New York Books

Much has been written about the late, great, Pennsylvania Station, and yet it can never be too much. This landmark should be standing today, with it's pink granite shinning in the sun, and being a becon in cloudy weather. In the 1960's, in many other cities their grand "Union Stations" were being sectioned off and abandonded, some are still standing as ruins today, this is part of the irony of Penn Station's demise, even in the 1960's there were hundreds of passenger trains using the facility daily, and this number has been climbing since.

The author gives us all the facts and figures about this station, from it's planning, short life, and needless destruction. However she also paints the human picture of this building, and in doing so lets us understand how the public allowed this building to slip away.

The opening of Penn Station was celebrated during the final years of the Gilded Age, acted as shelter to thousands during the Great Depression, and it served as a virtual military base during the WW II years.
To the multitudes of returning vets, and their famalies, the railroads and Penn Station represented the past, and times that they all would rather forget. Remember back then there was not the mental health counselling available to the returning soldiers, and one way they coped was to simply forget the past, and all that it contained.

In this book we see that the stations fate was sealed with VJ Day, and the social changes that started to take shape with WW II's end.
By the 1950's, Airplanes and Interstate Highways were in, Railroads were out. Yet at least in the NYC area, commuter trains still played an important role that never went away. The beautiful building was allowed to decay, and was altered by a private company without any accontability required to the public.

By the early 1960's some of the public finally woke up, and NYC's Landmark Preservation Committee was formed, by it was too late for the "Temple of Transportation".

This book also contains an excellent compliment of photos, including a number from the 4 year, yes, four year period it took to destroy the station.

Ken

Very good book which takes into account the historical background of why Penn Station was built in the first place right through to its destruction. A tragic loss not only for New Yorkers but for America and this book describes it well.

I was barely seven years old when old Penn Station was torn down, but I remember the sadness and outrage of my neighbors in Brooklyn. I had only been to the station once or twice but I was too young to remember. I didn't really understand the big fuss about its destruction. And after it was gone, I don't remember there being too much grieving.

Now looking back, through films and books, I understand what it was all about. "The Late, Great Pennsylvania Station" by Lorraine B. Diehl is the best book on the subject that I've come across. Her analysis of the rise and fall of McKim's great station is both awe-inspiring and heart-breaking. The smattering of beautiful photographs is a plus, as well. Penn Station's demise, of course, could be regarded solely as a loss for the city but, as Ms. Diehl explains, the real legacy of the destruction was the enormous preservation/conservation movement that followed. In the aftermath, so many other buildings were spared a similar fate.

There are those who say that the people behind Penn Station's demolition were justified (Ms. Diehl rightly avoids villifying anyone). The apologists for the destruction claim that Penn Station was too big, in the wrong place, and was in the red. The Empire State Building was erected ten blocks south of the midtown business area and three miles north of the Wall Street district. It was a very big building and rarely had over 50% occupancy until the 1950s, when it finally began earning money. Should it have been knocked down too?

Mr. Mark S. Jendrysik is from North Dakota. What in the world would he know or care about New York City? Judging by his past reviews, he is a big business apologist in a square state in the middle of nowhere.

A native New Yorker myself, I could not imagine my city without Grand Central, for instance, or SoHo, Central Park or the historic area of Chelsea and the West Village. Some things are worth preserving.

This book is facinating and so well written, I really could not put it down, the author has a real sence for the history and importance of the building, I agree it could have used more visuals, but that is a minor quibble and really does not take away from the merit of the book. I must take some exception to the review of Mr. Jendrysic, in all due respect he misses the point totally of perservation when he says the building was a white elephant that was in the wrong place and in the red, that may have all been true, but in those cases you find other uses for the building, like Paris did with the Orsay train station and the colossel Louvre as well as Versailles, I mean would you call for the pulling down of Versailles??? and the Orsey Museum is spectacular. This was not just any building, this was a masterpiece a true treasure, that could have been coverted to other uses, buildings of this quality should be persevered, period, not torn down like some 50's tract house. I highly recommend this book in everyway, if you have any interest in great buildings or just wonderful books quite frankly, then you will not be disappointed in this book, you are right about one think Mr. Jendrysic this book is first rate.

This is THE definitive book of New York City trivia. More than just informative and intelligent, it's truly fun. It's a great gift for an NYC smart aleck who thinks they know everything about the city, or for anyone who wants to learn a whole lot about what is, of course, the capital of the world. Apparently the author biked from Queens to Manhattan across the 59th Street bridge at an age when most kids wouldn't be allowed to walk to school on their own. So this is clearly a 40-year or so labor of love. Most of all, it's fun. A great buy.

Celebrate New York City with this book, one of the best ways to explore all of what is special about New York City! From the novice to the tourist, from the born and bred to the commuter who works in New York City or just for the curious planning a visit...this book has it all. Little known interesting facts will make your every day stroll down the block into a history lesson. Fun for the holidays to quiz your friends and family.

You won't be able to put it down. Test your own knowledge. Written in an easy reading style, yet thorough and detailed enough to challenge and entertain at the same time.

Enjoy!!!

Definitely a fun and interesting read. It doesn't take a trivia lover to enjoy this book. Volume 2 has its way of sparking your interest on triv-bits about NYC (even those that you normally wouldn't care to know). Once again, only John Barbieri can show you how to really appreciate NYC.

John Barbieri makes the 'second time around' even sweeter, with Mr New York's Trivia Quiz Volume 2. Mr. Barbieri has a talent in bringing us tid bits of information about the greatest city in the world, but with his own unique and entertaining spin. Run, don't walk, and buy this entertaining read.

I give this book a "10". I just couldn't put this book down. You think you know New York, but now you really know New York after reading it. It's a must have even if your not from New York. This book is proof of why there's no place like New York. New Yorkers are the most wonderful people in the world. Only a true New Yorker could write such a wonderful book. This book brings back such great memories growning up in New York. You cover 38 topics, 563 pages on sports, boroughs, politics, theatre etc... I had to go and buy another book because my friends took it and they won't give it back. Thanks for writing it.

Chinamanýs real name was Liu Chiang-hsin, but his friends called him ýChinamaný. In fact, thatýs what he named his business, Chinaman Investigations. Business? If he didnýt get some cash flow soon, there would be no business. In Chinese his name meant ýa mind sharp as a swordý. Funny, he didnýt feel very sharp right now. It seems all your clients no longer have any interest in paying you once youýve solved the case. But when he puts all his active cases on hold because an old girl friend has been murdered, things get really tight.

Judy was more than just an old girl friend. He had known her long before he met and married his ex-wife. In fact, the ex-wife wouldnýt be ex if she hadnýt caught him in bed with the old girl friend. He never meant for it to happen but there was a connection between him and Judy that he couldnýt explain. He had met Judy in another life, before he became a private detective, when he was teaching creative writing. She was one of his students. When her dream of becoming a world famous author didnýt materialize, she somehow slipped into the role of high priced call girl. Judy was quite successful due to the fact that she was not only beautiful, but because she had also discovered a need to conquer men by sexual seduction.

Chinaman found out about Judyýs murder from his ex-father-in-law who called him to identify the body. Joseph Abrams was Manhattanýs Chief of Detectives and he hated Chinaman. It was bad enough that his daughter married a private detective, but when they divorced, he blamed Chinaman and rightly so.

Judy was murdered, along with her ýclientý in their room at The New York Palace Hotel. It appears that Judy was just at the wrong place at the wrong time. But was it that simple? Nothing is ever as simple as it appears. Chinamanýs investigation leads in many directions, all of which seem to go nowhere until something an amateur magician said to him put everything into perspective. ýItýs all in the set-up. And if the setupýs right, when you think Iým doing one thing, Iým actually doing another. The success is in the diversion. Misdirection is the key.ý

This book is well written and contains all the elements that keep you reading page after page, when you really should put it down and go do something ýresponsibleý. It calls you back again when you finally do manage to put it down for a while. Entertaining and well worth your time.

Chinaman is a great character as well as a good detective. I liked this book because people come to life, there are no stereotypes. Cindy-Mae really comes on to him and he handles her beautifully. I hope to see more of these.

Chinaman is a great character and he is what makes the book so interesting. Particularly, his Beijing background and his character. The New York setting is also very well done and the plot works well. The author obviously knows things Chinese as well as Manhattan, etc. A very well done detective novel.

This book really is refreshing in that besides being well written and well plotted, it really concentrates on the detective himself and the atmosphere in which he works. That is what Raymond Chandler did and even when his plots went just a bit weird or got away from him, Chandler's books are still great. Barrett also seems to have a natural gift of talent to create a detective we want to see involved in more cases. This Chinese detective from Beijing scraping by in Manhattan is a winner.

Dean Barrett began his considerable Asian experiences as a Chinese linguist in the Army during the Vietnam War. He returned to the United States after the war and finished a Masters Degree in Asian Studies from the University of Hawaii. He has written four novels with an Asian theme. Several of his plays have been performed in New York, including Fragrant Harbour. Mr. Barrett is a member of the Mystery Writers of America and the Dramatists Guild.

Liu Chiang-hsin is commonly known as the "Chinaman." He is a displaced victim of the Red Guard's attack, which killed his parents and have left him with severe emotional scars. One woman has managed to gain entry into his heart, and she has just been killed in what looks like a professional hit. Chinaman employs his considerable talents as a private detective, as well as calling in a few favors to exact vengeance for the murder of possibly the only woman he has ever loved. Unfortunately, two of the people he needs help from are his ex-wife and her cop father:

"Chinaman waited for the ominous silence to end while in the background ringing phones went unanswered at Manhattan Properties. When she spoke again, something new had crept into Mary Anne's voice. Something toxic. 'Let me get this straight. You put your other cases on hold to solve the death of the woman who destroyed our marriage and now you have the unmitigated nerve to call ME and ask for money? You want ME to loan you money?"

In spite of his propensity to innocently infuriate everyone around him, Chinaman is a lovable and tragic figure. He has much to teach us about East/West differences, and there is much about him that is honorable and noteworthy. Barrett writes a finely crafted mystery/suspense novel, with enough spy stuff to keep the reader rifling through the pages to see what is just around the corner. His denouement is excellent; set in Brooklyn's Red Hook area. What is most noteworthy about this tale, though, is the fact that ordinary, intelligent people are caught up in nefarious activities simply to make a living, and how easy it is to slip over the line into crime.

Shelley Glodowski
Reviewer

My Fine Feathered Friend
By William Grimes
North Point Press 2002
$15 USA, $24.95 Canada
85 pages, illustrations
ISBN: 0-86547-632-2

Reviewed by Karen Davis, PhD, President of United Poultry Concerns

"I looked at the Chicken endlessly, and I wondered. What lay behind the veil of animal secrecy?"

My Fine Feathered Friend is a bittersweet tale that leaves you aching after you put the book away. In part this is because the main character, a large handsome black hen who appears mysteriously one winter day in the writer's yard in Queens, disappears as mysteriously as she arrived. This is a true story. The author, William Grimes, a restaurant critic for The New York Times, is intrigued, fascinated, and finally haunted, by this hen. He perceives her as a kind of Earth Goddess, as solid as a tree trunk, rugged, compact, able and enduring, yet elusive, vulnerable, and, ultimately, as ephemeral as a fairy princess. She vanishes when he comes to love her. He calls the hen, simply and archetypally, the Chicken.

When I first started reading My Feathered Friend, I was put off by the tone. Grimes refers to the hen for a number of pages as "it," while referring to his and his wife's cats as "hes" and "shes." His style is pat with similes and cultivated assurance. I thought, okay, Grimes wants to make sure that no one, including himself, gets emotionally involved with this chicken. He's keeping the lines drawn. But I was wrong. The story reflects his growing tenderness for the Chicken, moving through levity and wonderment to love, sorrow and loss.

The Chicken has an aura of the "familiar" in folklore, an enigmatic being regarded as both a homely acquaintance and a supernatural spirit embodied in an animal that links that animal to a particular person while retaining an inviolable otherness. Grimes's Chicken is like a visitor from another planet (exotic and ineffable) who probably escaped from the local poultry market in Queens (squalid and local). She is a hero and a survivor -- "a brave little refugee"-- who flouts false stereotypes about chickens. "I'd look out back and see a cat chasing the Chicken across the yard," Grimes writes. "Ten minutes later I'd see the Chicken chasing a cat." She is at once endearingly personal and profoundly impersonal. She has her own projects. She is self-possessed. She projects an arch authority, like the author himself. She dominates Grimes's yard, his cats, and his consciousness. She is, he confesses protectively, "a hard read."

The Chicken tracks through the universe by way of a residential patch of earth -- a "pocket paradise" reclaimed from a "wasteland of weeds" in New York City. She captures the eye of a beholder who becomes a Witness driven to Inscribe Her Being. Grimes attempts to fit what he "knows" about chickens (he eats them and makes his living writing about them as food; otherwise he says "the humble chicken was foreign to me") with his deepening perception of, identification with, and ultimate yearning and mourning over this particular hen. She moves him. He is affected by her "air of mystery," her "appetite for play," her "brilliant evasive maneuvers," her "genuine courage," her "character," her "willful high-spirit," her evocation of what the poet William Wordsworth inestimably versed as "something ever more about to be."

Grimes reads up on chickens, passing on to us pieces of information (some accurate, some not) about Gallus domesticus in folklore, history, and poultry manuals, as a backdrop to, an explanation of, the Chicken, a creature so definite, and infinite, so solid and numinous, she eludes classification. He muses:

"Was it pure coincidence that she liked to sneak up on Yowzer, the cat most likely to develop a nervous twitch when caught unawares? Time after time I saw the Chicken trot up delicately when Yowzer had his back turned, squawk a couple of times, and then watch as the cat leaped a couple of vertical feet. The Chicken, after a successful ambush, would run off jauntily, with a cackle that sounded suspiciously like a chuckle."

At other times, "I'd see Bruiser and Crusher snoozing in the basket, Yowzer draped along a nearby wooden bench, and the dark, shapeless form of Midnight filling out the sagging seat of an old sea grass chair we had bought for a couple of dollars at a yard sale. And in the midst of the group, perfectly content, sat the Chicken. It was a heartwarming sight."

One night a police helicopter hovers over the yard, causing the pine tree in which the Chicken is roosting to sway violently under a wind of hurricane force. "Somewhere, deep in the branches," Grimes writes, "the Chicken was holding on for dear life. I couldn't begin to imagine what was going through her tiny mind. By now, I figured, she had either suffered a fatal heart attack or had been dashed to the ground. But no. The next morning, amid wreckage out of Apocalypse Now, the Chicken reappeared, brimful of vim and vigor."

But one spring day, the Chicken is gone. She does not return. Grimes and his wife Nancy look everywhere. They wrack their brains trying to remember if there were any behavioral signs they failed to notice. "The previous afternoon I had watched her resting comfortably in her nest beneath the pine tree," Grimes writes. "I searched for signs of violence but did not find any. The only trace of the Chicken was a single black feather near the back door. The Chicken was definitely, profoundly missing."

It is hard reading the final pages of this book. The depression Grimes describes is not roguish but real, though he tries to make light. "We had grown to love the Chicken," he says. We believe him: so had we. "She really was a big presence in the backyard," Nancy sighs. You go back to the book cover and study the jet black sweet bird face with its rosy comb and pert expression, framed in an oval mirror. If you know chickens, you know the look of that bright round eye, so attentive yet pensive.

My Feathered Friend is like an exquisite blade sliced across your bowels in the midst of a light-hearted romp that won't heal. The book ends with unappeased longing and unsettled questions (unhappy questions on many levels), not "closure," nor should it. Though Grimes says the story is "at an end, at least for us," still, he wonders and hopes, maybe the Chicken will come back. Maybe she's on a journey. He bought things for her. He and Nancy wait for her. They keep a light in the window. Maybe he'll wake up one morning, look out the window, and see "a large feathered form bustling around the patio, scattering cat food and clucking."

But for now, as Alice Walker said about a horse named Blue, in her excruciating essay, "Am I Blue,"* let us not let the animals whom we piercingly perceive become for us merely "images" of what they once so beautifully expressed and are. The Chicken is every chicken. One like no other. Take the next step.


*In Living By the Word: Selected Writings 1973-1987. This book of Walker's essays also includes "Why Did the Balinese Chicken Cross the Road?" ("[T]o try to get both of us to the other side.")
_________________________________________________________________
Karen Davis, PhD, is the founder and President of United Poultry Concerns, a nonprofit organization that promotes the compassionate and respectful treatment of domestic fowl (www.upc-online.org). She is the author of Prisoned Chickens, Poisoned Eggs: An Inside Look at the Modern Poultry Industry; A Home for Henny; Instead of Chicken, Instead of Turkey: A Poultryless "Poultry" Potpourri"; More Than a Meal: The Turkey in History, Myth, Ritual, and Reality (Lantern Books, 2001); and The Holocaust and the Henmaid's Tale: A Case for Comparing Atrocities (Lantern Books, 2005).

I ran across this book at the library looking for substantive books on chickens--the cute cover caught my eye. This is a very entertaining and enjoyable read!

I'd recommend this book as one you'll finish quickly, share with a friend or two, and want to read again yourself one day.

A poignantly told memoir of a season spent in the company of a somewhat bohemian chicken. I gave a copy of this book to my vet after we tried for several months to save the life of one of my pet chickens. She hadn't much experience with chickens, more so with the fanicier hookbills often found in one's the parlor, so I wanted her to know what it was like to know a chicken on a more personal level. The author accomplishes this very well, sharing valuable chicken lore with his affectionate and often respectful look at the life of a chicken and life from The Chicken's point of view.

In 85 charming pages William Grimes weaves an entertaining, soul-touching and witty chicken story. It all starts when Mr. Grimes found a little black chicken in his tiny backyard in the middle of Queens. He has no idea where "The Chicken" came from. The Chicken ends up hanging out and eating with the stray cats that Mr. Grimes feeds. The Chicken ends up being a very tough girl. She survives ice, snow, low flying police helicoptors and roosting in a pine tree.

It doesn't take long for the author to become a chicken fan. Mr. Grimes is soon on a mission to learn as much as he can about his new chicken. He fixes The Chicken a make shift roost and nest box where The Chicken rewards him with delicious fresh eggs. The Chicken also provides entertainment as she chases one of the cats daily for fun. Then as quickly as The chicken appears, he disappears.

This book has a charming cover and very cute illustrations throughout. Any one who loves birds, has chickens or is considering getting them would love this great book. Another thing I love is that this book doesn't have any cursing or foul language. It would be a good gift for a preteen up to an adult. "My Fine Feathered Friend" is one that I will keep in my library for years to come.

This extremely short book really qualifies as more essay than "book," and as much as I enjoyed it, I wondered who would shell out hard-earned cash for its slim contents.

Then I found myself handing it around to people as I would share a cartoon or funny email. "Zip through it over lunch," I said, "Take it instead of a magazine while you're waiting for your oil change or dentist appointment."

And so I learned what this book is best for: for a few bucks, you can pass a smile around to your friends. The eye-catching cover is hard for anyone to resist, and the illustrations are great. If you know someone who's been adopted by a stray animal, this is perfect for them. But if not, pass it on anyway. It's a light, funny read that will make anyone smile.

In Grime's hands this unusual bird manages a truly universal appeal. I loved the pleasure it seemed to take in sneaking up behind a skittish cat and sending the cat vertically airborne with a sudden cackle. Then there's the pet store employee who tries to explain that they don't carry chicken feed, because a chicken is not a "particular animal." Grimes has an eye and ear for gem moments like these.

Gillian Zoe Segal's book, New York Characters, is outstanding- the best photography book I've ever seen/read! The photographs featuring prominent New Yorkers are incredible. Each one captures the true essence of the "character" and truly comes to life on the page. The characters are all photographed in their natural environment, and as Segal points out and demonstrates in her book it is New York's characters that make "it the greatest city in the world". In addition to her photographic genius, Segal writes beautifully. The vignettes's about the characters are intersting, informative, humorous, and touching. No coffee table should be without a copy of New York Characters. It makes the perfect holiday gift for New Yorkers as well as out-of-towners because everyone loves or has an interest in New York, right? Furthermore, all of the proceeds of the book sales are going to the September 11th fund. So what could be more gratifying than supporting the city's recovery effort by buying this wonderful book for yourself, for your friends, for your family...? I feel confident in saying that anyone who picks up New York Characters will enjoy it immensely. What will Segal do next? I can't wait....

Gillian Zoe Segal's book, New York Characters, is outstanding- the best photography book I've ever seen/read! The photographs featuring prominent New Yorkers are incredible. Each one captures the true essence of the "character" and truly comes to life on the page. The characters are all photographed in their natural environment, and as Segal points out and demonstrates in her book it is New York's characters that make "it the greatest city in the world". In addition to her photographic genius, Segal writes beautifully. The vignettes's about the characters are intersting, informative, humorous, and touching. No coffee table should be without a copy of New York Characters. It makes the perfect holiday gift for New Yorkers as well as out-of-towners because everyone loves or has an interest in New York, right? Furthermore, all of the proceeds of the book sales are going to the September 11th fund. So what could be more gratifying than supporting the city's recovery effort by buying this wonderful book for yourself, for your friends, for your family...? I feel confident in saying that anyone who picks up New York Characters will enjoy it immensely. What will Segal do next? I can't wait....

I got a copy of this book and the other night three friends and I made a bet as to who had seen the most "characters" in real life. Sad to say I was not the winner but did pretty well with 24 and came in second. Anyway, it's a great book and a kick to get the real stories behind some of the interesting people we see around town. Highly recommended.

If you admire great photography and exquisite prose and feel the slightest attachment (or wish you did) to New York, then Gillian Segal's book is for you. I moved from New York a little over ten years ago and was determined to keep in touch with the city I love. However, it was only a matter of time before I lost touch with what really made New York special: the people's unique personalities. Gillian's book has allowed me to reestablish contact with the city that I still like to call home. Now, when my colleagues in Providence ask me what to do in New York, I no longer provide them with a mundane and outdated list of restaurants and sites. Instead, I refer them to Mrs. Segal's book. I inform them that in its pages is where they can find the real New York. Everything from great food, The Egg Cake Lady, to a wonderful opera on 57th street, performed by Opera Man, to a great jogging partner, the Mayor of the Reservoir (he is featured on the cover) can be found in "New York Characters".

If you are a New Yorker, a former New Yorker, or someone new to the City, you should own this book. The photography is both penetrating and compelling, and the characters featured are truly fascinating. It's like the Zagat of New York people. I hope the author comes to Los Angeles to do a book on characters here (there are plenty)!

I also enjoyed this book, but thought the love story - both past & present - was a plus. Claire Lucas makes a great heroine: she's strong, she's independent, she's sassy. And if she has moments of self-doubt, doesn't that make her all the more real and interesting?

I liked the other characters too---an evil Vatican bureaucrat, the snarky art dealer, a Buddhist monk, & others. Add an exciting plot & fascinating background on religious history and you've got a great read. Definitely recommended!

It's hard to describe this novel-- Is it historical fiction, romantic suspense, religious conspiracy or action thriller? It doesn't really matter because if you like any of the above, you'll enjoy this book.

The Painter's Gift has lots of adventure, a dollop of mysticism & an exciting plot. Scholars find an ancient scroll that prophesies a new world vision. According to the scroll, the key to the vision will be found in 3 special paintings, and so the hunt is on. The search team consists of a beautiful widow (also a visionary), a Benedictine monk, a religious scholar, & a handsome art historian who work frantically to find the paintings before the villains.

Perhaps because of the author's English/American background, the Painter's Gift includes fascinating background on the Manhattan art scene (shallow), religious symbolism (I'll never look at church spires the same way) & the history of England's magical Glastonbury, home to King Arthur & Guinevere.

All in all, a great book with lots to think about.

Intriguing and thought provoking as well. A mystery with a message. A great read!
Penelope vividly portrays the paintings which are the backbone of the story. Barbara Brockelman cleverly illustrates on the book cover, clues that speak of the main character, and perhaps the reader. Two thumbs up, ladies. Thank-you !!

If you liked Davinci Code, you'll love The Painter's Gift. I couldn't put it down. The character development was excellent. I only hope the author considers writing a follow up as I really want to know what happens with these characters. Enjoy!

The surprise and reward of reading is sometimes lost in the first hundred or so pages. Many books have readers slogging through one meaningless detail after another until reaching a dissatisfying ending. Thankfully, this novel is not one of those books. Though it is perhaps not the greatest read imaginable, Holt interlocks an interesting dollop of crafty religio-mysticism and classic upper-class romance. In doing so, Holt brings the book back from the creeping chasm of a maudlin love story.

In their supremely positive visions, Holt (with words) and the protagonist (with a brush) paint warm strokes that relay a message of healing after loss. Not only does the protagonist's (Manhattan artisan Claire Lucas) radiant painting soften the hardest hearts but is a nod to the reader's sense of wonder and fertile imagination. Additionally, the story leans slightly on a Dan Brown-esque critique of religious status quo themes. But, thankfully, Brown's obsession with detail doesn't show up. Essentially, the story revolves around simpler themes of remorse and joy; loss and renewal; and embitterment and faith.

Holt presents an interesting concoction of romance and quasi-religious mystery that blends quite seamlessly. She has crafted a pleasantly surprising novel and a solid, quick read. I recommend this book despite the maudlin self-doubt that possesses Claire but quickly fades as the story progresses.

When researching my novel THE SHAPE: A NOVEL OF INTERNATIONAL SUSPENSE (available on this site, incidentally) I used HOW TO MAKE WAR for my research so as to make the ordnance section of my novel authentic. This is a well-written and well-thought-out book, and I highly recommend it.

This book seems to be very complete and the author highly qualified in war technology, strategy, logistics... For that one is easily convinced by almost all his affirmations but one: it's about the tanks: he says them are impressive war machines, but you must don't trust very much on his power: these steel monsters have demonstrated to be very vulnerable and his use are best when infantry have destroyed the main opposition, against residual resistence ¿¿??. Dunnigan trusts much more in war aircraft. I confess these paragraphs are astonishing for me after the Panzer campaigns, and today, in Middle East. As it were one must expect that also there this book must be read and serve for the ceasefire for once.

Excellent review of how military operations occur. I differ with the other reader below that says that the author assumes only two armies, the US and the USSR. He proposes that two different models exist. In the US/Western model the units are more equiped with the talents required to be self reliant. In the Soviet model the field units use the services of experts in other units because of lack of human resources with the needed skills. This got me thinking about the way we organize our businesses and how one model has proven more effective in the battlefield.

Background

1. 'How To Make War' is as the title suggests is aimed to be `a comprehensive guide to modern warfare for the post cold war era'. This, the third in the series of 'How To Make War' books written by the author James Dunnigan is a comprehensively revised edition published in 1995. The author has gone on to gain much acclaim through his later titles including the well-known `How Not to Make War'.

2. After the end of the Cold War, the world has seen major upheavals in the politico-military arena. The emergence of the United States as the only superpower and recent events such as the Gulf War in 1991, have changed the threat perceptions of most countries and as a consequence military policies. This has invariably lead to a rethink in warfare methods and techniques, in addition to the continued advancement in terms of warfare technology. Dunnigan has written this revised edition of 'How To Make War' with special emphasis to the above changes in the post Cold War scenario.

The Book

3. The author begins by acquainting the reader with the universal `principles of war'. The book is structured into four major sections, the first three being the obvious air, land and sea theatres. More importantly however, is Dunnigan's emphasis on the human factor involved in war, which has a section by itself devoted to it in Part Four of the book. In addition there are four other sections dealing with special weapons, numerical warfare, and transportation logistics. The final section is a summary and statistics of the weapons and armed forces of the time. The sections are interspersed with as many as 48 different charts and tables displaying a vast array of data, which help the reader in assimilating the text. The sections on Ground Combat, Air Operations and Naval Operations introduce and discuss the composition, roles, conditions, developments and future trends of their respective components. This helps the reader to understand and comprehend the facts presented subsequently.

4. In the part dealing with ground combat, the author has brought out the changing role of the infantry with the advance in technology. At the same time he clearly brings out it's indispensability with respect to occupation of enemy territory, which continues to be the final determinant of victory. Dunnigan also charts out the material developments in ground battle methods, by providing details of the armory of the major players of today. The tremendous development in artillery weapons is well documented and interesting, while the factual account of the same is fairly precise and informative. This section also has a chapter devoted to the increasing role of the paramilitary forces and reserves.

5. In the section on Air Operations, the author tries to substantiate his theory that the air force is primarily an information gathering service whose warfare role evolved to destroy the enemy air forces. He does dwell on it's emerging importance in softening of enemy targets for the infantry, while contending that this role is being taken up by air support divisions of the latter. He also elaborates at length on the air force's "simple missions" but complex "means". A separate discussion on Air Defence in the following chapter contains a wealth of information and statistics.

6. In the section dealing with the Navy, the author stresses the importance of control of commercial shipping lanes through naval might. The importance of technology upgrades for the US despite the indisputable superiority of its forces is dealt with at length. Submarine warfare and naval air operations are also discussed separately in different chapters.

7. The author has laid great emphasis on the human factors of war. He has dealt elaborately on the psychological, professional, motivational and leadership aspects of this major constituent of warfare. One cannot dispute his contention that "when it comes to fighting, warfare is not waged by numbers, but through the courage, determination, skill, and leadership of individuals. As a part of this section the author has included a brief discussion of the peacetime role and pressures on the armed forces.

8. The discussion on special weapons includes interesting details on electronic warfare and the opening up of space as the new dimension in warfare. The dangers of biological and chemical weapons and the tendency of Third World countries giving in to this low cost option is clearly brought out. The author also raises relevant questions about the viability of Nuclear Weapons and their relation to the conventional options. Dunnigan also raises important issues of economics and the logistics of war. The reader is given a concise picture of the quantum of mobilisaton of supplies and the related costs.

Comments

9. The book as a whole provides a fairly comprehensive picture of the world's weapons and armed forces. It also attempts to give an insight into the tactics employed. The information provided is interesting and educative without going into specifications of armaments and weapon systems. The author's credibility is enhanced by the fact that warfare developments and results of wars, have conformed to his predictions in earlier books. This book should not however be in any way mistaken for a book of reference akin to Jane's. It is more of an educative tool in the hands of a young officer who wishes to improve his understanding and comprehension of the various aspects of warfare.

10. At the same time the reader may be cautioned that the author's viewpoint is primarily based on information and intelligence derived from a majority of US sources. Some of the theories enunciated and assessments are based totally on US perceptions. Additionally the concepts enunciated in 1995, may require some revision in the fast changing world scenario. The length of the book and its text format (622 pages of fine print) does tend deter the prospective reader. However, the book provides the discerning reader (the service officer and the layman alike), an opportunity to expand his horizons, by enabling a fairly in depth insight into all the important aspects of warfare while increasing his knowledge on weapons and systems. 'How To Make War,' undoubtedly needs to be included in any Naval officers `should read' list.

Very thorough. Excellent knowledge of the arms and methods of modern warfare as used around the time of the Gulf War and Cold War. Graphs and charts comparing Western and Russian /Third World armies and arms. Discussion of everything from strategies to morale and the intangibles of modern war. Gives insight into warfare and you understand why anyone who's been there doesn't want to go there again. Yet it gives the necessities and analysis of war. It's got alot of information, which the average reader may find more information than they need or want to know. Yet the readability is good. An excellent book.

When you pick up a Janet Dailey book, you know it will be a good read.
I have thoroughly enjoyed all the books in the Calder saga.

The great Calder empire stretched across the Montana plains as far as the eye could see. Everyone knew a Calder's word was law and that one day Chase Calder would carry the family name to new glories. But for handsome, arrogant Chase Calder there was also beautiful Maggie O'Rourke, who came to him in innocence and stirred in him a deep, insistent longing.

(...)

Out of all the Calder books this is probably the most touching romance and least sappy cliche story. Chase Calder and Maggie O'Rourke are believable as young paramours and later as mature adults reunited through their son, Ty.

The book was written in 1981 but Dailey did a great job in keeping it contemporary and evergreen. For those who have read all the other Calder books, it seems to start in 1968 and end in 1983, but as you go along the events could happen now or in the '90's. The only clue that this was a somewhat period romance is that their are no references to the Internet and more modern technology devices. One does get the sense that Montana is a wild teritory where cowboy values stand the test of time. If you're into rance romances and western sky settings, this is the one Calder book that you shouldn't miss. I grew up near the Montana border before heading East and the descriptions of many scenes in the plains are accurate and do evoke that western feel.

The story begisn with Chase Calder, the 22-year-old heir to a cattle fortune. Warning - vegetarians you won't be too thrilled with all the references to beef. Chase Calder first notices 15-year-old Maggie after she throw an Irish temper tantrum at him after falling off a horse. Statutory assault charges aside .... that is the beginning of a western style Romeo & Juliet tale. Hidden meetings, sneaking out at night, all sorts of romantic getaway with Chase the cowboy.

The romance gets threatened with Maggie's jealous father begins stealing Calder cattle and selling them on the black market. Tragedy happens when Chase's father discovers that O'Rourke is the cattle thief and in old style Western Justice ... hangs him and makes it look like a suicide. Maggie and her brother see the whole thing and Chase loses Maggie and their son when she runs away to Los Angeles pregnant.

Maggie forges a new life for herself in California. She changes her name to Elizabeth. Tells her aunt that the baby's father was dead, and eventually marries a wealthy worldly doctor who raises Ty as his own. Fate brings her back to Chase after her husband Phillip dies and Ty discovers that his real father is Chase Calder. Now 15, Ty runs away to Montana to confront Chase. It works and Maggie and Chase are drawn into each others' lives full of fury and resurrected passion.

The drama takes on an intrigue when a jealous farm and confidante of Chase tries to steal the Calder Ranch. Chase, Maggie, and Ty bond together to save the Triple C and pave the way for the sequel ... Calder Born, Calder Bred.

I read this book way, way back in 1981 when it was originally released. (I was in the 8th grade but very precocious!) I don't remember all the details, but I know I loved it and have read every book about the Calders Janet Dailey has put out since. This one, the first one, is still the best! The romance between Chase and Maggie sizzled, and the suspense/adventure part of the book was really good, too. This book starts a long series of books about the great Calder family, and I recommend reading them all.

I gave "This Calders Sky" five stars, because I believe it is one of the best books I have read in a long time. I am not much of one for reading, but when I started reading this book, I was finished by the next day. I could not put it down. From the beginning of the book it gets you hooked. I have always said that if I am unable to really get into a book by the first three or four pages, then I will probably not stick with it.
This book is a love story, but more. It is based in Montana, and two seperate families. The Calder family, and the O'Rourke family. Maggie, is a young, innocent, and inexperienced in some ways, young lady. Chase, on the other hand, is not much older, but you get the feeling that he is more experienced in the ways of the world. In the town they live, the Chase family is the name everyone knows.
Maggie and Chase, in certain ways, are two totally opposite people. They both are set in their own ways, but they are madly in love with each other. Of course, they have times when you would think that it is the end of their life together, but it always turns out for the best.
Maggie is experiencing love, hate, trust, and intimacy, and she must decide whether to stay with the man she really loves, or leave and never turn back. There are family issues that are standing in their way of happiness. Chase is attempting to take it slow, as Maggie is experiencing love and being intimate. As the love grows between them, you can feel the passion growing as well. Just as you think nothing can come between Maggie and Chase, problems between the families develop, and it causes pain and hate to develop. Chase really loves Maggie, but it seems as though they are fighting their emotions for one another. Maggie and Chase eventually end up in the same house together, but the way they act towards each other, you would think it was a battlefield. Chase and Maggie eventually give in to their emotions. Chase, Maggie, and their son finally bond as a family should. They face the world together as a family. Maggie and Chase were meant to be together, and after all of the heartache and pain they went through, their love ended up being strong enough to pull them through.
I can honestly say that I would recommend this book to anyone. There are continuing books beyond this one, but I have not had a chance to read them yet. If they are anything like this one, I know I will like them.

The book disclose many backstages tales of opera. I enjoyed it pretty much.

I found this book absolutely fabulous. Mr. Volpe is to the point and shall we say, extremely honest, in his account of his years at the opera, including via himself. One finishes this book with a greater understanding of what goes on behind the scenes. It reads well, with enough details to keep the average reader riveted and without the unnecessary clutter found in some of those books that insist on giving us an hour by hour acount of events. I especially liked the way the book was subdivided. If it does follow a certain chronological order, each chapter focuses on a specific subject matter, for example signers... that serves as the guide thru the different events. Hence, this book is delightful and I strongly recommend it to all and especially, if not exclusively, to opera lovers. Even ones who do not know a lot about opera will love this book.
Marie Kirouack

Opera is dramatic and bigger than life on stage and back stage. Now we learn about all the drama that also goes on in managing the Metropolitan Opera, the largest opera company in the world and an arts organization that puts on more opera performances each year than any other company on earth. Its budget is more than $200 million for something like 240 performances per year. I was quite surprised to read how the monies to fund this huge budget are raised. No, it isn't the government, corporate, or even the richest donors that provide the bulk of the money as I had suspected.

The 2005-2006 budget was $221 million. The Box Office receipts were $101 million, the endowment of $300 million provided another $18 million, parking and commons revenues provided $10 million, and the support from the Federal, State, and City governments was only $375,000! Where does the other $92 million come from each year? 125,000 private donors, 2/3 of whom live outside New York City, provide donations ranging from $60 to more than $500,000 and total $80 million. The 300 members of the Metropolitan Opera Club provide another half-million, and the board members each provide substantial contributions to the met each year. I found this fascinating and quite a different mix than I had expected.

The author, Joseph Volpe, has run the Met for the past 16 seasons, but has worked at the met for more than four decades. He joined as a carpenter and worked his way up from the back of the house to operations. While he showed great skill in getting the shows on stage, he was passed over more than once for the job of Managing Director because of his blue collar background. But after floundering through some poor appointments, Volpe got the job. He admits that his personal style is more, well, frank than most other arts managers and the scowl on his face on the cover photograph (and in some of those included in the book) let us know that he is all about getting the shows on stage and at the highest level rather than getting us to love him as a person.

Volpe came to love opera while working at the Met. True, his grandmother had him listen to "Cavalleria Rusticana" with her when he was a child, but it was getting the magnificent sets to work and to hear the great singers, choruses, and see the dancers, costumes, and even the guests, that got him to see what grand opera is truly about and fall in love with the greatest of all art forms.

The book is part his own biography, part the history of the Met, and part about the great singers he has worked with while at the Met in his various capacities. The book has dozens of interesting photos from all the eras of the Met and the stories of the singers are well chosen and very entertaining. Pavarotti, as you might expect, provides some wonderful anecdotes when he is trying to help Volpe lose weight and includes Volpe in his "yoga" lessons.

The book is quite a pleasant read and I enjoyed it a great deal. It is interesting to hear about the whole of the opera company including everyone it takes to make the shows rather than just the great soloists. Coming from a blue collar background myself, I enjoyed hearing about the working guys and gals that make the show work for those fabulous artists who create the great music with their voices and hearts. The magic wouldn't be nearly as powerful without all those sets, costumes, lights, and the performers on the chorus or the dancers.

Recommended!

Joseph Volpe was a tough as the job he took on when he grabbed the reins of the Metropolitan Opera House, having to deal with the likes of James Levine and Luciano Pavarotti.
But as in the phrase beloved of behavorial psychologists, his was a "tough love." He started as a carpenter at the Old Met with but a passing interest in opera, but by the time he left, music infused his very blood with a passion for his work and the people who populated the space he called home.
The autobiography details the years, the failed marriage, the battles with superstars, the triumphs and disappointments with a candor perhaps unique in this type of memoir, where the authors tend to be either diplomatic or, as with Sir Rudolph Bing, unrelentingly acerbic.
Volpe tells his story in lean, plain-spoken language that reveals the inner workings of the gargantuan Met and makes that place of mazes and convolutions an environment the reader can understand.
Joe Volpe (after reading the book, it's hard to think of him as Joseph) dragged The Met kicking and screaming into the 21st century without violating the traditions that surround opera, and his book is refreshing, entertaining and revelatory.
It should be read by anyone interested in opera, politics or the big business of show.

Joseph Volpe's "The Toughest Show on Earth" is a remarkably comprehensive look at the recent history of the Metropolitan Opera as told through the eyes of the retiring general manager, himself. Volpe has the best "view" in the house and no wonder...he's been there for over forty years.

From the start it's clear that Joe Volpe is not a man to be crossed lightly. Tough as nails (and nails were part of his business) he rises from an entry level position to the top job...and reveals much along the way. There's just enough "dirt" in this book to tickle the senses of the reader and anyone who has ever been in opera knows exactly what Volpe describes...in order to be associated with opera personalities it is sometimes required to act like one.

The longest chapter in "The Toughest Show" is devoted to Volpe's firing of Kathleen Battle and one can just see the steam building in the author's ears as he amasses stories of misbehavior on the part of the "embattled" diva over a period of years. Finally, he acts, much to the delight of the cast and crew. It's a juicy chapter and one of the best in the book. While Volpe offers reflections on just about anyone with whom he has come in contact, he reserves the nicest comments for conductor James Levine and (whom he calls the "Siamese Twins") tenors Luciano Pavarotti and Placido Domingo. Without these three would there be a present-day Metropolitan Opera?

There are occasional bouts of self-serving given over to by the author and often he feels a need to defend himself based on some past controversial decisions, (which I found rather astounding given the fact that he is departing the scene) but what makes "The Toughest Show" such a wonderful book is the comprehensiveness of the Met story. It's not only onstage and backstage but everywhere else, too. "The Toughest Show on Earth" is the greatest guided tour around. It's a terrific read and Volpe deserves much credit not only for this book but for a lifetime of service dedicated to one of the nation's treasures...the Metropolitan Opera.

This is a stunning book from a been-there done-that tugboat captain. Great photos, great stories.

Outstanding book, probably the best I ever saw.
I'm a retired Tug captain and pilot [Pearl Harbor & Hampton Roads],but I grew up in NY. The author knows his stuff, I learned things about the industry I didn't know.
If you have any interest in the subject this is a must have book if only for the excellance of the photos.

This well written book and its fascinating story brought back many a memory, some good and some not so good, from my time at sea on a salvage tug. The research which the author has obviously done is impressive. The only problem with this book is its dimensions.

As soon as I'd read the New York Times Book Review of this book, I had to have it. Because I was brought up in the New York metropolitan area I was able to enjoy riding the Staten Island ferry to and from Manhatten to enjoy the sights and sounds of the harbor and the tugs going about their business. I also listened in on a short wave radio to the messages relayed through the New York Marine Operator as the tugboat captains got their orders from their bosses on what barge to pick up, where to take it and so on. This book is delightfully written by someone who certainly knows the towing business and who seems to cover every conceivable aspect without becoming excessive. The photographs chosen are of the highest quality and taken by some of the top names among photographers of that era. Many of them are so good, they are "suitable for framing" as the saying goes. Their rendition in the book are of equally top quality and the captions are full of interesting facts and are not just taken from the text of the book but can stand on their own. Very informative and at the same time, easy to read, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and recommend it to all, especially to those of us who still carry that little boy or girl inside of us.

I love tugboats and if I get the chance I'm buying one and I'm gonna live on it. This terrific book was a holiday present from my girl friend who knows I want a tug. Did you know tugs are pretty much a NYC invention? - me neither! I do now. Great photos, marvelous history of the NY waterfront.