O Books

Chatty, easy to read, easy to research question and answer format. Just like having the rabbi right there with you.

I read Rabbi Ron Isaacs' book, "Ask the Rabbi", cover to cover over the weekend. It was my catharsis from mind-pollution inflicted by the antagonistic tome of a Jewish feminist, purportedly addressing resurgent anti-Semitism. Being a non-Jew, it's beyond my comprehension how she could feel comfortable fabricating odium without any reluctance for her community's rebuke. Surprisingly, "Ask the Rabbi" is my illumination.

"Ask the Rabbi" is a primer specifically for American Jews inactive in Judaism and wishing to discover what they're missing. It's too introspective for non-Jews only wishing familiarity with another religion. Rabbi Ron has collected questions and answers over the years, and has organized them into chapters based on category. Many answers have repetitive elements favoring readers who selectively skip around. By the end, most all transliterated Hebrew terms are explained, but if you start out not knowing your mikvahs from your mitzvahs, "Ask the Rabbi" makes little accommodation. A glossary would be helpful for what I'm sure will be a second volume.

Judaism excites Rabbi Ron. He explains major differences between the four popular movements of Judaism in America. There are adequate explanations of the ceremonies, the rituals, the importance of certain prayers, and even satisfying anecdotes about how melodiously the cantor chants and sings. In my own synagogue visits, I was dumbfounded as the rabbi offered thanks for making us Jewish. Rabbi Ron well-explains that such statements are not to be regarded as insensitive. They are mere positive expressions of the honor bestowed by the Torah. Rabbi Ron's services are conducted in Hebrew, and he gives useful tips for people without language skills. There are also good pointers for keeping a more perfect Shabbat. However, the ceremonies, prayers, and rituals appear focussed on process for its own sake. Inevitably, a question deals with this appearance of process versus purpose, but the answer is redundant.

An indirect question about 'who is a Jew?' needed to appear earlier, because "Jew" is ambiguous. One can be a Jew by descent (Yehudim) as an offspring of Yehudah, or his brothers Benyimin and Lewi, those who also inhabited the Southern Kingdom and later Roman province of Judea. Or, one can be a Jew by the religion of Judaism. While not universal, the two often coincide. Rabbi Ron's convoluted answer touches on both keeping the commandments and the nation of Israel's contentious Law of Return authorizing the Orthodox Rabbinate. It begs the question, 'What is Judaism?'

"Ask the Rabbi" lacks a clear definition of Judaism. From the time of Mosheh, through Shelomo, and up to the Babylonian Captivity, there was no Judaism. The children of Yisra'el are simply commanded to observe the Torah as their way of life. Judaism, as an organized religion overseen by the rabbi-teacher, began during, and as a response to the Babylonian Captivity. After the Temple's destruction in the pre-Christian first century, messianic-Jews, the Yehudim who believed on Yahushua (different from today's "Messianic Judaism"), were ejected from the synagogues and shunned, because they were pacifists in the rebellion against Rome. The artifice of labeling a Jew overtly by membership in Judaism further excluded messianic-Jews. For all such questions that continually baffle ordinary Jews (e.g., Avraham was not a Jew), Rabbi Ron appears to safeguard uncertainty, without purposely misstating fact.

"Ask the Rabbi" earns its fourth and fifth stars in the latter third, where through advocacy of liberal causes, it presents a useful illumination into the Jewish-American psyche. I had previously believed that the damage being inflicted on our society by secular-liberalism emanated from misguided elitists and other misfits. Rabbi Ron shows that for a broad spectrum of Jews, the motivation is religion-based. While not alone, American Judaism encourages feminism, homosexuality, abortion, and the funding of stem-cell research. Incongruously, Rabbi Ron perceives that Judaism is threatened in part by intermarriage and a low birth rate.

A lucid appreciation of liberal issues would find them at odds with Torah. However, from answers to questions ranging from eating Chinese food to beard shaving, one understands that Torah-observance is more or less optional in American Judaism. And as the Messiah discovered, Judaism self-righteously pursues other commands to unnatural extremes, e.g., wholly separating dairy from meat, and not misusing the Sacred Name by consciously overlooking it. Running from the Torah and embracing secular causes seems unwittingly self-destructive.

Yet, Rabbi Ron has misplaced anxieties about Christians, believing that missionaries are specifically targeting Jews. He might refer all future questions about Christians to an informed friend. Messianic Scripture expressly forbids door-to-door proselytizing (Luke 10:7). Out of hundreds of Christian sects, only three violate that stricture: Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormons, and Seventh-day Adventists. I doubt whether representatives from these sects have a better command of Hebrew and the Tanak than ordinary Jews. They don't systematically target Jews; they target the unaware. However, there is extra credit for snaring a Jew. Therefore, don't point to the mezuzah cueing the missionaries' leave.

The messianic message was predicted to be imminently and utterly corrupted. Thus, we have the living amalgam we call Christianity. Christianity's interpretations will never be acceptable to knowledgeable Jews. So, it amazed me to see that Rabbi Ron quotes the Messiah's commitment to the Torah into the far future (Mattityahu 5:18). Rabbi Ron justifiably denounces Christianity for misrepresenting the Messiah and His stand on the Law. The Torah is a framework for unsurpassed goodness and freedom. Knowing this truth is what harmonizes the so-called Old and New Testaments. Given his stunning recognition, I was sad to leave Rabbi Ron, knowing that he'd reject further investigation.

Although it's a negative, denying the Messiah seems to be the only constant in Judaism, and its millstone. Because it's the principal motivation, Judaism's misperceptions about Christianity, causes it to waste energy by being reactionary. For no other reason, if Christians are fervent, Judaism is secular; if Christians vote Republican, Judaism supports Democrats. It seems oddly simple, but it's an extremely helpful and worthwhile insight. My blessings and sincere good wishes go out to Rabbi Ron Isaacs and his family!

Since the questions for "Ask the Rabbi" came largely from Hebrew School and Hebrew High students, one would think it to be a children's book. However, the breadth of the topics, the depth of the answers, and the almost conversational style of the answers make the book suitable for readers of all ages. Whether you start at the beginning and read straight through, or as I did, skip around to topics of particular interest, the reading is easy and informative. Rabbi Isaacs makes a point to explain many of the answers from the standpoints of the different branches of Judaism. I heartily recommend this book to anyone who would like to know more about the Jewish religion.

This book asks and answers hundreds of questions about Judaism in a user-friendly and easy-to-read format. Especially enjoyable are Rabbi Isaacs' personal anecdotes which fully engage the reader and add to the value of the book. The book inspires readers to come up with their own questions and in fact, if you go to Rabbi Isaacs' website you can ask your own "ask the rabbi" question! This book is highly recommended for children, teenagers, and adults alike!

This looks more like like a children's book from the cover but I was pleased to find that it really is written for any audience. The author does a great job of clarifying but not over-simplifying topics so it may even be better suited to adults. Rabbi Ron is from a conservative congregation but is exceptionally even-handed when discussing all movements within Judaism-he devotes a whole chapter to Reform and Orthodox Judaism and briefly discusses Renewal. He also makes for a pleasant, funny tour guide and an engaging representative of Judaism today.

The book is well-organized and easy to skip around if you aren't interested in a particular subject. With chapters ranging on topics from the Torah, holidays and customs, branches of Judaism, history, relations and comparisons between Jews and Christians, and the Kabbalah you'll find enough to at least answer questions if not pique your interest. This was the first book (and obviously not the last) I picked up when I was considering conversion so it's a sentimental favorite. I hope you'll find it as enjoyable and fun as I did.

My daughter loves this book, and we are on our 3rd copy because she has worn it out taking it on trips, in the car, etc. Her favorite part is the international dolls section, where she enjoys looking at national costumes from around the world. The layout and photos are very well-done, and it brings me back to my childhood as well!

This beautiful book is a must-have for any girl who loves Barbies. It is a children's book and is a visual delight...not a dry guide for adult collectors. The pictures are crisp and labeled, as the other DK books are; "corduroy hat" and "red patent leather pumps," etc. A huge hit with my 9-year old niece.

I love this book. This is the neatest book in the world. It has almost every Barbie I have in there. My favorite Barbie was the Olympic P.J. I use it to help me surf on Ebay. If you like Barbies, get this book now!

This book is really nice, the pictures are gorgeous, and it has some index on Barbie dolls by year, also Barbie's friends. Not so much on collectible dolls, but there are some dolls with gorgeous pics, some are different from the publish pics and a few are the same. Nice information for dolls and furniture. Great book! The cover is stunning!!!!

My kids like it. It's got excellent layout, clear crisp pics, but isn't comprehensive. Great to look through, and point to - look, I had that one when I was a kid..... (YOU were a KID?) I don't use it with my collection, but I am glad I bought it - it makes a pleasent just for fun.

I was surfing the net one night when I ran across battle pope. The story is incredibly rich. The artwork is superb. The best thing about this comic book is its so damn origional. This comic book goes to places I have never seen any other comic attempt to go. You can buy this comic book and do the right thing or go to hell.

You don't have to be a fan of comic books to enjoy this book. This book is the beginning and is one complete story. And it's HILARIOUS! Truly some of the wittiest writing to be found today, it's more than just sitcom one-liners or pratfalls or toilet humor or pop-culture references. It's got some of that but really, you need look no further than the title to get a chuckle.

Great artwork. Very easy to follow and understand what's going on and the last issue (last quarter of this book) is just amazing. I reccomend this book to everyone I know and no one has been disappointed. You can do far worse with a few bucks of cash than this.

I came across this comic through BlamBot Comic Fonts' link to funkotron.com. Being thoroughly steeped in Xianity in my youth (though Xian no longer), I was amused my the mere images of Battle Pope, so I decided to give it a try-- one of my best decisions! The comic is set after God has taken the righteous, and the wicked and devils are left on earth for 1000 years, He appoints a protector of the people-- Battle Pope! With his trusty sidekick, Jesus H. Christ, he fights the minions of evil to save the archangel Michael (a regular Patton-type field general). The comic is scathingly funny, and probably best appreciated by those who were indoctrinated in "the faith" at one point. I'd recommend it to any and all... and Xians with a sense of humor, if there are any. ;)

Truly a hilarious book! Moore and Kirkman poke fun at religion in general, and the devil in particular, all in the name of good, clean(well, not always) fun! Battle Pope and Jesus, his trusty sidekick, take on the Lucifer and the forces of darkness in this excellent collection of the first Battle Pope miniseries. There's even a brand-new scene and sketchbook pages, in case you've already got the originals! Look for Battle Pope: Mayhem, the second miniseries, coming this summer!!!

This is really one of the best comics I've ever read. It's funny and sacreligious but also extremely intelligent.

This publication deals with the final series of American battleship classes: N. Carolina, S. Dakota, Iowa, still born Montana plus the Alaska heavy cruiser. I found the book useful because it featured hull frame lines, other references do not deliver this data. Additionally it features deck by deck layouts, that's just plain interesting stuff. Pictures were informative. The chapter about gun turret accidents was neat, horrible end for those crewmembers but very insightful. My only beef was that the S. Dakota class drawings only dealt with S. Dakota, which had a different configuration from her three sisters. The S. Dakota's exhibited the greatest variety in weapons outfitting, it would have been nice to have plans depicting all four. That being said I still believe this book makes a valuable addition to any battleships fan's library. If you own Friedman's ""US Battleships" & Breyer's "Battleships & Battle Cruisers 1905-1970" the data in this book helps to sort out some of the more obscure points.

Every major class of battleship is described in meticulous detail. From design to outcome this book has it all.

Be warned, this book also contains extensive technical information, so if you are interested in narrative storytelling look elsewhere. This book is for the true devotee of battleships.

The book is excellent and I echo other reviewers' sentiments on that score. I bought this to 'upgrade' on the original, so I think it may be of interest to prospective buyers to know that this isn't simply the 1976 edition on better paper and with extra chapters. Owners of the 1976 printing may wish to hang on to that as well as buying this 1995 edition.

Some half-dozen photos, maybe slightly more, have been substituted for this 1995 edition and, whilst the new pics ARE generally better, it is a change to an old friend. I was certainly disappointed to find the superb graphic profiles of 1976 reduced from a double-page, fold-out spread to a single page: the reprinted line-drawings are, naturally, half the size & it is more difficult to discern details. For this I deduct a half-star.

A minor niggle overall, I accept, and the extra text with accompanying photos has certainly made the purchase worthwhile at this price (especially re the turret deflagration). Alas, I shall not now be selling on my original, as I had planned. My poor bookshelf...

Quite a bit of detail about each individual ship organized in sections on a ship-by-ship basis. Lots of good photos and drawings.

FIRST THOUGHTS: IF THIS GETS 5 STARS GIVE THE OTHERS IN THE SERIES 7 STARS

Excellent volume in an excellent series. Nevertheless I found this volume to be somewhat lacking in detail of both text and drawings compared to the other two volumes in this series. The excellent, large-scale, fold-out drawings which were in the other books of this series have been replaced by small xeroxed insets with much less detail. Having said this, this book was still excellent and does compare well against Norman Freidman's definitive work on the subject [U.S. Battleships: An Illustrated Design History].
.

IN A NUTSHELL: CASE STUDIES OF 8 DISTINCTLY DIFFERENT CLASSES OF DREADNOUGHTS FROM 4 COUNTRIES

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER TWO: THE NORTH CAROLINA CLASS
CHAPTER THREE: THE SOUTH DAKOTA CLASS
CHAPTER FOUR: THE IOWA CLASS
CHAPTER FIVE: THE MONTANA CLASS
CHAPTER SIX: THE ALASKA CLASS
CHAPTER SEVEN: THE RETURN OF THE DREADNOUGHT
CHAPTER EIGHT: CONCLUSION

APPENDIXES

A. PRESIDENT rOOSEVELT AND HIS NAVY
B. REPRESENTATIVE BATTLESHIP ARRANGEMENT
C. BATTLESHIP AND BATTLECRUISER GUNS
D. PRELIMINARY DESIGNS OF NORTH CAROLINA AND SOUTH DAKATO



WHAT IT IS: THE ABSOLUTE ZENITH OF A NATION'S JINGOISTIC TECHNOLOGY & POWER

In essence, the Dreadnought represents everything a powerful or wanna-be powerful nation can impart into a ship to project power on the behalf of that nation. I just made that up, but it is so obviously true. When one goes through these volumes, one can see a combination of the national pride, desperation and deviousness that lay behind the erection of fleets of these incredible vessels. Here are some motives that are touched on in these volumes:

The British wishing to limit the size, power and number of Battleships by treaty as their global fortunes were on the wane proposed and built ships that were less than ideal in all respects prior to World War 2;

The Japanese wishing to keep the world in the dark as to the size and power of their new ships [Yamato Class], hide the construction of the ships and put out false documents regarding the ships' displacement and the gun caliber of its main batteries [460mm];

The Americans utilizing the escalator clause to include 16" guns in the North Carolina class as a response to the secret Japanese building program;

The Germans building larger ships than they were limited by treaty to do as the need for armored protection increased as war approached;

The French built the Dunkerque and Richelieu class as a response to the Germans building the 'Pocket Battleships", followed by their 'Battlecruisers';


BOTTOM LINE: THE REVISED FIRST VOLUME OF AN AWESOME HISTORIC TRILOGY

Though these three volumes may seem very much the same, they described ships that were very different and very alike at the same time. Only after a complete reading of the entire trilogy, do I now feel, better able to understand the construction and design considerations that lead to a completed Dreadnought. Reading this series has made me feel grateful to the authors and excited over the material. Ultimately, this series including this volume, has fed my interest in naval history and has encouraged me to look deeper into the topic of Dreadnought engineering, construction and politics. Now, after reading this series, and then re-reading it, I feel better able to grasp the technical materials that I will have to deal with as I continue to delve into the fascinating topic of 'Dreadnoughts' and their effect on history.

LAST THOUGHTS:

This series has truly fired my interest in Battleships which began when I was a small child [50 years ago] and saw one of these classic Dreadnoughts just barely clearing the span of the Brooklyn Bridge, by inches. My mother said it was the New Jersey, as I followed the ship with my eyes, as we passed over it. To me, nothing on the sea, regardless of size or speed seems to compare with these true giant marvels of the twentieth century.

The University of Georgia Press has issued a recall on all of these books and rescinded the Flannery O'Connor Award based upon an intensely narrow-minded accusation of plagiarism. THIS IS ONLY AN ALLEGATION. Rather than correct what was obviously an editorial oversight on their part, the UGA Press has decided to unfairly punish Brad Vice. If you find a copy of this book, BUY IT. If you own a copy of this book, KEEP IT. Read it, re-read it, and tell your friends about it. Do not let UGA Press bully a fine writer and his appreciative and intelligent readers. Find out how much Brenn Jones of the SF Chronicle liked it at http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2005/10/23/RVGC9F7EK51.DTL&type=books

This book, "The Bear Bryant Funeral Train", the author's first, was removed from every bookstore shortly after publication, due to the discovery that the short story entitled "Tuscaloosa Knights" contained many sections that were, by the author's own admission, "heavily borrowed" from Carl Carmer's 1934 work, "Tuscaloosa Nights." "The Bear Bryant Funeral Train" won the highly coveted Flannery O'Connor Award, which usually rockets a young writer into a successful literary career, but which, in this sad case, very likely has ended a career just as it was beginning.

Because the publisher withdrew every copy from stores and destroyed all the copies, then withdrew the award from Mr. Vice, only a handful of copies remain, making this first-edition volume the key collector's item in the Flannery O'Connor series. Without a doubt, it will be worth many thousands of dollars in years to come. The publisher quietly removed all copies from stores before announcing that it was pulping the book--thus, very very few copies have actually made it into circulation.

All of this is truly a sad development, as the material that was not plagiarized is quite brilliant. I hope that Mr. Vice, who is being investigated on ethics charges at the university where he teaches, will be able to survive this unhappy event and go on to have the chance to publish another first book--this time one that he has written entirely on his own.

Brad Vice, The Bear Bryant Funeral Train (University of Georgia, 2005)

I think at this point everyone has heard of The Bear Bryant Funeral Train. Not because it won the Flannery O'Connor Award last year, but because the award got yanked after it was shown that Vice had plagiarized parts of the book's opening short story, "Tuscaloosa Knights." More's the pity, because it's actually the book's weakest offering. A second allegation of plagiarism has been made for "Report from Junction," another story that comes about halfway through the collection.

None of this is actually relevant to the review, and without getting into a discussion of "fair use" which would take up far more than a thousand words, is here only for purposes of completeness. No one has yet complained that Vice lifted a complete story, whole and unbroken-- only various passages and sentences. And what makes the stories in this collection so good is the way those passages and sentences are strung together. (I have hopes that eventually Brad Vice will turn out looking like the print version of the Evolution Control Committee, the idiocy of this whole thing will go away, and the book will be reprinted.)

The simple truth of the matter is that whether a stray line in story A came from book B by another author or not, Vice has penned a wonderful batch of stories in this debut collection. Most of them are little slices of Southern life, usually Depression-era or not long after. I wondered about halfway through the collection, though, why it had picked up the O'Connor; while Vice's stories are on the whole excellent, they didn't seem quite dark enough to be worthy of bearing Ms. O'Connor's hallowed name. That, of course, changed a couple of pages after I had the thought. The book's three final stories take the collection into places of darkness and despair that it hadn't previously seen.

The title story, especially, is a corker. Set in the slightly-near future, it concerns an auto designer who's obsessed with making a black and white short film (and an amusement park ride) based on the Bear Bryant funeral train. It is obsessed with its own detail, and it treats its characters in very nasty ways. A good man is hard to find, indeed, and when you find him, you may find that you don't want him nearly as much as you thought you did.

I'd strongly recommend going and picking this up at your earliest opportunity, but the University of Georgia recalled all outstanding copies and pulped them. (They were going for as high as a thousand bucks apiece on Amazon, and may still be.) If your library is one of the few holdouts who still has a copy, I'd grab it and read it ASAP, because it's entirely possible that, otherwise, you will never get the chance. Stunning. ****

Listen: the book is awesome. A bunch of people who didn't understand the literary strategy of the book got real upset and railroaded the hardcover edition out of print. That was a shame, and the shame was not on Brad Vice. It was a big huge loss, too, because these stories are damn good, and they don't read the same way as some of the sources upon which a couple of them are based.

Brad Vice, by now, ought to be enjoying the rewards good work brings. I hope, at least, he's enjoying the good work itself, as I have been again this week. I give The Bear Bryant Funeral Train my strongest recommendation, and my bookshelves are holding a few spots open for future Brad Vice books.

Yes, there is some controversy about this little book, but discerning readers should not let that take away from the brilliance of other stories around which there is no controversy. The chapters on "Chickensnake" and "Mules" are brilliant. Truly brilliant. Others border on brilliance as well. Combined with Bobby Dews' collection of short stories "Legends, Demons and Dreams," you have the best of Southern fiction today. Forget the controversy. Read the book. It's well worth it. So is Bobby Dews' book.

As a war veteran myself, I have never found a more absorbing, accurate and sincere attempt to capture the true emotions of combatants, their loved ones, and all others involved in the major conflichts of the ninteenth, twentieth and twenty-first centuries. A must read for anyone interested in getting an unbiased glimpse into the thoughts of those who were affected by war.

I purchased this book recently and could not put it down.Who better to tell a story than the ones who lived it?The letters are not only from the soldiers who fought on either side of a conflict,but from the very people who lived through them.The accounts are graphic in many cases and I now have a better understanding of the horrible reality of it all.The historical quips help with the insight as to what was going on at the time of the letter.Its a great read by an outstanding author who has done so much for our troops.

BEHIND THE LINES is a powerful collection of fragments of thoughts that were initiated over the past two hundred plus years of war scars. Andrew Carroll continues his commitment to bring the reality of war to the forefront of our attention and I know no better manner for anti-war statements than the words found in this illuminating and horrifying book.

Carroll approaches war as a panacea - an evil that has been with us around the globe for centuries and just continues unabated. Many poets and writers are struggling to make the public cognizant of the horrors of war, but Carroll scans American involvement in wars from the Revolutionary War to the present and in doing so he demonstrates the madness that we must learn to stop.

Letters, documents, memos, soldiers' notes as well as civilians' responses fill these pages, some eloquent, some simply pitiful, and some stoic as well as some encouraging. The messages are not skewed in a way that makes Carroll seem like he is ranting. Rather he lets the words of the living and the dead speak truths far larger than fiction.

This is a beautifully conceived volume that for the sake of the survival of civilization belongs on the reading desks of everyone. Tough reading, this, but enormously informative and important. Highly recommended. Grady Harp, August 05

Andy Carroll's last book - War Letters - showed what war is like by reprinting letters of American combatants who had ac-tually fought those wars. (I should confess that one of my letters about Vietnam was reprinted in that book.)

Andy's new book - Behind The Lines - shows what war is like with reprints of letters from both combatants and non-combatants - civilian women and children. This book also in-cludes letters written by non-Americans as well as Americans.

Andy limited the letters to those from the wars in which America was involved. Thsee wars range from the Revolutionary War (there's a great letter from a Hessian soldier [Hessians were German soldiers "leased" to Great Britain to fight as mer-cenaries] giving his impressions of America and the poor fighting ability of the rebels), the Civil War, World Wars I and II, Korea, Vietnam (there's a good letter from a soldier asking his parents to forgive him for having killed a man in combat), Kosovo and Gulf Wars I and II.

While many letters deal with combat, other letters show the many faces of war. At times, war can be terrifying, funny, ab-surd, touching and hilarious. (You know you've been fighting too long when the same incident strikes you as both terrifying and hilarious.)

One letter was a love letter written by a California woman to a Swiss national. In fact, the letter was complete fabrication. The Swiss national actually was a German spy traveling in Great Britain during WWII. The letter was created to make his cover seem more believable.

One letter was from a brother who had enlisted in the Union army in the U.S. Civil War. He wrote to berate his brother for having enlisted in the Confederate army.

One letter was from a German wife to her husband's company commander. She requested that her husband be given a leave "because of our sexual relationship." She wanted her husband to come home so they can have sex. The commander's sym-pathetic reply is included in the book.

One letter writer came up with a list of "The Army's Ten Commandments," which should bring a smile to anyone who served in the Army. Commandment number four is, "Thou shall not laugh at second lieutenants."

One writer came up with a letter filled with multiple choice op-tions. By checking various options, he could either proclaim his undying love or write about an upcom-ing/imminent/current/recent military offensive.

Several letter writers tried to warn their families that they should prepare for a slight adjustment period when the men come home. One Vietnam writer warned, "If it should start raining, pay no attention to his joyous scream as he strips naked, grabs a bar of soap, and runs outdoors for a shower." (As a Vietnam veteran, I found that letter puzzling. Doesn't everybody shower that way?)

The book is divided into several themes that illustrate the dif-ferent faces of war: friendship; combat; laughing though the tears; civilians caught in the crossfire; and the aftermath of war.

As a Vietnam Infantry pointman and squad leader, I view a book about war differently from most people. Andy's book showed me a side of war I had never considered - its impact on non-combatants - who could neither run away (what any sane person does when people are trying to kill him) nor fight (if you're going to die anyway, why not die fighting?).

The book also showed me what I already knew from my own experience: that war changes forever those touched by it.

One Vietnam veteran was haunted by the fact that several of his comrades had died rescuing him after he was seriously wounded. So decades after the end of the Vietnam war, he left a letter at the Vietnam Memorial thanking those men for their sacrifice. That letter is included in the book.

Don't buy this book if you are looking for stories about triumphant soldiers marching in victory parades in front of cheering, grateful crowds. That's not the side of war that Andy wanted to show. Instead, the book shows the side of war that doesn't make the 5:00 TV news.

You will need to read this book in small doses because the emotional impact of the letters can be overwhelming. In Los Angeles I attended a reading of selected letters from the book. One of the speakers read a letter he had written as a Jewish teenager while riding in a sealed railway car on his way to a German concentration camp. The letter told his sister how much he loved her. He pushed the finished letter through a hole in the side of the railway car and hoped that a kind peasant would find and mail it to his sister. One did.

This is a great book!! I really enjoyed reading it, and found myself unable to put it down. The book gives readers a better understanding of what soldiers and their families go through. After reading this book, I believe I have a better appreciation for our Veterans and our troops serving our country. Definately a recommended book in my opinion.

Lindy Cameron hails from the beautiful Mornington Peninsula outside of Melbourne, Australia. She is a freelance editor and enjoys golf. BLOOD GUILT is her first Kit O'Malley mystery. BLEEDING HEARTS and THICKER THAN WATER follow. She has also published a novel entitled GOLDEN RELIC.

Kit O'Malley is an ex-cop who has taken on the cloak of a private eye. Her mother is a society maven whose school chum, Celia Robinson, hires Kit to tail her husband and catch him in a compromising position. Kit complies, follows the rotter, and catches him in the act. But her final meeting to finish the case instead turns into a murder investigation of Celia Robinson. Kit meets Celia's independent daughter and her friend, the prickly lawyer Alex Cazenove, and Kit falls head-over-heels, so to speak:

"Despite the volume, however, she could still hear the warning bells going off in her head. After all there was nothing as ridiculous as someone whose nerve endings were going completely gah-gah over a person who didn't particularly like that someone at all, at all. And there was also absolutely NO point in allowing herself to become interested in a person whose interests lay elsewhere. And Kit was NOT thinking about Alex's impending marriage. In fact the way Alex was watching over Quinn-correction, make that 'watching' full stop-Kit was beginning to wonder if Alex knew whether she was on the right path by intending to plight her troth to the divine Enzo."

Lindy Cameron takes the reader down what initially seems a straightforward path of murder and mayhem only to tweak the journey over and over. This tale is expertly told; passionately portrayed; and properly plotted to make for a rollicking romp through a sinister world of complete psychopaths. But Kit O'Malley is up to the task. She is full of courage and insecurity, and is a lovable character whom the reader can fully support. Kit's discovery of real love is touching and astonishing. Cameron's characters all stand out, although the bad guys all seem to jell together into a gooey abyss where they belong. BLOOD GUILT is an excellent introduction to the indomitable Kit O'Malley, and Cameron scores on her first shot with this compelling read.

Shelley Glodowski
Senior Reviewer

Blood Guilt is the first book of Kit O'Malley Mystery. Katherine (Kit) O'Malley, an ex-police official, was a private eye at day and a wannabe mystery writer at night. She took a job of following the husband of the wealthy owner of Orlando House Publishing, but she didn't expect such a tedious tailing of an unfaithful husband could lead to a conspiracy that ...

I think that's enough. You shouldn't read more than that to avoid the spoilers.

Even though the story was told in the third person, it's almost like that you look at the whole thing through Kit's eyes. The story doesn't give you a detailed description about how Kit looked but you can get quite a great deals about what kind of person Kit was. The sarcastic tone, which often showed up in the story telling, is just like one of Kit's characteristics.

Personally, I enjoyed very much in reading the romance plot like the one depicted in this book. It did make me ponder, just like solving a mystery.

For mystery, it's not like the classical mystery, but it was well plotted. You can feel that the author did do her homework and pay great attention to make the logic right.

Another good thing in this book is it has many interesting characters, main or minor, which you are able to distinguish their personalities. Good dialogs, too. The story isn't fast-pacing, considering a book of 386 pages covered barely over three weeks (and mostly at the last week). It's also kind of slow to go into the main part of the story. You need a little bit patience in the beginning. You'll find it's worth your time in the end (at least for a mystery/adventure reader).

Lindy Cameron's debut novel is wonderful. I enjoyed Kit O'Malley's character. She was down-to-earth with a sense of humor and integrity. This novel covered all the bases: romanace, mystery, intrigue.

I can't wait to read the next two she has coming out.

The book was delightful. It had murder, mayhem, humor, and a very good romance thrown in. Plus, as another reviewer pointed out, it was not "dark". And you know the best part...it was not warrior princess and sidekick. I commend the publishers for putting out books with substance, both in story and length. It is refreshing to read a book with 300+ pages as opposed to the skimpy ones that B**** (rhymes with Ella) puts out. Thank you to the author for a great book. I look forward to your next.

Lindy Cameron is a terrific writer, as smart and funny as the charming, goofy, danger-prone heroine of her book, Kit O'Malley. Blood Guilt is a great read; I finished it in a single sitting because I couldn't put it down. I am very much looking forward to the sequel, which is due to be published in August.

Do yourself a favor: buy this book, pour yourself a cup of coffee, settle in a comfortable chair, and enjoy the ride.

I love this book. I have read through it many times and would recomend this book to anyone who has horses. It teaches you how to train a green horse from square one. He teaches you how to lead your horse, how to do a high stepping trot, how to longe, how to do flying lead changes, and so on. Jam packed with lots of good information.

This book was the most facinating book on training a horse I have ever read. Once you understand the process; put it to work; you will be amazed at how easy it is to train by this method. Uses all leg aids, body shifting, no pressure on mouth, no kicking or tugging. I have used it on a number of horses with great results. Horses learn with no stress. Be sure they know what you are asking of them before you go on to next levels. Wonderful basic training for either western or english riding - using snaffle or curb bit. It's the body language that works with horse and rider, not the equipment. I swear by Mr. Williamson's methods. Would work real well with Monty Roberts gentle approach to communicating with the horses' natural senses.

Having been a horse trainer and riding instructor for the past 20 years, this is the best book I have found to use for both new horse owners and riders. it should be a "have to" for all horse people.

Extermely well written book that allows the reader to gain the knowledge to train their own horse. His easy to use well explained methods are great for the novice and begineer alike. He always has the horses best interest in mind. He covers the basics as well as many advanced manuvers. He was far ahead of his times with his horse training abilities. Master horseman Roy Yates is a Charles O'Williamson practioner if any are interested. END

When we started Greentree Ranch in 1962, a dear friend gave us a copy of this book. After reading and using the methods described herein we discovered how dear that friend really was. My mother always said, "It is the only book the horses have read, too." and she was right. We have used it as the basis of our training here on the ranch since we began and will probably use it forever.

And that ain't no blarney! Hey, I couldn't resist. A delightful subject with talented writers!!

This anthology delves into the past to tell the story of different generations of a family, going back into the 900s. A very interesting and well written book by these four authors. All four of the stories reaches for your heart.

A Legend of Love: Linda Windsor
Ballymara, Present Day: Moyra Rose O'Cullen has her work cut out for her when a cynical American journalist arrives in Ballymara, Ireland, determined to debunk the legend of the pledging stone. Ballymara's tourism depends on the romance of the local legend, and Moyra meets this threatening challenge by digging deep into the past to uncover the roots of the legend. Not only does she have to prove the legend is authentic, but Moyra finds herself praying that the pledging stone can work its magic one more time-for her.

A Legend of Peace: Vickie McDonough
Ballymara, 1895: Jilted and hurt by an American cowboy, Keely O'Cullen has her defenses up when yet another one comes into her life. Touring Ireland as part of a Wild West sow, Nick Dalton is injured when Keely's carelessness causes his horse to throw him. He ends up in her home being cared for by Keely's doctor father. Keely tries to keep her walls up, but Nick is just as determined to tear them down.

A Legend of Mercy: Pamela Griffin
Ballymara, 1359: Breanda and orphaned Ardghal have loved each other since they were children when the injured Ardghal was taken into Ballymara castle. Yet English law may prevent them marrying because Breanda is Anglo, and Ardghal is pure Gaelic-an association forbidden by the Statutes of Killkenny. Then, Breanda is kidnapped and all evidence points to Ardghal and his clan. To rescue her could result in capture and death for him.

A Legend of Light: Tamela Hancock Murray
Ballymara, AD 500: Conn, a Christian, has arrived in the glen to find rest and quiet. Instead, he discovers he's landed in the midst of a druid society and ends up teaching them the word of God and about Jesus, and becomes known as the Holy Man. Word of the healing of one of their clan women piques the curiosity of Sorcha and she goes to hear him speak. Conn is very handsome and Sorcha is captivated. She determines to have him for her own, even if she has to resort to trapping him through lies and pretense to force a union between them.

This Barbour four-in-one is a bit different. We start out in contemporary Ireland with the O'Cullen clan and start the journey into the past to discover the roots of the legend of the pledging stone. Instead of starting at the earliest time, we go backwards each time. At the end of each period, we come back to today and learn more of how Moyra and her American journalist are faring.

This is fun reading, a unique blend of "now" and "then" that will keep you turning the pages to learn how the pledging stone influences each of the O'Cullens as their story unfolds. Get your copy now.

Peggy Phifer ©2005

This is a fun collection of stories-within-a-story, all centering around the fictional Irish town of Ballymara and its romantic local legend, spanning several generations from 500 AD, when Christianity first found the Irish people, to the present.

To be honest, I am not a huge fan of novellas and was most interested in this set because of Linda Windsor, a favorite Christian historical novelist. The three other stories, however, provided a wonderful surprise: well-written, engaging characters and the charm that makes me love nearly anything Irish. By the time I finished reading this volume--straight through, I might add, putting real life on hold as one should with a good book--I felt I'd truly visited the Emerald Isle myself, in four different time periods.

If you have not had the pleasure of reading a historical christian romance before you are in for a treat. This book takes place in Ireland in the present time of now. Moyra, lives and works in Ireland. She is involved with tourism and advertising. Jack comes to Ireland to write an article for a travel magazine. But right from the start he intends to write a negative article so he can save his job. Moyra has to show Jack around, she immediately doesn't like him and knows he could take away her job and livelihood, as well as a lot of other townspeople, with his article. She grows to dislike him even more when he challenges there sacred "Pledging stone" which means any promise made there has never been broken. Well on film Jack promised to love Moyra over the pledging stone. She was furious with him! Does the pledging stone work? Does Moyra and Jack fall in love?

Through the story there are flashbacks into the past. Which is great if you like history, like me! (1850, 1350, and 500) Jack and Moyra learn all about Moyra's family trhough three more fabulous romances! I couldn't put this book down. I recommend it for anybody who wants to read about Ireland, Faith, and Love. It was such a great and inspirational read.

Absolutely astounding! This expertly crafted book is more dazzling than the first! A page turning fantasy that will keep you up till the wee hours of the night dying to know what happens next! If Diana Doesn't write a third I just might have to file a potition!:)

As a sequel to Talon's great adventure, I didn't think it could top its predeceasor. Well, I was wrong. It not only matches it, it surpasses it. Diana has found her niche in her woven tale of dragons and humans. Brinn is outstanding, strong and compassionate, definitely a character I can relate to, and the story is more passionate than ever. I don't want to give anything away, but it is a must read.

Diana, you've done it again!! What a wonderful book! The world of dragons and wizards seems so real. I loved the relationship with Brinn and the dragons in the cave!
If you like Harry Potter or Artemis Fowl, you will love the Dragon books by Diana Metz.
I am eagerly anticipating the third one!

What a wonderful story. You don't find many fantasy/wizard books about a female character - maybe that's why I felt closer to the character than in Talon (which was wonderful to begin with). You felt as if you were actually seeing through Brinn's eyes. Fantastic job (again!), Diana!

Right from the beginning, even though it's a fantasy, It is very realistically described, and has characters that you can relate to. This is much better than the first book, and I can't wait for a third!