Women Books

Ms. Lanier grabbed my attention with the very first book I read of hers in this wonderful series of mysteries starring her beloved bloodhounds. Her details of how they are trained could be boring, but she cleverly puts them into the story, showing why she picks a particular hound to do the tracking required in each case. Almost makes me want to own one of the wonderful breed. I couldn't wait until I could get my hands on the next book in the series, and now I have all of them. Hope she writes more very soon.

I hope nothing has happened to Virgina. this a great series. A new book would be great.

I just learned that my new favorite Author has died. I had just finished a Brace of Bloodhounds and was looking for the next installment. Mrs. Lanier died while I was reading this book. I was late in finding this great series and I will miss this character greatly. Thanks Mrs Lanier for a great series.

This is *NOTE* the third book of a series. It is well done enough that you can pick up the series here but it will be more enjoyable if you start from the beginning. The books are; 1996-Death in Bloodhound Red, 1997-The House on Bloodhound Lane, 1998- A Brace of Bloodhounds, 1999-Blind Bloodhound Justice, 2000-Ten Little Bloodhounds. I'm not sure why we don't have books for 2001 and 2002, but after you read the first book and then run out and buy the next four that continue without dropping the pace and excitement, you'll mourn the gap in the series. I have a review in on the first book that gives you an idea about the series, which I won't repeat the basics.

It took the first two books to teach me to REALLY not start them on a work night because no matter how hard I try I am NOT going to sleep until its done and it's hard to debug unix on four hours sleep. This time I managed to wait till friday night to read it, and did i mention these are a healthy sized book, the kind a serious reader who reads very fast needs. A thin or medium sized book I can read in a couple hours and is more like an appetizer to me, and you'll see me always score short story collections as 4 or less because there just isnt time to do a 5 story in one. While not a thick as 'Dune', all her books are a serious read and very satisfying to the mature bookaholic with a substantial habit going. Speaking of addiction, this is not the first but one of the cream of crop of books that makes me sigh that I can only read a few thousand words an hour , I scored six hundred with 100% retention in high school, 30 years ago and am several orders of magnitude faster now though I don't know exactly HOW fast. This kind of book makes you regret you cant IV it directly into your veins!

The reason I call this a 'friday night only' book is that she achieves the kind of realism where the idea of having to get up in three hours for ten or twelves hours of work, even vigourous brainwork, is a vague and unimportant concept once you start reading. Virginnia Lanier's books are filled with such a wealth of information and such an interweaving of the elements that after reading 1, then 1 again, then a pause before I found 2, and read 1 and 2, then 2 again, that it was only a few weeks before I found 3, and then read 1, 2 and 3! And im VERY ADHD so I get bored easily, but not with these books. Like only a few authors Virginnia Lanier manages to hold onto several themes at the same time (like life) and weave them in together so well that anytime you hit a low point at one you hit a high point elsewhere and the book never lets you go without being artificially extravagent, which never works for me. The story has to hold together well for things to happen within the realm of possibility of the definition of the characters and the environment and these stories definitely do that.

The main theme of this book is a murder. But what makes this a different murder mystery? One reoccurring theme that comes up is here is a mystery that has clear warning signs come up that a SMART woman would back off. However while Jo Beth is smart, she is both stubborn and ruthless in her way. There is just a point where she don't give a rat's behind and goes on anyway cause it's RIGHT, which is why I **LIKE*** the character. And no matter how compelling the story is otherwise I can't stand reading a story about someone I can't stand. Well, unless they are in a serious hailstorm of.. you know. But even then they can't be the main character or I just won't want to bother reading it. I know enough of THEM in real life.

So anyway, this book the main theme is a murder, but there are many others and skillfully woven in. Like life, nothing else waits while you work on your biggest priority. The lightning just keeps coming. And sometimes Jo Beth has to bail her boat pretty hard in the rain, which makes me like her and the series MORE. I've had to do some serious bailing myself, more often then not in fact I've been bailing out more then one leak and so does Jo Beth. I like Jo Beth because she has made herself a sucess AGAINST all odds, not because things just worked out her way easy. Also because she is smartmouthed ... tough broad that is willing to take the consequences of speaking her piece, even if they can be fairly serious.

Of course by the strict definition of success a lot of people would not think she is a sucess, she works dang hard, long hours and doesnt have fast cars or serious jewelry (funny, like me). She does have a house (at the edge of a swamp) but then she did have an inheritance I didn't. But Jo Beth has none of the icons of success in the current world, most especially a husband. To a lot of the world she is just more white trash. But **I** think she is a success and that is all the thinking that **I** care about even if I am just 'more shanty Irish'. And if Jo Beth and I both blew some chances because we just had to tell someone where to go, sure but we're still laughing at the look on his or her face years later, not crying cause I'm 'trapped' in my nice house and wasn't 'allowed to be myself'. Which is actually something Jo Beth had and walked away from. I never had it so I don't know if I'd meet the test and give it up, but then Jo Beth is fiction and I STILL really LIKE her. I don't know what kind of background Ms Lanier has, but she sure created a tough gal that this 'worked her way up alone from minimum wage' reader can appreciate without rolling her eyes at the lack of realism.

The intrepid Jo Beth Sidden and her lovable, talented bloodhounds continue their daring exploits in this third suspenseful mystery of the series. This time our heroes deal with the kidnapping of a child, a murderous judge who's carrying on nefarious deeds in the woods, a bank robbery perpetrated by two drunken locals, and a rampaging alligator. And, yes, psycho ex-husband Bubba is still around. Add dangerous treks through the Okefenokee Swamp and stakeouts in the forest, and you've got an absorbing, unputdownable thriller. Unconventional characters, exciting subplots, vivid descriptions, humor, Southern atmosphere and, above all, those irresistible canines make for a most enjoyable read.

You won't want to put this book down once you start. This is a great read!! It's very stimulating, there are parts in this book that you'll want to read over and over agin.

CAJUN HOT is a tremendously entertaining comedy of a romance. I was enthralled from page one right on through to the end. The story is hot and sexy as well and I was either fanning myself from the heat or chuckling over the antics of the characters. The general plot is pretty straightforward, but the route to get to the happy ending has some outrageous moments. The story keeps your interest and I was very disgruntled anytime I had to put the book away and do something else. Ms. Black's characters are rich and well-rounded. Sahara has some serious career goals and is not in the mood to take a detour for love; she is fun, likeable and amusing. Jacque presents himself as a laid-back, sexy Cajun, which he certainly is, but there is a lot more to him as well. The secondary characters really add to this story, both in humor and outrageousness. The sex scenes are explicit, extremely hot and contain elements of ménage, bondage and exhibitionism. I truly enjoyed CAJUN HOT and highly recommend it if you are looking for a fun, amusing and extremely sexy read!

This Cajun fantasy was so hot I was almost burnt as I turned the Pages. I was done the book in just a few hours and wanted more of it to read. Sahara and Jacque were so spicy and I loved all the intimate love bondage.

This book left me breathing hot and feeling an insatiable wetness. I WOULD NOT recommend reading this in public... and make sure you have easy access to your lover!!! Cajun is HOT HOT HOT

WOW! That's all you can say about this book without spending page after page describing this book. Sizzling sex, a twisted plot and an exciting recipe for romance/erotica.

Gioacchino (Jack) Giampapa's Cherish The Magic: A Novel Of Uncompromising Honor is the engaging story of Gianni Giancarlo, a Fort Lauderdale teen who enlists in the Air Force during the Vietnam War, hoping that by doing so he can preempt being drafted into Army and thereby avoid worst of the bloodletting. His hopes are dashed as he must endure a terrifying ordeal of the brutal transition to manhood in this solidly written, attention gripping saga of survival against the background of grime war time realities.

It takes a lot to hook me on a book!!! When I read the cover, I wasn't overly excited but after the first page, I couldn't put the book down. It's a book about war that the average female can appreciate. Finally, a book was been written that helped me understand, and have true compassion for the struggles encountered during a war. This book opened many doors to understanding. It's like the first history book I've ever enjoyed reading. Jack opened my eyes to a world I did not know exhisted. Now, just 3 months after reading his book, we have another war on our hands. I'm sure glad I read CHERISH THE MAGIC because this time I'm more sympathetic to the struggles and pains of the people who are out there protecting our country.This book has definitely made a better American out of me!!!! I'd say it's a book for men that women will love as well.You will laugh and cry your way through it. Buy a box of kleenex before you ever start to read! It's wonderful!!!

I had the pleasure of reading this book. The writer takes you into a world unfamiliar to most of us, and shows it to us in a way we can understand. He gives us the life of this boy, Gianni Giancarlo, bringing him to life for us as he grows from boyhood to manhood in war. With Gianni we learn about the horrors of war, as well as the good things that can come from such an unforgivable situation, like lasting friendships.
The story takes you to Vietnam, and shows you the horrors our young children faced there. It gives you hope and takes it away as you experience first hand what it was like to walk through the jungles of Cambodia. It is an action packed, intense novel that leaves the reader on the edge of their seat with anticipation.
Then there is the dog, the unsung hero, showing us the true meaning behind the words `man's best friend'. This story gives us a new appreciation for search and rescue dogs. You'll care as much about the dog as you will the other members of `the squad'.
As a mother, this story gave me an insight into something very few mothers get to see. Through this story we learned what our young men face when they go to fight for our freedom. We learn why this is so important to many of our young men. It is more than a duty to them, it is an honour.
To use an old cliche' this is a must read book. It is gripping from the first page to the last. I thoroughly enjoyed it and believe others will too.

As a result of the 9-11-01 tradgedy I have just completed rereading Cherish The Magic. This book is probably the closest portrayal of what life was like for many of our combat troops,and what they went through during the Vietnam era. I served in the Combat Engineers in Korea during the capture of the Pueblo. Although I did not serve in Vietnam I worked with many of the troops who were wounded there and had to finish their 13 month hardship tour in Korea. I heard many recollections by these soldiers of the bravery and dedication of the handlers and their dogs. There were many military people besides flyers that were saved as a result of the efforts of these teams. This was an extraordinary mission accomplished with little knowledge or recognition by those stateside. Mr. Giampapa not only brings back vividly the trepidation we all felt during that terrible period ie; the worry of parents , leaving girl friends and especially the long airplane ride to a strange culture. Although Mr. Giampapa was a handler in the Air Force it is obvious that a great amount of research was done to so accuratly to desribe the conditions, army lingo, logistics, weaponry, and tactics used by the infantry soldier. Hats off to a superb book, and thank you Mr. Giampapa. This book needs to be on screen.
Gerry Pytko, formerly SGT E5, Camp Stanley,I Corps,Repulic Of Korea
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"Cherish the Magic" is a vivid story of survival and canine companionship in the jungles of Vietnam. Giampapa brings alive the lost story of canines and their important role in small force combat during the Vietnam War. The book also delves into the psyche of a true patiot. We learn that there are some things out there that just need to be taken care of in order to complete one's path of destiny.

I bought the book for my 3 sisters and me. I gave them to my sisters for Christmas and asked them to let me know when they read certain stories that reminded them of things they remember. I haven't heard from them yet, but I know I will, as all 4 of us are close at heart though miles apart. They all agreed it was a perfect gift.

I bought this book with the intention of giving it to my sister when I asked her to be my maid of honor at my wedding. I had forgotten that I already bought this book for her (I kept this copy for me). I marked a touching story in the book having to do with a wedding. She didn't get the meaning behind it, but it made her cry anyways and the best part is that she said yes!

I was bawling by the third story in the first chapter! This book is a real tear jerker.
Another great chicken soup book in the series.
A must to share between sisters and friends. There is a chapter dedicated to brothers as well. I would have to say this is probably the best chicken soup book i have read by far!!!

My First Chicken Soup book that I have read, and this was simply excellent. I laughed, cried, and it brought back all my childhood memories.

This book really touched me. It taught me to love my sisters whenever they are mean or do bad things. One of these stories was the most awesome story ever! I said that this one girl's sister had cancer and lost all of her hair. When she went to visit her sister she had a hat on that said "having a bad hair day," but when she took the hat off she was bald,she shaved all of the hair on her head off so her sister woulnd't feel bad about having no hair. That was the story that touched me the most.

I thoroughly enjoyed this suspenseful book! Jan Blankenship has created characters and a plot that grab your attention on the first page and don't let go until the last. Don't start this book late at night because you will be reading all night like I was. I couldn't stop reading! Great job Jan! I can't wait for your next thriller!

I thoroughly enjoyed this very suspensful book. I was captivated from the very first page! Jan did a great job of creating very real characters with whom the reader can identify. I couldn't wait to see what was going to happen on the next page! If you start reading this book at night, start early because you won't be able to put it down!

Class Act holds your attention from the start. The characters are well developed and you are immediately involved with their personalitites and eager to read of their next hair raising situation.You experience the fun, frustration, and excitement with Angie and Jake as their relationship develops while solving this page turing thriller. Family members were waiting their turn to read it. We can't wait for the next book!!!

Great story with lots of suspense and excellent character development in the vein of Mary Higgins Clark. You care about the characters and what happens to them. And you can't wait to turn the page to find out what happens next. I've found myself thinking about these characters two years now after I've read the book and that says a lot. Great read! I highly recommend it!

This is on page 22, but I was already mesmerized by the time I read this. What a delightful combination of thriller, love story, and characters who become friends. I hope to hear more from Angie and Jake and of course Smokey the dog. Amazon says if I liked this book I will also like Crichton, Clancy and Grisham. Amazon knows best! Blankenship is in good company.

Not only have I learned an amazing amount from this book, it has truly saved me from making very costly mistakes in selling vintage clothing. I adore period costume but good research books, especially when you are just beginning...are VERY hard to find. This book offers measurements, construction details and puts smaller accessories into context. Many times I would purchase a large box of antique clothing at auction that contained smaller items which would have me baffled. Countless times I find them in her illustrations. Pretty pictures are great, but her details will truly educate you. Thank you for this great reference. I wish you would do one entirely on personal accessories.

I bought this as a gift but I want a copy for myself. Can I say better?

Excellent reference for illustrators and animators. However, "Costume in Detail" only covers women's costuming, which is unfortunate considering the attention the author paid to the material.

the best of its kind. library copies constantly used by local stage costumers. a brilliant piece of work!

I would have loved to had seen the pieces of the garment drawn in their pattern shapes, but otherwise an excellent book with much detail written about each garment. Only other problem was that sometimes the writer's handwriting about the details on the drawings were a bit hard to decifer.

A Crooked Kind of Perfect is a testament to normal families everywhere. Every child has dreams of fame and Zoe Elias is pretty much perfect in that regard. However, dealing with a workaholic mother and an agoraphobic father does not necessarily make for the All American family, or does it?

Zoe does not concentrate on her father's disability nor her mother's dominant personality because in her world they are perfectly normal. In fact Zoe participates in many of her dads Living Room University courses where you can learn any trade from the privacy of your own home.

Through out the book Zoe keeps the readers informed of a variety of Living Room courses her dad takes. Everything from a Golden Gloves Boxing Coach, to the Scuba-Dooba-Do, diving lessons which required him to stay under water for half an hour. "He took the test in our bathtub breathing through a bendy straw. I timed him."

Zoe dreams of being a concert pianist but when her dad buys a Perfectone D-60 Organ which comes with six months of lessons from Mabelline Person, she resigns herself to the fact she will never be able to play at Carngie Hall as a piano prodigy.

However, when Mabelline Person insists Zoe enter the Perfectone O'Rama Organ competition things at school and at home begin taking hillarious turns.

A Crooked Kind of Perfect is a great read for middle grade youth. The chapters are short. Chapter one is two pages and chapter two is only one page. This book is not slap-on-the-knee type of humor but it is full of chuckles and an occasionall laugh out loud.

I think this would make a wonderful book club book. Zoe has the unique situation of having her dad buy her an organ when she actually wants a piano. Urban's diary-like writing style really hooks the reader into feeling empathy for Zoe.

I'm sure most students would be familiar with pianos, but I wonder how many would need to see an organ or at least a picture of one to get an idea of how it works. Much of the story and plot are dependant on at least an acquaintance with the organ, so there would need to be some background knowledge. Zoe plays several classic TV hits from the 70s and I also wondered if young readers would follow what was happening, but I suppose those parts are just funny on different levels of understanding.

Zoe interacts with boys at school and one of them "likes" her. I don't think it is at all inappropriate for 3rd grade or older students. Other complicated issues present are divorce and agoraphobia. It should make for some interesting discussion!

The fictional book, A Crooked Kind of Perfect by Lisa Urban is a wonderful and inspiring book that shows the importance of following a dream. In this book a young girl has a tough time, has much perserverence, and is very brave. I gave this book 5 out of 5 stars because when i read this book, I felt like i was a character in the book. I recommend this book for girls ages 9-15 because I think they would be able to relate to the story. In the book a girl who wants to be a pianist gets an organ that she doesn't like but plays it any way, then her friend ditches her for a new friend. So the main character makes a new friend who supports her through stage fright. If your interested in buying the book it is $16.00. I recommend it!

Ten-year-old Zoe dreams of performing at Carnegie Hall one day. She thinks pianos are glamorous, sophisticated, and worldly. She'd love to have a grand piano and be taught how to play impressive, difficult pieces by a grandfatherly maestro.

Instead, she gets a Perfectone D-60 organ and six months of free lessons from a woman named Mabelline Person. Instead of Fur Elise, Moonlight Sonata, or even Frere Jacques, she is given television theme songs from the sixties and seventies. Not exactly glamorous.

Zoe is an only child. Her mother is a straightforward, working professional, a controller for the state who spends a great deal of time a work. Her father enjoys earning degrees from Living Room University, learning how to scrapbook, coach boxing, and pilot a plane - all from the comfort of his own home, using objects he has around the house. After school, before or after her own lessons, Zoe helps her father with his. Sometimes, she delights in his antics, but other times, his errors - like getting her a wheezy organ! - make her cringe. Her goofy classmate named Walker befriends her father and the two bake in the background while Miss Person sets up a metronome and a Hits from the Sixties songbook for an exasperated Zoe.

Zoe's getting frustrated. She's not a prodigy. She's not a concert pianist. But she's also not a quitter. Slowly but surely, she learns how to play the organ and surprises herself with how much she likes it. When she goes on to compete at Perform-o-Rama, winning over her parents is far more important to her than winning a trophy.

With quirky characters and quick chapters, Linda Urban's debut is as close to Perfect as you can get. The humorous writing will satisfy both reluctant and avid readers. From her head to her toe socks, Zoe is a lovable little girl, and her voice rings true. If this book were a song, it would be music to my ears. One of the best books of 2007, in my opinion. Highly recommended.

A Crooked Kind of Perfect is a great book for a kid who is just starting to be sensitive about what other people think of her, noticing the cliques at school, and trying to decide what kind of person she wants to be. In other words, it's for anyone age 11 or older.

I bought it for my granddaughter for Christmas, and decided to take a peek before I wrapped it. When I put it down, I had read it straight through. Now I will very happily give it away, but I hope she will want to read it with me. The message I got from it (but never fear, it isn't at all preachy!) is that when you accept what you get in life, and love people for who they are, wonderful things can happen. This book leaves the reader with a very positive feeling.

Here is a great articulation of the problems in law firms and other service firms, many of which no one, until now, has had the courage to point out clearly and effectively. And here is the roadmap for change. Anyone involved in a service firm should read it carefully and follow Lauren's lead.

In her thoroughly researched and heavily footnoted book, Lauren Stiller Rikleen examines this troublesome issue: why many female lawyers still have not achieved the same professional success as their male counterparts. Rikleen delves into the challenging topics including part-time work, and what happens to the careers of women who opt for that route. She also explains other factors that contribute to the success of male lawyers' careers (being mentored, and becoming rainmakers) and discuses why many women don't enjoy the benefit of those.

Rikleen, who is well versed in the advancement of women lawyers, concludes her book with a call to action. She argues that law firms need to make a dramatic culture shift from the top down; firms should choose management which understands and values the contributions of women attorneys (not just those who fit the traditional, full-time mold). Rikleen also hopes that law firm compensation will change to reward cooperative client development efforts, among other things.

Towards the end of the book Rikleen notes that it's not just childbearing female lawyers who seek a more manageable work/life balance; Generation X and Y lawyers of both sexes are also seeking the same. She encourages law firm leaders to redefine their firms' cultures (as happened at her firm) in order to keep their talented lawyers, both male and female.

Having survived three years in a law firm (and survive was the key word), I could definitly relate to the stories in this book. The only shocking part is that I was in a law firm over 10 years ago, and nothing seems to have changed. Ending the Gauntlet, however, is more than a compendium of stories of women being mommy-tracked. It looks at the structure of a law firm itself and how that contributes to the workplace issues for everyone, not just women. I particularly loved the Prologue (worth the price of the book itself, especially if you have my warped sense of humor), because it describes how a bizarre sort of company is run where performance for all employees is based solely on money they personally earn for the company; the managing director/CEO is only "part-time" because he too has to earn money to keep his title; turnover is high; management is minimal or nonexistent; and people are given management positions because they are "least objectionable" to others; part-time is extended but discouraged as it cuts into billable hours ... and you finally start to realize that while the rest of the world has moved foward, law firms are relics of days gone by

Ending the Gauntlet was a powerful read -- it provides a very practical and realistic view of law firm culture for women and what needs to change. I could not put it down.

As a former corporate executive who now consults with law firms on sales and leadership effectiveness, Ending the Gauntlet provides the roadmap for change -- at both the individual level for women and at the firm level.

A good, hard look at today's law firms, Ending the Gauntlet: Removing the Barriers to Women's Success in the Law tackles tough issues comprehensively and fairly. Lots to recommend about this book, but particularly helpful for those who care about law firm profitability are the practical recommendations Lauren Stiller Rikleen makes in the second part of the book.

My work is with women, however, and I found the discussion of gender stereotypes and how they impact women to be consistent with my research and observations. Rikleen is right -- most of the time, behaviors that hold women back aren't motivated by bad intentions, merely cluelessness. Yet these behaviors hurt women and, consequently, the legal profession. Rikleen offers a blueprint for law firms who want to get better; the smart ones will follow it.

I enjoyed reading this and passed it on to my kids who are visiting the Loire Valley this summer and living with a family there. Proper etiquette is always noticed, and a general knowledge of fine wines can only add to their experience.

Highly recommended! The audio format is a great idea! It makes learning very easy and the information is all relevant. This is one lesson that is interesting and easily finished.

This was my first wine book, and it is still the best beginner's reference. It covers everything you need to get started. The real benefit, however, is the audio format. You actually get to hear the narrator (who is fantastic!) pronounce the names of the various grape varieties, wines and terms. This is a huge benefit and something that cannot be replicated in the written word.

A good etiquette book should sit on every professional's bookshelf alongside "how to win friends" and "7 habits." I purchased this book along with Essential Etiquette Fundamentals, Vol. 1: Dining Etiquette and The Etiquette Edge: The Unspoken Rules for Business Success to cover all the bases. These books do an excellent job covering the important etiquette skills often overlooked in today's environment. Although often underappreciated, exhibiting proper etiquette signals to others (especially your boss and clients) that you are well educated, care about detail, and have respect for others. I highly recommend these books for anyone new to the business world or for those of us who may need to brush up on the basics.

Although drinking good wine isn't difficult, learning about wine can be. Once on a winery tour a vintner explained that there are 15,000 different choices that can be made from grape to bottle. Sometimes picking out a wine can seem daunting. Food Scholar's Wine Selection & Etiquette does a superior job of teaching those of us who would like to learn more without the information being overkill.

While there are more comprehensive books out there on Wine, I really like this book because it excels at being written for the average person. The book is divided into logical sections. I also like that the effect of climates in a region on the grape are covered. This is an easy way to tell what kind of wine you are getting just by looking at where the grape was grown.

This book will enhance your knowledge as well as your ability to pick out wines that you and your guests may enjoy. I would highly recommend this book to those who want to learn about wine, as this book does an excellent job of giving a basic education about many of the wines of the world.

i was amazed at the photos. i could not help but to wonder if any of these women and men could be my ancestors. you see so many similarites in the faces on the pages to people you see everyday. i wish there were more in the captions to explain the photos. but when you consider the time that many of these photographs were taken, the captions are in the faces and the demeanor of the subjects. why? is probably the question that could never be answered. and if a reasonable explanation could somehow be given it wouldn't be enough. no matter how broken the mother, father, sister, brother in these photograghs looked. i wish they could all know that their unbearable weight, sorrow and pain helped to develop a strong, defiant, capable and proud race of people.

This book covers generations of history. The pictures are
breath-taking....it gives you a sincere sense of purpose.

This book covers generations of history. The pictures are
breath-taking....it gives you a sincere sense of purpose.

The visual imagery in this collection is terrific, enabling readers' memory, longing, wisdom, regret, sorrow, enormous admiration (of the subjects and all that they represent)- and wonderment. The people and the settings resonate. These are important images. You might well be moved to tears. There is no shortage of emotional appeal to the viewer. One cannot be unaffected by this collection, and all that it represents.

In addition, historically important works of art (engravings and paintings) are reproduced - although unfortunately none in color. The captioning is - for a work of this scope and size, and for illustrations of such power - inconsistent and therefore disappointing, though.

Because it's published by an academic press, I expected a more careful and rigorous treatment. Books of this scope and ambition are few and far between, and one treasures the illustrations - the historic visual record - in and of itself. It's dicey to criticize a collection that has as its focus such a compelling (and neglected) subject: the history of African American women.

The subject matter is terrific - but the book is less so. One wishes that the editors had had an editor. (Why, for example, is the "b" of "black" capitalized? To my knowledge this is not conventional usage, and it detracts.)

So what happened? At times the work seems rushed. For example, three people are photographed, two are identified by name, the third called "unknown." In fact, the writer means "unidentified." Accompanying a photo of a shoeless farm worker is the caption telling one, redundantly, that she is barefoot. A number of captions identify the subject as "Unidentified woman, [location, date.]" That seems lifted directly from states' historical societies' archives. One expects more - or less - but not words that merely interfere with one's experience. One does not need to be told that a photograph is a "photograph."

Occasionally, the editors engage in assumptions regarding the illustrations that, in my view, interfere with the power of the imagery, and reduce the value of this compilation. Guessing as to the subjects' activities in a photograph by Jack Delano, they write that a woman and several children are "possibly waiting for the husband and father to get his hair cut." In fact, one cannot know, and do not need to know, what the people were doing that day. The photo is about much more than that. Another incredible photo of a woman and a girl is accompanied by more guesswork as to the relationship of the subjects (mother and daughter?). There is wordiness to many of the captions. Worst case, there is sometimes unintentional patronization: subjects are identified as "lovely young women," (p. 81) or "fashionable," "attractive" (p.4). The end result is a sense that this book was rushed, and that - despite the impressive pool of archival material from which it was assembled - some corners were cut. The editors use interesting and illuminating quotations in places - but meagerly. There is brief index of names of subjects, and names of quoted women, omitting place names and more.

I wish that the authors of this work either done more, or less. Mostly, I wish that they had more convincingly respected the ability of these powerful and important illustrations to speak clearly to the reader, and had also trusted readers to make the connections between text and visual imagery that is so satisfying and essential to the meaningful experience of organized archival material.

This is a marvelous and moving selection of visual moments, carefully chosen and elegantly captioned. It is refreshingly free of the stuffily convoluted prose one would expect of a book from an academic press. Although the pictures could be said to speak for themselves (and sometimes they can), the information supplied by the gracefully literate writer(s) is helpful and interesting.

Groups of photographs can be wonderful to look at. This collection rises far above what it might have been by means of the exquisite care that was taken in its selection and the highly accessible captioning that accompanies the images.