Writers Books

I have just started reading this book, but I can already tell I love it. I work with Vietnam combat vets doing individual and group therapy as a Social Worker with the V.A. I try to read many different books about PTSD and working with Vietnam vets so that I can improve my skills and be better at helping my vets. I have already recommended this book to my PTSD combat group. I really like how the book is set up as a collection of essays and chapters are kept short, sweet, and to the point. I think that it will keep the attention of some of my vets (as well as my own!) better than some of the "drier" texts I have read!

PTSD: Pathways Through the Secret Door I thought my book was good. This book is one I wished I'd written. Like the book I wrote it is more in an essay form. Found even more solutions in (Operators Manual) this book. I wrote mine for my sanity. I read this one for even more strength in knowing my "triggers" and "anchors". Changing our references and changing our state is crucial in our recovery.

THIS IS ONE OF THE FINEST BOOK WRITTEN AND MANY VA DOCTORS AND MSWS ARE USING IT. WONDER INFORMATIN.

I read this with a certain skepticism but I have to say this is an outstanding book on PTSD for military folks. The author gives you short, readable content with practical suggestions. From one who has suffered PTSD and gotten few answsers since my days as a Marine sniper in Nam this was such a pleasent surprise. I passed it on to my team of aging snipers and they love it. Actually has stuff you can do - well worth the read. We can tell the guy who wrote it has been counseling vet's, its not academic, its actionable. Great book!

I was in denial about having PTSD after my tour in Iraq until I read this book. When I read the first couple of chapters it felt as if he had written the book about myself.

The book emphasises that PTSD is a combat injury that it is nothing to be ashamed of.

I have recommended this book to other veterans and feel that this is the first book somebody who has (or suspects they may have) PTSD should read.

I have 3 favorite novels which I reread every couple of years. Like old friends, I know that I can always turn to them and be sure of several hours of deep pleasure. This is one of those novels. PASTORAL was written during World War 2 and concerns two young people who are serving in the military, but as the title indicates, this is not your typical war novel. Peter Marshall is a veteran pilot of an RAF Wellington bomber, even though he is still a very young man. The flying scenes are excellent, filled with suspenseful atmosphere and excitement. But when he is not in the air, he is the kind of person who takes delight in the simple pleasures of life, rambling over the countryside and fishing with his crew. And after he meets a lovely WAAF officer, Gervase Robertson, who has just joined the signals staff at his airbase, it doesn't take him long to fall in love for the first time. The love story of these two rather innocent and ordinary young people is as real as you'll find in literature, perfectly tracing the progress of their attraction and growing feeling for each other, all intensified by the immense conflict in which they play their small part. True to that time, this does not mean that they are in bed by the second date--no, these are typical, decent youngsters who accept the idea that that sort of thing must wait until marriage. Gervase does not want to give up her part in the war effort to get married, and the tension begins to affect Peter's flying and his relationship with his crew. As one of the senior officers complains exasperatedly, "The great adventure on this station isn't bombing Germany. They don't think anything of that. Falling in love is the big business here." Eventually we see that maybe falling in love is the big business after all, as the young people come to exemplify all that is best, all that is worth fighting to preserve. Nevil Shute wrote several excellent novels, but I believe that this is his best. It is a shame that it is so hard to find, but used copies are available--and well worth the hunt.

Nevil Shute seems to be a very underrated author. After his On the Beach and A Town Like Alice, the rest of his works are almost totally ignored by both the critics and the public, which is a pity as almost all of his works are finely written and have something worthwhile to say.

Pastoral was written during WWII, and from a purely British viewpoint, unlike so many of the war books that were written long after the conflict by so many Americans. As such there is a totally different atmosphere to this book, a quietness, an acceptance of the conditions and requirements of the war as just something that is there, part of the daily routine. And it is within this atmosphere that Neville constructs a fine love story between the very experienced bomber pilot Peter Marshal (at age 22!) and a W.A.A.F signals officer, Gervase Robertson.

As perhaps is typical for war-time love stories, the war itself provides the conflict, the friction between the lovers, as Peter is duty-bound to continue flying bombing missions, and Gervase believes her own duties are important to the course of the war, and should not be given up merely to get married. Her decline of Peter's offer of marriage sends Peter into a mental tail-spin, seriously impacting his efficiency as a flyer. How this conflict is resolved and the events that happen because of this conflict form the main portion of this book. Before reaching that point, however, we are treated to a view of English morality and customs of the day, a code that says one mustn't go off alone with a member of the opposite sex, that married woman are expected to keep house, not have jobs, where the woman must defer to the man. A view that might seem dreadfully stifling and old-fashioned to a reader of today's world, but it shown in such a non-obtrusive way that the reader can accept it without question. Until, that is, the reader finishes the book, and realizes that Neville has been quietly showing (and mildly satirizing) both the good and bad qualities of such a code. This is typical of Nevil's writing - his points are made far more by showing, rather than telling, always a mark of a fine writer. Also noteworthy is the attitude towards the war that is displayed by all the characters here - that death is an everyday happening, but it won't happen to me, it only happens to someone else. An attitude that seems to belong to every young person.

Nevil's prose style tends towards the descriptive, especially of the countryside and everyday actions. His dialogue in this book is loaded with English slang, very typical of actual speech patterns of the day, but this does at times make it somewhat hard for the poor modern American reader to decode what is being said. And some of Nevil's expertise as an avionics engineer shows in his descriptions of the aircraft and the functioning of various parts of these machines, at times obviously assuming that reader knows more about aircraft than is normally the case. These, however, are very minor negatives, almost totally subsumed by the engagement of the reader in the story of these two very well realized characters.

One decided negative that has nothing to do with Nevil's writing ability is the production quality of the hardbound reprint edition. The typeface used is very close to an old typewriter font, with thin serifs and a fairly small point size, and the printing press seemed to have severe difficulty with maintaining an even ink flow - at places the print fades to near illegibility. This all makes for a very rough impact on your eyes. A pity that this fine work has such a botched job of production.

Regardless of the quality of the printing, however, this book deserves a look, if nothing else just to see how a romance really should be written, as opposed to the material that passes for 'romance' on the book racks of today.

What is most remarkable about Pastoral is the way it manages to blend love and tragedy in an almost seamless manner. What would have been a rather conventional love story is transformed into something very different by the ever-present risk of death. RAF pilot Peter Marshall and WAAF signals officer Gervase Robinson go through an awkward and sometimes amusing courtship seemingly unconcerned about the fact that each one of his bomber missions over Germany could very easily be his last - indeed, some of the characters we meet during the story are lost over Germany. That they are able to function in a reasonably normal manner in the most terrifyingly abnormal of circusmstances is a tribute to the strength of the human spirit. In a way, this foreshadows Nevil Shute's much later book On the Beach, in which people are able to function day-to-day despite knowing that the world is soon coming to an end. A lesser writer than Shute probably would have made Pastoral heavy-handed and preachy, but there is almost none of that. All in all, a superb book, a truly timeless story despite its setting.
As an aside, the last few paragraphs of the story make me wonder whether it is based on true events.

... and bringing it to the flight station marks the unusual beginning of an exquisite and delicate love story between RAF pilot Peter Marshall and flight officer Gervase Robertson.

The story takes place in the midst of world war II terror and describes, in spellbinding detail, the flight missions over Germany, the dangers of cross fire and courage, during times when others have fear.

Peter's cockiness (not always at the right times), competence (in dodging enemy fire and bringing his crew home), and courage (in face of danger) win the reader's heart and make him a hero at his home station, even though he comes very close to losing is all: his aircraft, his crew and Gervase.

A marvelous story, despite its unusual start: catching a fish!

Perhaps this is Nevil Shute's best; his detail about the cold technicalities of cockpit war activity, set against the depths of an unforgettable love story makes "Pastoral" stand out above anything to be imagined. He just never ceases to surprise his readers!

This is, in my opinion, Nevil Shute's best book, surpassing even such justifiably popular titles as "On the Beach" and "A Town like Alice". With restraint and a simple, moving style Nevil Shute brings out the best in human spirit by telling this story of young people rising to the dangers and challenges of war and prevailing through dedication, comradeship and love. Why is a book like this out of print when bookstore shelves are full of stories about addicts, perverts and criminals? We desperately need more people like Nevil Shte's characters to serve as role models.

This volume provided an excellent translation of a chinese text that was written many years ago. It describes the social mores and conventions of an era that has long passed. The translation of the story is accompanied by very comprehensive notes to each chapter and also an extensive bibliography. While the book should be regarded as a work of scholarship the story nonetheless is captivating and entertaining and the frequent descriptions of erotic and racy interludes throughout the story creates a certain charm and allure for a lost age. I was so impressed by the translation and intrigued by the story that I have progressed to the next volumes.

hard to rview..read the book 50 yrs. ago and am looking to replace it. orig. was lost in moving. question i have is why vol.1 ..am looking for the entire book...as i recall it was well over a thous. pages .. would like more info. fm. author re; future volumes..when can they be expected? th orig. book was a extremely interesting view into the way things were way back when in feudal china..as i recall it covered not only the rich but also the very poor and how each existed in their world

David Tod Roy's translation of the classic 16th century Chin P'ing Mei is awesome and right on the money. The story leaps off the pages - this is how this famous vernacular Chinese novel was meant to be read! Every element of the story is clear and concise in Roy's translation, allowing the reader to enjoy the plot and the fascinating characters.

To briefly discuss the storyline, Chin P'ing Mei is a "spin off" from the classic Chinese novel Outlaws of the Marsh, and focuses on the trials and tribulations of the conniving seductress Pan Chin-lien and the new life she leads after murdering her husband. Some scholars of Chinese traditional literature will not like this allusion, but the story reads like a modern-day soap opera. The characters are lusty and scheming, and the general climate is electric. The general plot follows the intricate daily triumphs and frustrations of Hsi-Men Ching and his `harem" of six wives and concubines (among them Pan Chin-lien). The story is rife with inter-household competition, infidelity, corruption, domestic abuse and eroticism. Characters are well developed, and the scenery is vivid. It provides a fascinating glimpse into the lives of the merchant class in 16th century China. It is easy to see how this novel has captured audiences for 400 years - and David Tod Roy's excellent translation will no doubt help it to endure for many more years to come.

This is the book to read if you want to taste medieval Chinese culture: Salty love poetry, sweet wickedness, sour decadence, bitter philosophy, oily sex, all rolled up in a ginger and garlic spiced, fleshy bun. Roy lets you savor all the ingredients and, with a healthy sprinkling of notes, let's you peruse the cornucopia that inspired the recipes. Bon apetit for this first course of five.

David Tod Roy has done Chinese literature proud by producing a scrupulously exact translation of this classic in Chinese erotica. Like what a previous reviewer says, it is "clear and precise", bringing out the naturalistic details of the novel fully to the reader; yet, for all its accuracy, it reads exceptionally well. For introduction, Roy has written a well-argued essay on why Jin-Ping Mei should be read as didactic literature, not as mere erotica, as it has for centuries. Jin-Ping-Mei's checkered history in Chinese literature doesn't disguise the fact that it is a very well written (and detailed) account of the rise and fall of an extended household, made obvious by corruption and its list of licentious dealings (both in Ximen Qing and his harem).

It is about all of us... Make sure you start reading on a week-end because you won't be able to put it down without finishing! Mourselas' genius is unbelievable.

The book takes you to the journey of your life...

I rarely find a book that makes me think/ponder/sad/excited/aroused. This is one of those rare books.

This is by far the best book I have ever read. Mourselas has captured some of the worst times in Greek history and has presented them with a beautiful blend of philosophy and history. In the tradition of the greatest Greek author Nikos Kazantzakis, Mourselas delves into the human spirit and expresses it in the most beautiful way. While reading it I felt as though I knew each character personally. There are people in my own life who were the characters of this wonderful novel. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in taking a journey through a beautiful analysis of the human race.

This is one of the most beautiful books I've read.
Happy, stimulating, exciting, amusing, delightful, stormy and sexy. A great love story full of flavors, smells and rhythm.

This is the story of Emanueil Razinas (AKA Lewis) the surprising and unexpected man, that near him "all of us are such of midgets.... doesn't get even to his ankles..."

This is also the story of group of friends, and all the women and the wives, Athens and Greece. Four decades on yachts decks, in brothels, in the army, in the street, taverns, cafes, sheds, magnificence houses, and anywhere else.

The story is told in a fluent, open and trustworthy way, both satirical and sad.
You can't escape the noticeable painful feeling of the open wound of Greece that try to awaken from the civil war nightmare and the revolution in every page.

David L. Thompson's River of Memories: An Appalachian Boyhood is a walk back in time for Appalachians in general and West Virginians in particular.

Having grown up in an area just a few miles from David and only a few years later, I was filled with nostalgia, as I recalled the simpler times from some fifty years ago.

He showed us a scared little boy being wheeled off to surgery. I felt every bit of his trepidation, but had to laugh when I pictured his wide, fearful eyes on their way to the operating room.

I cried when he drew me into the deep respect for a mother who had always demonstrated the love and caring of the mothers of yesteryear. As we witnessed her family mourning her passing into the arms of God, I had to set the book down and weep.

For a feel-good read of a wholesome, stirring book, full of laughter and tears, I can think of no other I would recommend more highly than River of Memories: An Appalachian Boyhood.

I have just spent the day enjoying River of Memories An Appalachian Boyhood. It has taken me to a world I knew little of, growing up at the same time in West Virginia in very different circumstances.

What an engaginging and wonderful way to preserve the past!

This is a well written account of country life in West Virginia in the 40 and 50's.I could not put it down!
BeBe Beatty

I really enjoyed David Thompson's book River of Memories. I to grew up in WV and his words brought back visions from my own childhood. This is just a good read to escape from the everyday stress and hassles and return to a time when we valued family more than the materialisms we strive for today.

There once was actually a time and a place that the author David Thompson talks about; but I used to think that it was only in our collective dreams from the old movies of the 1950's. He captures a part of Americana that is forever lost and is no more. He takes us through his early life leading up to his tour in Vietnam much like a river flowing through our heart. It is a well written account of not just what it was like but how it felt to be a young boy of the "Baby Boom Generation" in West Virginia.

This book is not about war or its aftermath but about the human spirit and the values that make us and define who we are. This is a treasure of unique experiences and feelings. It is a pleasure and a joy to read.

MWSA's 2004 Gold Medal Award for Non-Fiction Personal Memoirs

The following are some of the comments I have received regarding River of Memories:

As I read well into Saturday night, I had the feeling you were actually writing about MY childhood. The winters, the one-room school, the stream, the grapevine swing (Snap! Thud! you lost your breath, and your body met the ground) and the challenges we faced but were so content, well fed, and happy we didn't realize how strong we would become because we learned that mountains were there to "go over, around or tunnel through." (Ginger Davis)

I bought a copy of your book at long last. I read it today. I really enjoyed it!!! You did a great job. Patrick was really talking up your book at our last meeting this spring. Mary Williams, one of our writing classmates, died last week. She, too, was looking forward to reading your book. (Brenda Beatty)

I wanted to share with you the inspiration I've had from the introduction of your book. I've many times mentioned that I should keep a journal for each of my girls with my view of things they do throughout their childhood. You statements in the introduction made me realize I should stop talking about it and do it before time slips away and they're no longer small children. (Che'rie Collins)

I have just completed your book, a gift from my daughter. It is a most enjoyable book, and you should take great pride in it. You capture our heritage and our humanness from crowning glory to warts. We live in a great corner of this world. Those of us, the senior generation, have been protected not by terrain but by culture, small enough to know and be known. (Jim Waugh)

While attending 'Festival of the Hills' in Ironton on Saturday, my wife and I visited your display and bought a copy of River of Memories. That next day, I took up temporary residence in our swing on our front porch and never ventured far from there until two thirds of your book had been read. It just wouldn't let me put it down! While my wife and I grew up in Waterloo, Lawrence County, Ohio, which is about as far north of Huntington as Bowen Creek is south, we both had a similar childhood as yours, but, you tell your stories much better. And, I'm sure others who have had the pleasure of reading your book can readily identify with it, too. Every little community had its unusual characters and an Emmitt and Lessie store. But, of all your stories, "Magnolias Forever" holds a special place for me. Your book is truly gratifying. Well done, David! (Duane Null)

Thank you for sharing your work with me and for using your talents to help preserve the culture and history of our state.
(Nick J. Rahall, II, Member of Congress)

Can't imagine any trip could be better than what you described in your book. Well done. "River of Memories" would make a great movie. You have shown how wonderful growing up in the '50s was for many. Laura wrote all her books (5 or 6) after she was 65 years old. Hope you keep writing. (Pat Phillips)

I finished your book last night. Please forgive me. I do not have your gift of expression in writing. I loved the book. What a wonderfully blessed life you have! Thank you so much. (Teresa Radcliff)

I absolutely loved this little book. I prefer this kind of personal reminiscing to works of fiction. I think what I loved most about it was the fact that your life in West Virginia, growing up was a bit similar to my own upbringing in Northwestern Nebraska. I also attended a one-room schoolhouse with an outhouse and a hand pump for water from 1st through 8th grade. Gee, it was fun! (Shelley Thorton-Roby)

Thank you for writing "River of Memories." I enjoyed, laughed (and cried a little). Many thanks for the memories. (Imogene Adkins Wilson)

I have read many books on Appalachian life, but yours was the best. I could actually see the house, smell the cooking, and hear you kids fighting and playing as I read the book. How lucky your family is to have all of this on paper to share for generations. (Debi Herbert)

I absolutely loved your book. You don't write...you paint a picture. (Jane Kolstad)

I finished your book last night. I read it in two sittings. It was the only book, other than the Bible I have read in years. I enjoyed it very much, and it touched on so many memories of my life. (Verlin J. Adkins, Jr.)

It is entirely possible to read and enjoy Jane Austen's novels without appreciating her standing as a literary pioneer, but you shouldn't. 2004's "Searching for Jane Austen", by University of Wisconsin Professor of English Emily Auerbach reads a bit like university lecture, but what excellent lectures they must be! Auerbach provides an entirely readable and enjoyable survey of the perceptions of Jane Austen as an author and of her pioneering work as a novelist.

Jane Austen's family, in the years after her early death in 1817, went to some lengths to create an image of her as a demure, sheltered, and almost saintly maiden aunt that conformed with then-current standards of lady-like behavior. Some more recent biography has suggested that she was sexually frustrated and unhappy. In fact, as Auerbach documents, both these images are a put-down that hide a fascinating and surprisingly modern person from our literary acquaintance. Miss Jane Austen, in life, was very likely a confident, capable, and ambitious author with a keen and even subversive sense of wit, who, if she was unfortunate in never marrying, managed to carve out a satisfying life nonetheless.

Auerbach initially describes how Austen's image has been manipulated over the years, then plunges into an extended examination of her works. The Juvenalia and each of the published novels are dealt with in the likely order of composition. This approach allows Auerbach to bring out the unique highlights of each individual novel and to emphasize the growth in Austen's literary technique. Auerbach pays particular attention to the heroine of each novel and how their personal growth drives the various outcomes.

The general reader may tend to avoid literary criticism, but Auerbach's is well worth reading. For example, Mansfield Park's Fanny Price is perhaps the least honored of Austen's heroines, but Auerbach establishes her place in Austen's thinking about morality and manages to make her far more interesting as a character. As another example, Auerbach's discussion of the leading character of "Emma" gets well beyond the obvious romantic comedy aspects of the novel to investigate some subtle role reversal.

"Searching for Jane Austen" is very highly recommended to fans of Jane Austen, who will find a vigorous discussion of her literary abilities and some fresh insights into her novels.

"Searching for Jane Austen" is a wonderful read for any (even casual) Austen enthusiast. My first contact with this work was at a literary festival where Emily Auerbach spoke about her research--and her lecture was so compelling that I read the book quickly, and it encouraged me to learn more about Jane Austen's works.

The book manages to shed light on both biographical/historical/cultural subjects (how the Austen family tried to mute the image of the writer after her death, and how some (male) scholars have denigrated Austen's work throughout the decades) while also discussing interesting themes and interpretations of Austen's cannon. [Each Austen heroine, hero, and villain gets proper time and scrunity.]

"Searching for Jane Austen" is well-organized, with each of the six novels getting its own chapter, in addition to beginning and concluding sections about Austen's life and legacy. The book made me appreciate each of her novels in new ways (even ones that are often underappreciated or not discussed, such as Northanger Abbey), and even though this work is scholarly, it was fun reading. Auerbach dissects her subject fairly, but she treats Jane Austen's works with such admiration and care that you want to read Pride and Prejudice (or Emma, or Persuasion) all over again.

I got this book from the public library, read it, and felt I had to have it, though I already have shelves of Jane Austen materials. The censoring and shaping of Jane Austen and her writings started after her death, and continues today. I particularly enjoyed the chapter on Northanger Abbey.

Emily Auerbach may be in danger of being drummed out of academia for writing a book that is so well-researched and so detailed, and yet so readable. Auerbach's concern is the attempts by Austen's relatives and earlier literary critics to present Austen as a meek and mild cardboard saint. There is nothing particularly new in this idea, but it is very well and thoroughly done. While several biographers have made similar arguments, none is a thorough and convincing as this specialized monograph.

Auerbach pays particular attention to the representations of Austen. She seems to feel that the portrait by Austen's sister Cassandra is the only valid image. Well, arguably it is the only portrait that shows her face. Auerbach does not examine other representations of doubtful authenticity. While I see what she is driving at, I think this is perhaps a trifle overdone. Cassandra's portrait is rough and unfinished, and I wonder whether it would have been used prior to some of the aesthetic changes of "modern art", even if JA looked timid and pious. The two most commonly reproduced engravings really don't strike me as such terrible revisions of Cassandra's portrait, with the significant exception of removing the lines around the mouth, and in one case, adding a wedding ring. I don't think the ruffles are a serious distortion: it's not like JA was in the habit of dressing like a man or a particularly no-nonsense Puritan. She may have had ruffles: CA's portrait is too unfinished to assert that she didn't. At least she is still wearing her habitual cap, unlike the portrait that shows her with her hair fashionably dressed. The issues of the lines around the mouth does reveal one tension in the book (and in several recent works about JA): Auerbach is rather annoyed that Valerie Myers describes JA as looking like a peevish hamster in CA's portrait. I would have said guinea pig was more like it, but what if she does? One the one hand, Auerbach seems to want warts and all, and on the other she seems to want to insist that there were no warts. I am not certain what Auerbach is saying about the picture that represents JA sitting by a Hollywood swimming pool talking on her cell phone, but I love that particular picture -- I think it's a hoot.

But, forget trivial cavils. The most important distortions are in the written record; Auerbach has obviously done heroic research and thoroughly supports her opinions about written materials. The critiques that she has made of certain books that I liked make me want to rush back and reread them in the light of her remarks. At one point, Auerbach begins an indepth analysis of the poem from which a quote is taken. I was originally somewhat dubious about this: sometimes when I quote a line out of context, I mean it to be understood out of context, but she carefully show how the quotes throughout the book complement and support one another. I was converted to her point of view.

Auerbach believes in my favorite Jane Austen; almost terrifyingly perceptive and well aware that life is complex and there are few simple answers. Auerbach seems to have a thorough understanding of the literature and was very taken with most of her arguments.

The book has numerous blank-and-white illustrations.

I would recommend this to any Jane Austen collection.

I have read so many essays and articles and books re Austen's works-- talk about searching for Jane Austen. Auerbach's book is not only more comprehensive, but, to paraphrase Elizabeth Bennett, 5 TIMES as spot on as any of them. Really more like 100 times. I feel that for the first time someone really understands her. It is such a tremendous relief and such a great pleasure to read, when I can relax and know I'm in the right hands. Get this book if you love Jane Austen.

I loved it. I could hardly put it down until I finished it and like the best books I've read, I didn't want it to end. Ray Derby is a writer that can take his place beside James Patterson, Greg Iles, Lee Child and David Baldacci!

A book built on fact and fiction, but with all the possibilities of happening. Since the fall of the Wall, the dismantlement of the Warsaw Pact, and the opening of our borders to everyone the past leadership of our country has pushed us to the brink of disaster.

The security elements of many government agencies were buried deep in their bowels after 1992. Not until 9/11 have our elected leaders realized the mistakes they helped create through their own inactions. Lets hope they are better on catching up than they are on falling behind.

To all the "dedicated" military and civilian workers, thank you. For those that are there only for the money, recognition (fast track), long lunches, smoke breaks every half hour, whining about long hours, etc. quit ---- your not needed and you missed the point.

The story was amazing and since it was before 9-11 it is even more amazing....some forethought.

A very good attention getter and holder.

I loved this book and would also like to see it as a movie.

I think that I would have liked to be able to give 3 and a half stars for this book. The book is an excellent first attempt by Ray Derby.
Many people might have a misconceived notion of what a "Shadow Government" really is.....no, it's not another President and VP and all altogether different cabinet, just waiting in the wings to take over in the event of a crisis.....it's a smart way to look at a potential situation. A shadow Government for Derby's book is thousands of people (mostly retirees), chosen by the government, which excelled in their given fields, whether it be in nuclear physics or carpentry, etc. that would be saved and be able to lead America back into civilization in case of mass destruction from nuclear, chemical or biological warfare.

As you can guess, America is struck by a biological agent that kills millions of Americans. It's a race against the clock to have the Shadow Government and the facilities that will house these people up and running before the terrorists unleash the weapon.

The plot is very solid. It is evident that Mr. Derby uses his experience to create a chilling world. The plot itself will keep you on the edge of your seat and while this does not give anything away, you are pleasantly surprised where the story turns in the end. Characterization is a little on the thin side. The pace of the plot made it difficult to really be able to identify with the characters....you really don't have the time to get to know them. I think now, after 9-11, it's easier to identify with the emotions of the country in general. The subplots of romance are weak, but easily ignored. There are a few plot points that weighed the story down, rather than moved it along, but again, you turn the page waiting to see what will happen next.

All in all it's a good read. I definitely recommend reading it and I will eagerly watch to see if Mr. Derby publishes another book in the future.

After an incident with US Senator McBride, Norm Shepard left the marines to become a railroad brakeman and fish in the Potomac. While heading to a spot to fish, he notices two other fishermen, but when he walks past them, they shoot him in the back. He manages to escape to the nearby road where Major General McKay gets him to a hospital.

McKay is concerned where this shooting occurred so he assigns long time civil servant Ross Chambers and his emergency management team to investigate. Evelyn Pace and Jim Woods interview Norm; they return to their superior Ross with grave concerns that the two wannabe killers were monitoring weather conditions, which could mean an NBC (nuclear, biological, chemical) attack on the capital. While Norm is recalled to active duty, the response team begins activation of Project Bluelight, THE SHADOW GOVERNMENT project to keep the government operational during a crippling emergency. The ideal solution is that they must stop rogue terrorists from causing a pandemic incident of mass destruction.

Though terrorists employ clever deadly ruses as they value life less than radioactive waste, THE SHADOW GOVERNMENT highlights what is a major fear of many people: weapons of mass destruction (ask the President and his psychological advisors). The story line is a powerful thriller that looks at what a government can do to continue to lead even when calamity reaches biblical proportions. Though the small insets focusing on the terrorists seem more distracting than revealing, readers will feel they won the Triple Crown with Ray Derby's compelling tale of counterterrorism.

Harriet Klausner

This is a fabulous book, and is good for girls and boys. I love that it includes breastfeeding, which is unforunately very rare and hard to find. A definite read for any parent expecting a 2nd (and beyond) child.

Sophie and the New Baby is a good story to share with children having trouble getting used to the changes a new baby can bring.

Sophie is an only child who is used to getting a lot of attention from her parents. One spring day, her parents announce that there will be a new member arriving in the family. That baby will be a winter baby. Sophie waits, and waits, and waits. Finally the baby arrives. Sophie is disappointed that the baby cannot play with her. She is even more disappointed when her parents spend all of their time with the baby and not with her. Sophie is sad and lonely. Eventually, with the passage of time, Sophie adjusts and learns to love the little baby.

Catherine Anholt's charming illustrations detail the changing seasons beautifully as Sophie waits for the baby. They also accurately portray the things that occur once the baby arrives: the crying, the nursing, the diaper changes, the holding, the nursing (yes, there are two illustrations of the mom nursing the baby), the growing piles of laundry and dishes...

Sophie and the New Baby gives a young child a good idea of what to expect when a new sibling arrives. It also addresses the negative emotions that can be felt in a reassuring way. This is a very good book to read to an only child who will soon become a big brother or sister.

-Sherry Ellis
Author of That Baby Woke Me Up, AGAIN

This is a wonderful book for a sibling (2-4 years of age) who's expecting a new baby in the family. It follows Sophie throughout her mom's pregnancy and then describes how things are once baby arrives. It does so very well, and accurately per my recollection of younger siblings arriving at our house growing up. It is realistic enough that it does show Sophie yelling that she doesn't want "that baby anymore!" Then it describes how Sophie teaches her baby brother to smile, and they become friends.

I love this book. My oldest daughter still requests it, even though her little sister is six months now. I think it really helped ease our baby's arrival ... her big sister knew ahead of time that it would be difficult, and an adjustment, but to be patient and it would work (older sister was 1 month shy of 3 years of age when her baby sister was born).

I can't recommend this book enough! In addition, if you breastfeed or are planning to do so, this book shows the mother breastfeeding the baby (doesn't say what she's doing, and for families who don't breastfeed I doubt that it would be something a child would recognize - but it's great for discussing that with an older sibling if you will be breastfeeding).

We are expecting a baby boy this winter and my daughter Sophie truly enjoyed this book! It not only deals with the emotions of an older sibling but begins with how long the wait is anticipating the birth of a younger sibling.

My 2 1/2 year old loves this book. It gives us a chance to talk about all aspects of having a new baby: the waiting, the coming, the aftermath. We told her about our new baby very early in the pregnancy so it's helpful to have a book that talks about waiting through all those seasons until it finally arrives!

W. Everett Beal was born and raised in Valdosta, Georgia, eventually moving to Griffin, Georgia to practice pharmacy, and then retiring with his wife Judy to Sky Valley for 16 years only to return once again to Griffin. Man and boy, Everett Beal was a southerner. Southern Winds is both his autobiography and his eyewitness account of the deluge of changes that were to transform the segregated and impoverished state of Georgia into what was to become known as the "New South". Here is a compilation of stories, good and bad, of the early days of integration and a profile of just how hard it was for many to give up their family and community tradition enforced prejudices and customs. Southern Winds is a personal testament to the redeeming necessity to ignore and overcome ingrained prejudices, and to strive for common unity, love and respect, simply and honest compassion. That we must judge people by their character and personality, not by the color of their skin. Exceptionally well written, Southern Winds is very strongly recommended reading.

The winds of social change blew through the American South at a time that to my generation seems like yesterday - but to U.S. children growing up now, it must surely seem as distant as the Civil War does to me. When those winds reached the community where he owned and ran an independent pharmacy, W. Everett Beal found himself forced to nap behind his counter each night with a loaded weapon at his side. That was the only way he could hope to protect his painfully built business from being firebombed or otherwise destroyed.

As a lifelong resident of "the whitest state in the Union," whose contacts with members of other races have never been like those of native-born Southerners, I found this memoir a fascinating read. Ever since I've known people of color (which didn't happen until I was a young adult), I've interacted with them as equals. College classmates, colleagues at professional conventions, next door neighbors, fellow parishioners at my church. One of my own books lists my very black former pastor in its acknowledgements, for his kindness and helpfulness during more than one life crisis. So, while Mr. Beal's book is by no means entirely about race relations (past or present), his comments on that theme - the experience of being a Southern man during a turbulent and dangerous era - truly intrigued and enlightened me.

However, that's only part of why I can recommend "Southern Winds" to my fellow readers who enjoy a well-written memoir. Mr. Beal's years as a columnist shine through his reminiscences of boyhood and young manhood. He knows how to tell a story, and he's included a very suitable mix of humorous, sad, and thought-provoking anecdotes in this, his first book. His stated goal is to share with his readers the culture that shaped him, and he has managed to do exactly that.

This is a truly a book written from the heart, with touching honesty. Whether or not you agree with everything Mr. Beal has to say, you will be richer for reading his words and coming to know the characters who have peopled his life. I certainly am!

As a northerner, I found Everett Beal's account of life in the south in a time when it seemed that nothing would ever be the same again completely captivating. His up-close-and-personal account of such issues as black/white relations and possible uprisings, when he had to "hide out" at the pharmacy where he worked were open and honest. It was a real eye-opener to someone who never experienced these things except from afar.
I highly recommend it to anyone who wants a real picture of this era. It was not only informative, but filled with Mr. Beal's wit and humor, as well as his sensitivity.

This book was a refreshing look into the past during a time when slavery was still about and romance and war were part of life. This honest book sparks some controversy that some slaves were well cared for and some white folk weren't as bad as history makes them out to be. Writing this great novel, Southern Winds, that takes place during the time where the winds of change began to take place.
I would recommend this book to anyone at all really.

Southern Winds by W. Everett Beal (who I believe to be in his 70s) is one Southern gentleman's experience growing up and living in the south. Beal begins his journey with the arrival of his ancestors from Scotland and continues with his immediate family in Valdosta, Georgia and then moves on as an adult to Griffin, Georgia.

Beal honestly and courageously discusses the good and the bad of the south and of the heritage he acquired through being born "Southern." That heritage included segregation, integration and all of the issues surrounding the change that descended upon his world in the 1960s.

There are moments Beal lovingly recalls his boyhood adventures, the cultural songs and games, as well as the love and respect he felt for the black men and women who cared for his family and their property. However, other times the experience of integration, though acknowledged as right, was confusing and perceived as allowing no time to accept the change. What had always been accepted as "the way it was done" was no longer acceptable or appropriate.

This is an interesting and personal view of a culture that is closed to those who have not been born into it. The treatment of black people-thought acceptable, even seen as benevolent by white folks-is at times painful to read. The difficulty of change can be seen as the author continually refers to black people as "coloreds." I didn't feel that he was using the term in a derogatory manner (though others might perceive it to be so), I just felt that that is the way it always has been. Beal writes about the way things are when most people only have the courage to think it. Anyone wanting a first-hand account of Southern life in turbulent times should read Southern Winds.

Steal Away Home is a book that I think everyone would enjoy. The book has adventure combined with mystery and teaches the reader about our countryýs past history. It is actually two stories combined in one. The present day story is about Dana finding out who the skeleton is in the boarded room. The past history story describes the life of the Weaver family in pre-Civil War times and its part in The Underground Railroad. The story goes back and forth in history as Dana reads the journal of Mrs. Weaver. The journal describes the comings and goings of black people on their run for freedom and pieces of the life of one of those slaves, Miss Lizbet Charles. The book makes the reader more aware of the difficult lives of runaway slaves. The story is informative and interesting. As the pieces of the mystery of the skeleton fall into place, Dana learns about her houseýs history and her town.

I just finished reading steal away home moments ago. It was a nail-biter to the end, with so much invested in the characters. Clem Sheutz is a street smart kid from a 50's Cincinnati neighborhood of German Immigrants. In the main story line, he is in his 20's fighting in the Cuban revolution - just because he's nothing else to do. After witnessing a brutal hanging of a woman, he loses touch with reality. He tries to grasp onto some sense of self by reconnecting with his past. Meibers effectively uses flashbacks to critical moments of Clem's life, that shed light on his unexpected reactions to those he's reunited with from his past. You see an otherwise hopeless life mature into a character that you want to see come out for the better on the other side. This maturation is frustrated by many of those who he's reunited with. An enjoyable read. Great characters and fine details that immerse the reader in story.

Steal Away Home is a richly literate first novel that grabbed me with the opening line, "the scream sounded...", pulled me deeper into the story through powerful images and tactile metaphors, and left me reeling from the smells and sounds of a great adventure with people I knew from..."somewhere". Mr. Meiber's work made me laugh, cry, scared, exhilarated. In other words, I felt as I read. This is not a man's or a woman's book, it is for everyone. Scheutz is a sort of everyman and his experiences are ours; it is the journey we all travel towards self-acceptance and identifying our place in the universe.

Bravo Richard Meibers!

"Steal Away Home" is my kind of book. Richard Meibers tells his story in a direct, uncomplicated style that leads us through the events of his tale in the emotional and sensual manner in which we actually experience events. Meibers avoids the pitfall of intellectualizing, but in the simple telling of his story he evokes from the reader's imagination some profound questions. I found myself empathizing with Clem Scheutz and feeling his effort and longing to find his way out of the maze of insanity and pain into which he was born. This is an excellent first novel, and I'm looking forward to hearing more from Mr. Meibers.

"Steal Away Home" is my kind of book. Richard Meibers tells his story in a direct, uncomplicated style that leads us through the events of his tale in the emotional and sensual manner in which we actually experience events. Meibers avoids the pitfall of intellectualizing, but in the simple telling of his story, he evokes from the reader's imagination some profound questions. I found myself empathizing with Clem Scheutz and feeling his effort and longing to find his way out of the maze of insanity and pain into which he was born. This is an excellent first novel, and I'm looking forward to hearing more from Mr. Meibers.