United States Books

Concise, logical, and consistent, this 'Manifesto' presents Ron Paul's ideas and message of personal and communal liberty in a way that any literate person can digest.

Whether you're a 'conservative' or a 'liberal' or anything in between, this book is a wake-up call to our inner American -- a citizen of a country founded on Liberty in the true sense of the word, not a compromised version to be accepted out of apathy.

The book is short, plainly written, entertaining, and enlightening. Regardless of your political or social stance, I believe it to be relevant and significant reading, especially now.

Give it a shot -- if you don't agree, it'll just be an hour or two of your time and you'll probably still learn some things before you put the book down. What's there to lose?

Check the ratings and reviews on this book -- you'll see that an overwhelming majority of readers have found its simple and insightful message to be one worth reading. You will, too :)

This book was very well written and engaging. Enjoyed and will read again. Dr. Paul is a brilliant man, wish we had more like him in Washington!

Consider yourself lucky to have the opportunity to live, vote, and contribute in the time of Dr. Paul. This man is the modern day George Washington. His presidential face will be on the currency of tomorrow and heralded in the history books for revitalizing what this once great country stood for: freedom, justice, and opportunity.

The only politician left in America who the Founding Fathers would approve of today. Excellent book covering the most important topics of today and the simple answered solutions to them if we started following the constitution once again. This book is the ultimate nightmare of the Left.

A true American! Audit the Fed! Tell your state representatives to pass HR 1207. Get out of the stranglehold they have on us! We are becoming slaves to the Government. They are slaves to the Bankers! Read this book.

Both of my sons and my husband enjoyed this book. A lot of fun to read.

Amazing that in a few weeks, Mick Foley poured his life and soul into 760 pages of notebook paper that would make it, lightly cut and without any major edits, onto book, and earn it's New York Times #1 Bestseller's List. If only it weren't for that Oprah! (readers of the book will understand)

Starting from childhood, he makes it quick, but sweet as he tells humorous stories about his friends, and the origin of the name "Cactus Jack", and his time in college, including the inspiration for Dude Love and the start of his wrestling career.

Foley's writing is so personal and engrossing that he easily captures our attention with riveting stories ranging from lying to his parents and almost getting caught skipping a bus to college in order to catch a wrestling show (the famous Madison Square Garden match between Jimmy Snuka and Don Muraco), to gaining the respect and friendship of ex-wrestler and trainer Dominic DeNucci and being taken under his wing, knowing Foley couldn't afford classes, by reducing his fee, and then not charging altogether.

Foley's tales of his independent circuit runs are definitely a grungy, and in some cases heartwrenchingly painful experiences, which his natural humor and goodnatured attitude help liven up and spare us the angst he must have felt, but without completely sugarcoating it.

All along the way, Foley maintains a very brilliantly hidden line between kayfabe and shoot, though focusing more on the shoot aspect (for nonwrestling fans, kayfabe means the "fake" world of wrestling, including storylines and gimmicks, shoot is reality) and readily admits his talent isn't in technical or even very good wrestling, but rather in taking bumps and making the other guy and himself look good.

From hellish stories of being stalked by crazed female fans thinking his real name is "Cactus Jack Manson" to wrestling in Nigeria and almost getting robbed by the corrupt government police, to losing out on a 3,000$ paycheck in Africa after the president of the country he wrestled in (who organized the event) was assassinated and the regime overthrown within weeks of his departure, Foley's wit and charm keep the story of his life so lively, you'd think it has to be fiction.

Moving on to his time in WCW, he recounts the horrors of the backstage mechanics, from Ric Flair's awful booking and the backstage team's failure to recognize great potential talent, and hiring college TV production students to man their editing, to Foley's disillusionment as the feud between he and Vader was played down, a massive bump taken by Foley which the commentators could have brilliantly sold was sardonically mocked with a derogatory statement like "that's got to be excedrin headache #9!!", and Cactus Jack being attempted to be turned into a childishly ridiculous heel that would have ruined Foley's career.

Then came Foley's run on the independent circuit, and shows for ECW, including full transcripts of some of his best, and in my opinion some of the best ever, promos, trying to be anti-hardcore and promoting WCW and trying to get Tommy Dreamer to go to WCW and be the pretty boy wrestler again.

From the independent circuit, to stardom in the WWF, Foley is never sparse on details about stories while on the road, his many friends along the way from Mr. Haiti in Africa, to Steve Austin and Steve (William) Regal, The Undertaker, Sting, Owen Hart, Vader, and of course Terry Funk. Virtually every stop from his career, including the Japanese tours, the King of the Deathmatch, etc, and the evolution from "Mason the Mutilator" to "Mankind the Mutilator" to "Mankind" and the use of all three of his gimmicks in the WWF to eventual WWF Championship gold.

Throughout it all, Foley never loses his charm or wit, or the incessant Al Snow bashing, with plenty of pictures scattered around the text and plenty of personal stories (like the time he shared a house with a junkie, a guy who was having sex with his girlfriend's 16 year old daughter, and the 16 year old trying to flirt with Mick) and stories with friends (like "Vader" Leon White's spendthrifting with hotels, or Owen Hart's penchanse for practical jokes) that his story never gets old or repetitive and when the story finally ends, you feel like you've known Mick his entire life.

This is THE shining example of a great book about a pro wrestler's life, and I hope his other two books are just as great.

Mick Foley's "Have a Nice Day" is his first and his best. It is a whimsical journey in the life of one of the greatest hardcore wrestlers ever. Foley has always had the gift of gab, and it translates very well to the written page. Hysterical, insightful, and heartwarming.

If you are interested in the behind the scenes of wrestling, here's a great place to start. Mick speaks on his rise from childhood fan to wrestling superstar. He even talks breifly about the Boiler Room Brawl and his Cleveland promos! (I wish he would have went more in-depth on these topics, though.)

Ultimately Foley's and WWF's decision to allow Foley to write this book himself helps as well as hurts the final product.

Foley is not a writer (though, admittedly, he's more of a writer than I am). His prose is sometimes sloppy and amateurish and his chronicles can be redundant and lacking flair. In the hands of a more polished writer this book may have had better shape and a more coherent writing style.

Because Foley wrote this himself, his passion for the sport jumps off each page and his personal desires, challenges, successes and failures are much more salient and raw. By the time your done with Have a Nice Day, you'll feel as if you could call him by his first name you wouldn't mind sharing a car ride and hotel room with him (in order to save a buck or two of course).

Foley aside, the real value in this book is the insider's take on the world of Wrestling. As we watch Foley go from enthusiast and back yard wrestler to World Wrestling Federation headliner we encounter countless old-school wrestlers, big and no-name wrestlers, those on their way up, and those on the way down, hangers-on, and behind the scenes movers and shakers as wrestling evolves from a Saturday morning novelty to an international entertainment phenomena. And that alone is worth the 500 pages Foley lays down.

Have a Nice Day will help you understand that professional wrestling is equal parts acting for effect and real blood and guts. It will also give you reasons to love or hate the wrestlers behind the characters you see on TV or stage.

If you can ignore the writing issues and have any connection to wrestling in the 80's and 90's then this is a 5-star read. However, if quality writing is important or you don't have a wrestling connection, then 3-stars is as good as it gets.

Easily one of the best reads I've had in a long time. It isn't just about horseracing or horses. It is more about the ungainly underdog Seabiscuit who becomes symbolic of the little guy. It's about heart, character, perseverence and a tenacity in the face of extreme hardship that shows us all not only how character is honed by adversity, but just how good we have it today compared to that period in time. After reading it I wondered about the fiber of Americans today and how many could have endured the hardships of the time.

Second time that I have read the book and came away with a deep
respect for the genius of the jockey, Red Pollard. Horses many times
are almost equal in their ability to run but its the jockey who seizes
the opening when it presents itself, knows when to take the lead or
hold off knowing that a horse will do everything in its power to beat
the horse ahead or alongside of him or her. Red Pollard had to rely
on his innate ability because of the injury he had and he proved how
great he was even with the handicap he had. The author also had to overcome the debilitating sickness she had and the story she wove
about the horse, the jockey, the trainer and the owner keeps your
interest from beginning to end.
Tom Bragen Bayonne, New Jersey

Seabiscuit follows the gradual rise of an underdeveloped horse born of grand breading. With no expectations of greatness thrust upon him, Seabiscuit enters a life of racing mediocrity. Slowly, his anger gestates as he is forced to lose to lesser horses in training to build their confidence. Eventually his life comes into confluence with a quixotic entrepreneur recovering from a personal disaster, a down-on-his-luck trainer with natural talent, and one of the tallest but most dedicated jockeys in the league. Together this unlikely but somehow perfect team take Seabiscuit to the greatest heights of horse racing, at the time the most popular sport in the United States. Along the way, their journey takes on grander scope than just personal redemption. They become a much needed beacon of triumph and personal renewal for American emotionally wasted by the throes of the Great Depression.

The story is excellently researched, well crafted, and favors reality to fairy tale endings. Each of the characters is presented in written detail akin to HD TV. Hillenbrand should patent HD Words.

Many times a book is not worth reading after seeing the movie (i.e. Twilight), which is a shame because a good book can greatly enlighten the backstory that doesn't come across in moving pictures. Seabiscuit thankfully makes the reading as well as the watching equally worthwhile regardless of the order they are undertaken.

I purchased this book years ago when it first came out. My husband is an avid fan of horse races and having went with him on numerous occasions I became interested in reading about them myself. This book will not disappoint and even though the movie was very good the book is tons better (which is almost always the case). I enjoyed reading about the background of all the people involved with Seabiscuit it is a real heartwarming story about a horse that everyone gave up on but everyone ended up having hope in. A trainer that was an outsider and an owner that wasn't your average horse owner and the faith he put into the jockey who was left by his parents at a horse track because they couldn't afford to keep him home (it was during the Great Depression). I could probably go on and on about the book because I enjoyed it very much.

The story of the rise and domination (within horse racing circles and the world at large) of the most celebrated race horse in history. Chronicling the horse, owner, trainer and jockeys; paying special attention to their remarkable place in history during a time in the late 1930's when the world needed a hero like Seabiscuit.

A terrific tale of heart and determination. The characters are richly drawn and the world of horse racing is told in a way that is fascinating to the non-enthusiast. The narratives of the races are constructed so well that they will keep your heart racing long after the horses are back in the stable. Wonderful stuff.

This is my favorite memoir of all time. I saw the film version "October Sky" in school several times then I read the memoirs. They are excellent! I was amazed that this group of boys made these successful rockets back in the 50s when space exploration first began. If you love a good story (and true story at that) I would highly recommend you read his books. Homer and the Rocket Boys are truly inspiring.

First of all this book cannot be classified as memoir, but should be read as a novel. Too many coincidences and situations are clearly created to support the story.
Second, the title makes you thinks the book is primarily about rockets but it's not. It's mainly about the life of some teenagers and their troubles, loves and families. Rocket building is just a filler and the parts of book describing the launches are the less inspiring.
Third, the story and location had a great potential: an isolated community where everybody know each other, the dangers of mine working, the role of the company as the villain exploiting workers. Also the fact that the main characters are kids, with their weakness and gifts, and the ability to be extremely cruel in their innocence.
Yet the author lacks the talent to really entertain , his writing being too light to detail the personalities and to make the reader relate to the characters.
I was expecting a lot more and after reading the book I was amazed at how this work can have truckloads of 5 stars ratings. After reading more than two hundreds reviews I understand they are mostly by heavily biased West Virginians readers and people involved (even if not directly) with living in mining towns near the area where the facts take place.
To summarize: 2,5 stars.

Simply a wonderful, heartwarming book and a page-turner, too. Homer "Sonny" Hickam tells the story of his youth in a small coal mining town. The wonderful characters he introduces us to throughout this marvelous tale are completely unforgettable. His father is the real hero in the tale, a tough, stern man with remarkable insight. I especially liked it when Homer, Senior, suddenly gives his unsubtle son a little special insight on the Cold War. "There are Americans I'm a lot more afraid of than the Russians," Dad said. "Like those who think it's okay to use the government to force you to do what's against natural law." When Sonny asks him what that is, he makes this prescient observation: "Some will tell you that greedy and compassionate men are in competition but I'm here to tell you they're not. They run in different but parallel packs, but both will destroy this country before they're done." Homer, Senior, also rails against entropy, a law of thermodynamics, to his puzzled son. "No matter how perfect the thing, the moment its created it begins to be destroyed." When Sonny asks, in effect, what's wrong with that, his dad replies, "Because even though I know it to be true, I don't want it to be true. I hate that it's true. I just can't imagine what God was thinking." Sonny's mom later tells him not to worry, that his dad was talking about his coal mine. But it later dawns on Sonny that his father is talking about the entire town of Coalwood and maybe America itself. Rocket Boys is often considered a young adult book, mainly because of the movie based on it, but in fact it is filled with wisdom that most of us can use and apply to today's various disasters. There are also characters often overlooked, the funny but sad Jake Mosby, the alcoholic jet ace, who befriends the Rocket Boys, Basil Oglethorpe, the gay reporter, and a host of others. After giving it some thought, I realized Rocket Boys is not really about rockets, although Hickam spends some time writing about the boys of the Big Creek Missile Agency and their gradual winning over of the tough coal miners to their side, but is really more about life as it was in a little, inconsequential place that holds so much wisdom for us today. In fact, I think that's its real strength and literary value. Read it that way and I think you'll get much more out of it.

I loved this story, and I don't have a scientific bone in my body! It's a great story about a boy becoming a man and wrestling with several aspects of his life. Well written!

As the first book of his "Coalwood Series", Author Homer Hickham garners this non-fiction book a "galaxy" rating, as it is easily the best book I have read in 2009. I intend to share it with my 14-year old son, who dreams of being a rocket engineer someday.

Set in the tiny town of Coalwood, West Virginia, (1957 - 1960) Homer Hadley Hickham suddenly discovers at age 15 that there is a whole world outside of the isolated Coalwood when he views the mysterious Russian satellite, Sputnik, pass overhead one night. The idea that the Russians could put a satellite in space inspires young Hickham to think beyond working in the Coalwood coal mine, as his father has planned for him. Encouraged by his science teacher and his wonderfuly free-thinking mother, Homer begins to build home-made rockets for the grandiose goal of someday working with the great German Scientist, Wehrner Von Braun, who leads the American space effort.

This is a most engaging and charming book. It captures the heart and soul of a teen-aged boy who has great plans, but has virtually no one to guide or help him achieve his dream. Despite daunting odds and obstacles, Homer gathers some like-thinking friends and they begin the Coalwood Rocket Club. The boys have absolutely no idea how to build or fuel a rocket, so they enlist the help of the high school math and science geek, who consistently guides the rocket boys in the right direction. Yet even the addition of a math genius is not enough, for materials for rockets are scarce. Homer enlists workers from the Coalwood mine to help him obtain the raw materials to build his rockets. The miners readily pitch in to help, but Homer's father, the mine foreman, strongly and disdainly discourages Homer from pursuing his dream, and instead tries to steer Homer to become a mine engineer, like himself. The central conflict becomes the straining tension between a father's practical expectations for his son, and the son's expnsive dreams of space flight. Is this not a universal conflict between all boys and their father's expectations?

Over the course of approximately 3 years, Homer and his rocket boys launch over 35 rockets, learning lessons from their failures as well as their successes. Along the way, Homer tenderly relates his experiences and thoughts as he makes his way through the tumultuous high school years: girls, girlfriends, sex, school dances, poverty, envy, jealousy, complex family relations, labor-union conflicts, and so much more. While rocket building is the framework for this book, the lessons and experiences of growing up in Coalwood fill out the framework in a very satisfying manner. Anyone growing up in the fifties or sixties will be instantly transported back in time to their own teenage years, for Homer's story is the story of the American Dream.

The book hooks you early on as every good book should, and then holds your interest to the very last page. I am already looking forward to devouring the remaining books in the Coalwood series.

Homer Hickham blasts off this first book and achieves a successful orbit that will keep you enthralled from start to finish. A great book, and most highly recommended.

Konedog

What a story! What a writer! I could not put this book down. Colin Channer is a talent. I cannot wait to read his next adventure.

The book was well written, great humor and very relatable for anyone who has ever been in love or would like to be. The only thing is that the cover does not give the book any justice. At first glance you would think its one of those trashy romance novels, however its about more than romance, its about true love and the romance behind it.

This novel was a soulful journey. It connects with the reality of relationships and with all of its struggles and triumph. I was drawn into the characters from the opening page. He tells this tale with a poetic spin. His words unfold beautifully and each character takes on a life of its own. I think readers will find a little bit of themselves in this book. I loved it!

This book is a beautiful experience. It is one of the most passionate and real books that I have ever read. I couldn't put it down and I wish that it was longer. The emotions of the characters are so strong that they leap off of the page. This book makes you want to go out and fall in love and hope that you experience half the passion and true love that these characters experience.

Colin Channer to me is like a modern day Picasso with a pen. His dialogue is compelling, soul-stirring and purposeful and his characters are engaging. You can almost close your eyes and imagine yourself seeing the story unfold as if you were a fly on the wall at a gallery in New York, a beach house in Jamaica, or the Streets of London. This is the mark of a truly great storyteller.

Our main character, Fire, is a "simple" man with a "complex" life. By simple I mean he wants what any sane person would want, a circle of good life-long friends, a fulfilling life, and someone emotionally and physically available to share it all with. So, when he meets Sylvia, he feels like he has found the one. What he doesn't know is that Sylvia, an engaged magazine editor, is all but disengaged from her own true desires for her life. Soon we see that complications abound, and the journey they take throughout the story takes the reader on a cross-continental journey in search of introspection, true meaning and, possibly, true love.

An interesting point is that Channer's characters are written from their souls - what drives them to do the things they do is less about their gender than their emotions and their pasts. With such a multi-faceted story, several layers of conflict, we still get a crystal clear picture and understanding as to why things unfold teh way they do. It is a believable, gripping, page turner, and Channer conveys it effortlessly.

Waiting in Vain, simply put, was one of the two best books I have read in a long time. The other was Satisfy My Soul (also by Colin Channer). As an aspiring writer, I wish my prose was as naturally beautiful as Mr. Channer's. Until it is, I will keep devouring his work in hopes that some of his literary poeticism rubs off.

First, let me tell you I've never liked westerns (except for this one). This book is still one of, if not the, best book I've ever read. I'm not going into the storyline as other reviews have already done that. I'll just mention that the author makes you feel like you're apart of the characters lives to the point that once the book is over a little sadness sets in. When I read this book it held my interest so much that I could hardly put the book down.

I'd suggest that you read this book before seeing the movie. The book contains more of the story and, let's face it, the books are always better. Plus, the movie will make even more sense, if you read the book first. That's just my opinion. While we're at it, the movie was excellent in it's own right. If you get a chance to see it, you really should.

One more thing, in my opinion, this is definitely not a book for children to read.

If you like John Wayne movies or Clint Eastwood westerns you'll enjoy Lonesome Dove. Even if you don't like westerns there is a good chance you'll love this book.
I've read the negative reviews posted about how the book isn't politically correct. So what? People are offended by the brutish behavior of the cowboys here. So there are hookers and stereotyped Indian outlaws; who cares? The book is great. Honestly, the characters feel absolutly real.
Gus and Call aren't exactly refined. They are two burned out ex-Texas Rangers looking for a last hurrah by driving cattle from Texas to Montana because they're bored. I get it. They have character flaws; they entertain hookers; they get drunk; they gamble, they steal horses from Mexicans, but that is what makes them come alive. You connect with them on some level, and end up going on the journey with them. When a writer can put you there with the characters and you can see them, hear them, and know them like a close friend he's accomplished something magical.
You'll laugh, you'll cry, and when it's over you'll wish it wasn't. I love this book. 900 pages seems like alot, but you'll be sad when it is over.

Though this review does not include "adult" language, the subject matter might offend some people.

This is not so much a "literary" review as it is a socio-political one. I want to kick Larry McMurtry in the shins for failing to fully develop his deconstructionist view of the American West.

One of the best things about "Lonesome Dove" is that it is /not/ a literary work. It's simply a good story, well told. McMurtry's direct, unpretentious style never gets in the way. (One /can/ be pretentiously simple -- see Hemingway.) And if the first few lines, and the brilliantly developed first chapter that follows them, don't grab you, there's no way you're going to like it. (The prequels suffer from weak opening chapters.) I've read "Lonesome Dove" twice, and will probably pick it up again in a few years.

My issue with McMurtry is that, in trying to present the American West as it (probably) was, * is that "Lonesome Dove" (and its prequels/sequels) avoid any mention of -- how shall I say this? -- "male relationships". The possibility that men ever get sexually involved with each other -- whether out of need for physical release, or for affection -- is not part of McMurtry's wild-West Weltanschauung. (I threw that in to show that I know some big words. I like alliteration, too.)

McMurtry is not anti-gay. In "The Last Picture Show" he treats homosexuality in a sympathetic, almost comic fashion (which, for a story of the early '60s, is arguably implausible). But the thought of physical relations between men seems to bother him.

McMurtry is not known for explicit sex scenes. His characters engage in sex, but he's more interested in their reasons for doing it and their reactions to it, rather than the act itself. McMurtry's admiration (and near-idolatry) of strong women perhaps explains his general avoidance of male/male sexual activity. It is, after all, an implicit rejection of the most-basic need men have for women.

What is particularly odd about "Lonesome Dove" is that Gus and Woodrow are clearly "married" (Gus the querulous wife, Woodrow the taciturn husband), a relationship with precedents in Western literature (eg, Bret Harte's "Uncle Jim and Uncle Billy"), but McMurtry doesn't do much to develop or reflect on this aspect of their relationship, other than Clara's expression of ferocious sexual jealousy. (The book, more than the film, makes it clear that Clara needs men she can dominate and control.)

I interpret the scene in which Gus suggests to Lorie that /she/ choose what kind of sex they'll have, with Lorie utterly failing to understand, as McMurtry's way of indicating that Gus -- portrayed in all the books as someone with better physical sight (and therefore superior insight) -- is fully aware of what his relationship with Woodrow /could/ have been. One might go even further to argue that Gus is continually running after whores precisely because it short-circuits any possibility of them becoming involved in any kind of sexual relation with each other, even an occasional "chaw for a chaw".

Given Gus's propensity for taking pot shots at Woodrow's dullness, it seemed likely that he would have gotten in at least one more jab before dying. The following interpolation to Gus's death scene /should/ have been written by Larry McMurtry, but wasn't. I apologize for not quite matching his style, because my writing leans toward complexity. (Gus's "voice" is quite easy to imitate, especially after hearing Robert Duvall nail the character.)

"Dangerous to write to two women at the same time," he said. "Especially when I'm this lightheaded. I might not be as particular in my sentiments as women expect a fellow to be."

[added material begins here]

Gus paused writing, hoping the lightheadedness would clear. Without the writing to occupy his thoughts, the urge to talk returned.

"You're somethin', Woodrow. We been together most of our lives, and though I'm about to shuffle off this coil, you don't seem to think that deserves a farewell salutation."

Call knew what shuffling was, but did not see the connection with a coil of rope. Was a salutation anything like a salute? Gus never passed up an opportunity to confuse or irritate him. Would Gus continue to pester him until the moment he died? Call did not look forward to Gus's death, but Gus seemed to be taking his time, just to exasperate him.

"You want something else, Gus?", Call asked.

"A kiss, Woodrow, a kiss. For a dear friend you ain't likely to see again."

Yet another annoyance. After a kiss, would Gus then ask for a poke? After extracting a solemn promise to cart his body to Texas, Gus might consider a poke as only a small inconvenience. Why would one man want to poke another man, anyway? There was only one place to do it, and it did not seem an accommodating spot for the fellow who was being poked.

Gus was annoyed that Call had shown no initiative in kissing his compañero goodbye, ** and had to be pressed to it. Gus was curious to know what kissing a man felt like. The request would serve nicely as his last chance to irritate Call.

Gus found the strength to grasp Call's blouse and pull his unenthusiastic friend to his mouth. Never having kissed a man, Gus was not familiar with the procedure. A simple pressing of the lips seemed satisfactory, and likely all Call would accept. He would surely not tolerate Gus's tongue in his mouth, and Gus didn't think his curiosity extended that far.

Gus brushed aside Call's beard to uncover his lips. He found them quite unlike a woman's -- thin, firm, and dry. The kiss was not unpleasant, but hardly so fine as Lorie's or Clara's. When Call did not respond, Gus made a great show of bussing him vigorously and affectionately. He couldn't demand something, then be half-hearted in taking it.

Call found no reason to respond. The week's worth of stubble on Gus's face scraped his lips in an unfamiliar manner, but he found nothing arousing or even interesting in Gus's kiss, nothing that justified a return. His feelings for Gus would be no different for having kissed him before his passing.

Having indulged his desire for a kiss, and been sorely disappointed in Call's failure to respond with the least bit of enthusiasm -- not altogether a surprise, as Call would likely have been as cold with a woman -- Gus released his friend and fell back on the pillows.

"'I god, Woodrow, you have now kissed a man almost as many times as you have kissed a woman. Maybe more. Not a very good record in my book, or any man's book. I figure the lady kisses -- if there was any -- was scarcely more passionate. That's another reason the women-folk don't care for you."

The energy Gus spent in kissing Call and rebuking his coolness made him even more lightheaded. He was not ready to return to letter-writing. He lay quietly and stared at his friend. Staring was a rare activity for Gus, as his brain was most-often occupied working his mouth.

Call tolerated the stare quietly. The silence ended when a thought that had often crossed Gus's mind, but he'd never thought wise to utter, rose to the surface.

"Woodrow, I have on occasion wondered what our lives would have been like if you and I had been..."

Uncharacteristically, Gus reconsidered. Finishing his thought would doubtless send Call into conniptions, because he was too damned ignorant to understand what he was about to say. Call would likely storm out, taking with him the promise to bury Gus in Clara's orchard.

"Don't matter, Woodrow. We wasn't born that way."

Call had no idea what Gus was talking about. Though Gus's words would on occasion come to mind, he was never able to reckon what Gus had stopped in the middle of saying. But that was Augustus McCrae, forever saying things that made no sense.

The lightheadedness finally passed, and Gus struggled back into a near-upright position, without Call assisting a man who was so determined to die. Gus slowly completed the letters, folding one of them. [original continues, with first sentence of paragraph deleted] Then Call saw his hand drop and thought he was dead. He wasn't, but he was too weak to fold the second note. Call folded it for him.

* There is some irony in this, as the novel is based on a screenplay written with Jimmy Stewart, Henry Ford, and John Wayne in mind. "The Searchers" notwithstanding, one does not associate The Duke with revisionist views of American history.

** In both the 18th and 19th centuries, it would not have been considered odd for a man to kiss a dying male friend goodbye. (It even occurs in the 1927 film "Wings".) As we see in "Dead Man's Walk" and "Comanche Moon", Woodrow F. Call is not only unaware of metaphor, but seems devoid of common human emotions. He is quite cold not to kiss his best pard, and shouldn't have had to be asked. Though the novel doesn't mention Call's failure to kiss Gus (how could Larry McMurtry /not/ be aware of death kisses?), its omission shows nevertheless just how cut-off from normal human emotion Call is.

This is an outstanding book with almost mythical figures, Gus and Woodrow. This is the very best of Larry McMurtry, destined to be an American classic. No need to buy on the Internet; check your local library.

This is a cowboy epic about two ex-Texas rangers who drive their cattle, their horses, their hands and themselves from Texas to Montana. There are bears, Indians, rustlers, and every kind of saddle tramp. There is harsh weather and harsh language. And there is a brutality in some of the characters that swallows nearly every good thing growing in its path. There are also wonderfully complex men and women who live and die for reasons hard to understand. This book leaves you aching for them and feeling the frustration of having stood helplessly by through their suffering. It could so easily have been different, so much better.

Is it wrong to go south of the border to steal a herd of horses with your partners? Maybe it's no big deal if you are working together to steal them from unknown Mexicans--even if you have to shoot one or two in the process. What if you help steal some of the same horses from the rancher you sold them to because you can't stand up to an outlaw with a gun at your back? Your friends show up again and help you out of this situation. Sort of. And you accept the justice and mercy of their rope. It all could have been so different.

There is a great deal of pain in this book. Maybe they all should have just stayed in Texas. Why do so many people miss their happiness after coming so close to it?

A very well written book about an everyday man who would become the President of the United States and would become respected for his service to his country.

Resisted this book for quite awhile even though I am a DM fan. My apprehensions were unfounded, an excellent read in a time period that I had avoided for some reason, Truman, the man, surprised me,

Yet another superb job by David McCullough!! He has emerged as the absolute BEST historical writer of our generation, hands-down. Talk about bringing a character to life and covering all the aspects of his subject: the good, the bad, and the ugly. From Trumans humble beginnings, through his presidency, and his death, McCullough brings you inside the mind of Truman, and many of the people most important in his life. This is a long book, but it reads so easily that you don't even realize it. I am just amazed at the job McCullough does with his subject matter, whether it be technical (i.e. the Brooklyn Bridge or the Panama Canal), or personal (i.e. Truman, John Adams, Teddy Roosevelt). He does such an incredible job making his subject matter spring to life, and leaving you wanting more. How many authors write history books that are genuine page-turners and read like a fiction novel? This is the ability McCullough has, and Truman is no exception. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in history, whether it be of WWII, the Atom Bomb, or Truman himself.

It really is the definitive Truman bio, a man whom, ever since I read this, has been an important influence on me. A truly great president, endlessly fascinating and champion of the phrase "the buck stops here!" - well, the buck stops with this bio, too. Great.

It takes a bit of courage to start on a 1000 page biography of a lesser known president (relative to Lincoln, Washington, Roosevelt(s)). However, for those of you decide to jump in may find yourself transformed at how you look at politics and America as a whole.

David McCullough has been given much (very well deserved) praise for his biography on John Adams. McCullough clearly deserved the attention (and the Pulitzer to boot), but it seems that "John Adams" has caused his work on Harry S. Truman to be overlooked. This is unfortunate, because in my opinion, Truman is a much more relevant and important that John Adams in today's society.

In "Truman" McCullough paints a masterful (and I mean MASTERFUL) portrait of a small town farmer who found himself not only President of the United States but as one of the most important figures of World History. It really is an unbelievable that a man who worked on his farm until age 34 decided to enlist in the Army during WWI. His fame as an artillery Captain allowed him to enter the world of local politics. From there a few incredible breaks have him in the US Senate as a relative anonymous Senator. World War II allows him to use his military expertise to form the "Truman Committee" and the oversight of government military spending. An unlikely turn-of-events has him Vice President of the United States to a dying President. Up next....

1- The Postdam conference with Winston Churchill and Joseph Stalin
2- The dropping of the A-bombs in Japan
3- The drafting of all the railroad workers into the Army
4- Berlin airlift
5- Korean war
6- Firing of MacArthur

To name a few of the more significant events that this farmer had to face during his presidency.

McCullough paints a very vivid a lively man who never forgot the office that he represented, the people he served, or how he was raised. Truman is a model of a politician doing what they think is right and allowing the opinions to fall where they might. McCullough shows that what Truman lacked in polish he made up for in grit and determination.

Final Verdict - McCullough's best work - probably one of the best biographies ever written. In addition, we are given an amazing history of the United States from 1910-1955.

5 Stars - Must read for anyone who has the courage to tackle such a lengthy book.

Jacqueline Marcell takes a very serious subject and writes about it with such a captivating, entertaining style that I couldn't put this book down. For those of us who have had the stressful experience of caring for a loved one with dementia, knowing that even with the best support system and planning, reality is that each day is about as predictable as herding cats. A sense of humor and resiliency are key to survival. Ms. Marcell not only survived, but went a step beyond and shares her experiences to help others.

If nothing is to be feared, only understood, this book is just the ticket for anyone dealing with a difficult parent. Written with great humor, I have recommended ELDER RAGE to friends, after realizing how validating and helpful it had been in my own situation.

Elder Rage was a salve for my raw emotional wounds. I didn't really think anyone else could comprehend the insanity of my situation. It was a comfort to know that someone else was a pioneer in dealing with physically and mentally ailing parents. I also appreciated the practical tips for dealing with the needs of elderly parents. The humor throughout the book was appreciated, but was a bit overdone and tedious at times. I would recommend this book to anyone who is suddenly thrust into facing the difficult situation of caring for elderly parents suffering from various form and stages of dementia.

"As I read Elder Rage I felt that I was right there going through every unbelievable twist and turn with Jacqueline. Her incredible indefatigable humor and pop culture references often brought laugh-out-loud relief to situations you'd never expect! She also includes extensive valuable suggestions and resources to help caregivers navigate their personal situations. As the son of an Alzheimer's sufferer, I know so well that having a loving advocate like Jacqueline in the family can make all the difference in the world. Thank you, Jacqueline, for educating and sharing a piece of your heart!"
--Dan Koffman, Author, "Simple Pleasures for Special Seniors Books" (for later stage dementia/Alzheimer's patients)

Jacqueline's book really hits home for anyone that has grandparents or elders in the home. This book with really help you understand dementia in depth and will give you many answers to care options and assistance.

Went where he said was good and ate where he said would be good and it was all true. Snorkeled in the areas he suggested and it was so cool. He seems to have a thorough knowledge of the island that is accurate and very helpful. I would just be careful to be sure to buy a new edition. I bought this one without looking what edition it was and it did not have all the restaurant reviews that are currently in the newest edition. Some of the info was therefore outdated. We had a great time in spite of this. Took the book everywhere with us on The Big Island. Very helpful.

A must for anyone visiting the Big Island..... also purchased this one in the past for Kauai..... don't travel to the islands without the "blue book"....

This is a great book. Overall, its the best I could think of. Of course, a little bit more maps with a little bit more markers wouldn't harm. There's always room for improvement (especially in terms of pictures of the destinations). Couple of don't:

1. Champagne pond -- *DON'T* go there! It doesn't worth the trip. I don't know what the homeowner's society did to Andrew Doughty but he marked this spot as "Don't miss!". Honestly, you should miss it. First of all, the road is not easy there and will take lots of your time.

Second, I really can't think of anyone who could enjoy a swimming in a pond under hateful eyes of the homeowners. Yes, the pond doesn't belong to them but still, I find little pleasure in experiencing it as it is now.

And third, the pond just doesn't worth it. It's just a tiny little pool of hot water. When I visited it, it was flooded with ocean water (high tide!) and it didn't look appealing. And it will get crowded closer to the evening. I just can't justify all the hassle it took us to get there with the experience I've got from that pool. Nearby Ahalanui hot water pond is thousand times easier to reach, friendlier, has public facilities like restrooms and showers and much better overall.

All I can say about "Champagne pool" is that it's a very rude joke that Andrew made on homeowner's society. That's it.

2. Green sand beach -- this is not a road at all. Not even 4WD. Maybe a tank could traverse that road ok but not a Jeep. I couldn't made it. I should've found another quiet beach nearby that I can enjoy all by myself (the big black sand beach was overrun by crowds plus 2 buses with schoolkids arrived. Ouch!)

3. Waipi'o Valley is a must. I spent a night at the beach and it was magestic. Probably, the highest experience of my trip. Of course, some locals were saying that I'm not allowed to stay there (but then the beach belongs to the state, isn't it??) as well as some kids were telling horrible stories that locals come down at night and burn tourists tents -- so I could give a free ride home to those kids :) Yeah, it's that easy to fool me!

Anyway, it's a great place and I would like to retire there!

4. You *don't* need to cross the stream when you're looking for the trailhead to Hi'ilawe falls. The trailhead is right between telegraph table and the stream, closer to the stream. Just park there and go. It's a hard hike but well worth it! Beautiful and gigantic falls -- and you *must* experience it no matter what.

Here's some pics from there: [...] The last picture is the photo of the stream that you shouldn't cross (looking west, toward the falls). The trailhead just to the left of this stream.


What else? You don't have to pay to camp in Big Island. Spencer was closed for some party when I was there so we stayed on the hills next to Hapuna beach. Nice place except some jerks parked next to us and listening loud music until I screamed.

I highly recommend Ho'okena beach park for camping -- nice and serene place, nice sand and pretty safe. No cell phone coverage, though (is that a plus or a minus?)

Also I would rate as recommend Jackie Rey's Ohana Grill. It's good and well worth the visit. And Jackie is the friendliest restaurateur I've ever seen :)

Another thing: you will *need* some kind of a diving certificate (worth [...]) before you can go diving for Manta Rays. Without it they can offer snorkeling which is rather stupid, given the tiny price difference. We didn't have certificates and we didn't know we need ones before the very last minute. Surprisingly, no one on the team mention them and I even started fitting equipment for us. But then one French blond guy showed up and said that we should possess a certificate (what's for??). Well, most likely, he wanted to have some more business for the Big Island Divers but instead they lost us. I've got impression that the whole team silently hated him for mentioning it (well, it's kind of recession out there and we were about to part with [...]!) but couldn't say anything. So beware: be prepared and download some kind of a certificate from the internet before you go. I'll do that next time for sure!


I didn't do many of tropical vacations so far (just Egypt, Spain, Dominican republic and Hawaii) but I like the Big Island the most. It's a wonderful place to visit and really great overall. When I grow old, I want to live there, for sure.

That's it so far. Maybe I'll add some more later! Stay tuned! ;)

This must be the Family Circus of guide books--highly recommended but full of bad advice. For example: recommends a snorkeling spot that is a dying reef and is unofficially closed to responsible tourists. Additionally,the organization of the book is difficult to use--like what if we don't know exactly where we are, where should we eat? We won't find it in this book! Stick with Fromer's.

Since many of the glowing reviews are several years old, I just have to add a quick note to say that they are still true, and our family recommends this book for anyone planning a trip to the Big Island. Using this book before and during our 2 week trip was a tremendous help in deciding where to stay and prioritizing what to do. Based on a suggestion from the book, we stayed for several days on the east side of the Big Island (the rain forest and volcano side) then relocated to the west side (for better beaches and beach weather) for the rest of the time. We used the book to find a fantastic scuba dive boat in Kona (Pacific Rim Divers) and to plan daytrips and beach outings, and, yes, even to select our luau (Island Breeze in Kailua-Kona). In using the book it seemed that it had been updated for this edition--at least for the things we wanted to find. Granted this might not be true for everything, but the author did make an effort to at least revise the basic information if not the individual assessments.
For those who have used Rick Steves' books to get around cities in Europe, I have to say that this series by Andrew Doughty is equally user-friendly and invaluable for navigating the Hawaiian islands. It became a bit of a joke with other travellers we met at some interesting spot or other, who said they had found out about it in "The Blue Book". Given the investment of time and money to visit Hawaii, the purchase of this book is well worth its modest price for ensuring you will make the most of your trip.

I love the complete Far Side set. It brought joy and happiness to my life.
Dxrams

If you want the whole collection in brilliant form of presentation, then this is the one for you.
Yes, its expensive, very heavy, but once you start turning pages, you can't stop 'till the end.
Go for it!!

Love these books and love the way they have been assembled. If I can just get over the weight issue...THIS SET IS AMAZINGLY HEAVY! Makes for an entertaining afternoon, evening, weekend, however long it takes to get through it all. There is so much Gary Larson. I love it.

the best cartoonist of the century
... but don't let the Complete Far Side drop on your foot.

These books are as well bound as hefty mega pulpit bibles at church. Beautiful paper. Works of art. Arrived in a few days time direct from Amazon in perfect shape. A worthwhile investment in cheerfulness during this difficult economic season.