the monster, so to speak, gets loose, and people starting dying in the most horrific manner. I mean, if you wake up some morning after an all night bender, look into the mirror and notice a severe case of bloodshot eyes, then you may as well run screaming into the street because you're not going to have a good week. Trust me. While the storyline remained, as feared, fairly predictable, the Archaeon organism was so scary (and yucky!) that I was drawn into the plot almost against my will. So, Tess pulls out of her nosedive in the knick of time, and I'm happy to award 4 stars. Nice job!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Confessions of a Shopaholic (Shopaholic, No 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Sophie Kinsella Page; Review: Writing a truly humorous novel is, I have to believe, very difficult to pull off. Heaven knows, I've been disappointed often enough. CONFESSIONS OF A SHOPAHOLIC, by Sophie Kinsella, is a rare gem. Rebecca Bloomwood is a single, twenty-something English lass with a serious problem. She shops beyond her means with a vengeance, blithely ignoring, sometimes discarding unread, the concerned letters from credit card issuers requesting payment. (The demands are very genteel, of course. Her creditors are British, after all.) Yet, she'll go into a panic at the prospect of losing the opportunity to buy a $540 designer scarf at two-thirds off. Ironically, Becky is also a financial journalist for the magazine "Successful Saving" - she advises readers on strategies for increasing their personal nest eggs. Becky has every good intention of paying her debts, though spending an additional $300 in a single day on Stuff is not extraordinary. The fun of this book is watching her escape from impossible situations, or hemorrhage money, despite every scheme she devises to either save or earn more income. Between chuckles, you just want to slap her out of exasperation - for her own good. Two examples ... Determined not to spend a Saturday on frivolous shopping, she decides to visit London's Victoria and Albert Museum, admission for which she thinks is free. (Save money and absorb culture, all in one go.) Unexpectedly faced with an $8 entrance fee, she purchases the $24 season ticket. Then, after trudging between exhibits, which, disappointingly, have no price tags attached, she discovers ... the Museum Gift Shop. Hoping to land a banking position in the City, she sends off a suitably embellished CV to a high-powered head-hunting firm. So impressed is the agency with her professed abilities, including a totally fictional fluency in Finnish, that its representative, unbeknownst to Becky, arranges an on-the-spot and surprise meeting between her and the recruitment director for the Bank of Helsinki. ("I can't wait to hear the two of you talking away in Finnish," chirps the rep.) This book is particularly delightful because Becky is so endearing. OK, so she rationalizes away reality, and is shallow, immature and irresponsible. However, she's not a bad, malicious person, nor is she hard-core dishonest. She's actually quite pleasant - a most agreeable person with whom to spend the day ... well, shopping. For these reasons, I rooted for her all the way to the end, at which time my faith in her essential goodness was justified. You go, girl!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Constant Gardener: A Novel; Author: John le Carre; Review: John le Carré's novels are an acquired taste. It wasn't until I read TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY and SMILEY'S PEOPLE, and then viewed the BBC's marvelous screen adaptations of these two books, that I came to appreciate the author's methodically intricate plot and character development that results in more of an identity profile of the chief protagonist than anything else. (For me, le Carré's Smiley will always bring to mind the features of Alec Guiness, who starred in the aforementioned BBC productions.) There are no Bond-like capers here, and those expecting such will become excruciatingly bored. In THE CONSTANT GARDENER, Justin Quayle is a faceless, government bureaucrat attached to the British High Commission in Nairobi, Kenya. His job is to represent Her Majesty's government on an international committee of other faceless bureaucrats charged with monitoring the efficiency at which aid moneys for the poor and starving reach the intended recipients. The committee has no investigatory authority, so high level and endemic African venality is ignored. On the other hand, Justin's wife, Tessa, belongs to a private group that investigates corruption with a vengeance. Her efforts have uncovered the criminally negligent misuse of a new drug, Dypraxa, designed to treat tuberculosis. The drug's manufacturer, megapharmaceutical KVH, is trialing Dypraxa on the indigenous African population, and apparently covering up the drug's fatal side effects. As THE CONSTANT GARDENER opens, Tessa has been found murdered on a field trip into the African bush. Is there a link? The storyline unfolds from three viewpoints. First and foremost, there's Justin, whose guilt over his hear-no -evil, see-no-evil detachment from his wife's investigations compels him to follow her lead posthumously, reopen the probe in the face of Foreign Office opposition, and attempt to discover the true circumstances of Tessa's demise. (Did KVH have her killed? Was the British government somehow involved?) Then, there are Sandy Woodrow, the ambitious and morally flaccid Head of Chancery for the Brits in Nairobi, and Gita Pearson, an Anglo-Indian admirer of Tessa's employed by the High Commission as a low-level functionary. The novel's conclusion, like most of life, is painted in muted gray tones, not stark black and white as one might wish. It's certainly an unhappy ending, although that's appropriate considering the nature of Justin's internal demons brought on by his beloved's lonely death. Yet, the evil he confronts is both banal and ambiguous. Perhaps it's a tragedy of the 21st century that such is the nature of the baseness now pervasive in the world, not the more focused deviltry of Hitler, Stalin, or the Red Menace. I guess I'd have to say that I miss the good old days of the Cold War. That period enabled the author to script endings that were personally more satisfying, that of SMILEY'S PEOPLE being a case in point, which engendered more a sense of triumph of "good" over "evil". Thus, while THE CONSTANT GARDENER is meticulously crafted with the usual le Carré penchant for excellence, for me it lacks punch. Where's George Smiley when you need him?; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: LINCOLN'S MEN: How President Lincoln Became Father to an Army and a Nation; Author: Visit Amazon's William C. Davis Page; Review: I consider Abraham Lincoln our greatest President - greater even than Washington, Jefferson, Teddy Roosevelt or FDR - for no other reason than he performed the duties of his office under pressures that would have beaten down a lesser man. Consider for a moment. He had to quell a nation-shattering rebellion. The top generals of his eastern armies were incompetent. He lost two of his young sons to disease. He had to persuade those states still loyal to accept two very controversial initiatives: a military draft and emancipation of blacks. His wife was a spendthrift and mentally unbalanced. LINCOLN'S MEN examines Uncle Abe's relationship with the men of his armies, particularly those citizens that enlisted (or were drafted) into the states' volunteer regiments. Realizing that the officer corps took care of its own, his concern was chiefly spent on such issues important to the non-commissioned ranks, such as pay, fair military justice, length of enlistment, battlefield health care, and supply. Lincoln's office door was always open to anyone, even the most humble of privates, who had a petition or grievance to present. I find this last fact truly amazing when, today, the White House is a virtual fortress denying casual access to the most innocent of visitors. The cynical might say that Lincoln was simply a politician, in the basest sense, currying favor with those whose efforts in the trenches might potentially fail to keep him in power. Indeed, while he was constantly visiting with and reviewing the troops of the eastern armies, particularly the hapless Army of the Potomac, he never once called on the western commands of Grant and Sherman because, after all, they were consistent winners. While this favoritism is glaring, the author, William Davis, presents it simply as a father caring for the most needy of his children. I agree. The affection Lincoln engendered in "his boys" in all military theaters of operation is evidenced by the vote they gave him in the election of 1864, and the tributes accorded him by veterans' groups in the decades following the war. He was truly Father Abraham. LINCOLN'S MEN is a well-researched, informative example of historical reporting. Two-hundred fifty pages of text are supported by a 14-page bibliography and 46 pages of notes. I have only two complaints, which prevent me from awarding five stars. First, the author includes virtually no examples of Lincoln's famous, rustic wit. (The author's style, at times, makes for very dry reading. Dry as a soldier's hardtack.) Second, there's no supporting section of photographs. However, I certainly recommend this volume to any student of the Civil War.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Hungry Ocean: A Swordboat Captain's Journey; Author: Visit Amazon's Linda Greenlaw Page; Review: The author, Linda Greenlaw, captained the "Hannah Boden", a swordfishing boat out of Gloucester, MA. Her vessel, and her command of it, were an element of THE PERFECT STORM book and movie, which told the tale of the sister ship "Andrea Gail", lost in a 1991 tempest off the East Coast. In THE HUNGRY OCEAN, Linda invites the reader aboard the "Hannah Boden" for a 30-day fishing expedition to the Grand Banks, 1100 miles distant in the North Atlantic, during the month of September sometime in the mid-90s. Interspersed in the narrative of this particular voyage are Linda's memories from her childhood and previous sailings, all of which experiences contribute to make her one of the most successful swordfisherman on the ocean. This is a memoir that's hard to put down. As I sat reading in the comfort of home with a pet cat in my lap, I was reminded how cushy a 9 to 5 indoor job is. Even if I was 30 years younger, I can't imagine enduring fourteen successive 20-hour days, each one of which is spent setting down, and then hauling-in, the 40-mile fishing line carrying 900 very sharp, baited hooks capable of catching several tons of thrashing swordfish (or unwanted, but dangerous, sharks). Especially if one is struggling to keep from falling overboard (much less stand upright) on a rolling deck in the face of 40-knot (or greater) winds, driving rain, and heaving seas. Just call me a landlubber with a capital "L". Proud of it, too! Though I wouldn't have otherwise given much thought to the gender distinction, Greenlaw herself points out that being a female swordboat captain is unusual. Her obvious ability to handle a diverse, sometimes difficult, all-male deck gang of five, plus her talent for finding and bringing home the catch, inspires me to snap off a salute and call her "Cap'n" with all due admiration. If I was so inclined to enlist as part of a crew, I'd sail with her to anywhere. This is a first-rate, salty yarn. Buy it, and you'll enjoy it. Now, where did I put that can of tuna? The cat and I are both hungry.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Running Blind; Author: Visit Amazon's Lee Child Page; Review: As I've indicated in my previous reviews of Lee Child's novels, his hero-with-an-attitude, Jack Reacher, former Army Military Police major turned vagabond-who-attracts-trouble, is one of my favorite squinty-eyed tough guys - right up there with Dirty Harry himself. In RUNNING BLIND, Jack finds himself being coerced by a very nasty and un-American FBI to help the agency track down a serial assassin of ex-Army women, who, while in service, had been the objects of sexual harassment and had subsequently complained. Each of those murdered has been found in her bathtub submerged in camouflage-green paint, with no evidence of a struggle or apparent cause of death. Initially, he FBI tries to enlist Reacher's co-operation by pretending he's the chief suspect. When that ruse falls flat, they indirectly threaten to have his current girlfriend tortured and murdered by a local sadist. I mean, is this the FBI of Efrem Zimbalist, Jr. that those of us old enough to remember all know and love? (The "FBI" was a TV series in the late 60's/early 70's, in which the House That Hoover Built was depicted as the righteous, square-jawed defender of God-blessed America from sea to shining sea.) Inasmuch as Child has Jack pursuing a serial killer, this latest potboiler swerves close to becoming a conventional who-dunit. However, the usual excellence of a Reacher thriller is achieved by Jack's ability to stare down and outwit the Feds, carry on relationships (of a sort) with three very different women, and nail the Bad Guy besides. With a Man's Man like this, who needs Harry? The latter is definitely passé and out to pasture in Carmel. The absolutely very best thing about RUNNING BLIND is the plot twist identity of the Perp. Even Reacher himself is fooled for a brief moment. ("Say it ain't so, Joe!") Because of this, I must say that this is Child's finest effort to date. Bring on the next one `cuz I'm ready to buy!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Quartered Safe Out Here: A Recollection of the War in Burma; Author: Visit Amazon's George MacDonald Fraser Page; Review: As a young man, George MacDonald Fraser was a "ranker" (enlisted man) assigned to the 17th (Black Cat) Division of the British 14thIndian Army as it pursued the Japanese south through Burma after the latter's resounding defeat at the gates of India, at Imphal. Fraser's narrative history of his personal contribution to this campaign is QUARTERED SAFE OUT HERE. Written decades after the fact, this book does not pretend to be a comprehensive history of the Burma Theater in the last months of World War II. Rather, it's the war from the perspective of Nine Section in which Fraser fought, first as a Private, then Lance Corporal. (A "section" is the smallest operating unit of an infantry platoon, i.e. 8-10 men.) Besides being a vivid retelling of the author's recollections to the extent that he remembers, it's also an intimate portrait of the organization, weapons, tactics and camaraderie of the British Army at section level at that time, place, and conflict. It's a story told with the humor, intelligence and introspection that comes with maturity and hindsight. And, though some of Fraser's bitterness towards his old foe occasionally shows, age does dull the sharp edges. "I remember watching, a year or two ago, televised interviews with old Japanese soldiers who had fought in the war ... sitting in their gardens in their sports shirts, blinking cheerfully in the sunlight, reminiscing in throat-clearing croaks about battles long ago. It crossed my mind: were any of you on the Pyawbwe slope, and lived to tell the tale? Well, if they did, at this time of day I don't mind." Fraser is a truly gifted writer. After VJ Day, he applied for, and was awarded, a commission as a subaltern (2nd Lieutenant) in a Scottish Highland division posted to the Middle East. In this capacity, his experiences served as the basis for his quite wonderful and comedic McAuslan series of fictional stories (collected and available from Amazon.co.uk in THE COMPLETE MCAUSLAN). I unreservedly recommend both of these two books to anyone who has ever served in any branch of the armed forces, no matter what country. I myself was in the U.S. Navy, and Fraser's works are in the "can't put down" category.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: First Avenue; Author: Visit Amazon's Lowen Clausen Page; Review: FIRST AVENUE is Lowen Clausen's debut novel. An ex-police office himself, Lowen writes in a style reminiscent of another cop-turned-scribbler, Joseph Wambaugh. Officer Sam Wright is a uniformed patrol officer in 1980's Seattle. His morning beat is the north end of FIRST AVENUE - particularly, and for the purpose of the plot, around the Pike Place Market. In the book, the avenue is only just beginning to be rehabilitated into its present day tourist and shopping mecca. In Sam's world, it's still on the sleazy, pre-Starbucks edge. In this context, Officer Wright becomes involved with the probe into the death of a young infant, apparently left by its mother, Alberta, to die of dehydration in a squalid hotel room. Having had a previous fleeting contact with the mother and baby, and convinced that the abandonment was not intentional, Wright is convinced that Alberta is also the victim of foul play. Soon, his investigations focus on a crummy donut shop across from the Market's entrance run by a slimeball named Pierre. No Winchell's here. This is one of those books about which I'm feeling guiltily ambivalent. In remaining true to my own feelings, I'm afraid of being unfair. On one hand, Clausen has skillfully drawn characters that are sympathetic to the reader. The storyline accurately emphasizes the low key, almost non-existent, drama of a big city police beat, and the relationships that a beat cop will establish with the everyday citizens, both good and bad, that inhabit his territory. In FIRST AVENUE, the crime under investigation is almost incidental. It's certainly quaint when compared to the sensational crimes that flood 21st century newspapers, and which serve as the fodder for so many other crime thrillers. Intellectually, I can say that the author did a first-rate job recreating the physical and human environment of that Seattle location at that point in time. On the other hand, my eyelids, which kept closing every ten pages or so as I was reading, tell me that perhaps the book is just too low key. Maybe it's just me, too jaded from previous potboilers with way-too-clever endings and an excess of unlikely action. I suspect that Clausen intends FIRST AVENUE to be the first in a series featuring Wright and the three women in his life: fellow cop Katherine, married girlfriend and next door neighbor Georgia, and Alaskan expat Maria - especially Maria. If that's the case, I'll likely buy the next in the series, but do hope that Lowen picks up the pace a bit.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Extra Virgin: A Young Woman Discovers the Italian Riviera, Where Every Month Is Enchanted; Author: Visit Amazon's Annie Hawes Page; Review: If ever you've dreamed of establishing residence in a foreign country, but have never had the nerve to actually do it, then EXTRA VIRGIN is a delightful escape for you, the armchair expatriate. In 1983, Annie Hawes and her sister Lucy, two young, single English lasses, accept employment as rose grafters on the Italian Riviera in the small town of Diano San Pietro. The fact that the author, Annie, knew nothing about rose grafting possibly reflects youth's eternal optimism. In any case, the rose season over, the two sisters are gently maneuvered by a crafty local into purchasing a derelict farmhouse amidst the olive groves above the town. The book spans at least a decade's worth of memories, and it's not always clear when in that timespan a particular incident occurred. However, it doesn't matter. One of the delights of EXTRA VIRGIN is the personality of Annie. She comes across as a genuinely Nice Person, and with that dry British wit that I personally find so engaging. The reader is invited into her life as she and Lucy labor to refurbish their new home and tidy up - an understatement - their neglected garden and terraced olive groves. And, all the while, coping with the eccentricities, prejudices and habits of their Ligurian neighbors, and vice versa, as the two cultures meet and meld. By the end of the book, Annie and Lucy have successfully become an accepted part of their adopted community. The book may drag a little in the last couple of chapters. Beforehand, however, we learn from Annie how olives are harvested and olive oil produced, as well as how local wine is made and mushrooms gathered. (The Italian love of food, in gargantuan quantities, is well portrayed.) And let's not forget the tales of the abandoned Morris, the matchless benefits of powdered lime, the water tank, and, during the tidying-up of the garden, ...the Snake: "This horrible thing appeared to me as I was sitting under the lemon tree ... gazing focused and abstracted at the foliage below me moving gently in the sea breeze... One tall stalk that seemed oddly out of rhythm with the rest gradually drew my attention... Some sinister kind of long skinny snake was sitting among the tall grass, waving its top half around, cunningly camouflaged as a bit of plant life and hoping, I suppose, to catch some unwary plump insect... not just a concealed snake, but an actively duplicitous snake. We didn't need any of that sort of behavior so close to home... We set off a-sickling with renewed vim and mild hysteria, stamping about heavily to scare off serpent life as we went." I wish I could meet Annie. I think I'm a little in love with her.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Brethren; Author: Visit Amazon's John Grisham Page; Review: When I was a young lad in high school English Lit, I seem to recall being taught that one of the elements of any novel was a protagonist-antagonist conflict. You know, Square-Jawed Good Guy vs. Despicable Bad Guy - that sort of thing. Grisham's THE BRETHREN is the first novel I can remember reading in a very long time, if ever, that has no protagonist. Maybe he's now trying to write about real life where there're more gray areas. Joe Roy Spicer, Hatlee Beech and FinnYarber are, respectively, a former Mississippi Justice of the Peace, a former Texas federal judge, and a former California Supreme Court Chief Justice. All three are in a minimum security Federal pen in Florida for various peccadilloes. And all three are using the US mail system to blackmail middle-aged homosexual men they've enticed out of the closet with a phony advert in a gay magazine. Helping them is their sleazy lawyer, Trevor Carson, who, for a cut of the take, acts as their link to the Postal Service. On a seemingly unrelated track, Teddy Maynard is the unscrupulous, crippled Director of the CIA who has decided that the US needs a stronger military. To achieve this, he proposes to a relatively unknown Arizona Congressman, Aaron Lake, that he, Lake, enter the recently begun presidential primaries on a Double-the-Defense Budget platform. Aaron, a shameless political opportunist, is malleable and accepts, the task made easier by the tens of millions of dollars that Teddy manipulates into his campaign coffers. One of the main reasons that Maynard has selected Lake is the latter's apparent freedom from human foibles. Aaron apparently has no skeletons in his closet. The reader knows all this thirty pages into the book, and unless he/she hasn't been paying attention, can predict where the plot is going. It's not that THE BRETHREN is uninteresting or slow paced. It's just that all involved - Spicer, Beech, Yarber, Carson, Maynard, and Lake - are all so ... unsavory. I didn't wish any of them well even to the slightest degree. Any fascination the plot engenders is simply from observing the two camps collide. So, despite what I learned in English Lit, not every novel has a protagonist. THE BRETHREN suffers markedly for this lack. Get back to the basics, John! This book was unpleasant.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Cat Who Covered The World: The Adventures Of Henrietta And Her Foreign Correspondent; Author: Visit Amazon's Christopher S. Wren Page; Review: Since our own two cats hate even riding in a car, it was with envy and admiration that I read THE CAT WHO COVERED THE WORLD, the globetrotting adventures of Henrietta and her foreign correspondent owner. As a writer for the New York Times, Christopher Wren and his family lived abroad in such widely separated cities as Moscow, Cairo, Beijing, Ottawa and Johannesburg. Accompanying them everywhere over her 18-year lifespan was Henrietta, the family feline, herself a native of New York City. Amazingly adaptable, Henrietta coped with airplane baggage holds, Nile River rats, Hadeda ibises, African ants, a People's Liberation Army veterinarian, and a scarcity of kitty litter. At the same time, she developed a taste for caviar, cockroaches, yellow fish, cabbage, prosciutto, sturgeon, herbal tea bags, and gongbao jiding. Considering the timespan and distances covered, this book is relatively short at 200 pages. The devotion and affection that the Wren family has for their furry pal is striking, as when Chris drags a 26-pound sack of cat litter home to litterless Beijing from Hong Kong. Or the distress the family feels when Henrietta goes missing for several weeks in Cairo. Though sometimes Chris lapses into a newsreporter's matter-of-factual style, the humor and poignancy of life with Kitty in exotic places always shows through. For example, in bed after being assaulted by Soviet security goons, Chris writes: "And then I felt something hop softly on the bed. I opened my eyes and saw Henrietta ... She liked to curl up with the children and (wife) Jaqueline, but had never seen fit to favor me with such a visit ... Then I heard her purr. I reached down and lightly caressed the soft fur along her neck. She snuggled in tighter until my sore mouth and gut no longer throbbed. There is something consoling about stoking a pet when you feel frightened and alone. For the first time, it was clear that Henrietta and I belonged together." I've not been worked over by Red thugs. However, as I write this, my cat Trouble is perched on the back of my chair close to my neck ...purring. Yeah, I can relate.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Along Came a Spider; Author: Visit Amazon's James Patterson Page; Review: ALONG CAME A SPIDER is another of those novels that leaves me equivocal - one thumb up, and one thumb down. I hate that. Dr./Detective Alex Cross, a Washington DC forensic psychologist/gumshoe and his partner, John Sampson, are assigned to investigate a double kidnapping with the FBI and Secret Service. The victims are Michael and Maggie, the former the young son of the U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, and the latter the young daughter of a movie star. Very early on, the reader knows the identity of the perp, a brilliant serial killer named Gary Soneji, and Michael's fate. As Gary continues his murderous swathe across the landscape, all wonder. How do we catch this guy, and where's Maggie? The best thing about this thriller is Cross, a world-weary widower who loves his kids and his grandmother, and who's not afraid to be, in the honorable tradition of Eastwood's Dirty Harry, a thorn in the side of his boss and the mayor. You gotta love the guy. Also, the Maggie character was endearing, but author James Patterson gave her too little press time. The main problem with the book is that, at 502 pages in paperback, it's about 50 too long. By the novel's end, Gary's essential evilness and the de rigueur plot twist have been diluted out by an overabundance of other bad guys and the relationship between Cross and Secret Service agent Jezzie Flanagan, which Patterson develops ad nauseam. Moreover, for the apparent sake of maintaining the potential for a series, a major thread is left hanging. It's as if the author, or his editor, didn't know when to quit. Less would have been better. The movie version of ALONG CAME A SPIDER was recently released, starring Morgan Freeman. From the trailers I've seen, the film adaptation seems to be a different story entirely. (Gee, what a surprise!) Besides the opportunity to observe the great actor Freeman, I'll want to see if the output of some Tinseltown scriptwriter can force both my thumbs in the same direction. Up or down, I don't care. I just want closure.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Losing Julia; Author: Visit Amazon's Jonathan Hull Page; Review: In LOSING JULIA, Patrick Delaney is the 81 year old resident of a nursing home, where every morning is the same ... "Staring at the gaunt silhouette in the mirror, which stares back with imploring eyes, I realize my body has abdicated. The anarchists are on the palace grounds ... I am brought to my swollen knees by a hundred thousand indignities, small slices of the blade that have drained the blood from my face. And I'm so tired." But, Patrick was young once, fighting in Pershing's doughboy army in the Great War along side his friend Daniel. And, amidst the squalor and death of the trenches, Daniel shares with Patrick stories of his beloved back in California ... Julia. And Patrick, in absentia, falls in love with Julia also. "... maybe it was just the expression on Daniel's face when he talked about her, but for me, Julia soon became my own escape from the war; my personal guardian angel who beckoned me away from the madness every time I closed my eyes. Daniel offered hundreds of dots and I connected them, until the most beautiful woman I'd ever seen emerged, my angel in the trenches; my incantation against despair. My Julia." Ten years after the Armistice, in 1928, Patrick returns to France to attend a memorial for his comrades who died twisting in the German barbed wire during an assault on the Hindenberg Line. Unexpectedly, Julia is there, searching through the 152 names engraved on the granite monument, until her fingers stop at ... Daniel's. Partrick approaches, somehow knowing it's Her though they've never before met. ("Julia Julia. What are you doing to me? And what is it about beauty that intimidates; causing us to kneel somewhere deep inside and pray and wonder just how close we might crawl before being banished from the sanctuary?") And Julia. What does she eventually say to Patrick, and to us? "... I think that we all look for clues that we are not utterly alone. Clues we find in literature and paintings and music and even in someone's eyes; clues that demonstrate that someone else has felt the same indescribable feelings, seen the same things or passed by the same spot even if it was by candlelight three hundred years ago. It means everything, like finding footprints in the sand of a deserted island.' Patrick's tragedy is that he came upon Julia's footprints, and then lost them. And the emotional repercussions of that dispossession reverberate down through the decades. LOSING JULIA, by Jonathan Hull, is one of the most eloquent novels I've read in years. Hull's ability to string words together is, at times, exquisite. It's an epic of comradeship in war, a love story, and a chronicle of growing terminally old with the memories of youth still as fresh as if it was only yesterday. (It's also a searing indictment of the way Americans shunt their old people aside to die - but the book won't be remembered for that.) Poignant, powerful, vivid, profoundly bittersweet, an elegant essay on life, love, and; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Wanderlust: Real-Life Tales of Adventure and Romance; Author: Visit Amazon's Don George Page; Review: Like all other anthologies of travel stories, WANDERLUST's collected essays will each have a purely subjective appeal based on the predilections of the reader. For me, the thirty-some tales in this book follow a normal distribution curve. My criteria for judging any on-the-road reminiscence are that it be sufficiently descriptive to make me want to visit the place myself (or not), and preferably contain lighthearted elements. (If one can't see the humor in mishaps far from home, he/she will certainly go nuts.) Thus, a few are terrific; a few are positively dismal; and most are just OK. Therefore, my three-star rating. It didn't help that there's no table of contents, a fact that I found annoying for no reason that I can logically defend. First, let me mention some of the best of the lot. Susan Hack's lament ("Tampax Nightmares") on the pitfalls to finding tampons in Third World countries, and Yemen in particular, was hilarious. (Here, I guess I must admit to being an Insensitive Male.) The essay by Mary Roach ("The Last Tourist In Mozambique") on her interview with that island's President, during which transcendental meditation was discussed and practiced, left me with little doubt as to why that country is in such a wretched condition. Don George's recollection of the family vacation ("Conquering Half Dome") with wife and two kids simply reinforced my intention never to attempt the feat myself - I'm sufficiently afraid of heights. While reading Lucy McCauley's "Expatriate, With Olives", I could feel the sun in my face and the olives in my hand as she stripped the latter from their branches in southern Spain. When Simon Winchester drives a Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit across Europe ("Romance In Romania"), the reaction this magnificent car elicits in a young woman in a dingy Romanian border town is positively poignant. Laura Fraser's getaway to the island of Ischia ("Italian Affair") is, perhaps, what the rest of us can only dream about during a normal day's silent desperation. Of course, there's the other end of the curve. Wendy Belcher's treatise ("Out Of Africa") examining the opening lines and themes common to a number of travel books on Africa was so excruciatingly ho-hum that I couldn't finish it - the only chapter so dishonored. Barry Yeoman's overwhelming need ("Embraced In Spain") to be adopted by the local crowd in Cdiz, in spite of his nervous stutter and half-out-of-the-closet gay lifestyle, verges on the pathetic. (The fact that he was unconditionally accepted by a group of locals makes for a warm and fuzzy, politically correct ending. But, it was hard to care.) David Downie's record ("Philosophy Au Lait") of the low drama in a Parisian philocaf was so much trivial prattle. (But, then, my shallow character has never concerned itself with life's deeper meanings.) Finally, Karl Greenfeld's self-absorbed jaunt through angst ("Fear, Drugs, and Soccer In Asia") left me hoping he would just snap out of it. There were quite a few "just OK" chapters, but I'll let you discover those for yourself. Indeed, someone else reading WANDERLUST will likely observe a; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: 1632 (Ring Of Fire); Author: Visit Amazon's Eric Flint Page; Review: The premise of "1632" has potential. In this work of alternative history by Eric Flint, a circular area of West Virginia six miles in diameter, and including the town of Grantville (pop. 3,000 or so), is suddenly transported from its place in the 20th century to a parallel universe in the year 1632 AD, and dropped intact into an identically shaped hole in the landscape of the German principality of Thuringia - right in the middle of that then-ongoing carnage called the Thirty Years War. Since the Americans are now left to their own resources without the ability to "call home" for help, this could've been an off-beat and gripping survival story had it been developed properly. Unfortunately, it wasn't, and it just came out being ridiculous. In an Author's Afterword, Flint says that "1632" is a "sunny book". That's the problem. For our castaways, there are no clouds in the sky, no matter what the situation. First of all, the collective consternation of the citizens over losing their place in the modern present was no greater than if they'd been stranded in Newark after having missed a plane. I mean, where were the cries of outrage as the trips to see the grandkids in California, the vacations to DisneyWorld, the opportunity to see "I Love Lucy" reruns, and the 401k retirement plans, are all lost forever? Rather, our square-jawed and unrelentingly self-righteous American heroes spend their time rescuing damsels-in-distress from the marauding mercenary bands of the period, and otherwise imposing civil order and the U.S. federal political structure on a world in serious disarray. Teddy Roosevelt couldn't have done it better with his Big Stick approach. (Modern hunting rifles, plus the M-60 machine gun good ol' Frank has stashed in his backyard, don't hinder the clean-up, either, as lines of armored men with pikes are mowed down. Yee-haw, boys, I guess we showed them varmints a thing or two!) And then, of course, there are all the True Loves conveniently discovered as the Grantville singles fraternize with the natives. Indeed, the principal American strongman in this fun, Mike, finds his (on page 43 already) in a wooden stagecoach lurching down a local cart track pursued by thugs. I mean, it's just all so sugary sweet that I was tempted to send out for Kleenex, insulin and an air-sickness bag, not really sure which I'd need first. And how about those unwashed local yokels, huh? As various elements become socially and militarily allied with those amazing Americans, does any individual among the former ever ask who won the Thirty Years War according to 20th century history books? (If 22nd century Wall Street suddenly dropped onto your back patio, wouldn't you at least want to know the future of that new gene technology IPO?) And are they particularly in awe of 20th century technological advances? Yawn. Without spilling too much of the plot, I can safely reveal that, at one point, our 17th century cousins, without having given it too much thought, are cozily sitting around the TVs chortling as Grantville's local programming; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Reflections in Bullough’s Pond: Economy and Ecosystem in New England (Revisiting New England); Author: Visit Amazon's Diana Muir Page; Review: Author Diana Muir resides on Bullough's Pond in Newton, Massachusetts, a few miles west of the Boston city center. From this vantage point, she's written REFLECTIONS IN BULLOUGH'S POND, a history of the manner in which the human residents of New England have exploited their environment, first for simple survival, then economic gain, from the time of the paleo-hunters 10,000 years ago to the present. In hardcover, REFLECTIONS is not a particularly thick volume - exclusive of Notes and Index, only 258 pages. However, the print is small and the scope large. There are also a large number of maps, charts, graphs, drawings, and b/w photos to break up the text and give the reader's eyes some variety. The list of topics is the roadmap of the region's economic development, diversification, and spotty decline: the evolution of farming from hunting/gathering, the native Indians' use of forest and fauna, the arrival of the Europeans and the extermination of the area's tribes by disease, Yankee shipbuilding and ocean commerce, land shortages, and the advent of sawmills and shoemaking. Further into the book, one reads about itinerant peddlers, ice exports, the expansion of roads/canals/railroads, machines that make other machines..., the production of charcoal, and the disappearance of indigenous animal species.... Then, as the Industrial Revolution takes firm grip, one learns of cotton mills, steam power, the grinding-up of the forests by the paper mills, the rise and fall (due to water pollution) of oyster harvesting, and the fishing industry, especially King Cod. Finally, Ms. Muir laments the deleterious changes in the ecosystem brought on by acid rain, the increase in greenhouse gasses, and the losses of topsoil andozone. ... Diana has produced a scholarly, excellently researched book that's consistently informative and interesting. (It's also only rarely entertaining in the sense of being fun, so, if that's the requirement, perhaps the latest potboiler from Grisham, King or Cornwell is a better choice of the moment.) As I recall, it was an email from Ms. Muir that brought REFLECTIONS to my attention. She'd read another of my reviews on Amazon, and thought her book might appeal to me. Thank you, Diana, for your leap of faith.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Women Who Wrote the War; Author: Visit Amazon's Nancy Caldwell Sorel Page; Review: Waging slaughters has traditionally been considered Guy Stuff. So, too, the reporting of them. THE WOMEN WHO WROTE THE WAR, by Nancy Sorel, is the story of the female war correspondents who, working for various U.S. newspapers and wire services, shoved their way to the battlefronts of World War II, making that conflict, especially in its latter stages, the first to be equally reported by both sexes. By her own admission, the author cut fully half of the female reporter roster from the book so as not to render it unwieldy. Even then, the half remaining is an Honor Roll of the profession: Helen Kirkpatrick, Margaret Bourke-White, Lee Carson, Ruth Cowan, Lee Miller, Martha Gellhorn, Catherine Coyne, Virginia Irwin, Iris Carpenter, Annalee Jacoby, Mary Welsh, Dickey Chapelle, Sonia Tomara, Shelley Mydans, Pat Lochridge, and a host of others too numerous to mention here. Beginning roughly with the Spanish Civil War, and finishing with the months immediately after WWII, the book's chapters are a series of snapshots in which Sorel's subjects appear or not, depending on their presence in the theater of conflict being described - and they all seem to move around a lot. So, in sequential order, one reads of reporting Hitler's annexation of Czechoslovakia, the attack on Poland, the fall of France, the Blitz, the Nazi assault on the Soviet Union, the war in China, the Japanese capture of the Philippines, the North African and Italian campaigns, D-Day, the liberation of Paris, the Battle of the Bulge, the Pacific islands war, the advance into Germany, the American-Russian link-up, the liberated concentration camps, V-E Day, and, finally, the surrender of Japan. I can't give WOMEN WHO WROTE THE WAR a 5-star rating because the number of players was too excessive. It would've been better had Sorel focused on, say, just 3 or 4 correspondents in each theater (Europe and the Pacific) as representative of the whole. As it was, so many names kept popping in and out of the narrative that it was hard to "get to know" any one of them, though some are better introduced than others. However, taken as written, this is an admirably comprehensive look at the gutsy ladies that did what they had to do to bring the stories back home to readers in America. For example, Virginia Irwin obtained one of the biggest scoops of the war by deliberately defying a specific SHAEF (Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Forces) restriction on correspondents' movements in a certain area. You go, girl!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Free Fall; Author: Visit Amazon's Kyle Mills Page; Review: "Mark Beamon continued to search his brain to confirm that this was, indeed, the worst day of his life. He could almost feel the cigarette tar freezing into little black icicles in his lungs as he desperately sucked in the frigid air and tried to keep up with Darby." Such is the hero of FREE FALL, a regular, out-of-shape shmoe like the rest of us, who finds himself, a disgraced FBI agent on suspension, hired by someone unknown to track down Darby Moore. Darby is the world's greatest female mountain climber, who stands accused of hacking her boyfriend to death with an ice ax. (Messy!) But, wait! Maybe things aren't what they seem. What's in that stolen FBI file, marked "Prodigy", in her backpack? And, what's the connection to David Hallorin, the up and coming third party candidate for Prez, and his psycho PR hack, Roland Peck? The plot of this political thriller by Kyle Mills is fairly standard stuff. However, the Darby and Beamon characters put FREE FALL on a cut above the usual fare. Darby, at twenty-seven, has successfully ignored the rest of the material world to spend her life bumming about doing what she enjoys most - climbing, kayaking, skiing, bicycling - while existing on a shoestring and the handouts of corporate sponsors. Or, as Beamon soon realizes, "live for six months on thirty-eight cents and a couple of fruit roll-ups". In contrast, Mark is a maverick FBI agent, never advanced beyond middle-management, who possesses a wry sense of self and the consistent ability to vex his superiors. He's also a first-rate tracker of fugitives. In a way, it's too bad this book is more about Mark than Darby. The latter's character should have been developed more and given additional press time. This is the third novel in the author's Beamon series. I was sufficiently impressed to order the second, STORMING HEAVEN. I'm always on the lookout for a good fictional hero. There are so few in real life.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Me Talk Pretty One Day; Author: Visit Amazon's David Sedaris Page; Review: David Sedaris is a humorist who writes essays on the human condition - his specifically and in general. He strikes me as a curmudgeon-in-training, who, after further aging, will qualify for the closing act on a very popular and long running TV newsmagazine broadcast on Sunday evenings. ME TALK PRETTY ONE DAY is a series of 28 essays spanning the author's childhood to the present. The book's title is also that of one of the chapters, in which he relates the experience of learning French in Paris under the tutelage of a xenophobic Frenchwoman whose style relies heavily on the liberal application of humiliation and abuse. Most of the essays succeeded at making me laugh - certainly not in guffaws, but at least amused snorts. A few didn't. The subjects of some of the more successful included: being mistaken for a local pickpocket on the Paris Mtro by two American tourists, describing American idiosyncrasies as perceived by foreigners, doing New York Times crossword puzzles, describing the concept of Easter to a Muslim, and showing two friends from North Carolina around New York City. For me, the funniest selection was "Big Boy", which, unfortunately, was pure bathroom humor that can't be described here. (Hey, I never claimed to have elevated tastes!) David's brand of raillery won't appeal to everyone. While always perceptive, it often is, like Mark Twain's, tongue-in-cheek. The following three examples will serve to illustrate. They concern, respectively: American nouveau cuisine, speaking "French" in France, and politically correct water conservation. "The patty melt has been pushed aside in favor of the herb-encrusted medallions of baby artichoke hearts, which never leave me thinking, Oh, right, those! I wonder if they're as good as the ones my mom used to make." "The second, less complicated form of French amounts to screaming English at the top of your lungs, much the same way you'd shout at a deaf person or the dog you thought you could train to stay off the sofa... Easy French is rooted in the premise that, if properly packed, the rest of the world could fit within the confines of Reno, Nevada." "The card (in the hotel bathroom) reported the amount of water used every year in hotel laundry rooms and suggested that, in having my sheets and towels changed on a daily basis, I was taking this precious water directly from the cupped hands of a dehydrated child. I noticed there was no similar plea encouraging me to conserve the hot water that came with my fifteen-dollar pot of room-service tea, but that apparently was a different kind of water." You know, I like this guy.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Darwin's Radio; Author: Visit Amazon's Greg Bear Page; Review: "Something pops out of our genes and makes monster babies ... with a single huge ovary?" So asks the incredulous United States Surgeon General in DARWIN'S RADIO, a fictional yarn of human genetics gone malevolently haywire. Or is it simply evolution leaving the path of gradualism as defined by Darwin, and taking a more scenic route? All good stories have a villain. In this case, it's SHEVA, a suddenly activated human endogenous retrovirus, i.e. one that resides in the "normal" genetic code on our chromosomes, that now forms infectious virus particles capable of lateral transmission between sexually active adults. What result are severe perturbations of the pregnancies of infected woman, and a bizarre skin condition that affects the faces of both parents. The world's best scientific minds can't stop it. And what is the connection between the mummified remains of a 40,000-year old Neanderthal family found in the Alps, and the corpses exhumed from a 10-year old mass grave in the former Soviet republic of Georgia, all of which contain SHEVA? Despite being (just) a work of popular science fiction, DARWIN'S RADIO poses an interesting, alternative hypothesis to the widely accepted concept of Darwinian evolution, i.e. natural adaptation one genetic mutation at a time, and makes some perceptive inferences on the nature of the species self-identity built into the human psyche. Moreover, the main characters are reasonably well constructed, particularly Kaye Lang, the swim-against-the-tide geneticist, and Mitch Rafelson, the outcast anthropologist. However, the novel is, at 525 paperbacked pages, just a tad too long. As it was, the conclusion's "pay-off" didn't seem quite worth the time that I'd spent to get there. I wanted to be able to say "Wow!", but couldn't. However, a 4-star rating still isn't too shabby. By the way. Do you have pronounced freckles on your face? If so, the Feds may be wanting to deport you to Iowa even now. Pack a lunch.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: A Very Long Engagement; Author: S'Bastien Japrisot; Review: War is not glorious. Especially if you're Manech, a 20-year old French soldier convicted by a military court, along with four others, of committing self-mutilation with the intent of escaping service in the front lines of World War I. The punishment is grotesque. Rather than death by a firing squad, the five are to be thrust, hands bound, over the wire fronting the most forward trench and into the No Man's Land between the French and German positions - there to die by whatever bullet, mortar shell, or bomb strikes them down. The subsequent deaths of all five are attested to. Letters are sent to surviving family members by the French authorities saying their boys "died in battle". This was in 1917. Mathilde was Manech's fiancée when he marched off to battle. She's also confined to a wheelchair, unable to walk since she fell off a stepladder at age 3. In 1919, she's contacted by a dying survivor of the war, ex-Sergeant Esperanza, who'd been in charge of the provost detail assigned to escort the five condemned men to the front trench, as well as act as censor for the last letter each was permitted to write home. He tells Mathilde of their bizarre fate, and gives her copies of their last letters, transcribed by him personally. Using these copies and the veteran's story to provide clues, Mathilde embarks on a multi-year search for the truth behind Manech's death. Interviewing friends, family members, and lovers of Marech's four condemned companions, as well as other soldiers present in the trench, Mathilde needs to answer the question, "Is he truly dead?" She has doubts. The evidence is inconsistent. A VERY LONG ENGAGEMENT is an odyssey of mystery, official cover-ups, lies, misperceptions, secrets, coincidence, tenuous clues, guilt, innocence, and honor. And, ultimately, love. Astute and sardonic Mathilde, perhaps because of her affliction, is a take-no-prisoners dynamo of perseverance. No obstacle is too great that it can't be overcome. In the end, she finds ... Truth. This novel by Sébastien Japrisot is an unusual and unusually intelligent detective story, as well as a look at an almost-forgotten time and place strewn with the wreckage - physical, emotional and psychological - of the War to End All Wars. You'll put it down feeling ... satisfied. I recommend it unreservedly.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Trainman; Author: Visit Amazon's Peter T. Deutermann Page; Review: TRAIN MAN is one of those books that I couldn't put down, and which caused my wife some exasperation. ("Are you reading again?! Which do you love more - me or that book?") Uh, sorry ... what did you say, dear? This thriller by P.T. Deutermann is really two storylines in one, coming together only at the end. Each has its own protagonist and its own nutcase Bad Guy. The primary plot has the TRAIN MAN blowing up railroad river bridges in retaliation for a past personal tragedy. The Good Guy on his trail is FBI Acting Assistant Director William "Hush" Hanson, who departs the Machiavellian atmosphere of the FBI's Washington headquarters for the field to run his quarry to ground. However, even out in the sticks, Hush isn't safe from the backstabbing and internecine warfare back at the Big House as spans continue to drop into the water. And what sort of game is Senior Agent Carolyn Lang, Hanson's assigned deputy for the manhunt, playing? Is that a treacherous blade in her belt, or just a friendly nail file? The other wacko is US Army Colonel Mehle, down from the Pentagon and the National Security Council with explicit, no-nonsense orders to transport some captured Russian torpedoes with nuclear warheads from the Anniston Army Weapons Depot in Alabama to the Army's destruction facility in Tooele, Utah. The warheads need to go Right Now On The Double because they're leaking radiation, and the mode of transport is to be an Army train also taking chemical weapons to Utah for disposal. Top Brass pressure has made Mehle a bullet or two short of a full clip, so when the colonel decides to go along for the ride as the train's Full Throttle commander, Major Tom Matthews, the train's reluctant Security Officer, fears a bumpy ride and an inglorious end to his previously unblemished 20-year career. Oh, and have I mentioned that the Train Man's targets are the bridges over the lower Mississippi River, that part of the waterway smack in the path between Alabama and Utah? Can you see where this is going? Both plots are taut, suspenseful and finely paced, and the characters well drawn and believable. The identity of the TRAIN MAN comes as a surprise, though perhaps the revelation occurs too soon. Moreover, the author apparently researched America's rail system extensively, so the technical backdrop against which the action unfolds is very absorbing, especially if the reader has no prior knowledge of the subject. The novel's jacket compares it favorably to THE DAY OF THE JACKAL. I agree. This is quality reading entertainment.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Quartered Safe Out Here: A Recollection of the War in Burma; Author: Visit Amazon's George MacDonald Fraser Page; Review: As a young man, George MacDonald Fraser was a "ranker" (enlisted man) assigned to the 17th (Black Cat) Division of the British 14th Indian Army as it pursued the Japanese south through Burma after the latter's resounding defeat at the gates of India, at Imphal. Fraser's narrative history of his personal contribution to this campaign is QUARTERED SAFE OUT HERE. Written decades after the fact, this book does not pretend to be a comprehensive history of the Burma Theater in the last months of World War II. Rather, it's the war from the perspective of Nine Section in which Fraser fought, first as a Private, then Lance Corporal. (A "section" is the smallest operating unit of an infantry platoon, i.e. 8-10 men.) Besides being a vivid retelling of the author's recollections to the extent that he remembers, it's also an intimate portrait of the organization, weapons, tactics and camaraderie of the British Army at section level at that time, place, and conflict. It's a story told with the humor, intelligence and introspection that comes with maturity and hindsight. And, though some of Fraser's bitterness towards his old foe occasionally shows, age does dull the sharp edges. "I remember watching, a year or two ago, televised interviews with old Japanese soldiers who had fought in the war ... sitting in their gardens in their sports shirts, blinking cheerfully in the sunlight, reminiscing in throat-clearing croaks about battles long ago. It crossed my mind: were any of you on the Pyawbwe slope, and lived to tell the tale? Well, if they did, at this time of day I don't mind." Fraser is a truly gifted writer. After VJ Day, he applied for, and was awarded, a commission as a subaltern (2nd Lieutenant) in a Scottish Highland division posted to the Middle East. In this capacity, his experiences served as the basis for his quite wonderful and comedic McAuslan series of fictional stories (collected and available from Amazon.co.uk in THE COMPLETE MCAUSLAN). I unreservedly recommend both of these two books to anyone who has ever served in any branch of the armed forces, no matter what country. I myself was in the U.S. Navy, and Fraser's works are in the "can't put down" category.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mendeleyev's Dream : The Quest for the Elements; Author: Visit Amazon's Paul Strathern Page; Review: Who among us can't recall, at least in a general way, the first day of high school chemistry when we were first confronted with that mysterious Periodic Table of the Elements hanging on the wall? Now, as ignorant novices in Chem 1A, we were at last to be initiated into its arcane symbolism. MENDELEYEV'S DREAM is the story of chemistry, from the ancient Greek, Anaximenes, with his theory of air as the fundamental element compressible to water and stone, to the gnomic Russian genius, Mendeleyev, who conceived the Periodic Table in the mid-19th century. Conceived it in a dream during an exhausted sleep brought on by overwork and frustrated creativity. Sleeping, when he should have been on his way to address a meeting of local cheese-makers. The author, Paul Strathern, has written a fine narrative overview of the evolution of the scientific method and the chemist's art, from the philosophical musings of the ancients on the nature of the universe, through the long centuries when alchemy held sway, to chemistry's current place in the Pantheon of Sciences. Along the way, Strathern introduces us to the greatest scientific minds and gifted eccentrics of their respective ages: Empedocles, Aristotle, Zosimus, Jabir ibn-Hayyan, Avicenna, Paracelsus, Nicholas of Cusa, Galileo, Descartes, Francis Bacon, van Helmont, Robert Boyle, Hennig Brand, Karl Scheele, Johann Becher, Henry Cavendish, Joseph Priestley, Antoine Lavoisier, John Dalton, Jöns Berzelius, and a host of others. And, finally, Dmitri Ivanovich Mendeleyev. The nature of the book's subject could easily lend itself to tedium, but the author's style is light - only once does he "balance" a chemical formula, and his intermittent dry wit was much appreciated. What, for instance, was Hennig Brand doing with those fifty buckets of putrefying human urine? His neighbors were undoubtedly not thrilled. And why might the Dutch Assembly have been justified in tacking-up "wanted-posters" around town for Johann Becher, who had just absconded on a fast boat for London? A scientist himself, Paul has not penned a great technical piece. Rather, he's written an uncomplicated, engaging work of popular science likely to appeal to those of us who ... well, let's just say, didn't learn to transmute lead into gold, much less ace Chem 1A. Now, if someone could just do the same for differential calculus.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Corelli's Mandolin; Author: Louis de Bernires; Review: CORELLI'S MANDOLIN is a bewitching novel, which should, by all rights, endure as a classic. Content as I usually am with relatively trashy popular fiction, I don't know that I can write a review that'll do this volume the honor it merits. This is the life story of Pelagia, a Greek woman living on the (actual) island of Cephallonia off Greece's western coast. The narrative begins at her age of 17, and continues for about fifty-three years. Eighty percent of the storyline takes place immediately before and during the Italian-German occupation of the island during the Second World War. The plot is a tapestry of human existence, woven with its diverse threads: absurdity, tragedy, love, betrayal, loyalty, madness, cruelty, fear, courage, resilience, selflessness, loss, revenge, hatred, and comedy. And because the Grecian theater of the wider conflict is so central to the story, the author doesn't abstain from including its history, foolishness, heroics, and horrific brutalities. CORELLI'S MANDOLIN is filled with a wealth of memorable characters, all created with transcendent skill by the author, Louis de Bernires. Besides Pelagia, there's her wise father, Iannis, a self-taught physician and an amateur historian. There are the other Greek villagers of note: the indomitable Drosoula, the mischievous Lemoni, the priest Arsenios, and the giant (in strength and spirit) Velisarios. And, then there's Pelagia's "funny kind of cat", the engaging Psipsina, a pet pine marten. Above all are the two young men who love Pelagia - Mandras, a neighbor ultimately debased and coarsened by the war, and Corelli of the occupying Italian Army, who is ennobled. Captain Antonio Correlli of the Acqui Division, and his mandolin. The essence of the tale is Pelagia's determined survival in the face of every cruel misfortune, grievous loss, and emotional hit delivered upon her over the years. For example, the death of her father: "I remember when Velisarios set (my father's body) down and I knelt beside him, blind and drunk with tears, and I cradled his bloodied head in my hands and saw that his eyes were empty. His old eyes, looking not on me but on the hidden world beyond. And I thought then for the first time how small and frail he was, how beaten and betrayed, and I realized that without his soul he was so light and thin that even I could lift him. And I raised up his body and clasped his head in my breast, and a great cry came out that must have been mine, and I saw clearly as one sees a mountain that he was the only man I've loved who loved me to the end, and never bruised my heart, and never for a single moment failed me." De Bernires has crafted this epic with insight, inventiveness, compassion, an eye for detail, gentle humor, moral outrage, and intelligence. The reader's heart goes out to Kyria Pelagia, and, at the book's conclusion, is uplifted as Fortune, or a merciful God, extends to the old woman a well-earned and overdue benevolence. You will likely not read a better work of fiction; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Shakespeare: The World as Stage (Eminent Lives); Author: Visit Amazon's Bill Bryson Page; Review: Bill Bryson is my favorite, contemporary, travel essayist. He's taken me places near and distant, portraying his subjects with an endearing blend of affection, bemused fascination, and Farm Belt admiration. (He's from Iowa.) And, when telling of those places, persons, events, or situations that are unfathomable, or just a little bit odd, he does so with dry wit and a straight face. (His style can be enjoyed on the video version of his book on Great Britain, NOTES FROM A SMALL ISLAND, available from..., in which he serves as the on-screen narrator.) IN A SUNBURNED COUNTRY, Bill takes us Down Under, to Australia, for his latest love affair with another country. Perhaps it's because he lived for so many years in England that he feels such an affinity for this former British colony that is largely ignored by the rest of the world. Whether he's thrashing about in the ocean over the Great Barrier Reef, driving across an eternity of barrenness just to see Ayers Rock, wandering through the mind-numbing blandness of Canberra, describing the region's deadly fauna, or commenting on the uniqueness of a shop specializing in pet supplies and porn, he does so with a good humor that makes you wish you were there too. (Well, most of the time, anyway.) Concerning the radio's play-by-play presentation of a cricket match, endured on a long drive through the outback, Bryson records with evident relish: “Neasden, it appeared, was turning in a solid performance at square bowel, while Packet had been a stalwart in the dribbles, though even these exemplary performances paled when set aside the outstanding play of young Hugo Twain-Buttocks at middle nipple. The commentators were in calm agreement that they had not seen anyone caught behind with such panache since Tandoori took Rogan Josh for a stiffy at Vindaloo in '61. At last Stovepipe, having found his way over the railway line at Flinders Street – the footbridge was evidently closed for painting – returned to the stadium and bowled to Hasty, who deftly turned the ball away for a corner.... I may not have the terminology exactly right, but I believe I have caught the flavor of it.” Only once does Bryson become uncharacteristically testy. On checkout from the Darwin City Frontier Hotel, when he was invited to visit again by the desk attendant, his retort, “I would sooner have bowel surgery in the woods with a stick”, is indication of a truly bad experience. Commendably, the author provides the reader with many facts, figures and anecdotes behind Australia's history and evolution as a nation (although even he can't say for sure if the actual number of original convict-settlers was 529, 696, 751 or 775). Thus, it comes as a surprise and disappointment that he relatively ignores the Aboriginals. These unfortunate people ostensibly present such an awkward problem for the population's majority that Bryson comes to adopt the same stance as the locals, and simply ignores the natives after a few cursory observations. To his credit, however, he admits it, and doesn't seem too proud of the fact.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Tyrannosaurus Sue: The Extraordinary Saga of the Largest, Most Fought over T-Rex Ever Found; Author: Steve Fiffer; Review: In the summer of 1990, a team of fossil hunters representing the Black Hills Institute of Geological Research, led by Peter Larson, unearthed the nearly complete skeleton of a mighty darn large Tyrannosaurus rex dinosaur buried on South Dakota land owned by one Maurice Williams. Larson paid Williams $5,000 for the skeleton, named it "Sue", and then moved it to the Institute's facility at Hill City for preservation and restoration. In May 1992, the Bandini hit the fan with an FBI raid and confiscation, and TYRANNOSAURUS SUE is the story of the 7-year legal mess that resulted. A mess that could only happen in America, the Land of the Free and the Home of Eternal Litigation. Steve Fiffer, a Windy City journalist, has ably reconstructed Sue's saga, from the time her bones were spotted by Sue Hendrickson in a sandstone cliff, to their auction years later to an unlikely consortium comprised of the Field Museum of Natural History, Disney Corporation, and McDonald's. Most of the narrative details the protracted and acerbic civil and criminal litigation that surrounded custody of the fragmented skeleton, the chief contestants being Larson, Williams, the Cheyenne River Sioux, and the U.S. Justice Department. If the reader is a paleontologist, or just otherwise fascinated by big, toothy lizards, then this book is a must read. However, my interest was only mildly inquisitive, so I found parts of it dry going. First of all, there are no photos - not a single one. I find this hard to fathom, since Sue's excavation site was extensively photographed, the various court sessions heavily (if only locally) covered, and the reconstructed skeleton was put on permanent display before the book was published. I mean, c'mon Steve! Secondly, that part of the account describing historical aspects of dinosaur hunting in the U.S. was pretty much irrelevant to the central story, and Chapter 10, which contained too much of the criminal trial's verbatim testimony, was cause for Droopy Eyelids Syndrome. Lastly, I couldn't muster much sympathy for any one or more of the principal courtroom adversaries. Peter Larson, indicted with others from the Institute by the Feds for illegally removing artifacts from government land, was, at best, a nave fossil-hunting nerd, or, at worst, a cunning and disingenuous outlaw. The government's chief prosecutor, Kevin Schieffer, came across as unreasonable and intransigent. Maurice Williams, who denied he was selling Sue when given that $5K, was the quintessence of greed. And how about those the Cheyenne River Sioux? A bunch of opportunists! Patrick Duffy, Larson's lawyer, conducted himself like a certifiable idiot. The only likable person in the entire tale seemed to be Sue Hendrickson, but, with no picture, it's hard to say for sure. The value of TYRANNOSAURUS SUE was, to me, learning something about the world around me that I didn't know before. For the average reader, it's a fine expos of what happens when a government prosecutor has way too much time on his hands.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: What's Wrong With Dorfman?; Author: Visit Amazon's John Blumenthal Page; Review: Meet Martin Dorfman, a just-turned-40 wannabe Hollywood screenwriter who, after a decade of struggling, has yet to have any of his scripts picked up by a Tinseltown studio. Now, if life in Paradise wasn't imperfect enough, he begins suffering from bouts of nausea, dizziness, abdominal discomfort, loss of appetite, and a general malaise. What does the local medical establishment diagnose after blood tests, CAT scan, MRI, colonoscopy, and stool exam for parasites? Absolutely nothing. (And what part of "zilch" doesn't he understand?) Well then, WHAT'S WRONG WITH DORFMAN? As Marty's condition becomes long-term chronic, he resorts to the usual medley of Southern California remedies: exotic herbal treatments, special diets, and psychotherapy. (I mean, how LA!) His only comfort comes from a friendship with a fellow sufferer and wannabe actress whom he meets in his doctor's office. His attraction to Delilah is based on symbiotic self-pity and a quirky fascination: "(Delilah) is now fiddling with her brown recycled napkin, tearing it into shreds and carefully arranging the shreds in a line around her fork. Bored with this, she begins turning the shreds into little spitballs. Curiously, I find this neurotic display attractive." Author John Blumenthal takes the reader back and forth between Dorfman's miserable present, and his miserable childhood past in a household headed by his father, Felix, and mother, Gloria. The former is a dysfunctional physician, who over-diagnoses his own family's minor afflictions, and the latter is simply long-suffering. Then there are the other important characters in the plot: Martin's sister Phoebe, wife Ursula, daughter Amanda, agent Gavin, and shrink Nora. WHAT'S WRONG WITH DORFMAN? starts out acceptably amusing, and continues in that vein for about two-thirds of the book. I grant it that. Then, the humor seeps away, like blood from an open cut, to an anemic conclusion. None of Dorfman's relationships, except perhaps that with his father, are developed beyond the superficial. For example, the reader barely becomes acquainted with the three women in Martin's life that would seemingly have importance: Gloria, Phoebe, and Ursula. I finished the novel with a marked feeling of disappointment. I wanted to know more about the storyline's critical path, and less about the tangential subplots. For instance, why did Gloria absent herself from the family for six months when Martin and Phoebe were just children? In any case, by the time I finished the last page, I couldn't muster even a chuckle, and my overall response was "OK, so?" Perhaps, the author would have done better not to write this as a humorous piece, but beef it up and present it as serious fiction about the psychological harm sometimes inflicted by parents on their offspring.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The End of War: A Novel of the Race for Berlin; Author: Visit Amazon's David L. Robbins Page; Review: The previous book by David Robbins, WAR OF THE RATS, based on the German siege of Stalingrad during World War II, is an exceptional war novel. THE END OF WAR, using as a backdrop the last few months of the war against Hitler's Third Reich, is equally riveting and compelling. The legions of the Western Allies are advancing to the Rhine, and the Red Army juggernaught is poised to invade Poland from across that country's eastern border. The logical goal of both: Berlin. The characters in the second echelon of this fictional work are 20th century giants of political and military history: Roosevelt, Churchill, Stalin, and generals Eisenhower and Zhukov. It is their ideology, pride, suspicion, and desire for glory that determines the paths of armies. It's history that Berlin was taken by Zhukov and the Soviets. Because Robbins apparently did extensive research from a long bibliography to recreate the high-level decisions that directed that outcome, I like to think that much of what I read was factual. But, never mind. The value of THE END OF WAR lies in its fictional characters, the first echelon, who live under the greasy arrows drawn on the warlords' battle maps. Ilya is a former Soviet Army major, a hero of Stalingrad, reduced to enlisted status in a penal battalion because an uncle, a general, angered Stalin. Lottie is a young cello player of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, cowering with her mother under the daily (and nightly) rain of British and American bombs. Charley Bandy, whose aspiration is to enter Germany's capital with the first Anglo-American force to get there, is an American photographer working for LIFE magazine. This novel is one that virtually demands to be read at one sitting. All characters are expertly brought to life, and the dialog is consistently arresting and believable. Above all else, the images Robbins brings to mind are powerful and unforgettable. It's almost as if you're there smelling Winston's cigar, or the brick dust of Berlin's rubble. Consider the scene ... Ilya commands several Red Army soldiers escorting sixty captured Germans to the rear. On a road far from anywhere, far from any witnesses, one of the POWs collapses to the ground exhausted. The Soviets gather round, exhorting the man to get up with curses and kicks. Suddenly the episode escalates as the guards begin shouting at all the prisoners. "The guards hurl more names at the Germans. Names of prison camps, Rovno, Ternopol, Zitomir; names of occupied villages, Braslav, Balvi, Vigala; names of death camps, Auschwitz, Sobibor, Treblinka; names of dead comrades ...; names of fathers and mothers, brothers, women. The Red soldiers vent themselves on the Germans ... They have debts to collect ... One of the Germans mutters in Russian, `Bastards' ... All of these men hate. Back and forth, volleys of loathing ... Two of the Germans reach to the ground to lift their comrade. They put the man on his feet and release him with care. He stays erect, shaking. The rest of the prisoners move by instinct closer, penned animals do; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Place in the Country; Author: Visit Amazon's Laura Shaine Cunningham Page; Review: In SLEEPING ARRANGEMENTS, author Laura Shaine Cunningham movingly remembered her life growing up in the Bronx with her single mother, Rosie, until the latter's untimely death, after which Laura's guardians were her mother's two odd-ball bachelor brothers, Len and Gabe. A PLACE IN THE COUNTRY is essentially a sequel, wherein Ms. Cunningham describes her life from the mid-1950's to Y2K. Indeed, the first couple of chapters reprise events of her life with Rosie and her uncles - all in the context of explaining her developing love for "the country". This is not unexpected in someone who grew up in small, overcrowded, city apartments. Most of the book revolves around the two rural homes in which the author has spent a good portion of her adult life, the Castle and The Inn, the latter having been her abode away from The City for the last 18 years up to the present. Laura's life has been, in many ways, perfectly ordinary - probably not so different from the general pattern of yours or mine. Perhaps that's why it's so appealing. (We have here not the memoir of an obnoxious diva, whining and overpaid sports figure, or dysfunctional actor.) The author's great ability in sharing is her gentle, wry sense of humor, whether it's telling us about the trials of converting an old underground cistern into a swimming pool, or starting an ill-conceived cottage industry in potpourri pillows, or battling the local fauna over home-grown tomatoes, or the adoption of her first daughter from Romania, or her second daughter from China, or learning the pitfalls inherent to raising chickens, geese and goats. For instance ... "I spent most of my time preparing the alleged garden, jumping on the end of a pickaxe, trying to tilt the tip of what might be a glacial formation (of rock) that extends to the core of the earth. When at last there was a thin strip of what we could call soil, we stuck in seeds, which were instantly lost and unidentifiable except to the birds that snacked on them. We graduated immediately to seedlings that cost as much as the finished vegetables. In this way, we worked our way up, with credit cards, to the six-hundred dollar tomato." Not all of Laura's life in the country has been happy. In the later chapters, when she tells of the eventual dissolution of her 27-year marriage, or the neighbors that move away, or die, or just her slide into middle-age, the tone of A PLACE IN THE COUNTRY becomes occasionally melancholic. ("Time is supposed to march on, but now it hurtles.") But, her narrative never loses the sensitivity and poignancy that conveys to the reader the fact that she is, from all evidence, a truly good human being giving Life her best shot. A person that it would be an honor to hug.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Julie and Romeo: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Jeanne Ray Page; Review: There's a flower vendetta in Somerville. For years, the Rosemans and Cacciamanis have each owned a single florist shop in this Boston burb. The intensity of the rivalry and loathing between the two families would bring nods of empathy from warring drug kingpins. Then, Julie Roseman, divorced, meets Romeo Cacciamani, widowed, at a seminar for the owners of failing small businesses, and love blossoms like orchids in a hothouse. My, my. How will the children of each, raised on a steady diet of hatred for the other camp, react? JULIE AND ROMEO is nurse Jeanne Ray's first novel. The plot is uncomplicated and the ending fairly predictable, perhaps even too pat, so it's not a heavyweight in the genre. But, it is charming, humorous, cute and even a bit clever. As an author's first offering, it's more than commendable - and Jeanne, if she sticks with writing, can only improve. There are two features of this book which made it notable for me. First, Julie and Romeo are both aged sixty. It's refreshing to read a storyline wherein amour and heavy breathing aren't limited to the under-30 set. (Bravo, Ms. Ray, for reminding us of that. There was a reason my own 70 y.o. widower grandfather ran off with our 60 y.o. widow housekeeper!) Second, the volume is a quick read. For someone like myself with too many books and too little time, that's a big plus!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Sledge Patrol: A WWII Epic of Escape, Survival, and Victory; Author: David Howarth; Review: Greenland, a Danish colony, found itself in an odd spot after the mother country was occupied by the Germans during World War Two. Technically, the colonial government, headed by Eske Brun, should have followed the instructions from Copenhagen, i.e. the Nazi occupiers. But, Brun decided to take Greenland into the camp of the Allies. Thus, he formed the Greenland Army, to which he gave instructions to patrol the virtually uninhabited northeast coast of the huge island, and be on the lookout for (and shoot at) any German forces attempting to land. This instance of a "mouse that roared" serves as the milieu for this story, first published in 1957. In fact, the Germans did "invade". A small, armed force under a naval officer named Ritter made landfall for the purpose of establishing a meteorological station tasked with broadcasting weather reports to the Kriegsmarines U-boats operating in the North Atlantic. This "base", out beyond the last human settlement, subsequently came to the notice of THE SLEDGE PATROL, commanded by Ib Poulsen, which represented the entire 9-man Greenland Army. (Yes, that's right. Nine!) The action of the book is principally a series of almost haphazard dog sled journeys across snow and ice-covered bodies of water and land by members of the Greenland Army and the German intruders. At times, as both sides seek each other out, one is reminded of a Keystone Cops episode. Though the climate provides some element of hardship, the damage done by each opposing force to the other is minimal. Indeed, if one views the Germans as the Bad Guys, their nominal leader, Ritter, is hardly the great villain of the piece. As a matter of fact, hes such a nice and ultimately decent guy that hes clearly inept in the role of military commander. Poulsen, as the leader of the Good Guys, is conscientious and responsible in carrying out his duties, but otherwise rather nondescript. This narrative serves to record the personal heroism and stamina of those men - chiefly Poulsen, Kurt Olsen and Marius Jensen - ordered by the Governor to observe and report back the German presence. And resist, if possible. Of that heroism and stamina the reader is left with no doubts. However, the time at which the events occurred, late winter/early spring of 1943, was also the period seeing an end to the Battle of Stalingrad and the final conquest of North Africa by the Anglo-American armies. Against the backdrop of these pivotal conflicts, the exploits of THE SLEDGE PATROL pale to absolute insignificance. Perhaps thats why their story should be told. Or, perhaps, why bother? You must decide for yourself. As for me, I was left with respect for the defenders efforts, but otherwise emotionally cold.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: American Rhapsody; Author: Visit Amazon's Joe Eszterhas Page; Review: Author/screenwriter Joe Eszterhas is a child of the 60's and 70's reared, by his own admission, on a steady diet of sex, drugs and rock `n' roll. Curiously, his first political hero was Senator/Presidential Candidate Goldwater. Why? Because Barry told it like it was. But LBJ won and Viet Nam escalated, followed by Nixon and Watergate. The lies were endless, and Joe was disgusted. Then, in 1992, along came William Jefferson Clinton, America's first President of the rock `n' roll generation. Eszterhas was ecstatic. Bill won't lie because "he's one of us". AMERICAN RHAPSODY is a powerful, bawdy, brilliant, full-frontal excoriation of Bill Clinton's almost-personal betrayal of the author's hopes and expectations. Because Bubba lied to America - about sex, his preoccupation with it, and his tawdry affair with the First Bimbo, Monica Lewinsky. Joe claims the bulk of the narrative is based on well-researched facts, though there's no bibliography of primary source material - a key omission, perhaps. Several of the chapters, presented in bold type, are admittedly fictitious monologues ascribed to several key players in this red, white and blue soap opera. As Eszterhas explores Bubba's promiscuity specifically, and that of Washington and Hollywood in general, the lead roles are reserved for Bill, "Willard", and Monica. The supporting cast is otherwise extensive: Hillary, Bob Dole, John McCain, James Carville, Arianna Huffington (the "Sorceress"), Matt Drudge, Linda Tripp (the "Ratwoman"), Ken Starr, Bob Packwood, Sharon Stone, Warren Beatty, Larry Flynt, and Vernon Jordan, plus cameos by Gennifer Flowers, Paula Jones, Kathleen Willey, Juanita Broaddrick, and a bevy of others. The author ascribes particular significance to the lasting and pernicious influence of his personal bogeyman-under-the-bed, Richard Nixon (the "Night Creature). Why this is apparently so really isn't clear. (Get over it, Joe! Nixon is dead for Chrissakes!) And the reasons for including the Huffingtons, Dole, and McCain on the playbill are particularly hazy, although Eszterhas clearly admires the take-no-prisoners honesty of both McCain and Carville. Prominent utilization is also made of the two infamous props of the piece: The Cigar and the Stained Blue Dress. Though it could've benefited from tighter editing, AMERICAN RHAPSODY is a ribald, spirited, cheeky and fun read. It may stand as one of the definitive books on the Clinton Presidency. However, don't expect it to appear on your child's high school Political Science reading list anytime soon.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Rules of Engagement; Author: Visit Amazon's Gordon Kent Page; Review: When Navy pilot Mick Craik's fighter jet is terminally damaged by an Iranian SAM, his son, Navy Intelligence Analyst Lt. (jg) Alan Craik, watches in horror from a refueling plane as his father's aircraft crashes into the Persian Gulf. While brooding about the circumstances of the incident, Alan comes to the conclusion that Dad was deliberately set up to take the fall by an unidentified traitor serving aboard a US aircraft carrier. But who's going to listen to a very junior IA? RULES OF ENGAGEMENT spans several years as the younger Craik and his crackpot theory gain credibility within the Naval Intelligence community as pieces of confirmatory evidence fall into place. Finally, evolving events and opportunity combine to send Alan chasing across continents to capture his father's killer. The jacket of this paperback lauds the novel as a "can't put down book". Although a solidly crafted yarn, it's not quite that until the last third or so when the plot picks up enough speed to justify the description. Until then, the pace is comparatively sedate as Craik matures both professionally and personally. And it isn't until then that this reader got very interested in the young officer's crusade. One major plus is the marriage of Alan to a fellow naval officer, helo pilot Rose Siciliano. It's a nice touch that Rose outranks her husband, and, furthermore, is overtly more ambitious than he to climb the command ladder. (You go, girl!) However, when the two cross operational paths at the very end, it seems too convenient a plot gimmick. The successor to the USSR's KGB, the SVRR, plays a support role in an odd alliance with the CIA. The two spy organizations are represented by mid-level, female executives, Darya Ouspenskaya and Sally Baranowski respectively. The collaboration between the two was given too little print space, an expansion of which would have made the storyline significantly more interesting. This is the debut potboiler by Gordon Kent, actually a pseudonym of a father-son writing team. I'll buy their next book with the expectation that it'll be even better.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Unwanted Company; Author: Visit Amazon's Barbara Seranella Page; Review: UNWANTED COMPANY is the third in the series by Barbara Seranella featuring her "bad girl" heroine, Miranda "Munch" Mancini, 70's drug addict and hooker, now seven years into going straight after her debut in NO HUMAN INVOLVED. It's now 1984, and Munch is still an ace auto mechanic, but with a limo business on the side to help bring in money to support herself and her daughter Asia, the latter "acquired" during the last episode, NO OFFENSE INTENDED. In the first novel of the series, Munch had a refreshing antisocial edginess that colored her efforts to steer clear of a murder investigation being conducted by LAPD detective Mace St. John. By the following thriller, Munch had mellowed considerably, though still finding herself in compromising situations most law-abiding citizens never encounter. In UNWANTED COMPANY, Munch is almost a model citizen as she helps an older and wearier St. John catch a serial killer, with ripples involving the CIA, a shady Romanian, and some loose plutonium. Our heroine's continuing display of an improving social attitude remains a mild disappointment. However, in this thriller, the author compensates by introducing us to one of Mancini's old pals, Ellen, just out of the women's correctional institute and still feeling ambivalent about giving up illegal substances and turning tricks. In any case, Munch gives her a job as a limo driver, upon which Ellen wastes no time dragging her employer and the Caddy into St. John's latest case. Ellen is strangely endearing as she ricochets from one risky situation to another with more concern for her appearance, wigs and make-up kit than anything else. I hope Seranella invites her back in future offerings. Perhaps the quality of the series has reached a steady state of almost-excellence as the novelty of the Munch persona wears off somewhat subsequent to her first appearance on LA's low-life street scene. Be that as it may, Mancini remains an intriguing, attractive, vulnerable and slightly prickly protagonist that I shall continue to follow with devotion.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: French Lessons: Adventures with Knife, Fork, and Corkscrew; Author: Visit Amazon's Peter Mayle Page; Review: For several years, and through many pages of several books, expatriate Brit Peter Mayle has been a most congenial guide to the victuals, drink and lifestyle of Provence, the site of his residence in France. In FRENCH LESSONS, subtitled "adventures with knife, fork and corkscrew", we vicariously accompany the author on gastronomic fieldtrips to other French provinces near and far. Mayle sometimes falls prey to overindulgence in food and wine when accompanied by a like-minded, hedonistic, male pal, and not under the watchful gaze of the Missus. Yet, whether he's reveling at the festivities of local fairs celebrating the delights of truffles, frogs' legs, cheese, escargots, or an elite breed of chicken, he remains in the constant, unobtrusive good humor that one expects from an Englishman abroad. Peter remains smooth and unflappable, though not completely unappreciative of the local female talent, even when dining amidst the almost-naked lunch crowd at a beachside bistro near St. Tropez. And when the going gets tough, the tough get going, as he leisurely observes, glass in hand, a runners' marathon through the Bordeaux vineyards, and the high drama of a wine auction in Burgundy. Probably one of the more enlightening chapters is towards the end of the book, as the author does a behind-the-scenes report on the inspectors employed by the Michelin Guide, and the evolution of its star rating system. (This last bit was most instructive, though it still doesn't explain why Guido's Big Apple Pizza Palace down at the corner has no Michelin stars at all.) Peter Mayle is one of those chaps, a bon vivant to the core, with whom it would be a true privilege to share a bottle of wine, a baguette, some stinky cheese, and (even) garlic-drenched snails at an outdoor caf in some remote French village. His books continue to provide considerable pleasure and entertainment, and I shall continue to buy them without hesitation.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Clementine in the Kitchen: Modern Library Foods; Author: Visit Amazon's Samuel Chamberlain Page; Review: Imagine contemporary food/wine lover and author Peter Mayle (A YEAR IN PROVENCE, FRENCH LESSONS) stumbling upon, and subsequently hiring, a fabulous French cook, then writing a book about the experience. This will give you some idea of the flavor of CLEMENTINE IN THE KITCHEN, written by Samuel Chamberlain (under the nom de plume Phineas Beck), and first published in 1943. The Chamberlains - Samuel, wife, son, and daughter - were residents in the French town of Senlis for several years immediately before the outbreak of World War II. Samuel was an American businessman representing a U.S. company. After enduring five successive unsatisfactory cooks, the family discovered Clementine, a miracle worker in the kitchen. Then, brought back to the States by his company in 1939 because of gathering war clouds, Samuel offers to take the unattached Clementine to the Chamberlains' new home in Marblehead, MA. In addition to being about French food and the preparation of it, CLEMENTINE IN THE KITCHEN is a charming narrative of the lady's introduction to things distinctly un-French, including such wonders as the American outdoor barbecue ceremony, supermarkets, hot dogs, whole hams (unknown back home except by the very rich), frozen foods, canned clam juice, breakfast cereals, Coon cheese, and blueberries. A few eternal truths were apparent even 60+ years ago. Two examples: "Sliced American bread in cellophane puzzled Clementine. Those even white slices might be fine for sandwiches of ham and cheese sauteed in butter and covered with a cream sauce, but they didn't have enough substance for her idea of good table bread." Isn't this the truth?! (Such bread does make good peanut butter 'n' jelly sandwiches - though folded over, not cut.) "The wastefulness of American packaging shocked us all... Fully half the weight of our purchases seemed to go into the trash barrel. The economical Clementine began to save paper bags, until the pile became overwhelming." Don't I know it! Sounds like my wife. The book's first 150 pages comprise Samuel's narrative regarding Clementine's initial admission into the household, and her subsequent expatriation to Massachusetts. This section contains a few recipes relevant to the text, and a number of B&W sketches, perhaps pencil/charcoal originals, by the author himself. These sketches are truly marvelous works of art depicting locations described: the family's homes in Senlis and Marblehead, the Senlis main shopping street, a favorite French cafe, Boston's Faneuil Hall Market, shady Marblehead lanes, and many others. The book's final 100 pages is a compilation of Clementine's recipes revised by Samuel's daughter, Narcisse. (Clementine didn't stay with the Chamberlains, for a reason I won't reveal here.) CLEMENTINE IN THE KITCHEN is a must-have addition for anyone interested in food, the time necessary for experimenting with French cooking, and the metabolism to absorb unscathed lots of butter and cream sauces. Unfortunately, I don't have the last two. So, let's see - what frozen dinner gets popped into the microwave tonight?; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: McAuslan Entire: Including the General Danced at Dawn, McAuslan in the Rough, the Sheikh and the Dustbin; Author: George MacDonald Fraser; Review: Early last year, when MCAUSLAN ENTIRE was only available from the UK as THE COMPLETE MCAUSLAN, I spent the extra gold to get it shipped across The Pond - and it was worth every penny. This is perhaps the funniest single book I've ever read. Granted, it's actually a compendium of three works previously published over a span of many years, but I salute Fraser's ability to sustain the level of humor from the beginning to end of his McAuslan saga. Another of the author's remarkable talents is his ability to recreate in text a heavy Scottish dialect. After finishing, I gave the book to a colleague from Scotland, and she delightedly pronounced the dialogue authentic. I suspect that this collection of stories, based on Fraser's reminiscences of his own stint as a very junior officer with a Highland regiment for several years immediately after World War II, will entertain anyone who's ever served in the military, no matter what country or service branch. I myself spent 11 years in the U.S. Navy, and I couldn't put it down. Absolutely first class!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Daughter of God; Author: Visit Amazon's Lewis Perdue Page; Review: DAUGHTER OF GOD is a potboiler, at the heart of which is yet another abominable cabal hatched by Vatican plotters headed by an ambitious and unscrupulous Cardinal. (Don't you ever wonder why the Church of England, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, or even the Hare Krishnas, can't manage to be such busybodies in the world of fictional mischief-making?) Art historian Zoe Ridgefield and her ex-cop husband, Seth, stumble across hard evidence of a miracle-working female Messiah, Sophia, who lived in the first quarter of the 4th century. Sophia was ultimately killed on the order of the Emperor Constantine, who wished to keep his empire free of religious squabbles. Over the centuries, the Catholic Church, grounded in its belief of Jesus Christ as the one and only Messiah, suppressed knowledge of Sophia's existence for the same reason. Now, decades after the Nazis stumbled across the great secret and used it to blackmail Pius XII, the evidence is again up for grabs by Church zealots, the U.S. National Security Agency, and an unholy alliance comprised of the Russian Mafia and ex-KGB. (Our old Cold War nemesis never goes away in authors' fevered imaginations, it just diversifies.) DAUGHTER OF GOD is a fast-paced, moderately intelligent, and semi-taut thriller that has the Ridgeways escaping one hairy situation after another as they're pursued from Southern California to the Austrian Alps by assassins. In that regard, the plot is eminently predictable. However, as both Zoe and Seth are basically nice folks caught in a bad spot, the reader is unlikely to withhold sympathy. The ending holds a couple of character identity surprises, but they weren't so unusual as to cause me to exclaim, "Wow, way cool!" While I'm of the opinion that this book is marginally entertaining escapist entertainment, I also think, in the light of recent events in New York and Washington, that it's also rather silly. The Holy Mother Church and the Russian Mafia, the latter with or without assistance from KGB troglodytes, are the least of our worries. Maybe our literary fiction in this genre needs to grow up.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Driving Over Lemons: An Optimist in Andalucia; Author: Visit Amazon's Chris Stewart Page; Review: If you've enjoyed Peter Mayle's series on Provence initiated when he and his wife bought and refurbished a dilapidated French farmhouse, or Extra Virgin: A Young Woman Discovers the Italian Riviera, Where Every Month Is Enchanted by Annie Hawes, then you'll be positively enamored of DRIVING OVER LEMONS, written by Chris Stewart, another Brit wishing to escape the island. Perhaps it's the weather. Chris, a sheep-shearer and sometime travel writer, begins his narrative as he's traveling alone in Spain's Andalusia. Right off, he spends his life's savings on a somewhat isolated, but definitely rustic, farm called El Valero without first calling England to consult with his wife, Ana. (Now, this strikes me as a markedly hazardous course, and brings to mind the prudent caution, "Don't try this at home".) In any case, he adroitly manages to sell the concept to a dubious spouse, and soon the Stewarts and the family dog cut all ties to Sussex and immigrate to their new rural residence. One major difference between author Stewart and author Mayle is that the former doesn't dwell hedonistically on the food and wine of his adopted country. (One brief reference to a local delicacy favored by Macho Locals, burnt chicken's heads, may indicate the grounds for such an omission.) Rather, DRIVING OVER LEMONS is all about rebuilding El Valero into something more civilized, installing running water via an ancient aqueduct, constructing a bridge over a river that flows through the property, acquiring and maintaining a herd of sheep, begetting a daughter, Chloe, and interacting with the natives and other members of the Foreign Community. However, one characteristic that Chris does share with Mayle (and Hawes) is a wonderfully dry and entertaining wit that seems to be a genetic trait of British expatriate writers. For example, when describing the belated christening ceremony of 3 year-old Chloe: "Chloe looked as if she was about to cut up rough but Ana managed to bribe her into a hesitant co-operation by flashing the edge of a bar of chocolate, kept at the ready in her pocket, and pointing meaningfully towards the altar. Chloe edged forward throwing side glances at the chocolate in the way that sailors keep a lighthouse in view when crossing onshore tides. (After the ceremony) Ana and I breathed a sigh of relief as she slunk back to (her best friend) Rosa clutching her chocolate. I like to think they shared it. It's no good going through the form of the thing, you have to act by its precepts." I enjoyed this volume immensely, and hope that Stewart, like Mayle, will make a literary series of it. Andalusia is a place I will likely never visit, and Chris is a convivial and likable guide.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Defeat into Victory (Pan Military Classics); Author: William Slim; Review: Awhile ago, I read QUARTERED SAFE OUT HERE, the wartime memoir by George MacDonald Fraser detailing his experiences as an infantryman with the 17th Division of the 14th Indian Army as the latter pursued the retreating Japanese through Burma during the closing months of WWII. He had nothing but high praise for the army commander, Field-Marshal William Slim. This prompted me to purchase and read Slim's own account of the time and place, DEFEAT INTO VICTORY. The two books are a perfect pair for anyone interested in the India-Burma Theater of the war - perspectives from both the top and bottom of the British Army's command structure. Slim's memoirs, first published in 1956 while he was serving as Governor General of Australia, begin with his assignment to command the 1st Burma Corps during it's desperate fighting retreat from Burma into India in 1942 after the Japanese captured Rangoon. Then later, as chief of the 14th Indian Army, he oversees the regrouping and rebuilding of the force that finally decimates the Japanese invaders at Imphal in northern India, and subsequently chases the fleeing enemy back south through Burma. One of Slim's most notable characteristics is his evident lack of an overbearing ego. Several times in his book, he makes reference to his mistakes, errors in planning or judgement, and his deficiencies as a military commander. (Imagine that other famous British Field-Marshal of the war, the prima donna Montgomery, admitting such!) Much to his credit, Slim apparently learned hard lessons as he went along, and emerged as the better man and general for it. This, combined with his great concern for his men's morale, health, training and supply, justifies the high regard in which he was held by "rankers" such as Fraser. Churchill was wrong when he remarked, "I cannot believe that a man with a name like Slim can be much good." The author's history of the Burma war is comprehensive - perhaps excessively so for the casual reader such as myself. His narrative includes the movement of troops as far down as battalion level, which is way more than I needed to know. Because of this, I might have awarded 4 stars instead of 5 had I been less mindful of the contribution Slim's memoir makes to the history of an almost forgotten theater of the global conflict. A keener student of the Burma campaigns is certain to appreciate these details more than I did. Finally, there is the Field-Marshal's dry British wit, which shows all too infrequently. For example, when discussing his opposite number in the Japanese Army, Lieutenant General Kawabe, Slim writes: "I did, however, manage to get a photograph alleged to be that of Kawabe. It showed what might have been a typical western caricature of a Japanese; the bullet head, the thick glasses, and prominent teeth were all there... When I needed cheering I looked at it and assured myself that, whichever of us was the cleverer general, even I was, at any rate, the better looking."; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Flint (Grace Flint); Author: Visit Amazon's Paul Eddy Page; Review: Thus might Grace Flint, possibly one of the most intriguing heroes of recent thriller fiction, be characterized. Grace is Detective Inspector Flint of Scotland Yard, assigned to the Major Crimes unit as an undercover operative. Three years previous, she got caught in a sting gone awry, during which her partner was killed and her face stomped to a pulp. Now, after extensive reconstructive surgery and rehabilitation, she's back on the job. While on assignment to America, she stumbles across the trail of the man, Frank Harling, who ordered her beating. It's becomes evident that Frank is now involved in an international blackmail and money laundering scheme masterminded by highly placed individuals in the West's intelligence and law enforcement agencies. Not knowing whom to trust, even within her own service, Flint goes underground to track Harling down. There's actually a second protagonist in this plot, Harry Cohen, who's on an almost equal footing with Flint. Harry, a solicitor by profession, was once MI5's chief legal counsel, but was sacked after recommending against too many operations of dubious legality. Now, Grace's friends bring Cohen back to find Flint before she runs afoul of either Harling again or the criminal schemers within the Establishment that want her investigation stopped. But, are Grace's "friends" really her friends, or are they the Bad Guys? Flint is fascinating because of the heavy load of emotional and psychological baggage she carries. There are, obviously, the aftereffects of her physical trauma manifested by her obsession with Harling. But also, as the storyline reveals, Grace's mother vanished one day when her daughter was but a young girl, apparently to foul play since the family dog was severely and deliberately injured in the same event. The woman was never found, not even her body. For a period during her adolescence, Grace actually thought that her veterinarian father had committed the murder, and had him investigated by the police - an investigation that discovered nothing. Because of all this, Flint is extremely vulnerable. Yet she remains smart, highly motivated, and terribly good at what she does for the London Metropolitan Police, i.e. being an undercover agent that can completely take on whatever role of the moment she needs to play. In that sense, she's a chameleon, both to her quarry and the reader. As much as I enjoyed FLINT, I'm only awarding 4 stars because of a major loose end not tidied up at the conclusion - the question of her mother's disappearance. Perhaps the author means to return to the mystery in a sequel. Perhaps not. It seems too curious a thread to leave hanging, and I shall be sorely vexed if a following volume doesn't revisit the incident.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Boone's Lick; Author: Visit Amazon's Larry McMurtry Page; Review: Just as the tiny town of Lonesome Dove was the starting point for a journey in Larry McMurtry's book of the same name, so also is Boone's Lick in this yarn by the same author. In LONESOME DOVE, we followed the adventures of two Texas Rangers turned cattle ranchers driving a herd from the banks of the Rio Grande to Montana. In BOONE'S LICK, we have a family of sodbusters, the Cecils, traversing the plains between Missouri and Wyoming shortly after the Civil War. The family is led by the mother, Mary Margaret, whose intent is to find her husband, gone these past 14 months and presumably living at one of the Army's frontier forts, possibly with an Indian woman. Along for the ride are Mary's children (G.T., Shay, Neva, and Marcy), her brother-in-law Seth, her half-sister Rosie, and her aged Pa. Also attaching themselves to the group are an old French priest, Fr. Villy, and a native guide, Charlie Seven Days. Whereas LONESOME DOVE was a truly epic tale, both as a book and as one of the best TV miniseries ever broadcast, BOONE'S LICK is less ambitious, but enjoyable nonetheless. The character of Seth was sufficiently similar to that of Gus McCrae in the LONESOME DOVE screenplay that I could easily imagine McRae's Robert Duvall playing the part if BOONE'S LICK is ever brought to the screen. (Picturing Duvall as Seth added considerably to my enjoyment.) Author McMurtry's style is very similar in both stories. He doesn't downplay the hardships and dangers of cross-country travel at that time and place in American history. But he doesn't ignore rustic Western humor either. When, while traveling by riverboat, Seth remarks to Mary Margaret that one of the crew, Joel, is thinking about marrying Rosie, MM retorts, "I don't think he's aiming that high. But he's aiming." Indeed, the verbal interplay between the crusty, independent Seth and the determined, strong-willed Mary Margaret is one of the storyline's major joys. This is not a great book by any stretch, mainly because it's a novella masquerading as a full-length novel (with a full-length novel's price tag). However, the characters are well drawn, the dialog seemingly authentic for the period, and the action believable. You can read it in a two to three hours, and it's time well spent.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: A Fortunate Man: The Story of a Country Doctor; Author: Visit Amazon's John Berger Page; Review: A FORTUNATE MAN: THE STORY OF A COUNTRY DOCTOR, first published in the mid-1960s by John Berger, has as its subject a certain John Sassall, a rural physician in England. This small volume, 169 pages in paperback, is also nicely illustrated with many apt b/w photographs by Jean Mohr. If you've ever been enchanted by ALL CREATURES GREAT AND SMALL by Dr. James Herriot, an English country veterinarian, then A FORTUNATE MAN starts out promising enough with a half dozen or so brief accounts of Dr. Sassall's interactions with his patients. Then, the remainder and greater portion of the text is a lengthy Berger essay based on his observations of the physician and his place in the community. Sassall himself, as might otherwise be revealed by his very real and illustrative day to day rounds, is reduced to the introductory cameos. Berger mixes philosophy and social commentary as he explores such subjects as the doctor/patient relationship, the art of diagnosis, the physician's social standing in the community, and the physician's view of suffering. The flavor of Berger's dissertation can be sampled from this snippet regarding suffering: "The objective co-ordinates of time and space, which are necessary to fix a presence, are relatively stable. But the subjective experience of time is liable to be so grossly distorted - above all by suffering -that it becomes, both to the sufferer and any person partially identifying himself with the sufferer, extremely difficult to correlate with time proper. Sassall not only has to make this correlation, he also has to correlate the patient's subjective experience of time with his own subjective experience." The book is less about Dr. Sassall then the author's discernment of the man, and the two are not necessarily the same. This volume would be well-received as part of any medical school curriculum - Theory of Bedside Manner or Medical Ethics 1A, perhaps. For myself, as one who is grudgingly granted 10 minutes of a doctor's distracted attention during the annual physical - the HMO's time is money, after all - I wanted to be presented with first hand evidence that real doctors (like my father the GP who made house calls!) still exist somewhere in the world. Berger's lecturing, while well-meaning and perceptive, didn't do that. It just bored.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Hearts in Atlantis; Author: Visit Amazon's Stephen King Page; Review: At a time when the vanishing World War II generation is paid tribute through books and films, HEARTS IN ATLANTIS is Stephen King's homage to his (and mine), the Vietnam generation. HEARTS is a series of stories that take place, respectively, in 1960, 1966, 1983, and two in 1999. All are loosely connected through characters we meet in the first, 11-year old Bobby Garfield and his best pals Sully-John and Carol, and one from the group of slightly older boys who torment them, Willie Shearman. Each of the storylines otherwise stands alone, more or less. In 1960, Bobby, a fatherless boy living with an uncaring mother, becomes attached to the world-wise Ted, an old man renting the rooms upstairs who is being hunted by sinister "low men in yellow coats". In 1966, new character Pete is on the verge of flunking out of the university because of his preoccupation with an addictive card game. More important to the book's overall plot, he falls in love with a fellow student, Carol from Story One, and through her discovers the anti-Vietnam peace movement. In 1983, Willie Shearman, a Vietnam veteran, continues to pay a bizarre penance for past sins, chief of which, apparently, was the wrong he did Carol as a boy. In 1999, emotionally and physically scarred Vietnam vet Sully-John remembers his time "in the green". Also in 1999, Carol and Bobby stumble across each other after leading separate lives for almost 40 years. The threads between all five plots are Carol and a beat-up old baseball glove once belonging to Bobby. This is not one of King's more lucid works. Indeed, the Willie Shearman episode of 1983 needed much more explaining. (My reaction to it was just short of "Huh?!") However, a mediocre book by King is a gem by other standards, so it's impossible not to recommend it on some level. The point the author is trying to make, I think, is that the memories from our formative years, however deformed by succeeding events - in this case the Vietnam conflict - stay with us as powerful emotional catalysts, and perhaps as crippling psychological scars, even unto our twilight years and old age. The film version of HEARTS IN ATANTIS, based almost solely on the first chapter dealing with the events of 1960, was magical in its use of visual and aural images to evoke that period in the mid-twentieth century when those in childhood, and middle-class America as a whole, were on the verge of losing their innocence. Because both I and the fictional Bobby turned eleven in that year, I could relate. And, I think the book will stir up memories in anyone of my generation, whether he/she fought in Southeast Asia or demonstrated at home. Not a great book, but worth a read. Definitely see the movie for a more intense burst of the book's flavor.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Power of Gold; Author: Visit Amazon's Peter L. Bernstein Page; Review: "Unlike any other element on earth, almost all the gold ever mined is still around... If you piled all this gold in one solid cube, you could fit it aboard any of today's great oil tankers; its total weight would amount to approximately 125,000 tons ..." So writes Peter Bernstein in the prologue of THE POWER OF GOLD. (Uh-oh. If I want to corner the bullion market, I'd better get a bigger safe deposit box.) This volume is a highly readable history of the element Au from the reign of King Midas to the present, and from gold's status as a commodity, as money, as a monetary standard, and back to commodity again. To the hardboiled bean counter, Bernstein's work might seem superficial. Well, since I never claim to be a deep thinker, and am relatively indifferent to the state of the world economy and the pretentious pronouncements about it made by financial experts on the morning talk show circuit, it proved to be an entertaining and educational read. The author guides us down the Golden Brick Road from the times of the ancient Greeks, Egyptians, and Chinese, to Rome and Byzantium, further along to the Black Death-ravaged Middle Ages, on to the empires of the English and Spanish, and finally to the recently-past obsessions of the British, American and French governments. And, while THE POWER OF GOLD describes the element in all its guises - adornment, coinage, spoil of war, power display, horde in a sock - the book is, above all, a fine treatise on economics. My only quarrel with Bernstein is that he sometimes rambles off on tangents not really germane to the topic. It's enough to know that Spain plundered the gold from the Inca Empire, transporting it back to Europe on its treasure galleons. The author's account of Francisco Pizarro's treacherous capture and murder of the Inca king was nice background, but not essential. Similarly, it's enough to know that the 19th century gold strikes in California, Alaska, Russia, South Africa and Australia destabilized the world's supply of the metal, but I didn't require Johann Sutter's sob story to appreciate the fact. Thankfully, Bernstein gave no background on President Richard Nixon, whose momentous 1971 decision to remove the U.S. $ from the gold standard seems forgotten in the glare of his China policy and Watergate. As I sit contemplating my few British sovereigns and South African krugerrands losing value in my tiny safe deposit box, I think perhaps Prime Minister Disraeli was quite correct when he said, "Our gold standard is not the cause, but the consequence of our commercial prosperity." The wealth of a nation is perhaps better judged by its (non-gold) natural resources, and the productivity of its citizens in putting those fortuitous gifts to good use.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Too Good to Be True: The Colossal Book of Urban Legends; Author: Visit Amazon's Jan Harold Brunvand Page; Review: Urban legends are anecdotal yarns, sworn to be factually based, which become embellished to the point of being "too good to be true" as they percolate through society. Today's urban legends will become the future's fairy tales. TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE is an assemblage of over 200 such stories gathered by Jan Brunvand, who is an expert, perhaps obsessively so, on the subject. They cover a wide range of source topics: pets, criminals, cars, sex, accidents, babies, work, technology, human nature, mistaken ID, academia, food, the supernatural, wild animals, and more. They inspire laughter, horror, disbelief, or just plain "Oh, yuck!" Each story is followed by a paragraph, sometimes lengthy, on the times and places the anecdote, or some variant of it, has appeared. Some go back to the 19th century. After the first twenty-five or so, I decided to leave this last bit to the truly compulsive. My favorite was the one about the American couple staying at the Moscow hotel during the bad old Soviet era. Obsessed with the possible presence of listening devices, the couple searched the room for "bugs". Finding only a metal plate under the carpet, they removed the screws from it. The next morning on checkout, the desk manager asked if they'd spent a pleasant night. He was concerned since the couple in the room below our intrepid travelers had the chandelier fall on them. My wife said she's never seen me laugh so hard. The trouble with these stories is that they have no developing plot, no hero to love, and no villain to hate. Like eating popcorn, the experience, however delightful, ends with the last kernel/paragraph. Nobody ever exclaims, "Wow, I had a great bag of popcorn last week!" Similarly, I doubt this book will stay memorable for more than a minute. As a bathroom diversion for those contemplative moments, it stands out. Otherwise, it's light reading with a capital "L".; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The House of God: The Classic Novel of Life and Death in an American Hospital; Author: Visit Amazon's Samuel Shem Page; Review: The HOUSE OF GOD was originally published in the 1970's when it was relatively more fashionable to throw eggs at anything that was "establishment". In this darkly humorous novel, the target is the U.S. medical profession - specifically, the training young physicians receive at the beginning of their careers. We follow the education of Dr. Roy Basch during the year of his hospital internship in the HOUSE OF GOD after graduating from the Best Medical School. Almost immediately, he's introduced to the patient population that will be his nemesis - the Gomers (the acronym for Get Out of My Emergency Room). Gomers are geriatric, mentally disoriented, chronically ill, debilitated adults who get no better, yet never manage to die on their own. Dr. Roy can choose as a role model either the Fat Man or Jo, two second-year doctor-trainees ("residents"). The Fat Man's philosophy is to do nothing to treat the Gomers, while Jo will attempt every heroic procedure in the book. Paradoxically, Gomers get better, or at least remain stable, under the former regimen, but get worse and die under the latter. At the other end of the patient scale are those relatively young admissions that die tragically no matter what. After several months of experiencing this and exposure to the incompetence and/or mercenary greed of the private physicians on the hospital staff, Basch is sustained in this psychologically and professionally crushing environment only by the sex he has with Nurse Molly. Then, even that isn't enough, and Roy alienates his friends by becoming withdrawn, sarcastic, and obnoxious. Can our hero, all idealism now lost, be saved before he drops out or commits suicide? Since the HOUSE OF GOD was authored by a physician, Samuel Shem, I give him the benefit of the doubt that his description of the dehumanizing experience that is a medical internship in a large, urban medical center is at least partly accurate. And, it is humorous, at least until the reader realizes that each one of us is a potential Gomer, at which point the plot becomes less cause for chuckles. God forbid that we should become victims of such medical malpractice as found within these pages. The greatest failing of this novel in the year 2001 is that it's dated. In this age of AIDS, I would doubt that `terns" are nowadays as promiscuous as depicted. And, since many physicians are now not much more than salaried drones for the HMOs, the egotism of the medical profession as a whole is not quite the balloon to be popped that it once was. As an alternative to Shem's novel, I would recommend the 1971 cinematic black comedy THE HOSPITAL, starring George C. Scott, since it touches on much the same themes. Scott is at his very best, and the movie can be viewed more quickly than this book can be read. At 420 pages, the latter got a little tiresome.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Coalwood Way (The Coalwood Series #2); Author: Visit Amazon's Homer Hickam Page; Review: Several years ago, ex-NASA engineer Homer Hickam published the first volume of his memoirs, ROCKET BOYS, which was subsequently made into the hit film OCTOBER SKY. In these, the author remembers growing up in the West Virginia coal town of Coalwood in the late 1950s. From the moment he saw the first Soviet Sputnik traverse the night sky in 1957, Homer became obsessed with space, rockets and his hero, Werner von Braun. Along with several high school chums, Hickam built and, after some initial failures, launched several dozen rockets. As high school seniors, the group won a national science fair for their achievements in rocketry. In THE COALWOOD WAY, Homer expands on that period during his final high school year when he was steadily improving the design and performance of his missiles, but before he won the national competition that was the culminating triumph of his first book. This second volume of memoirs focuses less on rocketry than the other challenges Hickam faced in his hometown and personal life. His father, the mine superintendent, is a stern workaholic who demonstrates little overt love for his second son (while being more lavish with his firstborn, Jim). His mother, Elsie, is increasingly disenchanted with her marriage and life in Coalwood, and wants to move to Florida to sell real estate. Miners are being laid off by the parent company, an Ohio steel manufacturer. Families are going hungry. There's talk of a strike. Homer is driven to get all A's in school to be able to escape his environment, go to college, and ultimately work at Cape Canaveral. And, of course, there's the distraction of girls, and deciding whom to take to the Christmas Formal. After all, Melba June did sidle up close and say in a throaty voice, "I just love your rockets." That THE COALWOOD WAY is less inspiring then its predecessor, and that Hollywood is unlikely to consider it material for the silver screen, shouldn't detract from the fact that it's a poignant coming-of-age story with an attractive hero. Delightfully, the author can be occasionally humorous in a homespun sort of way, as when he observes of preachers: "Did failure to volunteer information count as a lie? I didn't think it did though I wouldn't have wanted to put that question to a preacher. It was my experience that preachers could get snagged on the details and miss the big picture entirely." Perhaps my favorite character in the whole book is Elsie. As Moms should be, she seems eternally wise. She doesn't hesitate to occasionally tweak her husband's stiff-necked obstinacy, and there are no shenanigans that Homer is getting into, or considering, that she doesn't know of. It is she I most look forward to reading about in Homer's next volume of memories, SKY OF STONE.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: ELEANOR OF AQUITAINE; Author: Visit Amazon's Alison Weir Page; Review: ELEANOR OF AQUITAINE is Alison Weir's superior biography of the dynamic, indomitable,12th century Duchess of Aquitaine, Eleanor, who became the wife of King Louis VII and Queen of France, and subsequently the consort of King Henry II and Queen of England. The excellence of Weir's book stems not only from her clear prose, but also from her use of contemporary (12th and 13th century) sources, rather than later writers, upon which to build her narrative. By default, her work contains considerably more biographical information about kings Louis VII, Henry II, Richard I (the Lionheart, of England) and John I (of England) than Eleanor herself, but that isn't the author's fault. Writers of the period were more concerned about the doings of kings than those of their queens, the latter being traditionally considered not much more than the incubators for male heirs to the throne. However, because of her reliance on contemporary sources, Alison is able to effectively argue against such present-day notions as Richard the Lionheart's presumed homosexuality and Queen Eleanor's rumored murder of Henry II's mistress, Rosamund de Clifford ("Fair Rosamund"). One of the volume's especially helpful features is a series of eight tables that illustrate the genealogies of the French Capetian kings, the English Plantagenet kings, the Dukes of Aquitaine, and the House of Anjou during the period, plus the relationship of Eleanor to all of them. These tables are of immense value in keeping the players straight. There's also a (disappointingly) short section of photographs. In the back of the book, there's a 4-page interview with the author in which she makes favorable comments about the 1960s films BECKET and THE LION IN WINTER, both starring Peter O'Toole as King Henry II. She observes that both are "legitimate treatments of their subjects, if not in the letter, certainly in the spirit." I found this personally gratifying since the latter film, ostensibly depicting the infighting between Henry, Eleanor and their three sons (Richard, Geoffrey, and John) at Henry's Christmas court at his castle of Chinon in 1183, is my all-time favorite movie about the all-time dysfunctional family. Not only was Eleanor the consort and Queen of two kings, and the mother of two more (Richard and John), but she also gave birth to two queens, Eleanor of Castille and Joanna of Sicily, and numbered among her direct descendents all English kings to the year 1485, plus several other non-English kings and queens, the odd saint or two, and one Holy Roman Emperor. Her life and accomplishments, even while living in the shadow of the great Henry II, make other female British rulers, e.g. Elizabeth I, Victoria, and Margaret Thatcher, seem like shrinking violets in comparison. Occasionally, one is presented with the question, "If given the chance, what one great person in history would you invite over for dinner?" My choice would be Eleanor of Aquitaine, a source of endless fascination.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Line in the Sand; Author: Visit Amazon's Gerald Seymour Page; Review: The West's current struggle with fundamentalist Islamic terrorists makes A LINE IN THE SAND all the more topical even though it's fiction. As such, it's an engrossing novel by plot-meister Gerald Seymour. Brit Gavin Hughes was once a salesman selling illicit industrial mixing equipment to the Iranians for the latter's use in making weapons of mass destruction at a top-secret base. Then MI6 caught on, and put the squeeze on Hughes to become an informant. Gavin's information eventually allowed the Mossad to deal a crippling blow to Iran's WMD program. For his own protection, MI6 gives Gavin a new identity and life. He's now Frank Perry living with his wife Meryl and foster son Stephen in an isolated village on the Suffolk coast. The thing is, you see, a Saudi raid on an isolated terrorist camp yields evidence that the Iranians have discovered Gavin's identity and are sending in their master assassin, the Anvil, to make the hit. The British Security Service (MI5) now has jurisdiction, and pleads with Frank to run once more, but he adamantly refuses. Thus, an odd lot of players are converging on the village, its inhabitants, and the Perrys: the Anvil, the assassin's local accomplice previously converted to Islam, MI5, Scotland Yard, the SAS, an FBI anti-terrorist specialist, a sullen Scottish tracker and his dogs, a former British diplomat and his scarred foreign-born wife (the latter a survivor of Chile's torture chambers), and an injured marsh harrier - a migratory bird of prey. One of my pet peeves with some "highly acclaimed" writers is that they impart no individuality to the principal characters of their books. The British government minister, the Yank CIA officer, the South American drug king, and the Tokyo police detective all talk and act as if they're cut from the same cloth, which might as well be that of an insurance broker in Des Moines. Seymour, on the other hand, makes each individual unique and real. This talent can make up for other faults. However, A LINE IN THE SAND is not deficient by any standard to which I hold. It's a taut, smart, finely crafted thriller that should encourage the reader to investigate Seymour's other works. More than that, it's a contemporary parable on the consequences of one's actions.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Cat's Meow: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Melissa de la Cruz Page; Review: Earlier this year, I read a very amusing book by Sophie Kinsella entitled CONFESSIONS OF A SHOPAHOLIC. The main character, a Brit named Rebecca, was engagingly endearing as she shopped and spent way beyond her means and into one tight and/or ridiculous predicament after another. In CAT'S MEOW by Melissa de la Cruz, the main character, a New Yorker named Cat McAllister, lives according to the same spendthrift modus operandi overlaid with a bratty, self-centered shallowness and monumental snootiness. (If you remember the TV series NEWHART of the 1980s, recall the spoiled and vain Stephanie Vanderkellen role played marvelously by Julia Duffy. Cat is another Stephanie, and then some.) Cat is a former Hollywood child star, now almost forgotten, who lives solely on the trust fund set up by her deceased Dad. Without gainful employment, she spends her time and inherited money in ceaseless and ultimately futile efforts to be trendy, fashionable, and seen with the Big Apple's Beautiful People, and be noticed by high society columnists. Cat's best friend is a sex-changed male now calling herself India. Her nemesis is another social climber, former friend Teeny Van der Hominie, who effortlessly manages to be everything that Cat aspires to be but isn't. Cat's goal is to marry Prince Stephan of Westonia, reputedly the heir to some little known central European pocket state, who will rescue her from penury and social obscurity. I can't deny that CAT'S MEOW is amusing. It occasionally is, and for that reason I reluctantly toss it three barely flickering stars. However, McAllister is positively annoying. Since de la Cruz is heavily involved with the New York fashion "scene", I gather that her novel was written to be a satire. However, that doesn't mean the author can't or shouldn't make her primary character at least nominally likeable. Instead, Cat comes across as gratingly insufferable. If I was unfortunate enough to know such a woman in real life, I'd immediately relegate her in my mind to the useless margin of humanity. As for the book itself, I found myself at the end hurrying to finish so I could get on to something more substantive and worthwhile. At one point Cat is forced to look for a real job. Without any qualifications whatsoever, she brazenly applies with Conde Nast publications for a fashion editor position. "I took the famous Conde Nast elevators and prepared myself for the infamous elevator stare down between competing editrixes, but only found myself next to a slovenly maintenance man. I gave him a hard glare nevertheless. Overalls are so over."; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Demolition Angel: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Robert Crais Page; Review: Perhaps physically and emotionally traumatized female police officers are the new rage in crime fiction. Recently, I read FLINT starring Scotland Yard Inspector Grace Flint, rehabilitating on the job after a horrific beating. Now, in DEMOLITION ANGEL, we have Carol Starkey, an LAPD detective assigned to head the investigation into the killing of a department bomb disposal technician. Carol used to be one of those herself until she was killed along with her partner-lover by a device that went boom. Paramedics brought her back to life, but not her colleague. Now she subsists on gin, cigarettes, Tagamet and psychotherapy, bears terrible mid-body scars, and carries a chip on her shoulder so big it looks like a cross. The book begins with the death of Charlie Riggio as he peers into a bag containing a sophisticated pipe bomb. Reconstruction of the device afterwards points to a serial killer named "Mr. Red", whose profession is assassination by demolition, and whose hobby is bushwhacking bomb disposal experts. Trouble is, Mr. Red, John Michael Fowles, is introduced to the reader almost from the start, and he didn't do it. So who did? And what is Jack Pell's interest? Jack is down from the Fed's Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, suffers debilitating headaches, and is carrying some pretty heavy baggage of his own. DEMOLITION ANGEL is a page-turner from the very first detonation. Starkey, like Grace of FLINT, is an intriguing persona, though significantly more hard-edged than the latter. And author Robert Crais provides enough plot twists to keep things interesting. However, I can't bring myself to award 5 stars for a couple reasons. First, blast survivor Carol is so self-pitying and self-destructive that her evolving relationship with Pell is a plot device that seems a bit forced. Perhaps Crais would have been better advised to carry the two over into a second novel and let things simmer a bit. Secondly, though obviously not the sort you'd want marrying your only daughter, Mr. Red never achieves that level of psychopathic evil worthy of an Anthony Hopkins role in the film version. At times, Fowles seems not much more than a mischievous prankster. DEMOLITION ANGEL is the perfect thriller for taking on that otherwise interminable plane flight, or aboard the cruise ship for those slow moments between buffets.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Love in the Time of Cholera (Penguin Great Books of the 20th Century); Author: Visit Amazon's Gabriel Garcia Marquez Page; Review: "Fermina, I have waited for this opportunity for more than half a century, to repeat to you once again my vow of eternal fidelity and everlasting love." Thus does Florentino Ariza lay bare his heart to Fermina Daza after - by the former's exact count - 51 years, 9 months, and 4 days of yearning. LOVE IN THE TIME OF CHOLERA tells of lifelong relationships and a lifelong obsession. Though the book doesn't indicate a time and locale for the storyline, it apparently takes place in a Colombian coastal town between, say, 1890 and 1950. During that period, Ariza's two opportunities to win the love of Fermina are separated by the latter's 50-year marriage to Dr. Juvenal Urbino. I must say up front that I think this novel will be better appreciated by female readers. However, I'm giving it 5 stars, not because my testosterone level is necessarily low, but because I myself enjoy stringing words together, and author Gabriel García Márquez is a master par excellence of that talent. I especially liked his technique of stating a relatively simple fact, and then telling in glorious detail how it got that way. For instance, within the first few pages he relates that Urbino's talking parrot escaped to the backyard mango tree, then dedicates 5 full pages of text to the background of the calamity. And, after Daza makes the statement that heads this review, the next 225 pages to the paths the three principal characters travel to arrive at that point. Throughout the narrative, Gabriel's prose is lush, flowery, and richly detailed, and credit must be given to the translator, Edith Grossman. The vast majority of the text is devoted to the Urbinal-Daza marriage, which, I suspect, follows the same evolutionary course as many others in real life, and a number of other, more transient or transitional love relationships. Regarding the bonds that tie a man and woman together, I venture that Márquez is a wise observer, as indicated by the following excerpts: "After their first encounters they had both lost awareness of their ages, and they treated each other with the familiarity of a husband and wife who had hidden so many things in this life that there was almost nothing left for them to say to each other." And an observation by Daza: "It is incredible how one can be happy for so many years in the midst of so many squabbles, so many problems ... and not really know if it was love or not." LOVE IN THE TIME OF CHOLERA is the splendid creation of one of the twentieth century's most gifted writers.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: In the Heart of the Sea: The Epic True Story That Inspired `Moby-Dick'; Author: Philbrick Nathaniel; Review: On August 12, 1819, the Nantucket whaler ESSEX, captained by George Pollard, weighed anchor for the Pacific hunting grounds. Of the 21 men aboard, only a handful would return. Nathaniel Philbrick's IN THE HEART OF THE SEA exceeded my expectations. His historical narrative begins as a treatise on whaleships and the business of whaling. Indeed, killing and cutting apart a whale is so ungentle an art that Greenpeace activists are likely to punch the air and exclaim "Yes!" when the Essex is rammed and sunk by a sperm whale on November 20, 1820 far out in Watery Nowhere. The book then becomes a gritty survival story replete with an examination of the stages of dehydration and starvation, a brief history of cannibalism among disaster survivors, and commentary on the essence of successful command leadership under dire straits. As Philbrick is careful to point out early on, the ESSEX survivors sailed in open lifeboats 500 miles further than Captain Bligh of the HMS BOUNTY after being set adrift my mutineers, and three times further than Ernest Shackleton of the ice-crushed HMS ENDURANCE on his celebrated passage to South Georgia Island. IN THE HEART OF THE SEA is an amazing tale deftly recreated by the author from primary sources. I was loath to put it down even for such necessary activities as sleeping and going to work. After a story such as this, one gains a new respect for those that went down to the sea in wooden, sailing ships. And, should someone invite me out for no more than an afternoon of simple whale watching just off the coast, I'll be sure and pack my water wings.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Hidden War: A Russian Journalist's Account of the Soviet War in Afghanistan; Author: Artyom Borovik; Review: A few years after the U.S. extricated itself from its Vietnam quagmire, the Soviet Union embraced its own foreign entanglement with the invasion of Afghanistan. Within several years, even though we were still engaged in a Cold War with the USSR, one couldn't help but feel some small degree of sympathy for the poor devils. After all, we'd recently been there and done that, so to speak. In THE HIDDEN WAR, Artyom Borovik, a journalist for the Russian magazine Ogonyok, recollects his experiences during two visits to the Afghan mess in 1987 and early 1989. During the former, Soviet forces were still fighting as if they could win. By the latter, the Kremlin had thrown in the towel and was withdrawing its troops towards the country's northern border and a February 15 exit deadline. And why was the USSR there in the first place? According to Borovik, one of the reasons was Brezhnev's fear that American troops were poised to invade the Union's soft underbelly through Afghanistan. (And is that so wild-eyed a view? After all, hadn't the U.S. been in Vietnam to forestall the "domino effect", whereby the fall of South Vietnam to the Red Menace would eventually lead to jackbooted commie hordes goose-stepping down the center line of Main Street, U.S.A.? And similarly, if one goes back further to the 19th century, Great Britain tried to dominate Afghanistan fearing Russia would otherwise use the country as an avenue to encroach upon India.) For me, the principal value of THE HIDDEN WAR was to see the conflict from the other side, albeit belatedly. My perceptions of the war at the time were mediated by on-the-spot reports from scruffy American TV-news personalities scrambling around the Afghan badlands with the mujahadin. (However, as Artyom points out, those ragtag fighters had American Stingers.) Unfortunately, because Borovik's book is apparently a series of stitched-together magazine articles, the text lacks seamless continuity, i.e. the author hops around a lot for his interviews - from Afghanistan, to New York, to London, to Afghanistan, to San Francisco, and back to Afghanistan again. The only unifying theme is that the 1979-1989 invasion was a complete boondoggle. The point is well taken, but more continuity of place would have been nice. And there was surprisingly little reporting from actual live-fire engagements between the two sides. Despite my reservations concerning Artyom's style, I'm glad I read his book. He successfully conveys the notion that Afghanistan is a wretched place to fight a war even insofar as the little things: "In Afghanistan, thirst can actually make you stoop to drink from a puddle of camel urine. (Every Soviet solder, in fact, carries a miniature water-purification device for just such an eventuality.)" American forces have recently been, and still are, engaged in Afghanistan against the Taliban. The country has proven to be a graveyard for great empires - the British and the Soviets. We can only hope U.S. military planners learn from history.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Crucible of War: The Seven Years' War and the Fate of Empire in British North America, 1754-1766; Author: Visit Amazon's Fred Anderson Page; Review: "Few reveries haunt history professors more insistently than the dream of writing a book accessible to general readers that will also satisfy their fellow historians' scholarly expectations ... I must admit that I wrote this book because of it." Thus begins Fred Anderson's prodigious study of the effects of the Seven Years' War, and its immediate aftermath, on the prospects for the British Empire in North America. Roughly the first half deals mainly with the military conflicts of the Seven Years' War that involved Great Britain, Spain, Austria, Prussia and Russia, and focuses primarily (because the title says "British North America") on the French and Indian War, which is the term used in United States history to differentiate the North American theater of the conflict from the whole. Anderson never states the obvious, which is the fact that, compared to the size of the European battles measured by numbers of deaths and troops involved, the North American "battles" were hardly more than mere scuffles. However, while the European clashes resulted in nothing more than a maintenance of the continental pre-war status quo, those across the Pond cost France her North American holdings, and transformed Britain into the world-class empire that the term "Britannia" brings to mind. In describing the North American confrontations, Anderson spans the period from 1754, when an inexperienced Lieutenant Colonel George Washington got ensnared in a massacre of French regulars at Jumonville's Glen, to 1760, when Anglo and Colonial forces captured Quebec and Montreal. Perspective is maintained with frequent digressions to the seesaw war in Europe and the policy endeavors of kings George II and III and their chief ministers, among whom William Pitt and George Grenville predominated. I particularly enjoyed Anderson's perspective of General Wolfe's startling conquest of Quebec. Some might criticize this as unsupported revisionism. However, in the absence of any conclusive facts to indicate the contrary, a certain zest is added to the military debate. And, in the final reckoning, what difference does it make? Beginning the volume's second half, it's 1763, the war has ended, the treaties of Paris and Hubertusburg have been signed, and the British government is casting about for ways to make its new empire, and especially the American colonies, pay for the mother country's support. Thus, Parliament commences passing those measures that put the unrepresented colonists in a snit, and which are the starting point for most literary examinations of the Revolutionary Period: the American Duties (Sugar) Act, the Stamp Act, the Currency Act, and the Quartering Act. Anderson's well taken point - indeed, the working hypothesis of his whole book - is that the Colonies' ultimate ungrateful, Bad Attitude had its genesis not beginning in 1763, but in 1754. Simply put, the Seven Years' War forced the Colonies and the Mother Country to make common cause, and this familiarity became the breeding ground for future disenchantments. To achieve the author's intent quoted at the beginning of this review, it's almost a given that his narrative would have to be a relative overview uncluttered by the detailed minutiae demanded by some; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Doctor Janeway's Plague; Author: Visit Amazon's John Farrell Page; Review: Having read DOCTOR JANEWAY'S PLAGUE, I'm now free to exercise my reviewer's prerogative in a way I rarely do. In other words, I'm going to tell you that this book is positively AWFUL. In the first one hundred pages, the reader is introduced to a multitude of characters. There's Dr. Janeway, of course, a forty-something minister up to something vague and possibly sinister in Cambridge, MA. There are also Miriam, Irwin, Leon, Glen, Ethan, Nancy, Jean and Rabbi Perleman, all of whom, as a group, further the storyline by contributing inane dialog and actions that do nothing more than pad the length of the book. At no time did any character engage this reader's interest or sympathy, and the villain of the piece only caused me to yawn. The plot of this clunker is a confused hodgepodge that includes ancient Indian tribes, a long dead Indian medicine man, a mysterious dark star, cosmic rays, numerous murky glasses of water, a golem, unexplained deaths, eruptions of icky mucus, sleepwalking, bizarre dreams, and ... oh, forget it. The bottom line is that, in the end, the whole exercise didn't even make much sense to me. Having the misfortune to have paid good money for this amateurish novel, I now have to decide what to do with it. Ah, there's the round file ...; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: The Mojave: A Portrait of the Definitive American Desert; Author: Visit Amazon's David Darlington Page; Review: Growing up during the 50s and 60s in the Los Angeles area, some of my fondest memories are of the day trips my parents and I and our arsenal of .22-caliber rifles would take to the Mojave Desert. While Dad and I plinked paper targets, discarded bottles and rusty cans, Mom would wander off, hopefully out of the line of fire, to hunt wildflowers. After littering the desert with expended shells and disturbing the quiet with gunshots, I remember hearing the rattle of the desert shrubs in the wind and the scuttle of unseen small animals on the desert floor. It was an extraordinarily peaceful place. (Hey, who says I wasn't a sensitive child?) Before reading THE MOJAVE, I thought that desert a relatively small area northeast of Los Angeles extending to Needles and the Colorado River. I was surprised to learn that it also stretches into western Arizona and as far north as the southern tip of Utah, and encompasses southern Nevada and such places as Death Valley, Las Vegas, and Hoover Dam. Indeed, David Darlington's book provides a wealth of information about this big "empty" place. After an opening chapter on that definitive symbol of this desert, the Joshua Tree, Darlington explores such diverse places and topics as a seventy-mile stretch of old Route 66, the space shuttle landing area at Edwards Air Force Base, the desert as a convenient hiding place for dead bodies and illegal drug labs, and a history of area mining from the first pick-and-shovel prospectors to today's international conglomerates. As a self-proclaimed conscientious objector, the author describes, but isn't thrilled about, the military's use of the region, from Patton's Desert Training Center during WWII, to modern day's Fort Irwin National Training Center (for Army infantry maneuvers) and the Nevada Test Site (for nuclear weapons). And, on a less apocalyptic note, he describes cattle ranching and the life of the desert tortoise, and reveals Giant Rock as a mecca for UFO and ET True Believers. Most of what THE MOJAVE imparts to the reader is truly fascinating and informative, so I was initially tempted to give it at least a 4-star rating. However, the final chapter is a tediously long - 91 of the volume's 314 pages - narrative history of the conflicts arising from desert land (ab)use, such as urban over-expansion (in Las Vegas) and the recreational use of off-road vehicles, epitomized by the on-again, off-again and much fought over Barstow to Vegas ORV race. Darlington's hot button seems to be the fate of the endangered desert tortoise, about which he apparently cares a lot (though tries not to be obvious about it). But it was way much more than I needed to know, especially when the author bored me to tears with the escapades of the Phantom Duck, the nemesis of the Fed's Bureau of Land Management. And, because the author apparently disapproves of the manner in which the Mojave is being utilized by the military, Big Mining, and greedy land developers, the tone of the book is unnecessarily humorless. Gee, Dave, I wish; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Divided by a Common Language: A Guide to British and American English; Author: Visit Amazon's Christopher Davies Page; Review: Above all, DIVIDED BY A COMMON LANGUAGE is a book primarily of lists. So, it's probably not one you'll actually read from cover to cover unless you're an Anglophile like me. This volume by Chris Davies is not very long at 194 paperbacked pages. In roughly the first third, Chris writes short commentaries on a number of topics that serve to illustrate the differences in language and life styles between the US and UK: tips for the tourist (airport, hotel), practical information (automobiles, gas/petrol), technical information (plumbing, electricity), institutions/services (postal system, banks, currency, restaurants, bars, museums, theaters, school, government, shops, food, clothing), customs and etiquette, driving terminology (roads, road terms), punctuation, spelling, and idioms and expressions. These topics are sometimes accompanied by short lists of terms, provided in US and UK equivalents, to further illustrate whatever point he's making. Within a single topic, as under "customs and etiquette", his choice of sub-topics seems rather eclectic: phone manners, common conversational courtesy, church attendance, drive-ins and drive-throughs, utility bills, valet parking, window screens, air-conditioning, soda fountains, healthcare, sports, folklore monsters, and public and legal holidays. The majority of the book's pages comprise two long lists: a British-American lexicon, and an American-British lexicon. I suppose DIVIDED BY A COMMON LANGUAGE has a practical use, especially if you're a Yank visiting England for the first time, or a Brit going the other way, and you prefer to learn from printed material. I might have used such a reference before the first of my dozen trips across The Pond. (However, I'd rather learn by just immersing myself in the experience of being there.) For me, the principal merit of this book lies in its entertainment value, and the sheer delight of having my memories of England stimulated by the words and expressions one encounters there. Some of my favorites are: catseyes (reflecting highway lane markers), ice lolly (popsicle), full stop (period), dodgy (risky), crisps (potato chips), elevenses (morning tea break), plonk (cheap wine), The Tube (London subway), have a natter (shoot the breeze), bang on (right on), pull your socks up (try harder), spend a penny (use the bathroom), and wonky (unstable).[....]So, take a recce on (check out) this book. Perhaps when you're next in some remote English village, e.g. Twitchen, Splatt, Droop, Gweek, Upper Dicker, Briantspuddle or Barton In The Beans, and someone asks if you'd like some Spotted Dick, you'll know that it's a dessert and not an S.T.D. (That's Subscriber Trunk Dialling.); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Dreamcatcher; Author: Visit Amazon's Stephen King Page; Review: In DREAMCATCHER, creepy-book writer Stephen King returns to that reliably scary theme of the 20th (and apparently 21st) century, the Invasion of the Space Aliens. Beaver, Pete, Jonesy and Henry are middle-aged pals who've been chums since growing up in Derry, Maine. While out in the woods on one of their annual hunting trips, they become enmeshed in a military operation, commanded by a psycho named Kurtz, to cordon off the site of a flying saucer crash and annihilate every living thing - human, animal or alien - in the quarantine zone. As the plot evolves, another character, Duddits, moves to center stage. Duddits is a middle-aged man whom our four heroes had befriended during their common adolescence after rescuing him from a gang of bullies. Besides being afflicted with Down's Syndrome, Duddits is a remarkable telepath. My principal grumble with this book is that I expended too much time and attention on its 616 hard-backed pages for the degree of satisfaction I got for the effort. Roughly one-third of the book involves a vehicle pursuit - bad guys chase good guys chasing a good/bad guy - along the New England interstates. King uses this as an occasion for character and plot development. I just got fidgety. And while the author took the opportunity to demonstrate political correctness by making a mentally handicapped individual a hero, I never really warmed to the Duddits character. Also, since telepathy is at the core of the storyline, much of the "action" takes place in the players' minds, and I too often found it inadequately connected to the rest of the yarn. The author does manage to create some chilling situations, e.g. the fate of the hapless McCarthy, the lost hunter who stumbles into our heroes' hunting cabin. In the true King tradition, his brand of horror is sometimes understated. I like that. "Inside his lower intestine, in that rich dump of discarded food and worn-out dead cells, something for the first time opened its black eyes." Oh-oh, it doesn't sound like something Maalox will fix. Die-hard King fans will perhaps rate this book much higher than I have. The fact remains, however, that I got to the point of wanting to finish DREAMCATCHER not because I anticipated a great ending, but because I just wanted to move on to the next tome on my shelf.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Rag Man: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Pete Hautman Page; Review: The RAG MAN is Mack, partner with Lars in a small garment manufacturing enterprise. Mack keeps the machinery running, while Lars is "the people guy" - the salesman. Lars is also the one who's just absconded to Mexico with the firm's funds and the statuesque blond bookkeeper, Rita. Left to deal with an empty payroll account, unfilled orders and snarling creditors, Mack is like a deer caught in the high beams. To Mack's wife, Paula, he's safe, honest, kind and utterly predictable. As she wistfully muses, why can't he stand up for himself, maybe "scare her a little"? As they say, one should be careful what is wished for. Mack shortly returns from a visit to Mexico a radically changed man. As he aggressively retakes control of his tottering business from the bank, his complete personality about-face alters the lives of those most closely associated with him and the Lars fiasco: Paula, Rita, and the local gumshoe assigned to the criminal investigation of the embezzlement, Detective Pleasant. The principal characters, even the top-heavy Rita, are ones we might meet in real life. (Well, eye-popping bimbos like Rita are regrettably missing from the social circles I inhabit.) Their problems could just as well be ours, and you'd think that would cause the reader to extend sympathy. But, as darker sides surface, maybe not. And is Mack's transformation by serendipitous events in Cancún believable? Perhaps not. (Personally, I didn't think it was.) What I can say is that RAG MAN is an adequately entertaining work of dark humor that explores the repercussions and just desserts of actions taken (or not) without being particularly profound. With the proper casting and screen adaptation, it would make a wonderful, low budget film reminiscent of FARGO or A SIMPLE PLAN. RAG MAN is a short tale that can be finished in a day, or 15 minutes if you're a speed-reader. Thus, if it falls short in your opinion, then little time has been invested. Then again, you may consider it a 5-star morality play.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The End of Enemies (Briggs Tanner Novels); Author: Visit Amazon's Grant Blackwood Page; Review: When I was a young lad in the 50s and 60s, I read all books of The Hardy Boys series wherein these two clean-cut, drug-free, American teenagers outwit a wide variety of scoundrels. In THE END OF ENEMIES, Frank and Joe Hardy have grown up to become Briggs Tanner and Ian Cahil, two clean-cut, nobly heroic, ex-Special Forces types employed by a private firm that does top secret wet work for the U.S. government. (Plausible deniability for the President, you see.) In any case, Tanner and Cahil now have the opportunity to save the world, or at least the Eastern Mediterranean. This potboiler is a standard global conspiracy thriller involving leftover WWII munitions, a renegade Japanese industrialist, Arab terrorists, Syrian plotters, seduced damsels, the FBI, the Mossad, traitors, blackmail, the CIA, and a Doomsday plot. It's entertaining in a silly sort of way, much like the Impossible Missions Force movies starring Tom Cruise. I don't know. Maybe it's because I've read so many similar storylines that I've become jaded. In this case, my peevishness stems principally from the fact that all the characters, whether American, Canadian, British, Japanese, Israeli, Russian, Syrian or Palestinian, all "sound" like customers recruited by Central Casting out of a Seattle corner Starbucks and dressed up in costumes for day of play acting. (This is a failing of quite a few works of espionage fiction, not just this one.) Moreover, author Grant Blackwood is occasionally incredibly sloppy in the small details. I picked up on a few (and wonder how many more I missed). The page numbers refer to the paperback edition. 1. A woman with a femur broken in five places - imagine the cast - is not going to be seen having "curled herself into a ball". (Page 77) 2. Except for the "scrambled eggs" on the visors of Commanders and above, the billed caps of American naval officers do not carry rank badges. (Page 238) 3. It seems highly improbable that an American fleet attack submarine on WWII patrol is going to have an Ensign, the lowest officer grade, as the Executive Officer, i.e. the second-in-command. (Page 1) OK, ok, ok - so I'm picky, picky, picky. This book admittedly has more elements that are positive than are negative, but the fact remains that it's no better than an average representative of the genre. Worse than that, the author is so busy tying up loose ends at the conclusion that the last 6 pages are patently ridiculous. If you want to read a novel that deals with Middle Eastern terrorism and is well crafted, as opposed to being slopped out any old way, then I would recommend John le Carré's The Little Drummer Girl: A Novel or Gerald Seymour's A Line in the Sand.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Sacagawea's Nickname: Essays on the American West; Author: Visit Amazon's Larry McMurtry Page; Review: I'm on record stating that LONESOME DOVE is the greatest fictional story of the Old West that I've ever encountered, and the 1989 film adaptation is one of my very favorite movies of all time. Therefore, it was with more than a little giddy anticipation that I picked up Larry McMurtry's SACAGAWEA'S NICKNAME, a collection of his essays on the American West. The twelve chapters in this short (178 pages) hardback cover diverse topics, the unifying thread being McMurtry's insight into what has shaped, for better or worse, the modern public's perception of our nation's frontier heritage. He does this by examining the influence of some well-known icons - Buffalo Bill, Annie Oakley, Zane Grey, Lewis and Clark, and Sacagawea - as well as some that are perhaps not so widely famous - authors Patricia Limerick and Janet Lewis, historian James Wilson, geologist John Wesley Powell, and anthropologists Frank Cushing and Matilda Stevenson. Because of the great pleasure I've derived from McMurtry's novels, I looked forward to what I hoped would be a series of humorous, scintillatingly clever, and informative insights. It pains me to say that I found the volume as a whole to be like this review, somewhat lackluster. (It isn't one of my best.) His chapter on Buffalo Bill was rambling, and the one on the Zuni tribe and the anthropologists who studied it too esoteric. His criticism of Western pulpmeister Zane Grey so lacked definition that I can't say even now what McMurtry's objection to the former is except perhaps that he wasn't capable of editing his own prose (but left it to his wife). His essay on John Wesley Powell was positively boring. And, except that Janet Lewis is apparently one of McMurtry's favorite writers, I cannot fathom why the author included a chapter on her at all. Perhaps it's because she lives in the West. Only the chapters on the Lewis and Clark expedition, and the second to last that lends its title to the book, provided any return on my investment of time and money. Lastly, McMurtry's dry humor was all too infrequent, as in: "... William Clark served as Thomas Jefferson's fashion eye, delivering copious reports on the dress of the various tribes the party met. In some cases the skimpier the female costumes, the more copious Clark's notes become ... quite a few of those wild western women seemed to run around half undressed." Yeah, some of those nights on the prairie probably seemed awfully long. Did you know that Sacagawea's nickname, coined possibly by Captain Clark, was ... well, you'll have to find out for yourself. It's a fine nugget of party trivia.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Hidden Latitudes; Author: Visit Amazon's Alison Anderson Page; Review: In 1937, aviatrix Amelia Earhart disappeared with her navigator, Fred Noonan, somewhere in the South Pacific while attempting a circumnavigation of the globe. The mystery of Earhart's fate has captured the public's imagination for decades. Did she perish when her plane hit the water? Was she captured by the Japanese and executed as a spy? Was she abducted by space aliens? Is she living in Idaho with Elvis? The premise of Alison Anderson's novel HIDDEN LATITUDES, which is set in1979, is that Amelia has survived 42 years as a castaway on a tiny Pacific atoll, the last 40 alone. Then one day, a 35-foot sailboat, the "Stowaway", with husband Robin and wife Lucy aboard, anchors in the island's lagoon, her engine kaput and her hull reef damaged. Might this be Earhart's ride home? In chapters that alternate between the "voice" of Amelia and those of her might-be rescuers, the author explores the loneliness that derives from complete isolation from the world as compared with that despairing aloneness which grips the partners in a failing marriage. Earhart has become so accustomed to solitary life on her little island that she hesitates to reveal her presence to Robin and Lucy, whose marital difficulties are only exacerbated by their present crisis. At 82, Amelia wonders what would be gained by returning to a world that would regard her as an historical curiosity, soon to become nothing but an aged crony. Being young and not realizing the value of what they have together, Robin and Lucy internally contemplate the possibility of separation once they get back to "civilization". I liked HIDDEN LATITUDES insofar as the poignancy of Anderson's plot resides almost solely in the Earhart character as she "remembers" for the reader the significant events of her life since she and Fred lost their way, including two near-rescues snatched away early on by cruel Fate. To this extent, Anderson has crafted an imaginatively satisfying "what if" scenario. On the other hand, the Robin and Lucy characters become so caught up in their dysfunctional behavior while struggling to make their boat seaworthy that they approach dangerously close to becoming tiresome. They're so self-absorbed in their own bickering that they fail for too long to follow up on clues that another human is present on this "deserted" island. You want to yell at them, "Snap out of it. Look around you!" At one point, Amelia sneaks a book from the "Stowaway": "In my shelter there is a new treasure, a novel. ...I have taken it from them ... but I think if they could ever know the pleasure it will give me they would not mind. Dare I read it over and over, for the pleasure? As it happens I cannot read quickly. I am not used to letters on a page anymore. ... I read aloud, quietly; words and voice struggle together against neglect. Yet I can savor the words and pictures they convey. ... I am like a child, learning to read, learning the world I have forgotten." Perhaps more than anything else, Earhart yearns for; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mars Crossing; Author: Geoffrey A. Landis; Review: So, what would you do as the commander of the third manned Mars mission who's discovered, after a back-slappingly successful landing, your ride home is busted and Earth can't send a rescue cab? Wow, talk about the potential for a nasty mood swing! In MARS CROSSING, this is the dodgy predicament facing John Radkowski and his crew of five (Ryan, Tana, Estrella, Chamlong, and Trevor) in 2028. Their return vehicle, previously landed on Mars to robotically manufacture fuel from the planet's atmosphere for the trip back, didn't function as its instruments indicated. As a matter of fact, it's now just so much scrap metal. The only solution is to travel 4,000 miles to the polar cap and the landing site of the first Mars mission - Brazilian no less! - in 2020 whose crew mysteriously died on the surface. Their return vehicle is presumably still intact and ready to go. Trouble is, it only has room for two pilgrims. I rarely read space sci-fi because the plots, ETs and technology are so exorbitantly far-fetched. I suspect life will be less fanciful, even in the far future. However, in MARS CROSSING, author Geoffrey Landis, a working NASA scientist, has crafted a solid tale around plausible new technology and the planetary knowledge gained from the Pathfinder and Mars Global Surveyor projects, both of which he was a part. Even the low key villains of the piece, for example the itchy life form that doomed the second Mars manned mission in 2022, are relatively mundane. (At least it wasn't Tinea cruris!) I especially liked some aspects of the mission's technology, such as the Spectra 10 super-fiber rope, almost as thin as a spider's web, which can hold thousands of pounds, and the super-light Butterfly airplane. Pretty neat stuff! I did find the composition of the crew slightly improbable. Estrella was the wife of the long-dead Brazilian mission commander. And Trevor's only reason for being there - talk about Dead Weight - was that he won the $1000 per ticket lottery that helped finance the cost of the expedition. Now, really! However, once I got over that credibility hiccup, I enjoyed this book very much and, since it is the author's first novel, much credit is due.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mr. American (Flashman Papers); Author: Visit Amazon's George MacDonald Fraser Page; Review: It's late summer 1909 in Liverpool and a Yank steps off the boat from America. Mark Franklin is an authentic Westerner, his luggage containing Stetson, saddle, gun belt and two .44 Remington pistols. I've been to England many times, and I love it. Unfortunately, my family's roots are not in the UK, nor have I had the longed-for opportunity to take up permanent residence there. In MR. AMERICAN, it's Franklin's great good luck to have made a fortune from a Nevada silver mine. This allows him to return to England in search of his roots - his forebears having immigrated to the Colonies hundreds of years before - and purchase the house, Manor Lancing, which dominates the Lincolnshire village of his ancestors, Castle Lancing. I learned in English Lit 1A that every novel incorporates a conflict, which, in MR. AMERICAN, is subtle. To modern fiction readers, fed a steady diet of lurid murders-most-foul, global conspiracies, and courtroom duels, it may not seem like much of a conflict at all. Author George MacDonald Fraser, a Brit himself, has chosen to introduce into Edwardian society of pre- WWI England a rugged individualist matured in the late-19th century American West, and develop what happens. The WASP values that Franklin possesses from such a background - chivalry, self-reliance, forthrightness, loyalty, lack of class pretension, suspicion of authority - are occasionally at odds with the upper class social circle that soon adopts him. For the reader, Mark will present as an appealing, stand-up fellow. The book is populated with interesting characters: Samson, Franklin's gentleman's gentleman; Pip, the effervescent West End stage actress; King Edward VII; Lady Helen Cessford, the militant suffragette; Peggy, the daughter of an impoverished country squire; Kid Curry, the unwelcome visitor from Franklin's ... um, shall we say, irregular past. And above all, there's the outrageous and aging rascal, General Harry Flashman, the hero of a whole other series of books by author Fraser. I was undecided for a bit on the number of stars to award this novel - 3 or 4. At almost 600 pages, it isn't the type of book that keeps one riveted. The dramatic moments are occasional and of short duration, and there are a lot of loose ends that would have made an absorbing sequel inasmuch as the storyline ends in 1914 with the outbreak of the war. (Since MR. AMERICAN was published in 1981, no sequel has been written to my knowledge. Pity.) In the final reckoning, I gave it four stars because it's about an American who finds "home" and adventure of sorts in a green and pleasant land. I'm envious.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Naked; Author: Visit Amazon's David Sedaris Page; Review: NAKED by David Sedaris comprises seventeen chapters of ostensibly amusing autobiographical reminiscences spanning his North Carolina childhood through teenage years to young adulthood. Finishing NAKED didn't leave me feeling good. There's a tinge of unhealthiness about the author's humor that reminds me of the faint odor of sickness perceptible while walking down an otherwise spotless hospital corridor. Perhaps it's because David's wit is based on the shortcomings of others and/or his own poor self image. Quite often, his target is other family members. About a sister: "Lisa couldn't be trained to scoot the food scraps off her soiled sheets, much less shake out the blanket and actually make the bed." About his father: "My mother had stopped listening to him years ago, but it was almost a comfort that my father insisted on business as usual, despite the circumstances (of his wife's cancer) ... He had made a commitment to make her life miserable, and no amount of sickness or bad fortune would sway him from that task." About himself: "The moment I realized I would be a homosexual for the rest of my life, I forced my brother and sisters to sign a contract swearing they'd never get married. ...My fear was that ... one by one they would abandon us until it was just me and my parents ..." Sedaris characterizes his mother as a chain-smoker and an alcoholic; his father as one that ignores a daughter's terror when her first menstrual period begins even as they're attending a pro golf tournament. And family togetherness is the time they confront the mystery of which one in the group - parents, six children and grandmother - is substituting the bath linens for toilet paper. However, it's not always about dysfunction. I did find it droll when one of David's sisters, a waitress, brings home on Christmas Eve a co-worker who's also a part-time prostitute. Ho, ho, ho! There's more to NAKED than remembering warm familial fuzziness, as when Sedaris was off at college, on a cross-country bus ride, picking apples in Oregon, or visiting a nudist camp. Yet, the humor during these interludes follows much the same tenor - occasionally amusing, more often pitiable and sad, always joyless, and ultimately tiresome. Is Sedaris a gifted writer? Yes, he is. And I'm giving NAKED three stars instead of two for his different perspective on life. But I don't think I'll buy any more of his books.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: A Painted House; Author: Visit Amazon's John Grisham Page; Review: In the autumn of my eighth year, mention "cotton" and "cotton candy" was what probably came to mind. In A PAINTED HOUSE, Luke Chandler picks the stuff - real cotton that is. He lives on a farm in the Arkansas Delta with his parents and his father's parents, Pappy and Gran. Pappy rules the household - until Gran speaks. It's now September and there're 80 acres of King Cotton to harvest, for which job the Chandlers hire the Spruills, a poor family down from the "hill country", and10 Mexican migrant workers. Set in the fall of 1952, A PAINTED HOUSE is a splendid period piece of that time and place. Its enthralling magic is that it's life seen through the eyes of 7-year old Luke, who spends five and a half days each week of the picking season under the hot Southern sun plucking the cotton bolls until his fingers bleed. In the evenings, he and the men folk listen to radio broadcasts of their beloved St. Louis Cardinals baseball team led by the great Stan Musial. On Saturday, there's the weekly bath and the afternoon movie matinee in the nearby settlement of Black Oak. Sunday is for churchgoing at the local Baptist house of worship. Needless to say, this is a coming-of-age story, or a least the very beginning of one. To date, Luke's major worry has been for his 19-year old Uncle Ricky, his father's brother, off fighting in Korea. Now, his mind becomes preoccupied with things he's seen unbeknownst to his elders - two murders, a childbirth, and his first sight of a live and pretty, naked, young woman. Some things are best kept secret from adults, especially the last: "If (the girl) caught me, she'd tell my father, who'd beat me until I couldn't walk. My mother would scold me for a week. Gran wouldn't speak to me, she'd be so hurt. Pappy would give me a tongue-lashing, but only for the benefit of the others. I'd be ruined." And, because of the dynamic that exists between parents and offspring, there's the keeping of secrets because: "(Mother) told me many times that little boys shouldn't keep secrets from their mothers. But every time I confessed one, she was quick to shrug it off and tell my father what I'd told her. I'm not sure how I benefited from being so candid." A PAINTED HOUSE is not a "thriller" in the usual sense, but I couldn't put it down nonetheless. (I usually read two books at a time, one at home and one at work during my lunch breaks. I brought this novel home to temporarily shove aside the second book.) By the last page, I was strongly connected with the members of the Chandler clan and wished them well. Having said that, one of the book's shortcomings was author Grisham's failure to adequately describe the physical appearance of the Chandlers - I couldn't picture them in my mind's eye. Moreover, the storyline eventually concludes with too many loose ends. This begs for a sequel. But since that isn't; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: A Painted House; Author: John Grisham; Review: In the autumn of my eighth year, mention "cotton" and "cotton candy" was what probably came to mind. In A PAINTED HOUSE, Luke Chandler picks the stuff - real cotton that is. He lives on a farm in the Arkansas Delta with his parents and his father's parents, Pappy and Gran. Pappy rules the household - until Gran speaks. It's now September and there're 80 acres of King Cotton to harvest, for which job the Chandlers hire the Spruills, a poor family down from the "hill country", and10 Mexican migrant workers. Set in the fall of 1952, A PAINTED HOUSE is a splendid period piece of that time and place. Its enthralling magic is that it's life seen through the eyes of 7-year old Luke, who spends five and a half days each week of the picking season under the hot Southern sun plucking the cotton bolls until his fingers bleed. In the evenings, he and the men folk listen to radio broadcasts of their beloved St. Louis Cardinals baseball team led by the great Stan Musial. On Saturday, there's the weekly bath and the afternoon movie matinee in the nearby settlement of Black Oak. Sunday is for churchgoing at the local Baptist house of worship. Needless to say, this is a coming-of-age story, or a least the very beginning of one. To date, Luke's major worry has been for his 19-year old Uncle Ricky, his father's brother, off fighting in Korea. Now, his mind becomes preoccupied with things he's seen unbeknownst to his elders - two murders, a childbirth, and his first sight of a live and pretty, naked, young woman. Some things are best kept secret from adults, especially the last: "If (the girl) caught me, she'd tell my father, who'd beat me until I couldn't walk. My mother would scold me for a week. Gran wouldn't speak to me, she'd be so hurt. Pappy would give me a tongue-lashing, but only for the benefit of the others. I'd be ruined." And, because of the dynamic that exists between parents and offspring, there's the keeping of secrets because: "(Mother) told me many times that little boys shouldn't keep secrets from their mothers. But every time I confessed one, she was quick to shrug it off and tell my father what I'd told her. I'm not sure how I benefited from being so candid." A PAINTED HOUSE is not a "thriller" in the usual sense, but I couldn't put it down nonetheless. (I usually read two books at a time, one at home and one at work during my lunch breaks. I brought this novel home to temporarily shove aside the second book.) By the last page, I was strongly connected with the members of the Chandler clan and wished them well. Having said that, one of the book's shortcomings was author Grisham's failure to adequately describe the physical appearance of the Chandlers - I couldn't picture them in my mind's eye. Moreover, the storyline eventually concludes with too many loose ends. This begs for a sequel. But since that isn't; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Rolling Nowhere: Riding the Rails with America's Hoboes; Author: Visit Amazon's Ted Conover Page; Review: While growing up, author Ted Conover was fascinated by the hobo lifestyle which represented freedom, independence and adventure. So, in 1980, he took time off from studies at Amherst to play hobo and ride the rails through the western states, ostensibly gathering material for a senior anthropology thesis. Hopping a freight in St. Louis, he went by stages to Denver, Salt Lake City, Pocatello (Idaho), Havre (Montana), Fargo (North Dakota), Spokane, Seattle, Portland, Eugene (Oregon), Oroville (California), Elko (Nevada), Oakland, Bakersfield (California), Los Angeles, Yuma, El Paso, and back to Denver. Along the way, he meets and loosely befriends those that wander from one place to the next in search of food stamps, discarded edibles and a safe place to sleep - an autonomy and liberty gained at the sacrifice of loved ones, comfort, security, and the income from a steady 9 to 5. The most interesting was 50-year old Sheba, the rare female tramp, who'd built herself a multi-room shelter out of old tires. Conover is a talented writer who deftly captures the "romance" of the rails in ROLLING NOWHERE. About the scenery from a boxcar: "A twisting chasm of waterfalls, spillways, gray rock, and isolated scrub trees hanging on to the canyon walls for dear life, the Feather River Canyon was inaccessible by car, but ... spectacular by freight train." About the grunge: "Forrest ... scratched his scalp vigorously and pulled out a small something. He flicked it away with distaste toward the other side of the tree where I slept." About the food: "I ... shared ravenously in the fare: a bottle of cold white port, a small, dirty Baggie of lettuce, and two brown bananas." But hey, the chow isn't all bad. Evidence gathered by Ted suggests that dumpster diving in back of KFCs after closing hour yields a feast of mashed potatoes and fried chicken. And I love fried chicken. ("Say, Hon, what are we doing for our wedding anniversary dinner?" Am I a romantic devil, or what?) The author's youthful idealism is evident at the book's conclusion when he preaches for fairer treatment of hoboes by the society through which they wander. They are, after all, victims of the system. This is several pages after he describes his welcome of a fellow traveler trying to climb aboard his moving boxcar uninvited: "He was about to leap in when I set my boot down on his fingers, hard. With a yelp, he disappeared." A nice touch, don't you think? While reading ROLLING NOWHERE, I was struck by the author's almost complete lack of humor in describing a journey that should have afforded more opportunities for such. This is a serious piece written in a deadpan style. I wish Ted had lightened up some. There were also so many instances of deja vu that I soon realized that I'd read this book before - probably back in the early 80's when first published. I need to write myself a note that twice is more than enough such that I don't pick it up again two decades from now.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Carrying the Fire: An Astronaut's Journeys by Michael Collins (1974) Hardcover; Author: Visit Amazon's Michael Collins Page; Review: Any cognizant member of the human race can answer a question that begins "Where were you when ...?" The memorable event is largely defined by nationality, culture and interests. For instance I recollect where I was when JFK was shot, when the Berlin Wall came down, and when the WTC towers were destroyed. On the other hand, I can't say the same about when John Lennon was shot or when Princess Di was killed. With millions of others worldwide, I remember that day in July 1969 when one of our species first set foot on another world and our planet figuratively held its breath to watch and listen. We shall not again see that degree of universal interest until, perhaps, there's a manned Mars mission. There were Armstrong and Aldrin on the Moon's surface, of course. But who was the guy left orbiting in the Command Module? CARRYING THE FIRE is by Michael Collins, the poor devil left behind while his two colleagues rocketed off to most of the glory. In his book, Collins provides a narrative history of his time in the U.S. Air Force from his early days as a test pilot at the Edwards and Nellis test centers in the California desert, to his selection as a NASA astronaut (on his second application), to the training for and flight of Gemini 10, and finishing with Apollo 11 and the effects of that mission on his subsequent life. CARRYING THE FIRE is a solid, relatively dead-pan, and competently written look at America's astronaut training and the experience of being "in space", or at least to the degree experienced by the author. Spending his adult life as an engineering test pilot, surely the most glamorous job for a techno-nerd type, it's to Michael's credit that he's penned a book as readable as this. During those later chapters in which he shares the Apollo 11 experience, the volume nearly becomes one that is difficult to put down. Not quite, but almost. "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind" has always struck me as one of the least inspiring famous lines ever spoken. Jeez, who wrote Armstrong's material? (It's so inane that I can't even find the full text of the statement in the edition of LIFE magazine issued to commemorate the event, so maybe I have it wrong.) I only mention this because what was very evident in Michael's narrative was the drabness of the non-technical communications among the Apollo 11 astronauts themselves and between them and Mission Control, as least as recorded for posterity by the author. Even the banter falls flat. Perhaps this is a factor of the no-nonsense, test pilot approach to business, or perhaps it was an effort by NASA to keep it appropriate for family listening. It didn't sound like our three heroes had much fun. To be fair, however, there is one photo in CARRYING THE FIRE captioned "Do you see what I see?" that perhaps gives evidence to a Collins sense of humor after all. For anyone wishing to know more; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Shopaholic Takes Manhattan; Author: Visit Amazon's Sophie Kinsella Page; Review: I have previously characterized Sophie Kinsella's first book in this series, CONFESSIONS OF A SHOPAHOLIC, as a rare comedic gem. This second book on the spending antics of Rebecca Bloomwood, SHOPAHOLIC TAKES MANHATTAN, is just as excellent. I'll be devastated if Kinsella isn't planning a third volume. Becky is a 26-year old Brit who dispenses personal financial advice during a daily segment of a morning telly talk show. She's also under contract to a publisher to write a self-help book on the same subject. Unbeknownst to all except for her roommate Suze and her bank, Becky can't resist spending a pence to save her life. Even the most ordinary of tasks balloons into a spending orgy. For example, when sitting down at her computer to begin composing her promised book, she gets only several words into the very first sentence before she decides her chair is too uncomfortable. Careening off into an office supply store's website ... "... I click on an ergonomic swivel chair upholstered in purple to match my iMac, plus a Dictaphone which translates stuff straight into your computer. And then I find myself adding a really cool steel claw which holds up notes while you're typing, a set of laminated presentation folders - which are bound to come in useful - and a mini paper shredder. Which is a complete essential because I don't want the whole world seeing my first drafts, do I?" The title of this book indicates Becky is off to America. And so she is. With her boyfriend Luke, a PR genius determined to set up a Manhattan office. One of Becky's most endearing characteristics is that her worldview is so shallow. Contemplating life in the Big Apple ... "The weird thing is that although I've never actually been to New York, I already feel an affinity toward it. Like for example, I adore sushi - and that was invented in New York, wasn't it? And I always watch Friends, unless I'm going out that night. And Cheers. (Except now I come to think of it, that's Boston. Still, it's the same thing, really.)" Despite her faults, Becky is sweet, charming, kind-hearted, intelligent, ingenious, and is an excellent judge of character. There's not a malicious bone in her body despite what is thought by her bank's Overdraft Facilities Director. All this keeps the reader rooting for Becky no matter what financial and personal disasters she manages to engineer. Though I wouldn't want to be married to the lady just from financial self preservation, I wish I could number her among my friends just so I could be fascinated.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Pyrates; Author: Visit Amazon's George MacDonald Fraser Page; Review: Author George MacDonald Fraser, the accomplished British author of the FLASHMAN PAPERS and the Private McAuslan trilogy, has also toiled as a Hollywood scriptwriter. And he's been fascinated by pirate stories all his life. Thus, in THE PYRATES, the reader is treated to what could serve as the script for the funniest, most outrageous buccaneer saga ever not put on film. The hero of THE PYRATES is Captain Ben Avery, RN, the handsomest, most chivalrous, noblest, most incorruptible, bravest, most dutiful, and most unseducible man ever to wield an officer's sword on behalf of His Majesty. In Avery, as with every other of the novel's characters, Fraser has lovingly created a caricature. In any case, the time is "the old and golden days of England". King Charles occupies the throne. Ben is ordered to secretly convey a priceless crown to the King of Madagascar. On the same outbound ship are Admiral Lord Rooke and his gorgeous daughter Vanity. Of course, seafaring rascals capture the vessel, steal the crown, abandon Ben on a sandspit, and sell Vanity into white slavery. The tabloids (!) blame Avery for the debacle, and the remainder of the book has our superhero valiantly struggling to rescue honor, crown and Vanity from assorted scoundrels and near things. Of course, even the villains are occasionally endearing, especially if they're British, e.g. Colonel Blood, RA (Cashiered), a darker version of Avery without the ethics or meticulous dress code. And, needless to say, Captain Ben is besotted with Vanity, though his appreciation for her considerable charms is entirely platonic, anything more prurient unbecoming an officer and a gentleman. Since a small movie plays in my mind whenever I read fiction, the chief delight of this swashbuckling caper is the way Fraser attaches period-piece incongruities to the plot which result in hilarious "sight gags" and other absurdities. Contemplate the following: laundry chutes in a Spanish galleon, meal-seating announcements aboard a pirate ship, buccaneers getting drunk and rowdy on captured Perrier, eau de cologne by the barrel or the handy bucket size, a pirate chief's stock portfolio, the deplorable lack of Kleenex in a fetid orlop prison, shipboard ruffians being entertained by a puppet show, pirate disability insurance, the limited number of headsets for men set adrift in small boats, threats of a horrible death by bicycle pump (?), or the French buccaneers' battle cry of "Remember Dien Bien Phu!" Imagine what Mel Brooks could do with this material! THE PYRATES is about fifty pages too long. Those parts of the non-stop action that include the South American Indian tribe and the insanely evil Spanish Viceroy, Don Lardo, were unnecessary digressions better left on the cutting room floor. However, that minor flaw didn't prevent me from laughing out loud on several occasions, causing my wife to throw alarmed glances my way. Yes, I think even the Queen would be amused.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Best Cat Ever; Author: Visit Amazon's Cleveland Amory Page; Review: THE BEST CAT EVER by Cleveland Amory is a bit of a sham, though certainly not one that is unattractive or was created out of malice. In the prologue, Amory writes about his deceased pet cat, Polar Bear: "I shall dwell ... on the past and the fun we had for the fifteen years we had together." As the reader discovers, this is just not so. As a matter of fact, most of the author's narrative is born of the time before Polar Bear came into his life. Amory remembers his first job. Amory ruefully recounts his brief stint as a Hollywood scriptwriter. Amory tells of his association with the Duke and Duchess of Windsor when he was commissioned to ghost-write the autobiography of the latter. Amory revisits his time as a reviewer for TV Guide. Or, if after, then THE BEST CAT EVER gets hardly more than honorable mention. Amory discusses arthritis and its cures. Amory revisits his alma mater, Harvard. Amory is hit by a truck. I can't say that this short book isn't entertaining. If I had harbored, before picking it up, any interest in the author, and if the book and been entitled REMINISCENCES OF CLEVELAND (or something of the sort), then I should happily award 4, and perhaps 5, stars. Amory is indeed talented and astute, as when he states of Wallis Warfield's morganatic marriage to the abdicated King Edward VIII: "If she settled for being a morganatic wife, not only would she not be a Queen, she would have settled for something which, to her at least, sounded all too much like being a peasant." Amory's dry wit notwithstanding, I can only award 3 stars because Polar Bear, most of the time, just isn't there. The best chapter is certainly the last, in which Cleveland poignantly and sadly describes his beloved pet's last illness and the trauma of having him put to sleep. (I was, perhaps, reminded of the advancing age of my own cat, Trouble. While still healthy at 10 years, that heartbreaking time will certainly come for her also.) There are better books to be savored on the relationship between a human and its feline owner. Offhand, I can name three: I & CLAUDIUS by Clare De Vries, THE CAT WHO COVERED THE WORLD by Christopher Wren, and MY CAT SPIT MCGEE by Willie Morris.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Ruffles on My Longjohns; Author: Isabel K. Edwards; Review: RUFFLES ON MY LONGJOHNS begins in 1932 as Isabel Edwards leaves Portland, Oregon with her husband Earle to homestead the valley of the Atnarko River flowing through the coastal mountains of west central British Columbia. Used to city life, young Isabel must adapt to a world without electricity, indoor plumbing, central heating, regular mail service, roads, female companionship, immediate medical care, and contemporary conveniences of any sort. She and her husband build cabins, barns, fences, boats, spinning wheels, stoves, heaters, saddles, wells, and animal pens. Food not grown or hunted locally must be brought in by packhorse over many miles of rough terrain. One endures mosquitoes, floods, bears, wolves, snow and freezing cold. And no, one just can't jump into the SUV and drive down to the local Wal-Mart. Recently, PBS television aired a series entitled "Frontier House" in which three American families volunteer to re-create life as homesteaders in Montana of the 1880s. For several months, they sampled exactly what the Edwards lived for real for years, but did it with much more whining. What's remarkable about Isabel's narrative is the matter-of-fact good humor in which she tells it. Perhaps it's because it was written many years after the fact (1980), and time mellowed memories of what must have been an incredibly exacting experience. One can only admire the stamina and fortitude it must have taken to build a life under such conditions. (Hey, I start complaining when the Sunday paper isn't delivered on time!) RUFFLES ON MY LONGJOHNS seems much longer than its 297 paperbacked pages. Perhaps it's the typeset. In any case, it's a darn good yarn. And if anybody still believes such a life is glamorous, consider the following passage in which the author describes rescuing a pig during a flood. "Racing back to the house, I found Earle sloshing around in the flooded pen, trying to catch her. Between us, we cornered her, and carrying her upside down by the legs, she wriggled and twisted and screamed as though she were being murdered. Halfway across the disintegrating bridge she had a spurting, fluid bowel movement all down the front of my dress." Try that next time you take the kids to the petting zoo.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Balkan Ghosts: A Journey Through History; Author: Visit Amazon's Robert D. Kaplan Page; Review: I suspect that most natural born citizens of the United States of America rarely give thought to the tremendous good luck of having emerged from the womb in that country. I admit that I number among them. BALKAN GHOSTS inspires me to get on my knees every night and give thanks that my homeland is the US of A. Author Robert Kaplan's book, first published in 1993, is part travel essay, part historical narrative, and part social and political commentary as he examines the past and present of Yugoslavia, Romania, Bulgaria and Greece. Unfortunately, it's nine years outdated and fails to address the most recent eruptions of ethnic violence in a disintegrated Yugoslavia. However, having said that, BALKAN GHOSTS dispersed much of the ignorance and confusion with which I'd regarded the region. A primary thread that runs throughout is the presence of long-standing, tribal animosities lurking just below the surface in each country, and which periodically erupt into spasms of violence and genocide that make the worst recorded treatment of Native Americans and Blacks in the U.S. almost tame by comparison. Serbs versus Croats. Serbs versus Albanians. Bulgarians versus Serbs. Bulgarians versus Romanians. Bulgarians versus Greeks. Macedonians versus Bulgarians. Macedonians versus Greeks. Macedonians versus Albanians. Romanians versus Russians. Romanians versus Hungarians. Roman Catholic Christians versus Eastern Orthodox Christians. Communists versus everybody. Rightists versus leftists. Everybody versus the Turks, i.e. the Muslims. And, when it's slow on a Saturday night, mount a pogrom against the Jews. As Kaplan puts it: "As always in the Balkans, bare survival provides precious little room for moral choices." Perhaps the most revealing chapters are the last three on Greece. Since the author lived there for seven years rather than just pass through, he strongly suggests that the country Westerners revere as the "cradle of Western civilization" has perhaps long since disappeared into the unfathomability of the East. Even the sunny tourist posters are suspect. (Say, honey, let's cancel that Greek Isles cruise and go to New Jersey instead.) If you're looking for instruction rather than light entertainment, BALKAN GHOSTS is just the ticket.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Descent (Descent Series); Author: Visit Amazon's Jeff Long Page; Review: If you grew up in a house with a cellar, do you remember imagining what horrors lurked in the dark among the cobwebs under the stairs until you turned the light on at the top? THE DESCENT elaborates on that fear, but on a far grander scale. The boogiemen, in this case, are of the species Homo hadalis, an ancient offshoot of Homo erectus, on a co-existing evolutionary track with man. The "hadals" live in an Earth-encompassing network of caverns and tunnels extending miles below the surface. And sometimes not so deep. (Let's just say I won't be digging myself a bomb shelter anytime soon.) The hadals aren't our jolly cousins either; the mother-in-law from hell would be better company on Thanksgiving. During an underground survey expedition, humans find: "A giant skeleton - possibly a human freak - lay in shackles solid with rust. The forensic anthropologist thought the deeply incised geometric patterns on the giant's skull had been made at least a year before the prisoner's death. Judging by the cut marks around the entire skull, it seemed the giant had been scalped and kept alive as a showcase for (the hadals') artwork." Author Jeff Long has crafted a riveting sci-fi epic that is not easily put down. Early on in the storyline, Mankind learns of the hadals' existence and fights the underground war by which the latter are ostensibly eradicated. Then, the Helios mega-corporation sends a survey team to cross underneath the Pacific Ocean's floor in order to lay claim to undiscovered riches outside international boundaries. In hindsight, maybe that wasn't a good idea. The two main characters in THE DESCENT are Ike Crockett and Ali von Schade. Ike, a former mountain guide, has been rescued from hadal slavery after more than a decade of torment. Ali is a Catholic nun whose passion is researching proto-languages. Both accompany the Helios expedition. Meanwhile, back on the surface in a parallel subplot, a priest leads a committee of scholars on a worldwide search for the historical Satan's physical embodiment, literally. THE DESCENT has its grisly moments that may appall the squeamish since the hadals torture captives with relish. However, Long's description of the underground spaces, including imaginative flora, fauna, and a bustling subsurface Helios company town, is mesmerizing. (He also throws in what appears to be a slick explanation for the Shroud of Turin, but what do I know?) Though I thought the book perhaps fifty pages too long, and it wasn't until the conclusion that I saw the need for the pursuit of Satan digression, THE DESCENT tidies up nicely into a crackerjack thriller. One last thought. Beware of tricky Jesuits.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Great Plains; Author: Visit Amazon's Ian Frazier Page; Review: GREAT PLAINS by Ian Frazier is one of those travel essays that might serve as the source of arcane facts useful as party trivia. A Plains dust storm in May 1934 dropped an estimated 12 million tons of topsoil on Chicago. Brown-colored dust storms originate in Kansas, and red ones in Oklahoma. Among the Indians, two knives, a pair of leggings, a blanket, a gun, a horse, and a tipi might be bartered for a wife. (Hey, I got ripped off! I had to trade four knives, three horses, a squirt gun, and $50-worth of McDonald's coupons.) Roughly 10% of those pilgrims traveling the Oregon Trail to the West died enroute (34,000 of 350,000). The first man Thomas Jefferson (as Secretary of State) sent to explore the West was John Ledyard in 1785 - preceding Lewis and Clark by 18 years. Contrary to nuclear apocalypse films, the 110-ton concrete door topping U.S. missile silos doesn't slide or swing open at weapon launch; it's blown out and away by internal charges. And there's no known photo or drawing of Crazy Horse. The fact that the author gathered material for GREAT PLAINS from several trips makes it all somewhat jumbled. Only the starting and ending points are the same - Montana. Probably the best chapter, because of the author's concluding eloquent tribute to the man, is the one that describes the life and shameful death of the Sioux war chief Crazy Horse. Otherwise, Frazier haphazardly touches on the history, geography, peoples, personages and events of his vast subject in Colorado, Texas, New Mexico, Kansas, North Dakota, Nebraska, Montana, Wyoming, and South Dakota. Now, don't get me wrong. I enjoyed this book because I learned something about places I'll likely never see. But it isn't, in my mind, great travel writing in the tradition of, say, Eric Newby. Now, perhaps if you just want recipe suggestions for your next back yard potluck ... " ... ants (scooped from anthills in the cool of the morning, washed, crushed to paste, made into soup) ..." "The Arikara retrieved from the Missouri (River) drowned buffalo so putrefied they could be eaten with a spoon." Yum.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Guest Shot; Author: Visit Amazon's David Locke Page; Review: I have to qualify this review up front by mentioning that I have no use for the daytime TV talk shows that have as guests, for the titillation of the in-studio and at-home audiences, dysfunctional citizens of every ilk willing to display their antisocial skills. Having said that ... The plot of GUEST SHOT has a serial killer appearing as the Mystery Guest on a fictional version of America's most popular afternoon talk show called "Stoner" hosted by somebody named - you guessed it - Stoner. On his first gig, MG states his intent to kill somebody. On following appearances, he relates how the killing went and how many people he's going to murder next. The way he manages to get on nation-wide TV without being apprehended is too long to explain here. Let's just say that technology is a wonderful thing. Unfortunately, there's nothing about GUEST SHOT that elevates it above the ordinary. The NYPD detective initially in charge of the case is Lt. Dorothea Zenobia Hayes - "DZ" for short. Of course, she's attractive, single, and fighting for recognition in a male-dominated profession. So, the storyline must necessarily explore whether or not she finds true love, and whether or not she can catch the evildoer in the face of censure by no less than the Police Commissioner for her unorthodox approach. (At least Dirty Harry in another age didn't have to worry about the first one!) Since DZ knows the identity of the killer well before the end of the book, the only question remaining is whether or not she can get enough proof to slap on the cuffs. And even though the author, David Locke, could have twisted the plot into a surprise finale for which even I saw the potential, he declined the opportunity to be clever. The actual takedown of the murderer was implausible - the cavalry, standing right outside the proverbial door, would have arrived much sooner in real life. And the very conclusion, the second-to-last sentence, was too cute to the point of being positively lame. GUEST SHOT is not so much a bad read as just one with nothing particularly ingenious to recommend it. With so much better out on the pulp fiction racks, why bother?; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Best American Travel Writing 2000; Author: Visit Amazon's Jason Wilson Page; Review: The title of this book is THE BEST AMERICAN TRAVEL WRITING 2000. OK, ok, so I'm obviously a tad behind on my reading. (I only just recently got around to the fine print on my birth certificate which lists the warranty exclusions.) "To my mind, the greatest reward and luxury of travel is to be able to experience everyday things as if for the first time, to be in a position in which almost nothing is so familiar that it can be taken for granted." Perhaps the spirit of the statement is hard to realize nowadays when even Ulan Bator boasts (?) a McDonalds. However, its author, travel writer Bill Bryson, has, as this anthology's editor, pulled together twenty-six tales that will transport the armchair traveler far beyond the well-trod tourist paths. And I say this as one whose wimpy idea of adventure is to dine on a scorching curry in one of London's Balti houses after an afternoon exploring the book stacks at Foyle's. The only journey in this volume that's personally appealing is the one to Bhutan described by Jessica Maxwell in "Inside the Hidden Kingdom". (That was until I searched the Web for Bhutan tours and was faced with the eye-popping cost of such a trek. Winning the California Lotto will be a pre-requisite, I'm afraid.) Otherwise, scouring France and Spain for the perfect first alcoholic drink of the day, or attending the World Ice Golfing Championship 250 miles north of the Arctic Circle in Greenland, isn't a trip I'll queue for. Neither is spending the night in the depths of New York's Central Park, searching for the remnants of the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia's remote highlands, traveling by donkey into Morocco's Atlas Mountains, picking-up hitchhikers in Cuba, or journeying down the Congo River on an over-crowded, squalid, passenger barge. I admire those who do such things, and it makes for great storytelling, but I'm way too soft. In all the modern travel essays I've read, even if they're about trips to hell and back, nobody is ever permanently hurt. That fact is what makes so horrific "The Last Safari" by Mark Ross, a former safari guide, who tells of the time he and several clients were kidnapped in Uganda by border-crossing, machete-wielding rebels from the Congo. This tragic and shocking narrative is alone worth the price of the book. All of the contributions to THE BEST AMERICAN TRAVEL WRITING 2000 are off-beat by a little or a lot. That common element is what makes the whole worth reading.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Fire in the Night: Wingate of Burma, Ethiopia, and Zion; Author: Visit Amazon's John Bierman Page; Review: Some time ago, I read QUARTERED SAFE OUT HERE, the wartime memoirs of George MacDonald Fraser concerning the time he spent in the Other Ranks of the British imperial army that recaptured Burma from the Japanese in World War II. In his book, Fraser mentions the high regard the troops had for the army commander, William Slim. I subsequently read DEFEAT INTO VICTORY by Field-Marshal Viscount Slim, a personal account by the man who commanded the Fourteenth Indian Army during its bitter retreat from, and its glorious return march through, Burma. In his volume, Slim mentions the unorthodox British general Orde Wingate's contributions to the Japanese defeat in Southeast Asia. Thus, FIRE IN THE NIGHT, Wingate's biography. Co-authored by John Bierman and Colin Smith, FIRE IN THE NIGHT is the immensely readable life story of an incredibly complex man. In a nutshell, after several brief chapters on Wingate's early life, the narrative sequentially covers his postings in Palestine, Ethiopia and, finally, India/Burma, during which time (1936-1944) he rose in rank from Lieutenant to Major General. In the British Mandate of Palestine, Orde became an ardent Zionist while fighting Arab "gangs" with Special Night Squads, the armed detachments of British regulars and Jews which he himself brought into being. In Ethiopia, his was a key role in the British victorious military effort to drive the Italians from the country and return Haile Selassie to the thrown. In India, Wingate's ultimate triumph before an untimely death was to conceive, form, train and deploy the Third Indian Division, the "Chindits", as a Special Force to insert behind Japanese lines in Northern Burma to destroy the enemy's means of communication and supply. To my mind, the strength of this book is that it gives the reader an excellent overview of Wingate the man and soldier without getting bogged down in an overabundance of detail. Certainly, the subject of Wingate's character, obsessions and eccentricities could fill volumes. He was admired and loved by the men he literally led into battle. (He drove them hard, but he drove himself even harder.) Conversely, he was loathed by many of his officer peers and superiors for his arrogance, outspokenness, rudeness and personal slovenliness. (He was on record as calling some of his more Blimpish superiors "military apes".) But, he also had his admirers in high places, most notably Winston Churchill and Lord Louis Mountbatten, the Supreme Commander of all allied forces in Southeast Asia. Perhaps the most endearing of Wingate's traits were his eccentricities. For example, he carried a wind-up alarm clock on his person because he considered watches unreliable. And then there was his attitude to personal nudity best illustrated by an incident during the wide press acclaim following his first Chindit campaign. An Australian correspondent invited to the general's hotel room in Delhi wrote: "I found him sitting naked on his bed, eyes buried deep in a book. He hardly glanced up as I entered and rather gruffly asked what I wanted. ... He wasn't interested in me or my requirements, but seemed most excited about the book; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Headwind; Author: Visit Amazon's John J. Nance Page; Review: Craig Dayton is the American pilot of a German 737 passenger jet. After boarding travelers in Athens for a flight to Rome, Craig is faced with the Greek police who want to arrest one of his First Class passengers, John Harris, a former President of the United States. Harris is wanted on an Interpol warrant initiated by the Peruvian government. Peru charges that Harris, in violation of an international treaty against torture, sanctioned atrocities that occurred during a CIA-sponsored raid on a Peruvian heroin factory during the Harris Administration. As a former U.S. Air Force pilot now in the reserves, Dayton's instinct to protect a former Commander-in-Chief takes over, and he backs his jet away from the gate, overturning a loaded baggage tram in the process, and vamooses out of Dodge, so to speak. Thus begins a chase across Europe, Harris in the 737 pursued by the Lear carrying Stuart Campbell, the international lawyer retained by Peru to bring the fugitive to bay. HEADWIND is an engrossing read if one accepts the shaky premise that an American pilot, sufficiently dedicated to guard the welfare of an ex-President, would also be enough of a cowboy to endanger his job, his crew, and the 118 paying passengers aboard his plane. To a certain degree, Dayton is a hero of the plot, though a bigger one is Jay Reinhart, a friend of the ex-President's and an expert in international law, whom Harris retains as his attorney. Jay, a former Texas District Judge, has recently been reinstated to the bar after having suffered a suspension for falling in love with a female defendant on trial in his court for murder. In any case, Jay now has to scramble from his Wyoming hideaway to Europe where the chase is on. Author John Nance does a swell job alternating the action between foreign courtrooms and the 737's flight deck, and there's sufficient tension, especially in the latter, for me to have gnawed away the edges of my expensive manicure. (Darn! Where's that emery board?) And all the while there's the question, "Is Harris really innocent of the charges?" After all, there's that pesky videotape. Although the ending is cloyingly happy as all loose ends are tidied up - a pet peeve of mine, HEADWIND is the perfect thriller for your next plane flight. If you're going roundtrip coast to coast, you'll finish before you touch down on the home leg. Check to see if any of our ex-Presidents are in First Class as you board, and yell "Hey, Bubba!" if you see Bill.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Skipping Christmas; Author: Visit Amazon's John Grisham Page; Review: In SKIPPING CHRISTMAS, author John Grisham abandons his usual storyline about lawyers in distress in favor of a short, comic, yuletide fable concerning social mores and pressures, and the hazards inherent to ignoring them. Now that their daughter has flown the coop for Peru on a Peace Corps mission, Luther and Nora Krank are left to contemplate the imminent Christmas holidays on their own. A Scrooge in the making for some time, Luther finally snaps after calculating that the last Yule Season cost him a whopping sixty-one hundred dollars. With Nora's reluctant agreement, he decides that this year there'll be no tree, cards, gifts, party, charitable giving, or lawn displays. Only a cruise to the Caribbean. Bah humbug! The going gets tough and the tough get going as the Kranks turn away the Boy Scouts selling Christmas trees, the police taking donations for a toys-for-deprived-tots campaign, and the firemen and medics selling fruitcakes to fund another of the same. Most antisocial of all is their decision not to mount an illuminated Frosty figure on the roof, something that all other residents along Hemlock Street do in the hope winning the local award for best street decoration. Talk about peer pressure! Despite much skeptical and disapproving shaking of heads by neighbors and co-workers, the Kranks actually appear to be on the brink of pulling it off, including losing weight and acquiring a tanning salon bronze in preparation for the lazy days aboard ship. Then comes the disastrous phone call on Christmas Eve morning. Luther is a 54-year old apprentice curmudgeon. At 53, I can relate to the man's disenchantment with the Holiday Season, and would myself drop out of the festive occasion if my Better Half would let me get away with it. (Ha, fat chance!) In any case, I was cheering Luther on every step of his perilous way. Having betrayed my bias in the matter, the book's ending still satisfactorily illustrates the value of the support network presumably found in some long-established urban neighborhoods. SKIPPING CHRISTMAS would, I think, make a terrific movie, perhaps starring Michael Keaton and Frances McDormand. My chief objection to the book is the big hardback price for a very small volume, which can be read in a couple of hours even by the most lethargic of readers. A better value would be to buy it used.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Lost Hollywood; Author: Visit Amazon's David Wallace Page; Review: You know that famous "Hollywood" sign perched on its hill? Well, the view from my front window includes that hill's reverse slope. That back side has ... nothing, which is about all I knew of Hollywood's golden era despite the fact that I've lived in the environs of Los Angeles just about all of my adult life. From the vantage point of such abysmal ignorance, I found LOST HOLLYWOOD to be one of the more entertaining and interesting books I've read recently. In twenty-three chapters, journalist-author David Wallace takes the reader as far back as the 1870's to begin his narrative, most of which focuses on the evolution of the Tinseltown movie industry, its stars, and associated glitz from around 1911 through the glory years of the 20s, 30s, 40s, and into the 50s. Each chapter has its own stand-alone topic, e.g. Cecil B. DeMille, D.W. Griffith, Rudolph Valentino, Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford, the arrival of "talkies", the Hotel Hollywood, the studio contract system, the Hollywood sign, gossip mongers Hedda Hopper and Louella Parsons, the stars' cars, the stars' yachts, the Cocoanut Grove, the Hollywood Canteen, and Schwab's drugstore. Much of the volume's diversion value lies in the fascinating, sometimes titillating, trivia it contains. Did you know that womanizer Errol Flynn's custom-built Packard had a passenger seat that became a bed at the touch of a button, and the license plate read "R U 18"? Or that New York opera star Geraldine Farrar was paid two dollars per minute of daylight for every day she was in Hollywood filming "Carmen"? Or that the fake palm trees in the Cocoanut Grove were leftover props from Valentino's film "The Sheik"? Or that Paulette Goddard got the female lead in "North West Mounted Police" after slapping her bare foot on director DeMille's desk knowing it would appeal to his foot fetish? My only criticism of LOST HOLLYWOOD is that it cries out for more pictures. True, there's a relevant period photo at the beginning of each chapter, but it just isn't enough. At 188 pages in paperback, it's a book I was compelled to read in a single day, reluctantly wasting time on other nuisance activities like my job, sleeping and household chores. Is LOST HOLLYWOOD a masterpiece? Nah! It's simply great fun.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Small Death in Lisbon; Author: Visit Amazon's Robert Wilson Page; Review: A SMALL DEATH IN LISBON by Robert Wilson is a meticulously crafted whodunit that's set in a place perhaps dismissed by insular Americans as one where not much seems to happen - Portugal. That fact in itself makes the book worth picking up. The storyline meanders back and forth between two time lines. In the earliest, it's World War Two and German factory owner Klaus Felsen is recruited into the SS for a crucial mission to Portugal. His orders are to buy or steal all of that country's wolfram (tungsten) he can lay his hands on. A handy substance, wolfram is used in making the "hardened munitions" that destroy tanks. In the latest, it's 1998 and Lisbon homicide detective Ze Coelho is investigating the sodomization and murder of sixteen year old Catarina Oliveira whose body was dumped on a local beach. The world-weary Coelho is, as you might suspect, the plot's hero. He's rendered even more of a sympathetic character by the recent death of his beloved wife, by the rebelliousness of an otherwise loving teenage daughter, and by his professional partnership with a young detective with an attitude, Carlos, who climbs on more than just Coelho's nerves. On the other hand, Felsen isn't content with just being the Bad Guy. He's one of the more despicable villains around because he has no apparent scruples whatsoever. And he breeds uncontrollably, a fact that builds the congenital bridge to Coelho's case. At 451 paperbacked pages, A SMALL DEATH IN LISBON verged on being too long. It wasn't until the last hundred or so pages when Coelho began to tease the riddle apart and the plot twists were revealed that I began to consider awarding more than three stars. Perhaps it's also that Ze is about the only likeable character in the book, and I wish he'd been given more text space than the detestable Klaus. Also on the plus side is the ending which is, like real life, somewhat untidy. I find that refreshing.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Round Ireland with a Fridge; Author: Visit Amazon's Tony Hawks Page; Review: "Everything you read from this moment forth is a tribute to what can be achieved as a result of a shabby night of booze." Thus does Tony Hawks elegantly describe the genesis of his journey chronicled in ROUND IRELAND WITH A FRIDGE. To be more precise, it was the result of a drunken gamble made with a buddy that in itself doesn't make much sense. The bet was for 100 British pounds, and the refrigerator cost Hawks 130 pounds. What was he thinking? By the way, in case you're wondering, the fridge in question was a small cube perhaps two feet or less on a side, not one of the behemoths in which one stores provisions for a family of six (or beer and frozen pizza for a single bachelor). The terms of the wager allowed Hawks, a comedian by profession, one calendar month to hitchhike the circumference of Ireland with fridge in tow. A month can accommodate a fair number of paying gigs. So, with apparently that much free time on his hands, one wonders how successful a comedian Tony was at the time (1997). Well, that's neither here nor there. In any case, the author's talent for dry humor translates well to the printed medium, as when he observes: "Shooting hordes of insubordinate natives was acceptable when 'needs must', but jumping a queue was always quite intolerable. The whole raison d'tre for a vast British Empire had been a desire to teach the ignorant peoples of the world how to queue correctly." Quite right. I think even the Queen would agree. Indeed, it's the humor of ROUND IRELAND WITH A FRIDGE that supports the narrative as far as it goes. It falls short as a travel essay, which, in my mind, should be descriptive of the locale being traversed. Beyond this reader's conclusion that the Irish are remarkably tolerant of and generous to eccentrics, most of the insights gained don't extend beyond the walls of the many pubs where Hawks spends his hours when not actually on the road. Granted, this isn't entirely the author's fault. The friendly Irish are just always offering to buy him a pint. However, as an example, at one stage in his journey Tony and the fridge are coveyed between points A and B by a white van with "Galway Swan Rescue" emblazoned on the side. Now, I'd like to know what a swan rescuer does, but Hawks never tells, and my curiosity remains unsatisfied. This lack of useful information pervades the volume as a whole. In the end, the book's 247 pages were amusing enough to warrant three stars, but it's mindless reading with a capital "M". Even telling how he got a splinter while Doing It in a doghouse didn't add as much to the saga as he probably thought it might. Is Tony a girl's dream date, or what?; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Forged Coupon; Author: Visit Amazon's Leo Tolstoy Page; Review: After reading THE FORGED COUPON, I concluded that Leo Tolstoy would have me believe that if I cut off some other motorist on the freeway tomorrow, the anger I generate in that other driver could reverberate from individual to individual and eventually cause someone halfway around the world having a bad hair day to push the Nuclear Button. Thank goodness I'm not paranoid! The premise of Tolstoy's last short novel, written in 1904, is that the effects of individual actions, whether good or bad, ripple through society causing unexpected consequences far removed in time and place from the original deed. THE FORGED COUPON begins with a father angrily denying his son an advance on his allowance, causing the latter to forge an inflated value on the coupon he's given instead. (In the storyline's time and place, coupons clipped from interest-bearing documents were commonly used as money.) The eventual repercussions of this act provide the background against which Tolstoy lashes out against the flaws he perceived in pre-Revolution Russian society: upper class greed, the oppression of the peasant class, the spiritual and moral bankruptcy of the Russian Orthodox Church, the unfairness of the justice system, and the intellectual banality of the political leadership up to and including the Tsar. As a solution to his societyís ills, the author proposes a return to Christian fundamentalism based solely on scripture, and fictionally illustrates how acts grounded in such can be just as influential in the long term as those generated by mankind's baser motives. The reader will perhaps find truths in THE FORGED COUPON depending on his/her personal value system. But is the book well done? The front cover of my edition calls it "a classic tale of crime and guilt". Well, it's certainly a tale of crime and guilt, but it misses being classic simply because it's too short. It's as if Tolstoy, who died in 1910, realized his life was coming to a close and thought he'd better crank this one out in a hurry. Had he taken the time to expand the novel to several hundred pages and develop the characters and storyline more, it perhaps would have had more impact. THE FORGED COUPON comes across as a rush job. Indeed, the CliffsNotes version is probably longer than the 88 pages of my edition of the original. Its greatest value was to provide me with some small insight into Russian social structure of the period - a structure swept away forever in the next decade by World War One and the revolutions of 1917.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Secrets of Amusement Park Games... Revealed! (Third Edition); Author: Brian Richardson; Review: I'm not sure why I purchased THE SECRETS OF AMUSEMENT PARK GAMES ... REVEALED. Perhaps it's my obsessive craving for profound knowledge. Perhaps it's because on those very rare occasions when I visit the annual Los Angeles County Fair, I steer clear of the games and beeline for the junk food. (Once a long time ago, I tried to show off to my then fiance at an amusement park shooting booth and failed miserably. We eventually married, but she refuses to call me "Bwana". Perhaps this book will give me an edge for a major comeback in spousal respect.) SECRETS will likely appeal to a very narrow niche market. I'm probably not a legitimate occupier of that cranny, but am giving the volume the benefit of the doubt with 4 stars anyway. (At my level of carny involvement, 5 seems cheeky.) Author Brian Richardson seems to know what he's talking about as he advises the reader on how to increase the odds of winning at the Milk Can Softball Toss, the Peach Basket Softball Toss, the BB Gun Star Shootout, the Ring Toss, the Sign Ball Bounce Off, the Curly Bar Ring Guide, the Basketball Shoot, and several others. In the Ring Toss, for instance, is it better to go with a throw of high or low arc, and is it done overhand or underhand? Brian instructs. A nice touch on the first page is an impressive photo of (apparently) all the stuffed animals the author has won using his tried and true techniques. Richardson also includes two chapters on the games he personally avoids, and the Top Ten steel and wooden roller coasters in America. Brian has obviously had a lot of fun gathering the material for this little paperback - 85 pages in a 4 x 6.5 inch format. Would that we could all be so clever with our free-time diversions.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Storming Heaven; Author: Visit Amazon's Kyle Mills Page; Review: When it comes to pesky conspirators that cause headaches for literature's pantheon of fictional heroes, some have been around for so long that they're passe: ex- SS members, the KGB, and the Vatican. In STORMING HEAVEN, none of these are at the root of All Evil, and the Vatican gets a breather for once. This time around, our hero is Mark Beamon, the troublesome but brilliant FBI agent exiled to the position of agent-in-charge of the bureau's Flagstaff office, an out-in-the-stix outpost of the Big House down in Phoenix. Mark is investigating the gunshot deaths of Eric and Patricia Davis and the disappearance of their teenage daughter Jennifer. (It's not apparent, or ever explained, why the local cops aren't a presence and the Feds have been brought into the case. It's uncertain at the outset that Jennifer was kidnapped, much less taken across state lines, the only rationale for FBI involvement.) In any case, before the storyline progresses too far the reader knows, and Beamon suspects, that the hierarchy of the Kneissians, a global religious cult, is up to no good in the affair. Mark is the best reason to bother with STORMING HEAVEN. He's intolerant of nonsense emanating from the Front Office, unlucky when it comes to women, physically unprepossessing, and waging a losing battle with cigarettes, alcohol and a middle-age waistline. And he's irreverant. At one point in his investigation, he's asked by an ally to pray with her for their success: "She pulled at his sleeve and he sank to his knees next to her wheelchair. She squeezed her eyes shut and began moving her lips soundlessly. Not really knowing what to do, he bowed his head and waited for her to snap out of it." And he's realistic about the strengths of the character flaws laid at his door by his superiors, as when he's questioning a difficult suspect: "It was time to make a decision on how to play this. There was the smart way, of course ... But that seemed kind of boring. The other option was to shoot himself in the foot and see if he could make the ice princess sweat a little." I'd give the book three stars except for Beamon, who elevates it another click. Otherwise, the storyline is only marginally inventive, and the Kneissians aren't in the same league as the Vatican when it comes to truly insidious plotting. Where's a good renegade Cardinal when you need one?; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Late George Apley; Author: Visit Amazon's John P. Marquand Page; Review: THE LATE GEORGE APLEY is a departure from my habitual choice of biographical reading, which is usually limited to real-life individuals who've stood astride human history. And George Apley of (merely) Boston is fictional. Author John Marquand has invented a make-believe chronicler named Mr. Willing to tell the story of the latter's life long friend, George Apley (1866-1933). The biographer's source material is comprised primarily of his own recollections and numerous letters exchanged between Apley and friends and family over the decades. Willing begins with a brief account of George's ancestry, then proceeds through his subject's birth, boyhood, and years at Harvard and law school forward to his marriage, the birth of his children, then his sojourns in middle and old age. The trouble with this novel is that it seems Marquand didn't have a clear vision of the point he was trying to make. On one hand, Willing's biography is sympathetic. He obviously admires Apley for being a loyal friend, loving husband and father, fair and considerate employer, principled gentleman, and patriotic American. Willing doesn't condemn his friend's gradual alienation from his children and a changing society as he ages. (What a surprise!) And his generally favorable bias doesn't prevent him from mentioning Apley's low opinion of the Irish, Catholics, and Jews, but he doesn't dwell upon these flaws - perhaps because he was of like mind. Taken at this face value, the book is a simple tribute to a good and upstanding life however unprepossessing it may have been. On the other hand, without any obvious malice, Marquand (through Willing again) manages to convey the fact that Apley takes himself, his family name, his privileged class, and Boston way too seriously. Anything beyond the Boston city limits is held in a frank disregard verging on contempt. He fails to heed the words of an uncle who found it necessary to counsel: "Most people in the world don't know who the Apleys are and they don't give a damn." Also, Marquand attributes to his fictional subject no great achievements on the national or world stage. Rather, George spends a lifetime attending the board meetings of charities, participating in "intelligent discussion" groups and clubs, dabbling in the minutiae of local politics, and dispensing unheeded advice to his offspring. Because of all this, I've decided that THE LATE GEORGE APLEY is, in the balance, more of a gentle satire than anything else. The thing is, it's too subtle for this 21st century reader. (Perhaps it was more appreciated in the year first published - 1936.) It's as if Marquand didn't love or hate the type of man or social class his subject represents with sufficient enough fervor to be truly effective at either. At the very best, THE LATE GEORGE APLEY is an interesting description of the evolution of a gentleman and society of that time and place. I liked it to that extent, but was left with the nagging regret that my time would've been better spent reading a contemporary account of a real individual whose life had made ripples in a; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Access To Power; Author: Visit Amazon's Robert Ellis Page; Review: ACCESS TO POWER is the first book by Robert Ellis, so some things will be forgiven - but not all. Frank Miles is one of three partners of a Washington, D.C. media-consulting firm heavily involved in the ongoing off-year election campaigns. One of Frank's clients is rich brat Mel Merdock, running for a Virginia U.S. Senate seat against the incumbent, Lou Kay. The Virginia race is taking a normally sleazy course until the night one of Frank's partners, Woody, is murdered in the firm's offices. The reader alone knows from the first bullet that the killer is Raymond, but is left with Frank to discover the motive and Raymond's employer. Frank's management of Mel's campaign becomes increasingly manic and disjointed as he delves into Woody's killing in the face of police complacency and a rash of additional bodies hitting the pavement. I was taught long ago that the necessary elements in a work of fiction are a protagonist, an antagonist, and a conflict between the two. Although everything else is window dressing, common sense suggests that the author make the protagonist at least reasonably heroic in the sympathies of the reader. And what is Frank? He's a disinformation artist that manipulates the media in any way possible, using whatever blend of fact and fiction works, to bamboozle the electorate into voting for his candidate over the other guy. Now, maybe I'm an old-fashioned troglodyte, but is this the 21st century's idea of heroic? Who would admire such a political pimp other than other media consultants and the politicians he serves? Darned if I know. And that's why it was hard for me to care about Miles and his predicaments at any point in this thriller. Had he been gunned down by the Bad Guy, I might have even cracked a smile. If Frank is the lead character in future Ellis novels, I won't be buying. My blatant prejudice against our "hero" aside, the plot of ACCESS TO POWER is commendably clever and complex for a debut work. Almost too complex, since, as the personal and professional betrayals between the characters accumulated, I nearly had to keep a scorecard of who was stabbing whom in the back. It wasn't a pretty sight. Had this been a book from an accomplished writer of fiction, I would likely have awarded 3 stars at most. At 4, I'm being generous in the hope Ellis gets better.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sea Room; Author: Visit Amazon's Adam Nicolson Page; Review: "She wanted to leave. She was unable to see the point in being out on a shelterless rock in a meaningless sea, under a muffled grey sky, where there are no loos and no baths, where there is not even a little copse or spinney in which one can sit down and read, where the house itself is little better than a shed, where the wind blows and blows and where your husband is for some reason obsessed with every fact and detail of this godforsaken nowhere." Such is the enthusiasm for the Shiant Isles exhibited by the wife of Adam Nicolson, author of SEA ROOM. Adam is owner of these roughly six hundred acres distributed over three wave and wind ravaged islands in the Minch, that stretch of ocean lying between the Scottish island of Skye and the Outer Hebrides. Adam had inherited them from his father, who purchased them in 1937. The author does indeed examine every fact and detail that can be known or surmised about this edge on civilization's margin: the art of getting there by small boat, the migratory bird life, its human history as revealed by archeology and public records, its geology, its successive native industries over the centuries (farming, fishing, kelping, sheepherding), and its weather. Occasionally, there's unintended humor, as when he describes the labors involved in transferring some cattle off the island by coastal steamer: "The men waited below (the steamer) in the dinghy as the poor beast was lifted by its horns high into the air, bellowing at the indignity and with fear. Just as the animal was high above the gunwale, the men in the dinghy guiding it in by the tail, the bullock emptied the entire contents of its four stomachs over the men below. That was the last time any cattle were seen on the Shiants." Or, when he describes the equally valiant efforts of the rams (tups) sent to the islands to impregnate the resident ewes: "The tups are put on in November, about eight or nine of them for the three hundred-odd ewes, and are taken off in February, knackered (exhausted)." Yes, well, that's the plight of us males everywhere regardless of species. It's a tough and thankless but necessary job. Most of SEA ROOM is a sober narrative about ordinary life on, and the ecosystem of, the Shiants - ordinary with a capital "O". After all, through the centuries no more than perhaps thirty people have called the islands home at any one time. It was never the site of a great city, or the center of an empire, or the scene of heroic accomplishment beyond just making a life in a remote and inhospitable place. Indeed, the Shiants have lacked permanent human residents for the past hundred years. Thus, while Nicolson's magnificent prose makes the story reasonably interesting, it wasn't enough to earn more than four stars in my opinion ... that is, until the concluding chapter. It's because of these last pages, a heartfelt and poignant manifesto of the author's great and consuming love for; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Westward vision;: The story of the Oregon Trail (American trails series); Author: Visit Amazon's David Sievert Lavender Page; Review: David Lavender's WESTWARD VISION spans the period from the mid-17th century to 1849 as he chronicles the search for a reliable overland route to, and the subsequent settlement of, what would become known as Oregon, principally that area which borders the Willamette River as it flows into the Columbia (at present-day Portland). As the subtitle of the book indicates, this is "the story of the Oregon Trail". For the sake of summary, I arbitrarily divide this book into five parts: early exploration of the Upper Mississippi River by French-Canadians seeking a route to the "western sea", the Lewis and Clark Expedition and the subsequent unsuccessful efforts to establish an easy route to Oregon via the Missouri River and its headwaters, the influx of "mountain men" into the area and the discovery of a more southerly route (the Oregon Trail), the early settlement in Oregon of Christian missionary groups sent to proselytize the Indians, and the massive immigration of land-seekers in the 1840's which ultimately resulted in the establishment of a U.S. Oregon Territory. WESTWARD VISION is the result of extensive research on the part of the author. Its wealth of details is both its strong point and its undoing. Probably the most commendably concise chapters (5 and 6), considering the length of the event, deal with the amazing Lewis and Clark Expedition. Perhaps Lavender thought the history of the two-year trek adequately covered elsewhere. In any case, the following chapters on the exploits and travails of the fur-trapping mountain men and the missionaries are so full of minutiae that it would require the reader to take extensive notes in order to keep track of the various groups and individuals endeavoring to cross the Great Divide into Oregon in the 1820s and 30s. (Reading this book for pleasure, I wasn't prepared to expend that much effort.) Only in Chapter 19, which gives an account of the 1843 journey of the first large immigrant train - almost 1000 persons- over the Oregon Trail, does the narrative regain a concise clarity. A major failing of the the volume is the lack of adequate maps to locate the majority of the named and innumerable places and geographical features: rivers, river forks, buttes, mountains, rocks, forts, mountain passes, river fords, trapper rendezvous, and settlements. Perusing contemporary state highway maps didn't help much. And in a work this extensive, I would have expected a large section of illustrations. Except for several very crude drawings, there were none. What elevates WESTWARD VISION, and compels me to award four stars, is that the author makes his point magnificently, i.e. that it took many tough people with large reserves of true grit to expand the fledgling United States to the Pacific's shores. The crossing was hard: "At the rainswept crossing of the North Platte, blue with cold, cramped by dysentery and pregnancy pangs, Mary Walker (an 1838 pilgrim) sat down and 'cried to think how comfortable my father's hogs were' (back home). As for Sarah Smith, Mary sniffed, she wept practically the entire distance to Oregon." And even recreation had a; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Unfinished Business: A Munch Mancini Crime Novel (Munch Mancini Novels); Author: Visit Amazon's Barbara Seranella Page; Review: In the first Munch Mancini novel, NO HUMAN INVOLVED, author Barbara Seranella's hero was an ex-Bad Girl on the wean from drugs and sexual promiscuity while holding down a job as an auto mechanic. Of course, she was also a murder suspect, but everybody has a bad day now and then. Now, almost eight years later, Munch is the Repairs Manager in the auto shop, has her own off-hours limousine service, is devoted to her 7-year old adopted daughter, Asia, and has a serious crush on the homicide detective, Mace St. John, who was on her case years before. Besides being a best friend to Munch, Mace is comfortably married. Oh, well, even a turned-around life has its bummers. Lest one conclude that Munch has had her ticket punched on the Metrolink train to the suburb named Middle-Class Boredom, UNFINISHED BUSINESS has her being stalked by a vicious rapist who's MO is to torture and kill using electricity. Even more exciting, she's helping secret heartthrob St. John solve the case! It doesn't get better than this. In a wider sense, the best part of any Munch thriller is observing Mancini evolve. The "mystery" angle of each book is fairly standard stuff though, admittedly, that in UNFINISHED BUSINESS has a nice twist and a half at the end. But what will make me continue to read more of Seranella's offerings is to see down what path the author takes our hero. Munch is a very sympathetic and likable protagonist. Will she ultimately take Mrs. St. John's place in Mace's bed in his converted railroad car? Will she eventually start-up her own Beamer dealership on the Westside? What will be Mom's reaction when Asia becomes old enough to ask questions about drugs, boys, carburetors, or aromatherapy? And what sort of sickos will ooze from underneath those L.A. freeway underpasses to add zest to their lives? Munch, you go, girl!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Steel Bonnets: The Story of the Anglo-Scottish Border Reivers; Author: Visit Amazon's George MacDonald Fraser Page; Review: THE STEEL BONNETS by George MacDonald Fraser is a prodigious and esoteric historical narrative about the Anglo-Scottish border. The time is the 16th century. The place and players are indicated by the book's subtitle, "The Story of the Anglo-Scottish Border Reivers", reivers being raiders. The place is more specifically the six administrative areas called Marches (3 English and 3 Scottish - West, Middle, and East on each side of the line) which straddled the border to serve as a buffer zone. Having grown up in Carlisle, the former bastion of the English West March, Fraser has written a work of love divided into five parts. In the first three, Fraser describes the genesis of the Border Marches, the Wardens, one per March, that were responsible for the maintenance of order, the raider families that lived there, and the culture and practice of violence that characterized the area. The author's catalog of depredations, based on research of contemporary records, includes murder, arson, blackmail, kidnapping, rustling, racketeering, feuding, plunder, and banditry - all made infinitely worse by the indifference and/or cynical scheming of the English and Scottish central governments which tolerated the not-infrequent participation in the mayhem by the Wardens themselves. Part 4 is a sequential narrative history of events along the Border during the 16th century, the last before James VI of Scotland united the island's thrones as James I of Great Britain. Part 5 describes this monarch's brutal suppression of both the violence and raider families of the Marches during the first decade of the 17th century, an effort that finally brought peace to the region. THE STEEL BONNETS offers a surfeit of detail. At times, as Fraser brings on stage the multitude of principal characters and attempts to unravel the maze of ever-shifting family alliances and feuds (Scot vs. Anglo, Scot vs. Scot, Anglo vs. Anglo, everybody vs. everyone), the reader may decide the author went over the top. However, the story is never uninteresting, and the social chaos is appalling. If the reader was delighted by the humor in Fraser's other books, e.g. the McAuslan and Flashman series, there may be some disappointment as this narrative is relatively straitlaced. However, even here the author's dry wit occasionally shows. Regarding the assumption of the English East March Wardenship by Henry Carey in 1588: "... his notion of Border justice was that the only good reiver was a dead one - a point of view which has much to be said for it. Possibly the fact that he suffered from gall-stones made him irritable, for he started in office as he meant to continue, by hanging Scottish thieves." And, as always, Fraser's prose is a joy to behold, as demonstrated by his closing remarks: "Only now and then, if your romantic imagination is sharp enough, there can come a little drift from the past ... most vivid of all, perhaps, in a little fellside village at night, when there is a hunter's moon and a strong wind, and the black cloud shadows hurry across the tops, and beasts stamp in the dark,; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sandy Koufax: A Lefty's Legacy; Author: Visit Amazon's Jane Leavy Page; Review: "On the mound tonight for the Los Angeles Dodgers ... number 32 ... the great left-hander... Sandy Koufax". These were the energizing words coming over the airwaves that I lived for as a teenager in the mid-60s. I was a Dodger fan. More specifically, a Sandy Koufax fan. I never saw him pitch, but rather relied on the Voice of the Dodgers, Vin Scully, to paint in my mind's eye the picture of my hero at work. So, on September 9, 1965, it was after "lights out" at a private boarding school north of Los Angeles, and I was under the covers with my transistor radio surreptitiously glued to the final inning of Sandy's perfect game against the Chicago Cubs. Consciously or not, former sportswriter Jane Leavy has constructed SANDY KOUFAX: A LEFTY'S LEGACY much the same as Ed Gruver's year 2000 book, Koufax. In each, the author alternates multiple chapters about Sandy's upbringing, professional career, and post-retirement with chapters that are a batter by batter account of Sandy's greatest diamond triumphs - at one inning per chapter. In Gruver's story, it was the last game of the 1965 World Series against the Minnesota Twins when Koufax pitched with only two days rest, and clinched the Fall Classic with grit and a fastball. In Leavy's, it's the Perfect Game pitched against the Cubs at Dodger Stadium, when Sandy's performance touched the truly sublime. Based on a wealth of interviews with her subject's friends and former fellow players, Leavy's book provides much more information about Sandy's life and meteoric career than does Gruver's. His Jewishness, the affinity he had with Black players because of it, the racism other players felt towards him during his early years with the Brooklyn Dodgers, and his decision not to pitch the opening game of the '65 World Series because it fell on Yom Kippur. His perception of the pure science of pitching, and how he got the rules of physics to work to his advantage. The hard feelings Koufax still harbors against Walter Alston for mismanaging his early career. The disaster that was baseball's system of signing "bonus babies". The assault Koufax and Don Drysdale made on the Reserve Clause of the Uniform Players Contract with their famous salary hold-out before the 1966 season. Indeed, while Leavy's chapters on the Perfect Game are models of coherence, sometimes she gets into trouble in the intervening segments with non-sequiturs that left me thinking, "Uh, come again", and which imparted a certain choppiness to the narrative, as if she had failed to stitch all her information together properly. Examples: "Koufax, a bachelor, was Doggett's guest on the postgame show every time he pitched and a collector of countless new electrical appliances." OK. So? On Tommy Lasorda's recollections of his relationship with Koufax: "Once he got going on the subject, Lasorda didn't stop, failing to notice that one of the people to whom he was speaking had doubled over in acute pain with stomach cramps." Who was that and why is it relevant? The author doesn't say. "The day pitchers and; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: All Over But the Shoutin'; Author: Visit Amazon's Rick Bragg Page; Review: If Rick Bragg can be given credence, there's no poverty like growing up dirt-poor in northeast Alabama. But he also has an exceptional Momma, and ALL OVER BUT THE SHOUTIN', besides being an autobiography, is Bragg's tribute to this loving and selfless woman. Bragg was born in 1959. His father, perhaps irrevocably damaged psychologically by combat duty in Korea, was an alcoholic spouse abuser who finally deserted his family in 1966. Rick's mother, Margaret, was left struggling to support herself and three sons by picking cotton, doing other people's laundry, and swallowing her pride to accept charity from family and neighbors. This book is Bragg's account of those early years, and his career as a print journalist from reporting high school and college football games in the late 70s to winning the Pulitzer Prize in 1996 while on the staff of the New York Times. Most of all, it's about family - his Mom, her parents, and his brothers (Sam and Mark). That the author is a gifted writer goes without saying. (After all, one doesn't win the Pulitzer by scribbling book reviews for a major website.) ALL OVER BUT THE SHOUTIN' is poignant, sad, affecting and absorbing. It's a page-turner. However, at no time did Rick convince me that he's experienced any joie de vivre. Unlike one of my favorite authors, Laura Shaine Cunningham, who penned the autobiographical SLEEPING ARRANGEMENTS and A PLACE IN THE COUNTRY, Bragg comes across as one whose difficult childhood left him one of the walking wounded. I'm not sure his numerous mea culpas scattered throughout the work added value, and the apologia began to get tiresome. Indeed, the whole book seems a prelude to chapter 40 in which the author explains why he is what he is, and apologizes for what he's not and what he hasn't done. The best reason to read ALL OVER BUT THE SHOUTIN' is to become acquainted with Margaret, and perhaps the best chapter is near the end when Rick describes his Momma's very first plane ride and foray out into the larger world - at age 59 - to see her son awarded the Pulitzer in New York City. That chapter alone is worth the price of the book. Margaret is truly the essence of the meaning of "Mom".; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Straw Men; Author: Visit Amazon's Michael Marshall Page; Review: The beginning of THE STRAW MEN opens with an intriguing mix of events: in a variation of the Happy Meal, two gunmen methodically mow down eighty-nine (you must be kidding!) lunchtime customers in a backwater McDonald's; a man returning from his parents' funeral finds a note in his father's handwriting that says, "We're not dead"; a young girl is abducted from a shopping promenade in full view of customers inside a B&N bookstore. (Well, I can understand the last. When I'm browsing in a bookseller and totally focused, Bin Laden himself could charge down the street on a camel firing his AK-47 and I wouldn't notice.) I looked forward to a clever and entertaining connection between these disparate events. But, alas! The "men" in the title is misleading. There's really only one villain of consequence, The Upright Man, who remains a relatively nebulous figure to the end. There are two principle good guys in the story, John Zandt, an ex-LAPD homicide cop whose life was ruined when his own daughter was abducted and never recovered, and Ward Hopkins, an ex-CIA employee who resigned before his financial misconduct on the job could be discovered. It was Ward's parents who'd ostensibly died, killed in a highway accident. Both John and Ward have sidekicks, the former an FBI agent in official disfavor named Nina whose only claim to notoriety seems to be that she once had an affair with John, and the latter a wise-cracking buddy named Bobby still with the CIA. What a motley group! None of the four had attractive enough personalities to engage this reader's sympathies. One of the two pairs should have been perhaps edited out to yield a tighter storyline. For me, the biggest problem with THE STRAW MEN was a largely incomprehensible plot. The motive for all the evildoing revolves around some murky theory that what is called "civilization" is but symptomatic of a virus infecting the human genome, and to kill is to be truly free. (Gee, and I thought society's ills are caused by excess fast food consumption. Well, golly, I'm going out for a triple cheeseburger after I finish here.) In any case, the fuzziness of the whole concept culminates in a muddled ending that's both unsatisfying and the apparent basis for a sequel in which (at least) Ward continues to battle a nefarious conspiracy. What nobody told the author, however, is that a follow-up book requires the first offering to be at least above average. For me, THE STRAW MEN isn't, and I'll not pour any more money down this black hole.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: A Maiden's Grave; Author: Visit Amazon's Jeffery Deaver Page; Review: A MAIDEN'S GRAVE is what every trashy thriller should be. It's the kind of book that you'll want to read undisturbed at one sitting, while telling the boss, spouse, kids, pets, or whatever, "Buzz off!" I wish I could award more than 5 stars. The plot is seemingly straight forward enough. Three cons escape from a federal pen in Kansas, hijack a bus carrying two teachers and eight young female students from a school for the deaf, and hole up in an abandoned slaughterhouse on the bank of the Arkansas River. The leader of the Bad Guys is Lou Handy, a smart, amoral and vicious felon that describes himself as "cold death". And you know what? He is. And what's he going to do with that pliers, screwdriver, wrench and hammer? And is his girlfriend, Pris, going to show up? (Handy is one of those horrific sociopaths that, in our nightmares, lurks just outside our bedroom window in the darkness waiting for us to fall asleep so he can drive a stiletto into our eyes for flipping him off on the freeway that day.) Surrounding the hidey-hole, the local, state and federal team of cops is led by Arthur Potter, a fiftyish and out-of-shape FBI agent, who also happens to be that agency's senior hostage negotiator. Arthur is the Common Man's hero, just your regular shmoe doing a job that he's extraordinarily good at. The strength of this superb novel rests in the distinct individualities of the adversaries, and the non-stop tension as Potter must deal not only with Handy's demands and deadlines, but also with the separate agenda of Kansas state law enforcement that illustrates the saying, "We've met the enemy, and they're us." As a bonus, author Jeffery Deaver, if he did his research right, perhaps gives the reader an insight into the culture of the Deaf. (I mean, how many hearing-impaired people do you know? To my knowledge, I've never met even one.) But certainly the most engaging character of A MAIDEN'S GRAVE is timid and frightened Melanie, the youngest of the two teachers, and who's also deaf. By the end of the story, she's evolved into another person entirely - one that'll leave you stunned. A MAIDEN'S GRAVE is, hands down, the best thriller I've read in a long, long while. I can't recommend it enough. Of course, as I told The Boss to pound sand when he caught me absorbed in its pages instead of preparing the quarterly P&L statement for the stockholders' meeting, I'll now have much more time for reading.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Horses Don't Fly: A Memoir of World War I; Author: Visit Amazon's Frederick Libby Page; Review: Frederick Libby's HORSES DON'T FLY is the author's autobiographical account of his life from his birth in 1892 to 1918. His mother having died shortly before his fourth birthday, Libby was raised on his father's Colorado ranch with an older brother. Fred became a "cowboy" in the most authentic sense of the word, working on his family's ranch as well as others in the Southwest. Training wild horses to become cow ponies was his much sought after specialty. Then, tiring of hard life on the range at age twenty, he has the vague notion of settling in a warm and more lazy environment, such as Tahiti. However, he gets sidetracked to Canada where, at the outbreak of World War I, he's seduced into enlisting into a motor transport unit of the Canadian Army with the promise of travel and regular pay. By the end of 1917, Libby is a commissioned officer in Britain's Royal Flying Corps, having logged more than 350 hours of combat flight time over the trenches of the Western Front, and with 24 confirmed downed enemy planes to his credit. The book contains no indication when Libby penned his memoirs. The style indicates somewhat of a detached perspective, which is perhaps evidence that the author wrote many years after the fact when memory had smoothed over the emotional highs and lows of his early years. But, no matter. Libby comes across as that sort of young hero that most Americans, I trust, would like to see representing their country overseas, or anywhere. He's conscientious, unflappable, brave, modest, hard working, honest, honorable and loyal. Indeed, his only vices seem to have been, as a cowboy, foolish gambling, and, while as an RFC pilot, a weakness for the British Army's regular rum ration. Girls are only mentioned as reserving their best for the lads in uniform. I suspect that Libby's wilder youthful indiscretions became lost in the retelling. In any case, the chief attraction of HORSES DON'T FLY, besides the personality of Libby himself, are the insights the reader gains into the hard life of a cowboy, and the early years of military aviation when warplanes could be either "pushers" (rear-mounted propeller) or "tractors" (front-mounted propeller), and both pilots and observer-gunners were exposed to the elements and the enemy in open cockpits with neither seatbelts nor those little packages of salted peanuts. Libby himself was personally awarded the Military Cross by King George V at Buckingham Palace for gallantry in action. To Captain Frederick Libby, long dead since 1970, honor is due.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Flu: The Story of the Great Influenza Pandmic of 1918 and the Search for the Virus That Caused It; Author: Visit Amazon's Gina Kolata Page; Review: FLU: THE STORY OF THE GREAT INFLUENZA PANDEMIC OF 1918 AND THE SEARCH FOR THE VIRUS THAT CAUSED IT starts out impressively with a chapter on the influenza pandemic of 1918, which globally caused the caused the deaths of at least 20-40 million people (and perhaps up to 100 million), followed by a chapter on the history of disease pandemics and death in history. I thought, wow, this could be another riveting book like 1994's HOT ZONE, which was inspired by the Ebola virus. However, in its middle chapters, FLU drifted off course to a discussion of other flu scares of the late 20th century, specifically the Swine Flu fiasco of 1976 and the Hong Kong Flu panic of 1977. In retrospect, neither was relevant to the deadly 1918 virus except to illustrate the epidemiologists' fixation with influenza as a potentially catastrophic killer. Thus, the book should perhaps have been titled FLU: THE BOGEY MAN UNDERNEATH EPIDEMIOLOGISTS' BEDS. Moreover, though author Gina Kolata did return to the "search for" subtheme, even that fizzled by the end. The hunt for the 1918 virus, and a delineation of what made it so uniquely vicious, remains a story whose ending remains to be written. The HIV virus has replaced the influenza virus as the focus of the scientific community's investigative efforts. There was one aspect of FLU that I did find notable, and that was a hint of gender bias on the part of the author towards the book's three principal "heroes": Dr. Johan Hultin, Dr. Jeffery Taubenberger, and Dr. Kirsty Duncan. All three attempted to recover the 1918 virus from the lung tissue of victims that died from the disease. Hultin, a San Francisco pathologist, went looking for corpses of Eskimos buried in the Alaskan permafrost. Duncan, a geographer by profession, organized the exhumation of dead miners buried at Spitzbergen, Norway. Taubenberger, an MD/PhD researcher with the U.S. Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, went rummaging among tissue samples preserved in paraffin blocks stored for decades at the institute. Kolata admiringly described the professional pedigrees and accomplishments of both Hultin and Taubenberger, but virtually ignored Duncan, except to infer that her "long hair and doe eyes and raw emotions" may have had an unsettling effect on the marriage of one of her team members. Oh, and that Duncan's own marriage broke up. (Was this relevant? Who cares?) Moreover, images of Hultin and Taubenberger hard at work are featured in the volume's too paltry section of photographs, but not Duncan. And, in the "Acknowledgements", the author thanks Hultin and Taubenberger for their "extraordinary assistance", but no gratitude, however lukewarm, is awarded Duncan. Do I perceive some cattiness here? Meow! I found FLU marginally interesting, but it in no way met expectations. I wouldn't recommend buying it unless you're obsessed with the subject matter.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: City Secrets: London; Author: Robert Kahn; Review: LONDON, of the City Secrets series of travel guides, is a little gem that will easily fit into a pocket of your travel vest as you set out to explore what is arguably the world's greatest city. This volume, small in size but rich in information, divides Britain's capital into thirteen areas according to a scheme that escapes me. However, no matter. Each area, e.g. Hyde Park & Chelsea, The City, Oxford Street & Mayfair, or The East End & Beyond, is preceded by a map on which is marked each point of interest included in that section. And what you will find are both famous and little-known museums, historic buildings, art galleries, libraries, shops, pubs, churches, eateries, parks, squares, streets, memorials, and gardens. Each includes, at least, an address or location and the name of the nearest Underground or rail station. If relevant, there's also a phone number and/or the date the place was founded or constructed. The core of each listing is a short descriptive commentary by a contributing journalist, architect, philosopher, playwright, professor, author, historian, poet, curator, or some other professional of similar dignity. At the end of the book are an Index of Recommended Reading and an Index of Contributors. What you won't find are budget hotels, American fast-food franchises, newsagents, or 24-hour chemists (pharmacies) reviewed by backpacking college students, traveling salesmen, lorry drivers, or tourists from the Midwest. This is a genteel publication. LONDON is a delightful and uncommonly intelligent sightseeing resource for those of us who've been to the city often enough to have exhausted the usual tourist activities and are left with making silly faces at the Buckingham Palace guard to try and crack his reserve. And besides the information that might be considered usual for each of the listings, the contributors also provide tidbits of arcane information that the casual visitor would likely not know or learn, as in the following example. Regarding Oxford Street: "Plans drawn up in 1972 to transform Oxford Street into 'a tree-lined paradise' must have fallen down the back of somebody's sofa, because the busiest street in Britain can still ... make you lose the will to live - mainly at Christmas, when bright-eyed shoppers ... spill out of the ground at Oxford Circus and congeal in a fog of bus fumes and freshly roasted caramel nuts ... Nick Leonidas, blinded by yellow fever as a child, has busked here since 1981: five days a week, 52 weeks a year, 11am to 7pm with a half-hour break at three." LONDON in hand, I'm ready to return to my favorite city - now.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hostage: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Robert Crais Page; Review: HOSTAGE accelerates from 0 to 60 in seconds, and then just keeps on rolling. Like A MAIDEN'S GRAVE, another hostage thriller I recently devoured, this novel is everything a trashy, can't-put-down potboiler should be. Denny, recently released from a correctional facility, robs a Southern California suburban convenience store with his whiny brother, Kevin, and an inscrutable new buddy, Mars. The cashier is killed, and Mars smiles watching him die. Making their getaway, the transmission of the trio's pick-up fails. So, it's out of the truck, over a wall, and into the home of an accountant, where the boys take hostages: the owner, Walter Smith, and his two children, 16-year old Jennifer and 10-year old Thomas. Soon the place is surrounded by the local, bedroom community cops headed by Chief Jeff Talley, a mentally scarred former hostage negotiator for the LAPD, who quit that gig because of burnout and a hostage crisis that went bad. Soon the Highway Patrol and the county sheriff's SWAT team join the fun. What the police and the Bad Guys don't realize is that Walter isn't just any accountant. He's the personal bean counter for Sonny Benza, head of the Mob's regional operations. It's tax time, and Walter has possession of the books for both Sonny's legal and illegal businesses, each on a computer zip disk. Through them, a link could be made back to the Big Boss on the East Coast. After Walter suffers a severe head injury, the disks are unprotected. (Oh, and did I mention that army of troopers itching to storm the house?) Ain't nobody happy about this one. Except maybe Denny, who's wondering how to spend the oodles of bundled C-notes he's found in a secret closet - if he can just get away with the swag. Enormous pressure envelops everybody in this cooker as each side - hostage takers, police, Mafia kingpins - focuses on its own agenda. Jennifer and Thomas are good, particularly the latter, as potential loose cannons. And you'll be wondering just how disgustingly violent the storyline's two psychos, the creepy Mars and Marion Clewes, will prove to be. Marion is the Wet Work Specialist brought in by Sonny's damage control team to force safe recovery of the two zips, and he knows where to find Talley's wife and daughter. Author Robert Crais filled HOSTAGE with distinct and interesting characters, and he maintained the knuckle-biting tension throughout a reasonably plausible plot. This is a First Class read that I unreservedly recommend.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: On Writing; Author: Visit Amazon's Stephen King Page; Review: ON WRITING is better than I thought it would be. It's marvelous. I finished it in less than two days. In the First Forward, Stephen King observes that popular novelists are never "asked about the language" when queried by admiring fans. Thus, he states: "What follows is an attempt to put down , briefly and simply, how I came to the craft (of telling stories on paper), what I know about it now, and how it's done. It's about the day job; it's about the language." In the first hundred or so pages, King shares his experiences growing up in Maine and Connecticut, his marriage, his struggles as a novice writer, and his drug and alcohol problems. King intends this section not as an autobiography, but as a curriculum vitae. It ends with the assignment of the paperback rights to CARRIE, his first novel. In the next 150 pages, the author describes how he performs his craft. He explains the "tools" of writing (vocabulary and grammar), the creative environment (the room, the door, the determination to close the door, and the music - Hard Rock in King's case), style and formatting (paragraphing, narration, description, and dialogue), and the final stretch to a finished piece (drafts, editing, and proofreading by a trusted friend - wife/author Tabitha in King's case). The final few pages, in a way, are the most interesting. It's Stephen's account of the road accident in 1999 that inflicted multiple fractures to his ribs and lower body, and the effect the mishap had on his writing. Ironically enough, he'd half completed this book at the time of the incident, and he had to struggle to come back and finish. Though King was once a high school English teacher, ON WRITING is in no way pedantic, but chatty and informal. It's a book straight from the author's heart, and it shows. "Don't wait for the muse ... This isn't the Ouija board or the spirit-world we're talking about here, but just another job like laying pipe or driving long-haul trucks. Your job is to make sure the muse knows where you're going to be every day from nine 'til noon or seven 'til three. If he does know, I assure you that sooner or later he'll start showing up, chomping his cigar and making his magic." The author's first rule for good writing is that the writer must read a lot. Well, I do that - constantly. Perhaps I can improve my own poor scribbling. In this review, I've followed his advice; I've kept the paragraphs short and avoided use of passive sentence construction. That's something, at least.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft; Author: Stephen King; Review: ON WRITING is better than I thought it would be. It's marvelous. I finished it in less than two days. In the First Forward, Stephen King observes that popular novelists are never "asked about the language" when queried by admiring fans. Thus, he states: "What follows is an attempt to put down , briefly and simply, how I came to the craft (of telling stories on paper), what I know about it now, and how it's done. It's about the day job; it's about the language." In the first hundred or so pages, King shares his experiences growing up in Maine and Connecticut, his marriage, his struggles as a novice writer, and his drug and alcohol problems. King intends this section not as an autobiography, but as a curriculum vitae. It ends with the assignment of the paperback rights to CARRIE, his first novel. In the next 150 pages, the author describes how he performs his craft. He explains the "tools" of writing (vocabulary and grammar), the creative environment (the room, the door, the determination to close the door, and the music - Hard Rock in King's case), style and formatting (paragraphing, narration, description, and dialogue), and the final stretch to a finished piece (drafts, editing, and proofreading by a trusted friend - wife/author Tabitha in King's case). The final few pages, in a way, are the most interesting. It's Stephen's account of the road accident in 1999 that inflicted multiple fractures to his ribs and lower body, and the effect the mishap had on his writing. Ironically enough, he'd half completed this book at the time of the incident, and he had to struggle to come back and finish. Though King was once a high school English teacher, ON WRITING is in no way pedantic, but chatty and informal. It's a book straight from the author's heart, and it shows. "Don't wait for the muse ... This isn't the Ouija board or the spirit-world we're talking about here, but just another job like laying pipe or driving long-haul trucks. Your job is to make sure the muse knows where you're going to be every day from nine 'til noon or seven 'til three. If he does know, I assure you that sooner or later he'll start showing up, chomping his cigar and making his magic." The author's first rule for good writing is that the writer must read a lot. Well, I do that - constantly. Perhaps I can improve my own poor scribbling. In this review, I've followed his advice; I've kept the paragraphs short and avoided use of passive sentence construction. That's something, at least.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sin Killer (The Berrybender Narratives); Author: Visit Amazon's Larry McMurtry Page; Review: It's 1832, and Lord Albany Berrybender has chartered a steamboat to take him up the Missouri River on a hunting expedition. Albany is one of the richest aristocrats in England, and also a dissolute, selfish, old fool. Along for the ride are his wife Constance, six of their fourteen spoiled children, fifteen of nineteen servants, an aging parrot named Prince Talleyrand, the staghound Tintamarre, and a gaggle of American talent hired to ease their way, including Toussaint Charbonneau, the guide for the Lewis and Clark Expedition many years previous. The first noticeable feature of SIN KILLER, the start of a four-book series, is the lengthy cast of players requiring a two-page character list. In addition to all those on the boat, there's a couple dozen ashore - Indians, trappers, and such - to provide local color. Chief among these is the SIN KILLER, a young trapper named Jim Snow, who has an exaggerated sense of God-fearing righteousness and an awkward way with women. Since McMurtry's tales of the Old West are, for its characters, affairs perilous to life and limb, I immediately expected some of the English crowd to soon become victims of misadventure. (After all, such a large number is a heavy load to carry.) I wasn't disappointed. It's apparent early on that the main protagonist of the book, and I suspect the series, is Tasmine, Lord Berrybender's independent and willful oldest daughter. Nothing scares her, not even her Old Man. And I expect the villain of the piece, the cruel, old Aleut-Russian squaw Draga, who passes herself off as a sorceress, won't scare Tasmine either if and when their paths cross. (Draga is a psycho in the grand tradition of other McMurtry psychos such as Blue Duck and Mox Mox. Remember them?) Judging from this first installment, there are a couple of reasons I don't think the Berrybender saga will be the author's best work. First of all, crucial events happen relatively quickly without too much plot or character development. Perhaps, as McMurtry gets older, he's driven to get it written and published faster. (You never know when you're going to be ambushed and scalped by savages.) Secondly, a lot of the action and dialogue has a slapstick quality about it that seems forced. However, at 300 pages, SIN KILLER is a quick, engaging read. I loved McMurtry's LONESOME DOVE trilogy. (The 1989 miniseries adaptation of that title starring Robert Duvall is my favorite western of all time.) While perhaps not presaging such excellence, this first volume of the Berrybender epic left me looking forward to the next. Oh, and I hope Prince Talleyrand continues to survive. Like Gus's pigs in LD, he's very cool.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: London: The Biography; Author: Visit Amazon's Peter Ackroyd Page; Review: As evidenced by its 779 narrative pages and its 13 pages of sources, LONDON: THE BIOGRAPHY is a prodigious accomplishment by author and city resident Peter Ackroyd. And it did take me five weeks to read it. Since I'd rather be in London than anywhere else, especially the Southern California I'm in, I began this volume with giddy anticipation. In his narrative of the city from pre-Roman times to the present, Ackroyd touches on the history of many of its diverse aspects: rivers, commerce, architecture, transport, theaters, street ballads, parks, food, weather, maps, neighborhoods, nationalities, fires, fog, pestilences, the effects of the Blitz, public lighting, law enforcement, sanitation and clubs. He also doesn't neglect London's unsavory side: alcoholism, gambling, blood sports, prisons, crime, the homeless, poverty, beggars, mob violence, racism, child labor, prostitution, overcrowding, the insane, slums, air and water pollution, and general squalor and filth. Because the author seemed (to me) so preoccupied with the latter dreary group, I suspect he's a closet social reformer. LONDON isn't a riveting read. Surprisingly, I could put it down for such jolly pursuits as taking out the trash and cleaning the cats' litter box. Perhaps it's because the author's style, never leavened by any humor, becomes at times almost ponderous. For instance, in the chapter "How Many Miles to Babylon?", he comments: "Yet there is one more salient aspect to this continual analogy of London with ancient civilisations: it is the fear, or hope, or expectation that this great imperial capital will in its turn fall into ruin. That is precisely the reason for London's association with pre-Christian cities; it, too, will revert to chaos and old night so that the condition of the 'primeval' past will also be that of the remote future. It represents the longing for oblivion... The vision is of a city unpeopled, and therefore free to be itself; stone endures, and, in this imagined future stone becomes a kind of god. Essentially it is a vision of the city as death. But it also represents the horror of London, and of its teeming life; it is a cry against its supposed unnaturalness, which can only be repudiated by a giant act of nature such as a deluge." Good heavens, man! Get a grip! I assume that the author loves his city, or he wouldn't have expended such enormous effort to tell its story. However, his affection is ofttimes difficult to infer, as when he writes: "This is the horror of the city. It is blind to human need and human affection, its topography cruel and almost mindless in its brutality... The image is of a labyrinth which is constantly expanding, reaching outwards towards infinity. On the maps of England it is seen as a dark patch, or stain, spreading slowly but inexorably outwards." LONDON provides a magnificent tapestry of information, and is a colossal achievement. However, until the last twenty-five or so pages, the author failed both to convince me that he derived any personal joy from residence in the city or to remind me why I love this; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Extreme Encounters: How It Feels to Be Drowned in Quicksand, Shredded by Piranhas, Swept Up in a; Author: Visit Amazon's Greg Emmanuel Page; Review: In the forward of EXTREME ENCOUNTERS, author Greg Emmanuel indicates that the muse for his book came knocking after his own near death experience in a rollover auto accident on a New York parkway. Happily, my second-string Review Muse doesn't need such a drastic kick start. EXTREME ENCOUNTERS is all about situations and events that result in dire physical or mental injury, often ending in death. Its 40 chapters are divided into six sections: attacks by other species, outdoor misadventures, medical emergencies, crime and punishment, ordinary daily accidents, and in-harm's-way by choice. My favorite from each section was respectively: death by fire ants, abduction by tornado, death by Ebola, interrogation by "Chinese water torture", pain by hydrofluoric acid, and over Niagara Falls via barrel. The author can describe these vicarious thrills after having interviewed survivors and those otherwise knowledgeable about such things. He spices each chapter with relevant facts. (Did you know that the Philippines is the only country besides the U.S. to have executed with the electric chair, or that 30,000 wounded limbs were amputated in the Union Army during the Civil War?) He brings the immediacy of the experience home to the reader by use of the second person. So, it's: "You land face first in the shallow water, putting more of your flesh into the feeding zone." (Piranha buffet) Or, "You try to angle your body so you can kick at the lid." (Buried alive) And, "Your foot kicks against the metal faucet, completing the circuit, and the current goes straight through your body." (Blow dryer into the tub) I'm giving EXTREME ENCOUNTERS 4 stars because of the novelty of the theme and the examples chosen to illustrate it. Otherwise, at 173 pages, it's simply a fast and absorbing read that allows one to move quickly on to the next book on the shelf.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Adaptation: The Shooting Script; Author: Visit Amazon's Charlie Kaufman Page; Review: In ADAPTATION, the audience views sequences from alternating storylines, one from the present and one 3-years past, until both converge at the film's conclusion. In the "past", New York journalist Susan Orlean (Meryl Streep) is researching a story, eventually to become the book "The Orchid Thief", about John Laroche (Chris Cooper), whose passion is collecting endangered species of orchids to serve as nursery stock. Actually, he poaches them from protected nature preserves in the south Florida swamps. But, since he has Native Americans indigenous to the region doing the picking, his operation is legally untouchable under an arcane interpretation of the law. In the "present", Nicolas Cage plays the dual roles of Charlie Kaufman and his identical twin Donald. Charlie is the accomplished screenwriter adapting "The Orchid Thief" to the Silver Screen. Donald also wants to be a screenwriter, and is in the process of authoring his first script. Charlie is handicapped by a severe lack of self esteem, which is exacerbated by his inability to find the muse for his current assignment as well a his failure to establish a relationship with a woman. It doesn't help that he shares a roof with Donald, his complete opposite. Donald is self-assured, successful with the ladies, and positively gushing with creative juices as he writes his initial screenplay. Without the use of any special make-up tricks, each of the Kaufman twins is instantly recognizable by the viewer. Cage manages this differentiation with an acting performance worthy of an Oscar nomination. Charlie's gloom is consistently marked by the downturned corners of his mouth and a general hangdog look. He's Major Downer personified. On the other hand, Donald's optimistic ebullience is signaled by the upturned corners of his mouth and the twinkle in his eyes. Obviously there's more to it than this - you have to see it. Cooper is wonderful as the Southern cracker stereotype - ball-capped, toothless, long-haired and street smart - whose life has been a sequential series of passionate obsessions. Streep is (initially) enigmatic as Orlean, whose sterile marriage and professional life has her desperately seeking passion of any sort. At the film's conclusion, when all four personalities collide in the Florida swamps, passion erupts to heights hitherto undreamed of by the characters or the audience. ADAPTATION is undeniably clever, since its perspective comes from the screenwriter (Charlie) whose painfully evolving screenplay becomes the movie you're watching. I liked that. However, the two storylines seemed excessively contrived and joined to make a point. And what is the point? According to Sony Pictures, the film's theme is the passion that each of us longs for in life. Or perhaps it's indicated by something Donald says late in the movie, "You are what you love, not what loves you." To me, these are such obvious attributes of life and living as to comprise an unnecessary dedication of two hours of run time. I walked out of the theater admiring this film, especially Cage's performance(s), more than being swept away by it. A film about discovering passion left me curiously unswept.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Last Coyote (Harry Bosch); Author: Visit Amazon's Michael Connelly Page; Review: It's only been in the past couple of weeks that veteran L.A. homicide detective Hieronymus "Harry" Bosch pushed his boss's face through the plate glass window of the latter's office. You see, Lt. Pounds - the consummate desk jockey - had interfered with one of Harry's interrogations, which resulted in the (probably guilty) suspect walking free. Now, Bosch is on involuntary stress leave with orders to see the department head doctor. To kill time between appointments, Harry unofficially re-opens an unsolved 30+ year-old murder case, that of his mother, a Hollywood hooker. Then there's his Hollywood Hills home, damaged by a recent earthquake and subsequently earmarked for demolition, to worry about. It makes for angst that would cause testiness even in the Pope. And, when Pounds is tortured and murdered and Lt. Brockman of Internal Affairs brings Bosch in for the third degree, our hero loses it: "Bosch shoved the table toward Brockman ... and pinned Brockman against the wall ... as he went without air ... (Brockman's) eyes bugged." The fictional road to this book's conclusion is the well-travelled one through police and political chicanery, either of which I can read about in the daily newspaper if I feel the unlikely compulsion. Rather, since each of us perhaps occasionally feels that mad urge for self destruction, the fun of THE LAST COYOTE is watching Bosch be a bull in his own china shop and then clean up the shards. Even that would earn it only four stars, in my opinion, except that the completely unexpected plot twist in the last ten pages merits it the ultimate fifth. If you're still bothering to fly the nation's unfriendly skies, or you're just stuck in a long post office que, THE LAST COYOTE is the perfect distraction to numb the experience.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: London A to Z; Author: Geographers A-Z Map Company; Review: I'm a map junkie, especially national highway and city street maps. Perhaps it's the lure of the open road and exotic places. In any case, I recently acquired the LONDON A-Z street atlas, and I'm in seventh heaven. London, you see, is my favorite city in the whole world. The atlas covers the city center plus outlying suburbs from Romford and Sidcup in the east to Ruislip and Shepperton in the west, and Barnet and Enfield in the north to Sutton and Croyden in the south. Claiming to index over 69,000 streets, each of its 170 color map pages is, well, busy. Since the atlas is only 7.5 by 5 inches, the street names are printed small and require either the good vision of youth or the spectacles of old age. And a magnifying glass helps. There are several other useful features: a single page map each for the West End cinemas and theatres, a map-referenced listing of hospitals and hospices, a map-referenced listing of all rail, Tramlink and Underground stations, a schematic of Greater London's rail connecting points with the Underground, and the world famous color schematic of the latter. This is good stuff. Of course, there are symbols on each map for the usual clutter of police stations, post offices, information centers, fire stations, churches and chapels, shopping centres and markets, public buildings, toilets for the disabled, tracks and footpaths, etc. My only complaint concerns those maps other than the large-scale ones of Central London. On the former, the rail and Underground stations, those beacons of solidity in an uncertain world, aren't as immediately obvious as one might like. They're much better indicated on the Central London plans. Oh, and Bleeding Heart Yard? Why, it's right there on page 161 in map square 6K. Can't miss it, guv.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Beautiful Bodies: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Laura Shaine Cunningham Page; Review: BEAUTIFUL BODIES by Laura Shaine Cunningham is a "chick book" that I normally wouldn't pick up on a bet. However, I thoroughly enjoyed the author's two previous volumes of memoirs, SLEEPING ARRANGEMENTS and A PLACE IN THE COUNTRY, and we've exchanged emails of mutual admiration, so I bit down on my emery board and got on with it. Just between you and me, I'm glad I did. But I'm left wondering if I need testosterone replacement therapy. The plot tells you right off that it's not a book for Real Men. Six female pals in their mid-30s living in New York gather at a private dinner party at the apartment of one to have a baby shower for another. Baby shower? Yikes! Jessie, the hostess, is a successful journalist still in the post-coital afterglow of an affair out in Colorado with one of her subjects. Nina, a chronic dieter and the primary caregiver for her dying mother, owns a nail salon. Nina is also fresh off an afternoon tryst with someone she met in her apartment building's laundry room, a New Age Sensitive Fella who invited her up for herbal tea ("Celestial Seasonings"). Sue Carol, a waitress and struggling thespian with a substance abuse problem, has just left her adulterous husband. Sue Carol savors all the little dramas in her life - they'll make her a better actress. Lisbeth, an ethereal, anorexic artist/model pining after a lost (and married) lover, spends a significant portion of her energy staving off her landlord's efforts to evict her from her rent-controlled apartment. Martha, a real estate agent obsessed with her exorbitant earnings and the material goodies they buy, has meticulously planned to have a child with her fiance, but has just learned that she's sterile. And lastly, Claire, the mother-to-be. Claire is an independent, free-spirited musician - she plays the krummhorn - who's happily made a world for herself in an 18 by 20 foot room in a local residence for women. She's blissfully happy with her pregnancy and the prospect of being a single mother. The baby's father, a global wanderer, may never be seen again. For me, the chief fascination of BEAUTIFUL BODIES was in watching the nuances and shifting dynamics of the relationships between the six women as they come together on a winter night to celebrate Claire's impending motherhood and share secrets. For example, Nina is the first to show up at Jessie's apartment. Later, Lisbeth is the second guest to arrive, and: "When a third woman enters the room, it is clear which two women are the closer friends. Triangles always come to a point." And still later, as the assembled group sits for dinner: "The others had taken their places, as the (place) cards indicated .... The lines were drawn. The dull knives waited." For me, a simple guy, this is potentially scary stuff. My two favorite players are Jessie and Martha. Jessie, who desperately tries to keep her party on track in the face of spoken anxieties and revealed confidences. Jessie, whose own angst is growing. (Her new; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Gangs of New York; Author: Leonardo Ddwd 24017 Dicaprio; Review: GANGS OF NEW YORK, directed by Martin Scorsese, is perhaps a caricature of the time and place it ostensibly portrays. The film begins in 1846 when "Priest" Vallon (Liam Neeson) leads poor, Irish, immigrant brawlers from the most wretched of New York City's slums into the street confluence known as Five Points to confront a mob of native-born, New York thugs led by Bill the Butcher (Daniel Day-Lewis). In the resulting spasm of jingoistic violence, Bill kills Vallon while the latter's young son looks on, and the immigrants are soundly defeated. In the blink of a cinematic eye, the young Vallon then spends 16 years in a city orphanage before emerging in 1863 to take the name of "Amsterdam". At this point in history, the U.S. is convulsed by the Civil War, the Irish are still the main immigrant group flooding into NYC, and the Butcher remains the strongman leading the virulently nationalistic (i.e., anti-Catholic and anti-Irish) confederation of urban gangs. Now played by Leonardo DiCaprio, Amsterdam insinuates himself into Bill's service hoping for the opportunity to avenge the death of his father. DiCaprio is presumably the lead in this visually arresting period piece, but his stiff performance is completely upstaged by Day-Lewis playing the vicious, charismatic, curiously rakish Bill the Butcher, who kills his victims with knives and cleavers. Daniel is the best - and perhaps only - reason to see GANGS OF NEW YORK. Cameron Diaz adds little as Jenny, Bill's moll who catches Amsterdam's eye. For me, the most interesting aspect of the movie was the insertion into the plot of the New York City Draft Riot, those 3 days in July 1863 when perhaps 50,000 rioters, mostly Irish, protested Abraham Lincoln's conscription of men into the Union Army by burning and looting buildings, and attacking and killing Black residents. Perhaps 100 citizens died (although the film implies a more extensive massacre). Units of the army, fresh from their victory at Gettysburg, had to be brought in to quell the violence. By the film's conclusion, the confrontation between the Irish gangs and those led by the Butcher is submerged in the larger conflict. Indeed, were I to try and hypothesize the point of this epic, it would be that the tantrums of the federal government render inconsequential the squabbles of lesser mortals. Beyond that, GANGS OF NEW YORK seemed totally pointless except as a lengthy exercise in period costuming and blood-drenched violence.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: GermLine; Author: Visit Amazon's Nelson Erlick Page; Review: GERMLINE by Dr. Nelson Erlick is a provocative medical thriller that examines the plausible future of gene therapy and genetic engineering. Briefly summarized, the "Collaborate" is a global consortium of financial and scientific corporations backing a plan for advanced gene therapy based on a technology that can introduce whole chromosomes into the developing human fetus in order to correct genetic abnormalities. The chief protagonist of the story, Dr. Kevin Kincaid, is the brilliant physician-researcher employed by a Collaborate health care and research entity, the Benjamin Franklin Healthcare Network (BFHN), to create and perfect the protein vector, HACV.V7 that inserts the new genetic material into the targeted germ cells. Fearing monopolistic abuse of the technology, two organizations oppose Collaborate and seek to acquire V7's design: the Defense Advanced Research Progects Agency (DARPA - a very real government body) and the Anti-Genetic Action Committee (AntiGen). GERMLINE's premise is intriguing, the action is occasionally exciting, and the dialog is well done for a "debut novel". However, the book has several rough edges that allow me to award only 3 stars. There's an excess of characters that significantly impact the storyline: Kincaid, Frederick Grayson (the head of BFHN), Eric Bertram (Chairman of Collaborate), Dixon Loring (Bertram's megalomaniacal deputy), Trent McGovern (head of AntiGen), Kristin Brocks (DARPA's security chief), Helen/Tracy Bergmann (of AntiGen), Dr. Roderick Stevenson (Chief Pathologist at the Collaborate's isolated research complex, Delphi), Marguerite Moraes (at Delphi), and Blount (a Collaborate thug). By my count, four or five of these players could have been left on the cutting room floor, thus streamlining an already complex plot. Background information provides depth and realism to fiction. As an award-winning researcher and ex-surgeon, Dr. Erlick is well positioned to provide such. However, perhaps he went over the top. For example, when referring to the neurotransmitter glutamate, a character mentions APMA-kinate receptors, voltage-independent synaptic responses, voltage-dependent NMDA-receptors, and metabotropic-subtype receptors. Or, regarding certain custom-created genes: "We back-coded for the genes ... (placing) them with gene regulators on the q arm of our designer chromosome, position 23q11 through 23q14 ..." Such esoterica could be understood, I'm sure, by workers in the field. But I gather that Erlick desires a wider readership; your average reader's eyes may glaze over. I personally was totally unsympathetic towards the "hero" of the story, Kincaid. Sure, at the very beginning his wife and two children are murdered. However, the author never established for the reader a close relationship between the four, so it was hard to care. Kevin was simply the brilliant physician robot wound up and sent on his way to engage the Bad Guys. And Kevin's relationship with Helen/Tracy was forced all the way to the end. Lastly, I suspect that GERMLINE's specter of gene therapy going awry is the author's personal apprehension. Unfortunately, sinister global conspiracies in fiction are tricky constructs. They're only sinister if the general consensus holds them to be so, like the nuclear Armageddon brought on by KGB plotters so popular in Cold War potboilers. In GERMLINE's case, the maleficence of the conspiracy is perhaps subjective and not to; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Meal; Author: Visit Amazon's Eric Schlosser Page; Review: FAST FOOD NATION is one of those true life tales that's as hard to put down as an edge-of-your-seat thriller. It's Eric Schlosser's detailed and eminently readable portrait of the American fast food industry: its founders (most notably Ray Kroc and Carl Karcher), its Southern California evolution, marketing strategy (especially as it targets kids), corporate alliances (e.g. McDonald's with Disney Corporation), hiring and employment practices, franchising structure, food product design, flavor and color additives, food growers and processors, meat packers, food contamination, job-related injuries, union relations, regulatory agencies, and overseas operations. Everything you're drooling to know - and then some. It sounds dry, but isn't. Did you know that Ray Kroc was so fastidious that he cleaned the holes in his mop wringer with a toothbrush? That the "smell" of strawberry results from the interaction of at least 350 different chemicals? That perfectly sliced french fries are formed by shooting the skinned spud from a high pressure water hose at 117 feet per second through a grid of blades? That none of the workers in McDonald's roughly 15,000 North American stores is represented by a union? Or that every day in the U.S. roughly 200,000 people are sickened by a foodborne disease, of which 900 are hospitalized and 14 die? The dominant tone of Schlosser's narrative ranges from neutral to strongly censuring. By my count, only thrice did he write something clearly positive about a fast food giant: the good wages paid by the In 'n' Out chain, the improvements in beef procurement by Jack In the Box following a 1993 outbreak of E. coli contamination at several of its outlets, and the current effort by McDonald's to clean up its meat suppliers' acts following some very bad lawsuit-generated PR. (Of course, the cynic will say it's only self-serving damage control.) So, either the industry is truly in need of reform, or the author is a closet anti-Big Business activist. You must decide for yourself. In any case, FAST FOOD NATION didn't turn me against fast food. Why, right now I'm endeavoring to keep the "secret sauce" from dripping onto my keyboard, and I can hardly see the screen for the smears of fried chicken grease.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Risk Pool; Author: Visit Amazon's Richard Russo Page; Review: THE RISK POOL is a coming-of-age story set in the upstate New York town of Mohawk. It begins in 1947 with the birth of a son, Ned, to Sam and Jenny Hall. However, Sam soon does what he does best, which is walk away, i.e. from his family responsibilities. Ned's memory and relationship with his Dad really begins at age 6, when Sam abruptly appears and takes Ned on an unauthorized fishing trip. Returning his son to Jenny disheveled, grubby and afflicted with poison ivy, Mom empties her father's old service revolver into Sam's car. Sam then makes himself scarce again until Ned is age 12, at which time Jenny has a nervous breakdown that lands her in an institution for two years, during which time the boy lives with Dad in a converted office above a department store in deteriorating downtown Mohawk. After Jenny is released back to the world, Ned again resides with her until he goes off to college in Tucson. At age 24, he returns to Mohawk for a period, dividing his time between both parents. Finally, he returns to Mohawk at age 34 from his home in Manhattan. By then, Ned's mother has remarried and moved to California, and the Old Man is dying. THE RISK POOL is narrated in the first person by Ned, and is divided into four unequal parts corresponding to Ned's maternal grandfather's description of Mohawk's four seasons: Fourth of July, Mohawk Fair, Eat the Bird, and Winter. It's not so much the story of Ned as that of his wary relationship with his irresponsible father, who works at road construction in the summer and spends the winter and his earnings on horse racing, billiards and booze. Indeed, Ned is nicknamed "Sam's Kid" by his Dad's friends and hangers-on. Jenny is rarely acknowledged. Sam has only two good qualities: he loves his son (in his own peculiar way), and he's generous to a fault with money (when he has any). Author Richard Russo's mastery of dialogue and descriptive detail is evident. But, for me, it was a dispassionate read. The characters are only marginally interesting at best, and I never liked (or disliked) any of them. Russo's prose imbues Ned with something akin to listlessness. He always seems mired in ennui, yet lacks the energy to do anything about it. Even his first love affair is remarkably lacking in passion. Like his father, Ned takes the path of least resistance. By the time I was two-thirds through this 478 page paperback, I was feeling ennui myself. I prodded myself to finish, hoping for an ending that was clever, or at least one that left me admiring Ned more. It never happened. Since THE RISK POOL is technically well done, and realizing that my disenchantment with it is oh so subjective, I'm giving it a marginal thumbs up, i.e. three stars. This is compared to a much better coming-of-age story such as John Grisham's A PAINTED HOUSE, which had characters so engaging that it begs for a sequel. If THE RISK POOL has a; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Blooming: A Small-Town Girlhood; Author: Visit Amazon's Susan Allen Toth Page; Review: Susan Allen Toth first appeared on my radar screen with her three volumes of travel essays on England (My Love Affair with England: A Traveler's Memoir,England for All Seasons,England as You Like It). She's a soul mate. In BLOOMING, penned in the late 70s, Ms. Toth shares coming-of-age memories as delightful as those from another of my favorite authors, Laura Shaine Cunningham (Sleeping Arrangements, A PLACE IN THE COUNTRY). Susan was born in 1940, and BLOOMING is her account of life in Ames, Iowa until she went East to college in 1957. The ability to relate will increase to the degree that the reader's background shares commonality with the following: maturing in the late 40s and 50s, living in a Midwest plains state, being female. I can only claim identity with the first, but that limited coincidence didn't affect my ability to thoroughly enjoy this volume. Toth's remarkable memory of her childhood and teenage years could serve as the source for Norman Rockwell paintings as she remembers swimming pools, boyfriends, girlfriends, science classes, the public library, parties, summer jobs, the traditional holidays, and yearly trips to the Minnesota lake where relatives owned a cabin. She was unusually reticent about her immediate family. We learn only that her father died when she was in the third grade, and she and her sister were raised by their mother, a teacher. This absence of familial information is somewhat disappointing as it's perhaps a gold mine of stories not told. For instance, Susan writes about her sister, one year older: "My sister and I, who fought most of the time, declared an unspoken truce on Christmas morning and hugged awkwardly as we exchanged gifts. For those brief moments, we really wanted to please each other." So, what did they fight over? Boys? Clothes? Maternal attention? The realist might point out that most of the world's children, and many in America, didn't live formative years as idyllic as depicted in BLOOMING. True enough. But I lived the male version in Southern California, and Toth's was sufficiently similar in rhythm to remind me of those Good Ol' Days when I didn't know how good I had it. Thank you, Susan.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Archangel: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Paul Watkins Page; Review: In ARCHANGEL, the Cold War is still frigid. Oleg Demyonov, a convicted Soviet spy, suffers a fatal heart attack in Her Majesty's prison, Wormwood Scrubs. He was soon to be exchanged for Michael Holly, and the deal is now off. Holly, an engineer for an English manufacturing company, was recruited by MI6 to deliver a clandestine package on his next business trip to Moscow. A piece of cake, according to his Secret Intelligence Service recruiter. But Holly was caught and convicted of espionage. Now, the swap for Demyonov off, Holly is sent to a Correctional Labor Colony in the heart of the USSR for 14 years. Because Holly was born Mikhail Holovich of Russian parents who'd escaped to Britain after WWII, he's classed as a Russian - a traitor - for the purpose of imprisonment. It's to be Camp 3, Zone 1(Strict Regime). Back in the UK, the head of MI6 charges Alan Millet, Holly's recruiter, with investigating Michael's background. Is his agent likely to crack under continued interrogation and embarrass Her Majesty's government? As Millet discovers the mettle of the man he sent into harm's way, the reader begins to feel sorry for Michael's gaolers. In Camp 3, the resident Political Officer, KGB Captain Yuri Rudakov, sees Holly as a giant step up the career ladder if he can extract from the new prisoner the confession the Moscow bumblers couldn't get. In the meantime, Michael fires the first shot in his own personal war with a plastic baggie of machine oil, the page from a magazine, and some coal dust. This is the best of the several Gerald Seymour thrillers I've devoured to date. The reader's sympathies are focused solely on Holly and are rarely sidetracked, though one is tempted to feel an occasional pang of compassion for Millet and (even!) Rudakov. As I've stated before, the charm of Seymour's novels is that he doesn't deal in absolutes of right or wrong. His venues of conflict are patterned in shades of gray. As Holly rattles the bars of his cage, both he and the reader question the moral responsibility of his actions as the consequences for his fellow prisoners mounts. This is good stuff that transcends the bulk of the genre. With delicious anticipation, I contemplate the seven other Seymour books lined up on my shelf to be read.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Shanghai Knights; Author: ; Review: In the opening sequence of SHANGHAI KNIGHTS, the aged keeper of China's Great Imperial Seal is knifed during the seal's theft. With his dying breath, the old man extracts from his daughter, Chon Lin (Fann Wong), the promise to recover the trinket. The film next jumps to Carson City, Nevada, where Lin's brother Chon Wang (Jackie Chan) is town sheriff. He relinquishes his badge to travel to New York City to meet his old sidekick (from SHANGHAI NOON), Roy O'Bannon (Owen Wilson), a lothario waiter on the run from impoverishment and the irate father of two nubile and willing young ladies. Roy and Wang go on to 1880s London to rendezvouz with Lin and recover the seal. The Carson City and Big Apple sequences are unnecessary except to (re)introduce the audience to our two heroes, and provide a few gags and martial arts skirmishes. Once in London, the core of the storyline unfolds. SHANGHAI KNIGHTS is mindless trash. (Come to think of it, so is this review.) However, it works because of the perfect chemistry between Chan and Wilson. The (relatively) straight-laced Wang is the perfect foil for Roy's lunatic shenanigans. (This is what makes Chan and Wilson a great comedy team in the tradition of Abbott and Costello.) And the exuberant energy of their skits is indicative of the fun they're obviously having with their roles. In addition, Jackie supplies the amazing martial arts choreography. In this film, Fann Wong as Li demonstrates that she can go kick for kick with Chan. And where has Ms. Wong been? She's exquisitely and delicately beautiful. In a supporting role, Aaron Johnson as the larcenous guttersnipe Charlie is a pure joy. I wish he'd had much more screen time. SHANGHAI KNIGHTS isn't a great film, or even one worth a second viewing. But it's the fun antidote for the low spirits perhaps brought on by the more sobering fare offered by the current Oscar contenders, e.g. THE HOURS, GANGS OF NEW YORK, and THE PIANIST. One last thought. SHANGHAI KNIGHTS was filmed in London, Calgary, and a studio in the Czech Republic. The credits give little overt evidence that Hollywood was involved in the film's technical creation. Is Tinseltown becoming superfluous in the nuts and bolts of filmmaking?; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: A Song in the Morning; Author: Visit Amazon's Gerald Seymour Page; Review: Englishman James "Jeez" Carew is incarcerated in Pretoria Maximum Security Prison awaiting the hangman's rope. Carew was convicted of murder after aiding the escape of four Blacks who pitched a bomb into the Rand Supreme Court in Johannesburg. Isolated and lonely, Jeez sends a letter to his former wife back in the UK. Before he deserted her and his toddler son years before, Carew's name was Curwen. Jack Curwen, 27, is a junior executive with a demolitions company. He's also Jeez's son. When he learns from his mother that Jeez is soon for South African gallows, a stubborn sense of loyalty propels him to Her Majesty's Foreign and Commonwealth Office. FCO officially tells him there's nothing to be done. However, a sympathetic Whitehall maverick tells Jack that his father is not what he appears to be. And, for the sake of political expediency, the Government and the MI6 mandarins in Century House have decided that Jeez is expendable. Determined to do right by his Old Man, Jack gets some practical advice from a crusty old explosive expert, and flys to Johannesburg. He's going to blast Jeez out of that gaol. Author Gerald Seymour's fictional worlds are comprised of moral ambiguities; right and wrong come in myriad shades of gray. Therefore, in A SONG IN THE MORNING, it's no surprise that there are "good" and "bad" people on both sides of the line in apartheid South Africa, and all are doing their duty as they see it. But Jack's self-imposed mission is noble - of that the reader has no doubt. Jack's focus enables him to dance around the larger social issues. Perhaps the most interesting character is Jeez, a steadfast and long-suffering subject in Her Majesty's service, who's come to expect reciprocal loyalty from the London desk jocks who send men into harm's way. But this isn't the old days, and the remnant of Empire is the worse for it. Seymour's heroes, usually Brits, are invariably ordinary individuals with cores of extraordinary fortitude placed in life or death situations, oftimes against more powerful forces. The fact that they don't usually win a clear-cut victory isn't the point. But that they manage to hold their own is. Perhaps that's the best the Little Guys of the world can hope for.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Everything's Eventual : 14 Dark Tales; Author: Visit Amazon's Stephen King Page; Review: Perhaps I should read short story collections more often. They're easy to review; assign a score to each story, add 'em up, and determine the average. So, let's apply the formula to EVERYTHING'S EVENTUAL. The star values for the 14 chapters are, in the order they appear: 5, 3, 1, 1, 4, 2, 1, 3, 4, 4, 3, 5, 3, and 2. The total is 41, and the average 2.9285714. OK, ok - we'll call it 3. The two five-stars in the lot belong to "Autopsy Room 4" and "1408". In the former, a golfer wakes up completely paralyzed and speechless in an autopsy room. He was pronounced dead after a mysterious mishap on the green, and now they're about to autopsy his "corpse". In the latter, a skeptical writer of books about haunted places takes a room for the night in The Dolphin, a New York hotel, despite the manager's earnest attempts to dissuade him. As it turns out, the room isn't so much haunted as alive. As an example from the other end of the spectrum, there's "The Death of Jack Hamilton", the tedious tale about the lingering demise of a mortally wounded, 1930s gangster. Or the listless "All That You Love Will Be Carried Away", in which a travling salesman contemplates suicide in a Motel 6 along I-80 west of Lincoln, NE. I especially liked the concept of the artwork on the front dust cover of my hardback copy. It shows a blood droplet descending to the bottom of a water-filled goblet standing amidst a table setting. It was inspired by the 4-star "Lunch At the Gotham Cafe". In "L.T.'s Theory of Pets" (3 stars), I discovered a nugget which, if not wisdom, is a nicely phrased metaphor about emotional volatility in marriage: "In marriage, words are like rain. And the land of a marriage is filled with dry washes and arroyos that can become raging rivers in almost the wink of an eye." In the Introduction, author Stephen King asserts that writing short stories is, for him at least, an exercise in "dues paying". Indeed, he states that writing these fourteen was not so pleasurable except for "L.T.'s Theory of Pets" and the title story, "Everything's Eventual". But for the fact that King desires to keep alive the art of the Short Story, it therefore wasn't clear to me why he needs the bother regardless of the entertainment value afforded the reader. Hasn't he paid his dues to the literary world?; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Barbary Coast: An Informal History of the San Francisco Underworld; Author: Visit Amazon's Herbert Asbury Page; Review: "And Hell, yawning to receive the putrid mass, is there also". Such is the description of San Francisco's Barbary Coast cited from another publication by author Herbert Asbury. THE BARBARY COAST, first published in 1933, is a history of that vicious and squalid section in the heart of the City by the Bay devoted to all forms of crime, vice, lewd conduct and wickedness for the period 1849 to 1917. Asbury's fascinating narrative includes the dance halls, music saloons, dives, brothels, and gambling dens that infested the area, as well as the criminal gangs, hoodlums and cutthroats that preyed on the men lured there. The book's scope also encompasses the rising population of Chinese residents that coalesced into Chinatown, as well as the yellow slavery, tong wars and virulent anti-Chinese sentiments that evolved concurrently. And, since San Francisco is one of the world's greatest natural ports, the author describes the perils to both arriving and departing sailors, who were drawn to the Barbary Coast as insects to Venus Flytraps. The twin pillars of the Barbary Coast were robbery and prostitution. Despite the early successes of vigilantism in ridding the burgeoning metropolis of undesirables, the fact that both thrived for so long can be attributed to the toleration and blatant corruption of the city's law enforcement officials and governing politicos. Of the two, prostitution was the foundation of the area's iniquity since, as the author is careful to point out, the Barbary Coast didn't finally die until the California Legislature passed the Red-light Abatement Act of 1914. Therefore, it's no surprise that much of the volume is dedicated to the Oldest Profession: the cribs, cow-yards, parlor houses, pimps, madames, and debasing working conditions. THE BARBARY COAST comes near to being a book in the "couldn't put down" category. However, it sorely lacks the illustrations and period photographs that enhanced the Asbury's "prequel" volume, THE GANGS OF NEW YORK. Nevertheless, once read, you'll not see the modern streets of San Francisco in the same way again.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Tale of the Body Thief (Vampire Chronicles); Author: Visit Amazon's Anne Rice Page; Review: THE TALE OF THE BODY THIEF is one of those books I normally wouldn't pick up unless stranded alone on a deserted island with no other diversions. However, a dear friend of mine, who idolizes Anne Rice and has a warm and fuzzy preoccupation with vampires, sent me this book trusting that our friendship would compel me to read it. Yeah, well, I'm a soft touch - but just this once, mind you. The protagonist of this dark fantasy is the Vampire Lestat, a recurring figure in Rice's series "The Vampire Chronicles". To make a 435-page epic short, Lestat wants to be mortal again after centuries of being Undead. The old adage is "Be careful what you wish for." It's not surprising, then, that Lestat soon regrets a too hasty career move that he's talked into making by the Body Thief. And, in a subplot, his life is complicated by a relationship with a nun that would likely cause the Pope to issue an edict or two. As the frenetic storyline unfolds, Lestat is helped out of a desperate situation by his long-time human friend, David Talbot, the Superior General of the Talamasca, a semi-secret order of scholars dedicated to the study of the occult. (And what good pot-boiler doesn't benefit from an inscrutable organization?) In any case, after a lot of wailing and gnashing of teeth, our anti-hero discovers perhaps a universal truth - that a man's and vampire's best friend is a big, shaggy dog. As a general rule, I prefer cats. I'll never be one to appreciate blood-sucking demons or Anne Rice. Therefore, my three-star rating of THE TALE OF THE BODY THIEF is severely skewed and will undoubtedly cause fans to howl. Rice's prose is richly descriptive and a magnificent achievement. Lestat's first person testimony of his re-acquisition of human frailties was understatedly comic. ("But, if you eat, you know what will happen? You'll have to go back in that bathroom again ... The thought almost made me gag.") Unfortunately, that doesn't make up for a story that was, for me, excessively long and tortuous to the point that I just wanted to get to the end and move on. As a matter of fact, I wished Lestat would just move on. His angst and loneliness was tiresomely endless from start to finish no matter what form he took. And he's not the sort of character that inspires my sympathy or admiration - he's basically vicious, selfish and confused. (Where are a good, fire-sharpened stake and a sledgehammer when you need them?) While I thank my friend for the opportunity to expand my pulp fiction horizon, I also hope she forgives me.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Summons; Author: Visit Amazon's John Grisham Page; Review: What if you stumbled upon Big Bucks and didn't want to share? Ray Atlee, a professor at the Virginia School of Law, is summarily summoned home to Mississippi by his cancer-ridden father, a former state Chancery Judge. Ol' Dad has never been close to Ray or his younger brother, Forrest. Both call him "Judge". On arrival back at the decaying, family mansion, Ray finds the old man peacefully dead on a sofa. In obvious view is a recently written will naming Ray the estate executor. Both sons are to split the estate's assets even-steven. There isn't much, though, beyond the house and $6,000 in the bank. Mississippi doesn't pay its judges much, and Judge Atlee was famously generous to any and all charities and good causes. So, how about that 3.1 million dollars - cash - stashed in a bookcase behind the sofa, huh? That'll buy a lot of Moon Pies and Yoo-hoo. To call THE SUMMONS a thriller is an overstatement. The action, such as it is, proceeds at a sedate pace as Ray shuttles back and forth between Virginia, Mississippi, and New Jersey and grapples with the questions: 1. Where did the money come from? 2. Is the cash marked, or counterfeit? 3. Should he share it with Forrest? 4. Does anyone else know he has it? Ray decides almost immediately not to declare the money as part the Judge's estate, or share it with his brother, a chronic substance abuser who's been in and out of rehab for twenty years. After all, Forrest would only kill himself with so much wealth, wouldn't he? The reader also learns early on that at least one other is aware of the horde when Ray receives an anonymous note cautioning him not to spend the windfall, and that the IRS is only a phone call away. THE SUMMONS is basically a morality play about the consequences of banal greed. I say banal because Ray is excruciatingly ordinary, and his decisions regarding the cash stash are probably the same ones you or I would make under similar circumstances. Until the last twenty pages or so, I was disinclined to award more than three stars. However, author John Grisham closes with a twist that, while not one that elicits an "Oh, wow!", at least satisfyingly makes the point that what goes around comes around and poetic justice is occasionally served (at least in fiction).; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Lamb Unabridged CD; Author: Visit Amazon's Christopher Moore Page; Review: Did you know that Noah postponed his death for 800 years by convincing a sympathetic Angel of Death that he (Noah) was behind in his paperwork? Such is one of the fascinating factoids found in LAMB, the story of Christ's life as told by his life-long best bud Biff, otherwise known as Levi, son of Alphaeus and Naomi of Nazareth. Biff, so nick-named for the daily slaps upside his head he required as a child, is raised from the dead in the twentieth century to write another gospel. As the millenium approaches, the Son of God is unhappy with the versions written by Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, and wants a re-write. So, Biff is held a virtual prisoner by his minder, the angel Raziel, in the St. Louis Hyatt Regency until the manuscript is finished. After a few introductory scenes in which a young Joshua (aka Jesus) restores life to dead lizards, has mixed luck with deceased humans, and becomes infatuated with a budding Mary Magdalene ("Maggie"), Biff's story hits its stride after Joshua, at about thirteen, debates the Pharisees in the Temple of Jerusalem. Then, our two heroes set out for the Far East in search of the Three Wise Men (Balthasar, Gaspar, Melchior) that attended Joshua's birth. From them, in Afghanistan, China, and India, Joshua learns the wisdom of the Eastern religions in preparation for his own ministry. Since Joshua is forbidden by his Heavenly Father from "knowing" women in the biblical sense, he relies on Biff to apprise him of the experience. And Biff, a ladies man, is just the one to do it, especially after several years living with the Eight Chinese Concubines, who have such names as Tiny Feet of the Divine Dance of Joyous Orgasm, Silken Pillows of the Heavenly Softness of Clouds, Pea Pods in Duck Sauce with Crispy Noodle, and Sue (short for Susanna). After seventeen years of wandering and adventure, Biff and Joshua return to Galilee, where the latter gathers his apostles and disciples and begins the ministry familiar to readers of the traditional gospels. Of course, there are embellishments. Biff's narrative ends on the evening of the Friday of Joshua's crucifixion. LAMB is inspired humor. It's also irreverant, but not maliciously so. The book is author Chris Moore's attempt to flesh out the story of Jesus (Joshua) - to give him a more endearingly human side. For example, when Joshua transforms water into wine at the wedding feast at Cana, he samples his miracle perhaps a little too much. And, when his disciples are astounded when he walks on the surface of the Sea of Galilee, Joshua says: "I just ate. You can't go into the water for an hour after you eat. You could get a cramp. What, none of you guys have mothers?" As one born and raised Catholic (and since "fallen away"), I immensely enjoyed the flippancy of LAMB. Sister Mary's grade school catechism class was never so much fun. While a Christian of a more fundamentalist belief might find LAMB faintly blasphemous, I would hope not. I; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Salt: A World History; Author: Visit Amazon's Mark Kurlansky Page; Review: I'm occasionally scolded for using too much salt. SALT: A WORLD HISTORY simply reinforces the fact that NaCl has been in the human diet for millennia. So, get off my back already. If God hadn't wanted me to eat the stuff, he wouldn't have given me kidneys. Besides being a narrative of how salt has been harvested through the ages, either by brine evaporation or the mining of rock salt, SALT is also a history of its link to food preservation and preparation and governments. Whether it be cod, cheese, herring, ham, beef, anchovies, butter, Tabasco sauce, sauerkraut, pickles, ketchup, or "1000-year-old" eggs, salt makes it happen. And successive bureaucracies over the centuries have harnessed the production, sale and shipment of salt for the enrichment of national coffers through monopolies and taxation schemes, some of them disastrously misguided. Perhaps most illustrative of the latter is the chapter describing Britain's curtailment of indigenous salt production in India during the Raj period. This imperial policy, designed to protect the domestic English salt industry, was of such detriment to large segments of the Indian population that it was the issue that sparked Gandhi's campaign of civil disobedience, ultimately leading to that colony's independence. I would award five stars except for two statements made by author Mark Kurlansky in his chapter about salt and the American Civil War. These assertions have trivial impact on the book as a whole, but are so sloppy as to make me wonder about the accuracy of his interpretation of more relevant facts. Regarding Confederate general George Pickett, who received a pouch of precious salt as a wedding gift: "... (he) later reached the most northerly point of any Confederate in combat when he ... led a ruinous charge up a sloping Pennsylvania field - the climax of the Battle of Gettysburg." The author is referring, of course, to Pickett's Charge, and perhaps he was speaking figuratively. While it is fact that one of his brigades briefly breached the Union line at Bloody Angle, it was that unit's commander, Brigadier General Louis Armistead, who was mortally wounded inside the Union position and was arguably the one who led the charge. Pickett wasn't in front on that one. Also, the site of that valiant effort was south of the town of Gettysburg, which had been occupied by the Confederates two days previous. Further on, Kurlansky trips when describing the Battle of Shiloh in Tennessee as "a standoff". Really? While Federal forces under Ulysses Grant took a shellacking on the first day of the battle, they rallied on the second to drive the Confederates into a full-scale retreat from the battlefield. Moreover, Albert Sidney Johnston, who began Shiloh commanding the Confederate forces and was perhaps the South's most respected general at the time, was killed. Though casualties were roughly the same on both sides, my scorecard has this as a Northern win. But, I digress. SALT is one of those books about something we take for granted that captivates the reader with useless but fun facts. Did you know that pastrami (salted beef); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Tripwire (Jack Reacher, No. 3); Author: Visit Amazon's Lee Child Page; Review: I'm attracted to Lee Child's novels because of the hardboiled and self-contained nature of his hero, Jack Reacher. After almost two decades as a military cop in the U.S. Army, Jack now wanders the U.S. with only the clothes on his back - no car, no charge cards - and a penchant for crossing paths with assorted villains. Very soon, the reader begins to feel sorry for the Bad Guys. Reacher is so unpolished that one sometimes wonders how he reached officer grade O-4 (Major), which would imply managing a wardrobe, knotting a tie, and displaying minimal social skills in the officers' mess and at the CO's annual Christmas party. It's not that Jack is a Neanderthal; he just doesn't care to run with the rest of the lemmings anymore. In WITHOUT FAIL, M.E. Froelich, who heads the Secret Service protection detail for the newly elected Vice President, Brook Armstrong, hires Reacher to audit the security of the new Veep's protective screen. Froelich is also the ex-girlfriend of Jack's dead brother. After finding holes through which a potential assassin could drive a monster SUV, Reacher learns why the Service really wants his help. The VP is receiving credible death threats. And it may be an inside job. I would've awarded WITHOUT FAIL at least one more star had it not been a Jack Reacher adventure. But it is, and here our prickly protagonist has to play well with others: Froelich, her boss Stuyvesant, FBI guy Bannon, and a colleague from Reacher's old Army days, ex-Sergeant Frances Neagley. Reacher's talent for punitive violence is severely curtailed compared to past episodes, revealing itself only at the very beginning and the very end. In between, Jack is reduced to being a consultant, even to the point of wearing a suit. Say it ain't so, Lee! The most interesting character is Neagley, now employed by a civilian security firm. She's ostensibly more deadly at physical combat than Reacher himself, and he admits to being afraid of her skills. So, the reader waits, hoping she'll unleash some mayhem. In the meantime, we learn that Frances, while being a little in love with her old military boss, has a severe dislike of being touched due to some unspecified trauma in her past. Unfortunately, Neagley remains mostly a cipher, and the entertainment value of her character is left pretty much unexploited. Perhaps she'll appear in a future Reacher novel. Better still, the author should give her a series of her own. I hope the next Reacher thriller is JACK IS BACK. With a vengeance.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Lobster Chronicles: Life on a Very Small Island; Author: Visit Amazon's Linda Greenlaw Page; Review: You may remember Linda Greenlaw as a supporting character (played by Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio) in George Clooney's THE PERFECT STORM. Following that film, the real-life Greenlaw described her experience as the captain of a North Atlantic swordfishing boat in the riveting best seller, THE HUNGRY OCEAN. Now, in THE LOBSTER CHRONICLES, Linda has returned to her home island, Isle au Haut, Maine, to run a lobster boat. Fishing for lobster isn't as potentially dangerous or dramatic as chasing swordfish. And it's more of a 9 to 5 job where you get to sleep at night under a roof in your own bed. So, while Greenlaw shares enough knowledge about lobstering for the reader to get a feel for it, the bulk of the book is about related (or unrelated) people and events: the effort by a town committee to acquire the local lighthouse from the government, the state of emergency medicine on the isolated Isle au Haut, the prospect of a turf war with mainland lobstermen, her mother's battle with cancer, friends lost at sea, her father (who serves as sternman on her lobster boat), the scarcity of eligible bachelors, her culinary ineptitude, and her dislike of dogs. THE LOBSTER CHRONICLES is a pleasant but lesser sequel to THE HUNGRY OCEAN. Linda's self-effacing humor is perhaps the volume's major strong point, as well as the book's charm as a description of contemporary Americana. Some of Linda's prose is striking, as her description of the waves parading north as seen from the window of her home: "Some of the officers on horseback nodded shocks of white hair while masses of lower-rank sailors kept eyes forward and sternly marched in the most rehearsed fashion to the wind ... The trees lining the shore waved like spectators ..." By the book's end, I was saddened by Linda's undertone of unhappiness. She doesn't seem to like lobstering much. And she's fretful of the fact that, at 40, she remains unmarried and without children. Her loneliness is uncomfortably evident. ("I have spent much time waiting for Mr. Right, who does not appear to be looking for me.") Sail on Linda, and persevere. I wish you well.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Man Who Would Be King: The First American in Afghanistan; Author: Visit Amazon's Ben Macintyre Page; Review: As a reluctant student in that oxymoronic high school class, Poetry Appreciation for Teenage Males, I was surprised to rather enjoy the verses of Rudyard Kipling. Now, decades later, I thought I'd investigate his prose - these 13 tales in RUDYARD KIPLING: THE BEST SHORT STORIES, written during the period 1889 -1904. Kipling had an affinity for the common British soldier and civil servant standing duty on the far edges of Empire. Thus, several chapters feature such of the Queen's own, usually soldiers relating cautionary stories regarding relationships with women. (This is assuredly fertile ground for bivouac conversation, even today.) However, the thick dialect which the author faithfully re-creates in his hero of the moment sometimes makes for heavy going. The author's writing style includes the occasional trick of animating animals and inanimate objects with a human voice and personality. Sometimes this worked for me, sometimes not. The former was best exemplified by "The Ship That Found Herself", a clever instruction about the structural parts of a steamship. Less entertaining was "The Maltese Cat", a dialogue among polo ponies during a big match. Perhaps if I'd understood the game better, or cared, it might have gone over more successfully. On a scale of one star to five, I awarded no single story more than four. The least appreciated effort was "The Record of Badalia Herodsfoot", a depressing narrative set in the London slums that illustrates the adage, "No good deed goes unpunished." Of the several fours, my favorite was "They", a poignant ghost story set in England's southern Downs that would've made, with a little tweaking, a good episode for the old TWILIGHT ZONE television series. However, even the former contained an astute observation worth noting here: "... if people did not die so untidily, most men, and all women, would commit at least one murder in their lives." While Kipling is undeniably a great storyteller, I suspect that his writings had a greater appeal to readers contemporary with the author than those in the current millennium. Perhaps time has passed them by. One had to be there, especially to appreciate both Britain's paternal yet condescending attitude towards the subject denizens of its colonial possessions and once-new technologies that are today considered quaintly antiquated. I'm glad I took the time to read this book, but am also happy to be finished and moving on to the next.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Shopaholic Ties the Knot (Shopaholic, No 3); Author: Visit Amazon's Sophie Kinsella Page; Review: SHOPAHOLIC TIES THE KNOT is the third, and apparently last, in author Sophie Kinsella's "shop till you drop" series starring Becky Bloomwood. The preview at the end of this book introduces a new character, Emma Corrigan, first appearing in 2004 in CAN YOU KEEP A SECRET. In CONFESSIONS OF A SHOPAHOLIC and SHOPAHOLIC TAKES MANHATTAN, Bloomwood is continuously rendered incapable of rational thought by the euphoria of material acquisition, usually clothes and other trinkets, using credit she doesn't have. In SHOPAHOLIC TIES THE KNOT, Becky's penchant for denial and disaster ascends to a higher plane after Luke Brandon, her carried-over boyfriend from the previous book, proposes marriage. Should she be joined with her Prince back home in Oxshott, England in a garden ceremony being lovingly organized by her dear Mum and Dad for their only daughter? Or married in a posh, extremely expensive affair at New York's Plaza Hotel, paid for by her despised mother-in-law-to-be, Elinor. If you know Becky, you'll realize there's no simple answer. Choosing one and saying "no" to the other just isn't an option. Becky's ditziness has always been one of her most endearing (and exasperating) qualities (along with generosity and a basic good-heartedness), providing the reader with an unending stream of hilarious scenarios. Perhaps the single most side-splitting episode in this novel occurs when Becky's best friend Suze goes into premature labor while the two are on an afternoon outing in London. Not in possession of her going-to-the-hospital bag, Suze dispatches Becky into a department store to put one together - one that eventually includes an inflatable canoe! Because SHOPAHOLIC TIES THE KNOT is apparently Becky's swan song, the last three chapters come across as a somewhat forced attempt to tidily end the saga of a rampantly untidy personality. Because of this, I almost gave less than the usual 5 stars to a Bloomwood adventure. But, I relented in the end because this series has been so consistently entertaining. I'm grieved at Becky's departure, but am excited about Kinsella's new burst of creativity with a differently dysfunctional heroine. I guess Becky finally grew up.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Charade (Essence Bestselling Author); Author: Visit Amazon's Donna Hill Page; Review: What high was God on, or what prayer did he answer, to have created a woman so exquisite as Audrey Hepburn? It boggles the mind. CHARADE pairs man's man Cary Grant with the incomparable Audrey Hepburn. (Cary who?) Audrey plays "Reggie" Lampert, recently widowed when her mysterious husband was tossed off a speeding train. Besides leaving behind four different passports and an unused getaway ticket to South America, he left two-hundred and fifty thousand ill-gotten dollars stolen from the Office of Strategic Services, precursor of the CIA, at the end of World War II. But nobody knows where it is, including Lampert's three accomplices in the crime: Tex (James Coburn), Scobie (George Kennedy), and Leo (Ned Glass). But the three crooks want it back, and are willing to hurt Reggie to get it. To whom is a poor girl to turn? To Hamilton Bartholomew (Walter Matthau), ostensibly the CIA's man in the Paris American embassy? Perhaps to the chameleon-like Peter Joshua (Grant), whose identity changes every fifteen minutes, much to the confusion and distress of Reggie, desperately in need of a knight in shining armor. When Ms. Hepburn breaks into a smile, its radiance could raise the dead, halt the world's spin, or part the English Channel. The profile of her face and neck, from any angle, makes the Nefertiti Bust look kitschy. I could lose myself forever in her eyes. When it comes to delicate beauty, no living actress is in the same league, not even the winsome Gwyneth Paltrow. Perhaps the only one to come close is Audrey Tatou (AMELIE and HE LOVES ME, HE LOVES ME NOT). The storyline and pacing of CHARADE is that of a typical 1960s whodunit, tinged with a bit of humor and a little romance. The script and its plot twist aren't even that clever when compared with such modern mind-benders as THE OTHERS, IDENTITY, FEMME FATALE, or SIXTH SENSE. In Audrey's absence, I wouldn't give more than a grudging four stars. But she's there, I'm overwhelmed, and, alas, my objectivity is shattered.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers; Author: Visit Amazon's Mary Roach Page; Review: Perhaps author Mary Roach thought the title of her book, STIFF, too ghoulish because she immediately begins in a festive mood: "... being dead is not terribly far off from being on a cruise ship. Most of your time is spent lying on your back. The brain has shut down. The flesh begins to soften. Nothing much new happens, and nothing is expected of you." Carnival, Viking, and Holland America, take note. As a corpse, you can indeed, as on last summer's voyage to the Bahamas, veg out. Or, as the narrative reveals, be an integral part of other activities. Why, I didn't realize that being dead could be so lively. First and foremost, your cadaver could become the prize of body snatchers, and subsequently be sold to a medical school for the instruction and amusement of students. Or perhaps you aspire to become a crash test dummy, fodder for the military's munitions tests, or the subject of experiments in composting, freeze-drying or plastination. If you're unlucky enough to die in an airplane disaster of unknown cause, investigators may scrutinize your body, or its widely scattered pieces, for clues as to where in the aircraft the fuselage cracked open or the bomb exploded. Your dissected brain or heart could fuel arguments over the seat of the soul, while other body parts serve as the raw material for disease remedies. Or maybe just be eaten by cannibals. And, if you're the outdoorsy type, you can recline in a grove on a grassy hillside behind the University of Tennessee Medical Center where the various stages of human decomposition are studied and recorded. STIFF is one of the most fascinating books I've read recently, even after taking into account the "yuk" factor. (In ancient Rome, the blood of freshly slaughtered gladiators was thought to cure epilepsy, while modern day Web sites have recipes for Placenta Lasagna and Placenta Pizza for those who would consume the delicacy to stave off postpartum depression.) This is largely due to the author's chatty style and marvelous sense of humor, which is dry as a mummy. For example, when declaring the existence of a Central Park statue of a certain Dr. Sims, otherwise notable for describing a suitable patient position for gynecological exam, Roach writes in a footnote: "If you don't believe me, you can look it up yourself, on page 56 of THE ROMANCE OF PROCTOLOGY. (Sims was apparently something of a dilettante when it came to bodily orifices.) P.S.: I could not, from cursory skimming, ascertain what the romance was." I highly recommend STIFF for the not too squeamish adult, or as a scary Halloween gift for one who is. Or as a bedtime reader for precocious youngsters - they'll think it gross, but way cool, as children are won't to do. In case you're wondering, there's no photo section.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Contract; Author: Visit Amazon's Gerald Seymour Page; Review: CONTRACT should be an object lesson to men on the perils of loving the wrong woman, although I'm sure author Gerald Seymour didn't intend it as such. It's around 1980 in Switzerland, and a junior diplomat in the Soviet Embassy in Geneva, Willi Guttmann, is infatuated with an English girl working for the World Health Organization. And she claims she's pregnant. Honorable and smitten - mostly the latter - Willi stages a boating accident on Lake Geneva. Under the ruse of having drowned, he defects to England so he can be joined forever with his beloved. During Guttmann's debrief, MI6 learns that, while Willi has no inherent value, his father Otto is the brain behind a new, Soviet, anti-tank weapon. Using Willi as bait, the Secret Service hatches a plot to lure the 70-year old scientist into defecting to the West during an upcoming holiday that the old man will be taking with daughter Erica near the West German border. MI6 contracts with Johnny Donoghue to be point man in the extraction. Seymour's thrillers are notable for their lack of clear-cut winners and losers in whatever confrontation is played out. CONTRACT has more tragic figures than any of the author's other books I've read. Donoghue is an ex-Army officer, cashiered after having mistakenly shot an innocent young woman while on surveillance duty in Northern Ireland. The court acquitted him of murder, but his career and reputation were ruined. Johnny now craves redemption with the government that gave him the boot. There's silly Willi, who has no idea of the misery he will cause. There's Erica, a spinster-in-training, who has no life but to care for her frail father. Then there's Ulf, a young East German recently demobbed from duty with the border guards. Ulf's in love with Jutte, and she's cajoled him into a joint bolt over the wire. Not tragic, but just bitter, is the anonymous functionary in the West German Federal Internal Security Service, who's still smarting from his treatment at the hands of the Brits at the end of WWII. He'll show them. I've been raving about Gerald Seymour for years. He's equal to, if not better than, John le Carre in his ability to conjure up an entertaining espionage caper. His plots don't bog down, and his characters are eminently believable - just regular blokes with bills to pay, aging bodies, lackluster careers and/or nagging spouses endeavoring to do their duty to Queen and country, or their conscience, amidst perilous situations in grotty places. Sounds like a regular 9 to 5 to me.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Gracefully Insane: Life and Death Inside America's Premier Mental Hospital; Author: Visit Amazon's Alex Beam Page; Review: GRACEFULLY INSANE is advertised as a narrative description of life inside McLean Hospital, "America's premier mental hospital". More accurately, perhaps, the volume is a superficial history of psychiatric care in the United States, or at least as practiced in the Boston area, using McLean as a backdrop. Mental health care has come a long way from less enlightened times when, according to author Alex Beam, terrorizing patients into wellness was considered effective: "One German asylum lowered patients into a dungeon filled with snakes." (My mother, a psychiatrist, once told me about a patient of hers who saw pink snakes on the ceiling. Hmmm, I wonder where Mom did her residency.) The narrative is at its best when describing the evolution of 19th and 20th century methods of therapy: cold water dunking, bath treatments (hot air, electric light, vapor, salt, sitz, loofah), insulin coma, electroshock, metrazole shock, lobotomy, Freudian analysis, and psychopharmacology. Unfortunately, the author fleshes out the text by describing the experiences of specifically named individuals undergoing such cures, usually at McLean. It was then that my eyes began to glaze over and GRACEFULLY INSANE becomes almost a work of local interest since most of the inmates came from Boston's social upper crust, which regarded the hospital as a handy dumping ground for mentally challenged and inconvenient family members. I was briefly re-invigorated when a 1948 sex scandal involving McLean's psychiatrist-in-chief and a nurse got the pair prosecuted on a Morals Charge (Oh, puhleeze!). And later in the 60s and 70s, when the badly behaved teenage children of the local gentry, relegated to the institution by clueless parents for too much drugs, sex, and rock 'n' roll, upset the traditionally genteel environment. While mildly entertaining and reasonably informative, GRACEFULLY INSANE came across as too much of a niche market product, appealing perhaps mostly to mental health professionals, residents of Boston and its environs, and fans of certain famous and terminally dysfunctional (i.e. suicidal) poets of New England heritage. I don't fall into any of these categories, though I'm now sufficiently interested to purchase THE BELL JAR and MOUNT MISERY, the former by Sylvia Plath based on her sojourn at McLean, and the latter by Dr. Stephen Bergman (pen name Samuel Shem) based on his medical residency there. I'll give GRACEFULLY INSANE to my Mom. She can remember the Good Ol' Days of electroshock fondly.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Route 66 A.D. : On the Trail of Ancient Roman Tourists; Author: Visit Amazon's Tony Perrottet Page; Review: PAGAN HOLIDAY is descriptive, instructive and marvelously entertaining - prerequisites, in my opinion, for a 5-star travel essay. Author Tony Perrottet follows the tourist route of the ancient Romans from Italy to Greece to Turkey to Egypt. It's vaguely reminiscent of Eric Newby's ON THE SHORES OF THE MEDITERRANEAN. Newby traveled his route with his long-suffering wife, Wanda. Tony is accompanied by his significant other, Les, who raises the bar on tolerance and patience by enduring the trek through the second trimester of pregnancy into the third. In the Acknowledgments, Perrottet gives his intrepid companion credit: "All of the best jokes in the book are hers." Starting in Rome, the high points of the itinerary include Naples, Capri, Pompeii, Athens, Corinth, Sparta, Olympia, Delphi, Delos, Rhodes, Ephesus, Pergamum, Troy, Alexandria, Cairo, Thebes, Aswan, and points in between. Tony describes the experiences, both good and bad, of the old Romans on that same pilgrim path, as well as those of Les and himself. Of course, some of the most entertaining for the reader were the worst for the traveler, as when Tony and Les rent a Russian car, a Donco, for tooling around Greece. By the time they approach Sparta: "... we'd taped a sheet of plastic over the broken window, and tied coat-hanger wire around my door so it wouldn't pop open whenever the car stopped ..." And the ancients had their own horrors to contend with, as a certain Apollinarius Sidonius experienced during his night's stay in a "greasy tavern": "His hard-reed bed was hopping with lice; all night, lizards and spiders fell from the ceiling." Whether diving the ruins in the Bay of Naples, consulting a present-day Delphic oracle, dealing with border customs officials, contending with crowded beaches and erratic ferry schedules, exploring the remnants of Troy or the interior of the Great Pyramid, coping with on-the-road illness, examining mummies up close and personal, barging down the Nile, bar crawling in Alexandria, or changing rooms (five times) at Cairo's Windsor Hotel, Tony and Les proceed with a great, good humor probably stretched thin many times during the odyssey. And what he doesn't experience himself, Tony does his best to describe from the accounts of others, such as the consultation of omens, the Olympic Games, a gladiatorial show, Roman seaside orgies, and a Roman bath. Perrottet fills his narrative with fun, arcane trivia. Did you know that Delphic love philters included such ingredients as horse sweat and minced lizard's flesh? Or that a twenty-five percent duty was levied on dancing girls brought back as souvenirs? Or that Greek female hoteliers had the occasional reputation of being witches, who turned male guests into frogs or sex slaves?. The text in PAGAN HOLIDAY is interspersed with illustrations, including some photos taken himself, but more often from other sources. Tony found paintings by Lawrence Alma-Tadena particularly useful. The one photo sorely missing was that of the hardiest trooper of them all, Les. And Mummy's Armpit? It's the slang name for a smelly Nile wine. You won't find it in your local Trader Joe's.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: [email protected]: A Medicated Memoir; Author: Visit Amazon's Tom Grimes Page; Review: Had I read WILL EPICQWEST.COM in my early twenties, I would likely have said, "Right ON, Dude!" But thirty years and stacks of both good and bad fiction have had their way with me. Will is a depressed college student on drugs. Not the recreational type, but rather lithium, Haldol, Thorazine and Depakone. He sees the psychopharmacologist more often than you or I visit the supermarket. Thus chemically supported, Will's self-appointed purpose in life, his "epic quest", is to stop the spread of Information Sickness (IS). As he explains, IS is caused by: "A virus that makes people think, and occasionally laugh, too much. Once they realize they exist in a universe of infinite and often contradictory truths, they die. Shock, system overload." The villain of the piece is the evil, tenured professor, Dr. Bones, who created IS in the process of developing a fat-free foodstuff. Bones is assisted by the gorgeous supermodel, Crystal Goodlay. Will's faithful Kimosabe is his laptop's advisor software, Spunky. I won't say that WILL EPICQWEST.COM is unfunny, or unclever, or without nuggets of insight. Through his wired hero, author Tom Grimes creates snappy, smart-alecky humor about everything from capitalism, Western philosophy, absent Dad's, the democratic elective process, female self-empowerment, the male value system, women's breasts, investment strategy, automated answering systems, to medical care. It's sort of a stand-up comedy routine in 184 pages, and the epic quest to halt IS is just a vehicle to provide continuity. Unfortunately, like Chinese food, even the best stand-up routine leaves me feeling empty after thirty minutes and wondering what all the fuss was about. By page 150, I was in a hurry just to finish and move on to something more substantial, more useful, and/or more instructive. This book is perhaps best read in its entirety on a long plane ride, and you can leave it in the seat pocket in front of you when you get off.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Pale Horse Coming; Author: Visit Amazon's Stephen Hunter Page; Review: PALE HORSE COMING is inspired by the New Testament verse: "Behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him." Author Stephen Hunter must have thought the passage way cool because he milks it for all it's worth. Earl Swagger, the novel's hero, is a sergeant in the Arkansas state police and a Marine veteran of the Pacific war against the Japanese. It's now 1961, and Earl takes time off from his day job to investigate the disappearance of a lawyer pal who's traveled on legal business to the Thebes State Penal Farm (Colored), a Mississippi prison for Negroes cut-off from the rest of the world in the swamps of the state's southeast corner. What Swagger discovers is a hell-hole of officially sanctioned viciousness that makes Stalin's gulags seem tame by comparison. As a meddling outsider, Earl is detained there himself and almost loses his life and sanity. After finally escaping, he returns to exact righteous vengeance. The first half of PALE HORSE COMING is perhaps its best. It's the survival story of Earl amidst the horrors of Thebes, not the least of which is the psychopathic overseer, the albino Bigboy, who enjoys torturing prisoners to death with a bullwhip. To enhance the dramatic effect of Swagger's fight for his life, the Thebes facility is perhaps overembellished. Wrought in iron over its main gate are the words, "Work Will Set You Free." Haven't we seen that before, as in "Arbeit Macht Frei", associated with other camps of infamy? Somehow, I don't think Mississippi deserves such a bad PR rap - even in fiction. The book's second half strains credulity. The author apparently has a love of the Old West as he has Earl returning to Thebes with a posse of retired gunslingers - one of whom is in his eighties - to expunge the place from the map. Swagger includes in his trigger-happy band a character named Audie Ryan, America's most decorated WWII soldier and now a movie star, who's obviously modeled on the real-life Audie Murphy. Oh, puhleeze! And it doesn't help that the U.S. government is involved with Thebes in the obligatory Sinister Secret Project - your tax dollars at work. Had I thought that Hunter wrote the ending tongue-in-cheek as a parody, I might have been more forgiving. However, I suspect he was serious, and the result is too clever by half. As it is, I'm awarding four stars because it remains a gripping and entertaining read. And that's why I spend good money for a cheap thriller, right? In the film PALE RIDER, which reworks the earlier SHANE with a stronger "Death rides a pale horse" theme, Clint Eastwood's Man-With-No-Name character wipes out the Bad Guys all by himself. For me, the Lone Hero has always held more appeal.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Portrait of a Killer : Jack the Ripper - Case Closed; Author: Visit Amazon's Patricia Cornwell Page; Review: Noted artist Walter Richard Sickert (1860-1942) was Jack the Ripper. That's the position taken by author Patricia Cornwell in the first 20 pages of PORTRAIT OF A KILLER. She then goes another 341 pages to prove the point. Cornwell, otherwise known for her crime novels, has penned an exhaustive, and sometimes exhausting, investigation of the Jack the Ripper murders, which took place in London's East End in 1888. Since the premise of the narrative is that the Ripper was the renowned, German-born, English artist William Sickert, it's also an examination of that man's life, art and presumed psychology. Not to put too fine a point on it, he was a real whack-job. Certifiably psychopathic. Early on, the author asserts that Sickert's rage against the prostitutes he butchered stemmed from a physical inability to have sex, a condition resulting from several (botched) surgeries he endured as a 5-year old to correct congenitally malformed genitalia. Yup, I suspect that would do it. Cornwell details everything you ever wanted to know about the five murders traditionally attributed to the Ripper: the victims (Nichols, Chapman, Stride, Eddows, Kelly), the East End environment, the crime scenes, the condition of the corpses as found, and the autopsies. As background, she describes the state of the metropolitan police force of the time, and the reasons it was ill-equipped to find a serial killer, particularly Sickert. Of course, she also reconstructs the artist's erratic and eccentric London lifestyle that caused him to roam the East End, utilizing skills at disguise learned as an actor, in search of victims. Casting her investigative net wider, the author establishes links between Sickert and many of the more than 200 so-called Ripper Letters mailed to the police and newspapers during the period of the murders and the years immediately following. Furthermore, she notes details in Sickert's own paintings and drawings that suggest an up-close and personal familiarity with each individual homicide. He had to have been there. According to Scotland Yard, the circumstantial evidence compiled by Cornwell would be sufficient to place before the crown prosecutor. Cornwell also makes the case that Sickert continued his slaughters (beyond the traditional five) up to as late as 1907. Since the conclusion of PORTRAIT OF A KILLER is foregone, the author leaves the most hideous of the Ripper's killings, that of Mary Kelly, until last. Cornwell doesn't specifically say so, but perhaps this was the most gruesome because Sickert was indoors and safe from interruption rather than on exposed streets as with the previous four. He had the luxury of time and privacy to give full vent to his fury. It's a horrific vision. Though there's no evidence that Sickert ever had a child - certainly consistent with the hypothesis that he was physically unable to engage in normal sex - a story persists that he had an illegitimate son by a Frenchwoman. This is a loose end in Cornwell's narrative - one apparently beyond her ability to resolve at this late date. (Remember, it's her assertion that Sickert's inability to perform sexually was at the root; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Under the Black Flag: The Romance and the Reality of Life Among the Pirates (Harvest Book); Author: Visit Amazon's David Cordingly Page; Review: UNDER THE BLACK FLAG is the perfect read for anyone who, as a kid, dressed up as a one-eyed pirate and went around waving a cardboard cutlass saying, "Aaargh, speak up bilge rat; where be the treasure?" Or anyone who enters company staff meetings with, "Ahoy tharr, scurvy dogs, shark meat ya'll be." Or, "Are ya feeling lucky, punk?" (Well, perhaps that last is from a more recent era.) Since he's writing for Western audiences, Author David Cordingly focuses on the pirates, buccaneers, and corsairs of European background, who infested the waters of the Atlantic and Indian oceans and the Caribbean during the 17th and 18th centuries. The book's twelve chapters reveal everything you've ever wanted to know about swashbuckling pirates and piracy: the ships, pirate flags, buried treasure, recruitment, plunderings, pirate violence, famous captains (e.g. Kidd, Blackbeard, Morgan, Rackam, Vane, Roberts), women pirates, pirates' women, pirate life on land and sea, marooning, walking the plank, pirate islands and haunts, pirates in the media (books, stage plays, films), pirate trials and executions, wooden legs and, yes, parrots. Upon finishing UNDER THE BLACK FLAG, I tried to think of a reason not to award five stars, and couldn't. The volume is extensively researched, well organized, written with the popular audience in mind, eminently instructive, and not without humor. Sixteen pages of photographs complement the text. If you're interested in the topic, I can't recommend it too highly. Aaargh! By the way, what does "shiver me timbers" mean, anyway?; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Comrades: "Brothers, Fathers, Sons, Pals"; Author: Visit Amazon's Stephen E. Ambrose Page; Review: One of America's greatest strengths has been, and is, its citizen soldiers - the ones called upon in time of military crisis to defend and defeat, who do the job, and then return to their private lives. BAND OF BROTHERS is a tribute to these individuals in general and, in particular, to Company E, 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division. The book begins with Company E's formation in July 1942, and ends with its inactivation on November 30, 1945. It's a narrative history based on letters, diaries, news clippings and personal interviews. It spans the company's training in the United States and England, its combat roles in the D-Day invasion, the subsequent Operation Market Garden, and the defense of Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge, and ends with the capture of Hitler's Alpine retreat, Berchtesgaden, and the last months as an occupying force in Austria. There's a stark contrast between Company E's sojourn in the Hell of battle and its occupation duty, the latter characterized by author Stephen Ambrose as a "soldier's dream life" of "mountain weather, unlimited sports, women and booze, easy duty, (and) good hunting". Company E's full complement was 140 men - 8 officers and 132 enlisted. But, as casualties mounted, original members were replaced with new, and the cast of characters is large. At times, BAND OF BROTHERS is more a series of vividly drawn vignettes featuring named individuals in the context of a particular combat operation. The reader never really gets to "know" any one soldier, with the exception of perhaps Dick Winters, who provides a continuity of sorts. Winters began as a 2nd Lieutenant commanding a platoon, and ended the war as a Major commanding the 2nd Battalion. To the degree that the author allows, Winters is the foremost hero of a group of heroes, i.e. all of E Company. The reader is thus forced to identify with the unit as a whole throughout its travails and final triumph. This was the author's intent, and is the book's ultimate strength. In the paperback edition, there are only eight pages of photographs and two of maps. One wishes for more. The last chapter on post-war careers is a nice, and logically necessary, touch. Most war-centered works of non-fiction focus on the "great commanders" - Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar, Napoleon, Nelson, Washington, Lee, Grant, Rommel, Montgomery, Eisenhower, Patton, MacArthur, etc. BAND OF BROTHERS is the best book I can recall on the experiences of the common soldier - the guy in the front trench whose only reward at the end of hostilities, if he lives, is a wound or two, a souvenir enemy pistol or flag, and the greatest of all, a feeling of comradeship with his fellows that lasts for life. This last almost makes war seem worth it. Currahee!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mostly Martha; Author: Martina Ddpa 340804 Gedeck; Review: MOSTLY MARTHA isn't about Martha S. But, if the shoe fits ... In this case, Martha is Martha Klein (Martina Gedeck), a supremely talented chef, who lords over the kitchen of the Lido, an upscale Hamburg restaurant. Martha is so obsessed with food preparation and presentation that she'll confront any customer that sends her creations back to the kitchen. Because Martha is "the second best" chef in the city, the Lido's owner, Frida (Sibylle Canonica), refrains from firing Klein, but has demanded that she see a therapist. On the shrink's couch, Martha talks only of recipes. Over his objections, she even prepares meals for him to eat at his desk. Martha's regimented life is disrupted when her sister, a single mother, perishes in an auto accident. Martha is left to care for Lina (Maxine Foerste), her 8-year old niece, while attempting to contact Giuseppe, the girl's father living somewhere in Italy. In the meantime, Frida hires another chef, Mario (Sergio Castellitto), to augment her kitchen staff. Mario's free and easy personality is the antithesis of Martha the Control Freak. Martha finds her life spinning into chaos, especially when it becomes apparent that she's failing miserably as a surrogate Mom to Lina, who remains depressed over her mother's death and so passively hostile that she won't even eat the perfectly prepared and arranged dishes that Martha sets before her. Had MOSTLY MARTHA been made in Tinseltown, it would've inevitably starred Meg Ryan as Martha, Tom Hanks as Mario, and some adorable child star as the incorrigible Lina. The characters of this German production are all eminently likeable and credible, and they concoct a just-right mix of comedy and drama that perhaps wouldn't have been achieved in an American version. While the ending is also eminently predictable, the filmscript, which assigns Martha a (cinematically) unusual profession and places much of the action inside the choreographed frenzy of the Lido's kitchen, is clever enough to elevate the movie, in my opinion, above three stars. I heartily recommend this charmer if you like to cook, frequently eat in high-end restaurants, and/or enjoy films with a cosmopolitan, European ambience.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Holding the Zero; Author: GERALD SEYMOUR; Review: Several years ago, David Robbins authored a novel, WAR OF THE RATS, the plot of which revolved around the duel between two snipers, a Soviet and a German, amidst the WWII Stalingrad battlefield. HOLDING THE ZERO, by Gerald Seymour, is at least equal, if not better, in portraying the sniper's esoteric art. It's a couple of years before Operation Iraqi Freedom, and the British government receives word of a sighting of one of Her Majesty's subjects roaming northern Iraq with a bloody big sniper rifle and a band of Kurdish fighters led by a charismatic peasant girl, Meda. The witness even provides a name, Augustus Henderson Peake. Captain Willet of the Ministry of Defense is tasked, along with a representative from the Security Service, to investigate Peake and report on his mind set, motivation and training. How much trouble can Peake cause for Her Majesty's government? From the very beginning, Willet knows that Peake has no military background, is the transport manager in an English haulage firm, and is a civilian, award-winning, target shooter. Willet's initial assessment is that Peake will not survive whatever foolish venture in which he's involved himself. In the meantime, Peake is Meda's secret weapon as her growing band of Kurds advances out of its mountain fastness and wins a series of increasingly ambitious skirmishes with Saddam Hussein's army. The ultimate goal is to take Kirkuk, headquarters of the Iraqi Fith Army and a city sacred to the Kurdish nationalists. The Iraqi Army sends out its best sniper, Major Karim Aziz, to intercept and kill Meda's sharpshooter. HOLDING THE ZERO is one of the more complex of Seymour's novels that I've read to date. There's a plethora of interesting characters besides Augustus himself: Meda, Aziz, Meda's military advisor Haquim, Peake's guide and spotter Omar, Aziz's tracker dog Scout, Willet, the minefield-clearer Joe Denton, the Mossad agent Isaac Cohen, and the relief worker Sarah. Ironically, in the Big Picture of a CIA plot to topple Saddam, Aziz and Peake are on the same side, and it's ultimately only mano-a-mano pride which matches each against the other. As in all of Seymour's thrillers, the Good Guys don't always win, and the Bad Guys don't always lose. At the conclusion, one must tally up the body count to decide whose side owns the victory - and it's often Pyrrhic. As we peer over the shoulder of Willet as he unearths the nature of the man Peake and composes his report, we also march along with Augustus on the journey that will prove Willet right or wrong. At the end of the day in an isolated Iraqi valley, we must stand amazed.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: One for the Money (Stephanie Plum, No. 1) (Stephanie Plum Novels); Author: Visit Amazon's Janet Evanovich Page; Review: Being laid off in Trenton, NJ, means having to hock your stuff to pay the rent and buy gas, as well as endure family dinners (or starve) over at M&D's house. Desperate times call for desperate measures, so ex-discount lingerie buyer Stephanie Plum goes to work for cousin Vinnie, a bail bondsman, as a skip tracer, i.e. a bounty hunter who retrieves those who've skipped bail. In ONE FOR THE MONEY, author Janet Evanovich kick starts Stephanie's new career. Plum immediately jumps into the proverbial deep end by convincing a skeptical Vinnie to give her a chance at finding Joe Morelli, a local cop accused of murder. The finder's fee is 10 grand, and that'll buy a lot of chow nuggets for Rex, Stephanie's pet hamster. Plum's considerable appeal lies in her complete ineptitude for her new career. (It doesn't help that she and Morelli have a "past". At six, she'd allowed Joe to play train under her skirt in Old Man Morelli's garage. At sixteen, Stephanie was relieved by Joe of her virginity behind the pastry counter at the bakery where she worked. At nineteen, she intentionally clipped Morelli with the right front fender of her Dad's Buick.) Within the first few days on the job, Plum finds Joe four times, but fails to make the bust, a tough assignment if your quarry leaves you buck naked, dripping wet, and handcuffed to your own shower curtain rod. Or your car keys have been tossed into the putrid muck at the bottom of a dipsy-dumpster. Another source of amusement for the reader is Stephanie's family: Mom, Dad, and Grandma Mazur. The inspiration for Grandma might well have been Dorothy's mother Sophia on the TV series GOLDEN GIRLS. ONE FOR THE MONEY was originally published in 1994. This paperback edition was published in 2003. In the intervening nine years, seven additional Stephanie Plum adventures have been added to the series. In the back of this edition, there's a brief synopsis of all eight novels to date, which also defines for each book the "Historic Moment", "New Characters Introduced", and "Automotive Factoid". It's apparent that Evanovich continues with the personalities introduced in ONE FOR THE MONEY, as well as bring in new ones. And Stephanie continues to have car problems. I'm giving this first book in the series five stars because it's truly amusing and the Plum character is (for me, at this late date) fresh. Books written by formula to create a series sometimes become tiresome. TWO FOR THE DOUGH is on my shelf to be read. Once I hit two 3-stars in a row, I'm done. We'll see.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sky of Stone: A Memoir; Author: Visit Amazon's Homer Hickam Page; Review: Through Homer Hickam's marvelous memoirs, readers have been transported to Coalwood, West Virginia, of the late 1950s - first in ROCKET BOYS (made into the film OCTOBER SKY), then THE COALWOOD WAY, and now SKY OF STONE. It's the summer of 1961. After his freshman year at Virginia Polytechnic Institute, Homer wants to join his mother at her new house in Myrtle Beach, a coastal resort in South Carolina. But there's been a fatal accident back in the mine at Coalwood, and Homer's Dad, the mine superintendent, is under investigation by state and federal agencies. So, Mom tells Homer to go back home and keep his Dad company. And, as readers of the series know, Elsie Hickam is not one to trifle with. SKY OF STONE is, I think, certainly superior to THE COALWOOD WAY, and perhaps even to ROCKET BOYS. It's in this third volume that Homer emerges from adolescence. He comes to grips with his parents' increasing estrangement from each other, his father's emotional distance, the loss of beloved pets, and the primacy of his older brother in his father's affections. Then there's Homer's first serious crush, the object being Rita, a junior mining engineer several years his senior. Finally, to pay off damage done to his father's Buick, Homer defies both parents, joins the United Mine Workers of America, moves out of the family home, and goes to work in the coal mine as a summer job. (SKY OF STONE refers to the ceiling of solid rock over the mine's tunnels.) Homer's semi-dysfunctional family remains a source of reader sympathy. Over one weekend, young Hickam resides with the Likens family, the menfolk of which are going to improve their guest's softball skills. (Homer's been drafted by the union team that will play management on the Fourth of July.) At breakfast, Homer notices: "(Mrs. Likens) smiled lovingly at her husband, and I thought again how much I envied her family. They all just seemed to like each other." The poignancy of this observation is heartbreaking. Hickam self-deprecating humor makes him an eminently likable protagonist. He sets out to that July 4th showdown on the baseball diamond with the thought: "... I had, in fact, only two hopes: one, that I wouldn't hit myself with the bat, and the other, that nobody would hit a ball in my direction." But, Homer rises to the occasion, much to the satisfaction of the reader. Since, in the book's epilogue, Homer's narrative summarizes his life since that maturing summer of '61, I assume that SKY OF STONE is to be the last in the Coalwood series, which has been a genuine piece of true-life Americana. I shall miss it. According to the author, Coalwood's mine has long since shut down, and the town itself barely exists as a place on the map anymore. However, there's a museum there dedicated to the town's mining heritage and the exploits of the Rocket Boys. Homer's books leave me wanting to travel across country to visit. Honor is due.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: When Christ and His Saints Slept: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Sharon Kay Penman Page; Review: The reign of England's King Henry II, and his stormy marriage to Eleanor of Aquitaine, is, for me, history's most fascinating story. I was afraid that Sharon Kay Penman's treatment of the beginning of that tale in her historical novel WHEN CHRIST AND HIS SAINTS SLEPT would be a frivolous chick-book. Not so. It's 1135, and England's monarch, Henry I, dies. His designated heir is his daughter Matilda, the widow of the German Emperor, who's now married to Count Geoffrey of Anjou. However, many of England's nobles are unwilling to kneel to a woman, and so they persuade Matilda's cousin Stephen, the son of Henry I's sister Adela, to claim the throne. Thus follows a nineteen-year civil war as Matilda contests for the crown, first for herself and then for her first-born son by Geoffrey, Henry. King Stephen fights for himself, and for the right of his son, Eustace, to inherit. If this book had been pure fiction, the author could have been faulted for dragging it out over 738 paper-backed pages as the fortunes of war see-saw back and forth, and England's powerful land barons change from one side to the other, and back again. But the major events of the conflict are all based on historical fact, and one wonders why JC and his saints would sleep so long while the countryside and its inhabitants were caught between opposing sides and brutalized. Were they on illegal substances, you think? During the first five-hundred or so pages, before young Henry is of sufficient age to take serious part in the bloodletting , the author displays fancy footwork in providing a protagonist for the reader to like. After all, Stephen makes an odd villain. He's an honorable man, loving father and husband, and a courageous soldier - but a poor king. Matilda, on the other hand, is brave, steadfast, and a loving mother, but infuriatingly tactless and totally inept at winning and keeping the loyalty of her potential English subjects. So, Penman creates the easy-going character of Ranulf, a fictional illegitimate son of Henry I and a loyal supporter of his half-sister in the wearisome struggle. As Ranulf follows Matilda from slaughter to slaughter and crisis to crisis, he has the time to carry on an adulterous affair with an old flame, and then find his own true love in the mountain fastness of Wales. (Come to think of it, maybe this is too much a chick-book!) In any case, at the risk of unnecessarily extending the storyline, he makes for an engaging character. The last two-hundred pages pick up as the young Henry meets Eleanor of Aquitaine, who's then married to King Louis of France. It's during this last part of an excellent book that we see the man and monarch that Henry is to become, and which makes me look forward to the next volume in the trilogy, TIME AND CHANCE, especially since, through my knowledge of English history, I know what's going to happen. Count Geoffrey otherwise gives us a clue when he advises his eldest son: "The best; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Kill Clause; Author: Visit Amazon's Gregg Hurwitz Page; Review: THE KILL CLAUSE is one of those thrillers where I almost feel guilty not awarding a High Five. U.S. marshal Tim Rackley lives in SoCal with his wife Andrea, a deputy in the local police department. On the very first page, the two learn that the dismembered body of their 7-year old daughter, Ginny, has been discovered. Shortly thereafter, the suspected perp, a convicted child molester named Kindell, is cornered. Before the man is taken in for booking, Tim is given an opportunity by the arresting officers to execute the suspect. Left alone with Kindell, the slimeball gives Tim the hint that there was an accomplice, so Tim allows him to be taken into formal custody hoping the subsequent investigation will yield more information. But it doesn't, and the court sets the accused free on a technicality. Soon thereafter, Tim is approached by The Committee, a vigilante group of five men and one woman proposing to act as judge and jury on seven high profile murder cases where the suspect has gone free. They want Tim to join their deliberations, and then execute those condemned. The bait is the seventh and last case, which is Kindell's. Well, it seemed like a good idea at the time by all concerned. There's much that author Gregg Hurwitz does right in this book. His prose skillfully depicts gritty and suspenseful action. The dialog is well constructed. (My pet peeve about too many potboilers is that all characters "sound" the same.) Rackley himself has a clever bag of tricks from years of military and law enforcement experience that makes him an eminently dangerous man. He knows how to booby-trap a .357 pistol so it blows off the shooter's hand, or pack an audio earpiece with explosive so it blows off a head. He can simulate infected needle tracks using a syringe full of Visine, Comet cleanser, and a crushed vitamin C tablet. He pulls metal fragments out of his body using nothing but Advil, hydrogen peroxide, and a tweezers. Don't try these parlor tricks at home. My biggest problem with the novel, compelling me to shave off a star, is that I never felt more than indifference towards Rackley. Yes, the murder of Tim's daughter and the subsequent downward spiral of his marriage did inspire sympathy. Yes, I was riveted by his consummate and deadly resourcefulness. But there was nothing about the man that was particularly engaging. I think of other fictional action series heroes whose quirks make them endearing. Trouble-magnet Munch Mancini (by Barbara Seranella), who has a smart-mouth response to life in general. Ex-military cop Jack Reacher (by Lee Child), a rugged individualist so out of the mainstream that he hasn't a clue how to iron a shirt or manage a household budget. Or skip tracer Stephanie Plum (by Janet Evanovich), who's basically just a klutz. Even Eastwood's Dirty Harry persona had his catchy sayings ("Are ya feeling lucky, punk?") Rackley is nothing of the sort. And while this didn't prevent me from finishing the book, it would, oddly enough, keep me from buying; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: An Honorable Defeat: The Last Days of the Confederate Government; Author: Visit Amazon's William C. Davis Page; Review: It's rare to have a window on an ousted government on the run. In modern times, the Failed President, Great Dictator, or Big Daddy just scuttles under some Third World rock to settle down and enjoy the retirement benefits of a Swiss bank account. In AN HONORABLE DEFEAT, we have a more satisfying story. As General Robert E. Lee's defense of the South's capital became untenable, President Jefferson Davis evacuated Richmond on April 1, 1865 with his Cabinet Secretaries: John Breckinridge (War), Judah Benjamin (State), John Reagan (Postmaster General), George Trenholm (Treasury), Stephen Mallory (Navy), and George Davis (Attorney General). Heading south by train, wagon, horse, and finally for some, boat, this narrative chronicles the sad odyssey. Oh, and let's not forget the one-half million dollars in coin from the Confederate Treasury, as well as the deposits held by Richmond banks, that went with them. The escape route eventually led through the Carolinas, Georgia and Florida. The goal for all was either to get out of the country entirely, or to join up with Confederate forces west of the Mississippi and continue the fight. Few made it. The narrative focuses chiefly on Jefferson Davis, Breckinridge, and Benjamin. The reader can only be amazed at Jeff's stubborn state of denial. He was convinced that the war could be continued (and won!) if only he could join any remaining Confederate force still in the field. Finally, though, he's redeemed when he puts his family above all other considerations. If there's a "hero" in this saga, it's Breckinridge, who labored mightily, against his President's fixation, to bring the conflict to an honorable close rather than a farce, and in doing so save Southern lives and property. The Secretary of War's ultimate daring and perilous escape by small boat to Cuba is the stuff of legend, if not a good Hollywood movie. Benjamin, the ever-jolly Secretary of State with no more demand for his statecraft, just thought of himself. He never looked back, and got the furthest. Author William Davis does a magnificent job tying together the potentially confusing escape routes and timelines of the various fugitives, who sometimes travelled together, split up, and then rejoined. The text is supplemented by a perfectly adequate map and a section of photographs. The post-war loose ends of all concerned are tidied up in an Aftermath chapter. And the Confederate monies? Most was disbursed in payment to escort troops and for supplies en route, or was ultimately confiscated by the Yankees. However, $170,000 in gold was looted by raiders in Georgia. As the author dryly notes: "... the stolen treasure ... was never seen again. Locals years hence told of friends who removed to Missouri and California with sudden fortunes, never to return." California, yes. But Missouri? As a work of popular history, AN HONORABLE DEFEAT is masterfully researched and eruditely told. It's a must-read for any Civil War buff.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Small Town in Germany: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's John le Carr Page; Review: I first picked up A SMALL TOWN IN GERMANY in the late 60s, but, finding it too slow, couldn't finish. My appreciation of John le Carre having increased over the years, I recently gave it another go. The book is set in the then West German capital of Bonn during the heyday of the Cold War. The British Embassy is beset with a number of mysterious disappearances: a document trolley, a tea machine, an electric fan, and some cups from the Caf. Oh, and a twenty-plus year employee named Otto Harting and a Top Secret "Green File". Meanwhile, on the other side of the embassy fence, a West German industrialist, Karfeld, is inflaming the populace with nationalist speeches, advocating stronger ties with Moscow, and undermining Bundesrepublik support for Britain's entry into the Common Market. Has Harting bolted to Moscow? The Foreign Office in London dispatches its troubleshooter, Alan Turner, to Bonn to ferret out some answers. Like le Carre's other books, A SMALL TOWN IN GERMANY is short on action and long on character and plot development. For these very reasons, my appreciation of his later books, especially TINKER, TAILOR, SOLDIER, SPY and SMILEY'S PEOPLE, both featuring the author's most famous hero, George Smiley, lead me to think that my literary tastes have matured over the years, at least when it comes to trashy novels. If the reader of this book squints, he may perhaps see in Turner's dogged pursuit of the puzzle pieces a forerunner of the Smiley character, though the latter is infinitely more subtle and imperturbable. And Turner is not above slapping a lady in his quest for the Truth. Such conduct would be anathema to George, always the gentleman. That Turner never endears himself to the reader is perhaps the novel's greatest shortcoming. More than that, however, is the fact that the plot is dated. Germany is now re-united, and the capital moved back to Berlin. Bonn is once more a relative backwater. Powerful Germans with an unsavory Nazi past are practically extinct. Moscow is no longer homebase to the pesky KGB and center of the Evil Empire. But the Brits, God love 'em, having told the rest of Europe to take their euros and stuff it, are still stolidly aloof in their island fortress (despite the Chunnel). A SMALL TOWN IN GERMANY, a must read for all le Carre fans, isn't one of his best efforts when compared to later works. But, I did finish it the second time around!; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Krakatoa: The Day the World Exploded: August 27, 1883; Author: Visit Amazon's Simon Winchester Page; Review: KRAKATOA is an appealing and reader-friendly piece of history and science. The populist approach by author Simon Winchester reminds me of Carl Sagan. It isn't until page 233 of this 390-page hardback that the narrative arrives at 10:02 AM on August 27, 1883, when the volcanic island of Krakatoa, situated in the Sunda Strait between Java and Sumatra, blew up. The explosion was heard 2,968 miles away - roughly the distance between Philadelphia and San Francisco, ejected enough dust into the upper atmosphere to color sunsets worldwide for the next three years, and generated waves strong enough to register on tide gauges on England's south coast. Of the Earth's volcanic blasts known to history, this was the fifth largest. In the preceding 232 pages, Winchester skims a fascinating array of relevant subjects that should appeal to any reader of eclectic interests: the evolution of the Dutch East India Company and its spice trade, Darwinism, the Wallace Line, continental drift, convection currents inside the Earth's mantle, plate tectonics, paleomagnetism, subduction zones, the development of underwater telegraph cables, evidence for Krakatoan eruptions in earlier centuries, and the observed paroxysms of the doomed island in the months, days, and hours before the final cataclysm. While many of the subjects may sound dry, the author's treatment of them isn't. 10:02 AM on August 27 went by in an instant. The pages following describe the series of ocean waves, the last over 100 feet high by the time it hit nearby coasts, that killed all but 1,000 of the 36,000+ who died in the calamity. After the waters subside and the ashes settle, Winchester closes with a discussion of the art inspired by years of glorious, dust-mediated, sunsets. And the re-emergence of a new volcanic island, Anak Krakatoa, on the site of the old, including the establishment of plant, insect and animal life on its barren, steaming surface. The author bases his story on a multitude of scientific and historical sources, many of which involve eyewitness accounts of events. These, plus Winchester's dry humor, make for an engaging read. There's one chapter, however, which the book's editor should've advised tossing, i.e. the one unconvincingly postulating that the 1883 disaster sparked the revolt of the Islamic native population against their Christian Dutch overlords, which resulted in the latter being sent packing from Indonesia in 1949. Hmm. Perhaps it was just because the Dutch colonial administration wasn't warm and cuddly. You think? Also, though the volume is interspersed with useful photos and drawings, Winchester's own visit to Ana Krakatoa is visually unrepresented - a sorry lapse. Ana Krakatoa translates as "Son of Krakatoa". The history of the island suggests it may also mean, "I'm back, and you'll be sorry!" Surfers at some future time may have another opportunity to catch a Monster Wave.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: No Man Standing: A Munch Mancini Crime Novel (Munch Mancini Novels); Author: Visit Amazon's Barbara Seranella Page; Review: In NO MAN STANDING, ex-bad girl Munch Mancini is now eight years down the straight and narrow after giving up alcohol, drugs, sexual promiscuity, and bikers. An ace auto mechanic and owner of a struggling limo business, Munch is moving into a new house with her adopted daughter, Asia, when an old friend in need shows up. Ellen Summers was Mancini's best gal-pal in the rough old days, and is just released from her latest stint in the California Institution for Women, a penal facility. Summers is being sought by vicious killers who want returned a very large sum of counterfeit Franklins that she found and hid before her most recent imprisonment. The first bodies in a growing pile are those of Ellen's Mom and stepfather. Meanwhile, Munch is being harassed by the jealous ex of a poor choice of lovers, and she doesn't need the heavy baggage that Ellen has brought to her and Asia's doorstep. By design or not, assigning Ellen a major role in this fifth book of the Munch Mancini series was true inspiration by author Barbara Seranella. Summers is at least a pale reflection of Seranella's protagonist before she became a contributing member of society. For those steady readers of the series, who perhaps thought that Munch was becoming too middle-class, or for those being introduced to Munch for the first time, Ellen is a much-needed reminder of Mancini's former low-life edginess. That aspect, plus the ending plot twist of NO MAN STANDING, extends my interest in the series as a whole, the storylines of which will need to be unpredictable to keep me returning for more. While the last chapter gives a too obvious hint to the evolution of Mancini's love life in the next book, I trust the author will surprise us. The back flap of NO MAN STANDING reveals that Barbara Seranella ran away at fourteen from the showcase upper middle-class enclave of Pacific Palisades, CA, joined a San Francisco hippie commune, rode with outlaw bikers, and became an auto mechanic. Since I also spent several idyllic childhood years in Pacific Palisades before my uneventful and unrebellious teens, I wish we could sit and compare notes to determine where I went wrong.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Two for the Dough (Stephanie Plum, No. 2); Author: Visit Amazon's Janet Evanovich Page; Review: Author Janet Evanovich has made the protagonist of her Stephanie Plum series one of the most endearing fictional characters I've come across. Should Hollywood make any of the books into a film, the lead role is made for Sandra Bullock. In TWO FOR THE DOUGH, novice bounty hunter Stephanie is on the hunt for Kenny Mancuso, who's jumped bail after being charged with shooting a service station attendant in the knee. As the plot unfolds, Plum becomes involved in the investigation of a weapons theft from an Army arsenal, and is mailed various body parts carved from corpses on slabs at a local mortuary. All to the continuing discomfiture of her family, who just wants her to find a nice man and get married. Or at least a job that pays steady. Admittedly, the plots of the Plum novels are rudimentary. Almost amateurish even. But they serve as the skeleton structures upon which Evanovich constructs the superbly hilarious misadventures of her klutzy heroine. Not since Sophie Kinsella's Shopaholic series with Becky Bloomwood have I been so amused. A major attraction of the series is the cast of ongoing, supporting characters. Foremost is Joe Morelli, a plain-clothes cop on the Trenton (NJ) PD, and Plum's reluctant ally in her pursuit of the bad guys. Joe and Stephanie would be lovers except that she finds him so infuriating, and the fact that she manages to trash Joe's cars. Another is her maternal grandmother, Grandma Mazur, a feisty old lady who see's herself as Clint Eastwood and her granddaughter's sometimes partner. In that hypothetical film of Stephanie's exploits, Mazur would be played by Dorothy's Mom in TV's GOLDEN GIRLS, Sophia. The first book in the series having established what is apparently a pattern, I expect Stephanie to experience continuing car problems and ridiculous predicaments. In this second volume, Plum's Jeep is stolen, and she inherits the use of a powder blue, 1953 Buick in mint condition - a veritable tank with which she proceeds to wreak destruction on cars around her. And whereas in the first installment she's handcuffed naked to her own shower curtain rod by her quarry, in TWO FOR THE DOUGH she collapses a rickety fire escape, plunging butt-first into a pile of dog poop. According to the helpful Joe, a very large and sick dog. Stephanie has a pet hamster named Rex, stores her .38 in a cookie jar, and, during extended surveillances, takes pottie breaks at M&D's. She obsesses about her weight, but Kit-Kat bars are de rigueur munchies for stakeout duty. During stressful moments, her mind can wander to consideration of a sexy pair of purple pumps, and the necessary additions to her wardrobe that such would require. How can you not love this woman? I've taken the plunge and put the next six episodes on my Wish List.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Alexander of Macedon, 356-323 B.C.: A Historical Biography; Author: Visit Amazon's Peter Green Page; Review: Only occasionally have I read a work of history that's in the "can't put down" category. DISTANT MIRROR by Barbara Tuchman, MEN TO MATCH MY MOUNTAINS by Irving Stone, and Shelby Foote's monumental Civil War trilogy come to mind. ALEXANDER OF MACEDON, 356-323 B.C. by Peter Green is now another. This material first appeared as ALEXANDER THE GREAT in 1970. This particular volume, a revision and expansion of that earlier book, is the second reprint (1991) of the title first published in 1974. For the sake of background, the author necessarily begins his masterpiece with Alexander's father, Philip of Macedon, whose achievement was to unify Macedonia and coerce the Greek states to the south to join with him in an Hellenic League. But, after Philip is assassinated on page 105, it's all Alexander as he marches his army on a peripatetic route of conquest against the Persian Empire throughout Asia Minor and the Middle East as far as present-day West Pakistan - and then back again. Twenty-five thousand miles - the circumference of the Earth - in eleven years. I kept turning the pages to see what he was going to do next. In his "Preface to the 1991 Reprint", Green makes it clear that his study of Alexander is a work in progress, and that even this book needs further revision in the light of new information. However, as flawed as the author may consider his ALEXANDER OF MACEDON to be, his masterful distillation of 17 pages worth of ancient and modern sources makes the narrative of Alexander's life sing. Green's prose is crisp and touched with a dry humor, and it never bogs down. Though Green concludes that Alexander is "perhaps ... the most incomparable general the world has ever seen", he doesn't spare his subject from charges of megalomania and tyranny. But, in a man who never lost a battle and was proclaimed first the son of a god, and then himself a deity, can this be so surprising? Alexander is, in a sense, a tragic figure - one who couldn't see the wisdom in the statement of his subordinate commander, Coenus: "Sir, if there is one thing above all others a successful man should know, it is when to stop." ALEXANDER OF MACEDON is replete with a Table of Dates, fourteen maps and battle plans, and a 24-page appendix examining in detail the poorly documented battle on the River Granicus, Alexander's first victory in Asia against the Persian king Darius III. My only complaint regarding this riveting historical piece is that the author didn't summarize the chaotic dissolution that overtook Alexander's empire immediately after his death. The contrast would have made me appreciate Alexander's achievement all that much more.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: In Search of Butch Cassidy; Author: Visit Amazon's Larry Pointer Page; Review: If a romantic and treasured perception of Western banditry stems from having seen the 1969 film BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID, perhaps you'd better not read IN SEARCH OF BUTCH CASSIDY, first published in 1977. Author Larry Pointer's working hypothesis is that Butch Cassidy didn't die in 1908 amidst a hail of Bolivian gunfire. Rather, he returned to the United States and lived in Spokane, WA, as William T. Phillips before dying of cancer in 1937. Pointer spent 5 years building the case, and his arguments are compelling. Indeed, the basis around which the author constructs this story of Cassidy's life is William's unsold manuscript "The Bandit Invincible", an unsuccessful commercial attempt by Phillips to capitalize on his adventures. Pointer quotes lengthy passages from the document, and used it as the starting point for his own research of events after determining to his satisfaction, through handwriting analysis and eyewitness testimony, that Cassidy and Phillips were indeed the same person - a process completed by the end of chapter 3. IN SEARCH OF BUTCH CASSIDY is a competently told, if somewhat dry, biographical narrative by a writer obsessed with his subject. The amount of detail provided is a tribute to Pointer's investigatory labors. Though not really the author's fault, the near-confusion surrounding the names of places and individuals almost compelled me to make out a score card for reference. In his manuscript, Phillips admits to changing some names of people and places. This, plus the outlaws' penchant for using aliases and inaccurate reporting by contemporary newspapers, makes the going occasionally tricky despite Pointer's best effort to keep identities straight. The volume is nicely sprinkled with B&W photographs of the many individuals mentioned in the text. However, Pointer got too cute with three images of very extensive sections of terrain taken from space upon which he indicates the location's of Cassidy's hideouts. While first thinking these were clever additions to the whole, I then decided that they were virtually worthless as purveyors of useful information. A suitably annotated, modern highway map would have perhaps served better, or even the same photos with the critical areas enlarged much more. For me, the book's best single feature was an extensive quote from outlaw Matt Warner's memoirs on the rigors of being pursued by a posse. This included: "... if one of us got sick, or nearly died with rheumatism or toothache, or got a leg broke; he had to grit his teeth and trail right along ... If he died he died just like a horse or dog along the trail ... and his body would be eaten by the coyotes." Yup, I think I'll saddle up Old Hoss and go hold-up a train.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: A Short History of Nearly Everything: Special Illustrated Edition; Author: Visit Amazon's Bill Bryson Page; Review: Bill Bryson is a travel writer par excellence. He's transported us to such widely separated locales as Britain, Australia, Africa, and the Appalachian Mountains. And his laid back, humorous style is always a pleasure to read. In A SHORT HISTORY OF NEARLY EVERYTHING, Bill expands his horizons to ... well, nearly everything, from the Universe to the atoms that make it up. In between, he chats about the potential for catastrophic volcanic eruptions and meteor strikes, Einstein's theories, cellular biology, the evolution of life on Earth and Man in particular, the Periodic Table of the Elements, glaciation, quantum mechanics, the currents and depths of the world's oceans, continental drift, subatomic particles, the Big Bang Theory, the Earth's layers and core, the development of Chemistry and Geology, the fossil record, the atmosphere, mass extinctions, DNA, and so much more. In the Introduction, Bryson admits that he didn't know much about the planet he lives on. So, he spent three years researching and interviewing so he could tell us all about it. What has resulted is a thoroughly enjoyable work of popular science that provides food for thought and imagination. And the stuff that party trivia questions are made of. Did you know that perhaps 10% of a 6-year old pillow's weight is made up of "sloughed skin, living mites, dead mites, and mite dung"? Or that there are six feet of DNA squeezed into every cell of your body - about twenty million kilometers worth? Or that the Human Genome Project suggests that there are about 35,000 to 40,000 human genes - roughly the same number found in grass? Or that the element Francium is so rare that there may only be twenty atoms of it on the entire Earth at any one time? Or that Madame Curie's notebooks are still so radioactive that they're stored in a lead box? What I find amazing is that the author managed to learn so much about a whole lot in so short a time. I mean, he includes thirty-eight pages of Notes and a ten-page Bibliography. I'm reminded of the high school term papers I struggled through, albeit less grandiose in scope and accomplishment. Bill, you get an A+ on this one. Go to the head of the class.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: One Door Away From Heaven; Author: Visit Amazon's Dean Koontz Page; Review: I think ONE DOOR AWAY FROM HEAVEN could've been split into two separate books. The fact that they weren't results in more pages for the buck, but also perhaps a less satisfying storyline. On one track, we have a 10-year old boy, whose family has been slaughtered, fleeing cross-country from the killers. He comes upon the isolated Hammond farm in the wee hours inhabited by its sleeping residents. Within no time, the killers track the boy to the home and butcher the family. The boy continues his flight, taking along the Hammond's pet dog and the identity of the Hammond son, Curtis. Eventually, "Curtis" teams up with identical twins Cass and Polly - statuesque, street smart, pistol-packin', blond, ex-Las Vegas showgirls roaming the West chasing UFO sightings in a motorhome purchased with divorce settlement monies. There's something strange about Curtis. His knowledge of the world is solely based on 9,658 viewed movies. On a parallel track, we have 9-year old Leilani, born physically deformed like her older brother Lukipela because of their mother Sinsemilla's incessant and heavy drug use. Both Leilani and her mother are under the control of the former's stepfather, Preston Maddoc. The family travels around the country in a converted bus to sites of potential extraterrestrial landfalls. Preston claims that the ETs can heal Leilani's deformities. The girl knows better. The way she tells it, Preston, aka Dr. Doom, is a serial killer, who murdered her brother in the Montana woods on his tenth birthday. Leilani fears she's next. Leilani befriends Micky Bellsong, a jobless, ex-con at rock bottom, who lives with her Aunt Gen in the Los Angeles area. After hearing Leilani's story, Micky decides to redeem her life by rescuing the girl from Preston and Sinsemella, but the three depart before she can act. To help track down and recover the girl, Micky employs private detective Noah Farrel, who's burdened with guilt for having let his father beat his sister into a permanent coma seventeen years before. Have I lost you in the melodrama yet? In any case, all players eventually collide in Idaho at the dilapidated home of a pathetic recluse that gives new meaning to the term "pack rat". This thriller is no better than a beach read, though it may take several days while soaking up the carcinogenic UV rays. That the book would have been better split into two is evidenced by the awkward last chapter, which made me think that the author, having arrived at his publisher's deadline, mused, "Uh-oh, now what do I do to wrap this up?" The conclusion pretty much brings to closure the Leilani arm of the story, but leaves so much unclarified about Curtis's situation and future that I smell a sequel coming. That's fine, as long as it includes Polly and Cass. ONE DOOR AWAY FROM HEAVEN better serves, perhaps, as an outlet for the author's loathing for utilitarian bioethics, that philosophy which condones (and, at its extreme, promotes) the elimination of those members of society deemed unproductive, i.e. those who are aged, deformed, insane, terminally; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Persuader (Jack Reacher, No. 7); Author: Visit Amazon's Lee Child Page; Review: PERSUADER, the seventh installment of Lee Child's Jack Reacher series, is perhaps the best so far. On a Boston sidewalk, Reacher almost collides with a man shot three times - including twice in the head - and pitched off a cliff into the Pacific ten years before. Having a former colleague in the Military Police put a trace on the man's license plate brings the Drug Enforcement Agency to Jack's door. And what might your interest be, sir? Reacher, is it? Jack, a former Army MP major that now wanders the United States as a near-vagrant always on the lookout for wrongs to rectify, finds himself aiding the Feds as he goes undercover to penetrate a fortified mansion on an isolated headland on Maine's wild coast. The DEA suspects that the mansion's owner, Zachary Beck, is using his importing business to bring in something other than Oriental floor coverings. And Beck apparently has a connection to Reacher's sidewalk ghost. Jack doesn't care about Beck or his rugs, but does have another old score to settle once and for all. And this time he going to get it right, or die trying. The plot of PERSUADER includes the first time I can recall Jack feeling fear. Well, not fear maybe, but at least apprehension. Beck's gatekeeper, Paulie, is six inches taller, ten inches wider across the shoulders, and two hundred pounds heavier than our hero. Paulie's arms are bigger than Jack's legs. And he's surprisingly quick. Both you and Reacher know that, at some point, he's going to have to fight this monster. From Jack's point of view, that's going to be the dodgy bit. The reader savors the expectation. Jack's my favorite Loner and Tough Guy in the Trashy Literature genre. But, his habitual physical impregnability becomes almost monotonous. So, the fact that Reacher's life comes within a gossamer thread of being extinguished more than once in this thriller is refreshing. Now that his vulnerability has been established, I look forward more than ever to Child's next volume. Part of Jack's allure is that there's a hint of dysfunctionality to his personality. In PERSUADER, the reader learns that during Reacher's time in the service as an Army officer, he owned no civilian clothes. In an earlier book, it's revealed that Jack doesn't even know how to iron a shirt. Child's hero has some serious issues, which I hope someday the author will explore.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: French Quarter: An Informal History of the New Orleans Underworld; Author: Visit Amazon's Herbert Asbury Page; Review: THE FRENCH QUARTER is a history of crime, vice, and general rascality in New Orleans from its founding in 1718 by the French to the abolition of the Storyville red-light district in 1917. In fifteen chapters, author Herbert Asbury describes the disruptive roles played by keelboat ruffians, revolutionists, gamblers, duelists, prostitutes, corrupt cops and politicians, pirates, filibusters (soldiers of fortune), vigilantes, pickpockets, muggers, thugs, the Mafia, and voodoo practitioners in the lives of the otherwise law-abiding citizenry. Anyone reading Asbury's narrative might be led to believe that good folks were a miniscule minority. THE FRENCH QUARTER suffers from being published almost seventy years ago. Aside from a number of old sketch reproductions, and several badly reproduced B&W photographs of bordello interiors and exteriors during the Storyville era, THE FRENCH QUARTER is sadly lacking in illustration. There's not even a map of the city from which to get one's bearings. This work is wonderfully informative as far as it goes, perhaps occasionally more so than is needed to make the point that the city, especially in the mid-1800s, could be a noxious place. The narrative is sober and straightforward, only occasionally displaying dry humor. A couple examples from the text will suffice to give one a sense of the book's tone and the city's iniquity. Regarding barrel-houses,the lowest form of drinking place: "The owner of one such establishment not only doped all of his liquor, but maintained his own staff of sneak thieves ... (who) worked on a percentage basis and took turns robbing the sodden wretches who were dragged from the barrel-house." Regarding the streetwalkers of the Dauphine and Burgundy Street vice area after the Civil War: " ... the perambulating bawds flung a piece of old carpet on the sidewalk and entertained their customers in full view of passers-by and the prostitutes in the houses ... (who) kept pails of hot water handy to discourage use of the doorsteps." Hmm, I would have thought ice water more effective at shrinking amorous ardor. Decades after THE FRENCH QUARTER appeared, N'awlins is a model of purity. Why, would you believe me if I said you can't even spit on the street?; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Collected Ghost Stories (Oxford World's Classics); Author: Visit Amazon's M. R. James Page; Review: COLLECTED GHOST STORIES was first published in 1931. The thirty fictional "ghost stories" herein - more correctly, perhaps, stories of the supernatural - were written by author Montague Rhodes James at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th. James was an English antiquarian, linguist, gentleman and scholar, so it's no surprise that each of the tales is usually about a fictional individual of similar capacities who's come across it while rummaging around in an old church, or among old books or letters, or has been told of it by a another who's had a direct experience with the paranormal. The plots take place in the 19th or late 18th century, and are mostly in a rural setting. Compared to the writings of Stephen King and Dean Koontz, these yarns, while reasonably inventive, are decidedly not scary. Purists might assert these authors compose trash, while James's pieces comprise "classic" literature. Well, perhaps, but COLLECTED GHOST STORIES still put me to sleep in short order as I read them in bed at night. The author's style includes the penning of interminable paragraphs that numbingly extend for one or two pages. And he sometimes includes Latin phrases or sentences that go untranslated. I guess genteel readers in those days were more robustly educated, or the author didn't expect the narrative to fall before such plebeian eyes as mine. (True, I took two years of the language in high school, but it evidently didn't stick.) At times, the plot of an individual story seems overly contrived, as the one about the phantom conjured up by the unusual pattern in a new set of curtains. Worse, James occasionally and intentionally leaves out an element of the story that might have otherwise improved upon it, as the tale of a country doctor who falls victim to the evil machinations of a fellow physician: "Annexed to the other papers is one which I was at first inclined to suppose had made its way among them by mistake. Upon further consideration I think I can divine a reason for its presence. ... It relates to the rifling of a mausoleum in Middlesex ... The account is blunt and terrible. I shall not quote it." Then why, pray tell, bring it up? My favorite chapter was "A View from A Hill", which has as its chief prop an old and singular pair of binoculars filled with some sort of icky distillate, and which allowed one to see through the lenses landscapes and buildings from the past. My kind of high-tech gadget! (Sort of like the x-ray glasses I saw advertised as a kid becoming interested in girls, and which I thought would allow me to see through ... well, you know.) I started this review with the intent of awarding three stars, but have worked myself up into a froth of dissatisfaction with the volume as a whole. So, two stars. The author's long dead anyway and not likely to care.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Paranoia; Author: Visit Amazon's Joseph Finder Page; Review: Adam Cassidy, a junior product line manager in the consumer electronics giant Wyatt Telecom, pulls a prank involving the impersonation of a company VP, hacking into Wyatt's proprietary database, and illegally disbursing seventy-eight grand to fund the retirement bash of some unsuspecting (but grateful) shmoe on the loading dock. Cassidy is looking at 55 years of prison time, minimum, unless he plays ball with the company CEO, Nicholas Wyatt, who proposes a scheme to insert Adam as an espionage mole into the heart of Wyatt's biggest competitor, Trion Systems. There's evidence that Trion has initiated a super-secret project, and Cassidy's redemption is to find out what it's all about - or else. To transform Adam into the marketable Whiz Kid that he isn't, he's intensively prepped by Nicholas Wyatt's personal "executive coach" and provided with a totally fictitious but very impressive CV. Launched into Trion for a job interview, he's subsequently hired. Through apparent luck and circumstance (and with info fed to him by his Wyatt handlers), Adam quickly becomes the special assistant to Trion's CEO, Jock Goddard. Cassidy is now in a perfect position to feed Wyatt intel on Trion's secret project, "Aurora". As befitting an espionage thriller, author Joseph Finder divides his book's ninety-three chapters into nine parts based on spy terminology, and which mirror the plot's evolution: The Fix (a person is blackmailed into being an agent), Backstopping (establishing an agent's cover), Plumbing (a covert operation's support assets), Compromise (detection by the opposition), Blown (exposure of an agent or operation), Dead Drop (hiding place for clandestine messages), Control (pressure exerted to prevent an agent's defection), Black Bag (illegal entry to obtain intelligence material), and Active Measures (operations that'll affect another nation's policies or strategies). PARANOIA paints a cynical portrait of corporate business practices and ethics. Indeed, Cassidy is almost an anti-hero since he isn't exactly burdened with moral scruples. He regrets his original stunt only because he got nailed, and his role at Trion because the alternative is so much worse. That is, until he decides that Goddard is the most decent human being he's ever met - the loving father figure he never had. Is Adam developing a conscience? Even at 400+ pages, PARANOIA is one of those books one wishes would never end. The action is taut, the dialogue clever, the plot darkly comedic, and the ending deliciously twisted (though perhaps not unexpected). My only complaint - a minor one - is that the last chapter, and indeed the very last line, is so lacking in closure for the Cassidy character that I looked to see if my copy was short a couple pages. (I intended to query the author, but hadn't saved his email address.) It only works if there's to be a sequel. But, looking at the author's publishing history, sequels don't seem to be his style. I suggest PARANOIA would make an entertaining film starring Ben Affleck as Cassidy, Donald Sutherland as Goddard, and Tim Roth as Wyatt.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Nature of Alexander; Author: Visit Amazon's Mary Renault Page; Review: Last October, I read and reviewed Peter Green's biography of Alexander the Great, ALEXANDER OF MACEDON, 356-323 B.C., to which I gave five stars. It was subsequently suggested to me that Green's book was a "hatchet job", and that I should read Mary Renault's THE NATURE OF ALEXANDER for a more balanced view. Renault's volume is very readable. In factual substance, it seems to my unscholarly eyes to be pretty much the same as Green's. I certainly didn't learn significantly more about Alexander from the former than the latter, though that portion of Renault's narrative concerning Alexander's death was fleshed out a bit more. Renault, however, strikes me as a much more sympathetic biographer. Whether this adds more truth to her version is, and will remain, indeterminable by me. In balance, I think I would choose and recommend Green's biography for the simple reason that he includes over a dozen route maps and battle plans that help the reader put Alexander's accomplishments in better perspective. Renault provides none at all, and the absence of such is a significant omission, in my opinion. Alexander led his Macedonians from the north of Greece to the western border of the Indian subcontinent - the edge of his known world - and almost all the way back again. Twenty-five thousand miles in eleven years! It isn't until you see this plotted on a map of the region that the remarkable accomplishment can be appreciated. THE NATURE OF ALEXANDER reinforced my opinion that Alexander was the greatest military commander of all time and the most charismatic and successful leader of men who's ever lived. At one point, just prior to marching homeward from India, Alexander was gravely wounded by an arrow that penetrated his lung. The rumor spread through the army that he was dead, and he felt it necessary to show himself. Renault quotes Nearchus: "... he ordered a horse to be fetched him. And when he mounted it ... the whole army clapped their hands repeatedly, and the banks and the river glades threw back the sound. (Near his tent he dismounted), so that the army could see him walking. They all ran to him from every side, some touching his hands, some his knees, some his clothing ..." What an experience it must have been to march to the ends of the earth with such a King!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Where the Hell Are the Guns?: A Soldier's View of the Anxious Years, 1939-44; Author: George Blackburn; Review: If asked, one is unlikely to name Canada as a warrior nation. Sort of like Belgium. However, WHERE THE HELL ARE THE GUNS? testifies that the country's citizens are fully capable of daubing on the warpaint. At the 1939 outbreak of WWII, author George Blackburn was a journalist. Seeking to enlist, he was turned down by the Royal Canadian Navy and the Royal Canadian Air Force because of substandard vision. However, he sneaked into the army reserve on the basis of a sloppy eye exam administered by a reserve medical officer. Recommended for a commission, he went into officers' training in August 1941, and was subsequently assigned to the 4th Field Regiment of artillery already training in the United Kingdom. This book is the story of the 4th Field from it's formation at the war's outbreak to July 1944, when the unit shipped to France, and Blackburn's personal involvement from August '41. Two other books by the same author, THE GUNS OF NORMANDY and THE GUNS OF VICTORY, chronologically narrate his wartime adventures following the 4th Field's insertion into battle post D-Day. Blackburn's style is unusual. When describing the experiences of others, he naturally uses the third person. However, when describing his own, he uses the second person - the only time I've ever come across such in an autobiography. So, the text has a semi-detached tone, as when George describes his reception at the 4th Field as a replacement subaltern of unproven worth: " ... you are an untried greenhorn whose opinion is not sought nor welcome when volunteered. You feel abandoned ... you burn with resentment ... Until you are accepted as a full-fledged member of the mess ..., you retire to your cot each night after dinner to write letters, read and put down diary notes..." Even the photo section containing twenty-three pictures includes not one of the author. Frankly, I found Blackburn's visual absence puzzling and his lack of first-person involvement in the narrative a bit stilted. Sort of like the Queen's use of the royal "we". But don't let this distract you from the underlying excellence of the story. If you're expecting a combat narrative, WHERE THE HELL ARE THE GUNS? isn't it. Except for a relatively brief aside about the August '42 Dieppe debacle, this volume is a revealing and sympathetic look at the life of an army unit training in the rear far from the front trenches. Indeed, George's outfit was resident in Britain preparing for the Big One from September 1940 to July 1944 - almost four years! Life for the 4th Field's troops was an endless round of training and rigorous field exercises cemented together by the morale-busting drudgery and monotony of camp life, and enlivened only by letters and parcels from home, visits to London or nearby pubs, and fraternization with the English citizens, e.g. dances with the local ladies and Christmas parties thrown for the local kids. A student of World War II should find this volume a valuable look at a side of the conflict infrequently given print recognition. And; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Road to McCarthy: Around the World in Search of Ireland; Author: Visit Amazon's Pete McCarthy Page; Review: My favorite travel essayist - until now - has been Bill Bryson of Iowa (NOTES FROM A SMALL ISLAND, NEITHER HERE NOR THERE, IN A SUNBURNED COUNTRY, A WALK IN THE WOODS). Sorry, Bill. Stand aside for Pete McCarthy. Author McCarthy was born in England of a Protestant English father and a Catholic Irish mother. This leads to a guilt-ridden, divided allegiance, especially when it's England vs. Ireland in football. However, in THE ROAD TO MCCARTHY, Pete's maternal side predominates as he takes us on an irreverent tour of Gibraltar, Tangiers, New York City, Tasmania, Montserrat, Montana and McCarthy, Alaska in search of far-flung evidence of Ireland and his clan's roots. Why such disparate destinations you might ask? Well, Tangiers is home to the quasi-official chief of Clan McCarthy. And Gibraltar is just on the other side of the strait, so why not drop in? The Big Apple hosts the world's biggest St. Patrick's Day Parade. Tasmania, off Australia's southeast corner, was the brutal island prison to which Irish separatists were sent in the mid-nineteenth century, including one Thomas Francis Meagher, who subsequently escaped to become a Union general in the American Civil War and, briefly, Governor of Montana, the present day home of the head of the North American Clan McCarthy Association. The Caribbean island of Montserrat, the southern half of which is closed off because of active vulcanism, is the British colony to which destitute Irish men and women were once sent as slaves. And isolated McCarthy, AL (population 20) was named for a rugged copper miner who drowned in a local river in 1910. Following the threads of Ireland and Clan McCarthy seems just an excuse as Pete regales the reader with observations about his immediate surroundings and the world in general. Like Bryson, his perspective filters through an offbeat sense of humor. But, while Bryson's is gentle and only slightly askew, McCarthy's is truly bent and with a sharper edge. For instance, when commenting on the current state of the British rail system: "Most stations aren't manned these days because it isn't cost-effective, so there's no one to collect the tickets, or the sick (i.e. vomit). Official policy is to rely on gradual dispersal by rook or magpie, unless they strike lucky and someone slips and mops it up with the back of their overcoat." He can also be charmingly self-deprecating, as when advised in Alaska as to the proper response if meeting an aggressive black bear (fight back) or a grizzly (play dead). "... it would be foolish not to consider what you would do if confronted by one; but try as I may, I can't see myself coming up with much besides the weeping and the incontinence." THE ROAD TO MCCARTHY is a compendium of laughs that I couldn't put down. Finally, in all places except Alaska, Pete discovers that one can watch reruns of the American comedy "Cheers" on the telly. This is good to know should I ever wash up onto the doorstep of a seedy Tangiers hotel.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Road to McCarthy: Around the World in Search of Ireland; Author: Visit Amazon's Pete McCarthy Page; Review: My favorite travel essayist - until now - has been Bill Bryson of Iowa (NOTES FROM A SMALL ISLAND, NEITHER HERE NOR THERE, IN A SUNBURNED COUNTRY, A WALK IN THE WOODS). Sorry, Bill. Stand aside for Pete McCarthy. Author McCarthy was born in England of a Protestant English father and a Catholic Irish mother. This leads to a guilt-ridden, divided allegiance, especially when it's England vs. Ireland in football. However, in THE ROAD TO MCCARTHY, Pete's maternal side predominates as he takes us on an irreverent tour of Gibraltar, Tangiers, New York City, Tasmania, Montserrat, Montana and McCarthy, Alaska in search of far-flung evidence of Ireland and his clan's roots. Why such disparate destinations you might ask? Well, Tangiers is home to the quasi-official chief of Clan McCarthy. And Gibraltar is just on the other side of the strait, so why not drop in? The Big Apple hosts the world's biggest St. Patrick's Day Parade. Tasmania, off Australia's southeast corner, was the brutal island prison to which Irish separatists were sent in the mid-nineteenth century, including one Thomas Francis Meagher, who subsequently escaped to become a Union general in the American Civil War and, briefly, Governor of Montana, the present day home of the head of the North American Clan McCarthy Association. The Caribbean island of Montserrat, the southern half of which is closed off because of active vulcanism, is the British colony to which destitute Irish men and women were once sent as slaves. And isolated McCarthy, AL (population 20) was named for a rugged copper miner who drowned in a local river in 1910. Following the threads of Ireland and Clan McCarthy seems just an excuse as Pete regales the reader with observations about his immediate surroundings and the world in general. Like Bryson, his perspective filters through an offbeat sense of humor. But, while Bryson's is gentle and only slightly askew, McCarthy's is truly bent and with a sharper edge. For instance, when commenting on the current state of the British rail system: "Most stations aren't manned these days because it isn't cost-effective, so there's no one to collect the tickets, or the sick (i.e. vomit). Official policy is to rely on gradual dispersal by rook or magpie, unless they strike lucky and someone slips and mops it up with the back of their overcoat." He can also be charmingly self-deprecating, as when advised in Alaska as to the proper response if meeting an aggressive black bear (fight back) or a grizzly (play dead). "... it would be foolish not to consider what you would do if confronted by one; but try as I may, I can't see myself coming up with much besides the weeping and the incontinence." THE ROAD TO MCCARTHY is a compendium of laughs that I couldn't put down. Finally, in all places except Alaska, Pete discovers that one can watch reruns of the American comedy "Cheers" on the telly. This is good to know should I ever wash up onto the doorstep of a seedy Tangiers hotel.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Home Run; Author: Visit Amazon's Gerald Seymour Page; Review: Author Gerald Seymour's fictional world encompasses the moral, practical, and political grey zones of the conflicts being fought at the world's grittier edges. HOME RUN is a masterpiece of his writing. As the book begins, a young Iranian woman, Juliette Eshraq, is publicly hanged to death on a crane in downtown Tabriz by the revolutionary government that had previously overthrown the Shah and executed the girl's father and uncle. The plot then skips forward several years, and Juliette's younger brother, Charlie, who'd escaped to California with his American mother, is now of age and on a mission of vengeance in the Old Country to kill those who murdered the rest of his family. Charlie is secretly run by a senior executive of MI-6, Mattie Furniss, Head of the Iran Desk at Century House, friend of the Eshraq family from his time as Station Officer in Tehran during the Shah's rule, and Charlie's mentor. After carrying out three assassinations, Charlie must now return to Britain to get the expensive, advanced, weaponry needed to finish the job. As Charlie tells Mattie, money is no problem. In the meantime, Lucy Barnes, teenage daughter of Her Majesty's Secretary of State for Defense, dies of a heroin overdose in a squalid London flat. In his rage and grief, the Secretary prevails on his friend and government colleague, the Home Secretary, to flog the drug enforcement unit of Customs and Excise to exert maximum effort to find the pusher, distributor, and source. In the course of investigation, it's learned that the heroin is from Iran and brought into England by a man known only as Charlie Persia. As the final piece in the plot's set-up, Furniss is ordered by MI-6's Director General to Iran's periphery to meet with his agents and improve the quality of information coming across. Mattie is code-named "Dolphin". But, because of a leak in Britain's Bahrain Embassy, Iran's counter-intelligence unit knows Dolphin is coming, and plans accordingly. A major component of HOME RUN is a conflict between two agencies of Her Majesty's government in which dedicated and well-meaning civil servants are ground up in the cogs of political maneuvering, and the ostensible "bad guy" squeezes through the crack. The battle on the home front makes almost irrelevant the machinations and brutality of Iranian counter-intelligence, though, by the end of the book, the reader is left to wonder which side administered the greater damage to our hero, the servants of the Mullahs or those of the Queen. HOME RUN is the most complex and deliciously constructed of Seymour's many thrillers that I've read to date. Indeed, the reader is thrown a red herring at the beginning as to the identity of the storyline's chief protagonist. In any case, Seymour's forte is blurring the lines between the Good and the Evil; the former doesn't always win, nor does the latter always lose, to the satisfaction of Justice. The victory is usually pyrrhic. The plot resembles real life, and, in that regard, is eminently satisfying. I'll soon run out of unread Seymour novels, and I shall be; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Big Secrets: The Uncensored Truth About All Sorts of Stuff You Are Never Supposed to Know; Author: Visit Amazon's William Poundstone Page; Review: Did you know that the seductive essence of KFC's secret blend of herbs and spices is nothing more than pepper and MSG? Yikes, no wonder I can chow down the 12-piece box in one sitting! Author William Poundstone provides a wide variety of esoteric knowledge in BIG SECRETS - everything from an analysis of Coca Cola, an explanation of bar codes and the Rorschach (inkblot) Test, an interminable listing of "secret" radio frequencies, the truth about subliminal shots in movies and ostensibly secret messages in popular song tracks, and an answer to the question "Is Walt Disney's corpse frozen?". The range of topics in this book is wide, and for that I'd award five stars. However, though I'm reasonably intrigued by the arcane technology of printing currency, the magician's technique of sawing a woman in half, and whether or not there's two-year old fish in Worcestershire Sauce or a secret bank in Beverly Hills, I couldn't care less about the secret ingredients in high-end perfumes, the details of Freemason initiation rites, the method behind the Amazing Kreskin's feats of telepathy, or how playing cards are "marked". And that's the book's biggest problem. While there's likely to be something of interest for everyone in its pages, not everything will be of interest to the individual reader. Therefore, since I read for entertainment, BIG SECRETS is, for me, only a three-star entertainment vehicle. Also, since the book was originally published in 1983, twenty-one years ago - it's woefully outdated. I mean, nothing is mentioned about a secret email address for Bill Gates or what Martha Stewart does when she goes slumming. According to Poundstone, 7-Up is the only major soft drink with no "secret" ingredients. Maybe that's why the beverage is so boring.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Scorched Earth; Author: Visit Amazon's David L. Robbins Page; Review: The venue for SCORCHED EARTH is Good Hope, Virginia, where blue-collar mill workers Elijah and Clara Waddell endure the anguish of parenting a deformed baby girl, Nora, an infant so handicapped that she dies in her mother's arms in the hospital delivery suite. The child is quickly put to rest in the cemetery of the Victory Baptist Church in the plot of Clara's maternal family line. But, there's a problem. For over two-hundred years, the congregation has been exclusively white. Nora is of mixed race, Elijah being Black and Clara Caucasian. Victory Baptist's thirteen deacon's subsequently vote, over the objections of the young pastor, the spiritually tortured Thomas Derby, to have the child exhumed and re-buried in the cemetery of the town's Baptist church for Blacks. The night after the exhumation, Victory Baptist is burned to the ground, and Elijah is arrested on-site for arson. Nat Deeds, a former county prosecutor who quit his job and fled Good Hope after his wife admitted to sleeping with another man, and who's now struggling to set up a private law practice in nearby Richmond, is pressured by the presiding judge to return to his birthplace and defend Elijah, who adamantly insists on his innocence. Deeds must now go up against his old boss, the posturing Ed Fentress, who's prosecuting for the commonwealth with the next election in mind. Nat hasn't a shred of a case, and it gets worse when the body of Amanda Talley, the teenage daughter of the county sheriff, is found in the burned rubble of the church. Amanda had apparently been raped, then burned in the fire. I believed Elijah when he claimed to be innocent. Indeed, I immediately knew who did it. And, for a few pages near the end, it appeared I was right. Pretty darn smug I was, too. At that point, I would've extolled SCORCHED EARTH not as a mystery, but as story of three childhood acquaintances - Deeds, Derby, and Talley - grappling with personal demons. But a final plot twist at the end caught me completely broadside and made me feel the fool. I guess I should read more. Robbin's has a flair for descriptive writing and an understanding of humanity. As an example: "Mayhem is the by-product of civilization ... It's the effluent of good intentions, loyalties, contracts, desires, and love ... The quietest of us, the simplest of us ... is a keg. A fuse burns inside everyone. What is different in each man and woman is only the length of the fuse." Robbins has previously written two superb novels of World War Two: WAR OF THE RATS and THE END OF WAR. Focusing on a vastly different milieu, SCORCHED EARTH is as good, or better, as anything John Grisham has written about local politics, race, and justice in the Old South. I can't recommend this book too highly.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Last Goodbye; Author: Visit Amazon's Reed Arvin Page; Review: Isn't the pleasure a reader derives from a novel supposed to increase as the plot unfolds? THE LAST GOODBYE is unusual in that my interest steadily waned as I turned the pages. By the end, I was pretty much indifferent to the hero and the outcome. Jack Hammond is a disgraced Atlanta lawyer reduced to acting as public defender for the urban scum hauled into court on drug and petty theft charges. (Hammond, who's a closet romantic with a weakness for damsels in distress, was summarily dropped from the roster of a high-powered law firm two years before after sleeping with a client's girlfriend.) When Jack learns that Doug, a down-and-almost-out friend with a substance abuse problem, apparently overdosed on an injectable drug, he realizes that something is wrong with the picture. Doug had a paranoid fear of needles. Was it foul play? Hammond subsequently discovers that his old pal was a computer hacker extraordinaire, and that he had an obsession with the gorgeous Michele Sonnier, a troubled young woman from the Atlanta ghetto turned brilliant and wildly successful opera singer married to Charles Ralston, the philanthropic and much revered head of Horizn Pharmaceuticals. Once Horizn debuts in the plot, and considering activist hand-wringing over the greed of the evil drug companies, the reader suspects where the storyline is going - and so it does. It's not that THE LAST GOODBYE is awful. Why, even as recently as yesterday, it provided welcome distraction during the boring bits of a professional seminar I had to attend. But, for me, the characters never became real or garnered much sympathy. Hammond is supposed to be a lawyer, but he acts throughout like a private-eye wannabe; he never becomes sufficiently convincing as either. Minor characters that should have added zest to the story - Jack's Dumb Blonde secretary Blu and the antisocial computer outlaw Nightmare - don't really. Hammond's own preoccupation with the vulnerable Michele is torpid, and the affair slows the action down. Indeed, the final reckoning for the Bad Guys has all the knuckle-biting tension of a computer-enabled stock purchase. Worst of all for my overall opinion of the book, there are no twists clever and/or unsuspected enough to make me pause in admiration. THE LAST GOODBYE is one of a multitude of similarly average potboilers that'll crowd the shelves of the brick-and-mortar booksellers, and which will ultimately end up on the discount tables of the clearance stores found in the outlet malls. Wait for its appearance at the latter and you'll only need to spend a couple bucks.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Four to Score (Stephanie Plum, No. 4) (Stephanie Plum Novels); Author: Visit Amazon's Janet Evanovich Page; Review: What's a girl to do when handcuffed to her own refrigerator? For those readers unacquainted with Stephanie Plum, she's a skip tracer, i.e. bounty hunter, working for her cousin Vinnie in Trenton, NJ. She's also a disaster magnet. So, when her latest assignment, Maxine Nowicki, who jumped bail after being charged with the theft of her estranged boyfriend's car, handcuffs Plum to the door of her own fridge, what's left to do while awaiting rescue but finish off the leftover banana cream pie, a jar of peanut butter, and a bag of baby carrots? And that's before her car explodes, her apartment is gutted by fire, and she gets raw egg in her hair. As I work my way sequentially through the Stephanie Plum series, I stand amazed at the imagination of author Janet Evanovich that continually ups the ante on the absurdity of the situations in which Stephanie finds herself and the eccentricity of the characters that gravitate to our heroine like lint to a black dress. Yet, the craziness never seems pushed or over the top, but is just Stephanie's karma in a nutty world. The continuing "male lead" in all of Plum's adventures is Joe Morelli, the rascally plain-clothes Trenton cop with whom Stephanie has a long love-hate relationship. When they were just pre-pubescent kids, the sexually precocious Joe lured Stephanie into his father's garage to play choo-choo. As teenagers, Plum ran down Morelli with the family Buick after Joe relieved Stephanie of her virginity on the floor behind the eclair counter in the pastry shop in which she worked. Yet, when Plum and her pet hamster Rex are left homeless after their apartment is torched in FOUR TO SCORE, it's the extra room in Joe's house into which Stephanie moves. Will she and Joe find True Love before they kill each other? Like its predecessors in the series, this book is exceeded in trashiness perhaps only by a lurid bodice-ripper. But, should you pick up a Stephanie Plum adventure, I virtually guarantee you a good time.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Rio for Partiers: The Visual Travel Guide to Rio de Janeiro; Author: Visit Amazon's Cristiano Nogueira Page; Review: One can readily discern the mental depth of RIO FOR PARTIERS 2004 by the illustrations on a narrow flap attached to the front cover. These depict "some good (and bad) gestures", one of which, by a downward motion of a cupped hand, signals the question "Did you get (sex)?" This book, more than lavishly illustrated with high quality color photos, is an enormously attractive travel guide to hedonistic Rio de Janeiro. It's larger sections are dedicated to the city's hotels, nightclubs and bars, street parties, music scene, food, and outdoor sports activities - all of which are geared to the under-30 crowd. If I were single, three decades younger, and off to Rio for my first bachanal, this small volume (148 pages) is one I'd have in my backpack. Leafing through the pages, I was amused by the occasional contents, some of which are stated almost tongue-in-cheek. As examples: In "What to Bring", some items are cheap watch, cap, sun-screen, disposable camera, and anti-diarrhea medication. Perhaps imprudently, condoms aren't mentioned. (Perhaps my teenage daughter should carry her own when she goes?) In "9 Rio Commandments", one is cautioned: "Most of Rio's slums are on the hills ... hillsides and mountains should be avoided like the plague." I guess skiing is out. There are several pages of nicely done street maps showing hotels and hostels offering discounts, of course, but also locating the likes of internet cafes, cash machines, drug stores (for those condoms?), and, in case you get lucky with the opposite gender and need immediate relief, after-hours motels. In "Getting Around", when recommending against using buses: "... crooks have been robbing buses, and the mob sets one or two on fire when angry at the government." Hmm, and Californians only recalled Governor Gray Davis. Where's the passion in the Golden State? In the itineraries of several day-tours, a common element is "check email". I guess to note the Old Man's response to the appeal, "Send money!" Intellectual pursuits, like, you know, visiting museums and such, are given short shrift. But there is the "Tour of the Favela", which "shows how many lower class Cariocas happily live in miserable conditions. A must for everyone." How droll! There are the sections "How to Deal with Brazilian Boys" and "How to Deal with Brazilian Women". The latter includes the assumption (addressed to randy male tourists): "Should you catch yourself in a more meaningful conversation with a Brazilian girl, your next move is naturally to shag." (Guys, remember that hand gesture noted above when meeting up with your male buds.) For female visitors, but not the men, there's the section "Beauty and Personal Hygiene" that should amuse feminists. I guess the males of the species are expected to remain slovenly pigs. Lastly, in the extensive and mouth-wateringly illustrated food section, there's the sub-section devoted to "Street Foods and Snacks", which includes a hamburger and cheeseburger. Now, this guide is obviously directed to Americans. So, why would a Yankee, surrounded at home by every manner of burger joint, want one of those? The back cover incorporates; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Master and Commander; Author: O'Brian Patrick; Review: I was compelled to read MASTER AND COMMANDER after seeing the excellent 2003 film of the same title starring Russell Crowe. The movie is loosely based - I stress loosely - on the book. Author Patrick O'Brian quickly gets down to business. Within the first twenty-five pages, Lieutenant Jack Aubrey, RN, is assigned captaincy of the His Majesty's sloop "Sophie", and he discovers a new friend in Dr. Stephen Maturin, a physician sans patients marooned in Minorca, whom Jack persuades to come aboard his vessel as its new medical officer. (At this point, it must be stressed that Stephen is a "physician", not a "surgeon", the latter profession held in low esteem as being not much better than that of a meat-cutter.) It's 1800, and England is embroiled in one of its interminable wars with France and Spain. In the book as in the film, there are three themes. Ranked in importance, there is first the friendship between Aubrey and Maturin. Then, the depiction of Aubrey as a man and commander. And finally, the naval strategy, battles, and life aboard a wooden fighting ship. Jack's an interesting character; in the book MASTER AND COMMANDER, he's still a diamond in the rough. He's brave, fair to his men, professionally ambitious, a competent sailor, lucky, and desirous of wealth. (Remember, in these times, the poorly paid crew and officers of a military man o' war could derive much, if not most, of their remuneration from the capture of "prize ships", i.e. vessels flying an enemy's flag subsequently sold, with their cargoes, for profit by the Admiralty.) Most of all, Aubrey wants to advance up the pay-grade ladder into the admiral ranks. However, he tends to be insubordinate and, in MASTER AND COMMANDER at least, he's having an affair with his immediate superior's wife - the latter a potentially career-scuttling move. For me, this volume isn't of the can't-put-down type. The naval combat action is first rate, during which time the story moves along at the clip of a fast frigate. Between battles, however, the pace may fall off to that of a slow barge, especially when Jack and Stephen are ashore. And, at all times, the nautical terms can make for rough sailing for landlubbers, as in the following when Maturin is given an explanation of "lee shore": "... and (Mowett) explained the nature of leeway, the loss of windward distance in wearing, the impossibility of tacking in a very great wind, the inevitability of leeward drift in the case of being embayed, with a full gale blowing dead on short, and the impervious horror of this situation." Huh? I shall acquire and read the next book in the series, POST CAPTAIN, but reserve the right to drop anchor and abandon ship anywhere in the 20-book series should the voyage become becalmed in the doldrums.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: An Army at Dawn: The War in North Africa (1942-1943) (The Liberation Trilogy, Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Rick Atkinson Page; Review: The 1970 film PATTON opens with U.S. Army brass touring the Kasserine Pass battlefield in Tunisia shortly after the Yanks' stinging defeat at the hands of Rommel's Afrika Korps. In the next scene, General George Patton (George C. Scott) dramatically arrives at the headquarters of the II Corps to take command and turn things around for the Allies at the Battle of El Guettar. For those Americans whose only knowledge of the Western theater of WWII encompasses D-Day and its aftermath, and perhaps the battle for Italy, these cinematic images represent perhaps the total sum of acquaintance with the North African campaign. Yet, it's not until page 401 of AN ARMY AT DAWN that Patton takes over II Corps. There's so much more. This book by Rick Atkinson is an extensively researched (29 pages of closely spaced sources) and engagingly written popular history of America's North African campaign in 1942-43. It begins, naturally, with the American and British amphibious landings of Operation Torch to capture Casablanca, Oran and Algiers, followed by the defeat of the Vichy French in Morocco and Algeria, and the bloody and stumbling but ultimately victorious confrontation with the Germans and Italians in Tunisia. AN ARMY AT DAWN is often not a pretty picture of Eisenhower's first outing as Supreme Commander or the U.S. Army's proficiency at large-scale land warfare, the latter not exercised since WWI. Indeed, as Rick Atkinson puts it, after defeating the fumbling French: "... as (the Americans) wheeled around to the east and pulled out their Michelin maps of Tunisia, they believed they had actually been to war." What a rude awakening the next few months were to be! But the Tunisian anvil forged the mettle of the WWII commanders that U.S. mythology now holds in high esteem: Eisenhower, Patton, Clark, and Bradley. AN ARMY AT DAWN has thirty-two pages of photos, plus well-drawn and extremely helpful maps of the various major battles, generally described from the perspective of battalion, regiment and brigade. Atkinson's book is inclusive of so much more than combat narrative. For example, the reader follows with interest the genesis of the Special Relationship now enjoyed by America and Britain, which luckily survived at its infancy the scorn between Anglophobes Bradley, Patton and Clark and contemptuous Brits such as Montgomery and Alexander. And squabbling occurred even further up the command ladder. After a lengthy description of the Casablanca Conference attended by Roosevelt and Churchill and the top war councils of each, the author describes the concluding press conference held in the lush garden of a borrowed villa at which Roosevelt smoothly announced: "The chiefs of staff have been in intimate touch. They have lived in the same hotel. Each man has become a definite personal friend of his opposite number on the other side." To which statement the author appends the tongue-in-cheek comment: "The chiefs stared impassively from their foliage redoubts." AN ARMY AT DAWN is a must read for any casual student of WWII. This is billed as "volume one of the liberation trilogy", and I look forward to the following; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: High Five (Stephanie Plum, No. 5) (Stephanie Plum Novels); Author: Visit Amazon's Janet Evanovich Page; Review: In HIGH FIVE, the fifth in the Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich, Stephanie hits a new high in dysfunctionality when it comes to men. Plum is a klutzy bond enforcement agent, i.e. bounty hunter, working for bail bondsman and sleazy cousin, Vinnie, in Trenton, NJ. In this book, Stephanie's official assignment takes back seat to a family request to find Uncle Fred, who's disappeared. But what's with the photos Uncle Mabel found in Fred's desk of a plastic garbage bag containing a dismembered body? Photography wasn't Fred's hobby. In HIGH FIVE, Plum is beset with Briggs, Bunchy, Ramirez, Morelli, and Ranger. And that's just for starters. Briggs is a midget that becomes Plum's unwelcome houseguest after the latter's zeal for fugitive apprehension results in an unfortunate incident. The mysterious Bunchy also wants to find Fred, and is following Stephanie around. Ramirez, a psycho rapist that Plum helped put away in book one, is now back on the streets and wants revenge. But the real core of the novel is Stephanie's lack of a sex life - a condition that's now reaching the critical stage. Plum has prurient yearnings for Joe Morelli, a distant relative and Trenton undercover cop - that is, when she's not hating his guts for being totally exasperating in the way males often are. After all, twelve years ago he did take her virginity behind the eclair counter of the pastry shop in which she was working. Then there's Ranger, the Cuban-American, bounty hunter extraordinaire who's Stephanie's sometime mentor and now, to her distraction, the occasional stud muffin of her fevered dreams. Our heroine has a yen for Bad Boys, and both Morelli and Ranger can be that, especially when they dress in black. As one would expect in a continuing series, the author must ratchet up the wackiness of Stephanie's life a notch with each succeeding volume. Through the first five books, she's managed to do this without stretching my credulity beyond the breaking point. Plum is just one of those girls with excruciatingly bad karma. I'm beginning to anticipate, though, a plot where Evanovich tries too hard. We'll see, because I intend to read all of the series - 5 more installments as of this review. At the conclusion of HIGH FIVE, Stephanie succumbs to the need for a night of lovin', writes the names of Morelli and Ranger on separate pieces of paper, mixes them in a bowl, closes her eyes and picks one, summons the winner after showing his name to her pet hamster Rex, puts on a killer-sexy black dress, and waits for her man of the night to arrive. The reader won't know who got lucky until it's revealed in the prologue of HOT SIX. Rex and I know, but we're not telling. If a Stephanie Plum book was to be made into a film, Sandra Bullock would be absolutely perfect in the title role.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hot Six; Author: Visit Amazon's Janet Evanovich Page; Review: At the end of my review of the previous book in the Stephanie Plum series, HIGH FIVE, I wondered if author Janet Evanovich was on the verge of trying too hard with her plotting. Then, of course, there was thread left dangling on the last page. Whose name, Morelli's or Ranger's, did Stephanie pull out of the bowl in her Night of Passion Lottery? In HOT SIX, it seems to me that Evanovich is indeed pushing it. And it turns out that Joe Morelli is the one that got lucky. Plum is a bounty hunter in Trenton, NJ, employed by Vincent Plum Bail Bonds, the owner being her scummy cousin, Vinnie. Stephanie's modus operandi is either Keystone Cops or Bull-In-China-Shop, depending on her mood and the amount of junk snacks that she's consumed. The fact that she ultimately succeeds is based purely on dogged persistence and good fortune. The skeleton of the HOT SIX plot is that Vinnie tasks Plum with apprehending Ranger, his best bond enforcement agent and Stephanie's friend and frequent mentor. Ranger has skipped bail on a ridiculous concealed weapon charge - everyone carries in Trenton - and it doesn't help that the local cops want to question him about the recent murder of a crime kingpin's son. Plum wants no part of it, least of all because she hasn't the skill to nab the ex-Special Forces soldier. But, as the bodies pile up, bagging Ranger becomes the least of her worries. Don't get me wrong. HOT SIX is as funny as any previous book in the series. It's just that Janet's imagination has, in my opinion, finally gone over the top in populating the storyline with weird characters and dropping her heroine into bizarre situations. It's gotten to the point where less wackiness may be better. It's fine that her feisty Grandma Mazur, reminiscent of Sophia (Estelle Getty) of American TV's GOLDEN GIRLS sitcom, must move in with her, but not necessary that the former take driving lessons, date the ancient geezer upstairs, or purchase a red Corvette. It's not unusual that Stephanie apprehends a couple of oddball fugitives over the course of the book, but not required that one of them here be costumed as Captain Kirk at a Trekkies gathering during the takedown. And not surprisingly, Stephanie is followed by a couple of goons who also have an interest in finding Ranger. But does one of them really have to be a Pakistani emigre who, back in the old country, used to beat unruly children working in the village rug factory? What has before simply seemed to be Plum's bad karma is now too heavy a concentration of weird to be believed. Finally, the reactions of Stephanie's mother to her antics - she say's "Why me?" and makes the sign of the cross a lot- are getting old. And Stephanie's long-suffering Dad continues to be a virtual cipher. It's time both characters were fleshed out. At least Stephanie is making progress in her love life. Is that a proposal of marriage coming from Morelli at the; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Winston's War; Author: Visit Amazon's Michael Dobbs Page; Review: Based on historical fact, WINSTON'S WAR is a solid and absorbing fictional rendition of the leadership struggle between Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain and Winston Churchill between October 1, 1938 and May 10, 1940. As the book opens, Chamberlain has returned to 10 Downing Street a public hero after the signing of the Munich Agreement between himself and Adolf Hitler which gave the latter the Sudetenland in return for "peace in our time". Meanwhile, relegated to the periphery of British politics and virtually an outcast, Churchill obstinately lashes out against appeasement and loudly proclaims the necessity for total war to save democracy from the depredations of the Nazis. What subsequently follows is history: the German subjugation of the rest of Czechoslovakia and the invasion of Poland, the German-Soviet non-aggression pact, the Phony War, the Soviet invasion of Finland, the British military's Norwegian fiasco, and the crisis in His Majasty's government in May 1940 that ultimately elevated Winston to the premiership. The cast of characters in this sweeping story by Michael Dobbs of political maneuvering, skullduggery, and backstabbing is an historical Who's Who of the times: the ailing, haughty, and pacifist Chamberlain, who personifies England's bitter memories of the Great War and the popular concept of "never again"; the ambitious and self-absorbed Churchill, whose pugnacity sometimes clouds prudence; the defeatist, philandering, and anti-Semitic U.S. Ambassador to the Court of St. James, Joseph P. Kennedy; the alcoholic, disillusioned and psychologically tortured idealist, Guy Burgess (of Burgess, Philby, and Maclean of Cold War infamy); the stuttering King George VI, who whines that the German invasion of Poland interrupted his grouse hunting; and the Machiavellian newspaper mogul, William "Max" Aitken, Lord Beaverbrook. It's in the minor details with which Dobbs fleshes out the story of Chamberlain's fall and the rise of his nemesis, Churchill, to an epic 685 paper-backed pages (UK HarperCollins edition). And it's the length of WINSTON'S WAR that is, perhaps, a minor flaw. Some of the subplots seemed unnecessary, and should have been severely cropped by a ruthless editor: the love affair between the crippled WWI survivor "Mac" McFadden, barber to the politically great and one of Guy's information sources, and Carol, a housemaid and part-time prostitute; and between Bournemouth postmistress Sue Graham and Army Sergeant Jerry White - though the experiences of the latter did usefully tie the Norway debacle into the storyline on a personal level. Slightly more relevant, but still mildly tedious, was the dysfunctional relationship between Brendan Bracken, Churchill's closest confidant, and Kennedy's niece, Anna Fitzgerald. Perhaps Dobbs perceived a need to include Carol, Sue and Anna to make it less of a Guy Read. Chamberlain was toppled not because he sought to appease Hitler and avert a cataclysm, but because he didn't have the mettle to wage all-out war when the necessity for it was thrust upon him. That was to prove to be Winston's genius. The author's genius is in portraying the labyrinthine venality of Whitehall and Fleet Street powerbroking at a time when solidarity against a rapacious common enemy was desperately necessary. WINSTON'S WAR is the first; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Winston's War; Author: Visit Amazon's Michael Dobbs Page; Review: Based on historical fact, WINSTON'S WAR is a solid and absorbing fictional rendition of the leadership struggle between Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain and Winston Churchill between October 1, 1938 and May 10, 1940. As the book opens, Chamberlain has returned to 10 Downing Street a public hero after the signing of the Munich Agreement between himself and Adolf Hitler which gave the latter the Sudetenland in return for "peace in our time". Meanwhile, relegated to the periphery of British politics and virtually an outcast, Churchill obstinately lashes out against appeasement and loudly proclaims the necessity for total war to save democracy from the depredations of the Nazis. What subsequently follows is history: the German subjugation of the rest of Czechoslovakia and the invasion of Poland, the German-Soviet non-aggression pact, the Phony War, the Soviet invasion of Finland, the British military's Norwegian fiasco, and the crisis in His Majasty's government in May 1940 that ultimately elevated Winston to the premiership. The cast of characters in this sweeping story by Michael Dobbs of political maneuvering, skullduggery, and backstabbing is an historical Who's Who of the times: the ailing, haughty, and pacifist Chamberlain, who personifies England's bitter memories of the Great War and the popular concept of "never again"; the ambitious and self-absorbed Churchill, whose pugnacity sometimes clouds prudence; the defeatist, philandering, and anti-Semitic U.S. Ambassador to the Court of St. James, Joseph P. Kennedy; the alcoholic, disillusioned and psychologically tortured idealist, Guy Burgess (of Burgess, Philby, and Maclean of Cold War infamy); the stuttering King George VI, who whines that the German invasion of Poland interrupted his grouse hunting; and the Machiavellian newspaper mogul, William "Max" Aitken, Lord Beaverbrook. It's in the minor details with which Dobbs fleshes out the story of Chamberlain's fall and the rise of his nemesis, Churchill, to an epic 685 paper-backed pages (UK HarperCollins edition). And it's the length of WINSTON'S WAR that is, perhaps, a minor flaw. Some of the subplots seemed unnecessary, and should have been severely cropped by a ruthless editor: the love affair between the crippled WWI survivor "Mac" McFadden, barber to the politically great and one of Guy's information sources, and Carol, a housemaid and part-time prostitute; and between Bournemouth postmistress Sue Graham and Army Sergeant Jerry White - though the experiences of the latter did usefully tie the Norway debacle into the storyline on a personal level. Slightly more relevant, but still mildly tedious, was the dysfunctional relationship between Brendan Bracken, Churchill's closest confidant, and Kennedy's niece, Anna Fitzgerald. Perhaps Dobbs perceived a need to include Carol, Sue and Anna to make it less of a Guy Read. Chamberlain was toppled not because he sought to appease Hitler and avert a cataclysm, but because he didn't have the mettle to wage all-out war when the necessity for it was thrust upon him. That was to prove to be Winston's genius. The author's genius is in portraying the labyrinthine venality of Whitehall and Fleet Street powerbroking at a time when solidarity against a rapacious common enemy was desperately necessary. WINSTON'S WAR is the first; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Can You Keep a Secret?; Author: Visit Amazon's Sophie Kinsella Page; Review: Readers who've been enchanted by the Becky Bloomwood character of Sophie Kinsella's SHOPAHOLIC series will not be disappointed by CAN YOU KEEP A SECRET? Emma Corrigan is a Junior Marketing Assistant in the London HQ of Panther Corporation, which makes, among other things, Panther Cola and Panther Bars. Sent solo to Glasgow to conclude the formalities of a marketing alliance with Glen Oil, thought to be a sure thing, the deal suddenly falls apart. Attempting to salvage the agreement, Emma spills a can of Panther Cola all over the shirt of a Glen Oil VIP. Distraught, Emma boards a plane for the flight back to London - and she's afraid of flying. Unusually strong air turbulence makes the flight terrifying. Her tongue loosened by the certainty of impending death, Emma blabs all her personal secrets to her seatmate, a reserved American. As a matter of fact, she spills her guts: her relationship with her boyfriend, girl roomies, family, and co-workers, and the details of her sex life, her underwear, and the little lie she put on her Panther Corp job application. You get the picture. Absolutely everything, including the fact that she accidentally killed her parents' pet goldfish and substituted a look-alike. The following Monday, the quiet Yank shows up at Panther Corporation. As it turns out, he's multimillionaire Jack Harper, the company CEO and one of its co-founders, who's making a tour of his European offices. Corrigan's life will never be the same. But Jack has a secret also. Except that Emma doesn't have Becky's relentlessly spendthrift habits, the two are soul sisters. Both are young, naive, just a little ditzy, otherwise intelligent, pretty, generous, charming, kind-hearted, and with a propensity for infinite self-deception. Both are incredibly endearing despite their faults. Author Sophie Kinsella is a genius at creating absurd situations from which her heroines must extricate themselves. Her books are gems in the genre of Humor. As I read CAN YOU KEEP A SECRET on the train to work, fellow travelers must have looked at me strangely as I occasionally giggled. This is light reading with a capital "L", but I heartily recommend it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Other Side of the Story: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Marian Keyes Page; Review: THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STORY is a relentless "chick book." Perhaps it's the falling testosterone levels of increasing age that made my feminine side stick with it. I'm glad I did. Gemma of Ireland is an event planner to the rich and shallow, who must deal with the loss of her boyfriend, Anton, to her one-time best friend, Lily, after the former moved to London and Gemma sent the latter to keep watch on him. Gemma's life is made more complicated when her Dad leaves Mom after thirty-five years of marriage to take up with a younger Babe, and when Gemma herself, on the rebound, beds a young and silly boy, Owen. A frustrated author, Gemma is also consumed with jealousy that Lily has managed to publish a novel. Via email, Gemma confides in another best-friend, Susan, who's emigrated to Seattle. Without asking Gemma, Susan, thinking they're the core of a good story, sends copies of this girl talk to ... Jojo, a London literary agent. Jojo is employed by the firm Lipman Haigh, and desperately wants to become one of the managing partners, assuming she can beat out her insufferable rival, Richie Gant. Jojo hedges her bets by carrying on a lengthy affair with Mark Avery, a Lipman Haigh partner and Very Married With Childen. It also so happens that Jojo is the book agent for ... Lily, Gemma's erstwhile pal, now living with Anton, with whom she's had a child. Lily is consumed with guilt for having betrayed Gemma. And, after Jojo reveals that she's taking Gemma on as a client, Lily wonders what dreadful revenge Gemma is plotting. In the meantime, however, Lily must cope with both Anton's insistence that they buy a horribly expensive dream house with the publisher's advance on her first book and the publisher's pressure for a second. Each of these trans-gender relationships perhaps represents a dead-albatross-around-the-neck for the male reader. This is scary stuff. I mean, whatever happened to the simplicity of a sleazy but torrid one-night stand that can be quickly forgotten after the hang-over has worn off? What is the world coming to? Admittedly, I was tempted to put this volume down after the first eleven chapters (which open the book with Gemma and her problems) and the plot transitioned to Jojo. I'd been much amused by Gemma's travails, and the abrupt switch to a new and seemingly irrelevant character was like going from sixty to ten in five seconds. If author Marian Keyes wanted to tell "the other side of the story", why didn't she continue the plot from the perspective of Connie, Gemma's Dad's young floozy. Floozies are good. But, in hindsight, it was really at this point that the story got interesting. As an avid reader all my life, the appeal of THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STORY lies in its revelations about the Book Biz. The anxieties of new authors and the day-to-day challenges of the book agent to get a client published are, I suspect, presented with reasonable realism (with perhaps some literary embellishment) via the; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sixpence House: Lost in A Town Of Books; Author: Visit Amazon's Paul Collins Page; Review: SIXPENCE HOUSE is an engaging read for any bibliophile, and especially the subspecies that loves really old books. Hay-On-Wye, a small town to the west of Hereford, England, just across the border in Wales, is the self-proclaimed "Town of Books". And not just books, mind you, but antiquarian books. Indeed, of the forty local bookstores existing at the time of this volume's writing, only one dealt in new releases. Hay's transformation from a sleepy border enclave to halfway house for old volumes in search of new owners is due to the efforts of Richard Booth, the eccentric owner of the local, semi-ruined castle. Apparently a Book Lover Extraordinaire, Booth buys and ships-in moldering tomes by the boatload. In any case, there are books everywhere: in precarious piles and on creaking shelves in the bookshops, stored in barns, in fields under tarps. Those that don't escape this Limbo to find new homes may ultimately be burned, dumped into a landfill, or left outdoors to disintegrate in the elements. Into this setting from San Francisco comes author Paul Collins with wife Jennifer and toddler son Morgan. Their intent is to buy an old and charming home in Hay and take up permanent residence. Between navigating the peculiarly British pitfalls inherent to property purchase, sorting American literature in one of Booth's bookstores, and working on his own first book, BANVARD'S FOLLY, Paul shares droll (and usually brief) observations about many aspects of life in the UK, e.g. table manners, postal delivery, socialized medicine, fuel prices, trucking strikes, BBC television fare, newspapers, weather, cuisine, derelict churches, graveyards, Parliament, and the excellence of British chocolate. When Collins makes reference to specific books, they're almost invariably eighteenth, nineteenth or early twentieth century publications of obscure title. His longest reference to new books concerns their predictable packaging. According to Paul, books with raised metallic lettering on glossy paper with brightly colored dust jackets are designed to appeal to the relatively unsophisticated reader. The jackets of Serious Literature must be in muted, tea-stained colors, and are the only ones allowed a matte finish. Any book with a color photo of the author occupying the entire front cover is, um, "crap". Compared to other travel essayists, Collins doesn't display the offbeat, edgy humor of Pete McCarthy (THE ROAD TO McCARTHY) or the quirky inquisitiveness of Bill Bryson (NEITHER HERE NOR THERE, NOTES FROM A SMALL ISLAND, IN A SUNBURNED COUNTRY). But he's a consistently congenial and amusing guide. And it helps that Great Britain is my favorite country in the whole world, and I envy Paul his ability and willingness to pull up stakes and emigrate to the island. Any travel narrative benefits from a photo section. In common with most, however, SIXPENCE HOUSE sadly lacks that useful feature. Sixpence House, by the way, is the Collins family's dream house in Hay. Now, I think I'll just go and purchase some more of those books with raised, metallic lettering on brightly colored covers. It'll be a cold day in Hades before I allow myself to be thought of as a Sophisticated; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sixpence House eBook; Author: Visit Amazon's Paul Collins Page; Review: SIXPENCE HOUSE is an engaging read for any bibliophile, and especially the subspecies that loves really old books. Hay-On-Wye, a small town to the west of Hereford, England, just across the border in Wales, is the self-proclaimed "Town of Books". And not just books, mind you, but antiquarian books. Indeed, of the forty local bookstores existing at the time of this volume's writing, only one dealt in new releases. Hay's transformation from a sleepy border enclave to halfway house for old volumes in search of new owners is due to the efforts of Richard Booth, the eccentric owner of the local, semi-ruined castle. Apparently a Book Lover Extraordinaire, Booth buys and ships-in moldering tomes by the boatload. In any case, there are books everywhere: in precarious piles and on creaking shelves in the bookshops, stored in barns, in fields under tarps. Those that don't escape this Limbo to find new homes may ultimately be burned, dumped into a landfill, or left outdoors to disintegrate in the elements. Into this setting from San Francisco comes author Paul Collins with wife Jennifer and toddler son Morgan. Their intent is to buy an old and charming home in Hay and take up permanent residence. Between navigating the peculiarly British pitfalls inherent to property purchase, sorting American literature in one of Booth's bookstores, and working on his own first book, BANVARD'S FOLLY, Paul shares droll (and usually brief) observations about many aspects of life in the UK, e.g. table manners, postal delivery, socialized medicine, fuel prices, trucking strikes, BBC television fare, newspapers, weather, cuisine, derelict churches, graveyards, Parliament, and the excellence of British chocolate. When Collins makes reference to specific books, they're almost invariably eighteenth, nineteenth or early twentieth century publications of obscure title. His longest reference to new books concerns their predictable packaging. According to Paul, books with raised metallic lettering on glossy paper with brightly colored dust jackets are designed to appeal to the relatively unsophisticated reader. The jackets of Serious Literature must be in muted, tea-stained colors, and are the only ones allowed a matte finish. Any book with a color photo of the author occupying the entire front cover is, um, "crap". Compared to other travel essayists, Collins doesn't display the offbeat, edgy humor of Pete McCarthy (THE ROAD TO McCARTHY) or the quirky inquisitiveness of Bill Bryson (NEITHER HERE NOR THERE, NOTES FROM A SMALL ISLAND, IN A SUNBURNED COUNTRY). But he's a consistently congenial and amusing guide. And it helps that Great Britain is my favorite country in the whole world, and I envy Paul his ability and willingness to pull up stakes and emigrate to the island. Any travel narrative benefits from a photo section. In common with most, however, SIXPENCE HOUSE sadly lacks that useful feature. Sixpence House, by the way, is the Collins family's dream house in Hay. Now, I think I'll just go and purchase some more of those books with raised, metallic lettering on brightly colored covers. It'll be a cold day in Hades before I allow myself to be thought of as a Sophisticated; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Wandering Hill (Berrybender Narrative, Bk 2); Author: Visit Amazon's Larry McMurtry Page; Review: Aimless wandering seems to be the theme of THE WANDERING HILL, and it suffers for it. First off, the "Wandering Hill" is a small, conical mound, topped by a single tree, inhabited by large-headed devils who, according to plains-Indian legend, loose deadly grass-bladed arrows at passersby. The devils have the ability to move the hill from place to place via the wind, and its appearance is Heap Bad Medicine. Yeah, ok, but it's not given such significant play that it's worth getting excited about. Trust me. This novel is the second in the Berrybender series, the first being SIN KILLER. Berrybender is Lord Albany Berrybender, an Englishmen who's come to the Great Plains of the 1830s to hunt accompanied by his wife Constance, six of their fourteen brats, the talking parrot Prince Talleyrand, and a rabble of servants, all traveling up the Yellowstone River by steamboat. By THE WANDERING HILL, Constance, one of the offspring, and several employees are dead or missing. The eldest of Berrybender's children along for the ride, daughter Tasmin, has married the Sin Killer, aka Jim Snow, a young, closed-mouthed, and excessively God-fearing trapper whose attitude towards his new wife, outside of their lovemaking, is boorish at best. The biggest problem with the Berrybender series to date, and THE WANDERING HILL in particular, is that there's no strong unifying thread to the storyline. In McMurtry's magnificent LONESOME DOVE, there were also many subplots to be sure, but all eventually tied into Gus McCrae's and Woodrow Call's cattle drive from South Texas to Montana. In the Berrybender saga, we have only the intent of Lord Albany to continue on with his hunting expedition, which is proving to be a weak nail on which to hang the continuing story. In THE WANDERING HILL, they don't get far at all. Having left the confines of the riverboat, the Berrybender party spends over half the book at an Indian trading post, where Tasmin and Venetia Kennet, the group's cellist, have babies. Then, after some aimless wandering about, they subsequently all set off to an annual trapper rendezvous in the Rocky Mountain foothills. THE WANDERING HILL even lacks a decent villain. In LONESOME DOVE, it was Blue Duck, a murderous half-breed. In SIN KILLER, it was Draga, a psychopathic, old, Aleut-Russian squaw who'd made it down to the Lower Forty-Eight. In this book, there's only relatively passing reference to The Partezon, a vicious Sioux chief on the rampage with a war party. Otherwise, the biggest danger is posed by the sudden appearance of several thousand stampeding buffalo. Yawn. Since the overall direction of storyline is unremarkable, the reader must find limited enjoyment in the depiction of the various characters. And pickings are slim when it comes to engaging personae. Tasmin, the Lord's strong-willed, resilient daughter, is the most appealing of all. Next is perhaps Kit Carson, who, at this stage of his legendary career, is a tongue-tied, shy youth prone to complaining about minor hardships. Then there's the precocious, four-year old Kate Berrybender, who manages to win the heart of Jim Snow, who; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Bell Jar: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Sylvia Plath Page; Review: THE BELL JAR is a book I wouldn't normally have picked up had I not read the narrative history of McLean Hospital, the asylum for those of Boston's upper crust gone balmy, GRACEFULLY INSANE by Alex Beam. Sylvia Plath's novel, an autobiographical account of her descent into madness with names changed to protect the innocent, begins in the same tone - though not with the same charm - as Susan Allen Toth's IVY DAYS, the latter's memoirs of her college days at Smith College during the last half of the 1950s . (Interestingly, it was Smith that Plath attended a couple of years previous.) Specifically, Sylvia's alter ego, Esther Greenwood, is one of twelve college girls who've won a fashion magazine contest, the prize being a month-long, expense-paid, freebie-filled, glamorous job in New York City as the guest editor of a national magazine. When the month is up, Esther returns home where, under pressure to make something of her life during her senior year of college, she cracks. From that point on, the storyline progresses from half-hearted attempts at suicide to one that almost succeeds, then subsequent admission into a country-club asylum for psychotherapy and electroshock treatment. (Though THE BELL JAR never states, even in the chapter "Sylvia Plath: A Biographical Note", the author's real life experience was at McLean Hospital.) It's while on her way to the private mental institution that Esther defines "bell jar": "I would be sitting under the ... glass bell jar, stewing in my own sour air." THE BELL JAR is a hypnotic look at the mental deterioration of a talented and intelligent young woman. It's like watching the slow-mo replay of a person's self-destructive plunge off a building's ledge. There's perhaps an argument here for the book being required reading by the parents of any teenage girl. The literary world benefited when Sylvia Plath regained relative mental equilibrium long enough to write THE BELL JAR before succumbing to inner demons and committing suicide in 1963. Her ultimate fate renders even more poignant and prophetic her words: "How did I know that someday - at college, in Europe, somewhere, anywhere - the bell jar, with its stifling distortions, wouldn't descend again?"; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Seven Up (Stephanie Plum, No. 7) (Stephanie Plum Novels); Author: Visit Amazon's Janet Evanovich Page; Review: Stephanie Plum is a bounty hunter working for her lecherous cousin Vinnie in Trenton, NJ. Klutzy Stephanie often mistakes her can of hair set for pepper spray, and forgets to charge her stun gun. It's a wonder she captures anybody. HOT SIX ended with undercover vice cop Joe Morelli proposing marriage - sort of. In SEVEN UP, Vinnie assigns Plum to seize Eddie DeChooch, who's jumped bail on a charge of cigarette smuggling. But Eddie refuses to be brought in until he finds something he's lost, and he's willing to resort to gunplay to make his point. But Stephanie hates guns - she keeps her .38 in a cookie jar. And what has DeChooch lost? All we and Stephanie know is that it has to be kept cold. In the meantime, Plum must mentally grasp Morelli's marriage proposal. They've an on-again, off-again relationship ever since Joe took her virginity on the floor behind the pastry counter of the bakery where she worked at eighteen. Mrs. Plum, whose nightmare is her daughter as an Old Maid, takes Stephanie out to try on wedding gowns when the latter, in a desperate moment at the Plum family dinner table with guest Joe, blurts out "August!". Will it happen, you think? Now seven novels into the Stephanie Plum series, it's evident that Evanovich writes to a fairly rigid formula, at least so far: Plum gets an ostensibly easy assignment that goes terribly wrong when her quarry proves elusive and one or more bodies are discovered; Stephanie has car problems; Stephanie must temporarily put up with an eccentric roommate; Stephanie dotes on her pet hamster, Rex; Stephanie is followed by suspicious characters; Stephanie takes her Grandma Mazur to viewings at local funeral parlors; Stephanie's sidekick in dysfunctional fugitive apprehension is Lula, ex-ho and Vinnie's file clerk; Stephanie has the hots for fellow bounty hunter, the mysterious Ranger. Whatever fantastical situations and characters the author additionally creates seem to be outlandish for their own sakes rather than maturing her heroine's persona. While that's not necessarily bad, it does lend each book a strain of boring predictability. The author needs to expand Stephanie's horizons. And I'm becoming increasingly annoyed that Plum's long-suffering parents remain ciphers. Mind you, I still enjoy Stephanie's adventures immensely. But I'm unwilling to award any more five-star ratings unless Evanovich provides something surprising or very clever.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Kingfisher; Author: Visit Amazon's Gerald Seymour Page; Review: First published in 1977, KINGFISHER is perhaps dated. But it's still surpasses most of the genre. David, Moses, Rebecca and Isaac are young Jewish activists in Kiev in the former Soviet Union. David, the group's idealistic and charismatic leader, has, since childhood, drummed into the others the lesson of nearby Babi Yar. There, during WWII, the Nazis filled a ravine with the bodies of executed Jews. Now, David says, the Jews must fight their oppressors, including the present-day communist regime. Together they plan and carry out an attack on a local policeman, gravely wounding the officer with his own gun. But the assault is botched, the man lives, and Moses is identified as the shooter and arrested. The others, fearing imminent exposure during the torture Moses is sure to undergo, make a desperate escape to the West by hijacking at gunpoint an internal flight to Tashkent, during which the pilot is accidentally killed. Prevented from landing by West Germany, Holland, and France, the aircraft, flown by the female co-pilot and with 60+ innocent passengers aboard - including a group of school children - finally lands at England's Stansted airport north of London. Bargaining with their hostages' lives, the now desperate hijackers demand fuel to take the plane to Israel. Moscow demands the return of the trio for trial (and, presumably, execution) in the strongest terms. The Israeli government, mindful of the pilot's murder, tells Her Majesty's Foreign Office that they won't accept the hijackers, but would rather they surrender and face punishment in the UK, which no longer has the death penalty. Whitehall is in a dodgy spot. As with all of Gerald Seymour's novels, the focus, figuratively speaking, is on the ordinary foot soldier, who suddenly finds himself at the frontline facing an enemy to his front and pressure from high-ranking policy wallahs in the rear. In many of the author's stories, the bloke at the sharp end is a mid-level British civil servant. Thus, in KINGFISHER, it's Charlie Webster, a world-weary, former military counter-terrorist field officer now occupying sub-Desk Dissidents in MI-6's Soviet Desk. As the expert-on-the-spot, Charlie is co-opted by the Home Secretary to serve as communication point man at Stansted with David, Isaac and Rebecca. At this late date, especially after 9/11, the concept of political dissidents hijacking a commercial airliner simply to get from point A to B is almost quaint. Perhaps when KINGFISHER was originally released, the plot had greater relevance, especially as the dissolution of the USSR and relative freedom for the country's Jews were still many years in the future. KINGFISHER isn't as polished as some of Seymour's other books. (HOME RUN, perhaps his best, comes to mind.) Interesting characters are introduced, e.g. the co-pilot Anna Tashova and Israeli Defense Force Colonel Arie Benitz, whose involvement with the evolution of events, at least in my mind, fell sadly short of potential. Moreover, the author concludes this story by tying up loose ends. While this might be expected of other writers, it's somewhat atypical of Seymour, whose fictional worlds are usually like your's and mine; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Chinaman (Stephen Leather Thrillers); Author: Visit Amazon's Stephen Leather Page; Review: THE CHINAMAN postulates an intriguing confrontation between jungle guerilla and urban terrorism. Nguyen Ngoc Minh was born in North Vietnam and trained as a bombmaker by the North Vietnamese Army. After his aged father was butchered by Vietcong soldiers for "being a bad Communist", Nguyen defected with his wife and two daughters to the South, where his skills as a jungle killer were perfected in service with U.S. special forces. Unable to flee when the North finally overran Saigon in 1975, Nguyen spent nearly three years in a brutal "re-education" camp. Finally released, he immediately escaped with his family, now including a new 3-year old daughter. During the perilous boat trip to Hong Kong, Nguyen's two oldest daughters were killed by marauding Thai fishermen. Now, years later in London, Nguyen is owner of the Double Happiness Take-Away. One day, his wife and remaining daughter are shredded by an IRA bomb in Knightsbridge. Vowing personal revenge against the killers after the police are unable to nab the perps, Nguyen identifies Liam Hennessy as a top advisor to the IRA's political wing, the Sinn Fein. Traveling to Belfast, Nguyen demands of Hennessy the killers' names. Liam refuses "The Chinaman" because he simply doesn't know. Not to be put off, Nguyen relentlessly hounds Hennessy with a deliberate application of escalating violence designed to coerce revelation of the desired information. Much of THE CHINAMAN revolves around the techniques of bombmaking and, in Nguyen's case, making detonators and explosives, including nitroglycerine, from scratch. This is probably not a casual hobby you'd want to take up at home. The action moves back and forth between Nguyen's harassment of Liam in Northern Ireland and the continuing sequence of murderous blasts in and around London detonated by the IRA bombers. The British authorities are stymied. And, as it's revealed early on, so are Hennessy and the top IRA controllers in Dublin, who see the vicious attacks as counterproductive. The London IRA cell is unauthorized and anonymous, but drawing from existing ordinance caches in the UK and obviously helped by someone high in the organization. Liam is between a rock and a hard place. THE CHINAMAN is an engaging and tautly written tale. My chief complaint is that, one-third of the way into the book, I knew with virtual certainty who was masterminding the rogue terrorism, and I wasn't proved wrong. I don't think author Stephen Leather intended it to be that obvious. On a pickier level, I thought the character of Kerry Geraghty superflous. Kerry is the daughter of an ex-IRA assassin retired to Scotland where he runs a survival school for the rich. Liam wants the elder Geraghty, an expert stalker, to come to Northern Ireland to help corner Nguyen, who's hidden himself in the countryside surrounding Hennessy's farm. But Geraghty has a broken leg, so he instead sends Kerry, who's as proficient as her Old Man at following large game animals. Kerry's contribution to the plot is contrived at best, though it provides some interesting insight into the expertise of tracking. Finally, Nguyen remains a sympathetic character throughout,; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Blue Latitudes CD: Boldly Going Where Captain Cook has Gone Before; Author: Visit Amazon's Tony Horwitz Page; Review: "With only one break in the encircling reef, the lagoon couldn't flush the sewage pumped into its once-crystalline water. If the wind and tide ran the wrong way, scum coated the surface. Overfishing had killed off much of the marine life. Fresh water was so scarce it had to be cut off each night from nine P.M. to five A.M." Such is the contemporary description in BLUE LATITUDES of the over-developed Bora-Bora lagoon, one of Captain James Cook's Polynesian landfalls in the summer of 1769. During the period 1768 to 1779 at the behest of the British Admiralty, Cook of the Royal Navy captained three 3-year voyages to the Pacific Ocean in attempts to discover either the continent rumored to be at the bottom of the world, or the much-sought Northwest Passage to Asia. Cook found neither, but he was the first European to see and chart many of the islands and landmass margins in that vast watery expanse. In BLUE LATITUDES, author Tony Horwitz follows in Cook's wake to the most celebrated of the latter's landfalls, both north and south: Tahiti, Bora-Bora, New Zealand, Botany Bay (Australia), the Great Barrier Reef, Niue, Tonga, Unalaska (in the Aleutians), and Hawaii. To my tastes, this book is a near-perfect travel essay. Not only are Cook's experiences described from the author's study of the great explorer's journals, but Horwitz paints a present-day picture of places that I'll likely never visit except in my mind's eye. And he writes with humor and perception. So, I'm both educated and entertained; it doesn't get better than that. The only thing lacking is a photo section - something illogically missing from too many travel narratives on the bookshelves. (Why most travel writers neglect to provide visual reinforcement remains a mystery to me.) Tony begins his book with a nice touch - his personal agony during five days as a volunteer sailor aboard a full-scale reconstruction of Cook's first ship, The Endeavor, as it sailed from Gig Harbor, WA, to Vancouver, BC. At the end of his short voyage, Horwitz and the reader marvel at the endurance of the 19th century swabbie during literally years at sea because, as the author describes himself: "My hands were so swollen and raw that I couldn't make a fist or do the buttons on my shirt. Every limb throbbed. My eyes twitched and blurred from fatigue ... (I had) tar stuck in my hair (and) grime embedded in every inch of exposed skin." Two-thirds of the way through the volume, in order to discover something of the inner Cook, Horwitz takes us to North Yorkshire, England, where the explorer was born in 1728, and where he took to sea from the Whitby docks in 1746 as a coal ship's apprentice. In the following chapter, it's on to London, where Cook lived with his wife between his celebrated voyages. Sadly, there are few genuine traces of the intrepid captain remaining on his home island. Admittedly, the modern world has taken cruel toll on the exotic places that so captivated Cook and his crews.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hard Eight (Stephanie Plum); Author: Visit Amazon's Janet Evanovich Page; Review: Anyone starting the Stephanie Plum series with HARD EIGHT is sure to get hooked. It's Stephanie at her wackiest. Plum is a disaster-prone bounty hunter working for her cousin Vinnie, a bail bondsman in Trenton, NJ. In this novel, Stephanie volunteers to help out her parents' next door neighbor, Mabel, who's put up her home to guarantee a child custody bond taken out on her granddaughter, Evelyn, who had one imposed on her by the judge in a recent divorce ruling. Now, Evelyn has skipped town with her daughter, Annie, and Mabel will be tossed into the street if the missing child isn't found. But, as becomes evident in all of Stephanie's adventures, there's more to the story than is obvious. Especially after the corpse of Evelyn's aggrieved husband, Steven, is left on the couch of Plum's apartment. Steven had been sawed in half. The imagination of author Janet Evanovich worked overtime in making HARD EIGHT perhaps one of the craziest to date. It's a nice touch that Stephanie faces off against a virtual menagerie. And she's finally beginning to take her .38, usually kept unloaded in a cookie jar, seriously. And her unfortunate association with fire-bombed vehicles reaches a record high. Notwithstanding these plot devices, however, books one to eight in the series are basically interchangeable. (I'm struggling, perhaps unsuccessfully, to keep from writing the same review over and over.) Evanovich needs to mature her heroine, who seems to have a slow learning curve. I suggest that Plum finally marry, or at least permanently set up house, with Detective Joe Morelli. It might not be a relationship made in heaven, but it would supply grist for any number of new episodes. And Lula, Stephanie's sometime partner in her Keystone Cop takedowns, is growing tiresome, as is the fact that the author refuses to bring Stephanie's Dad more into the limelight. Mind you, I'm still finding the Plum novels immensely enjoyable in a mindless sort of way. But even the best of a good thing, like a premium chocolate chip cookie, begins to get stale after awhile. Perhaps I've read too many in too short a time, and should alternate with the likes of WAR AND PEACE and the works of Plato.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Life: A Natural History of the First Four Billion Years of Life on Earth; Author: Visit Amazon's Richard Fortey Page; Review: British paleontologist Richard Fortey has written a marvelously concise and erudite historical synopsis of terrestrial life from around 4,000 million years ago, when meteors seeded the planet with the elements, most importantly carbon, that allowed for the evolution of organic molecules, to around 25,000 years ago, when Cro-Magnon Homo sapiens founded interior decorating by painting animals on the walls of his cave living-rooms. Fortey's account necessarily leaves off with the beginning of recorded history. (Blessedly, the life forms "Benifer" and Michael Jackson fail to appear in the narrative even once.) The author hits the high points, including the evolution of single cells, the formation of bacterial colonies, the initiation of chlorophyll-based photosynthesis (that ultimately charged the atmosphere with oxygen), the specialization of cells into tissues, the population of the seas, the advance onto land, the greening of the earth, the separation of ancient Pangaea into today's separate continents, the Age of Dinosaurs, the advent of live-birth from wombs, the ascendancy of mammals, and finally the evolution of Man. For me, the most interesting chapter was on the apocalyptic cataclysm which ended the Age of Dinosaurs, i.e. the asteroid which apparently slammed into the Mexican Yucatan Peninsula creating the Chicxulub Crater. The volume also includes several photo sections that provide an adequate visual summary of the text. The time spans of Fortey's tale are almost beyond mental grasp. For instance, at one point the author states that tool making by hominids began about 2.5 million years ago. Yet the style of the tools, the "technology" if you will, then remained virtually unchanged for the next million years. After witnessing the dizzying pace of technological advancement just during the span of my own life, this stagnation for such an incomprehensible length of time is mind-boggling. I wish I had but a fraction of Fortey's knowledge of our world. LIFE should be required reading in every high school science program.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bleachy-Haired Honky Bitch: Tales from a Bad Neighborhood; Author: Visit Amazon's Hollis Gillespie Page; Review: BLEACHY-HAIRED HONKY BITCH by Hollis Gillespie is a series of autobiographical musings in celebration of dysfunction reminiscent of such works by David Sedaris as NAKED and ME TALK PRETTY ONE DAY. The book's ninety chapters, each usually no more than 2-3 pages long, are a sequence of stand-up comedy routines put to print. The difference is, of course, that much of the humor in a live stand-up routine revolves around the performer's delivery, facial expressions, and body language. Here, each chapter is at least headed by one of four face shots of Gillespie that reappear in a regular sequence. One is of a pleasingly smiling Hollis. The second shows a teeth-baring grimace. The final two show Gillespie sticking her tongue out at the reader - in one she looks ill, and in the other she appears insulting. My immediate reaction to the latter two was "Classy broad!" Since, judging from other photos in the book of the author, her parents, and her friends, Hollis is not unattractive, I'm not sure why she included the grimace and tongue shots except to demonstrate that she has "an attitude". Fair enough. It seems everything about Gillespie's life has been dysfunctional. Her brilliant Mom was a government missile designer who was apt to feed Hollis and her siblings a bowl of Halloween candy for breakfast because she couldn't cook. Her alcoholic Dad was a generally-unemployed trailer salesman. Currently, Hollis describes herself as a part-time airline attendant and foreign language interpreter, and that's about as "normal" as it gets. Otherwise, she describes her adolescent fling with drugs, her occasional descents into alcoholic drunkenness, and her bad financial credit. Apparently, she's incapable of an intimate relationship with a member of the opposite sex, but rather hangs out with, and devotes much of the book to, three equally dysfunctional male friends - Lary, Daniel and Grant. BHHB is funny at first, but it becomes tiresome at about the half-way point. And, by the time she describes the run-down Atlanta neighborhood, where she buys a fixer-upper home, as an area "in which people were clamoring for in-town property like feral hogs set free in a field of sleeping newborn babies", I also began to wonder what sort of person would come up with such an unhealthy analogy. Hollis occasionally demonstrates bursts of insight, as when she writes: "... I'm old enough to have a box of broken dreams all my own ... You need to look inside that box sometimes and see what isn't beyond mending." Finally, Gillespie is perhaps at her most engaging at the end of the very last chapter when she describes her last comfort rendered to her dying mother. At that point, I almost began to like her. Memoirs can be both humorous and perceptive without being unkind. Take SLEEPING ARRANGEMENTS by Laura Shaine Cunningham as a fine example. One's views of the world can also be both humorous and sharply pointed without being self-flagellating, such as THE ROAD TO MCCARTHY by Pete McCarthy. BLEACHY-HAIRED HONKY BITCH may grow on you, but it didn't on me.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: You Only Live Twice (James Bond Novels); Author: Visit Amazon's Ian Fleming Page; Review: Bondo-san? Sounds like a Japanese brand adhesive. I've seen several of the 007 films with a wide range of actors - Connery, Moore, and Brosnan. However, this is the first Bond book by Ian Fleming that I've ever read. I'm left marveling at the liberties taken by Hollywood with the hero. Is this truly Bond - JAMES Bond - the Suave Super Stud Super Spy of the Big Screen? In YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE, the redoubtable Commander is about to be fired by "M" for a recently unacceptable job performance brought on by the murder of the former's wife. (There was a Mrs. 007?!) But "M" is persuaded by the house shrink to send his agent on one more mission - one that will be touted as so impossible that James will be challenged enough to snap out of his funk. So, off Bond goes to Japan to persuade the head of that nation's Secret Service to share information from a key Soviet source - information only otherwise being shared with the CIA. Bond befriends the Japanese spymaster, "Tiger" Tanaka, who consents to the new arrangement if 007 will carry out a special and very dangerous assignment. Relative to the Bond movies, I liked the in-print character much better; he's less of a comic book hero and more real. And there's not an improbable high-tech gadget in sight. However, that being said, Fleming's original 007 is much less developed and complex than, say, the Quiller persona created by Adam Hall (the nom de plume of Elleston Trevor) during the 60s and 70s. Quiller was a lonely, scarred, and bloody-minded agent who, when sent off on a perilous mission, managed make it alive out of the dodgy spots - whether it was being chased by attack dogs across the no-man's land of the East German border or bundled unceremoniously into the Lubyanka basement - purely on luck, innate ability, and pure survival sense. Quiller didn't even carry a gun. And Quiller had the hint of a secret life, perhaps one in the past; his will on file with the Secret Service specified that roses should be sent to "Moira" in the event of his death. And the reader never found out who Moira was during the entire Quiller series of nineteen books. Bond, on the other hand, just doesn't run that deep. Indeed, Quiller would think 007 a poofter dilettante. YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE, as an example of Fleming's source material for the Bond cinematic legend, is perhaps only of interest if you want to see the tenor of the original character before the Tinseltown scriptwriters got hold of him. Take my advice and discover Quiller if you haven't already.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Love Monkey; Author: Visit Amazon's Kyle Smith Page; Review: "Blood leaving my brain. It's needed elsewhere." This excerpt pretty much describes the male's approach to social intimacy as comically portrayed in LOVE MONKEY. It's not a profound plot, but then neither were those about the female's approach to relationships that I've absorbed in the past year - namely, one book by Marian Keyes (THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STORY), and at least one excellent screen adaptation of each of the Jane Austen novels. (I draw the line at actually reading a JA book.) LOVE MONKEY is a welcome change in perspective. Tom Farrell is a re-write editor for a New York City tabloid. He's still young enough at 32 to have the hormone levels that'll keep him in a state of perpetual tumescence if given the slightest possibility that he can Get Lucky. For months, Tom's been obsessed with a co-worker named Julia, who's either ultimately intimate or frustratingly stand-offish depending on her mood and the state of her relationship with her official boyfriend, Dwayne. For Julia, Tom has a mental woody on which, as he describes in the context of another body part, one could "hang wet laundry". Yet, men being biologically focused, Farrell still hits on Bran, Liesl, and Katie. After all, as he puts it: "The sexateria is more like a diner in Moscow in 1965. You order the steak and the hamburger and the sushi because chances are they might be out of something. They might be out of everything. The main thing is, you have to eat or die." I was in Moscow in 1984, and I can attest to the aptness of the simile. The LOVE MONKEY isn't a comprehensive examination of Tom's sexuality, but it is a humorous and breezy read suitable for the beach or the round trip commute to work on public transportation. Since it's so general, men reading it may see a lot of Farrell in themselves (or, if advancing into that age bracket of decreasing testosterone, remember the hyper-libidinous state wistfully). Women reading it will perhaps be reminded of what it is that makes the male of the species so infuriatingly obtuse and porcine. The superficiality of the book an acceptable given, its otherwise biggest flaw, for me, is that Tom comes across as neither likable or dislikable. He just IS, in all his glory as Average Any Man. Indeed, male readers who've lost sight of their commonality with the rest of their gender, and who consider themselves "successful", will label Tom a "loser". Perhaps. But I suspect that he's also a resilient survivor who'll one day do his part in perpetuating the species. The last line of the book is an observation by Tom which has potential as a perceptive insight if he cared to think about it. Wandering the streets alone, he passes a corner that represents for him a particularly cherished memory of his time with Julia - an incident when she was happy and playful. It sticks in his mind "because she (wanted) to be with me". Despite their differences, isn't that what any man or; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Assistants: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Robin Lynn Williams Page; Review: Those whose exposure to the Hollywood film industry is limited to attendance at the cinema megaplex and the annual Oscarfest likely never give thought to the bottom end of the Tinseltown food chain, which, in THE ASSISTANTS, is presented in a darkly comedic light. Michaela, the former Silvie Kirshbaum of New York and an actress wannabe, is the personal assistant to decaying glamour star Victoria Rush, who gives new meaning to the term "prima donna". Michaela's dream is to make it to the top, and is willing to sleep with anyone who can help her get there. She grazes on fruits and nuts, and is not above bulimia. Jeb is the PA to Randall Blume, owner of the Outcome Talent Agency. The fact of his being cashiered from multiple previous jobs attests to his bad attitude. As a matter of fact, he'd like to punch out Blume, but must remain civil for as long as he wants his boss to read the script he's written. Kecia is the PA to the young, wild living, Bad Boy rising star, Travis Trask. Kecia indulges in too many pastries, and has inherited from her beloved and deceased Dad, a legendary jazz composer and musician, a house and a delinquent $100 thousand tax bill due the Revenuers. Griffin is the PA to Johnny Treadway, owner of Johnny Treadway Enterprises, which manages actors' careers. Both Trask and Rush are clients. Because Johnny is a Jerk who finds heterosexuals threatening, Griffin must publicly pretend that he's gay. A previous, disastrous love affair has left him pretty much disinterested in women, anyway, so it doesn't matter much. Naive, innocent Rachel, the female version of Forrest Gump, has written a script about growing up in her hayseed hometown of Sugarland, Texas, and submitted it to the prestigious UCLA Film School as an entry application. Rachel is hired as the second PA to Victoria Rush. Credit is due author Robin Williams for creating five interesting and distinct main characters. He was perhaps less successful in making them all likable, at least to this reader. Kecia, then Rachel, are perhaps the most engaging, and Jeb, then Michaela, the least. Griffin didn't elicit much feeling one way or the other. THE ASSISTANTS will likely amuse a niche market: those interested in The Biz as an inbred industry rather than a simple provider of entertainment; those working The Biz, especially downtrodden PAs; and those living outside SoCal/Hollywood who think Tinseltown glamorous/wicked/eccentric and don't have enough going on in Real Life to keep occupied. I don't fall into any of these groups, so my enthusiasm and rating are subsequently muted. In no way is the book likely to appeal to a wide audience in the same way as a work by Grisham, King, and Cornwell, or even Marian Keyes. The only unifying theme seems to be that PAs are treated like dirt, and there's no riveting confrontation between protagonist and antagonist. Williams also bent over backwards to contrive a tidy and happy ending for all five of his heroes. One could probably move the milieu; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: No Second Chance; Author: Visit Amazon's Harlan Coben Page; Review: The lesson here, guys, is destroy all pictures of yourself and old girlfriends. Dr. Marc Seidman, a plastic surgeon specializing in maxillo-facial reconstruction, wakes up in the hospital after being shot in the head one morning, apparently by a home intruder, while he was eating a granola bar over the kitchen sink. As he soon learns, his wife, Monica, was killed in the same incident, and his daughter, Tara, abducted. Soon after Marc's release, his filthy-rich father-in-law gets a ransom demand for two million bucks. The kidnappers stress that the authorities aren't to be involved, and there'll be NO SECOND CHANCE. However, Seidman brings in the cops. Subsequently, the abductors make off with the ransom and Tara isn't returned. Devastated, Marc attempts to rebuild his life and assumes his daughter is permanently lost. That is, until eighteen months later when a second ransom demand arrives with the note "Want one last chance?" In the meantime, local law enforcement and the FBI suspect Seidman was the mastermind behind a plot to rid himself of Monica, scam her Dad out of a fortune, and has Tara hidden away. As this complicated thriller evolves, author Harlan Coben provides plot twists around every corner and includes Marc's drug-addled sister, a long-lost old flame from his college days, his best male pal, and an ex-grade school classmate emotionally crippled from too much teasing on the playground, plus a deranged former child actress and her current lover, a sleazy adoption lawyer, and a Serbian reformed hooker and her American redneck husband. Sounds like the friends my wife and I hang out with at the bowling alley every Thursday night. NO SECOND CHANCE is a thriller that'll keep you furtively turning the pages under the edge of the desk at work; that crucial report that the Boss needed yesterday can wait. And, if the book isn't finished by quitting time, the spouse better call that fancy restaurant and cancel the twenty-fifth wedding anniversary dinner because you need more time alone. As Coben roared down the stretch through the final pages, there was a bad moment when I thought he was going to try too hard to wrap up all the loose ends, mete justice out to all the scum, and have the decent, God-fearin' folks all live happily ever after. But he resisted the impulse, and, in my opinion, that makes NO SECOND CHANCE a cut above the rest. And the reader never finds out what's aesthetically wrong with Pooh Bear.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Notebook; Author: Nicholas Sparks; Review: THE NOTEBOOK is an old-fashioned love story with the topical subject of Alzheimer's Disease thrown in to heighten the Hankie Factor. The film opens in the present at a genteel, riverside, Southern facility for the long-term care of the aged. An old man, "Duke" (James Garner), is in the habit of reading from a book to an elegant, but chronically confused and distant, lady (Gena Rowlands) of equal antiquity. The story concerns two teenagers during a hot, carefree, South Carolina summer preceding World War II. They are (in extended flashback) Noah Calhoun (Ryan Gosling) and Allie (Rachel McAdams). Noah, working in the local sawmill, is the uneducated son of a dirt-poor father (Sam Shephard). Allie, in these months before she's off to a prestigious New York college, is the only daughter of snobbishly wealthy parents, John (David Thornton) and Anne (Joan Allen) Hamilton. The book's plot is that hoary one about two young lovers of disparate backgrounds and financial resources, who are subsequently separated by circumstances, objection and obstruction by the wealthy parents, and the subsequent engagement of one to another - in this case, Allie to a devilishly handsome and perfectly decent, rich, young, Army officer wounded during WWII, whom she meets while serving as a volunteer nurse in a Stateside military hospital. Will Noah and Allie ever get back together? That's what Duke's lone listener wants to know. At midpoint point in this review, and midway through the film, it should be apparent that Duke and his lady friend are Noah and Allie in the winter of their lives. The latter is now suffering from Alzheimer's and only occasionally recognizes her husband, who reads her the story of their courtship over and over in the hope of stimulating her memory. THE NOTEBOOK is an engaging love story that even Guys might enjoy. I did. James Garner is one of the most beloved screen veterans, and Ryan Gosling as Noah's younger self is totally likable. McAdams as Allie is effervescent and positively radiant. As a period piece, i.e. that part taking place before and immediately after the war, it's sumptuously photographed with contemporary costumes, hairstyles, music, and lots of vintage automobiles. And the sequence shot in the sunken forest amidst the migrating waterfowl was breathtaking in its beauty. The film does stumble occasionally. While Joan Allen is superb as the witch mother you love to hate, at least until she reveals a secret of her own late in the movie, the John Hamilton character is a virtual non-entity. And I didn't believe his moustache for a second. (It reminded me of the beards in the Civil War epic GETTYSBURG.) Then, in a very brief sequence showing Noah off at war with Patton's Third Army, he barely bats an eye when his best friend is killed. What was that all about? Finally, the Hollywood ending, written by a screenwriter who must have wet him/herself out of giddiness in the melodrama of the moment, was absurd. Under the circumstances, such a passing is a good trick if one can pull it off, but; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Theodore Rex; Author: Visit Amazon's Edmund Morris Page; Review: As this work of popular history by Edmund Morris begins, it's the early morning of 14 September 1901. President McKinley lies dying in Buffalo, NY, mortally wounded by an assassin's bullet. Vice President Theodore Roosevelt is on his way by buckboard and train from his isolated vacation cabin in Upper Tahawus, NY. Over the next 7 years and 169 days, THEODORE REX would drag and shove the United States into the twentieth century. Unlike perhaps other biographies of TR, this one only hints at his life before his ascendancy to the White House, and ends somewhat abruptly on the day he transferred the mantle of power to William Howard Taft on 4 March 1909. In between, Morris hits all the high points of Roosevelt's two administrations: acquisition of the rights to build the Panama Canal, settlement of the 1902 coal strike, arbitration of the treaty ending the Russo-Japanese War, build-up of the American Navy, establishment of Cuban independence, and the calling of a national conservation conference. And certainly the low point - Theodore's response to the 1906 Brownsville Incident, wherein 20-30 Black troops of the 25th U.S. Infantry allegedly went on a shooting rampage in that Texas town. One of the strengths of the author's prose is that it never becomes ponderous. Indeed, at times, it approaches oddly lyrical, as when he describes the signing of the canal treaty between newly independent Panama and the U.S.: "Pens scratched across parchment. Wax melted on silk. Two oceans brimmed closer, ready to spill." THEODORE REX isn't solely about great affairs of State. Did you know that both Teddy and his eldest daughter, Alice, habitually carried pistols. What would today's anti-gun lobby make of that! The book also serves to dispel a Hollywood myth regarding the 1904 Perdicaris Affair, in which an American citizen in Tangier was kidnapped by the desert insurgent Ahmed ben Mohammed el Raisuli, an event memorialized in celluloid by the vastly entertaining 1975 film, THE WIND AND THE LION, starring Candice Bergen and Sean Connery. Had the movie been more true to fact, Ms. Bergen couldn't have played the role unless dressed in drag. With my short attention span and too many books waiting on the shelf, this narrative of Roosevelt's Presidency is just about as good as it gets. At 555 paperback pages, it's long, but not too long to bog me down for weeks. It's detailed, compiled from a nine-page bibliography of sources, but not so detailed as to become tedious. And it's got photographs - one or two in each of its thirty-two chapters. At the book's conclusion, I felt I had a satisfactory appreciation of Teddy the man, and was glad I'd taken the opportunity to pick up this excellent volume. My only criticism is the lack of a brief post-epilogue noting Teddy's abortive 1912 attempt to regain the Presidency at the head of the Bull Moose Party, thus splitting the Republican vote and handing the election to Woodrow Wilson, which would have perhaps better rounded out the saga. Bully!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Last Citadel: A Novel of the Battle of Kursk; Author: Visit Amazon's David L. Robbins Page; Review: In a previous historical novel, THE WAR OF THE RATS, author David Robbins took us to the 1942 siege of Stalingrad on World War Two's Eastern Front, one usually paid scant attention by American readers who perhaps believe that U.S. won the European war single-handed. It didn't, you know. Now, in LAST CITADEL, Robbins returns to the Eastern Front for history's greatest tank battle. It's July 1943, and Hitler throws one last roll of the dice against the USSR with a major armored offensive designed to capture the city of Kursk. America is about to invade Italy, and Germany must knock the Soviets out of the war, or at least stabilize that front, before having to withdraw some of its forces from the East to reinforce the Mediterranean theater. Whereas in THE WAR OF THE RATS, the confrontation in Stalingrad's rubble was between two master snipers, one German and one Russian, the LAST CITADEL evolves into the ultimate confrontation in a field of sunflowers between two tank crews, one German in the awesome Tiger tank and one Russian in the smaller but faster T-34. The Tiger is commanded by SS Captain Luis Ruiz de Vega of the 1st SS Panzergrenadiers, one of three SS armored divisions spearheading the German assault. De Vega originally came to fight for the Nazis with the Spanish Blue Division, lent to Hitler by Franco in 1941. Having lost half his stomach to a Russian sniper during the siege of Leningrad, de Vega was rewarded with a commission in the SS. Now, bitter, constantly hungry, increasingly emaciated, and emotionally dead, Luis dreams only of returning to Spain a war hero. The T-34 is commanded by Sgt. Valentin Berko, but its soul is its driver, Cpl. Dimitri Berko, Valentin's father. Dimitri is an old Cossack who's fought against the Czar, Trotsky's Red Army, and now the Germans. The elder Berko loves his son dearly, but is disgusted with the latter's unquestioning dedication to Communism. But the two together make a formidable fighting team. In THE WAR OF THE RATS, a five-star novel, subplots added to the overall storyline, especially as military sniping involves a lot of waiting for the perfect shot. In contrast, several subplots in LAST CITADEL only serve as unnecessary distractions. Dimitri's daughter, Katya, is a bomber pilot attached to the Night Witches, who fly biplanes so slow and flimsy that they can only operate at night. Her boyfriend, Leonid, also a pilot, but in a modern squadron, is shot down. Attempting a landing behind enemy lines to rescue him, Katya crashes, and subsequently falls in with a group of Russian partisans, which has an unidentified traitor in its midst. In the meantime, SS Colonel Abram Breit, is spying for the Soviet's Lucy network. Had Robbins focused entirely on the tank engagements of the Kursk battle, his book, in my opinion, would have been leaner, meaner, and better. In any case, his description of going to war in the Tiger and T-34 makes for an absorbing and informative read.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Pursuit of Alice Thrift; Author: Visit Amazon's Elinor Lipman Page; Review: If you're over the age of, say, twenty, THE PURSUIT OF ALICE THRIFT probably won't tell you anything you haven't already learned in the demanding School of Relationships. Alice Thrift, M.D., is a hapless first-year surgical resident at a Boston teaching hospital. Expected to work a zillion-hour week, she doesn't have a life outside her scrubs. She's the epitome of boring. Her only contact with the outside world is her platonic male roomy and friend, Leo, an extremely popular pediatric RN at the same institution. Alice doesn't have a boyfriend, much less a pet goldfish. One day while rotating through Plastic Surgery, Alice is consulted by a forty-year old widower, Ray Russo, seeking advice about a nose job. After being talked out of it, Ray embarks on his romantic pursuit of Thrift. Russo is a fudge salesman. Or so he says. He's also extraordinarily glib, and, obviously to everyone but Alice, up to something. The problem with THE PURSUIT OF ALICE THRIFT is threefold. The ending is revealed on page 6 when Thrift tells the reader that Ray is a "LIAR", and that they had a failed marriage. One only reads further in hope of learning the sordid details. Secondly, Alice is numbingly ordinary. Having that goldfish, or even a tabletop ant farm, might have made her more interesting. And her social interactions with more socially developed friends and colleagues are only marginally amusing. Finally, since this is a story about the poor decisions a person makes to escape the throes of loneliness, it shouldn't be revelation to any reasonably contemplative individual beyond adolescence. Indeed, on finishing this novel, the average reader should be able to state, "Yup. Been there; done that; will likely do it again." THE PURSUIT OF ALICE THRIFT isn't a bad book, just decidedly so-so.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Noah's Flood: The New Scientific Discoveries About the Event that Changed History; Author: William Ryan; Review: In NOAH'S FLOOD, oceanographers turned authors William Ryan and Walter Pitman propose an alternative scenario to Noah's tempest in a teapot. With the help of other scientific disciplines - archeology, linguistics, geology, climatology, biology, paleoanthropology, paleography, paleontology - Ryan and Pitman hypothesize that the Great Flood tale in the Book of Genesis, as well as similar myths in older cultures, actually had as its source an apocalyptic flooding of the freshwater New Euxine Lake around 5,600 BC when the Adriatic, 500 feet above the lake, broke through the Bosporus isthmus and poured seawater into the former at a rate of ten cubic miles per day for at least a year, raising the lake's level six inches per day over that period, and forming the present-day Black Sea over perhaps two years. The water bill for that one must have been astronomical; don't try this at home. The authors argue their case methodically. First, they describe a proven precedent, i.e. when the Atlantic breached the junction of North Africa and Spain at Gibraltar roughly 5 million years ago to flood a vast desert and create the Mediterranean. Second, they present data derived from underwater sonar scans and seabed core sampling that give evidence of a Black Sea basin that was originally a glacial melt-water repository, which subsequently shrunk through evaporation until it was those hundreds of feet below an Adriatic Sea swelling (like the rest of the Earth's oceans at the time) with that same glacial runoff. Third, they postulate the nature of the human residents that bore witness to the inundation of their lakeside homes and fields and subsequently fled towards all points of the compass to higher ground. And, more importantly, how the collective memories of the event were preserved and transmitted down through subsequent centuries in oral and written tradition. How far did those refugees flee? Amazingly, Ryan and Pitman have them and their immediate descendents traveling as far west as Paris, as far south as Egypt, and as far east as Chinese Turkestan. The book included a few small maps, which were adequate, and some scattered drawings, some apparently based on photographs, that were pretty much useless as illustrative aids. NOAH'S FLOOD is a fascinating and convincing exposition, especially if you don't take the Bible's Noah as "gospel" and you haven't been exposed to any other scientific explanation of the event. (I don't and haven't, and don't intend to ponder further an ancient people's mad rush to the boats. One credible explanation is satisfying enough. I'll leave the controversy surrounding the Ryan-Pitman theory to the theologians, historians, and scientists, who have turf to defend to the death.); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Foyle's War (4 DVD Set); Author: Anthony Horowitz; Review: Perhaps it's my affection for England - a love that makes my wife roll her eyes - that causes me to have a higher regard for BBC and ITV small screen productions than those of America, which seem so crass in comparison. So many of the former seem uncommonly funny, intelligent, or both. FOYLE'S WAR is an uncommonly intelligent detective drama, a period piece set on England's south coast in 1940. And, to keep the record straight, my wife's dedication to this series is at least as pronounced as mine, if not more so. Michael Kitchen is Detective Inspector Christopher Foyle, who's ordered to remain at his post as homicide investigator for Hastings and its environs; he'd much rather be doing his bit for King and Empire fighting the Nazis across the Channel. Indeed, his son is a flying officer with the RAF. The two other series regulars are Samantha "Sam" Stewart (Honeysuckle Weeks), the Women's Royal Army Corps enlistee assigned as his driver, and Paul Milner (Anthony Howell), Foyle's assistant inspector recently returned to home front duty after being wounded with the Army during the disastrous British invasion of Norway. In Series One,the murders occur in contexts that include sexual harassment, anti-semitism, police brutality, local jingoism, sabotage, and conscientious objection - all set against a backdrop of Luftwaffe bombing raids and the fear of imminent amphibious invasion by the German Wehrmacht. The character of Foyle - intelligent, perceptive, reserved, compassionate, wounded by his wife's recent death, worried for his son's safety - epitomizes the phrase "still waters run deep." The viewer embarks into each episode wondering what new layer of Foyle's persona will be revealed. (Not to give too much away, but I've just seen the first episode of Series Two, which gives evidence of an old and tragic love affair involving Foyle and a now-married gentlewoman.) And the evolution of the relationship between Foyle and the occasionally cheeky Sam is one of the major delights of the miniseries as the latter proves she's smart, intuitive, and potentially more useful than just a lowly chauffeur. The various murders investigated by the trio are never straightforward, but involve clever plot twists and hidden motives, the solutions to which silently gestate in the Inspector's mind before being revealed at the end of the story, much like the Sherlock Holmes mysteries of old. There are, of course, uneven moments to Series One which allow for only four stars. I trust, as the show matures, that it will only get better. The areas that need no improvement are the period costuming, props and sets, all of which are superbly done and a delight to an Anglophile.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Middlesex: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Jeffrey Eugenides Page; Review: "Is there anything as incredible as the love story of your own parents? Anything as hard to grasp as the fact that these two over-the-hill players, permanently on the disabled list, were once in the starting lineup?" Who better to ask this rhetorical question than Calliope "Cal" Stephanides, the protagonist of MIDDLESEX? Cal, who's the genetically challenged offspring derived from two generations of inbreeding. His paternal grandparents were brother and sister; his parents were second cousins. And Cal, genetically a male (XY), is thus stricken with an autosomal recessive condition, 5-Alpha-Reductase Deficiency (5-ARD), which prevented in utero development of his male genitalia and left him superficially resembling a female in that area, but without the capacity to bear children. MIDDLESEX, by Jeffrey Eugenides, is a charming and thoroughly engaging novel in four parts. First, Cal describes his grandparents' (Desdemona and Eleutherios) emigration from the Greek city of Smyrna (present day Izmir) in 1922 after it was overrun by the Turks, their marriage aboard ship on the way to New York, and, in part two, the courtship and marriage of his parents (Theodora and Milton) in Detroit in 1946. Then, in parts three and four, his upbringing as a girl and, finally, his life after the diagnosis of his condition at age fourteen and his subsequent agonizing decision to run away and live as a boy. Cal narrates all of this from the present, a forty-one year old man working for the U.S. State Department and stationed in Berlin. I've only two niggling criticisms to make about an otherwise extraordinary story. First, since Eugenides is apparently of Greek heritage, and his story is about a Greek family, it isn't surprising that he should incorporate into the plot the Turkish capture of Smyrna in 1922, during which the victors engaged in an appalling orgy of looting, rape, and slaughter. But, since the event was so minor a part in the novel as a whole, the opportunity to take a slap at the hated Turks seems almost gratuitous. Finally, the author goes to great pains to describe 5-ARD as caused by a genetic mutation on chromosome 5. Perhaps he hasn't seen the following, taken directly from a medical journal article on the Web: "Two genes coding for 5-alpha-reductase have been identified, each for a slightly different isoenzyme. The gene for 5-alpha-reductase type 1 has been determined to be on chromosome 5 ... Linkage analysis has demonstrated that the type 1 enzyme is unrelated to the clinical syndrome of 5-ARD. The other isoenzyme, 5-alpha reductase type 2, determined on CHROMOSOME 2 (emphasis mine), correlates with clinical symptoms." I haven't been left feeling so good about a book since CORELLI'S MANDOLIN. MIDDLESEX is alternately humorous, poignant, and tragic - just like Life itself. There are times when the author's story verges on brilliance, as when he describes what is certainly a most unusual seduction technique, one which Milton works on Theodora. I should've taken up the clarinet before reaching puberty!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ambulance Girl: How I Saved Myself By Becoming an EMT; Author: Visit Amazon's Jane Stern Page; Review: "If you have a patient whose leg or arm is partially amputated, do not pull it off to make things 'neat' ". Such is one of the "don'ts" of Emergency Medicine. Darn, and I did that only yesterday! Best-selling author Jane Stern is a columnist for GOURMET mag, and, with her husband, is a regular guest on National Public Radio. By her own admission, she is, or was, also something of a Sad Sack: afraid of airplanes and buses and so depressed as to not even shed her bathrobe and fuzzy slippers and leave the house on a daily basis. So, she begins seeing a shrink and, as sort of a personal dare, decides to become an Emergency Medical Technician. AMBULANCE GIRL is the story of her determination to get out more. Stern's life takes on a whole new dimension as she attends EMT "boot camp", takes the national certification exam (which she passes), gets hired by her hometown EMT force, learns to get along with firemen, begins to go out on emergency calls, and encounters her "firsts". Her first accident victim, her first dead patient, her first AIDS sufferer, her first "crazy person", her first suicide, her first dead dog, etc. (Dog?!) The first three-quarters of the book is pretty much a hoot, then becomes more somber during the remainder as Jane describes the burn-out that puts a severe strain on her marriage and threatens to return her to a permanently depressed state. It's apparent by the book's conclusion that Stern's existence tottering on the edge of total dysfunction is a constant not easily ameliorated. (Perhaps that can be said of all of us.) Only her ability to share her life and experiences with a self-deprecating humor saves AMBULANCE GIRL from being a downer. At 228 pages in relatively large type, this hardback is a very quick and entertaining read, allowing you to soon move on to something either more substantive or trashy depending on your taste.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Spartan; Author: Val Ddwa 38801 Kilmer; Review: The second half of any film is supposed to be better than the first. Hollywood got this one wrong. Val Kilmer plays Scott, a Secret Service operative assigned to do the dirty tasks that would otherwise not be countenanced by squeamish bleeding hearts. For instance, in order to get crucial information from a suspect, Scott is not above breaking the scumbag's arm. In the defense of Mom, flag and apple pie, a Hard Man is good to find. In SPARTAN, a VIP's daughter, Laura (Kristen Bell), is kidnapped from her college dorm after her Secret Service protection is temporarily withdrawn to supplement that of Ol' Dad's when he comes to town to visit his mistress during a re-election campaign. The script never specifically says so, but the viewer presumes we're talking about the President here. In any case, the girl is apparently destined to be sent to a country bordering the Arabian Gulf where she'll become the sex slave of a rich sheikh. At this point in the plot, the kidnappers don't know whom they've got, and Scott must retrieve Laura before the story breaks in the press. Mind you, Kilmer gives a taut performance as the Service's Rambo. And the supporting cast includes the ever-watchable William H. Macy as the VIP's political Machiavelli, and Ed O'Neill as the agent in charge of the rescue. (I can never see O'Neill without hearing MARRIED WITH CHILDREN's Peggy whine "Aaaa-lll!") However, when the audience finally meets Laura, she turns out to be such an unappealing brat that the viewer perhaps wonders why all the bother. Finally, Laura's deliverance from the Middle East is by such a successful, albeit fortuitously unexpected, route, that one questions why Scott didn't plan something similar - such as marching into the local BBC office with the girl in tow - from the very beginning instead of trying to be cute about it. The title "Spartan" makes reference to the proud habit of the ancient Greek city-state of Sparta, when asked by a neighboring city to send military aid, of sending just one of its super warriors to get the job done.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Berlin: The Downfall, 1945; Author: Visit Amazon's Antony Beevor Page; Review: In a novelization of the World War II capture of Berlin, THE END OF WAR by David Robbins, the author paints a powerful word picture of the hatred between German troops and the Red Army when he describes a fictional band of German POWs being escorted to the rear by Russian guards commanded by one Ilya: "The guards hurl more names at the Germans. Names of prison camps, Rovno, Ternopol, Zitomir; names of occupied villages, Braslav, Balvi, Vigala; names of death camps, Auschwitz, Sobibor, Treblinka; names of dead comrades ...; names of fathers and mothers, brothers, women. The Red soldiers vent themselves on the Germans ... They have debts to collect ... One of the Germans mutters in Russian, `Bastards' ... All of these men hate. Back and forth, volleys of loathing ... One of the Russians raises his rifle to his cheek, ridiculous, as though he needs to aim this close to his targets ... Ilya's mouth is bone dry. He could speak ... He could say, what? ...Another crow dispatches his voice from the trees ... Ilya turns his back." Debts. Oh, yes. THE FALL OF BERLIN 1945 by Antony Beevor is the true account of the savage retribution visited on the Third Reich and its capital by avenging armies from the East. At 431 paperbacked pages, THE FALL OF BERLIN 1945 hasn't the length to be overly detailed. Rather, as Beevor might put it, it's "the tidy version of events - the staff officer's summary." The narrative could arbitrarily be divided into five sections: the Red Army's assault across the Vistula River into western Poland to the German border at the Oder River, the defeat of the Nazi armies along the Baltic in East Prussia and Pomerania, the final drive across the Oder to Berlin by the 1st Belorussian and 1st Ukranian Fronts, the fighting within the city itself, and the immediate aftermath of the German surrender. Relatively little is said of the conflict on the Western Europe except as it contributed to Stalin's paranoia about a separate peace treaty between Germany and the Western Allies and/or the possibility that the Anglo-American forces might reach Berlin first. Stalin needn't have worried about the latter. Eisenhower's political and strategic naiveté, and a misplaced desire to keep Uncle Joe a happy camper, assured a halt of the western armies on the Elbe River. The bare bones of the narrative are fleshed out with details derived from a multitude of other written sources and the author's interviews with survivors, especially evident in those sections relating to events in Hitler's Reich Chancellery bunker both before and after his suicide. The book includes a number of maps that are perfectly adequate, and three photo sections. My only complaint is that there are no pictures of certain individuals. While Hitler, Goebbels, Eva Braun, Himmler, Keitel, Zhukov and Stalin appear, key players such as Konev, Rokossovsky, Chuikov, Vlasov, Weidling, Guderian and Heinrici do not. And where's that famous photo of Soviet soldiers planting the Red Banner on the Reichstag - an image just as famous to; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: To the Nines: Stephanie Plum Novels; Author: Visit Amazon's Janet Evanovich Page; Review: As one of the sweaty masses in constant need of "bread and circuses" to forestall social discontent, the Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich has been a mainstay of cheap entertainment. However, by the end of book eight (HARD EIGHT), even that was beginning stale around the edges. But elements of TO THE NINES have reinvigorated my interest. If you don't know from your assigned reading by now, Stephanie is a bond enforcement agent - a bounty hunter - employed by her bail bondsman cousin, Vinnie, in Trenton, NJ. While Plum eventually manages to catch her man (or woman), she invariably leaves a trail of chaos in her wake, and her modus operandi is endearingly klutzy. Plus, all the characters in her personal and professional life lie on a continuum from being mildly eccentric to outright wack jobs. Only her pet hamster, Rex, is normal. In TO THE NINES, Stephanie's quarry is Samuel Singh, an Indian in the States on a temporary work visa on which Vinnie has underwritten a new type of bond - a "visa bond". But Singh has disappeared, and the resulting bad publicity will destroy Vinnie's business unless his disaster-prone cousin can find him. Assigned to help in the search is Vinnie's premier contract agent, Ranger, a mysterious ex-Special Forces type that operates just outside the law and who, since book one (ONE FOR THE MONEY), has inpired a warm feeling in our heroine's nether regions despite her off-and-on emotional and sexual commitment to another cousin, Trenton police detective Joe Morelli, who relieved Stephanie of her virginity behind a bakery's pastry counter back when they were teenagers. Ranger is a Hunk Dressed in Black. As I hinted earlier, the Stephanie Plum comedic thrillers, while always very funny, follow an invariable pattern. Author Evanovich apparently has a storyline template to which she religiously adheres. (And who would argue? It produces Best Sellers.) However, for those of us - well, at least me - loyally following Plum's keystone-cop antics, some significant deviation from the pattern would be welcomed. In TO THE NINES, the author breaks the mold just a little. For once, Stephanie gets out of Trenton on her quarry's trail - all the way to Las Vegas, NV - unreasonably harassed by airline security at every stop. And instead of demolishing the various cars and trucks loaned to her by Ranger, now it's the latter's employees who're imperiled by Stephanie's bad karma. Finally, Stephanie's sister Valerie gives birth. This flips the switch on the former's own maternal instincts. Somewhere vaguely in her thirties, Stephanie isn't getting any younger and the Biological Clock is ticking. Do you suppose that Morelli is the man for the job? Of course, they'd have to get married first - an event that's proved maddeningly elusive in previous installments, much to the distress of Stephanie's Mom. Indeed, the plotting for future Plum novels involves potentially infinite permutations sure to keep fans buying books and St. Martin's Press happy.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: To the Nines; Author: Janet Evanovich; Review: As one of the sweaty masses in constant need of "bread and circuses" to forestall social discontent, the Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich has been a mainstay of cheap entertainment. However, by the end of book eight (HARD EIGHT), even that was beginning stale around the edges. But elements of TO THE NINES have reinvigorated my interest. If you don't know from your assigned reading by now, Stephanie is a bond enforcement agent - a bounty hunter - employed by her bail bondsman cousin, Vinnie, in Trenton, NJ. While Plum eventually manages to catch her man (or woman), she invariably leaves a trail of chaos in her wake, and her modus operandi is endearingly klutzy. Plus, all the characters in her personal and professional life lie on a continuum from being mildly eccentric to outright wack jobs. Only her pet hamster, Rex, is normal. In TO THE NINES, Stephanie's quarry is Samuel Singh, an Indian in the States on a temporary work visa on which Vinnie has underwritten a new type of bond - a "visa bond". But Singh has disappeared, and the resulting bad publicity will destroy Vinnie's business unless his disaster-prone cousin can find him. Assigned to help in the search is Vinnie's premier contract agent, Ranger, a mysterious ex-Special Forces type that operates just outside the law and who, since book one (ONE FOR THE MONEY), has inpired a warm feeling in our heroine's nether regions despite her off-and-on emotional and sexual commitment to another cousin, Trenton police detective Joe Morelli, who relieved Stephanie of her virginity behind a bakery's pastry counter back when they were teenagers. Ranger is a Hunk Dressed in Black. As I hinted earlier, the Stephanie Plum comedic thrillers, while always very funny, follow an invariable pattern. Author Evanovich apparently has a storyline template to which she religiously adheres. (And who would argue? It produces Best Sellers.) However, for those of us - well, at least me - loyally following Plum's keystone-cop antics, some significant deviation from the pattern would be welcomed. In TO THE NINES, the author breaks the mold just a little. For once, Stephanie gets out of Trenton on her quarry's trail - all the way to Las Vegas, NV - unreasonably harassed by airline security at every stop. And instead of demolishing the various cars and trucks loaned to her by Ranger, now it's the latter's employees who're imperiled by Stephanie's bad karma. Finally, Stephanie's sister Valerie gives birth. This flips the switch on the former's own maternal instincts. Somewhere vaguely in her thirties, Stephanie isn't getting any younger and the Biological Clock is ticking. Do you suppose that Morelli is the man for the job? Of course, they'd have to get married first - an event that's proved maddeningly elusive in previous installments, much to the distress of Stephanie's Mom. Indeed, the plotting for future Plum novels involves potentially infinite permutations sure to keep fans buying books and St. Martin's Press happy.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Calendar Girl: In Which a Lady of Rylstone Reveals All; Author: Visit Amazon's Tricia Stewart Page; Review: In 2003, American audiences were treated to CALENDAR GIRLS, a little gem of a film starring Helen Mirren based on the experiences a group of women in their 40s, 50s and 60s in the north of England who posed starkers for a year 2000 calendar to raise money for leukemia research, and in memory of John Baker, the husband of one of the ladies and a locally well-regarded and much loved Assistant National Park Officer in the Yorkshire Dales, who'd died of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in July 1998. Of course, the nudity, both in the film and on the calendar, was tastefully presented, with the naughty bits obscured and most definitely "no front bottoms". The calendar's concept, and the driving force behind its creation, came from Tricia Stewart, a close friend of John and Angela Baker. In real life, Tricia ran a medical software company with her husband, Ian, and taught yoga and Pilates on the side. This book, CALENDAR GIRL, is Tricia's story of the 2-year flurry of frenetic activity that the calendar catalyzed, and the roughly 300,000 copies that were sold in Britain and the United States. First of all, let me unequivocally state that the film adaptation was wonderful, and I deeply admire author Alicia Stewart for the originality of her idea and for the hard work and dedication she and her colleagues demonstrated in getting the calendar created and marketed. What started out almost as a lark burgeoned into a monster with a life of its own - as such things are won't to do - involving a grueling schedule of domestic and foreign media interviews, appearances on television talk shows and at book-signings both at home and in the U.S., product endorsements, the film, and considerable fame. And the Leukemia Research Fund in Britain and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of America received a bunch of money. It also destroyed friendships, almost administered the coup-de-grace to a marriage, and, as a final insult, subjected Tricia and Ian to hateful articles in the gutter press. However, that tribute said ... I realized what was wrong with CALENDAR GIRL about two-thirds into it. It has the flow of a diary, and I gather that Stewart used such as the primary source for her narrative. Trouble is, she failed to edit out so very much that was trivial and, frankly, numbingly boring. As a random example of the story's "feel" , which is typical of the book throughout: "Lynda had had an invite from Preethi, the Indian girl we'd met at the bookfair, to go to her book launch at Dover Street, by the Ritz, on Thursday night. It was the same day as a shoot in London for the "Mail's You" magazine. Lynda had sent her a calendar, which was in her office. She was having a stressful day organizing her launch and when she went in her office, the calendar fell off the shelf. So she phoned Lynda who was also miserable and the depression lifted for both of them." Then later, when they meet this Preethi for the; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: In the Black: Live Faithfully, Prosper Financially: The Ultimate 9-Step Plan for Financial Fitness; Author: Visit Amazon's Aaron W Smith Page; Review: A cellular plan to die for BLACK is a conspiracy thriller in which the perps, and even the Machiavellian intent, aren't immediately obvious. As a matter of fact, the reader doesn't have a glimmer of understanding until page 327 of 362. Until then, four subplots proceed on more or less separate paths. One must have faith that they eventually coalesce. Jordan Mitchell is CEO of Borders Atlantic, a communications company on the verge of marketing a system for cellular phone message encryption that will stymie even the electronic eavesdroppers at the National Security Agency. Senator Elizabeth Beechum chairs the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. Fearing Mitchell's new technology will give terrorists the upper hand, she's determined to stop it cold. Beechum is also likely to be the nominee for president to come out of the Democratic National Convention being held in a couple weeks. Unfortunately, she gets derailed when she's attacked by an unknown assailant and rendered unconscious in her Georgetown home. When she comes to, the room is awash in blood - not hers. Though there's no body, circumstantial evidence leads her to be charged with murder. Jeremy Waller is the FNG on the FBI's elite Hostage Rescue Team, assigned as a sniper. After a successful first mission in Puerto Rico to free the kidnapped daughter of the island's governor, Waller finds himself seconded to a mysterious two-man operation in Yemen so hush-hush that even his HRT bosses don't know about it. What's the FBI doing in an overseas gig, anyway? Sirad Malneaux, a fast-rising executive in Borders Atlantic, finds herself hand-picked by Mitchell, apparently on the basis of her ability to convincingly lie, for an important assignment. Does he know she really works for the CIA? Then, to make things interesting, an obscure American techno-firm has devised a new way to kill - with concentrated sounds waves that blow out the victim's skull. (In the movie version, wouldn't that make a great special effect?) The twist to the story, revealed in the last thirty-five pages, should be clever enough to lift BLACK above standard fare. But that's counter-balanced by two-dimensional main characters, none of whom I particularly cared about. To be fair, author Christopher Whitcomb faced a dilemma in the evolution of his plot. By the story's end, the reader realizes why he couldn't demonize any one of his players. Yet, in order to keep the reader guessing, he couldn't make any one of them too sympathetic. After all, there has to be both a Protagonist and Antagonist in any story, right? Perhaps only Beechum is blameless from the start. (But is any politician truly innocent in the mind of the Body Politic?) Since BLACK was a birthday gift, I wanted to like it more than I do, and I feel guilty that I don't.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Cassandra French's Finishing School for Boys: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Eric Garcia Page; Review: "The last fifteen years of failed dates, the boys with wandering hands, the boys whose hands didn't wander enough, the ones who left and the ones who wouldn't let me leave. They didn't deserve to walk into a room with Cassandra French on their arm." Thus, with that dysfunctional experience with male-female relationships in her past, 29-year old Cassandra French, employed in the business office of a Los Angeles movie studio, proactively sets out to mold three young men with promise - her "boys" - into the New Age men they could be, replete with polished manners, polite language, sensitivity to a woman's needs, chivalry, and good fashion sense. Cassie has kept Owen, Alan and Daniel chained to cots in the basement of her Westwood home for months, alternating behavioral modification "lessons" with doses of calming morphine. (I've lived in SoCal for five decades, and have never been in a home with a basement. After the Cuban Missile Crisis, my Dad built a bomb shelter under our garage - but that doesn't count.) CASSANDRA FRENCH'S FINISHING SCHOOL FOR BOYS is, believe it or not, a remarkably comedic novel. Author Eric Garcia pulls this off by making his heroine decidedly unhinged, but not cruel or even unkind. Indeed, she reads her charges bedtime stories, tucks them in at lights out, entertains them with games and a regular "movie night", keeps them properly fed, and fully intends to release them back into the world once they "graduate". But things begin to unravel when she "enrolls" in her school a famous actor who'd seduced and bedded her for uncommonly selfish and boorish reasons. Once under restraint and in her control, he subsequently dies in a freak accident involving chains, manacles, electric current, and yoga. I haven't come across such an engaging female lead since Rebecca Bloomwood of Sophie Kinsella's SHOPAHOLIC series. Even when faced with the immediate problem of body disposal, in which caper she involves her best friend Claire, Cassie still has the presence of mind to notice the quality of Claire's cashmere sweater and footwear, and discuss corpse removal options over Amaretto and low-fat Fig Newtons. I'm not awarding five stars because the ending seemed forced - perhaps not surprising considering the bizarre and implausible storyline that Garcia backed French into. But the plot is inventive and light, and would make the perfect vehicle for a Big Screen movie starring Sandra Bullock.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mount Misery: A Novel; Author: Samuel Shem M.D.; Review: Dr. Stephen Bergman, aka Samuel Shem, did his medical internship at a large, academic hospital in Boston after graduating from Harvard Medical School. The experiences of his internship served as the basis for his 1984 novel, House of God, starring his alter ego, Dr. Roy Basch. In Gracefully Insane: Life and Death Inside America's Premier Mental Hospital, a narrative history of McLean Hospital, the mental health facility traditionally serving Boston's upper crust, author Alex Beam notes that Bergman did his psychiatry residency at McLean. Presumably, this and subsequent experiences in the field, enabled Bergman to write MOUNT MISERY, the further adventures of Dr. Basch during his first year of training at the fictional Mount Misery psychiatric hospital. MOUNT MISERY is billed as a dark comedy. And perhaps the first half of the book is just that. Then it becomes decidedly more serious - Bergman's indictment of what he perceives as the flaws, and indeed malpractice, within institutionalized mental health care: assembly line admissions with diagnoses designed to mine the maximum in insurance payments, over-reliance on unproven drug regimens to make patients "better", the emphasis on fund raising rather than medicine, the superegos of the "experts" that focus on appearances in medical journals and at international seminars instead of compassionate patient care, and the total hogwash (to Bergman, apparently) of Freudian analysis. Indeed, the author's criticism of institutional psychiatry evolves to a very sharp point, i.e. the sexual abuse of patients by their physician therapists, and the protection of the latter by the medical establishment. This is not the stuff of humor, dark or otherwise. I still might have given MOUNT MISERY four stars but for several reasons. First, at 527 paperbacked pages, the book is way too long; the point could've been made in a shorter span of text. Second, once Bergman makes his case against the failures of the system, he, through the intrepid Dr. Roy, gets too preachy. (I hate being lectured in any medium designed to extract my dollars ostensibly to provide me with entertainment.) Finally, the author bends over backwards to tidy up the story's conclusion with relatively happy endings for the novel's major and minor protagonists. Indeed, the very last scenes involving Basch, his significant other Berry, and their adopted daughter Lizzy, were so warm and fuzzy as to almost induce the gag reflex. (OK, so I'm a curmudgeon and am in need of Prozac. But, give me a break!) As I recall, I also rated THE HOUSE OF GOD at only three stars for similar reasons. I suspect MOUNT MISERY would appeal greatly to anti-establishment psychiatrists and other mental health caregivers, who would respond "Yup, been there, done that!". But, no more Samuel Shem stuff for me, thanks very much. Life is too short for well-intentioned rants that don't reveal anything new.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Underground London: Travels Beneath The City Streets; Author: Visit Amazon's Stephen Smith Page; Review: News reporter and author Stephen Smith goes below pavement level in London, allowing the reader to vicariously explore burial crypts, dug-up plague pits, sewers, excavated Roman walls, remnants of Henry VIII's tennis courts, poncy wine cellars, secret government bunkers, the bowels of Parliament, and forgotten corners of the Tube. For me, the the most intriguing chapter dealt with that subterranean environment most obviously accessible to the tourist, the London Underground ("Mind the Gap!"). Did you know that the most prevalent litter in the system, cleaned up during routine housekeeping between 1:00 and 5:00 AM, is human hair blown from the heads of thousands and thousands of train riders every day? Then, there are all those wallets plundered and discarded by pickpockets. And, though it won't be on my Must-Do short list for my next visit to the city, Smith's slog down the northern outflow sewer was gratifyingly informative. However, UNDERGROUND LONDON is an uneven read. In the chapter dedicated to Anglo-Saxon artifacts, the author first describes a modern day ceremonial ritual involving holding a small schoolboy by his heels over the Thames while he beats the water's surface with a stick, and then goes on to describe the confiscated oddities to be found in the cellars of Her Majesty's Custom House. The connection between these and Anglo-Saxon period seemed forced. And the chapter in which Smith visits an underground vault of safe deposit boxes could just as well have been penned in the above-ground strong room at my local bank. No revelations there. Perhaps the narrative's best features are the brief lessons in London history, past and recent, that Smith provides as background to the central theme: the evolution of city sanitation, the medieval plague epidemics, the theory and practice of the Thames Barrier, Henry VIII's obsession with tennis, the use of Tube stations as bomb shelters during the Blitz, and the British government's renewed interest in secure bolt holes after 9/11. A criticism of UNDERGROUND LONDON has been that it includes no photos. Normally, I'd agree. But, in this instance, I'm not sure that the majority of Smith's subjects would've provided opportunity for interesting or instructive visuals. Somehow, a shot of the now-buried Fleet River churning along at the bottom of a well in Clerkenwell, or that of a disintegrating coffin in Kensal Green cemetery, doesn't seem necessary. For those who love London, UNDERGROUND LONDON will be an occasionally rewarding ... um, travel essay. I'm awarding four stars simply because London is where my heart is. Otherwise, it would rate three, or less.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Stretch (Stephen Leather Thrillers); Author: Visit Amazon's Stephen Leather Page; Review: After reading Stephen Leather's THE STRETCH and, previously, his THE CHINAMAN, this author has become a personal favorite of mine to at least equal the enormously talented thriller scribbler, Gerald Seymour. Samantha "Sam" Greene is fifteen months separated from her philandering husband of twenty-some years, Terry. Together, they'd raised three children: Laura, Jamie and Trisha. Sam had always thought hubby to be just an entrepreneur managing his nightclub, modeling agency, and courier service. Now, Terry is convicted of murdering a small time drug-dealer and is sent off to Her Majesty's Prison for life. It isn't until Terry asks Sam to take over the reins of his business that she shockingly realizes the extent of his underworld activity. But, faced with legal fees, mortgage payments, Jamie's university tuition, and 24/7 care for her debilitated mother-in-law, Sam is forced to oversee dealings in police payoffs, black-market liquor, cannabis smuggling, and the importation of counterfeit currency. Oddly, she proves surprisingly adept at it. And, when Terry is unexpectedly released from the gaol on new evidence, he finds out how talented she really is. Oh, does he ever. There are no heroes in lilly-white hats in THE STRETCH. Though he truly loves his family despite his cheatin' ways, Terry's a charming rascal capable of heavy-handed brutality to maintain his criminal empire. On the other hand, Sam proves she can be just as unscrupulous, though she operates with finesse and, um, compassion. In any case, it's Sam that the reader roots for, certainly not the unsavory copper, Detective Chief Inspector Frank Welch, who made the case against Terry and is now out to get his missus. By default perhaps, the only truly admirable character of any importance seems to be Andy McKinley, the unfailingly polite, dependable, and circumspect bodyguard that Terry assigns to drive his wife on her appointed rounds. The Gerald Seymour novels are consistently engrossing because of the moral gray areas in conflicts at the civilized world's grittier margins in which his protagonists dwell, and in which battles there are no clear winners and losers, only Pyrhhic victories. Here, in THE STRETCH, Leather presents an unremarkable, basically law-abiding citizen driven to extremes of antisocial behavior in order to protect the wellbeing of herself and her family. Which one of us might not do the same if backed into a corner? If that isn't a gray area, I don't know what is. Sam, you go girl!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dead Ground; Author: Visit Amazon's Gerald Seymour Page; Review: Note: This book is also published under the title THE WAITING TIME. When revisiting past crimes, be careful what you wish for. In 1988, the British Army Intelligence Unit in West Berlin, in an unauthorized operation, recruits a young East Berliner, Hans Becker. The go-between is a 22-year old I Corps junior stenographer, Corporal Tracy Barnes, who becomes Becker's lover. Becker is sent by his controller to East Germany's Baltic coast to glean information from radar base signals. There, Hans is captured and brutally murdered by Stasi Counter Espionage Captain Dieter Krause. Barnes suspects Krause's guilt, but can't prove it. And Hans remains the first and only man that Tracy has ever slept with. Now, it's a decade later. The Berlin Wall is rubble, Germany is re-united, and Dieter Krause is the new darling of the German intelligence service, the BfV, because of the information he can provide on an old friend, Russian Army Colonel Pyotr Rykov, who's the influential personal assistant to the Russian Defense Minister. The Germans are showing Krause off, first to the Brits, then the Yanks. However, during a visit to the I Corps base in Ashford, Kent, Dieter is recognized by Barnes, who physically attacks him. Clapped into the base guardhouse, Tracy is interrogated by a veteran SIS man sent down from London, Albert Perkins of German Desk, but he gets nothing. Released from detention, Barnes goes to Germany to unearth the evidence to bring Dieter down. She's accompanied by Josh Mantle, a solicitor's clerk persuaded to the task by Tracy's mother. Josh, at 54, was once of I Corps, then of the Royal Military Police. Stubbornly his own man and awkwardly dedicated to principles, Mantle was discarded by the Army at the end of the Cold War. Now, he's tired and on the ash heap of imminent old age. Against his better judgement, but always for the underdog, Tracy's dangerous mission demands his participation. DEAD GROUND at first begins as a relatively simple tale of long-delayed justice. Well, ok, vengeance. But "simplistic" is never an apt description of Gerald Seymour's thrillers. Tracy's implacable, single-minded quest becomes almost a sideshow as Perkins, following Barnes and Mantle to Germany, has his own agenda to put the upstart BfV back into "its place". And another scarred veteran of the Cold War, the iron-haired and intimidating Olive Harris of the SIS Russian Desk, convinces the MI6 wallahs to activate her own scheme, i.e. to topple Pyotr Rykov (which would render Krause's humint pretty much valueless). I'm a huge fan of Seymour's novels. But, in DEAD GROUND, I reluctantly suggest that the plot is too complicated. He should've left out the Harris gambit and focused solely on Perkins, Mantle, Barnes, and Krause. When Olive arrives in Moscow to administer the coup de grace to Rykov, the local SIS station head asks, "Why are we mounting a hostile operation against Pyotr Rykov? ... Your game is the immediate destruction of a fine man." That just about says it all, and perhaps the only usefulness of the subplot is to illustrate that "our; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Never Surrender; Author: Michael Dobbs; Review: Winston's War: A Novel of Conspiracy, the first novel of the Churchill series by Michael Dobbs, spans the time period from Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain's return from Germany after signing the shameful Munich Agreement with Adolph Hitler, to early May 1940, when he's handed a no-confidence vote by the House of Commons and forced to resign. But, WINSTON'S WAR is less about Chamberlain than the political infighting and back stabbing that brought Winston, thought to be a loudmouthed fool by his peers in Parliament and apparently washed-up in government, back to public office after years in political limbo. NEVER SURRENDER picks up the story on May 10, 1940, when Winston is asked by King George VI to form a new government to face the Nazi menace across the Channel, and portrays the next several weeks into early June as the British Expeditionary Force in France is forced by German panzers into a desperate position on the coast at Dunkirk, from which they, and as many French troops as possible, must be evacuated back to England via whatever boats can float. Winston, is, of course, the hero of the series, and the fictional story, based on factual events, is portrayed from his point of view. Several major figures continue from the first to second volumes, including the King, the U.S. Ambassador to the Court of St. James, snake-in-the-grass Joseph Kennedy, and Winston's loyal friend and political confidant, Brendan Bracken . To provide a human face to events in France, Dobbs pens the characters of Don Chichester, a conscientious objector serving with the Royal Ambulance Corps, Claude, a downed and injured French pilot that Don patches up, and a spaniel, named "Winston" by Chichester for his constant barking, that adopts the two during their retreat to the Dunkirk beach. I was less enamored of NEVER SURRENDER than WINSTON'S WAR, though it's still a decent read. Dobbs moves back and forth between Churchill and Chichester; perhaps he should of stayed with the former for a leaner plot (since this is, after all, a saga about Winston). Churchill, plagued with feelings of deep inadequacy as he copes with defeatist ministers, intransigent generals, and a military disaster of biblical proportions, lives in the shadow of his politically disgraced and deceased father, with whose portrait he carries on imaginary conversations. Don's relationship with his own father, a stern and uncompromising Anglican vicar, has been strained ever since his mother died giving him birth. Indeed, the two are barely on speaking terms. Dysfunctional relationships between fathers and sons is very much a theme of this book, and I got the feeling that the author tried too hard to make the point, especially after Winston's debilitating obsession with his father's memory received such scant attention in WINSTON'S WAR. And furthermore, the whole Don/Claude thing seemed inconsequential window dressing. Indeed, the ending to this sidebar was so contrived for effect that I almost pitched the book into a corner. If there had to be a subplot at all, I would rather it had revolved around, say, Bertram Ramsay, the beleaguered Vice; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Lone Star Nation: How a Ragged Army of Volunteers Won the Battle for Texas Independence - and Changed America; Author: Visit Amazon's H.W. Brands Page; Review: LONE STAR NATION, by H. W. Brands, almost makes me want to do the tourist thing at the Alamo in San Antonio. But earlier this year, I saw THE ALAMO film starring Billy Bob Thornton et al, so maybe I'll just go to Oklahoma instead. That's just as rewarding as visiting Texas, right? This creditable narrative history of the area we now know as the Lone Star State really begins in 1821, when Stephen Austin, a debt-ridden and failed businessman, complies with his father's death-bed wish that he realize the latter's ambition of establishing a colony of expatriate Americans in the then Mexican province of Texas. The book ends in 1863 with the death of Sam Houston, the once-celebrated but failed Governor of Tennessee, who achieved personal redemption as the commander of the rebel Texan forces that beat the Mexican dictator General Santa Ana at the Battle of San Jacinto in 1836, and who went on to become the Texas Republic's first President and, after its admission to U.S. statehood, Senator and Governor. In between, the reader becomes acquainted with those other four men that play such a large role in Texas history and myth: Santa Ana, whose treatment of Texas and the Mexican central government is a lesson in self-aggrandizing ham-fistedness; Davy Crockett, the frontier legend and former U.S. Congressman from Tennessee, who sets out for Texas more out of curiosity than anything else; Jim Bowie of big knife fame, a veritable brigand, who seeks his fortune, ill-gotten or otherwise, in the troubled province; William Travis, who, after failing as a husband, lawyer, and newspaper publisher in Alabama, flees to Texas to gain eternal fame as the commander of the doomed Alamo garrison. LONE STAR NATION is an historical summary comprehensive enough in its details to satisfy one such as myself that once knew relatively little of the subject beyond Fess Parker's gallant death while playing the title role in Walt Disney's DAVY CROCKETT AT THE ALAMO (1955). To my mind, the volume comes across as quite even-handed when discussing the morality - if such a notion can be applied - surrounding Mexico's loss of Texas to the Manifest Destiny-minded Americans. Mexico's mistake was allowing any settlers from the States across the border in the first place, regardless of the newcomers' honest intentions. The province's location on the far periphery of the Mexican state, which made it next to impossible for the central government to effectively police against the subsequent flood of legal and illegal immigrants, and so difficult to populate with Mexican citizens from the interior, made the loss of the land virtually a foregone conclusion. There were honorable and dishonorable men on both sides of the conflict, and Mexico seemed to lose pretty much by default. Brand describes no right or wrong here, only the inexorable forward migration of a human population at a particular time and place - simply one more instance of such in the long evolution of human history. I'm not awarding five stars because, after describing the Battle of San Jacinto and the Texas Declaration; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Red Rabbit; Author: Visit Amazon's Tom Clancy Page; Review: In the multi-volume series featuring author Tom Clancy's Super Hero, John Patrick ("Jack") Ryan, RED RABBIT is inserted into the saga shortly after Jack saved the Prince and Princess of Wales from Irish terrorists, but some considerable period before he becomes President of the United States. Ryan is a busy boy. And it doesn't hurt the legend that his film roles have mostly been played by Indiana Jones, a.k.a. Harrison Ford. In the book, it's mid-1981, and Clancy builds his plot around the real-life assassination attempt on Pope John Paul II by Mehmet Ali Agca. The author capitalizes on the conspiracy theory that the whole thing was stage managed by the Bulgarian secret police at the behest of Yuri Andropov, then head of the KGB. At this point in his career, Jack is a CIA analyst on loan to Britain's SIS London HQ, Century House. Over in the KGB's Moscow Center, communications officer Major Zaitsev suffers a crisis of conscience after transmitting secret messages setting up the plot to kill the Pope. So, Zaitsev, replete with the knowledge of Soviet spies in the British and American governments, decides to defect to the West, and Ryan becomes involved in the Anglo-American operation to get him out. Clancy is apparently an unabashed patriot, and his Ryan creation is a Red, White and Blue amalgam of a Boy Scout and Miss Goody Two-Shoes. That's fine, except that Clancy, through Jack, gets too preachy. Thus, we have Ryan expounding to anyone who'll listen such pearls of wisdom as: "The problem is that (the Soviet) economic system doesn't reward people for doing good work. There's a saying in economics: 'Bad money drives out good.' That means poor performance will take over if good performance isn't recognized. Well, over there, mainly it isn't, and for their economy it's like cancer. What happens in one place gradually carries over to the whole system." And, regarding Jack's personal motivation: "But those doctrines (of the Catholic Church) were seen as a threat by the Soviet Union. What better proof of who the Bad Guys were in the world? Ryan had sworn as a Marine to fight his country's enemies. But here and now he swore to himself to fight against God's own enemies." Oh, puhleeze! Mind you, RED RABBIT was first published in 2002, a decade after the collapse of the Evil Empire and it's disposal onto the ash heap of history. Isn't it time for Clancy to snap out of it? Now, I've read other Jack Ryan thrillers in the distant past and found them pretty good. By former standards, I might even have liked this one more than I did because it does have a reasonably clever core plot, albeit badly in need of severe editing. But, I've grown jaded, or my tastes in literary trash have matured with age. Now, I much prefer - and highly recommend - the lean and mean thrillers by British author Gerald Seymour. In Seymour's fictional world, his protagonists are ordinary blokes with everyday problems caught up in conflicts at the world's grotty; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Ten Big Ones (Stephanie Plum Novels); Author: Visit Amazon's Janet Evanovich Page; Review: "Halfway through lathering with Ranger's shower gel I was barely able to focus. The scent seemed to swell around me ... and I was surrounded by Essence of Ranger... I was living a wet dream... Next time I broke into Ranger's apartment I would bring my own soap." Besides being a disaster-prone bounty hunter working for her bailbondsman cousin Vinnie in Trenton, NJ, Stephanie Plum has a history of man problems throughout the ten-book series in which she is the engaging heroine. Primarily, there's Joe Morelli, the Trenton plainclothes cop with whom she has a sexual history dating back to when both were pre-teens, and with whom she has a relationship that could be called committed if it weren't for the regular spats that keep Stephanie moving in and out of Joe's house like a revolving door. Then there's Ranger, the frighteningly capable ex-Special Forces type that runs his own security business and does the odd fugitive apprehension job on the side for Vinnie, all the while bailing Plum out of tight spots, much to Joe's jealous chagrin. Extremely mysterious, Ranger drives expensive black vehicles, dresses all in black, and presumably returns each night to an unknown location of fable and legend among admiring females known as the Bat Cave. Why, Ranger can set Stephanie's heart (and other body parts) aflutter simply by placing his hand on her back and intoning "Babe". I'm giving TEN BIG ONES the uncommonly low score of three stars. True, there's the usual series of wacky events and personalities that Plum fans savor. But after ten novels, that's to be expected and nothing new. Here, an unusual set of circumstances has Stephanie discovering what she perceives to be the Bat Cave while Ranger is out of town. Having recently moved out from Morelli's (again) in a huff, and needing a place to stay while hiding from a vicious street gang killer, Plum takes up uninvited residence in Ranger's space - and enjoys his shower gel. If you're a faithful follower of the Plum series, as I am, and remember what Stephanie has done to one or two of Ranger's vehicles and employees, then you can see the potential here. But it goes unrealized, and I can hardly believe that Evanovich missed the opportunity. TEN BIG ONES also suffers from an ending perhaps more abrupt than usual. On the other hand, we get to see in action Connie, Vinnie's office manager, one of those bit players heretofore pretty much ignored, much like both Vinnie himself and Plum's long-suffering Dad. As I assume that the Plum series has a very long run ahead - Evanovich being a victim of her own success - I can only hope that these characters will eventually be spotlighted. I've previously suggested Sandra Bullock to play Stephanie in any film adaptation. Now, let me propose Antonio Banderas as Ranger.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Light's on at Signpost; Author: Visit Amazon's George MacDonald Fraser Page; Review: "I write as a convinced Imperialist - which means that I believe that the case for the British Empire as one of the best things that ever happened to an undeserving world is proved, open and shut ... We did what we did, and it was worth doing, and no one could have done it better - or half as well." Bravo! Well, said. George MacDonald Fraser, author and film screenwriter, has delighted fans for decades with his Flashman series, his Private McAuslan series (THE GENERAL DANCED AT DAWN, McAUSLAN IN THE ROUGH, THE SHEIKH AND THE DUSTBIN), his history of the Anglo-Scottish border brigands (THE STEEL BONNETS), and his autobiography of his World War Two soldiering with General Slim's 14th Indian Army in Burma (QUARTERED SAFE OUT HERE). For those acquainted with these works, THE LIGHT'S ON AT SIGNPOST presents a Fraser not before seen. This book's thirty chapters are assorted, ten each, into three categories: "Shooting Script", "Angry Old Man", and "Interludes". In the first, Fraser reminisces about script writing for such films as the Musketeers trilogy, PRINCE AND PAUPER, SUPERMAN 1 and 2, FORCE TEN FROM NAVARONE, OCTOPUSSY, and RED SONJA. In the second, the author is at his outraged and irascible best as he rails against Britain's participation in the post-9/11 Fourth Afghan War, the contemptible incompetence of Members of Parliament in general ("government from the gutter") and the New Labour government in particular, the abolition of the death penalty, political correctness, women in the armed forces, the race relations industry, unrestricted foreign immigration, the dismal state of British print journalism and television, greed and dishonesty in professional sports, and Britain's membership in the European Union. Finally, in chapters headed "Interlude", Fraser ruminates on such diverse topics as the Act of Settlement, which bars Roman Catholics from the throne, boyhood trips to Scotland in the family caravan (trailer), the Anglo-American "special relationship", a trip to Russia, the British Empire, and ... "... the modern craze for garlic and peppers is symptomatic of Britain's decline. Time was when both were unknown here, and the atmosphere was not rendered hideous by a stench reminiscent of an inferior Paraguayan bordello. (I have never been in Paraguay; I merely surmise.)" For me, the best parts of THE LIGHT'S ON AT SIGNPOST are Fraser's political and social commentaries. Indeed, he uses such language that would cause Liberals to gnash their teeth and rend their robes. Luckily, I'm not a Liberal, so enjoyed his rants immensely. Less absorbing were his remembrances of the film industry, perhaps because I only saw one of the movies mentioned, although his descriptions of the personalities of Burt Lancaster, Oliver Hardy, Edward Fox, Robert Shaw, Harrison Ford, Steve McQueen, and Arnold Schwarzenegger were enlightening. The book's title refers to the grandstand scoreboard which monitors the Isle of Man's annual Tourist Trophy cross-country motorcycle race. As each contestant passes Signpost Corner, about a mile from the finish line, a light illuminates next to his slot on the scoreboard. Fraser recognizes that his life is coming to its natural end, and; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: War Diaries, 1939-1945; Author: Alan Brooke Viscount Alanbrooke; Review: "Running a war seems to consist in making plans and then ensuring that all those destined to carry it out don't quarrel with each other instead of the enemy." - Field Marshal Lord Alanbrooke WAR DIARIES is Alanbrooke's daily record of events, addressed to his beloved wife Benita, during the time that he was British II Corps commander in France, then head of (England's) Southern Command, then Commander-in-Chief of Home Forces, and finally Chief of the Imperial General Staff (CIGS) from December 1941. It isn't until page 205 of this monster 721 page narrative that Alanbrooke (AB) becomes CIGS. The reader would've been better served if this volume's editors had eliminated the first 204 pages, which are barely more than a series of entries with the flavor of that for 18 April 1941: "Left 8:15 am for Dover where I met Bulgy Thorne and Charles Allfrey and went round with them defences 43rd Div round from Dover through Walmer, Deal, Ramsgate, Margate, Herne Bay and Whitstable. Finally returned at 6:45 pm and put in an hour in the office." It isn't until AB becomes CIGS, when his perspective on the war becomes global and he interacts on a daily basis with Prime Minister Winston Churchill and his generals, and attends periodic conferences with Roosevelt and Stalin and their military chiefs, that AB's nightly jottings become interesting in an historical and personal sense. It's then you realize the truth behind AB's observation that heads this review. AB, rightly or wrongly, evidently considered himself to be the best war strategist available to the western Allies. His opinion of the strategic ability of Churchill and such military commanders as U.S. General Dwight Eisenhower, U.S. General George Marshall, U.S. Admiral Ernest King, and Louis Mountbatten (Supreme Commander, Southeast Asia) is positively scathing. Indeed, AB doesn't consistently say nice things about anybody except Field Marshal John Dill (his mentor and predecessor as CIGS), Joseph Stalin, and (briefly) U.S. General Douglas MacArthur (whom he never actually meets between these pages). The first post-war publication of AB's diary caused a stir on both sides of The Pond for its excoriation of Eisenhower and Churchill. Indeed, though AB admired and loved Winston as the superman without whom England would've lost the war, the latter's inconsiderate treatment of those around him and his gadfly approach to war strategy caused AB to write in frustration on 10 September 1944: "Never have I admired and despised a man simultaneously to the same extent." What comes across in WAR DIARIES is that Alanbrooke was the consummate staff officer - competent, dedicated, meticulous, organized, hard working to a fault, intelligent, honest, honorable, and persistent - upon whom Winston relied upon (without giving public credit) to haul the Empire back from the brink of defeat. Outside of his duties, however, AB was an oddly mild and unprepossessing man. His chief hobby was birdwatching; he liked to show bird films to friends who came to dine with him and Benita. Also, he seems a rather dour individual who took himself too seriously. There's no evidence in his; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Shopaholic & Sister: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Sophie Kinsella Page; Review: Fans of the Shopaholic series featuring the engaging yet exasperating Rebecca Bloomwood may savor the following rebuke delivered to her face by her ... sister?: "You're spoiled! ... Your whole life makes me sick. ... You're shallow and materialistic, and I've never met anyone so obsessed with their own appearance and shopping." In SHOPAHOLIC AND SISTER, the fourth book of the series by Sophie Kinsella, Becky is now Rebecca Brandon, wife of successful Luke Brandon, head of his own public relations firm. Just back from their 1-year, around-the-world honeymoon, during which Becky purchased more stuff than even Luke suspects until it's delivered to their London flat in two large lorries, Becky discovers that she has a sister. Half-sister, actually - her father's daughter, Jessica Bertram, conceived with a stewardess employed on the London to Carlisle train before he met Becky's Mum. Becky is thrilled; they can go shopping together, as well as do each other's nails. But to Becky's horror and despair, Jess is cut from different cloth; she's frugal to a fault, e.g. she reuses coffee grounds and makes kitchen scourers out of old onion bags, and carries a week's change of clothes in a brown rucksack. And she loathes to shop. SHOPAHOLIC AND SISTER is perhaps not as lighthearted throughout as the previous three. Through several chapters, Becky is bleakly despondent over what she perceives as a marriage on the rocks and failure to bond with Jess. But Becky's strongpoint has always been her resilience. Upon waking from unconsciousness after falling off a mountain ledge, she can observe the need for a manicure by the person waving a hand in front of her face asking, "How many fingers?" As much as the reader of the series might want to shout at Becky the reproach heading this review, the woman is unfailingly good-hearted and generous, and you just want to hug her - or shake her until her teeth rattle. Becky is one of the most winning heroines of trashy literature. By the end of the book, it's obvious where the author is going with the next installment. Keep 'em coming, Sophie!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: How I Came Into My Inheritance: and Other True Stories; Author: Visit Amazon's Dorothy Gallagher Page; Review: HOW I CAME INTO MY INHERITANCE by Dorothy Gallagher is a story of family, or rather, episodes from a family history. About halfway through, I realized that Dorothy's immediate forebears had a history much similar to mine. Around the time of the Bolshevik Revolution, her maternal grandparents and their youngest children emigrated to the U.S. from the Ukraine, following their three eldest children sent over previously. About the same time, my paternal grandparents emigrated to America from Romania with their youngest offspring, the oldest son having gone on before. In both cases, additional children were born in the States. There was a shared experience there, however nebulous, that made me appreciate this book more than I might have. Unlike the five-star SLEEPING ARRANGEMENTS by Laura Shaine Cunningham, HOW I CAME INTO MY INHERITANCE is less of a warm and fuzzy celebration of family. The latter is perhaps more interesting than engaging, more poignant than charming. Each exhibits its author's own brand of humor, Gallagher's being a bit drier. Cunningham's pivot is always herself growing up, while Gallagher's stories often focus on her mother, father, and various aunts with only tangential reference to herself. Gallagher's have a discontinuous feel, although there is a broad, overlying time frame. The politics of Dorothy's parents and aunts is perhaps unusual among written memoirs of the U.S. between the world wars. They were passionately Red. Lenin's photo had a place of honor on the wall; Uncle Joe Stalin and the victories of the Soviet armies against the Nazi invaders were much admired. During the Depression, capitalism in America appeared to be moribund, and the family was prepared to welcome the new socialist world order. Oddly, Gallagher doesn't mention how much of this revolutionary spirit she retained. Apparently, it just failed to take, as the political and religious passions of parents often do in their offspring. For me, HOW I CAME INTO MY INHERITANCE hit its stride and was at its most interesting when Gallagher recounts her early efforts as a writer, first scribbling dubious stories about celebrities in such scandal mags as "Screen Stars" and "Movie World", forerunners of today's checkstand tabloids. Then, there was the agony of her first book, ALL THE RIGHT ENEMIES: THE LIFE AND MURDER OF CARLO TRESCA. Saddest is the second-to-last chapter, "The Last Indian", about her youngest aunt, Rachile, otherwise mostly ignored up to that point. Rachile outlived all of her siblings, dying convinced that she'd been terribly wronged throughout life by her brothers and sisters. HOW I CAME INTO MY INHERITANCE suffers greatly from not including a section of visual snapshots. While Dorothy can see with her mind's eye, the reader needs to be shown faces. While it might not have made the narrative more joyful, it would've put flesh on the past and given it a more balanced perspective. (I remember my own maternal grandmother dying as a bitter, unhappy old woman. It's good that I have photos of her cheerfully and vibrantly young. One forgets from where the aged come.) It appears to me that writing this book; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Flashman in the Great Game: From the Flashman Papers, 1856-1858; Author: Visit Amazon's George MacDonald Fraser Page; Review: Though the Flashman series by George MacDonald Fraser has been in print for decades, this is the first book that I've read. Ok, I've been inexcusably tardy; I've been busy. As created by the author, the fictional Harry Flashman is an officer in the British Army during the reign of Queen Victoria. In FLASHMAN IN THE GREAT GAME, Flashy, by this time a colonel, is asked by Prime Minister Lord Palmerston to go to India to investigate unrest among sepoy troops, a potential uprising perhaps being fanned by Harry's old nemesis, Count Ignatieff of Russia. After Flashman arrives, he's forced to go underground by assuming the identity of a native enlistee in the 3rd Cavalry, Bengal Army - just in time to become embroiled in the Great Mutiny of 1857. Despite Flashy's growing reputation for heroism among the Army and Her Majesty's government, he's actually the greatest of cowards. His only interests are staying out of harm's way and having sex with as many women as possible. He's a rascal and a bounder of the first order. For female readers, Flashman is the man Mom warned about. For male readers, he is, perhaps, Everyman at heart. The charm of his memoirs, "The Flashman Papers", from which each book of the series is an excerpt, derives from the total honesty by which Flashy readily admits to his character deficiencies. It's only through canny opportunism, unwelcome circumstances, and luck that Harry's renown for derring-do increases with each installment. The appeal of Flashy's rascality aside, the strength of these stories is apparently the historical research that Fraser did to create the backdrop for Harry's adventures. In FLASHMAN IN THE GREAT GAME, the event is the savage 1857 uprising of Indian troops against their British masters that resulted in massacres of whites - men, women, and children - at such places as Meerut, Jhansi, and Cawnpore. The British reprisal was merciless. And Flashy is there to tell us all about it, as well as explain the cultural and religious factors that contributed to the bloodbath. As an instruction about something I knew nothing about, Harry's narrative more than justifies the cost of the book. (OK, so I got it free from an email pen pal. But, you get my meaning.) As I've no other Flashman novel for comparison, I was torn between awarding 4 and 5 stars. I settled on 4 as the safe option since that leaves room for improvement, which I may discover as I read additional volumes in the series. I do have to say, however, that I found Fraser's McAuslan trilogy more humorous and appealing, perhaps because the time, place, and protagonist are more contemporary.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Nazi Prisoners of War in America; Author: Visit Amazon's Arnold Krammer Page; Review: At age 55, I've finally learned something about an American experience that ended two years before I was born. About time, don't you think? NAZI PRISONERS OF WAR IN AMERICA is a concise and (apparently) comprehensive overview, which describes the incarceration of the roughly 375,000 captured members of the German military in 500+ camps and branch camps thoughout the United States from May 1942 to July 1946. The book's eight chapters summarize the process from initial capture and dispatch westward across the Atlantic through repatriation and return to Europe. In between, author Arnold Krammer depicts the general layout of the camps, the life behind barbed wire, the work and re-education programs, the escapes, and the ideological tensions between the ardently Nazi minority and non-Nazi majority that generally resulted in internal control of a camp's inmate population by the former prisoner group. Each chapter has a 4 to 8 page photo section relevant to its topic. The 44 pages of notes, based on a 15-page bibliography, indicate a commendable and thorough level of research. As an informative exercise about an interesting topic, I can't find fault with NAZI PRISONERS OF WAR IN AMERICA. As a work of popular history for one casually interested in the subject, it's completely satisfying in all respects. At times, there's even humor of a sort. In the chapter "Escapes", the author relates the incident wherein three U-boat submariners fled into the hills of Tennessee, where one was subsequently shot dead by an old granny defending her water pump. When told by the local deputy sheriff whom she'd killed, she broke down saying she'd never have fired if she'd known the men were Germans. Asked who she thought the intruders were, she replied: "I thought they wuz Yankees." Bobbie Lee would have been proud.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Distance from Normandy: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Jonathan Hull Page; Review: In THE DISTANCE FROM NORMANDY, two lives of quiet desperation, further divided by a two-generation gap, intersect. Mead, in his late 70s, lives in San Diego. His beloved wife of 51 years died of cancer three years previous. Now, he joylessly trudges from day to day living with her ghost - and the ghosts of his comrades killed in combat against the Nazis when they parachuted into Normandy on D-Day with the 101st Airborne. Oh, and Andrew, the difficult teenage son of his single-parent, dysfunctional daughter, is just pulling up at the curb for a visit. At 16, Andrew is a physically unprepossessing nerd. By his own estimation, he ranks 2,888 out of 3,000 on his high school's social ladder. He's ignored by girls, and bullied by boys. He was recently suspended for pulling a knife on one of his tormentors. Andrew's ghost is that of his best friend Matt, another social outcast, who recently committed suicide. Andrew is tempted to follow. Mead's first impression of Andrew: "What a punk, thought Mead, studying his grandson, whose enormous jeans could easily have fit on the biggest man in Mead's old rifle company. He wore dirty, unlaced sneakers ... and a large and rumpled black T-shirt with some sort of Satanic omen painted on it. He had a small, gold hoop earring in his left earlobe and his hair ... looked like it had been cut with shears, then fermented under a helmet for several weeks. In short, the boy looked like a refugee or drug freak." At one point, Andrew shouts at his grandfather: "You expect everybody to be like you, don't you? Well, I don't want to be like you! Why would anybody want to be like you? You don't have any friends, you don't do anything all day ... All you've got are your stupid medals and your stupid secret memories about stuff that happened decades ago ... Well, I don't want to turn out like you. I'd rather die." This visit should go well, don't you think? The prose of THE DISTANCE FROM NORMANDY doesn't have the powerful eloquence and elegance of Hull's previous work, LOSING JULIA, which perhaps has the capacity to reduce a sensitive person to tears (see my review dated 4-14-01). However, the strength of author Jonathan Hull's writing is that it poignantly conveys the human condition in general and that of his characters in particular. When, in flashback, Mead remembers for the reader his wartime experiences, one is perhaps reminded of the TV miniseries BAND OF BROTHERS, also about a company of 101st Airborne troopers fighting their way into Hitler's Reich. The crisis in the plot occurs when Mead discovers Andrew with his finger on the trigger of a Luger pistol, one of the former's wartime souvenirs. In a last, desperate effort to put some iron in the boy, Mead takes him for a tour of the Normandy battlefields. And it's there that Mead himself must confront his most implacable and most secret ghost. Only then can he be healed and become a role model for; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: SIX HOURS PAST THURSDAY; Author: Jack Payne; Review: SIX HOURS PAST THURSDAY is a morality tale for the new millennium if anyone, who's wheelin' an' dealin' and acquiring Stuff, has the time and inclination to read it. Steve Draves is a Chicago business broker whose self-proclaimed philosophy is: "... if you play your cards right, you get ... exposure to a wide variety of situations where you can gouge, fleece, make side deals, and work out kick-back arrangements." And the object, as regurgitated by Steve's friend/student, Mark, is to: "... see how close you can crowd up to the edge of the law without breaking it. As long as you keep your business within that framework - keep your nose technically clean, if not morally - you can make a fortune, perfectly legally and safely." In his professional and personal life, Draves isn't so much immoral as amoral. He won't break the law, but will utilize every legal scam in his repertoire to increase his financial worth, now approaching $2 million, which, in Steve's world of 1966, is a fair piece of change. And while Steve deeply loves his wife, Betty, he'll cheat on her any chance he gets. (Blonde Betty, built like a brick outhouse and dumb as a post, is selflessly dedicated to her husband. It's enough to make a radical feminist want to kill.) From past experience, Draves believes his life-changing good luck appears precisely at the end of 5-year cycles. The next is imminent. True, he hasn't had recent success getting to first base with Tina, Sandy, or his secretary, Deby. But, business has been good, though there is that risky association with the hard-nosed mobster, Johnny Patiense. But certainly, after a, um, no-nonsense conference with Johnny's security chief and quality assurance manager, Tony and Frank respectively, Steve's life takes a new direction. Redemption, perhaps. As a fictional framework within which author Jack Payne educates the reader, SIX HOURS PAST THURSDAY is first rate. However, whether the narrative should serve as a how-to-do or how-to-avoid primer of shady business practices, Payne leaves to his audience. Since justice of a sort is served by the book's conclusion, I gather that Payne's preference is that it be the latter. I'd award the book five stars for conceptual cleverness, but only three for plot credibility and the ability of its "hero" to engage the sympathy of the reader. Indeed, Drave is such an oil slick that I hardly cared what became of him in what was, for me, an overly contrived finale. The readers' sympathies will likely remain with the secondary characters that Steve uses and manipulates, especially the women in his life. This seems to violate what I learned in high school English Lit, i.e., that a necessary component of fiction is a major protagonist for whom one can cheer. But, never mind, SIX HOURS PAST THURSDAY is a worthwhile read for that next flight out of town to close the Big Deal.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Other Side of Russia: A Slice of Life in Siberia and the Russian Far East (Eugenia & Hugh; Author: Visit Amazon's Sharon Hudgins Page; Review: In THE OTHER SIDE OF RUSSIA, the University of Maryland University College has established a joint undergraduate degree program in business management with the Far Eastern State University in Vladivostok and the State University in Irkutsk. In the summer of 1993, author Sharon Hudgins and her husband, Tom, packed off to Siberia and the Russian Far East to serve as teachers in this cooperative venture, while the former was also Maryland's on-site program coordinator in both cities. This book chronicles their experiences from their arrival until their departure in December 1994. Whether she's describing the immensity of pristine Lake Baikal, the problematic living conditions in their high-rise apartment, local customs and food of the Buryat people, the vagaries and perils of shopping for household necessities, maddening water and electricity outages, local festivals, the growing pains of a free-market economy, the university students' learning ethic, or the conviviality and generosity of their Russian friends, Hudgins has a keen eye for small details, as when describing an open air market: "An Uzbek woman ... sold raisins and nuts in small paper cones made out of official forms from the Irkutsk Municipal Water Department ... In one part of the market, a pretty teenage girl, wearing a garish, flower-printed dress and a thousand-yard stare, held a handful of peacock feathers and sipped a can of Dr Pepper, while in another section two older women, both drunk, tried to punch each other out in a fist fight." I haven't been so engaged by a travel essay about Russia since Hedrick Smith's 1976 bestseller, THE RUSSIANS. My only criticism is the relative lack of photographs - only a couple at most per chapter. Luckily, Sharon's poetic prose paints pictures almost as effective as snapshots, as this from her vantage point on the Trans-Siberian Railroad: "A profusion of wildflowers carpeted the meadows, like an Impressionist painting exuberantly expanding beyond the limits of canvas and frame: undulating shades of yellow, gold, and blue, maroon and magenta, soft pink and pristine white, the pale purple globes of wild onions gone to seed, thousands of red-orange tiger lilies, whole fields of dark purple Siberian irises, and occasionally a single red poppy or two, like a stubborn symbol of politics past. Outside Chita a small lake glistened under the midnight moon." For me, a travel narrative is all it can be if it makes me want to go there myself. THE OTHER SIDE OF RUSSIA accomplishes that. Well, maybe for just a brief visit, perhaps, because I certainly wouldn't want to live there.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: McCarthy's Bar: A Journey of Discovery In Ireland; Author: Visit Amazon's Pete McCarthy Page; Review: Author and humorist Pete McCarthy, son of an Irish mother and English father, has an identity crisis. His feeling of belonging in the English Midlands having gotten lost somewhere along the way, he searches for his roots and a sense of "home" in the west of Ireland - a journey of discovery and social commentary as related here in McCARTHY'S BAR, the first of his two books on the joys and angst of an Irish heritage. Whether he's climbing to the top of Ireland's holiest mountain, Croagh Patrick, stopping for a pint at every "McCarthy's Bar" he stumbles upon, enduring a three-day ordeal of fasting, sleep deprivation and barefoot praying at the country's last remaining place of rigorous religious pilgrimage, St. Patrick's Purgatory at Lough Derg, crashing the touristy medieval banquet at Bunratty Castle, taking the dodgy cable car across treacherous waters to Dursey Island, or seeking out the "Ryan's Daughter" commemorative stone on the Dingle Peninsula, McCarthy's narrative is a revelatory introduction to Eire's rugged western counties. And, Pete's strength is always his keen eye for and pungent commentary on the absurdities of the local human condition. "Outside the church (in Castletownbere) half a dozen shifty-looking men are lurking by the porch, observing their obligation to attend mass, but without actually entering the building and being spotted by the priest ... Hunched and restless, their furtive, well-practiced body language doesn't say 'Church' so much as 'Unemployment Office' or 'Magistrate's Court'. Ireland may be becoming a more secular society, but some deeply ingrained vestige of belief has convinced these guys they're more likely to avoid eternal damnation if they spend an hour every Saturday night having a few smokes outside the church before going out for a skinful. It's a complex business, modern theology." McCarthy and Bill Bryson are my two favorite travel essayists. But whereas the latter's gentle observations are fueled by a certain bemused inquisitiveness, Pete's, though basically benign, seem to be colored by a mild case of indigestion. I can't say that I prefer one over the other; it depends on my mood. Certainly, if McCarthy proves to be as prolific a writer as Bill, then his publisher is assured of my dollars. McCarthy perhaps hit his stride with his second book, THE ROAD TO McCARTHY, to which I awarded five stars. McCARTHY'S BAR seemed a bit forced at times, e.g. in the chapter about the author's travails in St. Patrick's Purgatory. However, as a half-century resident of Southern California, in which place I've never felt entirely comfortable, I can relate to the quote attributed by the author to his friend on Inishmore Island, Father Dara Molloy, a Catholic priest - now married with three children - gone rogue from established Church doctrine: "The Celtic monks would wander round Europe until they found the place that was calling to them ... They had an expression for it: seeking their place of resurrection. They believed that they were beneath that spot in the firmament that would one day lead them to heaven." PS: Today, 7/19/05, I received an email from; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Guns of Normandy: A Soldier's Eye View, France 1944; Author: George Blackburn; Review: In this second volume of a trilogy by a former very junior officer, George Blackburn, in the Canadian Royal Artillery, the author records his experiences, and those of the Canadian 2nd Infantry Division in general, in World War II's western European campaign. The first book, WHERE THE HELL ARE THE GUNS?, covers the training in Canada and England of Blackburn's unit, the 4th Field Artillery Regiment, from its formation to June 1944. This book, THE GUNS OF NORMANDY, describes the 4th Field's actions in northern France from early July 1944 to its arrival at the Seine River in late August. The final installment, THE GUNS OF VICTORY, chronicles the advance from the Seine into the Third Reich via the Benelux countries. THE GUNS OF NORMANDY is one of the most compelling descriptions of men embroiled in modern land warfare that I've ever read. It gives (over)due credit to the Canadian efforts in the war against Hitler, this effort having been largely ignored in popular history next to those of its British and American allies. As Blackburn states regarding Canadian battle casualties in Normandy: "The two infantry divisions (2nd and 3rd) accounted for 78 percent: 7,869 dead, wounded, or missing per division, the highest casualty rate in all fifteen divisions in 21st Army Group." Note: at this time, the 21st British Army Group comprised two of the four allied armies attempting to consolidate their Normandy foothold immediately after the D-Day invasion. Although, late in the book, the author acknowledges the comradeship fostered among the troops of his artillery unit, the 2nd Battery of 4th Field, the reader may not be as mindful of such as compared to its portrayal in, say, BAND OF BROTHERS, the exemplary popular history of a company of 101st Airborne paratroops from D-Day to the war's end, subsequently made into an HBO TV miniseries by Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks, perhaps the best miniseries produced in the history of television. At times, Blackburn and his fellow GPOs (Gun Position Officer), seem almost like independent operators. Perhaps it's the distracting 2nd person viewpoint ("You ...") the author employs to describe his own battlefield experiences. I wish Spielberg and Hanks would produce a miniseries on 4th Field's exploits; it would be a visually powerful blockbuster hit. (George, can you land a Hollywood deal?) At times in the narrative, following the complex movements of various artillery, armored, and infantry units across the French terrain is difficult. The author provides a couple of reasonably detailed maps of the principal combat area between Caen and Falaise that help considerably. But Blackburn is at his best when describing the isolated experiences of himself and others interviewed for the history. At one point, exhausted infantry grunts resting alongside a road stand up and cheer a passing arty column, something of a pleasant surprise to the latter, which apparently suffered an inferiority complex relative to the "footsloggers". At another, a trooper notable for his compulsive attention to personal appearance and hygiene jumps off a vehicle in darkness and lands on, and breaks through, the bloated belly of; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Vets (Stephen Leather Thrillers); Author: Visit Amazon's Stephen Leather Page; Review: By rights, THE VETS should be a 5-star read. I'm taking this opportunity for self-appraisal to try and understand why, for me, it's not. It's a couple of years before Hong Kong is to revert to Red China. Chinese expatriate Anthony Chung meets in Paris with ex-U.S. Army Special Forces Colonel Joel Tyler to set in motion plans for the Heist of the Century in Britain's last jewel in the crown. To that end, Tyler implements an elaborate scheme to recruit other U.S. Army vets of the Vietnam war for the venture. He ultimately attracts ex-Huey pilot Dan Lehmen, a phony investments scammer on the run from the Mob, ex-Tunnel Rat Eric Horvitz, a border-line sociopath living alone in the Canadian woods, ex-Huey door gunner Larry Carmody, who left Nam with a chip on his shoulder and minus one forearm, and ex-Huey crew chief Barton Lewis, a lonely divorc recently diagnosed with terminal stomach cancer. Then there's ex-Air America, i.e. CIA, chopper pilot Chuck Doherty, who fled a murderous Special Forces operation in Laos, only to stash his Huey in the Thai jungle and live as a Buddhist monk these last twenty-two years. This thriller is intricately constructed with more than the usual amount of character development. There's even a plot twist, although the reader is let into the secret 120 pages before the book's conclusion and it's left only to see how Dan, Eric, Larry, Bart, and Chuck fare before the dust settles. THE VETS is actually a hard book to put down, but I was left with a niggling dissatisfaction. I think it's because there wasn't anybody serving as a protagonist whom I could cheer on from the sidelines, though Lewis perhaps comes the closest. The ultimate beneficiary of the plot is only introduced seven pages before the last, and my reaction was "Why should I care?" In the meantime during the previous 557 pages, our "heroes" have shown a willingness to break the law and/or have been instrumental in ruining the lives of people who, if not always likable, are at least innocent bystanders in the conventional sense. Now, mind you, I'm no goody two shoes. If I was starving, I'd forcefully shove into the gutter an 80-year old granny reaching for the world's last slice of pizza. But, that wasn't the case here, and I'm knocking one star off THE VETS for it's lack of a moral lynch pin.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Quiller Balalaika; Author: Visit Amazon's Adam Hall Page; Review: This was the last Quiller novel written before author Adam Hall, the pen name of Elleston Trevor, died of cancer in July 1995. I started reading Quiller spy thrillers when I was a teenager, when the Cold War was at its coldest. This final one is, for me, like the rose that Quiller stipulated be sent to his Moira by the Bureau in London in the event of his death in the field. Here, in QUILLER BALALAIKA, the KGB is pass. The mission, demanded by the British Prime Minister and controlled by the Bureau's Chief of Signals, the legendary Croder himself, is so high priority that Quiller demands and gets his favorite Director in the Field, Ferris, who must be yanked off a Beijing operation just about to enter a dodgy end phase. But the "Balalaika" mission is that important - the PM wants neutralized a major figure in the Russian mafiya, Vasyl Sakkas, a British criminal who'd previously escaped one of Her Majesty's prisons after killing two guards, and who's now undermining the struggling Russian economy, and thus the stability of the Yeltsin government, with his rapacious activities. Quiller is a spy's spy, whereas James Bond is a man's or lady's spy depending on his activity of the moment. Quiller is virtually faceless, blending with his environment as needs dictate, whereas 007 is all flash in a tux. Bond relies on gadgets; Quiller relies only on his own physical endurance and natural skills - he doesn't even carry a gun. Bond has ability; Quller has ability AND street smarts. If the two were to go one on one, I'd place my bet on Quiller. The Commander will fraternize with anything that moves, especially if female; Quiller's the ultimate asocial loner. In decades of Quiller thrillers, his only point of caring contact with the rest of the human race is apparently Moira, about whom the reader otherwise knows virtually nothing. The last two chapters of QUILLER BALALAIKA are afterwords by his son, Jean-Pierre, and his wife, Chaille. From them, we understand that the book was written in the last year of Trevor's life as he battled the disease that would ultimately kill him. Indeed, the last paragraphs were transcribed by Jean-Pierre as his father spoke them just three days before he expired. As I age, I'm occasionally saddened by the death of a public figure whose contribution to our world consistently enriched mine through the decades. Based on personal preference, I deeply regret the absence of Gregory Peck, Jimmy Stewart, Audrey Hepburn, Bob Hope, The Big D (ex-Dodger pitcher Don Drysdale), and historian Barbara Tuchman. And "Adam Hall". A rose for Moira - and for me.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Uncle Tungsten: Memories of a Chemical Boyhood; Author: Visit Amazon's Oliver Sacks Page; Review: "... I wanted to lay hands on cobaltite and niccolite, and compounds or minerals of manganese and molybdenum, of uranium and chromium ... I wanted to pulverize them, treat them with acid, roast them, reduce them - whatever was necessary - so I could extract their metals myself." In the life of a pre-pubescent boy, whatever happened to the simple pleasures of sports, chasing girls to pull their pigtails, or playing cowboys and Indians? UNCLE TUNGSTEN is the childhood memoir of Oliver Sacks, who, as the son of two physicians in 1930s and 40s London, adopts more cerebral interests. Actually, let's call them obsessions, e.g., Mendeleev's Table of the Elements: "I copied it into my exercise book and carried it everywhere ... I spent hours now, enchanted, totally absorbed, wandering, making discoveries, in the enchanted garden of Mendeleev." Oliver's propensity for intellectual pursuits was further encouraged by his two maternal uncles, Dave and Abe, two scientist/business entrepreneurs, the former nicknamed UNCLE TUNGSTEN for his preoccupation with that element and his process for manufacturing tungsten light bulbs. This engaging and instructive volume is the author's narrative of his life from age 6 to 15, beginning in 1939 at the beginning of WWII, when he was protectively sent out of London to a boarding school. Returning in 1943, he set up his own household lab and began experimenting with a vengeance, his chief interest being metals and their properties. The text is leavened with descriptions of his home life, his parents and brothers, and summaries of the achievements of giants in the field of Chemistry: John Dalton, Robert Boyle, the Curies, Antoine Lavoisier, Dmitri Mendeleev, Ernest Rutherford, Michael Faraday, and others. UNCLE TUNGSTEN is a short, popular history of the science. I'm not awarding 5 stars because obsessions, especially someone else's, can become tiresome. Even Oliver's parents, responsible as any for his scientific curiosity, could be driven to distraction. At one point on a family auto trip, the young Sacks blathers on about one of his favorite elements for twenty minutes in the back seat until his father shouts, "Enough about thallium!" By the age of 15, Oliver's preoccupation with chemistry began to ebb as the hormones of adolescence began to flow. The boy, becoming a young man, discovers music and sex. Those then around him should thank the Almighty for puberty; he was becoming an insufferable eccentric. He grew up to be a neurologist.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Enemy (Jack Reacher, No. 8); Author: Visit Amazon's Lee Child Page; Review: In the previous seven books of the Jack Reacher series, author Lee Child positions his hero in space and time after his release from active duty with the U.S. Army's Military Police. We've gotten to know Jack as a relatively asocial tough guy who wanders the United States attracting big trouble as he helps others cope with assorted villains. Here, in THE ENEMY, we see Reacher in his previous life as an MP officer. It's New Year's Eve 1989, and Major Reacher has only just been yanked off duty in Panama and hurriedly assigned to Fort Bird, North Carolina as the Executive Officer of the post's MP detachment. As the MP Commanding Officer is on leave, Jack is Fort Bird's acting top cop. At the stroke of midnight, Reacher gets a call from the local civilian police saying they've found a dead general in a cheap hotel room. He'd apparently died of a heart attack while entertaining a hooker. The deceased turns out to be General Kramer of XII Armored Corps deployed in Germany. Kramer had been traveling to California for a Big Meeting, and had gone far out of his way from a Washington, DC layover for a night's sleazy good time. Trouble is, the general's briefcase containing the meeting agenda has disappeared, and Jack's duty is to find it. Soon enough, the bodies begin to pile up, mostly of murder victims. And Reacher is pressured from above to stand down from his investigations or be charged himself with one of the killings. But Jack bulls ahead anyway in the trademark Reacher style that his fans have learned to expect. THE ENEMY strikes me as the most complex Reacher thriller to date. Perhaps too complex. Reacher's personality is unadorned. (In a previous book, we learn that he doesn't even know how to fold a shirt.) His rapport with any Bad Guy involves kicking butt. Here, when the Army is faced with the imminent retreat of Soviet forces from East Germany following the collapse of the Berlin Wall, and the service's various disciplines - infantry, armored, special forces, etc. - must now individually engage in skullduggery to ensure its pre-eminence in a revamped, post-Cold War military, the subtleties of the situation perhaps ill-fit Jack's black-and-white, simplistic approach. But, of course, Reacher prevails in his usual manner, thus providing a superficially satisfying read. What causes me to give four stars instead of five is my overreaction to the author's poor research on a couple of points. Towards the end, Reacher must fly to LAX in Los Angeles, then drive to a military base north of Barstow. Jack notes that LAX and Barstow are 30 miles and a 1-hour drive apart. What map was Lee, who lives in New York City, looking at?! The two are more like 150 miles apart, or a 2.5-hour drive on a good day through SoCal traffic. On another occasion, Reacher observes about the Army's promotion ladder: "... the ladder stretches all the way up to a five-star General of the Army, although I wasn't aware of anyone except; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Sex Lives of Cannibals; Author: J. Maarten Troost; Review: ROMAN HOLIDAY is one of my favorite films, and, after having seen it on multiple occasions, I visited Rome for the first time. You know, compared to the Hollywood version, the real Rome is a dump. Maybe it's just because I didn't have Audrey Hepburn on my arm. In THE SEX LIVES OF CANNIBALS, I gather that author J. Maarten Troost's collision with the South Seas reality of "tropical paradise" was somewhat similar. In mid-1990's, Troost follows his girlfriend Sylvia to Tarawa, capital of the Equatorial Pacific country of Kiribati, otherwise known as the Gilbert Islands. Kiribati, comprising 33 islands roughly the area of greater Baltimore, is spread over an expanse of water the size of the United States. Sylvia had gotten a job as the new country director of the FSP (Foundation for the Peoples of the South Pacific), a do-gooder organization working out of Washington, DC. Maarten and Sylvia lived on Tarawa, specifically South Tarawa, for two years. Troost has the humorous style reminiscent of another of my favorite travel essayists, Pete McCarthy. It has bite, as when Marteen describes the shenanigans of Kiribati government officials: "As far as I could tell, the government spends a lot of time drinking and brawling. No workshop on global climate change is complete until the assistant secretary of the environment has passed out in a pool of beer barf ..." And sometimes, he's right on, as when he mulls the fate of History in the United States: " ... history is largely paved over, abandoned, and relegated to textbooks so shockingly dull that they could only have been written by politically correct creationists whose sole objective was to offend no one." Hear, hear! Troost is also not above wry self-deprecation, as when he introduces himself to an island group according in the Kiribati tradition: "Maarten, son of Herman of Holland, had a medieval ring. True, it wasn't as evocative as say Vlad the Impaler, but still, Maarten, son of Herman of Holland, suggested trouble." Troost learns early on that Tarawa, the site of the bloody WWII assault by the Second Marine Division on the occupying Japanese garrison, is no tropical paradise. True, there are the glorious sunsets, crystal clear lagoons, and the achingly radiant colors of ocean, sky and palms, but there are also the feces-strewn beaches, piles of garbage, a monotonous diet (mostly fish), the suffocating heat, bad water, unreliable electrical service, no availability of mainstream print media, wretched airline connections, diseases, intestinal parasites, poor health care, a disinterested government bureaucracy, and, perhaps worst of all, no place to go. Yet, despite all this, Maarten and Sylvia discover a life, or rather a quality and pace of life, more genuine than is found back in the States. Indeed, two years after returning to Washington from Kiribati, the two return to Oceana - first to Vanuatu, then Fiji - for several years before relocating permanently to the original Land of Make Believe, California. THE SEX LIVES OF CANNIBALS contains no photos of Maarten, Sylvia, or Tarawa, or even a map of the atoll;; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: On the Wing: To the Edge of the Earth with the Peregrine Falcon;( Rough Cut); Author: Visit Amazon's Alan Tennant Page; Review: ON THE WING by Alan Tennant is a book ideally suited for lovers of wildlife, particularly of the feathered and flying sort. Geeks dedicated to inanimate interests will perhaps be left behind on the ground. A naturalist and ecologist, Tennant appears to have a working knowledge of many things rather than being an expert in any one. Here, the author's fascination is with peregrine falcons, including one he named Amelia: "... from the first what had crystallized Amelia in my heart was her invisible drive, her all-encompassing quest for home ... It was the grail I had sought long ago, on the prairie marshes of my boyhood - a time when I'd had no real home and had longed to join the cranes, join the geese, join every hawk and skittering shorebird whose breast burned with the power of return to the distant harbors I also sought." Published in 2004, ON THE WING is a narrative of events in the 1980s when Tennant, peripherally involved with a U.S. Army project to identify with radio beacons the migration routes of peregrine falcons, gets infected with the tracking bug big time. Teaming up with an aging, World War II combat flight instructor, George Voss, and the latter's single-engine Cessna Skyhawk, Alan bands a beacon to Amelia and follows her in the air from the Texas coast northward along the spine of the Rockies into Canada before she passes beyond existing airplane landing strips to disappear into her summer home, the Alaskan tundra. Some months later, Tennant, Voss, and the Skyhawk follow three banded falcons - Delgada, Gorda, and Anukiat - south towards their winter home in Central and South America. In between, the author describes time he spent in Alaska observing nesting falcons, coping with the ever-present mosquitos and mud, and avoiding grizzly bears. About the mosquitos, he writes: "In the mornings ... battalions coated my breakfast cereal. Scraping them off only allowed new hordes to fling themselves onto the path I'd just shaved with my spoon, and eventually I simply shoveled down their hairy ranks along with the underlying oats." Hmm, perhaps the product development division of Kellogg's should take note of a promising new product line. The narrative achieves considerable charm and intellectual interest as the author occasionally branches out into a variety of subjects: the history of falconry, the hunting practices of polar bears, the dangers posed by the environmental pollutants DDT, paraquat - both defoliants - and polychlorinated biphenyls, the depredations of the evil petrochemical companies in Mexico and Alaska's Artic Slope, and the rise and fall of the Mayan city Xunantunich. And then there are the close calls with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Central American drug runners, and two British RAF Harrier jets. I'm not awarding five stars because Tennant's fixation ultimately gets tiresome. Alan's mania even takes a toll on his personal life, as he candidly admits. At forty-six years of age, the author has an on-again, off-again relationship with Jennifer, a liaison that suffers because he's not willing to give up gallivanting around the continent and; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Eyewitness; Author: Visit Amazon's Stephen Leather Page; Review: "... (Solomon) reckoned that sitting in a car with an Albanian pimp, his bodyguard and two heavily armed Croatian thugs on he way to a shoot-out in a Bosnian brothel would make anyone nervous." Such is the approaching moment of truth for Jack Solomon, an investigator employed with the International War-dead Commission in the Balkans. Jack's job is to coordinate the identification by DNA of the bodies of civilians killed in the ethnic cleansing atrocities in Kosovo and Bosnia, and then notify surviving family members. Jack's latest case involves twenty-six Bosnian Muslims - men, women and children from the same extended family - found locked in the back of a refrigerator truck at the bottom of a lake. Death had been by suffocation some three years previous. But the chill of the lake had preserved the bodies perfectly, and Solomon takes the presence among the dead of an eighteen-month old girl, still clutching her teddy bear, hard. Further investigation indicates that one member of the clan survived, sixteen-year old Nicoletta. Jack's self-imposed mission is to track her down so she can testify before the War Crimes Tribunal. But the girl has run, apparently disappearing into the dark world of indentured prostitution. After Jack runs afoul of one of the region's most vicious and powerful criminal bosses, his boss sends him back to the safety of London, where, as chance would have it, Nicoletta is now an escort agency hooker. THE EYEWITNESS is a fascinating look at the callous, and sometimes appallingly vicious, business of international trafficking in prostitutes. Author Stephen Leather's description of the London sex-for-money scene, from the girls working out of the traditional Soho walk-ups to the burgeoning Web-based outcall/incall enterprises, is comprehensive. Research in depth, I'd say. While Solomon is undeniably the Good Guy in this thriller, and there are also Bad Guys depraved enough to make your skin crawl, perhaps some of the most interesting characters are those falling somewhere in between in the most unexpected ways. Indeed, there's a plot twist at the end that was completely unexpected. In the Acknowledgements, Leather thanks working girls "Angela, Francesca, Jessica, Kim and Sophie" for their insights into the flesh trade. Perhaps it's from them that one of the author's characters, Inga, leaves us the message: "I chose this life. I wasn't forced into it ... We do what we must to survive ... and we make the best of it." I think that those words could come from any of us, especially from myself as I drive into the 9 to 5 that I sometimes abhor.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: China Diaries: A novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Louis Stannard Page; Review: OK, so let's say I'd an interest in both the 1975 Apollo-Soyuz space mission and the murder of millions of Cambodians by Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge in the mid-70s, and had the dubious idea of writing a novel incorporating the two topics. How would I go about stitching these two wildly disparate themes together? In CHINA DIARIES, author Louis Stannard's intent is to educate the reader about Pan American's trans-Pacific service to the Orient via its China Clipper flying boats in the latter half of the 1930s, as well as to lay bare the barbarisms perpetuated by the Japanese military against the Chinese of Nanking between December 1937 and March 1938. This book's timeline, straightened out by me for simplicity's sake, begins in Shanghai in 1936, where 18-year old Anna Boreisha lives with her parents, members of the Russian aristocracy forced to flee their country by the Bolshevik Revolution and now living in China as undocumented expatriates. Anna gets a job with the Chinese National Airline Corporation (CNAC), a Pan Am subsidiary. As the Japanese invade China in the mid-1930s, Anna witnesses first hand the invader's horrific Rape of Nanking. The young woman escapes, washing up, still employed with CNAC, in Hong Kong, where she meets Pan American Second Officer Alex Cannon. The two are married on December 8th during the initial stages of the Japanese assault on the Crown Colony, and a day after Pearl Harbor. Alex decides to take his new wife back to the States, and they flee by flying west to New York on a China Clipper marooned in Asia by the war's outbreak. Back in America, Anna soon gives birth to a son, Stephen, whom she immediately leaves behind with her in-laws to return to Southeast Asia to be near Alex, now flying military supplies over The Hump, and to try and extricate her parents from Shanghai. Anna disappears in China in 1942. Conveniently, Anna is a dedicated diarist, and she leaves journals scattered all over the world, and which serve to tie the plot together. Stannard's timeline is overly complex. He begins his story in 1994 with an adult Stephen Cannon, a pilot with Trans Artic Airlines. Stephen has his mother's diaries from late 1941 to just prior to her disappearance. In New York, he's contacted by a young Chinese student whose great-uncle, just escaped from Red China, once facilitated Anna's escape from Nanking, and who claims has more of her journals. As Stephen wings his way to Hong Kong to meet the old man, the author switches to late 1941 and relates the love story and freedom flight to the US of Anna and Alex. Then, switching back to 1994, Stephen collects Anna's diaries from 1936 to 1938, to which time Stannard returns with Anna's story for that period. Then, jumping forward again to 1994, Stephen discovers yet more of his mother's journals written after her "disappearance", as well as witnesses to her activities immediately prior, and the storyline ends with those events. All the while in the 1994 "present", Stephen is menaced; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Guns of Victory: A Soldier's Eye View, Belgium, Holland, and Germany, 1944-45; Author: George Blackburn; Review: And a stirring tale it is! In a magnificent trilogy by a former junior officer in the Canadian Royal Artillery, George Blackburn records his experiences as a Forward Observation Officer (FOO), and those of the Canadian 2nd Infantry Division in general, in World War II's western European campaign. The first book, WHERE THE HELL ARE THE GUNS?, covers the training in Canada and England of Blackburn's unit, the 4th Field Artillery Regiment, from its formation in 1939 to June 1944. The second book, THE GUNS OF NORMANDY, describes the 4th Field's actions in support of the 2nd Division in northern France from early July 1944 to its arrival at the Seine River in late August. This final installment, THE GUNS OF VICTORY, chronicles the advance from the Seine into the Third Reich via the Benelux countries to VE-Day, May 8, 1945. Should you read this series, you will, like me, come away with a heightened and supreme regard for the valor of the Canadian Army from D-Day to the end of the war and the value of massed artillery to the combat efficiency and survival of infantry units. Blackburn's personal account is perhaps the best description of men in modern war that I've ever read. The author's narrative is not a detached one. He brings you along into the mud, cold, rain, fatigue, terror, devastation, and apocalyptic arty barrages of the conflict's leading edge. There are too many excellent passages to enumerate, but I shall give two examples. At one point, Blackburn's observation post is in a Dutch windmill on the very border of Germany. As the Army brass plans the advance into the Reich, the author's vantage point becomes widely heralded as having the best view of the ground to be fought over, and to it, as if on pilgrimage, come the high and low, including Lt.-Gen. Guy Simonds, Commander of 2nd Canadian Corps, and Lt.-Gen. Brian Horrocks, Commander of British XXX Corps. But the interesting perception by Blackburn is the way the various officer ranks used battlefield maps. "Corps commanders ... planning the best use of 450,000 men, swept open hands across map boards ... Division commanders and brigade commanders, reviewing the role of their brigades and battalions, stroke their maps with two fingers held together. Then come battalion commanders using a single finger for similar purposes in meetings with company commanders. But when company commanders returned with platoon commanders, maps were marked with razor-sharp pencils." Much later, at a company command post, the author comes upon a Major Stothers and the Company Sgt.-Major opening parcels from home mailed to men already killed, the contents distributed to the survivors, and enclosed letters put into a pile. "(Stothers) hands one across the table to you without comment. It is a hand-written note of only a few lines: 'Dear Son, the papers tell us that it is very wet where the Canadians are fighting now. So please, Dear, always be sure to wear your rubbers and keep your feet dry.' When you look up at Stothers, he tells you that her boy; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Gregory Peck : A Biography; Author: Visit Amazon's Gary Fishgall Page; Review: Gary Fishgall's GREGORY PECK is an admiring and uncritical look at the actor. Perhaps the only balance is provided by Peck's own words: "I've had my ups and downs. There have been times when I wanted to quit. Times when I hit the bottle. Girls. Marital problems. I've touched most of the bases." About those bases, Fishgall is protectively reticent. However, as a Gregory Peck fan all of my adult life, this bio, while not leading me to more than a superficial understanding of the man, is a comprehensive examination of his life as an actor, first in live theater and then in front of the motion picture cameras. The author's progression through the decades of Gregory's career is methodical almost to a fault. A useful section at the end is a filmography of fifty-three feature films and four television appearances, with the availability of each in either videotape and/or DVD format noted. (The list is perhaps somewhat out of date. For example, MACARTHUR's availability is listed as video only, but a DVD edition now exists.) Perhaps the highlights of the book were, for me, the trivia revealed. Did you know that Robert Mitchum (co-starring in CAPE FEAR) has a photographic memory and can learn his lines by reading the script just before a scene is shot? Or that while shooting GUNS OF NAVARONE on Rhodes, where, as one journalist put it, "The food is awful, everything shuts up early, and unlike most Greeks, the islanders tether their daughters and let the goats wander free", co-star Anthony Quinn kept the stars from dying of boredom with several portable chess sets brought from home? And best of all, the child star (Harvey Stephens) that played Damien in OMEN literally got the part after demonstrating to director Richard Donner a certain demonic streak - he punched Donner in the gonads. Fishgall obviously did a lot of research. On page 260, however, he flatly states that California's incumbent Democratic governor, Edmund Brown, won re-election in 1966. Since actor Ronald Reagan was, in fact, the winner - a victory which catapulted him into national political prominence, and eventually led to his election as President - I found the author's factual failure on this small point to be appalling, and perhaps called into question the accuracy of other material in the book. I mean, I wouldn't expect a recent Golden State high school graduate to even know who either Brown or Reagan was, the quality of general education these days being what it is. But should the author of a major, fact-based text make such a gaffe? Despite its shortcomings, GREGORY PECK satisfied my curiosity about the legendary actor, and then some; I don't think I need to read further. On that basis, 4 stars is appropriate.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Flashman's Lady; Author: Visit Amazon's George MacDonald Fraser Page; Review: In the 1966 screen adaptation of A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS, Sir Thomas More (Paul Scofield) advises his daughter Meg (Susannah York): "If (God) suffers us to come to such a case that there is no escaping, then we may stand to our tackle as best we can. And, yes Meg, then we can clamor like champions, if we have the spittle for it. But it's God's part, not our own, to bring ourselves to such a pass. Our natural business lies in escaping." One of the most endearing qualities of author George MacDonald Fraser's anti-heroic protagonist, Harry Flashman, is his natural cowardice, which he freely admits with a certain degree of pride. Flashy is an expert at escaping; More would have been impressed. In that volume of his memoirs entitled FLASHMAN'S LADY, Flashy is still young in the mid-1840s. His talent for a prudent and precipitous departure has yet to mature, as evidenced by his delayed response when beset by thugs in a dodgy section of Singapore: "I'm not proud of what happened in the next moment. Of course, I was very young and thoughtless, and my great days of instant flight and evasion were still ahead of me, but even so, with ... my native cowardice to boot, my reaction was inexcusable ... in my youthful folly and ignorance, I absolutely stood there gaping ..." The larger portion of this book's plot involves the kidnapping of Flashy's beautiful but scatterbrained wife, Elspeth, by a certain Don Solomon Haslam, a moneyed and mannered member of English high society who's not what he seems. Harry's determination to stay out of harm's way is severely taxed as he pursues Elspeth's rescue into the pirate-infested interior of Borneo, and later into Madagascar, where Flashy finds himself the slave of that island's mad and despotic queen, Ranavalona. A chief attraction of Fraser's Flashman series is the knowledge it gives the reader about historical and factual, but arcane, events and places. In FLASHMAN'S LADY, the reader is apprised of the private war against the pirates of the East Indies by the eccentric English imperialist, James Brooke, and the reign of terror perpetuated by that female Caligula of the period, Queen Ranavalona I of Madagascar. Indeed, the author's research into the latter has prompted me to place a non-fiction history of the subject on my Wish List. Deep down, I think, Flashy's personal appeal is based on the realization that he's Everyman, whether one would wish to admit it or not. Our natural preference is to escape, and it's only through blundering circumstance, good luck, or an odd quirk of fate that any one of us might, like Harry himself, be perceived a hero by our fellows.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Seamanship: A Voyage Along the Wild Coasts of the British Isles; Author: Visit Amazon's Adam Nicolson Page; Review: SEAMANSHIP is author Adam Nicolson's account of his 1,500-mile voyage along the outer fringes of the British Isles aboard the 42-foot ketch "Auk". Perhaps I should have realized the thrust of Nicolson's narrative sooner. Indeed, as soon as I opened the front cover, seen the extent of the voyage as depicted on two end page maps, and then noted that this small hardcover is only 177 pages long with relatively large print. I mean, if one is sailing from Falmouth in Cornwall across the Celtic Sea to Ireland's southern tip, then back across to Cornwall, north to southwestern Wales, across the Celtic Sea again, up along Ireland's west coast, across to Scotland, up through the Inner and Outer Hebrides, east to the Orkney Islands, and finally ending far to the northwest in the Faeroes, how much description of so many places can be jammed into such a small space? Disappointingly little, if that's what you're looking for. Rather than a travelogue in the traditional sense, SEAMANSHIP is more a ruminative consideration of Sailing Man's relationship to the Sea and his Ship, and, in this volume specifically, Adam's success (or not) in manly bonding with the Auk's skipper, George. Nicolson's philosophical bent is well represented by the following passage: "The nature of the voyage is set before you cast off. A sea passage is shaped by the boat's time attached to the land. Every moment at sea is dependent on, and even twinned to, a moment in harbor. What a boat sails on and in is not only the ocean and the wind but the days, weeks, and months tied up alongside." And, using a mixed metaphor: "That is why death at sea is such a casual affair. Death has no need to approach ... It doesn't come rolling on like a swell, proceeding grandly towards you with its bosom before it and its intentions clear. Death is already there, a few feet away, resting beneath the table, its head on its paws and a smile in its eyes, happy to accept the scraps that fall." I love the landscape of the British Isles more than any other place on Earth, especially its wild, wave and wind-ravished margins. Here, the author's description of the ancient monastic island off the Irish coast, Skellig Michael, almost brought tears of longing to my eyes. I wanted to visit the place myself - now. But, for me, there wasn't enough of such descriptive power between this book's covers to satisfy a raging wanderlust. SEAMANSHIP is far from being a bad read. Whereas I'm only awarding 3.5 stars (translated to four by an inadequate rating system), one more in tune with Nicolson's lyrical prose will emphatically award five and excoriate me for my shallow obtuseness. This is a book you must read and decide upon for yourself.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Tango One; Author: Visit Amazon's Stephen Leather Page; Review: Two of my favorite thriller writers are the English authors Gerald Seymour and Stephen Leather. The former impels his heroes, otherwise rather average British citizens, into harm's way in ideological conflicts at the world's grotty margins, and forces them to survive while winning victories that are, at best, Pyrrhic in nature. In Seymour's world, there is no absolute right or wrong, only gray areas, and his characters, like the reader, are carried along by currents more powerful than the individual. In contrast, Leather defines characters that drive the plot and reveal both their good and bad natures in the process. In Leather's thrillers - at least the few I've read to date - the protagonist straddles the line between law-abiding and not, perhaps demonstrating what each of us is capable of if the right pressure is exerted. Here, TANGO ONE, i.e. the individual "most wanted" by Her majesty's Customs and Excise, is international drug dealer and London resident, Den Donovan. In the book's first 80 pages, which set up the remaining 400, Donovan comes across as a right bloody SOB - capable of orchestrating and filming the torture execution of an undercover agent, and sending the video to C&E as a warning taunt. This event causes Customs and MI6 to recruit as new deep cover agents three young applicants to London's Metropolitan Police - Jamie, Tina and Warren, all of whom have a history of minor criminality that will likely hinder their careers as uniformed officers, but will make them believable members of the underworld as they try to get close to Den and his illegal enterprise. The narrative then jumps ahead three years to when Donovan's 9-year old son, Robbie, catches his mother, Vicky, in bed with Den's accountant, Sharkey. The adulterous pair flee the country to escape Den's wrath, while Robbie moves in with Den's sister and her husband. Donovan now must return to England from overseas, where he's been busy setting up his next big drug deal with the Colombians, to sort out his family problems. On his return, Den discovers that Sharkey also absconded with $60 million of his money - some of which was to be used to pay the Colombians, who don't take kindly to being stiffed. As Den struggles to solve his personal, business, and financial difficulties, he eventually comes into contact with the trio of undercover agents, who surface about halfway through the book. As TANGO ONE begins, the reader might be forgiven for believing that the plot's protagonists will be Jamie, Tina, and Warren. Not so. The novel's "hero", or at least the character the reader will likely end up cheering on, is Den himself, especially as the trio's MI6 controller ultimately reveals an agenda of his own that would not amuse Her Majesty. Furthermore, as Donovan explains the Game between drug importers and drug enforcement, the former have the opportunity for riches while the latter have the opportunity to advance their careers, and the mass of citizenry in the middle only suffers no matter who wins. So, while Donovan would perhaps not; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Obesity Myth: Why America's Obsession with Weight is Hazardous to Your Health; Author: Visit Amazon's Paul Campos Page; Review: "From the perspective of a profit-maximizing medical and pharmaceutical industry, then, the ideal disease would be one that never killed those who suffered from it, that could not be treated effectively, and that doctors and their patients would nevertheless insist on treating anyway. Luckily for it, the American health-care industry has discovered (or rather invented) just such a disease. It's called 'obesity'." In THE OBESITY MYTH, author/law professor Paul Campos makes an erudite and scathing case against the American diet industry, which, with its paid-lackey researchers and gullible fellow travelers in the medical and government health establishments, directly and simplistically links obesity with disease and generally compromised health. Rather, Campos concludes that the evidence shows that: 1. It's more dangerous to be underweight than overweight. 2. Health is not improved by long-term weight reduction. 3. Health is adversely affected by the yo-yo pattern of weight loss and subsequent regain experienced by serial dieters. 4. The nebulous connection between weight and health disappears when other factors are considered, e.g. the individual's cardiovascular and metabolic fitness. An overweight fit person is better off than a thin sedentary person. Rather than being a monotonous, 250-page diatribe against the Fat Police, Campos goes out on a limb in a couple of chapters to make some novel observations. For instance, regarding the Bill Clinton/Monica Lewinsky sleazefest in the chapter "The Feeding of the President", the author postulates that the entire affair wouldn't have happened if "at several crucial junctures in their respective lives, either the fat boy from Hope of the zaftig princess from Beverly Hills had simply been allowed to eat what they wanted to eat." Later, in "Anorexia Nervosa and the Spirit of Capitalism", Campos asserts that the true anorexic - the perfect dieter endlessly laboring to achieve perfection and salvation, but never satisfied - is the new embodiment of the Puritan work ethic. It would be difficult, I think, for any American that's grown up in our fat-conscious society not to relate to this most excellent volume. At 56, I've never perceived myself as slim or trim, a rather odd admission since, if I look at pictures of myself taken in late elementary and high school, that's what I indeed was; in my first year of college, I had a 29-inch waist. Perhaps my misperception stems from my days as an admittedly chubby 5-8 year old when my Mom would buy me "husky boy" jeans. Far from being an omniscient observer of something that's never personally affected him, Paul Campos remembers much the same childhood experience, when he was called "stocky". As an adult, he admits to being a slave to the same cultural imperative for thinness, going so far as to state that his periodic weight losses from "overweight" come when the women in his life have left him, or hinted they might. In the "Conclusion", Campos mildly castigates himself for not saying in THE OBESITY MYTH all those things which might have made it better. (For instance, surprising to me, he virtually ignores the current fad for weight loss surgery - stomach; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Saladin And The Fall Of The Kingdom Of Jerusalem; Author: Visit Amazon's Stanley Lane-Poole Page; Review: Recently, I saw the 2005 film THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN, a sword and shield epic centered upon the 1187 recapture of Jerusalem from the Christians by Sultan Yusuf Ibn Najni al-Din Ayyub Ibn Shadlhi Abu'l-Muzaffar Salah al-Din al-Malik al-Nasir, aka "Saladin". The hero of the film was not Saladin (Ghassan Massoud), but rather Balian (Orlando Bloom), who, as the film opens, is sweating over a hot forge as a sword maker in some dump of a rural French town in the early 1180s. Then, along comes Godfrey (Liam Neeson), a knight and minor noble back from Palestine, who reveals himself as Balian's previously unknown father. Godfrey persuades Balian to take up a sword in defense of the Holy Land. On the return trip, Godfrey dies, but not before knighting his son. Balian subsequently inherits his father's castle of Ibelin within the Kingdom of Jerusalem, becomes chummy with King Baldwin IV and his sister Sibylla (Eva Green), finds himself defending the Holy City almost single-handed against Saladin's horde after the Christian army's disastrous defeat at Hitton, and ultimately returns to France, where he ostensibly lives happily ever after with Sibylla, who now holds the title Queen of Jerusalem. Uh-huh. So, I picked up SALADIN AND THE FALL OF JERUSALEM to find out the real story. Penned in 1898 by Stanley Lane-Poole, this volume is a competent and informative bio of the great Muslim leader, who was respected and praised even by his Crusader foes. Admittedly, the first several chapters dealing with "Saladin's world", and which describe the Muslim politics of the region and the events of the First Crusade prior to Saladin's birth and rise to power, make for educational, but less than riveting, reading. It's only with Saladin's accession as the Sultan of Egypt in 1171 that his life really becomes interesting as he subsequently labors militarily and politically to unite the Muslim Middle East under one rule, i.e. his, drive the Unbelievers into the sea, and topple the Kingdom of Jerusalem. The book's 19th century roots show even in this 2002 reprint of the original. The occasional map, while certainly not indecipherable, doesn't have the clean look of one of modern construction. More telling, the author infrequently sprinkles the text with passages from original Latin or French sources, which go untranslated. Presumably, the average reader at the turn of the 19th century was more educated and literate than now and could be expected to get along as required in something other than English. This new reprint does, however, include a helpful section of black and white photographs that apparently, because of the presence of automobiles, didn't appear in the first release. The tone of Lane-Poole's narrative is one of detached and uncritical admiration for his hero, as justifiably it should be, since Saladin demonstrated more chivalry, magnanimity, and honor throughout his career than his chief Crusader opponent from June 8, 1191 to October 9, 1192, King Richard I of England. Indeed, the author, who's otherwise adulatory of the Lionheart's prowess in battle, doesn't shirk from recounting Richard's barbarous order to massacre; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Tilt: A Skewed History of the Tower of Pisa; Author: Visit Amazon's Nicholas Shrady Page; Review: At the conclusion of TILT, the more perverse reader might just think: "Let it fall over; I'll even help with a shove." Especially if full cover price was paid for the book. Happily, I bought a used copy for a steal, so I entertain no such revisionist thought. TILT is all about the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Well, pretty much. Its 835-year history, including the 197 years it took to build the thing at a stutter start and stop pace, is so intertwined with Pisa itself that the reader gets an abbreviated history of the city's glory days whether one cares much or not. Luckily, TILT is commendably short. Don't misunderstand. Nicholas Shrady's history-Lite of one of the world's most recognizable buildings is not without charm. The author's style is chatty as he ascribes the Tower's origin to the rise of the Pisa city-state in the 11th century when its navy plundered Palermo, the capital of Muslim Sicily, the loot from which raid funded the construction of the cathedral complex into which the Tower later became incorporated commencing in 1173. Then, Pisa's fortunes went into decline in the 1200s as it started squabbling with more powerful rivals - Florence, Genoa, and Venice. Understandably, because of the all the internecine warfare and the Tower's ever increasing tilt, the edifice wasn't completed until 1370. Shrady spends a lot of page space on the life of Galileo, and eventually concludes that his famous experiment, wherein he dropped two different-sized cannonballs from the top of the Tower to demonstrate that objects fall at the same rate regardless of their mass, was a complete fiction created by his admiring disciple, Vincenzo Viviani, since no contemporary record of the event exists. Of course, the Tower's increasing deviation from the vertical is the unifying thread, and the author gleefully points out that some seventeen commissions have been created over the centuries to deal with the problem, only the last of which apparently successfully stabilized the Tower in 1999-2000 by removing dirt from underneath one side of the foundation. Indeed, the book would have interested me more had the author dwelled further on technical aspects and difficulties of that project than on what came before. At 161 paper-backed pages, TILT is a mildly amusing read - with the stress on "mildly" - suitable for a plane flight of relatively short duration, say Los Angeles to Albuquerque or New York to Atlanta. But, there's no need to carry the book off the aircraft; leave it in the seat pocket with the emergency instructions.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: By Sorrow's River: The Berrybender Narratives, Book 3; Author: Visit Amazon's Larry McMurtry Page; Review: In 1832, Lord Albany Berrybender chartered a steamboat to take him up the Missouri River on a hunting expedition. Albany is one of the richest aristocrats in England, and also a dissolute, selfish, old fool. Along for the ride are his wife Constance, six of their fourteen spoiled children, fifteen of nineteen servants, including a cellist and a botanist, an aging parrot named Prince Talleyrand, the staghound Tintamarre, and a gaggle of American talent hired to ease their way, including Toussaint Charbonneau, the guide for the Lewis and Clark Expedition many years previous. In BY SORROW'S RIVER, a year and two books later, Lord Berrybender has since lost a leg; his wife, two children, assorted servants, Prince Talleyrand, and Tintamarre are dead. Berrybender's eldest daughter, Tasmin has borne a child to her mountain man husband, Jim "Sin Killer" Snow, and is now pregnant with a second. Another daughter, Bess, takes up with a Ute brave, High Shoulders, and a third daughter, Mary, loses her virginity to the botanist, Piet Van Wely. Berrybender himself marries the cellist, Vicky Kennet, and gets her with child. And finally, after much aimless wandering in the second book of the series, THE WANDERING HILL, the fecund group is off to Santa Fe accompanied by a ragtag group of mountain men and hangers-on. It's only in this book that the series really takes off for me, mostly due to the fact that its chief protagonist, Tasmin, is becoming engagingly difficult. Increasingly disenchanted with her husband, Tasmin casts lustful looks at Jean Baptiste "Pomp" Charbonneau, the son of Toussaint Charbonneau and Sacagawea born on Lewis and Clark's epic trek to the Pacific. Moreover, Tasmin has a soft spot in her heart for the young Kit Carson. Trouble is, Pomp has barely a prurient thought in his head, and Kit is too busy becoming a famous scout. What makes BY SORROW'S RIVER particularly interesting are the historical characters that sprinkle the narrative: Carson, the elder and younger Charbonneaus, mountain men Jim Bridger, Hugh Glass, and Tom Fitzpatrick, and traders William and Charles Bent, who established Bent's Fort in present-day Colorado. Having said that, it's because author Larry McMurtry occasionally plays fast and loose with the historical record that I found this fictional narrative unreasonably irritating at times. When reading this book, keep in mind that Carson didn't marry (his third wife) Josefina Jaramillo until 1843, and Pomp Charbonneau died in 1866 at Innskip Station, OR. Does Larry's version represent careless research, or just unconscionable literary license? With this third book in the series, the Berrybender saga is finally attaining some of those qualities of excellence that characterized, McMurtry's classic, LONESOME DOVE. Despite my reservations regarding the glaring historical inaccuracies, I just may immediately begin the fourth and final installment, FOLLY AND GLORY, without stopping to vary my reading fare. For the moment, I'm hooked.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Folly and Glory: A Novel (The Berrybender Narratives, Book 4); Author: Visit Amazon's Larry McMurtry Page; Review: In 1832, Lord Albany Berrybender chartered a steamboat to take him up the Missouri River on a hunting expedition. Albany is one of the richest aristocrats in England, and also a dissolute, selfish, old fool. Along for the ride are his wife Constance, six of their fourteen spoiled children, fifteen of nineteen servants, including a cellist and a botanist, an aging parrot named Prince Talleyrand, the staghound Tintamarre, and a gaggle of American talent hired to ease their way, including Toussaint Charbonneau, the guide for the Lewis and Clark Expedition many years previous. In FOLLY AND GLORY, it's now three books and almost 4 years later into the saga, and what remains of the Berrybender party is under house arrest by the Mexican government in Santa Fe, now having been there for more than one and a half years. It's been time enough for Tasmin to give birth to twins, Petey and Petal, Bess to deliver Elphinstone, and Vicky to give Lord Albany another son, Randall. But Mexico is expecting trouble in its Texas province, so the central government decides to transfer the troublesome Americans and English in its New Mexico territory overland to Veracruz - a long and dangerous journey, and an opportunity for author Larry McMurtry to kill off superfluous characters so there are fewer lose ends to tie up at the series conclusion. Of the four books, FOLLY AND GLORY is the bloodiest and, if you've grown to care about the central characters, perhaps the most distressing. I'd finally come to be absorbed in the serialized plot by the end of Book Three (BY SORROW'S RIVER), and I was hoping for at least a four-star finish. But, it wasn't to be. After a convulsion of death and killing - separating the wheat from the chafe - the final sixty pages straggle to a contrived and, for me, unsatisfying finale. Perhaps McMurtry had a publisher's deadline to meet, or maybe he just started out with too many characters. I mean, Lord Berrybender dying gloriously with Davy Crockett at the Alamo? Oh, puhleeze! The most interesting persona to be introduced at this late stage is Petal, Tasmin's extraordinarily willful and difficult daughter. It would be amusing to see McMurtry build a new series around her, but I doubt that Larry has that left in him at this point in his writing career, of which LONESOME DOVE is perhaps the undisputed high water mark. The entirety of the Berrybender series was, in retrospect, mildly engaging at best. After giving it spasmodic attention over three years, I can now move on.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Purple Sun: An epic tale of war and redemption; Author: Visit Amazon's Lawrence McAuliffe Page; Review: "All stories have a purpose, mainly to entertain, I think, given the occasion, or to illustrate a point the teller is trying to make. Once in awhile, a story contains within its makeup a deeper meaning and understanding of what it means to be human. Then you have a story worth telling and hearing, one that will stay with you, in one form or another, forever." - Harlan Deveraux PURPLE SUN rises in 1968 at the U.S. Army Supply Depot in Danang, Vietnam. Master Technical Sergeant Isaiah Ross discovers Marine Lance Corporal Billy Kern passed out in a waterlogged ditch outside the perimeter wire. Dragged to Isaiah's tent, the young soldier is cleaned up and fed by the twenty-three year veteran. From Billy, Ross learns that the former has only recently survived a usually fatal bullet wound to the chest suffered during combat in Hue. After this near-death experience, Kern is determined to seek out a holy man, a Buddhist monk, encountered during the Hue fighting. Shortly thereafter, Kern, in pursuit of his quest, is arrested and courtmartialed for unauthorized absence from his unit. At the trial, Ross serves as a character witness, and swears that the boy is fully capable of carrying out his military duties as he perceives them to be. Released, Kern rejoins his troop, only to disappear in a firefight ten days later. The Vietnam War ends with Billy officially MIA, though former Lieutenant Patric Gallo of the "Stars and Stripes", present at the courtmartial, is convinced he's still alive and wandering rural Vietnam. Ross, since retired to Charleston, SC to open up a florist shop with his wife Miriam, doesn't care. Or, at the very least, maintains Kern is surely dead. Ross also knows, from Billy's First Sergeant, that Kern fatally shot the Hue monk in the chest immediately prior to his own wounding. Twenty-seven pages into PURPLE SUN, the scene shifts to now. Harlan Deveraux, publisher/editor of the "Bigwater County Eagle" newspaper in rural Sevillia, WY, loans desk space to ex-Lt. Gallo, an itinerant, brooding journalist who's spent his days traveling the world since his discharge from the Army in July '68. Patric has a yarn to tell, and gives it in the form of a journal to Harlan to read. It's this manuscript that forms the core of this book written by Lawrence McAuliffe, and about which the fictional Deveraux makes the observation at the head of this review. And it's the story of the 30-year post-Vietnam relationship between Gallo and Ross that culminates in their journey back to Nam to find Lance Corporal Billy Kern. Author McAullife was himself a Marine lieutenant, who returned to the DMZ in 1968-69 as a military chaplain, and is a disabled veteran of that unfortunate conflict. His PURPLE SUN isn't a thriller by any stretch of the term, nor even, as a mildly compelling mystery, does it have an ending that'll make the reader sit up straight and say "Wow!" Rather, the book obviously has its wellspring in the deeply personal Vietnam experience of its creator, who, perhaps,; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Paris 1919: Six Months That Changed the World; Author: Visit Amazon's Margaret MacMillan Page; Review: The seemingly unsolvable tribal conflicts of the world that periodically monopolize so much newsprint - Northern Ireland, the Balkans, Palestine, etc. - are so intractable that any one of them would cause the Deity himself to weep with frustration. With that image in mind, PARIS 1919 becomes all that more amazing; you couldn't make up a story of an endeavor the success of which was so likely improbable. Margaret MacMillan's historical narrative is a richly detailed masterpiece of popular history in which she deftly teases apart the plethora of problems facing the World War I victors - Britain, France, the U.S., Italy, and Japan - that gathered in Paris in the first half of 1919 to craft a treaty to end global war forever and, indeed, construct a new world order. The tasks facing the winners seemed, and sometimes proved to be, insurmountable: the treaties and reparations to be imposed upon the losers (Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria, Turkey), the drawing of new national borders in western, central, eastern, and southern Europe, the assignment of mandates in the Middle and Far East, the call for various national plebiscites, and the establishment of the League of Nations. One can only marvel at the chutzpah of those national leaders - principally Wilson, Lloyd George, Clemenceau, and Orlando - who truly believed they could pull it off in the face of the tribal agendas that existed even among themselves. MacMillan's style bears some similarity to that of Barbara Tuchman, though without the pervasive wry humor. But even Margaret has her giddy moments, as when she recounts: " ... (Canadian delegate) Biggar wrote to his wife in Canada, (that) he was having a wonderful time: ... (including) the music halls where he was struck ... by the beauty of the prostitutes. ... When his wife immediately suggested that she come from Canada to join him, Biggar had serious reservations. Of course, he wanted to see her but even now the flats in Paris were terribly expensive, and they had appalling bathrooms. And that he had been told, by a senior politician, that revolution was about to sweep across Germany and possibly into France. There would be serious shortages of food and fuel. The lights would go out, the taps would run dry. 'You must, however, make up your own mind to discomfort with, very remotely, danger.' Mrs. Biggar remained in Canada." Seems like it was a close run thing for Mr. Biggar. PARIS 1919 is supplemented by very useful maps showing the multitude of regions and national boundaries under contention in Europe, Africa, and the Middle and Far East, as well as an extensive photo section, which manages to include most of those in attendance of any great significance to the overall story. There's also a two-page appendix that quotes verbatim Wilson's exercise in idealism, the Fourteen Points. The opinion is widespread that the rise of Hitler and the Second World War had their roots in a vengeful Treaty of Versailles, which, among other odious terms, exacted exorbitant reparation payments from Germany. MacMillan provides evidence that this is; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Gettysburg: A Novel of the Civil War (The Gettysburg Trilogy); Author: Visit Amazon's Newt Gingrich Page; Review: A small part of me screams out that GETTYSBURG is a transparent attempt by co-author and Southerner Newt Gingrich to immerse himself and readers from below the Mason-Dixon line in a fantasy consistent with the sentiment, "The South shall rise again." And my first gut response is, "The Confederacy lost the war; get over it!" Having said that, however, I must go on to say that this alternative history of the events from July 1-4, 1863 is one of the two best works on the Civil War I've ever read, the other being that superb 3-volume narrative history of the conflict by Shelby Foote. The fact that Newt's GETTYSBURG is fiction makes it all the more remarkable. History has it that on Day 1 of the Gettysburg battle the vanguard of Bobbie Lee's Army of Northern Virginia drove lead elements of George Meade's Army of the Potomac from Gettysburg, the latter digging in on the hills and ridgeline south of the town. Lee's blood was up, and spent the next two days futilely attempting to take those heights against the advice of his chief lieutenant, General Longstreet, who advocated a flanking maneuver around the Union left. In GETTYSBURG, Lee not only bows to Longstreet's counsel, but goes one step further, sending his army on a wide right sweep into Meade's rear to capture the Union Army's supply base at Westminster and cut the Army of the Potomac off from Washington, DC. What results is the apocalyptic Battle of Union Mills on July 4. There are two things that make this novel so darn good. First, the characters of the commanders on both sides - Lee, Meade, Longstreet, Hancock, Sickles, Ewell, Heth, Hunt, Haupt, Sedgewick, Hood, Pickett, Armistead - and my own personal favorite, Colonel Joshua Chamberlain of the 20th Maine, seem to remain true to reality, or at least true to my perceptions of them gained as a casual student of Civil War history. Second, I suggest that you'll find no better description of battlefield conditions and the horrors of Civil War combat than that found here. There are two further volumes to this series, GRANT COMES EAST and NEVER CALL RETREAT. I intend to purchase both immediately and deliciously anticipate losing myself within their pages. I only regret that I'll have to put the books down occasionally to attend to life's relatively mundane daily activities. I'd award GETTYSBURG more than 5 stars if I could; it's off the scale.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Bombmaker; Author: Visit Amazon's Stephen Leather Page; Review: What would happen if two tons of fertilizer hit the fan? During the first hundred pages of THE BOMBMAKER, one learns that four otherwise respectable Beijing Chinese - a general, two bankers, and a relative of former Communist Party First Secretary Deng Xiaoping - want to blow a bloody big hole in the center of London's financial district. Why isn't immediately apparent. Maybe they'd encountered a snippy foreign exchange teller on their last visit to The City. To work out the details, they employ a mysterious killer-for-hire named Egan, who coerces a former IRA bombmaker, Andrea Hayes, to construct the explosive device by kidnapping her young daughter, Katie. In the bad old days, Andrea specialized in fertilizer bombs, but gave up that line of work after accidently killing four young boys and maiming a fifth. For years, she's lived with her husband, Martin, who knows nothing of her past. THE BOMBMAKER is such a first rate knuckle-biter that the unspecified reason for the plot, though eventually revealed, recedes into the background and the reader is left to fear for Katie in her basement prison, to empathize with Andrea confronting the repercussions of past notoriety and four-thousand pounds of smelly Bandini, and sympathize with Martin left alone, frantic, and without a clue. And it only gets better when MI5 finally gets dropped into the plot's mix. The high-tension ending should leave even the most jaded of thriller readers satisfied. Oddly, however, it's spunky Katie's last act that prompted me to award 5 stars, even though she's given relatively little exposure in the overall story. Because of her, I ended up liking this book enormously. Cross my heart and swear to die.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Eleven on Top; Author: Visit Amazon's Janet Evanovich Page; Review: The previous installment in the Stephanie Plum series, TEN BIG ONES, was published in June 2004. In November, author Janet Evanovich apparently launched a new heroine with METRO GIRL, a book I investigated and decided I had no interest in reading. I thought perhaps Evanovich was done with Stephanie. But either I was wrong, or Janet came to her financial senses. In any case, Plum has returned in ELEVEN ON TOP. I admit it; I'm hooked for life on this trashy series. Thirty seconds into ELEVEN, Stephanie quits her job as a bond enforcement agent working for her cousin Vinnie in Trenton, NJ. True to form, however, brief gigs in the local button factory, Kan Klean Dry Cleaners, and Cluck-in-a-Bucket just don't work out. And it shouldn't be a surprise to any series aficionado when Cluck-in-a-Bucket goes up in flames while Stephanie is on duty. Everything Plum fans have come to love about Stephanie's personal and public comic misadventures are present in ELEVEN in satisfying excess: explosions, fires, accumulating corpses, tumbles into messy organic debris, and her dysfunctional relationships with Trenton cop Joe Morelli and the hottie Ranger. Yeah, it's incredibly sophomoric, but great fun. And Plum reveals a new side to her personality when she attempts to quit sugar intake cold turkey. Indeed, the man in Stephanie's life witness to her to voluntary abstention from cookies and donuts had better have the sexual stamina of an eighteen year old. A Plum Assignment if you ask me. Is Morelli up to the task, you think? I'm perhaps overreacting with five stars. But I'm just so ecstatic that Stephanie is back. I only wish that Evanovich would sign a Hollywood picture deal with Sandra Bullock in the lead role. Janet, work with me here, will ya! It would be a box office hit!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mortification: Writers' Stories of Their Public Shame; Author: Visit Amazon's Robin Robertson Page; Review: "I'm not going to buy a book, but you looked so lonely there, I thought I'd come and talk to you." Thus concludes writer John Banville's contribution to MORTIFCATION, in which he tells of a last-minute book signing engagement in Miami, during which he was approached by a potential customer, who is quoted above. This single incident perhaps best reflects the insecurities of the seventy writer-contributors to this volume, which is mostly about their humiliations suffered at various book signings, book fairs, and readings. MORTIFICATION is essentially a collection of very personal very short stories. Like any anthology, it's difficult to generally rate because the individual chapters vary so widely in content, style, and appeal. Here, they range from 1 star to perhaps 4.5, with the majority at or above 3. My least favorite came from John Burnside, who categorized mortification into Mild and Persistent forms, and a Virulent Strain. His definitions for the three were perhaps based on personal experience, but they didn't have that ring, so he may have missed the point of the book. Personally, I most enjoyed those stories of humiliation submitted by David Harsent and Andrew Motion. The former, a poet, relates attending a bookshop reading with three other writers of the genre. Harsent attends so drunk that he falls asleep on stage, then loudly projectile vomits in the shop loo within the audience's hearing. Motion's gaffe occurred while a lecturer of English at the University of Hull. Andrew organizes a university poetry reading, and takes upon himself the task of picking up at the train station one of the invited writers, whom he hopes to recognize based solely on a photograph. In short, he picks up the wrong woman, who compounds the debacle by playing along with the error in order to get a free lunch. Editor Robin Robertson saves for last the profound mortification - profound certainly on anyone's list - of Niall Griffiths, who relates waking up with a raging erection brought on by partaking too freely in powdered stimulants the night before. The humiliation lies not in the tumescent condition itself, but what happens when Griffiths relieves the situation to a woman's magazine article entitled "You Too Can Have A Bum Like Kylie's", complete with photos. The "Kylie" is presumably the gorgeous Australian actress/singer Kylie Minogue. In any case, Niall definitely states that he was scarred for life. The lesson learned in MORTIFICATION is that writers have feelings like the rest of us mortals. Perhaps I should leave off writing book reviews for fear of offending vulnerable sensitivities. .......... Nah!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius; Author: Visit Amazon's Dave Eggers Page; Review: Have you ever considered the mindset it takes to write a personal memoir? First, the author must have the chutzpah to put him/herself at the center of the universe and think that anyone else would care. Second, the writer rightly or wrongly must think that he/she has done or experienced anything of more than average interest, or, if not, at least make it all sound terribly engaging. Some memoirists - and I don't read many - have managed to pull it off with a charming elan: Doris Kearns Goodwin (WAIT TILL NEXT YEAR), Laura Shaine Cunningham (SLEEPING ARRANGEMENTS), Susan Allen Toth (BLOOMING). After losing both his parents - Dad first - to cancer within several weeks of each other, author Dave Eggers, in his early twenties, moved himself and his eleven year-old brother Toph to the California Bay area from their family home in Lake Forest, IL. A sister, Beth, joined them, but lived separately. An older brother, Bill, relocated from Washington, D.C. to Los Angeles. A HEARTBREAKING WORK OF STAGGERING GENIUS (AHWoSG) is Dave's narrative, told in the first person, of the 3-year period from his Mom's deathwatch to Toph's high school eligibility. In between, Dave struggles to be both parents to his younger sibling, create an idealistic new world order while on the staff of the Generation X magazine "Might", and come to terms with the loss of his mother, with whom he had a love/hate relationship, and the guilt stemming from the fact that her body wasn't given a proper burial, but rather donated for medical school dissection. The father isn't given much press at all; he seems to have just been hated. The rational part of me is the first to admit that this is a exceptional piece of writing. Egger's bares his inner thoughts and emotional turmoil with skill and occasional humor. Indeed, when he takes an evening for himself and leaves Toph in the care of a male babysitter, Dave's stream of visions from an over-active imagination, by which he conjures up the gruesome and diabolical atrocities that the sitter may be visiting on Toph while Big Brother is out having a good time, are almost worth the price of the book. However, as a whole, AHWoSG was, for me, only intermittently interesting, and therefore, on the flip side, also intermittently boring. I never cared about Dave or Toph as individuals, and the book's last extended paragraph made me actually wonder if the author might have serious issues with an inner rage that require therapy before he goes nuts with an automatic weapon. Dave isn't a guy I'd care to hang out with; he's too tightly wound. Female readers may find Dave and his extraordinary devotion to his younger brother enormously appealing, just as they might be attracted to an otherwise dysfunctional man and his Golden Lab. My advice would be to cuddle the dog and leave its master on the stoop. AHWoSG is a book worth reading on the chance that you, as so many apparently have, may love it. I would strongly agree, however,; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Double Eagle; Author: Visit Amazon's James Twining Page; Review: A short synopsis of THE DOUBLE EAGLE might read: "Disgraced FBI agent Jennifer Browne is given the chance to redeem her career when she's assigned to investigate the theft of five priceless U.S. $20 Double Eagle gold coins from Fort Knox. The suspect is cat burglar extraordinaire, disgraced former CIA agent Tom Kirk. But murders and circumstance soon indicate that the real menace comes from a mysterious figure in the art underworld known only as Cassius. This fast-paced thriller takes Jennifer and Tom from London to Paris to Istanbul towards a final violent confrontation with unsuspected treachery in the shadow of Napoleon's tomb." I immediately sensed the plot's predictability when, six paragraphs into the readers' introduction to Browne, the latter is described, when changing her blouse, as: "... strikingly beautiful in that effortless, double-take way that some women are. ... slender yet curving where it counted, rounded cheeks and curly black that just kissed her bare shoulders. ... the Tiffany's twisted heart necklace ... nestled in the smooth curve of her breasts." Gee, doesn't the FBI employ any Plain Jane, or just downright frumpy, female agents? Should we start a readers' pool to guess the page on which Browne the Babe beds the dashing Kirk? And, in a milieu of deja vu, it wasn't long before I correctly suspected the identity of Cassius. Author James Twining carries the plot by inserting his two attractive protagonists into dodgy situations in exotic and esoteric locales. He tried too hard with a crucial scene involving a backgammon match in Istanbul's Ilesam Lokali tea gardens. If, like me, you know nothing about the game, a full four pages of narrative are rendered essentially incomprehensible. At one point, Kirk steals a Faberge egg and I flashbacked to having seen Tom Cruise employ a similar modus operandi in one of his MISSION IMPOSSIBLE movies. Why, in a screen adaptation of this novel, Cruise could play Kirk to Angelina Jolie's Jennifer. Mind you, THE DOUBLE EAGLE isn't a complete waste of time, especially if you're rushing to board a plane and you stop to indiscriminantly grab a B-thriller off a shelf of B-thrillers in the airport bookshop. This one is no better or worse than the potboilers to either side; that's both its major attribute and its major deficiency. THE DOUBLE EAGLE is apparently the first in a series of Tom Kirk adventures, the second to be THE GOLD TRAIN. I suspect Twining will continue the main characters from one book to the next. Perhaps he envisions a successions of confrontations between Tom and Cassius reminiscent of Holmes and Moriarty or Smith and Fu Manchu. However, THE DOUBLE EAGLE was, for me, so devoid of surprises that they'll have to battle without me over the world as we know it. Besides, I rarely have the occasion to run through airports anymore. Note: This review is of an advance reader's edition.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Robbing the Bees: A Biography of Honey--The Sweet Liquid Gold that Seduced the World; Author: Visit Amazon's Holley Bishop Page; Review: "But if a man be grown old, and have a loose and hanging member, he shall do this. Of seed of rocket, cumin, pepper, and seed of purslain, being bruised and made up with honey, let him take it morning and evening. It is incomparable." Who needs the expense of Viagra? In ROBBING THE BEES, author Holley Bishop, herself an amateur bee keeper for six years, has penned an eminently readable and loving tribute to bees, honey, and beeswax. While not a thriller, nor perhaps one you can't put down, it is at the top of the genre of books that teaches us a little bit about the world we inhabit, and which focuses on a subject about which the reader likely gives little thought. I mean, honey is on the supermarket shelf in those cute, squeezable, plastic bears. What more is there to know, right? A relatively small portion of the text - regrettably too little - describes Bishop's own experience raising bees. Rather, she was invited by Florida bee keeper and honey merchant, Donald Smiley, to accompany him on his daily rounds over the course of a year as he moved his apiaries from place to place following the seasonal emergence of the various blossoms that provide the pollen and nectar that nourish the bees' hive and ultimately provide Mankind with one of its most historically significant food staples. Also, we learn that, over the millennia, honey has also served as drink, food preservative, money, and medicine. Thus, the quote from a 1685 Persian medical manual that heads this review. Bishop doesn't neglect beeswax, which has served to embalm bodies, provide light as candles, waterproof leather armor, polish furniture, floors and walls, mend cracked pottery, cement mosaic tiles, remove stains from marble, and serve as the substrate for lipstick and crayons. As for the bees themselves, Holly describes their life cycle and hive environment, their amazing ability for comb construction, and their accidental but vital contribution to plant pollination (without which supermarket produce sections wouldn't be the same). In short, because ROBBING THE BEES is a masterpiece of good press, I'll never look at that busy insect in the same way ever again. Cockroaches should be as lucky.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Unknown Soldier; Author: GERALD SEYMOUR; Review: In the aftermath of the recent London Transport bombings, THE UNKNOWN SOLDIER has a topical theme. Caleb is a terrorist wannabe - a graduate of an Al Qaeda training camp in Afghanistan. But his bad luck resulted in his capture by American troops and incarceration at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, where for many months he successfully maintained the cover of being a simple taxi diver caught in the wrong place at the wrong time. Finally, released as a PR gesture and returned to Afghanistan under guard, Caleb escapes before he can be handed over to the Afghani Security Service, and immediately starts the long journey to rejoin his Al Qaeda "family" now holed up in the Rub' al Khali desert of Saudi Arabia, otherwise known as the "Empty Quarter". Because Caleb is not an Arab, but rather an Outsider, he's to be given a special mission. There is little in the way of "thriller" in THE UNKNOWN SOLDIER, a variance from the usual Gerald Seymour novel that may put off some of his fans. Rather, this novel resembles those penned by John le Carre in that it's relatively heavy on character development (Caleb's) and the sometimes plodding nature of intelligence work, and short on sustained action. Indeed, most of the plot involves Caleb's torturous camel journey across the searing hot Empty Quarter in the company of three other Al Qaeda foot soldiers, a Bedouin guide, and the latter's young son - all dedicated to delivering their precious charge to the organization's remote HQ. The opposition is represented by Marty and Lizzy-Jo, two young CIA operatives searching the Rub' al Khali for evidence of terrorists with cameras mounted on the remotely-controlled Predator drones they fly out of a remote desert base, Juan Gonsalves, the CIA's Riyadh station chief, Juan's MI6 counterpart, Eddie Wroughton, who finds himself on the short end of the Anglo-American "special relationship", and Jed Dietrich, Caleb's Defense Intelligence Agency interrogator back in Gitmo. Jed was on vacation when the CIA and the FBI decided to cut Caleb loose, and now, after belatedly winkling out a clue as to the taxi driver's true identity, Jed is determined to rectify that mistake regardless of the peril to his career by being the bearer of bad news to his superiors. I'm awarding THE UNKNOWN SOLDIER four stars because I've long been an admirer of the le Carre style, which eschews sensationalism. However, in consciously or unconsciously emulating le Carre, Seymour has done something I've not seen in any of his other books, i.e., leave a glaring loose end that would seem to invite a sequel. But, since that's not been the author's style to date, I fear I'm left here with a book that has a somewhat unsatisfying ending. In all other respects, however, THE UNKNOWN SOLDIER is vintage Seymour in that it contains real-world characters engaged in a struggle that results in a Pyrrhic victory, if indeed victory is achieved at all.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: From a Buick 8; Author: Visit Amazon's Stephen King Page; Review: Perhaps Stephen King wrote FROM A BUICK 8 after gagging on too many installments of the way-too-cute HERBIE THE LOVE BUG film series. Here, it's 1979 Pennsylvania, and a vintage 1954 Buick Roadmaster in pristine condition is left behind at a rural gas station by a sinister man dressed in black, who subsequently disappears. Troop D of the State Police is called to investigate, and, while it never finds the man in black, its officers discover that the Buick is exceedingly curious. For one, the car is self-cleaning; dirt doesn't stick. For another, it's incapable of running: there are no battery cables, generator, alternator, distributor, or distributor cap; the control knobs on the dash aren't functional; the steering wheel doesn't turn. Anyway, Troop D impounds the vehicle, locks it in a shed, and keeps it the Troop's private secret. But the Buick isn't quiescent. Periodically it drops the temperature in the shed, erupts into a fiery display of violet light, and spits otherworldy plants and creatures out of the trunk, which decompose and die in a matter of minutes. Occasionally, test animals and insects left in the shed disappear - as did Trooper Ennis Rafferty. Trooper Curtis Wilcox becomes obsessed with the nature of the Buick. After Curtis is killed in 2001 by a drunk driver, his teenage son Ned becomes the Troop's mascot, so to speak. The plot of FROM A BUICK 8 cycles back and forth from "then" to "now", as Ned is told the story of the Buick, still isolated and perfect in its shed, and his father's obsession. The biggest problem with this book is the length - it's a long short story or novella run amok to 351 pages. Though King throws out enough weirdness every once in awhile to perhaps keep the reader interested, I got the impression that he (or his publisher) just prolonged a mediocre storyline to justify its publication as a full length novel, with a novel's exorbitant cover price. (I bought it used on the cheap from a third party seller. Neener, neener, neeeener!) In any case, FROM A BUICK 8 lurches along to a relatively unsatisfyng ending that I began to anticipate halfway though the book, when it became difficult to summon the interest and energy to continue reading. The dodgy Buick might just as well have been a haunted PortaLoo or microwave oven for all I finally cared. After all, both have doors that creepy things can pop out of unsuspected. If you're a speed reader and can finish this novel at one sitting - say, on a cross-country flight - then it may be better than the over-edited in-flight movie or the dog-eared airline mag in the seat pocket. Otherwise, I wouldn't go out of my way to recommend it.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Down with Big Brother: The Fall of the Soviet Empire; Author: Visit Amazon's Michael Dobbs Page; Review: "Whether you like it or not, history is on our side. We will bury you!" - Nikita Khrushchev, November 17, 1956 In DOWN WITH BIG BROTHER, author Michael Dobbs begins his narrative on December 26, 1979 as members of the Soviet Union's ruling Politburo gather to lay before Communist Party General Secretary Brezhnev the final plans for the invasion of Afghanistan. Dobbs ends his narrative at 7:00 PM on December 25, 1991, when General Secretary Gorbachev, in a television address broadcast worldwide, formally dissolved the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. It would, perhaps, be too much to expect that the author record all the facts of that 12-year period that related to the dissolution of the Soviet Empire; the resulting book would be huge. Rather, in 451 pages, Dobbs does a splendid job touching on the salient events in chronological order to yield an immensely readable and instructive work of popular history: the Soviet occupation of Kabul (12/79), Solidarity's strike in Gdansk's Lenin Shipyard (8/80), the suppression of Solidarity (12/81), Brezhnev's death (11/82), the shoot down of KAL 007 (9/83), Gorbachev's accesion as General Secretary (3/85), the Reagan-Gorbachev summit in Geneva (11/85), Chernobyl (4/86), the first use of Stinger missiles against Soviet aircraft by Afghan mujahedin (9/86), Mathias Rust's farcical penetration of Soviet airspace (5/87), the Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan (2/89), the Tbilisi riots (4/89), the resurrection of Solidarity (6/89), the fall of Berlin Wall and the revolt in Prague (11/89), the downfall of Romania's Ceausescu (12/89), Yeltsin's elevation to power (5/90), the Soviet invasion of Vilnius, Lithuania (1/91), and the abortive KGB coup against Gorbachev (8/91). And, of course, thumbnail bios of the personalities who played crucial roles, including Walesa, Jaruzelski, Gorbachev, and Yeltsin. All this against the background of a Soviet society and economy, enfeebled by decades of centralized planning and consumer deprivation, which were unable to absorb the shock of Gorbachev's perestroika and vision of a revitalized socialism. DOWN WITH BIG BROTHER includes 18 pages of Notes, and a 5-page Bibliography; Dobbs did his homework. This most excellent work is likely to be most appreciated by those post-WWII Baby Boomer's like myself, who grew up under the threat of a Soviet missile strike. (Those under 20 will probably yawn.) We remember the duck-and-cover drills in elementary school, the periodic tests of the town air raid siren, Khrushchev's shoe at the U.N., the Cuban Missile Crisis, bomb shelters, "better dead than red", the Domino Theory, "we will bury you", the Red Menace, the Evil Empire, the hammer and sickle on a blood red flag. Watching on TV the collapse of the Berlin Wall was, for me, the end of an era and a catharsis. My God, we'd "won". Nowadays, those that would destroy skyscrapers, embassies, troop convoys, bus stops, and underground trains are anonymous and stateless. Peculiarly, I miss the relative stability of the Bad Old Days. At least then we could give the Enemy a face.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Grant Comes East; Author: Visit Amazon's Newt Gingrich Page; Review: GRANT COMES EAST is the second volume in a brilliant trilogy of alternative Civil War history. It follows GETTYSBURG, in which, after the first day of that battle in July 1863, Longstreet persuades Lee to eschew a frontal attack on the Union entrenchments on the heights above the town and make a wide sweep to the south into the Army of the Potomac's rear, a maneuver that results in the overwhelming defeat of Meade's command at the Battle of Union Mills. GETTYSBURG is one of the best books on the Civil War that I've ever read, be it fiction or otherwise. GRANT COMES EAST begins a couple of weeks later. Grant, fresh off his capture of Vicksburg and promoted to Lieutenant General, arrives in Cairo, IL to take charge of all the Union armies, and shortly travels on to Harrisburg, PA, where he'll form the Army of the Susquehanna with three corps from his old Army of the Tennessee plus the 19th Corps from New Orleans. In the meantime, General Lee, soon to be reinforced by General Beauregard and twenty-thousand troops up from South Carolina, must make a choice. Does he assault heavily fortified Washington, D.C., or attempt the capture of relatively undefended Baltimore and take Maryland out of the Union camp? The wild card is U.S. Major General Dan Sickles, promoted to command the remnants of the Army of the Potomac by Secretary of War Stanton before Grant had the requisite authority from Lincoln to veto the promotion. Sickles, a Democratic politician-general from New York, is feisty, brave, vain, ambitious and spoiling to take his smaller but reorganized and replenished force on a mission of vengeance against the Army of Northern Virginia regardless of Grant's strategic wishes. Besides, there's the 1864 Democratic presidential nomination to think of. As with any work of "what if", the danger, as one drifts further and further from the historical record, is to ascribe to the main personae actions inconsistent with their known abilities and characters. Here, plot newcomers (Grant, U.S. Congressman Elihu Washburne, Lincoln, Sickles, Stanton, Confederate President Jefferson Davis) take center stage along with those (Lee, Longstreet, U.S. Major General Haupt) carried over from GETTYSBURG. Authors Newt Gingrich and William Forstchen continue their commendable practice of keeping the key players and events believable. I didn't doubt for a moment that the Battle of Gunpowder River could've happened as it unfolded. Maybe it did in a parallel universe. I have the third book of the series, NEVER CALL RETREAT, on my shelf. I fully expect it to be as gripping and excellent as the previous two, and shall be sorely disappointed when I've finished the last page and have no more installments to savor. This is marvelous series, a must-read for all those even but mildly interested in the War Between the States.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Darkly Dreaming Dexter; Author: Visit Amazon's Jeff Lindsay Page; Review: "What was sleep, after all, but the process by which we dumped our insanity into a dark subconscious pit and came out on the other side ready to eat cereal instead of the neighbor's children." - Dexter Morgan The world is singularly lacking in individuals worthy of hero worship. Or maybe I've just gotten cynical. However, there is a surplus of sociopaths, violent psychopaths, and generally sick puppies. Kudos, and 4 stars, to author Jeff Lindsay for creating in DARKLY DREAMING DEXTER a most unlikely hero, or at least protagonist, in Dexter Morgan, a blood splatter expert for the Miami Police Department, who's also a serial killer exercising his own brand of vigilantism. His victims - 37 to date - are those that society would perhaps like to see dead anyway, e.g. pedophile priests, child rapists, and at least one "mercy killer" RN. Dexter's modus operandi is to vivisection them to death. Nice. Here, Dexter is faced with a serial murderer of prostitutes whose method mimics his own. Morgan is torn between helping his foster sister, a Miami PD vice officer, catch the monster to jump start her stalled career and bonding with somebody who's obviously a soulmate. Wouldn't it be nice to work on some poor unfortunate together? In a world bereft hero figures, I'm left to seek them in fiction. Despite Lindsay's inventiveness, I don't see why I should have to adopt one whose elimination from the human gene pool would be so desirable. So, four stars to DARKLY DREAMING DEXTER notwithstanding, I don't intend to continue with the series.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hungry Ghost; Author: Visit Amazon's Stephen Leather Page; Review: The milieu of HUNGARY GHOST is Hong Kong during the Festival of the Hungary Ghosts, during which time souls of the dead are released from Hell and must be ritually propitiated before they can wreak havoc among the living. Sort of like Halloween without the candy. Here, the transfer of the Crown Colony to Red China is only a few years away. A top executive in the London HQ of the Secret Intelligence Service unilaterally reactivates Geoff Howells, a former MI6 assassin previously forced into retirement after he began enjoying his work just a little too much. Geoff's mission - to kill Simon Ng, the head of a powerful Hong Kong triad, who's understood to be threatening the Beijing mandarins with the blowing of bloody big hole in the containment dome of a nuclear reactor located six miles upwind of the colony unless Hong Kong's handover is delayed fifty years, an unacceptable scenario to the Brits, who just want to exit gracefully ASAP. To bring Simon out from behind his protective walls and bodyguards, Howells kidnaps Sophie, Ng's daughter by his beautiful English wife, Jill. The basic elements of HUNGRY GHOST promise a lean and mean thriller. While it proves to be gratifyingly mean, it's less of the former through the introduction of a superfluity of characters: Pat Dugan, a Senior Inspector in the Commercial Crime Unit of the Hong Kong Police Department as well as Jill's brother, Simon Ng's father and brother, two CIA operatives, one very cute female assassin working for the People's Republic, and a golden-hearted bar girl named Amy. While all these extra players add complexity and interest, I suggest the novel would have been even better had it come down to a contest between Jill and/or Sophie and Geoff without all the other distractions. Indeed, author Stephen Leather has created strong-willed heroines to excellent effect in two other of his potboilers, THE BOMBMAKER and THE STRETCH, both of which transcend this volume in suspense and clever plotting and got 5 stars from me. Mind you, HUNGRY GHOST's 462 paper-backed pages provided better than average entertainment on a 4-hour rail ride from Bridgeport, CT to Baltimore, and a 5-hour flight from Baltimore to Los Angeles, when I wasn't otherwise dozing. And if, like me, you've been lucky enough to visit Hong Kong, this book summons up memories of that visually stunning city. But, it's not the author's best work among those I've read to date.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Pest Control; Author: Visit Amazon's Bill Fitzhugh Page; Review: After completing the first few pages, I realized I'd read PEST CONTROL some years ago; but I certainly never reviewed it. I usually don't read books more than once, but went ahead anyway since, as I recall, it was pretty good. Bob Dillon is an environmentally conscious pest, i.e. insect, controller. As the book opens Bob quits his job with an exterminating company after he rebels against tripling the dose of parathion on a cockroach job and jams the wand of his sprayer up his supervisor's nose. However, as good as quitting felt, he and his family - wife Mary and daughter Katy - will be more financially strapped now than ever before. Mary's job as a waitress just won't pay the overdue bills. Bob's only hope is to make a success of his dream venture - to start up his own pest control business utilizing not poisons but hybrid predator bugs that'll prey on roaches and termites. In the meantime, Dillon answers an ad for a "professional exterminator" placed in the Sunday edition of the New York Times ("resumes to Zurich"), unaware that it's a coded request for an assassin's services. The intended hit is the playboy head of a multimillion dollar European corporation, control of which is coveted by the CEO's loving family. When the middleman, Marcel, personally approaches Bob to ascertain terms, the latter obviously declines the contract, saying he only kills bugs. Thinking Dillon is only being coy to raise his kill-fee, Marcel returns home thinking a deal has been struck. When the inebriated target soon thereafter careens off an Alpine road and cartwheels down a slope, Marcel is amazed that Bob made the assassination look accidental - and so soon, too. Ultimately, misperception and circumstances conspire to give Dillon - without a clue - the global reputation as the Number 1 Assassin. Even the Central Intelligence Agency is impressed, especially as Bob's "cover" seems impeccable. Eventually, a Bolivian drug lord promises to pay $10 million to anyone who can take Bob out. The world's #2,3,4,5,6 and 7-ranked professional killers give it a shot, so to speak, and the plot escalates to its conclusion. In PEST CONTROL, author Bill Fitzhugh has created a clever premise supported by a sublimely absurd set of circumstances and coincidences. Dillon and his family, especially young Katy, are enormously engaging. And the arcane details of killer bug hybridization - accurate or not, I can't say - make for interesting contemplation. I was particularly amused by the mental contortions by which the CIA concluded that Bob was an assassin extraordinaire, a conclusion ironically realized when our hero manipulates both the inherent dangers of New York City and his own knowledge of the class Insecta to eliminate those hunting him. Being a licensed curmudgeon, PEST CONTROL didn't make me laugh out loud, but it did bring a grin to my poker face on several occasions. That, by itself, is a noteworthy accomplishment that needs to be recognized with five stars.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Pest Control; Author: Visit Amazon's Bill Fitzhugh Page; Review: After completing the first few pages, I realized I'd read PEST CONTROL some years ago; but I certainly never reviewed it. I usually don't read books more than once, but went ahead anyway since, as I recall, it was pretty good. Bob Dillon is an environmentally conscious pest, i.e. insect, controller. As the book opens Bob quits his job with an exterminating company after he rebels against tripling the dose of parathion on a cockroach job and jams the wand of his sprayer up his supervisor's nose. However, as good as quitting felt, he and his family - wife Mary and daughter Katy - will be more financially strapped now than ever before. Mary's job as a waitress just won't pay the overdue bills. Bob's only hope is to make a success of his dream venture - to start up his own pest control business utilizing not poisons but hybrid predator bugs that'll prey on roaches and termites. In the meantime, Dillon answers an ad for a "professional exterminator" placed in the Sunday edition of the New York Times ("resumes to Zurich"), unaware that it's a coded request for an assassin's services. The intended hit is the playboy head of a multimillion dollar European corporation, control of which is coveted by the CEO's loving family. When the middleman, Marcel, personally approaches Bob to ascertain terms, the latter obviously declines the contract, saying he only kills bugs. Thinking Dillon is only being coy to raise his kill-fee, Marcel returns home thinking a deal has been struck. When the inebriated target soon thereafter careens off an Alpine road and cartwheels down a slope, Marcel is amazed that Bob made the assassination look accidental - and so soon, too. Ultimately, misperception and circumstances conspire to give Dillon - without a clue - the global reputation as the Number 1 Assassin. Even the Central Intelligence Agency is impressed, especially as Bob's "cover" seems impeccable. Eventually, a Bolivian drug lord promises to pay $10 million to anyone who can take Bob out. The world's #2,3,4,5,6 and 7-ranked professional killers give it a shot, so to speak, and the plot escalates to its conclusion. In PEST CONTROL, author Bill Fitzhugh has created a clever premise supported by a sublimely absurd set of circumstances and coincidences. Dillon and his family, especially young Katy, are enormously engaging. And the arcane details of killer bug hybridization - accurate or not, I can't say - make for interesting contemplation. I was particularly amused by the mental contortions by which the CIA concluded that Bob was an assassin extraordinaire, a conclusion ironically realized when our hero manipulates both the inherent dangers of New York City and his own knowledge of the class Insecta to eliminate those hunting him. Being a licensed curmudgeon, PEST CONTROL didn't make me laugh out loud, but it did bring a grin to my poker face on several occasions. That, by itself, is a noteworthy accomplishment that needs to be recognized with five stars.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Iron Lady: A Biography of Margaret Thatcher; Author: Visit Amazon's Hugo Young Page; Review: "Whoever won a battle under the banner 'I Stand for Consensus'?" - Margaret Thatcher Hugo Young's THE IRON LADY covers virtually all of Thatcher's political career, beginning with her election to Parliament as the Member from Finchley in 1959. (Trivia question: What was Thatcher's university degree? Answer: Chemistry) While the book certainly includes Margaret's ventures onto the world stage - the Falklands conflict being the foremost example - and her relationship with other political giants of the time, principally Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev, the bulk of THE IRON LADY is confined to the UK's domestic issues. And, except for one reference to an interview with the PM in which she announced that her underclothes came from Marks & Spencer, the tone of the narrative is humorless verging on dour. For this reason, I can't say I enjoyed the volume. My completion of it, simply out of a sense of duty and the desire to learn about one of the great figures of 20th century British politics, literally took weeks. It's a book one can easily put down for lighter fare without guilt or qualm. The material for this political bio was extensively researched. Therefore, I have to believe that the author, willing to spend so much time on the project, must at least respect, if not grudgingly admire, Thatcher's political achievements. I say "grudgingly" because it came across, at least to me, that Young didn't like his subject at all, a lack of personal affection shared, the author concludes, by the British electorate at large. My main complaint is that THE IRON LADY is too comprehensive. It dedicates more than an adequate amount of print to the personalities, careers, and philosophies of other figures in Margaret's political life, both before an during her administrations. As an example, there was one interminable section on an information-leakage scandal involving British defense contractor Westland and rival Cabinet Ministers Heseltine and Brittan that was mind-numbingly arcane. Young's purpose was, I gather, to make a point about Thatcher's deviousness. My point is that a hundred pages of the book could've, and should've, been lopped off. Regardless of its shortcomings, THE IRON LADY is, in the absence of more engaging versions, an excellent source of knowledge on its subject. It is, perhaps, compulsory reading for any student of Margaret Thatcher's three terms as British Prime minister, from 1979 to 1990, even though it leaves off (with an Epilogue) in 1989, when the book was published, the year before Thatcher relinquished leadership of Her Majesty's Government and the Conservative Party to John Major. (Major is given only two passing mentions near the end of the 564-page text.) So, a reluctant 4 stars up from 3.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hatless Jack; Author: Visit Amazon's Neil Steinberg Page; Review: I'll never look at the top hat, from which the magician conjures the bunny, in the same way ever again. HATLESS JACK is one of those fascinating treatises about a subject with which you wouldn't otherwise think to concern yourself. In this case, it's men's hats - Stetsons, derbies, fedoras, straw boaters, toppers - and the history, customs, etiquette, and practical pitfalls surrounding their use in America . More importantly, the book examines the demise of the hat as a necessary component of the well-dressed man's wardrobe. As the title implies, the disappearance of the hat from American male fashion can perhaps be largely attributed to President John Kennedy's aversion to wearing such. In debunking this theory, author Neil Steinberg, while incidentally writing an engaging (albeit superficial) narrative about America's youngest President, traces the decline of fashionable headgear back to the 1890's when female theater patrons found it obliging to remove their large and elaborate hats so people sitting behind could see the stage. From there, despite the heyday of fedoras and straw hats in the 1920s, it was all downhill, much to the consternation of the nation's hatmakers. HATLESS JACK is also a compendium of historically interesting trivia. Did you know that the Hat Act, passed by the British Parliament in 1732, forbade American colonists from selling hats abroad or to each other, as well as the physical conveyance of hats by boat or horse? Or that the wearing of summer straw hats beyond September 15th could cause social unrest to the extent of rioting in the streets? Or that hatcheck girls of the 20s and 30s occupied a social position "halfway between a sister and a slut"? HATLESS JACK cries out for a photo section; its sole deficiency is that it has none. There are supposedly pictures of JFK wearing a top hat during his inauguration (though he mostly carried it). I'd love to see one. Oddly, Steinberg fails to mention the enduring association of hats, even to contemporary times, with that icon of Americana, the western cowboy. That phenomenon could have filled a chapter all by itself. (Country-western singers don't count.) And do I own a hat? I do, actually - a grey canvas number reminiscent of that worn by Indiana Jones. I sport it at a jaunty angle on my out-of-state vacations to remind the local rubes that I'm not a swell to be trifled with.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Rebel Gold: One Man's Quest to Crack the Code Behind the Secret Treasure of the Confederacy; Author: Visit Amazon's Warren Getler Page; Review: REBEL GOLD is a better than average conspiracy book, if you're into that sort of thing. And it has the added allure of postulating the existence of a fabulous buried treasure. Written by ex-Vietnam vet Bob Brewer and investigative journalist Warren Getler (Wall Street Journal, International Herald Tribune), REBEL GOLD describes the former's twenty-five year quest to establish the existence and location of Confederate gold and silver caches buried by the pro-secessionist Knights of the Golden Circle in the anticipation that they could one day be used to further a second Civil War. Along the way, Brewer associates the Knights with the Scottish Rite Freemasons, Scottish freedom fighters, the medieval Knights Templar, and the post-Civil War outlaw activities of cousins Jesse Woodson James and Jesse Robert James. (Gee, there was more than one?) Brewer concludes that Jesse and Jesse weren't robbing for personal gain, but to enlarge and help conceal the Confederacy's rainy-day stash. Brewer's quarter-century involvement with rebel treasure depositories, which are ostensibly scattered over a wide swath of territory in the American Southwest and South, is incremental. Growing up in the Arkansas backwoods, Bob was first exposed to the existence of hidden swag by listening to the recollections, stories, and veiled references by resident old timers. It wasn't until he returned home from Vietnam that Brewer began to take these verbal clues seriously and undertook to systematically correlate and follow widely spread physical mapping clues, principally carvings in the trunks of trees and buried markers. To his credit and the overall story's credibility, Bob did manage to unearth several relatively small troves of buried coins in the area. Later, as his knowledge of the KGC increased and he came into possession of additional coded maps and information, he transferred his attention to a larger area across the state line in Oklahoma, and finally to Arizona's Superstition Mountains. In Oklahoma, he was thwarted by a fellow treasure hunter with whom he'd naively shared knowledge and who allegedly beat him to a significantly large stash of gold in a buried safe. In Arizona (and back in Arkansas), Brewer was, and still is, blocked from unearthing (presumably) major hordes by the fact that the sites are on federal land. And who, in their right mind, wants to share found riches with the dang guv'mint, eh? Bob's ultimate triumph, if it can be called such, was in identifying the precise but presumed location of the Arizona treasure vault - underneath Picketpost Mountain - after interrelating a myriad of clues - including cliff carvings, buried markers, and coded stone tablets - with the help of a couple of local amateur treasure hunters and a topographical map of the region. This yarn by Brewer and Getler is a good one, though to be completely believable the reader would, I suspect, had to have been there. Brewer's surmises and intuitive leaps are both numerous and mind-boggling. For instance, concerning an enigmatic stone tablet containing both text and the image of a horse, an image which Brewer had discerned amidst the contour lines and other features of his; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Private Dancer; Author: Visit Amazon's Stephen Leather Page; Review: When I was young and single, I fantasized about visiting Bangkok's fleshpot buffet. But, even 11 years in the Navy didn't provide the opportunity as I never made it away from Stateside. Now that I'm older, married, and only marginally wiser, I doubt that my wife would let me go - even if I could imagine conjuring up the energy to carouse once I got there. And there is, of course, the sobering specter of AIDS. But, should any of you young studs embark on the tour, PRIVATE DANCER should be required reading before reaching the airport departure gate. Pete is a freelance writer hired by a publishing house to edit a new cookery book/travel guide for Thailand. Once ensconced in Bangkok, Pete is introduced to the red-light district by friend Nigel, where Pete meets pole dancer/prostitute Joy in the Zombie Bar. Pete is smitten despite advice from the resident expats that it's best not to get emotionally involved with a bar babe. And despite all the evidence, some provided by a private detective, that Joy is simply using Pete as a cash ATM, that she's married to a Thai man, and that she has sex with other farang (foreign) customers when he's out of town, Pete remains enamored of his PRIVATE DANCER. He desperately wants to believe her excuses, lies, and proclamations of true love - "I love you and have you in my heart only one. Miss you all the time." Author Stephen Leather takes an interesting approach to the story, telling it alternately from the viewpoints of Pete, Joy, Pete's farang friends and acquaintances (Nigel, Big Ron, Bruce, Jimmy), the private detective Phiraphan, Pete's employer Alistair, and a certain Professor Bruno Mayer, an expert on prostitution in Thailand and cross-cultural relationships between the sex workers and their customers. What results is a fascinating and informative parable on the perils of falling for a Bangkok hooker that's probably just as valid no matter what the city, country, or nationality of the working girl. Indeed, as Stephen describes the milieu of Pete's tragic experience, the reader perhaps understands that it's more of a culture clash than anything else. From Joy's perspective, her life and means of getting money for herself and her family back in their village are nothing unusual or immoral. For her, emotional love for, and the provision of money by, a man are two sides of the same coin. The problem for westerner Pete, a Brit, is that he necessarily separates the two. In the end, the open-minded reader can rightly attach no blame to either, but only marvel at Pete's foolishness in the face of good advice from his Anglo and Australian friends that are old Bangkok hands. PRIVATE DANCER seemed, at times, a bit too long for the message. In an email correspondence with Leather, I asked if the tale was based on the experience of anyone he knew. With utter candor, the author implied that at least some of the story derived from his own youthful follies. Perhaps Stephen was driven to over-emphasize the lesson; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Never Call Retreat: Lee and Grant: The Final Victory: A Novel of the Civil War (The Gettysburg Trilogy); Author: Visit Amazon's Newt Gingrich Page; Review: As I began this third volume of alternative Civil War history by Newt Gingrich and William Forstchen, I had the vague apprehension that the authors, particularly Southerner Gingrich, would take this opportunity to rewrite history in the South's favor. After all, in GETTYSBURG, Lee declines an assault on the ridge southeast of the town to swing the Army of Northern Virginia in a wide flanking movement to decisively defeat Meade's Army of the Potomac at Union Mills. Then, in GRANT COMES EAST, Lee captures Baltimore and annihilates the remnants of the Army of the Potomac, now commanded and marched against Lee by the ambitious and impetuous Dan Sickles in defiance of his orders from the new commanding general of all Union forces, Ulysses Grant. What was to prevent Gingrich, in NEVER CALL RETREAT, from having Bobbie Lee defeat Grant and march into Washington, D.C. to take Lincoln prisoner and end the war? Thankfully, Newt has a greater respect for history than to do that. In this riveting conclusion, Grant, of course, defeats Lee in a battle that never actually took place (at Frederick, MD), and almost two years sooner than history records Appomatox. But the brilliance of the plot lies in the fact that Grant and Lee remain true to their characters throughout. The latter persists in his conviction that, God willing, his forces can and will smite "those people". Grant prevails because he has a superior strategic vision, the resources of the North in men and material to back that vision up, and, most importantly, the necessary cold-bloodedness to see the necessary slaughter through to the inevitable conclusion as he manages to bleed Lee's army dry, while almost destroying his own Army of the Susquehanna in the process. And, in the end, as the Army of Northern Virginia is cornered by Grant and his subordinate commanders - Hancock leading forth the Washington garrison and Sykes the last remnant of the Army of the Potomac, the Fifth Corps - it's the massed artillery of the Union that brings home to Lee the futility of carrying on. I cannot gush enough about the excellence of this trilogy. It's a must read for any casual or serious student of the War Between the States. I'm only sorry that it's now finished and I've no additional volumes to deliciously anticipate.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: To the Shores of Tripoli: The Birth of the U.S. Navy and Marines; Author: Visit Amazon's A. B. C. Whipple Page; Review: Petty Muslim tyrants, U.S. hostages, a President's "police action" in lieu of a Congressional war declaration, American political infighting and finger pointing, diplomatic waffling, the valor of American front line fighters, military leadership ranging from exemplary to non-existent, futile diplomatic negotiations, indecisive combat operations with no end in sight, perfidious allies. Sound familiar in light of recent events? Yet all apply to America's war with the Barbary Coast (Tripoli, Tunis, Algiers, and Morocco) during the first half-decade of the 19th century. TO THE SHORES OF TRIPOLI is Addison Beecher Colvin Whipple's account of President Jefferson's diplomatic and military attempts to end the attacks on U.S. merchant ships in the Mediterranean by Barbary Coast pirates without having to resort to the annual payment of protection money (as was the habit of major and minor European powers of the period). More to the point, it's the story of the birth of the U.S. Navy and its land combat arm, the Marine Corps, both of which saw their first overseas deployment in this frustrating conflict. If you think the naval forces of young America were resoundingly victorious over the North African brigand rulers, think again. True, Commodore Edward Preble and his Mediterranean squadron's intrepid siege of the port of Tripoli is a shining star in American military history. But, it was bookended by the ineffectual efforts of both Preble's predecessor and successor, Commodores Richard Morris and Samuel Barron respectively, with the same fleet and same mission, i.e. to bring the pirates to heel. And the conflict as a whole, while occasionally punctuated with feats of battlefield bravery rendering the greatest of honor to American servicemen, also included farce, such as when the frigate USS Philadelphia ran aground on a reef, its 300-man crew subsequently captured, while giving chase to a Tripolitan raider. And then there was the intrepid but ultimately futile overland march by U.S. Consul William Eaton at the head of a contingent of eight Marines, led by Lt. Presley O'Bannon, and a motley army comprising Greeks, Arabs, and mercenaries from some dozen other countries, with the intent of overthrowing the recalcitrant Tripolitan ruler and installing on the thrown his exiled brother, an American-backed stooge. I'm knocking a star off what is otherwise a solid and engaging historical narrative because the volume has no maps of the region or contemporary diagrams of the port of Tripoli to give the reader at least a two-dimensional perspective on the action, nor is there a photo section comprising the portraits of the leading figures from both sides, military and diplomatic, American and Arab. Surely they weren't all so anonymous as to be unrecorded by history? To me, this is a severe deficiency. The only substantive result of the Barbary Coast campaign, besides the eventual release of the USS Philadelphia's crew from captivity, was the battle experience it gave American naval officers for use in the War of 1812 soon to follow. Perhaps more lasting is the sword carried by every Marine officer in formal uniform, the design of which is based on that of the scimitar presented; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Long Shot (Stephen Leather Thrillers); Author: Visit Amazon's Stephen Leather Page; Review: Goodyear can thank the gods of serendipity that its airship wasn't involved in this caper in which super terrorist Carlos the Jackal, the IRA, and two renegade ex-SEAL snipers team-up to cause international havoc at a Baltimore Orioles baseball game while being chased by the FBI, Secret Service, MI5, and an out-of-shape, former SAS non-com. THE LONG SHOT has two main protagonists, Special Agent Howard Cole of the FBI and former SAS Sergeant Mike "Joker" Cramer. The reader's primary allegiance may perhaps become divided, though what the latter endures at the hands of the diabolical IRA torturer, Mary Hennessy, makes him #1 on my list of Tough Guys. Cole, like many American males, only has an insufferable father-in-law, a drinking problem, a less-than-supportive wife, and a backstabbing, ambitious subordinate. And speaking of Hennessy, her eventual end is way too easy and unsatisfying. (Mary's persona makes me wonder whom author Stephen Leather subliminally used as her character model. An ex-wife or old girlfriend, perhaps?) Despite the relative implausibility of the plot and an improbable ending, involving a blimp and one of the Good Guys dangling from a helicopter, that was better suited to a Hollywood Big Screen SFX orgasm, THE LONG SHOT does provide suspenseful moments of above-average entertainment. However, Leather here, to my mind, departs from his usual forte, which is to place his chief protagonist in a smaller arena of conflict that has repercussions that are more personal than global. It's this departure, and an overabundance of players, which makes this potboiler more standard fare than other Leather thrillers I've read. Stephen, I'm sorry, but three stars are the best I can manage. (But I'll keep buying and reading your books!); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Life in the French Foreign Legion: How to Join and What to Expect When You Get There; Author: Visit Amazon's Evan McGorman Page; Review: As a youngster, or even as an adult, did you ever fantasize about leaving it all behind by running away with a cloth sack tied to the end of a stick to join the French Foreign Legion, be posted to an isolated fortress outpost in the Saharan desert, and fight Arab hordes alongside Beau Geste (Gary Cooper)? In LIFE IN THE FRENCH FOREIGN LEGION, author Evan McGorman will perhaps disabuse you of that notion. Perhaps not. As a Canadian teenager, McGorman became entranced with the legendary image of the Legion. After serving 4 years in an artillery unit of the Royal Canadian Army, Evan enlisted in the Légion Étrangère in 1989 on a 5-year contract. Based on his experiences, this book is his good-faith attempt to strip away the romance surrounding the contemporary Legion and give a true picture of service within its ranks to anybody contemplating joining. McGorman begins his narrative where it logically should, i.e. with the addresses of the Legion's recruiting centers in France; he himself joined in Paris. He covers just about everything you need to know: enlistment requirements, what to bring - French/English dictionary, shaving gear, toiletries, towel, cigarettes, watch, wallet, personal address book (all of which might fit in that sack at the end of the stick) - the enlistment contract, changing your name, aptitude tests, orientation, basic training, learning French (rapidly), singing and marching, the legion's Code of Honor, the signature Képi Blanc cap, ranks, saluting, addressing superiors, the annoying corvée (menial chores), guard service, corporal punishment, phoning and writing home, doing laundry, weapons, physical training, meals, and regimental structure. Once graduated from basic training, Evan is assigned to the Legion's single parachute regiment. Subsequently, his narrative includes everything you'd need to know about regimental life: parachute training, company structure, commando training, daily schedule, vacation leave, pay, theft, desertion, tips on deserting, the practical benefits of being a Legionnaire (e.g. being a Babe Magnet), specialist training, holidays, and the perception of the Legion as a band of hardbitten, unsavory mercenaries. During his stint, McGorman did tours of duty in Africa - Chad and Djibouti - as well as one with the UN peacekeeping force in Sarajevo. Much of the book is dedicated to his experiences in those places. Finally, Evan ends his narrative where it logically should, i.e. with the mustering out experience: an unexpected tax bill from the French government, inducements to re-enlist, tidying up administrative details, the final paycheck, corvée to the very end, the Certificate of Military Service, and the good-bye address from the Commandant of the Legion. The subtitle of LIFE IN THE FRECH FOREIGN LEGION is HOW TO JOIN AND WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU GET THERE. What McGorman provides is exactly that, a comprehensive overview done in an informal, lucid, and informative style much like you'd get in a conversation over several beers. While the author lays claim to no regrets about his years with the Legion, he's soberingly honest about why he wouldn't necessarily recommend it: the incessant corvée, the boredom, the constant hold the organization has on; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sea of Glory: America's Voyage of Discovery, The U.S. Exploring Expedition, 1838-1842; Author: Visit Amazon's Nathaniel Philbrick Page; Review: What native-born American hasn't heard of the Lewis and Clark Expedition? (Well, OK, the quality of public education being what it is, there are, perhaps, contemporary high school graduates that haven't a clue. But, you get my point.) However, I'd never heard of the United States Exploring Expedition of 1838-42, even after a primary and secondary education in private schools and fifty-six years of reading and general awareness. During the four years the intrepid Ex. Ex. naval squadron was at sea sailing 87,000 miles, it surveyed 1500 miles of the Antarctic coast, 280 Pacific islands (including all of the Fiji Group), Puget Sound, 800 miles of the Oregon coast, the Columbia River from its mouth to the vicinity of Portland, and San Francisco Bay. Almost as asides, it also scaled Mauna Loa to its summit and surveyed the overland route from Oregon to San Francisco. During its circumnavigation of the globe, the Ex. Ex. suffered the disappearance or shipwreck of two vessels and the deaths of a couple dozen men. Like his other narrative IN THE HEART OF THE SEA: THE TRAGEDY OF THE WHALESHIP ESSEX, this volume by Nathaniel Philbrick is a splendid, immensely readable book. It covers the genesis and 10-year preparation for the Ex. Ex., the odyssey itself, and its aftermath, with special emphasis on the leadership skills, or lack thereof, of its turbulent, troubled, and remarkable commander, Lieutenant Charles Wilkes. Contrary to other otherwise excellent works of popular history, SEA OF GLORY also includes maps and three sections of perfectly apropos illustrations; kudos to the author for including them. What was a monumental achievement was ultimately overshadowed by America's preoccupation with its western territories and the controversy, including court-martial, surrounding the martinet Wilkes, truly a Jerk with a capital "J" if there ever was one. SEA OF GLORY was a major revelation about a largely forgotten event in United States history. I'm glad I took the time to read it, and heartily recommend it as an instructive and entertaining volume.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Saboteurs: The Nazi Raid on America; Author: Visit Amazon's Michael Dobbs Page; Review: In June of 1942, two 4-man teams of Nazi saboteurs exited U-boats onto American beaches in Florida and Long Island, NY. All of the eight had previously spent time in America. Indeed, one had spent twenty years in the U.S., and another, a naturalized American citizen, had spent seventeen since the age of five. Returning to the Third Reich for various reasons, they volunteered to return to the U.S. and sabotage that country's war effort by striking at its aluminum production plants. Each team hit the beach with a supply of explosives and $90,000 cash for expenses. Two weeks later, they were all in FBI custody. All were tried by a military tribunal and found guilty. Six of the eight were quickly executed by electrocution; two were imprisoned for the war's duration and eventually returned to Germany. A friend of one of the saboteurs, who'd also been offered the chance to join the mission but declined, said: "In Germany ... everything was rationed. Nobody in his right mind was going to go from a country like that to a country with everything, like America, and start blowing things up. You'd have to be nuts." That statement just about says it in a nutshell because even though Hoover and his FBI trumpeted their foiling of the plot as the greatest victory for America since Yorktown and the former just about wet his pants in an effort to grab all the credit for (chiefly) himself and his G-men, the eight conspirators resembled more an expanded clone of the Three Stooges, and their fourteen days on the loose were a farce. Glad to be free of Germany's wartime belt tightening, they started spending their cash on food, clothes, drink, women, and, in one case, a new car. A couple of them looked up family members, wives, and former girlfriends. There didn't seem to be any great urgency to get down to the business of "blowing things up". In the meantime, the leader of the Long Island four, George Dasch, was off spilling his guts to the Feds. Though SABOTEURS: THE NAZI RAID ON AMERICA is well written and documented, one wonders why author Michael Dobbs bothered. Perhaps a clue lies in Michael's assertion that: "One of the lessons of the saboteur affair is that it is very difficult to fight a war and respect legal niceties at the same time." In the seventy-six pages of the book dealing with the invaders' trial and punishment, Dobbs goes to commendable lengths to describe how the accused were denied the right of habeas corpus, an abridgement not seen since Abraham Lincoln suspended such during the Civil War. Oh, and by the way, the handling of the saboteurs' case by the U.S. government is apparently the legal basis for its trying of al-Qaeda terrorists before military tribunals post-9/11. SABOTEURS seems less about the abortive "raid" on America than an essay on its legal system when severely stressed - or perceived to be stressed - by outside forces. Perhaps the lesson to be learned is reflected in the statement by; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Cinderella Man: James J. Braddock, Max Baer, And The Greatest Upset In Boxing History; Author: Visit Amazon's Jeremy Schaap Page; Review: James J. Braddock wasn't a great Heavyweight Champ; he lost the title in his first defense bout after he'd won it. But his is, perhaps, the greatest comeback story of 20th century pugilism. The CINDERELLA MAN had heart. Author Jeremy Schaap's book begins with the commencement of Braddock's comeback in June 1934 with his victory over "Corn" Griffin. Jim's last previous fight had been nine months earlier, at the end of which, with a right hand that had been repeatedly broken and numerous defeats under his belt, he was thought to be washed up. To the point of the Griffin match-up, he was barely able to feed his family with odd jobs on the New York and New Jersey docks and welfare help; it was the Depression, and Braddock's fortunes were at their rock bottom. Then, Schaap regresses in time to the period 1926-33 when Jim fought as a light heavyweight, almost winning that title in 1929. The author alternates the early Braddock saga with the same for the 1929-1934 career of Max Baer, who won the heavyweight title from Primo Canera, also in June 1934, thus setting up the confrontation that established Jim's fame and won him the heavyweight crown, the Braddock-Baer bout in June 1935. Schaap's summaries of Braddock's eighty-three fights and Baer's forty-seven prior to their epic battle are, almost by necessity in a volume of only 276 pages, spotty in detail, yet are sufficient to establish the two fighters' characters. There is an adequate section of photographs, as well as the complete ring records of both Braddock and Baer and a complete listing of all the heavyweight division champs since John L. Sullivan. (Who is Hasim Rahman, champ in 2001, for Pete's sake?!) For a boxing aficionado, CINDERELLA MAN is perhaps, despite its relative brevity, a must read. For those who otherwise couldn't care less about the sport, then viewing the excellent 2005 film CINDERELLA MAN, starring Russell Crowe in the title role, is the preferred, shorter option that provides all the basics. The visual version skips the preliminaries, starts with Braddock's last fight in 1933, his and his family's descent into near destitution, his enduring relationships with his wife Mae (Renee Zellweger) and manager Joe Gould (Paul Giamatti), his comeback contests versus Griffin, Lewis, and Lasky, and his win by decision over Baer in 15 gritty rounds. Though it wasn't the author's intent, I gather, it was Baer's personality that came across as the more intriguing, at least for me. Max was a hard-punching, underachieving champ who fell more in love with the perks of his achievements - the fame, women, fine clothes, good food, showmanship - than with the commitment to his profession and hard work necessary to stay at the top. It's one of his quotes that stays with me: "Listen, I don't want to be one of those champions who fights once a year. I need to fight. Dames are expensive." Truer words were never spoken.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Absolute Friends; Author: John le Carre; Review: ABSOLUTE FRIENDS is perhaps John le Carré's most elegant construct in some time. By its conclusion, it also reflects the author's anger against America's and Britain's overt justification for their current involvement in Iraq, i.e. as the front line in the war against Muslim terrorism. I doubt if it will be preferred bedtime reading for George Dubya or Tony Blair, just as CONSTANT GARDENER wouldn't find favor with pharmaceutical company CEOs. The hero of the story, and its ultimate patsy, is Edward "Ted" Mundy, born in Lahore of a British officer in the Indian Army and a native nursemaid to an aristocratic English family on the very night that the Raj formally splintered into India and Pakistan. Ted's mother dies during childbirth. His father, the "Major", subsequently joins the new Pakistani Army, but is eventually sent back to England in disgrace after striking a brother officer. Over the decades, the younger Mundy plays cricket, drops out of Oxford, becomes a Berlin anarchist, is expelled from West Germany, and becomes a minor functionary in the British government and an MI-6/Stasi double agent. Then, after German reunification, Ted fails as an English language teacher in Heidelberg, becomes a tour guide at one of Mad King Ludwig's castles in Bavaria, and meets his final destiny as an apparent Muslim sympathizer who's fallen in love with a Turkish ex-prostitute. Mundy's largely directionless life is characterized by a lack of entrenched commitment to anything political, and, like a leaf, is blown from cause to cause by girlfriends, wife, mistress, intelligence handler, circumstance, and, above all, his "absolute friend" Sasha, a stateless, radical visionary/philosopher/anarchist, whom Ted originally meets during his youthful anti-establishment period in West Berlin. As with any le Carré offering, all of which compulsively stress character and plot development, the reader seeking action and thrills need not open the cover. To my mind, the author's greatest triumphs were the two George Smiley novels, TINKER, TAILOR, SOLDIER, SPY and SMILEY'S PEOPLE, both of which were made into superb television miniseries by the BBC and starring Alec Guinness in the title role. Here, Mundy, in his own way, is as engaging a protagonist as Smiley. However, I must ultimately knock-off a star because I, while no uncritical supporter of George Dubya and his Iraqi venture, somewhat resent being presented with an entertainment opportunity that becomes, in the end, simply a vehicle for the author to grind an ax, albeit cleverly done. John must be getting cranky in his old age.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: English: A Portrait Of A People; Author: Visit Amazon's Jeremy Paxman Page; Review: "We few, we happy few, we band of brothers" - Henry V, according to Shakespeare, on the eve of Agincourt "... the English have found themselves walking backwards into the future, their eyes fixed on a point some time at the turn of the twentieth century." - Jeremy Paxman THE ENGLISH by Jeremy Paxman is an erudite, thoughtful, and thought-provoking essay on what it means to be "English". Jeremy addresses eleven general topics in the same number of chapters. The post-WWII loss of identity concurrent with the divestment of Empire. The English attitude towards foreigners. The submergence of English identity in Empire. The nebulosity of the attribute "true-born Englishmen". The English affection for being beleaguered against overwhelming odds (as at Agincourt, Khartoum, Rorke's Drift, Mafeking, Dunkirk, and during The Blitz). The Church of England. The English as misanthropes. The enduring fantasy of rural England. The "ideal Englishman", anti-intellectual and with stiff upper lip. Sex, and the status of women in society. And, lastly, dragging England out of its glorious past into an uncertain future. Paxman volunteers insights that I, a visitor to England (and Wales and Scotland) multiple, but all too infrequent, times, would never have thought of: "The picture of (arcadian) England that the English carry in their collective mind is so astonishingly powerful because it is a sort of haven ... a refuge conjured up in the longing for home of a chap stuck deep in the bush, serving his queen ..." Or, this: "The English fixation with weather is nothing to do with histrionics ... The interest is less in the phenomena themselves, but in uncertainty. ... It is the consequence of genuine, small-scale anxiety. ... life at the edge of an ocean and the edge of a continent means you can never be entirely sure what you're going to get." Paxman's narrative is always interesting, and occasionally witty in a dry, English sort of way. Whether his conclusions are correct or not is best left to the judgment of the reader. (Indeed, anthropologist Kate Fox, in the first chapter of her book, WATCHING THE ENGLISH, maintains that Paxman missed the point with his weather observation.) For the most part, however, they seem eminently reasonable to me, although I might have encompassed one or two peculiarities that have become apparent during my lifetime love affair with the country, e.g., that the English seem to lavish more affection on their pets than their children. Finally, I applaud the author's attempt to tease apart national characteristics of the English from the "British" overlay. Mind you, "English", "Welsh" and "Scottish", are all lumped under the political construct "British", which is oft wrongly equated with "English" by both ignoramuses and those that should know better. After my many visits to the island, what I remember most vividly (and superficially) are: "Mind the gap!", Cadbury dispensers on railway platforms, Marks & Spencer, the smell of coal smoke on a rainy day, the fluttering and cooing of doves in abbey ruins, roundabouts, kippers for breakfast, Indian take-away, the cold mustiness of the cavernous cathedrals, Scotch; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Watching the English - The Hidden Rules of English Behaviour; Author: Visit Amazon's Kate Fox Page; Review: "Really, I don't see why anthropologists feel they have to travel to remote corners of the world and get dysentery and malaria in order to study strange tribal cultures with bizarre beliefs and mysterious customs, when the weirdest, most puzzling tribe of all is right here on our doorstep." - Kate Fox WATCHING THE ENGLISH, by social anthropologist Kate Fox, is an engaging, perceptive, informative, and entertaining treatise on English (as opposed to "British") behavior in all aspects of life. At times, the author's style seems tongue-in-cheek. However, as she herself is English, this is simply a manifestation of her tribe's trait not to be seen as being too earnest and, while the subject is to be taken seriously, not too seriously. In what must have been a prodigious research effort (yielding 416 pages of small type), Fox characterizes English behavior and attitudes as they relate to weather, social small talk, humor, linguistics, pubs, mobile phones, home, queues, transportation, work, play, dress, food, sex, secondary education, marriage, funerals, religion, and recurring "calendrical rites" (e.g. birthdays and holidays). Within these categories, Kate addresses everything from the pets and jam to the furniture that the English favor. And, since class consciousness is irrevocably embedded in the national social fabric, all is explained relative to the various classes: lower- and upper-working, lower-, middle- and upper-middle, and upper. As an example, when it comes to one's automobile: "A scrupulously tidy car indicates an upper-working to middle-middle owner, while a lot of rubbish, apple cores, biscuit crumbs, crumpled bits of paper and general disorder suggests an owner from either the top or the bottom of the social hierarchy. (Further,) the upper and upper-middle classes of both sexes have a high tolerance of dog-related dirt and disorder ... The interiors of their cars are often covered in dog hair, and the upholstery scratched to bits by scrabbling paws." Kate's observations stress the importance of self-effacement, fair-play, moderation, compromise, courtesy, modesty, desire for privacy, polite egalitarianism, irony, ambiguity, and hypocrisy in English behavior. However, to me, the single most important concept to be absorbed from WATCHING THE ENGLISH is that of "negative politeness", which explains the notorious English reserve, and: "... which is concerned with other people's need not to be intruded or imposed upon (as opposed to 'positive politeness', which is concerned with their need for inclusion and social approval). We judge others by ourselves, and assume that everyone shares our obsessive need for privacy - so we mind our own business and politely ignore them." After all, one mustn't "make a fuss". I myself was born in Milwaukee. My paternal grandfather emigrated from central Europe, and his family was German-speaking. Yet, as I read this book, my reaction was: "Wow! That describes me perfectly." Perhaps this is because I was an Englishman in a previous incarnation or, more plausibly, because English values persist in the core, WASP, sub-culture of the country descended from the thirteen, original, Anglo-American colonies. WATCHING THE ENGLISH is a must-read for anyone who loves England, and is an obligatory duo with Jeremy Paxman's; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Time and Chance; Author: Sharon Penman; Review: "What miserable drones and traitors I have nourished and promoted in my household, who let their lord be mocked so shamefully by a lowborn clerk!" Thus, in TIME AND CHANCE, is author Sharon Kay Penman's version of the angry words that compelled four of Henry II's knights to commit one of the most famous assassinations in Western European history, that of Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury. The second in an ostensible series of three works of historical fiction - the last has yet to appear - about the first Plantagenet King of England and his consort, Eleanor of Aquitaine, this volume spans the period 1156 - 1171. Woven into the plot are the four pivotal events (for historians, novelists and screenwriters, at least) of that period: Henry's subjugation of the Welsh king, Owain Gwynedd, Henry's taking of Rosamund Clifford as his mistress, Henry's disastrous relationship with Becket, and the crowning of Henry's oldest son, Young Henry, as Ol' Dad's heir apparent. Judging from Penman's other novels, she has a fascination with medieval Wales. Here, she fleshes out much of the Owain Gwynedd subplot through a completely fictional character, Ranulf Fitz Roy, carried over from the first book in the series, WHEN CHRIST AND HIS SAINTS SLEPT, which dealt with that period of English civil war before Henry II's accession when his mother Maude, the daughter of Henry I, fought to dethrone the then English monarch, Stephen. As Sharon would have it, Ranulf was an illegitimate son of Henry I by a Welsh mistress, and therefore half-brother to Maude and half-uncle to Henry II. In any case, I accepted his presence in the first book because the main player in the series, Henry II, had yet to take center stage. Now, with the fully developed characters of Henry II, Eleanor and Becket, Ranulf's presence doesn't do much more than pad the novel to an unnecessary length and, for that reason, I'm reluctantly knocking off a star. Henry Plantagenet and Eleanor are, for me, the two most interesting individuals in history, and their dysfunctional family life provides more than enough entertainment without the introduction of a make-believe ringer. For English history buffs, TIME AND CHANCE provides a gripping perspective on the calamitous collision between the King and the Archbishop of Canterbury, especially as the dialogues that occurred between the two men in the book, as well as the circumstances of Becket's murder, are, according to Penman, transcribed from numerous eyewitness accounts. I've been looking forward to the release of the third book in the trilogy for quite some time, and I wish Penman would get on with it.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Winfield Scott Hancock: A Soldier’s Life; Author: Visit Amazon's David M. Jordan Page; Review: "On each of the three days of the (Gettysburg) battle (Hancock) played a significant role - rallying the beaten forces on July 1 and selecting the battlefield, redressing the Sickles blunder the next day and saving the left wing of the army, and finally beating back the last and greatest assault of the Army of Northern Virginia. ... Gettysburg was Hancock's field." - author David Jordan It was these three days in July, 1863 that established Winfield Scott Hancock as perhaps the best corps commander to serve in the Army of the Potomac. Yet, his career of loyal service to his superior officers, his Commanders-in Chief, and his country extended for a multitude of years on either side of his command of the Second Corps, which encompassed the relatively brief period from June of 1863 to November 1864, and which included the battles at Gettysburg, the Wilderness, Spotsylvania, Cold Harbor, and skirmishes around the Petersburg entrenchments. Hancock's Civil War generalship earned him the affection of his troops and the country's citizenry and the respect of his fellow officers, all of which were sustained and flourished during his post-war career as a Reconstruction military administrator, a Great Plains Indian overseer, commander of the Military Division of the Atlantic (states), during which time he earned the gratitude of the nation in quelling labor violence, and, finally, as a three-time seeker of the Democratic nomination for President (1868, 1872, 1880) and his party's nominee for that office in the 1880 election. David Jordan's WINFIELD SCOTT HANCOCK is an extensively referenced, solid, immensely readable biography and work of popular history. Jordan obviously thinks highly of the man. Even Hancock's less than illustrious stint as commander of the Military Department of the Missouri from August 1866 to August 1867, during which he stumbled around the Great Plains without a clue as to the nature and culture of the Indian tribes he was tasked with controlling, goes pretty much uncriticized. After all, Hancock was only following the orders of his superior, General Sherman. And that's what Winfield did best all his life - follow orders. If there's a failing to this volume, it's that it suffers from a limited photo section, and helpful maps are either absent or rudimentary. Beyond that, the book is a fine tribute to an American for whom much honor is due in the nation's history.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Devil's Halo; Author: Visit Amazon's Chris Fox Page; Review: In the world of thriller writer Chris Fox, the perfidious French are the new villains. Once again, I guess, it's time for the U.S. Congress to pass a resolution renaming french fries "liberty fries". Here, Terry Weston, an industrial espionage specialist on contract to the CIA, and his brilliant and beautiful DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) consultant wife, Maria, team up to counter a diabolical plot by the Machiavellian French spy master Jean-Claude Maistre and Russian strongman Sergei Maleshnekov to neutralize American GPS satellites and destroy the U.S. military's space-dependent hegemony. THE DEVIL'S HALO benefits from a plot that is fast paced, clever, and which features a lot of nifty gadgets, nail-biting moments, and two very engaging protagonists. If I can make a cross-genre comparison, it resembles any of the recent and very entertaining 007 films starring Pierce Brosnan. Like the latter, however, this book defies plausibility and is short on character development. Since, in my fifth and sixth decades of reading, I've come to value such things - such as one will find in spy novels by John le Carre and Gerald Seymour - I'm knocking off a fifth star from THE DEVIL'S HALO when other readers wouldn't. It's a personal thing, and in no way a criticism of the author's ability to create a riveting potboiler. I especially liked Maria's inventions, the super-miniaturized robotic spy planes, Fly and Mosquito. I'd like to think such amazing technology exists, but it likely doesn't - not yet, anyway. The books weakest chapter is the very last, short one in which Fox wraps up the storyline with a pie-in-the-sky view of a peaceful New World that's about as naive a vision as anything I've read recently. Where are the Chinese and the Islamic fundamentalists? They must be stirring the pot somewhere. Perhaps Chris is saving them for another Weston adventure. Note: This review is of the UK edition, which, as I understand it from communication with the author, is being slightly re-written for the US market.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America; Author: Visit Amazon's Barbara Ehrenreich Page; Review: "I have been discovering a great truth about low-wage work and probably a lot about medium-wage work, too - that nothing happens, or rather the same thing always happens, which amounts, day after day, to nothing." - Barbara Ehrenreich "I grew up hearing over and over ... 'Work hard and you'll get ahead' ... No one ever said that you could work hard - harder than you ever thought possible - and still find yourself sinking ever down into poverty and debt." - Barbara Ehrenreich If you're a middle or upper-income reader, then NICKEL AND DIMED is a vicarious journey to the other side of the wage earning tracks. Author Barbara Ehrenreich describes her 2-year self-immersion in several minimum-wage jobs for the purpose of writing this book. She mostly concentrates on three: waiting tables in Florida at a restaurant belonging to a nationally popular chain, e.g. Denny's, cleaning homes in Maine with The Maids, and sorting clothes in Minnesota on the sales floor of that favorite media whipping boy, Wal-Mart. Indeed, a good portion of Barbara's narrative, rightly or wrongly, sounds like a Wal-Mart bash. NICKEL AND DIMED is a lucid, eye-opening, and sympathetic account of the plight facing those millions that earn $7-$9/hour, or less, and still find themselves crushed by inflation and shrinkage of the nation-wide availability of affordable housing. According to Ehrenreich, it's the latter, and not the cost of food, and which is ironically driven by an increase in prosperity for the middle and upper classes, that's driving the working poor to greater levels of desperation. In the last paragraph of the book, the author predicts social revolution. A criticism of Barbara's approach might be that it was an artificial construct inasmuch as she always had the safety net of her middle-class "real life" to fall back on when in extremis - that she never had to truly experience the outer edges of deprivation and resigned hopelessness. However, the alternative to her book would be one actually written by a minimum-wage earner - and which of those has the time and access to a publisher. No, I give Ehrenreich due kudos for her research and its result. After reading NICKEL AND DIMED, I'll not view the clothing department of my favorite consumer superstore in the same way ever again, I'll be tempted to tip my restaurant server 20% instead of the minimum 15%, and I'll be more generous to our independent housecleaner at Christmas. Being an hourly employee myself, albeit a well-compensated one, I'm also reminded of the sobering truth: "... when you start selling your time by the hour ... what you're actually selling is your life."; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Lost in a Good Book (A Thursday Next Novel); Author: Visit Amazon's Jasper Fforde Page; Review: LOST IN A GOOD BOOK may be a painful rite of passage for a linear thinker. Here, in author Jasper Fforde's England of 1985, people keep dodo birds as pets, a special police unit drives stakes through vampires' hearts, Tunbridge Wells has been given over to Russia in war reparations, London to Sydney travel time is 40 minutes by Gravitube through the Earth's center, air travel is by lighter-than-air airship, cheese is contraband, there's a duty on custard, Homo sapiens neanderthalensis has been recreated from recovered DNA and now provides society with its minimum-wage untermenschen, time travel is a reality, and 249 wooly mammoths in nine herds migrate back and forth across Britain. So little of this parallel universe makes sense that I at first doubted my ability to finish the book. But, intrepidly, I carried on. The heroine of the story is Thursday Next, a Literary Detective in department 27 of SpecOps, the national law enforcement megaforce. The mission of SO-27, among other things, is to validate the authenticity of recently discovered works by dead authors. The title of the book refers to the ability of certain trained adepts to physically enter book plots in real time, much as Mary Poppins and her young charges were able to pop in and out of chalk pavement pictures in the film MARY POPPINS. This talent is so rare that, here, Next is coerced by a representative by the world's monolithic business corporation, Goliath, to rescue his unsavory half-brother previously marooned by Thursday within the pages of Poe's "The Raven" in the first book of the Next series, THE EYRE AFFAIR. In return, Goliath will restore Thursday's husband Landen, who has been eradicated. And, as if that wasn't enough of a bother, Thursday must also thwart the imminent destruction of all Life on Earth by rampant strawberry flavored Dream Topping. Perhaps you can see where a linear thinker might suffer a migraine. The enjoyment of becoming lost in LOST IN A GOOD BOOK isn't related to a nail-biter plot because what plot it possesses isn't; the word "peripeteia" comes to mind. Rather, the joy comes from the expectation of reading what clever quirkiness the frisky imagination of Fforde cranks out - sort of a present-day version of ALICE IN WONDERLAND. Indeed, the Cheshire Cat is one of the book's characters. It's that imagination that compels me to award the novel five stars though it goes against my grain. I'm not particularly driven to read THE EYRE AFFAIR, but I have ordered the next in the series, THE WELL OF LOST PLOTS. It will undoubtedly spend time in the waiting room with the twenty-some more linear works awaiting my attention until I get the urge to lose myself in a bit of benign madness.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Earth: An Intimate History; Author: Richard A. Fortey; Review: In answer to a time-related statement from another, such as "I turn 57 next month", have you ever answered, "Rocks don't live that long"? In EARTH, British paleontologist-author Richard Fortey reminds the reader that the globe is theorized to be 4.5 billion years young, and the oldest rock datable by current technology, a zircon crystal from Australia, registers at 4.4 billion years. Is your mother-in-law that old? I've always been fascinated, when flying over or driving through the deserts of the western U.S., by the myriad of different rock formations unclothed by vegetation and naked for all to see. I've wished that I had a geologist by my side to explain how they came to be. Fortey may be the next best thing. In EARTH, the theme is "plate tectonics", and it's a tribute to the author's writing talent that he can make so esoteric a subject supremely interesting. The book is, at times, hard to put down. To illustrate the observable effects of past movements of the Earth's crust - movement that will continue long past the habitation of the Earth by the human species, Fortey has selected several spots on our world as exhibits: Pompei, Hawaii, the Swiss Alps, Newfoundland, Scotland, India, Kenya, California, and the Grand Canyon. The narrative is, of course, about the evolution of tectonic plate theory, but also about proto-continents, lost oceans, volcanoes, mountain ranges, upthrusts, downthrusts, subduction zones, deep ocean trenches, mid-ocean ranges, lava, basalt, granite, gneisses, fossils, fault lines, schists, nappes, magnetic fields, limestone, ice sheets, diamonds, gold, coral reefs, green sand, "hot spots", tin mines, magma, marble, polar wandering, rubies, tors, and a mule named "Buttercup". Fortey's gift is to make the mix wonderfully engaging for the average reader, though strict adherents to Creationism will likely see their beliefs threatened. Did you know, for example, that the Appalachians were once one end of a mountain chain that stretched across an ancient continent, and the remains of which, after continental drift, are now in such widely separated locales as Newfoundland, Ireland, Wales, Scotland and the length of western Scandinavia? Or that mid-European miners have long recognized the panicked streaming of cockroaches, which are extremely sensitive to changes in rock pressure, as the harbinger of impending rockfalls? The author occasionally waxes philosophic. After noting that a 1.5 billion-year old granite slab serves as the counter of a bar in London's Paddington Station, he muses: "If you have just missed your train, you can at least lean on a bar that is 1500 million years old and reflect that perhaps half an hour is not that serious a delay." I did, however, spot one egregious error in the narrative that is otherwise erudite and above reproach. On page 278, while recalling a trip through Nevada, he writes: "Carson City used to be the state capital. Now it is an endearingly ramshackle collection of wooden houses scattered over the hillside." Now, 'ang on a minute, guv. Carson City has been - and remains - the Nevada state capital. Moreover, it's situated in a broad valley at the; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Civil War Generalship: The Art Of Command; Author: Visit Amazon's W. J. Wood Page; Review: CIVIL WAR GENERALSHIP is a treatise on the nature of military command leadership written for the popular market. To make his case, author W.J. Wood, an ex-Army war gamer for weapons system analysis, focuses on three battles: Cedar Mountain in August 1862 between commanders Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson and Nathaniel Banks, Chickamauga in September 1863 between commanders Braxton Bragg and William "Old Rosy" Rosecrans, and Nashville in December 1864 between commanders John Hood ("The Gallant Hood") and George Thomas ("The Rock of Chickamauga"). In a prefatory Part One of the book, Wood pretty much establishes the lack of any formalized pre-Civil War military thought in the U.S. Army as to how battles should be fought and won. West Point, attended by all the aforementioned commanders except Banks, focused mainly on engineering; during the four-year curriculum, only nine hours were devoted to battlefield tactics. Thus, the army commander had to learn his skills through on-the-job combat experience during his ascent through the command structure. As a reader possessing a casual interest in the Civil War history, I can find only minimal fault with this brief (245 paperbacked pages) treatment of the topic. Indeed, the concise and lucid summaries of the three selected battles, each one supplemented by more than adequate maps, were, for me, even more valuable than Wood's dissection of the leadership skills displayed by each of the six protagonists. After all, a century and a half after the War Between the States, the battles of Cedar Mountain, Chickamauga, and Nashville are sometimes lost against the backdrop of confrontations considered more pivotal to the final outcome, e.g. Vicksburg, Gettysburg, or Appomattox, or simply more high profile, e.g. Shiloh, Antietam, Chancellorsville, Fredericksburg, or Cold Harbor. At no point does the author explain why he chose these three particular battles and their opposing generals for his book. By definition, each commander had to be exercising independent field command of an army at the time. And perhaps his choice of battles was unconsciously limited to those not including Grant, McClellan, Lee, and Sherman, whose names pop up with consistent regularity in popular Civil War history and whose careers have been fields well-plowed by historians. Wood's examination of the characters and personality traits of Jackson, Banks, Bragg, Rosecrans, Hood, and Thomas adds an endearing human element to the work as a whole. It also leads to my only minor criticism of the book, which is that no epilogue describing the post-battle careers of the six is included. Jackson, of course, was mortally wounded by friendly fire at Chancellorsville, but the remaining five, as far as I know, survived the Civil War, and it would be nice to know what happened to them without having to resort to further research.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Appaloosa; Author: Visit Amazon's Robert B. Parker Page; Review: The publicity agent's review for Robert Parker's APPALOOSA calls it "stunning". Oh, please. Perhaps Larry McMurtry's LONESOME DOVE falls into that category, but not this. It's not a bad book, mind you, but just unremarkable, and not deserving of more than just a short story to boot. (And you're considering paying big bucks for a full-length novel, are you?) As you may recall, the most excellent LONESOME DOVE (and its prequels and sequel), followed the careers of two Texas Rangers. Here, Virgil Cole and his trail pardner, Everett Hitch, are two itinerant lawmen hired by the town of Appaloosa to free the place from the depredations of local rancher Randall Bragg and his bullying cowhands. Bragg had killed a previous town marshal and one of his deputies. Anyway, Virgil becomes the new marshal, and Everett his deputy. The chief delight of APPALOOSA is Virgil's penchant for laconic dialogue. Why string several words together when only one or two will suffice? Hitch and Cole manage to communicate just fine because they've been together for years, but a third party to any conversation or exchange of serious views is left discomfited. Perhaps the best example comes towards the book's end when a town alderman suggests that Cole's methods are, perhaps, a bit too unorthodox for the settlement's reputation. There is the de rigueur shoot out between our heroes and the Bad Guys, but its description is so truncated that I would've missed it had I lost focus for even a brief moment. And there's a confrontation with hostile Native Americans in which the Indians eventually come across as just some young bucks out for a few laughs and are just kidding around with Whitey. The substantive essence of the storyline is the friendship between Virgil and Everett, a friendship which causes the latter to take an action so drastic at the conclusion - brought on by a fickle woman, of course - that it emphasized the relationship's value to the man. Indeed, Hitch becomes the real hero of the story in a poignant sort of way. I don't read many Westerns. (Indeed, I only read LONESOME DOVE after seeing the Emmy-winning, book-based miniseries starring Robert Duvall and Tommy Lee Jones.) Perhaps it's because I grew up in the 50s and 60s when Westerns were still staple TV fare and I came to realize that, no matter how good the material, there's only so much you can do with six-guns, horses, Indians, saloon girls, fast draw face-offs in the street, bank robbers, cattle, and sagebrush. APPALOOSA hasn't changed my mind in that respect. NOTE 10/25/08: See the film version of Appaloosa [Theatrical Release] starring Ed Harris, Viggo Mortensen, Jeremy Irons and Renee Zellweger. The story works much better as a visual presentation.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Vanish (Jane Rizzoli, Book 5); Author: Visit Amazon's Tess Gerritsen Page; Review: "Do you know what the worst export our country ever sent to Russia was? ... That movie, PRETTY WOMAN. You know, the one with Julia Roberts. The prostitute as Cinderella. In Russia, they love that movie. The girls see it and think: If I go to America, I'll meet Richard Gere. He'll marry me. I'll be rich, and I'll live happily ever after." VANISH, by Tess Gerritsen, has as its underlying theme the forced enslavement of East European girls as prostitutes brought into the U.S. illegally. The book grips at the start. A young woman, apparently dead, is fished from the cold waters of a Boston marina. But, after she's discovered to be alive in the morgue refrigerator, she's rushed to a local hospital, where she subsequently recovers sufficiently to snatch a security guard's gun, kill the guard, and take a roomful of hostages including a pregnant police homicide detective, who's on the verge of giving birth. And that's only half of the plot. Although there's no clever plot twist to make the reader suddenly sit up, the story's action moves along spryly enough to a tense conclusion. The books biggest flaw, in my opinion, is a surfeit of protagonists: Dr. Maura Isles, the dedicated pathologist who discovers life still in the floater, her good friend Detective Jane Rizzoli, who manages over 336 pages to be held hostage, deliver a baby daughter, and go on, newborn literally in her arms, to solve a multiple homicide stemming from the sexual peccadillos of a high level government bureaucrat, and Jane's husband Gabriel, an FBI agent on paternity leave that manages to be not only Mr. Wonderful but also a Hardy Boy to Jane's Nancy Drew. If I sound slightly mocking, I am; it's a bit much. Perhaps the most intriguing character is Mila, a young Russian girl on the run who holds the key to the whole sordid mess, but who's given relatively little text time. VANISH is a quick read suitable for a five-hour airline flight. I can't award more than three stars because of the cookie-cutter characters and the author's failure to resist the temptation to throw in Jane's newborn Regina as a handy prop, the latter perhaps making VANISH too much of a chick-thriller for my liking. While the storyline is reasonably entertaining, it's most definitely not lean and mean. With so many other more deserving books on my reading list, I don't think I'll be cracking any more Tess Gerritsen thrillers anytime soon, if ever.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Vanish: A Rizzoli & Isles Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Tess Gerritsen Page; Review: "Do you know what the worst export our country ever sent to Russia was? ... That movie, PRETTY WOMAN. You know, the one with Julia Roberts. The prostitute as Cinderella. In Russia, they love that movie. The girls see it and think: If I go to America, I'll meet Richard Gere. He'll marry me. I'll be rich, and I'll live happily ever after." VANISH, by Tess Gerritsen, has as its underlying theme the forced enslavement of East European girls as prostitutes brought into the U.S. illegally. The book grips at the start. A young woman, apparently dead, is fished from the cold waters of a Boston marina. But, after she's discovered to be alive in the morgue refrigerator, she's rushed to a local hospital, where she subsequently recovers sufficiently to snatch a security guard's gun, kill the guard, and take a roomful of hostages including a pregnant police homicide detective, who's on the verge of giving birth. And that's only half of the plot. Although there's no clever plot twist to make the reader suddenly sit up, the story's action moves along spryly enough to a tense conclusion. The books biggest flaw, in my opinion, is a surfeit of protagonists: Dr. Maura Isles, the dedicated pathologist who discovers life still in the floater, her good friend Detective Jane Rizzoli, who manages over 336 pages to be held hostage, deliver a baby daughter, and go on, newborn literally in her arms, to solve a multiple homicide stemming from the sexual peccadillos of a high level government bureaucrat, and Jane's husband Gabriel, an FBI agent on paternity leave that manages to be not only Mr. Wonderful but also a Hardy Boy to Jane's Nancy Drew. If I sound slightly mocking, I am; it's a bit much. Perhaps the most intriguing character is Mila, a young Russian girl on the run who holds the key to the whole sordid mess, but who's given relatively little text time. VANISH is a quick read suitable for a five-hour airline flight. I can't award more than three stars because of the cookie-cutter characters and the author's failure to resist the temptation to throw in Jane's newborn Regina as a handy prop, the latter perhaps making VANISH too much of a chick-thriller for my liking. While the storyline is reasonably entertaining, it's most definitely not lean and mean. With so many other more deserving books on my reading list, I don't think I'll be cracking any more Tess Gerritsen thrillers anytime soon, if ever.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Most Scenic Drives in America: 120 Spectacular Road Trips; Author: Reader's Digest; Review: It's that time of the year when I begin planning the annual vacation. Though my preference would be to hop a plane to the UK, of which I never become tired, my wife thinks I'm in a rut in that regard, so we're likely as not to spend 7-10 days traveling U.S. roads by flivver. THE MOST SCENIC DRIVES IN AMERICA is a reminder that there's a lot to see without the need for a passport and, for one as afflicted with insatiable wanderlust as myself, the book represents temptations akin to those in a Godiva shop for a chocoholic. Unlike your standard coffee table book, THE MOST SCENIC DRIVES IN AMERICA is enormously useful. Its 120 scenic drives are divided among four regions: The Western States (24 drives), The Rocky Mountain States (29 drives), The Central States (26 drives), and The Eastern States (41 drives). The volume begins with one-page maps of each region with each drive numbered and drawn-in with a red squiggle in case you want to see their relative positions and combine more than one in a single road adventure. Each numbered drive is sequentially described, 2-6 pages each, and supplemented with gorgeous color photographs - 400 total. Each description includes a route map on which the cities and towns and road numbers are shown and the main attractions along the way pinpointed. Each attraction is summarized. Finally, each drive has its own "Trip Tips": length in miles, when to go, "words to the wise", nearby attractions, and where to go for further information. As an example: The Eastern States, Drive #96, Pennsylvania Dutch Country, 2 pages, 2 photos. Listed attractions: Intercourse (a town, tiger, with a quilt museum), Ephrata Cloister (another town, built by the Seventh-Day Baptists), Landis Valley Museum (focusing on the PA Dutch with 80,000 items), Lancaster (a city with an historic Central Market), Marietta (another town, with a preserved silk mill), Hans Herr House (a home dating from 1719), and Strasberg (another town, with the Railroad Museum of PA). Length - 80 miles. Popular year-round. Bring a cooler to store food purchased at roadside stands, which are mostly closed on Sunday. Chocolate World at Hershey is nearby. Address and phone number for the PA Dutch Visitors Bureau. So, I might ask the little woman: "Honey, how about a spin along Cape Cod's Sandy Shores (#91), or through the Wisconsin North Woods (#58), or along Devil's Tower Loop (#35), or on the Loneliest Road in America (#16)?" But, just between you and me, several days in London and a leisurely exploration of the Devon and Cornwall coasts is my E-ride.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Outposts: Journeys to the Surviving Relics of the British Empire; Author: Visit Amazon's Simon Winchester Page; Review: In 1914, the globe was spanned by the British Empire, on which the sun truly never set. As a boy, I collected stamps, and I was in awe of the number of faraway and exotic places that featured the likeness of the British monarch on their issues. It was, perhaps, these colorful bits of paper, along with the tales of Robin Hood, Richard the Lionheart, and King Arthur that engendered in me a lasting love for and fascination with Great Britain. I've visited the mother island on more than a dozen occasions; I long to be there now. Simon Winchester's OUTPOSTS took me in a different direction - outward to the last vestiges of Empire. British Indian Ocean Territory, Tristan da Cunha, Gibraltar, Ascension Island, St. Helena, Hong Kong, Bermuda, Turks and Caicos Islands, the British Virgin Islands, Anguilla, Montserrat, the Cayman Islands, the Falkland Islands, and the Pitcairn Islands. These, minus Hong Kong - OUTPOSTS was published in 1985 - are now all that are left of the once proud imperial possessions. Simon visited them over a three year period, except the inaccessible Pitcairn, and tells us about his odyssey in this sterling travel narrative. Winchester, a Brit himself, is ambiguous about the Empire. On one hand, he apparently feels that the Crown's dominions, protectorates, trustee states, mandated territories and colonies were better left to go their separate ways, if only for the sake of political correctness. On the other hand, he maintains that, of all the European colonial empires, Britain's was the one administered with the greatest degree of good intentions. And, Simon isn't above becoming sentimental, as on Tristan da Cunha, a dependency of St. Helena, during a visit by the Colonial Governor: "A bugle was blown, a banner was raised, a salute was made, an anthem was played - and the Colonial Governor of St. Helena was formally welcomed on to the tiniest and loneliest dependency in the remnant British Empire. I found I was watching it through a strange golden haze, which cleared if I wiped my eyes with the back of my hand: the children looked so proud, so eager to please, so keen to touch the hand from England, from the wellspring of their official existence." The volume contains a rudimentary map of each colony visited, but no photographs - a deplorable deficiency in any travel essay, I think. I had to go onto the Web to satisfy my curiosity for visuals; the Tristan de Cunha, St. Helena, and Falkland Islands websites are particularly helpful in this regard. OUTPOSTS is, of course, dated; Hong Kong has long since reverted to the mandarins in Beijing. Luckily, I was able to visit the place in 1994 when it was still a jewel in the British crown. Oddly, the chapter on HK is surprisingly short considering the size and importance of the place at the time the book was written. Winchester didn't even mention one of the best E-rides in the world, the short Star Ferry trip from Kowloon to Hong Kong Island. One of the best reasons; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Killer Instinct; Author: Visit Amazon's Joseph Finder Page; Review: So, cubby, you want to be a corporate VP because that'll enable you to keep the spouse in the lifestyle to which she's accustomed and, moreover, it'll prove that she didn't marry a wimp? Jason Steadman is a top sales rep selling plasma and LCD TVs and monitors for Entronics. But being #1 dog is easy when everybody wants what you're hawking. Jason is otherwise without ambition or "the killer instinct", and he's comfortable with that. Unfortunately, Jason's wife Kate grew up knowing a better life than the one he's providing, and she reproaches him for a lack of ambition. What's a poor guy to do? One day, after steering his wheels into a ditch, Jason hitches a ride with the tow truck, the driver of which, ex-Special Forces tough Kurt Semko, spins a hard luck tale involving a raw deal and a dishonorable discharge from the Army. Feeling sorry for the guy, Steadman gets him a job with Corporate Security. Kurt is grateful to Jason, and soon proves that he'll do anything to help his benefactor nail those big accounts and claw his way up the corporate ladder. Anything. KILLER INSTINCT is a cautionary tale about the perils surrounding the release of the (evil) jinn from its bottle, or the truth of the saying, "No good deed goes unpunished." In any case, the attraction of the storyline is that Steadman is your average, white-collar shmoe. He could be you, in fact. (Are you itching to move into the corner office, cubby?) KILLER INSTINCT is a riveting book; it would also make an excellent escapist movie featuring, perhaps, Cole Hauser as Jason and Tom Sizemore as Kurt (both of which starred in PAPARAZZI in the good-guy and bad-guy roles, respectively). The suspense of the plot is of the inexorably increasing sort, with a knuckle-biting conclusion which goes to show that nice guys don't have to finish last, especially if they're clever and have Web access.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Birthday Girl; Author: Visit Amazon's Stephen Leather Page; Review: Fathers historically worry that their daughters will be sexually and emotionally misused by boys when they start to date. I don't think Tony Freeman of THE BIRTHDAY GIRL need worry about his Daddy's Little Girl, but, rather, should fear mightily for the boys. Freeman is CEO of CRW Electronics, a defense contractor that manufacturers mine clearance systems. On a clandestine mission to fragmented Yugoslavia to sell the devices to the Christian Serbs, Tony is taken hostage by Bosnian Muslims. One of his captors is twelve year-old Mersiha, who, at this early age, has learned how to hate and mercilessly kill. But, Freeman also perceives her as a vulnerable young girl, and, when he's ultimately rescued, shields Mersiha with his own body and takes in the leg the bullets meant for her. Subsequently, he springs Mersiha from a Serbian-run concentration camp and takes her back to America where he and his wife Katherine adopt her as their own daughter. Flash forward three years. Mersiha is now, to all appearances, a well-adjusted, happy teenager on the verge of her sixteenth birthday. She's seeing a mental therapist for nightmares stemming from her and her family's brutal treatment by the Serbs, but, hey, getting therapy is as American as apple pie. She's step-Daddy's Little Girl. So, when she discovers that Katherine is committing adultery and CRW's existence is threatened by expatriate Russian mobsters, Mersiha decides to give her Old Man a helping hand without his knowledge, but with the aid of the Heckler & Koch handgun, a familiar weapon from the bad old days in the Old Country, that Tony keeps locked in the gun cabinet. THE BIRTHDAY GIRL is an engaging read that I finished in three days despite the annoying intrusions of a career and home chores. What prevents me from awarding five stars was its complete lack of subtlety, something I value more highly now than I did when I cracked my first book five decades ago. When the ending involved a pursuit from Baltimore to the Colorado Rockies, and, specifically, the final chase of a hot air balloon by Bad Guys on snow mobiles, it began to read like a James Bond thriller. And I wish that author Stephen Leather could have somehow kept his heroine's atypical propensities hidden to the reader behind her normal, adolescent facade to the very end, thus providing a jaw-dropping plot twist to an otherwise clever premise. These quibbles aside, THE BIRTHDAY GIRL is one of Leather's better offerings.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Heart Seizure: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Bill Fitzhugh Page; Review: So, are you waiting for that heart transplant through your HMO? Perhaps HEART SEIZURE road maps a better way. Los Angeleno Rose Tailor, sixty-something and with a bum ticker, is on the list for a donor heart. Rose's situation is complicated by her rare blood type, which means that just any old heart won't do. The good news is that one finally becomes available. The bad news is that U.S. President Webster, also possessing the same blood type, needs one also after having keeled over on a jog past the Reflecting Pool. Too many cheeseburgers, perhaps. So, the FBI confiscates the organ only minutes before citizen Rose is scheduled to begin her restorative transplant. This doesn't sit well with her son, Spence, a struggling litigator who spends most of his time doing pro bono work for lost causes. In an act of desperation, Spence steals back the heart, liberates his sedated Mom out of the hospital, and flees into the Mojave Desert with the reluctant help of his successful banker brother, Boyd, and two hostages: 3rd-year surgical resident Debbie Robbins and gay LA motorcycle cop Officer Bobb. The five are pursued by the CIA and the FBI, both organizations each having an agenda at polar opposite to the other's. I contend that it takes more talent to write a truly comedic successful novel than a widely popular dramatic thriller because, like men's ties and women's perfume, comedy is perhaps more linked to individual perceptions, and the sight gags seen in the mind's eye have to click. Author Bill Fitzhugh pulls it off commendably well as he escalates absurdity to the point where, Spence having accumulated an ever larger entourage of abductees along the way, culminates a wild ride up Interstate 15 from Barstow by arriving at a Salt Lake City medical center with a busload of Mormon basketball players. The biggest problem with a literary slapstick farce can lurk in the tall grass of the conclusion, at which point the author must end the action, tidy up loose ends, and return the characters to an unremarkably normal existence. If, as here, the humor has gone over the top, the ending can be a letdown. So it is with HEART SEIZURE to the point that a five-star award is beyond my gift. At least for my taste, comedic literature rates five-stars if less riotous and more subtle as, for examples, the Shopaholic series by Sophie Kinsella and, best ever in my experience, the McAuslan series by George MacDonald Fraser, the latter being based on the author's real-life service in the British Army. But don't let me turn you off from HEART SEIZURE - it's a worthwhile and eminently amusing read.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Jack Reacher: One Shot (Movie Tie-in Edition): A Novel (Random House Large Print); Author: Visit Amazon's Lee Child Page; Review: Jack Reacher as Commander-in-Chief? That has a nice ring to it. Ok, ok, he's only a fictional character and he wouldn't be politically correct. But wouldn't it be fun to see Reacher, who can break cervical spines as easily as you or I scratch, in the same room with the leader of some Third World toilet that insists on baiting the U.S.? Eat your heart out, Dubya. Here, in some anonymous small Indiana city, a sniper goes on a shooting spree killing five, while leaving a trail of evidence so ironclad that the police pick up the shooter, James Barr, six hours after the last shot. Barr's only words under interrogation are "They got the wrong guy" and "Get Jack Reacher for me." Jack is already on his way from Florida, a one night stand with a Norwegian dancer interrupted when he hears Barr's name mentioned on the nightly news. Reacher knows the man well. Years before, when Jack was an MP officer in Kuwait during the First Gulf War, he investigated a nearly identical killing spree involving four Army noncoms. The killer proved to be Army sniper Barr. But James not only got off, but he received an honorable discharge. The dead proved to be American soldiers gone bad, robbing and raping the locals, and the Pentagon needed a cover-up for PR's sake. But Reacher vowed to Barr that, if the latter ever went wrong again, he'd take him down. So, Jack arrives in town to keep his promise if conventional justice fails this time around. ONE SHOT is arguably Lee Child's best Reacher thriller ever; I, for one, won't argue the premise. Jack has always kicked butt and taken names, but here his criminal investigative talents, matched with his phenomenal killing skills and street smarts, combine to yield a literary hero that's truly an unstoppable force. And the main antagonist is no patsy either but The Zec, an old, physically and emotionally maimed Russian whose hardness was honed in Soviet military penal battallions and the Siberian Gulag dating back to the Battle of Stalingrad. In the early 50s TV western series THE LONE RANGER, Clayton Moore's character arrived in town from nowhere, defeated the Bad Guy of the week, and rode out of town to nowhere leaving the grateful citizenry to ask, "Who was that masked man?" True, Jack doesn't wear any face covering, but the dedicated Reacher fan is perhaps left to ponder much the same after each violent episode in Jack's peripatetic, transient existence below the radar of official America. ONE SHOT is deserving of more stars than this website's rating system will allow, and I'm keen to purchase the next installment, THE HARD WAY.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Stolen Child: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Keith Donohue Page; Review: THE STOLEN CHILD, an ingeniously crafted tale about hobgoblins, is a coming of age story and one about identities both lost and found. This beguiling yet tragic novel is placed in the recent past when, at least in the "sophisticated" and technology driven West, the faery myths have lost their hold on the popular consciousness and the creatures have thus become, to our loss, an endangered species joining griffins, mermaids, gorgons, centaurs, and unicorns. It's the late 1940s in a rural setting, seven year-old Henry Day, alone in the woods near his home, is abducted by a band of a dozen hobgoblins, which, in mythology, are faeries "gone bad". By the story's definition, each hobgoblin was once human before being kidnapped while still young and, by some subtle process, turned into a creature that never ages, even over hundreds of years. At some point, determined by seniority within the group, a hobgoblin, or "changeling", can return to the society of humans by co-opting the identity of a kidnapped child. Once returned to the "upper world", the hobgoblin takes up the aging process where he/she left off. In this case, Henry, now "Aniday", languishes in the purgatory of eternal childhood while his replacement matures to fully actualized adulthood as "Henry Day". Aniday's tragedy comprises an identity and life's potential lost, while Henry's is that his new identity vies with that of his previous human existence, began in 1851, which Day subliminally remembers and eventually obsesses over. The novel's thirty-six chapters alternate between Aniday and Henry, each telling his first-person story as it extends over three decades, the history of each touching at points with the other until a final confrontation, such as it is. This is Keith Donohue's first novel, and I'm awarding five stars for cleverness, though it does have problems which would compel me to grant only four if coming from a more accomplished author. The story concludes in a way that was, for me, very unfulfilling; I thought it lacked closure for both characters. Also, the hobgoblins, who were all once human and can become so again anytime they chose, now live a wretched, unhygienic, near-starvation existence continually exposed to the elements and possible injury while subsisting only with the help of food, garb, and utensils scavenged or stolen from humans. (Indeed, the mischievous hobgoblin will steal one sock from a clothesline to create "the mystery of the missing sock from every washday".) That being the case, the author, while removing for the reader much of the magic, mystery and whimsicality of the faeries' existence, supplies no compelling imperative for them to remain the creatures they are. Indeed, they exist at all because human society once believed in their reality, and they now approach extinction because the twentieth century's technological enlightenment leaves them no room. THE STOLEN CHILD is a fairy tale for adults that transcends standard fare.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Good Old Days--They Were Terrible!; Author: Visit Amazon's Otto Bettmann Page; Review: While reading THE GOOD OLD DAYS - THEY WERE TERRIBLE, one could forgive the thought that the tired, poor, huddled masses were better off back in the Old Country. One can't forgive the awkward title. This short book by archivist Otto Bettmann, himself having emigrated from Germany in 1935, concerns life in the U.S. from the end of the Civil War to, say, 1910. Taking direct aim at the nostalgia for the "good ol' days", Bettman summarizes all that was squalid, wretched, unhealthful, and dangerous about human existence in America during that period, particularly for the immigrant underclass. The book is divided into eleven categories of topics: Air (animal and garbage miasmas, heat, windblown dirt, industrial pollution), Traffic (horsecars, the El, street hazards, snow, electric trolleys), Housing (crowded townhouses and apartments, tenant abuse, squatters, slums, slum children), Rural Life (kitchen toil, polluted wells, summer bugs, winter cold, bums, overworked farm children, burdensome mortgages, cruel Mother Nature, loneliness, rural flight), Work (dismal working conditions, on-the-job accidents, sweatshops, child labor, abysmal standards of living, strikes, dehumanizing technology), Crime (muggings, juvenile delinquents, corrupt police, prostitution, crooked politicos, unfair application of the laws, punishment, lynchings), Food and Drink (spoiled meat, adulterated dairy products, poor eating habits, unhealthy diets, saloons, alcohol abuse), Health (urban epidemics, inadequate disinfection, quack doctors, septic surgery, crowded hospitals, cruel insane asylums, drug addiction), Education (untrained teachers, corporal punishment, unruly students, under-funded schools, dismal classrooms, uninspired teaching methods), Travel (steerage, emigrant trains, indigestible railroad food, filthy Pullmans, commuting, harbor accidents), and Leisure (gambling, indiscriminate hunting, brutal spectator sports, dangerous city parks, filthy beaches). Bettmann has absolutely nothing nice to say about anything. Even something so seemingly innocuous as butter takes a hit: "... it was often rancid, and either a mixture of casein and water or of calcium, gypsum, gelatin fat and mashed potatoes ...Bleaches were blended into the mix to give the product the appearance of real butter." At least Bettmann doesn't make note of bad ice cream. Generally, the author devotes two pages to each topic, which is afforded a very brief summary in less than one page of text, the rest of the space given over to visuals. Indeed, the latter, comprised mostly of hand-drawn illustrations and cartoons from contemporary newspapers and books plus the rare photograph, is perhaps the most interesting and instructive aspect of the volume. Humans are amazingly adaptable and can find cause for the enjoyment of simple pleasures under the most deplorable conditions. Yet, Bettmann ignores this resiliency in producing a superficially informative work of narrow scope that fulfills the intent behind the title, but nothing more.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Drinking, Smoking and Screwing: Great Writers on Good Times; Author: Sara Nickles; Review: For my generation, the road to depravity was ostensibly via sex, drugs, and rock 'n' roll. For the contributors to this anthology, most born in the previous generation, moral and physical ruin came from DRINKING, SMOKING & SCREWING. It's comforting to note that there's at least one vice the two generations can agree upon. It should come as no surprise that the subject of screwing dominates eleven of the book's twenty-four chapters, followed by drinking (7), smoking (4), and a combination of the last two (2). The subtitle of DS&S is "Great Writers on Good Times", which implies that the three vices necessarily lead to such. But this isn't the case. The twenty-six contributing authors - 19 men and 7 women - present, rather, non-judgemental evidence of the human condition that both causes and results from indulgence in the title sins. The individual pieces, like Mark Twain's "Concerning Tobacco" and Art Buchwald's "Some Heady Phrases on Wine", are personal commentary on the subject at hand, or, like Terry Southern's and Mason Hoffenberg's "Candy" and Anais Nin's "Henry and June", are excerpts from longer works of fiction. There are even a couple of short poems. As related to the overall topic, no chapter is less than three stars, and a couple are worth five. My personal faves are "The Ginger Man" by J.P. Donleavy, about the aftermath of a cad's argument with his long-suffering wife, and "Women" by Charles Bukowski, the perfect illustration of male Homo sapiens as Sexual Pig. Were the book to be compiled today for the current generation, I imagine the title would be something like "Sugar-Laden Sodas, Fatty Fast Foods & Unprotected Screwing." Time marches on.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: William Marshall: The Flower of Chivalry; Author: Visit Amazon's Georges Duby Page; Review: As you may recall in the film A LION IN WINTER, there was a briefly seen character named "William" (played by Nigel Stock in the superlative 1968 version starring Peter O'Toole and Katherine Hepburn), the right-hand man of King Henry II, who fetched his master's sons, Richard and Geoffrey, and Henry's Queen Eleanor (imprisoned in England's Salisbury Tower) to the royal castle of Chinon in France for the 1183 Christmas court. This William was William Marshal, the subject of this small book (153 pages) of the same name by French medieval historian Georges Duby. The translated volume was published in 1985. Marshal was a remarkable man, whose knightly career spanned roughly five decades, over which time he went from penniless knight to acting-King of England (when he served as Regent for the young Henry III). Over that period, he was a faithful servant to four kings (Henry II, Richard I, John, Henry III) and one almost-king, the Young King Henry, the eldest son of Henry II crowned and anointed heir in 1170, but who pre-deceased Ol' Dad in June of 1183. William, by then Earl of Pembroke, died in 1219. Duby's interest lies in that facet of medieval feudalism called chivalry, and he admiringly uses Marshal's life to illustrate the subject. Indeed, the author's description of William's life seems sometimes oddly detached, as if describing a rat in a lab experiment. Georges uses as his primary source a biography of the man - twenty-seven parchment leaves containing 19,914 verses - commissioned by the family shortly after the earl's death, and which survived in its entirety to the present. The biography, "Histoire de Guillaume le Marechal", was written in French, a fact, I suspect, which was crucial in drawing Duby's attention to it. The author takes great pains to point out that feudal society was a hierarchical one comprised of superimposed layers, and with an order, ostensibly intended by God, "based on the intermingled notions of inequality, service, and loyalty." For laymen, i.e. the non-Church nobility - from bottom to top, from knight to king - it was a complex web of relations of domesticity, consanguinity, vassalage, and politics. Duby's great accomplishment in WILLIAM MARSHAL: THE FLOWER OF CHIVALRY is reducing this complexity to a human level for the reader using Marshal as the poster boy. With a knowledge of feudalism probably no greater than anyone with an average interest and instruction in Western history, I came away from this absolute gem of a book with a greater and satisfying understanding of five particular aspects of feudalism and chivalry: the loyalty expected of a vassal knight to his lord of the moment regardless of the latter's loyalty to his superior further up the ladder, the importance of tournaments to the knights' livelihoods, the role of increasing circulating specie in eroding the knights' class pretensions, the necessity of marriage to an heiress to move a bachelor knight up in societal rank (marriage = land = power), and the status of women, i.e. landed noble women, in this society run exclusively by men. Indeed, Marshal; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Undomestic Goddess: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Sophie Kinsella Page; Review: Sophie Kinsella is a truly gifted writer of comedic fiction. Not only is she hilariously funny, but she's consistently so. Her 4-book SHOPAHOLIC series, starring spendthrift Becky Bloomwood, and CAN YOU KEEP A SECRET?, featuring ditzy marketing professional Emma Corrigan, have provided me with hours of chuckles. Here, in THE UNDOMESTIC GODDESS, Sophie has created a soul-sister for Becky and Emma. Samantha Sweeting is a gifted but overworked associate lawyer slaving for the prestigious London law firm of Carter Spink. Samantha hasn't had a day off in years, but her dedication appears about to pay off with a promotion to "partner". But, on the Big Day, she discovers that she's apparently made a horrific mistake - the only one of her career to date - that'll cost a client 50 million quid. Stunned, she flees the law offices in shock and takes the first Paddington train to anywhere, in this case Gloucestershire. Stumbling off the rail carriage in the rural hamlet of Lower Ebury with a monstrous headache, she totters to the door of a grand old house seeking water and an aspirin. The first words from the woman who answers the bellpull are, "Are you from the agency?" A case of mistaken identity, plus some harmless white lies told and dodgy decisions made under stress by Sweeting, result in her being hired by Trish and Eddie Geiger as their new housekeeper. The thing is, you see, Samantha can't even so much as boil water, sew on a button, operate a clothes washer, or iron a shirt. In a certain sense, Becky, Emma, and Samantha are all cut from the same endearing cloth - only the heroines' names, professions, and foibles change. However, perhaps reflecting Kinsella's evolving skills as a wordsmith, THE UNDOMESTIC GODDESS may be Sophie's finest offering in the sense that Samantha is a more fully developed character than the other two. With her legal career in smoking ruins, Sweeting fumblingly clutches the lifeline presented by her second vocation as a household domestic. In the process, she finds love, rediscovers life's little pleasures, and matures. And in one sweaty sequence, Sophie describes the amorously seductive power of raspberry picking that left me wondering if it derived from the author's personal experience. By the volume's conclusion, Samantha is positioned to dictate her life rather than vice versa. All of Kinsella's novels are chick books best read by Real Men on the sly behind an opened gent's magazine or sports page. But be careful not to guffaw out loud.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Andrew Jackson: A Life and Times (Random House Large Print); Author: Visit Amazon's H.W. Brands Page; Review: "I could not be present to see my darling Harvard disgrace herself by conferring a Doctor's degree upon a barbarian and savage who could scarcely spell his own name." - Former U.S. president John Quincy Adams on the prospect of his successor, President Andrew Jackson, receiving the honorary degree. ANDREW JACKSON, by historian H.W. Brands, is a most excellent biography of the man. With a conciseness that never allows the narrative to bog down, the author recounts Jackson's varied career as land speculator, lawyer, judge, state militia commander, victorious U.S. Army general, Senator, plantation owner, and President. For the casual student of early U.S. history, the best elements of this book perhaps come during Old Hickory's two terms as Chief Executive: Jackson's bitter struggle with the Bank of the United States, the transition from the Federalist's elitist concept of democracy to Jackson's populism, Jackson's handling of the tricky situation in Mexican Texas where former American citizens were in revolt, and Jackson's response to the challenge to Union cohesion in 1833. Indeed, one may forget that state secession movement that ultimately culminated in the Civil War began not over slavery but the protective tariff, and it was quarrelsome South Carolina's threat to secede over this issue in 1833 that caused President Jackson, otherwise a strong states' rights advocate, to demonstrate how far he was willing to go to preserve the Union. Old Hickory was prepared to send in 200,000 troops and said: "... if a single drop of blood shall be shed there (in South Carolina) in opposition to the laws of the United States, I will hang the first man I can lay my hand on engaged in such treasonable conduct, upon the first tree I can reach." ANDREW JACKSON includes a small but serviceable photo section and two marginally useful maps. There's no good reason that I can perceive why ANDREW JACKSON shouldn't be awarded five stars. And to those PC readers that, after finishing this volume, may be tempted to riot in the streets because Jackson was also a slave holder and trader, a gun owner who killed two men in personal duels, and an advocate of relocating Native Americans away from their tribal lands, I say "Get over it!" This biography is a fascinating portrait of a man of his times.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Civil War Curiosities: Strange Stories, Oddities, Events, and Coincidences; Author: Visit Amazon's Webb Garrison Page; Review: Webb Garrison's CIVIL WAR CURIOSITIES, subtitled "Strange Stories, Oddities, Events, and Coincidences", is his attempt to provide a compendium of such judged by brevity, interest, and novelty. The author pretty much succeeds at the first but, for the casual reader, more or less flops on the last two. However, Sgt. Joe Friday of the old TV cop series DRAGNET, wanting just the facts, would be pleased. In twenty-seven chapters grouped under five parts, Garrison belabors such topics as soldiers' wives following their husbands into battle, the enlistment of Black soldiers, hostages, soldiers' pets, atrocities, gaudy uniforms, battle flags and their bearers, warships, Lincoln's appearance, outmoded and new weapons, the sounds of combat, and leaders' opinions of their contemporaries. Rather than pen a coherent and learned book on, say, the role of the fighting clergy, the author makes his point on the cheap with disconnected paragraphs and clusters of paragraphs about individuals. Taking as one of the shortest examples - Garrison does achieve brevity, if not particular interest - we read: "A report published in the Memphis 'Bulletin' said that notorious Tennessee guerrilla leader Richardson had as his chief aide the Rev. Captain Burrow, an ordained minister of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church." And, if novelty was a criterion for inclusion, then how can there be so many entries of a type? In the chapter about officers continuing or returning to fight while severely ill or after being crippled, one reads of at least sixty-six such Tough Guys. The entire chapter is a litany of factoids of which the following is representative: "When Edward A. Wild's left arm was hit at Shiloh, he used his training as a physician to direct the amputation. As a brigadier, he later led black troops on raids and against guerrillas in North Carolina." Mind you, there are occasional gems of interesting novelty, this one concerning the Rebel capture of the coal brig "J.P. Ellicott" by the "Retribution": "When crew members of the captured vessel were replaced by Confederates, the wife of the Ellicott's mate was left aboard. As soon as the Retribution was out of sight, she broke out a store of rum and the captors became thoroughly drunk. Then the wife ... put irons on Confederates and sailed the bark into St. Thomas, where she delivered it and her captives to the U.S. consul." You go, girl! Or, this one: "According to the New York 'World' of September 12, 1861, any man near St. Louis in a Federal uniform was in mortal danger. 'Mrs. Willow and a free colored woman named Hanna Courtena were arrested yesterday for selling poisoned pies to the soldiers at Camp Benton'." Hmm, I may have had one of those once at a dysfunctional family Thanksgiving dinner. And this: "Lincoln's private secretary, John Hay, refused to deliver papers to (Secretary of War) Stanton unless ordered to do so by the president. 'I would rather make a tour of a smallpox hospital' than ask him for a courtesy, he said." Though I'm not a serious student of the Civil War, I've read more tomes; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Reluctant Tuscan: How I Discovered My Inner Italian; Author: Visit Amazon's Phil Doran Page; Review: In my reading experience, there have been several fine books written by expatriates, Brits mostly, who've discovered a better life by moving into dilapidated houses in foreign countries. These include Peter Mayle's series on Provence beginning with A Year in Provence, Chris Stewart's Driving Over Lemons: An Optimist in Andalucia, and two volumes by Annie Hawes about her adopted home in Liguria, Extra Virgin: A Young Woman Discovers the Italian Riviera, Where Every Month Is Enchanted and Ripe for the Picking. Here in THE RELUCTANT TUSCAN, burnt-out Hollywood scriptwriter Phil Doran finds inner peace and food for his starved soul. Having written episodes for Tinseltown sitcoms such as ALL IN THE FAMILY, SANFORD AND SON, and THE BOB NEWHART SHOW, fifty-something Phil Doran finds himself essentially a Hollywood has-been with a big, expensive house in Brentwood. Then, his wife Nancy, off carving marble in Italy, phones to announce that she's bought a ramshackle fixer-upper in rural Tuscany. What follows, similar to the narratives of Mayle, Stewart, and Hawes, is an account of an outsider coming to grips with the neighbors and the local customs and government bureaucracy while struggling to renovate the new digs. What makes Phil's perhaps a bit different from the others is that he must also cope with the downers of a terminally stalled career and a sputtering marriage. Having written comedy, one would think that Doran could make this a highly entertaining story - and he does, with an engaging self-deprecating humor that serves to paint Nancy as the hero of the piece. Phil claims that all events are true with names changed to protect the innocent. But, I suspect that the author, with his demonstrated talent for scripting comedic episodes, perhaps embellished just a little. However, this only makes THE RELUCTANT TUSCAN all that more fun. Indeed, it approaches being a couldn't-put-it-down diversion. I hope for a Tuscan sequel - hopefully one that will include photographs.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Champion Hill: Decisive Battle for Vicksburg; Author: Visit Amazon's Timothy B. Smith Page; Review: CHAMPION HILL is, unequivocally, the best non-fiction narrative of a Civil War engagement that I've ever read - and that includes works by Shelby Foote and James McPherson. It generally concerns U.S. Major General Ulysses Grant's capture of Vicksburg, but is more specifically about the crucial Battle of Champion Hill on May 16, 1863, which essentially sealed Vicksburg's fate by forcing its defenders back into the city, around which Grant ultimately established siege lines. The volume's initial fifteen pages briefly summarize Grant's various abortive attempts to take Vicksburg from the north before he was able to cross his Army of the Tennessee to the Mississippi's east bank south of the city on April 30. The next ninety describe the preliminary battles at Port Gibson, Raymond, and Jackson. The bulk of the book, 280 pages, concerns itself with the Champion Hill collision between Grant's forces and Lieutenant General John Pemberton's Army of Vicksburg. There's a penultimate 12-page chapter on the battle's aftermath that includes Vicksburg's capitulation on July 4, and a concluding 11-page postscript chapter on the post-battle and post-Civil War careers of the numerous commanders that are named (and pictured) in the text. Finally, there's a 10-page Appendix with the Order of Battle for both armies, thirty pages of Notes, sixteen pages of contemporary battlefield photos keyed to a reference map, and a 12-page Bibliography. I suggest that author Timothy Smith has penned a battle narrative as satisfyingly complete as any you'll ever come across. Champion Hill was a seesawing, day-long, complex affair, the account of which will likely spellbind the reader to the point of emotional exhaustion. What I found most impressive was the extreme lucidity of Smith's description of the various military units' maneuvers across the landscape mostly described at brigade and regimental levels. The evolution of the Champion Hill clash is traced by forty - count 'em, 40! - marvelously illustrative maps rendered in black, white and gray that coincide at all times with the textual narrative. Smith even goes so far as to depict the field positioning of units during and after disintegration and, in some cases, their subsequent reformation and re-entry into the fray. At no time was I in the least confused about the tide of battle and the organizational identity of the combatants. These battlefield maps demonstrate how such should be constructed, but which so often are not in otherwise faultless works. For Grant, who snatched victory from the jaws of defeat at Fort Donelson and Shiloh, Champion Hill was another close run thing - more so than it should have been. Generally speaking, each side suffered from committing its forces piecemeal - Grant because of overcautious orders to his chief subordinate on-site, commander of the XIII Corps Major General John McClernand, and Pemberton because of inadequate intelligence as to Federal troop dispositions combined with a rancorous relationship with division commander Major General William Loring. Particularly speaking, the Confederates perhaps lost Champion Hill because of a wayward ordnance train that handicapped beleaguered rebels in the face of fresh, but the last, Union reserves at a; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Cold Kill (A Dan Shepherd Mystery); Author: Visit Amazon's Stephen Leather Page; Review: Since the American invasion of Iraq in 2003, we've seen that wretched place spiral ever downward into religious and tribal warfare perpetuated by fanatics for whom the concepts of compromise, tolerance and diversity have no meaning. In light of a relatively measured response by U.S. troops that seems unable to bring order out of chaos, it's troubling to remember that Saddam's methods, brutal as they were, managed to keep a lid on the region's endemic factional hatreds (just as Tito's heavy handedness kept rein on Yugoslavia, a nation of contrived borders if there ever was one and which harbored centuries-old blood feuds). COLD KILL should confront the reader with a question. How far do otherwise "civilized" Western nations and their servant governments need to go to prevent such violence from reaching home shores in the explosive-laden backpacks of extraordinarily dedicated Muslim jihadists? Perhaps Guantanamo Bay is just a genteel tea party compared to what's necessary. Here, ex-SAS trooper Dan Shepherd is now a Detective Constable with London's Metropolitan Police seconded to a special unit tasked with apprehending smugglers of drugs, explosives, illegal immigrants, and the like. Shepherd's current assignment is to infiltrate a ring importing bogus Euros. In the book's first few pages, we're introduced to a shadowy Saudi Muslim that travels the world on a British passport planning and unleashing the attacks of suicide bomber teams on infidel targets, the latest being Sydney, Australia. The terrorist mastermind plots in the storyline's background with relatively little text exposure as Dan does his thing. The reader expects the paths of the two to cross eventually, the only question is how. Indeed, it was the prolonged wait for this to happen through COLD KILL's first 300 pages, during Shepherd's relatively mundane undercover gig (as Tony Corke) and his daily interaction with his young son Liam, which had me thinking "4 stars". However, once the connection between the two threads was made and the action whipsawed back and forth in the concluding seventy pages between the London-Paris Eurostar and a secret interrogation suite beneath the U.S. Embassy, COLD KILL reached nail-biting, 5-star status. For me, a more interesting character than Dan was Charlotte Button, head of the undercover unit of the newly established Serious Organized Crime Agency (SOCA) that, by the novel's midpoint, is to co-opt Shepherd and his talents. Button, young, polished and ambitious, comes to her new post via MI5, to which she'd directly graduated after earning a double first at Cambridge. Charlotte is sharp, no doubt, but has no blood under her fingernails, so to speak. For her, foiling the Bad Guys is a game. Thus, we see her lose her professional virginity during a few hours spent at Grosvenor Square participating in a hard-ball inquisition that would've brought a smile of fond recollection to the Lubyanka's former KGB interrogators. At one point, author Stephen Leather makes reference to a Special Forces Club located behind Harrod's. When I made email enquiry of Stephen as to the reality of the place, he responded that it truly exists, and that the entire book is; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Cell (Spanish language) (Spanish Edition); Author: Visit Amazon's Stephen King Page; Review: The last Stephen King novel I read was FROM A BUICK 8, in which a sinister 1954 Buick Roadmaster is impounded in an old shed by a rural police department. The car is, in actuality, a portal to another universe; it's scary what occasionally pops out of the trunk, and you definitely don't want to disappear into it. The problem with the book was that '54 Buick Roadmasters aren't exactly common around town; I don't even know what one looks like; see my review of the book dated 9/11/05 entitled "Well, gee, why not a haunted PortaLoo?". At 3:03 PM on October 1 in CELL, the brains of cellular users in the Boston area, and presumably everywhere else also, are erased clean by The Pulse and returned to the most primal of states - killing violence. (It wouldn't be a good time for ET to call home.) As the "phoners" continue to slaughter everything in sight, each other and non-phoners ("normies") alike, the latter scramble to make their escape, including Clayton Riddell, in Boston on a business trip, and his two new best friends, 15-year old Alice Maxwell and Tom McCourt. Their immediate need is to flee north out of the city, and Clay hopes to eventually make his way back to Maine to discover the fates of his estranged wife Sharon and their son Johnny. As the violence subsides, the surviving phoners evolve to something else - day-roaming zombies that flock together at night to sleep the sleep of the dead. They also develop other talents, including group telepathy. At one point, our three heroes, since joined by ex-prep school student Jordan, annihilate a stadium-full of comatose phoners by exploding two propane trucks in their midst. But, their deed hasn't gone unnoticed, and the four become both hunted by a neighboring flock led by the Raggedy Man and shunned by other normies, who don't want to associated with the fugitives. Inexorably, Clay and his small band are led, via the telepathic powers of the Raggedy Man's flock, to a mysterious rendezvous point (KASHWAK=NO-FO), where a horrible payback, perhaps, will be exacted. The storyline of CELL is simply plotted and not terribly remarkable vis-a-vis other novels of the genre. Its saving grace, especially alongside FROM A BUICK 8, is that Mankind's latest crisis in King's alternate universe is precipitated by the use of something everybody seems to have at least one of - maybe even two or three - a cell phone. Even I reluctantly got one a couple of years ago, though I may go weeks without powering it up even once. But here, once is enough. Throughout, Clay remains the most engaging of the protagonists. Indeed, we never learn very much about any of his companions; Clay bonds with them, but the reader may not particularly. That's one of the book's faults, along with King's over-the-top assignment of levitation ability to the evolving phoners. I mean, oh puhleeze! But at the conclusion, when the spotlight focuses solely on Clay and son Johnny, CELL becomes more than reasonably satisfying as a; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Broker; Author: Visit Amazon's John Grisham Page; Review: "My background is law, certainly not satellites or espionage ... I know very little about spies, electronic surveillance, satellite phones, smart phones, bugs, wires, mikes, and the people who use them. If something in this novel approaches accuracy, it's probably a mistake." - Author John Grisham on THE BROKER I give high marks to the author for the engaging honesty of his disclaimer. However, until he improves his background knowledge of the espionage game, perhaps Grisham should leave the genre to such writers as John le Carre and Gerald Seymour. And I don't mean this unkindly since, after all, Grisham can do stories about lawyers and the law better than the latter two. Here in THE BROKER, lawyer Joel Backman, a former top-tier power player in Washington, D.C., is given a presidential pardon during the last hours of the departing Chief Executive's term. Six years earlier, Backman had acted as broker for JAM, a computer program created by three brilliant Pakistani computer hackers who'd stumbled upon a mysterious web of surveillance satellites and managed to write software that gained control of it. Most disturbing to the CIA and the Pentagon was the fact that the system hadn't been launched by the U.S.; its national origin was unknown. Since Backman was muddying the waters and needed to be put on ice, he was thrown into a federal pen on trumped up charges. Now, after engineering Joel's pardon, the CIA is prepared to set him up with a new identity in Italy, staking him out like a sacrificial goat to see who comes to kill him; the killer would presumably represent the country that had put the satellite net into orbit. Was it the Russians, Saudis, Chinese, or the Israelis? The sacrificial goat doesn't suspect a thing, even after various assassins employed by the suspect governments pick up the trail and begin to converge on the city. Indeed, way too much of THE BROKER follows Joel, now known as "Marco", as he lives his new set-up life in Bologna learning Italian and eating at charming restaurants, all at the expense of Luigi, whom Joel/Marco presumes to be his CIA minder. THE BROKER has two insurmountable flaws. First, I, as the reader, never achieved sympathy with Joel, the plot's ostensible "hero". Joel getting whacked promised a "ho-hum" reaction from me. Second, Grisham sets in motion a bevy of world-class killers, especially Sammy Tin working for the Beijing mandarins, and then virtually ignores them up to and including the very end. Accompanying John Grisham's disclaimer quoted at the beginning of this review was his admission that he loves everything Italian. So, perhaps understandably, the best thing about this novel is the poor-man's tour of Bologna that John takes us on while following Joel/Marco around. It did inspire me to eat lunch at one of my local trattorias, and I hope the inheritor of my copy of THE BROKER will excuse the occasional pasta sauce stain.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: SONG OF THE DODO: Island Biogeography in an Age of Extinctions; Author: Visit Amazon's David Quammen Page; Review: "Islands are where species go to die." - David Quammen, author of THE SONG OF THE DODO This book is all about the birth, maturation, and real world applications of the science of island biogeography as it relates to the circumstances of species isolation and diversification and subsequent decline and extinction. Here, "island" means not only the obvious - a bit of land surrounded by water - but any habitat separated from the rest of the world by a geographic barrier which its resident species are unlikely to cross. "Island", then, can refer, for examples, to a lake, a remnant of rain forest surrounded by clear-cut, a temperate mountaintop surrounded by desert, a national park hemmed in by human habitation, a cave, an expanse of jungle bordered by wide rivers, or a literal island in the sea. Island biogeography inexorably leads the reader to the concept of conservation biology and viable-population theory. You see, the rampant human population is cutting the world's diverse ecosystems into little bits - islands - thus dooming countless species living within them - especially large vertebrates - to eventual destruction. THE SONG OF THE DODO is a lucid, erudite, troubling, and extensively researched piece of science writing by journalist David Quammen. It's biggest fault is that he just about beats the subject to death. Where, perhaps, just a few examples of past species extinction (the Dodo or the Micronesian honeyeater) and present pending extinction (the indri of Madagascar or the Concho water snake in Texas) would suffice, the author includes at least a dozen more. But, as Quammen is such an excellent writer who feels strongly about this important subject, one cannot award less than five stars. Amidst the record of both realized and threatened animal extirpations, David even manages to be humorous when his narrative becomes a personal travelogue as he journeys to exotic places to observe the pending carnage for himself, as when tripping face-first into a spiderweb on Guam ("My worst nightmares feature tarantulas the size of badgers") or getting mugged in Rio de Janeiro. About the last incident, when confronted at the local police station with the one (of three) of his attackers unlucky enough to get caught, David quips: "He's looking at five years (imprisonment) I'm told. Cinco anos. Cinco, no kidding? that's a lot of anos, I say. Probably I should feel terrible for the young thug, on grounds of socioeconomic extenuation, but in the weakness of the moment my liberal knee fails to jerk and cinco anos sounds fine." The most glaring negative is the lack of photographs, both of the various creatures under discussion and the scientists, past and present, who've contributed to, and fought over, the theory and practice of island biogeography. Recently, I saw AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH, a documentary on global warming. Taken together with THE SONG OF THE DODO, my pessimism is kindled to a white heat. I don't have a high opinion of my fellow man: Homo sapiens is a rapacious species ungenerous to the other life forms riding Mother Earth. We blithely defecate on; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Churchill's Hour; Author: Visit Amazon's Michael Dobbs Page; Review: The third historical novel by Michael Dobbs in the Winston Churchill series following WINSTON'S WAR and NEVER SURRENDER, CHURCHILL'S HOUR delivers a pre-Christmas present to Winston in early December 1941 - the United States is sucked into the war against Germany. Here, the time frame is Christmas Day 1940 to December 11, 1941. In that period, John Winant replaces Joseph Kennedy as U.S. Ambassador to the Court of St. James, Averell Harriman arrives in Britain as America's Lend-Lease administrator, London is blitzed, HMS Hood is traded for the KMS Bismarck, Churchill has his first summit with FDR, Deputy Fuehrer Rudolf Hess crash lands his plane in Scotland, Rommel debarks in North Africa, Germany assaults Russia, Japan attacks Pearl Harbor and sinks HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Repulse, and America and Britain declare war on Japan. Finally, Hitler declares war against the former and Winston can sleep more easily. All through 1940, England has barely been able to hang on and Churchill is desperate for America to enter the conflict; Roosevelt is infuriatingly elusive on the subject. Students of Churchill and his leadership role up to and during WWII will find CHURCHILL'S HOUR, and the entire series, an engrossing read; those who aren't will likely be bored to tears. While much of the narrative concerns factual events, the fictionalized filler is given commendable credence by the author's version of the Prime Minister, who stays consistent with his historical persona throughout, even when dealing with the messy marriages of his son Randolph and his daughter Sarah. Indeed, Dobbs takes the opportunity to introduce the reader to one of the more intriguing women of the twentieth century, Pamela Digby Churchill, Randolph's wife. History records that Pamela, after divorcing the wretched Randolph, went on to occupy the beds of several prominent and wealthy men, and eventually married Averell Harriman thirty years after having an affair with him in 1941. A courtesan in the most positive sense of the word, Pamela was eventually named U.S. Ambassador to France by President Bill Clinton (how apt!) in 1993. When she died in Paris in 1997, French President Jacques Chirac posthumously awarded her the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honor. The humor in CHURCHILL'S HOUR is provided by Winston's loyal manservant, Frank Sawyers, a real person, apparently, who disappeared from history after leaving his master's household in 1947. The "twist" in the book comes via Winston's Machiavellian connivance (?) in the Japanese sneak attack on the U.S. Pacific Fleet and Germany's subsequent declaration of war against America by the clever dissemination of disinformation through an Axis spy. Did he, or didn't he? If he did, then he was only following Admiral Lord Nelson's famous order at Trafalgar, "England expects every man to do his duty", and the Empire's demise was postponed until another time.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Well of Lost Plots (Thursday Next Series); Author: Visit Amazon's Jasper Fforde Page; Review: As previously encountered in Jasper Fforde's first two installments in the Next series (THE EYRE AFFAIR and LOST IN A GOOD BOOK), the real world "now" is England of 1985, where dodo birds are kept as pets, a special police unit drives stakes through vampires' hearts, Tunbridge Wells has been ceded to Russia in war reparations, London to Sydney travel time is 40 minutes by Gravitube through the Earth's center, air travel is by lighter-than-air airship, cheese is contraband, there's a duty on custard, Homo sapiens neanderthalensis has been recreated from recovered DNA and now provides society with its minimum-wage untermenschen, time travel is a reality, and 249 wooly mammoths in nine herds migrate back and forth across Britain. The heroine of the series is Thursday Next, a Literary Detective in department 27 of SpecOps, the national law enforcement megaforce. The mission of SO-27, among other things, is to validate the authenticity of recently discovered works by dead authors. By the end of LOST IN A GOOD BOOK, Next, pursued by the evil mega-corporation Goliath, temporarily flees into BookWorld, a sort of parallel universe where the volumes that humans read in the "now" are created. There, she volunteers for Jurisfiction, a policing agency that labors literally inside fictional works to keep plots, grammar and characters from spinning out of control. If you loved Alice's Wonderland, you'll be entranced by BookWorld. THE WELL OF LOST PLOTS evolves almost entirely within BookWorld and within books themselves, which can be entered by Jurisfiction agents pretty much as the characters in the film MARY POPPINS popped in and out of chalk pavement pictures. Bookworld is an enthralling achievement of the author's imagination, but is too complex a place to describe fully in any brief synopsis. A few descriptive snapshots must suffice: 1. Literary characters become flesh and blood in BookWorld, e.g., Miss Havisham of GREAT EXPECTATIONS, who acts as Thursday's mentor and, at one point, is assigned the duty of chairing the ongoing rage-counseling sessions for the characters of WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 2. The HQ of Jurisfiction is the unused ballroom of Norland Park, the Dashwood house in SENSE AND SENSIBILITY. 3. The characters (Humpty Dumpty, Little Bo-peep, the Butcher, Baker & Candlestick Maker, the Three Blind Mice, etc.) of Oral Traditions, i.e. nursery rhymes, have unionized and are threatening a 48-hour strike. 4. A book is constructed by artisans - wordsmiths, holesmiths, echolocators - and many of its component parts - plot devices, chapter endings, back(ground)stories, descriptive devices for marking time's passage - are available from vendors. Conversely, other life forms- grammasites, bookworms, mispeling vyruses, punctusauroids, scene stealers, PageRunners, inside traders - disrupt plot and grammar cohesion and are the quarry of Jurisfiction. 5. The twenty-six above-ground floors of the Great Library contain all books ever published; the twenty-six below-ground levels of THE WELL OF LOST PLOTS store all still in progress or the ones completed but never published. 6. A Storycode Engine is the imaginotransference machine that transmits books in the Great Library to its readers in Outland. This novel incorporates both a murder mystery; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Seize the Fire: Heroism, Duty, and the Battle of Trafalgar; Author: Visit Amazon's Adam Nicolson Page; Review: Several years ago, I had the good fortune to take the guided inspection - available to any tourist with the requisite admission fee - of Admiral Lord Nelson's flagship, HMS Victory, now permanently moored at the Portsmouth (UK) Naval Yard. The experience left a lasting impression, perhaps partly due to the excellence of the guide, a salty, retired Royal Marine. (A subsequent tour of the USS Constitution, moored near Boston and conducted by a young, female petty officer, paled woefully in comparison.) If, in Adam Nicolson's SEIZE THE FIRE: HEROISM, DUTY, AND THE BATTLE OF TRAFALGAR, you expect a rousing narrative that'll leave you - assuming you're an Anglophile - singing "Rule Britannia", you'll be disappointed. Rather, what the author gives us is an erudite, scholarly, well-researched, and relatively dispassionate narrative account of the great naval battle off the coast of Spain on October 21, 1805 in which the British Fleet virtually annihilated the Combined Fleet of France and Spain. As everyone knows, Nelson was mortally wounded as he strode his quarterdeck; his death nearly three hours later vaulted him to the head of the queue of England's all-time heroes. In great part, and as the subtitle of the book implies, SEIZE THE FIRE is an examination of what it was about the contemporary English psyche and its perceptions of "duty" and "heroism" that ensured the victory. Indeed, as Nilcolson has it, the outcome of the contest was preordained even before the two sides collided because of the Spanish fleet's medieval command structure and the demoralization within the French fleet brought about by the officer purges of the French Revolution (much as the Soviet Army suffered from Stalin's purges of the 1930s). Love (of its commander), honour, a ferocious and zealous aggression, and skill won the day for the Royal Navy, not tactics. Nicolson's first five chapters (entitled: "Zeal", "Order and Anxiety", "Honour", "Love", "Boldness"), which deal with the England's national character and that of its naval officers, are cleverly headed with the time of day on that October 21st and the distance between the two fleets as they closed with each other at a walking pace. Thus, it's: 5:50 - 8:30 AM, 10 - 6.5 miles; 8:30 - 9:30 AM, 6.5 - 5.9 miles; 9:30 - 11:30 AM, 5.9 - 2 miles; 11:30 AM - 12 noon, 2 - 1 miles; 12 noon - 12:30 PM, 1 mile - contact. This effectively builds suspense. The last three chapters ("Violence", "Humanity", "Nobility") describe the battle itself, Nelson's death, and the shortly subsequent great storm at sea that beset both victor and vanquished. There's a commendable color section of paintings and portraits of the battle and the top commanders, as well as several diagrams showing the various ships' positions at progressive stages of the cataclysm. During the battle sequence itself, the focus is initially on the first English vessel to make contact with the enemy's line of ships, the HMS Royal Sovereign commanded by Admiral Lord Collingwood, Nelson's number two, and then switches to the HMS Victory. The point of reference throughout is,; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Smitten; Author: Visit Amazon's Janet Evanovich Page; Review: Halfway through a 600-page monster of Victorian intrigue, I felt the need for a frivolous respite. SMITTEN was just the ticket. As author Janet Evanovich explains in a preface written just inside the front cover, SMITTEN was one of twelve short romances - "red hot screwball comedies" - written in her pre-Plum days, nine of which are being re-released. This book in particular was inspired by her experience fixing up a fixer-upper house with her husband. The heroine is Lizabeth Kane, a recently divorced Mom with custody of two precocious boys, a hyperactive puppy named Ferguson, and Carol the Cat. Lizabeth needs a job, but is either over or undereducated, depending on the prospective employer. She's also, by any standard, unskilled and inexperienced at anything except folding clothes and baking cookies. In desperation, she takes a job as a carpenter with a local building contractor, the hunky Matt Hallahan, even though simply pounding a nail presents her with a challenge. Kane and Hallahan are immediately attracted to each other, and, in short order (and 234 brief and occasionally PG-13 steamy pages), a relationship erupts despite the periodic intrusion into her backyard of a pesky nighttime flasher. In SMITTEN, the Evanovich fan can see the evolution of the character types that eventually populate the author's enormously popular Stephanie Plum series. (I know; I've read them all.) Lizabeth is a simpler, but just as delightfully kooky, pre-incarnation of Stephanie. Kane's Aunt Elsie could be the twin sister of Grandma Mazur. And Matt morphs into the more complex and sexually infuriating (to Stephanie) Detective Joe Morelli. There are even the zany action sequences that become fully realized with Plum's involvement. At one point, Lizabeth, Elsie, Matt and Ferguson, in Elsie's battleship of a Caddy, chase after the naked pervert making his escape on Matt's Harley. If the Plum series is light reading with a capital "L" otherwise denoting excellence, SMITTEN is small "l". Since it can be digested in 1-2 hours, it's a suitably amusing and surreptitious diversion for Sunday church service, especially if the sermon runs inordinately long, but with the caveat that no Real Man wants to be caught chuckling at this engaging chic-lit unless he wants to reveal his Sensitive Side.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Manhunt; Author: Visit Amazon's Janet Evanovich Page; Review: At the point of mental exhaustion after finishing a 600-page novel of intrigue in Victorian England, I felt in need of lighter fare. Yup, this was it. As author Janet Evanovich explains in a preface written just inside the front cover, MANHUNT was one of twelve short romances - "red hot screwball comedies" - written in her pre-Plum days, nine of which are being re-released. This book in particular was inspired by a 1-year residence with her husband, two kids, cat and beagle in a cabin deep in the woods outside Fairbanks, AL. Here, Alexandra Scott, the 29 going on 65, burned-out, junior VP of a large New York corporation, trades her elegant city condo even-steven to an old Alaska hand for his cabin in the woods and country store - sight unseen - outside Fairbanks. So, looking forward to a simpler life and hoping to find a committed relationship, i.e. husband, Alex arrives in the outback with her dog Bruno to find that the cabin is a one-room hovel with no plumbing or electricity and the store is a scruffy bait shack. But, on the plus side, her nearest neighbor in the woods is the hunky and affluent Michael Casey, who owns his own air freight business and a comfortable mountain house with all the amenities. Since Casey has no desire to marry and is a housekeeping slob, you'd think he and Alex would have nothing in common. But that doesn't take into account hormonal tides. The storyline follows a simple formula. Tension builds between Casey and Alex to the point that they have tempestuous sex, after which they're mad at each other for awhile. Then the cycle repeats two or three times. It's the Battle of the Sexes at its most elemental (and monotonous) interspersed with the occasional humorous episode, as when Alex burns down her new outhouse and almost gets lost in the season's first snowstorm. The narrative also has the interesting perspective of jumping back and forth between the two principals: he thinks and says, she thinks and says. Bruno's thoughts remain unpolled. MANHUNT is soft porn for the ladies: "The skirt to her dress had ridden high, exposing the skimpy lace panties. His hand moved across the lace, tracing tantalizing circles. Then his mouth followed the path of his hand and Alex was lost to his touch." The book's chief usefulness to the average reader is as a time capsule of the author's early writing career as she evolves her characterization and plot development skills to the level of her ongoing and very successful Stephanie Plum series (currently on its twelfth installment), to which I'm addicted. I think I'm done with Janet's early romances; my manly self-image is suffering from reading this stuff.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Wasn't the Grass Greener?: A Curmudgeon's Fond Memories; Author: Visit Amazon's Barbara Holland Page; Review: WASN'T THE GRASS GREENER? by Barbara Holland is a ruefully nostalgic lament on the passing of things, activities, and states of mind that older generations grew up with during a period that can now perhaps be perceived as a simpler time: things such as pianos, liquor cabinets, sneakers, porches, desks (as opposed to computer stations), clotheslines, windows (that actually open), radiators, grand urban department stores, playing cards, and telegrams; activities such as ice-skating, election night, idleness, pranks, picnics, and star-gazing; and states of mind such as childhood, worries, and falling in love. I can't find a birth date for the author on the Internet. At 57, I suspect I'm 10-15 years younger than she. Certainly anyone younger than, say, 45, won't find this book relevant and may wonder what Barbara is grumbling about. The volume itself, published in 1999, is dated, as revealed in the chapter entitled "War", in which Holland misses the good vs. evil simplicity of the Second World War and, to a lesser degree, the Cold War. According to her, what with the demise of the Evil Empire, there's nothing to provide a rousing martial diversion other than a spirited soccer match or grueling computer game. One wonders what she thinks post-9/11 about the current us vs. them confrontation likely to last decades, i.e. Western culture vs. the kamikaze acolytes of jihadist mullahs. It doesn't have the drama of D-Day, but it's all we've got, and could conceivably result in the nuclear holocaust avoided with the Soviets. My favorite chapter, because it's so deliciously politically incorrect, is "Homogeneity", in which Holland takes a swipe at our society's cultural diversity, otherwise so hailed by liberals, in which the various ethnic and national elements, if they had their druthers, would just as soon live in their own isolated enclaves. As Holland (facetiously?) points out, the "American" traditions stemming from the country's Anglo-Western European roots will soon only be found in the towns and small cities of places like Idaho and Montana. Holland writes with a wry humor that I, at least, found appealing. In her chapter on "Worries", she bemoans the loss of those less anxiety-prone times that've given way to an angst-laden society subject to legislative and regulatory nanny-ism. The following is illustrative of both the author's humor in general and this chapter's point in particular: "Lighting a candle the other day, I considered the box of kitchen matches. In the usual large red capitals it warned me, 'CAUTION! DO NOT DROP.' Satan tempted me, and I fell. Looking around to make sure I was unobserved, I let go of the box. The matches rattled slightly and lay still. I had called their bluff." Anybody who reads WASN'T THE GRASS GREENER? with an appreciative nodding of the head could perhaps add to Barbara's list. Several that come to mind include: glamorous stewardesses that serve full-course in-flight meals instead of pretzels, ice-cold Coca-Cola in glass bottles from the vending machine at the corner gas station, drive-in movie theaters, athletic heroes that aren't otherwise greedy boors, and kindly General Practitioners that still; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Meaning of Night: A Confession; Author: Visit Amazon's Michael Cox Page; Review: THE MEANING OF NIGHT by Michael Cox is a prodigious tale of revenge set in Victorian England, a volume made all the more impressive because it's the author's first work of fiction. The story incorporates the elements of stolen inheritance, soul-consuming love both found and lost, deceit, ambition, intrigue, duplicity, murder, despair, and with occasional dollops of sex, drug use and tomb robbing tossed in for good measure. Why, it's just like real life at home and at the office. The hero, Edward Glyver, is the offspring born in 1820 of Captain Glyver and his wife Simona, though the Captain, an alcoholic and ineffectual spouse, stumbled off a cliff to his death before Edward's birth. Simona managed to raise Edward until his twelfth birthday, whereupon a gift of money from a benefactor sent her son off to Eton. Here, Edward proved to be a brilliant student until being expelled in his final year after he was judged guilty of petty theft, a frame-up engineered by a former friend, Phoebus Daunt. Denied a place at Cambridge, Edward completed his education in Literature at Heidelberg University. Then, upon his mother's death, Edward discovers in her private papers evidence that his natural parents were not the Glyvers. After some sleuthing, this evolves into the revelation that he's the son of Julius Duport, the 25th Baron Tansor. Duport's wife, Laura, had given birth to Edward in Paris in 1820 at the end of a year-long visit there without her husband, who was never told of his heir's existence. For reasons not immediately apparent, Laura gave Edward over to her childhood friend Simona to raise as her own, Lady Tansor subsequently dying three years later. Since remarried, Lord Tansor is still (to his knowledge) without issue, and Edward must accumulate the evidence needed to prove his paternity and inherit the Tansor title and wealth. Indeed, there's some urgency to the matter since Edward's old nemesis, Phoebus Daunt, has since become a nationally famous writer, who, through convoluted circumstances, has become such a favorite of the aging Tansor that the latter is preparing to name Daunt as his legal heir. So, by being in a position to reveal his true origins, Edward stands to inherit a fortune and get revenge on Phoebus. A powerful impetus, that. In the process, Edward falls hopelessly in love with Emily Carteret, a cousin of the Baron's living on his estate. The strength of THE MEANING OF NIGHT lies not so much with the plot, which is a story that's been told before in many variations and combinations, but in the development of the characters, especially Edward and Emily. Indeed, in his first offering, Cox demonstrates an ability which seems, to my occasional disgust, to elude more veteran writers of fiction, i.e. to individualize each character; so often they "sound" the same, differing only in name and overt actions. Moreover, as one who loves London, I was fascinated by the author's vision of the city in the mid-19th century, as on a foggy night: "The fog, however, is no impediment ... The subdued; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Once a Bum, Always a Dodger: My Life in Baseball from Brooklyn to Los Angeles; Author: Visit Amazon's Don Drysdale Page; Review: Back in my teenage years, and mainly from 1962-67, I was a huge Los Angeles Dodgers fan, listening to every game that I could on my transistor radio. My chief heroes were hurlers Sandy Koufax and Don "The Big D" Drysdale, in that order. The most highly anticipated game day was one featuring a double-header in which both pitchers started. The ultimate delight was hearing both record a victory. Drysdale died in 1993 at age 56. His book, ONCE A BUM, ALWAYS A DODGER had been published 3 years before. For me, reading it only now, it represents The Big D's last walk to the mound. This volume is Don's memoir of his time as a (Brooklyn) Dodger beginning in 1956 to his retirement from the (Los Angeles) Dodgers in 1969 and his subsequent career as a sportscaster. Though California born and raised, Drysdale's biggest thrill in life was putting on the Brooklyn uniform, and that New York borough remained his sentimental professional home for the rest of his career. He remembers with fondness the Brooklyn greats with whom he first played, some of whom made the move to Los Angeles: Pee Wee Reese, Gil Hodges, Jackie Robinson, Roy Campanella, Sal Maglie, Carl Furillo, Don Newcombe, and Duke Snider. Oddly, he has relatively little or nothing to say about the next generation of players whom I followed over the airwaves in Chavez Ravine: Maury Wills, Tommy and Willie Davis, Ron Fairly, Jim Brewer, Ron Perranoski, Claude Osteen, Johnny Roseboro, Jeff Torborg, Jim Lefebvre, Wes Parker, Dick Tracewski, and Lou Johnson. Sandy Koufax, of course, gets big mention inasmuch as it was Sandy and Don that joined forces for the infamous Great Holdout before the 1966 season. But, even then, I didn't sense that The Big D and Dandy Sandy were that close, not because either was overtly unfriendly, but because Koufax was (and is) a supremely private person. At one point Drysdale writes: "I don't know if Sandy enjoyed watching me pitch, but I sure as hell enjoyed watching him do his thing. He was something." The most useful personal insights, such as they are, are pretty much limited to Manager Walter Alston, General Manager Buzzie Bavasi, and Dodger owner Walter O'Malley during Drysdale's playing era, and to Vin Scully and Howard Cosell during his broadcasting years. But, even here, there's not much meat. The book includes a 16-page section of photographs, but it lacks even a rudimentary section on Don's throwing statistics covering his 13-year major league career, though there is an entire chapter - "The Scoreless Streak" - dedicated to his most memorable achievement, the 58 2/3 innings of scoreless ball pitched in 1968. The reader might be left with the impression that The Big D's life was without bumps. Therefore, I found refreshing his last chapter admission to and brief discussion about the failure of his 24-year marriage to his first wife Ginger. Indeed, it was only at this late point that I discovered the man to be human and his story retrospectively engaging. Nevertheless, Drysdale remains a larger-than-life; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Confessions of a Bangkok Private Eye; Author: Visit Amazon's Warren Olson Page; Review: "We may not be James Bond ... Our word is our Bond" Such is the claim on the website for Thai Private Eye, a Bangkok-based private detective agency founded in the 1990s by an ex-horse trainer from New Zealand, Warren Olson. His accumulated case notes have been turned into CONFESSIONS OF A BANGKOK PRIVATE EYE by ghostwriter Stephen Leather, who, in real life, pens noteworthy thrillers out of the UK. Not wishing to make his British publisher cranky, Leather downplays his role in the creation of CONFESSIONS now published by Thailand's Monsoon Books. Monsoon has previously released another of Leather's novels, PRIVATE DANCER (see my 11/22/05 review "Hey, Joe! Me love you long time."), based on the amorous pitfalls entrapping "farangs" (foreigners) that foolishly fall for the alluring bar girls of Thailand's famous sex-for-money industry. Here, in CONFESSIONS, Leather and Olson expand on that theme inasmuch as the vast majority of the cases involve a farang - usually a lovesick Yank, Brit, Aussie or Northern European - that hires Olson to investigate and confirm the fidelity of his bar girl/mistress, especially after returning home while continuing to send regular funds to his Thai honey as a token of everlasting commitment and in hope of hers. The human male's biologic, moth-to-flame attraction to the neon-bathed Thai fleshpots being a given, it shouldn't surprise the reader that the vast majority of the individual chapters are repetitive. Only rarely is the mold broken, as when a very proper Thai lady is conned out of her life savings by a Western, bible-toting preacher turned scam artist. Otherwise, the victims are lovesick, middle-aged, white guys thinking with their genitals rather than their heads, and Leather's and Olson's lesson is "Don't let this happen to you, chummy!" CONFESSIONS could have benefited from some editing. As it was, I didn't have to be reminded by the PI in every chapter that the "client is always right", and I got the picture after reading for the first time early on that motor scooters aren't allowed on Bangkok's motorways. That said, the volume is both entertaining and illustrative of very basic cultural differences between East and West. Indeed, I'm fairly certain the Thai Tourism Board wouldn't place CONFESSIONS on its recommended book list as the country isn't painted in the best light. Olson himself gamely attempts to restore some balance in an Afterword in which he compliments Thailand as a beautiful and bewitching land that provided him with the loves of his life, his wife and daughter. CONFESSIONS and PRIVATE DANCER should be required reading for any punter intending to sample the prurient delights of Patpong, Nana Plaza, and Soi Cowboy. In a personal email, Leather, evidently a hands-on kind of guy, implied that he himself modeled for the book's front cover, and that he could personally introduce me to the two girls clinging to him should I ever wish to visit Bangkok. Would my wife let me go, you think, with our retirement savings converted into cash?; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Solitary Man (Stephen Leather Thrillers); Author: Visit Amazon's Stephen Leather Page; Review: THE SOLITARY MAN incorporates two parallel plots, either of which could stand on its own, but which combined yield a sum greater than the parts. The IRA has branched out into drug smuggling - so long as the goods don't come home to Ireland. One of the lads, Ray Harrigan, is arrested in Thailand and thrown into prison to rot. The IRA wants its boyo freed and impresses that fact on Billy Winter, the organizer of the drug deal gone sour. If Billy wants to live, he's got to conjure Ray's escape. Tim Carver is the DEA's local rep in Bangkok. His boss, the number two man in the agency, Jake Gregory, is under pressure from the U.S. Vice-President to bring down one of the most successful and ruthless drug lords in the Golden Triangle, Zhou Yuanyi. It was Zhou that sent to the States the heroin that killed the Veep's son. Now, Jake orders Tim to locate the elusive Zhou and his jungle headquarters preparatory to a reprisal strike. The problems facing both Winter and Carver ultimately put Warren Hastings between two rocks and a hard place. Seven years previous, Chris Hutchinson made a daring escape out of Her Majesty's maximum security prison at Parkhurst on the Isle of Wight, in the process of which it looked to the authorities as if Hutch had died. But Chris, with a new identity as Hastings, has built a new life and a successful dog training business in Hong Kong. One day, a fellow prisoner pal from Parkhurst, Winter, shows up seeking a favor; he wants escape artist Hutch to spring Harrigan from the Thai hell hole known as Klong Prem prison - a real place nicknamed the "Bangkok Hilton". (And Hutch, old mate, it's nothing personal, you understand, but, if you don't cooperate, your son back in the UK might come to some hurt.) Then, Carver shows up and offers Hutch a deal he dare not refuse. Some days, it just doesn't pay to get out of bed. And then, just as his life couldn't get more complicated, Warren's head kennel maid in his doggie biz, Chau-ling, who secretly loves her boss and whose Dad is one of the richest and most powerful men in Hong Kong, decides to stick her nose in. Now make that Hastings between three rocks and a hard place. THE SOLITARY MAN is one of Stephen Leather's best offerings because of his skillful intertwining of the various subplots. The author also provides one of the best descriptions of life inside a Thai prison that I've ever read. (Ok, ok, so it's the only one that I've ever come across, but it perhaps makes a Soviet-era Siberian gulag look like a holiday camp in comparison - at least the latter provided a lot of fresh air and outdoor exercise.) Via email, Leather told me that he based his description on the personal experience of an acquaintance. The high caliber of Stephen's thrillers is largely due to the author's on site research. An old Southeast Asia hand, Leather is currently; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Castles in the Air; Author: Visit Amazon's Judy Corbett Page; Review: In northern Wales, 11 miles south of Conwy and 4 miles north of Betws-y-coed, across the bridge from the village of Llanrwst, on the floodplain between the River Conwy and the B5106 road, lies Gwydir Castle, the ancestral home of the Wynn family. Largely of 16th century construction, it's actually what remains of a more extensive Tudor courtyard manor house, and is the finest example of such in Wales. Peter Welford and Judy Corbett, an architectural historian and a bookbinder respectively, pooled their meager life savings and a substantial bank loan to buy the place in the early 1990s. CASTLES IN THE AIR by Corbett is the utterly charming story of the pair's labors to restore Gwydir from its abysmally ruinous condition at purchase to something resembling its former glory. The book offers a little something for everyone. There are the restoration adventures, of course, and also romance; Peter and Judy subsequently marry in an ancient chapel on a nearby hilltop. There's a fairly convincing supernatural ingredient that involves Peter being the unfortunate focus of animosity coming from the ghost of Lady Margaret Cave, a 17th century mistress of the manor, which resulted in his being struck on the head with a spade. There's hidden treasure, in this case the original carved wooden paneling stripped in totality from the dining room and auctioned off as a single lot in 1921 to (as it turned out) the American millionaire William Randolph Hearst, and later bequeathed to New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art, which still had it stored in the original packing crates in a warehouse on the rough side of town. Throughout the narrative runs Judy's dry English wit, such as when she describes the visit by an impeccably dressed representative ("Please, just call me Bill") of The Met, who was so impressed by his first view of the castle that: "... he didn't look where he was going and stepped into the biggest pile of peacock guano you have ever seen. Peter silently directed him to a patch of rough grass where he endeavoured to remove the vile-smelling substance from the stitching of his fine Italian shoes." Above all, CASTLES IN THE AIR is the story of the pair's love affair with and dedication to something old, historic, and worth saving in the face of seemingly impossible odds. And it would seem they've succeeded beyond their wildest dreams; the recovery and reinstallation of the Dining Room paneling brought a visit by the Prince of Wales himself, though his shoes did stick to the floor varnished only hours before his arrival. Judy describes herself and Peter as socially reticent almost to the point of misanthropy. Therefore, the fact that they accept paying B&B guests as well as hire out the ground floor halls out for weddings - see the official Gwydir Castle website - is indication of the financial strain imposed by the ongoing refurbishment of the manor house that continues to this day and into the foreseeable future. The Welford's affection for the ancient pile is evident in Judy's words: "... to; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Velocity; Author: Visit Amazon's Dean Koontz Page; Review: "If you don't take this note to the police and get them involved, I will kill a lovely blond schoolteacher ... If you do take this note to the police, I will kill an elderly woman active in charity work ... The choice is yours." (The 1st note.) Billy Wiles just wants to bar keep at a roadside tavern in Vineyard Hills, CA. And, of course, spend frequent evenings at the nursing home bedside of his fiancee Barbara, comatose these past four years after consuming a can of tainted vichyssoise. Billy doesn't have much of a life until he begins receiving mysterious notes that promise the slaughter of apparently random victims - promises that are always kept - by an elusive killer that, at one point, gets the drop on Wiles and nails one of his hands to the floor. To Billy's dismay, he's fallen down a rabbit hole into the world of a psycho who approaches murder as performance art. I've read a smattering of Dean Koontz's novels, some of which have reached such a level of bizarreness that they lose appeal for me. I appreciate more subtlety. In any case, with VELOCITY, Koontz steps back from the edge just far enough to make this a mystery thriller that, while still frightening, is also plausible. I understand that THE HUSBAND is in much the same vein, but better; it waits, much anticipated, on my unread shelf even now. I have two niggling complaints about this book's plot. I wish Ivy Elgin, a waitress at the tavern with an interest in haruspicy, i.e., divination of the future from dead animals, had gotten a larger share of text time. She is, perhaps, the most potentially interesting character present. Finally, at the story's conclusion, I felt that the killer knew more about Wiles than me the reader. True, one learns that, through no fault of his own, Billy is forced at age fourteen to shoot both his parents, and that, as an adult, he's written a book of short stories. Beyond that, he's a virtual cipher. Since putting the same characters in a sequel isn't the author's usual style to the extent I know it, I doubt we shall see either Billy or Ivy again, and that's unfortunate. VELOCITY approaches being a couldn't-put-it-down read, but doesn't quite get there.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Abbott & Costello Story: Sixty Years of ""Who's on First?""; Author: Visit Amazon's Stephen Cox Page; Review: First published in 1990 as THE OFFICIAL ABBOTT & COSTELLO SCRAPBOOK, this 1997 release of THE ABBOTT & COSTELLO STORY by Stephen Cox and John Lofflin is an affectionate and nostalgic journey through the career of these two comedians. It's everything the Abbott and Costello fan would want to know, and then some. A majority of the book's thirteen chapters comprise a narrative history of the team's progression through burlesque, radio, film, television, and animation. Additionally, there's one chapter summarizing each of their 36 films (production facts, cast members, plot, and sidelights), plus the one film that Costello did solo, from 1940 to 1959, and one chapter summarizing each of the 52 installments (cast and plot) of their TV show , which aired in 1952-53. Finally, and perhaps over the top for the reader satisfied with less rather than more, there's a chapter of one-paragraph program synopses for the 156 Abbott & Costello cartoons produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions in the late 60s, by which time Lou was dead, though Bud, by then in declining health, managed to provide the voice for his character. THE ABBOTT & COSTELLO STORY includes lots of sidebar stories, the most significant of which is perhaps daughter Chris Costello's defense of her father as he was depicted in the 1978 NBC-TV docudrama "Bud and Lou", a production she loathes to this day. Cox and Lofflin manage not to be too slavish in their admiration of the pair. The authors don't hesitate to remind the reader of A&C's addiction to gambling, in which they lost vast sums at cards, Bud's alcoholism and cavalier attention to U.S. tax law, and Lou's borderline sadistic sense of humor when it came to playing on-set pranks on an old pal, Bobby Barber, whom Costello apparently hired for just that purpose. The most amusing negative aside is one noted as coming from character actress Mary Wickes, who appeared in two A&C films ("Who Done It?" and "Dance with Me, Henry"), and who said: "I didn't care for them. But that's alright. They just had no taste. They were coarse." THE ABBOTT & COSTELLO STORY is loaded with photos, which might make it a coffee-table book except that, in its paperback format, it wouldn't likely serve as such in a Martha Stewart home. On the other hand, because of its awkward size - 10" x 8" x 3/4" - it doesn't fit easily on a bookshelf nor is it amenable for inclusion in carry-on luggage for reading on a plane. Perhaps the best way to approach it is to leave it at the bedside, enjoy it immensely at your leisure, then pass it on to a friend when finished.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Soft Target; Author: Visit Amazon's Stephen Leather Page; Review: It wasn't until I was well into SOFT TARGET that I realized it's apparently the second in the Dan Shepherd series. The third installment, COLD KILL, I'd read some months ago - see my review "How hardball do we play it" dated 6/29/06 - and the first, HARD LANDING, awaits on my unread shelf. I wish I'd read them in order, but who was to know? As I recall, even the Hardy Boys mysteries of my youth were sequentially numbered on the jacket. Ex-SAS trooper Dan Shepherd is now a Detective Constable with London's Metropolitan Police seconded to a special hush-hush undercover unit tasked with missions otherwise impossible. In SOFT TARGET, the marks are a businessman and a crime lord's wife, each soliciting the murder of his partner and her husband respectively, where Dan plays killer-for-hire Tony Nelson, and a corrupt cop in the Met's elite armed response unit, which Dan joins as Stuart Marsden, that tackles armed pizza shop bandits, a gang of roving teenage thugs on the Tube, and, ultimately, Moslem suicide bombers. On his bedside table, Dan/Tony/Stu has a cell phone for each identity. Kathy Gift is the shrink assigned by Dan's boss to make sure that Shepherd, who recently lost his wife in a road accident, isn't suffering debilitating stress. Gee, why would one think that? I gather that SOFT TARGET and HARD LANDING - the latter I have yet to read, you recall - serve as the character development bit in the evolution of author Stephen Leather's hero, whose ultimate mission in his fictional life is to foil Arab terrorists. In SOFT TARGET, there's fleeting reference to a mysterious Saudi, who travels the world on a British passport recruiting and arming suicide bombers, and who plays a major roll in COLD KILL. I'm giving SOFT TARGET four stars not because it falls short as a thriller, but simply because it's not quite as riveting as COLD KILL, to which I gave five stars. (This reviewing gig is subjective and relative, after all.) I'm also somewhat impatient with the text space devoted to Dan's well-meaning but too often shoddy performance as a single Dad to his now motherless son, Liam. I gather Leather included this to show Dan as a regular bloke with a warm, fuzzy side to attract female readers, but the subplot never seems to go anywhere (and doesn't in COLD KILL, either). Less Liam and more Gift would've been more interesting. Stephen tells me that there's to be a fourth Shepherd novel (in which, presumably, Dan's confrontation with Islamic nutters escalates). I'm actually looking forward to this book more than I am the first in the series because by that time the Shepherd character will have evolved to literary maturity.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Chickamauga and Other Civil War Stories; Author: Visit Amazon's Shelby Foote Page; Review: I finished CHICKAMAUGA several days ago. Since then, I've been unable to whip-up enough mental energy to give it either an emphatic thumbs-up or thumbs-down. I guess you could say it's so-so. And writing the review approaches being a chore. Except for the first and last chapters, which I'll get to in a moment, these stories of the Civil War come from the point of view of the common man and woman, whether he or she be either a soldier in battle or a civilian caught up in the collateral damage. The first chapter is the inaugural address of Jefferson Davis at Montgomery, AL on February 18, 1861. The last chapter is Abraham Lincoln's second inaugural address of March 4, 1865. The two serve as bookends to what comes in between, but it's hard to care (despite whatever eloquence the two have to offer.) As with most collections of short stories, these run the gamut from better to worse than average, and the two extremes cancel each other to result in my overall lassitude concerning the whole. Perhaps the best chapter is by, no surprise, Mark Twain: "The Private History of A Campaign That Failed" - an account of his time as a civilian irregular in Missouri at the outbreak of the war playing at soldier with a bunch of his buds, and who did more retreating in the face of real and imagined enemies than advancing to the sounds of battle. It incorporates Twain's characteristically wry, self-effacing humor, which, to me, made it the most readable of the lot. Perhaps the least deserving chapter is one by Stephen Vincent Benet: "Fish-Hook Gettysburg", a 25-page free verse summary of the event. There are so many excellent prose accounts of this decisive encounter that my reaction was "why bother?". The battle deserves better treatment. Another good one was the chapter entitled "The Night of Chancellorsville", in which a young prostitute, Nora, and a bevy of co-workers, while aboard a train on its way to Fightin' Joe Hooker's HQ at Chancellorsville, where they'll show the general and his staff a good time, are almost captured by the Confederates during the subsequent Federal rout. The story has an aspect of cleverness, at least. The prospect of capture by the Rebs causes Nora to think: "... the Rebs would capture us and send us down to one of those prisons you hear about where they starve you to death unless you sing Dixie all the time and kiss (un-PC word for Blacks)." One that I found particularly annoying was "The Burning" by Eudora Welty. Here, Southern belles, sisters Theo and Myra, are alone with their slaves on their plantation near Jackson, MS. After a band of Northern soldiers comes through raping and burning, the survivors straggle to tragic ends. At least I think so. Reading the story was like looking at something through a fine gauze mesh; all was slightly out of focus. I consider the late Shelby Foote one of the greatest U.S. Civil War historians; his monumental trilogy on the subject is a must; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Courage On Little Round Top; Author: Visit Amazon's Thomas M. Eishen Page; Review: After seeing the Civil War epic Gettysburg (Widescreen Edition) when it was first released, I made a special trip cross-country to the battlefield and, like the author of COURAGE ON LITTLE ROUND TOP, stood at the monument to the 20th Maine at the left extremity of the Union line and paid silent tribute to Col. Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain and his regiment which waged there such a stalwart defense. In a contemporary world so lacking in heroes, I put the gallant Chamberlain on a modestly tall pedestal, an atypical action that even survived my subsequent reading of the man's biography, In the Hands of Providence: Joshua L. Chamberlain and the American Civil War. Here, author Thomas Eishen strives to add a human side to the battle for Little Round Top on the second day of the Gettysburg collision by re-creating in novel format the thoughts, words, and actions of Chamberlain and one of his opponents, 2nd Lieutenant Robert Wicker of the 15th Alabama Regiment, as they may have occurred during the couple of days prior to and during the assault. It was the fictionalization of the days prior that perhaps reduced this book in my estimation inasmuch as Chamberlain and his regiment are assigned their do-or-die position by brigade commander Col. Strong Vincent only on page 250 of this 289-page volume. So, if you're hoping for an exhaustive immersion in the struggle for the hill, forget it. Rather, the preceding pages are filled, much like GETTYSBURG the film, with protagonists' dialog and mental preoccupations that are, at best, plausible but unremarkable script-filler and, at worst, an inane look at men under arms as they swan about the countryside pre-battle. Moreover, I was singularly unimpressed with the very few maps accompanying the text. Indeed, the one showing the opposing lines on Little Round Top was not much bigger than a postage stamp and would've required the use of a magnifying glass had I cared to bother with it. I'm at obvious odds with other 5-star reviews of COURAGE ON LITTLE ROUND TOP. Perhaps my expectations were too great. In any case, I wouldn't recommend spending the money for this title unless you're seeking a very light read for an airplane trip to Pennsylvania, in which case it's perfectly satisfactory.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Garbage Land: On the Secret Trail of Trash; Author: Visit Amazon's Elizabeth Royte Page; Review: GARBAGE LAND is Elizabeth Royte's plucky voyage of discovery down the various waste streams to their ends - burying, burning, composting, recycling - of the assorted components - glass, plastic, e-waste, metals, sewage, food scraps, paper, plant debris - comprising the 210 million tons of municipal solid waste (MSW) generated in the U.S. per annum. Royte really gets into it; she spends a year separating, weighing and categorizing her own household throwaways, goes along with her neighborhood's sanitation men to pick-up the detritus of others, and travels near and far outside her home in New York City to discern and share what ultimately happens to the discarded stuff that languishes even now in your waste bin. And, there's profit to be made in garbage - surprise, surprise! - if you're willing to get your hands dirty. Never underestimate the allure of profit however grubby. This book's subject is esoteric, but the author's talent for creating an interesting narrative makes it vastly enlightening and, to the environmentally conscious, greatly disturbing. By the conclusion of GARBAGE LAND, there's a hint of despair in Royte's findings as she notes that MSW represents but 2% of the nation's total waste output, the rest generated relatively unnoticed and unregulated by industrial, mining and petrochemical trashers. To begin to get a handle on this 98% will take wise and unselfish legislators in city, state and national governments passing strict and enlightened laws to make the world a perfect place where the air is fresh and the water pure, the unholy alliance between rampant consumerism and corporate greed is shattered, and we all get along. Yup, in your lifetime!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Trails of the Angeles: 100 Hikes in the San Gabriels; Author: Visit Amazon's John W. Robinson Page; Review: My wife has discovered the benefits of exercise. First, there was (and still is) the Y, where she spends 2-3 hours a day with step classes, cross trainers, and weights. The sick thing is, she loves it. (I go perhaps 3-4 hours per week, but only because I know it's good for me. I'd much rather sit with a good book, cheeseburger, and fries.) In any case, she's now discovered walking/hiking. She speed walks 10 miles every Saturday morning with a like-minded group of fanatics. They're planning to hike to the bowels of the Grand Canyon, and back up, in 2008; I'll be the one on the rim drinking iced tea. TRAILS OF THE ANGELES describes 100 hikes into the San Gabriel Mountains north of Los Angeles. (It doesn't include the Verdugo Mountains immediately to the south of the San Gabriels or the San Bernardino Mountains further east, in case you're wondering.) I thought my wife and her walking chums would find it useful for getting into trekking shape. The 2-3 pages dedicated to each of the hundred hikes includes "Features" and "Description", as well as a heading noting the hike's length, difficulty, and season. Perhaps two-thirds include a single black and white photo of something interesting to be seen nowadays or some structure of the past now represented only by ruins. Additionally, the volume contains separate brief chapters: "The San Gabriel Mountains" (geology, fauna, vegetation), "Humans in the San Gabriels" (a history of human influence on the area, recreational hiking being a major pastime between 1895-1938 before paved roads invaded the wilderness), "Hiking Hints" (including "hiker ethics"), and "Using This Book". TRAILS OF THE ANGELES ends with a "Summary of Hikes", which lists all 100 according to difficulty (easy to strenuous), length (1 to 28 miles), and trip (round trip, one way, or loop). The key ingredients of any guide of this sort are the directions given to the trailhead, and the route to be followed once boots hit the ground. Author John Robinson seems to do reasonably well at this though, mind you, I haven't had to put the acquired knowledge to practical use - yet. Directions to the various trailheads follow the same general tone as the following (Angeles Forest Highway to Big Tujunga Narrows, Hike #53): "Drive up the Angeles Crest Highway to Clear Creek Junction, then left on the Angeles Forest Highway (L.A. County Road N3) to an unmarked parking area shaded by a lone incense-cedar on your right, 15.5 miles from La Canada. If you reach the Narrows Bridge, you've driven 0.3 miles too far." What happens if some prankster chops down that cedar tree in the dead of night and hauls it away for firewood? Once on the chosen path, Robinson's directions are exact (as for Eaton Saddle to Markham Saddle, San Gabriel Peak, Hike #32): "Walk past the locked gate and across the rugged south face of San Gabriel Peak via the Mt. Lowe fire road 0.5 mile to Markham Saddle. At the saddle, just beyond the water tank, turn sharp right (north) and; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Endangered Pleasures: In Defense of Naps, Bacon, Martinis, Profanity, and Other Indulgences; Author: Visit Amazon's Barbara Holland Page; Review: ENDANGERED PLEASURES is perhaps mistitled as it's not credible to think any of the 67 things and activities listed, from the morning paper to cigarettes to bare feet to weekends to gambling to winter to babies, are actually in peril of extinction. "Unappreciated" might be more a apropos term instead of "endangered". The book's subtitle says it all more succinctly: IN DEFENSE OF NAPS, BACON, MARTINIS, PROFANITY AND OTHER INDULGENCES. Author/essayist Barbara Holland has a remarkable talent for perceiving the small details of life and living. Or rather, a talent for remembering what she perceives and subsequently bringing it to the attention of the lumpish rest of us. For instance, on the "being there" phase of travel: "The hee-haw of the ambulance in the foreign streets sings with a pure and alien glamour, quite unrelated to the irritating scream of emergency vehicles back home." Now, I've noticed that on my own overseas walk-abouts, but would never think it worth mentioning to the folks back home. And, on a more sobering note, regarding the psychology of crowds: "Face to face with, say, Adolph Hitler at a table for two, we would have jeered at his passions, protested, flounced out in a snit. In a crowd of thousands, all cheering and brandishing fists, we might have stood in the path of the electric current, felt the blood of common cause rise joyfully in our throats, and cheered too ... Deep inside each of us lurks a chained lemming, struggling to break free, and we need to keep an eye on it." I admire Holland's talent for social commentary. She reminds me of Andy Rooney, but without the crankiness. Rooney might like to think he's a national treasure; Barbara truly is.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln; Author: Visit Amazon's Doris Kearns Goodwin Page; Review: Of all the American Presidents, I admire Abraham Lincoln the most because he stalwartly endured so much: rebellious states, incompetent Federal generals, a fractious Republican Party, near-treasonous Democrats, a financially irresponsible and mentally unstable wife, and the death of a son. Finishing this thick work, my esteem for him is in no way diminished. TEAM OF RIVALS by Doris Kearns Goodwin is, above all, a political biography of Lincoln as he rose through the ranks from country lawyer to Illinois state legislator to U.S. Congressman to presidential candidate to Chief Executive. As the Republican nominee for President in 1860, he beat out several formidable rivals for the nomination, including Salmon Chase, William Seward, and Edward Bates. Once elected, Lincoln was wily enough to keep his former (and potentially future) adversaries within immediate sight by cajoling them into his Cabinet - Chase at Treasury, Seward at State, and Bates as Attorney General. Thus, TEAM OF RIVALS is necessarily a political biography of each of these three men and, to a lesser degree, also one for each of the other prominent members of the Cabinet - Montgomery Blair as Postmaster General, Edwin Stanton as War Secretary (succeeding Simon Cameron), and Gideon Wells as Navy Secretary. The remarkable teamwork the Cabinet displayed to steer the Union through the darkest days of the Civil War is its, and Lincoln's, great achievement. In her memoir of growing up, WAIT TILL NEXT YEAR, Goodwin is charmingly engaging. At 754 pages with two extensive photographic sections, TEAM OF RIVALS is hardly that but erudite, detailed, and lucid. The author's treatment of her subject is obviously admiring. At no point does Goodwin's narrative slime Abe's reputation with any perception which one normally ascribes to the currently incumbent band of dubious, self-serving, vacillating, and morally compromised public parasites whatever their party affiliation. Perhaps Lincoln was truly a wise and steadfastly principled man, or Goodwin just chose not to notice any blemishes. Or perhaps time itself serves as an airbrush. It took me almost four months to gnaw my way through this lengthy volume; it's not a book I couldn't put down. For that reason, I'm knocking off a star, though I freely admit that this is more a deficiency related to my attention span than anything else. Others, not wearied by too much of a good thing, will justifiably award 5 stars.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Hard Way (Jack Reacher, No. 10; Author: Visit Amazon's Lee Child Page; Review: Jack Reacher is my very favorite fictional Tough Guy action figure. He could probably get Iraq squared-away single-handed. Unfortunately, his creator, Lee Child, seems to be giving him R&R for most of THE HARD WAY. Ex-Army Military Police major Reacher, now demobbed from the service with the end of the Cold War and on the lam from a normal existence, is in New York City. Here, he becomes employed by the head of a mercenary-for-hire company, Edward Lane, to investigate the kidnapping of the latter's wife, Kate, and young daughter, Jade. Over the course of the first few chapters, $10.5 million are paid out in several installments, but with no return of the hostages. Kate and Jade are presumed dead, and Edward wants revenge. Jack's new instructions are to find the perp, at the conclusion of which Reacher will be paid $1 million. Complications arise when Jack discovers that Lane's previous wife, Anne, was also kidnapped and subsequently found dead. Anne's sister is convinced Edward was behind Anne's murder, as does ex-FBI agent Lauren Pauling, who's residual guilt from not having solved the first case compels her to team with Reacher on this one. It isn't until page 342 of this 371-page book that Jack swings into serious action by breaking the gun arms of three bad guys with an iron fire poker. Up until then, Reacher is investigating relatively non-violently, with a periodic time-out for sack time with the engaging Pauling. The book might as well be entitled JACK'S WORKING VACATION, and the role of Reacher himself could be filled by any world-weary police detective or private eye that's been featured in any other fictional series that you've ever read. Even Dirty Harry, knowing how to "make my day", shot an occasional scumbag at various times during a film to keep things interesting for the viewer over the long haul. It isn't until the last few pages that Reacher becomes satisfyingly lethal with the help of a mirror on a stick. Mind you, THE HARD WAY might be considered a really good read when isolated in a vacuum. But, compared to the others in the series, it had me yawning.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Churchill's Triumph; Author: Visit Amazon's Michael Dobbs Page; Review: "Old men, worn down by war, who couldn't properly finish what they had begun. It summed up the story of Yalta." - Author Michael Dobbs, in CHURCHILL'S TRIUMPH From February 4 - 11, 1945, Churchill, Stalin and FDR met at Yalta in the Crimea to tie up the loose ends of World War II. Each had an agenda: the American President wanted the establishment of the United Nations, Russia's entry into the war against Japan, and his personal place in history; the British Prime Minister wanted a free Poland (as, unstated, a block to Soviet westward expansion); the Communist Party Secretary General wanted territory in Eastern Europe and spoils. In the end, it was the wily, rapacious Stalin that dominated the conference. FDR, exhausted and sick and with only eight weeks to live, no longer had the mental energy to perceive and resist Uncle Joe's duplicity. And Winston, though he fought like a lion, was, much like the British Empire, no longer relevant to the larger designs of the world's two new superpowers, the U.S. and the U.S.S.R. CHURCHILL'S TRIUMPH, presumably solidly based in the factual history of the summit, is a fictional narrative of the conference as seen through the eyes of Winston, who, apparently ignored and abandoned by his friend Roosevelt, is beside himself with frustration at his inability to alter the course of diplomacy and appeasement. Perhaps the most engaging character of the story is that of Churchill's manservant, the loyal but cheeky Frank Sawyers, a real person who, unfortunately, exited history after leaving his master's service in 1946. (Loyal readers of Michael Dobb's will remember Sawyers from a previous book in the Churchill series, Churchill's Hour. Indeed, Google "Frank Sawyers" and there's virtually no information on the man beyond his inclusion in the author's books - a pity.) CHURCHILL'S TRIUMPH suffers, I think, from the inclusion of a fictitious subplot involving a refugee Pole, Marian Nowak, held virtual prisoner by the Russians and pressed into service by his jailers as a plumber at Churchill's borrowed Crimean residence, the Vorontsov Palace. The uneasy relation between the British PM and Nowak, which carried through to the end of the book set in 1963, allowed Winston to pronounce what he thought his nebulous triumph at Yalta to have been. But to me, this subplot seemed contrived and, at its conclusion, overly melodramatic. Another sidebar, this taking place in the fictitious Polish village of Piorun, was sufficient to illustrate the validity of Winston's ominous forebodings regarding Soviet intent in Eastern Europe. The Yalta story, as the basis for a novel about Churchill, is powerful enough by itself and doesn't need embellishment. Particularly revelatory of the conference were the words of Octavius from Shakespeare's "Julius Ceasar" quoted by the PM as they put their signatures to paper in the concluding signing ceremony: "Let us do so, for we are at the stake and bayed about with many enemies. And some that smile have in their hearts, I fear, millions of mischiefs."; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Like Wolves on the Fold: The Defence of Rorkes Drift; Author: Visit Amazon's Mike Snook Page; Review: On Wednesday morning, January 22, 1879, the 1st Battalion and most of the 2nd of the British 24th Regiment of Foot was wiped about by a Zulu army at Isandlwana in South Africa. (This battle is covered in Lieutenant Colonel Mike Snook's book, HOW CAN MAN DIE BETTER.) After Isandlwana, the victorious tribesmen swarmed on several miles to the missionary compound, comprising a residence/hospital and storehouse, at Rorke's Drift. Here, for five hours in the late afternoon and evening of January 22nd, 154 remnant troops of the 2nd/24th successfully held off a siege by some 4,500 assailants. This stalwart defense, the crowning glory in the history of the 24th (now the Royal Regiment of Wales), is the subject of LIKE WOLVES ON THE FOLD, also by Snook. I'm no expert on such narratives, but this book seems to me to be as exemplary an account of a small unit defensive action as one can find anywhere. Based on after-action reports and participants' memoirs, it's of the sort I would have expected from Custer and his 7th Cavalry troopers, or the Alamo defenders, or the 300 Spartans of Thermopylae, had any of these heroic bands had the good fortune to survive. But at Rorke's Drift, luck had little to do with it - just gritty determination, an adequate supply of ammo, inspired leadership from Lieutenants John Chard and Gonville Bromhead, and not just a little desperation; they were surrounded. The volume includes a commendable 33-page section of photographs and painting reproductions. There are also several excellent drawings of the Rorke's Drift compound at various stages of the battle, each showing the direction of the Zulu attacks against a defense wall hastily constructed of 200-lb mealie-bags and 100-lb cases of hardtack and tinned bully beef - a perimeter that contracted and changed shape several times during the course of the siege as Chard and Bromhead found it necessary to withdraw and regroup their men in the face of ferocious assaults. Indeed, about halfway through the ordeal, the hospital was set aflame and had to be evacuated under fire. The narrative of the 24th's gallant stand comprises the first half the book and is the most riveting part. The remaining, more staid chapters concern themselves with the outcome of the Anglo-Zulu War, the assignment of responsibility for the Isandlwana debacle, and the post-war careers of the principle British and Zulu combatants, particularly the eleven British defenders of Rorke's Drift who were honored with the Empire's highest award for valor, the Victoria Cross - the most ever awarded in British military history for a single action. The story told by LIKE WOLVES ON THE FOLD illustrates the British "stiff upper lip" at its stiffest. The Empire and the Queen Empress were privileged to have such men in their service.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: When All the World Was Young: A Memoir; Author: Visit Amazon's Barbara Holland Page; Review: "Growing up is the process of learning how many things you can't do and how many people you can't be. When you've winnowed them out, what's left is you." - Barbara Holland I've said before of author/essayist Barbara Holland that she has a remarkable talent for perceiving the small details of life and living. Or rather, a talent for remembering what she perceives and subsequently bringing it to the attention of the lumpish rest of us. In mid-2006, Holland wrote a piece for the magazine AARP, "Being 70: The View from Up Here." So, published in 2005, WHEN ALL THE WORLD WAS YOUNG can perhaps be taken as Barbara's final word on the subject of her formative years. Somehow, I don't expect a sequel. This volume is Holland's episodic narrative of her life from shortly before the beginning of World War II, at which time she was about six, to her first job in the display department of the Hecht Company in her (apparently) very early twenties. Measured against the comparatively happy memoirs of other female writers - Laura Shaine Cunningham (Sleeping Arrangements) and Doris Kearns Goodwin (Wait Till Next Year: A Memoir) come to mind - WHEN ALL THE WORLD WAS YOUNG is surprisingly bittersweet. The author is not reticent about her sternly authoritative stepfather, a self-absorbed mother disengaged from maternalism, her shoplifting phase, her high school abortion, and her wretched first marriage. As in all of Holland's books that I've read to date, her wry, iconoclastic humor is a joy. She relates how, in the fourth grade, she was given the assignment of reading a passage from the Bible to the class every morning. "I read my classmates a psalm a day, looking for the most rousing ones to hold my audience. ('Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies, that I might destroy them that hate me. They cried, but there was none to save them: even unto the Lord, but he answered them not. Then did I beat them small as dust before the wind. I did cast them out as dirt in the streets.' Psalm 18, perfect for the playground.)" Because of her talent for perception, she comes across with unorthodox snippets of insight, such as: "Peculiar relatives make good stories in later life, but to a child they're a wobbly rudder." Or this: "Down below the grownup eye level, even the best-kept suburb seethed with action." I wished WHEN ALL THE WORLD WAS YOUNG was two, three, four times as long. As a child, Barbara was an awkward loner who found companionship with only one or two really close friends, and who otherwise found escape in books. I soon realized that she and I, when growing up, were much alike. And my affection for her has grown accordingly.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hard Landing (A Dan Shepherd Mystery); Author: Visit Amazon's Stephen Leather Page; Review: HARD LANDING was the first in the Stephen Leather's series of thrillers starring Dan "Spider" Shepherd, an ex-SAS trooper now assigned to an elite Metropolitan police unit tabbed for deep undercover operations when the usual enforcement methods can't nab the bad guys. Dan's nickname came to be while on an SAS survival training mission and he won a bet on who could eat the most disgusting thing. One normally doesn't see "tarantula" on the menu even in the greasiest curry house. HARD LANDING was followed by Soft Target and Cold Kill (Dan Shepherd Mysteries), all three of which I've unintentionally read in reverse order. I'd recommend reading the first book first since, if nothing else, the series is a character development exercise for the protagonist. Here, Spider is tossed into one of Her Majesty's maximum security prisons after establishing his cover as an armed desperado on an airport warehouse hold-up gone bad. Dan's mission is to nail big-time drug trafficker Gerald Carpenter, currently in the same lock-up awaiting trial. Carpenter is somehow communicating with the outside and masterminding the quashing of evidence and killing of witnesses that would otherwise convict him. Fearing Gerald will ultimately go free, Shepherd's job is to identify the leak and thus ensure Carpenter's conviction. Spider's job prevents him from having a normal home life with his wife Sue and son Liam, a fact that causes the inevitable friction with the former and neglect of the latter and which is exacerbated by a tragedy that occurs while Dan is behind bars. I previously mentioned in my review of SOFT TARGET (dated 11/4/06 and entitled "A whopping cell phone bill, no doubt") that the author perhaps dwelled too much on Spider's spotty relationship with his son, which caused me to knock off a star from that otherwise splendid tale. With Shepherd, I'm looking for hard-boiled action not agonized soul-searching. (My other favorite fictional Tough Guy, Lee Child's Jack Reacher, never ever moons about engaging in self-castigating guilt trips.) I gave COLD KILL five stars (dated 6/29 06 and entitled "How hardball do we play it?") because it maximized the action and minimized the hand-wringing, and I'm giving HARD LANDING a full allocation of points for the same reason. Until commencing with the Dan Shepherd series, Leather had pretty much eschewed an ongoing hero beyond a couple of books. With Spider, Stephen has struck gold, and I'm eagerly awaiting the fourth installment, HOT BLOOD.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Red Skelton: An Unauthorized Biography; Author: Visit Amazon's Arthur Marx Page; Review: Growing up in the late 50s and early 60s, Ol' Dad's television preferences rubbed off on the rest of the family when we all gathered around the clunky B&W set. In terms of comedy, his favorites were Jackie Gleason and Red Skelton, especially the former. On the other hand, I particularly enjoyed Skelton (and Abbott & Costello and Bob Hope). For some reason, Milton Berle never made much of an impression. Later, Mom and I graduated to Bill Cosby when he did his early comedy albums: she never tired of his Noah skit. Red died in 1997. RED SKELTON is an overview of his life from 1913 to 1977, and focuses chiefly on his rise through the ranks of on-stage comedy from medicine shows to tent shows to riverboats to circuses to burlesque to walkathons (i.e. dance marathons) to vaudeville to nightclubs to radio to movies to television to Las Vegas. This book is self-described as an "unauthorized biography", and it certainly is that. While author Arthur Marx gives due credit to Skelton's brilliance as the consummate clown, his monetary generosity to others, and his love for his children, especially son Richard who died of leukemia in 1958, he makes no attempt to gloss over Red's excruciating second marriage, his alcoholism, his paranoia, his vengefulness, his wretched treatment of his television writers and business associates, and his debilitating insecurity. We're all dysfunctional to some degree, but it's comforting to read of somebody rich and famous more dysfunctional than oneself. There, but for the grace of God, go I, etc. RED SKELTON includes a reasonably adequate photographic section, at the end of which is a happily posed picture of the comedian with his second wife Georgia at their home in Palm Springs, which implies that they were still genially married at the conclusion of the story. Actually, Skelton married his third wife, Lothian, in 1973, and Georgia died of a self-inflicted gunshot in 1976. There's no snap of Lothian, and only one that includes Red's first wife, Edna, who accomplished more in building Skelton's career than Georgia ever did. RED SKELTON is a well-written, revealing, and somewhat disenchanting look at a childhood icon. Approaching 58, I should know better than to retain any belief in heroes, especially those that rise to the surface in Tinseltown. "Good night, and God bless."; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Serpent in Paradise: Among the People of the Bounty; Author: Visit Amazon's Dea Birkett Page; Review: "No. Nawa (never) read. All ha books full of s__t. People write bad things about Pitcairn in books. Them people who go write books on Pitcairn should go wipe (i.e. emphatically go away or, perhaps, be struck dead)." - The Pitcairn "librarian" on being asked by Dea Birkett if she enjoyed reading First off, let me say that I'm awarding five stars to SERPENT IN PARADISE because it does what I think a successful travel essay should do, i.e. grandly transport me to a faraway place that I shall never see in person, but which, due to the descriptive skills of the writer, I can envision clearly in my mind's eye, thank you very much. English writer Birkett became fascinated with Pitcairn, the remote British colony and island home of a subpopulation of the descendents of the Bounty mutineers, while viewing a screening of "The Bounty" starring Mel Gibson. (A larger group resides on the somewhat bigger Norfolk Island isolated in its own expanse of ocean north of New Zealand.) After almost two years of dreaming of visiting the place, she managed to book passage on a Norwegian chemical tanker scheduled to steam by. Thus, after having fibbed on her landing application that she represented Royal Mail International, Dea clambered ashore to live for several months among the island's thirty-eight inhabitants. The author has been pilloried in other reviews, which have described her as being flawed, foolish, insecure, contemptible, self-serving, shallow, deceitful, condescending, screwy, voyeuristic, narcissistic, and a gossip. Well, gee, that pretty much describes, on one point or another, the flip side of just about everyone, doesn't it? Get over it! And, I could add, the reader can infer from SERPENT IN PARADISE that the Pitcairners themselves are tribal, petty, suspicious, compulsive, repressed, and eccentric. But, I don't hold those against them because they're also traits of the human condition that balance out the nobler ones, also possessed by all concerned, both author and subjects. And let's ignore for the duration of this review the convictions of child molestation recently found against several Pitcairn males by the British authorities. (At least Dea's one night stand with a married islander was consensual sex between two lonely adults, albeit imprudent. Hey, I'll bet that's never happened before.) So, now what? The most glaring deficiency of this book is the lack of a picture section. However, I don't fault Burkett for this because there's no 2-hour film processing kiosk on Pitcairn, and I expect that whipping out a camera and snapping away would have caused the author to be pitched off the jetty and told to swim for home. Rather, look on the Web for "official" island sites that also include photo images. Or better, zero in on "Pitcairn Island" on Google Earth and be amazed that people can happily live their entire lives on a life raft so small. As a fun exercise, try to match the structures in Adamstown as seen on Google with Dea's map of the village. I admire the author for making the tremendous effort to get out and; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Commanding the Army of the Potomac (Modern War Studies); Author: Visit Amazon's Stephen R. Taaffe Page; Review: "Running a war seems to consist in making plans and then ensuring that all those destined to carry it out don't quarrel with each other instead of the enemy." - Field Marshal Lord Alanbrooke, Chief of the Imperial General Staff (1941-46) Though Lord Alanbrooke's observation specifically concerned relations between the Western Allies fighting Germany in WWII, it could just as validly apply to the infighting that plagued the Army of the Potomac (AoP) otherwise battling for the Union in the eastern theater of the American Civil War. Before fulfilling its mission by defeating Robert E. Lee and his Army of Northern Virginia in April, 1865, the AoP lost more confrontations than it won and sustained more casualties than it inflicted. No wonder, after the Battle of Cold Harbor, that the general commanding all Union armies, Ulysses Grant, asked, perhaps rhetorically, division commander Brigadier General James Wilson: "Wilson, what is the matter with this army?" Wilson's answer reportedly implicated a flawed organizational structure, defective communications, a confused chain of command, and an inferiority complex among the officers relative to Bobbie Lee. In any case, Stephen Taaffe's COMMANDING THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC is an engrossing and fascinating examination of the AoP's command structure, from McClellans's assumption of overall command in July 1861 to April 1865, as exemplified by those generals that held either corps and/or army command. Against a background of the AoP's major engagements, which are each summarized very briefly, Taaffe describes each general's ascent to power, whether it was through political connections, opportunism, merit, or ideological agreement with the current Army Commander - categories which, in some cases, overlapped. Conversely, the author also explains why each lost his position: killed or seriously wounded in battle, promotion, battlefield fatigue, alienation of superiors and/or bickering with peers, or quitting out of simple disgust. Indeed, only three of the AoP's thirty-six corps commanders lasted for more than a year. The book includes a section of generals' formal photo portraits, which includes those of McDowell, Sumner, Heintzelman, Keyes, Burnside, Hooker, Meade, Porter, Franklin, Smith, Warren, Butterfield, Sickles, Birney, Pleasonton, Howard, Couch, Sedgwick, Slocum, Stoneman, Gibbon, Hancock, Humphreys, and Wright. Oddly, because I can't imagine that such don't exist, there are no photos of Wilcox, Williams, Sheridan, Sikes, Newton, Reynolds, French, Mansfield, Reno, Griffin, Cox, Hays, Pope, or Parke. Because of these omissions, I'm knocking off a star simply for the resultant lack of completeness to an otherwise excellent volume. The characters of the generals herein described comprise the core of the narrative, and this reader wanted to look them in the eye, so to speak. As a bonus, or perhaps a distraction, the command structure of General Butler's Army of the James is also included from the time of the AoP's siege of Petersburg when the former force moved into close contact with the latter. I heartily recommend COMMANDING THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC to any serious or casual student of the Civil War since it examines the dysfunctional AoP from a perspective different from the norm. Taaffe's main conclusion seems to be that the; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Bird Man and the Lap Dancer: Close Encounters with Strangers; Author: Visit Amazon's Eric Hansen Page; Review: "Foreplay lasts for hours as they circle each other in a clockwise direction - licking, nibbling, and rasping at each other's genital region. They taste and eat each other's slime; maybe to get turned on, or as some sort of exchange of genetic information. When sufficiently aroused, they enter each other and have continuous sex for up to thirty-six hours." - from THE BIRD MAN AND THE LAP DANCER Before you click away from this review in disgust thinking the book is about bizarre sex rituals practiced by some weird cult, probably in California, or, rather, become glued to the text out of prurient interest, just realize that the quote above comes from wildlife biologist Oliver Sparrow about the mating ritual of banana slugs, genus Ariolimax. No surprise, the subspecies A. californicus brachyphallus does inhabit the Golden State. Sparrow is one of the characters author Eric Hansen meets in this unusual compilation of travel essays. Unusual because, while the reader is taken to such exotic locales as Calcutta, the Borneo rainforest, Thursday Island off Australia's northern coast, the Maldives, and the sinister Washington Heights neighborhood of Manhattan, the volume's focus is indicated by its subtitle, "Close Encounters with Strangers". It's a book more about people than places. The very best chapter, the one which would earn the whole a five star award all on its own because of the lesson on perspective it teaches, is "Life Lessons from Dying Strangers". Here, Hansen recounts the months he spent cooling his heels in Calcutta while trying to arrange with the labyrinthine Indian bureaucracy the shipment home of two enormous steamer trunks filled with souvenirs from his Asian travels. Almost beside himself with frustration, Eric only finds inner peace through volunteering at Mother Teresa's hospice for the dying destitute. And then there's the chapter about the biologist, Sparrow, who takes lap dancers from the gentlemen's club he frequents on nature hikes. Or the one about the grief-stricken widower who searches for his wife's wedding ring amidst the jungle-strewn wreckage of the executive jet in which she died. I enjoyed THE BIRD MAN AND THE LAP DANCER more than I thought I would. More than most, it has "the human touch". And you, too, can learn what it means to be on the receiving end of a "T.I. handshake".; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Nude Men: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Amanda Filipacchi Page; Review: By the time the plot of NUDE MEN began to seriously degenerate, I was far enough into the book, at roughly the half-way point, that I figured I might as well finish just to see how bad it got. Blessedly, it's a quick read. The hero of the piece, using the loosest definition of "hero" imaginable without crossing over the line into "villain", is Jeremy Acidophilus, a twenty-nine year old fact-checker, filer and general non-achiever at a New York City film and celebrity magazine. Indeed, Jeremy manages to get fired while showing initiative. Moreover, Jeremy is constantly terrorized by his mother, and he even has conversations with his pet cat. (Granted, I also talk to our pet cats, but I don't hear responses, real or imagined.) Acidophilus is a total loser with a capital "L". This is, to my mind, a great part of the novel's problem. Is author Amanda Filipacchi's opinion of Men so poor that this is the one she can imagine challenged by the moral and social strictures against sexual relations with an underage female? Filipacchi's apparent message, vocalized by Henrietta, is that the opprobrium assigned by Western society on underage sex is misplaced; children should be exposed to the experience as soon as they're sexually capable and not kept in debilitating ignorance. One wonders what the author's previous life experiences might have had to do with it. NUDE MEN is a book about relationships. Jeremy's relationship with Lady Henrietta, a painter of nude men, who asks Acidophilus to pose. Jeremy's relationship with Henrietta's 11-year old daughter, Sara, who seduces him. Jeremy's relationship with his cat, Minou. Jeremy's relationship with his 71-year old Mom. Jeremy's relationship with Laura, Henrietta's friend and dancing magician whose repertoire is so awful that too-sophisticated New Yorkers think she's brilliantly fabulous. (I recognize that this is the stuff of Chic Lit and I should've stayed away. But, wishing to exercise my Sensitive Side, I didn't.) The author is now 40. The book was published when she was 26. Amanda's picture on the back flap has her appearing about 15, at which time she was still living in France, her birthplace. I maintain the younger age is when she wrote the novel, her first, since it has the tone of an adolescent submission for high school Writing Composition. (At least she can string words together in a literate sentence. I doubt many of today's high school grads could do that.) The plot meanders everywhere and, finally, nowhere in an almost stream of consciousness outpouring that my linear, Male Pig thinking perceives as utter rubbish. I usually donate my read books to a friend. NUDE MEN is simply going into the round file.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: The Gospel of Food: Everything You Think You Know About Food Is Wrong; Author: Visit Amazon's Barry Glassner Page; Review: "Call it the perfectibility trap, this impulse to idealize some foods while devaluing others that are plenty good for their intended purposes but don't further a pet view of proper eating." - Barry Glassner Perhaps you know someone whom THE GOSPEL OF FOOD author Barry Glassner would call a "devotee of the doctrine of naught", i.e. one who eats food based on what it doesn't contain - too much in the way of calories, fat, sodium, cholesterol, sugar, animal products, preservatives, genetic modifications, or whatever - rather than what it does. And once an acceptable foodstuff is decided upon, it's portioned and weighed and toted up for the day's ration. To such a person, mention of any yearning for a cheeseburger incurs a look of scornful contempt that would wither the most blithe of souls. Such a person is an unofficial member of the Food Police. ("Badges!? We ain't got no badges. We don't need no badges! I don't have to show you any stinking badges!!") Perhaps you're one of them. A professor of sociology at USC, Glassner hopes to persuade the reader to accept a more balanced perspective of the food they eat that can perhaps be summarized as, "Eat what you want in moderation; eat food for what it is rather than what it's not; enjoy one of life's great pleasures because you've only one life to live." Glassner is, of course, at odds with the hand-wringing government nannies and assorted self-proclaimed nutritional do-gooders that say you're too fat because you eat the wrong foods - especially fast foods - and are doomed to a premature death. With that in mind, perhaps the most interesting chapter in THE GOSPEL OF FOOD is "What Made America Fat", in which Barry examines the reasons ranging from the probable, such as the binge eating of constant dieters, to the interestingly plausible, such as adenovirus-36, to the downright improbable, such as inadequate breast feeding as an infant. Indeed, after referencing the iconoclastic book by law professor Paul Campos,The Obesity Myth: Why America's Obsession with Weight is Hazardous to Your Health- see my 6/14/2005 review entitled "Recommended reading for all past and present 'husky boys'" - Glassner reiterates: "... not a single published study demonstrates that heart disease among the overweight and moderately obese results from their heft rather than from other factors that contribute to obesity and heart disease, such as smoking, poverty, stress, genetic predisposition, physical activity, depression, and quality of medical care." I give my read books away to friends, usually in pristine condition. This one, I fear, has a stain of Secret Sauce and a smear of french fry grease on page 173 because I, like Glassner: "... can't help but wonder how hundreds of millions of people have enjoyed fast-food burgers and lived to tell the tale if Mother Nature had entirely different plans." On my death-bed - perhaps sooner, perhaps later - I may have cause to remember a particularly delicious meal I once ate. I can assure you that it won't be my dear wife's stir-fried veg with; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hot Blood (A Dan Shepherd Mystery); Author: Visit Amazon's Stephen Leather Page; Review: In HOT BLOOD, Stephen Leather's fourth book in the Dan "Spider" Shepherd series, Spider, an Ex-SAS trooper now a Detective Constable with a ultra hush-hush undercover unit within London's Metropolitan Police tasked with missions otherwise impossible,leaves the relative safety of the UK on an unauthorized leave of absence from his day job to take the point position on a mission into Baghdad's most anti-Western sector. Back in his Army days when Shepherd was chasing the Taliban in Afghanistan, Dan's life was saved by fellow trooper Geordie Mitchell. Now, while working for a private security company in the Iraqi capital, Mitchell is kidnapped by Islamic insurgents. In a video broadcast to the world, Mitchell's captors display their hostage and threaten his execution in two weeks if their demands aren't met. With virtually no leads as to Geordie's exact whereabouts or the identity of his abductors, Spider and three other former Sassmen, led by their old boss SAS Major Allan Gannon, must extricate Mitchell from his dodgy predicament before his throat is literally put to the knife. It's only been in the third and fourth installments of the series, i.e. this volume and Cold Kill (Dan Shepherd Mysteries), that the Spider character has matured in the sense that he's being pitted against the Islamic jihadists that are causing so much grief across international borders in the name of Allah rather than the self-serving criminals of his home country out for just money. With this wider world view, Shepherd is made more interesting and the plots as a whole more relevant to a wider readership. It also means that Spider might get out more in the wake of his wife's death three years previous and perhaps, as here, even get lucky. I hope the author maintains this direction in future books. For the reader, a consequence of the plot, likely intended by Leather, is a mental debate as to the methods by which the West should fight the jihadists that would see us destroyed. Does one "play by the rules" as Spider's conscience urges, or do whatever's necessary, no matter how cold blooded and brutal, as Yank CIA officer Yokely is more than happy to demonstrate during his "information retrieval" interrogations? Because, as Yokely explains the futility of American and British forces in Iraq: "Maximum terror, minimum risk. It's a hell of a lot easier to recruit a guy to plant IEDs than it is to recruit a suicide-bomber. I tell you, they can fight like this for ever. It doesn't matter how many troops we send, how much equipment we give them, we can't win. Because the enemy is untargetable. Overwhelming firepower is all well and good, but in Iraq we've got nothing to shoot at ... Imagine the havoc devices like that would wreak on our freeways. Or in New York City. Or London." My sentiments exactly. The only minor criticism I have with HOT BLOOD is the home-grown, British terrorist plot that Dan and his police unit are infiltrating when old SAS loyalties summon him away to rescue Geordie. In his absence,; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Stan and Ollie: The Roots of Comedy: The Double Life of Laurel and Hardy; Author: Visit Amazon's Simon Louvish Page; Review: By the time I was old enough to appreciate adult comedies shown on TV, i.e. in the late 50's, Oliver "Babe" Hardy was already dead (1957) and Stan Laurel was on the final downslope of his life. Yet, it was Laurel & Hardy, along with Abbott & Costello, that tickled my embryonic sense of humor before "graduating" to Red Skelton, Bob Hope, and Jackie Gleason. Here, in STAN AND OLLIE: THE ROOTS OF COMEDY, author Simon Louvish draws from even more compulsively detailed books on the duo to yield a satisfyingly comprehensive overview of The Boys' professional lives, both solo and paired. I never thought of Stan and Ollie as being anything other than a team. Yet, the first eighteen chapters of this 40-chapter volume reveal that each had a successful career before being eternally cemented together in the 1927 silent movie, "Duck Soup". Each began life separated by the Atlantic, Stan being born in the north of England in 1890, and Oliver in Georgia of the American South in 1892. Before their fateful pairing by Hal Roach in Hollywood in 1927, Laurel worked his way up through the ranks of U.K. and U.S. vaudeville and U.S. film, while Hardy appeared in 200+ silents on his own beginning with "Outwitting Dad" (1914), a release coming from the then-booming Florida film industry. For both, it was a long and tortuous road to Tinseltown and destiny. I need to stress that STAN AND OLLIE focuses on their professional lives. If you're looking for a detailed inside peek at their personal existences, look elsewhere. OK, sure, the reader learns, as narrative asides, that Ollie bet on the horses and Stan had a weakness for Yorkshire pudding, chocolate candies, and ocean sport fishing. Both enjoyed golf. And, moreover, both had rocky domestic lives with multiple, mostly failed marriages - Hardy totaling three wives in as many marriages, and Laurel amassing four wives in five marriages, plus one common-law relationship. But, I finished the narrative not really having a feel for the men behind their famous on-screen personae. This skewed exposition is exemplified by the choice of photos included in the text; there are virtually none of Stan and/or Ollie outside of stills from their screen roles. Weren't there pesky paparazzi in those days? There was one photo taken of Hardy towards the end of his life that I particularly wanted to see out of morbid curiosity. As Louvish describes it: "In 1956 ... (Ollie) reduced his weight by 150 lbs ... The last photograph of Stan and Babe together, in 1956, shows a recognizable smiling Stan, but beside him stands a stranger, relatively trim, with flabby flesh replacing his double chins, thin silvery hair and a rictus of a smile." My distinct impression was that, throughout the composition of STAN AND OLLIE, the author worked overtime to protect the image and memory of his heroes. That's fine, but it results in a somewhat one-dimensional piece, albeit otherwise excellent as far as it goes. One rarely sees any of the old Laurel and Hardy movies on TV; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Nothing but Victory: The Army of the Tennessee, 1861-1865; Author: Visit Amazon's Steven E. Woodworth Page; Review: Any reading of U.S. Civil war history, especially if approached from the Union perspective, usually casts the casual student of the conflict by default into the ranks of the Army of the Potomac, which had a roster of army and corps commanders that, until Grant took overall command in 1863, ensured dysfunctionality. (See the enlightening volume by Stephen Taaffe, Commanding the Army of the Potomac (Modern War Studies), and my review of it dated 3/2/07.) Thus, it was somewhat refreshing to read NOTHING BUT VICTORY: THE ARMY OF THE TENNESSEE, 1861-1865. This book is a weighty tome at 641 pages. It begins in April 1861 by sampling the experience of several units as they formed up in the then northwestern states (today's Midwest), including the very first company to rally round the flag, the Springfield Grays, which was to be incorporated into the 7th Illinois. These regiments from Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Missouri, and Minnesota were to ultimately evolve into the Army of the Tennessee (AoT). The history of the AoT is inseparable from that of Ulysses Grant, who made it the consistently successful fighting machine it became. Indeed, the AoT had the best combat record of any Union army in the war. Brigadier General Grant took control of the military District of Cairo and its embryonic fighting force - not yet designated an "Army" - in December 1861, and soon thereafter achieved his first victories at Forts Henry and Donelson. Promoted to Major General in February 1862, he won the gritty two-day slugfest at Shiloh with an upgraded command, the Army of West Tennessee. Then, as commander of the newly inaugurated Army of Tennessee, Grant won the battles associated with the Vicksburg campaign (Port Gibson, Jackson, and Champion's Hill), as well as taking the surrender of Vicksburg itself, in July 1863. After Vicksburg, Grant was promoted two rungs, eventually to become the commander of all Federal armies and the first U.S. Lieutenant General since George Washington. In the meantime, Major General William Sherman took over the AoT to assault Missionary Ridge at Chattanooga, TN, and raid Meridian, MS. Then, when Sherman led an army group through Georgia to the Atlantic and north through the Carolinas, the AoT was commanded by Major General James McPherson during its approach to Atlanta, Major General Oliver Howard during the burning of Atlanta and the March to the Sea and northward, and, finally, Major General John Logan from the end of the war to the army's disbandment on August 1, 1865. The Army of the Tennessee, for all intents and purposes, knew nothing but victory. If the AoT can be considered the hammer to the Army of the Potomac's anvil, President Lincoln was failed by the latter, at least until Grant became head blacksmith. The AoT, however, sustained Union morale with victories in its darkest hours. It can, perhaps, be argued that the AoT won the war. Steven Woodworth's NOTHING BUT VICTORY is an eminently readable and prodigiously researched summation of the AoT's campaigns that, for the casual student, could rate as many as five; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Remote Control; Author: Visit Amazon's Andy McNab Page; Review: Recently, I acquired a copy of the Stephen Leather thriller, Hot Blood (A Dan Shepherd Mystery), which had on its front cover a sticker that screamed "Better than Andy McNab or your money back". Leather's ongoing fictional hero, Dan "Spider" Shepherd, is a former member of the SAS now working for an ultra-secret undercover unit of London's Metropolitan Police. Nick Stone, the protagonist making his initial appearance here in McNab's first novel, REMOTE CONTROL, is an ex-SAS trooper now working for MI6. What, do Leather and McNab have a mano-a-mano thing going? (I don't ever remember seeing a Dean Koontz release with the claim, "King writes dross; read my stuff.") When queried by me, Stephen said that his publisher suggested the ploy. But, since I did end up buying REMOTE CONTROL, perhaps the point is to sell more books from both. Here, Stone is tasked by his SIS controller to follow two hard IRA boyos to Washington, DC, to see what mischief they're up to. Once comfortable in his hotel room, Nick is almost immediately recalled home. But, before catching the next plane back across The Pond, Stone decides to visit old SAS pal Kev, now working for the DEA. Arriving at Kev's suburban home, Nick discovers his buddy bludgeoned to death and his wife and one of two daughters with their throats cut. Stone find's the second daughter, 7-year old Kelly, cowering in a hidey-hole. Realizing that Kelly saw the killers and her life is now in peril, and that he himself may become a suspect in the bloodbath, Stone grabs the girl and runs. Over the remainder of the book, our hero must discover the identity of the murderers, protect Kelly, and get both of them to safety in England where his boss, Simmonds, will certainly sort things out. For a first novel, REMOTE CONTROL is better than average. McNab's personal tour of duty with the SAS imparts a patina of realism to the actions of his Stone character. Indeed, Nick is a Tough Guy in somewhat the same vein as author Lee Child's ex-Army MP, Jack Reacher. At one point in a desperate, hand-to-hand struggle with a Bad Guy over control of a pistol, Stone must essentially chew the man's face apart. Somehow, I don't see Leather's hero doing anything so messy. One of the criticism's I've made of the Dan Shepherd series is the fact that Spider's young son Liam is trotted out as a prop in every installment to re-emphasize that widower Shepherd is otherwise a warm, decent, family man whose day job takes him to the world's hard and grotty edges. In REMOTE CONTROL, Kelly also starts out as a prop. But, by the conclusion, she plays an integral, nail-biting, and very satisfying part. I see from plot summaries that Kelly also appears in follow-up volumes of the Nick Stone series, so I've gone ahead and ordered the second out of curiosity to see where McNab takes the character. The drawbacks to REMOTE CONTROL are that we've seen the scenario before in books and films -; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Journey to the South: A Calabrian Homecoming; Author: Visit Amazon's Annie Hawes Page; Review: In the mid-1980s, the British sisters, Annie and Lucy Hawes, fled cold and rainy Shepherd's Bush to graft roses in the Italian Riviera region of Liguria, and ended up buying a dilapidated farmhouse with adjacent olive grove near the town of Diano San Pietro. This story of culture shock comprised Annie's first book, Extra Virgin: A Young Woman Discovers the Italian Riviera, Where Every Month Is Enchanted. Lucy subsequently left Annie to manage the farm on her own, and the latter's continuing coping exploits were shared in her second volume, Ripe for the Picking, in which she meets a man with romantic potential, Ciccio de Gilio. Now, in the third installment, JOURNEY TO THE SOUTH, Annie and Ciccio are each other's significant other. The book's title is inspired by a death in the de Gilio family, an event which compels Ciccio, his mother Francesca, his sister Marisa, and Marisa's son Alberto, to travel to the de Gilio ancestral home in Calabria, the toe of Italy's boot, to attend the funeral of Francesca's brother. Annie, of course, comes along to meet the extended family back in the "old country", and her introduction to yet another culture, Italian in name only, is the fodder for the story. As an author, Annie Hawes is engaging largely due to her irrepressible and dry wit, as demonstrated in this excerpt from EXTRA VIRGIN: "This horrible thing appeared to me as I was sitting under the lemon tree ... gazing focused and abstracted at the foliage below me moving gently in the sea breeze... One tall stalk that seemed oddly out of rhythm with the rest gradually drew my attention... Some sinister kind of long skinny snake was sitting among the tall grass, waving its top half around, cunningly camouflaged as a bit of plant life and hoping, I suppose, to catch some unwary plump insect... not just a concealed snake, but an actively duplicitous snake. We didn't need any of that sort of behavior so close to home... We set off a-sickling with renewed vim and mild hysteria, stamping about heavily to scare off serpent life as we went." Unfortunately, in JOURNEY TO THE SOUTH, the narrative gets bogged down with the personalities, contemporary activities, and around-the-dinner-table discourse between Ciccio, Francesca, Marisa, a flock of Calabrian relatives, and various hangers-on, all of whom may be interesting characters, but not THAT interesting. The book suffers for it; too many times I caught myself counting the pages I had to go to reach the end. Events that should've been emphasized and the source of much humor, such as the refurbishment of an old farmhouse and orange grove inherited by Francesca, and the literal re-discovery of an overgrown hilltop lot, replete with ancient ruins, inherited by Ciccio, were reduced to a few cursory paragraphs. Much text is devoted to Calabrian cuisine, in which hot, red peppers seem to predominate. Oh, did I mention a local delicacy, a goat's head sliced in half vertically? Surprisingly, Annie apparently had an eventful life before landing in Diano San Pietro. At 16, she ran; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Bingo Night at the Fire Hall: Rediscovering Life in an American Village; Author: Visit Amazon's Barbara Holland Page; Review: During the 1700s and 1800s, as the burgeoning population of the White Man, backed by his relatively sophisticated farming methods and industrial capacity, slowly encroached upon and suffocated the Native American cultures, there must have been those writers who bemoaned the passing of the Noble Savage and his way of life. Here, in BINGO NIGHT AT THE FIRE HALL, Barbara Holland, at the interface of vanishing rural, small-farm America and metastasizing, mall-happy suburbia, performs the same function. The place is northern Virginia, less than an hour's drive west of Dulles International. Barbara places herself in a mountain cabin inherited from her mother near the village of Pikestown, a short distance from North Hill, at a gap in the Appalachians. After determined inspection of a Rand McNally, I can state with some degree of certainty that these are fictional place names. I suspect her point of view to emanate from somewhere in the Front Royal-Chester Gap-Sperryville arc. The time is the mid-1990s, and Holland herself is perhaps in her 60s. Those readers who enjoyed Endangered Pleasures: In Defense of Naps, Bacon, Martinis, Profanity, and Other Indulgences and Wasn't the Grass Greener?: Thirty-three Reasons Why Life Isn't as Good as It Used to Be are acquainted with the author's style, which is similar to that of the curmudgeonly Andy Rooney, but without the mean streak. But while the other two volumes deal with specifics, BINGO NIGHT AT THE FIRE HALL concerns itself with a way of life, a more nebulous concept, that otherwise gets lost in the mundane details of everyday living. This life, represented by family farms, local general stores, town meetings, bingo nights, a deeply felt Civil War heritage, local fund-raisers, school Christmas pageants, clean-cut and drug-free adolescents, and an environment where everyone knows everybody else, is giving way to the impersonal, stressed-out, multicultural, politically correct, acquisitive, self-centered and insidiously spreading suburbia created by the maturing post-war Baby Boomers and their spawn. And Barbara, a former big city dweller herself, observes this transition creeping over the ridgeline into her own back yard, and hints at a loss of deeper, traditional values. This book is unlikely to appeal to the young or middle aged, but to those older who are simply getting old and marginalized. This fact doesn't invalidate Barbara's observations, but rather makes them irrelevant to the newest generations, who will, in time, have their own turn at disenchantment.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The $64 Tomato: How One Man Nearly Lost his Sanity, Spent a; Author: Visit Amazon's William Alexander Page; Review: " ... you grow things, and the deer, groundhogs, beetles, and webworms eat them, and you eat what's left." - Wm. Alexander "A hundred pounds of apples is a lot of pandowdy." - Wm. Alexander For me, mind you, pizza is the perfect food. Especially cold for breakfast with a glass of milk. My wife, on the other hand, nags me to get my fifty daily servings of fruit and veg. Ok, ok, some shreds of onion and mushroom wouldn't spoil the Meat Lover's Deep Dish Feast, but I wouldn't dedicate ten years of my life to growing stuff like author William Alexander unless pizza grew on a vine. THE $64 TOMATO is Alexander's fun tale of the fifth decade of his life, which he spends battling deer, beetles, webworms, squirrels, groundhogs, weeds, caterpillars, opossums, and fungus to bring the produce of his home garden in the Hudson River Valley into the kitchen to feed the family. It's a love/hate relationship that sometimes interferes with his day job as the director of technology at a psychiatric research institute. Three elements of THE $64 TOMATO elevate the narrative well above the ordinary. One is William's engaging self-deprecatory humor. He's not afraid to reveal himself as an occasional idiot, as when he contemplated managing his meadow with fire, an action plan narrowly avoided only after noticing that the National Parks Service caused the evacuation of Los Alamos Laboratory after losing control of a "controlled burn" in New Mexico's Bandelier National Monument. The second is the self-realization of the limits imposed by aging and a herniated spinal disc as he reaches 50: "I felt a little dizzy. I wanted to scream. I wanted to cry. I wanted to have an affair. I wanted to be young again." Just turned 58 myself, I can relate. The third is the esoteric knowledge gained while laboring at his hobby and imparted to the reader, the best example being the chapter on growing apples, "No Such Thing as Organic Apples". Did you know that apple blossoms need to be cross-pollinated by a different apple variety in order to set fruit? Perhaps the book's greatest failing is that no pictures are included. However, this deficit is easily remedied by going to the Web site address comprised of this volume's title followed by ".com". I tell you, even I was impressed - but not so much that my fruit and veg is coming from anywhere other than the supermarket.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Orchid Fever: A Horticultural Tale of Love, Lust, and Lunacy; Author: Visit Amazon's Eric Hansen Page; Review: "I thumbed through the pages ... Immediately I was confronted with centerfolds showing ... moistened, hot-pink lips that pouted in the direction of tautly curved shafts and heavily veined pouches." - from "Bodice Ripper", a chapter in ORCHID FEVER A porn mag featuring your favorite XXX-rated stars? Um, no. An orchid catalogue, actually, as described by author Eric Hansen in his narrative exploration of the science, business, hobby, and collecting of orchids, ORCHID FEVER. Who knew flower breeding could be so titillating, or so lucrative? Indeed, as of the turn of the last century, orchids generated about $9 billion of worldwide business annually. With so much money to be made, it's no surprise that the collection of wild orchids and their transport across national boundaries is so fiercely regulated, ostensibly to protect orchid populations in their natural habitats. But, of course, the cynical will recognize that it's all about the fees generated by the obligatory export licenses and certificates. Indeed, much of ORCHID FEVER is about the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), headquartered in Geneva, and its almost Gestapo-like enforcement powers, which, as Eric tells the story, have done virtually nothing to protect free-range orchids and have only increased their demand and value vis-a-vis breeders, hobbyists, and collectors. Hansen illustrates his subject by traveling the world from California to Borneo to Minnesota to Britain to Germany to Turkey to France to New York and to Holland to interview the field's "horticultural extremists, pioneers, lone rangers, fantasy merchants, flower show flim-flam people, paid informers, rapacious nurserymen, international plant smugglers, pollen thieves, eccentric botanists, corrupt orchid judges, legendary growers, misfits, groupies, and camp followers". Though, as the author states, normal, balanced people are drawn to orchids, he found such only infrequently. "Behind the cash register (of a neighborhood grocery store) sat a long shelf filled with mass-produced Phalaenopsis hybrids, selling for $19.95; every time I saw them I thought about the California orchid grower who shot and killed his partner and then mutilated the corpse because they couldn't agree on how to breed and sell these supermarket-quality house plants." Perhaps the most engaging chapter, especially if you like frozen desserts, is "The Fox Testicle Ice Cream", in which Eric journeys to Maras, Turkey, the home of orchid ice cream, salepi dondurma, made from the tubers of the flower genus Orchis. Indeed, the chapter is so informative and interesting that a large segment of it was apparently plagiarized on a website I discovered sponsored by a Turkish-American business alliance. (After I communicated this fact to the author, he replied that it wasn't the first or last time such has happened, and he would pursue getting credit for the entry.) When I began dating as a teenager in the late sixties, if I really wanted to impress the girl I'd buy a stalk of 5-6 orchids for 3 bucks from an elderly next-door neighbor that grew them. I don't recall that the expenditure ever helped me get lucky, but they sure were impressive in the giving. Nowadays, try; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Working Stiff: The Misadventures of an Accidental Sexpert (P.S.); Author: Visit Amazon's Grant Stoddard Page; Review: "... virginal, desperate, bucktoothed, acne-ridden, problem-haired, and prone to wearing his heart on his sleeve ..." - Grant Stoddard, self-described In July 1998, the 21-year old nerdish, awkward, and sexually unawakened Brit, Grant Stoddard, arrived in the United States in the self-delusional, romantic pursuit of an otherwise platonic female friend. Eighteen months and multiple temporary visas later, the economic viability of Stoddard's continuing residence in America was pretty much moribund. Then, after winning a contest that awarded him a coital coupling with a prominent former prostitute and sexual performance artist then currently engaged as a bi-weekly columnist for Nerve.com, Grant eventually became employed by the same website to have bizarre sex with strangers and write about it in his own column entitled "I Did It for Science". Thus, over a period of three years, as related by the author: "... I'd just about exhausted every conceivable sexual kink and proclivity known to man." Indeed, going to orgies, sex parties, porn sets, and BDSM retreats only scratched the surface of Stoddard's experience-based writing assignments, which ultimately totaled thirty. WORKING STIFF is Grant's narrative summary of his life beginning as a student at London's Thames Valley University up to the last installment, with the emphasis on his time writing for Nerve. Despite the book's superficial appeal to casual prurient interest, it's never "sexy" and only erratically raunchy and/or humorous. Since the author readily admits that his forays into twisted sex mostly left him with a diminished feeling of self-worth, WORKING STIFF is more a mundane illustration of what one will do for grocery money. (What this infers about the non-sexual daily grind endured by any of us is perhaps grist for a whole separate volume by a learned psychologist.) Grant himself comes across, at least to this reader, as a likeably harmless chap with an engaging talent for self-depreciation but, well, somewhat pathetic. (No offense intended!) Mind you, WORKING STIFF is occasionally above average, e.g. the chapter "Hate Mail", in which Grant describes his weekend stay at Leather Camp, an anything-goes gathering of hedonists-in-heat in the New Jersey woods. Also, in the chapter "Talent", the author's recounting of his abortive attempt to be the host/foil of a reality-TV series is illustrative of Hollywood's capricious shallowness in such ventures. However, in the aggregate, the book is only worthwhile if you've temporarily nothing left on the shelf to read.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Sea of Gray: The Around-the-World Odyssey of the Confederate Raider Shenandoah; Author: Visit Amazon's Tom Chaffin Page; Review: When reading any historical account of Confederate military exploits, the reader usually finds himself with Stonewall's foot soldiers in the Shenandoah Valley or at Chancellorsville, or with Longstreet's divisions during their fateful assault of Cemetery Ridge, or with Forrest's mounted legions at Brice's Crossroads. In all cases, the Confederate battle flags are borne proudly, and the sea is far distant over the horizon. In SEA OF GRAY, author Tom Chaffin recounts the 13-month circumnavigation of the globe by the commerce raider C.S.S. Shenandoah, during which time it sailed 58,000 miles, captured 38 vessels (and burned most), took 1,053 prisoners, and destroyed $1.4 million of cargo. The high point of the voyage was the taking of 24 Union whalers in the Bering Sea over a seven day period in June 1865. The book is extensively researched, contains an eminently useful photo section, and includes front and end plate diagrams of the ship's interior and exterior plans respectively. Despite Chaffin's good intentions and obvious effort, it pains me to say that the narrative is more dogged than inspired. I doubt that even a reader with die-hard Southern sympathies will be sufficiently stirred to break into a rousing rendition of "Dixie" at any point. Perhaps the problem lies with the nature of the expedition itself, during which the raider skulks over the oceans under the guise of foreign flags to bedevil defenseless commerce vessels. One is almost tempted to wish for the appearance of an honest man-o-war of any nationality to put an end to the mischief. The conquests of the C.S.S. Shenandoah are not the usual stuff of which an heroic epic is made. Indeed, it's only during the last, sad 20,000 miles of the voyage (from just off southern Mexico to around Cape Horn to England), at the start of which the news of the Confederacy's surrender was confirmed by a passing English ship, causing the captain of the Shenandoah, Lt. Commander Iredell Waddell, to de-gun and decommission his command, that this reader began to admire the crew's long-suffering endurance of circumstance and uninspiringly erratic leadership. The men deserved better than their fade-off into history upon their anti-climactic return to Liverpool. Unless you're extraordinarily interested in all aspects of the American Civil War and are bored reading repetitious re-tellings of the various land battles, I wouldn't recommend SEA OF GRAY except as an interesting footnote to the rebellion. That said, you may love it.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Big Over Easy: A Nursery Crime (A Nursery Crime Novel); Author: Visit Amazon's Jasper Fforde Page; Review: With his Thursday Next series, Jasper Fforde demonstrated to the world's readers that he possesses a remarkably fertile and ingenious imagination capable of delighting even such a linear thinker as me. In the Next world, it's a more or less contemporary UK, but one crazily askew from the one we know; 249 wooly mammoths in 9 herds roam the island, dodo birds are kept as pets, Tunbridge Wells has been ceded to Russia in Crimean War reparations, and there's a duty on custard. In THE BIG OVER EASY, first of the Nursery Crime series, it's still apparently Thursday's England because her first literary adventure, The Eyre Affair: A Thursday Next Novel, has been turned into a film. However, in this fantasy novel, the hero isn't Thursday but Detective Inspector Jack Spratt, chief investigator of the beleaguered Nursery Crime Division of the Reading Police Department. Jack labors under a cloud; his arrest of the Three Pigs for the murder of the Big Bad Wolf failed to result in their conviction, and Spratt has the undeserved reputation as a Giant Killer. As he constantly takes great pains to explain to hecklers, there was only one true giant, the other three were just "tall". Jack's time on the clock is currently monopolized with the investigation into Humpty-Dumpty's apparent murder off Grimm's Road as he sat on a wall. His new assistant is Detective Sergeant Mary Mary, recently transferred from Basingstoke. In the meantime, everyday life goes on; Little Bo-peep continues to report lost sheep, there's the occasional malicious rumor that the sky is falling, pied pipers are won't to arrive in town promoting pest eradication scams, "nail flavor" instant soup is all the rage, aliens continue to deny that they're abducting anybody, the Titan Prometheus, having escaped the shackles binding him to a rock in the Caucasus, is renting an extra room in the Spratt family abode, and Jack's Mom is amazed at the size of the beanstalk growing next to the potting shed. Fforde has his protagonist take the murder enquiry seriously because, in Spratt's world, it's deadly serious business. As are Spratt's frustrated professional ambition, his backstabbing more famous rival, Detective Chief Inspector Friedland Chymes, and Jack's skirmish with the Independent Police Complaints Commission over the dismal Three Pigs affair. Not to mention the fact that Spratt suspects that Prometheus is seducing his 20-year old daughter, Pandora. Yet, it's the other-worldly eccentricity of the milieu that's certain to provide the reader with certain, if perhaps inconsistent, giddy pleasures. Indeed, Fforde works up such a froth of absurdity that the conclusion to THE BIG OVER EASY seemed, to this reader, especially contrived. It's almost as if the author had backed himself into a plot corner and had to take desperate measures to extricate himself and the book to get the latter off to the publisher in time. For that, I'm knocking off a star. But it won't stop me from ordering and relishing the next volume in the series, The Fourth Bear: A Nursery Crime.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Lean Mean Thirteen (Stephanie Plum, No. 13); Author: Visit Amazon's Janet Evanovich Page; Review: Let me say right up front that I've read, and been entertained by, all of the Stephanie Plum novels. Including this one, LEAN MEAN THIRTEEN. But, let's be honest, author Janet Evanovich, isn't taking her klutzy bounty hunter heroine anywhere she hasn't been already in twelve previous outings, and the plot concept is getting a little thin around the edges. Here, as usual, Stephanie tries mightily and with mixed success to capture relatively harmless bail skips, including a taxidermist who booby traps his stuffed animals, while also endeavoring to discover the whereabouts of her ex-husband Dickie, who's disappeared and is possibly the victim of foul play. Indeed, the word around Trenton is that Stephanie is, or may become, the primary suspect. The storyline is otherwise predictable. Plum's sidekick Lula, the ex-ho, continues to get herself and/or Stephanie in the occasional fine mess. Plum continues to wreak destruction on her wheels of the moment. Plum's Grandma Mazur continues to carry a .45 and live for mortuary viewings. Plum's Mom continues to cook and iron and be aghast at her own mother's antics. Plum's Dad continues to do very little but sit in front of the TV or at the dinner table. Plum's pet hamster Rex continues to live in his soup can. Plum continues to ricochet back and forth between the attentions of Detective Joe Morelli and bad boy bounty hunter and security consultant, Ranger. Those of you who've followed Stephanie's checkered career know the drill. About the only things that change from one Plum novel to the other are the eccentricities of the skips and the dastardliness of the chief Bad Guy. Here, Plum is ultimately menaced by a killer who offs his victims with a flamethrower. OK, whatever. The thing is, you see, Stephanie's character isn't evolving and plot after plot after plot holds no surprises for the dedicated fan. The sameness of all in the aggregate has reduced the subsequent value of each new release to the point of being only average, which, by my rating system, is three stars no matter what chuckles it stimulates. Evanovich might well be advised to snap Plum out of it because after another thirteen episodes of the same-old same-old, one star may be the best I can muster.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Bad Luck and Trouble (Jack Reacher, No. 11); Author: Visit Amazon's Lee Child Page; Review: "Two against seven or more. No time. No element of surprise. A fortified position with no way in. A hopeless situation. 'We're good to go,' Reacher said." - from BAD LUCK AND TROUBLE In my review of Reacher's immediately previous adventure, The Hard Way (Jack Reacher Novels), I gave 3 stars and opined that author Lee Child had his hero on R&R. But here, in BAD LUCK AND TROUBLE, Jack is teamed with three of seven former members of the special operations unit that he commanded years before as a U.S. Army Military Police officer. Why only three? Because the other four have been tortured and thrown out of a helicopter high above California's Mojave Desert by villains unknown. Back in their service days, the eight of them had been like family, and Jack and his surviving colleagues are on a mission of vengeance. Ohhh, yeah, are they ever. The thing I like about the Reacher series, unlike another which I read religiously but whose heroine (with a pet hamster and initials S.P.) is in an unchanging plot and character rut, Jack is constantly evolving in the perception of the reader. For instance, in this installment, Jack reveals himself to be a mathematics adept and the club sandwich as one of his favorites. He likes to pick his teeth with the frou-frou toothpick that holds the sandwich together. As an aside, one of Jack's team, present and past, is ex-sergeant Frances Neagley, who appeared, as I recall, in one other Reacher thriller some years ago. Frances is perhaps just as deadly and efficient as her old CO. She also has a violent aversion to being touched. A character as interesting as hers deserves her own series. Lee, are you taking notes? My only quarrel with the plot came towards the end when four Bad Guys are searching a perimeter fence for signs of entry by Reacher and Neagley. It's a moonless night, almost pitch black, and the searchers have no flashlights. While that makes it easier for Jack and Frances to do their bloody work, it makes no sense from the opposition's point of view and strained credibility. The ending to BAD LUCK AND TROUBLE alone is worth the full hardcover price and the five stars I'm awarding. It's perhaps the best in the entire series so far. Yup, Jack is back.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: From Time Immemorial: The Origins of the Arab-Jewish Conflict over Palestine; Author: Visit Amazon's Joan Peters Page; Review: In the first two paragraphs of FROM TIME IMMEMORIAL, author Joan Peters states: "... The book was originally meant to be solely an investigation of the current plight of the 'Arab refugees,' as that subject was then still generally known ... The deprivation of Arab refugees' human rights and the political manipulation of their unfortunate situation were unconscionable to me, particularly because it seemed their plight had been prolonged by a mechanism funded predominantly by contributions from the United States..." It is inferred that she gave credence to the observation by Pope John Paul II in 1980: "...the Jewish people ... gave birth to the state of Israel (after) the extermination of so many sons and daughters, (but) at the same time, a sad condition was created for the Palestinian people who were excluded from their homeland. These are facts everyone can see." Yet, near the end of the book on page 390, Peters states: "The Arabs believe that by creating an Arab Palestinian identity, at the sacrifice of the well-being and the very lives of the 'Arab refugees', they will accomplish politically and through 'guerilla warfare' what they failed to achieve in military combat: the destruction of Israel - the unacceptable independent dhimmi state. That is the heart of the matter." Saul of Tarsus himself, on the road to Damascus, hardly experienced such a reversal of beliefs. How did Joan arrive at this place? Evidently, via exhaustively thorough research. FROM TIME IMMEMORIAL contains 121 pages of Notes and a 13-page Bibliography, both in a small type that challenged my aging vision. As one who hated being tasked with semester-ending research papers in high school, the enormity of Joan's project boggles the mind. The amount of information she presents, consistently referenced by the Notes, is prodigious. At times, it verges on the exhausting. A convenient starting point for a summary of Joan's narrative can perhaps be taken at the beginning of Chapter 3, "The Arab Jew", when she returns to a time immemorial, circa 622 A.D., with the rise of Muhammad: "... the Prophet Muhammad's original plan had been to induce the Jews to adopt Islam ... but the Jewish community rejected the Prophet Muhammad's religion ... Three years later, Arab hostility against the Jews commenced, when the Meccan army exterminated the Jewish tribe of Quraiza. As a result of the Prophet Muhammad's resentment, the Holy Koran itself contains many of his hostile denunciations of Jews and bitter attacks on Jewish tradition, which undoubtedly have colored the beliefs of religious Muslims down to the present ... Omar, the caliph who succeeded Muhammad, delineated in his Charter of Omar the twelve laws under which a dhimmi, or non-Muslim, was allowed to exist as a 'non-believer' among 'believers.' The Charter codified the conditions of life for Jews under Islam - a life which was forfeited if the dhimmi broke this law." So, with Omar's Charter in place, Peters recounts the lives of the Jews in Arab countries - Yemen, Aden, Iraq, Egypt, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Syria, Lebanon, Libya, and Arabia - down through the; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Beyond Band of Brothers: The War Time Memoirs of Major Dick Winters. Dick Kingseed Winters and Cole C. Kingseed; Author: Visit Amazon's Richard D. Winters Page; Review: You may recall the book by Stephen Ambrose, Band of Brothers : E Company, 506th Regiment, 101st Airborne from Normandy to Hitler's Eagle's Nest, a unit history of E Company, 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment from its inception in July 1942 to occupation duty in Austria after the Nazi surrender. Much of the story focused on Richard "Dick" Winters, who rose from Easy Company's 2nd Platoon leader to 2nd Battalion commander over the course of the war. Winter's character was played by Damian Lewis in the TV miniseries Band of Brothers produced by Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg for HBO, arguably the best small screen miniseries ever created. BEYOND BAND OF BROTHERS (BBB) is the war memoirs of Dick Winters, written with a certain Colonel Cole Kingseed, the nature of whose contribution to the whole goes unexplained in the narrative. But, no matter, really. BBB essentially follows, and ostensibly embellishes with insider knowledge, the history of Easy Company as outlined in the original book: training at Toccoa, GA and in southern England, the D-Day parachute drop into France, the slog through Holland, the Battle of the Bulge, the discovery of the Buchloe concentration camp, the capture of Berchtesgaden, and the post-surrender occupation duty in Kaprun, Austria. Even with Kingseed's help, Winters is no Stephen Ambrose. His narrative, aided by a reasonably illustrative photographic section, is business-like and competent but not inspired. A glaring omission is the lack of battlefield maps, which would have been especially helpful for the D-Day, Holland, and Bastogne campaigns. And Winter's makes repeated reference to a mysterious "friend" back in the States, DeEtta Almon, with whom he carries on a sporadic and sometimes awkward correspondence. Is this the "Ethel" he married after returning home? Did I miss something? BBB is obviously the author's farewell tribute to his comrades-in-arms. As such, he can be forgiven the last couple of chapters which drip with nostalgia. If not now, when? And Winters and his men certainly deserve the written memory. I served in the Navy for nearly eleven years. I can recall only one superior whom I would've followed to hell and back. (Mike P. at Florida's Blood Center, are you taking note?) Such a leader is rare in military and civilian life. Dick Winters comes across as such. Because of that, I'm awarding BEYOND BAND OF BROTHERS 4 stars and a salute to its author. Honor is due.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Why We Get Sick: The New Science of Darwinian Medicine; Author: Visit Amazon's Randolph M. Nesse Page; Review: "If you are starving in a rain forest, eat the camouflaged frog that is hidden in the vegetation, not the bright one sitting resplendent on a nearby branch." At first glance, this quote from WHY WE GET SICK wouldn't seem to be relevant to the topic. But since the hypothesis of the book is that evolution and natural selection govern the senescence of aging and the physiological responses to diseases and mortally competitive environments, the fact that the gaudier frog has evolved with potent internal poisons that (should) signal "danger" to any potential predator makes the connection vis-a-vis both the amphibian's toxin and the starving hiker whose internal defense mechanisms may at least cause vomiting and diarrhea if frog's legs make it onto the dinner menu. As authors Randolph Nesse and George Williams summarize: "First, there are genes that make us vulnerable to disease ... Most deleterious genetic effects ... are actively maintained by selection because they have unappreciated benefits that outweigh their costs ... Second, disease results from exposure to novel factors that were not present in the environment in which we evolved ... Third, disease results from design compromises, such as upright posture with its associated back problems ... Fourth, ... natural selection ... works just as hard for pathogens trying to eat us and the organisms we want to eat. In conflicts with these organisms, as in baseball, you can't win 'em all. Finally, disease results from unfortunate historical legacies ... the human body must function well, with no chance to go back and start afresh ... Susceptibility to disease ... cannot be eliminated by any duration of natural selection, for it is the very power of natural selection that created them." Under the umbrella of natural selection, the authors include everything from the obvious and non-arguable, such as fever as a mechanism to kill invading pathogens with heat, to the less obvious and perhaps debatable, such as the instinctive desire of small children to remained unweaned from mother's breast, which serves to prolong lactation and ensures that Mom won't become pregnant with a potential rival. Other examples fall into the category, Gee, Why Didn't I Think of That, including the morning sickness of pregnancy, which serves to prevent Mom from ingesting toxins during that vulnerable period when the unborn child is experiencing peak organ formation, and the causative agent of gout, uric acid, the build-up of which also protects the body from the aging effects of oxidative damage. Then there's cancer, which wouldn't be a problem had we not tissue cells that grow and regenerate. And did you know that premature ejaculation in the male is ostensibly selective, in an evolutionary sense, for those men that can get the gene transfer job done, so to speak, and then flee before the female's alpha male partner shows up to brain the interloper with a knotty pine cudgel? Nesse and Williams lucidly present an unconventional paradigm of medicine, a different perspective from which to view disease and aging, that's only accasionally preachy. They rue the fact that it's not part; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: No Guns, No Knives, No Personal Checks: The Tales of a San Francisco Cab Driver; Author: Visit Amazon's Larry Sager Page; Review: "Land of Fruits and Nuts" n. California: A reference to both the agricultural bounty of California and the stereotypical image of Californians as being other than normal, fruit n., 'a crazy person' and nuts adj., 'crazy.' Usually jocular but sometimes derogatory. - from the Double-Tongued Dictionary website While attending San Francisco State University, author Larry Sager drove a Frisco cab, and NO GUNS, NO KNIVES, NO PERSONAL CHECKS is his collection of tales derived from that experience. The book is described as a "novel", but it seems a safe bet the stories are true. Larry must have carried some mainstream passengers like you and me ... well, me anyway. But they're the exception here. Drunks, hookers, the unwashed, crazies, bleeding wounded, and the sexually unorthodox of both genders find their way into his back seat. If, as a tourist to the City by the Bay, your experience has been limited to Fisherman's Wharf and the posh stores along Market St., NO GUNS, NO KNIVES, NO PERSONAL CHECKS is a vicarious ride on the city's eccentric side. Sager's book is all about those he conveys from points A to B. We learn little about Larry himself. There is the occasional phone conversation with girlfriend Michelle, with whom his relationship is apparently on the down slope, but not much else of a personal nature outside his cab. But Sager is a congenial chap with an engaging sense of humor, an attribute which carries the reader through the infrequent narrative doldrums. I particularly liked his onboard computer that connected him with his dispatcher, the use of which would set off the anti-theft alarms of nearby parked cars. Each chapter is a vignette starring a particular fare, some being more interesting and/or amusing than others. My favorite was "The Painter", in which a budding artist solicit's Larry's opinion about a perfectly hideous canvas and the latter's honesty is hamstrung by his desire for the end-of-ride tip. My least favorite was "Friends Like That" in which a middle-aged homosexual and his much younger prostitute companion engage in a several-pages long dialogue that makes little sense and goes nowhere. The chapter that left me wanting more was "Popeye's Bitter Half-Brother" in which Sager's passenger, a crippled, tattooed, cantankerous Old Salt, demands only that he be driven to a place where he can view the water. What life experiences brought the old man to that place and state of mind? Had Sager been a bartender instead of a cabbie, he (and his readers) might have found out. NO GUNS, NO KNIVES, NO PERSONAL CHECKS could've been written by any cab driver in any large city of the world. But Larry seems to have gotten there first, and his literary achievement is a satisfying and entertaining read.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Secret Servant; Author: Visit Amazon's Daniel Silva Page; Review: The plot of THE SECRET SERVANT is simple enough. The daughter of the American ambassador to the Court of St. James, Elizabeth Halton, is kidnapped by Islamic jihadists during a morning jog in Hyde Park. Not only is Elizabeth the daughter of Robert Halton, friend to the U.S. President, but the latter is her godfather. Gabriel Allon, the veteran and insubordinate Israeli super spy, works with (or not) the U.S., British, and Danish secret services to get her back before she's executed. THE SECRET SERVANT is a solid, absorbing read. But since it demonstrates no special cleverness or plot twists and the hero is, in my opinion, relatively uncharismatic compared to others perched on the bookshelves in hosts of other thrillers, e.g. Jack Reacher and Dan "Spider" Shepherd, I would give only 3 stars. (This is, after all, written to be entertainment.) However, I'm awarding four since author Daniel Silva effectively makes the point, both in the fictional narrative and in an Author's Note, as to the degree which radical Islam has embedded itself in British and other European societies. In the name of political and religious tolerance, the governments concerned have let the wolf in through the front door and the coming decades aren't going to be pretty. In a recent issue of a national WEEKly news magazine, the hand-wringing reviewer of THE SECRET SERVANT took Allon to task for the violent methods his character employed to extract information from a wounded and helpless terrorist. And you know what? Gabriel's approach didn't bother me one bit because I'm not keen on the choice Osama bin Laden and his ilk would give us, i.e. convert to Islam or be beheaded. Can't we just all get along? No, I think not. Tribalism is alive and well.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Turning of the Tide: How One Game Changed the South; Author: Visit Amazon's Don Yaeger Page; Review: I'm a dedicated USC fan - I just watched the Trojans drub Nebraska 49-31 in Lincoln - but I was aggravated beyond measure by TURNING OF THE TIDE: HOW ONE GAME CHANGED THE SOUTH. By the mid-1960s, Division 1-A college football had integrated Blacks into their varsity programs except in the Deep South represented by the Southeast Conference. It wasn't until 1966 that the University of Kentucky and Vanderbilt broke the color barrier, followed by Tennessee in 1967, the University of Florida in 1969, Auburn and Mississippi State in 1970, Alabama and Georgia in 1971, and LSU and the University of Mississippi in 1972. Alabama's varsity squad had yet to integrate in 1970, though Wilbur Jackson, the Tide's first Black signee, had been added to its freshman team that year. On September 12, at Coach Bear Bryant's invitation, Bryant's pal, Coach John McKay of USC, brought his Trojans to Birmingham, where they trounced the Tide 42-21 in front of the home crowd. All of USC's touchdowns were scored by Black players, led most famously by Sam "Bam" Cunningham's 135 rushing yards on only 12 carries. The premise of TURNING OF THE TIDE is that this one game changed college football in the South for all time by demonstrating that Black players could excel on the gridiron and that unintegrated teams needed to cross the color barrier in order to stay competitive with the rest of the nation. Author Don Yeager, writing with Sam Cunningham and the latter's teammate, defensive linebacker John Papadakis, infers that Coach Bryant set his inferior Alabama team up for the fall knowing that a USC win would fast track fan, alumni, and school administration acceptance of much needed (and otherwise inevitable) integration. (And, of course, the SEC schools would miss out on the growing revenue from game telecasts and bowl bids if they didn't fall into line with the rest of the country on race relations. Is it all about money, you think?) Bryant, of course, never admitted to such a Machiavellian plot. Whether you agree with the book's premise or not - perhaps the subsequent success of SEC teams, and Alabama in particular, during the 70s and 80s, with an ever growing number of Black players, would've happened anyway - the message, repeated ad nauseam, is diluted by the clumsiness of the writing and the atrociousness of the editing. It's a story that could have been more succinctly told in a 50-page pamphlet; it dragged out to an excruciating 252 pages. Midway through, I was counting page numbers until the end. The structure of the narrative has an almost stream of consciousness flavor; it's all over the place with lots of filler. Pre-1970s segregation at SEC schools. The migration of southern Black players to the North and West. The early coaching careers of Bryant and McKay and the handshake agreement between the two coaches at Los Angeles airport that set up the Big Game. The pre-game jitters of the USC players at the prospect of being confronted by racial violence. The postgame myths. The background of the; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Stand Firm Ye Boys from Maine: The 20th Maine and the Gettysburg Campaign; Author: Visit Amazon's Thomas A. Desjardin Page; Review: The defense of Little Round Top by the 20th Maine Regiment on the far left of the Union lines on the second day of the Battle of Gettysburg, July 2, 1863, is perhaps one of the most famous small unit actions in American military history, right up there with Custer's Last Stand - except the latter lost. As the author of STAND FIRM YE BOYS FROM MAINE (SFYBFM) points out, the U.S. Army still uses the actions of the 20th Maine's commander, Col. Joshua Chamberlain, as a model of leadership under hostile fire. Author Thomas Desjardin picks up the story of the 20th Maine in the aftermath of Chancellorsville on or about June 21 as the regiment marched north along the east slope of the Blue Ridge Mountains while Lee marched his Confederates on the west slope towards Maryland through the Shenandoah Valley. After some skirmishing at Ashby's Gap, the unit arrived in the vicinity of Gettysburg at the end of the battle's first day. Desjardin's focus is, of course, on the 20th Maine's resistance against the assaults of the15th and 47th Alabama regiments against Vincent's Spur on Little Round Top, followed by the 20th's relatively uneventful occupation of Big Round Top before being relieved. Chamberlain's command spent the third day, during Pickett's Charge, in reserve behind the front lines. The next day was spent maneuvering across the Gettysburg battlefield until, after it became apparent that the Army of Northern Virginia had decamped and was headed homeward, a pursuit was mounted through rain and mud to a final skirmish with the Rebels on Sharpsburg Pike on July 10, an event that marked the end of the Gettysburg Campaign for the boys from Maine. Having finished with the battle itself, Desjardin examines the post-war period, during which, Little Round Top having receded in time but not in the participants' memories, bickering broke out among the survivors as various accounts of that fateful day in July, 1863 had to be reconciled with each other (or not). I saw the film Gettysburg (Widescreen Edition) on the Big Screen when it was released, and was greatly impressed with the leadership qualities of the Joshua Chamberlain character under fire (as portrayed by Jeff Daniels). Subsequently, I visited the Gettysburg National Military Park and stood in reverence before the monument to the 20th Maine set in the trees now covering Vincent's Spur. Therefore, the final chapter of SFYBFM, "American Legend, American Shrine", in which Desjardin puts the regiment's defense in perspective and deflates some of the mythology surrounding the action, poured a certain amount of cool water upon my adulation. As the author points out, as evidenced by Chamberlain's recollection of the event, the colonel never actually ordered "forward", but only that his men fix bayonets. With that, the Maine troops charged off down the slope on their own and the famous "right wheel" by the 20th's left was more of a ragtag pursuit after already fleeing Rebels instead of the textbook maneuver of mythology. Moreover, the entire Army of the Potomac's line, from left to right of; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Powerball 310; Author: Visit Amazon's K. T. Reid Page; Review: "The Riemann hypothesis (RH) is a conjecture about the distribution of the zeros of the Riemann zeta-function... The Riemann zeta-function is defined for all complex numbers s not equal to 1. It has zeros at the negative even integers (i.e. at s = -2, s = -4, s = -6, ...). These are called the trivial zeros. The Riemann hypothesis is concerned with the non-trivial zeros, and states that: The real part of any non-trivial zero of the Riemann zeta function is 1/2. Thus the non-trivial zeros should lie on the so-called critical line 1/2 + it with t a real number and i the imaginary unit. The Riemann zeta-function along the critical line is sometimes studied in terms of the Z-function, whose real zeros correspond to the zeros of the zeta-function on the critical line." - from Wikipedia Gee, you think? The plot of POWERBALL 310 revolves around the defrauding of a multi-state lottery by using an application of the Riemann hypothesis to immediately purchase a winning ticket after the lucky numbers are made public. The conspirators, a gang of four and a half, include the Pennsylvania Lottery's Chief of Security, Roger McCormack, one of his programmers, Amrik Salahuddin, banker Trevor Harding, and French mathematician Etienne de Villiers. The half is Len Pettigrew, a grotty small-time crook brought aboard to present the winning ticket for payment. But, as there's no honor among thieves, they begin to turn up dead, including the mastermind of the scam, McCormack. Enter Keith Evans, a summer intern at the journal "New American Science" headquartered in Washington, DC. Keith's bad luck is that Roger's corpse is found after being interviewed by Evans for a lottery-related feature story. Keith is at first a semi-suspect in the crime. But, he teams up with McCormack's single-parent daughter, Melissa, to track down the true perp and motive behind the killing. After 200 pages (of 492) I was tempted to quit out of disinterest, but was persuaded to continue. But, while the next 50 pages caught my attention enough to finish, there are, in my opinion, several near fatal flaws that allow me to award only three generous stars. Until I looked up "Riemann Hypothesis" on the Internet, I assumed it was a contrivance by author K.T. Reid, actually husband and wife co-authors, to jump start the storyline. However, it being a real concept in the world of mathematics doesn't alter the fact that I never understood it, especially as applied to the Powerball caper. But, then, I was an immediate failure at higher math once I plunged into the deep end with differential calculus. This mental deficiency on my part immediately detracted from my appreciation and enjoyment of the novel's premise. Also, the characters of Keith and Melissa are too naive and innocent for this thriller reader of 58 jaded years. The flavor of the book was too much like one of the Hardy Boys mysteries I read before I was fourteen, with perhaps a bit of Nancy Drew (which I never read) thrown in. (I put aside the Hardy Boys; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Afghan; Author: Visit Amazon's Frederick Forsyth Page; Review: A couple of weeks ago, my wife and I embarked on an out-of-state vacation, on the first morning of which I left my take-along paperback on AMTRAK's Southwest Chief. As I tearfully waved goodbye to my literary security blanket as it pulled out of Albuquerque's rail station on its way to Chicago, I had to implement my fallback position. Thus, at first chance I purchased THE AFGHAN. The Afghan is Izmat Khan, who cut his eye teeth fighting the Soviets. Then, during the Afghan civil war following the USSR's withdrawal, Khan became a Taliban commander battling against the Anglo-American supported Northern Alliance. After being captured and participating in the Qala-i-Jangi prison rebellion, Izmat was spirited off to the American detention center at Guantanamo Bay to be imprisoned there for four years. Meanwhile, the CIA and MI6 catch whiff of a new Al Qaeda plot code named "al-Isra", which, in Islamic tradition, was the Prophet Muhammad's journey to heaven to be personally instructed on prayer rituals by Almighty God Himself. Obviously, to the experts, the new terrorist attack is to be no small bang. But what, exactly? It's decided to send in a deep cover operative to find out. Ex-Colonel Mike Martin of the Parachute Regiment and the SAS. Mike, raised in Iraq and with skin coloring and fluency in Arabic, is, with additional coaching on the Koranic verses, the perfect choice. After a sham trial at Gitmo in which a recalcitrant Khan is judged innocent enough to be released back to Afghani government custody, the Afghan is whisked off to solitary confinement in an isolated CIA safehouse in the Washington State Cascade Range. Mike is substituted in his place and transported to Afghanistan, where his escape is staged and he bluffs his way into the Al Qaeda network. The covert mission is up and running. I haven't read a Forsyth offering in decades, not since The Day of the Jackal and The Odessa File. I was so impressed by the film version of the former (The Day of the Jackal) that I must have seen it 5 or 6 times. THE AFGHAN is hard to put down, though it isn't without deficiencies. One of this novel's best features is its summary history of the relationship of the Afghani Taliban and the Saudi-founded Al Qaeda, as well as portrayal of radical Islam's activities in the island nations north of Australia. It's a sobering picture. And the broad outline of the storyline is gripping enough as the terrorist plan plays out. THE AFGHAN has two glaring flaws, in my opinion. The greatest is the manner in which the Izmat Khan character is disposed of; it made my eyes roll in disbelief. Finally, though Mike Martin is unquestionably the most interesting character in the book, the reader pretty much loses sight of him, at least at ground level, once he inserts himself into al-Isra. Once that happens, the script, while still maintaining a high level of entertaining tension, is one seen by the reader as if from a distance. As for my original vacation read,; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: They Went Whistling : Women Wayfarers, Warriors, Runaways, and Renegades; Author: Visit Amazon's Barbara Holland Page; Review: "A woman strolling down the street on a splendid morning might feel like whistling, but whistling in a dress would be absurd. Whistling implies and requires pants, and the swagger that goes with them. Ideally, it calls for pockets to thrust the hands into, or at least a sturdy waistband for the thumbs." - Barbara Holland Thus it is in THEY WENT WHISTLING that Holland provides thumbnail biographies of a number of women in history that kicked over the traces and, while literally dressed in pants or not, did what the male of the species does routinely, i.e. pretty much what they wanted without reference to society's expectations or rules. There may have been a method to Holland's choice of subjects and her categorization of them, though, to me, the former seemed somewhat arbitrary. The categories, and examples of whistlers in each, encompassed Warriors (Cleopatra, Queen Boudicca), those donning Menswear (Joan of Arc, Calamity Jane, Amantine-Aurore-Lucile Dupin, a.k.a. George Sand), Outlaws (Grace O'Malley, Bonnie Parker), Exiles (Jane Digby, Daisy Bates), Wayfarers (Isabella Bird, Mary Kingsley, Dervla Murphy), Renegades (Mary Fields, Belle Star), Grandstanders (Belle Boyd, Lola Montez), Seekers (St. Mary of Egypt, Alexandra David-Neel), and Radicals (Mary Harris "Mother" Jones, Emma Goldman). I'd never heard of most of these, and a value of the volume was that they were introduced to me at all. I wish there was a photo section as it would have saved me several trips to the Web; there isn't, and for that I'm knocking off a star right up front. The author's wryly humorous writing style, never mean or petty, isn't as prominent a feature of THEY WENT WHISTLING as it is in her other commentaries on times, social mores, things and places as found in Endangered Pleasures: In Defense of Naps, Bacon, Martinis, Profanity, and Other Indulgences, and Wasn't the Grass Greener?: Thirty-three Reasons Why Life Isn't as Good as It Used to Be and Bingo Night at the Fire Hall: Rediscovering Life in an American Village, though it still shows through, as in the following observation about the Roman Triumvirate: "The Romans were still tinkering with the notion of the Triumvirate, or three equal rulers, which, considering the testosterone content of your basic Roman male, was an ill-starred concept. Antony ruled with Octavius and someone named Lepidus, who prudently crept offstage early." Although I personally don't regard THEY WENT WHISTLING as one of Holland's best endeavors mainly because it seems but a collection of cobbled-together stories, it deserves a place on the bookshelves maintained by her dedicated fans. I'm left wondering, however, why Barbara didn't include my favorite female historical figure who more than held her own vis-a-vis the powerful men in her life, Henry II's troublesome consort Eleanor of Aquitaine. I'd love to see what Holland could do with that story.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Assassins Gallery (Mikhal Lammeck); Author: Visit Amazon's David L. Robbins Page; Review: "... you had a gun on me twice, and both times you let me go. A girl gets to appreciate that sort of thing." - from THE ASSASSINS GALLERY My first chance at THE ASSASSINS GALLERY was the initial thirty-six pages I finished on AMTRAK's Southwest Chief on the overnight leg from Los Angeles to Albuquerque, where I disembarked from the train and mistakenly left the book behind to continue on to Chicago all by itself. This was no small loss as I'd been hooked by what I'd read so far and thus had to purchase a second copy once I returned home. (I just hate it when that happens, don't you?) In the opening chapter, a mysterious submarine surreptitiously drops off a passenger on an isolated stretch of the Massachusetts coast on January 1, 1945. The intruder, after skillfully but brutally killing two unlucky Civil Defense coast watchers, goes to the nearest town, obtains a car, and sets out for Washington, D.C. The mission: to kill the President of the United States. One member of the Secret Service detail assigned to protect the Chief Executive is Agent Dag Nabbit, once on loan to, trained by, and operational with the British Special Operations Executive. (Dag Nabbit? Author David Robbins must be kidding. How about Holy Moses, Jumpin' Jehosephat, Gosh Darn, or my personal favorite, Oh S--T?) Nabbit, having come across the police report from Massachusetts concerning the double murder on the sands, suspects something sinister is afoot. So, he gets from the SOE the loan of his former instructor and historical expert on assassination techniques, Professor Mikhal Lammeck, to help with the investigation. The author's previous works of fiction are centered on World War II. The first three skipped around the Eastern Front (Stalingrad, Berlin, Kursk), and the fourth takes place in Europe on the Western Front. THE ASSASSINS GALLERY also has the war as a backdrop, but at the distant vantage point of the U.S. capital. Here, the plot is ultimately keyed to an historical event, Franklin Roosevelt's death at Warm Springs, SC on April 12, 1945, ostensibly from a brain hemorrhage. The promise of the first 36 pages held up; the volume teetered on the edge of being in the couldn't-put-it-down category until the end. The confrontation between the assassin and Lammeck at a full-dress reception at the Peruvian embassy was especially clever and worth the price of admission - paid twice as you recall. And the identity of the government payrolling the assassin was a nice twist. There were, however, irritations that caused me to lop off a star. One of the biggest thorns in America's side in today's era of radical Islamic mischief is Iran (Persia). So, as if the author's publisher wanted David to make THE ASSASSINS GALLERY topical with current times, the unlikely villain of this piece is a Persian, Moslem assassin adept in the use of knife and poisons. What's more, her name is ... Judith. Okey-dokey. (Lucky we're not now in confrontation with Alaska; the Bad Gal would've been an Eskimo named Gladys with; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Shopaholic & Baby; Author: Visit Amazon's Sophie Kinsella Page; Review: In SHOPAHOLIC & BABY, Becky Brandon (nee Bloomwood) is preggers and shopping for two, a fact that should inspire merchants to giddy anticipation and give worried pause to husband Luke, who fields the bill. As in all previous Shopaholic novels, Becky is compelled to spend money on mountains of Stuff, often in multiple copies. Early on, Bex deserts the care of the established, distinguished Dr. Braine, who delivered Luke, for Dr. Venetia Carter, who, after all, is the A-list obstetrician to the rich and famous that gives out fab goodie bags at the first office consultation. Venetia is drop-dead gorgeous with long, swishy, red hair. And, on Becky's initial appointment with her new health care provider accompanied by Luke, she learns that her husband and Carter were a dating pair back in their Cambridge days. Even Luke, reluctant to give up Braine, is pleasantly surprised at renewing an old acquaintance with the woman he remembers as Venetia Grime. Then, as the weeks of her pregnancy progress and she loses her figure, Becky begins to wonder if Luke and Venetia aren't being just a little too chummy. Why are they seeing each other so frequently, ostensibly in the company of mutual friends, and why are they texting each other in Latin? In addition to her spendthrift ways, Becky's charm (and exasperation) for any follower of the series is her rampant imagination, which here, in conjuring up images of Luke and Venetia together, leads to desperate measures. What's a poor girl to do? Why, hire a private detective, of course, and then go shopping for prams. (Who else but Bex would consider purchasing five strollers for an imagined range of activities from pavement walking to extreme mountaineering?) After all, there's no situation so distressing that it can't be ameliorated by a new Hermes scarf or being featured in a Vogue photo shoot for an article on London's yummiest mummies-to-be. The Shopaholic series is so Chick Lit that I'm ashamed to admit that I enjoy the fluff more than is seemly for any self-respecting male. SHOPAHOLIC & BABY doesn't disappoint, though Venetia, in the end, isn't perhaps as publicly humiliated as she deserves. Maybe this is due to the fact that author Sophie Kinsella is basically as good-hearted as her heroine and wouldn't intentionally do anything too cruel. Sophie, in order to depict Becky's character as comprehensively as she does, must either know someone with Becky's proclivities or herself be just like Bex. The prospect of someone like that roaming the streets in real life is mind-boggling scary.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hail to the Chiefs: Presidential Mischief, Morals, & Malarkey from George W. toGeorge W.; Author: Visit Amazon's Barbara Holland Page; Review: "In the long run the Civil War was the right thing to do because it answered the Slavery Question, so people could ask each other something else for a change, and gave birth to "Gone with the Wind" and some rattling fine songs. On the flip side, it made the most awful mess all over the place, and nobody left to milk the cows or marry the girls. You can't have everything." - Barbara Holland on Lincoln's presidency in HAIL TO THE CHIEFS Holland's HAIL TO THE CHIEFS, a benevolently irreverent narrative summary of each U.S. President, has the "once upon a time ..." cadence of a bed time story for children except that it's for those of voting age. Each chapter, one per Chief Executive, is a series of tongue-in-cheek word bites, the irreverence of which achieve flippancy as an art form. Each President is afforded at least a couple of pages of text, with the most - nine and a half - dedicated to Bill Clinton. Lincoln and Dubya each have eight and a half. Benjamin Harrison has two and his grandfather, William Henry Harrison, two and a half. Some, perhaps more than some, of the knowledge that Barbara shares is apparently anecdotal, e.g. this snippet about Grover Cleveland's pre-Presidential days: "I've heard that when he was practicing law in Buffalo he couldn't be bothered to go down the hall and relieved himself through his office window, and once a passerby sued." I've read many of the author's books and enjoyed them all immensely for her wryly humorous writing style. I chuckled over HAIL TO THE CHIEFS also, but think Holland was here overtaken by giddiness and thus became too clever with her wit by inserting on most pages frivolous footnotes that don't serve the usual function of such, which is to make reference to sources and/or provide additional relevant and significant information. A prime example of this silliness is that appended to the passage beginning the chapter on Lincoln, which reads: "Believe it or not, there really was an Abraham Lincoln. Many of us get muddled and think he was just one of those nice ideas, like Santa Claus and King Arthur and the Tooth Fairy (1) ..." Footnote 1 at the bottom of the page reads: "No, there isn't any Tooth Fairy. What would a fairy want with all those teeth? Fairies don't even chew." Even allowing for the fact that I'm an apprentice curmudgeon, such asides are too cute by half and were more annoying than helpful. HAIL TO THE CHIEFS perhaps serves best as a bathroom reader, one chapter, maybe two, per residency on the commode. For that purpose, and that purpose only, four stars are appropriate.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ivan's War: Life and Death in the Red Army, 1939-1945; Author: Visit Amazon's Catherine Merridale Page; Review: "The nearest anyone has come to a consensus is to say that no fewer than 8.6 million Soviet military personnel were killed during the war, either in Nazi prison camps or on the battlefield ... nearly a third of the total number of men and women mobilized into the armed forces." - Catherine Merridale The minimum numbers of U.S. and U.K. military deaths in World War II are perhaps 291K and 244K respectively in all theaters. Though various "experts" may disagree on the actual numbers, it can't be argued that, in terms of casualties suffered, the U.S.S.R.'s armed forces bore the brunt of the war against Hitler. It could also be asserted that the Soviet Union effectively won the war against Germany. Despite the famous successes of Allied forces in Western Europe, their presence there was perhaps the only reason the Red Army didn't sweep all the way to the English Channel. What sort of army was this? Professor of contemporary history and author Catherine Merridale's IVAN'S WAR: LIFE AND DEATH IN THE RED ARMY, 1939-1945 is, considering the obstacles confronting the Western researcher in the former and secretive Soviet Union, a wonderfully illuminating narrative. As best as her sources allow, Merridale examines the full context of Ivan's army experience: the Finnish War (1939-1940), the precipitous rout by the German Wehrmacht in the summer and autumn of 1941, hanging-on for dear life through August 1942, the end of the beginning - the gritty defense of Stalingrad, the beginning of the end - the apocalyptic Battle of Kursk in July 1943, the advance to the U.S.S.R.'s western border, stepping over the line into the capitalist West, the last paroxysm - the Battle for Berlin, and, finally, demobilization, return home, and the postwar years. But, as the title of the book implies, this isn't a rehash of battles so much as an attempt to reconstruct the lives of the individual grunts in the snow, mud, and trenches: conscription, training (or lack thereof), morale, discipline, ongoing political indoctrination, supply, weaponry, contact with family, the relationship with officers and with female troops, regard for the national leadership, loyalty to the Communist Party, the POW experience, medical care, battle fatigue, desertion to the opposition, drinking, rape (especially savage in East Prussia), exposure to capitalism's affluence, looting, post-war health care and benefits (such as they were), and the evolution of heroic memory and tradition. The first soldiers to return home got the victory parades and the most applause. But then it dropped off until, as Merridale writes: "Stalin ... was proud to take credit for the victory but reluctant to share it. He was also aware that stories of his own mistakes were waiting to be told, especially those that focused on the debacle and slaughter of 1941 ... By 1948, within three years of the peace, public remembrance of the war was all but banned." The cruelest measure was taken in 1947, when Stalin ordered the streets cleared of beggars, many of whom were ex-Army amputees, and had them shipped off to exile in the north, where; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Twinkie, Deconstructed: My Journey to Discover How the Ingredients Found in Processed Foods Are Grown, M ined (Yes,; Author: Visit Amazon's Steve Ettlinger Page; Review: "Ingredients: Enriched bleached wheat flour (flour, reduced iron, 'B' vitamins (niacin, thiamine mononitrate (B1), riboflavin (B2), folic acid)), sugar, water, corn syrup, high fructose corn syrup, partially hydrogenated vegetable and/or animal shortening (contains one or more of: soybean, cottonseed or canola oil, beef fat), whole eggs, dextrose, contains 2% or less of: modified corn starch, glucose, leavenings (sodium acid pyrophosphate, baking soda, monocalcium phosphate), sweet dairy whey, soy protein isolate, calcium and sodium caseinate, soy flour, salt, mono and diglycerides, polysorbate 60, soy lecithin, cornstarch, corn flour, corn dextrin, cellulose gum, sodium stearoyl lactylate, natural and artificial flavors, sorbic acid (to retain freshness), FD&C Yellow 5, Red 40." - From an actual Twinkies package "Last Sale Date: Dec 17" - From the same Twinkies package, purchased November 24 "Examining the labels found on supermarket shelves, it becomes obvious that Twinkies are merely an archetype of almost all modern processed foods; so many others share their ingredients and attempts at immortality on the shelf ..." - author Steve Ettlinger As author Steve Ettlinger ruefully admits, when his 6-year old daughter asked, "Where does pol-y-sor-bate six-tee come from, Daddy?", Ol' Dad had to confess fallibility; he didn't know. Thus, his personal mission to find out the origin of this ingredient on the ice cream wrapper of the moment resulting in this book, TWINKIE, DECONSTRUCTED. For any junk-food lover or despiser with at least a minimal interest in nutrition and a major curiosity about the world we live in, TWINKIE DECONSTRUCTED is a must read. Within, Ettlinger describes the source and processing steps for each ingredient that goes into Twinkies without becoming overly technical, or at least not so much that the eyes of anyone who failed high-school chemistry will glaze over. An example of the narrative's tone on ingredient evolution might be that on the creation of FD&C Yellow 5 and Red 40: "Shanghai Dyestuffs Research Institute Co., Ltd., the largest synthetic food color institute in China ... (reacts aniline) with a metal sulfate to create sulfanilic acid ... Meanwhile, Sinopec (china's largest oil refinery) refines naphtha and ethylene out of more crude oil and combines them to make naphthalene ... Shanghai Dyestuffs reacts this with another acid and plain old table salt to make something called Schaeffer's Salt, the key ingredient in both red and yellow ... Two acids are essential ingredients, nitric acid to make red, and tartaric acid for yellow." If the above passage seems technically daunting, never fear; such never becomes overpowering. Indeed, much of TWINKIE DECONSTRUCTED are asides into less technical avenues of arcane but interesting facts. Did you know that there are six kinds of wheat? Or that the one pound of the coloring cochineal, found in Campari and Dannon's boysenberry yogurt, is derived from the dried bodies of 70,000 female cochineal insects harvested off the paddles of prickly pear cacti? Or that Osama bin Laden was once part owner of a Sudanese acacia gum firm before he was tossed out of the country in 1996? This is cool stuff. Reinforcing the fact that he's only using Twinkies; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Motoring With Mohammed: Journeys to Yemen and the Red Sea; Author: Visit Amazon's Eric Hansen Page; Review: "Khat ... also known as qat, gat, chat, and miraa ... is a flowering plant native to tropical East Africa and the Arabian Peninsula... Khat contains the alkaloid cathinone, an amphetamine-like stimulant which causes excitement and euphoria... Traditionally, khat has been used as a socializing drug, and this is still very much the case in Yemen where khat-chewing is predominantly, although not exclusively, a male habit... Khat consumption induces mild euphoria and excitement. Individuals become very talkative under the influence of the drug and may appear to be unrealistic and emotionally unstable. Khat can induce manic behaviors and hyperactivity... A recent British study found khat to be much less dangerous than tobacco or alcohol." - from Wikipedia Peripatetic scribblers wander to such obvious destinations as Italy, France, Greece, China, India, Australia, the Amazon, or Alaska, then write a book to tell the rest of us vegetables all about it. Here in MOTORING WITH MOHAMMED, accomplished travel writer Eric Hansen immerses the reader in North Yemen. (Where, you say?) North Yemen squatted next to the Red Sea just to the south of southwest Saudi Arabia, and joined with South Yemen in 1990 to become the Republic of Yemen. Hansen's narrative is served up in two parts. Well, three, actually. The first takes place in 1978 when, after a 7-year period of wandering in other backwaters, the author is shipwrecked in the yacht "Clea", on which he was part of a five-person crew, on the uninhabited North Yemen island of Uqban. The first four chapters describe this experience, during which, for safekeeping, he buried on the island the wrapped journals of his previous adventures. The trouble is, he forgot to take them along when he and his companions were eventually rescued after fourteen days. The book's second part - thirteen chapters - takes place during a ten-week period a decade later when Hansen returns to North Yemen to retrieve his cached journals. Unbeknownst to him, however, is that Uqban Island lay in a security zone virtually inaccessible to foreigners. This fact becomes frustratingly clear as he unsuccessfully conspires with local help to cross the twenty miles of water separating the mainland from the island. Meanwhile, he cools his heels exploring, and falling in love with, much of the rest of the country. It's this developing love affair with North Yemen that's the basis for most of MOTORING WITH MOHAMMED. Whether he's tiptoeing across a precarious slope in the interior mountains, or witnessing the execution of a murderer, or participating in a communal qat chew, or sweating in a bathhouse, or feasting on stewed sheep's heads, Eric has a talent for observing the details that enrich the subsequent tale: "There is a trick to cracking open the skulls. You place the thumb of one hand in an eye socket (with the eyeball still intact), and span the skull and grip the roof of the mouth with the fingers. The other hand grasps the lower jaw. A sharp twisting motion is accompanied by a sickening snap and a popping sound. When done properly, the slippery skull; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Rat Run; Author: Visit Amazon's Gerald Seymour Page; Review: Gerald Seymour is the only author whose thrillers I savor slowly, both when I contemplate them with delicious anticipation sitting on my shelf awaiting my attention, and when they're being read with the impossible wish that they never end. RAT RUN is the twenty-third offering in a string of books remarkable for their consistent ability to enthrall. The central villain of this piece is Ricky Capel, who imports heroin into the UK using his brother-in-law's fishing trawler to retrieve caches of the drug attached to a bouy's anchor chain in the North Sea, the heroin being put there by a Hamburg underworld organization headed by the Albanian arch-criminal, Timo Rahman. From Ricky, the drug moves down the chain to the supplier, then the dealer, and finally to the street sellers, two of which vend to the vagrants in the blighted and crime-ridden Amersham housing estate, the home to Malachy Kitchen. Malachy was once an Army intelligence officer, but was drummed out after being accused of cowardice while on a combat patrol in Iraq, when he apparently deserted his unit after discarding his helmet, flak vest and rifle. Now, disgraced, divorced, psychologically broken, jobless, and reclusive, he lives in Amersham on the public dole, his only friend an old lady, Millie, who lives in the next door apartment and who invites him to tea twice a month. Then, one day, Millie has her purse stolen and is brutally beaten by the estate's two drug sellers. Millie's nephew, an officer with the Criminal Intelligence Service, challenges Kitchen to regain his lost pride and manhood by taking the sellers out of circulation in a manner not open to official law enforcement. Malachy does so, utilizing remembered skills from his service days, and then begins to move back up the chain. In the meantime, Rahman's organization is taking on a new sort of endeavor, which is to smuggle into England a key al-Qaeda operative, a "coordinator" being sent to activate terror cells comprised of English-born Muslim fanatics. But Frederick Gaunt of MI6, demoted to the Albanian Desk after SIS's faulty intelligence regarding Saddam Hussein's WMDs, has gotten a faint whiff of the plot from a cell phone transmission plucked out of the ether. Gaunt puts his newest agent, young Polly Wilkins at the Prague station, onto the trail of the shadowy Arab as the latter makes his way across Europe's national borders on the clandestine "rat run". Polly herself is on an emotional low, having just been dumped via email by her erstwhile boyfriend, an officer of Her Majesty's Foreign Service stationed in Argentina. Polly's assignment and Malachy's quest for private redemption cross on a storm-battered beach on an island off Germany's northwest coast. The brilliance of all of Seymour's plots is that there are no super heroes, only common and unremarkable men and women, sometimes as damaged as Malachy, doing thankless jobs at civilization's grittier and grottier margins, where opposing forces aren't colored so much in black and white as murky shades of gray, and victories, such as they occur at the novels' conclusions, are; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Moveable Feast (Scribner Classic); Author: Visit Amazon's Ernest Hemingway Page; Review: A MOVEABLE FEAST is an autobiographical account by Ernest Hemingway of his time as a struggling young writer spent in Paris and (briefly) Schruns (Austria) with his (first) wife, Hadley, during the period 1921-26. Ernest began writing the book in 1957, and it was edited and published after the author's death by his (fourth) wife, Mary. I've decided that to appreciate this volume the reader must be one or more of the following: 1. An Ernest Hemingway fan. 2. An F. Scott Fitzgerald fan. 3. Familiar with, and interested in, any of the following literary figures: Gertrude Stein, Sylvia Beach, James Joyce, Ezra Pound, Ford Madox Ford. 4. Self-reliant enough to be footloose and fancy free in a foreign city, particularly Paris. Much of A MOVEABLE FEAST seems rather aimless as Hemingway rattles about his quarter of the French capital, occasionally writing, and often visiting or chatting with other members of the American expatriate community in post-war Paris known as the "Lost Generation". I guess one had to be there to understand why they were "lost". In the best and longest chapter, "Scott Fitzgerald", Ernest relates a journey he and Scott took to Lyon to recover an automobile the latter had left there - a trip that would have tried the patience of Job and portrays Fitzgerald, though not maliciously on Hemingway's part, as a hypochondriacal alcoholic. On being asked by Hadley if the trip had taught him anything, Ernest replies with what is perhaps the book's most perceptive snippet of wisdom: "Never go on trips with anyone you do not love." Notwithstanding the occasional and mild entertainment value of A MOVEABLE FEAST, there was nothing about it that compels me to read anything else by its author. Is Hemingway overrated, or is it just me? Most likely the latter. And, as far as sampling Fitzgerald is concerned, I saw the 1974 film adaptation of The Great Gatsby when it was first released and was, as I recall, bored silly, though my date thought Redford to die for. I'm awarding four stars solely on the basis of Hemingway's statement expressed early on: "Going down the stairs when I had worked well ... was a wonderful feeling and I was free then to walk anywhere in Paris." I've tasted that freedom myself in many of the world's great cities, and it's been one of the great and too infrequent joys of my life. Hemingway's memory of his freedom at that time and place is the narrative's central support and well worth the telling.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid: A Memoir (Random House Large Print); Author: Visit Amazon's Bill Bryson Page; Review: "Getting into the strippers' tent would become the principal preoccupation of my pubescent years." - Bill Bryson in THUNDERBOLT KID "Essentially matinees were an invitation to four thousand children to riot for four hours in a large darkened space." - Bill Bryson in THUNDERBOLT KID As I mature gracefully, reading the coming-of-age reminiscences of others that grew up about the same time I did - the 1950s - becomes an absorbing leisure activity. Perhaps I just need to supplement my failing memory with theirs. In any case, several fine volumes of the genre come to mind: Blooming: A Small-Town Girlhood by Susan Allen Toth, Sleeping Arrangements by Laura Shaine Cunningham, When All the World Was Young: A Memoir by Barbara Holland, and Wait Till Next Year: A Memoir by Doris Kearns Goodwin. As you may have noticed, all four of these are by female authors who are recalling their girlhood. On the other hand, THE LIFE AND TIMES OF THE THUNDERBOLT KID, by Bill Bryson, is all about boyhood. And, as I think you'll agree, boys are an entirely different species from girls. I should know as I used to be one of the former. For example, boys have a propensity for shenanigans that would elicit an "Eeeuw!" from the gentler sex, as the following passage on Lincoln Logs, of which I myself had a set, illustrates: "What Buddy Doberman and I discovered was that if you peed on Lincoln Logs you bleached them white. As a result we created, over a period of weeks, the world's first albino Lincoln Log cabin, which we took to school as part of a project on Abraham Lincoln's early years." Or this regarding the elementary school's space heaters: "The most infamous radiator-based activity was of course to pee on the radiator in one of the boys' bathrooms. This created an enormous sour stink that permeated whole wings of the school for days on end and could not be got rid of through any amount of scrubbing or airing." I'm virtually certain that Susan, Laura, Barbara and Doris never did either. Bill's recollections otherwise ran the gamut of those of any kid of either sex from that era: family vacations, the first televisions, favorite TV shows, the nature of contemporary comic books, toys, soda pop and candies, parents' occupations and eccentricities, Mom's cooking, the specter of The Bomb and Godless Communism, drop and cover drills, Saturday afternoons at the movie matinees, the National Pastime (major league baseball), the State Fair, Dick and Jane books, visits to Grandpa's farm, paper routes, strange relatives, and Best Friends. Oddly, there's no mention anywhere of a family pet. Is it that he never had one? How is this possible? Then, of course, there's the budding fascination with sex that includes the discovery of Ol' Dad's secret stash of girlie mags and the unfulfilled, feverish desire to see play pal Mary O'Leary nekkid. As in the author's other books, his ability to tell the story with a wry and self-deprecating wit is unmatched by any contemporary writer that I've read with; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Gettysburg, Then & Now: Touring the Battlefield With Old Photos; Author: Visit Amazon's William A. Frassanito Page; Review: GETTYSBURG, THEN & NOW is best appreciated by those who have a strong, if not fanatical, interest in the U.S. Civil War and the Battle of Gettysburg in particular. Almost by definition, the interested reader must either have visited the battlefield, or intends to. At the beginning of the volume, author William Frassanito provides a mandatory one-page summary of the battle plus another one-page summary of the battlefield's photographic history. Since the author intended that the book could be used as an on-site reference, a tour map of the Gettysburg National Military Park is included, on which are noted the auto tour route and stops in relation to the locations where the photographic pairs, comprising the "then" and the "now" and numbered 1-50, were taken. The direction of view for each pair is indicated. The volume's front cover features a "then" and "now" image pair with the latter being in color. This is somewhat misleading as there are no color photos in the body of the book, all being in black and white. One page is dedicated to each pair, accompanied by a paragraph of explanatory text, except for pair #41, which spreads over two pages. The photo pairs are presented roughly in the same order as the actions of the involved troops over the three-day conflict. Each pair directs the readers' sight at or toward: 1. North on South Washington St. (1886) 2. Seminary Ridge from the McPherson Farm (1863) 3. The Gettysburg town from Oak Ridge (1888) 4. The Thompson House, Lee's HQ (1867) 5. The Oak Ridge Railroad Cut and Tate House from town (1863) 6. The Oak Ridge Railroad Cut from the Tate House (1882) 7. Confederate prisoners on Seminary Ridge (1863) 8. The Lutheran Theological Seminary (1863) 9. Southeastward from the cupola of the Lutheran Theological Seminary (1889) 10. Gettysburg town from Seminary Ridge (1867) 11. The Round Tops from Emmitsburg Rd. - the "then" image being an 1863 sketch 12. Northwestward from Little Round Top (1889) 13. Early sightseers on Little Round Top (1867) 14. The Round Tops from the J.T. Weikert Farm (1867) 15. Devil's Den from the Slaughter Pen (1863) 16. Dead Confederates in the Slaughter Pen (1863) 17. A dead Confederate in the Slaughter Pen, a close-up of #16 (1863) 18. A dead Confederate in the Devil's Den (1863) 19. A dead Confederate below Devil's Den (1863) 20. Confederate dead at the edge of Rose Woods (1863) 21. Confederate dead at the edge of Rose Woods (1863) 22. A dead Confederate at the edge of Rose Woods (1863) 23. Southwestward towards the Rose House over "The Loop" (1889) 24. The Round Tops from the Wheatfield (1889) 25. The Peach Orchard from the Emmitsburg Rd./Wheatfield Rd. intersection (1889) 26. Southwestward along the Emmitsburg Rd. from the Klingel House (1889) 27. Northeastward along the Emmitsburg Rd. from the Klingel House (1889) 28. Dead artillery horses at the Trostle House (1863) 29. The Leister House, Meade's HQ (1863) 30. Southward along Baltimore Pike to Powers Hill and the Lightner Farm (1878) 31. Powers Hill over Spangler's; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Dog of the South (1st Edition); Author: Visit Amazon's Charles Portis Page; Review: The hero of THE DOG OF THE SOUTH is Ray Midge, an unemployed, twenty-six year old underachiever from Little Rock, AR. Ray's wife, Norma, has just run off with her first husband, Guy Dupree, accompanied by Ray's credit cards and his prized Ford Torino. Guided southwards towards Mexico and beyond by an elongating trail of credit card receipts, Ray sets out in Guy's abandoned and dilapidated 1963 Buick Special to recover his wheels and, almost as an afterthought, his wife. Arriving in Mexico, Ray realizes that Guy is headed to a family-owned farm in British Honduras. While in chase, Ray makes the acquaintance of Dr. Rheo Syms, an aging and overweight scam artist, snake-oil salesman, and discredited M.D. living out of an old and immobilized school bus christened "The Dog of the South". Midge offers Syms a ride to Honduras, where the latter's mother runs a Christian mission in the nation's capital city. Mrs. Syms holds title to an undeveloped island in the Mississippi River, and Rheo needs to pry it out of her hands for a money-making scheme of his own. The initial attraction of the book is the disarmingly engaging personality of Midge. Ray, though socially and financially adrift at the moment, is not without intelligence and is apparently well-read and self-taught on a number of subjects, e.g. the Civil War. Though the quest for his lost Torino and Norma may be naive and ill-considered, his single-minded pursuit of the two is admirable, especially as he persists in the face of Rheo's dreamy and meandering disconnect from reality, or at least reality as Ray perceives it. Ray is basically good-hearted, generous, and loyal to his commitments, everything that Syms is not in comparison. In Ray's place, the average reader would perhaps be sorely tempted to jettison Syms and get on with it. For those that wonder about such things, the timeframe of the plot isn't completely clear. It's obviously between 1963 - the model year of the Buick - and 1973, when British Honduras was renamed "Belize". And, it's at a time when gas was still 22.9 cents a gallon. On this last far-distant point, memory fails. THE DOG OF THE SOUTH at first reminded me superficially of 1967's highly amusing comedic film, Flim Flam Man, starring Michael Sarrazin and George C. Scott, wherein a relatively normal, young man falls under the influence of an older, world-wise con artist. However, that preconception swiftly dissipated as Ray arrives in Honduras and must there cope with haphazard and frustrating circumstances that, while not actually revealing Midge to be a certifiable nut case, certainly cause him to lose his grip just a little. The point of the novel is, I guess, the order that (every)one seeks in a decidedly messy world. Find a secure handhold and hang on for the ride, if you can. THE DOG OF THE SOUTH was a low key book that was interesting enough for me to finish, but not one that I'd necessarily recommend to anyone, friend or enemy. This is, perhaps, the closest I can come to; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Joy of Drinking; Author: Visit Amazon's Barbara Holland Page; Review: "A popular hangover cure called for two ounces of opium, one of saffron, a dash of cloves and cinnamon, and a pint of wine, though perhaps in an emergency you could skip the cinnamon." - Barbara Holland in THE JOY OF DRINKING In this relatively short (148 pages), small format hardcover, Barbara Holland explores mankind's long-standing love-hate relationship with booze. In order to establish the universal appeal of alcoholic beverages, she reminds the reader that such have an honored past in such far flung and widely disparate civilizations as ancient China, Aztecan Mexico, Mohammad-era Arabia, nomadic Mongolia, Tahiti, Central Africa, Nepal, the Amazonian jungle, and ancient Babylon, Greece, Rome and Egypt. She fails to mention the Eskimos. Entering the more or less modern era, Holland next focuses on England with its beer, ale, gin, tankards, and taverns. Then, she skips across The Pond to England's political and sociological offspring, the Thirteen Colonies, eventually to become the United States, where her story matures to include rum, martinis (shaken vs. stirred), cocktails, moonshine, the Temperance Movement, Prohibition, alcoholism, hangovers, and the current trends towards high-priced coffee and bottled water as more socially acceptable but less satisfying alternatives. She concludes the book with two appendices, one incorporating home recipes for making one's own applejack, apple wine, elderberry wine, dandelion wine, blackberry wine, frozen potato wine, and peach brandy, and the second on starting up your own still, complete with a helpful diagram. Here as in all her books of social commentary, Holland's tone is wryly humorous, breezy, and irreverent while constructing a sufficiently detailed and comprehensive overview to make its entertaining point(s). Yet, this one isn't so burdened with esoterica as to lose a relative non-drinker such as myself. (Two to three beers per week and the monthly glass of wine satisfy my taste for alcohol not withstanding that a daily moderate intake has ostensible health benefits.) THE JOY OF DRINKING is a necessary addition to any Barbara Holland fan's library. And it has the added attraction of being a quick read.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bowls, Polls, and Tattered Souls: Tackling the Chaos and Controversy that Reign Over College Football; Author: Visit Amazon's Stewart Mandel Page; Review: "(NFL) scouts are to football what the third base coach is to baseball - an excuse for a whole bunch of old-timers to stay a part of the fraternity and collect a paycheck to boot." - Stewart Mandel There are two U.S. sport seasons: Football and No Football. As far as I'm concerned, it's even a finer point than that: College Football and No College Football. BOWLS, POLLS & TATTERED SOULS tells me more than I thought I wanted to know about the collegiate game. But, now that I've read this book by "Sports Illustrated" writer Stewart Mandel, I'm so very glad that I did. It's a completely absorbing volume that I devoured over two days. I wish it was longer. Mandel examines ten of college pigskin's greatest ongoing controversies, one per chapter: 1. The Bowl Championship Series (BCS) - how we got to this impasse, who supports it and doesn't, and why it's not likely to change dramatically anytime soon. 2. The team ranking system - its evolution, politics, and how it's affected by the BCS. 3. The Heisman Trophy - its history, and why it's become a media exposure contest not necessarily based on playing ability. 4. The hiring and firing of coaches, particularly the latter - the growth of their salaries and the precariousness of their tenures (or "What have you done lately?"). 5. Notre Dame - what makes this independent university so damn special that it has BCS equality with the Pac-10, Big 10, Big 12, SEC, ACC and Big East? 6. The recruiting of top high school players - the stand-alone spectacle it's become, and the impact of the Web. 7. The formation of, and school re-alignments with, conferences - it's all about money, particularly TV revenue $. (Say it ain't so, Joe!) 8. Post season bowls - their history, why there are so many, and the team motivation (or not) to participate. 9. NFL recruiting - the joke that it's become. 10. Scandals - who the perps are and why the NCAA doesn't necessarily have jurisdiction (much less care). Mandel being an ultimate insider himself, his book should be required reading for all the insider-wannabe fan(atic)s who populate the off-field margins of the sport and who come off their couches in droves to demonstrate vociferously with torches, pitchforks, tar and feathers whenever their favorite teams, coaches, or players are perceived to have been criticized unfairly or gotten a raw deal in the polls or BCS standings. While BP&TS won't make such partisans more reasonable, it will perhaps raise their stridency level and make the collegiate football season even more deliciously confrontational and loud than it already is. I love it! I myself have followed USC on and off - mostly off - since the late 60s when I numbered among my friends several who graduated from the university and got me interested in the Trojans' game at the time OJ was still a hero and not a bum. I've never been a fan(atic), but rather now follow the extraordinary career of Coach Pete Carroll and his; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Power Play; Author: Visit Amazon's Joseph Finder Page; Review: "Who the hell are you, Landry?" - Ali Hillman Perhaps you yourself would ask that question if you'd just watched your heretofore mild-mannered significant other efficiently snap the neck of an assailant. Jake Landry is the polite and self-effacing assistant to an Executive VP in Hammond Aerospace Corporation, a maker of "heavy" passenger planes. At the last minute, Jake is tabbed to attend a team-building retreat with the company's top level management in place of his boss, who's out of country on a crucial sales trip. Besides, Landry knows as much as anyone about Hammond's new H-880 jet, which may have design problems. The retreat takes place at a remote fishing resort on the coast of British Columbia. The gathering has all the potential for bickering and back-stabbing as the otherwise all-male executive hierarchy gets to know its first female CEO, Cheryl Tobin, whose own executive assistant is Ali Hillman, Jake's ex-girlfriend. And if there wasn't tension enough to cut with a knife, the meeting is invaded during the first night's welcome dinner and taken over by five gun-wielding hard guys intent on getting 500 million dollars in ransom for the group, two of which members are soon executed as examples to the rest. So, who's coming to the rescue? From the first couple of pages presented as a flash-forward, it's evidently going to be Jake for no reason that's readily apparent in the book's first chapters. Indeed, the meat of POWER PLAY is a slow revelation of Landry's past, via flashback to his teen years, which gives some clues as to his ability to do what he has to do to extricate the hostages from their terrifying ordeal. At first, I thought Landry might be presented somewhat in the mold of the hero of Lee Child's Jack Reacher novels (Bad Luck and Trouble (Jack Reacher Novels) et al), but the reader never learns as much about the former as the latter, and Jake, while obviously clever and intelligent, never quite achieves the powerful physicality and breadth of lethality that Reacher demonstrates. Indeed, the question that begins this review was never really answered to my satisfaction. I mean, how did Landry achieve the mindset to cut someone's throat, which is a vastly more personal and up-close way to kill somebody than just with a gun? Being in juvenile detention and the National Guard Reserve doesn't necessarily get you that. If this was to be the first in a series by author Joseph Finder featuring Jake, then there would be the opportunity for further character exploration and discovery. But since that hasn't been Finder's writing m.o. to date, I suspect this to be a one-off adventure. As such then, for the reason given, I can only award four stars to an otherwise engrossing and edge-of-your-seat thriller. If I'm wrong about this being a stand-alone presentation, then I'll happily ratchet it up to five stars. Say it ain't so, Joe!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Greatest Knight - William Marshal - A Novel of A Legendary Man; Author: Visit Amazon's Elizabeth Chadwick Page; Review: English history is my personal esoteric interest, especially the period of the first Plantagenet monarchs: Henry II, Richard I (the Lionheart), John, and Henry III. Orbiting each of the four at one time or another was England's incomparable, albeit unsung, representative of feudal loyalty, William Marshal, who became 1st Earl of Pembroke. In addition to serving the monarchs mentioned, Marshal also pledged vassalage to Henry II's queen, Eleanor of Aquitaine, and the Young King Henry, the eldest son of Henry II and Eleanor acknowledged and crowned as the heir and future king while his father was still in his prime and ruling. Of course, William pledged his loyal service to only one at a time as honorable circumstance or invitation called upon him to do so, and that occasionally made it a dodgy walk along the precipice considering the supreme dysfunctionality of Henry II's family. William was born in 1146 and died in 1219. The forty-three chapters plus Epilogue of THE GREATEST KNIGHT span the period from the summer of 1167, when Marshal was a newly minted young knight in the household of Sir Guillaume de Tancarville, Chamberlain of Normandy and a distant kinsman, to May 1194, when William, accompanied by his heiress wife, Isabelle de Clare, and their two sons and daughter, embark by ship for Normandy with Marshal's lord at the time, King Richard. Each chapter advances the plot by several months to three years depending on the events of importance in William's life: his time in Queen Eleanor's retinue, his years in the Young King's household, his touneying days, the Young King's revolt against his father, the Young King's death, his time in Henry II's retinue, Henry's death during the revolt by Richard and John, his marriage to Isabelle, his appointment as a Royal Justiciar by King Richard, John's revolt against Richard during the latter's German imprisonment, Richard's ransom, and Richard's return to England. THE GREATEST KNIGHT is a work of fiction based on the biography of Marshal's life, the HISTOIRE DE GUILLAUME LE MARECHAL, commissioned by his family soon after his death. The author of the former work, Elizabeth Chadwick, embellishes those parts of William's life not covered by the HISTOIRE, but in a manner she trusts is consistent with the man's personality and achievements. THE GREATEST KNIGHT should perhaps be read as a companion piece to a fine non-fiction narrative, William Marshal: The Flower of Chivalry by Georges Duby, also based on the HISTOIRE. THE GREATEST KNIGHT not only serves as a thoroughly engaging vehicle of reading entertainment, but also as a lesson in the disadvantages of governance by feudalism , which was first and foremost a vertical network of social, military, and legal obligations between members of the nobility on several levels, from lowest knight to King. What do you do when your immediate overlord, to whom you've pledged service and loyalty, comes into philosophical and/or physical, i.e. military, conflict with his own liege lord higher up in the food chain, e.g. the King himself. A perilous situation, that, calling for careful stepping. As the reader; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Knots in My Yo-Yo String; Author: Visit Amazon's Jerry Spinelli Page; Review: "In those days I was many whats. A kid can be that. Grownups have gone ahead and answered the question: 'What shall I be?' They have tossed out all the whats that don't fit and have become just one ... But a kid is still becoming. And I, as a kid alone, was free to be just about anything ... : salamander finder, crawfish annoyer, flat-stone creek skipper, cedar chest smeller, railroad car counter, tin can stomper, milkweed blower, mulberry picker, snowball smoother, paper bag popper, steel rail walker, box turtle toucher, dark-sky watcher, best-part saver. They didn't last long, these careers of mine ... But while they employed me, I gave them an honest minute's work and was paid in the satisfactions of curiousity met and a job well done." - Jerry Spinelli in KNOTS IN MY YO-YO STRING When compared to the several coming-of-age memoirs that I've read - Blooming: A Small-Town Girlhood by Susan Allen Toth, Sleeping Arrangements by Laura Shaine Cunningham, When All the World Was Young: A Memoir by Barbara Holland, WAIT TILL NEXT YEAR: A MEMOIR by Doris Kearns Goodwin, and The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid: A Memoir by Bill Bryson come immediately to mind because of their excellence - KNOTS IN MY YO-YO STRING is, at 148 pages, relatively brief. But, it's packed with good stuff for anyone fondly remembering growing up in the 40s and 50s of the last century. When did we get old? Spinelli was born in Norristown, PA in 1941, and grew up there. His story spans the period from about 1945 to 1957. His memories encompass pretty much what any other American of a middle class upbringing will remember from that time. Perhaps only the place - urban vs. rural, one region vs. another - will lead to variations, but the specifics are, not surprisingly, universal: the grandparents' home, elementary school, spelling bees, sports, first crush, first kiss, best friends, pets, running amok to explore and play in one's extended neighborhood, trains passing by on the local track, siblings, the neighborhood stores, etc. One chapter refers to the notes he received (and saved over the decades) from his first real crush, Judy Pierson. Now, I don't think most guys would admit to that; I'm impressed. KNOTS IN MY YO-YO STRING is sprinkled with family snaps of the period. One is of his parents happily posing at the beach 6 months before his birth. How many of us ever stop to consider that our own parents were once young, in love, and with the whole world at their feet? Some of Jerry's recollections are positively poignant, as when he recalls how, when he began to write this autobiography, he asked his younger brother, Bill, to contribute any memories he had of their childhood relationship. "Several weeks later he handed me a list of memorable events. I read it over. I was stunned: I hardly recalled any of them ... He especially remembers one day when I propped him on the bar of my Roadmaster and gave him a; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sundays with Vlad: From Pennsylvania to Transylvania, One Man's Quest to Live in the World of the Undead; Author: Visit Amazon's Paul Bibeau Page; Review: "Leering at me from across the canyon of merchandise at the Wal-Mart Supercenter is a giant inflatable lawn statue of Mickey Mouse dressed in a tuxedo and velvet cape with a widow's peak and tiny, somehow cute fangs poking out of his mouth ... Above all in the West, the Dracula industry is about change. We take the gripping image and tweak it until it becomes the best product it can possibly be. No one wants a lawn statue of a bloodthirsty medieval prince or a dated Hungarian actor ... They want Mickey." - Author Paul Bibeau in SUNDAYS WITH VLAD. In SUNDAYS WITH VLAD (and Monday through Saturday too, for that matter), author Bibeau sets out to discover everything vampyrish (is that a word?) from the mainstream (Halloween vampire costumes) to the eccentric (Jonathan "the Impaler" Sharkey who ran for Minnesota governor in 2006) to the way-out-there (those who literally drink blood). Paul is at his narrative best and most hilarious when he's traveling outside the United States, i.e. in the first and second-to-last chapters. In the former, he recounts that 3-day part of his 1999 honeymoon spent seeking the historical Vlad the Impaler in the Romanian province of Wallachia, at the end of which time he and his new bride, Anne, were prepared to buy an airplane ticket to anywhere just to get out of the "godforsaken crapheap". (Perhaps it was the infestations of beggars and feral dogs that took the romance out of the occasion.) In the latter, seven years later and the wife having opted to stay at home, Bibeau travels back to Romania and its province of Transylvania to retrace the fictional Jonathan Harker's route (in Bram Stoker's Dracula (Enriched Classics Series)) to Count Dracula's fictional castle. In this case, homesickness, bad roads, and anarchic local drivers seem to be the chief perils. In between, in chapters that range from mildly to not at all amusing, Paul examines the Dracula/vampire fascination in the West, from films to clubs to swinger groups to killers to music to amusement park funhouses to consumer products to museums to live-action-role game playing. At one point, Bibeau mentions seeing an example of the anti-vampire kits that were ostensibly available at hotel front desks to Victorian-era travelers traipsing through Eastern Europe, but, in a major omission, he doesn't describe the kit's contents. Garlic, crucifix, holy water, mirror, and sharpened stake, perhaps? Also, he makes almost no reference to my personal favorite American icon and resident of my most fevered dreams, Elvira Mistress of the Dark. Because the humor in SUNDAYS WITH VLAD is so inconsistent and the subject matter sometimes poorly chosen, I'm awarding a generous 4 stars, and that because of the two chapters set in Romania that are, by themselves, worth the price of the book. It's important to realize that the Romanians themselves, badly in need of tourist dollars, have pretty much declined to capitalize on the Dracula legend because there's little to no connection between the fictional character, a monument to Western kitsch and imagination, and Vlad the Impaler,; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Roving Mars: Spirit, Opportunity, and the Exploration of the Red Planet; Author: Steve Squyres; Review: "We see it! We see it! We see it! We're in lock. We're in lock." - Voice of Entry, Descent, Landing Telecom, Cruise Mission Support Area, Jet Propulsion Lab, January 4, 2004 on acquiring signals from Spirit lander after its touchdown on Mars. On June 10 and July 7 of 2003, NASA and Pasadena's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) launched the twin Martian landers, Spirit and Opportunity respectively. They touched down on the Red Planet on January 4 and January 24 of 2004, the first mobile robotic explorers to do so since Pathfinder/Sojourner in 1997. ROVING MARS is their story as told by Steve Squyres. Squyres, a geologist by profession, was the Principal Investigator, i.e. science team leader, for the Spirit and Opportunity projects representing JPL. He recounts earlier years and unsuccessful attempts to get a lander proposal approved by NASA. Then, against the backdrop of NASA's latest failures at Mars exploration, Mars Polar Lander and Mars Climate Orbiter in 1998, Steve shares the anxiety, frustration, doubts and hard work involved in getting eventual conceptual approval for the 2003 missions, followed by the months of design, construction, testing failures and successes, nearly insurmountable problems, budget overruns, and final nail-biting reviews by NASA before the rovers could be encapsulated in their landers and placed atop their Delta II rockets at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station for their launches, which themselves involved maddening delays. Following relatively uneventful flights to Mars, Squyres again picks up the rovers' stories to describe their landings, deployment, and treks of discovery. The goal of the dual mission - to discover in Martian rocks evidence for a watery past. The reader will perhaps stand amazed that Spirit and Opportunity ever overcame multiple obstacles to get launched at all. There are two excellent sections of color photographs within the book, one of which images shows Squyres reaching for the sky in supreme exaltation as Spirit's deployment on Martian soil is confirmed by telemetry. Steve recalls that as one of the best moments of his life. And, when arriving at that point in the narrative recounting the tense moments of Spirit's landing, the (American) reader can perhaps be forgiven for letting out a yell of proud victory, "YES!" This was, after all, an American red, white and blue accomplishment told via the author's clear, informative and non-technical prose. The Spirit and Opportunity rovers had projected operational lifespans of 90 sols, each "sol" being a Martian day of 24 hours 39 minutes. By the end of the narrative in mid-September 2004, Spirit had reached 248 sols and Opportunity 227. Squyres expected the vehicles to die in months, perhaps a year at the outside, the buildup of dust on the rovers' energizing solar panels being the determining factor. If you go to JPL's website, you'll find that as of 2008 both Spirit and Opportunity, albeit somewhat worse for wear, are still operational on the Red Planet transmitting back pictures and data. Amidst all the planning and pre-mission speculation, nobody imagined that the rovers' solar panels would be cleaned by ... dust devils. You can't even; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dead Men (A Dan Shepherd Mystery); Author: Visit Amazon's Stephen Leather Page; Review: "I've been asked to give you a call to reassure you that we are aware of the approach that has recently been made to you by your American counterparts ...The fight against terrorism is one that we have to absolutely have to win. There's no question about that. And sometimes measures have to be taken that fall outside the remit of our law enforcement agencies ... We're very grateful for the work you've done for us in the past, your exemplary army career and the excellent job you've done as a police officer and with SOCA. There's no pressure on you to accept the offer that has been made. All I'm doing is calling to let you know that if you do accept, you do so with our blessing and that you will be accorded whatever protection we're able to offer. Subject to total deniability, of course." - A late night call from the Prime Minister in DEAD MEN This is the best Dan Shepherd thriller to date. Nicknamed "Spider" because he once ate a tarantula on a SAS survival exercise, Dan is in danger of perhaps losing his relative innocence in the next book of the series. The stage is set in DEAD MEN. This installment of Shepherd's career against assorted Bad Guys is at once better than some previous ones because the action alternates back and forth between two equally absorbing and heavy-hitting storylines, both of which achieve well developed and satisfying conclusions. Subplots in previous books, e.g. Hot Blood (A Dan Shepherd Mystery), have been known to sputter out in deference to the main plot. Here, Shepherd, an ex-SAS trooper now working undercover for the United Kingdom's Serious Organized Crime Unit (SOCA), is assigned by his boss, Charlotte Button, to find the person responsible for murdering several ex-Irish Republican Army members, all involved in the execution of a Royal Ulster Constabulary officer, Robert Carter, several years previous. The Irish are now protected by the British government in deference to a cease fire agreement with the IRA. The chief suspect in the latest killings, which have so far eliminated four of Carter's five executioners, is Carter's wife, Elaine. Dan must get close enough to her to obtain either damning or exculpating evidence regarding her involvement. In the meantime, Saudi sheikh Othman bin Mahmuud al-Ahmed hires the accomplished Muslim killer-for-hire Hassan Salih to assassinate the two individuals involved in the interrogation of Othman's terrorist son, Abdal Jabbaar, a couple of years previous, the methods of which interrogation included the torture death of Jabbaar's younger brother, Rahmaan, and assault on Jabbaar's sister, Kamilah. Jabbaar was subsequently imprisoned at Guantanamo and ultimately committed suicide. CIA officer Richard Yokely, reluctantly assisted by Charlotte Button, conducted the original interrogation (the details of which can be found in the Dan Shepherd thriller Cold Kill (Dan Shepherd Mysteries)). Salih's brief is to torture to death both Yokely and Button. Because of Button's involvement in both of DEAD MEN's concurrent plots, so too is Spider. Yokely is perhaps the most intriguing character. Like his hunter Salih, Richard is; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Cleanup; Author: Visit Amazon's Sean Doolittle Page; Review: Officer Matt Worth of the Omaha Police Department is at a personal and career nadir. Recently divorced, he's now on a provisional assignment guarding the theft-prone SaveMore supermarket pending a psychological fitness sign-off after having slugged the Homicide detective that stole his wife. But even in that punch-up, satisfaction was muted as the other guy was the better hitter. In any case, Worth's only current job satisfaction is flirting with the pretty check-out girl, Gwen. But Gwen has an abusive boyfriend, Russell T. James, whom she bludgeons to death with a bedside table lamp while he sleeps after giving her a particularly nasty beating. With no one to turn to but Matt, she shows him her bruises at the hospital ER then the body back at the apartment. Sympathizing with her predicament, Worth decides not to make an arrest but rather to permanently eradicate Russell's corpse and live at let live. It seemed like the right and gentlemanly thing to do at the time. What Worth doesn't know is that James was employed as a narcotics and drug money courier by Eddie Tice, owner of Tice Is Nice Quality Used and Discount Furniture, who also has two local plain clothes cops on the take. That, and the $260 K gone missing with Russell, makes for an escalating set of complications for the chivalrous Worth. Worth, who's a perfectly average shmoe both in his personal and professional life, riding a bad situation into a disaster exemplifies one of my personal favorite adages, which is that No Good Deed Goes Unpunished. If you insist on acting out of the goodness of your heart, either do it with complete anonymity or be prepared for an unacceptable gain/loss ratio. If life imitates art, or vice versa, then THE CLEANUP, a delightfully entertaining piece of unpretentious lit noir, certainly illustrates the Law of Unintended Consequences. Moreover, it's a conveniently quick read, after which you can go back to saving the world.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: So Many Books, So Little Time; Author: Visit Amazon's Sara Nelson Page; Review: "My books are my secret lovers, the friends I run to to get away from the daily drudgeries of life, to try out something new, and yes, to get away, for a few hours, from (husband Leo). He doesn't need to know that my books are the affairs I do not have." - Sara Nelson in SO MANY BOOKS, SO LITTLE TIME Sara Nelson, at the time a book reviewer for Glamour magazine, vowed to read a book a week during 2002. In SO MANY BOOKS, SO LITTLE TIME, she tells us, her fellow bibliophiles, how she fared, as well as her past and present experiences with the great passion of her life - reading. Upon completion of this engaging volume, I was tempted to award 3 or 4 stars, chiefly because her literary interests are so different from mine and I couldn't relate to most of the particular titles that she mentions. (I've heard of perhaps only a third of them, and have myself read only a couple. Indeed, she reads only the rare historical novel, and, almost incomprehensibly and reprehensibly, non-fiction works of history not at all.) But, this would have been supreme self-centeredness on my part. Sara does with excellence what she intended to do, i.e. describe what are for her and for the rest of us compulsive book lovers the varied facets of the reading experience, many of which we hardly ever give a thought. Several times I found myself nodding in affirmation of her written words and thinking, "Yup, you hit that right on." SO MANY BOOKS, SO LITTLE TIME is divided into thirty-five chapters, plus Prologue and Epilogue. Each chapter is headed by a date and title, the former, in the aggregate, sequentially and more or less evenly spaced out over 2002. Each chapter, with reference to specific book titles, deals with an aspect of book consumption. As examples: "February 1, Double-Booked" about the practice of having one book for home and one for away. In Nelson's case, as in mine, the former is usually hardcover and the latter a more portable softcover. "February 27, The Clean Plate Book Club" concerning the obsession to finish a book once begun, and the maturation process that eventually allows one to permanently toss one that's not working. For me at 59, this still goes against the grain, but I've learned. Thankfully, I find myself in the predicament only rarely. "March 22, Sharing Books Gives Me Heartburn" about the painful practice of lending books out and perhaps not getting them back. I never lend books, but freely give them away when I'm through with them. "June 1, Summer Reading" concerning the overly optimistic notion that one will have the time to read on those summer weekends away at the beach resort, or wherever. Verily, vacations with my wife are death marches; who has time to read? "July 20, Reading Confidential", or how to fall in and out of love with a particular author. "September 18, Kid Stuff", about the impact the books of childhood may have on our lives. I'll; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Tin Lizard Tales: Reflections from a Train; Author: Visit Amazon's Schuyler T. Wallace Page; Review: Author Schuyler Wallace is an ex-paramedic and retired fire chief who, with wife Carol, sets out on a 30-day railway transit of the United States and Canada using the North American Rail Pass. Both are in their eighth decade; Schuyler lacks rose-colored glasses and Carol is short on bladder capacity. TIN LIZARD TALES is Wallace's narrative of the journey. The book is written: "FOR CAROL: Wife, best friend, and fantastic traveling companion." Any man with such a pal is blessed beyond measure. The couple's odyssey takes them from their home in Bakersfield (CA) to Sacramento, across the Sierra Nevada Mountains and Rockies to Fort Morgan (CO), onwards to Naperville (IL) and Chicago, Erie (PA), New York City, Washington (DC), Niagara Falls, Toronto, back west across Canada through Sudbury and Edmonton to Vancouver (BC), then home via Seattle, Portland and Sacramento. A route map, which would have added a nice visual element, is, sadly, not included. The primary destinations of interest, based on the amount of dedicated text, were Chicago, New York, Washington, Niagara Falls, and Toronto. The author took voluminous notes along the way, which allowed him to describe their perambulations in those places almost step by step as well as their meals dish by dish. Both Schuyler and Carol like their chow. Through much of TIN LIZARD TALES, Wallace expounds upon places and things he admires or likes: the Central Pacific's building of the RR across the Sierra Nevada range, Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site, the Naperville Riverwalk, the evolution of the Pullman car, General MacArthur's farewell address to the West Point cadets, the construction of the World Trade Center, a boat trip circumnavigating Manhattan Island, the Empire State Building, Sing Sing Prison, the NHL Hockey Hall of Fame, the Hudson's Bay Company, and West Edmonton Mall. But, being the occasional curmudgeon, Wallace also excoriates locales, situations, and people he finds objectionable: Excel Corporation's past scandals at its Fort Morgan beef packing plant, chicken processing in general, 19th century life for Chicago's stockyard workers, the Chicago Black Sox Scandal, New York's Easter Parade, Amtrak's bad service, the mass marketing of prescription drugs by the pharmaceutical companies, pollution along the Hudson River, society's inability to grapple with the problem of the homeless, the reality shows "Jackass" and "Bumfights", and Howard Stern, whom Wallace calls "a despicable human being." If nothing else, Schuyler is gloriously opinionated. I like that a lot. The author's writing style is reflective of one who, as a former fire chief, probably wrote many administrative reports. While not demonstrating the relaxed casualness of my favorite travel writer, Bill Bryson, it's solid and determined. And, while Bryson's pervasive humor suggests a puzzled smile and a cocked eyebrow, Schuyler's, when it occasionally surfaces, is wryly sarcastic. TIN LIZARD TALES is Wallace's first book. The fact that it's as engaging, entertaining, and instructive as it is demonstrates that its author is a tremendously intelligent and literate man. I hope that Schuyler enjoys a long and healthy retirement with the urge and opportunity to write more.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Attention All Shipping (Radio 4 Book Of The Week); Author: Visit Amazon's Charlie Connelly Page; Review: Four times daily, at 0048, 0535, 1201 and 1754, BBC Radio 4 airs the Shipping Forecast, a weather prognostication for each of thirty-one geographically well-defined but more or less arbitrarily designated and sited maritime areas surrounding the British Isles. What may be incomprehensible code to the uninitiated listener is actually a simple and frugaly worded forecasting statement divided into four parts: area name, wind direction and strength, weather conditions, and visibility. The forebears of English author Charlie Connelly, a sportswriter of several books chiefly about European soccer, led lives touched by the sea. Yet, beyond a few ferry trips, Connelly, to his self-admitted embarrassment, was notably landlocked. Thus, to make up for his landlubberliness, he vowed to visit all thirty-one of the shipping forecast areas, or at least those that had peripheral or inclusive terra firma to stand upon, in a calendar year. In ATTENTION ALL SHIPPING, he tells us all about it via a congenial and humorous narrative. Obviously, the book is more about interesting and/or out of the way places than the Shipping Forecast itself, though, by the end of chapter two, one has learned all that's necessary about the history, evolution, and value to sailors of the forecast, which dates, in its current form, back to 1924. In the eleven chapters that follow, Connelly makes landfall in twenty-five of the areas. Five (Viking, Forties, Dogger, Bailey, Rockall) he only flys or sails over. One, Trafalgar, down off the southwest coast of the Iberian Peninsula, he almost entirely neglects for no other reason than it's mentioned in only the 0048 bulletin. Otherwise, his meandering journey takes him to: North and South Utsire: Utsira Island (Norway) Cromarty: Cromarty (Scotland) Forth: Arbroath (Scotland) Tyne: Whitby (England) Fisher: Hanstholm (Denmark) German Bight: Sylt Island (Germany) Humber: Cromer (England) Thames: the Principality of Sealand Dover: Dover and the White Cliffs (England) Wight: the Isle of Wight (England) Portland: Portland peninsula (England) Plymouth: Plymouth (England) Biscay: St-Jean-de-Luz (France) and Bilbao (Spain) FitzRoy: Finisterre (Spain) Sole: St. Mary's, St. Agnes, Tresco, and Bryher islands (Isles of Scilly, England) Lundy: Lundy Island (England) Fastnet: Cork and Cobh (Ireland) Irish Sea: the Isle of Man Shannon: Kilrush (Ireland) Malin: Malin Head (Ireland) Hebrides: Barra and Eriskay islands (Outer Hebrides, Scotland) Fair Isle: Mainland and Fair Isle islands (Shetland Islands, Scotland) Faeroes: Torshavn (Faeroe Islands, Denmark) South-east Iceland: Heimay (Vestmannaeyjar, aka the Westman Islands, Iceland) Charlie succeeds in making all his destinations interesting by sharing facets of each locale's history, events, or famous residents. For instance, Whitby was the hometown of Captain James Cook and Cromer that of Henry Blogg, renowned as the greatest lifeboatman who ever lived. Heimay was evacuated during a volcanic eruption. The oddest place is perhaps the Principality of Sealand, which was originally one of four World War II heavy gun platforms constructed in the Thames Estuary. After being abandoned by the British military, it was purchased by a private citizen who subsequently proclaimed it a sovereign state, a claim that, surprisingly, has been upheld by British courts. At the other extreme of novelty is; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Our Hearts Were Young and Gay (American Autobiography); Author: Cornelia Skinner; Review: "We were poisonously young." - Co-authors Skinner and Kimbrough OUR HEARTS WERE YOUNG AND GAY is a travel essay that appeared in 1942. Within, co-authors and best pals Cornelia Otis Skinner from Bryn Mawr, PA and Emily Kimbrough from Indiana share the experiences of an independent trip to Europe made in 1920 when young, footloose and relatively free of parental oversight. Skinner's parents were traveling on a parallel but more or less separate itinerary. The charm of this delightful narrative lies in the fact that it's a recollection of girlish innocence, naivete, and silliness told from the perspective of a more mature adulthood that achieves an engaging, self-deprecating wit. Had the two travelers been teenage boys, I doubt that such a retrospective tale would've been conceived and told by their grown-up counterparts; it's just not a Guy Thing. From Montreal to London to Paris, our heroines' misadventures are myriad. Their passenger ship runs aground in the St. Lawrence Seaway. Cornelia contracts measles in the mid-Atlantic and must be virtually smuggled ashore on reaching England. The two get lost in the maze at Hampton Court. Misdirected to recommended lodgings in Rouen, they spend the night on the top floor of a brothel, to the bemusement of the house madam, and never have a clue. (Teenage boys would've noticed, you think?) At the Rouen railroad station, Emily's overstuffed purse looses its contents onto the tracks just as a train pulls in. Bedbugs attack Skinner in the City of Light. Lunch at the Paris Ritz proves mortifying. A treacherous hair net ("Venida double-mesh") manifests itself during Cornelia's introductory acting lesson with a French stage idol. Of course, not all of the mini-Grand Tour was comprised of frivolous mishaps. It was, for Skinner and Kimbrough, the experience of a young lifetime. As the latter put it: "You know, back in Indiana there's a lovely phrase of yearning. People say, 'I hope I get to go.' Well, I've gotten to go, and here I am ..." Kimbrough's "here" was in front of Rouen Cathedral, after having walked down from the city's Market Place where the 19-year old Joan of Arc, a girl of Emily's and Cornelia's own exact age and their hero, was burned at the stake. I myself have thought "Here I am" when, my interest being English history, I've stood on the spot where Becket was murdered, when wandering the windy hilltop ruins of Salisbury Tower where Henry II imprisoned his Queen, Eleanor of Aquitaine, and when gazing upon the field where Harold II lost a kingdom. Oh, to be footloose and young again. I'd give anything.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Tunnel Rats; Author: Visit Amazon's Stephen Leather Page; Review: I thought that I was current in my reading of Stephen Leather thrillers until I ran across THE TUNNEL RATS originally published way back in 1997. Sorry, Stephen, I guess I just lost focus somewhere between then and now. As the book opens in an unspecified "then", eight Americans emerge from a network of underground tunnels beneath the jungle shortly before B-52s start to carpet bomb. One man is dead, one seriously injured, and all seven of the living seriously spooked. Fast forward to now. The body of a man viciously tortured to death, with an ace of spades impaled onto his chest with a knife, is discovered nailed to the wall of an abandoned railway tunnel in London. It's British Transport Police jurisdiction, and BTP officers Nick Wright and Tommy Reid are put on the case. In Washington, D.C., Senator Dean Burrow, soon to be nominated to replace an ailing Vice-President, gets a UPS package containing a photograph of the London murder victim. Subsequently, Dean gets a second picture, this one of another man identically killed in Bangkok. The Senator, with a lot to lose if closeted skeletons are discovered, dispatches a trusted aide to tidy things up. The latter employs an ex-Special Forces killer who's scary-good at his skills. The paths of Nick, the murderer, the hired killer, four-foot snakes, 6-inch centipedes, half-inch ants, and shiny black scorpions eventually cross in the abandoned Viet Cong tunnel network northwest of Saigon. Oh, and did I mention that Wright is severely claustrophobic? I'm awarding four stars to an otherwise riveting read because the potential for a too-good-to-pass-up "gotcha" ending is completely ignored. By page 200 of this 500-page book, I suspected the identity of the murderer; a fact later confirmed with over 150 pages to go. Even the chance for a "double gotcha" via the role of the hired killer is waived by the author. The reader is left to see only how the underground action between known antagonists plays out. Mind you, however, this is much better than good enough since the description of the tunnels and their unusual nature as a stage set make for an edge-of-your-seat read. Especially if you're a claustrophobe with an active imagination. As an aside, those Stephen Leather aficionados who've kept up with his current Dan Shepherd series will be interested to see the relationship between this hero and his young son, Liam, perhaps start to conceptually evolve in the relationship between Nick and his boy, Sean.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Death by Black Hole: And Other Cosmic Quandaries; Author: Visit Amazon's Neil deGrasse Tyson Page; Review: "And behold the greatest mystery of them all: an unopened can of diet Pepsi floats in water while an unopened can of regular Pepsi sinks." - From DEATH BY BLACK HOLE On graduating from high school near the top of my class, I had visions of becoming an aeronautical engineer helping send missions to the stars. (This was in 1967 during the height of the "space race".) But, the realities of university-level physics and differential calculus soon brought me back to earth with a crash. And then I got drafted. If only I'd had DEATH BY BLACK HOLE to read, I might've been inspired to greater academic efforts. I could've become a superstar in the field of astrophysics, you think? Well, probably not; I'm more of a Life Sciences kind of guy. In forty-two chapters arrayed in seven sections, astrophysicist Neil deGasse Tyson guides us on a grand tour of the universe from the Big Bang 14 billion years ago to its projected end trillions of years hence when all energy is dissipated and cosmic death arrives with a whimper. Section 1: "The challenges of knowing what is knowable in the universe" covers (the inadequacies of) our built-in human senses, the universality of physical laws, the ability of scientific observations to fool the observer, the potential trap of overabundant information, and what can be learned using the most rudimentary of measuring systems, which, in Tyson's example, is an upright stick stuck into the ground. Did you know that Saturn's rings will be gone in about 100 million years? Book your seat on the tour early. Section 2: "The challenges of discovering the contents of the cosmos" sets forth the genesis and journey of the Sun's energy, the (re)definition of "habitable zone" when considering the Solar System's planets and moons, asteroids, Lagrange Points, and antimatter. Did you know that there's an asteroid named Ralph? Actually, I like to contemplate one named "Bob." Section 3: "How nature presents herself to an inquiring mind" comprises discussions of physical and numerical constants, the speed of light, orbital mechanics, density, the visible light spectrum, rays other than visible light (radio, micro, infrared, ultraviolet, x, gamma), the colors of the cosmos, cosmic plasma, and the universe's temperature extremes. Did you know that the coldest temperature ever achieved in a laboratory was 500 picokelvins (0.0000000005 degrees K)? Do you suppose the lab gnomes wore their wooly longjohns that day? Section 4: "The challenges and triumphs of knowing how we got here" explores space dust, cosmic chemistry within supernovas, element synthesis within stars' cores (hydrogen to helium to carbon to nitrogen to oxygen to sodium to magnesium to silicon ... to, lastly, iron), the necessity of water for "habitability", the sources and properties of terrestrial water, the cosmic genesis of the molecular building blocks of life, the possibility of extraterrestrial life, and Earth's radio footprint in the universe. Did you know that hydrogen, carbon and oxygen are the top three ingredients of life on Earth? What, not chocolate? Say it ain't so, Joe! Section 5: "All the ways the cosmos; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Battle for Leyte Gulf: The Incredible Story of World War II's Largest Naval Battle; Author: Visit Amazon's C. Vann Woodward Page; Review: "Oh Hell, they got away!" - A signalman aboard the U.S.S. Fanshaw Bay after the Japanese battleships and cruisers that had been savaging two American escort carrier divisions during the Battle off Samar (Leyte Gulf) inexplicably broke off contact and retired In October 1944, troops commanded by General MacArthur invaded the Philippines. Knowing that the loss of these islands would cut their empire in half and render inaccessible to their naval forces the fuel stores of Southeast Asia, the Japanese decided on a last ditch, do-or-die sortie of the Imperial Fleet to destroy the American naval force directly involved with the Philippine invasion, i.e. the Seventh Fleet commanded by Vice Admiral Thomas Kincaid, while luring off the covering naval force, the Third Fleet commanded by Admiral William Halsey. Thus, the Japanese unleashed a three-pronged attack on the American landing sites in Leyte Gulf involving three naval commands: the "A" (Northern) Force under Admiral Ozawa, the #1 Diversion Attack (Central) Force under Admiral Kurita, and the #2 Diversion Attack (Southern) Force under Admiral Shima. THE BATTLE FOR LEYTE GULF is author C. Vann Woodward's superlative account of the U.S. Navy's repulse of an enemy approaching from the north, west and south. It was, because of poor decision making, faulty communications, and disunited command chains, both a near thing for the Yanks and the ultimate source of defeat for the Japanese. Certainly nearer than the final disproportionate tally of ships lost on both sides would indicate. The Battle for Leyte Gulf was actually four separately defined and described confrontations over three days: the Battle of the Sibuyan Sea, the Battle of Surigao Strait, the Battle off Cape Engano, and the Battle off Samar. In both tonnage engaged and tonnage sunk, the Battle for Leyte Gulf was the largest naval clash in history. Larger even than World War I's Battle of Jutland. The preponderance of the American defensive action was destroyers and/or aircraft versus the Japanese carriers, battleships, and cruisers. However, the Battle of Surigao Strait saw the last time in naval warfare that opposing capital ships would fire their heavy guns at each other, and the last time that the venerable "crossing the T" would be accomplished (although, by the time the crossbar fired, there was little remaining of the vertical leg). An era was over. For the American reader, the most compelling of the four engagements is perhaps the Battle of Samar, during which two divisions of the Seventh Fleet's "jeep'' carriers, unprotected by the battleships and cruisers of the Third Fleet that had scampered north to engage Ozawa's decoy Northern Force, were gallantly and stalwartly defended by their hopelessly outgunned destroyer screen against the attack of the massed battleships and cruisers of Kurita's Central Force. More honor is due the men in those small ships than can possibly be conveyed by mere words. Woodward's prose and storytelling abilities are thoroughly engaging and the redeeming reasons that I'm awarding five stars instead of (perhaps) a more realistic four as the few battle maps range from being above average to outright wretched, the latter; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Shockwave: Countdown to Hiroshima; Author: Visit Amazon's Stephen Walker Page; Review: "Even blades of grass were driven into flesh." - Author Stephen Walker about the shockwave of the Hiroshima A-bomb The world already knows the ending to Stephen Walker's book, SHOCKWAVE. But here, he brings the story of the atomic bomb up close and personal in a narrative based on eyewitness accounts of the Trinity test at White Sands, NM, on July 16, 1945, the dropping of "Little Boy" by the B-29 named the Enola Gay on Hiroshima On August 6, and the plight of Japanese survivors of the blast. The development of humankind's ultimate weapon at Los Alamos, NM, was an ultra top secret project accomplished by an army of scientists and technicians headed by J. Robert Oppenheimer and Major General Leslie Groves, many of whom, including one who was a Soviet spy, watched in stunned awe as a nuclear device was first successfully detonated at White Sands. But perhaps no experience of the event matched that of Georgia Green: "Fifty miles north of Ground Zero, an eighteen-year-old girl was traveling in the front seat of a car next to her brother-in-law, Joe Willis. The girl's name was Georgia Green, and Joe was driving her to an early-morning music lesson in Albuquerque ... As they passed the town of Lemitar along an empty Highway 85, a flash of extraordinary brilliance suddenly filled the landscape. Georgia grabbed her brother-in-law's arm. 'What was that?' she cried." Georgia Green, you understand, was blind. The story next shifts to the Pacific island of Tinian where the 509th Composite (bombing) Group commanded by Colonel Paul Tibbets, after extensive training of his command in Wendover, UT, prepares to receive, assemble, and deliver the world's first atomic weapon on one of three Japanese cities, the ultimate target to be chosen only after the mission was already in the air and twenty-five miles from the coast of Japan. For the Enola Gay's crew, the six and one-half hour flight from Tinian to Hiroshima encompassed drama and boredom: "On (Little Boy's) upper surface were the three green safety plugs that blocked the firing signal from the fuse. For a moment (bomb technician) Jeppson stood beside the trembling bomb holding his three red plugs. He was alone in the bomb bay. Many years later the thought occurred to him: 'If I had removed the green safety plugs and then simply tossed the red ones onto the bomb-bay doors, the bomb would have been a dud and there would have been no evidence. I'm willing to believe that a dud would have forced some high-level considerations. Possibly the invasion of Japan would have happened.' In a very real sense the power to change history now rested directly with him." "In the narrow, thirty-foot pressurized tunnel that separated the nose and the waist compartments, Jake Beser lay stretched out, his first chance to sleep in twenty-seven hours. (Tail gunner) Bob Caron, assistant engineer Robert Shumard, and radar operator Joe Stiborik took turns rolling oranges down the tunnel toward him. Finally one bounced on Beser's head, waking him up." Walker's brilliant achievement with SHOCKWAVE is; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: All Fishermen Are Liars: True Tales from the Dry Dock Bar; Author: Visit Amazon's Linda Greenlaw Page; Review: "Every date and detail and description is accurate and completely well grounded in fact. Honest." - Author Linda Greenlaw on the tales in ALL FISHERMEN ARE LIARS Linda Greenlaw, the sometime Maine swordfish-boat captain and lobster trawler, who's entertained armchair seagoing fishers with The Hungry Ocean: A Swordboat Captain's Journey and The Lobster Chronicles : Life On a Very Small Island, breaks new personal ground with this anthology of salty tales ostensibly remembered from one session of yarn spinning at the Dry Dock Restaurant and Tavern in Portland, Maine, which, as Linda states, is one of her favorite watering holes and really does exist (though, according to reviews of the place on the Web, it emphatically doesn't appeal to everyone). As with any collection of stories based on a profession, whether it's penned by a cabdriver, airline attendant, neurosurgeon, golfer, madam, rodeo rider, astrophysicist, hockey player, test pilot or chef, the reader must have some threshold of interest in the subject or all is lost. Personally, I couldn't care less about hockey, golf or the rodeo circuit. On the other hand, I once found a cabby's workplace stories (No Guns, No Knives, No Personal Checks: The Tales of a San Francisco Cab Driver), which I wouldn't have otherwise read unless urged to do so, surprisingly good. In the case of ALL FISHERMEN ARE LIARS, I used to ocean fish when I was a kid and I find the on-deck assault of marine air across a moving vessel exhilarating, so the potential was there to be entertained. If the prospects of fish as food and water deeper than your bath make you queasy, then perhaps it's best to pass. In my experience, it's unusual to come upon a five-star compendium of short stories because the inclusions may individually run the gamut from awful to mediocre to quite good. Linda's collection happily avoids the low end. Since all are at least minimally interesting, and Greenlaw herself is personable and congenial, four stars are due. Vicarious danger thrills. Thus, the chapters "Seamanship" and "Running Out Your Time" are perhaps the best, both involving storms at sea that endanger Linda herself in the former and an acquaintance in the latter. Conversely, the chapter "Navigation", in which Greenlaw's two young nephews learn valuable lessons on a day spent fishing with Dad, was a little too cute for my tastes. The rest fall somewhere in between and, despite the book's title, none are so outrageous as to be unbelievable. Well, maybe the tale about the steamship Royal Tar is a bit tall. By the end of the author's last book, THE LOBSTER CHRONICLES, she seemed fretful of the fact that, then at 40, she remained unmarried and without children. Her loneliness was uncomfortably evident. ("I have spent much time waiting for Mr. Right, who does not appear to be looking for me.") In ALL FISHERMEN ARE LIARS, she seems to have perked up a bit. Sail on, Linda, into fair weather and calm seas.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: History on Trial: My Day in Court with a Holocaust Denier; Author: Visit Amazon's Deborah E. Lipstadt Page; Review: Historian Deborah Lipstadt, in her 1993 book Denying the Holocaust : The Growing Assault on Truth and Memory labeled historian David Irving a Holocaust denier. In 1995, Irving sued Lipstadt and her British publisher, Penguin, in the British courts, in which legal system the defendant (Lipstadt) had to prove that she told the truth rather than (as in the U.S. system) the plaintiff (Irving) prove that she lied. In 2007, I attended a lecture by Deborah in which she summarized her 5-year experience defending her original claim. The story is also told in her 2005 book, HISTORY ON TRIAL. Having previously made sobering visits to the concentration camp sites at Dachau, Mauthausen and Auschwitz, I felt this book to be required reading. HISTORY ON TRIAL is 305 pages long, 328 if you add "Acknowledgments" and "Notes". The core of the narrative, and the most interesting part for me, is the 187-page "Trial" section wherein the high points of the testimonies and cross-examinations during the 10-week trial at London's Royal Courts of Justice in 2000 are summarized. For any reader of historical non-fiction, what should prove instructive is the revelation how Irving, renowned for his books on Adolph Hitler, the Third Reich, and the European theater of World War II, distorted facts on a multitude of occasions in order to paint Hitler in a more favorable light, specifically, to present that the Fuehrer had no knowledge of the Holocaust and that the systematic killing of Jews was not directed from Berlin. He did this, apparently, to endear himself to contemporary white supremacist organizations. That Irving himself expressed racist and anti-Semitic sentiments, and that he was indeed a Holocaust denier, were the judgments of the court. And, moreover, the verdict was upheld on subsequent appeal. The valuable lesson to be learned, the one for which this book needs to be read, is that historical works can't necessarily be taken at face value no matter what the reputation of their authors or the excellence of their presentations. The old axiom has it that a physician who treats himself, or a lawyer who represents himself, is a fool. If that be the case, then Irving, who represented himself before Judge Charles Gray and is himself not a lawyer, is perhaps one of the biggest fools on Earth. As described by Lipstadt - and, again, we must remember the lesson about the selective presentation of facts - Irving demonstrates via his words spoken in court what an insidiously devious and disingenuous historian he's capable of being. A lawyer representing this plaintiff might've accomplished some damage control. But, then, this book's lesson would've been diluted to the readers' loss. This will anger those readers of this review who idolize Deborah, but I'm going to suggest that she wasn't the best chronicler of this case. For the same reason that Irving shouldn't have represented himself, Lipstadt should've perhaps left the telling of the story, even after the fact, to one with some emotional distance from it. Her passionate involvement caused me to become increasingly annoyed with her. After all,; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Art of Darkness: Ingenious Performances by Undercover Operators, Con Men, and Others; Author: Visit Amazon's Sara K Schneider Page; Review: At first glance, the title ART OF DARKNESS is enigmatic. Is this about the dark side of sorcery's magic? Or perhaps an examination of a new school of painting? Or a coffee table book featuring the imagery of nighttime shadows? No to all, but rather it's a learned treatise by Sara Schneider on the creation and exercise of false identities by con men and undercover cops. I perceived at least five principal subtopics to the overall theme: the personality type that lends itself to the assumption of a false identity, the props, e.g. documents and disguises, that support such, the mechanics of the con-mark interaction, circumstances which cause an undercover cop to go "bad" or a criminal to go "good", i.e. become an informant, and the means by which a false identity can be salvaged if its breakdown appears imminent. In the perfect reading experience, I'm both diverted and educated. Both elements may otherwise be present or not. An example of a book that's entertaining but not instructive would be, say, any one of the Jack Reacher thrillers by Lee Child, e.g. the excellent Bad Luck and Trouble (Jack Reacher). Three books that pleased immensely on both levels were A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson, Roving Mars by Steve Squyres, and Death by Black Hole: And Other Cosmic Quandaries by Neil deGrasse Tyson. Alternatively, I found Schneider's esoteric ART OF DARKNESS to be commendably learned, but not consistently regaling. While certainly not impenetrable to the literate, the text requires the reader's close attention. An example of the narrative's more or less general tone follows: "Every seamless roleplay, whatever its combination of simulation and dissimulation techniques, takes as its model the practices of passing, wherein member of one group (usually of low status) attempt to be known and accepted in practice as members of a higher-level status group. Goffman identified a 'cycle of passing', in which the passer moves first toward expanding consciousness of his act, then toward increasing planfulness, and finally toward total pervasiveness of his passing identity in his life. This journey describes the parallel motion of the passer's subjective sense of him or herself within a new social role and the achieved level of external success demonstrated by passing within that role ..." Mind you, the book sometimes inspires an enthusiastic "Cool!": "The term 'mark'- as it refers to the victim of a confidence scheme - derives from the circus con practice of literally marking those who had either already been taken or demonstrated the signs that they could be. On adults deemed ripe for carnival swindles, the placement of the chalk mark indicated where its bearer carried his money." I suggest that ART OF DARKNESS be required reading for a behavioral psychology class, or for law enforcement officers considering training and assignment as undercover operatives, or perhaps even for those enrolled in a school of acting. These audiences might very well award five stars. However, as a volume for the casual reader to pull off the shelf, I give it four stars, and then only if; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Bad Lands (Lonely Planet) (Travel Literature); Author: Visit Amazon's Tony Wheeler Page; Review: "Libya is one of the most comprehensively trashed countries I've ever visited." - Author Tony Wheeler in BAD LANDS Co-founder (with his wife, Maureen) of Lonely Planet Publications, Tony Wheeler here describes his travels through nine countries generally considered "bad lands" by Western societies because of their poor treatment of their own citizens, their involvement in terrorism, and the threat they pose to other countries. The nine are Afghanistan, Albania, Myanmar (Burma), Cuba, Iran, Iraq, Libya, North Korea, and Saudi Arabia. Except for areas in Iraq which Wheeler was careful to skirt, none of the nine are particularly dangerous for the individual visitor. In the genre of travel essays, BAD LANDS is commendably out of the ordinary in that it includes a 16-page center section of color photographs. I guess if your book is being published your own publishing company, you can afford this extravagance. While reading the first chapter on Afghanistan, I thought Wheeler's writing rather stiff and I was somewhat dreading the experience of the whole. But in following chapters, he loosens up considerably and becomes a congenial and wryly humorous guide. For instance, this paragraph about Cuba: "Every other woman walking by was wearing the standard Cuban fashion statements: short, tight, low, high, stretched. Preferably in Lycra ... In Cuba no women can be too big, too wide, too round for Lycra. 'Thrusting femininity' was the two-word definition of the Cuban approach to fashion, according to one visiting travel writer ..." Published in 2007, BAD LANDS provides a roomy front window for the reader to peer out into the contemporary society of each nation visited, as well as useful rear window overlooking their recent pasts. I'd award five stars except for the last two chapters, "The Evil Meter" and "Other Bad Lands: The Extended List." In the former, Tony rates, on a scale of 1 to 10, each of the nine subject nations: 1-3 points for domestic oppression, 1-3 for support or participation in terrorism, 1-3 for international belligerency, and a bonus point for Personality Cult centered around the national leader. I didn't mind so much that Wheeler calibrated his meter with such countries as the United States, Australia, the UK, and France and found them registering on the scale, albeit at a low level. But, when he carried the concept over into the latter chapter and mentions such garden spots as Somalia, Congo/Zaire, Angola, Haiti, Papua New Guinea, Pakistan, Syria and (in his mind) the evil conjoined twins, Israel and Palestine, without making even the most rudimentary mention of an obvious twosome, resurgent Russia and China, then I began to doubt his objectivity. Perhaps he should just stay with travel writing and skip the editorializing.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Still Alice; Author: Visit Amazon's Lisa Genova Page; Review: "She wanted to continue walking, but stood frozen instead. She didn't know where she was. She looked back across the street ... The corridor, the hotel, the stores, the illogically meandering streets. She new she was in Harvard Square, but she didn't know which way was home." - Alice, September 2003. Heart-wrenching, uplifting, devastating, wonderful, difficult to pick up, hard to put down, informative, depressing, poignant, perceptive, tragic, erudite, compassionate, a must-read. All of the above describe the novel STILL ALICE by psychologist and neuroscientist Lisa Genova, Ph. D. Genova's protagonist is Dr. Alice Howland, a tenured and honored professor of psycholinguistics at Harvard University. At age 50, Alice is diagnosed as having early-onset Alzheimer's Disease (EoAD). The story, from Howland's perspective, evolves over the two years post diagnosis as her mind is inexorably enveloped by the spreading tentacles of dementia. STILL ALICE is for anyone who's recently been diagnosed with EoAD, or the care-giver of a loved one with the affliction, or anyone who has a friend in either situation. The author's message is that Alzheimer's victims need family understanding and, if available, a support network of kindred sufferers. Indeed, the book's last pages make pointedly sure you know about just such an organization, a very real one, the Dementia Advocacy and Support Network International. The book effectively closes in the summer of 2005 with a now rare, lucid exchange between a seriously deteriorated Alice and her husband, John: Alice: "I miss myself." John: "I miss you, too, Ali, so much." Alice: "I never planned to get like this." John: "I know." You may well weep for Alice.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mexifornia : A State of a Becoming; Author: Visit Amazon's Victor Davis Hanson Page; Review: "... this book is part melancholy remembrance of a world gone by, part detached analysis by a historian who knows well the treacherous sirens of romance and nostalgia, and part advocacy by a teacher who always wanted his students to be second to no one." - Author Victor Davis Hanson Born in Fowler, CA and raised in the San Joaquin Valley town of Selma (2000 census 19,444), author Hanson is a raisin grape farmer and former classics professor at California State University, Fresno. He grew up in the early sixties in an environment incorporating a large Hispanic element. Friends and members of his extended family, including his twin brother, have married Hispanics. From this perspective, he's written MEXIFORNIA, a cogent and unsparing view of the current influx of (predominantly illegal) Mexican immigrants into California and the social stresses this population shift has caused. Since Hanson's pointed opinions pierce the miasma of political correctness that exudes from the mainstream media and local and state political hacks, I shall be quoting him extensively. Please bear with me; if I can convince you with a sampling of his prose that MEXIFORNIA is worth purchasing and reading, then my approach to the review and my award of five stars are justified. First off, let's lay one thing on the table. Hanson refers to those who've crossed over from our southern neighbor by routes not established by law as ILLEGALS. Nowhere in this book does the term UNDOCUMENTED appear. If this offends the politically correct, then such should not read this book as they may well wring their hands and rend their garments. Personally, I love his refreshing candor. On the dream of those who come: "The dream of the young worker ... is that he might earn money as a Mexican in America and then go home to live like an American in Mexico." On the ultimate realizations of those who come: "You can have ten times what you had in Mexico, but still be miserable that you have one-tenth what others in America do ... How soon one metamorphoses from being a guest grateful for the privilege of having plentiful, clean food to being churlish because his house lacks central air conditioning cannot be calculated exactly; but the divide between appreciation and resentment is not wide ... most aliens from Mexico, despite their hard work, will never in their lifetimes enjoy the lifestyle that most of us Americans have ... they will still pick and scrub while we do not, and for them that makes all the difference in the world." On the relativity of prosperity for those who come: "A man alone may be wealthy at even $10 an hour; he is an utter pauper at the same wage with a pregnant wife, two children in diapers, and a three-bedroom apartment with a clunky car in the stall and one in worse condition on blocks ...The greatest hazard to the illegal immigrant is a large family - the truth that is never mentioned, much less discussed." Touching on the American's perception of the unfairness; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Shakespeare: The World as Stage (Eminent Lives); Author: Visit Amazon's Bill Bryson Page; Review: Iowa-raised and presumably corn-fed Bill Bryson is perhaps best known for his humorous travel essays about such places as England (Notes from a Small Island), Australia (In a Sunburned Country), the Appalachian Trail (A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail), rural America (The Lost Continent: Travels in Small-Town America), and, well, just about everywhere you can think of (A Short History of Nearly Everything). His love of England, which I share, is what originally marked him as one of my favorite authors. As one who obviously enjoys stringing words together and, moreover, has written books on the subject (The Mother Tongueand Bryson's Dictionary of Troublesome Words: A Writer's Guide to Getting It Right), it's not terribly surprising that Bill has combined his affections for England and its language in a volume about its greatest (play)writer, SHAKESPEARE: THE WORLD AS A STAGE. And, of course they're both named William. Bryson admits up front that there's very little in the way of hard facts about William Shakespeare. But, in Bill's hands, that plus what can be deduced or inferred expands to a very satisfying and entertaining volume even for the culturally destitute reader who may not be a aficionado of the Bard's stuff. Like myself. Bill sets the stage, so to speak, with a cursory examination of the English period contemporary with his subject: the monarchy of Elizabeth I, certain London structures (London Bridge, St. Paul's Cathedral), the Thames, religious turmoil, public pastimes, the state of the London theater scene, the business of being a playwright, the structure of contemporary plays, and the art of bookbinding. With those considerations functioning as a contextual backdrop, the products of Shakespeare's life that can be directly studied - his parentage, plays, poetry, written vocabulary, will, and other rare public records in which he's mentioned - serve to flesh out the man to the extent possible. There's even a final chapter on the historical and modern claimants to the authorship of Shakespeare's works, which claims some otherwise accomplished people take seriously. (Just as the current Royal Family had Princess Di murdered. You think?) The author's paramount strength is the congeniality of his dialogue with his readers. He could, no doubt, make the description of fabricating wire hangers amusing, interesting, and instructive. SHAKESPEARE isn't Bill's best work, perhaps because the scope of the subject matter is so narrow, but it does deserve a place on the bookshelves of his fans.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Bullheaded Black Remembers Alexander: The Story of Alexander the Great's Invasion of the Middle East; Author: J. L. Taylor; Review: Bucephalus (Greek: "Ox-Head") was Alexander the Great's warhorse, which accompanied the conqueror from Macedonia to the portals of India. BULLHEADED BLACK REMEMBERS ALEXANDER is author John Taylor's severely summarized account (74 pages of the volume's 163 pages of text) of Alexander's campaign against Persia and beyond to the Indus River. Taylor's name for Bucephalus is "Bullheaded Black." On page 1, the reader encounters a winged Bucephalus sitting on a cloud with Pegasus, the winged horse-god of Greek mythology. In the first four chapters, the two get acquainted. While Pegasus maintains that the Greek pantheon of gods is where the action's at, Bucephalus extols the virtues of humans and life on the ground. The two then set off to visit Mt. Olympus, followed by a brief aerial tour of the known world high above the Mediterranean. Retiring for the night, Bucephalus begins telling Pegasus the story of his master, Alexander. Well before the end of chapter four, it was apparent both from the format and tone of the story that this isn't a work for the adult reader. To appreciate the book, one must revert to age 10 or so. And, I don't mean this as a criticism. In the subsequent ten chapters, Taylor, through the first-person narration of an anthropomorphized Bucephalus, introduces the reader to the friendship between the young Alexander and Hephaestion, the boys' teacher Aristotle, and the pair's entry as cavalrymen into the army of Alexander's father, Philip. Then, in quick succession after Philip's assassination, come the Delphic proclamation of Alexander as the son of Zeus, Alexander's solution to the Gordian knot, the first defeat of the Persian King Darius, the capture of Tyre, the conquest of Egypt and the foundation of Alexandria, the second defeat of Darius and the taking of Babylon, the burning of the Persian capital of Persepolis, the discovery of the body of the fugitive Darius, the campaign in Afghanistan, the marriage of Alexander to Roxana, and the invasion of Pakistan and India. Sprinkled throughout the book are lessons and observations perhaps instructive for the young. As examples: Aristotle advises: "... the written word is valuable and it is ancient and it is powerful, but that doesn't make a book completely true. Let no person and no book ever close your mind to reality ..." After his visit to the Egyptian oracle at Siwah, Alexander states to his companions: "It seems the principal gods are one. God is one. It matters not the name." Camping before Jerusalem, Alexander finds the Jews "a sad, forlorn people who longed for the past", and he observes: "(The Jews) could use, however, I am sure, a new religious leader, maybe someone who could help them believe that there is life after death, you know, like the resurrection the Egyptians believe in. The right man could give these people some hope that there may be a kingdom for them somewhere else, if not in this world." (If I was Jewish, I'd feel patronized, but it should be noted that Taylor was once a Mormon missionary.) After capturing Babylon, Alexander volunteers: "I; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Walking Dead; Author: Visit Amazon's Gerald Seymour Page; Review: Gerald Seymour is, and will likely remain, my favorite author of potboilers based on contemporary international tensions and conflicts. But, my reaction to THE WALKING DEAD was that perhaps he tried a little too hard with the secondary plot and a superabundance of characters in this one. Sometimes, simpler is better. What could have been a lean and mean thriller is rendered mean and flabby. The primary plot features the Scorpion, a facilitator of suicide bombing missions, who's recruited the young Saudi medical student, Ibrahim Hussein, to carry an explosive vest into the heart of England. Helping the pair are the Engineer, an old friend of the Scorpion who builds the bombs, plus a deep cover cell of Brits of foreign heritage who've been recruited by local imams into the jihadist cause: Faria, Khalid, Ramzi, Syed, and Jamal. Opposing them are Dickie Naylor, five days from retirement, who supervises the MI6 desk charged with intercepting overseas-born, foreign-based suicide terrorists, and Joe Hegner, an FBI agent from the Riyadh station previously blinded by an Islamic martyr's blast. Then there's the ambitious Mary Reakes, Dickie's assistant, who's already measuring Naylor's office for redecoration. Flown in from their farm in the Inner Hebrides are Xavier Boniface and Donald Clydesdale, former colleagues of Dickie's in Army Intelligence and experts at "taking the gloves off" during enhanced interrogation techniques. Finally, there's Midge, a spaniel trained to sniff-out explosives. In the secondary plot, we have Ozzie and Ollie Curtis, brothers on trial for the armed robbery of a jewelry store. Their shady solicitor is Nat Wilson, who arranges for Benny "the Nobbler" Edwards to bribe one of the jurors, Julian Wright, to deadlock the panel's verdict. As the trial winds down, the jurors are sequestered and placed behind a protective shield of officers, one of whom is David Banks, seconded from the Royal and Diplomatic Protection Service after falling out of favor with his boss and ostracized by his professional colleagues. Banks, a loner, is obsessed with the diary of his great-uncle, Cecil Darke, who penned the journal during his time fighting with the communists during the Spanish Civil War. Further out on the periphery of the story are George Marriot, a crippled ex-bounty hunter that once tracked Osama bin Laden in Afghanistan, Steve Vickers, a city tour guide, Avril Harris, an ER nurse with car problems, and Lee Donkin, a drug addict and petty thief. All four are residents of Luton. Seymour's strength has always been making his characters, particularly the protagonists, ordinary folks with everyday problems who manage to muddle through and save the day, or at least not lose it, at the world's gritty and grotty edges. In THE WALKING DEAD, the gritty and grotty edge is Luton north of London. But, then, I gather that many Englishmen wouldn't disagree with that assessment. Not having been there, I couldn't say. In any case, the primary story line has all the elements necessary to make an excellent thriller and, for me, it got to the point where the occasional textual diversions to the subplot were just; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hollywood Station: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Joseph Wambaugh Page; Review: It's been literally decades since I've read a Joseph Wambaugh police procedural thriller. Once his plots left the realm of the LAPD, I lost interest. But he returns with all the old panache with HOLLYWOOD STATION first published in 2006, 14 years after the legendary Chief Daryl Gates retired, or, as some say, was forced out by the 1992 riots that followed the wretched Rodney King episode (and "wretched" is used as a modifier of both King and the episode, especially the former considering his subsequent performance as a citizen). It's a new world for the force. The characters of this novel are the law officers and miscreants they police in the Hollywood Division, which I drive through every day on the way to work unaware of the human dramas and comedies bubbling just below the surface. It's the beat that includes Grauman's Chinese, the Walk of Fame, the Kodak Theater (of the Oscars) and the famous HOLLYWOOD sign. On a broader scale, it's interesting to learn the author's take, as seen through the eyes of his cop heroes, on the doldrums the LAPD has entered under Gates' lackluster successors and the current activist city mayor. The federal consent decree, under which the department currently operates, is particularly odious. Only the watch of the current police chief achieves a hint of approval. The crimes and misdemeanors of Hollywood's low-life, and the situations confronting L.A.'s finest, are often bizarre. You couldn't make this stuff up, and I suspect that Wambaugh hasn't. At the book's beginning, he gives credit to the police officers of Los Angeles, San Diego and Palm Springs for providing him with anecdotal stories. So, even if the Hollywood Division isn't quite so lively on a daily basis as depicted, the stretch to the imagination is more about frequency than substance and the descriptive "Hollyweird" perhaps has basis in fact. Wambaugh is back! And I've already got his latest book, Hollywood Crows: A Novel(involving many of the same protagonists), on my Wish List.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Greatest Battle: Stalin, Hitler, and the Desperate Struggle for Moscow That Changed the Course of World War II; Author: Visit Amazon's Andrew Nagorski Page; Review: I purchased THE GREATEST BATTLE because of a general interest in World War II and particularly its turning points. I didn't read beforehand a synopsis or reviews of the book and thus wasn't disabused of the notion that its vantage point was that of the units fighting on the ground, perhaps at the army, corps and brigade levels. This preconception proved to be a misconception, though not one fatal to my subsequent appreciation of this narrative about Germany's attempt to capture Moscow. THE GREATEST BATTLE is rather a Big Picture overview of the largest armed clash of WWII beginning well before Hitler's invasion of the U.S.S.R. to April 1942, considered by military consensus to be the end of the battle. It is, as the subtitle suggests, more about Hitler vs. Stalin and their respective leadership styles as the Wehrmacht, seemingly unstoppable, drove on the Soviet capital in the summer and fall of 1941. Author Andrew Nagorski touches on so many topics: Stalin's purge of the army in 1937-38, the Nazi-Soviet nonaggression pact, the partition of Poland, the Soviet's 1939 Winter War with Finland, Hitler's reasons for invading Russia, Stalin's apparent blindness to the coming assault, the speed of the German advance, the unpreparedness of the Soviet Army, Stalin's view of Russian POWs, the panic that overtook Moscow's citizenry, the evacuation of Lenin's body, Stalin's decision to remain in Moscow and his decision to recall troops from the Far East, winter's effect on the unprepared German forces, American and British diplomatic overtures to the Kremlin, the Lend-Lease program, the rise of General Zhukov, General Guderian's removal from command, General Andrei Vlasov's switch of sides, the difficulties encountered by Western journalists reporting the battle, and Stalin's concept of post-war boundaries. "Touches on" is the operative term for the author's approach as the volume's relatively short length (316 pages of text) doesn't allow for an in-depth treatment of any one of its wide range of topics. The book includes four single-page maps that show general directions of advance along the Eastern and Moscow fronts at various times, but which don't include unit designations and positions below Army Group. There's also a serviceable sixteen-page section of photographs. In my inexpert eyes, THE GREATEST BATTLE doesn't have the narrative power of, say, The Fall of Berlin 1945 by Antony Beevor, but, as a solid, comprehensive summary of the battle for Moscow, it should serve the casual student of WWII well enough.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Nothing to Lose (Jack Reacher, No. 12); Author: Visit Amazon's Lee Child Page; Review: Working his way to San Diego from Maine, Lee Child's tough guy, Jack Reacher, finds himself in eastern Colorado walking westward from the pleasant settlement of Hope to the dingy town of Despair. Whereas the former was welcoming, the latter isn't, and the local law busts Jack for vagrancy and ultimately deposits him back on the asphalt in the midst of nowhere at the Hope-Despair boundary. Of course, this only gets Reacher riled. Against the advice of Vaughan, a sympathetic officer of the Hope Police Department whose husband is an Iraq war vet, Jack trudges back to Despair determined to find out the nature of its problem with strangers and ready to bust some heads in the process. In the course of NOTHING TO LOSE, Reacher, no surprise, accomplishes both with a bang. That's his job, the one for which his fans pay the publisher to read about. For the first time ever I'm decidedly unhappy with a Jack Reacher thriller, and it's made me more cranky than usual. I can forgive the evolution of the story line, which hyperextends itself with at least one superfluous subplot. But Child's major gaffe is to air his (apparently) own opinion of the Iraq war through the voice of his protagonist, a bias cleverly buried in an observation by Reacher to Vaughan on the obligations of America's civilian military overseers towards the troops. While I don't necessarily disagree with his position, assigning such to a popular fictional superhero verges on the unforgivable; heroic figures are best left apolitical. (When is the last time you saw Indiana Jones take a stand on abortion or gay marriage while chasing down some hidden treasure?) Thus, I'm knocking NOTHING TO LOSE down to three stars mostly on account of the author's bad form. Lee, if you want to vent via an interview, fine. (Maybe you already have and I missed it.) Otherwise, please keep Reacher in the realm of recreational, fantasy reading, thank you very much.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Way Off the Road: Discovering the Peculiar Charms of Small Town America; Author: Visit Amazon's Bill Geist Page; Review: Author Bill Geist is a traveling correspondent for "CBS News Sunday Morning". I haven't watched the show in ages. Perhaps I should as we tend to lose sight of how charming and beguiling Americana can be in the face of strident criticism by those, some home-grown, who tear the country down. WAY OFF THE ROAD is a compendium of twenty-eight profiles of small town oddities originally offered by Geist on the TV broadcast over the period 1996-2005. Of course, getting there spawns its own set of stories, which are interspersed among the others in four chapters: "Flying There", "Staying There", "Eating There", and "Driving There." For a retired couple with an RV and time to kill, this book might provide a roadmap for whiling away a year or two on the open road visiting the New Zion Missionary Baptist Church Barbecue (Huntsville, TX), the Watermelon-Seed Spit World Championship (Luling, TX), the Tow Truck Museum and Hall of Fame (Chattanooga, TN), the Boat-In Worship (Syracuse, IN), the Paskowitz Surf Camp (San Onofre, CA), the Frozen Dead Guy Days festival (Nederland, CO), the Sundown Days festival (Hanlontown, IA), or the Figure 8 School Bus Races (Bithlo, FL). Of course, America is also its individual citizens, like cow photographer Kathy DeBruin (New Glarus, WI), Mayor Elsie Eiler (Minowi, NE, population 1), Moonburger chef Helen Tuttle (Moonshine, IL, population 2), or the UFO aficionados Pat and Joe Travis (Rachel, NV). It almost makes me want to give up the old 9 to 5 right now, load up the wife and unread books in a Winnebago, and set out to see it all. Well, I might have to leave the wife off to do the shopping while getting the windshield windexed by three hookers at Sheri's Ranch (Pahrump, NV). My only picky-picky quarrel with Geist is the barely adequate photo section, which is four half-pages of snaps not much larger than oversized postage stamps. For me, the litmus test for any travel essay is its ability to compel me, out of curiosity, to go onto the Web to further research the places written about. In the case of WAY OFF THE ROAD, I remained on-line throughout.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Remember Me?: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Sophie Kinsella Page; Review: "I was a normal girl with frizzy hair and snaggle teeth and a crap boyfriend. And a fairly crap job, and friends who I had a laugh with, and a cozy little flat." - Lexi Smart "I gaze into the mirror and my twenty-eight-year-old face stares back. How on earth did I get from me ... to her?" - Lexi Smart Sophie Kinsella is author of the enormously humorous - and frivolous with a capital "F" - SHOPAHOLIC series starring Becky Bloomwood, spendthrift shopper extraordinaire. I know; I've read them all. In REMEMBER ME?, Kinsella takes a more sobering, but just as enjoyable, tack. I devoured it over the July 4th weekend, stopping only for unavoidable chores that I couldn't unload onto the wife. Here, the heroine is Lexi Smart, who awakens in a hospital bed several days after suffering a severe crack on the head. To her dismay, the past three years of her life are totally forgotten. During that period, she had apparently morphed from a fun-loving but unremarkable, low-paid drone in Deller Carpets, where she worked with her chums Fi, Carolyn and Debs while dating Loser Dave, into a gorgeous, poised and driven senior executive of the same company and married to Eric, a handsome and charming multi-millionaire property developer. Her new existence contains everything beyond her wildest dreams, if only she could remember how she got them. But, as she gets acquainted with her "new" self, her apparently ideal lifestyle begins to show frays around the edges that threaten to unravel towards the center. Perhaps it's not so perfect? Indeed, Fi, Carolyn and Debs now snub her horridly. And what is Eric's reference to "Mont Blanc" all about? For the reader who may wonder where life went wrong and wishes one could go back again, REMEMBER ME? demonstrates that, at least in fiction, it can be done. Like Becky Bloomwood, Sophie conjures Lexi with a fierce affection for the persona while putting her in situations that threaten to spiral deliciously out of control. Like Becky, Lexi has the core intelligence, goodness, and strength of character to muddle through. Kinsella writes chic-lit par excellence. But even this male continues to be charmed.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bonk: The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex; Author: Visit Amazon's Mary Roach Page; Review: "Not everyone gets their (masturbation study) funding from research grants. Some masturbation professionals get their funding from the sales of Vibrating Port-A-Pussies and Mr. Fred Jelly Dongs." - Mary Roach in BONK "To get inside a lubricated vagina, a penis needs to be hard enough to push against the opening with one to two pounds of force. That is approximately the amount of force required to open a swinging kitchen door." - Mary Roach in BONK Mary Roach is the author of Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers, the enormously instructive and entertaining book on the uses to which human cadavers are put. As far as I'm concerned, instructive AND entertaining is about as good as it gets. With BONK, Roach has outdone herself with a read that I couldn't put down. Science pursues sex because, after all, it's what makes the world turn. Roach first establishes the history of the science, which pretty much reached mainstream acceptance with researchers Alfred Kinsey and then William Masters and Virginia Johnson. (An excellent film about the former, starring Liam Neeson, is 2004's Kinsey.) The meat of the book, so to speak, is the wide array of sexual behavior and physiologic functions which scientists have investigated, and which include: the sure sign of female orgasm, the location of the fabled G Spot, female orgasm as a function of clitoral-urethral separation distance, the link between female sexual pleasure and fertility, the validity of the vaginal "upsuck" concept, the validity of the penis-cervix interlock theory, cures for erectile dysfunction, the historical legal implications of male "potency", societal perspectives on masturbation, testicular transplants, penile implants, penis restoration post amputation, the physiology and structure of the clitoris, the internal mechanics of penile erection, orgasm's effect on overall physical health, the value of orgasm as exercise, the role of electroejaculation in people with spinal cord injuries, vaginal lubrication as an indicator of female sexual arousal, the nature of arousal in men vs. women, the physiologic trigger of male ejaculation, the role of hormones on the female libido, the existence of human sex-pheromones, and the qualitative measurement of sex. Juicy stuff, this. The author's special talent, whether it be in STIFF or BONK, is her serious - but not too serious - approach to the subject matter. At any time, the reader may expect Mary to look up from her notes, cock an eyebrow, and deliver some wryly humorous aside. This is perhaps best seen in the footnotes to the text, as in the one connected to the above quote concerning the amount of penile force required for vaginal entry: "We have three Houston researchers to thank for this statistic. In 1985, the trio attached a pressure gauge to the tip of a penis-shaped Plexiglas rod and penetrated a small group of female volunteers. It seems to me that if they wanted to approximate the surface friction that exists in real intercourse, slippery-smooth Plexiglas was a poor stand-in for penis skin. Though I suppose that when you're doing an experiment that involves penetrating coeds in your lab, surface friction is; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Faithful Spy: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Alex Berenson Page; Review: John Wells has been away from the United States and his home state of Montana for a decade. Since 1996, he's been a deep cover agent in Afghanistan for the Central Intelligence Agency. So deep that he leads a band of Qaeda guerrillas and is known to them as Jalal. He's even met bin Laden. John's only message to his Langley CIA controller, Jennifer Exley, was back in 2001. Now, Wells is going home on the orders of the senior Qaeda leadership. Once there, he'll be expected to assist Khadri, a fiendishly clever and devious Qaeda planner, in carrying out a major act of violence against America. To the head honchos of the CIA, John is an enigma and not to be trusted. Hell, he even carries around a copy of the Koran and prays to Allah. Now, what sort of red, white and blue American does that? As for Khadri, he doesn't trust anybody much less one born of the Great Satan. Wells is truly on his own. Is THE FAITHFUL SPY the best espionage thriller I've ever read? Um ... no. But, as the debut novel from author Alex Berenson, it's exceptional in its scope, presentation, and imaginativeness. It's written with the flair and confidence of a more experienced author. Not since Lee Child's first Jack Reacher thriller, Killing Floor [KILLING FLOOR] [Mass Market Paperback], have I been so impressed. Four stars, therefore, with the expectation that his next one, The Ghost War, will be even better as the Wells and Exley characters gain more definition. Four stars leaves room for the expected improvement. My single niggle of dissatisfaction comes from the fact that John didn't fully engage my empathy and sympathy as some other fictional protagonists have done in the past even from book one. Child's Reacher and Elleston Trevor's (aka Adam Hall) Quiller come immediately to mind as both personae have endearing subtleties; Quiller had standing instructions with his employer to send roses to Moira in the event of his death, while Reacher doesn't even know how to iron a shirt. I expect Wells to grow on me; we'll see.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: I Was Told There'd Be Cake; Author: Visit Amazon's Sloane Crosley Page; Review: "... if a soup kitchen is set up in a forest and no news crews are around to see it because they all saw THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT and they'll be damned if they're setting one foot in the woods for some stinkin' homeless people, does it count? Somehow I don't think so." - Author Sloane Crosley I've been considering the title of Sloane Crosley's book, I WAS TOLD THERE'D BE CAKE, trying to perceive the message it sends to the potential reader. I can't quite put my finger on it. It's catchy, though; I like it. The volume itself is a series of essays on the author's reactions to the minor injustices, unmet expectations, petty annoyances, imponderables, absurdities, and anxieties of her young life. As of today, she's still in her late twenties. Perhaps the best chapter is the one entitled "You on a Stick", wherein she describes the experience of being chosen as the maid-of-honor by an engaged, former high school "friend" that she barely remembers. A deer caught in headlights is less inconvenienced, apparently. Perhaps my favorite essayist that ruminates on life and the human condition is Barbara Holland (Endangered Pleasures: In Defense of Naps, Bacon, Martinis, Profanity, and Other Indulgences,When All the World Was Young: A Memoir,Wasn't the Grass Greener?: Thirty-three Reasons Why Life Isn't as Good as It Used to Be). Her view of the world incorporates a certain wisdom and common sense that have evolved from several decades of living beyond what Crosley has experienced. The point I'm trying to make is that Sloane's musings, while certainly diverting and engaging, might perhaps only be taken seriously and thought profound by someone no more than thirty. She has a flair for expression, however, that, seasoned by the years to come, should result in a perception and literary talent that rivals Holland's. Thus, and perhaps unfairly, I'm awarding I WAS TOLD THERE'S BE CAKE only three stars not for what it is now but rather in comparison to the book it could become in 30-40 years. Of course, somebody age 90, or thirty years older than I am now, may comment that this review is nonsense and I should give credit where credit is due. As a matter of fact, you're welcome to say that no matter what your age. Returning to the mood conveyed by the title. Petulance, perhaps, or a growing sense of disappointment? I really do like it for its cleverness.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Roseanna's Reply; Author: Frank Johnson; Review: With ROSEANNA'S REPLY, author Frank Johnson has deftly crafted a story with a little bit of something for everyone: romance, espionage, aerial combat, murder, righteous retribution, airplane technology, aviation history, Hollywood glamour, a beautiful and strong-willed heroine, and a skilled and steadfast hero. And, if you're a war bird enthusiast, it is, above all, about one of the most iconic aircraft ever to fly - the P-51 Mustang. In the free-wheeling style of an aerial dogfight, Johnson takes us from Canada to Southern California to England to Mexico to Germany in a storyline piloted by his heroine, Roseanna Kendall, the headstrong daughter of the (here) fictional president of North American Aviation, the company that (in fact) designed and built the P-51, and Waldo, the crack bush pilot that rescues Roseanna from a Canadian crash site and who ultimately accepts an offer to work for her Dad at company headquarters in Los Angeles, where the Mustang is being fine-tuned for its insertion into the air war over the Third Reich. It should be noted here that, in the hands of Johnson, the Waldo character is an extrapolation of the one played by Robert Redford in a Big Screen production released in 1975 (and relatively unavailable for viewing today). As I understand it, Frank was unable to make the connection explicit in the absence of permission from the studio that owns the film. However, there are hints in the narrative that can be discovered with attentive reading. A flyer himself, though he leisurely putters through the Central California air in a slow-moving biplane, Johnson's volume is a work of love dedicated to the sleek and deadly P-51. (One needs only to gaze upon a gleaming, restored Mustang to understand why.) As a debut novel, ROSEANNA'S REPLY is a notable achievement and a satisfying read involving a multitude of personae both fictional and real. And I especially like, on the back of the dust jacket, the yellow swoosh added to the silhouette image of the female model to resemble a wind-blown flying scarf. Classy! So, Frank, when are you penning a tale built around the B-17? This fan wants to know.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Fearless Fourteen: A Stephanie Plum Novel (Stephanie Plum Novels); Author: Visit Amazon's Janet Evanovich Page; Review: When I was young(er) and foolish, I wouldn't even consider buying a used book. Now that I'm acquiring the wisdom of age and the price of food and gas is escalating, virtually all the books I purchase are second-hand. And FEARLESS FOURTEEN is the poster example of why not to waste good money on a new copy. Reading any newest release in the Stephanie Plum series is like eating at the Golden Arches; you always know what you're going to get. But even McDonald's has been known to make radical changes (like offering politically correct healthful salads - to my mind, Yuk!, but that's just me). Author Janet Evanovich apparently doesn't know the meaning of the word "constructive change" and, in the case of this installment, has even lost the concept of "quality". Granted, she must be under enormous pressure from her publisher to keep churning out the Plum adventures, but it could be argued that she just slopped this one out any old way to meet a deadline. It may be time for JE to move on. I know that I am; WHATEVER FIFTEEN won't make it onto my Wish List, new or used, for any price. Free, maybe. Here, we have the usual regulars of Stephanie, Ranger, Morelli, Lula and Grandma Mazur supplemented by the this-show-only guest cast of eccentric characters. But it didn't really hit me how absurdly silly this recipe has gotten until Zook and Mooner began blasting people with their home-made potato cannon. Moreover, the ending was absolutely flat. And, as has been mentioned by at least one other reviewer, where did the two amputated toes come from? Plum's career as an accident-prone nabber of bail skippers and her dysfunctional love life only have appeal against a contrasting backdrop of relative normality, even if it's Trenton, NJ normality. But when the context and supporting props of her adventure become as ridiculously slapstick as Stephanie herself, she gets lost in it. At one point in FEARLESS FOURTEEN, Stephanie asks Morelli to promise to take care of Rex, her pet hamster, should anything happen to her. Oh, please, put a merciful end to Plum now and I'll volunteer to take care of Rex forever.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Fearless Fourteen: A Stephanie Plum Novel; Author: Janet Evanovich; Review: When I was young(er) and foolish, I wouldn't even consider buying a used book. Now that I'm acquiring the wisdom of age and the price of food and gas is escalating, virtually all the books I purchase are second-hand. And FEARLESS FOURTEEN is the poster example of why not to waste good money on a new copy. Reading any newest release in the Stephanie Plum series is like eating at the Golden Arches; you always know what you're going to get. But even McDonald's has been known to make radical changes (like offering politically correct healthful salads - to my mind, Yuk!, but that's just me). Author Janet Evanovich apparently doesn't know the meaning of the word "constructive change" and, in the case of this installment, has even lost the concept of "quality". Granted, she must be under enormous pressure from her publisher to keep churning out the Plum adventures, but it could be argued that she just slopped this one out any old way to meet a deadline. It may be time for JE to move on. I know that I am; WHATEVER FIFTEEN won't make it onto my Wish List, new or used, for any price. Free, maybe. Here, we have the usual regulars of Stephanie, Ranger, Morelli, Lula and Grandma Mazur supplemented by the this-show-only guest cast of eccentric characters. But it didn't really hit me how absurdly silly this recipe has gotten until Zook and Mooner began blasting people with their home-made potato cannon. Moreover, the ending was absolutely flat. And, as has been mentioned by at least one other reviewer, where did the two amputated toes come from? Plum's career as an accident-prone nabber of bail skippers and her dysfunctional love life only have appeal against a contrasting backdrop of relative normality, even if it's Trenton, NJ normality. But when the context and supporting props of her adventure become as ridiculously slapstick as Stephanie herself, she gets lost in it. At one point in FEARLESS FOURTEEN, Stephanie asks Morelli to promise to take care of Rex, her pet hamster, should anything happen to her. Oh, please, put a merciful end to Plum now and I'll volunteer to take care of Rex forever.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Unholy Business: A True Tale of Faith, Greed and Forgery in the Holy Land; Author: Visit Amazon's Nina Burleigh Page; Review: As one whose investment in the Bible has devolved into an intellectual interest at best, I was fascinated by UNHOLY BUSINESS, a journalist's investigation into the world of Biblical artifacts centered - no surprise - on Jerusalem and the Holy Land. Author Nina Burleigh reveals the Biblical antiquities industry to be a stew pot, set on continuous simmer, of competing individuals - scientists, collectors, forgers, site robbers, law enforcement officers, theologians, and assorted hangers-on - liberally seasoned with a disparate mix of competing, and sometimes downright hostile, agendas: Christian (Catholic) dogma, Christian (non-Catholic) fundamentalism, Muslim fundamentalism, Jewish nationalism, secularism, egotism, and just plain greed. The narrative eventually focuses on an alleged master scammer, Oded Golan, who's suspected of flooding the antiquities marketplace with fabrications big and small, the main three under discussion being the James Ossuary, ostensibly the resting place of the bones of Jesus' brother James, the Jehoash Tablet, an inscribed stone making reference to the First (or Solomon's) Temple, and the Ivory Pomegranate, an artifact from the same. Golan was indicted in December 2004 on forgery charges. Almost four years later, his trial continues. My previous exposure to ancient artifacts was pretty much limited to ambulations through London's British Museum and two of Berlin's fabulous museums, the Pergamon and the Agyptische. In neither of the three are Biblical antiquities the premier exhibits. Therefore, UNHOLY BUSINESS was a revelation, so to speak. This review refers to an uncorrected, paperback proof of the book. The hardback, when it's released, has the potential of being a five-star read IF it contains photographs of the three principal artifacts mentioned above as well as the individuals interviewed by Burleigh; considering the topic, it's inconceivable to me that such wouldn't be included. Yet, the reviewed version has no photo section whatsoever, and this deficiency is so appalling that it causes me to award but three stars. That a picture is worth a thousand words is a tired, old saw. But, in this case, it's so true.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Sherman: A Soldier'S Passion For Order; Author: John Marszalek; Review: "Wars are not all evil; they are part of the grand machinery by which this world is governed; thunderstorms which purify the political atmosphere, test the manhood of a people, and prove whether they are worthy to take rank with others engaged in the same task by different methods." - Gen. William T. Sherman As a casual student of Civil War history, i.e. returning to it periodically after bouts with trashier fare, I've heretofore lost sight of General Sherman in General Grant's shadow at Shiloh, Vicksburg and Chattanooga. Even the commendable Nothing but Victory: The Army of the Tennessee, 1861-1865 failed to correct this failing. SHERMAN finally forced the man into my awareness. This book by John Marszalek is an extensively researched, comprehensive, and solid summary of the General's life from boyhood to death. I would love to have seen what the late, great Shelby Foote could've done with the material, but that's neither here nor there. SHERMAN includes all of the elements of the man's private and public life that you'd expect in a biography. What stood out for me were the elements that I never suspected: his sojourn in California from 1848 to 1857 both as a military officer and a private banker, his position as the first superintendent of the military academy that would later evolve into Louisiana State University, his eventual post-war falling-out with Grant, and his controversial views on race. Indeed, Sherman's personal view of slavery was akin to that of a Southern slave owner; he thought it consistent with the natural order of things. Furthermore, he opposed the abolitionists of the pre-war period believing their efforts conducive to the growing national disorder that eventually resulted in the Civil War. Sherman once said: "The negro should be a free man, but not put on any equality with the Whites ... the effect of equality is illustrated in the character of the mixed race in Mexico and South America. Indeed it appears to me that the right of suffrage in our Country should be rather abridged than enlarged." The chapters on Sherman's Civil War career make clear that he was significantly more successful as a war strategist than as a battlefield tactician as evidenced by his failures as a corps commander at Chickasaw Bayou (1862), as army commander when his Army of the Tennessee was repulsed at the north end of Missionary Ridge at the Battle of Chattanooga (1863), and as an army group commander at the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain (1864). His claim to fame is, of course, his brilliant march through Georgia and the Carolinas during which his forces occupied Atlanta and Savannah, GA, and Columbia, SC, unopposed after skillfully maneuvering enemy forces out of all three cities beforehand. SHERMAN includes three photo sections, but no battlefield maps which otherwise might have been usefully illuminating. What drove Sherman was his deep antipathy for disorder, whether it be military, social, familial, or political. He would've made the consummate military dictator if given the opportunity. He was a great commander and man for his time and place. In; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Getting into Guinness: One Man's Longest, Fastest, Highest Journey Inside the World’s Most Famous Record Book; Author: Larry Olmsted; Review: I, too, was fascinated with the GUINNESS BOOK OF WORLD RECORDS when I discovered it as young teenager. Larry Olmstead was similarly affected, and, in GETTING INTO GUINNESS, has given us a narrative about the origin and evolution of the book, its global impact, those who read it, those who set the records, the rules and process of setting records, the dangers attendant to setting certain records, and stories behind the records. Olmstead personalizes the account by describing how he himself got into Guinness - more than once. This material, in the hands of someone with the sense of humor of, say, Bill Bryson or P.J. O"Rourke, could be fashioned into one of the most entertaining volumes on your bookshelf. Unfortunately, while exceedingly informative, GETTING INTO GUINNESS is matter-of-fact to the point of excruciating dryness. I was sorely disappointed and wouldn't recommend it unless you're really, really into its subject.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Good Guy: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Dean Koontz Page; Review: When I infrequently turn to a Dean Koontz thriller for entertainment, I usually discover some psycho that's evolved from a bad childhood. It makes one wonder what crowd the author ran with as a kid. Here, stonemason Tim Carrier, minding his own business on a barstool, finds himself mistaken for a hit man by one who abruptly gives him an envelope of money and the note: "Half of its there. Ten thousand. The rest when she's gone." The "she" is author Linda Paquette. Then, when hired killer Krait shows up at the same barstool, Tim endeavors to pass himself off as the one ordering the hit, but with a change of mind. He gives Krait the 10K to not carry out the pre-arranged contract. Krait is unmoved. On flights from Burbank to Oakland to Portland to Las Vegas to Burbank, THE GOOD GUY was a book I couldn't put down. I barely noticed the packaged peanuts or, on the leg to Vegas, the young woman with the showgirl body and plunging neckline in the seat across the aisle. The read is that good. As Carrier takes it upon himself to single-handedly save Linda's life, the hook of the plot is obviously to discover if he succeeds or if they both end up as corpses. Krait is one twisted and relentless dude in his pursuit of the fleeing pair. Then, there are the anticipated answers to the questions that the reader asks. What was Carrier before he started laying brick that enables him to keep himself and Paquette out of harm's way? You or I would be dead in a heartbeat, so don't try this at home. And why has Linda been targeted? Even she hasn't a clue. Except for its diversionary potential, THE GOOD GUY has no redeeming value whatsoever; it's pure trash. But, for a plane ride from Burbank to Oakland to Portland to Las Vegas to Burbank, it was absolutely perfect. Even if I did pass on the opportunity to ogle the showgirl.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: So Brave, Young and Handsome; Author: Visit Amazon's Leif Enger Page; Review: "That is how you want to be remembered, my friends. Take a picture in your moment of conquest, when your luck is high and bullets still bounce off. That will do for the ages." - Monte Becket Monte Becket lives with wife and young son in rural Minnesota along the Cannon River during the second decade of the 20th century. To date, Becket's one claim to wealth and fame is his wildly popular pulp Western, MARTIN BLIGH. His publisher wants more, but, lately, Monte's muse has failed him. Becket is drifting and anticipating failure as a writer, husband and father. Then one day, out of the fog on the river, a white-haired old man paddles his boat past. Enter into Monte's life boat-builder Glendon Hale, formerly Glen Dobie of the Hole-in-the-Wall Gang. Hale was once married to a Mexican girl named Blue. But, sought by the Federales, Glendon deserted her never to return. Now, years later, he desires to go back and apologize to the woman he truly loved. He invites Monte to accompany him on the journey, and the latter, fearing the stagnation in his life, accepts. Along the way appears Charles Siringo, also once of the Hole-in-the-Wall, but now a self-anointed lawman of some legend, mostly constructed from books that he himself has written. Charles, now an old man himself, is in relentless pursuit of Glen Dobie for past crimes. SO BRAVE, YOUNG AND HANDSOME is a coming-of-maturation story by Leif Enger. Its characterizations and narrative pace are reminiscent of Larry McMurtry's novels of the West, e.g. the superlative Lonesome Dove: A Novel (Simon & Schuster Classics). Here, Becket rediscovers not only himself and the talents within, but also learns something about the nature of honor, friendship, love and public fame. In the McMurtry style, the plot of Enger's book doesn't evolve to a climactic and dramatic ending. Rather, random and relatively mundane events accumulate over time to give meaning to the protagonist's life, much as they do in the real lives of you and me. Enger's writing talent enables him to tell his tale with sympathy for each of the characters while demonstrating a keen eye for the story's time and place. What results is not a thriller in the popular sense, but still a book that I couldn't put down. Like Lonesome Dove, it could translate to an intelligent and absorbing film of deep emotional impact.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Jewels: A Secret History; Author: Visit Amazon's Victoria Finlay Page; Review: "Throughout Asia and Europe, pearls were traditionally believed to ease a range of conditions, including eye diseases, fever, insomnia, 'female complaints', dysentery, whooping cough, measles, loss of virility, and bed-wetting ... Though nobody seems to advertise the potential for pearls to cure bed-wetting anymore." - Victoria Finlay in JEWELS JEWELS is one of those delicious volumes you read for the pure pleasure of acquiring esoteric knowledge that has no practical, everyday use. Similar books I've read that come to mind include Salt: A World History,PURE KETCHUP PB,Robbing the Bees: A Biography of Honey--The Sweet Liquid Gold that Seduced the World, and Death by Black Hole: And Other Cosmic Quandaries. If someone has penned a narrative entitled WIRE COAT HANGERS, I'd read that too if the subject was made interesting. (There isn't; I checked.) Author Finlay's approach is to discuss nine gemstones, three "organic" and six mineral, in the order of their position on Mohs' Scale of Relative Hardness. They are, listed by increasing hardness: amber, jet, pearl, opal, peridot, emerald, sapphire, ruby, and diamond. (On Mohs' scale, talc occupies position #1, i.e. the softest. My wife treasures her pressed talc engagement ring.) Finlay, a social anthropologist turned journalist, is no desk-bound researcher. To write JEWELS, the story of the various gems' sources and evolution in societal value systems, she traveled the world: Kaliningrad Oblast (Russian Federation), northern England, Japan, Australia, Arizona, Egypt, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, and, perhaps the hardest to access, Antwerp's Diamond Club. The book begins with European, Asian, Japanese, and Australian "treasure" maps. Indeed, on asking what to look out for prior to visiting the remote site of Cleopatra's emerald mines in Egypt's desolate interior mountains, she was told, "Scorpions." JEWELS contains an 8-page section of color photos as well as a liberal sprinkling of black and white snaps and illustrations. Oddly, it's the color section that comes up short, a fact which compels me to award 4 stars to what would otherwise be a five-star effort. Only examples of amber, pearl, opal, and diamond are pictured. There is no display of jet, peridot, emerald, sapphire, or ruby; I, an ignoramus when it comes to the topic, had to resort to the Internet. And there are no photos of two of the largest and most famous diamonds of history specifically mentioned in the text: the Cullinan(s) and the Golden Jubilee. Moreover, the Hope Diamond is given visual short-shrift considering its fame. JEWELS concludes with a 19-page, perhaps useful "Miscellany of Jewels", which includes a glossary of terms, color scale and clarity terms for diamonds, a listing of American state gemstones, popular vs. mineral names for gemstones, Mohs' Scale, and a listing of birthstones. "Miscellany" is certainly the operative term. Victoria's narrative is instructive and entertaining from start to finish. Except for the deficiency mentioned, one could hardly ask for more.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Moscow Rules (Gabriel Allon); Author: Visit Amazon's Daniel Silva Page; Review: In MOSCOW RULES, Israeli secret agent extraordinaire Gabriel Allon is minding his own business at an Italian villa restoring one of the Vatican's old painting masterpieces when his former boss at the Office, grouchy Ari Shamron, persuades him to drop his brushes and make contact with a Russian journalist who ostensibly has vital information to share regarding yet another threat to the West and Israel. In short order, Allon finds himself pitted against the Russian Federation's most unscrupulous arm dealer, Ivan Kharkov. (Ivan Kharkov? Is there a book that authors, just as expectant parents, consult to get unimaginative ideas for naming a new creation?) The first half of this pot boiler fabricates the plot at a pedestrian pace to set up the second half, during which the novel becomes an engrossing nail-biter worth the reader's time. Indeed, I finished off the final two-hundred-plus pages in a single marathon session that left my wife feeling ignored. That's what you risk when marrying a bibliophile. As Allon's ticklish maneuvering to neutralize Ivan's scheming played out, I was reminded of Smiley's operation to bring down Karla, his Soviet nemesis, in SMILEY'S PEOPLE (the novel, Smiley's People, and the film, Smiley's People) as well as Phelps' elaborately staged ploys in Mission Impossible - The Complete First TV Season. (Mind you, I don't mean to suggest that author Daniel Silva is yet in the same league as Smiley's creator, John Le Carre. But he's definitely on a par with or better than the MI screenwriters.) In the opinions of some, MOSCOW RULES is arguably five-star entertainment. The reason I'm giving four is that, after five decades of reading examples of the espionage genre, it's too formulaic. I suspect that the undercover victories against the bad guys at the world's frayed edges are much messier and not so clear-cut in real life. That's why I prefer the thrillers by Gerald Seymour, which, if you want to do yourself a favor, you should check out.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Glass Castle; Author: Visit Amazon's Jeannette Walls Page; Review: "I had no idea what my life would be like then, but as I gathered up my schoolbooks and walked out the door, I swore to myself that it would never be like Mom's, that I would not be crying my eyes out in an unheated shack in some godforsaken holler." - Jeannette Walls "I was sitting in a taxi, wondering if I had overdressed for the evening (party), when I looked out the window and saw Mom rooting through a Dumpster ... She had tied rags around her shoulders to keep out the spring chill ... To the people walking by, she probably looked like any of the thousands of homeless people in New York City ... I was embarrassed by them, too, and ashamed of myself for wearing pearls and living on Park Avenue while my parents were busy keeping warm and finding something to eat." - Jeannette Walls THE GLASS CASTLE by Jeannette Walls is the second-best book I've read this year to date, the best being Still Alice by Lisa Genova. Rose Mary and Rex Walls were married in 1956. Over the next several years, they had four children - daughters Lori, Jeannette and Maureen and son Brian. Anti-establishment and anti-authoritarian individualists frequently on the run from something, the couple refused to enter the societal mainstream even to the extent of supplying their children with the conventionally acceptable American upbringing that stipulates freedom from hunger and the provision of adequate shelter and clothing. THE GLASS CASTLE is Jeanette's poignant and powerful memoir of growing up emotionally loved but materially deprived. From Jeannette's narrative, it's soon apparent that her parents are gifted and intelligent human beings. Indeed, Rex, who's self-taught and knowledgeable about subjects that would challenge many university graduates, reads "Los Alamos Science" and "The Journal of Statistical Physics" and becomes interested in the Chaos Theory. Rex's mind is constantly ablaze with technically sophisticated plans and enrichment schemes, the former including designing The Glass Castle, an energy self-sufficient family home to be built of glass. However, Rex's rebellious streak against society, complicated by alcoholism, dooms him to a succession of failed blue-collar jobs and petty confrontations with the law that keep the Walls constantly on the move from California to Nevada to Arizona to West Virginia to New York City. In the Southwest, the family lives in a succession of dilapidated buildings in isolated, desert mining towns until Rose Mary inherits a home from her mother located in Phoenix, where life for Jeannette and her siblings is relatively good. Then Rex again becomes unemployed and the Walls move to the decaying coal mining town of Welch, WV, where Rex grew up. In Welch, the family's living conditions bottom out when they take up residence in a wretched, unheated, leaky, unplumbed shanty on stilts built on the side of a mountain. Here, the children don't even have enough to eat. Jeannette describes the experience of scavenging food at school: "When other girls came in (the girls' restroom) and threw away their lunch bags in the garbage pails, I'd go; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Ascent of Rum Doodle (Vintage Classics); Author: Visit Amazon's W. E. Bowman Page; Review: "For most people, it appears, RUM DOODLE is the funniest book they have never heard of." - Bill Bryson, in the Introduction to THE ASCENT OF RUM DOODLE Even if you've never climbed, or thought in your life to climb, an Asian massif, THE ASCENT OF RUM DOODLE is worth a couple of hours of your time. The book's author, W.E. Bowman, an English civil engineer, himself never ascended anything more challenging than the gentle slopes of England's Lake District. RUM DOODLE is, according to Bryson, a parody based on the Ascent of Nanda Devi by H.W. Tilman (1937). Rum Doodle is a forty-thousand foot peak in the fictional country of Yogistan. The narrative of the assault on its summit is told in the first person by the British expedition's leader, who's known to the reader only by his walkie-talkie pseudonym, Binder. (The time is presumably the mid-1950's when the volume was first published - no sat phones here.) The six others on the ascent team are: Burley, the commissaryman, Wish, the scientist, Jungle, the route-finder, Shute, the photographer, Constant, the translator, and Prone, the physician. It should come as no surprise that each is either incompetent or otherwise unsuitable for the mission. Binder himself is as about an unheroic and ineffectual as can be imagined; he has no concept of the leadership qualities required for an expedition on which the greatest dangers not posed by the mountain itself are the horrific, panic-inciting concoctions served up by the chief cook, Pong. Indeed, it's Binder's utter cluelessness that is the lynchpin of the story's humor. I would politely disagree with Bryson that THE ASCENT OF RUM DOODLE "is the funniest book (most people) have never heard of." In my opinion, that honor goes to The Complete McAuslan by George MacDonald Fraser, which is, most assuredly, the most laugh-inspiring book I've ever read. But, THE ASCENT OF RUM DOODLE, at 171 pages, is a quick read in a small package amenable to inclusion in a backpack for the hike down into the Grand Canyon last week. During a longer than expected stop at Indian Gardens on the Bright Angel Trail, it, between the arrival of the mule trains, proved a most amusing, four-star diversion while I awaited someone ascending on foot from Phantom Ranch.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Cretaceous Dawn; Author: Visit Amazon's Lisa M. Graziano Page; Review: CRETACEOUS DAWN presents a reasonably inventive plot, which is that, due to sloppy execution of a government-funded, top secret - well, aren't they all? - physics experiment, two physicists, a paleontologist, one and a half security guards, and a German Shepherd are translocated 65 million years into the past and regurgitated onto the western shore of an inland sea covering what is now the U.S. north-central Plains states. After the immediate response, which is Bummer!, they must figure out a way back to the office without getting eaten by a lot of villainous dinosaurs. Actually, haven't we seen this, or something similar, before in a movie? My, what big teeth you have, Mr. T. rex! The best part of this sci-fi thriller is the description of Cretacean ecology presumably extrapolated from the fossil record. Paleontologist Julian is in his element when he's not mooning about the landscape suffering lovesickness for Yariko, one of the two physicists along for the ride. For me, in my sixtieth year, the two main characters, Julian and Yariko, left me feeling only benign indifference at best. Actually, Hilda the dog had more of an engaging personality; she had indomitable spirit. I'm awarding four stars in recognition of both the interesting depiction of Cretacean animals in their environment and the thought-provoking plot twist at the end involving the ostensible vagaries of three-dimensional time travel. Otherwise, CRETACEOUS DAWN is perhaps best appreciated by young physics and/or paleontology grad students in love who expect to live happily ever after in pursuit of federal research grants.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Telegraph Days: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Larry McMurtry Page; Review: "Obviously (Teddy) had kissing in mind, and possibly matrimony as well ... My Sundays were mainly dull. I suppose I could have stayed at home and hung curtains. But fighting off Teddy might be more interesting ... I didn't want much from Teddy, but I did want something - if not from him, then from somebody, or maybe just from life itself." - Nellie Courtright, in TELEGRAPH DAYS Larry McMurtry is arguably an iconic writer of Old West themes. In his magnificent Lonesome Dove: A Novel (Simon & Schuster Classics), the storyline was both character and event driven. In TELEGRAPH DAYS, the former is more the case and events serve almost as props. The chief characters are those of Nellie Courtright and William Frederick "Buffalo Bill" Cody and, in a larger sense, that of the Old West, the passing into history of which Nellie serves as witness. Nellie's story is told in the first person, and we meet her at age 22 in 1876 when she and her 17-year old brother, Jackson, lose their father to suicide, their mother and siblings having long since perished between Virginia and a homestead on a grassy tract of the West not yet part of a Territory. Abandoning their home, the two move to the tiny prairie town of Rita Blanca, where Jackson becomes the deputy sheriff and Nellie the Telegraph Lady. Later, Nellie relocates to North Platte to become Buffalo Bill's majordomo managing his land and investments, returns to Rita Blanca to become mayor, co-owns a newspaper in Tombstone, and settles down for the final leg in Southern California, where the air was "said to be so soft". Nellie is feisty, independent-minded, sexually liberated, flirtatious, intelligent, multi-talented and possessing a dry sense of humor. It's a pleasure to observe as she interacts with some of the most famous personages of the age, including Cody, Jessie James, William ("Billy the Kid") Bonnie, the dysfunctional Earp brothers, "Doc" Holliday, and General of the Army William T. Sherman. And, it's in their company that she lives the passing of an era: "So the years sailed on and the Old West, the West of Dodge City, Rita Blanca, and the O.K. Corral, quickly receded into myth. Over in Victorville, California, Western films were being rolled out by the dozen. I even wrote a couple myself ..." TELEGRAPH DAYS may have a special poignancy for one born in the years immediately following WWII. In the fifties and sixties and into the seventies, westerns were all the rage on both the big and small screens, and our heroes were Hoppy, Roy, Gene, the Cisco Kid, the Lone Ranger, Paladin, Rin Tin-Tin, the Duke, Rowdy, Maverick, the Cartwrights, Marshal Dillon, and the Man with No Name. Nowadays, such films are rarely produced. Even Clint Eastwood has abandoned the genre. So, in a way, we've seen our own passing of the Old West, and it adds a special sadness as we ride on, spurs a-janglin', as sundown approaches.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Prince of the Marshes: And Other Occupational Hazards Of A Year In Iraq; Author: Visit Amazon's Rory Stewart Page; Review: "... (Provincial governorate coordinator) Molly (Phee) would open her office door and step back at the sight of dozens of fat flies lazily circumnavigating her desk ... We tried blue bowls of poison paste and, when that failed, military fogging spray sent by the British Battle Group. These methods made us sick but had little effect on the flies." - Author Rory Stewart Perhaps the above quote from THE PRINCE OF THE MARSHES could just as well represent the overall experience of the nations of the Allied Coalition during their presence in Iraq since the toppling of Saddam Hussein. In September 2003, Brit Rory Stewart took up position as the Coalition Provisional Authority's (CPA) deputy governorate coordinator in the Iraqi province of Maysan at the behest of the British Foreign Office; British troops occupied Maysan subsequent to Saddam's downfall. Young Rory was offered the position on the strength of his twenty previous months in Asia, including Afghanistan, and his knowledge of Farsi (though little Arabic). My description of Stewart as "young" is only supposed as his age goes unrevealed. However, contemporary photos of him in Iraq suggest he was twenty at the time going on fifteen. But never mind, personal gravitas isn't conditional on years, apparently at least when dealing with radical Muslim clerics and quarrelsome Arab tribal sheikhs. Rory manned his position in Maysan until March 2004, when he assumed the same in the adjoining province of Dhi Qar, this one occupied by the Italians. Stewart's mandate on both assignments was to help the CPA's governorate coordinator prepare the locals for the resumption of self-government in June 2004. Presuming that Stewart volunteered out of idealism, his own narrative in THE PRINCE OF THE MARSHES may be eloquent argument that no good deed goes unpunished. In any case, he's a better man than I. The book includes a section of sixteen black and white photographs that only haphazardly relate to the text. Creating a photographic record of his time in-country was understandably not high on Stewart's list of priorities, especially when literally under siege in the governorate's compound. Oddly, however, there's not even one photo of the Maysan strongman for whom the volume is titled, The Prince of the Marshes, Abu Hatim. As the United States remains mired in Iraq, THE PRINCE OF THE MARSHES stands as a testament to the untenable position of Western reasonableness when confronted with the Middle-Eastern stewpot of long-standing tribal and religious rivalries and hatreds. (True, there's tribalism in the West also. Just go to any city council meeting holding public discussions on a divisive topic. At least in my home town, once the final vote is taken, shooting doesn't break out; the battles shift to the courts. I can't speak for, say, Texas.) And a simmering Afghanistan, a past thorn in the side to both the British and Soviet empires, can apparently expect a further escalation of Western military involvement. If Iraq is Dubya's War, Afghanistan will be Obama's or McCain's Interminable War. They, and the American public, just don't know it yet. After finishing THE; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hollywood Crows: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Joseph Wambaugh Page; Review: HOLLYWOOD CROWS is Joseph Wambaugh's sequel to Hollywood Station, both darkly humorous novels featuring the cops of the LAPD's Hollywood Division. Mind you, I drive through the district and cross Hollywood Boulevard twice a day to and from the 9 to 5. I never think of the place as glamorous or gritty, but only as a potential traffic snarl, especially when the Kodak Theater is prepping for an event such as the Academy Awards. So, when Wambaugh's characters include the whack jobs and petty crooks that hang around Grauman's Chinese, I guiltily think that I need to get out more to experience the native culture. (I have been to the Hollywood Farmers' Market held at Ivar and Selma; it's pretty cool, and I'm surprised Wambaugh hasn't included that weekly Sunday event for local color.) Both books essentially revolve around the beat's uniformed cops. HOLLYWOOD CROWS brings front and center the officers of the division's Community Relations Office (CRO, or "Crows") who, with their anti-crime brothers and sisters in blue, react to the area's underbelly of violence, weirdness, and general antisocial tendencies. Specifically, the Crows confront "quality of life issues: chronic-noise complaints, graffiti, homeless encampments, abandoned shopping carts, unauthorized yard sales, and aggressive panhandlers." As I remember, HOLLYWOOD STATION was a series of vignettes starring several of the author's fictional heroes as they "serve and protect", i.e. keep the lid on, in the face of assorted provocations. HOLLYWOOD CROWS is that too, but it also includes a substantial subplot involving a CRO officer with an Achilles heel and the deviously plotting, estranged wife of the owner of a local nudie bar. Perhaps because this subplot interrupted the flow of the rest of the book, I wasn't enamored of the whole as much as I was with the first of the two. Four stars, therefore. Perhaps I'm just getting bored with a concept that's already showing staleness around the edges. Perhaps I should go walk Hollywood Boulevard and window shop the slutty lingerie emporiums; the wife's birthday is coming up.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Scarlet Lion; Author: Visit Amazon's Elizabeth Chadwick Page; Review: English history is my personal esoteric interest, especially the period of the first Plantagenet monarchs: Henry II, Richard I (the Lionheart), John, and Henry III. Orbiting each of the four at one time or another was England's incomparable poster boy of feudal loyalty, William Marshal, who became 1st Earl of Pembroke. In addition to serving the monarchs mentioned, Marshal also pledged vassalage to Henry II's queen, Eleanor of Aquitaine, and the Young King Henry, the eldest son of Henry II and Eleanor acknowledged and crowned as the heir and future king while his father was still in his prime and ruling. Of course, William pledged his loyal service to only one at a time as honorable circumstance or invitation called upon him to do so, and that occasionally made it a dodgy walk along the precipice considering the notable dysfunctionality of Henry II's family. The SCARLET LION is Elizabeth Chadwick's sequel to The Greatest Knight. The book pair is a supremely engaging work of historical fiction about medieval England for any casual or serious student of the time and the 1st Earl of Pembroke. William was born in 1146 and died at age 73. The forty-three chapters plus Epilogue of THE GREATEST KNIGHT span the period from the summer of 1167, when Marshal was a newly minted young knight in the household of Sir Guillaume de Tancarville, Chamberlain of Normandy and a distant kinsman, to May 1194, when William, accompanied by his heiress wife, Isabelle de Clare, and their two sons and daughter, embark by ship for Normandy with Marshal's lord at the time, King Richard. The forty-six chapters plus Epilogue of THE SCARLET LION span the period from the summer of 1197, near the end of the Lionheart's reign, to Marshal's death in the spring of 1219. Each chapter advances the two-volume plot by several months to three years depending on the events of importance in William's life. THE GREATEST KNIGHT comprises his time in Queen Eleanor's retinue, his years in the Young King's household, his touneying days, the Young King's revolt against his father, the Young King's death, his time in Henry II's retinue, Henry's death during the revolt by Richard and John, his marriage to Isabelle, his appointment as a Royal Justiciar by King Richard, John's revolt against Richard during the latter's German imprisonment, Richard's ransom, and Richard's return to England. THE SCARLET LION encompasses the birth of the rest of Marshal's ten children, the death's of Richard and Queen Mother Eleanor, the time William and Isabelle spent in Ireland administering the latter's inherited lands, Marshal's uneasy relationship with King John, Magna Carta and the Baron's Revolt, John's death, William's role as Regent for the boy-king Henry III, and the invasion of England by, and the English defeat of, the French Crown Prince Louis. The only (minor) criticism I can level is that nothing is written about the terms of the Magna Carta, a traditional and venerable pillar to Anglo-American democracy; an educational opportunity was thus lost. THE GREATEST KNIGHT and THE SCARLET LION are based on the biography; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Subterranean Railway: How the London Underground was Built and How it Changed the City Forever; Author: Visit Amazon's Christian Wolmar Page; Review: "The District (Line) ... attracted considerable negative (press) coverage with various mechanical failures and, in particular, its primitive air-operated doors which apparently had a tendency to tear off ladies' skirts, something particularly shocking to the Edwardian psyche." - from THE SUBTERRANEAN RAILWAY Disclaimer: If you've never visited London and/or fallen in love with the Underground, or at least have no interest in how such mass transportation evolves, then you're likely to find THE SUBTERRANEAN RAILWAY excruciatingly boring. So, as is advised at the stations, just "pass along the platform", so to speak. Having had the good fortune to enjoy Britain's capital many times, I've found the Tube to be both indispensable and an inseparable adjunct to any visit. Thus, for me, Christian Wolmar's volume about the evolution of this below-ground railway, from its inception in the mind of visionary Charles Pearson in the first half of the 19th century to the present day, was as enthralling as any couldn't-put-it-down thriller. OK, so I need to get a life. THE SUBTERRANEAN RAILWAY includes two sections of black and white illustrations and photographs of the Underground both then and now, but mostly then. There's also a color section that comprises two route maps of the system from the early 20th century that are geographically correct - something I've never seen before - plus the more familiar schematic rendering of the network conceived by Harry Beck in 1931 and based on an electric circuit diagram. The version of the latter, current as of about 2006, spreads over two pages. Unfortunately the central fold of the volume rests squarely on the route of the Northern Line from Camden Town to Kennington and several stations are lost in the crease. Nevermind, I just pulled out my London A-z (Street Atlas) to get my bearings. One thing Wolmar left unexplained, though, is the odd side-loop from Leytonstone to Woodford via Fairlop that the Central line takes near its eastern terminus. What's that all about? (The unredeemably curious must consult Wikipedia.) The narrative focuses mainly on the construction, expansion and consolidation of the various lines - all originally under separate, private ownership - beginning with the opening of the Metropolitan on January 9, 1863 to the formation of the London Passenger Transport Board in the 1930s. The competition between the lines sometimes went to absurd length, e.g. the dispute between the Metropolitan and District over a siding at South Kensington, as reported in the West London Advertiser: "The District ... have run and engine and train into a siding and have actually chained it to the spot ... A day or two ago, the Metropolitan sent three engines to pull away the train and a tug of war ensued in which the chained train came off the victor ..." As a Yank, I was impressed by the hitherto unknown (to me) fact of the enormous influence U.S. entrepreneurship and money had on the final form of the Underground as we know it today. (Bleedin' Americans, "overpaid, overfed, oversexed and over here.") Well, you must admit that America's contribution was; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Veteran; Author: Visit Amazon's Frederick Forsyth Page; Review: The only relevant thing you really need to know about THE VETERAN, especially if you buy it, as I did, thinking it a single story, is that it's a compendium of five shorts. The fifth chapter, "Whispering Wind", is perhaps a novelette as it comprises roughly 40% of the 344-page volume. Two of the stories were previously published, which suggests that Frederick Forsyth's publisher asked him to scour his odds bin for material to flesh out a profitable new release. Or perhaps the author just needed something to forestall the demands of his publisher made cranky by a delay in the contractual delivery of a feature-length novel. Or maybe Forsyth just needed an infusion of funds to refurbish his home's loo. All five tales revolve around a veteran of some profession or another: "The Veteran" (British Para trooper), "The Art of the Matter" (bit-part actor), "The Miracle" (WWII Wehrmacht medical officer), "The Citizen" (British drug enforcement cop), "Whispering Wind" (19th century U.S. Seventh Cavalry scout). All stories were above average in their ability to engage and retain my interest even so far as to attract my attention between snaps during yesterday's USC-Notre Dame football contest. (USC 38, Irish 3. Fight on!) All five had a plot twist, and the author's attention to detail gave added value. In particular for those with no prior knowledge of Custer's Last Stand in 1876 in the present state of Montana, Forsyth's summary of the U.S. Army's greatest defeat at the hands of the native tribes provides a very nice introductory overview. The first four stories take place in more or less the present and, unlike the fifth and last, completely exclude any paranormality. This sudden change in direction may be slightly disconcerting, much like finding an otherworldly Sci-Fi plot rounding out a collection of sagebrush Western shoot-'em-ups. THE VETERAN is the perfect accompaniment for that flight home for the holidays or the wait through the wash and spin cycles at the launderette.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Gentlemen's Blood: A History of Dueling; Author: Barbara Holland; Review: "Since pissing on walls is still common today in sophisticated Paris, protecting a lady from the sight in bygone days must have been time-consuming." Author Barbara Holland in GENTLEMEN'S BLOOD When I first saw that Barbara Holland, one of my very favorite social commentators, had addressed the subject of dueling in GENTLEMEN'S BLOOD, I thought "But, why?" Was one of her ancestors killed in a face-off, perhaps, or was she herself called out by a work colleague one day at the water cooler? I mean, what's that all about? Regrettably, she doesn't say. Subtitled "A History of Dueling from Swords at Dawn to Pistols at Dusk", this volume is exactly that and beyond to the use of Bowie knives and, in one bizarre instance, "a deadly venomous snake, probably a cobra." After an examination of what it was that had to be so stoutly defended by dueling, i.e. the nebulous concept of "honor" seemingly only possessed by gentlemen, Holland describes the evolution of the one-on-one confrontation from 16th and 17th century Europe (England, Ireland, France, Italy) to 18th and 19th century America (Northeast, Old South, West), then back to the outposts of the British Empire, Germany, and Russia. Interwoven into the narrative is a description of the early rules of engagement, as well as the aforementioned transition from long-bladed weapons to, um, snake. For each period and place, Barbara includes specific illustrative examples. Some U.S. readers will perhaps recognize the Hamilton-Burr, Jackson-Dickinson, Clay-Randolph and Benton-Lucas contests for the bits of Americana they are. However, a large proportion of the other recorded duels are just superfluous filler that only serves to unnecessarily prolong the book unless illustrative of the ridiculous extreme of a gentleman's honor that compels him to challenge another. For example: "... Lieutenant Evans of the Twenty-Fourth Foot was chatting with Lieutenant Ogilvy ... They compared the respective merits of their respective regiments, and Evans mentioned that he thought that the quality of the spruce beer served in the messes was about the same in both. Ogilvy, stung, retorted that the Twenty-Sixth's beer was infinitely better. Evans said that must mean Ogilvy was calling him a liar. Ogilvy retorted that he was indeed 'a damned lying scoundrel'... After the first round of shots (in the subsequent duel), Evans again asked for an apology. Ogilvy again refused, and they broke out another case of pistols." Perhaps the most unnecessary chapter is "Russian Soul", a 22-page mini-bio of Alexander Pushkin. The fact that he was ultimately killed in a duel barely negates the fact that, if the reader couldn't care less about the Russian poet, the section is a complete bore. OK, I stand completely nekulturny. GENTLEMEN'S BLOOD is saved by Holland's dry, rapier wit copiously served-up. But the esoteric nature of the subject and the fact that she beats it to death makes it perhaps one of her less compelling literary achievements. Sorry, Barbara, I wasn't completely engaged this time around.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Armageddon: The Battle for Germany, 1944-1945; Author: Max Hastings; Review: "American and British officers knew that their citizen soldiers were attempting to fulfil tasks which ran profoundly against the grain of their societies' culture. The Germans and Russians in the Second World War showed themselves better warriors, but worse human beings. This is not a cultural conceit, but a moral truth of the utmost importance to understanding what took place on the battlefield ... If American and British soldiers of 1944-45 had matched the military prowess and become imbued with the warrior ethos of Hitler's armies, it is unlikely that we should today hold the veterans of the Second World War in the just regard that we do. They fought as bravely and as well as any democracy could ask, if the values of civilization were to be retained in their ranks." - Author Max Hastings in ARMAGEDDON "Between 13 January and 25 April, 2nd Belorussian Front lost 159,490 men dead and wounded, and 3rd Belorussian Front 421,763. During three months in East Prussia, therefore, the Red Army suffered almost as many casualties as the Anglo-American armies in the entire north-west Europe campaign." - Author Max Hastings in ARMAGEDDON The timeframe for ARMAGEDDON: THE BATTLE FOR GERMANY 1944-1945 is the last 9 months of the conflict in Europe, from September 1, 1944 into May 1945. On September 1, the Red Army was poised to invade East Prussia and cross the Vistula River to capture Warsaw. In the West, Eisenhower's armies had advanced across France to liberate Paris. Now, the Anglo-American forces were preparing to cross into Belgium, and Field-Marshal Montgomery's ill-conceived plan to take the bridge across the Rhine at Arnhem - a "bridge too far" as it would turn out - was on the planning board. Perhaps the war would be over by Christmas. Author Max Hastings paints his literary canvas using the recollections and documents from those on both sides who participated in and survived the events of those last apocalyptic months: Operation Market Garden, the Hurtgen Forest, the Battle of the Bulge, the Soviet rape of East Prussia, the Allied heavy bombing of Germany, and the Red Army's assault on Berlin. And, most poignantly, those - slave laborers, POWs, concentration camp inmates - who outlived their sojourn in the cruel, massive prison that was, for them, the Third Reich. ARMAGEDDON includes two sections of black and white photographs of widely varying subjects and several small scale maps of the Western and Eastern Fronts. Hastings takes great pains to establish two major truths of the European war: that the savagery in the East made the Western Front look like a comparative garden party, and that, based on casualties suffered, casualties inflicted, and extent of territory wrested from the Nazis, the Soviet Union can truly be said to have won the war against Hitler. And, about the cooperation between the American and British allies, he explodes the popular myth with such statements as: "... it is important to emphasize that affection played no part in the decisions or actions of either ally ... There was a deep resentment among Churchill's people; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dear American Airlines: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Jonathan Miles Page; Review: People sometimes ask me how I select the books I read. DEAR AMERICAN AIRLINES was recommended in the "The Booklist" section of the weekly news magazine I receive. And, no, I don't pay attention to Oprah's recommendations. Maybe I should. DEAR AMERICAN AIRLINES is an extended letter of complaint from the protagonist, Benjamin Ford, to the airline company for stranding him overnight in the departures waiting area at Chicago's O'Hare Airport. Actually, Ford's letter is not so much a missive to AA as one to the reader describing his dysfunctional life, first as the product of a marriage doomed to failure by the mental problems of a suicidal mother, then as an outcast from his own marriage and fatherhood, a condition precipitated by his own alcoholism. Ford, in his mid-50s and a translator by profession, sprinkles the narrative with excerpts from a novel he's currently translating about Walenty Mozelewski, a veteran of the Polish II Corps, who lost a leg at the battle of Monte Casino, and who's now seeking to establish a new post-war life in Trieste. The only connection between the two stories, albeit a tenuous one, seems to be that Benjamin and Walenty are both walking wounded searching for redemption of the inner spirit. The Walenty sidebar of DEAR AMERICAN AIRLINES engaged me not at all. The book's editor, working for author Jonathan Miles, might have better served had he recommended scissoring out that diversion altogether. Ford's account of his own life supplied a modicum of morbid fascination, but was otherwise without charm or humor. And Bennie himself wasn't one with whom I'd care to have a beer at the airport bar. The book's conclusion suggests that Ford may have stumbled upon the redemption he seeks. But, you know, I'd bet he fails at that too in an extrapolation of his fictional existence. "The Booklist" recommendation notwithstanding, DEAR AMERICAN AIRLINES is, by my mind, only worth the effort if it's the only reading material at hand when you're snow bound in an isolated hunting cabin - or grounded at O'Hare's Gate K9.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Banana: The Fate of the Fruit That Changed the World; Author: Visit Amazon's Dan Koeppel Page; Review: "Is that a banana in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?" - Mae West Well, perhaps Mae didn't put it exactly like that, but this is a book about bananas not guns, so I had to improvise freely. BANANA by Dan Koeppel is perhaps everything you wanted to know about the herb - yes, herb - and then some. It traces the migration of the human cultivation and mass consumption of the fruit from its origin in Southeast Asia eastward and westward around the globe until both flows met in the Americas. Most of the narrative concerns the international political intrigues and social injustices committed by the two great banana monopolies, Chiquita - formerly Boston Fruit, then United Fruit, then United Brands - and Dole - formerly Standard Fruit. (Yes, there are other sellers, e.g. Del Monte and Fyffes, but they get only scant mention.) Much of the remainder of the text is devoted to the depredations of various plant diseases - Bunchy Top Disease, Black Sigatoko, Race 4, Banana Xanthomonas Wilt - that threaten the very existence of the current mass-marketed banana, the Cavendish, just as such plagues wiped out its predecessor, the Gros Michel, by the early 1960s. The author emphasizes the point that development of disease-resistant plants is particularly hindered by the sexless, i.e. seedless, nature of most mass-cultivated bananas and the Cavendish in particular. BANANA contains only a small number of widely scattered black and white photos which, considering the importance of the banana as a mandatory barrier against starvation in much of the Third World, perhaps does the subject matter an injustice. For the reader so inclined, BANANA, like Salt: A World History,PURE KETCHUP PB, and Robbing the Bees: A Biography of Honey--The Sweet Liquid Gold that Seduced the World, is an engaging and erudite, though slightly rambling, survey of an esoteric culinary subject. I'll never again look at the banana display in my local supermarket, or the little stickers on the individual fruits, in the same way. And during my next infrequent visit to the gourmet/organic food seller known colloquially as "Whole Paycheck", I'll make a point of reconnoitering the produce section for rarely-seen alternatives to the Cavendish, such as the Lacatan, and perhaps splurge. (Note: This review is of the hardcover edition.); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Live Fire (A Dan Shepherd Mystery); Author: Visit Amazon's Stephen Leather Page; Review: In LIVE FIRE, author Stephen Leather's hero of several novels, Dan "Spider" Shepherd, an undercover operative with Her Majesty's Serious Organized Crime Agency (SOCA), is off to Thailand to infiltrate a Pattaya-based British gang of master bank robbers that periodically returns home to replenish the funds for its exorbitant lifestyle. Meantime in London, a home-grown cell of Muslim jihadists is planning a bloody outrage that'll kill hundreds. Because of Spider's particular karma, the two plots ultimately intersect. Leather spends much of his time living in Thailand. Therefore, it's no surprise that the storyline of LIVE FIRE puts Shepherd there for most of the narrative, but is somewhat surprising that the author has taken so long in the series to do so. Leather's physical description of Pattaya and its status as "the biggest single prostitution center in the world" suggests a comfortable familiarity with the place. (For a depiction of the Thai sex industry, see Stephen's excellent novel, Private Dancer.) For readers whose first encounter with Spider is LIVE FIRE, the plot deserves 5 stars. For one such as me, who's followed his exploits over the years, it rates 4. The Shepherd character has perhaps become too familiar and/or I've become jaded. In order to introduce the new reader to Dan's career path with SOCA, the narrative inevitably begins with the end game of a crime caper from which Spider must extract himself as the cops close in but before his cover is blown. Then, he immediately gets new marching orders to follow for the duration of the story from his boss, Charlotte "Charlie" Button. Subsequently, there are a couple pages in which Dan, a single father, has a guilt trip when he tells his young son, Liam, and his dead wife's parents that he's off on another job and won't be around to spend quality time. (While I know this digression establishes Spider's just-a-regular-bloke humanity to newbies, perhaps next time we could move forward a decade when Liam is interested in girls and won't miss Dad so much.) It's in LIVE FIRE that Dan is first inferred to be carrying a torch for his boss, Charlie Button, for which felling evidence surfaces during a visit to one of Pattaya's bars: "There were two pneumatic blondes dancing topless and a stunning redhead in a red thong and high heels doing a solo on the second podium ... Two more girls joined the redhead. One was a blonde with wavy hair, green eyes and milk-white flawless skin, the other a brunette with a pageboy hair-cut and dark brown eyes. She was like Charlotte Button, Shepherd thought, disconcerted. 'You like her?' asked Sergei. Shepherd reddened like a schoolboy who'd been caught looking at a pornographic magazine. 'She's fit,' he said." Now, I bring this up because I think Button one of the more intriguing characters of the Spider series. Plus, I suspect that she's hot. So I'd like to take the cheeky liberty of suggesting to the author the emphasis of a future book, i.e. that the narrative focus be on Charlie with Spider as; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The World Without Us; Author: Visit Amazon's Alan Weisman Page; Review: "Worldwide, every four days human population rises by 1 million." - Author Alan Weisman in THE WORLD WITHOUT US But, what if the Earth's humans disappeared? This is the premise of THE WORLD WITHOUT US, a book version of what you may have seen on Life After People (History Channel) or National Geographic: Aftermath - Population Zero. Weisman approaches his subject from two perspectives; what the Earth might have looked like had humans not evolved, and what would likely happen to the world and, more specifically, human creations, if we were to suddenly blink out of existence because of, say, a massive, species-ending plague. To illustrate the former is more difficult as Homo sapiens is so ubiquitous across the planet, but the author points to the Bialowieza Puszcza forest on Poland's eastern border and Chambura Gorge in Uganda as roughly representative sites. To illustrate the latter is much easier as one only has to look as far as Pripyat, abandoned after the Chernobyl nuclear accident, unoccupied Varosha on Cyprus isolated between the Turkish and Greek zones, the depopulated DMZ between North and South Korea, or New England's temperate forest, now larger than it was in 1776 due to a depopulation trend after the Civil War. Weisman was perhaps at his most interesting when describing what would happen to humankind's creations in its absence. Almost charming, especially to a Los Angeles area resident such as myself, is the narrative picture of the dissolution of New York City infrastructure as vegetation and wildlife reclaim the environment; gee, what a pity. On the other hand, the demise of oil refinery complexes and nuclear power stations has apocalyptic potential. Regarding the huge refinery complex in Texas City, TX: "With no one to monitor controls or the computers, some reactions would run away and go boom. You would get a fire, and then a domino effect, since there'd be nothing to stop it ... All the pipes would be conduits for fires ... That blaze could possibly go for weeks ... If this happened to every plant in the world, imagine the amount of pollutants ... They would also release chlorinated compounds like dioxins and furans from burning plastics. And you'd get lead, chromium and mercury attached to the soot ... the clouds would disperse through the world. The next generation of plants and animals, the ones that didn't die, might need to mutate in ways that could impact evolution." Of course, the book's subject matter opens the way for a discussion of the durable poisons that humans have injected into the environment and which will persist with us or without us: waste from nuclear generating plants, plastic polymers of all sorts, polychlorinated biphenyls, phosphate and nitrate fertilizers, and fluorocarbons. It's enough to make Al Gore weep, or at least go on the stump selling carbon offsets. And what are the chances that every last member of the human race might cease to exist? Very slim in the relative short term as there are survivors of even the most virulent and infectious disease agents. But past human; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Best Easy Day Hikes Portland, Oregon (Best Easy Day Hikes Series); Author: Visit Amazon's Lizann Dunegan Page; Review: As we begin our seventh decade, my wife has discovered hiking trips as an adjunct to workouts at the gym. Woe is me; I'd rather just sit in a café patio under the trees and read a book. Is this the worse part of "for better or worse"? Lizann Dunegan's BEST EASY DAY HIKES: PORTLAND, OREGON (a.k.a. BEDH below) accompanied us on a long weekend getaway to Portland last August. It's a nifty little volume, and its relatively small format makes it amenable to inclusion in either the airplane carry-on or trail backpack, although that same diminutive size renders the maps somewhat problematic to those with failing eyesight. Perhaps one of those magnifying bookmarkers might prove useful (UltraOptix Handi-Lens Magnifier Bookmark). The volume describes twenty-eight hikes in and around Portland and off to the east along the south bank of the Columbia River Gorge. The longest is that looping around Hagg Lake (14.1 miles) and the shortest the roundtrip to and from Sherrard Point on Larch Mountain (0.5 mile). The book begins with an Introduction, which includes Weather, Clothing, Shoes and Socks, Backpacks, Day Hiking Checklist, Trail Regulations/Restrictions, Trail Contacts, and Zero Impact. The last item simply means not stripping the environment of interesting artifacts and not discarding your energy bar wrappers and plastic water bottles along the path. Each of "The Hikes" is comprised of Highlights, Distance, Approximate Hiking Time, Elevation Gain, Permits and Fees, Restrictions, Canine Compatibility, Maps (sources), Finding the Trailhead, The Hike (summary description), and Miles and Directions. The section for each hike is 3 to 5 pages long including map. There's no mention of "feline compatibility" if you want to take Fluffy. So, you may ask, how was the guide when it came to crunch time, i.e. putting boots on the ground? The hike we chose to trudge was the 6-mile roundtrip to the Warrior Rock Lighthouse (Hike #8) at the north end of Sauvie Island in the Columbia River. (Of course, this was after spending 90 minutes working out at the YMCA in Vancouver, WA. See what I have to put up with?!) The trailhead is about 25 road miles northwest of the Portland city center. The directions in BEDH proved to be clear, concise, and right on. After crossing over to the island and purchasing the day permit at Sam's Cracker Barrel Store, we drove the last 15.5 miles to the trailhead through pleasant rural countryside. It being the season, there were several farms displaying a "Pick Your Own Blueberries!" sign. As the BEDH indicates, the last two miles of the road and the parking lot at the trailhead are gravel surfaced. The only untoward incident occurred when we almost lost the permit down the crack between the front windshield and the dashboard. Lucky for us my wife has fingers smaller and nails longer than mine. Arriving at the trailhead, we studied the first Mile and Directions entry: "0.0 Start hiking north on the singletrack trail located next to a wood trail sign adjacent to the parking area. (Note: this section of the route can; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: A Terrible Glory: Custer and the Little Bighorn - the Last Great Battle of the American West; Author: James Donovan; Review: "Come on. Big village. Be quick. Bring packs." - Custer's last communication before riding forth to a terrible glory. Anyone of a certain age and cultural background, born and educated in the United States, is likely to know of George Armstrong Custer's last stand with his Seventh Cavalry against overwhelming numbers of Sioux and Cheyenne warriors in June, 1876. Who among us hasn't seen at least one of the several fanciful paintings of the event by various artists? The core of A TERRIBLE GLORY is James Donovan's masterful and absorbing account of the Battle of the Little Bighorn. The book also includes a summary of Custer's military career and personal life prior to 1876, the personalities of the principal Native American leaders (primarily Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse), the tense post-Civil War relationship of the federal government and the U.S. Army with the Sioux, and the battle's aftermath, including the Army's 1879 Court of Inquiry into the Seventh's conduct of the engagement and Major Marcus Reno's performance in particular, the ultimate fates of the main characters in the drama, and the Massacre at Wounded Knee, which can be argued was the Seventh Cavalry's revenge for the Little Bighorn debacle. Those chapters of A TERRIBLE GLORY concerned with the 1876 encounter place it in the context of that summer's three-pronged Army advance (Gibbon, Terry, Crook) on the tribes that were roaming the Montana and Wyoming territories outside the reservations. Then, for June 25-26, the narration comprises the three phases of the Battle: Reno's ill-starred attack on the south end of the Indian village, the annihilation of Custer and five of the Seventh's twelve companies, and the siege of the Reno-Benteen force dug in on their hill. In the prefatory Author's Notes section, Donovan is careful to point out that his accounts of the first and third phases are based on primary sources. The second phase, once Custer and his 210 men rode off down Medicine Tail Coulee, is reconstructed mainly from reasonable supposition and battlefield archeology since the eyewitness testimonies of the victorious Sioux and Cheyenne warriors are "sketchy and often contradictory". That said, the narrative of the clash as a whole flows seamlessly. Indeed, it's riveting. The volume includes several useful maps, fourteen pages of photographs, and lengthy Notes and Bibliography sections. A couple of years back, I had the good fortune to gaze out from the summit of Last Stand Hill over the marker stones of Custer and his troopers set amidst the rippling buffalo grass. Was that a faint echo of "Garryowen", the Seventh Cavalry's official marching air, that I heard on the wind? Well, perhaps not, but only sounds from a radio in a car passing behind me. But, as the author closes his engrossing narrative: "After the tourists have gone, the ridges and ravines overlooking the river below are still and eerie. Today, if one stands there alone as the wind sighs through the buffalo grass, it is hard not to believe that the spirits of the men who died there ... perform their own ghost dance: clasping; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Laments: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's George Hagen Page; Review: A boy is born in 1950s South Africa. Due to circumstances and a tragic trio of deaths, the lad is adopted by Julia and Howard Lament and given the name Will. His talented father, a mechanical engineer, is hired for a succession of jobs that moves the family from Johannesburg to Bahrain to Rhodesia to England to America. THE LAMENTS is a charming, thoroughly engaging, and feel-good coming-of-age story that follows Will for his first eighteen years. Though it has its ups and downs, there's no reason to lament the course life has set for young Will. What struck me about THE LAMENTS was author George Hagen's ability to capture the subtleties of the relationships between his masterfully drawn characters, especially when under stress: husband and wife, parents and offspring, adult woman and girlfriends, first-born and siblings, adolescent and peers, teenage boy with raging hormones and the opposite sex, worker and colleagues. As an example, Will's first crush (on his elementary school teacher) and its eventual disillusionment: "Will watched Miss Bayonard eat chicken wings with her fingers, getting her long pink nails greasy and her lipstick smudged. During dessert, a strand of her hair fell into her ice cream bowl; she pulled it free but it hardened. For the rest of the evening it stuck stiffly out of her head ... Will began to wonder what he'd ever found sexy about her ... Will observed that Miss Bayonard looked rather squat next to his mother. And her eyes had wrinkles, like the doughy creases around mattress buttons ... Strangely, he found himself thinking lustfully about (his next door neighbor) Marina. She had something he'd never considered important before: youth." In real life, random good and bad things happen to people. In fictional literature, I accept as true that an author generally conjures events and scenarios for a purpose: to redirect a storyline, to develop a character, to set up a "gotcha", to create conflict between protagonist and antagonist, to ratchet up the suspense, whatever. Therefore, my appreciation of THE LAMENTS hit a speed bump near the end with the tragic event that affected the lives of Will's twin brothers, Julius and Marcus. There seemed to me no essential reason for its occurrence in the storyline and was almost entirely gratuitous. Will's life continued to proceed in the same direction as had it not occurred. Therefore, otherwise on the verge of awarding five stars, I'm backsliding to four. Those readers who can defend the event's inclusion in the plot may, and certainly should, present the full stellar complement.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Ghost War; Author: Visit Amazon's Alex Berenson Page; Review: I'm usually reading two books at a time, one at the castle after I've finished my domestic chores - take out the garbage, clean the kitty litter box, dry the scrubbed dishes - and one on workplace lunch breaks when I'm free to ignore the rest of my world's imperative needs. But both volumes are unlikely to be of the same genre as I risk becoming confused, so it was unusual that I took up THE GHOST WAR and The Tourist at the same time. As a review is an extremely subjective measure against a constantly shifting standard, I have the opportunity here to at least compare the two. If I was to draw a parallel, THE GHOST WAR by Alex Berenson might also be compared with a James Bond novel. Regardless of the action that leads up to the dramatic finale, the conclusion is necessary to reader satisfaction; without it, the novel is a flop. Moreover, the continuing presence of the hero - 007 or CIA agent John Wells - is necessary for the series to continue. And, as far as the storyline is concerned, Bond and Wells maneuver in a world that is Good versus Evil; there are no subtleties and no shades of gray, and the victory for "our side" is unqualified. On the other hand, THE TOURIST could be compared with any of the truly excellent works by the British thriller writer Gerald Seymour, in whose novels about confrontations at the world's rough edges the entertainment value for the reader lies not with a relatively anticlimactic end game, but rather with the evolution of the storyline. Seymour's heroes are talented but disposable mid-level functionaries laboring in the bureaucracies of national police and intelligence agencies on both sides. Seymour's world is comprised of moral nuances and relativistic shadows. Victories, if they can be called such, are Pyrrhic in nature. About to enter my seventh decade, I've learned to better appreciate the subtleties of the world's national and ideological conflicts, especially as portrayed in entertainment media, whether written or visual. Thus, for example, I'll sing the praises of the remarkably intelligent BBC film adaptations of John le Carre's hero George Smiley (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy and Smiley's People) over any of the blatantly simplistic Mission Impossible flicks. For that same reason, I'm awarding THE GHOST WAR four stars compared to the five I gave THE TOURIST, even though I'll concede that the Wells character of the former has matured as a fictional hero since his debut in The Faithful Spy (A John Wells Novel), and I look forward to Berenson's third offering in the series, The Silent Man.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Silent Man (A John Wells Novel); Author: Visit Amazon's Alex Berenson Page; Review: Those bibliophiles who've joined me in reading the previous two novels (The Faithful Spy (A John Wells Novel) and The Ghost War) featuring Alex Berenson's hero, John Wells, will perhaps agree with me that, in THE SILENT MAN, Wells is now fully developed as a literary character and both he and his creator have hit full stride. THE SILENT MAN is a thriller that I couldn't put down. Here, Muslim jihadists steal two Russian nuclear warheads and make their way with them to Pennsylvania, where, with a sleeper agent, an Egyptian-born surgeon now practicing in the U.S., set about constructing a simple A-bomb based on the design of "Little Boy", the device dropped on Hiroshima. This time, though, the target is to be Washington, D.C. during the President's State of the Union speech. Wells, of course, finds himself in the position to save the day. Perhaps the plot isn't all that imaginative, but the telling of the tale is first rate. Indeed, though I didn't count the pages, it seemed that Berenson dedicated an amount of text to the point of view of the Bad Guys equal to that devoted to John's perspective. This makes for a meaty, tense, and well-developed thriller, especially when the focus was on the bomb's design and construction. Wells may be one of the most interesting protagonists to come along in awhile. A CIA agent who successfully infiltrated, and spent several years fighting with, al-Qaeda in Afghanistan before returning to America (THE FAITHFUL SPY), John is a poster boy of self-destructive tendencies that endanger his physical well-being, his relationship with his significant other and former controller, Jennifer Exley, and his professional standing within the Agency. And it doesn't help that Wells occasionally displays an insubordinate, smart-mouth attitude. I like that in a hero. (But it only works if you're otherwise indispensable.) In my opinion, Wells, because of his idiosyncrasies, has moved up in the pantheon of literary Tough Guys to share top billing with my current most favorite, Lee Child's Jack Reacher. The last paragraph of THE SILENT MAN screams out for a fourth adventure in the series. I relish the prospect of it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dewey: There's a Cat in the Library!; Author: Visit Amazon's Vicki Myron Page; Review: "Crystal was one of the more disabled members of the (special education) group. She was a beautiful girl of about eleven, but she had no speech and very little control of her limbs. She was in a wheelchair, (which) had a wooden tray on the front. When she came into the library, her head was always down and her eyes were staring at that tray ... she didn't move. It was like she wasn't even there ... Then one week Dewey jumped on Crystal's wheelchair tray. Crystal squealed. She had been coming to the library for years ... That squeal was the first sound I ever heard her make ... Dewey started visiting Crystal every week ... Whenever she saw Dewey, Crystal glowed. Her eyes had always been blank. Now they were on fire ... Once her wheelchair was parked, he jumped on her tray, and happiness exploded from within her. She started to squeal, and her smile, you couldn't believe how big and bright it was. Crystal had the best smile in the world ... one day she looked up and made eye contact with me. She was overcome with joy, and she wanted to share the moment with someone, with everyone. This from a girl who for years never lifted her eyes from the floor ... I can't imagine Crystal's life ... But I know that whenever she was in the Spencer Public Library with Dewey, she was happy." - Author Vicki Myron in DEWEY On the bitterly cold morning of January 18, 1988, the director of the public library in Spencer, Iowa, Vicki Myron, discovered a shivering, terrified, and half-frozen kitten in the library's book drop-off box. On November 29, 2006, Vicki cradled Dewey, who was by then suffering from incurable stomach cancer, as he was euthanized by the local veterinarian. DEWEY tells the story of the intervening nineteen years when Dewey, full name Dewey Readmore Books, was adopted by the library staff, and Vicki in particular, and became the facility's resident cat, loved by the townsfolk and internationally famous. At first, I was tempted to write that DEWEY is a book for cat lovers. But that would be too narrow a perspective. Rather, this charming and heart-warming - OK, incorrigibly warm and fuzzy - volume is for anyone that recognizes the hold that pets can have on our lives. Mind you, though, I've never heard of a library dog. If the story of Dewey has any weakness, it's perhaps that Myron goes a bit over the top anthropomorphizing her furry friend. Having been owned by a series of housecats over the decades - Puff, Kitty, Martha, Tessa, Trouble, Amanda, Hidie, et al - I can testify that Dewey was just doing what he did best, i.e. being feline. But he had a special talent for carrying it off with paramount grace and equanimity in the face of so much human attention. In the end, Vicki states: "(In life), the most important thing is to have someone to scoop you up, to hold you tight, and to tell you; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Pea Ridge: Civil War Campaign in the West (Civil War America); Author: Visit Amazon's William L. Shea Page; Review: In June of 2006, I reviewed Champion Hill: Decisive Battle for Vicksburg, which I stated was "unequivocally, the best non-fiction narrative of a Civil War engagement that I've ever read." PEA RIDGE steps forward front and center to join that most excellent volume at the head of the rest. The Battle of Pea Ridge, fought on March 7-8, 1862 in the northwest corner of Arkansas, was the decisive Union victory in the Trans-Mississippi theater of operations. It assured Federal control of Missouri and, for all practical purposes, eliminated the Trans-Mississippi as a significant factor in Confederate war strategy. The confrontation between the Union army, commanded by Brig. Gen. Samuel Curtis, and the rebel force, commanded by Maj. Gen. Earl Van Dorn, is lucidly described by authors William Shea and Earl Hess. Most importantly, in my opinion, the narrative is supported by a series of superlative battlefield maps that remain completely congruent with the text throughout. At no point should the reader become confused or otherwise lack a clear understanding of the maneuvers on the field by the units involved, generally defined down to regimental level. PEA RIDGE is further elevated by the personality portraits drawn of the principal commanders, chiefly Curtis, Van Dorn, and the erratic U.S. Brig. Gen. Franz Sigel. It's the effort the authors take in this regard that transforms the book from a dry read to one that's to be savored. The volume is liberally sprinkled with black and white photographs of the various unit commanders and views of the present-day terrain as can be seen by visitors to the Pea Ridge National Military Park. An Appendix also incorporates a complete Order of Battle that includes known losses, i.e. killed, wounded, and missing. Sherman's March to the Sea is famously notable for the fact that he severed his army group from its supply base as it cut a swathe through Georgia to the Atlantic. What PEA RIDGE emphasizes, and which I didn't know and popular Civil War history has pretty much ignored, is the fact that Curtis successfully took that same daring risk with his Army of the Southwest - the first Federal army to do so - in the summer of 1862 on a march of several hundred miles from Batesville, AK to the Mississippi River. PEA RIDGE is a book eminently worth the attention of any serious or casual student of the War Between the States.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Mission Song: A Novel; Author: John le Carre; Review: "I'm just not sure who the heathens are." - Bruno Salvador experiencing disillusionment First published in 2006, THE MISSION SONG has a racially mixed protagonist - half Black, half White - named Bruno "Salvo" Salvador. Perhaps author John le Carr foresaw the election of the Democratic Party's and America`s ostensible savior, President Barack Obama, in his crystal ball. Salvo is a hero candidate for our times. In any case, Bruno, who was born of an Irish Catholic missionary and a Kenyan mother and subsequently orphaned by the age of ten, was supplied with a birth cover story courtesy of the British Consul of Kampala and sent off to live in England at a boarding school for "ambiguous Catholic orphans" in Sussex. Now, eighteen years later, Salvador, a loyal adopted son of Her Majesty and the crumbled Empire, is a gifted translator specializing in obscure African tribal dialects working in the electronic surveillance section of the Secret Service. Then, on the recommendation of his revered boss, Salvo is plucked from his passive intelligence role and given the opportunity to participate in a more proactive mission, i.e. to translate at a meeting of certain principals negotiating in secret to "rescue" Bruno's homeland from its unending condition of war, government corruption, natural resource exploitation by outsiders, and widespread poverty. Salvo is thrilled to be of service to both his adopted and home countries. Over the years in scenarios that reflect contemporary times and tensions, the author has populated his espionage thrillers with a virtuoso variety of leading characters, each of which is a far cry from the molds that have given us Quiller, Bond, Gabriel Allon or Spider Shepherd. In that sense, le Carr's stories have much in common with that other word master, my favorite author of the genre, Gerald Seymour. In the worlds of these two writers, victories are subtle and ofttimes Pyrrhic. More like the real world, I suspect. As with all le Carr books, the joy for the reader is in the journey, not the destination, and the term "thriller" is misapplied. However, in the case of THE MISSION SONG, I found the conclusion so understated and Salvo's victory so nebulous to the point of tragedy - his ultimate fate so abruptly unexplored - that I cannot award five stars, but must settle on four.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Candy Bombers: The Untold Story of the Berlin Airlift and America's Finest Hour; Author: Visit Amazon's Andrei Cherny Page; Review: "... the victory of the Airlift would mark the sunny apex of the American Century - before the slow slog of Korea, before the shock of Sputnik, before Americans had even heard of places such as the Bay of Pigs or Khe Sanh ... its more than 277,000 flights and 4.6 billion pounds of food and supplies dwarfs the size of any operation since." - Author Andrei Cherny on the Berlin Airlift As an historical narrative, THE CANDY BOMBERS is akin to a tricorn hat inasmuch as it comprises three sides of a story: the relationship between the occupying powers in Berlin - the United States, Britain, France and the Soviet Union - that, by the latter half of 1948, was so confrontational as to eventually lead to the Cold War and the establishment of NATO, the Berlin Airlift, which was the Allied response to the Soviet blockade of Berlin's western sectors, and the effect of the Airlift and the rising specter of Soviet communism on the fractious U.S. presidential election of 1948. Indeed, it is the author's success in encompassing the three in context that is perhaps the book's greatest strongpoint. THE CANDY BOMBERS is also a story of individuals: the U.S. politicians Harry Truman, Henry Wallace, and Thomas Dewey, the U.S. Secretary of Defense James Forrestal, and the U.S. Army officers General Lucius Clay (American military governor of Germany), Colonel Frank Howley (military commandant of Berlin's American sector), and Brig. General William Tunner (the Airlift's operational director). And, above all, it's about military transport pilot Lieutenant Gail "Hal" Halvorsen ("Onkel Wackelflugel" i.e. Uncle Wiggly Wings), who single-handedly began dropping candy attached to makeshift parachutes to Berlin's children from his C-54 aircraft, a practice that eventually captured the imagination of the American public, drew in the enthusiastic help of his fellow Airlift pilots, and transformed the relationship between the American occupiers of Berlin and its defeated and beleaguered citizens from one of mutual contempt and antipathy to respect and affection. Indeed, as Cherny would have it, this spontaneous generosity on the part of the fliers convinced Berliners that Western democracy was something worth fighting for as they resisted Soviet attempts to take control of their entire city by carrot and stick tactics. It isn't until page 306 that Halvorsen drops his first candy bomb. At first, this might seem to be an inordinately lengthy lead-in to the narrative's focus. However, without the background material beginning with the link-up of U.S. and Red Army troops on the Elbe in April 1945, especially concerning the subsequent deteriorating relationship between the western and Soviet occupiers of Berlin, the book would shed much of its laudable comprehensiveness. THE CANDY BOMBERS includes an 8-page section of black and white photos that admirably highlights the text. Cherny's book is not without its shortcomings. One sentence towards the end alludes to the 48 American and British men who died in the Airlift. Were these pilots? There is mention of only one transport plane crash - that on August 18, 1948. Otherwise, the reader comes away with the impression; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Deliveries: A Collection; Author: Richard Yee; Review: "I developed the Bogeyman analogy to show the flawed logic of creationist arguments ... My philosophy is that if something inside you compels you to believe in a higher power, then you should. But don't try to rationalize it with half-assed logic or science, because then you're insulting both faith and reason." - Author Richard Yee on his story entitled "The Bogeyman" I began reading DELIVERIES: A COLLECTION expecting a compendium of short stories written for entertainment purposes only. Before the last page, however, it became apparent that the chapters are, to me at least, vehicles by which author Richard Yee charts the course of life's undercurrents, especially those generated by sex, violence, death, betrayal, revenge, and guilt. Inasmuch as each human individual has a philosophy about life to some extent or other, DELIVERIES has its genesis in Yee's, and perhaps he hopes the stories in this book will cause you to ponder. For me, the most thought-provoking of the fourteen tales was "The Pizza Girl", in which a 69-year old woman intersperses graphic memories of her career as an adult film star with the mental anguish and loneliness brought about by her 72-year old husband's descent into Alzheimer's disease. Perhaps I found this chapter so arresting because the best book I read in 2008 was a novel on Alzheimer's entitled Still Alice. "The Pizza Girl" is certainly a strikingly different take on the subject. Only once does Yee leave the planet Earth with a touch of weird sci-fi originating on the planet Mars. This chapter, "Look", as improbable as it plays, is apparently the author's parable on the power that visual and aural images have to influence behavior. Just as a joke that has to be explained is a joke that founders, I might suggest that some of the stories' characters go too far in explaining their motives and actions and the impact of the latter is reduced; this occurs most noticeably, I think, in "The Broken Projector." This niggling criticism aside, however, all the stories are engaging and interesting and involve personalities most likely not included in your circle of friends. I read the volume in a single day while blatantly neglecting my domestic chores. Writer Richard Yee is a bright talent. I'll buy and read more of his stuff if and when it's published.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Valeria's Last Stand: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Marc Fitten Page; Review: "Sometimes I need fire to remind me that I'm alive. You'll see what I mean as you grow older. I want to feel alive, like I've got the world by the balls. I don't feel that way much anymore. I feel something like that with Ibolya. But then, sometimes I feel like being on fire isn't all it's cracked up to be." - The widower potter of VALERIA'S LAST STAND on the need in old age for reminders of youth. The plot of VALERIA'S LAST STAND by Marc Fitten offers the promise of being an engaging one. It's post-Soviet Hungary in the backwater village of Zivatar, where the 68-year old spinster, Valeria, is about to experience love for the first time in her adult life. Valeria is the resident sour curmudgeon, a thorn in the sides of adults and children alike. But one day in the village market, she becomes smitten with the local pottery maker, a white-haired widower of some years. However, the latter is already in a relationship with the 58-year old tavern owner, Ibolya. The rivalry between the two women heats up and then becomes catalyzed to the boiling point by the arrival of a rascally and scheming itinerant chimneysweep. Will Valeria's last chance for romantic love carry the day? Will she mellow? Zivatar is populated with a gathering of interesting characters brought to life by the American-born Fitten - characters which manage to carry the storyline through at least the first half. Moreover, Fitten lived in Hungary for 4 years and was well-placed to observe the effects of the book's most interesting subplot, i.e. the transition from Soviet communism to western capitalism and its potential for petty corruption. Unfortunately, the book's promise didn't pan out for me. The biggest disappointment was that, while I was immediately sympathetic to Valeria's condition, I never came to like her much. And the potter, an altogether decent man albeit out of his depth, left me pretty much indifferent. The author never provides a convincing reason why the two might fall in love beyond the unstated assumption that "love is blind". So, when the story's conclusion degenerated into a silly mélange of shattered crockery, screaming lovers, and drunken brawls - all worthy of a third-rate soap opera - I simply wanted to finish the book as hastily as possible and move along to the next volume on my shelf. Under the circumstances, then, I would be remiss to award more than three stars.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Ridiculous Race: 26,000 Miles, 2 Guides, 1 Globe, No Airplanes; Author: Visit Amazon's Steve Hely Page; Review: "Even in the late 1990s, the Khmer Rouge would occasionally kidnap and murder tourists. Now over a million tourists visit the country every year, almost all of whom visit Siem Reap. (It would be a great ironic twist if the tourists started kidnapping and murdering Khmer Rouge members, but nobody I spoke to had ever heard of that happening. My attempts to be the first went nowhere.)" - Vali Chandrasekaran on Cambodia "I reeled my head back, and with violent, uncontrollable contortions, I launched a spray of yellow, soupy duckfoot vomit into the air ... I (didn't see) where my regurgitated lunch had ended up after it'd been blasted from my throat. I booked it out of the now-befouled Chang'an Theater as fast as possible. (My guide) found me fifteen minutes later trying to look as casual as it is possible for a six-foot-two curly-haired white guy to look in a Beijing theater." - Steve Hely on the Chinese theater-going experience While under the influence of a "bottle of ninety-nine cent wine", Vali and Steve, late twenty-something friends living in Los Angeles and writing jokes for television productions, come up with THE RIDICULOUS RACE, i.e. that they will race each other circumnavigating the globe without using airplanes, the first one back home to enjoy a bottle of the most expensive scotch available. Steve goes west via Korea, Shanghai, Beijing, Mongolia, Lake Baikal, Novosibirsk, Moscow, Stockholm, Italy, Paris, London, and the American mid-West. Vali goes east via Mexico City, Rio de Janeiro, London, Paris, Berlin, Warsaw, Moscow, Jericho, Amman, Cairo, Dubai, and Phnom Penh. My favorite travel essayist-humorist, Bill Bryson, can rest easy with my assurance that neither Steve nor Vali are in his league - nowhere near it. However, as they skate across the surface of the various cultures and countries they transit, they do exhibit a sort of reckless and clownish superficiality that has its own charm. Of the two, Steve is perhaps best at writing with an easy, self-deprecating humor. Vali can be funny, also, but his wit often seems forced, as if reading his colleague's portion of the book's pre-publication manuscript compelled him to try and match Steve's drollness chuckle for chuckle. Both snipe at each other throughout the book as only two good, male pals will do; this is engaging. The volume is illustrated with several near-caricature drawings of the two travelers. Only one photo (of Steve) is included. In this age of small digital cameras, it's a wonder (and disappointment) that the volume doesn't incorporate more images. As a travel narrative, THE RIDICULOUS RACE fails because it doesn't accomplish what I think such should do, i.e. inspire a burning desire to visit or avoid the place being described. However, as a book of humor, it's better than average for a stint of light reading and amusement.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Day of Battle; Author: Visit Amazon's Rick Atkinson Page; Review: "Soldiers walking through a killing field sometimes stomped on the distended bellies of dead Germans to hear the flatulent noises the corpses made. `Slowly I am becoming insensitive to everything,' wrote one soldier in his diary. `God in Heaven, help me to keep me humanity.'" - from THE DAY OF BATTLE Were I to poll the common American on the street, I suspect that those even cognizant of World War Two at all would confirm what I suspect to be the self-centeredness of the popular mythology surrounding the U.S. role in the war against Nazi Germany, i.e. that it was the United States that pretty much single-handedly won the war against the Third Reich with a little help from our English-speaking cousins in the British Commonwealth forces, and that the apocalyptic battles and combat deaths in the millions that occurred on the Eastern Front are relegated to the Unknown War. Moreover, as far as the Western Theater is concerned, the awareness would center on the American victories in France and Germany following the D-Day invasion. After all, what legends there are have been built around the Normandy landing itself, the subsequent dash by Patton's Third Army across France, the stubborn defense of Bastogne, and perhaps the seizure of the Remagen Bridge across the Rhine. Would John Q. Citizen on the street even know that the U.S. Army fought in North Africa? And Sicily - wasn't that where George. C. Scott slapped a dogface? Author Rick Atkinson has previously written a superlative account of America's North African campaign, An Army at Dawn: The War in North Africa, 1942-1943, Volume One of the Liberation Trilogy. In THE DAY OF BATTLE, he now gives us an exceptional narrative summary of the conquest of Sicily and the subsequent slow and brutal slog up Italy's boot to culminate in the capture of Rome, an eleven-month ordeal characterized too often by suspect strategy, unimaginative tactics and leadership at corps levels, dismal weather and near-impossible topography, and friction between top American and British generals that almost reached the level of insubordination: "`(General Mark Clark, Fifth Army Commander) appears never to have accepted (General Sir Harold) Alexander (Commander, Allied Armies in Italy) as his real commander,' wrote W.G.F. Jackson, an author of the official British history. Later, Clark claimed he had warned Alexander that he would order Fifth Army `to fire on the (British) Eighth Army' should (its commander, General Oliver) Leese attempt to muscle in on (the capture of) Rome. Shocking if true; General Alex disputed the story." Indeed, the only reasons the Allies seemed to have prevailed at all were their overwhelming superiority in artillery and air coverage and the abundance of war-making materials. Had the Germans had even parity in those parameters, the skill of their leadership and the fighting capabilities of their battle-hardened troops might have achieved at least a stalemate if not driven the bickering invaders back into the Med. Atkinson's style is not to get bogged down in the mundane mechanics of field maneuver. Rather, he paints the big picture and then illuminates the; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Pearl Harbor: A Novel of December 8th; Author: Visit Amazon's Newt Gingrich Page; Review: Co-authors Gingrich and Forstchen have previously written the scintillatingly good Civil War trilogy that begins with the title Gettysburg: A Novel of the Civil War, which commences with the initial field maneuvering at that Pennsylvania battlefield between the Confederate and Union forces, and then gallops off into an alternative history like a team of artillery horses racing to the front with the ordnance necessary to save the day. GETTYSBURG and the subsequent two books, Grant Comes East and Never Call Retreat: Lee and Grant: The Final Victory, is perhaps, next to Shelby Foote's The Civil War: A Narrative (3 Vol. Set), the best series I've ever read on the War Between the States. I couldn't put them down, and, upon finishing the last page, was devastated that there was no more to read. Unfortunately, PEARL HARBOR, the first in an alternate history series about that December 1941 attack and its aftermath, has not the same excellence; it resembles more a slow infantry slog to the forward trenches. The thing is, you see, PEARL HARBOR, except for the last seventy-six pages, isn't specifically about the sneak Japanese assault on that U.S. naval base at all. Rather, it's about the lead-up to the attack beginning as far back as 1934: the emergence of Japanese air tactics utilizing carrier aircraft, the Japanese invasion of mainland China, the evolution of the Japanese view of America as a Pacific-rim rival, the economic and military necessities that compelled Japan to expand to the east and south, and the internal Japanese politics, particularly as dominated by the Army, that forced the Emperor's hand into sanctioning the aggressive expansion. Interesting stuff, certainly, but not riveting. PEARL HARBOR incorporates the roles of both fictional - a U.S. Navy cryptographer, a British spy, a Japanese naval aviator - and non-fictional characters, the latter group including familiar names to students of the period: British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, Japanese Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, naval air tactician Commander Genda Minoru, and American Ambassador to Japan Joseph Grew. However, all are presented in a literary monotone and appear cut from the same cloth. This reader readily admits to caring about no one of them. The plot develops slowly, much as I'd imagine a television miniseries adaptation to proceed. It wasn't until those last seventy-six pages that I became truly engaged in the storyline and developed a desire to acquire and read the second book of the set, Days of Infamy. Indeed, it's because of that last section and its segue to the next installment that I'm awarding four stars at all.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Beat the Reaper: A Novel (Package May Vary); Author: Visit Amazon's Josh Bazell Page; Review: Do you remember when, in 2003, real-life wilderness hiker Aron Ralston amputated his own forearm with a pocketknife in order to extricate himself from a tight spot? In BEAT THE REAPER, author Josh Bazell delivers an even more excruciating image that had me cringing. Bazell, with a BA in English Lit and writing and an MD degree, is perhaps uniquely capable of producing this, his first novel. His protagonist, Dr. Peter Brown, is an intern toiling at Manhattan Catholic Hospital. In a previous life before entering a Federal witness protection program, he was Pietro "Bearclaw" Brnwa, a professional hit man for the mob. One day, a patient recognizes Dr. Brown and threatens to rat him out to his old employer. With the specter of his past catching up, Brown's bedside manner slips. The premise of the book's plot and Brown's background are fresh and unusual enough to engage the reader from the first page. Brown's first-person, irreverent, and no-nonsense perspective and his unorthodox skill set make him a hero of the likes you haven't perhaps seen before. If Bazell continues with the character in subsequent novels, Lee Child's Jack Reacher may have to make room on the stage of contemporary literary Tough Guys. Of course, the continuation of a character into a book series has its own pitfalls, not the least of which is fan boredom with plots that become too formulaic and a hero that fails to live up to expectations, or worse. (As an example, see the reviews - perhaps mine in particular - for a recent Reacher adventure, Nothing to Lose (Jack Reacher, No. 12).) In the meantime, however, I'm going to applaud the author for the inventiveness of his creation and award an admiring five stars.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Spook: Science Tackles the Afterlife; Author: Visit Amazon's Mary Roach Page; Review: Mary Roach's SPOOK is bracketed in time by two other published offerings, Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers and Bonk: The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex. Both were immensely readable and enjoyable - 5 stars. SPOOK is not a collection of creepy ghost sightings. Rather, it's the author's first-person description of her one-year survey of the evidence for life after death. It encompasses attempts to discover the soul's seat in the body by dissection and the soul's weight by direct measurement, the soul's visibility as demonstrated by, e.g., x-rays and light diffraction, the nature of ectoplasm, the careers of spirit mediums, telecommunicating with the dead, electromagnetic fields as the possible cause of spirit sightings, ghosts and the law, and current research into near-death experiences. Having read all of Mary's books, SPOOK is the first which left me briefly annoyed. Specifically, the chapter "Can You Hear Me Now" concerning claimed telecommunications with the dead using both pseudo and genuine technologies - the latter including TVs, alarm clocks, answering machines, sound recorders, computerized spell checkers - was an exercise in beating a subject to death. Halfway through its thirty-four uncharacteristically rambling pages, I wanted to scream "Enough already!" (I mean, I regularly hear voices in my head, but I don't ascribe anything supernatural to them.) The other chapters were commendably brief and to the point. Mary's strength as a writer is that she takes her subjects seriously, but not too seriously. She presents to the reader with a cocked eyebrow and plenty of wry humor. More importantly, she doesn't take herself too seriously either. A paragraph about an experiment to draw passer-bys' attentions to a staged spirit apparition walking through a field, in one case the costumed "ghost" being followed by a small herd of cows, is footnoted thus: "This comes as no surprise to yours truly, who has twice, on separate continents, carried out an experiment designed to prove the considerable curiosity of cows. This is an experiment I urge you to repeat, simply for the giddy thrill of it. Go into a pasture where cows are grazing in the distance. Shout to get their attention and then suddenly lie down. The moment you do, they will hurry over to investigate, encircling you and staring down at you with unmitigated bovine fascination." Check for moo pies when lying down, though. Roach obviously enjoys researching for her various books. The fact that she has so much fun doing so ensures a volume that'll be no less than four stars, and will most likely deserve five. That's why I'll continue to purchase and read anything she writes.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Descent The R. Connors Story; Author: Visit Amazon's Simon Cleveland Page; Review: "He would never forget the ugly and abnormal mouth, permanently twitched in a grotesque and permanent yawn, the bloodshot eyes and cruel lines crisscrossing a large forehead." - from DESCENT At face value, DESCENT by Simon Cleveland is the tale of Roy and Ray, both employees of Xcel, a company that sets up data networks for other businesses. Ray, the more organized, outgoing, and articulate of the two, has taken on the burden of being Roy's mentor and one-man support net within the organization. Unhealthily dependent on Ray, Roy becomes vengefully jealous when the former finds the love of his life, Maya, and takes off with her on a Caribbean holiday. Saying anything more about the plot would constitute a spoiler. The book is a taut and attention-arresting psychological thriller. There's a key plot twist, which is, in my opinion, apparent too early. Whether or not the author intended this to be so, I think the story suffered from its premature visibility and I'm knocking off a star. That said, Cleveland does a commendable job keeping track of the various personalities in an otherwise complex scenario. A prop that gets woven into the narrative is something called the Phaistos Disc, ostensibly an archeological artifact, which piqued my interest and caused me to query Google. The search revealed it to be an actual object supposedly unearthed in 1908 in the Minoan palace-site of Phaistos in Crete. Comprised of 241 hieroglyphs arranged into 45 unique signs, it's never been deciphered and is generally considered not to be an elaborate hoax, though the final verdict on its authenticity is still pending. (I applaud any book, fiction or otherwise, which stimulates me enough to go to the Web for additional enlightenment.) In any case, the mental images which the symbols on the Phaistos Disc conjure in the psyches of our two heroes suggest an otherworldly tease to the story that may leave the reader wanting more (in a good way, like after a fine meal). With the right screenplay, actors and director, DESCENT would make a startling and thought-provoking film.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Waitress Was New; Author: Visit Amazon's Dominique Fabre Page; Review: "I started back toward Saint-Lazaire to catch the last train home. But the closer I got the less I liked the idea. In the end, I decided to walk back to Les Grésillons. All my papers were piled on my table, and in my head all the trimesters to come, waiting for me, and all my past. I took a nice shower, not too hot. It was way too late for the Channel 3 news. I wasn't really up to reading on a night like tonight. Then I couldn't think of anything else to do, so I went to bed." - The last lines of THE WAITRESS WAS NEW THE WAITRESS WAS NEW is a diminutive novel; it can be read in an hour or two. Written by Dominique Fabre, it's the first-person narrative of Pierre, an aging bartender employed at Le Cercle, a café-restaurant in the Parisian suburb of Asnières. It spans about ten days, on the first of which a new waitress, Madeleine, appears at the café to temporarily replace a sick employee, and the boss departs quietly out the back door and doesn't return that day or the next, or the next. Pierre is left to run the popular eatery with Madeleine, the Senegalese cook Amédée, and the boss's wife. THE WAITRESS WAS NEW is low-key almost to an extreme. It's as if you yourself recorded your stream of thoughts and impressions as you went about your daily occupation. But you probably wouldn't succeed with Pierre's simple charm as he interacts with those around him and leads his own very ordinary existence. So, what's the book's appeal? Perhaps, to those of us at least Pierre's age - fifty-six - or older, it's the recognition of a kindred soul coming to an acceptance of advancing age and a diminished capacity to cope with what life may throw at us. Pierre himself is anxious over the prospect of losing his job. Could he get another gig tending bar? It's the only thing he knows how to do, and other applicants will be so much younger. Moreover, upon checking with the Social Security office, he disconcertingly learns that he has additional trimesters to work before becoming eligible for government retirement checks. Yet, he continues to inhabit his days with equanimity and grace born of wisdom and experience. THE WAITRESS WAS NEW is perhaps not for everyone. Younger readers won't get it. And it's not a mystery, action thriller, or romance. It's just about everyday responsibilities and problems, simple joys, the leavening effect of memories past, and the continued drawing of breaths, one by one.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Timebomb; Author: Visit Amazon's Gerald Seymour Page; Review: "He is obstinate, aloof, dismissive, cruel, and he is the most effective intelligence officer in that wretched building ... He is honourable, he has honour, and that is not a word often echoing through the corridors of (the Secret Intelligence Service, MI6) ..." Agent runner Christopher Lawson, as described in TIMEBOMB Any thriller by Gerald Seymour is a treat to be savored. And each is topical; it plumbs the deep and dangerous currents flowing across the world at the time of its writing. Here, it's 2008. Two old Russians, ex-KGB major Yashkin and his friend Molenkov, an ex-political officer (zampolit), both unceremoniously discarded by the regime some fifteen years previously, are smuggling a stolen Small Atomic Demolition Munition out of Russia to a buyer in the West for the promise of a million dollars. It had been spirited out of a weapons depot by Yashkin as a hedge against rainy days sure to come immediately after he'd learned he was to be sacked. Now, the handover is to take place on the Bug River, the border between Poland and Belarus. Converging on the rendezvous are the Russian middleman for the sale, the vicious mafiya boss Reuven Weissberg, his London money man, Josef Goldmann, and their entourage of bodyguards, including Johnny Carrick, an undercover operative for the British Serious Crimes Directorate. Almost against his will, Johnny has been seconded to the Secret Intelligence Service for the operation, the MI6 team for which is headed by the aging Cold War warrior, Christopher Lawson, perhaps the most detested executive at the SIS headquarters building at Vauxhall Bridge Cross. Weissberg's approach to life is "trust no one," a philosophy embedded into his soul by the 85-year old grandmother, Anna Weissberg, that raised him and to whom he remains completely dedicated. Anna was a survivor of the Nazi extermination camp at Sobibor near the Bug River, having escaped that place during the prisoner uprising of October 1943, one of only two that flared in the entire concentration camp system. I'm constantly amazed at the level of satisfaction I get from reading a Gerald Seymour thriller, yet I'm hard pressed - perhaps just not sufficiently literate or perceptive - to explain why in a way that does the author justice. A storyline of his involves multiple threads, any of which could be considered the main one. TIMEBOMB has three, perhaps four if one includes Anna's memories of Sobibor. All are elegantly woven into the tapestry of the overall tale and lead to a common point, which inevitably is a Pyrrhic victory, from the point of view of conventional Western readers, for the protectors of Free World societies and values. The fact that the win isn't overwhelmingly final flies in the face of most fictional thrillers and is perhaps more reflective of Real Life. The heroes and villains of any Seymour book aren't the Super Heroes and Arch Villains of your standard pot-boiler. There are no Bonds here with their high tech hardware, sexy women, death-defying stunts, or final confrontations involving special FX and cliffhanger drama. They're just ordinary; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Handful of Honey: Away to the Palm Groves of Morocco and Algeria; Author: Visit Amazon's Annie Hawes Page; Review: "I return to the camp ... to find that a pair of vultures has come visiting. Enormous, horrible, bald-headed creatures as big as dogs that spread their wings when they see me, but are so sure of themselves that they can't be bothered to fly off ... Their wingspan must be double the span of my arms, their beaks are pointed flesh-ripping tools. My hair stands on end ... Suddenly I can't stand their beadily staring presence. I take a run at them. They still don't fly away, but stump a few lurching feet off on their scaly talons, flapping in slow motion. I try shouting and running combined. Several times. Same effect. Now I am hot and sweaty; the vultures, on the other hand, still look cool and sleek, taking it all in their stride." - Annie Hawes in HANDFUL OF HONEY Previously, British-born Annie Hawes has written Extra Virgin: A Young Woman Discovers the Italian Riviera, Where Every Month Is Enchanted,Ripe for the Picking and Journey to the South: A Calabrian Homecoming, in which she sequentially finds a home, life and love in Italy's Liguria. All three are engaging, the first two especially so, as Annie has always struck me as a sweetheart. In HANDFUL OF HONEY, published in 2008 but drawing on the memories of a 1992 journey of discovery, Hawes is off to the south of Algeria to the oasis town of Timimoun with two Frenchmen, Grard and Guy. Why Timimoun? Because in the Prologue, which flashbacks twenty years to when the teenage Annie was tossed out of Portugal as a political undesirable, Hawes, on the way back to Britain, is given several nights' sanctuary in Paris by a generous family of North African immigrant workers from that exotic place. The author's 1992 adventure begins with the ferry crossing from Spain to Morocco. After landfall, it's by road along Morocco's Mediterranean coast, across the Algerian border to Algiers, then south-southwest to Timimoun. Deplorably, the book includes no map of the region, however rudimentary. I had to fall back on that standby, Google Maps, to get my bearings. What were Annie and her editor and publisher thinking? Though I at least know where Morocco and Algeria lie on the globe, I'd bet a large percentage of Americans don't have a clue. And, not surprisingly, there are no photos. It's the truly extraordinary travel essay that includes such, and that is rare indeed. Annie is at her most endearing when describing silly predicaments, as evidenced by her encounters with the intrusive sheep, the two vultures, and a desperate desert gerbil, as well as the small-town North African crowd that becomes menacing when it mistakes her for a Western moocher at the traditional alms distribution at the end of Ramadan. Such instances are reminiscent of her encounter with the garden snake in EXTRA VIRGIN. But what was the North African women's preoccupation with her breasts all about? She never says. Occasionally, Hawes perhaps spends too much time getting bogged down in discussions relating to the region's political ferment, which apparently is,; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Gone Tomorrow: A Jack Reacher Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Lee Child Page; Review: A year ago, I read Lee Child's last Reacher thriller, the politicized Nothing to Lose (Jack Reacher, No. 12), a disaster in public relations vis--vis his fan base that left more than just a few customer reviewers, including myself, shaking their heads and wondering what the author, his editor, and his publisher could possibly have been thinking. Could Lee subsequently redeem himself? Happily, with GONE TOMORROW, the author has done so brilliantly and in a manner reminiscent of the original form which made ex-military MP Jack Reacher so compelling in the first place. When this book opens during the wee-hours on a New York subway train, Reacher approaches a young woman ("I can help you") that he judges to be a suicide bomber. Without much further ado, she blows off her own head with a .357 Magnum revolver. With that, Jack becomes embroiled with an emerging U.S. presidential candidate hiding a past, the FBI, the Department of Defense, and most certainly the nastiest villains Reacher has yet encountered in a dozen previous adventures. As I progressed through the pages, I was struck for the first time - perhaps I hadn't been sufficiently attentive before - how the author ends each chapter with a line that compels the reader - at least this reader - to press on no matter the lateness of the hour. And on a school night, too. That signifies to me a master of the craft. One warning, however, if you've a vivid imagination. There's one chapter not for the faint of heart about three-quarters of the way in that may keep you from getting to sleep because of the horrific images it will call up. If the book is ever translated to the Big Screen, this scene will prompt my visit to the concession stand. The conclusion to GONE TOMORROW has perhaps the most nail-biting and deadliest personal combat sequence of Reacher's literary life. Of course, we all know he'll win any face-off, but that doesn't mean he won't find it dodgy. No doubt about it, Jack and his creator are back in their top forms. And, I say, not a moment too soon.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Devil Made Me Do It; Author: Visit Amazon's Georgina Spelvin Page; Review: "... it's an exciting thing to fornicate in the privacy of a film set ... taking off my clothes and shaking my booty in front of a live audience, however, was a whole 'nother story. Don't laugh. It made me feel cheap." - Georgina Spelvin Anyone of a certain age (55 or older) and gender (most likely, but not necessarily, male) may recollect - if memory hasn't failed by this late date - the three film classics of the 1970s that made porn "chic" and widely public: Deep Throat,Behind the Green Door (Dvd), and The Devil in Miss Jones (Dvd) starring, respectively, the three original queens of X-rated film, Linda Lovelace, Marilyn Chambers, and Georgina Spelvin. And let's not forget the contributions of Georgina's Brazilian Boa co-star. Written in 2004 many years after most of the events chronicled, THE DEVIL MADE ME DO IT, the autobiographical narrative by Georgina Spelvin, is fueled by notes and memories, and held together by dialogue of presumably loose reconstruction. What results is a memoir told in a chatty, matter-of-fact style pretty much devoid of any deep personal exploration or revelation. This is especially reflected in Georgina's impassive description of the chronic alcoholism that plagued her during the latter half of the 1970s. Indeed, the text can be roughly divided into two markedly unequal parts, "BS" (before sobriety) and "AS" (after sobriety), the latter dating from November 11, 1980 and a hard-earned and well-deserved state. Honor is due. Spelvin had an interesting career as an entertainer. Her conventional zenith came when she was lead dancer for the last few months of the Broadway production of "Pajama Game." Following that, she, almost by accident, fell into the lead role in THE DEVIL IN MISS JONES, the porn sensation that gifted her everlasting fame. Indeed, her paid duties during production included providing various orifices for sexual coupling with the male "stars" plus cooking for the cast and washing up the dishes. (A feminist's dream job, you think?) Before and after TDIMJ, Georgina's means of earning a buck have included chorus line dancer, film editor, off-Broadway actor, costume designer, choreographer, fish gutter, one day as avocado packer (before being fired), window and bathroom cleaner at a construction site, and stripper. For her, like the rest of us, whatever it takes to survive. Since achieving sobriety, her career until retirement was in desktop publishing. Is THE DEVIL MADE ME DO IT a page turner? Is it the story of a remarkable life? Is it particularly salacious? In my opinion, "no" to all three. But it is the interesting and engaging narrative of an unconventional life that, by the book's conclusion, had me caring about the author enough to wish her well in the sunset of her days. If you go to Georgina's personal website, you'll see her, white-haired and perhaps resembling your own grandmother, enjoying the landscaped back yard of her Los Angeles home; she's found lasting contentment. If nothing else, this should remind the reader that white-haired grandmothers were young once and may have lead unconventional lives.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Harry Truman's Excellent Adventure: The True Story of a Great American Road Trip; Author: Visit Amazon's Matthew Algeo Page; Review: "Harry and Bess are buried next to each other in the courtyard of the Truman Library. Harry is on the driver's side." - From HARRY TRUMAN'S EXCELLENT ADVENTURE On January 20, 1953, Harry S Truman - the "S" is his middle name in its entirety, so, technically, it doesn't require a following period (.) - stepped down as President of the United States and returned by train back home to Independence, Missouri. On June 19 of that year, he and his wife Bess set out, unprotected by the Secret Service or any other bodyguard, in the latest-model Chrysler New Yorker for the roundtrip drive to Washington, D.C. and New York City - nineteen days and some 2,500 miles. This was the last time any American ex-President and his First Lady would hobnob so casually with their fellow citizens; it was the end of an era made more regretful in the light of the imperial presidencies since. (Barack Obama's march down Pennsylvania Avenue on his Inauguration Day was a nice showboating touch, but he was still surrounded by a vigilant contingent of Secret Service agents.) Author Matthew Algeo records the Trumans' passage through Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland, the District of Columbia, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania. He reconstructs as best he could, based on eyewitness and press accounts, what they saw and ate, where they stayed, and whom they visited. However, this part of the narrative serves primarily as the framework of a wider perspective on that and earlier times which briefly touches upon the evolution of certain national roads, the rise of motels, the disappearance or endurance of particular privately or family-owned lodging establishments and restaurants along Harry's route, the use of airplanes for transport of the President (beginning with FDR), and the provision (or not, in Truman's case) of federal pensions for ex-Chief Executives. HARRY TRUMAN'S EXCELLENT ADVENTURE is sprinkled with photographs mostly related to his journey. Perhaps the most amusing is that taken of Harry linked arm-to-arm with Vice-President Nixon on June 24, both with beatific smiles. Old fishing buddies, perhaps? Hardly. According to the author, Nixon was one of only two politicians that Truman truly abhorred. When, in 1961, Truman was presented with the opportunity to sign a photo of himself grouped with Herbert Hoover, Nixon, and Eisenhower, Harry responded, though the others had already signed: "I wouldn't sign a picture with that son-of-a-bitch Nixon in it. He called me a traitor (during the 1952 election campaign)." Like the Trumans' road trip, the nostalgic HARRY TRUMAN'S EXCELLENT ADVENTURE is a leisurely ride across the surface of a time and social milieu barely remembered - a bit of Americana gone forever. If you're old enough to reflect about such things, then the book is a worthwhile and undemanding diversion.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Border Songs; Author: Visit Amazon's Jim Lynch Page; Review: To those of us living in the American Southwest, the national border of greatest concern and porosity is perhaps the one along Mexico. We may be forgiven for forgetting that there's also a border with Canada, one that can be just as problematic. And it's the refreshing backdrop for a story, as in BORDER SONGS by Jim Lynch. The setting is along that length of the boundary spanning the coastal flatland between Abbotsford, BC and Blaine, WA, where it meets the Pacific. The unlikely hero of the piece is young Brandon Vandenkool, a recent addition to the U.S. Border Patrol. Unlikely because he suffers from severe dyslexia, a condition that causes awkward problems in his personal relationships, but which also makes him a successful BP officer; he perceives the things and makes the mental connections that his "normal" colleagues miss. For instance, what's with those logs and bales of hay floating down the river? BORDER SONGS is peopled with a cast of well-drawn and intriguing main characters: Brandon, Brandon's father Norm, who struggles to cope with a gimpy knee, a trouble-plagued dairy business, and a wife in the initial stages of dementia, Wayne, an obnoxious anti-American Canadian neighbor of Norm's dying of MS just across the frontier ditch, Wayne's daughter Madeline, who's up to her eyeballs in pot smuggling, and Sophie, the mesmerizing and enigmatic masseuse who seems to know everybody's business. The author's intent, presumably, is to illustrate the special love-hate relationship binding the residents sharing both sides of America's longest land border, especially now in this post-9/11 time of heightened border security. That said, the book's plot is essentially a series of mildly interesting one-act scenes mostly involving any two of the aforementioned players. Unfortunately, BORDER SONGS never amounted to more than that for me and it sputtered along to an unrewarding conclusion. Brandon and Sophie especially never seemed to meet their potentials to engage my affection. I skimmed the last pages just enough to get the general drift; I wanted to finish as quickly as possible and move along to a more promising volume. This, for me, is a sure predictor of a 3-star assessment at best, which, in this case, was a disappointment considering the initial possibilities afforded by the fresh locale.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Biography of the Dollar: How the Mighty Buck Conquered the World and Why It's Under Siege; Author: Visit Amazon's Craig Karmin Page; Review: "We don't care if it was in a fire, buried underground, water damaged. Maybe your dog ate it. Came out the other end. Clean it up a bit. We'll take care of it." - A supervisor of the BEP's Mutilated Currency Division Mind you, my attention to high finance extends only to balancing my checkbook, paying the bills on time, socking away as much as I can, and making sure I live within my budget. (In these regards, especially the last, I at least do better than my state and federal governments.) I don't even pay attention to the annual reports that come from my 401k plan. So, for me, BIOGRAPHY OF THE DOLLAR by Craig Karmin was pretty much unexplored territory. To call this book a "biography" is perhaps a misnomer. Such implies that the story begins with the origin of the $ as a monetary unit, and this isn't the case. Karmin begins the historical part of the story with the establishment of the First Bank of the United States in 1791 and proceeds fairly quickly to the dollar's disengagement from the gold standard in 1971. There's also virtually nothing about the evolution in size, color (or metal content) and denominations of the currency as coin or paper over decades since it became the official legal tender of the U.S. If I was a dollar come to life - one of the rarely seen $2 bills, I think - and asked to write a narrative containing what's in this volume, I would perhaps entitle my essay "What I Did on Several Summer Vacations" since the bulk of the text is dedicated to my experiences with currency speculators, the Bureau of Engraving and Printing (especially the Mutilated Currency Division), Ecuador, which abandoned the sucre and adopted me as its sole currency in 2000, the central banks of various overseas nations (particularly in Asia), and my battles to fend off the advances of the euro, Chinese yuan and Japanese yen. The intent of BIOGRAPHY OF THE DOLLAR is apparently to trace the Mighty Buck's fortunes, so to speak, of the recent past and present in the global marketplace as it's challenged by trade imbalances, vacillating interest rates, currency markets, recessions, government and central bank approaches to currency reserves, and an ever growing supply of itself. Perhaps the writing of the volume was two years premature. It makes the reader wonder what the author would say now after the bursting of the U.S. home mortgage bubble, the rising unemployment, the bankruptcies and bank failures, the bailouts, and the prospect of increasing Federal indebtedness and budget deficits under President Obama's social re-engineering plans. In any case, whether or not the dollar will lose its place as the world's dominant medium of exchange is a question Karmin can't, or won't, answer definitively. That's probably the safe course. For the reader savvy in the ways of international finance, the BIOGRAPHY OF THE DOLLAR would likely be too much of a beginner's class. But, in my ignorance, I found it enlightening, interesting, and sometimes entertaining. But, I'm; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Stalin's Ghost: An Arkady Renko Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Martin Cruz Smith Page; Review: "Applause broke out as Surkov turned up the volume and let the high tide of adulation pour from the gramophone. Arkady said nothing because Tanya had slipped a garrote around his neck and pulled it tight." - from STALIN'S GHOST I haven't been an avid follower of Arkady Renko's career as a Moscow police investigator. STALIN'S GHOST is the first of his adventures I've read since Gorky Park (Arkady Renko, No. 1) and Polar Star: A Novel (Mortalis), the latter first published 20 years ago. I've been out of touch, though my inattention hasn't been detrimental either to me or Arkady. Martin Cruz Smith's latest book reminds me that his hero's fan base is perhaps built on Renko's stubbornly persistent competence in the face of official displeasure. Sort of a low profile Dirty Harry without the Smith and Wesson .44 Magnum Model 629 revolver. STALIN'S GHOST begins as a previously unknown, Stalin-era burial pit is discovered under the basement of the Supreme Court building and the ghost of Uncle Joe himself is seen on the platform of the Chistye Prudy (formerly Kirov) station of the Moscow Metro. The intriguing former subplot disappears after two and a half pages, and the latter quickly evolves into a less sensational serial murder investigation, where Arkady's chief suspect is a fellow homicide detective who was once an idolized officer in the quasi-military OMON (Special Purpose Police Unit) and is now running for political office while courting the fiercely nationalist constituency that thinks of Stalin's dictatorship as the Good Old Days. I have to be candid. Purely as a police procedural, STALIN'S GHOST isn't any more engaging than one that might be set in the gritty streets of Los Angeles, New York, London or Berlin. Perhaps even Boise. Indeed, the most arresting aspect of the plot is the portrayal of the "diggers" who comb Soviet WWII battlefields hoping to unearth human remains. The Red Diggers do it to identify the Russian dead and send the bones back to family for burial, while the Black Diggers do it to loot the graves of sellable artifacts, e.g. medals, ceremonial daggers, etc. Here, specifically, the Diggers scour the landscape around Tver (formerly Kalinin) north of Moscow, which was one of the first Russian cities recaptured from the Germans by the Red Army in the latter's December 1941 offensive that turned the Nazis away from the gates of the capital. In the very front of the book, there's map entitled "Moscow Metro 1940" with the station names noted in Cyrillic and which, for non-Russian speakers, is totally useless. Almost as unnecessary, I thought, is the subplot involving a troubled teenage chess phenom whom Arkady has apparently taken under his wing out of frustrated paternalism; it didn't add much to the main storyline and I just didn't care. The volume's editor(s) didn't perform. What made STALIN'S GHOST worth reading, at least for me, was its setting in Russia, still a vaguely menacing riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma for the vast majority of Western readers. (And I, at least, have; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Ghost Map.; Author: Visit Amazon's Steven. Johnson Page; Review: "Since the dawn of civilization, human culture has demonstrated a remarkable knack for diversity, but eating other humans' waste is as close to a universal taboo as any in the book. And so, without a widespread practice of consuming other people's waste, cholera stayed close to its original home in the brackish waters of the Ganges delta, surviving on a diet of plankton ... But then, after countless years fighting to survive through the few transmission routes available, V. cholerae got a lucky break." - from THE GHOST MAP If one surveys the books I read (as reflected by my Amazon reviews), one can determine that light reading is pretty much my preference. Trash, actually. So occasionally it's a nice change of pace to report on something a bit more substantive. Not War and Peace or Plato's Republic, but still ... Cholera was unknown in Britain before 1831. After that, two outbreaks alone, in 1831-33 and 1848-49, exterminated more than 70,000. Then, during ten days in September 1854, Vibrio cholerae emerged in London's Soho district to claim almost 700 lives, a mortality in so short a time and in so confined an area as to be perhaps unparalleled in the country's history up until that time. THE GHOST MAP by Steven Johnson is the fascinating and instructive narrative account of the densely crowded and unhygienic urban conditions that supported such an outbreak, the course of the Soho epidemic, the subsequent investigation by the story's two "heroes", physician John Snow and clergyman Henry Whithead, into the source and transmission routes of the bacteria, and the dueling theories of disease epidemiology that collided over the incident. The book is part popular history and part popular science. THE GHOST MAP is at its best during the lead-up to the cholera eruption on or around September 1 and until its abatement roughly two weeks later. The author perhaps comes up slightly short when describing the post mortem of the affair, which included the evolution of Snow's Soho street map - the "ghost map" - depicting the clustering of deaths around the scourge's portal of entry into the intestines of the citizenry; his conclusive Voronoi diagram isn't illustrated in the text at all. Moreover, in a somewhat tiresome Epilogue, Johnson - like a book reviewer - comes across as one liking too much the expression of his own thoughts as he sermonizes regarding the benefits and potential perils of our contemporary world's growing urban population densities. It didn't hurt my appreciation of THE GHOST MAP that it's set in London, my very favorite city. When I'm next there in April 2010, I'll be sure and visit the water pump replica/Snow memorial at what was then the corner of Broad and Cambridge Streets (now Broadwick and Lexington), and quaff a pint at the John Snow Pub. Cheers, guv!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Vanished (Nick Heller); Author: Visit Amazon's Joseph Finder Page; Review: "Lauren Heller's husband disappeared a few minutes after ten thirty on a rainy evening." - The opening line of VANISHED VANISHED will keep you engaged from the very first sentence. Here, author Joe Finder introduces a new Tough Guy literary hero, Nick Heller, an ex-Special Forces investigator employed with Stoddard Associates, a private intelligence-gathering organization headquartered in Washington, D.C. Lauren's husband is Roger, Nick's older brother and senior finance officer in Gifford Industries, a high-octane defense contractor. He's obviously missing, but is he dead, in captivity, or on the run? And what role is being played by the sinister, international security provider, Paladin Worldwide? The strength of VANISHED's intricate plot is that it will keep the reader guessing. It could be argued, perhaps, that it's almost too intricate and with some unnecessary secondary players. Nick's debut appearance - assuming this is the first installment in a series - might have been better served by a meaner and leaner storyline. On the other hand, the complexity provides substrate for more than one satisfying twist. I guess it's just a matter of which approach you're in the mood for at the moment considering the intrinsic abilities of the hero when it comes to up close and personal violence. I finished VANISHED without a good grasp of what makes Nick tick; he remains somewhat of an enigma. However, on the back of the novel's jacket is an endorsement of the Heller character by author Lee Child, the writer-creator of his own serialized Tough Guy, Jack Reacher, one of my very favorite action heroes when the author isn't tripping over his own pen by giving voice to his personal political convictions through Jack. Whether or not Finder's protagonist proves to be more lethal and entertaining than Reacher remains to be seen, and I look forward to any future Nick Heller adventure that may be written.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Lords' Day; Author: Visit Amazon's Michael Dobbs Page; Review: THE LORDS' DAY by Michael Dobbs is a riveting novel that compels completion in one sitting. If I hadn't had to waste time by going to my pesky job plus performing tedious domestic chores, I would've done just that. The plot takes place sometime in the near, imaginary future. Britain's House of Lords is hijacked by eight armed Afghanis during the ceremony marking the State Opening of Parliament. The hostages taken include Queen Elizabeth II, her Prime Minister, the Cabinet, the U.S. Ambassador, the Archbishop of Canterbury, and a host of others including assorted bishops, judges and foreign dignitaries. The occupiers have only one non-negotiable demand. A thread that runs through the entire book is one of sons. Among the hostages are the Queen's eldest, Prince Charles, and the sons of the Prime Minister and the American President. The American Ambassador mourns the recent loss of his only son to a roadside bomb in Afghanistan. And the leader of the attackers, Masood, is himself the son of a notorious terrorist mastermind. The hero of the piece is Harry Jones, a Member of Parliament. Jones is also a former member of the SAS, a fact that makes him lethal like so many other Tough Guys of contemporary British fiction from the same background. (How is it that those that save the day for the Western democracies within the pages of innumerable thrillers don't come from the Royal Corps of Signals or the motorpool of the Coldstream Guards?) I particularly liked the author's attempt to delve inside the relationship existing between the only two real-life characters of the novel, the Queen and Prince Charles. Of course, one outside the family can only imagine, but as Dobbs depicts it, it must be, um, complicated. The only false note was perhaps struck by the plot twist at the end, which struck me as an effect disproportionate to the cause and somewhat implausible. However, that minor quibble isn't enough for me to knock off a star from an otherwise totally absorbing potboiler.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Desert Solitaire; Author: Visit Amazon's Edward Abbey Page; Review: "There are mountain men, there are men of the sea, and there are desert rats. I am a desert rat." - Edward Abbey in DESERT SOLITAIRE I'm not sure if I've ever read anything else by Edward Abbey. Perhaps The Monkey Wrench Gang in the rebellious mid-1970s. Memory fails. But in reading DESERT SOLITAIRE, I can see why he was - he died in 1989 - so controversial. A naturalist and rugged individualist, he would be brazenly politically incorrect by today's standards while perhaps not easily categorized as either left or right-wing. I think I'm a huge fan already. Centered around a six-month stint he did as the lone, resident park ranger in Utah's Arches National Monument - now Arches National Park - in 1958, DESERT SOLITAIRE is Edward Abbey's brilliant tribute to the flora, fauna and geology of the desert Southwest in general and southeastern Utah in particular. For the reader with an active mind's eye, Abbey is at his best when he describes the immediate environs around his Arches trailer residence, his boat trip down the Colorado River through Glen Canyon (before the dam was built), his ascent of Mount Tukuhnikavits, and his descent into The Maze area of what is now Canyonlands National Park. Much of the controversy surrounding Abbey most certainly emanated from his scathing opinions of the National Park Service, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and what he terms "Industrial Tourism", that insidiously encroaching approach that would have all wilderness areas paved over and built-up to serve hordes of automobile-enclosed tourists whose idea of experiencing the landscape is to drive through in air-conditioned comfort. Indeed, Edward thought the national parks should be accessible only to those who could walk in or ride in on bicycle or mule from huge car lots at the parks' boundaries. Sometimes, his views verge on callous: "Children too small to ride bicycles and too heavy to be borne on their parents' backs need only wait a few years ... The aged merit even less sympathy: after all they had the chance to see the country when it was still relatively unspoiled. However, we'll stretch a point for those too old or too sickly to mount a bicycle and let them ride the shuttle buses." (Some that arrive in cars should stay in them. Hiking in the Grand Canyon both last March and last September, my wife and I encountered tourists waltzing down the Bright Angel Trail with Plateau Point - 6.1 miles from the rim - or the Colorado River - 7.7 miles from the rim - as their intended round trip (!) destination without carrying so much as a thimbleful of water. Luckily, there are rangers at key points to turn such fools back. You know, perhaps some selective culling of the species wouldn't hurt; I think Abbey might have agreed.) His outrage concerning the construction of the Glen Canyon Dam knows no bounds: "No wonder the Authorities are so anxious to smother the wilderness under asphalt and reservoirs. They know what they're doing; their lives depend on it, and all; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Box 21: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Anders Roslund Page; Review: BOX 21 is an exemplary crime novel. But it sure doesn't tempt me to visit Stockholm. The hero, if there is one, is Ewert Grens, a grizzled, insufferably rude investigator of the Stockholm PD who's only tolerated because he's also the best. Twenty-five years previously, the love of his life, fellow officer Anni, received severe skull injuries while trying to apprehend the notorious thug, Jochum Lang. Anni now hangs on in a long-term care facility, and Lang is about to be released from prison. Loneliness and bitterness control Ewert's life. Lydia Grajauskas, along with Alena Sljusareva, are two young women who've been confined, humiliated and sexually debauched for the past three years after having been lured to Sweden from Lithuania. Now, Lydia is hospitalized unconscious after being severely flogged and her arm broken by her pimp. The noise alerted the neighbors who called the police, including Grens. While recovering, Lydia vows it will not happen again; she implements an ingenious plan for vengeance. Hilding Oldéus is a drug addict who's hit bottom. He's hospitalized after overdosing in a photo booth of the central train station, but not before selling heroin he's cut with washing detergent to the niece of his supplier. She dies, and the brutal enforcer Lang is sent to teach Oldéus a meaningful lesson. The paths of Ewert, Hilding, Jochum and Lydia all intersect at Söder Hospital. BOX 21 is a forceful and original psychological sortie into Stockholm's underbelly. The reader who prefers a happy ending, or at least one in which justice universally prevails, may find this atypical novel depressing. On the other hand, BOX 21 is perhaps more reflective of real life, in which wrongs are only haphazardly made right, heinous crime sometimes goes unpunished, the guilt from failed family relationships can destroy the psyche, friendship's obligations can corrupt, and life's disappointments can be as corrosive as acid. I liked BOX 21 very much, but it wasn't - and isn't - a feel-good read.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Devil's Brood: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Sharon Kay Penman Page; Review: "Well, every family has their ups and downs." - Queen Eleanor in THE LION IN WINTER DEVIL'S BROOD is the third book in Sharon Kay Penman's wonderful series on the accession to power and the subsequently glorious, tumultuous, and ultimately tragic reign of King Henry II, the first of the Plantagenet kings of England. The first two volumes are When Christ and His Saints Slept: A Novel and Time and Chance: A Novel (Ballantine Reader's Circle). DEVIL'S BROOD spans the period from April 1172, a year and a half after Archbishop Becket's murder, to July 1189, during which period King Henry's familial relationships deteriorate into ruin as he copes with betrayals and rebellions from his wife, Queen Eleanor (the Duchess of Aquitaine) and his four living, legitimate sons, Henry (the Young King), Richard (the Lionheart), Geoffrey, and John. As lovers of the superb 1968 film The Lion in Winter, starring Peter O'Toole as Henry and Katharine Hepburn as Queen Eleanor, may recall, the script places the family, plus King Philip II of France and the French Princess Alais, betrothed to Richard but currently Henry's mistress, in Henry's castle at Chinon, Anjou, France for the 1183 Christmas holidays. By that time, Henry the Young King is dead, having died that previous summer. However, the remaining three sons scheme among themselves and with Philip and Eleanor to gain the advantage against their father and each other for the inheritance of provinces and the throne. The dialogue is as sharp as knives and is perhaps the best ever put on film. DEVIL'S BROOD advances through the years several months at a time. Penman skips Christmas 1183 perhaps thinking she couldn't improve on the movie script. Or, more likely, since there's no record of a Christmas court at Chinon in that year, she saw no point in introducing one into a fictional work that's otherwise heavily based on the historical record. In an Author's Note, Penman pays homage to the 1968 version of THE LION IN WINTER as one of her all-time favorite films. (There's also a 2003 release, The Lion in Winter, starring Glenn Close and Patrick Stewart, which is terrific, but not as great as the original.) In any case, the contentious tone of the film's dialogue is perfectly consistent with the book's narrative of events. Reading the text, I visualized expanded roles for O'Toole as Henry, Hepburn as Eleanor, Anthony Hopkins as Richard, John Castle as Geoffrey, Nigel Terry as John, and Timothy Dalton as Philip. DEVILS' BROOD does have a couple of shortcomings. The Cast of Characters at the front might have been better depicted as family trees of the English and French royal houses instead of a simple list; the blood relationships are that complex. Also, Penman devotes what I think too much time on the one major, fictional character of the series, i.e. Ranulf, an ostensible illegitimate son of Henry I, and thus Henry II's uncle. As Ranulf's family expands over the series to include a wife and two sons, so does the text space; it became an unnecessary distraction.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Twenties Girl: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Sophie Kinsella Page; Review: Fans of Sophie Kinsella's "shopaholic" character, Becky Bloomfield, know what it's like to want to both hug and strangle somebody at the same time. Sophie's newest heroine in TWENTIES GIRL, Lara Lington, is almost normal by comparison; the only urge is to perhaps embrace her. Well, she does see dead people - or at least one dead person in particular. But what's one idiosyncrasy among friends? Lara, striving mightily but not too successfully in a start-up, executive placement firm, has a common set of problems: over-attentive parents that worry too much, an insufferable business partner, a failed love life, a meager income, and few prospects to improve on any of these. Lara's great-aunt, Sadie Lancaster, living out her life to age 105 in an old-age home and pretty much ignored by the rest of the family, Lara and her parents included, has recently died. It's while attending the memorial service that Sadie's ghost reveals herself to Lara with the strident demand that the latter track down the deceased's favorite necklace, which has gone missing. Why the spirit haunts only her niece is never explained, but no matter. Sadie takes the form of her prime, 23-year old self as she was during the 1920s, when she lived life fast and loose and to the full; her character achieves a stature in the story almost rivaling that of Lara. Readers of TWENTIES GIRL thus get two endearing protagonists for the price of one. About two-thirds of the way through the book, I realized the author was perhaps influenced by the film Titanic, in which, if you remember, there's an aged survivor in possession of a missing necklace that was the only thing worn by a young woman when her portrait was painted by a lover at the high point of a tragically brief love affair. The plot of TWENTIES GIRL seemed a bit contrived, at times awkwardly so. Thus, only four stars from me. Perhaps the most valuable lesson to be learned is the one that Lara comes to appreciate, which is that old people were once youthful and vibrant. While observing a group of frail residents in Aunt Sadie's former old age home as they listen to a recording of 1920s tunes, Lara realizes: ""They're all in their twenties inside. All that white hair and wrinkled skin is just cladding. The old man with the oxygen tank was probably once a dashing heartthrob. That woman with distant rheumy eyes was once a mischievous young girl who played pranks on her friends. They were all young, with love affairs and friends and parties and an endless life ahead of them ... It's as if I can see them, the way they were. I can see their young vibrant selves, rising up out of their bodies, shaking off the oldness, starting to dance with each other to the music. They're all dancing the Charleston, kicking up their heels skittishly, their hair dark and strong, their limbs lithe again, and they're laughing, clutching each other's hands, throwing back their heads, reveling in it ..." As a; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Shadow of the Silk Road; Author: Visit Amazon's Colin Thubron Page; Review: "I feel like a stray animal. The face in the mirror belongs somewhere else. For a sad instant I mistake it for my father's. But it seems startlingly solid now: not the refinement of eyes and ears I had imagined on my journey. I see features harsher than mine, or his. A wind-tan has darkened them since China. The eyes are hung with tired crescents. One tooth is chipped, so that smiling is a qualified event. And my fingernails are still jagged from climbing Maimundiz. As I fall asleep between white sheets, I feel surprised that anyone ever talked to me, belatedly grateful." - Author Colin Thubron at the western terminus of the Silk Road For the imaginative and adventurous mired in the daily drudge, travel essays can provide escape. They've always been my great diversion, leading me to places I shall never see. And travel essays range from the moronically superficial (The Ridiculous Race by Steve Hely and Vali Chandrasekaran) to the humorously informative (anything by Iowa's treasure, Bill Bryson, e.g. Notes from a Small Island) to the cleverly unusual (Attention All Shipping: A Journey Round the Shipping Forecast (Radio 4 Book of the Week) by Charlie Connelly) to the classic. SHADOW OF THE SILK ROAD certainly qualifies in the last category. Here, Thubron retraces the ancient trading route, the Silk Road, roughly 7,000 miles from Xian in central China west across that country's vastness on a path between the mountains of Tibet and the deserts to the north to Kyrgyzstan, then through Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Iran and Turkey, finishing at the ancient, ruined port of Seleucia Pierea on the Mediterranean. Thubron has traveled this road before in The Silk Road: Beyond the Celestial Kingdom and The Lost Heart of Asia (P.S.). Colin takes this latest journey in the years 2003-2004. His love for the lands he traverses - more specifically, an affection for their histories, perhaps - shows in the tenor of his narrative, which approaches journalistic reporting and which, while never humorous, at times is almost lyrical. "Outside (his hotel room in vaguely menacing Maimana, Afghanistan) there was no sound but the scraping of the pine trees in the wind. Danger was cumulative, of course, it crept up step by step half-noticed as your journey took you deeper, farther. Until you woke up at night in a place beyond help." SHADOW OF THE SILK ROAD includes 4 useful maps depicting Colin's route. A photo section would have been most welcome, but it's the infrequent travel essay that includes such so I've ceased expecting one. Indeed, the absence of a camera in the author's possession eased his way through at least one tense border crossing. Periodically in the text, Thubron engages in a mental conversation with an imaginary Sogdian trader of old. Drifting towards sleep in his Antioch hotel room near the last stop of his journey, Colin's fantasy travel companion gives voice to an inner truth which perhaps had relevance when the author wrote the book, at which time he was in his mid-60s: "At first, when you're young,; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: My River Chronicles: Rediscovering the Work that Built America; A Personal and Historical Journey; Author: Visit Amazon's Jessica DuLong Page; Review: "... disengagement from the objects in our lives deprives us of an opportunity to connect with the physical world. Back before I wrapped my hands around the fireboat's brass levers, I hadn't given any of this much thought. I didn't realize how much my immersion in virtual work had stripped away my ties with the material world, or grasp how viscerally and spiritually satisfying it would be to make myself useful in a way that produced immediate, tangible results." - Jessica DuLong in MY RIVER CHRONICLES In 2001, desk jockey Jessica DuLong was, at twenty-seven, the Director of Content and Site Development for a New York Web expansion company working out of the Empire State Building. From her window on the fifty-eighth floor, she could see the Hudson River. One day, the landlord of the office space invited her to come along for a ride on a 70-year old, decommissioned fireboat, the JOHN J. HARVEY, of which he was part owner and in the process of restoring and returning to the river as an excursion craft. Well, one thing led to another and, after losing her day job, Jessica found herself manning the engines as a paid member of the HARVEY's crew. Ultimately, she acquired her maritime engineer's license from the Coast Guard and, while remaining on the fireboat as its engineer, also became captain of a restored and working ex-Navy tugboat. At first glance, MY RIVER CHRONICLES might appear reminiscent of Linda Greenlaw's The Hungry Ocean: A Swordboat Captain's Journey, in which a tomboy - her word for herself, not mine - drives a commercial sword-fishing boat on the Grand Banks. But, it isn't. DuLong's book has a larger purpose than to describe her career change; she apparently intends it to be a history of America's relationship with the Hudson River and its role in the development of the steamboat and the river valley's emergent 19th century industrialism with emphasis on the latter's characteristic craftsmanship, which, the author deplores, has since been sacrificed on the altar of mass-produced, inexpensive consumer goods. Then there's a chapter, almost an aside, which describes the Hudson River School of artists and the impact of their work as a rallying point for contemporary efforts to thwart re-industrialization of the waterway's upper reaches. The setting (Hudson River) and general theme (old work-boat appreciation and restoration) makes MY RIVER CHRONICLES pretty much a niche market publication. That said, had Jessica stayed focused on her own experiences both with the fireboat and the tug I would have stayed more enthralled with the narrative. However, when she drifted off into the topic of Hudson River Valley industrialization and starts bemoaning the loss of trade schools (high school "shop classes") as one symptom of the de-emphasis of American craftsmanship, my eyes began to glaze over. Indeed, by the end of the volume I was reading just to get to the finish so I could move on to something more promising (K Blows Top: A Cold War Comic Interlude Starring Nikita Khrushchev, America's Most Unlikely Tourist by Peter Carlson). This fact alone; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Black Death: A Personal History; Author: Visit Amazon's John Hatcher Page; Review: "Surely He shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence ... He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under His wings shalt thou trust: His truth shall be thy sword and buckler ... Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day ... Nor for the pestilence that walketh in the darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday ... A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come on nigh thee." - From Psalm 91, the comfort of Master John, as quoted in THE BLACK DEATH With THE BLACK DEATH, author John Hatcher has made an intelligent and clever approach at describing what it was perhaps like for the Average John Q Citizen to experience the pandemic outbreak of the Black Death, the "plague" caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, which came out of Central Asia and peaked in Europe in 1348-50, wiping out 30-60% of the population. In the Preface, Hatcher explains the conundrum he faced. While he didn't want to compose yet another historical survey of the plague's progress across Europe - so many of such already exist - he also didn't want to create a completely fictional historical novel. Rather, to pen a narrative of the common man's personal experience with the disease - about which encounter there's virtually no contemporary description - John went to the public records as a starting point. In this case, they were the manorial court and accounts roles of the village of Walsham le Willows in west Suffolk, England, which are notably complete for the years in question. From these documents, the author populates the Walsham of his "docudrama" with people that really lived and engaged in the routine (and faithfully recorded) activities of life - marriages, births, deaths, petty crimes, personal legal squabbles, local elections, manorial court sessions, crop harvest yields, goods' prices, etc. - to thus paint a picture of the community's environment from 1345 to 1350, i.e. before, during, and after the Black Death struck in the Spring of 1349. Fictional dialogue between the characters, otherwise kept to a minimum, is inserted to flesh out the narrative and is based on reasonable supposition and what is known of the customs of the time. Walsham's records have one glaring omission; there is nowhere recorded the name of the village priest. Out of necessity, then, Hatcher introduces his only completely fictional character, John Bradfield ("Master John"), God's shepherd for the parish of St. Mary's Church. As envisioned by the author, John is a learned, compassionate, honest, unworldly, wise, and pious cleric who assiduously cares for the spiritual well-being of his flock to the point, during the worst of the plague, of exhaustion; he becomes the hero of the piece. In that respect, the Walsham of THE BLACK DEATH was lucky indeed. For those readers living in a western society where the various levels of government refrain from sponsorship of any organized religion, the importance; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Black Death: A Personal History; Author: Visit Amazon's John Hatcher Page; Review: "Surely He shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence ... He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under His wings shalt thou trust: His truth shall be thy sword and buckler ... Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day ... Nor for the pestilence that walketh in the darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday ... A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come on nigh thee." - From Psalm 91, the comfort of Master John, as quoted in THE BLACK DEATH With THE BLACK DEATH, author John Hatcher has made an intelligent and clever approach at describing what it was perhaps like for the Average John Q Citizen to experience the pandemic outbreak of the Black Death, the "plague" caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, which came out of Central Asia and peaked in Europe in 1348-50, wiping out 30-60% of the population. In the Preface, Hatcher explains the conundrum he faced. While he didn't want to compose yet another historical survey of the plague's progress across Europe - so many of such already exist - he also didn't want to create a completely fictional historical novel. Rather, to pen a narrative of the common man's personal experience with the disease - about which encounter there's virtually no contemporary description - John went to the public records as a starting point. In this case, they were the manorial court and accounts roles of the village of Walsham le Willows in west Suffolk, England, which are notably complete for the years in question. From these documents, the author populates the Walsham of his "docudrama" with people that really lived and engaged in the routine (and faithfully recorded) activities of life - marriages, births, deaths, petty crimes, personal legal squabbles, local elections, manorial court sessions, crop harvest yields, goods' prices, etc. - to thus paint a picture of the community's environment from 1345 to 1350, i.e. before, during, and after the Black Death struck in the Spring of 1349. Fictional dialogue between the characters, otherwise kept to a minimum, is inserted to flesh out the narrative and is based on reasonable supposition and what is known of the customs of the time. Walsham's records have one glaring omission; there is nowhere recorded the name of the village priest. Out of necessity, then, Hatcher introduces his only completely fictional character, John Bradfield ("Master John"), God's shepherd for the parish of St. Mary's Church. As envisioned by the author, John is a learned, compassionate, honest, unworldly, wise, and pious cleric who assiduously cares for the spiritual well-being of his flock to the point, during the worst of the plague, of exhaustion; he becomes the hero of the piece. In that respect, the Walsham of THE BLACK DEATH was lucky indeed. For those readers living in a western society where the various levels of government refrain from sponsorship of any organized religion, the importance; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Thoughts From the Chicken Bus; Author: Jenifer Bubenik; Review: "I moved the table in front of my locked door and curled up under my sleeping bag which I had placed on top of the covers because there was no way in hell I would be touching the bed. Leftover pubic hairs donned the sheets and the smell of stale urine was so rank I almost moved to another hostel. I lay there in all my clothes, holding my pepper spray, afraid it was accidentally going to go off inside my bag and get me instead." - Jenifer Bubenik on Ecuadorian sleeping arrangements In 2008 at age 29, Jenifer Bubenik of San Diego, CA broke up with her boyfriend, forsook a taxing government PR gig, and did what any sane person would do - cashed-in her freaky-flier miles for an airline ticket to as far away as she could get, which was, for no other expressed reason, to Belize in Central America. (At this point, the reader might reasonably ask "Why not Hawaii or Canada?" But, let's move on.) Over fifteen subsequent days, she backpacked and (chicken) bussed her way through Belize, Guatemala, and Honduras. Returning home to Southern California, she was so bitten by the travel bug that Bubenik decided to immediately plunder her life savings and spend additional weeks doing it all over again, this time back to Central and South America - Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia and Ecuador - again by bus and with backpack, pepper spray, and a copy of a LONELY PLANET guide that she ultimately re-entitled "Lonely Liar" for all of the flat-out wrong information it contained. THOUGHTS FROM THE CHICKEN BUS is Jenifer's engaging and casual narrative of her 70+ days on the rutted roads. It includes a 20-page section of B&W photos, an addition so rare in travel essays, and yet so valuable, that I awarded extra points even before reading the first paragraph. Should the author ever again pen another travel memoir, I'd like to read it. That said, her first contribution to my bookshelf shouldn't be confused with the more polished works of, say, Colin Thubron, Paul Theroux, or even Bill Bryson. THOUGHTS FROM THE CHICKEN BUS would've benefited from better editing to remove trivial events and some statements that were downright perplexing, several of the latter being: "(In the rainforest) Melvin handed me a petite object that looked like an oversized nut and told me to bang it together. I felt like that mom in the `Parent Trap' when she was trying to fend off bears." (What was that all about?) "(In Antigua, Guatemala) we walked through out the streets and witnessed artists painting sawdust and flowers for an afternoon celebration." (I can't visualize an image here, though I'm sure there's a realistic one somewhere.) "(In Nicaragua) every morning right outside my window the roosters crowed at 5:00 AM and rose me long before the sun broke into the day. I was compelled to string them up." (She actually executed roosters by hanging?) And my favorite: "(In Panama) in need of a shower, I strapped my flip flops on and; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: K Blows Top: A Cold War Comic Interlude Starring Nikita Khrushchev, America's Most Unlikely Tourist; Author: Visit Amazon's Peter Carlson Page; Review: "The day after Krushchev departed, the House Committee on Un-American Activities announced that it had determined that the Russian dictator was definitely un-American." - from K BLOWS TOP Which goes to show you that America elects its best and brightest to Congress. The core of K BLOWS TOP by Peter Carlson is a narrative description of the 2-week visit to the United States in September 1959 by the head of government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, Nikita Krushchev, who was both the First Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union and the Chairman of the Council of Ministers. Niki brought along his wife, Nina, and other family members. The book also includes a prequel, which was the July 1959 "kitchen debate" between U.S. Vice President Richard Nixon and Krushchev in the mock-up of a modern American tract home at the American National Exhibition in Moscow, a sequel, which was Krushchev's September/October 1960 visit to New York City (after the Gary Powers-U2 incident) during which the Chairman infamously pounded his shoe on his desk at the United Nations, and a sequel to the sequel, which was the Soviet leader's ouster from power in October 1964. In 1959, I was a 10-year old and a veteran of the "duck-and-cover" drills that interrupted the tedium of the classroom in American elementary schools during the era. Oddly, I don't have memories of the Krushchevs' 1959 visit, though I do remember my conservative Republican parents' alarm over his earlier "we will bury you" declaration and the sensation caused by his shoe stunt in 1960. Indeed, it was around this time that my Dad had a large and elaborate bomb/fallout shelter constructed underneath the garage in anticipation of The Big One. (It was later converted to a wine cellar.) So, for me, K BLOWS TOP is a vastly entertaining return to the summertime of my youth. I never realized, or at least have forgotten, that Niki's American cross-country adventure was such a frenzied media event, such a Cold War farce. My favorite mental image comes from the author's account of the time Krushchev and his entourage were briefly trapped in an elevator in New York's Waldorf-Astoria hotel: "Krushchev stood on the (elevator operator's) stool and reached (through the open door) up to the floor above. As (Henry Cabot) Lodge pushed on the dictator's ample rump, the chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Soviet Union hoisted himself to safety. Lodge and the rest of the passengers scrambled up after him, pushing and pulling each other up to the thirtieth floor." Carlson became hooked on Krushchev in the mid-80s when, as a writer with "People" magazine, he requested a few filed news clips on Niki's thwarted desire to visit Disneyland during his 1959 stop in Southern California. Ultimately, K BLOWS TOP was born out of hundreds of newspaper clippings, memoirs written by key players in the event including Eisenhower, Nixon, Lodge - Niki's escort during his multi-city tour (New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose, Des Moines, Pittsburgh, Washington, D.C.) - Niki's son; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Cold Blood: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's James Fleming Page; Review: "... you had to count Death as a person. He was always there, behind the screen or not, whichever he chose. Watch in hand, tapping out the seconds left. Striking through names on the register - address, occupation, collar size, the lot: mopping his brow and thinking about humping his girlfriend, Time. The two of them, deadly conspirators." - from COLD BLOOD In the tradition of Dr. Henry Walton "Indiana" Jones, Jr., an academic turned action hero, we have here in COLD BLOOD Charlie Doig, a 28-year old half-Russian half-Scottish naturalist and minor nobleman caught up in the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution and the Russian Civil War, the Reds versus the Whites. After his beautiful new wife is raped, tortured and left for her husband to shoot to put out of her misery, Doig vows vengeance on the rapist, Prokhor Glebov, the number three man in the Revolution behind Lenin and Trotsky. Charlie gathers around himself a motley group of survivors, adventurers, American spies, and misfits, hijacks an armored train, and sets off to run down Glebov. Along the way, he's recruited into a plot to capture a chunk of the deposed tsar's gold reserves, which are on the loose and the object of opposing armies. With a plot like this, what could go wrong? I finished COLD BLOOD with a keen sense of unfullfillment. First off, author James Fleming fails to explain conceptually or describe in any detail the execution of the scheme to heist that specific portion of the gold horde that Doig eventually targets but which is under close guard by the Whites. What could've provided some riveting moments for the reader doesn't. For me, the book's greatest failing lies in the nature of the hero, Charlie Doig, who's apparently driven solely by his desire for vengeance on Glebov. Mind you, I have nothing against revenge as a great motivator. But, in a literary action hero, I expect some structural underpinning to the character - some standard of conduct - that causes me to at least like, if not admire, the protagonist. Indeed, in COLD BLOOD the intensity of my dislike for Glebov far outweighed the passion of my positive feelings for Doig. While most of the killing that Charlie considers necessary he has done by his faithful Mongolian sidekick, Kobi, Doig isn't above personally murdering innocents. I mean, Lee Child's hero, Jack Reacher, or that of Stephen Leather, Dan "Spider" Shepherd - two of my favorites - would never stoop so low. Despite a nifty plot twist near the end which I didn't see coming, I can't, because of the reasons given, award more than three stars. Too bad, because COLD BLOOD had the potential to be a first-rate thriller.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Moose: A Memoir of Fat Camp; Author: Visit Amazon's Stephanie Klein Page; Review: "A tall senior named Otis tapped me on the shoulder. When I turned around, he megaphoned, `Mooooooooose,' in a voice so deep and loud that the clump of students around us parted ... His friends laughed and boomed it along with him. They continued to repeat it, even after I'd slammed my locker closed and ripped down the halls. I heard the low even tone, Moooooose, now accompanied by a rhythmic stomping of feet, even after I turned down a new corridor. A deep foreign sound came from my mouth, almost the sob of a man. I pressed my hands to my mouth and tried to contain it. I coughed and breathed through my nose, pushing harder against my mouth as the tears slipped out. I didn't know where to go." - Author Stephanie Klein in MOOSE "I became convinced that if there were less of me, there'd somehow be more to love ... If I took care of my appearance, looking just so, if I lost weight and became the envy of others, Poppa would love me more. I thought this for a very long time. And I felt it with every boy I've ever dated, certain each suitor would want me more, want me longer, want me back if I lost a few pounds ... My father said I could be prettier and happier. I wanted so much to be someone other than me, to give him an angelic, beautiful, trim daughter, instead of what I was: Moose." - Author Stephanie Klein in MOOSE Unlike memoirs of a happy childhood, e.g. The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid: A Memoir by Bill Bryson, Wait Till Next Year: A Memoir by Doris Kearns Goodwin, or Our Hearts Were Young And Gay: An Unforgettable Comic Chronicle of Innocents Abroad in the 1920s by Cornelia Otis Skinner, MOOSE by Stephanie Klein is the mostly sad and painful story of an adolescent girl coping with obesity. Now, as an adult, the author is able to inject into the narrative some elements of self-deprecatory humor, which keeps the story from being totally depressing. The bulk of the text ostensibly deals with her experiences at a summer-long "fat camp" attended between her eighth and ninth grades, though she states up front that the events she chronicles were condensed from five such camps she attended both as a camper and a counselor. A final section of five chapters chronicles her adult life dealing with weight fluctuations. Inasmuch as they affected her love relationships, the story at this point potentially becomes much more insightful to the mature reader. ("I spent my whole single life trying to be thin just to find someone who'd love me once I got fat.") Indeed, the up and down cycles of relationships in the context of particular foods and the circumstances under which they were eaten are brilliantly told. "I'd drink too much, and we'd argue over plans and friends and parents. He'd fall asleep angry. I'd eat quiet foods straight from the fridge. Custard. Whipped potatoes. Lemon curd. In the morning; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Fire on the Mountain; Author: Visit Amazon's Edward Abbey Page; Review: In his novel FIRE ON THE MOUNTAIN, naturalist, intellectual anarchist, and environmentalist author Edward Abbey (1927-1989) brings young Billy Vogelin Starr out from Pittsburgh to New Mexico for his annual summer visit with his 70-year old maternal grandfather, cattle ranch owner John Vogelin. Having previously read Abbey's Desert Solitaire, this book is apparently an illustration of the author's deeply-held, personal beliefs in two parts. The first is a tribute to Edward's beloved American Southwest, a church in which he worships and which, he believes, is under constant threat of misuse, if not outright desecration, by the central government's public land use policies. The second part is Abbey's conviction that such federal encroachment on the pristine wilderness (and, indeed, on one's personal liberties) needs to be resisted by the rugged individualist. As in DESERT SOLITAIRE, the author here strives to word-paint a vivid picture of the sights, smells and sounds of his idolized landscape. As an example, from Billy's perspective on horseback: "The vegetation changed as we gained elevation, the brush of the desert yielding place to parks of pinyon pine and juniper and thickets of shiny green scrub oak. I could smell the sweet scent of resin and pine needles, and heard, from somewhere up ahead, the excited clamor of flocks of pinyon jays. I saw a redheaded woodpecker dart through the air and land on a dead and lightning-blasted jackpine. Some of the juniper tress stood decked out in showers of tiny berries the color of turquoise; I plucked a berry and bit into it - hard, bitter, the flavor of turpentine - or gin." The conflict portion of the story is John Vogelin's resistance to the military's confiscatory takeover of his ranch in order to expand the White Sands Missile Range testing grounds. It's here that the narrative is perhaps laden with nuances; I don't know enough about the author to say with certainty. One might argue that Abbey is remembering his young self in the character of Billie, who's roughly 13 years of age, and envisioning his eventual old self in the character of the grizzled, unyielding rancher. The transitional persona between the two, perhaps reflecting the author's internal debate over his philosophical beliefs at the time of the book's writing, is Lee Mackie, John's middle-aged, long-time friend and Billie's hero. Knowing that the elder Vogelin can't prevail against the government, Lee tries to steer his friend towards a compromise using carefully reasoned and totally reasonable arguments. Purely as an entertainment vehicle, FIRE ON THE MOUNTAIN is not without flaw. The lead-up to the eventual confrontation between John and the authorities is prolonged almost to the point of tedium. And the conclusion of events is anticlimactic (as real life ofttimes is). However, as a window on Edward Abbey's core beliefs, the book should be indispensable to any of the controversial author's fans.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: We'll Always Have Paris: Stories; Author: Visit Amazon's Ray Bradbury Page; Review: WE'LL ALWAYS HAVE PARIS is described on the dust-jacket as "a new collection of never-before-published stories ... with prose that soars and sings." Puhleeze! This volume should never have gone to print. It's composed of short stories - some very short - that author Ray Bradbury perhaps culled from yellowed composition books surviving from high school and/or college days (Writing Skills 1A). The twenty-two offerings in this book generally run the gamut from amateurish ("Ma Perkins Comes to Stay") to incomprehensible ("Doubles") to just plain stupid ("Pater Caninus"). For me, most of them fell into the Why Bother? category. The one stab at science fiction, "Fly Away Home", while containing a good concept at its core, is hopelessly outdated. Only one, "Arrival and Departure", is passably intriguing (3 stars). In it, an aged couple discovers that the monotonous comfort and familiarity that derive from forty-five years of marriage are not easily displaced. Publishers should resist the urge to trot-out old jottings for the purpose of milking the reading public for a few more dollars. You know those bins at the used-book stores marked "3 for $1"? WE'LL ALWAYS HAVE PARIS is best lumped there with the other bookshelf residue.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: A Mountain of Crumbs: A Memoir; Author: Visit Amazon's Elena Gorokhova Page; Review: "I think of my mother, the one in the portrait her brother painted before he died (in the Great Patriotic War) ... But what is it that wiped the smile off her face and dimmed the luster in her eyes? Was it the war, the wayward husbands, the two dead brothers? Or did it happen later, when my father got sick and needed a hospital and they refused to admit him? My mother knocked on the door of every party boss in Leningrad, until finally one issued an order to let him in for one week. A special ukaz ..." - Elena Gorokhova "I think of the dream I had about (my father) when I was eight, in which he sat in his rowboat and spoke about theater, about the audience holding their breath and growing silent the moment before the curtain is about to go up. The anticipation of magic, he called it, the expectation of illusion. The moment when the noise stops. The moment when you're no longer ordinary." - Elena Gorokhova Elena Gorokhova was born in 1955 in Leningrad (before and after the Soviet era, St. Petersburg) of a physician mother and her third husband, a Communist Party apparatchik. At twenty-four, Elena immigrated to the United States. In 2008, she wrote A MOUNTAIN OF CRUMBS, an account of her life from age five to her emigration from the Motherland. Skipping through the years of her life in Leningrad a year or two at a time, Gorokhova's chronicle includes such experiences more or less unique to a Soviet (as opposed to an American) citizen: her induction into the Young Pioneers, hunting for mushrooms in the forest, lengthy store queues for basic foodstuffs, serving as a Leningrad tour guide, restrictions against unsanctioned contact with foreigners, vacationing with peers on the Crimean seashore, and teaching Russian to American exchange students at Leningrad University. But her narrative also includes activities that transcend borders, politics and cultures - activities familiar to those, such as myself, who grew up in the United States of the 50s, 60s and 70s: classroom drop and cover drills in anticipation of a Cold War nuclear blast, the dreaded childhood appointment with the dentist, a visit to the grandparents' rural homestead, the confused and frustrated curiosity about sex, the adolescent schoolyard crush, the first job, parental opposition to one's chosen career, the tyranny of low-level bureaucrats, and the petty spitefulness of co-workers. For the Western reader, Elena's winning story provides a window on urban life in the European half of America's and Britain's most formidable Cold War adversary. Gorokhova's memoir should remind us of the basic commonality of the human experience regardless of ideological and political differences. A MOUNTAIN OF CRUMBS has, however, two flaws that cause me to knock off a star. Elena became infatuated with the English language, and mastering it became her academic major. With such came a desire to at least visit, if not immigrate to, the West. Yet, nowhere in the book is the genesis of this relationship with English explained. One can only infer; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Killing Rommel: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Steven Pressfield Page; Review: Presented as a first-person memoir by a British Army combatant in World War Two's North African campaign, KILLING ROMMEL is a novel heavily based on facts and focusing on the exploits of the behind-the-lines commandoes of the Long Range Desert Group (LRDG). Indeed, the narrative is heavily laced with references to and appearances by such real-life military personages as Jake Easonsmith, Paddy Mayne, David Stirling, and Vladimir "Popski" Peniakoff. Even Rommel has a key scene to play. The fictional hero of the piece is Lieutenant R. Lawrence Chapman, a tank officer seconded to the LRDG to report back to his superiors the conditions of the desert over which the commandoes travel in anticipation of armoured operations over the same terrain. It's a gritty business. The time frame of the story's core is from April 1941, when General Erwin Rommel and his Afrika Korps are driving on Cairo, to March 1943, by which time General Bernard Montgomery and his Eighth Army have pushed German/Italian forces back to Tunisia and Rommel himself has been withdrawn to Europe. The book includes two fairly detailed maps of the North African combat zones which prove to be useful perhaps 90% of the time. Occasionally, however, one is left lost in the desert, so to speak. A major subplot involves the professional maturation of Chapman as, due to circumstances beyond his control, he evolves from one simply along for the ride to an accomplished combat officer and a leader of men. KILLING ROMMEL is a solid and engaging story from start to finish. Even though author Steven Pressfield doesn't have quite what it takes to make the tale a taut nail-biter even when he puts Chapman and his mates in a dodgy spot, I'm still awarding five stars for the excellent portrayal of the difficulties involved in desert warfare under near-impossible conditions. The reader cannot be but impressed with the toughness and durability of the Chevrolet 30-hundredweight truck. The North African theater of operations, and specifically the missions and men of the LRDG, could probably benefit from a television miniseries of the quality of Band of Brothers.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: First Among Sequels (Thursday Next, Book 5); Author: Visit Amazon's Jasper Fforde Page; Review: "Boy, was this book ever crap." - In FIRST AMONG SEQUELS, Thursday Next's judgment upon the first book in the series, THE EYRE AFFAIR The Thursday Next series by Jasper Fforde must rank as one of the greatest flights of imagination in the annals of fiction. For the bibliophile, the imagery contained in the narratives is mind-boggling and addictive. Next lives in the English town of Swindon. In the first four volumes of the series (The Eyre Affair: A Thursday Next Novel,Lost in a Good Book (A Thursday Next Novel),The Well of Lost Plots (Thursday Next Series), and Something Rotten (Thursday Next Novels)), it's the mid-1980s. In FIRST AMONG SEQUELS, it's 2002. But Fforde's United Kingdom isn't the one we know; mammoth herds roam the island, cloned Neanderthals comprise a subclass, Thursday has a pet dodo bird, and long distance travel is by Gravitube. But the author's most ambitious imaginative construct is Bookworld. Existing in an alternate universe, it's where books exist as physical entities, where the plots - and, most importantly in the Next series, the fictional plots - exist as something akin to stage sets on which the literary characters are actors that play their roles when the book is read by someone in Outland, i.e. Thursday's "real" world. You can get a sense of the place from a description of Hanger Eight in Bookworld's Book Maintenance Facility: "... there was room on the hanger floor for not only Darcy's country home of Pemberly but also Rosings, Netherfield and Longbourn as well. They had all been hoisted from (Pride and Prejudice (Penguin Classics)) by a massive overhead crane so the empty husk of the novel could be checked for fatigue cracks before being fumigated for nesting grammasites and then repainted. At the same time, an army of technicians, plasterers, painters, carpenters and so forth were crawling over the houses, locations, props, furnishings and costumes, all of which had been removed for checking and maintenance." Next has the capability, unique among Outlanders, to travel between her world and Bookworld. As such, she's the super-agent of Jurisfiction, Bookworld's enforcement agency tasked with keeping order within the fiction genre. Disorder includes such things as book characters attempting to escape to Outland, the inexplicable seepage of humor from comedic novels, improvised and unauthorized dialogue by mischievous character understudies, outbreaks of the MAWk-I5H virus in works by Dickens, the buildup of irony on dialogue injectors, malicious narrative corruption, and plot disruptions caused by a shortage of the pianos used as props. Thursday also smuggles Welsh cheese; an underground cheese market rose in response to the England's hated Cheese Duty which levies taxes ranging from 1300 to 1500 percent on the smelly foodstuff. Personally, I'd like to see Machynlleth Wedi Marw, a "really strong cheese", stocked in my local supermarket. "It'll bring you up in a rash just by looking at it. Denser than enriched plutonium, two grams can season enough macaroni and cheese for eight hundred men. The smell alone will corrode iron. A concentration in air of only seventeen parts per million will bring; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Mystic Arts of Erasing All Signs of Death: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Charlie Huston Page; Review: "Some of your brain, in order to keep you focused on things it needs you to do, like breathing and eating and such, builds little facades to place over the surface of the world ... And because that's what you perceive, the hyper reality you inhabit, it's the behavior of everyone around you that seems out of sync ...But some part of your brain knows it's a fake ... The gap between those two parts of the brain is dark and deep. Narrow, but wide enough by some inches to fall into and be lost." - Web, in THE MYSTIC ARTS OF ERASING ALL SIGNS OF DEATH Herein, Webster Fillmore Goodhue is a former elementary school teacher who dropped out after a gruesome experience aboard a school bus. Now, he crashes in an apartment with friend Chev and works in the latter's tattoo parlor sweeping the floor and running errands. When desperate for cash, Web usually hits on his divorced parents. Wishing to contribute more towards communal living expenses, Web signs on with a specialized cleaning company that mops up the messy remains after the cops have left scenes of murder and suicide. It's a surreal, yucky job, but somebody has to do it, and, as Web soon finds out, the competition between such cleaning companies is cutthroat. As a literary "hero", Web does provide the reader with an edgy personality and cheeky dialogue. However, as an individual, he isn't a young man you'd want your daughter to bring home to meet Mom and the Old Man; he has unresolved issues. And the presence of any Englishmen aside, Web is akin to one of those perhaps mad dogs out in the midday sun on whom it's prudent to keep a wary eye. THE MYSTIC ARTS OF ERASING ALL SIGNS OF DEATH is worth four stars just for the dysfunctionality of the protagonist and the oddity of certain plot elements. However, the story is pretty much a one-off. I can't see author Charlie Huston giving Webster his own series as the novelty and appeal would, at least for me, drop off precipitously with second and subsequent helpings.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Red's Hot Honky-Tonk Bar; Author: Visit Amazon's Pamela Morsi Page; Review: "Red" of RED'S HOT HONKY-TONK BAR is 46-year old Emmaline Rose Cullens, a single, independent-minded woman whose business is a tavern on the northern edge of San Antonio, Texas on the banks of the river. Her personal life is about to get messy. Red's divorced and nearly-estranged daughter, Bridge, is an Army medic serving in Afghanistan. While on deployment, Bridge's two kids, 6-year old Daniel and 9-year old Olivia, are cared for by her ex-husband's mother, the father not having custody and being off in the Air Force anyway. But, when the mother-in-law is hospitalized, Bridge all but orders Red to assume care of her grandchildren. Neither Red nor the kids are happy with the arrangement, especially as the former's residence is a cramped apartment over the noisy bar. The children immediately nickname Red the "Bad Grandmother." To make Red's life more complicated, she's attracted the romantic interest of her current sex-toy, Cam, a honky-tonk fiddle player fifteen years her junior. Moreover, the continued existence of her drinking establishment is endangered by the city's northward-creeping development of the riverfront into something more upscale. By her own admission, Red's a person who finds it difficult to love. Within the pages of RED'S HOT HONKY-TONK BAR, she must take a crash course in relationship-building. The core of any novel is some sort of conflict; Red's conflict is with herself. Beyond that, the plot and characters of the book are something out of an afternoon soap opera played to a country-western soundtrack. It's a feel-good story of personal growth and redemption with intermittent speed bumps, if you like that sort of thing. By the time the warm and fuzzy ending sidles up, one expects Oprah in a cameo appearance to do a group hug with all involved. The best part of the story is a sequence which depicts the excess of nutritional nannyism which infests the first-graders' cupcake party at Daniel's school. At sixty years of age, I'd like to think such nonsense is pure fiction, but I fear it's now part of real life. The volume's last section is entitled "Questions for Discussion", and which includes ten mental challenges such as: "Gentrifying neighborhoods happens everywhere. How does your community balance needed change with preservation?" And ... "Is being designated the 'bad grandmother' a criticism or a badge of honor?" For one disorienting moment, I thought I'd been time-warped back to high school English Lit. After realizing I was still in the now, I was left to bemusedly consider the publisher which thought RED'S HOT HONKY-TONK BAR such a meaningful literary piece that it warranted such scholarly scrutiny. Puhleeze! For some, RED'S HOT HONKY-TONK BAR will be an above-average read. For me, it was more of an innocuous textual non-event.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Complete Route 66 Lost & Found; Author: Russell Olsen; Review: "Well if you ever plan to motor west, Just take my way, that's the highway that's the best. Get your kicks on Route sixty-six. Well it winds from Chicago to LA More than two-thousand miles all the way. Get your kicks on Route sixty-six." - lyrics from "Get Your Kicks on Route 66" by Bobby Troup THE COMPLETE ROUTE 66 LOST & FOUND is two publications under one cover: Route 66 Lost & Found: Ruins and Relics Revisited and Route 66 Lost & Found: Ruins and Relics Revisited, Volume 2, both by Russell Olsen. This volume, a coffee-table book by any standard, will be appreciated by members of perhaps only two audiences, those that revere the memory of the old U.S. Route 66 and those, like myself, that are dumbly fascinated by "then and now" photo pairs. Each component book of the whole follows the same format. Moving west from Chicago, Illinois, the eastern terminus of Route 66, to Los Angeles, California, the western terminus, the photo pairs, mostly black and white images, are presented state by state. By state, the number of pairs (volume 1 + volume 2) are: Illinois (10 + 10), Missouri (14 + 11), Kansas (3 + 3), Oklahoma (9 + 10), Texas (6 + 6), New Mexico (11 + 11), Arizona (15 + 12), and California (8 + 11). Each featured site, whether it's a motel, caf, town main street, gas station, bridge, trading post, etc., is pinpointed on a local sectional map of the old highway's route. The Afterword to the whole contains an update and additional photos of 5 sites. There is no book without the pictures. However, there is also a textual constituent. The Introduction to the volume 1 publication describes the genesis of the entire Chicago - Los Angeles route. Also in this first volume, at the beginning of each state's section, is a one-page summary of the road's evolution within that state. Then, for each of the 150 "then and now" photo pairs in THE COMPLETE ROUTE 66 LOST & FOUND, there's a roughly half-page info summary. For example, for a motel, there's likely to be described the establishment's original builder/owner, the number of rooms, perhaps the major amenities offered, the subsequent owners, the fate of the site after Route 66 was bypassed by an interstate highway, and the building's current status. For instance: "Since the early 1940s, the Blue Swallow (Court in Tucumcari, NM) has been a favorite haven among weary travelers. W.A. Huggins began construction on the truly classic motor court in 1939 and opened for business in 1941. The archetypal 1930s design features 13 units laid out in an L-shape with individual garages for each unit. The office sits prominently in the center. Ownership changed hands a few times over the years until 1958 when Floyd Redman purchased the property and gave it to his fiance as an engagement gift. Lillian Redman owned and operated the motel for almost 40 years until age and the high cost of upkeep took their toll. Slowly, the motel was headed downhill from; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: 36 Yalta Boulevard: A Novel (Yalta Boulevard Quintet); Author: Visit Amazon's Olen Steinhauer Page; Review: Growing up in California at the height of the Cold War, my heroes of espionage fiction were almost invariably British or American spies, and mostly the former since the Queen's agents seemed to play the game with more panache. My personal favorite was Quiller. (It's no accident that the most famous Western secret agent is 007 of Her Majesty's Secret Service.) Only Martin Cruz Smith's Arkady Renko series whisked me away behind the Iron Curtain. Thus, it's unusual - or perhaps not now that the U.S.S.R. is dissolved - that an Eastern agent operating in the Cold War era against "our side" should emerge as a literary protagonist. While living in Romania, American author Olen Steinhauer got the idea to write a series of crime/spy novels set in the Soviet Bloc countries of old. Here in 36 YALTA BOULEVARD, the protagonist is Brano Sev, an officer and sometimes assassin working for a generic Ministry for State Security headquartered (on Yalta Blvd.) in the Capital of a generic Eastern European satellite of Russia. We know that Sev was born in a small town north of the Tatra Mountains, which fact likely makes him Polish, but it's perhaps not Poland that he works for. Czechoslovakia might be the closest fit, or Romania; it's left vague. But, no matter. In the majority of Cold War spy novels that I've read, the hero's basic mission is known beforehand: extract a defector, steal a secret, or disrupt a nefarious KGB plot. Only rarely have I been thrown into an unlighted maze with the secret agent to stumble our way through the darkness to the end. The best plot I've ever read and watched was just so. (I'm thinking of John le Carr's superlative conclusion to the Smiley series, the book Smiley's People and the BBC's TV miniseries adaptation, Smiley's People.) In 36 YALTA BOULEVARD, Sev, after being framed for murder while on assignment in Vienna and subsequently tossed from the Ministry and relegated to a factory job, is given a second chance by his former boss Colonel Cerny. Brano is to return to his hometown of Bbrka to scrutinize a petroleum engineer who seems to have made suspicious contact with the malicious Americans while on a recent visit to the West. Soon after returning home, Sev is once again set up to take a murder rap and must run. Who's out to get him, and why? Into the maze he goes, and we tag along. From a narrative standpoint, one of the most intriguing characters of this thriller, besides Sev himself, is the object of his middle-age love interest, the mysterious Yugoslav Dijana Frankovi. What makes her an especially clever creation is the fractured English which she speaks. I've never known an author to go to so much trouble to differentiate a character by such means and to such an extent, and I admire the cleverness of it. Dijana to Sev: "I am not blind. I can to see your faults. And the future ... what knows? Maybe we can to be together only one week, maybe; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Host; Author: Visit Amazon's Stephenie Meyer Page; Review: THE HOST by Stephenie Meyer is a relatively subtle story of invasion by space aliens that's more a lesson on assimilation than anything else. If you're expecting (or hoping for) the needle-fanged creature that menaced Ripley in the Alien Quadrilogy (Alien/ Aliens /Alien 3 /Alien Resurrection) film series, look elsewhere. Herein, the United States, and presumably the rest of Earth also, has been conquered by a race of interstellar parasites - silvery, centipede-like creatures - that attach themselves to the brainstems of their hosts and take control of the latters' mental and motor functions. Melanie has been parasitized by an alien named Wanderer. This is the Wanderer's first human host, but the latest in a series that has spanned eight previous host lifetimes on different far-flung planets. Wanderer has previously been called Lives in the Stars and Rides the Beast. Once parasitized, the host's original resident consciousness is isolated to a small corner of the brain where it may wither away - or perhaps not if the human personality is strong. Melanie is strong. Prior to her body's takeover, Melanie had been on the run with her brother, Jaime, and lover, Jared, both still unoccupied. Once inside her new host, Wanderer - a basically gentle and non-malicious intelligence - is compelled by the force of Melanie's residual mental presence and love for Jaime and Jared to seek out the two, whom she (Melanie) suspects is headed for her recluse Uncle Jeb's hideout somewhere between Phoenix and Tucson. After hiking through the Arizona desert to the point of near-death, Wanderer/Melanie stumbles upon Uncle Jeb and his following of thirty-plus human fugitives. Recognizing that Melanie is now carrying Wanderer, all but one member of the group wants to immediately kill the new arrival. Wanderer/Melanie is only kept alive and relatively unharmed, for no apparent reason, by her uncle's protection and his rifle. The vast bulk of this thick novel revolves around Wanderer/Melanie's acceptance by and integration into the band, which lives in a clever hide-out constantly in fear of discovery by the "Seekers", whose task is to ferret out the last remnants of the human population and incorporate parasites into them. THE HOST is a monster of a book at just over six-hundred pages, the length of which made me reluctant to start. However, I was pleasantly surprised to become quickly engaged as the odd relationship between Wanderer and Melanie began. Perhaps the author's greatest achievements in the story are how she depicts the coexistence of the two intellects within one body and the gradations by which the humans come to terms with Wanderer's presence among them. That being said, I found THE HOST interesting, but not arresting; imaginative, but not superlatively so; thought-provoking, but not profound. I can easily award 4 stars, but must withhold a fifth since the book never became one that I couldn't put down, and I require a bit more from a novel that demands two weeks of my time. It is, perhaps, the perfect diversion for a two-week cruise when it can pleasantly fill-in the dead time between; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Billionaire's Vinegar: The Mystery of the World's Most Expensive Bottle of Wine; Author: Visit Amazon's Benjamin Wallace Page; Review: "At the tasting, (wine collector Bipin) Desai remarked that the older wines smelled like an old Hindu temple. 'Because there are a lot of droppings from bats in those temples,' Desai recalled." - from THE BILLIONAIRE'S VINEGAR "In a Stanford/Caltech study by neuroeconomists, published in January 2008, subjects were given several glasses of the exact same wine, each with a different price tag. Believing that they were drinking different wines, the subjects described the `more expensive' ones more favorably. Moreover, brain scans showed the subjects to actually experience more pleasure from the nominally pricier stuff." - from THE BILLIONAIRE'S VINEGAR On December 5, 1985, Michael Broadbent, the founding director of the wine department of Christie's auction house, auctioned off Lot 337, a bottle of Chateau Lafite red vino, vintage 1787, inscribed with the initials "Th. J." which had ostensibly been discovered, along with 25-30 others so marked - the exact count always remained vague - behind a false wall in the basement of a house being demolished in Paris. The bottle had been consigned to Christie's by the German wine collector/seller, Hardy Rodenstock, who had acquired the entire cache and claimed that the initials on the bottles were those of Thomas Jefferson, a wine connoisseur in his own right, a President of the United States, and a resident of the City of Light during his time as minister to France. Lot 337 - a SINGLE bottle, mind you - sold to the American Kip Forbes for $156,000 (or the rough equivalent of 78,000 bottles of 2-buck chuck from your local Trader). The auction of Lot 337 serves as an introduction to THE BILLIONAIRE'S VINEGAR by Benjamin Wallace, a book that explores the larger topic of old, rare wines - the purchase, collection, and tasting of which absorbs the time and millions of dollars of those with perhaps too much of both on their hands. Oh, and, of course, that which naturally follows - the forgery of such wines. The collectible wine market evolved when the growers began bottling and labeling their product (as opposed to distributing it in barrels from which the rich man's butler would tap-off into bottles), when vintages became officially stratified according to their perceived quality, when the consumers began cellaring selected vintages in their original bottling, and, decades later, when such stockpiles previously "lost" were discovered. The fraud perpetuated by a counterfeit bottle can reach ludicrous proportions. "Tim Littler, from Whitwams, bought a Jéroboam of 1869 Mouton at Christie's London. When he got home to Manchester, he left the bottle upright on a table. Later, when he turned to look at it, he could see right through. Alarmed, he held the bottle up to the light. The fluid inside seemed far too translucent for a red Bordeaux, and, strangely, no sediment was swirling around ... Littler opened the bottle and, sure enough, it contained colored water." The mental image of what must have been the look on Littler's face made me giggle. (Well, maybe it was the effect of the 2-buck chuck swilled down with my mac 'n'; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The California Roll: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's John Vorhaus Page; Review: "Funny thing about honesty - sometimes it's the biggest lie of all." - Radar Hoverlander The notion of a grifter being taken by a sharper scammer isn't new to fiction. For that reason, THE CALIFORNIA ROLL isn't terribly inventive. But author John Vorhaus is a gifted and innovative wordmeister, a fact that perhaps positions his book in a layer above most of the other novels on your bedside bookshelf. The hero of the piece is Radar Hoverlander, a young man of varied talents. He speaks fluent Russian, German and Portuguese, knows biology, geology and theology, and can operate a forklift, make brandy, read a blueprint, play scratch golf, read lips, pick locks and pockets, hot wire a car, field strip an M16, build a working computer from scratch, preach a sermon, bake a cake, jam on an electric guitar, and splint a broken bone. But, his special skill is bamboozling money from the greedy and gullible; he's the consummate grifter. Along comes Allie, a fellow scam artist who wants Radar to teach her straight-laced and otherwise honestly employed grandpa how to stage an elaborate sting just for the outside-the-envelope fun of it. Hmm, you think? Hoverlander finds himself caught in a web of disposable loyalties where nothing is as it seems, motives are opaque, and the identity of the mark keeps shifting. Radar is driven to something unfamiliar - desperation. THE CALIFORNIA ROLL is one of those stories where the overture to the conclusion proves better than the ending itself. The multiple plot zigzags and number of double-dealing characters led me to expect a "Gotcha!" finale. However, the one realized was frenetic, clumsy, and anticlimactic; Vorhaus seemed to lose his way after a promising beginning and middle. Therefore, four stars instead of the five I anticipated.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Fairest Portion of the Globe; Author: Visit Amazon's Frances Hunter Page; Review: Any narrative of the 1804-06 Lewis and Clark Expedition should likely leave the reader impressed with the durability of the congenial collaboration exhibited by the expedition's co-captains, Meriwether Lewis - technically, the man put in charge of the Corps of Discovery by President Thomas Jefferson - and William Clark. That their relationship and friendship remained steadfast over so many miles, months, and hardships is remarkable. I mean, I can start squabbling with the wife on a weekend trip out of town. In the mid-1790s, Western Americans in Kentucky concocted an ill-conceived scheme with French agents to separate the Mississippi Valley and New Orleans from Spanish control, thus opening the Mississippi River to free navigation and access to a port of commerce on the Gulf of Mexico. President Washington was publicly opposed to such a venture. The plot's ostensible leader was George Rogers Clark, the Revolutionary War hero (the "Conqueror of the Old Northwest") and older brother of William Clark. At the time, Lewis and William Clark were young officers in the fledgling U.S. Army serving in the Northwest Territory. It's against the background of this time, place, and conspiracy that author Frances Hunter, in THE FAIREST PORTION OF THE GLOBE, envisions and constructs a credible tale of the genesis of this remarkable comradeship. The strength of Hunter's yarn lies in her engaging treatment of the strengthening Lewis-Clark camaraderie. While the details of her story are fiction, one realizes that something similar must have occurred to cement the personal bond between the two men. The weakness of the story is the context provided by the anti-Spanish plot. In actual history, the intrigue was a no-go almost from the start, and it therefore goes nowhere within the confines of this novel. To help flesh out the main plot, Hunter also introduces a (presumably) completely fictional sub-plot involving a sister of the Clark brothers, Fanny, and an abusive husband, Jim Fallon, one of the elder Clark's co-conspirators. By the end of the book, this particular sideline achieves almost Keystone Cop preposterousness. As one pretty much indifferent to the history of the American Revolutionary War, I was mildly fascinated by the author's depiction of several of that conflict's heroes in their later careers, most notably George Rogers Clark, General "Mad" Anthony Wayne, and the controversial General James Wilkinson. While THE FAIREST PORTION OF THE GLOBE is an above-average read - 3.5 stars which will necessarily round out to 4, I'm tempted to say that the Lewis-Clark relationship needs no fictional embellishment but rather stands well enough on its own within the historical record. P.S. 2/9/10: A welcome communication from the author (received as a Comment on my review) clarifies a point; the sub-plot involving Fanny and Jim Fallon is based on historical fact. Be that as it may, the sideshow served, in my opinion, basically as filler, and the climax to it was, as I originally stated, verging on Keystone Cop preposterousness.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: In the Footsteps of Dracula, 3rd Edition; Author: Visit Amazon's Steven P. Unger Page; Review: "But never before or since have I felt the apprehension and isolation I did while climbing to Vlad Tepes' mountaintop fortress at Poenari. The forest was quiet as a tomb; I can't recall hearing the song of a single bird." - Author Steven Unger Personally, I've always been only mildly interested in the fictional Count Dracula, vampire extraordinaire. Of course, as a teenager I read Bram Stoker's classic novel, Dracula, and later I was enormously impressed by the cinematography and atmospherics of the 1979 film Dracula starring Frank Langella. But, beyond that, he was a character I could take or leave. The Dracula yarn has always seemed to me a trifle overdeveloped. On one hand, there's the fictional character created by Stoker in 1897. On the other, there's the historical figure of Vlad Dracula (aka Vlad Tepes or "Vlad the Impaler"), an extraordinarily cruel Wallachian ruler of the last half of the fifteenth century that popular perception has linked with the imaginary individual though there's no solid evidence that Stoker knew or cared much about the former. After awhile, one must simply accept the hype and go with the flow. In his book, IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF DRACULA, Steven Unger has embraced the hype and run with it in splendid form. Unger's intense fascination - perhaps obsession is too strong a word - with both Dracula the Vampire and Vlad Dracula has inspired him to write a guide eminently useful to anyone who wishes to traipse across Europe on the trail of both. Steven begins his narrative with his visit to the Romanian town of Bistrita in the Borgo Pass, a place never associated with Vlad Tepes, but only with the fictional Count within the novel's pages. Of course, that hasn't prevented the Bistrita locals from capitalizing on the connection in a way that proves that kitsch is an international scourge. It's in Chapter four that the author describes his time spent in Whitby, England, where Stoker wrote the literary classic and his Dracula creation came ashore after the shipwreck of the "Demeter", the vessel carrying the monster in his wooden box. Unger then devotes all of Part II (Chapters 5, 6, and 7) examining the life and atrocities of the real-life Vlad Dracula. Suffice it to say, he was not a nice man; Hannibal Lecter (The Silence of the Lambs (Full Screen Edition)) is positively benign in comparison. Part III has Steven hitting the high points of The Impaler's life at Sighisoara, his birthplace, Targoviste, the site of a palace, Poenari, Vlad Dracula's "real" mountaintop fortress (as opposed to the fraudulent, "theme-park" version at Bran), and finally to the island monastery of Snagov, which ostensibly houses the ruler's tomb (though historical evidence suggests not). In Part IV, the author briefly explores Bucharest and London, the latter city being where author Stoker did much of his research on Transylvania in the Reading Room of the British Museum. As one accustomed to travel essays that, unhappily, contain no photographs whatsoever, IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF DRACULA is a marvel. It includes - count them,; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Following Marco Polo's Silk Road: An Enthralling Story of Travels Through Turkey, Syria, Jordan, Iran, Pakistan,; Author: Visit Amazon's Brian Lawrenson Page; Review: FOLLOWING MARCO POLO'S SILK ROAD by Brian Lawrenson is a fast-paced travel essay recounting several trips by the author and his wife Jill to the areas of the Middle and Far East described by the 13th century Venetian merchant, Marco Polo, who himself spent 24 years on the road before writing-up his travelogue, Il Milione di Marco Polo, with co-author Rustichello da Pisa. Lawrenson's companionable account is discontinuous in both time and space. The first two-thirds records the 1986 passage the couple made going west to east from Venice to Lukla, Nepal via Turkey, Syria, Jordan, Iran, Pakistan, India and Tibet with a sidebar solo re-visit of Syria and Jordan by Brian in 2007. The last third begins with the pair arriving in Beijing in 2007, and from there traversing China's far western reaches, then south to Islamabad, Pakistan, with another sidebar, the couple's 2005 exploration of Uzbekistan. The word "following" in the volume's title is perhaps benignly disingenuous. At best, what is presumed to have been Marco Polo's course is intersected by the Lawrensons' path at several points but not strictly followed. However, no matter. The author's descriptive powers serve the reader well and more than make up for any elastic subjectivity regarding the route. Brian occasionally refers to the keeping of a daily diary, which apparently served as the basis for the narrative reconstruction; the book has that pace, i.e. a testimony of sequential arrivals and departures with local sights briefly touched upon in between. FOLLOWING MARCO POLO'S SILK ROAD is perhaps at its best when the author takes the time to slow down and smell the flowers, so to speak, such as when sharing the wonders of the Terracotta Warriors at Xian, or the difficulties flying out of the Lukla airport, or the camel ride out of Wadi Rum. Sporadically, I was slightly irritated that Lawrenson didn't display more of a journalistic approach to his experiences, such as when he writes (in Kashgar): "We had a lazy day on Saturday and took a taxi over to John's Caf for a late lunch. This chain of four cafes is found along the Silk Road. The restaurant was quiet and this gave us the opportunity to meet and talk to the founder, Mr. John. His first caf was opened in 1986 and they offer not only food but a range of tourist services including cycle hire. Mr. John is quite a legend with the backpacker community." Now, I'm fairly certain there's an interesting back story about Mr. John and his caf chain if someone would take the time to tell it. The Lawrensons are apparently avid travel photographers, as frequent mention is made in the text of taking snaps. Indeed, the five color photographs on the back of the book's cover are visually arresting. Most unfortunately, the volume contains no others. In fairness, the author does state that all film exposed during their 1986 trek was lost enroute. But, how about 2005 and 2007 in the digital age? However, it would be unfair to deduct too much when the norm of; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Who Is Mark Twain?; Author: Visit Amazon's Mark Twain Page; Review: "(I did) a grist of writing here this summer, but not for publication soon - if ever. I did write two satisfactory articles for early print, but I burnt one of them & have buried the other one in my large box of Posthumous Stuff. I've got stacks of Literary Remains piled up there." - Mark Twain, in a 1901 letter to a friend I recently read We'll Always Have Paris: Stories by Ray Bradbury, a collection of his previously unpublished stories that suggests that such works by famous authors were heretofore unpublished for a reason and are perhaps best left unattended in the face of any subsequent urge to wrest more revenue from the fan base. WHO IS MARK TWAIN? is evidence to the contrary. I imagine it's difficult for all inclusions in an anthology, whether by one author or several, to be universally pleasing to any one reader. At least, I've never come across such a book. Here, the author's twenty-four "literary remains" run the gamut from one star to, say, four and a half. To my mind, the former includes "Professor Mahaffy on Equality" and "I Rise to the Question of Privilege" - all of which verge on turgidity. Happily, the 1, 2 and 3-star contributions are more than balanced by writings that serve to remind the Samuel Clemens fan of the humor and perspicacity which so characterizes his more well-known works. In "Happy Memories of the Dental Chair", Twain sees the humor in his own precarious situation. Who among us could not relate? In "On Postage Rates on Authors' Manuscripts", the author takes aim at ridiculous government regulatory policies - always easy game because they're so widespread. "A Group of Servants" reveals that even Twain's domestic life provided fodder for his humorous pen. In "Interviewing the Interviewer", Mark takes a wickedly irreverent stab at his own profession, an endearing exercise for any professional. "The Grand Prix" illustrates Twain's powers of observation as a foreign correspondent. Finally, there are two chapters, "Jane Austen" and "The Snow-Shovelers", which appeal to my personal idiosyncrasies. I have a couple of female friends who've put Jane Austen up on a pedestal. Now mind you, I've been known to thoroughly enjoy several screen adaptations of that author's novels. However, I've never been tempted to read one. So, when Twain records the following, my contrary self is appreciative: "(Austen) makes me detest all her people, without reserve. Is that her intention? It is not believable. Then is it her purpose to make the reader detest her people up to the middle of the book and like them in the rest of the chapters? That could be. That would be high art. It would be worth while, too. Some day I will examine the other end of her books and see." Then, in "The Snow-Shovelers", Twain shows his marvelous talent for reproducing in text what he perceives as the heavy Black dialect of the time (1886), in this case as spoken by two snow-shovelers, Aleck and Hank. Were any contemporary, popular author to write such, I; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Our Daily; Author: Visit Amazon's Melody Petersen Page; Review: "In 1996 ... the drug industry paid for 151,434 dinners, retreats, meetings or other events for America's physicians. By 2004 the number of these corporate-paid parties and events for physicians had more than tripled to 536,734. That came to 1,470 events every day, including Saturdays and Sundays. The industry paid for more dinners and events in 2004 than the nation had doctors ... Most doctors believe a gift can't sway their judgment, that they are somehow different from everyone else. Study after study has shown they are wrong." - From OUR DAILY MEDS According to the author of OUR DAILY MEDS, Melody Petersen, the golden age of American pharmaceuticals spanned the period from about 1935 to 1955, during which time new and truly effective drugs were invented by academic researchers working independently of the pharmaceutical companies which marketed the medicinal remedies. Then over the next decades, the dynamic changed: rules were relaxed and academics and universities became the drug industry's partners in profit; as patents expired, drug companies switched to and patented new chemical variants little different from their predecessors and no more effective; the pharmaceutical industry discovered the power of promotion to sell more product; it became illegal to advertise drug pricing. As a result, the drug manufacturers became focused on making easy money as greed - facilitated by willful deceit, cover-up, and obfuscation - took over. The snake-oil salesmen re-emerged on the American scene and the country's physicians became their paid hacks in the marketing push to get as many citizens as possible, including children, to begin ingesting prescription medicines, which often prove to be marginally effective at best and sometimes downright deadly, to alleviate perceived chronic ailments. Petersen's damning indictment of contemporary drug makers uses as examples the names of companies and their drugs from a virtual wall of shame: Pharmacia (Bextra), Pharmacia/Pfizer (Detrol, Celebrex), Wyeth (Effexor, Redux, Pondimin), Wyeth-Ayerst (Prempro), Alza (Ditropan), Sanofi (Ambien), Pfizer (Zoloft, Lipitor, Viagra, Diflucan, Zithromax), Pfizer/Eisai (Aricept), Novartis (Lamisil, Zelnorm, Ritalin, Ritalin LA), Fujisawa (Protopic), Abbott (Biaxin, Depakote, Tranxene), Galderma (Differin), Serono (Saizen), Aventis (Lovenox), Eli Lilly (Prozac), Eli Lilly/ICOS (Cialis), AstraZeneca (Crestor, Iressa), Glaxo (Zantac), GlaxoSmithKline (Wellbutrin, Imitrex, Augmentin), Glaxo Wellcome (Zofran), Bayer (Baycol), Forest Labs (Celexa, Lexapro), Solvay (Luvox), Johnson & Johnson (Concerta, Risperdal, Propulsid), Massengill (Elixir Sulfanilamide), Merrell (Kevadon), American Home Products (Inderal LA), Roche (Rocephin), Sandoz (Sandimmune), Schering-Plough (Claritin, Clarinex), Merck (Vioxx), SmithKline Beecham (Paxil), Celltech (Metadate), Pfizer/Parke-Davis (Rezulin), Pfizer/Warner-Lambert/Parke-Davis (Neurontin), Upjohn (Panalba), Shire (Adderall), Purdue Pharma (OxyContin), and Genentech (Avastin, Tarceva). Where in all this is the Food and Drug Administration, the presumed protector of America's citizens against rapacious drug companies? As the author points out: "... a 1992 law, passed at the urging of the industry's lobbyists, (allows) drug companies to pay 'user fees' to the FDA to have their products approved more quickly. The law turned the relationship between the FDA and the drug companies on its head. The FDA began providing a service to the industry that now paid it. Drug companies became the agency's customers. Prior to the law, the sole duty of the; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Citizen Dick; Author: Richard Arneson; Review: "I'm sure the number comes into conversation in every meeting by anybody whose title begins with 'Chief of' or 'Executive Vice President.' The number is, of course, the stock price ... Many things inspired me to write `Citizen Dick', not the least of which was the number, which makes educated and well-heeled men and women chase it like a punctured balloon, Scotch tape in hand. They're smart; they know the tape won't secure the leak forever. They just pray it'll work until they can find another balloon, and, of course, before somebody discovers they're the ones holding the needle." - Author Richard Arneson Um ... OK. By his own admission, Arneson worked in corporate America for over 15 years at some lower level of upper management. (Is that different from upper level of middle management?) CITIZEN DICK is Richard's lampoon of the culture of which he was a part, and which features the fictional communications giant CommGlobalTeleVista and the supremely dysfunctional and psychologically disturbed executives that work there. The year of the plot isn't stated, but it's that dimly remembered time when 40-megabyte hard drives were introduced. I completely agree with other reviewers who've written that this book isn't for everyone, especially if the reader hasn't participated on a daily basis in the inner workings of a large corporation's marketing group. Having spent only eight years within a pharmaceutical/medical device company of relatively moderate size as a sales rep and lowly product manager, I certainly couldn't relate. At least, I can't testify to the altered mental states of its top execs, though marketing's aim for certain products did occasionally seem more miss than hit. Author Arneson has an aptitude for creating diverse and uniquely interesting characters. Unfortunately, as demonstrated to me in this novel at least, he hasn't the flair to make them appealing. I never came to care whatsoever about any one of them, even the presumed protagonist of the piece, Dick Iliad Citizen, an under-achieving Texan from the Panhandle who comes to CommGlobalTeleVista's accidental rescue with a meat strategy. At the book's halfway point, I had to ask myself why I was continuing to read further. I couldn't engage with the players or relate to a plot that seemed a satire developed to the point of parody. I was reminded of a too clever TV sitcom filled with appallingly over-acted roles. Anyway, the answer was that I felt I owed the effort to the sales and marketing firm that's been contracted to promote the book and which kindly sent me a copy for review. In retrospect, I should've declined the offer. I slogged to the conclusion, and wished I hadn't; it was a figurative train wreck. Again, as other reviewers have stated, CITIZEN DICK isn't necessarily a bad novel. I grant that, in some corporate board rooms, it will likely inspire guffaws, thigh-slapping merriment, and a 5-star rating. However, one has to have been there otherwise it's just not worth the time spent.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: One Last Thing To Do Before I Die; Author: Steven Drew Goldberg; Review: "I want to kill myself because life is not worth living; because it is a constant suffering through miserable, frustrating and infuriating experiences. The world is filled with ignorant, immoral, and selfish people who make me ashamed of the human race. And I'm sick of having to deal with all those people. And unlike you, I wouldn't want to relive any part of my life because it's all been filled with so much crap that outweighs any of the good stuff that I've experienced. And I know the rest of my life is going to be like that. So, if I know the rest of my life is going to be something that I wouldn't want to go back and relive, why should I want to experience it in the first place? ... I am perfectly rational. Any one who thinks life is worth living is crazy." - Max Wiseman Though, at thirty-eight years of age, Max Wiseman is a notably successful lawyer with a net worth of about $12 million, he has issues. Max has been worn down by the "Litany of Unpleasantness", which he defines as "dealing with detestable people and frustrating situations" on a daily basis. (Except for the $12 million bit, who among most of us can't but relate to the Litany?) After considering "to be or not to be, that is the question", Wiseman has decided to opt out, but with one further condition - that on the day of his suicide he first kill Derrick Frankenmeyer, who cruelly and relentlessly bullied young Max at summer camp twenty-eight years before. ONE LAST THING TO DO BEFORE I DIE by Steven Goldberg is a clever, absorbing, and often darkly comic novel about the toll life's human interactions can potentially extract. Though a firm believer in the Golden Rule, and indeed, capable of acts of extravagant selflessness, Max is also prone to unkind thoughts about his fellow man, such as when walking down the center aisle of a passenger aircraft and noticing another traveler in his row of seats: "Please be on the right. Please don't stick me next to this fat slob. Please ... NO! DAMN IT! Why do I always get stuck next to some circus freak?" (Yup, been there, done that.) Special targets of Wisemans's annoyance seem to be the robotic or otherwise moronic examples of customer "service" agents at postal service, airline check-in, and car rental counters and hotel reception desks. The charm, if it can be called that, of this book isn't in its conclusion, which incorporates a mildly thought provoking plot twist, but in the cross-country journey the reader and Max make to arrive there - from New York City to Albuquerque and back again. Along the way, Wiseman's convictions about life are challenged and opportunities for redemption offered. And we, along with our hero, can ponder the nature of the soul, religion, the Universe, the notion of random causality, the pursuit of material goods, and the spiritual worth of a land-based livelihood family-held for generations. It took me until the end of; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Remembering Smell; Author: Visit Amazon's Bonnie Blodgett Page; Review: "When I lost my sense of smell, all those sensory cues (for romance and sex) vanished. Deprived of my husband's familiar scent, I sometimes forgot he was in bed beside me." - Bonnie Blodgett One October day, Bonnie Blodgett began to experience a distorted sense of smell. All things, no matter what their normal aroma, began to smell as if a concoction of all things putrid put through a blender. An ear, nose and throat specialist she subsequently saw attributed it to the Zicam nasal spray she used several weeks before to combat a cold. On the following Christmas Eve, Bonnie's sense of smell departed entirely. REMEMBERING SMELL is Blodgett's account of her odyssey through an ordeal incomprehensible to most. Lost to her were the comforting scents of her home, the ravishing scents of her garden, and the familiar scents of her husband. Perhaps most devastating, the "tastes" of food were reduced to sweet, sour, bitter, salty and umami; foods' flavors, now lost to her, are a function of olfaction. At this point, I must digress for a long, though not completely irrelevant, paragraph. In the summer of 2007, my sense of taste became distorted. I could, and can, no longer sense "sweet". What was sweet now tastes salty. Furthermore, whatever I eat, whether it contains salt or not, tastes over-salted. And after I eat, for a period of about 90 minutes, I experience a strong salty-sour aftertaste. Though I can still sense flavors, the taste of all foods is off. Though some foods may still taste OK depending on what they are, the aftertaste is a punishment that makes the exercise of eating almost not worthwhile except to ease hunger pangs. The neurologist and ENT specialist are stumped; an MRI of my skull showed nothing pathologic. Before this distortion took hold, I'd lost 30 pounds from frequent visits to the gym. Since that 2007 summer, I've lost an additional 30 pounds because I no longer snack between meals. At 145 pounds with a normal blood pressure, cholesterol, lipid profile and body mass index, I'm perhaps the fittest I've been since I was a teenager. Yet, that fitness comes with the realization that I shall likely never again fully enjoy fresh peach pie in season, chocolate chip cookies and milk, ice cream, hot chocolate on a cold day, blueberries, melon, a Cadbury bar (my favorite brand!), cheesecake, sweet iced tea on a hot day, and fruit juices - and so many things in the bakeries, shops and supermarkets that I now turn away from. I have to learn to enjoy (as much as possible) foods as they are, not as they once were. Though my malady isn't quite the same as Bonnie's, I can relate. Oh, I can so relate. Besides being a narrative of Blodgett's personal loss, REMEMBERING SMELL is also a discussion of the physiology of olfaction and smells' importance in the world we live in - as memory prompts, as an essential part of the eating experience, as elements of literature, as a way of marking territory, e.g. by; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Wave of Terror; Author: Visit Amazon's Theodore Odrach Page; Review: "Good morning, comrades ... Finally we are rid of the bloodsucking, bourgeois Polish imperialists and are united under the solid protection of mighty Mother Russia." - An anonymous Communist Party apparatchik in WAVE OF TERROR Author Theodore Odrach, who died in Canada in 1964, was born Theodore Sholomitsky near Pinsk in present-day Belarus. During the Soviet occupation of the area beginning in 1939 (before the Nazi invasion of 1941), he taught in a village school in a remote part of the Pripyat Marshes, a waterlogged area straddling today's border separating Belarus and the Ukraine. WAVE OF TERROR, a work of fiction, is apparently based on his experiences during this period. After Odrach died, his daughter Erma learned Ukrainian so as to be able to translate her father's book into English. For that effort alone, honor is due her. The protagonist of the story is Ivan Kulik, the school headmaster in the fictional village of Hlaby in the Marshes. As stated in the Introduction, WAVE OF TERROR, intended as the first volume of a trilogy, was unfinished at the time of the author's death. As a work-in-progress, then, it perhaps fails to supply as satisfying an ending as the reader might wish for. But it is a marvelous character study of an individual entangled in the events of a hard and tragic time in a place unsuspectingly in the limbo between Stalin's tyranny and Hitler's imminent brutal invasion. The title WAVE OF TERROR perhaps imparts the false impression that the narrative is almost entirely about the insidious tentacles of subjugation and fear the Communist Party's apparatchiks and the NKVD wrap around Hlaby and Pinsk. Yes, it includes that, but only intermittently, as the oppression arising from a banality of evil grows to a personal tipping point with Kulik. Actually, a significant part, if not most, of the book is a mocking commentary, often humorous in nature, on the foibles and absurdities of Ivan's friends, enemies, acquaintances, professional colleagues, potential girl friends, and Soviet social reconstruction in general. Indeed, it is the author's ability to observe such and share them with the reader that is his, and the novel's, strongpoint. In support, all of the characters are deftly and uniquely painted. The book's conclusion cries out for the rest of the trilogy, which we shall not see, apparently. A pity. Kulik is an engaging hero to which one could become devoted. I was tempted to award four stars for incompleteness, but must more fairly award five in the realization that there will be no more of Kulik's experiences to savor.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Poker Bride: The First Chinese in the Wild West; Author: Visit Amazon's Christopher Corbett Page; Review: "Eyewitnesses of the boom and bust days in Idaho claimed that a 'Chinaman' could carry more than twice his weight (suspended) on those long (bamboo) poles (yoked across his shoulders). They walked, jogged, or trotted in single file all day, often covering upwards of twenty-five miles, depending on the terrain." - From THE POKER BRIDE "Two bittee lookee, flo bittee feelee, six bittee doee!" - The solicitation cry of a Chinese crib girl, from THE POKER BRIDE "What Polly Bemis did most successfully was survive. She survived an experience and a system that killed most of the young women who entered it, and she remains the face of nearly every Chinese woman brought into this country in those days because of that simple fact." - From THE POKER BRIDE Shortly after gold was discovered in California in January 1848, word of the strike reached Hong Kong. Soon, thousands upon thousands of Chinese males - free laborers all - set sail eastwards in search of "Gum Shan", the Mountain of Gold. Thousand of women were transported to California also, but the vast majority of them were sex slaves. Most of the immigrants, free or not, came from Kwangtung province. Americans came to term them - male and female - "celestials" since they originated in China's Celestial Empire. (Most likely) in 1853, a Chinese girl (perhaps carrying the name Lalu Nathoy) was born. At age 18, she was sold into sex slavery by her starving family (reportedly for two bags of seed). In early 1872, she was shipped to San Francisco bearing the name of "Polly". Once there, she was re-sold for $2,500 to be a concubine for a rich Chinese living in the isolated, mountain mining town of Warrens, Idaho, where she arrived in July 1872 via Portland, Oregon. She was subsequently won in a poker game by Charlie Bemis, formerly of Connecticut, a gambler, saloon owner, and sometime miner held in high regard by the town's citizens. In 1890, Charlie was seriously wounded, thought fatally, by a gunshot to the face. But local legend has it that Polly nursed him back to health. In 1894, they were married, and, shortly thereafter with the decline of the mines, the couple moved further into the mountains to settle as virtual recluses on a ranch on the banks of the Salmon River some forty-four miles east of Riggins, ID. Charlie died in 1922. Polly remained at the homestead until her death in 1933, a legend in her own time. THE POKER BRIDE by Christopher Corbett is primarily the story of the "celestials" that came seeking gold in California and Idaho in the last half of the 19th century. Polly's story, as fragmentary and sometimes tenuous as it is, is the backbone which supports and gives direction to the largest portion of the narrative. The first seven chapters of the book describe the experiences of the Chinese who arrived in search of Gum Shan and the environment they found and the communities they created: the journey across the Pacific, Chinatown (San Francisco), the lot and plight; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Nearest Exit (Milo Weaver); Author: Visit Amazon's Olen Steinhauer Page; Review: And thine eye shall not pity; but life shall go for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot. - Deuteronomy 19:21, King James Bible After reading The Tourist by Olen Steinhauer, I wrote: "The reader looking for an edge-of-the-seat page turner leading to an explosive or dramatic ending will not find one here. (Indeed, I'm left thinking that Milo as a lead character is pretty much disposable.) Rather, in the literary tradition of (especially) John le Carre, the reader, if so inclined, will find delicious enjoyment in the intricacies of the evolving plot. Being such a reader, I'm awarding five stars." In THE NEAREST EXIT, Steinhauer returns his protagonist, Milo Weaver, to center stage. Milo, a disgraced former "Tourist" of the CIA's super-secret black operations group, the Department of Tourism, is given his old job back for the purpose of finding a mole within the unit. (We've seen this general theme before, most notably, in my reading experience, in John le Carre's Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy.) In Weaver's second outing, he gains substance: he adores his step-daughter, sessions with the marriage counselor are akin to having a tooth drilled, he still has a conscience after years of wet work, and he's not above indulging in recreational drugs. (One can go an entire book series and not learn so much about the hero, e.g. author Adam Hall's Quiller (Quiller series).) Yes, indeed; Milo has promise as an enduring, literary protagonist should Steinhauer choose to keep him in the field. The main plot line takes several turns of direction such that neither Weaver nor the reader can be sure of the Big Picture, but an elegant game is being played out and the conclusion ultimately justifies the occasional head-scratching. Except that Milo impresses me more this time out as a more durable lead character, my opinion of the book is pretty much the same - complex, deliciously enjoyable, and eminently worth five stars in the covert activity genre. My only (minor) complaint is that the role played by Senator Irwin within U.S. intelligence wasn't entirely credible. It's as if the author had to create a de rigueur fall guy unlikely to have the reader's sympathy. Well, perhaps if he'd been a Democrat I might have been more accepting.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Senator's Son: An Iraq War Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Luke S Larson Page; Review: "I owe it to them to get them back to the States so they can do whatever they want in life." - The thoughts of Marine 2nd Lieutenant Courtney Cash as he stood in front of his platoon for the first time, in SENATOR'S SON SENATOR'S SON was authored by Luke Larson, who served two tours in Iraq (in 2005 and 2007) as a Marine infantry officer. In this novel, the "now" is 2047 and a U.S. Senator is mulling over his vote, "yea" or "nay", on a joint Congressional resolution that would launch the nation into a major military action that might escalate into a costly and lengthy confrontation with China. He also remembers his time as a Marine infantry officer in Iraq. The "then", the vast bulk of the text, is 2006-2007, both before and after The (troop) Surge announced by President Bush in January 2007. The place is Ramadi, about 70 miles west of Baghdad. The key players are three platoon commanders - Bama, John, and Cash - of Company G of an otherwise unidentified Marine unit (though during that period, central Ramadi was, in fact, the area of operations for the First Battalion, Sixth Marine Regiment). John is soon wounded and sent Stateside, where his story is occasionally revisited to follow his battle with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. John is replaced by Rogue, who, with Bama and Cash, continue in Ramadi post-Surge to promote the Awakening - the alliance of local tribal leaders with the Marines to oust al Qaeda - and the joint reconstruction of the city facilitated with (lots of) American money. A couple of months ago, I had the pleasure to review the debut, 5-star novel, Matterhorn: A Novel of the Vietnam War, written by another ex-Marine infantry officer, Karl Marlantes. His book spins the yarn of a newly-commissioned 2nd Lieutenant who takes command of his platoon in the highlands of northwest South Vietnam during America's imbroglio in that country. Since my reading experience with Karl's volume was so recent, it's understandable that I make a comparison between his book and Luke's. Both books contain a glossary of (among other things) Marine terms. What that in MATTERHORN includes and SENATOR'S SON lacks is an explanation of the hierarchy of military units from fire team on up, i.e. to squad, platoon, company, battalion, regiment, brigade, and division, and the radio call signs in use at each level. Therefore, it was only because I'd read MATTERHORN that I knew that, in SENATOR'S SON, "Golf three actual" referred to the 2nd Lieutenant commanding the third platoon of Company G. A Marine veteran would, of course, know this, but my ten-plus years in the military were as a Navy medic that never had the privilege of being assigned to the Fleet Marines as a squid. As a story with contemporary instructive usefulness, Larson's novel is significantly more so - Vietnam was then; Iraq and Afghanistan are now. SENATOR'S SON could be regarded as a literary documentary about our current involvement in the Middle and Near East just as the; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: In Search Of England; Author: Visit Amazon's H. V. Morton Page; Review: "... there rose up in my mind the picture of a village street at dusk with a smell of wood smoke lying in the still air and, here and there, little red blinds shining in the dusk under the thatch. I remembered how the church bells ring at home, and how, at that time of year, the sun leaves a dull red bar low down in the west, and against it the elms grow blacker minute by minute. Then the bats start to flicker like little bits of burnt paper and you hear the slow jingle of a team coming home from the fields ... When you think like this, sitting alone in a foreign country, you know all there is to learn about heartache." - H.V. Morton, homesick for England First published in 1927, IN SEARCH OF ENGLAND bears testimony to Henry Morton's love affair with his homeland. For those of us that are citizens of elsewhere who are otherwise lovers of England and everything English, the volume joins Bill Bryson's Notes from a Small Island and the trilogy by Susan Allen Toth (My Love Affair with England,England as You Like It, and England for All Seasons) as absolutely required reading. All five books are declarations of love. Having traveled all over England myself, as well as Wales and Scotland, during multiple visits, I could immediately relate to Morton's experiences at a number of unforgettable places: Salisbury, Winchester, St. Just-in-Roseland, Tintagel, Clovelly, Glastonbury, the Lake District, Hadrian's Wall, Durham, York, Lincoln, and Norwich. (I'm only perplexed that he apparently failed to visit so many others that I could name!) The fact that Morton made his clockwise circuit of the kingdom eighty-three years ago is only evident by his reference to charabancs, the addition of water to his car's radiator, and an evening's entertainment with some isolated locals in the far reaches of Cornwall - listening to a broadcast from London's Savoy on the wireless. Otherwise, his experiences might just as well be contemporary. At times, the author's prose approaches the sublime, as this entry from Shrewsbury: "When I drew back the (hotel) bedroom's curtains, the moonlight printed itself green on the floor. It ran over the bed and lay slantwise upon a grim wardrobe that stood in the shadow of the ancient oak-beamed room. A proper Puckish night, with the green wash over hill and field, a night for elfin horns and mushroom rings and strange scurryings in thicket and copse. Somewhere near, a dog, unable to sleep and not knowing why - poor little lost wolf - whimpered restlessly." California has been my home state for 58 years. Yet, even during my two lengthy residencies away - 12 months in Illinois and 15 months in Mississippi, I wouldn't have been able to write such an affectionate tribute to the Golden State as Morton delivers for his birthplace. The fact that I myself could perhaps pen one about Great Britain, and England in particular, is indicative of my devotion to the place. On my occasional returns to the island, my feeling; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sin in the Second City: Madams, Ministers, Playboys, and the Battle for America's Soul; Author: Visit Amazon's Karen Abbott Page; Review: "... You have the whole night before you, and one fifty-dollar client is more desirable than five ten-dollar ones. Less wear and tear. You will thank me for this advice in later years. Your youth and beauty are all you have. Preserve it. Stay respectable by all means ...We'll supply the clients, you amuse them in a way they've never been amused before. Give, but give interestingly and with mystery. I want you girls to be proud that you are in the Everleigh Club. That is all. Now spruce up and look your best." - From Madam Minna Everleigh's speech to her courtesans on the Club's opening night SIN IN THE SECOND CITY is Karen Abbott's historical account of the clash that took place in Chicago in the first decade of the twentieth century between the bordello industry and reformers. Formed up on the side of licentiousness and frolic were the (at least) 1020 brothels that existed in the city at the time, specifically those in the South Levee district centered on the intersection of South Dearborn and 22nd St, and, more specifically, the most famous - perhaps nationally - and elegant of them all, the Everleigh Club at 2131-2133 South Dearborn - now demolished and buried under a public housing project - owned and run by two sisters, Minna and Ada Everleigh, born in Virginia with the family name Simms. In the Club's operation, Ada was apparently the quiet brains and Minna the extrovert executive manager. Arrayed under the banner of God's righteousness, or at least political expediency, were a number of allies - clergymen, state prosecutors, politicians - dedicated to the eradication of white slavery both in Chicago and around the country. The most notable in this story are the clergyman and missionary wannabe Ernest Bell, state's attorneys Clifford Roe and John Wayman, and Chicago mayor Carter Harrison II. SIN IN THE SECOND CITY may be as succinct an historical account as you'll find on the topic of human nature vs. American Puritanism. (The fact that any modern, hormonally crazed, 18-year old male can in seconds, depending on the speed of his Internet connection, find Web listings for the local sporting women perhaps suggests which side currently holds the upper hand.) Abbott's book is at its most engaging during the first third when she focuses on Minna and Ada, their "butterflies", and their Club. (The few photos of the Club's interior indicate the two had, by modern standards, appallingly garish taste when it came to interior décor. The term "Parisian whore house" immediately comes to mind. I guess one had to experience the place to appreciate its kitschy charm.) As soon as Karen concentrates on the reformers, the narrative, in my opinion, bogs down a bit. It's more entertaining to read about madams, especially those of the caliber and flamboyancy of the Simms sisters (because such rarely make the news) than to read about politicians, high-profile preachers, and government prosecutors whose venality, hypocrisy, and public posturing are reported on past and present even up to tomorrow morning's newspaper; it gets; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Englishman's Boy; Author: Visit Amazon's Guy Vanderhaeghe Page; Review: "It was a force mounted and armed and accoutered without consistency, piebald and paint buffalo runners, blooded bays and chestnuts, Henrys and Sharps and Winchesters and Colts and double-barrelled scatterguns, a Derringer in a coat pocket, skinning knives and Bowie knives, hatchets, a Confederate cavalry sabre hung scabbarded on a saddlehorn, smoke-stained buckskins and bar-stained broadcloth, broken plug hats and glossy fur caps, loud checked shirts and patched linen, canvas dusters and wool capotes, parfleche-soled moccasins and high heeled riding boots. Every face bearing a different mark of vice or virtue, motive or resolve." - The punitive expedition ready to ride against American Indian horse thieves, in THE ENGLISHMAN'S BOY The Great American Myth, or Legend if you will. As I understand it having been born shortly after World War II, it's the American Western; stout-hearted pioneers and brave cavalry troopers battle marauding Indians on the endless plains, lonely lawmen out-draw desperadoes in the main streets of dusty settlements, and honest (and sometimes singing) cowboys - spurs a janglin' - drive herds across an unforgiving landscape to cow towns where gold-hearted saloon girls await. The Myth, first created by writers of cheap pulp fiction for the masses, was adapted to the Silver Screen by Tinseltown in the first half of the twentieth century and the legend became firmly established as God's Own Truth in the minds of an idolizing and fulfilled citizenry. The Myth has been perceived as national in scope, but is, I think, more accurately appreciated as "tribal." The intrepid heroes of the sagas, especially those in the Moving Pictures, are virtually always WASPish. Indeed, that's but one aspect of the Myth that was spoofed in the film Blazing Saddles. But, I digress. THE ENGLISHMAN'S BOY begins in the spring of 1873 as two young, Indian warriors steal the horses from a band of wolf hunters encamped on the plains of Montana Territory. Later, after having made the long walk to Fort Benton, the remounted wolfers ride out to recapture their horses and punish the thieves. Joining the vigilante group is "The Englishman's Boy", a young American wanderer until recently the gun-bearer for a visiting - and recently felled by disease - English dandy on a Wild Frontier hunting vacation. Also in this novel by Guy Vanderhaege, it's 1923 Hollywood. Harry Vincent, a young title-writer laboring in the bowels of Best Chance Pictures, is summoned to the Hollywood Hills home of his studio's reclusive head, Damon Ira Chance. Harry is persuaded to track down an aging bit-player in the Western films of the day, Shorty McAdoo. Shorty is elusive, but is also rumored to be the last, genuine, Indian-fighting cowboy alive. Damon suspects Shorty has a story to tell, and he wants Vincent to get it. The reader will surmise from early on that the Englishman's Boy and Shorty McAdoo are one and the same. In alternating chapters, the reader follows both the outcome of the wolfers' punitive expedition and Harry's task to find Shorty and get his story, the latter evolving into Vincent's struggle to maintain his integrity and; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Shades of Grey: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Jasper Fforde Page; Review: "2.3.06.02.087: Unnecessary sharpening of pencils constitutes a waste of public resources, and will be punished as appropriate. 2.3.03.01.006: Juggling shall not be practiced after 4:00 p.m. 3.06.03.12.009: Croquet mallets are not to be used for knocking in the hoops. Fine: one merit." - Examples of Rules to be followed by members of the Collective Those readers of the Thursday Next series can only marvel at the flights of fancy of the author, Jasper Fforde. In SHADES OF GREY, the author creates a new fantastical realm, Chromatacia. Herein, it's presumably our planet Earth, or one on an alternate timeline, several centuries in the future. Five-hundred years previous to the time of the book, there was the Something That Happened, an apparently cataclysmic event that left the human survivors unable to distinguish the full visible color spectrum. Now, each individual perceives only one color or color range, or a small part of several color ranges at best. Society is organized into the Collective, and an individual's social status is governed by the Chromatic Hierarchy, i.e. the color he/she can perceive. Purples are at the top. Greys, at the bottom, are treated not much better than serfs. Bacon is considered the choicest of foods. The greatest life-threatening dangers are ostensibly posed by swans, flying monkeys, pookas, ball lightning, and a carnivorous tree called a yateveo. The Collective's laws and rules for living, enforced by the widely-hated Yellows, are derived from the Word of Munsell. Technology from the time previous to the Something That Happened survives in roads made of Perpetulite, a living substance that allows the road to repair itself and push inorganic obstacles, e.g. rocks, to the verges. Organic debris is absorbed into road itself. No potholes or yellow bricks here. The hero of the story is young Eddie Russett. As his name implies, he sees colors in the red spectrum. Eddie and his father have moved to the Outer Fringe village of East Carmine, at which place Eddie will take a chair census as a lesson in humility ordered by the ruling Colortocracy after he proposed a Numbered Queuing System in his prior home town of Vermillion. Eddie is several days short of his twentieth birthday, on which date he will undergo the conventional rite of passage to adulthood, the Ishihara - a one-time, comprehensive test of his color perception that will cement his rank in the Chromatic Hierarchy for the rest of his life. During his first days in East Carmine, Russett will experience a momentous revelation having perhaps the same psychological impact as that experienced by Ty Thorn, the Charlton Heston character in the 1973 film Soylent Green. For me, the chief value of SHADES OF GREY is to once again stand in awe of the author's creative imagination. Otherwise, the particulars of the plot reminded me of the relatively sedate Introduction to a larger work that will, by the end, knock the readers' socks off. There are, indeed, burning questions waiting to be explored. For example, at one point, the mysterious Moon is described as "having lights on the unlit; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Cactus Eaters: How I Lost My Mind- And Almost Found Myself-On the Pacific Crest Trail; Author: Visit Amazon's Dan White Page; Review: "Socialization is a series of corrective electrical shocks administered for bad behavior. You learn from experience not to babble to yourself or say idiotic things that will bring cocktail parties to a standstill or make your girlfriend bar the door to her bedroom. In the woods, all corrections cease, and peculiar tendencies grow thick as kudzu." - Dan White, on the Pacific Crest Trail experience The Pacific Crest Trail stretches 2,650 miles from Mexico to Canada across California, Oregon and Washington. Approximately 300 people attempt the entire rout each year; approximately 60% succeed. At 20 miles per day, it'll take the average hiker ... well, longer than a 4-day weekend. Author Dan White and his girlfriend Allison gave it a go. THE CACTUS EATERS is an armchair travel essay for those like me whose best effort to date is a blithe 5-mile skip down the Grand Canyon's Bright Angel Trail - and then a 5-mile haul back up 3,000+ feet of elevation - in a single day. While no couch potato, I'm a lump compared to a PCT trekker. Though the Trail passes through King's Canyon N.P., Devil's Postpile N.M., Yosemite N.P., Lassen Volcanic N.P., Crater lake N.P., the Columbia River Gorge, Mount Rainier N.P., North Cascades N.P., and more scenic wilderness areas than you can shake a walking stick at, don't think for a moment that White's narrative is a scenic tour for the mind's eye. While Dan expressively and humorously describes the predicaments and hardships of the trail - heat, dehydration, dirt, unwashed body stink, giardia infection, hungry bears, tick infestation, cactus spines, eccentric fellow hikers, clogged water filters - his description of natural wonders is pedestrian at best. Rather, THE CACTUS EATERS eloquently reveals the author's inner, personal evolution from being an unaccomplished, insecure nebbish to a nebbish that finished what the vast majority of people wouldn't even attempt. For that, an undeniable honor is due. (Mind you, White's nebbishness is expressed with such self-deprecatory candor that it translates to a certain charm.) Though the author lugged an elaborate camera over hill and dale, the lack of any photo section is perhaps the book's biggest shortcoming. Indeed, the absence of even a single picture of his faithful, intrepid, and long-suffering companion, Allison, is astounding. Did she not give permission for such to be included, or is White so self-absorbed that it didn't enter his mind to include one? If the latter, it would indicate a boorish thoughtlessness that relegates him to the category of Jerk. In any case, I'm knocking off a star for that solitary, unforgivable omission. THE CACTUS EATERS is an engaging testament to what an individual can accomplish given sufficient motivation and too much free time. In its paperback format, it might even be compact and light enough to toss in the backpack for the 3,000-mile Continental Divide Trail.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Days of Infamy; Author: Visit Amazon's Newt Gingrich Page; Review: DAYS OF INFAMY is the second book in the series by Gingrich and Forstchen that began with PEARL HARBOR. Like the pair's exceptional and riveting Civil War trilogy (Gettysburg: A Novel of the Civil War,Grant Comes East [Paperback] and Never Call Retreat: Lee and Grant: The Final Victory) of several years ago, these are works of alternative ("what if?") history. PEARL HARBOR was more about the rise of Japanese naval aviation prior to the infamous December 7th attack. It was only the last eighty pages or so which justified the title and which described such fighting as to persuade me to award four stars. Indeed, it was this last bit that compelled me to purchase and read DAYS OF INFAMY inasmuch as at the end of the first book Admiral Yamamoto decides to hang around Hawaii after destroying the U.S. Navy's Pacific Fleet battleships and perhaps also bag the aircraft carriers, which weren't in port on that fateful Sunday morning. This decision by the Japanese commander is, of course, that which makes the narrative deviate from actual history and become "alternative." In DAYS OF INFAMY, Yamamoto, with a task force that includes six carriers and two battleships, suspects that the missing U.S. flat tops, perhaps numbering three (Enterprise, Lexington and Saratoga), are lurking somewhere in Hawaiian waters, either operating as a group or independent of one another. In any case, he implements a plan to flush them out by setting a trap with an enticement irresistible to any red-blooded, American, salt water sailor. (Well, no, not Betty Grable nude on a bear-skin rug. Something better.) Admiral "Bull" Halsey and the U.S.S. Enterprise are the first to take the bait. With an expectation of frantic and sustained action all but promised by the last pages of PEARL HARBOR, the second volume starts out satisfyingly enough. However, by the time all available U.S. carriers fully engage, it's the end of the book and the authors have ratcheted back the speed on the bridge's telegraph. The impression I got was that they're saving the climactic battle for another book. Unfortunately, as there appears to be no third title in the series on the literary horizon at the moment, I'm left disgruntled and let down. DAYS OF INFAMY also suffers from the continuation (from PEARL HARBOR) of a subplot surrounding a fictional character, the Navy cryptographer Commander James Watson, that is, as far as I'm concerned, just needless filler. Mind you, DAYS OF INFAMY isn't a bad book. I'm even stretching to 4 stars because the combat action that's described is pretty decent. It's just that I expected more of a "Wow!" factor and, since another installment doesn't seem to be in the near future, I may lose interest in the series completely. Like capital ships sailing at flank speed, I need frequent refueling. I've also been wondering why the authors' Civil War series was so very much better than this one. Perhaps it's because there was a greater number of more interesting commanders in the Army of the Potomac and the Army of Northern Virginia; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Breaking of Eggs: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Jim Powell Page; Review: "One can't make an omelet without breaking eggs." - attributed to (among others) Lenin, Napoleon and Robespierre. Well, to whomever. "I grew up in an age of mass movements ... and it was a question only of which one to choose, and you chose the one that most opposed the ones you did not wish to choose." - Felix Zhukovski Born in Poland, 9-year old Felix Zhukovski, the protagonist of THE BREAKING OF EGGS, was sent by his mother, with his older brother Woodrow - named after the former U.S. President - to live with their aunt in Basel, Switzerland a week before the Nazi invasion in September 1939. Woodrow soon left to join the French Resistance. Felix has not discovered the whereabouts of his mother, or attempted to contact his brother, since. Now, it's 1991 and Felix is 61 and has been living in the same Paris apartment for thirty-six years. Almost his entire life, he's been a committed communist, though his own term for his political stance is "leftist." Felix despises capitalism and the United States, where his brother has long since gone to live. Zhukovski's spiritual home is the Eastern Bloc, and he makes an annual tour of its member countries to research and update a travel guide he authors and publishes for the benefit of those few Westerners visiting the nations on the far side of the Iron Curtain. In 1989, the Berlin Wall came down and Eastern Europe changed drastically - so much so that Felix can't keep up with the changes in his book. Then, a New York publisher - one of those detested Americans - offers to buy him out. THE BREAKING OF EGGS is the story of a man who discovers late in life that his worldview and the most important decisions of his adulthood have been based on misconceptions, misperceptions, disinformation, misinformation and self-deception. Felix is about to have his basket of eggs force fed to him as an omelet of gargantuan proportions. Can he suck it up and co-exist with the new world order? Viewing the fall of the Berlin Wall and the subsequent dissolution of the Warsaw Pact from the unflappable serenity of my armchair in the United States, I, and presumably most others from similar vantage points, didn't pause to contemplate the enormous repercussions of those events on people whose lives were tied to the fortunes and political philosophy of the Eastern Bloc nations. As a topic for reflection, then, the plot of author Jim Powell's THE BREAKING OF EGGS is, at least for me, both fresh and winning. While there are no plot twists that would categorize this novel as a "thriller", Felix encounters enough unexpected revelations to severely perturb his post-Cold War state of mind. This is, apparently, Powell's first published novel, and kudos are due. The characters are engaging and distinctly drawn and the dialogue between them is believable. This is a fine read that's worthy of your consideration about the tragedies, humor and absurdities of politics taken oh so seriously and the human condition.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Great Silence; Author: nicolson-juliet; Review: THE GREAT SILENCE spans the time period from August 1918 to November 1920, i.e. two months prior to the armistice that ended The Great War (World War One) to two years after the cessation of hostilities. THE GREAT SILENCE is a narrative survey of Great Britain's collective coming to terms with the end of the war and its after effects. "The Great Silence" refers to the two minutes of silence observed throughout the country at 11:00 AM on November 11, 1919 to commemorate the end of the conflict and to remember the dead (Chapter 9). THE GREAT SILENCE, by Juliet Nicolson, is perhaps at its best when it discusses the widespread repercussions of the war, e.g. the return home of thousands of soldiers who lost limbs or were facially disfigured, the labor unrest, the remarkable post-war rise to fame of T.E. Lawrence ("Lawrence of Arabia"), the flu pandemic of 1918, the introduction of women's suffrage, and the advent of jazz. The book is perhaps less successful, at least for non-Brits (such as myself), when it focuses on the coping responses of individuals who are well-known in British memory and less so outside the country. As examples, I wasn't particularly fascinated that the Duke of Devonshire had to sell his London great-house and blow-up a large, expensive-to-maintain (and famous) greenhouse - Paxton's Great Conservatory - on his country estate because of rising taxes, or that socialite Lady Diana Cooper fell through a skylight, broke her leg, and had to attend the various victory balls while sitting on a concealed bath chair, or that another socialite, Ottoline Morrell, plagued with a philandering husband and a severe case of facial psoriasis, lusted after a new, young employee working on her estate as a stonemason. The volume contains two sections comprising 37 photographs that usefully illustrate the various aspects and personalities of the overall topic, and one particularly powerful image, "Grief", at the very beginning. Notwithstanding my few reservations about the book for the reasons given, THE GREAT SILENCE should prove to be an interesting and informative read for anyone with even a modicum of interest in Great Britain, the British Empire, and British or English history. I actually enjoyed it more than I thought I would.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Great Silence; Author: nicolson-juliet; Review: THE GREAT SILENCE spans the time period from August 1918 to November 1920, i.e. two months prior to the armistice that ended The Great War (World War One) to two years after the cessation of hostilities. THE GREAT SILENCE is a narrative survey of Great Britain's collective coming to terms with the end of the war and its after effects. "The Great Silence" refers to the two minutes of silence observed throughout the country at 11:00 AM on November 11, 1919 to commemorate the end of the conflict and to remember the dead (Chapter 9). THE GREAT SILENCE, by Juliet Nicolson, is perhaps at its best when it discusses the widespread repercussions of the war, e.g. the return home of thousands of soldiers who lost limbs or were facially disfigured, the labor unrest, the remarkable post-war rise to fame of T.E. Lawrence ("Lawrence of Arabia"), the flu pandemic of 1918, the introduction of women's suffrage, and the advent of jazz. The book is perhaps less successful, at least for non-Brits (such as myself), when it focuses on the coping responses of individuals who are well-known in British memory and less so outside the country. As examples, I wasn't particularly fascinated that the Duke of Devonshire had to sell his London great-house and blow-up a large, expensive-to-maintain (and famous) greenhouse - Paxton's Great Conservatory - on his country estate because of rising taxes, or that socialite Lady Diana Cooper fell through a skylight, broke her leg, and had to attend the various victory balls while sitting on a concealed bath chair, or that another socialite, Ottoline Morrell, plagued with a philandering husband and a severe case of facial psoriasis, lusted after a new, young employee working on her estate as a stonemason. The volume contains two sections comprising 37 photographs that usefully illustrate the various aspects and personalities of the overall topic, and one particularly powerful image, "Grief", at the very beginning. Notwithstanding my few reservations about the book for the reasons given, THE GREAT SILENCE should prove to be an interesting and informative read for anyone with even a modicum of interest in Great Britain, the British Empire, and British or English history. I actually enjoyed it more than I thought I would.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: A Voyage Long and Strange: On the Trail of Vikings, Conquistadors, Lost Colonists, and Other Adventurers in Early America; Author: Visit Amazon's Tony Horwitz Page; Review: "... history, in America, is a dish best served plain. The first course could include a dollop of Italian in 1942, but not Spanish spice or French sauce or too much Indian corn. Nothing too filling or fancy ahead of the turkey and pumpkin pie, just the way Grandma used to cook it." - Tony Horwitz Growing up in the 50s and 60s as part of white, middle-class America, the essentials of U.S. history as taught in primary and secondary schools emphasized Columbus and then skipped to the English explorers, Jamestown, and Plymouth Colony. The 16th century Spanish explorers of the American Southwest and Southeast - principally Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca, Francisco Vasquez de Coronado, and Hernando de Soto - crossed the pages of the textbooks but briefly much as wraiths across the landscape. We remained blissful in our ignorance. Similarly (un)educated and suddenly confronted with his unawareness, author Tony Horwitz endeavors in A VOYAGE LONG AND STRANGE to delve into a more complete story of the early exploration of what was to become the United States. Interestingly enough, and to put things in proper perspective, Horwitz begins his book with neither the English nor the Spanish, but rather with the Viking settlement in Newfoundland near L'Anse aux Meadows founded around 1000A.D. Then, there are the couple of obligatory chapters centered on Columbus and the heavy-handed Spanish colonization of Hispaniola. What I consider the meat of the volume is Part II, "Conquest", wherein the author recounts the epic marches of Alvar, Francisco and Hernando across the lower half of the Lower 48 during the period 1528-1543 oppressing, torturing and slaughtering the indigenous peoples as they went in the name of God and in search of gold. Finally, Tony ends his narrative in Part III with the French and Spanish settlements in Florida and those of the English at Roanoke, Jamestown and Plymouth. As an intellectual exercise, I was enormously fascinated and educated by the material which I'd heretofore so long ignored - the hard marches and hardships endured by de Vaca, Coronado and de Soto. I mean, they almost make Lewis and Clark look like sissies. Then, my iconoclastic streak was served when Horwitz does much to debunk the heroic myth of the Jamestown and Plymouth founders as well as the basis of that enduring opportunity for family dysfunctionality, Thanksgiving Day Dinner. The author is perhaps less successful when, following along in the paths of the explorers and founders, he interacts with the locals looking for interesting, contemporary angles to the overall story. Some of his experiences, such as those in the Micmac sweat lodge (in Newfoundland) and while in search of an ancient Indian site in Florida are humorous and genuinely worth telling. About the latter he was particularly eloquent: "I could barely see the ground for all the underbrush, and quickly felt my feet sinking into the muck. Groping to keep my balance, I stuck my hand into a three-foot-tall anthill ... Mosquitoes swarmed every inch of exposed flesh ... After a mile or so, I slumped on a; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Cool Woman: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's John Aubrey Anderson Page; Review: "Livin' without God is dangerous, hon." - Missy, Chapter 6 "... if you want someone who won't let you down, you gotta go with God." - Marine Captain James Kelly, Chapter 7 After the first five chapters (pages 1-45) of THE COOL WOMAN, it was apparent this novel was to be about a hotshot fighter pilot who marries the girl of his dreams and goes off to war in Vietnam. It's 1972. At that point, the book held promise. It was in chapters 6 and 7 that I realized that the plot, however much of an air combat storyline it was to evolve into being, was also to include a Come Hither to Jesus message. No thanks; I'll pass; I want to be entertained, not preached to however well intentioned or wrapped up in an interesting parable is the proselytization. I ceased reading at the end of chapter 7 (page 68) feeling the same annoyance as when somebody rings my doorbell at dinnertime to sell me either salvation or magazine subscriptions. Sometimes both. The book went on for another 261 pages, but without me. Therefore, I can't honestly rate THE COOL WOMAN high or low, but rather with a non-committal, 3-star award. You'll have to acquire and read it yourself and decide. "There will never be enough words to properly thank my faithful prayer team and my readers who prayed." - author John Anderson in the Acknowledgments.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Needle in the Blood; Author: Visit Amazon's Sarah Bower Page; Review: "Love changes, that is all, it is a shape shifter. The challenge lies in continuing to recognize it." - from THE NEEDLE IN THE BLOOD In January 1066, the English King, Edward the Confessor, died childless. This prompted a scuffle for the throne. Harold Godwinson was elected King (Harold II). However, Duke William of Normandy claimed that Edward had promised the kingship to him and, furthermore, that Harold had previously sworn to him fealty and support of his claim. William invaded England and defeated Harold's army at the Battle of Senlac outside Hastings, during which fight Harold was killed. William assumed the throne as William I, thus permanently bringing Saxon England into the Norman French sphere of influence. Accompanying William's army at Senlac was his half-brother Odo, the Bishop of Bayeux. Following the victory and William's assumption of the crown, Odo was granted the earldom of Kent. The events surrounding the disputed succession, from Edward's choice of successor to William's crowning, and including the battle near Hastings, are depicted in the Bayeux Tapestry - actually an embroidered cloth, not a tapestry - that measures one-half meter by seventy meters and which is on permanent exhibit in Bayeux, Normandy, France. It's thought to have been commissioned by Odo, created in Canterbury, and hung in the Bayeux Cathedral at its dedication in 1077. There's one particular embroidered scene problematic for historians, which depicts a cleric striking the face, or, alternatively, caressing the cheek, of a woman named Aelfgyva. It's captioned "Ubi unis clericus et Aelfgyva", translated as "Where a certain cleric and Aelfgyva". (See Image 8 at the website "Bayeux Tapestry.") The author of THE NEEDLE IN THE BLOOD, Sarah Bower, has woven her tale around this enigma. Bower's historical novel begins on October 14, 1066 with Harold's defeat and death, and ends in September 1077. The male protagonist is Odo, the Bishop of Bayeux and Earl of Kent. The heroine, and the one on whom the storyline is centered, is the fictional Aelfgytha ("elf gift"), formerly a lady-in-waiting to King Harold's beloved mistress, Edith Swanneck. Gytha was with Lady Edith when the latter identified Harold's corpse on the battlefield. Gytha, an expert seamstress, is subsequently one of several employed by Odo's (fictional) sister, the nun Sister Agatha, to create the formidable embroidery that he's commissioned; Gytha has an ulterior motive. THE NEEDLE IN THE BLOOD is a medieval love story constructed around the passionate relationship between Odo and Gytha - a pairing that begins with her attempt to cut the bishop's throat. (OK, so what's unusual about that considering the natural male-female tensions?) This is shameless ChickLit. However, as my testosterone level has decreased with age, I can appreciate the story, mostly because of the author's characterization of Odo. While not a cleric with even a modicum of holiness, and one even capable of brutal actions, the worldly bishop is perhaps a good and honorable man - especially as a secular leader - when measured against the times and circumstance. Here, Odo certainly comes out looking better than history portrays. A popular on-line; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Follow the Money; Author: Visit Amazon's Ross Cavins Page; Review: FOLLOW THE MONEY by Ross Cavins is a curious book in my experience; it's the only collection of short stories in recent memory that I couldn't put down. Usually such anthologies are comprised of shorts that plot along the familiar Gaussian distribution curve, i.e. from a few worst to a few best with most falling in the vast middle. All ten in FOLLOW THE MONEY distribute into the +2 and +3 standard deviations to the right of the quality mean. The bottom line for readers is that this relatively short volume (at 233 pages) is a superbly entertaining diversion despite the fact that it's not a "thriller" in the conventional sense. In a section entitled "About the Book", Cavins admits that his literary project began with Chapter Three, "Sammy's Night Out", Sammy being the prototypical Redneck. Then, lateral thinking took over and he decided to populate all stories in the compilation with Rednecks tied together by a single thread, $3 million of ill-gotten money, and all fueled by three dependable human characteristics regardless of social status - greed, lust and stupidity - catalyzed by events triggered by capricious circumstance. I only took issue with the inference in Chapter Seven, "Sweating Brother Bill", that an acute case of priapism would result in anything more serious than localized gangrene and the need for amputation of the affected member. That the stories' personae suggest stereotyping will perhaps positively annoy those anally impacted with political correctness. Oh, I do hope so. That possibility causes me to love and recommend this tome even more. However, as an aside, the author stated to me in an email that most of the book's characters are based on people he knows. In that same email, Ross said he intends to expand Chapter One, "The Drop", into a full-length, stand-alone novel to come out next year. I certainly look forward to its publication and will go so far as to pay full, hardcover price to acquire a copy once released. FOLLOW THE MONEY is unusual for its quirky cleverness. That alone makes it deserving of 5 stars in a landscape of otherwise so-so literary offerings. That it's also pure FUN is a bonus.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Rough Justice (The Spider Shepherd Thrillers); Author: Visit Amazon's Stephen Leather Page; Review: "They were driving drug-dealers out of the country, they were getting rid of paedophiles, they were castrating pimps and rapists ... I'm talking about justice. Rough justice, maybe. But real justice. That's the problem, Charlie. There's no justice in the world these days. We put pensioners in prison for not paying their council tax and we let murderers and rapists roam the streets ... (The system) is just plain broken. The cops have no power, the courts are biased towards the villains rather than the victims, the prisons are so crowded that we're putting the bad guys back on the street before they've finished their sentences, and the probation service is so overworked that they can't keep track of the criminals who are released. I've just had enough. I don't want to be part of the system anymore." - Spider Shepherd venting to his SOCA boss, Charlie Button As a long-time fan of Dan "Spider" Shepherd and a periodic email correspondent with his creator, Stephen Leather, I was left more than just a little conflicted by his latest adventure, ROUGH JUSTICE. I'd like to be able to award the usual, well-deserved four or five stars, but just can't in all honesty. Shepherd, an agent with the Serious Organized Crime Agency (SOCA), a British national law enforcement entity since 2006 with duties similar to that of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, is, in ROUGH JUSTICE, tasked by his boss Charlie Buttons with infiltrating a shadowy group of vigilante cops in the Territorial Support Group (TSG), an arm of London's Metropolitan Police Service charged with public order containment. Spider deplores the assignment, but soldiers ahead with a stiff upper lip. If you read Stephen Leather's Internet blog, you'll realize that his observations on the contemporary state of the British justice system are given further voice by Spider, perhaps Leather's alter ego, and other characters in this novel. ROUGH JUSTICE is, then, a better than average social commentary. However, that doesn't make it anything more than a mediocre action thriller. Indeed, the action peaks in the first few pages, then plateaus out at a somewhat lower tempo before ending with what was, in my opinion, an anticlimax. At one point, it looked as if Shepherd himself might be compelled to a personal act of vigilantism when his son Liam and the boy's au pair are threatened by a particularly vicious Albanian immigrant, but Stephen has his hero sidestep a direct, contextual solution to the problem and remain technically on the side of the law. (Had the line been crossed, there would've been no going back for Spider, but the novel would've been rendered considerably more riveting as an entertainment vehicle.) SOCA, in real life, is to be absorbed into something called the National Crime Agency. This is reflected in Spider's personal career evolution by the end of the book. However, against the background of the totality of the Dan Shepherd series to date, ROUGH JUSTICE seems to me to be little more than a place-holder for; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Disappearing Spoon: And Other True Tales of Madness,; Author: Visit Amazon's Sam Kean Page; Review: "Between hydrogen at the top left and the man-made impossibilities lurking along the bottom, you can find bubbles, bombs, money, alchemy, petty politics, history, poison, crime and love. Even some science." - Sam Kean (stating perhaps the briefest possible synopsis of his THE DISAPPEARING SPOON "Never underestimate spite as a motivator for genius." - Sam Kean In THE DISAPPEARING SPOON, science writer Sam Kean attempts to do what Bill Bryson does with his magnificent A Short History of Nearly Everything, i.e. tap dance with humor over a wide-ranging subject for the entertainment and edification of the reader. In the Bryson's case, the arena is, well, nearly everything, while Kean's is a much more constricted stage, the Periodic Table of the Elements. The fact that the former performs more nimbly shouldn't dissuade one from reading the latter's book, which is, for the most part, a work of popular science that's likely to be both engaging and largely comprehensible to the sweaty masses. (It's currently in the mid-90s outside. Schvitzy work, this.) Sam doesn't proceed through the squares of the Periodic Table in an orderly progression as one might progress across the squares of a hopscotch court from start to finish, but rather jumps around randomly, the element of the moment being determined by a larger context whether that be its relation to medicine, money, poisons, explosive weaponry, temperature, tools of measurement, gold rushes, human insanity, misguided science, artistic output, or the politics of the Nobel prize. Occasionally, the author becomes a bit too arcane and the reader not heavily grounded in chemistry (or physics!) may find his/her eyes glazing over, such as when he discusses bubble chemistry, superatoms, quantum dots, the alpha constant, or electron jumps between orbitals. And when the narrative became wrapped up in the personalities and rivalries of the investigators involved in the discovery of the transuranic elements, I had to ask myself if I cared much about the soap opera. The answer was "no." Generally speaking, however, the tales Kean has to tell are interesting and worth storing away in memory to retell around the office coffee maker or as part of interesting small talk at the next cocktail party (even if there are no chemistry geeks in attendance). Who knows? It may be useful to rescue a lagging conversation by declaring that the longest word ever to appear legitimately in an English document not for the purpose of setting a length record names a protein in the tobacco mosaic virus: "Acetyl seryl tyrosyl seryl iso leucyl threonyl seryl prolyl serylglutaminyl phenyl alanyl valyl phenyl alanyl leucyl seryl seryl valyltryptophyl alanyl aspartyl prolyl isoleucyl glutamyl leucyl leucylasparaginyl valyl cysteinyl threonyl seryl seryl leucyl glycylasparaginyl glutaminyl phenyl alanyl glutaminyl threonyl glutaminylglutaminyl alanyl arginyl threonyl threonyl glutaminyl valylglutaminyl glutaminyl phenyl alanyl seryl glutaminyl valyl tryptophyllysyl prolyl phenyl alanyl prolyl glutaminyl seryl threonyl valylarginyl phenyl alanyl prolyl glycyl aspartyl valyl tyrosyl lysyl valyltyrosyl arginyl tyrosyl asparaginyl alanyl valyl leucyl aspartylprolyl leucyl isoleucyl threonyl alanyl leucyl leucyl glycyl threonylphenyl alanyl aspartyl threonyl arginyl asparaginyl arginyl isoleucylisoleucyl glutamyl valyl glutamyl asparaginyl glutaminyl glutaminylseryl prolyl; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Mullah's Storm; Author: Tom Young; Review: "In the quiet, with the enemy nearby, every sound seemed too loud - the crunch of snow, the clink of buckles and zippers, the rub of rifle slings. Parson listened closely for hoofbeats; he expected horseman to thunder out of the fog at any moment and strike him down. He carried the AK at port arms. The faster I can get this rifle to my shoulder, he thought, the more of them I can take with me. What kind of war is this that I'm on the ground worried about the raghead cavalry?" - USAF Flight Navigator Major Michael Parson, shot down in Afghanistan THE MULLAH'S STORM by Thomas Young doesn't take long to accelerate to nail-biting speed. On page one, an Air Force C-130 is preparing to take off from Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan with ten aboard including a top-priority prisoner, a high-ranking Taliban mullah. By page seven, the plane, struck by an anti-aircraft missile, is forced down in the snow of the Hindu Kush Mountains. By page sixteen, the aircraft's navigator, Major Michael Parson, is on the run with the prisoner and an Army interpreter, Master Sergeant Gold. Somehow, Parson and Gold must get back to Bagram fifty miles away while eluding those that would rescue the mullah. What Parson doesn't know is that his current situation is about as good as it's going to get. Parson is a new American hero for our time and current foreign wars. While he doesn't possess the killing skills of Lee Child's Jack Reacher, he's eminently capable. Raised in the Cascade Range of America's Pacific Northwest, Parson is used to the terrain. He attended the USAF's Survival School. He's a crack shot. And he has a hatred of the enemy. THE MULLAH'S STORM is a riveting page-turner that caused me to lose sleep on several nights; I didn't want to put the book down and turn off the light. Having himself served extensively as a flight engineer with the Air National Guard in Afghanistan, author Young provides the reader with what one would assume to be a realistic picture of the fighting in that country's mountainous terrain. Perhaps the novel's only flaw - a significant one - is that Master Sergeant Gold remains as much of an enigma at the end as she was at the beginning, though she's obviously extremely brave, educated, intelligent, and militarily competent. I'd like to believe that Young's next installment will feature her as the main character. (Are you listening, Thomas?) Perhaps one of the most thought-provoking paragraphs of the book is: "Parson wondered whether the (two wounded Special Forces troops) would make it. He didn't know a lot about Special Forces, but he did know that each of these troops was fluent in a language, and expert in a particular field such as demolition or communications. Damn shame to lose that kind of talent. He admired the dedication of these snake-eaters. They did a job given all sorts of fancy names by politicians: The Global War on Terrorism, Operation Enduring Freedom, The Long War. But the; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Mullah's Storm (A Parson and Gold Novel Book 1) eBook; Author: Tom Young; Review: "In the quiet, with the enemy nearby, every sound seemed too loud - the crunch of snow, the clink of buckles and zippers, the rub of rifle slings. Parson listened closely for hoofbeats; he expected horseman to thunder out of the fog at any moment and strike him down. He carried the AK at port arms. The faster I can get this rifle to my shoulder, he thought, the more of them I can take with me. What kind of war is this that I'm on the ground worried about the raghead cavalry?" - USAF Flight Navigator Major Michael Parson, shot down in Afghanistan THE MULLAH'S STORM by Thomas Young doesn't take long to accelerate to nail-biting speed. On page one, an Air Force C-130 is preparing to take off from Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan with ten aboard including a top-priority prisoner, a high-ranking Taliban mullah. By page seven, the plane, struck by an anti-aircraft missile, is forced down in the snow of the Hindu Kush Mountains. By page sixteen, the aircraft's navigator, Major Michael Parson, is on the run with the prisoner and an Army interpreter, Master Sergeant Gold. Somehow, Parson and Gold must get back to Bagram fifty miles away while eluding those that would rescue the mullah. What Parson doesn't know is that his current situation is about as good as it's going to get. Parson is a new American hero for our time and current foreign wars. While he doesn't possess the killing skills of Lee Child's Jack Reacher, he's eminently capable. Raised in the Cascade Range of America's Pacific Northwest, Parson is used to the terrain. He attended the USAF's Survival School. He's a crack shot. And he has a hatred of the enemy. THE MULLAH'S STORM is a riveting page-turner that caused me to lose sleep on several nights; I didn't want to put the book down and turn off the light. Having himself served extensively as a flight engineer with the Air National Guard in Afghanistan, author Young provides the reader with what one would assume to be a realistic picture of the fighting in that country's mountainous terrain. Perhaps the novel's only flaw - a significant one - is that Master Sergeant Gold remains as much of an enigma at the end as she was at the beginning, though she's obviously extremely brave, educated, intelligent, and militarily competent. I'd like to believe that Young's next installment will feature her as the main character. (Are you listening, Thomas?) Perhaps one of the most thought-provoking paragraphs of the book is: "Parson wondered whether the (two wounded Special Forces troops) would make it. He didn't know a lot about Special Forces, but he did know that each of these troops was fluent in a language, and expert in a particular field such as demolition or communications. Damn shame to lose that kind of talent. He admired the dedication of these snake-eaters. They did a job given all sorts of fancy names by politicians: The Global War on Terrorism, Operation Enduring Freedom, The Long War. But the; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Running a Hotel on the Roof of the World (Isis Large Print Nonfiction); Author: Visit Amazon's Alec Le Sueur Page; Review: In 1988, the twenty-five year-old Brit, Alec Le Sueur, arrived in Hong Kong determined to continue his career in high-end hotel management by securing a position in a poncy hotel in the Orient where, as popular legend had it at the time, the best establishments are located, e.g. the Hong Kong Peninsula Hotel. What he got - almost by accident - was a gig as manager of the Sales Department at the Holiday Inn in Lhasa, Tibet, a place in the middle of nowhere - unless you're Tibetan - otherwise known as The Roof of the World. Alec renewed his employment contract with Holiday Inn several times such that he spent five years in Lhasa. One must assume that, for at least part of that time, his work was uneventful. But you wouldn't know that from reading RUNNING A HOTEL ON THE ROOF OF THE WORLD, which is a litany of tales narrated in a manner that begs the rhetorical question: Jeez, can you believe this, or what? Since none of this is presumably made-up, the reader can be thankful that he's only on his way to, say, Cleveland - as I am as I peck this out - and not flying the Chinese state airline, CAAC, to the Roof of the World. (Well, perhaps CAAC's in-flight food service, however dodgy, is marginally better than what most U.S. carriers now offer; at least it's included with the price of the ticket.) All of Le Sueur's experiences are told against the background of the political relationship between China and Tibet, where the former is the Communist Big Brother lending their unfortunate Tibetan comrades a helping hand to achieve the nirvana of a socialist workers state whether the latter likes it or not. And the Tibetans appreciate it, I'm sure, though that doesn't prevent the locals from periodically torching the Lhasa police station. The internal operational structure of the Lhasa HI apparently reflects management at its most inefficient: each member of the expatriate executive team is paired with a Chinese Communist Party counterpart and all operational decisions must be approved during a joint meeting of both sides. This stricture, along with the vagaries of a long supply line and linguistic misunderstandings can lead, as Alec so succinctly describes, to absurd situations. Then, there are the live snakes in barrels delivered to fill a commissary's seafood order, the massive room over-bookings, the shut-off of the heating system in the middle of winter, the problem presented by the dead tourist, an infestation of rats, and the massive logistical barriers surrounding the printing of a simple promotional brochure. And who could forget the "Miss Tibet fiasco"? All of Le Sueur's recollections make the prospect of managing a HI establishment elsewhere seem idyllic. Even Cleveland, perhaps. The book includes that rarity among travel essays - a section of photographs, and in COLOR no less. However, the selection of images seems to have been haphazard as there's only one (exterior) shot of the hotel itself - odd in a volume focused on the running of the place. There are; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sackett, The Louis L'Amour Collection; Author: Visit Amazon's Louis L'Amour Page; Review: "... if the folks who believe in law, justice and a decent life for folks are to be shot down by those who believe in violence, nothing makes much sense. I believe in justice, I believe in being tolerating of other folks, but I pack a big pistol ... and will use it when needed." - Tell Sackett in SACKETT (while making a promo sound bite for the NRA) "I'm just a man tries to do the right thing as well as he knows. Only, the way I figure, no man has the right to be ignorant. In a country like this, ignorance is a crime. If a man is going to vote, if he's going to take part in his country and it government, then it's up to him to understand." - Tell Sackett in SACKETT (while espousing, perhaps, English literacy as a prerequisite for voter registration) Last Sunday, I found myself in an unusual (for me) and precarious situation. I was left with nothing to read while waiting for my wife to conclude her gym session. (I'm not an unmitigated lump; I'd just completed my 45-minute workout. I'm just not as driven.) For all I knew, I might be lingering for a seeming eternity if she'd gotten up a good head of steam on the treadmill. Luckily, the YMCA facility we frequent has a book exchange corner where members can donate used volumes. Pawing through the inordinately large number of bodice-ripper romance novels, I discovered a dilapidated copy of SACKETT, one in a series by Louis L'Amour about the fictional Sackett family of the American Old West. Mind you, though my Mom discovered L'Amour several years ago and I, as a dutiful son, acquired for her all of this author's books I could find - dozens upon dozens, I've never read one of his sagebrush operas myself. The novelized Old West is rarely visited by me, though Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry was magnificent, especially the incomparable TV miniseries adaptation Lonesome Dove with Robert Duvall. I read the first twenty pages of this 150-page paperback before my wife emerged sweaty but triumphant. Surprisingly, I found the book engaging enough to take home and finish before continuing with Cold: Adventures in the World's Frozen Places by Bill Streever. Here, William Tell Sackett, the oldest of three Sackett sons, is in his third decade of a hard, wandering life. While his younger brothers got themselves some book learnin', he rode the Mississippi flatboats, prospected the Nevada Comstock, fought Johnny Reb with Grant, tussled with Injuns in the Dakotas, Minnesota and Texas, and drove doggies to Montana. The reader initially finds a homesick Tell as he's on his way to New Mexico to visit Ma and his siblings and as he stumbles across an isolated gold mine first excavated by long-dead Spanish conquistadors who'd presumably gotten themselves lost in the wilderness. And where there's gold, a heap of trouble is sure to follow. SACKETT is, I gather, Western pulp fiction at its most formulaic. The plot contains the standard elements: the square-jawed, noble; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Cold: Adventures in the World's Frozen Places; Author: Visit Amazon's Bill Streever Page; Review: (Note: This review is of the hardcover edition.) "Take a pair of cotton jeans, throw them in a mountain stream or a pond or a bathtub full of water, and take them out. They are heavy with water. Cotton kills because the fibers hold water. They will suck the heat right out of the unfortunate victim foolish enough to wear them in the cold. For survival in the cold, naked skin may be better than wet cotton jeans." - from COLD With COLD, Biologist Bill Streever has penned another of those popular science books about the environment we live in that I personally find so informative and entertaining, especially since I'm not expected to be tested on the material afterwards. In twelve chapters sequentially entitled with the year's months beginning with July - "It is July first and fifty-one degrees above zero" - and ending with June - "It is June twentieth ... and 60 degrees Fahrenheit", Streever delivers a wealth of stories and information about cold and its effects on more things than you'll ever need to know to stay warm and snugly. Actually, it's an amiable jumble of anecdotes, historical references, and facts where the only connecting thread, besides "cold" itself, is the progression of named chapters and the vantage point from which the author generally observes and writes, which is Alaska where Streever lives (though he personally manages to get out-of-state some). The span of Bill's cold-related topics is chilling, but not in the frightening sense. (Cold - chilling. Get it?) After beginning with accounts of the hardships and deaths of various arctic and Antarctic explorers just to establish the understanding that lack of heat needs to be taken seriously, the author ranges far and wide. Recent and long, long-ago glaciations, animal hibernations, bird migrations, frozen mammoth carcasses, the effects of hypothermia on humans, frostbite, permafrost, climate-determined tree lines, the scientific quest to achieve absolute zero, the cold-mediated deterioration of roads and buildings, cold-resistant clothing materials, igloo construction, Bose-Einstein condensates, cryogenic body storage, infamous blizzards of history, ice wedge formation, the evolution of refrigerators, the physiology of shivering, and so much more. And let's not forget the pet caterpillars Fram and Bedford. At times, as when Streever dwells on the heaviest hailstone (2 pounds), or the largest snowflake (15 inches wide?), or the weight of quviut (underfur) shed by a musk ox each year (5 pounds), I feel like I'm being prepped for a trivia quiz. But it's all good stuff. COLD contains no photographs; a couple here and there would've been useful. There are two maps in the back, one of the Northern Hemisphere from above the pole, and one of Antarctica from above the South Pole; the former illustrates the tree line, which is the most interesting feature of that particular map. Most useful, perhaps, is a 35-page Notes section should the reader wish to do further research on aspects of the overall topic. In a book about what is basically climate, it would be surprising if the author didn't touch upon the climate-warming controversy. He points; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Dealer and the Dead; Author: Visit Amazon's Gerald Seymour Page; Review: (Note: This review is of the hardcover edition.) "Is there anywhere with no myths and no legends? Have you heard of such a place?" - from THE DEALER AND THE DEAD In 1991 during the Croatian War of Independence, a small Croat village near Vukovar defends itself against Serb forces. The settlement's only chance for survival lies with a promised shipment of anti-tank weapons purchased with every liquid asset the inhabitants possess. But, a casual act of betrayal means the arms never arrive; the town is captured and brutalized by the invaders. Now, nineteen years later, an old grave is discovered and the survivors are provided a name on whom to exact vengeance. In this part of the world, hatreds are intense and never, ever, die. In my opinion, Gerald Seymour is the very best thriller author writing today. His stories are sophisticated, complex and ingeniously constructed; the plots are drawn from contemporary world events and evolve in the grey regions of civilization's gritty and grotty margins. I've read all of his books save THE COLLABORATOR, which awaits my attention on a bookshelf much like a racked bottle of much treasured, vintage wine. THE DEALER AND THE DEAD may be the best of the author's offerings to date. As usual, Seymour populates his story with a wealth of deftly drawn characters, none of which could even remotely be considered "super-heroes" in the popular sense. (There are no James Bonds or Jack Reachers. Not even a Spider Shepherd, Gabriel Allon or Nick Stone.) All are fairly ordinary - much like you or I - with personal lives that may incorporate a humdrum job or troubled personal relationships. But all of them, especially the civil servant types, persevere. And it's their perseverance that achieves a sort of nobility even though the victory against the adversity of the moment - indeed, it's the nature of the adversity that falls into the grey area - is ultimately pyrrhic in nature. (That's what I savor in this author's stories - there are rarely absolute winners or losers. It mimics real life.) Here, we have the aging, bitter survivors of the Croatian community, a retired operative of the Secret Intelligence Service, a small-time London hit man, a Foreign and Commonwealth Office investigator probing arms trafficking, a physician specializing in survivor psychology, a forensic scientist who travels the world uncovering the grave sites linked with atrocities, a Planet Protection activist who crusades against international weapons sales, a detective sergeant of the Serious (or Specialist) Crime Directorate 7 of the London Metropolitan Police charged with thwarting assassins and protecting their identified targets, and an arms dealer with a winning smile. The paths of all will cross at the end of the Cornfield Road (Kukuruzni Put). Gerald Seymour pens for grown-ups.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Lighting Out for the Territory: How Samuel Clemens Headed West and Became Mark Twain; Author: Visit Amazon's Roy Morris Jr. Page; Review: "Sam, for his part, 'was armed to the teeth with a pitiful little Smith & Wesson's seven-shooter, which carried a ball like a homeopathic pill, and took the whole seven shots to make a dose for an adult.' The pistol, a .22-caliber 1857 model breechloader, had a four-inch barrel and was not accurate beyond a range of fifteen yards ... Thus suitably armed and accoutered, (Sam Clemens) set out for the wild and wooly West ... He was lighting out for the Territory." - from LIGHTING OUT FOR THE TERRITORY Those acquainted with the literary output of Mark Twain, a.k.a. Samuel Clemens, or perhaps with the incomparable stage impersonation of him by Hal Holbrook, may visualize the author as an aging, white-haired man. LIGHTING OUT FOR THE TERRITORY by Roy Morris reveals that even this great American writer was once immature, foolish and directionless. The period of the narrative is July 1861 to December 1866, during which time the young Clemens journeyed up the Missouri River then overland to Carson City, NV via Salt Lake, resided in Carson City and Virginia City while primarily working first as a miner then newspaper reporter, then visited the Sandwich Islands (Hawaii) between residencies in San Francisco, and finally becoming a comedic lecturer before embarking on the trans-Atlantic trip in 1867 that resulted in the book, The Innocents Abroad. His fitful stops and starts at a variety of jobs and money-making schemes are perhaps demonstrative of any male of that age at any time and place. It wasn't always pretty, but certainly provided material for subsequent self-deprecating humor. The author's own dry wit in the telling only contributes to the enjoyment of the account. Had it been included, a map of the Carson City - Gold Hill - Virginia City - Unionville - Aurora locale would've been helpful. The book does include a photo section of eighteen reasonably useful images. LIGHTING OUT FOR THE TERRITORY, while not riveting, is competently done. It reminds me to view again a visual presentation of Holbrook's Mark Twain Tonight and whets my appetite for Mark Twain: A Life by Ron Powers, which waits on my bookshelf.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Liberation Movements: A Novel (Yalta Boulevard Quintet); Author: Visit Amazon's Olen Steinhauer Page; Review: Those couple of Olen Steinhauer's espionage thrillers that I've read previously, both featuring the protagonist Brano Sev, are unique in my experience of reading spy novels in that the perspective is from the eastern side of the Iron Curtain during the years of the Cold War. Brano is an officer in the People's Militia of an otherwise anonymous Eastern Bloc nation and is stationed in its Capital. Brano is no menacing 007; he's just a regular guy doing a job on behalf of his country and its political system. He's very much like the dedicated, mid-level, civil servants one comes across in the marvelous thrillers by Gerald Seymour. In LIBERATION MOVEMENTS, there's a "then" and a "now." The former is 1968 and Czech musicology student Peter Husak, caught up in the invasion of Warsaw Pact troops that ended the Prague Spring, betrays his fellow student activists and then commits a brutal murder to get himself a new life and identity. The "now" is 1975, when a plane from the Capital to Istanbul is taken over by Armenian hijackers. The craft subsequently blows up in the air, killing a Militia homicide investigator. Sev and two of his subordinates, Gavra Noukas and Katja Drdova, are put on the case. The storyline veers back and forth between the two timelines which, of course, ultimately merge. In this book, Katja is actually the main protagonist - and one to whom this reader became most sympathetic. I imagine she's just a one-off character in Steinhauer's fictional world, but she's an effective one. Bran, on the other hand, stays pretty much in the background pulling strings. Gavra, while interesting, could just have well been left on the editing room floor as far as I was concerned; he was one of the unnecessary distractions. I liked LIBERATION MOVEMENTS very much as a revenge story. Unfortunately, as I see it, the story got needlessly cluttered with both the Gavra character and the wherefore of the plane hijacking. Some of the details of the latter didn't even make much sense. Therefore, I'm knocking off a couple of stars, which may be more of an extreme reaction than is warranted.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Queen of Patpong: A Poke Rafferty Thriller (Poke Rafferty Thrillers); Author: Visit Amazon's Timothy Hallinan Page; Review: Several years ago, I read Stephen Leather's Private Dancer, his novelization of the Thai sex industry from the vantage point of a foreign travel writer. Here, in THE QUEEN OF PATPONG, we have yet another travel writer, Poke Rafferty, finding himself embroiled in the repercussions of Bangkok's flesh trade. In the former book, what was at stake was simply the writer's gullibility. In the latter book by Timothy Hallinan, the danger is to the very lives of Rafferty, his wife Rose, and their adopted teenage daughter, Miaow. Rose was once the awkward and shy Kwan before she was lured away from her rural village to Bangkok to become the most gorgeous dancer/prostitute in the Candy Cane Bar in Patpong, the capital's tenderloin area. Falling in love with and promised marriage by the handsome and charismatic Howard Horner, she finds herself in a desperate struggle for her life against a vicious serial killer - a fight she thinks she'd won. Now, years later when Rose is happily married to Poke, Horner returns with a vengeance. While the specter of Howard's reappearance is sufficient enough of a plot element to make THE QUEEN OF PATPONG entertaining and, to a certain degree, attention-worthy, the most engaging aspect of the book, to me, was the description of the circumstances surrounding Kwan's evolution into Rose. In a predatory world, such a tale isn't shocking, but its description is enlightening. And the ending, while not a nail-biter in the conventional sense, was appropriate for all that came before. THE QUEEN OF PATPONG was the perfect choice for a trans-Atlantic flight, where I put the volume to such good use that I can now review it, read cover to cover, in my room at the Burns Hotel overlooking Barkston Gardens in London.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Longest Trip Home: A Memoir; Author: Visit Amazon's John Grogan Page; Review: John Grogan's autobiography, THE LONGEST TRIP HOME, is his story of growing up Catholic - and then having to deal with it as an awkward teenager and maturing adult. His narrative is funny and poignant, and the experience all so true. I can attest to it. Grogan spent his formative years in Detroit; I lived mine in Southern California. His parents were, perhaps by the standards of some, excessively devout in their religion; mine were less so, but we were regular church-goers and I was subject to 12 years of parochial education (grades 1-12). The Grogans had clerics over to dinner regularly; we but occasionally. John had a couple of priest uncles; I have only one cousin, whom I've never met, who's a Jesuit. The author's parish was Our Lady of Refuge; mine was Corpus Christi, then Our Lady of Malibu. John experienced First Confession, First Communion and was an altar boy; so did and was I. John once had prurient interest in a nun and developed an in-class woodie after undressing her in his mind's eye. What a perv! The only classroom authority figure I (and every other boy) lusted after was blonde and leggy Miss Loef, our fourth grade lay-teacher. She was an ex-stew from TWA. We were devastated when she dropped out to get married. Jewish guilt has nothing on the Catholic version that is zealously applied. The frequent humor in THE LONGEST TRIP HOME comes from the author's struggles to overcome it while trying not to overtly disappoint Mom and Dad. Of course, it's almost exclusively about sex and what ultimately derived from it, at least for him - marriage with a non-Catholic and subsequent religious indoctrination (or not) of the children. Fortunately for me as I became bored with the Church as irrelevant and drifted away, I never felt any parental censure. True to their German and Scots-Irish roots, they kept their own counsel. I'm grateful for that space. There is, of course, much more to Grogan's narrative. Youthful pranks and exposure to those other feared snares of the 50s white, middle-class - alcohol and marijuana. Oddly, there was no mention of the devil's own music, rock 'n' roll. (Of course, in Southern California we had "surfers", that subculture vilified by some parents as comprised of lazy, long-haired ne'er-do-wells. I gather such were rare in Detroit.) Moving on in time, John goes away to college and acquires a profession. Plus the aforementioned wife and kids. And all the while his parents are getting older and less capable of surviving on their own. The poignancy of the book comes when the author must deal with it, as we all do. To that, too, I can attest. THE LONGEST TRIP HOME isn't great literature, but I'm giving five stars anyway because what is a man (or woman) but a lifetime's accumulation of experiences. While reading John's chronicle, he brought my own memories of a generally golden time growing up in the temperate clime of SoCal and in the halls of parochial school to the forefront of my mind. To; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Off the Mangrove Coast: Stories; Author: Visit Amazon's Louis L'Amour Page; Review: Last September I found myself in a desperate situation, i.e. in a holding pattern with nothing to read. Then, I found a cast-off copy of Sackett (The Sacketts, No 6) by Louis L'Amour, which, though being the pulpiest of formulaic western fiction, at least served the immediate purpose of mental diversion. Why, it was even engaging enough to finish. The question then arose: Should I obtain and read more of, if not all of, his other westerns? Uh ... no, that's just not an option because I suspect they're all cut from the same piece of rawhide. And there are just too many. And there's just too little daily reading time in my life to recklessly fritter it away. However, I did note that he's written other short stories not of the western genre (Say it ain't so, Joe!) and I thought, before I cut the author loose, that I would give them a go. Simply out of curiosity, mind you. Thus, OFF THE MANGROVE COAST. This is a compendium of nine short stories ranging in length from nine to sixty-eight pages. One unfolds in the Old West. The other eight take place more or less contemporarily in Borneo (2) and the United States (6). The heroes are two boxers, a private eye, an expatriate American in Paris, two treasure-hunting adventurers, a cowboy drifter, an insurance salesman, and a checkers player. (Perhaps a series could be built around the checkers player, you think?) All the stories read as if tamed-down versions of those written for the male-oriented "men's adventure" genre of pulp magazines in the 50s and 60s. I say "tamed-down" because only once is a scantily-clad female part of the plot - and that but briefly. Otherwise, all the male heroes are reacting to danger and opposition with the expected all-American virtues: competence, perseverance, bravery, gallantry, loyalty, and a sense of justice deserved. It's Good vs. Evil in black and white. While this is perfectly fine - indeed, thriller fiction traditionally follows this general formula - there are none of the messy, gray areas that one sees in the real world, which are an essential part of the plots from my personal favorite author, Gerald Seymour, and which are the incubators of Pyrrhic victories contested by protagonists that aren't overtly heroic and antagonists that aren't totally iniquitous. Louis L'Amour was apparently writing for a different audience in a simpler time, i.e. readers living during the Cold War when it was the Godless Red Menace against God-Fearing America and its allies. Only in the beginning of the last short, "Time of Terror", did I get a hint of something more edgy - something akin to the weird reality found in a Dean Koontz thriller, but the story ended abruptly without evolving further in that style. Ok, ok. Perhaps I'm over-dramatizing and over-simplifying. The point is, L'Amour's characters and plots are to me more unadorned and less ambiguous than those I've come to appreciate in the twenty-first century; for whatever reasons the author's tales seem very mid-20th century. However, that said, I'm awarding; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Edge of Madness; Author: Visit Amazon's Michael Dobbs Page; Review: Michael Dobbs has written some good stuff. His Churchill quartet (Winston's War: A Novel of Conspiracy,Never Surrender: A Novel of Winston Churchill,Churchill's Hour: A Novel of Defiance and Churchill's Triumph: A Novel of Betrayal), a novelization of Churchill's war leadership, was extremely satisfying. His non-fiction book on the dissolution of the U.S.S.R., Down with Big Brother: The Fall of the Soviet Empire, was immensely readable and instructive. Thus, it pains me to have to report so negatively on THE EDGE OF MADNESS. Occasionally, one hears of hackers penetrating government or corporate computer systems. And recently, there was the report of a cyber worm attack on an Iranian nuclear power plant. Cyber-war is the new assault mode for the twenty-first century. So, in THE EDGE OF MADNESS, China has assembled a gaggle of techno-geeks in a former toy factory to bring down the West's infrastructures beginning with that of the United Kingdom. But Britain has gotten wind of the plot through a highly placed spy, so the Prime Minister, Mark D'Arby, arranges an ultra-secret gathering of himself, the American President, Blythe Edwards, and the Russian President, Sergei Shunin, at an isolated Scottish castle to decide on a consensual pre-emptive strike. Intentionally cut-off from their respective governments to maintain secrecy, the three leaders begin their deliberations at the same time that the Chinese literally push the button to initiate their devastating cyber assault. First published in 2008 (before the U.S. elections), the author perhaps patterns the Blythe Edwards character after Hillary Clinton, the favorite to win the Presidency before Barack took America by storm. Both Hillary and Blythe have philandering husbands. And Shunin's background and nationalistic aspirations may call Vladimir Putin to mind. Whom D'Arby resembles is unclear. Blair? In any case, the main protagonist of the story is the only one to accompany the PM to Scotland, Harry Jones, the ex-SAS hero of Dobbs's previous novels The Reluctant Hero and The Lord's Day. The author never really integrates the two halves of the story, the one in China and the one in Scotland. During the book's initial three-hundred or so pages, the tension increases and the reader might be led to believe there's to be a bang-up conclusion. But then one half fizzles while the other half degenerates into a farce of, to me, mind-boggling proportions. By the last quarter of the novel, I was just hurrying to finish the fiasco so I could move on to something more worthy. THE EDGE OF MADNESS was so disappointing that I may never pick up another book by Michael Dobbs again.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Chickens, Mules and Two Old Fools: A Slice of Andalucian Life (Old Fools Large Print) (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Victoria Twead Page; Review: "To watch professionals laying a brick wall is fascinating; I defy anyone to say otherwise. As for me, I had the added bonus of watching Eduardo who possessed buttocks like two golf balls in a sock. (My husband) Joe cottoned on to what I was transfixed by and got very huffy with me, despite my insistence that I was just watching the work in progress." - Victoria Twead on the remodel of their Andalucian house Vicky Twead of Sussex, England becomes fed up with the wet English weather and, since husband Joe is only a couple of months shy from retirement anyway, proposes a major life change: pack it all up and move to Spain. Thus, the Five Year Plan wherein the Tweads move to the Andalucian town of El Hoyo and give it a go for that number of years before deciding whether or not to return to Old Blighty. CHICKENS, MULES AND TWO OLD FOOLS is Vicky's narrative of the experiment. Somewhat reminiscent of Peter Mayle's A Year in Provence, Twead's book is part travel narrative and part humorous treatise on adapting to a decrepit house located in an alien landscape populated by generally friendly and generous natives. Vicky's style is chatty and cheerful and the reader never doubts that the couple will succeed in making the transition. (Expat Brits seem to have a special talent for this sort of thing as evidenced by Mayle's several books on Provence and those by Annie Hawes on her Italian relocation beginning with Extra Virgin: A Young Woman Discovers the Italian Riviera, Where Every Month Is Enchanted. A run-down house purchased from wily locals and in need of extensive renovation seems to be an obligatory part of the formula.) The text is sprinkled with black and white photos, which are the awkward size of oversized postage stamps and require a magnifying glass to see any detail, and recipes for several dozen Spanish culinary creations such as "Marinated Anchovies", "Chickpeas and Chorizo", "Spicy Almonds with Paprika", "Summer Pork with Sherry", and "Crispy Potatoes in Spicy Tomato Sauce". Almost all of the recipes have nothing to do with events chronicled in the narrative and, unless you're a professional chef or dedicated amateur cook, you may, as I did, find them unnecessary embellishments not worth the print space. The book's 188 pages span all years of the Five Year Plan. Perhaps some stuff was left out. Nothing that the Tweads faced would be considered a disaster or even a hardship. Indeed, most of their experiences as they interact with their new neighbors and environment are folksy and congenial albeit sometimes eccentric. (The sometimes odd behavior of the indigenous population is another staple of such relocation tales. Of course, eccentricity is a two-way street.) Perhaps the only hints that a stiff upper lip may have been occasionally lacking are the names Vicky and Joe gave two chickens in their flock, B - - - - R and F - - K, probably the two strongest profanities in the English language. What brought those on, I wonder? Vicky; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: For God, Country and; Author: Visit Amazon's Mark Pendergrast Page; Review: "One share of original 1919 Coca-Cola stock had split into 1,152 shares by 1991, in addition to providing a cumulative dividend of over $10,000. If the dividends from that one original share had been reinvested in Coca-Cola stock, the $40 (or $5 for insiders) investment would now be worth almost two million dollars. Using the same scale, if a great grandparent had purchased one of Asa's $100 shares in 1892, it would now bring approximately $2.5 billion." - from FOR GOD, COUNTRY AND COCA-COLA One of the enduring memories of my childhood, likely shared with millions of others, is getting a dime from one of my parents to buy and quaff an ice-cold Coke pulled from a filling-station's vending machine during a long drive on a hot day. After filling the car up with gas, Ol' Dad probably had a Coke also; aging memory fails on that point. (This was before auto air conditioning reached the sweaty masses.) The drinking experience was pure bliss. Over the half-century since, nothing has ever tasted better. It's an iconic experience, like a hot dog with all the fixin's at the ball game or pink cotton candy at the state fair handed-over fresh, warm and fragrant out of the spinner (not pre-made and pre-packaged in a plastic overwrap as it frequently comes today). FOR GOD, COUNTRY AND COCA-COLA is Mark Pendergrast's prodigiously researched - 96 pages of Notes - on the soft-drink and the company that sells it from the former's creation in 1886 to the status of both in 1992. (The book was published in 1993.) Pendergrast's grandfather was an Atlanta druggist that sold Coca-Cola in his store's soda fountain. With 425 pages of text and three photo sections, Mark's labor of love will tell you more than you'll ever need to know about "the real thing". Indeed, towards the end of the narrative, when the history gets somewhat bogged down detailing Coca-Cola's advertising strategy of the 1980s, it may be more than you wanted to know. But, never mind; the author is nothing if not comprehensively complete. For me, the most fascinating elements of the volume were the descriptions of the "patent medicine" industry of the late nineteenth century, the company's efforts to get its product to the troops in World War II, and the evolution of the ongoing competition between Coca-Cola and its Great Enemy, Pepsi. Personally, I've always preferred the latter when imbibed by itself. But, if one is adding peanuts to the bottle - and it must be a glass bottle - then it simply has to be Coke; no other brand will do. FOR GOD, COUNTRY AND COCA-COLA is long and perhaps not amenable to the reading interest of everyone. But, if you're intrigued by the subject matter, I don't imagine you'll find a more enlightening treatment of it on the bookshelves.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: An Irreverent Curiosity: In Search of the Church's Strangest Relic in Italy's OddestTown; Author: Visit Amazon's David Farley Page; Review: "When Halloween evening arrived, I put (the costume) all together, (including) my homemade cape, on which I had written SANTO PREPUZIO with a large Superman-style 'SP' underneath. Finally, I put on the brown ski cap, the color of which perfectly matched my brown turtleneck, rolled up the edges of the cap, and affixed a gold circle with the wire over my head." - the author goes to an Italian Halloween party dressed as the Holy Foreskin Growing up Catholic, I was peripherally aware of the existence of holy relics though I never got too worked up about it. And certainly not to the obsessive degree admitted to by the author of AN IRREVERENT CURIOSITY, David Farley. To make a long story short, Farley's narrative is an account of his extended stay in the medieval hill town of Calcata, 29 miles north of Rome, in which the Holy Foreskin, ostensibly circumcised from the infant Christ, made its appearance in 1527 and was subsequently venerated as a precious relic until its disappearance in 1983. David's self-imposed mission was to track the lost artifact down. A hobby is a good thing. Most fascinating to me was Farley's history and description of the type of relics available for veneration by the pious in the Middle Ages subsequent to the death of Charlemagne in 814. Countless slivers of and nails from the True Cross, the breast milk, hair, comb, handkerchief and wedding ring of the Virgin Mary, St. Joseph's hammer and one of his carpentered carts that Jesus helped build, the Redeemer's tears, barbs from the Crown of Thorns, a preserved fish and stale bread from the miraculously enlarged picnic lunch used by Jesus to feed thousands, the very finger that Doubting Thomas stuck in the risen Christ's side, shards of marble from the pillar on which God's son was flogged, the sponge used to quench his thirst on the Cross, a chunk of the Last Supper's table, and JC's own sandals. And, of course, the Holy Foreskin. Several, in fact. The list is endless when one includes the alleged bits and pieces of the saints and martyrs left behind. One can only imagine the hand-rubbing glee felt by the Levantine flimflammers as they watched the suckers debarking from the long ships arrived from the ports of Western Europe. The subtitle of AN IRREVERENT CURIOSITY is IN SEARCH OF THE CHURCH'S STRANGEST RELIC IN ITALY'S ODDEST TOWN. The town is, obviously, Calcata, and its history and inhabitants absorb much of the author's narrative; so much so that the main thread of the book - the hunt for the sacred relic - is sometimes obscured by all the textual padding. Of course, it's to be expected that the recorded experiences of a resident in foreign climes become focused on the eccentricities of the locals. One only need read the books of such expats as Peter Mayle (A Year in Provence), Annie Hawes (Extra Virgin: A Young Woman Discovers the Italian Riviera, Where Every Month Is Enchanted), and Victoria Twead (Chickens, Mules and Two Old Fools: Tuck into a; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Potluck; Author: Visit Amazon's Jack Rudloe Page; Review: Author Jack Rudloe is perhaps best known for his non-fiction books on marine science topics, e.g. Shrimp: The Endless Quest for Pink Gold. POTLUCK is his only fictional work to date. He should pen more. Preston Barfield is a Florida Gulf Coast shrimper, a profession not for sissies. Preston is no sissy, but he is saddled with poor catches, restrictive government fishing laws, mounting debts, a boat that requires a major overhaul, a wife expecting their first child, and a ne'er-do-well brother-in-law that's costing him bait buckets of money. Basically a decent, law-abiding citizen just trying to make a living, Preston's pride is overwhelmed by desperation and he must become what he despises - a marijuana smuggler, a "doper." His life is about to become infinitely more interesting and perilous. What I find most notable about Rudloe's first and only novel is his ability to sharply differentiate the book's various characters. So often, otherwise successful fiction authors with a long list of best-sellers still manage to make all the personae in a story seem as if cut from the same bolt of cloth; only the names, genders and agendas change. Probably better than in its written form, POTLUCK would translate nicely into a Big Screen thriller. Barfield is likeable, admirable, square-jawed and rugged, the villains are suitably villainous, the action is varied and forceful with several sharp turns of direction, the locales are exotic, and there's at least one Hot Babe playing a major role. All of the actors on the cast list would have juicy parts to play. As a sea adventure, it could rival The Perfect Storm in intensity. POTLUCK is the perfect diversion on a long flight to anywhere while ensconced in First Class with several servings of shrimp cocktail and a couple of cold beers.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The White Company (Dover Books on Literature & Drama); Author: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle; Review: Note: This review is of the 1922 hardcover edition published by the Cosmopolitan Book Corporation, New York, with illustrations by N.C. Wyeth. On the cover's inside is the inscription "Teresa Lee McNeel, December 1930, From Mother." From that, I infer it was given to my own mother by my grandmother on the former's twelfth birthday. While the book has been in my possession for decades, only now have I taken the time to follow Mom's reading trail eighty years later. "Now order the ranks, and fling wide the banners, for our souls are God's and our bodies the king's, and our swords for Saint George and for England!" - Sir Nigel Loring, rallying the White Company THE WHITE COMPANY, by Arthur Conan Doyle, was first published in serialized form in 1891. It has been asserted that Doyle regarded his historical novels, THE WHITE COMPANY being one of them, more highly than his (now) better-remembered Sherlock Holmes exploits. The place is England and the Continent, the year is 1366 during the reign of the King of the English, Edward III, and his realm is twenty-nine years into The Hundred Years' War with France. The male heroes of the story are three plus one: Samkin Aylward, a grizzled archer of the White Company, an English mercenary force, Alleyne Edricson, a twenty-year old clerk raised by Cistercian monks in Beaulieu Abbey since infancy who's now sent out into the larger world to learn something of it before choosing a permanent vocation, and the red-haired giant Hordle John, a disgraced Brother of the same abbey tossed out because of his self-indulgent ways. The trio then joins a fresh contingent of the White Company raised by the renowned and veteran knight, Sir Nigel Loring, at Castle Twynham in the Hampshire town of Christchurch. Alleyne himself is taken on as Loring's personal squire and, for the two months prior to the company's departure for the Continent, is the tutor of Sir Nigel's teenage daughter, Lady Maude. Edricson is, naturally, smitten, and he goes off to war carrying her green veil as a token of favor. Doyle's novel, written during the time when the Empire still spanned the globe, is, above all, a paean to England and its common men that transformed themselves into their country's stanch expeditionary warrior forces. As a song in the book has it: "What of the men? The men were bred in England: The bowman - the yeoman - The lads of dale and fell. Here's to you - and to you! To the hearts that are true And the land where the true hearts dwell." As might be surmised, THE WHITE COMPANY is also a coming-of-age story and a great road adventure. Emerging from the protective cocoon of Beaulieu Abbey, Alleyne is a completely blank slate, a slate upon which will be writ the learning experiences of a journey that will take him to Spain to fight in what will later become known in history as the Castillian Civil War, a peripheral conflict of The Hundred Years' War. Doyle ensures that the values; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The White Company (Dover Books on Literature & Drama); Author: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle; Review: Note: This review is of the 1922 hardcover edition published by the Cosmopolitan Book Corporation, New York, with illustrations by N.C. Wyeth. On the cover's inside is the inscription "Teresa Lee McNeel, December 1930, From Mother." From that, I infer it was given to my own mother by my grandmother on the former's twelfth birthday. While the book has been in my possession for decades, only now have I taken the time to follow Mom's reading trail eighty years later. "Now order the ranks, and fling wide the banners, for our souls are God's and our bodies the king's, and our swords for Saint George and for England!" - Sir Nigel Loring, rallying the White Company THE WHITE COMPANY, by Arthur Conan Doyle, was first published in serialized form in 1891. It has been asserted that Doyle regarded his historical novels, THE WHITE COMPANY being one of them, more highly than his (now) better-remembered Sherlock Holmes exploits. The place is England and the Continent, the year is 1366 during the reign of the King of the English, Edward III, and his realm is twenty-nine years into The Hundred Years' War with France. The male heroes of the story are three plus one: Samkin Aylward, a grizzled archer of the White Company, an English mercenary force, Alleyne Edricson, a twenty-year old clerk raised by Cistercian monks in Beaulieu Abbey since infancy who's now sent out into the larger world to learn something of it before choosing a permanent vocation, and the red-haired giant Hordle John, a disgraced Brother of the same abbey tossed out because of his self-indulgent ways. The trio then joins a fresh contingent of the White Company raised by the renowned and veteran knight, Sir Nigel Loring, at Castle Twynham in the Hampshire town of Christchurch. Alleyne himself is taken on as Loring's personal squire and, for the two months prior to the company's departure for the Continent, is the tutor of Sir Nigel's teenage daughter, Lady Maude. Edricson is, naturally, smitten, and he goes off to war carrying her green veil as a token of favor. Doyle's novel, written during the time when the Empire still spanned the globe, is, above all, a paean to England and its common men that transformed themselves into their country's stanch expeditionary warrior forces. As a song in the book has it: "What of the men? The men were bred in England: The bowman - the yeoman - The lads of dale and fell. Here's to you - and to you! To the hearts that are true And the land where the true hearts dwell." As might be surmised, THE WHITE COMPANY is also a coming-of-age story and a great road adventure. Emerging from the protective cocoon of Beaulieu Abbey, Alleyne is a completely blank slate, a slate upon which will be writ the learning experiences of a journey that will take him to Spain to fight in what will later become known in history as the Castillian Civil War, a peripheral conflict of The Hundred Years' War. Doyle ensures that the values; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Notwithstanding; Author: Louis de Bernieres; Review: "Britain is really an immense lunatic asylum. That is one of the things that distinguishes us among the nations. We have a very flexible conception of normality ... we believe in the right to eccentricity, as long as the eccentricities are large enough." - Author Louis de Bernires about his homeland in NOTWITHSTANDING "They pass the house where the General used to live, and which is now fitfully occupied at weekends by a couple from London who have already complained about the noise of chickens from over the road, and the crack of shotguns in the Hurst. They want horses banned from parts of the common because they chew up the footpaths, and they want to stop the teenage boys roaring around the tracks on old motorbikes. They want a fence around the village pond so that their child won't fall in." - from NOTWITHSTANDING Through the inhabitants of the fictional English village of Notwithstanding, Louis de Bernires pays loving tribute to the eccentric personalities and idyllic moments of country life that he remembered from his own upbringing in Wormley, Surrey on the direct rail line between London and Portsmouth. Or, if the moments were not an actual part of his boyhood, then at least what they could have been - moments that are vanishing, or have already vanished, under the pressure of urban migration from the British capital to the southern counties, particularly Surrey, Hampshire and Sussex. Each chapter of NOTWITHSTANDING is essentially a very short story revolving around one or more inhabitants of the village. Many were originally published separately in various newspapers and magazines from 1996 to 2004. The timeframe in which the stories take place is the latter half of the twentieth century, though one, "The Devil and Bessie Maunderfield", occurs in the nineteenth. The strength of the book lies in the obvious affection de Bernires has for his characters, whether it be young Robert fishing for the Girt Pike, or the General during his final descent into dementia, or the conversational companions of George the spider, or Miss Agatha Feakes during the last day of her life. (Surely, "The Death of Miss Agatha Feakes" is the volume's finest chapter and will perhaps bring tears to the reader's eyes.) Even the interloper from the city, Royston Chittock, is treated with a gentle, but nevertheless pointed, humor. NOTHWITHSTANDING is a must read for anyone who loves rural England of the past or present. When next on a South West Train from London's Waterloo to Portsmouth Harbor, I shall regard Witley station (at Wormley) from a new perspective.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Target: Patton: The Plot to Assassinate General George S. Patton; Author: Visit Amazon's Robert K. Wilcox Page; Review: "No one can prove beyond a reasonable doubt that General Patton was assassinated - at least not currently with the evidence now available. Perhaps no one will ever be able to prove it ..." - Author Robert Wilcox in TARGET: PATTON Despite the observation quoted above, Wilcox, in TARGET: PATTON, makes a valiant effort to convince the reader to accept on faith the reality of General George Patton's presumed assassination. In doing so, the author leaves no stone unturned to uncover every bit of circumstantial evidence supported by supposition, hearsay, conjecture, extrapolation, loaded rhetorical questions, and gut feeling as well as a sprinkling of thought-provoking factoids gleaned from record research and interviews. And, conveniently, the conspiratorial flavor of the whole affair is buttressed by the complete disappearance of so many official documents pertaining to the events chronicled. While the narrative includes the circumstances of the road accident involving Patton on December 9, 1945 and his subsequent hospitalization and death on December 21, the core of the book is comprised of the background WWII careers of and testimonies from ex-OSS assassin, Douglas Bazata, and ex-CIC (Counter Intelligence Corps) agent, Stephen Skubnik. Through them, Wilcox endeavors to infer that Patton's death was a joint OSS-NKVD venture. For me, the most interesting chapters of the book were those explaining why both the American and Soviet political and military hierarchies would've wanted the general dead after the German surrender. These chapters are more fact-based. Whether one admires or deplores Patton, it cannot be argued that he wasn't a political loose cannon from Washington's perspective and a dangerous military threat from Moscow's. It also came as a revelation to me, if the author can be believed, the extent to which FDR's government was riddled with communist sympathizers and NKVD spies as revealed by documents declassified as late as 1995 regarding the wartime Venona code-breaking project which allowed the U.S. to read Russian diplomatic messages. TARGET:PATTON comes across as an interesting, but not riveting, exercise in speculation. The reader's reaction - one which the author might find gratifying - may very well be the same as that expressed by Patton's nephew and FBI agent Fred Ayer, Jr. immediately upon hearing the news of the accident while he himself was stationed in France: "Accident hell. It was murder. Those communist sons of bitches killed him." In the end, though, I had to ask myself if Patton's hypothesized murder by a grand conspiracy is, at this late date, worth getting worked-up over. My answer is "no."; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: In the Place of Fallen Leaves; Author: Visit Amazon's Tim Pears Page; Review: "The afternoon was at its height: the sun had just begun its slow descending curve towards Cornwall and was slumbering on the wing. A drowsy hornet drifted by. The harsh air rasped my throat as I inhaled, and my eyelids felt heavy as velvet ... In the hedge to our right I spotted a ripe blackberry, and as daddy reached over to pluck it another appeared, then another. Soon his lips and tongue were stained purple. He lay down in the shadowed verge and fell asleep, and I joined him." - from IN THE PLACE OF FALLEN LEAVES In his novel, Notwithstanding, based on rural life in the English county of Surrey, author Louis de Bernires calls IN THE PLACE OF FALLEN LEAVES by Tim Pears a "beautiful book." And, indeed, it is. IN THE PLACE OF FALLEN LEAVES is set in the rusticity of Devon, a south coast shire further to the west of Surrey and one short of that of Land's End, Cornwall. It's the end of a stifling hot summer in the year 1984, and the main character is thirteen-year old Alison, who lives with her two older brothers, Tom and Ian, her older sister Pamela, and her parents and grandparents on a generations-held farm somewhere near the mouth of the Teign River in the triangle of land formed by the towns of Exeter, Torquay, and Newton Abbot. Alison serves as the narrator of/participant in contemporary events of that September and October and as chronicler of past family history before her time. From the tenor of her narrative, the reader can almost feel the heat that oppresses the region and taste the dust that swirls off the parched land. As in NOTWITHSTANDING, the affection and empathy of Pears for his book's characters is sumptuously evident. But whereas the former is essentially a series of short stories connected only by its locale, the latter is threaded beginning to end by Alison and her kin even as the author weaves-in other major personae, such as the parish Rector and Johnathan, the son of the former landlord, Viscount Teignmouth, who sold out to a property developer. A necessary element of any novel is adversity, which, here, is provided by the effects of the sizzling weather and the challenge of several critical events within the family itself. So, for Alison, it becomes a story of maturation and, for the family, one of survival. As crafted by Tim's pen, it's lovingly done, though I do wonder slightly if his depiction of Alison and her perspective would be different if he were a woman. Oh well, no matter, really. I imagine coming-of-age novels set in rural places number in the thousands. So, why read this one? Well, if your love for England, like mine, is relatively far greater than that for, say, Nebraska, the Philippines, the Ukraine, or any other place, then that's reason enough.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Oskaloosa Moon; Author: Visit Amazon's Gary Sutton Page; Review: "I ate a hot roast beef sandwich, chewing real slow, and that thing tasted so good I wished it could last forever. It wasn't really a sandwich, but a slice of white Wonder Bread on the plate, a slab of beef with hardly any gristle and a scoopful of mashed potatoes on the top, plus brown gravy ladled across the whole thing. It cost us all of two bits, for crying out loud ... The King of England had nothing over me that day." - Moon, in OSKALOOSA MOON Eight years ago to the week, I reviewed Blooming: A Small-Town Girlhood, a memoir by Susan Allen Toth about her days growing up in Ames, Iowa in the late 1940s and early 50s. I said of her book, "Toth's remarkable memory of her childhood and teenage years could serve as the source for Norman Rockwell paintings." OSKALOOSA MOON, the fictional autobiography of a young man growing up to manhood in Oskaloosa, Iowa and elsewhere in the 1950s, 60s and 70s would defeat Rockwell's attempt at depiction; he would give up in despair, overwhelmed by the inequities of life. Moon - the only name by which we know him - was born illegitimate, which was itself a stigma in small town Iowa. But genetics, or perhaps the collateral damage of a difficult delivery, also gave him a disfigured right side of his face, its abnormal concavity lending his entire countenance the shape of a half-moon. Thus, his name applied by cruel playmates. A callous adult, a pillar of the community, once told him "comma" would also have been descriptively appropriate. The discrimination practiced against Moon by other humans is relentless and lifelong. Only the love of his maternal grandparents and the occasional, and sometimes substantial kindnesses, of others give him the chance of furthering his dream, which is to become a college graduate. And his natural talents in math, shop craft, and way with all things mechanical - skills that I as an ostensibly "normal" person have always lacked - help. Author Gary Sutton, himself raised in Iowa, including the town of Oskaloosa, reveals Moon and relates the events of his life from Moon's first-person perspective. It's both brilliant and heartbreaking. The reader can't help but think that Sutton's knowledge of his protagonist stems from personal acquaintance with someone of similar circumstances. It's only Moon's innate goodness - some might say enduring naivet - that prevents him from being transformed into a social cripple or, worse, adopt extreme antisocial behavior after years of being relegated to society's margins. Indeed, his durable childlike innocence, and the observations about his fellow man that this artlessness allows, is reminiscent of that of the hero of Forrest Gump. And above all, he maintains an ability to enjoy life's little pleasures. The lessons to be learned from OSKALOOSA MOON stem from the betrayals and casual cruelties - sometimes not even maliciously intended - inflicted by society on those perceived as outcasts. My only minor quibble with the evolution of the story was that the author extended the tale a; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Hidden Reality: Parallel Universes and the Deep Laws of the Cosmos; Author: Visit Amazon's Brian Greene Page; Review: "When we hand over the steering wheel to the mathematical underpinnings of the major proposed physical laws, we're driven time and again to some version of parallel worlds." - from THE HIDDEN REALITY When I entered college and foolishly took over the wheel of the vessel "Engineering Major" that would presumably steer me towards my life's profession and gainful employment, I soon ran hard aground on the reef of Differential Calculus. It wasn't until I abandoned the wreck and transferred to the good ship "Life Sciences Major" that I safely arrived at where I am today. I've never gotten over that perilous time on the rocks. So, it was with some trepidation that I picked up THE HIDDEN REALITY by physicist Brian Greene. As an occasional buff of sci-fi lit, the concept of parallel worlds has always been of casual interest, but perhaps, with Greene's book, I was setting sail into dodgy waters once again. Over the course of his discourse, the author discusses nine parallel universe, or "multiverse", concepts derived from the mathematics (as opposed to direct observations) of the Relativity, Quantum and String Theories: Quilted, Inflationary, Brane, Cyclic, Landscape, Quantum, Holographic, Simulated, and Ultimate. I'm not even going to attempt a further summary of the material as it would only invite ridicule and cause my subsequent humiliation. The surprising fact is that I managed to make it through to the end, albeit clinging desperately by my fingernails to the edge of an event horizon such that I didn't fall screaming into the Black Hole of Total Bewilderment. This ultimate survival I attribute solely to Greene's skill at conveying the concepts without resorting to descriptive (to some) mathematical formulae. (Ok, ok, he coughed up an E = mc2 equation once or twice, but anything heavier he relegated to the Notes at the end for interested numbers geeks. Suffice it to say, I didn't even glance at that section.) Rather, he illustrated key points with drawings and examples that can likely be appreciated by math-challenged readers such as me. Perhaps this is what makes him a best-selling author. Now that I've finished THE HIDDEN REALITY, to say that I've a comprehensive grasp of the topic would be a mind-boggling overstatement. Were I to take a test on the volume's contents, I might manage a C-, and that's if it was multiple choice format and not essay. I consider this passing grade, rather than an F, to be a solid accomplishment attributable mostly to Greene's teaching skills. And though I've not read any other expert on the subject to whom I can make comparison, I suspect he's a much better teacher than most. Therefore, five stars for the didactic quality of his book. Don't look for any cheeky humor, though; Greene is no Bill Bryson of A Short History of Nearly Everything. Now, if I go outside and gaze at the night sky perhaps visible through the Greater Los Angeles light reflected off the haze and/or smoke, I'll most certainly think to myself, "Wow, could there be more than one those?" One must; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Relentless: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Dean Koontz Page; Review: "(Pryor's) body was so tightly wound in so much barbed wire that he appeared almost mummified. According to the coroner's report, the wire had been cinched to Pryor while he had been alive." - One of Waxx's previous victims, from RELENTLESS The plot of Dean Koontz's RELENTLESS can be summed-up in a brief, single sentence: A novel writer and his family are pursued by a sadistic and homicidal book reviewer for whom awarding one star for the former's latest offering was apparently insufficient negative feedback. The reviewer, Shearman Waxx, is one sick puppy. But, then, so many of Koontz's literary villains come from the Psycho Kennel. It makes one wonder what fuels the dark recesses of the author's imagination. Do I really want to know? Counterbalancing the nightmarish monster that's Waxx, we have Cullen "Cubby" Greenwich, his wife Penny, their six-year old son "Spooky" Milo, and the family dog, Lassie, an Australian shepherd mix that grins a lot. Penny, and her survivalist parents Grimbald and Clotilda, are particularly intriguing characters. Milo remains pretty much enigmatic, though none the less appealing. Perhaps the most engaging player of the piece is Lassie; I wish she'd gotten more text time. RELENTLESS proved to be a quick read for no other reason than I didn't want to put it down, either to do such domestic chores as take out the trash and clean the cats' litter box or go to work and earn the money that keeps my wife and the felines in the lifestyle to which they're accustomed. If I had any quibbles, I guess they would be that the last chapter was totally superfluous and a key part of the story's resolution hinged on a bit of fancy paranormal footwork that, in the opinion of at least one reader, detracted from the interesting premise of an all-American family's normal day-to-day existence gone horribly wrong all of a sudden. The last one introduced a measure of eye-rolling silliness that causes me to subtract a star. Hmm. I wonder what the author's opinion of book reviewers might generally be.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: by Dean Koontz Relentless: A Novel First Edition edition; Author: ; Review: "(Pryor's) body was so tightly wound in so much barbed wire that he appeared almost mummified. According to the coroner's report, the wire had been cinched to Pryor while he had been alive." - One of Waxx's previous victims, from RELENTLESS The plot of Dean Koontz's RELENTLESS can be summed-up in a brief, single sentence: A novel writer and his family are pursued by a sadistic and homicidal book reviewer for whom awarding one star for the former's latest offering was apparently insufficient negative feedback. The reviewer, Shearman Waxx, is one sick puppy. But, then, so many of Koontz's literary villains come from the Psycho Kennel. It makes one wonder what fuels the dark recesses of the author's imagination. Do I really want to know? Counterbalancing the nightmarish monster that's Waxx, we have Cullen "Cubby" Greenwich, his wife Penny, their six-year old son "Spooky" Milo, and the family dog, Lassie, an Australian shepherd mix that grins a lot. Penny, and her survivalist parents Grimbald and Clotilda, are particularly intriguing characters. Milo remains pretty much enigmatic, though none the less appealing. Perhaps the most engaging player of the piece is Lassie; I wish she'd gotten more text time. RELENTLESS proved to be a quick read for no other reason than I didn't want to put it down, either to do such domestic chores as take out the trash and clean the cats' litter box or go to work and earn the money that keeps my wife and the felines in the lifestyle to which they're accustomed. If I had any quibbles, I guess they would be that the last chapter was totally superfluous and a key part of the story's resolution hinged on a bit of fancy paranormal footwork that, in the opinion of at least one reader, detracted from the interesting premise of an all-American family's normal day-to-day existence gone horribly wrong all of a sudden. The last one introduced a measure of eye-rolling silliness that causes me to subtract a star. Hmm. I wonder what the author's opinion of book reviewers might generally be.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Once Bitten; Author: Visit Amazon's Stephen Leather Page; Review: After years of resisting a piece of twenty-first century technology, an e-reader, I finally purchased a Kindle Wireless Reading Device, Wi-Fi, Graphite, 6" Display with New E Ink Pearl Technology. And ONCE BITTEN was my first download. It doesn't rank up there with First Kiss, but it was a watershed moment nonetheless. Author Stephen Leather used to give ONCE BITTEN away for free on his website, but I understand that he had to cease and desist after such liberality ran afoul of the contractual obligations made with a commercial distributor of the story, which perhaps lends truth to the adage that no good deed goes unpunished. Though one might think that ONCE BITTEN is a recent creation, it actually pre-dates the writer's Spider Shepherd series. ONCE BITTEN isn't a thriller in the conventional sense. And it's neither scary nor very bloody. Rather, it presents the reader with a different interpretation of the vampire creature of legend and, perhaps for the contemplative reader, poses the question "What if?" Jamie Beaverbrook, a clinical psychologist, is the hero of the story, although attributing to him any actions even faintly heroic would be an overstatement. Jamie works for the Los Angeles Police Department; he interviews murder suspects upon their arrest to determine their sanity prior to their cases going to the DA's office. As an indication of the high esteem in which he's held by the cops, they ridicule him unmercifully as "Batman" because he drives the "Batmobile", a 1966 Sunbeam Alpine Mark IV. Beaverbrook himself is currently damaged goods; he's being sued for divorce by a vengeful wife who blames him for the death of their severely deformed daughter soon after birth. So, he's emotionally vulnerable when ordered to interview a "throat-biter", the young and beautiful Terry Ferriman, caught in an alley off Sunset Boulevard crouched over the slashed throat of the dead victim. The LAPD cops now begin to call him "Vampire Hunter" and hang toy bats and garlic from his car's radio antenna. Jamie hates that. ONCE BITTEN is conspicuously low-key when compared to fiction's other sensationalistic vampire tales. Jamie's role is to act as Terry's foil. Perhaps even fool. In any case, the story's chief effect upon me was to cause me to rethink the consequences of never dying. I mean, it's said that money is the root of all evil. Yet who wouldn't want to put that to the test by winning the lottery? I would. But immortality? No, I think not; I suspect it would wear thin after the first couple hundred years, especially if so much effort would have to be spent in remaining anonymous and under governmental radars. Other reviewers have opined that ONCE BITTEN doesn't have an ending. Indeed, it doesn't in the sense that Leather could write any number of sequels would he care to do so. But, I'm almost certain he won't. That said, the conclusion to this episode, as unsatisfying as it might be to some - and I don't include myself in that crowd - is probably all that could be expected all; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Shadow of the Wind; Author: Carlos Ruiz Zafon; Review: "Sometimes we think people are like lottery tickets, that they're there to make our most absurd dreams come true." - from THE SHADOW OF THE WIND "... a book is a mirror that offers us only what we already carry inside us ..." - from THE SHADOW OF THE WIND Carlos Ruiz Zafn's THE SHADOW OF THE WIND is illustrative of the difference between a good novel that one can dash through grabbing entertainment value on the run and a good - perhaps great - novel in which one can take the time to luxuriate like immersion in a steamy bath on a cold, rainy day. Zafn's book is of the latter quality. The place is Barcelona and the time is 1945-1955. Ten year-old Daniel Sempere is introduced to the Cemetery of Forgotten Books, a labyrinthine repository of volumes no longer read much, if they ever were. Invited by his father to pick out a single tome as his own, Daniel selects THE SHADOW OF THE WIND, one of a handful of novels by Julin Carax. Enthralled by the book, young Sempere is puzzled to subsequently discover that the author has not only achieved obscurity but his works are disappearing from circulation, apparently by malicious design. Indeed, the boy himself is approached by a terrifying, disfigured man who scours the world for Carax's novels seeking to burn them. What's that all about, he puzzles. Daniel's ten-year quest for answers compels him into a tangled web of betrayals, cruelties, and the desperate and unrequited love affairs among a cluster of individuals over two generations, past and present. And the boy's own burgeoning hormones don't facilitate matters when it comes to making decisions that require cool judgment. The pleasures I get, or not, from food depend on three elements: taste, aroma, and consistency. Of late, I've come to more deeply appreciate these three components for reasons I gave in my review of Remembering Smell: A Memoir of Losing--and Discovering--the Primal Sense. Similarly, my enjoyment of a novel derives from the confluence of a trio of essential developments: plot, character and setting. Some extremely successful thriller writers get by on the first two only. In THE SHADOW OF THE WIND, the author achieves all three, and it's his manipulation of the settings in the mind's eye of the reader that renders the whole a cut above most. Whether he's describing the interior of a decayed mansion, a bleak city apartment in an ancient tenement, or the darkness of streets blacked out by a thunderstorm, the reader will find these locales almost palpable. For example, a hospice for the mad and society's other castoffs: "A front door of rotted wood let us into a courtyard guarded by gas lamps that flickered above gargoyles and angels, their features disintegrating on old stone. A staircase led to the first floor, where a rectangle of light marked the main entrance to the hospice. The gaslight radiating from this opening gave an ocher tone to the miasma that emanated from within. An angular, predatory figure observed us coolly from the; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Stalina; Author: Visit Amazon's Emily Rubin Page; Review: "We don't celebrate (Valentine's Day) in Russia. We don't need a special day for the heart. Emotions for Russians are like test tubes of boiling sulfurs. Everything is potentially a drama. I noticed that holidays here (in America) always coincide with sales in stores. In Russia we have parades." - from STALINA In STALINA, author Emily Rubin, apparently born outside Russia (as inferred in the Acknowledgments), has written the fictional memoir of a Russian migr, Stalina Folskaya, who, at age 56, arrives in Berlin, Connecticut (pronounced BER-lin, not Ber-LIN) from St. Petersburg - a.k.a. Leningrad - and finds fulfillment creating the fantasy decor of rooms in a short-stay, no-tell motel catering to surreptitious sexual trysts. Despite the locale, the core of the novel is the stories that Stalina tells of life in the old country. These are entertaining enough although, when compared to A Mountain of Crumbs: A Memoir, a true memoir by Elena Gorokhova, the reminiscences have been overlaid onto the main character by the author who, I gather, created them after research performed in Russia itself. In contrast, Gorokhova actually lived what she wrote about. What this means, in practice, is that, the fictional memories aside, Stalina could just as well have hailed from Fresno. No matter, however, as this doesn't detract from the book's overall appeal. I suspect the market for stories, fictional or otherwise, about growing up in the old Soviet Union stems from the enigmatic nature of the place to most Americans during the years of the Cold War. That's a reason I, for one, find them engaging. For those with similar interests, STALINA is worth the read.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Bangkok Bob and The Missing Mormon; Author: Visit Amazon's Stephen Leather Page; Review: Bob Turtledove, a.k.a. Bangkok Bob, is an antiques dealer in the Thai capital. His backstory is that he was once a New Orleans cop. Bob has lived in Thailand for so long, has so many contacts, and is so attuned to the country's culture and society, that he has a lucrative sideline - that of private investigator. Thus, he's on the American embassy's shortlist of those that can help when a Mormon couple shows up looking for their son, who recently arrived from the States with the intention of teaching English. Trouble is, he's disappeared without a trace. In BANGKOK BOB AND THE MISSING MORMON, the Missing Mormon has a name and identity, of course, but they're pretty much irrelevant. Bob might just as well be searching for a wayward pet poodle or a severely lost Domino's Pizza delivery guy driving a pie out of Omaha. Rather, the book is an exercise in demonstrating how well British author Stephen Leather - who himself resides in Thailand several months of the year - knows and can navigate Bangkok geographically and socially. Perhaps Leather is doing this for himself as much as the reader just as I pen a book review to clarify in my mind what I think of the volume as much as to impart ostensibly useful information to a potential buyer. In searching for the Missing Mormon, Bob must interact with the police, the bar girl scene, the criminal underworld, and the foreign expat community. It's all very colorful and, therefore, this quick read may prove to be an interesting diversion for anyone with a general interest in Thailand or the specific intent of visiting Bangkok. Leather has expanded beyond his Private Dancer, which focused on the Bangkok sex industry as a disastrous honey trap for lonely Western males, and now reveals the fact that a foreigner ("farang") can acquire both a happy marriage and a fulfilling professional life in the Land of Smiles. That's good to know. One of Bob's most endearing characteristics is that he's just a regular bloke with the normal quota of insecurities and fears. This is most evident when he must undergo the unpleasant inconvenience of a screening colonoscopy. I hear ya, Bob! Yup, every five years after you reach that certain age of maturity. The one thing about Bob that I didn't find credible was his alleged U.S. roots. Please, he came across as American as, well, bubble and squeak. For one thing, he occasionally ended his requests for information with "Yeah?", something I've never heard any American say - at least in the West, Southwest or South - but which is pervasive in the speech of Leather's literary characters native to the United Kingdom in his other books, e.g. the Spider Shepherd series. And, for one claiming to be from N'awlins and a fan of the Saints, you'd think Bob would make some reference to that city's milieu and its football team with the same familiarity that he has of his adopted home, Bangkok. It just isn't there. BANGKOK BOB AND THE MISSING MORMON; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: A Land of Two Halves; Author: Visit Amazon's Joe Bennett Page; Review: "If I've got nothing to read I feel like an amputee. In earlier hitchhiking years I often found myself in foreign lavatories with nothing printed but my passport. I can still recite, more or less, that lovely piece about Her Britannic Majesty's Principal Secretary of State requesting and requiring, in the name of Her Majesty, every wop kraut dago mick and spick not only to let me pass freely without let or hindrance but also to bandage any wounds I may incur and lend me a fiver to get home. Or else." - Joe Bennett in A LAND OF TWO HALVES Joe Bennett, born and raised south of London, England, took up permanent residence in New Zealand in 1989 at age 29. Sixteen years later, he wrote LAND OF TWO HALVES, a travel narrative that describes his hitchhiking circuit of the North and South Islands of his adopted country. Besides enjoying Bennett for the travel essayist he is, my interest in this particular book was catalyzed by the magnificent New Zealand mountain topography as seen in such recent films as the The Lord of the Rings: The Motion Picture Trilogy (Platinum Series Special Extended Edition) - topography that is located on the South Island. What I enjoy most about Joe is his curmudgeon-in-training worldview, his ability to delight me with descriptive imagery, and his self-deprecating humor. The first is illustrated by his observation of those he finds in Queenstown, South Island: "... it's full of the young, wearing the sort of trousers that have zips at the knee and that can be turned into shorts by a flick of a Velcro tab, or into a rucksack, or a four-wheel drive amphibious vehicle with drinks cabinet and emergency whistle. A disproportionate number of the young people are British. I constantly eavesdrop on boastful discussions about parapenting and hangovers, conducted in accents that I can place to the nearest soap opera." (Not being familiar with the term "parapenting", I had to look it up; it's paragliding by another name.) The author's imagery and self-deprecating humor are represented by his experiences with motels - and one in particular on the North Island: "I didn't stay in a motel till I was twenty-five when I hitched down the west coast of the States. Motels were the cheapest places to stay and the cheapest of them were seriously dire. They resembled temporary porn studios - and some of them probably were, though rarely while I was in them. But they established my mental template for a motel room, a sort of Platonic ideal of grunge. It's this room (in Rotorua). Dark, humming with the noise of close traffic, a narrow sink, a leaking tap, don't-care joinery thick with paint, a tissue-thin pillowcase with the ghosts of stains washed into the once pink cloth, a ceiling of stippled plaster, each stipple minutely tipped with dirt like a smoker's tooth, a dented kettle that won't switch itself off, and beneath it a laminated wooden tea-tray, bleached and buckled and chipped by time and chance and a thousand transient forgotten; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Insidious Dr. Fu-Manchu (Dover Mystery Classics); Author: Visit Amazon's Sax Rohmer Page; Review: Several weeks ago, I re-read and reviewed The Young Trailers, the first in an 8-volume series about the Kentucky frontier during the time of the American Revolution begun by Joseph Altsheler in the first decade of the twentieth century. My father enjoyed the books as a young lad, and he introduced me to the book and the series in my pre-teen years during the 1950s. I was enthralled by them then, and remained enthralled by THE YOUNG TRAILERS during by return visit. Some things hold their value. And, yes, one can occasionally recapture the magic of an earlier experience despite the intervening years. However, a re-reading of THE INSIDIOUS DR. FU-MANCHU demonstrated to me - if such needed demonstration - the old saw that "you can't go home again." Well, not always, anyway. This book, penned in 1913, was the first in the Fu-Manchu series by author Sax Rohmer, the nom de plume of Arthur H. S. Ward. This initial installment, too, captured my reader's attention in my formative years and I ultimately devoured the entire set. In THE INSIDIOUS DR. FU-MANCHU, a colonial police commissioner of the British Empire, Denis Nayland Smith, abruptly bursts onto the London scene - specifically, into the study of his old friend, Dr. John Petrie - having just arrived from Burma to save the lives of several notable British and American citizens from certain death at the hands of the arch villain, Dr. Fu-Manchu, the point man for a shadowy Chinese conspiracy to bring down the Empire and, perhaps also, the United States. (Rohmer kept strategic specificities of the threat hazy, but, presumably, the Empire's Far Eastern jewel-in-the-crown colony - India - is on the front line of exposure. This is, after all, shortly before the First World War and the Empire is at its height.) As one follows Smith and Petrie as they scurry about the British capital coping with Fu-Manchu's devilish machinations, the reader will perhaps be reminded of a similar heroic duo, Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson, as the latter two engaged wits with Moriarty. As Arthur Conan Doyle published his first Holmes adventure in 1887, one might suspect that Rohmer was hoping to cash-in on the demonstrated popularity of such pulp thrillers featuring a head honcho and sidekick. To my impression, Smith was just as energetically driven as Holmes to come to grips with his nemesis but his deductive abilities were less impressive. On the other hand, Petrie seemed a bit quicker on the uptake than Watson. The Fu-Manchu series has been considered racist. Compared to the Red Menace of the recent Cold War era when "red" referred to a political creed to which any color of man could adhere, the "yellow" in Yellow Peril refers solely to the Chinese. Actually, the discomfiture and hand-wringing this may cause the Politically Correct just makes the book and the series somewhat endearing to me. I mean, get over it. I can see, however, why the PC might be offended by such passages as: "Invest him (Fu-Manchu) with all the cruel cunning of an entire; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Lady in the Tower: The Fall of Anne Boleyn; Author: Visit Amazon's Alison Weir Page; Review: (Note: This review is of the hardcover edition.) "It has been suggested that Henry's embarrassment about his poor sexual performance, and his suspicion - or awareness - that Anne despised him for it, may have been a fundamental cause of her fall. Yet there is little evidence to support the widely discussed modern theory that Henry VIII suffered from erectile problems ... The fact that Anne Boleyn conceived four times in three years, and that Jane Seymour was to become pregnant after only six months of marriage, is proof that Henry VIII functioned sexually as normally as any man of his age." - from THE LADY IN THE TOWER "I have heard say the executioner was very good, and I have a little neck." - Queen Anne Boleyn, the day before her beheading On May 1, 1536, Queen Anne Boleyn attended a jousting tournament with her husband of some three years, King Henry VIII. During the middle of the event, Henry abruptly departed for Westminster leaving Boleyn to carry on alone. It was the last time Anne was to see her spouse. In the next eighteen days, she would be arrested, charged with adultery and high treason, tried, and executed. It was as emphatic an end to a marriage as present-day divorce lawyers - those that profit on the misery of others - can only dream about. On May 29, Henry married wife #3, Jane Seymour. THE LADY IN THE TOWER is Alison Weir's prodigious and meticulous account of the evolution of the conspiracy that engineered Anne's fall from grace, the details of her trial and capital punishment, and the aftermath for the survivors of the whole tragic and squalid affair. Traditionally, it's been thought that Boleyn's downfall was enabled by her inability to produce a male heir to the throne. Indeed, this was likely so. But, as was evident early on in Weir's narrative, it was Thomas Cromwell, the King's Principal Secretary, who took advantage of the situation to engineer the scheme that took down what he perceived as the chief rivals to his own power and influence, i.e. Anne and her supporters in the Privy Council. Indeed, Cromwell was to admit as much to the Imperial ambassador, Eustache Chapuys, in June of 1536 after the shed blood had congealed. Henry apparently wanted to believe the case that Thomas built against his wife, and did. In any event, THE LADY IN THE TOWER is a chilling reconstruction of a Machiavellian and deadly conspiracy. Anne was accused, and found guilty, of having adulterous sexual liaisons with several men, including her own brother. As Cromwell likely counted on, the rage and humiliation this engendered in Henry fueled his acquiescence to the court's legal verdicts which sent Anne and five ostensible lovers to the block. To be honest, Weir's book starts off slowly. As she reconstructs the spinning of the Principal Secretary's web, it's actually a bit of a trudge, especially as she brings in all of the players, both major and minor, in the drama. One almost needs to take notes in the; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ghellow Road; Author: Visit Amazon's T H Waters Page; Review: "... I started to shake, then the tears came harder than ever at it became my turn to yell at Daddy's ghost. 'Why did you leave me with her, Daddy?!' I screamed underneath my breath. 'I don't want to live like this anymore! Why would you do this to me?!'... This was the first time I would contemplate suicide. At ten years old, I was burned out. It wasn't that I wanted to die; it would never be about that. It was more about shedding the skin of this perverse lifestyle. Maybe that's all Daddy had really wanted." - Theresa in GHELLOW ROAD GHELLOW ROAD is a book described (to me) by the author, Tera Waters, as a work of creative non-fiction in that she utilized creative writing skills to give structure and flow to what is, essentially, an autobiographical memoir told in the first person with names changed to protect the innocent. Indeed, part of the reading exercise is to match the fictional names of the various characters with those real people named and thanked in a long list at the very beginning of the volume. Some matches are obvious; some aren't, though my impression is that their chronological appearance in the narrative more or less follows their sequence on the list. According to the author - again, in a communication to me which I trust I may share because it does provide clarity - the word "ghellow" in the title, which is otherwise unexplained in the text, "is derived from the word `gelatin' -- when I think of childhood, I think of children eating colorful gelatin which invokes images of fun & innocence, but for me, my life was always so full of uncertainty. I felt like I was constantly walking on gelatin, never sure where my next foot would land or how unstable the earth below would be." Fair enough; it works for me. The time frame of GHELLOW ROAD is 1970 to around 1983, from the time the narrator, Theresa, is five years old to the day she goes off to college. The place is Minnesota, first in Minneapolis, then in International Falls. The beginning cast of characters includes Theresa, her older brother Mikie, and Mom and Dad. The literary version of Father Knows Best: Season One it most definitely isn't. Mom is in and out of mental hospitals fighting the demons of schizophrenia. Dad tries his best to cope but is ultimately ground down. Mikie and Theresa survive the domestic turmoil and upheavals as best they can. The book is primarily Theresa's story. Keeping things in perspective, Theresa isn't physically abused or starved; she always has a roof over her head and food to eat, enjoys good health, receives good schooling, has friends, and is the recipient of loving care from assorted grandparents, uncles and aunts. Why, some other unfortunate child - say an orphan dying of AIDS in the squalor of a Third World refugee camp - would consider Theresa's existence paradise. But, when compared to other memoirs I've read of growing up in mid-twentieth century; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Defector; Author: Visit Amazon's Mark Chisnell Page; Review: Mark Chisnell's THE DEFECTOR is both an adventure story and edge-of-your-seat thriller that's apparently the first in a series - well, at least two books anyway - that, in my reading experience, is from a perspective outside the usual box. More about this later. Here, the protagonist is Martin, a former London currency trader whose love life and professional career hit a major speed bump. Fleeing Old Blighty, he now lives in Thailand attempting to reassemble his life. One night in a Chaweng Beach watering hole, Martin is about to be beaten bloody in a dispute over a bar girl when a stranger intervenes with quick and effective violence on his behalf. The stranger, Janac, is obviously a Hard Guy. Martin is understandably grateful. But Janac, who once may have been a member of an elite American special forces military outfit, has a creepy side. He's obsessed with The Prisoner's Dilemma, a game of hard choices that's too complicated for me to explain here. (Look it up on the Internet or, better still, read this book.) Janac gets his jollies coercing, and then watching, others play the game. And Janac makes sure his version is painful and deadly. Martin soon finds himself enmeshed in a game forced on him by a drug frame-up engineered by his pal Janac, who's also a big time drug dealer. Martin's nightmare has only just begun. Much of THE DEFECTOR takes place on the high seas. Yachting enthusiasts should be particularly engaged. Overall, the novel is punctuated with gritty violence that establishes Janac as a nasty piece of work. I found Martin to be an odd sort of protagonist. He didn't completely earn my sympathy for his plight since he landed between a rock and hard place via a string of bad decisions based on a lack of moral fiber. While saying he got what he deserved would be too strong a position to take, especially since his predicament ultimately results in collateral damage to others, I wasn't rabidly cheering for him either. As a hero, Martin is of the expendable sort. The one thing that prevents me from awarding five stars is an unexplainable contradiction in the evolution of the Janac character when he subjects Martin to the first instance of The Game that involves death to the players as a potential outcome. You should recognize it when you read it, and its puzzling presence is plot-altering. The last pages of this e-book edition of THE DEFECTOR preview the first two chapters of the next in the series, The Wrecking Crew. If you bother to read this sample, you may become intrigued at the direction the author has chosen to take. I've seen it in episodic feature length films but not to date in written fiction. Well, perhaps I need to get out more. In any case, I've already downloaded the second installment.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society; Author: Visit Amazon's Mary Ann Shaffer Page; Review: THE GUERNSEY LITERARY AND POTATO PEEL PIE SOCIETY - for the purpose of this review, let's shorten it to GLPPPS - is a perfectly lovely read. It's January 1946. England and writer Juliet Ashton, a weekly contributor of a column to The Spectator magazine under the pen name Izzy Bickerstaff, are emerging from the rubble and dreariness of the war's home front. To stay busy, Juliet is sent out on a promotional tour of her book - a compilation of her wartime columns - by her publisher and close friend, Sidney Stark of Stephens & Stark Ltd. Even so, Juliet, at age 33, lacks direction to her life. One day, Juliet receives a letter from a Dawsey Adams, a resident of the British Channel Island of Guernsey, who found her name and address inscribed on a second-hand book that had come into his possession. Through this initial communication, Juliet is introduced to the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, a readers' club brashly conceived and founded during a dodgy moment during the German occupation of the island during World War Two. First off, let me say that, in the literary fiction that spans the continuum between Shameless Chic Lit and High-Octane Testosterone Fuel, GLPPPS falls somewhere slightly off the midline and closer to the former extreme. But, the Real Man that is willing to have his feminine side touched should enjoy this book immensely. It is, after all, the Age of the Sensitive Twenty-First Century Male. (Well, isn't it?) The authors, Mary Ann Shaffer and her niece Annie Barrows, have crafted an emotionally enriching, beguiling, sensitive, and perceptive novel about a group of humans - Juliet, Sidney, and the individual (and sometimes mildly eccentric) members of the Society - discovering each other. It's also an introduction to the nature of the Nazi occupation of the Channel Islands, the only part of the British homeland to endure such during the war. It's also a love story. And a story of heroism. In the amount of personal satisfaction and enjoyment GLPPPS provided me, I was reminded of Corelli's Mandolin. GLPPPS begs for a sequel. I'll buy it in a heartbeat.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: 61 Hours: A Reacher Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Lee Child Page; Review: The Jack Reacher thrillers by Lee Child comprise perhaps one of the best literary action series going. Occasionally, however, the author does something inexplicable, like an involuntary tic. For instance, in Nothing to Lose (Jack Reacher, No. 12) the author has his Tough Guy hero express a political opinion concerning a nationally divisive issue of the time. This was, I think, a monumentally stupid thing to do. Fictional superheroes are best left apolitical if they're to appeal to the public at large either in literary fiction or on the Big Screen. When was the last time the comic book Superman or the cinematic Spiderman expressed an opinion about abortion rights, the water-boarding of al-Qaida prisoners, or public funding of Planned Parenthood? In 61 HOURS, Child twitches again; I shall get to that shortly. Here, serendipity has Jack arrive in Bolton, South Dakota ahead of a frigid winter storm, a vicious Mexican drug lord, and a mysteriously elusive assassin thought to homing on one of the town's most respected citizens who witnessed a drug deal and is determined to testify. Bolton, once a sleepy place in the middle of nowhere, has become prosperous with the construction of a federal maximum security prison. And, several miles to the west is an abandoned Cold War military base, its original purpose shrouded in mystery and local legend, which is now inhabited by an unsavory bunch of bikers. It's a volatile mix that promises to engage Reacher's talent for violence against the world's perps. The baffling twitch by the author in 61 HOURS to which I hinted earlier was the fact that I knew with 99.9% certainty the identity of the mysterious assassin a little more than a third of the way into the story and well before the light clicked on in Reacher's mind. (The only reason for any lingering uncertainty on my part was the thought that the author certainly wouldn't make it that obvious. Would he?) Now, I don't say this to claim any superiority in perception or deductive reasoning; I imagine many other readers had the same experience. My point, rather, is that if Child is going to lay a big "gotcha" on his hero, then he's better off leading all readers to the same mind-expanding revelation at the same time as the protagonist. Otherwise, one spends a good part of the text mentally screaming, "Jack, you moron. It's __________!" And Jack deserves better because he's definitely one of the sharpest knives in the drawer. All this said, 61 HOURS still salvages a four-star rating and is difficult to put down for no other reason then that, as any fan of the series knows, once Jack catches on he's going to lay some heavy mayhem on the Bad Guys. This episode in the Reacher saga is also unusual in that it's the first in the series for which a sequel is de rigueur. It's Worth Dying For: A Reacher Novel, and I've already ordered it.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Floor of Heaven: A True Tale of the Last Frontier and the Yukon Gold Rush; Author: Visit Amazon's Howard Blum Page; Review: First off, I can't say I understand the derivation or implication of the title, THE FLOOR OF HEAVEN. But, never mind. The book - three stories in one - is a diverting adventure about the Yukon Gold Rush and the last North American frontier. There are three main characters: con man extraordinaire Jefferson "Soapy" Smith, who arrived in Alaska (to stay) in 1897; sheepherder-turned-prospector George Carmack, who arrived in 1895; cowboy-turned-Pinkerton detective Charles Siringo, who arrived sometime between the other two. The timeline throughout the narrative remained foggy at best. Each of the three historical figures represents a separate perspective on the Yukon Gold Rush. Carmack's story is one of riches found and a dream fulfilled. Indeed, he's credited with the gold strike that set off the rush. Siringo's tale is one of stolen gold and the hunt for the thieves and the swag. Smith's chronicle is not only one of an oleaginous outlaw but of the general untamed nature of Alaska's boom towns - in this case, Skagway. On one hand, the three interwoven storylines achieve a balanced overview of the time and place and the men that contributed to an era. On the other hand, the fact that author Howard Blum switches back and forth between the characters may make it difficult for the reader to become emotionally committed to any one of them; I never did. This pre-publication, uncorrected proof of THE FLOOR OF HEAVEN hollers out for a photo section. Indeed, pictures of Carmack, Smith and Siringo can all be found online. The retail publication absolutely cannot achieve full potential without period snaps. There is one marginally useful map of the Yukon region. A weekly news magazine dated May 20, 2011 opined that perhaps the author played loose with the facts - that "... the untrustworthiness of his main characters caused him to embrace their narrative embroideries." However, I'm in agreement with the rag's conclusion that THE FLOOR OF HEAVEN is "rollicking fun." More than anything, I now have this tremendous urge to visit Skagway. That the book inspires such a compulsion makes it an above-average success, in my opinion.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Last Stand: Custer, Sitting Bull and the Battle of the Little Big Horn; Author: Visit Amazon's Nathaniel Philbrick Page; Review: "There's no fool like an old fool." - Clich "He is only one man, but by God he is an Englishman." - From MAJOR PETTIGREW'S LAST STAND "I'm not the general public ... I'm British army, rank of major. Retired, of course ..." - Major Ernest Pettigrew Major Ernest Pettigrew (retired) of Edgecombe St. Mary, lately of the Royal Sussex, is fighting a rear guard action while retreating down the back slope of his life. His beloved wife is dead and, recently, his brother. His only child, a son, is off in the City being insufferable as the VP of some poncy equity firm. At sixty-eight years, the Major is faced with the loneliness and anonymity of old age. The England that the Major served as a young army officer is undergoing change. The new generation is less willing to serve Queen and country. The influx of foreign immigrants is altering the demographic landscape. The landed nobility is succumbing to a ferocious Inland Revenue. The green and gentle countryside is being transformed into housing estates, especially south of London. Tradition has become pass. In the twilight of his life, the Major finds himself attracted to a local shop owner some thirteen years his junior - an unremarkable last enlivening spark except that she's Pakistani. While Mrs. Ali may be a legal resident, she isn't, in the eyes of the Major's disapproving neighbors, English. Quite so. MAJOR PETTIGREW'S LAST STAND by Helen Simonson is the compassionate, amusing story of an old-school gentleman and officer seeking a rallying point in the company of someone who makes him feel a little less anonymous. It's too long by about fifty pages, and the ending perhaps too dramatic. But, while I'm certainly no expert on the contemporary changes in English society, I've loved the country inordinately since my first visit thirty-six years ago, and I was engaged by the time and place of the tale and the Major's values. For the reader who is both entertained and satisfied by this novel, I can heartily recommend The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, which is, in my opinion, an even better read. Brilliant, actually.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Whom God Would Destroy; Author: Visit Amazon's Commander Pants Page; Review: "Two all beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, and onions on a sesame seed bun." - Traditional description of a Big Mac "Would martyrdom again be his? Probably. But, this time he wouldn't wind up nailed to some cross. No, these days would call for a sniper's bullet, or perhaps a car bomb. Watch, he smirked to himself, in a hundred years they'll all have automobiles dangling from their necks." - Jeremy, the New Messiah, previously known as Jesus How are Judeo-Christianity, alien abductions, a Big Mac, mental health care workers and patients, the New Messiah, McDonald's fry cooks, a New Age shop, and sex all tied together? Well, by nothing obvious in the normal scheme of things. But WHOM GOD WOULD DESTROY by Commander Pants manages to make the connections in a work of greatly imaginative originality. This quirky novel is a little bit of science fiction, social commentary and off-beat humor combined with a large dollop of blasphemy. Indeed, if Christian zealots had the inclination to issue the equivalent of a death sentence declared by an Islamic mufti, then the Commander would be a marked man many times over. As it is, WHOM GOD WOULD DESTROY has the potential to be thunderously denounced from every pulpit in the Bible Belt. For that reason alone, I like it a lot. While I doubt WHOM GOD WOULD DESTROY has the gravitas to become an instant classic, it's perhaps one of the best advertising pieces that McDonald's Corporation didn't pay for. At least, I assume it didn't. And, under the circumstances described in the storyline, being a Golden Arches burger-flipper becomes my dream job. The funny thing, though, is that across the seemingly infinite variety of fast-food burgers, a Big Mac is at the low end on my personal favorites scale.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: In the Blood; Author: Visit Amazon's Robert J. Sullivan Page; Review: Anything I write about IN THE BLOOD must be qualified by the fact that police procedural novels aren't ones I read much. Only a couple of titles by Joseph Wambaugh even stand out in my memory. However, IN THE BLOOD came my way and, since it had an inventive angle and promised to be a quick read, I caved. Here, Earthling homicide detective Sam Dane travels to the planet Procrustes, populated by a mixture of human colonists and the indigenous Zherghi, to help investigate a series of slasher killings - all victims being human - that seems to coincide with the festival and mating season of Utu when festival-goers dress up in costumes and lose their inhibitions. Sam is helped in his investigations by officers Tarah Manning and Skiti Poimar, human and Zherghi respectively. How many times has the theme of a fictional film or book revolved around a cop taken totally out of his element to help solve a whodunit in an unfamiliar cultural milieu? Here, it could just as well have been Detective Dane from New York City on assignment in New Orleans during Mardi Gras. But author Robert Sullivan chose to make it more interesting with a dash of sci-fi, and that, for me, was the hook. At two-hundred twenty-three pages, IN THE BLOOD isn't really long enough to allow the plot to evolve and play-out with finesse. It's an uncomplicated formula crime novel against an alien backdrop. The reason I'm rating the novel as high as I am is because Sam is a thoroughly engaging and eminently capable tough-guy hero whose character can only but continue to attract fans if Sullivan chooses to make this book the first in a Dane series. And I would expect future episodes to become increasingly more polished. If the author pens a next installment, I'll buy it.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Major Pettigrew's Last Stand: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Helen Simonson Page; Review: "There's no fool like an old fool." - Cliché "He is only one man, but by God he is an Englishman." - From MAJOR PETTIGREW'S LAST STAND "I'm not the general public ... I'm British army, rank of major. Retired, of course ..." - Major Ernest Pettigrew Major Ernest Pettigrew (retired) of Edgecombe St. Mary, lately of the Royal Sussex, is fighting a rear guard action while retreating down the back slope of his life. His beloved wife is dead and, recently, his brother. His only child, a son, is off in the City being insufferable as the VP of some poncy equity firm. At sixty-eight years, the Major is faced with the loneliness and anonymity of old age. The England that the Major served as a young army officer is undergoing change. The new generation is less willing to serve Queen and country. The influx of foreign immigrants is altering the demographic landscape. The landed nobility is succumbing to a ferocious Inland Revenue. The green and gentle countryside is being transformed into housing estates, especially south of London. Tradition has become passé. In the twilight of his life, the Major finds himself attracted to a local shop owner some thirteen years his junior - an unremarkable last enlivening spark except that she's Pakistani. While Mrs. Ali may be a legal resident, she isn't, in the eyes of the Major's disapproving neighbors, English. Quite so. MAJOR PETTIGREW'S LAST STAND by Helen Simonson is the compassionate, amusing story of an old-school gentleman and officer seeking a rallying point in the company of someone who makes him feel a little less anonymous. It's too long by about fifty pages, and the ending perhaps too dramatic. But, while I'm certainly no expert on the contemporary changes in English society, I've loved the country inordinately since my first visit thirty-six years ago, and I was engaged by the time and place of the tale and the Major's values. For the reader who is both entertained and satisfied by this novel, I can heartily recommend The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, which is, in my opinion, an even better read. Brilliant, actually.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: A Time of Gifts: On Foot to Constantinople: From the Hook of Holland to the Middle Danube; Author: Visit Amazon's Patrick Leigh Fermor Page; Review: In December 1933, eighteen-year old Patrick Fermor set out to walk from the Hook of Holland to Constantinople. It was a journey that would take him away from England for just over three years. A TIME OF GIFTS, published in 1977, is the author's recollections of the first part of his trek - from Holland to Hungary. Between the Woods and the Water: On Foot to Constantinople: From The Middle Danube to the Iron Gates (New York Review Books Classics), published in 1986, takes the reader the rest of the way. Penned from memory with the help of notes taken on the road, the narrative may suffer from time's separation but may also gain from the wisdom acquired over the same period. During the passage through Germany, we see a country that, whether it collectively knew it or not, is about to come under the complete control of Adolf Hitler; the SA will soon be purged and President Hindenburg die. Fermor's innocent observations about the fervor of German National Socialism in the first months of 1934 are, in retrospect, chilling. As the author traverses Western and Central Europe, he's creating a window through which the reader can view a landscape and social structure that, by 1945, will be changed forever. Compared with all other travel essayists with whom I'm familiar, Fermor is notable for the lens through which he observes his foreign surroundings, i.e. a knowledge of the classics acquired from an English public school's liberal education. The mind boggles at the poetry he can recite out loud and the literature he can run through his mind as he trudges from points A to B. And some of the Latin extracts he quotes are left untranslated. Oh, puhleeze! I took four years of the language in a private, Catholic, college prep school and can barely remember how to decline the verb "to love" - amo, amas, amat, etc. As for poetry, I can only recall a line or two of "Mandalay" by Rudyard Kipling. The author's phenomenal literacy shows in the deluge of descriptive metaphors employed when painting for the reader's mind's eye that which he saw first-hand, e.g. qualities of interior church architecture that followed the raising of Melk in Austria: "A versatile genius sends volley after volley of fantastic afterthoughts through the great Vitruvian and Palladian structures. Concave and convex uncoil and pursue each other across the pilasters in ferny arabesques, liquid notions ripple, waterfalls running silver and blue drop to lintels and hang frozen there in curtains of artificial icicles. Ideas go feathering up in mock fountains and float away through the colonnades in processions of cumulus and cirrus. Light is distributed operatically and skies open in a new change of gravity that has lifted wingless saints and evangelists on journeys of aspiration towards three-dimensional sunbursts and left them levitated there, floating among cornices and spandrels and acanthus leaves and architectural ribands crinkled still with pleats from lying long folded kin bandboxes." To be quite frank, the mind's eye occasionally glazes over when faced with such a glut of; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Worth Dying For: A Reacher Novel (Jack Reacher); Author: Visit Amazon's Lee Child Page; Review: "Second-string Nebraska football against the U.S. Army ... Game over. Eight blows in six seconds, which was grievously slow and laborious by Reacher's standards, but then, the guy was huge, and he had an athlete's tone and stamina ... He had been competitive, just barely. In the ballpark, almost ... Four years of college football was probably equivalent to four days of Ranger training, and plenty of people Reacher had known hadn't even made day three." - Reacher, after disposing of a Cornhusker WORTH DYING FOR apparently opens a couple of days after the apocalyptic conclusion to the previous book in the Reacher series, 61 Hours: A Reacher Novel (Jack Reacher). Jack lives! Deposited by a ride in the Middle of Nowhere, Nebraska, Reacher wanders into an isolated bar and takes an interest in the only other customer - the local, and inebriated, general medical practitioner. Or rather, an interest in the nosebleed of one of the doctor's patients calling from home hoping for a house-call. (House-call? My physician Dad made them in the 50s, and I went along. But in this day and age? Are you kidding?) It's this sort of chance encounter that gets Jack embroiled in other people's troubles as he wanders America's road system. By now, any fan of Jack's knows that no caped crusader ever battled injustice more than he does - a good thing for book sales by Lee's publisher, Delacorte Press. Having read all volumes in the Reacher series, I submit that this is the very best to date. The chief villains are particularly detestable and Reacher's total array of adversaries, upon whom he visits remarkably brutal and unforgiving violence, is both large and varied. Notable in the plot are the clever and darkly comical sub-plots set in motion by the author among the assorted goons from Las Vegas imported to help take Jack down. What more could the reader ask for? One is tempted to believe that Child must be a partisan of University of Oklahoma Sooners football, which, before the University of Nebraska abandoned the Big 12 conference for the Big 10, was the latter's bitter opponent in a long and storied rivalry. Here, Reacher must contend with a squad of hulking ex-Cornhuskers too dumb to have gotten degrees that would ensure respectable jobs and yet not good enough ball players to have been picked up by the NFL. For Jack, they're just more meat for his grinder. WORTH DYING FOR was a book I couldn't put down and was distraught that it had to end. Unlike some series that grow stale over time, this one seems to be getting better.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Nine Day Queen of England: Lady Jane Grey; Author: Visit Amazon's Faith Cook Page; Review: "In this account I have attempted to sift fact from fiction and present a sympathetic though realistic assessment of Lady Jane's personality and the events of her life." - Faith Cook in an author's Preface to NINE DAY QUEEN OF ENGLAND "... the triumph of faith in the life and death of Lady Jane Grey remains a shining example of the grace and power of God in the life of one young person and deserves an enduring place in the long story of the Church of Jesus Christ." - from NINE DAY QUEEN OF ENGLAND Anyone who's become acquainted with the history of the British monarchy from the time Henry VIII became besotted with Anne Boleyn in 1525 to the accession to the throne of their daughter, Elizabeth I, some thirty-three years later might venture the opinion that Henry's lustfulness and obsession with siring a male heir resulted in a regal cock-up that took over three decades to sort out inasmuch as it ultimately tore the religious fabric of the kingdom apart, pitting Reformists (or Evangelicals) against traditional Catholics, and resulting in purges of both sides characterized by an orgy of imprisonments, beheadings and burnings. How different would a history of Henry's reign, and the subsequent years, had been had he been but satisfied to pass the crown on to Mary, his daughter by Queen Katherine? The royal court during these decades was a turbulent stew of shifting political loyalties, naked ambition, outright treachery, and raw religious fervor that oft turned deadly to those that sought sustenance and largesse at the monarch's table. A perfect example of one who was apparently a victim is Anne Boleyn herself as chronicled in The Lady in the Tower: The Fall of Anne Boleyn, though she herself was well versed on the subtle and not-so-subtle dangers of the ever-fluid seating arrangements. Here, the victim of the piece is sixteen-year old Reformist Jane Grey, a grand-niece of Henry VIII through his younger sister. Jane is married to the eighteen-year old Guildford Dudley, son of John Dudley, the Duke of Northumberland and chief minister of the Reformist King Edward VI, Henry's long-desired son by his third wife, Jane Seymour. By 1553, the fifteen-year old Edward is into the seventh year of his reign after the death of Ol' Dad. But Edward is mortally ill with tuberculosis. The Duke, wishing to cement his continuing power through his daughter-in-law and son, convinces the young monarch to name Jane as his successor, thus bypassing the very Catholic Princess Mary and the Reformist Princess Elizabeth. Edward dies on July 6, 1553, and the Duke and his cronies on the Privy Council force the crown on a reluctant Jane. But Princess Mary makes her way to London and assumes the throne to popular acclaim and Jane is forced to relinquish the crown after only nine days. Jane and Guildford are held prisoners in the Tower of London and convicted of treason in November, but their lives are spared until February 12, 1554 when Mary, under the advice that Jane might become a rallying; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Final Storm: A Novel of the War in the Pacific; Author: Visit Amazon's Jeff Shaara Page; Review: As author Jeff Shaara explains in a note "To the Reader" at the beginning of THE FINAL STORM, he'd originally intended to begin and end his World War II series of novels with the war in Europe. Indeed, his trilogy of The Rising Tide: A Novel of World War II,The Steel Wave: A Novel of World War II, and No Less Than Victory: A Novel of World War II does just that, with the last in the set concluding with the German surrender. Then he began to get outraged letters from Marine Corps veterans reminding him of their heroic and bloody efforts in the Pacific Theater. What was that, chopped liver? Thus, THE FINAL STORM, the fourth volume of the "trilogy." Determined, apparently, to make up to the Marines for slighting them in his original concept of the WWII narrative, THE FINAL STORM focuses on the bitter fight for Okinawa. Though it was a joint Army-Marine Corps ground operation, all attention is given to the latter, particularly as seen through the eyes and ears of two privates, Clayton Adams and his pal Jack Welty, in the 22nd Infantry Regiment, 6th Marine Division, as they battle entrenched Japanese defenders in the southern half of the island, particularly during the vicious and desperate 7-day struggle over a minor elevation, Sugar Loaf Hill, that cost the 6th Marines almost 2,700 men killed or wounded and another 1,300 evacuated for exhaustion or battle fatigue. Indeed, Shaara's narrative of the assault on the hill is about as powerful a depiction of Marine infantry in action since that described in the most excellent Matterhorn: A Novel of the Vietnam War. The book is only slightly marred by the quality of eight maps, which range in quality from marginally serviceable to "why bother?" The book concludes in pretty much the only way that makes sense, i.e. with chapters dedicated to the story of Colonel Paul Tibbets, the "Enola Gay", and the dropping of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima. But make no mistake, the bulk of the book is a tribute to the Leathernecks. Oorah! As with MATTERHORN, the effect of battle on the enlisted grunt in the field is what stands out, e.g. when Adams is released from a field hospital: "... one memory was Adams's alone, and he embraced it now, that one dismal day, vivid and pure, digging his knife into the throat of the Japanese soldier, the head rolling away, the fountain of blood. He could smell the man's blood still, would always smell it, and for the first time he knew he had to have more, that the hate and the pain were part of the men beside him, part of everything he had become. It was why he had to leave the hospital ... He had to go back, he had to fight." Semper Fi!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Midnight; Author: Visit Amazon's Stephen Leather Page; Review: MIDNIGHT is, in case you don't already know, the sequel to Nightfall, the first in what I gather will be a trilogy featuring the British private-eye, Jack Nightingale, once a crack hostage negotiator for London's Metropolitan Police. The series is author Stephen Leather's dalliance with occult thriller writing. In NIGHTFALL, Jack abruptly discovers that his biological father was the recently-deceased Ainsley Gosling, a Satanist who sold Nightingale's soul to the devil Proserpine, the debt to be called due on Jack's thirty-third birthday only a few days away. Nightingale's negotiating skills are tested to the utmost as he endeavors to wiggle-out of Ol' Dad's pact. Now, in MIDNIGHT, Jack learns that he has a hitherto unknown half-sister also fathered by Gosling. Similarly, Ainsley bartered her soul to the devil Frimost in exchange for a life of sexual success with the world's most beautiful women. (Who says men aren't total pigs?) The pay-off to Frimost comes due on the woman's thirty-third birthday now two years away. Since she's now the only "family" Nightingale has in the world, he becomes determined to save her much as he saved himself. (Who says chivalry is dead?) A small problem - he must first find out her name and location. It doesn't help that the message "Your sister is going to hell, Jack Nightingale" appears at random times written on various surfaces or spoken by complete strangers; it keeps up the pressure. During the first few chapters of MIDNIGHT, which seemed to be nothing more than a rehash of Jack's own recent predicament, I began to expect that soon enough our hero would discover that Gosling had also sold off to one devil or another the soul of Jack's poncy pet Shih Tzu. Except that Jack currently has no furred, feathered, or finned pal. (Well, maybe in the next book.) In any case, the story got more interesting when Nightingale learns his sis isn't a rosy-cheeked pillar of the community dispensing home-made cookies to the neighborhood kids, and even more engaging still when he starts dialing-up specialized help to get her a quality life. More than anything else, MIDNIGHT is a bridge to the final book in the series. This second installment leaves at least four open-ended subplots and, for that reason, isn't as satisfying as it could have been. But, when the terminal episode is published, I'll buy it for no other reason than to have answered the question, "Stephen, where are you going with this?" Or, more urgently perhaps, does Jack give up smoking? I mean, what's with the Marlboro fixation? I could almost hear the "Magnificent Seven/Marlboro Man" theme play as I absorbed the text. Your readers are going to hell, Stephen Leather - or perhaps, if Joe Bennett can be believed in Mustn't Grumble: In Search of England and the English, only as far as Land's End.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Azincourt; Author: ; Review: "Nine-hundred men-at-arms and five thousand archers came to the field of Agincourt in the dawn, and across from them, across the furrows that had been deep plowed to receive the winter wheat, thirty thousand Frenchman waited. To do battle on Saint Crispin's Day." - from AGINCOURT "Today I fight for your homes, for your wives, for your sweethearts, for your mothers, for your fathers, for your children, for your lives, for your England!" - King Henry V's speech to his archers at Agincourt (as portrayed in AGINCOURT) AGINCOURT is a novel. But author Bernard Cornwell writes: "I have tried, as far as possible, to follow the real events that took place on that damp Saint Crispin's Day in France." 25 October 1415 (according to the old Julian calendar) Here, bowman Nicholas Hook, proclaimed an outlaw in England, joins a contingent of archers and men-at-arms enlisted by Sir John Cornewaille to fight in King Henry V's army as he invades Normandy to cement his claim to the French Crown. (As the author states, both Nicholas and Sir John were real and both fought at Agincourt, though, in fact, the former was not serving under the banner of the latter.) AGINCOURT might well be "must" reading for any student of medieval warfare. And if you don't have that interest now, the book would perhaps stimulate such. The story is comprised, basically, of two principal parts: Henry's thirty-five day siege of Harfleur, which left the English army victorious but decimated by dysentery, and the astounding English victory at Agincourt after a debilitating forced march northwards intended to reach Calais and ships to convey them home to England was brought to a halt by gathering French forces. The description of the siege of Harfleur transports the reader into the mines and frontal assaults designed to breach a walled fortress when a walled fortress was something that required capture rather than just be bypassed. It was an arduous, frustrating, and desperate business. The field of Agincourt illustrates the strengths and weaknesses of a different aspect of 15th century warfare, i.e. the knight armored head to toe. The fact that such armoring of an individual combatant would eventually go out of style in the face of more maneuverable adversaries who could slay from a distance, e.g. archers, is not surprising. But what it took to kill up close and personal is presented in grisly and horrible detail: "Two or three archers would attack one (armored) man, tripping him or striking him down with a hammer, then one would stoop to finish the enemy with a knife into the face. The quickest way was straight through an eye, and the Frenchmen screamed for mercy when they saw the blade approaching, then there was a slight, instantly released pressure as the knife tip pierced the eyeball before the screaming would fade as the blade slipped into the brain." And, "... Lanferelle (a French knight) jerked his head forward, smashing his raised visor hard into the (English archer's) face as another Frenchman skewered a sword into the Englishman's thigh and twisted; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Where Underpants Come From: From Cotton Fields to Checkout Counters; Author: Visit Amazon's Joe Bennett Page; Review: "It also strikes me that I have effectively no idea how to make a pair of underpants ... My ignorance of underpants is representative of a far wider ignorance. In forty-nine years I have learned next to nothing about the commercial and industrial processes on which my easy existence depends. If some cataclysm were to reduce society to a few survivors, I'd be the one sitting on a heap of rubble with his head in his hands and no idea how to start again." - Joe Bennett, in WHERE UNDERPANTS COME FROM "Each bunny-tail tuft of cotton, each boll, feels similar to cotton wool ... At the heart of each boll lies a seed about the size of an olive stone, detectable by touch but invisible in its cocoon of thin white fibers. Such fibers became my underpants. And I sense that I have got back to where I wanted to get to when I bought my underpants in Christchurch. Here in this yard is the raw material, the point where it all begins." - Joe Bennett, in WHERE UNDERPANTS COME FROM The purchase of a pair of underpants for $2.99 leads columnist/travel writer Joe Bennett to research and write about the nuts and bolts of the making of this piece of apparel, from raw cotton to thread to cloth to completed garment (with elastic waist band). Joe does this essentially on an impetuous whim despite the initial lukewarm response to his idea from his publisher. Happily for the reader, Bennett forged ahead. Joe's quest for enlightenment takes him to Shanghai, to several cities in the east of China reasonably close to Shanghai, to Urumqi in China's far northwest at Asia's exact center, and to Bangkok, Thailand. Most of the book is about China as the world's emerging manufacturing colossus of Stuff. As a medium for Bennett's dry wit and perceptive ability, WHERE UNDERPANTS COME FROM is every bit as informative and entertaining as his other travel essays, e.g. Mustn't Grumble: In Search of England and the English and A Land of Two Halves. And there's recorded one poignant incident that should be familiar to every pet owner (of which I am one): "And then my dog Jessie starts to die. She's thirteen ... The day before I leave (for Bangkok) I dig Jessie's grave high on the hill behind my house in the shade of a walnut tree. And I give a friend sealed instructions on how to bury her. On my last evening she's weak as water. I hope she'll die. She doesn't. When I have to leave for the airport in the morning she is lying on the deck. I kneel beside her and stroke her and kiss the top of her head. Her muzzle is gray but the fur of her ears is as silky as when I first stroked it thirteen years ago. In those years she and I have walked thousands of miles ... I say goodbye, kiss her again, walk away, look back and she has turned her head to watch me go. I go.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Half Broke Horses: A True-Life Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Jeannette Walls Page; Review: "Scarlett O'Hara (of Gone With the Wind) was my kind of gal. She was tough, she was sassy, she knew what she wanted, and she never let anything or anyone get in her way." - Lily Casey Smith in HALF BROKE HORSES Back in 2008, I read and reviewed Jeannette Walls's memoir of growing-up, The Glass Castle: A Memoir. In that review, I wrote: "What's remarkable about Jeannette's story is her lack of bitterness towards her parents. Only on a couple of occasions does she even hint at laying blame on them for irresponsibility and negligence. Besides, her love for them endures. To me, and perhaps other readers with more `normal' childhoods, Rex's and Rose Mary's treatment of their offspring was neglect verging on abuse." Jeannette's original thought was to pen a sequel focusing on her mother's childhood. But, in HALF BROKE HORSES, she goes back one generation further to focus on her maternal grandmother, Lily Casey Smith. The story is a novelized autobiography told in the first person by Lily. (Since the narrative eventually includes Lily's daughter/Jeannette's mother Rosemary - or Rose Mary as she preferred to be called - author Walls accomplishes both purposes.) Just as Lily appreciated the character of the fictional Scarlett O'Hara, so the reader may well appreciate the character of the real-life Lily. She was tough and independent in an age when women were still considered, by and large, to be the weaker sex. And more specifically as far as I was concerned, Lily's career as a one-room elementary school teacher in rural Arizona was very similar to that of my own maternal grandmother, also tough and independent, who started a life-long teaching career in the second decade of the 1900s in one-room schoolhouses in rural Missouri; happily, I have the pictures. Just as THE GLASS CASTLE was one of the best books I read in 2008, HALF BROKE HORSES may prove to be one of the best books I read in 2011. As Lily takes on life with an energy and determination that would exhaust most, the reader may well exclaim, "You go, girl!" Well, she did go, and for the manner of her going honor is due; she represents capable individuality at its best. In a way, too, HALF BROKE HORSES helped me understand why Rosemary Smith Walls came out the way she did. I gather that was, at least partially, why Jeannette wrote it. Brilliant!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Playing for Pizza; Author: Visit Amazon's John Grisham Page; Review: "She leaned over and kissed him again. Get up Donté and let's go to church. You'll find a wife there and have ten children. Hurry now, there's so much you've missed. Please. Let's go show you off in your fine new outfit. Hurry now." - A mother's plea, from THE CONFESSION. So, imagine this. You're a Christian minister settled into a life of praising Jesus on Sunday with the flock (hoping each member tithes his ten percent because, hey, the Lord isn't going to put new tires on the church van for free) and fighting off the extra pounds laid-on by the Women's Bible Study weekly potluck. Then one Monday morning, a shady character shows up at the church office claiming - and proving to your satisfaction - that nine years before he raped and killed a teenage girl, a crime for which an innocent man will be executed in three days time in an adjoining state. While tormented by guilt, the perp refuses to turn himself in to the authorities. What's your Christian duty to the condemned man? Here in THE CONFESSION, the man of the cloth is Keith Schroeder, the Lutheran pastor of St. Mark's in Topeka, KS. The perp is Travis Boyette. The victim was Nicole Yarber. The condemned is Donté Drumm, due to be executed by Texas for a crime he didn't commit. Author John Grisham makes it apparent early on that there are a number of opposing forces and interests on collision course: Drumm's bulldog defense lawyer and his team, the State of Texas, represented by the grant-no-reprieves governor, the prosecutor of the original case, and the police detective that obtained Donté's "confession", Nicole's mother, Drumm's mother, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, the U.S. Supreme Court, and, of course, Schroeder, Boyette, and Donté himself. And with time critically short, the reader can be forgiven for thinking when and where the crunch will occur. I thought so; I was wrong. Unfortunately, Grisham has an agenda with this book. It's about novelizing his view of the death penalty, and Drumm is only an innocent bystander, so to speak. Admittedly, the plot is a nail-biter - up to a point. Then it tails off to a sputtering finish because the author couldn't conclude it at its natural end point. Grisham's legal worldview tripped up what would otherwise have been a five-star read. At first, I was tempted to award three stars out of disgust, but settled on four as being fairer.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Playing for Pizza; Author: Visit Amazon's John Grisham Page; Review: "She leaned over and kissed him again. Get up Donté and let's go to church. You'll find a wife there and have ten children. Hurry now, there's so much you've missed. Please. Let's go show you off in your fine new outfit. Hurry now." - A mother's plea, from THE CONFESSION. So, imagine this. You're a Christian minister settled into a life of praising Jesus on Sunday with the flock (hoping each member tithes his ten percent because, hey, the Lord isn't going to put new tires on the church van for free) and fighting off the extra pounds laid-on by the Women's Bible Study weekly potluck. Then one Monday morning, a shady character shows up at the church office claiming - and proving to your satisfaction - that nine years before he raped and killed a teenage girl, a crime for which an innocent man will be executed in three days time in an adjoining state. While tormented by guilt, the perp refuses to turn himself in to the authorities. What's your Christian duty to the condemned man? Here in THE CONFESSION, the man of the cloth is Keith Schroeder, the Lutheran pastor of St. Mark's in Topeka, KS. The perp is Travis Boyette. The victim was Nicole Yarber. The condemned is Donté Drumm, due to be executed by Texas for a crime he didn't commit. Author John Grisham makes it apparent early on that there are a number of opposing forces and interests on collision course: Drumm's bulldog defense lawyer and his team, the State of Texas, represented by the grant-no-reprieves governor, the prosecutor of the original case, and the police detective that obtained Donté's "confession", Nicole's mother, Drumm's mother, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, the U.S. Supreme Court, and, of course, Schroeder, Boyette, and Donté himself. And with time critically short, the reader can be forgiven for thinking when and where the crunch will occur. I thought so; I was wrong. Unfortunately, Grisham has an agenda with this book. It's about novelizing his view of the death penalty, and Drumm is only an innocent bystander, so to speak. Admittedly, the plot is a nail-biter - up to a point. Then it tails off to a sputtering finish because the author couldn't conclude it at its natural end point. Grisham's legal worldview tripped up what would otherwise have been a five-star read. At first, I was tempted to award three stars out of disgust, but settled on four as being fairer.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Complete McAuslan; Author: Visit Amazon's George MacDonald Fraser Page; Review: (This review was originally posted in 2001 on Amazon UK) Because THE COMPLETE MCAUSLAN isn't available in the Colonies, I had to spend the extra gold to get it shipped across The Pond - and it was worth every pence. This is one of the funniest books I've ever read. Granted, it's actually a compendium of three works previously published over many years, but I salute Fraser's ability to sustain the level of humor from the beginning to end of his McAuslan saga. Another of the author's remarkable talents is his ability to recreate in text a heavy Scottish dialect. After finishing, I gave the book to a colleague from Scotland, and she delightedly pronounced the dialogue authentic. I suspect that this collection of stories, based on Fraser's reminiscences of his own stint with a Highland regiment, will entertain anyone who's ever served in the military, no matter what country or service branch. I myself spent 11 years in the U.S. Navy, and I couldn't put it down. Absolutely first class!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: This Is Why You're Fat: Where Dreams Become Heart Attacks; Author: Visit Amazon's Jessica Amason Page; Review: "Jessica (Amason) and Richard (Blakely) live in New York City ... and make trouble wherever possible." - About the Authors, from THIS IS WHY YOU'RE FAT THIS IS WHY YOUR FAT is a small photo album of what may be some of the most unhealthy, obesity-inducing, and atherosclerosis-assuring food creations ever to haunt the feverish nightmares of the Food Police. By my count, the book lovingly reveals 105 (though I may be off by a couple). The volume is divided into five general categories of outrage: Introduction (a compendium of the miscellaneous), Breakfasts of Champions, Bacon Gone Wild, Souped-up Sandwiches, and Big-time Burgers. More useful, perhaps, is the division among entries between those food items - yes, it's still food despite what any nutritionist will tell you - created by individual contributors and those offered by eating establishments. While all are photographed in loving color and grease, only the former may include actual recipes. For the latter, the name and location of the eatery is identified (and perhaps even recognizable from the cable TV's "Man vs. Food", a show that proves to any viewer that no culinary fantasy is too large or conceptually extreme and there's always someone willing to eat it). The authors make no attempt to finesse the subject matter or even produce a publication that will stand the test of time - the pages of my copy are already coming loose from the binding. However, the "OMG!" quotient is satisfyingly high. The photos are almost pornographic in their social acceptability (or lack thereof), which means that they'll probably be leered at secretly or otherwise by most people who have access to them. True, some of the eatable fabrications are rather ordinary and can be seen at any county fair: deep-fried moon pies, deep-fried Mars bars, deep-fried Oreos, etc. Some you probably won't see anywhere outside the home of the disturbed individual that conceptualized it: The Slim Jim Shooters, The Cornhole, Bacon Apple Pie, Deep-Fried Coke (as in Coca-Cola), The Twinkie Weiner Sandwich, and The Corn Dog Pizza. Some are rather inventive and probably worth a try: The Grilled Cheesecake Sandwich, Fried Guac Bites, The Bacon-Weave Cheese Roll-up, Cheesy French Toast, and the White Castle Casserole. The main problem, from my perspective as a potential consumer, is that some are just too big to be eaten as finger foods: The Quadruple Bypass Burger, The Mega Burger 2.0, The Beer Barrel Belly Buster (burger), The Sandwich of Knowledge, The American Dream (sandwich), The G.B.M.F., The All-Day-Long-Sandwich-of-Dreams, or The 29,559 Calorie Sandwich. I mean, why start in on something so big that you have to take it apart and eat it with a fork; that defeats the whole concept of eating something meant for hand handling. My nutrition and health-conscious wife, who was a vegetarian before she came under my evil influence, would likely divorce me in absolute disgust if I ate anything contained in THIS IS WHY YOU'RE FAT. But, just between you and me, here are the Top Five that I'd really like to try: Poutine - French fries topped; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Wrecking Crew; Author: Visit Amazon's Mark Chisnell Page; Review: THE WRECKING CREW is a sequel to The Defector, although the two are self-contained and can be read separately. There's only a brief reference in the former to the events in the latter. In THE DEFECTOR, the reader was introduced to an iniquitous character named Janac, apparently once a member of an elite U.S. special forces outfit, who's taken up a life of vicious criminality and drug dealing in Southeast Asia. A student of sorts of human nature, Janac revels in forcing cruel mental choice games onto more or less innocent individuals that, through bad luck and circumstance, fall within his orbit of power and control. In THE DEFECTOR, the unwilling participant was a former London currency trader named Martin who'd escaped to Thailand after a career gone wrong, and the game involved something called the Prisoner's Dilemma. I gave that book four stars. The somewhat unique nature of this pair of novels is that it's Janac, the Bad Guy Extraordinaire, whom author Mark Chisnell carries forward into the second installment. THE WRECKING CREW takes place some 6-7 years after THE DEFECTOR. Janac has now taken up piracy on the high seas, and his unwilling game-player is Phillip Hamnet, the captain of a cargo ship taken over by Janac and his gang. In short, while Phillip manages to escape capture while the rest of his crew is murdered, his pregnant wife, who was along for the boat ride, is taken hostage by Janac and carried off to his home base. With her in his power, Janac forces Phillip to make ruthless choices. How Phillip deals with his dilemma is the book's plot. In contrast to Mark of the first installment, the reader may find Hamnet a more sympathetic Good Guy. Mark got into his fix with Janac after a series of bad personal decisions back in Old Blighty. In my opinion at the time, Mark almost got what he deserved. Here, Phillip has led a relatively blameless life and was once even judged a hero by society at large. So, it's not difficult for the reader to root for him. In any case, Janac finds in Hamnet a more dangerous, capable, and clever adversary. THE WRECKING CREW is tautly written and thoroughly entertaining thriller worth every one of the five stars I'm awarding. However, without giving away any specifics, what surprised me was the conclusion.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Last Picture Show: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Larry McMurtry Page; Review: "The room mothers were scandalized by the number of bars in the city and kept everyone in a tight group to protect them against lurking perverts." - Regarding San Francisco during the high school seniors' trip, from THE LAST PICTURE SHOW Yes, well, San Francisco is like that; it goes with the territory. At this late date since its original 1966 publication, it's hardly necessary for me to rehash at length the plot of this engaging book. (I mean, one might wonder why it took me so long to get around to reading it.) Succinctly stated, the plot is a coming-of-age story about a number of high school seniors growing up in the small, dusty, and dying town of Thalia somewhere in Texas between Fort Worth and the Oklahoma state line. It's the early 1950s; the Korean War is on. The beauty of any fictional literary piece by Larry McMurtry lies in his phenomenal ability to capture the nuances of human relationships in a story that encompasses a diverse range of characters. To my perception, THE LAST PICTURE SHOW is about trashy behavior, especially that practiced by teenagers, and most especially that practiced by teenage boys (though the female gender is capably represented in this regard, also). Much of the conduct is, as would be expected, fueled by sexual tension and raging hormones, but also occasionally derives from class snobbishness, religious zealotry, and just plain petty cruelty. As in any other locale in the world, the journey for the soon-to-be-grown-ups is all about graduating from the trashy behavior of youth to the trashy behavior of adulthood. Both are perhaps comprised of the same basic elements, that of adults only becoming more sophisticated. In the author's hands, the story is both poignant and darkly comedic. I read this novel non-stop and am compelled to rent the 1971 film version (The Last Picture Show). There is one passage that I found especially meaningful: "Loneliness is like ice. After you've been lonely long enough you don't even realize you're cold, but you are. It's like ... a refrigerator that had never been defrosted at all - never."; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Midnight House (A John Wells Novel); Author: Visit Amazon's Alex Berenson Page; Review: In THE MIDNIGHT HOUSE, author Alex Berenson, in the age of America's war against Muslim fundamentalist attacks, addresses the topical subjects of the CIA's covert program of extralegal renditions and the enhanced interrogation of "ghost detainees" in detention facilities located on foreign soil - in this case, an alleged center located in Stare Kiejkuty, Poland. Indeed, that part of the plot involving his ongoing hero, CIA super-agent John Wells, is almost a subplot. Now, the ten members of the joint CIA-military team - Task Force 673 - that once ran the Strare Kiejkuty gaol, nicknamed The Midnight House, are being systematically assassinated. It becomes the assignment of Wells and his boss, Ellis Shafer, to work on a parallel but separate track with the FBI to discover the killer. It soon becomes apparent to both that they also need to know what went down at the prison and who the detainees specifically were - little details nobody is willing to share in the spirit of transparency. Wells and Shafer are about to get a lesson in real politik at the highest level. Although THE MIDNIGHT HOUSE incorporates a couple of decent plot twists, the action never reaches nail-biting intensity. The plateau of reader anticipation, such as it is, occurs well before the end of the novel, which then trails off to become but a teaser for the next in the John Wells series. That's not to say that THE MIDNIGHT HOUSE is a bad read; it isn't. As an exercise in plot development as the storyline ping-pongs back and forth between then and now and between Poland, Pakistan, and the U.S., it's actually good enough to rate four stars. And it holds out enough promise for the next installment that I'll probably buy it. What more could the author and publisher ask for? And then, of course, there's the biggest question of all. Will John get back together with Exley or move on?; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Odd Jobs; Author: Visit Amazon's Ben Lieberman Page; Review: "... I've always imagined getting my breaks on my terms ... It shouldn't happen at the expense of my integrity. But integrity is overrated." - Kevin Davenport, in ODD JOBS As a pre-teen, young Kevin Davenport's upwardly mobile, middle-class family is wrenched apart when Kevin's Dad, an ambitious DA in the prosecutor's office, and Kevin's younger sister are killed by a hit-and-run driver. Kevin's Mom never recovers emotionally, and Kevin himself is forced into becoming street-wise in a series of ODD JOBS. At this point in time, he's in his twenties. ODD JOBS is a novel of revenge that can be roughly divided into three parts: Discovering Motive (Chapters 1-12), Developing the Plan (Chapters 13-23), and Execution (Chapters 24-31). ODD JOBS is Ben Lieberman's debut novel. The storyline is intelligently plotted and the characters well-drawn. I'm going to award four stars in recognition of a fine initial effort on the understanding that the author can probably achieve five as experience is gained. The first and last parts are perhaps the best. The middle section suffers for focusing on an activity that may hold an attraction for only a minority of readers - sports betting and bookmaking. Personally, I have no interest in either, so my attention flagged at this point only to pick up again at Chapter 24. A greater flaw, perhaps, is that the story's protagonist, Kevin, was neither a well-seasoned hero nor a particularly admirable or likable one. In terms of seasoning and the potential to be a heroic figure, the enigmatic character of Sev was considerably more engaging. Kevin will perhaps appeal to the younger, twenty-something crowd, and Sev to older readers such as myself. I'd definitely read a future thriller focusing on the latter, but perhaps not one featuring the former (again). Ben, take note. ODD JOBS reaches a satisfying conclusion without too much in the way of big surprises. It is what it is - a 4-star initial offering from a talented writer whose skills can only become better honed.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The High Sierra: Peaks, Passes, and Trails; Author: Visit Amazon's R. J. Secor Page; Review: THE HIGH SIERRA, subtitled "Peaks ~ Passes ~ Trails", is a prodigious and information-jammed book to which I'm awarding five stars even though its usefulness to me is not what I expected and will be minimal, a fact that would otherwise cause me to award two or three stars. (Normally, I'm not so schizophrenic when reviewing; I missed a dose of medication.) At 500 pages and 699 grams (1.541031 pounds) and 8.5 x 7 x 1 inches, the paperback volume isn't one you could stash in any side pocket of a vest or backpack, although I'm sure some will stuff it into a main compartment of the latter along with an iPad and an extra dozen energy bars. THE HIGH SIERRA is comprised of fourteen chapters - an Introduction and then thirteen following, each headed by the name given to one of thirteen High Sierra areas. Each area name, according to author R.J. Secor, is basically based on the drainage patterns. While that may sound ominously esoteric, it really isn't. The thirteen areas are (in sequential text order): The Whitney Region, The Kaweahs and the Great Western Divide, The Kings-Kern Divide, The High Passes, Monarch Divide and the Cirque Crest, Kettle Ridge and the LeConte Divide, The Palisades, The Evolution Region, The Mono Recesses, Mammoth Lakes and the Silver Divide, The Minarets and June Lake, The Clark and Cathedral Ranges, and Northern Yosemite. At this point, you're probably wondering why I purchased the book. Well, my wife and I are planning to do a couple of day hikes come early October - hopefully when the trees are in color - just west of Bishop, CA in The Evolution Region. Via the Internet, I've already identified two trails of interest: The Bishop Pass Trail and the Sabrina Basin Trail. More about these later in the context of the book. THE HIGH SIERRA begins with a map of the mountain range with all thirteen areas located and with the main road access routes shown. The Introduction has the following subheading topics: History, Safety, Conservation, How to Use This Book, Rating System, and Peaks and Registers. The How to Use This Book section assumes the concurrent use of detailed topographical maps. The "rating system" refers to the Yosemite Decimal System (Class 1-5) used to categorize the difficulty of the terrain. The Introduction and all other chapters are printed in the small font that I usually associate with most reference works. A larger type easier on aging eyes would easily expand this puppy to over 1,000 pages. All area chapters are uniformly divided into History, Maps, Wilderness Permits, Emergency, Roads and Trails, and Peaks and Passes. The Maps section is a listing of the topo maps that one might use to cross-reference the area. The Emergency section provides the phone number(s) to be called in case of a crisis. Each chapter also includes a minimally detailed (considering the subject matter) map of the area plus an occasional vicinity map of a particularly relevant topographical feature. Upon reading through an area chapter, it becomes apparent why I; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Nation Rising: Untold Tales of Flawed Founders, Fallen Heroes, and Forgotten Fighters from Americas Hidden History; Author: Visit Amazon's Kenneth C Davis Page; Review: "Each of these 'untold tales' reflects on the basic idea of how America truly came to be the nation it was by the mid-nineteenth century - and in many ways continues to be. The issues raised by these stories - ambition, power, territorial expansion, slavery, intolerance, the rights of the accused, the use of the press, disdain for the immigrant - all continue to reverberate in our headlines. So do the uses of fear and propaganda, which have been components of the American story from the country's earliest days." - from the Introduction to A NATION RISING In order to illuminate a "black hole" in American history, i.e. the period from 1800 to 1850, and to ostensibly provide a more balanced view of that history than Americans are likely to learn it, i.e. as a version that is self-congratulatory and skewed towards the positive, author Kenneth Davis in A NATION RISING explores several historical themes of the period that are unflattering to say the least. Indeed, in the book's six chapters, the reader may be hard-pressed to find anything that paints America in an affirmative light. And Davis seems to relish his self-assigned mission. Chapter I, Burr's Trial, tells the story of an individual, Aaron Burr, regarded by the central government as an enemy that it sets out to destroy. Chapter II, Weatherford's War, pretty much portrays General Andrew Jackson as a racist killer who mercilessly slaughtered the "Red Stick" Creeks at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend. Chapter III, Madison's Mutiny, describes several slave insurrections in the Caribbean and the U.S. that resulted in America's rabid fear - and the South's in particular - of such occurring (successfully), and the brutal measures that were taken to forestall such from happening. Chapter IV, Dade's Promise, is a summary history of the U.S. government's war against the Florida Seminoles for the presumed purpose of stealing their land. The author is not shy about describing this as, essentially, "ethnic cleansing". Chapter V, Morse's Code, illustrates the anti-immigrant and anti-Catholic sentiment that resulted in the 1844 Bible Riots in Philadelphia. Chapter VI, Jessie's Journey, tells the story of "The Great Pathfinder" John C. Frmont, perhaps to be considered another individual persecuted by the central government. But this chapter also manages to allude to the Spaniard's brutal mistreatment of the native Indian population at the California missions and America's dubious territorial war with Mexico. Davis describes historical events that, most certainly, are best not swept under the rug however disconcerting they may be to American sensitivities. They make for interesting, but not riveting, historical reading in a narrative that is frequently rambling when connecting events. A NATION RISING would have benefited from an illustrations section, but that would've given the book a measure of added value that perhaps the author thought not worth the extra effort. On a final note. When drawing the occasional parallel with similarly deplorable and despicable contemporary events, Davis manages to limit his comparisons to Republican presidential administrations.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Buried Sky; Author: Visit Amazon's Keith Hartman Page; Review: "Every once in a while I think about getting back together with Tink. But I know better. In the end, we're both looking for something more than this. Something more than just another way to kill time." - Calvin In Keith Hartman's quirky THE BURIED SKY, it's 2022 and twenty-two years after nuclear Armageddon, or The Burn as it's known to a couple hundred survivors living in an underground cave system, having been led there by their charismatic and prescient leader, The Founder, before the world started to fling missiles. Calvin, otherwise known as the First Born, was the first child birthed underground twenty-one years previous. His job is to wash dishes in the communal kitchen. Calvin's mother, unable to cope with subterranean living, died years before. Calvin's father, with whom he doesn't get along and to whom he rarely speaks, is the community's stores keeper. Calvin's Dad has just been murdered - his throat slit. The Council, looking for a quick resolution to the crime, accuses the son. The penalty would be death, so Calvin is on the run. But with few places to hide, his only option is to solve the case. Returning to the surface is not an alternative as sensors indicate the radiation level will "turn your insides to goo." Calvin is between a rock and a hot place. Although it has chapters - 22 to be precise, at 141 pages in a relatively large type THE BURIED SKY seems more a novella than a novel. I read most of it while doing hard time at the laundromat. Perhaps it went quickly because it's so good. In Calvin, Hartman has fashioned an engaging hero - smart, capable, and with a bit of an attitude. And the author's vision of a severely circumscribed and socially inbred society is insightful. THE BURIED SKY is part murder mystery and part chase story with a healthy dollop of "The Twilight Zone." While it perhaps doesn't stretch the intellect, it does nudge the imagination more than just a little in the context of a "what if" scenario, and the ending is a gem that gives illustration to the term "institutional syndrome."; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mini Shopaholic (Shopaholic, Book 6); Author: Visit Amazon's Sophie Kinsella Page; Review: "My head droops down onto my knees. I feel exhausted. All my remaining energy has been sapped away ... I've got nothing left. I've got no hope, no plans, no answers ... A tear suddenly rolls down the side of my nose, followed by another. I'm going to have to admit defeat ... I give a huge sob and bury my face in my hands. I can't believe I'm giving up. But what else can I do?" - Becky, at an uncharacteristic low point So, my wife, who usually pays no attention to my choice of books, noticed MINI SHOPAHOLIC on my desk, smirked, and said, "What, you're reduced to reading chic-lit now?" OK, you caught me out in my dark, secret place. Does that make your day? Actually, I've been reading selected, trashy chic-lit for years. Anyone who's followed my book reviews will have noticed long before this. The two biggest examples of my descent into unmanly behavior are the SHOPAHOLIC series by this author, Sophie Kinsella, and the Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich. Unfortunately, the latter, which I believe is about to have the eighteenth installment published soon, ran out of steam as far as I'm concerned about five volumes ago; Evanovich continues to write to a tired old script that incorporates no character growth in her heroine while hoping to extort a few more dollars out of an increasingly disenchanted fan base. On the other hand, Kinsella manages to keep the continuing adventures of Rebecca Bloomwood Brandon reasonably fresh by having Bex evolve through her life's important periods and events: single womanhood, engagement, marriage, discovery of a long-lost sister, pregnancy, and, here in MINI SHOPAHOLIC, child rearing. Constants, of course, are Becky's predilection for extravagant shopping and her impulsive, unrealistic solutions to problematic situations. Despite the exasperation she causes husband Luke - exasperation that would compel any more sensible man to divorce her without delay, if not sooner - Becky's great attributes are her good nature and kind heart. In MINI SHOPAHOLIC, Bex faces a plethora of challenges that convert to a perfect storm of perceived crises: acquisition of a long-delayed new home, Luke's upcoming birthday which absolutely demands a surprise party, and spouse-imposed austerity measures, i.e. no personal shopping, in response to a run on England's banks. Finally, Luke is insisting on professional help for their two-year old daughter, Minnie, who may be becoming irredeemably spoiled by her Mum. (Hmmph! You think?) In any case, for the first time I can recall in this ongoing series of (to date) six books, Becky's usual spirited confidence in her (misdirected) abilities to cope is brought to its knees. Then, help arrives from an unexpected source. In short, while Stephanie Plum is moribund, Becky is very much alive. So long as she is, I'll keep reading chic-lit.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Sinner's Grand Tour: A Journey Through the Historical Underbelly of Europe; Author: Visit Amazon's Tony Perrottet Page; Review: "(My wife) Les was very understanding when I'd first broached the idea of this trip back home in Manhattan ... 'It sounds great. But I'm coming too. And so are the kids.'" - Author Tony Perrottet on the Sinners's Grand Tour concept According to the author of THE SINNER'S GRAND TOUR, his feverish visions of an odyssey of discovery through Western Europe to validate personal suspicions regarding the existence of salacious and historically suppressed sexual practices began when he was an Australian teenager attending a strict Irish Catholic high school. Yes, well, raging hormones will do that. But in this case, it also resulted in a fun read, though perhaps one of no enduring literary significance. In eight chapters, Perrottet's travel essay focuses on Scottish male masturbation clubs, Parisien prostitution during the Belle poque, the Marquis de Sade and his chteau at Lacoste in Provence, the sex lives of French medieval peasants as recorded by the Inquisition, the free-love lifestyle of British expats Lord Byron and Percy Bysshe Shelley in Switzerland, the amorous career of Casanova in Venice, the legendary existence of a bathroom in the Vatican decorated with pornographic tiles, and the island of Capri's traditional reputation for sexual hedonism. THE SINNER'S GRAND TOUR isn't consistently salacious, though it does have its prurient moments. How can it be when the author's research is a (large) part of his family summer vacation? I mean, a narrative of the Amsterdam red light district based on personal experience this isn't. To a large degree, what is best about Tony's book is his easy-going, dry, and sometimes self-deprecating sense of humor of which this recollection from a Scottish pub is typical: "The bar maid leaned forward to pour another round of beer, revealing her majestic dcolletage. Conversation froze as everyone admired the Secrets of Nature. Talk picked up again when she turned away. This happened over and again, like clockwork. It seemed to encourage the pace of drinking." THE SINNER'S GRAND TOUR even contains a couple dozen or so black and white travel snaps taken by the author himself. Perhaps the best chapter is that describing Perrottet's persistent effort to defeat the Vatican bureaucracy and gain entrance into the erotic Stufetta del Bibbiena. Honor and a medal are due.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Why China Will Never Rule the World:Travels in the Two Chinas; Author: Visit Amazon's Troy Parfitt Page; Review: "I bought a tacky sun hat adorned with a grinning orange squid and the phrase 'South of China.' My tourist disguise was now complete." - Troy Parfitt Canadian Troy Parfitt, after living in Tapei for ten years teaching English, got fed up hearing how China was destined to rule the world since he'd seen no evidence to support the notion. Of course, he hadn't really looked, either. WHY CHINA WILL NEVER RULE THE WORLD records what he discovered after setting out to explore the People's Republic of China (Red China) and the Republic of China (Taiwan) and gather some first-hand experience leading perhaps to a more informed estimation. Since the PROC is so immense in size relative to the ROC, it's not surprising that roughly three-quarters of the author's narrative concerns his travel in the former. Even then, he didn't complete his itinerary, but rather visited or passed through 17 of the 22 provinces he'd intended. Though he has nice things to say about Hong Kong (of course), Beijing, Nanjing, the Qingdao Brewery, and Drum Wave Islet, he became burned-out: "To argue that China is on the cusp of ruling the world is to engage in intellectual dishonesty ... Unless it attempts to do so by force, China is never going to shape the world. It is just another backward, bitter, idiosyncratic, xenophobic, despotic, intellectually impoverished nation-state; one effectively devoid of tact, charm, grace, creativity, or emotional intelligence ... China has practically nothing to offer the Western world - or the Arab world, or the African world, or the Hispanic world, or any non-Confucian country or culture ... Without question, I had met some nice people and had experienced a few gratifying travel moments, but I was weary of the constant harassment and annoyances ... Two months in China had been enough to cure me of whatever curiosity I had had about seeing it." Gee, Troy, don't be so disingenuous; say what you really feel. So, in the last quarter of the volume, Parfitt returns to do a circuit of Taiwan, a locale in which he's more comfortable. After all, he'd already lived there for a decade. But even that place has its moments: "Naturally, there exists a healthy amount of normalcy ... but just when you've convinced yourself that Taiwan is only mildly idiosyncratic and not outright schizophrenic, something will occur to cause you to readjust that point of view. Observing Taiwanese society is akin to surveying the site of a vehicular accident; you know you shouldn't stare, but you just can't help yourself." And, somewhat ambiguously: "Even with its oddness, Taiwan, Republic of China is considerably more normal than the People's Republic of China, and its citizens are visibly happier; living in a free and open society seems to have that effect on people ... Without question, Taiwan is more advanced than China in almost every regard, yet in terms of cultural influence vis-à-vis the West and the rest of the world, it is on the road to nowhere ..." Travels essays are one of my very favorite genres because; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Child 44 (The Child 44 Trilogy); Author: Visit Amazon's Tom Rob Smith Page; Review: "But if we're going to stay together, let's cut the deluded romanticism. Circumstance is the glue between us. I have you. You have me. We don't have very much else. And if we're going to stay together, from now on I tell you the truth, no comfortable lies - we're equal as we have never been equal before. You can take it or I can wait for the next train." - On the train to exile, Leo's wife explains to him the state of their marriage Leo Demidov, trained by the NKVD and a World War II hero, is an officer in the Soviet MGB, the Ministry of State Security. As such, he's taken part in his share of early morning arrests and enhanced interrogations in the Lubyanka. It's 1953; Stalin is on his last legs, but Stalinism still holds sway, especially in the sekurity apparat. A jealous MGB colleague frames Leo's wife, Raisa, as a dissident. Because Leo refuses to denounce her to save his job, both are exiled to a bleak manufacturing city in the Urals, and Leo is demoted to the lowest grade of the militia. It's here that Leo finds Jesus, so to speak. Or rather, he discovers evidence pointing to a serial killer of children. Wishing to do something good for society for once, he proceeds with an unauthorized investigation in the face of the approved stance that the U.S.S.R., being the perfect state, has no murderers, especially serial ones. Caught out, Leo and Raisa are further punished. But Leo won't give up either on his sleuthing or his failing marriage. CHILD 44 is a revealing rendering of the official Soviet approach to state security versus common criminality at the end of the Stalinist era. It twists "to preserve and protect" into a travesty of the concept. Author Tom Rob Smith's focus is on character and milieu development, so I found the ending somewhat implausible based as it was - very minor plot spoiler here - on Leo's beeline to a particular folder in a particular file cabinet in a particular office in a particular city based on nothing more than what appeared to me as a lucky guess. It's as if Smith found himself with an overly long story that he had to wrap-up in a hurry, so I'm knocking off a star. CHILD 44 does contain a pretty good "gotcha" delivered in two parts. That, for me, is what makes this thriller as good as it is.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Bedbugs: A Novel of Infestation; Author: Visit Amazon's Ben H. Winters Page; Review: "... Susan awoke to the sensation of being choked ... There was something crawling in her mouth, way at the back, on the slippery edge where the tongue takes root. She coughed, cleared her throat, hacking like a cat. She felt the tiny feet skittering around in the back of her mouth." - from BEDBUGS BEDBUGS is another of those Scary Old House stories. Here, the yuppie WASP couple of Susan and Alex Wendt, along with their adorable (of course) two-year old daughter, Emma, move into a Brooklyn Heights brownstone - built in 1864 - being rented by Andrea, a seventy-something grandmother-type. I'm surprised the author, Ben Winters, didn't have the landlady baking cookies for her new tenants. In any case, as usually happens with such tales, the tension starts off slowly - here, a faint, nasty odor in a closed off room - and builds to a crescendo. I mean, what's with that minute gap between two floorboards that seems to be slowly widening as if something is trying to get out? Perhaps it's time to nail down some lino. Accepting its lack of originality without too much prejudice and laying aside the nagging question of why (just) Susan is targeted, BEDBUGS is actually a pretty good story wherein the horror and "yuck" factor build at just the right tempo. It is, for the most part, a tense psychological thriller with an ending that may compel you to stock-up with calamine lotion and pyrethroids at your local, warehouse super-store. And it's the perfect novel to be reading in bed late at night when your attention is diverted by the feel of something crawling up your leg.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Help; Author: Visit Amazon's Kathryn Stockett Page; Review: "(Miss Celia's) got so many azalea bushes, her yard's going to look like 'Gone With the Wind' come spring. I don't like azaleas and I sure didn't like that movie, the way they made slavery look like a big happy tea party. If I'd played Mammy, I'd of told Scarlett to stick those green draperies up her white little pooper. Make her own damn man-catching dress." - Minny, in THE HELP "I always thought insanity would be a dark, bitter feeling, but it is drenching and delicious if you really roll around in it." - Miss Skeeter, in THE HELP After more than forty-five hundred other reviews of THE HELP over a range from one star to five, there's not much of anything of consequence that I can add not already said. Indeed, some of the most perceptive reviews of this book have been at the lowest end of the rating scale. Perhaps often lost in the discussion of what's right and wrong about this work of FICTION is that it represents the perspective of the author, Kathryn Stockett, from her life growing up in Jackson, Mississippi. And, more to the point, that her slice of life in that environment was an infinitesimally small sampling of the whole. A radically different experience - such as might lead a reviewer to offer a judgment of one star - doesn't negate the fact that the author has written an engaging, absorbing, and insightful novel deserving all the four and five star reviews it's garnered. The fact that THE HELP is Kathryn's first fictional piece makes it all the more remarkable. (I pen prodigiously, both technical writing as part of my professional responsibilities and reviews for this website, but I couldn't begin to write a successful novel to save my life. It involves not only imagination and the ability to string words together with literacy, but also a talent for perceiving and recording the nature of the environment in which one lives. Honor is due Ms. Stockett) One of the criticisms of THE HELP that was most noticeable by me as I read along was the vernacular assigned to the maids by the author while not assigning one to their employers. Indeed, this seemed an odd omission. I lived in Mississippi for fifteen months back in the 1990s, and I can reliably say that White women affluent enough to afford housekeepers of any color speak in one. THE HELP is a contemporary work on female-female relationships of a past time and place. Or, maybe not so past. How many middle and upper-class housewives here in Southern California employ Latino maids, do you think? I'm sure that's another book waiting to be written.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Remembering the Music, Forgetting the Words: Travels with Mom in the Land of Dementia; Author: Visit Amazon's Kate Whouley Page; Review: "I obsess over the costs of my mother's continued care, the sorry state of her finances, and the uncertainty of mine ... Up to my ears in debt and struggling to pay my own bills, I find it difficult to imagine how I will cover my mother's rising expenses ..." - Kate Whouley "Sometimes my mother warms again before we say our goodbyes. Sometimes she does not. Either way, I leave (the assisted-living facility) feeling worn down, sad, inadequate, and exhausted." - Kate Whouley There are at least two intimate sides to the long nightmare of Alzheimer's, that of the afflicted and that of the caregiver. The former is illustrated by neuroscientist Lisa Genova in her novel Still Alice, a book I've previously reviewed as: "Heart-wrenching, uplifting, devastating, wonderful, difficult to pick up, hard to put down, informative, depressing, poignant, perceptive, tragic, erudite, compassionate, a must-read." REMEMBERING THE MUSIC, FORGETTING THE WORDS can be described similarly. Here, author Kate Whouley recounts her all-to-real struggle to care for her mother Anne, struck with Alzheimer's at age sixty-eight, for the last years of her life. It's a narrative both informative and daunting for anyone who may suddenly find him or herself in a caregiver's role. (My wife and I have our taxes prepared by an aging CPA whose own wife was diagnosed with Alzheimer's a couple of years ago. When asked about her condition, you can see in his eyes the pain and worry. His own anticipated retirement is out of the question under the circumstances.) Whouley perhaps meanders off the topic a bit when recounting her experiences as a flutist with the Cape Cod Conservatory Concert Band, but the occasional detour doesn't detract enough from the whole journey for me to award anything less than 5 stars. For her dedication to familial duty, a gold star for Kate.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Geography of Bliss: One Grump's Search for the Happiest Places in the World; Author: Visit Amazon's Eric Weiner Page; Review: "That old saw about the glass being half full or half empty is dead wrong. What really matters is whether water is flowing into or out of the glass." - from THE GEOGRAPHY OF BLISS "Watching Brits shed their inhibitions is like watching elephants mate. You know it happens, it must, but it's noisy, awkward as hell, and you can't help but wonder: Is this something I really need to see?" - from THE GEOGRAPHY OF BLISS Writing The Innocents Abroad, Mark Twain billed himself as a foreign correspondent. In THE GEOGRAPHY OF BLISS, author Eric Weiner is the foreign correspondent for National Public Radio reporting on what he admits is probably a self-imposed fool's errand, i.e. to find the happiest place on Earth despite possessing what he describes, on page one, as a "gloomy disposition." With that admission, I liked him already. In ten chapters, Weiner records his search for joyful life in The Netherlands, Switzerland, Bhutan, Qatar, Iceland, Thailand, Great Britain, India, and America. For the sake of contrast, Eric also visits Moldova, where, apparently, everyone is profoundly miserable. And, in case you're wondering, our foreign correspondent does indeed seem to arrive at a consensus of one as to which of those places is the happiest. Perhaps my wife and I, always on the lookout for a retirement venue, should begin looking at the real estate listings. The obvious question is why the author didn't include Disneyland on his itinerary, the self-styled "Happiest Place on Earth." That would've been an insightful touch with the potential for much humor, I suspect, if not necessarily uncovering overabundant happiness. Weiner's style is easy-going and gently self-deprecatory. I like that in a travel essayist since a road trip of any length is best not taken too seriously. There are travel narratives, and then there are travel narratives. I've usually found the best to be those through which runs a topical thread that wouldn't perhaps be cconceptualized by most writers. Attention All Shipping: A Journey Round the Shipping Forecast (Radio 4 Book of the Week),Pagan Holiday: On the Trail of Ancient Roman Tourists, and The Sinner's Grand Tour: A Journey Through the Historical Underbelly of Europe fall into that category. THE GEOGRAPHY OF BLISS is similarly satisfying.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: How Big Is Our Universe? Mathematical Analogies; Author: Dr. Anwar A Hamdi; Review: If I'm in a particularly pensive mood, then I might gaze at the night sky and marvel. (Of course, I can't do this in the Los Angeles metropolitan area - too much haze and reflected light. Away from everything in the nearby, flat Mojave Desert is the place to be for ogling the marvelous.) At such a time, profound questions arise, like "How can I get the Starbucks franchise for all that?" (Ok, ok. I'm just kidding. Rather, my thoughts involve considerations of "what if" and distances and the warm and fuzzy realization that just about every other human who's ever lived has done the same contemplating.) In HOW BIG IS OUR UNIVERSE?, author Anwar Hamdi describes the vastness of the universe with mathematical analogies. In fifteen very, very brief chapters, Hamdi begins with the Earth and then expands outward to encompass the Moon, all planets of our Solar System, our Sun, our Solar System as a unit, our Galaxy, and finally the universe. Each chapter is comprised of one or more subheadings, and then a paragraph or several under each containing factoids supported by footnotes. For example, in "Chapter 3: Mercury" there is the subheading "The Cockroach and the Jet Plane", under which the speed of Mercury's orbit around the Sun compared to that of a Boeing 747 is analogized to a race between a cockroach and a jet zipping along at faster than 1000 kilometers/hour. In a footnote, the speed of a cockroach is noted as 1.5 m/sec. Occasionally, in my opinion, Hamdi tries too hard. In the chapter (12) dedicated to the Sun under the subheading "Earth Curtains to Block the Sun!", Anwar notes that it would take 12,000 Earth-sized curtains to cover the Sun's surface and block its light. Really? Do those curtains have lace trim, and are they washable? The reader will also encounter two types of snails in Hamdi's narrative. The first, in the chapter (11) concerning Sedna, the dwarf planet beyond Pluto, is described as crawling from Dubai to Rome (at 2.5 mm/sec) over the same amount of time required for a fast space shuttle to go from the Earth to Sedna at 24,854.8 mph. In "Chapter 14: The Galaxy", another snail's speed compared to that of a 149 mph sports car is analogized to the speed of a very fast spacecraft going at 40,000 kilometers/hour compared to the velocity of light. But, this second snail is described as oozing along at 9 mph. (Wow! I'd better stock up on snail pellets.) I was amazed at least once, but not by anything overtly stated by Hamdi. In "Chapter 13: The Solar System", it is claimed that if all the planets and moons were lined up with the Sun, this string would be no longer than 2 mm long, about the size of a small spider on the wall in a 50 x 20 x 10 meter ballroom, i.e. the relative expanse of the Solar System. What amazed me is that the Sun, even at that small size, can exert its gravitational pull over such a; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sand Queen; Author: Visit Amazon's Helen Benedict Page; Review: "Whatever happened to the band of brothers and sisters we're supposed to be at war, I don't know. In my company we're more like a band of snakes." - Kate "Then the commander takes over again, and in a flat expressionless voice, spouts a bunch of empty phrases calling the four dead robots heroes who sacrificed their robot lives for our country and freedom. Telling us how the dead robots personified bravery and valor, and how dying for your country is the biggest honor a robot can ask for ... Yvette was killed in the middle of writing a frigging e-mail, for Christ's sake, because the Army was too damn cheap and disorganized to have installed a siren system in the MWR (Morale, Welfare and Recreation), let alone a mortar-proof bunker for us to shelter in. Valor and honor?" - Kate "I look down at the child I am tending, a little boy of about five. He is lying on the floor, which is splattered with blood, vomit and urine, but he lacks even a sheet to protect him ... His face is charred black, as is much of his body, one arm is burnt off and he is crawling with flies and rotting alive with infection. I have nothing to give him but words, but he is in too much pain to hear them, thus I have nothing to give him at all. He stares at me, his eyes huge with agony, too far gone even to cry. `Go to sleep, little one,' I tell him. `It'll stop hurting soon.' As it will." - Naema, caring for an innocent victim of America's "senseless war." Using material gathered for her non-fiction book, The Lonely Soldier: The Private War of Women Serving in Iraq, author Helen Benedict fictionalizes the experience of 20-year old Army Spec Four Kate Brady, who serves with a reserve military police company in occupied Iraq during the opening weeks of the Second Gulf War. Kate's primary duty assignment is to serve as a perimeter guard at a tent prison holding Iraqi detainees. Her story is told parallel with that of the young Iraqi medical student, Naema, whose father and brother are being held in that detention center. While SAND QUEEN is well-written and absorbing, it's also a depressing and bitter anti-war indictment. Kate's military duties, as well as her contact with her Army superiors, transform what began as a sweet, happy teenager from New York into ... well, someone that no parent would wish for. And Naema's fate is only marginally better because her chance of once again leading a normal life is perhaps greater. The reader's heart will ache for both. SAND QUEEN is also anti-(U.S.) military. I have to presume Benedict intended it as such for she depicts the Army as little more than destructive haters, and its command structure, insofar as it affects Kate, as insensitive at best and sexual assaulters at worst. No young woman considering a career in the U.S. Army, or perhaps any of the services, would, after reading this novel, choose such.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Exit Wound; Author: Visit Amazon's Andy McNab Page; Review: "Revenge is a kind of wild justice." - Francis Bacon, Sr. EXIT WOUND revs up in the United Arab Emirates with a heist of Saddam Hussein's gold and ends, after a stop-off in Tehran, in the depths of Mother Russia. It's a novel of revenge as Nick Stone is out to exact payback for the death of two ex-SAS mates killed in a double-cross. This is the first Nick Stone thriller I've read. Ok, I've been busy. As such in the genre go, the plot stretches believability, but that doesn't make it any the less entertaining. Author Andy McNab's background as an abandoned orphan and SAS squadie made him into a Hard Guy, a personality type that he's apparently embodied in his alter-ego hero, Nick. Essentially, I gather, Stone's approach to life, adversity, and problem-solving are the author's own were he to find himself in the fictional adventures he creates. The thing is, you see, as Stone himself says: "Crusaders for truth look great under the studio lights. But in the real world they get swatted like flies." In McNab's books, as well as those of, say, Lee Child's Jack Reacher, Stephen Leather's "Spider" Shepherd, and (back in The Day) Adam Hall's Quiller (to name but three of my favorites), "truth" equates with victory against tribal and personal enemies and the "studio lights" are the writer's pen. Perhaps I wax too philosophical here. Based on EXIT WOUND, the Stone series promises to be better than average escapism and I'm fairly certain I'll read more. That said, however, I cannot but recommend more highly any of the potboilers by Gerald Seymour wherein victories are Pyrrhic and invincibility is not assured - more like the real world inhabited by the rest of us mere mortals.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Dummy Line; Author: Visit Amazon's Bobby Cole Page; Review: "Johnny Lee was gurgling blood, and his breathing extremely labored ... He was dying and he knew it. Blood ran out of his mouth with his final word: 'Get him ... get that son of a bitch'." - from THE DUMMY LINE THE DUMMY LINE is author Bobby Cole's first novel. If it didn't put me in so undignified a position, I'd beg him to write another as this one was pretty much impossible to put down. Here, Mississippian Jake Crosby takes his nine-year old tomboy daughter Katy off on a turkey shoot into the Alabama woods where they run afoul of a group of good 'ol boys bent on having some rough, redneck fun. The plot quickly escalates to include grievous assault, attempted rape, kidnapping, a desperate flight on foot through the pine barrens, and, from the perspective of the local sheriff's department, total confusion. He himself a resident of West Point, Mississippi, Cole's deft handling of his characters leads one to think that he knows real life counterparts - a scary thought when it comes to the good ol' boys; it's perhaps what makes THE DUMMY LINE so engaging and riveting. That and the hectic pace of the action. I'm left wondering whether or not, from the author's perspective, Mississippi is, in the hierarchy of the states, on a higher rung of the social development ladder compared to Alabama. I have no doubt that THE DUMMY LINE could be the basis for a hit movie script.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Remarkable Creatures; Author: Visit Amazon's Tracy Chevalier Page; Review: "Fossils alone, in fact, establish reliably that the earth has not always had the same crust ... If we had only formations without fossils, no one could have claimed that these formations were not formed all together." - French zoologist Georges Cuvier "... I had to find a passion: I was twenty-five years old, unlikely ever to marry, and in need of a hobby to fill my days. It is so tedious being a lady sometimes." - Elizabeth Philpot, in REMARKABLE CREATURES "That's how fossil hunting is: It takes over, like a hunger, and nothing else matters but what you find. And even when you find it, you still start looking again the next minute, because there might be something even better waiting." - Mary Anning, in REMARKABLE CREATURES "You're jealous of Colonel Birch because he courted me. You loved him and he paid no attention to you. He never even looked at you. It was me he wanted! And why shouldn't he? I'm young ...! All your education and your 150 pounds a year and your elderflower champagne and your silly tonics, and your silly sisters with their turbans and roses. And your (fossilized) fish! Who cares about fish when there are monsters in the cliff to be found? But you won't find them because you haven't got the eye. You're a dried up old spinster who will never get a man or a monster. And I will." - Mary Anning, in REMARKABLE CREATURES, to her friend Elizabeth "Slowly the bloom left Mary's cheeks, the bright light in her eyes dimmed, her shoulders took on their habitual hunch, and her jaw hardened. It made me want to weep, to see her joining the ranks of us spinsters at such a young age." - Elizabeth Philpot, in REMARKABLE CREATURES, on her friend Mary REMARKABLE CREATURES is a novel based on the association of two real-life English women, Elizabeth Philpot and Mary Anning. Elizabeth, born in 1780 into the genteel middle-class, moved with two sisters to Lyme Regis on England's southwest coast in 1805 when their brother got married and took over the family's London residence. It was in Lyme Regis that Elizabeth met Mary, a native commoner of the town born in 1799, the daughter of a cabinet-maker. The story is told from the first-person perspective by the two main characters in alternating chapters. The coastal cliffs around Lyme are rich fossil beds. Elizabeth took up fossil collecting -particularly fossilized fish - as a hobby to while away the time. For Mary, fossil hunting was a self-taught obsession. Moreover, selling to outsiders the "curies" (curiosities), such as "verteberries" (vertebrae) and "snake-stones" (ammonites), was a means for earning the extra money that kept her family from destitution. And, indeed, it was Mary that had an eye for detection. Over the years it was she that discovered the first complete British examples of Pterosaur and Plesiosaurus skeletons, known as "monsters" in the local vernacular. Mary thus made a name for herself in the historical record, though she received little if any public recognition for; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Last Gunfight: The Real Story of the Shootout at the O.K. Corral-And How It Changed the American West; Author: Visit Amazon's Jeff Guinn Page; Review: "In the worst tradition of overweening male pride, Frank, Tom, Ike, Billy, and Billy Claiborne postured in the O.K. Corral, boasting loudly about what they would do if the Earps were foolish enough to bother them any further. If Virgil Earp showed up, they'd kill him on sight. They'd kill the whole party of Earps if it came to that." - from THE LAST GUNFIGHT "... nothing was more important to Tombstone leaders than their town's positive reputation among potential investors." - from THE LAST GUNFIGHT THE LAST GUNFIGHT: THE REAL STORY OF THE SHOOTOUT AT THE O.K. CORRAL - AND HOW IT CHANGED THE AMERICAN WEST could perhaps be re- titled "The Last Gunfight: More Than You Need to Know About the Gunplay in A Certain Vacant Lot". There's a bit of iconoclast in author Jeff Guinn. After what must have been a prodigious amount of research, Guinn effectively reduces what is perhaps the American West's most famous shootout to a brief eruption of grubby gunplay, and reveals one of America's most name-recognizable frontier heroes as pathetically and disappointingly ordinary. Indeed, by the end of the volume, the reader will know that the renowned Tombstone gunfight on October 26, 1881 didn't even take place in the O.K. Corral but rather in a nearby, anonymous vacant lot, and, when considering the lifelong achievements of Wyatt Earp, the man was neither heroic nor particularly admirable. Quite honestly, I like that in a writer of history. Such an approach generally confirms my belief that humans truly worthy of the term "iconic figure" are extremely rare, though not impossibly so. (I haven't had a personal idol since the pitching days of Sandy Koufax, and it's probably only his closely self-guarded privacy, past and present, that prevents the exposé of anything that would topple the great ex-Dodger from his pedestal.) Despite the implications of the book's title, the "gunfight at the O.K. Corral" actually comprises only a small part of the text, and even that well past the midway point. Much of the preceding twelve chapters chronicles the Earp family history prior to 1881, the evolution of Tombstone as an energetic mining town, the rise of outlawry in the surrounding area, and the ambition-fueled tensions that existed between the three levels of law enforcement in the Arizona Territory, i.e. federal marshal, county sheriff, and town marshal. (What? There are antagonisms between police agencies? Say it ain't so, Joe.) Indeed, it's because Guinn delves so deeply into the minutiae of the region's banditry - mostly cattle rustling and stagecoach robbing - and the seedy politics of getting appointed or elected locally as a U.S., county, or municipal law officer that I'm deducting a rating star because it's more than the casual reader needs to know even for the author to successfully explain the toppling line of dominoes that resulted in the notorious gunsmoky confrontation. It was the concern of Tombstone's movers and shakers for the town's reputation and potential for attracting moneyed investors to its (ultimately doomed) mining industry that caused a shift in its collective perspective; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Rocket Men: The Epic Story of the First Men on the Moon; Author: Visit Amazon's Craig Nelson Page; Review: "You can't imagine living in something that close; it's like being in an outhouse and after a while you just don't care, you know, and without getting into detail ... messy. But we didn't smell anything ... And I did notice a very strange odor when I got out of the spacecraft and it turned out to be fresh air." - Apollo 8 crewman Bill Anders on the ambience of the Command Module, from ROCKET MEN "All the conditions necessary for murder are met if you shut two men in a cabin measuring eighteen feet by twenty and leave them together for two months." - Russian cosmonaut Valeri Ryumin, from ROCKET MEN "Imagine this scenario: It's 2029, and a lunar mission lands at Tranquility Base. A crew of heroic young Indians - or Chinese - quietly folds and puts away America's sixty-year-old flag. If the world saw that on television, wouldn't the gesture be worth tens of billions of rupees or yuan?" - SF author Bruce Sterling on America's abdication of civilian-controlled world space leadership post-Apollo, from ROCKET MEN In my sixty-two years, there are four events that I seemingly remember as if yesterday: the Kennedy assassination, the Apollo 11 landing on the Moon, getting the news of my father's death, and the fall of the Berlin Wall. But memory plays tricks. According to author Craig Nelson, the first step onto the Moon's surface occurred on July 20, 1969 at 9:56 PM CST, or 7:56 PM PST in California; yet I would've sworn that when I watched the event on television in Los Angeles it was mid-day. Evidently it was the landing I recall, not the initial EVA. Note: An online encyclopedia has that first step being taken at 10:56 PM EDT, which would be 9:56 PM CDT, i.e. Central Daylight Time, not Central Standard Time as the author indicates. So, now I'm even more confused - but apparently not the only one. ROCKET MEN is Nelson's otherwise fine telling of the Apollo 11 mission and the lead-up to it. I just hope his facts are more accurate than my memory. ROCKET MEN incorporates a section of thirty-nine useful photographs. Since most of my generation is more or less acquainted with how the Apollo 11 flight played out, perhaps the more instructive section of the book is that which describes the evolution of America's rocketry program and manned missions in the milieu of the Cold War, when both the United States and the Soviet Union perceived (or misperceived as the case may be) the abilities of the other. The competitive race approached being a farce on a grand scale. And, in the last chapter, when the post-mission lives of Armstrong, Aldrin, and Collins are briefly summarized, the reader realizes that personal glory with a capital "G" is sometimes best left unrealized. I was a bit puzzled, however, by the author's treatment, or lack thereof, of the four manned Apollo missions preceding 11. The narrative might lead the reader to believe that Apollo 8, a flight which the text briefly summarizes and memorably; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Becoming Teddy Roosevelt: How a Maine Guide Inspired America's 26th President; Author: Visit Amazon's Andrew Vietze Page; Review: "I was never all that much interested in Theodore Roosevelt ... That all changed, though, when I discovered he'd climbed Mount Katahdin ... His guide was Bill Sewall, a backwoodsman from the tiny upcountry hamlet of Island Falls ... I found that not only did I like Roosevelt, I liked his larger-than-life guide even better. The more I learned about Bill Sewall's grit and wit, the more I wanted to know about this man from Maine ..." - Andrew Vietze, author of BECOMING TEDDY ROOSEVELT BECOMING TEDDY ROOSEVELT is, more or less at 179 pages, a relatively brief biography of William Wingate Sewall (1845-1930), who served as the guide for the then 20-year old Theodore Roosevelt on his first trip to the Maine woods in 1878 and two subsequent visits extending into 1879. Sewall so impressed the young Teddy that the latter hired the former to manage his small cattle ranch in the Dakota Territory in the mid-1880s. The two became steadfast and lifelong friends. BECOMING TEDDY ROOSEVELT is also, at least during its first half, a coming-of-age portrait of the future President - a transition facilitated by Bill Seward, who evidently became a father-figure to young Theodore after Theodore, Sr.'s death in 1878. Vietze's book contains a 20-page section of period photographs and reproductions of correspondence. For the author, BECOMING TEDDY ROOSEVELT was obviously a work of love facilitated by his stint as a park ranger in Baxter State Park, which surrounds Mount Katahdin. A favorable appreciation of the outdoors is apparently the spiritual bond that unites all three men. Though I'll readily admit that Teddy Roosevelt is probably one of the top five U.S. Presidents, I've never been all that interested in him. And despite Vietze's best efforts, I'm still not. Nor am I inspired to become fixated on the book's protagonist, Sewall. Perhaps one has to live in Maine to be sufficiently appreciative of a local hero. Don't get me wrong. BECOMING TEDDY ROOSEVELT is well written and a fine description of late nineteenth century life in the Maine woods and that small part of the Dakota Territory that was Roosevelt's ranch. About Roosevelt, it's marginally interesting but not riveting, informative but not dramatically revelatory. It's Vietze's expression of uncritical admiration for a mutual admiration society of two - Roosevelt and Sewall - and, as such, a piece a little too inbred for my tastes. While Andrew's book is perhaps a must-read for any casual or serious student of Teddy Roosevelt as a source of information on his formative years, and which would likely rate five stars by such a reader, the best I can do is a non-committal three stars with the recommendation that others decide for themselves.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Not That You Asked...; Author: Visit Amazon's Andrew A. Rooney Page; Review: "With so many fools in the world, it's impossible to make the world foolproof. The people trying to make the world safe for everyone are fighting a losing battle and one that makes life difficult for the average person." - from NOT THAT YOU ASKED After Andy Rooney died in November 2011, I was compelled to pick up a copy of NOT THAT YOU ASKED found on the book exchange shelf of the local Y since I'd always enjoyed his weekly commentary ending "60 Minutes." In this volume, Rooney opines about Changes, Nuisances, Problems, Truths, Dilemmas, Habits and Occupations, People, Places, Animals and Pets, Houses, Holidays and Vacations, and Pleasures. First published in 1989, it is, of course, dated, but the underlying truths remain as topical as ever. In NOT THAT YOU ASKED, Andy's views run the continuum from an insightful perspicacity to a curmudgeonly grumpiness, the latter seeming to predominate as the volume progressed. Perhaps a collection of written commentaries such as this is best absorbed at multiple, short sittings - much like a bathroom reader. Otherwise, it may become slightly tiresome like an overly long sermon. For me, Rooney's value to the general public was that he took the time to lucidly and wittily skewer the absurdities that vex the daily lives of America's Average Persons. He will be missed by us Average Joes. Just as Hal Holbrook has become famous for his live stage performances as Mark Twain, perhaps one day some clever actor will make a name for himself presenting "An Evening with Andy Rooney." I think it could work.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Bestseller: A psychological thriller that will keep you guessing - Kindle edition; Author: Visit Amazon's Stephen Leather Page; Review: "You have to do it before you can write about it. You have to write from experience." - from THE BESTESELLER, and which poses the reasonable question: Is Stephen Leather a psychopathic killer? "... anyone can publish an eBook. You don't need an agent or a publisher, all you need is a laptop and you can put your work out to the worldwide market ... now it's the buyers who decide what sells and what doesn't. So the idea of producing quality work has gone out of the window. Now all that matters is how many you sell." - from THE BESTESELLER, and which indicates that Stephen Leather, like Saul of Tarsus, has experienced his own Revelation on the road to the proverbial Damascus "The battery lasts for weeks and I can buy any book I want within seconds ... It's like having the biggest library in the world at my fingertips ... Once you've tried a Kindle it's hard to go back to dead tree books." - from THE BESTESELLER, and which is one of several barefaced plugs Author Stephen Leather has embraced the self-published eBook format as the way to escape the tyranny of agents and publishers. Though he may still use a brick and mortar publishing house for his Spider Shepherd series, he's now a True Believer in the electronic format, or at least to the extent that the new medium contributes to his income - currently 50/50, and growing, vs. the traditional print medium, according to a personal communication from the author. Indeed, THE BESTSELLER eBook can perhaps be gleefully imagined as Leather nose-thumbing the traditional publishing establishment by creating a "bestseller" without its help. Dude! To illustrate his stance vis--vis the ePublishing of eBooks, Stephen creates in THE BESTSELLER a conflict between a hidebound author resistant to change, Dudley Grose, and a young upstart novelist, Adrian Slater, who argues for the new technology with a cold-hearted practicality that verges on cynicism: "EBooks are published. All published really means is being offered for sale. I don't care who buys my book or how they buy it so long as I get their money." Who wins this particular battle is pretty much the conflict required for the plot. But, remember, a single battle is not the entire war, and maneuvering room is left for a surprise ending. Leather pads his view of the emerging electronic medium by contextually touting a specific brand of eReader with particular relish, much as the camera might lovingly focus on a particular brand of soft drink or beer in an entertainment film's product-placement shot. I was a little surprised by this, thinking that a more generic endorsement might have been a more balanced approach and one less likely to offend users of other devices. The author playfully weaves his own accomplishments into the plot by ascribing an evolving title, "The Bestseller", to Slater, with reference to the plot of a crime novel Slater has already written, "The Basement" - another of Leather's previous releases, as it so happens. This literary product placement of the; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Naked Olympics: The True Story of the Ancient Games; Author: Visit Amazon's Tony Perrottet Page; Review: "... there was no reliable water supply at Olympia ... so dehydrated spectators would be collapsing in droves from heatstroke. Nobody bathed for days. The sharp odor of sweat did battle with Olympia's fragrant pine forests and wildflowers, only to be overpowered by the intermittent wafts from the dry riverbeds, which had been turned into open-air latrines. And every minute of the day was a trial with Olympia's incessant plague of flies ... The smoke from thousands of cooking fires created a pall of pollution. Crowd control was enforced by local officials with whips." - from THE NAKED OLYMPICS, on the conditions facing the spectators. Perhaps could also describe the ambience surrounding modern-day after-Christmas sales. With THE NAKED GAMES, author Tony Perrottet repeats what he previously did with Pagan Holiday: On the Trail of Ancient Roman Tourists, i.e. take the reader back to the good old days. In this volume, Tony describes, based on relatively meager and scattered historical sources, what it was like to attend, either as a spectator or an athlete, the original Greek Olympic Games, which were uninterruptedly staged every four years from 776 B.C. to 394 A.D. That's 1,170 years, a performance run that Broadway productions can only fantasize about. Some rocks don't live that long. My pre-existing knowledge of the Greek games and Olympia being, well, nil, the only errors apparent to me were in an artist's re-creation of the forty-foot high statue of Zeus within his Olympia temple. The drawing of the idol is wildly out of proportion, based on measurements provided in the historical record, to the human figures alongside. Moreover, Tony's text places a scepter in his right hand and a winged statue of Victory in his left while, in the drawing, it's just the opposite. Didn't anyone proof-read? The volume contains thirty-one illustrations, most of which show the contestants' activities as depicted on drinking cups, amphorae, and water jars of the period. Not surprisingly, pretty much all of the subjects are buck naked, which is how they competed and which is consistent with the book's title. I wish I'd had the sunscreen concession. There's also a drawing of what the Sanctuary of Olympia complex may have looked like around 150 B.C. based on extant ruins and archeological evidence. There is, however, no placement of Olympia on a map; it was rather isolated from the rest of Greece. I had to look it up on-line. Finally, there's a scene from the film Ben Hur (1959) that shows the title character racing his 4-horse chariot. Perrottet maintains that the film's race sequence, and action sequences like it in other movies, accurately portrays the chaotic and violent nature of the event as it was staged at the Greek games. Really? I didn't realize Charleton Heston was that old. As a work of popular history, THE NAKED GAMES is almost certainly not the most learned or comprehensive work on the subject. But for anyone with a casual interest in a wide range of topics, this book, assuming Perrottet is reporting the facts with reasonable accuracy, is a; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Best Thing About My Ass Is That It's Behind Me; Author: Visit Amazon's Lisa Ann Walter Page; Review: "My very best advice to fellas: work from the outside in." - Lisa Ann Walter "You never have to buy an issue of Cosmo again to be the 'Best Lover He's Ever Had.' Just remember this phrase: 'Oh my goodness, I don't know if that will fit.' Then start mentally picking out jewelry." - Lisa Ann Walter Lisa Ann Walter hosts a Saturday and Sunday late afternoon talk show on a local radio station, and I tune in any chance I get. She's irreverent, funny, and entertaining. And it was with that which compelled me to read THE BEST THING ABOUT MY ASS IS THAT IT'S BEHIND ME. BEST THING is Lisa Ann's one-woman rant on the unfair expectations Western society has of women, especially when it comes to their physical appearance when compared to the cultural ideal of beauty. According to Walters, this leads to self-loathing, which in her case she's focused on her, um, ass. "... I just saw ass pads advertised on TV. I almost started crying ... Asses are in ... And mine is still high and firm ... I could probably bounce a quarter off of it with a few thousands squats. I'm totally thrilled. But it came at the expense of my self-esteem because up 'til now whoever decides those things decided that big asses were definitely not hot." Though I've never seen Lisa Ann's live, on-stage, stand-up comedy routine, I have to believe that the book's humor is probably at its best presented in that milieu. In written format, not so much, though there were moments, especially when skewering crazy diets, cosmetic surgery, exercise trends, and men's sexual expectations, that her monologue elicited chuckles. Indeed, I'm giving a generous four stars just for her smart-ass attitude. When she can finally report about her reflection in a storefront window... "Yup. That's my snacky ass. It's right there, bouncing behind me. Whoever's following me sure is lucky." ... the reader may very well be moved to yell, "You go, girl!" And finally, in the light of Lisa Ann's advice to other women - "Always be seen with decrepit old men - you'll look young and beautiful in comparison" - let me just say as an aging man advancing inexorably into decrepitude... Lisa, I think you're HOT! And, hey, you can cook, too!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Nightmare; Author: Visit Amazon's Stephen Leather Page; Review: "There'd be no pain, (Nightingale) knew that. When he hit the ground he'd be traveling at a hundred and twenty miles an hour and it would be over in a fraction of a second." - from NIGHTMARE Any aficionado of thriller writer Stephen Leather knows that he has another ongoing series, one featuring Dan "Spider" Shepherd, once an undercover operative with Britain's Serious Organized Crime Agency and recently transferred to MI-5 with his boss, Charlie Button, in the newest release, Fair Game (A Dan Shepherd Mystery). The point of this digression is that each Spider adventure can be read as a one-off, much like any of the old James Bond spy novels. On the other hand, the Jack Nightingale series, starting with the two volumes previous to this one, Nightfall, Vol. 1] and Midnight, is significantly different structurally in that all three are connected by a thread that runs so deep as to make the trio pretty much inseparable and best read sequentially. Therefore, Leather had to spend the first half of NIGHTMARE gradually weaving-in the back story so as to make the continuation of the saga comprehensible. For the reader being initially introduced to Jack, a London private eye who finds himself too often on the wrong side of the supernatural Dark Side, this might be somewhat disorienting, as well as a compelling reason to go back and read the first two books - not a bad strategy on the part of the author, actually. For the fan that's read faithfully from the very start, though, it makes much of NIGHTMARE's first half seem like filler. Indeed, it wasn't until I was two-thirds of the way into this installment that my interest, only then seriously engaged, began to increase at a steady, albeit non-explosive, pace. By the last few of the ninety-one brief chapters, I was mentally preparing to award four stars, one less than the five due a memorable reading experience. Then, as might happen in American-style football, quarterback Leather heaved a Hail Mary pass that won the game with no time remaining and with a crowd-enervating plot twist that not only gives the reader an awesome entertainment win but will allow Stephen to carry on with Jack's bizarre career. Would that the Super Bowl contest next Sunday between the Patriots and the Giants exhibits such an ending! Inasmuch as the title of each Nightingale thriller incorporates some use of the word "night", one might speculate on future headings. Personally, I think NIGHTCRAWLER has the potential for some serious creepiness. NIGHTGOWN - well, maybe not so much.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: World Without End (Kingsbridge); Author: Visit Amazon's Ken Follett Page; Review: More years ago than I can recall exactly, I read perhaps the most riveting piece of historical non-fiction writing that I've ever come across, Barbara Tuchman's A Distant Mirror: The Calamitous 14th Century. Here, in WORLD WITHOUT END, one can revisit many topics of Barbara's book in a fictional milieu. Here, the story is placed somewhere in south-central England, in Kingsbridge, over a span of time from 1327 to 1361 in seven chunks: November 1327 - June 8 to 14, 1337 - June to December, 1337 - June 1338 to May 1339 - March 1346 to December 1348 - January 1349 to January 1351 - March to November 1361. This novel by Ken Follett is the sequel to his marvelous The Pillars of the Earth, which was set in Kingsbridge some 200 years previous and revolved around the building of the city's cathedral. There are a multitude of characters in WORLD WITHOUT END, the principal four being Merthin, Ralph, Caris and Gwenda. Merthin and Ralph are brothers, the sons of a landless knight reduced to a low state by debt. Caris is the daughter of the most prominent wool merchant of Kingsbridge. Gwenda is the daughter of a petty thief. The plot of the book incorporates the range of human behavior from the noble to the most base against a medieval background that includes two of the most momentous events in English history of that century, the Battle of Crcy and the Black Death: love, hatred, revenge, adultery, ambition, greed, bravery, rapine, cowardice, selfishness, selflessness, devotion, treachery, kindness, cruelty, cleverness, and cunning - why, just like any normal day for me at the office. Along the way, we become acquainted with monks, bishops, nuns, craftsmen, outlaws, reeves, earls, a king, lawyers, thieves, merchants, inn keepers, prostitutes, knights, flagellants, laborers, serfs, and herbalists. What makes WORLD WITHOUT END particularly interesting in general, due no doubt to the author's research, is the insight the reader gets into contemporary practices and methods - how to build the underwater foundations of a river bridge, how to weave cloth, how to build an octagonal church spire, how to slow the spread of the plague, how to flay a man alive - as well as 14th century societal relationships - the Church and the laity, merchants' guilds and towns, landed lords and their serfs, landed lords and free tenants, the King and the nobility, monasteries and nunneries, women and men - and the guiding tenets of feudalism, medical practice, the King's law, Church law, and common law. For me personally, the novel is pure joy because of my familiarity with and love for English history and, after more than a dozen visits, the landscape itself. And most especially because of my several stops at Salisbury Cathedral, which the author has said he used, along with Wells Cathedral, as a descriptive model for that at Kingsbridge. Insofar as the author describes the latter, Kingsbridge Cathedral is very much the Salisbury edifice in appearance and footprint. (Ok, I know that every English cathedral I've been in resembles Kingsbridge with a; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Superman's Cape (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Brian Spangler Page; Review: "I know about things that will happen, or rather before they happen." - Jacob, in SUPERMAN'S CAPE "Kyle held onto the bones of the animal and pulled harder. He pulled until he was face to face with the rotting meat that was its insides. He pulled so that he was lying on the dead animal. Kyle squirmed on whatever gave him the traction he needed to bring his knees up and crawl ... The flies and white pustule worms he uncovered clung to his shirt and skin like passengers. They crawled over his arms, leaving their maggot trails as they inched along." - from SUPERMAN'S CAPE, on escaping a bog Six months previous, Kyle and his younger brother Jonnie watched their father Chris get gunned down by a drugged-out thief while the trio waited in line for an ice cream at the local DQ. Even 4-year old Jonnie's blue blanket, his "Superman's Cape", couldn't stop the hemorrhaging from his Dad's fatal wound. Now, in a fit of anger and frustration at the hard straits in which he, Jonnie, and their mother Sara have been left by Chris's murder, Kyle runs away from the abject trailer they're forced to inhabit and into the woods, the Croatan National Forest in North Carolina. Kyle becomes lost, and his predicament quickly degrades from precarious to dire. And, there's a hurricane coming. The story of the missing boy is carried by the local news outlets, including WJL-TV. The station sends out a live-coverage team headed by Jacob Hanson, who's otherwise the chief on-screen Weather Guy. Jacob has an unusual gift; he can "see" things before they happen. SUPERMAN'S CAPE was at it's most riveting for me when following Kyle's plight, which got so desperate that my hankie got all into a twist. That said, my impression was that the author, Brian Spangler, intended the paranormal aspect of the storyline to comprise the main plot thread, and it too was engaging albeit perhaps a bit forced when it veers in an unexpected direction. The reason I'm knocking off a star is that there's yet another subplot involving two other members of Hanson's team and the WJL-TV van that's so irrelevant as to be an unnecessary distraction and, by the book's conclusion, totally forgettable and ultimately forgotten. There's no subtlety to SUPERMAN'S CAPE, but that's OK. It's a quick and entertaining read.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Cottage for Sale, Must Be Moved: A Woman Moves a House to Make a Home; Author: Visit Amazon's Kate Whouley Page; Review: "In the course of moving the cottage and joining the houses together, I have often wished for a co-conspirator, a partner ... I have wished that I was not alone, that I was not bearing the emotional and financial burdens by myself. For friends go home to their own troubles at the end of the day, home to their own joys - and often to their own partners, and that leaves me and the cat and the house in-progress. On our own." - Kate Whouley in COTTAGE FOR SALE, MUST BE MOVED If home is where the heart is, then Kate Whouley's COTTAGE FOR SALE is an eloquent narrative on the making of a home with occasional sidebars on the condition of her emotional heart. It's a more engaging book than I thought it would be for reasons I can't quite put my finger on except perhaps that, as a homeowner myself just finishing a complete kitchen remodel, much of it resonates. And Kate has a cat; we have three. Anyway, the story was hard to put down. The tale begins when Whouley sees an advert announcing uprooted vacation cottages for sale. One thing leads to another and, a year later, she has successfully grafted one on to her existing (tiny) home on Cape Cod. The rationale was that she needed extra space for a home-office. In COTTAGE FOR SALE, the reader follows the project, expensive both financially and emotionally, every step of the way to completion. Kate's finances take a big hit, and her emotions run the gamut from euphoria to frustration. (I hear ya on both! And regarding the frustrations of a remodel, I only hope there's a special place in Hell for dawdling contractors.) The book includes a section of B&W photographs taken over the course of the job. If she hadn't indicated in the text that she took so many at every opportunity, I would've judged the selection more than adequate. As it was, I thought too many crucial snaps were missing; that's my only niggling criticism. There's a thin but persistent heart string that weaves through the narrative that has its origin in the yearning that the single, 42-year old author has for someone to share her adventure: "I stare at the two windows, joined by a single white sill, and think back to my hopeful New Year's wishing. Wishing for a cottage, wishing for a man. Hoping the man would come if I made room for him." Thus, Kate finds herself with a crush on a couple of the construction crew workers. First, there's Rick, who operates the big crane that lifts her cottage off the flatbed transporter to deposit it on its new foundation. Size counts. Then there's Robert, a.k.a. Vito, who works with concrete, and to whom Kate loans a book on Tuscany: "... I imagine a date, a dinner date. Vito tells me what he has learned about Tuscany, and I sip a crisp white wine. Better yet, the wine is red and we are in Tuscany. We are seated across from each; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Might Have Been: A Novel; Author: Joe Schuster; Review: "He found himself in the back (of the 1977 edition of STREET & SMITH'S BASEBALL YEARBOOK), at the final entry of an appendix, 'Players with fewer than ten official at-bats,' his last name and first initial, a single game and a string of zeroes, save for the columns for batting average and slugging percentage, which simply read '--,' the equation a mathematical impossibility, zero-indivisible-by-zero. Still, that single impotent line was evidence he had been there." - Edward Everett, at age 60 THE MIGHT HAVE BEEN is, for the greater part, a melancholic if albeit thoroughly absorbing read. For those of us age sixty or above, it may perhaps provide pause for reflection. At 27 in 1976, Edward Everett Yates plays baseball for a triple-A farm team in the St. Louis Cardinals organization. It's his tenth year in pro ball. One day in July his dream to play in the Major Leagues is realized; he's called up to The Big Show. Soon thereafter, without even one official at bat, Edward sustains a devastating knee injury while going back to the outfield fence in an attempt to catch an opponent's long fly-ball in driving rain. Edward doesn't realize it as he crumbles to the outfield track, but life as he hopes it will evolve is over. In this marvelous first novel by Joseph Schuster, we follow along as Edward Everett's dreams die a slow and lingering death over the onslaught of years, professional choices that seemed right at the time, and a series of personal failures. Edward's character is enormously sympathetic; we may see him in ourselves. Certainly, the commonplace nature of his defeats and lost opportunities may very well mimic our own. Our hearts ache for Edward Everett Yates. As an added attraction for the pro baseball fan, THE MIGHT HAVE BEEN grimly depicts life at the bottom rung of the sport, the 1-A farm club, a world about which the average fan of that game's elite likely hasn't a clue. As one works through the novel's pages, the question lingers: Is there a chance for a lost dream's redemption? For Edward Everett's sake, and perhaps for the reader's own, one hopes so. At the very least and at one point, Edward gives voice to the trite admonition: "Be grateful for the life you have rather than regret over the one you don't." I loved this book for its treatment of one of life's universal themes.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Fair Game (A Dan Shepherd Mystery); Author: Visit Amazon's Stephen Leather Page; Review: "'Answer me one question, will you? ...You don't really work in human resources, do you?' ... Shepherd laughed as his feet left the deck and he headed upwards." - from FAIR GAME, and analogous to the question asked at the end of each television episode of the Lone Ranger Collection: "Who was that masked man?" "... they were South African mercenaries, and the last time (Shepherd had) seen them had been in Iraq. Joe Haschka had a shock of red hair and freckles across his nose and cheeks. He was a big man and was carrying a Kalashnikov." - from FAIR GAME, no doubt describing a handsome and lethal bloke. This, the eighth "Spider" Shepherd thriller, is probably the best in that it was the hardest of the lot to put down to date. And the fact that a certain mercenary made a brief, cameo appearance has nothing to do with it. With FAIR GAME, author Stephen Leather demonstrates that the series has truly matured. Somali piracy occasionally makes the news, though, since that wretched real estate on the world map has no oil, its endurance as a topic is fleeting. But one wonders why the mercantile nations whose citizens are held for ransom tolerate the annoyance, much less the loss of ships. Besides having a go at answering the question, Leather makes this high-seas rascality the basis for the main plot thread. Plus, he throws in a bit of al Qaeda terrorism and Irish nationalist extremism. And the villains of the piece, especially Crazy Boy and Roobie, are particularly vicious. Spider is the hunter, and, unbeknownst to him, also the hunted. It makes for a busy 9 to 5 for our hero. FAIR GAME is Shepherd's debut as an MI5 operative, having been, apparently, part of a package deal along with his boss, the beguiling Charlotte Button, transferring over from SOCA, the Serious Organized Crime Agency. (Hey, Stephen! How about a Charlie Button adventure! Maybe she could swoon for a certain South African mercenary. Stranger things have happened, yeah?) OK, well anyway ... One of the novel's less obvious attractions is what the reader learns about the operation of big - and I mean really BIG - container ships based on the experiences of the author who made a voyage on one for research purposes (during which, like Spider, he reportedly got waxed in ping-pong). Spider is a Hard Guy who, at the end of the book, is transformed into something even harder. This should make for brilliant future episodes (as long as Button appears somewhere in a Little Black Dress).; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Blues Man - Kindle edition; Author: Visit Amazon's Robin Webster Page; Review: THE BLUES MAN is a tale of treachery and internecine strife within the criminal element of London, England that specializes in prostitution and drugs. The hero, if he can be called such, is Leon Anderson, a small time drug peddler for whom a deal went wrong and prison followed. Once released, Leon vows to go legit, a determination helped along by playing Blues music, a talent he developed while Her Majesty's unwilling guest. But, when Anderson's best friend Denzel from the Bad Old Days is murdered, Leon is drawn back into the underworld on a revenge mission that becomes intertwined with the hunt for a missing courtesan. This crime thriller by Robin Webster is intricate enough to be mildly interesting but not riveting. At no time was there a plot twist so clever and startling as to make me sit up straighter in my chair and exclaim "Brilliant!" It also didn't help that I never got to like Leon much, though his persistence and street smarts were notable qualities. There was also the de rigueur love affair that seemed forced and unnecessary to the overall plot except to pad the book's length. The main reason I committed to reading THE BLUES MAN in the first place was its location in London, my very favorite city to date in the whole world (having also experienced such diverse locales as San Francisco, New York, Paris, Amsterdam, Miami, Rome, Jerusalem, Portland (OR), Hong Kong, Berlin, Washington (D.C.), Prague, Budapest, Moscow, Saint Petersburg (Russia), Warsaw, Chicago, Helsinki, Memphis, Lucerne, Seattle, New Orleans, Vienna, Salzburg, Salt Lake City, Copenhagen, Edinburgh, Las Vegas, Vancouver, Denver, San Diego, Boston, and, where I live, Los Angeles). I can't begin to rationally describe my affection for England's capital. Yet, THE BLUES MAN could just as well have played out in Camden, New Jersey for all the ambience of London that it imparted. (In contrast, consider the police procedural novels by Joseph Wambaugh set in Los Angeles; they positively exude City of the Angels.) THE BLUES MAN isn't a bad book. It's just not anything above average, in my opinion.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Necropolis: London and Its Dead; Author: Visit Amazon's Catharine Arnold Page; Review: "I see dead people." - from the film The Sixth Sense After reading NECROPOLIS by Catharine Arnold, I'm almost led to believe that turning over a shovelful of dirt in any of London's open spaces will yield a skull or two. It gives a whole new dimension to my favorite city. NECROPOLIS is a popular history of death and interment in England's capital. After a brief first chapter on how the Celts and Romans did it, the topic takes off, and the burial pits begin to overflow, with medieval visitations of the Plague. Indeed, it's the wretched nature of the ultimately overflowing inner-city graveyards that provides the reader with the most fascinating mind's-eye material. And the Yuk Factor is high. "The effluvia from Portugal Street (burial ground) were so offensive that people living in St. Clement's Lane were compelled to keep their windows closed. The walls of the Green Ground that adjoined the yards of local houses dripped with reeking fluid." Of course, corpses could always be recycled. "Medical ethics did not stretch to questioning the source of cadavers, and dead bodies were accepted on a 'don't ask, don't tell' basis. In some cases, medical students were asked to provide their own cadavers. Bodies were snatched from Tyburn Gallows, still warm, triggering riots ..." The author then focuses on the development of the great cemeteries that, to this day, ring the city like a necklace. Of course, many are no longer outside the city, which was the whole point of their establishment. But one gets the idea. Arnold also dedicates a significant portion of her book to the Victorian romantic concept of death - "Tennyson's Elaine hears death 'like a friend's voice from a distant field, approaching through the darkness.'" - and the elaborate burial rituals and opportunistic mortuary industry that evolved during the period, perhaps best exemplified by the state funerals for Admiral Lord Nelson and the Duke of Wellington. It was a mindset that only waned with the advent of cremation and was finally overwhelmed by the monumental death toll of the Great War and the influenza pandemic that followed immediately thereafter. NECROPOLIS is immensely informative in a relatively short space. So much so that, when writing of the development of the suburban cemeteries to relieve the pressure on the inner city graveyards, the book becomes maybe just slightly tedious. It's not so much "grimly entertaining" as just grim. And the total story is told with a bare minimum of humor - dry wit or otherwise - which I would've thought lent itself to the subject matter, or, at least, put more entertainment in the grim. NECROPOLIS is haphazardly sprinkled with roughly a dozen illustrations. More would've enhanced the text greatly and I'm knocking off a star for the missed opportunity. One other thing NECROPOLIS did accomplish was instill in me a desire to visit one or two of the great peripheral cemeteries on my next London visit, perhaps Abney Park and/or Highgate. As an avid travel photographer having previously visited Pere Lachaise in Paris, I've learned that such places; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: As We Are Now: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's May Sarton Page; Review: "Nobody stays special when they're old ... That's what we have to learn." - Caro, in AS WE ARE NOW "The only thing a tortured being asks is not to be tortured anymore." - Caro, in AS WE ARE NOW In AS WE ARE NOW by May Sarton, Caroline Spencer, at 76, is admitted to a rural "home" for the elderly, Twin Elms, by an older brother who himself is too aged and infirm to take care of her after she suffers a heart attack. Despite the frailness of age, "Caro" Spencer, a retired schoolteacher, is still mentally competent. Caro must share her new habitation with a handful of men who are mentally and physically worse off than she is. The only resident women are the caregivers, Harriet and her daughter Rose who, while perhaps (once) well-intentioned, are overworked and sometimes mean-spirited to the point of inflicting petty cruelties on their charges. As the reader follows Caro's first-person narrative through roughly six months at Twin Elms, the lesson of the story becomes clear: mental, emotional, and physical isolation, even when it is partially self-inflicted, is devastating, especially when suffered by the elderly shunted aside to society's margins. It's the last downward spiral from which there is no recovery. AS WE ARE NOW should give one pause when considering the nature of the care provided a physically compromised loved one in the sunset of life. (My own mother, at age 93, entirely bedridden for almost two years now, and requiring a live-in caregiver 24/7, is a situation close at hand. Happily, though such an adverb is relative concept under the circumstances, she remains in her own bed in her own house and the caregivers are gentle and kind.) As I myself get older (approaching 63), Sarton's book and similar works dealing with the perils of aging have begun to elicit a horrible fascination. One of the best ones I've come across is Remembering the Music, Forgetting the Words: Travels with Mom in the Land of Dementia by Kate Whouley, a true story, in which the plight of the afflicted is told from the perspective of the daughter that must arrange for care - two stories in one. AS WE ARE NOW is a window through which most would probably care not to peer too closely because it looks out upon a bleak and uncomfortable landscape which each of us may potentially have to traverse if left without any compassionate support network. Five stars, then, for the strength of its unflinching message.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: An American Spy (Milo Weaver); Author: Visit Amazon's Olen Steinhauer Page; Review: As a young lad in the late 1950s and early 60s, I learned to read voraciously. Several of my favorite books were those of Sax Rohmer's Fu Manchu series. Recently, I re-read the first installment, The Insidious Dr. Fu-Manchu, after many decades. Now, the plot seems a little silly, though it delights me no end that the series as a whole has since been condemned by the Political Correctness Police as promoting a racist and stereotypic picture of the Chinese. (Oh, puhleeeze; it was written in 1907. Get over it!) In any case, the plot of the series is the ongoing confrontation between the British Empire's colonial police commissioner Nayland Smith and the evil genius Fu-Manchu, the latter being the mastermind of a shadowy Chinese conspiracy to bring down the Empire and, perhaps also, the United States. (Rohmer kept strategic specificities of the threat hazy, but, presumably, the Empire's Far Eastern jewel-in-the-crown colony - India - was on the front line of exposure. It was, after all, shortly before the First World War and the Empire was at its height.) In the bad old days of the Cold War, the chief villain of Western espionage thrillers was, of course, the Red Menace of the U.S.S.R. led by the KGB. The Yellow Peril had somewhat receded into the background having been emasculated by World War Two and the subsequent Maoist revolution. After the disintegration of the Soviet Union, nothing has really taken its place in spy fiction; al-Qaeda makes an occasional appearance, but it's too stateless an enemy to really get traction in the genre. Now, with the emergence of China as an economic, and potentially military, power to threaten the U.S., it's not surprising to see the "Yellow Peril" emerge once again to threaten the West within the pages of a cloak and dagger potboiler. AN AMERICAN SPY is the first good example I've read. Here, author Olen Steinhauer continues his Milo Weaver series. Milo is a Tourist, an agent with a shadowy CIA unit specializing in super-clandestine wet work. By AN AMERICAN SPY, however, the Chinese spymaster Colonel Xin Zhu has literally wiped out the Department of Tourism by killing thirty-three of its agents in a brilliant operation. Weaver is left recovering from a gunshot wound to the stomach, the Department disbanded, and its head, Alan Drummond, in disgrace. Milo now wants nothing more than to lead a normal life with his family, but Alan wants revenge against his nemesis and sucks Weaver back into a plot against Zhu. Like Weaver, the reader is swept along in an intricate, multi-layered tale, the end game of which remains hidden from all except the one controlling events. But who is that, exactly? At one point early on, I thought I knew the direction of the story - but I was oh so wrong. It's the continual guessing that keeps you turning the pages. Olen Steinhauer, and American well acquainted with Central and Eastern Europe (because he lives there), brings to American readers a fresh perspective on the region as he here gives the; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Moby-Duck: The True Story of 28,800 Bath Toys Lost at Sea & of the Beachcombers, Oceanograp hers, Environmentalists; Author: Visit Amazon's Donovan Hohn Page; Review: (Note: This review is of the hardcover edition by Viking.) "Little boys, the thinking went, were naturally indisposed to bathing. Bath toys not only made hygiene boyishly fun; they helped over come the naughty urges that bathing tended to arouse: 'The baby will not spend much time handling his genitals if he has other interesting things to do,' one government-issue child-care manual advised in 1942. 'See to it that he has a toy to play with and he will not need to use his body as a plaything.' Enter the rubber duck." - from MOBY-DUCK When reviewing a book, I normally don't bother with its subtitle. However, in the case of MOBY-DUCK by Donovan Hohn, I must: THE TRUE STORY OF 28,800 BATH TOYS LOST AT SEA AND THE BEACHCOMBERS, OCEANOGRAPHERS, ENVIRONMENTALISTS, AND FOOLS, INCLUDING THE AUTHOR, WHO WENT IN SEARCH OF THEM. Really? The book's front cover artwork shows three cute, yellow, plastic duckies riding the waves of the open sea. That, with the subtitle, strongly suggests the text will tell the story of a whimsical, perhaps quixotic, quest by a multi-disciplinary force to rescue the cute bath toys from some awful oblivion. The story starts promisingly enough when Hohn indeed tells us that 28,800 bath toys - 7,200 each of red beavers, green frogs, blue turtles and yellow ducks - washed overboard into the Northern Pacific from the container ship "Ever Laurel" on January 10, 1992. The author learned of the story in 2005, and thus began his nearly three-year obsession with the subject. MOBY-DUCK is divided into six "chases", the first being the author's personal attempt to find any of the toys washed ashore along Alaska's Inside Passage. Fair enough. However, chases two through six then broaden to encompass the general mass of plastic shore debris at Gore Point on the Gulf of Alaska, the incidence of water-borne plastic rubbish off the southernmost shore of Hawaii, an examination of the plastic toy industry of Dongguan, China (where the 28,800 toys in question were manufactured), a recounting of the author's own voyage on the container ship "Ottawa" across the Northern Pacific from Pusan to Seattle, and finally, maritime excursions into the Northwest Passage on, first, a Woods Hole oceanographic research vessel, and then a Canadian Coast Guard ice-breaker, to explore the topics of underwater currents and the extent of the ice pack, respectively. (Both currents and northern ice would influence an appearance, or not, of the lost bath toys on America's eastern shores - an event much hoped for by the author to have been or be realized.) Trust me. Only Hohn is preoccupied with the rubber ducks, and then only as they provide a thin thread of connection between the chases. The beachcombers, oceanographers, and environmentalists don't care much; they have their own agendas. To that extent, the books subtitle is grossly misleading. Having said that, however, MOBY-DUCK is a somewhat interesting, albeit esoteric, travel essay to which I might award four stars if it wasn't for one Fatal Flaw; there is no photographic section. On a prefatory page; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Packing for Mars: The Curious Science of Life in the Void; Author: Visit Amazon's Mary Roach Page; Review: "To find out what would happen to a man alone in the cosmos, at some point you just had to lob one up there." - from PACKING FOR MARS For any reader who grew up with the U.S. space program, from the Mercury flights through Gemini, Apollo and the shuttle missions, PACKING FOR MARS by Mary Roach should prove vastly entertaining and informally instructive. But, those are the author's trademarks; I'll read anything she writes. PACKING FOR MARS is Mary's look at life and survival in space. And not from a space hardware and computer software perspective, but from the aspects of everyday human physiology and psychology in ways we can all appreciate. And in a manner that's a far cry from the sanitized, mission status reports issued for public consumption by image-conscious NASA between launch and landing. As with all her other books, Roach's focus is on the science of the thing. In this case, what will hopefully allow one human being to sleep, eat, exercise, urinate, defecate, and bathe (or not) in the presence of one or more other human beings in very tight quarters under zero-gravity conditions with no exit door to the parking lot and your ride home. One needs to be able to get along well with others. Remember, a Mars mission will be a three-year round trip; that's a lot of getting-along. And speaking of getting along, Mary also investigates the history of and potential for naughty sexual behavior in space. Missions are co-ed, after all. Certainly, the psychological hardship is perhaps the worst part of space time. As described to Roach: "You're sleep-deprived, and you have to fly perfectly or else you don't fly anymore. As soon as you're done with something, ground control is telling you something else to do. The bathroom stinks, and you have noise all the time. You can't open a window. You can't go home, you can't be with your family, you can't relax. And you're not well paid. Can you get a worse job than that?" Mary's great talent as a journalist and writer is that she takes her subject matter seriously, but not too seriously. If her narrative was spoken in person rather than written, she would be sure to occasionally cock an eyebrow and give her listeners a wink as she shares the stories and facts she's uncovered. Indeed, this author of Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers,Spook: Science Tackles the Afterlife, and Bonk: The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex would be on my list of the ten guests I'd most want at my dinner party.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Playing for Pizza; Author: Visit Amazon's John Grisham Page; Review: As John Grisham explains in an Author's Note, he discovered, while researching another book, the existence of American-style football in Italy operating under the guise of the Italian Football League. The IFL even has its own version of the Super Bowl. Apparently, the author thought this enough of an oddity that it could serve as the basis for a one-off novel. Thus, PLAYING FOR PIZZA. Here, the third-string quarterback for the Cleveland Browns, Rick Dockery, single-handedly wrests a dramatic defeat from the jaws of sure victory in the AFC Championship game. Immediately cut from the Browns, Dockery is advised by his agent to get out of town before he's lynched. Indeed, perhaps he should make himself scarce from the U.S. entirely as no other franchise will now sign him. To make the exit easier, the agent finds Rick a gig with the IFL's Parma Panthers, which is soon to begin its eight-game season and will pay for an NFL QB. Prudence being the better part of valor, and also faced with a paternity suit, Dockery dusts off his passport and packs his bags. Besides, his agent indicates that Parma has cheerleaders. As it turns out, the Panthers have no cheerleaders. PLAYING FOR PIZZA isn't great literature. It's not even a great trashy novel. It is, however, an undemanding, predictable, and congenial tale of an immature and marginally talented athlete who grows up while rediscovering a love for the game. It's perfect for mindless reading over the lunch hour during the interminable baseball season. PLAYING FOR PIZZA may also have an attraction for anyone who's dreamed of living and working in a foreign country (as I have), as well as any current NFL signal caller who needs a change of venue and Canadian or arena football just isn't an option. (Tebow should note that Italy has an abundance of churches.) PLAYING FOR PIZZA falls somewhere between 3 and 4 stars, but closer to the latter.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Playing for Pizza; Author: Visit Amazon's John Grisham Page; Review: As John Grisham explains in an Author's Note, he discovered, while researching another book, the existence of American-style football in Italy operating under the guise of the Italian Football League. The IFL even has its own version of the Super Bowl. Apparently, the author thought this enough of an oddity that it could serve as the basis for a one-off novel. Thus, PLAYING FOR PIZZA. Here, the third-string quarterback for the Cleveland Browns, Rick Dockery, single-handedly wrests a dramatic defeat from the jaws of sure victory in the AFC Championship game. Immediately cut from the Browns, Dockery is advised by his agent to get out of town before he's lynched. Indeed, perhaps he should make himself scarce from the U.S. entirely as no other franchise will now sign him. To make the exit easier, the agent finds Rick a gig with the IFL's Parma Panthers, which is soon to begin its eight-game season and will pay for an NFL QB. Prudence being the better part of valor, and also faced with a paternity suit, Dockery dusts off his passport and packs his bags. Besides, his agent indicates that Parma has cheerleaders. As it turns out, the Panthers have no cheerleaders. PLAYING FOR PIZZA isn't great literature. It's not even a great trashy novel. It is, however, an undemanding, predictable, and congenial tale of an immature and marginally talented athlete who grows up while rediscovering a love for the game. It's perfect for mindless reading over the lunch hour during the interminable baseball season. PLAYING FOR PIZZA may also have an attraction for anyone who's dreamed of living and working in a foreign country (as I have), as well as any current NFL signal caller who needs a change of venue and Canadian or arena football just isn't an option. (Tebow should note that Italy has an abundance of churches.) PLAYING FOR PIZZA falls somewhere between 3 and 4 stars, but closer to the latter.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Gone Girl; Author: Visit Amazon's Gillian Flynn Page; Review: "But I know I'll never sleep again. I can't close my eyes when I'm next to her. It's like sleeping with a spider." - Nick Dunne "Isn't that what every marriage is, anyway? Just a lengthy game of he-said, she-said?" - Amy Elliott Dunne GONE GIRL by Gillian Flynn is a deliciously unnerving novel of a marriage gone badly askew. The plot begins "the day of" as bar owner Nick Dunne discovers his wife has disappeared when, after being telephoned by a neighbor that his home's front door is open and Bleecker the cat is sitting on the front porch, he returns to find wife Amy gone. There are signs of a struggle in the living room. Thus begins Nick's half of the first-person narrative. Alternating with segments of Nick's tale are entries from Amy's diary beginning seven years previous in 2005. The two timelines eventually merge. The first half of GONE GIRL is a riveting Who-Dunne-It. Then, that question answered, the last half is a fascinating exercise in subdued dread - perhaps that same disbelieving unease felt when, purely by chance, you notice a cold and calculating look directed your way by the spouse when he/she is slicing a piece of raw meat with a razor-sharp knife. You thought you knew him/her so well. And maybe he/she knows you too well. What makes GONE GIRL so good, besides the ingeniously rendered intrigue, is the fact that it's not so farfetched. After all, who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men ... and women. As you consider your wife or husband, can you be certain of your continuing safety in the presumed sanctuary of the home you've made together? Is the Trojan Horse the Beamer he/she drives into the garage at night?; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Christmas Train; Author: Visit Amazon's David Baldacci Page; Review: Inside the pages of THE CHRISTMAS TRAIN, writer Tom Langdon gets the urge to travel from Washington, D.C. to Los Angeles by way of Chicago on Amtrak's long-haul passenger trains. (Actually, since an unfortunate incident with an airport TSA screener resulted in his being banned from using the airlines for two years, his choice of travel mode was limited, and river barge wasn't on the list.) So, why not use the opportunity to gather information for a book? The first third of this novel by David Baldacci led me to conclude that THE CHRISTMAS TRAIN was meant, for the most part, to be a tribute to and promo piece for the transcontinental rail experience. Certainly, while the story as a whole is fiction, the Capital Limited and Southwest Chief trains that Tom rode upon are real. And I myself have traveled on the latter often enough to know that Baldacci's descriptions of a Superliner's sleeper and lounge cars are right on. Indeed, as I told the wife, I've a yearning to ride the tracks again ... perhaps the Empire Builder from Chicago to Portland. (I've gone so far as to research the schedule and fare structure.) Had the author written this piece as a straight forward, non-fiction, travel essay, I think it might have come off better. As it was, however, the contrived plot degenerates into a Journey Improbable, which, while congenial enough, just didn't deliver for me what it initially promised. I'm sure other readers, focusing primarily on the varied cast of characters and the storyline with the trains serving simply as props, will judge this book more favorably than I, for whom it became just harmlessly silly. Do I recommend an "all aboard!" this train? Mmm ... no. Wait for the next departure.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Complete Western Stories of Elmore Leonard; Author: Visit Amazon's Elmore Leonard Page; Review: Published in 2007, the 546-page COMPLETE WESTERN STORIES OF ELMORE LEONARD is a both compendium of the author's early writings and a tribute to an era when cowboys, gunslingers, outlaws, and troublesome redskins dominated both pulp fiction and the black and white television airwaves. For those familiar with and fans of Leonard's contemporary crime fiction, who would've thought he had a previous life as a Western storyteller? That's what intrigued me and compelled me to work my way through this monster volume even though I generally have little interest in sagebrush sagas. (The last Western I read, Sackett (The Sacketts, No 4), was the result of precarious circumstance, and, long before that, it was something or other by Larry McMurtry.) This volume is comprised of thirty-one yarns, the first penned for Argosy magazine in 1951, and the last appearing in 1994 in New Trails, an anthology of Western writers. Twenty-seven of the tales were written between 1951 and 1956. All take place in the Arizona and New Mexico Territories, and most, I gather, are set in the 1870s. The aggregate cast of characters includes just about all the usual personae one encounters in the genre: hard-working cowpoke, rustler, stage robber, small-time rancher, Army scout, junior cavalry officer, lawman, hidden treasure seeker, drifter, buffalo hunter, and marauding savage. (Um, sorry. In PC-speak, the last one would be "misunderstood and oppressed Native American.") Perhaps the only types that I would've expected to appear but didn't were the shifty gambler concealing an ace and a derringer and the saloon girl of easy virtue with a heart of gold. Intrepid females appear only infrequently, and only then in supporting roles. Also not present on the vast stage is the itinerant quick-draw gunslinger who rides into town eager to enhance his reputation with another notch on his pistol grip - perhaps because such are more a figment of popular myth than actuality. The first of the volume's storylines are what might be expected considering the time and place, i.e. confrontations between the U.S. Army and/or its civilian scouts and the Apaches. But the plots gradually become more nuanced until they include tensions arising in both burgeoning and failed male-female relationships, and examination of the niches occupied by Whites and Blacks in the social hierarchy of the period. Almost needless to say, all the stories are mini-morality plays, and perhaps the most satisfying revolve around that old saw: Don't get mad, get even. Perhaps my favorite one in the book has that theme: "Moment of Vengeance." What I liked most about COMPLETE WESTERN STORIES as a whole was that so many of the tales' outcomes are completely unexpected and the individual characters aren't simply interchangeable cookie-cutter creations slotted-in to complete some formulaic narrative. Even though all stories in this anthology don't rate five stars, I'm awarding the maximum to the whole because it grandly evokes a genre that is today pretty much neglected.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: My Afghanistan: Before the Taliban; Author: Visit Amazon's Jean Boyce Page; Review: "There was nowhere in the country where an American, even a woman alone, could not have traveled at any time in perfect safety ... The only danger was to be mistaken for an Englishman." - from MY AFGHANISTAN "... there was no way to protect dinner on its way to us (from the outside kitchen) from flies that swarmed around the open sewers running along every street." - from MY AFGHANISTAN Kabul Tummy, indeed! In the adventure of a lifetime, 23-year old Jean Boyce and her husband Walter contracted with the Afghan Ministry of Education to teach at an English-language school in Kabul from the fall of 1948 to December 1949. At that point in time, the British had been expelled from the country since the peace treaty that ended the Third Anglo-Afghan War in 1919, the Soviet invasion was still thirty years away, and Barack Obama's war even further into the future. The Afghans felt nothing but friendly good-will towards Americans. (Gee, who would've thought?) MY AFGHANISTAN is Jean's memoir of the adventure reconstructed and published after her death in 2009 by her daughter, Ann Harris Boyce, from her mother's diary and letters. The book is a dual love affair - Jean with Afghanistan, and Ann with her mother's legacy. Indeed, the reader is provided relatively little insight into Walter's perception of the months spent in Kabul, perhaps not surprising in light of the marital difficulties the couple experienced during the period. (Walter committed suicide in 1968; Jean remarried in 1974.) Jean's innocence abroad exhibits much of the same charm found in Our Hearts Were Young and Gay: An Unforgettable Comic Chronicle of Innocents Abroad in the 1920s by Cornelia Otis Skinner. It's also just as superficial; Jean never does much more than skim the surface of the alien culture she comes to love, and much of her affection seems to be of India rather than Afghanistan. However, this doesn't detract from the book's overall appeal. MY AFGHANISTAN is liberally sprinkled with slightly blurry, black and white photographs evidently taken by Jean herself or her traveling companions. (I can't tell you how much more this causes me to appreciate the 10-megapixel digital camera with which I take travel snaps!) Unfortunately, the volume doesn't contain even the most rudimentary map of the region. MY AFGHANISTAN is a story of foreign fascination and discovery in a more congenial time before America's collision with the Taliban, al-Qaeda, IEDs, and another seemingly endless conflict in a supremely thorny place. Just ask the British and the Russians how that worked out.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: A Blaze of Glory: A Novel of the Battle of Shiloh; Author: Visit Amazon's Jeff Shaara Page; Review: (Note: This review is of an advance uncorrected proof.) "Hold on men, men. For God's sake. You have to hold. Today, this is all we have left. It's my last line." - General Grant, approaching sundown on April 6, 1862 "Bauer ... picked his way past lumps of charred corpses, struggled through the smell. Close to him, one man moved his arm, waved, called out, and Bauer couldn't look away, saw the man's hand a stump of black, stripped of fingers." - Private Fritz Bauer, 16th Wisconsin, charging Confederate positions on Day 2 of the Battle of Shiloh over ground lost and burned over the day before In April of 1862, Major General U.S. Grant moved his Army of the Tennessee by boats up the Tennessee River and disembarked it at Pittsburg Landing, where it encamped preparatory to moving south to capture the vital rail junction at Corinth, Mississippi. Not expecting the Confederates to attack his massed force, Grant neglected to order his division commanders to entrench. On April 6, the Rebel army commanded by General Albert Sidney Johnston overran the Union camps. By sundown, Grant's troops were being forced back to the river, many in panic. The novel A BLAZE OF GLORY by Jeff Shaara is the first book of a trilogy on the Civil War in the West. It seems to me, a casual student of that conflict - having previously read the accounts by Shelby Foote and James McPherson and toured the Shiloh battlefield - that this volume gives a complete and accurate, albeit condensed, version of the battle. The story is told from the perspective of those opposing generals directing troop movements on a division scale - principally Johnston and Beauregard for the "secesh" and Grant and Sherman for the Federals - as well as from those at the point of the bayonet or saber, i.e. Bauer of the 16th Wisconsin and Lt. Seeley of Nathan Bedford Forrest's cavalry respectively. As near as I can tell from the Afterword, Bauer (and his buddy Willis) are fictional individuals injected into the story to represent the infantry's experience on the ground - a truly gruesome affair. Shaara has crafted an absorbing and riveting narrative. Unfortunately, this being a pre-publication copy, the eleven battlefield maps to be included in the published edition are absent. If the quality of these maps proves similar to those in the author's The Final Storm: A Novel of the War in the Pacific, which ranged from marginal to abysmal, then A BLAZE OF GLORY will not rate more than the four stars I've awarded. If, however, they demonstrate the excellence of those in Pea Ridge: Civil War Campaign in the West and Champion Hill: Decisive Battle for Vicksburg, those in the latter being the best I've ever seen, then this book will ratchet up a notch. I gather from the Afterword that the second installment will be about the capture of Vicksburg. I look forward to it.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: American Riff eBook; Author: Visit Amazon's Jameson Parker Page; Review: In AMERICAN RIFF, California news journalist Brian Fletcher is in the nation's capital to bury his Mom - and pick-up from her lawyer a mysterious envelope. Within minutes of the hand-off, the lawyer and his secretary are murdered, and the office ransacked, by a pair of heavies observed by Brian to leave in a black sedan tagged (as he eventually learns) with government plates. Fletcher almost immediately comprehends that he must run for his life from murderous goons, which, as the reader soon learns, are controlled by a troika of high ranking elected officials who want what's in that pesky envelope. So, once again in the genre of thriller fiction, an otherwise law-abiding John Q. Citizen is pursued by sinister elements of the Federal government not the Internal Revenue Service. Gee, really? If you're only just beginning a life of reading, or all you've read to date are bodice-ripper romances, fantasy sci-fi, and/or sagebrush sagas, then the main plot of AMERICAN RIFF might be fresh. Otherwise, after having read many potboilers with the same general theme, it may very well seem repetitive - with an emphatic "R". It wasn't until I was about 70% done with Jameson Parker's novel that I began to get engaged - albeit reluctantly, although not with any aspect of the main thread. Rather, as Brian flees across the country to find haven with his girlfriend Chela, he encounters eccentric and fascinating characters that provide sidebars of interest. Especially the rail-riding hobo. It's only for this reason that I'm grudgingly awarding four stars up from a yawn-induced three. Fletcher perhaps has the potential for continued life in an ongoing series if Jameson elects to make the effort. Our hero has, I suspect, hidden talents left unexploited in AMERICAN RIFF inasmuch as he's a former Army military policeman. (Lee Child's Jack Reacher needn't be worried, though; Brian isn't cut from the same khaki cloth.) And then there's Chela, made even more alluring with her switchblade. Those less jaded than I may very well find AMERICAN RIFF a terrific and entertaining diversion. And that's cool.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Squeezed: Rear-Ended by American Politics; Author: Visit Amazon's J. C. Bourque Page; Review: "For the Middle, someone is complaining about 100% of everything, all the time." - from SQUEEZED "When I get up in the morning it never occurs to me to get dressed, go outside, and accost strangers on the street to wag my finger in their faces." - from SQUEEZED In SQUEEZED, author J.C. Bourque expresses the frustrations of the Silent Majority - or the "Middle" - with the loud, unceasing, and often hysterical proselytizations that emanate from both the Left Wing Extremists (LWE) and Right Wing Extremists (RWE) on a daily - indeed, perhaps hourly - basis. It's no surprise the book was published in 2011 as the next Presidential election campaign begins to ramp up. SQUEEZED is humorous social commentary. Actually, most of the book is a rant, albeit containing multiple nuggets of common sense. And, as Bourque himself admits, there's also a hearty dose of drivel. But that doesn't make it any the less appealing for those of us who sigh with slumping shoulders when faced with the True Believer on our doorstep hawking his/her version of The Messiah, or when approached at the supermarket by the signature-gatherer for the latest Pro-Life or Gay Rights emergency petition to address some Outrage, or when harangued to support a particular candidate's Vision for America. One of the most endearing aspects of SQUEEZED is the author's willingness to poke fun at his own diatribe, something certainly not seen in your average, self-righteous, strident pedant on the politically polarized airwaves or in such published doctrinaire missives that the authors intend we take oh so seriously. To be honest, tomorrow I won't remember anything in particular from SQUEEZED. Why, I'll likely forget it all in an hour or so. But it really doesn't make any difference because while immersed in its pages I was amused - chuckles interspersed with the occasional "You got that right!" or "Don't let the bastards get you down!" And the views Bourque opines are pretty much mine anyway; I just prefer to stay silent and go about the business of getting through each day with some sense of mundane responsibilities met leavened with a modicum, at least, of enjoyment.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Ends of the Earth: From Togo to Turkmenistan, from Iran to; Author: Visit Amazon's Robert D. Kaplan Page; Review: "The more I read about a place and about issues that affect it, the more I feel I am traveling alone. In an age of mass tourism, adventure becomes increasingly an inner matter, where reading can transport you to places that others only a few feet away will never see." - Robert Kaplan in THE ENDS OF THE EARTH "The air had that dense and dirty fish-tank quality of the poor and crowded tropics: garbage, stray dogs, and crying babies." - Robert Kaplan in THE ENDS OF THE EARTH, on arriving in Cambodia. THE ENDS OF THE EARTH: A JOURNEY TO THE FRONTIERS OF ANARCHY by Robert Kaplan will likely not serve as the itinerary for the next overseas tour organized by your retirement community's activities committee. Or, at least you would so think unless the community's HOA has the residents contemplating a paroxysm of purging anarchy anyway. Kaplan's tortuous route includes West Africa (Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo), the Egyptian Nile Valley, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Iran, Central Asia (Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Chinese Turkestan, Pakistan), India, and Indochina (Thailand, Laos, Cambodia) - not exactly a casual saunter down Piccadilly. I got exhausted just reading about it. To determine these countries' potential for anarchy, the author's self-described method was: "All I could do was poke around and use my intuition." And this approach, energetically and intelligently applied, resulted in at least one nugget of wisdom which stood out for me and surely holds truth even today: "... in an age of localized mini-holocausts, decisive action in one sphere will not necessarily help the victims in another. People will either solve or alleviate their problems at the local level ... or they won't." THE ENDS OF THE EARTH was published in 1997, so perhaps it can be assumed that much of what Kaplan observes is now, fifteen years later, outdated. However, the book almost compels the reader to compare Robert's conclusions with what is occurring at these ends of the earth in contemporary times, particularly in those countries that dominate so much of the news lately, e.g. Egypt, Iran, and Pakistan. Plus, his insights could also be applied to countries he didn't visit but which are now in turmoil of one sort or another: Libya, Syria, Iraq, and Greece. For me, a successful travel narrative either makes me want to catch the first plane out or vow to avoid a place at all costs. With the exception of Turkey - at least Istanbul - and Thailand, I wouldn't, from Kaplan's descriptions, visit any of these countries on a bet. So, by that measure, THE ENDS OF THE EARTH is a great success. The volume contains no photos, unfortunately, but it does include seven reasonably useful maps. Though dated, THE ENDS OF THE EARTH is worth your time.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Give Me a Break: How I Exposed Hucksters, Cheats, and Scam Artists and Became the Scourge of the Liberal; Author: Visit Amazon's John Stossel Page; Review: "Don't get mad, get even." - Robert F. Kennedy "The regulators believe zero risk is possible, and given the chance, they will bankrupt the world trying to achieve it. The cost and the delays don't worry them: They're doing this for your own good." - from GIVE ME A BREAK "Businesses often twist science to make money. Lawyers do it to win cases. Political activists distort science to fit their agenda, bureaucrats to protect their turf. Reporters keep falling for it ... Scientists sometimes go along with it because they like being famous." - from GIVE ME A BREAK "... the busybodies who want to run other people's lives have more political clout. They make the rules because they lobby harder than the people who just want to be left alone. And in the political arena, the winners get to tell everyone else what they can do." - from GIVE ME A BREAK The author of GIVE ME A BREAK, John Stossel, began life as an Emmy-winning but nave television journalist. Then, as he describes in the book, he got street-smart and evolved into a libertarian. Now, he criticizes Big Government, and he doesn't win Emmy awards anymore. There's a moral there somewhere. In a nutshell, GIVE ME A BREAK is Stossel's explanation of how special interest groups distort facts to further their agendas. Then of course, the biggest special interest group of them all, the Government, uses its power to force its agenda on you, depriving you of choices, confiscating your money, and reducing the efficiency of the free enterprise system. This book, like Squeezed: Rear-Ended by American Politics by J.C. Bourque, is a rant that will justifiably make you - if you have libertarian tendencies - mad. Unfortunately, if you'd rather spend the energy not on getting mad but getting even, neither really tell you how. But, both volumes are entertaining and enlightening in the short run.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Empire; Author: Jeremy S Paxman; Review: "Anyone who has grown up or grown old in Britain since the Second World War has done so in an atmosphere of irresistible decline to the point where now Britain's imperial history is no more than the faint smell of mothballs in a long-unopened wardrobe. Its evidence is all around us, but who cares?" - from EMPIRE: WHAT RULING THE WORLD DID TO THE BRITISH "When India became independent in August 1947, the Empire lost four out of five of its citizens and freedom beckoned for all the others: Without India, the Empire was no more than a sounding gong." - from EMPIRE: WHAT RULING THE WORLD DID TO THE BRITISH I acquired a fondness for England early. Growing up in my demographic - white, upper-middle class - in Southern California in the 1950s, it's not surprising that I was exposed to the tales of Robin Hood, King Arthur, and Sherlock Holmes by parents who loved to read. Moreover, while attending Catholic elementary school, the nuns instilled a horrible fascination with Henry VIII, who beheaded wives and wrenched England from the embrace of the Holy Mother Church. (Dude!) And, while collecting stamps, my perception soon expanded to Great Britain and the Empire. There were so many little, gummed pieces of paper from a multitude of faraway, exotic places with the young Queen's image on them! But even by then, the Empire was dissolving, India having gone its own way two years before I was born. But I wasn't aware of it. EMPIRE by Jeremy Paxman is an intelligent and congenial discourse on the sociological effects on the British of possessing an Empire. Mind you, it's not, nor claims to be, a chronological history of the imperium, though the scope of the book is from beginning to end of the Empire's golden age. The author is quite candid about a significant portion of the early Empire's financial underpinnings, i.e. the trade in slaves and opium. However, Paxman also points out that, once the British government took over administration of the foreign territories from the great trading houses and put it into the fairly reliable hands of the stolid colonial officers recruited from the home island's middle class eager to serve Queen and country, the British Empire wasn't a necessarily bad empire to be ruled by as far as such go; it left many valuable legacies (as exemplified in Road through Kurdistan: The Narrative of an Engineer in Iraq). It was only after the Second World War that a growing sentiment among the British public of "Why bother?" acted as a catalyst to bring the Empire low. Occasionally, the author injects a bit of wry humor: "Even those who had arrived in (India) as bachelors had only to wait for the longed-for cold season and the arrival of what later became known as the Fishing Fleet - young women from the home country out to net themselves a husband from among the single men serving in India ... The women who failed to find anyone suitable went back to England, nicknamed 'returned empties'." A; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Pobby and Dingan; Author: Visit Amazon's Ben Rice Page; Review: "... to believe in something which is hard to see ... to keep looking for something which is totally hard to find." - from the last line of POBBY AND DINGAN At ninety-four pages, POBBY AND DINGAN may be the shortest best book you'll read all year. Rex Williamson, living with his wife and two children - daughter Kellyanne and son Ashmol, is an independent but struggling opal miner in Lightning Ridge, Australia. (Lightning Ridge is a real place; Actor Paul Hogan was born there.) Kellyanne has two imaginary boy and girl friends, Pobby and Dingan respectively, who eat only Violet Crumble and Cherry Ripe candy bars. Her insistence on their reality drives her father and older brother to distraction, and the latter to occasional meanness. Mum is more understanding. The crisis of the story occurs when Pobby and Dingan "disappear", and Kellyanne becomes convinced that they're dead, which results in her falling into a deepening depression that becomes life threatening. Ashmol concludes that to restore his little sister to health he must find her two pals. But where to start looking? POBBY AND DINGAN by Ben Rice is a rather whimsical literary exercise on the power of imagination to transform lives that is both elegantly simple and simply elegant. Actually, it's brilliant. In 1950, Jimmy Stewart starred in the film Harvey, in which he plays a middle-aged man whose best friend is a 6' 3.5" tall white rabbit, a pooka, which only he can see. It is, in my opinion, Stewart's most endearing role, better even than that in It's A Wonderful Life. Were POBBY AND DINGAN to be adapted to the Big Screen for the art house circuit, I can't help but believe it would be just as charming as Stewart's gentle and touching film. This is Rice's first novel; one can only hope for more.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Gunsights; Author: Visit Amazon's Elmore Leonard Page; Review: "To fail to discharge. Used of a firearm." - from THE AMERICAN HERITAGE COLLEGE DICTIONARY definition of "misfire" Last May, I read and thoroughly enjoyed The Complete Western Stories of Elmore Leonard, thirty-one relatively brief and straight forward morality plays set in the Arizona and New Mexico Territories in the 1870s. Since my exposure to the Western genre has historically been books written mostly by Larry McMurtry, I was impressed by the maturation of character and plot development over the forty-three years during which Leonard wrote his thirty-one sagebrush shorts. So, I decided to sample one of his full-length works, GUNSIGHTS, copyrighted in 1979. Here, early on, Lieutenant Brendan Early of the 10th Cavalry and his scout, Dana Moon, face off in 1887 under unusual circumstances against a gang of rustlers led by a truly unsavory character, Phil Sundeen, and the latter barely escapes with his life. Six years later, Early is a major stockholder in, and the Southwest Region Coordinating Manager of, the LaSalle Mining Company, while Moon is the Indian Agent at the White Tanks Apache reservation. Some Apaches have gone off the reservation to set up homesteads in the Rincon Mountains, to which LaSalle owns the mineral rights. The owner of the company, without consulting Early, hires Sundeen and a bunch of armed thugs to come in and run-off the common folk. (We've seen this general theme before, most notably in the Western films Shane,Open Range, and Pale Rider.) Obviously, GUNSIGHTS contains elements of both revenge and the loyalties inspired by close friendship. There are moral decisions to be made here. The first two thirds of the book are taut and gritty. Both major and minor characters are deftly developed. The plot's apparent direction led this reader to expect a knuckle-biting showdown. I stood amazed at how steadily the storyline unraveled over the last hundred pages. Indeed, the conclusion was, for me, an anticlimactic misfire caused by a minor, previously unmentioned character - you'll know him when he appears, if you read the novel - that left me staring stupidly at the pages thinking "Huh?" Fans of Leonard, and this book in particular, will shoot back that I inexplicably just don't get it. You're right; I don't. OK, I think I'll just saddle-up Old Hoss and ride on.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Doc: A Novel; Author: Mark Bramhall (Narrator) Mary Doria Russ; Review: "She is weary of life with a man who has been dying for years and cannot seem to finish the job. The strain of a long illness will exhaust the most compassionate." - Doc Holliday on his longtime companion, Kate, as told in DOC The gunfight at the O.K. Corral in Tombstone, AZ in October 1881 has become part of America's Western mythology - for literary and visual treatments of the event, see The Last Gunfight: The Real Story of the Shootout at the O.K. Corral-And How It Changed the American West,Wyatt Earp and Tombstone - wherein the Earp brothers face-off against the Clanton and McLaury brothers. Shooting alongside the Earps in this deadly kerfuffle was their friend John Henry "Doc" Holliday, D.D.S, who, at least to a casual student of the affair such as me, has always been sort of a bit player of unknown provenance. Yes, I know he was a dentist/gambler afflicted with tuberculosis, but that's about it. While many facts of Holliday's life and death are known, embellished to some degree by a perhaps undeserved reputation as a killer, there seems to be little on record about his personality. In DOC, author Mary Doria Russell, apparently after much research, endeavors to flesh-out this aspect of the man, albeit via a work of fiction. Russell begins and ends her book with single chapters that give the highlights of Doc's life before and after her story's main stage, Dodge City, KS in 1878, at which time and place Holliday befriends the Earps, particularly Wyatt and Morgan, when the latter two are deputy city marshals and Doc is both practicing dentistry and gambling. The gunfight at the O.K. Corral is given short shrift in the last chapter, in case you're wondering. The strengths of the author's tale are several. Russell populates her story with a wealth of characters, some fictional and some real, to create a rich tapestry. In its opulence, DOC reminds me of Western yarns by Larry McMurtry, e.g. Lonesome Dove: A Novel. Since reality and fiction blend here in Dodge City, Mary thoughtfully provides a list of the players in which she distinguishes the historic from the imaginary. The author is particularly adept at portraying the nuances of relationships, especially those involving Wyatt and Doc, Wyatt and his common-law-wife Mattie Blaylock, Doc and Morgan, and Doc and his on-again, off-again companion "Kate" Harony. Indeed, Russell seems particularly fascinated with Kate; she ends the book describing Harony's last years before she died in Prescott, AZ in 1940, fifty-three years after Doc's own death of tuberculosis, apparently revering Holliday to the grave. Contrary to popular myth, the author paints law-enforcement in the West's wilder towns as something less dramatic than constant pistol duels in the street. Rather, in Dodge City, keeping the peace more usually involved bashing rowdy cowboys on the side of the head with gun butt or sap. Of more danger to the peace officer were the political shoals to be navigated in the overlapping jurisdictions of federal marshal, county sheriff, and city marshal - a potentially problematic; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: City of Thieves: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's David Benioff Page; Review: "One (market) stall sold glasses of dirt for one hundred rubles each - Badayev Mud, they called it, taken from the ground under the bombed food warehouse and packed with melted sugar." - from CITY OF THIEVES "Those ... who had lived through the siege stayed by habit on the south sidewalk (of Nevsky Prospekt), though no shells had landed for nearly two years." - from CITY OF THIEVES From September 8, 1941 to January 27, 1944, the German Army Group North surrounded and besieged Leningrad (St. Petersburg). Perhaps 1,500,000 Russian soldiers and civilians died. (About one-half million are buried in 186 mass graves in the city's Piskariovskoye Memorial Cemetery presided over by an eternal flame and a towering statue of the Motherland.) During the siege, the shortage of food for the unevacuated civilians became acute. The city authorities found it necessary to combat cannibalism. David Benioff's novel CITY OF THIEVES is set during the height of the siege. Seventeen-year old Lev, a volunteer firefighter, is arrested for looting the corpse of a Nazi airman who lands in his parachute dead from hypothermia. During his stay in a prison cell, he's joined by Kolya, a young Soviet soldier arrested for desertion. Whereas Lev is a hesitant, suspicious introvert, Kolya is a supremely confident, charismatic, and irrepressibly optimistic extrovert. The two prisoners are brought before an NKVD colonel, who offers them their freedom if they can find him a dozen eggs for his daughter's wedding cake. Our mismatched heroes are given five days to complete their mission. CITY OF THIEVES is, for Lev, a coming-of-age story. It's also a tale of bravery, friendship, love, endurance, hardship, brutalities, atrocities, and ironic tragedy. In addition to being a gripping work of fiction, the book is perhaps worth a look by any serious student of World War Two's Eastern Front and the Leningrad encirclement in particular since the author states in the Acknowledgements that he made constant reference to Harrison Salisbury's iconic historical narrative of the ordeal, The 900 Days: The Siege Of Leningrad, to get the details right. Indeed, I read Salisbury's work many years ago and seem to remember that bit about the south sidewalks of Nevsky Prospekt being safer than the north because of the trajectory of incoming artillery rounds. I thought the premise of the novel a clever hook bordering on the absurd. Find a dozen eggs in 1942 Leningrad? What, are you kidding? Finally, CITY OF THIEVES ends with some good advice applicable to any time and place: "Those words you want to say right now? Don't say them. And that, my friend, is the secret to living a long life."; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Collaborator; Author: Visit Amazon's Gerald Seymour Page; Review: "We can't all be heroes because somebody has to sit on the kerb and clap as they go by." - Will Rogers, as quoted in THE COLLABORATOR Immacolata, from Naples, studies accountancy in London. She's called home to attend the funeral of her best friend, Marianna, dead of leukemia - leukemia caused by the tons of toxic waste illegally dumped onto the countryside by the trucks of the brutal Borelli criminal family. Devastated, Immacolata vows to bring the Borelli clan down. And she can do it, too, because she's Immacolata Borelli, daughter of the current capo, Pasquale, and his wife Gabriella, and granddaughter of the founding patriarch, Carmine, and his wife Anna, and sister to Vincenzo, Giovanni, and Silvio. Immacolata knows where the bodies are buried, so to speak, and she's willing to tell all and betray all to the government prosecutor in the Naples Palace of Justice. THE COLLABORATOR teaches the reader more than he thought he'd ever know about the day-to-day workings of the Camorra, one of the oldest and largest Italian criminal organizations and centered in Naples. A feature of all of Gerald Seymour's books is that he doesn't employ super-heroes in the popular sense of the term. His protagonists and antagonists are all ordinary individuals who, because of beliefs, talents, job descriptions, or serendipitous circumstances, find themselves on the jagged edge of a gritty confrontation in one of the world's grotty environments. THE COLLABORATOR is consistent with that theme as well as another feature of the author's many works - Pyrrhic victory. Here, one of the main characters, Eddie Deacon, is an excruciatingly ordinary bloke - a London language teacher, who might be described, even by close friends and his parents, as immensely likable but not very ambitious or dynamic. Indeed, he's almost a tosser. But that's about to change between the very big rock and the very hard place that are the machinery of the Italian justice system and a suddenly desperate Borelli crime syndicate. Eddie is about to discover reserves of strength he never knew he possessed. Eddie is about to discover inner heroism. It's hard for me not to gush about Seymour's novels. The wide range of topical story lines and deftly and knowledgeably drawn characters are simply extraordinary. And, regarding the latter, I'm always left with the awestruck question: How does he come to know this enormous variety of individuals so well? I savored every page of THE COLLABORATOR and, as with every other single one of the author's thrillers, felt bereft when I arrived at its end. I can't wholeheartedly say this about any other past or present writer of fiction whose works I've read.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: This Honest Man (Sam Dane Thriller); Author: Visit Amazon's Robert J. Sullivan Page; Review: (Note: This review is of a paperback copy kindly provided by the author.) About fourteen months ago, I read the first book (In the Blood) by Robert Sullivan in the series featuring Sam Dane, space detective. I'm neither an avid fan of crime procedurals featuring hard-boiled private eyes nor of interplanetary sci-fi. But, the marriage of the two beckoned my attention with its originality, for which I awarded four stars. THIS HONEST MAN continues the theme of Dane on an otherworldly case - in this case on the planet Talos inhabited by the native intelligent species called Perkyats, with cameo appearances by the indigenous beings from the next world over - or maybe far away, who knows? - the Bluejays and Gollveig respectively. Here, Dane is retained by the wife of Paul Beauchesne, the "honest man", to investigate his murder, a crime which the local (human) police have (predictably) been unable to solve. And Paul does seem to have been squeaky clean, except for possessing a memory stick loaded with porn. But, hey, who of us doesn't have one of those in-pocket to spice up the day? There are two problems with THIS HONEST MAN. Well, three if you think ahead. First, Sullivan introduces a female character into the plot that is enormously appealing and complimentary to Dane's role, but then the author abruptly removes her from the storyline without a trace. I was devastated. And it's not as if she was killed off. What, she's being saved for a reappearance further on in the series? Second, the conclusion seemed to me to be unnecessarily complicated verging on murky, especially for a plot that was otherwise, and should have stayed, straight forward. Lastly is that which relates more to my general reading preferences than anything else. The otherworldly nature of the story is almost unnoticeable compared to IN THE BLOOD, in which a native Zhergi cop plays a prominent part and the planet Procrustes provides more of an overtly alien backdrop. Here, except for a few strategically altered descriptives, the story might just as well have taken place on the north coast of Australia. More to the point, once the novelty of the detective-SF pairing wears off, either because the extraterrestrial aspect is subdued or becomes just a worn-out gimmick, then one is left with merely a competent, but standard, gumshoe adventure. And, as I've said, I'm not keen on that genre. Moreover, it may be difficult for Sullivan to continue conjuring alien landscapes of sufficient richness and complexity to keep the concept alive through many installments. Perhaps a case set on Iota Geminorum IV, home planet of Tribbles, is called for. As I stated in my review of IN THE BLOOD, Sam is a thoroughly engaging and eminently capable tough-guy hero whose character can only but continue to attract fans. However, I suggest it will acquire a niche readership which I just don't think I can muster the interest to join long term.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: An Island Between Two Shores; Author: Graham B. Wilson; Review: "The dreamer can know no truth, not even about his dream, except by awaking out of it." - George Santayana, philosopher/poet AN ISLAND BETWEEN TWO SHORES is a splendid short novel that can be devoured in a couple of hours. Young Liana left Paris, France with her father, who wanted to seek their fortune in the Klondike gold rush. Now eighteen in the year 1900, Liana lives with Henry, an old Indian friend of her father's, in an isolated cabin after her father apparently died in a river drowning accident. It was considered too dangerous for the teenager to remain in the Yukon boom town of Dawson City. One day while Liana is out hunting caribou, Henry is murdered by two men and the cabin burned. Liana runs to escape the killers and manages to make it to a canoe. Fleeing downriver towards Dawson City, she encounters rapids, wherein her boat is capsized and shattered. She manages to make it to the shore of a small, desolate island in the middle of the torrent. On this fragment of land separated from two shores by swiftly flowing and frigid water, Liana must survive or die during the onset of winter. The girl has only the clothes on her back, a knife, and a fishhook with line. Her only constant and unwanted companion, a raven. AN ISLAND BETWEEN TWO SHORES by Graham Wilson is a vivid, compelling story of wilderness survival that will have you twisting your hankie in suspense and worry for the heroine. I suggest there's no middle ground with this novel; you'll finish either loving or hating it, and be left feeling either satisfied or cheated by the ending. To say on which side of the fence I landed would require explaining why, and that would involve a spoiler. Let it suffice to say that I'm awarding five stars for the story's originality and the cleverness of its telling. To the author, I say "Bravo!"; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: False Friends (A Dan Shepherd Mystery); Author: Visit Amazon's Stephen Leather Page; Review: (Note: This review is of the hardcover edition as opposed to the ebook; the difference has relevance.) When last we left Dan "Spider" Shepherd in Fair Game (A Dan Shepherd Mystery), he was swanning about on an ocean cruise in the Gulf of Aden looking to teach Somali pirates (Argh, matey!) some manners and rescue hostages. In FALSE FRIENDS, Spider returns to England to take on a pair of domestic assignments: set-up and bring down a British ultra-nationalist group seeking to purchase heavy weapons, and act as the handler for a couple of young, British-born Muslims who've been infiltrated into al-Qaeda by MI5 with the intent of foiling a presumably imminent terrorist attack on the home island. Shepherd carries off both with enough lan to rate five stars for local color and level of achieved tension. But, here, I want to look beyond the gunplay and narrow escapes to examine a problematic decision looming for author Stephen Leather as he moves forward with the series. FALSE FRIENDS opens with a narrative sequence wherein Shepherd is the MI5 observer tagging along on the U.S. Navy Seal mission that ultimately whacked Osama bin Laden in his Pakistani compound. As told by Leather, the final scenario involved the terrorist leader - completely unarmed and unresisting - simply being executed without further ado and his corpse helicoptered out to be dumped in the ocean. On his return to London to report to his boss, Charlie Button, Spider is incensed and disgusted over what was clearly an assassination (rather than capture) mission from beginning to end without MI5 being so informed. Dan's opinion (in the ebook edition) of the Seals is not high: "You know, it seems to me that we would have been better off sending in the SAS. I said at the time it was a mistake trusting it to the Seals. They like to go in with guns blazing, kill everyone and let God sort them out." (Note: The quote in the hardcover release is more all-encompassing and damning of the Americans. Wisely, I think, Stephen had prudent second thoughts about Spider's original statement made in a post-mission, meltdown moment.) In any case, Shepherd is obviously a stand-up guy with a conscience who can, and does now, state with apparent utter conviction: "Bloody hell ... I'm not James Bond and there's no bloody license to kill ... It's not as if I go around breaking the law." Fair enough, yeah? But 'ang on a minute, guv. As recently as the second-to-last page of FAIR GAME in a conclusion to one of that thriller's secondary plots - (minor) spoiler alert! - Spider does just that, i.e. coldly kill a defenseless and unresisting adversary upon whom he's gotten the drop in the former's home. Selective memory, perhaps? Does Shepherd need an extended session with Caroline Stockmann, the department shrink? In that last act of FAIR GAME, Dan's creator deliberately had him step over the line to the Dark Side to dispense vigilante justice. Now what? Perhaps Stephen himself isn't quite sure what direction Spider is to; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Rime of the Ancient Underwriter: How I Stowed the Day Job and Went to Sea; Author: Visit Amazon's Jim Salmon Page; Review: "If I am fortunate enough to be among the survivors who make it back to Lunenburg, I will soon forget about the lice in the Bat Cave, the weevils in my bunk and in the pasta and in the soup, the mutant cockroaches, the poor DC lighting in my bunk that gives me a chronic headache, the high-salt, high-cholesterol foods, the mold under my bunk to which I am deathly allergic, a broken finger and a broken toe, staph infections, diarrhea and prickly heat." - Jim Salmon, sailing between Tonga and Fiji "After supper on a lovely evening I climb out into the head rig. Twenty feet out from the bow and twenty feet off the water, I lie back in the giant hammock, rising and falling above the swell, and watch the half moon dance around the foremast." - Jim Salmon, sailing for Bermuda on the home leg In the year 2000, after bailing-out from his day job as an insurance underwriter, Jim Salmon pays $35,000 to sign-on with the 179 foot, three-masted barque Picton Castle as an ordinary seaman and trainee preparatory to the ship's circumnavigation of the globe. It will be, for the author, a working holiday to fulfill a dream. The voyage will last from November 8, 2000 to June 8, 2002, and its thirty-thousand nautical mile track will be from Lunenburg, Nova Scotia down through the Caribbean to and through the Panama Canal, across the South Pacific and off the north coast of Australia, across the Indian Ocean, around the Cape of Good Hope, and up the length of the Atlantic back to Lunenberg. The ship's landfalls include the Galapagos, Pitcairn Island, Tahiti, Rarotonga, Samoa, Tonga, Fiji, Vanuatu, Darwin (Australia), Bali, the Seychelles, Madagascar, Grand Camore, Cape Town, St. Helena, Grenada, Anguilla, the Virgin Islands, and Bermuda. Though the composition and number of crew varies throughout the voyage, the Picton Castle departs home port with forty-five souls including Chibley the cat. (Note: "Chibley" is the correct spelling, taken from the Picton Castle's official website.) During the nineteen-month odyssey, Jim - in his late 50s - will work his way up to acting Second Mate and, on an extended side trip with four other crew members, realizes a second dream by climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. RIME OF THE ANCIENT UNDERWRITER is an enormously engaging travel essay based on a journal the author kept throughout the passage. It will give the reader an excellent beginning understanding of what it takes to crew a multi-mast sailing vessel on the high seas. The book includes but a handful of photos; more would have provided much added value. Perhaps the single most useful one is of the fully-rigged vessel in which all of the twenty-one sails are indicated by name. There's also an adequate map showing the ship's route around the globe. There's no photo of Chibley, only a sketch. The volume includes an enormously useful Glossary of terms that describe the parts of and the sailing of a three-masted barque. Perhaps my biggest niggle is that Chibley's life on-board is pretty much; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Heads in Beds: A Reckless Memoir of Hotels, Hustles, and So-Called Hospitality; Author: Visit Amazon's Jacob Tomsky Page; Review: "Service is not about being up-front and honest. Service is about minimizing negatives and creating the illusion of perfection. Here's how it's done: Lie. Smile. Finesse. Barter. Convince. Lie again. Smile again." - Jacob Tomsky in HEADS IN BEDS Having realized that a degree in philosophy doesn't, in today's job market, put much sustenance on the table, twenty-something Jacob Tomsky enters the service sector. HEADS IN BEDS is the author's account of his ten years in the hotel industry in New Orleans and New York in the valet service, as a front desk agent, and as a mid-level Housekeeping manager. He began to pen it when, as he states: "(Management) also tacked on a three-week unpaid suspension, trying to starve me out. Those three weeks were like an extended mental leave for me and, coincidentally, gave me the time to embark on this project it seems you might be enjoying ..." Gee, you think? The best - or at least most practically useful - parts of this book are the ways, according to the author, that the hotel customer can game the system, e.g. negate minibar and in-room movie charges, avoid a same-day cancellation penalty, insure the immediate availability of a room even on an early morning arrival, or the best way to bribe the front desk agent to add an extra level of service. Somewhat surprisingly, nothing is said about what I would think are two of the more important and/or profitable hotel operations: food service and event/convention planning. Thus, HEADS IN BEDS isn't a comprehensive look at the biz. I did find the book particularly instructive on at least one point. If Tomsky can be believed when he asserts that the average guest treats his/her hotel room like home, then their treatment of the former would indicate the average guest is a domesticated pig. That observation has raised my sensitivity towards the plight of the housekeepers and I've vowed to tip more generously in the future (though my wife and I try to leave as little residual mess as possible when we stay anywhere away). The most useful parts of the book aside, Tomsky's narrative is largely self-indulgent to the point of being occasionally whiney. It's all about him. How he unwound during a year's sojourn in Europe between New Orleans and New York gigs. How he couldn't find a job outside the lodging industry. How he suffered from the absence of a steady paycheck. Once employed, how he benefited from unionization. How he managed to fall for and hook-up with a frequent-stay female guest. How he deflects (from himself) a guest's anger in the face of unmet expectations. How he was frequently screwed over by hotel management for perceived infractions. And, most important of all, how he hustles a guest for big tips. HEADS IN BEDS isn't a bad book, and I might have been more generous - well, maybe not - except that Tomsky's personality, self-absorption, and cynicism just got wearisome. Others will perhaps be more forgiving. In any case, since I'm not posting this review anonymously, I; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Hear That Lonesome Whistle Blow: Railroads in the West; Author: Dee Brown; Review: "During the building of the thin strip of parallel iron rails across the continent, the arrogant promoters engorged 33 million acres of the people's lands. Additional land grants to other Western railroads during the decade brought the total to 155 million acres, or more than one fourth of the Louisiana Purchase, one ninth of what was then the nation's entire land area." - from HEAR THAT LONESOME WHISTLE BLOW "... the leading orator was the defeated Sitting Bull, who delivered his speech in Lakota (language) - a bitter denunciation of land thieves and liars, which was translated by an Army officer into English metaphors of benevolent hospitality. The affluent listeners, in their expensive suits, top hats, derbies, boiled shirts, and gold watch chains, gave Sitting Bull a standing ovation ..." - from HEAR THAT LONESOME WHISTLE BLOW, on the grand opening ceremonies of the Northern Pacific This narrative history of America's transcontinental railroads - the Union/Central Pacific, the Northern Pacific, the Southern Pacific, the Great Northern, and the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe - is a tale of government corruption and corporate greed on a grand scale that makes the shady shenanigans of contemporary financial institutions pale by comparison. HEAR THAT LONESOME WHISTLE BLOW by Dee Brown is decidedly anti-Big Rail, but that shouldn't detract from its value as an instructive work of history on the subject and the era for any casual student so interested. The book is enormously fascinating. This volume is more encompassing than one would perhaps expect. Of course, it details the conceptual evolution and construction of the various Western routes with emphasis on the first to be completed, the Union/Central Pacific line that met at Promontory Summit, Utah in May 1869. But, in several relatively brief chapters, the author also describes the occupations that served on the trains (engineer, brakeman, train butch, porter), the trans-America rail experience as encountered by the average, domestic citizen-traveler and the amenities provided (or not!), the advent of Pullman cars, the displacement of the Indian tribes (particularly around the northern routes), the international marketing efforts by the rail companies to attract foreign immigrants (with extravagant promises and downright lies) to buy homesteads carved out of public lands granted to the former by the government, the conditions endured by said immigrants aboard the trains (such that "in 1873 a bill was introduced in Congress to forbid the railroads to transport human beings as if they were livestock"), and the eventual populist backlash against the railroads' greed that resulted in such movements as that of the Grangers and the establishment of the Interstate Commerce Commission. HEAR THAT LONESOME WHISTLE BLOW contains several useful maps and more than a fair sprinkling of period photographs. The most striking thing, perhaps, to be taken away by the reader upon finishing this book is an appreciation of the monumental unscrupulousness and avarice of the entrepreneurs that acquired control of the various rail companies, qualities only matched by their sheer chutzpah - a cheek that inspires a certain reluctant admiration. These Robber Barons: "If they responded at all to; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Trust No One: A Thriller; Author: Visit Amazon's Gregg Hurwitz Page; Review: "... we might be too far gone to have heroes anymore. Maybe that's a good thing." - from TRUST NO ONE Judging by all the conspiracy books, both fiction and non, on the shelves, it's a wonder each one of us isn't the duped victim of a devious plot on a regular basis. (Of course, maybe each one of us is but doesn't know about it. After all, the perfect conspiracy is the one successfully kept mum.) In TRUST NO ONE by Gregg Hurwitz, the conspiracy to cover-up a politician's Big Secret has kept Nick Horrigan on the run for seventeen years after his stepfather, a respected Secret Service agent, was murdered and Nick's mother threatened. Now, it all comes back to a head when an ostensible terrorist threatens to blow a hole in the San Onofre nuclear power station between Los Angeles and San Diego. For me, this novel's role was to serve as a diversionary light-read while I otherwise work my way through the hefty non-fiction historical piece, Legions of Rome: The Definitive History of Every Imperial Roman Legion. (OK, so I've finished TRUST NO ONE and am only on page 93 of the former. Now what?) In any case, the latter did prove reasonably diverting, but I can't award but three stars for several reasons. TRUST NO ONE, at 422 paperbacked pages, is too long by perhaps seventy-five. My gung-ho interest in the plot slowly oozed away like blood from a cut capillary as the story went on and on ... and on. Moreover, this conspiracy's raison d'tre is based on one of the perceived virtues that the American electorate demands of its candidates for elective office - a virtue that is, in my opinion, unrealistic, nave, and irrelevant to one's ability to govern effectively. I found it tiresome that the plot of this potboiler would ground itself in this particular expectation. Lastly, the title of the book suggests that there will be a head-snapping plot twist that says: "See? I told ya." And, indeed, there was such. But, by the time it occurred, the phrase (borrowed and misquoted from Shakespeare's Hamlet), "methinks thou dost protest too much", had already rendered the true villain of the piece all too obvious and the surprise element was completely lost. TRUST NO ONE isn't a bad read, but had I to do it all over again, I wouldn't.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Time Traveller's Guide to Medieval England: A Handbook for Visitors to the Fourteenth Century; Author: Visit Amazon's Ian Mortimer Page; Review: "... the music of a tale told well is as popular as any other form of minstrelsy and as enjoyable as literature in the modern world." - from THE TIME TRAVELER'S GUIDE TO MEDIEVAL ENGLAND, on 14th century storytelling "There is a widespread understanding that green vegetables ... are not good for you, and potentially harmful if raw." - from THE TIME TRAVELER'S GUIDE TO MEDIEVAL ENGLAND, on the 14th century diet (and a belief which, when I mentioned it to my wife using the tone of "so, there!", elicited a look that would wither lettuce) "If a man is spiritually clean, and without sin ... he will smell sweet to those around him. He will be without the stench of sin. In the modern world we have no equivalent to this form of cleanliness. Instead we have antibacterial wipes." - from THE TIME TRAVELER'S GUIDE TO MEDIEVAL ENGLAND, on 14th century hygiene "There is a widespread tolerance of death by medical misadventure." - from THE TIME TRAVELER'S GUIDE TO MEDIEVAL ENGLAND, on 14th century medicine "(On woman) long, loose hair is generally considered seductive ... Only wild and wanton women dare to leave their hair undressed and loose in public." - from THE TIME TRAVELER'S GUIDE TO MEDIEVAL ENGLAND, on 14th century fashion (and which should ring familiar to certain modern belief systems) "As most people want to sleep below deck ... it tends to be very crowded. It is also very dark, so the chances are that the urinal into which you are expected to urinate and vomit will be overturned by dawn. This is a good reason to sleep in a hammock." - from THE TIME TRAVELER'S GUIDE TO MEDIEVAL ENGLAND, on 14th century sea travel "Some men feel it is acceptable to put this candle (affixed to the frame of the bed) out by throwing their tunic over it. As you might realize, this is unwise." - from THE TIME TRAVELER'S GUIDE TO MEDIEVAL ENGLAND, on 14th century manor furnishings "... a criminal evading arrest may be beheaded on sight - provided the coroner is present and provided the wanted man has not reached the sanctuary of a church ... if the thief apprehended is a woman, she may be taken to a river and forcibly drowned for resisting arrest." - from THE TIME TRAVELER'S GUIDE TO MEDIEVAL ENGLAND, on 14th century law For any student of medieval history, and medieval English history in particular, Ian Mortimer's THE TIME TRAVELER'S GUIDE TO MEDIEVAL ENGLAND, a comprehensive social and cultural survey of the time and place - albeit relatively superficial out of necessity because the book is only 291 pages - is a gem and absolute delight. I'd be hard pressed to think of a topic that the author doesn't touch upon even if only briefly. And his narrative features a dry wit which, if anything, isn't displayed often enough. Mortimer's approach is to write the book as if the reader, a time traveler back to the fourteenth century, could use it as a practical guide to navigate and; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Affair: A Jack Reacher Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Lee Child Page; Review: "Mississippi hooligans are made of sterner stuff than most. Or else they're just plain dumber." - Reacher, after a one-sided fight "I picked a road at random, and I put one foot on the curb and one in the traffic lane, and I stuck out my thumb." - Reacher, on the first act of the rest of his life (and series) At this stage in the review accumulation for THE AFFAIR, I doubt that there's much I can add to the previous 474 posts. So, I'll be briefer than usual. For perhaps the first third of this thriller, I thought it might prove to be the best in the series. Then, I became disenchanted. True, author Lee Child tosses out enough red meat to at least partially satisfy the fans' hunger for physical mayhem inflicted and investigatory smarts demonstrated by his Military Police hero, Jack Reacher. But, still... The thing is, Child had the clear opportunity to pit Jack against perhaps his most clever and capable adversary yet and provide a plot twist that would have snapped his most jaded reader's head around in a neck-wrenching jerk. He toyed with the concept but ultimately didn't follow through. Rather, the ending unfolded with almost a yawn. Lee joins a couple other authors of fiction that I've noticed who've chosen to include in the plot an intriguing secondary character that deserves books of her own. I say "her" because in all instances they're women: First Sergeant Frances Neagley in several Reacher installments, Charlie Button in Stephen Leather's Spider Shepherd series, and someone named "Cora" briefly on-stage in Gerard Cappa's Blood from a Shadow. THE AFFAIR is a solid but not scintillating read which, if nothing else, gives fans an insight on the background to Jack's first thumb-out on his continuing road tour as a knight errant.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Legions of Rome: The Definitive History of Every Imperial Roman Legion; Author: Visit Amazon's Stephen Dando-Collins Page; Review: "... in the end, Rome ran out of good generals, just as she ran out of time." - from LEGIONS OF ROME LEGIONS OF ROME: THE DEFINITIVE HISTORY OF EVERY ROMAN LEGION by Stephen Dando-Collins is an epic work meant for those who're really - and I mean REALLY - interested in Imperial Rome's infantry forces. For the casual student, this 578-page volume may prove to be a long march in full armor. I marched along this Appian Way for weeks. The book is divided into three sections: "The Men" (pages 16-57), "The Legions" (pages 60-209), and "The Battles" (pages 212-578). "The Men" covers such topics as enlisting and retiring, discipline and punishment, pay, uniforms, equipment, weapons, training, diet, and (what might be considered the equivalent of non-commissioned and commissioned) officer ranks. It's a promising introduction to the whole. "The Legions" topics include organization, camp layout, trumpet calls, artillery and siege equipment, standards, emblems, and auxiliary forces. But, by far, the largest portion of this section (pages 84-196), summarizes the unit histories of some forty-four numbered legions (from the 1st Adiutrix to 30th Ulpia) plus the Praetorian Guard. One to several pages of text is dedicated to each unit beginning with a short chart with line items for Emblem, Birth Sign, Foundation (year), Recruitment Area, Imperial Postings, and Battle Honours. Frankly, it's the narrative text underneath the chart that perhaps adds more than is necessary to the book's length. In any case, my favorite name among those of the legions was the 21st Rapax - the 21st Predator Legion. Especially in Latin, it has a certain ring to it, don't you think? "The Battles" section, which summarizes all the legions major engagements between 29 B.C. and 410 A.D., may be the most interesting. It's apparent that their peskiest adversaries over the centuries were the German tribes, the Jews, and the Parthians. Of course, that's when the legions weren't fighting against themselves when tethered to competing claimants to the imperial throne. One might be left with the impression of continual chaos, though I suspect this is an artifact of the compression of centuries of conflict into a relatively few pages. LEGIONS OF ROME includes a fair number of black and white photographs and maps plus an eight-page section of color plates, the latter including four pages of what I assume are best-guess reproductions of legionary shields with unit emblems. Dando-Collins apparently did his homework; there is a seven-page Bibliography. I'm glad I persevered to finish LEGIONS OF ROME; acquiring knowledge on a subject about which I heretofore knew relatively little is a good thing. But, before you take up the shield and start stepping, just be warned that it's a lengthy campaign.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Nothing Down; Author: Visit Amazon's Mike Reuther Page; Review: NOTHING DOWN by Mike Reuther is a book meant for baseball fans. And perhaps even more for aging, fallen-away fans like myself who haven't followed the pro game in decades since the time when, at least publicly, the privilege of being able to play in the Big Show meant more than the paycheck. Or, at least that's what we thought; hope dies last, but naiveté somewhat earlier. Here, 27-year old Homer Newbody is a rookie pitcher for the New York Yankees. By the All-Star Game, he's 8-0 with two no-hitters. He's a phenom and the darling of the media. But Homer is on record as stating that he simply plays for the love of the game, and that he'd do it for nothing. Or, at least for nothing more than meal money. That, of course, causes resentment among his teammates. Moreover, his pronouncement infuriates the team's owner who's not used to such altruistic motivation. For those of us living in the real world, Newbody's (or perhaps "nobody's") altruism might appear conveniently easy. After all, Homer has no wife and kids to support, no mortgage and health insurance to pay, no college savings or retirement to fund, and no property taxes being extorted. It's a good gig if you can get it. NOTHING DOWN is a contemporary morality play wherein, if you're lucky enough to be living life doing what you love, then the virtue is in remaining true to one's self and minimizing the ethical compromises that must be made. NOTHING DOWN is a congenial and undemanding novel featuring an engaging and well-drawn protagonist. However, the conflict (as must exist in any work of fiction) is muted and the storyline doesn't invite nail-biting. At no point did I have to resist any internal pressure to keep on reading at the expense of other responsibilities; happily, the cats' litter box therefore got cleaned on schedule, the car got washed, and the laundry got done. NOTHING DOWN is an above-average fairy tale with professional baseball as the backdrop. I can see it being adapted to the Big Screen starring a young Jimmy Stewart. But, of course, reality again intrudes; he's dead these past fifteen years.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hong Konged: One Modern American Family's (Mis)adventures in the Gateway to China; Author: Visit Amazon's Paul Hanstedt Page; Review: "In the face of a culture that seems to relish stupid ... (my wife) Ellen and I are people who relish ideas, who care about the abstract, who value aesthetics and nuances and a little thing called the brain." - author Paul Hanstedt, in HONG KONGED "We've been up since 4:00 A.M., have I mentioned that?" - author Paul Hanstedt, in HONG KONGED Professor Paul Hanstedt, a self-admitted political liberal - and proud of it - accepts a "Fulbright" that allows him to spend a year in Hong Kong making the world a place conducive to all of us getting along - or whatever - by consulting on and assisting in (presumably) improving that city's general education system. Along for the ride are his wife Ellen and their three children: Jamie (2), Lucy (6), and Will (8). The main reason I was attracted to HONG KONGED was that my wife and I spent a couple of weeks there back in '94, three years before it reverted to the People's Republic. We thought it one of the most fascinating and visually stunning cities we've ever visited, and I was curious to learn what impression it made on the Hanstedts especially after the take-over. At one point in the narrative, Hanstedt declares that he and his wife "fight the good fight" against the contemporary materialism that provides things of no real substance, and he specifically mentions travelogues. So, heaven forbid HONG KONGED should be classed as a travelogue. Oh, no. Rather, the book is an extended comment on how living a year in Hong Kong (with side trips further into China and into Vietnam, Cambodia, and Malaysia) had effects on his children. And more specifically, how the reactions of Jamie, Lucy and Will to being forcibly thrust into an alien environment affected the parents. And more specifically, how it affected the author. It's all about him, really, when you come right down to it. I would've liked to have gotten more - much more - from Ellen's point of view. As would be expected, the children experienced both good and bad across a wide spectrum. By the story's conclusion, it seemed apparent to me that their time away from "home" in Virginia was an enriching experience, but it was unclear how Paul would've summed it up from his children's perspective - because he doesn't. Rather, he seems to spend too much time in hand-wringing and self-examination as in the following extended example: "Since the middle of May, (Will has) been ready to go home, quietly curling into himself and keeping numb until he's back in Virginia ... But no, first we have to drag him to Cambodia, first we to haul him to six or seven different temples in the smothering wet heat, driving past semi-squalid shacks and over dusty roads ... Will trudges along behind us, slumping when we stop, all but rolling his eyes when we continue forward, every angle of his body determined to convey his utter dissatisfaction with the heat and his parents and this place and one more stupid; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Under the Wire: The World War II Adventures of a Legendary Escape Artist and "Cooler King"; Author: Visit Amazon's William Ash Page; Review: "I had joined the war to resist and I would keep resisting with every breath until I escaped or until the enemy helped me get away from it all on a more permanent basis, six feet underground, and not in a tunnel." - William Ash In early 1940, a 22-year old train-hopping hobo from Texas, William Ash, crossed over the border bridge into Canada from Detroit to join the Royal Canadian Air Force. Ash had spent the previous two weeks gorging himself at the Hungry Man Diner to gain enough weight to pass the RCAF physical. Once he earned his wings, Ash was shipped out to England where he flew Spitfires for the King against the attacking Luftwaffe. In March 1942, he was shot down and captured. UNDER THE WIRE is William's account of the next 38 months until VE Day of being behind, under, and on the successful escapee's side of the barbed wire of various POW camps in Germany, and occupied Poland and Lithuania. To escape was the author's compulsion, and he managed to get beyond the wire several times. However, the enemy's compulsion was to recapture him, and Ash was variously in the custody of the Gestapo, the Luftwaffe, and the Wehrmacht. UNDER THE WIRE has the measured pace of something perhaps dictated and subsequently edited to smooth-out the rough spots - not surprising since there is a co-author, journalist Brendan Foley. However, that lens through which the story is filtered doesn't detract from an absorbing and instructive tale about what it was like to experience what the author experienced at that time in those places. Perhaps the very best part of the account is the last bit in which Ash describes the final couple months of the war during which time the Germans marched the author and his co-captives on an erratic overland route to avoid the ever approaching Allies to the West and the Soviet Army to the East. One occurrence stood out: "When we passed a column of Russian prisoners we saw how comparatively well-off we were. They were all skeleton-thin, with brave, sunken eyes burning out of skull-like faces covered in full, ragged beards. Their fanatical SS guards treated them like animals, herding them along with whips and rifle butts ... We could do very little, but one of us threw over some cigarettes. (Soon there) was a small, silent bombardment going on as the Russians smiled and clutched at this act as much for its humanity as for the much needed food. One pack of cigarettes fell short and a Russian prisoner eagerly reached out for it. One of their guards lifted his rifle and smashed it into the Russian's head as he stooped to pick up the cigarettes. When the man fell under the blow the SS man screamed at him and continued to smash him in the face and kick him like a dog. A collective roar of rage went up from our side of the road and several hundred Allied prisoners stopped and moved a few dangerous inches towards the Russian; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Lonely Planet Signspotting: Absurd & Amusing Signs from Around the World; Author: Visit Amazon's Doug Lansky Page; Review: "CAUTION. Please be aware that the balcony is not on ground level." - as pictured in SIGNSPOTTING. Gee, you think? Ok, ok. I received this as a Christmas stocking stuffer and not something that I would've actually bought for myself. But, it is what it is. And it does what it's supposed to do, which is display as color plates "strange and amusing" signs from around the world. I can't really tell you how many are included because the pages aren't numbered. (I was tempted to count them for the purpose of this review, but nah; it's too close to my bedtime.) What I find intriguing is that another reviewer awarded one star to this slick little paperback because expectations weren't met. Really? What level of expectation might be considered levelheaded? I mean, c'mon! This isn't a coffee-table tome of great artwork reproductions. SIGNSPOTTING did allow me to invent a new game that can be played by anyone with Internet access and this publication. Simply stated, using the Google satellite map function in street level mode with the little yellow man, see how many of the signs in the book you can actually track down and zoom-in on. Obviously, you won't manage the "Complaints about elephants to be made here" or "Deformed man toilet" or "Diaria Buffet", but you can do the Pine Acre Motel sign (Shawano, WI) or the directional sign to Boring and Oregon City via Oregon state route 212. Why, I've scored on several already. My favorite is the road sign at the junction of the A113 and A128 in Essex, England directing the motorist to bear left off the roundabout to the "Secret Nuclear Bunker." Well, go on then. Try your hand at the brass wall plaque announcing the place of business for Argue & Phibbs (Solicitors). Hint: Sligo, Ireland. So, how many stars is SIGNSPOTTING worth? Well, it's not great literature, obviously. On the other hand, it has engaged me (what with the satmap exercise) more than would the hypothetical coffee-table art book. And while that perhaps says more about my affinity for cultcha, it also means the former is more than just ho-hum average. So, four stars. Just don't expect me to rush out and buy SIGNSPOTTING 2, III, and 4.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: At Home: A Short History of Private Life (Random House Large Print); Author: Visit Amazon's Bill Bryson Page; Review: "As well as a generous array of more or less conventional knives, forks, and spoons, the diner needed also to know how to recognize and manipulate specialized cheese scoops, olive spoons, terrapin forks, oyster prongs, chocolate muddlers, gelatin knives, tomato servers, and tongs of every size and degree of springiness. At one point, a single manufacturer offered no fewer than 146 different types of flatware for the table." - Bill Bryson on the extremes of nineteenth century eating utensils in AT HOME "When word got out that the withered and miserly Marquis of Queensberry ... was also in the habit of taking milk baths, milk sales in the district plummeted because it was rumored that he returned the milk for resale after he had immersed his crusty and decrepit skin in it." - Bill Bryson in AT HOME In his previous A Short History of Nearly Everything, Bill Bryson - an American national treasure, albeit an expat one - told us nearly everything we might want to know about the history of the world, the Solar System, and the Universe. It's a superlative work of popular science both for the information it provides and the humor in the telling. In AT HOME, Bryson focuses on those things that have influence on one's personal life as a human as it has evolved over the past century and a half. Somewhat narrowly, to be sure, he generally approaches this gargantuan task from the perspective of England and America, and mostly the former. As might be suspected on a topic so vast and comprising so many disparate elements, Bill obviously needed some way to frame the discussion. Brilliantly, I think, he arranges his subtopics according to the various spaces of a house - in particular, those of his 19th century abode of the moment in an unidentified village in the county of Norfolk, England, a former Church of England property called the Old Rectory: Hall, Kitchen, Scullery and Larder, Fuse Box, Drawing Room, Dining Room, Cellar, Passage, Study, Garden, Plum Room, Stairs, Bedroom, Bathroom, Dressing Room, Nursery, and Attic. As the author proceeds through each space, the topics summoned to his narrative seem the result of free-association. Indeed, sometimes almost too free for the connection to be made, e.g. a discussion in the chapter entitled "The Study" of the massive swarm of locusts that descended on the American and Canadian midwestern states and provinces in 1873. That seemed somewhat of a stretch, but it's Bill's book and he must've had a good reason. However, the associations usually make perfect sense, e.g. the evolution of women's hairstyles and men's wigs and the fashions of both sexes in "The Dressing Room", the construction of London's sewer system in "The Bathroom", the perfection of household electricity in "The Fuse Box", and the availability and consumption of various foodstuffs "The Kitchen." It's all fascinating stuff, which makes this and any other of Bryson's books so immensely enjoyable. I never cease to be amazed at the extent of the knowledge, albeit perhaps superficial, which Bill absorbs and subsequently shares with; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Pitch for Justice; Author: Visit Amazon's Harold Kasselman Page; Review: In the recently released novel Nothing Down by Mike Reuther, phenom rookie pitcher Homer Newbody of the New York Yankees finds himself embroiled in controversy when he innocently declares to the media that he'd play for free. Now, in A PITCH FOR JUSTICE by Harold Kasselman, it's the hotly contested 2015 pennant race and the bitter rivals, the Philadelphia Phillies and the New York Mets, meet in a three-game series. During the last game, rookie wonder-boy fastballer Timothy Charles of the Phillies beans a Mets batter, apparently in retaliation for incidents of intimidation by the New York club earlier in the series that the Philadelphia manager can't shrug off. In any case, the hit batsman, Kenny Layton, is so severely head-injured that he dies the next day. Charles is indicted for murder and taken to trial. Such a case has never been tried in real life to the best of my knowledge, though any past or present fan of Major League Baseball has perhaps speculated on the justice or potential outcome of such. (I myself haven't been a fan since the days of my heroes, Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale. However, I don't recall concerning myself much with the ethics of a bean ball. But, I get it.) In any case, the author, a self-admitted MLB fan, has taken this flight of fantasy in a courtroom procedural tale with a baseball backstop. Perhaps somewhere out there a similar novel is taking shape around a fatal helmet-to-helmet hit in the NFL. First off, let's remove from the equation any thought that Kasselman was attempting some Grisham-like legal thriller. If he was, he failed miserably. But I don't believe that was his intent. Rather, Harold has written a what-if morality play out of a deep love for the game that he hopes will cause fellow fans to pause and reflect. That said, those who don't follow pro baseball will likely not get past the first few pages (just as I wouldn't even crack open a novel about basketball or golf); it's a niche audience. My only major quarrel with the story is that the author included a couple of subplots that provided virtually nothing in the way of added value but simply padded the length of the book. For me, the most egregiously worthless of the two revolved around the love life of the chief prosecutor in the case. It got to the point that I just wanted to skip over those sections devoted to that sidebar. The nature of the story also precludes there being significant heroes or villains, so don't expect any. Rather, all of the characters seemed like average citizens across the social spectrum caught up in a unique situation. I'm awarding an above-average four stars not because A PITCH FOR JUSTICE is particularly riveting, because it isn't, but rather because I think Kasselman achieved what he intended to do in as best a way as he could. And when next you witness a bean ball or even a close brush-back pitch, I think this cautionary tale will come to mind.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Martian; Author: Visit Amazon's Andy Weir Page; Review: "I'm stranded on Mars. I have no way to communicate with Hermes or Earth. Everyone thinks I'm dead. I'm in a Hab designed to last 31 days. If the Oxygenator breaks down, I'll suffocate. If the Water Reclaimer breaks down, I'll die of thirst. If the Hab breaches, I'll just kind of explode. If none of those things happen, I'll eventually run out of food and starve to death. So yeah. I'm f----d." - Mark Watney As the two-hundred thirty-fourth reader to review THE MARTIAN by Andy Weir, I have no illusion that I can add anything substantive to the plaudits already heaped on this intelligent work of space sci-fi. Simply put, it's a nail-biter that'll trim your finger nail plates down even with the nail beds. My reading tastes usually don't encompass space fiction because the vast majority of it seems to fall within the realm of extreme fantasy with worlds and ETs of the most fantastical sorts. I prefer my off-Earth stories to have some plausible connection with realistic, albeit extrapolated, technology and situations, and the one book that remains embedded in my memory as simply terrific is from all the way back in 1975 when I was much younger and perhaps more impressionable - Arthur C. Clarke's Rendezvous with Rama. With films, I'm the same way; Outland and Silent Running come to mind. THE MARTIAN is my kind of SF. In Mars mission engineer-botanist Mark Watney we have a thinking man's hero for the ages, and THE MARTIAN is a story that cries out to be serialized for television. THE MARTIAN would be ideal for a lengthy trans-ocean plane flight. If you start the book on take-off, you'll likely finish on landing and not even be aware of the hours that passed or the screaming kid a couple of rows back. You owe yourself this novel. Trust me.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: London Under: The Secret History Beneath the Streets; Author: Visit Amazon's Peter Ackroyd Page; Review: (Note: This review is of the hardcover edition.) "Order and harmony are the properties of the lighted world. All below is shapeless, formless, void. Forgotten things, discarded things, secret things, are to be found deep below." - from LONDON UNDER Author Peter Ackroyd's previous book, London: The Biography, was a prodigious achievement albeit mildly schizophrenic. Here in LONDON UNDER, Ackroyd embellishes his story of the city with aspects of it that he perhaps felt he didn't fully explore on the first go. Even in its hardcover edition, LONDON UNDER isn't a large volume - only 205 pages measuring seven inches by five. In fifteen chapters, Peter burrows below the streets to reveal what remains of times past and what is extant at present. Among the former are burial crypts, forgotten wells, walls and streets, sunken boats, personal artifacts, and the occasional hidden treasure. Among the latter are sewers, the Tube, and secret government warrens. Spanning the centuries of both are the ancient rivers and streams that still flow into the Thames, e.g. the Fleet River: "On the corner of Warner Street and Ray Street, in the road before the Coach and Horses pub, a piece of grating can be found. If you put your ear close to it, you can still hear the sound of the river pulsing underneath. It is not dead." (Note: As in exercise in current Web technology and capability, find the street intersection mentioned using the satellite mode of Google Maps. Then, transition to the street view with the little yellow man. You too can find that street grating.) Furthermore, the book is about people below ground: those that constructed, scavenged and toured the sewers; those that built, sheltered in, and ride the Underground. And those that have died below the surface. Even about ghosts. LONDON UNDER is certainly not an in-depth survey, so to speak; its length doesn't allow for that. The evolution of the city's sewage and underground rail systems provides most of the material. But even then, the structure of the book is more of a congenial and simplified summary focusing on the more interesting highlights. If you want more detail on any particular topic, then you'll have to look elsewhere, e.g. Necropolis, which surveys London's role as a burial ground both past and present. The reader with no interest in London will not even find it worthwhile to crack open the pages of this little book. But, because I love this city more than any other place in the world I've visited in my sixty-four years, I'm giving it 5 stars because it totally engaged my memories of the place and my constant desire to return. "When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford." - Samuel Johnson; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ghost Tripping: A Grouping of Ghostly Travel Tales; Author: Visit Amazon's Keith E Jones Page; Review: "I never saw a ghost in Kyrgyzstan, but I can still feel the chill that ran down my spine while I stood alone in the center of the ballroom of the Alta Sara hotel near midnight on a cold and snowy night." - Keith Jones in GHOST TRIPPING GHOST TRIPPING by self-styled "homeless ex-hippie vagabond" Keith Jones is a collection of short stories - seven chapters - centering on experiences in Thailand, the Philippines, China, Kyrgyzstan, and Baja California which, to the author, have some connection to a ghost or ghost tale. In all honesty, the paranormal content of each of these stories is nebulous at best. Indeed, the book perhaps says more about Keith's susceptibility to the power of suggestion than anything else and can best be summarized by a comment he made about one of the scenarios set in Manila: "This story would be better if I could say I saw a ghost in the hallway, but I never did see one there. The attempted mugging by that pack of scrawny kids was the worst thing that happened to me." I think each of the chapters, and the volume as a whole, would have greater potential to engage the reader if the author had left out the hint of supernatural and just expanded upon the foreign environment and culture that he was immersed in at the moment. In an "About the Author" section at the book's conclusion, Jones goes out of his way to describe in brief where he's been worldwide, how he's traveled there, what he's seen, where he's stayed, and the good and bad experiences he's had. There seems to be enough material in all that to write several books in the travel essay genre that would appeal greatly to the armchair adventurer without having to resort to some gimmick. So, three stars in recognition of potential.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: 1356; Author: B. Cornwell; Review: (Note: This review is of a paperback, uncorrected proof edition.) "Few men carried swords. A sword would neither thrust nor cut through armor. An armored man must be beaten down by lead-weighted weapons, beaten and crushed and pulped." - from 1356. As in his Agincourt, author Bernard Cornwell takes the reader in the historical novel 1356 to the Hundred Years War (1337-1453) between France and England. Here, the canvas is the Battle of Poitiers in which The Black Prince, the eldest son of England's King Edward III, with his army of approximately 6,000, confronts the French King Jean (John) II, commanding 10,000, at the village of Nouaillé southeast of Poitiers. Cornwell's hero in 1356 is Thomas of Hookton, whom fans of the author have met before in his Grail Quest series. Thomas, a.k.a. Le Btard, leads a band of English and Gascon mercenaries, the Hellequin, in southern France under orders from his distant liege lord, the Earl of Northampton back in England. 1356 is great fun as it incorporates a wealth of characters, good and evil, that make the book a trashy novel in the most entertaining tradition of the genre: the swashbuckling Thomas, damsels in distress, evil and conniving Church priests and prelates, the valiant and brave Black Prince, the honorable but incompetent King Jean, gallant knights, ignoble nobles, and a wayward monk. It's when the plot actually arrives at the Battle of Poitiers that 1356 is in top form. Cornwell, as he did in AGINCOURT, did his best to describe the clash on 19 September as accurately as he could considering the imprecise nature of the historical record. Unlike in AGINCOURT, however, he didn't provide a battlefield map showing the troop movements of both sides. For me personally, 1356 was a revelation (as was AGINCOURT before it) on the brutal, up-close nature of fighting in the fourteenth century. It was the armor that made it so because it took a lot to breach that defense. True, Federal and Confederate infantry of the U.S. Civil War often came together in hand-to-hand combat, killing with bayonet and rifle butts, but the violence it took to bring down an armored foe was on another scale entirely: "Arnaldus ... hit the man with an ax, knocking his head sideways ... Karyl swung the mace and the snout visor was knocked free, dangling from one hinge ... Karyl slammed his mace into the mustached face, crushing the nose and breaking teeth ... Karyl punched the mace a second time and Arnaldus brought his ax down onto the man's shoulder, splitting his espalier, and the enemy went down onto his knees, spitting blood and teeth, and Arnaldus finished him with a mighty swing of the ax ..." and... "A Frenchman latched his poleax over Ralph of Chester's espalier and pulled him hard, and the Englishman stumbled forward, dragged by the hook in his shoulder armor, and a mace slammed into the side of his helmet; he fell and another Frenchman swung an ax and split his backplate ... the mace slammed down again and Ralph went; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: David Crockett: The Lion of the West; Author: Visit Amazon's Michael Wallis Page; Review: "Be allways (sic) sure you are right then Go, ahead." - David Crockett, written below his signature on the deed and the bill of sale for a slave girl he sold "Elizabeth, Crockett's (second) wife, had reached her limit. She could no longer tolerate Crockett's behavior - all the hunting, excessive drinking, and his chronic pattern of abandoning his family. The ebullient public person contradicted the reckless personal one. She packed up and moved with those children still at home to Gibson County to reside with Patton kinfolk." - from DAVID CROCKETT In the "Personal Introduction" to his book, DAVID CROCKETT, THE LION OF THE WEST, author Michael Wallis explains the genesis of his fascination with the man. It was for him, as it was for me and a young generation Americans at the time, the three-part Walt Disney television miniseries DAVY CROCKETT that aired in December 1954 - February 1955, which starred Fess Parker as the legendary hero. And, yes, I too had a coonskin hat - rabbit skin, actually - and a frontier jacket with fringe. Crockett's biography by Wallis seems to be a well-researched, accurate, and erudite narrative of Crockett's life, though I'm in no position to judge except from the perspective of a reasonably intelligent reader. However, if success is measured by the establishment of a distinction between Crockett the legend and Crockett the man, then the volume is a triumph by any gauge. Indeed, should any adult who still idolizes the Fess Parker version of the frontiersman-hunter-Congressman read DAVID CROCKETT, then another hero will surely fall from the pedestal erected by popular myth. DAVID CROCKETT contains a 16-page section of black and white photographs of better than average usefulness and interest. Yes, Davy was an exceptional hunter, charismatic politician, honest, and brave. He was also an ineffective legislator, too fond of hard liquor, financially inept, too ready to periodically abandon his family when hearing the siren's call to wander the frontier landscape with his male pals to explore and hunt, and possessed of a conscience flexible enough to allow for the buying and selling of other humans. Indeed, he seems to me to have been no more -and perhaps less - admirable than the average John Q. citizen who lives next door and down the block and who quietly and competently meets responsibilities. In Crockett's case, subsequent flash laid on by the legend created mostly by others exceeds substance. One is left to wonder if the author himself became disillusioned; he doesn't say. For me, it's time to retire that old and ratty, rabbit fur hat.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: 17 Cents & a Dream; Author: Visit Amazon's Daniel Milstein Page; Review: 17 CENTS AND A DREAM is, on its face, a rapid-fire reminiscence by businessman Daniel Milstein of his twenty years from age ten to thirty, during which time he and his family - himself, father, mother, brother, grandmother - fled anti-Jewish sentiment in the Ukraine to arrive in the United States, where the author, after experiencing the obvious difficulties of a non-English speaker both in getting an education and landing a first job, went on to found what became an "Inc. 500" company. 17 CENTS AND A DREAM is also Milstein's self-massage of his ego, the text positively littered with the words "I", "me", and "my" expressed in the simple narrative style and tone one might associate with an eighth-grader's essay, "What I Did on My Summer Vacation." 17 CENTS AND A DREAM is, in my opinion, most suitable for the remainders bin in a discount book emporium or, alternatively, mass produced and donated gratis to the waiting rooms of self-help organizations seeking to rehabilitate chronic underachievers of one sort or another. As a rags to riches story, it may indeed be usefully invigorating for some. For those of us who've been quietly leading responsible, successful lives for years without the need for motivational speeches, posters or books, it will perhaps just evoke the response: Really? Glad to have you aboard to pay taxes and help reduce the deficit. The volume's subtitle is: MY INCREDIBLE JOURNEY FROM USSR TO LIVING THE AMERICAN DREAM. Well, let's not overstate the case, shall we? It's not "incredible", i.e. hard to believe, by any stretch. Millions have immigrated with minimal possessions to the United States ever since the original colonies were founded. A large percentage of those came from lands in which they were persecuted because of religion or ethnicity, and a significant portion of those have been notably successful. So, Dan, I'll allow you this one self-congratulatory book and a pat on the back, but next time you're tempted to do an elaborate victory dance in the end zone, please show some class and act as if you've been there before, or at least recognize that many others have been there before you. 17 CENTS AND A DREAM doesn't rate a general readership. It may have utility as a motivating piece.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Lost Cat: A True Story of Love, Desperation, and GPS Technology; Author: Visit Amazon's Caroline Paul Page; Review: "Trust is good, but there's always GPS." - from LOST CAT Author Caroline Paul had lived in her San Francisco neighborhood for twenty years, thirteen of those with her twin cats, Fibby and Tibby. While Caroline was convalescing from significant injuries sustained in the crash of an "experimental plane" that she was piloting, Tibby ran away from home - and stayed away - for the first time ever. All frantic efforts to find him failed. Five weeks after disappearing, Tibby nonchalantly returned apparently none the worse for wear. After the initial relief over her beloved Tibby's homecoming wore off, the author began to wonder. Where had he been? He weighed slightly more than when he left, and his fur was sleeker. What's that all about? Had he gone looking for, and found, a better provider after all these years? The ungrateful and unfaithful little wretch. Using everything from flyers distributed around the neighborhood to a miniature CatCam purchased from a German inventor, Caroline - still hobbling on crutches - and her friend Wendy MacNaughton, who illustrated LOST CAT with drawings, set out to discover what had been Tibby's secret home away from home. What they discovered helped the two better understand the nature of Tibby, their neighbors, and perhaps felines in general. LOST CAT is an utterly charming little story that can be read over two coffee breaks and a lunch period at work. Paul's humorous narrative is reflected and complemented by Wendy's drawings, which are clever and well done. LOST CAT is meant for those that are owned by, or simply love, cats, and who will certainly award four or five stars just for the charm alone. (My wife and I have three: Amanda, Sissy, and Rags.) Those indifferent to or repulsed by the creatures will be less amused, no doubt, and the book is not for them. So, take your cat in your lap and purr along with this good book.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Fulcrum Files; Author: Visit Amazon's Mark Chisnell Page; Review: Mark Chisnell's THE FULCRUM FILES opens in 1922 when the young English boxer, Ben Clayton, snatches victory from the jaws of defeat by knocking out - and severely injuring - his ring opponent. Guilt ridden, Ben turns to pacifism as his life's guiding philosophy. Fast forward to 1936. Ben is now a structural engineer recently employed by Supermarine Aviation Works, Ltd., a subsidiary of Vickers-Armstrongs Aircraft, Ltd. A keen amateur sailor since his college days, Clayton and his best friend, mentor, and fellow engineer, Stanley Arbethwaite, are now working to equip the racing yacht Windflower, owned by Supermarine executive Harold Dunwood, with a revolutionary mast made of duraluminum, one of the earliest types of hardened aluminum alloys. But Harold is killed in a freak accident while rigging the mast. Ben comes to believe that his friend was murdered. But why? And by whom? Ben's investigation into Stanley's death is the central plot of the novel told against a background of a reemerging and bellicose Nazi Germany, a divided England (appeasement versus national rearmament for war), and the development of the famed Spitfire warplane. THE FULCRUM FILES is part murder whodunit and part espionage tale with a love interest thrown in (for the female readership?). The book contains an excess character or two and at least one superfluous subplot that stretched out the storyline and should perhaps have been left on the cutting room floor. Indeed, it isn't until Ben finds himself in Germany about two-thirds of the way through that the plot really thickens. I wish there had been less about the yachting and (much) more about the development of the Spitfire, but that's only my personal preference. (The author's penchant, based on his writing history, is for the sailing of small boats, so I get it.) Moreover, I just never found Ben to be a compelling hero. However, the ending does include a surprise character twist that added a nice touch to the whole. THE FULCRUM FILES was above average to the extent that it engaged my interest enough such that I wanted to finish, but not so much that I couldn't put it down to take care of more mundane responsibilities. That, to me, is the definition of a four-star read in the fiction genre. The author's previous two thrillers, The Defector and The Wrecking Crew, are eminently worth acquiring and reading.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Affinities (Lifecycle - A Parapsychological Thriller Series) (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Hollis Thompson Page; Review: "... (the headache) spread across his face, forcing his eyes shut for fear they might pop out of their sockets. He had never known a pain like it - jaw clamped closed, teeth barred. He tried to scream, but the sound couldn't make it through the tightness in his throat ... He would have given anything to make it stop, torn his hair out just to ease the pressure. Fingers were frozen rigid, ready to claw through skin and bone." - Andrew, in AFFINITIES After a day on the beach at Brighton with his wife, Andrew Goodwin accelerates his car out of a parking space into heavy traffic and has an accident that leaves him hospitalized with severe back injuries and a pedestrian, Daniel Lawton, dead. Thus begins Andrew's terrifying fight for the survival of his very identity. It's a battle of wits in the most intimate arena possible - within his mind. AFFINITIES by Chris Hollis is a devilishly clever psychological thriller that spans a couple of years of Andrew's altered existence. It also represents a significant maturation of the author's writing skills since his first book, Subculture. Indeed, in AFFINITIES, Hollis deftly manages a complex timeline, which, in lesser hands, might have proved bewildering to the reader. Though I was engaged by AFFINITIES and enjoyed it considerably, I'm not yet willing to award five stars. The book is long (though, even at that, Chris tells me he'd reduced it by a third from an earlier draft). Though the novel's plot stands alone, it didn't present to me an ending which I thought satisfying considering the reading time I spent getting there. It came as no surprise, then, when Hollis shared that the story will continue. The thing is, you see, Andrew's predicament is such that I'm waiting to see how his creator plausibly extricates him from it, and I'm withholding five stars until I see how it's done. One final note. The author tells me the story is really about the mysterious "woman in the green coat" who occasionally appears out of nowhere, literally. Though, by the end of the book, I understand who she is, I felt she was unnecessary to the overall storyline if indeed the plot is centered on Andrew. So, Chris, knock my socks off; I'm looking forward to the sequel in whatever form it may take.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: An Available Man: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Hilma Wolitzer Page; Review: "I hoped, I really tried, to snap out of it, myself, but it doesn't work that way." - Edward, on the aftermath of his wife's death "He certainly wasn't 'getting any' ... unless you counted pleasuring oneself, which in Edward's case seemed more of an appeasement than an actual pleasure. He would be sixty-four soon. In time, and without stimulation, even that need would go away." - from AN AVAILABLE MAN Edward Schuyler, a school teacher of seventh-graders, finds himself a widower after almost twenty years of marriage. He's heartbroken. How will he manage to snap out of it? Hilma Wolitzer's AN AVAILABLE MAN is a compassionate and beguiling story that should appeal, especially to one of a certain age - Edward's age. Schuyler is just short of sixty-four, an awkward time to start over. I think perhaps the story of this aging man's experience may have been more perceptively told if written by ... a man becoming old. There are things about male aging that a woman just can't know. (I think I can speak from experience as I myself am just short of sixty-four.) However, that said, I enjoyed Wolitzer's novel as a sensitive and sympathetic portrayal of Edward's new situation in life. Or, shall we say, a revisiting of an old situation with the experience of years but a smaller reservoir of energy. The story's protagonist is, of course, Edward, who could also be considered the antagonist as the only conflict is within himself as he endeavors to sort out his loneliness. AN AVAILABLE MAN incorporates an apropos plot twist that burnishes the four stars I'm awarding. AN AVAILABLE MAN is a reminder that establishing oneself with another as a couple at any age is a roller-coaster ride of exhilaration and disappointment fraught with the pitfalls of promising but ultimately dysfunctional relationships. Most importantly, however, the book's ultimate lesson is that what one needs to find - as opposed to wanting or hoping to find - is often discovered in the most unlikely place.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Peking to Paris: Life and Love on a Short Drive Around Half the World; Author: Visit Amazon's Dina Bennett Page; Review: "I recall our vows nearly 25 years ago: to have and to hold, to love and to cherish. Who knows. Maybe there also was something in there about getting in a car together and going whither the road might lead. To drive and be driven ... Our eyes connect and I can't disappoint (my husband). I nod." - Dina Bennett in PEKING TO PARIS, at the point she mentally buys into the P2P road rally "The scorecard lights up. We're even." - Dina Bennett in PEKING TO PARIS, Day 4 "As with most things on the P2P, my fantasy does not match reality." - Dina Bennett in PEKING TO PARIS "When in doubt, get a pedicure. Things are always clearer when you have polish on your toenails." - Dina Bennett in PEKING TO PARIS, a final thought During a quarter-century of marriage, Dina Bennett and her husband, Bernard Gateau, built, then sold, a successful computer software company. Eventually, they acquired a horse ranch in the Colorado Rockies. But Bernard had always loved cars. So, when he first learned of the Peking to Paris Motor Challenge to be held in 2007, he got a glint in his eye. Seeing that glint, Dina enthused: Well, um, OK, I guess. PEKING TO PARIS is Dina's first-person account of that 7,901-mile journey - called by her the P2P - completed in a drive time of 344 hours, 13 minutes and 51 seconds (over 35 days) in a 1940 LaSalle Coup (Car #84) purchased by the couple for the event and reconditioned for the expected rigors of the road. The rally's rules stipulated one driver and one navigator per automobile, and the two couldn't switch roles during the race. Thus, Bernard was to drive and Dina navigate, an assignment she had absolutely no confidence that she could fulfill. Plus, she had a history of carsickness. And would the close confines of the car over nearly 8,000 miles result in one or the other's murder? Yes, PEKING TO PARIS is about their LaSalle with the dodgy suspension, a few of the other contestants, road breakdowns and repairs, and some of the locals met along the way. But what makes this travel essay especially engaging is as a record of Dina's personal growth, the journey's effect on the couple's relationship, and their outlook on life afterwards. Perhaps a P2P is something every couple should attempt. Hmm. Then again ... maybe not. (My wife starts to fidget if confined to a car or plane for too long. It can get ugly.) This edition of PEKING TO PARIS that I read was an uncorrected bound galley. I'm awarding five stars with one very big condition attached; the final published edition must, and I mean Must with a capital M, contain a photo section and a route map. Without these, especially the photos, the award drops precipitously to four stars. Dina gets the last word: "Momentum: have it and you'll get through the rough spots. Lose it and you're going nowhere."; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Gun Guys: A Road Trip; Author: Visit Amazon's Dan Baum Page; Review: "Choose the most adamant anti-gun peacenik you know and give him a tommy gun to shoot at a stick of dynamite. Then strap him to a polygraph and ask him if it was fun." - from GUN GUYS Early on in GUN GUYS, author Dan Baum, a freelance journalist, describes his general political orientation: "My upbringing, reading, and experience kept me believing in unions, gay rights, progressive taxation, the United Nations, public works, permissive immigration, single-payer health care, reproductive choice, negotiation rather than preemptive force, regulation of business to protect workers and the environment, and scientifically informed rather than religion-based policies." In other words, a Bleeding Heart Liberal. However, since boyhood, Dan has had an affinity and love of guns; he's a "gun guy." In GUN GUYS, Baum travels the United States in search of an answer to the question: Why do firearms resonate with such a large portion of the country's citizenry? Reading this extended journalistic investigation, gun control advocates may sourly assert that the author doesn't present the other side of the story, i.e. why gun ownership needs to be restricted (if not be downright banned). If so, they miss the point. While Dan does conduct one interview with the legal director of the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence, who argues for a ban on assault weapons, his focus, in order to answer the central question that forms the basis for his book, is on those who buy, collect, use, and sell guns. (Similarly, someone wishing to explain the cheeseburger's allure might interview me but not my wife, who would forbid it from my diet if she could. Those with a fried egg and bacon are especially tasty!) One of the more amusing aspects of Baum's investigatory quest is to get close enough to his gun-totin' quarry to ask questions because, as he self-describes himself: "A look in the mirror, though, told me that it wouldn't be easy. A stoop-shouldered, bald-headed, middle-aged Jew in pleated pants and glasses, I looked like a card-carrying biscuit nibbler." His answer, of course, was to adopt a personal facade. "So I held my nose and joined the NRA, which brought me ... a snappy blue-and-gold NRA cap and lapel pin - excellent camouflage." From there, Dan's efforts to fit-in only escalated. (After all, he's a gun guy at heart.) By the end of GUN GUYS, in which the author, among other things, applies for a concealed-carry permit, shops for a silencer, attends gun safety and handling courses, goes hunting for feral pigs in Texas, shoots a tommy gum at dynamite, and does interviews with the NRA and Jews for the Preservation of Firearms Ownership, Baum manages to supply several answers to the original question - one of which I thought was as best a response as one might get among so many possibilities. GUN GUYS is both informative and humorously told. Perhaps my favorite chapter, since I live in the Greater Los Angeles area, was "The Rubber Gun Squad", in which the supply for and use of guns in Hollywood films is described.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Night Ranger (A John Wells Novel); Author: Visit Amazon's Alex Berenson Page; Review: "Death was something that happened to other people. People who weren't as lucky or beautiful or American as she was." - from Gwen's perspective, in THE NIGHT RANGER "Just then Wizard knew he would never see (Gwen) again, whatever happened in the next few minutes ... He missed her already, her and her magic, the magic of her blond hair and blue eyes, the magic she'd won just being born in America." - from the Somali bandit leader's perspective, in THE NIGHT RANGER In THE NIGHT RANGER, CIA ace operative John Wells goes slumming in East Africa to rescue four American aid workers volunteering at the Dadaab refugee camp in Eastern Kenya who are kidnapped by Somali bandits. Ostensibly, Wells reluctantly takes on the assignment at the urging of his estranged son, Evan, a friend of the family of one of the abductees, Gwen. But any follower of John's knows he does it for kicks in the absence of anything better to do; it beats being stuck at home checking-off items on the Honey-Do List. In the modern-day world, news stories about Somali kidnappers usually seem to revolve around sea-going pirates. (Arrgh, matey!) Here, author Alex Berenson has thought a bit outside the box by placing the action at the country's interior border with Kenya - a nice, unexpected touch in a region far-removed from the latter country's wild animal park/tourist traps. One of the attractions of the James Bond spy novels, especially when adapted to a visual medium, has been the gadgets with which he's been equipped by Q. In NIGHT RANGER, Berenson supplies his leading man with back-up courtesy of perhaps the ultimate real-life gadget to date. Double-O-Seven, eat your heart out! Perhaps my only niggling dissatisfaction with the novel - though not enough to reduce the award from five stars - is the somewhat half-hearted character toughening that the author attempts with one of the hostages, Gwen, who is otherwise a somewhat spoiled and shallow young woman. Had he been more aggressive with that aspect of the story, Gwen's persona could've been a major force. Oh well, maybe next time. My history with fictional Tough Guys has recently been with Lee Child's Jack Reacher and Stephen Leather's Dan Shepherd. Of late, though, Child seems to be running out of steam and Leather is backing his creation into an ethical corner. Wells, on the other hand, has an uncomplicated competence and measured deadliness that stands out. Though I've read other books in the John Wells series, I'm only now just realizing his attraction as a hero in contemporary fiction. I guess I'm becoming more than just a casual fan.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Powder Burn (Burn with Sam Blackett); Author: Visit Amazon's Mark Chisnell Page; Review: In POWDER BURN, the first installment in an adventure series by author Mark Chisnell to feature Samantha "Sam" Blackett, the heroine, an investigative journalist wannabee, finds herself on the Tibetan Plateau after several months mucking about the Indian subcontinent looking for a sellable story to write. She meets up with Pete, Vegas, and Lens. Pete and Vegas are two snowboarders about to trek into the Himalayas to do the Powder Burn, a three-thousand yard, fifty-seven degree slope that no one has done before. Lens, a down-on-his-luck filmmaker, hopes to shoot the run and rescue his career. Sam signs on to write the story that will launch the expedition into snowboarding lore. But, there's something about the plan that Blackett isn't being told. Chisnell places his thriller in the fictional mountain kingdom of Shibde, which has recently suffered hostile occupation by neighboring (and fictional) Demagistan. The reader can perhaps squint against the glare off the snow and imagine these countries are based on Tibet and China. Personally, I always get a little fidgety when an author resorts to make-believe locales in an otherwise real-world milieu. It took me awhile to become engaged by the storyline as I first had to buy into the premise that snowboarding was a serious lead-in. I mean, really? As the plot evolved, elements of it reminded me - perhaps too superficially - of other epics both literary and cinematic: Zorro, Tolkien's Ring series, the Three Musketeers, and the Indiana Jones films. And then there's the issue of the legendary, perhaps magic, sword that Sam (in silhouette) is seen holding on the virtual front cover of the POWDER BURN e-edition. Such talismans as the Holy Grail, Arthur's Excalibur, and the Ring have always seemed problematic to me, quests for such causing more trouble than they're worth. Tossing the object in question into a bottomless lake or down a sewer grate seems the better plan. In any case, they serve as grist for stories, and often sequels. At this point, i.e. at the end of Sam's first adventure, I can't say that the author has yet developed the character enough to be compelling and worth following. She needs to toughen up. For instance, her one notable skill, her ability with a rifle, shows great promise if only she loses her reservations about using the weapon to full effect. I mean, Bond has no qualms about shooting to kill. POWDER BURN had, for me, one overriding saving grace - the last chapter, the Epilogue. I thought that a clever plot twist which elevated a mildly interesting thriller to four-star status and might even encourage me to read the next in the series.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Drop Dead Healthy: One Man's Humble Quest for Bodily Perfection; Author: Visit Amazon's A J Jacobs Page; Review: (Note: This review is of the hardcover edition.) "My sons are annoyed that I won't eat cupcakes with them at birthday parties, opting instead for a plastic bag of carrots." - from DROP DEAD HEALTHY "A New York spa will spread bird excrement on your pores for two hundred dollars ... Snail secretion facials are also available. Seems we haven't come so far from Elizabethan times, when there was a fad for puppy urine skin cleanser." from DROP DEAD HEALTHY In DROP DEAD HEALTHY, book author and newspaper/magazine contributor A.J. Jacobs chronicles the twenty-five or so months he spent seeking bodily perfection. What? There's a physical flawlessness that goes deeper than skin-deep? Say it ain't so, AJ! In twenty-seven chapters, Jacobs focuses on improving the condition or function of his body parts: stomach, heart, ears, butt, immune system, genitals, nervous system, lower intestine, adrenal gland, brain, endocrine system, teeth, feet, lungs, skin, inside of the eyelids (sleep), bladder, gonads, nose, hands, back, eyes, and skull. So, whether it's testing the sprayed essence of cucumber plus Good and Plenty candy as an aphrodisiac, running shoeless, getting his teeth whitened with UV-light, attending laughter therapy sessions, getting a colorectal exam, identifying spices by smell, fitting his bed with hypoallergenic sheets and pillowcases, taking pole-dancing classes (for the exercise benefit), juicing and dehydrating raw fruits and veg, or doing brain exercises, the author explores an array of fads, theories, devices, schemes, and recipes to optimize his comprehensive physical and physiological tune-up. One might immediately wonder if any of this did any good that sticks. Perhaps, then, the most valuable parts of DROP DEAD HEALTHY are Appendices A through G in which Jacobs shares advice, tips, methods, and regimens which he personally found useful after weeding out that which was, at best, just not for him or, at worst, just nonsensical to the point of making his wife Julie roll her eyes. AJ's narrative is told with self-deprecatory humor and a wink; he undertook the self-improvement project with serious intent, but not too seriously. For each month, he records for the reader the result of a reality check. For instance: "Checkup: Month 8 Weight: 160 Miles walked on treadmill while writing: 302 Meals eaten in front of mirror this month: 18 Miles run per day: 2 Biggest health sin: 27 candy corns in a single sitting" Or, "Checkup: Month 20 Weight: 158 Average grams of sugar per day: 25 Cups of coffee per day: 1.5 Times unsuccessfully attempted to switch to green tea: 7 Number of yoga instructors who have been surprisingly rude to me and other students: 3" Each chapter comes with a black and white photograph illustrating the topic at hand, and the front and back endpapers each display a color photo of the author composed and labeled in such a way as to give humorous visual reference to those body parts and functions addressed in the text. Overall, DROP DEAD HEALTHY is an entertaining and informative read. It should, however, be taken more as a book of humor than one on fitness or; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: High Crimes: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Joseph Finder Page; Review: "You can't handle the truth!" - Colonel Jessup, in the film A FEW GOOD MEN HIGH CRIMES by Joseph Finder is an above average legal thriller that's been compared favorably with the 1992 courtroom drama, A Few Good Men. In HIGH CRIMES, high-octane defense attorney and Harvard Law professor Claire Chapman finds herself defending Tom, her husband of four years, against a government charge of mass murder for allegedly slaughtering eighty-seven unarmed El Salvadorian villagers thirteen years earlier when Tom, then known as Sergeant Ron Kubik, was a member of a black-ops Army Special Forces unit on a mission to eliminate the leftist guerrillas who'd recently killed seven Americans. Then Kubik deserted and disappeared from the Fed's radar. Until now. Of course, Claire had no knowledge of her husband's previous life. And don't those super-secret guv'mint goon squads just leave behind the peskiest loose ends? This novel, published in 1998 and one of the author's earliest, is, in retrospect, a courtroom potboiler that might otherwise get lost in the multitude of legal thrillers published before and since if it wasn't for a particularly unexpected ending that would seem to, and did, lend the story to a Big Screen adaptation (High Crimes). Nothing like a lucrative film deal, eh Joe? My admiration for the book's concluding plot twist does not, however, negate the fact that it positively screamed reminder of the Music Box, an excellent and powerful 1989 film starring Jessica Lange as a Chicago lawyer compelled by familial love and devotion to defend her aging father from a government charge of war crimes committed during World War II when he was ostensibly commander of a Hungarian fascist death squad that murdered Jews and Gypsies. Indeed, HIGH CRIMES reminded me so much of MUSIC BOX in broad outline that I feel compelled to knock a star off the former by a niggling sense of a lack of originality. But, it's still a pretty good read. Fifteen years after HIGH CRIMES first appeared, there's a certain technological quaintness about it that's endearing. Claire might have found Google to be enormously handy, if it had existed back then. And she has a cell phone with an extendable antenna. Cool! Where can I get one of those?; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Nightshade: The 4th Jack Nightingale Supernatural Thriller; Author: Visit Amazon's Stephen Leather Page; Review: "(The little girl) was lying on her back, her blonde hair spreading out across the pillow like a golden halo, breathing slowly and evenly. Nightingale closed the door quietly, wincing as the wood brushed against the carpet. When he turned back to the bed, her eyes were open and she was staring right at him. 'You're Jack Nightingale, aren't you?' she said...You've come to kill me, haven't you?'" - from NIGHTSHADE NIGHTSHADE, the fourth installment in Stephen Leather's Jack Nightingale saga, starts out with a clever piece of misdirection as a heretofore solid and respectable farmer in Berwick loads up his shotgun, strolls into the local primary school, and starts blowing away the children before committing suicide. The Borders region has historically been blood-drenched, but this seems too much like America. In any case, private investigator Nightingale is hired by the killer's brother to determine motive. It isn't until fully a third into the book that what had seemingly been a secondary plot begins to take precedence, much as a gas-bloated corpse becomes visible as it slowly rises to the surface of a dark lake. From that point on, the reader will strive to discern a connection between the two. Perhaps something whispered in the ear will set it all straight. In my review of Nightmare (Nightingale: Book Three), I'd fussed that the author had spent too much text space revisiting the first two in order, presumably, to bring the new reader up to date. In NIGHTSHADE, Stephen perhaps swings too far to the other extreme. While it may be unnecessary for one only now being introduced to Jack's tangles with the occult to be conversant with why he left London's Metropolitan Police under a cloud, it would be useful to know his relationship with Robbie Hoyle, who here appears out of nowhere without explanation. And, for those of us who've been Nightingale fans since the beginning, what became of Gosling Manor, that old pile inherited under bizarre circumstances in Nightfall (Nightingale: Book One)? Did he repair the fire and water damage and donate it to the National Trust, or is he just holding onto it until the real estate market turns around? The character in the series I find most fascinating is the demon Proserpine. While I wouldn't expect her and Jack to become pub-crawling mates, her occasional and fraught-with-tension interaction with our hero makes her an edgier accomplice to the evolving storyline than Jenny, Nightingale's assistant, who is, in my mind, completely disposable in the long term. Indeed, it is Proserpine's smug warning to Jack concerning his Wicca consultant, Mrs. Steadman, that will compel me to read the next in the series.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Love with a Chance of Drowning; Author: Visit Amazon's Torre DeRoche Page; Review: (This review is of the book as it was originally released and entitled SWEPT.) "... if someone were to ask me which direction the wind was coming from, I would lick my finger, point it into the air, and then declare I have no idea whatsoever." - Torre DeRoche, before leaving the dock "I suck in the air and slowly roll the scents over my taste buds. Wet soil, flowers, and the sweet, pungent odor of nature's decay: that is the smell of land." - Torre DeRoche, after 26 days at sea Herein this amiable travel narrative, 26-year old Aussie Torre DeRoche gives an account of her months-long voyage to the fabled islands of the South Pacific made on the 32-foot sailboat "Amazing Grace" owned by the Argentinean man, Ivan, whom she met in a San Francisco bar and who subsequently swept her off her feet and off shore. It must have been love as Torre hated the ocean and sailing and was prone to seasickness. Torre tells the salty tale with humor and charm, and she does a superb job hitting the high points of a voyage of self-discovery that must've been embedded in seemingly interminable time swaths of boredom; a small sailing vessel in the middle of the vast Pacific hasn't the distracting amenities of a cruise ship. LOVE WITH A CHANCE OF DROWNING suffers from the lack of a route map or photos. However, the author steers the reader to a website where such can be found. So, since we're all computer-savvy adults here, I won't knock off a star for the omission. Indeed, it's a smart move on Torre's part; I'd add a sixth star if I could. The website has color photos, no less. And, when seen, the "Amazing Grace" seems really small for such a passage. For the older reader such as myself, a large chunk of this travel essay's charm is the bittersweet memory of the relative freedom and opportunities of youth - perhaps my own youth - for adventures never to be forgotten.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Black Cherry Blues: A Dave Robicheaux Novel (Dave Robicheaux Mysteries (Paperback)); Author: James L Burke; Review: "... then her eyes looked at my face with both expectation and perhaps a moment's fear. I suspected she was one of those whose heart could be easily hurt, one to whom a casual expression of affection would probably be interpreted as a large personal commitment. The moon was up now. The window was open and I could smell the wet mint against the brick wall and the thick, cool odor of lawn grass that had been flooded by a soak hose. It was the kind of soft moment that you could slip into as easily as you could believe that you were indeed able to regain the innocence of your youth. So I squeezed her hand and said good night, and I saw the flick of disappointment in her eyes..." Life is a series of firsts. In my world and my time, it generally includes First Word, First Steps, First Taste of Chocolate, First School, First Pet, First Kiss, First Sex Partner, First Love, First Heartbreak, First Car, and First Job. First Double-Cheese Double-Bacon Double-Burger. Then, perhaps, First Marriage, First Child, First Divorce, and First Death of a Friend. And, finally, First Diagnosis of the Disease-That-Will-Kill-You and First Own Death - perhaps from a lifetime of those bacon cheeseburgers! As the frequency of enjoyable Firsts decreases, so too the zest for life, I think. In any case, BLACK CHERRY BLUES is my first Dave Robicheaux novel - received as a gift on my sixty-fourth birthday from a kind and generous lady - and it has added zest. Thank you, AC! At this point in the Robicheaux series by James Lee Burke, Dave is an ex-Vietnam vet and ex-cop providing fishing boat rentals down on a Louisiana bayou. Dave is a Cajun. Here, our hero is framed for a vicious murder and, out on bail, must travel out of his element to the mountains of Montana if he's to correct the injustice and allow him to avoid being sent to the Louisiana State Penitentiary, a.k.a. "Angola." Montana is a long way from the bayous and the trial is only weeks, then days, away. What makes Robicheaux extraordinary when compared to other literary Tough Guys of recent acquaintance, e.g. Jack Reacher, Dan "Spider" Shepherd, or John Wells, is the extent to which he's tormented by inner demons. Dave needs some serious counseling. But, best of all, is the talent that the author displays for descriptive prose that can occasionally break your heart. That, by itself, compels me to continue with other installments in the series. The trouble is, there are at least seventeen more of them beyond this one, and who's got the time? Especially if one has twenty other volumes lined up on the to-be-read shelf and twenty-one more on the Wish List. Well, we'll see. I suspect Robicheaux will be impossible to set aside cold turkey.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ranger Confidential: Living, Working, And Dying In The National Parks; Author: Visit Amazon's Andrea Lankford Page; Review: "... although the Grand Canyon is sixty miles from the nearest interstate, it remains a popular natural wonder for those planning to do themselves in." - from RANGER CONFIDENTIAL "The ranger hat is nothing if not iconic, but it gives you a headache when worn longer than twenty minutes." - from RANGER CONFIDENTIAL RANGER CONFIDENTIAL by ex-park ranger Andrea Lankford is nothing if not enormously enlightening. Andrea served with the National Park Service (NPS) at Zion, Yosemite, and Grand Canyon National Parks. At the peak of her career, she was the supervisor of ranger operations for the Grand Canyon Corridor, i.e. those heavily traveled trails (Bright Angel, South Kaibab and North Kaibob) between the North Rim and South Rim, including the three campgrounds and ranger stations at Indian Garden, Phantom Ranch, and Cottonwood Camp. The book's narrative tells the tale of both the author's varied experiences while with the NPS and those of several other rangers of her acquaintance. All of the events recorded occurred in the 1990s. It's clear that whether a ranger is working a fee both at a park entrance or plucking an injured climber off the face of Yosemite's El Capitan, the job isn't for sissies. The most extensively qualified ranger can and must be a police officer, medic, horseman, rescuer, wilderness survivalist, and (sometimes) a coroner. Yet, if Andrea can be believed, the NPS treats these talented employees like dirt. The paperback edition suffers from the absence of photographs and even the most rudimentary of park maps. Moreover, the story is haphazardly told in that the author skips around in time, place, and personalities. And the last couple of chapters ramble on as if she didn't quite know how to wrap it up. My reservations aside, RANGER CONFIDENTIAL is a must-read for anyone who has or is planning to visit a national park. You will never regard a ranger in the same light again, and you cannot but sympathize with their duties which force them into contact with the idiots, fools, and downright criminals which infiltrate the parks each season with the millions of otherwise sensible and law abiding visitors. As my wife and I have personally hiked Rocky Mountain, Zion, and Grand Canyon, and will likely hike Grand Canyon again, I hope and trust that we'll never be foolish enough to ignore the sign posted at 3-Mile House on the Bright Angel Trail, which reads, in part: "Getting to the bottom: OPTIONAL. Getting to the top: MANDATORY!" I'd be mortified if a ranger had to save my sorry butt after I'd done something stupid. Perhaps the most engaging aspect of RANGER CONFIDENTIAL is Lankford's candidness: "I may have been a decent park ranger, but I was never a great one ... My courage was always a bit shaky. Although my work ethic seemed boundless, my compassion fatigued. I had a smart mouth; but when it came to office politics, I played the fool. I drank too much tequila and picked too many fights. I lost my patience. I lost my temper. I lost my faith. If; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Are We Nearly There Yet?: A Family's 8000-Mile Car Journey Around Britain; Author: Visit Amazon's Ben Hatch Page; Review: "The road didn't go through Wadcrag, I'd said. 'If you've been through Wadcrag you must be close,' she'd said. 'Have you seen the sign? ...When you see the sign for Wadcrag, you'll be close' ... I said again the road we were on didn't go through Wadcrag. 'Just go to Wadcrag and ring again,' she'd said." - from ARE WE NEARLY THERE YET?, a phone conversation with a hotel receptionist seeking directions to the hotel "But the kids ... kept mistaking falling leaves for bats and were scared of the free-roaming sheep and it was so freezing on the exposed ridge we left early." from ARE WE NEARLY THERE YET?, the visit to Housesteads Roman Fort on Hadrian's Wall At an earnings low point and looking for a gig, Ben and Dinah Hatch are commissioned by Frommer's to research a guide on the taking of a family vacation in Great Britain. So, the couple jams a mountain of luggage and their two kids, the "under-fours" Charlie and Phoebe, into a Vauxhall Astra for a 5-month, 8023-mile circuit of England, Wales and Scotland that eventually results in Ben's book, Frommer's England With Your Family (Frommers With Your Family Series). ARE WE NEARLY THERE YET? is the behind-the-scenes narrative of the epic journey - or ordeal, depending on your idea of a jolly outing. One of my thoughts on completing this book was that perhaps Charlie and Phoebe, actually age two and almost-four respectively, were too young to represent the average family experience as they either couldn't appreciate much of what they saw and visited, or weren't allowed to do so due to tourist attractions' age and size restrictions. However, it was the Hatch Family Adventure for better or worse, so who am I to quibble? And in the end, it didn't matter because ... ARE WE NEARLY THERE YET? isn't really about the sights seen and places visited. For that reason, I was initially disenchanted as I progressed through the chapters. However, I was ultimately won over as it became apparent that it's actually an essay on the relationships between parents and offspring spanning three generations and between husband and wife under sometimes acutely stressful conditions. Indeed, significant sections of the book record Ben's coping with the reality of his father's unsuccessful battle with cancer; Ben must occasionally leave his family in whatever corner of the island they'd reached by that point for a short visit by fast train back to his father's bedside. By the final pages when Ben records the events of their first day back home in Brighton after months on the road, I liked this book and this family unit a lot especially because of the latter's vulnerabilities. Theirs was a very engaging human experience.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Guns at Last Light: The War in Western Europe, 1944-1945 (Liberation Trilogy); Author: Visit Amazon's Rick Atkinson Page; Review: "'There must be a beginning of any great matter,' (Sir Francis) Drake had written, 'but the continuing unto the end until it is thoroughly finished yields the true glory.'" - from THE GUNS AT LAST LIGHT "... Germans unable to find white flags surrendered by waving chickens." - from THE GUNS AT LAST LIGHT "I cried for the joy of being there and the sadness of my father's death. I cried for all the times I needed a father and never had one. I cried for all the words I wanted to say and wanted to hear but had not. I cried and cried." - from THE GUNS AT LAST LIGHT, a daughter's memory of visiting her father's grave in the cemetery above Omaha beach Having just finished THE GUNS AT LAST LIGHT, after having previously read Rick Atkinson's first two books in the Liberation Trilogy (An Army at Dawn: The War in North Africa, 1942-1943, Volume One of the Liberation Trilogy and The Day of Battle: The War in Sicily and Italy, 1943-1944 (Liberation Trilogy)) about the Yanks' World War II fight against the Germans from 1942 to 1945, I stand amazed at the relative ease at which the author wrote so many elegant, eloquent, and thoroughly engaging volumes. Now, obviously, I don't mean to say it was an effortless task, but all three lengthy books were published over a relatively short period of time (2002-2013), and the research alone for any one of them might have well taken any other writer decades. Atkinson is amazing. What makes THE GUNS AT LAST LIGHT, as well as the preceding two in the series, enormously readable is Rick's ability to describe the Western Allies' war both at the macro level - multiple armies advancing on a wide front - down to the micro level - an individual participant's involvement. Yet, the trilogy is a masterpiece of comprehensive narrative that doesn't get bogged down in either the wide or narrow view. As an exceedingly casual student of the Second World War, over the decades I've become acquainted via my reading with the Normandy invasion, Operation Market Garden, and the Battle of the Bulge. (I mean, even full-length feature films have been made about them!) Yet, for the first time and because of this volume, I've picked up more than a little knowledge of the invasion of Southern France in August 1944 (Operation Dragoon), as well as the Falaise Pocket, the battles for Aachen and the Hrtgen Forest, the Colmar Pocket, and the encirclement of the Ruhr - none of which have received the same amount of press as the first three mentioned. So, I'm pathetically grateful when any book expands my knowledge base by even so much as a smidgen. THE GUNS AT LAST LIGHT contains an eminently serviceable photo section and a wide selection of above-average battlefield maps. The Notes and Selected Sources sections are positively prodigious. Finally, THE GUNS AT LAST LIGHT provides perhaps the best ever example of concise understatement, i.e. General Eisenhower's famous dispatch to his superiors reporting the victory; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Secret London - An Unusual Guide; Author: Visit Amazon's Rachel Howard Page; Review: "It's a serene, unpretentious little place with a real sense of community - a perfect spot to settle in with the Sunday papers while your kids make a beeline for the poisonous plants." - from SECRET LONDON, regarding Chumleigh Gardens London is my favorite city of all those in the world I've visited. SECRET LONDON by Rachel Howard and Bill Nash (with photos by Stephanie Rivoal and Jorge Monedero) is for travelers like me who've been there more times than I can count and might foolishly wonder what there's left to see. This "unusual guide," which can fit in a backpack, is divided into the city's geographic areas. They are, with the number of described points-of-interest in parenthesis: Westminster to Camden (35), Temple to Angel (38), Tower Bridge to Shoreditch (26), Marylebone to Shepherd's Bush (14), Westminster to Hammersmith (10), South Bank to Brixton (15), Whitechapel to Woolwich (19), Greater London - North (20), and Greater London - South (14). There's also a bonus section listing thirty-five Unusual Bars, Cafes, and Restaurants around town. Each area is prefaced both with a color map showing major streets and a numerical listing of the points-of-interest for that area; the numbers are positioned on the map. The majority of the points-of-interest are described by a single color photo and a half-page to a full page of text that includes address, website, phone number, hours, admission fee (if any), and nearest Tube station. On each page there may also be noted "Sights Nearby," which may or may not be included in the numbering scheme. Of the 191 numbered listings, I'm ashamed to admit that I've seen only two: John Snow's Cholera Pump and the Thames Flood Barrier. Having admitted my disgrace, however, I must point out that most, if not all, would appeal to those whose interests are rather esoteric, and I likely wouldn't visit many of them anyway. The City of London Bowling Club? The Cherry Tree at the Mitre Tavern? The Fan Museum? The Handlebar (moustache) Club? The Twinings Tea Museum? The London Buddhist Centre? The Fetter Lane Moravian Burial Ground? The Bread Basket Boy? The West Reservoir? The Marylebone Cricket Club Museum? The Magpie Alley Crypt? The Brixton Windmill? The Traffic Light Tree? The Giant Scribble? Um, no to all and many more, I'm afraid. But, I would attend to such as: the Westminster Abbey Undercroft, the Hyde Park Pet Cemetery, the Museum of Brands, Packaging and Advertising, the Materials Library, Nunhead Cemetery, Relics of the Elephant Man, the BFI Mediatheque, the Old Operating Theatre, and a few more. Perhaps even Chumleigh Gardens to watch the unsupervised kids make a beeline for the poisonous plants. I'm awarding five stars to SECRET LONDON because it does beautifully what it was intended to do, i.e. provide guidance to London's unusual and alternative attractions. My only complaint is that the authors' dry humor is displayed only rarely.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Purple Cane Road: A Novel (Dave Robicheaux Mysteries); Author: Visit Amazon's James Lee Burke Page; Review: "I was tired of daily convincing myself that what I did for a living made a difference." - Dave Robicheaux, in PURPLE CANE ROAD Back in May, I read my first Dave Robicheaux novel by James Lee Burke, Black Cherry Blues: A Novel (Dave Robicheaux). It was a pleasing discovery. Though I'll likely not read all in the series because life is short (and getting shorter) and I have too many other books on my shelf, I'll cherry-pick from among Dave's thrillers, but probably not in any particular order. In this novel, while revisiting the circumstances of a particularly messy murder that will soon result in the execution of the convicted killer, the young woman Letty Labiche, Cajun Detective Robicheaux of the Iberia Parish Sheriff's Department stumbles across the revelation that his mother Mae, who'd deserted her husband and son when the latter was but a child, had been brutally killed by two corrupt and unidentified members of the New Orleans Police Department many years earlier under sordid circumstances. Understandably, Dave is compelled to track down the pair and exact revenge, legally or otherwise. An endearing element of the storyline is that Robicheaux's adopted daughter is now a typically rebellious teenager. What parent can't relate to that? Unlike Lee Child's literary hero, Jack Reacher, Burke's creation doesn't seem to possess exceptional lethality. At least Robicheaux hasn't demonstrated such in the two novels I've now completed. Indeed, in PURPLE CANE ROAD most of the mayhem and bloodletting is accomplished by others. What Dave does have is a flawed history and personality. At this late date in my reading career, I've decided that a flawed hero is much more interesting than one who is not. (Another striking example that comes to mind is Jonah Said in Simon Conway's A Loyal Spy.) Such characterization perhaps elevates what is otherwise trashy pulp fiction a notch or two. The plot of PURPLE CANE ROAD evolves languidly with multiple characters, much like a warm and humid day spent lazily fishing out on the bayou. However, what the author does demonstrate in this novel (as well as BLACK CHERRY BLUES and presumably the other installments of Robicheaux) is a talent for painting a vivid word picture when describing the ambience of a particular scene, such as: "A sun shower peppered the lake, then the wind dropped and the air became still and birds rose out of the cypress and willows and gum trees against a blood-red sky. The alligators sleeping on the banks were slick with mud and looked like they were sculpted out of black and green stone." And... "The wind was blowing hard and the sky had turned black and I could feel the barometer dropping ... I waited in my truck until almost noon under a sky sealed with clouds that looked like black ink floating inside an inverted bowl ... The temperature must have dropped fifteen degrees and through the window I could smell speckled trout schooling up in the bay and the cool, wet odor of dust blowing out of the cane, and when; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: True Colours (A Dan Shepherd Mystery); Author: Visit Amazon's Stephen Leather Page; Review: "Spider sees himself very much as the wearer of a white hat, and unless his opponent has a black hat he's very uneasy about crossing that line." - Spider's MI5 boss, Charlie Button, in TRUE COLOURS, regarding Shepherd's willingness to carry out an assassination assignment "It takes a particular kind of mindset to kill a human being who isn't a clear threat." - Spider Shepherd, in TRUE COLOURS "I've looked on a lot of women with lust. I've committed adultery in my heart many times. This is something that God recognizes I will do--and I have done it--and God forgives me for it." - Governor Jimmy Carter (soon to be President), in a 1976 PLAYBOY interview Before embarking on a review of TRUE COLOURS, it seems necessary to look back over two previous Dan "Spider" Shepherd thrillers. At the beginning of False Friends (A Dan Shepherd Mystery), the immediately previous installment in the series, Dan is the British observer on the Seal Team 6 mission to remove Osama bin Laden from the playing board. On returning to London afterwards, he angrily vents to his boss, Button, that it was an assassination job in which the Yanks simply shot down a defenseless man. He goes on to declare: "Bloody hell ... I'm not James Bond and there's no bloody license to kill ... It's not as if I go around breaking the law." OK, fair enough. Yet at the end of the book immediately previous to FALSE FRIENDS, i.e. Fair Game (The 8th Spider Shepherd Thriller) (The Spider Shepherd Series), Spider does just that, which is (spoiler alert!) coldly shoot dead a completely defenseless adversary a woman, no less. Spider is obviously straddling the morality fence. Yet, as I said in my review of FALSE FRIENDS, there's no such thing as being just a little bit pregnant, yeah? Now, let's get to TRUE COLOURS. Author Stephen Leather has here written a novel with two co-equal plots, each of which could stand alone. In one, Spider is assigned by Charlie to take charge of the protection team guarding the Russian oligarch Peter Grechko while he stays at his London mansion. There's already been one assassination attempt on Grechko, who has dumped millions of pounds into the British economy. It would be ghastly bad form if he was knocked off before getting the British citizenship for which he's already paid; the PM would not be amused. In the second leg of the storyline, Dan is informed by an old mate from his SAS days that former al-Qaeda operative Ahmad Khan is now living in London. Khan was the one who, in 2002 in Afghanistan, had killed an SAS captain who died in Spider's arms, had put a bullet in Spider's shoulder, and who'd previously betrayed three other SAS troopers and shot them in the back. Shepherd's feelings towards Ahmad are not warm and fuzzy. And how the bloody hell did he manage to land in England? Both co-plots conclude in nail-biter fashion. Bravo! Yet, the issue of Spider's ambiguity on the issue of cold-blooded murder; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Savage Continent: Europe in the Aftermath of World War II; Author: Visit Amazon's Keith Lowe Page; Review: "... the defeat of Germany did not necessarily bring about a cessation of the fighting. Just because the main war was over, it did not mean that the various sub-wars had also come to an end. Far from it sometimes the absence of an external enemy simply meant that local people could concentrate their efforts more effectively on killing each other." from SAVAGE CONTINENT "One man's vengeance is another man's justice." from SAVAGE CONTINENT Having recently finished The Guns at Last Light: The War in Western Europe, 1944-1945 (Liberation Trilogy) by Rick Atkinson, that author's superb narrative history of the conclusion of the Western Allies' war against Nazi Germany, I thought it appropriate to learn something of the aftermath to that victory. My knowledge of the subject in the period from 1945 to 1949 was, for want of serious attention, more than just a little hazy. I suspect such ignorance is shared by many even in my "boomer" generation who should know better if for no other reason than our fathers fought in the war. Ok, ok several Nazi big shots were hung after the Nuremburg Trials and a number of concentration camp guards were beaten to death by their liberated former prisoners, but otherwise the peoples of Europe strove to join hands and sing "Kumbaya", right? Oh, how wrong that is! And Keith Lowe tells the bleak and discouraging tale in his excellent book, SAVAGE CONTINENT. In this volume's four parts dealing with the war's legacy of destruction and chaos and the subsequent climate of vengeance, ethnic cleansing, and civil war, the author plumbs the depths of savagery to which the human race can and did descend in both Western and (primarily) Eastern Europe in the years immediately following the German surrender. The text is a disheartening litany of descriptives such as (in no particular order): expulsion, forced assimilation, torture, rape, civilian massacres, wanton destruction, looting, revenge, atrocities, blood bath, disgusting, shocking, murder, exploitation, extermination, lawlessness, starvation, apathy, insensitivity, disease, inhuman, purge, gulags, sexual sadism, burned alive, beatings, crucifixions, mutilation, reprisal, subhuman, infanticide, enforced prostitution, lynching, plunder, program, butchery, beheading, disemboweling, dismembering, deportation, and mass burial. SAVAGE CONTINENT also includes several maps and two sections of photographs that are sufficiently illustrative of the various topics. It's at the end of a book such as this that the thoughtful reader might well wonder if the human race is worth saving. Where's that species-ending collision with a massive space rock when you really need it? Lowe's style has been criticized by other reviewers as perhaps too methodical. But, when faced with such dispiriting and often horrific subject matter, what can a writer do but forge determinedly ahead and hope to emerge on the other side not permanently damaged in spirit. SAVAGE CONTINENT is a must-read for any student of World War II in Europe.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mastering the Art of Soviet Cooking: A Memoir of Food and Longing; Author: Visit Amazon's Anya Von Bremzen Page; Review: "Your average Homo sovieticus spent a third to half of his nonworking time queuing for something. The ochered' (line) served as an existential footbridge across an abyss the one between private desire and collective availability dictated by the whims of centralized distribution. It was at once a means of ordering socialist reality; an adrenaline-jagged blood sport; and a particular Soviet fate ..." from MASTERING THE ART OF SOVIET COOKING "Shuffling the aisles, I felt entombed in the abundance of food, now drained of its social power and magic. Who really wanted the eleven-cent bag of bananas if you couldn't parade it down Kalinin Prospect inside your transparent avoska (shopping bag) after standing in a four-hour line, basking in envious stares?" author Anya von Bremzen, on her first visit (in 1974) to an American supermarket Anya von Bremzen, born in 1963 of Muscovites Sergei and Larisa, is best known as the writer of cook books. Here, in MASTERING THE ART OF SOVIET COOKING, Anya gives the reader a necessarily superficial history of the Soviet Union as experienced by herself, parents, and grandparents with frequent references to Soviet cuisine. The text is dedicated more to the everyday life of a citizen rather than the food, though Part V of the book is a collection of nine recipes, one for each of the decades of Soviet history examined: 1910s, 20s, 30s, 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s and (post-Soviet) 21st century. The 1940s are represented by a reproduction of a "kartochki" a ration card. What I liked most about MASTERING more than any other publication I've read to date was its description of the daily life of the ordinary Muscovite over the decades and as it changed during the various regimes (Lenin, Stalin, Khrushchev, Brezhnev, Gorbachev, etc.). And, by "ordinary", I mean the comrade who managed to keep his or her head down and live a relatively mundane existence uncomplicated by any spell in the Lubyanka or gulag or under the occupation of the invading Nazis. While some might argue that Anya's experiences in this regard were limited by her too brief residency of only eleven years, she does an admirable job describing life before 1963 via the memories of her mother and grandparents. In this regard, my biggest criticism is that she didn't include a family tree diagrammed out to show the relationships; sometimes it got confusing when her father's line was referenced or she went further back then grandparents. After she and her mother emigrated to Philadelphia in 1974, Anya is able to continue her narrative of the USSR's final years by making multiple visits back, including perhaps the most interesting one in 2011 long after the Union's dissolution and which allows her to share with the reader the enormous societal changes, especially that those that have come under Vladimir Putin. Anya is clearly conflicted about her Soviet heritage. On one hand, she deplores Stalin's brutality and Gorbachev's ineptitude, but she still retains an ingrained affection for Rodina (unlike her mother who had only disdain for the communist system and its government). Indeed, her; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: In Search of London; Author: H.v. Morton; Review: "During and since the War the steps of the Fountain have been occupied by an untidy fringe of foreigners, provincials, soldiers, sailors, and their lady friends ... The centre of Piccadilly Circus, which used to look so lovely with its baskets of primroses and violets in spring, its roses in summer and its dahlias in autumn, is now, in my opinion, one of the most depressing and regrettable spectacles in the capital. I have an idea that sitting around Eros began during the War with the Americans, who chewed their gum there and mournfully smoked their cheroots, wondering why the heck they were in London." H.V. Morton in IN SEARCH OF LONDON Well, you know what they said about Yanks in England during the war: "Overpaid, oversexed, overfed, and over here." Having been to London almost more times than I can count, I could have been on any visit part of that "untidy fringe" except that sitting in the middle of what amounts to a busy road junction on the steps of an unimposing statue has never held much attraction. Other than that, London is my personal-favorite city in the whole world and reading H.V. Morton's IN SEARCH OF LONDON reminds me why I love it so much. Morton's book is product of his fourth visit to the city which occurred in or somewhat before 1951. England and its capital were still recovering from the destructive effects of World War II, and George VI was still King. As the author is careful to point out in order to give some idea of the changes he'd seen over time, his first visit was as a child in the closing years of Victoria's reign. While IN SEARCH OF LONDON could perhaps have been used as a walking-tour guidebook for a contemporary tourist when it was first published, now it couldn't serve as such at all. Too many things have changed (even during the period between my first and most recent visits, 1975 and 2010). There aren't as many second-hand book stores along Charing Cross Road as there used to be. The Royal United Service Museum, once housed in the Banqueting Hall of the old Palace of Whitehall, is apparently no longer there, though I can't seem to discover with a Web crawl where it went if anywhere. With the increased security around public buildings after 9/11, I suspect tourists can no longer scurry past the gate guards into St. James's Palace for a cursory look-see. Though one can still go by motor launch from Westminster Pier to Greenwich, the latter is now a stop (Cutty Sark Station) for Docklands Light Rail. And the Royal Naval College in Greenwich closed its doors in 1998. IN SEARCH OF LONDON serves best as a reminder if such is needed that the metropolis is chock-a-block filled with sights and history just waiting to be discovered by the city explorer of any era. And Morton takes the armchair tourist even further into what perhaps could only be experienced after special arrangements and efforts (which are probably beyond the casual; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Death in the Fast Lane; Author: Visit Amazon's Chris Jay Becker Page; Review: DEATH IN THE FAST LANE by Chris Jay Becker is a quickly-read e-novel which would be an e-short story with more spirited editing. The plot has LAPD Robbery-Homicide detectives T.S. "King" Leary and Thurston Howell "Millionaire" Adler investigating two deaths and one near-miss apparently caused by maliciously modified automobile brakes. The crime mystery is neither suspenseful nor particularly interesting. The author seems more focused on creating glib and clever dialogue between characters reciting their lines against a backdrop of the city's then-and-now rock and roll scene, a milieu that held no interest for me whatsoever. From the very beginning, the reader knows that the evildoer pulling the strings is the Angel of Righteousness, a religious nut case. (Gee, you think? Well, this is California.) When his identity is finally revealed by the evolution of the storyline, the revelation is pretty much ho-hum. This is not to say that DEATH IN THE FAST LANE is completely without merit. As a novice thriller writer, Becker does very well at defining the different personalities of his characters; they don't end up being essentially identical cookie-cut pieces differentiated by name only. With the main protagonist in future episodes, Leary, the author now needs to concentrate at making him more sympathetic to the reader by developing his vulnerabilities and internal conflicts; flawed heroes are more appealing than unblemished ones. Similarly, Becker needs to develop any future story's main villain and bring him into more intimate and energized conflict with Leary. In DEATH IN THE FAST LANE, the final (and only) confrontation between the detective and the Angel was so fleeting and tension-free as to be laughable.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Vanished: The Sixty-Year Search for the Missing Men of World War II; Author: Visit Amazon's Wil S. Hylton Page; Review: (Note: This review is of an uncorrected advance proof of the book.) Pat Scannon, Ph. D, M.D. founded the biotech company Xoma Corporation, though he later gave up the management of it so he could disappear into his office and work on ... well, technical stuff. But, he got bored. So, in 1993 he tagged along on an underwater treasure hunting expedition to the Western Pacific Ocean island of Palau, a trip that got sidetracked with the search for a Japanese trawler sunk by (future President) George H. W. Bush in World War II, his first "kill." Among the underwater wrecks also dived was that of an American B-24 bomber shot down in 1944 while attacking the Japanese-occupied island. After returning home, Scannon did research that revealed to him that the plane was one of three B-24s downed there in August and September of '44. The locations of two of the aircraft were known; the resting place of the third, presumably underwater, was not. VANISHED is New York Times Magazine contributor Wil Hylton's narrative of Pat's decade-long obsession with finding the third plane and its lost crew and the several expeditions he led to Palau to do just that. His wife was apparently glad to get him out of the house. Hylton ranges far and wide to create the back-story, including describing the early lives and training of some of the lost aircrew - particularly Jimmie Doyle and Johnny Moore - and the enduring grief of surviving family members, the environment of the B-24 bases on Los Negros and Wakde islands, the overall U.S. strategy for the conquest of the Pacific on the final thrust at Japan, the battle worthiness and effectiveness of the B-24 Liberator, and the ongoing efforts of the American military's Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC) to bring home the remains of U.S. servicemen and women missing in action and presumed dead. I think, however, that the author got a little too carried away with background. Did I really need to know about Scannon's parents' experiences in Europe during the war, or the health problems of several Japanese secret police officers stationed on Palau in `44, or the eminently tolerable conditions of Japanese P.O.W. camps for captured Germans in World War I? (World War ONE! Really?) Above all, VANISHED is a fine tribute to the admirable mission of JPAC in general and to the personal efforts, albeit derived from an obsession, of Scannon in particular to help the families of the crewmembers of that "lost" B-24 to achieve some closure on the disappearance of their loved ones so many years past. However, that said, I also got the impression that the tensions sure to have occurred between the family members, Scannon's search group BentProp, and the U.S. military authorities - tensions almost certain to have erupted into shouting matches - were glossed over by the author to make the overall effort appear more heroically harmonious in print than in actuality. By the end of the book, I was beginning to fidget. I'm awarding VANISHED four stars on the conditions; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hubbub: Filth, Noise, and Stench in England, 1600-1770; Author: Visit Amazon's Emily Cockayne Page; Review: "Beds, Thomas Tryon taught, absorb a variety of 'pernicious Excrements' from sweaty and leaky bodies. Passed down through the generations, these beds became fetid and unclean ... In cities and large towns, where the air was sulphurous and humid, bed putrefaction was more prevalent." - from HUBBUB "Passengers in coaches would be 'cruelly shaken' by the ruts and pot-holes ... Jostling along the street in a coach in December 1662 made Samuel Pepys's testicles hurt." - from HUBBUB "(Clavering) listed various examples of damage and injury caused by falling (chimney) pots. In one case the sweep became stuck in a chimney pot and both fell into a pile of rubbish in the yard below. The sweep was hospitalized, the pot broke, and a maid who had been washing in the yard fell into an apoplectic fit." - from HUBBUB HUBBUB by Emily Cockayne is a scholarly account of the assaults on the senses and one's person encountered in England in the period 1600 to 1770 - assaults brought on by humans living in too close proximity to one another, particularly in the cities of London, Manchester, Bath, and Oxford. In chapters entitled Ugly, Itchy, Mouldy, Noisy, Grotty, Busy, Dirty and Gloomy, the author examines everything - from physical deformities to poor personal hygiene to spoiled food to poorly-paved streets to air and noise pollution to traffic congestion to raw sewage, and more - which might be encountered by the average citizen on a daily basis and cause for simple discomfiture to absolute outrage. Cockayne's approach to the narrative is to rely heavily on references to or quotes from public records and the personal accounts of contemporary chroniclers to make her points. Thus, HUBBUB comes across as interesting though somewhat dry reading, and it teeters precariously on the shelf of Popular History about to tumble to that of Scholarly Dissertation. It suggests a high school research paper for academic grown-ups, perhaps a doctoral thesis. Each chapter ends with a lengthy summary paragraph which encapsulates that which came before. Taken together, these paragraphs would have sufficed to provide the reader with the big picture, but what would've resulted wouldn't have been a 250-page book but a short pamphlet. The volume is liberally sprinkled with reproduced engravings of the period illustrating the various annoyances. The author seems to have found those by Hogarth and Marcellus Laroon particularly useful. One might be left pondering the question: So, what's changed with species communal living? I suspect undeveloped countries still endure most if not all the sensory assaults experienced in 17th and 18th century England. Even in developed Western democracies, it's a matter of degree, isn't it? Here in Southern California, I experience gridlocked freeways and pot-holed surface streets. I have neighbors on each side of me, each of which has a large tree that dumps huge amounts of leaves onto my property that must be swept up. Teenagers park in front of my house in the wee hours and discard fast-food wrappings into my planting beds. The neighbor up the hill and behind occasionally has noisy parties.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Potty Mouth at the Table; Author: Visit Amazon's Laurie Notaro Page; Review: "And do you know what vegans bring to Thanksgiving? Hummus. Hummus and nut crackers, and believe me, when you look at your dining room table and there are twelve tubs of beige (fecal material), it is very clear that there is such a thing as too much frigging hummus." - from THE POTTY MOUTH AT THE TABLE "I was the one who invented that recipe (for stuffed mushrooms) ... THAT WAS ME. That was also me who gave you the recipe when you asked for it ... and (when) a guest (at your Christmas party) complimented you on them... yes, that was me who heard you say 'thank you,' without giving me proper attribution ...when I am standing two feet away. That is theft. Grand food larceny. You are an appetizer thief..." - from THE POTTY MOUTH AT THE TABLE I'd never read anything by Laurie Notaro before, but the title THE POTTY MOUTH AT THE TABLE implied that her talent is for deliberately saying inconvenient but witty things in polite company just to see, with a glint in her eyes, what the effect would be on the assembly. Since that approach held out promise of a humorous read, I bought the book. It's all in the packaging; I was seduced. THE POTTY MOUTH AT THE TABLE is a series of thirty-three short essays in which Notaro expresses annoyance/displeasure/anger/hysteria with circumstances encountered in her life. Mind you, the author occasionally scores, as with her chapters entitled "Thanksgiving" and "I Only Want to Know if You Have Herpes" in which she respectively disparages Vegan extremism and Facebook postings. For the most part, however, the author's attempts at humorous rants seem contrived and come across only as petulant and whiney if not downright over the top. Indeed, her reaction to the unexpected appearance of two deer in "Tiny Dancer" had me wishing Notaro had a handler to slap her and shout "Snap out of it!" The open letter to her husband in "A Handy Manual for A Widower, My Husband" should've caused her husband's lips to curl. It did mine. It's not that THE POTTY MOUTH AT THE TABLE is a bad book; it just doesn't leave me with the least desire to return to the author's other books for more. For Laurie and her publisher, that may be a bit of bad news; for me, it's a matter of indifference.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Dynamite Fishermen (Beirut Trilogy Book 1) eBook; Author: Visit Amazon's Preston Fleming Page; Review: As has been admirably noted by at least one other reviewer, DYNAMITE FISHERMEN follows shoes-on-the-pavement CIA agent Conrad Prosser as he performs the nuts-and-bolts duties of his assignment to the American Embassy in turmoil-torn Beirut of the early 1980s, i.e. to gather intelligence and recruit agents. There's no James Bond derring-do here, only the routine, day-to-day efforts to get the job done in hopes of a promotion. I'm old enough to remember the news reports of the violence in Beirut back during those years. The stew of competing factions Syrians, Palestinians, Lebanese Christians, Lebanese Army, Iraqi and Israeli surrogates was confusing both then and now, and author Preston Fleming does little to enlighten the casual reader who has no deeper knowledge of the time and place. For him and Conrad, the mess just is. It seems to me a novel especially a spy novel should incorporate a plot with some degree of overt conflict between major characters and an escalating tension leading to a resolution. The superb character-driven Smiley novels by John le Carré (Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy and Smiley's People) had that. There's nothing like that here in DYNAMITE FISHERMEN. Fans of this book will say I just don't get it. You're right; maybe I don't. But if I want to read about somebody doing routine tasks, perhaps there's a thriller out there featuring a lead who lays linoleum. Prosser himself was so average and unremarkable a protagonist that I never came to care much about the character or his mission. That, for me, is a serious flaw in any novel. I recognize why some might give DYNAMITE FISHERMEN four or five stars either because it gives an unembellished, unsensationalized portrayal of a craft usually fictionally fraught with guns, babes, chases and close calls for the hero or because it's a sober and realistic picture of a confused time in a venerable Middle-Eastern crossroads. So, I'll just leave it at three non-committal stars and move on.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Lonely Planet By the Seat of My Pants (Anthology); Author: Visit Amazon's Don George Page; Review: "We travel ... for adventure and fun, to get away from the drudgery of our lives at home ... We meet people for whom our presence is nothing but opportunity, to take them out of the sadness and difficulty of their lives. The smiles exchanged on both sides have something of a nervous edge." Pico Iyer, in BY THE SEAT OF MY PANTS I always approach a literary anthology with some trepidation; I expect the stories to fall on the bell curve of Gaussian distribution and it's the several at the low end that often have me wishing I hadn't cracked the book at all. But the curve represented by the thirty-one chapters in BY THE SEAT OF MY PANTS, subtitled "Humorous Tales of Travel and Misadventure," is skewed sharply to the right. It's all pretty much good stuff. Indeed, while I give one tale three stars, the rest get four or five. Ok, ok. I've been robbed blind by a pair of Gipsy pickpockets on Rome's Ponte Sant'Angelo, locked myself INSIDE my car in Portsmouth, England, and, while as a clueless foreigner struggling with the language barrier at Bucharest's Bneasa Airport during the height of the Cold War, was stopped from boarding the wrong plane even as I had my foot on the bottom step of the air-stairs. But I haven't a story to match any of those here. Escaping the drudgery of life at home to travel outside the comfort zone is an invitation to be taken unawares and delighted, enraged, surprised, scammed, annoyed, physically sickened, confused or enraptured. But, it beats staying home doing the laundry. Among other things, the aggregate thirty-one wayfaring contributors to BY THE SEAT OF MY PANTS are sorely embarrassed ("Blackout in Ushuaia", "Dutch Toilet", "Walk of Fame"), unexpectedly delighted ("Carpet-Rolling", "The Garden Kitchen"), befooled ("Let the Buyer Beware", "An Award Winning Performance"), confounded ("The Afghan Tourist Office", "Left Luggage"), amazed ("A Matter of Trust") and otherwise educated for the better ("Journey to the Centre of the Earth", "Naked in Oaxaca"). And, indeed, in "Wangara's Cross" I came across perhaps the most poetic explanation of the sun's traverse of the sky from sunrise to sunset that I've ever read. This is the perfect book for anyone with Wanderlust. And, hey, I'm in! Then there was the time I took the slow train from Timisoara to Bucharest accompanied by drunken Romanian Land Forces troops.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Expats: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Chris Pavone Page; Review: "You know the lines (in a marriage) are there, you feel them: the things you don't discuss ... So when you eventually find yourself at one of these lines, your toe inching over, it's not only shocking and horrifying, it's banal. Because you've always been aware that the lines were there, where you were trying with all your might not to see them, knowing that sooner or later you would." from THE EXPATS THE EXPATS by Chris Pavone is a delicious novel of things left unsaid in a marriage, things woven into a pattern of intelligent plotting and eyebrow-raising plot twists. When Kate's husband Dexter lands a gig as the security IT consultant for a European bank, the former gives up her job as a U.S. government desk jockey and moves with her husband and two sons to Luxembourg. Dexter's job is to make the bank and its computer so secure that he can't even tell Kate whom he works for or what he does. Kate is irritated by all the secrecy, but who is she to complain. After all, she has a Big Secret of her own that she's kept from her husband since the first day she met him. But soon she must take a proactive interest in his affairs when it appears others are doing so. Are they after him or her? Kate is an endearing protagonist as the reader observes her reluctantly embrace her new role as an expat housewife left to take the kids to school and clean up their room, do the laundry and shopping and minor home repairs, make the gossip rounds over lunch with other expat wives, and plan family vacations to other European cities. But, at the end of the day, she's still left with the Big Question: What the hell is Dexter up to. A minor fault of THE EXPATS might be the sometimes slightly confusing time line spread out between Today and Two Years Earlier. My best advice is to just go with the flow. About two-thirds of the way through the storyline, I began to wonder if the author hadn't perhaps made his story too long. But, when I arrived at the dynamite plot twists, I realized they were predicated on all that had come before and that all of the backstory elements were necessary. Perhaps the biggest disappointment is the realization that we won't likely be seeing Kate again as THE EXPATS is most probably a one-off. P.S. 2/5/14: I was wrong about Kate being a one-off character. Happily, she appears again in The Accident being released in March.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mary Poppins (Essential Modern Classics); Author: Visit Amazon's P. L. Travers Page; Review: "'Just look at you!' said Mary Poppins to herself, particularly noticing (in the shop window's reflection) how nice her new gloves with the fur tops looked ... And having examined the reflection of the gloves she went carefully over her whole person coat, hat, scarf, and shoes, with herself inside ... But the winter afternoons she knew were short, and they had to be home by tea-time. So with a sigh she wrenched herself away from the glorious reflection." from MARY POPPINS "And another of (the birds) mistook Mary Poppin's new hat for a rose garden and pecked off a flower ...'You ought to be in a pie that's where you ought to be,' said Mary Poppins to him angrily." from MARY POPPINS "All day long Mary Poppins had been in a hurry, and when she was in a hurry she was always cross. Everything Jane did was bad, everything Michael did was worse. She even snapped at the Twins. Jane and Michael kept out of her way as much as possible, for they knew there were times when it was better not to be seen or heard by Mary Poppins." from MARY POPPINS Anyone having ever seen Disney's Mary Poppins 50th Anniversary Edition (1964) and the recently released Saving Mr. Banks cannot perhaps but be compelled to read the original story by P.L. Travers to make the comparison between the print version and the cinematic one. They are surprisingly different, and you'll never view the latter in the same way again. Perhaps only 15% of the material in the book is recognizably represented on the Big Screen, and, in the former, the elder Banks and Bert play parts that are positively miniscule. Most notably, the text Mary Poppins is both vain and tetchy; no lovable Julie Andrews brandishing a spoonful of sugar here. Walt Disney obviously cherry-picked the original and then embellished to make HIS creation appeal to an audience used to his light-hearted, musical animation format. I can understand why Travers might have been displeased with the transformation. Any reader who is as struck by the results of the comparison as I was may have to be reminded that Travers's MARY POPPINS remains the magical work that enthralled both young and old in a time when there weren't the distractions of smart phones and tablet computers (much less television). Awarding it five stars comes in recognition of that fact if nothing else. It's a masterpiece of whimsy. One of the more interesting aspects of this edition (published post-1981) is the revision to the chapter entitled "Bad Tuesday" in which Mary takes her young charges on a tour of the four points of the compass using a magic compass. In the 1934 version, they meet an American Indian, an Eskimo, a sub-Saharan African, and an ethnic Chinese. By 1981 this was considered too simplistic, and the author was persuaded to change to a dolphin, a macaw, a polar bear, and a panda. Perhaps the criticism Travers faced was an embryonic manifestation of political correctness. Oh, puhleeze! God save us from rampant; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Lion Heart; Author: Visit Amazon's Justin Cartwright Page; Review: In LION HEART by Justin Cartwright, his hero, Richard Cathar, becomes obsessed with the historical mystery that consumed his failed and drug addled father, i.e. whether or not King Richard I (the Lionheart) of England managed to obtain the True Cross from Saladin during the former's participation in the Third Crusade and bring the artifact back to Europe. That portion of the novel that deals with Richard from his arrival at Acre in 1191 to his death in 1199 may provide some substance to any casual student of the Plantagenet dynasty and Richard I in particular. Unfortunately, most of the book is a contemporary romance between Cathar and Noor, a half-Palestinian, Christian Arab journalist who adds multiple complications to the emotional life of Cathar while he pursues the Lionheart through archival history under the guise of writing a paper on Crusader art. The story of King Richard is, and will remain, a fascinating one for anyone so inclined. Cathar's story seemed to me insipid in comparison. Plus, I never got to like him much. In the end, the juxtaposition of the two tales seemed contrived and simply unfortunate.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: My Planet: Finding Humor in the Oddest Places; Author: Visit Amazon's Mary Roach Page; Review: "Me, I enjoy the goofy intimacy of brushing your teeth together (with your spouse), talking over the day's events in an unintelligible foamy garble. That's what marriage is all about. Isn't it?" Mary Roach Mary Roach's forays into popular science (with an emphasis on the human body and physiology) Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers,Bonk: The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex,Spook: Science Tackles the Afterlife,Gulp: Adventures on the Alimentary Canal, and Packing for Mars: The Curious Science of Life in the Void have proven to me at least that she's a national treasure. For readers of these books, the author strives to be informative, but from a viewpoint which demonstrates that she doesn't take things too seriously; there's always that sideways look with a cocked eyebrow. MY PLANET is a collection of sixty of her essays that originally appeared in Reader's Digest and in which she provides humorous commentary on everyday things and circumstances encountered by her in her world. As such, they may remind one of Andy Rooney's musings, both in his books and on "60 Minutes", though so far Mary hasn't demonstrated Rooney's curmudgeonly side. I like Mary's take on life's absurdities so much better. In MY PLANET, Roach's wit encompasses such of life's experiences as the inconsiderate fellow airline passenger, choosing a cold medication, and dealing with hotel room aggravations. But her best essays are those that reveal a gentle, self-deprecating humor which, on a personally wider scale, also includes her husband Ed as she makes wry comments on those, um, minor differences of opinion and perspective that provide tempest-in-a-teapot turbulences to any marriage. (One wonders what Ed's side of the stories might sound like.) Mary Roach always makes my day. I'd like to give her a hug.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Cairo Affair: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Olen Steinhauer Page; Review: As has been mentioned by at least one other reviewer, THE CAIRO AFFAIR by Olen Steinhauer is reminiscent of the espionage novels by John le Carr and Len Deighton, which focus more on the nuts and bolts of the spy game rather than dramatic action. This isn't a thriller, but, as a complex story with a beginning, middle, and end involving multiple, realistic characters and questions to be answered, it's commendably satisfying. Thus, THE CAIRO AFFAIR separates itself from another spy procedural I recently read, Dynamite Fishermen, which incorporated no mystery or conflict between antagonists worth mentioning and was, I think, much the inferior book for those reasons. THE CAIRO AFFAIR also resembles the novels by Gerald Seymour in that there's no clear winner among the players, none of whom might be considered heroes or villains in the usual sense constructed in popular fiction, and whatever victory is achieved is perhaps Pyrrhic in nature. Olen Steinhauer's perspective in his espionage novels that I've read to date is relatively unique for an American writer. From his first series set in Eastern Europe, I thought he was a European national, but later learned that he was raised in Virginia but lived for a while in Budapest. This apparently gives him a worldview that frees him from a de rigueur focus on the U.S. or British spy agencies in his plots. True, the CIA plays a key role in THE CAIRO AFFAIR, but in the end the Egyptian intelligence service takes center stage. I appreciate that lack of provincialism. A key component of the plot is the lead-up to the recent overthrow of Libya's Muammar Gaddafi. This caused me to pause briefly to consider the change in spy novel venues since I began reading them Back in The Day, i.e. the time of the Cold War when the chief antagonist (from a Western standpoint) was almost always the Machiavellian Soviet KGB and the battleground like as not somewhere in the ideological trenches of Europe. How times have changed! After years of fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan, I wonder more than just a little if the average American thriller reader is left caring much about what happened in Libya, what's happening now in Syria, or the sectarian Muslim violence sure to escalate in a Hussein-free Iraq and in a U.S.-vacated Afghanistan; it's either weariness with the constant, deadly bickering and/or a growing isolationism. Happily, the intricacy and ingenuity of THE CAIRO AFFAIR storyline mitigated any lack of vested interest or sympathy I personally felt for the time and place. Steinhauer is a major talent in the genre. I'll continue to read whatever he writes.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Counterfeit Agent (A John Wells Novel); Author: Visit Amazon's Alex Berenson Page; Review: "Twelve days. That's what we have." Vinny Duto, at the conclusion of THE COUNTERFEIT AGENT THE COUNTERFEIT AGENT by Alex Berenson is perhaps the very best of the John Wells series to date. And what makes me giddy with anticipation is that this installment is apparently the first of at least two in which Wells, the CIA's deadliest field agent, is pitted against what may yet be his most wily adversary, who vows to kill John or die trying. Not to put too fine a point on it, THE COUNTERFEIT AGENT is the best spy novel I've read in many months. Here, Vinny Duto is no longer the Director of Central Intelligence but a U.S. Senator. Ellis Shafer, John's long-time controller, fears his days are numbered under the CIA's new chief. And Wells has been given an ultimatum by his significant other: "Me or the job; you have thirty days to decide." In the meantime, a too-good-to-be-true source calling himself Reza and claiming to be from within the Iranian Revolutionary Guards has surfaced in Istanbul and is giving the Agency's resident spy runner a heads-up about upcoming nefarious plots that would likely lead the U.S. down the road to a shooting war with Iran. That is, if Iran is really the provocateur. And who's Salome, anyway? John owes Vinny a favor, a debt incurred at the conclusion of The Night Ranger (A John Wells Novel), the immediately previous book in the series. So, the Senator and Ellis send Wells off on an unauthorized mission that soon brings him and Shafer into conflict with the new DCI's assessment of the Iranian's information. As Ellis finds out, it's not prudent late in one's career to tell The Boss what he doesn't want to hear. The author is brilliant at incorporating a credible and startlingly ingenious conspiracy into the story line and then pitting his hero against it, and THEN saving the second half of the story for (what should be) an enormously successful sequel. I suspect the publisher is camped out on Berenson's doorstep waiting for the manuscript. In any case, I don't care what the price or title of the sequel will be; I'm in. The American consulate in Istanbul employs two engaging CIA officers, Brian Taylor, the one "running" Reza, and Martha Hunt "shockingly good-looking, tall and slim, with killer blue eyes" the chief-of-station. In a barely touched-upon subplot, Brian regards his boss with something akin to puppy love and is desperate to be in her league. I hope a sequel continues this light-hearted thread. Wells has now completely eclipsed Jack Reacher and "Spider" Shepherd as my new favorite action hero.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Tin Roof Blowdown: A Dave Robicheaux Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's James Lee Burke Page; Review: "Supposedly we are a Christian society ... According to our self-manufactured mythos, we revere Jesus and Mother Teresa and Saint Francis of Assisi. But I think the truth is otherwise. When we feel collectively threatened, or when we are collectively injured, we want the Earp brothers and Doc Holliday on the job and we want the bad guys smoked, dried, fried, and plowed under with bulldozers." Dave Robicheaux in THE TIN ROOF BLOWDOWN "Th- dym---- is un--- the -ri--s on --e ot--- -ide of -h- -an-." where the swag is hidden in THE TIN ROOF BLOWDOWN In this, the sixteenth in a long progression by James Lee Burke, his hero, Dave Robicheaux of the New Iberia Parish (Louisiana) Sheriff's Department, is on loan to the New Orleans Police Department to maintain order among that city's model citizenry in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. It proves to be a messy assignment that encompasses an investigation of vigilante killings and the repercussions surrounding the burglary of a local crime kingpin's home evacuated before advancing floodwaters. I've not read all the Dave Robicheaux novels (and am unlikely to do so), but will venture opinions anyway. The strength of Burke's writing lies not so much in the books' plots or characters, though all are consistently above average and enormously engaging, but in the descriptiveness of the author's prose when describing environments. It's exemplary enough to bring tears of admiration from those not so gifted, including myself (much of whose job is technical writing). In THE TIN ROOF BLOWDOWN, Burke's word picture of a devastated New Orleans is worth more than any visual one: "After sunset on the first day, August 29, the sky was an ink wash, streaked with smoke from fires vandals had set in the Garden District. There were also electrical moments, flashes of light in the sky, heat lightning or perhaps sometimes the igneous trajectory of tracer rounds fired from automatic weapons. The rule books were going over the gunwales." And... "The water was chocolate-brown, the surface glistening with a blue-green sheen of oil and industrial chemicals. Raw feces and used toilet paper issued from broken sewer lines. The gray, throat-gagging odor of decomposition permeated not only the air but everything we touched. The bodies of dead animals, including deer, rolled in the wake of our rescue boats. And so did those of human beings ..." If one had to be there to understand, then the author certainly was, or at least took good notes when interviewing those who were. My only quarrel with THE TIN ROOF BLOWDOWN is perhaps that it was overly long and complicated. It's as if Burke felt compelled to employ all his casting-call of characters and not save any for future series installments. As if there won't be any. Puhleeze! As this is my first Robicheaux thriller since he joined the New Iberia force, it's my first exposure to Dave's boss, Sheriff Helen Soileau. In many ways, she's more intriguing a persona than her subordinate and, like Charlie Button in Stephen Leather's Dan Shepherd books, deserves her own; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Lionheart: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Sharon Kay Penman Page; Review: "Dex aie!" battle cry of the English Royal House (God Aid Us!) "... as (Richard) gazed at those distant limestone walls and towers (of Jerusalem), it struck him with utter and awful certainty that this was as close as he'd ever get to that most holy and hallowed of cities, the cradle of Christendom." from LIONHEART "Berengaria has remained in history's shadows, a sad ghost ..." from LIONHEART "Running a war seems to consist in making plans and then ensuring that all those destined to carry it out don't quarrel with each other instead of the enemy." - Field Marshal Lord Alanbrooke, British CIGS during WWII Richard, the second son of King Henry II of England and Eleanor of Aquitaine to reach adulthood, assumed the throne in 1189 at age 31. LIONHEART by Sharon Kay Penman, who has previously penned a superb series of historical novels about Richard's father, takes up the Lionheart's story in July 1190 as he sets out on the Third Crusade, stopping on the way in Sicily to rescue his sister, Joanna, the recently widowed Queen of Sicily, from the unsympathetic new King, and then in Cyprus to take the island away from its self-proclaimed "emperor," Isaac Comnenus. Oh, and by the way, before finally arriving in the Holy Land at Acre in June 1191 to lend a helping sword to the siege of that Muslim-held city, he marries Berengaria, the daughter of the King of Navarre. The book concludes in late 1192 as Richard sails for home after having fought Saladin, the Muslim Sultan, to a draw against great odds, the greatest of which perhaps was the perfidy of his French allies led by King Philip II. I've not given away any spoilers; it's all in the historical record. In the first paragraph of the book's "Author's Note," Penman writes: "Richard I was never one of my favorite kings, although my knowledge of him was admittedly superficial. I saw him as one-dimensional, drunk on blood and glory, arrogant, ruthless, a brilliant battle commander but an ungrateful son and careless king, and that is the Richard who made a brief appearance in Here Be Dragons." But, she goes on to admit: "So I was not expecting the Richard that I found when I began to research Devil's Brood: A Novel ... after years of writing about real historical figures I'd never before discovered such a disconnect between the man and the myth ..." So, the author found herself being persuaded by Richard's contemporary record, perhaps reacting against the relatively recent revisionist history. (See, for example, the magnificent 1968 film, The Lion In Winter, that portrays him as a boorish, rebellious son and a closet homosexual.) In any case, Penman goes on in the "Author's Note" to touch on the sources, both Christian and Muslim, that cause her to assure the reader that the Lionheart she presents within the pages is as true to the historical figure as she can possibly make him. For me, a casual student of English history for many years past, especially of the Plantagenet; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Heat: Adventures in the World's Fiery Places; Author: Visit Amazon's Bill Streever Page; Review: "A quarter cord of cedar weighs seven hundred pounds as wood but only four pounds as ash. The lesson: if you have to haul firewood, burn it first." - from HEAT "I flew home to Alaska, propelled by jet fuel. Another name for jet fuel: kerosene. My seat, propelled by burning kerosene, releases 1,537 pounds of carbon emissions." - from HEAT "I put my hand deep into a crack, and a sudden burp gives me a near scalding. I decide that I will no longer reach into the darkness of steaming cracks." - from HEAT, the author doing something ill-advised at the bottom of Kilauea Iki crater on the island of Hawai'i. Having previously read and enjoyed Bill Streever's Cold: Adventures in the World's Frozen Places, I expected big things from HEAT. Then, in the "Preface", the author holds the palm of his hand in a candle flame for five seconds, an action that seemed to me to lack common sense. But, it's his book and his hand, so what do I know? I have to say, though, that it might have been more entertaining for the reader and instructional for Streever if he'd immersed his hand in a deep fryer. You think? In his own words, Bill describes HEAT as: "... about all things hot ...it let me tell the story of something that is with us all the time but taken so much for granted that it is all but ignored." Well, I'm not sure the book encompasses ALL things hot, but this rambling narrative of popular science does include the desert and dehydration thirst, wildfires and burn injuries, cooking, the evolution of fuel (peat, coal, oil), volcanoes and lava, nuclear weapons, the Sun and stars, supercolliders, and firewalking. As with COLD, Streever goes off on tangents, some of which are only barely related to the topic. For instance, when discussing the transition from peat to coal as a household fuel, he digresses into the working conditions in coal mines, the use of children as miners, and mine flooding. At such a point, the reader might well either appreciate the extra material as a bonus or wonder why text space is being wasted. Either way, it indicates the author's apparent reluctance to employ an editor. Regarding climate change, in COLD Streever states that geologists tend to be naysayers, but climatologists and biologists "tended to camp with the climate change kooks." Streever himself is a biologist, and it's more apparent than ever in HEAT in which camp the author pitches his tent. He takes every opportunity to remark on the amount of carbon emissions when travelling by car or air. Yet, he jets to places far and wide from his home in Alaska to research the book and blithely adds to the problem he decries. Mind you, I don't disagree with the potential for harm caused by carbon emissions, but I've been hearing about it ever since Al Gore started cudgeling the subject years ago, and I'm a little tired of being preached to, especially if such pronouncements from the pulpit; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Spillover: Animal Infections and the Next Human Pandemic; Author: Visit Amazon's David Quammen Page; Review: "If your husband catches an ebolavirus, give him food and water and love and maybe prayers but keep your distance, wait patiently, hope for the best and, if he dies ... better to step back, blow a kiss, and burn the hut." from SPILLOVER, advice for the wife (to perhaps stock up on matches) "The door fell, trapping Schwarzenegger plus six others, and all hell broke loose." from SPILLOVER, trapping macaques in Bangladesh to take epidemiology samples Who can forget The Hot Zone: A Terrifying True Story by Richard Preston published in 1994 and billed as "a terrifying true story" of hemorrhagic fevers? I haven't, and so was immediately drawn to SPILLOVER by David Quammen, subtitled "Animal Infections and the Next Human Pandemic." I mean, who could resist the photo of the warm and cuddly baboon on the jacket's front? Besides, we have three cats and I've always suspected the wretched creatures harbor something nasty that'll do us in. The Next Big One (NBO), in this case, is the next zoonotic pandemic that will wipe out millions of humans. Not if, but when. Sort of like the species-ending asteroid just over the event horizon but sure to hit Earth sometime in the future. I must admit first-off that SPILLOVER wasn't as riveting as I'd hoped and expected. That said, it contained a plethora of instructive and interesting nuggets, like a cookie filled chock-a-block with chocolate chips (but still not a solid bar of Cadbury Dark). The thing is, the author thrashes about in the jungle of zoonotic disease agents (Hendra, Nipah, Ebola, Marburg, Borrelia, Rickettsia, Plasmodium, SARS-CoV) before on page 385 already focusing on the one that he'd apparently intended to showcase all along, HIV-1 group M. The previous three-hundred eighty-four pages are necessarily spent instructing the reader using real-life outbreaks on such terms as "infectivity", "transmission", "virulence", and "lethality" and the Herculean efforts that are often required to identify the animal reservoir of a particular agent. Indeed, Quammen makes sure to point out that the reservoir for Ebola has yet to be discovered. (Perhaps it's Fluffy.) Then, once the author takes up the currently spreading HIV-1 pandemic and discusses the brilliant detective work that has allowed scientists to identify the place (southeastern Cameroon) and approximate time (prior to 1908) that the virus made its leap from an animal to its first human host, he hallucinates (for many pages) a possible scenario whereby a subsequently infected human, his unnamed "Voyager" a river fisherman, transported the virus out of the jungle interior to a large urban center. Really? In a narrative work of popular science, this seemed to smack too much and unnecessarily of a novel's creative license. Finally, in SPILLOVER's last twenty-five pages, Quammen asks the experts the ultimate question: What is the Next Big One likely to be? (At this point in the overall discussion, his consideration of the various influenza strains is scarily relevant.) Although there can be no definitive answer to the question, it involves a basic assumption, the thread of which runs through the entire book. It will; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: A King's Ransom: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Sharon Kay Penman Page; Review: "Dieu et mon droit!" battle cry of Richard I at the Battle of Gisors (God and My Right!) Several weeks ago, I finished Sharon Penman's Lionheart: A Novel, the first of a pair of historical novels about King Richard I of England, at 577 pages. Now, here's A KING'S RANSOM at 665 pages. And the author originally intended it to be a single volume! Could there be a Cliff Notes edition, I wonder? But, it's all good stuff, especially if you're a student of Henry II and his family by Eleanor of Aquitaine. LIONHEART follows Richard as he battles Saladin along the length of the Holy Land during the Third Crusade. Despite the English king's failure to recapture Jerusalem, I have to conclude after finishing both books as perhaps did Penman that LIONHEART was Richard's finest hour. In A KING'S RANSOM, the Lionheart returns to his kingdom to continue his ongoing territorial battles with King Philip II of France, but not until after having been captured and held for an enormous ransom by the not-so-holy Holy Roman Emperor, Henry VI, during which time the opportunistic French monarch repossessed many of Richard's continental holdings. In short, the fun was over for Richard upon embarking on the boat home from the Holy Land (if "fun" is defined as earning a lasting glory while fighting a gallant and noble foe). Richard spent the rest of his life, before dying a miserable and needless death in April 1199, having to constantly cope with treacherous and ignoble adversaries; he knew no peace, apparently. Perhaps the main task for the author, as part of writing a historically accurate account of Richard's last years, was how to depict Berengaria of Navarre, the Spanish princess Richard married on his way to the Holy Land. The marriage, as portrayed in LIONHEART, started off well enough. But, once Richard returned to England in March 1194, the match deteriorated for no reasons known to historians. (See my review of Berengaria: In Search of Richard's Queen.) Certainly, the two had no children. But, beyond that obvious fact, Penman had to write ... well, something. As I stated in my review of LIONHEART, the author's restraint in not unduly embellishing Berengaria's character a restraint carried over into A KING'S RANSOM established for me the apparent accuracy of her portrayal of Berengaria's husband as based on contemporary sources. (See the Author's Note at the end of both volumes.) Berengaria was my mine canary for detecting fictional nonsense. Reluctantly, I must award only 4 stars to A KING'S RANSOM. It's lengthened with a lot of filler about the fortunes of Richard's sister, Queen Joanna of Sicily, who, in the first book, becomes widowed from her husband, the King of Sicily, and is then held hostage by a usurper successor. Richard, of course, rescues her on his way to the Holy Land. As a student of Henry II and his family by Eleanor five sons and three daughters, I suppose I shouldn't complain by the inclusion of anything about Joanna, but it was just too much in a; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Lastnight: The 5th Jack Nightingale Supernatural Thriller; Author: Visit Amazon's Stephen Leather Page; Review: "You can summon a demon if you wish to make a deal; we are not to be called just because you have a question you want answering. That's what Google is for ... I'm not the phone-a-friend option to be used whenever you're in trouble." - Proserpine to Jack A number of reviewers seem so sure that Jack Nightingale is dead. Please, give his creator Stephen Leather more credit for inventiveness. In LASTNIGHT, Jack is pressured by his old nemesis in the Met, Superintendent Chalmers, to donate his time investigating the grisly murder of five Goths. Grisly meaning sliced and skinned alive. Leather has a talent for intentionally painting his ongoing literary heroes - Nightingale and Dan "Spider" Shepherd - into corners that transcend the immediate storyline. With the latter, it's currently having Shepherd balanced precariously on the fence that separates sanctioned (legal) and unsanctioned (illegal) wet ops. Only his MI5 boss, Charlie Button, seems to have a clear idea of what's needed in today's big, bad world; I've been lobbying the author for Charlie's own series for a long time now, but he doesn't listen. (See my review of True Colours (A Dan Shepherd Mystery).) In Jack's case, as is implied in the very first chapter, it's how he's to pull-off a resurrection from being very, very dead and keep on battling supernatural forces of evil. As a matter of fact, I'm going to go out on a limb and assert that LASTNIGHT was intended by Leather from its conceptual inception as a vehicle for Nightingale to turn a major corner in his life and get out of a rut. In the meantime, LASTNIGHT is a pretty good story all by itself that will keep Jack's fans happy. For me, a main attraction in the Nightingale series is the ongoing, albeit tense (and dangerous for Jack), relationship between Jack and the demon Proserpine, who wants his soul. In whatever corner of the world the former ends up, I hope Proserpine and her collie follow; it's an interpersonal dynamic that's even more intriguing than that between Shepherd and Button. One final thought, or perhaps it's a wish. What would happen if Proserpine and Mrs. Steadman started hurling lightning bolts at each other and Jack got caught in the free-fire zone? I'd pay to read about that! You taking notes, Stephen?; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: GI Brides; Author: Visit Amazon's Duncan Barrett Page; Review: "Overpaid, overfed, oversexed, and over here." a phrase, popularized by the English wartime comedian Tommy Trinder, concerning the Yanks "We got through the war. We're British, we can stand anything." from GI BRIDES, a bride`s reply when asked why she didn't leave a domineering GI husband "Keep Calm and Carry On" from a motivational poster produced by the British Government for its citizens prior to World War II GI BRIDES by Duncan Barrett and Nuala Calvi is the story of four young English women Margaret, Sylvia, Gwendolyn and Rae who married American servicemen Lawrence, Bob, Ben and Raymond respectively and moved to the United States Georgia, Maryland, California and Pennsylvania respectively. On one hand, I liked this volume a lot as a vivid telling of this wartime phenomenon of inter-tribal marriage. Reproached by returning British soldiers for abandoning them, and vilified by American women for stealing their menfolk, the expatriate brides had then to endure the culture shock of coming to America. On the other hand, by the time I reached the book's end and decided that I wouldn't have wished any of these four marriages on anyone, I began to wonder if the narrative was skewed. One of the co-authors, Nuala Calvi, was the granddaughter of Margaret, that one of the four who was treated perhaps the worst by her Yank spouse. Did Nuala have an axe to grind? In the Acknowledgements, the authors admit to having interviewed over sixty brides in thirty-eight states. Yet, if GI BRIDES is taken as representative of the lot, then no one of them melded seamlessly into the "American Dream" at the side of a husband who wasn't in some way dysfunctional. Rather, the American men portrayed here seem to be alcoholics, gamblers, philanderers, or Momma-boys. Or maybe it's just that author's view of men in general. For this gut feeling, I'm knocking a star off what would've otherwise been a five-star award. As Gwendolyn wonders at one low point: "Were any GI brides living happily ever after?"; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: REDEMPTION: The Further Adventures of Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer; Author: Visit Amazon's Andrew Joyce Page; Review: "The last time you heard of me and Tom was in that book Sam Clemens wrote ... Now Tom and I are a mite older and a lot of water has gone under the bridge since then ... We've been reading a lot of books and our English has improved a little." Huck Finn, from the opening lines of REDEMPTION By the end of the first couple of paragraphs of REDEMPTION by Andrew Joyce, the author manages to separate Tom and Huck from anything that came before in their previous lives created by Mark Twain. Why, even Becky was rumored to have run off with a corset salesman back in '54. Indeed, the improved language skills from all that fancy book learnin' that our heroes hoisted aboard make them virtually unrecognizable. Whatever adventures they have here or in the future as adults, they're on their own. REDEMPTION takes up at the beginning of the Civil War when Huck and Tom join the Confederate Army. After a minor tussle, during which they pick up a sidekick for the plot's duration, a young Union soldier named Jed, the story jumps forward twelve years to Colorado Territory, where it pretty much remains except for an aside in Hawaii and a brief closing in New York City (!) in 1895. Huck is the first-person narrator for the bulk of the tale. It doesn't seem like there'll be any sequels or prequels. REDEMPTION is a classic Western morality play of good vs. evil far removed from those lazy days on the Missouri side of the Mississippi where our two heroes of yore grew up. The players in the White Hats are, of course, Huck, Tom and Jed. And all three are square-jawed, determined, honest, upright, brave, principled and straight-shootin' WASP American fellers that any frontier mother would be proud to have as sons-in-law, by God. There are no grey areas of personal character here (such as in Eastwood's award winning film Unforgiven.) Speaking of Westerns in the film genre, I gather Joyce has seen his share. While reading REDEMPTION, I detected strains of at least Shane,Dances with Wolves, and Wyatt Earp. As a matter of fact, Andrew's sagebrush saga would probably make a pretty decent movie with the right director and cast. As a book worth reading or not, REDEMPTION is certainly the former, though the plot elements are formulaic and the Huck, Tom and Jed personae aren't particularly stressed by any challenges to their stalwart codes of conduct. As pure escapism for filling a couple of hours on a plane or while on lunch breaks during the work week, it's more than adequate 4-star entertainment if you're not expecting nuanced conflicts. So, saddle-up, pardners.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Last Places On Earth: Journeys in Our Disappearing World; Author: Visit Amazon's Gary Mancuso Page; Review: "The Dani penis gourd, or koteka, is made from a long, skinny gourd that is hollow at the bottom. The bottom, hollow portion of the gourd is set over the man's penis and sticks straight up. It can be as long as several feet and is held up in place by a thin string wrapped around the man's waist or back (for really long ones)." from THE LAST PLACES ON EARTH, in West Papua. (Mae West would've been mightily impressed: "Is that a koteka, or are you just happy to see me?") "... once (Central Africans) confirmed that I was from the States I would get the familiar, knowing one-word of 'Obama-a-a.' Although I found the whole Obamania fad amazing, I would also be saddened to know that it must ultimately end in disappointment. No one man could possibly live up to all the hope, hype, and promise that Obama seemed to be representing at the time." from THE LAST PLACES ON EARTH. ("How strange when an illusion dies. It's as though you've lost a child." Judy Garland) "... I saw three middle-aged English travelers getting into a nice red SUV parked facing in the same direction I was going ... I asked if I could hitch a ride toward Ranomafana. To my relief, they were going right by the park and welcomed me aboard. This made the journey much more fun." from THE LAST PLACES ON EARTH, in Madagascar, after two miserable hours aboard a cramped local minivan transport sitting next to a mother whose baby drooled on the author's shirt. ("But that's the whole aim of civilization: to make everything a source of enjoyment." Leo Tolstoy) "... I again thought about why I was doing my travel project, and all the reasons why I couldn't stop now came up again. The most important reason was simply that I hadn't finished ... This travel project was the fulfillment of my lifelong dream to do an extended period of uninterrupted travel to really know the world. And most urgently of all my reasons, the rapidly accelerating changes taking place all over the world meant that much of what I sought to experience would soon be gone, or, at best, become a vastly watered-down version of the real thing. I had to press on." Gary Mancuso, after more than 4 years of travel. ("Bully for you." Teddy Roosevelt) So, the back story behind THE LAST PLACES ON EARTH is apparently this. Gary Mancuso is a key software developer for a Los Angeles investment bank. He earns enough at this gig to buy a "beautifully decorated home near the ocean" in West L.A. and accumulate investments, a wife, and cars. However, having fretted about globalization and the disappearance of ecosystems, he sells the house and cars and sets out to realize a personal dream, (which he names) the Disappearing World Travel Project, a journey of several years (!) of uninterrupted travel supported by the money from said assets to experience first-hand the world's vanishing cultures, animals, and ecosystems. Gary's book is his report back; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Technically, Males Are Dummies and Other Stories; Author: Mr. Robert J. Sullivan; Review: (Review of a complimentary paperback copy kindly supplied by the author) "In the moonlight coming through my single window, I saw the loose ends of the laces on my sneaker rise tentatively in the air ... The first lace rose gently into the air, the aglet pointing like the head of a cobra, questing, searching. The second lace joined it a moment later." - from TECHNICALLY, MALES ARE DUMMIES AND OTHER STORIES In this book, the title of which I'll shorten to MALES ARE DUMMIES for the sake of convenience and because doing so should appeal to the other gender, author Robert J. Sullivan presents eleven of his short stories, some previously published elsewhere. Sullivan has also published the novels In the Blood (A Sam Dane Thriller Book 1) and This Honest Man (Sam Dane Thriller Book 2), both featuring his hero Sam Dane, an interplanetary cop. The strength of the MALES ARE DUMMIES collection lies in the versatility of the author's imagination, which skips about among different centuries, worlds, and universes. Some of them have a The Twilight Zone: The Complete Series (Episodes Only Collection) quality, that television series being one of my faves back in the past century when first aired and even now when I stumble upon repeats. I found "First Shots" and "Gruff Samples Spanish Wines" particularly good because they respectively feature heroes Jericho Pierce, a Prohibition era Tough Guy out to right wrongs, and Alistair Gruff, a cheeky English soldier of fortune of the Elizabethan period. Should Sullivan ever give up on Sam Dane as a viable going concern for reasons I offered in my review of THIS HONEST MAN, then I'd be delighted if the author transitioned to a series built around the latter. I won't say that all of this volume's shorts were significantly entertaining, but most were. And, in the aggregate, the whole is a fine introduction to Robert's writing talent.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Painted Horses; Author: Visit Amazon's Malcolm Brooks Page; Review: "The riders rise at three each morning, clear their heads with coffee hotter than a scorned girl's slap, fill their bellies with as much bacon as they dare before a ten-hour stretch in the saddle. By five they ride like Cossacks ..." from PAINTED HORSES "You can't have horses in with newborn lambs. They'll stomp the lambs right to bits." from PAINTED HORSES PAINTED HORSES by Malcomb Brooks is one of those too-infrequent novels that the reader is likely to be loath to put down to pay attention to the demands of spouse or bill-paying job, and, when the last sentence is read, is bereft at the prospect of a return to mundane living. The book features two protagonists brought together in unlikely circumstances. Catherine Lemay, born in the East into affluence and sent off to England's Cambridge on a music Fulbright, but soon seduced and detoured into archeology while helping to excavate under the ruins of bombed-out, mid-50s London. And John H, from Baltimore, who runs away from a foster home to grow up in the 30s on a Basque sheep ranch in Montana, then fight with the U.S. Army in Italy, and who now lives as a semi-recluse in a deep canyon back in Montana. Horses, especially wild mustangs, are John's obsession. The two come together in John's Montana canyon, soon to be flooded by a federal dam project unless something of extraordinary historical archeology is perhaps found in its depths. Though Brooks has apparently written in other print media, this is, as near as I can tell, his first novel. If so, it's a brilliant debut. If not, it's still brilliant. The author clearly knows Montana and its inhabitants and terrain. And wild horses. Moreover, unlike some other major authors who've been cranking out works of fiction for years, the characters in PAINTED HORSES aren't in the least derivative, i.e. they're clearly demarcated from each other in language, demeanor, background, and self-awareness. Some readers may find the conclusion not as tidy as they might like. There are loose ends, rewards and punishments not justly distributed, and avenues not explored much as in life itself. I liked it all the more for that; it seemed real.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Call for the Dead: A George Smiley Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's John le Carré Page; Review: "Smiley was no material for promotion and it dawned on him gradually that he had entered middle age without ever being young, and that he was in the nicest possible way on the shelf." from CALL FOR THE DEAD I've been a tremendous fan of John le Carré's George Smiley for years. How could one not be, especially after having seen the BBC's exemplary television adaptations of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy and Smiley's People, both starring Alec Guinness? CALL FOR THE DEAD was first published in 1962 when I was but thirteen. (It's hard to believe I was ever that juvenile. I may have read the book in the intervening years, though I suspect not. But, alas, memory fails.) At this late date after Smiley has disappeared from le Carré's repertoire and Sir Alec is deceased, the chief delight for me in CALL FOR THE DEAD was learning about George's induction into the Secret Service, his early assignments recruiting and running German agents against the Nazi regime, and his marriage to Ann. Even Smiley was young once, though he apparently missed the high points. Smiley's introduction to the readers of spy fiction takes place in his world of 1961 when George, while investigating the apparent suicide of a Foreign Office official shortly after being interviewed (by George) regarding his wartime membership in the Communist Party, encounters a blast from his own wartime past. To those who've followed George's adventures over the years, it's evident in CALL FOR THE DEAD which was also the author's very first novel that the Smiley's character is in for considerable development over future years. Indeed, George must rely on the efforts of others, particularly an Inspector Mendel, to bring this case to a successful conclusion. Without Mendel, I doubt that Smiley would've pulled it off. In le Carré's later stories featuring George , especially when he's up against the Soviet master-spy controller Karla, our hero takes center stage, however low key and inscrutable in manner, and relinquishes it to no one. For readers of today's younger generations who may only be familiar with the author's most recent works and know nothing of Smiley, CALL FOR THE DEAD is the place to start. The Cold War is over, but George is timeless.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Three Stations; Author: Visit Amazon's Martin Cruz Smith Page; Review: "'It's Dopey,' Vaksberg said. 'You killed Dopey.'" from THREE STATIONS, said to Arkady Renko, Dopey being one of Snow White's Seven Dwarfs (in Disney's 1937 version) This book's title, THREE STATIONS, refers to that public open space, Moscow's Komsomolskaya Square, on the edges of which are situated three mainline railroad termini, Leningradsky and Yaroslavsky on the north and Kazansky on the south. And, to make things even more bustling with potential mischief, the Komsomolskaya Metro station serving a pair of underground lines lies between the former two. The Three Stations square serves pretty much as the focal point for both the main plot and the subplot of this police Investigator Arkady Renko thriller by Martin Cruz Smith. Within the former, Renko persists, against the direct order of his boss, Prosecutor Zurin, to pursue a serial killer. Within the latter, to which Arkady has little if any connection, a prostitute, Maya, escapes with her infant girl-child, Katya, the rural brothel in which she was virtually imprisoned and takes a train to Moscow. While aboard the train, Katya is stolen, and Maya spends the rest of the book searching the Three Stations for some clue as to her whereabouts. I've read some, but not all, of the Renko police procedurals. He contributes above-average entertainment to this story, but his character is still derivative from previous installments a weakness that perhaps strikes all fictional series that feature a continuing hero regardless of the impact made on readers at his/her first appearance on the literary scene, which, in Arkady's case, was Gorky Park. So here, it's actually Maya's search and Katya's haphazard odyssey that's the more interesting story line. THREE STATIONS is a perfect escapist read for a day at the beach or a plane ride to Shangri-La, but it's not memorable or unique enough to rate five stars.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: White Lies: The 11th Spider Shepherd Thriller; Author: Visit Amazon's Stephen Leather Page; Review: "Hurt locker" Military slang for a bad and painful place "You know, it seems to me that we would have been better off sending in the SAS. I said at the time it was a mistake trusting it to the SEALs. They like to go in with guns blazing, kill everyone and let God sort them out." from a previous Dan Shepherd thriller, False Friends (The 9th Spider Shepherd Thriller) "One of the SEALs lifted up his night vision goggles to reveal his face. Shepherd recognized him immediately ... `Bloody hell, you're a sight for sore eyes,' said Shepherd." from WHITE LIES, as Spider kisses and makes up with the SEALs A couple of books back in FALSE FRIENDS, Spider acted as the MI5 handler for a couple of British-born Muslims as they infiltrated al-Qaeda to thwart a domestic terrorist attack. One of the two, Manraj Chaudhry, ostensibly returned to his medical studies after the mission. But, here in WHITE LIES, we (and Shepherd) learn that he's since been recruited by MI6 without MI5's knowledge and sent to Pakistan's al-Qaeda-infested Tribal Areas on an intelligence-gathering assignment. After Chaudhry's cover is blown, MI6 approaches Spider and his boss, Charlie Button, to send Shepherd in with the Pakistani Special Services Group to rescue the poor devil. Unfortunately, the attempt becomes a bleedin' disaster and now Button, back in London, must play hardball with MI6 and pull her two chestnuts out of the fire. Author Stephen Leather uses an old but effective technique to ratchet up the tension, i.e. to alternate the narrative back and forth between the dual perspectives of the rescuers and those in need of rescue. What perhaps makes WHITE LIES the best of the Dan Shepherd adventures is the degree of hurt in which Spider finds himself and the significant role that Charlie Button has to play in the story. If you're a Button fan like me, you've been waiting for this for a long time. She deserves her own series. I'd like to think that Dan and Charlie will someday get married in St. Paul's Cathedral to a thunderous symphonic performance of Elgar's "Nimrod" and then settle down in Luton to raise little spies for Queen, the (remnants of) Empire, and St. George. But I suspect it won't happen. (Note: This is a review of an advance hard copy edition received from the publisher compliments of the author. Luck had nothing to do with it.); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Caesar's Legion: The Epic Saga of Julius Caesar's Elite Tenth Legion and the Armies of Rome; Author: Visit Amazon's Stephen Dando-Collins Page; Review: "Jupiter Best and Greatest, protect this legion, soldiers all." according to CAESAR'S LEGION, the Legionary's Prayer "The eagle of the (Tenth) legion, silver at this time, gold by imperial times, was venerated by its legionaries. Kept at an altar in camp with lamps burning throughout the night, it and the ground it stood on were considered sacred. Conveyance and protection of the eagle were the tasks of the men of the 1st Cohort, but it was the obligation of every soldier in the legion to defend it with his life." from CAESAR'S LEGION. CAESAR'S LEGION by Stephen Dando-Collins, with the subtitle of "The Epic Saga of Julius Caesar's Elite Tenth Legion and the Armies of Rome", could just as well, I think, be subtitled "Highlights of the Tenth Legion's Service during Transition from Roman Republic to Early Imperium (61 B.C. - 73 A.D.)." On a wider scale, the book is a sometimes detailed but mostly cursory history of the Tenth Legion from its founding by Julius Caesar in the Spanish Roman province of Baetica in 61 B.C. to its disappearance from history no later than 636 A.D. when the Muslims invaded Byzantine Syria. In CAESAR'S LEGION, the history of the Tenth is more a history of its association with the various Roman strongmen that controlled its movements from 61 B.C. to 73 A.D.: Julius Caesar, Mark Antony, and the generals Corbulo, Vespasian, Titus, and Silva. When a battle is being fought and the Tenth is there, then that legion is given first mention of those legions present. If an interlude of peace is at hand, then the Tenth is left for years in its permanent camp along the Rhine, or in Spain, or in Judea, with barely any attention paid to it at all. For any student of Rome's military establishment, Stephen's book serves as an admirable introduction to how the Tenth (and any other legion) was formed, numbered, structured, officered, equipped, paid, encamped, and reenlisted and fought and laid siege. Moreover, what elevate CAESAR'S LEGION to five-star status are the six appendices: "The Legions of Rome, 30 B.C. A.D.233", "The Reenlistment Factor", "The Uniqueness of the Legion Commands in Egypt and Judea", "The Naming and the Numbering System of the Roman Legions", "The Title 'Fretensis'", and "Imperial Roman Military Ranks and Their Modern-Day Equivalents." CAESAR'S LEGION contains several small scale maps of the Roman world that at least allow the reader to locate battle sites in a general way. For any student of Rome's military establishment who REALLY wants to get into it, see Legions of Rome: The Definitive History of Every Imperial Roman Legion by the same author. CAESAR'S LEGION has the Tenth fighting in Gaul, Britain, Spain, North Africa, Greece, and Judea either against non-Roman "barbarians" and insurgents or other Roman legions under the control of rival commanders. However, it never became a couldn't-put-it-down narrative for me until the last chapters when the Tenth was involved with the 70 A.D. siege of Jerusalem and the 73 A.D. siege of Masada. At that point, the book became better than average; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Drive Thru America; Author: Visit Amazon's Sean Condon Page; Review: "In a cool cell somewhere beneath the Capitol Building a couple of swarthy types in off-the-rack suits held us down in metal chairs while electrodes were attached to our nipples and genitals." from DRIVE THRU AMERICA, in Washington, D.C. "We concluded our hysteric night in historic Tupelo by watching some porno movies ... and discussed what it'd be like licking other people for a living." from DRIVE THRU AMERICA "We briefly discussed the idea of crossing the border into Mexico. But why should we? We haven't done anything wrong." from DRIVE THRU AMERICA, in Galveston "Here in cute little Carmel-by-the-Sea they've banned obscene eyesores like streetlights and street signs ... Even indoors in Carmel-by-the-Sea they reject anything stronger than gaslight. They must be afraid of being spotted from the air and bombed or something. Still, it's quaint as hell, it really is." from DRIVE THRU AMERICA "... although it's a real nice place to visit, I wouldn't want to live in (Los Angeles). Unless I had a cool job in TV or the movies." from DRIVE THRU AMERICA Back in '97, the 31-year old Aussie Sean Condon did a 2-month driving tour through the Eastern, Southern, Southwestern, and Western United States with his pal Dave and then wrote DRIVE THRU AMERICA to tell us all about it. In the tradition of Alexis de Tocqueville, it's enlightening for an American to read what a foreign traveler has to say about the United States. Unfortunately, Sean is no Alex (Democracy in America). Rather, his observations rarely rise above the superficial and his style becomes annoying when he embellishes the narrative with fantasy happenings in an effort to be clever and/or cute. As a travel writer, he's not even a Bill Bryson or a Joe Bennett. That said, however, his effort perhaps promises the same terrible fascination as watching someone OD on moon pies and sickly-sweet, cherry-flavored soda before throwing up. Condon's most favorable opinion seems to be of California; he actually expresses a desire to live there. (I've been doing that living there for most of my sixty-five years and, trust me, it's not what it used to be even back in `97). And Sean does record one verbal exchange he had real or imagined, it's hard to tell in a Los Angeles bar and worth noting: "I asked one extraordinarily tall and beautiful woman about the drug she was on. 'It's called Fame,' she said with a notorious smile. 'What happens?' I asked. 'You get a sudden rush of delusional grandeur. The world is yours.' 'Cool. How long does it last?' 'Fifteen minutes,' she replied. 'Gotta go I'm peaking.'"; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Outsiders; Author: Gerald Saymour; Review: Who was Winnie Monks? She worked for an organization that did not acknowledge brotherhoods or sisterhoods She was haunted by doubts, lonely to the point of desperation. She had given her life to the Service and would finish poor as a pauper. from THE OUTSIDERS Winnie Monks heads an anti-organized crime investigative unit within MI5. The unit is close-knit a family. Then, one of her team is brutally kicked to death while on assignment in Budapest. Winnie vows vengeance on the unknown killers no matter how long it takes. Now, three years later, Winnies team has since been disbanded and its members scattered throughout the organization as counter-terrorism takes center stage. But Winnie hasn't forgotten her vow. So, after a walk-in MI6 informant reveals the killers to be the Russian fixer and smuggler Major Petar Borsonov and his two bodyguards, Ruslan the Master Sergeant and Grigoriy the Warrant Officer, and a memo is sent to MI6s sister service across the Thames, Monks gets permission from her Director to reactivate her team and take the Major down. But this time, the team also includes Sparky, an ex-Parachute Regiment sniper burdened with guilt and PTSD. Borsonov is tracked to a villa on the Spanish Costa del Sol and Winnies team intends surveillance of the target from an ostensibly vacant villa next door. Unbeknownst to the team, however, their observation post is occupied by a young and unremarkable English couple, Jonno and Posie, keeping an eye on the place and the house cat while the owner is back in England for surgery. Once more, with THE OUTSIDERS, author Gerald Seymour expands the boundaries of the worlds dangerous and grotty edges to encompass and ensnare regular folks like you and me, in this case represented by Jonno and his girlfriend. But the two are English and the MI5 operatives are in the service of the Queen, so they're all on the same side, right? Seymour has an extraordinary talent to populate his novels with a wide range of varied and disparate personalities that are skillfully almost lovingly woven into the storyline. One can only stand amazed at the authors knowledge of people from a wide range of backgrounds and what makes them tick. Some readers of THE OUTSIDERS may fret that theres too little action and the conclusion takes too long to evolve. But, like John le Carrs spy tales, its more an exercise in character and plot development thats meant to be savored, not rushed. Another constant of Seymours tales is that the victory inevitably won by the Good Guys is always Pyrrhic in nature. While there may be gain, there is loss, and the win, like Life in general, is bittersweet. Seymour writes intelligent fiction, and I cant think of a higher accolade than that.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Never Go Back: A Jack Reacher Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Lee Child Page; Review: "She was everything he thought she would be, and she was everything he had ever wanted." from NEVER GO BACK Before he became a wandering civilian road warrior, MAJOR Jack Reacher, U.S.A. had once been commanding officer of the 110th Military Police Special Unit headquartered near Washington, D.C. Sometime in the past while out West presumably in another Reacher adventure that doesn't spring to mind Jack had talked to the current CO of the 110th, Major Susan Turner, by phone and had decided that he needed to travel back to visit his old command and ask Turner out to dinner. I mean, he had nothing else going on. Presumably entitled as a cautionary tale by author Lee Child, NEVER GO BACK has Reacher arriving at the 110th to find Turner under arrest and he himself levered back into the Army to face a murder charge and a paternity suit from alleged activities years before while on active duty. Working my way through this thriller, I was inclined to five stars for three reasons: 1) Reacher's awkwardly compromised position with his old unit, 2) his discovery of an apparent soul mate, and 3) a satisfying level of physical mayhem delivered by our hero onto the bad guys. However, by the book's conclusion, I had to knock off two stars for three reasons: 1) it went unexplained how someone could fasten an airline seatbelt after having both arms broken at the elbow but minutes before, 2) the surveillance actions described at the intersection of the Los Angeles freeways 134 and 101 (and, unmentioned, the 170) must have been concocted by the author while looking at a two-dimensional highway map; he obviously (to this LA resident) hasn't personally driven the interchange, and 3) the ending was notably anticlimactic. This particular paperback edition (Dell, April 2014) also includes the short story HIGH HEAT, which has the 16-year old Reacher kicking butt in New York City on the night of July 13, 1977 when the city experienced the Blackout. Similarly to the couple of other juvenile-Jack short stories I've read, it seemed unnecessary and silly. Hey Lee, how about one when Reacher is five and he beats the manure out of a nursery school bully?; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Physics of the Impossible: A Scientific Exploration into the World of Phasers, Force Fields, Teleportation, and Time Travel; Author: Visit Amazon's Michio Kaku Page; Review: "In principle the ramjet engine could propel itself indefinitely, ultimately reaching distant star systems in the galaxy ... In theory, the spacecraft might be able to reach the limit of the visible universe within the lifetime of the crew member (although billions of years might have passed on Earth). from PHYSICS OF THE IMPOSSIBLE "... a universe in which left and right are reversed, matter turns into antimatter, and time runs backward is a fully acceptable universe obeying the laws of physics!" from PHYSICS OF THE IMPOSSIBLE PHYSICS OF THE IMPOSSIBLE is a speculative work on the possibility (or not) of realizing what the current state of the Science of Physics considers impossible. Its author, Michio Kaku, is a theoretical physicist who helped define String Theory. On the other hand, physics and differential calculus quickly phasered my desire to become an aeronautical engineer back in the 60s. So, you might think that Kaku's book and I would be a poor match inasmuch as I turned out to be a Life Sciences kind of guy. Well, not necessarily. Michio begins his fascinating discussion by dividing what is "impossible" into three classes. Class I (force fields, invisibility, phasers, death stars, teleportation, telepathy, psychokinesis, robots, starships, antimatter engines) includes those concepts, while unattainable today, may be possible this century or the next. Class II (faster than light speeds, time travel, entry into parallel universes), at the edge of current understanding, may be realized millions of years in the future. Nothing in these two categories violates the known laws of physics. Class III (perpetual motion machines and precognition) violates the known laws of physics and would require a paradigmatic shift. Most important to my appreciation of the subject matter, the author explains everything or nearly everything at a level that can be (mostly) understood by us Just Folks who could barely manipulate a slide rule back in the day. And except, as I recall, only one or two mentions of Einstein's famous E = (m) (c squared), he doesn't speak in equations at all. Granted, when Kako starts in about the eleven dimensions and multiverses allowed for by String Theory, the subject matter perhaps recedes over my comprehension's event horizon, but I figure he's allowed. He's earned it. One can only imagine the advances in physics since this book was copyrighted in 2008. Can Scotty now beam me up, I wonder? As with The Hidden Reality: Parallel Universes and the Deep Laws of the Cosmos by Brian Greene, PHYSICS OF THE IMPOSSIBLE will perhaps open-up the reader's mind to a sense of wonder. Ever since the Caveman first gazed up into the night sky uncontaminated by any light and thought "Dude!", such a mental epiphany is an experience to be savored.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Gettysburg: The Last Invasion; Author: Visit Amazon's Allen C. Guelzo Page; Review: "Colonel. If the artillery fire does not have the effect to drive off the enemy, or greatly demoralize him, so as to make our efforts pretty certain, I would prefer that you not advise Gen. Pickett to make the charge." from GETTYSBURG. General Longstreet's message to Chief of Artillery Colonel Porter Alexander prior to Pickett's Charge "... the individual soldier's experience in battle becomes ... tightly concentrated into an immediate semicircle in front and beside him. Isolated from sight by one another, as well as by fear for survival, it was the other senses that became the nineteenth-century soldiers' chief inlets of information, beginning with the variety of bizarre sounds which dominated the nineteenth-century battlefield the weird harmonic ring of bullets striking fixed bayonets, the clicking of the locking ring on the bayonet when fixed on the rifle's muzzle, the deceptively harmless sound of rifle volleys ... the thud of rounds striking flesh or the metallic clink when the struck bone or the dropped-china crack when they hit teeth." from GETTYSBURG "Standing in the line of battle, the Civil war soldier needed to know one thing above all others that the men on either side of him would not run." from GETTYSBURG "Lee and his men had given what Porter Alexander later called 'the best we had in the shop'." from GETTYSBURG GETTYSBURG by Allen Guelzo has received so many accolades from other reviewers that I doubt I can add much in the way of substantive praise. The book, for me, was simply one of the most gripping and comprehensive accounts of a Civil War engagement that I've read. (One other of particular note is Champion Hill: Decisive Battle for Vicksburg.) After reading the narrative, I want to travel across the width of the country and visit the battlefield for a second time with the new realization that this three-day collision of armies was a close-run thing for both sides; the Army of the Potomac could easily have lost and the Army of Northern Virginia could just as likely have won. Since I'm not inclined to hero worship, I'll not join the ranks of those relatively few detractors of the book who think Major General George Meade was given a bad rap by the author. I was particularly impressed by the chapter entitled "I Have Never Been in A Hotter Place" in which the author describes what the Civil War soldier experienced on the battlefield on a personal level. GETTYSBURG isn't a perfect work. I wish it had contained an Order of Battle for the two armies inasmuch as the maneuvering on the field is described from corps down through division, brigade and regimental levels. Also, the maps are not always clearly illustrative of what is described in the text. (For the best battlefield mapping ever, see yet again Champion Hill: Decisive Battle for Vicksburg.) Finally, the photo section was as adequate as most. I was puzzled, however, by the absence of any image of Major General George Pickett. GETTYSBURG is a lengthy volume in small print that took me several weeks; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Secret Life of Sleep; Author: Visit Amazon's Kat Duff Page; Review: "The effects of sleep disruption on mood, perception, and behavior are so strong that patients are sometimes misdiagnosed with psychiatric disorders when they simply need better sleep." from THE SECRET LIFE OF SLEEP "Because growth hormones are secreted only during SW (Slow Wave) sleep, a reduction in deep sleep also lowers the levels of these hormones. The combination can account for many features of the aging process, including loss of muscle tone and physical strength, increased body fat, thinning of the skin, fatigue, diminished sexual desire, memory loss and immune malfunction." from THE SECRET LIFE OF SLEEP "At present, several lines of evidence support the notion that our dreaming brains operate on the edge of chaos, albeit a self-organizing one that responds with enormous sensitivity to subtle influences, not unlike the weather systems that bedevil forecasters." from THE SECRET LIFE OF SLEEP "Big dreams ... have a remarkable clarity and a profound sense of portent that alter and inform us for life. They are not just remixes of memory traces from past experiences or imagined possibilities ..." from THE SECRET LIFE OF SLEEP "I used to think as I looked out on the Hollywood night, 'There must be thousands of girls sitting alone like me dreaming of being a movie star.' But I'm not going to worry about them. I'm dreaming the hardest." Marilyn Monroe THE SECRET LIFE OF SLEEP by educator and mental health counselor Kat Duff can perhaps be described as a primer on sleep for the layperson. Duff arbitrarily (but logically) divides her narrative into three general parts: falling to sleep, sleeping, and waking up. By default, the bulk of the text is concerned with the sleeping bit and, since dreaming is pretty much the only game in town during that time, with dreams. However, she also discusses such topics as how sleep is regarded across cultures, REM (Rapid Eye Movement) vs. SW sleep, the effects of the various types of sleep-promoting drugs, and the interaction of memory and invention within sleep. It's all enlightening stuff albeit told in a professorial and relatively humorless style. The author occasionally personalizes the narrative with her own dream experiences to instructionally illustrate. Like the preferences for ties and perfume, I gather the experiences of sleep time are highly individualized. But the reader can still derive from THE SECRET LIFE OF SLEEP much relevant personal awareness. Without having given the topic much previous thought (because I generally sleep untroubled and well), I now realize that even though I haven't dreamt nightmares in decades, I also don't have Big Dreams, only Ordinary Dreams. Should I feel cheated? THE SECRET LIFE OF SLEEP is a volume that imparts a wealth of interesting information ("Cool! I didn't know that!"), but will only be relevant to the extent that the proverbial eye mask and ear plugs fit. Sweet dreams.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Do Not Pass Go: From the Old Kent Road to Mayfair; Author: Visit Amazon's Tim Moore Page; Review: "'A carton of jellied eels, please,' I said, with all the enthusiasm of a child forced to choose between raw tripe and a bearded great aunt." from DO NOT PASS GO, Tim Moore on The Browns ordering a snack along the Old Kent Road "They say eating an oyster is like swimming in the sea with your mouth open, but taking all consistency issues into account (jellied eel) was more akin to biting the hand off a corpse dragged out after three weeks in the Thames." Tim Moore "Piccadilly Circus at night used to be like standing inside a giant pinball machine with three balls on the go and Roger Daltry battering the flappers. Now it's like watching a kid over the road turn his PlayStation on." from DO NOT PASS GO, Tim Moore bemoaning the loss of neon in the after-dark Circus "... (Selfridge's) wooed women off the pavement with the promise of warmth, excitement and flushable porcelain fixtures ..." from DO NOT PASS GO, the author describing the early 20th-century rise of the Oxford Street department store Since London is my very favorite city, my knee-jerk response is to acquire and read just about any book on the place. In this case with DO NOT PASS GO, I did so without any knowledge of the title's significance. You see, I've never played Monopoly in my life. Not even once. I'd never even seen the playing board before calling up on the Web a photo of the game's standard UK edition for the purpose of this review. Such statements by author Tim Moore such as the one immediately below left me pathetically uncomprehending: "Criminal psychologists and addiction counsellors could save a lot of time by scrapping all that blather about personality profiles and upbringing in place of a single yes or no question: have you ever landed on a Park Lane hotel and then rolled a double one?" Moore's love - well ok, obsession - with the game inspired this travel narrative, a walking tour of London determined by the squares on the periphery of the (UK) playing board. For those unacquainted with this version of the game, the squares are: King's Cross - a mainline rail terminus The Purples - Pall Mall, Whitehall, Northumberland Ave. Free Parking - virtually impossible to find in London The Yellows - Leicester Square, Coventry Street, Piccadilly Go To Jail - for Tim, Her Majesty's Prison Pentonville The Oranges - Bow Street, Marlborough Street, Vine Street Water Works - for Tim, the Crossness Southern Outfall Works The (Other) Stations - Liverpool Street, Fenchurch Street, Marylebone The Reds - Strand, Fleet Street, Trafalgar Square The Light Blues - The Angel (Islington), Euston Road, Pentonville Road Electric Company - for Tim, the Lots Road Power Station (shut down in October 2002) The Greens - Regent Street, Oxford Street, Bond Street The Dark Blues - Park Lane, Mayfair The Browns - Old Kent Road, Whitechapel Road Lucky for me, the author spends only minimal text referring to actual Monopoly play. Rather, with the same dry wit and self-deprecating; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hallowed Ground: A Walk at Gettysburg (Crown Journeys); Author: Visit Amazon's James M. McPherson Page; Review: "(On the Gettysburg battlefield) there are something like 1,400 monuments and markers of various sorts, and almost four hundred cannons." from HALLOWED GROUND "Descendants of Confederates have had their own controversies about the placement of monuments at the high-water mark ... (North Carolinians) insist that a few men in the Twenty-sixth North Carolina penetrated (the Union line) twenty yards further than the Virginian Armistead ... The controversy reflects a long-standing dispute between Virginians and North Carolinians, who resented Virginia's domination of the writing of Confederate history." from HALLOWED GROUND Historian James McPherson has an understandable love affair with the Civil War, which is demonstrated by this short (140-page) HALLOWED GROUND in which he leads the reader on a "walk" across the Gettysburg battlefield as it evolved over the three days of the collision between Union and Confederate armies on July 1-3, 1863. Having recently read the estimable Gettysburg: The Last Invasion (Vintage Civil War Library) by Allen Guelzo, I picked up HALLOWED GROUND to see what McPherson might add to my knowledge of the battle in a short space. In actuality, it wasn't much, though his references to some of the battlefield's main monuments are enlightening and not something to be found in the Guelzo volume. That said, HALLOWED GROUND is a concise summary of the Gettysburg battle which would serve well as an introduction to a more comprehensive understanding or simply as a short-version narrative of the affair for someone wishing only to skim the topic.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Frangipani Hotel: Fiction; Author: Visit Amazon's Violet Kupersmith Page; Review: "Her black and silver dress is turning into moonlit ripples on the water, and her hands are covered in scales. She turns and gives me a triumphant smile, or maybe she is just baring her teeth." from THE FRANGIPANI HOTEL, short story "Reception" THE FRANGIPANI HOTEL by the young Vietnamese-American author Violet Kupersmith is a collection of short stories set either in post-war Vietnam or the United States. The main characters are either Vietnam-born or the children of Vietnamese who expatriated to the States. All the stories have an otherworldly edge. Other reviewers have complained that the tales contained herein aren't scary enough. Piffle! Granted, none of the shorts in THE FRANGIPANI HOTEL are truly scary; most are creepy, a couple are disturbing, and one is mostly just sad. However, sometimes less is more. For example, the film The Exorcist was scary with a capital "S", but The Others [HD] was just creepy. But, I liked the latter more for its subtlety. So too, here. In the book's "About the Author" paragraph, one learns that Kupersmith is working on her first novel. I gather that the short stories in THE FRANGIPANI HOTEL were writing exercises to refine her writing skills. Not all are polished; a couple seemed somewhat awkward in concept. However, the breadth of Violet's imagination and raw talent is apparent, and I'm open to buying and reading her first novel when it's published. I particularly liked the short story "Descending Dragon" for its sad depiction of one growing old and lonely far from home.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Last Full Measure: A Novel of the Civil War (Civil War Trilogy); Author: Visit Amazon's Jeff Shaara Page; Review: "(The Army of the Potomac's) objective has always been Richmond. That is not our objective now ... Richmond is a symbol, and three years ago this war was all about symbols ... I don't care about symbols. Our objective is Lee." - from LAST FULL MEASURE, Lt. General Grant, commanding all U.S. armies, when joining the Army of the Potomac in the field "... the horizon was not lit by the glow from the heavens, but the glow of campfires, a vast sea of light spread along the horizon, a glow from a vast blue force ... (Lee) stood for a long moment, stared at the horizon ... He knew what the fires meant, thought, They are in front of us now." - from LAST FULL MEASURE, General Lee, commanding the Army of Northern Virginia on the run, at Appomattox THE LAST FULL MEASURE by Jeff Shaara is the third book in the trilogy (begun by his father, Michael Shaara, with The Killer Angels) which follows the American Civil War in the East as fought between the Army of the Potomac and the Army of Northern Virginia beginning with the Battle of Fredericksburg in December 1862 and ending with the surrender of the latter at Appomattox in April 1865. THE LAST FULL MEASURE begins on July 13, 1863 as General Lee and his army cross the Potomac River south into Virginia, escaping the site of their recent defeat at Gettysburg, PA on July 1-3. In March 1864, President Lincoln gave command of all Union Armies to Ulysses Grant, promoted to Lieutenant General for the purpose. Grant intentionally made his headquarters in the field with the Army of the Potomac commanded by Major General George Meade. Grant's intent was to oversee the pursuit and defeat of General Lee and his army by Meade's force. This represented a sea change in the use of the latter by the Federal government; up to that point, the Army of the Potomac's chief mission had been to shield Washington, D.C. THE LAST FULL MEASURE tells the story of the last twenty-one months of the war from the perspectives of Grant, Lee, and Colonel (then Brig. General) Joshua Chamberlain, whose 20th Maine regiment staunchly held the left of the Union line on Little Round Top on the second day of Gettysburg. There are, additionally, single cameo appearances by Union Major General Winfield Scott Hancock and Confederate generals Longstreet, Stuart, and Gordon. As portrayed by Shaara, all - particularly Grant, Lee and Chamberlain - are soldiers to whom the utmost honor is due for their services to their respective causes. Broadly viewed, the narrative encompasses Grant's Overland Campaign, the Union siege of Petersburg, and Lee's final retreat to the west. More specifically, it includes long or short summaries of the Battle of the Wilderness, Spotsylvania Court House, Lee's defense at the North Anna River, Cold Harbor, the Battle of the Crater, the Confederate attack on Fort Stedman, Gravelly Run, Five Forks, and Appomattox. This is the third of Jeff Shaara's historical novels about the Civil War I've read, and; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Jane Austen's England: Daily Life in the Georgian and Regency Periods; Author: Visit Amazon's Roy Adkins Page; Review: "Witchcraft was behind some beliefs: 'A stone with a hole in it ... prevents witches from riding horses; for which purpose it is often tied to a stable key.'" from JANE AUSTEN'S ENGLAND "Old persons ... declared that they had lived till now to see the greatest Wonder of their Age." NORTHAMPTON MERCURY (9-20-1784) reporting England's first manned balloon flight, as quoted in JANE AUSTEN'S ENGLAND "... (surgical) patients were given alcohol or laudanum, their hands were tied together, and they were held down while the surgery was carried out. One of the keys to a successful operation was speed, otherwise the patient might die of shock or bleed to death ... Surgery on private patients was done in their homes, a far safer environment than any hospital wealthy people did not attend hospitals for any treatment whatsoever." from JANE AUSTEN'S ENGLAND JANE AUSTEN'S ENGLAND by the husband and wife team of Roy and Lesley Adkins, both historians and archeologists, is a splendid narrative on daily life in England during the Georgian and Regency periods, specifically over those years during which Jane Austen lived (1775-1817). Why, you don't even have to be a Jane Austen fan to appreciate it! The book's chapters progress through life as one might experience it: Wedding Bells, Breeding, Toddler to Teenager, Home and Hearth, Fashions and Filth, Sermons and Superstitions, Wealth and Work, Leisure and Pleasure, On the Move, Dark Deeds, Medicine Men, and Last Words. JANE AUSTEN'S ENGLAND is liberally sprinkled with quotes from primary sources including many from Jane Austen's own letters as well as two other contemporary contributors, diarist and vicar William Holland (1746-1819), and diarist and clergyman James Woodforde (1740-1803). Although I didn't find either to be particularly necessary to supplement the text, the authors include a listing of weights and measures then vs. now and a "Chronological Overview" (from 1860 to 1817). There are also several maps of England (including "Jane Austen Territory", "William Holland Territory", and "James Woodforde Territory") and a 1797 London city map. JANE AUSTEN'S ENGLAND provides an engaging look at the period lived by the author of Sense and Sensibility,Pride and Prejudice,Mansfield Park,Emma, and Northanger Abbey. It's clear that, while society's bells, whistles and toys have evolved exponentially, basic humanity with all its highs and lows hasn't changed much.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Shadow Patrol (A John Wells Novel); Author: Visit Amazon's Alex Berenson Page; Review: "Amadullah couldn't hate the Americans as he hated the Russians ... Even so, he and his men would fight them as long as they stayed ... No matter how hard (the Americans) tried to prove they meant well, their very presence stirred up trouble. On patrols, they gave candy to children and made them disrespect their fathers ... Even worse, they caused problems between men and women. The Americans talked about giving rights to women, but the truth was the opposite. The women wanted the Americans gone most of all. They wanted to know why their husbands and fathers couldn't stop soldiers from coming into their houses and looking at them, disrespecting them, humiliating them." from THE SHADOW PATROL, the thoughts of Amadullah, a Pashtun freedom fighter THE SHADOW PATROL, by Alex Berenson, is the continuing saga of the author's hero, John Wells, a former Central Intelligence Agency operative whom we first met in The Faithful Spy at the end of a years-long undercover assignment to infiltrate al-Qaeda in the mountains of Pakistan, in the process of which he became a devout Muslim. Now, back living a sometimes uneasy life in the United States, John is asked by his former employers to do another job; go to Afghanistan and investigate a vague report that the CIA is buying opium a tenuous thread that soon becomes a complex tapestry of revenge, greed, treason, and dereliction of duty involving both the CIA and the U.S. Army compared to which the Afghani Pashtun freedom fighters seem at least honorable. For my money, all of the John Wells books are about as intelligently written as contemporary action/spy thrillers get. (One could ask for more, but more can be difficult to stumble across.) The plots are cleverly conceived, the action taut and escalating, and Wells himself is the lethal, smart, and honorable hero that every desk-bound working schlub might dream to become in another life. John is One Bad Dude, and I anticipate with pleasure his newest foray against the Evil that Threatens Mom, Flag, Apple Pie and the American Way, Twelve Days (A John Wells Novel), a sequel to The Counterfeit Agent (A John Wells Novel).; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Russian Tattoo: A Memoir; Author: Visit Amazon's Elena Gorokhova Page; Review: "My old shoes pull on my feet like lead weights as I walk out into the foreign heat, doubting my whole future in this glimmering land of glut." from RUSSIAN TATTOO, the author, only recently arrived in America, after buying her first pair of new shoes "I know we are fortunate to have a live-in grandmother, but the price for being so lucky is to have my mother back, mothering." from RUSSIAN TATTOO, the author after her mother emigrates from Russia and can take care of her new American-born granddaughter "... I don't understand what (my daughter) is thinking ... I don't understand anything, it seems, and this makes me feel like an outsider in my daughter's life, an ignorant and clueless immigrant, again." the author, in RUSSIAN TATTOO "... it is bread and milk and chores, the things that make up life." from RUSSIAN TATTOO At the conclusion of my 2009 review of A Mountain of Crumbs: A Memoir, Elena Gorokhova's previous autobiographical narrative about growing up in the Soviet Union and the circumstances that allowed her to immigrate to the United States, I wrote: "Finally, Elena's subsequent life in the U.S. since 1979 rates only a three-page Epilogue. After so many years waiting for the curtain to rise, did she find magic and illusion in her new home? What was it like to wander an American supermarket and chain-bookstore with all their abundance for the first time? How did the reality of Western economic strata compare with strident Soviet claims? ... She doesn't say. Perhaps the author is saving that part of the story for a sequel. I think she owes the reader an answer to those questions after such an engaging build-up." Patience has been rewarded; now, in RUSSIAN TATTOO, Elena answers those questions, and more, in a follow-up that's more poignant and rewarding than the prequel. My only regret is that the edition I read was a pre-publication copy, which doesn't have the photo section that I presume appears in the hardcover release. I'll need to track the latter book down in a bookstore and flip through it. This book's lesson, and the talent that Gorokhova has for teaching it to us, is that transplantation from the U.S.S.R.'s environment of consumers' chronic deprivation to the "glimmering land of glut" is no assurance of an untroubled life. Indeed, her turbulent relationship with her daughter and uneasy existence with her mother come to visit, forever suggest cross-cultural constants regardless of national origin. Perhaps the only minor shortcoming of RUSSIAN TATTOO is that not enough text time is devoted to Elena's older sister, Marina the actress, who also emigrates from Russia to marry a mail-order husband living in New Orleans. While maybe slightly eccentric, Marina seems made of sterner stuff than her little sister after a career spent in the Soviet and Russian theater. If Marina were to write an autobiography, I'd read it. I'd like to see Elena write a third book, but since she seems to be caught up chronologically I suspect, and regret, that such is unlikely.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Istanbul Passage: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Joseph Kanon Page; Review: You couldn't fight the next war until youd lied about the last one. from ISTANBUL PASSAGE Life is like that, don't you think? Mostly bad choices. All you can do is keep your balance between them. from ISTANBUL PASSAGE ISTANBUL PASSAGE by Joseph Kanon, similar in tone and pacing to John le Carrs spy stories, is a novel of espionage set in Istanbul shortly after the end of World War II. The potential reader should realize, though, that in no way is this an action thriller. Rather, its heavy on character and plot development in a milieu where nothing is at it seems. Kanons protagonist here is Leon Bauer, ostensibly the local rep for an American tobacco company. Leon has spent the war doing odd jobs for the resident spy in the U.S. consulate while, at the same time, helping to smuggle East European Jews to Palestine. Leons latest assignment for his American controller to facilitate the defection to the United States of a former Romanian fascist who went over to the Russians has gone horribly wrong. In a gun battle along the shore of the Bosphorus, Leon kills an unlikely assailant, an act that leaves him stranded in a minefield of uncertain outcomes. In addition to the joys of ISTANBUL PASSAGE being an intelligent read, its location in Istanbul provided me with a bonus personal pleasure. The city, the Constantinople of revered history, is perhaps the single most desirable travel location remaining on my Bucket List. Unfortunately, I haven't made it there yet, but through Kanons descriptive prose I could get a vicarious sense of the place. Galata Bridge is my ultimate goal. Some might say ISTANBUL PASSAGE is plodding. Rather, I would contend that its deliciously and credibly layered. Unless you're a speed reader, finishing its 401 (paperback) pages will take several days at least. But, its worth every minute of your time if you appreciate quality examples of the genre.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sycamore Row (The Jake Brigance); Author: Visit Amazon's John Grisham Page; Review: "Jake admitted to himself that it was a lost cause if he was already thinking about the appeal ... He did not stop by Judge Atlee's office, as directed. Instead he went home. He needed some quiet time with the two people he loved the most, the two who would always think of him as the greatest lawyer in the world." - from SYCAMORE ROW When last we visited with Mississippi lawyer Jake Brigance in A Time to Kill: A Novel, he'd just defended Carl Lee Hailey and gotten him acquitted of the murder of the two crackers who'd raped the latter's 10-year old daughter even though it was never in dispute that Carl had actually pulled the M-16's trigger. (Of course, those two good ol' boys needed killin'. And what Father worth the title wouldn't have done the same?) Now, in SYCAMORE ROW, author John Grisham revisits Jake's Clanton, MS, law practice three years later when he receives in the mail the handwritten last will and testament of Seth Hubbard, the local lumber mogul, who'd only just the day before hung himself from a sycamore tree. In the document, Seth repudiates a previous version, disinherits his two adult children, and leaves 90 percent of his considerable fortune to his housekeeper of the past three years, Lettie Lang. (Lawdy, Lawdy, Miz Lettie, you're going to be rich, girl!) In a separate letter accompanying the will, Hubbard names Brigance the attorney for the estate and directs him to fight "to the bitter end" to enforce the will's provisions in the battle sure to follow. And it certainly does. And the fact that Hubbard and his progeny are white and Lettie is black doesn't make Jake's job easy in the Magnolia State. The litigation attracts lawyers like ants to honey. SYCAMORE ROW is one of those literary treats that, after getting a taste in the first thirty-six pages, the reader knows the rest is going to be delicious. And it certainly is. The only awkward addition to the plot's recipe is a relatively brief aside to the parole status of Dennis Yawkey, one of those involved with the burning of Jake's home three years previous during the Hailey trial. It was completely unnecessary and went nowhere fast. Perhaps the thread will resurface with some meaning in a future Brigance legal adventure. Even If you've only been a casual follower of Grisham's stuff over the years, then one near-certainty is that Matthew McConaughey, who played the role in the 1996 film A Time to Kill, will appear as Jake in your mind's eye while reading SYCAMORE ROW. That's not a bad thing, surely.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The King's Grave: The Discovery of Richard IIIs Lost Burial Place and the Clues It Holds; Author: Visit Amazon's Philippa Langley Page; Review: "It was a large open space for seventy or more vehicles, surrounded by Georgian buildings with a large red-brick Victorian wall running north to south straight ahead of me. I found myself drawn to this wall and, as I walked towards it, I was aware of a strange sensation. My heart was pounding and my mouth was dry ' it was a feeling of raw excitement filled with fear. As I got near the wall, I had to stop, I felt so odd. I had goose-bumps, so much so that even in the sunshine I felt cold to my bones. And I knew in my innermost being that Richard's body lay here. Moreover I was certain that I was standing right on top of his grave." - Co-author Philippa Langley of THE KING'S GRAVE "Leicester University wanted to publish pictures of the remains, including the skull. However, I didn't want the skull to be shown full-face, as a mark of respect to the man, and the university had agreed that no images would be shown that might be considered prurient." - Co-author Philippa Langley of THE KING'S GRAVE (Prurient? Really?) "Prurient. Arousing or appealing to an inordinate interest in sex." - THE AMERICAN HERITAGE COLLEGE DICTIONARY, 3rd edition, 1993 "Richard III, the last English king to die in battle 530 years ago, was finally laid to rest on Thursday in a solemn ceremony in Leicester Cathedral, a few steps from the car park where his twisted skeleton was found in 2012." - Discovery News, March 26, 2015 It may seem, at first mention, an odd comparison. But, as I was reading THE KING'S GRAVE by Philippa Langley and historian Michael Jones, I was reminded of the most excellent 2012 film Zero Dark Thirty, in which the fictional CIA intelligence analyst, Maya, becomes obsessed with hunting down Osama bin Laden. (Maya is either a composite character, or based partly on the real-life CIA career of Alfreda Frances Bikowsky.) In any case, Maya tracks her quarry down and, well, you know how that story ends. The operative theme here is "obsession." Philippa wished to write a screenplay about Richard III, the Yorkist English king killed in the Battle of Bosworth Field in 1484 by troops loyal to the Tudor claimant to the throne, Henry (who subsequently took the title Henry VII). Langley's research took her on a 4-year odyssey of discovery during which she personally organized the archeological dig that resulted in the unearthing of Richard's bones under a Leicester parking lot. Everybody needs a quest, I guess. Any casual or serious student of English history, and particularly as it's defined by the succession of monarchical dynasties, can't help but benefit and be intrigued by reading THE KING'S GRAVE. The authors' purpose was to produce a volume both describing the discovery of Richard's remains and contribute to the historical record a hopefully more balanced perception of Richard's reign than has been the prevailing view of it from writers of the Tudor period, e.g. Thomas More and William Shakespeare, whose intent was to vilify Henry; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: One Summer: America, 1927 (Random House Large Print); Author: Visit Amazon's Bill Bryson Page; Review: So it is perhaps worth pausing for a moment to remember just some of the things that happened that summer (of 1927): Babe Ruth hit sixty home runs. The Federal Reserve made the mistake that precipitated the stock market crash. Al Capone enjoyed his last summer of eminence. The Jazz Singer was filmed. Television was created. Radio came of age. Sacco and Vanzetti were executed. President Coolidge chose not to run. Work began on Mount Rushmore. The Mississippi flooded as it never had before. A madman in Michigan blew up a school and killed forty-four people in the worst slaughter of children in American history. Henry Ford stopped making the Model T and promised to stop insulting Jews. And a kid from Minnesota flew across an ocean and captivated the planet in a way it had never been captivated before. - Author Bill Bryson in ONE SUMMER Bill Bryson, as an American writer, is a national treasure. Here in ONE SUMMER, he captivates once again with a narrative of the events that took place in the United States during the period May to September of 1927. Many of the backstories, e.g. the history of pioneering airplane flights, the ostensible criminal activity of Sacco and Vanzetti, or the evolution of motion pictures with dialogue (the talkies) of course extend back further into earlier years; Bryson tells these backstories without necessarily anchoring them in a definitive timeframe. Its their culmination in the hot months of 1927 that fascinates him and the reader. Theres a certain hierarchy of events and personalities. At the top of the pyramid are Charles Lindbergh and his trans-Atlantic flight followed by his triumphant tour of America. Next down, and very close, is the remarkable summer played by Babe Ruth and the New York Yankees. Then, there are all the other events and characters - plus others - alluded to by the author himself in the quote at the beginning of this review. As in all of Brysons works, the fun of the read is in the wealth of details and the gentle humor with which he often regards them. (Al) Jolson was not an adorable person. His idea of a good joke was to urinate on people, which may go some way to explaining why he had four wives and no friends. Illinois imposed no restrictions on the sale of tommy guns, so they were available to the general public in hardware stores, sporting goods stores, and even drugstores. The wonder is that the death tolls in Chicago weren't higher. For the reader, the content of ONE SUMMER perhaps compels one to frequently detour to Wikipedia to get even more information about an interesting personality. Perhaps thats why it took me so long to read the book! ONE SUMMER includes a 14-page photo section that is suitably all-encompassing plus an Epilogue chapter that wraps up nicely what needs to be wrapped-up. ONE SUMMER is about as satisfying a read as I could hope for.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Molly Lee; Author: Visit Amazon's Andrew Joyce Page; Review: "Most of the stories were frontier tales reprinted from the vast backlog of serials in the story papers and other sources, as well as many originals ... As a whole, the quality of the fiction was derided by higher brow critics and the term 'dime novel' quickly came to represent any form of cheap, sensational fiction, rather than the specific format." from Wikipedia's entry for "dime novel" "My name is Molly Lee ... that's M-O-L-L-Y L-E-E! And Molly Lee can take care of herself!" Molly's declaration after shooting the kneecap off a predatory and larcenous frontier bank president In author Andrew Joyce's previous work, REDEMPTION, he takes up the saga of Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer a decade or so after Mark Twain left off. At the beginning of REDEMPTION: The Further Adventures of Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer, Confederate soldiers Tom and Huck desert their army unit and find shelter at the farm of some rural homesteaders, at which time they save their hosts from some Yankee foragers and, more specifically, the farmer's daughter Molly Lee from rape. Molly immediately falls in love with Huck and persuades him to take her with them when they leave. But Huck and Tom depart before daybreak, leaving the girl bereft but determined to follow her hero to wherever he's headed. It's at this point that Joyce's MOLLY LEE begins. Molly's journey through life here spans some thirty-four years and includes just about every adventure and peril that a young woman can encounter on the western frontier of the late nineteenth century. By no stretch of the imagination can MOLLY LEE (or its predecessor) be considered subtle. The plot and its characters are neither nuanced nor morally painted in any shade other than black or white. But Molly is an enormously appealing personality and the reader cheers her on from the first page. She has "true grit" and is blessed with good luck and circumstance. Though I've never read a "dime novel" from the late nineteenth or early twentieth century, I'm reasonably convinced that MOLLY LEE was what that reading experience was all about. There is, apparently, going to be a sequel entitled HUCK AND MOLLY. Hey, I'm in!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Chain of Thunder: A Novel of the Siege of Vicksburg (the Civil War in the West); Author: Visit Amazon's Jeff Shaara Page; Review: "Grant pushed the horse forward, moved slowly toward (General) Logan, the man turning to him, a salute, and then a tip of the hat. Grant could see now that Logan had tears on his face ... A breeze rose now, soft and warm, and between the ragged lines of rebel soldiers, Grant saw what Logan had already seen. Along the crest of the defensive works, scattered between the men, there was a fluttering of white flags." from A CHAIN OF THUNDER A CHAIN OF THUNDER by Jeff Shaara is his second historical novel on the progress of the American Civil War in its western theater, the first in the series being A Blaze of Glory: A Novel of the Battle of Shiloh (the Civil War in the West). This second book is about the Siege of Vicksburg in the spring/summer of 1863. A CHAIN OF THUNDER is a series of chapters from the points of view of Major General Ulysses Grant (Commanding General of the Union's Army of the Tennessee), Major General William Sherman (commanding the Union's XV Corps), Union Private Fritz Bauer (a sniper in the 17th Wisconsin, Sixth Division, XVII Corps), General Joseph Johnston (commanding the Confederate Department of the West), Lt. General John Pemberton (commanding the Confederate Army of Vicksburg, aka Army of Mississippi), and Lucy Spence (a civilian 19-year old resident of Vicksburg). The book begins with Grant's successful crossing of his army from the western to eastern shore of the Mississippi River below Vicksburg after months of futile attempts to take the city from the north, then proceeds to adequately summarize the capture of Mississippi's capital, Jackson, and the decisive pre-siege Battle of Champion Hill (most excellently described in Timothy Smith's Champion Hill: Decisive Battle for Vicksburg). The core of A CHAIN OF THUNDER revolves around Grant's siege of Vicksburg and its effect on the city's military defenders and civilian population. The excellence of Jeff Shaara's writing skills need no additional adulation from me. His various historical novels based on America's Civil War (and other wars) are held in the highest esteem. The value, at least to me, of this particular volume lies in its description of the siege assault on Vicksburg's fortifications, which is so different in nature and pace from other major battles of the Civil War that raged in furious movement over the terrain of the moment and lasted perhaps two or three days at most. Grant's pick and shovel attack on Vicksburg, necessary after failed frontal strikes, is a gritty and brutal affair for both sides that is, for the reader, illustrative of the tactic. It presages Grant's nine months of trench warfare against the Virginia city of Petersburg in 1864-1865 (described as part of Shaara's novel The Last Full Measure: A Novel of the Civil War (Civil War Trilogy)). A CHAIN OF THUNDER includes fourteen eminently useful maps (though none are as good as the best Civil War battle maps I've ever come across, those in the aforementioned CHAMPION HILL). This series on the western war concludes with The Smoke at Dawn:; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: San Francisco Night: The 6th Jack Nightingale Supernatural Thriller; Author: Visit Amazon's Stephen Leather Page; Review: "If you're going to San Francisco Be sure to wear some flowers in your hair If you're going to San Francisco You're gonna meet some gentle people there" - lyrics from the 1967 song SAN FRANCISCO In SAN FRANCISCO NIGHT by Stephen Leather, former-London cop and now-private detective Jack Nightingale elbows his way into the epicenter of all that is bizarre and perverted (but, hey, always politically correct!) in the United States, i.e. California, and more specifically, San Francisco. Indeed, the Dark Side forces he faces there make his previous five full-length adventures back home in Merrie Olde England seem like just mucking about on the periphery of the demon world. Here, Jack is on a mission for the mysterious occultist Joshua Wainright, who can be counted upon at least once every book to invite Nightingale aboard his private jet for drinks and a chin-wag. In SAN FRANCISCO NIGHT, Joshua is using Jack to hopefully bring down an extremely nasty, ungentle group of devil worshipers who self-style themselves as The Apostles and seem to be cavorting dangerously close to the San Andreas Fault. As one reads through this thriller, one might be tempted to infer that Nightingale's confrontation with Evil this time around is, or will prove to be, epic. And it is, up to a point, and still deserves four stars as an above-average yarn. After reading to the end, however, I was regrettably left with the nagging feeling that author Stephen Leather left something on the table. The conclusion didn't seem to me as apocalyptic as it potentially promised; it seemed perhaps rushed. And, since one of my favorite characters in the series is the demon Proserpine - always appearing as a Goth girl with her pet collie - and with whom Jack seems to have a chary need/hate relationship, I felt her one visitation here was cursory and pretty much an afterthought. I thought at the end she should've at least given Nightingale a high five for his efforts. Indeed, it's to savor the all too infrequent interactions between Jack and Proserpine that I'll continue to pay attention.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Gulp: Adventures on the Alimentary Canal; Author: Visit Amazon's Mary Roach Page; Review: "You will occasionally not believe me, but my aim is not to disgust. I have tried, in my way, to exercise restraint ... I don't want you to say, 'This is gross.' I want you to say, 'I thought this would be gross, but it's really interesting.' Okay, and maybe a little gross." - Author Mary Roach, in the Introduction to GULP "A few inmates glance over as we cross the prison yard, but most ignore us. I am really, I think to myself, getting old." - Author Mary Roach, while at Avenal State Prison to interview an inmate about intra-rectal smuggling "Rural Sudanese eat fermented (that is decomposing) caterpillar, frog, and, less proteinaceously, heifer urine. Yet one more reason tourism has been slow to catch on in the Sudan." - from GULP Once again with GULP, pop-science author Mary Roach demonstrates a lively curiosity for the world around her and an ability to share with her readers what she discovers to satisfy the itch for knowledge. Her previous works, Packing for Mars: The Curious Science of Life in the Void,Bonk: The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex,Spook: Science Tackles the Afterlife, and Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers, have delighted as well as educated. Mary and Bill Bryson (of such as A Short History of Nearly Everything,Notes from a Small Island,At Home: A Short History of Private Life, and The Mother Tongue - English And How It Got That Way) are national treasures whose books I will read anytime, anywhere. GULP features "adventures on the alimentary canal." Thus, Roach could've started on either the input or output end, and she (perhaps predictably) chose the former. (And perhaps an artistic rendering of the input orifice on the front cover was more agreeable to the publisher than the alternative, you think?) Thus, she begins with discussions about the sensation of taste and its determinants, the type and function of saliva, the mechanics of chewing, the chemistry of digestion, and the fate of food swallowed alive. Eventually, she moves on to the end of the canal below the stomach, where she devotes what might appear to be an inordinate amount of text space to flatulence, constipation, and the wide variety of foreign objects found to have been inserted rectally. Our Mary does appear unseemly fascinated by that last bit. Hmm. As I've stated in my reviews of the author's previous books, she has a flair for taking her research and subjects seriously, but not too seriously - as indicated by the verbal equivalents of a raised eyebrow and wink. I like the fact that she sees a certain level of absurdity in the human condition and science's endeavors and accomplishments; it's what makes her one of my very favorite writers.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Third Bullet (Bob Lee Swagger); Author: Visit Amazon's Stephen Hunter Page; Review: "A shim is turned out in a gunsmith's shop on a lathe as an insert to take out the play between two parts of a system that were meant to fit tightly together but don't ... Did Oswald realize he needed a shim on his rifle? ... It's really pretty simple: No shim, no shot. And if Lee Harvey Oswald didn't make that (third) shot, it means someone else did. And that means someone got away with murder." - author Stephen Hunter from "The Shim's Tale" in THE THIRD BULLET "... in all the years and against all investigation and attempts to comprehend, in all the theories, in the three-thousand-odd books by clowns of various mispersuasion, no one has ever come close to penetrating our small, tight, highly professional conspiracy. Until now." - Hugh Meachum, a key fictional character in THE THIRD BULLET "Readers should be assured that I've made a good-faith effort to play fair by the data established in 'The Warren Commission Report' ... In my effort to construct a legitimate alternative narrative to the WC, I alter no known facts in order to make my argument tighter. I do reserve the novelist's right to reinterpret motive and reason." - author Stephen Hunter from "A Note on Method" in THE THIRD BULLET Author Stephen Hunter is a "gun guy." In this Bob Lee Swagger thriller, Hunter has Swagger, the ultimate gun guy, focus on the third bullet fired during the JFK assassination in Dallas - the bullet that took off the top of the President's head. (See the slowed-down and enhanced Zapruder film on the Web to appreciate the violence of the hit.) It's Swagger's (i.e. Hunter's) conclusion that, even if Lee Harvey Oswald was lucky and talented enough to make that third shot, the junk rifle he used - in combination with the cheap, poorly attached scope requiring a shim - wasn't engineered for the task for reasons clearly explained in the novel. Thus, there was a second shooter, and Bob Lee expends all the energy his sixty-six year old body can muster to lure him from hiding. I suppose if Hunter is in any way self-deprecating, he might remark that THE THIRD BULLET is one more added to "the three-thousand-odd books by clowns of various mispersuasion" propounding one wild-eyed assassination conspiracy theory or another. That said, he has created here what seems to me to be an ingenious and credible tale based on solid guns and ammo research that provides food for thought especially if, at this late date, you care one way or another who (really) killed Kennedy. As a Bob Lee Swagger thriller, I suspect (because I've only read one previous) that it's one of the author's best. I look forward to the newest adventure I have on my shelf, Sniper's Honor: A Bob Lee Swagger Novel by Hunter, Stephen (2014) Hardcover. At the beginning of the book, the plot has a writer, also a "gun guy," who's apparently on the trail of the same conspiracy that later engages Swagger, murdered by a contract killer because; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: For Love of the Game: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Michael Shaara Page; Review: Billy Chapel is a major league baseball pitcher, a 17-year veteran, perhaps one of the bet to ever throw a fastball. Here, in Michael Shaaras FOR LOVE OF THE GAME, its the second-to-last game of the regular schedule one to be played against the Yankees. The Bronx Bombers are on the verge of winning a play-off spot and Billy is penciled into the line-up against them even though his own dismal team lost its chance at a post-season berth early on in the schedule. Only hours before the first pitch, Chapels professional and personal lives sustain potentially psychologically crippling blows. The temptation for him is to just quit and return home to the mountains of Colorado. Back in the 60s when I was a teenager, I followed every game of the Los Angeles Dodgers, ideally on my transistor radio small enough to dangle from the handlebars of my Schwinn. My heroes were Dandy Sandy Koufax and Don The Big D Drysdale. (Yes, there could then be, and were, heroes.) And if the two pitched back to back in a Sunday double-header, OMG! I remember Vin Scullys broadcast of the last inning of Sandys perfect game against the Cubs on September 9, 1965 as if it was yesterday. It was after lights-out at the private, boarding high school I attended and I had to discreetly listen under the covers. Yes! I later lost interest in pro baseball when I entered my twenties and started working for a living; the enormous sums the premier players hold-out for don't help me meet my budget. And, eventually, exposure to real life rubs the polish off all ones heroes of whatever ilk. But enough of my banal experiences. Lets return to FOR LOVE OF THE GAME. Much of the books narrative is fueled by what goes on inside Billys head as he deals with the challenges of game day. What results is a story that, while bringing back a memory of my previous dedication to the game - especially as it involves a pitcher - also defines what it means to be a professional as the term applies to any career choice. FOR LOVE OF THE GAME is an evocative, poignant parable about what it means to have reached grown-up status in life. At a brief 152 pages, its a little gem.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Duty to the Dead: A Bess Crawford Mystery (Bess Crawford Mysteries); Author: Visit Amazon's Charles Todd Page; Review: Billed as a Bess Crawford Mystery, Bess, the daughter of a retired British Army regimental colonel, is here in A DUTY TO THE DEAD a nurse ministering to wounded Tommies during World War One. She herself suffers a broken arm while returning home on His Majestys Hospital Ship Britannic when its sunk, by either mine or torpedo, off the Greek island of Kea on November 21, 1916. The loss of the Britannic is an historical fact, not fiction, and the (apparently) accurate description of its sinking in this novel is perhaps the books strongest point. While convalescing from her injury back home while awaiting new orders back to the front, she sets off to keep a deathbed promise made to a former patient, Arthur Graham, to deliver a message to his brother Jonathan residing in Kent. Her good deed embroils her in the Graham familys sordid secret, which involves another adult brother confined to an insane asylum Im gleeful that advocates of political correctness will be aghast at the term for the messy murder of a servant ostensibly committed many years before. The thing is, the circumstances surrounding the Grahams Big Secret seemed unnecessarily complicated a horrible muddle, really about which the ending may leave the reader with a slight headache. And, as has been previously mentioned in one of the novels infrequent unfavorable reviews, the main characters are a lot for which its difficult to have sympathy. As for Bess, I just wanted to shake her vigorously and send her packing back to her father, or the trenches in France, or just anywhere but Kent. For me, A DUTY TO THE DEAD wasn't a total 1 or 2-star loss. Theres the aforementioned slice of history about the Britannic. The tale was otherwise set in England, which has been my most favored destination over the past four decades. And the minor characters Simon Brandon and Aunt Melinda were engaging simply because they showed good sense. Simon was Colonel Crawfords regimental sergeant major, who stayed in the latters employ after he retired, and Melinda is the Colonels sister. I enjoyed the infrequent appearances of both. This is the first Bess Crawford mystery by Charles Todd that Ive had the occasion to read. It was a birthday present, actually, and Im feeling a little guilty that Im not compelled to read another. But thank you, my friend, for gifting it. Anyway, Im leaving the rest of the Bess Crawford adventures for others to enjoy.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Closed Doors; Author: Visit Amazon's Lisa O'Donnell Page; Review: Alice looks dirty and so I call her Dirty Alice, but not to her face, behind her back. Michael Murray, CLOSED DOORS, page 2 Later Alice gets comfy in the snow and looks to the stars. Shes wearing a purple jacket and a blue hat. Her mittens are red and her face is pink and I can see two little ponytails one on each side of her head. She even isn't a little bit dirty Shes still stupid, but for no reason at all I cant stop looking at her cheeks. Theyre so pink and warm Michael Murray, CLOSED DOORS And later still I see Dirty Alice at her window and shes looking right at me. She gives me two fingers and then disappears behind the curtain. God, I hate her. Michael Murray, CLOSED DOORS Author Lisa ODonnells hometown was Rothesay on the Scottish Isle of Bute, and she makes the town of roughly 5,000 the setting for her coming-of-age story CLOSED DOORS. The narrative is told in the first person by Michael Murray, Lisas 11-year old protagonist. Michael lives with his father (Da), mother (Ma), and fathers mother (Granny). They live across the street from the McFaddens, home of Alice McFadden (Dirty Alice). Michael listens at closed doors as the grown-ups talk, often cryptically. But, though the process is fitful and awkward, he learns things, especially after his Ma is ostensibly confronted by a flasher in the park and injured when she runs away. The turmoil into which this event immerses the family is the central conflict of the story, though theres also the ongoing low-key battle between Michael and his bte noire, Dirty Alice. This subplot is the one that provides the novels considerable charm. CLOSED DOORS is an immensely satisfying tale of intra-tribal relationships and shifting alliances, the tribe being the Murray family and their circle of neighbors. The fact that its set in Scotland, one of my personal favorite places, doesnt hurt. CLOSED DOORS is lush with the conditions of being Human.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Black Ops: The 12th Spider Shepherd Thriller (Spider Shephard); Author: Visit Amazon's Stephen Leather Page; Review: Dan Shepherd, whiter than white, always wearing his heart on his sleeve, always taking the moral high ground. You think I don't know, Spider? You think I don't know what you did? You work for me, Spider. Youve worked for me for a long time. I know everything there is to know about you. Every breath you take, every move you make, every bond you break. Charlie Button, to Spider Shepherd BLACK OPS is perhaps Stephen Leathers most ambitious Dan Spider Shepherd potboiler to date. The books summary on the inside of the jacket hints at what proves to be two main plots, a sub plot, and a sub-sub plot. And one of the main plots doesnt feature Shepherd at all but Lex Harper, the formers spotter from his days as an SAS sniper in Afghanistan, who does the occasional Dark Side odd job for Charlie Button, Spiders MI5 boss. BLACK OPS could easily be two separate books, one starring Shepherd and one starring Harper. Its time the latter got his own series, and I have it on rock solid authority that a thriller pairing Charlie and Lex is just over the horizon. To be honest, I thought Stephen might have overreached himself this time, but he manages to weave all the threads together into a smashingly good read. And its good to see that Shepherds 16-year old son Liam is proving to be problematic for his old Da and becoming more than just set dressing. Bloody kids these days. All ought to serve a tour in the SAS to set em straight, yeah? I'd still like to think that Dan and Charlie will someday get married in St. Paul's Cathedral to a thunderous symphonic performance of Elgar's "Nimrod" and then settle down in Luton to raise little spies for Queen, the (remnants of) Empire, and St. George, but the two evidently still have a distance to travel together making the Western world safe for its citizenry before settling down. This series can only get better if Leather doesnt suffer burn-out.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Agent Runner; Author: Visit Amazon's Simon Conway Page; Review: "... but who wants tidy?" - Jonah, in THE AGENT RUNNER "After four years of secret meetings, they behaved towards each other with the sly hostility of a long-married couple." - from THE AGENT RUNNER The Great Game historically refers to the century-long conflict beginning in 1813 between the British Empire and Russia over control of Central Asia, and particularly Afghanistan, which Britain sought to establish as a buffer between Russia and India, which Russia coveted. Embedded in The Great Game were the First, Second, and Third Anglo-Afghan Wars which caused no end of aggravation for the Empire. The United Kingdom is still involved in the region, principally as an ally of the United States in their joint war against al-Qaeda entrenched in the mountains between Afghanistan and Pakistan and, most annoyingly, in that part of the latter known as the "tribal areas". You would think Pakistan would be an ally to the Anglo-Americans. You would think. In THE AGENT RUNNER by Simon Conway, the notion is put forward that since Pakistan doesn't want Afghanistan aligned with India, the preference of some powerful Pakistanis may be to keep the Afghans in turmoil by keeping al-Qaeda and the Taliban in play. At least, in this novel, that's the approach of a principle character, Major General Avid Khan of Pakistan's ISI (Inter-Services Intelligence). In previous spy thrillers by Conway, A Loyal Spy and Rage, the reader was introduced to the MI6 operative Jonah Said, of Black and Palestinian heritage (and born in California, no less). Here, in THE AGENT RUNNER, the author's edgy protagonist and next-in-line MI6 hero is Edward Malik of Asian and Muslim background. The United Kingdom has gone multicultural and its spies perhaps don't even drink martini cocktails anymore, shaken or stirred. What would "M" think? Ed is an agent runner whose asset of the moment is Tariq Mahoon informing from within the ISI. But Tariq is sacrificed to the Pakistani intelligence agency by the Americans in their single-minded zeal to capture Osama bin Laden, and now Malik wants revenge against the ISI officer that summarily executed him. That's after physically assaulting the CIA's Head-of-Station in Kabul. A dodgy career move, that. Jonah appears occasionally in THE AGENT RUNNER as an aide to Samantha Burns ("Queen Bee"), the MI6 mandarin moving the pawns about the board in this deliciously complex and Machiavellian story of personal manipulation, betrayal and, ostensibly, tidying-up. But the story is Ed's show and an engrossing debut for the character. Conway's novels to date, including this one, remind me of those by Gerald Seymour in that a win arrived at by the last page isn't assured or clear cut. Rather, the winner is the one who comes out the least damaged. That, to me, is more like real life and will likely make me a reader of anything the author pens in the future.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Pluto Files: The Rise and Fall of America's Favorite Planet; Author: Visit Amazon's Neil deGrasse Tyson Page; Review: "FOOFARAW: a disturbance or to-do over a trifle" - from the Merriam-Webster on-line dictionary "Science is not a democracy" - from THE PLUTO FILES The recent fly-by of Pluto by the New Horizons spacecraft rekindled whatever residual interest remained in me from growing up in the 50s and 60s when the place was presented to impressionable minds as a cold, dark planet at the edge of the solar system about which little could be said. Ok, whatever. After all, it was the "John Carter of Mars" book series by Edgar Rice Burroughs, not "John Carter of Pluto." So, for me, an avid reader even back then, it was hard to care. In May 1996, astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, author of THE PLUTO FILES, was formally appointed Director of the Hayden Planetarium in New York City. One of his first responsibilities was to serve as the project scientist for the design and construction of the Rose Center for Earth and Space, the home of a refurbished and re-conceived planetarium. When it opened in February 2000, the Rose Center presented the objects in our Solar System as families of objects with similar properties. The traditional "planets" weren't counted-up as such, and Pluto was relegated to the Kuiper Belt beyond Neptune as a "trans-Neptunian" ice ball with a de-emphasized planetary status. The fact of this downgrade was reported by the New York Times in January 2001 and all astrophysical hell broke loose. Although the Center's final design was a committee decision, Tyson found himself at the sharp point of the excoriation for Pluto's relegation to the celestial doghouse. THE PLUTO FILES is Neil's narrative of the uncomfortable experience and appraisal of the controversy told against the backstory of Pluto's discovery in 1930 by an American amateur astronomer and the subsequent hold that world (as the "ninth planet") achieved on the United States' communal psyche. From a previous reading of the Tyson's Death by Black Hole: And Other Cosmic Quandaries, I knew the author to be erudite, lucid, literate, and congenial. THE PLUTO FILES exhibits these traits as well as a wry humor. All in conjunction make for an enormously appealing read. Perhaps the author's biggest service in writing this book is to provide a telling example of the reality that scientists in any field, ostensibly dealing with the observable traits and facts of our physical universe, will fight like cats in a sack over ego-connected "truths" about which they differ. That can be, in itself, an entertaining blood sport for the non-aligned observer. For that reason, THE PLUTO FILES is praiseworthy entertainment. Pluto is what it is and where it is regardless of all the fuss. Since these two facts do nothing to help me perform my job, pay my bills, or deal with encroaching, age-related health maladies, I personally don't have a dog in the fight for calling it a planet, an ice-ball, or (in deference to our three cats) a cosmic fur ball. And I suspect that a survey of all U.S. citizens on the question would demonstrate a plurality of "Don't Care."; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Personal; Author: Visit Amazon's Lee Child Page; Review: "Sir, madam, you need the red door, I believe." from PERSONAL, the uniformed steward as Reacher and Miss Nice disembark from a Royal Air Force Gulfstream Its not the same with a sniper out here. from PERSONAL In the long progression of full-length Jack Reacher thrillers by Lee Child, PERSONAL is, in my estimation, one of the best. Here, a very long-distance sniper's shot almost takes down the President of France; only bullet-proof glass saves his life. One among the small number of suspects thought capable of such marksmanship skill is an ex-U.S. Special Forces soldier, John Kott, sent to a 15-year stint in the brig by ex-Army M.P. Reacher back in the day. It's now sixteen years later and Kott is out and thought to be preparing to shoot again at an upcoming G8 summit in London. Jack is persuaded to foil the plot and take Kott down - for good. But John's malicious intent is more than it seems on the surface; it's personal. Unusual for a Reacher adventure, our hero is assigned a constant side-kick, Casey Nice, which is a um, nice touch. Casey is a CIA operative on temp loan to the State Department. Or is it the other way around? It's complicated. Once Jack and Casey hit the ground in London, there's the shadowy Welshman, Bennett, with an unpronounceable first name. Bennett is perhaps MI6. Or maybe SAS. It's complicated. Then there's Little Joey, most assuredly the physically biggest Bad Guy Reacher has ever gone up against. If the two face-off in hand-to-hand combat, it could be a close-run thing for our Jack. But the best feature of the PERSONAL story line is watching Reacher perceive and deduce the identity of the master puppeteer behind the intrigue to arrive at a conclusion that the reader wouldn't expect though all the clues are there to see beginning with the ostensible mission of the 50-caliber bullet let fly at the French President and the time it took to reach its target. The reader will just be having too much fun going with the flow of the story to give them much thought. That, to me, is indicative of a good read.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Corporal's Wife; Author: Visit Amazon's Gerald Seymour Page; Review: 'I thought that if (Farideh) was brought out of Iran she would be far from everything she knew and would come back to me, that I would be her rock. It was to win her that I asked you to bring her. The hope that she would learn here to love me. He held back the tears. the corporal, in THE CORPORALS WIFE "Play up! Play up! And play the game!" - Victorian era writer Sir Henry Newbolt Mehrak is a corporal in the shadowy al-Qods brigade of Irans Revolutionary Guard and the permanent driver assigned to the powerful Brigadier Reza Joyberi, who has oversight responsibilities over his countrys nuclear program. Mehrak has seen and heard a lot. So, when hes caught in an MI6 honey trap in Dubai after completing a personal errand for the Brigadier, the British Secret Service realizes theyve ensnared an information source valuable enough to buy them a seat at the head table with the American and Israeli intelligence agencies. The corporal is spirited off to a safe house in Austria where hes tended to by an interrogator and three minders. Shortly thereafter, Mehrak broods about the state of his marriage with Farideh, who detests him. Perhaps, he thinks, he can patch things up if she joins him. Thus, the ultimatum to his MI6 handlers: If I cannot have my wife, I will go back. As an information source, Mehrak is top drawer, so the mandarin on the Iran Desk at Vauxhall Cross, correctly fearing that Farideh might soon be arrested, mounts a shoot-from-the-hip extraction of her from Tehran. Farideh means precious. In common with all other Gerald Seymour thrillers, the plot of THE CORPORALS WIFE is both topically relevant with contemporary global conflicts or areas of tension and populated with a large cast of deftly portrayed characters, none of whom would fall into the popular super-hero status but are, for the most part, simple soldiers or mercenaries, mid-level government or law enforcement functionaries, or just ordinary working folks, all caught up in a bad spot. Indeed, in the main cast list of about a dozen in THE CORPORALS WIFE, the chief male protagonist is Zach Becket, an English Midlands construction laborer who also happens to be of Persian descent and phenomenally talented with Farsi and who attracts the attention of the MI6 Iran Desk when suddenly needing somebody to have a go at scoring one for Queen, country and St. George. This novel also perpetuates the authors apparent worldview that a decisive win in any international intrigue is a nebulous concept and the outcome is more apt to be a Pyrrhic victory or a near draw for both sides. THE CORPORALS WIFE exhibits this characteristic of Seymours plotting more than in most of his past releases, I think. One certain outcome here, however, is that General George Pattons words all glory is fleeting are realized. In real life, one needs to look no further than the abrupt downfall of U.S. General David Petraeus as an abject example. My only complaint with THE CORPORALS WIFE is perhaps; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Travels with My Donkey: One Man and His Ass on a Pilgrimage to Santiago; Author: Visit Amazon's Tim Moore Page; Review: "Shirley MacLaine's The Camino: A Journey of the Spirit, loosely billed as an account of her walk from St. Jean to Santiago ... is a book so mad it howls at the moon, a book that with any name on its cover but that of a Hollywood legend would have had orderlies with soft, placatory smiles knocking on the author's door ... Just as I'd envy any full-on Christians I'd meet for their appealing belief in an eternal paradise, so, in a less straightforward fashion, I envied Shirley: an understanding of one's destiny in life, enhanced etheric vibrations in the brain, the multidimensional presence of gnomes, fairies and trolls - what's not to like?" - from TRAVELS WITH MY DONKEY "No man can ever have felt more proud of a donkey as I did watching Shinto crap atop the Cruz de Ferro. It was, indeed, his pilgrimage too." - from TRAVELS WITH MY DONKEY, as the author and Shinto stand atop the famous pilgrimage milestone In 2004, for no particular reason related to piety, author Tim Moore decided to make the venerable east to west pilgrimage across the width of northern Spain starting at Valcarlos and ending at Santiago de Campostela at the enshrined (supposed) remains of the apostle Saint James. Not wishing to carry his stuff all 466 miles, Moore decides to pack it in with a donkey. Thus Shinto, an ultimately endearing 200 kilogram package of obstinacy, phobias, and more or less stoic forbearance. The books biggest flaw is the lack of any photos - especially photos of "Shints" - even though the author makes multiple references to pictures taken. I had to go to the Web to retrieve a color snap of Tim and his faithful companion which I printed, trimmed, and pasted into the book for the benefit of its next owner. Shinto bears little resemblance to the donkey portrayed on the volume's front cover. As a lapsed Catholic and in the face of life's day-to-day responsibilities, Moore's 41-day trudge seemed an enormous waste of time. However, that doesn't prevent a feeling of reluctant admiration for one who'd actually do it, especially while pushing, pulling, and cajoling livestock all the way. After all, Tim produced an engaging and humorous narrative about the experience which provided several days of chuckles. And I did appreciate the author's comments about Shirley MacLaine.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Battle of Midway (Pivotal Moments in American History); Author: Visit Amazon's Craig L. Symonds Page; Review: "There (at the rendezvous 'Point Luck'), the American carriers would be on the flank of the Kido Butai as it approached. Ironically, it was very near the spot where the Japanese commander of the Red Team during the shipboard War Games at Hashirajima had put them, and where (the games' chief judge) Rear Admiral Ugaki Matome had insisted they could never be." - from THE BATTLE OF MIDWAY "In hindsight, it is evident that the course of the war - and with it the course of history - had tilted on the fulcrum of the Battle of Midway." - from THE BATTLE OF MIDWAY "Were we better than the Japanese, or just luckier?" - Admiral Chester Nimitz (Henry Fonda), at the conclusion of the 1976 film Midway In some ways, the book's title THE BATTLE OF MIDWAY by Craig Symonds is a little misleading as the Pacific Ocean carrier battle of June 1942 under examination doesn't seriously begin until page 218, well more than halfway through the volume's narrative text. But make no mistake, it's the backstory occupying the first couple hundred pages that makes the whole a superlative work of military history. Now I feel I have as complete an understanding of the battle and what led up to it as a casual student of World War II could hope to have. The book (necessarily) begins with the December 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor by the Kido Butai, the Japanese Navy's mobile carrier force commanded by Admiral Yamamoto, i.e. the effect this attack had on the fighting assets subsequently available to the U.S. Navy. Moving on in examining the next six months leading to the Midway confrontation, Symonds considers the nature and strategic bent of the two opposing navies, their commanders, their ships and planes, the men that flew the latter, and the preliminary skirmishes (if they can be called such): the American carrier raids on the Marshalls and Gilberts islands in February 1942 and the Battle of the Coral Sea in May 1942. Once the main act gets underway and evolves to a conclusion that was remarkably different than what the Japanese planners had envisioned, the reader can perhaps not but be struck by the apparent triviality of circumstances which were key to the outcome of the battle, e.g. the delayed take-off of a Japanese scout plane and the wake generated by a Japanese destroyer as it proceeded at flank speed to catch up with its task force; that old saw about the loss of a horseshoe nail to the survival of a kingdom comes to mind. The maneuvers of opposing armies across a landscape relative to rivers, towns, hills, or enemy entrenchments are simple to describe and map compared to ship and plane movements across a featureless ocean. One of the strengths of the BATTLE OF MIDWAY narrative is the author's skill at doing just that. At no time was I confused. The thirteen included maps are clearly rendered and invaluable. There were two other aspects of the chronicle that stood out for me, though I doubt that; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sniper's Honor: A Bob Lee Swagger Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Stephen Hunter Page; Review: " I may be old, but I'm still who I always was. I'm the sniper." - Bob Lee Swagger "Everyone loves to hate the Nazis, bad boys of a hundred thousand silly plots." - from SNIPER'S HONOR (with an emphasis on "silly") So, here in SNIPER'S HONOR by Stephen Hunter, we have his ex-Marine sniper uber hero, Bob Lee Swagger ("Bob the Nailer"), enduring old age and declining health on the front porch of his homestead in rural Idaho. Bob is bored to tears. Then he receives an attention-getting email from a Washington Post correspondent pal currently posted to Moscow which ultimately sends Swagger off on a knight-errant quest to salvage the memory of an extraordinarily gifted, female, Red Army sniper, Ludmilla Petrova, who disappeared without a trace in the closing stages of World War II on the Eastern Front. It doesn't hurt that an existing photo of the woman reveals her to have been blonde and gorgeous rather than one who could pull a Five Year Plan tractor from the mud without horses. Sniper's honor be damned; perhaps old Bob the Nailer is just smitten. You think? The bulk of the story takes place in flashback as the reader follows Mili's heroic wartime career shooting Nazis, which is unbelievable and, as the basis for a Bob Lee Swagger adventure, patently ridiculous. Of course, the author also has to endanger his hero in the here and now, and therefore introduces an even sillier subplot involving mysterious platinum purchases that get Mossad's shorts all in a twist. Oh, puhleeze! I haven't read more than two previous Swagger thrillers, so my acquaintance with the man in his prime is much less than other reviewers who see SNIPER'S HONOR as too undignified an end for one who has served honorably and shame on the author. But even from that relatively detached perspective, this book strikes me as something Hunter had to slop out to meet contractual obligations to the publisher rather than a work of love. If Bob Lee has to go down, then it should be in a blaze of gunfire and with a two-hankie ceremony at Arlington. Honor and a dignified exit are due even fictional superheroes.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: At Day's Close: Night in Times Past; Author: Visit Amazon's A. Roger Ekirch Page; Review: "Across the preindustrial countryside, fortified cities and towns announced the advance of darkness by ringing bells, beating drums, or blowing horns from atop watchtowers, ramparts, and church steeples. from AT DAYS CLOSE " women in general were not to stray at night. Besides compromising their own virtue, they might sully, through low intrigues, the reputations of honorable men. from AT DAYS CLOSE "Often, in preindustrial homes, iron grates and bars protected windows on the ground floor, prompting frequent comparisons with convents and gaols - 'more like prisons, observed a visitor to Madrid, 'than habitations of people at their liberty. from AT DAYS CLOSE Amid the darkness, superior storytellers spirited suggestible minds to realms of wonder, far removed from daily hardships As fires burned low, lucky listeners might be transported by a storytellers wizardry to some distant time and place. For a few precious hours, in a dim and drafty cottage, peasants too might become rich, or even lords and ladies. from AT DAYS CLOSE An absentee planter, (George) Washington expressed alarm over the extent of theft by his slaves, for which he blamed the nighttime 'frolicking of negligent overseers. from AT DAYS CLOSE To keep gnats at bay, families in the fen country of East Anglia hung lumps of cow dung at the foot of their beds from AT DAYS CLOSE Leering husbands, spouses suspected, committed adultery (in their dreams) without once leaving their sides So suspicious of his visions was (Samuel) Pepyss wife that she took to feeling his penis while he slept for signs of an erection. from AT DAYS CLOSE AT DAYS CLOSE is author Roger Ekirchs examination of that time in pre-industrial Europe between sunset and sunrise when there were no light switches to flick when the only source of illumination was a flame, i.e. a candle, flaming torch, or fire in the hearth. Divided into four parts, Ekirchs prodigiously researched book sixty-eight pages of Notes profiles nighttime as a period notable for danger and violence, as an environment that called for personal and official adaptation, as a singular interval for work and play, and as an opportunity for private reflection, prayer, love, and, ultimately, slumber either blessed or otherwise. What some might see as an esoteric topic is developed by the author into a full-fledged, scholarly, and satisfyingly lucid presentation. His only fault in the process is perhaps to belabor the point of the moment he's making with an overuse of references and quotes from his primary sources those sixty-eight pages of Notes. At times, my reaction to such an approach was to think: OK, I get it. Lets move on! Some judicious editing wouldve improved the whole, I think. Whatever the reader might think of AT DAYS CLOSE, it does indeed effectively drive home the realization that nighttime back in the day was a milieu rarely experienced by todays developed societies unless a power plant worker drops a wrench and crashes a grid, or one lives in, say, North Korea; and the reader may recall, as I do, the sung lines: "I thank the Lord for; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Falsifiers eBook; Author: Visit Amazon's Antoine Bello Page; Review: Here, in Antoine Bellos full-length novel THE FALSIFIERS, a young Icelander just graduated from college, Sliv Dartunghuver, is recruited to join the CFR, a super-secret international organization that exists to falsify historical backstories to such an unimpeachable level that they determine or influence the direction of current and future events. (The full name for CFR is never given. But, it probably doesnt matter much.) For example, one of the ostensible Big Lies was that of Laika, the dog and first animal to orbit the Earth on board a Soviet spacecraft in 1957, planted by the CFR to promote a space race between the United States and the Soviet Union. The apparent purpose of the CFR behind all its machinations is Well, that would be a spoiler wouldnt it? The thing is, why postulate the existence of such an organization at all? In the real world, governments lie about their goals and methods, political candidates misrepresent their intentions if elected, sellers distort the quality and composition of their products for easier sale, and individuals habitually present a false faade to attract or please those around them. Its already buyer beware on a mass scale. So, what else is new? The entire e-book, the equivalent of 375 pages, is a self-absorbed monologue by Sliv recording his 8-year rise through the ranks of the organization with asides about several of the CFRs more ambitious fabrications. But, its really all about Sliv. Though the plot isn't unimaginative, the storys biggest (and, for me, fatal) flaw is that I never acquired even the most miniscule regard or like for its protagonist, Dartunghuver. (And I would even question his description as a protagonist since the existence of such implies an antagonist to provide the tale with a conflict; there isn't one.) Indeed, Slivs monologue is so insufferably interminable and in need of editing that I would have been pleased had he been run over by a garbage truck and killed halfway through. As it was, I just skimmed the last 30%. The last line of THE FALSIFIERS is to be continued. OMG, please not! Back in 2012, I read a short story by Bello entitled Legends which I thought really excellent. I hope THE FALSIFIERS wasn't the result of anything I said in my review of the former. If so, I apologize.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Ghost Train To the Eastern Star; Author: PAUL Theroux; Review: Im the same too, but aged wearier, frailer, fractured, abused, weaker, shabbier, spookier. from GHOST TRAIN TO THE EASTERN STAR Delay and dirt are the realities of the most rewarding travel. from GHOST TRAIN TO THE EASTERN STAR Being on the Trans-Siberian was indeed like being on a ship, not any old ship, and not a cruise liner, but an old iron freighter plowing through a frozen sea, complete with grumpy deckhands, bad food, and an invisible captain. from GHOST TRAIN TO THE EASTERN STAR In 1973, travel writer Paul Theroux journeyed mostly by rail from London across Europe, the Middle East, India, Southeast Asia, and then back via the Trans-Siberian. Then he told us readers in our younger days all about it in The Great Railway Bazaar. Here, in GHOST TRAIN TO THE EASTERN STAR, Paul in 2006 more or less retraces the path to see how things had changed. More because some places closed to him in 1973, like North Vietnam, were now open; less because some formerly open, like Iran and Afghanistan, were now closed. And it couldn't always be by rail; occasionally he had to resort to taxi, bus, plane, or boat. His itinerary in GHOST TRAIN takes him across western, central and eastern Europe, Turkey, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar (Burma), Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Japan, then back across Russia on the Trans-Siberian. Age 65 when he undertook this epic retour of the memories of his relative youth, one can only admire his strength of purpose in doing so. Im 66, but, as much as I love to travel, I wouldnt even consider the same route because of sheer timidity. The major portion of this travel essay is comprised of his experiences in India and Indochina, bookended at the front and back by the rest of the route. Indeed, its just that portion that seems to interest the author the most and the reader is richly rewarded for this focus. The social, economic and cultural differences between Myanmar (Burma), Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam so close in proximity to one another are profound and fascinating. Thailand has always been on my Bucket List; I now feel compelled to add Vietnam, especially Hanoi. I see Theroux as I see myself an aging, regular fella with a curiosity about the world at large who, with minimal luggage that includes a couple of good books and political opinions that are perhaps justified, perhaps not, likes nothing better than to get out and see the sights. I envy him the freedom hes had in his life to do just that, and honor is due him for keeping the rest of us informed of his adventures.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Silent Enemy; Author: Tom Young; Review: When we last met the central characters of this story, Major Michael Parson and Sergeant Major Sophia Gold, it was in Tom Youngs previous book, The Mullah's Storm (A Parson and Gold Novel), set several years previous in Afghanistan. At that time, Parson was the navigator aboard a C-130 transport carrying a high-value Taliban prisoner and translator Gold that is shot down over the Hindu Kush. Parson and Gold survive the crash of the transport, but the latter is captured and tortured by the Taliban. Parson, a survivalist and a crack shot, goes to her rescue. Here in SILENT ENEMY, which again begins in Afghanistan, Gold, now an English language instructor of Afghan police personnel, sustains cracked ribs when the police HQ is Kabul is devastated by an explosion. Along with several severely injured Afghanis, shes placed aboard a C-5 Globemaster, the U.S. militarys largest air transporter, for evacuation to a medical facility in Germany. The plane is piloted by Parson, whos upgraded his skill set and job description since we first met. Shortly after achieving level flight, the C-5 receives a cryptic radio message from ground control not to descend under any circumstances. They later learn that the Taliban has claimed that all aircraft leaving Bagram air base that day had bombs placed aboard. Parson and his crew are told that at least one other transport has gone down, presumably from a bomb activated by a barometric trigger. A search of their own aircraft reveals a bomb secreted in the tail assembly with an apparent tilt-activated trigger attached externally (in addition to the presumed internal barometric trigger). I must point out here that this isn't a plot spoiler. Indeed, the explosive device is only the tip of Parsons and Golds subsequent problems. As a myriad of crises begin to accumulate for the Globemaster and its riders, one is tempted to read the pages through spread fingers with increasing dread. However, after a certain point, as the author continues to pile-on challenges for those on-board to apparently bludgeon the question What could possibly go wrong?, I simply wanted to put my head in my hands and suspend belief. I mean, really? By comparison, the troubled flight of Apollo 13 was but an inconvenienced carriage ride in Central Park. Sometimes, less is better. This is one of those times. Though I finished the book and can state categorically that it is a thriller," reaching the last page was a relief that I could move on to something on my shelf not so over-the-top. Ill just award a neutral three stars recognizing SILENT ENEMY isn't my cup of tea and leave it to other reviewers to rate it highly or not.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Lady in Gold: The Extraordinary Tale of Gustav Klimt's Masterpiece, Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer [Deckle Edge]; Author: Visit Amazon's Anne-Marie O'Connor Page; Review: "They say now Austria was a victim of the Nazis. Believe me, there were no victims. The women were throwing flowers, the church bells were ringing. They welcomed them with open arms. They were jubilant." - Maria Altmann, Adele Bloch-Bauer's niece, who pursued the return of "The Lady in Gold" portrait "Those who have heard the story of the portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer can never again see her as a 'lady in gold.' Frozen in Vienna's golden moment, Adele achieved her dream of immortality, far more than she ever could have imagined." - from THE LADY IN GOLD In 1907, the celebrated Austrian artist Gustav Klimt created a portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer, a prominent member of Vienna's Jewish high society and perhaps Klimt's lover. He entitled the painting "Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I" (as opposed to his 1912 "Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer II"). Following the annexation of Austria to Nazi Germany in 1938, Klimt's art was among that declared degenerate by the Nazis. His portraits, paintings, and drawings were appropriated or destroyed. His Jewish patrons had their assets stolen, then were driven to suicide, forced into exile, or sent to the camps. Much of Klimt's art survived World War II. The "Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I", renamed by the Nazis "The Lady in Gold" to erase its subject's Jewishness, was in the possession of Vienna's Belvedere, a former royal palace reincarnated as a national art gallery. Subsequently, Austria and the Belvedere vigorously resisted any calls for the restitution of all stolen art to its former owners, Jewish or otherwise. The 2015 film Woman in Gold starred Helen Mirren as Maria Altmann, the niece of Adele Bloch-Bauer living in Los Angeles, who successfully obliged the Austrian government to return the 1907 painting of her aunt (and four other Klimts) to the family in 2006. This book, THE LADY IN GOLD by Anne-Marie O'Connor, is essentially the comprehensive narrative back story of the movie - Klimt, his art, the Bloch-Bauer family, Adele, Maria, the effects of the 1938 Nazi Anschluss and the war years on all the story's characters who survived - as well as the fight to get the portrait returned to the Bloch-Bauer descendants and the aftermath of the restoration. As the author states on the last page of her book, those readers of it who have seen or will see the "Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I" will now not see that artwork (currently on display in New York City's Neue Galerie) from the same perspective. Having viewed the film and now read this book, I cannot but admire the author's thoroughness in telling the background to the former. It is, perhaps, too thorough. The ripples of Klimt's artwork touched many peripheral characters in the Bloch-Bauer family and unrelated contemporaries, and O'Connor didn't hesitate to include them in the narrative. As the war years progressed and the experiences of these individuals were portrayed, my reaction was: "Who ARE these people?" In any case, they were quickly and easily forgotten as I followed the path of the "Lady in Gold" portrait. Thus, the; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Knife: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Ross Ritchell Page; Review: Shaw knows there will always be (high value targets) to chase until they killed them all, and they never will. Never could. So he can go on chasing them forever and they will him until his ghosts have all left him. And they never will. Hed rather charge among them than flee only to be overrun in the end. the last lines of THE KNIFE Six years ago, I read a novel about the Vietnam War, Matterhorn: A Novel of the Vietnam War. It was superb, though I couldn't properly say it was the best Id ever read because that implies Id read others, and I hadnt (or at least none that were memorable). The same applies here for the first work by author Ross Ritchell, THE KNIFE, about the war in Afghanistan. Ross embeds us into a squad of military special operatives: Shaw, Hagan, Massey, Dalonna, Cooke. Theyre on deployment to Afghanistan as part of a larger unit whose mission is to seek out and kill high value targets (HVT) on surgical strikes. Shaw is the squad leader. The military branch of Shaws squad goes unidentified, and nobodys rank is given even that of the overall Commanding Officer to provide a clue. But Ritchell was a former member of the U.S. Special Operations Command, which includes units of all branches (Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force), and so it doesnt make that much difference to the story. However, one can perhaps safely assume they're Army. Other reviewers have criticized THE KNIFE as being amateurishly written. Oh, puhleeze! Give the author a break; its his first novel. Perhaps they don't understand the concept of Learning Curve. In any case, I don't agree with that assessment. I was engaged by the tale from first page to last without any qualifiers. By now, it should be understood that uniformed men in the front trenches don't fight for Mom, the flag, and apple pie (or whatever is the national dessert of relevance). Rather, they fight for each other the band of brothers. I believe this to be the theme of THE KNIFE, the concept which Ross is trying to communicate. Its not about the military actions. Its not plot driven. Its character driven in the aggregate. Ritchell lodges the reader into Shaws squad, where we learn about each member and the relationships that tie them together as a unit. So, as the plot unfolds, we will then understand the nature and impact of its conclusion. If Ritchell pens another book, Im in.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Stuff Matters: Exploring the Marvelous Materials That Shape Our Man-Made World; Author: Visit Amazon's Mark Miodownik Page; Review: As I stood on a train bleeding from what would later be classified as a thirteen-centimeter stab wound, I wondered what to do (The incident) was the birth of my obsession with materials starting with steel. from STUFF MATTERS As a schoolboy in 1985, STUFF MATTERS author Mark Miodownik was stabbed while in the London Tube by an assailant wielding a razor blade. Later, seeing a razors edge glinting in the fluorescent lights of the local police station, Mark was launched into a life-defining raptness with the make-up of Stuff. He became a materials scientist. In the eleven chapters of this book in the popular science genre, the author delves into the nature of steel, paper, concrete, chocolate, aerogel, nitrocellulose plastic, glass, carbon, ceramic, and engineered body part replacements the lack of which would put Man back into the Stone Age. Mark shares his vast knowledge in an engaging and informal style. The book includes several of his hand-sketched drawings such as he might produce on a cocktail napkin over a pint with you in a pub near his South Bank home in London. Only once does he try too hard; when his discussion of nitrocellulose is presented as a film screenplay. Perhaps he shouldnt give up his day job just yet. For me, the best thing about popular science presentations, including STUFF MATTERS, is that I learn cool facts that will stay with me. For instance, I always thought concrete dried. But it actually traps all the internal water as it cures, i.e. when the calcium silicate fibrils in the cement crystalize. And the authors description of the classic way in which porcelain tea cups are produced was more fascinating than it seems it should be. Its all good stuff.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: New York Night: The 7th Jack Nightingale Supernatural Thriller; Author: Visit Amazon's Stephen Leather Page; Review: As he accelerated down the driveway he saw a figure standing off to the left. Two figures. A girl dressed all in black and, standing by her side, a black and white collie. The girl blew Nightingale a kiss as he drove by but when he looked in the rearview mirror there was nobody there. the last lines of NEW YORK NIGHT Fresh off a Dark Side trouble-shooting assignment on the U.S. West Coast (in the last installment of the series, San Francisco Night: The 6th Jack Nightingale Supernatural Thriller) for his rich occultist pal Joshua Wainright, ex-London cop Jack Nightingale is inserted into New York City by the former on a new mission to investigate a couple of very grisly murders with devilish overtones. One begins to sense a pattern to Jacks adventures. One question that now only occurs to me is: What side is Wainright on? Hes apparently a Satanist wishing to keep the excesses of that belief system under wraps and/or under control. Doesnt that make him an accessory? Despite the predictability that Joshua flying in on his private jet to give Nightingale his latest assignment imparts to the plot, NEW YORK NIGHT at least has author Stephen Leathers hero achieving an escalating level of conflict with diabolical beings. The three here in this story are especially nasty. The pressure on Leather, of course, is to continue ramping up the stakes in future episodes. At some point, Nightingale is going to have to confront Lucifer himself, perhaps in a Motel 6 in Tupelo. TUPELO NIGHT rolls off the tongue, don't you think? Another question comes to mind. If Jack can summon demons at the drop of a hat with some chalk, a few candles, and some incense, how come he cant whistle up a couple of Archangels Michael and Raphael, perhaps to help him kick demonic butt? Are the members of the Heavenly Host too busy blowing trumpets around the throne of the Big Guy? The best part of this series continues to be Jacks evolving relationship with Proserpine. Eventually, I suspect, the two will be drinking buddies and the former will be feeding canine treats to her collie. Good doggie!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: A Century of Great Western Stories-An Anthology of Western Fiction; Author: Visit Amazon's John Jakes Page; Review: My Mom was an avid reader all her life and, in later life, acquired a taste for westerns, particularly those by Louis LAmour. To broaden her horizons, I purchased for her A CENTURY OF GREAT WESTERN STORIES. Unfortunately, her last years were spent confined to a bed and she lost all interest in or energy for reading inasmuch as she was constantly drowsing or sleeping under pain medication, so this volume went unread. Salvaged from her personal effects, I figured I owed it to her memory to read A CENTURY OF GREAT WESTERN STORIES even though Ive never been much attracted to the written genre. Here, in 525 pages encompassing thirty chapters, the reader meets the wide panoply of characters that inhabit Western Fiction: lawman, gunslinger, gambler, mountain man, miner, homesteader, rancher, cowpoke, bandit, Indian warrior. Not so unexpectedly, or at least it shouldnt be, a couple of them are women. That said, however, the one stereotyped character we don't meet is the frontier prostitute (with the proverbial heart of gold); that perhaps is surprising since the male testosterone levels in rough and tumble mining towns and newly established cattle hubs discouraged the influx of respectable women and left a vacuum for the soiled doves to fill. Back in the 50s and early 60s when I was a lad, television westerns were pervasive. Rawhide: The Complete Series was my favorite. Then, Rowdy Yates (Clint Eastwood) graduated to Silver Screen spaghetti westerns and I was vastly entertained. Even Henry Fonda did them. In the past couple of decades, movie westerns seem to have fallen out of relative favor notwithstanding the infrequent appearance of such greats as Lonesome Dove,Unforgiven,Geronimo - An American Legend, and Open Range and such lesser lights as Tombstone,Wyatt Earp, and The Quick and the Dead. Against this background, A CENTURY OF GREAT WESTERN STORIES recalls to the Big Screen of my mind the allure of the genre of westerns I grew up with. The vast majority of the thirty stories are of four or five-star quality. The reader will have his or her favorites; mine were The Shaming of Broken Horn and Hell on the Draw, the former because it revolves around a settler wifes apple pie and the latter because it contains a preternatural element. Theyre both quirky. The story I liked the least 1 star was Candles in the Bottom of the Pool. While it took place in the West, Arizona near as I can tell, it wasn't a western by my traditional perception of the term. It was a fairly contemporary story of a wealthy psychotic that could have just as well been set in Beverly Hills. In short, then, it was enormously satisfying to revisit the Sagebrush Saga in this format. I wish Mom had had the chance to read it.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Smoke at Dawn: A Novel of the Civil War (the Civil War in the West); Author: Visit Amazon's Jeff Shaara Page; Review: (General) Thomas raised the glasses again, stared into vast clouds of smoke, caught glimpses of blue, a clearing now, solid blue mass, realized with a sudden bolt that he was looking at the crest of the hill. He saw it now, unmistakable, the hard flutter of a flag, which seemed to be the Stars and Stripes. He strained to see, wouldnt accept the image, not yet, wouldnt allow himself to feel anything but the awful nagging fear that the assault was still rolling over into catastrophe He strained to see, scanned the crest of the ridgeline, another clearing through the smoke, saw it again, a different place, saw another flag, surrounded by a mass of blue spreading out along the top of the hill. The hope came now, a burst of optimism, and he held it inside, couldn't be certain of anything, not yet, not until word came from the commanders. Beside him, (General Ulysses) Grant grunted, then said, It appears, General, that some of your boys made it to the top. from THE SMOKE AT DAWN, Major General George Thomass Army of the Cumberland against orders storms the summit of Confederate-held Missionary Ridge Jeff Shaaras THE SMOKE AT DAWN, the third volume in the 4-volume set on the American Civil War in the West preceded by A Blaze of Glory: A Novel of the Battle of Shiloh (the Civil War in the West) and A Chain of Thunder: A Novel of the Siege of Vicksburg (the Civil War in the West) and followed by The Fateful Lightning: A Novel of the Civil War is the authors historical novelization of the Battle of Chattanooga in which General Grant, who recently captured Vicksburg and now commands the Military Division of the Mississippi, is sent east to rescue Major General William Rosecrans Army of the Cumberland under siege in Chattanooga by Confederate General Braxton Braggs Army of Tennessee after the former is routed by the latter at the Battle of Chickamauga. THE SMOKE AT DAWN is a series of chapters from the points of view of Major General Grant, Major General William Sherman (new commander of the Union's Army of the Tennessee), Major General Thomas (new commander of the Army of the Cumberland), Union Private Fritz Bauer (a sniper previously in the 17th Wisconsin now transferred at his request to the 18th U.S. Regulars), General Braxton Bragg, and Major General Patrick Cleburne (a Confederate division commander). As always, Shaaras strength in the narrative is his clear depiction of the battles salient actions and his use of those actions as vehicles for portraying the characters of the principle players. Here, they're the taciturn and brooding Grant, the gifted but oddly insecure Sherman, the able but unappreciated Thomas, the choleric and paranoiac Bragg, the efficient and energetic Cleburne, and the dutiful Bauer. The several battlefield maps in the book are adequate, but not to the standard of the best Ive come across, i.e. those in Timothy Smith's Champion Hill: Decisive Battle for Vicksburg. In Civil War land battles, the placement of flags could indicate victory or; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Resolution: Huck Finn's Greatest Adventure; Author: Visit Amazon's Andrew Joyce Page; Review: Huck liked to think of Ned Buntline the man who wrote those books as roasting in hell. from RESOLUTION, as Huck regrets the dime novels that exaggerated his exploits as a former lawman RESOLUTION is the third offering by Andrew Joyce in his post-Mark Twain Huckleberry Finn/Tom Sawyer but mostly Huck series. It sequels Redemption: The Further Adventures of Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer, which follows the adventures of (mostly) Huck and Tom after they desert the Confederate army, and Molly Lee, which tells the adult life story of Molly Lee, a Virginia farm girl saved from a Union Army rapist by Huck after he and Tom desert and who sets out to follow her savior to the ends of the earth after he departs her familys farm. Huck apparently isn't the sort to settle down. In RESOLUTION, its 1896. Molly is in her 50s and Huck is approaching 60. Finally reunited in New York City at the end of MOLLY LEE, the two set out for Alaska after a brief stop out West to visit Tom, now a town sheriff. Despite Hucks unfavorable opinion of Ned Buntline, and specifically that writers sensationalized stories of the West and crime published in the mid-nineteenth century, Joyces three books of the series to date are but extended versions of the genre simple pulp thrillers untrammeled by any nuances related to morality or ethics. Huck and Molly are upright and noble heroes, period, that confront a succession of dangers and deadly tough spots greater in number during a short period than anyone should realistically face many of their own making. And through it all, they endure to come out relatively with barely a strand of hair mussed out of place. Over the long haul, however, Huck may develop a drinking problem his Achilles heel, perhaps, if he doesn't tread carefully. Our heroes are aided by one of the most appealing characters of the story, a lead sled dog named Bright. RESOLUTION renders the reader a valuable service in providing a brief accounting, based on fact, of the beginning of the Klondike gold rush of 1896. RESOLUTION is an uncomplicated action adventure to be read simply to go with the flow of events, perhaps on a cross-country plane flight or cruise up the Inside Passage to Skagway a 5-star representation of the genre if thats what will satisfy at the moment.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Stay Away, Joe; Author: Visit Amazon's Dan Cushman Page; Review: Published in 1953, STAY AWAY, JOE by Dan Cushman is set (apparently) in the Fort Belknap Indian Community (i.e. reservation) in Montana. Here, Louis Champlain, of Cree and French ancestry, lives with his Gros Ventre wife, Annie, their three children - Pete, Little Joe, Mary - and his maternal grandfather, Grandpere. As the novel begins, Louis receives a U.S. government handout - 19 cows and 1 bull - as part of an experimental program to raise the living standards and economic status of poor Indians. To celebrate Champlain's good fortune, tribal members from far and wide descend on his homestead for a revel of food and alcohol. The crowd eventually includes Big Joe, Champlain's eldest son from a previous marriage to an Assiniboine wife, who is returning from fighting in Korea with the Marines. After the party is over, Louis awakens with a hangover to discover that sometime during the festivities his new bull was butchered to feed the multitude. What good are 19 cows now without a bull to increase the herd? In any case, Big Joe's presence at the carousal, which caused his father to exult, is blamed even though he wasn't the one directly responsible for the animal's slaughter. The reader's first knowledge of Big Joe, i.e. that he's a warrior-Marine veteran and an accomplished rodeo rider, is turned on its head when Champlain's eldest proves to be pretty much happy-go-lucky, shiftless, and irresponsible (albeit occasionally streetwise crafty), character flaws that render hilariously dysfunctional his father's attempts to acquire another bull against the background of Annie's nagging criticisms of Louis and hostility towards Big Joe and Mary's efforts at finding a marriageable boyfriend. Occasional editorializing comment by the 105-year old Grandpere doesn't help as he remembers the glorious old days when chiefs were chiefs, braves were braves, and squaws knew their place in the tribe. Author Cushman's great accomplishment is to lovingly individualize each of the main characters and create for the reader some small window onto life on an Indian reservation before the advent of Native American-run gambling casinos. The French accent that colors Louis's speech is particularly charming. STAY AWAY, JOE is an amusing and beguiling read from the last years of another century.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Duchess of Bloomsbury Street; Author: Visit Amazon's Helene Hanff Page; Review: I tell you its insidious being an ersatz Duchess, people rushing to give you what you want before youve had time to want it. Helene Hanff in THE DUCHESS OF BLOOMSBURY STREET Helene Hanff, who failed to realize any sort of prominence as a 1950s New York City playwright and television scriptwriter, achieved a modicum of fame with her 84, CHARING CROSS ROAD in which she chronicles her twenty-year by-mail relationship with a London antiquarian bookseller, Marks & Co., and that firms chief buyer, Frank Doel, who searched out and sent to Hanff the British classics she couldn't find closer to home. The close rapport that developed between Helene and Frank and his staff is described in the book and portrayed in the 1987 film adaptation (84 Charing Cross Road) starring Anne Bancroft (Hanff) and Anthony Hopkins (Doel). Ive not read the book, but viewed the film several times; its unreservedly charming. During her long ongoing correspondence with Doel, Hanff intended to visit the London bookshop. However, circumstances prevented her from doing so until June of 1971, by which time Frank was dead and Marks & Co. closed. Nevertheless, visiting the United Kingdoms capital fulfilled a long-standing dream. THE DUCHESS OF BLOOMSBURY STREET is Helenes account of the 5-week sojourn in the city. Despite this London holiday satisfying Helenes yearning, don't expect her chronicle to be anything like, say, H.V. Mortons most excellent In Search of London. For me, a travel narrative is only worth reading if it compels one to either visit or avoid a place. THE DUCHESS OF BLOOMSBURY STREET would do neither for one whos never been there. And for me, well acquainted with London already, the book did nothing to bring to mind how much I love it. Even after Hanff mentions that the sights she most wanted to visit were St. Pauls Cathedral, Westminster Abbey, and the Tower of London, her description of the trio are brief and superficial - almost afterthoughts. Helenes fans will likely accuse me of being uncharitable that she didn't intend THE DUCHESS OF BLOOMSBURY STREET to be a travel essay in the usual sense, that its only a record of social relationships inaugurated across The Pond and an acknowledgment of their value to her. However, it seemed to me that the author spent most of her time relying on her new friends and acquaintances to provide free meals and excursions outside the city so she could conserve funds and stay longer. It was all rather pathetic, really, and tiresome besides.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Rebel Yell: The Violence, Passion and Redemption of Stonewall Jackson; Author: Visit Amazon's S. C. Gwynne Page; Review: Let us cross over the river and rest under the shade of the trees. Stonewall Jacksons last deathbed words In an age of out-of-control political correctness which demands that the names of Confederate (but still American) war heroes be removed from schools and streets and their statues toppled, it may not be PC to read and praise REBEL YELL, a biography of Lieutenant General Thomas Stonewall Jackson by S.C. Gwynne, but Ill risk the backlash. OMG, Jackson even owned a few slaves! While a biography of Stonewall that begins with his childhood, youth, West Point attendance, and Mexican War and pre-Civil War military record, the lengthy narrative principally focuses on his Civil War career, beginning with his commands occupation of Harpers Ferry in May 1861 and ending with his mortal wounding by friendly fire at Chancellorsville in May 1863. REBEL YELL is as enjoyable and informative a Civil War history Ive ever read and ranks up there, in my mind, with the writing of Shelby Foote (Civil War a Narrative; 3 Volumes: Fort Sumter to Perryville; Fredericksburg to Meridian; Red River to Appomattox). The battlefield maps, while not quite as excellent as those in Timothy Smiths Champion Hill: Decisive Battle for Vicksburg, are better than average. The book also includes a 16-page photographic section that covers most of the bases. Jackson was, by any standard, a social misfit when outside a circle of family and close friends. Not to put too fine a point on it, he was an odd duck. Gwynnes singular accomplishment is to establish in the mind of the reader Stonewalls personality and the generals transformation on the battlefield into a remarkable leader of troops and tactician. And, as a wider view of the war in Virginia from 1661-63, the authors perspectives on both Union and Confederate strategies and the abilities (or not!) of the Federal commanders opposing Jackson contribute much value-added context to an understanding of the narratives lead player. So, yes, I really liked REBEL YELL. Let him or her who would remove Jackson from any public prominence gnash teeth and rend garments; I relish such a display of PC angst in my minds eye.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dark Forces: The 13th Spider Shepherd Thriller; Author: Visit Amazon's Stephen Leather Page; Review: Note: This review is of the hard cover edition published by Hodder & Stoughton The mans face centered on the scope. It was another of the men given a Syrian passport by Yusuf (Shepherd) went to chamber a round but his magazine was empty. He yanked it out, grabbed a full magazine by the cushion and slammed it in. He chambered a round, his heart racing. - from DARK FORCES, Spider under stress DARK FORCES is Stephen Leathers thirteenth thriller featuring Dan Spider Shepherd. At this late date, it gets tedious reviewing once again Dans pedigree. Lets just say he was once an SAS sniper, later did undercover work for the Serious Organized Crime Agency (disbanded in real life in October 2013), and now is an MI5 operative seconded to MI6 and his new boss, the mildly detestable Jeremy Willoughby-Brown. His previous boss, Charlotte Button, was cashiered by MI6 for mixing her private vendettas with organization business. Too bad, really; Button was hot. (But, evidence suggests that Charlie will co-star in her own series by the author, the first book to be entitled TAKEDOWN.) Spiders current assignment for MI6 is to infiltrate and bring down two of Englands top crime kingpins. (Why MI6, like Americas CIA primarily tasked with opposing foreign enemies outside its borders, should be so involved is not explained.) In any case, Shepherds reputed photo memory is finally brought to the forefront here as he pretty much accidently stumbles on an fiendishly clever ISIS plot to bring jihad to London. One strength of Leathers writing career is the background research he must certainly put in to keep Dans anti-Bad Guy efforts contemporary. (Several years back, he sailed on a freighter through pirate-infested waters to write Fair Game: The 8th Spider Shepherd Thriller.) As engrossing as DARK FORCES is, I was mildly disappointed by the tidiness of the ending that should have been messier as an identical real-life scenario would likely have been. Perhaps, in my old age, I appreciate more the novels of Gerald Seymour, the plots of which are also contemporary with world events but conclude with pyrrhic victories much as in the real world, I suspect. Finally, after many years on the job and book appearances, Dans pretty housekeeper Katra finally loses control and physically hits on her employer. Shepherd is not, um, put off. Leather can now not leave it at that in future installments.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Dispatches from Pluto: Lost and Found in the Mississippi Delta; Author: Visit Amazon's Richard Grant Page; Review: If I wanted to, I was free to (urinate) naked off my porch, shoot guns, take drugs, drive drunk, and make all the noise I wanted. I had a river on one side, a lake on the other, plenty of woods to roam, and the freedom to go wherever I pleased without worrying about rules, restrictions, fences, or laws. - author Richard Grant, in DISPATCHES FROM PLUTO People needed tools to cope with all the poverty, tragedy, and dysfunction in the Delta, and the most popular ones were denial, religion, gallows humor, drugs, and alcohol. - author Richard Grant, in DISPATCHES FROM PLUTO Back in 1988-89, I lived 15 months in Tupelo, MS. I never picked up much of an accent, though my wife is still slightly annoyed when I say hey instead of hi as a greeting. But Tupelo, while certainly part of the Magnolia State, isn't the Delta. Author Richard Grant, born British, and his significant other Mariah abandon New York City to buy an old plantation house deep in the Mississippi Delta. One of the narratives challenges, using hints provided by the author, is to locate the house on the satellite view of a popular map app. Ill make it easier for you; its roughly 3.3 miles to the west of Pluto on Bee Lake Road on an isolated strip of land. The river forms the propertys western boundary. There are two ponds in the front yard. Bee Lake is 1.5 kilometers to the east. Knock yourself out; Pluto itself is awkward to locate being not much more than a wide spot on a rural road. What distinguishes DISPATCHES FROM PLUTO from other travel essays about the Deep South is that Grant and girlfriend become embedded in the landscape, accepted by their neighbors both White and Black. While other travel writers may pass through and fire off drive-by commentary, Richard and Mariah not only talk the talk but also walk the walk. This intimacy with their surroundings and neighbors gives credence to Grants expressed views on local race relations stemming from his fascination with the subject and about which he never preaches ways for improvement but always tries to explain to the reader the intricacies of such as it exists in the impoverished Delta region. The authors description of his visit to the notorious Mississippi State Penitentiary at Parchman and his conversations with fellow Delta resident, actor Morgan Freeman, provide much added value to the whole. I found DISPATCHES FROM PLUTO to be immensely enjoyable and informative. My only disappointment was that the book was too short.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Decline and Fall of California: From Decadence to Destruction (Victor Davis Hanson Collection Book 2) - Kindle edition; Author: Visit Amazon's Victor Davis Hanson Page; Review: No one is more upset than I about the direction of California valued citizens exiting the state, high taxes, poor services, terrible public education, substandard infrastructure, contempt for the law, liberal sermonizing coupled with boutique apartheid, shameless ethnic identity politics, and public union bullying. - Victor David Hanson in THE DECLINE AND FALL OF CALIFORNIA California is run from a sort of Pacific Versailles, an isolated coastal compound of elite rulers physically cut off from its interior peasantry. - Victor David Hanson in THE DECLINE AND FALL OF CALIFORNIA Gov. Jerry Brown has signed legislation that regulates emissions from dairy cows and landfills for the first time as California broadens its efforts to fight climate change beyond carbon-based greenhouse gases. SB1383 signed into law 9-19-16 (No joke!) My parents moved to California in 1951 from Wisconsin. My wifes parents (and their daughter) moved to California in the late 50s from Poland via post-war England and Argentina. Both couples saw California as a land of opportunity, if not Paradise. Now, my wife and I, pillars of the middle class, seek to sell our home and move out of state. Paradise has been lost. THE DECLINE AND FALL OF CALIFORNIA by Victor David Hanson is his series of essays on the subject that first appeared during the past several years on a conservative media website. They fall into three subtopics: the current state drought, the massive influx of illegal aliens, and the morphing of California culture in general into something untenable. Hansons opinions are lucidly and eloquently presented. And I agree with him. That said, each subtopic comprises multiple essays setting forth views that are, to a greater or lesser degree, repetitively stated. Had he opined on each subtopic in one longer but non-redundant chapter, the book wouldve been shorter but more effective. Perhaps the publisher insisted on a certain number of words to the whole. When my wife and I can evacuate from this state, God willing and the creeks don't rise and they surely won't in this drought, and we cross the state line for the last time, Ill be sorely tempted to face my backside to Sacramento and moon Gov. Brown, the ill-conceived high-speed rail project he stubbornly peddles, and the nanny, money-grasping legislature. Good riddance! P.S. The creeks rose with heavy rains this winter, but we escaped anyway. At 1:25 PM on 2/10/17, I passed over the state line out of California for what will likely and hopefully be for the last time, and took my middle-class tax dollars with me. Being winter, it was too cold at the border's elevation to stop and moon Gov. Brown. I wonder if he could see my middle finger salute through my car's rear window.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: p53: The Gene that Cracked the Cancer Code; Author: Visit Amazon's Sue Armstrong Page; Review: a gene that goes by the prosaic name of p53 - bestowed on it simply because it makes a protein with a molecular weight of 53 kilodaltons. from p53: THE GENE THAT CRACKED THE CANCER CODE p53: THE GENE THAT CRACKED THE CANCER CODE by Sue Armstrong seems to be a reasonably comprehensive overview of the topic that even those with but a modicum knowledge level of genetics and biochemistry should find readable and comprehensible. The author jumps back and forth in time to show how the aggregate work of a multitude of researchers accumulated and built on itself to arrive at the understanding we have today about p53. This lends the narrative a choppiness which might have been ameliorated at the conclusion if Armstrong had provided a concise summary of the scientific findings to date. This she failed to do and the book suffers somewhat for its absence. p53: THE GENE THAT CRACKED THE CANCER CODE is, however, a commendable contribution to the popular science genre.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Yellow Hair; Author: Visit Amazon's Andrew Joyce Page; Review: The three previous published offerings by Andrew Joyce -Redemption: The Further Adventures of Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer,Molly Lee, and Resolution: Huck Finn's Greatest Adventure are sequel expansions of Mark Twains Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer epics and read like the late-19th and early-20th century short dime novels. YELLOW HAIR represents the next stage in writing for the author. Another reviewer has compared this novel to the historical fiction of Jane Auel (her The Complete Jean M. Auel Earth's Children Series Six Book Set [Clan of the Cave Bear, Valley of the Horses, Mammoth Hunters, Plains of Passage, Shelters of Stone, and Land of Painted Caves]), which is perhaps not an unjustified comparison. YELLOW HAIR is basically Andrews desire to put into print an accounting of the U.S. governments policy of sequestration onto reservations the Dakota Indian tribes of the countrys northern Great Plains. For those who resisted such interdiction of their traditional life style, it meant genocide. This historical novel is composed of three interlocking pieces: a factual and somewhat dry account of the Dakotas relations with the encroaching white Americans from 1805 to 1890, a purely fictional story of white characters existing in the time frame based on composites of individuals who actually lived, and a melding of the two to flesh out and humanize the narrative. YELLOW HAIR begins in 1850 with a wagon train of pilgrims embarking on the Oregon Trail to America's Pacific Coast territories. The trains guide and those on the wagons who are named are (according to the author in a private communication to me) composites of those who actually made such a journey. And the hardships experienced by the train are also based on an aggregate reality. Its in this first part of the novel that were introduced to the storys hero, Jacob Ariesen of Concord Massachusetts, the eldest of three children and only son of his parents. The circumstances of the journey west have him ultimately adopted by a Dakota tribe, at which point he enters the main theme of the narrative. It might be interesting to learn Joyces reason why he chose the oppression of the Dakota tribes as opposed to that of, say, the Seminoles or Apaches. All three are famous examples of the U.S. governments deplorable treatment of the indigenous inhabitants. My only minor quibble is that YELLOW HAIR once again furthers the concept of the noble savage," i.e. noble compared to the larger white tribe that conquered him. Please. In the history of Mankind that is but a succession of tribal conquests and displacements, one over another, victors and vanquished are all of the same species and share common traits, noble and ignoble, expressed as circumstances dictate. I also regretted that Andrews treatment of George Custers defeat at the Little Bighorn was so superficial. However, anything more substantial was admittedly and quite rightly beyond the scope of this novel. Here, I must recommend the masterful A Terrible Glory: Custer and the Little Bighorn - the Last Great Battle of the American West. YELLOW HAIR is both absorbing and instructive.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Twelve Days (A John Wells Novel); Author: Visit Amazon's Alex Berenson Page; Review: TWELVE DAYS is author Alex Berensons sequel to The Counterfeit Agent (John Wells Series Book 8), the pair of books having the authors superhero John Wells racing against the clock to expose a nefarious plot framing Iran as a nuclear-capable imminent aggressor against the United States and/or Israel, an unacceptable scenario for the American President, who responds by setting a 12-day deadline for Iran to open its nuclear facilities to inspection or be subject to a U.S. ground and air attack. TWELVE DAYS expands the role of the previous novels Salome character, who proves herself a capable adversary for John from Russia to South Africa. One character perhaps becoming less credible is Vinny Duto, onetime Director of Central Intelligence and now a Senator from Pennsylvania. One follower of the Wells series might wonder how Duto got elected to anything. Now, as a Senator, he leaves his constituency to help John in an active way. Really? Shouldnt he be back in the Senate filibustering or something? The best part of the John Wells thrillers, this one and all those previous, is his capacity for inflicting necessary violence on the bad guys without compunction. It might be a draw if he went up against Lee Childs Jack Reacher, but I suspect he could wipe up the floor with Stephen Leathers Dan Shepherd. There is yet a third book in this continuing plot, The Wolves (A John Wells Novel). Its one of the must-reads on my shelf.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Almost Nearly Perfect People: Behind the Myth of the Scandinavian Utopia; Author: Visit Amazon's Michael Booth Page; Review: While walking naked in public I feel immediately, cripplingly self-conscious. from THE ALMOST NEARLY PERFECT PEOPLE, as the author visits a sauna Of course, we cannot entirely discount the idea that it was me, personally, from whom an entire nation (-Sweden-) was recoiling, but I was trying my utmost not to be creepy. from THE ALMOST NEARLY PERFECT PEOPLE, as the author experiments with Swede taunting I probably am a snotty Brit. author Michael Booth Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it. novelist and philosopher George Santayana Michael Booth, a Brit married to a Dane and living in Denmark, begins THE ALMOST NEARLY PERFECT PEOPLE acknowledging the fact that Scandinavia, as a whole, is reputedly the happiest place on Earth according to multiple surveys. Taking that as a starting point, then, he embarks on his own personal exploration of Iceland, Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Finland in an attempt to discover why that may be so and which of the five countries may/should top the list. To provide answers, he surveys each nations genetic roots, history, mentality and economic system. It would be unfair of me to reveal which of the five floats to the top of the authors Happy List after his interesting, informative and entertaining assessment. His conclusion seemed tepid to me, but I guess its the best he could do in that respect. What Booth did espouse was that the five Scandinavian countries form a single union, dump the Norwegian and Danish monarchies, and continue to accept the influx of large numbers of immigrants. Didnt the United States do that? Lets see. The original thirteen colony states were uniformly English and subject to a king. Then, they discarded the monarchy check. Formed a single union yup, been there. And accepted huge immigrant populations, legal or otherwise done that. My admittedly poor knowledge of German history compels me to suggest that it did the same. Yet, Booth has little good to say about either the U.S. or Germany, and indeed his comments about the former are uniformly unflattering. So, Michael, what is to become of your hypothetical Scandinavian Federation, hmm? He doesnt say anything about the Unintended Consequences of such a move. The authors narrative strong point is his very British ability for wry humor and self-deprecation. I like that in a writer and so award THE ALMOST NEARLY PERFECT PEOPLE four stars as a reading experience.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: My Grandmother Sends Her Regards and Apologises; Author: Visit Amazon's Fredrik Backman Page; Review: You cant kill a nightmare, but you can scare it. And theres nothing so feared by nightmares as milk and cookies. from MY GRANDMOTHER ASKED ME TO TELL YOU SHES SORRY you hardly ever disappoint anybody if you just stay quiet. from GRANDMOTHER Youd quickly run out of people if you had to disqualify all those who at some point have been sh-ts. from GRANDMOTHER you can be upset while you're eating chocolate Santas. But its much, much, much more difficult. from GRANDMOTHER MY GRANDMOTHER ASKED ME TO TELL YOU SHES SORRY lets just refer to it as GRANDMOTHER from now forward, shall we by Fredrik Backman, also the author of A Man Called Ove: A Novel, is set in Sweden, something not apparent until well into the book. Almost 8-years old Elsa, the daughter of divorced parents and persecuted by the other children in school, lives in the fairy tale worlds of Harry Potter books and the Land-of-Almost-Awake, the mythical landscape created for her via the bedtime stories told by her beloved grandmother. This magical place, composed of six kingdoms, is inhabited by a princess, princes, knights and dragons. The chief kingdom, Miamas, is the source of all fairy tales because its built on Imagination. Grandmother, a physician who spent her career saving children, has become more eccentric with age. But she loves Elsa intensely and is the girls protector and teacher. But then Grandmother dies, but not before exacting from Elsa the promises that she will protect her friends and the castle. And deliver a letter. The letters delivery is the first step in a knightly quest, or treasure hunt if you will, that ultimately reveals to Elsa that fairy tales can actually overlap with real life. In that sense, GRANDMOTHER is a coming of age story. GRANDMOTHER is a beguiling tale populated with a wealth of finely conceptualized and crafted, unique characters with a storyline that evolves cleverly. The reader may well cry for Elsa while admiring her pluck. This is perhaps the best single, original book Ive read so far in the past several months (though, with an interstate move of residence during that time, my output has been necessarily reduced). The sequel to this story is, apparently, Britt-Marie Was Here: A Novel. Im in!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: White Star; Author: Visit Amazon's James Thayer Page; Review: WHITE STAR by James Thayer is a wilderness survival tale not conceptualized to be experienced for real by couch potatoes. Owen Gray, a New York City prosecutor, finds himself ripped back to his past as a Marine sniper in Vietnam a tortured past hes struggled to forget when hes called out, so to speak, by a deranged ex-Red Army sniper who, aware of Owens reputation as being perhaps the best shooter in Marine history, wants to prove himself the better by a duel to the death. When it quickly becomes apparent the confrontation won't be resolved anywhere inside the Big Apple, Gray leads his tormentor to his boyhood home in the rugged Sawtooth Mountains in Idaho. Owen knows every inch of the surrounding land and hopes this will give him an advantage in the life or death struggle to come. Both Gray and his challenger have learned the lesson of hardship endurance over their respective military careers. Its their relative stamina and durability that will allow one to win out in a brutal contest that will perhaps cause the reader to cringe and wince more than any previous thriller. It certainly did me. As the plot of WHITE STAR unfolds, it becomes apparent, at least within the context of the story, that a snipers aptitudes must not only include shooting prowess but also tracking skills. Author Thayer describes the nuances of both to an extent that the reader realizes he did considerable research to pen the tale. WHITE STAR is a page-turner to which you won't regret dedicating time.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: After Anna; Author: Visit Amazon's Alex Lake Page; Review: Julia Crowne is an English divorce attorney. She has a 5-year old daughter, Anna, by her husband Brian from a marriage on the rocks. Julias mother-in-law is insufferable. One afternoon, Crowne is late picking up her daughter after school, which resulted in the girl being abducted. While the police search, the press pillories Julia for being an unfit mother. Then, Anna reappears, apparently unharmed but not remembering any details of her abduction. Whats that all about? As the books title AFTER ANNA implies, the story develops after the return. Written by the pseudonymous Alex Lake, AFTER ANNA is a somewhat clever thriller providing a somewhat engaging level of entertainment. Its flaw is that an intelligent reader should be able to discern at the books halfway point who is the villain of the piece. From then on, its just a matter of tidying up loose ends. A couple of tweaks to a certain characters performance wouldve made the book infinitely more deserving of a double-take (OMG!) conclusion. AFTER ANNA is good enough for a long airplane trip or a couple of days sprawled in a beach chair. That said, I don't think any of the authors other offerings under that pseudonym are worth my future attention.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Dirt on Clean: An Unsanitized History; Author: Visit Amazon's Katherine Ashenburg Page; Review: Show me a peoples bathhouses and bathrooms, and I will show you what they desire, what they ignore, sometimes what they fear and a significant part of who they are. Katherine Ashenburg, in the introduction to THE DIRT ON CLEAN When the future Louis XIII of France was born, in 1601, the court physician kept notes on the childs washing history At six weeks his head was massaged. At seven weeks, his abundant cradle cap was rubbed with butter and olive oil. The babys hair was not combed until he was nine months old. At the age of five, his legs were washed for the first time, in tepid water. He had his first bath at the ripe age of almost seven. from THE DIRT ON CLEAN Odors are unnecessary and those who have them are violating rules of courtesy. Sophie Hadida, in her 1932 book Manners for Millions: A Correct Code of Pleasing Personal Habits Theres character - in soap and water from an American magazine ad of the 1920s The Hotel on Rivington (offers) floor-to-ceiling windows in the shower that makes it visible to the hotels neighbors. from THE DIRT ON CLEAN THE DIRT ON CLEAN by Katherine Ashenburg is a survey of the cultural attitudes regarding personal hygiene spanning the Greek and Roman eras to the present. It focuses on the nation states of Europe mainly Western Europe and the United States. It ignores the cleanliness standards of the Middle and Far East, and only touches on Muslim habits as they conflicted with Christian ones when the former occupied much of Spain. By the books conclusion, the reader learns that personal hygiene is cyclical, evolving over the centuries from very clean to dirty to reasonably clean to appalling and disgustingly filthy to reasonably clean again progressing currently to something compulsively obsessive (especially with us crazy Americans!). THE DIRT ON CLEAN is comprehensively instructive in a school text sort of way. It is, however, lacking in humor. Had the topic fallen under the word processor of, say, Mary Roach (Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers,Bonk: The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex, and Gulp: Adventures on the Alimentary Canal), who takes the human condition seriously but, with a wink and a nod, not too seriously, it wouldve been enormously entertaining as well. The volumes pages are liberally sprinkled with sidebar quotes from other sources relating to the subject in the context of the time period covered by the chapter at hand. These sidebars are set into their own text boxes in a smaller and lighter (in darkness) font. If your eyesight is failing with age (as mine is), a magnifying glass is called for. THE DIRT ON CLEAN is an eminently readable contribution to the social studies genre.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: First Response; Author: Visit Amazon's Stephen Leather Page; Review: Shahid came out from behind the metal screen. He was holding the mobile phone again. The bound man was begging for help now, pleading with Shahid to let him go (Shahid) ran his thumb over the keys, then held up the phone into the air. A second later, there was a loud explosion on the other side of the screen. Blood and body parts spun into the air and splattered onto the ground. from FIRST RESPONSE Back in the day, Stephen Leather wrote stand-alone thrillers before embarking on his Dan Spider Shepherd and Jack Nightingale series of books. Mind you, Dan and Jack provide solid entertainment, but Ive always felt that the authors earlier works, with their wide variety of story lines and characters, demonstrated more originality. (I came on board in 2004 with The Chinaman, a title that is delightfully politically incorrect by today's standards and one of the reasons I regard it with fondness.) With FIRST RESPONSE, Leather has penned a stand-alone plot boiler at least equal to and perhaps better than his best of the good old days. Here, nine suicide bombers take hostages at various points around London while demanding release of six ISIS members from Her Majestys Prison Belmarsh by 6:00 PM that day. The plot is choreographed by a male voice on the phone to the Metropolitan Police calling himself Shahid. Superintendent Mo Kamran, directed by Shahid to be his only contact within the Met, must deal with the overall situation using the enormous resources available to him, including the Special Air Service. A characteristic of all of Stephens books is the apparently extensive research he does before putting fingers to the word processor. In this case, his description of the Met command structure and its operational response to such a crisis is formidable. The enormity of having to cope simultaneously with nine separate suicide bombers before time runs out will have the reader biting nails down to the quick and makes the totally unforeseen plot twist all that more effective. Brilliant, actually. Leathers decision to return to writing the occasional stand-alone thriller resulted in another recently published work, Penalties, already stored on my Kindle and ready for me to savor. Thank you, Stephen!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: At the Right Hand of Longstreet: Recollections of a Confederate Staff Officer; Author: Visit Amazon's G. Moxley Sorrel Page; Review: For my part, when the time comes to cross the river like the others, I shall be found asking at the gates above, Where is the Army of Northern Virginia? For there I make my camp. the last lines of AT THE RIGHT HAND OF LONGSTREET Gilbert Moxley Sorrel was, for almost the entirety of his service (July 1861 April 1865) with Confederate land forces during the Civil War, the right-hand aide to James Longstreet for almost the entire period (June 1861 April 1865) during which the latter commanded brigade, division, then corps in what evolved into the Army of Northern Virginia. It was only in October 1864 that Sorrel was promoted to Brigadier General and given command of a brigade. It wasn't until shortly before his death in 1901 that Sorrel wrote AT THE RIGHT HAND OF LONGSTREET: RECOLLECTIONS OF A CONFEDERATE STAFF OFFICER. He admits up front that his recollections are just that; he kept no war time diary. Thus, the reader shouldnt expect his narrative to include a detailed or accurate account of any battle. Rather, the book is a chatty collection of memories regarding army life while under fire or not and the personalities of the various field commanders with whom he came into contact. AT THE RIGHT HAND OF LONGSTREET is eminently readable but superficial. Any hardship or stress experienced by Sorrel during the war, while not ignored, is pretty much minimized in the telling. Moxley admires Longstreets abilities, especially his coolness under fire, and is ever grateful for the opportunity he was given to serve as his adjutant-general. His greatest admiration, however, is reserved for army commander Robert E. Lee. Indeed, his high regard for Lee is simply the worship that most, if not all, of the men of the Army of Northern Virginia felt. Since Sorrel fought for the Confederate States of America and was a product of his times he even used the N word once (OMG!) AT THE RIGHT HAND OF LONGSTREET should not be read by any political correctness advocate who would otherwise vilify the extraordinarily able military leaders of the Confederacy and lobby to tear down the statues erected in their memory. Such men were, after all, Americans in uniform who only sought to serve their home states honorably and win. Their misfortune was to have lost, and their accomplishments are now depreciated by lesser men (and women). The generals of the North that engineered the Souths defeat would have objected to these actions strenuously. A statue of Robert E. Lee astride his trusty steed Traveller could soon be evicted from a Charlottesville, Virginia, park named in his honor after the citys council voted to remove the Confederate general. The measure, which passed Monday, gives city officials two months to recommend how to move the equestrian monument, which has been there since 1924. The Washington Times, 2-9-17 "The city of New Orleans announced that it will take down a statue of Gen. Robert E. Lee Friday" Fox News U.S., 5-19-17; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Last Kind Words Saloon: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Larry McMurtry Page; Review: Driving a buggy with three women in it was no light task from THE LAST KIND WORDS SALOON At less than 200 paperback pages, don't expect Larry McMurtrys THE LAST KIND WORDS SALOON to be a full-fledged novel. It seemed to me that the author took several historical figures of the Old West with whom he had been long fascinated and constructed a story around them more as a writing exercise to keep himself amused. Sort of like doodling on a pad while talking on the phone. Here, its an indefinite time before October 1881. It picks up in the small Western town of Long Grass, which is nearly in Kansas, but not quite and nearly in New Mexico, too, but not quite. It might even be in Texas. Wyatt Earp is in town along with his common-law wife, Jesse, and his friend Doc Holliday. Wyatts brother Warren is there also; he owns the Last Kind Words Saloon. Soon, Charlie Goodnight, an historically famous cattle rancher sometimes known as the Father of the Texas Panhandle, rides in preparatory to beginning a cattle drive. (Note: McMurtrys novel Lonesome Dove is based on events of Goodnights third cattle drive with his partner Oliver Loving, Woodrow Call standing in for the former and Augustus McCrae for the latter.) THE LAST KIND WORDS SALOON doesnt have much of a plot. It develops much as tumbleweeds are indolently blown along by the wind. But, it should be sufficiently entertaining for fans of the authors style. The relationships of the principle male characters with women are amusingly portrayed; the men seem constantly puzzled and mentally and emotionally inept when dealing with the ladies. The plot drifts slowly towards October 1881 when Wyatt and his brothers and Doc enter Western legend. Although McMurtry didn't perhaps intend such, his books portrayal of Wyatt Earp was pretty much consistent with my understanding of Jeff Guinns historical but iconoclastic narrative The Last Gunfight: The Real Story of the Shootout at the O.K. Corral-And How It Changed the American West, about which I wrote in a 2011 review that its author effectively reduced what is perhaps the American West's most famous shootout to a brief eruption of grubby gunplay, and reveals one of America's most name-recognizable frontier heroes as pathetically and disappointingly ordinary and, when considering the lifelong achievements of Wyatt Earp, the man was neither heroic nor particularly admirable. I was tempted to give THE LAST KIND WORDS SALOON a ho-hum three stars, but then decided it had given me enough added value to rate four.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Game of Thorns: The Inside Story of Hillary Clinton's Failed Campaign and Donald Trump's Winning Strategy; Author: Visit Amazon's Doug Wead Page; Review: (Disclaimer: I voted for neither Clinton nor Trump in the recent election. I thought one despicable and the other temperamentally unsuited to the task. But, like others, including Hillary, I was stunned by the elections outcome. Usually unmoved by national politics, I wanted some insight as to why.) GAME OF THORNS by Doug Wead is touted as the first insider account of Hillary Clintons failed campaign. As an accomplished author presumably not above the pressure of a short-lived opportunity, one must assume that Wead saw value in being the first to tell the tale. As a former adviser to President George H. W. Bush, the reader might also assume a Republican bias in the narrative. Perhaps only from a perspective of time will one be able to judge the accuracy of the story. GAME OF THORNS starts with a lengthy summation of the scandals associated with Bill and Hillary Clinton from the time the former was the Attorney General of Arkansas (1977 1979) to November 2017. Weads intent, apparently, was to illustrate the enormity of the baggage Hillary carried into the recent campaign and which the voters took under consideration. Detractors of the book will certainly say this section is but a rehash of old news, something aptly sold by an outfit calling itself the Hachette Book Group. Trump not having a past involving elective office, the author can only recount his growing into his fathers family business in New York City. Since Donald was the second son and not the one originally favored by Old Dad to succeed him, Weads recounting of Donalds rise is admiring, even suggesting that Manhattans resurrection from grottiness in the 1990s was largely due to Trumps investment in and construction of key properties. GAME OF THORNS next recounts Donalds rise to the top of the Republican primaries process crowded with big name and politically eminent rivals to ultimately win the partys Presidential nomination. In this section, Wead pulls no punches in recording Trumps gaffes widely considered by friends and foes alike to be self-destructive and likely damning the candidate to failure. The volumes conclusion is, of course, record of the final race between Clinton and Trump to the apocalyptic (to Democrats) and miraculous (to Republicans) finish that confounded the vast majority of predictions. It brings to mind that famous photo of a triumphant Truman holding up the early newspaper edition proclaiming Dewey Defeats Truman. Considering GAME OF THORNS was written and published so soon after Election Day 2017, my perception is that the author acquitted his efforts and served the books subtitle, THE INSIDE STORY OF HILLARY CLINTONS FAILED CAMPAIGN AND DONALD TRUMPS WINNING STRATEGY, well enough as a beginning to an understanding. That said, Id like to read another examination of the same topic written years from now by a more obviously unbiased author.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Make Me: A Jack Reacher Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Lee Child Page; Review: (Reacher) liked fiction better than fact, because fact often wasnt. Like most people he knew a couple of things for sure, up close and eyeballed, and when he saw them in books they were wrong. So he liked made-up stories better, because everyone knew where they were from the get-go. from MAKE ME Jack Reacher has a talent for getting off the train or bus in the middle of nowhere. Here in Lee Childs MAKE ME, its at the juncture of a minor road and a rail line marking the town of Mothers Rest, the raison detre of which is as a grain storage center. The nowhere is perhaps Oklahoma - not a leap of the imagination. Jack gets off the train out of curiosity; he wants to finds to find the memorial or grave marker of the mother resting here, perhaps on an old wagon trail. However, Reacher is found first by private investigator Michelle Chang who was expecting somebody else, another PI colleague with whom shes investigating a case but whos suddenly gone missing. Jack likes fiction better than fact for the reason quoted above. That facilitates piece of mind for this reader because deep into the story: Just past Culver City and just before Inglewood, with LAX not far away, the guy pulled off the (405) freeway into a sudden unmarked exit on the right, which led to a narrow road that looked like the entrance to some kind of abandoned maintenance depot. Its good to know that fiction is laden with non-facts because, while I accept the non-existence of Mothers Rest, Ive travelled the traffic-constipated 405 South towards LAX between Culver City and Inglewood more times than a merciful God should allow and, having eyeballed the route exhaustively, can definitely say there is no unmarked exit on the right anywhere in that stretch of motorway. The described proximity of this shortcut to the airports northern perimeter fence is also patently ridiculous. As the plot evolves, however, Reacher and Chang encounter what is perhaps an example of the worst bestiality Man is capable of, though it could be argued that non-human beasts couldn't be so cruel. I suspect that the horror Jack and Michelle discover is a factual dark side to a Web-driven society and not a product of the authors imagination. Reachers delivery of mayhem in MAKE ME is of your Basic Jack quality, nothing special. That and the fact that the Bad Guys shouldve suffered more at the end compel me not to award the ultimate 5 stars. For Reacher fans, however, itll be a read that cant be put down.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: An Army in Exile: The Story of the Second Polish Corps (Allied Forces Series); Author: Wladyslaw Anders; Review: (Note: This reviewers father-in-law was a Polish officer who served with the II Polish Corps. He died before I met and married his daughter. I wish Id known him.) Trusting in the Justice of Divine Providence we go forward with the sacred slogan in our hearts: God, Honour, Country. Wladyslaw Anders, Lt.-General, Commander, II Polish Army Corps, from his Order of the Day prior to his troops attack on Monte Cassino The II Polish Corps did not, apparently, have an organizational motto. It should well have been Endure to Victory. The story of Anders, as well as that of the II Polish Corps, as told by the general in AN ARMY IN EXILE, begins on September 1, 1939, when Poland was attacked by Nazi Germany. The Polish Army was ultimately crushed between the Germans advancing from the west and the Soviet Army from the east. The author was captured and placed under arrest by Stalins N.K.V.D. (Peoples Commissariat of the Interior). After being imprisoned, interrogated, and maltreated for twenty months, Anders was suddenly released and placed in command of the Polish Army to be formed in the U.S.S.R. The general recounts the incredible difficulties surrounding the armys formation, not the least due to the hurdles Stalin and his minions placed in his path. But the army ultimately exited the Soviet Union through Persia to eventually come under the command of the British Eighth Army as the II Polish Corps. The Corps would go on to fight up the Adriatic side of Italy, its greatest victory being the capture of Monte Cassino, which had previously repulsed several assaults by Allied troops from the United States, Great Britain, Canada, France, New Zealand, and India. (Read The Battle of Cassino by Fred Majdalany.) Although a military commander, the precarious position of the Polish government in exile in London forced Anders into the political arena. On a wider perspective, AN ARMY IN EXILE is the Lt.-Generals account of Polands (and his armys) tragic and shameful sacrifice on the altar of political expediency by their erstwhile allies, Great Britain and the United States - betrayal, actually - to Stalins goal of post-war domination of Eastern Europe. The reader cannot but share the authors disgust. The generals narrative is eruditely and lucidly presented throughout. It would also appear to be comprehensive. The book is generously peppered with the texts of documents and messages that passed between Anders and other Allied commanders in the field, as well as between the general and U.S. and British leaders at the highest level and with the Polish government in London. There are seven pages of illustrations and eight of maps. As might be expected, Lt.-General Anders acquits himself well within his chronicle. Few are recorded as thinking less of the man, though Stalin was reported to think him wicked for his constant and strenuous opposition to the Soviet Unions post-war plan for Poland even as it was finally endorsed by the U.S. and Great Britain. On that basis alone, I would suggest that to the Lt.-General honor is due. On the memorial; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Penalties; Author: Visit Amazon's Stephen Leather Page; Review: Author Stephen Leather is perhaps best known for his currently long-running Jack Nightingale and Spider Shepherd series. His PENALTIES is a stand-alone novel that veers off into a milieu about as far different from the two series as possible. Here, Gabe Savage is a star Association football (soccer) player with the Premier League team Waldron United. Gabe is only one penalty score away from breaking the league record, perhaps to happen in the next days key game with Chelsea. Savage is keen to compete despite having just been told his knees are so deteriorated that additional playing may irrevocably damage them. But then, the morning of the contest, Gabes wife Laura and son Ollie are kidnapped by a vicious Chinese triad threatening them with sure death if Gabe doesnt throw the match. And, by the way, don't go to the police. Not knowing what to do and almost frantic, Savage turns to the only person he knows that can help. The elements of the plot going in are such bad knees, scoring record, big game, endangered family that if one assumes a happy ending then one almost knows the elements of the plot coming out. However, no matter, as getting to the conclusion within the severe time constraints of the inexorably ticking game clock is where all the fun for the reader takes place. Indeed, the mayhem level and accumulation of bodies would satisfy even fans of Lee Childs Jack Reacher series. The reader should like soccer, or at least have an understanding how the game is played, to fully appreciate multiple chapters in PENALTIES. Unfortunately, I have neither, but thats my failing, not the authors. Although the books conclusion is otherwise pre-ordained, theres a very nice plot twist at the end involving familial relationships thats totally unforeseen. Brilliant, Stephen!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Road to Little Dribbling: Adventures of an American in Britain; Author: Visit Amazon's Bill Bryson Page; Review: Bryson Line definition: As drawn on a map of Great Britain by author Bill Bryson, the Bryson Line connects the two furthest apart points on the island measured north to south in a straight line and which are Cape Wrath and Bognor Regis respectively. Bill Bryson loves the island of Great Britain as much as I do, as he gave evidence years ago when he published Notes from a Small Island. Since then, Ive read pretty much everything hes written and regard him as one of my very favorite writers. Here, after his publisher suggests that Bill do a sequel to NOTES, the author embarks on the road trip, very loosely following the Bryson Line south to north, that culminates in THE ROAD TO LITTLE DRIBBLING. Now in his mid-sixties, its obvious that Ol Bill is turning into a querulous curmudgeon. But, at 68, so am I. However, the proof of the pudding is that England and Great Britain survived this acid test of his fussy inspection. That, to me, is evidence that the country(side) Ive loved for years has endured since Ive been away. Bryson writes in THE ROAD TO LITTLE DRIBBLING: Nothing and I mean really, absolutely nothing is more extraordinary in Britain than the beauty of the countryside. Nowhere in the world is there a landscape that has been more intensively utilized more mined, farmed, quarried, covered with cities and clanging factories, threaded with motorways and rail-road tracks and yet remains so comprehensively and reliably lovely over most of its extent. It is the happiest accident in history. Now I am not saying that London is the worlds best city because it had a homosexual brothel scandal or because Virginia Woolf and L. Ron Hubbard around the corner, or anything like that. I am just saying that London is layered with history and full of secret corners in a way that no other city can touch. And it has pubs and lots of trees and is often quite lovely. You cant beat that. I thought that when England is lovely there isn't any place I would rather be. Yes. Oh, yes. With this latest book, I nevertheless must take issue with the authors narrative on two points and would reduce the stars awarded to four and a half if the rating system allowed. Within the text for the first time I can recall, Bill reveals his political orientation. For a writer who does not pen politically themed books and appeals to a wide range of readers, this seems pointlessly provocative with the potential of alienating many. Indeed, this looks downright stupid on his part. Secondly, Bryson uses the F-word on several occasions when expressing his opinion (as opposed to when quoting someone else). Mind you, Im not offended, just puzzled. While the word often appears in novels and might appear in a heated political essay, for Bill to apparently find it necessary to use it pretty much unnecessarily perhaps indicates mental regression. At 65, Bill, are you now becoming fifteen again? Its sad that an otherwise master of the; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Spring Chicken: Stay Young Forever (or Die Trying); Author: Visit Amazon's Bill Gifford Page; Review: Kale - Why not? Try it with bacon. from the SPRING CHICKEN Appendix, Things That Might Work. In his early forties, while contemplating his own mortality and after observing a grandfather and a grand uncle die at widely differing ages, author Bill Gifford decided to write a book on those factors that might help acquire the Fountain of Youth. Thus, SPRING CHICKEN: STAY YOUNG FOREVER (OR DIE TRYING). After a preliminary discussion of aging and life expectancy in general, SPRING CHICKEN is basically Bills survey of those factors and practices demonstrating scientifically proven merit or not that have been, faddishly are, or might be life prolonging when considered against a backdrop of underlying aging-controlling genetics, obvious risk factors, and obvious signs of aging. Such include hormone injections, healthy diets, cholesterol lowering drugs, stem cell therapies, exercise regimens, old age athletic competition, ongoing severe caloric restriction, and cold water immersions. For the reader, the greatest single benefit to reading SPRING CHICKEN is to acquire an introductory understanding of the fascinating metabolic mechanisms of aging at the cellular and molecular levels. It is the books inferred conclusion that the scientific understanding and manipulation of these processes will ultimately allow for a dramatic increase in human longevity (whether such is beneficial to the planet and its available resources or not). The volumes Appendix, Things That Might Work, lists what the reader could try to extend healthfulness while waiting for science to make the breakthrough: resveratrol, alcohol/red wine, coffee, curcumin, Life Extension Mix, metformin, vitamin D, aspirin and ibuprofen, and kale. And, of course, Gifford stresses following the adage use it or lose it. That is, keep active both mentally and physically as the years pile up. For me personally, the most interesting topic was that of the adverse effect of cytomegalovirus (CMV) on the aging body. Happily and luckily, Im CMV negative. SPRING CHICKEN is a must read for anyone wishing to prolong a healthy and active life.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Summer Queen: A Novel of Eleanor of Aquitaine; Author: Visit Amazon's Elizabeth Chadwick Page; Review: This is but a little life and we will be back with God before we know it. Alienor in THE SUMMER QUEEN As an aficionado of English history, my favorite characters have always been and shall always be the first Plantagenet monarch, Henry II, and his Queen Consort, Alienor (aka Eleanor), also the Duchess of Aquitaine and the former Queen Consort of the French king Louis VII. If one considers only books on the reigns of the English monarchs, then the appearance of Alienor on that stage happens in 1152 when her marriage to Louis is annulled and she weds Henry who, at that time, was battling as the grandson of King Henry I to wrest the right of inheritance to the English throne from the current King Stephen and his son Eustace. If limited to that starting point in her life, even that would be sufficient to appreciate her historically. Indeed, if one is more severely limited to viewing the superlative film The Lion in Winter (1968), an adaptation of the original stage play set at Christmas 1183, then one cannot be but entranced with what may have been Alienors character. In SUMMER QUEEN, Elizabeth Chadwick takes us back further in the evolution of the legend to 1137 when Alienor, then the vulnerable 15-year old female heir to the rich province of Aquitaine, marries Louis VII to bring her (and the province) under the protection of the French crown. THE SUMMER QUEEN is an exquisite fictional rendering of Alienors life with Louis. The bare facts of those years are what they are, of course, but the reader can only hope that the fleshing out of those facts somewhat approximates the reality of the actual relationship between the two. Chadwicks primary intent with THE SUMMER QUEEN is obviously to shed light on what might have been the maturation process of Alienor the girl to Alienor the woman before starting her down the path of her journey into lore with The Winter Crown: A Novel of Eleanor of Aquitaine and The Autumn Throne: A Novel of Eleanor of Aquitaine. Unintentionally perhaps, the first volume in the trilogy might be taken by the reader as an examination of the unravelling of a marriage. Its no secret that Alienors second marriage (to Henry II) unraveled even more spectacularly than her first. From a wider perspective, then, the entire series is a lesson in relationships gone wrong. Who among us cannot relate to that?; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dead Centre (Nick Stone Book 14): Andy McNab's best-selling series of Nick Stone thrillers; Author: Visit Amazon's Andy McNab Page; Review: The number of literary Tough Guys and Hard Cases could flesh out a company-sized unit at least, I would think. Those Ive followed to a greater or lesser degree are Jack Reacher, Dan Spider Shepherd, Nick Stone, John Wells, Bob Lee Swagger, and Jonah Said. (Do the Hardy Boys count?) I presume the author creator of each needs to work overtime thinking of the next bad spot to put his hero into in order to stay ahead of the competition. Here in DEAD CENTRE, Andy McNabs ex-SAS squaddie Nick Stone takes on the task for a Russian oligarch of rescuing his first-born son and the boys mother abducted from a private yacht by Somali pirates. If thats not a big enough challenge, it then gets complicated. Is DEAD CENTRE a better read than the best of any of those featuring the others kicking butt and taking no prisoners? Probably not. However, what I particularly liked about this thriller was that it puts the reader on the ground in what may be the worlds most godawful slit trench of a nation. McNab seemed to capture the ambience of the place just right. And Stones use of distress flares is an eye-opening subtopic all by itself. Dont try it at home.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ghost on the Throne: The Death of Alexander the Great and the War for Crown and Empire; Author: James Romm; Review: But even (Alexander) might not have believed that, within a day of his demise, the two main branches of the army would draw weapons on each other over his very corpse. The speed of the unraveling, the scale of the breakdown of trust and order, was breathtaking. from GHOST ON THE THRONE The news (of Alexanders death) went out along communication lines set up by the Persians and still functioning under Macedonian rule. Criers stationed on hilltops, spaced at the limits of earshot, called it to each other, sending it in one days time the distance of a months travel. Mounted couriers carried it at a gallop from one way station to the next, relaying it at each one to a fresh rider atop a fresh horse. Swiftest of all were the fire beacons that raced along spoke-like lines to the main Persian capitals, Susa and Persepolis. from GHOST ON THE THRONE What even only semi-educated person in the world hasn't heard of and probably admired Alexander the Great and his march of conquest to create an empire stretching from Greece and Egypt in the West to India in the East? Yet, the story of this empire after Alexanders death is, I think, little known by the masses. And its in the telling of this story where admiration of Alexander may break down inasmuch as he apparently prepared no directives for his succession, or at least any that were communicated to his most powerful generals. In GHOST ON THE THRONE, author James Romm takes us from June 323 B.C. to 308 B.C., during which time those who had been closest to Alexander carved up his empire in multiple eruptions of alliance switches, outright treacheries, rebellions, murders most foul, power grabs, and naked ambitions with a few spectacular military victories/defeats mixed in. The challenge for Romm was to create a narrative in the reading of which the reader could keep track of the multiple personalities vying and maneuvering for power over so many years in so many regions of the empire specifically Europe (Greece, Macedonia), North Africa (Egypt), and Asia. He succeeded brilliantly I was never confused by composing narrative snapshots taken sequentially over fifteen years, each of which focused on the year, place, and major players, e.g.: Phocion (Athens, July 323 B.C.) Ptolemy (Egypt, Autumn 323 - Summer 322 B.C.) Eumenes, Antigonus, and Antipater (Anatolia, Winter, Late 320 B.C.) Polyperchon, Cassander, and the Royal Family (Greece, Epirus, and Macedonia, Summer 318 B.C.) Olympia and Cassander (Pydna and Pella, Winter, Early 316 B.C.) Rhoxane and the Young Alexander (Macedonia and Amphipolis, 316 308 B.C.) At least on the (Paperwhite) Kindle edition, the infrequent photos and maps are difficult to view as they either cant be enlarged or don't enlarge enough. The text narrative itself comprises only about 61% of the Kindle edition; the remaining percentage is comprised of Notes and References. The book was obviously a labor of dedication and love. Honor is due the author for a lucid and enlightening work of history. The plot would make the basis for an engrossing; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Secret Speech; Author: Visit Amazon's Tom Rob Smith Page; Review: Before becoming head of a special homicide investigative unit of the state militia, Leo Demidov had been an officer in the Ministry of State Security (MGB), the forerunner of the KGB. During his time with that agency, Leo had arrested hundreds of Soviet citizens, sending them to endure cruel interrogations and subsequent death or sentence to the gulags. Then in 1956, three years after Stalins death, Nikita Khrushchev denounced before the 20th Congress of the Communist Part of the Soviet Union Stalins cult of personality and the savage measures the dictators regime had used to control the Party (though the denunciation didn't dwell on the repressions of the general population as a whole). This was the Secret Speech. In THE SECRET SPEECH, author Tom Rob Smith cleverly has Nikitas bombshell oration initiate a chain of events that tears apart the life and family of Demidov, previously introduced to readers in Child 44 (The Child 44 Trilogy). Here, Leos vengeance-driven and hate-filled nemesis - of his own creation - propels him from Moscow to the Siberian gulags and back to Budapest, Hungary on a desperate quest. Much of Smiths genius in the creation of his protagonist is that Demidov isn't particularly heroic or admirable but perhaps exists in a sort of gray area of the readers affections. Competent in the performance of his duties of the moment, yes, but not someone youd likely admire or even want as a drinking or golfing buddy. Yet, compared to the evil hes pitted against in the books plot, you have to cheer him on from the sidelines and, perhaps against all logic, are compelled to follow his further adventures (see Agent 6 (The Child 44 Trilogy)). It would be interesting to know if Khrushchevs sermon to the Party faithful actually resulted in reprisals against the states secret police officials. I suspect its something that well never know.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Crisis of Character: A White House Secret Service Officer Discloses His Firsthand Experience with Hillary,; Author: Visit Amazon's Gary J. Byrne Page; Review: (Hillary Clintons staffers) explicitly informed me that careers were made or broken on the whim of her wrath The issue, as always, was How do we tell Hillary? It made it impossible for them to say no to her. from CRISIS OF CHARACTER The Clintons had attained the White House by manufacturing an image of being bright, shining stars who cared deeply for the little guy. The truth is they wallowed in mud and were willing to drag numerous little people with them to retain power. from CRISIS OF CHARACTER I had to toe the line enough to keep my job, but I couldn't live with myself or sleep at night if I didn't tell the truth. My conscience, my sleep, my head, and my stomach were going to take a beating for weeks on end while they dragged me through the mud, but I couldn't let myself be racked with doubt, regret, and inner turmoil for the rest of my life I wouldnt stoop to the Clintons level to protect myself. I wouldnt have been any better than they were. from CRISIS OF CHARACTER, during Byrnes embroilment in the Monica Lewinsky scandal CRISIS OF CHARACTER is ex-Secret Service (Uniformed Division) officer Gary Byrnes first-person account of becoming unwillingly enmeshed in the Clinton-Lewinsky scandals investigation that threatened to destroy his career with the service. Judging from the amount of text space spent on that inquiry and Bills subsequent efforts at denial culminating in his impeachment, this was Byrnes intended focus and allowed the author to conclude that the Clintons were completely unfit to occupy the White House. The first several chapters chronicle Garys childhood upbringing and his time on the Air Force Security Police, character-molding experiences which Byrne would have us construe reincarnated him as another Dudley Do-Right of the Mounties, a character in the Rocky and Bullwinkle Show, an animated TV series that aired from 1959 to 1964. Gary is so squeaky-clean in this and the rest of CRISIS OF CHARACTER that he cant even spell out the F word when he uses it. Is Byrnes characterization of the Clintons accurate? Well, the couples misbehavior from Bills governorship of Arkansas to Hillarys stint as Secretary of State is well reported elsewhere; one only need look. However, it doesnt really matter. Those who already hate the Clintons (and particularly despise Hillary) will find few or no additional reasons for continuing to do so anyway. And those who admire and support the couple will not be dissuaded no matter what; it is, don't you know, a fiendish, right wing cabal to smear two chosen by Destiny to lead. The overriding flaw of CRISIS OF CHARACTER is that its predominant tone is that of a Boy Scout caught in the public spotlight who wonders Golly gee, what sort of mess have I gotten myself into. This incessant self-pitying perspective becomes tedious all too soon and reduces whatever added value there is in later chapters when Gary recounts his post-Lewinsky life experiencing 9/11 and eventually transitioning into the Federal Air Marshal Service. By that time,; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: A Deniable Death; Author: Visit Amazon's Gerald Seymour Page; Review: They did not, any of them, do ethics; they did the job. from A DENIABLE DEATH It had been a sizeable piece of his life, important, and might be memorable, a bit of ground two yards square that held them both, and the bergens, for hours, days and nights. He would remember it. Badger couldn't have said then how long his life expectancy was, but the image of the scrape, the net and the camouflage, the smell of the bags, the piss bottles, Foxys body and breath and Badgers own would stay with him until the last. from A DENIABLE DEATH A DENIABLE DEATH is another Gerald Seymour story set on one of the gritty hard edges of world confrontation. Here two British surveillance experts, Badger from the civilian police and Foxy from the Army, are coopted by MI6 for an officially deniable mission to the marshes of Iran just over the border from Iraq. Their assignment is to establish close surveillance of the Engineer, a master maker of improvised explosive devices that has sent many of Her Majestys troops home in a box or otherwise maimed for life. Specifically, MI6 has learned that the Engineers wife has a brain cancer only treatable in the West, and the couples destination city must be learned beforehand so an assassination of the Engineer can be arranged. The entire operation is a joint endeavor mounted by MI6 and the Cousin (the CIA) and the Friend (the Mossad). Seymours novels, always set in contemporarily relevant spheres of conflict, are such painstaking exercises in plot and character development that the term thriller for any of them is perhaps misleading. They are, indeed, constructed much as are John le Carrés Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy: A George Smiley Novel and Smiley's People: A George Smiley Novel. Readers looking for a fast-paced tale of espionage derring-do reminiscent of 007 must necessarily search elsewhere. One feature of all Seymour novels is that there is no super-hero or super-villain. All characters are as you might perhaps encounter them outwardly ordinary. In A DENIABLE DEATH, there are Badger and Foxy, the Engineer and his wife Naghmeh, the MI6 mission planners back in London, Len Gibbons and Sarah, the Engineers security chief Mansoor, the brain surgeon consultant Soheil (aka Steffen), the Blackhawk crew awaiting the call to fly an extraction mission, the MI6 support team on the ground in Iraq Abigail, Shagger, Harding, Hamfist and Corky and the Israeli assassin Gabbi. The actions of all hinge on the utterance of a single word. The best aspect of any Seymour plot is that it always evolves into a Pyrrhic victory for the winner. There are left the dead and walking wounded on both sides. That is, I think, much like real life.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Meet Me in Atlantis: My Obsessive Quest to Find the Sunken City; Author: Visit Amazon's Mark Adams Page; Review: If some future Heinrich Schliemann ever uncovers a three-ringed coastal city with a central island five stades across and a temple of Poseidon that matches Platos precise 2:1 dimensions, the Atlantis case will be closed. I think thats extremely unlikely to happen. Mark Adams, author of MEET ME IN ATLANTIS It wasn't until I read MEET ME IN ATLANTIS by Mark Adams that I learned that the genesis of the story of the lost city of Atlantis is ascribed to Plato. Well, outside of perhaps high school memory fails remembering that ancient time Ive never read much by the Greek philosophers; its not light reading and Ive relatively shallow interests that would more likely have me take up a book on the String Theory of physics. Say what you will about Plato, MEET ME IN ATLANTIS is a vastly informative account of the authors wide-ranging attempt to come to some conclusions about the location of the lost city. Marks investigation carries him to North America, Africa, and Europe and those sites favored by Atlantis chasers as being the Holy Grail of their respective searches the coast of southwestern Spain near Cadiz, the southwest coast of Morocco near Agadir, Malta, and the Greek island of Santorini. The ripples of his research lap up against topics as varied as the copper deposits of Isle Royale in Lake Superior, an apocalyptic meteor strike in the Indian Ocean east of Madagascar, and Platos obsession with Pythagorean mathematics. The extent of the authors personal quest, even if only considering the distances traveled, is exhausting. Yet, he manages it with a good humor that comes across in his narrative. MEET ME IN ATLANTIS incorporates eight pages of relevant black and white snaps. I would unreservedly recommend MEET ME IN ATLANTIS for anyone even casually interested in the topic.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Light of the World; Author: Visit Amazon's James Lee Burke Page; Review: LIGHT OF THE WORLD by James Lee Burke is perhaps the third or fourth Dave Robicheaux novel Ive read over the past several years. Its not as if I binge read the series. Here, Dave and his best friend Clete Purcel are in the mountains of western Montana vacationing at a another friends cabin. Both have been emotionally and mentally damaged by time spent in the Vietnam war and New Orleans law enforcement. With them are Daves wife Molly and adopted daughter Alafair - both still reasonably normal. Then, Cletes daughter by a hooker, Gretchen, shows up. Shamefully abused as a child (but not by Clete), Gretchen has a past history as a hired Mob killer. And these are the Good Guys of the plot. Indeed, Gretchen deserves her own series. On the other side are the resurrected serial killer stalking Alafair, Asa Surrette, the amoral oil millionaire Love Younger, and his wretched, dissolute son Caspian. Somewhere in the middle are Caspians emotionally destroyed wife, Felicity, and a mysterious ex-con cowboy, Wyatt Dixon. I wouldve given LIGHT OF THE WORLD 5 stars had it been less ambitious a writing project. There are two plots here. One involving Dave, Clete, Gretchen, Alafair, and Surrette; the other involving Dave, Clete, the Youngers, Felicity, Wyatt, and Surrette. Each plot couldve been well-served by its own thriller, but the author chose to intertwine the two which makes for a WAR AND PEACE-size read that compelled me to mutter Get on with it! more than was seemly. Youd think Dave and Clete had to wrap them both up before catching a flight back to The Big Easy and not save one for the next trip to the mountains. Im not saying LIGHT OF THE WORLD was a bad read. Just sometimes less is more, you know?; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Bedtime Stories for Grown-Ups; Author: Visit Amazon's Andrew Joyce Page; Review: I know this story has gone on far too long, longer than I envisioned when I started it, so anyone wanting to leave now, Ill understand. an excerpt from BEDTIME STORIES Andrew Joyce has previously published four novels REDEMPTION: The Further Adventures of Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer,Molly Lee and Resolution: Huck Finn's Greatest Adventure, which extrapolate into the post-Civil War years Mark Twains Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn characters, plus some new ones. Another volume, Yellow Hair, is basically Andrews desire to put into print an accounting of the U.S. governments policy of sequestration onto reservations the Dakota Indian tribes of the countrys northern Great Plains. For those who resisted such interdiction of their traditional life style, it meant genocide. Ive read, reviewed, and recommended all four. BEDTIME STORIES FOR GROWN-UPS by Joyce is a collection of some 89 short stories if my count is accurate. Some are longer than others. Some are much longer than others and needlessly so, I think. The protagonists of the collection are variously drifters, fortune seekers, minor criminals, death row inmates, hitchhikers, Indian warriors, lovers, preachers, wronged men, just regular folks enmeshed in circumstances, and a wide array of others. All are caught up in lives of good luck, hard luck, or otherwise the consequences of events not under their control. Many of the stories are told from the perspective of the authors dog, Danny. One cannot fault Joyce for a lack of variety. I gather that these stories were essentially exercises written over the years as Andrew polished the writing skills that ultimately resulted in the four published novels mentioned above. As such, they provide a window for the reader to witness this evolution. BEDTIME STORIES wouldve, I think, benefited hugely from the scrutiny of an editor. Many of the tales ramble on endlessly despite a promising or clever premise. Moreover, the majority of the protagonists do not, in my opinion, sufficiently garner the readers sympathies or affection. At least, they didn't mine. But my opinion may be unduly harsh. Thus Ill give the whole a non-committal three stars and let other reviewers decide for themselves. Nevertheless, thank you Andrew for sharing. Im happy to have read the authors full length novels and will likely read ones published in the future.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Light Touch: The 14th Spider Shepherd Thriller; Author: Visit Amazon's Stephen Leather Page; Review: If I did try to stop you, what then? from LIGHT TOUCH, Spider to Standing Like I said, you're a legend. But you're fifteen years older than me and Im just back from Syria. You wouldnt want to take me, Spider. from LIGHT TOUCH, Standing to Spider Stephen Leathers LIGHT TOUCH is actually two completely separate storylines that the author chooses to connect at the end. One involves Spider Shepherd on an MI5 undercover mission to determine whether or not a National Crime Agency operative, herself undercover to entrap a drug kingpin, has been turned. The second involves SAS Sergeant Matt Standing, recently returned from duty in Syria after striking an officer, and now on a mandatory leave of absence under orders to undergo anger management therapy while coping with the knowledge that his teenage sister was recently murdered with a drug overdose by an Asian Muslim gang that groomed young female unbelievers into being sex slaves. You can imagine how well his therapy goes. Leather always does the requisite research to anchor his plots on a background of contemporary facts. As a bestselling author of considerable stature, I would guess that few official doors are closed to him. In any case, LIGHT TOUCH sheds light on the current dilemmas faced by British law enforcement and security agencies when dealing with homegrown crime and terrorism as practiced by resident Muslims. The countrys citizens of, say, Norwegian heritage don't seem to present the same problems, but political correctness doesnt allow the distinction to be publicly made and acted upon. The conclusion the reader of LIGHT TOUCH might reach is that Standing deserves his own series. Hes a man of violent action when faced with adversity and wrong doing, reminding me of thriller writer Lee Childs protagonist Jack Reacher. Could Spider in his dotage take him? Probably not. I have mixed feelings about the Spider character as one around which to construct a continuing book string of greater length. His literary assignments have achieved a predictability that might indicate his usefulness as an entertainment vehicle has run its course. Even his relationship with Katra was long evolved and predictable. LIGHT TOUCH is an excellent read due to the inclusion of the Standing chap.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Rust: The Longest War; Author: Visit Amazon's Jonathan Waldman Page; Review: Rust, of course, is the corrosion of iron, while corrosion is the gnawing away, thanks to oxygen, of any metal. To the horror of engineers, I use the word colloquially. from RUST, the author There was, according to the report, definite risk of structural failure in the torch, an event that would be embarrassing to say the least. from RUST, concerning the 1983 report on the structural integrity of the Statue of Liberty We have not made any inroads with the plumbers yet. They kept telling us they did not want to solve problems (associated with corrosion) because about fifty to sixty percent of their work was in repairing systems. They were very, very adamant that they did not want to solve the problems. from RUST, regarding the inability of the National Association of Corrosion Engineers to attract plumbers Earthquakes, avalanches floods, and ice floes all threaten TAPS (But) the number one threat to the integrity of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline is corrosion, enough to make engineers in the last frontier dream of Bakersfield. from RUST RUST by Jonathan Waldman is a book that might pique the curiosity of the average person enough to read it while at the same time posing in the readers mind the question Do I really want to. I succumbed to curiosity. The book captured my interest almost immediately with an account of the discovery in 1980 of the severe degree to which the Statue of Liberty had corroded over the decades and the subsequent 6-year, national effort to make things right again. From then on, RUST was, for me, an uneven narrative. During the books eleven chapters plus Epilogue, I admit to being fascinated and instructed about the invention of stainless steel, the essential usefulness of galvanized steel in corrosion prevention, the evolution of the interior coatings of food cans, and the enormous technological effort it takes to run pigs the length of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline. (In this context, a pig is a cylindrical tool, the diameter of which is nominally the same as the diameter of the sewer, gas, oil, or water pipe through which it is sent for the purpose of cleaning or inspecting and recording structural information.) On the other hand, I was monumentally bored by the too-long descriptions of the evolution and responsibilities of the National Association of Corrosion Engineers and the Department of Defenses Office of Corrosion Policy and Oversight. Moreover, when detailing the contributions of key individuals in the war against corrosion, the author dedicates too much page space to histories of their personal lives and professional development. Yes, I agree that these individuals and organizations are key components of the overall story, but where was the text editor when Waldman needed him? Indeed, the authors account of Levar Burtons hosting of a Pentagon-funded corrosion video is mind-numbing. (Of course, I never thought much of Burtons Star Trek role as Lieutenant Commander Geordi LaForge, so perhaps my perspective is skewed.) RUST includes an eight-page section of relevant, mildly interesting photographs. I suspect that for a corrosion engineer RUST is as (or; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Guilty Minds; Author: Visit Amazon's Joseph Finder Page; Review: Im going to loose the investigative hounds on you. Youll be a ruined man. I am not an enemy you want to have from GUILTY MINDS at 39% in, the editor of Slander Sheet to Heller Once again, author Joseph Finder has penned a Nick Heller exploit capable of entertaining the reader stranded at the airport due to a blizzard shutdown just so long as the sun peeps through and the plows scrape the snow off the runways after about four hours. Here in GUILTY MINDS, Nick is hired at no expense spared to squash the credibility of an electronic scandal sheets upcoming story claiming that the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court enjoyed three trysts with a high end hooker. Heller has something less than 48 hours to pull off the seemingly impossible. But, at 39% into the read, Nick has to radically alter course into what becomes a murder conspiracy whodunit. The thing is and this isn't necessarily a criticism, only an observation about the genre book serials that feature the ongoing adventures of an individual hero whether it be Nick Heller, Jack Reacher, Spider Shepherd, Nick Stone, Miss Marple, Nancy Drew, Sherlock Holmes, or Denis Nayland Smith invariably become constructed by the author according to some sort of formula in order to keep the readership happy. Its like the menu at your favorite megalithic fast food chain; you know what to expect whether you're in North Dakota, Mississippi or the Big Apple. (Mind you, thats not a bad thing. I can rely on the fact that the chocolate shake at Dennys is the best among the chains because its made with chocolate ice cream, not vanilla with a dollop of chocolate syrup.) However, with 61 percent of GUILTY MINDS remaining, the vehemence of the quote from the book noted at the beginning of this review suggested to me what actually proved to be the plots undercurrent by the storys conclusion. The joy to be had is watching Nick be Nick while solving the case using some pretty nifty technology and escaping some tight spots. Its not gourmet literature, but its enough with which to wait out the whiteout.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Dirty Parts of the Bible: A Novel; Author: Sammy Conner; Review: Its a valuable skill, knowing how to defuse a woman. Tobias, THE DIRTY PARTS OF THE BIBLE THE DIRTY PARTS OF THE BIBLE is, according to its author Sam Torode, a retelling of the ancient Jewish tale of Tobias and Sarah in the Book of Tobit. In this version set in 1936 which opens in the derelict Michigan town of Remus, Tobias Henry is the teenage son of a strict Baptist preacher removed from office by the church elders for a one-night drinking binge. On the verge of financial ruin, the disgraced Reverend buys Tobias a train ticket to Texas with the last of his funds, his mission to recover a fortune of ill gotten money hed tossed down an abandoned well on the old family farm after hed graduated from the seminary feeling too full of Gods righteousness to keep it. At this point in his high-testosterone fueled life, Tobias is more interested in girls, though his experience with them is non-existent to date. Whereas in another time and place his fantasies might have been raised to a fevered pitch by looking at the native women in a National Geographic magazine, young Henry, as a preachers son, finds his release in the pages of the Bibles Book of Solomon. THE DIRTY PARTS OF THE BIBLE is a competently conceived yet unexceptional tale of a young mans adventurous odyssey of maturation and discovery. However, the story is elevated from a mediocre three-star status by the humor with which it is told and the attractiveness of the Tobias character and those he meets on his quest. Its worth three hours of your time.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Thousand-Mile War : World War II in Alaska and the Aleutians; Author: Brian Garfield; Review: as the early fall came in, oil became lumpy as caramel and canned juice on a tent floor had to be placed on the stove to melt. Ice formed on mens clothes and froze to their skin. They changed shoes every fifteen minutes and kept the second pair on the stove. Men returned from latrines with frost-bitten buttocks (The weather) was a hell unlike any other. Constant turbulence tossed airplanes like kites It twisted airframes, wracked fuselages, stretched and loosened rivets, bent wings. It shook up cockpit instruments and threw them out of whack. It clogged carburetors. It loosened window seals, rusted landing-gear oleos, ruined fuel lines, shook engine mounts loose, gummed guns, froze bomb-bay rack releases, and fouled hydraulic systems. It killed. from THE THOUSAND-MILE WAR There are three places where there is no rank a poker game, a whore house, and a chow line. from THE THOUSAND-MILE WAR, Lt. Gen. Simon Bolivar Buckner, Jr., commanding the Alaska Defense Command This reviewer is a baby-boomer, both of whose parents, before marrying, served in the Army during World War II. (Mom was an Army psychiatrist on the East coast - see my review of To Heal and To Serve: Women Army Doctors in World War Two - while Ol Dad was a Medical Service Corps officer serving in the China-Burma-India Theater a.k.a. the South-East Asian Theatre as it was known by the Brits.) I suspect that what most U.S. students learned of World War II in elementary and high school history within 3-4 decades after VE and VJ days was limited to those theaters of the conflict where American troops played a major part and were led by famous generals: The South Pacific (MacArthur and the Marines), perhaps North Africa (where Eisenhower and Patton debuted), certainly Western Europe (where Eisenhower, Patton and Bradley became household names), and perhaps the Dunkirk evacuation and the aerial Battle of Britain (linked as they were to the oratory of Winston Churchill who was, after all, half-American by birth almost one of us). Certainly not the South-East Asian Theatre (pretty much an Empire show) nor the Soviet Russian Front (because our arch-enemy in the Cold War could hardly be acknowledged credit for the defeat of the Nazi war machine, which it did). And most certainly not the war in Alaska and the Aleutians, the only American territory occupied by the enemy during WWII, and won back by American and Canadian troops and airman. THE THOUSAND-MILE WAR by Brian Garfield, first published in 1969 and re-issued in 1995, is as riveting an account of any WWII theater as you can read. The conflict lasted 439 days. The sequence of combat operations for the Japanese was the bombing of Dutch Harbor, the occupation of Attu and Kiska, and the 20-day stubborn defense of Attu against American invasion during which 2,900 Japanese troops fought to the death, either killed in action or committing suicide instead of surrendering. (Only 28 were taken prisoner.) For the Americans and their Canadian allies, it was to constantly bomb the Japanese base on Kiska, prevent; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Wolves (A John Wells Novel); Author: Visit Amazon's Alex Berenson Page; Review: THE WOLVES is author Alex Berensons final book of the trilogy that began with The Counterfeit Agent (A John Wells Novel) and Twelve Days (A John Wells Novel), this pair having the authors superhero John Wells racing against the clock to expose a nefarious plot framing Iran as a nuclear-capable imminent aggressor against the United States and/or Israel, an unacceptable scenario for the American President, who responds by setting a 12-day deadline for Iran to open its nuclear facilities to inspection or be subject to a U.S. ground and air attack. Now, the intrigue foiled but the mastermind still at large, Wells and his CIA enablers, Shafer and Duto, strike a deal with the President: they won't reveal to the press his gullibility in the almost-war if Wells is allowed to take out the architect of the deception, Aaron Duberman, a Jewish American millionaire and former big contributor to the Presidents election campaign holed up in Tel Aviv under Israeli protection for now anyway. In this conclusion to a first-rate trio, the action transfers half-way around the world to Hong Kong and Macao and sucks in the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB), Her Majestys MI6, and the nuclear-powered supercarrier U.S.S. Ronald Reagan. Not a bad cast, that. What I liked best about this thriller, besides Wells himself as the no-nonsense, modern day Raguel, the Archangel of Justice, is the setting in Hong Kong and Macao. Having visited both in 1993 when they were still British and Portuguese colonies respectively, THE WOLVES gave me a glimpse as to how both have changed since. While I love London more than any other city Ive visited, Hong Kong was then and still is the most spectacular. Take the tram to the top of Victoria Peak and tell me that isn't so.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: In The Driver's Seat: Interstate Trucking -- a Journey; Author: Marc Mayfield; Review: Cause we got a little convoy Rockin' through the night. Yeah, we got a little convoy, Ain't she a beautiful sight? Come on and join our convoy Ain't nothin' gonna get in our way. We gonna roll this truckin' convoy 'Cross the U-S-A. Convoy! from the song CONVOY by C.W. McCall As a youngster, or even as an adult, did you ever fantasize about leaving it all behind by running away with a cloth sack tied to the end of a stick to join the French Foreign Legion, be posted to an isolated fortress outpost in the Saharan desert, and fight Arab hordes alongside Beau Geste (Gary Cooper)? About a dozen years ago, I read Life in the French Foreign Legion: How to Join and What to Expect When You Get There, at the end of which I decided I was better off putting the stick and sack back in the closet and just go ahead and clean out the cats litter boxes. During the fifty or so years since I started driving, I have to admit the allure of the open road as experienced by long-distance truckers has occasionally stimulated what-if fantasies. I love driving across varied landscapes to places Ive never seen before and will likely never see again. So, it was in that same sense of vicarious discovery about the French Foreign Legion that I read IN THE DRIVERS SEAT by Marc Mayfield, written and published in the mid-1990s. Mayfield, currently about the same age as I am, did in his mid-40s what I might have done in a parallel universe spent a decade driving 18-wheelers. The author covers most aspects of the experience: the enticement of life on the road that compelled him to embark on it, the training requirements and process, his first (and subsequent) trucks, driving as a company man and then as an independent operator, the terminology, delivery schedules, paid and unpaid mileage, income, solo driving solitude, driving logs, sleeping compartments, CB radios, regulations, truck stops, weigh stations, load dispatchers, hazards, accidents, and the effects on his marriage driving with and without his wife Gayle. Finishing the book, I decided a truckers life wouldnt have been for me, and I can only admire Marc for having done it. The erratic and long hours, the lousy pay, the loss of sleep and time at home, and the abuse of drivers schedules, routes and regulations by bad apple dispatchers and one-sided contracts insisted upon by trucking company management totally outweigh, it seems to me, the appeal of the freedom and solitude of solo long-distance driving across the America the Beautiful. IN THE DRIVERS SEAT, though perhaps dated, is a must read for anyone considering becoming a big rig Road Warrior. It has certainly given me a new perspective on those trucks and truckers with which I share the interstate.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Grunt: The Curious Science of Humans at War; Author: Visit Amazon's Mary Roach Page; Review: Grunt slang term for a combat arms soldier in the Army Hoorah! U.S. Marines Hooah! U.S. Army Hooyah! U.S. Navy Im the goober with a flashlight, stumbling into corners and crannies, not looking for anything specific but knowing when Ive found it. from GRUNT, Mary Roach about herself Medicare reimbursement code for maggots: CPT 99070. from GRUNT skatole, an intense fecal-smelling compound produced by gut bacteria as they break down meat In highly dilute form, skatole adds a flowery note to perfumes and artificial raspberry and vanilla flavors. from GRUNT Mary Roach, one of my favorite writers, authors books that link science to various aspects of human biology and condition. Her previous works include Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers,Bonk: The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex,Spook: Science Tackles the Afterlife,Gulp: Adventures on the Alimentary Canal, and Packing for Mars: The Curious Science of Life in the Void. At all times, she explores the subject with humor. With a wink and nod, she takes things seriously but not too seriously. In GRUNT, Marys topic is the curious science of humans at war, the books subtitle. That said, its somewhat misleading in that the science discussed is not that of the methods by which men (and women) make war and inflict casualties on the enemy, but that which endeavors to devise the means for protecting our troops while fighting. So, GRUNTs chapters deal with such topics as protective clothing, vehicle protection from rocket propelled grenades and improvised explosive devices, the reconstruction of wounded genitals, medic training, resistance to heat and diarrhea, the use of maggots as wound debriders, fly suppression, the weaponization of stink bombs, the development of shark repellents, escape methods from sunken submarines, and the well-meaning efforts to reduce chronic sleep deprivation. Marys signature humor is less well displayed in GRUNT, perhaps because the subject is more serious than in her previous books. However, it shines through often enough to be relished by the reader. Somewhat surprisingly, considering my admiration for Marys prior volumes, Im only awarding 4 stars to this one. While addressing concerns of our troops fighting on the ground and at sea (or at least underneath), she pretty much ignores the flyboys. I wouldve thought that the evolution of the anti-g suit that protects the pilots of high-performance fighter planes during high speed aerial maneuvers wouldve been a suitable subject, at least, to explore and gotten her a ride on an F-16. But, I still luv ya, Mary!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Night Trains: The Rise and Fall of the Sleeper; Author: Visit Amazon's Andrew Martin Page; Review: the Night Ferry offered the novelty of being seasick on a train. There was a porcelain seasickness bowl in every compartment, and luggage was secured in a net. This blurring of travel categories was part of its fascination. There was a lifebelt in every compartment from NIGHT TRAINS, referring to the pre-Channel Tunnel London to Paris overnight sleeper Having experienced overnight sleeper trains in the United States beginning in 1961 on a Los Angeles to Grand Canyon run and most recently on Amtraks Los Angeles to Albuquerque service, I was attracted to Andrew Martins NIGHT TRAINS: THE RISE AND FALL OF THE SLEEPER thinking it might be relevant to my American journeys. I discovered I was misled, though not by any malicious intent on the part of the author. Martins NIGHT TRAINS is a nostalgic look at the sleepers of WESTERN EUROPE, and should appeal to readers whose attachment to those rail services derives from either actually travelling on them or vicarious exposure via twentieth century films and literature. However, my only experience with such was a 1984 sleeper from Moscow to Leningrad, an encounter so lacking charm and substance that I cant recall the details of the departure and arrival stations or the transit between! The authors standard for excellence is apparently the Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits (Wagon-Lits, WL or W-L) during its heydays of the late nineteenth and first half of the twentieth centuries. This company most famously operated the rolling stock of the Orient sleeper expresses. Here, in an attempt to relive (albeit perhaps unsatisfactorily) the classic experience, Martin travels on six overnight sleepers that were currently still operating at the time of his research for the book (but not necessarily at publication). These included the Blue Train, the Nordland Railway, the Sud Express, the Berlin Night Express, and the Orient Express. For one such as myself not acquainted or enamored of European sleeper services, this part of Andrews narrative provided some minimal entertainment value. Otherwise, too much of NIGHT TRAINS is an unexciting recitation of facts, such as (regarding the Sud Express): The opening, in 1895, of the line running west from (Medina del Campo) to Fuentes de Onoro on the Portuguese border gave the option of cutting out Madrid, which the Sud Express had previously passed through. The option wasn't always taken, and the train would divide at Campo for either Lisbon or Madrid. Well, ok. Whatever. NIGHT TRAINS is likely a must read for a niche audience. Conceding that, Ill award a generous but noncommittal three stars and leave the rave reviews to the readers who care more about the topic than I. I should note in conclusion that another travel narrative, Walk the Lines: The London Underground, Overground by Mark Mason, was also written for a niche audience. In that case, since I inordinately love London and its Underground, I was able to relate and give a positive review. I get it.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Eon; Author: Visit Amazon's Greg Bear Page; Review: Wherever space and time interact, there is information, and where information can be ordered into knowledge, and knowledge can be applied, there is intelligence. from EON EON by Greg Bear was first published in 1985; I may have read it then, but memory fails. The story takes place in 2005, 1985s future and the now past. Reading it in the present, one can only be impressed by the scope of its imaginative content. EON is somewhat reminiscent of Arthur C. Clarkes Rendezvous with Rama, published in 1973 and which, in my impressionable younger years, I thought the best SF Id ever read. As you might recall, RENDEZVOUS WITH RAMA involves a 20 x 54 kilometer cylindrical starship that appears in our solar system and is explored by the crew of a solar survey vessel. Rama is humankinds first contact with an alien artifact, and what they discover inside the ship perhaps uninhabited, perhaps not was to me at the time, and still is, wondrous. Its the sort of novel that compels one to look up into the night sky at the stars out in an uninhabited place far from urban lights where you can still see them in all their glory and wonder what if. In EON, what appears and goes into Earth orbit is, by all visual evidence, a large potato-shaped asteroid. Yet, size versus mass measurements indicate its hollow. Drilling into and entering at the Stones southern end, explorers make discoveries infinitely more mind-boggling than found on Clarkes literary creation; its Rama on a massive dose of steroids. Ultimately, the exploration of Rama had to be abandoned as the vessel, its mysteries intact, continued on its way out of our solar system. The fact that Ramas origin and purpose remained question marks contributed largely to the books allure. In EON, the Stone sticks around and its mysteries are ultimately fully described. Indeed, the plot evolves into multi-faceted conflicts that perhaps tarnish the same sense of wonder otherwise left at the Rama conclusion. However, that said, EON displays an authors imagination that, for its time, was phenomenal in breadth and scope. No longer an avid reader of SF literature because the genre, for me, has evolved too much into purely fantastical fantasy, EON was a re-discovered pleasure.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Dog Stars (Vintage Contemporaries); Author: Visit Amazon's Peter Heller Page; Review: Everybody out for themselves, even to dealing death, and you come to a complete aloneness. You and the universe. from THE DOG STARS at night you cant bear to hear your own breath unaccompanied by another The Pain is lying beside your side, close. Does not bother you with the sound even of breathing. from THE DOG STARS I still dream Jasper is alive. Before that my heart will not go. from THE DOG STARS Id say it was a relief to have at last nothing, but I was to hollow to register relief, to empty to carry it Nothing to lose is so empty, so light, that the sand you crumble to at last blows away in a gust, so insubstantial its carried upwards to shirr into the sandstorm of the stars. Thats where we all get to. The rest is just wearing thin waiting for wind. from THE DOG STARS The world in Peter Hellers THE DOG STARS is a post-apocalyptic one. The United States, and presumably the rest of Earth, has been drastically depopulated by a variant strain of influenza, and many of the survivors struck with a blood and body fluid-born disease that causes a slow, wasting death. All this against the background, apparently, of a climate warming thats killing off other species. Hellers hero here, known only to the readers as Hig, who avoided both illnesses, lives with his dog Jasper at an abandoned rural airstrip north of Denver. Higs only neighbor is Bangley, a personally uncommunicative older man, a weapons enthusiast, and a firearms marksman. Bangley is a take-no-prisoners survivalist whose working philosophy is to shoot any and all intruders who trespass into a defensive perimeter routinely patrolled by Hig in a Cessna 182. While Hig sees the necessity for an association with Bangley and his precautions, the harshness and bareness of the relationship is excoriating the humanity from the formers soul. Then, on a hunting trip for deer with his dog, Hig suffers the sudden loss of Jasper, his last beloved companion, who dies in the dead of night while asleep. From that point on, Hig is compelled to re-establish his connection with what may remain of his own diminishing humanity. THE DOG STARS is perhaps the best novel Ive read in many months. The authors ability to portray, from the perspective of Higs stream of consciousness - a narrative device which some reviewers don't appreciate - and experiences, the solitude and despair of an inner Aloneness and a resurrection from such is what makes the story a triumph of writing. Man is a social animal. To think and/or attempt to live otherwise is an ultimately destructive folly. That is the great lesson of THE DOG STARS.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Appomattox; Author: Visit Amazon's Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain Page; Review: For there burst upon our vision a mighty scene, fit cadence of the story of tumultuous years. Encompassed by the cordon of steel that crowned the heights above the court-house, on the slopes of the valley formed by the sources of the Appomattox, lay the remnants of that far-famed army, counterpart and companion of our own in momentous history, the Army of Northern Virginia Lees army! from APPOMATTOX Suddenly rose to sight another form, close in our own front, a soldierly young figure, handsomely dressed and mounted, a Confederate staff officer undoubtedly, to whom some of my advanced line seemed to be pointing my position. Now I see the white flag earnestly born, and its possible purport sweeps before my inner vision like a wraith of morning mist. from APPOMATTOX APPOMATTOX is Joshua Chamberlains eyewitness account of the surrender of General Lees Army of Northern Virginia to the combined Union force of the Army of the Potomac and the Army of the James on April 9, 1865 at Appomattox, VA. As any student of the American Civil War should recall, then Colonel Joshua Chamberlain and his 20th Maine Volunteer Infantry Regiment, ensconced on Little Round Top, repulsed the Confederate troops of the Alabama Brigade as it assaulted the far left of the Union lines an assault which, had it succeeded, could have conceivably rolled up the entire Federal position at Gettysburg on Day 2 of the battle in July of 1863. At Appomattox, General Grant tapped Chamberlain, now a Brig. General, to preside over the formal surrender ceremony of the Army of Northern Virginia, which involved the various units of that army to march along in front of the Unions 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, Fifth Corps its men assembled in a long line with the former to stack arms, ammunition, and battle flags before being paroled to their homes. Chamberlain had requested that the honor of the surrender ceremony be assigned to 3rd Brigade, which included his old 20th Maine. As Chamberlain tells it Instructions had been given; and when the head of each division column comes opposite our group, our bugle sounds the signal and instantly our whole line from right to left, regiment by regiment in succession, gives the soldiers salutation, from the order arms to the old carry the marching salute. (Confederate Major General) Gordon at the head of the column, riding with heavy spirit and downcast face, catches the sound of shifting arms, looks up, and, taking the meaning, wheels superbly, making with himself and his horse one uplifted figure, with profound salutation as he drops the point of his sword to the boot toe; then facing to his own command, gives word for his successive brigades to pass us with the same position of the manual,honor answering honor. On our part not a sound of trumpet more, nor roll of drum; not a cheer, nor word nor whisper of vain-glorying, nor motion of man standing again at the order, but an awed stillness rather, and breath-holding, as if it were the passing of the dead! APPOMATTOX by; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Night School: A Jack Reacher Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Lee Child Page; Review: I think Ive read all previous Jack Reacher novels by Lee Child. Being light, trashy fare, the plots aren't retained in memory long. But, as I recall, its usually Trouble managing to find Reacher as a drifts about the country minding his own business with nothing more than a toothbrush and the clothes on his back after his previous life as a major in the U.S. Armys Military Police. In NIGHT SCHOOL, the author takes a step way back in Jacks career to sometime in 1996 when Reacher is still an MP major. Immediately after receiving a Legion of Merit medal, hes immediately detached on temporary duty to a team of three Reacher representing the Military Police, another from the CIA, and one from the FBI. The trio reports directly to the President via the National Security Council and can have any resources required. An alarm in place in Europe to monitor Islamic jihadists has been tripped, and the teams mission is to determine the exact nature of the threat a threat associated with a hundred million dollar asking price and stories about Davy Crockett, a famous 19th century American frontiersman, folk hero, and politician who died at the Alamo perhaps wearing, or not, a coonskin cap. (A childhood fan of Walt Disneys TV production of the 1950s, Davy Crockett -Two Movie Set starring Fess Parker, I had a coonskin cap, though as I remember it was made from rabbit fur. Poor bunny.) Those fans of Jack who read the books in anticipation of him physically beating the bejesus out of gangs of thugs may perhaps be somewhat disappointed with NIGHT SCHOOL. While there are a couple brief instances of such hands-on violence, the focus is on Jacks investigative abilities as a cop. Indeed, the CIA guy and the FBI guy soon become irrelevant to the team effort. Its pretty much Reachers show. I suggest that this may be the best volume to date in the Reacher series inasmuch as Child seems to have put more thought and effort into its writing resulting in more twists and turns in the storyline for Jack to unravel. It also doesnt hurt that hes joined here by MP Sergeant Frances Neagley, formerly in Reachers military police unit and appearing in several previous installments of the series, who is, in many ways, Jacks equal in intellect and combat prowess. She deserves her own series. This was a read I couldn't put down.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Gold Fever: One Man's Adventures on the Trail of the Gold Rush; Author: Visit Amazon's Steve Boggan Page; Review: The accounts of the abundance of gold in [California] are of such an extraordinary character as would scarcely command belief were they not corroborated by the authentic reports of officers in the public service who have who have visited the mineral district and derived the facts which they detail from personal observations. from GOLD FEVER, President Polks speech to Congress on December 5, 1848 In most situations, you can scare the living delights out of bigger, better-armed individuals by doing something very stupid indeed. Often, just being English is enough. from GOLD FEVER there were gullible (Gold Rush) prospectors who were packing up and heading to a new river because someone had told them about the guy there who had hit a big pay streak. The guy seemed everywhere and nowhere; rumours of his fantastical finds were enough to send hordes of miners rushing from one speculative camp to another. from GOLD FEVER because it is inert and resistant to bacterial infections, (gold) is the metal of choice in a wide variety of medical implants (such as the) weights placed in the eyelids of patients suffering lagophthalmos, a condition that prevents the upper lid from closing. from GOLD FEVER In 2011 when gold hit $2000 an ounce, the shiny metal caught the mental stare of Englishman Steve Boggan. Then in 2013, even though gold had sunk to $1,220 an ounce, Steve decided to have a go at finding his own. So, off he went to Californias gold country admitting to anyone who asked that he didn't have a clue as to how to go about it. Laced with the self-deprecatory humor that the English do so well, Boggans GOLD FEVER is the narrative history of his self-imposed quest to find gold in them thar hills and rivers of California. Starting at a point of complete ignorance on the means to the end, he aspires to reasonable adeptness with pan and sluice if he can avoid the poison oak, bears, rattlesnakes, and ticks real or imagined. The main flaw of GOLD FEVER is perhaps that, beyond telling the story of the authors personal chase of unimaginable riches, it lacks a certain cohesion. The book is sprinkled with chapters on such diverse but generally related topics as the genesis of the gold fever that gripped the United States and world after its discovery at Sutters Mill in January 1848 an excitement that only really took hold after the President validated the reports of gold in a message to Congress, the travails of fortune seekers that traveled across the Great Plains and Rocky Mountains or via the Isthmus of Panama to the gold fields, the mining of gold in ancient Egypt, the usefulness of gold in medicine and electronic circuits, and the rise and fall of the Gold Standard. Its not that these asides are bad things, but they treat these sub-topics only superficially added as seasoning to flavor a dish. The book lacks photographs, which would have been a very nice addition to the whole, especially when Steve meets up with various salty, contemporary; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Death's Head: A Soldier With Richard the Lionheart; Author: Visit Amazon's Robert Broomall Page; Review: The small pieces of rat meat went into the cook pot. The pot bubbled and greasy foam rose to the top. The smell was odious, but the men rubbed their hands in anticipation. They were filthy and emaciated, covered with lice and fleas, skin red from the bites, short hair and beards matted. There were so many lice in the blankets they held round their shoulders, it felt as though the blankets were alive. from DEATHS HEAD, conditions in the Crusaders camp around Acre during the winter of 1190-1191 DEATHS HEAD by Robert Broomall is a work of historical fiction based, I suspect loosely, on the siege of Muslim-held Acre (August 1189 July 1191) by the Christian armies of the Third Crusade and depicting conditions within the Christian lines and assaults on the city walls both before and after the arrivals of King Philip II of France and King Richard I of England. At the micro level of the plot, the story begins in England at Huntley Abbey with the monk Roger. Without undue delay, circumstances and Broomalls pen finds Roger forced to flee the place to become a common soldier with the English forces in front of Acre. From that point, the story evolves pretty much as any other soap opera though staged in a place that, at times, makes a Third World slum look like Paradise. It didn't help conditions in the Crusaders camp that they themselves were surrounded by Saladins army positioned to the east of the city. Against this background, which includes the most brutal of fight sequences, our hero Roger experiences professional advancement, love, treachery, loyalty, sickness, near-starvation, great friendships, and implacable enmities. Just like any other day at the office and all for the Glory of God. Beyond its entertainment value, DEATHS HEAD provides what one hopes is insight into the nature of medieval siege warfare and personal combat. Perhaps the author did the requisite research; he doesnt say. There are also the character studies of the principle historical figures of the time and place both in the now of this book and the presumed future sequel: Philip II, Richard I, Saladin, Duke Leopold of Austria, and Conrad of Montferrat. In what seems a minor detail at the time, the novel interestingly relates how the design of the Austrian national flag reputedly came about. DEATHS HEAD ended so abruptly that I would have fallen off a barstool in surprise had I been sitting on one. Its immediately obvious that Broomall is setting up a sequel. Roger is attractive enough a hero that Ill continue to follow his exploits, especially as I suspect hell play a part in the great dramas to come. Indeed, the author may very well continue with multiple volumes in a Roger of Huntley series; the historical material is there to be mined and exploited.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Miracle at Philadelphia. With: The Men Who Made the Constitution. Special Bicentennial Portolio Edition; Author: Catherine Drinker Bowen; Review: I consent, Sir, to this Constitution because I expect no better and because I am not sure that it is not the best. The opinions I have had of its errors, I sacrifice to the public good I cannot help expressing a wish that every member of the Convention who may still have objections to it, would with me, on this occasion doubt a little of his own infallibility and to make manifest our unanimity, put his name to this instrument. from MIRACLE AT PHILADELPHIA, Benjamin Franklin, delegate to the Federal Convention, prior to the Constitutions signing MIRACLE AT PHILADELPHIA is Catherine Bowens erudite, if somewhat dry, history of the United States Constitution from its formulation by the Federal Convention, which met in Philadelphia from May to September 1787, to its subsequent ratification by the states. The ostensible goal of the Federal Convention was to somehow amend the Articles of Confederation, which at the time bound the thirteen post-Revolution ex-British colonies into a loose union that was threatened with chaos and dissolution because of the disparate agendas of its quarrelsome members. What resulted after months of debate and deliberation was a document championing a national governance by we the people versus that of a confederation by we the states. As will become apparent to any reader of this book, the primary stumbling block in the design of a radically new roadmap for a central government was the issue of representation in a newly established Congress. Was it to be based on proportional representation based on each states population or was each state to be given an equal voice? The ultimate solution, a House of Representatives based on proportional representation and a Senate of equals, seems to us now the obvious solution. I mean, what was the beef? But the Convention almost foundered on the contentiousness of the question. It makes todays issues before Congress almost seem trivial. The fact that the delegates were able to arrive at the Great Compromise was, I think, greatly facilitated by the closed-door secrecy observed during the four months of deliberations. Each delegate, no matter how strongly he felt, didn't feel compelled to lobby his views to the social media of the day to cater to his home base of support. As reasonable men, they just got down to work and got the job done. Perhaps todays legislators could learn a lesson from this. MIRACLE AT PHILADELPHIA is comprised of twenty-five chapters. The first twenty-two focus on the writing of the Constitution, the last three on its ratification by the states. The record of what occurred in the sittings of the Convention is apparently based largely on non-official minutes kept by James Madison from Virginia, who pretty much attended every minute of every session over the summer of 1787. The book suffers from including no pictures of the attendees whose names are writ large on the genesis of our national government. It does contain the entire text of the Constitution plus the Bill of Rights, the latter being added post-ratification by the first Congress of the new; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Miusol Women's Deep-V Neck Ruffles Floral Lace Fitted Retro Evening Pencil Dress; Brand: ; Review: I hate to be the sole dissenting opinion on here, but I don't love this dress. It didn't look bad on, but it definitely lacked that wow factor. I got the navy blue because I liked that the arms and the back were the same color as the front instead of being black like in the other colors. But this shade of blue is so dark that it looked a little drab. Another color, like the red, would have popped more. The style of the dress looked almost matronly on me. Or maybe it was too loose? I followed the size chart provided by Miusol and not the Amazon one. The dress didn't hug my body and give me that nice hourglass shape like on the model and in the pictures other users posted. I'm also not very tall at 5'4 so the dress when about an inch past my knee, which didn't help the matronly factor even with heels. I don't have a large chest so the neckline didn't do anything for me either. It was just...underwhelming. I'll think about it some more before deciding whether to return.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Twisted Womens Faux Suede Strappy Fashion Flats; Brand: ; Review: At my work, I have to stand for hours. I can't bear most high heels, so I've been on the search for a comfy pair of flats. I normally wear a size 8-8.5 W shoe to accommodate bunions on both feet. They were out of size 8 in the black pair, so I thought I'd give size 9 a try. They fit perfectly. Not only are they wide enough; there isn't excess space by the heel like there usually is when I have to size up. I can also comfortably fit some insoles in to add some cushion. These shoes also look really good. If you're considering buying these shoes, stop hesitating!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Secret Wishes Women's Arkham Knight Harley Quinn Costume; Brand: ; Review: This is a good quality costume for a very decent price. The dress looks exactly like the picture. The colors are navy blue and burgundy and matches the arm warmers and leggings perfectly.. Mine also came with studs on the belt and the collar was attached to the front buckle.. These are all issues that other reviewers had with their costume. As for how the costume looks on me, it's very cute! The lace on the skirt has a tendency to flip up instead of laying flat. The sleeves are a little tight but it fits me well everywhere else. The straps across the bust are too long. This causes the straps to gape instead of laying down flat. I've uploaded a picture to show what I mean. The arm warmers look ok in real life, but not as nice as in the photo. They're not as long and they come wrinkled so you might need to iron them. The blue left arm warmer has burgundy laces but the red right arm warmer has black laces. The collar is limp and will not stay up like in the photo. The leggings are not nearly as short on me as on the model. They go all the way up my thighs. But I actually like it because not only is it more accurate to the character's look in the game, it's more modest. My recommendation is to buy this costume and do it now before the price goes up for Halloween.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: NEOSAN Womens Thick Ribbed Knit Winter Infinity Circle Loop Scarf; Brand: NEOSAN; Review: This is a beautiful scarf! The color is a gorgeous rich blue and it's very warm. It really is a thick ribbed scarf, just as it says in the name. It's absolutely worth buying. I've never heard of this brand before, but I think I will be checking out more of their stuff.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: PURE STYLE Girlfriends Women's Camiflage Breathable Stretch Lace Half Cami; Brand: ; Review: I wear a lot of sweaters with tanks and camis underneath. I don't like the way it feels wearing just a bra underneath a sweater. One problem I always had was that the tanks are long and I have to tuck them into my pants, both for a neat look and so they won't peek out from under the sweater. But the tank never stays neatly tucked in for long. This cami is exactly what I've been looking for! The lace looks lovely peeking out from a v-neck shirt or sweater. It's lightweight, comfy and soft. The lace seems delicate but not too fragile. I might get more of these in other colors.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: SHINCO Bella Lotus Bowknot 18k Rose Gold Plated Charm Bracelets CZ Diamond Women Jewelry Gifts for Birthday, Anniversary, Valentine's; Brand: SHINCO; Review: I like this bracelet so much. It's small and subtle but still sparkles nicely. The slide closure with the flower is really cute and unique. It definitely looks more expensive than it is. I wear this bracelet everyday and it's holding up well. I've had it for just over a month. There are just two little things that bug me. First, this bracelet gave me a green line on my wrist. I know it's from this bracelet because I wasn't wearing any other jewelry on that arm. The line went away when I took off the bracelet, then came back before disappearing agin. Right now I don't have a green line so maybe my skin got used to it? The second thing is that the closure is very easy to pull. So the bracelet can get snagged on something and fall off without you realizing it. I thought I had lost my bracelet and seriously considered buying another one. My advice is to be careful with the clasp.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: NEWBARK Cute 3D Crystal Flower Pendant 18k Rose Gold Plated Jewelry Necklace for Women, Wife, Girlfriend, Daughter, Gift for; Brand: NEWBARK; Review: I got this necklace exactly one week ago. At first, I loved it. I loved the 3D effect of the design and the way it made the necklace pop against my skin. I loved how shiny it was and the pretty rose gold color of the flower and the delicate chain. But I've only had this necklace for a week and today the chain broke. It just snapped and started sliding off my neck. Good thing I caught the pendant before it fell on the floor or I could have lost it. I'm pissed, I'm disappointed and I want either a refund or a new (stronger) chain.; Rating: 1.0/5.0 | amazon_Clothing_Shoes_and_Jewelry |
Given the interaction history of a user with movies/shows as follows:
Title: Ab Tak Chhappan (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Sex and Lucia (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Like Water for Chocolate (1992); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Y Tu Mama Tambien (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Saving Private Ryan (1998); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Talk to Her (2002); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Swades (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Romance (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Lover (1992); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Chokher Bali (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Green Mile (1999); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Chocolat (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: All About My Mother (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: I.Q. (1994); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Philadelphia (1993); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: 9 1/2 Weeks (1986); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Schindler's List (1993); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Usual Suspects (1995); Rating: 4.0/5.0 | netflix |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Your Gift to Me; Author: Visit Amazon's Bonnie Bartel Latino Page; Review: The author truly understands what it is like to be a military spouse/loved one. She nailed with her descriptions of the Gulf War, and what we were thinking and feeling back home. This book gives you hope that there is life after tragedy, and though not a self help book, the way the characters deal with adversity is lesson for us all. You won't be disappointed.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: But Mama Always Put Vodka in Her Sangria!: Adventures in Eating, Drinking, and Making Merry; Author: Visit Amazon's Julia Reed Page; Review: I have been a fan since I first read an essay of hers in "Vogue". You will laugh out loud on your way to the kitchen to cook these recipes. She knows cooking, especially that you don't put sugar in cornbread!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The House of Memory (Pluto's Snitch); Author: Visit Amazon's Carolyn Haines Page; Review: When you can't put a book down, that's is the best recommendation of all. Funny, scary, entertaining. This Southern writer gets it right. I just wish we had seen more of Tallullah and Zelda. Waiting with baited breath for the next in the series.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: William Weatherford: His Country and His People; Author: Lynn Hastie Thompson; Review: Excellent resource for historian and genealogists; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Familiar Trouble (Familiar Legacy) (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Carolyn Haines Page; Review: This is a great read. Suspenseful, funny, charming and well written. If you like "Sneaky Pie Brown" you will LOVE this one. I adore her Bones series, and I will be making this a series I stay with as well.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Trouble in Dixie (Familiar Legacy) (Volume 2); Author: Visit Amazon's Rebecca Barrett Page; Review: I am ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) I loved the book. This cat is charnimg, debonair, and makes this dog person long for a cat with this kind of catitude! His humans are smart, funny, Southern, and hard for him to handle. You won't want it end, and you can't put it down. And this was certainly written by a Southerner, because she refered to a raised up skirt, as "hiked up"! That's true Southern speak y'all!; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: 2 Pack Survival Kit Can Opener, Military, P-51 Model; Brand: CHINA TOPS; Review: It's a can opener. It opens cans. When you really need one it's there on your key chain or in the glove box or floating in the bottom of your back pack. It's not as easy as an electric opener and you may have to think about how to make it work but if you can't figure it out on your own you perhaps shouldn't be opening cans on your own either. The cut can be a bit jagged. It will open a can of sardines when you have lost the key but it won't pop a cap off a beer unless you're MacGyver.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bru Joy Stainless Steel Manual Tin Opener; Brand: Bru Joy; Review: Was unable to open even one can. I went back to the old reliable one (search for P-51 can opener) that while not easy to use will open every can every time. I can't imagine anyone spending the full price of $69 for this thing, it was a waste of money at the $10 deal of the day price. It's now out in my recycling bin. Perhaps it can be made into something useful.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Willow Tree hand-painted sculpted figure, Grandmother; Brand: Willow Tree; Review: Just like the one the cat broke.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Camco A Pop-A-Toothbrush Wall Mounted Holder With Germ Protecting Cover, Perfect For Traveling, Dorm Bathrooms and More, Holds 2; Brand: Camco; Review: No option for no stars. You get what you pay for. Didn't pay much didn't get much. The double sided mounting tape was the only thing of value in the package. It's a pain to use, your toothbrush is held in place by the bristles. Don't waste your money or time with this.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Fat Daddio's Anodized Aluminum Pie Pan, 12 Inches; Brand: Fat Daddios; Review: Great, website has info on using the pan at lower oven temp. First pumpkin pie I baked with the bottom crust not raw. Next I'll try the bread pan.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Fox Run 3137566 Non-Stick Bakeware Buddy Plastic Knife, 8 x 0.5", Blue; Brand: Fox Run; Review: I bought two, one as a gift and one to use with my Fat Daddio's Anodized Aluminum Pie Pan so I don't scratch or score the bottom. One pie later and so far it's working. The notched edge works to saw through the crust and also will work as a notched trowel when spreading mayo on m sandwiches not that I would ever do that. I would also work well with kids helping in the kitchen not cutting themselves. You should buy one especially if you bought a Fat Daddio's Anodized Aluminum Pie Pan.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Home_and_Kitchen |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: FitFlop Women's Lolla Crackle; Brand: ; Review: I got these to wear to work for summer (flip flops are not allowed). They're just as comfortable as all of their other shoes. They look really stylish, too, and go with everything. Definitely a great purchase. May 2012 - It's spring again and I'm going through my closet getting ready for the season changes. My FitFlop Lolla sandals are definitely going to be used again. I wore them every day to work last summer and they still look great.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: FitFlop Women's Super T Lace-Up Fashion Sneaker; Brand: ; Review: I read the reviews and ordered a size larger than I usually get. The shoes fit, but a bit loosely and slip at the heel. I need the extra room for my toes, or they would pinch. I don't care for the narrow foot design. The only shoes I wear are Fitflops in sandals and slingback work styles. I can wear them all day with no discomfort or irritation. These sneakers pinch and irritate my toes after wearing for about 2 hours. I'm trying to figure out how to break them in so they are more comfortable. Plus the heels slip.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Democracy Women's Soft Tencel Pant with Drawstring and Front Pockets; Brand: ; Review: Light weight and soft, so perfect for summer. A great substitute for jeans. I need to hem them up because of the long length, but otherwise, they are great.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Assorted Asian brocade jewelry pouches with snap closure - set of 4; Brand: Reorient; Review: I wanted some attractive ring-size pouches and these fit the bill perfectly. Very attractive and will work as gift pouches. Very attractive.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: PurseN Duo Eyeglass/Sunglasses Case; Brand: PurseN; Review: Well made and serves it's purpose.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: 12 Ami Solid Long Knit Chiffon Hem Tunic Top (S-3X) - Made in USA; Brand: 12 Ami; Review: A different look. I like it. Warmer for the winter, nice for the office.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Clothing_Shoes_and_Jewelry |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Willow Bend Motel; City: Truro Nova Scotia; Review: We stayed one night in Truro. The staff were very hospitable. We had a great sleep - nice room and comfy bed! I'd stay there again! We had a king room. The bed dominated the room - but was worth it. Rooms are clean - breakfast area is beautiful. The food was better than average continental.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: TownePlace Suites Thunder Bay; City: Thunder Bay Thunder Bay District Ontario; Review: Nice new place - kitchenette is handy for long term business stay - grocery store is a stones throw away through the parking lot! There are a few restaurants across the street less than 5 mins walk. Price is ok - in line with other hotels in the City. They welcome pets, but there is no where to "walk" a dog really. The extra charge for a dog is $50! But it's a one time fee so not per night - but pricey if you're only staying one night. Nice breakfast room and decent breakfast.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Thunder Bay Inn; City: Thunder Bay Thunder Bay District Ontario; Review: We conduct business in Thunder Bay and find ourselves looking for a clean and affordable spot. It's off the beaten path a bit and restaurants are a bit of a drive so if you like to have a few drinks with dinner - it's not ideal as a cab ride would be a bit of a jaunt. The grounds are really nice and rural - lots of nice trees. Would be ideal if you are travelling with pets except they no longer welcome pets! No ice machine available - you have to ask for it at the desk and they give you a teeny tiny bag.also you have to buy bottled water from the desk clerk - weird. Other than that - nice and quiet - clean comfortable rooms.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Travelodge Thunder Bay ON; City: Thunder Bay Thunder Bay District Ontario; Review: Many years ago (about 10) I stayed at the Travelodge in Thunder Bay on several occasions and it was a decent little motel. Not anymore! The rooms are small, but I knew that from previous visits, so no big deal. The bed was comfortable but the pillows were tiny and inadequate (only 3 of them). There were two towels in the room, everything is on the cheap. The room was poorly kept, bathroom floor was dirty and tub is dingy, mold and mildew on tub tiles, shower curtain was GROSS! Carpet was not vacuumed. The price was Ok $96 for a king size bed, but the lack of pillows made for an uncomfortable sleep. There was supposed to be a continental breakfast, but that was a joke. There were a few pieces of fruit that should have been thrown out days ago some stale muffins, and some boiled eggs. The juice machine was out of order. Years ago there was a nice little Irish Pub and restaurant that was good, but it's not there anymore instead it is a Sushi Restaurant that looked sketchy, the windows were filthy dirty and I was scared to try the food so we went across the street to BP. Too bad things haven't been kept up at this motel because it used to be a nice place. I gave it a 2 because the bed was comfortable and the price was ok. If they did some minor renos and major cleaning it could easily be brought back up.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Forest Inn Conference Centre; City: Sioux Lookout Kenora District Ontario; Review: This is a really nice place, well taken care of, friendly staff, clean and nice restaurant. We basically stayed here the entire summer while working in Sioux. The staff were really accommodating and the service was good.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Super 8 by Wyndham Brandon MB; City: Brandon Manitoba; Review: We stopped late Friday night on our way to Regina - great hotel - really clean - comfy comfy beds - the hair dryer didn't work but they gave us a key to room next door so we could finish doing our hair!! Problem solved. We are staying there again on our way home!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Sterling Silver Pressed Flower Teardrop Earrings; Brand: Amazon Collection; Review: These earrings are so beautiful. They are very boho chic, and look great with anything. The colors and pressed flowers are definitely eye catching. My friend loved them.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: FootFitter Cast Aluminum Combination Boot Instep and Shaft Stretcher; Brand: FootFitter; Review: If you have muscular calves, this is an amazing way to stretch out your boots. I used this a few times with a stretching solution and it really worked. I am easily able to wear my boots. The only issue is that it could take a couple of days to stretch one shoe, and then you will have to do that for another shoe (if you do not buy 2 of these) for a couple of days (but well worth it).; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mavic Scorpio Womens cycle shoes, cycling shoes womens Ladies white/black; Brand: Mavic; Review: This is my first pair of spin shoes. I am truly impressed. These shoes are amazing. Like another reviewer, I am between a 7.5 - 8 in gym shoes. The 7.5 fits greater (they are a bit longer). The width is narrower; however, even with my wide feet, I still felt fairly comfortable on the bike. Overall, great product!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: ACORN Women's Tex Moc Slipper; Brand: Acorn; Review: I love these - they are comfortable and even with many uses they don't pick up dirt that easily (and I toss them around everywhere). The sole on the bottom keeps its grip so you don't slip!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: FootFitter Premium Professional 2-Way Shoe Stretcher- Stretches Length and Width; Brand: FootFitter; Review: A definite buy if you have wider feet! There is a technique to using these that makes them work wonderfully. 1) Get your blow dryer out and heat the leather 2) Get stretching spray - When you are done blow drying spray the shoe with stretching spay (which is part rubbing alcohol and water - you can make this on your own). Use your judgement on where you spray the stretching spray (do not spray the outside if it suede - only spray inside) 3) Start stretching - when you feel tightness, turn 2-3 more times (be gentle your first time) 4) Leave for a 2-3 days - let everything adjust If you have high boots - you may want the high heel stretchers, so you have an angle. Lastly - always buy a pair.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Evercreatures Women's Rain Boot Waterproof Mid-Calf Boots Cute Printing Rainbow Rain Boots Wellies Rain Shoes UK Brand; Brand: Evercreatures; Review: I love love love these. Not only are they fun and different, but the quality is great. Very flexible rubber, and nice interior. However, I felt like the run a bit small. I typically wear a size 7.5, and purchased the 38. My toe touches the shoe. I have slightly wider feet (not to bad thought), and these fit great in the width!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Pair of 3 to 6 Inch Footfitter High Heel Shoe Stretchers- Width Only; Brand: FootFitter; Review: If you have wider feet, or get blisters, these are a must. I have these in the flat version and the high heel. I cannot tell you how many pairs of shoes they have saved. The trick is to get your blow dryer and heat the leather where you will be stretching (be careful not to burn yourself), when you are done heating spray stretching spray (which is rubbing alcohol and water - you can look this up if you don't have any). Lastly insert the stretcher and start stretching until you feel tightness, then do 2-3 more turns. Keep the stretcher on for a few days. Always buy two if you cannot find a pair of these. One last thing - get the high heel version if you want to stretch boots (the flats will not work, but the high heel may).; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Tarrago Unisex-Adult Color Dye 25ml Colours & Dyes; Brand: Tarrago; Review: Color matched my brown epi bag perfectly. 1. I had a very nasty pain stain on my bag 2. watched a YouTube video 3. Bought this. 4. Applied twice 5. Happy as a clam! Bag is totally fixed, looks flawless.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Clothing_Shoes_and_Jewelry |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Aerobed Extra Bed with Built-In Pump, Full; Brand: AeroBed; Review: First one ordered was defective. They sent another one and I sent the defective one back. This one works beautifully. It's only used for visitors but we've tested it out and it's very comfortable. We love it!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: AbsoluteBake Cooling Rack Stainless Steel Oven and Dishwasher Safe Fits in Half Sheet Cookie Pan; Brand: AbsoluteBake; Review: Great quality!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: High Sierra Double Decker Lunch Bag; Brand: High Sierra; Review: Nice utilitarian lunch box. My daughter loves the compartments. Keeps things cold too. Plenty of room as well.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Pyrex 4 Cup Round Plastic Cover 4-Pack, Navy Blue; Brand: Pyrex; Review: Does what it is supposed to do; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Innovee Soda Siphon - Ultimate Soda Maker - Aluminum - 1 Liter - With Free Cocktail Recipes (e-book); Brand: Innovee Home; Review: For the price, I would expect a better product. This is a one-time use item, which means one cartridge is used for one fill; it is not like a soda stream, (a cartridge will work for multiple refills). It should work like a dream if you are going to have to use one cartridge every time you fill the bottle. There are too many ways to mess up, how much water you fill it with, cartridge screw in, shake it after you screw in the cartridge, etc., and then if you have not followed all the magic steps, you have wasted a precious cartridge. There are too many parts that become easy to misplace as well. The gasket started to lose its effectiveness after only a few months. It is just not worth it. As a novelty, it was fun for a few tries, then it just became too annoying.; Rating: 2.0/5.0 | amazon_Home_and_Kitchen |
Given the interaction history of a user with businesses as follows:
Title: Malai Thai Massage; City: Santa Barbara, CA; Review: The one thing that influences the rating of this review of Malai Thai Massage was the massage itself, which was ABSOLUTELY worth the money. I paid $74 for EXACTLY 90 minutes of massage time (many places typically cheat you out of 5-10 minutes for "changing" time). I was a Massage Envy regular last year and this Thai massage really made me feel like I wasted a ton of money paying for massages from Envy. At Malai, they applied various stretching techniques that really targeted stressed and tense areas. It just makes you feel like you got your money worth. I would definitely recommend this place if you're in the Santa Barbara area and are thinking of getting a massage. First time I got a Thai massage and I probably won't get any other type going forward. It cost $74 for 90 minutes or $49 for 60 minutes. The decor inside the parlor looks very cultural and true to a Thai business. The outside of the building looks kind of old and non-commercial, but don't let that deter you. The massage was great and so was the service and that's all that should really matter.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Luckys Steakhouse; City: Montecito, CA; Review: For a high-end steakhouse, I felt a bit let down after eating at Lucky's. My steak tasted very average and had no wow factor that would merit it's $50 price tag. Even Ruth Chris' steak, which many people consider as the McDonald's equivalent to steakhouses tastes a lot more satisfying. Lucky's steak isn't bad, but you can't be just "okay" if you're charging this kind of price. Additionally, it's kind of cramped inside the restaurant and tables are situated fairly close to each other, so if you happen to get seated next to a big, loud, obnoxious group, you definitely won't be able to hear your partner speak, even though they're sitting right in front of you. My rating is mostly based on the mediocrity of the steak me and my girlfriend had.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Santa Barbara Jet Boats; City: Santa Barbara, CA; Review: This review is for both Sea Landing and Santa Barbara Jet Boats (we checked-in Sea Landing's building, but our jet ski rental had a label for "Santa Barbara Jet Boats"). All the staff members that helped us including the girl that booked our reservation as well as checked us in, the dude who gave us the safety and boundary spiel, and girl who got us our wetsuits, life vests, and launched us into the water were all very nice and chill. Took us like 5-10 minutes to check-in and get prepped before we were on our jet ski and out on the ocean. We paid $135 for 60 minutes of use. We got the 1-3 person Yamaha WaveRunner jet ski that can go up to 55 mph. That thing can really fly. We were only daring enough to take her up to 33 mph max out there, but if you got the guts, you can definitely max her out to fully make your money worth it. Nice people working there and easy process to go jet skiing.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hana Kitchen; City: Isla Vista, CA; Review: This review is only for the boba that they have there. The green milk tea that I got simply tasted like plain milk. My girlfriend's yogurt green tea tasted like many I've had before, but was a tad too sweet. The boba itself was soft enough and a bit sweet, which is a plus, but nothing special. They don't have too much variety here in terms of drinks. So, beverage would be rated a 6 out of 10, and boba 7.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Holiday Inn Hotel Santa Barbara-Goleta; City: Santa Barbara, CA; Review: As of my stay on August 2-4, 2013, this hotel is under new management and is no longer a Holiday Inn. It's now called Hotel Goleta. The hotel's lobby looked clean and nice and the receptionists were very helpful by getting us some brochures and maps of Santa Barbara. A big factor as to why I'm giving this hotel a 3-star review is price. I felt like I paid a lot more than I should have for something that felt maybe just a tad better than a motel. The restroom had a nice shower but no bathtub and the bed was pretty small for something that was supposed to fit 2 people (full size, should have been a queen at least in my opinion). The room was clean and had a modern flat screen Samsung TV with HDMI ports that made it easy to stream movies from my tablet (may be helpful to know that they offer free, non-passworded WiFi here that is fast and stable enough to stream Hulu videos without stuttering or buffering). Noise level was okay as we didn't hear anything from our neighboring rooms, but maybe they were vacant. The pillows that they had were similarly small like the bed, but were firm, which I personally liked. Hotel Goleta is a clean and nice average 3-star hotel. Nothing fancy or any wow factors, but it gets the job done for a weekend in Santa Barbara.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Eladio's Restaurant; City: Santa Barbara, CA; Review: We came in here for Saturday brunch and their menu had a nice mix of things to choose from. We had the California Eggs Benedict and Breakfast Burrito, both of which tasted great. Their orange juice also tasted very fresh. Good service and ambiance, only thing that caused me to ding a star were the prices, which were a little steep for brunch food. My burrito came out to be $12 ($3 add on to the original $9 price because I wanted a meat added). Overall, good food and service, just a bit pricey.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Domingo's Cafe; City: Goleta, CA; Review: From the outside, Domingo's Cafe looks a bit shady and the neighboring buildings don't help that image either. But when we walked in and saw that the place was completely filled with people, we were quite surprised and relieved. Guess we should have known better...30+ reviews with a 4-star rating don't lie. Anyways, our food was fairly priced and pretty good. I got a Breakfast Burrito with bacon, generously filled with egg. The inside of the restaurant does look very old with a bunch of old posters and table cloths, but I guess it's fine. Only thing that caused me to take off a star was the wait time. It looked like since they were so busy they couldn't get to everyone in a timely fashion to take our orders. They let you sit wherever that's open, so I assume that doesn't help.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | yelp |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl; Author: Harriet Jacobs; Review: This was a book club choice for the month, so I gave it a valient effort, but by about page 60 I'd had enough. If you're interested in early American slave history, maybe this one will tick the boxes. But not for me.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: May We Be Forgiven: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's A. M. Homes Page; Review: Really - are these kids real? Could so much bad luck happen to one person? This would be the perfect movie or black series on TV.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Ambassador's Wife (The Inspector Tay Novels) (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Jake Needham Page; Review: The Singapore version of a great whodunnit. Well written with enough twists and turns to keep you guessing until the last page. For those familiar with Singapore, it's realistic portrayal of this city/country adds enormously to the credibility of the story.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Flapjack; Author: Visit Amazon's Daniel Ganninger Page; Review: It's an OK read for a first author, although the plot is a little far fetched. What really annoys me is the misuse of the words "insure", "ensure" and "assure" - somthing a good editor or proof reader should have picked up on the first glance. The word "retrospective" was also used rather than "introspective" - it's these errors which separate Ok authors from good ones. So if you want some harmless light reading, and don't mind the odd bit of poor language choice, then read it.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Things We Set on Fire; Author: Visit Amazon's Deborah Reed Page; Review: Beautifully complex with flawed characters somehow finding redemption and resolution. Poses questions worthy of book club discussions about family relationships, family secrets and how past events have profound impact through the ages.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Desert Run; Author: Visit Amazon's Gregg Dunnett Page; Review: The second book from an author who shows great potential. The storyline is believable and clips along at a good pace. Characters are real and three dimensional. Some unexpected twists and turns, and moment of seat-edge suspense. Thoroughly enjoyable.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Don't Get Caught (The Jack Shepherd novels) (Volume 5); Author: Visit Amazon's Jake Needham Page; Review: Dont Get Caught is the latest novel in this Jack Shepherd series, and I think Im a little in love with Jack hes a smart, cynical, self-deprecating, laconic lawyer and somewhat reluctant PI who inevitably gets himself involved in helping his friends in complex legal, financial or political situations. Novel #5 in this series sees Jack, now living in Hong Kong, tasked with finding a missing few billion dollars, which, against his better judgement, takes him back to Thailand. Readers following Jack will know his last exit from Thailand wasn't one that would make re-entry simple or un-noticed. But against his better judgement, hes soon back in Bangkok, and thats when the fun starts Jacks a sucker for a beautiful woman: Kate Srisophon, Thailands ex-first female prime minister, who has been arrested and is due to stand trial, the outcome of which will almost certainly be conviction and jail. Shes not that convinced shes in danger. Can Jack get her out of Thailand before that happens? And can he chase down those missing billions in the meantime? Does Jack finally have his moment with Kate? For readers familiar with Thailand and Hong Kong, Jakes cultural perception of Asia and its politics, geography, history, values, customs, and his ability to flawlessly engage the reader with the people and places gives his books a delightfully gritty reality. Jake takes you to todays Bangkok and Hong Kong - you can hear the traffic, taste the smog and feel the steamy heat. The tension in the air is palpable. The dialogue is witty and clever so many priceless throw-away one-liners, and totally believable. If you like your modern crime novels pacy, with more twists and turns than a curly noodle, start reading. Just when you think you know how this will all end, theres an unexpected but very satisfying conclusion.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Baby's First Year: A Keepsake Journal of Milestone Moments; Author: Visit Amazon's Annabel Karmel Page; Review: We purchased this baby book based on the reviews and the pages we were able to preview. I like the content of the questions - all of the standard questions, spaces for more info about parents, news headlines on birthday, etc. The cover and pages are sturdy, and there is extra space for photos and keepsake items. This book isn't really "pretty" or "artsy" like some baby books, but it will probably hold up well. My only complaints are the random quotes from the book's creator at the tops of pages with her name on it seems like every page - it just seems out of place. Also, the recipes in the book seem out of place. They look like good recipes for baby food, but I'm very unlikely to pull out my keepsake baby book for recipes when I'm cooking.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Q&A a Day: 5-Year Journal; Author: Visit Amazon's Potter Gift Page; Review: I'm on year four now, and it's been so fun. Quick, easy way to "journal" over the years. I'll probably get another next year when I'm done.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Forgetting Place: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's John Burley Page; Review: I figured out the plot twist within the first couple pages. I kept reading, waiting for the plot twist, because I couldn't believe that it would be so obvious. Some of the parts were interesting, but overall I was disappointed.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: God's Dream; Author: Archbishop Desmond Tutu; Review: Sweet book that sends the message that we want our children to learn about God's love for all of humanity. My toddler doesn't understand the words yet, but he loves reading this sturdy board book, seeing the children, and pointing out the cats and dogs on almost every page.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Archetype; Author: Visit Amazon's M. D. Waters Page; Review: Quick read, absorbing, plot moves well, good premise. So I bought this book at Dollar Tree for $1 figuring for $1 what would it hurt? I was so pleasantly surprised!!! I have since purchased the sequel from Amazon. Hope to see more from this author!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Prodigal Summer; Author: Visit Amazon's Barbara Kingsolver Page; Review: It took a few chapters (maybe two chapters from each of the three main characters' perspectives) to really get into the book. Once I got invested, the book was a great mix of environmental education and interpersonal relations. Kingslover does a great job of getting inside the heads of her characters. I was left at the end feeling a little "unfinished." The book seemed to end abruptly with lots of loose ends. Literary move to leave the character lifelines up to the imagination and philosophical interpretations of the reader, but I would have enjoyed more.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Winter's Heart (The Wheel of Time, Book 9); Author: Visit Amazon's Robert Jordan Page; Review: This book was "okay" compared to the others. If I wasn't invested in the series and characters already, I probably wouldn't have finished it. At this point in the series, I'm really trudging through to get to the last few books which I've heard are much better. A few noteworthy things finally come together that the series has been building up to, but it feels kind of anticlimactic because there is so much filler before/after.; Rating: 3.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: As the Crow Flies: A Longmire Mystery; Author: Visit Amazon's Craig Johnson Page; Review: Craig Johnson has hit another home run in the series on which the hit TV show " Longmire" is based. This story follows Walt Longmire in his quest for justice and personal survival through middle age. a great read and a good mystery.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Buffalo Bill's Dead Now (A Wind River Mystery); Author: Visit Amazon's Margaret Coel Page; Review: Margret Coel hits another home run with the priest and the Native lawyer. A gripping mystery with engaging characters. She is the keeper of the Tony Hillerman torch now that he is gone. Could there be higher praise?; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Spider Woman's Daughter (A Leaphorn and Chee Novel); Author: Visit Amazon's Anne Hillerman Page; Review: Anne Hillerman continues a family tradition by using her famous father's characters to spin a great new tale. Jim Chee and Joe Leaphorn are back with Jim's new wife Bernie as a major player. Set in Navajoland this is a great read.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Spirit of Steamboat: A Longmire Story (A Longmire Mystery); Author: Visit Amazon's Craig Johnson Page; Review: Another winner from Craig Johnson,the author whose work is the basis for the tv series Longmire. The novella may be the new medium for fiction and this is a great example.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Messenger: A Walt Longmire Story (A Penguin Special from Viking) (Walt Longmire Mysteries) - Kindle edition; Author: Visit Amazon's Craig Johnson Page; Review: Another great read from the creator of Longmire. Craig Johnson is the heir apparent to the late Tony Hillerman crown of western mysteries.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Night of the White Buffalo (A Wind River Mystery); Author: Visit Amazon's Margaret Coel Page; Review: Another great mystery from Margret Coel. The interplay of lawyer Vickie Holden and the Wind a River reservation priest investigating a string of disappearances ranks with the great pairs of Holmes and Wilson and Leaphorn and Chee. A wonderful read.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Wait for Signs: Twelve Longmire Stories (A Longmire Mystery); Author: Visit Amazon's Craig Johnson Page; Review: A great group of short stories by the Longmire author Craig Johnson. Gets the flavor of the mountain west as well as anybody. Wonderful characters with humor and a shot of irony on the side.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The New Neighbor: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Leah Stewart Page; Review: A great read about my home neighborhood. Strong characters including an elderly lady seldom seen in modern fiction.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Rock with Wings (A Leaphorn, Chee & Manuelito Novel); Author: Visit Amazon's Anne Hillerman Page; Review: Anne Hillerman continues the stories her dad Tony started with grace and style.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Man Who Fell from the Sky (A Wind River Mystery); Author: Visit Amazon's Margaret Coel Page; Review: Another great Coel story with historical research and great plot line.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: In the Spirit of Crazy; Author: Visit Amazon's Peter Matthiessen Page; Review: Detailed history of the events at Pine Ridge in the 1979s.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: An Obvious Fact: A Longmire Mystery; Author: Visit Amazon's Craig Johnson Page; Review: Another great book from Craig Johnson. Good story line and great characters!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI; Author: Visit Amazon's David Grann Page; Review: This is a well researched and documented book on a long overlooked story.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bloody Bill Anderson: The Short, Savage Life of a Civil War Guerrilla; Author: Visit Amazon's Albert E. Castel Page; Review: Good read. Light on serious history but well written and easy to read. Good book for the civil war fan and one of the better books on s little known character who influenced the great outlaws the James and Younger gangs.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Hotel Saint Paul; City: Manaus Amazon River State of Amazonas; Review: Perfect location, nice rooms and helpful staff. Highly recommend this hotel if staying in Manaus. Walking distance to all downtown sites and restaurants.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Chez Les Rois Guesthouse; City: Manaus Amazon River State of Amazonas; Review: Nice small hotel. Rooms very sparce but nice pool and garden area. Not a good location however so if staying for a few days in Manaus suggest the St. Paul apartment hotel.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Shangri La Hotel Chengdu; City: Chengdu Sichuan; Review: This hotel is top class. Great room, service, restaurant and club longe. Can walk outside to many venues. Best place to stay in Chengdu.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Wyndham Grand Plaza Royale Palace Chengdu; City: Chengdu Sichuan; Review: Stayed here many times in 2010/2011. The facility is very nice and rooms great since this is a new hotel. But it is far from town - about an hour drive to the center of Chengdu. If you are not Chinese you may have trouble with the staff understanding your questions. They want to give good service but sometimes do not understand what you are requesting. Also, there is nothing around the hotel yet - there will be in time but not currently so you either stay/eat in the hotel or take a cab into town.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Amazon Ecopark Jungle Lodge; City: Manaus Amazon River State of Amazonas; Review: Lodge in an Eco park nearby Manaus. Cabins were adequate and the meals were good. The fish dishes were excellent, but the chicken and beef were not. The tours from the lodge gave us what we came for - the sights and animals of the Amazon and jungle experience. Only bad tour was the tribal village which our guide told us was create for the tourists coming to Manaus - skip this one.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Shangri La Hotel Beijing; City: Beijing; Review: This Shangri-la is not as great as the others I've stayed in. The staff, public places and restaurant are all to the Shangri-la standards, but the rooms are in serious need of updating.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Villas de Santa Fe; City: Santa Fe New Mexico; Review: Nice standard suite hotel. Great location as only a few minutes walk to the downtown plaza. Very helpful staff with good lobby and free internet/PCs.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mangy Moose Motel; City: Grand Marais Minnesota; Review: The Mangy Moose is so convient to the small downtown, 5 minute walk. Very nice managers with good recommendations. No problem making reservation during the winter even though the motel is closed. Excellent value.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Three Rivers Inn; City: Sedro Woolley Washington; Review: Motel from 1960's in small town. So expectations were met. But very clean and should have no concerns booking here. Not many choices here so a good choice and not far from all restaurants and the downtown.; Rating: 3.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Lowcountry Bribe (Carolina Slade Mystery); Author: Visit Amazon's C. Hope Clark Page; Review: It was interesting and fast moving without sex. It had romance mixed in with history. Anyone who likes intrigue would enjoy this book.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Summer I Learned to Dive; Author: Visit Amazon's Shannon McCrimmon Page; Review: It was a fun light, cute summer reading book. I enjoyed it because this could really happen with a young girl.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sycamore Row (The Jake Brigance); Author: Visit Amazon's John Grisham Page; Review: It was very good and kept me in suspense, had lots of twist and turns. I think most anyone would enjoy reading this book.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The CEO; Author: Visit Amazon's Peter Ralph Page; Review: Good read, intriguing.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Cry of the Peacock; Author: Visit Amazon's V.R. Christensen Page; Review: Interesting light reading. Enjoyed the book.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with movies/shows as follows:
Title: Speed (1994); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Jaws (1975); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Mummy (1999); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Fried Green Tomatoes (1991); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Wedding Planner (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: A Beautiful Mind (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: National Lampoon's Vacation (1983); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Beverly Hills Cop III (1994); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Liar Liar (1997); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Braveheart (1995); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Moonstruck (1987); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Lion King: Special Edition (1994); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit (1993); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Men in Black II (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Stand (1994); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Jurassic Park III (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Porky's (1981); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo (1999); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Gone in 60 Seconds (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: What Lies Beneath (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Bonnie and Clyde (1967); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Miss Congeniality (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Nutty Professor (1996); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Underworld (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Apocalypse Now (1979); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: All the President's Men (1976); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Terminator (1984); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Scarface: 20th Anniversary Edition (1983); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Lost in Space (1998); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Pretty Woman (1990); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Edward Scissorhands (1990); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Rush Hour (1998); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Gremlins (1984); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Breakfast Club (1985); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Armageddon (1998); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Langoliers (1995); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Blade (1998); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Scary Movie (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Star Wars: Episode II: Attack of the Clones (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ice Age (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Good (1966); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Star Trek: Nemesis (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Tommyknockers (1993); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mighty Joe Young (1998); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Die Hard (1988); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Godzilla (1998); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Princess Diaries (Widescreen) (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Hot Chick (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Sound of Music (1965); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Spider-Man 2 (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mr. Holland's Opus (1995); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Rock (1996); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Blade 2 (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: National Lampoon's Animal House (1978); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Thelma & Louise: Special Edition (1991); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: X-Men (2000); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Double Jeopardy (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Men in Black (1997); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: What's Eating Gilbert Grape (1993); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Animal (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: National Lampoon's European Vacation (1985); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Blazing Saddles (1974); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Core (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Kramer vs. Kramer (1979); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Total Recall (1990); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: MASH: Season 2 (1973); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Lethal Weapon 4 (1998); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Spider-Man (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Shawshank Redemption: Special Edition (1994); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Waterboy (1998); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Batman (1989); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Beetlejuice (1988); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Blade Runner (1982); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King: Extended Edition (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Grease (1978); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Independence Day (1996); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Day After Tomorrow (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sweet Home Alabama (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Resident Evil (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Father of the Bride (1991); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Con Air (1997); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Carrie (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Kindergarten Cop (1990); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Dirty Harry (1972); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Face/Off (1997); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Titanic (1997); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Halloween (1978); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Meet the Parents (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Philadelphia (1993); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Me (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Scooby-Doo (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Forgotten (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Man on Fire (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Lethal Weapon (1987); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Star Wars: Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers: Extended Edition (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring: Extended Edition (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Fisher King (1991); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Pulp Fiction (1994); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Manchurian Candidate (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Galaxy Quest (1999); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Godfather (1972); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Troy (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Gladiator (2000); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hannibal (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Shrek (Full-screen) (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Matrix (1999); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Van Helsing (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Star Wars: Episode IV: A New Hope (1977); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Shark Tale (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Jacob's Ladder (1990); Rating: 3.0/5.0 | netflix |
Given the interaction history of a user with movies/shows as follows:
Title: Batman Forever (1995); Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Crime; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Perez Family, The (1995); Genres: Comedy, Romance; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Godfather: Part III, The (1990); Genres: Crime, Drama, Mystery, Thriller; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Safe (1995); Genres: Thriller; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983); Genres: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Being There (1979); Genres: Comedy, Drama; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Lady Vanishes, The (1938); Genres: Drama, Mystery, Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Withnail & I (1987); Genres: Comedy; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Down by Law (1986); Genres: Comedy, Drama, Film-Noir; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: This Is Spinal Tap (1984); Genres: Comedy; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Election (1999); Genres: Comedy; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: American Beauty (1999); Genres: Drama, Romance; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Philadelphia Story, The (1940); Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Bringing Up Baby (1938); Genres: Comedy, Romance; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: M*A*S*H (a.k.a. MASH) (1970); Genres: Comedy, Drama, War; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Duck Soup (1933); Genres: Comedy, Musical, War; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Player, The (1992); Genres: Comedy, Crime, Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Crimes and Misdemeanors (1989); Genres: Comedy, Crime, Drama; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Wings of Desire (Himmel über Berlin, Der) (1987); Genres: Drama, Fantasy, Romance; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Manhattan (1979); Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Cool Hand Luke (1967); Genres: Drama; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Lesson Faust (1994); Genres: Animation, Comedy, Drama, Fantasy; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Rushmore (1998); Genres: Comedy, Drama; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Moonstruck (1987); Genres: Comedy, Romance; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Strictly Ballroom (1992); Genres: Comedy, Romance; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Welcome to the Dollhouse (1995); Genres: Comedy, Drama; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Harold and Maude (1971); Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Groundhog Day (1993); Genres: Comedy, Fantasy, Romance; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Buffalo '66 (a.k.a. Buffalo 66) (1998); Genres: Drama, Romance; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Cinema Paradiso (Nuovo cinema Paradiso) (1989); Genres: Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Repo Man (1984); Genres: Comedy, Sci-Fi; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Crooklyn (1994); Genres: Comedy, Drama; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Bob Roberts (1992); Genres: Comedy; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Commitments, The (1991); Genres: Comedy, Drama, Musical; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, The (1994); Genres: Comedy, Drama; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Full Monty, The (1997); Genres: Comedy, Drama; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Maybe, Maybe Not (Bewegte Mann, Der) (1994); Genres: Comedy; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Fish Called Wanda, A (1988); Genres: Comedy, Crime; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Bulworth (1998); Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Broadcast News (1987); Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Shakespeare in Love (1998); Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Sleeper (1973); Genres: Comedy, Sci-Fi; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Stand by Me (1986); Genres: Adventure, Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Waking Ned Devine (a.k.a. Waking Ned) (1998); Genres: Comedy; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Radio Days (1987); Genres: Comedy, Drama; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Midnight Run (1988); Genres: Action, Comedy, Crime, Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Bananas (1971); Genres: Comedy, War; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Heathers (1989); Genres: Comedy; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Wag the Dog (1997); Genres: Comedy; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: My Cousin Vinny (1992); Genres: Comedy; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Back to the Future (1985); Genres: Adventure, Comedy, Sci-Fi; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: There's Something About Mary (1998); Genres: Comedy, Romance; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: When Harry Met Sally... (1989); Genres: Comedy, Romance; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Gods Must Be Crazy, The (1980); Genres: Adventure, Comedy; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bullets Over Broadway (1994); Genres: Comedy; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Father of the Bride (1950); Genres: Comedy; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Blues Brothers, The (1980); Genres: Action, Comedy, Musical; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Grosse Pointe Blank (1997); Genres: Comedy, Crime, Romance; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Beetlejuice (1988); Genres: Comedy, Fantasy; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Little Voice (1998); Genres: Comedy; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Return of the Pink Panther, The (1975); Genres: Comedy, Crime; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Stripes (1981); Genres: Comedy, War; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Breakfast Club, The (1985); Genres: Comedy, Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Big (1988); Genres: Comedy, Drama, Fantasy, Romance; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Trading Places (1983); Genres: Comedy; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971); Genres: Children, Comedy, Fantasy, Musical; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Better Off Dead... (1985); Genres: Comedy, Romance; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: L.A. Story (1991); Genres: Comedy, Romance; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Barcelona (1994); Genres: Comedy, Romance; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Take the Money and Run (1969); Genres: Comedy, Crime; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Fisher King, The (1991); Genres: Comedy, Drama, Fantasy, Romance; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Muriel's Wedding (1994); Genres: Comedy; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Manhattan Murder Mystery (1993); Genres: Comedy, Mystery; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: National Lampoon's Vacation (1983); Genres: Comedy; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Dave (1993); Genres: Comedy, Romance; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Cable Guy, The (1996); Genres: Comedy, Thriller; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Lady and the Tramp (1955); Genres: Animation, Children, Comedy, Romance; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid (1982); Genres: Comedy, Crime, Thriller; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Children of the Revolution (1996); Genres: Comedy; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dogma (1999); Genres: Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Harvey (1950); Genres: Comedy, Fantasy; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Clerks (1994); Genres: Comedy; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Private Parts (1997); Genres: Comedy, Drama; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Terms of Endearment (1983); Genres: Comedy, Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sixteen Candles (1984); Genres: Comedy, Romance; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: League of Their Own, A (1992); Genres: Comedy, Drama; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Month by the Lake, A (1995); Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Grease (1978); Genres: Comedy, Musical, Romance; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Deconstructing Harry (1997); Genres: Comedy, Drama; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Meatballs (1979); Genres: Comedy; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Lethal Weapon (1987); Genres: Action, Comedy, Crime, Drama; Rating: 1.0/5.0 | movielens |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: I Loved You More; Author: Tom Spanbauer; Genres: romance, fiction; Review: Some parts are wonderful, others I had to drag myself through. But, I like his writing.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Furiously Happy: A Funny Book About Horrible Things; Author: Jenny Lawson; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, fiction; Review: I liked the idea of this but did not enjoy it at all; repetitive and excruciatingly whimsical.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: The Narrow Road to the Deep North; Author: Richard Flanagan; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, romance, fiction; Review: Dark, disturbing and wise. Not always an easy read but it will stay with me.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Invisible Man; Author: Ralph Ellison; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, fiction; Review: Slowly working my way through the American canon and this is excellent; by turns harrowing, funny and moving. It traces an African-American man's political development and awakening in the early 20th C. with a backdrop of Marxist politics and racism in its multiple forms. It took me forever to get through as I listen more slowly than I read and it kept getting recalled by my public library! However, the audiobook is highly recommended because Joe Morton - the actor who reads this - is truly impressive.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: My Brilliant Friend (The Neapolitan Novels #1); Author: Elena Ferrante; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction, romance, fiction; Review: Wondered what all the fuss was about at first but this is wonderful - an engrossing epic with feminist insight.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Modern Romance: An Investigation; Author: Aziz Ansari; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, romance, fiction; Review: Good for the commute/working-out. More informative than funny. Enjoyable.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Vegetarian; Author: Han Kang; Genres: fiction; Review: Surreal, spare and unlike anything I've read before. Some of the images/sections will stay with me - one to read again in a few years.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Kind Worth Killing; Author: Peter Swanson; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, mystery; Review: I was mildly surprised by some of the twists but overall this is pretty corny. Will surely get made into a movie.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Invention of Nature: Alexander von Humboldt's New World; Author: Andrea Wulf; Genres: history, comics, graphic, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction; Review: I enjoyed this; I knew nearly nothing about Alexander Van Humboldt and she manages to provide an account of his life and influence in an accessible way. She also includes an enormous amount of information about various other things (the revolution led by Simon Bolivar, Kant's philosophy, Darwin and the beginnings of American environmentalism, etc...). There is maybe a little repetition at times. Yet, overall I found this interesting and enjoyable. However, I would recommend reading this rather than the audiobook - for some reason it's read by a rather dramatic man, even though the book is written by Andrea Wulf, and I found this to be a little bizarre.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Negroland: A Memoir; Author: Margo Jefferson; Genres: history, non-fiction, biography, historical fiction; Review: I found this audiobook very engaging. Jefferson's memoir describes her formative years growing up as a fairly wealthy African American in Chicago during the fifties and sixties. She is very thoughtful on race, sex and class and their intersection in her life. I also found her observational tone of self-reflection- a complex of what one is thought to be, considers herself, and wishes she was - relatable. The narrator, Robin Miles, is excellent.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: M Train; Author: Patti Smith; Genres: history, poetry, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, fiction; Review: This is wonderful. I started it and had to leave it for a while to finish some other things but I was thinking about it all the time. Very different from 'Just Kids' but the same beautiful mind and poetic language. Rather than a memoir about a single subject, this is a series of reflections on a range of topics with the central themes of love, memory and loss. Smith makes me feel like the laziest person around - she is always working. Although, I enjoy her surprising addiction to detective dramas. Also, her love for Murakami makes sense given that she seems to be living in one of his novels.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Luminaries; Author: Eleanor Catton; Genres: history, fiction, thriller, crime, biography, historical fiction, mystery; Review: This book ends up great - I loved the last 3rd. But the intro is excessively long, which was sometimes a chore to get through. Interesting setting and good characters with multiple (too many?) subplots interweaving. It is also a huge brick so not a book to carry around.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Broken Monsters; Author: Lauren Beukes; Genres: thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: I really enjoyed most of this - good characters, writing and there are a lot of sub-plots that work together well. But, the ending is daft.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption; Author: Laura Hillenbrand; Genres: history, comics, graphic, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, fiction; Review: Wonderful. A story with a lot of humanity despite its brutal subject-matter. An extraordinary life for 1 person.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Long Song; Author: Andrea Levy; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction, fiction; Review: Very enjoyable; funny and sad at once. I really enjoyed her earlier book - Small Island - so my hopes were high, but this is also great.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Silkworm (Cormoran Strike, #2); Author: Robert Galbraith; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, mystery; Review: Very enjoyable. A nearly ludicrous storyline but certainly a page-turner. Also, Cormoran Strike is a great protagonist.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Give Me Everything You Have: On Being Stalked; Author: James Lasdun; Genres: history, fiction, thriller, crime, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, mystery; Review: The central story is a terrifying account of being the victim of online stalking by a former student. As a professor this is the stuff of nightmares. And, the writing is very good. I found there to be far too many tangents - D.H. Lawrence, Israel, etc... - in the context of which he tries to understand/reflect on his situation. These would be good essays on their own but I found them to be rather distracting.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: State of Wonder; Author: Ann Patchett; Genres: thriller, crime, mystery, fiction; Review: This was my first Patchett book and I found this riveting - a story with multiple literary references that considers medical ethics, capitalism, and colonial othering. The two primary characters are both very problematic and fascinating.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Big Brother; Author: Lionel Shriver; Genres: fiction; Review: It's an interesting premise and thoughtful on the question of family loyalty and on our relationship to food and fat. But, I found the characters to be mainly unlikeable, uninteresting, and stereotypical. There is also a scene in a toilet that I can't unread and could have done without.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: A Spool of Blue Thread; Author: Anne Tyler; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction, fiction; Review: This was my first Tyler novel and I thought it was great. A story about an ordinary family, the idiosyncrasies of its members and the complexities of how they interact together. It's funny, sad and insightful. Her comedic writing is very good and unexpected - some parts made me laugh aloud.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: This Victorian Life: Modern Adventures in Nineteenth-Century Culture, Cooking, Fashion, and Technology; Author: Sarah A. Chrisman; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, fiction; Review: This is fun. It reminds me a little of the tv show I very much like 'The Supersizers' and there is a lot of interesting information about the late 19th C, which is a period I am very interested in. But, while Supersizers doesn't take itself so seriously, this author comes across as terribly pretentious and really quite judgmental. Also, while there is certainly something interesting about what living with certain artifacts can tell us about them, this does not tell us what it was like to live in the 19th C. Instead, it tells us what living with a chatelaine or an antique bike is like for someone in the 21st C. And, it has a really romantic view of the period - I love the often repeated Morris quotation about living with beautiful or interesting things or the benefits to be had from eating with the seasons or living with the light but the Victorians were just as awful as us in their own special ways (corporal punishment, no votes for women, etc...). In the end, I found it to be not so far removed from the historical caricatures she rails against in the introduction.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Light Between Oceans; Author: M.L. Stedman; Genres: history, mystery, thriller, crime, biography, historical fiction, romance, fiction; Review: This is a good summer book - enjoyable and easy reading. But, it's not as powerful as it could be given the premise. The characters could be more complex and the writing is a bit corny at times.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Girls; Author: Emma Cline; Genres: history, fiction, young-adult, thriller, crime, biography, historical fiction, mystery; Review: I really liked this book. The Manson girls are much more interesting than Manson himself (a ridiculous megalomaniac just like the character Russell) and this is an interesting account of the allure of such a group for a younger member that also comments on the darker side of being a girl in general (the parallel Sasha storyline was depressing but rang true). Dreamily written. I will be interested to see what Cline writes next.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Course of Love; Author: Alain de Botton; Genres: non-fiction, romance, fiction; Review: This is highly readable - funny and often wise. I found the omniscient voice that intercepts the story of the 2 characters to have varying success as a literary device; sometimes it contained the funniest and most insightful parts but at other times it was a little trite. Nevertheless, I think it's an enjoyable way to present an unromantic or anti-utopian account of love.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Story of a New Name (The Neapolitan Novels #2); Author: Elena Ferrante; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction, romance, fiction; Review: Brilliant! Everyone who loves reading should read these books. An epic about ordinary yet extraordinary women; Ferrante is like a modern-day Austen or Dickens. I see this 2nd installment as a continuation of the earlier rather than a separate book to be considered on its own. I won't read the next in the series immediately as I think these should be savored.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Broken Harbor (Dublin Murder Squad, #4); Author: Tana French; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, mystery; Review: Very enjoyable as always - great characters and a good twist.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Crooked Heart; Author: Lissa Evans; Genres: history, children, biography, historical fiction, fiction; Review: A charming story set in the Blitz. It's sort of a Roald Dahl for adults, full of eccentric characters. Although, it's maybe a wee bit too twee for me.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Hyperbole and a Half: Unfortunate Situations, Flawed Coping Mechanisms, Mayhem, and Other Things That Happened; Author: Allie Brosh; Genres: history, comics, graphic, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, fiction; Review: Not my cup of tea. There are a couple that were thoughtful or funny but overall I think this is best suited as a blog (it's origin I believe) and not as a book. Or, a book for people who were already confirmed fans of the blog. Pretty much had to force myself to finish it.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Blackout: Remembering the Things I Drank to Forget; Author: Sarah Hepola; Genres: history, non-fiction, biography, historical fiction; Review: I liked reading some of Hepola's articles in Salon and I really enjoyed this. At times funny but it is also a brutal account of the story of her alcoholism. It includes some thoughtful sections on female adolescence, the limits of friendship, and consent. I would put it in the same family of memoirs as Wild by Cheryl Strayed. The last few chapters were perhaps a little sudden - but overall, very good.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Good as Gone; Author: Amy Gentry; Genres: thriller, crime, mystery, fiction; Review: Interesting premise (the return of a kidnapped daughter who may or may not be the original person, and a consideration of what makes up identity). But, the execution could have been better. I didn't find the characters believable and the literary device of backwards storytelling was a bit clunky.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Morning They Came for Us: Dispatches from Syria; Author: Janine Di Giovanni; Genres: history, non-fiction, biography, historical fiction; Review: A harrowing and accessible account of the civil war's impact on ordinary people. This outlines the experience of rebels, Assad supporters, and those stuck in between. Devastating. As a Syrian artist asks: "How can Syria ever be what it once was? It has been burnt alive by hatred"; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Expatriates; Author: Janice Y.K. Lee; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction, fiction; Review: I really enjoyed this. Lee convincingly portrays the intersecting lives of 3 American women living in Hong Kong. She looks at gender, race, privilege and suffering of various kinds. But mainly it's about forgiveness - of oneself and others.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: This Must Be the Place; Author: Maggie O'Farrell; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction, romance, fiction; Review: I really enjoyed this book. A beautifully written complex of Interweaving lives and multiple characters across times and various places. Some of the characters are improbable but overall this is insightful and empathetic. Makes me want to see the Bolivian salt flats.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: A Lost Lady; Author: Willa Cather; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction, fiction; Review: I loved this. This is my second Cather book and it encourages me to read more. She has a spare writing style that keeps you at a distance as if you're watching a film. The narrator tells the story of his perception of a woman's fall from grace. The story is presented from a subjective point of view, from the perspective of someone who idealises her (for herself and what she represents). But, Cather subtlety undermines the authority of this perspective.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Little Life; Author: Hanya Yanagihara; Genres: romance, fiction; Review: This is a wonderful book. It's an account of devastating suffering as well as the importance and limitations of friendship. It's not often that a book can make me cry, yet, it also made me laugh on occasion. And, despite its harrowing enormity, I couldn't put it down. There is something implausible about the lives of the various characters but you don't really care because they are all so enjoyable.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Shrill: Notes from a Loud Woman; Author: Lindy West; Genres: history, non-fiction, biography, historical fiction; Review: I first heard about West in her great This American Life episode and I really enjoyed this book, which she reads herself. It covers body image, abortion, fat-shaming, rape-jokes, internet trolls and her relationships with her family & her husband. Clever, funny and open. Not shrill at all.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Small Great Things; Author: Jodi Picoult; Genres: thriller, crime, mystery, fiction; Review: I had never read a Picoult book before and I suppose that this is kind of what I expected - an easy, compelling read that addresses a social issue (in this case: race). It has a bit of a made-for TV movie feel, especially with respect to the twist. But, it's an accessible way to address the enormous topic of white privilege. And, given her readership it will reach a wide audience, which can only be a good thing.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Girl with the Lower Back Tattoo; Author: Amy Schumer; Genres: history, comics, graphic, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, fiction; Review: I really enjoyed this audiobook (read by Schumer). Not a biography but a selection of her essays and thoughts on various issues. Often funny but also thoughtful on some serious issues.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Before the Fall; Author: Noah Hawley; Genres: thriller, crime, mystery, fiction; Review: An enjoyable mystery that integrates contemporary matters (such as tabloid wire-tapping and a Fox News-like media empire). By no means life-changing but entertaining with some commentary on the media and male angst. 3.5 rounded up to 4.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: My Name Is Leon; Author: Kit de Waal; Genres: history, young-adult, biography, historical fiction, fiction; Review: This is great. It's an account of the life of a foster child in England during the early eighties (the description says seventies but I recall some of the events!) from his perspective, with a backdrop of poverty and racism. Definitely a book to make you cry and I was filled with a sense of dread at parts. But, it is also somehow uplifting; there is some ordinary goodness, esp. Leon and Maureen, and it has been written with an adroit sense of humour - Leon's commentary on the adults around him is brutally funny at times.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The All of It; Author: Jeannette Haien; Genres: history, fiction, thriller, crime, biography, historical fiction, mystery; Review: A beautifully written story of an Irish woman's telling of her and her recently deceased husband's life to her parish priest in which she recounts an extraordinary event. It's a quick read, which is very evocative of the people and the landscape, and it offers a complex reflection on empathy.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America; Author: Erik Larson; Genres: history, fiction, thriller, crime, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, mystery; Review: This has been on my to-read list since I moved to Chicago 8/9 yrs ago and I thought I should get round to it before the film came out. Very entertaining and a great read for anyone interested in the history of architecture/late 19th C. Chicago. And, it's interesting to alternate between the creation of the World's Fair and with the serial killer that took advantage of it. The audiobook is solid.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: How to Hygge: The Nordic Secrets to a Happy Life; Author: Signe Johansen; Genres: history, non-fiction, biography, historical fiction; Review: Sounded like the sort of self-help I could get behind. This is a nice coffee-table book and there are some good recipes in here. But, there's not much beyond that.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis; Author: J.D. Vance; Genres: history, comics, graphic, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, fiction; Review: A compassionate and easy-to-read account of growing up as the poor and socially disadvantaged child of a family from Kentucky based in small-town Ohio. It includes a great cast of characters, and it is both funny and tragic. On the one hand, it's a memoir of his family and of his own path to transcending poverty. On the other hand, it's a reflection on the strengths and weaknesses of that life as well as some sociological and political analyses of the same. I think that his personal reflections are fair and complex. But, when he takes it beyond the personal to the more general there is a lack of complexity and some omission. So, I think that while it works well as a personal memoir, the analysis could be more nuanced.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Run You Down (Rebekah Roberts, #2); Author: Julia Dahl; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, mystery; Review: This works best as a sequel to (the better) Invisible City. I didn't love that the chapters alternated between two different perspectives but otherwise, the Hasidic community is interesting focus for a crime novel, and it's a quick and enjoyable read.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: All the Birds in the Sky; Author: Charlie Jane Anders; Genres: young-adult, paranormal, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: I think I'm an outlier here not loving this. It started well, and I think that the idea is an interesting one, however, I didn't enjoy the main body of the book. It's a cross-genre novel - YA, fantasy & science-fiction (all genres I only selectively enjoy so that may be my problem). I found the section between their childhood to the ending to be a rather overwrought and corny. Could be a good movie though.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Ain't I a Woman: Black Women and Feminism; Author: bell hooks; Genres: history, non-fiction, biography, historical fiction; Review: I read various sections of this when I was a student but hadn't read it in its entirety. Excellent, and remains important and relevant even as intersectionality becomes more known/discussed. The account of African-American women's lives under slavery is harrowing and is still a story infrequently told. Also, this is surprisingly readable for an academic work.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Career of Evil (Cormoran Strike, #3); Author: Robert Galbraith; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, mystery; Review: The best of her Galbraith novels so far. An easy, fun read with a enjoyable protagonist.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Out of Bounds (Inspector Karen Pirie, #4); Author: Val McDermid; Genres: thriller, crime, mystery, fiction; Review: Thoroughly enjoyable, easy to read police procedural, with the engaging central character of Detective Karen Pirie. Perhaps a bit typical (brilliant but flawed detective) and some of the details of the cold case are incredible. Yet, I will surely read another, and the Edinburgh setting adds to the pleasure for me.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race; Author: Margot Lee Shetterly; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, fiction; Review: I watched and loved the movie so was keen to read this. The book gives you a broader look, less personal, and concerns more figures than the film (although Johnson, Jackson and Vaughan get special attention). She does a good job of interrelating different topics (the race for space, Virginia's segregation, and the development of civil rights). So, it offers an engaging account of an overlooked but significant part of US history. I didn't even know a 'computer' was once a real person. And, the contribution of the women described is amazing - they come across as renaissance figures, not only brilliant at maths and physics but also polymaths who are committed to social justice, and their communities. The book could be a little dry at times and I would have enjoyed more depth about the lives of the women physicists and engineers. But, overall it was informative and fascinating.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Irène (Verhœven, #1); Author: Pierre Lemaitre; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, mystery; Review: It starts out with some gruesome murders, which made we wonder if I wanted to continue but as it progresses, it gets much better. This is a bit different than the usual crime book, in ways that are hard to express without giving the game away. Set in Paris with a compelling central detective and other main characters. Maybe the crime is a bit daft. Nevertheless, I won't be surprised if this ends up as a tv show. I also heard that the second in the trilogy is even better...; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: In the Name of the Family; Author: Sarah Dunant; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction, fiction; Review: Very entertaining and a quick read for a sizeable book. Like Mantel's books on Cromwell, and the Tudors, it makes you consider such infamous historical characters - in this case the Borgias and Machiavelli - in a more complex light. I found the switching from character's perspective to another had its limits in so far as you never really got a deep perspective of anyone, yet the overall historical context is written in an evocative manner.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Glass Castle; Author: Jeannette Walls; Genres: history, young-adult, comics, graphic, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, fiction; Review: This is an absorbing memoir about growing up in an unconventional family. It is written in such a direct and unsentimental way and it is, by turns, both funny and sad. It's a story of neglect, resilience, the value of art, the drudgery of poverty, and love.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: A Gentleman in Moscow; Author: Amor Towles; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction, fiction; Review: Charming and enjoyable. In another author's hands this might be saccharine but somehow it strikes the balance between sentiment and form. Reminiscent of the film The Grand Budapest Hotel, with fewer high-jinks and more sincerity.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Eileen; Author: Ottessa Moshfegh; Genres: history, thriller, crime, biography, historical fiction, fiction, mystery; Review: An intimate portrait of a character you rarely read about - a woman trapped in a bleak life, filled with self-loathing and resentment - and her monotonous life is changed by an act that follows the arrival of an enchanting new friend. The thriller aspect of this is muted and not why it's interesting; instead, it's a look into Eileen's consciousness. Compelling and unsettling.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Alex (Verhœven, #2); Author: Pierre Lemaitre; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, mystery; Review: This is the second book in the Verhoeven trilogy and it's better that the first. Just like the last, this starts in a gory way but there are some good twists here (including the ending). A quick and gripping read.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Descent of Man; Author: Grayson Perry; Genres: history, non-fiction, biography, historical fiction; Review: This is a quick read that is funny and filled with astute observations on public masculinity from George Osborne to survivalists. If you have read on feminism and gender before there isn't much new here. But, Perry's wit, self-reflection and compassion make it worth a read.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Eat Sweat Play: How Sport Can Change Our Lives; Author: Anna Kessel; Genres: history, non-fiction, biography, historical fiction; Review: A well-written account of women watching and doing sport, from athletes to ordinary people. Among other things it looks at access, perception, and a variety of taboos (periods, pregnancy, the pay gap, etc...). She makes a feminist case for the importance of sport and ways to redress the inequalities.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Honor; Author: Elif Shafak; Genres: history, fiction, thriller, crime, biography, historical fiction, mystery; Review: I really liked this novel. The topic - honour killings - is an interesting one and the book isn't as bleak as that might suggest. Shafak provides an epic tale of 2 sisters, while offering a thoughtful portrayal of the dark side of masculinity, the complexity of family relations, and immigration. I will surely read another one of her books.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hot Milk; Author: Deborah Levy; Genres: fiction; Review: This is a really unusual and beautifully written novel. The story of a dysfunctional mother-daughter relationship, a mysterious illness and Sophia (the daughter's) efforts to examine herself. The plot is secondary, the interesting part is being immersed in Sophia's inner life. The novel has a dreamlike, poetic quality.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Lincoln in the Bardo; Author: George Saunders; Genres: history, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: This is a really unusual novel, and I would recommend the audiobook as the multiple characters read by different actors (& Saunders) add to the sense of a chorus. Clever and beautiful on death and grief.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: So You've Been Publicly Shamed; Author: Jon Ronson; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, fiction; Review: A quick and enjoyable read on an interesting topic - shame in the age of the internet. Depressing, thoughtful and characteristically empathetic like most of Ronson's books and articles.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Running Ransom Road: Confronting the Past, One Marathon at a Time; Author: Caleb Daniloff; Genres: history, young-adult, comics, graphic, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction; Review: I enjoy books about running and also memoirs about overcoming something so this seemed like something I'd surely like (he reflects on his past alcoholism and recovers via running). But, it didn't quite work for me. I really enjoyed some chapters such as the one in Moscow. Yet, others didn't work so well. A few great individual essays but maybe not enough for a book.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Do Not Become Alarmed; Author: Maile Meloy; Genres: thriller, crime, mystery, fiction; Review: An enjoyable, well-written page-turner. Although, probably a stressful read for parents. Three families go on a cruise, and at one stop, the children go missing. The novel looks at how both the adults and children cope with this. It perhaps lacks some emotional depth (too many perspectives?) but it's an interesting idea and a quick read.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: We Shall Not All Sleep; Author: Estep Nagy; Genres: history, children, biography, historical fiction, romance, fiction; Review: It took me a few chapters to get into this but then I read it very quickly. The dynamics between family members and neighbours parallel an historical CIA intrigue that is offered in flashbacks - everyone knows something but the whole evades everyone. You never really get a sense of any particular character in depth (except perhaps Catta). Nevertheless, the place and group are evoked very well. And, I was left wanting more.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Secret Place (Dublin Murder Squad, #5); Author: Tana French; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, mystery; Review: Another highly readable book from Tana French. The best crime writer around.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Those Who Leave and Those Who Stay (The Neapolitan Novels #3); Author: Elena Ferrante; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction, romance, fiction; Review: Wonderful. I could read about Elena and Lila forever. But now I only have one left ...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Outrun: A Memoir; Author: Amy Liptrot; Genres: history, comics, graphic, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, fiction; Review: This is a beautifully written memoir of an Orcadian who returns to Orkney to recover from alcoholism. Lovely nature writing about the islands. Makes me want to visit there again.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Amatka; Author: Karin Tidbeck; Genres: paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: The town in which this science-fiction novel is located is an interesting one - things must be repeatedly named and marked to retain their form, otherwise, they dissolve into gloop. The story revolves around an outsider - Vanja, who moves here and plays a central role in what happens to the town. There's a lot of interest here - it's an atmospheric read - but, as a whole, I was left unsatisfied with the character development and the way everything hangs together (or doesn't).; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Where'd You Go, Bernadette; Author: Maria Semple; Genres: young-adult, thriller, crime, fiction, mystery; Review: A quick read and a fun satire. It has an unusual structure, and is quirky, improbable and funny.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Days Without End; Author: Sebastian Barry; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction, fiction; Review: "When the old ancient Cromwell come to Ireland he said he would leave nothing alive. Said the Irish were vermin and devils. Clean out the country for good people to step into. Make a paradise. Now we make this American paradise I guess. Guess it be strange so many Irish boys doing this work. Aint that the way of the world. No such item as a virtuous people." I loved this; it's maybe the best book I've read all year. A poor Irish immigrant immigrates to America to escape the famine and finds himself fighting in the American Indian wars and the Civil war. Sounds like a grim topic for a book and some chapters are truly harrowing. But, this is beautifully written first person narrative, as complex as reality, and full of wisdom, sorrow and love.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Standard Deviation; Author: Katherine Heiny; Genres: romance, fiction; Review: This comedy of manners is an enjoyable, funny, and quick read. Audra is an unforgettable character.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | goodreads |
Given the interaction history of a user with movies/shows as follows:
Title: Tombstone (1993); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Legally Blonde (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: A Knight's Tale (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hardball (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Magnolia (1999); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Showtime (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: A Walk to Remember (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: High Crimes (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Frailty (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Royal Tenenbaums (2001); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: The Shipping News (2001); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: XXX: Special Edition (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Good Girl (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: White Oleander (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Road to Perdition (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Two Weeks Notice (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: City by the Sea (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Apollo 13 (1995); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: About Schmidt (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Moonlight Mile (2002); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Catch Me If You Can (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Kangaroo Jack (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Anger Management (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Bruce Almighty (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Wedding Planner (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The In-Laws (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Four Feathers (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Miss Congeniality (2000); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Armageddon (1998); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Men of Honor (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mrs. Doubtfire (1993); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Hunted (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Shanghai Knights (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: American Pie (1999); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Rock (1996); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Twister (1996); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Double Jeopardy (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The General's Daughter (1999); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Air Force One (1997); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dark Blue (2003); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Lethal Weapon 4 (1998); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Con Air (1997); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Narc (2002); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Old School (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Life of David Gale (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The School of Rock (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Shattered Glass (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0 | netflix |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Mediabridge HDMI Cable (6 Feet) Supports 4K@60Hz, High Speed, Hand-Tested, HDMI 2.0 Ready - UHD, 18Gbps, Audio Return Channel; Brand: Mediabridge; Review: It is a great cable for a reasonable price. Mediabridge is great with follow-up to make sure you are satisfied.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mediabridge HDMI Cable (10 Feet) Supports 4K@60Hz, High Speed, Hand-Tested, HDMI 2.0 Ready - UHD, 18Gbps, Audio Return Channel; Brand: Mediabridge; Review: It is a great cable for a reasonable price. Mediabridge is great with follow-up to make sure you are satisfied.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Panasonic VIERA TC-L47E50 47-Inch 1080p 120Hz Full HD IPS LED-LCD TV; Brand: Panasonic; Review: I just love this TV. The picture is amazing.......my wife and I are in awe of the color, clarity, and depth of the picture. I am so happy I bought this set.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Panasonic SC-BTT190 Energy Star 5.1-Channel 1000-Watt Full HD 3D Blu-Ray Home Theater System (2013 Model); Brand: Panasonic; Review: This set meets my needs, as I was not really interested in a full theatre surrond system.....just some great sound. I am very pleased with is iand it works well with my Panasonic TV.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Compatible Dual Converter Headphone Earphone Adapter Accessories Cable Splitter Replacement for phone X 10 8/8Plus/ 7/ 7Plus; Brand: IWFYAN; Review: I bought this for my wife and she loves it. So much nicer then the black mesh ones. She really likes how it is organized, keeping the cups in rows. Great product and great looking.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: NewLobo(TM) Ultra Slim Extra Long 10 feet 3M USB 3.0 Superspeed Data Sync; Brand: NewLobo; Review: Jack did not fit phone properly....very loose and kept disconnecting and connecting on its own.; Rating: 1.0/5.0 | amazon_Electronics |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: In the Company of Secrets (Postcards from Pullman Series #1); Author: Visit Amazon's Judith Miller Page; Review: Loved this book. It was very intriguing and suspenseful. Very well written... Didn't want to put it down. Highly recommend!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Destiny Junction: Behind Every Door is a Life, and Behind Every Life is a Destiny; Author: Visit Amazon's Michael Phillips Page; Review: I enjoyed how this book had many characters and they were all brought together in the story line... Very intriguing read! Great theme of forgiveness.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Paradise Valley (The Daughters of Caleb Bender); Author: Dale Cramer; Review: This book was very intriguing. It had history, romance, adventure and the Amish people that I love to learn about!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Birnbaum's 2015 Walt Disney World For Kids: The Official Guide (Birnbaum Guides); Author: Birnbaum Guides; Review: Very informative! A must for those planning a Disney trip! The book is arranged in easy to find categories!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Candle in the Darkness (Refiner's Fire, Book 1); Author: Lynn Austin; Review: I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was so hard not to read it right through beginning to end! Very intriguing plot, very detailed historically. I don't normally seek out history to read so I was surprised how very much it appealed to me.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Young House Love: 243 Ways to Paint, Craft, Update & Show Your Home Some Love; Author: Visit Amazon's Sherry Petersik Page; Review: Item was as described.... arrived in timely manner and in good condition. Love this book. Very helpful for the average DIY person.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with news articles as follows:
Title: Michael Douglas Weighs In on College Admissions Scandal: It's 'Egregious'; Abstract: Michael Douglas Weighs In on College Admissions Scandal: It's 'Egregious'; Category: movies
Title: 'I'm 73 and fed up with California and want a gun-friendly, affordable city with good weather so where should I retire?'; Abstract: Some hidden gems to consider in Georgia, New Mexico and Arkansas.; Category: finance
Title: A British family on vacation say they accidentally drove into the U.S. They've spent days detained with their 3-month-old baby.; Abstract: "We have been treated like criminals here, stripped of our rights, and lied to," Eileen Connors wrote in a sworn statement. "It is undoubtedly the worst experience we have ever lived through."; Category: news
Title: Hard Rock Hotel New Orleans collapse: Former site engineer weighs in; Abstract: Structural engineer Walter Zehner worked on the project before it became a planned Hard Rock Hotel. A look at what he thinks could have happened:; Category: news
Title: Couples weigh 'strategic divorce' to save on taxes; Abstract: Financial advisors warn that couples who split only to save on taxes could ultimately jeopardize their insurance coverage and retirement savings.; Category: finance
Title: These YouTube Channels are Changing How We Learn to Cook; Abstract: Thanks to the video platform, it's easier than ever to master both simple and advanced techniques at home.; Category: foodanddrink
Title: Everyone Is Talking About Ruby Chocolate, But What Is It?; Abstract: The recently-discovered fourth chocolate is freshly sour and refreshingly fruity. Here's everything you need to know about the pink-hued ruby chocolate.; Category: health
Title: Boris Johnson Has a Brexit Deal. Now He Needs Parliament's Support.; Abstract: Britain and the European Union on Thursday agreed on the draft text of a Brexit deal, setting up a fateful showdown in the British Parliament on Saturday, where it was not clear that Prime Minister Boris Johnson could marshal the votes to nail down his plan after three anguished and politically damaging years of debate.; Category: news
Title: Report: Ezekiel Elliott's dad investigated after police shoot wild cat near his home; Abstract: The father of star Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott is being probed after Ohio police shot a wild, Serval cat near his home, according to NBC4i.com. The mid-sized, spotted feline - a breed that can stand two feet at the shoulder and weigh ...; Category: sports
Title: A terrible pandemic is killing pigs around the world, and US pork producers fear they could be hit next; Abstract: U.S. authorities have started active preparations in response to the rising threat of an outbreak of African swine fever.; Category: finance
Title: Rachael Ray finally opens restaurant with no physical location; Abstract: Rachael Ray is the anomaly among TV celebrity chefs in that she's never opened a restaurant. Fans have asked for it, but Ray says it's just never been in the cards. Starting today, though, you can eat food designed by Rachael Ray… just not in an actual restaurant.; Category: foodanddrink
Title: 'Tarzan' Actor Ron Ely: Actor's son allegedly killed his mother before deputies shot and killed him, sheriff's office says; Abstract: The son of "Tarzan" actor Ron Ely killed his mother before he was shot and killed by deputies on Tuesday, according to the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office.; Category: tv
Title: Unprecedented movement detected on California earthquake fault capable of 8.0 temblor; Abstract: A major California fault capable of producing a magnitude 8 earthquake has begun moving for the first time on record, a result of this year's Ridgecrest earthquake sequence destabilizing nearby faults, Caltech scientists say in a new study released in the journal Science on Thursday. In the modern historical record, the 160-mile-long Garlock fault on the northern edge of the Mojave Desert has never been observed to produce either a strong...; Category: news
Title: 'The Masked Singer' Recap: A Grammy Winner Is Revealed As The Skeleton; Abstract: A new round of performances from masked singers led to one celebrity being unmasked at the end of the Oct. 16 episode of 'The Masked Singer.'; Category: tv
Title: What to Do After You've Cheated On Your Husband; Abstract: It's more common than you might think.; Category: lifestyle
Title: Fact Checker: Trump's shiny new talking point about income growth; Abstract: The president is touting numbers that favorably compare his record to Obama and Bush, but he's cherry-picking the data.; Category: news
Title: Allegations against Biden 'not credible,' testified US official now touted by Trump; Abstract: Allegations against Joe Biden are "not credible," senior diplomat Kurt Volker said in closed-door testimony now touted by President Trump.; Category: news
Title: Beshear vs. Bevin: Kentucky governor's race could be decided by state legislature; Abstract: After Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin refused to concede to Andy Beshear, Senate President Robert Stivers said the legislature may get the final say.; Category: news
Title: 2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT350 vs. GT500: Which Is the Better Sports Car?; Abstract: Is the $12,460 more costly GT500 a better sports car than the already great GT350?; Category: autos | mind |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Danesco EGG Mechanical Timer Stainless Steel; Brand: Danesco; Review: It does exactly like it said it would. Tried it against my smartphone clock and matched very well on the time. I did however forget that because it is mechanical, it has a loud tick.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dritz 44345 Home Drapery Lead Weights (12 Count), 1", White; Brand: Dritz; Review: Fixed the problem with the living room drapes blowing in the air conditioner breeze.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Casio PQ15-1K Travel Alarm Clock with Thermometer; Brand: Casio; Review: Great Unit; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Thermos Stainless King 16 Ounce Travel Tumbler, Raspberry; Brand: Thermos; Review: My wife and I make coffee every morning and then drive to work. This keeps the coffee hot until the middle of the afternoon. Also very handy for trips; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A World Of Deals Small Clear Plastic Hinged Food Container for Sandwich Salad Party Favor Cake Piece, 50 Piece; Brand: A World Of Deals; Review: Very handy for enclosing small objects for shipping.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Snuggie Blanket w/ Free Booklight - Burgundy Color; Brand: Snuggie Blanket; Review: My wife uses this every day, what can I say; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Home_and_Kitchen |
Given the interaction history of a user with news articles as follows:
Title: We don't want Palestinian book read in N.J. library, groups say; Abstract: A pro-Israel group and legal think tank have suggested they may file a complaint with the Department of Education if a borough's library continues with a planned reading in Highland Park, alleging it may violate the Civil Rights Act. The book in question--titled "P is for Palestine"--was scheduled to be read by its author during story time at the Highland Park Public Library in May, but was ...; Category: news
Title: 2 Hurt In Broad Street Crash, Driver May Have Been DUI; Abstract: Two people are hurt in a violent overnight collision on Broad Street in North Philadelphia.; Category: autos
Title: Hillary Clinton Suggests Russia Is Grooming Current Democratic Candidate To Run as a Third Party Nominee; Abstract: Hillary Clinton was a guest on David Plouffe's Campaign HQ podcast Thursday where she weighed in on possible Russian interference in the 2020 election.; Category: news
Title: Kelly Ripa Jokes Son Michael Is Experiencing 'Extreme Poverty' in Brooklyn; Abstract: Kelly Ripa Jokes Son Michael Is Experiencing 'Extreme Poverty' in Brooklyn; Category: tv
Title: 'A very intelligent animal': Meet the pig who escaped hog farm before devastating fire killed thousands; Abstract: When the little pig darted off the delivery truck and high-tailed it into the woods behind Teresa Billig's hog farm, she worried he'd be killed.; Category: news
Title: The European Travel Experience Most People Don't Know About; Abstract: You've heard about ship cruises and river cruises, but barge cruises just might be the best way to experience Europe. The post The European Travel Experience Most People Don't Know About appeared first on Reader's Digest.; Category: travel
Title: TobyMac says late son 'had an untamable grand personality,' shares last text exchange; Abstract: TobyMac's 21-year-old son, Truett Foster McKeean, died Wednesday in Nashville. The Christian star released a statement Thursday on the sudden death.; Category: music
Title: The world's largest nuclear power producer is melting down; Abstract: On the shores of the English channel in Normandy, engineers are struggling to fix eight faulty welds at a plant that's supposed to showcase France's savoir faire in nuclear power.; Category: finance
Title: Trump denies knowing lobbyist who boasted of inside access to administration; Abstract: President Trump on Monday denied knowing a prominent Washington, D.C., lobbyist who has claimed to have inside access to the Trump administration.; Category: news
Title: Watch: 'The View' Versus Donald Trump Jr.: Loud, Low Blows, Politics, Scandals And Great TV; Abstract: Updated throughout, videos added Whoopi Goldberg wouldn't say his name, Sunny Hostin said he was lying, Abby Huntsman accused him of using "dictator" tactics. And Donald Trump Jr. gave it back, accusing Joy Behar of once wearing blackface and resurrected Goldberg's defense of Roman Polanski as not committing "rape rape," all in a; Category: tv
Title: America's Largest Home Also Has the Most Amazing Christmas Decorations; Abstract: Over 13,000 ornaments are deployed around the Biltmore Estate in NC.; Category: lifestyle
Title: US government says Roger Stone 'undermined' Russia inquiry; Abstract: Republican political operative Roger Stone undermined the effectiveness of the congressional investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election by repeatedly and deliberately lying under oath to help Donald Trump's presidential campaign avoid embarrassment, prosecutors told jurors in closing arguments at his trial Wednesday. Defense attorneys countered that Stone had done nothing deliberately illegal and claimed the...; Category: news | mind |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Hyatt Place Richmond Airport; City: Richmond Virginia; Review: Large and very comfortable. Excellent use of space and decorations. Easily accommodated business and social activities.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Greensprings Vacation Resort; City: Williamsburg Virginia; Review: Condo is well laid out with large spaces for every room. Nothing within walking distance outside of resort and far enough from major traffic noise to make it a quite area. Staff was a little overly pushy trying to get you to buy into resort, but then, that's why the resort offers inexpensive stays. Very good stay.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Econo Lodge; City: Rapid City South Dakota; Review: Third floor is the best unless you like to hear the people above you squeaking across the floor/ceiling. Family and seniors with grand kids enjoy the pool with its two-story slide. There are a number of good chain restaurants along with Target & Walmart close by.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: America s Best Value Inn; City: Wall South Dakota; Review: Excellent location if you plan to take early morning or late evening pictures of the Bad Lands with its shadows and colors as it allows you quick access to the park. Walking distance to all Wall has to offer. Pool is outdoors and on the small side and across the parking lot, but most people are not coming to Wall for its water sports so good for kids.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Crowne Plaza Atlanta Airport; City: Atlanta Georgia; Review: Fit well for business needs with porportioned and nicely defined dinning, bar, lounge, and business center. Menu had an excellent range for price and assortment satifyable for children to steak eaters.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Courtyard by Marriott St Louis Westport Plaza; City: Maryland Heights Saint Louis Missouri; Review: Professional attitude with an enjoyable and large outdoor courtyard. We were traveling through from North to South and wanted a south-of-the-city location that would not be affected by morning traffic. No restaurants within walking distance, but plenty within 4 mile radius.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hilton Garden Inn Daytona Beach Oceanfront; City: Daytona Beach Florida; Review: Nicely maintained and well staffed for off-season fall trip. Enjoyable large lounge area. Rooms are simple, nice and well maintained, but then, you should be there for the beach anyway. Location is well suited and restaurants are within walking distance.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Mary s Motel; City: Golden Kootenay Rockies British Columbia; Review: On our way back from Calgary to Victoria we thought we would give Mary's a try. I can confirm that Mary's does need an update. A good cleaning would be order as well, this is the only hotel room that I have stayed in that I felt I needed to keep my flipflops on.Our particular room had no shower curtain. It is a cheap place to stay and appears to have many workmen staying there. Basic room, relatively quiet but I would not stay there again.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Travelodge By Wyndham Golden Sportsman Lodge; City: Golden Kootenay Rockies British Columbia; Review: Traveling to Calgary from Victoria, BC with our granddaughter. The room was a little shabby, pool was very cold and the breakfast was not the best. No cream for coffee, had to ask for cups for coffee & lids.. The plates were paper and cutlery plastic. The breakfast was only for 2 hours and the room was not big enough for the amount of guests. The person looking after the breakfast room was also the front desk person, it would have been better if there was a second employee for the breakfast room.we stayed in Merritt the previous evening, paid 50.00 less with a way nicer, warmer pool and a much better breakfast. Would not stay here again.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Elks Motel; City: Keremeos British Columbia; Review: was in keremeos for my mother in laws 95th birthday and had called to book in advance for two nights at the Elks. Was told that the rate per night would be 75.00 plus tax but they did not confirm by email because "They don't do that" when we arrived our room was not ready however a room that was the same was available. When we did the payment it seemed that the rate was now 95.00, we we're not impressed! As we wanted to be close to my mother in laws we did it have a lot of choice. breakfast that was included was ok...fruit loops, bran flakes or corn flakes. Toast, coffee...no cream , hard boiled eggs and donuts. when we returned late the following night, new towels but beds were not made. this will be the last. time we stay at this hotel.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Junction Motel; City: Tonasket Washington; Review: On our trip from Saskatchewan to victoria we decided to drive through the the states. our intent was stay in Winthrop but it was getting a little late. Looked at reviews for the junction motel and decided to check it out. As we had a bad experience at the last place I asked to see the room first. It was exceptionally clean and had a microwave, tv and Keurig coffee maker. We did not use the Keurig in the morning because guests can use any of the coffee, hot chocolate, lattes from the adjoining garage/convenience store. The air conditioner was a bit noisy and because it was at a junction of the highway a bit of traffic noise. I would definitely stay here again.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Best Western Mountainview Inn; City: Golden Kootenay Rockies British Columbia; Review: after two extremely bad stays in golden hotel, decided to spend a bit more and stay in a best western. This hotel did not disappoint, check in was great, pool was good, room was awesom and clean. included breakfast was one of the best we have had. All staff were extremely friendly and helpful.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Body Candy Stainless Steel 1.7mm Purple Nose Stud Bone Created with Swarovski Crystals 20 Gauge 1/4"; Brand: Body Candy; Review: If you like tiny stones that don't have much of a sparkle, these are for you!; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Lee Women's Relaxed Fit Plain Front Straight Leg Pant; Brand: ; Review: great!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Fashion Forms Women's The Original Water Push Up Bra; Brand: ; Review: good bra, small; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: SODA Women Faddy Flats-Shoes,Faddy Beige 10; Brand: SODA; Review: love them; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Vassarette Women's Extreme Plunge Push Up Bra 75208; Brand: VASSARETTE; Review: too small; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_Clothing_Shoes_and_Jewelry |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: We Sell Mats Carpet Interlocking Floor Tiles 2'x2'; Brand: We Sell Mats; Review: A fantastic product! These mats are well made, sturdy and fit together with ease -- My wife and I both love them! We are in our 70's and I put them together myself to surprise her.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Skull Cap/Helmet Liner/Thermal Running Beanie Hat - Fits Under Helmets; Brand: Tough Headwear; Review: Really great beany. Beautifully made, feather weight but highly protective. I'm a hat collector and I'm wearing this one all the time - indoor and out..; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: TaoTronics 24w Led Grow light Bulb, Grow Lights for Indoor Plants, Plant Lights, Grow Lamp for; Brand: TaoTronics; Review: Truly a miracle lamp. My aqua and soild culture plants are literally leaping into thje air. Thank you.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Acc U Rate CMS 50D Fingertip Pulse Oximeter Oximetry Blood Oxygen Saturation Monitor with silicon cover, batteries and lanyard; Brand: Zacurate; Review: Fantastic product. Every iteration is an improvement!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sawyer Products Premium Insect Repellent with 20% Picaridin; Brand: Sawyer Products; Review: High quality.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: LYMBABE Molle Pouch - Tactical Bag Military EDC Utility Gadget 1000D Nylon Pouch for iPhone 6S Plus; Brand: LYMBABE; Review: Great for my diabetic supplies.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: 10 Cup Pitcher with Free Water Quality Meter; Brand: ZeroWater; Review: High quality, very well made. Water fantabulous!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sawyer Products Premium Insect Repellent with 20% Picaridin; Brand: Sawyer Products; Review: Good stuff here in Zika Land, Florida!; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Sports_and_Outdoors |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: DC Universe Classics Series 14 Exclusive Action Figure Zatanna Build Ultra Humanite Piece!; Brand: DC Comics; Review: The Zatanna figure from DC Universe classics is a great example of detail. There are the fishnet stockings, the red painted fingernails, and the drape of her jacket as the best and most obvious examples. I personally can't give you any more examples because that is most of what you can see of the figure if it remains in the package.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Funko POP Disney Series 3: Cheshire Cat Vinyl Figure; Brand: FunKo; Review: I love the Cheshire Cat from Diney's "Alice in Wonderland". I loved the color, voice, and characterization of the movie. This figure is a great way to recapture the feeling of the movie without having to watch the movie.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Funko POP Movies: V for Vendetta Vinyl Figure; Brand: FunKo; Review: As far as I'm concerned Funko can do no wrong. It reminds you of the movie (or the comic) in a light and jovial manner that they don't necessarily have.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Funko POP Heroes Vinyl - Two-Face; Brand: FunKo; Review: Two face is as cute as he will ever be.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Funko Wonder Woman POP Heroes; Brand: FunKo; Review: I love Funko.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Toys_and_Games |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: iPad Air 2 Case Cover,iPad 6 Case Cover,for Girls IDEGG Heavy Duty Rugged Protective Stand Leather Flip Case Cover With; Brand: IDEGG; Review: I highly recommend this iPad case. It is not only super pretty, but also in very good quality. It fits my iPad 2 very well. The cover could also wake up the screen once you open it. Before I bought it, I have read many complaining reviews, but none of the complaints was true for me. For example, the cover has several grooves inside so that the iPad could stand very well in different positions. I do not understand why some customers complained that iPad could not stand well. No need to take off the case for charging or any other use. Therefore, I highly recommend and girls would love it!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Anker 8-in-1 USB 3.0 Portable Card Reader for SDXC, SDHC, SD, MMC, RS-MMC, Micro SDXC, Micro; Brand: Anker; Review: The second time that I bought from Anker. Very good quality and highly recommend. The item works fine for me. It would be better if there is a wire connected to the USB because the bulky body of the black part inhibit another USB, which I want to connect with my mouse.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sabrent SuperSpeed 2-Slot USB 3.0 Flash Memory Card Reader for Windows, Mac, Linux, and Certain Android Systems - Supports; Brand: Sabrent; Review: The product looked very cheap quality and it did not work! I could not read my SD card at all and my card felt very hot after using this item. Amazon gave me full refund. I ended up with purchasing an Anker SD card reader, which is in a much better quality and works well.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Anker 3.5mm Premium Auxiliary Audio Cable (4ft / 1.2m) AUX Cable for Headphones, iPods, iPhones, iPads, Home; Brand: Anker; Review: Very good quality and works well.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: OPO Opera Theater Horse Racing Glasses Binocular Telescope With Handle (Gold with Gold Trim) 3X25; Brand: OPO; Review: I could not see very far and very clear from this glass. I doubt weather it is useful if you sit at very back of an opera theater, which is why we buy this glass. I requested a return but need to pay 7~8 bucks for the return shipping:(; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: WD 2TB Elements Portable External Hard Drive - USB 3.0 - WDBU6Y0020BBK-WESN; Brand: Western Digital; Review: I bought this for my husband. I was told that it could not be used with Mac directly?; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: [Apple MFI Certified] 1byone Lightning to USB Cable 3.3ft (1; Brand: 1byone; Review: Works well.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: iPad Air 2 Case Cover,iPad 6 Case Cover,for Girls IDEGG Heavy Duty Rugged Protective Stand Leather Flip Case Cover With; Brand: IDEGG; Review: My second case. The first is black. Both of them are very pretty and in good quality. I got lots of compliments. Highly recommend.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Electronics |
Given the interaction history of a user with movies/shows as follows:
Title: The Silence of the Lambs (1991); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Be Cool (2005); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: National Treasure (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Spanglish (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: S.W.A.T. (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Lethal Weapon (1987); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: What Women Want (2000); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Rundown (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Half Baked (1998); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Men in Black II (2002); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Sum of All Fears (2002); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Bruce Almighty (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Shrek 2 (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Finding Nemo (Widescreen) (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Patch Adams (1998); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Gone in 60 Seconds (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Miss Congeniality (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Fight Club (1999); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Bourne Identity (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sister Act (1992); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Entrapment (1999); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Black Hawk Down (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Fast and the Furious (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Armageddon (1998); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Men of Honor (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Net (1995); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Star Wars: Clone Wars: Vol. 1 (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ladder 49 (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Happy Gilmore (1996); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Rounders (1998); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Crimson Tide (1995); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Pearl Harbor (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Friday (1995); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Star Wars: Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (1983); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mr. Deeds (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Die Hard (1988); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: We Were Soldiers (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Monsters (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Swordfish (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Boiler Room (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: In the Line of Fire (1993); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Rock (1996); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Twister (1996); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: John Q (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Schindler's List (1993); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Men in Black (1997); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Toy Story (1995); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Gladiator (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Cast Away (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Enemy of the State (1998); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Jurassic Park (1993); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Patriot (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Lethal Weapon 4 (1998); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Any Given Sunday (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Shawshank Redemption: Special Edition (1994); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Shrek (Full-screen) (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Matrix (1999); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ocean's Eleven (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Independence Day (1996); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Day After Tomorrow (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Phone Booth (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Black Sheep (1996); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Remember the Titans (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Con Air (1997); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Saving Private Ryan (1998); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sahara (2005); Rating: 4.0/5.0 | netflix |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Norpro Muffin Rings, Set of 4; Brand: Norpro; Review: I'd say these rings do only okay. I make crumpets with them, and on the second use, one of the rings fell apart at the welded seam. Also, for crumpets, I think it is better to have a taller ring for more uniform heating. So, I am searching for a better set.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Swissgold TF 200 Tea Ball; Brand: Frieling; Review: I have tried all kinds of tea infusers and so far these are the best. They fit into most normal coffee cups, they have a very fine mesh so plant matter rarely gets through (no more filtering tea after brewing!) They are easy to clean and easy to store. The lid is very secure. Overall, really the best.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Prepworks by Progressive Collapsible Dish Rack with Drain Board; Brand: Prepworks from Progressive; Review: I've been looking for a pop-up dish rack for a while - this one works great! -Pop up means that I can stash it away when company comes over -Tilted base means it drains like racks are supposed to -The plastic rack section that looks like it's for silverware is a little flimsy, but technically works.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mr. Clean 440436 Turbo Plunger and Bowl Brush Caddy Set; Brand: Mr. Clean; Review: Nice storage for these 'dirty' items without breaking the bank.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: BUILT NY Neoprene Pot/Pan Handle Cover, Cranberry Red Stripe; Brand: BUILT; Review: These work well and look great in my kitchen.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Inglesina Fast Dining Tray; Brand: Inglesina; Review: I bought this tray hoping it would solve the rather critical design flaw of the Inglesina Fast Chair - namely that there is a nearly two-inch gap between the front of the chair and the table on account of the tube placement used to secure the seat to the table. It did not. If you look closely at the pictures and video (something I did not initially see when I was evaluating my purchase), the addition of the tray merely serves to protect the table surface; the gap remains. The result is that all food placed in front of my toddler is IMMEDIATELY swept onto the floor, to our dog's great delight. We went with another one that does not have this gap (namely, the Chicco 360 - and I have no financial interest in endorsing that one over this one - I just want parents to know what they are purchasing and what at least one alternative is.); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Mind Reader 6 Compartment Upright Breakroom Coffee Condiment and Cup Storage Organizer, Black; Brand: Mind Reader; Review: Didnt work for my space. Amazon says its not returnable. Not interested in buying from this brand or seller again if thats the case.; Rating: 1.0/5.0 | amazon_Home_and_Kitchen |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: SQ1 [Mercury] Slim Fit Flexible TPU Case for LG Google Nexus 4 (Black); Brand: Square 1; Review: I just received this product today and i couldn't be any happier. This product is stylist yet firm to protect the glass case on the back I highly recommend this; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Samsung Galaxy Reverb M950 Android - Virgin Mobile; Brand: Samsung; Review: The phone itself is comfortable to hold but mind you it is wide; however, the screen is very responsive to the touch and has a good interface. There has also been some negativety abou this phone freezing or restarting on its own and i must say it is rather annoying but other than that the phone is a great little entertainment value with samsung movies and tv episodes. There are better choices though if you are looking for a bang for your buck on virgin mobile either the galaxy ring, or galaxy victory. I myself would go with the SAMSUNG GALAXY VICTORY because of the dual core 1.2 snapdragon s4 lite chips and the NFC capabality that allows you to share photos and videos with other NFC devices. But here are some notable specs that are good for this device 4.0 touch screen with touch wiz The single core 1.4 processor The 1.3 front facing camera Removable battery And expendable memory up to 64 gig; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: LG Optimus L9 4G Android Prepaid Phone (T-Mobile); Brand: LGIC; Review: The LG Optimus breaks the barrier between mid range and high end smartphones. This phone has all the latest features from lg and it comes with the Google now feature which can not be understated as epic. You can play all the latest games to capuring pictures with the new apps from google play store. *4.5 qHD with 900x640 screen with Gorilla Glass and quickmemo *5mp with HD recording/flash, panarama, continous shooting, and a front facing camera *.36 thickness that has a rubberized back for easy holding and the stylish design that can easily fit in your pocket *2150 Battery that surprisingly is longer than the iphone, galaxy, and blackberry *1ghz dual core processor A-9 chip (that makes gaming beast) *4.1.2 Android version with all the cool designs and features from google I love this phone for its design, high end features such as texting well watching a home video you took with this phones HD camera, and the way the apps are smooth to open and close. Not only does the battery last long but the graphics on game play are above average for such a budget friendly phone. Dead Trigger was great to play with little to no lag and the zombies appeared to be as gruesome as they are on the samsung galaxy s3 to racing on the streets with ashphalut 7. Enough cant be said about how great this phone is for beginners to experts in either the movie watching, game playing, taking pictures, muiltie tasking between apps, taking quick memos for work, or just reading a good book; this phone is the new standard for getting things done. For the price of this phone and what it can do in the high end features its just to great of a deal to not take advantage of!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Spigen Thin Fit Galaxy S6 Case with Premium Matte Finish Coating for Galaxy S6 2015 - Mint; Brand: Spigen; Review: Slim and enjoyable to hold.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: JETech Screen Protector for Samsung Galaxy S6, PET Film, 3-Pack; Brand: JETech; Review: Highly recommend; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Cell_Phones_and_Accessories |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Rixos Bab Al Bahr; City: Ras Al Khaimah Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah; Review: The wonderful and great place can be known when you check out with a smile on your face.. Simply wonderful, well organized, safe, very friendly staff, stunning view, amazing rooms, excellent service, fun activities, tasty food, clean restaurants.. I give it a 10/10 and a must come back place.. You see a smile where ever you go and that is what counts... All the best and all the love from the check in staff till our check out.. Regards, Fares mustapha (room 3144) (Check in 8/10 - Check out 10/10); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Lopota Lake Resort Spa; City: Napareuli Telavi Kakheti Region; Review: A wonderful place is known when everyone meets you with a wonderful smile.. the beauty of the nature is mind blowing and the quietness and privacy of this place makes it a wonderfull spot to relax and enjoy the georgian beauty.. Extremely friendly and helpfull administration staff that go to the extreme to help you in a very professional way.. Amazing food and wonderfull staff in the restaurant and not to forget the wonderfull "nina" who welcomes you in her wonderfull smile which opens your appetite with her wonderful hospitality.. Moreover, the cleanliness of this resort is amazing where it is guranteed that you will never find a spot which is left uncleaned.. Not to forget the lovely and friendly bobby which roams around the resort playing around with kids which brings joy and happiness around the place.. Highly recommended resort and will surely make an effort to spread the word over my network.. Wish you all the best and success.. Regards, Fares mustapha Room 307 n - august 5 to august 13 A happy guest :); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Golden Tulip Galleria Hotel; City: Beirut; Review: Very nice and clean hotel.. Friendly staff and quick check in and check out.. spacious rooms and user friendly.. location is nice and quiet and quite near to all the attractions in beirut and near the airport.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Marbella Resort; City: Sharjah Emirate of Sharjah; Review: rooms are okey. Furniture is quite old and needs replacement but considering the age of the resort, it is okey and comfy. check in staff are very helpful and check in/out process is easy. Resort is relaxing to have a cup of coffee in the garden outside. hotel is convenient and pocket friendly. next to main attractions in the city.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Park Inn by Radisson Dubai Motor City; City: Dubai Emirate of Dubai; Review: -Very nice hotel with awesome customer service and user friendly environment.. -Amazing views to the dubai autodrome where you can see the races and car tests live.. -Great staff that always wears a smile and great hospitality.. -Special thanks to Kseniya the check in staff for her great hospitality and friendly attitude.. Smooth check in and very easy check out.. Highly recommended for amazing views and cozy sleeps. Very good location with many many restaurants and supermarkets for a very short walking distance.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Sofitel Rio de Janeiro Ipanema; City: Rio de Janeiro State of Rio de Janeiro; Review: On a rainy and cold weekend is not easy to enjoy Rio de Janeiro, but at this hotel you can find helpful staff who will provide you with great suggestions. The staff at the front desk were specially helpful. The room is very comfortable and spacious, the location is superb and the food is also very good. I recommend.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Ritz Carlton Cancun; City: Cancun Yucatan Peninsula; Review: Going back to the Ritz-Carlton Cancun is always a pleasure! The hotel is fantastic, the staff really friendly and competent and the food delicious! The price is a bit on the expensive side, but its worth the experience, nevertheless!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sheraton Vistana Resort Villas Lake Buena Vista; City: Orlando Florida; Review: If you don't need luxe, this is a good alternative. The rooms are clean, spacious and comfortable. And well equipped. We have't tried the swimming pool nor the local restaurants, but they are available. The only thing I didn't like are the shades: there is no black-out on the bedroom windows and it may get pretty light. Try the rooms at the end of the corridors to avoid too much noise.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Empire Hotel; City: New York City New York; Review: The atmosphere is not bad, but the closet is far too small (ok, I know how NYC works...!) but the main problem was there was no hot water for two days! On a cold, wet day, that is a big thing. Nevertheless, the staff was helpful and friendly, specially front desk, concierge and the lady that kept our room clean and tidy.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Club Med Tignes Val Claret; City: Tignes Savoie Auvergne Rhone Alpes; Review: Last year we went to ClubMed Peisey Vallandry and it was great. Really. This year, Tignes Val Claret, for a change. Although the hotel is not as grand as the previous one (and we knew it), it was a pleasant surprise. Food and drinks of top quality, lovely bar etc (all inclusive - including hot chocolate with brandy before the slopes!). But most of all, the staff was great and made our week! Auriane and her colleagues, at the front desk, were always really helpful, as well as the girls and guys at the bar. And the Mini Club team was flawless with me and my 9-year-old boy! Laura, Nina, Eleonore and the guys, all great fun, caring and attentive. And the snow was fantastic, which was a bonus!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Pousada Armacao dos Ventos; City: Ilhabela State of Sao Paulo; Review: We didn't spend the night there as guests, but attended the New Year's Eve party and it was great! Good (delicious!) food and drinks, kind and professional staff, perfect surrounding and a great band (Tomcats), as well as the DJ. Worth planning for next year!; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: DoubleTree Fallsview Resort Spa by Hilton Niagara Falls; City: Niagara Falls Ontario; Review: This was the BEST hotel my family and I have ever stayed in. The accommodations were worthy of 5 stars. And...you get a warm cookie when you check in!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Fairfield Inn Suites Dulles Airport Herndon Reston; City: Herndon Fairfax County Virginia; Review: My family stayed over 1 night just for a quick visit to DC on the way back from a beach vacation. The room was average sized, but very clean, and the air conditioning was great! The rest of the hotel is quite warm though. There is FREE Wi-Fi internet access and a nice breakfast buffet in the morning. Coffee is available all day.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Radisson Hotel Suites Fallsview; City: Niagara Falls Ontario; Review: The Radisson was a nice hotel, with excellent service, and great staff. Our only complaints were that our 1 queen bed's mattress was broken, and when we got our bill, there were almost $20 in extra fees. When we checked out and spoke to someone about it, they took 2 days parking off our bill (approximately $50). That satisfied us! The only reason we wouldn't stay here again is because it's valet parking, in which we are not a fan. Other than that, we recommend the hotel.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Quality Inn; City: Mystic Connecticut; Review: This hotel is very clean and has wonderfully sweet staff. Our room with 2 double beds cost $107 (+tax), and included breakfast (typical continental). They do have a make your own Belgian waffle station. We only did an overnight, and in the morning when we went to get breakfast, it was PACKED with a bunch of teenage girls from a camp. The staff was incredible. They went around to the older travelers and got their breakfast for them, and apologized for the wait. Our family was extremely impressed. This may not be a 5 star hotel, but sometimes it's the little things that really matter!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Homewood Suites by Hilton Lancaster; City: Lancaster Lancaster County Pennsylvania; Review: The rooms are impeccable. Would couldn't have been more happy with our suite. The staff was warm and friendly, and eager to help/please us when we needed more towels. There is a complementary breakfast with hot and cold choices. This hotel is only a half hour from Hershey. The only downside was that the wifi signal wasn't the best, but it's free, so... This is the second Homewood Suites our family of 4 has stayed in and we've never been let down. We'd stay at this chain of hotels again in a heartbeat.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Bones Never Lie (Temperance Brennan); Author: Visit Amazon's Kathy Reichs Page; Review: Great read as always. Did guess the murderer but fascinated on how it all unfolded. Surprise ending so I can't wait to read the next one!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Speaking in Bones: A Novel (Temperance Brennan); Author: Visit Amazon's Kathy Reichs Page; Review: After reading all of the books, this is the best! This page turner was totally unpredictable. Very well researched. Terrific blend of psychology, forensic anthropology with romance thrown in.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: How Doctors Think; Author: Jerome Groopman; Review: Well written. Interesting perspective from the doctors perception to the patient to actively participate. Understand the structure of medical institutions and constraints on doctors. Training & education influences also impact problems.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Harry Potter Coloring Book; Author: Scholastic; Review: Luv this; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Get Eclipsed: The Complete Guide to the American Eclipse; Author: Pat & Fred Espenak; Review: Great information about the event & two pair of certified protective glasses. Big hit at work great price. Ordered months before; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind; Brand: by
Bethesda; Review: Loved the game and just the game play it's self over all was good. Coming down from Oblivion and Skyrim was difficult but once you played Morrowind it becomes just as addictive as Elder Scrolls IV and V. It arrived on time and the disc was in the condition it was advertised as.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Jak & Daxter: The Lost Frontier - PlayStation 2; Brand: by
Sony; Review: The only reason why i gave it a 3 out of 5 was because I think it was a step down from the previous Jak games and it took a while longer to get into the game. It's meant for a younger audience such as ages 9-12 where as the other games where for ages 13-16. its still a good game but I just couldn't make that stretch.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Medal of Honor Warfighter - Xbox 360; Brand: by
Electronic Arts; Review: It's a good game with a great campaign, Online play is average but I buy these games mostly for the campaign cause most 1st person shooter games are alike on the online play. The product was as advertised so that's also good.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Xbox 360 Hard Drive Transfer Cable; Brand: by
Microsoft; Review: The product arrived on time and worked just as I expected it to. The only downside is I only needed this a few times and serves little usefulness once i finished, but it still worked just fine.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: 8 GB Sony PRO DUO (Mark 2) Memory Stick for PSP; Brand: Sony; Review: It holds 6 games and there data no need for disks if you play with the ISO files. Would recommend it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Far Cry 3; Brand: by
Ubisoft; Review: Its a first person shooter with a hint of skyrim and the ability to be either quite or boast your bad ass self to the world. It kept me entertained for a few days and then some. Also its two player on the same console.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sony Playstation 3 160GB System; Brand: by
Sony; Review: I have always liked PlayStation but have been playing Xbox more lately. I didn't own a PS until Mid 2013. By the the PS4 was already underway. I got it for a good price and have since then fallen in love with it. It's free to play online compared to the Xbox 360 and can hold more memory on the disk for upgraded graphics and longer games then the Xbox. I still love my Xbox but now I play both about the same. One game i do recommend for first time player to the system is The Last of Us.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Jak & Daxter Collection - Playstation 3; Brand: by
Sony; Review: I loved the series ever since I first played Jak & Daxter. The HD remake is pretty spot on with no changes to the missions or feel of the game. ( aside from improved graphics) Over all it brings back the nostalgia of the PS2 and the great series.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time - Playstation 3; Brand: by
Sony; Review: Loved the games since i was little and this made a great adittion to them.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: BioShock Infinite - Xbox 360; Brand: by
2K; Review: Loved the game and the series of Bioshock. The graphics are pretty good and has a pretty good story line. It arrived withen a week of ordering it and was in great shape.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Generic Remote + Nunchuk Nunchuck Controller Combo Set Bundle for Nintendo Wii; Brand: by
Generic.; Review: It works as expected; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen - Xbox 360; Brand: by
Capcom; Review: Great RPG game. It's like Skyrim, Dragon Age and Witcher had a Kid and this game was born. Great buy loads of fun and lots of game hours put into it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Metro Redux - Xbox One; Brand: by
Deep Silver; Review: It was pretty fun and a great deal for 2 games in one + DLC. The graphics are slightly better then the 360/PS3 version. The levels are slightly linner a good comparison would be The Last of Us levels or even Mass Effect levels (story missions). The story was pretty good for a FPS survival game, and even gave me a few jumps from time to time. Over all its a pretty good game and its based of the book Metro 2033 so if you want to read that first it might explain some more lore for you then the game does on its own. Over all though $20.00 (I paid) for 2 remastered games + DLC was pretty good.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: SADES Spirit Wolf 7.1 Surround Stereo Sound USB Computer Gaming Headset with Microphone,Over-the-Ear Noise Isolating,Breathing LED Light For PC Gamers; Brand: Sades; Review: This headset works great for PC and the sound quality is also pretty solid. The Mic sound is decent as well not many people have to turn me up when I use it on Discord. My only complaint is that the band that adjusts for different head sizes loosened up over a short time. It sill holds the size I want but can be moved or fall off the head easy. Might have just gotten a bad set though. Other then that it worked great and still does.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: SADES Spirit Wolf 7.1 Surround Stereo Sound USB Computer Gaming Headset with Microphone,Over-the-Ear Noise Isolating,Breathing LED Light For PC Gamers; Brand: Sades; Review: This headset works great for PC and the sound quality is also pretty solid. The Mic sound is decent as well not many people have to turn me up when I use it on Discord. My only complaint is that the band that adjusts for different head sizes loosened up over a short time. It sill holds the size I want but can be moved or fall off the head easy. Might have just gotten a bad set though. Other then that it worked great and still does.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: PDP Afterglow Prismatic Wired Controller for Xbox One - Xbox One; Brand: by
PDP; Review: Controller looks and feels great works perfectly with both my Xbox one and PC.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Video_Games |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Nokona Premium Glove Conditioner, Small; Brand: Nokona; Review: The only treatment for your ball glove that really works as described. Well worth the cost. I apply this several times a year on my Nokona glove.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Under Armour Men's Clean Up Baseball Pants; Brand: ; Review: Totally useless. Does not come close to fitting. If you want your junk completely exposed these are the pant for you. Do not buy these.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Remington Accessories 19917, Remington All in, 4oz Squeeze Bottle; Brand: Remington Accessories; Review: It is Remington so it is quality. Get the Squee-Z type cleaning system for this product made by Remington. Works great.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Wildgame Innovations 8.0 Megapixel Digital Camera W8E; Brand: Wild Game Innovations; Review: I have several different brands and this is by far the easiest to program and use. Highly recommend this item.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Wilson Sporting Goods Adult Elastic Baseball Belt; Brand: Wilson; Review: This is a great belt for softball pants. Full adjustable and does what it is supposed to do. Hold you pants up.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bolle Vigilante Sunglasses - T-Standard Lens Set; Brand: Bolle; Review: I use these while playing softball. They enhance the yellow softball making it more pronounced and easier to see. Great glasses.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Lizard Skins 0.5mm Camo Bat Grip; Brand: Lizard Skins; Review: You just can not get a better bat handle wrap. I prefer the thinnest one.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Sports_and_Outdoors |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Crochet House Bed Breakfast; City: Houma Louisiana; Review: Sally and Leland Crochet couldn't be more welcoming! My room was cozy and comfortable, the house was quiet and serene, the breakfasts were fabulous!! The yard was hypnotic after a long day...beautiful saltwater pool, hammocks, lights in the trees...it was all good. I would definitely stay there again!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Maya Beach Hotel; City: Placencia Stann Creek; Review: The Maya Beach Hotel is the perfect choice for a relaxing, welcoming and delicious getaway. We stayed in the Toucan Room--clean and roomy with a view of the sunrise over the sea each morning--dreamy! It was only steps to tidy beach with chairs and hammocks just waiting. We took advantage of the free kayaks and paddled around in the sea one day. The Bistro is amazing. Breakfasts offer plenty of fresh choices with freshly squeezed juices and items for every taste. Each evening there's a new creative special...we had snook with a mango beurre blanc that was absolutely incredible! The wine list is great. The staff goes above and beyond to treat guests well and make all feel welcome. I can't wait to return to the Maya Beach.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel National AG; City: Bern Bern Mittelland District Canton of Bern; Review: This hotel is quaint and welcoming but doesn't feel over the top. Staff is kind and helpful, rooms are clean and comfortable. Breakfast offered a nice selection and was fresh and tasty. Highly recommended!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Bristol; City: Carcassonne Center Carcassonne Aude Occitanie; Review: Hotel Bristol feels a bit outdated but we found the staff to be kind and helpful and the room basic and clean. Our shower didn't work quite right but was good enough. Overall, ok but i dont know if i'd choose it again.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Le Maray; City: Le Grau du Roi Gard Occitanie; Review: Everyone on the staff was so nice and so helpful. The room was nice and clean with a comfy bed. We opted for breakfast in the morning and it was excellent with fruit and fresh croissants and baguette. We had a room with a harbor view-nice!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ibis Orleans Centre; City: Orleans Loiret Centre Val de Loire; Review: We booked a room at the Ibis expecting basic and found our room to be really comfortable and nice. It's compact! The bathroom's kind of small but we didn't find that to be a problem. Breakfast was surprisingly diverse and quite nice. Highly recommended!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Best Western Plus Goodman Inn Suites; City: Horn Lake Mississippi; Review: We stayed here on a recent visit to Memphis. It's a little far from the city (maybe 20 minutes) but a really nice hotel. The beds are incredibly comfortable, the rooms are well-appointed, and the management really nice. The decor is a little bizarre...the hallways are crazy...but it's still worth a stay. Would definitely stay there again!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Grand Mercure Nelson Monaco Apartments; City: Nelson Nelson Tasman Region South Island; Review: This is our first trip to New Zealand and a friend recommended this hotel. She'd stayed in the apartments and when we made the reservation we thought that was the only choice. We were placed in a regular hotel room which is fine but not what we expected. The hotel is created like a mini village and is very quaint. The room is plain but comfortable. The bathroom is really nice and we loved that the soap, shampoo, etc. is offered in big containers with a pump so no extra packaging but still nice products. The bed is soft but quite comfortable. The restaurant on site (Orangerie) is nice with a good breakfast buffet. This property is further out of town than we'd thought....our expectation was that we could walk into town but this place is way too far out for that. Staff is quite friendly and helpful.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Maya Beach Hotel; City: Placencia Stann Creek; Review: We stayed at the Maya Beach hotel 2 years ago and found it to be relaxing, friendly, and the restaurant, delicious. When we were considering a warm weather getaway this year we decided to return. This time we stayed at the Joya del Mar, the vacation rental that the Maya Beach manages. Didn't fail to impress. The place is clean and cozy, right on the beach. We can walk right down the beach to the hotel restaurant which continues to be amazing. Ellen and John and their manager, Marlin, make guests feel like family.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Tryp Madrid Cibeles Hotel; City: Madrid; Review: This is a great hotel. The rooms are well appointed, nice linens and lovely rooms. The size of the room is comfortable. Bathrooms are clean, spacious and so nice. The breakfast buffet is beautiful with a nice selection to suit every taste. There are a few of these Tryp hotels in Madrid...we especially loved this one because it's right off of the busy street, on a little side street but close to the heart of everything. Perfect.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel de Gruyeres Wellness Seminaires; City: Gruyeres La Gruyere Canton of Fribourg; Review: This classic, beautiful hotel was a perfect place for us. Within this ancient city it felt a world away. The bed was amazing. Clean, crisp sheets and down comforters. Breakfast was beyond excellent and served in a gracious dining room, french doors open with views of the mountains. Completely lovely.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel La Conga; City: Sete Herault Occitanie; Review: This basic little hotel is a great stop. Located right across from the beach it is fabulous. The room was very basic, air conditioning didn't work while we were there. But the staff was incredibly friendly, and breakfast was fresh and good. It's a bit of a walk into town but totally do-able. There's also a bus that goes in (or you could drive of course). We would return to Sete and we would choose La Conga again.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Falken Luzern; City: Lucerne; Review: We'd read mixed reviews of this hotel but we found it to be fine. Hotel lobby and room were clean. Our bed was comfortable and cozy. Street noise makes it a little hard to leave the windows open at night but once closed it's very quiet. The location can't be beat. Right in the heart of the old city, you walk out of the door and you're there. You can add a breakfast to your price but I wouldn't recommend it. That buys you a "continental" in the local bakery which does have good bread but the rather steep breakfast price (12.5 euro) basically buys you bread and one drink (like coffee). Walking around we found lots of nice cafes within a block or two that offer a nicer breakfast for a smaller price. We'd use the hotel again but wouldn't opt for breakfast.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Albergaria Senhora Do Monte; City: Lisbon Lisbon District Central Portugal; Review: This hotel, although a little outside of the downtown, is worth the walk to get where you're going. The staff was helpful, the rooms pretty basic but the view...the VIEW! is incredible. Room was clean. Breakfast was basic but it all was fine. We would stay here again.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Loch Ard Motor Inn; City: Port Campbell Victoria; Review: A basic little motor inn but has a great shower and the view can't be beat! Across the street from the beach, we were in Room 7 and it was great. There were even chilled glasses in the fridge when we arrived. We got a good night's sleep and enjoyed remembering back to when so much travel was from motor inn to motor inn. This is a nice, budget-friendly place to stay.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Snug Cove Bed and Breakfast; City: Eden New South Wales; Review: We arrived at Snug Cove after a long day's drive from Melbourne. Jennifer greeted us warmly, offering us a glass of wine and a snack--perfect. Our rooms at Snug Cove were beautifully appointed, with cozy beds, fresh and clean. Breakfast, prepared by Jennifer, served by Eric, was delicious and beautiful. Although the rain fell and the wind howled during the night, we were cozy in this tight, snug home. The house is lovely, the view is perfect and the hosts are wonderful. Highly recommended.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Grand Pacific Hotel Lorne; City: Lorne Victoria; Review: The Grand Pacific is an impressive old hotel. We booked a standard room which means small. Really small. The balcony is shared so everyone has access. This worked fine for us and we had a glass of wine out there in the evening and coffee in the morning. We did peek inside some of the larger rooms with a view and they are quite lovely but much more expensive. Breakfast is offered and is quite good with a nice selection. We were surprised by how small the room was but glad we stayed here.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Casa Blanca; City: Phuket Town Phuket; Review: This quaint little hotel was a perfect place for us during a recent visit to Phuket. We opted to stay in Phuket town to get a little more local flavor than the beach hotels. We weren't disappointed. The hotel is lovely. We had a big room overlooking the street as we'd requested a balcony room. The bar across the street stays open late and is pretty loud. The hotel offered to switch our room but we found that with the windows closed we could sleep just fine. (And with the heat, we preferred to be in the AC). Our room was spacious and clean. For a quieter room I'd suggest requesting something overlooking the interior garden. The staff was great. The service excellent. I'd stay here again.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Andrea; City: Paris Ile de France; Review: We visited Paris for just one night in early April 2018. Since our time was short we wanted an easy location--Hotel Andrea was perfect. In the Marais, on a tiny street off of the main drag, we were away from the busy-ness but only by a few steps. We could walk out of the door and easily find shopping, restaurants, the Seine and loads of great walks. Our room was lovely and comfortable. The staff was great. The breakfast wasn't anything fancy but fresh and delicious--although they did offer fresh squeezed oj--yum! I'd love to stay here again.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Silom City Hotel; City: Bangkok; Review: We had a HUGE room in this hotel with a lovely kitchenette, large bathroom and even a little balcony. The bed was super comfy. The breakfast buffet is extensive and good. This was a super convenient and comfortable hotel. The staff was really friendly and helpful.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: MTC Suspension Kit 8 Pieces fits E46 BMW Control Arm Arms Tie Rod Rods Bushings; Brand: MTC; Review: I still haven't found much information on the manufacture at all, but am amazed by this product for the price. I was skeptical at first, and placed my order expecting to return. After all, the kit cost as much as one OEM control arm. Everything lined up, and fit perfectly. I would go with a much stiffer bushing, but this one works. As much as I looked for something to be wrong with this kit, I cant at this time. I will be sure to follow up with durability after properly tested.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: BMW Radiator Coolant Reservoir Expansion Tank + Coolant Sensor + Clip Hamman ...; Brand: HAMMAN; Review: small locking washer fell from inside after opening. No idea what it connects to, but the tank is functional and fits.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: iJDMTOY 7000K Xenon White 264-SMD LED Angel Eyes Halo Ring Lighting Kit for BMW E36 E46 3 Series E39 5; Brand: iJDMTOY; Review: I am rather impressed with the wiring in this kit. Although made as affordable as can be, time was taken to implement proper wiring ideas. Soldering, and shrink tube, proper wire size, and a simple diode and capacitor make a big difference in thought about keeping the product working for time to come. As a experienced 12v tech, I will be making my own wiring harness anyway. The solder joints are hard, and unsupported. The only concern I would have is a customer cracking a joint, and creating an impossible to find problem for them. Fitted and tested the halos. Love the product and seller. Very bright, and unable to see each light (perfect). Clear bright white light!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Nilight 2.5" Mini HID Bixenon Projector Lens for H1 Bulb Car Gift:chrome Shround; Brand: Nilight; Review: As listed, and expected. Metal housing seemed slightly better, plastic basket about the same, and better bulb bracket from the second brand I had side by side. Would order again.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Innovited AC 55W HID Xenon Conversion Kit With"Slim" ballast - 2 Bulbs & 2 Ballasts; Brand: Innovited; Review: Bad bulb out of the box. Became very bothered with amazon trying to contact seller for replacement. You will likely need a GOOD relay harness. The ballast pulls demands a lot on start up. 5k with 55w is beautiful! Very bright white light, I am happy with the bulbs and output. Seller replaced the bad bulb at no charge or fuss. Ballasts feel strong and sturdy. Happy with construction, and connectors. Always wish the HID kits used bigger and stronger wires.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: iJDMTOY (2) 3.0" H1 Bi-Xenon HID Projector Lens w/Porsche Cayenne Style 4-LED Daytime Running Light Shroud For Headlight; Brand: iJDMTOY; Review: Installed in my 99 E46 Fit perfectly, and working well! Metal housing, plastic basket. Optics are clear, project well, and cutoff is even. Using 55w 5k HID, much more light without blinding oncoming drivers. Haven't used the solenoid for bi-xenon function yet. Seller is top notch; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: 12 by 48 Inches Self Adhesive Headlight, Tail Lights, Fog Lights Tint Vinyl Film (12 X 48, Dark Blue); Brand: F & B LED LIGHTS; Review: Perfect shade light blue. Clear, and not overdone. One side is VERY sticky, thick, strong, and protective film on the opposing side to protect when installing. Very happy!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Gates 31332 Radiator Cap; Brand: Gates; Review: Works, what more can you ask.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: URO Parts 11 28 1 748 130 Belt Idler Pulley; Brand: URO Parts; Review: OEM part I expected; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: "BMW Genuine Wheel Center Caps 68 mm, a set of 4 pieces"; Brand: BMW; Review: Look just like one of the caps that came on my old car. They looks amazing, and fit perfectly. Very happy with the product.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dupli-Color HWP103 Clear High Performance Wheel Paint - 12 oz.; Brand: Dupli-Color; Review: Lets not shake it any other way, its rattle can. That said, this is the best paint I have found that can be had at just about every local auto parts store. I recently refinished a set of wheels, stripping them down and building up. Self etching, gray filler, black inside, bronze on face, and clear on face to finish. As with any rattle can, watch for over spray. The paint tends to dry quickly, spray fine, and can powder over your nice finish easily if not careful. Make sure to read the instructions carefully on each different can, and follow them. Very happy with the end result,; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Automotive |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Lorex LH014501C4WF 4-Channel 500 GB Digital Video Recorder Kit with 4 Wireless Camera (White/Black); Brand: Lorex; Review: The cameras work well. Very easy to set up. Software is very functional. Their support is VERY limited. If you have questions about things that are not in the manual (the manual I received didn't match the software) make sure you have PLENTY of time to sit on hold before talking to a tech. The techs know 'the manual' but seem to have very little actual experience with the software. The only negative I have found is that you can't schedule email motion alerts. Once enabled, you receive alert emails even during work hours when you KNOW there's motion. You can schedule recording times. But not alert messages. I suggested to support they add this as an update suggestion. I was told they don't do software upgrades. But the product itself works as advertised.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Kids Walkie Talkies, 22-Channel FRS/GMRS Radio, 3-Mile Range Two Way Radios with Flashlight and LCD Screen; Brand: Lambow; Review: Great little adapter!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Perixx PERIBOARD-106 US B, Performance wired keyboard - 20 Million Key Press Life - Full Size 17.9"x6.6"x1.7" - Black; Brand: Perixx; Review: Excellent keyboard. It has a perfect responsive feel for the fast typist, and not noisy. The price was great. I'm replacing all the keyboards at my office with them.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: GearIT 24-Pack, Cat5e Ethernet Patch Cable 0.5 Feet - Snagless RJ45 Computer LAN Network Cord, Blue; Brand: GearIT; Review: Quick shipping, and they all worked.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Koozam DJI Phantom 4 PRO Backpack Water Resistant Shockproof, for PRO Plus,; Brand: Koozam; Review: Excellent backpack! Everything fits, extra batteries, props, charger, iPad, +++. Nice foam inside to keep your drone from getting bumped around on hiking trips. All for a great price. Perfect buy!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: WiFi Adapter AC600 USB Wireless Adapter 2.4GHz/5GHz Dual Band Network LAN Card with External Antenna for Windows 10/8.1/7/XP/Vista/Mac OS10.6-10.13; Brand: EDUP; Review: Great little adapter. Plug it in and it just works! Fantastic price for a dual frequency adapter. Also great transfer speed!; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Electronics |
Given the interaction history of a user with businesses as follows:
Title: Thai Orchid Restaurant; City: Kenneth City, FL; Review: A great food experience every visit. Try the mango stir fry. As always the best Thai tea! Affordable with a pretty atmosphere!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bern's Steak House; City: Tampa, FL; Review: Like most reviews state ..what else can you say about a fantastic place to eat. We went just for the dessert this time and once again had a wonderful experience!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Cafe Ponte; City: Clearwater, FL; Review: Met a friend there for lunch. What a wonderful surprise! So nice and inviting when you first walk in. We both ordered the Kale salad and shared a serving of bread pudding. Both were delicious. The service was great. I'll be back for dinner soon. A gem in a strip center!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ocean Prime; City: Tampa, FL; Review: We've been here before, but never posted a review. We had the lobster and it was excellent. Finished with the butter cake. Could have ordered 2 servings- so yummy. Service a bit slow, but they were very busy.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Thai Orchid Restaurant; City: Kenneth City, FL; Review: In the area & stopped in for some Thai Tea. I posted another review, however it never shows up. Sad, because this little place has great food and very pretty.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Home Performance Alliance; City: Saint Petersburg, FL; Review: Read Tampa Bay Times today- Attorney General finally fined them! Should have been more IMHO! They should have been shut down IMHO; Rating: 1.0/5.0 | yelp |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Hanes Men's Full Zip Ultimate Heavyweight Fleece Hoodie; Brand: ; Review: Decent for the price,thin but good for chilly fall mornings when you know it will be warm later in the day.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Nike Men's Air Monarch Iv Cross Trainer; Brand: ; Review: What you would expect from Nike .; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hanes F280_AP Hn 10 Oz Printpro Xp Full Zip; Brand: ; Review: Decent for the price,thin but good for chilly fall mornings when you know it will be warm later in the day.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Kiwi Select Suede Boot & Shoe Kit; Brand: Kiwi; Review: Came just as clean using dish soap and vinegar would not recommend.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: NIKE Men's Air Monarch Iv Cross Trainer; Brand: ; Review: What you would expect from Nike .; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Buy Cool Shirts Ladies Marilyn Monroe Hoodie Black and White Portrait Tri Blend Hoodie; Brand: Buy Cool Shirts; Review: Girlfriend loved this,not very thick but decent for fall days.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_Clothing_Shoes_and_Jewelry |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Hotel Iris; City: Venice Veneto; Review: Bad Smell in the WC. Dirt everywhere. No hot water in shower. One of the staff was so rude I forget my umbrella at the reception lounge the day after l asked for he told me "no see" maybe someone it, on my return l asked other employee and he gave it to me from the drawer. Good Location San Marco Square is reachable by walk. There is a supermarket at good price near. One of the staff was so kind and helpful he accepts that I use staff toilet because the guests wc is so dirty and he provides me with events list.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: New Generation Hostel Urban Brera; City: Milan Lombardy; Review: Best Location in the heart of Milan. Everything is reachable by walk. Very helpful and Friendly staff. Kitchen well equiped, you can cook by yourself. Very Clean. -No hot water in the shower! I strongly recommend it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Onisillos Hotel Larnaca Cyprus; City: Larnaca Larnaka District; Review: No wifi access in the rooms, only in the hall. The reception isn't 24/24. Cleaning isn't on daily basis. The hotel is located in the city centre, St.Lazarus Church and Finikoudes beach are reachable 5min by walk. The owner is the funniest man in the world He offers you a cool lemonade and he does his best to make you happy.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Plus Florence; City: Florence Tuscany; Review: The staff is so helpful and kind. Very professional team they speak english and they advise you about where to go and where to shop and someone helps me to set a pin for my luggage because I don't know how to do it. The place is so close to the attractions. Each bed has a light and plug. There is a gym and swimming pool but I never tried them.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Avenue Hostel; City: Budapest Central Hungary; Review: The location is In the heart of Budapest so all the main attractions are reachable by walk. The staff is so helpful they help you to arrange your journey. The concept and the decoration of the hostel were so attractive. The cleanness was average. The breakfast was Ok. I liked the way of gathering and socialize. I share the Lebanese flag in the wall you can draw yours.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Pension Dr Geissler; City: Vienna; Review: The location was perfect you exit the Metro station U1/U4 and you just cross the street to get to the Pension, it is in the heart of the city. The bed is very comfortable, the cleanness is perfect each day they change the linen. The breakfast is generous.The staff is very helpful and very friendly. The respond promptly to your request. I strongly recommend it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Safestay Prague; City: Prague Bohemia; Review: Equity Point Prague is located in the heart of Prague. You just exit the metro station at Narodni and you cross the street and go straight. The staff is very active in work and spirit and is very friendly and helpful. Especially Peter at the reception he helps me a lot to arrange my journey and the other helpful woman who recommended me the authentic restaurant. The cleanness is good, the beds are comfortable there is an elevator to reach the higher floor. The breakfast is healthy based on milk, yogurt, fiver and fruit, honey...And the servant was so helpful he brought the necessary tools to reach my bracelet under the bed. I strongly recommend this place.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Elite; City: Athens Attica; Review: I booked a single room but at my arrival they apologized for not having it, so they gave me a triple room instead(One room with one bed and one with two). It was spacious for me. The room is very clean and they change towels and linen regularly. There is a shampoo and soap available. The furniture is basic, the fridge is the most important element in the room especially in summer. The elevator is too small it fits one person with his luggages or 3persons without anything. There is no wifi in the room only in the reception area. The staff was not friendly at all except Keryakos he is kind and helpful person, he answers promptly your request(I asked him to fix my room's light and he did it immediately). The area is not that safe, one tried to open my bag's zipper. The street is dirty with a bad smell but everyday the municipality cleans it. All attractions are reachable by walk. A lot of pastry shops are around you an get your breakfast at affordable price.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Nafplia Hotel Nafplion; City: Nafplio Argolis Region Peloponnese; Review: The best location you can stay on. Very clean room.Towels, shampoo, soap are provided with the property. The staff and helpful and friendly. All attractions and shops are reachable by walk. 24/24hours reception. You can ask for early check-in. I strongly recommend this Hotel.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Onisillos Hotel Larnaca Cyprus; City: Larnaca Larnaka District; Review: The hotel is located in the city centre you reach Finikoudes beach in 5minutes by walk. The owner is the funniest man in the world. He offers you a cool lemonade and he does his best to make you happy. Old furniture. No wifi access in the rooms, only in the hall. The reception isn't 24/24. Cleaning isn't daily.; Rating: 3.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Black Ladies Shiny Liquid Mini Skirt Elastic Waist Band, Made in USA; Brand: Clothes Effect; Review: In NO way is it shiny or liquid. The color is quite flat and dull. It didn't mention the zipper closure. I wish I had ordered a different skirt. It seemed to small to return. I wear a small...but this is x-small. It looks absolutely nothing like the picture at all!; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Ollio Women's Pump Shoe Platform Gladiator Ankle Strap High Heel Multi Color Sandal; Brand: ; Review: I love these "go with anything" heels! They aren't made of the highest quality material...but for what I paid, I'm not disappointed.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sexy Black Off Shoulder Short Sleeve Mini Dress; Brand: Espiral; Review: I expected a dress that was tight around the hips and somewhat loose at the top. Like the photo. What I got was a spandex dress, with a small neckhole (it definitely won't go "off the shoulder".). It's tight all over. No difference in the bottom from the top. And I bought my size!; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Sakkas Shiny Liquid Metallic High Waist Stretch Leggings - Made in USA; Brand: ; Review: These are exactly as described. Liquid and shiny....A lot of items you get are not like the picture. These are perfect.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sunglass Stop - Rare Two-Tone Blue Oceanic Gradient Tiny Round Fun 70s Sunglasses (Silver , Blue ); Brand: Sunglass Stop Shop; Review: Exactly like the photo. Very well made!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Queen Old School Band T-Shirt; Brand: Queen; Review: Thin material, great photo. Very nice; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Motorcycle Mens Leather Jacket - Genuine Lambskin Biker Black Leather Jackets for Men; Brand: fjackets; Review: My son was thrilled to get this jacket! All the zippers in the right spot... Looks exactly like the one Jeffery Dean Morgan wears on The Walking Dead; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Clothing_Shoes_and_Jewelry |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Palazzo Tour d Eau Abruzzo Cibus; City: Carunchio Province of Chieti Abruzzo; Review: Spending a week at the Pallazzo tour d"Eau and the Abruzzo Cibus cooking school was the perfect way to experience a real slice of Italy. Massimo, Christina and the amazing staff Chef Dino, Antonio, and David have lovingly thought through every detail. Their love of the region, its cuisine, and its people showed through in everything we did. The trip was perfectly planned from the wonderful cooking classes to the very interesting tours and the few hours of free time. Of course, the center piece was the food. I would have to say it was the best week of food of my life. Usually Chef Dino prepared one of our meals and the class prepared the other. The tastes were simply exquisite. To think that we will, hopefully, be able to recreate some of these masterpieces is an exciting added bonus. I am already thinking about their more advance cooking class. The experience was definitely worth repeating. Jodi; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Yoshiike Ryokan; City: Hakone machi Ashigarashimo gun Kanagawa Prefecture Kanto; Review: We stayed one night at the Yoshiike in a traditional Japanese room. The experience felt like a true Japanese experience from the sleeping mats on the floor (actually comfortable) to wearing the Kimonos they provided in all the public places. The dinner and breakfast were exquisite even if we didn't know always what we were eating. The gardens are gorgeous. We used the private room in the Onsen and really enjoyed the waters. Additionally, Hakone is a fabulous place to visit. Exquisityly beautiful with lots to do.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Capri Laguna On The Beach; City: Laguna Beach California; Review: We found this hotel to be very clean with a great location . The ocean views were spectacular and the beach is beautiful and not crowded even on a weekend in July. The front desk service was great . We will be back .; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sweet Biscuit Inn; City: Asheville North Carolina; Review: Amazing 3 course breakfasts: best I have ever had in this charming and elegant B&B. Even had crepes made to order (as our breakfast dessert!!!!!!) Truly delicious. Rooms were beautiful, luxurious and decorated with European charm. Christian and Claudia are simply the very best hosts and did not overlook a single detail during our stay. I look forward to coming back. Jodi; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Grand Luxxe at Nuevo Vallarta; City: Nuevo Vallarta Pacific Coast; Review: My husband and I just finished a week at the Grand Luxxe resort . It was fabulous. No detail was left undone from our amazing concierge , Israel , who helped us in so many ways .(he actually did my laundry for me😩). We loved the popsicles at the pools and the young people who came around washing our glasses for us. It’s a true paradise , The rooms were large and beautifully designed , we went to 4 different restaurants for dinner and 3 were so good we couldn’t decide which one we liked best . Maybe Azul won in the food category but Quinto won in the view category . Amazing quality . Thank you for a fabulous week Jodi; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Ratchet Click Belts for Men | Mens Comfort Genuine Leather Belt with Automatic Buckle & Gift Box; Brand: Railtek Belts; Review: This is a very nice looking belt. It is as advertised, and adjusts just like advertised. Time will tell how well it holds up.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ratchet Click Belts for Men | Mens Comfort Genuine Leather Belt with Automatic Buckle & Gift Box; Brand: Railtek Belts; Review: This is a very nice looking belt. It is as advertised, and adjusts just like advertised. Time will tell how well it holds up.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Russell Benning Collection Premium Leather Ratchet Belt; Brand: The Russell Benning Collection; Review: The belt is very nice looking and seems to work as advertised. I bought it for my husband who has used it now for about a month. He said the buckle has more grips where the belt fits in than other buckles, and he thinks it will hold the belt better than some others.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Harriton mens Short-Sleeve Denim Shirt (M550S); Brand: Harriton; Review: Fit perfect, good quality, love the shirt.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Carol Wright Gifts Terry Zip Front Dress; Brand: Carol Wright Gifts; Review: Good fit, nice color, cheap fabric that balls up before it has even been washed. I would have loved this dress if it was made out of better terry fabric.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Waterproof Adult Pull-On Pants, Advanced Duralite-Soft, Noiseless - Kleinert's; Brand: Kleinert's; Review: I ordered these for my 94-year old mother. She absolutely loves them. She has tried several less expensive varieties and said these are well worth the money. She said they are comfortable, fit well, and most importantly, they don't leak.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Skechers Sport Men's Equalizer Coast to Coast Mule; Brand: ; Review: Ordered these for my son who travels a lot. He loves being able to slip these off and on, especially at the airport when going through security.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Clothing_Shoes_and_Jewelry |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Rothco Flyers Helmet Shoulder Bag; Brand: Rothco; Review: Just like the one I had in the Navy.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Meltonian Boot and Shoe Cream Polish, 1.55 Ounces; Brand: Meltonian; Review: This shoe polish is really good. Not is not the stuff you buy in the drugstore or at Walmart. I got it because I have some Cordovan/Maroon/Burgandy/Eigner signature color boots. It is a wonderful polish to work with. Very creamy. I will be buying more in other colors for my shoes, boots and handbags. Highly recommend.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Women's RFID Blocking Trifold Wallet Leather Card Holder; Brand: Borgasets; Review: Beautiful wallet. The leather is beautiful but very hard and stiff (as it should be), just not to my liking.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Women's High-end Genuine Leather Fashion Tote Handbag; Brand: Unknown; Review: This is a stunningly beautiful high end-leather tote...the softest leather you can imagine. Would highly recommend this to anyone. The price is amazing for the product.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Evelots Crystal Flower Sweater Clip, Stylish Vintage Look, Cardigan Collar Clip; Brand: ; Review: Works exactly as it should.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ezcosplay Women's Double Layer Retro Chiffon Long Skirt Elastic Waist Boho Skirt; Brand: Ezcosplay; Review: I wore this shirt to a multi-millionaire's wedding where everyone was dressed to the nines. The wedding was a Western theme in a grassy area in the early evening. I live on the East Coast; the wedding was in a very influential area in California so I was a little bit clueless and weather, etc. This skirt, along with a bat wing silk blouse and boots was an absolute winner. I had many, many compliments and was very comfortable, mentally and physically, all evening. I can't say enough about how nice this skirt is and plan to purchase many more colors.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: BEST Wallet for Women, Genuine Handmade, Securely Stores 16 Cards, Coins, Phone, PU Leather, Zip Around; Brand: Gemme; Review: My 4 y.o. puppy kept getting my wallet out of my purse or off my desk. I guess I've had 3-4 SSA card in the past year or two. Not only is this a nice and very well made wallet, it zips. She's clever, but hasn't figured out the zipper. Beautiful leather.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Peach Couture Nautical Anchor Patriotic All American Navy Scarf Wrap Shawl; Brand: Peach Couture; Review: Received this scarf yesterday - just in time for my Navy Waves Luncheon today. I'm sure I will get a lot of comments & "where did you get that?". The scarf is soft and light with the stitching well done. Because I'm not good at tying ties, I plan to have my seamtress make it into a infinity scarf. We drive a slingshot and with an an infinity, I know I will never lose it. My husband & I have 52 years of service in the U S Navy between us so for me this is really showing my Naval pride, not following a fashion statement.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Clothing_Shoes_and_Jewelry |
Given the interaction history of a user with news articles as follows:
Title: Robert Forster, Oscar-Nommed Star of 'Jackie Brown,' Dies at 78; Abstract: Robert Forster, a prolific character actor who was nominated for an Oscar for Quentin Tarantino's "Jackie Brown" and appeared in more than 100 films, died Friday in Los Angeles of brain cancer. He was 78.; Category: movies
Title: Iran decries 'cowardly attack' on oil tanker; Abstract: An Iranian government spokesman on Saturday described as a "cowardly attack" an incident that Iranian media have called the apparent targeting by missiles of an Iranian-owned oil tanker, and said Iran would respond after the facts had been studied.; Category: news
Title: Julianne Hough Mourns the Deaths of Her Two 'Babies' Lexi and Harley: 'I Am Forever Grateful'; Abstract: Julianne Hough Mourns the Loss of Her Two 'Babies' Lexi and Harley; Category: tv
Title: Mansions for sale with massive secrets; Abstract: Guaranteed to appeal to deep-pocketed buyers with a taste for the unusual, a slew of one-of-a-kind mansions are up for sale right now, packed with all kinds of remarkable hidden features, from a mini village and an indoor beach to subterranean scuba-diving tunnels and even a gold mine.; Category: finance
Title: Grandpa Brings Dog To Furniture Store To Make Sure She Likes Chair Too; Abstract: Believe it or not, there was a once a time when Aleecia Dahl's grandfather didn't want a dog at all but now he pretty much epitomizes what it means to be a proud pet parent. It all started the moment he met Coco. "Coco is the dog Grandpa never wanted but cannot live without," Dahl told The Dodo.; Category: lifestyle
Title: Why Do Americans Drive Automatic But Most of Europe Drives Manual?; Abstract: Fewer Americans are learning to drive stick shifts, but Europeans prefer them. These are the reasons why. The post Why Do Americans Drive Automatic But Most of Europe Drives Manual? appeared first on Reader's Digest.; Category: autos
Title: This Percentage of Americans Have Never Left the State They Were Born; Abstract: For some, home really is the best place in the universe. The post This Percentage of Americans Have Never Left the State They Were Born appeared first on Reader's Digest.; Category: lifestyle
Title: Where is 'Kokomo?' People are still searching for The Beach Boys' tropical island getaway; Abstract: You know the catchy, relaxing lyrics: "Off the Florida Keys, there's a place called Kokomo," goes the 1988 hit by The Beach Boys. Three decades later, people are still wondering, where is Kokomo?; Category: travel
Title: Korean Pop Star Sulli Dies at 25; Abstract: Korean pop star Sulli was found dead at her home near Seoul on Monday. She was 25. Her manager found her body and alerted the police. The manager reported that the star, whose real name was Choi Jin-ri, suffered from depression, and police said that they were working on the assumption that she had died; Category: music
Title: Bob Kingsley, Country Radio Legend, Dead at 80; Abstract: Country radio legend Bob Kingley, the longtime host of the nationally syndicated program Bob Kingsley's Country Top 40, died early Thursday in Weatherford, Texas, following a lengthy battle with bladder cancer. He was 80 years old. A member of the Country Radio Broadcasters Hall of Fame, inducted in 1998, he later became only the format's fifth representative in the National Radio Hall of Fame in 2016. Kingsley was 18 and serving in the Air...; Category: music
Title: University students break into U.S. ambassador's residence in Seoul; Abstract: They used ladders to climb over the compound's wall; Category: news
Title: How Kate Middleton and Prince William's royal tour of Pakistan compared to Harry and Meghan's trip to Africa; Abstract: Harry and Meghan had a much more relaxed approached to security on their tour than Kate and William.; Category: lifestyle
Title: Doing it for the 'gram? Royal Caribbean says no to that, bans guests for life; Abstract: Doing it for the 'gram? Royal Caribbean Cruises doesn't seem to think that's a good idea, particularly when it's dangerous.; Category: travel
Title: The Most Haunted Place in Every State (Don't Visit These Alone!); Abstract: We dare you to check these out!; Category: travel
Title: Trump Said to Favor Leaving a Few Hundred Troops in Eastern Syria; Abstract: President Trump is leaning in favor of a new Pentagon plan to keep a small contingent of American troops in eastern Syria, perhaps numbering about 200, to combat the Islamic State and block the advance of Syrian government and Russian forces into the region's coveted oil fields, a senior administration official said on Sunday.; Category: news
Title: Woman Spots Deadly Animal Hiding In Photo Of Her Kids; Abstract: Her unsuspecting children weren't the only ones posing for the pictures.; Category: lifestyle
Title: Bag Explodes While Being Loaded On Volaris Flight At Midway Airport; Abstract: A bag being loaded onto an airplane at Midway Aiport exploded on Monday and the Chicago bomb unit has responded.; Category: travel
Title: After Soldiers Surrender El Chapo's Son, a Shocked Mexican City Sighs With Relief; Abstract: In the days following the siege of the city of Culiacán by the Sinaloa cartel, residents were overcome with relief: Relief that the terror is over.; Category: news
Title: Mom who touted daughter's 'bucket list' accused in her death; Abstract: A Colorado mother who sought donations to cover medical treatments for her daughter and promoted the girl's "bucket list" of dreams to fulfill before she died has been indicted on a murder charge in the 7-year-old's death that was previously believed to be from a terminal disease.; Category: news
Title: Jerry Fogel Dies: 'The Mothers-In-Law' & 'The White Shadow' Co-Star Was 83; Abstract: Jerry Fogel, a longtime screen actor best remembered as the beleaguered bridegroom Jerry Buell on the NBC sitcom The Mothers-in-Law, has died, He was 83. Fogel, who diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in 2008, died Monday at the Kansas City Hospice House in Kansas City, Missouri, his family announced. The son of a Rochester, N.Y, movie theater owner,; Category: tv
Title: Celebrity kids then and now: See how they've grown; Abstract: See what the children of Bobby Cannavale, Ray Liotta, Jude Law, Jamie Foxx, Sylvester Stallone, James Gandolfini and more stars look like now.; Category: entertainment
Title: Ronnie Ortiz-Magro hit with 5 misdemeanors for alleged incident; Abstract: Ronnie Ortiz-Magro dodged felony charges, but was hit with five misdemeanors.; Category: tv
Title: 2 charged in murder of Alabama girl Kamille 'Cupcake' McKinney; Abstract: Two suspects have been charged with murder in the death of a 3-year-old Alabama girl who went missing from an outdoor birthday party on Oct. 12.; Category: news
Title: 'Potentially historic wind event' over weekend could inflame California wildfires; Abstract: Northern California could experience a potentially historic wind event this weekend, which could have a dangerous effect on wildfires.; Category: weather
Title: Homeowner says a mystery object damaged his house. It didn't fall from a plane, FAA says; Abstract: Authorities including the Federal Aviation Administration have not been able to identify a canister-type object that damaged a Kentucky man's home.; Category: news
Title: Scandal brings election risk for rising Democratic star; Abstract: California U.S. Rep. Katie Hill has apologized to friends and supporters for engaging in an affair with a campaign staffer, but Susan Slates still feels let down by the 32-year-old Democrat who arrived in Congress just this year. Slates is a beauty salon owner in Hill's hometown of Agua Dulce, a lightly populated expanse of grassy hills and horse ranchettes north of Los Angeles. She tightens her lips when asked about...; Category: news
Title: 50 secrets it's OK to keep from your partner; Abstract: Do you tell your significant other everything? While a high level of honesty and openness is healthy in a committed relationship, there are times when keeping something to yourself can actually be kinder, smarter, or better for everyone. Read on for the secrets it's just fine not to share with your partner.; Category: lifestyle
Title: Dodge Hellephant Crate Engine Production Finally Beginning After Quality Issue; Abstract: A camshaft issue delayed deliveries.; Category: autos
Title: 'When I smelled that smoke ... here we go again': Weary Californians seek shelter amid latest wildfire outbreak; Abstract: Chased from their homes, California wildfire evacuees take refuge at Red Cross shelters and wonder if they should stay or if they should go.; Category: news
Title: Latest Australia shark attack sparks tourism concerns; Abstract: Tourism operators want aerial shark patrols to be introduced in Australia's Whitsunday Islands as they try to stem falling visitor numbers following a spate of attacks along the Great Barrier Reef.; Category: travel
Title: Woman's Halloween 'devil teeth' turn into dental emergency; Abstract: The fangy fake teeth were perfect for a Halloween event, but then the night took a frightening turn when Anna Tew couldn't get them out of her mouth.; Category: health
Title: Mom who popularized gender reveals regrets it now; Abstract: "There are a million ways to celebrate your life that don't involve putting anyone in danger."; Category: lifestyle
Title: Hong Kong protesters trash Xinhua agency office in night of violence; Abstract: Hong Kong protesters trash Xinhua agency office in night of violence; Category: news
Title: This Is What Queen Elizabeth Is Doing About the Prince William-Prince Harry Feud; Abstract: According to royal insiders, Queen Elizabeth has directed Prince Charles to put a stop to the feud between William and Harry. Here's why she's so worried.; Category: lifestyle
Title: Hidden Camera Captures Cat And Baby Having The Cutest Conversation; Abstract: From the moment Lindsey Needham brought her son Brody home, she could tell that he and her cat Zora were going to be friends.; Category: lifestyle
Title: DNA Test Leads Man to Biological Parents He Thought Died 50 Years Ago: 'It Was Surreal'; Abstract: Man Finds Biological Parents He Thought Died 50 Years Ago; Category: lifestyle
Title: Arizona 'Wizard Rock,' missing 1-ton boulder, mysteriously returns; Abstract: Forest officials in Arizona were mystified in October when local landmark Wizard Rock, a 1-ton boulder, suddenly vanished from its position along Highway 89 in Prescott.; Category: news
Title: Outrage over killing of 'forest guardian' in Brazil's Amazon; Abstract: Activists expressed outrage Sunday at the killing of an indigenous "guardian of the forest" in Brazil's Amazon and called on the government to thwart illegal loggers in the region. Three other forest guardians have died in previous attacks there, Survival International said.; Category: news
Title: Help! My Daughter Stole My Granddaughter's College Fund.; Abstract: She refuses to say where the money went.; Category: lifestyle
Title: The Rock's Gnarly Palm Is a Testament to Life Without Lifting Gloves; Abstract: Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson's gnarly palm was on display in a recent Instagram snap. But don't be grossed out think of it as a testament to hard work and loads of reps.; Category: health
Title: Zimbabwean girl, 11, says she wrestled crocodile, gouged out eyes to save 9-year-old friend: report; Abstract: An 11-year-old Zimbabwean girl claims she wrestled a crocodile and gouged out its eyes to save her 9-year-old friend last week, according to a local report.; Category: news
Title: Hennessey Maximus Is a 1000-HP Jeep Gladiator from Hell; Abstract: If a 2020 Jeep Gladiator is not aggressive-looking enough, Hennessey has this even more intense version, which it's bringing to the SEMA show.; Category: autos
Title: 200 Shocking Home Photos You Have to See; Abstract: We know a good DIY project when we see it, but these aren't them. Some of these are goofy, some are head scratchers and some are downright dangerous. Check these photos out, you'll definitely learn a thing or two!; Category: lifestyle
Title: American Airlines cabin crew fear return of Boeing 737 Max; Abstract: Lori Bassani, who leads the Association of Professional Flight Attendants, wrote to Boeing CEO Dennis Muilenburg about the ongoing 737 Max crisis.; Category: travel
Title: Fisherman faces prison, fine for cruel act on rare fish; Abstract: A fisherman faces serious consequences for using a power saw to cut off the nose of a rare smalltooth sawfish off the Florida coast.; Category: sports
Title: The Ukrainian orphan at the center of an adoption scandal says she's a teenager, and none of her adoptive parents' claims are true; Abstract: Natalia Grace Barnett at down with. Dr. Phil for a segment in which she discusses her former adoptive parents' claims that she's an adult.; Category: news
Title: Man with Autism Asks First His Question Ever & Twitter Responds with Nothing But Love; Abstract: When Kerry Bloch tweeted about the first question her 21-year-old son had ever asked, the Twitterverse responded with love.; Category: health
Title: Dakota Johnson's Tribute to Former Stepdad Antonio Banderas Will Leave You In Tears; Abstract: Dakota Johnson gushed over former stepfather Antonio Banderas while presenting him with the Hollywood Actor Award on Sunday. Read her touching speech below.; Category: movies
Title: Woman Finds A Giant Wild Snake Just Chilling In Her Bed; Abstract: A 7-foot-long carpet python was slithering over her bed.; Category: lifestyle
Title: A body-language expert says Meghan Markle is "politely disconnecting" from the public, and honestly, we would too; Abstract: Can we blame her? Meghan Markle is supposedly "politely disconnecting" from the public as seen in her body language, and girl, you do you.; Category: lifestyle | mind |
Given the interaction history of a user with news articles as follows:
Title: Ford Baby Bronco Bare Body Allegedly Leaked In Exclusive Photo; Abstract: Ford had no comment, but it sure looks like the real deal.; Category: autos
Title: Snowden memoir: The spy who came out and told; Abstract: "Permanent Record," Metropolitan Books, by Edward Snowden; Category: entertainment
Title: Former refugee faces deportation to country he's never visited; Abstract: While Philya Thach had regularly checked in with ICE for the past 20 years with no issues, agents stormed his home in California earlier this month without a valid warrant, his daughter said.; Category: news
Title: Senate rejects Democratic effort to undo Obamacare changes; Abstract: One Republican voted in favor of the resolution, which would have scaled back "junk plans" that don't have to cover people with preexisting conditions or certain "essential" benefits; Category: news
Title: Chevy Says This Isn't a Mid-Engine C8 Corvette Hybrid Prototype; Abstract: There are some curious electronic extremeties on this test mule.; Category: autos
Title: 2 Murder suspects escape from Monterey County, California, Jail; Abstract: The suspects are considered dangerous and should not be approached. Anyone who sees them should call 911 immediately.; Category: news
Title: NASA's Curiosity rover took an eerie photo of the Mars horizon; Abstract: NASA's Mars Curiosity rover is still traversing the Red Planet on its own, searching for evidence of past life there.; Category: news
Title: Everyday heroes step up to help lone Waffle House employee; Abstract: Sometimes you just have to be the change you wish to see in a Waffle House.; Category: foodanddrink
Title: Popular Selena tribute singer from San Fernando Valley detained by ICE in Texas; Abstract: ; Category: music | mind |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Champion Women's Freedom Seamless Racerback Sport Bra; Brand: ; Review: I wear a 34C and purchased the bra in a size medium. It goes on VERY snug. My first thought was to send it back. It was very uncomfortable at first and compressed my chest far more than I cared for. After wearing the bra for a few hours, it seemed to have stretched some and became easier to breathe in. The band does ride up a bit from time to time. I'm not sure if this would be the case with a larger size. The bra provides a nice support and is pretty comfortable after it stretches out a bit. It can get rather hot though, and quite itchy when sweating. I would not have purchased this as an everyday or general purpose bra, but it may be a good choice for light activity such as yoga. It seems like it would dry fairly quickly. I prefer anything that touches my skin to be made of natural fibers, however I purchased this primarily for use during pool therapy. For my needs and preferences, I would rate this bra 3.5 stars. I won't knock it down too far since I knew it was not cotton when I made my purchase, so I wasn't really expecting maximum comfort. It serves it's purpose, but I won't be buying anymore of this particular bra. Pros: Nice support. No underwire. Cons: Hot. Itchy synthetic fibers. Fits a bit small.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Columbia Women's Minx Mid II Omni-Heat Winter Boot; Brand: ; Review: These boots are decent enough. Today was the first snow of our Upper Midwest winter and these boots kept our feet warm and dry. They are actually very comfortable, even with thick socks. I normally wear a women's size 10, but I always buy an 11 in boots. I purchased an 11 in these and was not disappointed with the fit. The boots are lightweight and not bulky at all, which is a huge plus. They are lined on the inside with a nice plush faux fur. They also have tie-up laces that can be easily adjusted to your preference so you can easily tuck in a pair of thick sweats/jeans etc and still be comfortable. The only negative thing that I have to say about the boots is that some of the faux fur around the edges of the boots sheds very easily like a cheap stuffed animal or raggedy carpet. These ARE made in China. All things considered, I still recommend these boots and am very happy with my purchase. I purchased these in Little Kids size 1 for my 5 year old and she loves her boots too.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Columbia Minx Mid II WP Snow Boot (Little Kid/Big Kid); Brand: ; Review: These boots are pretty decent. Today was the first snow of our Midwest winter and these boots kept our feet warm and dry. They are actually very comfortable, even with thick socks. They are lightweight and not bulky at all, which is a huge plus. They are lined on the inside with a nice plush faux fur. They also have tie-up laces that can be easily adjusted to your preference so you can easily tuck in a pair of thick sweats/jeans etc and still be comfortable. The little bit of blue accent on the boots is just enough to make my 5 year old love them. You can't tell from the photos, but the back side of the laces is the same beautiful blue color as the accents and text on the boot. My daughter wears a size 13 normally. I purchased these in a size 1 and they fit very well. The only negative thing that I have to say about the boots is that some of the faux fur around the edges of the boots sheds very easily like a cheap stuffed animal or raggedy carpet. These ARE made in China. All things considered, I still recommend these boots and am very happy with my purchase. I also purchased these boots for myself in an adult size 11 and I like them very much.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Earth Therapeutics Women's Organic Outdoor Socks Light Green -- 1 Pair; Brand: Earth Therapeutics; Review: I almost didn't buy these socks. I must admit I was initially turned off by the "one size fits all", however these socks are great! I'm really glad I didn't pass them up. I wear a women's size 10 in shoes and these socks come up just below my calves. The website states they fit most foot sizes, Womens 5-11. The socks are very comfortable with my snow boots. They are thick and of great quality.. not itchy.. not too tight or uncomfortable in any way. I've never paid $10 for a single pair of socks before, but again.. I'm really glad I did. I'm going to buy a few more pair while they are still available. If you are on the fence about these, I recommend you go ahead and try them. I'm sure you'll like them as well. I can't recall where they were made and unfortunately I discarded the packaging pretty quickly, but I'm pretty confident they were not made in China. I have nothing negative to say about these socks.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sofishie's Sexy Stylish Fishnet Body Stocking; Brand: Sofishie; Review: Excellent price for a good quality product. Very sexy indeed. I will be purchasing others in various colors. Shipping didn't take as long as expected either.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Carhartt Women's Zeeland Sandstone Bib Overall; Brand: ; Review: I'm 5'6, 155 lbs, 36B/C cup. I would typically wear between a size 10-12, so I expected the Large (Regular) coveralls to be a little baggy. They are perfect length-wise but a little snug in the hips at first. After wearing them a bit they are softer and much more comfortable. Although they are more fitted in the hips, they are too wide in the chest (would probably be very flattering on a larger breasted woman) and there is no way to adjust this. It's not a big deal. I tend to wear a hoodie under my coveralls anyway. I still love these overalls. They are perfect for our Midwest winters and allow me to be warm without having to wear a bunch of bulky clothes. These are not too bulky by the way.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Estamico Toddler Boys' Doggy Slipper; Brand: Estamico; Review: I bought these in a size 8-9 for my baby who wears a size 7 shoe. They fit a bit big, however they stay on his feet perfectly fine and he has no trouble walking around in them. He seems to like they way they look too. The soles of the shoes were the determining factor in my purchasing these slippers. I like the fact that the soles are hard as opposed to the itchy sock-top, fabric-soled slippers that have never lasted long with my babies. The stitching around the dog's nose is not perfect, but it's not a deal-breaker. Overall, I'm very happy with my baby's nice toasty new slippers. I recommend them.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: John Deere Girls Pink Cowboy Boot Slippers (Little Kid/Big Kid); Brand: John Deere; Review: My daughter loves them, but I'm not very impressed with the quality for the price paid. We'll see how long they hold up.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Fruit of the Loom Little Girls' Cotton Stretch Brief (Pack of 5); Brand: ; Review: We've tried many different styles and brands before finally finding these, with which my daughter is happy.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Clothing_Shoes_and_Jewelry |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Christiana Lodge; City: Plettenberg Bay Western Cape; Review: We stayed 2 nights there, the room was very modern and well furnished but many rooms are direct above the car parking and noisy, because of the returning guests. The breakfast is to late at 8.15 and is kept on an small variety.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Hermanus Lodge on the Green; City: Hermanus Overstrand Overberg District Western Cape; Review: The rooms are not very modern, proper, but in the detail not clean. The house is very quiete located and next to walking trails. The breakfast was basic, good quality but less variety. The host were friendly.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Clarendon Fresnaye; City: Fresnaye Western Cape; Review: Emmy is the perfect host, a very hearty and warm person, with a good feeling for the well-being of their guests. The rooms are very clean, spacious but partly noosy because of the main street. The garden is grandiose for a city Hotel, breakfast was awesome an rich on variety.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Keren s Vine; City: Stellenbosch Western Cape; Review: We stayed 2 nights there and we felt very well and relaxed. Kerstin und Rene are very sympathique and comunitative hosts. The guest house is really clean and modern furnished. The breakfast on the sunny terasse was fine and the view to the stellenbosch mountains is grandiose.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hazelwood House; City: Stellenbosch Western Cape; Review: We stayed totally 8 nights there and we enjoyed every day! Johan is a very nice host, all is very clean and the breakfast is excellent (small buffet with cheese, yoghurt, meet, fruit salad, bread, toast, even eggs / omeletts from the kitchen, Coffee direct from the Maschine. The garden and the pool are propre, the deck chairs are very comfortable. Stellenbosch centre is only 5 minutes to drive or 20 minutes to walk.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Montagu Vines Guesthouse; City: Montagu Western Cape; Review: The rooms in the new building are grandiose and very spacious with a beautiful view to the olive tree garden. Campell and Ursula are very nice hosts and are very interested that the guests are feeling well. The Breakfast was great und various.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Hoppe's Universal Gun Cleaning Accessory Kit; Brand: Hoppe's; Review: LOve it!!!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Allen Sports Deluxe 2-Bike Trunk Mount Rack; Brand: Allen Sports; Review: Great product! It's exactly as the description of the seller.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Marinco Trumpet Air Horns; Brand: AFI; Review: This product is as great as you see it in the picture.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bulldog Cases Pit Bull Rifle Case; Brand: Bulldog Cases; Review: Great product! It's exactly as the description of the seller.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Attwood LED 2-Mile Deck Mount Navigation Bow Light, Stainless Steel (Starboard/Green LED Light); Brand: attwood; Review: Great product! It's exactly as the description of the seller.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: 5.11 TACLITE PRO Tactical Short, Style 73287; Brand: 5.11; Review: Great product! It's exactly as the description of the seller.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Coleman 1-Gallon Jug; Brand: Coleman; Review: Great product! It's exactly as the description of the seller.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: CAT EYE - Velo 9 Wired Bike Computer; Brand: CAT EYE; Review: Great product! It's exactly as the description of the seller.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Vader Bicycle Cycling Bike Road Offroad MTB Mountain Saddle Seat; Brand: VADER; Review: Great product! It's exactly as the description of the seller.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: MERSUII Big Big Floppy Hand Crocheted Holiday Travel Bohemia Women Fashion Korean Large Wide Brim Bow Beach Sun Straw Hat; Brand: Mersuii; Review: Great product! It's exactly as the description of the seller.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ultimate Survival Technologies JetScream Whistle,; Brand: Ultimate Survival Technologies; Review: Great product! It's exactly as the description of the seller.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Instep Sync Single Bicycle Trailer; Brand: Instep; Review: Great product! It's exactly as the description of the seller.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: UST JetScream Whistle; Brand: UST; Review: Great product! It's exactly as the description of the seller.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: T-H Marine LED-51848-DP Recessed LED Puck Lights; Brand: TH Marine; Review: This product is as great as you see it in the picture.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Sports_and_Outdoors |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (Collins Design Wisps); Author: F. Scott Fitzgerald; Review: Never thought I would ever lower myself to those words, but I would recommend watching the average movie from a few years ago than spending the same amount of time in reading the book.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: On War (Penguin Classics); Author: Visit Amazon's Carl von Clausewitz Page; Review: I should have read this book while I was in the military but decided to read it afterwards. Great classic book. The strategy von Clausewitz applies is still relevant today. Be sure to skim the table of contents first and only read the first sections as those are the ones that are applicable to strategy today. Obviously no one needs to waste their time thinking about how to defend a fortified position in the 19th century.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Decision Points; Author: Visit Amazon's George W. Bush Page; Review: Bush does a great job of articulating what he knew and why he made his decisions. This book should be read by both people on the right and left as to better understand what he truly was thinking and why-right, wrong, or indifferent. He admits mistakes but also stands by his decisions. Not a better book to read to get an idea of what drove some very controversial decisions during those 8 years in America.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Flyboys: A True Story of Courage; Author: Visit Amazon's James Bradley Page; Review: Really impressed with Bradley's follow up to Flags of Our Fathers. He does a great job of helping the reader get to know the men in this book. I did not know much about the book when I started and I could not put the book down. This is a must read for anyone that enjoys history or military books. When asked to recommend a military history book, this is always one of my first ones to mention.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The First Clash: The Miraculous Greek Victory at Marathon and Its Impact on Western Civilization; Author: James Lacey; Review: This book spent too much time on setting up the battle. It starts out 100 years before the battle and builds its way up to Marathon. Sadly, the actual battle doesn't get more than 20 pages and the buildup got the rest. Kind of disappointed in how little I learned about the actual battle.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: 7 Habits Of Highly Effective People; Author: Visit Amazon's Stephen R. Covey Page; Review: One of the best books I have ever read. I refer back to my highlights all the time. It is simple to understand and you can apply its teachings to anything in life. This book does a great job of helping you put in perspective what you want to do in life and how to approach getting there. I put this book with "How to Win Friends and Influence People" as a must read for anyone wanting to truly understand how to work with people.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Chester Alan Arthur: The American Presidents Series: The 21st President, 1881-1885; Author: Visit Amazon's Zachary Karabell Page; Review: If you are a fan of history or biographies of Presidents this is a good short read. Since President Arthur is a very obscure president, this book is a great length to understand what happened during his presidency without taking up too much of your time. The author does a great job of framing the problems facing America during his time in office.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Entrepreneur's Guide to Customer Development: A cheat sheet to The Four Steps to the Epiphany; Author: Visit Amazon's Brant Cooper Page; Review: Expensive and one of the shorter books on entrepreneurship. Not as in depth as I thought it could have been. I will not be buying their follow on book.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: 7 Habits of Highly Effective People; Author: Visit Amazon's Stephen R. Covey Page; Review: One of the best books I have ever read. I refer back to my highlights all the time. It is simple to understand and you can apply its teachings to anything in life. This book does a great job of helping you put in perspective what you want to do in life and how to approach getting there. I put this book with "How to Win Friends and Influence People" as a must read for anyone wanting to truly understand how to work with people.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hitler's Last Secretary: A Firsthand Account of Life with Hitler; Author: Traudl Junge; Review: One of the better books I have ever read. After watching the movie "Downfall" I saw this book and ordered it. I was enthralled by this book and hearing what it was like to be around Hitler during this time and also in Berlin as the Soviets closed in. Any fan of military history or history in general should read this book.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Tales From the Jazz Age; Author: Visit Amazon's F. Scott Fitzgerald Page; Review: Never thought I would ever lower myself to those words, but I would recommend watching the average movie from a few years ago than spending the same amount of time in reading the book.; Rating: 2.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: TiVo Remote Control - Universal Replacement for Premiere, Series3, and Series2; Brand: TiVo; Review: Good price, great product. The remote works very well; made us realize how worn out the original remote had gotten. The keys on the new remote work crisply and the set-up was quick and easy. The instructions on the WeaKnees website were easy to follow. Our order was processed promptly and delivered on time. All that remains is to see how durable the product is, but so far we're very satisfied.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: RCA Jacks Dual Inline Coupler (AH210); Brand: RCA; Review: When you need one of these, nothing else will do. Turns out it works, but I didn't need it. So, it's back in the parts box for some future emergency. . ..; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: 2-RCA Stereo Audio Cable (50 feet); Brand: STEREN; Review: Not much can go wrong with a product like this. It's pretty much "It works" or "It doesn't work." In this case, "It works." And the price was certainly competitive!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: AmazonBasics High-Speed HDMI Cable - 9.8 Feet (3 Meters) Supports Ethernet, 3D, 4K and Audio Return; Brand: AmazonBasics; Review: Good quality at a good price. It works! What more is there to say?; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: IVIEW-3200STB Multimedia Converter Box. Digital to Analog, QAM tuner, with Recording function; Brand: IVIEW; Review: Surprisingly small and light - maybe a little too light as the cords tend to pull it off the deck! It's working very well so far with my cable TV that recently converted to 100% digital. I'm using the RCA cord (red, white, yellow) connected to the "Video 2" input jacks on a Hitachi set. I also hooked up a 500 GB external hard drive (USB) and the recording/timeshift functions seem to be working well. The menus are a little on the cheesy side, small text and a bit hard to read, but at this price, I can live with it. The test will be to see how long it keeps working, as I've only had it installed for about a week. Incidentally, prior Q&A answers have suggested it doesn't work with cable TV. The fact is, it does work with cable TV, provided that you're not expecting it to replace a cable box that replaces the tuner in your TV set and unscrambles the "premium" channels. It won't do that. But, if your cable TV provider simply provides a multi-channel digital signal via the typical coaxial cable, this device will allow you to view that signal over an analog TV set.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: ProCase ASUS ZenPad S 8.0 Z580C Case (2015 ZenPad Z580C,Z580CA) with Bonus Stylus Pen; Brand: ProCase; Review: Attractive and functional for a fair price . Time will tell how well made and durable.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: SPARIN Glass Screen Protector for ASUS ZenPad S 8.0 (Z580C/Z580CA), ASUS ZenPad S 8.0 Z580C Screen; Brand: SPARIN; Review: Watched the videos, followed the instructions and bingo! Successful bubble-free installation. So far, the performance of the screen protector is excellent. No loss of sensitivity or reduction of visual quality. Also, the seller, Sparin, was good to follow up and assure a satisfying experience. They sent an email with links to two installation videos.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Electronics |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Hilton Nanjing Riverside; City: Nanjing Jiangsu; Review: The hotel is located at the joint of Yangzi River and Qinhuai River, with great view and is ideal for vacation. However, service is not as expected even as a gold elite member. It takes quite long time for check in and check out, when only a few staff are available at the desk. There are plenty of choices for breakfast, but again a few staff are ready to serve you. I have served a coffee with leaking cup... The club lounge serves beverage only till 8:00 pm, while some other hotels offer to 9:00 or 10:00 pm. If you are looking for a good service level, I will not recommend this hotel.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Courtyard Kunshan; City: Kunshan Jiangsu; Review: I was upgraded to lounge floor, while cannot open my room with the key. I sat in the lounge and waited for the staff to make a new key. The hotel is located downtown of Kunshan, close to the elevated road. It is very convenient both driving by yourself or using public transportation. You don't have that many choices for breakfast comparing to other Marriott hotels in that area. This might be improved. Overall, this will be my first choice if I were to visit Kunshan again.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: JW Marriott Hotel Shanghai Changfeng Park; City: Shanghai; Review: I booked the hotel from Marriott website using reward points in the morning, and was upgraded to executive floor when I checked in since I am a gold elite member of Marriott. I stayed at the hotel for the weekend with my son, and it was a pleasant weekend. We were arranged at floor 30, and given a corner room with two windows. The room was big, clean and facility are all working fine. We used the executive lounge and it has a very nice view, where you can actually see through the bund and TV tower. The hotel is close to Changfeng Park, and from the lounge, you can also have a nice view over the lake centrally located in the Park. We used the indoor pool also. It has a 25m x 10m poor, which is not very often you can find in a downtown hotel. By the way, parking underground is for free. You need to goto the concierge and ask for a coupon. Over all, it was a pleasant weekend.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Fairmont Yangcheng Lake; City: Kunshan Jiangsu; Review: We were here several years back with our child, and this is the second time we stayed in this hotel. This hotel has an inside pool and an outside pool, and my son loved the outside pool very much. We purchased a coupon, with which you can have access to most of the entertainment in the hotel, including free bicycle rent, snooker, basketball court and golf practicing. The hotel has its own garden, where the kids can feed baby pigs, goats, chicks and ducks. The breakfast is served as buffet, and local traditional 'Ao Zao' noodle is served. However, there are only two tiny pan where eggs are served. I cannot even ask for a fried egg, due to a long queue is waiting. However, what can be improved is the check-in service or the room preparation. We arrived the hotel around 3:30 PM, and we were quite surprised when the reception told us there was no room available, since it was clearly stated in the reservation that check in is 2:00 PM. Overall, it was a pleasant journey and I would definitely recommend it for families.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Park Inn by Radisson Uppsala; City: Uppsala Uppsala County; Review: My room is located at 7th floor, with a view over the parking lot. For even floors, you should have the view over the street. The room is not so big, but clean with wooden floor. You can take shower in the bath room, but there is no bathtub. Breakfast is included in the room price, continental breakfast served and you can find cup noodles which is very good for me as a Chinese.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Belkin 6-Outlet Home/Office Power Strip Surge Protector (4 Feet); Brand: Belkin; Review: Had one and loved it but had to be replaced because of a high voltage surge from a lightning strike; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dell WM524 Wireless Bluetooth Travel Mouse; Brand: Dell; Review: Works great and a great price; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: SanDisk 2GB Class 4 SD Flash Memory Card- SDSDB-002G-B35 (Label May Change); Brand: SanDisk; Review: Amazing as always! Great relatable poduct!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Travel Smart By Conair Adapter/Converter Combo with Surge Protection; Brand: Conair; Review: Worked great everywhere I stayed in Europe even on the cruise ship!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Jabra Drive Bluetooth In-Car Speakerphone (U.S. Retail Packaging); Brand: Jabra; Review: This is the best thing that I have tried for hands free!! The sound is great and it is easy to use!! And the battery has a very long life!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sony BDP-S5100 3D Blu-ray Disc Player with Wi-Fi (2013 Model); Brand: Sony; Review: I use this more than I ever thought I would! I love the apps! And the quality is amazing on 3D or regular bluray and DVD!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: (Old Model) Toshiba Canvio Connect 1TB Portable Hard Drive, Black (HDTC710XK3A1); Brand: Toshiba; Review: Great product! It held more than my laptop could have without crashing!! Over 5,000 songs and there's still a whole lot more room to go!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Seagate Rescue - 2 Year Data Recovery Plan for External Hard Drives; Brand: Seagate; Review: Thankful that this is an option! It puts my mind at ease!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Targus Laptop Chill Mat for up to 16-Inch Laptop, Black (PA248U5); Brand: Targus; Review: Does a great job at keeping the laptop and your lap cool. Always great products from this brand.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sony BDPS3500 Blu-ray Player with Wi-Fi (2015 Model); Brand: Sony; Review: I absolutely love this blu ray player! It's super simple to operate and maneuver around the apps. And the PlayStation feature is great too!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Electronics |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Looking for Palestine: Growing Up Confused in an Arab-American Family; Author: Visit Amazon's Najla Said Page; Review: As the American mother of bi-cultural children, whose father is Palestinian, this book gives a great deal of insight on what it was like for them growing up in a typical American southern town. Important and enlightening.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Bless This Food: Ancient and Contemporary Graces from Around the World; Author: Adrian Butash; Review: An excellent book that presents the fact that giving thanks is a long-held tradition among all cultures and philosophic mindsets to offer respect for the food/crop they are about to enjoy. It provides one's guests, even the atheist or cynic, who are asked to say "grace" a wide choice of pre-meal sentiments that best reflect their spiritual ideas.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Between You & Me: Confessions of a Comma Queen; Author: Visit Amazon's Mary Norris Page; Review: Great book for people stuck on good grammar and word usage. Very entertaining. Some of this gal's professional encounters are hilarious!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: An Unnecessary Woman; Author: Visit Amazon's Rabih Alameddine Page; Review: Wonderfully and sensitively written. As one in the same age group as the 'heroine', I could totally relate to this woman's sources of joy, fears of loneliness and worthless existence, and unrelenting hope; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Bascombe Novels (Everyman's Library Contemporary Classics Series); Author: Visit Amazon's Richard Ford Page; Review: I heard Mr. Ford interviewed on National Public Radio one day and was so intrigued by his amazing humility and insight on human behavior that I decided to order a few of his books. This volume contains the 3 novels for which he won the Pulitzer Prize, but I also read his Between Them, his most recent novel. Few authors are able to describe on paper the workings of the American mind with such creative expression. A little tedious going for those who are not keen for descriptive narratives, but he is among the best modern writers whose work I've had the pleasure of reading. Each page seems to have an intimate peek into some aspect of the human psyche. Very talented, honest writer.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Natural Comfort White Down Alternative Comforter with Embossed Microfiber Shell, Light Weight Filled, Queen; Brand: Natural Comfort; Review: What a wonderful comforter! You feel like you are literally wrapped in a cloud. I live in Fla and it is just enough at night. It truly makes you feel pampered. It is soooo soft. TediR; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Crystal Allies Gallery CA SLSFB-S Natural Himalayan Salt Fire Bowl Lamp with Rough Salt Chunks & Dimmable Switch, 6"; Brand: Crystal Allies; Review: A wonderful salt lamp. Not only beneficial to your personal space but gives off a wonderful ambiance to a room. Have given this one as a gift and finally got one for myself. Should have gotten one a long time ago!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Silicone Baking Mat 2-Pk - Fits Half Sheets - Blue, Red colors - Bonus Cookbook,; Brand: ChicoChef; Review: I love, love these mats. They fit perfectly on my baking sheets and make clean up soooo easy. They work perfectly! I wish I had know about these earlier. I will never grease my baking pans again.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bia Cordon Bleu White Porcelain Ribbed Mug, Set of 4; Brand: BIA Cordon Bleu; Review: Beautiful mugs for soup. Because of its shape you don't have to warm food up for as long as it says (or the mug will get hot). I warm food up for 1 minute and it's perfect... the food is hot and the mug is not!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dansk Christianshavn Blue Individual Pasta Bowl; Brand: Lenox; Review: Love this Bistro Look Butter Dish! It has a handle which is great for "butter fingers"!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Lenox Christianshavn Large Serving Bowl, Blue; Brand: Lenox; Review: Love this Bistro Look Butter Dish! It has a handle which is great for "butter fingers"!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Primode Holiday Tree Storage Bag, Heavy Duty Storage Container, 25" Height X 20" Wide X 65" Long (Red); Brand: Primode; Review: Product came very quickly and is extremely roomy for my 7'+ and a 4' cluster of Christmas trees I wanted to store safe from "pests". I have room for other decorations I use on those trees as well.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Drink Me 24 oz Decanter; Brand: Susquehanna Glass; Review: These are absolutely great... Really motivates to drink water. A fan of Alice in Wonderland I had to get them. I have 4! for Guest Room bedroom and myself. What a great idea!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: DEMDACO Big Sky Carver Redhead Cardinal Wall Art; Brand: Demdaco; Review: Beautiful! Being an artist myself I enjoy quality work. The artists captures the frenetic movement of these little guys beautifully with his loose brushstrokes. The colors and spontaneity of the piece is absolutely profound. Highly recommend.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Home_and_Kitchen |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Mirrycle MTB Bar End Mountain Bicycle Mirror; Brand: Mirrycle; Review: I use a Giant Transend LX (the Honda Civic of commuter bicycles) to do my daily commute to work. It's about 8 miles each way, mostly through neighborhoods and a few short stretches of busier roads. I bought this mirror because it received excellent reviews, and I didn't think I could get used to a helmet-mounted mirror. I'm pretty good about turning my head to check for traffic, but I thought that this might be better since I wouldn't lose sight of what is in front of me when I check. I received it quickly after my order, but found installation to be less than simple. For my bike, the end caps on the bars come off easily, but neither the large nor the small "wedge" that came with the mirror fit into the hole properly. The large was too large, the small was too small. Let me explain the wedge system. While the photos show the mirror fitting snugly into the handlebar end, in fact it will not look like that for most bikes. A piece with a larger circumference attaches to the bottom section using a bolt and screw. The tighter the screw, the more the wedge-shaped piece moves toward the rest of the arm. I found that if you tighten it completely, the wedge moves past parallel with the arm. It's difficult to explain, but the wedge system is not well made. I ended up ignoring both wedges and just used a nail to act as a shim between the normal arm piece and the handlebar hole. It's stable and snug. My only other option would have been to file down the larger wedge until it fit properly. That said, now that it is in place firmly, the mirror itself is great. It is just rounded enough to provide a view of a whole suburban street, and shaking is minimal.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Kryptonite New York Standard Bicycle U-Lock with Bracket (4-Inch x 8-Inch); Brand: Kryptonite; Review: Do yourself a favor and Google the integrity tests for U-locks done by one of the European agencies. This U-lock outperformed the other competitors, and I trust my very expensive bicycle to it at the gym while I change for work. That said, I would never leave any bicycle outside overnight, no matter what lock was being used. All locks are basically delays to thieves, and at night, thieves have much more time to work.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Planet Bike Blinky Safety bike light set; Brand: Planet Bike; Review: I'm a regular bicycle commuter, about 18 miles roundtrip 3-5 days/week year-round. The SuperFlash is definitely the best light in the under $30 category, but I would hesitate to use it as my only rear light. If you have a chance of riding at dusk, spend the money on the DiNotte 140 watt light (about 120 online). See discussions of lighting on bikeforums.net. You should be concerned with active (electronic) and passive (reflective) lighting, as well as side visibility (not just front and back).; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Nite Ize Spokelit LED Bicycle Spoke Light for Bike Wheels; Brand: Nite Ize; Review: I bought these through LL Bean, hoping to improve my side visibility on my bike. Unfortunately, both of them burned out quickly running on standard batteries, and even when they are on, they glow more than they project light. They are comparable in brightness to one of those glowsticks you get at the county fair- in other words, not nearly bright enough to attract the attention of motorists. My suggestion is to use more traditional LED lights on your front fork posts and your rear seat stays (the posts going to the rear hub) and keep them on blinking mode. The effect will be similar, but much brighter.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Schwalbe Marathon Supreme HS 382 HD SpeedGuard Cross/Hybrid Bicycle Tire - Folding; Brand: Schwalbe; Review: Great tires, although pricey. I popped too many tires on my daily commute, so I upgraded to these. I'm perfectly satisfied- no noticeable difference in rolling resistance, and great side visibility due to the reflective stripe.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Seirus Innovation Neofleece Extreme Adjustable Face Masque; Brand: Seirus Innovation; Review: A very useful item for bicycle commuting. My trip is 10 miles each way, and I try to do it as long as temperatures are lower than 90 F and higher than 32 F. When it's in the thirties and low forties, this is very useful for the first half of the ride. Eventually, my face warms up and I don't mind the cold air, so I take it off, but I can do that mid-ride thanks to the velcro strap in the back. Nice product, pretty much unchanged from the ski masks I wore as a teenager in the early 1990s.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Coleman Camp Axe; Brand: Coleman; Review: I have no general bias against Chinese-made products, and have owned many items made in China that have been of superior quality. The problem for a low cost item like this axe is that the actual supplier in China changes very frequently. Any number of factories there are capable of making this item to spec, so companies like Coleman or Ozarks Trail (Walmart store brand) switch to whatever factory offers the best price. It all comes out as "Made in China" for customers. I considered this item on the shelf at Walmart, but noticed immediately that it is very cheaply made. The cover, in particular, is ridiculously cheap. Of the axes on the shelf, several had already cut through their cheap plastic covers AND the plastic packaging, leaving the edge exposed. Buy a quality product, like something from Estwing. I went for the Estwing 16 inch camp axe, which gets all 5-star reviews.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: EVO Hawley Fun Horn; Brand: EVO; Review: Our little boy loves his bike horn, which he thinks is Franklin from the children's book series. It's quite loud, easily heard down the street, and it stays on the bike handlebar nicely. Great purchase.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Penn Ultra-Blue Racquetballs (2 cans), 3 ball can; Brand: Penn; Review: I may have received a defective can of balls. I hit these, but they do not go where I mean them to go. It is either these balls, my racquet, or the walls that are the problem.; Rating: 3.0/5.0 | amazon_Sports_and_Outdoors |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: USB 2.0 Cable, Micro-USB to USB 2.0 Cable, GearIT (3 Feet 0.9; Brand: GearIT; Review: Only worked for like 2 weeks and it stopped working for no reason; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Wireless Cameras,Sricam Baby Monitor and Home Security Camera,HD,IP Camera,P2P Network Camera, Video Monitoring,Vision/Motion Detection/Memory Card Slot/PC iPhone Android View; Brand: Alytimes; Review: It's a great camera, but the app constantly crashes causing errors on my Android. It's no use if the app doesnt work; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: AmazonBasics USB 2.0 A-Male to Micro B Cable - 6 Feet; Brand: AmazonBasics; Review: Broke after one day! They sent replacement and that one won't charge my Kindle.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: BOSS Audio BV11.2MC 11.2 Inch Flip-Down Car Monitor, DVD/CD/MP3/USB/SD, FM Transmitter, Black/Grey/Tan Interchangeable Housing Options, Two Dual-channel Wireless; Brand: BOSS Audio Systems; Review: Great system! I had it installed by Best Buy Geek Squad. They told this system is one of the best they have ever seen for FM transmitter. There is no static when we use the FM transmitter for audio. Kids love it!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: YI Home Camera, Wi-Fi IP Indoor Security System with Motion Detection, Night Vision for Baby / Pet; Brand: YI; Review: Love the clarity of this camera and the app. However, I have Belkin cameras as well and I am used to the ability to adjust the camera side to side. This one is only front facing. So when hanging on the wall, you have to position it where you can see everything because the camera cant be tilted sideways (180 spin); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Samsung 3.5mm Earbud Stereo Quality Headphones for Galaxy S6 / S6 Edge EO-EG920LW - Comes with Extra Eal Gels!; Brand: Samsung; Review: Just received yesterday and it does not work. Other caller cannot hear me when using these headphones.; Rating: 1.0/5.0 | amazon_Electronics |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: All the Weyrs of Pern (Dragonriders of Pern); Author: Visit Amazon's Anne McCaffrey Page; Review: Now we need the next book to definitively show what they will do in the future.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: House of Steel: The Honorverse Companion; Author: Visit Amazon's David Weber Page; Review: Too technical for me. Read just to be entertained not to learn a lot of specs I will never need.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Shadow of Victory (Honor Harrington); Author: Visit Amazon's David Weber Page; Review: Even though I have been able to guess some of the outcomes in this book, there are still enough to keep it interesting.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Call to Duty (Manticore Ascendant); Author: Visit Amazon's David Weber Page; Review: It's always good when the little guy gets to make a major contribution. It brings hope to all the rest of us.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Fire Season (Star Kingdom); Author: Visit Amazon's David Weber Page; Review: It shows how people of different cultures can learn to work together to overcome their differences and become even better; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Call to Arms (Manticore Ascendant); Author: Visit Amazon's David Weber Page; Review: It is always good to see how the book answer isn't always the only way to solve hopeless situations and save the day.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Treecat Wars (Star Kingdom); Author: Visit Amazon's David Weber Page; Review: A perfect example of how trials help us become stronger allowing us to move forward toward an unknown, hopefully better, future.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: K. Bell Socks Women's 6 Pack Fashion No Show Liner Socks; Brand: ; Review: They look cute on my girlfriend and fit great; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ekouaer Women's Perfectly Fit Padded Underwire Push up T-Shirt Bra 32A-38DD; Brand: Ekouaer; Review: This looks and fits great on my girlfriend. I ordered the blue version, the coloring is significantly darker than pictured which was a bit disappointing.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hanes Men's Full Zip Ultimate Heavyweight Fleece Hoodie; Brand: ; Review: Cheap, but the front wrinkles up.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hanes F280_AP Hn 10 Oz Printpro Xp Full Zip; Brand: ; Review: Cheap, but the front wrinkles up.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: var aPageStart = (new Date()).getTime(); var ue_t0=ue_t0||+new Date(); window.ue_ihb = (window.ue_ihb || window.ueinit || 0) + 1; if (window.ue_ihb; Brand: ; Review: The product is fine, but they did not have the light pink color in stock as advertised.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: getmorebeauty Women's Lace Flower Strappy Hollow High Heels; Brand: getmorebeauty; Review: We liked these, but unfortunately the heel is too small for my girlfriend to balance on. We had to return them :(; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Clothing_Shoes_and_Jewelry |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Hotel Savoy; City: Rome Lazio; Review: We booked back in October ,with Secret Escapes and paid in full for three couples. When the First couple arrived they were told that the hotel had overbooked and there were no rooms available. My friend rang me and I contacted the Duty Manager at the Hotel and he told me the same. I rang Secret Escapes and they said they would ring the Hotel. They did , and they confirmed that there still was no Rooms for the other two couples. We had booked Two nights for three couples arriving on the 6/2/15 .; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Tullamore Court Hotel; City: Tullamore County Offaly; Review: Staff couldnt do enough for us. Rooms good , walk in showers , nice towels. Busy Bar with Live music some nights, good Breakfast. Nice Restaurant and Bar food available. Nice Golf course in Tullamore . Well worth a visit; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Christiania; City: Val d Isere Savoie Auvergne Rhone Alpes; Review: Myself and my family spent a week in the Christiana Hotel. The Hotel is Awesome, staff Carnt do enough for you. Great indoor pool, sauna, and steam room. Have been Skying for 30 years and this is best by far. Great food ,wine selection and bar. If you want a great ski hotel, right next to the slopes don't miss the Christiana.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: HUUS Hotel Gstaad; City: Gstaad Saanen Canton of Bern; Review: The hotel says there is a shuttle service ,to and from the ski lifts. I expected transport running back and forth all day. They run a bus three times a day , and if you miss these ,you use public transport. This is probably the most unfriendly hotel I have ever stayed in. The staff are not at all helpful, especially the reception. The hotel is quite a way out of the town, and the taxi journey cost us about 30 Swiss francs each way , too and from the ski lifts. We spent around 400 Swiss francs on taxis. We returned back to the hotel one day and the rooms hadn’t been made up. There is no turn down service, the bath towels are small and very thin. On two occasions when signing our bills, we were charged for drinks we never had.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Le Grand Bellevue; City: Gstaad Saanen Canton of Bern; Review: We had Dinner there two nights on the trot. Service brilliant and food excellent. Staff very friendly and helpful, great selection. Very knowledgable Wine Waiter and great selection. Ambiance second to non. If you are in Gstaad ,do not miss going there ,to stay or eat. Cannot recommend this hotel enough.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: attwood 17720 Boat Seat Swivel; Brand: attwood; Review: A great swivel with just the right amount resistance for movement in a small boat; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: attwood 8838US6 Universal Male and Female Sprayless Connector with Thread Sealant; Brand: attwood; Review: A great replacement, easy installation. I wish it were made of brass even though it would be more expensive.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Headlamp led. Best led Headlamp.Duracell Batteries Included. Durable, Waterproof, Comfortable. Brightest quality Cree Led Headlamp.Red Light and flashing. Running,; Brand: ; Review: This is a great light to fit on your forehead to use while working on dimly lighted small objects or dark areas such as engine maintenance. Brightness is adjustable for different conditions. It's going to be useful to use while camping and fishing; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: thkfish Fishing Rod; Brand: thkfish; Review: I use them to replace bent or broken guides but I'm not particular if they are the "perfect fit" or look exactly like others. I'll bet the fish don't care what kind of guide I used to replace a broken one. Nice replacements.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Plano 3600 SoftSider X Tackle Bag; Brand: Plano; Review: Awesome fishing bag with individualized modules that can be individually organized for various fishing conditions. I ordered more modules to organize lure types.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Sports_and_Outdoors |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Douglas Toys Oliver Possum; Brand: Douglas; Review: Nice look and INCREDIBLY SOFT. My kids love it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hand Crafted Cherry Wooden Chess and Draughts Set 13,7" x 13,7"; Brand: Prime Chess; Review: I was surprised by the good quality. Perfectly flat when open, all wood, good weight, nice cut, and two games in one without another box or accessories. I am very happy with it, it's exactly what I was looking for. It smells a little when you open it for the first time, so leave it outside the box for a couple days :); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: SwimWays Baby Spring Float Sun Canopy; Brand: SwimWays; Review: This floater is OK if your baby is staying in without moving too much. My baby likes to move, so he ended pretty fast with his face down in the water as the front was sinking under his weight, and he almost turned the all thing upside down after that, so I stopped using it. If you use it make sure you are next to your baby all the time. I was so I could take care of the situation right away, do not trust any floating device anyway.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: INTEX Underwater Swimming/Diving Pool Toy Rings - (8 Pack) Assorted Colors; Brand: Intex; Review: They break pretty easily, but for the price I would say is fine, the kids have a lot of fun with those. Don't expect to use them for more than one season.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Spot It!; Brand: Asmodee; Review: Really great for my 2 yo; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Spot It! 5 Year Anniversary; Brand: Asmodee; Review: Really great for my 2 yo; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Toys_and_Games |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Cherry Tree Inn Suites; City: Traverse City Grand Traverse County Michigan; Review: We have been coming to the Cherry Tree for years and we are never disappointed. It feels like our home away from home. Great facility and friendly staff make our stay fabulous. We had a room with a view of the bay, jacuzzi tub and a fireplace - the perfect romantic getaway!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Cherry Tree Inn Suites; City: Traverse City Grand Traverse County Michigan; Review: This is our go to hotel in Traverse City! Love to stay here all year long! The beach and water are incredible and the hotel amenities are spot on! Friendly and helpful staff, quiet and comfy rooms, indoor and outdoor pools and spas! Can't be beat!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Phoenix VII; City: Orange Beach Alabama; Review: We have rented a condo at the Phoenix VII for the past 12 years and every year it is amazing. The condo is always clean and comfortable. Friendly, helpful staff and it has absolutely the best beach in Orange Beach!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Cherry Tree Inn Suites; City: Traverse City Grand Traverse County Michigan; Review: We return to the Cherry Tree year after year and we are always pleased with our decision. Lovely rooms, well maintained inside and outside, outstanding staff, and beautiful setting add to our decision to return.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Lilac Tree Suites Spa; City: Mackinac Island Mackinac County Upper Peninsula Michigan; Review: We thoroughly enjoyed our vacation on the island! Our room was so spacious and comfortable. A huge living area and separate sleeping area, and the bathroom had double sinks which were a bonus! We enjoyed a balcony overlooking the main street and we had views of the water too!; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: The Old Rectory; City: Hastings East Sussex England; Review: Stayed here for a weekend with my best mate. She lives in Brighton and I live in New Zealand so we were looking for somewhere near to Brighton we could get to. The place is lovely, beautifully done with stylish furniture and the owners are so helpful. We stayed in the suite which was excellent value for money. Such a lovely stay I didn't want to leave. Highly recommended.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Los Angeles Airport Marriott; City: Los Angeles California; Review: I stayed here on my way to and from London from Auckland and it was the perfect place for a stopover. The room was clean and comfortable and just what I needed after a 13 hour flight and the staff were very helpful. The shuttle bus was fine on my first trip though when I stayed again on my way back to Auckland I had to wait hours as the traffic through the airport was so bad. It did eventually come and luckily my check in was super fast so I could get to bed! I would recommend this hotel if you are having a quick stopover in LAX if you're staying in LA longer you might want to stay somewhere more in town nearer the sights.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Riccarton Motor Lodge; City: Christchurch Canterbury Region South Island; Review: I had to stay here for work and I was really expecting to have to stay in some dingy motel as we had to choose somewhere that was close to where we were working. This place was great, it is basic but the rooms are all very clean and comfortable. It was quite cold down in Christchurch but my room was very warm and cosy. Also the owner was extremely friendly and helpful. I would definitely stay here again.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: W Bali Seminyak; City: Seminyak Kuta District Bali; Review: We stayed here for a weeks holiday and I did not want it to end. We were slightly worried as they were having a big dance party on the weekend that we only knew about a week before we flew and we were heading to Bali for a relaxing stay not a rave. But when we got there we were moved into the most beautiful pool villa room far away from the dance party and we stayed there for our whole week. The villa was amazing! The hotel itself is so beautiful, great interiors, lovely food and drink, great service. Our break was lovely, relaxing and romantic and I would definitely recommend staying here. Also the location is great we were near to all the shops and restaurants Seminyak had to offer so we also had dinner out most nights. Great stay!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Radisson Blu Resort Fiji Denarau Island; City: Denarau Island Viti Levu; Review: First time staying here with my three year old and it was perfect. Great pool which was super safe for him, staff loved kids, food great and he loved the kids club would highly recommend for those with little ones.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: The Secret Keeper: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Kate Morton Page; Review: I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was well written and the story line was good. I have read a few of her books and enjoyed them all. Nice writer.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Middle Damned (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Shane Stilson Page; Review: Certainly not everybodies cup of tea, but I found it facinating and on the whole, well written. A proof reader was badly needed. I couldn't put it down.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mortal Faults; Author: Visit Amazon's Michael Prescott Page; Review: I find Michael Prescott an exciting author and Mortal Faults does not disappoint. As difficult a person as Abbey is, I enjoy her tough stance. A good read.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Other Daughter: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Lisa Gardner Page; Review: I really enjoyed this book. It was well written and it held my attention from beginning to end. The twist near the end was most unexpected and exciting. The only downside for me was the final chapter. It was too "soppy" and "they rode off into the sunset" and "lived happily everafter" for me. I'm not saying the ending was wrong,it just needed to be written differently. In the same vein as the book. Well worth the read.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Thirteen Hours; Author: Visit Amazon's Deon Meyer Page; Review: I found Thirteen Hours a real page turner. It kept my attention well into the wee hours. I enjoyed recognising the streets and landmarks of my city. He kept the tension thoughout the book, right to the last page. My only negative critism( in my opinion) is the constant reference to the colour of the people in the novel.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: The GUNS OF AUGUST; Author: Barbara W. Tuchman; Review: Elegantly written, where the principals truly come alive. The thinking that accompanied each sides' movements are well-explained, and understandable. Highly recommended reading for those looking to learn more about those first weeks of the war.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: American Legends: The Life of General Douglas MacArthur; Author: Visit Amazon's Charles River Editors Page; Review: easy to follow and understand, may lead one to read a more in-depth biography, of which there are many to choose from.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Soul of the First Amendment; Author: Visit Amazon's Floyd Abrams Page; Review: Very little on the "soul" of the First Amendment. Many examples taken from other sources, but also markedly politically biased.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: A Distant Mirror: the Calamitous 14th Century; Author: barbara tuchman; Review: Meticulously researched and beautifully written, this book from one of our preeminent historians was a joy to read.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Death of Expertise: The Campaign against Established Knowledge and Why it Matters; Author: Visit Amazon's Thomas M. Nichols Page; Review: Timely and well-written. We all sense it is happening and Nichols expertly describes the problems and solutions.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: The Bourne Identity; Brand: Franka Potente; Review: Did not know it took a special DVD machine to play this. No problem sending it back for credit. I signed up for Netflix and love it.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Elysium (Bilingual) [DVD + UltraViolet]; Brand: ; Review: We love Matt Damon movies. I can't believe he accepted this one. Sorry Matt, we still love you but please do not be drinking when you read these scrip's.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Evidence of Blood VHS; Brand: David Strathairn; Review: Took a little while to get into it but got with it after a short time and a great who done it.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Insomnia Region 2; Brand: Al Pacino; Review: Never knew to the very end what was what and who did what. Loved it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Downton Abbey; Brand: Dan Stevens; Review: Beware. If you start this you will be hooked at once. We went through season 1 and just finished season 2.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Trumbo; Brand: Bryan Cranston; Review: A great period movie of the 40---50----and 60's in America.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Movies_and_TV |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Ulysses; Author: Visit Amazon's James Joyce Page; Review: So we all know that Ulysses is amazing, best novel of the 20th century. And the Gabler edition is the most accurate version out there. But let's talk about the quality of the Gabler edition. While I was reading a brand new copy of this book, 20 of the pages completely fell out! I had to be careful not to bend the binding too much while reading it. I would suggest looking for this in hardcover or see if any other publisher has printed a copy of Gabler.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Everything Is Illuminated: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Jonathan Safran Foer Page; Review: well i don't know too much about literature but i do know what i like and i loved this book. i've read about three times since i first bought it and everytime i like it even more. it also took me a while to understand the way the novel was set up. extremly enjoyable.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sammy's House; Author: Visit Amazon's Kristin Gore Page; Review: i want to see sammy as a supreme court clerk next ! now THAT would be funny.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Paris Wife: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Paula McLain Page; Review: This book is so bad. Hadley Hemingway is portrayed as so one dimensional. Ernest is mad at me, Ernest is upset, wah wah, you'd think having to walk on eggshells around a tempermental artist that you are married to would create a more complex character. I feel like you could read the Wikipedia review on Hadley's life and it would have the same effect. I know the story is very true to history, but the interactions between Hadley, Ernest and their friends feels very contrived. I have never read the Movable Feast and maybe that's how things really were, but I doubt it.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: The Two-Family House: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Lynda Cohen Loigman Page; Review: I didn't really enjoy this. First I did not really get a sense of time or place. Second I couldn't tell if the reader was supposed to 'know' the secret. I found most of the characters to be underdeveloped and especially the 'love story' (which still gives me the heebie jeebies) because the lovebirds didn't know the secret! Also I can't stand when novels just feel like they are wrapped up in a neat little bow at the end and everything's all fine and good. Really no one is damaged because of the secret? It did make a 3 hour train ride go fast though.; Rating: 3.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Moffat Inn; City: Niagara on the Lake Ontario; Review: Selected this Inn based on the hotels website photos, their claim of "Cottage Chic", good location, and the rave reviews from others on Trip Advisor. Three months in advance I booked 2 rooms selecting the more expensive "Premium" rooms @ $265. per night to guarantee we would get one of the better rooms in the lodge. We were given room #123 right next to the busy backdoor leading to the parking lot. Our friends were placed across the hall. After inspecting the shabby rooms and asking to be relocated, we were told there were no other rooms available. There were 5 black garbage bags lining the hallway for the 2 days we were there. The ice machine was right outside our door, with people banging the ice & slamming the lid all night long. The rooms were in desperate need of refinishing. The sofa was old and saging, the rugs faded and dingy. The tub had dirty looking stick-on decals. I was hoping for Vintage Charm and instead got '80's Garage Sale. Very disappointing. Thankfully they have recently replaced the beds so they were comfortable and clean. For the price we paid next visit to NOTL we'll walk a couple of blocks and get a something much better.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Fallsview Casino Resort; City: Niagara Falls Ontario; Review: My husband and I, along with another couple, traveled from North Carolina, to stay at your fabulous Fallsview Casino Resort from Sept. 23rd thru the 25th. This was a return trip for us and we were very excited to bring new friends along for their very first visit to Canada. Months in advance, when booking two rooms for two nights, I requested rooms with Fallsview somewhere near the 14th floor or higher (based on our last visit with you.). Wallking through the grand lobby, my friend said to me, "Oh, - this place is like the Bellagio we stayed at in Vegas!! I agreed, but I think Fallsview is even better. Our rooms on the 17th floor had fabulous views of the falls and fireworks. I agree with all the wonderful things written in these reviews. Immaculate, modern, glamerous, convenient to everything including great shopping,and and very best customer service ever. My purse strap broke while there and Michael helped find a tool to fix it. The Front Desk Supervisor and the entire staff were so warm and pleasant going out ot their way to help in any way they could. They made it one of the very best traveling experiences ever! We'll be back.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Inn at Lincoln Square; City: Gettysburg Pennsylvania; Review: This lovely inn is located in the center of Lincoln Square. Unfortunately being in the center, means being next door to the Blue and Gray Grill & Sports Bar. We stayed on the 2nd floor and our friends on the 1st. floor with the windows facing the square. After the second night of being kept awake by the yelling & partying outside of the bar and in front of the Inn until 2:30 am we finally called the police, hoping for some relief. The dispatcher knew just what our concern was, saying that that's a "happin' spot" on the weekends. I'm a little surprised that it was never mentioned in the reviews. I'm not sure if the bar & grill is a new addition to the square, but I would not have booked to stay there had I known. The Inn is certainly not at fault, there is no way for them to control the noise level. The accommodations truly are as beautiful and elegant as others have described. Jeannine helpfully booked Gar Phillips for us, a wonderful licensed battlefield guide. Gar has a military background and a passion for sharing the war logistics. He used a mini white board map and markers to help explain the battles and the different strategies of the armies. He made you feel like you were reliving the battles. We also did the Segway Tour. What a Blast!!! Most in our party had never ridden a Segway before, but after a fun 1/2 hour indoor training session we were off to tour the Eastern Battlefield. We did the Western field the day before with Gar. We had a wonderful time the 3 days we were in Gettysburg, just didn't get much sleep.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Ramada Plaza by Wyndham Nags Head Oceanfront; City: Kill Devil Hills Outer Banks North Carolina; Review: Wonderful experience from start to finish. Easy check-in at this great location, we were on the top floor and the views from our balcony were awesome. The first day the waves in the ocean were wild and raging as the aftermath of a tropical storm moved away. The second day was beautiful, calm and sunny. The hotel had everything we needed. Easy parking, direct beach access, comfortable bed with lovely soft sheets and towels. ( I hate the stiff, noisy sheets used at some of the higher end hotels. ) Friendly, efficient staff and the food at the restaurant was also very good. Ramada made our stay an overall great experience - we'll be back!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Woodberry Inn; City: Meadows of Dan Virginia; Review: Unfortunately the high ratings, photos and positive reviews on the website are from prior years and very misleading. In reality, the inn is actually dark, dingy and run down both inside and out. I was very disappointed upon arriving and in the accommodations. It is in need of cleaning and major renovation. Also the woman there was rather abrupt and condescending in dealing with everyone she encountered, both at check-in and while waiting on folks in the restaurant. There are better places to stay on or near the parkway.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Holiday Inn Express Suites Bridgeport; City: Bridgeport West Virginia; Review: This is a nice new hotel in a quiet convenient location with everything you need. I love their citrus shampoo/conditioners. We stayed here while traveling thru for the 4th of July weekend and got great customer service. There are 3 new hotels right near each other so the price was competitive. It's also very easy on and off of the highway.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Holiday Inn Express Suites Butler; City: Butler Pennsylvania; Review: I had a special request and the staff went out of their way to accommodate and make our stay over the busy 4th of July weekend very pleasant. A new hotel in a quiet location yet convenient to everything.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mountain Inn Suites Airport; City: Hendersonville North Carolina; Review: We were in the area for the Labor Day weekend and the Hendersonville Apple Fest. The Inn is tucked into a quiet location away from the busy roads and activities, yet it was easy to get to Asheville, Hendersonville, and Lake Lure. They had everything we needed for a much better price than nearby hotels. Very clean and comfortable.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Green Park Inn; City: Blowing Rock North Carolina; Review: Visited for an overnight and truly enjoyed the historic charm and hospitality of this great hotel. The front desk was a delight, the classy bar, wonderful dinner at the Chestnut Grille, and full sit down breakfast were all great. It was fun and relaxing to play music trivia with Charlie, the sliver haired gent in a tux, playing the grand piano on Saturday night. We had a wonderful stay and enjoyed a chance to slow down and step back in time imagining what it was like staying there 100 years ago. We will definitely be back!; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: FoodSaver Vacuum Sealer V3460 Automatic Sealing System; Brand: FoodSaver; Review: Purchased this item and arrived on Jan 5th 2015. After a year normal usage (weekly bassis), it is no longer work as of Feb 3rd 2016 (13 months of life). It still can seal the bage but can't pump the air out anymore. If you are using the non FoodSaver' brend bags to do the vacuum sealing, it workes less perfectly then FoodSaver' own bag. Frankly, I am not sure my expectation when I purchased this item. Is one year of product life too long? Or too short? It is my first time experience.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Big Norm-Feets 88111 Magic Fish Scaler; Brand: Tackle Factory; Review: This is the one you will ever need as scraper.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Serta Raised Queen Pillow Top Air Mattress with Never Flat Pump; Brand: Serta; Review: Perfect for short term use. The bed never flat.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Household Essentials CedarFresh 84802 Cedar Power Spray with Lavender Essence Scent | Protects Closets from Pests; Brand: Household Essentials; Review: It was recommended by Amazon when I try to purchase relevant product. This is a must have item at home, it quickly off set odors from post cooking and/or post toilet uses.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: HoneyCanDo SHF-01440 5-Tier Black Storage Shelves 800 lbs; Brand: Honey-Can-Do; Review: A. This is not came from China B. One of the best customer services that I ever got. Love it. If need, I will purchase from the same seller again.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Rowenta DW5197 Partner of Fashion Focus Steam 1725-Watt Micro Steam Iron with Stainless Steel Soleplate, 400-Hole, Purple; Brand: Rowenta; Review: One of the best for home usage. This item is made in Germany. I finally decided to get rid of my old iron and purchased this one. Effective and fast. Only down side, when I used full steam mode for cotton and linen, I need to add water into water tank every 2 ~ 3 shirts.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: AcuRite 75077A3M Wireless Weather Station with Large Display, Wireless Temperature Sensor and Atomic Clock; Brand: AcuRite; Review: Pool material, cheap feeling and display quality is poor, very difficult to result the weather result. Saw these sky background? the factory just put a color print paper to make it looks like it is color display. this is a must avoid product. (I returned the product); Rating: 1.0/5.0 | amazon_Home_and_Kitchen |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Dyson DC33 Multi-Floor Upright Bagless Vacuum Cleaner; Brand: Dyson; Review: My daughter was after me for over a year to get one of these and I'm so glad I did. It's easy to use with the tools right on the unit and you just snap them together. I have 2 Orecks because they are light weight, but the performance is nothing like the Dyson. Would highly recommend.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Cottage Garden First Communion Girl Petite Ivory Rosary Music Box Plays Tune Ave Maria; Brand: Cottage Garden; Review: Very pretty and was just as described, I liked the idea of putting your own picture in the frame on top. The little girl I gave this to decided to put the picture of the two of us in church. I was so pleased. She loved that it played music as well. I think it's a perfect keepsake of a First Communion.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Original Big Betty XL Extra Large Premium Jumbo Wine Glass - Holds a Whole Bottle of Wine!; Brand: Big Betty; Review: I got one of these for a "special" birthday and I ended up buying 3 more: one as a gift and 2 for when my neighbors and I have a WINE night, just for fun. This is ideal for a milestone birthday, any age by the way, or even a celebration of some kind. It gets all kinds of laughs,comments, and the recipient will be talking about it for a long time. Give it with a bottle of wine for more entertainment; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: WILTON Brain Ice/Gellatin Mold Kit; Brand: Wilton; Review: I used a kettle to hold the mold in place while it cooled. You need to do this VERY carefully and take time to make sure it isn't slanted. It also isn't very sturdy but for the price, it's acceptable. Despite the efforts, however, the jello came out perfectly. Using a spray oil on the inside worked great. The jello slid right out with all the shapes of the brain visible. It was a hit at my Halloween party; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Godinger CANDLE SNUFFER PLAIN; Brand: Godinger; Review: My sister just wanted a plain, pretty snuffer for her living room mantle and this is perfect. The decorative handle isn't ornate and adds just the right accent to dress it up. It's a nice heavy weight, looking much more than the price and I've seen many before finding this on line. You won't be disappointed; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Fred M-CUPS White Matryoshka Dry Measuring Cups, Set of 6; Brand: Fred & Friends; Review: Bought these for my daughter because she lived in Russia for 2 years and thought she would like them. Turns out I gave these to her several tears ago and she doesn't use them much. I guess I discovered why. I kept them liking the fact that they stack nicely and take up little space. They are made well and the lower "body" cups are great. However, I don't like the fact that the "top" cups wobble when placed on the counter, especially the one cup size. The 3/4 is better, and the 1/4 better yet. The reason is that the flat round surface on the "heads" is too small. It needs to be larger so that the cup sits on a surface and therefore won't MOVE. It's especially frustrating if your using a cup of liquids. I have to be careful when I put it down and when I pick it up...and I'm not always moving in slow motion. Since I've always had more than one set of cups out when I bake anyway, I just don't use the 2 larger cup sizes. I prefer my older ones with the handles. For this reason I won't give it high stars. I would not recommend getting these for practical use, but only if you like the novelty of it; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: St Joseph Statue Home Seller Faith Saint House 3.5 Inch Figurine NEW; Brand: csu; Review: The statue is exactly as pictured. It's light weight but solid and is perfect for what I needed it for. I chose not to bury it. My friend said just "keep it near". I didn't really like the prayer that you're suppose to say (found it online), so I decided to say my own. I carried it in my purse because the house I was selling was empty. The house sold in 6 days. Yes, I know what others have said about the statue helping or not, but I am thankful anyway, and just feel good about it Bottom line, if you want a statue for the purpose of selling a house, this is very nice.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Kate Posh - First Mother's Day with Mommy & Me Picture Frame (4x6 - Horizontal); Brand: Kate Posh; Review: The wood is beautiful and is as pictured. I'm very happy with it and can't wait to give to to my daughter for her first Mother's Day. It came when promised and was packed very well.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Frigidaire FFRA0511R1 5, 000 BTU 115V Window-Mounted Mini-Compact Air Conditioner with Mechanical Controls; Brand: Frigidaire; Review: I gave this a 5 because it is so much better than some of the window conditioners I've seen. They are all noisy but this one isn't too bad and performs well. You can turn the air in the direction you need and it offers low and high "fan" or "cool"settings. My guest likes a room very cool and he said he had a great night's sleep. It fits VERY well in the window with the sides stretching right to the window edge. I used the 3 screws they provided to secure it in place and when I take it out for the season, the holes in the window will be hidden by the edge of the window. It comes with a generous amount of sealing tape and foam weather strips but I only needed a clear packaging tape to cover tiny openings. This air conditioner was rated very well by consumer's report and I'm not disappointed.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: I Do What I Want Funny Coffee Mug Cat Middle Finger 11 oz - Birthday Gift For Men &; Brand: Got Me Tipsy; Review: This is a hysterical gift for a cat person. The person I gave it to laughed out loud and LOVED it! Even if you have a dozen mugs you don't use, you WILL use this one!! Great gift idea!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Rev-A-Shelf 24 in Almond Polymer Pie-Cut Lazy Susans 2-Shelf; Brand: Rev-A-Shelf; Review: I took a chance on this knowing from the reviews, anyway, that this may not fit quite as well as expected. I measured carefully and it seemed like the 24inch was the size needed. My installer had a little trouble at first, simply because it was hard to get way back inside that lazy susan. He had to lie on his side at times. He sent his helper for an extra type of hardware for the the base but finally got it together. It took him about a half hour as a professional so I'm not sure how it may be for the average person. It works well, it's replaced, and although I couldn't get it in the almond vs white, I'm happy.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_Home_and_Kitchen |
Given the interaction history of a user with movies/shows as follows:
Title: Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999); Genres: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999); Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut (1999); Genres: Animation, Comedy, Musical; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Annie Hall (1977); Genres: Comedy, Romance; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Waterboy, The (1998); Genres: Comedy; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Very Bad Things (1998); Genres: Comedy, Crime; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Psycho (1960); Genres: Crime, Horror; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Birds, The (1963); Genres: Horror, Thriller; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Jaws (1975); Genres: Action, Horror; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Rosemary's Baby (1968); Genres: Drama, Horror, Thriller; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Night of the Living Dead (1968); Genres: Horror, Sci-Fi, Thriller; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Shining, The (1980); Genres: Horror; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Plan 9 from Outer Space (1959); Genres: Horror, Sci-Fi; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Halloween (1978); Genres: Horror; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Exorcist, The (1973); Genres: Horror, Mystery; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Dead Zone, The (1983); Genres: Thriller; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Rocky Horror Picture Show, The (1975); Genres: Comedy, Horror, Musical, Sci-Fi; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles (1994); Genres: Drama, Horror; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Alien (1979); Genres: Horror, Sci-Fi; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Army of Darkness (1993); Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy, Horror; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Evil Dead II (Dead by Dawn) (1987); Genres: Action, Comedy, Fantasy, Horror; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Pulp Fiction (1994); Genres: Comedy, Crime, Drama, Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Citizen Kane (1941); Genres: Drama, Mystery; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975); Genres: Drama; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: House of Yes, The (1997); Genres: Comedy, Drama; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sling Blade (1996); Genres: Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Titanic (1997); Genres: Drama, Romance; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Shawshank Redemption, The (1994); Genres: Crime, Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Schindler's List (1993); Genres: Drama, War; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Heavenly Creatures (1994); Genres: Crime, Drama; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977); Genres: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Beetlejuice (1988); Genres: Comedy, Fantasy; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Labyrinth (1986); Genres: Adventure, Fantasy, Musical; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Goonies, The (1985); Genres: Action, Adventure, Children, Comedy, Fantasy; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Legend (1985); Genres: Adventure, Fantasy, Romance; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Willow (1988); Genres: Action, Adventure, Fantasy; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971); Genres: Children, Comedy, Fantasy, Musical; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | movielens |
Given the interaction history of a user with news articles as follows:
Title: Here's A Cool Cutaway Explaining Engine Knock And Fuel Octane; Abstract: ; Category: autos
Title: Former NFL lineman Justin Bannan arrested for attempted murder; Abstract: Former NFL defensive lineman Justin Bannan is sitting in a Colorado jail, on charges of suspicion of attempted first-degree murder.; Category: sports
Title: Trent Richardson headlines list of surprising names not taken in XFL Draft; Abstract: The XFL Draft concluded with no teams taking a chance on Trent Richardson despite his success in the AAF.; Category: sports
Title: 50 Movies You Definitely Watched in the '90s and Forgot About; Abstract: LOL, remember 'Flubber'?; Category: movies
Title: Woman Spots Deadly Animal Hiding In Photo Of Her Kids; Abstract: Her unsuspecting children weren't the only ones posing for the pictures.; Category: lifestyle
Title: Kevin Jonas Gets Tattoo Dedicated to Wife Danielle -- See the New Ink!; Abstract: The couple tied the knot nearly a decade ago!; Category: music
Title: Clinton implies Russia wants Gabbard as 3rd-party candidate; Abstract: Hillary Clinton appears to call Democratic presidential candidate Tulsi Gabbard "the favorite of the Russians" in a recent interview while describing 2016 Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein as "a Russian asset." During a podcast appearance this week on Campaign HQ with David Plouffe, the former secretary of state and 2016 Democratic presidential nominee did not mention the Hawaii congresswoman by name, but said...; Category: news
Title: 50 Home Décor Horrors You Can't Look Away From; Abstract: Sometimes truth is stranger than fiction, and these home decor doozies are prime examples.; Category: lifestyle
Title: Opioid Deal Could Open Door to Bigger Settlement; Abstract: AmerisourceBergen, Cardinal Health, McKesson and Teva reached a $260 million settlement to avoid a trial seeking to blame them for fueling the opioid crisis.; Category: finance
Title: Justin Bieber Shares New Photo of Wife Hailey Baldwin from Wedding Weekend: 'Sexy Wifey Alert'; Abstract: Justin Bieber Shares Rehearsal Dinner Photo of Hailey; Category: music
Title: Nurses reveal 10 things they wish they could tell patients, but can't; Abstract: Nurses wish they could tell patients that not all doctors are the same, and that a hospital isn't a hotel.; Category: health
Title: 25 Stars You Didn't Know Got Their Start in Commercials; Abstract: Most stars have to pay their dues before hitting the big leagues. Find out which A-listers got their start in ads for Burger King, Lisa Frank, and more!; Category: tv
Title: 50 Christmas Gifts for $50 or Less; Abstract: Find the perfect gift for everyone without going broke. From a fun Star Wars waffle maker to electronic gizmos like a Roku streaming stick and an Amazon Fire tablet, this list has you covered for less than $50. What's more, you don't even have to leave home to do your shopping.; Category: lifestyle
Title: Jussie Smollett fails to persuade judge to drop Chicago lawsuit seeking $130,000 fine; Abstract: Jussie Smollett failed to persuade a federal judge to dismiss a civil suit by city seeking $130,000 for wasting police time.; Category: tv
Title: Mohamed Sanu Can't Contain Excitement Over Trade To Patriots On Twitter; Abstract: It was a good day for New England Patriots fans and perhaps and even better day for Mohamed Sanu. Patriots fans awoke on Tuesday morning basking in the glory of; Category: sports
Title: Zooey Deschanel's Estranged Husband Jacob Pechenik Files for Divorce; Abstract: The couple announced their separation in September.; Category: tv
Title: Georgia sheriff's 'No Trick-or-Treat' signs trigger lawsuit from sex offenders; Abstract: A group of sex offenders in Georgia is suing the Butts County Sheriff's office for posting "No Trick-or-Treat" signs on their homes.; Category: news
Title: California sheriff's deputy shot dead, ride-along injured in 'active shooter incident,' officials say; Abstract: A police officer in Northern California was killed and another deputy was injured after an "active shooter" incident early Wednesday, according to officials.; Category: news
Title: Rising California gasoline prices highlight growing divide in US; Abstract: Regional differences in taxes, environmental rules and access to energy infrastructure can translate into large seasonal swings in gasoline prices. Prices have surged this fall in California and other West Coast states.; Category: finance
Title: Yardbarker's Week 8 NFL picks, game previews; Abstract: Only two games in Week 8 match teams with winning records, but both are intriguing. Do the Chiefs have a chance in Green Bay without Patrick Mahomes? Can Carolina knock off San Francisco? Yardbarker's Chris Mueller previews all games.; Category: sports
Title: Newly Signed Raven Makes Comeback After Losing Job, Ring; Abstract: ; Category: sports
Title: This Artist Reimagined Disney Princesses as Horror Movie Villains, and They're Scary Good; Abstract: Princess Ariel as Pennywise?; Category: lifestyle
Title: Eric Tse, 24, just became a billionaire overnight; Abstract: A 24-year-old business school graduate has just become an overnight billionaire.; Category: finance
Title: Northern Michigan father of 7 wins $80M Powerball jackpot; Abstract: Phillip Chippewa, 54, of Suttons Bay matched the winning Powerball numbers drawn Sept. 21.; Category: news
Title: Judge: Brad Pitt, others can be sued over New Orleans homes; Abstract: The Times-Picayune/ The New Orleans Advocate reports Pitt and other foundation directors asked the court to remove them from the lawsuit, saying they weren't personally responsible for the construction.; Category: movies
Title: The best celebrity couple Halloween costumes; Abstract: From Chrissy and John to Kim and Kanye, see the stars with the best coordinated costumes.; Category: entertainment
Title: ICYMI: Royals news you need to know for October 2019; Abstract: Get caught up on all the big stories about the world's royals in our monthly news roundup.; Category: lifestyle
Title: We Hope the Ford Bronco Has Taken Notes on the Suzuki Jimny; Abstract: Small but mighty off-road kei-car has us jealous in Tokyo; Category: autos
Title: Funny celeb pics for October 2019; Abstract: Helen Mirren does ride share differently and more pics that will make you LOL.; Category: entertainment
Title: Fact Checker: Trump's shiny new talking point about income growth; Abstract: The president is touting numbers that favorably compare his record to Obama and Bush, but he's cherry-picking the data.; Category: news
Title: "It's Showtime!" This Beetlejuice-Themed Wedding Is Straight From the Afterlife; Abstract: Spooky skeletons, Beetlejuice beverages, and creepy cobwebs, oh my!; Category: lifestyle
Title: Joe Biden reportedly denied Communion at a South Carolina church because of his stance on abortion; Abstract: Joe Biden has a complicated history with the Catholic Church.; Category: news
Title: 18th-century shipwreck discovered after 40-year search; Abstract: The Dutch merchant ship eluded searchers for decades, after sinking 'under dubious circumstances.'; Category: video
Title: Former Rep. Katie Hill's father pushes for prosecution of 'evil' estranged husband; Abstract: The father of former Rep. Katie Hill, who stepped down amid allegations of inappropriate sexual relations with a congressional staffer, attacked his daughter's estranged husband.; Category: news
Title: James Van Der Beek and Wife Kimberly on Expecting Baby No. 6: It Often Requires an 'Explanation'; Abstract: James Van Der Beek and Wife Kimberly on Expecting Baby No. 6; Category: tv
Title: Katy Perry sued for $150k by photo agency for 3-year-old pic; Abstract: Katy Perry allegedly posted a paparazzi photo without paying the fee, a photo agency claims.; Category: music
Title: 5 charged in alcohol poisoning death of UC Irvine fraternity brother; Abstract: Five young men have been charged in connection with the death of their fraternity brother, who succumbed to alcohol poisoning after a booze-soaked party this year.; Category: news
Title: Heidi Klum's 2019 Halloween Costume Transformation Is Mind-Blowing But, Like, What Is It?; Abstract: You might say she's scary good at playing dress-up, because Heidi Klum's 2019 Halloween costume is even more impressive than we could have imagined and that's saying a lot, considering transformative Halloween costumes are kind of her thing. But this year Klum took it up one more notch as she shared her metamorphosis into,; Category: lifestyle
Title: John Legend clarifies his recent Kanye West comments, plus more news; Abstract: John Legend explains what he told Vanity Fair about Kanye West, plus more celebrity news for Oct. 31, 2019.; Category: entertainment
Title: Chick-fil-A Apologizes to Customers for Promoting National Sandwich Day Which Is on a Sunday; Abstract: Chick-fil-A Apologizes for Promoting National Sandwich Day; Category: foodanddrink
Title: Maryland man, 46, gets probation after he killed a father and his four daughters when his SUV crossed a median and slammed into their minivan; Abstract: Alvin Hubbard III, 46, of Cambridge, Maryland, was sentenced to one year of probation after he killed a father and his four daughters when his SUV slammed into a family's minivan in 2018; Category: news
Title: Here Are the Biggest Deals We're Anticipating for Black Friday; Abstract: The Black Friday deals for 2019 have already begun leaking out. Get a sneak peek at what to expect from popular retailers like Costco, Walmart, and Best Buy. Browse our guide and use it to plan your attack for the biggest shopping event of the year.; Category: lifestyle
Title: Cause determined in Jessi Combs' fatal speed record crash; Abstract: Occurred at speeds near 550 mph; Category: autos
Title: Judge strikes down new Trump rule on religious objections; Abstract: NEW YORK (AP) A federal judge on Wednesday struck down a new Trump administration rule that could open the way for more health care workers to refuse to participate in abortions or other procedures on moral or religious grounds. U.S. District Judge Paul A. Engelmayer said the U.S. Health and Human Services Department overstepped its authority and went beyond existing law in issuing the rule. He also said that the measure could be costly,...; Category: news
Title: This girl nails the wave pool then fails the exit spectacularly; Abstract: The wave pool isn't easy, but this girl managed to stay on her board and dismount gracefully. But then watch what happens. Carson Daly shares TODAY's Daly Click.; Category: video
Title: Watch: 'The View' Versus Donald Trump Jr.: Loud, Low Blows, Politics, Scandals And Great TV; Abstract: Updated throughout, videos added Whoopi Goldberg wouldn't say his name, Sunny Hostin said he was lying, Abby Huntsman accused him of using "dictator" tactics. And Donald Trump Jr. gave it back, accusing Joy Behar of once wearing blackface and resurrected Goldberg's defense of Roman Polanski as not committing "rape rape," all in a; Category: tv
Title: Target kicks off its Black Friday deals this week; Abstract: Discount chain joins Walmart and Amazon in getting an early jump on the holiday shopping season; Category: finance
Title: High school football player asks to pray with opponent whose mother has cancer; Abstract: A photo of the touching moment has gone viral for its message of kindness.; Category: news
Title: Celebrities who changed their names; Abstract: What's in a name? For a celebrity, a lot. Name recognition is vital. And yet that hasn't stopped some celebrities from changing their names.; Category: entertainment
Title: Iowan convicted of murder claims his life-sentence was served once he died, was revived in medical emergency. The court disagrees.; Abstract: An Iowa convicted of murder was rushed from prison to the hospital where his heart was restarted five times. Now he claims he should be freed; Category: news
Title: C8 Corvette Dyno Test Follow-Up: What Really Happened; Abstract: Key parameters were botched, but the C8's still plenty powerful; Category: autos | mind |
Given the interaction history of a user with news articles as follows:
Title: Off to the World Series, these Nationals have proved everyone wrong; Abstract: This unexpected joyride of a season could hold more promise yet.; Category: sports
Title: You can stay at Jim Beam's bourbon distillery for $23 per night, and it comes with a full bar, dinner, and a tasting tour; Abstract: The 1919 house accommodates up to six people and will be listed on Airbnb for a limited time starting October 21.; Category: travel
Title: Woman, suspect dead at 'Tarzan' actor Ron Ely's California residence; Abstract: Ron Ely, who portrayed Tarzan in the TV series in the 60s, was not harmed and is alive and well, a sheriff's office spokesman said.; Category: tv
Title: 2020 Ford Bronco badge and startup screen possibly discovered; Abstract: It was buried in a recent version of Ford's SYNC 3; Category: autos
Title: 19 Mysterious Old Home Features That Aren't Useful Anymore; Abstract: Many old homes have perplexing features that baffle their modern-day owners. Here we've solved 19 of those mysteries!!; Category: lifestyle
Title: Missing college student's parents meet with mother of Natalee Holloway; Abstract: Investigators did not call the man a suspect, but said they wanted to identify him and speak with him in connection to Aniah Blanchard's disappearance.; Category: news
Title: Navy Submarine, Missing for 75 Years, Is Found Off Okinawa; Abstract: A 75-year-old mystery has been solved, and the families of 80 American sailors lost at sea will now have closure: the U.S.S. Grayback has finally been found. It was hidden from discovery all this time by a single errant digit. The mystery began on Jan. 28, 1944, when the Grayback, one of the most successful American submarines of World War II, sailed out of Pearl Harbor for its 10th combat patrol.; Category: news | mind |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Willis Judd Mens Blue Carbon Fiber Titanium Magnetic Bracelet Adjustable; Brand: Willis Judd; Review: My boyfriend loves his bracelet. The blue details are very nice. Very well built and looks stylish.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Little Girl Yesterday, a Friend Today, My Daughter Forever Adjustable Wire Bangle Charm Bracelet; Brand: ChubbyChicoCharms; Review: Looks very cheap. would not recommend it; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Silver Finish 4.5mm Tungsten 900 ™ Wedding Ring Ladies Vine Pattern Handcarved Recessed Edges Comfort fit, sizes 6-9; Brand: ; Review: Excellent quality and looks great. We've had it for q year now and they still look the same as new. I totally recommend it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: TowelSelections Men’s Robe, Kimono Waffle Spa Bathrobe, Made in Turkey; Brand: ; Review: My.boyfriend loves it. Very well made. Good quality; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: California Toe Rings Sterling Silver Double Swirl Wire Wrap Faceted Hammered Adjustable Thumb Ring for Women; Brand: California Toe Rings; Review: Love my ring. Very simple but elegant. Very happy with it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Clothing_Shoes_and_Jewelry |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: [2; Brand: OxyLED; Review: I bought two packs of these, and finally got around to installing them the other day. The three lights that work do light up my front steps nicely, one of them has a broken switch (came that way), and will not stay on. Since I'm (barely) outside the return window, I'm stuck with only two lights, since three would leave my steps lopsided, and not very feng shui. Maybe I can wear the 3rd on my hat?; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Lemonbest 18 Watt LED Panel Light, Square Ceiling Downlight Lamp, Cool White; Brand: LemonBest; Review: I bought a handful of these to replace the built-in square fixtures in my house, and I've had just the most difficult/irritating experience. 1. The clips on these things are awful. I've lost two of them, as they shot off into my attic as I was trying to place the light into the existing fixture, and one slipped off and smacked me in the face! They are flimsy, and do not seem strong enough to hold this light in the fixture. I've attempted to glue the lights into place, since the clips wouldn't hold, but that's turned into a nightmare of it's own. I'm really thinking these were meant for new installation, clipping onto the ceiling drywall or a frame, and not installation into an existing box. 2. Two of the five units I ordered flicker really bad, one of these I returned. I'm stuck with one flickering unit, since it started flickering after my ability to return it. 3. The units that don't flicker produce a nice, even, bright light, which I really enjoy. They are very bright, and not dimmable.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Enchanted Spaces Solar Path Light, Set of 6, Bronze, with Glass Lens, Metal Ground Stake, and Extra-Bright LED; Brand: Enchanted Spaces; Review: My lights get a full 8+ hours of charging each day, and yet they're still very dim. That light in the item description picture is greatly exaggerated, they're not nearly that bright.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: DANCO Rust Resistant Sink Hole Cover, 1-3/4-Inch, Brushed Nickel Finish, 1-Pack (89478); Brand: Danco; Review: Nobody wants an uncovered sink hole, for Pete's sake!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dixon BMA976 Brass Fitting, Adapter, 3/4" GHT Female x 3/4" NPTF Male; Brand: Dixon Valve & Coupling; Review: All my coupling desires have been satisfied.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_Tools_and_Home_Improvement |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Bosch DLA002 Laser View-Enhancing Target; Brand: Bosch; Review: Pretty damn small. Got it to use for longer distances, but so small its hard to target. Doesn't have a way to make sure it stays open when attaching it. Not really worth the price.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Dimmable 6W Soft Warm White Candelabra LED Candle Light Bulb E12; Brand: RED-Tag Lighting; Review: Avoid. I didn't find much else on the market, but this isn't the answer. Pros: Fits and dims. That's about it. Cons: Too dim. 3w LED is supposed to be around 15w equivalent in incandescent. But this appears as if its...well, 3w's. Ugly on top: LED tech is awful. Uses the yellow 'chips' and are visible. Not as warm as advertised, but a slightly green tint. Although it fits, they took some wiggling around to get to work and I bought several for a hurricane lamp, one never worked. Even in quantity (I got 6 and screwed) is way too dim. Cheap, cheap, cheap...don't buy.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: DEWALT DW0714 Laser Enhancement Glasses, Red; Brand: DEWALT; Review: Supposed to make it easier to see the spot where the laser is hitting. Indoors and short distances work okay, but don't notice much difference without them. Forget this for outdoors, especially for longer distances and when it's sunny. Not very comfortable and worried about them breaking too easily.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Bosch 265-Feet Lithium-Ion Laser Distance Measurer GLM 80; Brand: Bosch; Review: Researched a lot of brands and types to replace my worn out Disto brand. Price was so low and is available at some big box home improvement stores that I wasn't sure if the quality would be any good. Pros: -I got this slightly higher model to meet my needs and haven't been disappointed. Love this rechargeable version. Lasts along time. -Price is sooooo much better than in the past. Bought my Disto 6 years ago was $450 when there was not much else on the market. I bought this for $169, but I see the price has gone up. If you're using this for business, like me, you'll pay for it in one site visit since you don't have to take another person and is much more accurate and quicker than a tape measure. -For me, it's small enough to put into my pocket (Disto was huge) and not worry. -Captures several distances that are all shown on the screen so I don't have to do them one at a time. -Is just as accurate as my old Disto. Might be better. -Love the angle feature. I use for roof slopes. Cons: -Is a bit hard to figure out and instructions are weak at best. -Still haven't figured out how all the angle functions work and sometimes goes into that mode while measuring and have to turn it off/on to clear it. -Don't like that it doesn't remember the position setting (front, back or middle) when it's turned off and then back on. Wish list: -Optional roof slope read out would be handy. IE. 10:12, 8.5:12 to the nearest 10th. -Comprehensive instructions and examples are really needed. -Brighter colors to find it a little easier when you've set it down somewhere...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: BESTTEN Side Wall Tap Outlet Adapter Surge Protector with 2 USB Charging Ports (Sharing 3.1A) & 4 AC; Brand: BESTTEN; Review: Works good. Even had a toaster oven connected to it and seems to hold up fine. Is a bit bulky for not having as many plugs as some others. Got it mainly for the USB ports. Could use a few more on it.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_Tools_and_Home_Improvement |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Orange Throw Down Bases (5 Piece); Brand: BSN Sports; Review: These are great. I ordered my second set after misplacing a few of the bases last season. Work great for T-ball and kickball. Must have in the garage with the sports equipment.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Outerstuff Peyton Manning #18 Denver Broncos NFL Youth Team Color Jersey Orange; Brand: Outerstuff; Review: My son loves it, it's made very well and we'll get a lot of use out of it. Well done!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Kwik-Tek AHP-12H Airhead Air Pump; Brand: Airhead; Review: A must have on the boat, and completely fills /deflated every towable we own. MUST HAVE!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: SPORTSSTUFF CHARIOT WARBIRD 2; Brand: SportsStuff; Review: Great for little and big kids. Can't get my 4-year old & 7-year old out of it! This towable replaced a double "bath tub" style towable (where the kids sit down inside little bath tubs with inflated tube all around them but the floor does not inflate - to keep their center of gravity low). We replaced the old one because the kids complained of constantly getting water in their face. I rode in the old one too, and as a guy I have to say the thin layer of nylon between "me" and the water wasn't comfortable. The kids may or may not have noticed, but at 12-14 MPH they were giving me the "slow down" sign and rides were done in 10 minutes..... Now, fast forward to this new towable (back-to-back weekends with the old & then the new) and it's a whole new ballgame! The kids want it faster and faster and they never want the ride to end! Tons of holds so the kids can safely sit/lie all over the thing. Great towable and quality appears to be solid. Highly recommend .... It significantly improved our family time on the boat!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: DYNAPRO Exercise Ball - 2,000 lbs Stability Ball - Professional Grade – Anti Burst Exercise Equipment for Home, Balance,; Brand: DYNAPRO; Review: Ball removes paint from walls!! The tacky surface on the ball rips pain from walls when it is allowed to rest against the wall. I have damage under my desk and on the wall next to my desk .... see photos. Who would have ever thought using this ball as a chair would result in having to hire a painter?? Junk! The ball I had previously was fine ...... no repainting necessary from the old ball.; Rating: 1.0/5.0 | amazon_Sports_and_Outdoors |
Given the interaction history of a user with movies/shows as follows:
Title: Rocky (1976); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: The Sound of Music (1965); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Riding in Cars with Boys (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Shrek (Full-screen) (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Never Been Kissed (1999); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: On the Line (2001); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Wedding Planner (2001); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Crossroads (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Men in Black II (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Independence Day (1996); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sweet Home Alabama (2002); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Drumline (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Phone Booth (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Sweetest Thing (2002); Rating: 1.0/5.0 | netflix |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: I Dared to Call Him Father: The Miraculous Story of a Muslim Woman's Encounter with God; Author: Visit Amazon's Bilquis Sheikh Page; Review: Very nice. Very inspirational as well!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Jesus Is: Find a New Way to Be Human; Author: Visit Amazon's Judah Smith Page; Review: Great way to see things. It gave a different perspective to things. Very happy with product.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Unfinished: Believing Is Only the Beginning: Six Sessions; Author: Visit Amazon's Richard Stearns Page; Review: Nice!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Christ Vol. 5; Author: ben Avery; Review: Really nice.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Christ Vol. 1; Author: Visit Amazon's Ben Avery Page; Review: Great!; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: New England Inn Lodge; City: Intervale Bartlett New Hampshire; Review: Not expecting to stay here but my original place fell through so arrived here with no reservation. Met Liz on reception, lovely lady, very friendly, and attractive and had no problems getting a room over at their lodge part (over the road from the main hotel). Nice big room, comfy bed. Was cold and could not get fireplace to work but Liz to the rescue again as she managed to get it working for me - some previous occupant had turned off the pilot light! Breakfast is back by reception and it is a help-yourself choice from various cereals, fruit and cakes. Plenty of coffee and fruit jiuces. For an unexpected stop-over this was a good pick and I can definately recommend it to other people. Looking forward to stopping here again next year when, perhaps, I might go off hiking in the mountains with Liz?; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Boulder Dam Hotel; City: Boulder City Nevada; Review: Picked this hotel so could be close to the Hoover Dam. Lovely old style lobby. Room was nicely furnished with TV, decent bed, nice HOT shower. Air con works well (It has too as still about 90F as I write this review at 9pm!) Easy parking to the side of the hotel. Breakfast is on-site and is included in the price of your stay but remember to tip the waitress as that isn't. If you see Sandra on lobby reception then spend a few mins chatting to her as great to chat to. Would I stay there again - you bet ! Oh yes dont be put off by the music from the restaurant opposite as that stops around 11pm as does the chimming clock-tower.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Grand Canyon Inn; City: Williams Arizona; Review: Quite expensive place to stay and the decour in the room could do with some serious work. Wi-fi was also very slow in the evening verging on being unusable. Very noisy plumbing so if someone flushes the loo in another room the pipework makes a scary groaning noise - bring along your earplugs! The attached restuarant was not too bad. Would I stay there again - probably not.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: St Bernard Lodge; City: Mill Creek California; Review: Due to stay here for just 3-nights but enjoyed it so much I extended it to 4-nights. Hosts are lovely people and go out of their way to help. The place is nice and quiet and has a pool table you can play on as well as a hot tub. Internet speed is pretty good. Breakfast and dinner can be had - you need to tell them in the morning if you want dinner. I've already decided to come back next year to do some more hiking and this will be where I stay. Ignore Chester (ghost town) and come here instead,; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Railroad Pass Hotel Casino; City: Henderson Nevada; Review: Stayed on 3rd floor on opposite side from highway so you would think it would be quiet - so wrong! There are air vents just outside my window (cooling the air con for the building?) and they are so loud that even with earplugs it was impossible to get any sleep. Out of desperation I rounded-up the pillows and made a makeshift bed in the bathroom - at least I managed about 4hrs sleep that way. The wifi is also poor - so poor that I have my mobile acting as a tether. Seriously folks if you need to stay in/around Boulder City do not stay here - there are nicer places in Boulder or just carry-on into Vegas.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Purple Sage Motel; City: Panguitch Utah; Review: This is a typical roadside inn from the 1950/60 era and it shows. The room was plain with a separate small bathroom. There was a tv and coffee machine but nothing else. The internet is advertised as "super fast" which I would strongly contend with. I ran several speed tests and the average was a meagre 1.2Mbps - not would you would call "super fast". I am writing this review at 7am and currently it is around 5Mbps which is shared between everyone staying so not many people awake yet! The inn is also right next to the main highway so you get lorries rumbling by at all hours which makes sleeping difficult. Remember Breakfast is NOT included. Would I stay here again - only if I had no other choice.; Rating: 2.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Eight O'Clock Whole Bean Coffee, The Original, 36 Ounce; Brand: Eight O'Clock Coffee; Review: I have ordered this several times and I am not sure what has happened to the Eight O'Clock brand. When I first started ordering it, it was fresh and robust. The latter orders I placed were dull and flavorless. It is almost as if the company is using a plethora of different beans to get their roasts. It makes for a muddled tasteless mess if you are a coffee addict like me. There is better out there for the money.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Nesco BJX-5 Jumbo Jerky Works Kit, 1, Red; Brand: Nesco; Review: The gun and kit works very well, but the spices included are just blah. I would much rather make my own stuff than use this powdered gunk. Nesco was even great in replacing the cylinder which cracked on the second use. Good quality product and company.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Harney & Sons Loose Leaf Herbal Tea, Raspberry, 8 Ounce; Brand: Harney & Sons; Review: Being avid tea drinkers, we are big fans of Harney and Sons at our house. Earl Grey is one of our favorites for afternoon tea and the Harney and Sons does not disappoint. The tea was in good robust shape when it showed up, not a lot of dust at all. The smell was great and seemed very fresh. The first pot brewed had great aroma and the cup was nice and delicate. No bitterness or overwhelming bergamot. It was just the right balance. Highly recommended to the avid Earl Grey drinker.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Harney & Sons Loose Leaf Herbal Tea, Raspberry, 8 Ounce; Brand: Harney & Sons; Review: Wow is this "tea" delicious. I say tea loosely, no pun intended, as this is more of a tea style drink than real tea. There is a hint of artificial flaor that comes through and it is a bit on the acidic side, but for a light refreshing warm cup of herbal goodness, this does the trick. The rosehips are a particularly nice touch and come through very strongly. There a bit of hibiscus in there somewhere too. Overall very pleased and I would consider this another fine product from Harney and Sons.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Davidson's Tea Bulk, Anise Seed, 16-Ounce Bag; Brand: Davidson's Tea; Review: This is one of our favorite loose leafs that we drink in the winter time. It does have the strange hint of Big Red Gum but in a good way. It is very heavy on the cinnamon but it will do great things for sinuses and comfort. The orange is subtle and just kind of there as an after note. There is no acidity to this whatsoever. Highly recommended.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mad Monkey Single Serve Coffee Capsules, Swingin Bold, 48 Count; Brand: Mad Monkey; Review: Being both a brewed coffee fan and a K-Cup fan, I can give an honest review of these. I am not a breakfast blend type normally. I find the brew too shallow and usually far too right. This is an exception. It's mellow. Very IHOP or Bob Evans-like. It would make a decent breakfast brew but I wouldn't want to drink it late in the day or try to pair it with anything after dinner. Good job Mad Monkey on the brew. Now, on to the problem. These are not Keurig 2.0 compatible. I have found that some Mad Monkey cups arrive 2.0 compatible and some do not. There is no rhyme or reason. I do have a Freedom Clip and use it but it is just a hassle to find out that some boxes arrive ready for the brewer and others do not. Mad Monkey needs to make it clear in their descriptions on Amazon as to what will be arriving. Also, caution should be had in puncturing the cups. I had a Keurig K200 that was damaged by the Mad Monkey cup as the needle was not strong enough to pierce the cup. Keurig was happy to replace the brewer but not without the requisite slap on the wrist to say "If it is not Keurig Brewed don't put it in your machine."; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Kicking Horse Whole Bean Coffee, Kick Ass Dark Roast, 12.3-Ounce Tins (Pack of 2); Brand: Kicking Horse Coffee; Review: I love the taste of this coffee but it is not for everyone. This is a very smokey dark blend, somewhere near a French roast, maybe even surpassing it and heading to a continental or New Orleans roast. The smoke is definitely noticeable. I like it on a cold winter morning. The beans had a nice sheen to them and they ground well straight out of the tin. I wasn't very impressed with the roasting date, as they were roasted several months ago and had a use by date of April, but it is coffee from the internet. You are not going to get a freshly roasted bean on Amazon. The tin is a nice addition to my coffee shelf and will definitely be refilled again from Amazon.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Tattle Tea Jasmine 1st Grade Green Tea, 2 Pound; Brand: Tattle Tea; Review: Tattle Tea Jasmine has made me a believer in their product. We drink quite a bit of tea. We are old school in our house. Coffee in the morning, tea in the afternoons, and cocktails or wine in the evening. Tattle Tea Jasmine is the perfect compliment to an afternoon sandwich or salad. The taste is very FLORAL. If you are not a floral tea fan, pass this up because you certainly won't like it. The green is there but it is masked wholly by the jasmine. I tend to like it. It reminds me a lot of the green floral blend that Mandarin Oriental serves in its hotel lobbies from time to time. The bag was packed full and actually weighed a little more than advertised, which I was happy with. It's always nice to get more. I brew several pots a week at one teaspoon to 8oz of water, brewed to precisely 176 degrees, steeped for 2 and a half minutes. This creates the perfectly cup of jasmine green. You can brew longer if you like your tea stronger but it is easy to go overboard on this one and end up with a bitter astringent cup. We plan on purchasing more Tattle Tea varieties.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Jack Links Turkey Jerky, 3.25-Ounce Pack of 4; Brand: Jack Links; Review: My dad used to travel to Jack Links HQ to deliver other products to their businesses and he would always bring me back Jack Links Turkey Jerky. I grew very fond of is in my teenage years, taking it for snacks after athletics and school programs. As an adult, I have become a homemade jerky fiend. I love making my own but sometimes you just want a quick snack and you don't have good jerky on hand. This is not overly processed, sweet, or too spiced. It is just right in most ways. It can be a little hard in some pieces so careful of your teeth if you chomp down on a hard bit. I will purchase this again and again through Subscribe and Save as long as its available.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Grocery_and_Gourmet_Food |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Solar String Lights 72ft 200 LED Fairy Lights, Ambiance lights for Outdoor, Patio, Lawn,Garden, Home, Wedding, Holiday, Christmas; Brand: addlon; Review: I just love these little solar twinkle lights. So easy to use. I just popped the solar panel into a flower pot in the early afternoon when I received them. And by dusk they turned on. I used them to accent the front of my home. I would recommend these for holiday decorations or everyday like I use them. They do have a blinking option as well as an on/off switch if you don't want them to come on automatically. Great little set of twinkle lights. Especially for the price. Good quality solar panel. They look fantastic at night, just enough light to sit outside and enjoy the moon and stars. I will definitely be buying some extra sets for the holidays. 5 from me!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: LE Dimmable LED Under Cabinet Lighting, 24W 1800lm, Under Counter Kitchen Lighting, Touch Control Closet Light, 48W Fluorescent Tube; Brand: Lighting EVER; Review: Could someone please tell me where my remote and dimmer switch that everyone talked about in the reviews is? Because this is all that I received in my box! Minimal instructions as you can see. Obviously the reviews for this product are NOT reviews for this particular product. I believe that is called BAIT AND SWITCH! I purchased this set of lights after reading the reviews and this NOTHING like the reviews I read on it. NOT A HAPPY CUSTOMER.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: 4pcs Motion Sensor LED Under Cabinet Lighting Kit - Extendable Under Counter LED Light Bar for Gun Box, Locker,; Brand: NEWCITY; Review: Great little set of kitchen lights. And if I can install them, anyone can! I ordered this set of lights after much research on light kits. And I wanted something that I could install myself. I am 50 something woman who lives alone and I like to do things for myself. These lights were a breeze to install. The only drawback was there were no instructions besides the remote control instructions. And the screws are very small . I wanted to continue to grow my herb garden in my kitchen over the winter and this was the perfect option. After just a few days my plants have already perked up. Great set of lights for the money in my opinion!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Home- It Mop and Broom Holder, 5 position with 6 hooks garage storage Holds up to 11; Brand: Home-it; Review: This is a fantastic little gadget. I bought it as part of complete laundry room make over and it works perfectly for all of my needs.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: HitLights High Density RGB LED Light Strip Kit, 16.4 Feet - Includes Power Supply and Controller. 300; Brand: HitLights; Review: What a fantastic light kit! Every thing was there to make installation a breeze. I was able to turn an old china cabinet into a beautiful showcase in just an hour. I will definitely be purchasing a few more of these. I would recommend them for anyone.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: ; Brand: HitLights; Review: What a fantastic light kit! Every thing was there to make installation a breeze. I was able to turn an old china cabinet into a beautiful showcase in just an hour. I will definitely be purchasing a few more of these. I would recommend them for anyone.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Tools_and_Home_Improvement |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Garmin nüvi 260 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator (Discontinued by Manufacturer); Brand: Garmin; Review: Works great out of the box. PRO Easy to use Good display Very good estimates of time of arrival on trips of hundreds of miles Spoken street names pronounced OK Directions that get you to your destination which is great when visiting new cities on those dark and stormy nights when you cannot read street names Rapid recalculation when taking a shortcut to avoid traffic CON Sometimes provides strange routing regardless of traffic signs when nearing airports after selecting "airport" from "points of interest" in the Garmin database Takes a few minutes to get location from satellites when renting a car in a different state Occasionally recommends turns across berms or dividers Sometimes suggests prohibited U turns to reach address 1/2 block back on opposite side of divided highways; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: i.Trek IG-A03 Vent Mount for Garmin Nuvi 200, 200W, 250, 250W, 260, 260W, 270, 205, 205W, 255, 255W, 265T,; Brand: i.Trek; Review: Holds my Garmin in a good position - better than windshield mount. Fits on many makes and models as I have found on 6 different makes of rentals when I travel. Seems like it is fragile but so far has held up to some rough handling as well as being squeezed into a suitcase 6 times.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Car Air Vent Mount For Garmin Nuvi & Some Streetpilot GPS by i.Trek; Brand: i.Trek; Review: These mounts work great on my 2 Toyota's. California does not allow windshield mounts that come with Garmin GPS.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: SanDisk 16GB MicroSDHC Memory Card with Adapter (Bulk Package) + SanDisk MicroSDHC to MiniSDHC Adapter (Bulk); Brand: SanDisk; Review: PROs Able to carry several micro SD in my wallet in credit card slots while traveling for extra security of data. Various adapters are handy to load your presentations into various PC and projection systems when you need to make a presentation and walk up to that podium without knowing the media format needed. CONs Micro SD format is so small easy to lose if you drop it. Micro SD can bounce on the floor and get lost under furniture or get blown away in a strong wind.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: 8 Ceiling Wall Mount Speakers - Pair of 2-Way Midbass Woofer Speaker Directable 1 Titanium Dome Tweeter Flush Design; Brand: Pyle; Review: I am pleased with the sound of these speakers in a ceiling installation with 5 speakers on a home theater receiver. I do not have a separate woofer. The sound is fine for a good 3D video experience and for general music with reasonable base, very good mid-range and reasonable treble. The tweeter angle adjustment is much too limited. They require no floor space so that is a major benefit. I may add a satellite woofer someday. I once had Altec's Voice of the Theater speakers and these Pyle units do not come close, but at 1$ of Altec's what can you expect. Installation of 5 ceiling speakers required several hours and generated plaster dust that dispersed everywhere. These speakers require a moderately precise round hole. I used a Dremmel multi-tool with a drywall blade and that worked well. Once the hole is complete, installation is easy. I was concerned about dirt and dust from the attic collecting on the speaker cones since there is no barrier. I enclosed the backs of the speakers with a soft plastic film before installation to avoid dirt on the cone that would cause distortion. The film must be soft and provide the ability for cone movement without causing air pressure on the back of the cone.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Kanto FMX2 Full Motion Articulating TV Wall Mount for 37-Inch to 80-Inch Televisions; Brand: Kanto; Review: I highly recommend this handing type of wall mount over other types. It is rugged and easy to install. It also allows substantial left-right rotation as long as it is pulled out from the wall. It provides a modest amount of up-down tilt. I would like more. This mount allows you to install the wall portion without the brackets that are bolted to the flat screen. After locating studs, I drilled the recommended holes and mounted to wall portion of the bracket with the lag screws supplied. This part of the bracket is heavy. It weighs much more than my 42 inch flat screen. After that wall portion is mounted with 4 lag screws, I mounted the two hanger brackets on the back of the flat screen using bolts provided. I was able to just lift the flat screen with those hangers installed and hang it on the wall portion of the bracket. There are two screws that lock the hanging portion of the bracket to the wall portion of the bracket. You do not need to hold the TV while you tighten these screws. This avoids the problem of holding up the flat screen and bolting the bracket to the back of the flat screen which takes 2 people.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Transcend 32 GB microSDHC Flash Memory Card TS32GUSDHC4E [Amazon Frustration-Free Packaging]; Brand: Transcend; Review: I have several Samsung 32G micro SD cards in adapters that work well. This is my first purchase of a Transcend flash card. The product arrived quickly. My PC's Windows 7 OS does not recognize it. After performing diagnostics the "device manager' detects that something is plugged into the computer port but indicates that it cannot recognize what type of device is present. I thought it could be the Transcend adapter. I switched the Transcend micro SD card to each of the several Samsung adapters (SD and USB types) which all work with various classes and capacities of Samsung micro SD cards. Nothing! I went to the Transcend website for help. I filed a DOA report, got an RMA number and mailed the product to Transcend's RMA location in Orange, CA. Hardly worth the time, effort and expense of sending it. I returned the product to test Transcend's Customer Service.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: LG BD670 3D Wireless Network Blu-ray Disc Player with Smart TV; Brand: LG; Review: This is my second LG BD670. I mainly purchased this DVD player for access to Netflix and Amazon Prime video which look great with this box. My LG 3D TVs have built in Internet ports but are not on the Amazon Prime list and will not connect. I considered Roku and similar boxes but for about the same price this box plays 3D DVDs and upconverts older DVDs and does both very well. It works well with my 7.1 receiver. It also stores logon data for Amazon, Netflix, etc. making it easy to use after setup. A great deal.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Plugable USB 3.0 SATA III Vertical Hard Drive & SSD Docking Station (Supports UASP and Drives 6TB+); Brand: Plugable; Review: The product works very well an is great for the price. Since PC failure rates decline at lower temperatures, I as reluctant to add any more hardware to my PC case. An external SATA dock is a reasonable solution for hard disks. I have a 2 GB EARS drive in this dock and the drive was easily formatted in windows with the about same capacity as the internal drive. I have not tested its speed yet, but it seems as about as fast as internal SATA drives. I do not use the dock to boot, so I cannot comment on that aspect. I do use GoodSync SW to backup many tens of thousands of data files.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: ClearMax 1Foot Extension Power Cable, 5 Pack; Brand: ClearMax; Review: All 5 work as noted which has been an issue for some parts. It is unfortunate that you need these cables. Wall transformers should be designed so that two can be used in adjacent outlets.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Transcend Information JetFlash 700-64 GB USB 3.0 Flash Drive Up-To 90MB/s (TS64GJF700E); Brand: Transcend; Review: Good Write Speed using a USB 2.0 port. Big enough to back up all my files, photos and 2 years of Email.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Videosecu Tilt Swivel TV Wall Mount 32"- 70" LCD LED Plasma TV with VESA 200x200, 400x400, Up to 600x400; Brand: VideoSecu; Review: Heavy and Sturdy mount just like much more expensive items at local stores. Works well with studs spaced on 24 inch centers. Due to the weight and possible distance from the wall it should be mounted into wall studs. Comes with screws and bolts needed for mounting in most situations. If you have 1 inch drywall you may want to use longer lag screws than those provided.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: TP-Link 5 Port Fast Ethernet Switch | Desktop Ethernet Splitter | Ethernet Hub | Plug and Play; Brand: TP-LINK; Review: This unit is being used as a remote unit in a bedroom with a PC, Blu-ray player, and Dish Joey box. It is connected to a 16-port Gigaswitch that connects to network printers, scanners, etc. All the functions work well and data transfer is only limited by other components.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Samsung BD-F5900 3D Wi-Fi Blu-ray Disc Player (2013 Model); Brand: Samsung; Review: This unit does a great job of playing all types of DVDs. New pre-recorded Blu-ray DVDs. New pre-recorded HD DVDs. Older standard definition DVDs. Standard definition home-recorded DVDs many years old. DVDs that were made from converted home movies on video tape.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: C2G 40424 Value Series One 3.5mm Stereo Female to Two RCA Stereo Male Y-Cable, Black (6 Inch); Brand: C2G; Review: This adapter enables connecting my Dish satellite box to a set of external PC speakers. I have a Joey box in a bedroom and the LED TV has less than ideal audio quality. My PC speakers which include a powered subwoofer have much better audio but lack RCA plugs. This adapter allows me to use a normal 3-pin PC audio cable from the adapter to the PC speakers. This setup also enables my to play the Sirius XM channels on my satellite box without powering on the TV which keeps the power consumption much lower.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: SanDisk 32GB MicroSDHC High Speed Class 4 Card with MicroSD to SD Adapter; Brand: SanDisk; Review: This MicroSD card is ideal for my Blackberry Torch 9810. 32GB is a useful level of memory in this Blackberry model. I rarely take video so it will hold all the photos and music I will need. In fact it can be hard to find a photo since it holds so many and I can rarely remember the date or title of each photo to search for it. I do store music on my phone and am starting to covert old vinyl LPs to digital. I cannot image ever converting more than this card will hold.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Plugable USB 3.0 to VGA/DVI/HDMI Video Graphics Adapter for Multiple Monitors up to 2048x1152 / 1920x1080 (Supports Windows 10,; Brand: Plugable; Review: This is neat and small device that provides full HD video on a second monitor. I have two 27 inch Samsung HD monitors (1920 horizontal) side-by-side. I use the internal video card for one monitor and this adapter on a USB 3.0 port on the back of my PC for the second monitor. The image quality is identical on both, and it is great with side-by-side spreadsheets. It may not be as good on a USB 2.0 port but I have not tried that. The mouse movements flow across from one monitor to the other smoothly. I do no use the adapter for video or games so I do not know if there is motion blur on video games. My monitors do not have speakers so I cannot comment on whether audio works through this adapter.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: LG WH16NS40 Super Multi Blue Internal SATA 16x Blu-ray Disc Rewriter; Brand: LG; Review: My desktop runs Windows 8.1 and it recognized this LG without any input from me. I did not load any new software. I have some files up to several GB including various CAD-EDA and over a 100,000 small files in a complex tree structures of folders. I can copy to BD-RW disks reasonably fast. It also works with GoodSync. I tested random files on the BD disks and can read them so I feel reasonably confident that BD disks can serve as a safe backup. I do not have any video files so I cannot comment on video.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Cable Matters 2-Pack USB to USB Extension Cable (USB 3.0 Extension Cable/USB 3 Extension Cable) in Black 3 Feet; Brand: Cable Matters; Review: Mouse and keyboard cables are not long enough if you have your desktop PC hidden away from your working desk. These cables work well although you do not need USB 3.0 for a mouse or keyboard.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: PNY Turbo 32GB USB 3.0 Flash Drive - P-FD32GTBOP-GE; Brand: PNY; Review: This drive has sufficient capacity for all my files and photos. The speed is very good for the price. The sliding cover is difficult to move but that is not an issue for me.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Aurum Ultra Series - High Speed HDMI Extension Cable Male - Female (3 feet) With Ethernet; Brand: Aurum Cables; Review: Works for return channel and other HDMI functions. Enables access to HDMI in front of my equipment that only has hard to reach HDMI behind it. Have not tested the 3D capability yet.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Cable Matters Snagless Cat6 Ethernet Cable (Cat6 Cable / Cat 6 Cable) in Blue 25 Feet - Availble 1FT; Brand: Cable Matters; Review: These cables have connectors make a firm connection. My Gigabit switch and router achieve rated speed with these cables. I use several colors and lengths so that each cable reaches its end points without excessive coils and each is easily identified.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Electronics |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Holiday Inn Express London Watford Junction; City: Watford Hertfordshire England; Review: My boyfriend and I stayed here for 3 nights recently, and thought it was brilliant for what we needed. The reason it was chosen was because we were primarily visiting that part of the UK for the Warner Brothers Studio Tour, and the shuttle bus left just opposite the hotel. It was also one of the few train stations that accepted Oyster cards out with of the London City. Breakfast is included in the price, which is a buffet of hot and cold food, yoghurts, pastries, fresh fruit, etc. For the ladies out there - a hairdryer IS included! It's pretty good, too. Although to operate it, the button has to be held down... Be prepared for cramp! The bathroom is smart - you can use the toilet and still have privacy while the other person uses the shower, brushes teeth, whatever, as the door is multi-directional (not sure that's the best word...) Bed is super comfy! No complaints. The window can actually be opened, we were on the first floor though so not sure if it applies to the upper floors. The TV can be used for radio; I didn't try it for TV but it was great for having music on as background noise. Towels provided are MASSIVE; the body ones anyway. Overall, a good experience and would definitely stay at a Holiday Inn Express in the future again.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Royal Dunkeld Hotel; City: Dunkeld Perth and Kinross Scotland; Review: We visited Dunkeld as a spur of the moment on a day off, and it was late afternoon time so we decided to stay for dinner. We had spotted a menu being advertised outside the hotel showing a game pie, pork belly, and a few other dishes but the game pie had us hooked. We went through for the back of 5 and got a reservation for 6pm, having a drink in the bar first. Food was served very quickly, staff were very attentive and helpful. I ordered game pie, and a side of chips with my partner ordering the pork belly which came a haggis Scotch egg - both dishes were delicious! Chips were so good too, tasted and looked homemade but who knows..? Decor is a bit outdated but that doesn't affect the grub so no big deal. Would recommend to friends and family.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Isle of Eriska Hotel Spa Island; City: Benderloch Argyll and Bute Scotland; Review: My boyfriend booked this very last minute for a getaway as part of a long weekend. This hotel excels in the small details that make your stay special. Keep reading... We were unable to get a booking in the spa - make sure you book early! Upon arrival, we were given a quick tour of the hotel and shown to our room where our bags had already been delivered to. We arrived just in time for the daily afternoon tea but we had not long had lunch. If we'd known, we would have saved ourselves! The room we had was called Shuna, dressing gowns were provided, Molton Brown products in the bathroom, a tablet for regular internet use plus hotel information bedside and a flatscreen TV. We had dinner booked, and the hotel do encourage you come down early for pre-drinks in one of their many lounges. The dining room is separated from the lounges; the door remains closed at all times except when escorting residents to their tables. The hotel offer a tasting menu which changes daily, I was keen to try it but my boyfriend doesn't eat fish so the staff offered to replace the fish dishes with meat/veg options. We were charged extra for doing so, but the food was flawless. All in all, the taster menu was 8 courses + coffee. The staff explain every dish when it is delivered to you; what it is, how it's cooked, etc. They pour your wine for you, put your napkin on your lap, pull your chair out for you (and in!) specially if you're a female guest. I nipped to the loo at one point; the waiter that was "assigned" to us had a quick clean up of my table taking away crumbs, refolded my napkin for my return and replaced on my lap. The hotel feed wild badgers on a nightly basis, but whether they arrive when you're awake is pot luck! Unfortunately, we missed them. Going to bed was the best part of the stay... I was cleaning myself up and getting ready for bed, and the housekeepers had refreshed our towels and put hot water bottles in our bed for us! Lights had been dimmed and fresh water in the jug. For breakfast, you're allocated the same table as dinner. The homemade granola is recommended, and their eggs are delicious! The hotel allow you to stay and enjoy the facilities after checkout at 1130am, so we did exactly that! I used their gym which has all the modern equipment and lovely views out the windows, followed by a sauna/steam room session and lunch in their deck restaurant which was also superb! There is a private golf course on site, plus acres and acres of land to walk/bike around and explore the area. We were lucky enough to be given a free copy of the Eriska book which details history of the island and the castle, etc. Staff were incredible, I take my hats off to them. We were treated like royalty, despite myself being the youngest by; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Glencoe Inn; City: Glencoe Village Glencoe Scottish Highlands Scotland; Review: The surroundings for this inn must be what draws people to stay there... On arrival, the parking is a bit of a shambles - there is signs saying car park pointing to the rear of the building but there's cars lining the "driveway" and there's no layout to the rear car park. We got checked in very quickly, room was small but enough for the single night we were there. View was poor from bedroom window, looking out over the roof of part of the building, and the toilets of the pub next door. Shower LOOKED amazing, massive waterfall-style head but when it was used, we couldn't figure out how to work it. There's no obvious way to divert the water to the large waterfall head so we ended up using a removable small shower head that's provided. Only once my boyfriend was turning it off, did the water somehow divert to the larger head? Kettle facilities provided which thankfully had decaf coffee as an options, so that was fab! Bed was comfy, room was slightly too hot but we kept the window closed all night. Duvet was a little worn, the stuffing had started to come out the sides. Breakfast in the morning was OK. I ordered the cinnamon french toast with bacon and a side of a poached egg. You get two massive slices of bread (I didn't taste cinnamon, but I didn't mind.) and only two rashers of bacon... I'd have preferred at least 4 rashers to cover the bread ratio... Poached egg was also brick hard. Yolk had no runniness to it at all. The Inn has a pub/restaurant next door where we went for dinner that was nice, you can charge your meal/drinks to your room or pay for it there and then. Overall, an OK experience but I got what I paid for basically. Would return for a one-nighter, but not an extended stay. The location/views are surreal.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Loch Fyne Hotel Spa; City: Inveraray Argyll and Bute Scotland; Review: This was a last minute booking as part of a long weekend getaway. On arrival, parking was a bit of a shambles; the hotel provide overflow parking at the rear but they had cordoned off half of it due to a course --- but it didn't look like it was in use for the time we were there. So parking was difficult to come by. Upon checking in, we enquired about the spa facilities and told to book via the spa, who then told us we were to book via the reception... Clearly a bit of miscommunication there. My boyfriend got a hot stones massage which he thought was good, but not excellent. I had a 30 minute back, neck and shoulder massage which again, was good but not excellent. The therapist must have had long nails at the time as they were catching my skin at times, and I would have liked it to have been firmer but that's my responsibility to say so during the massage. Dinner was booked for that evening within the hotel which was OK. My boyfriend ordered fillet steak, rare. The fillet itself was monstrous in size, but it was definitely medium to well-done... Again, our responsibility to fix it but my boyfriend wasn't too hungry in the first place. I had the taster menu which was nice. Nice rooms, decent sized beds but shower was unimpressive. It was cold for the whole time it was in use. The fan in the bathroom also stayed on for at least 15 minutes every time the bathroom light was switched on. In the morning, we used their pool facilities and sauna. The showers here were much better! Lots of power, lots of heat. Pool is nice and big, jacuzzi is huge - surely fits roughly 6-8 people. There is an outdoor hot tub and seating area if you attend during the Summer months. Breakfast was good, just a basic continental breakfast with cereals, fruit and cooked options. The fruit salad was really delicious, huge selection of fruit. We didn't opt for any cooked options. Overall a relatively good stay, unimpressed with one or two things but nonetheless impressed with others. I would recommend if you were passing through the area, but not necessarily as a dedicated "spa" holiday.; Rating: 3.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Cien Años de Soledad; Author: Gabriel Garcia Marquez; Genres: history, romance, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: I need to read this book again because I actually read it for an school asignment and I usually hate reading books under presure...; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Abducción; Author: Robin Cook; Genres: thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: It's pretty good and interesting at the beggining but then it just goes boring and repetitive. I didn't liked the end.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Lovely Bones; Author: Alice Sebold; Genres: young-adult, romance, thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Gorgeous book. A little mentally heavy but really good.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: El Perfume: Historia de un Asesino; Author: Patrick Suskind; Genres: history, fiction, thriller, crime, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: I love the fact that this book is REALLY descriptive, I'm very very visual and I always have troubles imagining the scenarios of the book in mind, but Suskind makes it very easy to imagine everything. The film was really really close to the book.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Malditos Bastardos: Un guión de Quentin Tarantino; Author: Quentin Tarantino; Genres: history, fiction, thriller, crime, biography, historical fiction, mystery; Review: One night I was left alone because my mother was on a trip, so I turned on the DVD and decided it was a movie night. I watched Dracula first, I had never seen it before and it scared me enough to turn up the lights. After this episode I checked the other movies I had bought and wanting to watch something entirely different I put Inglourious Basterds on; I had seen a couple of movies of Tarantino and since his works are nice I thought his new movie could put a different spark on my current situation. It captivated me from beginning to end, I went to sleep around 2am due to rewinding and watching some of the scenes again. The same happened with the screenplay. When I heard that they were releasing a printed version of it I got quite excited but got even more excited when they actually translated it to spanish and started distributing it into all the major bookstores. The initial price was very high for a 160 pages little paperback book (about 37$) so I fought my inner capitalist demons and just tried to forget it. What was my surprise? I was dating someone at the moment (that it's currently a good friend with great book recommendations) and he happened to have the screenplay, he is an WW2 enthusiastic and loved the movie as much as I do, so I borrowed it and I finally was able to read it, needless to say, I devoured it in an afternoon, and it took me that much because I frequently stopped to fangirl and re-read certain scenes. Keep reading...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: El Extranjero; Author: Albert Camus; Genres: thriller, crime, mystery, fiction; Review: When I started reading it, I looked for a word to describe it, and the fastest in my mind was 'apathy'. This is definitely not my kind of book, but it isn't bad a t all. It is almost a classic, isn't it?. Even tho I wanted to slap Mersault in the face, most of the time and tell him: "DO SOMETHING WITH PASSION!", his way of thinking, was close to mine, in a few ocassions.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Dragonfly in Amber (Outlander, #2); Author: Diana Gabaldon; Genres: history, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: GOD DAMN IT, THE ENDING.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Girl from Everywhere (The Girl from Everywhere, #1); Author: Heidi Heilig; Genres: history, young-adult, romance, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: This is amazing. It has been the longest of times since I was actually interested and enraptured in a book. The Girl From Everywhere made it happen.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | goodreads |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: FREETOO Tactical Gloves Military Rubber Hard Knuckle Outdoor Gloves for Men; Brand: FREETOO; Review: great product fit as expected. Govt. needs to keep out of citizens affairs and allow us to buy brass inserts in knuckles.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Plano 1404 Protector Series Four Pistol Case, X-Large, Black; Brand: Plano; Review: good quality decent price; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Carlisle Magic Plus Kayak Paddle - Polypro Blades/Fiberglass Shaft; Brand: Carlisle Paddle Gear; Review: good quality light weight and strong good price. have pushed off in muddy and sandy bottoms no problem.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Walkers EXT Range Shooting Folding Muff, 34 NRR; Brand: Walker's Game Ear; Review: price good fit a bit too tight my hat size is 7 1/4; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: DeSantis Inside Heat Waistband Holster Ruger LCR Leather Black; Brand: DeSantis; Review: quality holster decent price; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_Sports_and_Outdoors |
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