Washington Books

That's the name of the book too. If you read this book, you may find yourself agreeing. Don't read this book if you'd rather not find a place for your ideals in your life. That's how many people will conclude they need to be. We are conditioned and rewarded to abandon our principles in the quest for success and in our striving to dominate and eliminate perceived threats to survival.

Coleman McCarthy understands that we have it upside down. Don't read this book unless you want to be inspired. We are taught violence from the moment we are born and McCarthy describes a simple alternative that he has been living for more than twenty years; teach peace. He leads students of all ages - including elementary age, where we most need to begin - and prisoners, including the many young, black male victims of culturally ingrained injustice - to the study of Ghandi, non-violence, Dorothy Day, Martin Luther King, Jr., Daniel Berrigan and others like them. He suggests, yes illuminates, the fact that we can and must act on the ideals of peace and non-violence that exist in us all, but are only buried by the current institutions of our culture and the world.

Don't read this book if you want to stay asleep. Right now, in today's world, as the US financial system spins quickly into oblivion, we need to orient to the values of peace; need to quickly develop a felt understanding of the quality of life available to each and everyone of us if we teach peace, live peace, give peace, are peace. But we will naturally respond differently to the catastrophe. We will grip even harder onto that which we know, are comfortable with, have been taught. We have been taught violence. We will need to learn something new or suffer greatly.

In this book, Cole McCarthy describes his life of teaching in schools and prisons the elements of peaceful conflict resolution. He teaches the absurdity and ineffectiveness of pursing peace through violent means.

As we struggle in the coming years to resolve our personal confusion between survival and success, we will need to grab hold of peace and nonviolence lest we simply fall back into the dead end beliefs of fighting and overcoming instead of collaboration, compassion, relationship - not only with each other, but with the natural world as well. Our violent beliefs have brought us to where we are now, a catharsis of civilization.

Read this book. Pass it on and go forth into the emerging paradigm with an evolved consciousness. And if someone tells you that you are being too idealistic, politely, lovingly, emphatically teach peace. Suggest that they read the book too!

Colman McCarthy's I'd Rather Teach Peace opens with his description of the first course he ever taught. Mr. McCarthy explains how an invitation to speak at a children's high school in Washington, DC in the spring of 1982 transformed his life, bringing challenges, but also opening the limitless possibilities to teaching peace. Upon deciding to enter the classroom, McCarthy had already accrued fourteen years as a syndicate columnist with the Washington Post. A Roman Catholic, McCarthy spent five years in a Trappist Monastery previous to his role as a journalist. This solid contemplative foundation is evident in the genuine, thought-provoking ideas Colman presents in his autobiography, I'd Rather Teach Peace.

To the politically moderate reader, a book as honest as Mr. McCarthy's might be either shocking or disregarded as ideological banter or both. At its core, McCarthy's book takes great strides in challenging the reader to think outside of a conformist and obedient society. These jabs are very intelligently constructed avoiding insult or condescension. In one succinct sentence of his preface, Colman states his objective in teaching, "Alternatives to violence exist and, if individuals and nations can organize themselves properly, nonviolent force is always stronger, more enduring, and assuredly more moral than violent force" (McCarthy xiii). Throughout his book, McCarthy expands on this idea, emphasizing the power of peace.

Taking place across a semester, McCarthy journals about his experiences in several different schools, ranging from Oak Hill Youth Center in Laurel, Maryland to Georgetown Law School. While a sizeable portion of the book follows from McCarthy's thoughts and ideologies, the meat of the narrative is derived from McCarthy's students and their reactions to his teachings. This is a particularly strong aspect of I'd Rather Teach Peace for the way in which it allows McCarthy to respond to doubters while also physically illustrating the potential for his theories on peace and its study. These responses enable McCarthy to fluidly analyze many aspects of non-violence theory, while incorporating his witty humor and vast experiential knowledge. This format, combined with McCarthy's natural style, makes for an incredibly fascinating and engaging read.

Despite the strengths of McCarthy's book, I have difficulty naming it as one of the best pieces of literature I've ever read. Pondering this in disappointment, it seems that one of the books strengths, its accessibility, may also double as its greatest weakness. Mr. McCarthy speaks directly and honestly. These qualities give the book a unique flavor that make its read feel as though you are sitting next to the author as he shares the narrative aloud. The ideas presented are heavy, yet tangible and real. Mr. McCarthy steers clear of literary devices typical to the humanities, symbolism, metaphor, and other thematic elements. As a result, I have difficulty taking Mr. McCarthy's book for anything more than surface value. This is not necessarily a bad thing, as it remains a very powerful read. But regardless, this style seems to take away from the imaginative and interpretive qualities found in some of literature classics, from Shakespeare to Twain.

Nonetheless, Mr. McCarthy's book most certainly leaves the reader wanting more. While it may not provoke second and third readings in search of deeper analyses, it remains a very discussable book. What McCarthy's book lacks in interpretive substance, it more than makes up for with the inspiration it leaves the reader. After a strong initial impact, the book does not conclude without creating a legacy for itself within the reader.

It is difficult to objectively analyze this legacy because it is likely different for every reader. However, there are several points that seem to build the foundation for the book as an eternal guardian in the conscience of the reader. McCarthy presents many of these ideas in his chapter titled "Ideas to Practice, Not to Mull", long before the Epilogue. One of McCarthy's most poignant passages is his response to a student's speculation about the use of non-violent strategies against Hitler.
"Sound bites don't do it. I feel like a math teacher who chalks the blackboard with calculus equations and then a student - who has never taken a math course before and has been told all his life that 2+2=423 - rises to say that nothing on the board makes sense. But make it clear with a quickie answer. Right now."
(McCarthy, 82)
This is impossible of course. Yet, this scenario seems to drive the objective of McCarthy's book.

He works throughout his memoir to nullify the notion that, "2+2=423," and slowly prove to the reader that it, in fact, equals four. Not in a demeaning or patronizing way, but in the methodical way any teacher would help a student who didn't understand a concept from class. The legacy of the book lies in McCarthy's revelations and the tools he gives the reader for further questioning and understanding. So sure, McCarthy's book isn't Tolstoy, Gandhi, or Merton. But, it's a start. And change must start somewhere.

When Washington Post columnist Colman McCarthy was invited to teach a course on writing at an impoverished public school in Washington DC, he responded that he'd 'rather teach peace' - and thus he began a new career, teaching courses on nonviolence and conflict management to a range of schools. "I'd Rather Teach Peace" details one semester in six of these schools, and is an excellent pick for educators seeking insights on teaching peace within the education curriculum.

Very heart-felt, and gets to the core of many issues affecting us as a nation, and really does make you wonder "Why don't they teach Peace in school?".

McCarthy's book is inspirational. I'm working on a manuscript on peace and writing, and sometimes the realities of the world raise serious doubts. When it becomes hard to believe in the possibility of peace, I open this book.

The book showed me quite a few of the things I missed on my visit to the Market. I will be making another trip to Seattle in March and have already highlighted the places in the market that I want to see. I have even found places that my six year old grandson will enjoy visiting also. I have fallen in love with Seattle and the Market. My thanks to the authors for allowing me to visit the Market right in my living room in Houston when ever the notion strikes me.

I rarely read a food-related book, skimming instead for any nuggets of wisdom, or a select recipe or two. But few such books are as well-written as Braiden Rex-Johnson's "Inside the Pike Place Market." I opened to the first paragraph and just couldn't put it down. Part history, part travelogue, part cookbook, and lavishly illustrated with Paul Souders' photographs, this is indeed a book to savor from beginning to end.

I READ THIS BOOK BEFORE MY LAST TRIP TO SEATTLE AND DISCOVERED PLACES IN THE MARKET THAT I DID NOT KNOW EXISTED. MY GRANDSON AND I VISITED LOTS OF NOOKS AND CRANNIES IN THE LOWER LEVELS THAT I HAD NOT DISCOVERED ON PREVIOUS VISITS TO THE MARKET. THE MARKET IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE PLACES IN SEATTLE. FROM THE FLOWER STALLS TO THE HISTORY OF THIS SEATTLE ICON, THIS BOOK IS A GOLD MINE. IF YOU ARE GOING TO SEATTLE OR JUST TO LIKE TO READ ABOUT INTERESTING PLACES---YOU NEED THIS BOOK!

For anyone who has ever visited Seattle's famous Pike Place Market, the book is a joy. It captures the hustle, bustle and charm of the market. Braiden Rex-Johnson has culled stories that make the market come alive in words as well as the wonderful pictures of Paul Souders. The 20 recipes spice up the text and serve to bring home the variety and texture of the market. Congratulations to both Braiden and Paul!

Braiden Rex-Johnson has written a foodies delight. Sumptuously decorated with the photographs of Paul Soders, Rex-Johnson's exploration of Pike Place Market is candy for all the senses. This is NOT a cookbook. There are just 20 recipes (all very good). Rather, this is a delightful narrative of the history of the market, the people and products that inhabit it, and the terrific food that emerges from it. Braiden-Rex is deeply in love with her market, and it shows in her wonderful book. When you finish the book, you'll be hungry, but very, very satisfied.

Vivid Dialogue, September 1, 2005
By Barbara Glass

In her second novel, Fleming brings back Lieutenant Matthew Alexander, whose directness and lack of concern about embarrassing the wealthy and powerful make him a very appealing character. Alexander and his partner Jake are called to the scene of a homicide in the posh Gold Coast section of Washington, D.C., where the victim is a millionaire real estate developer. He died in the home of a young woman to whom Alexander had once been engaged, but she's only one of a collection of suspects with reasons to want the dead man out of their lives.

Fleming knows how to write a gripping story, but what makes it especially vivid is her dialogue. With their words, her characters show their personalities, beliefs, and values. When they speak, you can almost see the flash of anger in their eyes, hear the chuckle in their voices, or sense the sorrow in their body language. These voices, freighted with emotion and edgy as they wait for the discovery of various truths, draw you into the world of the book and make it hard for you to put it down. Furthermore, Alexander knows that the truth he's looking for lies deep in those personalities.

Suspense builds on every page. Add to this the tension between the lead detective and his bosses, the racial and family issues that won't go away, and the beautiful wife Alexander has at home, and the result is a satisfying complexity that pulls you into his world and keeps you there until the conclusion.


Murder in Black and Gold, June 10, 2006
By Chiquita Mullins Lee (Columbus, Ohio USA)

Murder on the Gold Coast brims with surprises and revelations. Barbara Fleming's intelligent writing sheds wisdom and insight into the human condition. With her uncanny eye for detail and a well-tuned ear for dialogue, even Washington, DC is a character full of energy and personality. Fleming's writing is by turns lyrically poetic and as staccato as a crime report. Matthew Alexander deserves a long career investigating the District's crimes. And Barbara Fleming is building a solid body of work from the capers of this cunning detective.

Murder on the Gold Coast is the newest installment of Fleming's Matthew Alexander Mystery Series. Someone has killed wealthy black real estate developer, Harold William Waterson, Sr., and, surprisingly, his Washington, DC social sphere encompasses a circle of people with motives. His elegant white wife is miserable. His son detests him. The black, beautiful Angela Bowman wants to end their affair. When Waterson winds up dead in the posh basement of Angela's parents, the three Bowman's maintain their innocence. While there is no hard evidence to implicate them, there is the matter of the murder weapon; that key piece of evidence - a 38-caliber revolver that emptied two slugs into Waterson's chest - is missing.

Matthew Alexander steps in to unravel this mystery, wrestling against the odds, frustration, and time. Matt's personal history with Angela enhances the intrigue; they might have married had her father found him worthy. In his current marriage to sultry Carla, his life balances romantic negotiation, administrative head-games, and brutally long hours. His witnesses balk, and his leads sometimes disintegrate, but his instincts seldom betray him. This sharp, handsome detective is cocky for a reason. He's good at his job.

Wow, I loved this book! For weeks I had been searching for a good mystery book and when I saw the reviews for this one I didn't waste any time ordering it. This story starts off with Harold Waterson, a wealthy businessman being murdered at the beginning of the story. The question is who shot him..why and why did he get murdered in the basement of people who claimed not to know him?

Barbara Fleming will have you guessing and assuming to the very last chapter. Once I got down to 100 pages left I stayed up all night trying to solve this murder case.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

You won't be disappointed!

Barbara Fleming's Murder On The Gold Coast: A Matthew Alexander Mystery is a murder mystery which offers delightful dialog, well-developed characters, a finely designed plot, and intimate insight into the process of a police department's murder investigation.

While the homicide detective's viewpoint is the primary viewpoint, what I found fascinating was how Barbara Fleming gives us a "look-see" into the work and involvement of a forensic specialist, district attorney, and police chief, among others, as Detective Lieutenant Matthew Alexander investigates wealthy Harold Waterson's murder in Washington D.C..

If you love murder mysteries, you'll thoroughly enjoy the experience of reading Barbara Fleming's Murder On The Gold Coast: A Matthew Alexander Mystery.

I enjoyed it and I am sure you will too.

Detective Mathew Arnold investigates a murder in the home of his former girl friend, whose father persuaded his daughter to break off the relationship. The victim and several suspects are members of the upper crust of black society in Washington, D.C. Detective Arnold faces not only the stress of a personal relationship with a key suspect, but also intense political and social pressures in a high profile case that his superiors are anxious to close with a quick arrest. His character, perserverance and investigative instincts and skill prevent a gross injustice, and leave the reader with the challenge of figuring out who did it. As a dectective story, this is a thrilling piece of work with a convincing assortment of possible culprits that make the book difficult to put down. As a literary work, the author creates some fascinating characters and provides some interesting insights into the social milieux of the characters.
Fred J. Milligan, Westerville, Ohio

Murder on the Gold Coast brims with surprises and revelations. Barbara Fleming's intelligent writing sheds wisdom and insight into the human condition. With her uncanny eye for detail and a well-tuned ear for dialogue, even Washington, DC is a character full of energy and personality. Fleming's writing is by turns lyrically poetic and as staccato as a crime report. Matthew Alexander deserves a long career investigating the District's crimes. And Barbara Fleming is building a solid body of work from the capers of this cunning detective.

Murder on the Gold Coast is the newest installment of Fleming's Matthew Alexander Mystery Series. Someone has killed wealthy black real estate developer, Harold William Waterson, Sr., and, surprisingly, his Washington, DC social sphere encompasses a circle of people with motives. His elegant white wife is miserable. His son detests him. The black, beautiful Angela Bowman wants to end their affair. When Waterson winds up dead in the posh basement of Angela's parents, the three Bowman's maintain their innocence. While there is no hard evidence to implicate them, there is the matter of the murder weapon; that key piece of evidence - a 38-caliber revolver that emptied two slugs into Waterson's chest - is missing.

Matthew Alexander steps in to unravel this mystery, wrestling against the odds, frustration, and time. Matt's personal history with Angela enhances the intrigue; they might have married had her father found him worthy. In his current marriage to sultry Carla, his life balances romantic negotiation, administrative head-games, and brutally long hours. His witnesses balk, and his leads sometimes disintegrate, but his instincts seldom betray him. This sharp, handsome detective is cocky for a reason. He's good at his job.

Murder on the Gold Coast by Barbara Fleming
Reviewed by Chiquita Mullins Lee

Excellent information on the history of gemstones, understanding color and cuts. Exquisite examples, beautifully photographed. A must for anyone interested in gemstones or the history of jewelry.

This is a beautiful book with lots of interesting information on the gem collection.

This review is for the paperback version of the book, which I loved. It has a lovely balance of terrific photos & explanations of the various sources of the featured gems. It serves as a nice beginning reference when you have heard the terms sapphire & red sapphire (huh? I thought red gems were rubys or spinels) and would like to know more about which gems are related to others.

And did I say the photos are just wonderful? Enjoy!

If you have visited the National Collection and want a souvenir to remind you of the stunning array of unique World Class Gems then this is the book for you. Both the format of the book and the superlative quality of the photography make this book the next best thing to being in the exhibition hall. There is a fairly light weight coverage of the gemmology in the text, but it mostly focusses on the history and ownership of these fabulous gems. The National Collection is unique, no where else in the world is there such a concentration of fabulous jewels with such an interesting history, with the possible exception of the British Crown Jewels in the Tower of London. This book is a fitting celebration of such a marvellous collection.

"The National Gem Collection," by Jeffrey E. Post, features photographs by Chip Clark. The book is a beautiful celebration of the title collection, which is part of the Smithsonian Institution. The informative text discusses the history of the collection, facts about types of different gemstones, and specific pieces in the collection.

The full-color photography is really stunning, and brings a rich assortment of gems to glorious life. Some of the historic pieces pictured are the blue Hope Diamond, the diamond Napoleon Necklace, the Hooker Emerald, and more. Also shown are a colorful collection of "fancy" diamonds, a rare red diamond, the 858-carat uncut Gachala Emerald, the delightful "pink tutu" (a band of dainty rose quartz crystals on a large smoky quartz crystal), a dazzling group of fire opals, a lapis lazuli carving from Afghanistan, and more.

I appreciate how the book celebrates gemstones at various stages: uncut, cut, and set in artfully crafted pieces of jewelry. Many different types of gemstones--aquamarine, garnet, spinel, chrysoberyl, turquoise, etc.--are covered. Features such as a scanning electron microscope photo of the inner structure of an opal give the reader a deeper understanding of the science behind gems. From start to finish, this book is a marvelous feast for both the eyes and the brain.

Nightmare Mountain is one of the best books I've ever read. If you like adventures, you'll love this book! I think almost everybody will love this book. This book has a lot of cliffhangers that keep you entertained. Just a warning, if you don't have lots of time to finish a few chapters, it will drive you crazy until you scream! Our third grade class read this book. Evertime we had to stop reading the whole class would go NOOOOOOOO, PLEASE CAN WE KEEP READING!!!! WE'RE BEGGING YOU!!!!!

Nightmare Mountain


Nightmare Mountain is about a girl named Molly and her cousin Glendon that get kidnapped by Glendon's dad's brother. He takes them to the top of the nearest snowy mountain and leaves them there.Molly is a young girl who wants to make friends with her cousin but he doesn't want to.The story takes place on Molly's uncles farm and on the nearest snow covered mountain. The theme is that you should not dislike a person because you are jeolous of them. I liked the story because there was excitement in every chapter of the story.

This is a must read. Every page is filled with adventure, suspence, and Glendon and Molly!
Summary: After Aunt Karen becomes ill with a coma, Molly and Glenden and to stay home at te ranch. Then a thief is lurking in the barn! He tried to kidnap them but Glenden ran. A gunshot triggerd an avalanch and burried them both. Molly saved herself and can't find Glenden. Can she save him before he dies?

I really like this book. It's about a girl named Molly who goes to stay at her aunt and uncle's llama ranch. But her cousin Glendon is ignoring her and being mean. Then her Aunt Karen gets really sick, and Glendon blames Molly. But Molly thinks that someone is trying to kill her. Then a valuable llama is stolen, and Molly and Glendon have to find the thief. A scary, dramatic mystery that I would strongly reccomend.

I actually read this book way back in 1993 as a lad of thirteen. Then, about two or three years later I got an urge to read it again. Of course, that was back when internet access for us blind folks was little more than a pipedream, so there was no posting online reviews. Anyway, I was hooked from the beginning.
Twelve-year-old Molly Newman is looking forward to a relaxing vacation on her Aunt Karen's llama ranch. Though Molly and Uncle Phil had never met before, they hit it off immediately. But Glendon, Phil's distant son, seems to strongly dislike Molly for a reason he refuses to disclose. Within days of Molly's arrival, Aunt Karen becomes desperately ill, forcing Phil to stay with her at the hospital, leaving Molly and Glendon alone on the ranch. Glendon, of course, blames Molly for his stepmother's illness. It is at this time that Molly discovers that a valuable, pregnant llama has been stolen. From there, things only get worse as the thief catches Molly and Glendon snooping around the barn and abandons them on a mountainside immediately following a deadly avalanche. Abandond on the mountain and separated from her cousin, Molly embarks on a daring and dangerous effort to find and rescue Glendon before he freezes to death. In the process, she learns a shocking truth about the identity of their attacker and a disturbing secret from Glendon's past, and the reason for his inexplicable resentment towards her.
All in all, it's the perfect adventure story. It might even make a good movie.

If I would only have the joy to read one book in my lifetime, it should be See Under: Love.

See Under: Love took my breath away, moved me to tears and touched me in the tenderest reaches of my soul. It is brilliant, imaginative, engaging and humane. The way characters, themes and time wind into each other transport the reader to a place far beyond the mundane. I loved every word. Immediately upon finishing, I went back to the first page to reread. My second reading was more deliberate and careful, and I caught much that I had overlooked in my first pass. I am sure that I will reread it again and again.

I originally bought this book after Jonathan Safran Foer enumerated it in his "Five Most Important Books" for an August 2007 Newsweek piece. Foer called it, "The novel of the 21st century" though it was first published in English in 1989. I thank Jonathan Safran Foer for his own works and, here, this recommendation. And in turn, I hope that I can pass this rare jewel on to others. This is my first review (well, not really a review which is elsewhere on Amazon but a recommendation) but I am compelled to do so. Months after the reading, I find myself thinking about See Under: Love and feeling grateful that I experienced it. This is not an easy book to read but the rewards are multifold. And when you are done, read the transcript of a talk that the author gave for a San Francisco Symposium at http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0411/is_1_51/ai_85068470 for even greater insight.

David Grossman has taken the worst that man has to offer and spun it into a magical, magnificent ouevre which will touch you with the human spirit and make you proud to be alive.

Words fail. I beg anyone who has been considering buying into Jonathan Safran Foer's hype to instead find themselves a copy of this, the book from which he appears to have stolen most of his ideas, instead.

All hyperbole aside, this wonderful book has few equals. It demands attention, and reflection, and time, and it rewards those willing to invest those things in it beyond compare. Nothing short on a meditation the way our lives are impacted by the moral calculi of others, and the way our own actions reverberate throughout the generations.

As an Israeli who have read it in Hebrew, I would like to add a few words. One thing: this book is entirely different if you read it in Hebrew. It losses a lot in the translation, and not because the translation is bad, rather that the combination of different layers of very special Hebrew combined with Yiddish, along with the cultural context, makes it a book that is an impossible mission for the translator. Of course, you can't ask someone to learn Hebrew just for this book (and this still won't be enough, because he has to be born again as an Israeli and grow up here to understand everything...), but the book has numerous universal aspects that can be translated, and it's still, even after the translation, a must-read.
And now, for the book itself (if there is such a thing the book itself...).
This is by-far the greatest Israeli book that I have ever read. I had one feeling that went along with me throughout the journey: I don't know how the hell he did. I just don't know. Like a magician that makes a trick you just can't figure. The scope. The depth. I cannot describe this book. It defies space and time. It is a masterpiece.

I don't think I am qualified to write a review of this piece of art. Think Toni Morrison on LSD, or maybe Falkner writing in Hebrew as Isaiah, composing in a way never before conceived, about of all things, The Hollocaust! I guess this most twisted example of human depravity requires such a book. However, if I had not read Mr. Grossman's beautiful love narrative, " Someone to Run With" I would not have known at first if it was a work of genius or a tale told by an idiot, and might not have hung in there long enough to declare it the former - 5 stars! However, a second reading may be required to understand the nuances.

One of the best novels I have ever read. Don't miss it!

When I read the first chapter in the book store, I knew I'd buy the book. But, I didn't know if the author could keep up her salacious, witty pace. I'm happy to say that she did - and it got so, much, better. This is one talented woman - just google her interviews. She knows sexy women, the South, and storytelling. A must have, especially for saucy Southern women.

Who would of thunk you could have a story that's both sexy and funny? The Wilde girls...and their mom...are a wild ride with equal amounts of comedy and drama. A good time guaranteed.

What a great suprise! I picked this up on a whim the other day at the library. I opened it while waiting in line and was immediatley hooked from the first page! Don't miss this one!

I can almost see this book as a movie or mini series. The characters are so funny and so likeable. I laughed out loud too many times to count. Pick up this book if you want a quick, quirky read full of unforgettable characters.

Paula Wall's THE WILDE WOMEN receives veteran Susan Ericksen's smooth voice and stage and screen background as it tells of sisters who have a taste for mischief and bad men. When one sister cheats with another's man, trouble begins which will lead to changes and danger.

When Paula Wall published her first novel, The Rock Garden, I read it and loved it and felt it was by far one of the best novels of that year. I was quite fearful that Ms. Wall was one of those one novel wonders and thought "what a shame." Fortunately my fears were for naught! With this second offering I truly feel the author out did even her first work, which I have said, is one of the best. This is good stuff here folks!

At first glance, the author could quite well be classified as a regional author as her novels take place in a specific geographical area. But, like Ferrol Sams (Run with the Horsemen, the first of his wonderful trilogy), Ms. Wall transcends geography and produces a work that most people, if not all people, can relate to. She is simply an excellent, gifted writer and a true master story teller. If, after reading the first five pages, your sides are not hurting from laughter, then something has to be wrong with your sense of humor. This lady is funny. Her one liners are beyond a doubt some of the best I've read in years.

This is a novel of the depression south. It is not a "romance" novel, a "bodice ripper" nor is it a "historical romance." It is the story of a small town in the south during the depression years. Yes, there is an element of romance woven into the story, fear not, but this simply in not what this work is about. The author hangs her story on two sisters, which are great characters, but are only a small part of the novel as a whole. We meet page after page of vivid characters. The author has a skill which allows her to, in one paragraph, convince the reader that they have known a character all of their life. The twists and turns of this story are absolutely amazing and complicated, yet not so complicated that it does not all make perfect sense as you read on. Even though the story and plot are wonderful, they are almost over shadowed by the author's keen sense of character development. In this work we have probably at least a dozen story lines going and they are all wonderfully interlinked as are the quirky characters sprinkled here and there. The ending of this work...well, you just have to read that yourself, but trust me, it is great. Like another reviewer here, I recommend you go ahead and buy this one as you will no doubt want to give it a reread. I cannot wait for her next work to come out!

Recommend this one highly.

The irony here is that neither Woodward nor Bernstein would speak with the author, despite having made millionaires out of themselves over the past 30-plus years by insinuating themselves into other peoples' lives and putting everything they've ever been told by anyone about anyone else between book covers. A bit of a double standard. Still, this look at how Watergate affected these two reporters is an engrossing read and a first class research job. Many many intriguing revelations for anyone who follows journalism and those who still like to read about the Watergate scandal. It's all tied up with a red bow because of the revelation in 2005 that Deep Throat was former FBI official Mark Felt, a secret that Woodstein kept religiously for three decades. Woodward's latest books on Bush are a bit boring, but that doesn't come across here. His Belushi expose remains his best, but this book points out that Woodward never again went outside politics in his reporting. Too bad. He should.

A MUST-READ FOR WATERGATE JUNKIES! We have all followed Woodward and Bernstein's careers through newspaper articles and the occa¬sional TV interview. Now Alicia Shepard has gathered all those data into a book about what Watergate did for them...and to them. It is a fascinating tale of young reporters who got sudden fame and fortune early in their lives, and how Woodward prospered while Bernstein foundered.
Shepard had access to their entire Watergate archives, and my only criticism of the book is its liberal quotations of that material. When "letters and telegrams" pour in from all over the country to them, it is not necessary to quote from so many. It slows down the narrative and you will find yourself skipping over most of these repetitive passages. All in all, it is a 266 page book that would have a much easier read at about 225. But if you love Water¬gate and all that came in its wake, pick up this book and read about how it careened the careers of these little reports to un¬known heights and depths.

When the five burglars bungled their bugging mission at the Watergate in June of 1972, they unwittingly changed not only our country's political history, but its journalistic one as well. Alicia Shepard has masterfully chronicled the successes and struggles, both professional and personal, of Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, the men who blew the lid off Watergate, in this informative and enjoyable book. She recounts their investigation of the scandal, illuminating a new perspective through extensive interviews with their editors. She pulls no punches in exposing their triumphs and their failures in the ensuring three decades, in their reporting, their marriages, and even their relationship with each other. The result is an eminently readable book that will leave you feeling as if you have finally gotten the inside scoop on the men whose names are synonymous with Watergate.

Alicia C. Shepard has written what should become the definitive biography of Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein. Her book is scholarly without being pedantic and revelatory without being salacious. She skillfully shows how Watergate affected not only history, but journalism, and the lives of the two young men who doggedly pursued the truth. This book is must reading for anyone who wants to become a journalist, or who cares about what journalists do.

John DeDakis
CNN Senior Copy Editor, "The Situation Room"
Author, FAST TRACK
[...]

This book is a terrific explanation of the Kismet that brought Woodward and Bernstein together with the fortunate, and rare, backing of a committed publisher to chronicle truth in the midst of near-battlefield conditions. Read it and be amazed that it happened. Read it and be proud of journalism, many members of Congress, our courts and citizens reading, watching, and caring that our government, not politics, carried the day. It's so interestingly written that it shoved aside all the rest of the books on my "must read" pile.

The structure and organization of this books is really stunning and authors haven't left anything to complain about. This is one of very few books which has complete elevation profile for each hike instead of just elevation gain. The hiking maps are actually useful and well marked with all points of interests. Best of all, each hike contains GPS coordinates which I'm so pleased to have because wordy descriptions just doesn't cut it all the time. The descriptions long but actually useful instead like in other books where authors love to write them in painful and poor artistic styles. Each hike contains small B&W low quality photo which are usually OK and not always represents the best view from the trail. I also own 55 Hikes Around Snoqualmie Pass: Mountains to Sound Greenway (100 Hikes In...) and given choice between two I will prefer this one because of its superb structure and organization plus modern details such as GPS coordinates.

I think this book should be template for all other hiking guidebooks out there.

An awesome book, very detailed descriptions, good maps, elevation profiles with every trip, GPS, driving instructions. This is far better than all the mountaineers books. Go get a copy today.

What I like:

* I love how it features hikes *within* Seattle, Kirkland and Bellevue. Many guidebooks skip hikes within the city altogether. The one you can kayak to is pretty neat! I expect that these trails will be good for the colder months, when trails in the Cascades are snowed out. I'm looking forward to using this book more and more later in the year.

* The descriptions are quite thorough. The details help me visualize the hike, and this can be motivating sometimes. This has some cons though -- see below.

* It has a section for nearby activities. I find that useful when planning side trips/activities.

* It provides the GPS coordinates of the trailhead.


What I don't like:

* Each page has a header that is a black area with white text. On the left page it says "{hike #} 60 hikes within 60 miles" and on the right side, "Seattle including Bellevue, Everett and Tacoma". I think this space could be used better if it displayed the name of the hike and the general area instead of the same text over and over.

* Key at-a-glance information is shown in a black box with small white text. This information is quite important to me when deciding which hike to do, and I would rather have it in a more readable form. Better yet, have it in a form that I can actually digest "at a glance" (!) instead of having to read the small white-on-black text. Other guidebooks show some of this information graphically, with stars or hiker icons to indicate difficulty and/or rating. At the very least, I think the font should be the same size as the descriptive text.

* Driving directions and GPS coordinates are printed as black text over a light/dark gray background. Bad contrast!

* The descriptive text is loooong. I appreciate that sometimes, but I it's too verbose for my taste. The font size is rather small, which for me makes reading the description even less appealing.

* Whether or not dogs are allowed is also in the description text. Since I have a dog, I'd like to know this immediately, so again, I think it should be displayed more prominently.

* It would be nice if it had a topographical map for the longer trails. I find it hard to reconstruct the lie of the land from the map and the elevation graph, especially since the map doesn't have mile markers along the representation of the hike's trail. [Yes, I have my own topo map of the entire area, but a small one that I can carry with the trail description is convenient as a adjunct to a larger map.]


All things considered, I have mixed feelings about this book. It has good content, but I think there are better ones out there. Call me superficial, but I'm a weekend hiker, and the difference between an engaging/beautiful versus so-so/mediocre presentation can have a big effect on my enthusiasm for a particular hike :)

This is one of the best books I have found for the newbie hiker in seattle. If you have a GPS it is even better as you can just the coordinates in the book to find the starting point for each hike. The Maps are great! The descriptions are great!

The other day I found myself in the passenger seat of my own car for an extended trip. Miles from nowhere with not much left to talk about and nothing but scratchy country music on the radio I noticed the guidebook I had received as a gift, stashed in the sidepocket and promptly forgotten. Raised on the Mountainers "100 Hikes" series, I knew guidebooks to be invaluable on the trail, but as reading material dryer than Central Oregon scree in mid-August.

As I thumbed the pages of "60 Hikes within 60 Miles: Seattle," I quickly moved from bored to engaged to engrossed. This book was good! In addition to finding dozens of previously overlooked trails within a short drive of my Seattle home, I learned many new and fascinating details about the places I've been hiking for years. The trail descriptions are accurate and appropriately detailed. The navigational instruction are clear and include useful visual landmarks in addition to the usual distance cues. What's best though, is that into the brief trail write-ups Weber and Stevens manage to weave bits of local history, trivia and entertaining lore that greatly enhance the hiking experience. I even found myself reading several sections aloud to my travelling companion. Finally, the authors also understand that sometimes the best hiking tip is not the trail itself, but the location of the local frosty mug or renowned double deluxe burger at trails end!

Whether you are new in town, just visiting, or a soggy Seattle native like myself, "60 Hikes" makes a great addition to your recreation library.

Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R3CF7E74NYTQX9 This is an excerpt from the ABC live interview for the book Artificial Imagination. Kalpanik talks about his immigrant experience, meaning of life, and important of including a sense of humor in your life style and philosophy.

The word artificial originally meant "artful, crafty." That's an apt description of ARTIFICIAL IMAGINATION, which blends art, craft, and wit into a narrative that teaches us life lessons that we did not knew we knew.
-- Richard Lederer, author of Anguished English

Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R2JQ1EBHV3YOR6 Great book, nice splash of humor--high quality photos! I specially like the love story at the end.

Here are some links to photo posters and calendars from the book and promotional T-shirts:
Scenic City and Boat Photo Poster
University of Washington Photo Poster
Seattle Secenic Sunset Photograph
Seattle Secenic Photograph
Thonging At the Beach
San Francisco Scenic Union Square Photo Poster
Pike Place Market Photo Print
Beach Hotties Poster

Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R1CJDZRIOJJIFN Kalpanik's writing is down to earth, funny, witty and smart. He chronicles his journey of self-discovery with an amazing detail and humor. His coverage of the various places he has been to--UC Davis, San Francisco, San Diego, Seattle and Nashville-- was informative and enjoyable, and so were his jokes around them. I recommend this book to anyone looking for light reading, specially busy professionals who do not have time to read a whole book in one straight session but want to read one entertaining a chapter at a time.

Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R3T5IX83S8N7DX Light reading, but very engaging! Entertaining and excellent for busy professionals since you can read it chapter at a time and still enjoy it!