Rich Books

I've included two chapters that were cut from the Sontag biography my wife and I wrote and a long essay on the difficulties of researching Sontag's life. Other pieces such as "Marilyn Monroe and the Idea of Biography" and "Writing about Women" give an overview of how I have constructed my biographies, of the nature of icons, and why icons tell us so much about ourselves and biography.

If you enjoyed reading the "The Colemans of Texas and the Thorntons of Vegas", you will not be disappointed in the "Kentucky Collection". Fern Michaels has absolutely excelled in her writing with this story. No matter how long ago you had read about the "Colemans and Thorntons" you will be reintroduced to the members of these families.
She begins the story with "Rhy and Pyne Coleman, who have become absolutley speechless as they watch from a window a stranger getting out of a limousine, noticing a well dressed, slim woman. Before they can answer the door she opens it and continues to walk in past them without a word." Within then next minutes they are about to be reunited with their sister, Nealy, whom neither one has seen or heard from in a very long time.

You quickly remember who they were and the roll they played since we last read "The Colemans and The Thorntons".
From the very first page you are quickly swept up into the story. Fern has exceptional writing for bringing back characters and their memories. I could not put down this book, it went with me everywhere! Didn't matter if I read a paragraph or several pages I had become totally hooked! As with all her books the characters become real. You can see the land thru her writing, you experience the characters emotions with them; she will have you crying, laughing, cheering, agreeing, or not agreeing with all the challenges they are dealt. Fern has this unique gift that the readers get to experience with her books, the feeling as if you were actually there. This book rates far beyond a five, you will want to tell everyone about it! Don't wait another minute, get yours today!

I purchased this book at St. Pancras station in London, needing a good fat read for the plane ride home to San Francisco. I had no idea that this was "chick lit" (a term I just learned after reading reviews of Ms. Holden's books). Author Wendy Holden has a wonderfully acute sense of the absurd - I really pity those complaining readers who whine that the plots of her books are outlandish. Word to the humorless: the plots and characters are MEANT TO BE outlandish! This is not historical fiction, folks. "Filthy Rich" is a brillantly-drawn comedy saga (500-plus pages in the edition I purchased). I found myself laughing out loud (really!), and even on occasion (and at the right times) getting a bit of a lump in my throat. And once I picked up the book, I could barely put it down. Once I finished, I missed the characters. Brilliantly funny. Inspired prose. Fantastic book. Don't hesitate to quote me.

This is a great book, useful tips and planning procedures that really works!. Very good book for Accountants, students, homemakers, administrators, businessman, etc. anyone who really needs advice on financial planning. Even when the edition is a little old the recommendations are very update and current, even now!

Finding My Way: The Autobiography Of An Optimist is the self-told life story of Evelyn Stefansson Nef, a young woman born in Brooklyn 1913, who became a master craftswoman in the specialized art of creating marionettes; a skilled editor, researcher and writer; and who in her late fifties studied psychotherapy and became qualified to administer to patients. A particularly well written autobiography, Finding My Way presents a most remarkable and varied life, vividly and memorably narrated.

The big surprise of this book is the ease of its prose, that takes the slow-moving day to day happenings of the American Revolution and makes it suspenseful in a way that it, in reality, may not have been. Additionally, the reader learns SO MUCH about the technical and strategic aspects of this early war -- we all take for granted that it was fought...and we won...but have we ever stopped to consider what that victory consisted of? Have you ever asked yourself how scraggly, uncoordinated Americans managed to overcome the highly-developed British army? Read on, learn, and you will be truly proud to be an American...a perfect companion for much of the patriotism that surrounds the anniversary of September 11th.

I have been waiting for years for someone to do a photo-history of this remarkable, historic area outside Philadelphia. This is an excellent overview of Lower Merion County (which takes in much, though not all, of the Main Line). Wonderful photos, interesting text.

The only complaints I have are minor--some of the buildings shown should be located better as far as an address or a map. And the title is a bit misleading, as some might think it's only about the TOWN of Lower Merion.

But I heartily congratulate the authors and the members of the Lower Merion Historical Society on a job well done and a long-overdue book! Great read for natives and historians alike.

For anyone who is a recent graduate or who is about to enter into the work force for the first time, this book offers excellent advice -- directly from top business leaders from well known companies. The advice in this book is really good, and I would recommend it to everyone...First Job, Great Job is packed with useful advice that will definately help anyone who reads this book find a job. I found out about this book from the Web site (www.firstjob.com) and I read it last week. It's really informative

This is the review for First Woman President which the publisher at ... has on their website. I am posting it because my sister wrote this book and it should get more exposure. That's the truth and that's all I'm saying.

Here's the editorial review from the publisher:

A historical diary of events that have yet to happen. The First Woman President is an offbeat and thought-provoking account, told in her own words, of how America's first female Commander-in-Chief came to power, the beliefs and principles that hallmarked her term in office, and her hopes and dreams for the future.

Alicia Lyons' debut novel, The First Woman President, takes the form of a biography written twenty years after America's first female Commander-in-Chief left office. Part satire, part allegory, it does a wonderful job in succinctly illustrating the shortcomings in America's political system and the ills that plague western society from a future perspective.

Lyons covers an incredible amount of ground in this short novel; tackling issues such as war, terrorism, poverty, campaign financing and her relationship with the media. Some might think that her radical approach to the world's problems is somewhat idealistic, but to see this novel in such terms would be to miss the point. The underlying message of FWP is that America was built on idealism, and it will take an idealist to rectify the problems that have beset the nation ever since.

Even if you do not agree with FWP's political doctrine, Lyons takes an extremely novel approach in highlighting the issues that concern us all, and she offers a breathtakingly alternative strategy for tackling the most difficult issues facing modern America. Best of all, she manages to achieve this with her tongue firmly set in cheek, and the satirical undertone of this work is used to great effect to make what is actually a very powerful social commentary on the world in which we live.

This is without a doubt one of the best books ever for smoking fish on your backyard grill. ANYONE can do it, even my daughter who loves to help now. The corn smoking idea is just great. Love the smell of the corn kernels while they are smoking and the taste.
This book SMOKES!
JW