Asia Books

Usagi Yojimbo is the kind of quality work that transcends time, genres, demographics, and even age groups. It crafts a delicate and beautiful balance between honor and savagery, cute innocence and dark brutality, simple heart-warming stories and multi-part epics that shape a dense continuity. Whether or not you've ever been a fan of feudal Japanese culture, furry anthro characters, or independent, non-superhero comics, Usagi Yojimbo is a comic that can't help but impress even the harshest critic.

"The Wanderer's Road" (volume 3 of the series), is really where so much of this title's charm first begins to shine. We begin with "The Tower," a truly touching story in which Usagi risks everything to save the life of an innocent creature, gaining an unforgettable traveling companion in the process. In contrast, "A Mother's Love" was the first of many Usagi stories to paint a tragedy so rich that it brought me to tears. This is quickly surpassed by "Return of the Blind Swordspig," a story which not only brings back a fantastic character (you'll want to go back and consult volume 1 for the genesis of this conflict), but also concludes with an incredibly touching resolution. "Blade of the Gods" introduces "Jei," Usagi's greatest and most disturbing nemesis in a story that isn't easily forgotten. Finally, the Tea Cup is a fun and intriguing Usagi & Gen team-up (Gen also first appears in volume 1), and The Shogun's Gift brings back Lady Tomoe and Lord Noriyuki while also resurrecting and developing the threat of the Neko Ninja Clan.

All in all, Volume 3 brings back many early characters to help build and expand upon Usagi's world, all while painting rich, memorable stories that will pull on the heart strings as easily as they pump your adrenaline. This is the first of many times that Sakai really seems to outdo himself, taking his work to a whole new level of art and storytelling. Don't miss it!

I'll keep this one simple, folks; READ THIS BOOK! READ ALL OF THEM!
Stan Sakai is a genius, pure and simple. The art is great, the characters compelling, and the action bloody and so hard-core a certain berserker mutant would stand back in awe. This is NOT a fuzzy animal book; there just happen to be mostly non-human people in it.

Once again, Stan Sakai delivers a mix of touching and funny adventures. With Spot, Gen and others all getting to share some page time, readers won't be disappointed. In this volume, Mr. Sakai continues to flesh out the characters and establish their personalities. His art, too, improves with every stroke.

In this collection we are introduced to Spot (the pet lizard), Jei (demon samurai), and Shingen (leader of the Neko Ninjas). We are also treated to the first meeting between Leonardo (of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) and Miayamoto Usagi.

Chapter One:
A lizard is chased up a tower by a cruel cook. Usagi climbs the tower to save the creature. He ends up naming him Spot and adopting him as a pet.

Chapter Two:
Usagi and Spot meet an old woman on their travels. After accompanying her back to her village it is revealed that her son is an evil money lender who rules the town with an iron fist. Usagi is shocked after the old woman asks him to kill her son.

Chapter Three:
Usagi vs. Ino 2

Chapter Four:
Usagi gets stuck in a storm. He shares a hut with a samurai who wields a black blade named Jei. The two end up in a duel with a shocking ending.

Chapter Five:
Usagi meets up once again with Gen. This time the pair set out to deliver a valuable tea cup to it's rightful owner...for a price of course.

Chapter Six:
Lord Noriyuki has had a sword specially crafted for the Shogun. A ninja named Shingen steals the blade but runs into Usagi along the way. After a series of mind games Usagi returns the blade to Noriyuki.

Bonus (not affiliated with a storyline):
Leonardo (TMNT) somehow ends up in Feudal Japan. He ends up in a battle against a horde of Samurai. At the same time Miyamoto Usagi runs into a horde of Ninjas. After dispatching the hordes Usagi and Leonardo mistake each other for enemies and prepare to do battle.

Like almost every Usagi novel this one is great for the whole family. I strongly recommend this for any Miyamoto fans or to anyone looking for a fun quick read.

(Note: The photo on amazon shows the cover of "Book 2: Samurai" but don't worry...This is indeed "Book 3: Wanderer's Road.")

I know that saying a book is good for all ages is something of a cliche, but I can't think of another book for which it is more true. In my family, we all fight over who gets to read the new Usagi first, from the children who are enjoying the bunnies to the adults enjoying the culture, stories and characterizations. This is an amazing series.

I love books, and I seem to find a new one to like every week. And yet, I can honestly say, this is the best book I've read in years. Few books have the power to encapsulate the meteoric economic and political changes that face the United States--and the world--right now. Gabor Steingart, a German journalist working in Washington, DC, for "Der Spiegel," has managed to come at just the right time with just the right book, "The War for Wealth."

What makes this book so pertinent? First, it approaches the question of whether globalization truly benefits all. Unlike those who favor the open market who make the assumption that free trade helpa all, Steingart posits that globalization instead is leading to a redistribution of resources. Not all countries benefit equally. In this new world order, Americans are needed largely as consumers, not workers, who are financing their purchases on a mountain of debt.

The expansion of the labor market as a result of globalization, in fact, has led to a decline in the value of workers. This has hurt Western nations the most. In the US industrial base alone, there has been a 50 percent decline in jobs in a single generation. Americans and Europeans are overpriced for the global market, not because of their wages (although this is a factor) but largely because of the cost of their social safety net.

Who are the winners? Those in India and China, obviously. In China, those growth rates are even being understated by the Communist government so that the West does not even see the full extent of this unfettered development. Moreover, China has chosen a different, more insidious tactic in this economic war. As Steingart notes, "the Asians are attacking with economic weapons and avoiding ideological conflict. They do not conduct debates with the West over equality and justice, nor do they level any accusations or issue threats. The rising global powers are not interested in a battle of cultures. They are ignoring issues of religion and ideology. They are quiet adversaries who are placing their bets on economic efficiency. The West, they reason, can be defeated with its own weapons."

Unlike many who see these problems, however, Steingart is not a protectionist, nor does he see globalization as something to be halted in its steps. He is not a fear monger. As an economist and journalist, Steingart knows that this is a trend that is not likely to be reversed. It can, however, be managed by savvy leadership and a willingness on the part of Western nations to work together. Steingart basically lays out three options: global chaos (the shock scenario), the rise of Asia (the Asia-above-all scenario, in which American dreams bite the dust), or remaking history (the American Renaissance scenario).

How America and the West manage globalization, international trade, and the development of rules and regulations to even the playing field are critical to the continuance of the good life. If I could have one wish, it would be that both presidential candidates and their camps would read Steingart's book. This critical overview of the world and economic development today is something that every American should be thinking about as they approach the future.

I congratulate Gabor Steingart for writing a book that clearly defines the problems for the West brought about by globalization. He suggests realistic ideas for mitigating the worst aspects of this process. His historical context of India and China and analysis of their current direction and strategies makes it very clear that the West better act quickly to protect our culture and institutions. America's foolish self-subjugation to corporate self interest is the wrong path. We're empowering China without regard to our long-term needs. My only criticism is that he's much too lenient with the Bush administration's many failures. This is a great book and Pulitzer Prize quality writing.

I am currently researching NATO's history, so I was immediately intrigued when I heard about Gabor Steingart's ideas on an "economic NATO" - a stronger partnership between Europe and the US intended to grapple with the challenges posed by emerging economic powerhouses such as China and India and the new forms of authoritarian democracy they propagate. I would not agree with all the conclusions of his book -- overall, I am more optimistic that future giants such as China will ultimately come to the conclusion that increasingly playing by the rules is in their best interest, and that current giants like the US will manage to remain competitive, just as they did when confronted by another economic threat from Asia, Japan, in the 1980s. However, Steingart presents an inspiring and thought-provoking case for the need for stronger transatlantic cooperation: he mixes compelling reporting from all over the world with sharp and concise analysis. The far-reaching interview with Prof. Samuelson at the end of the book is big plus, too.

I particularly liked, though, that Steingart does not hesitate to develop a real vision for the partnership between Europe and the US. In the conclusion, he refers to John F. Kennedy's Philadelphia speech from 1962 and his often overlooked ideas on a transatlantic cooperation beyond NATO. Given the roadblocks even minor agreements seem to encounter, it might be overly optimistic to hope for really closer ties anytime soon -- but any outline of a vision for the future is badly needed in the current debates on the relationship between Europe and the US. That is because, unfortunately, far too many people on both sides of the Atlantic seem to consider the "special relationship" a thing of the past rather than the huge field of opportunity it actually is

Steingart believes we spend too much time worrying about places like Kabul and Baghdad, and not enough thinking about places like Shanghai. "The War for Wealth" then details that case. Steingart also contends that the true tale of globalization is not being told - it is anything but a win-win situation. By 2025 China and India will likely dominate the world market with their purchasing power. It took both the U.S. and Japan about 40 years to double their per capita GDP; China took only twelve years.

Harvard historian David Landes believes that their success (and others) is determined by culture - moral values and behaviors. Unfortunately, per Steingart, we currently are paving the road to our demise with self-deception and self-affirmation.

Premier Deng Xiaoping was underestimated by Western leaders when he took over after Mao's death - partly because capitalism was seen as incompatible with a lack of democracy. Deng began by gradually liberalizing restraints on China's collectivized farmers, and in five years 98% of farmland was back in their hands. Deng also put off the military demands for resources, telling them the economy needed to grow first. Subsidies for government businesses decreased, then stopped, in exchange for the state no longer claiming all their revenues. Deng also opened China to foreign investment - $7 million in 1980, $250 billion now. Deng's changes were much more successful than those in resource-rich Russia which underwent a U.S. consultant-led crash immersion.

Brazil, Russia, China, and India together comprise about 45% of the world's labor supply. This will increase further - by 2050 another 1.2 billion are expected to live in Asia.

Those waiting for Chinese wages to equal those in the U.S., thereby eliminating its competitive advantage, have a long wait - Steingart estimates it will take another 30 years before Asian incomes are half as high as those in the U.S., if wage growth in Asia remains constant.

Eighty percent of Wal-Mart's suppliers are in China; until 2004 the U.S. was the largest exporter of IT products - now it is China.

Chinese innovation is accelerated by partnership requirements placed on Westerners building in China, piracy, espionage, R&D spending about 1/3 that of the U.S. (not adjusted for currency differences), extensive training in U.S. universities, higher IQs (about 10 points, on average, per research elsewhere; nine of Microsoft's ten most promising employees are Asian), and buying Western companies and resources. (Hitachi bought RCA and found it could sell its products at a higher price using the RCA label.)

Not only is Chinese labor much cheaper than that in the U.S., it doesn't have the social overhead costs of the U.S. - eg. health care and pensions.

Potential Flashpoints in the Future: North Korea (supported by China) vs. South Korea, India (backed by Russia) vs. Pakistan (backed by China), and Taiwan. Meanwhile, the U.S. and China continue their strange economic relationship.

"The War for Wealth's" one weakness lies in its recommendations - eg. more R&D in the U.S. That cannot overcome a dramatic cost difference held by a nation that is rapidly moving from production to also provide capable design and invention as well.

Our former Secretary of State Dr. Henry Kissinger has it right: This book is a really compelling reality check for America. I have read a lot of books about Globalization, but this is one of its own kind. Why? Course the author is not satisfied with simple answers or populist doomsday scenarios. He delivers a lot of reporting on the ground from all the hot places - Kabul, Shanghai, New-Delphi and others. And he delivers options for our tomorrows life and one of his option is really outstanding: The United States of the West. I don't know whether its realistic or not, but it seemed to be fascinating to bundle the whole power of the Western nations. May be the new administration in the White House should read this book. You know what: I will send one copy to the new President who ever will win.

WAR TORN is a brilliant and riveting collection of essays by the handful of smart and courageous women who actually went to the battlefields in Asia to report on the Vietnamese War. For everyone who served in the war or had loved ones who did, for those of us who lived through these events at home, and for younger readers who have no sense of this history, this compelling book reveals these critical years from a perspective most of us never knew existed. The stories of these nine brave women will capture your minds and break your heart a bit. A thorougly uplifting and informative book with stories you've never heard before.

A unique insight to the ravages of the wars of the mid 20th century from the viewpointss of a group of female corrrespondents who had to claw their way through the jungles
of the eastern asia and the media industry to get their views
across....highly recommended to gain an added persective of a
turbulant time in world history

I don't know much about Vietnam, but I was drawn to the book by the sad and thoughtful face on the cover. My highest praise to these women. They brought the Vietnam war alive to someone who was not even born at its conclusion. The stories are beautiful, sad, funny and touching. My thanks to the authors for putting such a wonderful piece of writing and important part of history down on paper.

The stories in War Torn are riveting and capture the will and determination of women journalists to have equal access to cover the war. But they also bring Saigon and Vietnam in the 60s and 70 alive to anyone too young to remember. I applaud these women for making the Vietnam war accessible to a generation who grew up after the war.
War Torn leave the reader happy and sad but thoroughly enchanted. For anyone who is a history buff, a traveler planning to visit Vietnam or simply a lover of great tales, I highly recommend this book.

" Having been born in the early forties, Vietnam was MY war. Unlike the women of WAR TORN, I busied myself with raising a family in the good, old, safe & sound USA. I cannot say enough about the impact this book had on me. These selfless, courageous, determined correspondents took me on a tour of a Vietnam that I never knew existed. Reading WAR TORN was truly an educational, eye-opening experience for me. They way these women express their adventures, insights, and emotions is absolutely glorious. This is a must read for people of all ages."

This is a great childrens book for reading level 4th grade and up. It has a boy as the central character and you will cry at the ending! My fourth grade class loved the characters and all of the facts they learned about Vietnam.

The author is the young child in this story. He described his relationship with two of the family buffaloes. One water buffalo name was Water Jug. The other buffalo's name was Tank. Water Jug died of old age. After Water Jug died Ngoung[the young child in the story]and his fater went looking for buffalo. The found a great young bull. Ngoung and the buffalo played alot. One day a war spread over their country. A bullet hit Tank and one hour after the war Tank died.

This is my favorite book that I've ever read because I like how the author describes his life. I read this book because it was a Bluebonnet book at my school. I never knew that I would like it this much. I just picked it out, and started to read it at the library. My favorite part was when Tank(the waterbuffalo) fights the herd's leader (Hurricane) and wins. I think you should read this book because it tells about a boy's life in Vietnam.

I borrowed this book from our local library, thinking it was just any other book. When I read the book, I enjoyed reading the adventures. Later on, I was surprised to discover that all the adventures were true. People could learn a lot from this book, not only about where the author lives but lessons in life, as well. After I returned the book, I decided to read it again, and this time, I borrowed both of the author's books. I've really enjoyed these books and think that children would benefit from reading these books, too. I hope that the author writes some more books about his memories.

As an elementary school teacher who loves children's literature, I try to read all the Bluebonnet books every year. This was one of the best. I really learned about life in a Vietnamese village from the perspective of a young boy. Even without learning this background, the book is a great story for all children and adults who love animals.

This was a great book. Author kept me interested in all the stories and the book was really heart wrenching when this disaster was seen through the survivors eyes.

This book is a must read for anyone remotely interested in the Asian people and their culture. I was truly humbled by the strength and dignity shown by the families featured in this account of the terrible tragedy. Their resolve should be used as a benchmark in our own everyday lives, it makes our own crisis', and the way we handle them, seem pretty silly and trivial by comparison.

Quite by chance, I had the pleasure of meeting a gentleman that employees a Thia aupair just days after finishing this wonderful book. It went out in the mail to him a few days later. I'm sure he will gain some valuable insight upon reading it, and will have a new and better understanding of the person sharing in his own families' culture after reading this wonderful book.

I highly recommend Wave of Destruction. Ready or not, it places you in the midst of the horror.

At least twice, while reading these stories, I flipped to the front of the book looking for the word "novel," or a disclaimer stating that the characters had been compiled in order to tell the story of the many who had suffered. No such words exist. The accounts are real and each person's experiences are more than any human should have to bear. The stories of the waves themselves made me savor every breath. Many of the survivors's minds were shattered making me want to reach out and pull them to safety, something that is impossible, even today.

After the physical horror had slowed, greed and corruption allowed people with varying degrees of power to profit from (and, arguably, even enjoy) the tragedy of others. How can they look in a mirror? How can they sleep at night? In contrast, the survivors choose to exhibit a level of grace for which there are no words.

This book is a must read for all. The book not only sheds light on the worlds deadliest tsunami, but takes you through the hardships of what life was like before the wave struck--perhaps even more interesting than the tsunami itself. It is a jaw dropping tale of tragedy yet strength. I couldnt put the book down, and when I finished I was left in a shocked state of ah. The author tells the story with passion, keeping the reader locked in until the very end. This tragic true story reminds us all just how much the human spirit can endure...

There are not many books that can bring me to tears, but this one did it. The lives of the people in the book are as amazing as they are sad. It reminded me just how strong some people can be. And just how evil others can be. In the middle of the worst natural disater in history people were actually praying on those who had just lost everything. I spent some time in Thailand years ago, but I only went to the tourist places. After reading this book I know I am going back. I have a totally different outlook on the country and the people now. I think sometimes when we go to foreign countries and do the whole tourist thing we miss out on the beauty. This book has shown me what is beautiful about Thailand--it's people. I think this book will open a lot of eyes.

Wings, Women, and War by Reina Pennington was a delightfully quick read. There is a lot of research and in depth coverage that is very informative. At the same time you laugh at stories of Liliia Litviak's fur collar and flowers and stand amazed at her combat exploits. The book exposes you to the lives of many women volunteers and their transformation from civilians to military pilots, navigators, armorers, mechanics, and commanders. There is no propaganda. Just pure facts based upon interviews of participators and archives. No matter what your politics, or issues with women in combat, you will find yourself captivated and surprised by many discoveries.

I recently had the occasion to read Dr. Reina Pennington's book, Wings, Women, and War: Soviet Airwomen in World War II Combat. It was required reading for a masters program I am completing. I had my doubts about the value of this book based on many prior textbook experiences. I was extremely surprised with this one.

The book was part of a class on race, gender and sexuality issues in the military. My male sensitivities and defenses were heightened when first opening this book, but my curiosity convinced me to proceed (as well as the required reading part!). It convinced me that gender issues are important when it comes to studying things military. Dr. Pennington gave a face to and personified the women warriors and their male counterparts in the air force of the Soviet Union during World War II. This is something she accomplished while at the same time supporting her academic theoretical work this book represents. The book reads like a novel and draws the reader in to its stories about these very brave and determined Russian women. The stories are often funny; very funny. It proved to me that Russians during the war were people just like us in their humanity.

If you are unconvinced of women as warriors or want to understand something about how the Soviet Union treated women, recruited women and encounter their successes and their failures, then this book is what you need.

Dr. Pennington provides a remarkable bibliography including archival materials, correspondence and personal interviews. She spent time in Russia following the fall of the Soviet Union when war time documents and records became available. One thing that you might not find answered or answered to your satisfaction is the fundamental question about why the Soviets allowed women into combat. Like all the other belligerents involved in the war, the Soviets resisted this at first. Just like the others the Soviets dismantled their women warriors after the war. If it were not for scholastic efforts like Dr. Pennington's the efforts of women like Evgeniia Prokhorova and Liliia Latviak would be forever forgotten.

I read this book cover to cover on Friday (in the office, door shut, looking very busy). Living with WW 2 aviation everyday through the collection of fighter aircraft we restore and fly in England, it is easy to become a little blasé about the way people lived their extraordinary lives in that time. This book hauled me right up by the collar all over again.

It is remarkable - the pages turn as easily as reading the most engrossing novel and yet this is clearly a thoroughly researched review of these womens' history. I am utterly impressed. To communicate passion for a subject while speaking with such authority - the authority that can only come with knowing and understanding a subject as well as Pennington does - is so rare.

Having read almost every single book available in the narrow field that covers these Soviet women, I belive this book sets the new benchmark.

If only history could always be communicated like this!

For most Americans World War II is John Wayne, Tom Hanks, D-Day, and Pearl Harbor. The plucky British gave a hand now and then and the ungrateful French needed us once more to pull their goose-fat from the fire. Oh yes, it snowed a lot on the Eastern Front. Yet, more than a cursory examination of the Second World War shows even first year history students that the Atlantic Theatre was very much a Russo-German War, with the Western Front playing a secondary role. The Russian story of the Great Patriotic War has not imprinted itself on the American popular imagination. Even less known is the role played in that great struggle by Russia's women.

Over 800,000 women served their Motherland in World War II, nearly 200,000 of them decorated. 89 of those women eventually received Russia's highest award, the Hero of the Soviet Union. Reina Pennington's book tells the story of Russia's airwomen during World War II with the passion of a best selling novel. Yet, the well documented footnotes and thorough Appendix attest to the research that has gone into this scholarly work.

Pennington's book focuses on three female regiments formed by Soviet hero, Marina Raskova, but also gives insight into women who served in mostly male regiments. She provides a gripping account that will satisfy those hearing about the USSR's airwomen for the first time, as well as adding new information about command struggles within the fighter regiment.

The story of 46th Guards Night Bomber Aviation Regiment, staffed through the entire war completely with women pilots, navigators, mechanics and commanding officers, makes any current debates about the suitability of women in combat seem like a convocation of the flat earth society. These women settled that debate long ago. Pennington quotes Soviet test pilot and HSU Mark Gallai on what it was like for the women bombers to fly their missions in the outdated biplanes to which they were assigned:

"It means coming under fire from anti-aircraft weapons of every calibre...it means enemy night fighters, blinding searchlights and often bad weather, too; low cloud, fog, snow, ice, and gales that throw a light aircraft from one wingtip to the other...all this in a Po-2, which is small, slow and as easily set alight as a match."

Yet, these women, averaging 5-15 flights a night(more in the winter, less in the summer), surviving on 2-4 hours of sleep a day for four years, managed to fly over 24,000 sorties, drop 23,000 tons of bombs, and account for 23 Hero of the Soviet Union awards.

Up to this point English language readers interested in the heroic stories of these women have had the excellent works of Kazimiera Cottam ("Women in Air War," "Women in War and Resistance")and the interesting interviews conducted by Anne Noggle ("A Dance with Death"). Yet, as important as these works are, none attempts to tell the story of Soviet airwomen as a complete narrative. Pennington weaves the individual tales of these women into a fabric that is compelling in its humanity. Hers is the story of ordinary women in extraordinary times who achieved what today seems impossible. They gave the full measure of their devotion in a valiant fight that deserves to be known. Reina Pennington's "Wings, Women, & War" does honor and justice to the stories of these women.

This is an important book which dispells the usual misconceptions about women in combat in general and Soviet airwomen's contribution in particular. The chapter on Soviet women fighter pilots is especially valuable. Through personal interaction with several surviving former members of the 586th Fighter Regiment, especially its second permanent commander Aleksandr Gridnev, Pennington has gained a lot of inside knowledge pertaining to this regiment, the most controversial of the three combat units formed by Marina Raskova, the "Soviet Amelia Earhart." This reader was surprised to encounter six misspelled Russian and Ukrainian place names in the book. In addition, the name of the first chief of staff in the 125th "M.M. Raskova" Borisov Dive Bomber Regiment has been rendered as "Militsiya Kazarinova" instead of "Militsa Kazarinova." However, these misspellings can still be corrected using an errata slip affixed to the inside of the back cover of the book.

Phil Karber is my Dad's first cousin. Trust me, the sarcastic humor runs in the family. I have not read my cousin's book yet, but I have no doubt that it is wonderful. Phil is a great guy to be around, and he could write a dozen books about his life. I would love to read about his childhood also.

While visiting family members in Arkansas over Easter weekend, I happened to read a review for the book Yak Pizza to Go by Arkansas native Phil Karber. The excerpts from the book in the review left me craving more and as soon as it came out, I purchased a copy. I was not disappointed. As an avid traveler (I believe I may have run into Karber while visiting Sapa, Vietnam), this book is incredibly interesting and entertaining. Unlike most travel books that only tell you where to eat, sleep, and drink, Yak Pizza To Go provides the reader with this information along with a capsule summary of the history and culture of the regions that Karber has visited. From the bia hoas of Hanoi, Vietnam to meeting fellow Arkansan Hillary Clinton at the Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania, Karber's informative and at times sarcastic stories along with vivid and accurate descriptions of these places flooded me with memories of my own journeys and a longing to visit others. This book is a must read for anyone who is serious about traveling and getting the most out of their experiences to foreign lands.

i am unable to leave the usa due to physical problems. this book takes me places in my imagination that i never thought i would go. the writing is crisp with a dry humor. the author lives his life as he says in the book, a roaming vagabond, tied to the countries his wife is assigned to. with her job they spend all their time all over. i just wish i had been able to accompany him on some of these travels. i am only 2/3 through the bbook, it is very long. i just wish it had another 500 pages to anticipate when i go to bed at night which is when i do most of my reading. in short, a fascinating book from a new author. i hope he has another book in his future.

I've just finished Yak Pizza--and how much I was transported from Fort Smith, AR to places I've only dreamed or heard of. Each day I looked forward to that time after dinner when I could grab Yak Pizza, get off by myself, and take trip after trip.

Phil Karber did a remarkable job here, finding the right distance from his subject matter--at times letting places and experiences speak for themselves and at just the right times giving such keen insights from observation and analysis.

There were such poignant moments and then humor and then righteous indignation and then such a knowledge of the background history of environment, economics, political/social structure. . .and gadzooks what a vocabulary.

I wrote a haiku over my impressions the night I finished the book and had such bittersweet emotions on finishing it--here tis Brushed bamboo, twisted thickets of morass. Leeches hold time in their craw.

Warning: This travel guide is not designed for the "accidental tourist," the person who travels to foreign lands hoping only to recreate a faraway, expensive version of his homeland. This book is for anyone who wants to travel not only for pleasure, but also for knowledge. With humor and incredible insight, Phil Karber writes of his adventures in the lands he has visited, lands that most of us will only see on National Geo specials. Karber immerses himself in each culture, learning as much as he can about the history, philosophy, people, and customs of each country that he visits. After reading this book, the reader will feel as if he, too, has visited each place Karber describes. This book is a must-have for anyone who plans to travel to these exotic locales, but it is also a delightful way for those of us who lack the courage, time, or funds to travel to experience places that may no longer exist in a few year's time.

Each poem of Stonehouse is a meditation in itself, each seeming as lines written after a satori while sitting on his mountain-side. Here was a true Nirmanakaya of Zen, no attachment, all needs provided by chance.

Red Pine's notes can be helpful, but don't worry about them unless you have a question about what you just read. Otherwise, reading the poem then referring to the notes may cause you to be distracted from the insight Stonehouse is attempting to relay to you.

I finally have my copy of this wonderful volume. Why do I say that? I first ordered the book new on Amazon in August 2005, with a note saying 2-4 week delivery. After monthly alterations in delivery dates, Amazon unilaterally cancelled the order in January 2006. So I ordered again. Again, monthy alterations in projected delivery date. So I looked into the matter. Turns out other companies cannot supply the book. Even the publisher has no copies. This realized, I ordered a used book from an individual listing on Amazon, at a reasonable price, and finally have this valuable document in June 2006.

This is not a review, just wanted you to know that the Editorial Review listed for this book "The Zen Works of Stonehouse: Poems and Talks of a Fourteenth-Century Chinese Hermit",
is for a completely different book... thought you'd want to know & couldn't find any other way to tell you.

Another great treasure of poems translated by Bill Porter. I believe this could be the best of the lot. These poems are tough, gentle & uncomprimising. I've gone through them several times always at ease and also alert.They truly come from the void, the Tao, whatever that is or isn't. Like notes from shakuhachi: soft ,dim slow quick, sloping, climbing. This man was a teacher of many and yet also a true recluse shutting or opening his brushwood door. I have read many poets from this period and used to wonder why Stonehouse was somehow considered one of the very best. On successive viewings their depth and clarity really begin to show them selves in comparison to some others. This ,of course, explains such an opinion

I don't think I can adequately express my love for this book, so I will just tell a little about the contents. Stonehouse is the English translated name of the Chinese Ch'an (Zen) poet Ch'ing-hung who retired early from being a temple abbot (he pleaded old age) so he could return to his beloved mountain retreat and live a peaceful, reflective life in nature. This great Zen monk whose medium of instruction was poetry also gave brief but potent Zen talks which are included here. Burton Watson's commendation on the back cover is correct about Pine's translation of the poems, noting that "...Red Pine has devised and unusual translation style that not only captures much of the flavor of the Chinese originals, but at the same time works splendidly as English." Yes, so splendidly that in reading a few to a friend, she began weeping. As if Red Pine carries in his chest the heart of the original poet, he expresses each poem sensitively and perfectly into English for us.

Here's what else I love about Red Pine's works: he has thoughtfully accompanied every poem with notes explaining contexts, references, and doctrinal backgrounds. The poetry carries you back to a beautiful wilderness in fourteenth century China and awakening a love for simplicity, return to nature, and Zen mind. Six pages of introduction to the monk provide very good backdrop for his poems. This volume contains three parts:
Book One: Mountain Poems
Book Two: Gathas
Book Three: Zen Talks
I read excerpts of Stonehouse for an incense game called Kodo, and a Zen monk attending exclaimed, each one is like a meditation!

From the books of Zen I've read, it always seemed to me that only the ancient writers have had the most impact. See if you will agree by reading this insightful book. It also includes a fascinating biography of this humble man.

I love this calendar. Every day that I look at my calendar by my desk, I long to be back in China again. The photos are gorgeous and the text is quite informative, especially because the calendar doesn't just focus on the most famous places in China. In fact, when I took the calendar down temporarily, I got complaints from my office mates that they missed the China calendar--and not one of them is a sinophile like me. Don't buy it if you don't want your wanderlust awakened. It will make you discontent sitting in your cubicle when you could be out exploring the Chinese countryside.

Reviewed by Barbara Strother, author of Moon Living Abroad in China (Living Abroad).

This is the second year I've bought this calendar. Likely, I will buy it every year. It's gorgeous with great tid-bits about China. As a mother with 2 children from China, it is a nice addition to the play area.

We got this calendar to get us excited for our trip to China next year to adopt our daughter. There are tons of beautiful pictures of all different regions. Very nice.

For anyone who has been in China or for anyone who wants to go, this calendar is a marvelous display of nature and daily life in China. Lisa See's texts are as lovely as the photographs by Keren Su.

I purchased this calendar last year and was pleased with the photos, and this years calendar is just as good if not better. Each month features a province in China and then each day has a smaller photo which would also be perfect for photos for your child's lifebook because the photos of temples, objects, countrysides and people. The provinces featured in this year's calendar are: Guangxi, Shaanxi, Hebei, Shanghai, Shanghai, Sichuan, Shandong & Shanxi, Zhejiang, Beijing which is for the month of August to celebate the 29th Olympic Games and it's slogan - One World One Dream. There is only 1 photo in this month that is of the Millennium Monument and is a small photo. Guizhiu, Anhui, Xinjiang,Yunnan finish out the year.

Lisa See write information on each province and there is also a small black outline of China that shows you where this province is located in China. Keren Su who is the photographer for all of the photos did a fantastic job! I am planning on using the photos of the calendar for photos for my daughter's lifebook. And if your child is from one of the provinces mentioned about you have a nice write up on that province.

The book was very good from the standpoint of showing an uninformed family what the plane I flew in as a combat gunner was all about. Even though he left out a lot about my squadron and slighted us for other units it did not deminish my interest in others who were justly remembered. There are a lot of people who knew nothing about Navy heavy bombers and the book certainly introduced them to our war. Thank you. I have purchased a lot of these books as presents for my family and friends.

Both of his books on this part of the war are more than excellent. There are no more superlatives that can describe the accuracy of the events depicted. Great reading

This is one of the most informative and telling documentation I have ever read. I highly recomend the reading of this book. It would be a great addition to any historian's library. Every page is loaded with personal accounts of what it was really like to fight above the ANGRY SEA! Mr. Carey has captured the true essence of life on a PB4Y. If Spielberg could get a hold of this book, there would be a great movie made.

Mr. Carey has written a great book on a little known aspect of U.S. Naval History. He clearly brings out the suffering and bravery of the combat aircrew that served with Navy B-24 squadrons. His interviews of veterans and the multitude of photographs captures the spirit of fighting above the Pacific Ocean during World War II.

Alan Cary has followed up his earlier book (We Flew Alone)and if possible he has surpassed himself with this second volume. I must admit to being a bit prejudiced since I was one of those Navy men who served in the old B-24 that the Navy called the PB4Y1. Prior to these books, the story has only been reported occasionally and not always accurately. These two books by Alan Cary are exceptionally well done.

As one who was there during much of the time that he describes I can testify to the accuracy of his book. He has accurately captured the feelings, the fears, the loneliness, the pride of the men who performed these missions. Almost always a single airplane at the maximum range of the aircraft and over "an angry sea" that was a final resting place for too many brave men.

For anyone who is interested in this phase of the war in the Pacific, these two books are absolutely essential. There are many fine photographs, including many combat action shots and many of the stories are in the actual words of the men who performed so gallantly.

Thank you, Alan Cary and God bless America.