T Books

I wish I had came across Boston T. Party back in '99, but as I have recently found him, I am pleased nonetheless. Surviving Y2k is a pretty good overall how to book. He even goes into the subjects of animals, coinage and types of generators. Being an adult is about self reliance and not expecting the nanny state to wipe your nose. Buy some extra food, tools, medicine, gloves and ammo. It is not difficult. Realizing this society is a thin veneer, well that may be a big pill to swallow.

A great read and informative even for someone knowledgeable on the topic.
He gets a little crossed up when it comes to KW hrs and KW but what the heck, the book is so thorough otherwise that you have to cut the guy some slack. It still gets a 5 in my book.

I've recommended Boston's books to several people, and those who bit were very thankful. Boston is knowledgeable and fun to read: read the fine print of the subtitle! My wife was especially happy I found this book and was not turned off by the Y2K part of the title, since it opened my eyes to how much better a father I can be. It's not really about computer crashes, but rather how to become educated the way Americans were a few generations ago...how to survive. In many ways we've lost the ability to do just that, the further we get from the Depression or a war which makes demands of the populace. How would your family get along without public utilities or grocery stores? It's not a book of fear-mongering but of common sense and thinking ahead. Unless you're a farmer and hunter on 40 acres, you'll likely learn much from Boston. You might even develop a new, fun hobby which will improve your quality of life, regardless what the future holds.

I just bought this not to long ago and it was worth every penny.

It's much better than many books that claim to actually be the end all be all of prepardness. From food storage, putting some gold away in case the bottom drops out of our economy and a detailed explanation on gold and silver, firearms, ammunition, off road vehicles, communications, power and light, advice on medical kits, transportation, what people should be considered threats, where to move and what advantages a certain area can do for you and your family, it's in there.

Although the title has Y2K in there, it only has a couple chapters on Y2K and the rest of the book is still valid. There is also quite a bit about how fragile our society is and why a disaster can have far reaching and long lasting effects and why you should prepare for such an emergency.

Buy this if you're looking for a prepardness manual, you won't be disappointed. It's alot better than most of the other manuals out there. I should know, I've wasted a few bucks here and there and have bought some of those other manuals that claim to cover everything. And if you buy 3 books on this subject, you'll end up with a dud as well. This book actually does cover everthing you should think about before, during and after a disaster.

It's a classic and I'll be keeping it.

This is an excellent book to get you ready for whatever is coming--computer collapse after a cyber terror attack, a civil uprising locally or nationally, bad weather or just everyday living. The chapters on food and electricity are worth the price alone. I recommend you also buy "Boston's Gun Bible" for an in depth look at guns you need, though this book hits well enough for those that are not "gun nuts". It gave me valuable insight on what I need versus what I THOUGHT I needed.

Well worth the money. I am thinking of buying several copies for gifts to family members!

By way of explaining the "inexplicable", The Breach is a roman à clef.

Rob Taylor and Henry Barber's epic on the Breach wall of Kilimanjaro is one of the great stories of mountaineering history. Part of that is because Rob Taylor is a good writer.

Rob Taylor owes his life to Henry Barber and has made himself famous by complaining about Henry's lack of sensitivity, after Henry SAVED him. I suffered a part of Rob's fate when I had both legs shattered in a plane crash on the grounds of an airport, hardly above sea level. It took all the efforts of the local fire department and the EMS to get me out and to hospital, inside 3 hours. I couldn't care less if I ever saw any of those guys again, of if they visited me in the hospital as long as they got me there in the first place. Rob Taylor would have done better to have said "thank you" and shut up about it.

Nobody would have heard of Rob Taylor had he not played second fiddle to Henry over a brief period of Henry's prolific career.

But that is what makes this a good book. Like the Screwtape Letters, you can read differing versions of the same event. Get Henry's bio, and see the other side of the story. Rob's account is more compelling, but this story is all he's got.

Rob came to speak at my school about 20 years ago, and his talk still resonates!

This book can be read on so many levels--it has adventure, spirituality, and humanity. I've read it at least 10 times and have treasured it over the years.

I'm buying this book. The story of Rob Taylor and his parter Harley was compelling. You're probably thinking 'she hasn't even read the book.' Rob Taylor came to my school today. He spent and hour and a half telling us his fascinating story all about his climb up Kilamanjaro and it's tragic ending. Though all that Rob went through with Harley, he still blames himself for the horrific accident. His poor judge of character came back to haunt him later in the climb up this monstrous mountain. He made some decisions that could've been a lot better, but all of us are human. I haven't read the book yet, but I think it'll be interesting to know if Rob wrote about how Harley ended up. I am only in middle school, so yes the majority of my grade laughed, but I think all of the greed and selfishness that he showed Rob up on the mountain is still kicking to this day. When you get someone's story verbally, it tends to be more exciting, especially with someone like Rob Taylor. His expressions and tone of voice as he went through the story that started at the base of the mountain in 120 degree weather to negative 30 at the summit were entertaining. His expressions changed, and even if you were deaf, you would've been able to read the story through his eyes. I'm hoping the book will be as fascinating as the real person...especially when I've seen the scars.

Taylor is not only a gifted alpinist, but a gifted writer. The book eloquently draws the reader into the harrowing physical and mental journey to Africa and up and down The Breach Wall.

The previous reviewer has such a twisted perspective that it leads one to wonder whether he's suffering from altitude sickness after having read The Breach. He obviously missed the whole point of the book and grossly misunderstood the person. Rob Taylor is what I would characterize as a "soul alpinist." He obviously doesn't climb for self-aggrandizement, he climbs to feed his soul. It was immediately apparent to me that Taylor wrote this book, not to "become famous" or for anyone but himself. The book is an introspectual journey as a critical step in the author's healing process. Rob is a renowned, but not famous climber, and one gets the impression he'd have it no other way.

Harley Warner, Taylor's climbing partner, was a daring, fantastic climber, but he wouldn't have achieved the same degree of fame if he hadn't made it his first priority to have the press alerted and cameras rolling when he planned his ascents. The previous reviewers suggestion that Taylor played 2nd fiddle to Warner (whom the previous reviewer inexplicably refers to as "Henry Barber"???) reveals a complete ignorance of the very different characters, skill-sets and goals of these two climbers.

In "The Breach," Taylor laments, but NEVER complains at all about the fact that Warner abandons him, critically wounded and desperately in need of support, so as not to miss a promotional event back in the U.S. He was obviously hurt by that. Who wouldn't be??? On the contrary, Taylor thanks Harley profusely for getting him safely off the Breach wall even though Harley doesn't return with the rescue party to see Taylor safely out of the jungle. It's worthy of note that Taylor minimizes description of his own suffering in describing that horrific descent in the book.

The book is a real gift, not only as an insight into the inner strength that we can all draw upon in our most critical hours, but also in the artful way it combines adventure and psychology with anthropological and cultural musings to create a thoroughly deep and satisfying meal of a read.

I brought this book in desperation for something to read. I was already half regretting my decision to buy it when it arrived. And yicks, I thought looking at the cover, it's a medieval romance and not the fantasy/romance I thought. This misconception did not last long and within a chapter I was hooked - *it is* a fantasy romance as well as an adventure and drama encompassing both love, desire, betrayal, loss and ultimately (physical and mental) conflict in a fantasy/magical setting. All I can say is that I wish I'd discovered the book before, although I'm glad in another way I didn't as I now have the other two books in the trilogy to look forward to reading - and very little waiting for them, although the week plus I will have to wait seems like a long, long time!

Romance novels as great as this are rare treasures. From the first page I was pulled into this novel and I never wanted it to end. Broken Vows is a beautifully written romance-fantasy crossover that has everything... excitement, mystery, eroticism, heartbreak, betrayal... Although this is classified as a romance novel, it thankfully lacks the cloying sentiments and purple prose of a typical romance... yet the language and descriptions are rich and vivid. I highly recommend Broken Vows, the first installment of a three book series, to any fan of the fantasy genre who likes a bit of spice mixed into their tales of warriors and sorcery.Now, onto book #2!

Always being the one to love my romance mixed up in a lot of sword-slashing and gut-spilling, I found this book exactly to my liking.

Gheeaba, the forbidding land across the sea, just made another conquest. The Fair Isle, ruled by the T'en for centuries, has lost all of it's royal family except one. Imoshen is a proud and final female member of a race of people called Dhamfeer. Six-fingered and telepathic, she is the last hope for her Isle to hold on to what little they have.

General Tulkhan is prepared to face a beaten woman who puportedly could steal a man's soul just by looking into her eyes. He found instead a proud woman fighting to defend her castle. He strikes a deal with her to keep the peace at the fortress he conquered, but Imoshen has other plans to ensure she is not the last Dhamfeer...

She begins feeling a little loyalty toward the General, but there is her renegade betrothed, the last male Dhamfeer, to contend with. He has plans for her as well. Imoshen is torn between the love for her land and people and a new passion for her Isle's conqueror.

This book is very passionate, very full of torn loyalties and bitter betrayals. Even months after reading it, I can still see Imoshen's beautiful Isle and her desire to protect it.

When I started reading, I thought it would turn out to be the typical type of fantasy with lots of magic, wizards or mages and stuff like that. Instead, the story was from the perspective of a female(ok, maybe because the author is a she) but the tangible emotions between Imoshen and Tulkhan was so 'breathtaking' that I could imagine the tension and all the feelings the two of them had, holding in check because both characters were afraid of being hurt by the counterpart. I'll definitely read the 2nd book of the trilogy when it comes out! All in all, the fantasy element is very little while the romance is good, definitely more suitable for people who likes romance. So don't hold your breath if you are a fantasy novel fan.

If someone suggested a sci-fi/fantasy/adventure/romance novel to me, I'd probably refuse to read it and will rue the day, esp. if it's anything like this Broken Vows. I am a historical-romance book reader and haven't really ventured out of that genre yet. But Cory Daniells T'En trilogy definitely caught me off guard. When I picked up this book, I thought it's another one of my historical-romance reading material, didn't know until the first few chapters when the formula and plot seems different to me. However, I was right away drawn to it and wouldn't have it any other way.

Broken Vows fascinated me in many ways. The notion of the character's behavior & distinctive traits are unique yet believable. It's not too alienated or too deep of a sci-fi for me. In fact, I find T'Imoshen perfect despite her Throwback traits. I love her character and she is one of my favorite heroine, for sure. She's well portrayed, with quality and deep emotions. Ms. Daniells words of description will make u see through her. I was even teary eyed many times and my heart quenches when she was so confuse, feeling lost & alone. I felt proud of her when she always manages to stand tall despite her emotional havoc . What makes Tulkham lovable to me is his way of leadership. Yes, he is arrogant, even a bit harsh at times yet fair. His acceptance to learn the Fair Isle's culture was also something not to take lightly upon considering his position. He is indeed honorable and a great tactician, politician. I also find it heart warming that both T'Imoshen and Tulkham fear each other in different degree. Fear of change, fear of the unknown and fear of being controlled and manipulated. Their relationship started out as political strategy but you can feel the essence of their affection, though cloaked to protect ones weakness: FEAR. The ceremonial rituals, magic spells and procedure, superstitious belief, etc was another intriguing part of this novel. It's very well written. Ms. Daniells' is truly a great story teller. The difference between the Ghebite and the T'En culture was my favorite concept of all. Both are very opposite and have different insights of everything. I even find some of this insights a bit amusing. I am normally not fond of paranormal plots (except medieval era) and I even shun from mind-reading characters but this one is surprisingly an exemption. It's unpredictable, giving readers rush of excitement. Overall, this book is full of adventure and emotional depth. It soars not only your heart but also your imagination. I love it!

(...)DARK DREAMS, is the 2nd book of this T'En trilogy. The fascination continues! Sadly, The conclusion won't be out till summer 2002. Oh, I can't wait!

This is THE must have book for Catholic Prophecy. It is very well written and researched. Though chilling at it's accuracy, it is important for those who want to deal with the realities of what is happening in the world, and more importantly what has happened to the Catholic Church since Vatican II's revolutionary batttle cry. As the book states, We shall suffer greatly during the Chastisement. The important thing to remember is that when it is over, the Church will be pulled up out of the muck of that the modernist Robber Barons have dragged her into and her always perfect glory with be revealed to all.

This book was given as a gift. I did not read the book, but the person who received it was delighted.

This is a short book that can be read in one good, long sitting. But he who has the perspicacity to read it will have gained great initial insight into traditional Catholic prophesy.

It must be noted that the book is a bit dated in terms of historical interpretation. Completed in the early seventies of the last century, there was much emphasis on the monolithic communist empire in terms of historical interpretation. But, if the Zionist movement is substituted for communism, the prophesies and interpretation make perfect sense even today.

This lovely little book should be a source of great reflection and further study. We are very grateful to the wonderful folks at TAN Publishing of Rockford, Illinois for bringing it to print in this attractive new format.

Yves Dupont's commentaries are quite startling. His commentaries for Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich (Anna Katerina Emmerich) was quite shocking. Her .visions and prophecies of the Catholic Church being undermined by worldly thinking as well as the Mass being changed into the vernacular, accompanied with a lot of grave irreverances and sacrileges.

It is a must read. He includes a lot of commentaries for a lot of saints and even the famous religious visionary, Nostradmus (Michel de Notre Dame)

This short, easy to read book is a great place to start if you want to know what is coming down the road. There are literally thousands of Catholic prophets from the second century on who prophesize virtually the same thing regarding future world events.

The prophecies as related to current events such as Islamic Radicalism and recent Russian resurgance or reversion to their "old selves" and seem to indicate that we are very close to the times foretold. The Popes listed by St Malachy are also close to the end.

If this book sparks your Catholic prophecy interest, you might want to next read "Trial Tribulation & Triumph" by Desmond A. Birch. That book is a scholarly look at end times prophecy and a very good and slightly unnerving read.

St Paul himself told us that he wants the faithful to know and understand prophecy. This book is a great start.

A great book that talks about other animals that lay eggs other than chickens. I read this book to my preschool children and they loved it very much. The pictures are bright and very colourful. It's a must buy!

This was my favorite book growing up, because of it's catchy rhyming story, accompanied by colorful, ecclectic illustrations... and now, it is my sons favorite book - so much so, that I'm now looking into buying Ruth Heller's other science books. My 4 year old loves them, and the colorful picutres hold my 2 year olds attention (a feat in itself) so well, I'm amazed!

I'm so glad I've kept this book around long enough to pass it on to my son, who already has a great understanding of any animal, who is an "Oviparous"

I think it's really great that Ruth Heller introduces a complex subject in a children's book without talking down to the children. It's great that she uses "big" words like "oviparous"--kids, after all, can remember lengthy dinosaur names; there's no reason why they can't handle other long scientific words.
But I do have slight qualms. For instance, the part about amphibians says that amphibians don't have claws--what about African clawed frogs?
The illustrations are engaging, and the use of rhyme in prose makes the text flow nicely. The subject is interesting, too. I just wonder a bit about the accuracy of the "facts" presented here.

I enjoy the realistic non-anthropomorphic pictures Ruth Heller, author/illustrator, placed on each page. They are colorful, accurate and fun to look at. Some pages have just one animal and other pages are filled with lively looking insects and their eggs. I also enjoyed how she showed the size, coloring, shape and form difference between all types of eggs. I learned a lot from this book and think that kids over 3 will enjoy having this read to them. The only downfall I see in this story is that sometimes the words and sentences are in rhyming form and sometimes they aren't. I would've preferred one OR the other, not both. It doesn't flow as well with the two methods of writ, but other than that it was a good book.

My son brought this book home from school today as reading homework (he's in second grade). This was one of those times when I was pleasantly surprised by a homework book being better than the usual. I like the humorous rhyming language, the entertaining and educational tone, and the pretty pictures. The illustrations are not scientific in detail, but there are many recognizable species and the book is laid out in an artistic manner all too often lost now that so much is done slip-slap on computers. I am glad to see that the book is still in print. It's a winner. Not much text per page, so very easy for many, but not a baby book either.

Rybakov does a masterful job of showing the complexities of the Stalinist Soviet Union. Through the eyes of a clique of young Soviet students in the 1930's we are caught up in the post-revolutionary euphoria as Stalin sought to build "socialism in one country." Gradually the sinister aspects of Stalinism become apparent, as each character must decide the path they will take. Some simply go along and hope for the best, some work within the system (joining the NKVD), others are exiled to Siberia. _Children of the Arbat_ has been righly compared to _Dr. Zhivago_. It is a masterpiece of contemporary Russian literature. Highly recommended.

This book is excellent. It great for people like me who don't like history. Through this book you will go in the world of Russia in the time of Stalin. The history is interestingly incorporated in the lives of the Russian people. I hope that you will read this book because it's really great.

I picked up this book after being told that it's a "must read" for anyone wishing to gain insight into life in 1930's Stalinist Russia. This is a gripping, though tragic, story of an idealistic boy who aspires to a life of service to the Soviet Union. His idealism is ultimately used against him, and his life thrown away by party members whose sole concern is self-protection and advancement. Unfortunately, while this is clearly the story of the author, the reader can't help but sense it's also the story of millions of youth in that time and place.

If you want a glimpse into the proverbial "Russian soul" and the factors that have shaped it, this book is an excellent place to start.

This volume was first written in the 1960's Soviet Union under Krushchev's less onerous regime. By the time Children of the Arbat was ready for print Brezhnev had taken power and any dissent was supressed. Arbat was in fact, not printed until 1987.

The novel takes place in 30's Russia on the eve of the Great Purges under Stalin. The Arbat itself is street in Moscow which was once a bazaar and then (and now) the location of several cafe's and ourdoor music.

Children of the Arbat is great work combining literature and political commentary. Rybakov shows the impact of the terror on a small group of friends and relations. His portrayal of Stalin is on the mark, cold and ruthless.

An excellent novel of an era in Russia that should never be forgotten.

It is not always easy to keep track of the many threads in this sprawling 685 page novel about the Soviet Union in 1933 and 1934, on the eve of the murder of Kirov and the Reign of Terror. But it gives a superb picture of the period: a vivid portrait of Stalin and his thought processes, of the lives of young people in Moscow, of how it was already possible for devoted and loyal communists to be sent into political exile. (Most people know about the slave labour in the Gulags, but fewer know of what life was like for political exiles, who lived more freely among the villagers of Southern Siberia). Among the people we meet are idealistic and decent communists as well as ambitious and scheming ones. It stands up remarkably well in the light of all the new knowledge that has become available since the collapse of the Soviet Union and the opening of the archives. In particular, Rybakov's picture of Stalin is confirmed by Simon Sebag-Montefiore's chilling "Stalin: the Court of the Red Tsar" (2003)

I struggled with my weight especially after having a child 16 years ago. I am a registered dietitian so that made it even more humiliating--knowing what I should be doing, but not being able to do it. I picked up an earlier edition of this book 13 years ago and it changed my life. I walked 6 days a week religiously. I felt the diet was very easy to follow and loved some of the recipes in the book. After 3 years and 40 pounds later, I started running and have been running ever since. Thank you Choose to Lose for transforming my life. I love who I have become.

This is the only plan that has ever worked for me. I had always been vastly overweight and tried every diet. Just do it..it works even without salads and exercise and you are not hungry. You choose your weight with every decision on what goes into your mouth. Just do it.

I read this books years ago, and when I found out the book was revised I had to have it. This book teaches you how to make a healthy eatting change for life, or just to lose those unwanted pounds. It tells you the importance of why you should not avoid carbohydrates, and it is very easy because you choose what you eat to loose weight, as long as you dont exceed your daily calorie or fat intake per day. It also teaches you why on 1000 caloried diets dont work because your body think it s starving and you dont loose weight because of so few calories. You can also save up for splurges. I think the hardest part in following this diet is eatting more than I am use to, when most diets you hardly eat. If interested in a positive eatting change where you can eat what you want, lose weight, drop your cholesterol level, and make this change for life, this is the book for you, I just love it, and the new me, because of it. Thank you Ron & Nancy Goor M.D. and Katherine Boyd R.D. for writing and sharing this book.

This is a great book, I've lost about 15 pounds using the techniques outlined, and have gone down from a 38 inch waste to a 35!!!! And I'm Still loosing. I'ts simple, keep count of those pesky fat calories, you will see results!!! This Book is a way of life for eating.

Having been on every diet in the world,I finally came to my own conclusion that diets simply don't work. I was delighted to find that "Choose To Lose" not only agrees, but encourages you not to weigh yourself and simply eat generous amounts of good, whole, naturally low fat nutritious food. Since I threw my scale out and began following the basic guidelines of "Choose To Lose", I've lost weight, gained back my self-respect and have enormous energy with a steady stable mood throughout the day. Throw out all your diet books and choose to live right now!!

I have tried several of the techniques and the author has made learning free motion very understandable and attainable. It is my favorite new quilting book!

This book presents good technical information on handling thread, etc. for free-motion techniques. I find the examples quite uninspiring artistically, though.

As a freehand embroiderer for more than a couple of decades, I purchased this book a few years ago and have thoroughly enjoyed it. I must admit that I buy books like this as much to enjoy reading as to learn from. Unlike a prior reviewer, I won't criticize Ms. Fahl for having a different artistic vision that I might have--and my work is quite different from hers. So what? This book is presented as a jumping-off point for the buyer's creativity. This book is a great companion to Ms. Fahl's DVD presentation on working with thread; I have reviewed it separately. For a beginner, this can be a very good first resource.

We just cannot get enough time to try everything in this book It is absolutely inspiring. It is exciting just reading it and makes one long to get to the sewing machine. Why do we have to do housework, cooking and cleaning when there are such exciting things to create. Thanks to Ann Fahl for the work she has put into this book.I will always treasure it as I learn the art of Thread Painting.

I bought this because I became interested in thread embroidery. Its a truely goregeous book with easy to follow instructions and wonderful photos. Her work really looks like 3D photography. I learned a lot just by reading it. A true enjoyment.

Usually Shakespeare is easier to watch on stage than to read. Yet this one is bound to confuse no matter what form you experience it in.

Two sets of twins, one high born, the other their slaves, are cast in the ocean by a storm during childhood, splitting them into two sets of one son and one slave. Their father, searching for the lost pair, journeys into the right town, Ephesus, at the wrong time. He is to be executed as an political pawn. Meanwhile, the other pair of mismatched twins finds themselves in Ephesus, too, well confusing the good people of Ephesus, including the lost pair's wives.

William Shakespeare was just starting as a playwright when he wrote this, a comedy, sometime around 1594. Bigger fish were still to fry. This, his shortest extant play, has plenty of charm and slapstick to go along with what the Pelican edition editor notes are some pretty awful puns based on Elizabethan pronunciations. If you are looking for a good laugh, Shakespeare's a few centuries out of date. "Comedy Of Errors" works better as an appetizer for meatier Shakespeare works, showcasing his wondrous use and joy with the flexibility of the English language.

Many of the best lines reflect the play's concern about misrepresentation and frustration with life's station:

"How many fond fools serve mad jealousy?" (Act II, scene i)

"For slander lives upon succession,/Forever housed where it gets possession." (III, i)

"The venom clamors of a jealous woman/Poisons more deadly than a mad dog's tooth." (V, i)

"Was there ever any man thus beaten out of season, where in the why and the wherefore is neither rhyme nor reason?" (II, ii)

The last line is one of the slaves, Dromio of Syracuse, lamenting another beating at the hands of his master, Antipholus of Syracuse. There's more slave beatings in this play than in the whole of "Roots", yet in this case they serve as comedy in a Homer-strangles-Bart fashion.

Much of the rest of the comedy involve confusion between this Antipholus and Dromio and the other pair, who bear the same names, except they are known as Antipholus and Dromio "of Ephesus". People approach them knowing their names; Antipholus's "wife" upbraids him for being a stranger to her bed.

The Pelican edition is designed to be read with minimal expository interruption, giving you brief explanations of archaic terms but not the historical analysis of, say, Folger editions. I like the latter approach, but have to say I found myself with enough information to juggle here with the text itself. Keeping track of the misadventures of the two sets of mismatched twins requires some concentration.

Still, there's real merriment in this play, similar to that found in the superior Shakespeare festival of confusion, "A Midsummer Night's Dream". You also get a lot of interesting observations about male-female relations where Shakespeare is either sending up or celebrating the traditional male-dominant order. It's hard to tell.

It's hard to tell a lot of things where "Comedy Of Errors" is concerned. You have fun being kept guessing.

I bought about ten of these because they are so easy to carry around and are printed with easy to read type and sell at a very good price. I have many other editions of Shakespeare's plays but these are perfect for what I wanted. I have lots of other editions with introductions, evaluations, etc. and I don't really need that in my bag. These editions are a great way to read the plays without carrying around five pounds of book!

Shakespeare's vision grew tremendously over the course of his writing career. However, this play demonstrates that his uncanny power as an artist grew quickly and was present in some form from the very begining. It is exceedingly hard to buy the common notion that this was his first comedy when it is so much better than "The Two Gentlemen of Verona" in nearly every way. The dialogue is fast paced and screamingly funny. The characters interesting if broad and there are some surprising touches that, aside from being interesting in and of themselves, point down the road to later, darker comedies. Chief among these is the amazing opening, perhaps still unequaled in all comedy for the level of grimness. These are the first words uttered in a play long seen as a kind of sitcom of Shakespeare's plays: "Proceed, Solinus, to procure my fall, and by the doom of death end woes and all." The speaker is Egeon, a merchant about to be put to death for simply coming from the wrong country. The whole first scene feels like a cloud is hanging over it and there is a sense of fear-infused urgency that catches the mind off guard and makes the joyous, lunatic story all the more welcome while at the same time coloring it with real drama, making it all the more exciting. To be sure, there is little real depth and much of the play is like a sitcom but only the best of sitcoms and perhaps "Monty Python" at their most absurd is a better comparison. The plot is well chosen (from the Roman comic dramatist Plautus) and well handled. For some reason the play is not well known even among the early comedies which is a shame. It is probably the best of them, even surpassing the wonderful "The Taming of the Shrew". Aside from being an easy read, keep in mind the play is good to perform as it holds up well and doesn't suffer from being tinkered with. I've seen one production that was mostly straightforward but did a few weird things that worked like magic. They would've sunk almost any other Shakespeare comedy. I must also mention the last moment between the two clowns. It is as heart-warming and humane as it is funny. The master is already present AND growing. Do yourself a favor and pick up this play, you'll laugh your head off!

I recently re-read THE COMEDY OF ERRORS prior to attending The Colorado Shakespeare Festival's performance of this farce-like play under the summer stars here in Boulder. Based on Menaechmi by Plautus, William Shakespeare (1564-1616) produced this romantic comedy between the years 1592-93 and published it in the First Folio in 1623. While on its surface this early play may seem superficial and frivolous when measured against KING LEAR or HAMLET, it is not without its own unique depths. It also shows that the Bard had a sense of humor. It tells the hilarious story of two, identical twin brothers (Antipholus of Syracuse and Antipholus of Ephesus) and their identical twin servants (both named Dromio), all of whom were separated at sea during their infancy until redisdovering each other through a series of madcap mix-ups, mayhem, and mistaken identities in the apparently insane town of Epheseus. Meanwhile, Egeon (the father of the Antipholus twins), has been granted a day to raise local ransom for illegally entering Ephesus. In that day, the separated twins are reunited, Antipholus of Ephesus pays his father's ransom, and Egeon discovers his long-lost wife (Aemilia) living in the local priory. In the end, THE COMEDY OF ERRORS is as much about the power of family as the search for completing oneself. It is a play that reminds me that it is perhaps better to re-read and understand Shakespeare than to devour one bestseller after the next.

G. Merritt

One of the problems that great artists present to us is where to begin in getting to know their works. Their masterworks are often so full of what they have spent a lifetime developing that most of it is lost on those who have not yet put in a significant amount of effort becoming familiar with that artist's style and means of expression. Yet, if one begins with their apprentice works one may become discouraged because they lack the miracles of the masterworks. So, where does one begin?

Shakespeare offers the reader an additional challenge of an English that is removed in style and idiom from us by 400 years. It is not an insurmountable challenge. In fact, it is quite easy to overcome with a bit of time reading it and getting into the flow. It just seems strange in the beginning, but it really does become easy to read once you spend some time with it. However, getting over that small hill has kept many from enjoying the glories of Shakespeare.

This play, "The Comedy of Errors", is clearly an early work. It has many virtues, but despite them it does not offer much of what we really value in Shakespeare. It is a very fine play and is constructed very well. It is a wonderful first work to read of Shakespeare because it is short and has a very simple plot. The new reader does not have to spend much effort contemplating characters or the immense subtlety of language of the great works. Its charms are direct and what it has to offer is pretty much on the surface of the words.

The plot is, like all farces, ridiculous. It involves twin brothers who are served by twin slaves. They are separated early in life and when the play opens one set does not know the other exists. One set (the Antipholus and Dromio from Syracuse) visits Ephesus where the other set (the Antipholus and Dromio of Ephesus) lives. The play involves people confusing the two sets to the bewilderment of those suffering from the confusion. It really is quite funny. Of course, eventually, all is resolved to everyone's delight.

This edition, like all of the individual editions Arden offers of these plays, has a wonderful opening essay that offers a great deal of background on the play including a discussion of its performance history, sources, and discussion of the play itself. The appendices in the back offer excerpts from the sources and some brief information on the Gray's Inn performance of 1594.

If you desire to study Shakespeare and are willing to spend time reading many of his plays, "The Comedy of Errors" is a good work to start with just to ease into the language and get a feel for some of the conventions of Elizabethan theater. Just don't stop here. Shakespeare has so much more to offer that you owe it to yourself to continue your exploration of this supreme artist.

This was my first L. L'Amour book and I loved it. It was relatively easy reading but very enjoyable. Mr. L'Amour is excellent at developing the characters and weaving them into the story. I had a hard time putting this book down at night before going to bed..
I have already purchased several more of his books and am planning on collecting the entire set.
You will definitely enjoy this book and this writer.

Comstock Lode is classic Louis L'amour. This book is extremely enjoyable and fast-paced. If you are just starting out on Louis, this book will not steer you wrong, it is a perfect example of his genius.

I just finished reading Comstock last week, when I happened to be up in the California gold country myself. I'm a garden writer, author of 5 published books, and I was in Placer County, speaking to the Auburn Garden Club. The town of Auburn, which sits in the middle of the gold rush's richest territory, is a neat place, one to visit if you get the chance. I noticed too that there is still a very busy mining supply store right on one of Auburn's main streets. There's still gold and silver being found up there!
But I digress: All of us who read Louis L'Amour's Westerns have probably noticed that while all of them are fun to read, some are certainly better than others. I thought that Comstock was darn good, and certainly one of the best of his books set in California. If you enjoy a fast-paced, action packed Western, I expect you'll like Comstock. I recommend it!

"Comstock Lode" is just fantastic! This book was written by the famous Western writer, Louis L'Amour. Louis L'Amour has written over a hundred books, including the famous Sackett novels. The setting of this story is in the mid-1800's, during the gold rush in America. The story is told in Virginia City, Nevada.

The main character is Val Trevallion, a young man of twenty-four with a harsh past. Both of his parents were killed when he was young and he has taken it upon himself to have revenge on the killers. He is a quiet man but very strong because of his work in mines. Though he has not had the best education, he is very smart. Grita Redaway is Val's friend from his past. Her parents were also killed by the same people who killed Val's parents. She is a very beautiful and an intelligent actress. She is independent though with a streak of stubbornness in her. Al Hesketh is the villain of the story. He is a cruel and wicked man, only thinking of himself and how he can become rich.

The story begins in Cornwall, England in the year 1859. Val is fourteen-years-old when his father and mother decide to move to America. His father wants to work his own mine in California. He saves enough money so they go to America by boat. When they reached Gunwalloe, the Trevallions decide to travel to California with another family, the Redaways. The Redaways have only one daughter, Grita, who is eight-years-old. A few days before they leave, Val's father goes to buy supplies a few miles away. Suddenly, drunken rustlers attack the wagons in which Val and Grita's mothers are in. The drifters kill the mothers then beat up Mr. Redaway. During the whole time, Val and Grita are hidden nearby; Val protecting Grita and shielding her from the sight. After they leave, killing Mr. Redaway, Val and Grita go find Mr. Trevallion. After the dead are buried, Mr. Trevallion, though heartbroken, decides to carry on to California with Val while Grita goes to live with her aunt. But on the way to California, Val's father is killed by the same men who had killed his mother. Val swears to have revenge on the murderers. Ten years go by, during which Val shoots two of the people who were involved in the murders. Val then realizes that he has wasted his life and decides to settle down and have his own mine in Virginia City, Nevada, where the Comstock Lode is. He gets good land and finds some silver in his mines. But trouble seems to follow him everywhere. He finds out that Grita is in big trouble, in which the remaining men who murdered his parents are involved.

Love this book, and is one of my favorite L'Amour books. Louis L'Amour is the type of writer that, whatever he writes, you'll know before-hand that you'll love them. "Comstock Lode" is no exception. Some other of my favorite L'Amour books are:

*North to the Rails*
*Sackett Series*
*Matagorda*
*Crossfire Trail*

...and this list can go on and on and on!

Louis L'Amour's Comstock Lode is a brilliant, fictional novel based on real events that will suck you in as soon as you start reading. I'm not one for westerns at ALL, but I was recommended this book and told myself, Why not? It sounds alright, nothing really better to read as of right now. I'll admit, the first few chapters started off a little dull, but then, you get deeper and deeper into the story and you can't put the book down. I recommend this book to anyone who likes adventure novels or Louis L'Amour in general.
Val Trevallion was a son of Tom Trevallion and his wife Mary, who lived in England until finding a large amount of gold and, moves to the States. While in Louisiana, Val's mother and the mother of another girl named Grita Redaway are brutally murdered by a group of shadowy characters, one of which Val will never forget the eyes of. Val and his father set out for the Wild West, but on the way there, his father gets murdered as well. A name on a gun gives Val a clue as to the identity of one man from the group of men that murdered his father and possibly his mother. Val goes to the Comstock where he is known as the toughest, most feared man around. While there, he will remeet Grita, a beautiful, budding actress and the memories come rushing back. His main mission: to kill those who killed his parents. But not everyone seems to be who they are, and Val has to come face-to-face with the man whose eyes haunted him years earlier in this edge-of-your-seat thriller.