DC Washington Books

I would have never guessed at all the history in Woodley Park; its nice to see a series of these for Dc neighborhoods that are capturing the rich past

Woodley Park, Washington D.C. is a neighborhood for walking. For some years, I walked through the Connecticut Avenue thoroughfare of Woodley Park on my way to work from further north on the Avenue. The highlight of my walk was crossing the Taft Bridge just south of the Woodley Park metro stop. The bridge features two famous stone statues of lions at both ends together with high eagle lamposts along its course. Another fine walking bridge, the Duke Ellington Bridge, is at almost a right angle to the Taft Bridge from the metro. At the intersection of Connecticut and Calvert, where the bridges essentially begin, there is a large mural of Marilyn Monroe painted about 25 years ago. This mural has become a city landmark. The Woodley Park area offers other opportunities for walking at the hilly and expansive National Zoo and at Rock Creek Park.

In their book "Woodley Park" local Washington D.C. architectural historians Paul Williams and Gregory Alexander introduce the reader to the history and variety of this Washington D.C. neighborhood. The book is part of the "Images of America" series which celebrates in photographs communities and local histories across the United States. The authors have written several other books for Images of America on other neighborhoods in Washington. Williams and Alexander have collected about 200 photographs of the area together with commentary which explains the development of Woodley Park.

I was unfamiliar with much of the history of Woodley Park. Until the beginning of the Twentieth Century Woodley Park was predominantly rural because developers thought that the Rock Creek Valley made urbanization impracticable. The areas primary development consisted of a small number of large mansions, including Woodley, for which the community is named. Population pressure, entrepreneurship, and the bridges soon changed the character of Woodley Park. The area soon became known for the large hotels, apartment complexes, and homes which characterize the area today. The small area adjacent to the Metro Stop is a thriving commercial strip with every variety of restaurant and several unusual shops.

In the photos and texts of their five-chapter book, Williams and Alexander describe the early mansions of Woodley Park in the days before urbanization. They also devote a chapter to describing the history of the large hotels in the area and the many famous people who frequented them. A separate chapter of the book documents the growth of the large apartment buildings.

I was more interested with the portions of the neighborhood surrounding the impressive apartment complexes and hotels. Thus the book offers several excellent photographs of the early history of the National Zoo, including the famous panda pair as well as many unusual scenes. There is also a chapter devoted to the bridges that I have described and to the history of their construction. A final chapter of the book describes the construction of the National Cathedral on Massachussetts and Wisconsin Avenue. George Washington originally had the vision of constructing a large cathedral for people of all faiths. Although it is an Episcopalian house of worship constructed entirely with private funds, the Cathedral has functioned to fill Washington's dream. It is a national landmark that frequently serves as an ecumenical space for people of all faiths. The Cathedral is home to many inspiring musical events led by Washington D.C.'s outstanding local musician, J. Reilly Lewis.

I enjoyed reading this book to revisit parts of Woodley Park that I know well and to learn about other aspects of the community that had escaped me over the years. I will see the community afresh the next time I visit Woodley Park.

Robin Friedman

We are so luckly that Barack Obama cares enough about this country to run for President. After reading this book it is easy to see why he is so popular today. To me, his message is simple. America should be the envy of the world and lead by example. It's time to practice what we preach.

I think if more people who truly professed "not to know him" would read this autobiography, they'd learn a thing or twenty.

Politicians crank out lots of books like this when we get near election-time, so one can only expect so much. That being said, TAoH was a decent read and helped allay some concerns I had about our probable next president. While it seemed to lack focus at times, it did come across as more authentic and genuine than other books of this type. That, alone, makes it worth reading.

Recommended.

Obama is the man baby, the next president in 2008! This book is GREAT, and everyone should read it. Sorry my review is not a novel like everyone else.

I enjoyed listening to Obama's first book on CD, "Dreams of My Father." I respected how honest he was about his struggles of growing up, being raised by a white mother and grandparents, but appearing black to others. Dreams of my father was about his childhood and early adult years. Now that the election is close, I wanted to know more about his political positions, so this was exactly that.

I view myself as a logical, sensible person, so I connected with this book. The story gives a good historical overview of politics from what we could read in textbooks, in addition to the inside scoop and a veiwpoint from someone with a law degree, professor and U.S. Senator.

I'm a pediatric nurse, so I am very aware of the greatness and downfalls of our medical system. People may not believe the stories like he told; the man who had been a foreman at the closed steel plant, lost his health care coverage, was willing to and would be forced to sell everything so his son could get a needed liver transplant. For middle-class America, those stories are plenty.

This book was on the dry side compared to Dreams of my father, but it was about politics! It was more interesting than any other poliitcal book I've read. Barack was just as open about the stuggles and the issues he pondered. He genuinely wants to make the best choices and really consider the impacts of decisions.

He has my vote.

Having only recently been introduced to the crime novel world I'm very impressed so far with the Alex Cross series. It's nice to enjoy a crime thriller without all the gross stuff for a change. Couldn't put it down.

This 2nd book in the Alex Cross series was absolutely spellbinding! I couldn't put it down. The plot was very interesting and kept you on the edge of your seat wondering what was going to happen next. I could "see & feel" every scene and emotion as if I were right there with the characters. I would recommend reading the 1st in the series- Along came a spider - then proceed from there. I promise you won't be disappointed if you love suspense & mystery! S.L. Chessor author of My Tongue Fell Out & Poodlums Boogeymen and Booglers.Poodlums, Boogeymen and Booglers: A Poetry Collection My Tongue Fell Out

In the Research Triangle of North Carolina, young, intelligent women are being abducted by a mysterious kidnapper known as Casanova. Like his namesake, he loves women - but unlike the famous man, he kills those who do not obey his orders. Meanwhile, on the West Coast, a kidnapper known as the Gentleman Caller is kidnapping and killing young women, before sending his diaries to a young reporter at the L.A. Times. It's obvious that the two men are in communication. But are the same person? Or are there two serial kidnappers on the loose?

Enter Alex Cross, the D.C. detective and psychologist famed for bringing down Gary Soneji the year before. Cross's niece, Duke law student Naomi Cross, is one of Casanova's latest victims. Everyone is sure that the man commits the perfect crimes. But when a young UNC doctor named Kate McTiernan escapes his vanishing house of horror, the Durham police and FBI have some clues as to how Casanova operates.

There's only one problem. Despite knowing the Gentleman Caller's true identity, Casanova remains a mystery. Always seen in various masks, he makes it nearly impossible for his victims to identify him. When bad things start happening yet again, it's up to Cross, his partner Sampson, and Kate to find the man behind the kidnappings - and rescue Alex's niece.

James Patterson's second Alex Cross novel, "Kiss the Girls", is a riveting page-turner that will have you on the edge of your seats until the final page. As a long-time mystery fan, I thought I had the mystery figured out, but I was wrong. This is truly a suspenseful novel, up until the last surprise.

When I was a kid in junior high school, our class read a Sherlock Holmes story called "The Adventure of the Speckled Band." In the story, a villain releases a trained poisonous snake into a woman's bedroom through a ventilation aperture. After the snake administers its fatal bite, the villain summons it back through the aperture by whistling for it. The snake has to climb up a bell rope to get to the aperture, and it is rewarded for its efforts with a saucer of milk set out for it in the adjacent room. In the subsequent classroom discussion of the story, I learned that snakes can't be summoned with a whistle because they're deaf; snakes can't climb up ropes; and snakes don't drink milk.

But what on earth does this have to do with Kiss the Girls? Well, a villain in that book has a beautiful young woman stripped naked and bound with her legs hoisted up toward the ceiling. After administering a warm milk enema--some of which dribbles out--he then lets a snake out of a wicker basket. The snake gets a whiff of milk and--you guessed it--slithers into the hapless girl's fundamental orifice to get to its liquid treat.

Classic example of an author without a clue...

As is the case in nearly all James Patterson's novels, the villains are over the top here--geniuses, handsome devils, phi beta kappas--and the crimes they commit over years are well beyond belief. There are no crimes in real life to compare with those in this book or in other Alex Cross novels. Not even Jeffrey Dahmer or Jack the Ripper could compete with Casanova and his sidekick, The Gentleman Caller.

And Alex Cross, the psychologist police detective, is perhaps just a little too good in places and a bit naive, even blind, in others. Coupled with his character flaws are more serious plot flaws. Casanova has captured a good many women and is holding them in a cellar at a remote rural area. He parks his car some distance away and visits regularly to have his way with them. But when Cross goes looking there, he finds no path, and there surely must have been one with all the foot traffic in and out. Another flaw: Casanova gets some nasty karate kicks when he captures one victim, bone crushing kicks to the face, as they are characterized. Would there not have been clear signs of his injuries next day when he resumes his public persona? Didn't anyone notice that his nose was purple and bent sideways? It seems to me that the laws of physics apply in fiction, the same as in real life. There are other flaws as well, but two will suffice here. Certainly there are many readers who like crime fiction that goes far beyond reality, but for me it just gets funny, rather than scary, when the laws of nature are abrogated.

I have to add one observation with respect to this book and other Alex Cross novels: it is very dangerous for any woman to become closely involved with our hero. Such women get shot, raped, cut, traumatized for life, kidnapped, tortured, electrocuted, etc. Cross's love affairs are not to be envied, despite the fact that he keeps meeting gorgeous and willing females. Perhaps he should consider celibacy for the sake of society.

This was a phenominal read and very fast paced. First let me preface this review by saying that i do believe that its important to read the Alex Cross books in order. Many of the "bad" reviews came from reviewers who have not read the books in the proper order. OK, coming off my soap box now.

Alex Cross is on the hunt again. High Profile murders are being committed in the Heart of DC to some pretty important people. Alex is pulled off of a more personal case in order to work on this high profile one. But fear not the caped crusader will not be denied his target. The intesity of this book is great and i found it very difficult to put the book down. I thoroughly enjoy Patterson's writing style. He makes his stories easy to read and thrilling on top of that.

If you are looking for some exciting reads this summer i encourage you to read the Alex Cross series. You wont be disappointed...

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My headline says it all, I have equally loved every single James Patterson book I have read, I am his #1 fan and this book...just like all his others, didn't disappoint me in the least! S.L. Chessor author of My Tongue Fell Out & Poodlums Boogeymen and Booglers.Poodlums, Boogeymen and Booglers: A Poetry CollectionMy Tongue Fell Out

This is one of my favorites of James Patterson. I have always had difficulty putting down one of his books. There are two murder cases. One is Jack and Jill murders and the other is the murders of black children. These were two different cases, but why would Alex Cross think the murderers are one and the same? Read and find out, you will enjoy it. By Ruth Thompson author of "The Bluegrass Dream" and "Natchez Above The River"

Writing as a Small BusinessQualifying Laps: A Brewster County NovelSins of the Fathers: A Brewster County NovelTravelersThe Bluegrass Dream: A Wilderness Adventure of Early SettlersNatchez Above The River: A Family's Survival In The Civil War

"Jack and Jill" was good, but it took a while for me to get into it. It seemed to stagnate in the middle, then finally did start moving again. But, let me add that when it did start moving again, it was great!

A set of assassins nicknamed Jack and Jill are loose on the streets of Washington, D.C. The pair are killing famous and influential people, such as movie stars, newscasters, and lawyers. At each crime scene, the duo leave a few lines of rhymed poetry detailing what they have done. And during the course of each murder, the Secret Service get a call as to where to look for the body.

In D.C.'s poor Southeast area, young schoolchildren are being murdered in broad daylight. The killer is an amateur, but few people are willing to volunteer details on what they have seen happen.

Detective Alex Cross is assigned to work both cases. The first is frightening because Jack and Jill are the Secret Service code names for the president and his wife; those protecting the Chief are worried about an assassination attempt. The second is terrifying because it is happening a few blocks from Alex's house. But when the powers that be decide that solving one set of killings is more important than the other, problems begin to arise.

Like the other novels in James Patterson's Alex Cross series (this being the third book), "Jack and Jill" revolves around a fast-paced plot, a set of murders that mirror the racial tensions in the United States, and more twists and turns than a maze. And, like his other novels, you won't be able to put it down.

Term Limits has a sickening political message. The novel is based on the assassinations of members of Congress and other political figures. The characters are silly; the protagonists are kept weak throughout the novel (if not comical) and the antagonists develop split-personalities - some becoming heroes and others villains. Bizarre justifications are given for assassinating the politicians and the attempt to capture the killers is half-hearted. The book will appeal to rightwing extremists - with "extremists" being the key word. For the rest of us looking for a good book, I would strongly suggest bypassing this one.

I bought this book while on vacation. I don't normally get to read books because I have enormous amounts of professional journals and magazines to keep up with. But I was interested in the "teasers" and wasn't disappointed when I began to read. The plot and characters may be somewhat out there to many. But I've known people on the fringes of these communities and the characters in them and Flynn does a great job of describing their worldview. Hopefully we won't get to where we accept assassination as a way to deal with political gridlock, but Flynn knows the buttons to push to get us thinking about the questions arising in our declining republic. I think this book is a great read for fun and for thinking about our country.

Great Book, Vince Flynn is the king of the political thriller, then in his other books once Mitch Rapp is introduced, all great

Great Great reads, I highly recommend them, I have read all nine of his books

As a fan of Vince Flynn this was the last of his current titles that I hadn't read yet. Nobody that likes his other titles should be dissapointed in this one. The concept of the book makes, especially in todays economy, easilly grabs your attention.

I've read two of Vince Flynn's thrillers (Transfer of Power and Third Option) and found them both mildly enjoyable. I started Term Limits and soon realized this was the first book he'd written. I was excited to find out about the origination of some of the reoccurring characters such as Congressman Michael O'Roarke and CIA operative Irene Kennedy.

This book still has the cluncky point of view problems that existed in the Third Option and Flynn's writing style in general is bland, but I the plot started off with a bang. Three well-known politicians were murdered by expertly trained assassins. Their demands are simple. The congress must not pass the president's bloated budged and must instead do what the American people want and enact needed spending cuts. Now, this sounds like an agenda I could agree with, but I certainly don't believe in killing congressmen to get it done.

Imagine my surprise when, early in the book, freshman Congressman Michael O'Roarke (a character in future books) agrees with the killings and believes they are justified. Imagine my surprise as I continue to read and find out O'Roarke may know who was behind the killings but refuses to go to the FBI with the information.

I wanted a hero to get behind and its hard to get behind a hero who advocates killing Senators. Flynn wanted this to be a plausible military thriller, but it fails at every corner. The omniscient point of view definitely detracts from the enjoyment. I also kept waiting for O'Roarke to save other Senators from assassination, but page after page O'Roarke stands behind the killings because he believes the killings are just what Congress needs to stop wasting our money.

Now, I'm a right winger who believes 100% Flynn's message that spending is out of control and must be stopped and that politicians of both parties are more interested in power than helping the country. I found it ludicrous for Flynn to expect me to buy into a hero that, as a congressman, advocates the killing of his co-workers to advance a political agenda.

After 350 pages, I have had enough. I kept reading, thinking O'Roarke would change. But it is obvious he won't and thanks to other Amazon reviews, I know I've made the right decision. I may read other Flynn novels featuring Mitch Rapp, because the first two I read were good, but his first novel is horrible.

David Baldacci successfully provides entertainment that rivals the best CSI or government conspiracy books. ABSOLUTE POWER is primarily a story about a corrupt presidency that covers up a high profile murder. If that were all, then this story would only rate 3 stars or less since the idea of the government participating in a crime and getting away it is not new, not even in real life - Watergate, Iran-Contra, etc. What is unique is the crime can only be solved with the help of criminals and Baldacci surrounds the story with a number of relatable conflicts that add to the story's intrigue - love versus hate of an absent father, greed versus virtue, and loyalty versus criminal behavior.

The main character, Jack, is a lawyer who is faced with a choice between an easy life and getting involved in a crime that appears to be over his head. His choice ultimately impacts an emotionally high maintenance ex-girlfriend, easy-living wealthy fiancé, a seasoned detective, a prominent law firm with stereotypical attorneys, a habitual burgalar who finds himself at the wrong place at the wrong time, and ultimately a presidency.

My only criticism of Baldacci is that he waites to the end to resolve most of the major conflicts created by the multiple characters. As a result, the story feels like it ends abruptly. I am of the belief that a well written story does not need an epilogue to resolve conflict or finish a story.

Along with Baldacci's "The Winner," this book ranks in the top 10 of all books of this genre in my view. While the movie was well acted and well written, for those of us who read the book first, the storyline couldn't compare to the incredible depth, character development and subplots of the book. Treat yourself to a page-turner you won't be able to put down.

Baldacci's first novel may be an oldie, but it's most definitely a goodie. A fast-paced, don't-blink-or-you'll-miss-it thriller, "Absolute Power" explores the idea of the nation's chief executive as a conscienceless murderer.

The smarmy President in this novel seems like a composite of everybody's worst nightmare (depending on what your party affiliation is, take your pick!) -- highly popular with press and constituents, well on his way to re-election, king of the sound bites--and a low-life philanderer who's not above a little violence. The "ew" factor is very high--and his chances of ever getting caught are very low.

Add in a young up-and-coming lawyer with a consience, a female chief-of-staff who has more than a few things to hide (including her unrequited adoration of her boss), a lifetime criminal with a heart of gold, and two loyal Secret Service agents in over their heads--and you've got a whopper of a yarn. I loved it.

When lust, power and greed are coupled with a belief that money can buy anything and that the ends justifies the means regardless of the consequences, we have all of the ingredients of an explosive thriller.

When a sexual encounter between the US President and the young wife of a billionaire goes horribly wrong, a number of senior figures become involved in attempting to wipe out all evidence of the crime. Unfortunately for them, there was an eyewitness who has the only material evidence that can link the President to the crime scene.

So why was Luther Whitney robbing the billionaire's house? Not all answers are as obvious as they may seem. Why is Jack Graham prepared to sacrifice his promising career as a partner in a leading law firm in order to defend Luther, and will he make the right choices? There's plenty of action in this novel and believability is not necessarily an issue in escapism.

This novel was a great way to spend a couple of hours. I understand that this was Mr Baldacci's first novel and was published in 1996.

Jennifer Cameron-Smith

I finally decided to go back and read the Baldacci thriller that I hadn't read. I was reluctant because I have seen the movie and thought I would be a step ahead every page. I was wrong. As usual, the book is better than the movie. The main premise of the book and movie is the same, but parts of the storyline and characters are a quite different. I would rate this as one of my favorite Baldacci books up there with The Winner. If you like the movie, you'll love the book.

In this installment of the Mitch Rapp series the CIA operative is nearly assassinated in Germany while completing a mission. Rapp has to go underground to see who wants him dead and why.

"The Third Option" has the same elements readers have come to expect from this series: violent action, descriptions of weaponry and special forces operations, and Mitch Rapp cutting through all the political nonsense to get things done.

Though "The Third Option" does end with some unresolved issues it is another fun ride for readers of action novels.

The Third Option is Flynn's third spy thriller. Each one seem a little better then the previous. Nuff said, simply the best.

Rapp is involved in an assassination plot in Germany and should have taken the advice of his gut. His cohorts aren't working on the same side and try to kill him. Fast paced and always great to watch Rapp get out of a mess. Like Stansfield and hate to see him go. Kennedy is okay, but does not have the savvy that Stansfield has. Boy, once again those dirty Senators. Boy, it motivates one to get rid of Congress. Have to read Separation of Power to get justice. Loved it.

Flynn has hit his stride in this book. He carefully is starting to transition characters, which only adds to the complexity of the plot[s].

I just love this Mitch Rapp series. He's definitely our over the top guy. I hope there are people somewhat like him in real life. Prime characters: Mitch Rapp counter terrorist operative; Dr. Irene Kennedy Director of the CIA's Counterterrorism Center;CIA Director Thomas Stansfield the ultimate master spy;President Robert X. Hayes;Senator Hank Clark Chairman of The Senate Select Committee on Intelligence;Congressman Albert Rudin Chairman of The House Select Committee on Intelligence. Peter Cameron a man for sale with 24 years of experience in The Agency's Office of Security. Secretary of State Charles Midleton an elitist snob who thought he should be running things. Clark has designs on the Presidency.Rudin has a deep hatred of the CIA. Plenty of spellbinding excitement as the plots unwind while Rapp thwarts the ambitions of Clark,Rudin & Midleton to take over the CIA.

Vince Flynn now has to deal with the problem other authors have run into as they try and develop their characters...Mitch Rapp is married. Having a spouse can change the character. You can see it some in "Executive Power" but so far, Flynn is managing it.

What I think he might have more trouble with is keeping Rapp from the action. Rapp is best when he's in the thick of things so if he takes a step back, it might hurt the character.

All in all, I enjoyed the book. However, the hostage rescue storyline seemed a bit gratuitous, a way to keep Rapp in the story while the main story was being set up.

The premise of "Can Middle East peace be achieved through war" is an interesting idea explored in this novel and once Rapp turns his attention to the novel's main story, it raced quickly to a great end.

Enjoy it. I did.

If you like political intrigue and/or spy novels, I suggest doing yourself a favor and just buy all of Vince Flynn's books now. Start with "Term Limits" and you'll be hooked. "Executive Power" is excellent. But, of course I have followed these characters through the first 4 of this series. The character development happens throughout the series so you may not be as drawn to the characters if you read "Excutive Power" first.

I love Flynn's books, but this one was not one of his best. I thought the history and politics of Israel and Palestine was very interesting. There were actually two story lines in this book. The Palestinian plot by David against the Saudi millionaire misfit who sponsored David's terrorism and then the kidnapped family in the Philippines. Rapp is directly involved in saving the family and it was a bit far-fetched. Rapp's new wife is a pain. She is a reporter who is only interested in getting a story and not about keeping her mouth shut regarding Rapp's covert activities. This book cannot compare to Memorial Day.

Not Flynn's best work and not the most entertaining of Rapp's exploits. However, still good enough that I want to read the next in the series and that as a whole, it remains one of my favorites.

The first reaction I had to this book after I finished reading it and put it down was... why was it called "Executive Power"? Except for the fact that the Chief executive doesn't exert his power, I think it is a great title! Seriously, the title sounds great, and there is even a bullet hole in the cover to make it seem like POTUS is involved in some action or shows off his power, but alas, it is more Mitch and his wife who is sad while he is away (which is getting tiring).

Parts of this book were enjoyable, but for the most part, it is a place holder while I get ready to read the next book in this series. If you want a good type of book like this, that actually uses the chief executive's power, try reading Gary Grossman's book "Executive Action" which (like the title says) features an executive involved in some action. Just be warned that some of the earlier versions of that book had serious typos. I assume they've been cleaned up since it was published.

As a fan of football, Michael Richman's Redskins Encyclopedia is a must on my bookshelf. This comprehensive volume is the result of seven years of Richman's extensive and detailed research into his beloved Redskins. Organized chronologically, the volume begins with the birth of the team in 1932 as the "Boston Braves" and follows the history and lore of one of the most storied franchises in all of the National Football League through the 2006 season.

The level of detail in this book is truly extraordinary. Filled with anectodes, stories, data and quotes, The Redskins Encyclopedia is nirvana for any Hog. Hogs, in particular, will revel in the chapters on the George Allen era and delight in reading about the 80's when their beloved Skins become part of the NFL elite under the helm of Joe Gibbs.

For me, however, what makes this volume so special is the most incredible Appendix I have ever come across. It includes "all team records, rosters, coaches, game results, draft picks and players; year-by-year results, Monday Night Lights and the Ring of Fame." In short, Richman has assembled the most comprehensive set of statistics and historical data on the Redskins out there and it is exceptionally user friendly.

If you love the Redskins, you are going to love this book!

The Redskins Encyclopedia is a great book if you're a football fanatic.
I found it to be very resourceful and full of stats and recaps of past seasons and important playoff games. There are a couple of glitches I found (i.e. referring to the Arizona/Phoenix Cardinals as St. Louis during the mid-ninties). But if you're a dyed in the wool 'skins fan, then this is a must have. I had a lot of fun reading it. If you love football as much as I do, then do yourself a favor and buy a copy of this
book. I have read a quite a few football reference books and this happens to be one of the better ones.

Highly recommended.

This book is a keeper -- a coffee table book that will not just "Sit There", this is a great reference and a historical document as well.

The Redskins' Encyclopediea is divided into sections that give a foretaste of the Redskins' history and legends in rather descriptive terms "Born... Surviving.... Transforming... Ominous.... Sonny Days... Winning Flair... Redskins-Cowboy Rivalry... Elite... Mediocrity...").

It also singles out specific players throughout the Redskins' history in 2 special chapters "Washington Monuments" and "Best of the Rest", AND has a great Appendix of Records, Rosters, Coaches, Draft Picks and other very relevant stats... this book is a Redskins' history "play-by-play: a great reference, and also just FUN TO READ -- just open it to any chapter, and read on.

The dust-jacket is an attention getter. Too bad all the book's photos are black and white -- it could have used some half or full-page on-the-field action shots in color. And because of the exceptional wealth of information -- this book really needs an Index.

Some photos stand out more than others -- specifically: Redskins Spring Training -- 1940 style- on the Washington Monument grounds. Then contrast this with the aerial shot of the "State of the Art-Practice Facility: Redskin Park"

The "Washington Monuments" Section -- an alphabetical compendium of Redskin greats -- covered players as well as coaches, including the chapter on Sammy Baugh -- a great player, a true gentleman, a fan-pleaser -- and who woulda known that in addition to his stellar performance on the field, he also starred off the field as the "King of the Texas Rangers". (I also enjoyed the wry humor of that the photo of his uniform sitting by the fireplace.)

Of special note was "The Snap Seen Round the World" -- Joe Theisman's career-ending injury, and his first-person account of his painful rehabilitation period. I personally hope he makes it into the Hall of Fame.

The Redskins Encyclopedia would make a great gift for any Redskins (and other!) football fan.

Given the wide variety in terms of quality that one finds in sports books and encyclopedias, it was hard for me to have very high expectations for THE REDSKINS ENCYCLOPEDIA. But if I had gone in hoping for something impressive, well-written and absorbing, then my hopes would have been entirely realized. This book is not a hastily constructed collection of cut-n-paste jobs; this is a throughly researched, incredibly detailed tome that should be informative and insightful no matter your level of Redskins fanaticism.

The first half of the book is devoted to a year by year history of the organization. For each year, all important on and off field events are discussed. Important games are described. And if the team made the post-season that year, a section is dedicated to each playoff game. While this portion of the book is factual in nature, there is also analysis and discussion of what went right and wrong. Case in point, the chapter dealing with the years 1981-1992 are labeled, "An Icon Among The NFL Elite", while the years 1993-2006 are titled, "Mediocrity, Redskins Style".

The rest of the book is given over to discussing individuals. Players who have been enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame receive a chapter of their own and a second chapter is given over to those players and coaches who weren't recognized by the League, but made a large local impact to the team and its lore.

Dropped in at almost random intervals are short essays discussing a variety of topics: the Redskins-Cowboys rivalry, the coaching style of Vince Lombardi, the nicknames of player cliques, to name a few. The only minor problem I had with this book was that these essays aren't in the table of contents so locating them again can be difficult.

When I first received this book, my immediate attention was on those teams and players that I watched while growing up in the 1980s. It was a great nostalgic and fun time I had reliving those glory days and seeing all the old names again: Darrell Green, Art Monk, Joe Theismann, Gary Clark. I next moved on to reading about the era between Joe Gibbs' two coaching stints, which was a much less fun experience. But even in the slow times of the post-1992 era there were always great moments to relieve (Mark Brunell to Sanatana Moss -- twice -- on Monday Night in Dallas, to mention one).

However, I had almost as much fun flipping back to the earlier sections of the book. I knew a little bit about Redskins history simply from the natural osmosis that occurs from being a sports fan and reading contemporary articles which contain off-hand mentions of glories from long ago. But the information I learned from this book is an absolute treasure. For example, I knew that Sammy Baugh was one of the early Redskin heroes, but I hadn't fully appreciated what an dominant player he was. As fun as it was to once again read the anecdote about John Riggins telling Sandra Day O'Connor to "loosen up, Sandy Baby", it was great to read about stuff that was completely new to me.

I've spent quite some time browsing through this volume, and I'm sure I'll spend even more time in the future. There's a lot of history in the Redskins organization and a corresponding wealth of information to unpack from this encyclopedia. I'm willing to bet that the next time the Redskins score a glorious win over the Dallas Cowboys, I'll be pulling this book from the shelf to mentally compare and contrast the present with the storied games from the past.

The Redskins Encyclopedia is definitely a must have for Redskins fans. I am not even a Redskins fan and I found it thoroughly engaging and interesting, which is quite a feat for a text heavy encyclopedic history of a professional football team I don't even root for.

The bulk of the book is dedicated to a chronological history of the Washington Redskins franchise from its origin in 1932 as the Boston Braves to the Joe Gibbs II regime through 2006. The book provides a review of each and every season in Redskins history, from the 1940's with Slinging Sammy Baugh and a few World Championships, to the topsy-turvy 1970's under coach George Allen when the team lost Super Bowl VII to the undefeated Miami Dolphins, to its heyday in the 1980's winning three Super Bowls under Joe Gibbs, and through the post-Gibbs and the recent Gibbs returns to save the franchise but fails mediocrity that persists today (and will like to continue to do so under the meddlesome owner Dan Snyder). During the journey you will meet the great players and characters throughout Redskins history and get an excellent feel for the deep history and historical ebbs and flows of this long tenured franchise.

One of the nice touches of this work is that it breaks Redskins history into eras and provides introductory insights into the franchise and where it was at and where it was headed before delving into season by season reviews, which provides context and continuity. It also uses text boxes to provide greater detail about seminal Redskins owners, executives, and players. This provides some excellent information while nicely breaking up the text, making it more reader friendly.

The next section of the book consists of mini-biographies of all the great Washington Redskins players, coaches, owners, and executives in the history of the franchise. I thought I would skim through this section quickly but it captured my attention so much I read through the entire section.

The last part of the book provides what most encyclopedias are supposed to provide, all-time team results, records, and other various statistics about the team.

Overall, I found this to be a very through and engaging treatment of the history of the Washington Redskins.

Hmmm. I mildly enjoyed this book. It is what it is. An easy read crime story. But then I do wonder what the hype is about. The book is clearly writen but with no particular style or grace. It does delve into the same gritty urban territory as The Wire, but with only a fraction of the insight. Much of the writing is unfortunately ridden with mediocre crime novel cliches. And although I enjoyed it, I finished the book with the familiar feeling that I have when puting down 90% of crime fiction- undernourished - somewhat equivilent to having eaten a bag of potato chips.

Pelecanos is no Chandler, nor is he Ross Macdonald.

So why the hype? Why the desire to make the book more than it is? Perhaps it is to lend more status to the seemingly senseless suffering and hopelessness of many of the lives it depicts? If you are looking for writing that really does accomplish that and covers the same geography, I suggest Lost in the City or All Aunt Hagar's Children by Edward P. Jones.

I'm a big fan of the police procedural/thriller genre when it comes to TV and movies--frequently getting sucked into reruns of "Law & Order: SVU" when I should be doing other things--but for some reason I haven't read many books like this. Maybe it's time to change that.

As the story begins, it's 1985 and a middle-aged cop named T.C. Cooke is examining a string of "Palindrome murders" in which three kids--all with names spelled the same backwards and forwards--have been killed and dumped in community gardens around Washington D.C. Also on the scene are two fresh-faced officers just out of the academy, Gus Ramone and Don Holiday.

Cut to 20 years later. Ramone is a respected police veteran and family man, Holiday a hard-drinking womanizer who resigned from the force under investigation, Cooke a retiree suffering the effects of a stroke. All three are still haunted by the unsolved Palindrome murders. And when Ramone's son's friend Asa is found dead in a community garden, all three are drawn into the case.

"The Night Gardener" succeeds on many levels, which is a credit to Pelecanos' sharp writing. He does an excellent job of fleshing out the lead characters, as well as some colorful secondary roles. The mystery itself is exciting to watch unfold, with many unexpected twists and turns along the way. And the ending manages to surprise but still remain satisfactory.

The book also has some interesting social commentary and insights into police work that give it more depth than the average page-turner. There's a great spiel from Ramone near the end of the book about what it really means to "solve" a crime. If you're looking for a top-notch thriller, I highly recommend "The Night Gardener."

Picked this one up as George P had been recommended as a "Washington DC Author" and I was visiting on vaction. Chose this one as it had a contemporary setting.

I wasnt not disapointed as this is a great book. The plot cracks along, the characters are really good and ROUNDED, you felt they were real people rather than cut out "goodies" and "baddies". There wasnt the sometimes pointless traveling and descriptions you get in some thrillers and the whole thing has a delicious sense of ambiguity. I wasnt surprised to see George has been a co-writter on The Wire TV series.

For background, and in no way a spoiler, the killings are apparently loosely are based on the still unsolved "Freeway Phantom" killings of the early '70s.

Mr. Pelecanos has just found himself a new fan because from the very first page of The Night Gardener, he spins a heart-breaking, multi-faceted tale that is simply too hard to resist.

Ostensibly, this is a crime drama. A serial killer with an appreciation for constrained writing is tormenting the residents and law enforcement officials of Southeast DC. Dead teenagers are popping up in neighborhood gardens and their names are spelled the same forwards and backwards -- these are the Palindrome murders of the infamous "night gardner."

Okay, the whole palindrome thing gets threadbare fairly quickly but the story compensates by moving boldy beyond the constraints of hardboiled crime fiction and into a richer and more meaningful exploration of a city and people in conflict, and a dualism that seems to serve up equal helpings of salvation and damnation on the same plate.

Here is a tale set in the Capital of world power, Washington, DC. A city with a glorious veneer and a rotting urban center where people live lives of not so quiet desperation. And it is in his description of DC and its environs that this novel draws much of its power. It is simply drenched in authenticity, the mark of a caring local who has a soft spot for the people and places he writes about. Yes, this is fiction, but told with such bona fides that the reader may half expect to be able to walk into Leo's and have a drink with the notorious womanizer and ex-cop Doc Holiday.

And then there's the dialogue and the characters themselves. Mr. Pelacanos clearly has a way with the lingo of the streets and the police that survey them. He's obviously an adroit student of street culture and portrays them it with convincing force. Not once does he strike anything resembling a false note. All dialogue is sharp and well-crafted and often riotously funny.

It is in such fashion that we get to meet the detectives of the Violent Crime Branch of DC's Metropolitan Police Department. Mr. Pelecano produces an intimate look into the lives of inner-city youths, parents and their children, husbands and wives, criminals and, of course, law enforcement professionals coping with the often unbearable pressures of their work, some with more grace than others

In the end, The Night Gardener is less an exploration of crime than it is an exploration of the human soul told in cool and detached style that belies a soft and warm core.

It is an examination of time and place. A look at human beings doing the best they can with the circumstances they've been dealt. Sure, there are elements of mystery and good old fashioned whodunit, but this book is not about a serial killer at all, it's about making choices and living with the consequences of those choices. Happy and sad.

Reader beware, Mr. Pelecanos sucks you into his world, and forces you to think in ways that no other crime novel ever has.

Like I said, he's got an enthusiastic new fan.

Ken Bruen says in a blurb on the back of the book that nothing in mystery touches The Night Gardener, that this is what other writers try to achieve, and that this novel puts to rest the question of mystery as Literature.

Really? If so, it's no wonder crime fiction is mired in mediocrity. The bar is set too low.

The Night Gardener is an average book at best. There's no real conflict; nothing is at stake for the main characters. Ramone, the protagonist, is supposed to be a guy who goes by the book all the time, yet he NEVER goes by the book throughout the whole story. He even does something that would and should get him fired and put in jail if it were found out.

The commentary at racial and sexual prejudice is shallow. Pelecanos shows us what racial prejudice looks like, and that it exists, but he goes no farther. It's a very black and white view of an important issue in our society, yet Pelecanos never asks why or how such an issue persists, or what can be done about it.

If this book is an attempt at transcending genre, then it is a failed attempt. I'm sure there are many crime novels which do cross the barrier over into Literature, but The Night Gardener is not one of them.

The novel is not boring, but it's ultimately forgettable.