Q Books

This is a delightful and informative book on the first round of the movement for an independent Quebec. The razer-thin margin of victory on October 30, 1995 of the opposition to an independent Quebec has most assuredly meant there will be another vote on the subject in the near future. Accordingly, the subject matter of this book will take on even more importance and cogency as time passes.

The referendum held on October 30, 1995 was actually the second referendum held in the province on the question of independence. The first was held on May 20, 1980. The defeat of the movement for independence in that first rederendum marked the end of an era--the first upsurge of the Quebec independence movement. Graham Fraser's book tells the story of that era.

Fraser begins with environment of disenchantment that had been felt by the French-speaking public of the province which resulted in the split in the Liberal party of the province of Quebec. Then on July 24, 1967, President de Gaulle of France came to Canada on an official visit to Montreal's Expo 67 and during a speech from the Montreal City Hall shouted "Long-live Free Quebec" in French. That statement caused a scandal in world diplomatic circles, but in Quebec it electrified the French-speaking public and set them on a course toward independent nationhood.

In 1968, the political party called Parti Quebecois (or P.Q.) was formed and began running candidates for the provincial legislature on the platform of an independent nationhood for Quebec. Rene Levesque was elected President of the P.Q. and became head of the legislative delegation of the party as the P.Q. began to pick up a number of seats in the succeeding elections. In 1976, the P.Q. became the majority party in the Quebec legislature and Rene Levesque became premier of the province of Quebec.

The major portion of the book then deals with the rule of the P.Q. in Quebec through the defeat of the referendum in 1980 and the internal stresses and dissentions within the P.Q. that followed as the P.Q. sought to keep Quebec nationhood as a live issue on the political scene. The book ends with the P.Q. still in power in Quebec in 1985. In order to understand the second upsurge of the movement for an independent Quebec which began in 1990 and led to the most recent 1995 referendum and most certainly will lead to a third referendum on Quebec independence, it is necessary to understand the roots of the movement. This book provides that understanding in a clear and inciseful way.

first of all, I should disclose that I am a major Shelby Hearon Fan. I have read all her books at least twice since I discovered her in 1989. Painted Dresses is one of my favorites. Like most of her books, we follow the life of a woman coming to understand herself and her world better. Unlike many of her novels, this one travels from Texas to New Mexico and California. Besides the descriptive writing, the wonderful characters, and the positive images of women; Painted Dresses gets into the creative mind of a painter where the color of available light changes with the landscape and affects everything. This is a great read. Enjoy.

This is an excellent book by a scholar of no little distinction. For far too long the direct impact French Revolution had on the United States has been ignored. That impact was, and is to this day, significant. Mr. Dawson has produced a well-supported and readable (readable being no small feat in academic publishing) account that I consider must reading for anyone interested in this era and the effect its central event had on the early development of what Sir Winston Churchill called "The Great Republic."

I highly recommend this work, and look forward to more from Mr. Dawson.

E.T. (Tom) Harley is one of the most devoted Pennsy experts alive today. I know since he and I were coworkers back in the days of Pennsy steam. Tom has an encyclopedic knowledge of every Pennsy engine from the 1920's to today. A mechanical engineer by profession and a former member of the Pennsy management team, he really knows what he talks about. Get this book -- you will not be sorry!

Film critic and longtime fan of the glitz and glamour dish, Rex Reed has finally penned one of his own. PERSONAL EFFECT is the riveting tale of four fans who befriend a legendary movie star named Gilda, until one of them is involved in her 1979 murder. Throughout many torrid flashbacks, and many succulent exchanges between the culprits, Rex Reed delivers an eye-popping tale of an old Hollywood when studios were kings and stars their pets. There's never a dull moment in this novel. From love to jealously to murder, the author's uncanny flair for creating unputdownable escapist entertainment shines through. His colorful protagonists plus his clever way of building an explosive conclusion make PERSONAL EFFECTS a one sitting read. Another Rex Reed novel is way past due.-----Martin Boucher

If you are into enjoying wine and not pretending to become a seasoned sommelier this book is perfect for you.

The reading is quite entertaining and fun. It'll give some tips to pick a good wine no matter your budget, recognize how a different region or country will affect wine taste, grapes and other things.

Además de la novela corta que da título al libro, la edición se acompaña de un conjunto de relatos en los que el autor demuestra su capacidad imaginativa y su dominio del lenguaje. La prosa de Guillaume Apollinaire nunca ha sido tan reconocida como sus versos, pero debemos advertir que los textos que integran "El Poeta Asesinado" han servido de hipotexto para obras maestras posteriores de la talla de Kafka.

Much is written about English novelist Graham Greene, 1904-1991. He was a novelist, short story writer, playwright, screenplay writer, book & film reviewer, and has written children's books.

The 1957 English play, The Potting Shed, a 3-act play and a psychological family drama that carries themes of marriage, faith, religion, resurrection, betrayal, deception. It begins with the patriach dying, and his grown children are sent for by telegram with the exception of the protagonist, James Callifer, middle-aged and divorced. Something happened when he was a youth, and without any information from his distant mother or relatives, he sets out to discover what happened that has his memory wiped out after the incident.

TIME magazine review called it a truly dramatic of detective stories, what-done-it, a shadowy trek backward from an effect to a cause. But don't expect a common detective story. The what-done-it aspect is not the focus, but moreso, why-was-it-done, what happened when it was done.

If you do have in your possession, the book of The Potting Shed book that includes artwork on the cover, you can pretty much guess what happened in the potting shed, otherwise, as I say it is not the focus but the mystery is dramatic as it leaves one asking why would a 14 year-old boy do something so uncalled for and no nothing about it in his later years. Excellent play....Rizzo

The only problem I had with the book was the quality of the reproduction. Some of the pages were very hard to read in certain sections of the text. Great book, I'm glad I purchased it.

This book is not to be read, it is to be consumed and studied. When the author points out how Jesus prayed and we can emulate that. That is powerful. A definite for those that have a heart for prayer.