Field Books

Great book, contains a lot of material, will be useful to many as a reference on supersymmetry for years to come. Highly Recommended!

The whole current production run of this book has a defect. A glue is bleeding through on the inside of the hard cover fold, front and back. This does not seem to affect the structural quality of the book and is not visible from the outside. If you need this book and get it with this defect, don't bother trying to exchange it.

If the two first volumes of "The Quantum Theory of Fields" were considered masterpieces in a modern and original presentation of the basics of quantum field theory and its penetration in the recent development of particle physics, with the machinery of spontaneously broken gauge theories, the new volume embraces the wide subject of supersymmetry in Weinberg's typical style, which always means a self-contained treatment of the subject, from its foundations and motivations, to its most recent application as a possible scenario for new physics beyond the Standard Model.

A complete review is published in CERN Courier, May 2000

I'm a beginning graduate student in theoretical physics, who learned SUSY from the ground up from Weinberg's text. Weinberg is by far the best text I could find on SUSY. It is totally self-contained* - every equation can be checked by the reader. Every idea is solidly explained, and the choice of topics is extremely relevant.

In the very beginning (I knew very little SUSY) my impulse was to avoid this book, as the "notation" seemed kind of heavy, there were too many long equations (superfield identities), and it was clear that reading the book was going to be a serious endeavor**. Instead I was looking for a quick fix. However, having found the other sources inadequate***, I gave Weinberg another try. I learned how to read his book ~ read it actively, checking the equations at the level of looking for typos. I poured in many hard hours, and have a binder full of derivations to show for it****. But I never had another problem with SUSY again, and as a result was very well equipped to tackle the literature.

I really like how Weinberg builds SUSY from the ground up. He makes it come together so logically, and coherently, it is nice to watch, and I feel one is rewarded in deeper understanding.

His treatment is original and improves in many ways upon the original literature. His treatment of SUSY representation theory and constructions of superfields is excellent. His treatment of holomorphy arguments is the best I've found anywhere (literature included). His treatment of Seiberg-Witten is his own pedagogically minded retelling of that story ~ it takes a slightly different angle than the original work, and fills in many of the details. Reading the original Seiberg-Witten afterwards was much facilitated.

A word on prerequisites: A basic knowledge of QFT is needed ~ if you have Weinberg's Vol I, II, this is overkill. However, you should be comfortable with the representation theory of the Lorentz group ~ especially spinors. Weinberg provides useful appendices on spinors in Vol III, and has the rep. theory in Vol I (an understanding of angular momentum at the level of say Sakurai ch 3 helps here). To understand the interesting non-perturbative results (chapter 29) you must be comfortable with 1-loop beta functions in YM, and the chiral anomaly (covered in Vol II as well as many other texts).

A caution on typos: There are many minor typos which you will never notice unless you rederive the particular offending equation. I know of over fifty. The nature of the subject is such that there could have been many more though. However, the errors often do not propogate ~ subsequent equations are usually typo free. There doesn't seem to be an errata website, which is unfortunate.

Finally, there are a good amount of exercises. Some of them are quite good. They vary in difficulty and level of abstraction. Some are straghtforward applications of concepts just learned, others are generalizations of things in the text (these can be quite fun as they can be open ended). Of the ones I have attempted I have learned quite a bit.

* With the exception of some of the MSSM stuff, but this is clearly stated, and totally reasonable.
** But alas, for a beginning student, this is the nature of the subject.
***There is one fantastic supplement to Weinberg (after you've gone through the first couple of intro chapters), these are Argyres' notes. They nicely cover Seiberg duality which Weinberg doesn't talk about (but he does a great job with Seiberg-Witten).
**** The meat of the book can be covered in < 2.5 months by a dedicated student (skipping the SUGRA chapter).

Finding good introductions to supersymmetry can be difficult. Most introductions concentrate on N=1 supersymmetry in four dimensions, and there the superfield forumlation can be useful. However, when you go to N=2 supersymmetry (e.g. when considering theories in five or more dimensions), component fields can be better. Many times it's a matter of taste. For those cases, you have to go to review articles. Anyway, Weinberg concentrates on N=1 4D supersymmetry and supergravity using the superfield formalism. However, he ventures into the N=2 strong-weak coupling results of Seiberg and Witten, which are now a fundamental part of (supersymmetric) field theory. The text is, as the previous volumes are, a fantastic resource for learning the subject, and as a reference (for things like gravity- and gauge-mediated supersymmetry breaking, as well as the minimal supersymmetric standard model, which are open areas of reserach). As for all modern areas of research, the body of knowledge is stacked higher every year; but the topics covered here stand as solid fundamentals of supersymmetry. For more advanced topics, one is forced to go to the recent literature.

Rome's Saxon Shore: Coastal Defences of Roman Britain is a slim book that details the defenses that Rome erected to protect Britain against the many Germatic raiders that plauged the provance for over three centuries. Do not let the small sized fool you though it is a very well written and researched work that helps bring light upon a forgotten part of Roman history.

This is a very well written, scholarly (although short) book on the Saxon Shore forts of Roman Britain that fills a gap in the literature nicely. It is beautifully printed, has many useful maps, illustrations and photos, and has a nice bibliography. Some of the books in this series are rather lightweight; I am happy to report that this one is much better than average for the Osprey series.

Nic Fields' ROME'S SAXON SHORE: COASTAL DEFENCES OF ROMAN BRITAIN AD 250-500 provides a technical survey of the design, history and technology of key fortresses and defensive systems of early Roman Britain, making it a pick for military collections and libraries strong in early history. The 'Saxon Shore' forts of Britain are among the most impressive monuments of the Roman occupation of the British Isles: their ruins are part of today's British landscape and their history is surveyed here with maps, photos and black and white and color illustration throughout.

Osprey keeps pumping out titles for history lovers everywhere. This is a concise, and easy to follow narrative of the defenses of Eastern Britian through the Arthurian period. Great illustrations as per usual, and brief time line make it quick study for Roman history buffs.

The typical Osprey title, concise, well-written, well-researched, and interesting. It is supplemented by excellent full-color plates depicting the fortifications themselves, and their soldiers in combat or on civilian duty.

Better than expected with quotes and daily reminders of why we started to run and what motivates us to continue.

The daily readings are well written, appropriate, inspirational and at times informative. This is a great way to start off your day whether you are running that day or not.

The Runner's Book of Daily Inspiration:A Year of Motivation, Revelation, and Instruction is most likely the best investment I have ever made. Last year, I made a resoltion to myself to get in shape, eat healthy, and basically be a fit person inside and out. This is not a very easy resolution to fulfill, as I soon found out. It was my plan to run at least 3 times a week, and supplement it with another form of aerobic exercise. Very quickly, I lost my motivation, and was not living up to my expectations. I came upon this book soon afterwards, and tried to regain my motivation. After restarting my exercise program along with reading this book, I am now running every day of the week, rain or shine, hot or cold, I run through it all, all due this very book. If you buy one book in your life, buy Catcher in the Rye. But if you buy two, buy this one too!

This book was given to me as a gift. Being a "novice runner" of two years, I found this book to be very motivational. It is very intuitive on the thoughts of runners and some of the obstacles runners may encounter and how to get beyond those barriers. I have thought it such an excellent book that I am suprised it is not readily stocked and available for 24 hour shipping, especially during the holiday season. You know us last minute shoppers. Great gift idea for the novice or avid runner in your life if you can find a copy of it in time.

I read this book every day and love it! Kevin Nelson gives practical, fun and whimsical advice to people who love (or want to love) to run.

It's tough to find a running book that isn't just a rehash of the same old stuff. This excellent guide is very technical in places, but full of new information that you haven't heard a hundred times. Recommended.

I'm a serious athlete and train people professionlly (as a career) and this book does what it claims... it takes the latest and greatest information on running and endurance training in general and puts it all under one title in an easy to digest format. Train smarter, not harder. Buy this book!

I just finished reading The Cutting-Edge Runner. This is one of the few running books that I read from cover to cover. Many of the books out there fill half the pages with running plans, this book focuses on providing great useful content. I'm training for the Richmond Marathon, and have already incorporated a few of Matt's suggestions into my program. The book is truely on the cutting edge, Matt provides the latest concepts on how to run faster, longer and healthier.

I used to do triathlons, but now I figure I'm primarily a runner. I just turned forty, and I am on a quest to get my 5k time from the 19 minute range down to 18 minutes. I figure if I can do that I'll start winning or placing in my new age category; that's my way of dealing with middle age and mid-life crises and so on.

I typically read a couple running books a month, looking for ways to improve, and this book really stands out. The author cites numerous studies and relates his personal experience in incorporating new discoveries into his training. If you subscribe to Runners World, you're probably familiar with most of these advances, but it's all thoughtfully considered here in a way that lends itself to reading cover to cover.

This is an absolutely amazing, and probably most cutting-edge book on running you can find on today's book market (summer 2006), and a large part of its appeal is the fact that the content and the author's numerous recommendations are based on recent, serious, and carefully analyzed research.

This means, alas, that the book is VERY technical, and often assumes that the reader will understand without further need for explanations some fairly arcane terminology in the areas of sports medicine, biomechanics, and physiology. Admittedly, the author makes a good-faith effort to explain some of the more complex issues, but sometimes even that is not quite enough for this reader.

Although it will be a good, informative, and worthwhile read for all those interested in running, the recommendations and advice will be of use mostly to (and are almost exclusively directed at) serious, competitive, and very experienced runners.

I have to admit that since I focus on running as only a small part of a basic general fitness program, i.e., I have completely NO interest in running competitively, or in training for a marathon :) - most of this info. is not for me. Still, for those more focused on running competitively, it is probably a very valuable, cutting-edge read.

I hope that at some point the author will take the time and write a book based on the same well-informed sources, but directed at a more casual runner, and general reader without sports-medicine background like me.

Serving as Senders is an excellent eye opener for supporting missionaries. Every missions committee member and senior pastor needs to read this book. It is very practical and motivating.

As a missions-minded Christian in a church just forming its missions plan, I highly recommend this book. The chapters dealing with caring for missionaries when they return, either permanently or on furlough, are strategic. This is an area often overlooked in missions strategies.

"Serving as Senders" is an important book for churches and individuals serious about missions work.

Pirolo outlines for readers the need for senders... those who suppport missionaries here at home. He then gives practical reasons and ways we can help. Chapters include:

* Moral support

* Logistics support

* Financial support

* Prayer support

* Communication support

* Re-entry support

This book can be used as a guide as you look at your church's missions program, or as you evaluate your own skills and gifts.

Missionaries are a long way from home, loved ones, and things which are familiar. They are gone from a church they believe is behind them. Their needs are great, and we have the resources. How do we help them?

When I bought this book at a local church's missions week, I thought I understood what the concept of sending was all about. Now I see it not just as an occasional thing, but a ministry in itself.

I fully recommend this book.

Anthony Trendl
editor, HungarianBookstore.com

A great book for a mission's team in a sending church. This is must reading before your missionary returns home. How can you best meet their needs and understand their thinking if you have never been out of the country? This book will open up your thinking to missions as never before!

For me, this book became a significant eye and heart opener to a Christian worldview for missions and caring for missionaries. It not only served me in understanding and becoming a better sender, but as a cared for goer. There is no legitimate reason the church sends missionaries as "disposables," when they are in reality as much part of the church body in the field as when they are at home.

Sending means Caring, before, during and after a missionary goes to the field. This book is a classic in understanding and putting into practice this principle as we go and make disciples.

This was the first book I've read on this subject and already I feel like I know so much! I don't know about you, but I'm doing much of my son's work in this area, so I feel like I'm doing the reading for him as well. It's important for the parent to be knowlegable even if the child DOES do the work, for they (the parents) will be doing much of the speaking and "negotiating" (key word you will learn much about) for the child. Have the facts to back you up. This author has been around and worn every 'hat' having anything to do with the whole issue of college athletics from parent to recruiter to agent to coach and MORE! You get the impression that you're really getting the inside information that you need to get the best deal for your child's education. Thank you Mr. Wheeler!

A friend's daughter who followed the recommendations for overcoming the Division III confusion & duplicity and successfully used the Ultimate Negotiating Weapon chapter recommended this book to us. Our daughter is a high school sophomore and wants to play ball in college. After reading the book, I know we will be prepared for every step of the recruiting process.

Arlene B.
Illinois

This is a great book if you have a high school athlete who wants to play in college. It really opened my eyes and one coach did something the book predicted he would.

Prior to acquiring this book we knew next to nothing about the whole process. It is especially helpful for those who live in areas where a potential scholarship candidate is not likely to be seen by very many if any recruiters. The author does a great job in laying out a step by step process that a potential college athlete should take beginning long before their senior year in high school. He stresses over and over that it will not be easy and success will likely only be achieved through the same hard work that led to the development of that person's athletic skills. A couple of areas that were not covered as well as I'd have liked were a more delineated seperation of the strategies for Div 1 & 2 schools as opposed to Div 3 and more discussion of the pluses and minuses of parental involvement. These are not significant drawbacks, however, and I would give the book 4 1/2 stars if possible.

This is an outstanding way to gain the knowledge needed to go up against the college coaches and recruiters and still come out ahead of the game. I found this to be an easy read full of valuable information and marvelous insight into the world of college athletic scholarships.

This is a story that needed to be told. Ms Boogio's writing style makes you feel like you are sitting around the kitchen table sharing her life. A family's life who's outcome was determined by our very own government's greed. Many Kudos to Jean Boggio!

Stolen Fields was a book that caught my attention and kept it throughout the whole story. It contained historical facts which I was not aware of and also many personal elements about the Cole family that were not presented in a long, drawnout manner. Personal history can sometimes be very boring.

Jean Boggio has a very delightful style of writing that is easy to follow and kept my attention. It also left me wanting to know more about the Island and the Cole family.

For 22 years I looked out my living room window at Neville Island. I also traveled over Neville Island to go to work and took my children to the roller skating rink there. I had no idea that its history included farming and being the "breadbasket" of Pittsburgh. I just knew its industrial side.

The Cole family's history should be included in Allegheny County's history. I am going to do some research into that. There are many elements of the family that fascinated me. I felt their sorrow and anger when they had to move off the Island and start anew in a different place and environment. To me, the grandchildren sound like strong survivors and who have overcome any impediments that had put before them, either from family members or society. Congratulations to them and best wishes for a strong happy future!
I hope that Jean will continue writing. I would enjoy reading more of her work in the future. She will probably be a good novelist, also.
Jean,good luck with this book and any that you may write in the future.

Reviewed by Richard R. Blake for Reader Views (4/08)

"Stolen Fields" is a story of the American Dream gone wrong. It is a story of hatred, bitterness, ambition, and greed. It is also a story of "What If" and "If only." What if eminent domain had not taken the Cole property? If only Grandfather Cole had been able to build his prosperous ventures?

Jean tells of growing up as a descendant of the strong-willed and vibrant Cole family. In the first few chapters she gives the reader a glimpse into the historic heritage and of the hard working Coles and the economic success of the fertile farm on Neville Island near Pittsburg. The Cole farm on Neville Island was known as "The Market Basket of Pittsburgh."

Jean Boggio consistently and fairly shared two sides of a story. I felt bonded to the family as I listened as Jean shared lighthearted gossip through the stories handed down from one generation to the next, fairly reporting on two completely different perspectives of the perceived facts.

During the years of 1918 and 1919 toward the end of WWI, the United States government came up with a plan to rival the German Krupps Works that provided munitions for the German juggernaut. Neville Island was selected to be the site for the project. The government officials invoked the process of eminent domain to seize the property for public use. The project had only begun when the Armistice was signed. The government no longer needed the land. It was put it up for public auction.

The Cole family, distraught by loss of the home that had been in the family for over a hundred years, held out in an attempt to negotiate a fair market price. After a great deal of harassment and the fear of arson they were forced to accept the government-determined price.

Family accounts, newspaper research, and historical sources, as well as her own memories provided Jean Boggio with the material for this remarkable account of the Cole's of Neville Island and the impact of eminent domain on the dreams of her parents, their children, and ultimately on the generations that follow. Although there were feelings of hatred, and bitterness by members of the Cole family, theirs is a journey that resonates with a sense of accomplishment, pride, and promise.

This is more than a leisurely nostalgic stroll down memory lane. Jean's vivid descriptions draw the reader into the experience of being a part of her childhood at the Sandy Lake farm. She has the amazing ability to turn everyday circumstances and events into entertaining, often humorous, stories that resound with simplicity, warmth, and reality. Jean uses flashbacks depicting scenes from her childhood. She reveals details of her relationships with her sister, her parents, her grandparents, Aunt Gladys, Uncle Robert, Uncle Ned, and her cousins. These colorful characters provide dramatic word pictures bringing an excitement to the otherwise routine life for the Cole's from Neville Island. Family photos are included throughout the book to illustrate the events. These pictures add another dimension and a sense of relationship to the Cole family.

I especially enjoyed Jean's openness in relating college relationships and her early experiences in New York City. As an aspiring actress she was sympathetic to the beatnik culture. I appreciated her positive writing even in light of romances gone awry, family relationships gone amok and personal goals unattained. Jean gained a broad range of work experiences in corporate offices, in the field of education, and ultimately in the medical field as a nurse.

Strong writing, thorough research, and an objective look into the avarice that often accompanies the process of eminent domain make "Stolen Fields" a significant contribution to the history and future restructuring of a process often misunderstood and abused.

As a memoir writer Jean Boggio is a gifted storyteller. Her vivid descriptions and characterizations insure that the enjoyment of her writing will linger long after reading the final chapter. "Stolen Fields" is a rich and entertaining reading experience.

The family farm, providing sustenance and income for their legacy and kin for generations upon generation - is no more. "Stolen Fields: A Story of Eminent Domain and the Death of the American Dream" is the story of author Jean Boggio and her ancestors and their former farm on Neville Island in Pennsylvania. A somber and somewhat depressing story about losing ones livelihood to circumstances beyond their control - the construction of a munitions factory for World War I, claimed by the government by eminent domain. It becomes more tragically pointless as the factory is simply never built and the land is auctioned off to the highest bidder, Boggio's family helpless against a financial juggernaut of Carnegie steel. Not completely living in the depressive past, Boggio tells the tale of her family moving on and doing what they can to succeed in life. "Stolen Fields: A Story of Eminent Domain and the Death of the American Dream" is highly recommended for any biography collection and for anyone who wants a look at the shadier practices of the government against its own citizens.

This book grabbed me from the first page. I felt like I was sitting at the kitchen table listening to the saga unfold in front of me. Boggio is an exceptional story teller. I can't wait for her next book.
Terry Walsh

Packed with interesting information about Seattle. The book must have been written before the rabbit problem started in the area around Greenlake. A chapter for a second edition? I subtract one star for the "ring-necked gull?" on page 19 and the lack of an index.

I learned a lot about Seattle that I can't wait to tell visitors (guess what's under I-5?!) and got inspired to take some of the urban nature walks myself, like all the way along Thornton Creek. What I liked best was the view of what Seattle historically looked like - accompanied by really nice maps!

As a city-dweller I love cafes, the opera, the night-life.... but I also need the trees, the birds, and the Puget Sound. Williams' wonderful collection of notes on my hometown, Seattle, are a fun read and have helped me discover things I would have never discovered otherwise. If you live in Seattle, or even if you're coming for a visit and want an alternative to the regular tourist attractions, this book is for you. Enjoy!

I just moved to Seattle a couple of weeks ago and was given this book to read. Can I just say that it is by far one of the best books I've ever had the pleasure of meeting?

The author explores all sorts of natural phenomena around Seattle, from the geological quirks to the water quality to the crows. I learned a LOT about the local area, as far as the natural setting goes.

The writing is superior--it's obvious he's done his research, both in books and in the field. I can't imagine how much time he put into this. And he has an excellent sense of humor that had my giggling every couple of pages.

Highly, highly, highly recommended

I am loudly and joyously singing the praises of "The Street-Smart Naturalist: Field Notes from Seattle"; this is the sort of book about Seattle's natural history that I was particularly searching for. Keeping mostly within the city limits, David Williams talks about natural boglands and bald eagles, the fossils and stones that make up Seattle's skyscrapers, naturally occuring plants and recent imports, tectonic plates and city planning, radiocarbon dating of the last earthquake by the trees displaced and drowned, local microclimates and how they affect the weather (Capitol Hill gets 11 inches more of rain per year than the University of Washington campus ten minutes away) -- Williams has it all, and recounts his anecdotes with a dry and wonderful sense of humor. He traces creeks and chases crows, catalogues billion year old granite, and tells anyone who will listen about the fine quarries and the fossil beds from whence they came. This is exactly the sort of local history that I wanted to hear, happily jumping from the geological aeons to the conservation programs of the last fifty years. Every Seattleite interested in history or nature should buy this book. Non-Seattleites interested in urban orienteering/nature-in-the-city are also likely to be fans. Go go David Williams.

'The Student Leader's Field Guide' completely prepares students for success. In today's society there are extreme demands and stresses placed upon students. Most of the classes taught unfortunately never touch on the basics of how to deal with anything except the subject at hand. I have read countless self help books from Alan Lakein's 'How to Get Control of your Time and your Life' to Stephen Covey's classic 'The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People'. While all these books offer great advice, they are not customized to a student's needs. This is where 'The Student Leader's Field Guide' comes into the picture. The overall structure focuses first on the self, moves into the organization, and finally covers interaction with society itself. Each item is further broken down into subsection specialties. This approach covers all the bases and sets students on the path to achieving their goals. Whether you are a parent interested in investing in the future of your child or a student who is looking for the best use of your time then 'The Student Leader's Field Guide' will definitely help. A little time invested into understanding and applying the concepts of this guide will lead to big pay-offs in your future.

Many would-be leaders (like me) jump into an organization with great zeal for its mission and little experience. This leads to inefficiency, low commitment and an overall sub-optimality. The Student Leader's Field Guide stays true to it's title by providing practical and fun guidance for the many of us who find ourselves (students or not) zealously trying to lead. Pete Mockaitis combines knowledge with his experience in leadership to deliver a book that is not only informational but motivational. While reading it I felt inspired to lead and lead well. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to become an effective leader.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Not only was it very informative and practical, but it was also a quick read. In fact,it only took me a few hours to read the book in its entirety. Although I am not a student leader, the book offered me information about how to be a more efficient person, how to be productive in groups, as well as how to understand other people's personalities in addition to my own. I thought it was great and would suggest for anyone and everyone to read it and give it a chance.

I read Mr. Mockaitis's book and have loved it from the first page. It has been a great book and I recommend it to anyone who wants to learn and have fun while becoming a great business leader. I think of it in the ranks of the great book Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert Kowasaki.

Pete Mockaitis's book is a great resource for students who find themselves in a leadership role of any club or organization. Written by a student who has led many organizations, Pete knows firsthand what it takes to be successful in this position. His advice is thoughtful, humorous, and extremely practical. He recognizes the apprehension faced by students in a new leadership role and inspires them to become accomplished leaders of their organizations. I found the book extremely helpful as a sponsor of a high school organization. Pete's insights helped me to better understand the challenges faced by student leaders. I am going to suggest that the officers of my club read the book and use it as a manual to enhance the performance of our organization. High school clubs and organizations provide a perfect opportunity for students to learn leadership skills that will help them throughout their lives.

I just returned from a trip to Alaska - 4th trip to Alaska, first trip to Larsen Bay on Kodiak, AK. The first day that my husband and I were out on a fishing trip with our guides from Kodiak Island Resort we passed the islands were the Fields have their homes where they live when they fish. Our boat captain pointed these out and commented about the family working together on the setnets. A day later we happened to go to the cannery to get the weight on a large fish I caught. At the cannery store I bought Surviving the Island of Grace and could barely put it down after I started it. Leslie is an excellent writer. She wove the story of how she grew up into how it prepared her for the life she made with her husband on Harvester Island. I am actually on Amazon tonight looking for something else by her to read.

Since I am interested in going to Alaska for a vacation, I wanted to read something informative written by a resident. Leslie Fields did just that. In fact, I would love to stop by and see her when I go. This was truly a memoir and not just a bio. She very honestly and affectionately tells her story while leaving a written legacy for her children. I usually read fast, but I took this book on a Caribbean cruise this winter and took the whole two weeks to read it. It was an intereting contrast to where I was at the time. I particularly enjoyed hearing an insider's view of the Valdez oil spill. A very good book!

Once in a while along comes a book worth owning and certainly worth reading. Surviving the Island of Grace is such a book. It is a well written and fascinating true story of a young couple who meet in college, marry and make a life in Alaska, living summers on an island in the Shelikof Straits fishing for salmon. It is a story of hard work and achievement and paints a vivid picture of the beauty of place as well as the hardships and hazards of being out on the water tending the nets. This author opens up her life to the reader in a warm engaging way, sharing her amazing experiences. I couldn't put this book down until the last page at 3:00 in the morning.

I have just finished reading Surviving The Island Of Grace. I savored it really. I can read quickly when I am reading to collect information. But when I read for pleasure, I read very slowly. I stretched this savory meal over a couple of weeks.

The richly textured use of words drew me in, while the occassional terror of life on a wind swept island gripped me. The author is very honest, yet inspiring with her insights.

My wife was chiding me to finish, so that she could pick it up. She couldn't wait. For a few days there have been two bookmarks tracing their way through this rich and intimate memoir of life in a world very different from my own.

"Surviving the Island of Grace" by Leslie Leyland Fields opens up a world for the reader that few see in such frank, unyielding literary light. The author's practiced instinct enables her to construct "Grace" out of exceptionally strong stuff. She weaves together the tapestry of her story as a youngster, young woman, wife and mother. These segments of her life take us from her rigorous New England childhood, through post-oil spill Alaska. The sturdy, sure-lined threads of learning, working and growing into marriage are blended skillfully into the workscape of the Alaska setnetter--a form of salmon fishing where the fish come to the net, rather than the net to the fish.
It is all here--and I mean all, the harsh, ugly griminess of living in a remote summer fish camp. There is also love, good fellowship, learning and above all else, faith. Leyland Fields is a person of deep religious conviction. Her faith appears, for the most part, in tasteful doses, even for a non-religious reader such as myself.
There are too many Alaska books by "hit and run" authors, who live up north a few years, then write a book or three. In "Grace" Leyland-Fields engraves all of her two-decades plus Alaska living on every one of its 330 pages. This book's most conspicuous literary achievement is the genuine, ardent authority of the narrator's voice.