United States Books

Dreams in the Golden Country / 0-590-02973-8

It seems I like all the Dear America books, and this one is no exception. Although I read them for myself, and these books are certainly entertaining and interesting for adults, I try to review them as a parent would, to allow the concerned parent to understand what their child is reading.

The Good: Although I was expecting something a little more along the lines of "The Jungle" and a little less along the lines of "Fiddler on the Roof", this book does manage to neatly encapsulate the life of an immigrant to America in the early 1900s. The author skims briefly over their stay at Ellis islands, the perfunctory and frightening medical exams, and the cramped apartment living that waits them in the new world. This is dealt with in a light vein, and the overall tone is never dim or depressing. The life of the family is never terribly hard - the mother starts a sewing business more to stay occupied than to bring in money, and the father is offered a position at the local university teaching violin. Because the "immigrant hardships" are toned down so much (slightly to my disappointment, but it is a children's book, after all), the conflict in the book comes from the social changes within the family - one daughter becomes involved in unions and suffrage activities, another daughter romances and marries a non-Jewish boy, the father slowly stops following the Orthodox manner of dress and grooming, to the mother's horror and consternation. As the family is absorbed into this new culture, they have to decide - reminiscent of Fiddler on the Roof - which traditions are sacrosanct and which traditions can be abandoned for the new ways.

The Bad: This is the stuff that isn't "bad", per se, but that parents might want to be aware of, depending on the age and maturity of the child. Although the theme of "immigrant hardships" is largely ignored, the book does feature two sudden deaths - one a newborn infant, and the second a worker who dies from unsafe working conditions involving a warehouse fire. The imagery is moved over as swiftly as possible, but the concept is disturbing and may be difficult for a young child. One of the daughters routinely sneaks out at night to see her non-Jewish boyfriend. There is never any indication that the young lovers are doing anything more than holding hands and kissing, though. Lastly, depending on how "orthodox" your religious beliefs are, the mother can come off as an unsympathetic character. She routinely and openly alienates several members of the family for not being religious enough. Although this issue is resolved by the end, the mother can come across as caring more about her religion than about her family, depending on your own point of view.

I love the Dear America series of books and think that they are a wonderful way of inculcating a love of history amongst younger readers [8-12 years old]. In "Dreams in the Golden Country", we are introduced to 12-year-old Zipporah Feldman, a Jewish immigrant in 1903 New York City. The story, written as usual in a series of diary entries, traces Zipporah's life in the city for about a year and a half - her family life, her problems and how she copes in an alien environment. It is a riveting and poignant tale.

At the end, there is a historical note on the persecution of Jews in Europe that caused large migrations overseas, especially to the US. There are also many historical photographs, documents, a Jewish recipe and song etc that enhance one's knowledge of the Jewish culture. All in all, highly recommended!

Bought this for my tween daughter. She really likes to read books with an historical perspective. Would recommend for ages 10-12.

Have you ever encountered a book for young readers so good that it gave you goose bumps? This is such a book.

Told through the viewpoint of a twelve-year-old Jewish immigrant from Russia living on the Lower East Side of New York City, we see the very real struggle of people who came to America to find a new life, but struggle over giving up the old. Despite the fact that this is a fictionalized diary, the author provides us with an intimate look into the sometimes painful personal experiences that make up our history as a whole.

No matter what your own family's history might be, we can learn from the experience of Lasky's incredible characters.

Dreams in the Golden Country: The Diary of Zipporah Feldman, a Jewish Immigrant Girl, New York City, 1903 (Dear America) is a book to be savored and cherished.

I thought the book was awsome. I couldn't put it down there was no part that was boring. I recccomend this book to every one. i read it so fast and i want to read it again

I bought this book as a required reading for school. It was very easy to read and covered many interesting topics. I would recommend this book to anyone that is interested in learning more about the urban environment.

In an age when architects and planners were spouting all kinds of brave-new-world nonsense (or mindlessly absorbing it, or even worse - building it), Jacobs burst onto the scene with an incredible dose of sanity mixed with common sense and wisdom, carefully observing the urban environment and drawing a host of remarkably sensible conclusions. For some reason we architects seem always at risk of believing our own nuttiest fantasies. Jacobs is a perennial corrective.

Still relevant, still useful....and still ignored by the common city engineer. Our city's planners need to re-read this sucker.

This is a book that relates to designers, and city planners as well as the "un-educated". Reading this book will certainly inform one on the purpose and importance of city planning.

This book will give you a reason to want to go visit the city, or to go out and get into the city you already live in. Her reference to the "ballet of the sidewalks" gives a whole new twist to what is going on in a busy downtown. City planners, take note!

An interesting book with some some amusing anecdotes. But generally, more hype than substance. She could have summarized the book in about 10 pages. Good for entertainment though.

Very helpful book on mortgages. Very well put together and an easy read. Great job Carolyn and thanks for the tips!

I am doing my research before buying a my first home, and found this to be one of the highest rated home buying books on Amazon, so decided to give it a shot. All I can say is wow!

Carolyn goes through every step of the mortgage process, describing what documents to request, how to tell if they are complete, and questions to ask. She tells you how to protect yourself by requesting written guarantees about closing costs, how to spot junk fees, and a slew of other great information.

Her advice about loan types is particularly timely given the financial mess in the world. She describes sub-prime loans, and the risks that are associated with them. The greed of the lenders, and the delusions of the borrowers is quite illuminating.

Carolyn also offers services to review your documents, and will answer questions through her website. I haven't taken advantage of either yet, but when the time comes I will.

I plan to re-read this book when I get closer to making a purchase, unless I luck into an honest mortgage professional immediately it will save me money, no doubts.

I highly recommend this book. Even if reading it only allows you to cross off one junk fee, it will have paid for itself many times over.

Can somebody please clone Ms. Warren? We can all benefit from her in-dept knowledge and experience of mortgage issues, not to mention making a perfect life-coach. Being that I'm a novice in the mortgage world, she has illuminated all the tips and tricks of securing the best mortgage for the money. This is fair-warning for people who don't buy this book before they take their first mortgage or even re-finance. You *WILL* be sorry!

Michelle Singletary recommended this book in the Washington Post. It's clearly written, full of very useful information, and fun to read. I only wish I'd had it before I signed the loan contract. But, no worries, an email to the author, a quick reply, and I received more valuable advice. Don't get a home loan without reading this book first.

I was a bit skeptical about this book but the reviews enticed me. The book did not disappoint. The author and the Barb's Captain, Eugene Fluckey may have written a somewhat self serving book, but it seems that he actually deserves credit for his superb job as skipper. He certainly deserves credit for writing an extremely entertaining book. It's a book that will awe you with Captain Flukey's crazy and bright ideas and choke you up with some of the painful experiences they encountered. Even my 26 year old son devoured the book and he's not a naval or WWII history buff.

After reading this outstanding WWII combat submarine book, I now have a new war hero, and he is the late Admiral Eugene B. Fluckey, recipient of four Navy Crosses and the Medal of Honor as the commanding officer of the "Barb" in five combat patrols in the Pacific. Even though this book was my first submarine book, I cannot imagine how any other book can be a better, more entertaining, and more informative historical account of WWII submarine tactics and leadership.

In the preface, Fluckey stated his objective: "...to provide the reader with the best and most complete account of every attack, whether against land or sea targets, as reported by those concerned...I have not fabricated this history. I was there." Using his recollections, official U.S. Navy records, and over ten years of personal research in Japan and China, I believe Fluckey achieved his objective in the pages of this exciting book.

Besides learning of the actions that produced the "Barb's" 29+ ships and 146,808 tons sunk (plus three shore gun bombardments, four rocket attacks (a true Fluckey innovation initiative), seventy-four vessels destroyed by gunfire, a train with sixteen cars destroyed by a saboteur party, and one vessel destroyed by ramming), the book was filled with many insights of Fluckey's character and leadership that led to those actions, and the unique lifestyle and challenges of submariners:

"It seemed as if we were loafing, but submariners on the bridge have an instinct for relaxed tautness. With binoculars sweeping sky, horizon, and water surface, they know the lives of their shipmates depend on their spotting the enemy first. It takes only one hole to sink a sub. Survivors are a rarity."

"`Captain, I'm scared. I've never had a night like this. It's horrible. Those depth charges pounding against the hull as if I was in a coffin. It's like thunder below! We'll be lost!'"

"The "Barb" was never in competition with anybody but herself. We were determined on each patrol to do better than the last one. And we should have, since we had more experience as tactics, weapons, targets, and the war moved on. Not only our own experience, but that of others, motivated us."

(To a new chief of the boat unsure of his readiness for that leadership position): "On responsibility, you'll grow with it and enjoy it as you shape things and people. On goofing - so you goof. Don't hide it or cover up. Do your best to correct your mistakes and don't be afraid to ask for help from anyone from top to bottom. You'll find people are complimented when you ask for help...the other chiefs understand that as chief of the boat you become the senior chief [senior enlisted sailor] on board. In submarines we hang our rates on the gangway when we come aboard. It's what you can do that counts with me."

"I had to get something off my chest about the unspoken decision after the previous night's combat as to whether to head for the survivors [of a sunk Japanese transport filled with Allied prisoners of war] or reattack the convoy. Having seen the piteous plight of the 14 survivors we rescued, I could only say that I would forgo the pleasure of an attack on a Japanese task force to rescue any one of them. There is little room for sentiment in submarine warfare, but the measure of saving one Allied life against sinking a Japanese ship is one that leaves no question, once experienced."

"...The [American air] strike force knew our locations. Should it become necessary to ditch some aircraft for mechanical failure or enemy action, the pilot would head for the nearest lifeguard submarine. The sub was required to stay on the surface as much as possible. Consequently, as soon as a plane disappeared, the "Barb" would surface, if submerged, to be seen by friends and to receive any distress messages."

"Lying in my bunk reading war patrol reports was my favorite pastime at sea, and it was educational. Life is not long enough to personally garner sufficient experience for anything. Without blood, sweat, tears, responsibility, or danger, one can absorb vicariously and harvest the experience of others. Otherwise, their history of errors is bound to be repeated."

"What was I most proud of as commanding officer of the submarine "Barb" during World War II? My answer is simply this. No one who ever served under my command was awarded the Purple Heart Medal for being wounded or killed, and all of us brought our "Barb" back safe and sound - ready, eager, and willing to fight again after unparalleled patrols, lauded by naval seniors and authors."

I highly recommend this great book to anyone interested in learning about WWII submarine warfare from someone who lived it, and helped revolutionize it's tactics, weapons, and strategic importance in today's modern warfare. For me, Fluckey will now be remembered along with other American military heroes like Patton, Puller, and MacArthur.

This book is an excellent first person view of submarine operations in the Pacific 1944-1945. The commander of the submarine "Barb" threw away the normal standard procedures and created a new series of operating methods that changed the nature of submarine warfare for the future.

Fluckey's memoire, "Thunger Below" , ranks with the best of the WW 2 submarine histories. I am thankful he was able to write such a stirring story even many years after the events. His action descriptions and hisrecounting of the actual dialogue among officers and crew during the actions makes for a truly memorable read. I recommend this book to anyone really into WW 2 history.

The story of the SS-220 Submarine BARB's WWII story as told by the Captain, Eugene 'LUCKEY' Fluckey. A wonderful story of one of the most successful WWII submarines in the US Navy.

This is current and up to date information on the rides at WDW. It is in depth descriptions for those who need to know every last little turn and drop on all the rides, not just the popular ones. Would definitely say everyone should have this whether it's your first or hundredth trip to Disney!!

My family is going to Disney next June. I wanted a book that would give me information on everything. Love this book.. it tells you what is a good time to go on a ride, tells you whether it is scary for pre-schoolers. It is an amazing book, plus has so many wonderful pictures.

This book would be a great read even if you don't have a trip to WDW coming up! I am a huge Disney fan and have been known to buy guidebooks just to read and keep myself updated on the changes and such. This book can truly stand alone and is so much more than a helpful planning guide! Little unknown facts and figures, interesting stories along with all of basic information that is essential in planning an enjoyable trip to WDW all in one neat little package! The pictures are incredible too! It does have a lot of information so order it well in advance of your trip! This is definitely one for the list of "must haves" if you are about to travel to WDW for your first time!

We have always used the Unofficial guide but discovered the Complete WDW just recently. This book has a myriad of awesome colorful pictures--here's what WDW looks like! The only drawback is that, unlike the Unofficial guide, this book doesn't ever criticize WDW or give actual reader input.

Bottom line: it's worth the money. WDW lovers will read and reread the book!

I purchased this book right before a fall trip to Disney World with my 3 teenagers, and it was the best thing I did. A lot of detailed information about restaurants and tips on where to get good snacks was right on target. We were able to find some wonderful out-of-the-way places to eat for a good value while in the parks that we may not have stumbled upon on our own. The book also recommends various attractions by placing a check mark next to them, which helps plan your day if you are trying to make the most of your time. Overall, this is an excellent book with exceptional insights.

I found this book to be so helpful in raising my grandson. It has been and is a refreshing way of dealing with childhood again.

It's about obedience, not about cooperation. It gives tips how to make kids obey your rules. The author is against spanking and yelling, but it's OK for she to use your authority over kids to force them to obey you She mostly recommends technics of punishments and rewards, although she mentioned such things like Natural Consequences, Anger Management, Active Listening, and such. The book is full of general words and phrases. It was not what I was searching for.

This book is wonderful. I have started recommending it to all of my friends. If you can read only one book on parenting, this is the one to read! When you read it you will learn about different parenting styles, their effectiveness or lack there of and a new way to create a happy loving and peaceful family life where you can get your children to cooperate and act as they should.

I am the mother of a 3 and 7 year old. My kids go to bed easily and on time, are polite and well behaved when outside of the house, but at home is another story. Overall my kids are pretty well behaved, but at home we have to ask them/tell them things multiple times until we ending up yelling at them, are plagued by emotional outbursts and temper tantrums, back talk, whining and have a hard time enforcing some key rules. Lately I have taken to watching those nanny shows to get tips on what to do. My kids are not at all like the kids in the shows but I had found a few tips that I have applied at home.

But when I read this book it was if I had an epiphany. This book was clearly written and easy to understand. It unravelled all of the mysteries of why my kids act the way they do and what to do differently to fix it. I learned that I was using at least two ineffective parenting styles and if I just adjusted what I was doing I would be much more effective. It gave tons of useful tips and approaches to use in all situations. The parenting style is kind, effective and helps your children grow and become self reliant to boot. I think it would work for all ages and the book addressed all ages needs and how to modify accordingly.

I have already started to see the effect in my kids behavior and it has even started to improve my marriage (partially thanks to the one chapter on the parental relationship). I can't wait to see where we are in a month or two, but I know the book has profoundly changed the way I parent and I have already seen some results and can't wait to see more!

Non-judgmental and very honest style of writing. The tools in the book brought immediate results.

I highly recommend this book. Very helpful, especially for those parents that fail to be consistent and "go with the flow", failing to create strong rules and a loving, solid discipline.
This books acts a self-confidence booster for parents, offers very empathetic advice when it comes to parental anger, and actually gives very practical tips and hints to deal with misbehavior.
I love the humor and the bright, positive thinking that fills up the book, and I really appreciate the fact that Pantley also addresses other side issues like marriage skills and parental self-esteem.
Overall a great book.

THE BOOK WAS RECEIVED IN EXCELLENT CONDITION AS STATED IN THE AD. THE BOOK WAS RECEIVED IN 7 DAYS WHICH WAS QUICKER THAN STATED.

Though the Dear America series of books [written in diary form] are works of historical fiction, the times they are set in are very real, and the way the series is written enables readers to gain insights into the lives of the young protagonists.

In "A Picture of Freedom", 12-year-old Clotee is a slave who lives on the Belmont Plantation in 1859 Virginia. She may be a slave with no personal freedom or rights, but Clotee has a secret - she is able to read and write, something she picked up by observing her mistress's son during his tutoring sessions. She writes in a secret diary which she keeps hidden for fear of punishment. When a new tutor arrives on the plantation, she is surprised to find him sympathetic to her cause [he is an abolitionist] and they work towards Clotee and her friends' freedom. The choices Clotee makes in this book attest to a truly remarkable character - fiercely determined and courageous.

There is a historical note at the end of the book, as well as historical photographs of slaves on plantations, photos of important leaders of the abolitionist movement, and many more. An inspiring read that i can't recommend highly enough.

I read portions of this book aloud to several people and with no exceptions grownups and children alike, it touched their very souls. I found it in an elementary school library but just had to have a copy of my own after I read it. It is a quick read as well as a must read. It will change your entire life view about the importance of reading and writing and learning. I can't say enough about this book. Read it. You will immediately see what I mean.

This is a wonderful, heartwarming story that is perfect for introducing the plight of slaves to children without frightening the children to death. Clotee, though a slave, retains power from her masters by learning to read and write and keeping a hidden diary of her observations. Though this is admittedly unrealistic (where is she getting all these writing materials), the power she retains in doing this keeps the situation from ever feeling overwhelming or helpless to the child reader.

"Clottee get me food!" Think if you were a house slave how you would feel like a piece of meat always being bossed around and made fun of. If you want to read a book about a slave girl this is the book for you.
A Picture of Freedom is a Dear America story, like you would have never thought. You might think she is always tired and sad. However she works day in and day out just to stay alive. This girl Clotee wants to be like others as free people not a as a slave. She wants freedom. Her friend Spicy and her aunt Tea respect her. Furthermore one day she thinks about running away. Then she thinks if she runs away and gets caught, she might be killed. If she stays here at the plantation her life will be rotting away and working for nothing for the rest of her life. So what would you do if you were a slave?

I could not exist without this product for reviewing old songs and artists

thanks

This edition lits the hits that most people forgot! I was looking for info on one it wonders and other fun trivia that we could enjoy at work. This book was it!

This is a great book for laying musical artists and song arguments to rest.It is also very informative and fun to read.

For some reason this book is very hard to get in the UK (a bit like a good train or bus service). Hence the need to purchase it from the international site of Amazon. Once obtained it is very useful.
It now also seems difficult to get the UK version, so good luck if you are hunting for either.

An excellent reference for any music enthusiast wishing to narrow his or her research. Well written, informative and accurate. Another typical Whitburn product worth every penny. The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits (Billboard Book of Top Forty Hits) 8th Edition

Supplement this one with his Billboard Hot 100 Charts (The Sixties) Billboard Hot 100 Charts - The Sixties. And lastly, while we're still in the 60's music Era, don't forget Whitburn's Bubbling Under The Billboard Hot 100, 1959-2004.Bubbling Under the Billboard Hot 100: 1959-2004: Joel Whitburn Presents

You can't go wrong here. The research he's done in these references to ensure accuracy and simplicity is incredible.

Lisa Williams story is incredible. I couldn't put the book down. She answered a lot of questions about what it's like on the other side. I highly recommend reading her book and watching her show.

I was pleased and entertained by the book and found it hard to put down. Finished the book in 2 days. There are not many books that I do that to. Lisa willaims has her act together and so un-like others in her field. She seems to be the real deal. The Bible even speaks of people like this. It does not state they are evil like some of the churches say they are and if someone that has past visits you, they are from the devil, it does not state that. There is good and bad in everything. As long as you have a relationship with your higher power, you are protected from evil, rather it be a book, physic, or the neighbor next door. This book is an eye opener and look forward to more of her writings.

I hesitated to buy yet another book written by the latest phsychic sensation, but after seeing the book getting great reviews on line I decided to give it a try and I am really glad I did! I couldn't put it down, and read it until I finished it! Lisa is so down to earth. Her life has been full of challenges that most would have crumbled under, but she continued on with the support of family and friends. I have seen her show and felt that she was very good and now feel even more so after reading her book. I highly recommend it to those who are open to the possibility that there is a higher power playing along with us all. xo

Love Lisa Williams and her style from seeing her on TV. This book mostly speaks of her life and how she found/developed her gifts. Whether you believe or not, you will enjoy this book as a light but interesting read.

Lisa Williams may be one of the most carismatic persons ever entering the TV media and one delights in her enchanting spontanousness and directness.

This gifted persona oozes a zest for life and and afterlife and makes seemingly incomprehensible phenomenon stand out as selfexplanatory and obvious.

Where ms Williams excells "live" in her TV series she fails in her literary ambitions. She simply does not manage to transcend her vivacious and intense personality in letters. The book gives little clue as to why she seemingly unwilling caved in in order to dedicate herself to her unique gift and we get to know a lot of trivia that seems to lack the sufficient inspiration to make us understand and truly believe in her chosen profession.

Do not misunderstand me: Ms Williams is simply outstanding and endearing on her show and gives hope and comfort to millions of people. This major task is simply not reflected in her written ouvre.

It is always tempting to compare Ms Willimas with Mr Van Praagh. Ms Williams, in my opinion, comes out spendidly in such as comparison, whereas mr Van Praagh is an able writer. Douglas Modig, Kristianstad, Sweden

This novel is truly amazing. The characters are well developed and the reader truly becomes attached to each one as they undergo their personal trials and tribulations in the days before Pearl Harbor. The work provides an excellent examination of the pre-war Army, a professional army preparing for war, inducting draftees, and operating under a proud system of tradition. The novel is full of great stories, advice, and sayings that are as relevant today as they were in 1941. Serving in Iraq while reading this novel, I was amazed at the very real connection I found with its soldiers; many things have not changed. Again, a great novel that I would recommend to anyone interested in war, the army, or the human condition.

I actually loved the melody of this book; but what it is really a good read for, is it's description of the attack on pearl harbor: This book captures the nuance of that particular moment when the Japanese planes appeared over the houses of Hawaii and the actors all knew while they were in the midst of it, that nothing would be the same again. I also liked the book for its description of Pruett's alcoholism - where Jones intervenes as the narrator/author and decides not to have his character "go alcoholics anonymous", thus guaranteeing certain death for his character - talk about deus ex machina in reverse!

I've read only a few war novels in my day and most of them are about, well, war. Which is interesting and all, but there's only so many ways you can depict war as horrifying and dehumanizing, and the soldiers involved as both heroic and all too human, the command structure as haphazard and detached. So I wasn't looking terribly forward to the prospect of diving into yet another massive examination of soldier life, and yet, that's not really what this is about. Jones' novel isn't so much about WWII as about sitting on the cusp of WWII, taking place in the months just before Pearl Harbor. Everyone is training for a war that may or may not happen, more or less hanging out in Hawaii, killing time in between drills with drinking or prostitutes, living the Army life as best they can. The story pivots around two characters, enlisted fellow Prewitt and staff sergeant Warden, following their separate stories as well where they intersect, and how they interact with everyone around them. Prewitt's tale is the slightly more visceral of the two, he's an excellent boxer that refuses to go out for the team, even though his superiors would very much like him to. They'd like him to so much that they'll go to nearly any lengths to break him, in order to make him fall in line and fit in, with the entire company eventually trying to wear him down. It's a rather frightening depiction at times of the military's somewhat necessary need for comformity taken to a new level, stamping down on anyone who dares to deviate. Meanwhile, Warden is attempting to hold the company together, and pursuing an affair with the wife of his superior officer. The stories of these men collide with everyone else they come into contact with, as Jones vividly relays military life on the base and in the town, detailing the trials and loves the men endure and force themselves into. It's a surprisingly angry book at times, the language coiled and sharp, etching out the duality of the longtimers who both love and hate the Army that nourishes and captures them. The salty language and somewhat brutal scenes are shocking not in how graphic they are but how frank and matter of factly they're presented. The prose achieves a strange jagged beauty in parts, as Jones dives right into the minds and emotions of the men involved. It becomes, as I said, not a book about war but about people at war. Pearl Harbor doesn't even occur until most of the book is over with. It's not the fastest paced book, the early chapters are necessary to set up everything that will come later but you are going to be about halfway through before all the setting up starts to gain momentum but after that it barely pauses. It's tragic and visceral and sort of beautiful in its own way, not because it glorifies but in the way it shows everything, the times when the system beats them down, the small moments of friendship, the way men you depend on with both look out for you and let you down, sometimes in the same moment. Surprisingly readable despite the length, it carries a fire and passion that most books can't even approach. Probably one of the best military books ever written that doesn't involve long descriptions about how a gun works.

In my humble uneducated opinion, this book is superior to the film as is usually the case. But the movie is STILL a classic, so don't get preturbed at me for sayin' that. It's by and large one'a my favorites, but you don't get the FULL impact of James Jones' story unless you read this book. And while it is LONG as hell, it's worth it. I'll be honest, I was so intimidated by it, I bought it and didn't touch it for a year; I'd never even ATTEMPTED a book that was 800-plus, but when I finally got up the courage, I was hooked by the third chapter. Of course, like most people my age, I had the preconceived notion of how I viewed the characters from the movie, but, trust me, that doesn't water down the incredible impact of the way the book unfolds; it clings more to tragedy and despair than the film, and truly encapsulates Jones' theory that the world stops to mourn no man. He puts you right there for everything; the corruption, the favoritism, the "treatment", the hookers, and many other controversial, politically incorrect topics that the mere mention in this review would be censored. Fifty some years after its first publication the book still feels scandalous. The stockade scenes for instance which were only briefly implied in the film are brutal to read.

But what's really REALLY great is the way Jones puts you in the mind of each and every character, even the ones we're supposed to despise, like Sgt. Galovitch or Dynamite Holmes, making it not so "black and white" like the film was (literally and figuratively). Everyone is a human being, whether in the corridors of power or in the messhall cleaning; there is no true villain; characters you latch on to will more than likely do something or say something to enrage you at least once or twice before the book is over; they're all flawed human beings confused and uncertain about their place in Uncle Sam's army. This book is a real, unflinching, highly critical and uncompromising view of the United States Army and Infantry told from the views of the young faceless men serving at the bottom end; accounts which aren't heard nearly enough.

But the most gut-wrenching part to me deals with a secondary character; the long drawn-out scene of Isaac Bloom considering his options before his tragic end. That scene brought real true-to-life tears into my eyes which hasn't been brought to me by a book in a long time. Anyone looking for a deep, involved, beautifully harsh an' thought-provoking read that shows you the pain and indifference prevalent in the life of the modern man, look no further.

From Here to Eternity is a singular reading experience: gritty, raucous, desperate, raw and, yet, ultimately sublime. James Jones fields a superb cast of characters with which relatively few novels can compete. More than once, it reminded me of Catch 22 (without the intended absurdity) - Pianosa set down in a peaceful Hawaii just prior to Pearl Harbor.

Distractingly, there are times when the author is guilty of pontification. There are stretches which seem entirely gratuitous. The two protagonists, Prewitt and Warden, elsewise dynamic, can wax numbingly philosophic. But, by the middle of the book I was captive to a steadily mounting anticipation, the culmination of which plays out true to form - recklessly, brutally as the soldiers of G Company ready themselves for war.

There is a quality of novel which can best be described by the wistfulness with which one completes it. I was sorry to see this one end. Despite the violence, hard living, bravado and despair, James Jones concludes with hope and endurance. Like Herman Wouk's Winds of War and War and Remembrance, From Here to Eternity is a classic among WWII literature. 5 stars.