Elliott Books

This is a compelling read. Arguably, the author does speculate a good bit on the life on Christ, but then he states that so much is unknown about Christ's life that any writer or reader would have to fill in the gaps. The author does an admirable job of doing so with intelligent details and a resonating voice. What struck me the most about this work is how beautifully rendered the historical scenes are. The Autobiography of Christ lends itself to a certain majesty, which is understated and elegant.

I had expected much more from an author so sure of his own abilities, and after reading other reviews. I am afraid I must agree with an earlier review ... Mr. Elliott seems only intent on making a fast buck.

I found this book a non-intimidating way to learn more about the life of Jesus. Reading the bible was a bit overwhelming but Mr. Elliott took this complex story and turned it into a believable and interesting chat. I would recommend it to families for story hour and anyone else that would enjoy a story about a truly magnificient gentleman that walked among us long long ago.

This is an amazing look at Jesus. I was really moved, and I felt much closer to my faith. This crossed a lot of bridges for me, and answered a lot of questions I had long been struggling with. I loved this book.

Couldn't Put It Down! Fascinating!
Who would have thought that this old, familiar story which everybody knows could be told again in such a gripping, evocative way? And yet be so faithful to the literal Gospels? He had blonde hair, blue eyes, and a very fancy barmitzvah. I've read other books purporting to be Jesus' story in his own words, but nothing like this. Norman Mailer's book was almost fundamentalist in its exaggerated, walking-on-eggs reverence for Jesus--I had expected something more daring. Other stories, like JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, attempt to make a joke out of Jesus ' ministry and the Gospels, although it's the most serious story ever told. Elliott's long interview with Jesus, on the other hand, is neither overtly fearful of making waves, or a satire. It's just a man talking about his life. And according to the Gospels, Jesus' was a very human life indeed. Was he God incarnate? Maybe. Was he the son of God? Definitely. Did he fulfill the Jewish prophecies of a Messiah? Absolutely, according to Isaiah, Zechariah, and The Book of Wisdom. There are those who say that he never lived, but who would invent such a story? What cult would give us a canon the 4 books of which-- the Gospels---contradict each other so much that they can only be true? What cult would give us a divinity so weak and flawed that his enemies trampled him with impunity and men turned away? No, Jesus' basic story can only be true. He gave us a new way of looking at the world, and Elliott has captured both his godliness and his humanity perfectly. This is a god who knows how to weep and tastes human life in all its tragedies, pain, happiness and joy.

As a chronic sufferer of Back Pain, I find the recommendations in the book, Beyond Aspirin, are not only useful, but they work!!! I have suffered chronic back pain for twenty years now. All the drugs I took for the pain just gave me a bleeding ulcer ten years ago. For the last ten years I have just dealt with the pain, avoiding all the anti-inflammitory drugs. Well, here is the cure I needed. Beyond Aspirin discusses natural approaches to pain and inflammation management and it really works. While Advil and Naproxen still left me with a dull throbbing pain and ill feeling, the herbs discussed work 100% for me and leave me feeling healthy!! There is a product found at health food stores called ZYFLAMEND that has all the herbs listed in the book, and it does not cost too much. Go for it! Tell the world that there is an alternative to pharmaceuticals!!!

On the basis of a feverishly enthusiastic recommendation from a long-time friend, I purchased (from amazon.com) and read Beyond Aspirin, by Thomas M Newmark & Paul Schulick, in order to attempt to form an objective opinion. I was very interested in trying to learn how the two authors, neither of whom possesses any discernible medical or scientific credentials that I have yet discovered, were able to solve the mysteries of diseases like arthritis, cancer and Alzheimer's disease.

After reading this book, the bottom line for me is that, while I find it conceivable that many of the authors' assertions in this book may one day be proven to have been 100% correct, I find it impossible to substantiate today that they are correct on the basis of the data they provide in the book to support their positions.

The authors assert that it is now established that "COX-2 inflammation" causes rheumatoid arthritis, cancer and Alzheimer's disease and recommend that herbal remedies, which incorporate constituents that inhibit the production of the COX-2 enzyme, be taken for prevention and treatment of these diseases.

I have two problems with accepting these assertions:

(1) After checking the websites of accepted medical authorities, including those of the Mayo Clinic and Johns Hopkins, I can find no independent corroboration for the assertion that recognized medical experts today know the cause of these diseases, nor can I find any mention of the term, "COX-2 inflammation".

(2) In Beyond Arthritis, the authors never seem to me to substantiate their assertions with verifiable data. Instead, the "support" they offer seems to fall exclusively into one of the following three categories of "proof":

· More assertions ("It is known that . .", etc.) without data

· References to "studies" which purport to support the authors' claims, but without attribution, leaving me unable to validate or invalidate the claim

· Occasional references to studies that I was able to find and examine but which, once I carefully studied the original document, failed to support the authors' assertions.

In the following example, a speculation by the scientists who conducted the study was taken out of context and presented as a "conclusion" in order to support the central premise of Beyond Aspirin.

Page 50 Beyond Aspirin: "A recent study, published in the U.S. government's Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, identifies some of green tea's prominent constituents called polyphenols (GTP) as causing a "marked reduction" in COX-2 induced arthritis. The scientists from Case Western Reserve University concluded in this study that a "polyphenic fraction from green tea that is rich in antioxidants may be useful in the prevention of onset and severity of arthritis."

That sounded pretty convincing to me at first glance. Had I been reading superficially and uncritically, my tendency might have been to conclude that such a prestigious research institution recommends that we should drink green tea to prevent and treat arthritis. However, that's not actually what it says. Also, the phrase "COX-2 induced arthritis" is from Newmark and Schulick, not the study. It is not a term used anywhere in the study they cite.

When I found the actual report itself on the website of the National Academy of Sciences, I discovered that the scientists from Case Western who conducted this study:

(a) Used the following "green tea polyphenic fraction": ". . dried green tea leaves were extracted twice with hot water and three times with 80% ethanol under nitrogen. The combined extract was concentrated and then extracted with an equal volume of chloroform. The aqueous layer was extracted three times with ethyl acetate under nitrogen, and the total organic soluble fraction was concentrated under vacuum, dissolved in water, and freeze-dried . ." (N.B. That is not "green tea" and may well have properties that differ from those of "green tea".)

(b) Administered this "herbal extract" to 18 mice in a scientifically accepted, but artificial, chemically-induced, experimental model of arthritis. That is, the scientists speculated that this "polyphenic fraction", not "green tea", might conceivably have salutary effects in human beings based upon the results of a small mouse study, not on results in actual people with arthritis.

While it is certainly customary in the conclusions of scientific papers reporting on animal studies for the authors to speculate about possible effects in human beings, I feel that the authors of Beyond Arthritis could have better served their readers by fully describing the basis of the scientists' speculation -- and by making it clear that it was only a speculation and an extrapolation to a totally different species, not a "conclusion" based upon observed effects in human beings.

This is not to say that green tea isn't good for patients with arthritis (it may very well be), but I don't think one can intelligently reach that conclusion on the basis of this kind of "data".

I also found myself puzzled by the inclusion of the impressive list of references at the end of the book (which added 53 pages to its length). Because they're not referenced to specific statements in the book (as is normally done for the purpose of enabling the reader to verify sources), I don't understand the intended function of this long list for the reader.

In conclusion, while I found Beyond Aspirin to be entertainingly written, I was unable to independently verify any of the authors' major assertions and thus I remain skeptical of the authors' proposal that it is sensible to use herbal remedies to prevent and/or treat diseases such as arthritis, cancer and Alzheimer's Disease.

I was suspect when I discovered this book racked in my local health food store right next to an herbal product developed by the authors that "coincidentally" blocks the COX2 enzyme mentioned in this book. Does that invalid the book? No, but it casts doubt on the authors true motives for writing it.

Beyond Aspirin may be a good book for alternative health care practitioners, but of little use to a patient who wants immediate useful information. It delves into complex metabolic chemistry and the chemical makeup of herbs, but not into how you'd go about using them on your own (with the exeception of green tea - drink lots of it, the authors tell us). They tell us how great ginger and tumeric are for reducing inflammation, but omit telling us how much fresh ginger or tumeric is useful for tonic or therapeutic dosages, and then tout the wonders of extracts of these plants. Then, they don't tell us what dosages are useful if you get extracts. If there were a companion volume to this book for civilians, it would be a great service to people who would like to experiment with their claims. As it stands, the book is incomplete.

I like this book for the list of helpful herbs to add to your diet and personal care plan but the science is sketchy.

The discovery of the COX-2 inhibitors is a major breakthrough, but there isn't much research to connect it with other than some phenomenology about the effects of certain herb components on these enzymes.

Part of the problem with pharmacological research on herbals is that the research requires the isolation of one component of the herb and studying its effects on physiological and biochemical reactions in a controlled manner. This is science. Herb preparations, however, as the author points out, are complex mixtures of compounds. Traditional Chinese Medicine, in fact, requires a mixture of herbals to balance their effects.

Having said all that, is this book worthwhile? I think the advice here, on using certain herbs, and some in oil applied to the skin can have a good effect for a number of ailments. I use some of these myself (ginger and rosemary, for example.) But to assure oneself that these herbs will prevent Alzheimer's and other diseases? It's impossible to know. However, the herbs are pleasant and this book lists some excellent herbal treatments. Just be sure to mention them to your doctor, as some herbs have counteractive effects on prescription drugs.

Pros: Interesting story with creative plot twists and colorful imagery.
Cons: Syntax was difficult to follow. Sentences are not constructed logically so it is hard to understand what is being conveyed, and also hard to follow. Main character is not relatable to most readers. She is hard to conceive - she is at times portrayed as an elderly prude and at other times as a maniacal sex fiend. She is from obscene wealth and class, and views everyone snobbishly. Yet she is eccentric and crazy. It is difficult to walk in her shoes because so few people have. Her husband leaves her for a younger, sexier woman and she just lets him walk away with a "nice to know you" at the moment the departure is announced. What kind of woman lets her man walk away just like that, without saying horrible words and throwing breakable, sharp objects? The narration alternates randomly between first and third persons. I realize the story is a woman's descent from class to crazy, and maybe the switching between viewpoints deals with this, but it is very confusing and I believe it could have been handled better.

A somewhat comical story of what appears to be a bordilne and biporal woman in the midst of a life crisis. A fun read.

In his recent autobiography, Gardner Botsford tells that the mother of "Punch" Sulzberger of the NY Times experienced the stop in the mortuary rest room followed by the unexpected legacy that forms the climax of Donleavy's novelette.

Those who have read "The Ginger Man" will not be surprised by Donleavy's quirky style. Those who have not will find that book to be both much longer and much more rewarding.

The central twist in this novella---the unforseen consequence of the heroine's trip into the mortuary---is recounted as a true incident by Gardner Botsford in his autobiography, "A Life of Privilege, Mostly," (January, 2003). The woman in Botsford's account is the mother of "Punch" Sulzberger of the NY Times.

The peculiar writing style should not surprise one who has read any other of Donleavy's books but it will surprise one who hasn't. Those who want to savor Donleavy should read "The Ginger Man," a substantially longer work that is enormously more rewarding.

This is the only novel written in the 20th centuary that can compare to the Great Gatsby in its story of the infinite sadness and subtlety of lost love. Here we have a tale so poignant and devastatingly memorable - a tale of a still beautiful woman of only 42 years, divorced, bereft and lonely in her mansion of equisite taste and infinite emptiness - her children ignoring her in their quest for their new lives and her former husband moving on to a younger woman - whose only wish is to sit her ass on a clean surface. who would have thought that her lonely search for meaning through art could have led her to a funeral home and to a surprising and haunting ending to her tale?

I rarely write reviews but I had to for this outstanding series. The author held my interest in the characters and plot from Volume 1 through Volume 7. She (Elliott) uses language beautifully, develops characters (both human and non-human) in depth, and provides a plot that is suspenseful and has an inner consistency. This is excellent high fantasy.

In general this is a good series and I enjoy the way the author writes.

I have come to believe, however, that any series of more than 3-5 books just gets too long. There can be too many side plots which can get too involved or the characters start dealing with variations of the same problems and you begin to loose interest.

Crown of Stars (2006) is the seventh Fantasy novel in the Crown of Stars series, following In The Ruins. In the previous volume, the land of the Ashioi became fertile again. Kansi, the Impatient One, was elected as Feather Cloak and led the Ashioi to war with the humans. Fleeing the forces of Queen Adelheid with Blessing as his prisoner, Hugh of Austra crossed the strand below the band of destruction and surrendered to the Ashioi. The new Feather Cloak didn't trust him, but used his skills as a mathematicus to weave the crowns. Blessing joyfully became shieldbearer to Zuangua, her great-uncle.

Queen Adelheid and Holy Mother Antonia were joined by the Arethousan general Lord Alexandros. They agreed to send galla seeking for Sanglant and Liath. Meanwhile, Sanglant and Liath inspected the shoreline of the northern sea; he also observed the clouds that covered the sun, but released not a drop of rain.

In this novel, Sanglant takes his King's Progress through immense destruction and overcast skies. Everywhere they go, starving men, women and children beg for food. Farmers are afraid to plant their seed because of the recurring frosts. Vermin swarms eat food stores. Wild beasts attack the herds and even people. Bandits loot and kill at isolated farms and hamlets. Although King Sanglant provides good advice and some assistance, people will mostly have to solve their own problems until the weather clears.

Alain and his hounds walk over backwood paths. They come to a windrow where the great storms have thrown down massive trees. He can climb over, but not with the dogs. He walks along the blockage until he comes to a lesser pile among the fallen trees. After lifting over the dogs, he makes his way through the branches, but stops when he hears something large walk by on the other side of the leaves. He and his dogs remain quiet until the thing wanders off.

As Alain continues on, he meets a small party hunting for a monster. From their description, Alain recognizes the nature of the beast: a guivre. He warns them to leave the animal alone, for it doesn't attack those who don't bother it; otherwise, they will be turned to stone. The group return to their village, but the man Atto and his woman then travel on with Alain to Autun.

When they arrive at Autun, Atto joins Lady Sabella's milites, but is ordered to first lead them to the guivre. Alain is known to Sabella, pretender to the throne, and her husband Lord Conrad and is offered the restoral of his county of Lavas. As he is considering the offer, he rides with the hunters.

Lady Bertha leads a road-weary band of clerics and soldiers toward Saony. They are refused refuge in a hastily fortified village and have to camp in the ruins of Augensburg. During the night, Ashioi attack with poison arrows, but Sorgatani walks among them and they die one by one at the sight of her.

The following morning, the survivors gather their dead and bury them. Among the casualties is Lady Bertha, who is buried separately. The Ashioi are left untouched where they fell; their killer, the shaman Sorgatani, is almost left behind, but Hanna convinces the leaders to take her with them. They trudge off toward Saony under the leadership of Sister Rosvita.

The King's Progress comes to Walburg in time to celebrate the Translatus. Biscop Alberada leaves to return to Handelburg and Margrave Gerberga declares her intentions to leave for her lands of Austra and Olsatia. Sanglant relaxes amidst his peers and family in an amicable, but bickering, atmosphere. Liath goes to talk with Hedwig, a retired Eagle, who knows more about Wolfhere, the former Eagle who had betrayed Liath to the Seven Sleepers.

That night, Prince Ekkehard runs off with Lady Theucinda, youngest daughter of Margrave Judith. Sanglant and others chase him down, guided by the folk of the countryside. They confront him in a clearing, where he refuses to return to his wife. There four galla attack, three for Liath and one for Sanglant. She picks off three with arrows fletched with griffin feathers and, as these flick out of existence, Sanglant gets the last one with a handheld arrow.

This novel concludes the Crown of Stars series. Although the nobility continues to act foolishly, the regnancy of Wendar and Verre passes on to a reasonable pair of rulers. The church reconstitutes itself and accepts new dogma. Problems that have been insurmountable are found to have a solution. But none of this happens in a manner that the reader would have foretold.

Although this series has stretched interminably, the ending is very satisfactory. Now the author is free to start a new series (hint, hint).

Highly recommended to Elliott fans and to anyone else who enjoys tales of high adventure, high and low magic, and twisty plotting.

-Arthur W. Jordin

I had trouble with the last volume, but this finale has cemented Kate Elliott as one of my very favorite authors. I loved that she didn't tie every loose end into a tidy little package, and I absolutely adored how she handled the story of Liath and Sanglant. I cried over the ending like I haven't cried since the end of "Summer of '42". Now I understand why Alain was so terribly abused. I don't know why the parallel wasn't clear to me before, because I totally understand it now. Even Blessing turned out well. Who would have thought? Wonderful job, Ms. Elliott.

I thought this series was great. So good, in fact, that I faithfully collected it in hardcover until this last book. Has anyone else noticed that DAW along with other publishers have switched to low quality materials for their hardcover books? Take a look at the paper for instance. We all paid a lot of money for a seriously inferior product. Just compare the other volumes in this set and the 6th and 7th books. You won't like it when the first 5 look okay in about 5 years, but the 6th and 7th are already yellowed with age.
I'm really annoyed at this new trend and can tell you, don't waste your money paying hardcover prices for what is in essence, a large paperback. Shame on DAW!

Not sure if anyone is aware of that. Same guy who wrote the books that became the movies Uncommon Valor, In The Line of Fire, etc.

I think he's semi-retired in Virginia. Not sure if he's writing anything new again.

I picked this paperback up at a book sale and found it to be a quick, easy, fast-paced predictable fun read. The chase scenes were the best with some good sex thrown in for interest, I suppose. The misspelling of some words were distracting, they used the letter f for the letter t and I tried to ignore it. It was a pretty good police procedural and quite the page turner. It might be too naive for some of you hard-boiled mystery buffs, but it was not a waste of time. I might even look for Cold, Cold Heart and compare.

james elliot is a potential talented writer, but he should not choose to write this kind of book: mobster killed their accountant for skimming, witnessed by a hooker (no matter how different she was, she's a hooker) and being chased around by them afterwards. one of the police detective (the good guys) got his own ghost in the closet. and he didn't have to source to check with the phone companies(?) like mafia (again, a ? mark) tried to rescue her from being slained by the dark force, and so on. give me a break, this kind of storyline and plot have already being written and printed at least ten thousand times. it's a format, a mode with every chapter casted. i felt very tired to read along with focus since every page looked so familiar and same-old-same-old. james elliot spent so long to produce such a cliche is but a disappointment to me. he should jump over these kind of police stuff or crazy former russian assasin's killing rampage and move on.

Upon picking this up, and knowing that Elliot hasn't written anything since he wrote it, in 1997, I thought, "okay, it probably isn't any good, and he was a one hit wonder with Cold, Cold Heart." That is not the case. While not as good as his near-perfect first novel, this one is still way above most other entries out there. It is exciting, well-written and emotionally resonant. Once again, Elliot shows an ability to paint vivid, thrilling scenes (the nightclub attack), and create a dangerous villain with a perfect touch of dark, psychotic humor (the Cuban hitman who looks forward to polishing up his skills on a couple of would-be muggers, etc.) The most important question is, where the hell is Elliot, and why haven't we heard from him in 7 years? I suspect he may be dead, and I will try to find out.

After reading Cold, Cold Heart I thought this book could not possibly be better yet I have to admit I loved it even more. I was totally into the story and could not put the book down. Any one who loves the kind of book you have to "just keep reading" will love this. I can't wait until the next James Elliott novel. Hurry please.

If you are wondering what to read about the Celts, with little previous exposure to the subject, then you only need to know one thing: "The Ancient Celts" by Barry Cunliffe. In fact, forget about this review and just buy it now, it is that good. I am not joking! Go. Now. Why are you still reading???

Since you persist, you will find "The Ancient Celts" to be a thorough going introduction to most aspects of Celtic research and history. Cunliffe gives a broad overview of previous Celtic study, the sources and the different influences and prejudices that have wormed their way into the sources and works through history. This provides an excellent back-drop to Cunliffe's own book, and puts it into an historical context of scholarship.

For the Celts themselves, the book presents broad overviews of different aspects of Celtic society, culture, art and so on. This is necessarily brief and focuses on those Celtic peoples who are amply attested to. For those others who dwelt more on the fringes of Celtic territory, Cunliffe is rightly more cautious in the few conclusions he draws. Despite this, the treatment is reasonably detailed and will certainly give you enough to go further should you wish to do so.

This might sound a bit puerile, but another bonus for me was the ample supply of photos, pictures and diagrams that helped put a more visual facet on the text. One might think that this is a pretty banal comment, but I found it a real boon to be able to see the artifacts that Cunliffe refered to, and appreciate them for myself. The Celtic art was a classic example of this.

For those with little geographical knowledge of Europe, I have only one quibble about the book: the paucity of maps. Cunliffe uses a few geographical features, like rivers, which are less than famous. A map or two would have been fantastic for placing events in their proper location. This is just a small point which does nothing to detract from the book in its entirety.

While there are other authors out there, I would agree that Cunliffe has achieved possibly the best introduction available on the Celts. If you have not already got it ordered, I suggest you do so now. It is a great book and you won't regret the purchase.

For anyone wanting an understanding of the Celtic people, Cunliffe's "The Ancient Celts" is an excellent introduction, as well as a fine review for those with a foundation in Celtic history. Cunliffe gives us a picture of the Ancient Celts from 1300 BC forward. The Celts had a most fascinating and expansive culture, dominating much of Europe up until the time of the Roman conquests. Following the Roman conquests of Europe and the Celtic lands, Celtic society faced the onslaught of Christianity which crushed some of the Celtic culture and absorbed other parts thereof. Still the spirit of the Celts survives even today... for those that know where to seek it.

As a student of Celtic Theology, I found Cunliffe's chapter on `Religious Systems' to be most interesting, but as Irish scholar Proinsias MacCana has described it Celtic religious beliefs are a "fertile chaos". There is a wide array of material reflecting the beliefs of the Celts, all of which offers us insight into their spirit and none of which fully explains it. Still, Cunliffe has done an admirable job in his explanation thereof in "The Ancient Celts".

Caesar (in "Commentaries on the Gallic War") writes that the Celts were extremely superstitious. This may be the case, but I feel that what Caesar calls superstition is nothing more than the `faith of the Celts'. One never sees superstition in one's own religion, only in the belief and practices of others.

Within the Celtic society religion was mediated by the Druids. These were the Celtic priests, but much more than mere teachers of religion, the Druids were the keepers of knowledge of the Celtic people. Also within this religious class were the `Faithi' or the seers ~ those who were inspired by the Gods to understand the `otherworld'.

Today the Celtic religious festivals survive in the forms of Samain (Halloween), Imbolc, and Lugnasad to name but a few. These and other rites were officiated at by the Druids.

I believe that the `path of the Druid' and an oneness with nature is an essential element for those who would learn the way of the Celts.

Although we tend to think of the Celtics as being centralized in the British Isles, it is important to note that the Celts established settlements across Europe into even Western Asia. Furthermore, it must not be forgotten that the Celts served to slow and curtail the expansion of Rome.
Cunliffe's "The Ancient Celts" reveals the Celtic people to be of a poetic / warrior society which contributed greatly to the development of the soul of the European nations of today. Even today in television advertisement (for travel to Ireland) we see Ireland being described as a land of warrior-poets.

In a warrior society the way of the warrior contributes to the development of religion and religion contributes to the morality of the warrior. This combination of warrior ethos and religious faith make for greater equality within the society itself.

Cunliffe states: "Women clearly occupied a more significant position in Celtic society than they did in the Greco-Roman world..." Women in the Celtic Society have had a good deal of input into the development and working of that society, and this shapes the society in ways that are simply not present in a purely male-dominated society (i.e. Arab-Muslim society).
It is also interesting to note that although Celtic society may have been overshadowed by both the Romans and later by the Christian Church there is still a strong Celtic influence in modern society.

Overall, I found Cunliffe's "The Ancient Celts" to be a very interesting book, serving to build a good foundational knowledge of our Celtic heritage.

Wonderful book, Cunliffe is a well-known scholar who's an expert on celtic archeology, and has been in numerous television shows and documentaries. Wonderful author, well written, and indepth. He shows you the archeology, and what it could've meant, but leaving enough room for you to draw your own conclusions. I loved the chapter "Religious Systems" as it's very informative, and solid in the archeological record. Love it, love it, love it. I fully intend to re-read it next year to see if I re-learn what I've learned. There's just so much information in this book, that it warrants another read!

Although this book has a lot of interesting information and photos, it it so tediously written and so focused on specific archeological finds that it was very disappointing overall. There was very little "overview information" about the Celtic lifestyle. If you want a lot of archeological detail this book is for you. But if you are looking for a more general book with information about the Celtic lifestle you will never make it through this textbook-like work.

The pictures are beautiful, showing many unusual pieces, but the content is often only school-book level, with little in-depth analysis or contextualizing. I found myself wishing for more information, and a deeper, more serious treatment of the cullture, the beliefs, and the everyday life of the people.

Room One a Mystery or Two is a very good story. It was a quick read that kept you guessing. Ted Hammond, the only sixth grader in his school, loves nothing better than a good mystery. He can usually solve them before the author does in the story. So he has learned a lot of tricks from the best detectives. Ted now has two real life mysteries to solve. How can he save his one room school from being shut down? And who was the girl he saw in the window of the abandoned house? I enjoyed the story and was surprised by the ending.

On another note, as a teacher I would like to use this in my fourth grade class to teach making inferences. The author does a very nice job explaining how Ted drew the conclusions that he did. Mr. Clements also showed how Ted made connections text-to-world and text-to-self. I can't wait to incorporate this into a unit next year.

Andrew Clements is an amazing author. I didn't feel that Room One was one of his best, however. It was okay. There were a few exciting parts, but it wasn't as satisfying as I thought it would be. It's a great mystery, but I don't think the characters are that well-developed. Again, like most of Clement's children books, it's about an ordinary kid who makes a difference in the world.

Ted Hammond is a boy who loves mystery books. He goes to a school with only one room and one teacher and three of four grades. Ted is the only one who is in sixth grade.
I think you should read this book because you have to think about it carefully. And you solve mysteries. Some mysteries that are going the right way go the wrong way at the end. Is the school going to stay open or not?

Room One proved to me that I should never underestimate the power of Andrew Clements' writing. When I found out that this was a mystery in a small town and not a story set in a school, I thought that I might not enjoy it as much as Frindle or School Story before it. But I was wrong.

Room One is a wonderfully written, quasi-mystery. The main character is Ted Hammond. Ted is a likable, bright kid in an interesting small town in Nebraska. Ted is a Boy Scout, the town paper boy and a mystery lover to boot. When he sees a face in the window of the old Anderson house, he gets wrapped up in a real-life mystery of his own.

Clements' economy of words and clarity of description serve to keep this story suspenseful, believable and enjoyable all at the same time. I couldn't put the book down and was pleasingly satisfied with the outcome. The epilogue was also perfectly suited to the book.

I recommend this book to Clements fans and mystery fans alike. While not a skull and crossbones mystery, it is an interesting story about an average Joe taking on some detective work. If you are looking for a Nancy Drew, here-are-the-clues, figure-it-out type mystery then this book is not for you.

So it's time for silent reading in my fifth grade class and my students LOVE silent reading time. Most of them can't get enough of the books they're reading and can't wait to talk about them. But there's always the few who spend the entire silent reading time in the school library or at my personal library or trying to sneak away to the bathroom. They spend more time fidgeting than they do reading. How do you get those children to read? Well, one thing I have found that works is to put an Andrew Clements book in their hands.

Clements' books are simple and readable and according to most of my fifth graders, cool. Frindle, The Landry News, and Lunch Money are not filled with elementary student clichés. The characters aren't cheesy and my students don't find themselves saying "Come on, we're not like that" as is the case with many other books written for them. Clements' characters act and talk like real elementary students and are usually faced with real problems and this is an important part of his appeal. Room One is no exception.

One day while sixth grader Ted Hammond is delivering papers, he notices a mysterious face in an upstairs window of an old home, the Anderson's home. What spikes Ted's curiosity is that no one has lived in the Anderson house for two years. The house has sat empty and the windows have been boarded up. With nothing else going on in his small rural Nebraska town of Plattsford, Ted sets out to investigate.

I liked this book. I really did. It doesn't matter that I picked it up half-wanting, half-expecting a good mystery and didn't get one. Clements made me care about Ted, and April, and her family, and Mrs. Mitchell to the point where it didn't matter if the "mystery" to this story was solved for the reader less than halfway through the book. It's still a good story, and in the end, that's what children really want to read.

A few things I thoroughly enjoyed about the book . . . The Red Prairie Learning Center was fascinating to read about. The idea of a town, so against consolidating with surrounding communities that they've forced themselves to become what they have (a one room school with four 4th graders, one 6th grader, and four 8th graders) was an extremely interesting setting. I loved Mrs. Mitchell's character. She has many wonderful traits that only a teacher would be able to recognize. It didn't surprise me one bit to discover that Clements himself was a teacher at one point in time. No stereotypes here.

As long as you don't set your expectations too high, you'll find Room One a quick, easy, and entertaining read. The epilogue fills in the rest of the story nicely and provides adequate closure to the story surrounding April and her family. Having read most of Clements' other stories, seeing "A Mystery or Two" across this cover excited me some at the thought of a departure from his normal work, but please don't make the same mistake. This isn't so much a mystery as it is another fun (but somewhat serious), school story from Andrew Clements. And that's just fine by me.

This collection spotlights Warren Ellis and his issues with Superheroes and his consistant need to deconstruct them and in many ways ruin the image that they have had for decades. Once again we get a heavy dose of the 90's era Punisher Style clones out to prove thier way is the right way. There's realistic then there is someone with issues. I've read Stormwatch from the beginning and felt that this issue actually did them a disservice.

This collection rates low, down with Grant Morrisons Punisher Kills the Marvel Universe.

Warren Ellis starts his excellent revamp of Stormwatch here, as he totally changes the lineup, and splits Stormwatch into multiple teams, each with a different purpose.



Stormwatch needs all their firepower, when The High comes back out of his self imposed isolation, and decides to reshape society in his image.



Jenny Sparks had known him in the past, so they end up talking before the confrontation. Top notch hero fare.

Definitely the better of the Stormwatch collections, due in no small part to the Bendix character. This volume certainly questions the nature of superheroics, but the follow-through is sadly disappointing.

As becomes painfully clear, writing action is not Ellis strong point. The build up to a massive brawl at the conclusion of the "Change or Die" story arc leads nowhere, as characters fall into debates with each other over their role.

Bendix's return is teased at in the final issue collected here, but is never revisited during Ellis's run. Oh well.

I think this comic cemented Warren Ellis as one of my favorite writers. He takes the idea of superheroes as they had been for so long (Stormwatch) and played them off superheroes as they were conceived (The High's group). Each group thinks its ideas are right. Stormwatch is only interested in the status quo, and maybe some beneficial changes slowly introduced over time. The High's group sees the world as in need of fast, massive improvement, and they set out to do it.
The only reason I gave this 4 stars instead of 5 is that the 2nd part simply doesn't flow from the first. Still an interesting read, but more padding than anything else.

Stormwatch: Change or Die reprints Stormwatch vol. 1 #48-50, the Stormwatch Preview, and Stormwatch vol. 2 #1-3. This is an excellent next step in the series, and shows Ellis becoming ever more comfortable with his characters. He responds to this increased knowledge of his characters by sending them on in an entirely new direction, but not before showing us just how messed up everything can be.

In the first story arch, we see the true intentions and background of Rose Tattoo, the betrayal of the team by one of their own, and the shaking of the team to the core. We also see a very smart storyline that further gives hints of the Authority series to come, and lets us glimpse the Doctor and Engineer for the first time, though in different forms than we are used to. The plot itself is deliciously intriguing, and keeps you turning the pages.

The second story arch is reprinting Stormwatch #1-3, and is the revamping of the team. The story and plot have their moments, but are a bit overshadowed by the first half of the book. The pencil work is more to my taste, since Jimenez took over, so that is a treat.

By this book for the first storyline alone and you will not be disappointed. It is classic Ellis and gives new layers to the characters, and hints of things to come.

Highly recommended to Authority, Stormwatch, and Ellis fans, though I think most people will enjoy it. Not recommended for younger readers due to extreme violence and sexual reference.

A sometimes interesting book in where Kalb tries to rank players, which is always an argument starter anyway and usually a bad idea - there are quite a few factual errors, which i just rolled my eyes at and overlooked, and he used too many great individual game performances to justify a player's ranking - I found myself skipping over a player's great performance in the 19XX Championship Series or the 19XX World Series because they were just individual games - I think Kalb needed to state his cases for/against players with more of an emphasis on their entire careers. His "Better Analogy" pieces on some of the players were at times insightful but I would have preferred more cross generational comparisons among different players - there are times when he compared players who he really shouldnt have been comparing and yes, there were quite a few times when he came to no conclusions with these comparisons and even more times when there was no explanation for his conclusions. Not a groundbreaking book but pick it up if you can get it for a pittance.

This book is interesting because it does what it sets out to do--start a dialogue about the subjects. However, the book is filled with errors, and the opinions are those of just one person, although a number of baseball people's opinions are cited. Who is "better" or "best" ultimately becomes subjective, of course. Kalb seems to be an apologist for Bobby Bonds, possibly because the book was published before any truly "smoking gun" was pointed at Bonds, or possiblty just to incite controversy. But to push for Binds in what seems like nearly entry is just too much. And to give great weight to MVP or performance in World Series is absurd (check, for example, Ted Wiliams). There is also a huge contradiction. Kalb suggests that Oh would have performed about the same in the US as in Japan, but he denies that same potential to early players and to those in the Negro leagues. If Oh faced less potent pitchers, so did the others. Also, Kalb does not account for the expansion of major league baseball in any really substantial way, except to assume that, because of expansion, all the weak players are gone. One could argue exactly the opposite. (For example, how strong would teams be if both major leagues still had only eight teams to field the top players? Isn't that what used to happen?) Kalb does point out that the players today are bigger, stronger, and better trained (he does not make much of better equipment, though), and then he ruins that by seeming to condone steroids and the like (just Bonds making himself the best he could be) without factoring in how someone like Ruth or Musial or Mays or Aaron might have performed on steroids.

Now don't get me wrong. This book is about as entertaining as they come for a baseball fan. The way that Kalb uses numbers to rate players in different leagues and eras is quite an undertaking. Sometimes though his arguments become transparent. I have found several examples throughout the book where he will just stop trying to cite numbers and examples and seems to be overtly subjective in his opinion. My favorite example is when comparing Babe Ruth to Barry Bonds. He argues that in Ruth's time he faced tired starters who yielded many of Ruth's HR's. And that Bonds was superior because he faced modern relief pitching and not tired washed up starters. He however also eludes to (in the same comparission mind you) thin pitching staffs and lauching pad stadiums in modern times. Not discounting Barry for that at all. If he would give me the numbers I would conclude that Barry is the better hitter. However, when he tries to put his numbers in context very often he compares what he wants to compare to get the result that he has already predetermined. There are a few mistakes as previous reviewers have pointed out. But as this review is proof to the book sparks debate. I just have a problem with the way that the analysis is done. Great book though.

This is a book that will appeal to all baseball fans and stat junkies. My own personal opinions on that overall list aside (I am a diehard Giants fan, but I don't think Barry Bonds is that best overall player). The first review here basically states everything one needs to know before buying this book. However, I have a problem with some people saying that certain facts Kalb states in the book as false. The record for most runs scored in a sub-.280 season by Schmidt IS the record. Records in baseball now are generally called as such based on every game played post 1901, when the two league system was invented, thus beginning the sports' modern era. The rules were completely different before this time, and even after, certain things were not changed until a few years later. Hell, when Nap Lajoie set the record for average in a season, he did so in a year that foul balls were not considered strikes, and this was after 1901. Thus, Schmidt holds the modern day record, which, except in a few instances (Cy Young, Cap Anson, to name a couple), is what players today are judged by.

When we are comparing players in a sport that has such a rich and diverse history as baseball, one must take into account that era in which the players played and rate them based on how they compared to their peers. How many homeruns would Aaron have hit had he played in the launching pad in Atlanta for a larger portion of his career? Would Ruth have hit 700 homeruns playing in a less condusive park to his particular talents? How would Ted Williams final career numbers have looked had he not lost five years in his prime fighting in TWO different wars, and would he finally, without argument, be considered the greatest hitter who ever lived? How about Johnny Mize and Hank Greenberg; would their numbers be even more impressive considering they also lost three-four prime years in a war? And honestly, why is Alex Rodriguez ranked so high and Manny Ramirez so low? Ramirez has just slightly better career stats in most every offensive category in fewer career at-bats. Defensive skills aside, does that really rank Ramirez, that man who will set the career mark for RBI, 60 spots lower than A-Rod?

One gripe I have is that the list, even the final twenty-five spots he summarizes at the very end to make up the best hundred, he only includes one NPO player, Sadaharu Oh, deservedly so, but what aboout Shigeo Nagashima? I can name at least eight other Japanese leaguers who deserve to be on this list.

READ THIS BOOK and make your own arguments.

This is a great book for any baseball fan. What Kalb writes about current players Alex Rodriguez, Roger Clemens, and Pedro Martinez is timely and places them in proper historical perspective. I bought this book for three teenaged fans, and they all loved it, too. Be prepared when the debates start about which players are best.

Reading this book I could see my neighbors, my community and elected officials. Fast, funny, and if I wasn't living in the South I would swear this was fiction.

Not only is this a delightful and informative read, but it is also beautifully designed. Trailer Park ingenuity is often merely dismissed or laughed off, but this charming book presents the reader with the wisdom and ideas that have been developed over the years by a very resourceful segment of our society. There is much to be learned from them!

This is the cooki-est and most hilarious book I have read in years. what an eye-opener and a great surprise on trailer trash culture. this book takes on a fantastic journey in a culture that most of us europeans know so little about or have so much disdain for.
Highly recommended.

Another reviewer notice that some of the material bears an erie similarity to several Web sites on the topic. Without leveling a charge of direct copying one way or the other there is some VERY similar writing online. (Students, Authors and Publishers take note: Google knows everything...)
While I realize that this book is a sometimes sucessful attempt at satire it also has several gross fabrications made up so that they could be satirized or simply add to the page count. Com'on reality is so much richer than fiction and much funnier to satirize. YAWN.

Cracker Ingenuity provides an incredible escape from the Sex in the City everyday of $500 handbags and $12 cosmos. P.T. Elliott and E.M. Lowry remind us that we need not cry "super" every time our shower drains slowly, that in fact human ingenuity not only exists but would enrich our lives were we to exercise it instead of suppressing it in the money for labor market of the post-industrial city. As a return of the repressed, the authors demonstrate that there is something to be said for a house that rolls and for decorative lawn ornaments. Yes, in many places (like where I grew up) a person would be arrested for lawn ornaments, but that is exactly what the authors provide is a possible alternative everyday for the programmed life of pedicured French bulldogs and cars parked neatly in garages. P.T. Elliott follows up her 100 Proof with another humorous, enlightening winner.