United States Books

Excellent review of the Battle of the Bulge. Well documented with real accounts from soldiers who fought the battle. Truly tells the story and describes the utter confusion of each battle throughout the countryside and small cities between the German and the American armies.

I have read a number of accounts of the Battle of the Bulge and have walked / driven much of the ground in person. This was - as advertised - an excellent, detailed summary of the heroic efforts of the troops in place who provided a surprisingly strong defense that enabled other resources to be brought to bear and eventual Allied victory. It also clearly pointed out how much of an intelligence failure and surprise this was.I thorougly enjoyed reading this and would recommend it to anyone interested in the Bulge.

Having just returned from Belgium to study the Battle of the Bulge, I wish I had read this before going as I passed through this area by way of the Skyline Drive without realizing the fighting which took place there by the 28th Division. A great volume to add to my W.W.II collection.

Wonderfully written. Up close and personal, written from the individual soldier's perspective and covers a part of the Bulge that tends to be glossed over.

My father was a rifleman in G Co, 109th in the 28th during the Huertgen Forest and The Bulge. For years he had told me how thin the lines were, how they kept reporting the German movements, the confusion on the morning of the 16th and how our patrols had passed Germans patrols with neither side firing at each other in the weeks before. For years his story was not the one written in the history books. "To Save Bastogne" was the closest book I had read. Until now. While it doesn't discuss the 109th as much as I would like, it is far better than anything I've found. Before reading this book, you should be familiar with the broad outlines of the war in Europe, the situation in the fall of 1944 and the geography of the Ardennes region. You will not be disappointed.

I've just granted my eyes and heart a second opportunity to experience Alaska through the verse and images of John Pezzenti Jr. The verse conveys both the spiritual and emotional connection the author obviously has with Alaska. The images transport this viewer to a place and time that feature nature displaying a magnificence worthy of savoring. Alaska, the book, inspires me to contemplate another adventure here in the northern Eden we call Alaska. A place where I am invited to quest for the spirit of the natural world that John Pezzenti knows so well. Alaska, the book and Alaska, the place transend the ordinary with grandure and excitement. I recommend both to anyone who lusts for beyond the ordinary. John Toppenberg

After 40 some years of living Alaska, I am well aware of the difficulty and seeming impossibility of capturing the great land on film and with words. The true essense and spitituality of this vast offering often eludes our cameras and pens. John has nailed it. His enduring patience and impecable eye for the finest of nature glows from image to image, mushroom ice stands, an otter enjoying a meal, volcanic clouds balloning over stands of towering spruce, an eaglets first moment broken from the shell, in your face bears, all these images and much more inspire me to look harder, go further, and wait longer for more of Alaska than I have ever experienced. The photos are sparkled by John's unique style of writing. After recieving the book as a gift I spent long nights, reading and re-reading his tales of adventure with delight. My work takes me far from home and John's book gives me opportunity to share the true flavors of Alaska with those I meet on the trail. Thank you John for sharing your God given talents, I so look forward to the next book.

There are a great many picture books on Alaska, some which contain exceptional photgraphic elements. There are a great many journalistic books on Alaska, some which are so well written the reader is taken with and to The Great Land. John Pezzenti's book epitomizes the best of both.

Like Alaska, this book is greater than it's physical boundaries. It evokes the senses and the emotions. This is one photo book that is a must read!

Great Book! I would recommend to anybody interested in the beauty of our 49th state. This book captures the wild beauty and grandeur of the last frontier. Buy this book, if you can!

Once you have met John Pezzenti, you will understand that this artist and his incredible photographs are one entity. John's "ALASKA..." will take you on an incredible journey through the heart of the Alaskan wilderness, into the soul of an unforgettable man.

Five years ago, I walked into a conference room at the World Trade Center in Manhattan. A man stood beside a display of exquisitely breathtaking photographs, protecting them like an anxious parent; listening to every word, every comment, as if there might be some question about the magnificence of his work. That enigma was John Pezzenti, Jr. Those privileged to know him, have experienced the complexities of the man: Passionate, sensitive, wild as Alaska, free as the wind and sometimes, as immovable as the mountains. His life and his photographs have made an indelible impression.

Language seems a truly inadequate means of conveying the experience of John's "ALASKA" book. The photographs seem to have a life of their own. Speaking directly to the heart and soul, they give a glimpse into the spirit of the man who created them. This is a soul that seems to dance somewhere between heaven and earth. A soul that has borne burdens that few of us could shoulder, but one that has known transcendent heights that few will ever reach.

With each page, John's photographs and stories allow us to share his incredible gift, and to see places on this earth that seem closer to heaven. John's spirit is as wild and free as the Alaskan wilderness. Nature seems to recognize a kindred spirit. You will feel certain that he has been granted special permission to view the sacred, and that at times, nature must say "wait, keep that until John gets here." But such honors are not bestowed without tremendous tests of courage and endurance, endless patience, and unquestioning faith. No work of this magnitude is brought to fruition without great sacrifices, and John has made more than his share.

John has the unique talent of capturing the essence of the moment - then combining it with a fragment of his own soul - the result is this spectacular gift he has given to the world. No one can experience "ALASKA: A Photographic Journey..." and not be deeply moved. The superb imagery and heart warming words speak to everyone in a unique way. It will draw you in, touching your heart and soul each time you open its pages to relive the journey. Again and again it will surprise you, revealing something new with each reading.

Thank you, John for sharing your vision. Your book is dearly treasured, and keeps Alaska close to my heart until I return. God Bless, John. We await your next creation.

I have been doing a self-study on investing topics this year and previously read several books on indexing by Jack Bogle [my hero, and an erudite writer], and Morningstar's Christine Benz [Clear and concise], but I think this is my favorite. Ferri is laser sharp in explaining investing concepts, and reads like you are learning one-on-one from an excellent business school professor. I bought this book because I had already read his also excellent book on asset allocation. This would be a perfect book if it was better edited. The text and content is fine but there are typos, repeated words, etc. Ferri's work deserves better, but I still very highly recommend the book.

I have taken advantage of the latest market volatility to confirm my long-term financial strategy. I ordered several books from Amazon on asset allocation and using low-cost index funds or ETFs for investment.

Rick Ferri's books (I also ordered his new ETF book) are well-researched, complete guides to sensible, long-term investing. He avoids the fads, and provides information in clear, understandable terms without all of the emotional "hype" present in many books about the capital markets.

In my opinion, Mr. Ferri's prior books (and the articles he has published in journals for financial professionals) have made me a better investor.

I highly recommend All About Index Funds.

This book does a good job of explaning the concept and history of index funds as well as the emerging presence of EFT's

I liked John Bogle's 1994 book on mutual funds better, but his book touched on facets Mr. Bogle's book did not. Of course that book was copyright 1994 IIRC.

I learned about indexing and the various indicies they emulate as well as the advantages and pitfalls of EFT's

A worth while read.

Members of AAII [...] have access to the 2007 EFT review which is excellent at analyzing the catagories and expenses of the various EFT's.

I'm a total noob to the market and investing but this book explained so much. I think its a must read for anyone looking into investing for their future and have no idea where to start.

I value Richard Ferri's books and this one is no exception. While the writing is easy to grasp, it is most complete. The book covers just about everything you need to know to master investing in index funds or ETFs.

Although the book is not about allocation (Ferri has a great book on that subject), it does discuss it. He shows how to actually cut risk by using a more aggressive approach.

I found the history of index funds most interesting. But I also appreciated the discussion of tax advantage in indexing, the different benchmarks, bonds and commodities.

This book can make you money if you read it, study it and apply it to your own investing. The more you know about and understand index funds and their close kin, ETFs, the better able you will be to profit by using them.

Highly recommended.

Thirteen-year-old Mary Chilton has lived in Leyden, Holland almost her entire life; she was not yet three years old when her family fled England in search of religious freedom. But neither England nor Holland feels like her real home to Mary. She has always longed for a place to truly belong. When her parents decide to join other English Separatists living in Holland who are planning to settle in the New World, she feels a mixture of sorrow at leaving behind friends, neighbors, and her three adults sisters, and joy at the thought that she might finally find a place to call home. But the sea voyage on the Mayflower is long and dangerous, filled with storms and sickness, and the difficulties do not end when they finally reach the New World.

Wendy Lawton has brought to life the story of Mary Chilton, a real girl who was a passenger on the Mayflower in 1620. I really enjoyed this book, and I highly recommend it to readers who enjoy historical fiction, particularly those who have a special interest in the Pilgrims or Colonial America.

Wendy Lawton transports us back to the voyage of the Mayflower through the eyes of young Mary Chilton. Her experiences and those of her family give us a first hand look at the trials and obstacles that had to be overcome for them to reach this country. Not usually a reader of historical fiction, I was captivated by the well-written and accurate story of the Chilton family. Wendy Lawton had done her homework! Her extensive research not only informs the reader but educates the reader about his heritage in a fast-paced and easily followed style. Definitely a good read for old and young!

I was hooked from the first page. These books are a joy to read. They keep you interested and inspired. I think every young person should read at least one in this series, when they read one they will want to read more. I plan to pass my copies to all my friends.

"The last time Mary saw her English home she stood tiptoe on a wooden crate so she could peer over the salty-tasting rail. ...The stone walls and arched bridges guarding the town of Sandwich eventually faded into the shimmer of water as the flap, flap, flap of sails being unfurled signaled that she was headed into the unknown."

Wendy Lawton is fast becoming a favorite author due to her exquisite storytelling skills. Through the eyes of thirteen-year-old Mary Chilton, we experience the struggles and triumphs of the Separatists (early Pilgrims) in ALMOST HOME, the third tale in the "Daughters of the Faith" series published by Moody. Lawton expertly handles historical details with insight and sensitivity, such as how the Church of England, "though still called a church...was not a place where people often met Christ or deepened their faith." And later, when the Mayflower lands at Plymouth and the newcomers fear the natives, Mary and her friends conclude, "Some of the stories of savagery may be true, just as they are for our people. Other parts of the stories may arise from lack of understanding...who is to say that God, if we are indeed following His leading in coming here, is not, even now, working in the hearts of some of these who look like savages to us?" This sets the stage for Samoset and Squanto, Native Americans who later assist the settlers. This type of careful thoughtfulness flows just under the surface of this well-written account.

Lesser known facts appear as well, such as the travelers starting their voyage with two ships, but serious leakage problems on the Speedwell force all 102 passengers onto the Mayflower. We also catch a glimpse of the conflict between travelers on board, widely divided by their beliefs--the religious Separatists and the non-believing Strangers.

This book is excellent for discussion about religious freedom, learning about the sacrifices and lives of the early settlers, studying geography (the route of the settlers), and discovering turns of phrases unique to that time period (daydreaming = "woolgathering"). Lawton includes an epilogue and interesting glossary of words. The cover is beautiful full-color, and makes a delightful gift for yourself and/or those you love. In the end, Mary Chilton discovers that "home" is not a place after all. Read ALMOST HOME to find out what it is. Get this book!

Kimn Swenson Gollnick ...

This is the second book by Wendy Lawton that I have read with my classroom in mind. It is a great read for both the young and the vast majority of us older adults. Almost Home is the story of May Chilton and her wondrous voyage to America on the Mayflower! Well written with just enough dialogue to make the characters come alive, the book is not overly "wordy" for children. The plot is great and the theme warm...this tale definitely keeps the audience captive. As with many other books by Lawton, this too has a delightful moral. The greatest part of this well researched book is that it is biographical and thus opens a dialogue between adults and precocious children. Not only about the Mayflower and the founding of america but also family value, I recommend this book for both the night stand and also the classroom.
Way to go Wendy!

Mankind has insufficient understanding of what womankind has brought to the table.

Unfortunately, American culture has too often not given women the credit and reward they deserve. Monahan and Neidel-Greenlee have created an expansive chronicle of nurse (primarily women) contributions throughout the WW II fields of combat. While I do have some criticisms of the writing style and the authors' focus priorities and interpretations, my critiques are immaterial compared to the importance of more people understanding the outlines and frameworks of the massive, intelligent, and sacrificial efforts these women freely gave.

This book should be required reading for all nursing students and nurses who think they have it bad. The nurses of WWII did so much with so little for so many and they are an inspiration to all of us in the nursing profession. They showed compassion, bravery, ingenuity, and loyalty to their patients, co-workers, and even German POWs. The many details about battles, troop movements, weather, and terrain only make them more wonderful in my eyes!

And If I Perish: Frontline U.S. Army Nurses in World War II Wow! This is, hands down, one of the best books I have read about World War II. Not only did it give the true story of the nurses on the front lines, but wove the chronology of the war, starting in North Africa, up to the end of the war. You don't have to be a nurse to be fascinated by this outstanding history of the the war.

"And If I Perish" is a wonderful book! I was enthralled by the courage of these unsung heroines and had to put the book down several times when my eyes misted over & my throat became choked up.

I was surprised to read that Army Nurses jumped in the water & went ashore alongside the troops during the North Africa landings. They were under fire & died at Anzio as the field hospital was within range of German guns. Clearly-marked hospital ships were bombed in the Mediterranean and nurses survived, not one, but two such sinkings. I was shocked that the story of these front-line nurses was suppressed for so long because the government feared a "backlash" from the public.

For too long the sacrifices of this generation of brave women have been unpublished. Of the dozens of books I have read on World War II, there has been hardly a mention of the role women played except on the home front.

This book should be placed in every school library -- not only to keep the memory of the actions of these Army Nurses alive, but to provide role models for the future.

Attention! women directors & producers: There needs to be a movie about these nurses.

My mother was a nurse in the 95th Evacuation Hospital, one of the units featured in this book. Though she was not interviewed, she's the nurse on the left in the photo of two nurses and a doctor in the OR. They're wearing scrubs and she's got a mask on, but it's her! I thought I knew all of her stories inside and out, but reading this book I realized how humble she was in the telling. When I read about the hospital ship being bombed and the constant shelling at Anzio, the fact that she survived amazed me. I cried when I read about the 95th's tour of duty at Dachau Concentration Camp because I couldn't -- and still can't imagine -- what it must have been like. In recent years, the focus on WWII nurses' experiences has sharpened. My mother has been interviewed for newspaper articles and the archives in D.C. I don't think women have been given nearly enough credit for service in our nations' wars, but it's about time. This book could have been called Band of Sisters. To this day, my mother is uncomfortable with the label "hero," but she's mine. To "Smitty," "VJ," "Slem," and "Wells," I salute you.

As a travelogue, Welcome to the USA is pretty good, Kalpanik certainly made me think about wanting to go to San Diego, Seattle and Nashville.

as a character. Kalpanik seems simultaneously incredibly thoughtful and serious and yet someone who has a carefree attitude towards life, someone who handle life as it happens!

It's a light reading, and yet thoughtful; funny yet serious; conversational yet literary!

This book takes many life concepts expressed in different forms and combine them in a mishmash. He structures the 12 different personal essays, each highlighting a particular transitional period in his life or a specific experience in to a beautiful collage of experiences in this book very successfully. What a funny memoir!

Kalpanik S. is a fine writer with a lot to say about a lot of things and a unique way of making you laugh! I highly recommend her book.

This is the story of a brilliant young man who seems to be always on the move, moving from one interesting city to the other.

At the beginning, the author leaves New Delhi for US, where he is awarded a fellowship to study at University of California, but he gets caught into culture shock, as well as an internal dilemma, seeking a deeper meaning of life. While he is most vulnerable, he manages to fall in love with one his student but is unable to express his feelings.

Then he seems to have gone through the roller coaster ride of the technology industry emerging as a winner, a successful technologist leading a group of innovators.

We end in beautiful San Diego, with a moving story about how the author and his family face the Inferno, the great wildfires of 2007.

I don't believe anyone has experienced living unless they have ventured around like the author has. It is in his narratives, his reaction to the challenges he faces and his observations of people and culture of various places that he truly shines.

It is my top read of the year!

Whether you ever wondered about meaning of it all, or you want to read something light amusing, or want to see places like Seattle, San Diego, and Nashville from the eyes of the writer, or vicariously live the life of a student at University of California, this book is for you!

This book combines elements from good humor, a memoir, a scenic travelogue, a touching love story, science fiction and philosophy.

The author, pretends to be an Artificial Imagination computer program simulating human creativity, describes the life/career journey of a modern nomad through the Hi Tech world of California and Washington (Settle). The book is clever, witty and obviously written by someone very intelligent but still manages to be very down to earth and funny! it's light reading, the author has a conversational style, you feel as if you are reading a letter from a close friend!!

ReKalpanik S. takes us through his arrival in USA as a student and subsequent travel to several places - San Francisco, Seattle, Nashville, and San Diego. In each places, he focuses on similar aspect of his life as a technologist and an immigrant - acceptance by local people, standing out as a ethnic minority and foreign born, life as a technology execuitve and family life. In addition, he covers local food, people, culture and sources of enjoyment, joy, and finally, and his quest for love and balance.


He adds so much meaning, passion and humor, he is so open with the readers that I felt like I was reading a private letter that someone would write only to their best friends.

The writing is refreshingly unexpected, humorous and meaningful. Great read!!

Robert Johnson has been a great teacher, mentor, and inspiration for many in the exploration of the inner world, and ultimately the discovery for what he has known as 'the golden world'.It is a homecoming and a place of bliss and repose. I had the privilege to study and share time with Robert in the U.S. and India. He provided for me a taste of that world and a living inspiration in the very real possibility of developing a sacred and blissful rapport between the inner and outer worlds we inhabit. I was delighted to find in this book my own tiny contribution in suggesting to Robert that he take a polaroid camera to India. The realm of Enlightenment is the destiny of all humanity, and here is the humble story of one man who is pointing for us the way to follow... if we are willing to find the courage to do so.

Sometimes I think if I was being scurried away to a desert island I would only bring Robert Johnson, Robert Bly, and James Hollis books because these three are such amazing writers and thinkers. This autobiography is so heartfelt and real and just a total gem all around, Don't miss it- or any of his other books, especially He, She, We, and Ecstacy.

I learned a great deal from this book. It gave me a basic understanding of Jungian analysis, in particular how dreams are used to tap into the sub-conscious mind and help identify one's personal "destiny" or "thread" as Johnson describes it. I appreciated his several visions of the "Golden World" and how he sought, throughout his life, to re-experience this heightened state of awareness. He also describes how we project our desires onto others in order to experience this sense of connection. I loved Mr. Johnson's experiences in India, and the way he immersed himself in the culture and learned so much about their distinct way of viewing the world. I hope to read another of his books.

Beginning in his youth, Robert Johnson shares a frank history of his spiritual development through his entire life, through the lens of a master of Jungian theories and concepts. He describes his early experiences and wounding, his early adult years following the "slender threads" that guide him to finding God's will for him. He describes his sensitive personality type and its close connection to a world both present and just beyond our grasp. His life demonstrates a beautiful rendition of following the spiritual path and its relationship to development from a Jungian perspective. He is as humble and unassuming in his writing as I suspect he was in life. This biography is a beautiful portait of a man's life lived well in the pursuit of following God's will. It demonstrates the unique understanding that can be developed by pursuing life from a Jungian perspective spiritually. I would recommend this book to people who have some sense of the breadth of Jungian psychology and some sense of their own "type", as well as some general concept of type dynamics and the concept of the shadow or inferior function. It is thoroughly engrossing and enjoyable. I would recommend it especially to middle to older age adults, seminarians, or others pursuing their personal spiritual development.

When I'm asked for the most influential books in my life, this is the one that tops my list. As someone who reads 50-200 books a year, that's a big list. I've given it as gifts, quoted it in sermons, referred to it as a spiritual counselor, used it for my own growth and have come back to it over and over since it was first published. I happened upon these reviews while ordering Johnson's latest CD, Golden World, which I'm thrilled to know has been produced. I've read all his books and agree with other reviewers that this is the best, or at any rate, the one that has provided a helpful road map for my life and experiences, and hence, for the many whom I also touch. For those of us, and there are numerous souls, who have had extraordinary tastes of the Golden World (and its inhabitants), "balancing heaven and earth" for the rest of one's life is a daily task; sometimes grace, often a struggle. His words in this memoir (my paraphrase): "there have always been those whose job it is to tend the borders between the worlds" gave me context when I first needed it. His book "We," while it didn't save me from romantic errors (and he writes: "the genie"--e.g. romantic love--"can't be put back in the bottle,") did, again, provide a context for healing and future lessons ("the depression is always in direct proportion to the inflation that preceded it.)His experiences with Krishnamurthi, recounted in this book, gave me important lessons as a teacher, e.g."don't try to give an old man's wisdom to a young person," and his lessons on sainthood have been extremely important as well. If you are living the inner journey, have any sort of spiritual life, and especially, if like Parsifal, Johnson's oft-referred to mythic model, have suffered the agony and the ecstasy of a visit to the Grail Castle and then "lost" it, this book is for you.

Ten years after the enactment of the Prohibition law, there occurred in the Narragansett Bay an incident that contributed to its repeal. The attack by a Coast Guard cutter of a legendary rum-running fishing boat called the Black Duck, which killed most of its crew. No one knows the details of that attack, but Janet Taylor Lisle draws upon the legend to present a gripping and plausible speculation.
The story is told in the present day to a young student journalist by an old man who was himself a boy when the events took place in the Summer of 1929, and who was intimately involved with the event. It is a story of betrayal, broken friendships, dangerous loyalties and ethical dilemmas. As one of the characters, the beautiful and adventurous daughter of the Chief of Police, says, "Sometimes I stop and wonder what's right ... And there isn't any answer, so I just go along. I guess, in the end, if you have to make a choice, you do what's best for the people you love." There is a moral ambiguity to the story that sets it apart from much of the literature of the genre and is, perhaps, one of its greatest strengths.
Yes, the Black Duck's crew was breaking the law, but on the North coasts bordering Canada, from Minnesota to Rhode Island, it was an accepted and often lauded activity. Most everybody in the small border towns profited from it and the police mostly looked the other way.
The old man, Reuben Hart who, as a boy, found a dead body washed up on the shore where he was looking for lobster pots with his best friend Jeddy.
The discovery of the well dressed body signaled a sea-change in the business of smuggling liquor, the arrival of the big gangs from Boston and New York and the end of the trade as a purely local enterprise. The inhabitants of the town were to be squeezed between the two rival mobs and the Coast Guard.
Sailing blithely between these forces was the Black Duck which, having been fitted with two World War One aircraft engines, escaped all dangers until that last fateful night when it met its doom.
The award winning author crafts a thrilling mystery that also deals with some important ethical issues in an historical context that is vividly and accurately presented. The characters are well developed and distinct and the action, told as two stories, one in the present and one in the 1920's, is compelling. The writing is vivid and compact. Taylor is a master of suspense. We know from the start what happened to the Black Duck; the mystery we unravel is how it happened and who was responsible.
Highly recommended.

Dead Bodies washing up on the beach, kidknapping, rummrunning, this book never has a dull moment! David, a freshamn in highschool, wants to be a writer. But, his dad wants him to work for the family landscape business. However, David is determined to get a job with the newspaper, so he goes to Ruben Hart. Ruben knows a thing or two about the "Black Duck," and this book is the spine-chilling interview between Ruben and David.

It all started when Jeddy McKenzie, Ruben's best friend, and Ruben are walking on a beach one day, and come upon a dead man's body. It was washed up, and there is a bullet hole in the man's neck. The boys run home, and call the shady deputy, because Jeddy's dad, the cheif of their small town's police force, is out of town. It takes awhile for Charlie to get to the scene, but when he does, the body is gone. They realize they are dealing with some serious men, because there are no marks on the sand, so somebody flew in, landed on the water, got the body, and flew out.

Ruben and Jeddy think it is rumrunners. They know its going on in their town, and the man had a siut and expensive watch on. However, nobody knows Ruben took the man's pipe and tobacco pouch out of the man's pocket...until later. Then one night, Ruben sneaks down to a harbor, and secretly watches an unload take place. It also happens to be off the famous "Black Duck," the fastest and sneakiest smuggling speedboat in the news. Outruns and outwits every coast guard cuttter everytime. David wants to tell Jeddy, but he just can't, and he knows that Jeddy would tell his dad, because Jeddy wants to be a cop, and he tells his dad everything, even thpugh Ruben doesn't think he should.

Thus, begins the seperation of Ruben and Jeddy. Tah major straw that breaks their friendship's back is when they go to see an old man named Tom Morrison, and ask him what he knows about whats been going on. He tells them of the airplane that came in that day, and that the dead man's name was Tony Mordello, a rich smuggler. He also said that all the men were looking for the ticket. Tony had paid for a whole shipment of liquor worth half a million dollars, and no one was ther to claim it. On the way home Jeddy said he had to tell his dad all that, and Ruben saud that he shouldn't. It put them in a huge fight, and from then on, Ruben and Jeddy are seperated. When Ruben went home that night he looked deeper into the tobacco pouch, and pulled out a rolled up half fifty dollar bill. He stashed it in his math book to flatten out. He though nothing of it until he talked to Billy.

Billy is the skipper of the "Black Duck," and he is into Marina McKenzie, Jeddy's older sister, and so is Ruben. Ruben meets him one time when visiting Tom, and Billy pulls him aside and says that all of the mobs are now after him because they heard he has the ticket. Billy says they are willing to kill for it. Ruben is still confused, and asked what exactly the ticket it. Billy tells him that this shipment is settled with a torn fifty dollar bill. Ruben s shocked, but keeps his cool and denies it. It is then that he and Marina become very close.

Marina keeps teling Ruben to be careful, and to wattch his bask, but he ignores her, and one night he gets kidknapped. He begins to realize how serious things really are. Thankfully, Marina has been watching him, and Billy and her, and a whole group rescue him. Later he realizes that his rescuers are the crew of the "Black Duck." One day at school, Ruben drops the bill out of his math book, and Jeddy gives it back to him. Now Jeddy kows.

In return for his saving, Billy asks Ruben to help on a smuggle job one night. But things go wrong, and the police are involved-on the wrong side of the law. When unexpected machine gun fire opens on the crew, and Ruben on board-what really happens. Did somebody tip off the cutter, is Mr. Mckenzie also involved bootlegging, and will the "Black Duck" escape this time, plus what ever happens to the beautiful Marina...Read "Black Duck" by Janet Taylor Lisle to find out.

This is a good book. It is an easy read, and although it rotated from being in modern day to present day, it is very easy to follow. It is a really good book, and I reccomend it to people who want a little history, but lots of action, and a little bit of love, in a novel. There are really no boring spots, and it all leads up the the dramatic ending. I liked this book a lot, amd the characters are easy to distinguish. The plot is good; it is well worth it.

Derek Fox

My 13yr old son was like "what is this" when he found this book I had purchased for him. Hours later he was still absorbed. He said it was a great read and very interesting.

Historical fiction either works really well, or it doesn't work at all. Those YA historical fiction novels that deftly capture the distinct essence of a time period and place so different from our own that you can hear the unique cadences in speech patterns and visualize details not even mentioned in the text, those novels are to be treasured and savored more than once because they offer not only a well-told tale, by delicious tastes of bygone eras. Recent novels like AL CAPONE DOES MY SHIRTS and OCTAVIAN NOTHING accomplish these goals heroically; you feel as if you are living in the times and that is part of the emotional journey that we love. YA historical fiction that fails is highly awkward, illogical, anachronistic, and MADDENING. We argue with ourselves about why the author couldn't get it right! The guilty (or at least the current crop) shall remain nameless...

Which leads us to Janet Taylor Lisle's latest. BLACK DUCK is (to maintain the metaphor) an odd bird; it captures that time of the late 1920s nicely, but focuses on perhaps the most unusual of young adult subjects: rumrunning. Told primarily in flashback, BLACK DUCK follows Ruben Hart, a fourteen-year-old from Rhode Island who finds himself (as does most of the rest of the town) involved either directly or peripherally with breaking the law (it is Prohibition, after all). This era is brought to life expertly by Lisle's correct decision to have the story told through a first-person point-of-view. That choice allows her to capture the language, mannerisms and trends of the time quite accurately. Building slowly, she offers plenty of historic detail without the weight of seeming to force the historical information on us (like QUAKE!: DISASTER IN SAN FRANCISCO, 1906 does).

I was also taken with Lisle's characterizations, particularly those of the several characters who made unexpected, yet by-all-means organic choices -- always a joy for an English teacher to read -- that took the plot into unexpected, yet organic places.

Though the historical nature of the book is, as far as I can tell, relatively accurate, it is an incredibly bold move on Lisle's part to make practically all of the characters law-breakers (yes, even many of the kids)! On top of that, the reader and a majority of the characters don't want [SPOILER NOTICE] the legal authority -- in this case, the Coast Guard -- to capture the rumrunners aboard the Black Duck. WOW! And it works... beautifully. To take a questionable subject for young adults and approach it in a highly questionable way, and succeed (!!!) deserves real kudos from YA fans.

As an English teacher, this is a great piece for discussion and analysis -- in part for the above-mentioned reasons, but also for the dramatic structure in which the flashbacks are interrupted by the present and newspaper stories of dates in-between.

So, in the categorization of YA historical fiction that soars and those that sink, this rumrunning ship, heavy with cargo, is definitely buoyant.

Black Duck is a great piece of historical fiction. It tells the story of the rumrunners off the coast of Rhode Island. Because of the mystery running through it, this book will keep you reading for more to find a surprise at the end. There is a couple of "bad" words in the book, however, I recommend it for 6th through 12th graders, boys and girls.

This is a good visual book on the life of Johnny Cash - it is indeed a collectors item.

Bill Miller, who put together this book about The Man In Black from his own personal collection of Johnny and June Carter Cash memorabilia, knew him well, loved him and was loved by him for many years. The love that Bill Miller had for Johnny Cash is apparent on each and every page from the International Fan Club button with June's autograph to the last lyrics Johnny ever wrote. There were times when I laughed out loud.. and there were times when I had to hold the book upright to keep from staining it with my tears.

An amazing book about an amazing man compiled by a friend of Johnny Cash.. What more could you ask for (except for it to go on for many more pages)!

FOR THOSE OF US WHO FOLLOWED JOHNNY CASH FROM ALMOST DAY ONE, THIS IS POSSIBLY THE MOST PERSONAL AND MOST FULFILLING BOOK EVER DONE ABOUT HIS LIFE. BILL MILLER, A CLOSE FRIEND OF JOHNNY'S SINCE CHILDHOOD, HAS PUT TOGETHER A SCRAPBOOK.COLLAGE OF THE VERY BEST OF JOHNNY'S LOVING AND CARING PERSONALITY. IT'S LIKE GOING BACK IN MY OWN CHILDHOOD, TO THE FIRST TIME I HEARD THE GREAT MAN SING. THAT VOICE, IT WAS LIKE NOTHING WE'D EVER HEARD BEFORE. LATER, THANKS TO MY UNCLE PLAYING ON VENUE'S WITH JOHNNY, I ALSO GOT TO MEET HIM, AND ALWAYS HE WAS KIND, CONSIDERATE AND TO A YOUNG PERSON, OVERWHELMING.

BILL SENT MY WIFE AND I A COPY AND IT'S JUST A TREASURE. EVEN IF YOU BECAME A FAN LATER ON, THIS IS A BOOK THAT GOES BEYOND ALL THE OTHERS. IT'S LIKE JOHNNY HIMSELF LEFT YOU SOME OF HIS PERSONAL BELONGINGS AND GAVE YOU A GOING AWAY PRESENT. WE LOVE THIS BOOK AND TREASURE IT AND THANK BILL MILLER, HIMSELF AN OBVIOUSLY KIND AND LOVING MAN. BUY IT, YOU WON'T BE SORRY AND 25 YEARS FROM NOW THIS ONE BOOK WILL BE THE ONE EVERYONE TRIES TO FIND. IT'S SO GREAT!

I just loved this scrapbook-style memoir by someone who was probably Cash's biggest fan. The photos and the stories were just wonderful and the layout was fantastic.

Bill Miller is an amazing man. He and Johnny Cash were friends for many years. They shared a love of collectibles.

This book shares some very rare memorbilia from Johnny and June's lives. Bill Miller has more CASH memorbilia than most anyone I have ever met. I am so pleased that he is sharing all of those treasures. They should be shared.

One thing you should know...Bill Miller is donating ALL monies, from the sale of this book, to the SOS Children's Village. That really speaks volumes.

God Bless Bill Miller. For his dedication to preserving the memories, for his ongoing support of Johnny Cash fans at his website (http://www.johnnycash.com), for his vision to help those SOS children, and for ALWAYS being a stand up guy. Johnny always told me that Bill was a good man. And he was always right. :)

Kelly Hancock
Hendersonville, Tennessee

This is small format book! Simply put, this is not a then and now picture book considering that photos were taken at various distances from different angles. For those who love Chicago, an outstanding book is "Chicago at the Turn of the Century in Photographs", A large format book with great clear photos!

I just received this book as a gift from a friend who has heard me talk about relocating to Chicago. Well, after reading this book, I really want to visit this city and seriously think about moving there. This book was a nice addition to my library

I just found this book at my local bookstore and was excited about reading it cover to cover. I just loved how informative this book was and it is a great tribute to a great mid-western city. Having lived here for the past 20 years, there are many facts that I didn't know until I read this book. I just loved the selection of photographs contained in this book. Thank you for several enjoyable afternoons reading this book.

Just purchased this book that really gives you a good feel of Chicago, past and present. The photographs are wonderful and I enjoyed reading about this great midwestern city. A must-have to complete any collection of Chicago History Books.

I just purchased the book online and after reading it cover to cover, I now want to visit Chicago. A real nice introduction to a great city. I found the many descriptions of the various historic places in the commercial district extremely fascinating along with the very interesting "old" and "new" photography. I loved the book!!!!