O Books

This is a great little series of books. Beth wants to find love like Jessica & Mickey before her. She turns to internet dating.

Spencer is a journalist who has to write a piece on internet dating. He does this with Beth's help. Is this what they both want? Spencer writing her add's & Beth going out on dates.

A lovely story which brings us finally to Cassandra's story.

I loved this book. I want to get the first 2 now (this is the third in a series of four). O'Reilly's writing is sassy, hilarious, tight and fast-paced--my favorite kind. I laughed many times while reading this book. I love that she created a hero, Spencer, who had a lot of flaws--who was recognizable as a real man, not just a picture-perfect, two-dimensional romance hero. And yet O'Reilly was able to make him sexy as all get-out and truly appealing. Bethany, the heroine, was great too. I loved watching her grow more confident and directed through the course of the book. I can't wait to read the others in the Bachelorette Pact series!

So much for the Bachelorette Pact. With Jessica and Mickey married, Beth decides it is her turn. Dreams of daisy nosegays quickly give way to practicality, however, as she places personal ads on the Internet. Too bad that a string of dates fails to ignite her libido the way a certain reports does. Unfortunately, he does not come on their date to find his perfect mate. Instead, Spencer James wants to write article about Internet dating, with Beth as his focus. He offers his help, rewriting Beth's ads to give them originality and zest, in exchange for a story about the results.

More than a dozen dates later, Spencer finds himself jealous of Beth's potential mates and unable to act on his attraction. One failed marriage to a society woman has him leery of Beth's background, and his inability to deal with emotion makes it impossible to approach her for more than sex. He certainly has no interest in accumulating any more alimony payments even if Beth does rock his world. And Beth will settle for no less than a ring on her finger.

Author Kathleen really hits her stride with BREAKFAST AT BETHANY'S, creating a quirky, off the cuff romance readers will find delightful. The series of ads that begin each chapter are fabulous, especially as they shift to reveal Beth's aggravation with Spencer. The power of their magnetism never fails, even as Spencer fights it every step of the way. Readers will find BREAKFAST AT BETHANY'S an excellent follow through for Jessica and Mickey's stories. Moreover, they will also be eagerly anticipating the final bachelorette's story, with Cassidy's turn in THE LONGEST NIGHT.

Breakfast At Bethany's
-Kathleen O'Reilly

Can a fiercely independent, reluctant heiress find her "happily ever-after" with a cynical reporter who's down on love?

Boring, blasé, bad dates. Beth has had her more than her fair share lately. When her second friend to jump ship from the Bachelorette Pact gets married - to an undercover cop infiltrating the mob no less(!), self-sufficient, reluctant heiress, Bethany Von Meter, decides that it just might be time for her to try and find a man of her own. Little did she know it would be so difficult. As the (secret) author of several "true life" stories, it shouldn't be too hard to write a personals ad that would attract a great guy, should it? Unfortunately, the string of losers she's met so far prove otherwise. Beth needs help in a serious way or she just might be the last person boarding the love boat.

Enter Spencer James, award-winning, hard-hitting, ace reporter. Or at least he was until a misguided bet knocked him down to doing fluff pieces for the lifestyle section of the local newspaper. Writing a scintillating piece on Internet dating was his chance to get picked up by the AP and get back into the good graces of the Powers That Be at the Chicago Tribune. When Spencer agreed to help Beth write a series of unforgettable personal ads guaranteed to find her some great dates, in return for allowing him to use her as the subject for his article, falling in love was the last thing on his mind. Turned off to love after surviving a badly failed marriage he had no clue that he would end up wishing to be the answer to her dreams.

Kathleen O'Reilly is three for three in this third installment of The Bachelorette Pact. Another delightful story for the now seasoned author, Breakfast at Bethany's is just one more winner from this talented writer. She never disappoints or misses the mark that she is aiming for. Ms. O'Reilly has a witty, fast-paced style that never bores and always tickles the funny bone. She knows how to write for today's contemporary romance reader. Funny, sexy and honest in the emotions that are evoked, her books have it all. Having read the first two books in the Bachelorette Pact series, I was thrilled to review this third book in this all too short series and can't wait until the fourth and final story is out in June. Be sure to look for The Longest Night, Cassandra's story, in stores June 1, 2004.

(....)
Austin Chapter
Romance Writers of America

Bethany "Beth" Von Meeter had seen two of her girlfriends recently married. Beth wanted nothing more than to fall in love and marry also. But thus far all the men she had met were lacking. She began placing ads on the internet. That was how she met Spencer James.

Spencer was not really dating. The only reason he answered Beth's ad and met her in a restaurant was for work. He was a journalist. His current assignment was "to follow a subject (Beth) through the bits and bytes of finding a mate via computer." Beth agreed, in exchange for Spencer making her ad much better and getting her some great dates! Neither expected to fall in love, especially Spencer!

***** Author Kathleen O'Reilly and her talented pen have created four ladies that captured my heart.

This is the story of the third girlfriend, Beth. The author placed cameos of Jessica and Mickey. In addition, a very small part gives an idea of who Cassandra will be with in the final leg of this astounding little series. As a reader, I am having a BALL watching these four ladies do their stuff. Men don't have a chance. As I said, "ASTOUNDING!" *****

Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

The 4th Edition of the Camera Assistant's Manual by focal press author David Elkins is a must have for the beginner as well as the seasoned pro. From how to set up a darkroom, to threading diagrams on all "in use" cameras, to lifelong useful tables and charts, this edition has it all.

Nothing comes close to David Elkins' book. It's that simple. This is the best, most complete book on the job of the camera assistant. PERIOD. If you are new to the job of the camera assistant, this book is an absolute must have. If you are a seasoned "vet" who has years of experience working on motion picture sets, again, this book is an absolute must have. Elkins' total description of every aspect of the AC's job is so consise, it's like a classroom in a book. Loaded with every conceivable diagram and chart, and covering every motion picture camera currently being used, this book goes well beyond your typical "job description" type tome.

The bonus materials alone make this book invaluable. Along with the companion website, the reader has vast amounts of precious material available for when the job calls for it...label templates, charts, manufacturer links and contacts, the list goes on and on and on. The best part is the writing style is clear and informative, almost like Elkins himself is teaching you as you go.

Look no further than this book. It's all here.

The Camera Assistant's Manual is a must have reference book for both beginners and experienced professionals in the camera department. If you are a beginner, this manual will teach you all of the basics as well as the advanced details of camera assisting. Although not a substitute for actual experience, author David Elkins also coaches you on how to act efficiently and professionally on a set. This can save you countless embarrassing blunders on your "first barbeque." But before learning all of the AC's duties, the reader is introduced to the basics of cinematography and a complete overview of the camera department. This is extremely helpful - allowing the beginner to understand the "big picture" first. If you are an experienced professional, Elkins gives you hundreds of tips and suggestions that will add to your knowledge base and help your job go smoothly. This 4th edition contains the most complete and up to date camera diagrams, tables, and formulas of any single reference source. Imagine your relief when you have to load and thread a new camera for the first time. The Camera Assistant's Manual is worth it's weight in gold.

I bought this book when I was hired to AC for a project on equipment I had never worked with before. For one of those, "Holly crap! I agreed to do a job I only know how to do part of!" moments, this book is great. Every question I could think of was answered thoroughly and I mean THOROUGHLY. If you want to learn exactly what the responsibilities of an Assistant Camera Person are and how best to execute them read this book! If you are a working AC and want an easy to read, text-book style reference this is it.

David Elkins's The Camera Assistant's Manual, Fourth Edition is the best technical book around, and one of the best books on movies, period.

Dave manages to cover every aspect of an assistant's job, no matter how obscure or infrequently encountered. But the completeness is only one aspect which recommends it to any aspiring or working cinematographer.

Written in a clear, conversational manner, Dave manages to demystify both the jargon and the sometimes strange job of an assistant. His accounts of procedure for both first and second assistants clarify what we in the business call "industry standard": the accepted, professional way of conducting yourself and doing a job. Outside of a job on a
Hollywood set, it is nearly impossible to learn these classic, time-saving routines. And unless you've been a pro in the business, you're not going to know about such things as the relative merits of Magliner and Rubbermaid carts for hauling equipment.

The book covers the general characteristics of film, cameras, and lenses in such a way as to give a general technical education. Dave also gives a valuable overview of the camera department and its place in film production overall.

What many readers will find most useful are the sections on troubleshooting, the diagrams and threading patterns of every currently used camera, and the wealth of forms and lists to organize the on-set work.

I've tried to give a good idea of what the book covers, but it contains much, much more. I've been using The Camera Assistant's Manual since the first edition. This is the biggest and the best version. I only wish that, when I started as a camera assistant, I had had access to such a clear, helpful book.

This book makes me re-live college, especially since I went to school and use to drink with both Chuck and Ace!!

These guys must have lived college life to it's fullest. I read the book from cover to cover in one night, only putting it down to wipe the tears shed from laughing so hard! The book totally captures most of what all of us experienced at some point during that 4 year undergrad journey- wish I could have had a beer with Ace and Chuck a time or two; or did I? Hmmm!!!

Some people wonder if the stories in this book really happened. Well, they did. I know these clowns, and I can attest to the fact every thing happened. I know it may be unbelievable, but these boneheads are all unbelievable, even when you saw it happen LIVE. You can buy this book or not - it is your call. Neither Ace nor Chuck will enter the poor house if you decide to buy "The Red Tent" instead. But you WILL be missing out on perhaps the funniest book ever.

I checked into this book because it was recommended to me by a friend of mine. I bought it to read on a long car ride. Even with all the distractions of reading in a car, I finished the book in about 6 hours because I could not put it down! The opening is a riot, and the glossary is probably the best part of the book. I think the funniest chapter is the one called "Cabin Trip" or something like that. I don't want to ruin the story, but it's hard to believe it really happened. This book really will make you laugh, even if it isn't Pullitzer-worthy.

This book about 5 slugs living in a house is a great memoir. The characters and stories bear an uncanny resemblence to life in my college house, and I'm sure many college houses around the country.

I saw a guy reading a book at an airport and he was laughing out loud. Curious, I asked him what he was reading and he said it was funny stuff. A sucker for recommendations, I wrote down the title and ordered it when I got home from my conference. I couldn't put it down.

The authors hit on all the little things that made college life great: beer, TV, ripping on your friends, doing stupid drunk stuff, and getting by on little to no money. They also touch on what made college life suck: class, studying, and dumb people.

This is required reading for any college male, or any college female who stepped foot in a nasty college house and wondered how the guys could live there. The stories of toenails, turds, and spring break adventures are timeless. Highly recommended for readers and non-readers alike.

This is my favorite book. A special gift of words year round and especially at the holiday season. A very heart warming look into a family with a tragic loss at a very joyful time of year. The ups and downs will keep you reading until the very last word and leave you wanting to read it all over again. Bill O'Shea speaks to the heart of every reader and puts you in touch with at least one of the characters. A holiday favorite every family member will enjoy. Simply the BEST!!

"A Christmas Present" is a wonderful, heart warming story. It reminds us that although life sometimes has great sorrow, God loves us and will get us through if we keep our hearts open. The author gave such a terrific explantion of how St. Nicholas (with a little help from "the Boss"!) makes his Christmas Eve journey that children of all ages will believe in Santa again! "A Christmas Present" will be my Christmas present to my loved ones!

by DonnaJ

David Connors loved Christmas and couldn't wait to get home to his wife Julie and their son Alex. They had plans to have Christmas Eve dinner with his parents before going to midnight mass, but he had one more client he had to see before he could leave. He and the client would go over the prenuptial agreement, then he'd be off to the train station and home in a couple of hours. After seeing Mr. DeGuilio and getting last minutes instructions from him, David looked out his window and saw that it was snowing harder and wondered if they would have to change their plans, but then remembered it was Christmas snow and nothing bad could happened. As he was leaving his building, he noticed the Salvation Army Santa ringing his bell and decided to give him some money. Looking at him, he thought how he made the perfect Santa, with his snow-white beard, red velvet suit and his blue eyes. While giving him the money, he felt as if he knew him, but shrugged it off and proceeded to Grand Central Station and home.

Walking into the house, he thinks about how, after 5 years of marriage, it's easy to stop noticing what your spouse is wearing or doing to the house, but tonight he noticed all those things about Julie. Following her into the living room where his parents and son were waiting, he noticed that, even though Santa hadn't arrived yet, there were some packages already under the tree. One in particular he really wanted to know what it was, but Julie told him he couldn't open it until Christmas morning. It was a large, flat square package, but she handed him a large legal sized envelope. Inside was a lease for an office to open his own practice.

As they're leaving from the Christmas service, Julie remembers they forgot the diaper bag and runs back in to get it. Coming back out and reaching the street she doesn't notice the truck coming too fast down the street and starts to cross when her heel gets stuck and she can't get loose. She falls and the truck hits her. At the hospital, they try everything to keep her alive, but to no avail. He doesn't know how he'll live without her. Three years later, he gets a miraculous Christmas present that shows him how he can live again.

A Christmas Present is the story of how a man learns how to love and live again when he felt all he'd had to live for had been taken from him. This story will grab your heart and not let go. You'll think about it for days after and hold these characters close to you. Mr. O'Shea has a great novel here that is more than a keeper; it also makes you remember the joy of family and friends. It's well worth the price.

A Christmas Present
Bill O'Shea
ISBN:0-9709946-0-5
LCCN: 2001117042
160 Pages
October 2001

O'Shea creates a heartwarming piece of literature that mimics the imaginative style of Dickens and Lewis. Similar to Lewis, O'Shea weaves the redemptive story of Christ through his story, adding depth and meaning to the traditional story of Scrooge.

The character of David Conners is developed into a man that is changed drastically, not once, but twice. Mr. Conners begins the story as a somewhat shallow man, his life based upon his wife's very existence. By the end of the book, miraculous happenings change him. He finds meaning to his life in the things that transcend time, rather than the quickly fading joys of the present.

The book's descriptive passages are delightful and allow the reader to experience the challenges of the protagonist. O'Shea's writing style creates a renewed view of time honored true ideas.

Five bows out of five
--Amy Renea Harrison, Gotta Write Book Reviewer
June 8, 2002

"A Christmas Present" is a story that touches on the natural emotions of family, love and holiday cheer. It reaffirms our belief in faith to help us through life's tragedies. A truly well written story that can be enjoyed no matter what time of the year.

This was the first time i ever read citizen dog. I read my first strip in Chicken soup for the cat and dog lovers soul. Then i ordered this offline. Once i read it i ordered the other books. Fergus is so funny. There are amazingly funny stories in this like when Fergus steals all the fire hydrants and Fergus and Arlo challenge the mailman to a basketball game.

"Citizen Dog" Fergus was the best canine to ever hit a newspaper. This initial collection of comic strips featuring the ever suave Fergus and his well-meaning and overwhelmed "owner", Mel, is a real treat for those of us who faithfully read the strip back in the day. For those who haven't had the pleasure of seeing a dog converse with a French waiter or become the top salesdog in a pet store, you don't know what you've been missing. So, if you only buy one book this year...hey, don't be cheap! Get this book, and pick up Mark O'Hare's other two volumes: "Dog's Best Friend: More Citizen Dog Reflections" and "D Is For Dog." (Warning: If your dog happens to read these books, hide the car keys. Really.)

The "Citizen Dog" comic strip was one of the best ever. Mark O'Hare has a delightfully wicked sense of humor and he brings such life and animation to his characters. You don't have to be a dog lover to appreciate Fergus, the smart-mouthed dog in this series ... or the lovable antics of his owner, Mel. Get a taste for the comic strip at: http://www.ucomics.com/citizendog/.

Unfortunately, Mark O'Hare is no longer creating new Citizen Dog strips, so all we have left is these fabulous books. There are three in the series:
1) Citizen Dog: The First Collection [ISBN: 0836251865]
2) Dog's Best Friend: More Citizen Dog Reflections [ISBN: 0836267516]
3) D is for Dog [ISBN: 0740704575]

Buy two of each ... because someone's gonna want your copy!
Happy reading!

I started reading this book and within two pages was hooked. It is hilarious. Help us if all dogs start acting like Fergus. I think O'Hare has surpassed his Purdue "Art Gallery" strip.

Fans of the currently syndicated newspaper strip will find through this collection that Citizen Dog has been through some changes since its origin. If nothing else, O'Hare is a superb artist with a flair for both motionless and kinetic moments. His draftsmanship sustains the strip. At this point, however, the humor is much more slapstick than verbal or intellectual. Many of the gags are Tex Avery-esque, or harken back to vaudeville days. That's an interesting style in itself, but as humor, it pales in comparison to the current incarnation of the strip. Those who think the artistic side of cartooning and gag writing is in decline, however, need look no further than this book for a spirited refutation.

I bought this for my four-year-old daughter, and this has become a favorite bedtime story book for her. It is perfectly gear for the younger ages with many colorful examples of coats of arms along with some elementary explanations of why they existed. The stencil is great and allows the youngest artist to make their very own arms. (I recommend make copies fo the blank shield and letting the wee ones mark up the copies.)

This book is great! It has lots of color, very kid-friendly. It has explanations of the colors and many designs or pictures you may find on a coat of arms. Very helpful for coat of arms lessons and as a tool to help a child create their own coat of arms. My homeschool group used this for children aged 4-11 and they all loved looking at it!

Catherine Daly-Weir has done an excellent job of presenting a general and yet fairly complete introduction to Heraldry. The illustrations are beautiful and attractive. Obviusly written for the younger reader, adults will enjoy just as well. If you are working on a club/class project and need to creat a Coat of Arms, this book and Rosemary Chorzempa's "Design Your Own Coat of Arms" are all you need! You will have no trouble creating your own Coat of Arms expecially with the plastic stencil which is included in the book. A must have!

This book is great. It covers several aspects of heraldry (history, battlefield, heralds, tournaments, rules, positioning, meaning of designs etc.) without being overwhelming for children. I have used this book with my art therapy students, and my sister has used it with her students with art class...all the students loved it. Even those who can't read can get alot from the book as illustrations are excellent. I highly recommend. Ages 6-adult...I have even used this book to design a shield for myself. For those interested in other sources...Heraldic Design by Hubert Allcock is also a great sourcebook.

I think this is excellent for younger children. It is a good basic introduction.

f you aren't already familiar with the short stories of Frank O' Connor, do yourself a favor, and buy this (relatively fat) collection. His stories will make you laugh ("First Confession"), weep ("Guests of the Nation", one of the most powerful anti-war stories I've ever read), or just lose yourself in the humanity of his characters. These stories seem uncomplicated, but that's part of the author's genius, the way he manages to give the stories such an emotional impact.

Although, in my opinion, the stories of Seán Ó Faoláin are slightly more nuanced and psychologically perceptive, it's a close call. Both authors are to be recommended highly.

Generally, when it comes to literature, I'm fairly hard to please. That being said, I love this book without reservation. I've recommended it to and foisted it on friends for years now. Many of them react much the way I do: there isn't anyone else like Frank O'Connor.

The stories are lyrical, sharply and humorously observed, and told with elegance in an easy but precise idiomatic diction. O'Connor always gave his work the test of being read aloud, and this care for the sound and cadence of his prose shows on every page.

Then, there is O'Connor's feeling for people. Reading the stories, one gets the impression that he was an intelligent but fundamentally kindly, generous man. Even when a character in the stories does something that seems objectionable, O'Connor never loses sight of that character's humanity. There is no absence of modernist irony, and the irony can sting (as in "The Mad Lomasneys"), but it is never cruel.

O'Connor's stories take place in Ireland, but they are not circumscribed by a desire to depict Irish regional color or romantic notions about the place. He wrote what he knew and understood, and what he understood was the people he grew up with. If that makes him a regionalist, then so were Faulkner and John Millington Synge. In his own subtle way, O'Connor was a realist, and ultimately, these stories are universal: they touch places in the psyche and the human heart that are common to us all.

Any selection of one's "favorite" stories will be personal. To an interested reader, I would say, "Read them all." To friends who ask, I add that they should start with "Guests of the Nation" and "First Confession." These aren't his "best" stories, but I've always liked them both, they are typical of his best, and one must start somewhere.

When I've given 5 stars to a book, I've often had to argue with myself as to whether it deserved it. Not for this one.

In an interview published in THE PARIS REVIEW, Frank O?Connor stated that he wanted to be either an artist or a writer and chose writing because a pad of paper and pencils were less expensive than art supplies. O?Connor has an artist?s touch when he writes and this is evidenced in his many short stories, many of which can be found in this volume.

Most of the stories in this collection take place in Ireland in the years after the Southern Republic of Ireland became an independent nation. Some of the stories such as ?Guests of the Nation? which may be O?Connor?s best known story and ?The Martyr? have this struggle as a backdrop. Most of the stories are about ordinary people facing ordinary situations. The stories tell of people young and old, rich and poor, in a variety of situations, some enviable, others not. We find priests, some holy, others not, but all human. Parents and children face daily life. Some of the stories have tongue in cheek humor (?My Oedipus Complex?) whereas others such as ?An Act of Charity? deal with tragedy. In each of the stories, there is a dignity to the characters. The characters can be familiar, but are never clich?. While I admit to being biased in my praise of O?Connor?s works, since I love my Irish heritage, especially the great Irish writers, I believe that while O?Connor?s writing and characters are distinctly Irish, the emotions and struggles O?Connor writes of are universal and can find a spot in the heart of anyone who loves great writing.

There is a line from William Trevor (no stranger to the short story) on the back of the book that I think is highest praise that one writer can give another: "without adornment, he simply tells the truth."

We don't demand things so weighty from books anymore, and are probably likely to dismiss a person or a book that promises it, but I think the word at least gets at O'Connor's idea of a short story. The truth, for him, is a live person on paper, going through a period of his or her life where they understand something about either themselves or the world. When he taught writing, he insisted that his students write a one-sentence theme for their story: what is it saying, demonstrating - what truth is it getting at?

This seems an old-fashioned idea of the story, but nothing about O'Connor's work seems either old-fashioned or excessively schematic - his stories are as alive as writing can be while still having unity and weight, and they carry their truth with humor and humanity. The Richard Ellman introduction, I'm afraid, misses this completely. Ellman was a friend of O'Connor's in later life, but I don't think he understands his work very well. The introduction makes O'Connor sound like some sort of genial provincial, with the primary virtue of his work being a portrait of a vanished society.

But no writer of fiction who is just a chronicler can survive: it doesn't matter that today Anna and Karenin could simply divorce. The book is relevant because Anna and Karenin are both real on the page, as so many of O'Connor's characters are. Ellman's lack of understanding influences his selection: too many of O'Connor's later less inspired work is here, and many wonders are missing. Why did he leave off In the Train, for example? Sadly, this is the only collection that's in print, but most of the great stories are here, and they are inexhaustible.

After discovering this book, I immediately went out and read everything of O'Connor's I could find, including a biography, and I copied down a passage that I think shows the way in which he looked at people and the world. He was writing to a friend who had been estranged from his wife, and was now feeling extreme remorse as she was dying:

"On occasions like this we all feel guilt and remorse; we all want to turn back time; but even if we were able, things would go on in precisely the same way because the mistakes we make are not in our judgements but in our natures. It is only when we do violence to our natures that we are justified in our regrets, and neither of us is capable of that. We are what we are and within our limitiations we have made our efforts. They may seem puny in the light of eternity but they didn't at the time, and they weren't."

This is his truth: to discover people's natures, to see the essential in even the smallest actions, and get across the moments when people see themselves whole. Read this book: it's one to keep for life.

That realism has a natural humor which needs no embellishment or exaggeration seems to be the guiding principle of the fiction of Frank O'Connor, whose nearly seventy short stories of the lower and middle class in Ireland, many of which were originally published in the New Yorker at a time when the magazine was the authority for the best new short fiction, are gathered in this collection published by Vintage. His settings are localized to villages and towns; his stories, unlike the plays of Sean O'Casey, give little indication of the Irish political situation of the twentieth century, rarely even mentioning the World Wars, and instead focus primarily on religion, marriage, and childhood.

O'Connor's portrayals of the church and the clergy, ranging from the slyly satirical to the somberly sympathetic, illuminate the influence of Catholicism on the Irish mentality and the often strained relationships between priests and their parishioners. In "News for the Church," a teenage girl goes to confession for carnal intercourse with an older man, but the priest cynically guesses she is merely brandishing a badge of honor to prove her sexual maturity to her married older sister. O'Connor sees the unrewarding side to being a moral compass, but he never suggests that a priest's work is all in vain.

Many of the stories are about the confusion of youth and are narrated by a child with the voice of an adult. "The Man of the House," for example, struck me as a quasi-parable of the Fall, an adult-oriented parody of a morality tale that is told to children: A boy (the narrator) is entrusted by his sick mother to procure for her a bottle of cough syrup, but a bewitching girl he meets at the drug store tricks him into sharing the temptingly sweet medicine with her, leaving him to face the consequences of his mischief. These stories tend to culminate in poignant moments that, while not exactly equaling the Joycean epiphanies of "Dubliners," resonate with aching truthfulness.

One of the most pointed stories explores a curious contrast between the Irish and the English: In "The Sentry," an Irish priest with a Catholic parish in England during World War II discovers an English soldier stealing onions from his garden and challenges the man to a fistfight. When the priest later learns that the soldier--a sentry--could be shot for deserting his post, he tells this to an Irish nun, who replies, "Isn't that the English all out? The rich can do what they like, but a poor man can be shot for stealing a few onions!" Of course, the point is that the soldier would be shot for deserting his post, not for stealing onions; but the subtext of the nun's statement is that the Irish tend to see the bigger picture.

O'Connor is a natural dramatist with an uncommon ear for sincere, fluidly colloquial dialogue; he never overdoes a situation because he trusts the inherent strength and vitality of his characters to draw our interest. Here we have a collection of people who delineate the culture of their nation, always remaining fiercely individualistic, speaking the same language as the English but refusing to identify with them.

It is vital we form mutual understandings between cultures so that stereotypes and prejudice don't start cultural conflicts. Cross-Cultural Communication has helped me in my way of thinking. I am more conscious now of other cultures than I have ever been before. My interaction with others will change gradually as I attempt to work successfully with different people. I will need these skills especially when I leave Tennessee State University and have to work in a multicultural setting or organization.

I would highly recommend this book to any student who is seeking a great source of knowledge in the communication area. Dr. Norales is obviously an expert in the field and delves into the issues by using her knowledge as well as other experts in the communication field. I hope she continues to assign this text to her future classes at Tennessee State University as I feel it will be a benefit to all who read it.

This book proved to be a thorough and detailed text of cultural relations worldwide. I found the book to be full of positive knowledge and culturally beneficial. The information and tools contained in this book could inspire many individuals to communicate well with all people of various cultures. The facts related to cultural negligence and violence are certainly disheartening. However, the reality of "cultural clashes" is not pleasant. It is my hope that more people will read books of this nature to inspire a positive change worldwide.

I would like to say that the Cross-Cultural Communication book was great. It was helpful in many ways. I feel like it will help me as it relates to communicating in the business world. It has expanded my knowledge of cultures. I would recommend this book to anyone. I think that the writers did a great job. They were excellent in relaying the information they had in each chapter.

This book is very easy to read. The sentences are concise. It provides some interesting concepts about intercultural challenges. It inspired me to write a report about my African-American culture.

The Devil's Cradle is so well written that you do not want to put it down. You just have to find out what happens next and house work and everything else just has to wait! I love the fact that I have visited many of the places in Arizona that she writes about in her stories. After reading her first two books, I immediately went on line and ordered the next three. Can't wait for the next one to be published!!

Ms. Nobel is very talented and gifted. It was also a pleasure to meet her at a book signing! An intense rollercoaster ride of emotions from start to finish. A great who dun it! And she makes you want to visit the beautiful places that she's written about! Run do not walk to buy Dark Moon Rising!

I am in the middle of THE DEVIL'S CRADLE and am completely engrossed! What a fun time it is to be able to visit Kendall O'Dell and tag along on her journies. Both DEADLY SANCTUARY and THE DEVIL'S CRADLE were loaned to be my a good friend, and I have throughly enjoyed them both.

Hopefully, we'll be able to enjoy Sylvia Nobel's next book very soon.

vicki galloway poormansq2@aol.com

Five stars is not enough to rate this top notch book. It was a page turner to say the very least and most enjoyable! Very, very clever and witty. Couldn't put it down! I'd say it's a good thing I have found this brilliant author because Sue Grafton is running out of letters.

I enjoyed Sylvia Nobel's second novel, Devil's Cradle, as muchas I enjoyed her first novel, Deadly Sanctuary. The heroine, KendellO'Dell, is a feisty redhead who is smart, quick-witted and very daring. The book is written in a lively, fun-to-read style that keeps you turning page after page. Each new page adds new questions and just when you think you have something figured out, you find out you are heading down the wrong path. The whodunit ending was not at all what I expected. I challenge any one to figure this story out before they get to the end - it is anything but predictable. In addition to providing an excellent story line, Devil's Cradle gives an excellent description of Arizona and its many wonders. By the time you finish the book - which won't take long if you're like me and have trouble putting it down - you'll feel as though you've traveled with Kendell through the Arizona desert, mountains and plains. If you like a good mystery with a little romance, you'll truly enjoy Devil's Cradle. I hope Ms. Nobel finishes her next book soon - I'm ready to read it.

Over 150 articles comprise the Dictionary of the Old Testament: Historical Books, which covers the books of Joshua, Judges, 1-2 Samuel, 1-2 Kings, 1-2 Chronicles, Ezra, and Nehemiah.

Each entry is concluded by an extensive bibliography and useful cross-references to other articles in the Dictionary Of The Historical Books.

A unique feature that enhances the readability and usefulness of this dictionary is that the entries are in reality "macro-essays" on larger categories or topics instead of separate smaller essays on the component parts. For example, "Absalom" will be found in the discussion
of "David's Family," and "Anat" under "Canaanite Gods and Religion."

The entries discuss and evaluate many of the key interpretative problems and the relevance of comparative data from literary, cultural, and archaeological sources that pertain to these biblical texts. Archaeological studies are used extensively throughout the entries, with numerous sites being treated separately in addition to their citation within other contexts.

With a wide range of backgrounds and points of view among the 120 contributors, this dictionary contains fairly even and well-balanced entries that provide a panoramic view of the present landscape in this segment of scholarly research on the historical books. It must be noted, however, that the contributors to the dictionary do not merely present but also evaluate data. While some readers no doubt will take issue with some of the interpretations of the various contributors, the entries articulate the state of the question for these issues and topics and offer new directions and interpretative possibilities for the future.

The volume concludes with three indexes: Scripture, subjects,
and articles. Whether you are a scholar, a graduate student, or a layman looking for a summation of scholarly opinion, this volume is for you!

Contains a wealth of solid and in-depth information aimed at scholars and educated lay persons. Articles are well written (and can be a bit dense), very informative, and contain a select bibliography for further study. An indispensible tool for any serious student of the Bible.

This book is a great resource. Very deep info. It is a wealth of scholarly information and covers every topic. Amazon has the best price on these books with free shipping. What more could anyone ask for. Aslo quick service. Amazon also ships quickly to APO/FPO boxes and is still free! Awesome.

Editors Bill Arnold and Paul Williamson have enlisted an international cast of scholars; each addressing topics within their specialties. In the past twenty years a burgeoning list of titles addressing the historicity of the OT has appeared, thus making it necessary for a dictionary that addresses these particular concerns. With entries ranging from "agriculture" to "Zion traditions," DOTHB packs competently presented information cover-to-cover. One of the best dictionaries I have encountered.

This is an outstanding resource book for the novice or the scholar. It is well written and very easy to understand. Arnold covers the Old Tesatment thoroughly. You will not be disappointed.