Marshall Books

I had to read this book for school and write a report on it, and once you really got into the book, it really turns out to be one of those books that you just simply can't put down. In reading this book I felt really angry towards the Sydney police department and the way they conducted their investigation. It is simply horrifying to think that people would conduct themselves the way they did in order to make themselves a hero and send an innocent man (at that time teen) to jail to serve a life sentence and simply let him rot there for eleven years.

This is a great book for anyone who sits in a cublicle, a corporate meeting room, or a dead-end 9-5'er dreaming of a way out. It is possible to break free and do it. This is delightful story of a man who did just that and came to live a better life by refusing to accept the slavery of a polyester tie and gambled with a life at sea. A must-read for anyone who has ever wondered about the road not taken or what's over the horizon.

I enthusiastically recommend this book. I don't have children of my own, but I bought one copy for my nephew and another for my mother (a devoted reader of books for children). The story is simple enough - a boy who saves his hard-earned money for his grandmother's birthday, but then blows it on a baseball glove and has to come up with a meaningful gift that doesn't cost any money. The clever part of the story is that by being forced to think of what would mean the most to his grandmother, the boy is able to come up with a present that's not only better than any store-bought present, but that allows the grandmother to see him in a new light.

I'm especially happy that Watts doesn't write down to children, instead using a quietly humorous, at times bouncy style that appeals to children and adults, such as this line: "Kenyon's quiet easy glide to freedom was frozen by his grandmother's words." Or this one: "'I'm not sick. I'm just stupid.'" Moreover, the grandmother isn't called something common like "Grandma" or "Granny," but the distinctive "Little Dolly." The reader learns a lesson along with the boy, but what's most impressive about the story is that Little Dolly herself learns a lesson, breaking the standard wise-adult, foolish-kid story line.

I liked the full-color paintings, too, which nicely complement the story with a range of unusual perspectives.

This is not one of those picture books you get sick of reading after one or two times. You'll be happy to read it to your children over and over.

Narayan Radhakrishnan of Rebeccasreads highly recommends KEN FOLLET: The transformation of a writer as a fascinating
"critical companion" of the progress of the craftmanship of one of our most popular writers of the last half of the 20th century. Do catch our Interview with Carlos Ramet.

an instructor turned me on to this artist. "what a painter" is all i can say. striking images!

Tracey Agranoff has written a wonderful, creative Jewish crafts book for children of all ages. Her imaginative craft ideas really bring the Holidays to life. The easy to follow Step by Step instruction guarentee success every time. The book has a great lay flat binding that makes it the easiest book to use I've ever seen. The book is fun,with bright color pictures and so easy to use I have reccomended it to all my friends for their classroom use or at home with their own families.

As a teacher of adults with learning handicaps and also a mixed group of ESL and adults who want their GED, the Kim Marshall Series is outstanding! Flexible, concise, clear and very easy to use. They are also adaptable for any class. I would recommend this entire series to teachers in traditional classroom settings, adult education programs, ESL and those who are Home School Educators. Be aware, the prices here are really quite high!

King's X: Common Law and the death of Sir Harry Oakes

This book tells about the murder of Sir Harry Oakes, identifies the murderers, and explains the involvement of others in this officially unsolved murder. The evidence against the accused son-in-law was forged and fabricated by Miami detectives brought in by the Duke of Windsor! Few were neutral about Sir Harry Oakes. To some he was a benefactor and philanthropist, to others he was a robber and cruel oppressor. Oakes made a huge fortune by discovering gold in Ontario; earlier he sought gold in the Yukon and elsewhere. He migrated to the Bahamas, which had no income tax, and spent money developing the island (p.12)

Chapter 2 is a short biography of the Prince of Wales. He had average abilities, and poor judgment that created his bad luck. [An argument against hereditary rule?] He threw away his throne to marry a twice-divorced adventuress. Chapter 3 gives the biography of Wallis Warfield, who learned to please other people. David and Wallis were joined in mutual hedonism (p.35). Chapter 5 tells of the history of piracy, corruption, and crookedness in the Bahamas. It was settled by Loyalists and Southerner. Their social and economic structure is parasitic. Chapter 6 tells of Sir Harry's death: struck by a winch lever that had four prongs (p/67). Sir Harry reneged on a deal with Meyer Lansky! The body was returned to his bed, and set afire as a warning to others. The solution came from an unnamed informant (p.69). Chapter 9 tells of the amazing exploits of Raymond Schindler, a famous investigator. The Bahamian police destroyed evidence (p.91). Chapter 10 explains the origins of the police under the Common Law system. Chapter 11 gives a short history of the Common Law. Cross-examination is distinctive to the Common Law system; it tests the truthfulness of the witnesses (p.127). Chapter 16 notes the medical testimony about the murder. "Time of death can be determined accurately only by non-medical evidence: (p.152). De Marigny was at the murder scene before the search for fingerprints (pp.172-3). Chapter 19 has the testimony of the fingerprint expert on Exhibit J; this cross-examination was one of the most brilliant in history (p.205). Chapter 21 tells of the problem with this sole fingerprint (p.226). Erle Stanley Gardner's comment is still true today (p.242). Chapter 26 shows the technique of attacking the defendant's character to sway the jury. Legitimate alibis often fail to convince because they involve a relative, neighbor, or friend. Experts disputed the validity of the fingerprint. A Police Captain saw Harold Christie in the passenger seat of a station wagon when he should have been in bed! The Judge summed up the case "against the Crown" (p.301). The jury quickly returned a "not guilty" verdict, and the crowds celebrated. Leonarde Keeler used his polygraph to test de Marigny and found his statements truthful.

Chapter 33 suggests de Marigny would have been convicted under a Civil Law system where he would have "to prove his innocence". [But this assumes he would have been indicted.] Civil Law was created by kings and emperors, not from popular customs. Precedents of prior cases have no effect; there is no habeas corpus, or rules against torture. Common Law judges have had historical independence, and balanced the interests and right of the people against their rulers. There are four basic conditions for personal rights and democratic government. Chapter 34 warns us of attacks on the Common Law system (p.318). Lawyers do not train as apprentices in law offices, law schools do not train them as advocates. Houts suggests five steps to cure this problem (pp.322-324). Trial by jury is the only truly democratic form of participation left in the justice system. Houts suggests five steps to improve the police; we can't go back to the private vigilante system of previous centuries (p.326). The police must gather all the facts in the case, and not ignore or suppress evidence. The judge, jury, and prosecutor will do the rest.

I should have known that I was destined to be a historian, given that this was my childhood picture book. My mother's copy is dogeared and threadbare and beloved. The scholarship is not necessarily the highest, and some of the illustrations are over-romanticised Victorian engravings, but it gives an excellent thumbnail sketch of every ruler of England from Edgbert (giving it a leg-up on many other survays, which begin with William the Conqueror or, if they are better, Edward the Confessor) to Elizabeth II, listing birth date and place, marriage(s), children (legitmate and illegitamate), date, cause and place of death, and place of burial, with a essay ranging from two paragraphs to two pages, depending on the importance of the ruler.

It also gives the same information for all the rulers of Scotland, and information, although not as complete, for the native princes of Wales. Not authoritative, but filled with a great deal of basic information, and illustrations of places and tomb monuments.

If you can imagine A.A. Milne writing a British history, this could be it. Here is how it begins:

"Ever and ever so long ago there was a Very Important King kind of person called Julius. He lived in Rome and ruled all the Romans. He was a very Conquering kind of person too. So he began to conquer all the people he knew, for their own good. Because he said: 'The Romans know far more than anyone else and are far more clever than the others, so it will do them good to be conquered and taught things. Besides when we have conquered them we can make them work for Us and we can take all their gold and things, so we will have a lot more money and fun too.' So Julius went out Conquering."

My older children loved it, and now that I'm reading it to my youngest (5), the older two (11 and 13) are listening in. I think this is my favorite H.E. Marshall book (and we have quite a few of them!)