Maine Books

I can't remember the last time I read a book I loved so much. I couldn't stop reading--even though I wanted to, to slow down to notice how incredible the writing is (so incredible you don't notice it) and to make it last. My only consolation as I came to the end was that I could start it again--which is what I did.

This lovely book makes me grateful I can read. Each beautifully written story works as a set piece, but what impressed me so deeply about the collection is how each new story builds on the previous one, until the accumulated power nearly takes you off your feet. What an accomplishment. Olive is blunt in appearance and character; she is unlovely and often mean; and yet we cannot help but want to understand her, owing to the shimmering force of Elizabeth Strout's empathy. --Monica Wood

One of my favorite books of all time, one I was sorry to get to the end of. This is a collection of short stories which adds up to a kind of novel, since Olive Kitteredge shows up in all of them and is the main character in several. Strout's writing is luminous and gorgeous; her dialogue sounds real, her descriptions of the landscape build the mood appropriately--understated, in language that is original and vivid. The mood is often painfully melancholy, but not always:

"She leaned forward, peering out the window: sweet pale clouds, the sky as blue as your hat, the new green of the fields, the broad expanse of water--seen from up here it all appeared wondrous, amazing. She remembered what hope was, and this was it. That inner churning that moves you forward, plows you through life she way the boats below plowed the shiny water, the way the plane was plowing forward to a place new, and where she was needed."

Strout portrays characters who sound like people you know. It's been said in the reviews: Olive sounds like a monster in the beginning, but by the book's end, you've gotten close to her soul and you can't get enough of her. She's a prickly woman: no-nonsense would be an understatement. In her heart is a mixture of love and great bitterness; overall, she's a stoic, disliked by many in her small northeastern town, and the feeling is mutual. But some of her acquaintances do know her well enough to appreciate and value her, and her husband--the devoted, also stoic, Henry--indeed loves her even though she most often behaves harshly toward him, annoyed by his unflappable sweet nature. She has her reasons for the sharp edges.
The story would seem to be irredeemably sad, but keep reading. Strout's other book, Abide With Me, was about pain and redemption, and that theme is repeated here, only much more readably.

Elizabeth Strout has created a wonderful character in Olive. She is acerbic, a royal pain to herself and others, and often just terribly wrong. But she is also touchingly vulnerable. I've used the last story in the collection with a short story group of (mostly) older people. They were moved.

I found this book has some very beliveable truisms- a type of insight into the human condition that I appreciate. I looked forward to picking it up and reading it. That said, it is another book that is really multiple intertwined stories and some of the side stories were a touch dry and dull. I also felt the book was a little depressing. If you are in the mood for a more melancholy read this is a fine pick. Like I said, I liked it, but I didnt close the book and say- wow! that was great! Its probably a 3.5 star rating. Good perspective, just sad, and the the side stories are occasionally distracting.

Book Review for the Preservationist
Many different shades of red, brown, and green glaze across the wanting cover. Every animal drawn to the very last detail running out of the monstrous boat. There, aloft a little hill lays the mightiest ark of them all. It breaths new life that will hopefully stay for along time and begin the new society. The animals scurry around trying to sniff out the new land, making there new territories, and making sure that none of the other animals come near. It is a true survival story. The book talks about what Noe and his family had to do to survive the horrific flood. The preservationist is Noe. He is the chosen one who is in charge of creating the new society for the world. The Preservationist, written by David Maine, is a magnificent book to read. It has great symbolical elements and has a great plot that flows nicely with the book.
The book takes place in the Middle East. That is about all the book gives you about the setting. It doesn't go into much detail about it. We also learn that this happened a long time ago. The main character is Noe, the preservationist. He got chosen out of everyone in the world to head up the building of the ark that would save him and his family from g-d's flood. G-d wasn't very happy with all of the members of the world, so he decided to kill them all by creating a flood that no one could survive. To help Noe build the ark, he gets all of his sons and their wives to come to his homeland and help him create it. He sends them out on very long treks and hikes to get either the
materials they need to build the boat, or the animals that g-d has told them to put on the boat, so when they get to land, they can start life all over again. One of the big arguments that the family had was; what order should the animals go into the boat. They had built three decks worth of storage room for the animals, but they needed to make sure that the animals went in the right way so that they wouldn't tip over and drown. They worked through it by Noe finally making the decision.
The rain clouds had finally come and so they all got into the boat and waited. It took 2 weeks until the rain finally came, but it wasn't enough for the flood. They waited for awhile longer and finally it rained the holly rain and g-d created the flood. They all safely got onto the boat and started floating away, watching everyone die, not being able to do anything. One of Noe's daughters in law took this very hard. It was very difficult for her to watch them all die in front of her. Noe said it was g-d's will and that this was their fate. She finally got over it and understood.
While they were on the boat, they changed so much. They were on the boat for over a year. Sometimes they didn't even talk to each other during the day. It got so boring some times that they would just sleep for the whole day if they weren't doing their daily choirs. One of the more sad parts of the book was when Noe went into his horrific stages. He would go in and out of consciousness. One of Noe's sons took charge while he was out of it. Noe finally got better and went back to work. It was truly a team effort. If one person didn't do there job, then all would go wrong. Every single person on that boat needed to be doing something most of the time. Surprisingly enough, they did work

all together. They did this probably because if they didn't, they knew that they would all die. Also, they never really argued a lot. I know with me, if I'm with one person for a really long time, there is bound to be an argument waiting to happen. While on the ark, no body ever got into an argument. The book's description of things is really good. The author did a really good job of slowing the book down and then describing a situation or event in full, so that one could totally understand it a lot better then if he didn't. I really didn't see anything that I didn't like. It really did a great job of writing this, the way I would like it.
One great symbol in this book is the ark. The ark definitely represents an important part. It represents life. Noe's family is the only people left. They are the ones who will have to start society back up. Another symbolical element in the book was the animals. The animals symbolize hope. I mean, g-d isn't going to tell you to take all of these animals for you to just drown in the middle of the sea, right? Having the animals mean that they are going to find land and be able to start society back up again.
The book definitely connects to modern life. Life is all about survival. We earn money, eat food, drink water, do well in school, and respect other people to survive in the world. Noe and his family being on the ark is simply a means of survival. They have to be on the ark to survive the flood. To save their lives! This book is for any ages really. I thought it was a great read and was very interesting.

The Preservationist
David Maine
ISBN: 0-312-32847-8
230 pages

My background is this: for many years an intense faith in the story told in the bible's pages, then a total loss of faith & belief, and now a solid un-knowing. I hold no belief but I don't rule out the possibility of believing.

THE PRESERVATIONIST is an entertaining, interesting, thought-provoking story and suitable for persons of (biblical) faith as well as persons without faith. Regardless of your spiritual status or belief, the story told here is worth reading - as is the story in it's original form as found in the book of GENESIS.

The bible account is fairly straightforward. Reading it first or having a prior knowledge of it will make the genius of THE PRESERVATIONIST much more apparent. It takes a well known story of mankind's past and transforms the faceless, colorless, personality-free characters & events into something easy to identify with.

The characters are very diverse in their personalities. The characters are marked by equal parts of reverence & irreverence, grit, flaws & strengths. They are real. Anytime a story of the past is retold with characters WE can identify with it takes the story from a cold distant telling and makes it OUR OWN. One we could visualize struggling through and getting past. THAT is what this book does so well.

If you are a person without faith in the bible account, you will be entertained. If you are a person WITH faith in the biblical account you may be surprised to find your faith & appreciation strengthened.

I just got finished reading The Preservationist by David Maine. It's a creative re-telling of the story of Noah from the time of God's call to build an ark to when he and his family went their seperate ways to go and re-populate the Earth.

I think what I like about the book so much is how the author uses his imagination to fill in the gaps in the story of Noah.

Moses gave his best attempt at the re-telling of the story of Noah and the flood. A man who lived to be 950 years old and yet Moses only tells the story in a few pages. Hitting the high and low points rather casually.

As I'm learning to approach Scripture in a non-traditional way, one of the thing that most excites me is the possibility of using imagination to fill in the gaps. Not that it makes it true. Or real. But when the imagination is brought into the gaps and spaces of Scripture that remain silent, it opens up a place of creativity. If nothing else it's a great creative exercise.

Taking us outside the world of blacks and whites . . . scientific, analytical words. And into the realm of real lives.

What was the rest of Noah's life like? What was his family like? Did they believe Noah and God? Did they think it was fake? Were they resentful? Were they mad at God? What did their wives think? What did they experience? The animals? What conversations were had between Noah and his children . . . his skeptics . . . his attackers?

David Maine does this with his book. Using his imagination to craft the story of Noah around what has been shared with us in Scripture. Filling in the gaps with missing pieces of the story. He mixes the spirituality and agnosticism of the family with the faith and call of Noah. The consequent tension that this creates and how it turns everyone's life upside down.

The end result is an excellent piece of fiction that was not only excellent literary entertainment . . . but a new theological possibility for approaching Scripture.

In this retelling of the familiar Genesis story of Noah and the Great Flood, Maine's use of multiple narrators gives supernatural material very human dimensions. The biblical "details" of the ark, the deluge, and the gathering of the animals are kept and enlarged upon right along with each human's story (each human in Noe's (Noah's) family, that is.)

The women in the story are particularly strong characters--a pleasant surprise considering the patriarchal resource from which it's drawn. They become the true human instruments of Noah's successful voyage. The supernatural aspects are nicely juxtaposed with the mundane aspects of cramped quarters, human appetites, unpleasant smells, filth, and toil. I highly recommend this novel.

Noe and the Flood retold in a completely refreshing way. Powerful language. Short, well-crafted sentences. Gentle humor. Characters you come to know and love. All in a slim book for a long weekend. Enjoy!

My father saw a review of this book and asked for it. He loved it! He's in a nursing home and tells everyone who visits him about this great book and how fascinating it is - he had me buy more to send as gifts to friends and relatives.

This book is fantastic; a great read, very informative and a real page-turner. Total E-Z read too. Recommend it in hardcover; you'll want to keep it on your bookshelf forever.

Trevor Corson does a great job of putting a face on the lobster fishery, including its past, its future, and of some of the people who participate in it. It also does a super job at opening the door so we can catch a glimpse of relationships between lobstermen, the scientific community, and government agencies that have connections to America's fisheries.

I am an invertebrate zoologist by training, and I teach courses in marine biology and invertebrate zoology. Even a of couple years after reading this book I refer to it in my classes. Corson provides some good summary information on the status of our understanding of the ecology and reproductive biology of the American lobster, as well as the status of the Maine lobster fishery.

If you are like me, you will be impressed by the self-regulating fisheries practices developed and used by lobstemen that have maintained the lobster fishery for many, many years. If the info in the book is accurate, it appears that problems crop up in the fishery most often when government agencies try to develop and impose their own regulations on lobstermen. That was an eye-opener.

Another delightful part of the book explored interactions between lobstermen and the scientific community. Their developing relationship appears to have potential to benefit both parties.

I found the book to be readable and enjoyable through and through.

5 stars for fun (and food)

This was an absolutely fascinating book! Who knew lobsters were so interesting? Not me!

This was an awesome read and was the book that began me interested in reading books about obscure animals. Since this book, I have read books about the platypus, coelacanth, and other wonderous creatures of the world. I learned alot about the lobster and the men that search for them as livelihood or scientific endeavor. This book willnot disappoint! Read it!

Chief Justice Rehnquist is a great historian who focuses his history of the Supreme Court on the cases it has decided.
He takes the reader down the path of US history by telling the story fo the Court.
He ends the book with a brief few chapters on how the Court operates today, which is extremely insightful.
I was taking Con Law I at the time I read this book and it helped put the cases I was reading in a historical perspective.
Very good, a must read for the historian/Constitutional Law student!

I was pleasantly surprised by this introduction to the Supreme Court. It is written in accessible prose that covers the history of the Court and Rehnquist's own experiences as a law clerk for Justice Robert Jackson and as a judge on the Court. His own experiences illuminate the duties of the law clerk and the justices and how cases come to, and are decided by, the Supreme Court. The process of petitioning for a writ of certiorari to oral arguments and finally to conferences are brought to life by Rehnquist's accounts.

The book's history of the court is lucid, providing the historical context, the details of most important cases, and the ramifications of the decisions. Renqhist begins with the most important case, Marbury vs. Madison (during the Marshall Court), which established judicial review of the constitutionality of laws passed by Congress. What is made crystal clear is that the Court has evolved on many levels. The number of judges and their court rooms have change. The federal judiciary and the duties of the judges have changed. (Early on the judges had to travel and decided cases on the regional appeal circuit. Later Congress set-up the regional, federal appeals circuit courts, relieving the Supreme Court of the growing numbers of federal appeals cases.). The way cases reach the Supreme Court has changed and the influence of the Supreme Court has grown in importance. But what is also clear is that Supreme Court hasn't always gotten it right (the Dred Scott case) nor has it shied away from overturning precedent (Brown vs. the Board of Education). On the other hand, it often gets it right and is alive with relevance in the time decisions are made and through the careful work of the thoughtful men and women that make up the Court.

The book is non-ideological and Rehnquist stops his history after the Warren Court. As an act of respect and dignity he did not comment on the present Court members or their decisions.

This is a great book for those who want to learn about the workings and history of the U.S. Supreme Court. Former Chief Justice Rehnquist wrote brilliantly and in a way where any layperson could understand and gain further knowledge about the highest court in our land. For anyone who wants to learn more about the Supreme Court and understand its importance to our country, this book is a must.

Having served on the Supreme Court for over 33 years, William Rehnquist has an excellent vantage point to provide his readers with a very solid introduction to the nation's highest court. The first half of this book is a very readable and informative overview of the history of the court including Marbury v. Madison, the Dred Scott case, FDR's failed court packing plan, and the Steel Seizure case. Out of the many larger-than-life figures in this choronology, John Marshall stands pre-eminently as the most influential in the court's history (and one of the most underrated in the founding of our nation). The second half of the book deals with the administrative workings of the Supreme Court and is described in more detail and better than any outsider could.

It can be difficult to organize the history of any institution into clearly delineated sections and the Supreme Court is certainly no exception. Rehnquist chose to break down his history in chapters named after the most prominent judges (not always the Chief Justice). For the most part, this works well, but the introduction of new judges would always lead to digressions into their backgrounds which can be distracting and would probably have been best left to appendices for the more minor characters. Rehnquist's own personal observations are mostly very insightful, but there are a few (notably his conversation with his landlord and his delayed plane trip) did not add much value to the reader.

One issue to take note of is that the author deliberately ends his history with the conclusion of the Warren Court in order note to comment on any of the cases he has been directly involved in. This leaves the reader with gap of over 30 years from the end of the history to the present day.

The highlight of this book for me were those chapters that dealt directly with the author's personal experience. At the age of twenty-seven he drove a heaterless Studebaker from his home in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in midwinter to start his first job in the legal profession, clerking for Supreme Court Associate Justice Jackson. He describes his initial experiences as a clerk and his impressions of the justices who served at that time, especially Frankfurter and Douglas. One case that made a particularly strong impression upon him concerned Truman's seizure of steel mills during the Korean War. The concern about abuse of Presidential power, seen at close range here, is extended in the book to a chapter devoted to FDR's attempt to pack the Court. He does not go into lengthy detail about his particular experiences as an Associate Justice and then as Chief Justice, but the three chapters on how cases are chosen, oral arguments presented, and cases decided are very interesting. He lists what he views as the different types of lawyers who present oral arguments, and blends his own experience in mentioning what a memorable and pressure-cooker situation it can be for those doing the presenting.

The problem with the historical part of the book is that it is very selectively focused and somewhat wanting in broadly addressing the issues involved. He provides helpful background concerning the railroad monopolies and the struggles of farmers to lessen the control of middle men, but in other instances of the laissez-faire economics of the industrial revolution, I have to question whether he is telling the full story. For a very long time, the balance between the monopoly power of the few at the expense of the welfare of the community was weighing heavily toward the few. When the New Deal came along, it may have shifted the balance too far the other way, but coming on the heels of the Great Depression, it did finally provide for worker's rights which could only be of positive benefit to the community. The Court packing chapter was interesting and FDR certainly sounds like he overstepped his bounds, but at the same time there were other things going on in the Court that were of historical significance and it is notable that people at that time faced many hardships. In the same vein, he could have written more about Brown vs. Board of Education, especially since he was a clerk at the Court at least part of the time during which the case was considered: In particular, the story of the rather remarkable feat that resulted in an unanimous decision, and also the events leading up to that decision, especially those efforts to right wrongs after the Civil War. He may have made good points about the Radical Republicans overstepping their bounds but there were also other things going on at the time.

Whatever side of the ideological fence you may be on, I think that Bernard Schwartz's book HISTORY OF THE SUPREME COURT gives a broader and easier to grasp view of Supreme Court history that includes more about constitutional trends and is less bogged down in dry detail even though it no doubt offers more.

I purchased this book from the reviews I read. I will start with what I did like. The story between Angela and her Grandmother Nonna. The rest I thought was so un-realistic. I finished it quickly but there was no depth or real emotions for the main character Angela. I wanted to like it, but I found the writing a little trite. There are great recipes, so for that it gets 3 stars.

Reading about Angela's escape to Maine brought upon one of those deep from the bottom of my stomach rising to my lips laughs! This "Jersey Girl" escapes to Maine, unexpected love and an initially scary but very comfortable "wood-stove" bearing cottage! This is what I needed to read about: possibility, new beginnings and the purest, most unadulterated way to cook fine Italian food. Grab the paperback for a great beach read, or as a road map to your own escape.

I loved this book. Please bring us a sequel! The characters are great. I laughed out loud so many times, and unfortunately related a bit too much. I loved how the author incorporated recipes into the narrative. Very well done.

Kline starts off strong, but ultimately the lack of real conflict makes for a dull, not very compelling read. Angela Russo's misguided quest for love coupled with her catastrophic work blunder initially draw the reader in. However, once Angela reaches the island, things fall into place a little too easily. The only conflict I could see was the slight discomfort in Angela's own mind about the drastic changes she's made. Her family disapproves of her decisions but are grudgingly supportive. When she's called home for a family emergency, I thought, finally the conflict would come. But it still doesn't materialize. Kline's situations lend themselves to drama and discord, if she were only to utilize them.

The supporting characters also do not live up to their potential. When Flynn is introduced, he has a fresh, original voice. Midway through the novel, though, he morphs into the stereotypical crotchety gay sidekick. Kline misses an opportunity to add interest and depth by refusing to explore Flynn's relationship with Lance and instead resorting to a banter-fest between these two ex-lovers.

The revelation of the tragic pasts of two minor characters seem to be little more than an attempt to add much-needed drama. But these characters and their secrets aren't important to the plot. The manner in which these secrets are revealed is anti-climatic. All in all, the reader wonders why the author is wasting her time on irrelevant subplots instead of fully developing the main storyline.

I am a newbie to Baker Kline, but was given this book by a great friend. I had sworn off all "chick lit", as I find most of it drivel, and was disappointed in the cover's likeness to Laura Moriarty's latest snooze fest, the Rest of Her Life. Do not be misled! Baker Kline is a serious writer with a real grasp of the life of young women today. Although Angela Russo (protagonist) is a New Yorker (by way of New Jersey), she is easily identifiable to people from all geographical regions. Further, the Maine setting, while compelling, is incidental. The point of this novel, as I see it, is what happens when you "go off the grid". Angela's original motivation is inherently flawed, but her learning along the way is poignant--it will apply to anyone who has ever questioned one's place in the world.

I also loved Baker Kline's use of food in this book. While it is not a cook book/memoir as in Amanda Hesser or Ruth Reichl, it introduces food into each situation naturally--it is totally uncontrived. Think Laurie Colwin if she merged her Home Cooking recipes with one of her novels-- heartwarming, authentic, and raw.

In terms of other authors with whom one could compare Baker Kline (from reading only this one book, I'm currently reading her first, Sweet Water), I think she has the accessibility of Jennifer Weiner, the intellect of Elinor Lipman, and the timeliness of Sue Miller.

A final observation about this book--I loved the fact that I had absolutely no idea what Angela looked like. Her appearance was entirely irrelevant to the story, and this omission, was fresh and made her more accessible to me.

I loved this book and am so looking forward to reading all of Baker Kline's work.

Sharpe's adventures in Iberia continue, leading up to the pivotal battle of Talavera. Now an army under the command of Sir Arthur Wellesley advances from Portugal into Spain, facing a huge Napoleonic force but with the possibility of defeating it - if Spanish allies and raw troops just landed from Britain hold up their end of the bargain. A big if. Sharpe chafes as he sees others purchasing high rank, mostly undeserved, while his own accomplishments go unrewarded.

Sharpe salvages some honor from a disastrous preliminary defeat, when a mission to blow a bridge becomes a fiasco, and finds himself promoted. But he's now under the command of Simmerson, a politically connected parade-ground martinet with no idea how to fight a war. He will destroy Sharpe's career unless Sharpe can win a signal victory on the battlefield redeeming the regiment's lost honor. Simmerson's equally useless nephew Gibbons, an arrogant dandy, from whom Sharpe rescues the lovely camp follower Josefina, becomes his enemy as well. Watching Sharpe's back throughout are the two Irishmen, Major Hogan the engineer and the redoubtable Sergeant Patrick Harper.

As enjoyable as the others, this book only lacks Cornwell's usual battlefield clarity. The book includes no map, and Cornwell's verbal layout of Talavera, the Tagus river, two tributaries and some key hills never really came clear to me.

After watching the Sharpe series on video I decided to read them in print. Bernard Cornwell wrote this book first, although chronologically it is not the first in the life of Richard Sharpe. What a great story! It has all the elements of a great adventure. This book is a page-turner from the very beginning. This is a great book for the history buff - or anyone who loves an adventure. One of the things I like about Bernard Cornwell's Sharpe books is that they are great stand alone stories and you don't feel that you need to read the entire series in a particular order to enjoy them. I have bought several copies of Sharpe's Eagle and given them as presents to those hard-to-buy-for men on my shopping lists.

BERNARD CORNWELL HAS DONE IT AGAIN WITH THIS VERSION OF THE LIFE OF RICHARD SHARPE. WHEN YOU START TO READ ABOUT SHARPE IT IS VERY HARD TO PUT DOWN. HIGHLY RECCOMENDED.

This is another entry on the Sharpe series. It is fun, entertaining and very readable. Cornwell's research is as excellent as usual. He takes some licenses for the shake of the story and continuity, but this is OK. Some people are outraged by the portrait of some of the real historical characters, but historical characters are rarely depicted accurately in historical fiction, so I think this can be forgiven. Besides, usually a more serious account of these characters is given at the end of the book on the Historical Note.

Many people insist in compare this series with Patrick O'Brian's Master and Commander. I don't think this is fair for any of the series, they are different entities. What they have in common is that once you start you may get hooked and devour one book after another...

And in the literary world today that is a rare and marvelous thing.

"Sharpe's Eagle" may have been the first Richard Sharpe novel that Bernard Cornwell wrote, but the formula of this novel permeates the entire series. For fans of "you are there" historical fiction of a military bent, that is a great thing.

I came late to Cornwell's Sharpe series, after having read many of the author's other works (the Grail Quest novels, the Warlord trilogy, "Stonehenge," and "Redcoat"). So I have been able to start at the "beginning" of the Sharpe saga with "Sharpe's Tiger" and the India trilogy. Accordingly, Sharpe and his fellow Riflemen as well as many of the commanders are familiar characters by now. It's interesting how smoothly "Sharpe's Eagle" fits into the series even though it was the very first novel.

"Eagle" recounts the British army's struggles in Spain against the French and, even more so, their Spanish allies. Look for some notorious Spain-bashing as Cornwell derisively depicts its rag-tag infantry led by lazy peacocks for officers, including a real historical event where thousands of Spanish infantry are spooked by their own musket barrage! Not much subtlety, here.

Fans of Cornwell's novels will also recognize the villain of the piece, fat Colonel Simmerson and his nephew, Lieutenant Gibbons. Sharpe, our admirable hero, has done a rare thing and won his officer's rank solely by merit, largely unheard of in the British army. Instead, most officers bought promotion after a suitable period in a given rank, and Cornwell is of the opinion, his idol General Arthur Wellesley notwithstanding, that this led to dozens of craven British officers, all of whom seem to encounter Sharpe during their career.

Colonel Simmerson leads his battalion, including Sharpe, to the ultimate disgrace - losing their battlefield colors. Foisting the blame onto Sharpe, Simmerson hopes to avoid shame himself as well as to send Sharpe to a death sentence serving in the disease-infested West Indies. But Sharpe has another idea - salvage the battalion's pride by doing the impossible - stealing one of Napoleon's eagle standards from the juggernaut French infantry.

An action-packed novel, "Sharpe's Eagle" also finds time for Sharpe to have a little romance, but this element of the story is entirely secondary to the main focus, which is Cornwell's unrivaled mastery of depicting a battle scene. A mere 270-odd pages, "Sharpe's Eagle" will defy your efforts to put it down.

I highly recommend reading these books in chronological order, and this was the recommendation of the good people over at Bernard Cornwell's website as well. Get reading!

Originally I purchased Arundel and Rabble in Arms for my husband, an avid reader of Kenneth Roberts and Bernard Cornwell (to name a few). He told me a bit about the storyline and I dismissed them as I was involved in other books at the time. HOWEVER, over the past 4th of July's amazing TV viewing of the American Revolution, Washington's Generals, and so much more (e.g. History Channel, History International, etc.), I developed an strong interest into why Arnold went from extraordinary tactical commander of a northern contingent to traitor. First I wanted to know the first and so I began reading Arundel followed by Rabble in Arms. Amazing detail, well written and definitely full of facts that added to the drama of what Arnold's military group went through in order to accomplish the impossible. His military genius was amazing, particularly when comparing it to the other generals under George Washington's command. These books provided insight into the man and, in my opinion, how he might have reasoned out his later actions. Arnold was an amazing man, very complex and later seemingly swayed more by his latter marriage than his own morals. These two books should be first read before reading of his later treachery against the beginnings of the United States. It definitely clarifies him as a man, a military hero, and his change into what is now seemingly only remembered as - traitor.

ARUNDEL is quite simply the finest historical novel that I have ever read.
It is also one of the finest works of American fiction, period.

Telling the little-known American Revolution episode of Benedict Arnold's raid on Quebec, the bulk of the novel concerns the harrowing journey that his men made through the frozen wilds of Maine, a story of hardship and devotion that readers will never forget. But the revelation here for readers unfamiliar with Kenneth Roberts is the prose, as sturdy and timeless as the landscape-- the old-fashioned storytelling coupled with a sober command of men's aspirations and justifications in momentous times. Roberts' dialogue is so sharp and clever that his characters never seem antiquated.

Reading this incomparably moving and exciting novel will open a world of historical fiction in Kenneth Roberts' catalog that will reward readers for a lifetime. Highest Recommendation!!

Wow! This book was absolutely amazing! It was so good, that I had to put it down for a while, go and do something else while I let it digest. Wonderful stuff.

After a bumpy start -with a rather mushy love scene between the 10 year old Mary Mallinson and Steven Nason- the book really gets into gear - with a real bang. Literally. A rude Frenchman and his Indian cronies shoots Mary's dad, takes the daughter, and carries her away to Canada. Steven Nason and his father follow them, hoping to reclaim the young girl, but are turned back when the boy gets a tomahawk through his head. Fortunately - for both him and the plot - he survives... but vows not to give up on his search for Mary Mallinson - even when his father gets pushed into frigid water by a maniacal priest, dies of pneumonia, and his son is obliged to take over his responsibilities.

The characterization is amazing! There's Cap Huff, Benedict Arnold, Phoebe, John the Wishy-Washy, Marie du Sabrevois - even Steven Nason himself is a complex character. If there was one fault in the book, it was Roberts' obsession with explaining over and over the day-to-day going-ons of the Maine Native Americans. After a while, I found I didn't care too much how bear meat was cooked, how loud a medicine man could howl, and the various Indian geneologies.

Besides that minor flaw - I must admit, I *do* have a short attention span - the book was excellent! Read it, I promise you'll enjoy!

The saga of the colonial assault on British Quebec in 1775 has received precious little press. Trenton, Saratoga, and Yorktown have received much more publicity, which is fine; but in this novel Kenneth Roberts has tilled fallow round and raised a bountiful harvest.

The story is narrated by Steven Nason, a Maine resident with a fervent attachment to his home in Arundel. His tale begins innocently, set amidst the daily issues of the northern frontier- the French, the native Americans, and the tempestuous British colonists as they strive to hold ground in early America. Only gradually are Steven, his family, and his Indian friends drawn into the contest of nations that will in time lead to the formation of the United States.

The assault on Quebec really happened, and the story is full of brilliant cameos, including a fierce Daniel Morgan, a jaunty young Aaron Burr, and a still-untried George Washington. But the real historical hero of Arundel is Benedict Arnold, seen before his infamous betrayal of the continential cause. Here he is energetic and charismatic as he leads the first foray against the British in the New World. Steven's vision of Arnold is more generous than history usually gives that founding father, without reverting to blind hero worship- indeed, a few incidents hint at Arnold's eventual frustration with the incontinent buerocracy of his fellow leaders and his prickly sense of honor. But this future struggle fades as Steven describes the difficulties of the expedition across the wilderness of Maine, and the trial of the seige of Quebec. Roberts has done some fantastic research, so that the landscape and people that Arnold and Nason travel amidst vibrates with vivid depictions of the Height of Land, the French inhabitants of early Canada, and the rugged and beautiful Maine coastline.

Best of all, Roberts has brilliant prose, so rarely discovered today; Steven's narrative unfolds like a fireside tale on a cold winter night in Maine, calling to mind all the struggles and zeal of those early patriots who forsook home an hearth to seek a free nation. Through it all runs the shining thread of Steven's lost love, Mary, and his fast friends Cap Huff and Phoebe Marvin, who accompany Steven on his adventures. The fictional characters are vivid and lifelike, breathing color and feeling into the already thrilling journey. If you have any interest in how a wrinkle in history can become a terrific novel, this is your book.

This tale revolves around Benedict Arnolds famous march to Quebec through the brutal Maine Wilderness.

This novel weaves a fun story of love lost and revenge attempted.

It's name comes from the name of the main characters village of Arundel south of Portland in Maine. Frankly, the novel has little to do with Arundel so I think the novel was misnamed but that is my humble opinion.

I'm under the impression that most of the history is close to accurate. Really, it's no matter. I was after a good yarn and I got it in spades in this fine book.

What I liked was that though the story deals with Arnolds march to and attack on Quebec, it seems to be a story on the periphery of those events. It has wonderful characters like flinty Aaron Burr and lovable lout Saved from Captivity Huff (better known as Cap Huff)Steven Nason the hero of our story and his employee/Business partner Phoebe the female captain of their trading sloop. Also the Native American characters like Jataqua and Natanis among many others were simply wonderful.

The way Mr Roberts paints the picture of the trek to Quebec was nothing short of masterly. My imagination trudged through this half frozen swamp of trials, tribulations and death with these brave people. Amazing experience.

I was dreading the parts about the attack on Quebec. I know what happens and thought it might bore me. It didn't. They fought but then went their own way and had there own adventure.

It really was a terrific story. I read it shortly after Eckert's Frontiersmen and found it nearly as satisfying, which is a tall order.

Sons of Destiny is very suspenseful. You don't know what will happen next. The ending is somewhat of a let down, but still interesting. I liked to think about all the possibilities the author let hanging. However, I'm sure he was far more capable of coming up with a something more plausible. The ending was parallel to the classic "And then I woke up. It was all a dream." It leaves the same impression.

Overall the entire series was totally fun. The characters were clearly developed and you felt like you were Darren. You thought what he thought. Often times, authors don't use realistic emotion. In all the Cirque books that was achieved well. Unique scenery, tons of action, and the complexities of a teen vampire make this book a exciting read.

This is a great book. A brilliant twist, I would have never guessed how this ended, (DONT READ ANY SPOILERS FOR IT). However, I was a little bummed about how the first, like 7 or 8 were erelevant once the quest for the Vampaneze Lord started. The ending was good, the book part of it was good, all of the characters were involved, and the whole thing came full circle, but it made the rest of the books not even matter. It was ONLY about the vampaneze lord, and you could ALMOST read this by itself.

I've read all the books in the series in less then a day. I couldn't put them down, but at the ending of this book, the last one, i didn't just put the book down, i threw it across my room. I loved the book up until the ending, and i love the series up until this book. I think it kills the whole series and leaves me wondering why i even bothered to buy and read the other 11. at the end, he goes back in time and stops everything that i read in books 1-11 non-existent, as in they didn't even happen. I felt as if the ending has said something like, "he woke up and it was all a bad dream!" what kind of ending is that to a series such as Cirque Du Freak. And because of this book i actually don't recommend the series anymore. What is the point of wasting you time reading 12 books, when everything you read ended up not happening.
Not only a waste of my time, but my hard earned money also. Don't get me wrong, i loved the series up until the end. i devoured the books and could not get enough, but this to me seems like Darren Shan was saying, "i don't want to write anymore Cirque Du Freak books, so lets just make everything i wrote in books 1-11 not happen!"
i feel like i was cheated.

I feel that "The Sons of Destiny" was a disappointing book and a poor way to end the Cirque Du Freak" series. I gave this two stars. This is because the book hasa bizzare storyline. also, the end of the book left me dumbfounded and searching for answers. The characters in the book went against their previous established personalities. Lastly, the climax of the book that author Darren Shan was building up to the entire series, wos not very entertaining to read. In the book, Darren Shan muust defeat his one time friend, but now foe, or die. Will Darren be able to trick the evil Des Tiny and save his friends? This horror book will dissapoint other people who have read the "Cirwue Du Freak" series.

this book was really good not what i expected to end the saga but still a great read, the whole saga was awsome.if your looking for a teen vamp story this is perfect it also has some other mythalogical charicaters....
5 stars

Victoria Rowell has created a jewel of a book that will be relevant to all. She is first and foremost an artist. Her art has taken many forms, including dancer and actress, and she can certainly add gifted author to her list of talents and accomplishments. Ms. Rowell has created a personal and family history in "The Women Who Raised Me". It is at times awe-inspiring, brutal, and beautiful. She tells a complex, heart-rending story that flows off the page as though a mosaic is being created. Every aspect of the hardcover book, from its format to its unique cover art with a fold-out photo gallery, reflect the care and thought that went into this true-life saga. This is a story that will inspire and never be forgotten by its readers. Humanity, grace, realism, grit. It is all here..

This memoir is a testament to one woman's love and adoration for all of the woman who took part in raising her. I had the privilege of meeting Victoria Rowell at her book signing. She was deeply passionate, and determined to give back to all of the woman, living or deceased, who loved her and guided her in her walk through life. Life as a biracial child of black and white was difficult for victoria but it was not long before she found the love and acceptance of several woman who, during her formative and teenage years, feverishly encouraged, prepared, and nurtured her. Victoria soon found her niche for dancing and then later acting which eventually propelled her into stardom. This book is written with love, intelligence, and diction. She is clear and poetic in her writing. This book is a wonderful, easy flowing memoir, not drama packed, but just enough sauce to keep you interested. Loaded with photos and also includes information about foster care.

In a splendid and glorious memorializing of a company of women who contributed to her growth, opportunities and eventual success, Victoria Rowell has created a grand gesture of epic proportions.

Her story, told with grace and honesty, reveals the multi-layered character she became as a result of the fostering and mentoring she received...as she describes it, like the piecing together of a quilt.

In successive foster homes in the state of Maine, from infancy, Victoria Rowell sets an example of triumph over adversity. Despite the early deprivation of a "biological mother", she grew in a positive direction through experiences that many would find challenging, at the very least. And yet, with the help of her foster mothers and mentors, social workers and others along the way, she faced every challenge, excelling as a ballet dancer and later as an actress, a mother, and then as a creator of her own network of support for foster youth by founding the Rowell Foster Children's Positive Plan and serving as a spokesperson for the Annie E. Casey Foundation/Casey Family Services.

While in LA recently, attending Book Expo America, I had the pleasure of meeting Ms. Rowell while signing copies of her book. I felt very honored to be in her presence for a brief time and want to congratulate her on her many accomplishments, including this wonderful book.

Victoria Rowell, film and television actress, chronicles her life as a foster child in her memoir, The Women Who Raised Me: A Memoir. Rowell was the product of a blue-vein, old money Caucasian mother, whose family were Mayflower descendants, and an unknown black man. Her mother, Dorothy Collins, suffered from mental illness exhibiting schizophrenia. There were six children, three boys and three girls, all from different fathers. When Rowell was three months-old she was taken in as a foster child by Bertha Taylor, who wanted to adopt her but was not allowed to because of the state of Maine's statutes regarding interracial adoption. Little Vicki was only two years-old when she was taken away from her and placed in the home of a black woman, Agatha Wooten Armistead. Her two older sisters, also, both biracial, were taken in by Agatha.

Under Agatha's care, Rowell thrived in a loving, extended family in rural Maine. Bertha came from a family of formidable women with austere backgrounds. Agatha encouraged Rowell's love of dance and purchased a how-to book so that when she had her first audition at eight years-old, though she was self-taught, her natural talent netted a scholarship to a prestigious dance program. At age 17, she received a scholarship to ABT, American Ballet Theater, thus starting an illustrious career that would lead her into modeling, commercials and eventually television, most notably an actress on The Young and the Restless and Diagnosis: Murder.

Along the way, Rowell had an on again, off again relationship with her mother, Dorothy, who finally died in 1983. She also had other temporary and foster mothers of various backgrounds before she became an emancipated minor. Each of these women left something precious with her that she treasures to this day. Rowell married in her mid-twenties and had a daughter and later had a son with Wynton Marsalis. Marsalis's mother also became a role model and mentor as well as Latonya Jackson, wife of Samuel L. Jackson, as did other women who came into her life. But it was a turning point in 2002, that caused Rowell to retreat and reassess her life. That is when she also began to research her background which was the beginning of her life story.

Part family history, memoir and inspirational guide, Rowell gave a credible account of the racial and social history of Maine, the story of her childhood navigating the foster care system, of the women who were so vital in her growing years, learning to love and accept herself and the monumental act of forgiveness--of herself and others. I met Rowell last fall when she was promoting her book in Oakland and she struck me as a warm, down-to-earth woman who is fiercely dedicated to her cause, foster care rights and her love of the arts. Though the middle of the book moved a little slow, I recommend to those who enjoy memoirs and stories of perseverance.

Dera R. Williams
APOOO BookClub

Fantastic! Amazon should permit a 10 star rating for The Women Who Raised Me. This is a moving and beautifully written testament of perseverance and determination against all odds. I thank Ms. Rowell for writing and sharing such an inspiring story of her life. Also, what's really important is that the Women Who Raised Me brings issues surrounding foster care to light. If you are looking for a fullfilling story please read the Women Who Raised Me and you will not be disappointed. This `hard-to-put-down' page-turner is well worth your time and investment. I highly recommend The Women Who Raised Me as required reading for high school and college students enrolled in social studies, art, and literary courses. Ms. Rowell I wish you continued success in all your endeavors to improve the state of foster care through your outstanding creative talents.

Carla McManus
Sisters and Brothers of Hotlanta Bookclub
http://www.sistersbrothers.com

I found this to be the best of the series that I have read so far. I still have the two most recently published to read. Thankfully Mcknight has stopped being so morose as he was in previous books. His self pity and whining gets a little old after a few books.

Like all of Hamiltons books, the mystery isn't solved until the last few chapters and then we get some totally new info popping up that clears everything up. In this case it was the fire that killed some kids many years before. This was info unknown for the entire book. Mcknight of course didn't look for the common thread because he was too busy driving back and forth from remote Ontario to MI and getting bailed out of jail.

But that's Mcknights character. He ain't the brightest sleuth out there as we know from past books.

In all I recommend this one.

Maybe I'm becoming too PC, but having listened to this book, I found the idea that McKnight was better at surviving in the woods then his friend Vinny who is a full blooded Ojibwe (and professional guide) to be just a little hard to swallow. At a couple of points in the story when they are lost up in the Canadian wilderness, Vinny is about to give up the ghost but Alex keeps pluggin' along. Boy, I wouldn't want to be stuck on a hunting trip with Vinny if things went wrong.

Also, at times when Vinny is speaking, he's like a cross between Mr.Miyagi and the Great Manitu (give me a break). Specific to the tape, all the Indians speak with this spacey (East) indian guru voice, like they are filling in for Deprak Chopra. All the Indians immediately take a backseat to anything that McKnight says, like whatever he says is the most intelligent thing going.

Anyway to the story, it's actually very engaging, except that 'da too guys from Detroit' sound like they stepped out of a "Sopranos" episode. Know whatimean you jamocke. The Canadians must all be drinking water with something in it because they are as mellow as a bunch of 1960s anti-war demonstrators, ey.

Lastly, did anybody NOT guess that at sometime in the story, Alex would find a way to soften Natalie's heart (key the violins and cellos) so that she would see him in a 'better light' (tear, tear,tear!). Ugh. If you are going to find him a love interest, just do it, don't get all "Wisteria Lane" about it. Ok, I'm done. Hopefully the next book (gee do ya think Natalie will be in it) will be better.

I've read all of Steve Hamilton's books right when they've been published and I've loved them all. I'm now re-reading them, and just finished "Blood is the Sky" for the second time. I love Hamilton's relaxed, easy-reading style and I think Alex is a great protagonist. I also love the northern Michigan setting of his series; although I've never been to the UP, I live in Maine and have spent a large part of my life in northern Ontario (where most of this book is set), so I can relate to his descriptions of life in the North. I do have two quibbles with this book. First, a couple times Hamilton has Alex saying road signs mention someplace is X number of miles away--in Canada, road signs are in kilometers, not miles. Second, there are lots of references to "Canadian" beer, such as when Alex gets a cold "Canadian" or asks a bartender for a Molson. In the first instance, does Hamilton mean a generic cold Canadian beer, or does he mean a Molson Canadian (a specific brand, and the best-selling beer in Canada), and in the second, you don't go into a drinking establishment in Canada and ask for a Molson; you ask for an Ex or a Canadian or another specific Molson product. As I said, these are quibbles. Steve Hamilton is a great author!

My wife kept raving on how good the books were. She was up to four read and kept talking about them. I finished another novel and decided it was time. What a interesting story. Especially living in Michigan all my life I found so much research had been done on all of Michigan and Canada also. We in Michigan always have a close relationship with Canada. Many of us have one side of the family from Canada as the auto industry had once brought them here. The book certainly was interesting and the plot gave you great cause to wonder almost to the last pages. I would recommend it highly.

In this Alex McKnight mystery, Hamilton pairs Alex and Vinnie LeBlanc to search for Vinnie's missing brother in the forests of Northern Ontario. Tom, Vinnie's brother, led a hunting expedition for four Detroit businessmen and then disappeared. Together Alex and Vinnie must find out what happened to him and why. This is Hamilton's best McKnight adventure since A Cold Day in Paradise. Alex's dogged nature shines through, as he remains fiercely loyal to Vinnie and is willing to sacrifice everything for the truth. Get ready for a great outdoors expedition in Canada. Hamilton is an excellent writer, and there's nothing better than reading an Alex McKnight mystery. It is my favorite mystery series.