O Books

If you want to be successful when you turn green wood or newly cut lumber on your lathe. I recommend purchasing this book and reading it all the way through before you begin your wood turning project. When you use green wood there are different procedures that you need to follow than when you use dried lumber. I had tried to turn some green logs on my lathe and had many problems with wood cracking and was very unhappy with the results. After purchasing this book I learned the reasons why my previous attempts had not been successful. I only wish I had gotten the book at the same time I purchased my new lathe. It is an excellent resource on how to use green logs and newly cut lumber that can add flexibility and save money on wood costs when you use "found wood" and cut the logs yourself.

Great book - great photos - great ideas - great explanations and written so anyone can understand the directions and concepts (even me).

this is a good basic book of how to deal with green wood and also the use of crotchwood. well written and illistrated

Great and a must have for all turners. The book is more oriented toward bowl turning but covers a ton on green turning with plenty of pics and diagrams. Michael O`Donnell goes to great length to educate the reader on how wood dries based on where it is cut form the tree.

As a beginning turner, I searched for books that were both informative and interesting to read. This book approaches turning with 'green' in mind but also has some very good information about wood properties and turning in general. Very much worth buying even if you are an experienced turner.

This chapbook should be on every coffee table. Kathy is an outstanding modern poet with insite into our heart. I hope to see more of her work soon.

This book of poems is remarkable! The author is an inspiration to all her readers and truely knows how to touch the human heart. I give this book as gifts at every occasion, as I like to give the gift of uplifting a person's soul and brighten their day with a present. I reccommend this book to people of all walks of life for every occasion, it will bring a smile to your face. When will the author publish another?

Each poem struck me with several unique and powerful emotions. I was able to identify with many of the situations and felt very close to the author's work. I was easily able to lose myself in each poem and found myself living all the different situations. Definetly going to check out other works by this author and I definetly recommend this book to anyone who ejoys poetry that causes you to relate and use your imagination in your own personal life.

Wow! I've never been much in to poetry before, but one of my friends told me that "Underbelly" is a must read. I read the book straight through. The author of this book was so insightful in her writing. Each poem really made me stop and think about my own life. I would definetely reccommend this book to anyone, in fact, I am going to be buying several copies to keep on hand as I need a quick gift to give out to a friend.

Underbelly is an inspirational book that breaks the silence of secrets, portrays the struggle of healing, and the triumph of love. Most importantly, this book shows us how poetry serves as a vessel for personal transformation and victory over the challenges that life brings before us.

The author presents Unicode well from all possible angles. He also explains related topics like character encodings, transfer encodings, ways to input the characters in popular software programs, font issues, portability. It is well written.

Its side notes are also interesting - explaining things like Arabic right-to-left with its contextual characters with 4 different forms; or how they mused over using one common Chinese Han character to be shared by Japanese , Koreans and Vietnamese versus including a version of each in their languages' ranges of individually separate characters.

Are you an IT professional who needs to understand Unicode and work with it? If you are, then this book is for you. Author Jukka Korpela, has done an outstanding job of writing a book that explores Unicode processing generally, but does not go into great detail on all parts of the Unicode character space.

Korpela, begins by providing a self-contained tutorial presentation of Unicode and character data. Then, the author gives detailed information about using Unicode and other character codes. Finally, he discusses relatively independent topics to be read according to each reader's specific needs.

This most excellent book guides you through the Unicode and character world. More importantly, it explains how to identify and classify characters.

I had to deal with Unicode in greater detail for two reasons. I am working on some old ASCII and ANSI text converter for the web to be able to show them in text format in a browser, rather than converting them to an image as existing tools do. The second reason is XML and the normalization of the content distributed via XML and processed or used by XSLT or DHTML apps.

I realized that the whole subject is a lot more complicated than I initially thought and the number of questions that needed an answer to move forward with what I was doing increased significantly. I was finding stuff on the web, a little bit here and a little bit there and had it one day, because progress was slow.

I stumbled one day across this book via a Google search, which returned passages from it from its Google Book search results. I found a very good answer to one of my questions and answers to some other questions that were lying around unanswered from before. I checked the index of the book to see what subjects it covers and realized that it pretty much covers all of them. So I went ahead to Amazon and bought it right there and then.

I am glad to this day that I found it and can recommend it to anybody who has only little or no knowledge of Unicode and struggles with getting a grip on all those standards for data encoding, which make it hard to keep the data within XML and text files intact across platforms and prevent your XML based application or tool from breaking because of illegal data in your content.

This book is excellent. The author's writing style is easy to read and he pretty much explains everything about Unicode. It's perfect if you're working with multi-lingual Web sites or email, or just if you want to start using Unicode for all of your Web site development (something everyone should do).

The only thing disappointing about this book is that all of his examples and screen shots are for and from Windows. A reader could come away with the feeling that Mac OS X and Linux don't have as much support for Unicode as Windows which, of course, is not the case at all. The least he could have done is to mention and give screenshots of Linux's "Character Map" app and Mac OS X's built-in "Character Palette", both of which are pretty much just like the Windows "Character Map" app.

I'm surprised O'Reilly allowed a book about such a platform-neutral subject to be so Windows-centric. Hopefully they can hire someone to add Linux and Mac OS X examples into the second edition.

If you're like me, you probably think of Unicode as "expanded ASCII" and that's about it. But there is infinitely more to the subject than I thought, and Unicode Explained by Jukka K. Korpela is an exhaustive reference to all that is Unicode. And in this increasingly global computing environment, you will need to know this information...

Contents:
Part 1 - Working with Characters: Characters as Data; Writing Characters; Character Sets and Encoding
Part 2 - A Systematic Look at Unicode: The Structure of Unicode; Properties of Characters; Unicode Encodings
Part 3 - Advanced Unicode Topics: Characters and Languages; Character Usage; The Character Level and Above; Characters in Internet Protocols; Characters in Programming
Appendix - Tables for Writing Characters; Index

In concept, Unicode is real simple. An expanded character set using 16 bit encoding, and you can accommodate far more languages and symbols than straight ASCII. But the implementation is far more complex than that. Korpela starts with the basics of characters... what they are, what they mean, and the nuances involved. From there, you learn about how applications have to interpret the different encoding standards and handle things like case, sort orders, line breaks, etc. When I saw the size of the book (600+ pages), I wondered if the material was just a lot of reference tables that could be found online. Gladly, it's not... This is an exploration of everything that is Unicode, and you'd have to wade through a lot of web pages to even begin to glean the level and value of information that you'll find here.

If you have anything to do with programming or designing global software, this book purchase is a no-brainer. And even if you're not doing anything in that area right now, this is one of those reference titles that is worth having on your bookshelf and available for the first time you *do* need it. It won't take long to pay for itself...

In my opinion, this is the best book on UNIX programming I have seen. If you already know C and want to learn how to program on the UNIX os, this is the book to get. This is what taught me. I usually always have this book with me. I even like the color!

This book gives an excellent introduction to systems programming in unix. Within a couple of weeks of buying this book, I was able to design and implement a multi-process client server (socket based) application from scratch. The author also discusses the common C library functions used and the caveats there of. (for instance, the gets() function is a dangerous one!) Although I program a lot in windows NT, I still find this book to be a good reference, especially when porting applications from unix to NT. One thing that I wish the book had is a discussion on remote procedure calls (RPC).

This book isn't just a handy reference for programming in C in the UNIX environment; it's a useful reference for any C programmer. For example, the discussion of file I/O is very clear.

This book is written in a very easy and understandable way. It explains main concepts, system calls and their parameters and how to use them. It lays an excellent ground for a quick start in UNIX systems programming and prepares for more in-depth material like books by R. Stevens. I would say that this book is a must-read for all starters.

If there ever was a book that was badly advertised, this one is it. If we're to believe the cover and even the reviews on Amazon, it's just another book on Unix, when actually it's an essential Unix System V C libraries reference for C programmers. I haven't found anything remotely similar out there. I only bought it after flipping through the pages in a bookstore. It covers everything from file I/O through IPC. It contains tons of code that clearly show how to use each function. As it's a little dated, It doesn't cover pthreads or IPV6, but hopefully the author will make a second edition soon...and make sure that C programmers know that this book is what they're looking for!

Family and friends alike can attest to the fact that, after having read this book, I've changed. We hear many times over from respected authors, lecturers, t.v. personalities, and the like.. That at certain stages in life profound changes can, have and do occur. Some person(s), place, thing(s), circumstance and/or combination thereof can effect a marked change in one's very thought processes, thus affecting one's conduct and methods of accomplishing any number of goals. Even to the extent of altering their pursuit in life. Such is my case. Timing and mind-set are two additional and crucial components. This book and I were in the right place at the right time, when we met. My mind-set? Let's just say, for me, all the necessary aforementioned components for change were in place.. About this book it is heavily referenced with knowledge/texts that were supposed to have been lost and/or destroyed e.g. 'the book-burnings', etc., of the middle ages. After proving for myself (with my meager and limited resources) and accepting the contents of this book as true, change was nearly un-avoidable. I say 'nearly' because one does have a choice. I say 'change' and 'un-avoidable' because, well, consider the title.. Unveiling Satan- Her True Identity Revealed. This book challenges a foundational belief that argueably the whole world has been raised up in--the male-ness, if you will, of Satan. Our understanding of who Satan is and her role and impact upon our lives is critical to our belief- systems (faith). The importance of this knowledge can't be over-stated. In order of importance, I'd rank the question of Satan's identity like so.. (1) Who is the Creator/Heavenly Father? (2) Who is the Messiah/Savior? (3) Who is Satan? (4) Why is man(kind) here? (5) Where must I go to get the answers to these and other questions? This book is heavy and it weighs alot. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.

Not unless you are ready to challenge one of the most entrenched beliefs in the history of this modern age. It turns out that Satan is not masculine!
When I first heard of this book, I thought, what the hell is he talking about? Mr. Hawkins proves his point beyond any shadow of doubt.
I learned more about human nature from this book than I can consume in a lifetime.

This book is a must for every believer in Yahshua the Messiah.It exposes the false ideas concerning satan .Shocking but Biblical proof is offered by Hawkins of her identity and work on the earth.If you have courage enough to be challenged in your beliefs then purchase this book.It is one you cannot put down.

1-22-99 Any one seeking Truth? This Book is the most informative book I have ever read in my entire lifetime. The facts are proven clearly within the confines of the book and references are given throughout. Clearly we must look at these Facts and begin to understand why it is that we are in such a Chaotic state on this planet, as well as the entire universe. It is also evident that the Author has a gift of insight,being able to explain the intricate details that are written in a very easy to read and entertaining method. Never losing the reader by boredom. Don't miss out on this one as well as the new book The End by the same author Yisrayl Hawkins.

The "R" rated cover of this hardcover book is eye catching. The sexual organs of Adam and Eve seemingly had been covered by leaves making a "G" rated picture. It almost looks like it was totally produced by the publisher for shock effect. The explanation on the inside front cover says that it was painted by Michelangelo on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel and sponsored by Pope Julius II between 1508 and 1514. Either they were "dirty old men" creating the Devil Serpent into a woman for purient purposes or they knew something most people don't, even today. This author apparently has revealed astounding and undeniable proof of the FACTS that have been hidden for hundreds of years. I checked out the color photos of the Sistine Chapel in a library and found the actual picture to be the "naked truth." The book also shows other pictures painted centuries ago that depict Satan as a female. As an interested skeptic,I also was shocked to learn that Satan is God and that the Creator and Heavenly Father is not God, but a Supreme Being known as YHWH (in Hebrew) pronounced Yahweh. This book will shock the average reader, as it did this reviewer who is also a skeptical investigative writer. It will make you revaluate your core beliefs. All is proven by ancient Hebrew texts translated into modern English of today without the "art, and thee and thou." There are numerous photos and illustrations that make for lucid explanations and historic reference. At times it read like science fiction, but then on the next page it documents everything said. If you are a "seeker" with an open mind and want to learn more about a true religion that is not taught today but prophesised to be revealed at the "chaotic end days" then this is the book for you. It is not Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Atheisism or new age religious mysticism. As revealed in the fascinating reading, it is the oldest true religious belief in the world that seems to be also the youngest that would be re-established toward the end of this century. It combines the old and new testament into a core belief that the Messiah and the Apostles taught. You just don't read this book, you study and cross check.

Valerie Griffiths' excellent translation and abridgment of the first volume of Ayako Miura's autobiographical Michi Ariki series is a pleasure to read. Miura's unflinching honesty about herself and about the world comes through clearly. The book spans Miura's life from the end of WWII (after she lost faith in all forms of authority, in herself, and in the line that separates truth from falsehood), through long and life-threatening illness, till she finds faith in the God of the Bible and gets married to Mitsuyo Miura. The second (as yet untranslated) volume of the series covers the early years of their marriage and the start of her enormously successful career as a novelist. In the third volume (also untranslated) Miura writes about her Christian faith.

The original book has had an enormous impact on Japanese readers, and, judging from the other reader reviews here, its message is meaningful for English-speakers as well. I found the cover illustration of Intervarsity Press's English version (1977) to be off-putting, however, and I wonder how much that had to do with their apparent lack of success in marketing the book when it first came out in the US. It is very unfortunate the book didn't reach more readers, for whatever reason. It is absolutely worth taking the trouble to track down a copy of this book.

The story is set in Japan. It's a very powerful and gripping book about a young woman's journey during the years following Japan's surrender.

The book is part one of three from Miyura Ayako's autobiography. The other two parts are not available in English to my knowledge. I really recommend this book for anyone who wants an interesting perspective on Japanese culture. Of course, it's set about 50 years ago, though... but still very interesting and as I said, powerful.

I found this book in a tiny drugstore in Idaho. So, keep your eyes peeled and you might find it yourself somewhere.

One of the most memorable books I've read. Very Surprised to here it's out of print.

Other than Bruchko, I have never read a more powerful story of how nothing can separate us from the love of God. I found the out-of-print book close to 10 years ago when I wandered into the church library of a large prominent congregation here in Atlanta one day while I was waiting to meet someone; it had not been checked out in many years. But I learned when I was a young woman that in relatively unused, dark and sometimes dank libraries of old churches, one can often find hidden unknown treasures among the biographical books. I have since given the book to many of my peers, all of whom reported back how much it had impacted them as well. But this week I was blown away at a birthday party for my friend who helped me to know the Lord more than 30 years ago. One of her daughters, a gorgeous, elegant young woman who is a beauty consultant at a very sheik store in San Francisco, had flown in for her mom's birthday. At some point the conversation turned to great books, and this young woman told me that unbeknownst to me, she had read the copy of this book I had given her mom and to her it was the best book she had ever read. I had assumed that a large part of the book's enormous appeal to me was the fact that I was in the baby boomer generation and have had to struggle to come to terms with the War that so shaped the world into which I was born. But now I know such is not the case. So for any of you who, like me, would love to read a riveting true story that is more incredible than any fiction, get a copy of this book while you can - and pray that someone will translate the other 2 books in the triology into English.

This lady's life story has helped me understand both the Japanese people and how God's grace extends itself in the context of the culture of those receiving it. It would be fascinating simply as a biography of triumph in the face of life. It is made much more so as a spiritual journey's unwinding. Miura (I believe her married name is Hotta ?) also has a most gentle way of bringing other people's life intersections with hers into a focus I have rarely read in an author....One feels one is there in the room with the people she meets. Honesty to a fault was a breath of fresh air. She does not attempt to spline the curve of her actions and thoughts closer to some more genteel model. Reading this one is privileged to meet Ayako Miura and the Answer she discovers to the meaning of life in bold relief.

I am American, educated, urban, reasonably well off, living in a nuclear family (or was until my children grew up and moved on), female. Only the last descriptor do I share with these women of whom Erika Friedl writes with such empathy and brilliance. Otherwise, our lives could not be more different. And her atypical (in the quality of its writing) ethnography gives us a vivid portrayal of the stories and circumstances of these women's lives. Yet, at the same time as we come to appreciate afresh how differences in accident of birth can bring real differences in the kinds of lives we end up living, we appreciate even more strongly what our lives ultimately share.

Having spent more than a year in a small Iranian town similar to the one in which Friedl's stories take place, I can appreciate the depth of insight and meticulous attention to detail that make her book something special. One needs, as an outsider, to "peel back the layers of the onion" in order to be aware of, and to fully comprehend, the complex relationships and dynamics of village life. This book does so, without letting "method" intrude on the story-telling; as another reviewer said (and as the author herself acknowledges) she tried at all times to let the principals tell their own story with a minimum of interpretation. Other such ehnological works (even the best, such as Colin Turnbull's "The Forest People", or Richard Critchfield's "The Golden Bowl Be Broken") often have the sense of an omniscient observor who "knows more" than the characters in the story. Friedl is scrupulous about keeping her own perspectives out of the stories (to the extent that anyone can).

Friedl is a wonderful writer, turning the most mundane details into narrative that you can't put down! I loved the book, found it extremely valuable during this time of intense interest in the Middle East. The book made me feel I was there, in a remote Iranian village, taking a peek into the lives of ordinary people.

This book was the most profound and stunning look at the lives of Muslim women I have ever encountered. I highly recommend it to anthropology majors and womens studies majors both. By the end of the book I felt like I had gained far more than the average ethnography teaches: by giving intimate glimpses into these women's lives, Erika Friedl vividly shows us not only their hardships but their strengths as well. I was touched by the stories she related, and even more touched by the quiet way in which she lets the women speak for themselves, from the first page to the last.

In "Women of Deh Koh" Ericka Friedl presents us with the stories of twelve different Iranian village women, using situations, she says "in which many women find themselves, wish to find themselves, or hope never to find themselves at one stage or another in their lives." She lays out the stories from the woman's point of view, touching on subjects such as rape, arranged marriage, polygamy, but never once asking for sympathy or understanding. From Perijan with a late child to Sarah who's husband took another wife to Parvane with a mental illness, we become a part of these women's lives and get a glimpse of their intricate social structure and how they support each other. While the stories are about different women, many of the other women are present in the stories, so we quickly feel as if we know these women, as if they are our friends.

This book is a wonderful example of the "show, don't tell" concept one of my English teachers always tried to get across to us. Friedl never "tells" us anything, but rather lets us come to our own understandings from reading about the everyday lives of these women. This book completely changed my perspective of Islamic women. From reading other books (namely the "Princess" series) I thought that women under Islam were downtrodden, oppressed, and desperately needed to be liberated. Naive, I know, however that is largely the image presented to us. After reading this book however, I realized that my stereotypes of Islamic women were for the most part, wrong. The women in "Women of Deh Koh" don't feel sorry for themselves, and neither should we.

Ericka Friedl is a gifted writer, and ties all the women's stories together beautifully. I have read the book close to 20 times, and have walked away more fulfilled each time. This is, perhaps, the best book I've ever read.

...THE WONDERFUL O is a charming book. It's full of wit, wisdom, and social commentary. It's a great story and plays around with the English language in a most interesting way. This is a book that appeals to both adults and children and would also work well as a text in an upper elementary English class. It's a great book. Oh, yeah. Has anyone seen BRAVEHEART? There's a connection between the two.

If there is any way to get this back in to print, I would buy copies for most children I care about.

"The Wonderful O" is a delightful book for our younger readers about a dastardly group of pirates who invade the island of Ooroo looking for treasure. Oh wow, with a name like Ooroo, this place is just asking for trouble. Seems that Black, the pirate chief, hates the letter O, because when he was a child his mother got stuck in a porthole, and he couldn't pull her in, so he had to push her out. Poor Moms. And now Black is about to consolidate his capture and takeover of Ooroo by banishing from speech and print every word and name which contains the letter O. So how are we to pronounce Ooroo? Or Otto Ott, whose name comes out sounding like a terminal stutter? Or consider the case of poor Ophelia Oliver, who, when she lost her O's, vanished from the haunts of men.

Thurber has written a hilarious book showing the pure chas and cnfusin that reign when the language is stripped of its O's. How can you tell a cat from a cat? Or a bat from a bat? Strip the O from the language and we will all be indeed bgne and webegne. Not to mention losing words like hope, love, valor, and the greatest of all, freedom.

Black may have stripped the language of all its O's but he can't break the people's spirit, and eventually he and his crew hoist anchor and sail away into the sunset, leaving the people and their island with all their O's intact. Kids will love this book for the hilarious play on words, as well as for the message it gets across. A wonderful bk (oops, I mean book) for youngsters and oldsters alike. How could there be youngsters, or oldsters, or books, if there weren't any O?

Pirates come to plunder a small island. When the spokesman tells them they have no treasure "except the blue of the water and the pink of our maidens' cheeks and lips, and the green of our fields," the pirates don't believe them and search high and low.

Meanwhile, the captain of the ship, who hates the letter O, issues an edict. "I'll get rid of the letter O, in upper case and lower...All words in books or signs with an O in them shall have the O erased or painted out. We'll print new books and paint new signs without an O in them." Thus objects and words with Os are banished from the land forever.

Disaster! Imagine the impact on community life! No houses, cottages or bungalows -- only huts, shacks, sheds, shanties and cabins without logs. No dough for the baker, no gold for the goldsmith, no forge for the blacksmith, no cloth for the tailor, no chocolate for the candymaker. (NOW you've gone too far!) No poetry without Os.

Thurber writes, "A man named Otto Ott, when asked his name, could only stutter. Ophelia Oliver repeated hers, and vanished from the haunts of men."

"We can't tell shot from shoot or hot from hoot," the blacksmith pointed out in a meeting with other townsfolk. "Oft becomes the same as foot, and odd the same as dodo. Something must be done at once or we shall never know what we are saying."

The islanders decide that there are four words with an O that must not be lost. Hope, love and valor are three of them and the fourth is the point of the story.

This is a beautifully written, rhythmic tale. THE WONDERFUL O will appeal to everyone who loves language. The story is a challenge to the imagination of the reader.

I read The Wonderful O years ago as a young adult and find myself recommending the book to others. But, alas, the book is out of stock; I mean, the bk is ut f stck. Please, Mr/Ms Publisher, put this wnderful bk back n the bkshelves. As yu can see, we can't live fully withut the letter, r withut this wnderful bk.

I really enjoyed this book, the first detective novel I've felt like that about in a while.
A really well thought out story, with a killer who we are aware of from the first page. Crowan Frayne is not just a killer, he's an intellectual killer with a warped mind. He has an obsession with the poetry of John Donne (around in the 15 and 1600's). He seems to want to be found as he calls upon an expert, Dr Stussman, in Donne's poetry who works at the university to explain 'things' to the police...(and for those out there who aren't 'into poetry' believe it or not it's fascinating how the poetry reads and is explained by Dr Stussman) HOWEVER there is more to his game than that!

This is Ed O'Conner's first novel (I shall be looking up further ones) and he's succesfully managed to make the characters seem very human, even the killer! The main story of the hideous murders he carries out (and eyes he removes) runs simultanously with the Chief Decective on the case's marriage crumbling...and him tipping nearer and nearer the edge.

A captivating read.

I really enjoyed this book, the first detective novel I've felt like that about in a while.
A really well thought out story, with a killer who we are aware of from the first page. Crowan Frayne is not just a killer, he's an intellectual killer with a warped mind. He has an obsession with the poetry of John Donne (around in the 15 and 1600's). He seems to want to be found as he calls upon an expert, Dr Stussman, in Donne's poetry who works at the university to explain 'things' to the police...(and for those out there who aren't 'into poetry' believe it or not it's fascinating how the poetry reads and is explained by Dr Stussman) HOWEVER there is more to his game than that!

This is Ed O'Conner's first novel (I shall be looking up further ones) and he's succesfully managed to make the characters seem very human, even the killer! The main story of the hideous murders he carries out (and eyes he removes) runs simultanously with the Chief Decective on the case's marriage crumbling...and him tipping nearer and nearer the edge.

A captivating read.

Not my usual genre (serial murders are too creepy for me), but I had heard promising things of this new author and thought I'd give it a chance. It was absolutely worth the read. I found O'Connor's writing style to be very original, and quite poetic itself with some really beautiful (and eery) imagery in places.

Several quite fascinating plots make up this remarkable debut by British author, Ed O'Connor. The first concerns a serial killer who has an obsession with the poet John Donne. He uses his poetry as the basis for murder. For some reason, he removes the left eye of his victims and keeps it while leaving a quote from Donne's poetry in blood on the wall. It is up to the local police including Inspector John Underwood to solve the crime before the killer strikes again. Aiding in their investigation is Donne scholar, Heather Stussman who is contacted, not only by the police, but, the killer as well.
Inspector Underwood, however, must deal with his own private hell. His wife of eighteen years is having an affair and it appears his marriage is near the end. His personal life is interfering with his professional life to the extent that he is placing his wife's lover on his list of possible suspects as the killer.
Ed O'Connor displays a remarkable ability, in his first novel, of balancing strong sympathetic characters with a plot that truly makes the reader want to turn the next page. It is not only a gruesome serial killer novel but an intellectual one, as well. Consider it a combination of Thomas Harris (who writes the quintessential serial killer novel with the Hannibal Lecter books) , Ian Rankin (with his depth of characters and balancing several plots) and Reginald Hill (with the academic logic in the killings). There are few weaknesses in this work. Perhaps, it is a bit too gruesome. Perhaps it is a bit too long. However, the whole justifies the means. This is a strong recommendation. Warning: not for the faint of heart.

I was hooked on "The Yeare's Midnight" before I had read a word. The idea that a contemporary thriller would share top billing with metaphysical poet and Dean of St. Paul's, John Donne (1572-1631) is a haughty premise I could not resist.

Mr. O'Connor delivered and then some. This highly original story provides seemingly ordinary characters with traits that send them into an orbit that can only be called bizarre. Our chief detective, John Underwood, is overworked, underpaid, and his marriage is disintegrating. Sound familiar? Not quite. John becomes so overwhelmed with his wife's leave-taking, he disintegrates before our eyes. While detecting, he becomes carried away by fantasies of revenge and mayhem. For one, I become highly nervous when serial killers are running about, and our protagonist has a complete mental and physical breakdown. When John is taken out of the picture, we are left to the mercies of his second in command Det. Sgt. Alison Dexter, an ambitious lady who has worked hard to come up in the ranks. Again, a familiar character in crime fiction except DS Dexter is so ambitious, she plots and connives against all who might take a shred of credit from her. Her assistants despise her in spite of her cleverness and bravery.

The strange killer who removes the left eye of his victims also leaves scraps of poetry written in blood at the scene of the crime. The killer clearly means this poetry to serve as a clue to his motive. He notifies a medieval expert at nearby Cambridge in case the obscurity is too much for the local police. Enter a rather annoying gorgeous lady who is a Donne expert. Many people (self included) enjoy Donne's poetry because it brawny, frank and robust. This is the man who gave us such lines as:

"Busy old fool, unruly Sun
Why dost thou thus,
Through windows, and through curtains call on
us?"

and "For God sake hold your tongue, and let me love."

In the author's hands, the "conceits" and kernels of Donne's love poems are so convoluted and ephemeral, I was lost. I had to have the professor who I didn't like very well lead me by the hand to all the clever conclusions.

However, the pace is good and the trip worthwhile if a little abrupt at the conclusion. I look forward to more books by the clever Mr. O'Connor.

This book lists stories and passages from Eknath's lectures and talks. Most of the stories are only a couple of pages but they really hit home with their message. The stories stem around Eknath's suggestions which are in line with his 8 point program for spiritual transformation. Such practical suggestions like slowing down, meditating on a spiritual passage daily, and reading spiritual work daily are parts of the program. If you take these words to heart you can't help but be transformed internally. With internal transformation comes external results.

When Easwaran started himself on the spiritual path he was merely a college professor. However, with daily practice and work he became a wise sage in later life. The steps listed in this book are intended to allow you to reach that same state of being. Also, you don't have to be of any religious persuasion to follow these steps.

Eknath was a big follower of Gandhi and that comes across clearly in these admonishments and suggestions for living a happier and more spiritual life. It was Gandhi who said when asked for a message that his life was his message.

For no longer than what it will take to read this book it's a great return on your investment. I'd recommend it for anyone looking to have greater peace and a good set of practical suggestions to improve their lives.

This is one of the most interesting, yet simple books on practical idealism. Anyone who is interested in spirituality or philosophy will find a treasure in this book by a great guru.

The impact the tiny book has on me seems to grow as time passes by. I can't believe that what I have always been searching for can be so simple. Eknath Easwaran gets his message through so clearly with vivid anecdotes. I find myself nodding as I am reading through the lines. Once in a while, I take for granted the lessons that I have already learned. The handy book serves as a constant reminder. It never fails.

Unfortunately, we make our problems so complex. This small book shares the simplicity of all we need to know to make a better world. Indepth philosophy does not change the world. Our ACTIONS do. If we all worked to make our lives our message as this small treasured book helps you do, life would be transformed for the good of everyone. Thanks you, Easwaran Eknath.

This book helps us to understand that the simple things are important. It is choc full of short passages that send BIG messages!