West Virginia Books

a level headed lawyer and his boyhood blood brothers go grouse hunting with a fundamentalist landowner who winds up shot dead. Pacing is deliberate, tone is southern colloquial. rich in setting and atmosphere.

"Blood and Guile" is a rather leisurely read; if you're expecting lots of action and thrills, you don't get them. However, Hoffman has a strong command of his environment, and even though there are many flaws in this why did they do it?, it's still worth reading.

Four men go off hunting, and right away we find out that one of them has been killed in an unfortunate "accident." Hoffman is to be commended for not making the West Virginia law enforcement the typical hillbilly buffoons. Bruce Sawyers is a modern, healthy, young efficient sheriff whose investigation leads to the possibility that the accident was indeed a murder.

Although Walter is certainly not the most stalwart of heroes, his emergence at the end makes up somewhat for this lack of bravado. Along the way, we meet some interesting characters including Phyllis Duke, a woman with a very strange history; Drake Wingo, the he-man hunter who has found his newfound "fame" pivotal in his decision making; Cliff Dickinson, a rather foppish artiste type who is the supposed murderer; and Boomer, a clerk at the Grizzly store whose brevity does not diminish his interest. Unfortunately, the main female focus is Josey, and she comes across as being rather selfish and uninteresting. The inclusion of the Prince from Arabia story only serves to slow down the otherwise engrossing story.
There aren't many surprises; you can pretty much figure out what is going on, but it doesn't dilute the quiet impact of this story. Drake's exposition while hunting in the last section is a hauntingly realistic expose on how we refuse to face the truth.
RECOMMENDED.

After Tidewater Blood, the first of William Hoffman's novels I read, I was primed to enjoy this new one. Sadly, Blood And Guile suffers from a too-languid pace that detracts from the plot line. The primary character, Walter Frampton, who stood as a fine piece of believable characterization in the previous book, comes across here as ineffectual, even dull in a doomed-romantic fashion. It's a pity, because this tale of a supposed hunting accident has possibilities that are never fully realized-all as a result of Frampton's failure to step off the pages as he did so compellingly in Tidewater Blood. Certainly, Blood And Guile is worth reading, but it's just not on the same level as the preceding book.

Four men spend a weekend together, hunting in the West Virginia mountains. Three of the men are life-long buddies, one is an acquaintance - an outsider. A shooting accident while out hunting sees the outsider shot dead. The local sheriff is not inclined to believe that the shooting was an accident because the facts don't match the story. The story is told from the perspective of one of the three friends, Walter Frampton. He is a lawyer and is drawn into it both on a professional and personal level. He begins to realise that he didn't know his friends as well as he thought.

Once the excitement of the hunting accident passes, we seem to meander from scene to scene without achieving much. There is a side-story which doesn't have any bearing on the matter at hand and, ultimately does not resolve itself. Plotting for his next novel, perhaps? While interesting it loses momentum midway through, consequently my interest began to wane, I'm glad I borrowed this from the library, rather than bought it.

Narrator Walter "Raff" Frampton, a small-town Virginia lawyer, sets the tone in this fine Southern novel of buddies, secrets and death. Walter, a non hunter, is on a grouse hunt in the West Virginia mountains with two of his childhood buddies and a fourth man, the owner of the land - who ends up dead. Walter sees nothing to doubt in his friend Cliff's version of the accidental shooting but the country sheriff raises questions that culminate in Cliff's arrest.

A mild, correct man with social hankerings and a lonely but comfortable routine, Walter begins probing when his legal maneuvers fail. The real hunter of the group, Drake, brushes off his questions and Walter is wounded to discover Cliff confides more confidently in Drake than his lawyer.

The town's lofty pretensions and grubby secrets unfold as Walter doggedly pursues his case. A man who has invested his high opinion unwisely, reserving a low opinion for himself, Walter finds unsuspected reserves of quiet determination. Atmospheric, written with perfect pitch, Hoffman's ("Tidewater Blood") novel successfully combines literary themes with suspenseful pacing.

A Blue Eyed Daisy



"Have you ever wanted to start a newspaper?" The book I read was "A Blue Eyed Daisy". The book was about a girl whose life is like a puzzle. Ellie is a girl who is very scared because she is so insecure and unsure. She can't trust anyone cause her father has tough her not to cause the will betray you. She is really weird out cause her dad got hurt in his job and still hunts so she is kind of weird out. I really enjoyed this book because I really love puzzles because they are like riddles and are cool. One thing I did not understand and did not like was because Ellies dad would do something really mean to her and did something really mean. Well I really enjoyed this book because it's really interesting and hope you will enjoy this to.

This book was really horrible because.It was really bad.

The reason I didn't like it is because. It was really boring and

stuped. Because thay used old words like Mama, Papa and insted

of dinner thay use supper.

It was also really sad in the beginning because her father dies

her dad died in a stable accident. The stable fell on him. While

he was working on them.

The only part I liked was when she was going to try to get her

own room because. She bugged her sisters and her mom and dad. But

it really got anoing after a while. Those are the resons I

didn't like like the book

"A Blue-Eyed Daisy" is about a blond, blue eyes girl named Ellie that has four older sisters, a mom, dad,and a dog named Bullet because he is a beagle and runs very fast. Her dad, Okey, always drinks because he had lost his job and can't get over it. Her mom just basicly cook dinner for all of them. Ellie only has one best friend Carolyn and when she goes to her party, something happens that she'll never forget. They all knew it would happen, but Okey got in a trouble acident that almost cost him his life. I liked this book because it was sad, funny, and scarey.

"A Blue-Eyed Daisy" is by Cynthia Rylant. The story is about a little, eleven year old girl named Ellie. Ellie lives with her mother, father, and four other sisters. Her sisters are: Eunice, Wanda, Martha, and Linda. Ellie's father is called Okey. Because he has lost his job from an injury, Okey has been drinking and treating the family badly. Until one day, Okey brings home a beagle named Bullet. Bullet is a hunting dog, but Okey cannot hunt with his injury. Ellie becomes attached to Bullet. There are many situations that Ellie has to deal on her own. She makes one best friend named Carolyn. When Ellie is invited to her party, Ellie experiences an unforgetable experience.
1)This book is great for realistic fiction
2)I recommend it to young readers like me for this story incounters problems of a young girl and her experiences
3)enjoy this book!!!! it is good to read!!!!

1. This book is about a little girl, Ellie, who is 8 years old and her family don't really talk at her, they barely talk to each other. She is the only girl out of all of her sisters who has blue eyes and blonde hair, she's the cutest of all of them. The one thing she doesn't like about herself is her teeth because they're starting to get rotten. Her parents don't really take good care of her, her dad, Okey, drinks alot because he lost his job and got real upset over it. Her mother mainly just makes supper for them. One day her dad gets a hunting dog,Bullet, and Ellie was confused because her dad can't hunt because he has a hurt arm and can't use it very good. Ellie told her daddy that she wanted to go hunting, so they did. She was a really good shooter. Ellie didn't really have no friends, except for one, Carolyn, she was the best friend she ever had. They did everything togeter, but when Ellie goes to Carolyn's house, something happened to Ellie that never happened before. A few days later something else happened to Ellie's dad and she was scare that he would die because of what happened.
2. I think this is a really good book because it's really sad and it makes me feel really sorry for her and I just couldn't stop reading it.
3. There is alot of protagonism in here because it's all about Ellie and her life.
4. I recommend this book to people who like to read realistic books because what all has happened in Ellie's life could happen to someone in real life.

There are alot of payoffs for physical perfection ... it can easily be the quick-fix for a better life and a step up. The one thing though is that behind it all is a mask and cover up of self-rejection and a drug of choice to run away from one's true personality. Even when beauty gets you what you want ... it may not take away the inner strife that causes the behavior in the first place. Pursuing beauty can be an ugly experience.

Before you go ahead and part with hard-earned money ... go read The Hoffman Process by Tim Laurence.

Virginia L. Blum examines the topic of cosmetic surgery in her research-based informational book Flesh Wounds: The Culture of Cosmetic Surgery. The book, written by the English professor at the University of Kentucky, appeals to many audiences, is informative in many subjects, and is greatly influenced by her background with cosmetic surgery. Flesh Wounds can be widely used because she uses the book to inform the public on the basics and the inside

The book Flesh Wounds: The Culture of Cosmetic Surgery by Virginia L. Blum takes the reader into the minds of the individuals influenced by cosmetic surgery. Blum is an English Professor at the University of Kentucky and she became a victim of the cosmetic surgery craze when she was a teenager. Blum writes a very intriguing book about how cosmetic surgery captivates the interests of patients. She points out that society has taken to the fascination of cosmetic surgery, due to the fixation on celebrities. Celebrities stand as a two-dimensional image, where society looks to celebrities for body images. Celebrities are also looking elsewhere for body images too. Society is slowly turning into a unified body mold. Basically society is going to one day be seperated by groups of body types. Society is losing the individual identity that has supported our cultures for years. Flesh Wounds contributes to an understanding of why society is so focused on the outter appearences. Today, society is based on two negative aspects, that is whether a person is attractive or unattractive. Beauty does not make a person more intelligent, nor does not being beautify make a person less intelligent. I liked this book, because Blum does an impressive job providing the evidence of how cosmetic surgery is destroying individualism.

I was stunned to find there are no reviews of this book here at Amazon. This book is a great read. I had trouble putting it down! The author is a professor of literature and makes an apology for stepping outside her field (of literature) to write a book about plastic surgery, but it is PRECISELY her background that makes this book so wonderful.

The topic is well-researched and yet presented in layman's terms and the stats and facts are nothing but mind blowing. She makes references to Frankenstein, which prompted me to go read THAT classic and she's right; we're now formed by society's impressions of our physical appearance (which is the link to Victor Frankenstein's monster).

If you think about this, it's rather insane. When people's appearance is improved, they're treated better by society and that gives them more self-confidence and inner peace. How bass-ackwards is that?

I don't know when I've read a more thought-provoking book than "Flesh Wounds." I find myself quoting from it to friends again and again. And it's also proving INVALUABLE in writing my own book about internet dating. (Available August 2005).

Rose Thornton

Here's a real-review:

*The first 100 pages are about how her mother made her get a nose job that when wrong.
*The second 100 pages are about the Frankenstein movie.
*The last 90 pages are about every movie-star that's ever gotten cosmetic surgery.

And the whole thing is stitched together with an English teacher's weekend theory on how a mix of "Simulations and Simulacra" + "The Ego and the Id" explain why people get cosmetic surgery. If you're someone who orders books online based on catchy titles, then do yourself a favor and skip this one. How can a book on cosmetic surgery not even talk about the golden ratio?

This is a solid biography of General A.P. Hill. The prose flows well and is easily followed. Descriptions of terrain, deployments, and the action of battle are clear and concise. The author makes vivid use of source material to delve into the motives of the figures involved, most notably in recounting the conflict between Hill and Jackson, and to show what Hill's contemporaries had to say about his military abilities as well as his strengths and weaknesses as a human being.
However, the author does presume that the reader has considerable knowledge of the was as a whole. He does not spend much time explaining the significance of many of the battles, places, and people he references, instead focusing more directly on General Hill's involvement. This is not a problem, but the more casual reader might be well served to have some quick reference material on hand to help them get the most out of this excellent biography.

Ambrose Powell Hill (A. P. for short) was one of the finest division commanders in the Army of Northern Virginia. His rise to corps command may illustrate the "Peter Principle," in which people rise to positions for which they are incompetent.

This book looks at his early life, including the triangular relationship among George McClellan, Hill, and Ellen (Nelly) Marcy. McClellan won Nelly's hand. Later, some Union troops wondered of Hill would have been less aggressive had he won Nelly's affections!

The story in this book begins with his youth and his early career in the army. When war broke out, he joined the Confederate army. The author, William Hassler, describes Hill's leadership qualities thus (Page 3): "A natural leader, Hill possessed that 'commanding resolution' which 'inspired by his voice, his example, and his personal appearance.'"

He showed a great ability with division sized command, leading what became known as "The Light Division," an oversized command that fought hard under him. His prickly nature came out with two corps commanders--James Longstreet and Stonewall Jackson. Both feuded with him. In fact, he was removed from Longstreet's command to Jackson's to get around the disagreement with Longstreet--only to see a second feud brew with Jackson!

His high water marks came at Second Manassas and Antietam ("and then Hill came up"). At the latter, his last minute arrival at the battlefield saved the day for Lee's forces. After Jackson's death at Chancellorsville, Lee reorganized the army and gave Hill command of a corps. His dicey health and perhaps his skill level were not up to the challenge., He performed poorly at Gettysburg and blundered badly at Bristoe Station. At the North Anna, he had another bad day. On the other hand, at Reams' Station, outside Petersburg, he thoroughly whipped Winfield Scott Hancock's by now degraded Second Corps.

This is a fine biography of Hill's life. I would have desired a bit more detail on the battles and some maps would have been be appreciated. Nonetheless, this is a good work.

Hassler's book is an interesting read of one the Civil War's overlooked generals.

Hassler covers many areas of Hill's life, including: Hill's early years, West Point education, and contribution in several Civil War battles (specifically: Williamsburg, Seven Days' Campaign, Cedar Mountain, 2nd Manassas, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Wilderness, and Petersburg).

Particularly interesting were the descriptions of his tense relationships with superior officers (Jackson and Longstreet), his strong relationships with Lee and subordinate officers, and how he was well-loved by his soldiers.

While the book flowed well and the battle descriptions interesting, I would have liked to have seen more well-drawn maps so I could better understand troop movements. The lack of such maps is the only reason I give the book 4 stars.

Despite this, I highly recommend this book to anyone who wishes to know more about one of the Confederacy's overlooked generals. I also highly recommend James Robertson's new and more detailed book on A.P. Hill (I would rate his book better).

Robertson's work is a readable,even-handed treatment of this Confederate general who is overshadowed by his fellow Virginians, Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson. I give Robertson high marks for not trying to inflate Hill's abilities while at the same time giving Hill deserved credit for his hard-nosed leadership of the Light Division. After Stonewall Jackson is felled at Chancellorsville, Lee promoted hill to Corps commander. What Henderson shows is that Hill possesed the verve and warfighting skills to be an outstanding division commander, but he did not possess the strategic vision required of a corps commander. While Hill and Lee had deep respect for one another, Hill clashed with both Longstreet and Jackson. Jackson arrested Hill for not following his orders during the Second Manassas Campaign. The sting of that arrest was an insult that would never heal.Robertson probes these clashes objectively and honestly. I reached the conclusion that the imperious Jackson and the proud Hill would never have gotten along in any age, in any setting. It certainly was not a case of right and wrong. Roberston explains that Hill's poor health is the likely result of a case of gonorrhea which he contracted during his West Point years. Roberston provides interesting details of the competition between George McClellan and Hill for the hand of Ellen Marcy. The picture that emerges of "Little Hill" is a courageous,noble warrior who was magnanimous to friend and foe alike. Hill does not rank as one of the top generals to come out of the Civil War, but he is clearly in the same class as Forrest or Hancock as a tenacious fighter.Hill's death only days before Appamatox has become a metaphor for the southern cause.Finally, one cannot avoid the poignance that the name of Hill was on the dying lips of both Jackson and Lee. A powerful testament indeed to a spirited fighter.

This is a solid biography of General A.P. Hill. The prose flows well and is easily followed. Descriptions of terrain, deployments, and the action of battle are clear and concise. The author makes vivid use of source material to delve into the motives of the figures involved, most notably in recounting the conflict between Hill and Jackson, and to show what Hill's contemporaries had to say about his military abilities as well as his strengths and weaknesses as a human being.
However, the author does presume that the reader has considerable knowledge of the was as a whole. He does not spend much time explaining the significance of many of the battles, places, and people he references, instead focusing more directly on General Hill's involvement. This is not a problem, but the more casual reader might be well served to have some quick reference material on hand to help them get the most out of this excellent biography.

This is a refreshing and informative look at Richard Ewell, before, after and of course during the Civil War. Often described as a failure after succeeding Jackson and becoming leader of the Lee's new 2nd Corp, Ewell has suffered severe criticism for the first day of Gettysburg and for his emotional response to the breach at Spotsylvania. Pfanz provides a fair and colorful look at the dependable soldier that fought the second half of the war with a wooden leg and overall served much better than superficial history would lead you to believe. Pfanz profiles Ewell's early life efficiently noting that Ewell's family as a whole were eccentric and Ewell himself a very thin and balding man who spoke with a lisp. Although lacking in military forbearance, Ewell completes West Point and serves gallantly as a dragoon officer in the west occasionally fighting Indians with high praise. Pfanz provides a full perspective of Ewell as a brave soldier who initially though Jackson crazy and in a rather amusing historical telling, Pfanz describes how at one point several generals in Jackson's command think each other unbalanced. As Pfanz describes, Ewell fights extremely well for Jackson particularly at Cross Keys and at Winchester. Although literally pegged as an officer that follows explicit orders, Pfanz clarifies that Ewell fought extraordinary well particularly in the initial stages of the Gettysburg campaign in capturing Winchester and marching virtually to Harrisonburg. He also fought brilliantly at the Wilderness and for the most part at Spotsylvania. As Pfanz notes, Ewell saved Richmond during Butler's great onslaught attack in the fall of 1864, which is a little appreciated fact. After Butler captured Fort Harrison his attack is stymied by Ewell who masks his small force by using the woods to limit the view of his small defiant band. Richard Sommer's writes of this wonderfully in his book "Richmond Reeemed". Pfanz notes Ewell's one quality that may have not worked in his favor; he frequently asked the opinions of others in contrast to Jubal Early who frequently gave opinions. At Gettysburg, Lee's directives were not precise to Ewell who contended with his July 1 victory with rounding up 5,000 union prisoners, waiting for Johnson's division along with a report of union troops appearing on his left flank. On top of that, Early would not support an attack on Cemetery or Culp's Hill. Nor would Early support shifting Ewell's corps to the right to pull the lines together as Lee wished. Pfanz notes that communication failures appear to be the biggest command problem at Gettysburg along with a lack of forceful leadership from Lee along with the union's will to fight. Ewell also suffers a slight from Gordon, whose self serving personal history make him a questionable source, stung Ewell in Lee's eyes as Gordon relates how Ewell virtually squandered a surprise attack on the union right. Acting judiciously, Ewell orders the attack but may have looked inept to Lee after his brilliant attack and defense in the Wilderness. The almost humorous episode of Ewell trying to stop retreating soldiers at Spotsylvania, cussing at them and slapping them on the back with his sword appears too much for Lee and Ewell's ill advised attack that was suppose to be more reconnaissance in nature virtually keys Lee's decision to replace Ewell with Early when Ewell is momentarily ill. Unfortunately, Ewell's romance with his old flame and new bride caused a huge negative reaction with his staff particularly when she intervened with staff activities and her husband's time raising doubts about his focus. Pfanz provides fascinating detail on the correspondence between Ewell and Lee where Ewell sadly tries to return to command while Lee gently tries to tell him he is not needed at the front. Ewell finishes his confederate career in charge of the Richmond defenses finishing the war on the road to Appomattox at Saylers Creek when he is cut off and alone with Anderson's division. Pretty amazing story after the war that the man missing a leg, with several horses shot out from under him, and two horses roll over him, survives to live a life as a vigorous business man. Ewell was a modest man who, unlike Longstreet, died before Jubal Early rewrote his version of confederate history.

I disagree with a line written by Mr. Pfanz in his biography of Ewell.
On page 326 of the book he discusses the failure of General Robert Rodes to attack Cemetery Hill the evening of July 2.This has been discussed in every book I have read on Gettysburg. However, Mr Pfanz has decided to put his own spin on an old subject. He states "he(Rodes) tried to deflect his failure onto his subordinate Stephen D. Ramseur." This is the first accusation of disloyalty and pettiness that I have ever read of General Rodes.
I would ask the reader to check Rode's Official Report on the battle and try to discern how Mr. Pfanz could have come to the conclusion that the General was guilty of something so dishonorable.
Too bad Rodes is not here to defend himself. It is easy to malign the dead.

Pleasant reading but nothing really new on Ewell- a kind,brave and generous man who was very good at being a general until he was so severely wounded at Groveton.

There are three impressive aspects of this work. First, it is quite readable. The battle scenes and other events are as lively as a full color film. The historic characters are full dimensional figures who inhabit the book rather than being referred to. Even minor Ewell family members are brought to life realistically.

Second, the terrain is imaginatively and graphically depicted. The author has a real sense of the places and the climate of the times. This is also supported by good made-to-order maps of important locales.

Third, practically every assertion in the book is backed up by solid primary and secondary historical sources. This is done with no intrusion on the readability of the text. No judgment is made without balancing all extant points of view. A real work of moderm scholarship.

Finally, I was surprised at how much I learned about historical personages and battles with which I though I was familiar.

Pfanz offers a most credible account of the life and times of one of the "lesser" lights of the Confederate pantheon. While indeed "Baldy Dick" lacks the nobility of Genl Lee or the exciting eccentricity of Thom Jackson, this offering serves the good general well. I found the author pretty balanced in his recitation of Ewell's trials and tribulation, be it in the realm of military action or his personal life. While this text is 500+ pages of small print, those with a particular interest in Confederate military lore will appreciate author Pfanz's efforts to bring Richard Stoddert Ewell to life...

Gen. Richard Ewell. A figure from history that has been all but ignored until now. While many blame Ewell for the loss at Gettysburg, One finds a different side of the story. The reading flows smoothly. I have really enjoyed reading this book and getting to know Gen.Richard Ewell. The author expolores his background as a Dragoon, fighting Indians and his faithful service to the Confederacy. Also mentioned is his conversion to Christainity as a result of his rubbing elbows with Stonewall Jackson. I suggest you add this book to your library!

This book has a good range of information, easy enough language and concept presentation for those casually interested in restoration but also provides detailed, applicable info for the professional.

As a prairie biologist, I refer to this seminal volume frequently. It is the very best compendium of prairie restoration and management information.

Anyone who has been taken by the ecological romance of the tallgrass prairie, and hopes either to know in detail the ecology of these biomes, or to plant or manage one, needs to have this in the personal library. It's mostly technical, but wonderfully engaging for the "prairieophile." One doesn't really know the prairie until having read this book.

This is a top rate restoration hand book. Amazing amount of information from people who are out doing the work. It is a collection of essays/chapters written by the front-runners in the field. Everything you wanted to know from site selction to seed collection to fire management. Since it is written by actual prairie restorationists, not theorists it is practical and easy to understand. I will recomend it to everyone who is interested in the field.

Let me just say that it is nice that someone wrote more than just what plants to use. It is fairly easy to find prairie journals and books that describe everything except how to implement your prairie project. Packard had the good sense to know that seeding rates and implementation techniques are necessary information.

If you don't already have the original 1997 edition, then this is definitely a 5 star title. However, if you DO have the original, don't bother to buy this one. Despite the various developments mentioned in the preface to this 2005 edition -- advances in no-till planting techniques, restoration strategies for woodland wildflowers, methods for integrating native biodiversity into agriculture, and exploding Internet resources -- none are dealt with here. There is no updated information about weed problems and herbicides, despite the ongoing advance of invasives and development of new products. Lots has happened in the field in the decade since the prior edition was written, but you learn none of it here. This is just a reprint of the original -- and this is quite disappointing.

That said, what is covered is truly excellent. It just could have been far better with a thorough rewrite.

I work at a consignment store and this book is of great help in identifying antique glass wares.

This book has wonderful photos of beautiful Fenton glass items from all through the Fenton production history. The back-up text is also very helpful and informative.

I bought this as a gift for a friend who runs a consignment shop and she loves it and uses it as a reference frequently.

I find it difficult to rate any one book on glassware since as any glass collector knows, one would literally have to have an entire library dedicated to antique glass only.As far as this book goes I found it to have a good bit of information on many areas of Fenton glass, some of which I was seeking and some I was not aware of. Overall,it is a good general guide, but as I said previously one would need a roomful of books to cover not only glass in general but indeed an entire section of said library would have to be just for Fenton glass. That being said I can recommend this book for beginners and casual collectors, as for the serious and professional types I think a collection of Fenton books should accompany your collection of Fenton glass.

As an avid Fenton Art Glass collector, I eagerly devour any new material written about my favorite glassware. In this tome, Mark Moran has summoned his considerable journalistic and antiquarian talents to produce a reference book celebrating Fenton's 100th anniversary of art glass production. The well-written and succinct text introduces each section of a chronological photographic tour of representative pieces from 1905 through the present. Mr. Moran has ransacked collectors' display shelves and closets to find numerous beautiful and rare pieces of Fenton that I have not seen previously documented. Also included is a price guide listing some 2000 items.

Seasoned and novice collectors alike should find this book a welcome addition to their libraries.

Wow! I was shocked. This book lays bare the terrible things that happened through greed and corruption. I guess I am just naive, but I cannot believe people have gotten away with these things. We need better checks and balances throughout businesses.

I found Philip Smith's book to be a factual, detailed, and data-driven account of a promising company (and town) wrecked by unadulterated personal greed. While I have never met Mr. Smith, I do know several of the principles named in the book and Mr. Smith describes them accurately and honestly.

The book is a fascinating look at the behind-the-scenes behaviors of senior management. Unfortunately, it is not all that clear what lessons can be taken away from the event. Honesty and fair-dealing cannot be injected into scoundrels like a vaccine. And when a majority of board members decide to loot the corporation for their own gain, what can realistically be done?

I do know that the aftermath has been devastating to Weirton, and its future is very uncertain. And after living there during the glory days, it is very strange to come back and see the devastation that has become my little town.

I have always been suspicious of books that seem to spring from the author's need to settle a grudge against a person or organization. This book reminds me why. Its somewhat shrill and patently one-sided arguments do not do justice to the subject at hand. While I'm sure that there are kernels of truth in this account, I believe that the topic would be best served by a more objective approach.

This story broke my heart. My family has served at Weirton Steel for over three generations from the ranks of the hourly to the in-house engineering staff, to the management team. The account of Phil Smith has been known for a while, but this is the first time I have seen it in print. Hopefully, business students will take these events to heart to prevent a future tragedy such as this.

Russell Davisson's work follows the line of Daniel Davison (1630-1693) and is the definitive work in this area. Davisson corrects several commonly quoted mistakes of A.A. Davison's 1905 "Davison Family" work (refuting in particular the link between Daniel and Nicholas Davison (1611-1664)).

In short, every researcher of the Daniel Davison line should own a copy of this book.

I feel fortunate to have a few copies of Russell Lee Davisson's book, "The Davissons". As my grandmother was a double Davisson in that both her parents were Davissons and it was from her that I came to love to hear about our family heritage and learn our genealogy, I am very interested to know more about this family and their time in America. Mr. Davisson's book is very informative and I too like the drawings that are in it. I am glad to have my copy as well as a few extra to give to new found cousins who also exhibit an interest in this family history.

Obviously, this book is not going to have wide appeal. I bought it more to put on display than read. My grandmother had done the genealogy work long ago so I already had the information.

Russell Lee Davisson has done an admirable job of making a rather dry subject come alive. The illustrations are the best part, putting a face on some locations. I would have appreciated some anecdotes, or greater historical background of the time periods. At the end of the day it is a list of names. It is, after all, a genealogy book. The book itself is nice looking, and goes on display well. Nothing fancy.

Some of his conclusions are a little odd, and his references to "Gaelic Propaganda" reveals a strange prejudice. As a student of the Scots-Gaelic language with friends in Gaelic speaking Scotland, I found this off-putting.

All in all, a nice book if you happen to be a Davisson

Russell Lee Davisson's genealogy book will of course be of primary interest to all the Davissons, Davidsons and Davisons who happen to be kin. It should be noted, however, that he went out of his way to make his book interesting to non-genealogy buffs by including more than just a list of names, dates and genealogy charts. He was thoughtful enough to incorporate interesting historical facts along with wonderful maps and illustrations provided by Pierre Bergem.

Anyone who has done genealogical research will understand that it is not easy to come up with cute anecdotes for each ancestor. Most people searching for their roots are primarily interested in finding out who their ancestors were, where they lived and died, and most importantly, who their children were starting with Daniel Davison "The Exile" in the mid-1600s and being able to trace them down to the current Davisson generations. In this, Russell Davisson has done an exceptional job.

Russell Davisson concentrated on the Davissons who migrated from Massachusetts to Long Island, on to New Jersey, and on to West Virginia, Kentucky and Iowa. His dedicating a chapter to each generation and his numbering system for each generation makes it simple to keep track of a particular family line from Daniel in 1650s Massachusetts to the present. It took me less than half an hour to trace my wife's ancestors up to "The Exile" and saved her hundreds of hours of research.

Also of importance is the fact that Davisson, Davidson, Davison descendants who have ancestors in this book will get a tremendous bonus in the outstanding 33 page index of other surnames to pursue other branches of their family tree.

The book is excellent. Don is a friend of mine and it is like he is sitting across the table telling you the story. He comes across in the book just like he is in person.

Don's Nehlens's memoir is a short read. Primarily, he misses the mark regarding Major Harris. DN's praise of Major is somewhat subdued especially in light of the significant role Major played in making WVU a success. Under the "Best QB" category, DN praises Bulger for for having the "Strongest arm" and Hostetler for being "Most accurate" but fails to create a qb category to recognize Major. Gee, how about most mobile or best option QB? DN was a good coach who did a lot for WVU, no doubt about it. However, he did lose some big games and many bowl games which were important for the overall success of the program.

Yet, Don continually makes excuses for his bowl record in the book and cites 1.) underachieving teams 2.)players who couldn't stop anybody 3.) facilities at the bowl games 4.)media attention 5.) injuries etc.,etc.
The MOST frustrating part of this book is when Nehlen complains that his coaching staff got fired after he announced his retirement. Nehlen seems shocked by this? Did he really think Rich Rodriguez wouldn't want to bring his own people in as Assistants? Typical Nehlen - his fairy tales need a reality check.

As a long time WVU Football fan, I found this enjoyable. It's a very easy read and not short enough to be read in an evening.

It's nice to see some of Don Nehlen's memories and thought of his career at WVU. Reading this book brought back a lot of memories both good and bad of some former games and players. Also, the chapter about how Coach Nehlen was approached and accepted the job at WVU is interesting as well. The book really gives you a good background on how important Coach Nehlen was not only in building up the WVU Mountaineers football team, but also how important his was the University as well.

If you are a Mountaineer fan, pick this one up. It would also make a good gift to a fellow Mountaineer too.

This book would be a great addition to any West Virginia University football fan's library or to anyone who likes college football. You get to learn what it takes to be a college football coach and what sacrifices the families of coaches have to make. There are good stories about certain players Coach Nehlen had on his teams and why they were significant to Coach Nehlen plus how the famous flying WV logo was created.