Shepard Books

This is only the second novel by Shepard Rifkin I've read, but I can recognize that Mr. Rifkin has a penchant for the ostensible good guy who solidly does the right thing even though nobody acknowledges his efforts and he suffers tremendously despite his good work and character. It's Camus' Sisyphus all the way in this novel.

The detective here is the famous Damian McQuaid (from other Shepard Rifkin novels). He's a tough and fit New York detective who finds himself way in over his head when he's assigned to a criminal matter that originates in New Mexico with the culture of the Navajo there.

The problems McQuaid run into there are relentless -- whether it's renting a car or finding a motel room to catch some sleep or just staying warm. He is friendless in New Mexico, without reliable contacts, and he's misunderstood and hounded in New York by his coworker and his supervisor.

The journey which makes up much of the investigative plot consists of what is most uncomfortable, most plodding, most ugly, most boring, and most hostile about this small, tension-filled western environment.

The reader, eventually and satisfyingly, is let in on all the pertinent facts and details of the crime, the reasons why the crime was committed, how the crime was perpetrated, and who did it. Trouble is, Detective Damian McQuaid can't prove any of it in the end. He knows the score but winds up being a laughing stock -- at least to the criminals who did the job and got away with it if not as well to his supervisor back in New York who can't chalk up yet one more crime solved for his department.

I felt a deep and admiring respect for Detective Damian McQuaid, but, as a reader, I did not enjoy this bitter experience. I cannot fault Mr. Rifkin's flawless existentialist vision. I just don't want to share with him another one if it be like this.

The illustrations in this book are more than just illustrations--they're photographs, collages and interesting drawings that each employ a color theme. The story itself is entertaining for a young mind and the puzzles are truly challenging (not like so many of the puzzle books available).

This is a story about a man who 's generosity gets him into trouble. Everytime he gives someone something he gets something HUGE in return! It is an excellent book for young children because it empahsizes the act of sharing.

The island of Mykines is the smallest of the Faroe Islands. The farthest to the northwest, it is closer to Iceland than Scotland. The climate is harsh, and the people are hardy, and when whales are sighted, all the able-bodied men left on the island set out to hunt them. All except sixteen-year-old Sven. He had been hunting sea birds with his uncle and six other men, and could not make it to the landing before the other men took off in the boats. This turned out to be well, as Sven would be needed on the island.

Sven's father had been on the crew of a cod schooner, the Faroes Seeker. They had been out six months and were on their way to sell their catch and return home to their families. Just before the whale hunt the Faroes Seeker was damaged by floating wreckage and a man badly injured, and they radioed for help. Since the other men had left the island, they could not come to their rescue. A terrific storm blew up, and the ship was in imminent danger of being smashed against the rocky coast. The older men and the women on the island were ready to help the drifting men in the boat in any way, but it would need someone with more physical strength and endurance to aid the men if they were shipwrecked on the rocks.

To further complicate matters, the strange intruder showed up, and was very dangerous. Sven feels the responsibility to protect the people on the island, but he knows the men on the boat are depending on his help. His desperate dilemma is how to do both. He seems never to stop running almost from the beginning of the book, and eventually puts his own life on the line to protect those around him.

Although people live in the Faroes Islands, you probably haven't read too many books that are set there. I was interested to read about a little about life in these islands. Arthur Catherall has woven an exciting adventure of a young man who needs the courage and strength to do what is right. A great book for a rainy day!

tales of the fox sisters,and horses that wore charms. This collection of true tales of spiritualism in america is a rare read. The stories are as entertaining as Sleepy Hollow the only difference is that many of these strange tales are thought to be truth. Illustated by William Sauts Bock, this book is a beautifully done collection of wonderous stange tales.

A captivating sequel to Howard's popular (but oh so hard to find) The 13th is Magic, about a brother and sister whose NYC apartment yields magic and adventure on the mysterious thirteenth floor.

Children will be pleased to learn that the real Taz is muchmore grouchy and disgusting than his cartoon counterpart. Wonderfulphotographs. END

This is a nice little selection of Winnie-the-Pooh tales, and the simple, sparsely-placed black and white drawings keep the emphasis on the text, which you might or might not this is a good thing.

The first story involves Pooh eating too much honey and getting stuck in a hole; the second involves a hunt for a Heffalump which Pooh manages to foil (this story was recently made into a movie); the final story is a real charmer in which Pooh, Piglet, and the other members of the cast try to scrape together some rather dismal presents for Eeyore on his birthday.

Children like Pooh, and this book does a good job of capitalizing on this fact to get a child to read, rather than just look at the pictures.

A friend lent me this when we lost the older of our two kitties. The way Dennis Hamley tells the story of how the kitties get to know each other was exactly how our two kitties reacted to each other! He uses simple words and concepts to explain how a cat might be lonely when his cat-friend is gone. I loved the illustrations, too. This is a children's book, but very nice for anyone who has been through this type of experience. (Yeah, okay, I cried, I admit it.)

Tracking Wild Chimpanzees is a wonderful children's book. It really is a book about Burundi in central Africa, although, as the title suggests, the storyline is about tracking wild chimpanzees in the beautiful, but threatened Kibira National Park -- a high altitude rain forest in the mountains of Burundi.

The illustrations are wonderful and provide an accurate look at a slice of Burundian culture.

I'm sorry to hear that it is out of print -- but don't let that stop you from trying to find it.