P Books

What a great read. I knew Hunter was considered one of the best, but I had no idea how exciting this book would be. Hunter and Mannix relate interviews and spin stories of colonial Africa; short, concise and thrilling. We get to share adventures with white hunters, native tribes, dangerous slave traders, gentlemen adventurers, ferocious animals, stalwart missionaries, poachers, scoundrels and headhunters. A fascinating portrait of a time and a land long lost.

John Hunter was a notable African White Hunter living in Kenya until the Mau Mau (c. 1960). He is generally considered a very successful hunter and a man of integrity. And without a doubt, he knows how to tell a story. Enough detail to engross one, without bogging the flow.

None of these stories are tales of his own deeds. His other books tell his own exploits. Most here are his own slant on well-known African figures, both European and native, from 1880-1950. There is no doubt this is a most interesting period in African history, or that Africa was and is a violent land with both animals and humans involved. While the adventure is stirring, I cannot long for that long past time, although interesting to read.

Perhaps the most important contribution the book made to me is to help me understand the background on why Africa is as it is today, and the enormous differences in the way Europeans view events and the very different view of the Africans. It seems characters from 100 years ago are little different from the events unfolding in many parts of Africa today.

The final tale in the book are the observations of Dr. L. S. B. Leakey, set in the 1920-1950 time frame. Dr. Leakey was the father of the famous African anthropologists. His explanation of the events leading to changes in African population, created by white domination, clearly reveal how well intentioned (and not so well) actions, rendered changes over a 100 year period of time leaving a vastly different land then that existing in Africa as European settlers moved in and superimposed a whole new set conditions. This chapter alone is worth the price of the book to me.

J.A. Hunter was one of a rare breed of men who moved to Africa in the late 1800's. He made the place his home, married, and raised a family whilst becoming one of the most sought-after big-game hunting guides in the world, in places like Kenya, Zaire, and Tanganyika.[be sure to read about clearing the railroad tracks of wild game] His style of writing is terse, but the first hand narrative is crisp and fresh, as if it happened yesterday.
The chapters are neatly tied into characters and events, which makes for a great book to take-along. There were many pretenders, like Ernest Hemingway and Robert Ruark who wanted to be in the same league as Mr. Hunter....but this is from the man himself. He is never self-promoting, and is quick to praise other hunters, a modesty that is very becoming.
I found the description of that world and it's realities irresistable: you can read all you like about the socioeconomic evolution of the Dark Continent, but this recounting has the immediacy of eyewitness truth, and from a man who made Africa his home the hard way. It is writing like this that brings history to life, and it has become too rare, in my humble opinion.
It's exciting reading, and well worth the price. Don't forget to check out his other book, Hunter, which has excellent stories and makes a good Part One to this book, which could be read as Part Two.
--->For those of you who have read Karen Blixen/Isak Dinesen's books, Out of Africa and Shadows in the Grass, you will recognize some of the people mentioned. The time framework is similar (Mr. Hunter was in Africa before the Baroness, and remained long after she'd gone) --so in all a good read to 'round out a mental picture of the region at the turn of the century.

If there are any men who wouldn't enjoy this superb book, I wouldn't want to know them. The early days of East Africa as told in many instances by the men who lived them and in others, by the men who knew the men.

The story of the man who ran the crew that laid the first railroad across Africa(the "lunatic line"). The opening of Kenya. The British East African Police.The early missionaries, pioneers, white hunters. Story after story of well-written excitement will keep you reading, and bring you back for repeat readings for years to come.

Buy this book for yourself,and another for a friend. And if your friend doesn't like it...well, is he really the right kind of guy?

I have never read a book quite like this before. It is completely devoid of political correctness so often associated with revisionist history. The narrative is sharp and cuts like a knife. This book was copyright in 1954 which affords it two advantages: 1) it pre-dates political correctness and 2) The stories are told as first hand accounts told by the old timers when they were still alive. I can't begin to tell you how exciting it is to read African history when it's told by those who were actually there when the history was the present and not the past. Whew! What a ride!

More humor from the mind of Berke Breathed. If you love Bloom County, this is good one to add to your collection, although some of it is repeated elsewhere.

Breathed is a great cartoonist in general, but his political satire is without equal. For those of us coming of age politically in the mid to late 1980s, this book will provide a constant source of laughs, from disgraced televangelists to football strikes to (my all time favorite) alien dogs that look and act surprisingly like Oliver North. Don't miss!

This collection does a marvellous job of walking the fine line between the hilariously funny and the absurdly silly. Some of the other Bloom County collections fall off of that line and land in the absurdly silly zone; for the most part, this one avoids that flaw. A must for any fan of the collection, and a good place to start for someone who isn't familiar with it. Of course, anyone too young to remember the '80s may miss some of the then-topical political references (a murderous alien that looks like a cute, telegenic puppy testifying before congress a la Ollie North, for instance) but for the most part, even if the reference is unfamiliar to the reader, the humor is only reduced, not lost entirely.

Bloom County was and still is one of my favorite strip comics ever. It was often topical, referring to presidents, sitcoms, and other Americana of its day. Such subjects, when they appear, give this comic a dated look, almost like watching the Marx Brothers.

Most of the strips, however, are timeless. Opus' personality is as sweet and doofy as ever. Oliver Wendell Jones still gets in trouble, the kind no one has the heart to punish him for. Steve Dallas is still a jerk, the kind of jerk that I still find today. All the rest are still there, too, as good as they ever were.

It's a funny mix, news from the 80s mixed with topics that work today, and it's still a funny strip. If, someohow, you missed the original run of Bloom County in the daily funnies, you'll find that it's never too late to catch up. Enjoy!

//wiredweird

Berke Breathed was one of those rare political cartoonists whose political insight was the same weight as his humor. "Bloom County" was his greatest vehicle. Some other cartoons have great political scope but just don't make you laugh out loud--"Doonesbury" and "Mallard Fillmore", particularly. While others fake political insight, but are very humorous. "Tales Too Ticklish to Tell: Bloom County" is as good as any of the other Bloom County anthologies, but it's the inclusion of a Bloom Picayune that makes this an extra treat, and serves as a reminder that this strip was special for its time. Boy, do I miss it.

Adding detail to previous reviews of this book, Dr. Douma's treatment of the Ten Commandments is truly a treat.

Douma starts looking at the context in which the commandments were given: Israel was freed from slavery in order to be free to obey him. Thus always is the state of God's chosen people: and what we need to understand is that true freedom comes not from doing whatever we please, but in obeying God within the context of, and by the empowerment of, his grace.

The body of this book considers the implications of the Ten Commandments for sincere Christians in today's world, in different perspectives:
- How these apply in a society not ruled by Mosaic civil law;
- How these apply in a society with modern technology, entertainment, etc.
- How the principles of the 10 commandments are worked ont in related topics throughout scripture
The treatment of the commandments must go beyond a world of ancient olive groves and manual wine presses (though let us never defame God's blessings of olive oil and wine!) Douma considers each commandment thoughtfully, and elaborates on its implications and subtleties rather than jumping to quick and easy but inadequate answers.

As an example, on "Honour your father and your mother...", Dr. Douma spends about 45 pages to discuss:
- the role of parents
- the relationship between this and freedom
- the nature of the associated promise
- what it means to 'honour', including how that relates to choosing a spouse in western society
- limits and style of obedience
- implications for other forms of authority, within the family and of the state; including thoughts on revolution and civil disobedience.

Gratefully, Douma's consideration avoids the frequent digression into extemes of pietism (treating one's religious observance as a purely private affair) or theonomism (treating it as purely a matter of state).

My one incompleteness in reading this book is that I did not come away with an adequate handle on how the Sabbath commandment applies today, which I fear is the most misunderstood and unobeyed of the commandments (through misinterpretation of a subset of Paul's comments about it that disregards his other comments and practices). He does point out the inaccuracy of some common teaching on the topic. I appreciate Dr. Douma's insights, and plan to pursue some of his references for further reading on this topic.

This books is an excellent study of God's law that was very helpful to me for understanding the depth of God's law and my own sin. Dr. Douma's book is straightforward to read and contains highly relevant discussions of contemporary ethical issues in addition to refreshing and insightful looks at the ethical issues that are the same in every age. He covers many topics from idolatry and theft to in vitro fertilization and abortion. I found his discussions of the historical context surrounding the commandments particularly helpful, for instance, the use of images by many ancient false religions to control their deities' actions. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who would like to deepen their understanding of sin and God's law.

How many times have you heard someone mindlessly repeat "Christians are no longer under law, but under grace"? This is usually a poor excuse that means "I haven't bothered to study the law, and I want a catchphrase that will excuse my current behavior." If you want a clear exposition that gives you not only an understanding of the commandments, but their relevance for us today, look no further. Jochem Douma has produced an excellent treatment (in Dutch), and Nelson Kloosterman's translation is very readable. The prologue to the book--dealing with covenants, rules for interpretation of Scripture, etc.--is worth the price of the book. This is an ideal volume for a Sunday school class or Bible study; each chapter is moderate length, and lends itself to discussion. You really shouldn't be without this one!

A masterful exposition of the Ten Commandments from a Dutch Reformed perspective.

From the cover: "Discussions of the commandments span current issues from religious art to sorcery and witchcraft, from Sunday observance to civil disobedience, from abortioin to euthanasia and suicide."

Very practical, scholarly and well-footnoted.

This book is the latest valuable resource added to my library. As the Ten Commandments are a reflection of the character of God, any Christian who desires to conform himself or herself to the character of God would be wise to pick up this book. It is a practical resource for addressing many of the issues that Christians face as we strive to be holy just as God is holy. The book is very readable. It is not theologically burdensome or complicated, but it maintains biblical accuracy while being easily understandable and straightforward. Overall, the book is agreeable. I found that Douma's practical conclusions were good, though naturally, I do not agree with every one of them. Nevertheless, every conclusion is well researched and is presented in a graceful way. The reader is left with the burden of accepting his conclusions or proving that scripture speaks differently. Along this line, Douma is concerned with transforming the church. His focus seems to be in educating the church on the implications of the Ten Commandments, which is a noteworthy goal in light of the modern Christian popular culture that seems to overlook educating the church and shoots straight for modifying government policy. Most importantly, the grace of God through Jesus Christ is central to Douma's message; through Christ alone do we have grace and peace with God as well as the power to obey the commandments. This is neither a legalistic nor a moralistic book, but one focused on educating a thankful believer with the result being obedience to God's commandments (John 14:21).

Que Theodor Mommsen era un genio no es nuevo , ni que se lo considere probablemente el mayor Historiador que jamas existio ( lo del Premio Nobel es totalmente secundario...), si bien puede defenderse que el impacto de Herodoto y/o algun otro sea mas Universal.
La obra es magnifica , si bien un poco densa en algunas partes por su natural inclinacion a la linguistica ...
Su vision Germanica ( barbara al fin ) es evidente en algunas secuencias , asi como el hecho que es un libro escrito a mediados del siglo 19.
Nada de eso invalida su lucidez y belleza , solo requiere del lector un poco mas de paciencia y comprension, la obra lo vale.
No puede decirse que luego de Mommsen no haya mas que hablar sobre Roma hasta 709 AUC , pero no va ser facil tener aportes de esta magnitud...
Ojala me equivoque y las nuevas generaciones encuentren y expliquen mucho mas , pero hasta tanto disfrutemos de lo mejor que tenemos, que se complementa con los pocos libros clasicos que sobrevivieron a la barbarie de siglos.
GAO.

That a publisher would complete a new edition of the entire Mommsen three volume "Roman History" in English as a single extremely high quality hardbound book is a major labor of love and a service to select scholars everywhere. This is still a very important work on the topic of Roman Republican history. However, that being said, John H. Collins' abridgement Mommsen's three volumes into a six-hundred page book published by Meridian in 1958 is the book that should be sought out. It is generally available here on Amazon from used book dealers in the fifteen to twenty-five dollar range. It covers the period from the end of the Punic Wars to the demise of the Republic. The translation is thoroughly lively and accurate and makes the work accessible and engaging and retains the stunning quality of Mommsen's writing as great literature. The greatest strength of Mommsen's work was in the period after two-hundred fifty BCE. The Meridian edition both in paperback or hardcover is a magnificent read and covers almost all of the most important of Mommsen's contributions to Roman Republican history.

The cover art appearing above is from the Meridian paperback not the book being reviewed here. At 10.2 pounds and 1703 pages, this item is a beautiful example of fine printing and and high quality binding. It also appears that certain reissue publishers are now making the complete work available but as four volumes and with less pages and weight. That will mean smaller print and lower quality paper. I own a 1908 edition of the complete work in English, and the only reason I suggest that one would want a copy of the complete work would be if they were involved with the intellectual history of "classical" scholars. Compared with Alan Ward's, "History of the Roman People," the current standard "textbook" on Roman History, Mommsen's work is historically fresh and vital and, yes, generally accurate after one hundred and fifty years. The unabridged work won the Nobel prize for literature in 1902 - The only history book to ever win the prize. If you read it, you will understand why.

First a word about Theodor Mommsen. He came to Roman history with a background in practicing law and as an MP and legislator. His position in the house was that of a -- how shall I put it -- radical liberal nationalist, a rare colour these days, where liberalism has become a term of abuse. He fiercely opposed the politics of Otto von Bismarck who just had defeated France and reunited Germany. So the perspective on constitutional law that underpins MommsenÕs entire work, came naturally to him, the old Roman understanding of history as the ÒCustom of NationsÓ had found a kindred soul and a speaker of supreme eloquence. In 1902, Mommsen received, as the first and only historian ever, the Nobel-prize for literature. (Churchill too had the Midas-touch for the language, he too was a politician, his compilations make a highly entertaining read, but his contribution to academic history was purely oratorical.) Mommsen was an outspoken opponent to centralization, bureaucracy and anti-Semitism, but had the misfortune to coin a phrase which later the Nazis should turn to their own advantage: in his ÒRoman HistoryÓ he described the Jews in exile as Òan element of national decomposition,Ó of course without suspecting that anybody could pick up on this and use it in a more current context. Mommsen didnÕt live to witness the damage. MommsenÕs most important contribution to Roman history is the editing and publishing of the monumental ÒCorpus Inscriptionum Latinarum,Ó which, if I am not mistaken, has reached by now volume 127. We lesser mortals are not likely to see this on our bookshelves at home, but for the archaeologist and historian it is an indispensable tool. It is a complete survey of all the epigraphs and inscriptions unearthed anywhere in the Roman Empire and an ongoing project since 150 years and for as long as we continue to discover more inscriptions. Through it we know, for instance, that Pilate was not, as the gospels claim, a procurator, but a legate, and hence not accountable to the legate of Syria, which explains a good deal of the reckless atrocities during PilateÕs tenure. From this collection we also gain statistical insights on the average distribution of epigraphs and, corresponding to it, the degree of literacy in different parts of the empire at different times. Mommsen himself considered as his main contribution his studies on Roman constitutional law and his editions of Roman law codices. He also discovered, edited, and published the Òqueen of all inscriptions,Ó Emperor AugustusÕ ÔRes Gestae:Õ the ÔprincepÕsÕ resume of his deeds and accomplishments. But what Mommsen made famous and earned him the Nobel-prize, had originally been a mere potboiler, produced with incredible speed. Then Mommsen stopped in the middle of the work, only to take it up many years later for a 2 volume appendix on the EmpireÕs provinces. And yet this ÒRoman HistoryÓ is the thing to have on your shelf, if you are interested in the subject. I still can recall my awe when I turned the pages for the first time. DonÕt get me wrong, this is not exactly a thriller, more a series of political and legal deductions on historical facts with a view on shifts and amendments in the Roman constitution. The story hovers in the background and Mommsen explains the meaning. But what explanation it is! The first few pages introduce us to ItalyÕs prehistory and deduce the paraphernalia of Indo-European migrations and early Roman society ÒsimplyÓ from the dictionary of the Latin language! It is mind-boggling suggestive. We hear of the early institutions, of KingÕs councilors who eventually formed the republics senate, but under the Etruscian Kings merely had the ÒrightÓ to say Òyes.Ó Not much of a right you may think and it did not include the right to say Òno,Ó but one can always keep silent. (ÓYou disagree?Ó -- ÒYes!!Ó Blimey.) Then Mommsen moves on to the Punic wars and to the elder CatoÕs prosecution of foreign cults on ItalyÕs soil, which created a precedent that affected the prosecution of Christians some 200 years later. Mommsen discusses in great detail the introduction of the revolutionary office of the tribune and how the Gracci used the Ôtribunicia potestasÕ to blunt the executive powers of the Senate and briefly managed to assume the position of an (elected) head of state who was not a consul. Their revolutionary legislation however was soon to be overturned in SullaÕs conservative counter-revolution, which in turn mobilized the popular parties to bring a certain Caesar into power. But even in MommsenÕs glowing eulogy Caesar is little more than a gifted politician and general whose political ambition made him commit high treason and suspend the constitution. Mommsen stopped here. Characteristically the end of the Republic and its democratic institutions was for him the end of history proper -- Mommsen could never bring himself to write about the emperors. In his eyes this would have amounted to little more than a gossipy chronicle of court scandals; and for this we have Gibbon. Still it would have been interesting. At times opinionated and irate, Mommsen had a knack for outrageous statements and we catch glimpses of it in his later survey on the Roman provinces. He called Domitian, who according to Tacitus had been the best hated Emperor of his period, Òthe most careful administrator who ever graced the empire.Ó Or read MommsenÕs comment on Euripides and what he thinks about the poetÕs influence on Hellenistic humanitarianism. It makes you put down the book and pause for a moment: ÒWhat did he just say? Is he serious?Ó I could go on and drool endlessly, it would never do justice to MommsenÕs work. If you canÕt shell out [the money] than go to your library and borrow it through the interlibrary exchange, but make sure you have enough time at your hand, really to sink your teeth into it.

I discovered Theodor Mommsen's magnum opus over thirty years ago as an undergraduate history major at the University of Florida. Although sentential brevity was not a characteristic of Mommsen's history, it was not a hard read. In some places, Mommsen's description of the Jugurthine War for instance, it proved to be as engaging as one of Harold Lamb's popular histories. The book was out of print at that time, and all I had at my disposal was a turn-of-the-century copy in the UF library. Ever after I have been on the lookout for an accessible, affordable edition of Mommsen's work. Alas, this edition is not it.

One of life's little mysteries is how this magnificent work fell out of print while Gibbon's "Decline & Fall of the Roman Empire" never did. Mommsen's Nobel Prize winning work exceeds Gibbon's as the day exceeds the night. Another of life's little mysteries is why this work cannot be issued in a buyer-friendly price range.

Mommsen's History of Rome is THE BEST book available on Roman History. It is incredibly well written (I think, but I'm not sure, he got a Nobel Prize on literature for this History book). Regardless of it's incredible literature value, this masterpiece definetly owns the first place between books ever written on Roman History. It revises the arts, the law, the costumes, etc. It is recomended to roman law students (Mommsen knew a lot of Roman Law), and obviously to history students and lovers. Theodore Mommsen's History of Rome will be the best piece of literature and history you will ever read.

This is the type of book for people who want just a touch of tradgedy and also a dash of romance. This is a book I totally recomend for all teen readers. It is an absolutely wonderful book and it has been like a delightful journey to a whole new world!

This is without a doubt the best book I've ever read. I have never read a more innovative, entertaining, and interesting take on the Arthurian legend. This book is absolutely fascinating, the kind you wish would go on forever! When I finished reading it for the first time, I turned back to the beginning and started it again. This book is wonderful!!

I thought this was the best book I had ever read. I loved how the author brought you into to this fantasy world as you were soon off on an adventure with Rigan, Morgan, and Arddu. If you haven;t read this book you should,. -A grade 6 student feb.16,99.

I read this book perhaps 7 or 8 years ago, and only once. But to this day, I remember it as one of the best books I have ever and most likely will ever read. Welwyn Katz takes a fascinating story and puts an entirely new twist upon this interpretation of Arthurian legend to make a truly wonderful, truly memorable book.

It was amazing. I read the book quite a while a go, but the images that I pictures were so vivid and the description of the battle of cruelties between the two magics were so imaginative - 5 stars way up!!!

I have to say right away that Treasures in Darkness wasn't exactly what I expected. I knew the book was about a mother's tragic loss of her young son and by the title I assumed that she had managed to keep his memory alive by changing the world just a little. I rather expected the account of a woman who had become active in mothers against drunk drivers or started volunteering in a cancer ward in an effort to bring reason to her family's horrific loss. These would have made great touching, inspirational tales.

Treasures in Darkness, hardly mentions the feelings of the mother over her son's passing. Instead, this book is a very passionate Christian book about how the minister's wife questions God after the death of her son. The book rather reads as an intense sermon about how she questioned God but found solace in her beliefs. Though definitely not for the general public, I recommend this book to Christians who are questioning their faith after a recent tragedy. This book will give them solace that they aren't alone while encouraging them to hold onto their faith for the answers.

A couple months after my daughter died, my pastor gave me the book, A Grieving Mother Shares Her Heart: Treasures in Darkness. I read it in a couple days, finding in its pages validation for the way I was grieving and how I felt. The process that Sharon Betters had gone through mirrored my own. It helped to know that I wasn't the only one who had experienced the overwhelming heartache that comes with the loss of a child.

Then I read the book again, highlighting parts that I wanted to come back to.

As Sharon quoted extensively from the journal she wrote in the first months after her son Mark died in a car accident, I watched her struggle with God and then accept her life's circumstance. Sharon embraces God's promise of eternal life for His children. She rests in the shadow of the Almighty's arms, finding treasures of hope in the darkest moments of grief.

The hymns and Scripture she includes in the book were the same passages I had already gone to repeatedly for comfort.

I am worn out from groaning;
all night long I flood my bed with weeping
and drench my couch with tears.
My eyes grow weak with sorrow;
they fail because of all my foes.
Away from me, all you who do evil,
for the Lord has heard my weeping.
The Lord has heard my cry for mercy.
~ Psalm 6:6-9

I think that anyone who has experienced a significant loss can benefit from Sharon's book. She allows grief and points the reader toward healing and comfort in the Lord.

The book is also for those who want to help and minister to people who are grieving. In a chapter titled Who's Bearing Whose Burden, Sharon writes,

The challenge of Paul in Galations 6:2, "Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ," teaches us that God expects us to not only need each other but also reflect the love of Christ by helping each other. Grief is not a pathway we should attempt to walk alone.

She addresses what she calls "echoes of mercy" which are the little things in life that God sends our way to encourage us. Such a God of grace we have. She shows us how to get through the ugly grief and live life.

This book combines the validation of grief with the truth of Scripture.This needs to be read by anyone whose child has died whether recently or years ago.The book is an excellent resource for those who are friends of the parents and want to gain insight on the roller coaster of emotions that a parent continually goes through.

Using personal journal entries and exposing her personal struggle with God, the author demonstrates how people can deal with the agonizing heartaches of our lives. All through the book, the reader can relate to the questions and longings that many of us go through when faced with life-changing challenges. The honest and open writing helps ease the often lonely confusion that someone in grief experiences. Read the book and give it!

It is hard to put into a few words what this book is about. I am 23 years old and 10 years ago I lost my older brother. When I got done reading this book, I looked at it again and was in awe at how truly amazing it was that though she lost her son she could write in her journal and praise God like she did. I loved the book! There were many places that I related to and felt again the pain and the grief. But then there was also the hope. And that is what this book is all about. A mother's struggle but also a hope that beyond the darkness there is light and with that light you begin to find those treasures that God has laid out.

I have never read a book more than twice, but I have read this one three times. It's edge-of-your-seat suspenseful and surprising on many levels dealing with the various characters. The author has portrayed Mattie, the main character, as so real that you feel like she is in your own kitchen at times.

The story begins with Mattie Cameron losing her husband, Matt, to a seemingly random drive-by shooting. During the investigation she finds herself as one of the prime suspects, but worse yet, her husband's past lies begin to unravel. Years before, when Matt had had an affair, he and Mattie separated but one year before the shooting they had reconciled and things had been going smoothly, at least that's what she thought.

Twisted triangle is a smooth and thoroughly entertaining mystery. S.P.Potthoff's fluid style grabbed me and held me clear through to the surprise ending. Her exploration of Mattie's emotional fabric and motivation was intriguing and made for an enjoyable read. If there was anything lacking in this book for me, it was the chapters leading up to the conclusion, which I felt could have used a little more tension.

As the "twist" to this intriguing murder mystery unfolds, it's proof again that even the best made plans aren't fool proof. The Twisted Triangle is definitely a must read.

THE TWISTED TRIANGLE is an excellent example of mystery/suspense fiction.

The story begins with the too-real nightmares of a young boy. We then move forward in time to the real-life nightmares of Mattie Cameron, as her husband is killed in a drive-by shooting.

Married for 20 years, Mattie and her husband Matt were just recovering from his affair with another woman. They had plans for a romantic cruise to symbolize their new beginning.

All of this changes when Matt dies and Mattie's life turns upside down.

As Mattie tries to deal with her grief, and that of her grown children, her life is made even more difficult by Detective Brandeis of Homicide, once he learns that Matt did not really end his affair, thus giving Mattie a perfect motive for murder.

While dealing with both the murder and the fact that Matt lied to her about his affair, Mattie receives mysterious phone calls from a man who claims to have done her a favor by killing her husband.

Unfortunately, no one else ever hears the calls, and Brandeis doesn't believe they are real.

Things become even more complicated when one of Matt's co-workers, who was also having an affair, is murdered.

Mattie was driven to the brink of suicide once, and those around her are afraid that this may finally push her over the edge.

The turmoil in her life comes to a head in a lonely cabin when she meets her tormentor, and is rescued by an unlikely hero.

Potthoff has woven an intricate and suspenseful tale that keeps the reader guessing all the way through. It is an excellent first effort.

I had to put it aside at night because Potthoff makes the reader feel Mattie's terror while her world unravels.

Putting the book aside at all was an effort, because I could hardly wait to learn the identity of Mattie's tormentor, and the motive behind his actions.

Reviewer Lorie Ham is the author of MURDER IN FOUR PART HARMONY.

TWISTED TRIANGLE is Ms. Potthoff's debut outing and what a phenomenal job she has done. I will tell you right off the bat that you will not be able to put this book down, or soon forget it.

Mattie Cameron and her husband Matt had a Sunday night ritual of going to a coffee shop for dinner. Even when they were separated because of Matt's affair, they would sometimes meet there, but this Sunday night was life altering. As Matt walked out the door, he was gunned down; within a moment, Mattie's life was turned upside down. Detective Brandeis of homicide informs Mattie that her husband was still having an affair, making Mattie a prime suspect with a perfect motive. Mattie must not only deal with her own feelings of grief; she must help her grown children get through this crisis even though she is questioning her own survival and sanity.

Potthoff's character of Mattie is written with such detail you can feel her raw emotions as her world is being turned upside down. I used more than one Kleenex to get through this one. The supporting characters are all very intriguing with underlying issues of their own. I was kept on the edge of my seat throughout this book until the surprising ending. I look forward to seeing more from this author, and hopefully soon.

Captain Macwhirr has a lack of imagination that both imperils the crew and may provide their salvation. He sails his ship the Nan-Shan directly into a typhoon because he is unable to envision weather worse than he has seen in the past. Macwhirr must find a way to hold his ship and crew together to weather the storm.

This book is so compelling because of the actions of the colorful and intelligent characters who swirl around Macwhirr. While critical of the captain when becalmed, they hold firmly to his unchanging, stolid figure when things look hopeless. In an uncertain situation, people will follow certainty -- even if its source is dubious. I think this nugget of truth and the reflections of it we see in real-life lend this novel its power. Macwhirr is certainty itself, more from mindlessness than steadfastness, and others follow.

Beyond the fascinating story and character-study is Conrad's stunning writing. He says so much with so little without the hard edges of Hemingway's prose. Conrad uses adjectives, but with a diamond cutter's precision.

Joseph Conrad was a master of language. In a brief but classic book, you will experience the incredible power of a typhoon while on a steamer as if you were there. Especially real is the scene in the chart room after the initial damage. It is very dark, and Captain MacWhirr lights matches to see his surroundings. Conrad's concise descriptions make you feel even the flame of the match as it burns down. If only this book were longer! I would have loved to know more about Captain MacWhirr's adventures. I HIGHLY recommend this book, as well as Conrad's "Heart of Darkness."

This novel is unforgettable. Conrad creates a sense of terror regarding the forces of nature that will stand up to any special effects that Hollywood can produce. The scene describing the panic below deck of the Chinese workers is one of the most powerful in literature. Not to be missed.

Taking maximum advantage from his long years at sea, and from his innate insight into the human soul, Conrad tells an outright and direct story about a huge typhoon in the midst of the Yellow Sea. But the book is not so much about the storm in itself, but about the human character and how it reacts to disaster.

Captain MacWhirr is famous for being an efficient, calm, dull and silent man, someone you would trust but not like. He seems to be rather unbrilliant, though, never understanding why people talk so much. The other characters are also interesting, especially Jukes, the "young Turk", vivid and dynamic; Solomon the head engineer, another wise man from the sea, and the disgusting and repugnant "second officer", the type of coward you don't want to be with in this kind of drama.

Human character, then, is revealed by limit-situations much more than at any other time, as war literature fans know, and this tale will leave you wondering how YOU would react if you had to make decisions in the midst of a horrible, and wonderfully depicted, typhoon.

Great narration on the audio book captures the British and Scottish dialects, but it's so smooth that it's easy to be lulled into dreamland. I had to go back to the excerpts on Amazon and replay parts of the tape to catch the true impact of Conrad's words.

Captain Mac Whirr, a short, fat, dull but dependable seaman, commands the Nan-Shan for a Siamese merchant firm. He writes twelve letter a year to his uncaring wife and has two children who barely know him. During typhoon season in the China Sea Jukes the first mate tells the Captain to change course to avoid the looming storm, but Mac Whirr will think of nothing but forging straight ahead. The Captain and Jukes as well as Solomon Rout the chief engineer (Long Sol, Old Sol or father Rout to his shipmates and Solomon Sez to his wife who quotes pearls of wisdom from his letters to anyone who'll listen) and the Bosun are at the center of the crisis that follows.

During a storm like no other the actions of everyman are almost predetermined by their biases, intrenched beliefs and in some cases ability to react. In six short chapters Conrad develops a great story of how different men behave in a fight for survival.

The tale of the last leg is told in pieces from letters home. The Captain's letter is barely read by his wife who has no idea what happened. Solomon's is sentimental and cherished by his beloved. Jukes reveals the most. Unsurprisingly we find that Captain Mac Whirr wasn't so dumb after all.

It would probably be better read than listened to and deserves at least four stars for the classic it is.

I own the first and second editions of this book. I keep a copy at home, and one at work. It is comprehensive guide to the UNIX operating system. I always look here first for any questions or help I need with UNIX. I would recommend this book for anyone that uses UNIX.

The Bible of Unix. The one (and final) book you need in UNIX. Your search ends with this book. Well defined examples, explanations, notations. Be it a beginner, intermediate or expert you SHOULD have this book, if you are a Unix user.

Finally, a Unix book that is so comprehensive!

Had to give this one four stars, though, instead of five. The chapter on Tcl/Tk and Expect (chapter 20) is loaded with errors - probably editorial in nature (lots of places where parentheses are used instead of brackets "{}" and these WILL cause errors if you try to run the commands.). Otherwise, this is a fine book for learning Unix or going beyond the beginner level. The authors not only know their stuff, but they communicate it well. Highly recommended!

I bought the original version of this book in 1991-1992. It's still the best UNIX "How-to" book on the market. Absolutely no other book in my "UNIX library" provides more useful information on such a wide variety of topics: shells, networking, user environment configuration, mail, etc., etc., etc. It's all in here. It's especially great for beginners, since it covers all of the basics that normally provide stumbling blocks for beginning UNIX users. I highly recommend it.

We Think The World Of You is basically a tale of "you don't
get what you want you get what you get". In the case of Frank
he wanted Johnny but ends up with a dog named Evie. An amusing
and sly look at some working class personalities and carry on.

Fantastic book !

John

First published in 1960, this book is a delicious souffle, which J. R. Ackerley has whipped to perfection. It tells the hilarious story of the love triangle involving Frank, a buttoned-down civil servant, Johnny, the working class guy he's in love with, and the beautiful, headstrong Evie. As the story opens, Johnny has been sentenced to a year in jail for breaking and entering, and Frank is worried that this will give Johnny's pregnant wife, Megan, the chance to freeze him out of Johnny's life altogether.

But in the end it's the beautiful Evie that precipitates the final crisis, forcing Frank to go through some painful self-discovery along the way. Ackerley's tone is pitch-perfect throughout. An offbeat book that is completely hilarious.



Did I mention that Evie is a German shepherd?

It would be hard to make the case that WE THINK THE WORLD OF YOU is by any means a major work, but why should that lessen your fun? Ackerley's novel is very much a surprise in its relegation of its homoeroticism (dealt with very honestly and matter-of-factly) to the background; the protagonist's homosexuality is treated as simply a matter of course rather than as the center of concern, and what gets greater attention is his complicated relationship with his lover's family and dog.

The narrator himself is a terrific creation: sneaky, pompous, arrogant, and yet also somewhat likeable despite it all. And so too are the lover's parents and the dog herself--it all has the ring of reality about it. This is a minor delight, but a delight nonetheless.

This fantastic piece of high art just gets funnier and funnier and more blackly though generously hilarious with each successive page. Brilliant.

It's practically impossible to imagine a book like this being published in today's publishing atmosphere, but thankfully, NYRB is around to buck that trend. I mean what editor today would manage a straight face upon opening a proposal about a middle-aged gay man taking care of the irrepressible dog of his working-class lover who's in jail? But as usual, with any work of art -- craft, talent, intelligence, compassion -- this remarkable work is so much more than that. Around its droll premise, Ackerley found a way to brilliantly expose the pettiness of people, regardless (or precisely because) of their social standing. The dog, which is just as vividly alive as each of this novel's (bipedal) characters, is really only it's lovable catalyst. But finally, what makes this work astounding is how it slyly and assuredly gets funnier and funnier and more blackly though generously hilarious with each successive page. A real snicker of a book.