Warner Books

JB West's book "Upstairs at the White House" is a gold mine of interesting facts and anecdotes that is sure to capture the interest of anyone who picks it up. The easy, conversational style that West uses in telling of his experiences while employed at the White House gives an even more intimate quality to the already familial nature of the subject matter. Always respectful of those under which he served, West none the less shows us the faults as well as merits of those families that occupied the President's house during his approximately thirty year tenure. This is history that accomplishes so much of what good historical writing should: it is engaging, informative without being dry or long winded, and simply fun to read, enough so that this reviewer has gone back for another look more than once! If you want to know more about the White House lives of the first families from FDR to the early months of the Nixon administration, as well as fascinating stuff on the running of the mansion, this book is for you. Don't miss it!!

J.B. West, the former Chief Usher at The White House, gives us an insider's view of America's most famous mansion. But this is hardly a boring house tour. Mr. West - in a dignified but very readable account - focuses on the Presidents, First Ladies, and their children, all who made this house on Pennsylvania Avenue a home. With great empathy and appreciation, he recalls the experience of working for Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt, Harry and Bess Truman, Dwight and Mamie Eisenhower, John and Jacqueline Kennedy, and Lyndon and Lady Bird Johnson.

Each family had their own style that the White House staff had to adjust to, from the reserved Roosevelts, to the refined young Kennedys, to the big-as-Texas style of Lyndon Baines Johnson which was in contrast with Lady Bird, his considerate and composed wife.

His portrayals of the First Families are not condescending, yet they are still very respectful. In his position, Mr. West worked closely with the First Ladies and each one had personal qualities that he grew to admire.

The accounts of ceremonies, dinners and banquets, remodelings, sudden changes, and visits by various dignitaries are all compelling reading in themselves. But we get an even more significant historical viewpoint through the description of the events that took place in The White House during crises, such as FDR's death, the attempted shooting of Truman, the Kennedy assasination, LBJ's announcement that he would not seek another term.

Surely, there were frustrations, and many of them are recorded in the book while others were avoided. For instance, I'm sure that Mr. West knew about some of JFK's White House trysts but chose not to write about them. If he would have, the book would have been even more successful than it was.

But Mr. West takes the high road, and we get to enjoy the view with him.

Well done, Mr. Chief Usher.

I have been an avid collector of president/first lady/white house books since I was a child. I have read the same facts about the first families over and over. Then I found Upstairs At the White House by J.B. West, and it immediately became a favorite. Mr. West worked with the first families from the Franklin Roosevelts to the Richard Nixons on a daily basis. He was privy to "insider information" that most people never heard about. His approach to the divulgence of his knowledge is always in good taste and respectful of the families he served. Yet, this book is packed with anecdotes and information that I had never read in any other volume. Since my first reading of Upstairs At the White House, I have found Mr. West quoted by a number of other presidential writers. I can certainly understand why -- Mr. West gave the world a wonderful window into the lives of several of our nation's first families and made them come alive for us.

I have been an avid collector of president/first lady/white house books since I was a child. I have read the same facts about the first families over and over. Then I found Upstairs At the White House by J.B. West, and it immediately became a favorite. Mr. West worked with the first families from the Franklin Roosevelts to the Richard Nixons on a daily basis. He was privy to "insider information" that most people never heard about. His approach to the divulgence of his knowledge is always in good taste and respectful of the families he served. Yet, this book is packed with anecdotes and information that I had never read in any other volume. Since my first reading of Upstairs At the White House, I have found Mr. West quoted by a number of other presidential writers. I can certainly understand why -- Mr. West gave the world a wonderful window into the lives of several of our nation's first families and made them come alive for us.

I read this book a few wks ago while on holiday in Greece. It is very well written and quite interesting. I am recommending it to my friends.

I really enjoyed this book, and hope that the author is working on her new one. Romantic yet realistic, intelligent and literary, with a perfect ending. If FS reads this, can she let me know if the book that the architect buys for Elisabeth really exists?

If I just summarize the plot--journalist investigates a famous woman's private life and uncovers long-lost secrets--_Wakefield Hall_ sounds like just another soap opera potboiler. But trust me, it is more than that. Francesca Stanfill sets her novel apart with lush and dreamy prose, and with the literature of Shakespeare, which underlies the entire plot.

Elisabeth Rowan is a thirtyish writer, alone in the world except for her married lover, who is irresistible despite being nothing but trouble for Elisabeth. She receives an odd commission--to write the biography of stage actress Joanna Eakins, as requested by Joanna on her deathbed. Why did this famous woman choose Elisabeth? And what mysteries lurk within Joanna's glamorous life? The answer is to be found in Shakespeare's plays, and in a mysterious maze where Joanna placed statues of the Bard's heroines. Along the way, Elisabeth finds her backbone and a very different sort of love. Sort of Barbara Michaels-ish in a way, this is an addictive novel.

The smartest person wrote this book and happy Birthday to her from her son Peter

Well Done! This is a must read for WWII buffs and anyone who enjoys a good read with insight into human behavior of captive citizens during war.

Warner skillfully crafts an historical novel from the little known true event of the capture of the natives and one white school teacher on the remote Aleutian island of Attu in Alaska and their subsequent internment in Japan during WWII.

The fictionalized Journal of Lila Ann Smith rings true bcause many of the incidents and descriptions contained within it are carefully researched facts. Through the unique character of Lila Ann Smith, Warner has created a voice for the Attuans and we get detailed insight into their daily hardships and characters.

I've been a fan of Warner's work for the past 30 years, so I'll admit my point of view is a bit biased. Nonetheless I can say without reservation that Lila Ann Smith is far and away Warner's most interesting and "real" creation. Much of Warner's past work encompasses very broad humor; his works of fiction often populated with outrageous characters who find themselves in outlandish situations. In contrast, the character of Lila Ann Smith is completely believable, especially when viewed in the context of her times and life experiences. The remarkable thing about this novel is that it draws on the very real, and terribly tragic, experiences of a much-abused community of Alaska Natives. Their story sadly illustrates the fact that truth can be stranger than fiction, which may be why Warner did not need to embellish the plot: it was terrible enough as it really happened.

I especially enjoyed the way Warner chose to reveal much, but not too much, about Lila and her companions. The ambiguities, discreet averting of the eyes, and unanswered questions scattered through the diary reflect just the sort of person Lila would have been. They also reflect the puzzling world she found herself in. Not all events would have been understandable or accessible.

This is a hell of a story told by a master storyteller at the peak of his prowess. If you want a good read, you won't go wrong here.

I have read most of Irving Warner's other writing, including the most recently published "In Memory of Hawks" and "Wagner Descending," and I believe that the "The War Journal of Lila Ann Smith" is by far Warner's most powerful work to date. In fact, I will go so far as to claim that this is an extraordinary piece of literature that will endure.

The War Journal is a historical novel based on the Japanese invasion of the western Aleutian Islands, Alaska, during WWII and the capture, transport to Japan, and internment there for the duration of the war of the Native American (Aleut) population of Attu Island. The Journal is based on extensive research over a period of decades, including the author's interviews with several of the Aleut survivors of the internment. However, this work is more than simply a historical novel. It tells the story through the eyes of a female schoolteacher (Lila Ann Smith) in her late fifties or early sixties who was captured with the Attuans and interned on Japan with them. Warner meticulously, endearingly, and with amazing believability and veracity develops the personality of this fictional schoolteacher. The War Journal is thus literature in the finest sense of the word. It is also an extremely powerful anti-war novel.

I feel that I am in a unique position to criticize this novel. I lived and worked in Alaska over a period of 20 years, and spent one summer in the western Aleutian Islands, including time on Attu Island. Like Lila Ann, I have traveled the length of the Aleutians by ship. In ironic addition, I have for the past four years lived in Japan only a 40-minute train ride away from the town of Otaru, where the Attuans were interned during the war; I have visited Otaru many times. I mention these things to emphasize how faithfully I thought Warner captured the moods and essence of Alaska, the Aleutians, the people of Alaska, and traveling in that vast territory. It is also amazing to me that everything about Japan rings true in this book. To my knowledge, Warner has never traveled to Japan, yet I found no false notes in his descriptions of the interactions between the Japanese and the Aleuts and Lila Ann.

There is something in this book for everyone. If you have never traveled to Alaska and want a feeling of what this magnificent state was and is like, this book will give you that feeling. If you simply like to read a good and rousing story, it is for you. If you are a teacher of English literature, a historian, or an anti-war activist, it is for you. Even though I personally am addicted to pulp mystery novels, once I started it, I couldn't put The War Journal down.

Here is the heartbreaking story of the resilience and courage of one woman, and a segment of American History that few people know about. History buffs will especially relish this slice of America-at-war through the eyes of this spirited lady who earned the respect of the enemy who held her captive.

Although already an old woman, at the age of 61, Lila Ann Smith and her husband, Osmond, traveled to the distant village of Chichigof on the island of Attu, the very last island on Alaska's Aleutian Chain. As the only Caucasians on the island, Osmond would be the Territorial aerographer and radio operator, and Lila Ann would serve as the schoolteacher.

In 1942, the Japanese military invaded America, and occupied the island of Attu for nearly two years. Osmond was killed immediately, and Lila Ann placed under arrest. Some of the other residents of the island were also killed during the invasion, though they didn't resist the invaders. Eventually, Lila Ann and the other Attu islanders were removed to Japan and held there for the remainder of the war. Lila Ann was a faithful journal keeper, and posted daily when she could, until 1945 when World War II ended. This book is based on those journals along with extensive research of this historic event.

Lila Ann's journals tell of having previously survived three wars, and now struggling to survive the fourth. Her missionary parents and brother were murdered in China during the Boxer Rebellion, and now as an old lady, she must undergo the deprivation and torture of a prisoner of war in Japan, struggling with the language barrier, starvation, freezing cold, and the loss of husband and friends

Be prepared to read through to the end...this book is hard to put down. Lila Ann was eloquent in her journal entries, and Warner writes with great depth and intensity of the honor and bravery required for Lila Ann to triumph against the odds.

Wm. Mark Simmons has a winner with When Dreams Collide, the second novel in his trilogy of In the Net of Dreams, When Dreams Collide, and The Woman of His Dreams. In the first novel, Simmons sets up a fantasy within a science fiction framework and fills a medieval landscape with a cast of fascinating characters. In the second novel, When Dreams Collide, Simmons begins to delve into the hearts of his characters, revealing both the saint and the sinner that resides in us all. His main character, Ripley, is trying to understand the Anamoly and fix it. If he doesn't, anyone whose avatar dies in the Dreamworld dies in the suspension tank back at Cephtronics, as well. It makes the game a bit more serious. The problem is, Ripley has been copied by the computer that runs the Dreamworld, and so he gets to die several times. Those Ripleys who are stil alive get to worry if the real Ripley got killed--which means that Ripley back at Cephtronics is dead and the Ripley who is doing the wondering is just a back-up copy, or is he...? And then Ripley also has problems with women (too many)and enemies (way too many)and not quite knowing whether he's real or Memorex. Finally, the novel is a bit darker than In the Net of Dreams, because it's a middle novel, and it's supposed to be darker. His third novel in the series, The Woman of His Dreams, will be published sometime this year (according to his website--check it out. It's hilarious) and will wrap the series up, answer all the questions, and, if the first two novels are any indication--be filled with obscure literary references, outrageous jokes, horrid puns, and more fun per page than most writers manage to pack in an entire novel.

An fan of VR would love to include this book in their library. The dangers of an unstable computer world seem uncannily real in this novel that takes rpg to the extreme. The main character, Ripley, is so deep you can truly feel his joys and sorrows. If you like cyberpunk, you'll really like When Dreams Collide!

The nice thing about this series is that it's fantasy with a big touch of realism. It is computer rpg to the extreme. But what really sets it apart is the humor, the witty and fast storytelling, twists in the story, all with a well dosed pace. Reading the first book "In the net of dreams" is not necessary, but would let you better enjoy this story more.

It would be better to read "In the net of dreams" first. If you have ever played RPG/MUDS and have enjoyed them, this would be one of your dreams.

This book is best book on time management I ever read. I'm sure I squeezed out an extra half hour each workday with these principles.

This book by Michael Le Boeuf has been very valuable to me in my career and life. I first read it when I was in my early twenties and I have been applying the principles to my life ever since.

The bottom line is that this book is filled with ideas and techniques to make you more effective. It also talks about attitudes that lead to success and uses powerful analogies and stories to drive home important points.

This book is well-organized and it gets to the point quickly. If you are busy person who needs good advise and would like to use your time more effectively, look no further.

This book is more then a time efficiency book but a how to book on managing all aspects of the office from scheduling and pructing meetings to effective communications. This is good starting and improving your SOHO (small office / home office) operations. It starts off each chapter discussing popular beliefs. I loved the chapter on "work tapes". People have different beliefs about work from being "good for you" to "the harder you work the more successful you are". The truth regarding discipline. The difference between being efficient and effective. Doing the right job (efficacy); doing the job right
(effective). Handing disruptions; papers; goal planning; the right way to use a TO DO list. The only problem is the material is dated to 1979. (Before email, teleconferencing and Intenet) My copy had a printing error on page 267 the publisher missed printed the pages and started over with page 33. Missed "efficient Communications") This continued for about 40 pages before picking up with last chapter of the book. Even though dated and with this defect I enjoyed the book. It's an easy read and I highly recommended it.

At a rather strange time in my life in 1985, I only owned two books, one which I bought using my own money (Robert Allen's early 1980's edition of "Nothing Down"), the other this book. This is a better book, although Allen's isn't bad either, especially for its time.

Although written in 1979 when Leboeuf was still a young whippersnapper in Louisiana, this book is still an excellent, common sensical work that is easy to understand and follow. Everyone from Tony Robbins to Covey and others have also put their own spin on much of what is covered here; it's not rocket science. But Leboeuf's folksy, down to earth, and warm prose is disarming and supportive. This is probably because unlike a lot of other "professional" self-help gurus, LeBeouf was actually a teacher and spends more time actually doing this stuff than writing books and selling DVD's about it.

I wrote down short term, medium term, and long term goals for myself back when I was 18 using this book. Twenty years later, I have accomplished most of them. And I owe it to this book, which got me off to a good start.

Rudimental drum solos are very fun at first, especially when you're doing great sight reading them. But it can get very boring.

This is NOT the case with this book!! These solos have many of the rudiments being played over the barline and starting on other weird rhythmic positions. I just got this book last week, and even though I read through it the first day, I am now going back and focusing on 2 solos at a time. (i want to be able to play these really well!)

Great book... very fun... and despite constant recommendations to get Pratt's 14 Modern Contest Solos, I feel I should've had it in my library months ago :)

John Pratt's book is a staple that all serious percussionists should play at some point. Pratt utilizes many rudiments in every solo and incorporates a lot of "over the barline" techniques. Many of my own drum students have performed these solos for solo and ensemble festivals and recitals. This book is a great tool for drummers in the medium to advanced stages. I highly recommend!

This book is great! It contains great peices of music for the snare drummer. It is made to be rudimentaly sound. Meaning the solo's are full of many rudiments. This makes it full of great playback, and full of great learning. The solo's range from diffucult to very diffucult. It is not for the the faint at heart drummer. Hodge Podge(the easiest solo) cannot be played unless you have the ability to play rolls(5/7/9/10/11/13),flams,ruffs,and sixteenth notes with accompyning eight notes. The hardest title is My Friend Norman and Gingersnap. The 6/8 excercies are very diffucult in their own right. This is great solo book for any above average to advanced snare drummer!

This is a summer book. Every summer, I take it to the beach, get settled with a nice cool drink, listen to the waves and enjoy. This isn't great literature, nor is it pulp fiction, it's the perfect mix for a summer book: a story you can sink your teeth into; Bond-like action; and a believable conspiracy theory. I can't recommend it enough.

From the moment I first found this wonderful book on the mahogany shelves of my parents' expansive library, I was hooked. So much glamour, intrigue, passion, and an undertone of evil (a WASP mafia--who knew?), I couldn't resist. Many plot twists continue to keep the pages turning, and it has that classic timelessness the way so many 70s potboilers do. You jet across the globe (in a Concorde, now sadly defunct, of course) from NYC to Zurich to Paris to Ellis Island back to Suburban Connecticut. I haven't read any of Browne's other books, but it's always been on my to-do list. Start with this one and discover his expert crafting and addictive prose.

This book really should be made into a movie. It's got all the elements for a good thriller flick. Glamour, suspense, intrique. I loved it. The death by bread in the shower scene alone is worth the read. Find this book and read it! It's been years since I've read it, but I have never given up looking for that house full of money on "19 Purchase Street." Kevin Spacey was born to play the lead in this story.

PI Stanley Hastings is called by an old college buddy to fill in for an actor who died right before opening night of ARMS AND THE MAN in a tiny New England town. The stage manager promptly gets himself murdered, and Stanley has to help Chief Bob (an amateur actor himself) find the killer. The search is a comically depressing examination of backstage life and midlife crisis that leaves the reader amazed at Stanley's emotional resilience.

The amount of theatrical detail Hall included was impressive, and I enjoyed his use of internal dialogue, which ranks right up there with Lawrence Block's. And it's the rare mystery author who can sneak a Pinter joke into the dialogue like Hall does. I did find Stanley's hang-up on the spelling of the word "actor" mildly distracting, but it would take an awful lot more than that to detract from the fun of this book.

I am in the process of collecting all of the Stanley Hastings books in hardcover. I have read them all and he is the most entertaining sleuth in the business. His reluctance at being drawn into the mystery makes the plots all the more irresistable and as a result, they are not predictable. He makes me laugh out loud...never have I read a more charming character.

I have read at least five other books featuring the unique Stanley Hastings, but this one is special because of the different setting. Instead of his usual ambulance-chasing, Stanley gets to play a major part in a production of "Arms and the Man". I had read the play long ago, and that added to my enjoyment of the book. Rarely has a protagonist risen so triumphantly over countless humiliating circumstances; you have to admire the almost masochistic determination of actors who put up with all he describes in hilarious, but still almost depressing detail. Ambulance-chasing in the Bronx seems a picnic compared to Stanley's experiences in this book.

You gotta get the cuban beat

If you are looking to spruce up your playing, this is the book for you. It uses a step by step process to ease you into the most dificult rhythms. It also comes with a cd that gives examples of all the beats in this book which I found very helpful. You can apply the beats learned in this book to any type of music for a much more interesting sound. I would say this book is for moderate to advanced drummers. Get this book, It's worth it.

After 20+ years of playing the drum set I can hear and feel most standard rock and jazz rhythms fairly easily. But the rhythms in this book are so different that I find myself challenged in each exercise---even the simplest ones! This book will really help the drummer who is comfortable with current and past rock and jazz styles, because it is a huge stretch from the 4/4 and 3/4 that most of us spend virtually all of our time playing. More than anything, this book will help your overall sense of time, because its contents are so different from the American rock-pop-jazz genre, that your brain will have to work overtime to master them. It's helpful if you have some Latin traps in your kit, but not necessary to reap the full benefit. Couple this book with Gary Chester's New Breed, and you'll step into a new phase of musical creativity in your drumming career. The included CD is really essential to understanding the groove of these exercises.

This is the GREATEST AMC Book ever written.Very informative and entertaining, and filled with memories that I have cherished and will now be able to cherish forever!!!As a 20+year fan of the show, I can only say I can't wait for the 50th anniversary scrapbook!

This is an excellent book for anyone who loves All My Children. I bought mine used and it was in excellent condition. As a long time All My Children viewer (from the beginning) this was a trip down memory lane for me. It covered all the years from 1970 to 1995. The color pictures were beautiful and the trivia section in the back was wonderful. This is a must have book for all serious and long time viewers of All My Children.

Have you ever had a question about AMC? What actor played what role or who married who? You will find answers to your questions in this big AMC book. What I loved about this book is that it has a thorough plot summary of every year since it's debut in 1970. The book includes family photos, wedding photos, behind the scenes info, AMC trivia, actor quotes, interesting facts, a complete cast list and much more. This is a wonderful coffee table book!