Asia Books

I had the privilege and honor of knowing Larry Bell and his family so I have to admit that I may have a bias toward the positive, but I agree with the other reviewers that this is an outstanding book that is hard to put down and I highly recommend it.

No matter what side of the debate you were on over the Vietnam War this book gives you a unique insight into what goes on behind the scenes in covert operations. The author takes the reader through the whole range of emotions that for me ultimately concluded with a sense of pride for our country.

This book will be of particular interest to anyone who served in the US military or covert operations during these turbulent times.

Sadly, Larry passed away in September 2007, but this book will live on as a testament and a tribute to those who served.

Semper Fi Marine!

This was a real page turner. Just when you thought things couldn't get worse, they did. A big salute to Mr. Bell. He is a REAL hero. Everyone needs to read this book. I now feel I have a real understanding of the CIA. I also have a much better understanding of the Vietnam War. I hope he sells a million copies.

Dead Horses in the Sun written by Larry Bell is an enthralling story. From Chapter One to the end the reader begins an astonishing trip from the dramatic ending of South Vietnam back to the very beginning for the author and his military time in deepest Africa. The next two chapters provide funny, and exciting episodes and escapades that include; two riots, a flag stealing and shooting incidents, to participation in the indentification and capture of an East German agent-right in the American embassy! Mr Bell continues the story by describing his training as a CIA agent in Washington, D.C. Which was followed by his eventual assignment to South Vietnam.

Upon arriving in Vietnam the excitement and drama escalate to a fever pitch as Mr. Bell goes from paramilitary operation to another to interrogating defectors and prisoners of war to reveal astounding penetration of the South Vietnamese military intelligence service by a long-time Viet Cong agent. Teamed with his Vietnamese interpreter he develops two operations; the capture of over three million in communist liberation funds to the recruitment of a high level communist.

The book continues with the conversion of the author from a career employee to a contract agent to handle the communist agent. He lived in Vietnam for a total of seven years. With five years in an undercover status, moving from the northern city of Danang down the coast to eventually remaining in Saigon.

Departing only one week before the end of Vietnam Mr. Bell lived an fought in a country he had come to love only to see it all dissolve before his eyes. Very highly recommended reading.

Some of us wore Uniforms as soldiers, and some of us did not. This exciting autobiographical book shows us the
"other side" of operations during the ten years of conflict in South Vietnam. The side of United States involvement that
did not make the evening news on a regular basis. When read, the reader will have a better understanding and an
insight into the day to day workings of the CIA that is not usually disclosed i.e: They are Human beings after all!
Having walked the same ground in South Vietnam myself in many of the cities and towns described in this book for 27
months, I can tell you that this book is the real deal!
Author, Larry Bell has done an outstanding job of letting us see the other side of the war in Vietnam. The reader will
have great difficulty putting it down.
This book carries the highest rating from The Military Advisor.

This book was recommended strongly by a friend, and I can
honestly say it's the first time her recommendation was great!
Mr. Bell has projected his life to the public during an exciting
time for him and made it very exciting and entertaining. He
projects himself in a modest fashion in very, very serious situations and it is quite evident his bravery was at a high level thoughout his time in the Congo and Vietnam. His breathtaking description of riots in the Congo had my heart
bounding! Later in South Vietnam he continues describing events
that happen one after another in rapid sequence that makes the
book move rapidly.
As a historically-oriented woman I thoroughly enjoyed his book
since his story is only peppered with necessary abbreviations,
military nomanclature and intelligence 'language'. By keeping
this information to a minimum he continues the story line with
little distraction to the "flow" of his telling the story.
My father read the book at my urging since he is a Vietnam
veteran and he later told me he had read it in one sitting since
he could not put it down. So this review is for two people who
have read Dead Horses in the Sun and highly recommend it!!
I'm only hoping our present CIA continues to have dedicated
employees like Mr. Bell due to our fight in Iraq and against
terrorist worldwide - we need them.

This is an infinitely useful collection of primary sources. Any student of this period should have this on their bookshelf - they will get much more than the $23.10 worth of use.

The editor does a good job of including the best arguments of both sides and does not taint the actual debate with modern biases.

Love the book! Been looking for these debates for years. It's nice to learn the behind-the-scenes arguments for and against the Constitution. Also nice to know that partisan bickering is not new.

I've gathered other collections (i.e., The Federalist Paper, Constitutional Debates) over the years, but this collection (along with Volume 2) is by far the most comprehensive yet affordable collection to date. Given the fact Bernard Bailyn compiled the contents and wrote the background material, the reader can rest assured that a distinguished historian is behind these endeavors. Bailyn's commitment to detail and analysis of primary sources has always been one of his hallmarks. He continues that commitment in these two volumes.

There is more material here than the average person probably ever knew existed regarding the constitutional debates. Letters, newspaper articles, formal treatises, and speeches all provide the documentation. Bailyn wants to show the depth and richness of the discussion, which varies from those who feared loss of personal liberty to those ready to embrace the document. Anyone who picks up these volumes will come away with an idea of how complex the constitution really is - that it will never be all things to all people, but it does ground our national identity. It becomes the task of each succeeding generation to uphold the tradition yet strive to assure the Constitution carries out its intended purpose. Obviously this is no small feat to be taken lightly.

The books are arranged chronologically, more or less, divided into subsections. The reader will get the broad spectrum of constitutional debates (the Federalist Papers are included, the "antifederalist papers" are included) as are the fears, assurances, and the entire range of human emotion regarding the Constitution are all there for the reader to peruse.

The only spoiler I offer is the peculiar selection of a Benjamin Franklin letter as the very first entry of the set. Franklin fears the Constitution yet is willing to embrace it just the same. In a way, this might be the quintessential document of the entire collection as all Americans have reason to heed Franklin's concerns.

Unlike the political commentators of the late 20th and early 21st century (watchers of Sunday public affairs programs and AM radio listeners know who they are), the commentators of the 18th century actually had something of substance to say. This was a time when education was rare, but when done was done well. The New American Library does its usual exceptional job in assembling the material in this book including some of the more important selections from the Federalist Papers as well as some of the writings of the anti-Federalists. Here the role of the government and the nature of freedom are really explored. Life was better before politics became about feeling and emotion. Every American should read this book, but only if he wants to really understand the basis of the American experiment.

Study of the Federalist Papers, of course included in this two volume series, is a conduit for understanding the American ethic. When the Federalist Papers are viewed as included in this chronological deliberation between the Federalists and Antifederalists, they become even more profound than the enormous depth they can achieve when read alone. The concerns of Brutus and Agrippa are answered, the repititive call for a 'Bill of Rights' revealed. Madison wrote to Jefferson in 1825 defining the Federalist Papers as 'may fairly enough be regarded as the most authentic exposition of the text of the federal constituion, as understood by the Body which prepared & the authority which accepted it.' The enormous insight gained from tracking the arguments and concerns of the proposed Constituion , and the responses of the Federalist cannot be easily estimated, yet the result is a much more informed conscience of the American experience. Madison in the same letter mentioned above stated that Federalist Essays did not foresee all the misconstructions which to that date had occured, nor prevent some it did foresee. For the concerned and deliberate citizen of today many of these issues remain, issues such as Federalism are current topics and all too often the opinions of the few become the conscience of the many, examining these volume will do much to alleviate this vexing condition. More alarming is the realization that many of the fears of the Antifederalists have become a reality in todays polity. An excellent and comprehensive collection thank you Bernard Bailyn.

Ibn Warraq, author of other brilliant and explosive books such as Why I Am Not a Muslim finally deals the death blow to Edward Said's mythmaking Orientalism (Penguin Modern Classics).

It is a needed critique because so many in the academy have been seduced by Mr. Said. Edward Said was a Anglican Arab raised to an upper class family that lived the life of the jet-set, travelling back and forth from mansions in Egypt, Lebanon and Jerusalem. Said, after his upbringing that included Armenian and Jewish servants, went on to claim that the west was racist for daring to write about the history of the 'East' from a western perspective. He claimed that only Muslims could tell Muslim history and only Arabs could write Arab history.

Warraq shows that not only was Said wrong in asserting that western portrayels of the 'east' were racist, but that in most cases the west romantisized the east and accepted it and learned from it. This is most true today when most western scholarship never critiqus the Koran or the 'east' but instead accepts all the myths it has itself created. This incisive and wonderful book dares to break down these myths and explode them.

Seth J. Frantzman

DEFENDING THE WEST: A CRITIQUE OF EDWARD SAID'S ORIENTALISM is the first in-depth critique of a work that for three decades has received nearly unanimous recommendation and discussion. Said's thesis was that the Western image of the East was biased by colonialist attitudes and racism: this reconsideration offers a powerful rebuttal to college-level audiences, surveying misinterpretations in Said's original survey of scholarly literature and providing college-level collections strong in history and culture with a fine reinterpretation. Collections housing Said's work need this rebuttal.

The book is OK (like any book, I guess), but Ibn Warraq is way too serious about the subject, in my view. It is understandable, considering the impact of Said's "scholarship".
But, still, Edward Said is not an "intellectual terrorist". I think there is a difference between terror and pogrom. To call Edward Said a terrorist, or an intellectual, would be as ridiculous as to call Trofim Lysenko a scientist, or a biologist. Terrorist have to hide his intentions. Pogrom is done with a certain assurance of impunity. That's exactly what Edward Said have done.
I guess there is some point in refuting Said's ravings. But overall it looks a little bit odd: really, if you are normal, you wouldn't go to a clinic for mentally ill for some quarrels or intellectual discussions. There are doctors or nurses for that.

Edward Said's blaming the West and its "Orientalism" for all the problems of the Arab World has provided much fuel over the years for demagogues and refusniks throughout the middle east and has thus contributed to the continued backwardness of that region. His "victimization" mantra has been especially devastating to the Palestinians and their aspirations for statehood and international recognition. Since, by playing the "victimization" card and the scapegoat card, which is what Edward Said's "Orientalism" is all about, the peoples of that region have failed to see what is really wrong with their societies and have therefore failed to take any meaningful actions to remedy the situation. Anger towards the West (and the resultant terrorism) then becomes the only option. Sadly too many in the West, especially in academia, have also bowed down at the altar of Edward Said and elevated him to the status of prophet--or even deity--for telling them what they wanted to hear, which in turn has only provided all the more fuel for the victimizationers and scapegoaters in the middle east. However, Ibn Warraq brilliantly puts everything into perspective and totally demolishes Said's thesis. If one does nothing else they should read chapter 8 "The Pathological Niceness of Liberals, Antimonies, Paradoxes, and Western Values." While the entire book is most noteworty, chapter 8 should be required reading by every person in the West who has any desire at all to see our civilization survive the 21st century. To sum up, the research that went into this book is mind boggling, and every point he makes is thoroughly documented. Scholarly, yet accessible to the non-scholar.

For 25 years, many leaders and candidates have accepted the willful misinterpretation of Western history instigated by Columbia University's infamous late professor, Edward Said. Western civilization could greatly benefit if current presidential hopefuls read this bromide of a book, identifying the damage Said caused---and providing a curative.

Politicians here gain a yardstick to measure Western cultural grandeurs (including intense self-criticism)---compared with ongoing social dysfunction, disintegration and horrors over 1,400 years of Islamic history.

Colleges requiring students to read Edward Said's Orientalism should also require this 24-karat tome, rebutting Said's flawed evaluation of the West---what Ibn Warraq identifies as inadequate methods, incoherence, tendentious interpretations---and amusing, but dangerous "historical howlers."

He credits Said for courage and self-criticism---in disparaging Arab writers insisting "the Jews never suffered..., the Holocaust is an obfuscatory confection created by the Elders of Zion," or supporting criminal French Holocaust denier Roger Garaudy.

But Orientalism's "pernicious influence" made Arab and Muslim self-examination---especially criticism of Islam within the West---nearly impossible, Ibn Warraq shows; it "taught an entire generation ... the art of self-pity," blaming all Arab and Muslim miseries on "wicked imperialists, racists and Zionists" whom Arabs and Muslims almost universally blame for their failure to reascend.

Alas, Said neglected historical Islamic imperialism---from Mohammed's invention of "one true faith" through the 17th Century, with reprises whenever wealth, time and war materiel sufficed. Petrodollars fueled the recent Islamic renewal of this effort---via "modernized" Muslim Brotherhood ancient Islamic strategy, supremacist jihad---and aggressive 21st century financial jihad through "shari'a finance."

Terror-advocating "experts" like former Pakistani Shari'a Court jurist, Taqi Usmani set Islamic banking standards for the MB construct that was established to promote Islamic supremacy. Usmani serves on the shari'a board of Saudi Arabia's terror-funding Dallah al-Baraka; in July 2007 he advised U.K. Muslims to live peacefully only until they acquire military strength to "establish the supremacy of Islam." Syrian Abdul Sattar Abu Ghuddah is a senior-level advisor to al-Baraka.

Christian, and not an Islamic scholar, Said nevertheless "bludgeoned into silence any criticism of Islam"---adding late-modern inadmissibility to ancient Islamic shari'a tradition: Muslims (or non-Muslims) criticizing Mohammed or Islam are guilty of blasphemy, punishable under Islamic law by death.

Ibn Warraq shows innumerable Western to Islam. Egyptian novelist Naguib Mahfouz avowed, "Napoleon's campaign" ushered Egypt from "centuries of obscurantism" into modernity, including discoveries of pre-Islamic Egypt, which now anchor Egypt's tourism.

Said held, "the Orient was viewed as something inviting French interest, penetration, insemination--in short colonization...." He ignored the German, Russian, Italian and Western Jewish scholars who created Islamic, Middle Eastern and Arabic studies, thereby gutting his thesis.

Ibn Warraq finds Westerners and Western history and thought characterized by "three tutelary guiding lights,"--rationalism; universalism; and self-criticism. Pursuing truth and knowledge, Westerners accepted others and all humanity--and consistently criticized societies to improve them. Sir Jadunuth Sarkar credited the English with India's 19th century Renaissance---a mass-recovery from 500 years of Muslim jihad invasions (1000-1525), when an estimated 80 million Hindus perished.

But Islamic orthodoxy remains "suspicious of `knowledge for its own sake'." Unlimited intellectual inquiry is "dangerous to the faith." The 2003 Arab Human Development Report thus found fewer books translated into Arabic in the last 1,000 years than Spain translates in one year; Greece (population, under 11 million), annually translates five times the foreign books as all 22 Arab nations combined (population, 300 million).

Arab and Muslim pleas for assistance often brought Western "imperialists" to the Middle East to start with, Ibn Warraq notes. Sultan Selim III declared Jihad after Napoleon's 1789 Egyptian conquest---joining the infidel British and Russians to protect his imperial territories from the French. In 1804, the Ottomans got territorial guarantees from Russia and Austria; In 1809, they again allied with the British. In 1866, the Sultan permitted Suez canal construction, against British and French objections. Egypt's Khedive Ismail nearly bankrupted his protectorate---and in 1875 sold the Suez to Britain for its £4 million nominal value to unwind debts. Only reluctantly, the British helped quell riots that followed---yet the Sultan refused Britain's request that he repossess canal ownership.

Said ignored historical evidence, mimicking superficial French "existentialists, structuralists, deconstructionists and postmodernists" methods, and "grandiose theories" supported by "flimsy history or empirical foundations." Said's signature work displays "laziness and arrogance" of a literary man lacking time for empirical research or need to prove his results.

Said offended worst by neglecting comparisons. Using them, Ibn Warraq affirms the West.

Said excoriates Western slavery. But Muslim traders were far more culpable. From 1700 to 1929, Arabs traded over 17 million black slaves---including 1.5 million who perished crossing the Sahara; little over 11 million crossed the Atlantic. The Occident outlawed slavery. Muslims saw Western abolitionists as "a threat to their very livelihood but also as an affront to their religion."

Tenth century Arab geographer al-Maqdisi described "Zanj," Bantu-speaking East Africans, as "people of black color, flat noses, kinky hair and little understanding." A 10th century Persian treatise called Africans "people distant from the standards of humanity." A 13th century Persian wrote, "the ape is more teachable and more intelligent than the Zanji." Islamic social scientist, economist and philosopher Ibn Khaldun (d. 1406) argued, "Negro nations" submitted to slavery since they "have little [that is essentially] human and have attributes that are quite similar to those of dumb animals..."

Even "tolerant" Ottomans perpetuated slavery through tradition and religion---and lacked an abolitionist movement, write Ehud Toledano and Turkish historian Y.H. Erdem.

Ottomans also manufactured and traded eunuchs--boys castrated throughout southern Europe, North Africa and the Near East to maintain large Ottoman harems for the upper classes. Following "total removal of testicles and penis," eunuchs suffered extensive hemorrhaging and death rates upwards of 90% in sub-Saharan and west-central Africa.

Every Middle East scholar and library should own this book.

--Alyssa A. Lappen

This provocative book brings forth historical, spiritual, and cultural concepts that have been at the heart of the India since 2000 B.C. By looking to the Vedas, Gupta deconstructs difficult concepts and gracefully explains them in a manner which helps the reader understand the Indian worldview. By exploring the concepts of dharma, karma, and moksha, Gupta brings forth the core values inherent in Indian societies. The need for educating their children, respecting elders, and consistently putting the "other" before the "self". Dr. Gupta provides a window into the world of Indian-ness. This book is not only for teachers...but for anyone looking to explore the unknown terrain of Indian-ness.

Gupta's comparative work offers an important critique of the assumptions of American (and Western) educational psychologies. She gracefully points out that American educational orthodoxies unwittingly overlook the human aspect in the classroom. That is, particularly as they encounter other cultures, Western educational psychologies at times bundle children into developmental boxes which may contradict the children's cultural background, and disregard the power of the familial, social, religious or economic background of the teacher in the pursuit of the West's classroom standards.
Gupta does not speak contra Western educational psychology. Rather, she argues graciously that it recognize itself as a cultural product, and that it not be quick to impose its ontological and practical assumptions on others. I found her insights extremely helpful and inspiring!

Gupta's point that teacher education systems need to take into consideration teachers' own value systems is a suggestion many countries could benefit from hearing. As an American teacher who is interested in educational systems throughout the world, I found this book to be extremely informative and interesting. This book is a fascinating combination of educational theory, postcolonial theory and an examination of both Indian and American teaching methods. Gupta provides well-written background on Indian philosophy, religion and educational practices as well as on educational theorists. I recently took a trip to India and studied the educational systems there - I found her book to be very helpful. Chapter 3 "The Sociocultural Context of Education: Core Concepts of the Philosophy Underlying the Worldview of Indians" clearly outlined the texts and ideas that form the basis of Indian philosophy. Anyone interested in studying Indian philosophy and/or educational systems would do well to read this book. In a world where we are in dire need of intercultural and interreligious understanding, Gupta raises thoughtful questions and proposes timely next steps.

An excellent book!
Presents an in-depth exploration of classroom practice and teachers voices in urban Indian schools, as well as the connections between cultural values and educational values in India. It is about time that such perspectives and aspects are made a part of the wider body of educational research. Very informative. I would strongly urge teachers, school administrators and policy makers to read this book.

A very well written and insightful book that helped me to better understand the intersection and relationship between a society's cultural philosophy and educational practices. The author provided an unusual perspective on urban Indian early education that is laden with implications for all levels of teaching. I found this to be an excellent book!

This is one of the book that had been recommended by the teachers of school of foreign service,National university of Mongolia. Full of true facts and information that people who are in the field of mongolian studies shall have this book.

Baabar's Twentieth Century Mongolia is one of the best books ever written on Mongol history. This is the sole available work that not only deals with Chingis-Khanite period till modern day Mongolia, but is also written by a Mongol person. The book would be a great help for one who is doing a research on Mongol history and people. Not only a great writer, Mr. Baabar is a leading democratic revolutionist and a respectable politician in our country.

This book is one of the best history books i've ever seen. You guys should take a good look on it in order to achieve core elements about Mongolia. This book will help you to know what exactly Mongolia is and Mongolians are.

IF you are interested in Mongolia's early history (Genghis, Ogodei, Kublai, the Mongols, etc.) this isn't the one you would want. However, this book has lots of information from beginning of 1900s to 1945.

Baabar's Twentieth Century Mongolia is one of the best books ever written on Mongol history. This is the sole available work that not only deals with Chingis-Khanite period till modern day Mongolia, but is also written by a Mongol person. The book would be a great help for one who is doing a research on Mongol history and people. Not only a great writer, Mr. Baabar is a leading democratic revolutionist and a respectable politician in our country.

This exquisite pictorial collection captures my heart just like the previous "The Spirit of Tibet: Portrait of a Culture in Exile" by Alison Wright. William Chapman has captured the soul and spirit of the Tibetan people, a people in exile. I have always have a strong interest in Tibet, and, hpefully, one day I can experience the roof of the world myself. The collection has unveiled the people, the land, and the religion behind the facade. You may experience and sense the peace, joy, meekness of the people. Beautifully done!

This amazing pictorial record of Tibet as it is today - its people, its children, the religious orders, the landscape, is breathtaking in its scope & beauty. Mr. Chapman has captured the very soul of this country and its people. You will treasure this book and the window it provides to a far & little known place.

This amazing pictorial record of Tibet as it is today - its people, its children, the religious orders, the landscape, is breathtaking in its scope & beauty. Mr. Chapman has captured the very soul of this country and its people. You will treasure this book and the window it provides to a far & little known place.

This amazing pictorial record of Tibet as it is today - its people, its children, the religious orders, the landscape, is breathtaking in its scope & beauty. Mr. Chapman has captured the very soul of this country and its people. You will treasure this book and the window it provides to a far & little known place.

This book has received an Honorable Mention from the 2001 Southern Books Competition. "An unusually effective travel album beckons the reader with a truly dramatic dust jacket. Exceptional end papers charm and lead the reader forward. Color and theme continue from the clear, attractive dedication page. Bright, energetic color images engage the reader in a simple, easily viewed format." Congratulations to the author, designer Erin Kirk New, and the University of Georgia Press.

I originally bought this book in order to do a report for a japanese culture class about ki (kiai), but found it so interesting that I still open it every now and then a year later. It gives some real insight on the writer's days in Japan and what he learned in martial arts, and I highly recommend this to anyone interested in the martial arts and the related culture in Japan.

Great book filled with one of a kind information. If you are looking for techniques then this is not the book for you. However, if you want history and insight then this book is one of the best. I rank it up there with the works of Donn Draeger.

A reprint of the turn of the century book on the martial arts of Japan. A fascinating view of not only the martial arts of that time, but the social, cultural and philosophical influences during a critical period of development. It provides context and understanding of the future development of Judo, Karate and other martial arts. If you pair this book with Jay Gluck's book, "Zen Combat" you would have several long days of very entertaining and enlightening reading. I think anyone interested in the history of modern martial arts should read this.

Someone asked me to get an old copy of this book for them but I couldn't find it. So I bought it from amazon.com and got it shipped to their address direct - only to find that they'd moved! So it was redirected to me. What a piece of luck. This book is an informative and entertaining read. Not only is it readable, but it is very re-readable. So impressed was I that I now have two copies, one for me - and one just in case the person I originally bought it for ever turns up, belatedly demanding their copy! This is one book no martial artist should ever get caught without.

Someone asked me to get an old copy of this book for them but I couldn't find it. So I bought it from amazon.com and got it shipped to their address direct - only to find that they'd moved! So it was redirected to me. What a piece of luck. This book is an informative and entertaining read. Not only is it readable, but it is very re-readable. So impressed was I that I now have two copies, one for me - and one just in case the person I originally bought it for ever turns up, belatedly demanding their copy! This is one book no martial artist should ever get caught without.

A family in a Korean village in the 19th century try to keep a tradition of being firekeepers. A firekeeper is a man who climbs a mountain every night and lights a bonfire to assure the royal palace that invaders are not near. If the fire is not lit, soldiers are sent to defend the sea shore. Korea had a history of invasion, especially by Japan and felt it needed to keep a guard on the sea. The first firekeeper would keep an eye on the sea by day and light a fire by night. Then another villager on another mountain would light a fire by succession until the fires could be seen by a guard at the palace. This was done more than a 100 years in Korea. In this story a young boy helps his father with his job after a crisis and carries on the family's tradition.

Perhaps for centuries, the royal court of Korea kept infomred of invading forces and problems in it eight provinces through a series of bonfires lit from one hilltop to the next. In this story, a young boy and his father live in a seacoast village on the first line of defense for the bonfires. Each night, the boy's father lights a bonfire which is seen by hilltop after hilltop all the way back to the king. But when he in injured, his son must light the fire. But would it not be better to not light it, so that some excitement and soldiers will come to the village? Or does reponsibility win out?

I don't know why I feel this way, but you'd think there would be a lot of Newbery winning children's authors who'd switch their focus from time to time to picture books. And yet, this is not the case. In fact, it's rather rare for someone of Lunda Sue Park's stature to go about writing for children younger than her usual fare. It's almost as if she's slumming. But Park (who won the Newbery for "A Single Shard") has discovered what most winners fail to realize. That a picture book can be every bit as morally complex and intricate as a 230-some page novel. All it takes is excellent writing and an illustrator who knows their stuff. Which makes, "The Firekeeper's Son" a perfect example of a picture book that does everything right and ends up wowing the reader with its intensity.

Sang-hee lives in a small, unassuming, and peaceful village in Korea. One day, his father informs him that their little space is infinitely important (a fact that Sang-hee has a bit of difficulty believing). But his father is absolutely correct. Located beside the sea and just next to the first of a row of mountains, it understood that in the event of a seaward attack by Korea's enemies, this village is the first line of defense. That is why, every night, Sang-hee's father climbs the nearby mountain and lights a fire that can be seen for miles. Then, someone on the next mountain will see that fire and light their own. This continues all the way to the king's palace where, if the king sees the last mountain lit, he'll know that all is well. Of course, if the fire is not lit, the king would immediately send his soldiers out to battle with the enemy. Now this system has gone on for generations, but Sang-hee is not content. He would love to see the king's glorious soldiers more than anything else in the world. Then, one night, his father hurts his ankle while climbing up the mountain. Sang-hee is given the task of lighting the fire himself, but as he nears the pile of dried twigs he thinks about how much he'd like to see a soldier up close. And the hot coals are slowly burning out...

The book weighs an individual's personal wants and fantasies against the greater good of the whole, and does so beautifully. You completely understand Sang-hee's dilemma. On the one hand, there's the fact that not lighting the fire would be a callous lie. On the other hand, "Maybe there is a soldier who would be glad for a chance to visit the sea". Park's story is based on factual information, as she mentions in her Author's Note. However, the system by which bonfires informed the king of potential attacks was, in real life, far more complex than the one featured here. As Park herself mentions, "additional fires could be lit to convey further information, so the court would know not only which province was facing danger but things like the size of the enemy forces and how well armed they were!". She provides additional resources for further reading.

It was a real stroke of luck that Park was paired with illustrator Julie Downing too. Downing plays with lush watercolors and pastels that perfectly convey not only the cool blue nights Sang-hee must run through, but also the glow of the slowly dying coals and eventual hot orange flames. If you look on the cover of the book, you can see dream soldiers fighting in the fire and the bright orange flickers reflected in the black of Sang-hee's eyes. Downing's images are the perfect compliment to Park's deeply rich story.

As historical fiction picture books go, this one has to be one of the most beautiful on record. If you'd like a picture book that lures those sometimes hard to interest boy readers, but is just as doggone interesting to the girls of the world, this book's a safe bet. It's beautiful to look at and remarkably complex to contemplate. Art in the purest sense.

Linda Sue Park's The Firekeeper's Son is a picture book that tells of life in a Korean village several hundred years ago. At that time fires were lit as signals that all was well. It is an exciting story the pits a young boys dreams for excitement against his duty and responsibility. Julie Downing's illustrations showing traditional Korean village life really bring the past alive.

Set in Korea, some time in the nineteenth century, a young boy discovers the great responsibility of lighting the bonfires. When Sang Hee and his mother see that his father has not yet lit the bonfire, and see that there is no enemy coming from the sea, the boy takes up a responsibility that has been in the family for generations. He follows the path up the mountain to find his father injured and unable to climb the mountain. His internal conflict is against the temptation of satisfying his curiosity of soldiers versus responsibility. Good judgment outweighs his selfishness and the bonfire is lit. The systematic communication sends the message to the palace that the kingdom is peaceful. Park is an accomplished writer. The narrative is moving and interesting. The radiant colors of Julie Downing are well crafted.

This has become a personal review for
me because I was recently involved in
bringing the MOVING WALL to Southeastern
Indiana and having it on display in
Rising Sun, IN. We paid a special
tribute to Donald Philip Schuck and the
others from a 5 county area here
including Dearborn, Ohio, Switzerland,
Ripley and Franklin Counties. Schuck was
from Franklin Co. and Brookville, IN and
I was honored to be able to go
and visit with his sister, Betty Stivers,
who was gracious enough to give me articles
about him and some pictures of him. I also
visited his grave site at St. Michael's
Cemetery and took a photo of his military
grave marker. We had a special supplement in
the local papers with the information about
the ones from our area who died in
Vietnam. I'd be glad to send one to anyone
who knew Don Schuck because he's an
AMERICAN HERO. Phil Ball did a great job
of bringing the war home to us and telling
us about his friend, Don. Don's sister
Betty is proud of her brother and what
he did for OUR nation. GHOSTS & SHADOWS
shows the respect he and Don Schuck had
for each other and the very difficult
times they had in Vietnam. It's a shame
we had to lose such a fine young MARINE
like Don Schuck. There are 58,260 brave
souls on that WALL and each one deserves
our gratitude for their ultimate sacrifice.
May they rest in eternal peace.
P.G. Gentrup
Rising Sun, IN
25th Inf Div
Cu Chi, Vietnam 1967-68

I noticed this book when I was looking for another book at the library. It is riveting and hard to put it down.

It has some good lessons on how to overcome problems in general.
Reading the book will help you understand Vietnam on different levels.

This is one of the best Vietnam books I have read. It is so truthful. Written in a way that made you feel what they (the marines) and all our young men who served in that war must have gone through. Wonderfully written!! ON July 5th, Phil Ball died, he was a wonderfully gifted man. He will be missed for all he was and all he could have been.

This book is probably the best Vietnam War narrative I have read, and I have read quite a few. It really puts you in the middle of the action. It's not too gung-ho; just the experiences of an ordinary guy fighting in the jungle and living day to day.

For fans of this genre, this book is a must have. It is written clearly with no dead time in action and intesity of this eye witness account. I rarely rate books but this one deserved my time and review as it acheives what few ever do. Bravo to Phil Ball! Rest in peace leatherneck. Michael Shannon

Here is a book that captures, with humor, the travels of two young American single men, searching for exotic adventures and new experiences in a foreign land. By the flip of a coin, the two headed off to Asia with exuberance and enthusiasm. Jon Olmstead leads the reader across Asia from one exciting and hysterical event after another, as well as back home with his flashbacks of delightful and sometimes comical "growing up" happenings and mishaps. A great book for the guys to relive some of their own similar "events" and a fantastic book for the gals who are curious about the most personal thoughts of young gents - on American soil or while traveling and fancy free!! Highly entertaining and light, easy reading that is sure to make you yearn for more!

I read this book in two sittings. The first was over some wine, but the next sitting was so funny I didn't even want to get up to go to the kitchen. It's witty, original, and comedic storytelling style is sure to make anyone laugh.

I picked up this book in the airport on my way to France. It is a great travel companion, Mr. Olmstead completey draws you in and entertains. Before you know it you're in final decent and that's the best way to travel.

Very funny travel log. It reads like an extended email from a friend writing about his travel. Mr. Olmstead also finds a way to weave in stories from his childhood. It comes off as a friendly extended travel note.

The humorous and self deprecating nature of this travel writing is very much in the tradition of Tony Hawke. You'll find yourself alternating between laughing out loud and screaming, "Doh!"

I am thankful that I'm not a friend of his. :-) I'd hate for him to dog on me like he reams on his buddies!

Going Down In Asia is rekindling youth and innocence impacted by the world's reality and diversity in a hilarious and insightful way. Its been some 40 years since my carefree days of foreign travel and it brought it all back. How much more meaning there would have been if I had the book then. A fun and fine read.