Newspapers Books

This book of domestic essays by Michigan journalist Cindy LaFerle is a major delight. The rich topic of LaFerle's family life, from delivering newspapers on dark Sunday mornings with her son to remodeling her historic home and baking bread for peace, is comfort food without the calories. The essays pair especially well with a warm cup of tea on a cold afternoon. LaFerle's calm and compassionate humor will remind readers to be grateful for the many blessings of home.

From the preface: "At a writers' retreat I attended several years ago, author Madeleine L'Engle posed a question, "Why do all of us want to share our stories?" Her answer affirmed what each of us knew but couldn't express as elegantly: "We share our stories because we have faith--faith the universe has meaning and that our little lives are not irrelevant." I found this profound and wanted to read deeper.

Cindy has put together some wonderfully arranged thematic essays. The essays are funny, poignant and show a slice of life. The essays are fun reading them in book sequence or skipping around (Sorry Cindy. You probably wanted them read in the sequence published.). I enjoyed reading them.

Cindy's writing style in this book is like a conversation between friends. There is a sense of humor mixed with plain down to earth speech and common everyday situations that anyone can relate to. Most essays are short, easy and fun to read.

The Christian Science Monitor, Reader's Digest, Country Gardens, Writer's Digest, The Oakland Press and The Royal Oak Daily Tribune have all published Cindy's essays and columns. Cindy lives in her home town, Royal Oak, Michigan, with her family.

I found this book easy and fun to read. I don't know when these essays were first published, but they just a relevant. I would definitely recommend this book for anyone wanting something entertaining to read. Since there a re a series of essays, there is no real need to rush, reading from cover to cover. You can pick up this book at anytime and read one or more of the essays when you have a few minutes to spare while relaxing. I would rate this book as a great read and worthy of consideration by readers.

Bob Medak, Allbooks Reviews

Cracking open Cindy LaFerle's debut collection of columns and essays is the equivalent of chatting with your best friend at a coffeehouse. She talks about everything under the sun -- from the love of her deceased tabby cat to the ubiquitous mean mommy syndrome we all face at the PTA. Her steady, flowing writing lulls you into the comforts of her world. It's not all rosy, however. Her discussion of the Iraqi War or Martha Stewart's decline are timely issues to be taken seriously. Nonetheless, you feel you are in trusted hands with Ms. LaFerle. She won't let you down. In every one of her 294 pages, she never does.



The book is a compilation of over a decade of newspaper columns in The Daily Tribune (Royal Oak, Michigan) and essays which have appeared in notable magazines such as Readers' Digest and Better Homes and Gardens. Since her background mirriors that of many work from home mothers, she is a highly relatable writer both in intention and in content. Her tone is never preachy. It is truthful and without pretense.



This nurturing scribe has stopped her column. Her local readers in Michigan must mourn the loss of their regular commentator. As she recently sent her only child off to college, she may have been concerned that her home life would not yield a full column's worth. She quotes Aldous Huxley at one point (page 64):



"Everyone who knows how to read has it in their power to magnify themselves, to multiply the ways in which they exist, to make their life full, significant, and interesting."



Cindy LaFerle does that with her writing. She magnifies her own world to make it our own. We can only hope she will be inspired to continue the quest with her pen. Her obvious talent to weave honest, yet striking tales is definitely something to write home about.

Rebeccasreads highly recommends WRITING HOME as a lovely bouquet of womanly thoughts about things little & big, sad & funny, & topical to today's modern life.

Cindy La Ferle's essays are grouped together by subject rather than eras: first she welcomes us into her House and Garden, & then introduces us to the muggy swamp of Child Care; to her Social Life (such as it is being a work-at-home-parent & spouse); to the philosophies of Kitchen Duty, & to her Creature Comforts.

Then she gets as serious as she can about Work Ethics before opening the Family Album. She also shows us how she's Keeping Up Appearance & Keeping the Seasons, & as with all things, she gets Older and Wiser & into Soul Caring.

Oh, & she's into organic produce, herbs, overnight retreats at a Jesuit monastery, walking with her women friends, & a life of prayer & peace. & she likes to laugh!

WRITING HOME is for everywoman who thinks about her world, & would make a perfect reading group selection, & gift, no matter the season!

"The sacred is in the ordinary. It is found in one's daily life - in friends, family, and neighbors; in one's own backyard."

The above quote comes from a thank-you note Cindy La Ferle keeps in an "altar" above her kitchen sink. Its simple observation pretty much sums up the philosophy expounded in her book, Writing Home. A columnist for a Detroit area paper and freelance article writer, La Ferle writes about what she knows best - home - and how our home life shapes and colors who we are.

My personal favorite essay is "Quit Picking on Barbie." The big-breasted fashion doll has been getting a bum rap for years... Most little girls just enjoy dressing her up and designing homes and careers for her. She doesn't scar our sense of femininity at all. Another column, "Recovering Perfectionist," stirs up many familiar emotions as well. Women do seem especially susceptible to perfectionistic behavior, La Ferle observes. Our "people-pleasing" impulses prevent us from attempting many worthwhile endeavors because we're afraid we won't be able to do them perfectly. We need to let go of this need to "be right or look good" all the time. In the humorous "Seeing Red" we learn about the pros and cons of being a redhead - or at least the Miss Clairol version of it.

From "Baghdad and Banana Bread"- finding security from the horrors of the world in simple baking - to "The Lost Art of Loafing"- an art I really need to take advantage of this summer- Writing Home wisely reminds us that truly there is no place like home. -- Cindy Appel for the FEARLESS REVIEWS

Wow! Susan Meissner is not only a topnotch writer, she is a woman with a heart for God and a depth of spiritual understanding that few can rival. She writes in a way that enables readers to become the main characters, and she accomplishes this because she digs deep enough to find the commonality in all of us, that longing for something more, something better, something...something that was lost in the Garden and can never be regained in this world. In All Deep Places speaks to us of that longing and reminds us that we are nothing more than homesick pilgrims. This is a book that births discontent with our lives, regardless of circumstances, and points us in the only direction that can ever dispel that discontentment. Thank you, Susan, for a story that woos our hearts in the telling....

Reviewed by Kim Peterson for Reader Views (9/06)

Mystery Writer of the Year Luke Foxbourne disregards his latest book deadline and returns home when his father suffers a stroke. Back in his hometown he divides his time between visiting his father in the hospital, helping his mother, and assuming his father's duties running the family-owned newspaper.

At his childhood home, the empty green house next door reminds him of unpleasant memories. As thoughts of his neighbors resurface, he finally devotes time to thinking through the past that he never wanted to revisit.

Cranky old Mrs. Janvik had lived next door and few things ever went well for her or her family. When her grandchildren came to live with her, Luke and his brother befriended them. But Norah and her troubled younger brother weren't like Luke's family. Norah's parents either spent time in jail or had too much wild fun to retain custody of the children all the time. The kids lived with their grandmother on and off and lacked the stability and security that Luke took for granted.

Luke wondered if God had cursed his neighbors. How could so many things go wrong for them otherwise? Luke's family tried to show them kindness and the love of God. Luke, in his youthful idealism, had promised to protect Norah, but was unable to do so. He knew he let her down and avoided dealing with the matter for years.

Now, he launches a new writing project--a memoir in which he explores the mystery and the unanswered questions that he has avoided for so long. Why did God allow misfortune to plague the Janviks until they could no longer cope with the misery? Did Norah find happiness? Did she reconcile with God? Did good prevail in her life?

With his wife's encouragement, Luke seeks out Norah to learn the outcome of her story. Luke doesn't find all the answers to his questions, but he does discover forgiveness and peace.

Meissner writes about deep spiritual questions in a fresh and surprising style. "In All Deep Places" explores the God-shaped longing that exists within humans--that same hunger alluded to throughout literature and poems such as Francis Thompson's "The Hound of Heaven." Without resorting to preaching or trite answers, Meissner grapples with the age-old questions about bad things happening to good people.

Although the struggles in this coming-of-age novel saddened me at times, I enjoyed the well-crafted story. When immersed in life's deep places, we seek assurance that we will survive, maybe even triumph. "In All Deep Places" offers hope for emotional healing and hope for a promising future.

In All Deep Places is a poignant, heart-wrenching story of a gallant boy and a hapless girl, both driven by the unrealistic expectations of their youthful friendship. The title is apt, and Meissner has drawn deep from a well of emotion. Though much of the book deals with tragic events, it's not dark, but it is haunting--a story that will remain in your heart. A book you can't read and remain the same.

I loved this book! I couldn't put it down.

Having said that, I would also like to say, that this is not my normal style of books. But this one was so well crafted, so well plotted, the characters so interesting that I found it impossible to not read "just a little more". I laughed and I cried all my mascara off.

Susan is a great story teller. The story ceases to be words and you are suddenly there with the characters, smelling what they smell, hearing what they hear. . .I now look forward to reading her other books.

If you like Women's fiction or just a good story? I recommend In All Deep Places.

Some go for quick escapist fiction, along the lines of fast food gulped en route to the next stop. I prefer to ponder the words, like a county fair judge might determine the subtleties of the perfect apple pie.

Susan Meissner serves up wonderful word pictures like, "He scampered off, returning a moment later with a faded rag frozen by time and neglect into a stiff terry-cloth fossil," in her new novel, In All Deep Places.

Luke Foxbourne, carries a burden that comes to a boil through a series of events. The reader is taken to the segment of time that branded his life, and continues to haunt him. Ms. Meissner gives us insight into her protagonist's confusion and sorrow with, "'I don't understand You," Luke whispered aloud, but he was afraid to whisper anything else. He was afraid a cosmic hand would reach down out of heaven, pluck him from the tree house, and fling him to the frozen ground."

My eye has been trained to seek flaws in writing. I suppose a lot like the judge who notices a smidge too much salt, or the wrong kind of apple. It has become, for me, a sign of good fiction, when I get lost in the story and respond to the lives of the characters.

I read Ms. Meissner's novel in three sessions - devouring what I could fit into the very busy holidays. Her characters, her writing lingered. I'd find myself clinging to a neatly turned phrase or trying to squeeze the had-to-do's into smaller time bits so I could sneak a look at what might happen next.

In my opinion, Ms. Meissner writes Christian Fiction the way it should be written, with threads and hints and God webs interwoven into not very rosy pictures of broken lives. In All Deep Places contains tinges of hope, an aroma of life, a slight glow of light, and a lingering trace of poignancy. And that is the stuff of life, the moments when we are forced to think, to face our smallness and the immensity of God.

This is the second of Ms. Meissner's books I've had the pleasure of reading. I intend to continue consuming her books, going back and picking up the two I've missed, and eagerly awaiting the next one.

If you only read books with talking animals or those that end with the words "happily ever after" you might not share my opinion.

If you prefer your fiction to be a little more like real life with spots of word weaving magic, I think you'll like In All Deep Places.

Winicki delivers what he promises. You get lots of usable information on headlines and how to write a small print ad. Most of what's in the book could also apply to direct mail ads. If you are looking for your first advertising book, for your small business, this is it. Easy to read and gets to the point.

If you have a small business, you don't like to read much and you are clueless about advertising - this is an awesome little book. It will teach you the basics of creating effective ads in about 100 pages. With some practice, your business is bound to improve and this little book will pay for itself many times over.

The author goes straight to the point, without wasting your time and for that I would've given this book 5 stars if it weren't that the lack of proper editing of this book took my mind for a spin several times. At the beginning of the book, there is a lovely headlines "The Noise My Customers Make!", followed by a happy customer testiominial which ends with "Well, you're wrong if you think that ... Mike [the author of this book] can do for your business what he did for mine."

So, if you can overlook this and a couple of other blunders in this book, the book teaches you how to focus on benefits, as opposite to features, of the product or service you are offering, how to create effective headlines, and how to design them. The focus of the book is on creating effective headlines, and briefly mentioning few additional benefits, since there's not much more you can put in a small add. If you want to learn how to write effective (longer) body copy, you'll have to turn to bigger books.

This was a great book! Don't spend one penny on advertising until you read it. It is amazing how many small business owners are literally throwing money away on ads that are terrible. After I finished it, I opened my yellow pages and noticed that easily 90% of the ads are terrible. This book will show anyone how to write an effective ad and give you an edge over your local competitors. Enjoy!

If you are new to creating space ads or writing copy, this is an excellent book to get you started. You will see many concrete examples and you will start to think like a advertising guru. However, if you are an experienced ad designer or copy writer and hoping for some fresh ideas, then you may be disappointed.

I don't remember when I've read a book that was more painful to read than KILLER TECHNIQUES TO SUCCEED WITH NEWSPAPER, MAGAZINE AND YELLOW PAGES ADVERTISING by Michael Winicki. This book was produced sans editor/proofreader. There are errors on virtually every page of the book. The book is barely 100 pages and could have easily been condensed down to a booklet. The book is self-published and is the sort of thing that will give self publishing a bad name. I know from Winicki's reputation, he does not possibly submit ad copy with so many errors. Also, the back cover is so blurred, my 50+ year old eyes can hardly read it.

So right about now you're probably thinking, "Do I really want to spend my hard earned money on this, and why the generous five star rating?" Simple. I have to consider, even with the lack of editing, was the book worth the money I paid for it? Well, let me just say, I believe what I learned from this book will pay the price a hundred times over! There are literally notes and highlights on virtually every page of my copy. This is a book I know I will refer to time and time again.

I learned so much from these error laden pages, I don't know where to begin! So I'm just going to say, buy this book. Struggle through it. It is more than worth the effort.

And to Mr. Winicki, thank you for producing this valuable resource, but before you publish your next book, send me a copy. I will be very happy to edit your work for a reasonable fee. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.

To finally have a chance to see Windsor McCay's artwork as it was intended is the treat of a lifetime. The reproductions I've seen in the past reduce the size of the art like watching a 70mm film on a regular TV set.

Nothing is being produced like this anymore. McCay's talent is beyond amazing, it would take a normal artist months to produce one page like he was doing every week. The book is exhausting and I can only read a dozen pages at a time. These are exact reproductions of actual newsprint pages from the time so all the printing imperfections are here but that should not dissuade the appreciation of this comic.

If you are a true drawn art aficionado find the money for this. You will not regret it.

Beautiful book.A splendid example of the quality of book production possible to-day. As for Little Nemo, one does not need to be a New Yorker- or even an American-to appreciate the artistry involved.
Chris Hunt, Alnwick, UK

This is a wonderful book - any digital animator should start here. Some of the frames look like storyboards for the Lord of the Rings films. It is amazing that a work of art of this quality appeared in a popular newspaper - and reproducing it now, at full scale, was a true labor of love. Winsor McKay was a fantastic artist.

This is the most beautiful book I have ever seen. Having purchased the complete Little Nemo book series in the 1980's I really looked forward to finally being able to see this lovely comic in its original format. When the book arrived today I realised that it was even better than I had hoped for, extremely high quality and of impressive size.

The only drawback is that it does only contain a selection of the story, but I can always read the missing pages in the cheaper old edition. A big applaud for the publisher who dared produce this wonderfull piece of art.

Let's be honest: this book's not cheap. Is it worth the price tag? Without question or hesitation: yes. If you're even contemplating buying this book, I probably don't have to tell you how great the Little Nemo strip was. What you'll want to know is that this book will make you feel like you've never really seen Little Nemo until now. It is a magnificent, absolutely stunning book.

First of all, this book is huge. McCay's work is reproduced at its original size, which reveals his superb draftsmanship in all its glory. If you remember Little Nemo as lovely but kind of cramped, you're not going to believe how open and expansive the strips look here.

Secondly, the color reproduction is superb. I'll take the editor's word that a great deal of effort was expended to match McCay's original coloring directions. What I will say is that the colors here are vibrant without being garish. It's really unbelievable that such sophisticated color work comes from a strip that's a hundred years old. I don't think most newspapers today could pull this off.

You really have to see the book to appreciate how incredible it is. This really sets a standard against which the other collections I've seen fall far short. If you can swing the price, you won't be sorry. You might, however, have a hard time finding a place to store it!

Excellent, easy to read book, with lots of stories and pictures. One minor thing that peeves me is occasional grammatical errors.

My version is a little older, but remains an excellent resource. There is loads of information about coverage of all kinds of events, from the uncomfortable tragedies to sports to developing story ideas for photo spreads. I don't know how much information the newer books have on digital imaging, but my version has very little. Not a problem, however, as the principals are the same. Like most other books, this alone will not teach you how to take great photographs. You can only learn that from experience. But this will help answer some of your questions if you are looking to develop a photographic style closer to journalism than fine art.

I needed this book for my photojournalism class and it was perfect. Brand new with CD color pictured.

the book came much sooner than the expected date!! and the book was in the condition expected! i recommend this seller. thanks a lot!

Excellent book! I put off buying it for over a year because I thought it was a bit pricey, but less than a month after reading it one of my photos made the front page of our local newspaper.

The book covers everything you need to know to get started, topics include...

- covering news, features, sports, politics & contemporary issues
- narrative picture stories
- finding features & catching candids
- environmental & interpretive portraits
- creative use of the strobe
- digital shooting & darkroom techniques (Photoshop tutorials included)
- concept photography & illustrations
- newsroom politics
- picture editing
- shooting within the bounds of the law
- controversial pictures & ethical discussions
- expanded history of photojournalism
- freelancing & business practices
- internships and after

If bought new the book also comes with a DVD featuring multiple documentary film shorts which to me is worth $20 alone.

Mark Ortman's "simple guide" is an easy to read, comprehensive look at the various aspects involved in self-publishing, including preparatory steps (copyright, ISBN), printing, marketing, and distributing. He offers lots of references to resources which will be useful, and he provides some tips as well.

Brevity is the chief positive attribute of this book, and it is also a weakness. You might want more about each of the subjects that Ortman raises. Another problem with the book is that much of the information involving technology is outdated, although most of the rest of the book is up-to-date.

Not everyone will want to read this book. But the beginning writer can certainly benefit from it.

Back in the late 1980's I had the privilege of attending a self-publishing workshop with Mark Ortman, the author of this excellent how-to guide. I purchased "A Simple Guide to Self-Publishing" and used the knowledge I gained to successfully publish and market my first book. I've recommended this book many times over the years, since it provides a perfect introduction to the topic. I'm happy that Mark has kept the book up to date, and that the Third Edition includes helpful information on On-Line Publishing.

This book may be a handy ADDITION to your publishing library, but it is definitely not "the" source book for marketing. In fact, in the rapidly changing world of publishing, I found that most of the information I did want to use was already out of date.

This book helps you compare regular publishing with self-publishing to see if it's right for you.

Three main questions underlie the process:
Why do you want to publish your book?
Who is your audience?
What makes your book different or unique?

Chapters cover such topics as:
Learning about the industry and preparing the manuscript
Printing
Announcing your book
Distribution
Creating a demand, touring, marketing--by far the longest chapter

This book has lots of great suggestions, but he doesn't go into any very deeply. At only 62 pages, this is useful as a handbook. It is geared toward writers who needs an overview of the process, particularly those wanting more traditional paper publishing for their books.

This simple guide is exactly that, the bare bones basics for those who don't want to wade through hundreds of pages. You can get more than three times the information for only twice the price in a book like Dan Poynter's The Self-Publishing Manual, but more is not always best for everyone. If you are the type of person who wants "Just the facts" this book could be your ideal introduction to self-publishing.

Boot Means, photojournalist and man about Trenton, New Jersey was not having a very good life. Until now his assignments for the Trenton Record have been limited and said limited assignments are consigned to page 6...somewhere after the cat-up-a-tree-rescues. And now even his crumby job is in jeopardy because the economy is causing a rift between labor and management, as his co-workers fear more layoffs. To top it off, he's about to get evicted from his apartment and finds himself being railroaded into naming the wedding day when his control-freak girlfriend, Stacy decides it's time for them to get married.
But fear not, as we have all heard, Jesus Saves! Into Boot Means' puny life comes news that Jesus has been spotted in Trenton. And despite the negative attitude of expressed by one co-worker who spat, "There ain't no Jesus in Trenton." Mrs. Emily Phibbs has seen Him, clear as day, on a billboard advertising Smythe's Diner and she wants someone from the newspaper to let everyone know about it. When the editor offers the story to his quickly dwindling staff, no one wants it...no one except Boot Means. He sees it as a way to increase his visibility and perhaps even his earn a permanent position as a reporter who gets to write more than captions for his photos.
And sure enough, the billboard Jesus becomes an icon, drawing all sorts of people to Trenton who set up a Jesus Camp and begin promoting their own agendas.
There is the lovely tele van gelista, Melanie Dove with her adoring crew, and the rival OFJ, Open Faith for Jesus freaks in with their tattoos and purple buses. Then there is the mysterious mole, Travis LeBlay who seems to be trying to set everyone up against one another. But Boot Means sticks with the story, and sure enough his star begins to rise because "Quirky religious groups provided amusing copy." And books about people trying to exploit religion can be very amusing as well.
Christopher Klim has given us a slice of life complete with funny characters, amusing situations, yet with an underlying theme of melancholy that makes us want to hug this poor little orphan kid who just can't seem to grow up and get it together. The book can be enjoyed on many levels, metaphors and allegories abound and the irony revealed at the end allows the true believer a little smile and nod.

JESUS LIVES IN TRENTON is well-written and entertaining, a fast moving novel about what happens in the city of Trenton , New -Jersey, when citizens begin seeing Jesus on a billboard advertising biscuits and gravy.. The interesting characters, hilarious plot and believable but humorous dialogue keep the reader turning pages.
The main character, Boot Means, is a struggling photo-journalist working for a tabloid who uses this Jesus sighting to improve his career. He finds himself caught in the middle of two fanatical religious cults For a while it looks like he might even lose his life.
From the opening scene where Boot Means is attacked by two semi- naked women in a hotel lobby, through his discovery of the purple OPEN FAITH FOR JESUS school bus, to the final scene when he presses the doorbell of the man who claims to be his father author Klim has our complete attention. JESUS LIVES IN TRENTON is delightful.

(The Australian Coastal Book Council selects books for libraries, schools, and reading circles.) This quirky title had surfaced in discussion groups and on the Internet a number of times, and therefore we decided to give it a go at the main city branch. JESUS LIVES IN TRENTON was a pleasant surprise. I've never been to New Jersey, but the city of Trenton, although never portrayed as particularly lovely, has taken on mythical proportions in recent literature. No one seems better to deliver the goods than Christopher Klim. His portrayal of orphan-turned-photographer was particularly gratifying, and even though the storyline builds a maddening flow of consequences and happenings, the author manages to hold it all together for the stunning climax. We found the discussions that spun from this book ranged from the topics of religion and integrity to the morally bankrupt and the disposed members of the community. JESUS LIVES IN TRENTON gets our hearty approval.

The novel operates on two levels: first, it's a flat-out funny and enjoyable, and second, it's a dark comedy about self-importance and the fight for a higher state of being. This duality is difficult to grasp for some who become bogged down in the details, but even so, the book is sift-paced lending more than just a little insight into this new author's mind. Having thoroughly enjoyed his latest comic novel, The Winners Circle, it was interesting to see how Klim got his start, and as the American public is driven further and further into formulaic plots and repetitive gruel, it's refreshing to take on this read. Recommended.

I'm glad to see this title reissued. I'd first discovered this book and author in Europe during the summer 2002. I was homesick, and this satire of American culture--religion, politics, ambition, etc.--was just what the doctored order. I was caught laughing out loud on a bus in Paris, but Jesus Lives in Trenton is more than a guilty pleasure. It's the story of not-so-regular guy and photojournalist Boot Means (interesting name) and his drive to be noticed as a journalist. It all gets wrapped up in more plot and whacky but not so unrealistic characters than you can stand. It all boils down to a whole lot humanity that will make you cry as wkk as laugh.

Upon returning from European isolation, I've learned that Klim has become a cult favorite in the states, as his growing army of fans eagerly await his next novel, but if you want to see a 21st century novelist in the making, begin with Jesus Lives in Trenton or check out ChristopherKlim.com for loads of goodies and a terrific short story.

This book is essential reading for anyone seeking the truth about the Titanic.

We recently delved into Titanic literature, starting with the testimony from the stateside investigation. That led to a quest for more information because there were so many unanswered questions. After reading quite a few books, The Last Log of the Titanic finally arrived in the mail. And what a wonderful book!!!

David G. Brown carefully and exactly solves the mysteries involved in how and why the Titanic sank. It is all explained with a knowledge of navigation and engineering.

Read this book with an open mind and an attention to details. If you throw out all your pre-conceived notions from other books, the films, the TV specials etc., and really read what Brown is telling you, you cannot possibly have any doubts about what happened.

The only controversy caused by this book will be brought on by those who will defend their earlier positions on the foundering of this floating hotel.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!

I admit that the Titanic movie of 1997 made a big change in my Titanic collecting - mainly before that time I had only about 5 books. One of the books I had was an original from 1912 that was produced due to the fact that there was no radio, Internet or CNN to blast the news into your daily lives. Only the newspapers carried the story and people wanted to know more.

Needless to say, the movie got a lot of people interested in the subject (as it always seems to do whenever a new movie gets produced) Due to this interest all sorts of books got re-published and published for the first time. I started to collect and read and read and read.

I was always interested in the many points of debate that continue on and on, but this book seemed to make so much sense because it aligned with those things that I had read and had questions about but that never really got answered.

There were several reports of iceberg sightings, before the ship hit. There was a report that the alarm bell was rung three times, not three sounds but three different times for three different icebergs. Why did Murdock keep going when they entered the ice field? All the other reasons didn't quite hold up. This author gives forth a logical answer.

The idea that the iceberg grazed along the side of the ship didn't really seem to answer how the ship could go down so fast, the author of this book explains how the ship could have hit. Not only does his explanation make sense but it aligns with the other eye witness accounts of that night.

The list goes on. I can only say that it is well worth the read, and I currently have 58 Titanic related books and have talked and talked to other historians who have their theories.

This is a really good book.

Chris, Founder, McVitamins

I have watched movies and read several books about the Titanic disaster; but, without doubt this is the very, very best I've seen. This book explains in great detail, how things happened. It is written in an easy to read style. It presents numerous references and direct quotes throughout the book, as well as written testimony presented at the official enquires, so it is clearly not simply the author's spectulation. This was one book I could not put down. It answers important questions, such as "Did the nearby frieghter Californian, see Titanic's distress signals; and, if so, why didn't they come to aid the striken liner?", "Were the engines placed in "FULL ASTERN" immediatley when the iceberg was sighted?", "Why were some of the lifeboats only half filled with passengers?", "Would it have been better if the Titanic hit the iceberg head-on instead of side-swiping it?" and "Was the Titanic excessively (and carelessly) speeding to New York in attempt to set a record?" Every page was a pleasure! I just cannot give it enough praise. You won't be sorry if you buy this book.

This is a really good book, but not for Titanic novices (read "A Night to Remember" and its sequal for that). It's a shame the book has such a speculative and rather silly title because it may put-off some of it's intended readership - Titanic buffs.

Refreshingly, rather than rehashing tired old stories, Brown keeps his book narrow and focussed. Drawing from the original statements made for both the American and British official enquiries and his own expertise in ship handling and dynamics, he manages to make a radical yet convincing arguments.

Like some of the other reviewers here, I too had trouble with some of the conclusions. Swerving around icebergs at 21+ knots in an unstabilised hull would have surely caused the odd spilt drink and more to observant passengers. Likewise, I believe the hull did split near the surface, but not on it. But in the context of the book's major conclusions, this is just minor nit-picking!

Highly recommended - crackpot theories on the Titanic sinking are so common it is a real pleasure to find original ideas that are so convincing.

I first read this book in 2000 and found it to be one of the more plausible explanations of the damage suffered by TITANIC when she hit the berg, as well as what happened afterward. Captain Brown has brought what is so lacking in many TITANIC books into LAST LOG OF THE TITANIC--actual shiphandling experience.

Captain Brown had also produced an eminently readable text, one which I think most people will have little trouble understanding.

I cannot reccommend LAST LOG OF THE TITANIC too highly to everyone, TITANIC buff or not.

My 10-year-old son discovered the Geronimo Stilton books in his classroom. He has ADHD and he can't put these books down! I bought him a few for Christmas and he keeps asking for more. The text is written in a very unique way. Some of the words are in colors and different fonts and sizes. They appear to "pop out" at you, making it very engaging. There are also pictures scattered throughout the text and the stories are humorous. 5 stars I HIGHLY recommend these books!

It all started when Thea found an old map with an x for the spot where the treasure was. She dragged her brother Trap and her cousin Benjamin on to the trip. They took a boat there and a few days later a hurricane struck. Find out what happened to Benjamin, Thea, and Trap.
I really recommend this book because the details were great. It's a great adventure and this book is good for kids from second grade to fifth grade. You should read this book.

Casey,11, R.I

This is the first in a series of books, that my son was introduced to by a friend. The unique thing about the series is that although there are pictures, many of the words are written in creative text or printing, in a variety of colors, right in the paragraphs as well. This really makes for keeping a young reader engaged with the story, especially for those that are transitioning from books with pictures to chapter books, and chapter books that are all text.

My son is currently in 2nd grade, but is reading well above grade level, independantly. The challenge for him is that what he CAN read, he's not intested in yet, and what is at his grade level doesn't hold his interest. He has been devouring these books in around a week each. We also read aloud to each other from them, and they are very entertaining, even as adults.

A wonderful series, great, I think for boys and girls alike as there are very strong, positive main characters that are both male and female.

If you are looking for a new book series, this should be it! There are 24 books out so far, and I have read them all. They are funny, clever, and have lots of funny mouse jokes. They are perfect for ages 7 and up, and come out bi-monthly. They are the best series of books ever. They originally came from Italy, if you're wondering. They are great, so read them ALL!!

There's one fine line between well-played and over-played layouts. The full Geronimo Stilton series falls into the well-played category: the outcome is pleasant and not too loud and the fonts / colour used are really a statement on their own.

Another point to note is the translation involved. While this is not "literature" literature, the adaptation in cultural and linguistics aspect are well taken care of.

I don't know any Italian but have compared the Chinese and English versions of the same book (yes, my colleague at work has the entire Chinese series while I'm catching up by matching the English version). The funny bits are transformed elegantly.

Recommended to not only children, but anyone who's intersted in translating humour and layout.

I studied this book like a Bible when I was a kid, lying on the floor all weekend. I started on the easy reads like Allie Oop and Buster Brown, then slowly got drawn-in to strange ones like Krazy Kat. I was surprised by the great narratives in strips I'd only seen in tired forms, like Popeye and Mickey Mouse. All the way into college I was still making new discoveries, eventually coming all the way back to love the pure optimism of Buster Brown. Astounding examples of art are all through this book; It's amazing.

Growing up in the 60s & 70s, I wasn't much enamored of comic strips appearing in the newspaper with a scant few exceptions. Newspaper comics were awfully stale if not comatose at the time; they smell even worse now. In light of this reality, thank God I found this book 20 years ago. To me, this mammoth oversized anthology of color and b/w strips (mostly vintage 1895-1950) was and is an education, a revelation and a door to a separate reality. Who knew that such fully realized, utterly compelling and unique works of art were once commonplace features in our daily and Sunday newspapers? Compiler Bill Blackbeard provides minimal but insightful commentary, which only underscores his good taste as the majority of SMITHSONIAN is devoted to the actual comics themselves. Wherever possible, he provides continuities of strips to give the reader not only a fuller flavor of the individual storylines and the era they appeared in, but each strip's particular dynamic with its audience. What's also impressive is the sheer number of titles sampled. Among the weightier excerpts are Popeye, Moon Mullins, Wash Tubbs/Capt. Easy, Barney Google, Polly and her Pals, Krazy Kat...but many of the lightly-skimmed properties are just as good. Set aside their enormous entertainment value and what you may find most impressive is how starkly individual each strip creator is; what ends up on the page is the sum total of one man's creative & emotional being, distorted through a prism of fantasy or slapstick or melodrama. Your net gain as reader: 336 pages of the kind of joyous, crazy, all-elbows-and-graceful-despite-it art that can only emerge from forms that the Arbiters of Taste don't take very seriously. Splendid as this book is the first time 'round, it continues to enrich you, always revealing more with every subsequent re-reading. Out of print for a while but readily available through the online auction services; I also hear it's being reissued soon. By the way, the other mandatory strip anthologies are the 'sequel' to this one (COMIC STRIP CENTURY), an important predecessor (Robinson's THE COMICS) and the entire run of Rick Marschall's NEMO magazine; happily, there is next to no duplication of strips reprinted between all of them (apparently the archivist's code of honor). If this book floors you like it did me, seek them out and flabbergast further.

not a longwinded anecdote about an age by someone who wasnt a part of it but the strips, sundays and dalies, from the turn of the century heavy into the forties with a quick touch of fifties to top it off. has the prestige and backing of the smithsonian, so the selection is incredible, complete storylines are presented, color, large format, things youve never seen before and will never see again. thimble theatre, krazy kat, flash gordon, ally oop, mutt and jeff, king aroo, dasheil hammet, rube goldberg, walt disney, dick tracy, little orphan annie, white boy, li'l abner, terry and the pirates, winsor mckay including little nemo sundays, a large number of teens and twenties strips i cant name, a large number of thirties and forties strips i cannot name, i am in awe of this book. i am a comic maker and reader and this book is absolutely flooring.

This is a beautifully packaged collection of some of the very best comic-strip art from the first half of the 20th century (and a little more). The reproduction is very good, the introductory material is useful and informative and the selection of strips is first rate.

In particular, having collected several of these strips in other formats over the years (e.g. "Little Nemo", "Polly and Her Pals" and "Krazy Kat"), I can say that they've selected many of my personal favorites for inclusion here.

As I write this, this book is basically in "remainder" status meaning that it is available brand new for very cheap, but has gone out of print in hardcover - pick it up while you can!

One day I had to go to the library to get a book from my 7th grade reading list and I saw this huge book of comics and I just had to take it out. I read it probably 100 times .It became my favorite book.My favorite comics were Popeye, Gasoline Alley, The Smythes,and Krazy Kat. I love this book and you will to. So my advice to you is if you love comics you will love this book!