Bush Books

This book was very interesting. I really liked the funny things that Lisa did to her students. The dog was really a good dog and he was a real help to Matt. I liked this book very much and have told my friends to read it. I want to visit Alaska and see the Northern Lights.

Bush Flyer is a great adventure story about a boy named Matt and his mom, Lisa. They move from Seattle to Alaska through a set of strange situations. Matt must deal with the divorce of his parents, his mom not having a job, a move to a strange place, and surviving in Alaska...(think BRRRRR!). His mom gets a job as a teacher, and I laughed at the pranks the students played on her. What's also funny is how she got revenge. Matt becomes friends with a bush pilot who teaches him to fly, and they have several adventures together. This book has a little magical stuff, with wind chimes and the Northern Lights. Matt and his dog are involved in several exciting adventures. My favorite is the last one. I learned a lot about life in Alaska. Easy to read, funny, and a great book!

Bush Flyer is a great adventure story about a boy named Matt and his mom, Lisa. They move from Seattle to Alaska through a set of strange situations. Matt must deal with the divorce of his parents, his mom not having a job, a move to a strange place, and surviving in Alaska...(think BRRRRR!). His mom gets a job as a teacher, and I laughed at the pranks the students played on her. What's also funny is how she got revenge. Matt becomes friends with a bush pilot who teaches him to fly, and they have several adventures together. This book has a little magical stuff, with wind chimes and the Northern Lights. Matt and his dog are involved in several exciting adventures. My favorite is the last one. I learned a lot about life in Alaska. Easy to read, funny, and a great book!

Bush Flyer is a great adventure story about a boy named Matt and his mom. They move from Seattle to Alaska through some weird circumstances. Matt must deal with the divorce of his parents, his mom not having a job, a move to a strange place, and living in a place like Alaska... think BRRRRR!. His mom finds a job as a school teacher, and I laughed at the pranks the students played on her, and her revenge. Matt becomes friends with a bush pilot, who teaches him to fly, and they have several adventures together. This book combines a little bit of magical stuff, like wind chimes and the Northern Lights, but it seems very natural. Matt and his dog are involved in lots of exciting adventures. I learned a lot about life in Alaska. Easy to read, funny, and a great book!

Using "The Case That Must Not Be Named", Dr. Zelden shows in detail how the flaws in our electoral system can be, and were, used to manipulate the results of the vote. This is an important book: although many people would like to forget about Bush v. Gore, we need to look at the events in that election closely in order to make changes that will allow every vote to be counted. Unless and until the problems described are corrected, any close race in the future will continue to be vulnerable. It is essential to our democracy that these flaws be corrected so that we can have confidence in the system.

Dr. Zelden has written a gripping tale of the 2000 Bush v. Gore election. He offers a unbiased analysis of the case, exploring the philosophy underlying the actions of each justice. He invites us to reconsider the case apart from our personal views of the final outcome, and emphasizes the failures of the election SYSTEM, rather than the election of a president by judicial decree. The writing is excellent and the editing very well done. The only thing I might change is to add an early chapter exploring the wide variety of state laws that implement our system of indirectly electing an electoral college instead of directly voting for president. A close look at our election laws is like watching sausage being made. It will alarm the reader and demonstrate the need for increased uniformity.

Read this book before Nov. 4, 2008. It will convince you to vote early!

There could not be a more timely book than Charles Zelden's Bush v. Gore. Now would be the perfect time to pick up this book and learn what we, as a country, are facing with our almost precarious process of electing a president. This book is both comprehensive and well written. In spite of its detail, it reads like a detective novel. This book will be the go to source in years to come for those who want to read about the 2000 election--both for students doing research and for the reader looking for a gripping story to read. The Timeline of Events in Appendix 1 is invaluable. Zelden has written an evenhanded account that is destined to be the classic and definitive account of the election of 2000. We can hope that future elections do not necessitate a sequel.

If you thought you never wanted to hear or read another word about BUSH v. GORE, you must read this definitive examination of the most controversial Supreme Court case in modern times. Charles L. Zelden, an expert scholar of the history of voting rights and the American South, writes clearly and directly, without a wasted word. And even though you know the ending, you keep reading because this book is so well crafted and its story so well told. The research is thorough, scrupulous, and easily followed. Zelden has done a fine job of blending conventional primary sources such as legal briefs, court cases, and newspaper, magazine, and book accounts with Internet sources; his judgment is always sound, and you can take his research to the bank and get a loan on it.

With all these virtues, the book's most important achievement is its central thesis. The story of BUSH v. GORE is about more than the bitter contest over who would be declared the winner of the 2000 presidential election. Zelden proves that BUSH v. GORE is the tip of a great and threatening iceberg. In Zelden's view, the American electoral system is broken, and BUSH v. GORE was the danger signal that we all should have heeded. This argument has nothing to do with the electoral college. Instead it has to do with the ways that we register voters, cast votes, tabulate votes, and count votes. For at least two generations, we have run our elections on the cheap -- entrusting them (for reasons mixing constitutional habit, laziness, and stinginess) to local partisan officials; tolerating widespread disparities in voting methods; and allowing our electoral infrastructure to deteriorate over time while we tell ourselves that every vote counts and every vote is counted.

Zelden does an extraordinary job of historical detective work, in establishing how a political contest turned into several different kinds of legal brawl, and how the tangled set of cases making up the BUSH v. GORE litigation made its want to the Supreme Court. His careful analysis of why the Justices formed their views and then decided the case the way they did is a model for any student of the Court's workings. Most important of all, in Zelden's fast-paced and persuasive study, two points about the Court's handling of BUSH v. GORE loom large:

* First, the Court could and should have made its position that the equal-protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment should govern issues of administering elections the law of the land rather than limiting that principle to the facts of the case. Such a principle would have revolutionized federal elections law and led to uniform national standards for conducting elections and voting, eliminating the crazy-quilt pattern of pointless diversity that plagues all elections to this day.

* Second, the Court could and should have put the nation on notice that the ways that we run elections today threaten to undermine constitutional democracy and require immediate fixing. A mandate of that sort, issued by either a unanimous Court or a seven-vote majority, would have forced the rest of the government into action to remedy the problems that led to BUSH v. GORE.

The Court failed to do both these things, rendering BUSH v. GORE an opportunity lost -- or, perhaps, an opportunity thrown away.

Zelden concludes that the situation we saw in BUSH v. GORE could have happened in any one of the fifty states in 2000 -- and could happen again today.

This book is essential reading for anyone who cares about democracy and the idea that in the United States, the people govern.

I have known Charles Zelden for a long time, and I read this book in manuscript. Even the demands of friendship would not have benn enough to keep me reading had this book not been as good as I've described.

Anyone that loves Bush as much as I do will enjoy reading this book. It is really informative to when they were young to how they are now. Not to mention the interesting chapter where Jasmine speaks about her time with Gavin. There might not be that many pics but the words that he speaks makes up more than enough. In one of the lines he says it is like the eye in the calm of the storm. How poetic. Just "Brilliant"

i have this book, along with all of the books about BUSH, and i found this book to be really really cool and entertaining. it has rare facts about the band, and it even has really cute baby pics of everyone.

If you're a diehard Bush fan, you'll have no problem with this bio... but if you're a sometimes Bush fan, you might find it hard to get through... I know it's a bio, but it needs more pictures! Excellent reference for Bush webmasters...

Jennifer Nine is a goddess to Bush fans evrywhere! At last someone gives Bush the credit they deserve. And with such an emotional power! Read it, listen to bush, read it again, listen to more bush, read it....

El magnifico Mexicano autor Carlos Fuentes nos ofrece sus opiniones sobre el Presidente Bush y como afecta Los Estados Unidos y el mundo en general. Mas bien el libro es como una seria de reflexiones como un diario sobre importante datos entre los anos Agosto de 2000 y Junio 2004. Es muy interestante,leer sus opiniones anos despues de varios asuntos que han pasado y ya podendo entender el afecto sobre el politico y economias del mundo. En realidad son opiniones y por eso no pueden ser corecto ni falso, son eso y nada mas, opiniones pero por refexiones de un intelectual internacional con capaz de hacer te pensar sobre sus ideas. Yo no estaba de acuerdo con todo lo que dice el senor Fuentes pero como tengo mucho respecto por Carlos Fuentes queria entender sus opiniones. Tambien tengo respecto para el Presidente Bush y el asunto en que nos encontramos . Aungue las ideas son generalmente como el titulo del libre, contra Bush, puedes leer este libro con una mente abrierto y ser mejor por el. Las ideas sobre el petropoder y la guerra tienen una linea transversal que es deficil disputar pero tambien hay otras razones que no estan explorado. Fuentes no dice nada nuevo pero siempre tiene un modo de presentar sus ideas con color y pensamiento. Las nociones de Fuentes son contra mis ideas pero sin embargo los entiendo y algunos hasta tienen merito. Te recomendo este libro y despues de leer usted puedes tener tu propia opinion sobre sus analysis.

He recibido comentarios de personas americanas de que como alguien que no nacio ni vive en los Estados Unidos puede escribir un libro criticando al gobierno de Washington D.C.

Primero, me parece excelente que un intelectual mexicano haga una sintesis tan completa de ideas que le han surgido a lo largo del gobierno de W. Bush. El compendio de pensamientos del autor a lo largo de este desastroso gobierno americano sintetiza la frustracion de todos los que hemos tenido el tiempo de pensar cada paso que ha dado la administracion actual.

Segundo, los americanos tienden a meter sus narices en cada rincon de nuestros paises e incluso a hablar con supuesta propiedad y conocimiento de todos los temas e.g. el alegado alcoholismo de Lula puesto al "descubierto" por un periodista yanqui. Da gusto leer un libro tan critico al gobierno americano escrito con tanto conocimiento del tema y entendimiento del entorno completo.

Tercero, no se necesita ser adivino ni pensador de tiempo completo para darse cuenta de los atropellos al orden mundial que se hacen todos los dias por el gobierno de W. Bush. Fuentes hace alusion de los mejores momentos de esta administracion en el ambito de destruir tratados, acuerdos y relaciones internacionales para el unico objetivo de permanecer y enriquecerse.

Este libro no dice nada nuevo, los que hemos seguido el curso de la administracion Bush y sobretodo hemos dedicado el tiempo a pensar y reflexionar cada movimiento de su gobierno nos hemos dado cuentas de lo que se incluye y mas; pero es muy valioso el trabajo de Fuentes al atreverse a escribir lo que escribe y sobretodo al opinar tan abiertamente del desastre ideologico, politico e intelectual de W. Bush y su grupo nefasto en el poder.

Hoy dia para W. Bush es prioridad su bolsillo y el fundamentalismo neoconservador en el que vive Washington D.C. El mundo entero le grita en su cara otro tipo de prioridades: libertad, democracia, justicia, salud, alimentacion, investigaciones, entre muchisimas mas.

Estoy de acuerdo que este libro realmente no tiene nada "nuevo" a decir sobre la presidencia de George W. Bush. Sin embargo, es una obra mas filosofica que pone el presidente en el contexto del mundo y de la historia (hay muchos libros contraBushistas que enfocan solamente en el pueblo de los Estados Unidos, o que contienen paginas de especulaciones sin raices: estas cosas no encontrarás en Contra Bush). Por eso, vale la pena leerlo y tenerlo en tu coleccion.

Este libro es muy importante y tiene que ser leído por todos los latinos que viven en los Estados Unidos. Ahora bajo la administración de Bush todo ha sido hecho un caos de nuestra economía y de las pólizas internacionales con otros países, empezando con la guerra y las armas de "terrorismo". Fuentes es muy atrevido en escribir un libro con un tema llamado Contra Bush pero se supone que en este país uno tiene libertad de decir lo que uno quiera. Pero no me sorprendería si eso cambia también porque ahora hasta están cambiando la constitución bajo esta administración. Lo que es frustrante es que libros come este y películas como del Sr. Moore no hicieron ninguna diferencia en la ultima elección en Noviembre. La administración de Bush esta ganando el voto Latino, y una de las medias es por la televisión porque ahora esta metiendo políticos en canales Norte Americanos como Univision y Telemundo.

Professor Marjorie Cohn provides a much needed review of the Bush administration's legal record - from launching a "preemptive" war on the basis of palpable falsehoods, to advocating and even practicing torture at Guantanamo and by proxy through "extraordinary renditions," to warrantless wiretaps and spying on Americans, to overreaching claims of executive power that ignore validly passed laws and upset the framers' careful balance of constitutional powers.

Professor Cohn's book shows how an administration that claims a high regard for democracy and the rule of law has in truth demonstrated a deep-seated contempt for both -- explaining why the rest of the world is so fast losing faith in America and her ideals.

Professor Cohn's book should help Americans to come to terms with the harm that the Bush administration has done so far. And that, I believe, is a critical step to restoring our national decency and honor.

Eric Alan Isaacson

Daniel Ellsberg likes this book and so do I. Geoffrey Stone, foremost constitutional scholar, likes this book, and so do I.

It is a scholarly and complete exposition of a vital subject, the ruination of our country both inside and outside. Ms. Cohn skillfully describes the Bush-led hollowing-out of our former constitutional liberties coupled with a catastrophic war. Marjorie Cohn, President of the National Lawyers Guild, an organization of lawyers who value human rights over property rights, uses the analytical abilities of a skilled lawyer and law professor to point the way out of the mess.

Ms. Cohn's writing makes you want to read on and on, and lay all other things aside until the book is read. How many books of any kind do that to you?

Marjorie Cohn, a law professor from San Diego and the head of the National Lawyers Guild, lays out the evidence in a scathing indictment of the current president and his administration. Professor Cohn explains step by step so that anyone, with or without a legal background can understand just exactly what is happening to our country. She explains how the president and his minions lied to the American people to "sell" the war in Iraq, how the executive sanctions torture and murder, how our civil liberties are being threatened and actually taken away and most importantly, in my mind, how the president refuses to enforce the laws he disagrees with and sets himself up as a constitutional scholar interpreting the law to decide which laws are constitutional and which are not. This is a usurpation of power that is unprecedented in this country and is startling in the fact that Congress has become complicit in this "crime." The president has refused to enforce more than 750 laws acording to one article cited by Professor Cohn, by using signing statements in approving laws he objects to rather than simply vetoing them. These statements have been used by other Presidents to explain how the law in question will benefit the American people but in Bush's hands they are used interpret Congress's intent, a violation of the separation of powers, among other problems. Please read this book. Nothing could be more important, regardless of your political affiliation.

What a well-reasoned legal analysis of Bush administration actions and policies. This administration is tried and found guilty. If you're looking for talking points to refute right-wing friends or talking heads, this book argues them for you in clear convincing language.

More than one person has written on this page that Vannevar Bush is "little known", "forgotten", etc. I am only 54 years old, but I remember seeing Bush's name in print many, many times while growing up. He was always described as crucial to American military and technological supremacy since 1943 or so. A few of his accomplishments: He mobilized American science and engineering during WWII. His leadership was crucial to the Manhattan project. His differential analyzer led to MIT's Lincoln Labs playing an important role in the rise of information technology. He was Claude Shannon's teacher.

Zachary deserves great credit for writing a book that offers many virtues and lessons of lasting relevance. Because the author's commitment is worthy of his subject, this book should have timeless value. The roles for science and technology and how best to harness them for prosperity and for security to enable the preservation of peace are questions which transcend any particular time.

The subtitle, Engineer of the American Century, is justified. Bush contributed to American society in many ways. He was a fecund, tireless inventor, helping launch Raytheon Corporation. He was dedicated to boosting the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and thereby strengthening society through teaching and seeking practical knowledge. He was a pioneer and convenor of advances in computing.

Clear-mindedly appreciating the gathering evil of Nazi Germany, Bush decided to do something, as typical. He left MIT and got to Washington as head of the Carnegie Institution. Though a Republican, he persuaded President Franklin Roosevelt that those who were technically educated needed to be harnessed within a National Defense Research Committee, in service to their nation's needs. By helping harness the extraordinary abilities of civilian and academic technologists to serve their nation in meeting the challenges of World War II, Bush helped unleash a cornucopia of inventions and advances in thinking, with extraordinary economic legacies (computing, electronics, medicine, radar).

A few words from Zachary:
--Bush's "was a life not of looking back, but of charging ahead."
--He had a "commitment to excellence and integrity that reinforced his belief in the power of one person to make a difference."
--"Bush shared Eisenhower's unease about the alliance between academia, the military, and industry"
--"The proliferation of nuclear weapons, the rise of environmental hazards, and the evident political partisanship of many scientists - all combined to engender a cynicism in the public about the aims and evidence of science."

Several other books of possible interest in relation to the contributions of technologists:
Philip Taubman, Secret Empire (2003)
James Phinney Baxter, Scientists Against Time (1946)
Biographies of Edwin Land
James Killian, Sputniks, Scientists, and Eisenhower (1977). Killian was a 1950s Bush, down to earth and his book is movingly endowed with wisdom.

A very interesting and thorough biography of Vannevar Bush, who more than any other individual is responsible (for good or for ill) for the shape of today's scientific establishment. Well-written and engaging, with lots of interesting historical tidbits and good insight on the personalities involved. Excellent!

This is a very well written and entertaining book about a scientific administrator who played a major effort in organizing the technical responses required to anticipate and successfully meet the challenges of WWII. His skillful analysis, technical comprehension and political astuteness not only provided outstanding leadership at the time but shaped the intractions of goverment, industry and the academic community in such a fashion as to remain intact to this time. One comes awawy with an enormous respect for Dr. Bush. He must have been one tough character and difficult to deal with but he got the jobs done. It is a pity that his battles with Admiral Ernest King have, to my knowledge, never been documented. The issues they disagreed about were not trivial and their interactions must have been awesome. I read this book shortly after completing Tycho's Island and the similarity between the two men and the administrative issues they dealt with is both striking and illuminating.

Good men are hard to find and good books about them deserve our attention.

Tim continues to produce wonderful children's literature. This book of poetry reminded me of the style of Shel Silvertein. Tim's artwork is as valuable as his words - as usual. I recommend not only this book - but all Tim's books. They have humor in words and detailed art that will entertain and entertain while fueling the imagination!

I just saw an advance copy of this great poetry book for kids! In the tradition of A.A. Milne, but energetic and fun-packed for today's generation.

Every child has some word or phrase that becomes *his* for a short time. For my little guy at fifteen months old, it's "Steamrollers!"

Delightful art, wonderful execution, and a dollop of Seussian scansion ("seventh-eighths riot and one-quarter zoo" could have come from the Doctor). Only brevity keeps this from being a five-star selection -- boy & I both wanted MORE.

Bravo Tim for a great piece of work.

This is one of the funniest childrens books I have read. My daughter loves having me read it to her, and I enjoy it just as much. I highly recommend it!

This is a great book, written by a guy who has more combat jumps than ANYONE in the US or UK military (well, that's unsubstanitated...but I'm pretty sure.) The book's about a conscript who signs on to become a regular in the Rhodesian Security Forces, Rhodesian Light Infantry. These guys jumped in combat several times a week. The American Paratroopers who had the most jumps in WW2 had maybe 5 combat jumps. The author had close to 40. I cannot say enought good things about this book. It's well written and easy to read. Very informative and full of good information. I'm reading these books to get insight on how to win against guerillas. The Rhodesians won militarily, but lost due to politics. It's the typical story of how the military does the right thing, fights well and wins, but is held back by gutless politicians. OK enough rant from me. The book is good. Lots of action, lots of detail. I'm not a professional reviewer (as if you couldn't tell), but this book was great! One of those that I didn't want to be over! The only better book I've read on the Rhodesian Bush War is At The Going Down Of The Sun, by Charlie Warren, another trooper that served with the author in the same unit. Both books are good and highly reccomended.

The first time I could find this book at a reasonable price I jumped right on it. For some reason I have a fascination with the Rhodesian Bush War, so I was really happy to see this edition available. The story and the writing are compelling. Chris Cocks does a very good job of making you feel like you're jumping on to helicopters and going on patrols with him -- and the frustration at every turn. Highly recommended.

Story of a time when the world looked the other way and a lot of good people got s*****d over by Politicians, as usual. This is the inside detail of one of the finest Regiments ever to exist.
Spot on Chris, could see the barracks gates again and, almost smell it.
Good job.

For those (like me) who are not familiar with the war in Rhodesia, this is a good introduction. It's readable, interesting, and insightful. Worth the $.

Now here is a really great educational book! I wanted to give this book together with Women's Letters by Lisa Gruenwald. Buy these together and have a wonderful women's birthday or Mother's Day gift.
JQ

This made a wonderful gift that keeps "on giving."
The facts are interesting and unusual and it's good to have an insight into the women behind the men that have been in office.
Quite frankly I think most of them could have done a better job than their husbands.
Would highly recommend this to anyone for a good read and quick reference.

I am teaching an extra-curricular high school class this semester on the history of U.S. presidents and wives. This book has some very interesting information on the wives of the presidents. I have found fascinating tidbits from this book which kept my students interested even when the presidents might have proven boring! I am enjoying reading the book on a personal note too!

This huge book bollows Mr. Harris earlier book The Presidents Fact Book where he talked of the Achievements, Events, People, Triumphs, and Tragedies of Every President. Obviously in this book he is not talking about the presidents but their wives.

The first ladies have had their own share of the making of history. In recent years, Jackie Kennedy did a lot towards the creation of the Camelot image of the Kennedy years. Hillary Clinton is certainly remembered for her efforts towards creating universal health care.

These are just two small details of the lives of two first ladies. This book has over 700 pages about their lives, their interests, their activities in the white house and the way that they worked with their husbands to assist in the governance of the country.

And yes, there is a color section of pictures featuring mostly the clothes they wore.

My book came in truly excellent condition. Not a page was dog-eared, annotated, or anything. It was in even better condition than I expected. If I ever need anything in the future, I'll definitely come back here.

To be perfectly honest, after reading the first few pages of Havana Black by Leonardo Padura I hoped the main character, Inspector Mario Conde, might drink himself to death so I wouldn't have to suffer through 200 more pages. It probably has the most morose beginning to a novel I have ever read, and not having read the first book in the series, Havana Red, I had no attachment to "The Count" as they call Conde. Not one to give up easily I kept going and once the Count described his new and last case as "tasty" I knew the book was going to be good, but I didn't know it would be that good.

The story begins as the Havana police department has recently cleaned house of its corrupt officers; Conde resigns due to loyalty to his boss, but is asked back to solve one last case before his discharge papers will be signed. The case involves a murdered defector who is found floating in the sea, castrated, and throughout the book the sordid past dealings of the victim are uncovered. The fascinating portrait of a man who took advantage of the government's "re-appropriation" of confiscated property after the Revolution unravels some of the mystery as to how communism was adapted in a Latin American country, a great primer for those who don't know much about communism in Cuba. My hunch as to the killer's identity for once was right but that doesn't mean the mystery was predictable, rather the reader has a chance to form his or her own opinion amongst the suspects and the unexpected plot twists.

The real gem of this novel, however, is the main character, the Count. Mr. Padura shows us how complicated it was to have grown up during the Revolution, how the dreams of young men were shaped and changed by the events that unfolded. The Count longs for old times in some sense but also for a better future where he can rid himself of the demons he has gathered in his 36 years. The passage about his mother and the four kisses they shared each year until she died, and his regret at not having been more affectionate with her was beautiful and sad. I also enjoyed the descriptions of the Count's "family" of friends and their support for each other since boyhood.

The writing style of this book can be difficult at times; there are no chapters to tell you when one thought or scene is ending, and the author sometimes launches into a description of an event or person that lasts a page or two before the reader can fully understand who or what he is describing. But once the cast of characters is set, and the scenes known, everything begins to fall into place and the book is not only worth reading as a mystery, but as a poetic look into complex and humble lives.

After the dismissal of his boss from the police Mario Conde hands in his resignation also. He is frustrated by the wave of corruption uncovered within the force and the blame directed at this long time mentor. But his letter of resignation is not accepted by the new Police Chief. In order for Mario to earn it he must solve the murder of a recently discovered corpse. If he can find the murderer within three days he can retire from the job for which he has lost his taste. The corpse of Miguel Forcade was found on a Havana Beach, killed by a blow to the head but also with his genitals cut off. After defecting from Cuba this is the first time Forcade had returned to his parent's house. Mario must sort through the history of stolen and confiscated artwork and Forcade's reticent family members to discover the truth.

As Hurricane Felix approaches the island of Cuba, building in speed and strength so does the pace of the story build and expand. It is an impending storm that mimics the suspense of the story, from the case to the anticipated retirement of Mario from the police force to his up coming 36th birthday. The hurricane is not only Mario's fixation, it is the winds of time approaching the shores of modern Cuba. The hurricane becomes a main character of this mystery, waiting in the wings to make a sweeping entrance, perhaps wiping clean both the murder and the corruption of the times.

This is a detective story for the senses, a tale that unfolds by sights, sounds and smell. The land of Cuba, its people and its history are seen and felt through the descriptive prose of Padura. With sentences that extend 18 lines or more, Peter Black has been able to translate the Spanish phrasing into masterful English. The prose is not for those looking for an easy to read, common crime noir but for those seeking a uncommon piece of literature.

Havana Police Lieutenant Mario Conde just wants to do the right thing on the job though the Party makes that difficult. However, he is irate and bitter over the forced replacement of his professional supervisor by a party hack; he deems the job is not worth the political correctness that previously was overwhelming, but now is impossible to navigate without connections. This Conde decides to join many other professionals by hiding behind rum and cigarettes, preferably imported from another Caribbean island or the States.

However, a fascinating case comes his way so he agrees to put aside the rum, but not the cigarettes to investigate the homicide of a former minister whose job was to seize pre-revolutionary art. The victim was castrated before he had his head smashed to smithereens. Besides the violence, Conde wonders why someone living safely in a relatively luxurious lifestyle in Florida would return to Cuba where he had many enemies. Conde assumes if he can learn that he can figure out the motivation and consequently identify the culprit though a Communist hack accompanies him to insure he investigates in accordance with State policy as the unwritten ones arehe most dangerous all before a hurricane hits.

HAVANA BLACK, the sequel to the superb HAVANA RED, is an excellent Cuban police procedural that provides readers with a terrific investigation while guiding the audience around Havana three decades after the Communist revolution. The case is top rate as it provides insight into the Florida exile community, the impoverish masses left behind on the island, and the Party hacks. Few writers can paint a picture of optimism and pessimism with the same stroke as Leonard Padura does through his hero. The Two colorful Havana tales are winners worth reading unless you are an exile or a Fidel-phile.

Harriet Klausner