Borden Reviews

Borden of Yale (Men of Faith)

Published in Paperback by Bethany House Publishers (1988-03)

Author: Howard Taylor

List price: $4.99

New price: $34.95
Used price: $31.46
Collectible price: $74.97

Average review score:

This is a life-changing book

Helpful Votes: 16 out of 16 total.
Review Date: 1999-04-07

No reserves, no retreat, no regrets. This book is incredible!! It is life-changing!! This book is about the simple life of William Borden and how he changed the world. William Borden was a man willing to live by God's standards no matter what the cost. He loved his Lord and he showed God's love to all those around him. Borden was incredible in the way he was able to instill biblical principles into EVERY area of his life and to live them and die for them. William Borden went to college at Yale and organized Bible studies and many prayer groups there, immenseley strengthening the Christians and their outreach. He also helped to start the Yale Hope Mission to reach out to those less fortunate. After college he went to Egypt to study language before going to China as a missionary. Unfortunately he never made it to China. After his death many tracts were made, from sermons he had preached, and distributed all over the world.

excellent!!!

Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2003-07-03

This book has had more impact on my life than any other. In the 25 short years that he lived, William Borden invested himself, his time, and all that he had, in things of eternal value. He strove not to waste even minutes. Even though he only lived 25 years, he lived for God more than most who live for 80 years. This book will inspire you throughout your life!!! You will never forget it. Great for young people.

A Literary Eulogy

Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2003-07-01

William Borden was a wealthy Ivy League graduate with a singular focus on serving God. His intellect and his devotion are revealed, in part, by extended exerpts from personal correspondence in Borden's family. The story is not comprehensive and the presentation falls well short of a biography. It is more a collection of disconnected anecdotes in chronological order. Though Borden's missionary zeal is well established his most important relationships are not fully developed. This makes for something less than a satisfying story. The subject, however, is a truly interesting personality with an inspiring conviction. Borden's evangelistic accomplishments are unusual and one wonders what he might have achieved had his life not been shortened suddenly at an early age.

A Wonderful Read

Helpful Votes: 4 out of 4 total.
Review Date: 2003-12-14

This is a wonderful book that every Christian should read. It will inspire everyone to live more for the cause of Christ and less for self. I highly suggest this book to everyone; it would especially be ideal for young Christians about to enter college.
This little book is well worth the read, and well worth a second read!

One Reading and A Lifelong Impact

Helpful Votes: 7 out of 7 total.
Review Date: 2001-06-12

When I was a college student, I read this book. Every day for the past 44 years, I have remembered it and the words of Bill Borden's commitment to God: "I take hands off as far as my own life is concerned." With the exception of the Bible, no other book has had such an impact on my life.

Death of a Trickster

Published in Paperback by Wheeler Publishing (2005-05-03)

Author: Kate Borden

List price: $24.95

New price: $15.00
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Average review score:

There Aren't Enough Stars in the New England Sky for this Book

Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2007-03-21

This series is the best series I have ever read in my life! Each book keeps getting better and more cozier, even though you don't think a book can get any better than that.

The book starts off when best friends, 6th graders Nicky and Charlie, are shooting spitballs and are expelled by their teacher, who is the mean wife of the mean police chief. Because they are expelled, they miss the field trip into the woods. But in the woods, a body is found...

Nicky's mother, Peggy Jean, is the mayor of the small New England town. She and her next door neighbor, Charlie's mother Lavinia, are best friends. I absolutely adore the two families and their relationship. I love Nicky and Charly. I love the cozy atmosphere and the coffee and cookies.

Max is an important and interesting character. He is the one who came to the depressed town and revived it into a colonial village and made it thrive. He has some very interesting people working for him.

Papa Luigi and his family are also very important characters that have interesting roles.

Not only is the atmosphere cozy, but the story line/plot/clues are very clever. All the clues fit together and make a very good, entertaining story.

I just cannot sing enough praise for this awesome book and the entire series. This wonderful author has remarkable talent.

Pumpkin pie flavored New England sleuth cozy

Helpful Votes: 10 out of 10 total.
Review Date: 2006-09-03

Death of a trickster takes place in a New England village called Cobb's Landing where the mayor is a witty woman named Peggy. It's a small town, dressed up to resemble a colonial village, at the peak of Indian summer excitedly awaiting Halloween. This is the second book in the series and they are so addictive that I hope Mrs. Borden will keep writing as long as her imagination keeps spinning. I absolutely adored the whole feel of autumn, the chilly morning, falling red leaves, wool sweaters, Peggy and Lavinia her best friend drinking caramel apple cider, her cat Pie, the pumpkins being carves, the cakes and cookies they baked and the crisp sultry breeze sweeping summer away and setting the village up for mid fall. This book made me feel very cozy and trickled dreams of pumpkins and baked goodies, warm cocoa and reading wrapped in a warm blanket. I was sad when it was actually over and the mystery revealed as it's a short book spanning two hundred pages and can be read in a day or two but I savored it and can't wait to read the third one that is all ready out, it deals with the next holiday, Thanksgiving.

The mystery begins when Nicky, Peggy's son along with Lavinia's son Charlie get in trouble at school for throwing spit balls at each other. They miss the filed trip to the Alsop woods but learn that a body has been found. As it turns out it was the school skeleton used in science classes dressed up as count Dracula. On a few more occasions pranks are following Peggy and she needs to sort out what is happening and who would do such a thing. Cobb's Landing is populated by some warm and some whacky characters. There's Papa Luigi, the owner of the woods and his son Lew, his wife Gina and their daughter Maria. The new police chief, grumpy Henry, his cold wife Carol, their bully son Roger, fellow villagers and shop and diner owners, Max an interesting character who materializes out of nowhere and no one knows what he is up to, Ian and Missy, who seem to get on Peggy's nerves as she gets close to Ian whom Peggy likes and Rob, her childhood crush who is the new police office. When a body is found at the end of the pumpkin float, no one can understand why this person is dead and why would kill them. It's up to Peggy to use her knowledge of a place she grew up in, her Mayor powers and her excellent snooping abilities.

I have really enjoyed this delicious mystery but I wish the part where the killer was revealed was longer. The ending had lots of more plots twisted together but they were all explained and man o man, was I surprised! The author does a great job describing the nature, the air, the sun, the whole small town scenery and makes me miss the characters. Lately I have found myself enjoying all the new mystery books coming out from various writers as there are books about food, coffee, tea, spas and even a cute village such as Cobb's Landing. I can't wait to follow up Borden's character in her next cozy mystery.

- Kasia S.

Fun, Light Small Town Cozy Series

Helpful Votes: 3 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2006-07-15

In the 2nd book in the Peggy Jean Turner Mystery series, things are definitely looking up for both Peggy Jean (P.J.) and her hometown of Cobb's Landing, New England. The town has been turned into a colonial village, and is quickly becoming a tourist attraction. The townspeople dress in period costumes, and no modern equipment is on display in town during "town hours" (including cell phones and satellite dishes). P.J. grumbles a bit over the costume she must wear while working in her hardware store, but even she cannot complain about the renewed life and money pouring into her beloved town.

It is almost Halloween, and soon pranks start occurring that raise a few eyebrows. The high school's skeleton shows up around town dressed in costume, and P.J's son is suspended for throwing spitballs. It all seems harmless until an elderly member of the town, Papa Luigi, goes missing, and is found tied up and ill in a hidden cave. More disturbing, however, is the body of the man found dead next to him in the cave. Papa Luigi cannot remember what happened, but he pleads innocence to the murder of the chief of police's son. P.J. jumps in to prove that Papa Luigi, a longtime friend of her family, is innocent, and to make sure that the Halloween festivities are enjoyed by all of the tourists that have come to save her town.

This is a fun, light cozy series and I really enjoy the characters, the mysteries, and the setting. The only thing that I didn't care for was the nicknames (P.J. for a mayor's name seemed too casual), and the name "Lovey" for her best friend was a bit silly for me. Otherwise, I loved the storyline, and was intrigued by the character of Max. If you like small town cozies, give this series a try.

The first book in the series is called "Death of a Tart". Enjoy!

A neat New England cozy

Helpful Votes: 5 out of 6 total.
Review Date: 2004-10-31

Halloween is right around the corner and people are getting ready to celebrate. The town has taken an economic upswing ever since they converted the place into a colonial village where residents dress in period costumes. Tourists stay at the restored button factory converted into an inn. Mayor Peggy Turner, who also owns a hardware store, is at loggerheads with the new Chief of Police Henry Cartwright, who she believes is impugning on her territory.

Henry thinks that whoever is stealing the skeleton Buddy from the lab and leaving him dressed up in clothes so he looks like a corpse should fall under his jurisdiction, but Peggy takes care of it because she knows it is silly schoolboy pranks. When ailing elderly Luigi Alsop vanishes, Peggy organizes the search. They find him in a cave next to Henry's dead son the murder weapon near Luigi. Many folks believe Luigi killed the lad because the deceased was harassing and terrifying the older man's granddaughter. Peggy thinks otherwise and sets out to prove her assertion.

This New England cozy contains a very interesting mystery because of the attitudes of the locals who pull together in good and bad times. Neighbors know they can count on one another for help (a friend in need is not a pest as it seems in most places today). Peggy as the activist mayor symbolizes all that is good in this small town. Readers will also gain a feel for life in a New England village, but it is the unusual situations that Peggy and her best friend seem to and in find themselves in that make for a fun regional tale.

Harriet Klausner

Love this cute series

Helpful Votes: 7 out of 7 total.
Review Date: 2006-02-01

this cute series is fun and believable. Small town charm, weird and facinating characters just make it that much more of a good read. A series you can enjoy and feel good when you have finished.

Miss Lizzie

Published in Hardcover by St Martins Pr (1989-08)

Author: Walter Satterthwait

List price: $17.95

Used price: $0.09
Collectible price: $38.50

Average review score:

Great read!

Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2002-11-25

This book was extremely hard to put down! It is perfectly paced and made the characters come to life. Miss Borden was particularly well-defined; she came alive as a person, not just a figure in a dusty old murder trial.

I look forward to reading many more of Mr. Satterthwait's books.

Engrossing on many levels

Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2005-02-25

The eponymous Miss Lizzie is non other than Lizzie Borden ,but this is not a novel about the events that propelled her into national notoriety ,the murders in Falls River ,Massachusetts ,for which she was tried and -controversially -acquitted .Rather it is set a generation later , in 1921 ,in a small coastal resort where she is now living .
The Burton family take up residence for the Summmer ,and the narrator of the novel is 13 year old Amanda Burton -bright ,inquisitive and lively of mind . Her father is frequently absent in Boston and the rest of the family consists of her older brother William , plus her stepmother Audrey .Audrey is disliked by the children and she in turn dislikes them neither parety being unduly concerned to conceal their opinions from each other .It is a loveless marriage on all sides .
Amanda is thrown much upon her own devices and befriends the reclusive and notorious Lizzie who teaches her card tricks ,her experise being the result of hours of solitary practice ,a bye product of loneliness and social ostracisation .
The ,one hot August day ,murder rears its ugly head .The stepmother is murdered -cut to pieces with an axe .The local police chief suspects Lizzie ,based on past experience ( he was an officer in Falls River during the Borden murders).There are other supects however .William and Audrey quarrellled violently on the day of the murder and he has gone missing ;nor does Mr Burton have a watertight alibi .The town has racial tensions and some would like to pin the crime on a local black tradesman seen in the area while others are persuaded it was the work of anarchists ( The book makes explicit the fear of anarchism and Bolshevism that wracked America after WW1 -alluding to the Sacco and Vanzetti case ,explicitly )
Employing a shrewd local lawyer ,and a Pinkerton agent Lizzie resolves to uncover the mystery as much for her own safety as anything else --she is pelted by the mob who hover ghoulishly outside her home )It builds to a climax whose grand guignol qualities are slightly at odds with the tone of the bulk of the book ./
The author shrewdly teases us with the possibility of her guilt both for the crime in the book and Falls River -similarities between the two are pointed out ( The death of a step-parent ;the modus operandi .the very hot weather ;the physical similarities of the dwellings in which the murders took place )
It is satisfying as a mystery ,has a convincing narrator and leaves the figure of Lizzie Borden what it should always be --a fascinating enigma .

Well written and satisfying on every level

Thank you!

Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2002-07-23

I've been looking for an affordable version of this book for YEARS. (Collectible copies of the original hardcovers go for up to $400.) Mr. Satterthwait tackles a century-old conundrum with imagination and humor. Did she or didn't she?

shocking ending to a compelling mystery

Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2001-11-29

An excellent fictionalized account of what happened to Lizzie Borden after the notorious trial. On one level, it's a bittersweet story of an unlikely friendship between a shunned old woman and a child, and, on another level, it's a compelling tale of a suspenseful summer. The sly ending will surprise you!

Whether you've read a lot about Lizzie Borden or nothing, you'll really like this finely crafted mystery.

Excellent until end..., then even better

Helpful Votes: 4 out of 4 total.
Review Date: 2001-03-24

A great, insightful read throughout, but Miss Lizzie ends as surprisingly and satisfyingly as any mystery I've read. Squeamish readers may be put off by the very grisly murders, but the novel works as a mystery, as a reconsideration of history and as a coming-of-age story.

I understand that original hardback versions of this are much prized and very hard to find, but the price of the paperback does seem curiously high.

When the Poor Boys Dance

Published in Mass Market Paperback by Grand Central Publishing (1997-05-01)

Author: G. F. Borden

List price: $6.50

New price: $48.99
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Average review score:

A truely amazing book

Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2002-09-07

This book was amazing. It was one of the finest books I have ever read. The struggles of both the young man in the desert, and the struggles of the many others described in the book are painted vividly and almost seem to come to life. I recommend this book to anyone that might want to learn about true courage and sacrifice. The afterward by the author is one of the best I have ever read.

This novel will break your heart...

Helpful Votes: 1 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 1999-01-05

G.F. Borden, a fine, fine writer, has written masterfully of courage, of faith, of the kind of heart that makes Marines, Marines, and of the great tradition of the Corps. In spite of all odds, his Marines of history and the present go forth to do their duty. None can fault the men who face combat head-on, but one can despair of their lack of support when they needed it most. I search constantly for the next novel from this author.

How poor leadership makes heroes of so many.

Helpful Votes: 1 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 1997-07-16

An astonishing view of inept leadership at all levels, and uncommon courage at one. While I served proudly in Vietnam with the U.S. Marines, and spent another 20 years in the Guards it would be a mistake to view Mr.Borden's work as a treatise on military virtue alone. The courage, honor, discipline as well as the fear od L/Cpl Roth is identical to the courage, honor, discipline and fear which is so much a part of people's day to day lives. In the lives of parents in crime and drug ridden neighborhoods, in the lives of families who try to care for their terminally ill loved ones, and essentially anyone who faces tremendous odds seemingly alone and forgotten. Mr. Borden masterfully deals with the all to often cause of all this misery " inept leadership ". For anyone who presently follows, but one day hopes to lead, this book should be your bibl

Fearsome account of life-and-death struggle

Helpful Votes: 1 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 1997-06-05

The desperation of Lance Corporal Rother is tempered by his dependence on his training, the tradition of the Corps, and his devotion to it. While initially distracting, the time-warp sequences engage the reader with the brutality of war and the sacrifices made under fire. Tales of undaunted courage compelled by discipline and duty are inspiring, despite the tragic suffering endured. The frustration, pain, and heroism are vividly and brutally portrayed in the continuum. Sadness and despair for the protagonist are transformed into an understanding of duty, faith, honor and the warrior spirit

The story was riveting from beginning to end.

Helpful Votes: 3 out of 5 total.
Review Date: 1999-08-13

The book moved me to weep great sorrowful tears at the wartime horrors endured by our Marines.

Drawings of Harry Carmean (Master Draughtsman Series)

Published in Paperback by Borden Pub Co (1991-12)

Author:

List price: $5.95

Average review score:

Drawings of Harry Carmean

Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-06-13

Harry Carmean's work is masterful. He is one of the best draftsmen of all time, his work is very powerful.

The drawings of Harry Carmean

Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-12-26

I bought a few sketches of this artist on line and thought it best to educate me further by purchasing this Master Draughtman series on Harry Carmean to further enhance my knowledge of the artist and this helped.

Drawings that are remeniscent of Tiepolo and Titian

Helpful Votes: 4 out of 5 total.
Review Date: 2004-04-14

Harry Carmean's drawings are a modern day exploration of a late baroque drawing style that is remeniscent of the drawings of Giombattista di Tiepolo.

After attending the prestigious Art Center College of Design in Pasadena under the tutelage of master draughtsman, Lorser Feitelson, Harry went on to do a series of paintings that are in a way a rebellion against the modernist and post modernist movements of today. His paintings and drawings are, perhaps unintentionally, an attempt at bringing back the origins of representational figurative work.

The only complaint I have concerning Carmean's work is that while his skills and beautiful line quality are a wonderful treat for the eye, they hold less content than say, the work of his contemporary and teacher, Lorser Feitelson. While Carmean's attempt at capturing an almost nihilist or existentialist aspect of life, rather than succumbing to the stories of mythology or religion, I feel that his message is either too ambiguous or simply not there in some of his work.

For example, in his multiple paintings all entitled "bathers," each one seems to be a simple attempt and excuse to paint beautifully done figures rather than something nearly as intellectually deep or emotionally deep as say, Lorser Feitelson's, "Filial Love 2" This isn't to say that Feitelson did not make the same mistake, he too had a piece entitled "bathers" which seemed to be a very similar idea as Carmean's. Nonetheless, it seems to me that Feitelson's Magical Forms Series along with his Illustrations have more success in communicating an ideal or idea across to the viewer than Carmean's work has.

While Carmean's attempt at returning the artistic focus back to the ideal and baroque human figure, I personally believe that a strong pivotal message, untainted by personal audacity or heavy handed style would hold a more powerful message.

Despite all this, I do very much love Carmean's figurative work. Teacher of such master draughtsman as Glenn Vilppu, Steve Houston, and many others, Carmean has aided greatly in pushing Feitelson's influence over the California Fine Arts Community and is certainly one of the most technically sound figurative artists living today. I can only hope that I, along with many other of today's youthful artistic community can come to understand Feitelson's school of thought to the extent that Carmean has within our lifetimes.

Try his first book

Helpful Votes: 5 out of 9 total.
Review Date: 2000-09-28

If you haven't seen Harry Carmean's first book you are missing out! The painting's and drawing's are breath taking. I guess it is out of print and they should reprint more for you are losing out not having this book on your coffee table or library. I'm his daughter from his last marriage and proud of it. I wish I could share more with the art world, only that he is one of a kind and the only one "Master Painter" alive to date. Peace Helen-Margaret Carmean (LOVE YOU DAD)

Garan the Eternal

Published in Hardcover by Borden Pub Co (1979-06)

Author: Andre Norton

List price: $6.50

Used price: $1.89

Average review score:

Early Andre Norton is Standard Stuff

Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2000-06-01

Apparently partly written in the late 40's, Garan the Eternal is standard S&S fantasy of the time. A fighter pilot is tagged for a secret mission which ends up transferring him to a fantasy world where he overcomes dark evil and wins the hand of the princess. Not as good as Burroughs but better than Lin Carter.

This is an interesting work...

Helpful Votes: 1 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 1998-03-08

I have the DAW'73 print if this book. I have read it a few times, but not my favorite work by Ms. Norton. It DOES tend to stick with you however. A good read for Norton fans who like diversity in their authors. Not really one of her normal works, but considering the original stories began in '47, quite original for the times!

Not only Garan, but 2 Witch World stories

Helpful Votes: 4 out of 4 total.
Review Date: 2002-11-02

Strictly speaking, what we have here are 2 novellas about Garan and 2 unrelated short stories, rather than a novel, although the novellas are titled merely 'part 1' and 'part 2' rather than being given their original names in the table of contents. (I'll rectify that here.) The Garan novellas are set in an alternate history of our own world, but the short stories are from the Witch World series; the settings are unrelated.

The "Garin" vs. "Garan" spelling issue is not a typographical error, incidentally. The modern-day character's birth name has the 'i' spelling and pronunciation, while the people of Tav and Krand render it the other way.

"Garin of Tav", a.k.a. "People of the Crater" (1947) - Garin Featherstone's 15 minutes of fame passed years ago, after leading a daring airstrike during a long war. But down-and-out pilots still have their uses during an Antarctic exploration, seeking a crater with unusual characteristics, only seen once before from the air. While this may sound like a clone of Doyle's THE LOST WORLD, it quickly diverges from that path. The story has an intriguing start, but the "tell" to "show" ratio is a little too high once we're introduced to the world of Tav. Several "death before dishonor" scenarios pop up that seem inadequately justified. Worth reading, but the follow-up story below is more to my liking.

"Garan of Yu-Lac" (1969, 1973) - The very beginning and ending of this story involve the Garin and Thrala of the present day, as she reveals to him the tale of an age long past in which they met once before. The tale in between is the first-person narrative of that other Garan, on the long-vanished world of Krand. As the offspring of a forbidden cross-caste marriage, Garan's life has been shaped by Krand's rigid caste system; the only life open to him was that of the military, and that only by a merciful decree of the Emperor. Now, secretly, he has raised his eyes to the throne at the Emperor's right hand - Thrala, the emperor's daughter, in hopelessness. But other, darker secrets infest Krand. Two other characters seen briefly in "Garin of Tav" also appear in this past-life scenario, and their behaviour in the first story takes on added depth.

Krand reminds me of the original Buck Rogers comics in terms of technology (not that the details are allowed to become obtrusive); that's actually a point in its favour, for me. Garan's personal problem is handled with great artistry, as are the more world-threatening issues.

"One Spell Wizard" - See Norton's MOON MIRROR. A humorous Witch World story, even though the manner of storytelling is typical of the series, of an unsuccessful wizard who deliberately takes an apprentice with a speech impediment - since he wants an assistant for small-time con jobs, rather than spellcasting.

"Legacy from Sorn Fen" - Like "The Toads of Grimmerdale" (with which it appears in LORE OF THE WITCH WORLD), this tale features a man who rose from obscure beginnings to lordship in a Dale left leaderless in the wake of the Invaders' War, but Higbold and Treyvan have little in common otherwise.

Four Fantasies

Helpful Votes: 8 out of 8 total.
Review Date: 2003-06-16

Garan the Eternal (1972) is a collection of four fantasy tales spanning almost 30 years of the author's career.

Garin of Tuv is the story of Garin Featherstone, a wartime pilot now searching for a job. He is hired as a pilot on an antartic expedition to investigate an anomaly near the South Pole. When the three planes of the expedition reach the area, Garin's mind is possessed by a strange power which guides his airplane deep within a crater. There he discovers an old and alien race that has brought him down to fight an ancient evil.

Garan of Yu-Lac is the story of a previous incarnation of Garin who falls in love with the Emperor's daughter, Lady Thrala, and finds an enemy in Kepta of Koom. This tale is the backstory of Garin of Tuv.

Legacy From Sorn Fen is a tale of misused power and the peculiar justice found within the fens of High Hallek.

One Spell Wizard is a yarn about a Wizard's apprentice in High Hallek who learns only one spell but uses it cunningly if not quite wisely.

This collection is not the best works produced by the author, but does show some of her characteristic style and wordage. Recommended for Norton completists.

-Arthur W. Jordin

The Lizzie Borden Sourcebook

Published in Hardcover by Branden Books (1992-03)

Author:

List price: $29.95

New price: $19.50
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Average review score:

Did She or Didn't She?

Helpful Votes: 17 out of 17 total.
Review Date: 2001-05-28

Did Lizzie Borden murder her father and stepmother with an axe? This book will not provide you with an answer to that question but it will provoke the reader to begin a journey for the truth. The Lizzie Borden Sourcebook is interesting because it contains copies of all the original newspaper articles written about the double murders of Andrew and Abby Borden. Adding to the book's authenticity, are the many enjoyable pen and ink drawings of the key players and landmarks pertaining to this puzzling murder mystery. I certainly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in mysteries, true crime, or Lizzie Borden.

Fascinating first-hand accounts

Helpful Votes: 19 out of 20 total.
Review Date: 2001-10-16

This book is a compilation of hundreds of newspaper articles in chronological order about the Lizzie Borden case, from initial coverage of the "shocking crime" to news accounts about Lizzie's death decades later. Many articles surprise the reader with their blatant factual errors, while others impress with eloquent writing. Some of the journalists who covered the Borden trial were insightful and gifted writers. The book has no photos, but it does have several dozen pen-and-ink drawings. The book also includes the complete transcript of Lizzie Borden's testimony at the inquest. I would recommend the book to any Borden buff.

day-by-day news on the tragedy

Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2005-08-05

This is really a collection, a plethora of old newspaper articles written following the murders, at the time of the trial, and after. It's unique in giving the reader a "feel" for the time and atmosphere of Fall River at the time of the murders.

David Rehak
author of "Did Lizzie Borden Axe For It?"

Lizzie

Helpful Votes: 3 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2006-12-30

Although this book is somewhat different to other true crime books, it's still a great read. A compilation of hundreds of newspaper articles, it is interesting to follow the personal opinion of some of the journalists. Some of them aren't even looking for the truth, they just want to give the gory details. The book shows articles, starting with the discovery of the bodies untill Lizzie's death. I guess no one will ever get to know the truth, but isn't that what makes the story of Lizzie Borden so great?

Ship of Ishtar

Published in Hardcover by Borden Pub Co (1990-03)

Author: Abraham Merritt

List price: $35.00

Used price: $68.66

Average review score:

Free SF Reader

Helpful Votes: 0 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2008-10-12

One bigger ship, two gods.

A man unearths an ancient artifact, and a small ship is writ large, leaving him in a fantasy world embroiled in the conflict between deities of Love and Death.

The ship-dwellers are the former, and our hero's side. The black priest, unsurprisingly, is the latter.

In the beginning this fantasy novel is rather flowery, and may bring to mind, for example, H. P. Lovecraft's Dreamquest of Unknown Kadath.

Towards the end you get to the swordfighting and arrow shooting and blood, though, so the tone changes somewhat as the book progresses.

Romantic Adventure

Helpful Votes: 11 out of 12 total.
Review Date: 2000-06-30

The Ship of Ishtar is one of the better 1930's Indiana Jones style pulp adventure novels. An archeologist unearths a miniature ship artifact that transports him to another dimension, where he becomes a macho hero, who, with the help of an interesting assortment of new friends, assists a lovely priestess in a battle against some evil warlocks. His adventures lead him through some wonderfully imaginative fantasy locales, and the book has a spectacular ending.

The Greatest Fantasy Novel

Helpful Votes: 4 out of 7 total.
Review Date: 2001-06-06

This exhilerating adventure story is jammed with as much true fantasy creation as the modern writer's ten book series. The Ship of Ishtar is all but forgotten, but deserves to be even more popular than Tolkien's novels.

The story centers around a British man who is wisked into a fantasy world where evil and good are trapped together on a ship. Adrift. To delve too deeply into the plot now would cheat prospective readers, but this is a sexy, romantic, thrilling, brilliant, fantastic, adventure yarn.

No one I've loaned my copy to have ever not loved it.

A FANTASY FOR THE AGES

Helpful Votes: 7 out of 8 total.
Review Date: 2004-04-16

"The Ship of Ishtar," one of Abraham Merritt's finest fantasies, first appeared in the pages of "Argosy" magazine in 1924. An altered version appeared in book form in 1926, and the world finally received the original work in book form in 1949, six years after Merritt's death. In this wonderful novel we meet John Kenton, an American archaeologist who has just come into possession of a miniature crystal ship recently excavated "from the sand shrouds of ages-dead Babylon." Before too long, Kenton is whisked onto the actual ship, of which his relic is just a symbol. It turns out that the ship is sailing the seas of an otherdimensional limboland, and manned by the evil followers of the Babylonian god of the dead, Nergal, and by the priestesses of the Babylonian fertility goddess, Ishtar. A force barrier of sorts prevents the two parties from coming into contact with each other, and they have been sailing thus for...nobody knows how long. It seems that, centuries ago, a priest of Nergal and a priestess of Ishtar had been guilty of the sin of falling in love; this eternal cruise is the punishment that has been meted out by the gods. Kenton becomes embroiled in this ages-old strife; falls in love himself with Sharane, a Babylonian princess; eventually takes over the ship; and then goes in pursuit of the Black Priest of Nergal, after Sharane is kidnapped. He is aided in his quest by a sword-swinging Viking, a hugely strong and mace-wielding man of Nineveh, and by a scimitar expert from Persia. The quartet makes for one formidable team, lemme tell you! This is high fantasy done to a turn, and Merritt is at the peak of his game here. While "Ship" does not boast as much of the purple prose and hyperadjectival descriptions as his first two books, "The Moon Pool" and "The Metal Monster," there is still quite a bit, and in places the descriptions of various isles and temples almost reads like prose poetry. The story moves along briskly and builds to a pair of splendid set pieces: Sharane's rescue from the Temple of Seven Zones, in which each floor is dedicated to another Babylonian god and is decked out with its own color scheme, shrines and so on; and a very tense sea battle between the Ship of Ishtar and the Black Priest's bireme. The novel really is a stunning feat of imagination. I wonder if Merritt was perhaps influenced or inspired by the excavations at Uruk (now in southern Iraq, and one of the original cities of Ishtar worship) that had commenced in 1912. He may have also been inspired here by H. Rider Haggard's seminal fantasy work "She" (1887), in which Ayesha, head priestess of Isis, is given an eternal punishment for her own love dalliances. Whatever the inspirations, though, Merritt makes it all work, with great detail, color, action and character.
The book is a fantasy classic, but still, Merritt makes some small booboos. Thus, the gold bracelet on Kenton's left arm is on his right arm several pages later. Kenton is said to have disappeared from his NYC apartment at 8 PM, while later Merritt tells us that is was 9 PM. Sargon of Akkad (an ancient Mesopotamian ruler) is said to have ruled 6,000 years ago, whereas in actuality, it was more like 4,300. Merritt, in the course of the book, is also guilty of some fuzzy writing. But these little glitches should in no way interfere with anyone's enjoyment of this rousing tale. I should perhaps mention here that "The Ship of Ishtar" has been included in Cawthorn & Moorcock's overview volume "Fantasy: The 100 Best Books," and that I personally have no problem with that inclusion. It really is a fantasy for the ages.

Death Rides all Ill Wind

Published in Paperback by Berkley (2001-04-01)

Author: Kate Borden

List price: $5.99

New price: $2.02
Used price: $0.01
Collectible price: $15.00

Average review score:

Superior Sophomore Effort

Helpful Votes: 1 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2001-07-06

As a mystery writer with my first novel in its initial release, I recognize Kate Grilley as an exceptional talent. Her first mystery, DANCE DANCES TO A REGGAE BEAT, earned a wide variety of awards. DEATH RIDES AN ILL WIND is a solid #2 mystery. Kelly Ryan, Grilley's sleuth, runs a radio station on the Caribbean island of St. Chris. This novel involves the island's effort to weather a hurricane, a woman from Kelly's past, treasure hunting, and, of course, a murder mystery. It is a most fulfillng read.

A good read

Helpful Votes: 3 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2001-04-19

While sailing in the Americas, Christopher Columbus claims the Caribbean island of St. Chris in the name of Spain. The island is sold several times over the subsequent years before the United States finally purchases it. Currently, Kelly Ryan lives year round on St. Chris and works as a general manager for the radio station. One day while she is enjoying lunch with her friends, Kelly sees the woman who helped end her fifteen-year marriage. The other woman claims she has arrived on the island to salvage a treasure ship and offers a share of the bounty in return for a one-time $500 fee.

When a stage five hurricane hits St. Chris, Kelly still manages to keep the station on the air. Afterward, Kelly notices her rival remains on the island and wonders what is going on. Unable to resist, the curious Kelly soon places herself in danger.

DEATH RIDES AN ILL WIND provides the audience with a very good idea as to what happens to a small island during a brutal storm. The aftermath is as bad if not worse than the hurricane as communication, and most modern conveniences vanish. Kate Grilley's novel includes a mystery although the prime theme is a realistic human survivor drama (not a made for TV plot) that says never take weather for granted.

Harriet Klausner

Great sequel to a promising series

Helpful Votes: 5 out of 5 total.
Review Date: 2001-09-02

St. Chris is about to be hit by the biggest hurricane since at least 1928, maybe 1867. Leila Mae, the tramp who caused the end of Kelly's marriage, blew into town with her new husband, Baron Thorsen at about the same time. She is trying to sell shares in a treasure hunt. A homeless woman called the spitter rewards Kel's generosity in buying her a meal with a very old coin. Soon the woman turns up dead and not as a victim of Hurricane Gilda.

This mystery is much better than Death Dances to a Reggae Beat. I liked the characters in the first novel and still do in the second, although the author hasn't figured out what to do with Angie and Peter yet. Kel's relationship with Michael is progressing well, but no mention is made of him at the end. What really happened to Leila Mae? The endings weren't neat by any means. But other than the sloppy ending the mystery was really enjoyable and the characterizations are still great. This is a really good beach book.

Death Valley in '49

Published in Unknown Binding by Borden Pub. Co (1949)

Author: William Lewis Manly

List price:

Used price: $10.88

Average review score:

Death Valley, that Cursed Hole

Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2002-01-19

Jean and I edited the Heyday Books edition of Manly's monumental work. This edition has foreward by Dr. Limerick and Jean and I added a preface, 400 notes, an epilogue, and an index. We, of course, are biased and think this is the best edition of his book. Needless to say, the original edition is the best. We hope you enjoy Manly's words and our additions.

Appealing to the heroic in every person, a book to remember

Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 1999-03-05

As a descendant of William L. Manly, and as an avid reader of history, the book appealed to me. It is a tale of raw survival and heroism, as well as a testament to the pioneering spirit of people from our American past. It is also a book of human triumph over one of Mother nature's most trying environments on Earth. The easy-going narration of the events in William L. Manly's life draw you into the scenery, the essence of the beautiful, yet enigmatic desert which lures yet imposes such harsh demands on the body and soul. It seemed that the nearly intolerable conditions that William and his fellow pioneers endured were a kind of "Offering" to the desert, which is one of Mother nature's testing grounds of the human spirit.

Epic journey by an unsung American hero.

Helpful Votes: 6 out of 6 total.
Review Date: 1996-08-20

First hand account of pioneers crossing the American west in 1849. Epic and heroic in scope, Manly describes hardships and an America nearly lost to history. Where it survives is in the deserts and wastelands of Utah, Nevada and California. One will never be able to travel these regions without thinking of Manly, Rogers and the Bennet-Arcane party.

Borden Books