McDonald's Books

As a Swedish teenager spending the summer with an Italian-American family on the island of Nantucket, I was appalled by the mandatory sentence of life imprisonment without parole immediately imposed by a judge when a jury after less than five hours' deliberation returned a verdict of guilty of first-degree murder with extreme cruelty. In Sweden, where the rates of alcoholism and suicide are relatively high, the prison term for someone convicted of premeditated murder motivated by overwhelming passion is ten to fourteen years, and the emphasis is on rehabilitation rather than punishment. I agree with Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens that prison terms in the United States are far too long. I recently read Frank W. Abagnale's Catch Me If You Can, and I was struck by the disparity between the prison terms to which he was sentenced in Sweden (six months) and in the U.S. (several years). In recounting the trial of Mr. Toolan, Michael Wells Glueck (who published his account on the same day as the verdict and sentence were rendered) appropriately quotes Shakespeare's Macbeth:

MACBETH:
Canst thou not minister to a mind diseased,
Pluck from the memory a rooted sorrow,
Raze out the written troubles of the brain
And with some sweet oblivious antidote
Cleanse the stuff'd bosom of that perilous stuff
Which weighs upon the heart?

Doctor:
Therein the patient
Must minister to himself.

The fascinating murder trial of Thomas E. Toolan III was a dramatic contest between the findings of learned, Harvard-educated psychologists, psychiatrists, and criminologists and mountains of testimony by both expert and ordinary witnesses, between theories of diminished responsibility and common sense. The latter prevailed. If you weren't in attendance, reading this work is tantamount to having been there. The day-by-day repartee, intended and accidental humor, pathos, and grim reality are faithfully portrayed by a professional writer and author.

For the background of this case, the reader is referred to Brian McDonald's book, Safe Harbor: A Murder In Nantucket, published in both hardcover and paperback by St. Martin's Press. The focus of this work is on the fourteen-day trial that concluded on June 21, 2007 with a verdict reached after comparatively brief deliberation.
The author of this account has written two additional published works, Living Among The Swiss and What I Learned At University, as well as a monograph entitled The Retirement Home Experience describing his parents' care and treatment at such institutions. He is a former Woodrow Wilson Fellow, instructor at Columbia University, the City University Of New York, and state universities in Colorado, Wisconsin, and Massachusetts, as well as a retired investment analyst. He is also a professional editor.

This a great guide for all journalists or anyone who wants to use proper grammar and punctuation. This textbook is owned by every student in the journalism school where the two authors teach, which is where I first picked up this book. I've been working in PR for the last four years and have it sitting on my desk for reference whenever I want to know the proper use of underway vs. under way or bad vs. badly or some other frequently misused words and punctuation.

This book changed my life! I took a class in college from tbe author and this was the textbook. I have been in advertising and marketing for the past 12 years and I use this book all the time. It's so easy to use and the info is really clear.

The best part is a guide at tbe back that explains the distinctions between commonly misused words. For Example: farther/further (farther--physical distance-throw the ball farther and further --degree,time or quanity - discuss the issue further); since/because (since -- denotes a period of time -it's been many years since we've been together and because gives a reason or cause); irregardless(isn't a word) etc. I recommend this book to everyone--it's great.

This guide wittily walks its readers through the rules of English grammar, breaks down every principle, identifies the most common mistakes among writers and gives excellent insight on how to fix these errors. The last 37 pages (the Topical Guide to Grammar and Word Use) simply list every misconception or fallacy regarding word and punctuation misuse and give quick explanations on how to correct these frequent blunders. This book is an absolutely must for any undergraduate student and I recommend it to even the most professional grammarians. It should be considered beginner grammarians' Bible.

I have a number of books on Illustrator 10 and this is the one I refer to the most. It is detailed containing more information in one book than most others, although I haven't found a book yet that answers all of my questions. It is written in an easy to understand way clarifying details that are hard to understand in some other books. Recommend.

Being in the graphics industry for many years and now teaching visual communications at a local college I found this book to be one of the most comprehensive books out there. The title really sums it all up ... A step-by-step approach. The book illustrates and walks you through each topic clearly and thoroughly. After each topic the books is filled with activities and assignments to reinforce the topics.

After reviewing many books this books is top on my list. This is one of the few books that covers graphing.

All in all the book is excellent.

To be privy to a set of diaries such as these is indeed a rare opportunity. I was loathe to read the last chapters, because I felt as if I was bidding farewell to a man, not only of great courage and determination, but a loyal and devoted friend as well. His travels and experiences are there, open to all who care to share thoughts and frustrations with a man bent on saving human beings, no matter what the cost.
The world would be a different place if his words had been heeded. I eagerly look forward to the next volume of his diaries.

This carefully annotated collection of diary entries and letters is an excellent exploration of the Western response to the rise of the Nazi party and its policies, especially towards its Jewish citizens. It provides much information and insights that would not be present in general histories of the 20th century and even in more specialized histories of the period.

Third Edition, published June 1999. This price guide is the companion to McDonald's book "All About Weller: A History and Collectors Guide to Weller Pottery". The author gathered Weller Pottery sale prices from auction results, internet website sales, and Weller pottery retail displays in stores and exhibitions. We use our copy regularly when planning an addition to our Weller collection and it has proved very handy.

Ann received her doctorate from George Washington University, her Master's degree from Cornell University, and taught literature at Marymount College in Arlington, Virginia, and later at Georgetown University. She became an antiques dealer in 1972, specializing today in out of print books on glass and lighting, and Weller pottery.

and all the other books she has written. This story is off the hook. Nate's story had me laughing, crying and stressing. I hope she writes a follow-up book - I want to know what happens between him and Willa.

This author can WRITE! I held my breath when Nathaniel was being interviewed by the cops. I loved the ending. And I want to visit the Apollo.

"Wyclif Burning" re-established the line between that in which I believe and in what I hope. "The Lesson" is one of the few pedagogical meta-poems that transcend the banality of modern poetry. If read "dead-pan" it acquires an introspection that only when put within the context of the others does it begin to give the ecclesiastical counterargument. This sublime nature can only be described as divine sophistry.

Thom Satterlee's research and exegesis are scholarly. The wisdom he brings to the work is profound, and his technique is remarkable. This is one of those rare contemporary works which deserves (and is getting) many rereads. Satterlee richly deserves the book prize for Burning Wyclif.

Disclaimer: I reviewed this book very positively on Suite 101; However, I bought the book myself, and have no connection with author, editor, or publisher.

This is surprisingly a great book. It is a shame that it is out of print. Tasha Tudor is of course the queen of all gardeners, but Ms. Guest's book is quite good and she does have some marvelous tips and hints on gardening from her massively wealthy Tempelton estate, in Old Westbury, Long Island. And on top of this, she has good taste and style which we can all learn from. To bad that her publishers didn't do a good job in promoting her, but perhaps there is another book in the works and she will reach the stardom that she rightfully deserves in the gardening world. As Ms. Guest constantly reminds us, Plan Plan and Plan ahead for a successful garden. Take this book out of the library, if you can't buy it. You will greatly enjoy it.

This is surprisingly a great book. It is a shame that it is out of print. Tasha Tudor is of course the queen of all gardeners, but Ms. Guest's book is quite good and she does have some marvelous tips and hints on gardening from her massively wealthy Tempelton estate, in Old Westbury, Long Island. And on top of this, she has good taste and style which we can all learn from. To bad that her publishers didn't do a good job in promoting her, but perhaps there is another book in the works and she will reach the stardom that she rightfully deserves in the gardening world. As Ms. Guest constantly reminds us, Plan Plan and Plan ahead for a successful garden. Take this book out of the library, if you can't buy it. You will greatly enjoy it.

This is the first book in a series by this author. He states on his website at www.childrensworldnet.com that other books will "compare" how children live in different countries, in adventure story form, using animal "characters". Each book connects to the last and the next in some way. I felt this book would be great for early readers e.g. 2nd and 3rd grade and the website would be good for the same readers and even their teachers and parents. Great game ideas, great "real" photos of book countries, customs, foods, schools, homes, and children's "dreams".

My birthday is in December also and always makes it hard to have a party because everybody is too busy with Christmas stuff. But CHIP is also a soccer player as I am too and to get to go to on a plane all by yourself to a big soccer game is just too cool dude! My parents probably would never let me, but I would like to anyhow. I really liked this book because it is just like the things I do and the way I go to school and all and I just really liked this book a LOT!!!!!!!!!!!!Oh, and I am 9 until December 18 in 2004

Written by Shakespeare and early English literature teacher Philip White, The Clearing is an anthology of brief, free-verse poems gravitating upon the somber topics of the deaths of White's parents and first wife. Ranging in emotion from detached solemnity to grief-stricken, The Clearing probes the inescapable twining of love and the sadness of loss, with a haunting yet ultimately captivating melodic tone. "Why Orpheus Looked Back": Even her voice is soundless now. She moves / like the damselflies in honeysuckle leaves / along the stream, their torsos iridescing, / wings so black they seem fluttering rents / in the tangible scene: so much silence / fringing every word, so much dark around / each wavering gleam. But what else could I / have asked of absence? I had seen its world, / the blank, evacuated gaze that wants nothing / yet embraces all we do. It was the world / I saw before me, coming back. I sang then / not for it but her, fainter though she'd grown / than air. I looked back because I knew / whichever way I looked it would be there."

Philip White is an amazing poet, and "The Clearing" is masterpiece of a book. Without hesitation, I would say "The Clearing" is one of the best books of modern poetry I have ever read and reading it was one of the most emotionally involving experiences of my life. Anyone who loves words and seeks out life would benefit enormously from reading this.

"The Clearing" tells the anti-linear and true story of the suicide of White's first wife, the deaths of his parents, the death of his wife's mother, the crushing pain of losing a loved one, and the miracle of finding love again. "The Clearing" delves into the nature of death and grief as does nothing else I have ever read. Moments of it are so saturated with suffering--though never in a sappy or a maudlin or a whiny manner--that the book can almost be too painful to read, too much for a person to bear.

One such moment takes place at the funeral of his wife, in the poem "East Lawn," where he writes,

"And as the earth fell, my heart finally failed
and I cast my eye around wildly, wanting to take
each thing in, not knowing what part would be lost
that I might struggle into this life again."

"The Clearing" contains moments of grief and introspection that no human being should ever be forced to live through themselves but that many of us probably will, and in writing about them, White displays a degree of candor and honesty that most people are scarcely capable of--and does so with such astounding articulateness and with such an eye for finding beauty in even the saddest of moments that I was often left tearful and unable to speak.

This book is beautiful, in the way that great music and wild nature are beautiful, in the way that a tidal wave hanging over your city might be beautiful. This book is fearsome and sad, and yet majestically intimate, real and silencing in its near-perfection. This book is a testimony to the power of words. It shows that words, in the hands of the right person, can say nearly anything. If you are a writer, "The Clearing" will heighten your awareness of your craft and of what your medium can do. If you are alive, "The Clearing" will open your eyes to the world
and strip life's calluses from your heart.

In a way, and perhaps this book's author would resent my saying this, "The Clearing" gives meaning to all of the horribleness that White had to go through, by taking all of that, all of that pain, all of that grief, all of the worst of life's experiences, and turning it into this, into something timeless and exquisite, into a work of high literary art.

"The Clearing" is a book of poetry, but it could almost be considered a memoir. Strong and vivid images spill from every page. Its narrator, White, rises as a real and genuine person who has felt and experienced this book's every line. We believe him. We grow to trust him entirely, and we come to know him. His story, the story of a life, is in this--is everywhere in these poems. His is that rare collection of poetry that could probably even be adapted into a film, by a visionary enough filmmaker, because there's just so much to it--there is a story, there is a character arc, and there is a world of feeling behind it all.

And I do mean a world of feeling. Not just grief. Not just sorrow. Not just coping. In the end, this book is essentially a book of hope, containing more of the stuff of hope than it does anything else. The hope it offers is not the intangible stuff of a longed-for afterlife or of loved ones smiling down from an unseen spiritual realm. The hope it offers is, however, of a very real sort, of a kind you can count on--a bittersweet hope and an even more bittersweet conviction that pain will fade, although memories will too. It offers a hope and a faint knowledge that something true and worthwhile will always survive, and it evinces a startled awareness that new life and new love can grow from nearly anything--that it can grow and it can thrive.

"Tulips in the jar and the perfect rooms.
The sea in the window a haze
of darkness rustling over sandhills.
Unsteady wind, raincloud, saltrose, tarnish.
Afternoon in bed thinking about it.
The shifting possibilities.
Love like bread. Distance. The sea pounding
or silent. The sun crossing a thousand times."