Virginia Books

This second book in McMorrow's Tuldamoran Trilogy is a gem you'll want to read again and again. In this installment, Mage Alex Keltie finds herself thrust into an exciting chain of events that reveal some fascinating truths about herself and those she loves. You can read Mage Resolution as a stand alone, but I highly recommend you read the first book, Mage Confusion, too. This series has surpassed my expectations for fantasy. It is a fast paced, heart-warming read you won't want to put down! I'm looking forward to book three!

This second book in McMorrow's Tuldamoran Trilogy equals and, if possible, betters the first. The characters have grown internally and in their interrelationships. Once again, the challenges they face are physical, moral, and emotional. The action on all fronts is fast-paced, driving the characters and being driven by them.

The conclusion is most satisfying. It is a resolution indeed and seems almost the finish of a duo rather than the middle work of a trilogy. I am looking forward to seeing that final volume in the near future.

A charming, clear guide. In less than a week, I have set up my work space, had my supplies shipped and completed my first painting session. To my surprise, from one session alone, I have gained a refreshed visual perception with a joyfully enhanced awareness of colors, shapes and patterns in everything that I see. Can't wait to see what comes next.

Mess painting, a component of the Creativity Mobilization Technique, was developed almost half a century ago by M.D. and authority on autogenic training, Wolfgang Luthe. A student of Luthe's, Virginia Barclay Goldstein has written an extremely clear and instructive how-to manual for prospective mess painters. Everything you need to know to get started painting is in this book, including a recommendation of where to get your paint. I am halfway through a 6-week mess painting class and have found it to have subtle yet profound effects. I routinely remember my dreams after a mess painting session and am enjoying a practice where no effort is required. If you enjoy colors, you will probably like mess painting. (An interest in flower (vs. vegetable) gardening is often an indicator that you will like mess painting.) While participating in a mess painting class is helpful and interesting, Goldstein's book is precise enough in its instructions that you could easily paint on your own and experience many of the beneficial effects of mess painting. For more information on autogenic therapy, see the British Autogenic Society web site.

Virginia Gaffney has brought easy reading for the historic era of the Civil War. You feel as if you were really there while it is being written. Follow Carrie, Robert and Rose, Moses along with others who could have or may have helped make our United States what it is today. Visit the prisons as they well could have been and the stuggles made to set the black people free. For the first time I understand how and why a lot of things probably happened. It is hard to lay down. I am ready for the next one.

I loved this book, and the whole series. I could not put it down. I was incredibly dissappointed when I finished it because it leaves you wanting more. Carrie is such a strong woman who puts her own wants and desires aside for what she knows is the right thing to do, and rarely makes a selfish decision. I recommend this book to anyone who loves Civil War-era books, and anyone who loves to read at all.

Meltsner's THE MAKING OF A CIVIL RIGHTS LAWYER is a powerful and timely book. It should be "required reading" for those of us who came of political age in the early sixties (that time of hope) and for all of us who now watch--helplessly and hoplessly--the corrupt, methodical erosion of those truths we hold to be self evident.

This is a first-rate read. The book is a biography no so much of a "civil rights lawyer" as of a critical period in US history--the coming of age of the Civil Rights movement. With the inside stories Meltsner provides, we see the exacting day to day (and night) work of people struggling for the rights of all of us. The bad guys are even worse than we thought--the good guys, in government, not nearly as good as we thought.

This is more than a portrait of an age. It is an important book to read at this time, when the rights these men and women--not to mention the founding fathers--so clearly articulated and fought for are under siege. As a bonus, it is very well written!

The information in this book allowed me to correct a very painful
condition and restore my mobility. What started out as a minor twinge in my low back turned into a serious problem because I thought that I could work out what I thought was a muscle cramp by walking without giving in to the discomfort. This was a big mistake as it resulted in the Psoas and Rectus Femoris muscles on one side becoming very painful and caused a sacral shear condition. This gave new meaning to my concept of pain. At this point I finally sought help from medical professionals. The sacral shear condition kept recurring until the muscle spasm was corrected, so I made multiple visits to a chiropractor and a DO. Once the muscle spasm was cleared up I was left with the original symptom. The medical professionals stated that I just had low back pain and there was nothing they could do to correct it. My fear was that if I walked any further than about 200 feet, the muscles would go into spasm again. In an effort to avoid such a severe limitation to my mobility I searched the Internet for information. In that search I had the good fortune to discover Dr Essig-Beatty's book - Manipulation at Home. The sacroiliac mobilization exercise that he describes in his book cleared up the original symptom and I have not had any muscle or joint related trouble since then. I returned to the state where I could walk for hours at a time without any discomfort. I also found some of the other stretches in his book helpful in maintaining my flexibility. The spirit of this book is a major departure from the approach to medical care that I have experienced up until now. It encourages people to actively participate in treating their condition based on structural evaluation and supervision of a professional. Prior to this experience I had no knowledge of any type of anatomy or bodywork. Getting to the point where I understood what was causing my low back pain and had learned enough to get rid of it took a great deal of time and energy devoted to research. I'm sure that I am not the only consumer of medical services who would really appreciate receiving the kind of self help information that is in this book but tailored to my needs from medical professionals.

I was diagnosed with plantar fasciitis, causing heal pain. My foot doctor prescribed orthodics, but little else. Then, I found this wonderful book where I could heal the problem, and work on preventing, at home! much cheaper and less painful than just repeated cortisone shots. I later also used it to solve my "golfer's elbow" pain from forehand tennis, or just pushing heavy drawers closed. It is like having a physical therapist on your shelf! Written so well, clear, easy to follow, with great explanatory illustrations. Get it!
Thank you Dr. Essig-Beatty.

Prof. Howard Seeman, Professor Emeritus, Education

I had this book when I was a little girl. It is a wonderful collection of stories! I could not recommend it more highly. My daughter is also now named Mattie Mae (after her great grandmother.)

In Edna Beiler's Mattie Mae, young readers learn what life is like for an Amish girl surrounded by her many cousins and other relatives. Mattie Mae enjoys simple living, with happy and contented people working, playing, and enjoying simple pleasures together. This wonderfully charming, highly recommended collection of engaging little stories includes Here Comes Mattie Mae!; Hello, Uncle Tobe; A Box for Benjy; Something to Tell Your Children; Topsy-Turvy Day; Good-Bye, Uncle Tobe; A Present for Cousin Lizbet; Where's Alice?; Cousin Day; The Happiest Girl in the World; Chrystobel; Company for Mattie Mae; Namesakes; and The Christmas Closet.

This is a great addition to your library if you have any interest in either meditation and/or a martial art. What are the "tangible" benefits of these practices, why are they worthwhile, and what relevancy are they to modern cultures?

This is a great book that makes clear connections between the practice of martial arts, the emphasis on focus and attention in various religions, and the need for this kind of focus in the modern world. As the author put it in an interview I found online (http://www.killingthebuddha.com/oral/sp_exercises.htm):

"Anyone who does the martial arts has asked himself or herself about the investment of time. I live in a decent neighborhood. I have been mugged exactly once in my life, and I ran -- I didn't engage in any kind of martial encounter. I leave my family and spend a lot of time on practices that are not natural to me.

"As this book evolved, it became more and more a reflection on our contemporary situation living in a high-information society. I read about what these people wrote about the struggle to maintain attention in cultures so different from our own, and I ask myself, "Could they ever have conceived the world that we live in, with cable TV with 190 channels and the World Wide Web?" There is this incredible battle, backed by economic power and remarkable technologies, to capture our attention and then shape our habits and our behavior. It seems to me that there is a real struggle here. One has a limited amount of attention to invest, and the competition for it is extraordinary -- in ways that these spiritual writers could never have imagined.

"So I see these disciplines -- it doesn't have to be martial arts, but can be some other kind of meditative discipline -- as being exercises to equip a person in the 21st century to deal with this crisis. And I really believe that it is a crisis. You can see what is being invested in industries of diversion."

Fantastic stuff!

Was not exactly what I thought, but the author is a fantastic storyteller. Made the characters real instead of two-dimensional. Certainly going to look for more of her work.

Less than 20 pages in and I was totally hooked! It was easy reading and I kept thinking about the Delinda and Jeryl way after I put the book down. The descriptions were just enough. I could easily imgine the places and people but wasn't bored by any overly detailed descriptions like some other books. I'd love to read more about some of these characters (I won't say who because that would give away the ending!) and how they get on with their lives and find their true loves. Can't wait to read more by Virgina Reede!

This books was just as great as MIdnight Confessions II - I am really looking forward to Midnight Confessions III - Really want read Belle's story!!

Faye Grantham has recently inherited Perdition House, a bordello from yesteryear that still houses some of the ladies of the night, but in ghostly fashion.

Faye loves her new home, and she loves her love life. After breaking up with her fiancé she now has two lovers, Liam, a lawyer, and Mark, a businessman. In addition to her busy social life, Faye runs TimeStop, a vintage clothing store.

The ladies of Perdition, however, are far from inactive, despite the fact they are no longer with the living. They are sending Faye dreams. Dreams that show her their lives, and that leave her feeling more than a little randy. Each lady that tells a tale showing how she found her true love will be able to pass into the afterlife to be with him. When Liam starts receiving dreams, too, Faye knows that the ladies are trying to tell her something more than just about their lives. She just has to figure out what it is they want to say.

Midnight Confessions II is a fantastically inventive story with an imaginative plot and lively characters, both living and dead. I fell in love with all of them, and loved reading their stories. What makes this story so wonderful is the characters, which come alive on the page.

Readers will enjoy entering the lives of the ladies of the evening and seeing how they found true love. They will also enjoy watching Faye decide between the two men in her life, and coming to terms with how each one treats her, and what they want for her.

Midnight Confessions II is an interesting trip into the paranormal that will fascinate its readers.

Amelia
reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

Faye Grantham inherited the run down Perdition House bordello from her recently deceased great-aunt. Sight unseen her plan is to sell the property as soon as possible. However, upon seeing the place, she has a sudden urge in her gut to live here.

Faye quickly learns she is not alone as the ghosts of those who peddled their flesh reside there. They fill her nights with erotic tales of their escapades while her luscious lawyer Liam and business mogul Mark makes those dreams real. As she relishes her new lifestyle, Faye worries that she may still have to sell as she lacks the money to maintain this house of pleasure.

This sequel to MIDNIGHT CONFESSIONS is a delightful supernatural erotic tale in which the spirited women of pleasure provide refreshing pleasure to the entertaining story line. The living trio consists of full blooded characters although the males' blood affirm that there is enough to feed one head at a time while Faye compares their high octane performances not to each other, but to the tales told by her "roommates". Bonnie Edwards writes such a heated tale that the audience will crave more Midnight Confessions trois.

Harriet Klausner

The story of the Monongah Mine Disaster written by Davitt McAteer honors the memory of the men and women whom helped to build this country with the sweat, blood and tears of their years of toil. McAteer takes the reader through the background of not only the mine disaster itself but also through the historically important moments that led up to and through the time period of 1907. These moments cascade upon the reader as they experience the events through the actual recollections of the miners themselves.
McAteer has done a wonderful job of combining the exacting details of the day while pulling the reader into the very lives of the miners and the industrialist that had such a cause and effect relationship. This volatile relationship of the American Miner and their counterpart; the Industrialist, has lasted throughout today.

As the tragedy of that fateful December day unfolds the reader can not help but see and fully understand how the countries desire for growth, driven by the reckless push for forward progress, was destined to collide in a very tragic tragic accident.

Brien Jones-Lantzy

On 6 December 1907, an explosion in the Fairmont Coal Company's Mines 6 & 8 in Monongah, Marion County, West Virginia, killed 500+ miners. This is a detailed study of that disaster. Before I actually put these words to paper, I was somewhat negative about Monongah, but for the wrong reasons. That would have been pretty stupid on my part, and would have placed form over substance. (Also, it would have run afoul of TR's comments about it not being the critic who counts, but that the credit belongs to the one "who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly . . .".) The author, Davitt McAteer, is a native of Fairmont (right up the road from Monongah) who now practices law in Shepherdstown. (His sister is a friend and very gracious lady.) He served honorably as the head of MSHA during the Clinton Administration. Having come out of the United Mine Workers of America, he was less than the darling of the coal operators while in government. (The owner of the Crandall Canyon Mine in Utah, which collapsed killing 6 miners and and 3 rescuers in 2007, spoke of McAteer with fluent contempt in a press conference broadcast on CNN.)
To grade this book, we have to grade several subjects:
Research/Scholarship - A
Organization - B+
Editing - D
Overall Value - A+
McAteer researched Monongah for 30 years. (If he plans to match the output of a Michener, he needs to move a little quicker.) The length and depth of the research shows. Nearly all of the sources are primary ones, and the book is extensively end-noted. McAteer's writing isn't Michener, but particularly when he is talking about people, and how people lived, he does so with passion and such unusual detail that one can clearly see the images. The descriptions of the miners' poverty in the squalor of company houses are so real that they are painful. The organization is a touch chaotic, but I might be unfair about that one. McAteer is covering a single large event which had several coherent lines of development going at once, so a strict chronology is impossible. At times, the book is redundant, but that's really more of an editing problem.
Ah, editing. Monongah is the unfortunate victim of inadequate, even inept editing, so much so that it takes willing suspension of disbelief to get past that to the value of the work. Whoever edited this used spell-check but didn't read the manuscript itself very closely. There are several instances where homonyms or similar words are confused ("to" rather than "too", "road" rather than "roar", "Triangle Shirt Waste Factory" rather than "Triangle Shirt Waist . . ."), poor grammar (" . . . they were paid a hourly wages") and some silly factual mistakes. (West Virginia was formed in 1863, not 1865; the hotel in Wheeling is McClure House, not McLure House; President Taft's Christian names were "William Howard," not "Howard A.") For 30 bucks, more attention should have been paid to the details. There are also errors that I'm probably too petty in noticing that wouldn't distract any reader save one who has walked the ground where the disaster happened. (I've been there many times, and every time I go to my father-in-law's house, I park on the streetcar right-of-way that figures prominently in McAteer's account.) McAteer isn't heavy on historical interpretation (an attitude that I heartily approve of), and most of what he does sounds reasonable to me. (I think he misses the point of Theodore Roosevelt's intervention in the 1902 Anthracite Strike, but that's subject to honest disagreement.) SO, overall, if you set aside my own literary/grammatical fastidiousness, Monongah is an engaging and timely look at an important event and a turbulent time in our nation's industrial and social history.
There is a children's book (The Monongah Mining Disaster, by Jason Skog) due to be published in January 2008. It will be interesting to see what view that author presents to youngsters.