N Books

Exactly as described, fast delivery. I will always try to choose amazon from now on.

This book is THE best LP book I have come across. The topics are very clear and presented in the best possible manner. Introduces you to several basic and advanced LP topics, theorems and algorithms. The exercises at the end of each chapter test the students' understanding in an appropriate manner. A good number of examples are given to explain the theory in a better way. I would definitely recommend this book to a student interested in learning about optimization procedures and/or algorithm development.

Surely helps if you have taken a linear algebra course before. Some students who haven't had a linear algebra course find the math nomenclature formidable in the beginning.

This book is impressive for theory, every thing you ever wanted to know or how to avoid some other is here. I teach to industrial engineering students, so i have to use other books for the application, but for the theory, everything is covered here, even more, in the book are several simple rules to avoid tipical problems of the simplex method or transportation problems, or integer forms. You can't call yourself a pro if you haven't read this book.

Most part can be expressed in a more terse way and with math language. However, the book revolve around using very lengthy sentence to explain, which is not so helpful and clear as expressed with math. It can be condensed to half thickness.

The best part of this book is the first half, where the foundations of linear programming are presented in a clear yet relatively rigorous fashion, accompanied by numerous intuitive geometrical explanations of the abstract general concepts. This approach, supplementing mathematics with graphical insights, works extremely well for this topic.

The quality goes down somewhat, perhaps neccessarily, in the latter half of the book as topics are presented less carefully, and in a somewhat rushed manner in order to cover all of the material the authors decided to include. Given that the fundamentals are covered so well, perhaps this is a fair trade.

The only real negative I can think of is that it's a small crime for professors to create their own publishing companies (Athena only publishes works by a small group of MIT professors) and then still charge outrageous amounts for the books. This would be completely unacceptable were it not for the fact that, unlike most self-published work, this book's production quality is on par with that of the large publishers.

Beside his 25 fascinating books on history, economics, and political theory -- Murray Rothbard was a great polemicist and social commentator.

Here's some of his outrageous best.

As Iýve said before, Murray Rothbard was a historian, cultural critic, economist and social theoretician, and political strategist. Until his death, Murray commented vigorously on the cultural affairs of the day in the Rothbard-Rockwell Report. These articles are collected in this outstanding work.

Actually, I use the phrase ýcultural affairsý broadly since these articles concern history, political strategy, movie reviews and more. With Rotbard you donýt get canned bromides like some other would-be ýdeep thinkers,ý but an exciting and informed opinion on topic after topic. As just one example, consider the war against the Serbs. Leftists from all quarters (Hitchens, Lerner, etc.) couldnýt wait to go to war against the Serbs in defense of the so-called Bosnian nation. Murray points out that there never was Bosnian nation (or even a Yugoslavian nation for that matter.) Likewise, the left ý contrary to its supposed representatives -- has never really been in favor of peace; after all Barnes derided the ýpro war pacifistsý of his day. Murray even points out the similarities of the Bosnian ýMoslemsý to the old Bogomil heretics of that area (humorously pointing out that the Bogomils were what Ayn Rand falsely considered all Christians to be.)

At the same time Rothbard was writing these essays, he was writing monthly articles on economics in The Free Market newsletter. Those articles are gathered in MAKING ECONOMIC SENSE. If years from now someone asks me what ýreallyý happened in the 80s and 90s, Iýll direct them to these two books.

Murray Rothbard was a true polymath as any review of his work in poltical economy, history, economic history, the history of economic thought and philosophy would show. His dedication to his "purist" vision of a free society animated his whole work.

Unfortunately this focus may deter many readers who do not share Rothbard's politics from exploring his work. That's a shame as his thinking and writing is clear and illuminating. Rothbard nevers beats around the bush. Non-libertarians need to discover Rothbard and cherry pick to their heart's content.

This book shows another side to Rothbard's career. His journalistic writing. This volume covers politics, economics, culture and the movies. So in many ways it's his most accessible, and entertaining, book for non-libertarians. It is probably one of the best volumes of journalism covering American politics and cultural controversies in the late 1980s to 1990s. My guess is that in decades to come readers looking back on this period will be digging into this volume.

I was expecting these essays by Murray Rothbard to be a fun read, and they were. But they were also amazingly educational, providing a detailed political and cultural picture of the first half of the 1990's from a conservative/libertarian perspective.

Yes, I said "conservative/libertarian"! Rothbard writes here from an unambiguously right-wing perspective. And that's fine with me--we libertarians have all spent so much time hating the present administration that we may have forgotten how bad Clinton's politically correct crew really was. Still, I suspect Rothbard, were he still with us, would regret some of his Republican political endorsements here (which include George W. Bush for governor of Texas).

Anyway, these essays are full of wit, facts, and incisive analysis, all in Rothbard's usual crystal-clear writing style. The introduction suggests the book was edited down from a much larger group of articles Rothbard wrote for the Rothbard-Rockwell Report. I'd say it's about time for volume 2.

This book exhibits the light hearted nature of the Libertarian
mind. In reading this collection of essays I could see Rothbard's
amusement with the left/right struggle as if he were watching
a favorite television re-run.

For Murray, exposing the selfish interests of those who hold
liberty and truth in contempt is as easy as shooting fish in a
barrel, and his aim is dead on.

I have an edition of this book which is autographed by
Lew Rockwell, another great American. (get one for yourself
at lewrockwell.com )

Timeless. Gotta love it.

My knowledge of Oracle and Java is beginner/intermediate level and I like this book a lot.

The book explains how SQLJ relates to SQL, PL/SQL, Java, JDBC and it provides a good introduction to the JDeveloper IDE (Integrated Development Environment).

The book is written very clearly and the appearance and organization of the text is well up to the O'Reilly standard.
I can't comment on the worked examples yet as I have not yet tried them out.

This is just an easy read with good code examples. It is geared toward the intermediate or beginner programmer, and presents clear explanation for easy understanding.

This is an outstanding book. SQLJ is a simpler way of embedding SQL statements in a Java programming, and is possibly the successor to PL/SQL.

I liked this book because it covers SQLJ programming, as well as:
1. Oracle SQL.
2. Oracle PL/SQL.
3. Oracle JDeveloper.
4. Developing J2EE components for the Oracle9i Application server (9iAS) such as EJB, servlets and JSP.
5. Java stored procedures.

I liked the author's writing style: it is clear and to the point. I found it very easy to read, and was able to follow the examples in the book and apply them to my own programs.

I highly recommend this great little book!

This is a great book if you are interested in building J2EE applications and want to link to an Oracle database but don't want to learn the complicated JDBC API. It isn't an 'intro to programming' book like so many out there; it is, however, perfect for object-oriented programmers who are wanting to learn java with a quikness. Finally, a great SQLJ book has emerged!

I found this book to be concise, to the point, and very readable. A large amount of material was well presented in a relatively small amount of space. And the examples worked as advertised.

I found myself incorporating the material presented into my work before I finished reading the book.

An excellent resource.

The Lord has blessed everyone through Gayle Irwin as the Spirit of Jesus is displayed for us to view between the paper covers of this book.
Bill Bracken, Pastor Calvary Stanberry

I was raised in a church organization that was cultlike in its legalism. We read the same Bible as everyone else but by the time I was 7 (about when I could read it myself), it was clear to me that the God being taught and the God of the Bible were two very different people. As the child of my parents, my mind believed what I was taught but as a child of God, my heart could never accept it. Jesus is the man that Gayle Erwin wrote about and the God who had been speaking to my heart for my whole life. I just had to get my head straight. The Jesus Style was the tool God used. Most people reviewing this book remark on its depiction of true Christianity. For me, it simply saved my life. I couldn't find the real Jesus anywhere and had begun to think that maybe that person about whom I was taught as a child was the real Jesus. I was ready to turn my back on God and walk away, my life had been so painful. In the pages of this book, Gayle Erwin described the Jesus my heart had always known and of course, backed it up with scripture. I cannot explain the joy I felt to have been so affirmed. I knew I wasn't crazy. I knew the Jesus I read was different and so did Gayle Erwin. This book is in its 40 somethingth printing now. I am sure hundreds of thousands of copies have gone out. But I believe that God inspired this work of Gayle Erwin to pull this girl out of the despair that legalism causes, to put my feet back on the path and get me moving again. A couple of years ago, it was my greatest happiness to drive to hear Gayle Erwin speak. I hoped I would have a chance to talk to him. I wanted to thank him and I did. Without any God in my life, I don't know where I would have ended up. God used this man and this book at that particular time to reach me. If you are reading this, it is entirely possible that Jesus is trying to reach you too. Do what Gayle Erwin did....Listen. You have no idea how your life could change.

This book outlines in clear and unwavering language what it truly means to be a servant. It was very apparent that what most Christians consider being Christ-like and a servant to mankind is off the mark. Gayle Erwin will point you in the right direction without any vacillating at all. There are several occasions where Mr. Erwin is critical of even himself and how he has behaved in his walk with God.

If you consider yourself a Christian, other than the Bible, this is one of the most important books you will ever read.

If you have ever wondered what it truly means to follow Jesus, or if you have ever wondered "What Would Jesus Do?" then this book is a must read.

Written in plain language, this is an easy read. I found it to be an absolute joy to read it and gained some interesting insights in to the style of our Lord and Savior.

Truly a delightful, useful book, I recomend it to everyone.

This book is simply a fascinating look at how Jesus lived his life on earth, how he was perceived by others of his time, and how we can apply the example he set for us in today's world. The book boldly discusses problems Jesus would have had with many modern day institutions and cultural norms, and what he would have done differently. The ultimate conclusion is that Jesus was a leader who led by deliberately choosing to be a servant to all. If you want to know how to effectively lead or serve in any capacity, I would especially recommend this book to you. However, this book is great book for anyone who desires to know what it would have been like to know Jesus personally while he lived on earth.

Well, I can't say that I'm and expert at embroidery, but I'd like to be one day and this seems to be a good place to start. The book is very simply laid out, the instruction is very clear and it has very simple illustrations to go along with it. And it is filled with lots of great projects that seem easy to accomplish. I plan on using this as an activity that my 7 year old daughter and myself can learn together. Should be lots of fun.

My husband and I bought this book for our 8 year old daughter this year for Christmas. She has been wanting to learn to embroider for a while now. This book is very good! It is thorough and starts with the very basics. It covers much more than just embroidery though as well. It also covers needle work and cross stitch. The authors clearly explain all the supplies needed, how to work the stitches, and give great projects for the kids to do. It is a great resource and will be lovingly used for years to come. We bought some of the supplies listed in the book to make a little embroidery kit for her and she absolutely loves it. She is already partly through her first project. I highly recommend this book!!!

I recently purchased the how-to-book of Kids Embroidery, by Kristin Nicholas. It's terrific. The book is descriptive with step by step lessons on how to make an embroidery project. I have 3 girls, elementary school age that can follow the directions in the book. It's exciting to see the vivid photos of multi-cultural children in the book, as well as the illustrations of how-to's. I would recommend this embroidery book for anyone who'd like to give a gift to a child or adult, buy for themselves, or donate to a teacher's classroom for projects during school. This book will keep the kids busy for hours, and in the end, they'll have crafted a beautiful project as a gift or for themselves.

I enjoy this book and similiar ones that are based on a Waldorf-education approach to crafting. The projects are well-explained and useful as well as beautiful. "Kids Embroidery" is a down-to-earth book of crafting with easy to follow directions.

I've been a fan of Kristen's work for years. Her knitting patterns are fun and beautiful, so imagine my delight when I stumbled upon this book! This easy-to-follow book offers instructions on all of the different stitches that can be used to make all of the different colorful, creative, and innovative patterns she has designed. I'm 35 and I'm set to try my hand at this cool craft!

Those of us who have practiced and taught Kundalini Yoga for years know that simple things like alternate nostril breathing can slow the brain waves down to alpha state. Amid all the meditations, the missing piece of knowledge has been a means to convince others that these ancient methods have certain effects. David Shannahoff-Khalsa has provided the language which allows allopathic field members to talk with the alternative practitioners, yogis and yoginis and each side understand the other. To be able to demonstrate that "clinical trials and published positive results" [quotations mine] support the large number of meditations in the book Kundalini Yoga Meditation: Techniques Specific for Psychiatric Disorders, Couples Therapy & Personal Growth is invaluable to the teacher introducing new courses or disseminating information generally. Positive results during treatment of various DSM-IV disorders bring greater hope for cooperation between meditation and prescription drugs if needed - and the real-life opportunity to find out if drugs can be lessened or dispensed with safely. Until now, there was no safe alternative. I've used much of the text during my recent MBA business plan presentations built around my Kundalini Yoga business. Instructors and students alike found the possibilities fascinating and several signed up for classes. Anne Leggett-Walker, MBA

I am a Ana Brett & Ravi Singh Kundalini Yoga DVD fan. I found this book intriguing and insightful. It amply demonstrates how Kundalini Yoga is a technology based on models of the mind/body construct which, although instrinsic to yoga lore for thousands of years, are just now being given credence by "mainstream," researchers. This book bridges the gap admirably. Yoga Quick Fixes - Ana Brett & Ravi Singh

I found a copy of this book on the shelf in Barnes and Nobles. I was so impressed by the scientific research supporting the practices and also by the testimonals that I begin doing the protocol on my own almost immediately. I have had amazing results. I have tried countless healing modalities from conventional to alternative and I have not found any treatment that offers lasting results. I have been doing the PTSD protocol for 3 months now and my life has transformed. For the first time in my life I am enjoying myself. Anyone who suffers from chronic psychological problems should read this book and try the protocol that fits their particular situation. There is absolutely nothing to lose and a lot to gain!!!!!!!

In an era where the general public has been led to believe that the only relief and/or cure for some chronically disabling disorders,such as obsessive compulsive disorder and bipolar disorder,are with potent medications,Shannahoff-Khalsa offers a non-invasive time tested yogic approach to treatment and cure.This is not just a simple self-help manual.Shannahoff-Khalsa proves through scientific studies that the disorder-based chemistry of the brain can be altered to achieve positive relief and cure.He offers a series of protocols that involve unique and disorder-specific Kundalini Yoga meditation techniques for treating a range of otherwise difficult-to-treat mental health problems.
These techniques were apparently developed over many thousands of years and he now helps make them avaliable to more than just the yoga student.I am not familiar with any similar publication in the western press,and the help that this book may offer to a society riddled with anxiety and other troubling and frequently severe disorders cannot afford to be overlooked by the medical practitioners,psychiatrists,psychologists and any person with family or friend that suffers with these disabling conditions.
Anthony D Clifford.
PRESIDENT AND CO-FOUNDER IN 1983 --THE JEWISH HOUSE CRISIS CENTRE -SYDNEY ,AUSTRALIA

I tried this method as a self-treatment for OCD, from which I had suffered for quite a few years (about 26 years, actually), and which was getting worse. The breathing method prescribed is quite arduous and I was not sure that it would work for me. Actually, to be blunt, I was quite skeptical that it would work for anyone, as I am not a believer in any Eastern religion (or other religion) and am generally inclined to believe that the benefits of meditation, yoga, and like practices are overblown, even when significant. However, I was desperate, and I had read Mr. Shannahoff-Khalsa's scientific articles, which appeared to have been conducted according to sound scientific protocols and to give significant support to the hypothesis that certain kinds of breathing methods can treat OCD. I actually found that the method worked -- my obsessions diminished and eventually went away. I do not take any prescription medications, and I actually do not even practice the method anymore (I don't need to). Of course, I am simply one person, and it is possible that things would have changed for me, anyway, with or without this method. However, nothing had worked before this except, to some extent, Saint John's Wort, which I do still take but which had never cured (merely alleviated) my obsessions. I also worked on psychological techniques I learned from Steven Phillipson's website, which I also highly recommend. Perhaps my recovery was a consequence of one of these or a combination, not of the pranayama breathing; perhaps it was merely something that would have happened by itself. But I don't think so, and I would urge anyone who is suffering as I did to try this. You have very little to lose and a lot to gain. I myself saw results right away.

This book is more or less a sequel to Johnson's REAL JESUS, which exposes the fallacies of many New Testament scholars who enjoy pop culture status on various cable channels by extolling the idea of a "Jesus Movement" that seeks to interpret the gospels from a purely historical perspective. In this articulate, logical, and compelling book, Johnson moves past the arguments of the Jesus Movement and demonstrates how a divinely inspired New Testament focuses on a risen, living Christ. Johnson's book is a dynamic blueprint for understanding Christian living in the twenty-first century. In flowing prose, he shows us the diversity and richness of the gospels that have been seen one-dimensionally for such a long time. Johnson's scholarship is of the highest caliber and is used here to show what is truly at the heart of the Christian tradition.

I purchased copies for family and friends, believers and sceptics because Johnson convincingly portrays the faith of the early church that precedes the writing of the New Testament Gospel.He provides a needed emphasis on the real presence of Jesus by His Holy Spirit as a powerful interrealtional reality. Belief in the resurrection as a past event, even at the word of apostolic eye witnesses, does not adequately account for the rapid growth of the Church-communities. There had to be more than an acceptance of a message:individual and group experiences accompied the preaching and teaching. Johnson describes the 'matter of fact' phenomenon that produced conversions and the writings of the New Testament. This is the faith reponse of believers today who greet eachother at Easter in the present tense: He is Risen!

I write from the perspective of a Protestant Evangelical who has often had misgivings about some of the Catholic literature I've read, but I can say that Luke Timothy Johnson's "Living Jesus" is one of the most Christ-exalting books I have read in many years. Johnson has brought Jesus Christ from the place of cold, hard historical facts (which is where most Catholics and Protestants alike often leave Him) to the place of the living Lord experienced by the early church and whom we can experience today. In the process, Johnson ably points out the fallacies employed by those involved in the quest for the historical Jesus, a quest that seems determine to deny practically every essential truth about Jesus. Though it's easy to see Johnson's Catholic roots in his writing, I encourage my Protestant brothers to read this book. You will find yourself fellowshipping with a true brother in Christ in the pages he has written. This is a book you will read more than once.

Luke Timothy Johnson does a masterful job at creating a book that engages the reader's mind and heart. Though this book is written from an ex-priest and still retains much Catholic tradition, the Protestant reader can also enjoy and gain insight from this well written text.

This book is not written for the skeptic or the Christian revisionist, like his previous book "The Real Jesus." Instead this material will penetrate the heart of the believer. As he wonderfully points out, "To be a Christian means to assert that Jesus is alive, is indeed life-giving Spirit." This book reminds the Christian that we should be learning from a living Jesus. To often, we look at Jesus as a piece of history. This is a wake-up call to Christians everywhere.

We are to learn from Jesus from great Christians, the church, and the New Testament. I find Dr. Johnson's book to be honest and forthright and appreciated his candor about the church and himself. This is a must read!

lt johnson is a moderately conservative catholic (in fact an ex-monk) who has written extensively on nt studies. this 203 page book can be read in a few hours and is not bogged down with scholarly jargon. essentially he is putting into perspective the value of historical Jesus studies. lt states that if Jesus is today alive for Christians, how then can we get a reliable picture of Him by using the means by which we study dead people! he has been gently criticised by some including ben witherington and raymond brown for separating the Jesus of history from the Jesus we worship - but i don't think that is the focus of johnson's argument. i think lt is simply pointing out (quite validly) that historical critical studies can give only a limited picture of Jesus. he uses as an interesting example adolf hitler. if we were to perform a study in "historical hitlerology" (attempting to construct a portait using what hitler thought of himself as well as the thoughts of his closest associates), we would indeed come up with a picture of hitler that would be quite different than what we know to be true. i would agree that this comparison is a little oblique, but johnson makes a good point. the first few chapters may seem a little fluffy to some but they move quickly into the meat of the work. all in all, this is a very readable work. not everyone will agree with johnson but all those interested in Jesus studies need to be exposed to his point of view!

I am the devoted owner of a gorgeous white sheepdog with blue blue eyes (with eyelashes no less..) and I just had to have this book. I adore Carolyne Roehm and the chapter on her homes and dogs were an added reason for me to own this one. I highly recommend this one for a gift.

I loved this book. The beautiful photos were a delight and the stories heart-warming. Every dog lover would love to have this book on their cocktail table!

I am an avid collector of dog memorabilia and motif items and this book was an inspiration! My husband just thought I was obsessive about dog objects! Your book gave me new ideas for old dog items that I never would have thought of. The photography is beautiful and the subjects are warm and true. I know that I am not alone in my endeavor to collect and display what I love!

I have read several other books with the same theme, however this book surpasses them all. Our copy is well loved and our guests tend to migrate toward it at our home. The book contains the stories of several people and how dogs have touched their lives. It is a glimpse into personal collections of avid dog lovers and collectors.

I've always had an affinity for dogs and the people who love them, which is probably why this book now occupies the premier spot on my coffee table. After reading the introduction by Larry Sheehan, in which he shares hilarious and endearing tales about his dog, Buster, I knew I'd found someone who truly understood what it means to live with and love dogs. Even bad ones. The book is a celebration of hardcore dog enthusiasm. It's fun to learn about other people's passion for various breeds. What's more, the pages are filled with pictures of beautiful dogs, beautiful homes, and beautiful places. I got tons of inspiration for decorating my home and incorporating my love of dogs into my life. This book would make a wonderful gift.

This makes a great study whether you do this as a group or individually. I highly recommend this book for anyone. It helps keep you encouraged in the midst of a battle or if you are just looking to deepen your walk with the Lord. This book also makes a great gift & will bless others.

Kay Arthur is great at getting you into the Word. As you study and mark the Scriptures, they come to life and you start to see the truths, which challenges you to grow in the Lord.

The lessons in this book will teach you to STAND FIRM in the midst trials and turmoil, and will help you understand and apply spiritual truth. Ephesians is the focus of this study and Kay Arthur gives you an overview of the history of Ephesus and how the culture is no different than today's. Kay takes you through the scriptures so you can learn truth inductively and then she guides you in how to apply it. Learn to write your own personal prayers right from the scriptures and activate the power of God's word in your heart and life! It takes diligent study and you need to commit at least 20 minutes a day, but it is well worth the time and effort. You won't want to stop studying once you get into this! I am only on Lesson 4 and am doing this with a group of 7 people and God is already moving in powerful ways. I want to get up on the rooftop and shout the message that EVERYONE needs to do this study! This is a very effective tool for being equipped to do battle, and believe me everyone of us is in some kind of battle, whether we realize it or not. Get prepared!

I first went through this study 11 years ago, it was given to me as a graduation present. When I wanted to focus on spiritual warfare again and didn't have access to my old book, I purchased this. This book is an excellent way to sharpen your spiritual weapons and hone your armor. As I said before, the first time I read this was 11 years ago and I still remember snippets when I am going through rough times. I would highly reccomend this to anyone who is interested in learning how to conduct spiritual warfare. It is a very scriptural look at the battle we face and how to conquer our enemy.

Kay Arthur deftly tackles a topic that not all churches and ministers will discuss: spiritual warfare. That this warfare is all around us, in many of the day-to-day situations we face, is a fact, and Arthur draws constantly and completely from Scripture to arm her reader for battle. The book, which is designed to be an 11-week study but can be read at your own pace, offers daily readings. Most days require the reader to look up and examine more closely specific Scriptural verses. Arthur does a good job of digging into the "evidence" in God's Word for points that she makes; everything is adequately supported in Scripture. What we found most interesting were the real-life stories she quotes from people she's known. Some are rather disturbing, but we must open our eyes to them.

N. L. Belardes is one Bakersfield author who welcomes controversy. He doesn't just write about historic wind storms of the Central Valley; he pushes into darker areas of his community's psyche, writing about the political and social storms--and murders--of the past. Anyone willing to write a graphic novel based on the Lords of Bakersfield scandals of the '70's is sure to open up a few old, festering wounds some feel best left alone. Read this book for a great literary ride.

Based on local legend, "Lords: Part One" is a crowning testimony of the exploited, innocent and simultaneously exalted lives slain by the local Lords - the budding business owners, conservative politicians, and the ancient college professors and police chiefs.

In what may become his magnum opus, the breakthrough novel is a cleverly satirical account of how the local media exploit public desperation through a carefully concocted balance between what is marketable and factually tangible. Throughout this novel the mystical fog shrouds truth, but Belardes employs it as a powerful metaphor, an omnipresence of what Bakersfield loves, hates and fears, and ultimately what Bakersfield holds to its moral canon.

Without a doubt, N.L. Belardes has in his hands one of the last remnants of literary classicism, a wonderful satire of the decadence of the coveted, antiquated elements of society. "Lords: Part One" is a masterful, captivating rendition of small town corruption and remains a stronghold of what substance Bakersfield has to offer.

NOTE: This is merely a selection of my review for the Blue & White, the Bakersfield High School newspaper. You may see the entire review in this year's issue three.

A greatly written novel, with imagery that will force you to see Bakersfield the way you never really wanted to. Once you pick in up, there is no way you can put it down.

Lords: Part One is the kind of book that once you pick it up, you can't put down. The writing style creates vivid imagery and draws you into a world that is strange and at the same time familiar. Those familiar with the history and people of Bakersfield, California are sure to have their perceptions altered and begin to question the assumptions that they have lived with their whole lives. Others will find themselves wondering what secrets may lurk in the shadows, hearts, and minds of the people in their own hometown. All too quickly the book comes to a close, leaving the story unfinished with questions filling the mind of the reader. We are told to never judge a book by its cover. Lords: Part One reminds the reader that this applies to people and places as well.

My single favorite quality of this book was its texture. Here's what I mean. I was enthralled by the weather Belardes used so ably, almost in becoming another character in the story. In a place like Bakersfield where weather tends to be so singularly routine, the weather breathed its way into the story and I found myself I becoming more present to what was taking place as the characters lived and breathed the changing conditions.

First the fog enveloped everything, and I could feel the cold, damp isolationist feel as I imagine Minstrel felt it settling onto his skin and into his lungs.... And into his psyche.

The violence of an incredible valley dust storm foreshadowed destruction of a most insidious kind.

The power of the natural force of weather, strong and almighty like the power of evil that blows throughout the captivating chapters of "Lords: Part one" and... does it continue to blow, today, too?

Hmmm. Maybe there will be a "Lords, Two..."