Fitzgerald Books

Mike Roy was the most understanding and knowledgeable of Chefs. I have all his books except the Crock Cookbook which I didn't know existed.

The reason I said the last review was not helpful was because I thought I could make a comment why. My Mike Roy cookbooks are so old and splattered but that gives them character.

I am looking for another "set" for my motorhome and 2 more for my kids before it is impossible to find them any more.

If the cookbook is a Mike Roy Cookbook. Don't even question the recipes quality. They are first rate.

Not only are all the recipes top notch, but the explanatory comments are extremely informative and stylishly written. This is the most honest crockpot recipe book I've read, one that levels with readers about what can or cannot be cooked successfully using these handy appliances.

I used to watch and listen to Mike Roy's cooking shows on TV and radio in Los Angeles years ago, so whenever I consult this book it takes me back to that time.

I used this book when I was in college nineteen years ago. The Manhattan clam chowder is among the best recipes.

This book deserves to be in print!

Why is my Mike Roy paperback torn, smudged, and held together by a rubber band? Because Mike Roy's book is THE best &, therefore, I have used it beyond its natural life. Why? (1) He had an understanding of herbs & spices. (2) He knew that thickening the sauce requires some butter and flour, not flour & water. (3) He actually experimented with the recipes and had a taste refined enough to evaluate the outcome.

How would you feel if you were very close to winning a shot at a million dollars, but instead of picking you they choose your ancient grandmother to take that shot? The setting of this book is in Montreal Canada and the main characters are Dawn and Dusk Rosenberg. They are two twins who are obsessed with the game of hockey and their favorite team, the Montreal Canadians. Their dad isn't a huge fan of the game and their grandmother Oma thinks they should be spending their time more wisely, like doing homework than hitting a puck into a net.
One day their dad gets them tickets to a Montreal Canadians game. They go into the parking lot and help Oma into her wheelchair to roll her into the stadium when Dusk sees a flyer by the entrance that reads, "Million Dollar Goal contest tonight", but he thought it was no big deal, and their dad told them it was rigged anyway. They stay till the drawing just to see if they had a chance to shoot the puck in the goal for a million dollars. The light turns on them, and then they find out that...Oma got picked! When they see that Oma was asleep the whole time they want to just keep it a secret from her thinking that she doesn't know what happened. When they get home, right before Oma goes to sleep, she comes out and says "Oh, by the way.... I'm gonna take that shot."
There are some problems along the way, like managers, learning how to play hockey, and some people that are messing with Oma. The main idea of this book is that sometimes you only get one chance in life and you need to go for it. The meaning of the title is "The Million Dollar Goal" because that is what the contest is called and they are shooting for one million dollars.

The pacing of the book was fast, but very detailed. Throughout the book main characters, Dusk and Dawn are telling the story. I think this book is in a Christian perspective because it doesn't talk about other religions or things like Christianity being false. I have read Dan Gutman's book last year called," The Million Dollar Shot". They had a similar theme and story. I would recommend this book to people in fifth and sixth grade. It was a little easy for me to read, but I think older readers would get a deeper understanding of it. I rate this book a 4 out of 5 stars.

If you want to get your child interested in reading, this is the book to do it. I read to my son every night at bedtime. I was given a Dan Gutman book called The Million Dollar Strike (which I also whole heartedly recommend). We enjoyed that so much that I ordered all of "The Million Dollar" book titles. While they are all wonderful, this one is by far the funniest. While I was reading one of the chapters to my son, I laughed so hard that I couldn't go on for a minute. When we attempted to re-read that chapter to my husband, we were laughing too hard to complete the sentence. Grandma "Oma" in the book is the character who makes this book hilarious. She is foul mouthed (all the curses are printed as "bleepity bleep" so don't worry) and she farts a lot and there comes a time when that comes to the kids aid with bullies believe it or not! At first they are embarassed by her, but they grow to treasure her as you will. Without giving anything away, I will say it is sad in one part and moved us to tears, but quickly turned it around and made us smile again. I truly recommend this book to anyone of any age. My son and I have read this book together 3 times already and now he is reading it on his own to his friends. I can hear them laughing down the hall when they are reading it. Buy it, you won't regret it.

The Million Dollar Goal is a good book. The title of the book makes you want to read it. The main people are Oma, Dusk, Dawn, Mom and Dad. The mother is nice. The father is a little mean until the end of the book. Dusk is the younger brother. And Dawn is the older sister by three minutes. Dusk is a smart mouth. And Dawn is mature sister.

Oma is just an old cranky grandmother who says bad words and farts. They are a family living in Canada. The characters are weird. Their father gets ticked off when the kids talk about hockey in front of him. Their father doesn't come to most of their games and when he does he just reads a news paper. The book is funny and interesting. I think you will like it! The reason I like the book because it is funny book.

Twins Dawn and Dusk Rosenburg live for hockey and worship the Montreal Canadians. But their dad hates the game and their foul-mouthed grandmother thinks the twins should be doing homework and chores instead of wasting time shooting pucks.
When Dawn and Dusk's dad gets the family tickets to the next Canadians game, they cant believe their luck. I think this is the book for sports fans. I give it two thumbs up. This book will make you laugh and cry. I love this book. Dan Gutman describes the characters superbly.
I like this book because every second there's excitement. There's a lot of twists and turns in this book. I suggest you read this book unless you don't like action, comedy, excitement, and sports. I mean who wouldn't like that? This is one of Dan Gutman's million dollar books.

Mountain light is a really good book. i would give it 5 stars because it is an all together really good book. it is about Cassia and her "friend" squeaky, and how they help their villages, and how squeaky goes the the land of the golden mountain.

this book was a great sequel to The Serpent's Children, which i recommend. it shows a more subtle romeo+juliet deal, except less dramatic and fatal. it shows us that friendship and love can conquer all.

Mountain Light shows how a friendship can survive the adversity of war and ancient grudges. The two characters are hardly alike but they seem to be the same person.

Mountain Light
Mountain Light by Lawrence Yep is the best children's book I have ever read. It is full of Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Mystery, love and at the same time like a cool documentary because it is so educational. It is about a young man that is faced with the decision whether or not to leave his friends and go back to his family or "pack" where he belongs. But he realizes that he has become so close to his new friend Cassia it is a hard decision to make. He decides to go to the land of the Golden mountain in America and work with his friend's brother and his friend to make money so maybe, just maybe he can be married to Cassia. It is full of hardship and a lot of drama. Mountain Light is actually a book in the Serpent Children Series which is one thing that I love about this kind of book, they never seem to end when it's a series. I don't find books very exciting if it's only one topic. This book is about every topic you can think of! Another thing about the book that makes it interesting is the characters in the book can relate to everything and everyone and it's fascinating. What makes this book so much unlike others that I have read before is every time you read a new book in the series it is always a different person in the series telling the story. I believe that anyone who likes to read at all would fall deep into this book. During the time reading this book I refused to go down to dinner! Mountain Light is defiantly the best children's book if not book i have ever read!

"The Mourning Handbook" is excellent and it hits the nail on the head when it comes to the pain of grief! This book has brought me a lot of comfort and relief as I dealt with the unexpected deaths of several loved ones in my life. This book also helped to not be so hard on myself as I went through my grieving process. This book is very educational in explaining many aspects of bereavement. It also talks a lot about what to expect when you are grieving, how to survive, how to cope, and also how to help other people who have lost loved ones. I highly recommend this book for anyone who has lost a loved one.

I first bought this book for a British friend in Italy who thought she was going crazy because she was still subject to bouts of crying two months after her Mother's death. The book helped her tremendously. I bought my own copy when my Father died and found it as helpful as it appeared to be before death touched me personally.

I could go on for more than the maximum 1,000 words and still not finish describing this book. Suffice to say that its greatest strength is that it is totally non-judgmental. There are no "shoulds," no timetables, only the constant theme that the rollercoaster of emotions that is ruling your life right now is probably perfectly normal and temporary. Ms. Fitzgerald does offer benign guidelines to help the reader decide when things might be getting out of hand and require professional help, but with no pressure.

The book covers every eventuality for every type of death. The style is clear, the information easily found, the approach completely objective.

Helen's sub-title "The Most Comprehensive..." is spot on. It's very comprehensive and is by far one of the most useful handbooks I've read. And the inclusion "with All Aspects..." is also spot on. This books covers things you never really would think of or associate with in coping with the death of a loved one or just a death until you've been there and even then, there are things that I never thought about until I read this handbook that I'm grateful Helen wrote about so that I felt more comfortable and confident in dealing with those aspects.

Losing someone you love or someone whose life or death had a profound impact on your life often leaves you stunned. Frankly, the words meant to comfort given by friends and family only add insult to injury even though they're all well-meaning. It's my hope that for anyone who does know of someone coping with a loss, that instead of words, you present this book.

It's like an encyclopedia. You can flip through and read bits and pieces as you need. It's not intended to be read front to cover and most will never read every page as there are bound to be portions that won't apply. But Helen has covered a large area that death does touch upon and does so in a way that offers immediate help and provides you with more resources to help too. I really liked that there's an equal balance between providing information --a general acknowledgement and understanding being offered-- and resources. The book is helpful on its own merits, a really great tool when utilizing the references and other suggestions beyond the book, too.

Acknowledgements [...] puts this book into many of their sympathy gift baskets (which is where I first got mine) along with a nice selection of other helpful, soothing gifts. Check them out, too. The gifts are beautiful and meaningful as is Helen Fitzgeralds handbook.

I found this book after losing my father a few weeks ago. I have found it to be a helpful resource and a comfort. The author uses simple language and short sections. The sections are divided so that a person can easily find the topic most needed without reading the enitre book. Highly recommended.

If you think you're too old to do kid stuff, then read Mr. Putter and Tabby Fly the Plane by Cynthia Rylant. You'll learn you are never too old.

In the beginning Mr. Putter thinks he's too old ot play with toys. But he buys a toy plane anyway. Will Mr. Putter ever learn tht you're never too old to do what you want? You can do anything even if you are old or young, weak or strong. Who cares what age you are!

This book is good because it teaches kids to just stick with who they are. So read Mr. Putter and Tabby Fly the Plane because it's just right for grown ups and children

Review by Abigail

Do you think you're too old for toys? Then read Mr. Putter and Tabby Fly the Plane because it will teach you that if you are old you can still get toys. You are yourself and you can do whatever you want.

In the beginning Mr. Putter went to the toy store, and he thought that he was too old for toy airplanes. The he realized that he is himself and his life was all about planes since he was a kid. So he bought it.

If you're the kind of reader who like characters that think they're too old for things, then read Mr. Putter and Tabby Fly the Plane.

Review by Khaled

My daughter, 4, loves this story best of the several Mr Putter and Tabby stories that we have read. Unlike so many children's stories, this one (and the others in the series) convey a sense of real sense of human (and cat)character. The relationship between Mr. Putter and Tabby is loving and supportive. Most important, each story -- and especially this one -- communicates a wonderful sense of life lived with joy, respect, compassion and the muted simple little "heroics" of everyday life. In this case, sharing a wonderful red-and-white remote controlled biplane with neighborhood youngsters, especially with one boy who reminds Mr. Putter of himself as a boy.

While directed mainly to children 4 to 8 years old, they have touched by wife and I as much as my daughter as we have read them at bedtime. The small price of these books is more than worth the time spent and re-spent in the simple, caring world of Mr. Putter and Tabby.

The flowing language and engaging text and illustrations encouraged my 6 year old son to try to read this "all by himself". Unlike many "early reader" books, the language is not awkward, and the repetitions are very natural. A pleasure.

This book is a great children's book, as our ALL in this series. It is the one series that myself and my two children always look for on our bookmobile that visits us every week in town. They simply are great stories, that really leave you with a good feeling inside. You can really see the love in the stories.

Ted Tatosian Vernon Hills, Illinois

With a four year old toddler, impromptu music is an everyday occurance. Reading about Mr. Putter and Tabby tooting the horn is just icing on the cake when you are in a musical mood. Delightful to read and fun to savor. This one is a keeper!

Mr Putter and Tabby are our favorites. Wonderful story, whimsical writing style. I RECOMMENED THIS ONE HIGHLY, and every one in the series.

I have every book in this series. This one is a good book to show little ones that not every one can do it all. When my little one is too small to do something, this one shows that Mr. Putter can't learn to play the horn. His friendly neighbor does, but he is happy in the end. Get the whole series and enjoy. My 4 year old loves them, but secretly, I bought them for myself.

I'm almost finished reading this book and I must say that it is one of the best books about the Kennedy assassination. It has everything from the detailed history of the Zapruder film to a 16 page color section that includes the famous photos by Mary Moorman, James Altgens and Phil Willis, to over 100 black and white photos and diagrams of Zapruder frames and rarely seen photos and still frames from other movies made that day. I took the advice of another review on this board and bought the book with the DVD 'Image of an Assassination'. When the book references frames from the Zapruder film you can view the DVD to see exactly what it is the author is talking about. What else can be said about a book that comes in it's own wrapper. Probably a lot. A treasure.

Richard Trask's objectivity must be maddening to the conspiracy nuts since he clearly doesn't give credence to their silly theories, while at the same time he doesn't openly criticize their ideas. He isn't looking for a fight. He simply researches the objective photographic history and refuses to jump on the bandwagon of insanity currently awash in the country by those claiming the Zapruder film has been altered. I was glad that he did not spend a lot of time in this arena, it would have cheapened the high quality of work Trask is known for. ALong with "Pictures of the Pain" Trask must be ranked among the great photographic historians of this case. I highly recommend this work

I whole-heartedly agree with Mr. Von Pein's extremely comprehensive review. If you are into the photographic and film record of the Kennedy Assassination, as I am, than Mr. Trask's published works will satisfy your desire for an in-depth analysis of the major photos and films taken during the November 21st-November 22nd period of time. All three of his books are worth the investment for the wealth of photos they contain and the analysis of those photos.
As to NATIONAL NIGHTMARE, I liken it to that first cup of cold water after a long run. It is satisfying and quenches the thirst. Mr. Trask approaches the history of the film and his analysis of it with no agenda. He is not out to change anyone's mind as to "who dun it," unlike David R. Wrone, who does a good job of describing the history of the film in THE ZAPRUDER FILM: REFRAMING JFK'S ASSASSINATION, but then goes off into the wacky world of Zapruder film tampering by unknown conspirators. I consider myself a historian, an as such, am much more impressed with Mr. Trask's objective approach to his subject. One gets the impression that he discounts the conspiracy theories in favor of the Warren Commission findings, but it serves as an undercurrent, not as a presumptious raison d'etre for the existence of the book. Mr. Trask simply presents the photographic record in wonderful detail, leaving the theories for the reader to muddle over.
This is really an extaordinary book, and my hope is the Mr. Trask (I hope you're reading this, sir) publishes a book of all 400+ frames of the Zapruder film in the largest, clearest, most colorful format that technology can provide and takes a page to analyze each frame of the film. One frame per page accompanied by a page of analysis would amount to a holy grail of sorts for me and no doubt for all those who understand the importance of analyzing the history of November 22, 1963 through the numerous photographs and films taken on that day.

I love reading Richard Trask's books about the JFK assassination; and this one, published in late October 2005, is certainly no exception. It's very informative and definitely a worthy addition to anyone's collection of written materials surrounding the shocking murder of President John Kennedy in November of 1963.

"National Nightmare On Six Feet Of Film: Mr. Zapruder's Home Movie And The Murder Of President Kennedy" is a softcover volume containing 392 pages packed with just about every conceivable piece of information revolving around the infamous 26-second color motion-picture film taken by Dallas dress manufacturer Abraham Zapruder on November 22, 1963, which is a film which shows, in all its morbid detail, the assassination of an American President in broad daylight on a city street in Dallas, Texas.

Mr. Trask details the full history of the film and provides a good deal of background and biographical information on Mr. Zapruder, an ordinary Dallas businessman, born in Russia, who, by pure happenstance and coincidence, turned out to be the amateur filmmaker whose name will forever be associated with the death of JFK.

But, if it weren't for the prodding of his secretary, Lillian Rogers (who encouraged Zapruder to go back home and retrieve his 8mm Bell-&-Howell movie camera shortly before the President's motorcade arrived in Dealey Plaza), that brief and awful 26 seconds in history would probably have never been captured through Mr. Zapruder's lens.

Like Richard Trask's other books on the JFK assassination which focus attention on the photographic aspect of the tragedy, the text of "National Nightmare" is ever-readable, easily-understood, and refreshingly-non-biased when it comes to taking a "Conspiracy vs. No Conspiracy" position by the author. Mr. Trask lays out the facts and leaves it at that.

This book's endnotes/footnotes are all positioned at the back of the book in one separate section, so as to not clutter up the main text of the volume. (So keeping two bookmarks handy is recommended, because a lot of interesting info can be gleaned from some of these endnotes too.)

One big surprise to this writer when perusing this book was seeing a COLOR version of the Robert Croft photograph printed on Page 67 (within a 16-page spread of mostly all-color photos and Zapruder Film frames). I had never seen the Croft picture in color previously. And it's an excellent-quality print of that famous amateur photo that I found in this volume, too. The picture is needle-sharp and the color is virtually perfect.

The Croft photo, by the way, depicts the President's limousine on Elm Street, just after the car has made its sharp left turn from Houston Street in front of the Texas School Book Depository. It was taken at a point equivalent to Zapruder frame #161 (per this book's text and captions), which is just about the time the first gunshot was being fired in Dealey Plaza.

Other highly-recommended publications authored by Richard B. Trask (centering on the photography of President Kennedy's assassination) ..... "Pictures Of The Pain" (1994) and "That Day In Dallas" (1998). The latter is a condensed version of the former, focusing attention on just three of the photographers who took pictures in Dallas on the day JFK was killed (Cecil Stoughton, James Altgens, and Jim Murray).*

* = Although condensed into a smaller number of pages than that of its predecessor "POTP", "That Day In Dallas" does contain "revised and enlarged" material throughout its limited number of chapters. And the specific photographs represented within that volume are unrivaled in their clarity and quality of physical presentation, in this writer's personal opinion.

I truly enjoyed both of those books, and was very glad to see "That Day In Dallas" come out a few years after "POTP", because "That Day" provides a larger-print format for many excellent-quality assassination-related photographs, including several pictures you're not likely to see in any other book on the subject.

As a companion piece to "National Nightmare", I would also recommend highly the MPI Home Video DVD "Image Of An Assassination: A New Look At The Zapruder Film" (released in the summer of 1998), which contains four "digital" versions of the entire 26-second Zapruder Film in various formats, including "zoomed-in" variants and a previously-unseen "Widescreen" version of the movie, which includes the imagery between the "sprocket holes" from Mr. Zapruder's "camera original" film.

That DVD also contains some valuable and collectible "bonus" video programming, including interviews with Zapruder associates, as well as the March 1975 "Good Night America" program (hosted by Geraldo Rivera), during which U.S. audiences first saw the horrifying images of Mr. Zapruder's movie. The DVD also has a crystal-clear video copy of the Live interview that Abraham Zapruder gave on WFAA-TV just hours after he had filmed the assassination.

Many of the above-mentioned items from that "Image Of An Assassination" DVD are also referenced by Mr. Trask throughout the well-written pages of "National Nightmare".

---------------

In "National Nightmare On Six Feet Of Film", Richard Trask has admirably filled in yet another in a seemingly-never-ending series of pieces of subject matter that comprise the wide and varied fabric that form the mosaic of literature covering the topic of the John F. Kennedy assassination.

Nowhere can be found a more detailed and fact-based history of Abraham Zapruder's historic film than that which resides within these 392 pages.

I think that book was very interesting and I think we should get the second one. I really really enjoyed it and I think it was very fun and I think the part that was interesting was when Nancy caught the other girl from erasing her name and putting another name. In the end, the other girl was nice to Nancy.

All the girls in River Heights sure would love to be part of the big ice show! It's a chance for even a third-grade student to get her name on the list of flower girls! You can skate out on the ice and pick up all the flowers that fans throw to the champions!

But somebody has no sense of sportsmanship, erasing Nancy Drew's name from the list of girls to participate. Who can the cheater be?

It's only a matter of time, and logical investigation for America's favorite spunky girl detective to pull out her trusty blue notebook and find out who is Not Nice on Ice!

Carolyn Keene has produced yet another tantalizing mystery for young readers, with a fun and exciting setting that girls will all love!

Recommended!

I THINK THAT THIS BOOK IS AMAZINGLY WRITEN BY CARYOLN KEENE AND THERE NOT NICE ON THAT ICE BUT AT THE END ITS NICE ON ICE!!

I really liked the book .It is now my favorite book. I think this book teaches you not to cheat.I have read other books about Nancy Drew and I really like them. Also Iwant to congratulate the author for a great book.

This was a great book to read a literary analysis of O Henry's works, unfortunately, the story I needed it for was not in the book. I had to return it.

Graphic Classics: O. Henry is a graphic novel anthology of classic short stories by O. Henry, each of which is presented in comic book form. Each individual story is fully and distinctively illustrated in comic-style in black-and-white by a different artist, and faithfully renders the gist of O. Henry's complex characterizations. The O. Henry stories featured include The Ransom of Red Chief, The Gift of the Magi, The Caballero's Way, Roads of Destiny, The Marionettes, The Friendly Call, and The Furnished Room. Brief biographies of the many different artists round out this introduction to works of great literature, highly recommended for all ages.

There's 13 illustrated O. Henry stories altogether, by additional illustrators than the few noted on the cover. The accomplished illustrators bring out in their own distinctive visual styles the diverse dramatic moments and general tones of the stories. The illustrations also accentuate the abbreviated, selected text of each tale. With stories ranging from only a few pages to about 20 at most, the variety of illustration styles can be reviewed and appreciated quickly in this work which fits right in to the current popularity for graphic novels and similar works.

Graphic Classics continues is incredible series of illustrated classics with "O Henry," an American short story author and the master of the twist ending. Almost everyone who has gone through the US school system has encountered O Henry at some point or other, most likely in "Gift of the Magi," but the remainder of his catalog is not as generally well-known.

This volume, # 11 in the Graphic Classics series, has some of the most variety of the series. From cowboy adventure yarns to morality tales to straight, melancholy tragedies, O Henry seems to have written a little bit of everything. The majority of the Graphic Classics series have focused on horror, which seems really suited to the format, but it is great to see that adventure has a place as well.

This volume contains:

"An Unfinished Story" - A quick snippet about exactly who qualifies for heaven.

"The Ransom of Red Chief" - A cartoonish take on a Dennis the Menace-style tale of kidnapping a spoiled bully.

"The Caballero's Way" - A brilliant tale of the Cisco Kid, famed bandit and caballero. The illustrations are superb, completely complementing the romantic nature of the yarn. Ah, for the love of Tonia Perez, what would we all not dare? I could happily buy a whole book in this style.

"The Gift of the Magi" - THE classic O Henry tale, illustrated by Graphic Classics's regular Lisa K. Weber. Her pretty art adds the necessary touch on this familiar and beautiful story.

"After 20 Years" - A clever story of friendship, with the art giving the right rough and ready feel. Touching and sad.

"A Strange Story" - A VERY strange story, with cartoonish illustrations. A funny break from the heavy tales preceding.

"The Marionettes" - Rick Geary's Victorian style is great for this story of free will, heroes and villains, and why people do what they do.

"The Furnished Room" - A straight-forward tragedy, full of loneliness and death.

"Roads of Destiny" - The struggling peasant/poet David takes three paths through life, but all lead to the same destiny. Three different illustrators lends power to the adaptation.

"The Friendly Call" - An odd tale of loyalty and friendship.

"A Madison Square Arabian Night" - A dilettante's dismay, a photograph of a woman...

"The Eye of the Beholder" - An artist who paints souls rather than appearance, finds that not everyone appreciates having their true nature revealed.

One Of Ourselves by James Robert Carroll isn't your usual historical/biographical focus on John F. Kennedy's assassination, but rather a finely crafted survey recalling JFK's happier times. Any fan of Presidently Kennedy will find year-round enjoyment in this superbly presented treatise which surveys his Irish roots, his meaning to Irish-Americans, and his visit to Ireland in 1963. A revealing celebration of his world, lovingly portrayed, One Of Ourselves is a welcome addition to personal and community library American History collections.

One Of Ourselves: John Fitzgerald Kennedy In Ireland by professional journalist James Robert Carroll is an informed and informative study of American President Kennedy's three and one-half day visit to Ireland in June of 1963. 44 black-and-white photographs and prints nicely illustrate the president's "homecoming" and its meaning at the time to both Americans and Irish alike. Meticulous attention to detail enhances a superbly written text in bringing to life this particular and unique intersection of human heritage and national office. No personal, academic, or community library Kennedy Studies collection can be considered complete without the inclusion of James Robert Carroll's One Of Ourselves!

This large, excellent complete chronicle of the John Fitzgerald Kennedy return to our ancestral homelands must be read by every American and every Irishman, and everyone else in between.

This little known historic journey which took place a mere six months before his bloody and cowardly murder by still hidden hands reveals much about the stature of the man, unequalled since by any President but Carter, and the apposition of the dynastic Nero and Caligula we suffer since the departure of that second greatest modern President.

Perhaps the present reader unfamiliar with those past times of honor, dignity, morality, truth, justice, equality, openness and compassion may suffer vertigo to contemplate such a different world, to which our present times resemble Superman's Bizarro land, where hello is good-bye and war is peace. But let us bravely recall those great days, that we may strive to live them once more as a nation, now deeply impoverished and abandoned, but a nation once again.

James Robert Carroll competently, carefully, academically, completely presents the historical record of those days, from the preparation of the voyage to the burial of our slain fallen last great leader, considering fully the context and meaning of those times. Several selections from the photogrpahic record also serve to bring those times more closely to us, now a more visually learning than a literate people. This book must be read, and read again, by one and by all.

I thought I had enough JFK books - the clan, the crises, the concubines. I used to read them all; now I find myself skipping through the pages of new books, over the same familiar stories. Even a good historian like Robert Dallek can only make news by turning up more tales of girls & pills. It starts to feel like aversion therapy. Please, I don't want to read any more!
Please!
I wanted to read this book, though - maybe for the same reason JFK wanted to go to Ireland. The trip was a sidelight. His advisors thought it a waste of time - he already had all the Irish votes! And Ireland was hardly a front line in the Cold War - he'd just been to Berlin and was about to face up to 'regime change' in Vietnam. But he wanted to go & he went - it's good to be the president. And his reason for going - like the trip itself - shows a side of him that's much less familiar than what we usually see. I have assorted ideas of what Kennedy was like (I'm a few years too young to remember him - if your first presidential bonding was with Lyndon Johnson - Vietnam, not civil rights, vintage - you can understand the interest in JFK) - but emotion - the tenderer emotions - isn't the first to mind.
That's what this book so wonderfully celebrates - Kennedy's 4-day sentimental journey to Ireland. It wasn't a typical homecoming - not with helicopters, motorcades, speeches, public ceremonies. The whole country seemed to turn out to meet him - you get a very vivid sense here of the excitement - & pride - that Kennedy stirred in the Irish - & that they roused in him. The book covers all that beautifully, it makes you both part of Kennedy's travel party - & one of the Irish crowd, with fresh interviews of those who were there - family, reporters, Irish whose brush with JFK is a dearest memory. But what I liked best - & found most moving - were the little, more private moments. In the house of distant cousins, Kennedy sat down, sipped tea in front of a turf fire, looked around him & saw "Kennedy faces." And in a crowd of thousands, JFK found an old man who reminded him of his grandfather - "And his name is Fitzgerald!" Kennedy didn't like singing in public - for the same reason he didn't wear funny hats - but in Ireland he sang - offkey but with feeling.
And the feeling from 'the 3 happiest days I've ever spent in my life' lasted. Back home he couldn't stop talking about it. He watched the films over & over.
So it was reading 'One of Ourselves'. The feeling of the trip comes through & stays. This is the first Kennedy book in a long time that I've really wanted to dwell on.
(I'm not Irish but I love Irish music & poetry. The book's loaded with wonderful songs & verse -
Thus returned from travels long,
Years of exile, years of pain,
To see old Shannon's face again,
O'er the waters dancing.