Long Books

Christina Brett is an ingenious storyteller with a wonderful and convincing imagination. Her books are always page turners. A novel which makes for sleepless nights. Superb, will grip readers from the first page.

This magnificent piece is so addictive, that you will not put it down until you finish reading every page.........every line......every phrase.

And yes, after you've finished reading the book......you'll come back to read it again.

Ronald García/Spanish writer

I got the book in the mail on Saturday afternoon and started reading it when I went to bed about 10:00 p.m. I could not put it away till about 3:00 a.m. when I fell asleep. I finished it the next day. It was so exciting I had to read a few more pages everytime I wanted to take a break. It is fast paced and holds your attention. I had mixed feelings about the subject. You know she is going to kill somebody which is morally wrong, but you don't want her caught either, I suppose due to her circumstance. I felt sorry that in the end she missed out on a life that could have been wonderful with her lover. The book is well written. I will buy more books by this author. -- Kwadwo Obeng author of "Africans and their Descendants Do Not need Moses, Jesus or Mohammed"

I have really enjoyed reading this book. It is very easy to read and it kept me in suspense from chapter to chapter. I know the author who wrote this book and the stories herein are fantastic. Co-Author of: "Creating Your Own Way to Happiness."

Capstick is definitely my favorite african writer. I enjoyed this book although it is not one of my favorites. However, I ripped through it in several days. Capstick really knew Africa and I certainly have enjoyed reading his experiences!

This is the second Capstick book I have read (the first being "Death in the Long Grass"), and again I was not dissapointed. In this book he takes the role of the safari client--having retired as professional hunter--, and gives us more of an insight on what it is like to be the client on a big game hunting safari in Africa. He vividly describes the sights, sounds, smells, and the very essence of the Dark Continent.

This book is the definitive Capstick work. It is absolutely wonderful, and should be required reading for those who want to go to the Dark Continent and hunt the things that Bite and Trample. Capstick's wit is sparkling, and his hunts are riveting. Papa Bear Hemingway would be proud.

Return to the Long Grass was probably the best book I have read in years.I could not stop reading it! I could feel the hot African heat and the chilly nights.I would recommend this book to anyone who dreams of going to Africa on a safari

You can purchase this book for under 20 dollars directly from the Historical Society of Long Beach at 562-495-1210 and you support their archives and history programs.

This wonderful book is again available. The Long Beach Historical Society can be contacted at 562-495-1210.

For Long Beach Pike lovers, this booklet is a must. Not much more than 70 pages, but it is packed with dynamite, when it comes to a rich, historical accounting of the Pike from its beginning to its end. Black and white photos in abundance, showing rides, features, landscapes such as many of you may never have seen before.

Did you know, for example, that there were at least two auditoriums BEFORE there was the Long Beach Municipal Auditorium (along with the Rainbow Pier)? Did you know that there were several piers before Rainbow Pier, and that one of them was a double decker? Did you know that there were at least two roller coasters before there was the Cyclone Racer, and that the second coaster was remodeled once? Did you know that the Lido Ballroom was earlier known as the Majestic Ballroom and - even before that - it was known as the Majestic Skating Rink? Did you know that the High Ride was a construction machine once used in Europe? Did you know that there were three different "scooters" at one time at the Pike? Did you know that the first beauty contest at the Pike drew over 200,000 people with about 350 contestants, first prize being $500? Did you know that there was once a Bamboo Slide at the Pike and - before that - there was a spiral gondola ride?

Remember the Laff in the Dark, the Crazie Maize, McGruder's salt water taffy, the Rotor, the double ferris wheel, the deep-sea dive, the Flying Gondolas, the penny arcades and other booths?

You will find all these things in this power-packed booklet, put out by the Historical Society of Long Beach.

Although this book is currently a special order on Amazon.com, I recommend making that effort if you have an interest in the Long Beach Pike amusement park. If you grew up in southern California and are older than 30, you may remember the place.

The Pike was built around the turn of the century, and declined after World War 2, when its name was changed to the Nu-Pike. It was closed permanently in 1979, although key rides, such as the Cyclone Racer roller coaster were closed before that.

This book contains an extensive collection of black-and-white photographs that document the whole of the Pike's history. Recommended!

I approached, investigated and uncovered the riches of the Bible after reading Tom Long's book on preaching and the literary forms of the Bible, as he lists honest academic perspectives about the literary form and dynamics of biblical texts, discovering how to best move from text to sermon. I gained a wealth of insight as I looked for the spiritual, - experiences of the Divine - and moral reasonings - for new information, not wanting to make assumptions, and found the canonical textual answers and, thereby, using the literary forms could be better or seriously prepared in my sermons and when engaging in discussions. I especially like the comprehensive text-to-sermon process or approach that applied methodology in separate chapters on preaching the psalms, proverbs, narratives, parables, and epistles in textual, focused literary genres , historical and diversities forms that were now not in a hit and miss fashion, regarding the earliest writings. I saw the possibilities for hearing the plots, claims or movements of the inner sequences of the forces/texts themselves on contemporary life in various settings, identifications, and unfoldings and welcomed these possibilities in preaching.

One of the best books out there for people who are serious about preaching. Nothing has helped me communicate the gospel better in a long time

Dr. Long urges us to let the text guide the process. Long is on the forefront of the new homiletical method which does not put the text on the operating table to perform surgery on it, but lets the text loose to speak to the church. Sermon gerne should follow scripture genre. The book is accesible and valuable to anyhone seeking to make their preaching more accessible to the congregation.

The contents of Tom Long's Literary Forms of the Bible are inclusive and interesting. Although I have not heard him preach - I have heard him teach and critique other preacher's sermons. He always zeros in on the preacher's use of literary forms: Psalms, Proverbs, Narratives, Parable, Epistles.

Long quotes varied literary critics as Stanley Fish, Laurence Perrine and Robert Scholes. He makes use of Robert Alter, Walter Brueggemann, Fred Craddock, C. H. Dodd and Paul Ricoeur. I have experienced with delight his teaching of Parables focused upon the symbols of Code, Vesels, and Objects of Art!

I am tempted to chime-in to his class discussions, when he asks: "What if we switch over into another related period of American art?" Naturally, my first parallel comes from the classical or jazz fields of music that I have lived with for fifty years. Not a surprise when I am seeking-out fresh gripping illustrations to fit into the same Biblical text. He has mastered the art of Literary Approach to Preaching!

Chaplain Fred W Hood

Reflections on the Civil War was published in 1981, three years after the death of Bruce Catton. John Leekley reworked and restructured audio tapes that he and Catton had been compiling for an oral history into the essays that form the basis for this fascinating book.

For the most part this transformation was successful and achieves a natural narrative style. Reflections on the Civil War should particularly appeal to readers seeking a concise, and yet insightful introduction to the Civil War. This relatively short book, about 250 pages, would be ideal for supplementary reading for advanced high school students or undergraduates.

The essays target five major topics: Lincoln's leadership; life in the army; the war itself - strategy and execution; the Civil War as the first modern war, and There Was a Young Soldier. This last section, the experiences of John Geyser from Pennsylvania in an engineer battalion in the Army of the Potomac, was riveting, and is a remarkable description of soldiering under General McClellan.

John Geyser carefully penned thoughtful sketches of camp life, individual soldiers, and military action. These drawings add substantial value to this work. Geyser's sketches had only recently come available and had not been published previously.

In the 1960s Bruce Catton, winner of the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award, helped Americans understand and commemorate the centennial of the Civil War. His books - Mr. Lincoln's Army, Terrible Swift Sword, Gettysburg: the Final Fury, A Stillness at Appomattox, two volumes on Ulysses S. Grant, and others - were widely admired. His writings gave meaning and life to the Civil War in a way unmatched by previous writers.

In recent decades American interest in the Civil War was similarly revitalized by the monumental documentary on the Civil War by Ken Burns and later by the film Gettysburg. Newer studies by outstanding historians like Shelby Foote and James M. McPherson, and Civil War novels like those of Michael and Jeff Shaara, have perhaps unfairly displaced the writings of Bruce Catton.

In my view Bruce Catton's major works compare favorably with Shelby Foote and James McPherson, two authors that I greatly respect. Reflections on the Civil War is a quick way to become acquainted with this remarkable writer and historian.

The first books I ever read about the Civil War were by Bruce Catton, starting with his novel BANNERS AT SHENANDOAH and continuing with his two overall histories and ending with his U.S. Grant trilogy. There is something effortless about the way Catton integrates his sources and spins his tale.

If one may say he is not really a scholar, he is at least a brilliant popularizer and integrater. REFLECTIONS is like the capstone of his career. Now that I've read scores of books on the subject, Catton somehow manages to revivify the entire period.

By far my favorite chapter is the story of an Army Engineer who also created a sketchbook of his battle experiences. Catton follows him thoughout the war and even after, until his later years are spent in pain from an injury received in battle decades before. Also brilliant is is short summary of the war from the point of view of opportunities lost. (It appears that the commanding generals of the Army of the Potomac have a lot to answer for.)

If you want a single book to give you a good feeling of what the Civil War was like without dragging you company by company through all the gory details, this is the book for you.

There are many great writers about the Civil War, but I definitely feel that, now that Catton has gone, the vital spark is no longer there.

Catton provides the reader with an easy to understand synopsis of the grand currents at work during the Civil War. Masterfully done, Catton obviously composed his ideas from a vast warehouse of Civil War knowledge. Not concerned with detailing the minutia of events, he is able deliver a feeling for what was going on during those great and terrible days. Although the Foreword and Introduction seem a bit fawning at times, the editor and E. B. Long are able to clue the reader in on what to expect and what to look for.

This book was compiled from audio tapes Catton made before his death,,, his "reflections" on the Civil War. In it Catton brings the lessons of his life long study of the war into very human focus. It is the best book I know of for anyone who is seeking their first Civil war book because it tells the stories of the war in such human terms. It is the best book I know of for the Civil war "expert" for the very same reason. One cannot lose focus on the essential human war exoperiences once this book is read. It is an outstanding achievement. There is fact here to be sure but Catton always provided mofre than fact. He provided understanding. And in "Reflection On The Civil War" he provides passion and compassion, intrigue and dareing, and deep respect for the simple common people of the 1860's Here, he speaks of their wisdom, their dedication and their courage. One of the most masterful pieces of writing I have evefr read comes late in the book when he trace two trajectories. The first

I'm a third-grade teacher and bought this book for my class library. There's a mixture of real art pieces and drawings done by an illustrator whose style goes well with the paintings. It's a fun way for the kids to learn about something new. I highly recommend it to teachers of grades 3-5. It's a fast favorite, and now my class is filled with Renoir fans.

My kids (who hate having their hair cut) love this book and have been asking for it every night. I love the fact that now they'll grow up knowing who Renoir was, recognizing his paintings, and knowing the surprising and amusing story behind them. This is such a gem of a story and it's so wonderful that someone thought to write a children's book about it. Great story, beautiful illustrations.

Great Book! Lots of fun to read. My children and I both enjoyed the story, how little Jean was part of his father's artwork and creative process. Good for all ages, from 4 to 41. I liked learning more about Renoir.

This is the perfect book to spark a child's interest
in art. I read it to my sons (ages 5 and 7) and they
had fun picking out their favorite Renoir paintings.
Then they wanted to go to the museum so they could
look for Renoir paintings. (This made me happy!) My
older son identified with Jean (Renoir's son), who
wanted to be more like the other kids, but more
importantly, he admired Renoir who followed his
passion and didn't care what anyone thought of him.
What an inspiring message for kids!

For starters I bought this book used from Amazon. Slight tears on the cover but a $50 book for $3, I couldn't pass it up. I'm glad I didn't. Even for $50 I would think the book would be worth it, but that is my opinion.

The pictures and the explanation of the history behind this car are very detailed. Almost 200 high quality pages full of great pictures and information from the very history of the rotary motor to the prototype Rx-8. This book was written in 2001, so the Rx-8 was a fairly new idea. The book goes through and explains every rotary powered car Mazda produced and explains a bit about the motorsports aspect as well.

Like in some of the older reviews, They could have spent a little more time in the buyer's guide section. Even though they explained a lot of good points, there is much more to know before purchasing this car.

For any Rx-7 enthusiasts out there, I would recommend this book for their spare time (when they are not out driving).

This book is a MUST HAVE for any RX-7 enthusiast! There is a wealth of new information that is ONLY in this book and nowhere else, and I have 'em all :).

If you've read the Mazda RX-7: Sports Car Color History book, this book is along the same lines and format. Where the big difference lies is the non-US specific focus of the information; model changes and lineups for Japan, the US, and the UK are covered, along with TONS of color photographs, reproductions of ads, and more.

The information in the book is VERY well researched and extremely accurate, which is asking quite a lot due to the breadth of the subject.

This is a fine reference work on the history of the RX-7. The "newness" of the book is a plus, since it covers the newer 3rd generation cars that are only for sale in Japan as well as photos and information on the upcoming RX-8. This information is not in *any* of the other RX-7 books.

Get it now!

Great book, all of the history is there. Worth geting, also makes a cool table book. lots of pics, and info on the Wankle rotary. only thing is it lacks a longer buyers guide. oh well, still A+.

An absolutely amazing book. Some of the most in-depth insight into this superb production automobile. It covers the inception of Mazda (and the effects of WWII on the company - based in Hiroshima) to the modern developments of the RX-8 and the Renesis engine (and a wealth of RX-7 facts in between).

If you have ever wondered about the history, evolution, and the future of this impressive sportscar... Here is the source of your answers (has great photos, too!).

Age can do a lot of things to people - including making them very grumpy. "Senior Days: Insightful Tales and No-Nonsense Help from the Frontlines of Eldercare" is a collection of anecdotes from the author about her days serving as a senior care expert - and the insanity and sadness that serves as an occupational hazard. With stories of over ninety year old sex machines, miracles of sight, and other tales, "Senior Days" rarely has a dull moment. A top pick for community library memoir collections.

My husband & I both read this wonderful book. The stories are full of laughter & tears & a lot of loving friendship by Ms. Nicol. The helpful hints & the references for caretakers are well researched. Even the little drawings are very creative. We really enjoyed this approach to a thoughful way of keeping seniors safe & taken care of in there own environments. Thank for the book.

This book is full of touching, smart stories told by someone who obviously cares deeply for the elderly as she helps them through their bumpy years. It's an easy read full of good websites and organizations for those caring for loved ones. As a hospice nurse and eldercare giver myself, I'll recommend this book to many both in and out of the healthcare field.

This is a great book for the insights into senior care. If you're involved with caring for someone or you're planning to do so soon, it's a must have. Colleen fills the pages with wonderful personal stories and much needed tips on caring for your loved ones as they age. Kudos!

This is a very short but powerful book that tells how to know Jesus better. It made me re-evaluate my relationship to Jesus and it is very inspirational and Biblically sound. I recommend it to anyone who wants a close relationship with Jesus Christ.
--Karen Arlettaz Zemek, author of "My Funny Dad, Harry"

A very popular catch-phrase used in our day is "It's not about you" often accompanied by "It's all about you.." and whatever claims the speaker wants to enunciate. However, as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, we are learning that it is "All About Jesus." And "Simply Jesus" by Joseph M Stowell, President of the Moody Bible Institute of Chicago helps to clarify just that position.

In his own warm, inimitable, and engaging way, Stowell helps to paint the portray as it should be painted...God's Son, Jesus Christ our Lord as the main object and center of all the Universe. In nine short chapters, the author describes his own personal journey into the heart of God in loving relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ through many illustrations from his own life (being invited to the White House, dining with Billy and Ruth Graham, and growing up in his dad's church) and that of friends and family. This is done with great humor which is both candid and sensitive to those being illustrated, as well as his target audience.

Just because this is an easy read doesn't mean that it is either boring, cliche-ish, or shallow. It is none of those. What it is will be many things to each different reader.

For me, it was a clear, inviting, and compassionate call to know Christ more...and not just more about Him. But to know and love Him more, and to let Him love me as only He can.

After all, it is "simply Jesus."

Get this book...give it away after you read it!

This wonderful little book was handed to me to peruse for use in our ministry as a possible follow-up book for new Christians. Y'know, kind of an introduction to who Jesus is. What I found was a powerful call to all Christians, young and old, to know Jesus. Joseph Stowell does an outstanding job of compelling us to draw near to the Lord. All of the "things" that we think are so important are really worthless next to knowing Him. Even our Christian "things" can cloud what is the true call of a Christian. The chapters on "having Jesus" and "the fellowhsip of His sufferings" are life changing. Get this book and get a new passion for knowing Christ!

After seeing Dr. Stowell at a conference, I was excited to get this book. If you are a Christian, just getting by ... read this book! It will challenge you, and make you re-think about your walk with Jesus. It is top notch, and lists many verses to study in the bible.

Get it, read it, and get closer to Christ!

This is the first to examine the works of Ammann, one of the finest modern bridge designers of modern times. This uses over 200 archival photos to present displays of his New York bridges, their construction, and the development of his ideas. The in-depth details on bridge designs of the times and Ammann's place in the world of bridge designers makes for excellent coverage.

Diane C. Donovan Reviewer

This book is as special to New Yorkers as it is to Engineering Enthusiasts. As New Yorker in Exile, I now live a life where if I traverse one major bridge a year, it's an event. When I lived in New York City (Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens and Stane Island at various times), the crossing of these major Bridges was a daily event. Not a day went by when I didn't listen to the Traffic reports and have to quickly calculate my Commute strategy in order to choose the most efficient Span to cross. When going Upstate to visit the parents, I often crossed The Whitestone, Throgsneck or Tri-borough if traffic was too congested in Manhattan. Sometimes, I'd cross the Verrazano, The Brooklyn and the George Washington. This book honours the creation of the modern bridges, their design, construction, completion and functionality as well as describing the political and economic climate in which they were conceived and completed. It answers many of the passing questions that came to my Driving Mind as I stalled in traffic at the Tolls of these Bridges and it brings back memories of my life in the City of Islands. As I mentioned in the title of this review, while kinda technical and history-laden, this is a love song to the Bridges of New York City. Buy it, read it and you'll learn to be grateful for living in a time when these bridges ease travel and not curse them as I used to do occaisonally during Jams. Before reading this book, I never bothered to imagine New York before them and now I appreciate them all the much more.

"Six Bridges - The Legacy of Othmar H. Ammann by Darl Rastorfer is a very well written book about a great 20th Century engineer and his engineering feats in long span suspension bridges. This is a must read for everyone for it reveals the trials and tribulations of a man who made history by using scientific principles to design world record breaking bridges.

With his European education Ammann sought out a dream to come to America and seek opportunities in the new country. Within two weeks he started his first position. The early years of Othmar Ammann's career are clearly outlined showing how he gained his knowledge with diligence in various career positions. His thoroughness and dedication to hard work is demonstrated by the trust, faith and confidence of the people who hired him. His reputation was building.

I enjoyed the stories which tell of his character building during hard times also. After his plans for a bridge challenged his future with an employer, he was able to move on and demonstrate his convictions with successful accomplishments. Interesting political considerations are also profiled in the important decisions of costly construction and pressures from public opinion. Ammann's skill to work with people results in many obstacles being overcome.

When the trials and tribulations of office competition evoled, Ammann had the fortitude to break away and start anew. He was a man of visions and had dreams to fulfill. He was a man of principles and nothing could sway him. He was confident his engineering background and skills could lay a path of successful bridge design and construction.

No other bridge engineer has influenced one city more than O.H. Ammann. The history of the planning stages of the designing and construction of these six bridges is well written and interesting for all readers. These six bridges: Georg Washington, Bayonne, Triborough, Bronx-Whitestone, Throngs Neck, and Verrazano-Narrows all are beautifully photographed. A chapter for each bridge outlines their construction with great description and many breathtaking photographs. If you have never been to New York Ctiy this author will certainly take you there with beautiful photos and interesting, informative narrative. Another book including O.H. Ammann's life is: Henry Petrosky's - "Engineers of Dreams: Great Bridge Builders"

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During the first half of this century, American bridges became the largest and most beautiful structures ever built; Othmar Ammann, a Swiss engineer who came to New York in 1904, was the quiet genius who built six of the very best.

George Washington, Bayonne, Triborough, Bronx-Whitestone, Throgs Neck and Verrazano-Narrows are his monuments; like the skyscrapers, literally "invented" in New York, the builders of suspension bridges perfected their art in the US. It shows what can be accomplished with new wealth, pride and vision. One of the finest is the Verrazano-Narrows bridge; the towers for the cables are as high as a seventy story building. To put this in perspective, that's twice as high as the tallest "skyscraper" in Phoenix.

Each tower was assembled with 10,000 steel cells, fastened with six million rivets and two million bolts. The Empire State Building has 365,000 tons of steel, the bridge has 1,265,000 tons. Like the Parthenon, where the pillars were sculpted to present the most pleasing appearance, the bridge towers are tapered from top to bottom. The two towers are plumb, but the curvature of the earth means the tops are one and five-eighth inches further apart than the base. Since metal expands in hot weather, the roadway at the center of the span rises or falls by 12 feet during a temperature change of 100 degrees.

Bigger bridges will be built. Some will be more beautiful. But these six are the ones that set the standard. Everything from now will be an adaptation of them. It's like the Golden Age of radio, or television, or movies, or the Internet; experimentation and innovation is always greatest when technology is new.

A suspension bridge is truly an artistic sculpture, because it is based on natural curve of a cord strung between two points. Look at a spider's web, the curve of a bird's wing, or wheat bending in the wind; there is a contrast between nature and the massive stone blocks of earlier bridges. The book is admirably illustrated with more than 200 photos; they show the artistry, and the incredible labor that went into the construction of each.

In today's society, when lowest cost seems to be the only consideration, some wisdom from Ammann in 1958 stands out, "In fact, an engineer designing a bridge is justified in making a more expensive design for beauty's sake. After all, many people will have to look at the bridge for the rest of their lives. Few of us appreciate eyesores, even if we should save a little money by building them."

It shows good design is possible, and adds a great deal to a community. Like Will Bruder's design of the new Phoenix library, skillfully described in the book "Phoenix Central Library" by Oscar Riera Ojeda, et al, this book is a must for anyone interested in better communities.