United States Books

THIS IS ANOTHER GOOD BOOK BY JAMES ROBERT PARRISH. THIS IS ABOUT THE BIGGEST SPILTS IN HOLLYWOOD HISTORY. AMONG THEM ARE BEN AND JLO, JOE AND MARILYN AND MIA AND WOODY. HE GIVES US A BRIEF BIO OF EACH PERSON AND HOW THEY MET. FROM THERE WE ARE TOLD WHAT LIFE WAS LIKE TOGETHER AND WHY EACH COUPLE SEPARATED OR DIVORCED. THEN WE ARE TOLD WHAT HAPPEND TO EACH PERSON AFTER THE BREAKUP. I LIKED THIS BOOK AND IT IS BOTH INTERESTING AND FUN. I HAVE READ SEVERAL OF HIS BOOKS AND LIKED THEM ALL. I RECOMMEND IT FOR ALL GOSSIP AND NOSEY PEOPLE. (LIKE MYSELF)

If you're weary of the stream of pabulum from the glossy tabloids, you need to get a couple of James Parish's books on the wilder and seamier side of Hollywood life as a counteragent. He's been doing this for close to four decades now, with dozens and dozens of books to his credit (as of this writing, I'm expecting two of his compendia on actresses in the mail and am making arrangements to get four more), and his experience and close attention to research show through here and in the other books in his current series (e.g., The Hollywood Book of Death, The Hollywood Book of Scandals). He avoids the extremes, as other researchers have mentioned, of either glamorizing his subjects to excess or painting them in villainously black hues, but instead presents them, sympathetically but truthfully, in their all-too-human complexity. I've started looking for the name James Robert Parish on a Hollywood book when I want the facts (not to mention a good selection of pictures - every story in this book is illustrated with at least one nice B&W photo, many of them not often seen elsewhere), and you should too.

James Robert Parish, the chronicler of all things Hollywood, turns his writing skill to "breakups Hollywood-style" in The Hollywood Book of Breakups. As with all of Parish's books, it's a fun read. His introduction begins with a quote from Sandra Zober Nimoy, Leonard's ex-wife, and her first sentence is a doozie: "It's a pretty mean town." Sad, but true. You'll recognize all the names in the book, and it's likely you might think you know all the stories of the breakups written about here. I doubt it, though. Parish always manages to spring a surprise or two. For example, did you know that Sonny Bono was once married to Susie Coelho, host of HGTV's Landscaper's Challenge? His format for each breakup is quite nice. It begins with general information, then a SHE section, a HE section, and THEY section, and concludes with an AFTERWARD. Lots of pertinent information - and juicy, truthful gossip - in every section. Parish is a good writer, and his words flow along seamlessly, making the book both fun, and easy to read. No only do I recommend the book for reading, it makes an excellent gift for anyone who like film stars or is addicted to "what went on behind the scenes" gossip.

What a guilty pleasure! Concisely written, carefully researched, The Hollywood Book of Breakups is a speed read of celebrity couplings gone wrong. Parish doesn't glamorize or trash his subjects, he makes the stars seem all too human. A fresh take on Hollywood divorce, and a crash course in the many, many ways that relationships can burn up and flame out.

James Robert Parish has always had the ability to cut right through the froo-froo icing and get right to cake. That's why so many of his books are on my shelf. With this one, I have to start a new shelf. He packs in a lot of information: mini bios of all the players, what brought them together and the circumstances that drove them apart. He brings each era alive, mentioning timely rumors and headlines, but delivers only the facts, dispelling media speculation in exchange for - get this - the real story! And the variety of couples, from Stanwyck and Taylor, Burton and Taylor, Brad and Jen or Liza and David Gest represents 75 years of Tinsletown romance gone awry.

I, too, write books about Hollywood (Dishing Hollywood, Hollywood Haunted). Our books are often paired; I am very complemented by that because James Parish is really great at what he does.

I recently read Household Baggage - The Moving Life of a Solider's Wife by Marna A. Krajeski and I must say that I really loved it!

The book is a collection of short stories about her different experiances in the Army. I really related to this author- she is brutally honest and wrote about feelings that I myself have had, but were afraid to share. She made me realized that I am a normal Army wife with normal feelings, even if I don't have the smile slapped on my face every second of every day.

The book is divided into sections such as "Military" and "Moving" with short stories relating to each. The book is very well orgainized and every little story had a point. Her writing is very clever and I laughed through the whole thing! :) But don't think there isn't a serious side to the book. The story "It takes a long time to grow an old friend" was especially touching and I really related to this one. It was among my favorites in the book as I can really relate to the difficulty finding true friends as an Army wife moving around so much.

I really reccomend this book to all Army wives. It was a nice escape from books on 'more serious' subject matter, I guess I could say. It was lighthearted and a fast read. It even came complete with a Military Word glossary for all you newbies out there! :) I also like that this was "Army specific" and not just "Military generalized" as I have been finding these kinds of books hard to come by.

Marna Krajeski is living my life! Or maybe I'm living hers. No matter -- she got it right.

This is a book that now stays permanently on my nightstand. I've probably read it completely three or four times, but I only read it straight through the first time. Now I just pick it up and read a chapter or two or three or four, selected at random, and skipping about through the book. It's perfect for that and I never tire of it. This one is light and easy and funny and fun; I recommend it.

Krajeski has distilled the essence of life as a military wife into a tasty brew of moving and witty essays. It is just such stories that every woman "married to the military" craves to hear. Not only do the narratives reassure us that we're not alone in our feelings, they also point the way to survival. Those with no experience of the military will enjoy a great read and gain a new understanding of why and how so many serve our nation.

I laughed, I cried and I read the entire book straight through!

As I began to read the Song of a Military Wife, the tears and bursts of laughter began and didn't stop. With 13 years of the Army style under my belt, I could easily identify with nearly every page. As I continued to read, I struggled to put the book down to take much needed bathroom breaks and tend to my 2 and 4 year old children. I think I emptied a new box of tissue and I have vowed to send all of my "Forever Friends" copies of this book.

Kudos to my husband for sending me this book at just the right time. He's been away for almost 6 months, and I'm sure he sensed that the rope I've been hanging onto was beginning to fray. The author's sense of humor is incredible. She shared so much of her personal life throughout the book, which reminded me that we, Army Wives, are all in this together. We all make countless sacrifices in support of our soldier and the best coping mechanism for the trials we encounter is usually laughter!

Reading this book is like reading your own journal entries about your military life (well, at least those entries you would have made if you'd ever had the time). You'll laugh out loud at some, tear up at others, and simply find yourself nodding and saying, "I'm so glad to know I'm not the only one who feels that way" as you read these honest vignettes of military life. From an essay on that hardest aspect of moving (finding a good hairdresser!) to one on the joys (and necessity) of consignment/yard sale shopping (especially for military ball gowns) to another on all-day military medical appointment experiences, Marna's captured our world. Her essay on both her husband and herself getting ready for a military ball is priceless...would love to see that exact thing in a future "Army Wives" tv show episode...complete with the military members scrambling to find all the uniform accouterments to the "raisin on her butt" image.
At the same time that Marna highlights many of the joys of military life, she doesn't sugarcoat the challenges. She's upfront and open about the things we all complain about. If you are a military spouse...you'll love this book. If you aren't connected to the military, this will give you some insights into how we live. Kathie Hightower, coauthor of Help! I'm a Military Spouse -- I Get a Life Too!

As the author says more than once, not everyone will relate to his particular story with food. I think anyone with eating issues would find something in this book to be of help. I could relate all too well, and appreciate the author's candor at revealing things about himself, and his thoughts, that were of help to my own situation.

I really enjoyed this book. In clear, no nonsense language Allen Zadoff managed to convey to the reader the pain of being very over weight with no self pity, no real excuses. He ate too much at one time. Period. Then, somehow after reaching 300+ pounds, he looked inside of himself and accepted a truth. He needed to eat less. So - no more dieting for him. He decided to establish a traffic light of an idea. Red light for dangerous food, yellow light for foods that need to be approached with caution and green food - the kind one can eat lots of and manage to stay slim. I loved this idea. I don't have a huge weight problem, but I do eat too much at times for a variety of reasons. I swear - as soon as I did what Zadoff said, wrote down my red, yellow and green foods, I began to eat less. And I began to lose weight. Wow. Thanks, Mr. Zadoff. You did a great job. I hope everyone who has ever struggled with weight reads this book. It's short but the message is clear. Look at what you eat. Identify problem foods. Approach them with caution. I guess he said it all.

How is everyone doing in conquering this:
~*weight loss battle*~?
It really is a WAR against those excess pounds, isn't it?

After reading HUNGRY by Allen Zadoff, I decided not to call it a 'diet' because it is not suppose to be a reducing diet but a healthy way of eating.

This book gives you some ammunition to WIN that war!
(Although you will always have to be 'on guard' for the rest of your life!)

It was a worthwhile book to read...It had short one or two pages chapters. None of that recipe filler pages.

One of our 'assignments' was to try and figure out WHY
we over-eat and make ourselves over-weight.
There is a reason. He suggested maybe it is an addiction
or a disease we need to treat not just cover up with a 'diet'?

He lost 150 lbs...The way he did it was to analyze his feelings and
then to not eat foods that are trigger foods. He had us make a list
of red, yellow and green foods....red meaning those
that we just can't stop eating once we start (like sweets)
yellow meaning those that sometimes cause over-eating problems, and
green are those that are OK and good for us; never lead
to a binge. (Like a traffic light, red STOP, yellow CAUTION and green GO.

He didn't tell us what to eat because everyone's list would be
different.
Allen reminded me of my nephew that also lost a great deal of weight.

For instance, how when Allen was at a normal weight, after weighing 360 lbs. (And having only one pair of pants that fit that were worn out in the crouch.)
It was difficult to think like a normal weight person. (Like how to react when a pretty girl flirted with him.)

This is the suggestion that I am going to have to do since I am
an evening nibbler. Only eat 3 meals each day...(From the green list.)
"Three delicious, abundant meals made up of foods I can handle."Zadoff.

It sounds so sensible yet I haven't done that in a long long time.
I need to stop this mindless evening snacking...that mouth hungry not
stomach hungry HABIT! It is very very hard to break these bad eating habits!

If you can get the book, I highly recommend it.

Allen's final statement:
"Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can
start from now and make a brand new ending." Carl Bard

Allen Zadoff is a great writer. He's sharp, wise and funny. This little memoir of his journey from fat to "normal" size, is insightful and enjoyable to read. Allen is open and revealing about his life, but only alludes to the solution he found, which seems to be a 12 step program called Overeaters Anonymous. The second half of the book, when he is in recovery from overeating, is sprinkled with 12 step kinds of slogans. He never directly says he joined OA, but lists it as one of his recommended resources in the back of the book. Perhaps he was trying to preserve the anonymity of his participation in the program by not directly talking about it or endorsing it. It seems to me that it would have made the book more revealing had he detailed how he found his way to OA and why it worked for him. Nonetheless, this is a good read. Anyone who has struggled with these issues will be able to relate.

I can't believe such a terrible book can be reviewed so highly. I think he didn't say anything everyone who has a problem with food doesn't know. IN fact he doesn't really reveal himself at all. He uses thumor to hide behind rather than tell the truth. How does such a skimpy book get published?. He hints O.A is the only answer to overeating. He never explains what home problems kept his addiction active. I find it cruel to give hope to others with one method while telling us nothing else works. Everyone is differet and what works is different. This book is not quite a memoir, not quite a self help book,not quite a book. It is said to be a non diet book but I felt like I had been put on a skimpy diet with this badly written book. sorry. but I could write a more truthful book in my sleep and I have kept off sixty pounds. Hey, let me write a book. Save your money and time on this one. I felt cheated.

Enjoyed reading about the life of Clayton Moore, The Lone Ranger. Since receiving it I am now in my 3rd reading of it. It seems everytime I find someting new and interesting.

I wish he was alive so I could personally talk with him about his adventure doing The Lone Ranger. May his spirit always remain in the hearts of all Americans...

You can find out more information about Clayton Moore and The Lone Ranger fan club at www.lonerangerfanclub.com/jr

This man, Clayton Moore WAS the Lone Ranger. I can say no more.

Taylor Trade Publishing presents "I WAS THAT MASKED MAN" (Paperback) - by Clayton Moore and Frank Thompson --- Clayton Moore was an American actor best known for playing the fictional western character The Lone Ranger --- Moore was a circus acrobat as a boy, then later enjoyed a successful career as a John Robert Powers model. Moving to Hollywood in the late 1930s, he began working as a stunt man and bit player between modeling jobs --- He was an occasional player in B-Westerns and Republic Studio cliffhangers, ultimately starring in more such films than serial hero Buster Crabbe --- His big break came in 1949, when George Trendle spotted him in "Ghost of Zorro" --- As producer of the radio show and creator of "The Lone Ranger" character along with writer Fran Striker, Trendle was about to launch the masked man in the new medium of television --- Moore was cast on sight.

In keeping with the nature of the Ranger character, Moore chose to protect the Ranger's identity at all times and is perhaps the only actor whose full face is largely unknown to the public. It was never shown in the TV series, although occasionally he would don a disguise and affect an accent, revealing the upper half of his face in the process. However, there is no shortage of photos of Moore unmasked, including many in his autobiography. His many fans, however, could easily recognize him by his distinctive voice --- (From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

TABLE OF CONTENTS: (Title and Page Numbers)
Foreword by Leonard Maltin - ix
Preface by Frank Thompson - xi
Introduction by Frank Thompson - 1
1. Birth of a Ranger - 13
2. A Cowboy Actor in the Big Apple- 35
3. Hollywood - 43
4. Republic Pictures - 61
5. In the Army Now - 71
6. King of the B's - 79
7. Hi Yo Silver, Awayy! - 111
8. Back to the Big Screen - 131
9. Jay Silverheels - 143
10.The Lone Ranger Rides Again! - 151
11.England and a New Daughter - 185
12.Adventures on Television - 195
13.You Don't Pull the Mask Off the Ol' Lone Ranger - 203
14.The Adventures of Clayton Moore - 221
15.Who is That Masked Man? - 231
appendix - 243
Index - 257

BIOS:
1. Clayton Moore
Date of Birth: 14 September 1914 - Chicago, Illinois
Date of Death: 28 December 1999 - Los Angeles, California

Moore often was quoted as saying he had "fallen in love with the Lone Ranger character" and strove in his personal life to take The Lone Ranger Creed to heart. This, coupled with his public fight to retain the right to wear the mask, ultimately elevated him in the public's eyes to an American folk icon --- In this regard, he was much like another cowboy star, William Boyd, who nurtured the Hopalong Cassidy character --- Moore was so identified with the masked man that he is the only person on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, as of 2006, to have his character's name along with his on the star, which reads, "Clayton Moore -- The Lone Ranger" --- He was inducted into the Stuntman's Hall of Fame in 1982 and in 1990 was inducted into the Western Performers Hall of Fame at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

THE LONE RANGER CREED - I Believe that to have a friend, a man must be one --- That all men are created equal and that everyone has within himself the power to make this a better world -- That God put the firewood there but that every man must gather and light it himself in being prepared physically, mentally and morally to fight when necessary for that which is right --- That a man should make the most of what equipment he has --- That `This government of the people, by the people and for the people' shall live always --- That men should live by the rule of what is best for the greatest number --- That sooner or later .. somewhere .. somehow .. we must settle with the world and make payment for what we have taken --- That all things change but truth, and that truth alone, lives on forever --- In my Creator, my country, my fellow man.

Check out a new book from Empire Publishing - "GENE AUTRY WESTERNS" (Hardcover) - by author Boyd Magers, like no other book on Gene Autry --- all of Gene's Mascot, Republic and Columbia westerns included, as well as his half-hour TV Episodes --- each segment contains the release date on each film ... major production credits ... complete cast (including character played) ... all songs included, songwriter and who performed them in the film ... running time of each film ... dates of the filming ... bios on the cast and major players (Smiley, Pat Buttram, Cass County Boys, Herbert J. Yates, directors, leading ladies, songwriters and various heavies, etc.) ... locations that were used ... budgets and negative cost ... stunt people involved ... analysis and synopsis on each film ... notes and comments (including film and cast background info, salaries paid, working titles, etc) ... comments from Gene and many other cast members on each film ... theater exhibitors comments at the time of the films release ...this tribute was written from the heart and it shows.

Hats off and thanks to Les Adams (collector/guideslines for character identification), Chuck Anderson (Webmaster: The Old Corral/B-Westerns.Com), Boyd Magers (Western Clippings), Bobby J. Copeland (author of "Trail Talk"), Rhonda Lemons (Empire Publishing Inc) and Bob Nareau (author of "The Real Bob Steele") as they have rekindled my interest once again for B-Westerns and Serials --- More than just a tribute to the role Clayton Moore made famous, this book is Moore's personal memoir, told with condor and sincerity -- the engaging story of the life he strove to live according to the ideals he represented to millions of Americans, please stand up and take a bow --- all my heroes have been cowboys!

Total Pages: 280 ~ Taylor Trade Publishing ~ (4/25/1998)

I was a bigger fan of the Lone Ranger on radio than TV, but only because I was away in school most of the years it was on the tube and missed a great deal. That is something I am trying to make up as I collect DVDs and is why I bought this book. I have also known personally two who worked with Clayton Moore in the past, serial queen Kay Aldridge and former rodeo star Beverly McDermott. Everything they said about this man is echoed in the book. A very honest upright straight shooter. I am also impressed by his arguments as to why a star should set an example. So different in Hollyweird today. We need actors and actresses today who have the high moral standards this man has shown. May God bless him always, here and in Heaven.

An in depth history of Clayton Moore. A very informative perpective of a bye-gone age in Hollywood. I really enjoyed this book. A must read for Lone Ranger and TV western fans.

In perhaps the most comprehensive autobiography of a gymnast on the market thus far, Kerri Strug details her life as an elite gymnast from her early memories all the way through the 1996 Olympics. Younger gymnasts (upper elementary school/middle school aged) will be able to understand the book, but the ideas contained will appeal to older readers as well.

Strug addresses her success, her aspirations, and most importantly, the difficulties of competing at the elite level. She talks openly about her eating disorder and problems with coaches. Strug also makes it clear that the person who pushed her hardest was her- not her parents, or her coaches. While Bela is known for pushing his gymnastics, Strug lets it be known that he never pushed her too far, and that it was her idea to perform the second vault.

Strug also addresses something that all gymnasts will understand: the frustrations. Not getting a certain score, not qualifying for something, or simply not progressing skill-wise are all common frustrations that any gymnast experiences. Most gymnasts will appreciate knowing that other people have gone through what they are currently going through. This is a great book for someone who is already familiar with gymnastics.

I do gymnastics and love to read about is so this book is great for me! This book is full of pictures and useful information. It has from when she was a baby to when she stuck that wonderful vault. If you are looking for a good gymnastics book or just a good book I would buy this one. If you do buy it I hope you enjoy reading it like I did!

Before I read this book, I didn't really know much about Kerri, except that she had hurt her foot doing a vault at the Olympics, and had somehow become America's darling.

But after reading this book, I now know Kerri for who she is: a marvelous gymnast who was always in the shadows and never seemed to pull everything together during competitions. How she came so close to making the All-Around competition in Barcelona, only to be edged out by .14 of a point.

This book will make you laugh, cry, and wonder how she could come back after injury upon injury and still continue gymnastics. This book will tell you about her joys and triumphs, and her defeats and despairs.

Since I have read this book, Kerri Strug has become my favorite gymnast, not just because of what she did at Atlanta, but what she did to get there. I promise you, if you read this book, you will be left with a profound respect of the girl who could continue on, despite the pain and setbacks.

My only recommendation is read it!

I really enjoyed reading Kerri Strug's autobiography. Her legendery vault, the Yurchenko with a one-and-a-half twist, helped the USA 1996 Olympic Team win a gold medal! I really thought this was a terrific book. Kerri talks about her triumphs, struggles, victories, experiences and so much more. She tells her complete story, starting from baby years, all the way up untill after the 1996 Olympic Games. Her story is a great inspiration to all gymnasts. If you enjoy gymnastics or are a fan of Kerri Strug, then this book is a must-read!

This is definitely the best gymnasics biography I've read! In this book, published right after the 1996 Olympics, Kerri really opens her heart to the reader...we learn about her passion for gymnasics which started at a VERY young age, her progression through the sport, what it was really like training under Bela Karolyi, and about her family. One thing that impressed me about Kerri was how she is truly self-motivated...I think many gymnasts are pushed by parents living their own dreams through their children, but this was NOT the case with Kerri. It was refreshing to read of the loving, supportive family she has, and how completely sane her parents are (as opposed to other gym parents we've heard about, like in "Little Girls in Pretty Boxes" which I also think is an important book). I think people who are THIS driven, as Kerri is, are incredibly rare...which is why she flourished under Bela's harsh training instead of cracking like so many other girls did. She is honest about the often-times brutal training under Bela, but obviously loves and deeply respects both him and Marta and she gives them credit for contributing to her successes. There are great photos included of Kerri through the years. Awesome!!

buy it used. good read for the beach. then see her movies.

I enjoyed Lauren Bacall's autobiography better than any autobiography I've ever read. Her style of writing is so personal, it's just a pleasure to read. It's written with heart, it's witty, poignant, and so honest. You'll also learn about the original "Rat Pack", and other celebrities. I can't say enough about this book!

I read this book 20 years ago when it first came out and I couldn't put it down. The love story between her and Bogey was sweet, but tragic. His death was so detailed in this book that when my own father was dying I couldn't help but relate back to her description of Bogey's final hours. It made me sob for her. The mention of Hollywood in the 50's and all of the corrupt politicians trying to blackball performers is deplorable. I believe Ms. Bacall is our current Kate Hepburn - a no BS kind of Hollywood woman that is still well-respected and greatly admired.

I have never considered myself a Lauren Bacall fan but having recently rewatched To Have And Have Not, her film debut, I became intrigued about her and Bogart so I picked up this book after reading such positive reviews here at Amazon.

Well, was I surprised. First this is a very well written autobiography that demonstrates a keen intelligence and a reflectiveness on the past that is truly admirable. It is also incredibly honest and not just a recitation of a Hollywood star's accomplishments.

From Bacall's youth in New York where she tried desperately to find a place in the theater to her ultimate return to the stage as a star after spending years in California as Mrs. Bogart and raising a family, every stage of her life is well examined.

Bogart emerges as a truly good guy, not perfect but clearly they were a great match despite the obvious age difference.

Some of the episodes in her life with Bogart have the added quality of capturing a period in Hollywood and the film industry that is long gone. Bacall isn't and doesn't need to be a name dropper but so many famous characters pop in and out of her story that it is a virtual who's who of 1940's Hollywood.

What I initally picked up as a casual read turned into something much deeper. Lauren Bacall , who I knew little about before reading this is a woman who I came to really like as a result of this book.

Well written and well worth checking out for filmfans, fans of Bogart or anyone interested in acting and theater and the celebrity life of the 40's and 50's.

Lauren Bacall's 1984 autobiography details her humble beginnings, how modeling led to acting, and her marriages and love affairs. She met Bogie on the set of her first movie when she was 19 and he was 43 and married. They fell in love at first sight and had a good marriage until his death. Her next husband was Jason Robards, Jr.; his drinking made for trouble from the start. The ups and downs of her movie and Broadway careers and her love of politics (and politicians) round out the book.

The woman who emerges from the pages is pretty much what I expected - strong, independent, and passionate - but also quite self-centered and spoiled. She's had a charmed life and makes no excuses for her shortcomings.

The book is full of famous tinseltown names and fabulous jet-set locations. She writes as if she were talking, often using ungrammatical half-sentences which slowed me down sometimes, but that is a minor quibble. I heartily recommend it to her fans.

Lee: The Last Years

This is a wonderful book about a wonderful man. Although Robert E. Lee is most remembered as a General, for most of his adult life, he was an engineer and educator (although in the army). Mr. Lee could have become very wealthy after the war by simply allowing his name to be used commercially. However, he wanted to make a contribution and did so by accepting the position as President of Washington College. He seldom spoke of the war and brought no military flavor to the College.

There is an argument that Robert E. Lee is responsible for more American dead than any other single individual. The difficult part of this book is tying to tie that Robert E. Lee to the man he was in his last five (5) years. He played Santa at Christmas, broke up a lynching, stroked the ego of his horse Traveller, was a good family man, looked out for the under dog and took care of his students, even when they were in trouble. How he handled all these situations, often minor by standards of the war, brings out the essence of the man including his character, values, wit and subtle humor.

I have read/studied history and biography for 40 years. I have spent more time on Robert E. Lee than any other individual and this book someway brings all my study of Mr. Lee together and puts it in perspective. I highly recommend this book to anyone with any interest in American History. Thanks Mr. Flood.

Outstanding biography of the man. Much has been written about the general, this book brings the humble father, husband and Christian man to life.

I've long considered myself a student of Southern history and the Civil War. Heck, I've been a historian at museums so I think I have a pretty good knowledge of the Civil War era. Furthermore, I live in Virginia and have been to the campus of Washington and Lee University. However, nearly every page of Charles Bracelen Flood's work on Robert E. Lee's post-war years is full of information I've never heard about. Flood has used many differing sources to pull together a wonderful, highly readable account of Lee's years after the war, how he came to be President of Washington College, and his role in the reconstruction of this country. What jumps out off the pages is that for as much as Lee has been studied and idolized for his exploits on the battlefield, his postwar years as President of the college should get just as much press. While Lee did not think defending his native state was wrong, he did wish for both North and South to reconcile as quickly as possible. After reading the book, I still do not think Lee is the god that some people hold him up to be, but he does stand out as a good man who wanted to bring the nation back together while also helping his fellow Southerners get back on their feet. While Flood's writing can be unimaginative at times and I thought he threw in little stories and vignettes that he didn't need too, the book is excellent overall and should be a must read for anyone interested in Lee. However, the book is such an easy, good read that I think almost anyone should pick it up.

Bracelen Flood clearly does extensive research in order to render this intimate and engrossing portrayal of Lee.

Lee: The Last Years was well worth reading. A must for anyone who wants to know a little more of the Rest of The Story about a fine American, though much misunderstood.

I just finished reading this book, and i could not put it down! This is one amazing book, i highly recommend this to anyone who wants to hear a true account of a courageous undercover detective who infiltrated the mob. All true, amazing work by Rick and the NYPD. A must have! "It's in there" everything Rick was involved in, is in there!

An unbelievable yet true story that kept me engaged, too engaged for my wife on our cruise! I highly recommend for vacation reading.

What a pageturner!!!! I was very afraid for Mr. Rick Cowan throughout this whole book. Man, what guts!!! Why isn't this guy being heralded all over the place like Joe Pistone? No disrespect to Pistone but he infiltrated a fractured and disorganized crime family(Bonnano). Cowan got in with the class of the mob, the Genovese and Gambino families. I could not put this book down. I always heard that New Yorkers were being fleeced by the "garbage gangsters" but I never fully understood how. Or why couldn't our government stop it? This book breaks it down. This one is in my top 10. Fantastic!!!!

I'm of two minds on this book. The history of the mob's control of the trash and paper recycling industries in and around NYC are fascinating. But a great deal of the book consists of verbatim transcripts from wires worn by Cowan in his interminable dealings with the mob, many of which are repetitive. Only for the real lovers of mob stories.

Over the course of the past few years, my love of reading books about the mafia went dormant. When I arrived upon a copy of "Takedown" in a used book store, my interest was revitalized. The story in "Takedown" is unbelievable not because it is untrue, but because it is unbelievable how many times Rick Cowan avoided certain death. Though it is unbelievable at times, it is a true story.

By chance, Rick Cowan was in the right palce at the right time. This young detective made the mafia believe he was a cousin in a garbage hauling family. Through this false pretense, he was able to infiltrate the Gambino Fanily to its highest level. Such a task was thought to be out of reach to the NYPD. The stories Cowan tells of his interactions with the mafia have a level of authenticity to them. You can almost hear the stereotypical accents being spoken as you read. I question whether some of the stories were exaggerated to make the book a more exciting read. Surely any man faced with some of these circumstances would crack or slip.

Cowan even discusses the strain three years uncover put on his family. This is an aspect of the investigation that receives little attention in similar books. I also enjoyed the epilogue in which Cowan discusses whether he felt remorse for "ratting out" the friends he made in three years.

Reading a book about the real life mafia is much more exciting than any movie or TV show available. While there certainly must be some fabrications present in the book, none were so glaring to take away from the story. I would recommend this book to any person with an interest organized crime.

Journalist Neely Tucker doesn't sugar coat anything about his experiences working in an African orphanage and the gut wrenching, heart rending story of how he (a white American)and his wife (African American) struggle to adopt Chipo (a black African infant girl)in a country not keen on Americans or journalists. This book is a study in contrasts of race, culture, gender, nationality, and personality how they all affect Tucker's family. Wonderful story told from the heart but not sappy or sentimental. This is gritty but inspiring reading.

This was fantastic! I was routing for them the entire book. Moving & emotional - I felt like I was experiencing their pain and frustration and then joy - what an experience!

In dealing with their personal frustrations, the author shows us the hurdles and challenges of wanting to help in nations that need it the most. It is a good read, heartwarming. But unlike most books, it left me in search of an organization that can break through and really offer help to children touched by AIDS.

Fabulous from the start. So much intermingles in this book - history, politics, personal struggle, life in Africa, bi-racial familes, adoption - that to narrow it down to a memoir wouldn't be doing it justice.
Following the writer as he pushes you through each page, you find yourself involved in the world through the eyes of this family. It's one of those books that you rush to get through and then you regret what you've done once you see there's only a few pages left.
When I find an author of this caliber, I stick with them. And Neely Tucker sure can write.

This memoir goes to show on how faith and love can conquer all odds. It has opened my eyes on the issue of AIDS and the politically unstable country of Zimbawiae. A very touching love story of father and daughter.

I've learned so much about drawing techniques from this book. I'm 63 years old and have never been able to draw anything recognizable. Now I'm finally doing what I've always wished I could do...DRAW! It's not just for kids.

This book draws you in (pun intended) to its world of sketches and wimsy. My son (10) loves to sit with Mom and draw together. We picked this book as part of his homeschool Art requirement, and he eagerly uses it every day. The book focuses on the development of 10 fundamental principles of good drawing (shading, perspective, etc), and reinforces these principles through over 30 lessons. The lessons are well-organized, clear and easy to do - we bookkeep about 20 minutes to do the day's lesson. If you need to improve your child's (or your) drawing skills, this is the book for you!

Satisfactory for gift for our (artistic) 11-year-old granddaughter; we expect it to help her in freehand drawing, especially of 3-D drawings on a 2-D surface. She can take it from there as her abilities and interest (and parental support) permit.

Thanks.

This book has a lot to offer. Its main focus is on achieving 3D effects through a number of important techniques such as shading and shadows, perspective, foreshortening and density. It is obviously geared toward a very young audience, but its lessons are so fundamental that any adult lacking basic drawing skills will benefit from them.

Bear in mind that this review is written from the perspective of a non-artist who enjoys drawing. The level of ambition I'm addressing is analogous to that a conscientious writer of letters, or emails, posts and reviews on the Internet, not that of a James Joyce or a Thomas Pynchon. Likewise, this review is not for aspiring professional artists - it is for adults and children who wish to confidently hold a pencil to a blank sheet of paper.

I can see the book working in a classroom setting, but without the energy of an enthusiastic teacher or classmates, a child or adult alone might quickly find the lessons boring. They're a little like doing scales on the piano, though not nearly as arid.

It is almost a sure thing that a child or said "adult lacking basic drawing skills" who does enough lessons to grasp the eight key words (besides attitude and daily practice) will then have many (not all) of those skills, leaving behind the great majority of us who don't know how to draw and actually fear drawing. For that alone the book is well worth the dough, but personally, I find it too boring to go through entirely. Progress is quick, though. What I did glean from about ten lessons is very useful; to go through all thirty would reinforce what I already learned and I preferred to branch out in other directions. Still, Draw Squad remains in my library, just in case I feel like doing a few "scales."

Among the many skills the book does not impart (this is not a gripe, as this book is very basic and the subject matter is vast) are composition, negative space, the great importance of shaded areas in rendering faces and other organic subjects, and some notion of measurement in the positioning of objects, items and features, and I could go on. The book deals mainly with objects and is cartoonish in style, and gives very little attention to complex or organic subjects such as animals, trees or the human figure and face. But don't worry - there is no shortage of books on these. Betty Edwards' "Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain" is decent, but the skills acquired from Kistler's book would be more at home with De Reyna's "How to Draw What You See", which uses fundamental shapes the Kistler graduate will have mastered as building blocks to complex drawings.

Mark Kistler's "Draw Squad" was my gift to my niece on her ninth birthday. She is a crafty young lady, always coloring and drawing. When she opened "Draw Squad" for the first time, I could see her interest in it. Along with this book, her gift included a sketch pad, pencils and sharpener, a gum eraser and a sturdy notebook with pocket folders to store her drawings. (I checked out the simple supplies that Mark listed for beginners). The first gift that she picked up after opening all others was this book. She followed the step by step instructions and drew a rabbit within minutes.
"Draw Squad" will be used for several years as a learning tool and a reference book. It brings out the hidden talent in all of us.