News and Media Books

A must read for any activists. Easy to understand and yet effective.

This is the how-to book I wish I had written. It's perfect for activists, charities, government agencies, even PTAs! No one can sell an idea or cause better than the person who believes in it--this book gives you the basics and more on how to get your campaign or event in the news.

The most difficult task for any activist or organization is getting noticed. With an influx of so many news agencies and mediums it's hard getting noticed by reporters and editors.

This book shows you how to make your cause 'interesting' to those who matter in getting your message across: the Media.

You'll learn how to do several things like give speeches, create an identity, use props & mascots and more.

Although it could have probablly included more in-depth detail and 'how-to' it was certainly worth the investment.

Bottom Line: Worthwhile addition for any activist or their organization. Invaluable for the person in charge of making causes and campaigns noticed!

Outstanding on all fronts. No jargon - all facts. Salzman shares his secrets and tells you how to figure out making your work into news. In this image-crazed age, this book is a must.

Gearing up a new issues education/activist organization, I read this invaluable tome. Then I called its author (Jason Salzman) to find proteges of his whom I might hire on the East Coast. After talking with him over a couple weeks, I hired him and have tremendously benefitted from his experience, wisdom and creativity. Not often we can hire the guy "who wrote the book." If you can't hire him yourself (try though), his book lays out the science and art of garnering media for you to tout your cause.

DJ's and Chowder's life was simple. They woke up, had breakfast, went to school, came home, ate dinner and did homework. But DJ had better things to do than homework. Across the street from him was a shattered, non-painted old house. And in it was an old man know as Mr. Nebbercraker. One day DJ and Chowder where spying on Mr. Nebbercraker when a girl named Jenny came into the scene. She was about their age and was pulling a red wagon full of cookie boxes. She was probably selling them as a fundraiser for her school. She walked up to Mr. Nebbercraker's door and was about to ring the doorbell when DJ and Chowder came running down after her screaming not to. As she rang the doorbell a low echoing sound that seemed to go miles into the center of the earth boomed and the two large parallel windows above her turn bright red and turned into a pair of evil red glowing eyes. The door swung open and razor sharp shards of wood came out of the top and bottom of it, and then the rug leading to the back of the house turned into a tongue and soon it looked much like a face. All of the sudden the walkway to Mr.Nebbercraker's front door turned into an inclined plane and then Jenny started to almost roll down right to the razor sharp teeth. Just as she was about to be devoured by this "monster house" DJ and Chowder caught her and ran back across the street and back to their room. Of course Jenny was stunned and knew they had to stop this evil house. Ever since that day DJ watches Mr. Nebbercraker's house to get some proof that this house is... ALIVE! But Halloween was coming up and all of the people that trick-or-treated Mr.Nebbercraker's house will be eaten. So begins a battle of three kids and a living house nightmare!





Opinion
Monster House was a fun and entertaining book about three kids and a living nightmare. I recommend Monster House for people who like suspenseful, action scenes. It was a very good book, and every night I was tempted to read more and more of it. It was just like I was watching the movie right in my bed!

DJ's and Chowder's life was simple. They woke up, had breakfast, went to school, came home, ate dinner and did homework. But DJ had better things to do than homework. Across the street from him was a shattered, non-painted old house. And in it was an old man know as Mr. Nebbercraker. One day DJ and Chowder where spying on Mr. Nebbercraker when a girl named Jenny came into the scene. She was about their age and was pulling a red wagon full of cookie boxes. She was probably selling them as a fundraiser for her school. She walked up to Mr. Nebbercraker's door and was about to ring the doorbell when DJ and Chowder came running down after her screaming not to. As she rang the doorbell a low echoing sound that seemed to go miles into the center of the earth boomed and the two large parallel windows above her turn bright red and turned into a pair of evil red glowing eyes. The door swung open and razor sharp shards of wood came out of the top and bottom of it, and then the rug leading to the back of the house turned into a tongue and soon it looked much like a face. All of the sudden the walkway to Mr.Nebbercraker's front door turned into an inclined plane and then Jenny started to almost roll down right to the razor sharp teeth. Just as she was about to be devoured by this "monster house" DJ and Chowder caught her and ran back across the street and back to their room. Of course Jenny was stunned and knew they had to stop this evil house. Ever since that day DJ watches Mr. Nebbercraker's house to get some proof that this house is... ALIVE! But Halloween was coming up and all of the people that trick-or-treated Mr.Nebbercraker's house will be eaten. So begins a battle of three kids and a living house nightmare!





Opinion
Monster House was a fun and entertaining book about three kids and a living nightmare. I recommend Monster House for people who like suspenseful, action scenes. It was a very good book, and every night I was tempted to read more and more of it. It was just like I was watching the movie right in my bed!

I read the book "Monster House", adapted by Tom Hughes. This story takes place in a neighborhood in the town of Mayville. A kid named DJ knew something was wrong with the house across the street. The house was alive and would eat anything or anyone that stepped on its lawn. When the house came alive, the front door was its mouth, the porch was its teeth, the foyer rug was its tounge, the upstairs windows were its eyes, and the trees on the side of the house were its arms. The biggest problem was DJ and his friends were the only ones that could see the house alive. DJ and his friends, Chowder and Jenny, were going to spy on the house and find out what was going on with it. They also wanted to find out why the house became alive after its owner, Mr. Nebbercracker disappeared. After spying on the house with their telescope, the 3 friends realized that the house was really alive and the furnace was the heart and soul of the house that kept it alive. The friends made a plan to get inside the house and put out the fire in its furnace.
The three friends went onto the lawn and up to the house. When the house "woke up" it stared to chase them. DJ, Chowder, and Jenny ran down the street and the house chased after them. They led the house to the back of the neighborhood to a construction sight they called "The Danger Zone". While the house chased the kids, Mr. Nebbercracker showed up. He had been sick and was at the hospital. Mr. Nebbercracker was trying to calm the house down. DJ finally climbed to the top of a crane and dropped dynamite into the house's chimney. The house exploded and destroyed the furnace. While the house was burning, the kids and Mr. Nebbercracker saw a spirit floating up from the ashes. It was Mr. Nebbercracker's wife, Constance, who had died years before. Her spirit was trapped in the house and when Mr. Nebbercracker went to the hospital, she thought that he had died and left her alone. She was released when the kids destroyed the house. Mr. and Mrs. Nebbercracker were able to say good-bye and Mrs. Nebbercracker's spirit was finally free.
I loved this book because its details. The description of the house was great. I could actually envision the house in my mind. I also loved the suspense.

I read the book "Monster House", adapted by Tom Hughes. This story takes place in a neighborhood in the town of Mayville. A kid named DJ knew something was wrong with the house across the street. The house was alive and would eat anything or anyone that stepped on its lawn. When the house came alive, the front door was its mouth, the porch was its teeth, the foyer rug was its tounge, the upstairs windows were its eyes, and the trees on the side of the house were its arms. The biggest problem was DJ and his friends were the only ones that could see the house alive. DJ and his friends, Chowder and Jenny, were going to spy on the house and find out what was going on with it. They also wanted to find out why the house became alive after its owner, Mr. Nebbercracker disappeared. After spying on the house with their telescope, the 3 friends realized that the house was really alive and the furnace was the heart and soul of the house that kept it alive. The friends made a plan to get inside the house and put out the fire in its furnace.
The three friends went onto the lawn and up to the house. When the house "woke up" it stared to chase them. DJ, Chowder, and Jenny ran down the street and the house chased after them. They led the house to the back of the neighborhood to a construction sight they called "The Danger Zone". While the house chased the kids, Mr. Nebbercracker showed up. He had been sick and was at the hospital. Mr. Nebbercracker was trying to calm the house down. DJ finally climbed to the top of a crane and dropped dynamite into the house's chimney. The house exploded and destroyed the furnace. While the house was burning, the kids and Mr. Nebbercracker saw a spirit floating up from the ashes. It was Mr. Nebbercracker's wife, Constance, who had died years before. Her spirit was trapped in the house and when Mr. Nebbercracker went to the hospital, she thought that he had died and left her alone. She was released when the kids destroyed the house. Mr. and Mrs. Nebbercracker were able to say good-bye and Mrs. Nebbercracker's spirit was finally free.
I loved this book because its details. The description of the house was great. I could actually envision the house in my mind. I also loved the suspense.

The book Monster House is really cool, it's all about these three children spy on the house next door. The house is alive and lots of things happen to the kids, if you want to know you could read the book. There are three main characters, they are DJ, Chawder, and Jenny. If you like action books you will like this. The book is not really scary. The auther is Simon Spotlight. Good work Simon! I hope you like it.

Jonathan Vaughn is a writer, an old writer. And a vampire. Regan Calloway is psychic, but unlike Charlaine Harris's Sookie Stackhouse, Regan doesn't get bombarded with psychic impressions unless she's touching the person. In the small fictional town of Sheridan, Massachusetts, the two end up confronted by, as the back cover of the book says, a "cascading series of disasters" that will keep you reading late into the night -- at least that's what happened to me.

Skillful dialog, great sense of place, thrilling plot, and fascinating take on vampire lore make this an excellent read.

Original, convincing, with
likeable and fully rounded characters. I can hardly wait to see what this highly talented new writer comes up with next.

I found that reading Mortal Touch was a pleasure ! The characters are very well drawn and all interesting. Vampires in this teling had several "new" attributes which ought to have been written long ago. The plot progress had numerous unexpected turns that also fit the story so there was no illogical events. The ending wrapped up the story very nicely but certainly left it open for a sequel which I look forward too.

This book is an excellent beginning to what promises to be a very enjoyable series! Arthen's characters and dialogue are very believable and the plot moves along at a measured but lively pace. Her vampire mythos is refreshing in that it follows folklore a bit more closely than those created by other contemporary authors.

I look forward with great anticipation to the next entry in the Vampires of New England series.

Inanna Arthen's highly original vampire novel will appeal to readers of Poe, Lovecraft and Shirley Jackson as well as fans of modern vampire fiction. Arthen avoids the typical clichés of the genre; her vampires have reflections, day jobs, and sex lives.

The title, "Mortal Touch" and the tag line "All I need to do is touch you," both hint at Arthen's unique approach to bloodletting: her vampires don't need fangs, and their pale but otherwise ordinary appearance allows them to fit in all too easily with their human neighbors.

The novel, set in a small Massachusetts town, immerses the reader in a gripping story with eccentric but likable characters and a strong sense of place. These are the Vampires of New England; you won't find them in a New Orleans brothel or on a European stage, calling attention to themselves. Arthen's eerily believable undead hang out quietly at antique stores and cafés, and you won't see them coming for you before it's too late.

Highly recommended!

I chose this book to introduce my children to literature written about Korean culture in America. We love the parallels to our life- a Halmoni living far away, a young girl nervous about school and fitting in with her classmates, and especially that the title character shares her Korean name with my daughter! This story crosses cultural differences to embrace the concepts of family love, friendship, cultural sensitivity and self esteem. What a wonderful story!The Name Jar

i enjoyed this book. i was in the book store one day and it caught my eye so i flipped through it, and i'm glad i did. its about a little girl who comes from korea and moved to north america. she goes to school and doesn't want to tell the class her name because it is different, so she says she doesn't have a name, so her classmates make a name jar for her and put in names that she can use. then she gets a letter from her grandmother who is still in korea saying how much she loves her and in the letter was a seal with her name on it. after getting this she is once again proud of her name and goes back to school and tells her class mates her real name and what it means (i apologize if i got some of the details mixed up it was a while back that i read it). this book was a tear jerker for me. i'm not korean, nor have i had major problem with my name (though people often mispronounce it when reading it), but the struggle for the acceptance of one's self and one's own difference in comparison to others is something we all go through, and this story successfully displays that struggle and overcoming that struggle in a simple way. i think its a good way to get children to understand that though they are different, they will be accepted by someone, and opens them up to other cultures at the same time. worth the read.

Yangsook (Rachel) Choi has written AND illustrated another illuminating book. Unhei has moved from South Korea with her family to America; she has brought her clothes, bags, and a name "chop" stamp from her grandmother. Her schoolmates cannot pronounce her name on the bus, so she doesn't reveal her name to her classmates. Is it good to be different? Should she embrace her difference? In America she can still eat seaweed and kimchi; she can shop at Kim's Market and Fadil's Falafel. But maybe a name of Amanda, Miranda, Daisy, or Tamela would be better than Unhei (Yoon-hye). The kids at school put name suggestions in a jar on her desk, but on the day she will choose her name, the jar has disappeared. Who took it? What will Unhei decide to do? Did Mr. Cocotos her teacher have a hand in this? Will all the kids want to choose a new name? A must read for every elementary school.

I love this book because it reinforces the idea that people have a right to their given names and that they have a right to expect people to learn how to pronounce them. I work with many Chinese, Korean and Japanese students and it is common for these kids to feel the obligation to change their name, allow teachers and students mispronounce them if they do use their given names, and their parents often tell them to get used to it rather than teaching them to assert themselves and expect people to learn how to pronounce them. If the child feels that they have a right to their name, the keep it, teach people how to pronounce it and feel better about themselves. If they change it, the given name still pops up on paperwork, people still mispronounce it and they are always trying to hide it away before it pops up again. Accepting your name and teaching people how to pronounce it, provides people with empowerment and a sense of some control over their lives. It helps a lot in the acculturaltion process.

Unhei is starting school in America. Although she has a lovely Korean name that means "grace," she thinks maybe she would like a more American sounding name. Her classmates make a name jar and offers suggestions. This story is affirming of the multicultural experience. When Unhei complains about her name, saying that she doesn't want to be different, her mother counters, "You are different, Unhei....That's a good thing!" Choi superbly illustrates her own story. The characters, though simply painted, have expressive faces.

Sabrina the teenage witch competes in a witch's spelling bee(a spell-casting contest)and her prize is a reality check(a cheque she can cash in to change any event of her choice)Only problem is that EVERYTHING is going wrong so how is a girl to decide what to change?!!!!!!!!!!Life's hard!

This is a pretty good book.On this book Sabrina competes in the Other Realm spelling bee,wins and gets a Reality Check!But Aunt Hilda and Zelda are under a 24 hour time-release spell witch is causing a disruption in their lives!To learn more just read the book!

Reality Check (Sabrina The Teenage Witch)is a great book. I could read it over and over again. It's fun reading about all the trouble that she gets herself into, and how she gets herself out of it. It's fun and easy to read. Everybody should read it.

This book was completely a breath taking addition to this sereis.Tooooooooo coooooooool. Sabrina wins the national spelling bee and the first prize is a REALITY CHECK. but she doesn't have a single idea on where to use it. because her spelling bee prize has her world abuzz. Finally, she uses it in the right way - by using it to save - no no no i don't want to spoil your read . The ending was a little dissapointing though. anyway the style of writing was great . Diana.G.Gallagher is by far one of my favourite Sabrina authors.Keep up the good work!

Sabrina wins the first prize in the spelling bee contest -- and it is a reality check.her spelling bee prize has her world abuzz.she can change only one incident. but which one? she has no idea.Aunt hilda and zelda are in a 24 hour time release spell which is causing many complicated problems in their lives,HARVEY Needs money after his motor cycle accident,Val resigns as school news paper editor and libby twists her ankle just before her cheerleading stuff.

in the end she used it wisely though. it was a great read. the ending of this book was mind boggling. it was too good a read. She finally uses the check to save - nah fooled you. I am not 1 bit interested in spoiling your read. so i suggest you to buy this book which is another great book added in this great series.lllooooovveeeeellllyyyy.Got to read it

Still reading but great info. so far. Worth reading if you want to really understand how it all works and be able to debate these hot topics with some facts.

This book contains information that doesn't seem to be available any place else. It takes a look at the facts on which present day current events are based, and reports the information in an understandable form. So much of the news that is being reported now is based on emotion and feelings that it is difficult for the average person to sift through it all and know what the facts really are. I would recommend that you would read this book if you are interested in knowing how we got where we are as a country and how you can respond with integrity.

In a time when the availability of an unprecedented number of sources does not assure accuracy of information, this fully documented and comprehensive coverage of the key issues bearing upon the state of our Union, fills a crying need.
The quality, timeliness and pertinence of this report makes it a must read for all who seek to cut through the morass of politically biased reporting.
You really owe it to yourself to read this book before you choose your candidates this fall.

Reality Check is a very important book for everyone in this country to read. It does a thorough job of counterbalancing the mythes and lies that are so commonly put forward daily in the news.

As well,it is informational and easily readable for anyone who wants to understand basic economics and how they relate to our personal world. Reality Check is definitely worth the time it takes to read!

As John Adams famously said, "facts are stubborn things..." The purpose of this piece is to debunk certain items of common knowledge about America as she enters the 21st Century. The traditional mass-media often presents various beliefs more or less as truths, which they support with selectively derived anecdotal evidence. The approach taken in the book is to isolate a common (usually media-driven) belief, and then examine it in light of actual statistical data. The dismayingly common result is that we find that many common notions about America's place in the world are simply wrong.

Also by way of disclosure, I went to college with, and was friends with, author Dennis Keegan at UCLA and we both served in the US Army in Germany in the late 1970s. Both of us were tank commanders during that time.

For example, during most of the Bush Administation (of which I am no great fan, I state by way of disclosure), the media has incessantly informed the citizenry that the United States is in recession, with dangerously high unemployment, anemic job creation, and an economy that is losing competitiveness to other countries. Only problem is--this is not so. The authors present statistics that show that the US ranks in the top five countries for GDP growth during most of the past eight years (dropping to number 12 during 2007 only, as the unwinding of the mortgage lending and housing bubble takes a toll). Average GDP growth of the American economy also must be viewed, as the authors point out, in light of what it is that is growing--many economies that have higher growth than America are relatively small. Put in context, during the last eight years the growth component alone of the American economy is larger than the *entire* Chinese economy. Similarly, as the authors point out, America's share of global GDP is greater, not less, than it was 12 years ago. This is not an indicator of a country in decline.

The authors take on many other media-driven myths, and show that such myths do not withstand scrutiny. For example, the notion that tax cuts only benefit the rich, who are not paying "their fair share" of taxes. Hard to reconcile this with the statistic that 1% of taxpayers pay 40% of all Federal taxes, and 86% of the taxes is paid by the top 25% of wage earners. Put simply, persons of modest means in the United States pay far less of their earnings in taxes, in percentage terms, than those in the top earnings strata. One would not know this from the unending media drumbeat about how tax cuts favor the wealthy.

The last example of a debunked media myth that I will mention in this review is the canard that America's industrial base is disappearing. There is no more frequently heard media myth. Problem is, the US exports more manufactured goods than any other country, at least most years. (Further, a lot of European exports constitute trade between relatively small and adjacent European economies; analogous to trade among states in the USA).

Mr. Keegan's particular strength is economics, but the book also contains numerous chapters dealing with more political issues. My favorite is the analysis of Hurricane Katrina. Not surprisingly, here the authors make a strong case that it was the corruption and incompetence of the Louisiana local and state authorities, not FEMA incompetence, that caused the problems that got so much media play. (And of course many of the "problems" were simply media myths.) It is noteworthy that other locations of Katrina devastation fared much better, e.g. Texas and Mississippi. The authors cite a 2006 bipartisan report on the disaster which notes that "It is clear [that] accurate reporting was among Katrina's many victims. If anyone rioted, it was the media."

The real problem that this book tries to take on is the fact that the media usually has an agenda, and if objective facts conflict with that agenda, the media will rely on carefully selected anecdotal evidence rather than objective facts. This is a very real danger to the American republic, which over the long run requires a reasonably well-informed electorate in order to function well. Fortunately, the rise of the internet has begun to supplant, or at least challenge, the traditional media. Aided by books like this one. Recommended.

The Red-Haired Girl From The Bog: The Landscape Of Celtic Myth And Spirit by Celtic history expert Patricia Monaghan is a spiritual voyage through the countryside of Ireland, exploring the intermeshing aspects of folklore, goddess worship, Celtic ceremony, and Christian faith. A thoughtful and deeply reverent viewpoint of a land steeped in tradition and lore, The Red-Haired Girl From The Bog is especially recommended for Celtic Mythology and Irish History reference collections and reading lists.

Ms Monaghan is not only an author, but also a poet and utilizes that skill within this book. While I wished to turn page to find what she might describe next; I, also, wished each page unending. Almost as if I felt I might loose the descriptions I'd just read if I moved forward.

Rarely does a book touch me so.

Could be I'm Irish? That helped I'm sure to entice me with stories and details, but the messages within the book were priceless to me.

Her vivid story telling of Ireland, Celtic myths, Catholic practices and a rather mindful blending of the Pagan/Catholic or Protestant viewpoints in Ireland were incredible. How delightful to read about various customs and practices being combined so utterly!

The descriptions of rituals..even small and discreet and of sacred caves, etc would give anyone a valuable viewpoint on Celtic folk lore.Diverse in delivery, Ms Monaghan can describe something as small as a puddle with such essence and clarity that you feel you've stepped in one right along beside her!

She even manages to tackle the subject of fairies in such a way that is imaginative, steeped in lore, fantastic while also being modern, comprehensive and understandable. For the first time - ever - I read about fairies and didn't raise an eyebrow thinking the author must be sipping mugwort tincture.

It's a down-to-earth-style bejeweled with imagery and poetry to enrich the spirit and feed the soul. Her friends and new folks she meets in her travels are witty and fun, enticing and intelligent.

So if Celtic lore in Ireland, a blending of Pagan/Catholic/Protestant ideals and unforgettable mental pictures are to your liking...read
The Red-Haired Girl From The Bog.

Allow yourself the pure luxury of settling deep within the imagery and wisdom of this book. The lessons therein are subtle but exquisite indeed!

Enjoy...

Believe me, I approached this book with plenty of misgivings, given the title and the promotional hints. I do not know how much is savvy marketing--the more academic side of Monaghan's here put forth, as opposed to her being the author of "Wild Women," or the one subtitled "myth, marigolds, and mulches". Her eponymous web domain seems to have faded, but looking for information about her as I was reading this, she is noted as a leading popularizer of the Goddess and the reconstructed rituals that rejoin (as in the root of "re-ligion") people to nature. This insistence likewise permeates this book.

It's carefully written. I usually "heard" her voice on the page, and as she notes in an aside, I assume that much of what she shares was freshly conveyed in a daily notebook on her travels and through her studies, and then expanded and mulled over much further before coming to print here. I admire Monaghan's determination to excavate using etymology. With a solid grounding in Irish as well as a rare combination of scientific training, her ecologically aware, if persistently soft-focused, depictions of the intermingling of the spiritual, the eccelesiastical, the historical, and the anecdotal make for quite an ambitious product belying the quick title-and-cover glance that casual prospects might give to this if in a New Age bookstore's "Celtic & Druidery" section. More power to her and her readers--they'll pick up more learning and not only lore than they may have bargained for. But you have to put up with, or become enchanted by, visions of she and her pals declaiming Yeats to the wind.

She eschews footnotes but acknowledges any idea or source not her own, and an annotated booklist and source locator appends the book. (Errata: Lughnasa appears also as Lehynasa on p. 273; Kevin Danaher's book was not printed by Cork's Mercier Press in 1922 but 1972--otherwise I found no glaring errors or typos, impressively.) Honestly, New Age is not the first shelf I turn to when seeking books of Irish interest, but you need to be as eclectic and alert as is Monaghan when searching for elusive traces backwards into the "symbiosis" that she posits exists between Christianity and paganism in Ireland, over more than 1500 years.

Other reviews have been more impressionistic, but let me give you a quick view of what in Irish is called "dindsenchas," as Frank MacEowen in his blurb calls "place-bonding stories," that tie toponymy to theology, ecology, and psychology in Monaghan's circuit sun-wise around the island. Beginning in the West, at Gort in Co Clare, she ties her Burren travels to the Hag, or "cailleach." Then she goes to Connemara for the "red-haired girl" and fairies--who are not Disneyfied delightful sprites. Up to Sligo, Mayo, Roscommon on the trail of Medb (Maeve) and the Morrigan, amidst Cruachan, Knocknarea, and holy wells. Then northerly for Emain Macha and Newgrange, with her own theories about a feminized Sun and the Irish ritual landscape thoughtfully told.

A chapter inevitably a bit apart relates her own struggle with the North, and her self-awareness of being seen as the Other. It's clumsier and more self-consciously told, but more direct and reality-based. She confronts her own resentments of those she perceives as eying her differently. It's a bold departure from the rest of the book, and she does not shy away from reality. She cannot offer any new insights, and she probably knows this, but her encounter with her darker side balances her cheerful nature throughout the rest of her travelogue.

I think her musings here about rapacious and/or romantic Viking ancestors accounting for her blue eyes went a bit overboard, and I don't doubt that Monaghan might agree and/or battle me into giving in to her determination to include her reveries--she's that kind of fair-minded investigator--but at least she does not back down from the strength or the fancy of her convictions. This is the model she admires and seeks to project into the Irish past as well as to gain sustenance from the faint but stubbornly grooved and cyclical tracks of its past power for our present. I did wonder at times why [feeling as I read a bit left out; compare neo-paganism, itself about 70% female practitioners] so few men compared to so many women sought to resurrect and rekindle its meanings and symbols, but the feminine-dominated powers, as she argues, gain the prominence even in the old tales and placenames more than males. As in Ireland-Eriu (the latter meaning "fertile field," a rare point she does not explicitly define here for herself.

Monaghan tends to follow her instinct wherever it leads. She does not avoid the scholarly, but never lets it crush her soul. She has found a much more gentle and inspirational (in the root sense) sacralized landscape than I have encountered in Ireland. She has the advantage that many Irish Americans do not of direct connections and still-connected cousins due to more recent immigration in her family. This allows her more of a base from which to leap out across what she views ahead of her, intellectually, spiritually, and physically, This is a bold attempt to confront what always stoked my own thoughts: how far beneath today's Irish psyche and habits and mentality do you have to scratch before the pagan emerges?

Helped by her ability to navigate pop culture, dictionaries, her own widespread support network of family and friends, and her inbred wanderlust from her being raised in Alaska, she brings her pagan and her Christian sides together most evidently in the visit to the unprepossessing exterior of the relit pagan fire for Brigit in Kildare. This joins the two realms in which she and so many Irish, according to her study, wander. Then, down to the sacralized cow, Tara, and the central Uisneach hill for fire ceremonies and Bealtaine. The scholarship dragged a bit more than elsewhere, but coupled with a moving meditation on the death of her friend Barbara, this makes for an honest encounter again with mortality. She points out that it's not the inevitability of death we fear, but its timing.

Finally, she rounds out the tour in Kerry. She did not to connect Mis with Austin Clarke's 1970 poem "The Healing of Mis," or cite Emmet Larkin's 1970s model of the devotional revolution of the later 19c that transformed Ireland into the 20c stereotype of a priest-ridden backwater by extirpating many remnants of its folk beliefs, but her thoughts on the pagan sexuality nearly extinguished by a post-Famine Church make for convincing speculation. Danu's "paps" and how its worshippers erected atop her nipples as stone cairns above a gentle-breasted hilled landscape make for a perspective that, as she asserts, only a woman as herself noticed after so many male-dominated studies never had--or at least demurred from recording! In the wrap-up chapter, she and a friend go in search of first-hand folkloric recovery of their own sacred place, Garravogue near the Cavan border. They circle back and extend the circle into a spiral, fittingly, as they revolve around Ireland's own places made holy.

Now, Monaghan has commonsense, more than some who have written about her book credit her with in my judgment as this Connacht-blooded Irish comments to/of another, her family from a point about equidistant from my two family origins only a few miles. By the way, her comments about the inevitable assurance from the locals of "only a mile more" and "sure you can't miss it" ring true for any stranger in search of rural landmarks, ruins, or simply the right road. She remarks on the county-town-parish-townland (she calls the last "farm") narrowing that Irish engage each other with when first nosing about the other's bonafides correctly, as I am of her now. This type of sensible observation, I hazard, makes her more observant and less beguiled by what she ponders in the more ethereal and filtered views she frames--and to be fair she mentions the rain and mud too when they often appear. I learned a lot from her, found that she often stayed one step ahead of me on her associations with the literary and historical and mythic resonances from what she traversed to keep me nimble, and that she wrote sensitively (if a bit too purple-prosed in parts, although these were helpfully often italicized) about her own heartfelt recoveries with the tangible traces of ideas and events long thought intangible.

Skeptics, rationalists, and unbelievers would hate this book, but I prefer, as she does, to think that few actually deny all hope of some presence outlasting our own. This book, challenging in many parts and not all that wince-making in others (these sections are relatively few to her credit), will teach any seeker a lot about facts as well as fable. Monaghan digs into the former to find the latter, and vice versa.

P.S. A book only published in Ireland, the similarly unfortunately titled "Emerald Spirit," (Cork: Mercier Press, 2003) by another American, David P Stang, makes a wonderful counterpart. John Moriarty's mythopoeic and densely argued work may be too recondite for many, but also may please readers of Monaghan; Clare seanachie Eddie Lenihan's penetrating look into faerie lore and fact, "Meeting with the Other Side," also is highly recommended if you want more about the play and peril between our realm and that elusive presence still said to swirl about the Irish countryside. Mapped well recently also by Cary Meehan in her "Traveller's Guide to Sacred Ireland."

Some books have a life of their own and cannot be ignored. Long after you finished reading the last page, something about the book will return to you; an image or perhaps a phrase; possibly an entire sequence will be recalled in solitude. Words, like music, have a resonance that lasts long after the initial encounter. Such a book is Patricia Monaghan's The Red Haired Girl from the Bog.
As a travel memoir, it is splendid; as a history book it is marvelous. But on a deeper level it is a magnificent essay, at once lyrical and moving. This book has resonance and because of its quality I know I will return to it again. Celtic myths, fairy woman, mystical places that speak to visitors, fog-shrouded landscapes that are so much more than they appear, sunlit fields and the voices of poets calling from the past. Monaghan's journey is captivating, compelling, and like all good stories, just a shade frightening. Exploring the Celtic myths and legends, interspersed with narratives about her many trips to Ireland, I found myself unable to set the book aside. Her book has that rare quality of taking the reader along for the trip, an accomplishment that only the best writers can manage. This book is subtitled "The Landscape of Celtic Myth and Spirit" and I cannot think of a better, concise description of what you will find in its 295 magical pages. A toast then, to Patricia Monaghan, and may the Muse never leave her side.

This is a book for fans of Ireland, the Goddess, Pagans, Christians, and mythology. I highly recommend it.

A US author of Irish descent, Patricia tells of visits to Ireland over the years. She writes about searching for locations from Irish myth, such as entering faeryland and visiting the source of the Shannon looking for the salmon of wisdom. She also describes visiting different sacred sites at auspicious times, such as: lighting the Beltaine fires at Uisneach, the Mountains of the Cailleach and the Paps of Anu on different Lughnasadhs, Morrigan's cave on Samhain, Newgrange for winter solstice, and County Kildare for Imbolc.

She explores Irish culture and politics, always coming back the the land and the people. Her description of re-lighting the Sacred Flame of Brigit at Kildare gives me chills every time I read it. Patricia says this book came out of requests from friends for travel recommendations in Ireland. It has certainly made me want to take the trip even more.

This book shows how the liberals run the media and all radio talk shows. It is very clear to me when I turn on the radio and hear nothing but liberal talk. I am so sick and tired of this, but now Mr. Farah shows me why this has happened. He shows how all liberals hate God and country.

Mr. Farah shows, in detail, how Bush won the greatest military victory in history in Iraq, thus saving the world from destruction by a madman. He proves that only conservatives can save the world and take back America!

God Bless America. Shame shame to the liberals. Long live George W. Bush, Rush Limbaugh, David Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Neal Boortz, Michael Savage, Matt Drudge, Glenn Beck, Laura Ingraham, Bill O'Reilley, Mike Gallagher, G. Gordon Liddy, Karl Rove, Ann Coulter and FoxNEWS !!!!

Joseph Farah (founder of WorldNetDaily) takes the reader through a smooth and easy to read history of the current mainstream/lame-stream/established media. Farah explains in detail how the established media has become the way the are and why they have lost so much credibility and why they are losing credibility on daily basis.

Before reading this book there was not much respect for any news media. After reading this book it (and it is an easy read) quite a bit of respect for the "true" function of the news media has been restored.

Farah is honest about himself, who he is, what he has done in the past good or bad.

Everybody, not just Americans, should read this book! I dare say that a lot of Americans will learn a lot while reading it. Non Americans might be jealous once they learn how the government and the news media was meant to be in the US.

This should be required reading for all journalism students, professors, writers, editors and anyone interested in being more informed about the direction media is taking. It is a must read.

One book that must be read and understood to help save our Country! Joseph Farah (WorldNetDaily founder) takes the reader through the history of the mainstream/left biased/established media. Mr. Farah explains in detail how the established media has become the way they are and why they have lost so much credibility. This is an important read that exlains first hand the abuse of power that takes place towards citizens of the United States when the left is in power. Never has there been a more important time to read and understand this book with the elections approaching.

Joseph Farah takes us on his journey to make a major contribution and a lasting difference in our free press. In the process, he reminds us what the true purpose of a free press in a free society has always been: to serve as a watchdog to government; to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable. He demonstrates the importance of the press as a fourth estate, which helps the people hold the government accountable, while also pointing out the flaws in the modern trend of "fair and balanced" news.

The author leaves no doubt that he is indeed a Christian, but he does very well in calling attention to the unfairness of labeling himself or WorldNetDaily as "conservative" or "right-wing." While the viewpoints in the publications of WND do resemble more what you might expect to read in early America, versus our increasingly postmodern America, this is simply traditional. That is, after all, the entire point of this book: to tell the tale of the New Media Revolution, and all the while call us back to a proper understanding of our free press in this free society; an understanding that is unfortunately absent in the big indoctrinating press of today.

Given the nature of the book, I believe that freedom loving Americans the world over should appreciate this book; and with a wonderful endorsement from Rush Limbaugh right on the back cover, this book is especially hallowed for Americans with conservative sympathies.

This book is a great support to women, definitely no signs of being anti-male. From from a caring perspective, I appreciated the hope of reconciliation offered, and yet the firm advice on what life might look like ahead, carving out a new future for myself. Really enjoyed the lawn care humor and the chapter about lightening up during such a stressful time. In fact, I'm buying an extra copy for a friend whose marriage is in turmoil. It may help her make better decisions, too. Thanks much!

Last week my husband came home and out of the blue announced he was leaving me. I was shocked, devistated, angry, hurt...you name it. Right away my friends and family were there to support me and help me realize that I'm better off without this man. I deserve someone better. I read this book in two days and I feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders. I'm in for a rough time ahead but I know that in the long run my life will be so much happier! I recomend this book to anyone facing the pain of separation or divorce.

My niece is separated from her husband and going through a divorce. This is a difficult time for her and her two young children. I had recommended Surviving Separation and Divorce to her as a great resource and to offer her some guidance during this difficult time, knowing the author had experience some of the same situations as my niece.

I must correct Tim McWeeney who writes that this is a book about taking an ex husband for all he's worth. He DIDN'T READ the book. He couldn't have. It says so right up front in the introduction, and throughout the text. For all I read (and I'm half-way through it, at least), it's a great support for women reeling in shock when separation is forced upon them. And I see in the table of contents there is indeed information about reconciling a marriage as a possible outcome.

If you only judge a book by its cover, you're missing out. You won't be disappointed if you read this book, I assure you. I know the author is appearing locally at my nearest bookstore soon. I'm looking forward to learning more.

You know, when you are alone suddenly and scared, not to mention disillusioned by all you thought you had that really wasn't, it's really comforting to read a book that puts you at ease. That's what I felt reading Ms. Oberlin's book. It was just the right balance of empathy, friendly support, and facts you need to know to make better decisions during this difficult time. The chapter on learning to laugh was very welcome too. I'd recommend for all women facing this and plan to buy one as a gift for a friend I know who is still struggling with a separation and pretty ugly divorce.

Great book with brilliant art pictorial descriptions of weird behavior. I am afraid that all of mine are off the scale. However it id difficult to find a behavior that is not in the book. With the exception of washing the caned food in the water dish like some sort of raccoon.
In the back of the book is an attempt to help you deal with these little (ok maybe big) wierdies.

This is a short book (80 pages) about cats, and the weird things they do. There really isn't a lot of reading involved - this is more of a pictorial. Very good, descriptive pictures portray the things we love about cats the most - their weirdness and individuality (or so you thought until you see this book & realize ALL cats do this stuff!)

For the cat lover - this book is a must! You will thoroughly enjoy this fun loving book! Included is a Kitty Weirdness Scale (KWS) so that you can score your own cat and compare him/her to other cats. One excerpt; 275 points or more "Verify that your animal is not a Tasmanian Devil."

A few of my personal favorites in this book include Laziness, Drinking, Body Language, and (I'm sorry to say it) Barfing. These pictures are the best in describing cats and the (definately weird) things they do!!

Enjoy! I sure did!!

1smileycat :-)

Great book with brilliant art pictorial descriptions of weird behavior. I am afraid that all of mine are off the scale. However it id difficult to find a behavior that is not in the book. With the exception of washing the caned food in the water dish like some sort of raccoon.
In the back of the book is an attempt to help you deal with these little (ok maybe big) wierdies.

Very interesting, had very good drawings of real live cats. This entertaining piece of mind, had sub-topics and scoring. Most enjoyable for your inner love of cats. Covers most antics of cats, from vainess to drooling. Last, but not least, my personal favorite, the kws scale (kitty weirdness scale). Has a delightful description on every level. I highly reccomend this book.

My cats...you should meet them, they're insane. And until I bought this book, I thought that a) I was the only one with odd cats and b) perhaps my perceptions were clouded. No, it's true, my beadspread sucking, flapping and screaming, last pair of pantyhose shredding, gettin' stuck on the roof overnight, fighting with the wrong dogg kitties, all 12 of them, just test really high in the KWS, or Kitty Wierdness Scale. Missy Dizick writes from the perspective of a person who could only have many very wierd cats who shred seedlings, eat wierd stuff, and so on. Even after 30 or so readings, this book still has me rolling on the floor every time. I laugh so hard that my abs are improving just from this book. It's been loaned to so many cat loving friends it's falling apart. You must have this book. Its so funny you won't believe it.