New York Books

What I remember about this book are its beginning and end. What it means to me is that, I suppose, whatever happens in the world, 'la-il Allah el il Allah', which is what one of the characters says in the beginning and the end. It means, 'there is no God but God'. (Allah is the Arabic name of God.) Profound acceptance.

....as an antidote to material insanity....one of those "vade mecums" to have always in your backpack as you are traveling the world...I found this in a used bookstore in the original "quokka" edition, misplaced it and found it AGAIN in another store in the same out of print edition....have never seen it in any other store since...the author leaves you with the impression of true devotion, that as an "outsider" he has fully surrendered to and mastered the Sufi tradition; in fact it is one of the few fictional works I have read to give off the "perfume of devotion"...this, my friends, is the real McCoy.
For the spiritually aware, to be ordered without delay.

If you feel lonely and desperate among the 'madding crowd'of the 'modern world' you shouldn't miss that masterpiece. (By the way: May I make a transcriptional correction regarding Herman Greenstein's review: More appropriate transcription of the quotation can be 'La ilahe ill'Allah' which approximately means 'There is no deity but Allah'...)

I read the Turkish translation of The Book of Strangers twenty years ago. It was translated by the prominent poet Ýsmet Ozel and it was a great chance for the Turkish readers.It was an exciting experience for the westernised Turkish intelligentia to read this marvellous story of spritual as well as cultural oddysey written by a westerner. I think it would be as much interesting for all eastern and middle eastern readers living in the western countries or studying in American/British/German/French universities.

I came across this book entirely by chance, and only picked it up because the back cover claimed that it was the "Sufi Siddhartha." Being already interested in Sufism, my curiosity was piqued. And once having read it, I felt compelled to read it again and again. This is no mere introduction to either Sufism or Islam in a purely intellectual sense, as is so common in Western books on the subject. Still less is it a "novel" intended to amuse. Rather, it is an allegory of one postmodern, Westernized individual's journey into the Islamic Tradition. As such, I found it to be just as powerful as some of the classic allegories and poems written by the great Sufi masters of the medieval period. The plot is very simple: the story is narrated by a young man who works in a University library at some point in the near future. He is appointed to head the library after the disappearance of its former keeper. In this time, libraries are no longer merely buildings which house books, but they have been reduced to processing stations in which computers select and digest materials for scholars and students in such a manner that nothing will distract them from their area of specialization. However, the narrator becomes curious, and begins trying to solve the mystery of the previous librarian's disappearance. He soon comes across the missing man's journal, which contains the story of his growing dissatisfaction with modern life and his interest in ancient mystical writings as a more genuine form of knowledge. Finally, not content to merely read about the mystics of old, the vanished librarian ends his journal by confessing that he is journeying to the "desert lands" in search of living mystics from whom he can learn. The narrator very soon decides to travel in his footsteps, and departs for an unnamed location (most likely North Africa) to see what he can find out. The rest of the story details his gradual journey, first into Islam, and then into Sufism (Islam's mystical heart), after which he changes irrevocably. The book is interesting not so much for its plot but, as in any good allegory, for the record of a man's thoughts as he undergoes an inner transformation.

While I have read many books on Islam and Sufism, I have not encountered another work quite like this one. Most books on Islam intended for Westerners pander to modern beliefs and prejudices, treating it either as a relic of the past requiring modernization or as a threatening political force. This book treats Islam not as an intellectual or historical abstraction, but rather details the thoughts of a man, initially utterly submerged in the lies and half-truths upon which modern Western society is based, as he abandons his prejudices and comes into contact with the genuine reality offered by spirituality.

A brief, biographical note on the author is warranted. Ian Dallas was a Scotsman who travelled to Morocco during the 1960s and became involved with the Shadhili Sufi Order of the highly respected Shaykh Al-'Arabi Ad-Darqawi. After reverting to Islam and studying with the Shaykh for several years (the same period during which he wrote "The Book of Strangers"), the Shaykh appointed Ian Dallas as his successor. To this day, Dallas continues to lead his Order as Shaykh Abdalqadir, and has written many books on the subject of Islam under this name (although he has written a few other works under his original name). Thus, Dallas was uniquely qualified to write this book as a record of how a Westerner can come to understand Islam from within, rather than as an outsider. As such, it is a unique bridge between the modern world of deceit and the timeless, Traditional world of the spirit. If you have any interest at all in Islam, Sufism or any spiritual Tradition as something to be experienced rather than as a mere intellectual abstraction, I highly recommend this book for you.

.... but I'm undoubtedly too late! Fully fleshed-out characters and compelling, overlapping themes - relationships, personal growth, and the dot-com bubble bursting in 2000. An exceptional read.

This book is simply fantastic. An awesome read. I would recommend it to anyone!

I thoroughly enjoyed this account of the dot.com world. The star of the book for me was the wondrous Sierra who is a former stripper hired into the firm for her obvious attributes. Endowed with more smarts than her resume might indicate, Sierra identifies the power behind the throne, Farouk Kharrazi, who has too much money and one wife too many. Sleeping your way to the top may not be the most ethical business practice, but Sierra uses what she knows best and does an end run around the manager Jonathan Scarver and his right hand man Brad Smith. Ultimately, "Boomtown" comes down to a question of values. No amount of money in the world brings peace of mind, although it can bring a nice luxury apartment in New York City. There is a bit of a high-tech comedy of manners as computer geek Steven Bluestein reads everybody's email and then creates a virus that sends their emails to everyone else. This spirals out of control as the virus spreads around the world, bringing in the FBI to investigate the origins of the hoax. Greg Williams does a wonderful job of painting this world and making us care about it. I kept picturing Marge Helgenberger from CSI playing Sierra in the movie version. Enjoy!

A highly enjoyable, engrossing read, "Boomtown" (not related to the excellent but short-lived NBC series of the same name) charmed and delighted me. Moving quickly through the New York dot.com landscape of the year of the bubble burst, Williams uses his own experience (including perhaps his undergraduate major) to write a story that kept me turning the pages from start to finish -- with great interest -- in one satisfying day.

The ensemble cast includes the functional (and, at times, dysfunctional) protagonist, Brad Smith, the PR vice president for a content-free start up. We never really learn or need to know what it is they are selling; this makes for a good parable about the entire dot.com mirage/mania. Smith provides the central point to the strange populace from his firm, including the duplicitous general manager, the former stripper turned PR assistant, the Middle Eastern investor, the oversexed personal assistant, and the nerdy tech guy. They are an interesting crew and Smith stumbles aimlessly, drunkenly for much of the novel before finding some light at the end of the dot.com tunnel, most of it from a fellow traveler who wants something quite different than what Smith seems to be seeking.

In a parallel world, Nicole Garrison, aspiring actress, leaves her unfaithful boyfriend, spurns a calculating but clueless Wall Street type, earns her big break, loses it, and...well, let's not give away the entire plot.

The crash of the greedy, paper-rich Internet employees of the end of the last century provides good fodder for a "Bright lights, big city" like romp through the bars, bedrooms and refurbished office space that makes New York such an interesting setting for the book, much better than any bone-dry Silicon Valley setting. The characters, perhaps based on Williams' own experiences in this era, may be a bit stereotypical, but they are fun to watch. Sort of like "Sex in the city," only with more realistic work schedules.

Williams provides some personal insight about the dot.com collapse, some philosophy about contemplation, and a beguiling, almost too quick close to the story. The story would make a great movie and the conclusion provides the lead-in to a possible sequel.

A great way to spend a hot summer day.

Boomtown is a great, fast-moving novel that takes place in New York City during the pre 9-11 dot-com bubble. New York City serves as a glittering backdrop for the very compelling characters, the delusional dot-com schemes ("it was another great week for Biz Dev"), and painfully fragile relationships. The characters are entirely believable, and I felt genuine sadness for many of them. They get swept up in something much larger than themselves, and soon find themselves and their beloved city caught up in a new cycle of "creative destructiveness", seeing relationships end, seeing dreams end, but still holding on. This book struck a deep chord with me, and I highly recommend it.

The poem is an old favorite. The illustrations fit the time of the work. My 5- and 3- year olds enjoyed it as well.

Casey at the Bat tells about mighty Casey and his missing 2 strikes - like messing up in life.

This is by far the best rendition/publication of this poem that I've ever seen. The combination of the real-life looking people, but have their legs look like pencils, is quite humerous. Our particular favorite is the smoke coming from Casey's ears when he has struck out twice. The pictures in this book greatly enhance the story. Especially when Casey is standing there examining his fingernails on the first strike. Pretty cute and funny stuff.

Grab this book for all the young ball players you know - it really tells a nice tale of always doing your best, no matter how good you get at whatever you do. It made my little guy pretty sad to read this book/poem, but it definitely opens the door to emphasizing the importance of always doing your best. Highly recommend!

Thayer's classic ballad, `Casey at the Bat,' is greatly enhanced by Patricia Polacco's brilliantly achieved, big-hearted illustrations. Ms. Polacco captures emotion, action, and character through wittily exaggerated, slightly loopy pictures, and through lots of uncrowded background shenanigans. It's very cinematic: She effectively isolates action through extreme close-ups, and extends time through a montage of events occurring within a single picture. Like the auteur she is, she even adds some opening and closing story elements (while leaving the poem intact) that augment the poem's appeal to the younger reader.

This book is simply great fun to read aloud; you'll find yourself wanting to memorize its evocative imagery and epic aspirations:

"Ten thousand eyes were on him as he rubbed his hands with dirt; Five thousand tongue applauded when he wiped them on his shirt. Then while the writhing pitcher ground the ball into his hip, Defiance flashed in Casey's eye, a sneer curled Casey's lip."

You and your youngsters will love the humor and the drama in this a classic rendition of Thayer's beloved poem. Infants and toddlers will enjoy the bright pictures, and all readers will appreciate the perfect teaming of Thayer and Polacco.

I thought this was a wonderful book. I enjoyed Thayers use of poetry to exrpress the emotion in the story. The language used in the text is of very high quality and when read by an adult to a child, the child is able to thourghly understand. The illustrations play an important role with the text. They not only enrich the text, but they tell a story in itself. We can feel the emotion of the players and the crowd through Polacco's work. Overall I thought this was a wonderful book and reccomend it to a child of any age.

This book has been one of my favorites in the Cheney Duvall books. I liked the way they stayed in Cheneys home town (New York) and how she help helped with the Cholera outbreak. It suprised me when she came down with it herself. But it had a good ending and is one of my favorites. I am excited to read the rest of the Cheney Duvall books.

I liked the book. I did not like how Cheney acted sometimes but in the end a near tragedy brings everyone closer than ever. It really is a heart felt book, I cried in it twice. I love the books and read each one in a day. Read about my page deicated to the series Cheney Duvall, http://www.angelfire.com/mo/blondgirl/cheney.html

I love this book! The Cheney Duvall, M.D. series has been a favorite of mine for quite some time now, and I have slowly but surely been building my own collection of the series and only have 2 books left out of the 11 in both series published. The third book in the first series sets the stage for Cheney and Shiloh's romance to start to re-build after the disaster in Arkansas. Filled with new characters as well as familiar ones, Lynn and Gilbert Morris bring the life of a young Christian woman to life in a way that allows the reader to connect and deepen their own faith. Enjoy!

I liked the book. I did not like how Cheney acted sometimes but in the end a near tragedy brings everyone closer than ever. It really is a heart felt book, I cried in it twice. I read your inquiry about the Cheney books on Amazon.com. I have read all but #5. I did not like #2 as much as the others. What do you think about Cheney and Shiloh's relationship? I love the books and read each one in a day. Read about my page deicated to the series Cheney Duvall, http://www.angelfire.com/mo/blondgirl/cheney.html

Cholera sweeps New York City and one of the most prestigeous doctors comes down with it. She gets through it and begins to search for a cure. A marvelous story about survival, love, and faith. Read it Now!!

As one of Mr. Turners people, I can tell you this book is true to the letter. Where are you now Glen. New England's Mr. Kelley and others want to say thank you . . 35 years later . .

After reading so much misinformation about Glen Turner, it was a pleasure to read something positive. In this very interesting book by Pullitzer prize winner John Frasca you will find the facts about Turner his companies Dare to Be Great and Koscot. You will also see the kindness in this man who ave away money to charities, even at times when he couldn't afford to.I came across this book by accident buut found that it was a worthwhile read. It appears as though Glen Turner was a man of class and dignity.

I came across this book alon with Dare to Be Great at a used bookstore and found both books rather interesting.It appears as though Frasca was hired to Expose Glenn Turner's companies Dare to Be Great and Koscot Interplanetary as an illegal pyramid scheme and expose Turner as a charlatan.Instead, Frasca after going inside Turners organization is so impressed that he writes this book turning Glenn W. Turner into a hero and exposing him as a charitable, caring man who was also an astute businessman and a promoter of PMA (Positive Mental Attitude)Turner would become "American of the Year" beating Art Linkletter among others and his companies broke all sales records in the 70's for MLM/Network Marketing.Even if you don't believe it, all of us can learn a thing or two about giving something back as Glenn W. Turner did; about having a burning desire to succeed that would not quit and about the power of Network Marketing-Glenn W. Turner style.Very inspiring and motivational. Great story about a great man-Glenn W. Turner.

The C in Con stands for confidence and what Glenn Turner was, was a man who believed more in people and in their potential than the people themselves did.

Koscot Interplanetary and Dare To Be Great were great companies that offered superior products and an unequaled (at that time) marketing plan for those who were willing to work.

I believe that the so called pyramid charges against Turner are overdone. The fact of the matter is that even today, 4 out of 5 people who get into network marketing fail. With Turners company, the numbers were lower becuase of the superior training i.e The Dare To Be Great Training program.

Interesting is that reps who worked the business had no problem with the company, Glenn Turner, Turner Enterprises, Dare To Be Great or Koscot Interplanetary. Many people created high incomes. Customers loved the cosmetic products offered via Koscot and the personal development programs delivered on their promises, for those who attended the seminars and followed through on the training.

For those of us who were familiar with Glenn W. Turner, Koscot Interplanetary, Dare To Be Great and network marketing (referred to as MLM back then) in general, not surprised at the prejudice, innuendo and mistatements that are still prevalent today. Glenn Turner may be the most famous case, but there are many more cases against network marketing companies even currently.

And what became of Glenn W. Turner? I did some research and found that he is alive and well in Orlando, Fl. Still active in n etwork marketing and still 'teachin and 'preachin a positive attitude. Despite all that has happened to Turner, he still won't quit (that's attitude), he says that he is "better not bitter" about the injustices done to him and as far as I am concerned, the world is a better place with him still actively involved.

A better question though is what happened to all who persecuted him? People who made a name for themselves, feathered their own nests, exploited Glenn Turner and his people for their own personal gain. I did some research on that too and here is what I found out:

1. A sitting President, for whose benefit $200,000 (in 1972 dollars) was demanded? Resigned in disgrace, accepted pardon for his crimes.

2. Two United States Attorneys General who were the cornerstone of the full onslaught of the awesome power of the federal government against Glenn Turner fell from grace, convicted. One served hard time in a federal penitentiary.

3. Lawyers, numbering nearly forty, who held key positions in the administration of the disgraced President, were convicted of crimes in connection with Watergate. Many were disbarred.

4. A number of state attorneys general, or officials of similiar rank, who targeted Turner for special attention resigned from office in disgrace or were convicted of crimes.

5. A district attorney who prompted a raid of one of Glenn Turners meetings, arrested and attempted to prosecute scores of Turner people, was himself arrested for racketeering and convicted and the last we heard, was facing five years hard time in the penitentiary.

6. The sheriff's chief deputy, who led an unnecessary raid on Turners building and held Turner employees captive for hours, was himself arrested for embezzling public funds, was convicted and facing years of h ard time in the penitentiary.

7. The flourishing careers of a number of prosecutors, who were prominent in the fight against Glenn Turner, withered after the battles and never achieved their original promise.

8. A number of elected officials, who garnered fame for their publicity-seeking actions against Glenn W. Turner, failed in their bid for higher office in election races that seemed assured.

9. A government official who tried to extort funds from Glenn W. Turner and was removed from office for this attempt. Later was disbarred for alleged misconduct with a clients funds and reportedly fled the country to avoid prosecution.

A biblical phrase says that you reap what you sow. Based on the above record, it appears that many presumed honorable high scale people indeed "reap what they sowed" and prooves that you do indeed get back what you give out. It prooves without question that there is indeed a higher power whose decisions and justice are not based on media bias and are eminently fair. It's a power that you can't run or hide from...

John Frasca was an investigative reporter, originally hired to investigate (RE: Expose) Glenn Turner.After investigating Turner and his organization, he was so impressed that he wrote this book praising Turner and his company and exposing the negative and inaccurate propaganda circulating about Glenn Turner at that time.Interested in the facts about Glenn Turner? Read this book.

John O'Hara wrote "A Rage to Live". Author Peter Wood lived the rage. It fueled his left hook to the finals of the New York Golden Gloves and is just as potent in his first-person prose, making his memoir, "Confessions of a Fighter, " a corrosive, unsparing, compelling read - a 213-page primal scream.

Mr. Wood is a muscular storyteller.

What Wood's books are screaming for is the prequel, revealing more about how he, exploding with anger, jumped into the ring to wrestle with phantoms, real and imagined. Confessions of a Fighter asks the yet unanswered question, "what drove this guy to the ring for redemption?"

Told with compassion and honest insight, such stories need a telling in this time of so much legitimate anger at leaders who are plundering time and resources that need be put to addressing the environmental catastrophe that is in process. The planet needs the care from us just as we need it from each other, if we are to survive. In the personal struggle for survival can be the roadmap for collective survival.

The powerlessness that so many of us feel in not seeing done what must be done is anger-making squared. A more extensive Wood narrative of his youth would be a microcosmic tale of similar frustration and futility, shedding greater light on what drove him to slam fists into the bodies of brothers. However violent, ironically it stands as an act of hope, a desire to break through. It is both a cautionary tale and a story of redemption, as the earlier books bear out. A would-be great trilogy, for sure.

Read the Wood books in print already with a broad eye toward a universality that embraces larger and very contemporary challenges from which none of us can escape. A ring we must all step into is beckoning. Come on, Wood, where's the prequel?

This is a great book about mood and atmosphere, a book for boxing junkies and spectators, a book about smelly gyms and tense suburban dining rooms, a great read for anyone who has suffered the ups and downs of adolescence and ached for the wonderful release of revenge. The prose is exacting and unexpected - witness the mood that liberates the author on the brink of the first round, when " [the bell rang and]..the icy snowball in the pit of my stomach burst and my mind floated away serenely, like a butterfly." Muhammad Ali's rhymes have been downgraded accordingly. The characters are drawn but never overdrawn. The fight preparations and realities are elaborated in painstaking detail. The reader learns the psychology of the boxers as well as their physical and tactical weaknesses and strengths. The protagonist is all but unique - not from "Hell's Kitchen" but from the seemingly well-protected middle class world of Robert Redford's "Ordinary People." This book surprises continuously, never allowing the reader to settle in comfortably, just like a good fight.

I enjoyed your book as it took me back 35 years to Buffano's gym, you had me fooled Pete, I thought you were a tough Jersey City street kid, well you fought like one anyway. Your book reminded me of being a part of the boxing family;it's funny how boxers can beat each other up, but at the same time share a brotherly bond. In your book you spoke of praying for yourself and your opponent, that it would be a good fight for the fans and that neither would get hurt. I prayed the same prayer before each of my fights. God always came through.
Keep punching,
Willy Capuano

Confessions of a Fighter: Battling Through the Golden Gloves is the autobiography of boxer Peter Wood, from his turbulent home life amid a stepfather who verbally abuses him and half-siblings who compound his misery, to his decision to literally start training to fight back in a crumbling local gym, to his astonishing ascent to the finals of the New York Golden Gloves Championships in 1971. A visceral, tell-it-like-it-is view of the rigors of training, the heart-stopping fear of losing a fight, and the moment of truth and clarity experienced before tens of thousands of riled-up spectators, Confessions of a Fighter is an absorbing read from cover to cover. Especially recommended for boxing fans, and also for anyone contemplating the long, hard, and painful road to fighting championships for themselves.

Thanks for the quick shipping! The book is in perfect condition as described.

A great read filled with colorful illustrations & all the usual excitement you'd expect to find in a troll adventure. Of course, there is also a beautiful princess to be rescued. I don't know why Amazon lists the reading level as "baby, pre-school"!!! No baby or pre-schooler would sit through the first page. Maybe the illustrations would interest that group, but the amount of reading is far too lengthy. As a "read alone" book, I would say it is best suited for grades 3 and up.

As someone who is trying to cultivate a love of literature AND a lengthy attention span in my homeschooled children, I *did* purchase this for my pre-schooler and he sat happily through the entire book (3 evenings worth of reading for us). The d'Aulaire illustrations were, as always, engaging, soft, and encouraging to the child's imagination. Detailed without taking over the telling of the tales. Basically, it covered all of my criteria to be purchased: well written and if it has illustrations they need to be worthy of the story and worth looking at.

The down side to this book is that it is in some ways a long treatise on trolls that happens to include some stories as examples. This means that your child ends the book having been exposed to a lot of the folk beliefs of Scandinavian trolls, with a limited number of stories, and that it doesn't simple cut-off points for bedtime reading. On the other hand, it means it is a book worth revisiting as a child grows older; in our case so our children will be versed in the folklore and belief of their ancestors. A simpler bedtime book with lovely woodblock illustrations would be Lise Lunge-Larsen's "The Troll with No Heart in His Body." It is a collection of the stories with very brief intros that can be included or omitted according to the moment (at bedtime with my pre-schooler I tend to leave them out; when reading during the day I am more likely to include them).

I'm not really suggesting one book over the other. In a search for either cultural literacy or multiculturalism, both have their place and are both well told, well illustrated and will add to your child's imaginative landscape.

My grandsons loved this book. The illustrations are beautiful and the tales are quaint. We will be certain to treasure this book for years.

This was one of my favorite books as a child. I checked it out of the library over and over . The pictures just seem to come to life, the stories are enchanting. A must have for troll collectors. I purchased a copy at long last! Thanks Amazon

This is honestly the best book I have ever read. April Lurie, you are a terrific writer. I really appreciate your work! Thanks. Also, if you have any books very similar to Dancing in the Streets of Brooklyn, I would love to know.



Thanks for reading!

- Katie Jenkins

i have read this book 3 times in one day. u my think thats crazy but it just shows u how good this book is. a twist of reality, romance, and confilcts is what makes the recipe complete and this book has got it all.

Dancing in the streets of Brooklyn by April Lurie is based on some true events. A little piece of information I thought was interesting is that April Lurie grew up in Brooklyn, New York along with her character Judy.

Fourteen-year-old Judy Strand is the main character in this book. When Judy was younger, her father abandoned her and her mother. Judy's mom, knowing she would be the sole provider for her family, she set out for America for more opportunity. Before they started their journey, Mrs. Strand had two children, one of which died of pneumonia on their way to America. Judy had no idea that she had a younger sister until, nosing around in her mom's closet.There, she found a photo of a little girl and a birth certificate for an anonymous person. When Judy finally got the guts to ask her mom who this girl was, her mom started to weep uncontrollably. I'm not going to let out the secret of why she was crying..... You'll need to read this book and figure out for yourself the "Big Secret".

Lurie has a great talent for word choice. She is so descriptive; I had a visual of what was going on in the story at all times. Here is a great example; "I awoke to loud voices mixed with aroma of fish balls and creamed cabbage. Ma was fretting like she did when she burned something." You're probably wondering why she was fretting, but I can't give away the whole thing!!

I think this is a great book for ages 9 to 12 both boys and girls as it has many concurrent story lines. This is a very dramatic book for active readers. Why don't you read it and see for yourself. Have a great time reading!

Wow this is the best new author I have read in a long time. I read the entire book in one sitting because I could not put it down. The characters were so realistic and I felt like I could relate to each of them in one way or another. I recommend Dancing in the Streets of Brooklyn to anyone looking for an exciting novel to read over the holidays.

"Dancing in the Streets of Brooklyn" is a warm, beautiful story with authentic characters that have remained in my memory. Lurie avoids melodrama to tell Judy's story with sincerity and compassion. The author's roots in Bay Ridge give the book an authenticity that's refreshing. Not your typical wartime book, "Dancing" shows that while the years were difficult, they were innocent as well. Readers easily feel Judy's joys and sorrows as she comes to terms with the secrets of her past.

Now that summer has reached its peak and the gophers have snatched my tomatoes; the pressure's off. Either it is or it isn't a Better Homes and Garden garden. (It isn't) And once again I can enjoy reading gardening books and begin plans for next year's successes and for overcoming this year's failures.

Anne Raver, garden columnist for the New York Times, has written a truly funny and charming book in which she shares her own successes and failures.

Raver offers interesting perspectives on the familiar: from the arrival of the tomato seeds via postal carrier to the introduction of a cat into her dog-loving ( and cat hating) household. Just so you aren't kept in suspense, the tomato lives and the cat is loved but both had to overcome a few obstacles.

The Dirt On Earthworms presents these little fellows in a new light. "Aristotle called earthworms `the intestines of the earth'..[It] is barely more than a digestive tract, with just enough brain to shovel food in one end and send nitrogen-rich humus out the other." One of Darwin's volunteer earthworm watchers (yes, there is a hobby for everyone) noted `with interest' that earthworms plug up the mouths of their burrows at night. She even went out, lantern in hand, to watch their evening activities. There she discovered that they affix their tails to their burrows and grabbing stones in their mouths, pull them back to the entrance. From this Darwin surmised "Earthworms...were civilized enough to seek comfort." Hmmm.

Other chapters include "A Plant Is Not An It", "Never Say Thank You For A Plant", "The Year Of The Tomato", and "Gandhi Gardening". However, this is not just another `how I learned to live in harmony with nature by crawling on my belly in the garden' book. Yes, there is a hint of that, but Raver takes her reader further, as she explores country pleasures and successfully translates these pleasures into language. And that is not as simple as it may sound. She says "When you're passionate about something, you often, mistakenly try to get the other person to understand. You keep bringing up little details and profound events, thinking that maybe this time the person will get it, will see what you see." This person got it. A great read!

Welcome to the world of Anne Raver as seen through her garden. Here you will meet her loveable old dog Molly, "a twelve -year-old Saint Bernard squished into a setter's body with some collie thrown in," and Mr. Grey a long-haired feline acrobat that endears himself to both Molly and the author despite all their efforts to dislike him.

Here too you learn about Raver herself as she plots and plans her gardens, agonizes about a move to a new house, struggles with insects and pesticides, life in the city versus the pull of her country roots, and her conflicted if loving relationship with her parents. Raver's interests, even with gardening as a base, are eclectic and far ranging. In one essay she waxes eloquent, though tongue in cheek, about breaking the law by growing poppies. In another she tells how she came to discover that cricket manure is a great fertilizer. In a third she tells of her triumph over a paralyzing fear of climbing ladders. All in all it's a wonderful stroll through one woman's life with plenty of amusing observation and touching insight thrown in.

My one complaint was that the length of the essays (they are reprints of articles Raver wrote for The New York Times) often means that the reader is left wanting to know more, to hear how a story ended, how a problem was resolved, whether or not Raver ever finds a man she can co-habitat with, what finally happens to the old family homestead. While I realize this is a limitation of the genre, I am hoping that Raver will eventually sit down and write a non-stop tale of her rich and varied life. Otherwise this is a wonderful, uplifting read.

People who get the New York Times and read the garden section are probably totally familiar with Anne Raver's writing, but those in other parts of the country may not be. For many years she was the garden editor of the NY Times and although I don't think she holds this position any longer, I still do find her articles now and then in the Times.
I am a garden writer myself (Allergy-Free Gardening, Safe Sex in the Garden) and I read the work of as many different garden writers as I can. I especially try to read as much material as possible from writers who write for newspapers, since so often they are tuned in to the most current tastes in horticulture. Then too, as a writer I always appreciate extra quality work when I read it, work such as that of Ann Raver (who by the way, I don't know and have never met.)
Deep in the Green: An Exploration of Country Pleasures is a little book but it's packed with useful gardening tidbits and the writing is superb. Like some other reviewers of this book, I too would like to see another book from her, perhaps a sequel to Deep in the Green. I am always on the lookout for neat little books on gardening to give as presents to my friends who garden, and this one is always a hit. A collection of articles published first in the Times, each chapter here is lively, charming, often darn funny, and in the tradition of great garden writers (especially some of the great English writers), the material is based on true life garden adventures, and it is always close and personal. If you've never read any of Ann Raver's work, I suggest you give it a try. Almost anyone who loves to garden and read will enjoy this book.

I read this book for the first time in 1999 and I have returned to savor the pages each year since. I have bought 3 extra copies for gifts for my nature loving friends. I am hoping the "next generation" appears on the horizon soon!

This book is more personally revealing than the garden columns Anne Raver usually writes for the New York Times. Her columns tend to be filled with practical advice interspersed with personal anecdotal information. In her book, Raver writes reflectively about her return to the family farm in Maryland and gardening in her 'single' flat in NYC after her divorce.

Ms. Raver reveals she has discovered gardening can provide a theraputic outlet, that it is a healing actitivy that helps one maintain balance through life's trials. She shares a tidbits of her inner life as she struggles to maintian equilibrium and deal with being single, aging parents, and a farm that can be a challenge most of the time. Some passages read like letters from a sister or a good friend.

The New York Times boasts several garden writers, and a circulation that encompasses much of the Northeast. I enjoy Anne's column, though I haven't seen it as much as I used to, which leads me to hope she may be working on another book.

John W. Cassell is the "Best of the Best" - a great author. He's witty, captivating, makes you cry and most importantly, he makes you laugh. One can never go wrong reading John W. Cassell. And "Devilliers County Blues 1972" is just another wonderful book by this amazing author.

I read this work of John Cassell's out of order. Hell's Quest takes place in the year before Devillier's County Blues, but I was taking the book on vacation and HQ is a larger tome and the airlines are getting picky about weight limits so in went the smaller of the two volumes. Now I am anxiously awaiting my flight home so I can start on HQ!
I have become friends with Brother John through the Amazon Shorts program and he is an amusing, insightful and creative correspondent. I have also read some of his other books and stories and thoroughly enjoyed them. But not even his earlier works prepared me for the thrill ride that is DCB. I like to write, and read, stories that have a twist in the tail (or even tale). DCB has surprises in abundance, combined with the usual cast of believeable and sympathethic characters and a clear feel for the times in which the action takes place. John weaves in political and social commentary without ever taking away from the story or, for that matter, even seeming to comment at all.
John can also write effective erotic passages without the anatomical detail beloved by some authors....read the account of the protagonist's encounter with Luella in the guard tower and see if you agree. He can write just as effectively of violence without recourse to graphic detail....read of the capture at the farm house and tell me that you don't feel the horror.
As I said, I have become friends with John and some may view this review as slightly biased. For the nitpicker, there are flaws to be found, but show me a four hundred page book without flaws and I'll shake your hand. If you want a book that entertains, makes you think, recalls a turbulent time with astonishing clarity, twists your mind like a pretzel with its surprises and plot twists and, finally, leaves you satisfied as you close its final page.....this is a book for you.

Discovered this book quite by accident whilst visiting the product page of Up The Down Staircase. Its author had submitted a review I found to be literary in its quality, logical in its argument. So I purchased DeV.

On one level this is the story of an individual trapped, not knowing how he came to be so, amongst others in an insane asylum. On another, it is the story of the legal system of America in 1972, the various decision-makers within it, and the author's un-stayed opinion of their worth and performance.

On both levels Mr. Cassell does an outstanding job of relating a thrilling cops and robbers type of story, a story complicated by the fact we really don't know who the good chaps are, do we? Indeed the reader must needs make that judgment for himself as the surface viewpoint pits a distinguished American entrepreneur and philanthropist against people of not at all similar social rank.

The judgement is not all difficult at the end, but the plot is compelling, John and his fellow escapees sympathetic as the drama unfolds. I might add there is an excellent collection of secondary characters who add considerable spice to the story. These include the solicitor Horowitz, the policemen Gariglia, Gardner, Marcuso and Pelligrini, the siren Louella, the bright and fetching Lindsey, not to mention Woodstock and Moonbeam!

A few surprises, some grisly psychological touches, some very clever villians and an overall winner of a story makes DeVilliers County Blues a must-read.

Discovered this book quite by accident whilst visiting the product page of Up The Down Staircase. Its author had submitted a review I found to be literary in its quality, logical in its argument. So I purchased DeV.

On one level this is the story of an individual trapped, not knowing how he came to be so, amongst others in an insane asylum. On another, it is the story of the legal system of America in 1972, the various decision-makers within it, and the author's un-stayed opinion of their worth and performance.

On both levels Mr. Cassell does an outstanding job of relating a thrilling cops and robbers type of story, a story complicated by the fact we really don't know who the good chaps are, do we? Indeed the reader must needs make that judgment for himself as the surface viewpoint pits a distinguished American entrepreneur and philanthropist against people of not at all similar social rank.

The judgement is not all difficult at the end, but the plot is compelling, John and his fellow escapees sympathetic as the drama unfolds. I might add there is an excellent collection of secondary characters who add considerable spice to the story. These include the solicitor Horowitz, the policemen Gariglia, Gardner, Marcuso and Pelligrini, the siren Louella, the bright and fetching Lindsey, not to mention Woodstock and Moonbeam!

A few surprises, some grisly psychological touches, some very clever villians and an overall winner of a story makes DeVilliers County Blues a must-read.

One day, when the cultural wars are done and the human soul is freed, I'll be able to say with full conviction, "This is a great Day to live."

DEVILLIERS COUNTY BLUES follows the timeframe and march of footsteps of HELL'S QUEST: 1971, and SOLDIER OF AQUARIUS: 1969-1970 (which combines Cassell's CROSSROADS and AN AQUARIAN TRAGEDY), as a great place to kick out into a new way of life, with a fascinating literary hero.

As is obvious from my discussion topic (in the Amazon Shorts forum) toasting John Cassell's HELL'S QUEST: 1971, I've been reading this author's collection of novels for the past few months, following a surge in literary exploration which has caused that forum to evolve into a commentary on each of those novels, as well as into a seminar on novelists talking about their work and writing techniques, including how ghosts, poltergeists, and possession of an author by a quickened character are related concepts.

For the past several years I've been reading mostly mystery novel series as I enjoy the literary depth and continuity there. I escape into novels so thoroughly that I go through a minor grieving process when I finish a good one. Being able to follow a character through several books is a boon to that type of psyche, and to an author like me who also writes books in series.

Prior to becoming addicted to the unique voice of Cassell, I had made a study of Robert B. Parker's Spenser series, reviewing each novel in that series, then moving into his two other mystery series. Through Spenser I enjoyed comparing the 70's to present day, and following various details of the evolution of cultural change beginning in the 70's then pushing heatedly through the 80's, 90's, and 00's.

That craving led naturally, almost uncannily into Cassel's novels, which focus on the 1967-1973 seeding pivotal point of the huge number of philosophical, psychological, sociological changes which we're still sorting through today.

My problem with some of The Literary Classics has always been that reading them depressed me. I was usually left at the end of a read feeling that the best next course of action would be to leap off a cliff. I was always disgusted that such amazing literary skill, such exquisite syntax, such blood-rich character development, such balsamic plot complexity was used to elevate either the artistry of ennui or of horrifying tragedy... concluding with, "Is that all there is?" or "Life is NOT a bowl full of cherries; it is The Pits of Terror and Torture." The GREAT GATSBY was one such. The wordsmithing and storytelling ability in that novel are almost unsurpassable. Yet, I feel nothing but an empty, horrible depression when I get into that book or movie. Even so, Gatsby is one of my favorite examples of a truly good novel.

Too many of the Classics, for me, are the perfect promotions for Prozac. Given a choice, I'd rather read Parker or Cassell and keep my natural chemistry intact.

What I like about that pair is that both authors provide engrossing entertainment, then leave me as a reader with a feeling of being well grounded into reality, including the dark sides, yet ready to work even harder to get what I want out of life and to spark others to do the same with their lives, through my writing.

When I read I seek a spirit lift. I get enough daily drains on my life force from reality. I can't see welcoming them into my mind when I'm wanting the regenerating factor of an escape into an enthralling world created in my mind by another healthy mind.

Somewhat in contrast to all the above, I've been thoroughly drawn into the benefits of the Amazon Shorts program as a way to develop my readership, and to find additional authors I might want to explore. Through reading the short stories and nonfiction essays in the Shorts program, I've discovered that I can sometimes enjoy a "short" break from my usual diet of novels and series. The authors in the Amazon Shorts program are indeed impressive. If not for Amazon Shorts, I might not have discovered the author who has become my favorite, rivaling Ayn Rand's ATLAS SHRUGGED.

Who is John W. Cassell?

I hope to find other authors whose books possess anywhere near that level of ability to enhance the soul. It'll be a while yet, before I've come to the conclusion of indulging this wallow into the works of a great author stepping out.

I'm honored to say that my blurb has been included in John's latest novel's publication, in good company with other authors raving SOLDIER OF AQUARIUS.

Soon, I hope to be able to compose and post separate reviews on each of Cassell's novels available here on Amazon. Until then, I'll post this overview to stand in admiration of literature worth reading and rereading.

Linda Shelnutt

Morning Comes: the Pre Dawn Blues - Part 1
I'm rereading my own novel available in a 10 part series of Amazon Shorts, MORNING COMES, which holds uncanny thematic parallels to some of John's books, especially AN AQUARIAN TRAGEDY, which I'm now reading, having now read all of the current Cassell collection.