Nova Books

Black Mutiny is a well-written, highly interesting account of the events surrounding the Amistad. It is an excellent companion piece to Spielburg's movie, AMISTAD (this is the book on which the movie was based). The reader should be cautioned, however, that this book is a work of historical fiction. It is not a scholarly account of events, albeit an interesting and -- most probably -- factual one. For me personally this did not detract from the book. But then I am only an amateur historian and enjoy historical fiction if it is done well and does not embellish extensively, and Owens did not. Nevertheless, if the reader is expecting a footnoted text, then this is not the book for you. William Ownes, the late folklorist and English professor, wrote "Black Mutiny" in 1953. To make the book more appealing to today's market, two brief essays by black activists/historians have been added. I recommend not reading either essay until after reading the text, or possibly not reading them at all. They add nothing to Owens' story of Cinque and the Amistad and both essays are bigoted, racially charged and are of interest to only a select audience.

I set upon to read this book to read a real account of what happened on the Amistad before I saw the movie which I heard was historically flawed. I don't know if that is the case because I have not seen the movie, but this book enriched me in ways I never could have foreseen. This book made me question the "inherent morality" and goodness of America envisioned in the "City on a Hill" analogy invoked by so many people. This book described in vivid detail the plight of Africans that were captured by the Spanish along the Slave Coast and their transport to Cuba. In addition, the book speaks of the complicity of the United States in allowing and, in fact, looking away as the slave trade continued in Havana long after Spain and England had signed a treaty declaring the trade illegal. How ironic that the nation that the United States broke from because of tyranny was the nation almost soley responsible for rescuing captured Africans from their Spanish captors. Owens also tells in the book of how horribly blacks were treated IN THE NORTH being driven out of towns and neighborhoods by people claiming to be Christian. This book makes one take a look at the hipocrisy that fills the history of the United States and how the case of the Amistad underscored the American paradox of "all men are created equal" and the institution of slavery. This book taught me that America has much to be sorry for though HER PROMISE is inspiring. It also taught me why many black people wish to be called African-American...it is the only way to acknowledge a heritage that was lost when upon arrival in Cuba they were given Spanish names denoting a European heritage that is not theirs.

My husband and I have enjoyed reading this book. We are getting our new bulldog pup in a few weeks and can't wait !!

Well I dont have the puppy yet, but it seems the book give so much info about the dog. It gives u overall how to take care your little puppy.

A captivating novel that intertwines historical events with mystery and romance. A must read for anyone interested in Cajun history or those who enjoy creative writing. Can't wait for the second book by these two talent authors.

Excellent story. Imaginative story based on real events of history! My favorite kind of story. Illustrations are amazing!

In a country where the president himself, Daniel arap Moi, incites tribal violence just to stay in power and favours members of his tribe and their allies; and where the people first identify themselves as Kikuyu, Luo, Kamba, Luhya, Kisii, Kalenjin, and not as Kenyans; it's not surprising that the concept of nationhood and collective identity (except tribal) has not yet been fully accepted almost 40 years after independence. Anyone who doubts this has just to look at how Kenyans voted in the last two general elections in 1992 and 1997: strictly along tribal lines. This is also in a country where ethnic cleansing has become a sport, a deadly game, in a number of areas of the country, which are off-limits if you're the "wrong" tribe, causing untold suffering and loss of life and property. It is also in a country where corruption has become so rampant that it has literally destroyed what was once one of the most vibrant economies on the African continent, if not in the entire Third World. Yet, in spite of all this, the president, who is supposed to be the custodian of national will and trust, and an embodiment of national ideals, with national mandate to lead the country in the right direction although he was never really given such mandate by the electorate - the majority never voted for him - but should neverthelss exercise it in the national interest since he's already there in office; in spite of all this destruction, he has done nothing to condemn let alone try to stop it. He has, instead, openly bragged about his cunning and deceit, and about his ability to play dirty politics - and other nasty little games! - calling himself "the foremost professor of politics in Africa." The author, Godfrey Mwakikagile from Tanzania, has done an excellent job addressing those issues in his magnificent study, "Ethnic Politics in Kenya and Nigeria." But that's only half of the book. The other half deals with Nigeria, in just as probing a manner, and goes into detail in examining the Nigerian civil war which almost destroyed Africa's largest nation in the sixties, ironically, Africa's decade of euphoria and independence. Again, like in Kenya, tribalism played a major role in igniting and fueling the conflict. Tribalism also determined the outcome of elections in Nigeria, just like in Kenya and other African countries. There was, however, one critical difference between the elections in Kenya and those in Nigeria, as the author points out. While President Moi won the election in Kenya because of tribalism, his counterparts in Nigeria won in spite of tribalism, giving them the mandate to rule. Yet, even in Nigeria, the voters voted overwhelmingly along ethnic and regional lines: Yorubas for Yoruba presidential candidates, Igbos for Igbo, and the Hausa-Fulani for their own kind as well. Nationalism has yet to transcend tribalism in Africa; may be with the possible exception of Tanzania, as a number of observers have noted, in a country where tribalism does not play a major role in national life and the people identify themselves, first and foremost, as Tanzanians. But even there, tribalism has begun to show up in some areas since the multiparty system was introduced, with some politicians taking advatange of pluralism using tribal loyalties to get votes in their quest for national office. Yet the ugly phenomenon is still not as pronounced as it is in most African countries, with neighbouring Kenya being one of the worst. Mwakikagile has written an important book of enduring siginificance, which is more than just a study of tribal politics in Kenya and Nigeria, but of the numerous problems Africa faces: civil wars, tribalism, tyranny, corruption, AIDS and other diseases, poverty, hunger, and much more, all rolled into one. As Julius Nyerere said not long before he died: "Africa is in a mess."

The toxic nature of tribal politics is the main subject of
this study by Godfrey Mwakikagile, one of Africa's prolific
writers. An academic author, he has written a number of
books in different areas: economics, politics, history,
international affairs, race relations, and psychology where
one of his books, "Africa and the West," an interdisciplinary
text about history and politics, and even philosophy, is
used in the study of Identity. But tragically, it is this
very African identity, although in the twisted and narrow
sense of tribalism, which has proved to be Africa's nemesis.
Tribalism is a cancer in the African body-politic, eating
it away. Nigeria and Kenya provide classic examples of this
malignancy and, the two case studies the author uses, serve
to explain in detail what is essentially a continental
phenomenon. Besides the havoc wreaked by the Nigerian civil
war (1967 - 1970), which was ignited and fueled by ethnic
hatred in the quest for power, what happened in Kenya during
the general elections in 1992 and 1997 also tragically
demonstrated the negative impact of tribalism as a powerful
force determining the future and destiny of African
countries. The opposition parties won a combined total of
about 60 percent of the vote in both elections, and the
incumbent Moi about 40 percent. Yet he ended up winning
because the opposition was divided and failed to unite
behind a single candidate. Therefore his opponents kept
him in office, thanks to tribalism. Members of different
tribes voted for their own tribal candidates for president,
in spite of the odds against them; totally ignoring the
fact that none of them had the chance to win the presidency
without forming a coalition and uniting behind a single
candidate. The author has deftly captured the essence of
this phenomenon that is so destructive to Africa. And in
spite of some of the official ties he had in Tanzania when
he worked as a journalist, as his biography shows, he
remains an impartial observer and analyst of the African
political scene, and his work has not in any way been
compromised by those ties. And his analysis of the Nigerian
civil war is outstanding. The book is also an excellent
account of the war, fully annotated, and with appendices and
bibliographical references, including full texts of
statements by Nigerian and Biafran leaders. The bibliography
alone is worth the book: excellent for further research, not
only about military coups and despotic regimes on the
continent, but about Africa in general. Look out for his
next book.

"SHE DID AN EXCELANT JOB", IS WHAT WAS SAID WHEN I FILED MY BANKRUPTCY FORMS. FOR MONTHS, I STRUGGLED WITH THE KIT ON MY OWN. I COULDN'T GET ANY HELP FROM THE COURT CLERKS, AND I EVEN TRYED AN ONLINE CHAT WITH A LAWYER(HE WAS JUST AS LITTLE HELP AS THE CLERKS). MY OPTIONS BECAME: EITHER CALL IT A LOSE, OR ORDER A BOOK AND TRY ONE MORE TIME. WELL!, NEEDLESS TO SAY, IT TOOK ME TWO DAYS TO READ THE BOOK AND GATHER THE INFORMATION THAT I NEEDED TO COMPLETE THE KIT. I HAD BEEN WRESTLING WITH THE KIT FROM MAY TO AUGUST BEFORE I ORDERED THE BOOK. BELIEVE IT OR NOT, IT TOOK ME TWO HOURS TO COMPLETE THE KIT IN IT'S ENTIRETY, AFTER READING THE BOOK. I WAS VERY PLEASED WITH THE RESAULTS OF "DEBT FREE". I RECOMMEND THIS BOOK TO ANY ONE SET ON FILLING A CHAPTER SEVEN BANKRUPTCY, AND JUST CAN'T AFFORD THE FEES OF A PROFESSIONAL.

I found this book to be helpful for filing Chapter 7 bankruptcy as it has forms with instructions and examples along side. This is not the book for you if you are exploring other ways to correct your financial situation or if you want to file Chapter 13 bankruptcy. It has appendixes which list all state and federal exemptions.

This book is a great book, with great characters. Keith the main character made me feel what it was like to be 16 again. I read this in 2 days or so, minus, the school i did, and the bathroom breaks. I could not put this book down. I even Laughed out loud in some parts, and that alone makes me excited about another book. BUY THIS BOOK!!

Though I suspect Hynes might cringe to hear it, his debut novel greatly reminded me of Irvine Welsh's Trainspotting. Both are first time books by non-writers who struggled with many of the same problems as the anti-hero protagonist (Welsh and heroin, Hynes and alcohol). Both books take the reader into more or less previously unknown territory (Scotland's slums in Trainspotting, Newfoundland's Southern Shore here). Both books are dark comedies assembled in very loose episodic vignettes, some of which are narrated by other characters. Both books revel in local speech rhythms and slang (don't worry, the slang here is less prevalent than in Trainspotting, much easier to follow, and Irish in origin). But most importantly, both books quiver with life and are excellent.

At the core of the stories is Keith Kavanagh, whom we watch drink, smoke, steal, and fight his way from from early teenagerhood to early adulthood. The first chapter more or less sets the tone for things to come, as it involves the hunt for an old woman's missing finger and 13-year-old Keith losing his virginity to a single mother in a squalid cabin. Next, we get the perspective of Keith's childhood best friend Andy, who relates tales of early violence and later arson on Keith's part. The third chapter introduces Natasha, a teenage nymphet with problems of her own, who is drawn to devil-may-care Keith. Chapter four establishes their relationship -- but is not for the faint of heart or animal-loving -- as Natasha and Keith bond over the attempted mercy-killing of her sister's sick cat. Next is a Andy-narrated brief diversion into youth hockey, where Keith plays as if "in constant competition with his own penalties-per-minute record." ( As another reviewer astutely points out, this is very much akin to his approach to life in general.)

Natasha narrates chapter six, in which she and Keith get in trouble for swiping her father's sex toy. Then we get a relatively calm rumination from Keith about his life's path and the insecurities this has bred. His life starts a steep decline at this point, as we see him go on welfare, getting totally drunk, on the run from the law, fighting with Natasha, kicked out of his parent's house, and moving to St. John's. The final two chapters, which comprise about a quarter of the book hone in on Keith and Natasha's relationship and Keith's depression and alcoholism. When she takes a break and spends a few months in Halifax, his decline reaches critical mass. And for all Keith's self-destructive awful behavior, it's hard not to root for him, even as he pulls himself further down into the dirt. His self-awareness and lack of self-pity (he's fully aware that he creates his own problems) mark him as more than your standard-issue fictional alcoholic. And while he may be depressed about parts of his life, he is, on the whole, remarkably upbeat. The book ends on an ambiguous note, but don't worry, Keith is apparently going to be a part of Hynes next book. And that's a book I'll definitely be watching for, because this is a great debut -- one that deserves wide readership.

I work in law enforcement and have a degree in Spanish, but I found I lacked the vocabulary to discuss in Spanish a lot of the subjects that came up in the course of my work. Essential Spanish for Law Enforcement has done an excellent job of getting my vocabulary and syntax up to speed. Be advised, however, that these books (one main text and a smaller reference book) and tape (which repeats much of what's in the books) are NOT designed to teach you Spanish if you don't already know it. It does contain some information on grammar, but it's really more of a refresher for those who have had some Spanish instruction in the past and may have forgotten a few things. If you have no Spanish skills at all, I recommend you start somewhere else otherwise you'll find you're just memorizing a bunch of sounds that have little meaning to you. Think of this as a compilation of useful words and phrases to help you in your daily work. In that regard, however, it's excellent. The information is grouped into a number of real-world topics such as traffic stops, DUI's, gang-related crimes, domestic violence, sexual assault, towing a vehicle and many more. Whoever helped put together these words and phrases obviously has law enforcement experience as they are very well choosen. Other books I've purchased seemed to be written by people who did not work in this field and were merely guessing what they though cops would need to know. If you learned everything in this book, you'd be well equipped to deal with the vast majority of situations you'll encounter at work. I haven't found any one book that covers everything, but this is the best resource I can recommend for law enforcement personnel who have at least a little Spanish training.

I bought this title because I work in law enforcement in an area where a number of the people I contact have limited English skills and my Spanish skills are also limited. This text has been a great help in explaining things to people, conducting DUI Tests and in other areas. The main key is to familiarize yourself with Spanish pronunciation and then reading from the book when needed is not a hindrance. While some areas need to be expanded on in the book, and it does not in any way replace the occasional need for better language skills, it is a very useful book and is small enough to be carried in your gear bag so it will be close at hand.

I am sick and tired of commuting to and from work and listening to the same old song and dance on the radio so I picked these up at Cosco one night and thought I'd give it a try. It was great mindless entertainment. I wouldn't say they were Hemingway or even Oprah Club Books, but they were pure entertainment. I loved the storyline, with the Veags backdrop and I will be on the lookout for the Texas series on cassette or maybe some other Fern Michaels books. I'll save the thought provoking reading for my actual books and the senseless entertainment for the audiobooks.

Have read all three books they are great could not put the first one down and then I could not wait for the other to come out. Then they were past to my mother n law and have since went through the family and now to the neighbors so my paper backs are about worn out now!

As usual, Fodor's Gold has the best in guide books for visiting away from home. My copy is well thumbed and much used (if not abused). I strongly recommend this guide and all others like it.

I am planning a trip to the Canadian Maritimes the summer of 2002. I purchased Fodors Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, PEI guide to assist in my plans. So far, I have found this book to be a valuable resource. It is arranged first by province, then by towns/sites within each area. For example, in the Nova Scotia section, there is basic opening information about the province (its history, culture, climate, etc), then there is a large section just for Halifax. Within that listing, you find numerous places for site seeing, place to eat, to lodge, to shop. One aspect of the book I especially like is called "Off the beaten path", where you can find unusual places worth visiting. The guide is print-only, with maps, so the only thing that could make it better would be a few photographs. I would recommend this book for anyone planning a visit to the Maritimes this year.

This collection of three of the best known adventures of 007, is a well read collection, but many (especially women) might find them a bit "politically incorrect" (i.e., for the treatment of women and so on [but hey, it was the "swinging '60's", so you have to put this in context, historically speaking]). I'm not sure if Ian Fleming wrote that famous line in Goldfinger, which is perhaps why it's omitted in this adaption, in the exchange between Bond and him, "Do you expect me to talk, Goldfinger?"
"No Mr. Bond, I expect you to die!". (Perhaps, I need to check the text-as I have a print equivalent to both audio sets, or another reader could verify this.) In any case, these are some rousing adventures. Get both volumes, and if you can find them, their print equivalents. I look forward to listening to set two soon.

From Russian with Love narrated by an extremely talented voice is well worth the purchase alone. Dr. No didn't quite hold my interest when I tried to listen and I didn't even attempt to listen to Goldfinger but again I highly recommend this for the one tape alone, the Narration is incredible.