Texas Books

Excellent map/manual for someone with stamina for mountain biking. Intresting geographiacal, geological, meteorological information with incredible personal touch and wonderful pictures. I recommend this book to any audience. This book is even good on rainy days to crawl in bed with-good reading. You'll love it! Besides, you want to see the baby picture of Chuck on a wooden horse, he is adorable! Those dimples and ray in the corners of his cutest eyes....

Reading Chuck Cypert's book is like sitting in a cozy living room talking with an old friend. His writing style tells the reader all they need to know about the trails, while at the same time providing lot of smiles. Anyone that is interested in mountain biking, from absolute beginner to thrillseeking pro will enjoy and benefit from this book.

Since I am the author I think this is the best trail guide book on the market for my two favorite states, Oklahoma and Texas. I worked my ...off on this project, it is the second guide book I have done about mountain biking in these two states, actually the second edition of the same book.

I had such a blast working on this project but was quite glad to see it finished. Now I have a blast going back and rereading it and remembering what fun I had while out on research trips. Most were a pleasure, I got to meet some great folks and do some very excellent riding, though there were a few trips that bordered on miserable due to bad weather or general fatigue on my part as I neared the end of traveling for research.

My hat is off to the many bike clubs and excellent shops I encountered along the way, and all the super people who helped me complete this project.

Thanx to you all, hope to see you and ride again soon.

Chuck in DAllas

This is a well written book,If you wanted to take the ultimate vacation,grab your bike,a bottle of gatoraid and this book,and head for the hills.
the author has taken the time to rate all aspects of the trails from length, to difficulty.He even decribes the scenery.
The maps are first rate and are a nice addition.For those who are new to mt biking the glossary in the back of the book will come in handy when you get around all the hardcore bike freaks and will enable you to hold your own with them!
To sum it all up,. I would recomend this book to anyone with the slightest interest in oklahoma or texas,or cycling in general.

I am eighth grader. This memoir tells you how Kathi Appelt misses her old life when her loving father and mother were together and happy. It goes through many feelings and emotions of a young teenager and how she copes with change. Kathi gains a new family and loses part of her old one. this book also talks about how her dad included her and her sisters with his new family and how difficult it was for them. I recomend this book to any teenager or anyone who is experiencing change in their life.

I teach sixth grade, and my students and I love this book. What a great book to spark writing. There are many vignettes that can be read aloud in isolation or in patterns. Sensory details, concrete language, and a poetic style make this book a winner for many purposes. I often use its passages to get my students writing. Kids like reading it because of the shortness of each vignette. But don't let the shortness fool you--they pack a wallup.

When you look back at your childhood, you remember the great things, the bad things, and even sometimes the unusual things. The book My Father's Summers: A daughters Memoir by Kathi Appelt, is a fascinating arrangement of Kathi's childhood memories. While reading this memoir you know all of Kathi's feelings and emotions when she is going through anything, such as staying with her dad and new mom and brothers. The memories are the good, bad and random things she remembered about her life. All ages would enjoy reading about Kathi's ups and downs in her early days. What I loved about this book is that it made me feel as if I are watching Kathi live her life because of the wonderful format her life as been presented in this book.
Each page is a different day in Kathi's childhood that narrates a different amazing adventure that Kathi takes you on. The adventure started on her 11th birthday when her dad sent her a letter from Arabia saying happy birthday. It ends with a great black and white photo of her young dad hold her as a baby, still loving her, more than ever. "It's clear he is happy to be holding me, hanging on to me. Despite everything, that was always clear." There are remarkable black and white photographs placed through out the book helping the reader recognize what Kathi is explaining and gives a good image of what life was like when the story is taking place.
When you read autobiographies of people who are reflecting on their childhood, they usually cover only happy and sad points in their life. However, in My Father's Summers: A daughters Memoir, Kathi writes about anything that she can pull out of her mind to put on paper. On every page that goes by, a day goes by and more events happen to her. She includes every bit and end of her life. This memoir keeps you on your toes about what event is going to happen next, or what her next birthday will bring. Nothing is boring and everything is so real.

The memory of our childhood is like a collection of snap shots that capture not only high points but unrelated odds and ends that are preserved for reasons we can not even suspect any more. An autobiography tries to connect all the dots and provide a smooth narrative flow, filling in gaps the way the scientists in "Jurassic Park" spliced in other genes to make a complete strand of DNA. However, the artificiality of such life stories and the way they lose reality but making all the pieces fit is revealed by Kathi Appelt's "My Father's Summers: A Daughter's Memoir." What we have here are a series of prose poems that provide brief glimpses at the bits and pieces of a life more vividly than would a complete autobiography.

"My Father's Summers" are created for Kathi and her two younger sisters when the absence of her father working half a world away in Arabia turns to a smaller but more devastating move across town to a new life with another woman her sons, suddenly stepbrothers for a little girl who cannot understand what has happened to her family but who can appreciate the emotional pain. Against such stark moments as the whispered insinuations that her mother was not a good wife or the constant connections between life in general and what had happened with her father (e.g., the idea that crabs leave one shell to find another), there are touches of wonder, such as the sweet boy with brown hair and deep brown eyes who made sure Appelt had been kissed before her 16th birthday.

There are a couple dozen black & white family photographs scattered throughout the book, some tied specifically to the prose poems and others just showing Appelt, her sisters and her parents (but, somewhat surprisingly, none of Karen, the best friend of which she often writes). While there is a rough chronological structure to the arrangement of the prose poems, the topics go where memory takes and other tenuous connections take them; at one point the photographs of Appelt are going backwards in time. Memories are unstuck in time.

The description on the front flap of "My Father's Summers" describes it as a "memoir of coming-of-age in Houston, Texas" and sometimes it is difficult to think of it in those terms because the title and the revelation that Appelt's father found a variety of ways of being absent from his daughter's life becomes the dominant element of the book. Even when she does not write explicitly about her father and his absences, he is a presence, even when the death that ends the story is not his own. The poignancy of Appelt's work will have a resonance beyond that for the daughters of divorce or those who grew up in Houston or some similar place, because these remembrances combine the bitter disappointments and unforgettable delights that make up the life of any child.

I stayed up reading this book and then stayed up another night re-reading it. Often, I felt the pang of something so profound and felt on the verge of tears, even in its funniest moments. The book is hilarious, and yet heartbreaking. It offers a glimpse into a time and the people and the bit of America that seems filled with dreams and nostalgia. It's an addicting read.

I loved this book. It was about where my mother as born a raised. We readed it aloud to each other. We laughed all weekend. I could just see all the people he wrote about. My mother knew some of them. I readed it a couple of times. Laugh every time.

Mr. Swift has written a humorous, pathos filled and somewhat haunting view of a young man growing up in a very remote cultural part of Texas called 'The Big Thicket'. The stories of his family members, characters within the community and his journey with all these people in becoming the individual author that he is today are compelling and touching. The photos by Lynn Lennon are reminiscent of Eudora Welty's during the depression. This is a must read for lovers of Southern literature. Ed Swift presents a riveting study of this uniquely classic portion of Texas.

This is a poignant memoir but not at all in the sappy, cliched way. Mr. Swift eloquently brings a sense of place and culture for this area of the South. His portrayals of his characters are entertaining and are real tributes to their individualities. Even if you don't know eccentrics like these, you will finish reading this story deeply appreciating unique traits of those who are influential to you.

The book is about a 12 year old girl named Jill and she goes to her grandmother's texas ranch every summer and expects to see her best friend B.J , but this summer she is in for a big suprise. She finds out that B.J not only looks better , but is into boys , nailpolish , make-up , and not into climbing trees and riding bikes. Jill is going through a rough time this summer and gets talked into doing alot of things she does not want to do , but she learns that their is alot more to growing up then boys and make- up , you also learn lessons. So I would recommend this book to anyone. I loved it i read it 3 times.

The book is about a 12 year old girl named Jill and she goes to her grandmother's texas ranch every summer and expects to see her best friend B.J , but this summer she is in for a big suprise. She finds out that B.J not only looks better , but is into boys , nailpolish , make-up , and not into climbing trees and riding bikes. Jill is going through a rough time this summer and gets talked into doing alot of things she does not want to do , but she learns that their is alot more to growing up then boys and make- up , you also learn lessons. So I would recommend this book to anyone. I loved it i read it 3 times.

Jill goes out to the country to visit her grandma every summer. She has a friend out there namesd B.J. Their best friends. They tell stories to eachother and the latest information about the ranch. Jill is mad at B.J. because she is acting more mature by wearing lipstick, dresses and nailpolish. She is also hanging around with boys. All the things Jill doesnt do yet. So Jill doesnt really hang around with B.J. because she is haning around with the new boy in town Trey. Jill is just doing her own thing. Trey was looking for B.J. one day and Jill was the only one there so Trey hung around with her and she found out that Trey was pretty cool. So Trey showed Jill some of his stuff on astronomy which was his hobby. And Jill thought it was really cool. The fourth of July is a big thing where Jill's grandma lives. There are fireworks a party and lots of fun. Well something happens to Jill and Jill told B.J. her secret. Jill and B.J. havnt been very close this summer so you'll have to read the book to find out the end.

Being from Hawaii, I feel the author does a good job of bringing the situation to life. It's as if I were there with the characters. I recommend it to teachers, librarians and parents.:>

An excellent book from the point of historical accuracy with full footnotes, bibliography, and exhibits. But,it is also enjoyable reading as a pure biography providing insights into the complexities of a wartime marriage with lengthy separations. The postwar trials of the Love family, while not unusual for a relationship of any duration, add depth to the story and make it more than just another World War II, or Rosie the Riveter book.

"Rickman's delightful writing style transports the reader right into the high-flying life of World War II pilot, Nancy Love. A compassionate, yet honest, focus on the human side of our hero makes this a captivating and educational read. Detailed research, including many first-hand interviews, gives Rickman a commanding grasp of her subject. Warfare, aviation, women's rights and family matters all join together for a portrait that informs and inspires."

One who chooses to read this story presumably is interested in the subject matter. It is, indeed, a compelling story of a young woman who wanted to fly since riding a in barnstormer's plane as a teenager. Bartering and bargaining her way through flight lessons, she parlayed her love of flight into a job as head of the Women's Airforce Service Pilots of WWII. Along the way, Ms. Love managed to have a happy and fulfilling domestic life as well.
Ms. Rickman wrote the story based on hours of interviews and intensive document research. She did a great job of making factual/historical a good entertaining read. I laughed out loud at more than a few passages and felt a range of emotions as I read of the trials, thrills and perils of flying in the forties. Included are many nice photos showing the fashion of the day. "Ladies" wore dresses, silk stockings, and heels to pilot those airplanes. Imagine working the pedals and controls dressed like that. Sarah Rickman transports us in space and time with her vivid descriptions of open cockpits, near misses, and battles with the "boys' club" mentality. I recommend this book.

Award-winning author Sarah Byrn Rickman presents Nancy Love and the WASP Ferry Pilots of World War II, the fourth installment of the "North Texas Military Biography and Memoir Series" published by University of North Texas Press. Nancy Love and the WASP Ferry Pilots of World War II tells of the women who served their country as ferry pilots when the United States needed them most, during World War II. A trailblazing figure for women's service in the military along with her rival Jacqueline Cochran, Nancy Love was a dedicated and determined aviation enthusiast and served admirably as the Executive for the unified women's programs under the name Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP). Extensive notes, a glossary of military and airplane terms, and an index round out this captivating biography of a truly extraordinary woman aviator.

I'm almost finished reading this book and I must say that it is one of the best books about the Kennedy assassination. It has everything from the detailed history of the Zapruder film to a 16 page color section that includes the famous photos by Mary Moorman, James Altgens and Phil Willis, to over 100 black and white photos and diagrams of Zapruder frames and rarely seen photos and still frames from other movies made that day. I took the advice of another review on this board and bought the book with the DVD 'Image of an Assassination'. When the book references frames from the Zapruder film you can view the DVD to see exactly what it is the author is talking about. What else can be said about a book that comes in it's own wrapper. Probably a lot. A treasure.

Richard Trask's objectivity must be maddening to the conspiracy nuts since he clearly doesn't give credence to their silly theories, while at the same time he doesn't openly criticize their ideas. He isn't looking for a fight. He simply researches the objective photographic history and refuses to jump on the bandwagon of insanity currently awash in the country by those claiming the Zapruder film has been altered. I was glad that he did not spend a lot of time in this arena, it would have cheapened the high quality of work Trask is known for. ALong with "Pictures of the Pain" Trask must be ranked among the great photographic historians of this case. I highly recommend this work

I whole-heartedly agree with Mr. Von Pein's extremely comprehensive review. If you are into the photographic and film record of the Kennedy Assassination, as I am, than Mr. Trask's published works will satisfy your desire for an in-depth analysis of the major photos and films taken during the November 21st-November 22nd period of time. All three of his books are worth the investment for the wealth of photos they contain and the analysis of those photos.
As to NATIONAL NIGHTMARE, I liken it to that first cup of cold water after a long run. It is satisfying and quenches the thirst. Mr. Trask approaches the history of the film and his analysis of it with no agenda. He is not out to change anyone's mind as to "who dun it," unlike David R. Wrone, who does a good job of describing the history of the film in THE ZAPRUDER FILM: REFRAMING JFK'S ASSASSINATION, but then goes off into the wacky world of Zapruder film tampering by unknown conspirators. I consider myself a historian, an as such, am much more impressed with Mr. Trask's objective approach to his subject. One gets the impression that he discounts the conspiracy theories in favor of the Warren Commission findings, but it serves as an undercurrent, not as a presumptious raison d'etre for the existence of the book. Mr. Trask simply presents the photographic record in wonderful detail, leaving the theories for the reader to muddle over.
This is really an extaordinary book, and my hope is the Mr. Trask (I hope you're reading this, sir) publishes a book of all 400+ frames of the Zapruder film in the largest, clearest, most colorful format that technology can provide and takes a page to analyze each frame of the film. One frame per page accompanied by a page of analysis would amount to a holy grail of sorts for me and no doubt for all those who understand the importance of analyzing the history of November 22, 1963 through the numerous photographs and films taken on that day.

I love reading Richard Trask's books about the JFK assassination; and this one, published in late October 2005, is certainly no exception. It's very informative and definitely a worthy addition to anyone's collection of written materials surrounding the shocking murder of President John Kennedy in November of 1963.

"National Nightmare On Six Feet Of Film: Mr. Zapruder's Home Movie And The Murder Of President Kennedy" is a softcover volume containing 392 pages packed with just about every conceivable piece of information revolving around the infamous 26-second color motion-picture film taken by Dallas dress manufacturer Abraham Zapruder on November 22, 1963, which is a film which shows, in all its morbid detail, the assassination of an American President in broad daylight on a city street in Dallas, Texas.

Mr. Trask details the full history of the film and provides a good deal of background and biographical information on Mr. Zapruder, an ordinary Dallas businessman, born in Russia, who, by pure happenstance and coincidence, turned out to be the amateur filmmaker whose name will forever be associated with the death of JFK.

But, if it weren't for the prodding of his secretary, Lillian Rogers (who encouraged Zapruder to go back home and retrieve his 8mm Bell-&-Howell movie camera shortly before the President's motorcade arrived in Dealey Plaza), that brief and awful 26 seconds in history would probably have never been captured through Mr. Zapruder's lens.

Like Richard Trask's other books on the JFK assassination which focus attention on the photographic aspect of the tragedy, the text of "National Nightmare" is ever-readable, easily-understood, and refreshingly-non-biased when it comes to taking a "Conspiracy vs. No Conspiracy" position by the author. Mr. Trask lays out the facts and leaves it at that.

This book's endnotes/footnotes are all positioned at the back of the book in one separate section, so as to not clutter up the main text of the volume. (So keeping two bookmarks handy is recommended, because a lot of interesting info can be gleaned from some of these endnotes too.)

One big surprise to this writer when perusing this book was seeing a COLOR version of the Robert Croft photograph printed on Page 67 (within a 16-page spread of mostly all-color photos and Zapruder Film frames). I had never seen the Croft picture in color previously. And it's an excellent-quality print of that famous amateur photo that I found in this volume, too. The picture is needle-sharp and the color is virtually perfect.

The Croft photo, by the way, depicts the President's limousine on Elm Street, just after the car has made its sharp left turn from Houston Street in front of the Texas School Book Depository. It was taken at a point equivalent to Zapruder frame #161 (per this book's text and captions), which is just about the time the first gunshot was being fired in Dealey Plaza.

Other highly-recommended publications authored by Richard B. Trask (centering on the photography of President Kennedy's assassination) ..... "Pictures Of The Pain" (1994) and "That Day In Dallas" (1998). The latter is a condensed version of the former, focusing attention on just three of the photographers who took pictures in Dallas on the day JFK was killed (Cecil Stoughton, James Altgens, and Jim Murray).*

* = Although condensed into a smaller number of pages than that of its predecessor "POTP", "That Day In Dallas" does contain "revised and enlarged" material throughout its limited number of chapters. And the specific photographs represented within that volume are unrivaled in their clarity and quality of physical presentation, in this writer's personal opinion.

I truly enjoyed both of those books, and was very glad to see "That Day In Dallas" come out a few years after "POTP", because "That Day" provides a larger-print format for many excellent-quality assassination-related photographs, including several pictures you're not likely to see in any other book on the subject.

As a companion piece to "National Nightmare", I would also recommend highly the MPI Home Video DVD "Image Of An Assassination: A New Look At The Zapruder Film" (released in the summer of 1998), which contains four "digital" versions of the entire 26-second Zapruder Film in various formats, including "zoomed-in" variants and a previously-unseen "Widescreen" version of the movie, which includes the imagery between the "sprocket holes" from Mr. Zapruder's "camera original" film.

That DVD also contains some valuable and collectible "bonus" video programming, including interviews with Zapruder associates, as well as the March 1975 "Good Night America" program (hosted by Geraldo Rivera), during which U.S. audiences first saw the horrifying images of Mr. Zapruder's movie. The DVD also has a crystal-clear video copy of the Live interview that Abraham Zapruder gave on WFAA-TV just hours after he had filmed the assassination.

Many of the above-mentioned items from that "Image Of An Assassination" DVD are also referenced by Mr. Trask throughout the well-written pages of "National Nightmare".

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In "National Nightmare On Six Feet Of Film", Richard Trask has admirably filled in yet another in a seemingly-never-ending series of pieces of subject matter that comprise the wide and varied fabric that form the mosaic of literature covering the topic of the John F. Kennedy assassination.

Nowhere can be found a more detailed and fact-based history of Abraham Zapruder's historic film than that which resides within these 392 pages.

If you're looking for a book that covers the basics of Southwestern cooking in simple and easy-to-apple recipes, there are plenty of good options out there. This isn't one of them. Pyles's recipes tend to be very time-consuming and, frankly, over the top. That said, when it comes to sheer culinary brilliance, I've seldom read a cookbook that rivals this one, and have never once read one that surpasses it.

For just one example, Pyles knows how to use chiles with an astonishing finesse. If you find it hard to believe that chiles could contribute something to a dessert besides a little menu-skimming novelty, his ancho-infused flourless chocolate cake might change your mind. Cascabel aioli, chipotle brioche, pasilla-corn salsa... each one uses the strengths of the respective chile expertly and artistically.

That's just one example, and you can find others on every page of this book. If you need good recipes, you can probably do better. If you're looking for ideas and inspiration, this is as good as it gets.

I own six other cookbooks and often my girlfriend has told me just use this one. Pyles is a mastermind. Elaborate but easy to follow recipes. Deep history and personal experiences make this not just a cookbook but a Texas experience. Some favorites are Smoke Pheasant Salad with Texas Goat Cheese, Whole Wheat Tortillas, Barbequed Duck Tacos and Vanilla Bean Ice Cream. You can not miss with this book!!

Hell yeah! This is what Texas cuisine is all about. If you like Rick Bayless or Jane Butel, then you will definitely be impressed by this book. The recipes are complex and rewarding as Stephan creates dishes that are both original and traditional. Best thing is that he insists on using native southwestern ingredients in all his recipes. Mas tequila, baby!

Once you have tried a single recipe from Stephan Pyles' "The New Texas Cuisine," you will undoubtebly be starstruck by the culinary brilliance that Mr. Pyles brings forth through his creative dishes that blend the flavors of Mexico, France, Tex-Mex cuisine, and Barbeque into savory meals. Like other well known Southwestern chefs such as Mark Miller (owns Coyote Cafe) and Dean Fearing (owns The Promenade), Chef Pyles uses many ingredients that are native to his Texas area. This results in authentic tastes that trully match the title, "The New Texas Cuisine." If you are familiar with the work of Chef Miller, Chef Fearing, or the great Mexican tastes of Rick Bayless, dive into Chef Pyles' Southwestern odyssey. This book will satiate the most avid fans of Southwestern cuisine.

This book has been very tough to read but God has used it to encourage so many. The authors did such a fantastic job of giving the reader a comprehensive understanding of what took place at Wedgwood by weaving numerous eye witness accounts. The picture they provide is very rich and inspiring. I am very grateful for their work and how they tell the world how Christ was proclaimed.

It is sometimes harder to review books that hit close to home, but this book deserves mention. Dr. Dan Crawford did a wonderful job in putting into words what will always be a part of many people's lives. Dan catches the emotion (I did shed a few more tears), the shock,and the triumph in what happened at Wedgwood Baptist Church. To anyone reading this work it helps you to be there on that night with lights flashing and shocked expressions everywhere. Dan's book doesn't seek to mask what occured with platitudes and theories. The book tells it like it was, and what is the "Hope" that keeps Wedgwood Baptist Church going. Night of Tragedy, Dawning of Light accurately records the coming together of a community, and the reassurance that God can take the worst and turn it for good. It may not be the easiest book to read in terms of the emotions it evokes, but it is well worth the effort.

It's hard to forget the image when you turn on the news and see a mass shooting like the ones at Columbine High School or at the Jewish community center in Los Angeles. But, when you see it happen in your own community and in a church of your denomination, it makes it far worse. Dan Crawford does an excellent job over more than 375 pages detailing not only the destruction that Satan wrought on God's house at Wedgwood Baptist Church, but more importantly, shows the victory that only God is capable of providing. There are points where I got very angry, points where I cried, but at the end, I was reminded that Satan has already been defeated and our Lord has the victory. That's the true story of Sept. 15, 1999.

The Wedgwood Church shooting was a tramatic event for any evangelical church member because it eliminated one of the last safe zones for individuals and particularly for teenagers. Dr. Crawford's historical treatise captures the emotions of the events, those close to the tragedy, and the response of the entire world. This book should be read by anyone interested in current event history. The book contains the most complete record of events and is written in a very inviting style.

After seven or eight reads of BLOOD MERIDIAN, this was a must. The character background is worth the price of the book. It is definitely for the BLOOD MERIDIAN fans. Not bedside reading. The only down side, if there really is one is the print size. Can't have everything.

John Sepich, Notes on Blood Meridian (Bellarmine College Press, 1983)


Isn't it always the way? The first truly indispensable book of 2001 and it's impossible to find. Even bookfinder.com doesn't list a copy.


Cormac McCarthy's 1985 novel Blood Meridian is one of the finest novels in the English language, and the realization that much of the book is based on true events of 1849-1850 makes McCarthy's achievement even more harrowing. John Sepich gives us an overview of Mcarthy's cources as well as a look into some of the other conceits that tie the book together. Whether you take all of Sepich's assertions at face value or not (and he certainly does stretch things a little with his Tarot interpretations), the end result of reading Notes on Blood Meridian is an even deeper appreciation for the genius of Cormac McCarthy. Sepich hunted down obscure references by the score, source material that's been out of print for a century and a half, authors of critical works, unpublished dissertations, you name it. It's all here. You'd have to spend years doing the research yourself. Why not let Sepich hand it to you on a silver platter? This is great stuff, and as a companion to Blood Meridian itself, it's indispensable.

Out of print for many years, copies of the first edition of this book sold on Ebay for hundreds of dollars. There was an outcry for a new edition, but John Sepich seemed to be as reclusive as Cormac McCarthy during the 1990s, and so we waited.

Finally, at long last, here it is. Scholars everywhere will delight in this new edition.

McCarthy's masterpiece, BLOOD MERIDIAN, is based upon historical sources, not just Chamberlain's MY CONFESSSION, but a whole library of western memoirs and documents. John Sepich documents and annotates the work here. The real histories of many of McCarthy's characters are examined. This edition features an easy-to-map of the locations named in the novel.

In addition, the literary, mythic, and cosmological allusions are itemized, discussed, explained, and indexed. John Sepich, in association with other scholars, now maintains his own website and presents a concordance of the work which, last time I checked, was available for free.

I only wish the original cover artwork had been retained for the dustjacket, as the romantic picture here, so recently used on Per Petterson's Pulitzer-nominated OUT STEALING HORSES just has the wrong feel. It may grow on me in time. But the text of the book is magnificently presented.

Those who already treasure BLOOD MERIDIAN will want to purchase the expanded hardcover edition of this work, which features two new essays by Sepich, "Knitting The Winds," and "Why Believe The Judge?" They are a definite treat.

All in all, the amazing work of scholarship worthy of the masterpiece it illuminates.

After years of hearing about Notes On Blood Meridan by John Sepich, but not wanting to pay US$400 for a copy, I finally went down to my local branch of the public library and requested a copy through the inter-library loan department. In a few weeks a copy was delivered and now I have the copy right in front of me. (The inter-library loan fee was $10.00 but that's better than paying someone $400 if all you're after is the information in the book).

The book goes into great detail explaining the sources McCarthy used for Blood Meridian. Translations are provided for the non-English dialog. I plan to go back and re-read Blood Meridian after a careful study of Sepich's work. I think I can convey what's in the book best by setting out the table of contents:

Preface

INTRODUCTION

The Problem of Information--1; Three Sections--4; Scalp Hunting and The Glanton Gang--5; Indian Haters--9.

BIOGRAPHIES

Reverend Green--13; Judge Holden--14; Captain White--24; John Joel Glanton--27; Albert Speyer--42; Consul Bennett Riddells--44; Governor Angel Trias--45; Grannyrat--46; Bathcat--47; Mangas Colorado--48; Sarah Borginnis--51; Yuma Chiefs--53; Callaghan--56.

ADDENDA

Leonids--57; Comanche Attack--61; Ciboleros--66; Hueco Tanks--68; Jesus Maria--68; Wild Bull--70; Meteorite--71; Fort Griffin--72; Chamberlain--74; Ruxton--76; Audubon--81; Bartlett--84; Wislizenus--88; Hughes--94; Reid--96; Dobie--97; Ober--98; Bourke--99.

ESSAYS

Tarot and Divination--105; Judge Holden's Gunpowder.

APPENDICES

A: Massacre Accounts--129
B: Concordances: Narrative Voice--141; Hallunicatory Void--142; Wolves--145; Apes--146; Blindness--146; Celestial--148; Marine--151; Carnival--152; Religious--154; Smiles and Laughter--159; Egg and Dome--161; Ritual, Music and Dance--162; Fools and Crazies--163; Chance, Fortune, and Deception--164.
C: Languages: Spanish--167; French--171; German--171.
D: Map Citations--173.

BIBLIOGRAPHY--175

INDEX--187

It was good interesting book. The way the characters feelings changed they were happy then sad. There names are Joel and Tony the book started to go to Starved Rock Park, but they didn't make it. I think it was one of the best books I ever read.

For those who enjoy paper dolls, this collection is a classic.

Seven paper dolls and twelve uniforms are offered in the first of a five-part history of Girl Scout uniforms.

The text, written through diary entries, capsules the early years of scouting.

A bit of Americana worth collecting.

This used to be my favorite book when I was younger. I would recemend it to any kid whos in 4th or 5th grade. I am in 8th grade now but sometimes when I get bored i take out that book and start to read it agin.

I highly recommend purchasing both "On My Honor" AND "Whene'r you Make Promise" for your personal resource, OR your Service Unit Library! Both are beautifully illustrated, and great tools for learning about the history of scouting in the US. Younger girls appreciate dressing the dolls in their period Uniforms and dresses, older girls can also enjoy the personal stories included. Use these books to tie in the requirements for many patches andd badges such as "Brownie Girl Scouts Through The Years" and "Her Story" try-its, The "Juliette Low" patch, and the "Girl Scouting Through the Years" Junior Badge.No girl is ever too old for paper dolls, and these are a high quality product line! My girls particularly liked trying to imagine camping in such complicated underclothes, as well as comparing patches and awards to today's equivalents. These books deserve an "A".