James Books

this book is fantastic. in a very beautiful and big format, it's complete with all the bondgirls in a great description. very good if you are a bond fan or at least a woman lover!

Overall the book is ok, however for a coffee table sized book (It's rather tall, which makes it awkward to store in a bookcase - well mine anyway) there's not enough photos, and a bit too much text. Almost all of the photos I'd seen before, so while most people new to the Bond world might be impressed, there's not enough unique content to make the book a must have. Actually come to think of it most of the text does seem like filler, too generic to be interesting. A book this size shouldn't be a novel, it should be mostly photos. With only one or two photos per actress there definitely needs to be a lot more photos.

great pictures and an in depth look at each girl and her relationship to the movie

Perhaps my expectations were too high, but when I had read other reviews I hoped for the best. This is not the best. So, what one is the best? It is the one yet to be published. yet I will admitt that this one is the best out there that I have seen. A book on Bond women should have a lot more pictures, and more inside stories would help as well; yes, more photos, that would do the trick.

If you are a James Bond lover...you will ENJOY this book!!! Great book!!!

I was a bit disappointed in this book, I have to admit. I was hoping to learn more about Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow, who they were, what circumstances led them to life of crime, and so forth... I was expecting maybe some new never-before-seen photographs in this book, but I guess that's a lot to ask for people who lived 80 years ago. I am very interested in the Bonnie and Clyde story, and I have to rate this book good, but not great.

This book has a lot of interesting information and tons of pictures. If you want to know anything about Bonnie and Clyde, it's all in this book.

This is a nice condenced overview of Bonnie and Clyde. If you want a crash course or are just interested in the true story- start here.

I first became aware of Bonnie and Clyde after a frigid night's motorcycle ride to see Arthur Penn's 1967 movie. Except for buying a DVD thirty years later, I seldom thought of them. Then, last November, my wife and I visited Dexter and Stuart, Iowa. In April of 1934, a month before their deaths, Bonnie and Clyde, along with Henry Methvin, robbed the bank in Stuart. Ten months before, the Barrows had shot it out with a posse at Dexfield Park, north of Dexter. The site of an abandoned amusement park, Dexfield offered Bonnie and Clyde, along with the severely wounded Buck Barrow and his wife Blanche, temporary sanctuary following a shootout in Platte City, Missouri. Penn's movie placed the shootout in Platte City, Iowa, which doesn't exist, ignoring the long ride from the Kansas City area to western Iowa. It also ignored the fact that Buck lived several days after his head wound and actually died of pneumonia. Penn's characterization of Blanche as a screaming ninny isn't accurate, either, and it got him sued.

Penn wasn't after history, but sensationalism. James R. Knight is after history. He is one of those wonderful people who recognize that everything is coming together and seizes the moment. Penn's movie was only the latest in a thirty-year sequence of stylized and mostly inaccurate portrayals of the lovers and their companions. It perhaps began with Jan Fortune's Fugitives, published a scant few months after the fatal ambush in Louisiana. It continued through books by several members of the posse who killed Bonnie and Clyde, and by former criminal companions. As many of the principals, including members of the Barrow and Parker families, aged, other writers began to interview them before it was too late. Given the opportunity to pull together their work with original research, James Knight acted.

This book is the result.

Perhaps only a person who doesn't depend on writing for his income could have done it. Knight, after all, is a pilot for Federal Express who just happens to be an excellent historian. His book shows meticulous patience, coupled with a desire to be what Fox news isn't, fair and balanced. For instance, he gives Fortune's oft-maligned piece credit for what it got right. Though he depends heavily (for the first few chapters) on the recollections of Marie Barrow Scoma, a teenager at the time of her brother's death, Knight sometimes argues, appropriately, with her recollections. After all, she could not have known all that her adult brother was up to. Knight understands that the Barrow and Parker families were far more complex, and far more involved in supporting their wayward kin, than has heretofore been obvious. The evidence has always been there, but Knight uses it broadly and well.

The author is so careful to remain balanced, and to avoid the hysterical tone of previous books, that his prose sometimes seems bloodless. Nowhere is this more evident than in chapters 36 and 37. There, he recounts events around the May, 1934, ambush that killed Bonnie and Clyde. He is meticulous in describing the location and sequence of the wounds each received, the damage to their stolen Ford, and the behavior of members of the posse. It's important, though, because the ambush has so often been misinterpreted. I hope that in a future work Knight will greatly expand these chapters, taking a closer look at everything and everyone who contributed to the ambush and at the questions that still remain. Still, Knight corrects several misconceptions and downright errors fostered by the movie and by previous books. You won't know it, though, unless you read the extensive footnotes.

Which brings me to the subject of how most to benefit from reading this 2003 work. I read it twice. The first time, I had a bookmark in the footnotes and flipped back and forth frequently. The second time, the bookmark was located in the first appendix. This allowed me to review a full history of each character as s/he surfaced in the text. As a result, I have a far better idea of "the story of Bonnie and Clyde" (to borrow the popular title of Bonnie's second poem) than I received on that winter night in 1967.

For all of that, Knight neither whitewashes nor condemns Bonnie and Clyde. Rather, he recognizes the essential tragedy of their story. They lived on their own terms, but everyone paid a price. That they paid with their lives does not obscure the suffering inflicted on their families and on families left fatherless. At the same time, Clyde might have remained a relatively small-time crook (or made changes in his life similar to those accomplished by Ralph Fults) were it not for the brutality he experienced in the Texas prison system. The story of Bonnie and Clyde, then, is in some sense the story of human beings interacting with our surroundings--for good and for ill. I am writing this review two days after a confused and angry teenager murdered people in an Omaha mall. He did it with an assault rifle, at a time when gross inequalities again exist between Americans. Clyde used a 1930's version of that rifle, at a similar time. When will the American people demand gun control? And when will we insist on an end to national policies that lead to the creation of millions of poor people?

"Here they come down that dusty road, and muddy bend; Man and woman welded in crime, together they lived and together...they died. Who else could it be?; But good ol' Bonnie and Clyde!"

The book entitled, "Bonnie and Clyde A Twenty-First-Century Update" by James R.Knight (with Jonahtan Davis )is... "A killer of a book!"

This is a superbly written and researched book. James R. Knight is too young to have ridden along with them, at least in this life. However, his knowledge and interest in this gun toting couple makes me wonder, where he may have been in his last life time?

His writing is informative, easy to read and follow, and...extremely descriptive. In addition, the book is a photographic library in itself!

Sometimes, I could almost hear the heavy "barking" of Clyde's "BAR" and watch the black exhaust clouds rise from the tail pipe of his get-away, 1934 Ford sedan.

Frank Hamer does not appear to be as powerful a figure as he was portrayed in the 1967 movie with Faye Dunaway and Warren Beatty. Although, a central figure in orchestrating the couple's final demise, the initial credit seems to flow toward a little known figure of the ambush group listed as, Officer Prentis Oakley.

Author, James Knight also gives the reader what Paul Harvey used to say on his radio program: "and now you know ... the rest of the story."
Knight follows through with information on the fate of each actor who ever played any part on the stage of "Bonnie and Clyde."

A great job Mr. Knight(and Mr. Davis)! When can we expect another publication???

As a former Navy service member I looked forward to reading this book. I wanted to see what someone else's experiences in command were, particularly on an new destroyer. The book was a real disappointment. I'm not sure how this officer made it to flag rank, he must have more chops than are exhibited in this book. He relates the significant accomplishments of the ship (which were certainly significant) but the tone of the book is rather off putting. The man is self-deprecating to a fault. He seems to have great second thoughts about his ability to command and whether he will be successful. Generally, all the officers and sailors in his book are "outstanding" in all ways, there are few descriptions of incompetent officers and with the exception of descriptions of incompetent enlisted men...everyone is seemingly perfect for the most part. About halfway through the book I just wanted to finish it and be done with it. I usually hand off books to friends, this one went to Goodwill.

This is a first-rate book. I am delighted I read it. I found it to be touching, informative, funny, and readable.

It also confirms, once again, what I think of those in the American military----they are very good people, and dedicated professionals.

It is not surprising to note that Admiral Stavridis is an avid reader. It shows in his selection of books, and in his writing. If you don't read, you can't write well, and he writes well. I respect the way he is in touch with history, and literature. I also respect the way he is in touch with reality---he cares about those under his command, and he takes every bit of his job seriously.

I was interested in the Admiral's observations about the Middle East, and the problems America has there.
The book was written before 9/11, and some of the observations caught my attention. He noted that Iran is the real problem in the region, which is hardly a surprise. He also wrote that it might be useful to turn Iraq into a democracy as a challenge to Iran. I gather this idea was around a long time before George W. Bush adopted it.

I do not know if its right or wrong. The "surge" seems to be effective, after all, and it might just work out.
it would be interesting to know what Admiral Stavridis thinks about it now.

I would recommend this book to anyone with an interest in naval history, naval warfare, and history in general. It is well worth reading.

Adm. Stavridis takes the reader aboard the destroyer Barry with a day to day briefing.

He shares his hopes, many fears , and his personal life. He is able to convey the constant pressure from the sea, his superiors,and the members of his crew, during his command.

After reading Adm. Stavridis'diary, one has a new appreciation of the dedication of our service men and women for the defense of the United States.

Everyone needs a hero in life, Jim is one of mine. He is more than just a great writer, demonstrative leader, caring father, and compassionate husband; he is a great human being. This book brought back many wonderful memories from a special time in my life and I appreciate the author's candor. Semper Fi Jim Stavridis!
Stan Brown (former CSMM/CMC in BARRY)

You...will...love...this...book. But only if you want to know of honesty, humility, humor, the courage of everyday acts of service by others, and the peaks and valleys of leadership. Not to mention wonderful writing, anecdotes, and insights by a distinguished military commander writing as a young officer, a decade and a half before pinning on the four-stars of an admiral.
If you want a great book about the wanderings of a homesick warrior with duties he must discharge before being reunited with his family, Homer's "Odyssey" is pretty tough to beat. If you are looking for a primer on leadership, Stephen Covey's "7 Habits..." is the blockbuster choice of millions. For inspirational stories of ships and men and the sea, Jack London, Patrick O'Brien and a few others invented and nurtured a timeless genre. For a personal catalog of humility and insignificance against the greatness of life and a higher power, "The Confessions of St. Augustine" are available.
And then there is "Destroyer Captain," which has a tincture of these works and more, is entirely accessible, and a terrific read. Painfully well-written, poignant, and complete, this book opens a window onto a world that hums along with quiet, powerful, efficient ordinariness everyday across the globe: the U.S. Navy defending the empire of liberty.
Jim Stavridis, one of our nation's most senior military officers, has published the journals he kept while a first-time captain at sea in the mid-1990s. Stavridis is a friend of many years, and someone I know to be of great good humor and a fine leader. Even so, there is nothing like the well written word for true insight. Stavridis gives brutally raw honesty as he describes his expectations, his fears, his longing for home and hearth while thousands of miles away, and the timeless bonds that develop among the crew of a ship at sea.
Stavridis paints with equal skill in bold brush strokes and pointillist precision as he colors the everyday routine at sea, and the non-stop demands on the captain. As he puts it -- and the book is infused with the obviousness of it -- "for no one is the term service more applicable than the commanding officer who is doing his job." Stavridis describes in wonderful detail -- and with an easy but extraordinarily fine style -- the 24/7 nature of what it means to be a captain of a weapon-packed man of war, with a crew whose average age is probably about 22 years old, and the captain himself in his thirties. He describes what it is like to sit in judgment of others at "captain's mast," the navy's unique system of self-discipline that reaches back to ancient times. Forget what you may think you know of the all-powerful captain at sea; here's the real deal as Stavridis describes a mast at which he restricted to the ship a young petty officer who had been thrown in jail for a shoreside brawl: "As the captain's mast concluded, I walked out, feeling diminished myself. Judgment is the hardest of human tasks..."
But this is no "woe is me for the burdens of command" cri de coeur. The book fairly tingles with the sheer pleasure Stavridis takes in being "the captain." He knows he is a lucky man, having been entrusted with the most advanced warship ever built, a crew of 350 men he clearly loves, and ordered by his country to ply "the magic monotony of existence between sky and water," as Stavridis quotes Conrad. An avid reader, Stavridis writes of his early decision to sit in his elevated chair on the bridge of the ship while at sea, generally observing the daily routines but benignly ignoring them as he reads -- not from important dispatches or operational manuals, but "a good novel." Why? "I think it's important to show the younger folk that (a) reading matters and, more important, that (b) it is a good deal being the captain. If I can't communicate the joy of command to my wardroom, why would any of them want to stick around? It sure isn't for the pay!"
Captain Bligh, step aside. You have been relieved as proto-typical literary commander at sea. READ THIS BOOK and know about duty, honor, country...and seasickness, liberty call, carving turkeys for a Thanksgiving dinner of 350, and lots lots more.

I pulled this off the shelf in a bookstore at the age of eight and forced my mother to buy it. Now, ten years later I still find pleasure in looking at the wonderful artwork and reading the great adventure story. A perfect rainy day read.

I was pleasantly surprised to find that Gurney's second Dinotopia book is just as good as the first. The illustrations are wonderful. After reading this, I now know more about the characters in the movie Dinotopia.

Dinotopia is an island where dinosaurs and people live in peace, except for the carnivores that live in the Rainy Basin. This book is the sequel to Dinotopia: A Land Apart from Time and it was just as good as the last Dinotopia. The sequel brought more depth to the plot without losing any of the original’s glory.

I first saw this book in my english classroom's bookshelf back in junior high. I was about 13 at the time, and after flipping through the pages, reading a few paragraphs; seeing its astonishing level of detail and wonderfully drawn art, I had to have this book. So I took it home and never brought it back. I wasn't the only one either. At the end of the school year, only 3 of the 7 copies our teacher had remained. Dinotopia: The World Beneath, is that good.

Even now at 22 years of age, the book sits on my shelf as I type this. It's art and story are still captavating to me even today. And its the art that really shines. Well drawn, imaginative pictures that are sure to please children and adults alike. ***High quality and artistical marks here.*** This book is sure to make you say "Wow!" And I'm not really into this kind of stuff. James Gurney knows how to draw, and write a book.

The story is set around the late 1800's on a island where man and dinosaur live with one another in pure harmony and peace (with the exception of the angry Tyrannosaurs) and, in all aspecs, equal. Arthur Denison, sets out to find a lost ancient city of Poseidos. Encountering many dangers along the way. His son Will, who was stranded with him years before on Sauropolis Island is on his own task of helping retreive a plant to make medicine that will save the life of a baby triceratops.

I can't count the times I've read through this book over the years. And for parents who want to know what kind of book they're getting for their children, it is an educational book; teaching in respect, kindness and alike. This ***IS NOT*** no Jurassic Park book. Completely opposite. No blood, no gore. Probably one of the finest fantasy books ever written, it's creative, original and opens the imaginative mind.

Kids will love this book for many years- This isn't a book that will wind up in a box of stuff on its way to a donation center. Indeed a book worthy of handing down to generations to come. You would be hard pressed to find a book that can match Dinotopia in artistic value. A wonderfully made, great book for all.

The first book was one of a kind...until the second came along and finished the story. Dinotopia: The World Beneath is a must have for anyone who has read the first book. There are new adventures, amazing new discoveries, plenty of exciting action and a satisfying conclusion to everything. The illustrations are just as spectacular as they were the first time and the story does not dilute itself one bit. I urge you to find yourself a copy of this book, and also a copy of the original if you have not read that either; both are amazing books meant for all ages.

Doug Moo offers a great exegetical and expositional commentary with the PNTC series offering on James. Well worth the buy, if you don't have a solid commentary on James. Nothing too crazy, and lots of compelling argumentation for his positions.

I have five critical commentaries on James (Lenski, Bruce, Woods, Martin, and now Moo). This one will more than likely be the primary source for me when I study the book in a critical fashion. He is thorough and that is what I want. If you are a preacher looking for something quick and in summary form, a smaller work might be more useful. For me, as a preacher, if I am in the circumstance where I need something quick I am already in trouble. I like the Pillar Series. Not long ago I read of one's review that was overly critical of the work on the epistles of John - I do not subscribe to that sentiment at all. It is a good series!

If you are looking for an answer to a question raised about the meaning of the book of Phillipians, you could not find a better treatment. This is a wonderful resource and fine treatment of the text. I used it in a series of sermons, and found it very easy to acess and get the gems of the book.

`The Epistle of James' by James B. Adamson, 1976, 227 pages in the series The New International Commentary on the New Testament; `The Letter of James' by Douglas J. Moo, 2000, 271 pages, a volume in the series The Pillar New Testament Commentary; and `James' by Ralph P. Martin, 1988, 240 pages, A volume in the series Word Biblical Commentary are all `full featured' and recent commentaries on the first of the short `catholic' epistles in the New Testament.

I find it amazing how different the material is in these three volumes. After 1800 years of commentary, one would expect a fair amount of uniformity in thinking about this short letter, but there is a remarkable range of differences in emphasis among the three.

Those of you who are familiar with the world of biblical commentary will recognize that all three are part of major series of commentaries. Adamson and Moo belong to series dedicated to the New Testament, while Martin's volume is an offering of a larger series on both Old and New Testaments. And, each volume is organized in a way to match the editorial style of their series. This is most clearly seen in Martin's volume, as his work is organized in virtually the same way as the much larger work on Paul's Epistle to the Romans by the distinguished scholar, James D. G. Dunn. This is no surprise, as Martin is the New Testament editor for his series, the Word Biblical Commentary.

Ranked by scholarly detail, Martin has the most and Adamson has the least, with Moo somewhere in between; but don't take from this that Martin is heavy on the Greek and Adamson has no original Greek. All three are specifically written for the scholar and assume that the reader either knows classical Greek or is willing to slog through all the Greek words and expressions. The irony here is that while Martin is the most heavily scholarly, it may also be the most accessible to the lay or strictly pastoral user, since this series divides scholarly observations into the `Comments' on each paragraph, while more general thoughts are spelled out in straight English in the `Form/Structure/Setting' section and later in the `Explanation' section following the `Comments'. Adamson organizes all his `special' or more technical topics in `Excursus' sections following his main commentary. I found this just a tad distracting, especially when I discovered some mistakes in references to these Excursus sections in the main text.

All three authors give us their own translations of the text, and all three agree on where the difficult phrases are to be found. If I were to pick a volume purely on the basis of their translation, I would prefer Adamson, as he seems to give translations that best resolve these difficult sections. But, in all three cases, the authors agree on where the difficulties lie and, in general, the nature of the difficulties.

In the three authors' introductory chapter on the author, themes, and canonical status of the letter, all three agree on the major points. They uniformly agree, for example on the belief that the letter does, in fact, represent the thoughts or writings of James, the brother of Jesus, who was head of the Christian Jews in Jerusalem up to about 62 CE. They also agree that the final form of the letter was rewritten and polished sometime in the early 2nd century, CE. The authors are also uniform in their citing Martin Luther's misunderstanding of James; however, I would give Luther credit for seeing scriptural support of many Roman Catholic doctrines, even if any sound reading of `James' shows that this support is probably stretching James points just a little too far.

On the major themes of the letter, I generally prefer Martin's emphasis on the three topics of `Wisdom', `Perfection', and `The Piety of the Poor' to the other authors' interest in theology and the law. James is clearly spending less times on these typically Pauline topics than he is on lessons for a Christian life.

Among all the other differences, it is most remarkable to see all the differences between how the three authors structure an outline of the short letter. If you didn't know better, you may think they were talking about two different writings. This is just a symptom of the fact that `James' is much less a theological argument a la `Romans' and much more a collection of lessons on prayer, right Christian behavior, and the implications of faith. This is consistent with the fact that the letter has much in common with the Gospels, especially the Gospel of Matthew (See Martin).

One last difference I detect between the three is the fact that Martin makes more connections to modern theology of, for example Dietrich Bonhoffer, while Moo and Adamson have more citations to the great reformers, Calvin and Luther.

If I had to pick only one of these, I would go with Martin's volume in the Word Biblical Commentary series. If I were interested only in pastoral interpretation, I would go with Moo or the article `The Letter of James' by Luke Timothy Johnson in `The New Interpreter's Bible', since both refer heavily to the standard NIV and NRSV translations. If your interest is in a scholarly study of the letter, you will probably want all three.

This is Moo's second commentary on the epistle of James. He wrote his first one in 1985 as part of the Tyndale series. This commentary is the result of fifteen years of reflection on that work. The content of this commentary makes it evident that this is the mature thought of a noted scholar on the letter of James. Those fifteen years left him more convinced "that the heart of the letter is a call to wholehearted commitment to Christ" (x).
Moo provides a lengthy introduction to this epistle (46 pages worth). This introduction includes the history of James in the church, nature and genre, authorship, theology, occasion and date, and structure of James. Concerning authorship, Moo holds that James, the bother of Christ, is the author. He presents arguments against this traditional view and then answers them. The section on the theology of the book is a feature more commentaries would do well to include. He dates the writing of the letter around the middle of the 40s AD. This is important because the date of writing has great implication on the relationship of the letter to Paul's teachings. Moo does not place a ridge structure on the letter. Instead, he finds "several key motifs" which "are often mixed together with other themes in paragraphs that cannot be labeled as neatly as we might like" (45). Denying the assertion of some commentators that the letter has no unifying purpose, Moo argues that the central concern of the letter is spiritual wholeness of the readers (47).
Moo's analysis of the text is insightful. His word studies are well done. He presents a wide range of possible meanings but uses the context to determine which meaning is James's meaning. Moo also does a good job in showing James's relationship with Paul. James is not writing against Paul. James means something different by faith than does Paul. They are addressing different problems.
The format of the commentary is user friendly for the most part. One helpful aspect is that Moo's introductory notes precede the verse by verse exposition of major points and most sub-points. Moo transliterates Greek words making the commentary usable to those who do not have the advantage of knowing Greek. One slight critique concerns the chapter divisions. The chapter divisions of the commentary are based on the chapters of James. This is fine, but the table of contents is broken down by his outline. One would whish the editors would choose a method of division and stay with it. The only other criticism is that Moo's writing style can be difficult at times. These two minor criticisms in no way change the fact that this is a masterpiece. It is short at only 251 pages not counting indexes. Anyone from a layperson to a scholar will benefit from this commentary. This reviewer would recommend it without hesitation (something he does not do often).

The Eye of Odin is a very interesting first from writer Richard Larsson. It demands your full attention, with its many characters and their difficult names, but a very rewarding piece of saga. The vikings, the ancient gods,the trade, the raids on the Europeean continent and Britain.
Things that we know, have heard and read about could be repetitive and boring, her come alive in new light.
The characters are strong and laconically Norse, as in Njals' Saga and the Snorre Edda, big strong fellows who are as likely to suddenly cleave you with a sword as they are trying to drink you under the table on mead.

The scoundrels of the story are utterly evil and attack the Good with ever means possible, stopping at nothing.
Yet in the midst of this, the old Norse clan continously strike back at their enemy, keeping all skirmishes far from home, impossible to prove to the Althingi, the Icelandic parliament.

I dound the book enticing in it's description of viking life, which seems so real, so alive and so very plausible.
We know today that the vikings were no more savage than other folk at the time, skilled merchants and negotiators.

The discovery of the New Lands is described just as it may have occurred, much by chance, bu coincident.
Larsson writes meticulously, leaving no details forgotten, no stone unturned, which sometimes is a strength sometimes a weakness, making a vengeant mind like Bagnold's wait a hundred pages before striking, whereas in other parts of the book two sentences could mean a few years.
I strongly recommend this book as it is a brilliant Saga, an enxiting book and- most of all- a Very Good Read!

James Larson's writing style is fantastic! I am a huge fan of historic novels of the dark ages, and saga periods, and this is the most enjoyable read in the genre I have experienced to date.

The characters are familar, being drawn from history, but the telling is truly eloquent.

I am anxiously awaiting his second book!

If you're looking for high literature, you won't find it here, as Jim Larson is never going to be acclaimed as the greatest exponent of the English language. However, he is a master of the craft of yarn spinning. I found this novel of Viking times a genuine "couldn't put down". The characters come alive, and there is none of the confusion that one can find in some epic novels. What Nigel Tranter did for Scottish history in novel form, Jim Larson looks like being fully capable of for the Vikings. Superb first novel, great reading, and I can't wait until the next one, called "Wolfgar" is published. I'll be at the head of the queue to buy it.

It's been a long time since I've let myself be swept into another time and place by an historical saga. And this novel, set in the tenth century in the time of the Vikings, is what I call a "delicious" read. Once I got into the book and the Norwegian names were no longer a challenge, the story moved fast, sweeping me up in this epic tale of adventure, plunder, murder and revenge. The characters were fully developed, the time and place authentic, and I learned a lot about the politics and history of the time.

The story begins in conflict as the Christian King of Norway is pitted against the old time religion of the people, who worship Odin and come together in an annual festival where they pray to Odin and ritually sacrifice animals. There is a murder which results in a prestigious family being banned from the land. Erik the Red is their teenage son and the reader watches him and his two good friends, go to sea, marry and develop trade. They also "go a Viking" which means they travel to various European countries, loot the valuables and takes slaves. Reading this is an interesting experience because by this time in the book I identified with them and liked them. Though their eyes, however, the plunder was just part of their culture and even though I personally was appalled at what a Viking raid really was, I couldn't help but understand where they were coming from.

There are also several other villains who plot our hero's demise. They are sketched so well that I could almost find myself "booing" them every time they came on the scene. This is not a book of subtleties. It's big and bold and every character is larger than life. There are good guys and bad guys and even the good guys are cruel sometimes. However, the author makes sure to let the reader know that the good guys' cruelty is justified.

The book moved quickly and swept me along in the adventure. If there was any weakness it was that I needed a little time to get the characters' names straight and, the author's use of words like "okay" made me wonder at first if the dialogue was going to be too modern. I needn't have worried though, because by the time I had finished the first fifty pages, I was so swept up in the story that I no longer noticed little details like that. By then, the characters had sprung to life and I felt I was right inside their heads, living their lives with them.

I loved this book. It was a perfect companion on a cold winter's night when I could hear the wind whistling outside my window and let myself be transported back a thousand years. When I finished all 481 pages, I wanted more. I understand the author is working on a sequel. I can't wait to read it.

It began with the murder of King Hakon's henchman, to avenge an insult to family honor. Thorvald is outlawed from Norway, forced to start a new life in Iceland. Grieving his banishmnet from his homeland, Thorvald has no idea the great destiny in store for his clan. Thus begins the complex chain of events that lead his descendants to explore and colonize North America and Greenland, ...as Thorvald's grandson is none other than Leif Erickson himself.
Written in a style reminiscent of the ancient Sagas, Eye Of Odin is a dark tale of feuds, rivalries, and armed conflict, all the elements of a proper Nordic epic. Mr. Larson gives us a story of a Norse family and their allies striving to succeed in new lands. Despite relocation to Iceland, Thorvald finds that his troubles are far from over, as he has purchased lands greatly desired by another. Enraged with envy at the frustration of his economic ambitions, Thorvald's new neighbor plots reprisals, and makes alliances to sabotage Thorvald and his people. So begins the cycle of rivalry and revenge which one expects in a Viking tale...

Eye of Odin is not only a novel, but a worthy source of cultural and historical insight to the greatest era of Scandinavian expansion and exploration. The uninitiated reader who has never read Viking history, will learn much within. There have been other Viking novels over the years, but the only previous book which I can compare in volume of research, is Franz Bengtson's "The Long Ships", written some fifty years before.

This book not only captures the true meaning of friendship; it defines how friendships are formed and enhanced by the great game of golf. Add Konik's deep appreciation for the Scots' gift of golf to the world and you have a work that is a great read and a must for all golfers from duffers to scratch players.

I have played played most of the courses mentioned in this very readable book. Their experiences brought back many fine memories.... To go to Scotland with good 'buds' and to see how golf is part of the basic fabic of everyday life there, really sums up the trips I have taken. It is the next best thing to actually going there. Also true to fact, is that there are really no bad links courses, just lesser known ones....

This read compares very favorably with books such as 'A season in Dornock' and should be read prior to any first time trip to Scotland / Ireland.

Magnificent. Personally, I have never played a round of golf, however, I was encouraged by a golfing buddy to read this book. When I finished the book, I called to thank him. This journey takes you beyond the beautiful courses of Scotland and into your own heart. Author Konik does a masterful job of conveying an introspective look into himself, his relationship with his friend, Don and ultimately an examination into the reader's own being. Incredible.

I'm a tennis man myself and only procured this fine book because I was so impressed by the author's other book, "Ella in Europe," which had me weeping tears of joy. Even though I didn't appreciate the golf descriptions in "In Search of Burningbush," I found the author's perspective on friendship and spiritualism to be a revelation. Before I read Mr. Konik's dog book, I was not aware of this man's writing talent. After reading "In Search of Burningbush," I feel confident in saying that he is one of the great writers working today.

What a fascinating, captivating read. Konik certainly has the gift of a talented wordsmith. Passion exudes from these pages of his desire for a true golf buddy, and it comes in form of physically strapped Don. Through this buddy, life in whole new dimensions is opened for Mike through golf excursion to Golf's Holy Ground.

Connections ensue about lovers, Shivas Irons, bravery, betting and many more.

The whirlwind tour that they have leaves one energized and somewhat mystically partaking in their great turf adventure fortnight in Scotland itself. So much remembered here connects with us readers. For this reviewer, golfing buddies habits which set one off, ala Don's smoking habits. One of my links buds, a psychologist takes his whole bag off the cart to hit a shot which couldn't require more than two, max three club choice. Or those encanted moments after multi-round experiences huddling and going through the scorecards as if they were travel slide shows.

This is just exceptional work. One I'll cherish and turn to again over time to make those connections again. Play on!

I bought this book along with Luscious Lemon Desserts and couldn't be happier. Both have a nice range of ideas, and those ideas don't tend to call for exotic ingredients. Everything I've made so far has come out perfect.

We are at the heighth of berry season here in Arkansas, quite frankly it's hard to beat fresh berries by themselves, but I have to tell you, Ms. Longbotham knows a thing or two about berries. My husband brought home a flat of strawberries the other day, and I was so distraught about what do with them. Like a beacon, my "Luscious Dessert" series of cookbooks was on my bookcase. I made the "Strawberry-Hazelnut" crisp and people were literally licking the dish. As a side-note, I absolutely love the photography...it's so appealing, yet so understandable. As we say in the south, "presentation is everything!" Lori Longbotham gives new meaning to the expression, "easy as pie" Page 52 of my cookbook is literally stained with berries and sugar, I can't tell you how many times I made the "Double-Crust Blueberry Pie" it's my signature summer dessert!

Luscious Berry Desserts, as the title suggests, is full of tempting berry desserts. Most of the desserts feature strawberries, raspberries, or blueberries. A few feature blackberries or other more unusual berries, that even I have not heard of before this book.

There is a rather lenghthy introduction that goes over different types of berries and other ingredients, tips on how to buy, store, and use berries in cooking, as well as equipment information and tips for other cooking methods used.

The rest of the book is devoted to recipes, most with photos. The recipes are divided into seven chapters.

In the first chapter, Cakes, there are only four recipes. Three of them are quite innovative, including a rosemary, rose, and blackberry cake.

In the second chapter, Pies, Tarts, and A Cheesecake, there are seven recipes, four for tarts, two for pies, and as the title suggests, one for a cheesecake. These recipes are more traditional then the ones from the Cakes chapter, but just as yummy. Included are a innovative raspberry truffle tart and a more classical blueberry pie.

Despite their being only four cake recipes, Ms. Longbothom has managed to devote an entire chapter to Shortcakes with eight recipes. Recipes include such temptations as hazelnut shortcake with caramel berries, which is photographed on the cover, blueberry ginger shortcake, and strawberry and basil shortcakes.

The next chapter, entitled; A Crisp, Flummery, Cobbler, Grunt, Buckle, and Betty, has six recipes, once of each mentioned dish, including a strawberry-hazelnut crisp.

The next chapter, which is one of my favorites, is Puddings and a Souffle. Nine recipes are included and include recipes such as English summer pudding and strawberry creme fraiche panna cotta.

There is then Frozen Berry Desserts, which features five recepies, including two for ice cream, and a recipe for a blackberry and raspberry semifreddo.

The final chapter is Sauces, Toppings, Creams and a Truffle. There are ninteen recipes for sauces, whipped creams, and other recipes neeeded throughout the book.

The only reason I gave this book four stars is due to its size, which makes it difficult to use, and on a lesser scale,the script font used for each recipe name, which is difficult to read. Otherwise this is a fantastic cookbook.

This book covers a wide variety of recipes using berries. The directions are simple and easy to follow and the three recipes I've tried so far all turned out very well. Whether you want to make berry ice cream, sauce or a crisp, you'll find what you want here.

I've given all Lori Longbotham's Luscious books to my sister in North Carolina, who really likes to bake (and she's mad about lemons, so that's how our tradition got started). She made the blueberry cheescake first, and her whole family loves it. The berry title really appealed to me too because I love fruit, and berries seem to be the only kind of fruit I can really depend on anymore to be consistently tasty. I was glad to see this book includes recipes for frozen berries, too, which I have found to be quite good, easy to come by, and inexpensive. I tried the Strawberry crumble first, which uses fresh strawberries and hazelnuts--it was so easy to make and so good. Anybody, of any age, would love it. Next time I'm going to try adding the crystallized ginger Lori suggests. That's a great idea. The book is full of great ideas. (The banana whipped cream IS great on fresh strawberries.) This Luscious Berries book and the Luscious Chocolate book pair very well--MY two favorite dessert choices.

The problem I have with this is that the print is too small and I need to magnify it. Wish they had a giant print version.

I like the setup of this Bible.

There is one reading from the Old Testament, one from the Psalms, one from Proverbs and one from the New Testament for each day of the year. All four sections are arranged by day, so if you like to read from multiple places in the Bible every day, this will cut down on flipping from one area of the Bible to another. In addition to the pleasant font, you have comments from John MacArthur, one of the great preachers of today, who helps to explain difficult passages from the bible.

If you would like to read through the Bible in a year, this is a great book for you.

My wife and I both got one of these and are enjoying using it to read the Bible each day. It is great to have a little of the Old, New, Psalms, and Proverbs, to read daily. I was also glad to see that the amount to read isn't so huge that if you miss a day than it is really hard to catch up.

This Bible along with the MacArthur study Bible has added such immense joy to my life as I gain knowledge and wisdom through God's Word. Dr. John MacArthur is one of the best teachers/faithful shepherd that I know. Life is very brief, and we must find the best things as soon as we possibly can. These are all-encompassing resources that are good for newer Christians as well as those who are tenured. Even elders and pastors will find this invaluable. It might be all you need since it is the Word and the Word rightly divided, along with all relevant background information.
I would invest time and money into both the yearly Bible, which is intelligently organized and also the MacArthur study Bible.

This bible has the best layout for reading through the bible in a year. You make a good start but lose interest in some of the old testament. You won't find that here. Every day you read NT and OT with a psalm and a proverd plus study notes or historical information. I have only one negative---I wish it was in hardback.

I, Tina; Don't Block the Blessings by Patti LaBelle, Bobby Womack, Pryor Convictions (Richard Pryor), Super Freak (Rick James) and The Etta James Story have been some of the most TELLING books that I have EVER had the pleasure of reading.

I personally prefer when an artist joins with their OWN writer and composes their OWN story, instead of waiting for someone else to do it, only to wind up in court desperately trying to refute the ill-refuted claims gathered by 2nd, 3rd and 4th-hand witnesses to something they heard told to their 3rd cousin twice removed.

I agree with Etta, your only TRUE judge in this ball of confusion is God, so why should you apologize to anyone else? Why not put it out there for everyone to finally snicker, whisper and gossip about, and then ultimately get over?

This book is only a grave reminder to everyone who has always looked to "Holly-WEIRD'S" version of a "hero", that perhaps it would be best to look a little closer to home.

Celebrities are only humans, too. Try looking up to the everyday, ordinary people that you see delivering your mail daily, pulling over drunk drivers, extinguishing fires, teaching your children, preaching to your families and saving your loved ones~~instead of people who can never vote (because they're felons), don't own property or their own vehicles, and are barely able to do a better job than YOU at child-rearing!

the book is great to read it came in very good condition not dirty or torn or bent.

With odds stacked against her in every direction - including personal resistance to success - Etta manages to not only survive, but thrive & inspire!
Stories of the early days of motown, touring, & musician swapping is exciting and nearly incestuous (so many huge names in music ran the same circuits, competing for musicians, songs, gigs & label attention).

The title of this book, Rage to Survive, is very well chosen, hinting is at does to the French phrase "rage de vivre," rage to live.

I grew up with Motown, Aretha, and Otis Redding, but never heard of Etta James until I was over 50! The singer I know only thanks to YouTube, but what I heard there was so talented it's almost scary: soul and blues, sure, but also country and jazz. I suspect that her drug addiction in the late 50s and early 60s led the publicity industry to shun her. (It was only starting in 1968 that one could do drugs and not get the silent treatment.) I know that this is an "as told to" book, but how many soul musicians have bothered to write any kind of memoir? This book deserves to become a classic of its kind.

Amy Weinhaus sounds fresh and interesting only because Etta James is so little known. Weinhaus's career may be over, and she probably won't live to see 30. James is 71. If I am right, Weinhaus will never have a child. James performs with her sons. Etta, you are one tough momma...

If you're going to see Etta, read this book first. It will put some perspective on where this Diva has come from and help you understand some of her stage comments. To make your experience finer, read it while listening to "Her Best-the Chess 50th Anniversary Collection" and her newest CD "Roll On".

It's an honest and fresh read, very revealing and very scary as to how she survived racism, drug addiction and recovery. It also gives alot of insight on the R&B world players in the 50's, 60's and 70's.

I'd recommend it as a supplemental text in feminist/african-american/sociology college courses. It may be too controversial for high school courses but it would certainly get students talking. It's also a great summer read.