Oliver Books

Roman history has always been one of my keenest interests, and when I found this book in my library, I checked in out and kept checking it out. After a while, I decided to just buy it. This book gives great descriptions of each Emperor, (starting with Augustus, and actually going as far as the early Byzantine Period with Justinian) drawing on every source imaginable. It saved me a lot of time from having to actually go to the primary sources (the dreaded experience of reading Latin and Greek texts) and does a good job explaining what is factual and what is speculation (important for ancient history as sources are not always reliable). It covers every period, a lot of which have very little written about them elsewhere(such as the Third Century) so this book really helped clarify some areas in history that I have always seen as murky. Every imaginable Emperor is in this book: usurpers, the Emperors of the Gallic Empire, the book even covers the lives of some rulers who were not Emperors, such as the Gothic kings of Italy and leaders of the later Roman Republic.
But what really a attracted me to this book were the wonderful pictures. There are pictures of every emperor, pictures from statues, coins, paintings, and sometimes all of the above. The coins were used so often that I'd recommend anyone with an interest in Roman coins to just look at the pictures. The maps are also great: there are lots of maps, which are always helpful when dealing with places that have changed a lot in two thousand years. Everything is in color and beautiful. One thing that really struck me about the book is that it has the wealth of pictures and the accessibility one might find in book targeted to a younger audience, but the sophistication and enormous amount of detailed information one might expect from a professor of classics. Its the best of both worlds.
My only complaint (not enough to get me to take off points) is that there are some typos in the books. Nothing big, sometimes names or places are not capitalized, and on one or two maps I found that there were some errors (the one example I can think of is that on one map the ocean is labeled "Italia") The editor must have been a little lazy. I would recommend a second edition to clean the book up a little, but other than the minor errors, the book is flawless and a treat for anyone who loves Roman history.

Have used this book many times to clarify technical jargon for beginning computer tech students. An outstanding initial reference work for technical trainers. Hope to see it updated soon

Absolutely great! So many freqs... so much DX! Great infos covering everything !!!

Stimulating and thought provoking critical approach to Lawrences work. Ground breaking research by the late Prof. Yudhishter 30 years ago, this book is still a 'must' for any serious Lawrence reader.

Nathan Aaseng's Construction: Building The Impossible profiles eight builders who worked against seemingly impossible odds to provide roadways, bridges, and tunnels which challenged natural barriers. Discussions of the building process make this an absorbing study.

Not only does this book have excellent suggestions for that dreaded question, "so, what do you want to do?" but it does it in an easy-to-read and humorous manor. Delightful book!

A Croft in the Hills is a must read book for anyone interested in the highland crofting way of life. Writing with vivid memory and great skill, Katherine Stewart draws on her many many years working a croft, and infuses the text with a passion and interest which keeps you turning the pages, something which is a rare commodity in many books these days. An incredible woman, now at the age of 92, she is still writing and publishing books full of life and much gathered wisdom. Top class.

Fifteen-year-old Talia is being apprenticed to the Dragon Knight's Guild and leaving everything she has ever known far behind. Then to make it worse, her ride to the guild school is on Clarence, a cross-eyed dragon that can't fly straight and crash lands. But his rider Kel is a nice guy who seems determined to be a success with Clarence, despite Clarence's disability. Talia finds the school so alien from anything she has ever been exposed to, but she is determined to do her best and make her family proud. Too bad Kel and Clarence are obviously outsiders because Talia can use all the friends she can get. Will Talia survive her first year in the guild school?

I loved Cross-Eyed Dragon Troubles. The characters are a mixture of typical teenagers and unusual administrators and teachers in the outlandish setting of the Dragon Knight's Guild school. Author Oliver has a very creative imagination, and I was both charmed and tickled by the things happening in the story. She even makes the school lessons unusual and fun. I'd have loved to have had some of these lessons when I was in school, and a few of them I could have done without.

From the moment Talia meets Clarence and Kel I had to laugh at their spectacular crash landing as they arrived to escort her to the guild school. I don't know if I would have been brave enough to get on Clarence after that demonstration but Talia shows remarkable determination. Then she is basically abandoned at the school-I'd have been crying to go home, but Talia deals with it. And this is just Talia's first day. Life for Talia does improve quickly because she is such a resilient character, but the more you learn about Clarence and Kel's situation, the more you will feel sorry for them.

I enjoyed the imaginative world Gloria Oliver invented for this story and really hope this is just the beginning. I would love to read more about Talia and her friends or even different students at the guild school. I hope there will be a sequel and soon!

Armchair Interviews agrees.

Our nation breathed a collective sigh of relief when The Paris Peace Accord was signed in 1973. It was supposed to be the end of the Vietnam War. As we would learn 2 years later, it was not. Olivier Todd originally covered the war from 1965-1973. After the Fall of Saigon on April 30, 1975, he decided it was time to summarize the final days of the conflict. His book covers the infamous 4-month period from January to April in 1975 and the total collapse of South Vietnam. In reading this book, it is quite obvious he invested a great deal of time into interviews and research. The book not only reviews the final days but also raises many questions about the events surrounding them. The reader will find himself mixing memories with those questions in every chapter.

REALLY GOOD BOOK. I ENJOYED IT VERY MUCH. NOTHING MORE TO SAY BUT GET IT NOW.