F Books

I grew up with Melinda's maternal and paternal family, even though the author was a tadpole when last I saw her. As an author myself and a retired English teacher, I find Melinda's talent with her craft endearing, stimulating, hilarious, and very sensory. So many of her adventures were (and are) my own, even though we're a generation apart; she makes me see, hear, smell, and taste my own childhood in that small Alabama town.

Melinda reminds many of us that we're not only "GRITS" (Girls Raised in the South) but also "SWAGs" (Southern Women Aging Gracefully) and damn proud of it!!!

I have laughed and cried (from laughing) through this book! I feel like this is the story of my life sometimes. Great read...especially for 40-somethings and up! Or mothers of any age...I'll be reading more by this author.

I purchased this book as a Christmas gift for my sister. I enjoyed the book when I read it. I am still waiting to hear if she enjoyed it as well.

Everything about this book was great. So TRUE! If you are a woman in the South, you will really dig this book!

Though I am from a different region of the South than the author, the truisms smack you in the face like the humidty on a hot Southern summer's day. She has captured the essence of all of us who were reared in the South. And it is true, that most of us over a "certain" age prefer red lipstick. After all, Revlon wouldn't lie to us, would they?
I vary between gales of laughter and nodding in agreement while reading and wish someone were here so I could read it aloud to them.
She has captured our little customs, the SOP of our daily lives in a way no Yankee could ever do, but still it is an inspiration to those women who grew up North of the Mason-Dixon line and want to understand the mystique of Southern women. Men should read this as well. It is full of insights on how to survive with a Southern woman in a close personal relationship.
G Hileman, Middle TN and now FL

In response to comments made by Mark Wilson in his review that Susan Fromberg Schaeffer stole Ms. Brodman's (Anya's) life story, the events detailed in "Anya" are common in some way or another to nearly every other Holocaust survivor. An idea, account of events or even the ability to relate those events verbally is entirely different than actually crafting that idea or account into a well written story or engrossing movie.

Writing/directing well is not easy. I'm sure Ms. Schaeffer likely spent hours, days, months and years researching, writing and rewriting her book. Why should Ms. Schaeffer not receive credit for all the hard work she put into the book?

That being said, I'm not a huge fan of the book. The prose is beautifully descriptive but is too wordy for me (more like a romance novel - not really my taste). Also, the main character, Anya, comes off as preening and fairly unsympathetic. I prefer works like "The Great Gatsby", "Shawshank Redemption & Rita Hayworth", "Fight Club", "Atlas Shrugged", "I, Legend", "The Thief of Always" and "Red Dragon" - to name a few.

The books listed above are not special because of the tag line. Those books are worth reading because they are exceptionally well written. It's all in presentation. An idea/account is only an idea/account until someone puts time and sweat into making the idea/account into something tangible.

Give several authors/directors an idea/account and each will mold that idea/account according to individual talent, personality, background, education, etc. Look at the differences in the way "The Shining" as a movie was directed by Stephen King (awful) versus Stanley Kubrick (genius), in the Harry Potter movies(some darker, some lighter) and in the Thomas Harris movies(Hannibal was a comedy compared to the first two).

There really are no new ideas (themes, characters, plots, etc.)-just new ways of presenting/mixing. In fact, most stories are covered or at least alluded to in the Bible and mythology. Look at how Jane Austen's "Emma" was modernized in "Clueless" or how differently J.D. Salenger and Sylvia Plath portray young people dealing with growing pains in "The Catcher in the Rye" and "The Bell Jar". There are lots of other examples.

The bottom line is that Ms. Brodman, unless she voluntarily chose to execute a nondisclosure agreement, had the opportunity to take the time to write her own book in her own words in whatever language she desired so that her book could be judged on its merits accordingly.

I am a 16 year old sophomore in high school and I came across this book for a book report.As I read I was drawn in as if I were an eye witness to the events happening to Anya Savikin Lavinsky, her daughter, and her family during the holocaust. It really gave me a first hand experience of the horror,hope, and determination of the victims of the holocaust. It was moving and touching.I would recommend it highly. Bravo Susan Fromberg Schaeffer!
Lyn Shakespeare "Jacki" (Illinois,USA)

ANYA is one of the best modern novels I've ever read. Susan Fromberg Schaeffer does a great job getting inside her protagonist's head. Wonderfully atmospheric, ANYA sets you right down in Anya's world from the first paragraph. I first read the book as a teenager and spent the days reading it and several days afterward in a fog--I was completely in Anya's world.

I first read this novel after reading "First Nights". I must admit, I was attracted to "First Nights" by pure marketing and cover art, but was I a lucky consumer. I completely fell in love with Susan Fromberg-Schafer's style of writing and have read and loved almost everything she has written (Buffalo Day Afternoon was not a particular favorite). "Anya" has become my favorite novel of all time. I have re-read it at least 3 times. This comes from someone who loves to read and has almost never read a book twice. I can't say enough about it except that you should also give "Autobiography of Foudini M Cat" a try if you have ever loved a pet.

Happy Reading!

I moved across the street from Mrs. Brodman (Anya) in Sarasota, Florida in 1979. She lived there with her husband until the day she died. I have been gone for two years now, but believe Mr. Brodman still lives there.

The story is riveting because it is true! It did not come from the imagination of Susan Fromberg Schaeffer. Mrs. Brodman and her husband told me that a lawsuit was filed against Ms. Schaeffer and that Ms. Schaeffer lost. I was told they never wanted the money from the settlement and gave it to an fund for orphans in Israel.

It is shocking to see it listed here as one of Ms. Schaeffer's novels. Mrs. Brodman told me that the book was the result of a series of tapes she dictated and that were transcribed by Miss Fromberg. Though Anya spoke many languages (including English), she said it was too difficult for her to 'write' in English and so she dictated her story. This is what I was told.

Mrs. Brodman told me it hurt her greatly that Miss Fromberg took credit for her life story. Yes there are facts that were changed to also protect others (i.e., she changed the name of her husband, Mr. Brodman, for obvious reasons). My understanding was that the outcome of the lawsuit was to stop Ms. Schaeffer from continuing to take credit for 'Anya's story'.

When I found an out-of-print copy (many years ago) I asked her to dedicate and sign it. I will treasure this forever!

I too heard Anya tell me many stories. I took Mr. Brodman's advice and started reading one of Ms. Fromberg's books. I put it down... no comparison.

Mark Wilson

The following is the commentary from WRITER'S DIGEST on Mr. Murphy's book:

"EDGE OF ALLEGIANCE contains all the elements expected in a great spy thriller. There are plenty of exotic locations, well-described. All the characters are three dimensional and believable--as well as being unusual and developed in such a way that they seem real.

"The plot is multi-layered with one intriguing complication after another with plenty of action and excitement. Definitely a page-turner. Great job!"

On a scale of 1 to 5, with 1 meaning "poor" and 5 meaning "excellent," the book rates 5.

Thomas Murphy's "Edge of Allegiance" is a fascinating journey into the intruiging world of international espionage. The story is dramatic, informative, and appropriately deceptive, and is brought to life by the well-researched, vivid detail of each exotic setting and the development of each complex, yet realistic character. Murphy allows the reader an opportunity to delve into the intense and furtive lives of the intelligence operatives of the era. The brilliant culmination neatly ties each intertwined plotline together, but leaves adequate room for a much anticipated sequel. This is an absolute must read!

I highly recommend this book! It's got all the suspense and excitement of any great thriller and Mr. Murphy has put quite a bit into it! Well written, the book has all the makings of a commonly read spy novel. Mr. Murphy is accurate to a "T", without a doubt, an authority on this subject. I look forward to his next work!

Reviewed by Richard R. Blake for Reader Views (6/07)

Thomas Murphy's experience in the CIA gives authenticity to his cold war novel "Edge of Allegiance." This is evidenced in the well-developed details of his writing. Murphy understands the predicable cycle of espionage, the hours of surveillance and counter surveillance, the adrenaline rush of danger, the fear of discovery, the suspicion of peers, the drive for promotion and a desire to excel to please the agency brass.

Frank Manion, a newly trained CIA agent, is assigned as a case officer to recruit a Russian diplomat to provide classified information to the CIA. Adept and quick thinking Frank soon learns the danger involved in espionage work as he confronts KGB members as well as an undermining current of deceit within the office of CIA headquarters. The mission takes him to countries on three continents before final resolution and closure is reached in the case.

It is also obvious that Murphy has an in-depth knowledge and understanding of human nature. His carefully-developed, authentic characters make it easy for the reader to identify with, relate to, despise, or embrace them. His characters include highly intelligent, dedicated, focused agents who are committed to take risks, idealists, willing to sacrifice, and those genuinely concerned for the citizens of our country.

Other characters are susceptible to greed, deceit, and misuse of position and power. He allows his characters to become vulnerable, to show their fear, loneliness, boredom, rejection, and the need for affirmation.

This careful introduction of his characters sets in motion a complex plot including, interpersonal relationships, suspense, romance, mystery, and drama. Murphy's fast-paced action plot holds the readers attention right up the dramatic, climactic end. The book is both exciting entertainment and an informative narrative, filled with insights into the behind the scenes inner workings of the CIA.

"Edge of Allegiance" is going to establish Thomas F. Murphy as a best selling author in the genre of espionage adventure thrillers. I look forward to reading more of CIA Agent Frank Manion.

Thomas F. Murphy's novel has it all. "Edge of Allegiance" is packed with thrilling action and a great romance story while being entertaining throughout its entirety. Mr. Murphy makes it easy to get into the main character's (Frank Manion) shoes as he begins his journey with the CIA.

The plot is very well thought out and all the characters come together at the end making it an excellent story. "Edge of Allegiance" was an easy but very exciting read. It was difficult to put the book down, as I constantly wanted to know what would happen next. The accurate description of the many locations make it even easier to picture yourself right there with the characters. I should also mention that the author is also quite funny at times.

I highly recommend this book not just to anyone who is curious as to how the CIA works, but also to readers who would enjoy a great thriller and love story. You will be pleasantly amazed at how ingenious the plot and characters come together and operate. I very much hope the author writes a sequel to this book.

If you want true accounts of the persecution that took place by the Heretical church of the day and those that stood stong for their Biblical belief and died for it, this is a must read.

This should be in the homes of every Baptist family, as it already is in most Amish families. As the book itself explains, it is a history of fifteen centuries of the suffering of the Baptist people and their martyrdom at the hands of the catholic church. A list of popes up to the time it was written is included in the back. It proves that Baptists existed long before Martin Luther, and were martyred for such sins as reading the Bible and Baptizing adults after they were saved. It is impossible to deny these facts because this book documented these horrors and was written hundreds of years ago, before political correctness came into being, using the records of governments most of which have since been destroyed. The names of hundreds of individual Baptist people are recorded along with descriptions of the accusations against them, their tortures and death. It is detailed, and too graphic for children.

The story of the Anabaptists is one of incredible pain and spiritual triumph. This impressive work was written in the seventeenth century and recounts the stories of many men and women who suffered and often faced terrible death for what they thought was right. Apart from individuals stories, the book contains many emotionally touching letters written by martyrs to their families and friends. The book also describes the sufferings of some of the early Christians and the later Waldensians.
The legacy of the Anabaptists lives on in the Amish and Mennonites. In fact, an article about Amish forgiveness in the aftermath of the recent tragic school shooting was one of the things that brought this book to my attention. Personally, I feel Christians of any denomination could take something useful from this book.
Overall, "Martyr's Mirror" is an extremely powerful and moving book.

A part of my family research - but brings the sadness, the strength and the Christian conviction to a very harsh reality. Something all of us from those roots need to read.

This is an excellent work and a great accompaniment to Foxes' Book of Martyrs. It is an enormous volume with much information I have not seen before.
I highly recommend it as an addition to every Christian's library, and to anyone studying the subject of martyrdom.

F.F.Bruce has written a good History of the New Testament. H explains the topics in the book well.

FF Bruce was thorough and brilliantly so. His adeptness in the biblical and related languages is second to none. This volume is a must for all serious studies of the Bible. There is so much here to be gleaned and treasured.

I read this book 25 years ago. It is an excellent overview of the historical period in which the New Testament was born. After reading this, you will have all the important basics you need to understand the Greek, Roman, and Jewish historical, cultural, and political backgrounds to the New Testament. It reads as a no-nonsense history of the period, with the student of the Bible in mind.

One of the most balanced history books on Bible history available. Dr. Bruce is a phenomenal historian with a great deal of objectivity for an evangelical. He's not afraid to write about the controversial, but certainly remains faithful to the basic tenets of the Christian faith. This book is a must read for anyone who wishes to understand early Christianity in the context of its historical setting.

I really liked this book because it was historical and gave all the sources. I particularly liked the section where Professor Bruce documented Jews claiming to have killed Jesus Christ -- Jewish Talmud and other Jewish sources take credit for Jews killing Christ Jesus. Anyone who doubts that Jews killed Jesus Christ is refusing to take Jewish documents from the ancient world seriously.

If you are interested in the history of the International Left in the first half of the 20th century or are a militant trying to understand some of the past lessons of our history concerning the communist response to various social and labor questions this book is for you. I have reviewed elsewhere Trotsky's writings published under the title The Left Opposition, 1923-1929 (in three volumes) dealing with Trotsky's internal political struggles for power inside the Russian Communist Party (and by extension, the political struggles inside the Communist International) in order to save the Russian Revolution. This book is part of a continuing series of volumes in English of his writings from his various points of external exile from 1929 up until his death in 1940. These volumes were published by the organization that James P. Cannon, early American Communist Party and later Trotskyist leader founded, the Socialist Workers Party, during the 1970's and 1980's. (Cannon's writings in support of Trotsky's work are reviewed elsewhere in this space). Look in the see all my reviews aection in this space for other related reviews on and by this important world communist leader.

After the political defeat of the various Trotsky-led Left Oppositions 1923 to 1929 by Stalin and his state and party bureaucracy he nevertheless found it far too dangerous to keep Trotsky in Moscow. He therefore had Trotsky placed in internal exile at Ata Alma in the Soviet Far East in 1928. Even that turned out to be too much for Stalin's tastes and in 1929 he arranged for the external exile of Trotsky to Turkey. Although Stalin probably rued the day that he did it this exile was the first of a number of places which Trotsky found himself in external exile. Other places included, France, Norway and, finally, Mexico where he was assassinated by a Stalinist agent in 1940. As these volumes, and many others from this period attest to, Trotsky continued to write on behalf of a revolutionary perspective. Damn, did he write. Some, including a few of his biographers, have argued that he should have given up the struggle, retired to who knows where, and acted the role of proper bourgeois writer or professor. Please! These volumes scream out against such a fate, despite the long odds against him and his efforts on behalf of international socialist revolution. Remember this is a revolutionary who had been through more exiles and prisons than one can count easily, held various positions of power and authority in the Soviet state and given the vicissitudes of his life could reasonably expect to return to power with a new revolutionary upsurge. Personally, I think Trotsky liked and was driven harder by the long odds.

The political prospects for socialist revolution in the period under discussion were, to say the least, rather bleak, or ultimately turned out that way. The post-World War I revolutionary upsurge has dissipated leaving Soviet Russia isolated. Various other promising revolutionary situations, most notably the aborted German revolution of 1923 that would have gone a long way to saving the Russian Revolution, had come to nought. In the period under discussion there is a real sense of defensiveness about the prospects for revolutionary change. The specter of fascism loomed heavily and we know at what cost to the international working class. The capitulation to fascism by the German Communist and Social Democratic Parties in 1933, the defeat of the heroic Austrian working class in 1934, the defeat in Spain in 1939, and the outlines of the impending Second World War colored all political prospects, not the least Trotsky's.

Organizationally, Trotsky developed two tactical orientations. The first was a continuation of the policy of the Left Opposition during the 1920's. The International Left Opposition as it cohered in 1930 still acted as an external and unjustly expelled faction of the official Communist parties and of the Communist International and oriented itself to winning militants from those organizations. After the debacle in Germany in 1933 a call for new national parties and a new, fourth, international became the organizational focus. Many of the volumes here contain letters, circulars, and manifestos around these orientations. The daunting struggle to create an international cadre and to gain some sort of mass base animate many of the writings collected in this series. Many of these pieces show Trotsky's unbending determination to make a breakthrough. That these effort were, ultimately, militarily defeated during the course of World War Two does not take away from the grandeur of the efforts. Hats off to Leon Trotsky.

As to the 1929-33 Supplement the reviewer recommends a careful reading of the following articles: Tactics in the USSR (on how the opposition should conduct its propaganda campaign toward the rank and file of the Russian Communist Party); Prospects of the Communist League of America (on the internal difficulties facing the leadership and how to keep it from wreaking the fragile organization in the `dog days' of its existence), Andreas Nin and Victor Serge (notes on two key Left Oppositionists who would later break ranks with Trotsky): On an Entry into the SAP (an important organizational article on the tactics of revolutionary regroupment with forces moving to the left of the Socialist and Communist Parties in Germany); and Trouble in the French Section (how the personal squabbles of a propaganda group paralyze a small organization).

The years 1936-37 were decisive in the struggles of working people to defeat fascism and prevent the holocaust that was called World War II.The Great Depression was devasting the working people round the world. In this book, the co-leader with Lenin of the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917, Leon Trotsky, exposes the Moscow witch hunt trials, through which the bureaucrat-dictator Stalin ( NOT a communist ! ) began the process of the final rubbing out of communist opposition to his regime. The civil war in Spain raged and was in its crucial phase: would the workers and peasants of Spain defeat the fascists through revolutionary means or would the coalition of liberals, "democratic" socialists ( read: pro-capitalist "socialists" ), Stalinists, and sadly, anarchist leaders who sold themselves and their powerful unions to the reform-ist coalition - the Popular Front-open the gates to the fascists, making World War II inevitable ? How could working people help out the fight of the Chinese people against in Japanese invasion of 1937: the opening guns of World War II? How to build a revolutionary leadership, both in the countries mentioned above, around the world, and in the U.S. itself? In this valuable book and two others-"The Spanish Revolution" and "Leon Trotsky on China", also published by Pathfinder Press, the great revolutionist poses these question and attempts to answer them in terms of action. As world capitalism sinks into a new depression, and as world imperialism, Yankee imperialism in the first rank, drives us working people towards fascism and a new world war, those who fight for a new and human world in the streets and on the strike picket lines need this book BAD.

This volume begins with Trotsky's writing on board the ship Ruth the Norwegian government used to deport him to Mexico. His "In Socialist Norway," is a humorous well-written account of how the Social Democrats who ruled Norway in the thirties, buckled under to the pressure of native fascists and Stalin to first restrict Trotsky's right to defend himself against the slanders of the Moscow trials, and then placed him under house arrest until he was invited to Mexico. I found his analysis of Kamenev, Zinoviev, and Stalin himself, in his articles written in Mexico explaining the Moscow trials to be interesting studies in how personal character is a factor in revolutionary leadership and retreat from that leadership. Also very interesting is the correspondence and proposals Trotsky wrote around building the commission led by American philosopher John Dewey that investigated the Moscow trials. As always with all of the Trotsky Writings Volumes, there is a week-to-week, sometimes day-by-day, chronicle of world events, and of Trotsky's struggle to build a revolutionary movement.

This is one of a 14-volume series of writings by Leon Trotsky, who along with V.I. Lenin was a central leader of the 1917 Russian Revolution. These volumes cover the years 1929-1940, when Trotsky led the political fight world-wide to maintain the continuity of Bolshevik's revolutionary perspective and leadership against the reactionary policies imposed by the Stalinist regime in the Soviet Union. Reading Trotsky carefully, one can learn a lot about history and about today's world, as well as how to apply Marxist methods to orient oneself for working-class political action.

This volume includes more than 100 articles and letters. They cover topics ranging from the economic depression and the rising inter-imperialist tensions leading to World War II, to the Stalinist frame-up trials in the Soviet Union, the Spanish Civil War, and detailed leadership questions posed in workers movements in different countries at the time. These volumes are lively, pointed and have extensive notes and chronologies to aid the reader today.

I'd also recommend some other titles written by Trotsky at this time, including The History of the Russian Revolution, The Fight Against Fascism in Germany, Trade Unions in the Epoch of Imperialist Decay, and The Transitional Program for Socialist Revolution, all available from the same publisher, Pathfinder Press.

If you are interested in the history of the International Left in the first half of the 20th century or are a militant trying to understand some of the past lessons of our history concerning the communist response to various social and labor questions this book is for you. I have reviewed elsewhere Trotsky's writings published under the title The Left Opposition, 1923-1929 (in three volumes) dealing with Trotsky's internal political struggles for power inside the Russian Communist Party (and by extension, the political struggles inside the Communist International) in order to save the Russian Revolution. This book is part of a continuing series of volumes in English of his writings from his various points of external exile from 1929 up until his death in 1940. These volumes were published by the organization that James P. Cannon, early American Communist Party and later Trotskyist leader founded, the Socialist Workers Party, during the 1970's and 1980's. (Cannon's writings in support of Trotsky's work are reviewed elsewhere in this space). Look in the archives in this space for other related reviews on and by this important world communist leader.


After the political defeat of the various Trotsky-led Left Oppositions 1923 to 1929 by Stalin and his state and party bureaucracy he nevertheless found it far too dangerous to keep Trotsky in Moscow. He therefore had Trotsky placed in internal exile at Ata Alma in the Soviet Far East in 1928. Even that turned out to be too much for Stalin's tastes and in 1929 he arranged for the external exile of Trotsky to Turkey. Although Stalin probably rued the day that he did it this exile was the first of a number of places which Trotsky found himself in external exile. Other places included, France, Norway and, finally, Mexico where he was assassinated by a Stalinist agent in 1940. As these volumes, and many others from this period attest to, Trotsky continued to write on behalf of a revolutionary perspective. Damn, did he write. Some, including a few of his biographers, have argued that he should have given up the struggle, retired to who knows where, and acted the role of proper bourgeois writer or professor. Please! These volumes scream out against such a fate, despite the long odds against him and his efforts on behalf of international socialist revolution. Remember this is a revolutionary who had been through more exiles and prisons than one can count easily, held various positions of power and authority in the Soviet state and given the vicissitudes of his life could reasonably expect to return to power with a new revolutionary upsurge. Personally, I think Trotsky liked and was driven harder by the long odds.

The political prospects for socialist revolution in the period under discussion are, to say the least, rather bleak, or ultimately turned out that way. The post-World War I revolutionary upsurge has dissipated leaving Soviet Russia isolated. Various other promising revolutionary situations, most notably the aborted German revolution of 1923 that would have gone a long way to saving the Russian Revolution, had come to nought. In the period under discussion there is a real sense of defensiveness about the prospects for revolutionary change. The specter of fascism loomed heavily and we know at what cost to the international working class. The capitulation to fascism by the German Communist and Social Democratic Parties in 1933, the defeat of the heroic Austrian working class in 1934, the defeat in Spain in 1939, and the outlines of the impending Second World War colored all political prospects, not the least Trotsky's.

Organizationally, Trotsky developed two tactical orientations. The first was a continuation of the policy of the Left Opposition during the 1920's. The International Left Opposition as it cohered in 1930 still acted as an external and unjustly expelled faction of the official Communist parties and of the Communist International and oriented itself to winning militants from those organizations. After the debacle in Germany in 1933 a call for new national parties and a new, fourth, international became the organizational focus. Many of the volumes here contain letters, circulars, and manifestos around these orientations. The daunting struggle to create an international cadre and to gain some sort of mass base animate many of the writings collected in this series. Many of these pieces show Trotsky's unbending determination to make a breakthrough. That these effort were, ultimately, militarily defeated during the course of World War Two does not take away from the grandeur of the efforts. Hats off to Leon Trotsky.

I don't think I can add to what has been said about Alibi on Ice, other than I was captivated. I haven't enjoyed reading a story like this for a long while. The tension made me shiver as if I was actually on the mountain. Just a very well put together story that kept me asking for more.

Do yourself a favor and buy this book, you won't be disappointed.

I grabbed this book while on vacation out in the Northwest. I had spent some time on Mt. Ranier hiking, and thoroughly enjoyed following Mr. Small's murderer up and down the treacherous trails of that mountain.
It's a good suspense thriller, that transports you to Mt. Ranier, it's ice caves and glaciers. Its characters are well done, and its ending a surprise.
A very satisfying read.

One of the threads I like to talk about to readers is not to pay too much
attention to labels. I mention that labels are a marketing advice and most
books cannot be so definitively described and if the reader reads only the
books that are labeled the type of book they usually enjoy, they will miss
some great stories. I, of course, have my own favorite "types" of stories
(I'm an avowed anglophile--you know what I usually read) and the "thriller"
genre has not been high on my TBR list.

Mea culpa. I recently picked up Ben F. Small's suspense thriller ALIBI ON
ICE and was immediately caught up by the depth of characterization, the fun
of learning about something new to my experience (in this case, mountain
climbing!) and the mesmerizing settings that I assumed (never
assume...) would be absent in an action-oriented book. All of which shows
how narrow-minded I've been all these zillion years!

This was a most entertaining and enjoyable read. The most fascinating
quality of ALIBI ON ICE to me is that the reader knows right off who the bad
guy is, and, believe me, this guy is BAD. Rarely do I yelp out loud from
surprise, but I did while reading the first chapter! The excitement comes
from determining how this truly unpleasant character will be caught and
caught he gets in an amazing climax. I also love stories that take me new
places and I'm relatively confidant that if marooned on an icy mountain, I
have learned enough to get myself safely home, if only in my own mind and if
only on my backside.

So don't waste time the way I did, try something new!

Kit Sloane

The Margot O'Banion & Max Skull Mystery Series

Ben Small is a lawyer, and ALIBI ON ICE is about lawyers, corrupt and murdered lawyers. But the action in this taut police procedural doesn't take place in a courtroom. It occurs on Washington's towering Mount Ranier. And a particular strength of the story is Small's use (in the tradition of Dame Agatha) of the setting not just as backdrop but as a character itself, forcing the human actors to confront the mountain's crevasses, snowfields, glaciers and avalanches as sharply as they confront one another.

The antagonist, Emery Boyd, is a studly but sociopathic climber who uses the mountain to kill and hide the evidence as indifferently as he uses women for sexual gratification and to get information about the police probe into the disappearance of his law firm partner, Herman Klein. Boyd's alibi seems iron-clad, or rather ice-clad: he was seen on the mountain at the time of the murders.

Amy Galler, a female homicide detective from Seattle, goes to the mountain under cover, determined to continue the investigation and confront Boyd. But an unexpected meeting with another climber -- ironically, Boyd's best mountaineering buddy -- leads her into romance, vulnerability and danger.

Small slowly spins up the tension into a craggy climax, moving the characters around like chessmen with ice axes. And the climbing details make it clear that Small has spent more than a few hours on the mountain himself. The ending is terrific: satisfying but completely unexpected. I never saw it coming.

This is an excellent first novel, and I look forward to Small's next one.

If you like action thrillers, this should be a pleaser. Snowy, treacherous Mount Rainier is a major character in ALIBI ON ICE, Ben Small's debut novel. You'll find colorful landscapes as you trudge up the mountain with veteran climbers, learning firsthand what it's like to be there. Emery Boyd, the villain, whom you meet on page one, is as despicable as they come. After murdering a federal judge to keep him from revealing a blackmail plot, Boyd finds it necessary (and enjoyable) to keep eliminating those who get too close to the truth.

The story is filled with interesting, believable characters. They include Detective Amy Galler, who suspects Boyd is a murderer, and Emery's long-time mountain climbing partner, John Whitney. The plot hangs around the disappearance of a partner in Boyd's Seattle law firm, Herman Klein, who was hired to settle the dead judge's estate. Boyd has what looks like a foolproof alibi, being lost in a snowstorm on Mount Rainier at the time of Klein's apparent murder. But Amy Galler follows her suspicions, attempting to enlist Whitney in an effort to break his friend's alibi. Things go from bad to worse, and it appears Boyd has engineered another triumph.

There's also a well-drawn, sleazy newspaper reporter who succeeds in generally gumming up the works. You'll have to read the book to get the rest of the story. And the ending has a neat twist. According to his website, Ben Small has another thriller in the works. If it's as good as this one, you won't want to miss it, either.

I was just looking for a story about animals for entertainment. I didn't expect to learn so much about primates and research and I never expected such a complex weave of animal and human behavior in a novel. The author maintains, like I do, that without understanding animals we won't be motivated to save their way of life, which is important to us in ways we don't normally comprehend. That is to say that when "one of us is chained, none of us are free." And we are animals too, which we often forget. The human side of this story could have only been crafted by a wise, deep thinking author who understands the complicated makeup of humans. The ending was thought provoking, educational and unexpected. The information about the animals was an
in- depth insight someone could have only gained by close personal observation. I came away from this read much richer.

Born to a middle-class academic family, Dana Armstrong might have expected to lead a sedate life. She had loving parents, a younger brother, Zack, and a "sister" - Annie. Interacting with loving care to each other, they seemed the ideal family. But there was a discontinuity - Annie was a chimpanzee. The trio was part of an experiment by Dana's father Reginald. Primate researchers in the 1960s were eager to learn if human-chimp communications could be achieved. Living with a human family continuously instead of in a labatory facility seemed the best opportunity. Wesselmann, in a finely wrought tale of the experiment and its consequences has provided us with a stirring, yet sensitive tale.

She opens with Dana well along in her life. She's gained a PhD in Primatology, following her father's path, and operates a sanctuary for chimps that have been subjected to a range of medical experiments, including being given AIDS. Her South Carolina site seems ideal, isolated, well protected to reduce outsider concerns, and supplied by caring donors. She's on the local university staff, keeping her academic foundation sound. Yet, somebody has gained access to the site, releasing the chimps. In the course of recovering them, one of the chimps is struck by a car and killed. The facility is hardly a secret, but the community rises in protest. It also garners the attention of somebody Dana had been trying to forget - Prof. Richard Lamier. Complicating her circumstances yet further, a new element enters her life in the person of Sam Wendt. Just what she doesn't need now is a critical journalist writing to an already hostile community. But Sam says magic words about her childhood with Annie. He's not to be summarily dismissed.

Wesselmann builds her story and her characters with seemingly effortless grace. It is only as event progress and interaction builds that the power of her prose emerges. The pace is swift and furious - this is not a book easily set aside - but nothing is forced or contrived. Dana is beset by many foils - Lamier emerges with increasing presence from the background, but it's her own brother Zack on whom much of this story hinges. He's a wastrel, an emotional nomad, and a constant pressure on her goodwill and energy. There's a hint that he may have had something to do with releasing the chimps, although motivation seems lacking. The chimp release leads to widespread implications with the future of the sanctuary and Dana's own career hanging over an abyss. She has little but her own resources of strength and cunning to draw on. Can that possibly be enough with all that's arrayed against her?

The author's account goes beyond prose skills. Clearly this work rests on a solid research base. It's easy to believe Wesselmann was at the side of more than one primatologist, likely in a refuge such as the one depicted here. Chimp behaviours - including one young one obviously brought up among humans, who insists on clothes and a potty, are too vividly depicted and explained to be fabricated. Her research points up the underlying importance of the subjects in this tale - can we justify what we do in experimenting on animals. Especially our closest living cousins [stephen a. haines - Ottawa, Canada]

Debbie Lee Wesselmann provides a spell binding novel which sheds light on the precarious plight of chimpanzees which are raised in captivity and after having served the purpose of humans ... their lives are left in limbo. In a world concerned with saving our planet by going green, decreasing carbon dioxide emissions from gas-guzzling automobiles to keep our air cleaner and prevent global warming from destroying everything - here is another cause which deserves our attention and support with economic resources. The book is written with sensitivity, compassion, and knowledge about the lives of chimpanzees in captivity. It is a superbly written highly original novel which combines adventure, romance, and human interest, maintaining the reader's attention from start to finish.

Essentially, the book is about the scientist, Dr. Dana Armstrong, Director of the South Carolina Primate Project and her attempts to keep afloat the sanctuary which serves as home to chimpanzees who have been discarded after being involuntary participants in scientific experiments at labs or residents at zoos which have closed. The major problem she is facing is how to convince the Unviersity president and a major donor that her facility is a safe place for the animals and is not a threat to the neighborhood. Unfortunately, there was a break-in at the sanctuary and the animals were freed ... someone obtained a key and simply opened up the cages, letting the animals roam about the offices, sanctuary and beyond, into the nearby family neighborhood.

Dana, Andy, the vet for the animals, Mary one of the research associates and graduate students helped round up the missing animals - all except one - the most dangerous, named Benji. Benji had been owned by a cruel animal trainer and had unpredicatable behavior as a result. Dana had to call the local sheriff to help find him and she had to admit Benji could be dangerous. Sadly, when Benji was found - he was dead, having been hit by a car. It caused Dana much grief because it reminded her of Annie, a chimp with whom she was raised as a child. The chimp came into their household as an experiment by her psychologist father, who wanted it treated as a family member. Annie was taken away after an unfortunate incident occurred to Dana ... Annie was supposed to have gone to a lab for experiments but the trail as to what really happened to her led to a dead-end. No one knows whether Annie was alive or dead. No one knows what kind of experiments were performed on Annie. This incident haunted Dana ...

Unexpectedly, a free lance reporter Sam Wendt entered Dana's life. He threw her world upside down. Initially, he asked questions about the experiment led by her father, regarding teaching chimps the use of language. Later, after learning about the break-in and delving deeply into the politics of animal research and competition for funding, Sam became a willing accomplice in her quest to save the chimps and discover who was behind this disastrous event. The author deftly connects a haunting past event in Dana's life to her present predicament, where her qualifications to lead and direct this sanctuary are being seriously questioned ... The reader will learn much about the sad circumstances which surround the lives of these most endearing animals, chimpanzees. Most readers will empathize with their condition and be hooked on this story where the goal is to keep this non-threatening primate sanctuary thriving and maintain the safety of its residents. Erika Borsos [pepper flower]

I gave this book four stars because it's not Pulitzer material. But it's an excellent novel. The story unfolds with enough background to allow us to begin immediately to feel involved, and builds on the basic information with just the right amount of well-timed exposition. Each character "unfolds" exceptionally well so that the reader definitely experiences "getting to know" them moments. It's a skill to be able to do that well, and Debbie Lee Wesselmann is a skilled story-teller.

The basics of the story have been outlined well by other reviewers so I won't recap those. What I will say is that the book is one to be savored because the themes the author offers us are worthy of careful consideration. As I savored this book, I realized that it's not just about the "captivity" of the primates... or, rather, it IS about the captivity of ALL of the primates, including the human ones. And the careful reader will be fascinated by how each handles their "imprisonment" and if or how each escapes.

And, in the meantime, reading about ape behavior is fascinating and great fun. And you may also enjoy the irony of learning about how university boards and funding committees can behave.

Good book. I recommend it.

In Dr Dana Armstrong's world, as the director of a sanctuary for chimpanzees in South Carolina, she is doing the best she can for those chimpanzees damaged or exploited by their interaction with humans. Unfortunately, the sanctuary is vandalised, chimpanzees are set free and the resulting publicity threatens to destroy everything that Dana has worked towards. In addition, echoes from Dana's own childhood are threatening to place her career in jeopardy.

In this moving novel, Ms Wesselmann gives life to an engaging cast of characters, include chimpanzees and their carers as well as activists, academics and villains. In confronting her past, Dana also learns to face a different future. This story is both heart warming and heart wrenching. It invites readers to think beyond the fiction. Deftly written, without extraneous verbiage, Ms Wesselmann writes a powerful novel where not everything is as it seems. Family secrets, power struggles, romance are issues in the human and chimpanzee worlds as well. I finished this novel some days ago but will continue to think about the messages and their ramifications for some time to come. And that, for me, is usually the difference between a 4 and 5 star novel.

Jennifer Cameron-Smith

This book is amazing!!! My 5yr old found a book at the library about greek myths and loved them so much that I ordered this book. We have now finished it and she is still asking for more.
The nice thing about this book is it is broken up by ages so you can do what your child is ready for, our 5yr old just loved all the stories soooo much we finished the entire thing.

Purchased as a gift for Christmas. We did not read this book ourselves, so can't review the quality of the composition. However, the book was well made and arrived on time from Amazon.

This book is NOT for 5-year-olds. I look forward to when my child is a couple years older but, for now, this volcabulary is beyond a kindergarten level and not at all geared to that age group. I totally agree with other reviews about it being well-written, and I'm sure that these people's seventh graders do indeed enjoy it, but I think it's ridiculous to advertise this as a book for 5 and up!

I bought this book when my daughter's class was teaching Greek Mythology. She was happy to see this book and finished it very soon, now she can relate most of them to me. And the best part is it has explanation and spelling hint. It makes our reading aloud very easily. I am going to buy the other two read aloud series. I think this opens the door for my kids to the classic literature.

We have been planning our trip to Greece and Crete for several months and I thought it would be good to expose our boys 7 and 10 to the stories in Greek Mythology. After reading reviews on Amazon.com, I decided to buy this book. My boys absolutely love the stories in this book. We read about 20 minutes per night (it's nice that each story has an estimated reading time) and they beg for more after each story. Then we review the "A Few Words More" sections - which they also really enjoy and which give great insight such as the source of the phrase "between a rock and a hard place" which traces back to the Odyssey! For anyone planmning to expose their kids to Greek Mythology, I highly recommend this book and D'Aulaires Book of Greek Myths. I'd read the latter first for "introduction" and then follow with the Russell book. There may be some repeated stories -but trust me, the kids will love every minute.

This is a great product. I am a respiratory therapy student and this book is a must have.

A must for all respiratory therapists, sleep tech and the nurses who work with respiratory related illness.

This book is EXCELLANT!! It is very easy to read & contains a complete, condensed "stock-pile" of the basics of Respiratory Therapy. It's great!! I recently returned to the Respiratory workforce, after taking a "sabatical" of approximately 8 years. This little book helped me to review what I needed to function in the field of RT. It's nice & compact for easy carrying and has valuable info needed to complete a days work!!

This book contains the information needed by anyone who want to be a quality Respiratory Care Practitioner. I spent several years gathering this information in a hand written pocket notebook and I still did not have the scope and breadth of this pocket tome.

If you want to be good you need this book.

Gerald Zollar,RRT

This is a great little pocket guide, although it needs to be updated. My only suggestion is hide it in your locker at the end of your shift or it is GUARANTEED TO DISAPPEAR!!!!