Connecticut Books

Bath Tangle may be one of Georgette Heyer's less-popular books, and I agree with other reviewers in that she has more sparkling novels, but I did thoroughly enjoy this book and would still recommend it to anyone. Perhaps not as an introduction to Heyer, but it would be a shame to overlook this one.

What I liked about the novel may be the reason others don't respond as well to it, and that's in the characters of Rotherham and Serena. He's harsh and can be forbidding, and doesn't flatter the heroine -- but it's just as well, since she hates being flattered. Rotherham is set up to be less likable than some of Heyer's other dashing heroes, but that's also the point -- he is a hero with whom nobody would fall in love aside from our heroine. In contrast, Serena is someone with whom everyone would fancy to be in love, but as most are blinded by their adoration of her beauty and dazzle, they don't know the real woman underneath. Except for Rotherham, of course, who loves her for all the traits that others would deem flaws -- her outspokenness, her temper, her energetic spirit.

Bath Tangle also takes a bit of a departure from usual romance setups by starting the story with Rotherham and Serena previously engaged (she jilted him a month prior to their wedding). Both believe themselves to be over the romance, but it's a joy to watch them fall in love again. The signs of their softening regard are perhaps subtler in Bath Tangle than in other Heyers because the dynamics are different, with this couple already on very familiar terms with one another. I found the little hints of growing affection utterly delightful. For instance, the book opens with Serena outlining all of the reasons she dislikes Rotherham, and they clash numerous times. But while everyone else maintains their disfavorable opinion of him over the course of the novel, thinking him cruel and cold, Serena finds herself in the position of being his lone defender. Heyer is marvelous at showing how Serena goes from believing she really does dislike Rotherham to having to convince herself she does (and then not disliking him at all).

Perhaps unusual for a Heyer is the fact that Serena is not a perfect heroine. She has some classic Heyer heroine traits -- lively, beautiful, intelligent -- but unlike Venetia, or Frederica, or Arabella (all novels and heroines I love), Serena is considerably less perfect. It's kind of a refreshing to have the heroine needing to undergo some self-realization and change, instead of the onus always being on the rakehell hero.

If you're new to Heyer, I'd recommend starting with some of her more humorous, sparkling romances like Faro's Daughter, Devil's Cub, The Corinthian, Venetia. But don't forget Bath Tangle when you want Heyer's trademark wit but would welcome a departure from her usual lovely (but somewhat overly perfect) heroes and heroines.

I've noticed that my favorite Heyer books have all depicted men who need to grow in some way-- the selfish man, the immature man, the disgraced man, etc. This book is different, in that it centers around a heroine who needs to change. Serena is self-centered, sharp-tempered/ quick to anger, domineering, and managing--her beauty has not been good for her character. Yet she is also kind and a good friend-- in short, she is a complex person.

The secondary plot couple are very engaging, and the setting in Bath is interesting, too.

A very entertaining book! While not one of my very favorite Heyers, a very enjoyable one.

I am rather surprised that this book has such varying reviews. In Bath Tangle Heyer has created such a unique yet perfect couple: the rather blunt and rude character of Ivo and the wild and eccentric one of Serena. These two compliment each other so well that I found it completely providential that they come together. Theirs is not calf love; each time they meet they quarrel. But this is more because they have so much in common that they may do so on a wide range of topics. I have always loved Heyer's older and stronger characters and Ivo and Serena both fit the description well.

P.S.
Often while reading this book, and I am not quite sure why, I was made to remember Austen's "Emma." Except that I hated Emma's character (she was altogether too self centered) and actually liked Serena.

I bought this book in transports of delight, yearning to be at home cuddling up and devouring yet another great Georgette Heyer novel, only to sit down and finish it with wry dissapointment. This book truely falls so far off the mark that I seriously wished I had never read it. The characters, mainly Selana, are detestable, selfish, overbearing, obnoxious and as the book rightly mentions, quite in the highstep. Fanny's admiration of Selena's so called "talents" at running a household made me scoff. Selena telling a butler how to clean a drawing room is not my idea of hardworkman-ship. She constantly complains about being bored and is so self absorbed I couldn't like her. She does absolutely nothing and is extremely inconsiderate. Although the book is amusing at times, and Georgette does her best to keep the story flowing, it's all I can do not to rip the pages out. I gave this novel 1 star, the only time I really enjoyed it was when Rotherham gave Selana a scorching setdown on her attitude.

If you are the type of reader who enjoys conflict between the hero and heroine of a novel, then this the book for you. I generally like heyer because although there might be some conflict it is usually understated. I find this novel the fighting between Rotherham (the heroine) and Lady Serena Carlow (the Heroine) to be irksome. Neither Character really shines but rather they simmer and seeth with annoyance at each other.

The set up is that Lady Serena's father has died, so she and her step-mother Fanny move to Bath. Only to Lady Serena's horror she has been left as the ward of her old fiance, Lord Rotherham, a man she now loathes. And with her fiery temper (which matches with her fiery red hair) she sets out to annoy him in any way she can.Trouble is that Lord Rotherham also sets out to annoy Lady Serena and he is much more successful at it.

In the background is the rather lovely story of Fanny and another of Serena's romantic interests. And all this set in Bath. Heyer only set three of her many novels in Bath and only late in her writing career. She only ever wrote novels about places she knw and had researched well. It is a lovely introduction to the area as it was in the Regency period but I think she has written better novels.

I read it while washing dishes, folding laundry, on my breaks, and even though I didn't want it to end, I couldn't stop reading. It's a beautiful, stylized read that lilts and flows. I was left starstruck.

One hundred percent recommended.

One enchanted night, under a full moon, the loners come out to walk in
the moonlight. The mournful music of a flute calls to children, who
leave their homes and walk into the woods. Dolls long forgotten come
alive and begin to dance, and a mannequin walks out of a store window
and joins a male admirer for a stroll beside the railroad tracks. This
is a short, fanciful tale about magical things than happen under the
full moon when lonely people go out to seek companionship. It was a
very enjoyable, quick read. Very charming.

Poetic, romantic, funny night of lunar longing for the residents of a suburban Connecticut town. One night with a cast of many intersecting entities including (but not limited to) a 14 year old girl, a mannequin, satyrs, wee children, and a lonely, middled aged man who still lives with Mommy. Oh, and dolls that come alive. Yes, this sounds overwrought and implausible, but the far-fetched is so neatly intertwined with the very believable longings of recognizable, everyday people that it works. There is also plenty of suspense. A beautiful, quick read.

In Enchanted Night, Millhauser has assembled a number of cultural images of the magical moon especially moon and youth, lonely nights etc. In this sense, the book is conventional and predictable. It is in his use of language and the intricate interweaving of stories, that Millhauser is inventive and original. This first several chapters seem unrelated except by time and location. One meets a 14 year old girl leaving a hot bedroom to escape angst. One meets dolls in an attic. One meets an unproductive 40 year old writer wanna be living in his mother's attic. One meets a mannnequin in a store window. A group of teenage girls who get their kicks breaking into homes not to steal but for the adventure of it. A twenty year old woman. In tracing these, and others, throughout the night, the novel slowly shows interconnections that yield a picture of a full town, a town with the average range of people and dreams. As Millhauser develops the interconnections, a reader may easily become distracted by the skill and ease with which it is done. The plot is not sufficient for the suspension of disbelief to eradicate the interest of the craftsmanship.

Millhauser shows a poets comfort with using words as his raw media - the pace of the sentences' rhythm rises and falls with the tension in the scene. The use of detail to create character is superb. Now and then the freshness of an image or a word makes the reader stop and take note. Yet the author sticks to the mundane - a partial roll of LifeSavers as thanks - in a way that makes the "enchanted night" somehow possible in every reader's experience.

This novella tells the story of one peculiar night in a small town that is having difficulty sleeping. Of course there have been other sleepless nights in this small town, but none until this one have been enchanted.

When the people of the town cannot sleep, they wander the streets, thinking that they are alone. Little do they know that the rest of the town is experiencing the same insomnia and are also wandering through the night. A girl longs for her beau to come to her lonely window; he does. A man lusts after a manequin in a window; she comes to life. The Pied Piper leads the children through the woods with his magic flute. A girl who decides to moonbathe in the nude is followed by a lusty man and rescued in the nick of time by a guy who lives in his mother's attic. A band of young female thieves enjoy lemonade in the most unlikely of homes.

The night is so fantastical that perhaps it was just a dream. Whatever it was, it makes for an enjoyable, short read.

This is one of the best nonfiction historical books I have ever read. Jeff Benedict is able to convey to the reader the most important details regarding the birth of Foxwoods in a manner which holds the reader's attention as if you were reading a murder mystery. The role of the federal government in creating this multibillion dollar industry is clearly spelled out and incredibly well documented. Kudos to Jeff Benedict for his outstanding research and thorough investigation of the Pequots.

Yeah ..this is unfortunate that book sells so well with such a writing!! And the topic.. and so-called investigation>>> Please.. the author would not even filed his interviews! This is no investigation to me... this is populism.. that is all!!!!

I am not American , and not native american, so I guess I am neutral!
Do NOT Give this author any more money.. rather read real academic research about native casinos: such AS "INDIAN gAMING : WHO WINS" edited by Mullis and Kamper or the Eadington book about Indian Gaming and the Law!!

I hope that as readers of this book people might venture into doing research on of their own before taking the word of a man that was trying to get "funded" by a White Casino Owner in an area close enough to be affected by Fox Wood, and was trying to run for Governor?

I read this book on the suggestion of a friend. It definately is a pager turner and I couldn't put it down until I finished.

As an enrolled member of a 'casino' tribe I see why such a book would be written about a tribe rising to power through gaming. Afterall, Indians are not entitled to this type of wealth. We're supposed to reside on our little enclaves of land and be alcoholics and live close to nature and I ask why can't Indians have wealth? We didn't make the laws and neither did the Pequots. The Pequots just used the laws to their advantage and made it big. Why shouldn't the Pequots be entitled to justices of the land?

However, I can see the otherside of the fence as well. At what costs did this wealth and power come to a tribe that is suspicious of being a true Indian tribe? I'm not naive. It was all done for good purposes in the beginning, but once instant wealth came their way, all sense of what makes a tribe a tribe was lost to the bigger financial picture. The first thing that is cut when an audit happens is to cut the museum budget. The one thing that can disproove the skepticism of them being a real tribe is cut so that members can keep their pockets lined. No sense of community is in the hearts of this tribe because they'd be looking out for the welfare of the future generations.

But when reading this book, if you choose to, is to attempt to put all biases aside and see what this book (and the others written on the same topic) show...that this book does an incredible job of describing the legal and political forces in opposition to each other that led to the creation, and then to the interpretation and application of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. No other book has done a better job of illustrating the distinction between federal Indian law on the books and federal Indian law in practice than this one. It's a fascinating blueprint for how Indian tribes can leverage law, policy, and politics--if they are shrewd--to achieve an almost unimagineable degree of contemporary political and material power. The brilliance of the Pequots is that they figured out how to use white law and institutions to their particular advantage, and this book describes just how they did it. It is fascinating!! But also to Indian tribes reading this book, let this be a lesson in what NOT to do when instant wealth comes one's way.

Evidently the Pequots didn't speak with this guy. I can see why. The book is really tendentious. I'd suggest instead "Hitting The Jackpot" by a former Washington Post reporter. I heard about it in the local newspaper and it's very good. Much more informed and balanced and powerful. Whichever book you like, get educated on this!

Awesome book but I do agree with another reviewer's comment that said that all of the coworkers, bosses, friends, and all that all seem to be to evil and maybe she should create a balance.

I enjoyed cha cha cha. It was a good book.
Name Dropping was excellent. I want to read
more of her books

This is the first time that I've ever read anything by Ms. Heller and I found this book to be very amusing. This book is not brain surgery and is without a doubt considered a light read. This is the reason I picked up this book and I was not let down.

Ms. Heller has managed to combine not only fun and interesting characters, interesting storylines, and humor into fast and enjoyable read.

Alison Waxman Koff has hit rock bottom. Her second husband has decided to leave her for his first wife, not only that but they are totally broke after the stockmarket crash. Alison now must put her life back together, find a way to keep the bank from foreclosing on her house, and at the same time find a way to hold her head high. Finding a job is not turning out to be the easist thing in the world! Add to this a mother who is not the warmest person in the world, a wise cracking hunk that Alison wishes she could forget, and a murder and you have the makings for this fun book.

As stated earlier this is a very light read. Alison and Cullie (the wise cracking hunk) are great character's and the mystery surrounding the murder victim is actually interesting and fun. Ms. Heller manages to add a few twists and turns before the actual murdered is unvailed. For an easy read you really can't go wrong with "Cha Cha Cha."

I found this book to be hysterical, wit fty, exciting and interesting. the entire book held my attention. This was the first book by Jane Heller that I read, and then bought Female Intelligence and The Club. They all have the same wit, fast paced subjects. I normally never read these type of books, but I think I found myself a new favorite author. I will recommend her books to all my friends and family, even strangers.

This is the third Jane Heller book I've read. As usual, I found her story and her heroine entertaining, and if you're in the mood for something light and enjoyable, this may do it. I'm starting to have problems with her characterization. While her heroines are funny, witty, smart, believable, the men they inevitably end up with (and they do always seem to end up with someone) are way too perfect. On the other side, most of the rest of the characters in each story, friends, coworkers, neighbors, bosses, relatives, whatever, are awful, evil, obnoxious and destructive. I know this is mass market fiction, but Heller's books are good enough that I wish she'd try for a little more balance. It would also help keep up the suspense of what will happen.

This book seems to be the most reliable book as to how the case unfolded. It was absolutely to Frank Garr's credit that this book and the case ever got to trial.

Len Levitt says in the book that it was coincidental that Herr Furhman's book came out and the grand jury was convened. I agree. However, I agree with RFK Jr. that there was not enough evidence presented to convict. I was floored when M.S. was convicted!

Compelling read. A look at how egos and life experiences shape gut feelings. The book impels us to look at our opinions from a different angle. I started following this case in 1996 online and have read all the books. It seemed at times that Michael Skakel was guilty and then after reading this book I don't know what to think of him. His previous lawyer, Sullivan, says Michael didn't do it but that he is a sociopath and I wonder if he is correct. Michael never said he did it but he did say that he was drunk and high that night and doesn't remember if he did it. The author seems to think that is as good as a confession but I don't believe it is. The best Michael can do is say that he doesn't know if he did it. Is the evidence beyond reasonable doubt that he is guilty? Does guilty mean that he willfully committed this murder? Is it possible to commit murder and not remember it if you're high or drunk enough? What about the aftermath of the murder? Did Michael find blood all over himself? Who cleaned it up? Someone had to. The jeans and gym shoes that police say belonged to Michael showed no blood. What does that point to? Was Michael convicted because he committed murder or was he convicted because he is a sociopath? It's a good book and will make you wonder.

A facinating story of a privileged boy become man who was able to get away with murder for 20 years because of his family connections. The author, Leonard Levitt, places himself in the center of the investigation and reporting while others played a much larger role.

The writing is lurid and repetitive, yet the story is so compelling that one continues to the end.

Read this one last. The third book about this murder. Glad I didn't buy it. Checked it out at the library. I had to wait months for them to get it in. Differs too much from Mark Fuhrman's account and Mark's is the true story. In reading this book so far, Leo Levitt seems jealous of Mark Fuhrman's investigation and writing ability.

Having followed the Martha Moxley case for ten years now I was pleased to find Leonard Levitt's new account that sums up the last 30 years through the trial itself. Levitt's prose is prosaic, but he is lucid and clear about not only the murder itself but about the subsequent infighting around the events. He reveals little that is new-at least to long-time followers of the case. But he brings in all together without covering old ground in more detail than is necesary.

Levitt actually covers two controversies in fact. The objective drama about the crime itself and the multiple clash of egos about the solution.

Levitt's most telling conclusion is left implicit. It is that the Michael Skakel defenders, from Bobby Kennedy, Jr. on, always ignore, namely that any so-called flaws in the case were caused by the Skakel family themselves. They are truly a pack of loathsome drunks and psychpaths. And that is clear beyond a reasonable doubt.

This book was cracklin! Really great. It's been a long... LONG time since I've read a book that didn't sag at any point, was fun the whole the way through, and was an all around great read. Cora is really fun, the puzzles are fun. Fast, excellent fun. If you read the first one, stick with it, because it gets better and better.

I loved this book! Cora Felton, drunk or sober, is absolutely hilarious! I enjoy reading books by this author as he draws the reader into the action which makes the book even more intersting and I could not put this book down for more than a few minutes.
I can't wait for the next book.

The second installment in Parnell Hall's Puzzle Lady series finds cruciverbalist Sherry Carter and her bibulous Aunt Cora caught up in another crossword-related crime spree in the small town of Bakerhaven, Connecticut. (Sherry writes a popular syndicated crossword puzzle column, but the puzzles are attributed to her aunt, who is the public face of the "Puzzle Lady.") It turns out that the recently deceased Emma Hurley has stipulated in her will that her prospective heirs undergo a sort of trial-by-puzzle to determine which of the lot will wind up with the largest share of her multi-million-dollar estate. Cora Felton, meanwhile, because of her reputed prowess as a puzzle solver, is named judge of the contest, a highly lucrative if unlikely assignment. As the various greedy and unpleasant heirs discover, Emma Hurley's millions seem to be riding on the successful completion of a crossword. The puzzle is relatively straightforward--suspiciously so, considering the sums involved--but the mystery surrounding the Hurley will is far more complex than any of the principals--the innocent ones, at least--suppose. Before the puzzle ladies can solve the mystery, two corpses, their murders somehow connected to the crossword contest, join Emma's in the local cemetery.

Parnell Hall's mysteries are complex enough to keep readers guessing and written with sufficient wit to keep them appreciative. ("Beasley's trip up the stairs was perilous at best. While he did not actually crawl, he did not actually walk, either.") The relationship between Cora and her niece in particular makes for pleasant reading. Hall might tone down Cora's self-destructive tendencies, however: that the grandmaternal "Puzzle Lady" is in reality so unlike her public persona is the principal joke of the series, but one worries about the effect of excessive smoking and drinking on her health. These are not charming or inherently amusing habits. One may note that Colin Dexter's Detective Morse likewise drinks to excess, but Morse's problems with alcohol are not, I think, milked for humor. Perhaps rather for pathos.

Crossword lovers and cozy fans--and readers of the Nero Blanc series of crossword mysteries in particular--will enjoy Hall's take on the amateur sleuth genre.

Reviewed by Debra Hamel, author of Trying Neaira: The True Story of a Courtesan's Scandalous Life in Ancient Greece

Emma Hurley was the eccentric rich old maid in town before she died of old age. Now her relatives are gathering to hear her last will. And it's a doozy. The first one to solve a puzzle will inherit ten million dollars; the rest will walk away with ten thousand each. Not a bad conciliation prize, but for the greedy family, second place is not good enough. To win, there will be a race to solve a puzzle.

Called on to judge the contest is famed "Puzzle Lady" Cora Felton. Which only makes sense when the puzzle turns out to be a crossword grid with a quarter of the clues. The catch, of course, is the Cora knows nothing about cross word puzzles, so her niece Sherry must work behind the scenes to keep her aunt's public image intact.

Racing to stay ahead of the heirs would be bad enough if it weren't for the murders. First it's the town drunk. But then one of the heirs is found dead. Is the competition getting to be too much? And where will the crossword puzzle lead?

Not being a crossword puzzle fan, I put this series off for way too long. While there is a puzzle the reader is invited to solve from the clues in the book, ignoring the grid doesn't dampen the enjoyment one bit. This is a fast paced story that keeps the reader engaged and guessing from the start to the surprising climax. Honestly, I don't think I'd want to take time out to work the puzzle on my own even if I liked them.

The first book seemed to have four main characters as the reader got the story from multiple viewpoints fairly consistently. This time around, the focus has definitely shifted to Cora, even though the other three characters still play important parts of the book and we occasionally see the action from their eyes. Cora is still a drunk alcoholic at the beginning, but once the story gets going, she sobers up. I must say I prefer watching a sober Cora in action. The word play between characters is cut down a little, too, which is a disappointment to me, although what is in the books is still great. The author does use a lot of dialog and a writing style that flows well, so the book is a surprisingly fast read.

After reading the first in the series, I decided I'd wait and read another before I decided for sure if I liked the series or not. I'd say it's official. I'm already looking forward to reading the third in this entertaining and original series.

The plot and pace were great so I continued reading to the end but I was really turned off by the main character being a drunk and chain smoker. The author presents that as humorous - I don't get the joke! Certainly he could have found something else to make her "quirky"! I think the series would be far better off without glorifying alcohol and cigarettes!

This is a single book, not the whole set and the book is in less then usable quality. The seller was to send return address materials and has not as of 12/19.

I listened to the audio version of both books, and will admit up front that the narrator for this one is not one of my favorites, but I got past that after a while.
Twain seemed to be "padding" the narrative with an awful lot of folktales and legend, rather than his own experience. There's a lengthy (and highly annoying) "fantasy" sequence - I suppose he was trying for parody - as well. I found myself fast-forwarding through almost a full cassette of a gory description of two deuls (near the beginning); he delights in recounting grisly mountaineering stories later on during the novel. The storyline ended abruptly at the end of cassette 11 of 13; the last two were the appendix, which I skipped.
I really liked "Innocents" and am planning on purchasing "Following the Equator" (I looked through it at a bookstore and it seemed pretty interesting), but I wish I'd skipped this one. Three stars for the humor when he actually describes his own experiences.

A Tramp Abroad is the third and least successful of the travel books written by the pen of Mark Twain.
In this book we follow Twain as he tours Germany, Italy, France and Switzerland. I found the early chapters chronicling his visit to Heidelburg University; hilarious visits to opera houses and tale tales such as the Blue Jay yarn to be well done.
The longest section of the book deals with Twain's alpine climbing adventures in Switzerland. This material is interesting but goes on a bit too long for the modern reader.
This is a fine book and deserves to be read and enjoyed by a wider readership that better known but lesser Twain novels and
travel writing,
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys listening to a great author recount his peregrinations through Europe in a leisurely and informative manner.

It's fascinating to compare my own experiences, having lived now 3 years in Germany, to those of an American from 125 years earlier. I've been learning to speak German, and his Appendix on the "awful" German language was hilarious. In poking fun at German grammar (e.g., long sentences), he purposely commits the same errors in his own writing. The scene "riding" the glacier down the Alps was so funny I had tears running down my face. It's amazing to think that it was written in 1879, when America was barely a century old, and the insights and perceptions then can be incredibly, eerily similar to either my or "typical" American's attitudes today.

I'd recommend it to anyone, but particularly to anyone visiting or living in Europe. It's way funnier than his "Innocents Abroad", which is also a good read on travel in Europe.

A Tramp Abroad, Mark Twain's tongue-in-cheek, semi-fictionalized account of his second European trek, is, despite it's 600+ pages, a lightning quick read. Twain's singular wit is on full display engaging the reader to such an extent that pages swiftly fly by. Though not his best piece of travel writing (see Innocents Abroad), I devoured this book in large chunks eager to see where Twain wandered next. When he arrives in the Alps, A Tramp Abroad vaults from an amusing piece of travel writing to a supremely satisfying form of entertainment.

If there was any disappointment it occured with Twain's unexpected exit from the stage. A Tramp Abroad covers Twain's travels in Germany, Switzerland, and Italy, but concludes quite suddenly with mere mention that the Netherlands are next on the docket. Yet, wishing a book to continue confers no blackmark on an author. It is further confirmation that A Tramp Abroad easily merits 5 stars.

This book does nothing but confirm what a jerk this fellow is. He can turn on the charm when he wants, such as when he is wooing a recruit. He has also assembled a staff that can coach, as well as recruiting the best basketball talent in the country. He obviously is a shrewd game tactician. But scratch the surface, and you find the egotistical, totally self centered, shallow jerk that lies within. From his profanity filled rants at press conferences, to his adolescent taunts directed at opposing teams to his verbal abuse of his players to his unethical recruiting practices, he earns the title of Geno the Jerk. This book is a big nothing. Wait for the DVD.

Auriemma is a JERK. The best thing about this book is he tells you that he, CD (his associate head coach), all his assistant coaches and most of all his players know he is a JERK. But even more important, he cares about his players like a parent or that uncle who will always be there when you need them to be does. He doesn't coddle, he doesn't kiss up to good, or even great players. He does sometimes treat players differently, but only because every single one of his players is an individual, but he demands that they play not as individuals, but as a team. He gets the best out of his players because he demands the best out of them and even more so out of himself. He is insecure and cocky. Doubtful and arrogant. A smooth talker and someone who regularly eats shoe leather. He is a real person who I would love my daughter to play for some day if she ever got the chance.

The book is filled with anecdotes about his early life (the best chapter) and his years at UConn. Trials, tribulations, success and failures with various players, their families, etc. are the central theme. If you've followed the team in recent years or long term, you will appreciate this information. Fewer points, however, for writing style and continuity of subject. As a whole and as a fan, I enjoyed it!

Luigi "Geno" Auriemma has written an extremely heartfelt biography chronicling his life experiences, especially the years he has been coaching UConn's womens basketball team. This is one of those biographies you don't want to miss out on!

Geno is a straight shooter and one heck of a honest man. His genuine display of his emotions and thoughts throughout the book are a testament to his character. His loyalty to his wife, family, colleagues, players and fans is incredible!

The stories behind how he recruited Diana Taurasi and others are very enjoyable to read, as are the countless other stories he recalls over the years. "Geno" is an excellent book for anyone to read - you don't need to be a huge sports enthusiast (although I reckon it might make a slight difference) as this is a story of an Italian boy from Norristown who made it big through his strong work ethics and values.

Molto Grazie, Geno! You rock!

It's rare these days -- I just couldn't stop reading. Auriemma's co-writer creates a style that makes Geno come across as a good guy who tries hard - a real rags to riches, Horatio Alger story.

As a basketball fan, I loved the glimpses into life at UConn and the stories beyond some legendary playeres. In particular, I liked Diana Taurasi's introduction and the brief mentions of her background and style. She's a fascinating person as well as a great player, adding charisma he way Lisa Leslie once did.

Geno tells the truth, too. After UConn, many players faced a letdown. I watched Taurasi play against Seattle next year, as a member of the Arizona team. She tried hard but was obviously frustrated being a top player on a mid-level team.

Ironically, there are many parallels between Taurasi and Chamique Holdsclaw, Tennessee's star, who would have graduated just before Taurasi went to UConn. Both began their WNBA careers as Number 1 draft picks on low-ranked teams. And both complained about being so famous. Tough, said both coaches.

I also liked Geno's report of recruiting,a coach's toughest job, he says.

A few times I flipped pages while Geno pontificated and philosophized. Most mostly I loved it...and despite a long and growing "To Do" list, I kept reading.

I couldn't believe how much I hated this book. I've read all of Karen Robards historical romance novels and a few of them are some of my all time favorite books. I didn't like Caroline - I found her annoying. I also didn't care for the setting and time period.

Since her father's death, Caroline has no choice, but to seek a home with her late sister's husband and family. The moment she arrives on their farm all hell breaks loose! The spirited and very beautiful Caroline refuses to cower to her brother-in-law, Matt, whose more handsome than should be allowed. The story is long, but not boring, except for a few places where Robards repeats herself in her descriptions. There is laughter, danger and tender hearted moments, as well as sizzling passion as Matt and Caroline try to deal with their feelings for each other. His family also learns to accept Caroline in spite of the wounds her vicious sister left behind. I kept this book for years and just kept re-reading it for almost 10 years! It's just that good once you get into it!

I could not put this book down! This story was so well written and interesting that I was captivated. From the unchartered background of Puritan lifestyle in the late 1600's as a 'romantic setting' to an abused family's healing, this book developed true emotion and devotion.

I understand some of the other reviewers displeasure at Caroline's treatment by a few in the town (witch burning, etc.)but that didn't keep me from giving this book 5 stars. And Caroline was no weakling, she gave as good as she got and Matt was always there to back her up.

This is one of those books that I would read only if I was bored and had NOTHING else available, and if it was handed to me for free. In other words, definetly don't spend money on it, and waste your time only if you are in desperate need of reading material.

That being said, it's not the worst book I've ever read, but I really can't recommend it at all. It was my first Karen Robards historical romance, and while I'm a fan of her contemporary work, something about this historical novel didn't sit well with me. Normally I am a huge fan of the genre, but this seemed both too dark, and yet also too unsubstantial.

As another reader said, the heroine is treated like dirt for most of the novel. While the hero has moments of kindness, he rarely reprimands his younger brothers and sons for their cruelty, who undeniably look up to him and respect his opinion. It seems as though he might do a bit more to defend her. The heroine's reaction to all of this alternates between being passive and throwing tantrums. I'm not saying I could have done much better in her situation, but the inconsistencies in her behavior made it hard for me to figure out her feelings.

Even after the family accepts her at the end of the novel, there are never any sort of apologies or acknowledgements of their cruel words. I understand this is probably realistic for male/female relations at the time, but in a romance novel, it wasn't very appealing.

The subplots centering around her dead sister and the vindictive townspeople isn't really fleshed out, and yet we are expected to understand how it's a major part of the plot and character motivations.

In fairness, I guess I can see how other readers might like it, as the romance is halfway fun to watch develop. If I'd been in the mood for a glimpse into the misery of women in the colonial period or for witch trials I actually might have enjoyed the detail and depth of this book. But, expecting a romance, I found myself disappointed. I prefer romances that that make me feel warm at the end, not relieved that it's over...

I thought this book had everything going for it, and not much lacking. There was a handsome hero, beautiful heroine, lots of adventure, and lots of funny scenes. I liked that the hero and heroine didn't fight throughout the whole book like most romance novels. My favorite scenes were the beginning with the bull, and the love triangle between Matt, Caroline, and Daniel. If you want a book that will not leave you bored, and will provide plenty of romance and plot, this is your book. The only thing I have to complain about is the ending. It was very rushed and leaved the reader wanting more closure. I mean, the rest of the book was very thorough and told the story well, but the end just wizzed by and had the reader scratching their head. It went way to fast and seemed like the author was rushing at the end to meet her deadline. But, that aside, the book as a whole was a good one.

Susan Eaton, the author of The Children In Room E4, wants you to see things the right way, or at least, the way she sees them. There's no crime in that, especially when you're drafting a gimmicky non-fiction book on social injustice and want to convert readers into your realm of thought. It can be destructive, however, when you're method of persuading is so overtly one-sided that it becomes almost painful to continue reading what acts as force-fed propaganda from a quasi-socialist.

Main scope of book: the inner-city Hartford school system, which act as a microcosm for inner city schools across the country, is racially segregated. The reasons for this are both direct and indirect, but regardless of the reasons, Connecticut states that this is unconstitutional. Eaton takes the reader alongside the process of the historic Sheff vs. O'Neil case, the case that decided a method of forced integration between urban minority students and their white suburban counterparts. For the plaintiffs, as well as for Eaton, the solution cannot simply be found in compounding funds into a the inner city school systems, but rather, by an extensive effort in desegregating the systems by redrawing district lines that were once defined by socioeconomic redlining and shady real estate practices designed to keep blacks and Hispanics away from their white counterparts. This is a noble idea, and certainly one of merit, but Eaton strategically corrodes her analysis by blatantly ignoring some counterarguments, arguments that anyone with a computer and ten minutes of free time could have used to negate her entire thesis.

#1. Nowhere in her book does Eaton mention the Kansas City Project, a plan that began in 1985 which lasted until 1997 where a federal district judge ordered the state of Missouri to begin an extensive desegregation process within Kansas City. $2 billion dollars were earmarked for the project, as well as an annual multi-million dollar integration fund set aside to provide transportation for white students into the city. Elaborate schools were built; well-qualified teachers replaced the mediocre educators; brand new computers were installed in the schools; top-echelon extra curricular were added; but after roughly ten years, the test scores were almost exactly the same as they were in 1985 - among the lowest in the nation. White suburbanites didn't take the bait either. The plan initially predicted 6-10 thousand white students moving into the new schools annually, but proponents of the plan were hugely disappointed when the zenith of the integration movement was a mere 1,500 students, many of whom moved back to their old districts after one year.

#2. Eaton's lambasting of conservative educational reforms. While I'm not a Republican (or Democrat for that matter), I found it pathetic that Eaton goes out of her way to bash the conservative policies of Nixon, Rehnquist, Reagan, Bush the 1st, and Little Bush. Nowhere does she attack a liberal policy which also ended in failure (of which there have been MANY). This blatant one-sidedness does nothing but hurt Eaton's credibility as an objective writer and limits her ability to reason with the segments of her readership who actually try to think objectively.

#3. Eaton all but ignores the socioeconomic divide in her book. While she goes to great lengths to illustrate the many reasons why racial segregation exists - including "white flight", unethical real estate practices, and racial profiling in job hiring - she fails to note the socioeconomic Elephant in the Room in terms of single-parent homes in urban areas as opposed those in the academically affluent suburbs. Even her poster boy for African American success - John Brittain - is describes as a man who has BOTH parents heavily involved in his upbringing, a fact that Eaton fails to accentuate.

As a writer, Eaton is sound. As a propagandist, she is even better. As an objective framer of thought, however, Eaton leaves a great deal to be desired.

Reader be warned: you won't be getting a fair or honest view in The Children in Room E4. You will, however, be getting a rhetorical treatise into the realm of socialist one-sidedness, where the problem is defined but enormous amounts of reasons for the problem are ignored, while a plan of corrective solution is almost entirely lost in all of her rhetoric.

This book goes beyond simply explaining what the challenges in urban education are -- it shows where they came from. With a detailed history of the Supreme and Federal Court decisions since Brown v. Board of Education, Eaton illustrates how segregated and isolated schooling has been perpetuated and gotten worse in the last 50 years. Her analysis does it in two ways: first, by focusing closely on a high achieving Hartford class of students in their third and fourth grade years (the Micro view) and by showing how the Macro problems -- the legal history -- have enabled the complete ignoring and disempowerment of American cities.

In so doing, Eaton tells the story of Sheff v. O'Neill -- a landmark Connecticut court decision on the vastly segregated and unequal state of schooling in the Hartford area. She explains how the legal team put the case together, the data they collected, their Constitutional interpretations, and their battles to win....

If you are from Connecticut, interested in schooling or in school law, this book is perfect for you.

Susan Eaton clearly explains the current state of urban education, particularly in Hartford, Connecticut. The book is wonderfully written in two interwoven narratives. The first traces the seemingly unending legal proceedings surrounding education in Hartford. The second contains what I feel is the true spirit of the book. Eaton tells the reader a story in language so plain and clear that any teacher will feel the overwhelming, systematic, and largely ignored challenges facing `the children in room E4.' Yet, the story also tells us of an amazing educator and her students. Eaton brings to us those everyday student-teacher exchanges that give us hope; hope that our curious and intelligent children will be blessed by dedicated teachers. `The Children in Room E4' inspires me as a new teacher. Lastly, it reminds me that while the state of urban education nationwide is dire, the challenges of where one teaches can be overcome by the kindness, compassion, and relentless energy of a great teacher.

Can separate ever be equal? Over and over again, we seem to be coming back to the same question our country has struggled with for decades. Countless court cases later, Susan Eaton describe in heart breaking detail, the inequities in the school lives of the children in room E4- a room found in every urban area in this country today.

Public education continues to fail miserably. Eaton's ability to weave the details of the court ruling and efforts by civil rights attorneys with the every day life in the classroom is stunning. Anyone who cares about education in this country today must read this book. It provides a compelling roadmap of where we've been and where we are headed if something doesn't change.

Susan Eaton has produced an exceptional, deeply researched book. It's by no means without an agenda, but it's no Swiftian polemic, something to which a wealth of footnotes and references will attest.

Eaton grabs you by the wrist, pulling you through the torturous folds of the Sheff v O'Neill court case. She forces the ugly machinations of a typical large-city public school system into the fore, giving a vivid account of the harsh inequity of Connecticut schools.

Eaton makes a compelling argument against district boundaries, with their rigid, segregating forces. She tells of an entrenched system of De Facto segregation, arisen over the past fifty years, here to stay--unless, of course, the slumbering giants (our public schools) wake up to their own mistakes. They did in 1954, when Brown forced them. Perhaps they will again.

Every school district board member should keep this book on their desk.