Bates Books

This is a classic. Well told stories of the difficulties encountered climbing Everest and K2. The machismo seems to have been left far below the altitudes these climbers struggle at. These true accounts finally wind together around common threads of stress, inability to think and act rationally under extreme conditions. Minor decisions and misunderstandings result in triumph or failure.
A great book.
David Roberts has established himself as an essential source for understanding why we seek adventure and what really is there in the midst of it. I've got a list of his books and I plan to read all of it.

This attractively presented volume is a compilation of excerpts from various accounts of attempts, successful or otherwise, to climb Everest and K2. These accounts are for the most part from different English and American expeditions from the 1930s onwards, but include for variation the first-person narrative of travels through Tibet toward the fatal mountains by the widow of a fallen climber.

Some expeditions take a massive army-style assault on the peaks, using complicated supply chains, support teams, hundreds of Sherpas, and tons of equipment. This is sort of the "Humanity Conquers Nature" approach. Others plan for basically a sprint up the mountain, traveling light with minimal support and small groups, and eschewing the use of oxygen cylinders and fancy gadgetry. This is the "Triumph of the Will" approach. These purists are always keen on trying routes no one else has attempted, and they avoid using the ladders and fixed ropes and stuff left by previous expeditions.

It's that latter style of climbing that has become especially dangerous, because once someone has reached the pinnacle without oxygen, the bar has been dramatically raised, and anyone who follows and doesn't try the same looks weak. So ever-escalating feats of bravado must necessarily follow, where it won't be long before we'll see accomplishments such as "first to climb Everest while naked" or something like that.

While there are a number of gripping scenes related in this book, there's also a great deal of repetition. A whole lot of verbiage is devoted to, essentially, "Man, it's cold up there!" So we read again and again about firing up stoves and snuggling into sleeping bags and taking an hour to put on boots and the like. There's also a lot of technical language to be encountered, which is likely to be appreciated more by climbers than the layperson, who has to wade through a lot of "I jumared down the fixed 5mm rope across a transverse field of powder to reach the couloir beyond cul that led to the cwm". Climbers will be nodding knowingly; armchair adrenaline junkies will be scratching their heads. (Note that a glossary of terms is hidden at the back of the book where it does no one any good.)

Ultimately, the most interesting tales prove to be those where the climbers hate each other and fall into bitter bickering over who gets to make the dash to the top, or who fouled up and ruined everything. The mountains have many ways to kill people, but a lot of the tragedies are of the "and they were never seen again" variety. I'm not advocating that we should be exposed voyeuristically to all of the gory details of horrible deaths, but most of the disasters are rather pallidly rendered, and frankly the human drama ends up being more interesting than hearing again and again about the interesting technical challenges of getting over the Abruzzi Ridge or whatever.

An assortment of maps would have helped immensely.

I very much enjoyed and highly recommend this book. I've read many of the books from which these chapters are selected, yet there was much fresh material for me. The editing was so masterful that even though the chapters are from different writers, mountains, and times, they flowed together seamlessly

High does for climbing what the movie The Thin Red Line did for combat: It explores not the details of the event, but the inner thoughts of the participants. You read what it feels like to have a climber dying in a tent next to you. You learn about the humilation of having frostbite while back at home. You are with the widows who trek in the paths of their husbands to glimpse the mountain graves of their loved ones.

While I can understand that some reviewers felt the selections dropped one into the middle of a big problem high on a mountain without the broader context of the expedition, I didn't feel this was a problem. I don't need the beginning, middle, and end to enjoy a brief tale. There are plenty of books that give all those details, yet few that are gripping to read from the first page to the last.

This is the first book i've read that was a collection of excerpts from other books. It is a real page turner and you will work through it quickly, desperately wanting more non-fiction adventure reading to follow. Well anyways, just buy it. you won't be disappointed.

Like all of you who read this review,you're Everest junkies who probably won't even get near this mountain, but are hooked on all books about it.
High; Stories of survival from Everest and K2 is NOT what you're looking for. This book is nothing but one-chapter excerpts from other books. It's like walking into a movie half way through: You have no idea what's going on. Also, there are no maps of either Everest or K2, so if writers of these chapters (and some of them are BORING writers!) describe trouble on Everest's north col or K2's Abruzzi ridge, we can't picture these places in our minds.
This book (unlike all the other Everest books I bought and immediately read) has been sitting on my bedstand for months. I only read it when I wake up at 3AM and can't go back to sleep. Just reading from this book puts me back to sleep reeeeeal fast!
Don't bother with this one. The Everest season is happening right now. Maybe more books will come from this year's hikers.

I recently finished this book and loved the way it was written, the use of language, the lessons of enduring truths of humanity, etc. It was very touching and I loved it. I read it aloud to my 16-year-old son. We have read a lot of books but now I'm stuck and need a recommendation on what to read next.

What can I say, this book lacked all the details I wanted to read, and was pretty darn predictable to boot. I could tell that it was written by a foreigner because it never contained any "advanced" vocabulary. Always just kept mentioning the same food and the same feelings and the same blah blah blah...Enough. I'm done with this thing!

With a quiet, unassuming elegance, Canadian-Chinese author Judy Fong-Bates sets the scene for her highly applauded debut novel, 'Midnight at the Dragon Cafe'.

Perhaps this story touched me more acutely than most of its readers, as it called to mind what my father and his parents must have experienced during and after their immigration from Hong Kong to a little town in Canada in the mid-1950s. Every word to me was genuine, haunting, compelling...

Little Su-Jen Chou (at the tender age of six), along with her beautiful yet bitter mother, immigrates to Canada from Communist China, to meet the father she has never known. A father who is the proprietor of the local Canadian-Chinese "greasy spoon". With Su-Jen mother constantly haunted with yearnings for her homeland, unpleasant family secrets uncovered, and the trials and challenges they face in a new and often-times unwelcoming land, Fong-Bates weaves a story full of heartbreak, tribulation and acceptance.

Poignant in its simplicity and yet weighty in its inner complexities, 'Midnight at the Dragon Cafe' explores many social issues of the time, along with the disappointments, the pride, the sacrifices, and the triumphs of those who immigrated to Canada in search of something "better". Compelling and well written, Fong-Bates stunning first novel deserves a heaping spoonful of praise.

I have mixed feelings about _Midnight athte Dragon Cafe_. I absolutely loved Bates' command of language and her languid, conversational tone as her character, Su-Jen narrates. The moods and emotions were so clearly expressed, I really felt I was with Su-Jen as she wrestled with the challenges and secrets she discovered through the course of the book.

While I appreciated the gradual maturation of Su-Jen, her growing awareness of the wider world around her, and the secrets her family held, I really felt that the story didn't hit its stride until the final quarter of the book. Even when the book did hit its stride and plot points began to come together, the resolution to the myriad of conflicts were ultimately unstisfying. I had anticipated a stronger finish, given the repeated references to Su-Jen's fate and the constant tension between family members. I also think the underlying message Bates was suggesting - is it possible to forgive ourselves - could have been much more developed. I enjoyed the writing, but the story itself warrants only 3 stars.

I am a fourth generation Chinese American living in California. I loved this well written, lyrical and engaging book, and recommend it to all. I have not read much about the Chinese-Canadian immigrant experience, and this book was very rewarding in terms of telling the story of the Chinese in Canada in the background of the main story line. The characters are extremely vivid in the book, and one really cares about Su-Jen (aka Annie) right away. The author does a very good job of sketching the lonely life of this isolated Chinese family in this small Canadian town. I particularly felt she handled incidents of racial discrimination experienced by the sensitive Annie during elementary school very poignantly. You really feel for this little Chinese girl, stuck between this lovely unhappy mother, a frustrated and good looking half brother, a traditional but kindly father, and her Canadian white classmates. It is a great read.

nice small size to be able to take with you. pictures were useful. i wouldn't spend the money on the larger bates (ooops). as a second year med student, this had all i needed to learn the major components of a history and physical

I have not begun using this material due to the semester not starting until the Fall but it is a required text.

i have not yet recieved the book ( 02/25/08), though i am supposed to reciev it by 02/13/08

Since a few of the other reviews are too over-the-top to take seriously, I thought I would add my comments: It's nice 'cause it fits in your pocket, & it's nice cause it has lots of the Bates pictures in it. Unfortunately, it includes a lot of basic text at the expense of the more uncommon presentations and PE tests. I'm in the middle of my PA rotation year and I already ignore this book most of the time for that reason. If you have already memorized the more basic aspects of the larger Bates text, don't expect to reference this often. I'll repeat though - it IS nice to have the pictures...

The Batess' pocket guide is a wonderful tool for clinicians.
It is simple, thorough, and clear with good illustrations. Keep it within your reach !!

I was very pleased buying this book. For a Dynasty fan this gives a very good "to have on hand" overview on all the episodes - details on cast and crew... I really recommend this book: a must-have for Dynasty die-hards... :-)

From one Dynasty author about another, I think Billie Rae Bates has done an excellent job in presenting Dynasty's facts. I have the e-book version and found it to be sleek, put together quite nicely and a wonderful reference guide for the series. She is to be commended for putting together not only this but her other books and a website to be proud of. I wish her nothing but success in all of her endeavors.

Judith A. Moose

I bought this book to see if it has anything not covered in the book by Judith Moose and Paul Keylock. I was disappointed when it came because there's really nothing to it. Nothing really about the history of the show and where are the pictures? The author says she's a journalist so how hard would it have been to get photos of stuff other than books opened to Dynasty or The Colbys. Even the cover (salt and pepper shakers and a plate) lacks the style that Dynasty was known for. This reader's suggestion is to save your money.

You just have to get this book, everything's in it.... hoping they will go on releasing the whole series on dvd......we definitely NEED it!

I bought this book and enjoyed it. It's not supposed to be a big behind the scenes tellall. The author is upfront about that. It's portrayed as a refernce guide, not a history. The author avoids gossip and sticks to the facts about the show (cast guide, characters and so on), and I liike that. I don't particularly care to read speculations or rumors that may or may not be true. I bought the e-book or one of the author's other guides and enjoyed that, as well. So don't think of this book as one that's competing with other books out there that tell the story behind the scenes. the goal of this one is different. And the author is a very good writer (much better than me!!!) with a great command of the English language. I enjoyed it. "Dynasty" is a great show that I used to watch as a kid, and I love to read aobut it. (Favorite character: Adam!!!!)

I know mummies are far too powerful tu be simply added into a game... but get a good storyteller with a few good players and even the lousy i can do nothing 14th generation vampire can make a fun sidekik for a hundred years old mummy.
If you are into the white wolf storyteller system crossover is the whole idea behind it, so, yeah, it IS worth your money.

In the spirit of Kindred of the East, this book is an add on for existing World of Darkness games. You need another core book (preferabley Vampire, Mage or Wraith for cross over use, but any of the games work), but fear not, because this has allowed the writers to add a whole bunch of juicer information into the pages.
Essentially, this game allows you to take on the role of a Mummy, just as the previous World of Darkness games put you in the role of other monsters. But these aren't the bandaged wrapped monsters of the cinema. Rather, they are more an amalgam of Boris Karlof's immortal mystic from the original Mummy and Egyptian mythological beings. These Mummies are immortal heros, blessed by Osiris and given the task of restoring balance to the world. As such, this is a much more hopeful tone when compared to, say, Vampire or Wraith, but that only makes the game that much more challenging. Mummies are made of a combination of a flawed mortal and an ancient Egyptian soul, so they are both modern and ancient at the same time. And they are also considerably less powerful than their ancient age would make you think. Therefore, these Mummies are not as unbalancing in cross overs as they might seem. Indeed, even the immortality thing isn't as big an advantage, because it does take considerable time to come back, plus Mummies do not have supernatural endurance on par with some of the other denizens of the World of Darkness.
The book is pretty straight forward. Mummies and their role in the World of Darkness (along with some great tips and ideas for better running Mummy games) are all described in great detail, including Osiris, Anubis, Ma'at, the Judges and various Cults of Life such as the followers of Isis and Osiris. There is a lot of usage of Egyptian and even Arabic words, but these only serve to add to the flavor and shouldn't confuse the reader overly much. Theres even a glossary of the major terms used, and some brief descriptions of Egyptian Gods and Goddesses. Plus theres the recommended reading, viewing and listening which give you some more points of reference for incorporating mummies, ancient Egypt and Middle Eastern culture into your games. And many of these sources can be found on Amazon.com, conveniently enough.
Like other denizens of the World of Darkness, the Mummies are divided into different splats, in this case based off aspects of the Egyptian soul (plus another one for "unaffiliated" mummies). Each of these splats are given full page write ups, which helps players get a handle on what motivates their characters. Each splat also specializes in a specific Hekau, ancient magics of Egypt such as alchemy or making ushabtis. These are given ratings from one to five, and work kind of like Vampire Disciplines or Mage Spheres, so players should grasp these pretty quickly. Furthermore, although Mummies only get a few new abilities, differing from those presented in the core book, Mummies also have a wealth of new backgrounds to help flesh them out, such as Ba, Ka and Companion, and even a handful of new merits and flaws.
As the first book in the "Year of the Scarab" series, Mummy also details the core setting for the game, Egypt and the lands of the Middle East, Africa and the Mediterranean. The histories of Egypt and Saudi Arabia are given, along with an extensive write up of Egypt's geography, from Luxor to Sinai. There are also some description Persia (Iran), Iraq, Kuwait, Kuwait, Israel and the Palestinean Territories, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Greece. Also, the Lands of the Dead (and beyond) are described, mainly from an Egyptian point of view, but fans of Wraith should be pleased.
The back of the book is also loaded with lots of juicy stuff for STs. Not only are there detailed notes for adding Mummies into a game, but there are also some other nasties, both for Mummy only games and for cross-overs. Corrupt "bane mummies", cannibalistic Egyptian cults, undead monsters and other servants of Aphosis and corruption are unique foes specifically for Mummies. Other supernaturals, such as the local Vampires (Assamites and Followers of Set), the walking dead, Wizards such as the Arabian Ahl-i-Batin and Persian Taftani, ghosts and other spirits, Djinn, shapeshifters (not only werewolves, but also werecrocodiles, werecats and even wereserpents) and monster hunters are all given, either as allies or antagonists, along with stats for various mortal animals native to the mid-east, like scorpions and camels. And then there are also other Mummies as well. Ancient Mummies who lived since the dyas of Egypt, non-Egyptian Mummies (created from Greek translations of the Egyptian ritual), Incan Mummies from the mountains of South America and immortal Taoist sages from China are all presented, with just enough for you to play them or incorporate them into your games.
All in all, this is an extremely useful book for STs and Players alike, whether you intend to run an all Mummy game or run a cross over game. Or even if you just want to add a Mummy or two into your game as NPCs. Even without Mummies, there is a wealth of information about Middle Eastern culture and settings provided in this book, with a specific emphasis on Egypt. If you run a Vampire game with lots of Assamites, or a Mage game focusing on Hermetic lore from ancient Egypt, you might find this game extremely useful, even without Mummies.

Mummy: The Resurrection, like Kindred of the East, is an add-on sourcebook for the World of Darkness, and also like Kindred of the East, it's hands-down some of the finest work ever done by White Wolf.

The showpiece of the book, of course, is the new breed of mummy which has appeared in the World of Darkness. In the wake of the Year of the Reckoning, Osiris has stirred from his long slumber, and for the first time in millennia, he has sanctioned the creation of new mummies. They are known as Amenti, and are born from the fusion of an ancient soul and a modern one. The Amenti are far more dynamic and interesting than the older mummies you might remember from WoD: Mummy Second Edition. (And no, they don't want around wrapped in toilet paper, either.)

The tone of Mummy is also much more positive than that of most other White Wolf games: Mummies are mortals who have been reborn as something more than human and given a second chance. They are beacons of light and hope in the World of Darkness, inspiring others through their example. While one can certainly play an all-Amenti chronicle, Mummy: The Resurrection really shines when used to run a crossover game. The Amenti can interact in the realms of vampires, werewolves, and other creatures in all sorts of interesting and flavorful ways: Adding a mummy to a coterie, pack, or coven will open up some great roleplaying opportunities. In addition, the balance issue present in WoD: Mummy Second Edition have been resolved, and the Amenti are now an excellent complement to other supernaturals. Their powers tend to be very subtle; they are not combat monsters or world-breakers, but they have many useful abilities such as healing, alchemy, and powers of the spirit world.

The book also includes tons of information on the Middle East, both in the present day and in the history of the World of Darkness, details on how the Amenti interact with vampires, werewolves, mages, and other supernaturals, as well as a whole chapter on other types of immortals from all around the world. Highly recommended.

It's an okay sourcebook, assuming your head doesn't swim with the barrage of Egpytian terminology and mythology it tends to shove right into your face. Some tidbits --such as the (horrific) effects drinking mummy blood has on Cainites-- were kind of neat (and _scary_), plus they revised some of the Hekau paths, Sekham cost, and whatnot, but overall, it doesn't truly carry much weight as far as my opinion goes. Some changes, like the different types of mummies and the fact that Asian mummies cannot learn Ren Hekau now (Nomeclature irrc in the revised version) were kind of needless and a letdown. However, Trabbold's artwork is nice, which is mainly why I bought the, but in the end, it just wasn't enough to hold my interest. Maybe it's more suited to your needs, but not mine, I'm afraid.

While not a complete game, much like Kindred of the East, this book does have several worthwhile bits of information: - The WOD Middle East - The WOD revised Ancient Egypt - An expansion of my favorite WOD "non-humans" the Mummies - And mentions of a few brand new enemies. I love the fact that there are new Mummies, and that they've been given their own "auspices." While it might seem that the Mummies are far more powerful, it only makes sense. You get to be 1000 years old, you're going to know which end of a smack is down. You're also granted one of the few clear potentials to be a true blue "white-hat."

This book is poorly written and hard to follow. While the author manages to fill a few hundred pages, his writing is highly repetitive and his organization is largely incoherent.

After reading several other books on this technology, I finally found this one to be the most jargon free, to the point, book on Optical Switching. This is a great reference book that every non-engineer should have in their Library.

The purpose of my purchasing this book was to learn about the market place and the available technologies for optical switching; it did not serve my purpose. BTW, I am not an optical networking engineer. [...]. The writing and the organization of the book at times is almost incoherent.

I have been seeking information about optical switching and felt this to be one of the most informative books available. It is easy to understand for beginners and experts who work in a networking environment. I recomend this book to everyone who works in networking, and anyone who may have interest in networking.

Senior Telephony Analyst FirstUSA

A topic that is comming of age. It is difficult to find much written material on the subject. If you have been looking for this type material, you have found a mother load! I am working in the telecommunication arena and am always trying to find material that discusses trends that are in their infancy.

Mr. Bates has gathered a lot of information and has presented it in an interesting, readable manner. I have read a lot of technical material that has babbled on and on but not told you anything of interest. This book is succinct and easily readable. If you are a person working in the communications networking field or just interested in it, this book is a MUST read.

Optical Switching is a major development in technology that you need to be familiar with to see where the industry is headed. I enjoyed the book and would recommend it to anyone with an interest in this area.

In Stories From the Vinyl Café, Stuart McLean has presented a picture of Canadian life, culture and values that will recall Garrison Keillor's successful portrayal of life in small town America in "Lake Wobegon Days".

There's no thread or plot to speak of - only a randomly collected grouping of fictional short stories that are brilliantly distilled from McLean's singularly astute observations of Canadian people as a skilled journalist. There's a father struggling to cope with his teenage daughter who wants to get a tattoo; the wife who can't figure out how to tell her husband that she was collared for shop-lifting; the difficulties of buying a jock strap; the lighter side of blood pressure machines in the local pharmacy; the man who works his knickers into a frenzied knot over a neighbour he fancies stole his favourite shirt off their clothesline; the young boys wrestling with the moral dilemma of finding $2300 in an envelope in front of the local bank machine; and many more.

If these sound inane, I can't help but agree! But what better way to reflect the realities of our daily lives?

McLean's mastery of story-telling and dialogue hits the Canadian nail right on the head with a writing style that is at once witty, quirky, heart-warming, earnest, humorous, compelling and utterly charming! I should have read this years ago.

Paul Weiss

I loved this book. I've had it on my shelf for months and I wish I would have cracked it open sooner if I had known how funny it was. Keep this one in your purse, these little 5 page stories about life, family and marriage will make standing in line so much more enjoyable. I'll never look at blood pressure machine in the pharmacy without laughing again.

After reading this text I was physically sick in several locations of my local shopping centre. Needless to say, the book needs a lot more editing before it could pass as a script for any high school assessment, and I find it hard to believe that it has sold more than ten thousand copies in the United States alone. Had I been the publisher, as I wish I had been, I would have recommended a total overhall of the story-line as well as the total removal of some of the weak characters that are the basis of the novel. I like death metal.

I'll admit it, this was the first book by Stuart McLean that I had ever read, and I never put it down. Each short story was a twist of new comedic surprise. What I liked most about this collection of short stories, is that each one stems from the last. I also enjoyed reading about a Canadian family, and about thier hectic lifes in rural Ottawa. I immidiatly beagn reading Home from the Vynil Cafe, by Stuart McLean, after I had finished Stories from the Vynil Cafe. The only draw back I can find with this book, is that it is simply too short! I was devestated when my page turner had no more pages to turn.

I was tootaling along in my car listening for the first time to an audio tape of Stuart McLean reading his Stories from the Vinyl Cafe. I almost ran off the road because I was laughing so hard.

Every time I hear the story of the jock strap I start to howl all over again. And so it is with so many of his stories.

I want to send the tapes to my children and friends and particularly, my enemies. I am sure they will not think so badly of someone who sent them such merriment.[...]

Twice-Told Tales / 0-89577-332-5

I like Hawthorne well enough as a writer, and I love Hawthorne compared to his contemporaries, and this collection is a good example of his evolution as a writer. There are a lot of classics here, including "The Minister's Black Veil" and "Lady Eleanor's Mantle". This collection includes:

The Minister's Black Veil
Wakefield
The Maypole of Merry Mount
The Gentle Boy
Mr. Higginbotham's Catastrophe
The Great Carbuncle
The Prophetic Pictures
David Swan
The Hollow of the Three Hills
Fancy's Show Box
Dr. Heidegger's Experiment
Howe's Masquerade
Edward Randolph's Portrait
Lady Eleanor's Mantle
Old Esther DUdley
The Village Uncle
The Wedding Knell
The Ambitious Guest
The Sister Years
The White Old Maid
The Seven Vagabonds
Peter Goldthwaite's Treasure
Chippings with a Chisel
The Shaker Bridal
Endicott and the Red Cross
Edward Fane's Rosebud
The Threefold Destiny

Hawthorne wrote this collection of short stories anonymously in the 1830's, first published in local papers. At the urging of a friend he signed his name and raised the money to publish it as a book in two collected volumes, a copy of which was sent to former classmate and famous writer Henry Longfellow at Harvard. Longfellow gave it a favorable review and thus launched Hawthorne out of obscurity and on the path to well known works such as The House of Seven Gables and his masterpiece The Scarlet Letter.

Overall the collection is a mixed bag, some are clearly dated while others have timeless appeal. There are a lot of stories and only a handful will I remember and/or want to re-read in the future so it was a bit of a chore to read through them all. Hawthorne was honing his style so some of the pieces are dead ends, while others echo some of his later better works.

My favorite stories include "The Minister's Black Veil" about a 17th century New England puritan minister who vows never to look at the world except with a black veil over his eyes - the reason why is the mystery of the story and revealed to us at the end. "Wakefield" has a similar theme of mysterious behavior, a man decides to walk away from home without saying he was leaving and then return 10 years later - it is based on a true story and in fact there are modern accounts of similar things happening. "The Gentle Boy" beautifully captures 17th century religious fanaticism, intolerance and historical forces concerning the conflict between Puritans and Quakers in New England. This story is probably his most mature and serious of the book. "Mr. Higginbothem's Catastrophe", about a rumor of a man's murder, is a riddle wrapped in a story, I was perplexed and enthralled to the end. "David Swann", about a young man who falls asleep by the side of the road, is a philosophical story about the nature of fortune and fate. "Dr. Heidegger's Experiment", about a liquid that makes the old young again, presages Robert Louis Stevenson and more recent movies like "Cocoon".

Read this book slowly, because there aren't that many of it's type.

Yes, the stories are uneven. The first two are so rocky that you'd perhaps think you've made a mistake--that these are the first inchoate rumblings of an unpolished master.

But by the time you read story #3, Ministers Veil, you won't regret the wonderful prose, the delightful use of symbolism and allegory, the economy of construction-- in short, all that which puts Hawthorne on a very short list of American master writers.

The only thing you might consider over buying this book, is one which includes ALL of Hawthorne's short stories. Young Goodman Brown for example, or Rapuccini's Daughter--maybe two of the greatest short stories in Western Literature, are not going to be found in this particular compendium of his early work.

A minister dons a black veil over his face he takes to his grave. A man abandons his wife and family for a home across the street, from which he watches her fill in the hole he left in her life. A scientist develops an elixir of youth he tries out on three worn oldsters who immediately resume the vanities of their youth.

Nathaniel Hawthorne was master of the allegory, and in "Twice-Told Tales," 39 pieces written during the 1830s and collected originally in two volumes, you get the glory of his earliest, simplest fiction. Not the best, necessarily; the later "Mosses From An Old Manse" has perhaps his best short stories, and later came classic novels like "The Scarlet Letter" and "The Blithedale Romance." But from his mock-humble preface to his transcendental yearnings to his obsession with New England's Puritan past, "Twice-Told Tales" offers a concentrated primer as to what made Natty tick.

The allegory is a limited model for fiction; where a central object is understood to represent a single idea. Sometimes here you get a very obvious point hammered home with all the subtlety of a very special episode of "Facts Of Life." "The Great Carbuncle" introduces us to a group of people who seek a valuable stone, and naturally all fall short of their desire except a couple who realize no stone can outshine their love. "The Gentle Boy" alerts us to the peril of intolerance, while "The Threefold Destiny" tells us there's no place like home. Sometimes Hawthorne concludes a story by repeating the title in capital letters, like Jonathan Edwards delivering a sermon.

Yet Hawthorne was evolving all the while. For all his dated stylings and roundabout locution, you find yourself catching in these stories, as well as the many sketches and contemplative essays also in this book, a number of brilliant passages, moments of entertainment and of wisdom that reach across the sea of time, as when Hawthorne gazes at the Atlantic in "Foot-prints On The Sea-Shore" and notes "the infinite idea of eternity pervading his soul."

The best stories here show Hawthorne's deep mind at full boil, like the famous "The Minister's Black Veil," where the Parson Hooper appears before his congregation wearing a black veil on his face he never takes off. The irony is that Hooper is the same gentle soul beneath the veil, yet the veil still serves to cut him off, in a small but marked way, from those around him. Is he at fault? Are they? Hawthorne moves beyond allegory here by not giving a definite answer.

The same is true to a lesser extent with the two other tales referenced at the outset of this review, "Wakefield" and "Dr. Heidegger's Experiment." But Hawthorne's greatness here is more in the broadness of his focus, as he draws inspiration in everything from a town pump to shopping with a child and makes each a diverting ramble. He even shows an ability to channel mystery and suspense a la Ed McBain in his amusing and slightly bawdy "Mr. Higginbotham's Catastrophe."

Hawthorne didn't produce that many books, but what he did write he filled to the brim. "Twice-Told Tales" is an early rill from the pump worth a visit; if you tough out some occasionally stale notes you may find yourself staying awhile.

This Modern Library edition of Hawthorne's Twice Told Tales is one of the better I've seen in a long while. (A reveiewer below has mistakenly reviewed a Reader's Digest edition of the stories in this space. There are no illustrations in this book, and contrary to that reveiwer's estimation, the selection of stories here is very wise indeed.) Any good collection of Hawhtorne's stories should include the classics such as "Wakefield, "Dr. Heidegger's Experiment, "The Maypole of Merrymount," and "The Haunted Mind," as well as a few of the lesser known stories, of which there are many. This collection holds an excellent mix of both, with an amusing and insightful introduction by Rosemary Mahoney, and very informative notes by Gretchen Short. Hawthorne was, and remains, the American master of the dark, psychologically driven tale. I would challenge anyone to read, "Wakefield," "The Gentle Boy," or "The Hollow of the Three Hills" without feeling at least a little frightened and thrilled. These are among Hawthorne's best stories in a handsome new collection. I highly recommend the book.

I found this book to be helpful during my methods course in secondary art education. I used it during the class as a supliment but choose to keep it as a tool for my classroom.

How creativity can be so lacking in a book instructing art teachers to go forward in their profession is baffling. This is a rudimentary, pretencious way to teach art. It lacks more than ingeniuty, it really lacks the most basic human connection.

I bought this book for my daughter, who is studying to be an Art teacher, and she really likes it.
It was mandatory for school, but the professor recommended it highly, and so I can see it becoming a permanent part of her library.

This book is great for the beginning art teacher. It has a lot of information in one little book. I will be keeping this as a reference book forever...
Happy reading to you.

I like this book because it steers teachers toward teaching creativity instead of making their students create multiples of the same painting or form. It teaches different components of teaching art as well; such as art history, aesthetics, etc. I would recommend this book to any art teacher.

I read this book shortly after confronting my own infertility. What a wonderful storyteller! I found myself in tears on one page and laughing on the next. I highly recommend it to anyone on their own journey through infertility or anyone who likes a well-told tale.

I picked up this book in the bookstore even though I have no problems with infertility. I'd read her collection of stories (which is really great) so it caught my eye. By the end of page one, I could not put it down! This is just a plain old GOOD READ. Alden discusses issues relevant to most people -- infertile or not, considering parenthood or not. In some ways, I am sorry that the book has the subtitle that it does, because (though it centers on Alden's struggles with infertility) it really reads like a great memoir. Alden is clearly a gifted writer. She has this way of drawing you in and not letting you go until the last word.

I read this book while couch-bound, nursing my newborn and watching my 2 1/2 year old destruct the house, so perhaps I was not Ms. Alden's most patient reader. My biggest problem was that I was never actually convinced that the author really wanted a child. She spent so much of the book rehashing her strong, independent woman, no-time-for-children existence in a self-congratulatory manner that I just couldn't believe that her desire to have a child was anything more than a manifestation of her perfectionist drive to "do it all." I really tired of her constant wavering, "Maybe I do, maybe I don't," which in the end just struck me as extremely self-indulgent. I did find the last part of the book on actual infertility treatments and what woman go through psychologically very interesting (that the treatments themselves can become a kind of addiction was fascinating and heartbreaking), but I felt she took much too long to get there. I am glad that Ms. Alden came to peace with herself over this difficult choice, but as woman who writes and who has made the opposite choice earlier in her life, CROSSING THE MOON struck me as a lot of rationalizing.

What I liked about this book is that the author didn't try to provide an answer, just discussed very openly and honestly her own experiences with infertility and deciding whether to pursue/continue fertility treatment. I liked the fact that she was honest about her ambiguity about having children in the first place. I think it is common for women these days to question whether they need to have a child to be fulfilled and whether it is worth the invasiveness and disruption to a normal life that extensive fertility treatment requires. It was therapeutic for me to read about her experiences and her arrival at a decision. It didn't help me make a decision, but it did help me think through some of the issues. If you have not wrestled with any of these issues, the book may not be as meaningful to you. Unfortunately, I think infertility is something you have to experience to truly understand.

Being a writer myself of child-bearing age, I was drawn to Alden's book and could not put it down until I had read every single word. She is refreshingly frank and honest about her experiences of infertility and finding her true writer's voice, and should be applauded for making the right decision for her life. I sometimes struggle with the same issues - do I want children? How would they fit into my life as a writer? WOULD they fit in and is it fair to try? Some people believe you can have it all; I'm not one of them. Alden's book is as much about making choices as it is about infertility, and every woman faces these choices at some point in her life. Alden's tale of finding her own way is inspiring and comforting, and I look forward to the next book from this gifted author.