Conventions Books

Tossing around the term "genocide" today is journalistic license. Sometimes it means simply wholesale killing regardless of ethnicity. At others, it connotes policies with disparate ethnic impact, well short of death or destruction. But genocide has an identifiable history and placement in the canons of the law. Though a loose accusation of genocide may succeed in generating much needed sympathy and international support for victims, little thought seems to be given to the lasting force of this most horrific of charges in settings where in the long run those implicated will eventually have to live together.

For most of its 50-plus years of legal existence, the UN Genocide Convention stood quietly, serving mostly as a moral reference point. Since the ending of the Cold War, however, a body of decisions and precedents has rapidly emerged. The place names are familiar: Bosnia, Rwanda, Cambodia. Now, Professor Quigley's treatise is available to make sense of it all.

Of particular value is the book's handling of the thorny issue regarding intent. Without the necessary specific intent "to destroy in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial, or religious group, as such," the crime of genocide has not been committed. In short, as reflected in the debates accompanying the adoption of the Convention, if the intent of the perpetrator underlying commission of specified prohibited acts (e.g., killing, preventing births, etc.) is, for instance, not to destroy a specified group as such, then the mental state does not meet the requirement of genocide. Much of this is familiar territory to the analysis of criminal law, and Prof. Quigley displays the dexterity of someone at ease in separating motive, purpose, and goal, from the sine qua non of the specified intent.

The treatise is likewise benefited by its knowledge of the body of law generated by the new International Criminal Court. Although the United States has done just about everything in its power to avoid the court's reach (and even to undermine jurisdiction globally), its jurisprudence will become increasingly important as the permanent court takes the place of the ad hoc tribunals of the past.

Finally, the author brings a unique expertise to this subject. In addition to his academic credentials, Professor Quigley draws on background as an international observer to the 1979 case against Pol Pot in Phnom Penh, and as counsel for the Bosnian plaintiffs before the International Court of Justice, as they attempted to obtain an order against Yugoslavia halting alleged genocide.

The book is organized in a manner equally useful to laypersons and specialists. Despite being remarkably unburdened with legal jargon (thus making its content accessible to all), however, U.S. law libraries without a copy of this essential volume will be remiss.

John Quigley's book fills a huge gap in the genocide-studies literature. In a surprisingly accessible and engaging way, Prof. Quigley explores the application of the UN Genocide Convention in both domestic and international law. Along the way, he considers key issues like genocidal intent, designated victim groups of genocide, strategies that qualify as genocidal under international law, and the diversity of agents (not just state actors) that can commit genocide. His survey of the case-law from the Yugoslavia and Rwanda tribunals provides a fascinating overview of the way the Convention's language, complex and notoriously ambiguous as it frequently is, has gradually been defined and applied in a growing number of cases. As a genocide scholar but not a legal expert, I found this book hard to put down; I just wish I'd had it on hand when I wrote my own book on the subject ("Genocide: A Comprehensive Introduction"). It's a shame that there is no paperback edition available; but if you are interested in exploring genocide in-depth, this is a hundred dollars you will want to spend. It's an indispensable reference work that you'll find yourself pulling down from the bookshelf and consulting regularly for its insights and clarity of analysis.

If you're interested or have ever lived in the South, and been a Baptist, which most southerners are, then READ THIS BOOK! It's a wonderfully woven tale of truth that pulls you into it. I loved the passages of Sunday in the South. So very true.

This book will appeal to all of those intrested in just where the SBC is going and the problems with division therein.

Fern Dickey has written a top-notch book on meeting planning. The small consulting company I work for was planning an out of state seminar with a few speakers. Although the engagement was cancelled, we had already made many of the arrangements. After reading Dickey's book I realize all of the details we left out: travel details, hotel contract details, and speaker contract details, just to name a few. (If we even had contracts!?) Her book offers a wealth of knowledge on how to run an efficient, effective meeting, and protect your budget. The book is well organized ; you can easily jump to the section you're most interested in and her style of writing is casual. Fern Dickey is like your friend giving advice and sharing knowledge over a glass of wine. She includes numerous web sites and contact numbers for more information to help you plan your meeting. Whether it's a last minute meeting or not, I highly recommend this book.

Let's get one thing out of the way: This is not a book about how to conduct last-minute meetings. It is a book about organizing conferences, conventions and other off-site gatherings that involve extensive planning - and preferably not at the last minute. That said, it's a useful book. Fern Dickey provides exactly the kinds of hands-on details that a virgin conference organizer would need, from online resources to relevant organizations, contact information, and sample charts that you can use for record keeping, budgeting and planning. There's nothing groundbreaking here, and there are no secret tactics revealed. Instead, Dickey has produced a thorough working reference that we [...] recommend to anyone new to the dizzying world of conference planning.

The author does seem to present clues that he comes from a moderate position. Nonetheless this is an excellent book. I personally enjoyed the many details he uses to describe SBC life 1969-1991.

David Morgan does an excellent job with the history of the conflict within the SBC over the past 25 years. Clearly documented and well researched, Morgan takes you step by step through the transformation of the convention from liberal (or moderate) leadership to conservative management. Although he never suscintly states his position, he does offer clear clues along the way that he comes from a more "moderate" persuasion, but he does seem to present a quite unbiased reference work. He demonstrates clearly the attitudes and actions of both sides, neither of which is very complimentary in light of Christianity at times. An excellent, readable work - exciting, frustrating, and most of all, enlightening.

Obama is the man baby, the next president in 2008! This book is GREAT, and everyone should read it. Sorry my review is not a novel like everyone else.

I enjoyed listening to Obama's first book on CD, "Dreams of My Father." I respected how honest he was about his struggles of growing up, being raised by a white mother and grandparents, but appearing black to others. Dreams of my father was about his childhood and early adult years. Now that the election is close, I wanted to know more about his political positions, so this was exactly that.

I view myself as a logical, sensible person, so I connected with this book. The story gives a good historical overview of politics from what we could read in textbooks, in addition to the inside scoop and a veiwpoint from someone with a law degree, professor and U.S. Senator.

I'm a pediatric nurse, so I am very aware of the greatness and downfalls of our medical system. People may not believe the stories like he told; the man who had been a foreman at the closed steel plant, lost his health care coverage, was willing to and would be forced to sell everything so his son could get a needed liver transplant. For middle-class America, those stories are plenty.

This book was on the dry side compared to Dreams of my father, but it was about politics! It was more interesting than any other poliitcal book I've read. Barack was just as open about the stuggles and the issues he pondered. He genuinely wants to make the best choices and really consider the impacts of decisions.

He has my vote.

If you want to get to know who might be your next president and what makes him tick and how he will lead, you need look no further than this book. Through his candid narration of his experiences as an Illinois Senator and U.S. Senator and "politician", you will learn about this extrordianary fellow citizen who will give you insight into what it would be like to enter into Washington politics and yet remain human.

What do you think? What do other people think? This man has the audacity to ask, to care, to share, and want to improve things through democracy like we've always dreamed about, and never could achieve.

This is a great book. A great person. May his dreams come true. And, if you, too, care to share opinions and take back polling from powerful self-interests, then go to urtak.com

Search "Obama" and learn what questions people have, and ask your own, and participate in a revolution in public opinion research. urtak.com

urtak.com shares audacity, hope, and belief that revolutions can be great things!

Bo: Tarnation Cleetus, I jest can't stand Obama.

Cleetus: What's he ever dun to you?

Bo: It's not what Obama's dun, it's what Obama's goin' to do. Obama's about ready to whup the cowhide offa oldman McCain come this November. I jest can't bare the thought of a TV talkshow host becomin' our next president.

Cleetus: Whatn' the tarnation you talkin' about?! Obama ain't no TV talkshow host.

Bo: Shur she is. Obama Winfrey. She's watched by milluns. She's that famous gal who trucked out a load of pigfat on stage 'cause she was losing wait. Tho I must admit I like any gal who ain't afraid to haul around pigfat.

Cleetus: Hang on a horse's second! Yer mixin' it up, brother. I think who you mean is Obama Hussain. He ain't Obama Winfrey. She's that other gal. Obama Hussain is the fellah who's offerin' America a new chance at changin'. You'd know that if you read his book, "The Outrageousness of Hope." Did you read his book, Spiff? That's what we were sposed to do for this here review.

Bo: Well, no I must admit I didn't read it. I jest couldn't get past his name.

Cleetus: I don't fault ya for it, brother. I didn't read it nither. I jest don't think this is a book for us.

Bo: Yer right about that.

Cleetus: But we still give it five stars out of five stars in this here review. We want to be kind to all folks, including those democratics.

Bo: Git yer copy today, guys of America, and be shur to mail one to Oprah.

Although the primary focus of this book is on the Constitutional Convention, and the brilliant minds arguing, conniving, philosophizing and deliberating behind those closed doors and locked windows, Dr Bowen adds a delightful, personalized and hearty "substance" to the overall effect of this monumental meeting of the minds by going "outside of the Convention" and describing the state of the nation and its varying denizens (such as frontiersmen and other notable characters wandering through Philadelphia) at that time in history.

In contrast to the other, related books I recently read ("A Brilliant Solution" and "Constitutional Journal") Dr. Bowen's tome fleshes things out and adds a new and welcome dimension to this very special era in American history.

AND -- the Bill of Rights IS included in this book!

I recommend this book for those who have not been exposed to early american history and the founding of our political way of life. In todays presidential election climate this help to delineate the behind scenes forces that shape political thought and the impact these ideas have on our future direction.

I was forced to buy and read this book for an American History class and I KNOW some may say that I am biased because I was required to read this book, but I must say, it is absolutly horrible. As a journalism major I found this book very hard to read. Every chapter talks about the same thing. The delegates can't decide on anything, everything is based on property and nothing is resolved. (well, until the end, obviously) Perhaps that is how the real constitutional convention happened, but i don't need to read the same thing over and over for 200 pages. Often, the author side tracks on little tid bits of personal information about the delegates that seem totally unrealted to the story at the time. Unless you are a seventy year old man, I don't think you will find this book interesting at all.

Catherine Drinker Bowen's "Miracle at Philadelphia" was first published in 1966. It has been reprinted and widely used in classrooms ever since that time. The book is well written in an easy to understand style which will aid the reader who wants a first hand account of how our nation's foundational document The Constitution was given birth. The Bill of Rights and the other amendments were not added to the key document until several years later.
The convention consisted of 55 delegates representing every state but Rhode Island. This smallest of states was anti-federalist and refused to send a delegate to sweltering hot Philadelphia in the late spring of 1787. The convention was charged with replacing the Articles of Confederation which had been in place since the end of the American Revolution. The Articles led to confusion over money being issued by each state; questions about a standing army and failed to quell such rebellion's against the central goverment as that of Shay's in Mass.
The debates were hotly fought and compromise over issues became key to the success of the Constitution. The presiding officer was hero General George Washington. Also present was the President of Pennyslvania Benjamin Franklin and the father of the Constitution James Madison of Virginia. Thomas Jefferson and John Adams were not there serving as respectively US ambassadors to France and Great Britain.
The Constitution divided the strong central government into three branches of judicial, legislative and executive. It was decided to give the people of America proportional representation in the House of Representatives with elections held every two years. Each state was to be given two senators regardless of the state's size. Senators were to be elected every six years. The President of the US was to be elected every four years. Slaves and Native Americans were considered as 3/5 of a white voter in the proportioning of representatives. State governments were given freedom but the national government was to be surpeme. Washington DC was selected as the site for the national capital.
After months of debate the Constitution was made public on September 17, 1787. It went to the states for ratification winning quick approval.
Votes in the states were close on approving the Constitution especially in Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and New York. Thankfully the Constitution won approval and made America a strong nation through national unity.
Throughout the work Ms. Bowen relishes descriptions of how the delegates dressed, talked and did in their political careers. She also takes us on a tour of late eighteenth century America. Anyone interested in early American history and government should read this excellent book!

"Miracle At Philadelphia" brings the reader into one of the most crucial, sweltering summers of American history, during which the Constitutional Convention, called to propose amendments to the Articles of Confederation, exceeded its mandate and wrote the Constitution. The practice of maintaining secrecy of the proceedings reflects the delegates' fear of the public response had the radical nature of their actions been known and would later provide a sword to opponents of the Constitution during the ratification process.

Author Catherine Drinker Bowen does an excellent job of portraying the personae dramatae, framing the issues and reporting on the compromises which led to the end product.

The cast of characters includes some of the most spectacular names in the early American pantheon, some in surprising roles, and others, lesser known, but very important in this convention. George Washington, as president of the convention, presides in silence, but his very presence shaped the document created before him. James Madison and Alexander Hamilton guided the process through to the conclusion which they promoted. Benjamin Franklin guided with his sage hand, while James Wilson of Pennsylvania and Luther Martin of Maryland provided leadership to opposing sides. As hard as it is to imagine, this was done without the presence of John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, both serving on diplomatic missions in Europe.

Many of the chapters are organized by issue. How we ended up with a bicameral legislature representing states and population, a single executive, the District of Columbia and other things are laid out before the reader. The debates over slavery, a standing army and other issues which, if adopted, might have changed our history radically, make for interesting historical reading. The ratification process is followed through the states. I was surprised to find James Monroe among the Anti-Federalists.

"Miracle at Philadelphia" relies on the notes maintained by delegates and seems to stick to known facts, eschewing speculation, fictional dramatization, and analysis of external influences in telling its story. It is not a riveting, novel like work, but is interesting and informative. I read it in the hopes of gaining an understanding of how the miracle of our Constitution came about. I am satisfied and trust that you will be too.

Have you ever fought for something that you really wanted? Well in Jump Ship to Freedom, Daniel Arabus fights for his and his mother's freedom. How would you feel if you were somebody else's property and that if you were black you were convinced you're more stupid then white people? Daniel thought he was stupid because he was black. Jump Ship to Freedom a historical fiction novel written by Collier and Collier.

Daniel Arabus is a young African American slave who tries to fight his and his mother's freedom. His father bought his own freedom and tried to buy his son and wives freedom but died trying and failed. Then throughout the book Daniel tries to buy his mothers and his own freedom and goes through a lot and loses one of his friends because of a terrible tragedy. It was very hard for him to try to buy his families freedom at such a young age. So, do you want to know if Daniel bought their freedom or stayed slaves? Then read the book. It's really interesting and it really gives you the feel to what the olden days where like. Also shows you how it feels to be an enslaved African American.

I like this book because it tells you what it was like back then and how they acted and what they did and how harsh the world was to them. I also liked it because I can relate to the characters. I can relate to Daniel because he fought for what he really wanted and when I really want something I go for it.

I recommend this book to kids the age of 9 through 12 because kids can get educated by the information in this book. Also because they can learn to fight for what they believe is right and something they really want. The message in Jump Ship To Freedom is to fight for what you want and sometimes for what you really need. Collier and Collier also wrote My Brother Sam is Dead. The target audience for this book is young adults. I really enjoyed this book. It was interesting, and adventurous. By the end it leaves you on a cliff. For example, he jumped overboard and didn't make it to shore. I did not know what was going to happen next. Aren't you wondering if Daniel bought their freedom? Well... Daniel wound up..... I shouldn't give away the ending so I am going to let you read the book and find out what happened. Did he buy their freedom, or did they stay slaves and die later on in their life?

Have you ever wondered what it took for a slave to buy their freedom? Well this is what happens in Jump Ship to Freedom written by Collier & Collier that focuses on slavery from the past. Daniel is an African-American boy who is owned by the Ivers which are his slave owners. His dad fought in the civil war and got soldier notes in return for his hard work. Daniel goes through a long journey and does whatever it takes to buy his freedom.
Daniel's father gave Daniel's mother the soldier notes that he earned so she can hold on to them. The soldier notes are worthless because they haven't been converted to valuable money. At first Daniel doesn't have the soldier notes because his slave owner Ms.Ivers stole them from his mother and hid them in her room. Daniel successfully manages to find them and holds onto them and tells his mother that he got them. He does this by distracting Ms.Ivers into a small fire that he created because she is scared of fires.
Unexpectedly Ms.Ivers finds out that the soldier notes are missing and she thinks that Daniel took them. Ms.Ivers husband Captain Ivers his other slave owner calls him over to his ship for no reason and doesn't tell him where he is taking him. He accuses Daniel of taking the soldier notes and beats him with his whip. Daniel thinks he's going to New York to convert his soldier notes into valuable money but he finds out he isn't and is going to St. luticia. He finds this out by overhearing a conversation that Captain Ivers nephew Birdsey had with him. Daniel was good friends with Birdsey until he finds out that Birdsey isn't a true friend and doesn't tell Daniel that he is going to be sold. This is surprising for Daniel because he trusted Birdsey.
Birdsey ends up drowning in a horrible storm that occurs during his journey. So Daniel just keeps that secret to himself and doesn't even dare tell Captain Ivers. Daniel ends up being questioned by Big Tom a member of the crew on the ship if he stole the soldier notes and he says no when he actually did, and hid them under the cherry wood chest under the ship on the crew's quarters. Even though Big Tom was African-American Daniel still didn't trust him because he associated with Captain Ivers and was afraid that he might tell him. I can connect with this because even if I have a best friend I won't tell him any of my secrets because he might tell other people. This affects Daniel a lot because now Big Tom and Captain Ivers would think he's suspicious of holding and being responsible for the soldier notes.
I recommend this book because it shows actual ways slaves were treated and how the slave owners treated them. Also because this book teaches you a lesson on trying your best no matter what just like Daniel did to buy his freedom. I think young adults should read this because it contains some violence. But otherwise they can read it to learn a little bit about how slavery was during that time. In my opinion i'm interested in this book because when I read it I couldn't stop because it gets interesting by every page you read. Collier & Collier did an excellent job on writing this book because actual words were used when Daniel and his slave owner Captain Ivers spoke. Eventually Daniel escapes and jumps aboard. But did he make it to shore? Did he survive or die? The answers lie on the book.

Jump Ship to Freedom
By Katie Reyes, age 13, White Plains, New York

ISBN: 0440443237
Jump Ship to Freedom by James Collier; Yearling: 1987;[...]

Can you imagine yourself in a situation where you are an African American slave having to steal your own belongings from your master? You try to earn freedom for you and your mother well, in the book historical fiction book Jump Ship to Freedom by James Collier, Daniel (the main character) encounters many challenges. He has to try to get his and his mom's freedom by getting back his dad's soldier notes that his master took from him. Will Daniel ever get the soldier notes back and gain their freedom?

In my opinion, this was a very good book. I learned not to judge a book by its cover, because at first, went my teacher Mrs. Lyons gave me the book to read, I thought that it was going to be very boring. But since I had to, I read it and enjoyed it a lot. What I liked was that this book taught me some things about history and what sometimes happened in a slave's life. This book helped me a lot with my social studies and with my reading in general. This s helped me with my writing because James Collier made the book get very interesting from the beginning until the end. He also used many dialog, and irony. This showed me what my writing should be like whenever I write something. This helped me with my social studies because James used real life characters and settings and also dates. This helped me a lot.
Daniel goes threw a lot of nonsense to get what he is trying to achieve. He jumps off a ship so he can swim to a nearby dock in NY. (He is going to use the soldier notes that belonged to his father that died at sea when Daniel was very little.) When Daniel reached the dock, what he didn't know was that his master had docked there also and was looking for him. So as you can see, Daniel has a big crisis in his hands. Will Daniel ever get caught and found by his master and get his mother's and his freedom from the soldier notes?
I strongly recommend this book to any Social Studies teacher and any young adult because you can actually learn something from this book even though its historical fiction. I can relate to this book to the world because things that happened about 1 or 200 years ago happened in this book and you can add a little more to the history spot in your brain! This book didn't get any Nobel prizes or awards but I strongly recommend it does because this is a very good book. So, if you haven't read the book yet then try to find out if Daniel and his mom ever get to become free!

Jump Ship to Freedom by James and Christopher Collier. It is about a 14 year old boy named Daniel Arabus. He is an African American slave from Connecticut that has just found out that he and his mother are being sold to the West Indies by Captain Ivers their owner. he is a really grumpy and bad man. Daniel finds out that he has some soldier's notes that can free him and his mother from SLAVERY for forever. Along the way, he travels with a Quaker. And he Really needs a doctor. He stops at a tavern (when he escapes) when he sees that Captain Ivers is looking for him. Will he ever find FREEDOM??????????

At thirteen Daniel has the time of his life in Jump Ship to Freedom. He is faced with many decisions and many encounters. For example, he steals some of his belongings back from his owners so he can set him and his mom free. If you didn't get this already he is a slave, and if he is caught there consciences. He also jumps of a ship so he can swim to a near by dock New York. In hope to free his mother and him self with his fathers soldiers notes, because Daniel's father had drown at sea when Daniel was really little. While doing this what he didn't know was his master had docked and was looking for him. So, as you can see Daniel has a crisis on his hands.

I love SF and just read the whole series over the course of a week. To sum up:

Harmless, unimaginative, going-through-the-motions pulp fiction, which happens to be located in a space future.

A recap of the semi-fascistic voice in the stories of Heinlein wrapped around a B-rated classic western story, only with the gender roles swapped and with the Naxids in the role of unusually lame indians.

This is exactly the kind of SF that Paul Verhooven ridiculed in the movie "Starship Troopers".

To me Walter Jon Williams has established himself as the Barbara Cartland of Science Fiction.
Contemporary british SF writer Peter F. Hamilton does this infinitely much better, and there simply is no comparison to the grandaddy of all space opera, Asimovs Foundation-series (written around 1950).

Great space opera, and a fitting conclusion to the series. Walter Jon Williams writes some of the best pulp science fiction around.
It ends on a bit of an open note... I hope it sells well enough that he writes more in this universe.

Convetions of Dread isn't anything new to the series but it provides a good final chapter and wraps up all the loose ends from the previous 2 books. Assuming you read the begining of the series, I recommend the final novel.

Conventions of War, the final chapter in the "Dread Empire's Fall" trilogy, wraps the story up very nicely. Though I felt the series was a conventional space opera, it was probably the best classical military science fiction story I've read. The last sci-fi trilogy I read was John C. Wright's "Golden Age" series, which was a meaty, hard science fiction epic, not really falling into the space opera category (although I could be wrong about that). The Golden Age happened to be one of the best science fiction stories I've ever read, wonderfully pushing my intellectual ability to imagine a radically new technological future and its philosophical underpinnings (needless to say I highly recommend it). Dread Empire's Fall was not that kind of tale. Though not ground breaking, I enjoyed the series very much. This series tells the story of a fractured empire and the military campaigns that ensue to make it whole again. More specifically, it follows the exploits of the two heroes of the war and how their ideas and actions changed the course of the war in their favor. The writing was excellent and I really grew to like and care about the two main characters, especially the low born noble, Lord Gareth Martinez. Like the two volumes that came before it, Conventions of War was a real page turner, and I recommend the series to anyone who loves a well written military space opera with great characters.

Read this review prior to reading this book (or series, hopefully). This series ends probably as badly as any series possibly could. If it wasn't for the fact that parts of the book were OK, I'd give it 1 star, because the ending was so stupid that, if I could, I'd give it a negative five stars.

While I don't recommend you read this, I won't give away the specifics of the ending, as that would be wrong of me. However, everything that was frustrating about the first two books (i.e. silly caste structure, total reliance on patronage, accent descrimination) wins in the end, irregardless of the world changing honors that the two heroes achieve.

I truly don't understand the point of the author even writing this series, if he's simply going to allow the status quo to remain intact. One of the reasons people read books like this, is to see a civilization that has turned geologic, and then gets into a war of survival, have the ability to change. But no, the author strives to make sure that all of the stupidity that we wished to see overturned is put right back in place after the war is over.

Now, don't get me wrong, I don't mind the love triangle ending. But the political ending really makes me regret ever picking up the first book, as I now realize that reading this series has been an absolute waste of my time.

Oliver Goldsmith's The Vicar of Wakefield is one of those books you told yourself in college to read but never quite got around to it. It is Goldsmith's only novel and includes several of his poems. The book might be termed "The Book of Job as written by Jane Austen," in that it tells of the toils and troubles that beset an English vicar and his family, while at the same time being concerned with the love affairs of young people. The family Wakefield consists of the vicar, his wife and six children, two older boys, two girls of marriageable age and two small boys. The family is forced by circumstances to leave their good, middle class life in Wakefield and move to a lesser, but still tolerable existence in the countryside. There they encounter a variety of characters, some good and some bad and some seemingly good, but bad and some seemingly bad, but good--it all gets sorted out in the end.

Much of what happens in the book is improbable, but the idea is not to present a factual account as much as a story about morality. As time goes by we see the foibles of the vicar and his family, but at the same time we see their natural goodness as well. But their problems mount and the book descends into what seems like unrelieved misery. We keep waiting for the negatives to turn into positives--after all this is not Thomas Hardy--but they are slow in coming and then are crammed into an implausible ending. One advantage of the book is that it is relatively short (less than 200 pages), thus we are not forced to wade through 500 pages of drudgery to find an alls well that ends well ending.

I rate it at four stars because it is an excellent example of classical English writing with a story line that gives some insights into the life and values of English people at a time when England was growing in influence and power in the world.

RELATED MATERIAL
Oliver Goldsmith: The Critical Heritage by G.S. Rousseau(GOOGLE BOOK SEARCH)
Tom Jones by Henry Fielding, full text.(GOOGLE BOOK SEARCH)
Joseph Andrews by Henry Fielding, Book Review(.CAT DIRT SEZ)
Tale of a Tub by Jonathan Swift, Book Review.(CAT DIRT SEZ)
Robinson Crusoe by Daniel DeFoe, Book Review.(CAT DIRT SEZ)
Moll Flanders by Daniel Defoe, Book Review.(CAT DIRT SEZ)

Hey more 18th century English literature!

This book has one big advantage: It's super short- like 200 pages of regular text. It is so, so much easier to read then any of the other books I've read from this period. This is also the only book you will ever read by Oliver Goldsmith. Sorry- it's true. Goldsmith is a kind of Dickensian character- graduated last in his class at Trinity in Dublin, failed as a writer. Luckily he was buddies with Samuel Johnson- it was his intervention that got Vicar published after a two year delay. It was only 10 or so years before he died. He was just a miserable cat, but Vicar of Wakefield has endured, perhaps because of his kind of "celebrity"- an early Kurt Cobain type, but without the suicide.

The story is about a Vicar who loses all his money and has to move to the sticks, where his elder daughter is seduced by the rakish land lord. The Vicar defies the landlord's attempt to prostitute his daughter, and ends up in prison, only to be freed by the villainous landlord's noble Uncle- who had been pretending to be someone else for the whole novel! Typical 18th century plot twist- the appearance of characters in different roles. Can this not be linked to the practice of the theater, where cast members would re appear.

As I said, it reads fast- maybe three hours tops if you just sit down with it. It's a "minor classic."

I have, in a way, two completely separate reviews for this novel, with two completely different rankings. As a serious novel it gets one star; as a comic novel it gets four. I have gone with the four-star ranking because I have very little doubt of which it is.

If this book was in fact written as a serious panegyric upon the glories and virtues of the simple, holy life, and the blessings that come to those who persevere in the face of adversity, it is the most consummate tripe. The characters are caricatures, the emotions farcical, the plot lines banal. Primrose (the narrator) is a fool, and a particularly pretentious and self-righteous one. The women in the novel should make any self-respecting woman cringe. The tireless soliloquies on economics, politics and religion make you unwittingly begin to skim. I will take Wittgenstein's advice and just pass over the ending in silence. Think Danielle Steele in a more obscure vernacular, but worse. (Yes, that's right, worse.)

Thankfully, it's not serious (or, at least, I am almost certain that it isn't). As a comic novel it comes off kind of like a Zucker, Abrahams, Zucker movie about a Jane Austen novel. The beauty of it is, however, is that it's so deadpan, it's so subtle in its irony, that for the first eighty pages I really thought it was sincere - albeit terrible. I won't go into the plot details as most of you probably don't want someone to spoil the plot for you, and the rest can easily find it succinctly traced out by my fellow reviewers. I will say that it's a Book-of-Job-style parable, and one of the most complete and believable satires I've ever read.

(I will add, just to give my review some perspective, that I love 18th century British literature, Fielding and Sterne in particular. In other words, my opinion has not been overtly colored by an ignorance of either the genre or the writing styles of the period. At least, I hope not.)

"Now," cried I, holding up my children, "now let the flames burn on, and all my possessions perish. Here they are, I have saved my treasure. Here, my dearest, here are our treasures, and we shall yet be happy."

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It is a wonderful quick read about a man (family) over coming adversities in life, yet continuing to hold on to and cherish what is important in life. Dr. Primrose never becomes jaded after all that is thrown at him. Just when you think he can take no more, more is piled onto him. In the end, of course, all is well. While I wouldn't call the book exciting itself, there are exciting elements...kidnappings, death, cheating, and more. I enjoyed it so much because Dr. Primrose is truly a stand up guy and one we can all learn lessons from.

Told with a great deal of tongue-in-cheek humor and wit, The Vicar of Wakefield, published in 1766, features the delightfully innocent Dr. Primrose, a cleric who believes that kindness and virtue will always be rewarded. Surrounded by his wife and six children, Dr. Primrose lives a comfortable life, but he becomes the victim of theft when his broker runs off with all his investments, leaving him penniless, just as his son George is about to be married. When George's marriage is canceled due to his lack of prospects, the family moves to the country, where Dr. Primrose becomes vicar of a rural church.

One disaster follows another, involving Dr. Primrose and his family. The poor but kind Mr. Burchell, who saved daughter Sophia from drowning and befriended the family, later shocks Dr. Primrose by slandering the daughters and ruining their chances to become companions to two women in London. The sale of the family's only horses to a trickster leaves them virtually penniless. His older daughter Olivia is abducted and "ruined." The house catches fire, and their landlord demands his rent, knowing that the family has nothing. No matter how outrageous the calamities (and those mentioned above are only a sample), Dr. Primrose insists on seeing the bright side, even when there is no bright side. Virtue and goodness, he is convinced, will always be rewarded.

Owing as much to eighteenth century satiric comedy as to the developing novel, the story of Dr. Primrose and his family satirizes the sentimentality of early novels, such as Pamela, while it makes use of sentimental devices to further its plot. Poking gentle fun at Dr. Primrose for his innocence, Goldsmith never mocks or belittles him. Coincidence, mistaken identities, the humiliation of all the villains, innumerable surprises, and the restoration of Dr. Primrose's fortunes lead to the "deserved" happiness of Dr. Primrose and his family in the conclusion. Virtue is indeed rewarded, and evil is indeed punished. A gentle novel filled with charm, The Vicar of Wakefield feels like a "lady's novel," one which lacks the bawdy excess of Fielding and the unique humor of Sterne, while never taking itself too seriously. n Mary Whipple

She Stoops to Conquer and Other Comedies (Oxford World's Classics)
Oliver Goldsmith; a biography. By Washington Irving.
The poetical works of Oliver Goldsmith. With a life, by Thomas Babington Macaulay.

This is truly a gag book. From the font and the spacing to the intro to the plot, it is a 'first book' from an author who, unfortunately, does not have a future in writing. Please do not impulsively purchase this because it's cheap, like I did...unless you want a good laugh.

This book is an apparent attempt to provide comfort and meaning for those bereft in the 9/11 disaster, culminating in a long address by God to those who died in the airplanes and their attendant destruction. It's not great writing, and the dialog is predictable. Nor is it theologically satisfying--the only criterion addressed at the "judgment" scene is whether those who had died were among the 19 hijackers.
Some will find this a reassuring effort. However, it is limited in scope and flawed in delivery.

What I liked most about the "Convention" was the insightful statement of the overall importance of balance in life...that is balancing the creation of prosperity and good in our own lives with attempting to be compassionate and helpful toward others in order that all may share in the goodness of life, and so that we can help create a world that works for everyone. Very good book.

Also recommended are:

Think on These Things

Law of Attraction: The Science of Attracting More of What You Want and Less of What You Don't

Nexus: A Neo Novel

THE CONVENTION is a wonderful book about the power of advanced consciousness and compassionate living...inspiring, as is NEXUS a soulful novel about heart-centerred living...great when read together!

More amazing books:

Nexus: A Neo Novel

Think on These Things

A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose

THE CONVENTION highlights the powerful effects and significance of your 'actions' in life. The central message is one of hope even in the 'midst of trials and tribulations. Also that there is more to 'coincidence' than meets the eye. This book is heart warming and focused on compassion as is NEXUS by Deborah Morrison and Arvind Singh, so I highly recommend THE CONVENTION and that you best read it along with:

Nexus: A Neo Novel
The Secret
Law of Attraction: The Science of Attracting More of What You Want and Less of What You Don't