D Books

I've read Darryl's book twice and refer to it often. The entire goalsetting approach is particularly useful. The book is very well-written, quite easy to follow, and applicable to most any person. It is truly a gift from above.

I am a hair salon owner and author.My husband and I have been married for twenty-five years.We have two happy, productive children in college and one in high school. We thought we knew all there was to parenting. This book has helped us tremendously. Instead of running around in circles,we are now managing our time more wisely. This book is a guide for all families to follow. It is well written and very easy to understand. I find myself referring to it again and again.I thank God for allowing Daryl Green the opportunity to write this wonderful book!

If you are a single parent, a fresh young couple venturing out to start a family, or a family that continues to struggle with life's ups and downs...BUY THIS TAPE! I assure you that when this tape comes to an end, you will begin to feel better about yourself, your family, and life. Hats off to the Greens!...Ree

this audio tape is spectacular. I feel it is well written and very helpful for working families. this book really reaches the problems of working families and families in general. I would recommend this book/tape to anyone.

Anyone with a family needs to take a look at Darryl's work. We all need to set priorities and survive life, and Darryl offers families an approachable and successful method of family management, that is not overwhelming. If you are a parent - working,single, or just trying to get through the day, Darryl really gets you feeling positive and honestly makes you feel capable of achieving anything with your family. I take this time to thank you Darryl, your book/cassette has really changed my life.

This book has stayed with me like few other things, since reading it many years ago. I often find occasion to quote from it; brilliantly witty, charming, scathing and life affirming all at once. Bunuel led an unusual life, but his autobiography is filled with universal truths to which any reader can immediately relate. Buy it at once, and you will find yourself reaching for it often...

An interesting short semi-bio, in whuch Luis speaks about his life and the people he has met.

Bunuel gave some interviews towards the end of his life discussing his long list of movies. That's why I was delighted to find that his autobiography--which is one of the greatest, if not the greatest by a filmmaker--does not dwell on them. Instead Don Luis chronicles his childhood and upbringing, the relationships he cultivated, and meditates on life, love, death, art, alcohol and cigarettes. Many of the stories from his younger days are even more surreal than his movies. He writes in detail about his stormy friendships with Garcia Lorca and Dali, about his half-hearted attempt to try Hollywood on for size, meetings with Hitchcock, Fritz Lang, and others. The book is not somber or sentimental, it's not over-inflated. Bunuel's voice does not intimidate, it soothes. He's a master storyteller, a very gifted and generous writer.

As a young person, don Luis helped me find my way out of the hormone fog, ... authoritarian adults and their institutions, and equally lost peers. Years later upon reading MY LAST SIGH, I was not surprised at all at the depth of don Luis' humanity and intelligence.

Nevermind the moniker "filmmaker" when talking about don Luis; he is an artist's artist. With his autobio, he only confirms what an equally supreme being he was. I miss him. However, encounter this book and become lit by life itself.

Writings by film directors tend to resemble their films, and "My Last Sigh" is no exception. Bunuel's films are anarchic, funny, unpredictable, subversive, and often disturbing in a way that's hard to pin down. So is this, his autobiography!

Though he disclaims literary talent, Bunuel turns out to be a wonderful writer, and the book is stuffed with piquant anecdotes and elegant observations. I'm afraid to quote examples, because this review would go on forever. Suffice to say that, if you could choose to live any person's life, Bunuel's would be a hard choice to beat, just for the adventure and entertainment value. This may be my favorite book written by a filmmaker.

Mark Nanos leads the reader through the historical context in which Romans written with substance undergirding his thesis. His historical and pastoral exegesis does not detract from the spiritual guidance Paul was communicating to the Romans, but amplifies it. He skillfully addresses dissimiliar scholarly orthodoxy with reason and facts. This is a thoughtful and flowing work that holds the reader's interest to the end. For those interested in additional information that seems to support Nanos' conclusions read The Christians and the Roman Empire by Marta Sordi, and The Rise of Christianity by Rodney Stark.

Nanos pulls from the history, the culture, the Greek language, and even the archaeology to bring a "fresh" interpretation of a mysterious book to our time. In doing so, he comes closer to putting us into the minds of Jewish Christians living in the 40s, 50s than most commentators.

Nanos' thesis is that Paul is rebuking Gentile Christians for being arrogant about their grace-oriented lifestyle, and that the weak and the strong in Romans aren't Jewish Christians and Gentile Christians (as interpreted for, goodness, 1900+ years?), rather non-Christian Jews and Jewish/Gentile Christians. The Christians are the "strong" because they rely on God's grace, the Jews "weak" because they rely on the law. However, the term "weak" is not necessarily prejorative. In fact, Nanos states that the weak are stumbling *because* of the arrogance of the strong regarding violating the Law. The Christians are chastized in the letter, not exalted, and the Christians are asked to be more "Jewish", or at least, Noachidic.

The Jews are still considered brethren, the calling of God is irrevocable, the seed of Abraham is the branch which sustains the Church, and "all Israel will be saved" (pas Israel sothesetai). Nanos backs all this up. This is a challenge to 'Replacement Theologians,' as Replacementers rely on this letter for much of their arguments.

I also found Nanos' comments on the Shema and its role in the Gospel enlightening.

Nanos is unequalled in his ability to write and back up his thoughts with proof. He has a twist in this book, from a Jewish perspective, he attempts to show how Paul is writing to Jews and Romans to consider one another as brothers, to emphasize toleration.

Nanos' thesis is that Paul was writing a correction to both, neither should think more of themselves than what they should. It was not the Jews who thought too much of themselves, it was he Romans who were thinking they were more than just simple Christians. His reference to Romans 9 is very insightful.

It is a difficult read, written mostly to a more educated audience, however, it is a good tool for anyone who has a desire to understand the depth of scripture from a Jewish perspective.

If only all christians would remember that the early church was originally all Jewish until the conversion of the Samaritans. The core of Paul's work was done in synagogues and Jews were among the converts throughout Europe and Asia Minor.

Nanos goes a long way to reveal a much needed dialog between Christian and Jew. Christian roots, Jewish ideas, a need for understanding.

That's it--simple--one of the best 10 books on Paul of the last 5 years.

This was the most stimulating book on Paul's epistle to the Romans that I have ever read. It challenged my thinking and shifted my paradigm.

Essentially, Nanos argues that the 'weak' in Romans are not Christian Jews, but rather Jews who have not yet believed in Christ. With this in mind, Nanos interprets the entire epistle as a sustained plea to gentile Christians not to cause offense to Jews, but rather to live in such a way as to cause them no stumbling block to believing in Jesus as the Christ.

There were some elements on Nanos' theory which I found unconvinving. For example, his critique of Luther's view is somewhat overstated, though some criticisms are warranted. Also, Nanos' treatment of the governing officials from Rom 13 being synagogue officials seems a little too narrow. His treatment of the Claudius Edict is also unconvincing. In my opinion, Paul is writing to the gentiles for them to take not a 'hands-off' approach towards Jews, but rather a 'hands-on' evangelistic approach.

One feature of the presentation I thoroughly disliked was the amount of argumentation which appeared in the footnotes. I could not see why most of Nanos' arguments in the footnotes could not have been put into the body of the work. Footnotes should, in my opinion, be reserved for referencing and short peripheral statements. On occasion, Nanos' footnotes take over in arguing his case.

Nevertheless, Nanos' work is highly thought-provoking and well-worth a read. You will not be disappointed by reading this book closely. I did and it altered my outlook on Romans (for the better, I believe).

I picked this book up in the library because it looked moderately interesting and immediately fell in love. I have since purchased five more books in this series. If possible I would recommend a new reader begin with book one since it helps the story line and builds the characters but this is not required to understand any of the books. I have also re-read this book twice; something out of the ordinary for me. I am not going to go into detail regarding plot and story line since I hope you read it for yourself.

The SPQR series is by far my favorite Roman mystery series, and this is one of the best. Roberts is tops in bringing the details of Roman life into the story without swamping the reader with too much information; he expertly brings the ancient world convincingly to life, while telling a fast-paced whodunit.

In this novel, Decius Caecilius Metellus the Younger travels to Gaul. While he solves the mystery that inevitably ensues, we are treated to a vivid description of life in a Roman military camp. I am not a fan of military history and generally find battle scenes and military details extremely boring, but Roberts make it fascinating. This is a rare example of a novel which can teach you something while entertaining you.

The SPQR series doesn't seem to have attracted as many readers as Steven Saylor and Lindsey Davis, and it's a shame, as Roberts is by far the best writer of the three. An ideal Roman mystery should tell a good tale while immersing you in the ancient world, and no one does this quite as brilliantly as John Maddox Roberts.

Oh how I love this series! I wish bookstores in Canada kept it on their shelves because I can't bear waiting for them when I order them from Amazon.ca (although Amazon is so prompt, they can't deliver within a minute)
This one has Decius Metellus at his best. He's told when he first arrives in camp, dusty and unshaven, that he should spruce up for the General, so he has Hermes shave and bathe him and goes into Caesar's tent wearing his full parade armor. Needless to say the laugh is on Metellus, since Caesar and his staff are in their informal duds.
But serious stuff is soon afoot. One of Caesar's confidents, his Primus Pilus Centurion no less, has been killed in no man's land - and not by the enemy, who are encamped too close for comfort. The accused murderer is a Metellus family client. Decius has two weeks to discover who really killed the centurion and why, or the young soldier will be executed and Decius and the Metellus family will be discredited - not a good thing for a man whose dad the senator, pro-consul, censor, etc. does not take kindly to sons and clients besmirching the family honour.

John Maddox Roberts is the pseudonym of Mark Ramsay, author of numerous works of science fiction and fantasy, in addition to his successful historical SPQR mystery series. He lives in New Mexico with his wife.

When the famous Julius Caesar arrived in Gaul, he announced "I Came, I Saw, I Conquered." When Decius Metellus arrives from Rome he that the conquered part at least, is very far from the truth, in fact the campaign seems to be stagnating.

Decius's arrival does little to placate Caesar's temper. The great general has been waiting form reinforcements promised to him. An intake of fresh blood to kick start the invasion again. Instead of that he has been sent one man ridiculously decked out in military parade frippery but very short on any military accomplishment. Decius is accompanied not by eager troops chomping at the bit to get at the enemy, but by one reluctant slave.

But of course trouble follows Decius like a bad smell and when Vinius, supposedly the most hated centurion in the army is found murdered Caesar remembers that his newest recruit has a reputation for solving mysteries.

The protagonist, Decius Caecilius Metellus, is a Senator of Rome and a newly arrived junior officer at Julius Caesar's camp at the beginning of Caesar's Gallic Wars. After a Centurion who is savagely disciplining turns up dead, Metellus must find the killers. Metellus' search is complicated by the fact that he is in a war zone with three armies massing for war, everyone thinks he is an incompetent boob, and his habit of making enemies of everyone. Metellus determine whether the assassins were Germans, Helvetii, legionaries, or Druids in a matter of days.

This book had a realism that I sometimes found missing in Saylor's Roma Sub Rosa series (the other great series of late-Republican based historical mysteries) in that Roberts' Metellus is not so shockingly moralistic as Saylor's Gordianus could be.

I stayed up past 2am two nights in a row to finish this book, it was that good. I just put the rest of this series on my wishlist.

This romance is a great stand alone story! The characters are well-rounded and the turns of phrase are amazing!

It also introduces you to all of the people who arein the Grea Brain series as well.

Excellent book I will read to my children.

I read the Great Brain series as a kid, and continue to re-read them as an adult. Recently I discovered "Papa Married a Momon" and was not disappointed by Fitzgerald's story telling. But after doing a little online research I was disappointed to find that it is only very loosley based on his life in Utah (i.e. Fitzgerald was born in 1906 and the stories take place in the 1880s-1890s and papa lived until 1937). But I would highly recommend the book, especially if you enjoyed the adventures as told in the great brain series.

This wonderful book is a perfect mix of the Little House on the Prarie and Great Brain books. What I found the most interesting was the equal treatment of Mormons, Catholics, Methodists, and even Agnostics in frontier Utah. In fact, there are both good and bad examples of each. The overall religious message of the book is that "all religions are but windows in the same church letting in the light of God," which stresses the ideas of tolerance, love, and respect for all people irregardless of their religious beliefs. I highly recommend this book for all people who are fans of Laura Ingalls Wilder and John D. Fitzgerald or even pioneer life and Utah history. Although it's out of print, you can probably find a copy in your local library. For 300 pages, it's a quick read. I have to warn you, though, it'll make you cry in the end. Even I teared up a bit, and I very rarely get emotionally involved in books. I also laughed out loud a few times, too. This book is really special.

I have loved every book by John D. Fitzgerald that I was able to get my hands on. All of his books are wonderful but perhaps the best one is Papa Married a Morman. The true story of the Fitzgerald family is uplifting, powerful, and very entertaining. I highly recommend this book to any one who loves history and who loves a good story. The other two books in this serious, Mama's Boarding House, which takes place after Papa Married a Morman, and Uncle Will and the Fitzgerald Curse, which tells the story of Uncle Will from childhood up until the time of the end of silverlode, are also great to read.

I found this book at a swap meet--took it home more from the quirky title then anything...and I discovered my favorite book! The story is an easy & non-demanding read with pictures of the family--your unable to set it down! I once lent this book to my Mom, she in turn lent, and so on. The book was returned to me 2 years later, and had visited over 25 homes!! I know of no other book that has had that wide of an appeal, regardless of religious background...a DEFINATE must have!

This is a great little book. It's a fast and easy read, but some how it manages to pack a ton of accurate material in there anyway. I bought a copy to give to my peanut allergic sons' teachers - and they actually read it. That tells me that it truly is an easy read - and that isn't a slam on teachers - it's just that they usually don't have time to read any of the info I bring them on peanut allergy.

It isn't hysterical - it doesn't call for peanut bans in school - but it does take it very seriously and gives the reader the information necessary for them to make their own decisions about how to deal with the allergy.

I highly recommend this book to anyone recently diagnosed with, or having a child diagnosed with peanut allergy. Grandparents and other close family would also benefit from this book. (This should also be on the reading list for daycare employees and teachers!) Peanut allergy should not be taken lightly because of the serious consequences (which most people seem to be ingnorant about).

This book is written in an easy-to-read question and answer style and covers all aspects of the condition. I have learned so much from this book and continue to reference it. I have highlighted many passages and am quick to show them to family or friends when they just don't seem to be "getting it".

I can't recommend this book enough!

I read all the reviews on this book before buying it. Plus, it came recommended by my son's allergist. Amazon has a great price on it too. It was a quick read. I will hold on to it for reference. I just wish it had more resource listings for helping you locate peanut free foods.

I purchased this book when I found out my 6 month old was allergic to peanuts. I learned so much from it and parent that has a child with this allergy should buy it. I am fortunate that it was Dr. Young's partner that is my daughter's doctor I do intend to transfer to him as a doctor after reading this book if he is accepting new patients. I had no idea when I purchased this book the author was from Boston. I'm so glad he is!!

This is the most thorough book I've read on peanut allergies. You probably won't find this information on the internet, because most of the answers are substantiated with trials performed by experts.

The book is set up in a question and answer form. All the questions are listed in the contents with pages showing where to find the answers. It is also easy to read, so you won't be stumbling over annoying medical jargon.

I just finished this book, the 2nd time travel I've read, and I thought it was excellent. It was a real page turner. For the most part, it didn't have a lot of funny scenes (except when it finally dawns on Nadine that she isn't in Kansas anymore, just after deciding that everyone was not in on some kind of a joke involving her), but
the last line in the book was hysterical! It ended on such a happy note. I really liked Faulk, and I realized fairly early on that he truly loved Nadine, though he denied it through to nearly the end. The book was more of a reincarnation book than a time travel, I thought. If it had been more of a time travel, it would have been interesting to see the medeval Nadine in our modern times.
I hope to read Sandra Landry's other book, The Wishing Chalice,
soon.

This was a wonderful story full of heart and wit and was a enjoyable read. I would recommend it to anyone who loves romance or especially time travel romance.

This is a book I couldn't put down! Great characters, great plot,great pacing-- this book has it all. Do yourself a favor and buy it today!

Modern day Nadine du Monte reluctantly leaves her family in Rouen, France to study in London. Prior to leaving, Nadine and a friend decide to visit a gypsy--who prophesizes that 'death is only a transitional time' which initiates a vision in which Nadine sees herself--or at least a woman who LOOKS like her and shares the same name 800 years in the past. Unnerved by the experience, Nadine seeks comfort from her beloved mother before she leaves for London. Upon her arrival, however, Nadine learns that both parents perished in an auto accident that day. Unable to get a late flight, Nadine faces her crippling fear of water and boards a ferry across the English Channel. Once again, Nadine is overcome with a vision of the medieval Nadine and falls overboard. Lord Faulk of Whitecastle, loyal knight of Richard II, had long delayed acting on his promise to his father to return from the battlefield, take a wife and sire an heir. Upon his father's death, Faulk guiltily returned to Whitecastle intending to immediately carry out his duty. Only when he found the waterlogged body of Nadine du Monte lying upon the beach near his home did he recall the witch's prophesy: a golden vision with the mark of the rose would come from the water and would be the only woman who could bear his children. Cared for by Faulk's beloved retainer, Nadine recovers and finds herself, unbelievably, in the 13th century. Reluctant to accept her circumstances, plagued with the grief from her parents' deaths and trying to understand the flashes of "memories" she experiences of her apparent previous life in medieval England, Nadine must temporarily rely on Faulk's largesse. She refuses, however, his offers of marriage, but does find herself powerfully attracted to the honorable man who believes she is the woman of a prophesy. To complicate Nadine's identity crisis even further, a man claiming to be her betrothed arrives at Whitecastle and demands she return to Rouen with him immediately. Nadine's memories of her medieval life return in bits and pieces and she cannot recall her bethrothed. She decides to return to Rouen to learn more about herself, but the man she has come to love and the man who claims to be her betrothed constantly posture and fight. Upon her arrival in Rouen, Nadine learns of her medieval life and is inundated with the memories of her former life and, conversely, her memories from her modern life become vague and distant. Faulk knows Nadine is the woman of the prophesy and must find a way to make her his. He cannot, however, offer her his love because of the betrayal he suffered from his first wife. Nadine loves Faulk and realizes that she could live happily in medieval England with him--if she could believe that he wanted her for more than just her ability to bear his children and fulfill his promise to his dead father. But the prophesy must be satisfied or Nadine will be returned to the future--and only Faulk's love will hold her in his time.

An original combination of time travel, reincarnation and prophesy. A great debut from Sandra Landry.

I really enjoyed reading A Perfect Love. It's a very interesting story and made me laugh and feel tender at the same time. All the confusion situations of past and contemporary are showed in a very funny way during the dialogues between the two main characters. A love with no barriers, even time... I'm longing to read something else from this author, definitely she has her own style!

Book arrived within a few days and was in the condition that it was described or better, very happy with there service.

I recently purchased this book through an South African bookstore and it rocks ! It is great book to read .

For years my family has wondered what happened during this period of the conflict. I was eight years old when my brother, Bruce Walker - Covey 282 Alpha, was declared MIA. This book gave my family and I a real view of what happened to him. This is something the government was never willing to do. I'm thankful to Darrel Whitcomb for this well researched and well written book detailing the rescues and attempted rescues during the Easter Offensive.

The lone survivor (Bat 21 Bravo) of a six-man crewed American warplane shot down by a surface-to-air missile parachutes near the DMZ and seeks cover to await recovery. Heavy clouds obscure visibility, but other than that the search and rescue aircraft crews have no reason to believe that this won't be anything but a moderately easy pickup.

Coast Guard Lieutenant Commander Jay Crowe commanding an Air Force rescue helicopter drops through the clouds heading for the survivor when enemy fire comes up from all directions. The dashboard begins to disintegrate. Crowe and his copilot struggle to control the helicopter and clear the area. The crew is amazed at the scene below. North Vietnamese Army trucks, tanks, guns, and soldiers are everywhere. Bat 21 is trapped between two enemy divisions barreling across the borders in a full offensive to conquer South Vietnam. Still, the rescue attempt goes on.

As the author of "Coast Guard Action in Vietnam," I am pleased to read, not only a darn good true book about the Vietnam War, but, one that brings out the fact that Coast Guardsmen were active in that long engagement. Flying combat search and rescue was only one of their numerous missions. For example, LORAN, the electronic navigation system used to keep Bat 21 pinpointed and to place ordnance on enemy positions, was installed in the theater and manned by the Coast Guard.

Do yourself a favor, get both "Bat 21" by William C. Anderson and "The Rescue of Bat 21" by Darrel D. Whitcomb. Read them in tandem. Read "Bat 21" first. It puts you with the survivor on the ground evading capture for twelve days. Then read Whitcomb's book. It pulls back the camera to take into view the entire panorama of situation, equipment, and people, that went into this remarkable rescue exploit.

When you start the reading make sure you have a block of uninterrupted time because you may not want to stop until--the end.

This book is an extremely accurate history of this rescue and its heros. I was the on scene commander who arrived to find the Jolly in flames. There are other books written about this rescue but none are as accurate and well presented. The author did an excellent job in allowing a "non" military reader to understand this rescue situation without missing the power of the enviornment.

Yes, I'm biased. Despite my connection with the authors, I truly promise a fine read. It took me a little over one year to finally finish the book because of my emotional connection. It's really tough to relive some of the most difficult moments of my life. I guess you did your job--reader pathos. Awesomely done, Dad & Krissy!

This book is fabulous. A great introduction to the art and science of paleontology which is easy to follow and reads very warmly. It also tells the maddening story of a justice system gone absolutely berzerk. It is a fascinating example of how a handful of horrible judges, attorneys, agents, and other ne'er-do-wells can ruin lives. It really makes you shake you head in disbelief that this could have possibly happened in OUR country only a few years ago.

"Rex Appeal" is the amazing story of one of the most significant fossil discoveries in the last fifty years. The story of "Sue" the fossil Tyrannosaurus Rex discovered by Peter Larson's associate Susan Hendrickson spins a web of intrigue from the moment the dinosaur's bones are discovered. With splashy headlines and national press coverage "Sue" becomes the darling of science, then the bane of Larson.
The landowner from whom the fossil was "bought" cries foul. Maurice Williams who is one eighth Lakota Sioux had put his land in trust with the United States Government. When Williams realizes the fossil may be worth many multiples of the $5000 he was paid for its excavation, the United States Government gets involved and when that happens it makes an IRS audit look like a toddler's birthday party.
The problem for Larson is that he is not strictly a scientist, but has established a for-profit organization called the Black Hills Institute. Not to say that Larson has nothing to contribute scientifically to the study of dinosaurs. His science is outstanding by current standards. But, the government suspects that Larson has nefarious intentions and pursues him with the fury of, well, of a pissed off T.Rex.
"Sue" is seized by the FBI and the South Dakota National Guard and the ensuing legal battle is extremely one-sided, according to Larson of course. He is confronted with an over-zealous prosecutor and a biased judge. Without hearing the other side of the story it's impossible to pass judgement on the veracity of the case against Larson. But it is safe to say that the judge in the case certainly defied all logic when he declared "Sue" real estate. 65 million year old bones hardly qualify as real estate, especially if the landowner was paid a handsome sum for their retrieval.
In the end Larson winds up in prison for nearly two years, his marriage to co-author Kristin Donnan dissolves, and his Institute is nearly bankrupt. Somehow Larson manages to emerge at the other end of the tunnel a changed man. He still pursues fossils with vigor after learning what many who have gone before him could have told him, "you can't fight City Hall".
The only criticism of the book is the complete lack of any intimations about Larson's relationship with co-author and ex-wife Kristin Donnan. Donnan is a free-lance writer who covers the "Sue" story and eventually falls in love with, and marries Larson. There is nothing in the book about their affairs. Whether that is intentional or not it would have at least contributed something to the story and clarified some of the events.
In all the book is highly recommended. Larson's theories about T.Rex and other issues related to dinosaurs are well thought out and informative. This book is a must for all us amateur paleontologists who can't get off our couches to go out west to do a little digging ourselves.

This is not just another dinosaur book. It is not just another dinosaur book with some fascinating facts about T-rex. This is THE book about T-rex by one of the foremost authorities on this bad boy of the Cretaceous.

Peter Larson's intimate knowledge of this beast comes from excruciatingly hard-earned experience. While it is a recounting of the nightmare saga surrounding the Sue specimen, it is also a manifest of the current thinking regarding T-rex, its lifestyle, and place in prehistory. Despite his own grievous experiences with the legal system, there is no self-pity in Mr. Larson's book. He simply states the facts as he knows them to be, as any researcher worth his salt should.

An A+ all the way.

I found reading Rex Appeal to be highly entertaining and informative book. I learned quite a bit about the people who dig dinosaurs and about the T-Rex itself. The author's legal problems smack with pure malice by the justice department. I wondered why such a thing was allowed to go as far as it did. Highly readable book, it revealed the world of paleontology and its rewards and risks. I wonder if Judge Battey can look in his mirror and see a honest man?

Rarely have I read a book and so thoroughly disagreed with other reviewers. I read this book on my Kindle. It was so disjointed in places, I thought there might have been downloading problems, something I haven't yet investigated. While the characters in this book came alive for many other readers, they seemed like cardboard cutouts to me. There were no surprises --- the ending was entirely predicatable. Character development of "Jen" was virtually non-existent and certainly evoked no empathy from me; I simply wanted to slap her off the page. Overall, I was very disappointed with this book given all the praise from other readers. Different strokes.....

These reviews are all fictional, including the Ellen Tanner Marsh editioral review. Google her, she was paid off. Not all self-published books are bad, but this, supplemented by fake reviews and possessing no redeeming content whatsoever, is the lowest of the low in the literary world.

Shadow Fields is a wonderful book which captures you the minute you open and start reading the first page. I found that I could not put it down. D. F. Whipple's main character, Jack Maguire, comes alive immediately. You are sure you know him or someone like him and so you keep on reading because you really want to know what will happen.

When you read this book you will feel the impact of the story because it hits home for many of us who are control people or who know control-type people--this is such a story where Jack Maguire who has money, power and all that goes with it. His journey of how he handles the gamut of life, death and all the ramifications that come with his decisions will keep you riveted. Like many, we can relate to Jack's successes, failures and finally the impact his lifestyle had on himself, his family and friends.

I most highly recommend this wonderful book--you will love it. I know we will be hearing more from this new, exciting writer--D. F. Whipple. Remember this name.

As a minor, upon reading the synopsis of the book, I believed the subject matter would prove to be too far removed to be of any interest to me. But - as I found myself increasingly engrossed in Jack's marital and familial trails - I realized just how universal Whipple's message resonates.

The style is uniquely his own; fresh, inviting, and ideal for Whipple's forays into matters of philosophy just as much as it is for his quick, dry, descriptions of the world in which he explores. Also of note is the feeling one gets upon reading his work; one is left with a need to contribute a voice to the issues he raises and pick up the pen themselves. Personally, the inspiration derived from his own ambition contributed greatly to my overall enjoyment of Shadow Fields.

Nor is his diction daunting or off-putting. Indeed, most passages from the book read at a fast clip. I point this out not as a flaw, but as a compliment - no unnecessary words are used nor does, at any part, the story slow to "pad out" the read. I believe Whipple has found a way, through combination of word and wit, to marriage Aristotelian philosophy with the best of modern writing.

Wall Street would appear to be a complex issue to introduce to unfamiliar readers but this is handled expertly within the text. In fact, all technical issues seem expertly handled under Whipple's guidance; an astounding feat most especially for a first time novelist.

My only gripe would not be the way in which Shadow Fields was explored, but in the way it wasn't; I felt that Whipple, himself, was on the cusp of some greater illumination that glimmered repeatedly throughout his writing but was left absent from the greater body of work. (Although I would like to point out that all conclusions Shadow Fields draws upon the morale of the human condition do not fall to stale, idle, abstractions. All insights are fresh without a feeling of disconnect from the reader) This arises, perhaps, from the many threads woven at Jack's childhood gone unacknowledged by the close of the book.

However, I did find the conclusion a satisfying end. (I'll attempt not to give too much away.) Not all ends were wrapped up but this did not lead to a cheapened feeling. In fact, one feels that Jack continues to exist in pursuance of the Great American Dream.

I highly recommend this book to all who are interested and to those looking for a fresh, inviting take on an issue grown long stale in the literary world. I have already picked up Snooker Glen, his second delve into the literary world, and look forward to seeing what new devices Whipple has forged.

From the moment I opened this book, I knew I would want to know everything there is to know about Jack's life. I felt every pain and victory with him. The writing is truly glorious. Thank you D.F. Whipple!
Stephanie D.