Africa Books

This review relates to the hardback first edition.

A hit when published, and still in print, this memoir records the adventures of Durrell and zoologist John Yealland, in their collecting expedition to the Cameroons -- a trip designed and financed by these two intrepid men from scratch.

Durrell, then 28, was dubbed "the youngest zoological collector in Great Britain." And both Yealland and Durrell, according to publisher Viking, were "as green as the jungles ahead of them." Here is how Viking pitched the tale on the dustcover of the 1st American edition: "Being the wonderful account of an expedition by two young naturalists to the rain forests of the Cameroons to collect rare animals and birds for British zoos; in which you will meet (among others) such diverting characters as two notably unheroic native hunters, some lovable duikers, a fabulously ingratiating chimpanzee named Chumley, and a giant water shrew known as the Fossil That Bit. A book so knowledgeful, humorous and modest that you wil long remember it as a reading experience of a particular enchantment."

Cute.

However, this undersells Durrell's power as a writer. One expects him to be a naturalist of enthusiasm, but a passage like this speaks to his narrative maturity...

"The most notable feature of the forest was the innumerable tiny streams, shallow and clear, that meandered their way in an intricate and complicated pattern across its floor. Glinting and coiling round the smooth brown boulders, sweeping in curves to form the snow-white sandbanks, busily hollowing out the earth from under the grasping tree roots, simmering and chuckling, they went into the dark depths of the forest. They chattered and frothed importantly in diminutive waterfalls and scooped out deep placid pools in the sandstone, where the blue and red fish, the pink crabs, and the small gaudy frogs lived."

And that is just half of a remarkable description that moves on to describe these streams in the dry season, connecting them to more fauna and flora, a chunk of prose highly biological and highly poetic. Damn!

This was the first of Gerald Durrell's (yes, he's the kid brother of novelist Lawrence--who appears in several of his other works, such as My Family and Other Animals and Birds, Beasts, and Relatives) long string of animal books that I ever encountered, and over the next 30-odd years my mother and I literally read our copy to pieces. Durrell was the youngest collector ever commissioned when he set off for the British Cameroons in search, chiefly, of the less spectacular examples of African fauna. With a mixture of near-lyricism, earthiness, and the kind of humor that will have you gasping for breath, he describes the people he met (primarily native villagers), the creatures he caught (and how he did it), and the land it all took place in. Even at this early date, long before his famous Jersey Island zoo was more than a faint gleam in his eye, his deep love of nature shines out on every page, and he's an author every animal fan should know. (Don't miss the tale of his next expedition, The Bafut Beagles, which is equally as good.)

Durrell's descriptions are so enthralling, I actually read the entire book in one night. If you like books about animals, such as the All Creatures series, you must read this book. I first read this book when I was 10, and this was probably the first adult book I read. The way Durrell describes the catching of animals and the way he captures each character's essence is incredible. You will fall in love with this book. I strongly recommend it.

This book is about a business that, for the most part, no longer exists - the business of collecting animals for display in zoos. Wildlife conservation has changed a lot since then so the kind of expedition that Gerald Durrell and his companion, John, undertook in 1953, described in this book, just could not happen now.

Gerald describes how he and John spent several months in Cameroon collecting a variety of animals, birds and reptiles and some of the adventures they had, including the triumphs and disappointments. He acknowledges right at the beginning that the expedition may seem more exciting than it really was, because all the boring aspects have been omitted. Even so, there were enough exciting moments to fill this book.

He describes some of the local people, who he mostly got on well with - but of course he did have some problems and we are told about these. He describes some of the creatures he collected, and the disappointment when some died or escaped.

My favorite (both at school and now) was a chimpanzee that had already been domesticated. Gerald was asked to look after him before he could be shipped to London. This was no ordinary chimpanzee, as he not only enjoyed smoking cigarettes but was able to light his own using either matches or lighter, and also displayed other characteristics more normally associated with people than with chimpanzees. Always remember that this was 1953.

This is a highly entertaining book, which I first read at school, where it was compulsory reading - and it was the only such book that I enjoyed. I still enjoyed it when I read it again recently, after discovering (to my surprise) that it is still available in the UK.

Gerald Durrell spent most of his life collecting interesting animal specimens and Durrell is an interesting human specimen himself. His well chronicled life (mostly chronicled by Durrell) begins with the hilarious, and very succesfull, "My family and Other Animals". It is ably followed up with the equally hilarious "Birds, Beasts and Relatives". Both books are full of tales from the Durrell family's years on the Greek Island of Corfu, pre WWII. Little Gerry dives right into the flora and fauna of the island, including its human fauna. I own very few nonfiction books with such a plethora of memorable characters. Now, of course, we get to the volume in question. It is plenty good, and worth multiple readings over years, as is "A Zoo In My Luggage" and several other books detailing trips to collect animals. A word of warning, don't go nuts and buy all the zillion Durrell titles. Some of them are out of print for a reason and were most likely dashed off by Durrell to finance a collecting trip or two. If you read a sampling of Amazon.com reviews you will sniff these out and avoid wasting you hard earned lucre. And please, get "My Familiy and Other Animals and "Birds, Beasts and Relatives" right now, if you dont have them already.

Fantastic book Just what i needed to get ideas for the quilt i am making

This is a phenominal book! If you are even curious about fabrics and/or quilting from Africa, this is a must have. Beautiful photos and the quilts are terrific - A real treat!

A very good book which gives lots of new idea's. Wonderful patterns to follow and help with colour decisions. I can realy recomend it.

The quilts that are show in the "Quilt Africa" Book that I purhcased are truly masterful. The colors are rich and exquisite and I will be using some of the animals for my sons quilt. He has chosen the animals and footprints he wants and saw how they can be used in his quilt. This book is truly amazing.

The book deserves 5 stars for the photographs of the stunning Africa-inspired quilts, but 3 for the lousy directions. The first half of the book is a photgraphic display of artistic quilts, sure to inspire anyone. Many different styles of quilting, lots of applique, all featuring gorgeous African fabrics and motifs. The second half has directions for 12 different quilts. The photographs are excellent and most of the projects include a photographic close-up of part of the quilt. Some of the projects would be suitable for beginners, but the directions assume that you either have another source of information on how to quilt, are incomplete, or are incorrect. A number of quilts require applique, and the brief directions in the book are not sufficient. Some of the directions are totally incorrect--so read carefully and think through the project. Use the photographs as inspiration for your own design. The applique templates are great, so between the templates and the photographs, there is plenty to inspire you.

This book was so informative. It left nothing unexplained. It is amazing how you didn't learn this in school and you never will. This book i sthe truth with interesting and intriguing facts.

This particular book took me back in segments in antiquity. Informed me about who we were collectively, and in eminence as a people. As I read I was being hit with the shockwaves of the psychological damage,and whitewash given to the masses of blacks in america. As a blackman in
america, I must recover, and discover my purpose. Collectively we must
study to show ourselves approved 1st in our own sight, then share what We know to fortify and lift others out of the dark ages.
WARNING: DO NOT PAY OVER $15.00 FOR THIS BOOK!

This book covers a wide range of facts that have explained the origin of several negative stereotypes that africans are labeled with. The knowledge that I found in this book was never offered in any of my history classes. This book is a must read for anyone seeking the truth. I highly recommend this book to all thirsty souls.

This book is a book that i have personally would not have read were it not forced upon me for one of my classes. This book explains alot about the blanks and holes in the African American past that many Europeans have tried so hard to conceal. At first its hard to comprehend because as an African American you've been told were your place already is in society and that your past was one not to talk about. But in fact i never knew alot about my homeland of Africa. Its a very knowledgable book that i highly recommend. Its made me question alot about the African Past. Its made me question everything from the goverment to religion. Its also helped me to understand why white people have tried to conceal our past. I feel that if this book were mandatory for everyone to read the world would become such a better a place. Anyone thats African American should read this book and anyone else too.

This is an inspirational book that should be in every school in the country. It explains the root cause of the black/white racial conflict in America. After reading this book, it becomes clear what was really lost by African people who were taken from their homes and families. No American history class is currently teaching that African people were here before Columbus, or that Africans ruled Spain for 800 years prior to the slave trade. No American history class is currently teaching that the African people who were brought here and forced into slavery were highly educated in African schools and universities, and were speaking and writing in several languages prior to their enslavement. This information would make a vast difference in how whites would view blacks and how blacks would view themselves. This is a book that must be read by blacks, whites and every other ethnic group and nationality. It is a very informative review of world history and a very insightful examination of human behavior.

What a rich & textured read! Open up SLIM & be enticed into...another people...another way of life...another geography. Elegantly & flawlessly written, with a profound story to tell -- the beginning of AIDS in an African community.

Imagine a place where the truth is hidden behind lies, where the natives are kept in the dark regarding what's going on in their midst, and a place where there isn't much in terms of material possessions but the people still maintain a sense of pride and accomplishment in what they do. Having spent a couple of years in sub-Saharan Africa volunteering with her husband, author Ruth Linnea Whitney pulls from her experience to paint a vivid picture surrounding the AIDS epidemic, known as Slim, and the voices behind the statistics of a small fictional African country and presents it to us in her debut novel, SLIM.

Set in late October 1985, the AIDS virus slowly spreads over the tiny country of Kivwe Zandu, Africa. And though not a real country, it is one that could easily mirror those in real life: with dictatorships, a particular culture in which women don't have much say so, and westerners who have come to lend a hand; to make society better for those who live there. In addition is the ignorance of those in power and their inability to focus on the disease that claims the lives of their friends, family, and neighbors.

We are introduced to SLIM by a myriad of characters telling this story through their own viewpoint, with ages ranging from young to old, and hearing from the wise to unwise.
While SLIM focuses around the discovery and needed treatment of AIDS, Ms. Whitney has also touched on the power, love, and friendship and the sometimes bad turn of events we encounter in our relationships; whether intimate or not. Her portrayal of the different cultures coupled with the dialogue make this novel one which has to be read slowly, in silence, or one will risk the ability to grasp the tragic, yet loving tone surrounding SLIM. I found myself complaining about how slow the book was, but can now appreciate the need to read it slowly. The quirks of the people, the land, and the dialogue all combine for a powerful story...one I would recommend to others.

Reviewed by Tee C. Royal
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

Slim was an eye-opener for me. Too often I see conditions such as AIDS as just statistics, and these apply to people in unknown countries far away. People like me need to know of and understand the plague that is moving across the earth. The strength of Whitney’s characters, the captivating story line, and engaging dialogue kept my attention throughout. My outlook on AIDS has changed from dry numbers to understanding the absolute devastation that the disease brings to the individual, the family, the nation, and ultimately the entire earth. This is a must read.

"Slim" is a remarkable work of literary art. Beginning with the beautifully designed jacket which sets the venue perfectly, this novel paints a human face on the tragedy of AIDS and its devestating impacts. The story is set in the fictional country of Zandu, Africa during the early years of the AIDS epidemic. The author clearly knows this part of the world and the people who populate it. Whitney does a masterful job of sharing the culture, ambiance, and reality of living in a world where so many have so little in terms of material goods yet live lives of dignity and personal accomplishment. She creates memorable characters who reflect the tensions and challenges of responding to events far beyond their control.

"Slim" has a touch of magic that leaves the reader with the realization that life itself is magic. This is a "must read" for those who appreciate a finely crafted story which adds much to ones understanding of a complex subject. Too bad Oprah isn't still doing her book club!

What a refreshing, beautifully written book. I felt I was there, inside the mythical Central African country, knowing the people, what they eat, what occupies their minds, how their days are structured...the author's inclusion of authentic detail makes it all live. The gifted child Alinofe Banda and the fat Mamsahib missionary doctor Pia Macloed, will certainly go down as two of my all-time favorite characters in literature. Of course from the title I expected a story about the great plague AIDS, but it in the end is much more a story of people, personalizing the universal themes and questions regarding love, sex, faith, family, morality, death and meaning. It left me wanting to hear much more from this wonderful writer.

I received this book recently, and couldn't put it down until after I perused every page. This book is a remarkable compilation of photos and stories of the rich history of descendants of slaves who planted an indelible mark of courage, perseverance, strength and faith into the lives of everyone and anyone who's ever lived in Spartanburg or surrounding areas. I was born in Spartanburg over 50 years ago, and never knew about the rich heritage and traditions of some of the people who raised and nurtured me during the primary years of my life. This book ignited wonderful memories of the matriachs/patriachs-- who lived in Tobe Hartwell Extension where I lived with my mother, brother and sister--who watched out for your safety. I graduated from Mary H. Wright Elementary, and spent a summer in band practice at the beloved Carver High School just prior to relocating to NY. A few years later, Urban Renewal came in and completely transformed not just my old neighborhood, but the only community I've ever known. Thanks to Beatrice Hill and Brenda Lee for re-planting in our hearts the memories of our beginnings, for re-paving the pain and loss of a thriving and successful African American community, for the rehabilitation of all the parts, pieces and past that they so eloquently portray in this book. Undoubtedly, your heart will be full, page after page, when you read this book. Thanks to Beatrice and Brenda for the gift of the restoration of a historical treasure in my lifetime! M. Drake

This book has truly been a blessing for me. When I received the book in the mail - I could not put it down. I read the book in one sitting.

My late parents were both born and raised in Spartanburg. My father's military career kept him traveling around this country and other parts of the world so my brothers and sisters and myself only knew of Spartanburg through visits. We lived in Spartanburg for one year while our father was stationed in Korea so I don't remember a lot about Spartanburg. I have been attempting to do some research of both sides of my family in Spartanburg. This book has reignited that spark for me to continue.

This book shed a piece of information about my family that I was not aware of and all the rich history of the "South of Main" area that is a must know for all, especially for the black people near and far who have roots in Spartanburg.

God Bless you and thank you Beatrice, Brenda and Raymond for a job well done.

I was anxious to receive my copy of South of Main and my waiting was not in vain. I'm truly Blessed to have come from these roots and be able to claim my portion of such an uplifting heritage. Once, I picked up the book, it was so hard to put it down. I fell asleep a couple times only to wake up with it lying on my chest, ready to dive back into the words that jumped out at me giving me the feeling of being in Spartanburg as a child again. I want to thank all of you who took the time and energy to publish this book. It's very educational and will serve as a source of knowledge for the children and future offsprings that
reside in Spartanburg.

I was very intrigued with all the information about the South side of Spartanburg. I lived there from age 9 until age 17 after I graduated from Carver High. I was not aware of how the area began. Neither was I aware of the role that some of the residents played in establishing the neighborhood. I am looking forward to a sequel to the book that will tell the story of some of the other people that played an important part in establishing the city.

Okay, I'm a tad prejudiced because I'm a native of Spartanburg, SC (the city studied in this book) and I have family members whose photos appear, but I'll keep it objective.

Basically, this is a case study of a Black neighborhood formed by ex-slaves in the above-mentioned city. In spite of Jim Crow, a narrowly-averted race riot in 1917 (described in one oral history by 97-year old Ms. Harriet Dawkins) and attempt to sabatoge their education, these people manage to build a thriving, self-contained community known as the Southside, with it's own hospital, hotel, movie theater, restaurants, Red cross, Boy Scouts, etc. Sort of the (early) Harlem of South carolina's upstate. The book is filled with pictures and oral histories that cover all this.

One particularly inspiring story tells the tale of Cedar Hill Academy. When the School superintendant tries to reduce the level of courses in the city's Black schools in the 1910s, local parents and educators break away and form their own Cedar Hill Academy.

Then in the late 1960s and early 70s, urban renewal comes in and under the guise of promises of better homes, the city all but destroys the Southside. No wonder Dick Gregory has referred to urban renewal as "Negro removal." For the record, the Southside neighborhood and most of its schools still exist, although most of the businesses are gone.

Variations of this story can be told of many other such neighborhoods and cities, and South of Main does a good job as a case study of urban renewal/Negro removal. The large number of oral histories and photos and stories of the Southside's heyday really helps to personalize what many Black neighborhoods were about in the Jim crow era, which is becoming a distant memory.

However, I like the fact that the book does not fall into the foolish trap that some other books of this time do in going too far into glorifying the Jim Crow era. The book makes clear the obstacles that the residents faced in those days and should offer hope for the current generation to escape it's crisis. But all in all, Black history and urban studies fans will find this a worthwhile purchase.

Incidentally, another book that covers some information not included in this about Spartanburg's Black history is "Things Hidden" by Dwain Pruitt which is avaiable mostly in Spartanburg and "Hub City Music Makers," which includes some more information of the "Sparkle City's" major contributions to Black musical history and is also available on Amazon.

I'm a personal chef in the U.S. and have a client from Nigeria who wanted some West African food. Borrowed this book from the library, have made a few dishes which were delicious, and will make more. Well written and adapted to American cooking techniques (vs some recipes I found on the internet used the same ingredients but were poorly written / difficult to follow.) The best print resource on West African cooking I've found thus far. Am planning to purchase a copy for my own cooking library.

We are Americans residing in Ghana and received this book as a gift-the recipes faithfully recreate the food we find in the markets and chop bars. Its a book we'll carry and use in all our future travels.

This is one of the better cookbooks out there. The instructions were easy to follow during cooking and there is plenty of good information about the ingredients. I liked that there were color photos of a lot of the dishes, as well as a map and pictures of West Africa.

If you are, or you have friends or family who are collectors of exotic cookbooks -- especially African -- then South of the Sahara is a terrific gift! It was my pleasure to receive a copy from the book's publisher to review for my African Cultures site at About.com. In addition to great, authentic West African recipes, the book contains valuable information about the various foods and sources where you may purchase the ingredients called for in West African cooking.

Good food, beautiful pictures of some of the dishes and of Africa, and easy to follow recipes.

A great book for novices thinking on going to safari in Africa.
No intricate details, but a general feel of what to expect.
I am going on safari with Cruiser Safaris ( the subject of the book )
and I't was very interesting giving me some ides of what to expect.

There are not many books that I can't put down while reading. This is one. Its written so well, its so interesting to hear the modern story of this family from New Jersey deciding to go on safari and then doing it. Anthony Mauro, the dad, son in law, husband, and primary safari hunter and author of the book tells the story from planning to return trip home in a very enjoyable and historic and personal way. Its filled with thoughts about south Africa, the wildlife, the people there, thoughts from well known hunters (T.Roosevelt and C.Boddington primarily, but others too.), the New Jersey family members and their enjoyment of this very exciting vacation that they planned and did together. One lesson I think I've learned is that Craig Boddington's minimal caliber recommendations for various game there is to low for me. I will take a bigger caliber, when and if I do this trip, based on the events and tracking described in the book. Its organized into 13 chapters with introduction and bibliography.

I like Ant's quote for the beginning of Chapter 2, "The only man I envy is a hunter going to Africa for the first time." from C.J.McEroy, founder of SCI and world hunter. Its a quoe appropriate for the experiences described in the book for the whole Mauro family.

The chapters describe the planning, travelling and then day by day, the events for the whole family, as well as their local hosts for a 10 day safari. Ant harvests several animals, the 14 year old son, Ant Jr, and 12 year old daughter, Tori Lee, also harvest south African big game. I was really rooting for Tori Lee and she made a great shot for a fine animal. Multiple stalks and blood trails are described in detail. Ant has written a wonderful account of a modern day safari with his family and I salute and thank them for sharing it so well. Anyone considering a safari, wondering what it would be like there, should read this book!

Take Me On Safari, A Family Affair, is a wonderfully written and inspiring book about a family on safari in South Africa. The book tells a great story about how an American family was strengthened by their adventures. The accounts from the families personal diaries is incredible and could best be described as food for the soul. 
The character of each family member is tested as they witness events of the African wildlife and the countryside. The things they witnessed support and enforce their family bonds.
This finely crafted writing will surely inspire families, hunters and nature lovers to explore the African bush. 
Well written and a great display of the natural patterns and dependencies of the African ecology. Absolutely Unforgettable!

Regards,
David Selman
Tracker Outdoors
www.tracker-outdoors.com

I started to read it and then I couldn't put it down. To say I am impressed is a gross understatement. This book is a must for those going on their first safari and should be a bible for those traveling with their families. I know my copy will be showcased in front of all of the other books that I own. I could go on and on with other positive comments, but I will just leave it at saying that I think this is a wonderful book.
Bob
Cruiser Safaris

An excellent perspective by the author on the natural beauty of Africa, and how his young family becomes closer to each other with each day during this out of the ordinary vacation experience. The author goes into detail describing each day's hunt whether alone or with a family member. I found it difficult to put the book down, and very much enjoyed reading a second time.
I recommend this book to anyone with a sense of adventure!

R. Petschauer

There are many types of heroes and persons who have the courage to live while all the odds are against him or her. This story will place you into a world and a time where ethical behavior was unheard of, these unsung heroes made the difference that made Africa what it is today. Touching moments and ugly scenes of violence bring out the story into the light of what once was, and continue to terrorize as nobody bothers to listen to the voices crying out for savior. I personally loved the way the author has demonstrated heartbreak and reality of being a country cop in Africa. Decisions made in the best interests of the whole leave out many that are considered expendable. There is no way for one man to save the world but this country cop tried his best to make the world he lived in, a better place to be. Deep thought was put into this story making it a touching and sincere read. We recommend that you buy this book if you love a great story about the way it is in many parts of Africa and the courage it takes to survive there. Michael Jaquish will make you sad enough to cry and fills you with a sense of adventure that wants to live forever. Outstanding book with stories creating a plot filled with love and chilling adventure. The book covers paint a story of tranquility but after reading the book we find everything quite adventurous and indulging. Brfe LLC Inc. Publishing co. recommends that you buy this book to experience a sense of what it is like in Africa. Filled with such great love and beauty, only Michael Jaquish can truly illustrate his experiences and convey a feeling that you were there in Africa with Michael Jaquish.

Tales of a Country Cop in Africa is a fascinating peek inside the mind of one seeking to rescue the world from its own insanity. He is one of those inexplicable men involved in the battle for justice on the front lines. He is with all his being endeavoring to keep the world safe for ordinary lives. Anyone involved with Critical Incident Debriefing would benefit from reading first hand about the onslaught of horrific activities encountered in Jaquish's spellbinding account of his adventures. One can only think about Superman in his quest for Truth, Justice and the American Way as you become one with the life of this man. At the same time, one feels empathy for the personal loss of intimacy that his chosen profession creates along the way. As he becomes more and more desensitized to the worst in human nature, he loses his own ability to feel compatible with simple human bonding. As a therapist, I appreciate both the humanness and the hero in this story. I would recommend this book if only to read the last page which leaves you with a feeling of pride and hope in all that is defined by the hero. Michael Jaquish, in your quest for justice, in your quest for adventure, and in your quest for an end to your emptiness, you have given us your soul.
B. Diane Donovan-Vaughn, LMFT, LADC Las Vegas, NV www.destinyretreats.com

In Tales of a Country Cop In Africa, Michael Jaquish gives the reader an intimate experience of a "man's world", including the searing soul sacrifices of a man who holds his personal Code of Honor as his guiding principle. This book is more than a compilation of stories of a man of adventure. It is the story of a man's courage to face life's most difficult decisions on his terms. I am far from politically conservative. Neither am I a huge fan of the military, nor a fan of the use of violence as vehicle for entertainment, but Jaquish's articulation of his remarkable journey, his choices, his heartbreaks, his losses and his victories have allowed me, the reader and a woman, into the rarified world of a Hero's Code of Ethics. I feel privileged to have witnessed this Hero's Journey and I would recommend this read to anyone who wants to touch into the intimate world of the psyche of a man faced with the unimaginable: from the separation from his beloved young daughters, to the forced abandonment of his imperiled lover, to civil war carnage that he was forced to witness and helpless to prevent, the author's strength, his sacrifices, and his vulnerabilities are unforgettable. I think this book should be renamed: "Beyond Courage".

Mike does a wonderful job of conveying to the reader some of the realities that law enforcement officer's and professional security personnel can experience on a daily basis. His stories actually draw you into his realm as if you were right there with him, seeing what he see's, feeling what he feels. If you have never been involved in the law enforcement/security community, this will give you a well written taste of what it is like and help you experience the dramas that unfold each day, both physically and psychologically. His ability to divulge his own feelings shows that cops are in fact people too. His tales of Africa are humorous, gripping and spellbinding. I was able to visualize his environment and it made me wish I had I had taken up his offer to go to Africa a few years ago just to experience the way of life.

Part of the appeal of the book is that it starts off as a country cop in America (Okanogan County in eastern Washington State), who goes into Africa and gets immersed in spies and international espionage. Along the way he encounters terrorists and rowdy Friday-night cowboys. You learn that small-town cops can do it all, and security guards at African embassies get a maid, a driver and, if they want them, diplomatic driver's license plates. Since I live in Okanogan, and knew Mike (a loooong time ago), his tales from here sound very familiar and are very entertaining. But Africa, that is a completely foreign area, that Mike's made accessible for us. There certainly are similarities between both professions. I'm glad he opted to keep both perspectives in one book.

This is precisely the sort of work which wargamers long for, but never find. It is exhaustively researched and clearly presented, and chock-full of detail on equipment and tactics. If you are interested in Advanced Squad Leader, Advanced Tobruk, Panzer Grenadier Afrika Korps, or similar simulations, you will be delighted with this. It's also filled with clear, excellent photographs, maps, and charts.

This work is an absolute necessity for anyone interested in the North African campaign. It is not a story or an account of battles, rather, it is a technical manual regarding the forces involved in the campaign. Mr. Jentz is meticulous in his research of the primary historical documents and does an excellent job of organizing this mass of material. Of greatest interest to me personally is the tactical treatment of the battles. While I possess numerous works on this campaign, I have never seen such analyses published until now. Additionally, the author conducts an in-depth analysis of the equipment utilized by the Germans, British, and Italians. As a result, he produces an objective account of the effectiveness of the tanks, artillery, and other weapons utilized in North Africa. The author also includes excellent orders-of-battle of the various units.

Of course, no work is ever perfect. If I had to mention some negatives of the book, I would point out that the maps should be colorized. While useful, these would have been improved with color renditions of the various forces, instead of the black-and-white that is used in the book. Trying to discern the dynamics of the battle was made more difficult since all of the arrows were in black ink.

In sum, this book is an excellent addition to any military library. It covers areas previously untouched and makes a valuable contribution to the field. I highly recommend this work and eagerly await the next two promised volumes that will comprise the whole of the North African campaign.

This book is a wonderful study about the battl in North Africa in the first 6 month of 1941. You must have it at home!

This book is made of very high quality paper and hardcover. It is very easy and entertaining to read. It covers the early battle actions from February 1941-June 1941. The book has all the data on the tanks (even to the steel specifications of each armour plate), all the guns penetration and accuracy data tables & gunners aim diagrams for how the Germans should fire at Matilda tanks!) Jentz uses original sources for all his information not others work.
There are many official after action reports included as to the effectiveness of the tanks both in reliability and fighting performance. Also the official recommended tactics for battle are given.
Most battles are covered with tactical movements and a map showing them, also battle reports and at the end a summary of the tactics each side used and what conclusions can be made.
The B/W plates are of very clear reproduction and show many details not normally visible like the extra armour plates added to early Pz4D. The Matilda is definately the "star" of this book but there is still a full appeciation of the Italian tanks and guns.
This book covers next to everything those interested in early North Africa Tank battles & tanks could want to know. Like the other reviewer I am eagerly waiting the next 2? books in this series!!

As all the Jents books, also this one is dedicated to the Panzertruppen and his day by day analysis of the single fighting is an inestimable fount for the ones really interested in understand the peculiar problems of the tank combat in the desert and, more general, on flat lands.
The author introduce the reader with the complete list of the italian, british and german tanks operating on the theatre and reporting not only the tanks datas but also the ones of the guns and the kills capabilities of all them explaining why the italian army, supported by no more than 100 german tanks was able to keep the entire british army at bay for three years.
Inside this book you'll find tactics notes, use of formation and how not to use the radio in combat, how to plain a tactical operation and how to plain a complete failure overstimating the enemy and completely forgotting the Von Moeltke lessons about the uncertain nature of the battlefield and the strange enemy use to have its own plans...
If you are interested about the tank warfare and the desert one, you must have this book

Pirate's Plot by Ellen Miles is a story about a boy named Leo. He was thinking of quitting soccer because his new coach was teaching drills that Leo found boring. Even during class, Leo kept thinking about quitting soccer. So his teacher, Mr. Taylor decided to help him out with the decision. So Mr. Taylor asked Leo to choose five items. Leo chose: a brass key, a six toed cat, a hunk of cheese, a mop, and a pirate ship. Mr. Taylor started his storytelling. He included the five items in his plot. He told a story about a young stowaway named Tom.
After Mr. Taylor ends his story, Leo gets a better idea that helps him decide what to do next.

This book was amazing because it taught me a big lesson and it might also teach you a lesson if you read it. I recommend this book for first and second graders.

By Luisa (soon to be in second grade)

I'm a second grade teacher with 4 boys of my own at home. These "tales" are stories within a story. The author really captures teachers' ability to engage their students in storytelling. You must give these stories a try! Normally I do not care for "series", but these are great. I'm ordering a set to read with my students in small group guided reading.

This is our first experience with this author and this series and I must say, we are quite pleased with what we read here. In The Pirate's Plot, we meet Mr. Taylor (a new teacher) and his class...specifically Leo, the student who gets to choose the five special items for the tale being told here. The entire premise of Taylor-Made Tales is that this new teacher allows one student at a time to pick five items and he then tells a story that must include those five items! Leo loves soccer but is not feeling happy with how the new coach handles the practices, so blurts out in class that he wants to quit the soccer team (a very big decision for him).

When he's chosen to pick the items, Leo is sure that he can stump Mr. Taylor...he chooses a pirate ship, a huge hunk of cheese, a six toed cat, a brass key and a mop. To his surprise, Mr. Taylor begins to weave an excellent tale about Tom a ten year old boy who wants something more than daily routines and roast on Sunday...a boy who longs for sometime different and who thinks he might find that in Barbados...so he stows away on the Adele and gets much more than he bargained for...sure he gets adventure but he also gets much, much more!

It seems that the books in this series are written in such a way that the story is divided between the Taylor-Made part and the "classroom" or real time events that include Leo and the rest of the class. The story takes a week time to tell and the students must work to earn more bits of story time, so it's both a creative process and a motivating one, something that keeps the students excited about learning. There is a certain excitement for young readers to watch for the items selected and see how and when they come into play in the story. One of the interesting things about the creation of the Taylor-Made tale is that the author manages to weave together Tom's adventure and lesson therein with Leo's soccer dilemma, creating an entertaining story AND a lesson for Leo that the entire class can appreciate, learn from and be entertained by!

Overall I give The Pirate's Plot five stars. It would make a fine read aloud...but I think its strength is in young readers who have made (or are just making) the transition from picture books to chapter books. There are a few illustrations to help the story along and it's slightly more complex than most beginner chapter books in that the reader has to work out the division of "real time" story (about Leo, the class and Mr. Taylor) and the story...the text makes the division clear (bolder text for the Taylor-Made parts), but for readers who have not experienced such a division in their reading, it makes for an interesting reading experience. The story overall is entertaining and well done, its not heavy handed in the message that Mr. Taylor creates about drilling and practice in the story which Leo can draw from to help him solve his own dilemma with his future on the soccer team. I'd recommend it heartily for readers ages 5-8 as a read aloud and ages 8-10 as a read alone book and highly recommend it for beginning chapter book readers.

Great book...my 6 year old sat and listened to the entire book in one sitting. Really caught his attention and kept it! He can't wait to read more of this series!

It has all the elements of a great story, but in a way that is accessible to a young child. Decent lesson. My son and I enjoyed reading this together.