Nicholson Books

Set in the present day in mainland China, this first novel is charming, warmly humorous, and often touching in its focus on several families in the small town of Shaoyang as they weather the cultural turmoil which is taking place. The goals of the young have changed, and many people in the cities are experimenting with capitalism. The firebrands of the past are now elderly people living simple, often deprived, lives, and the destruction which occurred during the Cultural Revolution is now recognized and acknowledged as unfortunate. People are coping with the closure of factories, general unemployment, unsatisfying work on farms, and the pollution of rivers and waterways.

Hill endows what might have been a bleak setting with much humor. When Da Shan returns to the town after being away for seven years, for example, his reunion with his mother reflects the relationships of mothers and sons across all cultures and time, sounding as much like a Borscht Belt Jewish Mother skit as a domestic interchange in rural China. The petty quarrels, jealousies, resentments, longings, and hopes for the future, which are only hinted at in Chinese-written books such as Wild Swans, Waiting, and Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress, are explicit here, further adding to the sense of common humanity which makes Hill's characters so understandable. While this may make the novel "less Chinese," it allows for greater reader identification.

Much of Hill's effectiveness stems from his selection of powerful visual details, rather than his use of pretty words. The polluted river, for example, shines with "pale gray smudges where plastic bags have drowned," while an ancient temple is inhabited by nuns who can no longer read some of the Chinese characters in their books. I did find several fairly explicit sex scenes to be jarring, out of character with the warmth, light humor, and restraint throughout much of the book, and inconsistent with its formal, almost operatic structure. In addition, a harshness creeps into the end of the book and may be a warning to the reader that nothing may be taken for granted in this country, despite our desire to think the people are "just like us." Hill's ambitious novel contains many delights and augurs a promising future. Mary Whipple

The only specifice resource dealing with emergency management and response law which give specific details and examples of good and bad actions. The only reason for not having a 5 is it can get a little lengthy and detailed at times, however that may be great for some. After reading the first three or four case scenarios the reader will have a feel for what must be read, what can be scanned, and if anything can be omitted.

American college undergraduates often are assigned an anthology of specially selected readings drawn from a variety of relevant authors, as a method of exposing them to the literature in their subject. This volume was constructed along those lines, though for English readers, comprising more than 120 brief selections from the late 18th century through roughly the 1930s -- which means even the more recent information is now more than two generations out of date. Nevertheless, even without taking into account the great changes the British upper classes have undergone since World War II, and especially in the past two decades, Guttsman supplies a very good, and very representative overview, particularly for the 19th century, of the general character of the upper classes, their lifestyle, the nature and effects of landownership, the influence and effects of the aristocracy on political life, the true nature of aristocratic education, and the place of the upper classes in the army, the church, and the civil service. Few of the selections run more than two pages (some are a half-page or less) and very few are taken from previously published books. Most, in fact, are excerpts from private correspondence, diaries, memoirs, parliamentary debates, government reports, and letters to the TIMES, from such notables as Edmund Burke, John Stuart Mill, Walter Bagehot, T. S. Eliot, Benjamin Disraeli, Mathew Arnold, William Stubbs, and assorted peers -- but also from any number of anonymous observers, politicians, and commentators.

This booklet published before Eric Clapton released Pilgrim. It serves the purpose of outling each of Eric Clapton's songs and a summary of their recordings. A very detailed description of each track is given. I especially enoy the descriptions of Eric's guitar styles on many of the songs. Helpful for those debating whether to purchase a particular recording. Yes, there are some slight biases. However, the author does not make his opinion too overbearing. And besides most of his thoughts are pretty compatible with mine. A nice pocket size booklet for Eric Clapton fans.

Good book but the Software on the CD is out of date, and does not run with Win95 Ex95. I made 3 of the tools and know why - I send the software befor W95 was released. If you need a update please send me a email! Alex

Anyone who has a small amount of talent in their respective field should read this book. Nick Faldo has shown that the harder you work at something the better you can become. To rebuild your swing is one thing. To win and become number one in the world is an achievement that will probably never be matched.

This book is a lesson in not giving up. The man is simply a winner.

This book was an awesome read. I can definately say that I have had similar experiences while thirsting for "home". I recommend this book to everyone.

This book has a bunch of good essays from notable people. They provide a good sample of the ideas, particularly Judith Butler, Susan Bordo, and Donna Harraway. The Andreas Huyssen essay attempting to define postmodernism in terms of art was required reading in architecture school, but Mary McLeod's essay on the subject was better for its coverage of architecture.
Anyway, it is a useful book to have around.

I acquired this book at a swap meet many about 13 years ago.Back then i was the kind of person who thought a knife was a thing you kept in your pocket for peeling fruit etc.After reading the book I was bitten by the knife collecting bug!!I now have several hundred knives and I have always relied on this book as a concise yet informative history of 20 Century combat knives.I feel this book should be on the bookshelf of anyone who has an interest in or collects military knives. Highly Recommended!

This is a well written, well researched book. As I started reading it I was struck by the tension and almost theatrical suspense of the chain of events that lead up to the start of the "War to end all wars". The first few chapters were every bit as suspenseful as a Tom Clancy novel. I was amazed to see that although the Germans at first wanted a war by the time it actually started everyone regretted it. Events just started to take a life of their own and it seems like WW I was destined to occur.

The biggest problem I have with this book is that once the war starts it turns into a straight forward documenting of the events like so many other all inclusive histories. I realize it is difficult to cover every aspect of a four year war but several times the author mentions an event or an action without giving any explanation or a little bit of the background. He does explain quite a bit though and it is very thorough.

While the book left me with a few unanswered questions, it definately organizes the war for people not too familiar with World War I. I enjoyed reading this book and would say it's a slightly above average history. I would recommend it to anyone, even though it's out of print and may be difficult to find.