Canada Books

Once I picked up this book I didn't want to do anything until I figured out the mystery. I was in a room with dim light at the time. I didn't even bother to move to another room for less strain on my eyes-- I didn't move for 4 hours until I was done.
I like this book so much for three reasons:

1) the mystery aspect - mccrea throws in new "mini mysteries" along the way, while the whole time keeping your attention grabbed by main question of "who did it??"

2) the characters - each character is introducted with great precision; you really can tell the characters are well thought out and you can understand them. There is so much in this book- from problems at the workplace to problems at home, and it is all played out wonderfully through the mind of Rick Redman.

3) the dialogue - especially pay attention to the dialogue between Rick and Dorita. The humor is subtle yet simply fantastic.

Anyone who loves mystery with a dose of wittiness and class, will love this book.

A-

McCrea takes us into a world that he knows all too well, 21st century New York City lawyering. Our man Rick is a world-weary attorney for a more or less politically incorrect firm. He's thrust face first into a criminal case, an affair that looks very much like he's been politically set up for a goose chase. In the meantime, a lot of amazingly literary-type stuff happens-- don't get me wrong, not too much, the grit is real-- but this story takes us into all kinds of situations, some of which are the stuff of the more conventional novel, such as parenting, co-habitation with an addict, and other unusual forms of amusing dysfunction I'll leave you to discover. McCrea manages to get the hardboiled tone and the breezy lines just right ("Raul looked at me like a lizard looks at... well, like a lizard looks at just about anything") yet the best stuff here just good storytelling: the characters actually change and even, gadzooks, mature as a result of their discoveries! And these are full portraits, from our slightly roguish, alcoholic hero, to his sidekick Dorita--who supplies some decent quips and distraction--to the overburdened daughter, to the bleary-eyed poker-player pal. Of course our flawed hero and his sidekick end up catching the goose-- geese, in fact --but I don't want to spoil it for you, do I? Rest assured, though, McCrea pulls off some nice feints in the process-he's a poker player, right? Looking forward to sequels!

that to buy this book you need to go to Amazon.ca. Thanks.

-the author

I was reading it while walking down the street and waiting in line at the grocery store. The plot is filled with twists and turns and characters you won't soon forget.

Even without understanding any of the poker references, Dead Money is a fun read. The dialog reads easily. The story keeps you guessing until the very end and wanting more when it's over. I didn't go looking for this book. I'm not interested in poker and that probably would have resulted in my passing over this one. Nevertheless, it found me in the form of a gift. Before I needed reading glasses, I had a two novel a week habit. Wearing those things on my face seemed to suck the fun out of recreational reading for me. In spite of that, I plowed through Dead Money in three days and I'm already halfway through another book. I guess you could say that Dead Money brought me back to reading novels again.

Hayden, Alex and Monique are anti-communist rebels fighting in present-day Russia. A man named Ellis Leroy, who can generously be called a lying scumbag, offers them a tempting proposition. He will guarantee safe passage out of Russia, and a free, one-way, boat trip to freedom in the West (specifically, Nome, Alaska). In exchange, all that the three have to do is to break into a heavily guarded US Navy ship at the local Navy base. They have to make their way to the Presidential Suite, at the top of the ship, and steal $64 million in confiscated drug money, then make it off the ship alive. Alex does not survive, but Hayden and Monique succeed in getting the money, then conveniently forget about splitting it with Leroy.

Five years later, Hayden is happily married to Colleen (a waitress on the ship from Russia to Alaska) and living in rural British Columbia. Leroy shows up one day, with one of his henchmen, demanding to know where Hayden is. Colleen says nothing, so she is drugged, kidnapped and taken to an isolated cabin. In a videotape sent to Hayden, Leroy makes it very clear that unless he gets his share of the $64 million, very soon, Colleen will be going back to Russia, on a one-way trip into the Russian sex trade. Acting as nonchalant as possible, Hayden asks around in the nearby town, and is able to narrow down their location. Armed with several weapons, Hayden undertakes a trek of several days through deep snow to reach them.

On the positive side, this is an interesting story set in a part of the world, Alaska and Western Canada, not known as a thriller setting. On the negative side, if there are to be future printings of this book, it really needs a trip, or another trip, to a proofreader or copyeditor. This book belongs in that large gray area of Pretty Good or Worth Reading.

"Escape" is a full throttle thriller from beginning to end. Persistent in action and suspense, the main character Hayden keeps up the surprises with his intelligence and passion. A member of the Russian Rebel Army, he is driven by both the revenge of his father's death and pride for what his country could be. A peace lover turned marksmen; he relentlessly pursues his and his friend's escape, and throws in a $64 million dollar heist as a bonus. Brian T. Seifrit has crafted an entertaining piece of fiction that leaves the reader anticipating a follow up.

I have had the pleasure of reading and reviewing several of Mr. Seifrit's works. I have to say that he is definitely emerging as a skilled writer bringing his characters to life, which is a true gift given to the reader of any work.

Escape is a story of Hayden, Alex and Monique. Although to me, it is a story of mainly one man Hayden and his quest to free his friends, revenge his troubled soul and perhaps live out his life in peace. But much will transpire before he could ever hope to achieve his goals.He must first rescue his friends from the hands of the commies, steal millions of dollars from the DEA and US Navy and pray to finally have true freedom. Does he accomplish all of these goals?
What happens within the spirit of men and women who have lived under the heavy oppression of Communism. Once they are free, are they really free, or do the scars
travel with them and haunt them all of their lives? Do they make decisions based on those scars and their past? Perhaps!

Escape is a book filled with action and intrigue, mystery and sorrow. A story that shows the strength of the human spirit and the determination of the heart. Will he and his friends survive the trials that are now set before them? Escape, a thriller of a book, with underlining whispers of one man's heart and the cost of being free!

~Shirley Johnson Senior Reviewer MidWest Book Review
Denise's Pieces

Author of The O'Brien Series, Manhunt, and Flesh Craves - The VanFell Legacy, Brian Seifrit stays true to his course in this contemporary action adventure thriller. Strong characters and macho action are his trademark.

The Cold war may be over, but Hayden Rochsoff still has an axe or two to grind. Life under communism has been grim for Hayden. He's become one of the best shooters in the Russian Rebel Army but he's weary of the game. No longer able to tell the good guys from the bad guys, beaten and tortured to within an inch of his life, Hayden vows revenge. He longs for freedom and safety, but first he must rescue his long time friends, Monique and Alex Farrell. This brother and sister team have not fared well and Hayden has his hands full pulling off their rescue from a commie prison. Their run for freedom is interrupted by Ellis Leroy, an unsavory operative from Hayden's past who plays both ends against the middle for monetary gain. He suggests a plan to the trio that will provide millions of dollars and guarantee their freedom. The only drawback is that the money must be stolen in Alaska from the DEA and US Navy. It's not an easy go, even for the accomplished Hayden and his friends.

Escape takes our hero and his friends from Russa to a cruise ship on the Bering Strait and finally to Alaska. Action and intrigue abound. Will Hayden and his friends survive to reach freedom and pull off the caper that will make them millionaires? You'll have to read the book to learn the answer.

"Escape" is the story that is very well written and it is a story that is "dying" to be told on the "big screen". The everlasting human wish to reach freedom as a person and as a member of the society, society that has been oppressed many years by a communist regime, is the fuel that powers this story. When the political idea becomes a personal agenda or vice versa, be sure (if you're the audience) to buckle up, because this story will take you to the rollercoster ride. All elements are there: love, passion, action, revenge. And fear, of course, the primary human sense. And it is not just the plain fear. It is rather a more "sophisticated" fear that deals on so many levels of the human mind: fear of the personal and collective welfare, welfare of the immediate significant one, fear of both success and failure.

Denis Cviticanin

writer, director

i am feeling difficulty to understand terminology(glossary required at the end of book) i think all the supported material like test bank or software must be attached with this book in form of CD(ROM)

Just what i needed for my college class, nothing is wrong with the book and seems to be well written.

I always thought I was good at communication until I read this book (text book really). I was particularly impressed by the examples of emails that on the surface look fine until the writer points out the loop holes. Despite its title this book comes in hand for many situations well outside business. I have also used my newly acquired skills in academic, political and philanthropic forums and received very positive feedback from colleagues who noticed a change. Buy this book.

I use this book for my primary text in a Business and Professional Communication class that I teach. The students like how the book is organized; I appreciate the examples that we can use in class for discussion.

Beyond that, the AIDA approach to business writing is clear and easy to use once students get the hang of it. My students' major project is to work with an organization in solving a communication problem, they are responsible for writing memos and reports to both the client and me.

However, I guess that the biggest endorsement is the number of students who do not resell this book at the end of the semester. I have had several tell me that this is one of the few books that they will take with them when they graduate because they view it as a good reference book.

This book is choc-full of useful techniques for good, solid business communication. The samples are well thought-out and are very true to life. However, the questions, especially the ethics questions do not have any answers provided. Even the instructor copy doesn't have any of the answers, so effectively it boils down to your opinions and whether or not you can defend them. Yee Hah, just like real life.

For those of you with a passing interest or a passion for Kundalini this is the book to read. It covers every aspect of Kundalini and is written by a Western author so it is quite easy reading.

Also anyone having any kind of Spiritual Awakening should read this book.

Even though the books title doesn't show it, this is the best book I have read on Kundalini so far.

A Father Shore is an engaging personal, clinical, and scholarly report on Kundalini phenomena.

Though both Dr. Yvonne Kason and Teri Degler have nominal Christian backgrounds, as of this writing they appear to be influenced more by New Age and Hindu philosophy than by Scriptural Christianity in their treatment of spiritual awakening and personal transformation experiences. I recommend their book as a basic, practical introduction to the physiological, emotional, intellectual, spiritual, and social factors associated with Kundalini. But the authors appear to have lost their moorings in the Biblical doctrines of creation, sin, redemption, and restoration. The book is adrift with doctrines of evolution and reincarnation.

The reader must decide whether the human body was created by God to be a temple of God or whether it is a product of cosmic evolution now acquiring god-like powers. If evolution, then self-realization is the ultimate goal. Never mind that the Second Law of Thermodynamics dictates devolution and death for everything in this physical universe, unless information and energy are added from a higher-dimensional source. If creation, then as Jesus said we must be born again from above in order to enter the kingdom of heaven.

Dr. Kason's adult near death experience and Ms. Degler's adolescent spiritual awakening have much in common with what the Bible calls being "baptized with the Holy Spirit" (Acts 1:5). In that Kundalini is known as "serpent power," it is unfortunate that the leaders of the Church of Canada had not taught the authors how to distinguish more clearly between the Word of God and the lies of the devil. Jesus teaches about kundalini as "streams of living water" (John 7:39). We have to decide whether to employ this God-given human potential in the service of Christ or Antichrist, God or the devil.

The book's teachings and conclusions about the importance of a balanced life style for "healthy spiritual transformation" are of great value. But the universalism of the final sentence concerning "a bright and glorious future for us all" denies the reality of evil. To save those who love God and one another from the devastations of sin and death, Jesus Christ must come again in power and great glory to destroy those who are destroying the earth and establish the kingdom of God. A bright and glorious future for the children of God to be sure--"But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie" (Revelation 22:15).

This book is very well researched and friendly and accessible in its style. It dymystifies the topic of kundalini and makes it understandable from a Western point of view. The author has kundalini experiences herself, as well as being an excellent scientific researcher. Thank you!

This book is easy to miss as a kundalini guide because its title does not indicate this aspect of its content. The author, an MD, has assisted large numbers of people in kundalini processes and has a wealth of information to offer that is very valuable to anyone wanting/needing to learn about a kundalini experience. She is a medial doctor with a vast knowledge of spiritual phenomena. In my experience, people with spontaneous arisings are helped a great deal by this perspective which integrates Eastern and Western understandings.

The wide scope of this book makes it a good synthesis of evolution phenomenons. Clear and open minded, a clear deep solid work.

I have a much clearer sense of Blake's writings now that I've read this book. I took a long time in finishing it, reading some major poems by W.B. at the same time. This is really an exciting book; it brings to life a whole universe - that lived in the poet's imagination. Blake is alive today (in the spirit of his artistic creations) I am convinced. William Blake had a great gift for describing aspects of real life in a way that was inspired by the Bible, and some other imaginative or visionary artists and poets; he was also highly opinionated. It's impressive how well Frye understood Blake's gift, and his personal life, which also makes a strand of this effort, which is a literary effort in it's own right. Anyone with an interest in Blake ought to read this book. It's a tool that allows one to approach Blake's creations of writing and visual artistry with an active (as well as open) mind.

This punch statement belongs to William Blake .
Enthusiasm , passion and a huge sense of commitment describe the enormous effort behind these admirable lines written by Frye
Every major poet demands from his critic a combination of direction and perspective , of intensive and extensive reading . Cosmology is literary art but there are two kinds : the first designed to understand the world and the other designed to transform it into the human desire .
The part one The argument
1. The case against Locke
2. The rising God
3. Beyond Good and evil
4. A literalist of the imagination
5. The word within the word
Part two The development of the symbolism
6. Tradition and experiment
7. The thief of fire
8. The refiner in fire
9. The nightmare with her ninefold
Part three The final synthesis
10. Comus Agonistes
11. The city of God
12. The burden of the valley of Vision
Fearful symmetry was written during the Second World Two and the principal reason which persuades me to recommend you this wise essay is the fact you can draw a line in the story which starts with Homero , Dante , Michelangelo, Blake and Beethoven and obtain a powerful conclusion about the enormous significance of this admirable thinker.
Beware the fact the unforgettable conductor Wilhelm Fürtwangler whose father was an intimate friend of Hans Schliemann liked to visit Rome and Florence to watch over and over the Michelangelo sculptures and paintings ; this fact allows me to onclude the underground road between the Florentine genius and the Bonn genius .
An indispensable book in your library.

Blake sets us in the middle of a rich mythological structure. This is the best book for explaining what that structure is and how Blake will come to an element and illuminate sometimes inconsistent characteristics of that element if viewed in a limited selection. And yet when Blake's work is examined as a whole an encompassing structure is revealed where each part has been carefully delineated and accurately described throughout. Since Blake's collected works are rather massive it is very helpful to have an overview of Blake's view of man when examining how any one particular image is dealt with in a poem. Else, one might think that Blake's portrayals are incongruent from poem to poem, while his vision is actually quite cohesive. Frye wrote another excellent essay on Blake, the title has something to do with the Fourfold Key. It shows the structural similarity between Blake, Marx and Freud.

Northrop Frye manages to convey in sweeping master strokes the brilliance of William Blakes poetry and unlocks the mysteries of Blakes symbols. More importantly, Frye engages the reader in learning a new way to look at literature in general and open up his eyes to a deeper world.

One disadvantage of browsing online bookstores is that you can't simply skim the cover blurbs; sometimes you just have to settle for the opinions of strangers like me. So it may be helpful to read the quotes on the back cover of my copy of 'Fearful Symmetry.'

"To say it is a magnificent, extraordinary book is to praise it as it should be praised, but in doing so one gives little idea of the huge scope of the book and of its fiery understanding . Several great poets have written of Blake, but this book, I believe, is the first to show the full magnitude of Blake's mind, its vast creative thought." -- Edith Sitwell, 'The Spectator'

"According as we agree or disagree with Mr. Frye's contention we shall decide finally on the supremacy of his book. In following the structure of Blake's total vision and relating it to the thought of his age he has triumphantly carried out a task which, given the giant shape of the material, cannot help being immense. His cadences, by sheer explanatory devotion, approach the sonorities of Blake's own." -- 'Times Literary Supplement'

"Frye conducts his ambitious study with unflagging energy, great enthusiasm, and immense erudition." -- 'Poetry'

"An intelligent and beautifully written critical interpretation of the poetry and symbolic thought of William Blake..." -- 'New Yorker'

My opinion: Northrop Frye's literary criticism manages to shift the ground underfoot in the same rare way Blake's poetry does. Frye was the first to crack Blake's code, remove from him the labels of Mystic and Nutcase, and reveal him as a poet who systematically recreates the world. Frye taught Blake to Jesuits, Communist organizers, deans of women, and angry young poets. He was continually pleased to encounter doctors, housewives, clergymen, teachers, blue-collar workers, and shopkeepers, all with a great and deep appreciation of Blake.

Frye's deep appreciation and admiration for Blake comes through on every page, six times over. I reread this book about every five years, each time coming away seeing the world upside down, inside out, and worth renovating.

     "Fearsome Battle tells the story of a young American who enlisted in the Canadian Army before America went to war. The writing of Mr. Robert Rogge unceremoniously grabs the reader from the onset. An unusual aspect of Fearsome Battle is that this account has been written in the third person. Mr. Rogge had considerable difficulty writing of the horrors of war he had experienced first hand, from the first person or as seen through his eyes. However, he manages to capture the mind and attention of the reader by describing each account in the short memoir as if from a disinterested bystander reporting the chilling events as they unfolded.

     This World War II personal account narrates small snippets of horrific battlefield action as witnessed firsthand by Mr. Rogge. It delivers a masterful portrayal of a young man's innocent entry into combat and the fulfillment of his coming to age as a seasoned veteran. The war finally ends with his felling a German soldier just prior to hearing that the war has finally ended. The soldier was but a boy, maybe fourteen years of age, but one who would have killed his adversary had he been given the chance.

     Fearsome Battle keeps the reader on the edge of anticipation from the first page to the last.

     I highly recommend this book for any person interested in reading what is in the mind of a combat soldier who fully expects that the next moment in time will be his last.

     Mr. Rogge, Thank You, for an excellent observer's narrative of the brutality of war."

     Joe Richard, web master, World War II Stories -- In Their Own Words.

Using his considerable skills as a writer, Rogge drops the reader into the cage of war and unleashes its terrors and hardships on us. This book is the real deal. Its images linger and affect me still. I read it with horrible fascination and a growing appreciation for what these men endured to win the war.

Fearsome Battle: With The Canadian Army In World War II Europe is the gripping true memoir of Robert Rogge, a 22-year-old American volunteer who served with the Canadian Army during the perilous era of the second world war. Robert personally participated in the assault on Normandy on D-Day, and survived eleven months in the thick of battle until the war's end. Vividly graphic (almost to the point of disturbing) in portraying hand-to-hand combat, artillery bombardment, and the sad, sometimes gruesome job of picking up the dead after the fighting settled, Fearsome Battle is a candid and informative picture of the horrors the Greatest Generation endured to protect the world against Nazi ambitions and fascist intentions. Highly recommended reading and a welcome addition to the growing library of World War II memoirs and autobiographies.

This author tell his story in third person in order to keep the haunting reality of war at a manageable distance, yet he takes the reader into battle with his poignant tellng of it. Told in vignettes, the reader is not fettered by the minutia of a soldiers life, but feels it, tastes it, smells it nonetheless. Rogge exposes the poetic, celestial soul of humanity in the mundane savagery of war through the experiences of one weary, intrepid man who understands that the horrific and the sublime are complementary.

A realistic and grabbing account of war in the European Theater. As the Editor of the newsletter of the National Museum of the Pacific War, I read many accounts of combat on both the European and Pacific fronts. This extremely well written book gives an unflinching view into the shattering of boyhood ideals and the horrors and sacrifices of war. The book is notable because it gives the unique view of an American volunteer serving with the Canadian Army in Europe; in addition, the author's use of the third person allows him to talk about things that otherwise might have been too painful to share openly with others. I highly recommend this narrative which goes a long way to dispell any of the so-called glories and glamour associated with the waging of war.

Pete Dunne and his wife Linda are lucky enough to take a whole year off to go birding. And we are lucky enough to come along with them in this part travel book, part bird life list. They start in his boyhood home of Whippany, New Jersey, and criss-cross North America in search of birds. They travel from the tip of the USA at the Everglades to the top of the continent at the Artic Refuge in Alaska. Not only do they write about the birds they see and hear but they also take a look at the many differnent types of people who bird. And it is all done in a comic style but with serious overtones concerning the environment, pollution, and urban sprawl. It makes you want to dust off your binos, find your bird book, and head out into the fields and forests. There is nothing more stirring then seeing a new bird for the first time. In reading this book, all the birds seem to be your first one.

A great read for the crazy birder crowd. Take it with you when you hit the important birding places, read it to learn more about the high-end of the birding subculture, and read it when you need a laugh. The short stories on Attu and the World Series of Birding are worth the price alone.

Dunne is a good writer rather than a great one. But this book is very nearly great, because of the passion and the sensitivity that he brings to the subject. What's most impressive to me is how Dunne avoids reveling in the (often) competitive nature of birding. In one memorable chapter, he writes at length about a competition between teams of birders to spot (or hear) the most species in one 24-hour period. We're caught up in the competition, and we think we're about to find out who won this good-spirited contest when . . . the chapter simply ends. And we never do find out who "won."

Dunne's point, I think, is that everybody won, and while the real winners certainly did enjoy finding a few more birds than the runners-up, ideally birding is about something bigger than winning and losing and the number on your life list.

THE FEATHER QUEST also functions as a sort of travelogue for birders, and I'm sure I'll be referring to it for years when deciding where to take my annual trip.

This is a supurb overview of birding in North America.Pete and his wife Linda spent a year on the road and came up with this excellent book that covers every aspect of birding and does it with a passion that he makes you feel you are right there beside him.Birding means something different to each person who engages in this pursuit;but Pete makes a pretty good observation when he states "the coin of tribute in birding's realm is not skill,it is shared intrest.With it an individual buys passage into the ranks of North American birders.Skill is just something birders acquire over time.But the intrest, and the pleasure people derive from watching birds,ah,those things are constants;those things are a priority.Those are the qualities that distinguish birders from society,s rank and file."
I ran across and recognized Pete one day in Portal, Arizona and struck up a conversation with him.I felt he had as much intrest in me as I had in meeting him.He hit the nail on the head;generally it's the interest one shows,not the knowledge onehas that counts.
I am sure that anyone with any interest in birding will find this book by one of the top,in every way,birders in North America an excellent book;that I guarantee ! ! !

A superbly written, thoroughly enjoyable account of birding in the United States. Birders will recognize many of the places which they have visited, and will learn of new spots to see in their own "feather quests". A must read!

Fire on Ice was a fascinating look behind the superstar. Great insight on his life and family.More people should read this book and find out what makes Lindros tick.It was great to hear his side of story.Have recommended this book before to friends, now would like recommend this book to everyone.Fascinating read,what a life.Check it out.You willn't be disappointed.

Great book, easy to read, could not put it down. Anyone who wants to know the OTHER side of the Eric Lindros saga.... READ this book. A must for any hockey fan.

This book is a great book, I recommend it to any fan of Eric's. It takes you through his whole childhood and shares some funny moments. Its a great book. And it is not just because I am a fan of the Flyers, it's just a really good book and anyone who likes hockey should read about the struggles to become a great hockey player like he is.

reading this book gave me amazing insight into his life; his successes; his failures; his life. If only everyone could read this book, they'd understand his views on his refusal to play for the Quebec Nordiques to why his younger brother Brett had to retire from HIS hockey career and the tender age of 21. Great book and has been highly recommended to all of my friends!

Y

This book gave Eric Lindros a chance to explain his side of the story. Anyone who questions his past decisions regarding his career will gain a better understanding of the motivation behind them. It is also interesting to read about his life before he became a superstar and the determination and hard work it took to become one.

Life is hard - and there's always someone out to make it harder. "From the Dust" follows Eva Edwards as she tries to run her farm and raise her adopted child. Tate Prescott Brown has come to her farm to claim what he believes is rightfully his - the farm that Eva Edwards calls hers. A legal conflict ensues, as both try to do what they believe is the correct thing. "From the Dust" is a charming historical romance novel, highly recommended to fans and community library romance collections.

The setting of From the Dust set this book apart from every historical romance I have ever read. The story is set on the Canadian prairies during the depression and although the grit and desperation of the time and place make for an out-of-the-ordinary love story background, Kennie's passion for the landscape and her characters make this book unforgettable.

Eve and Tate's love story is gentle and sweet against the harshness of farming in the dustbowl. I especially liked the great cast of secondary characters (little Maggie, Hans Anderson, Hilda and Sam Sloat) that Kennie populated her small, dusty town with.

Overall, this prairie love story is well, well worth reading.

I loved both Tate and Eva. Secondary characters were interesting and added depth to the story. The unique setting and developing romance sucked me right in. I thoroughly enjoyed reading "From The Dust" and will be looking for more from this author.

It is perhaps unlikely that a publisher specializing in romance novels would be based in a small Eastern Oregon town. But unlikely or not, that is exactly where Black Lyon Publishing is located. Evidently it is a particularly fitting place to be, because virtually all their books are superior examples of their genre.<
Their latest is "From the Dust," a work of depth and genuine sentiment from a Canadian author.<
The opening paragraph of the novel is not what one would normally expect from a romance. It reads: "He died with liquor on his breath and poison in his soul. Doc MacPherson claimed that between the alcohol and the arsenic there were enough chemicals in his body to keep him picked to the second coming."<
The time is 1935 and the setting is remote Saskatchewan. The central character is a woman of achievement who has left all that behind, an intelligent woman who has been reduced to the essentials, and is ready to fight to keep what little she has.<
Rich in period detail and full of nicely-drawn characters, "From the Dust" is a solid romance that also has a good deal to offer to those who don't normally read romances.<
Romance lovers would also do well to seek out other Black Lyon titles...including one by its Publisher, Kerry A. Jones. "Orion in the Winter Sky" is just as fulfilling and intriguing as its title would suggest, as is Jones' "Cast in Stone."

A perfect blend of history and romance, I found Ryshia Kennie's From the Dust to be a double treasure.
The story unfolds as recently widowed Eva Edwards struggles to coax a crop out of the dusty land. She must succeed in running her farm if she is to provide security for herself and her young step daughter, Maggie. Strong, stubborn and beautiful, Eva is determined to succeed. But she soon discovers a bigger threat in Tate Prescott Brown, the wealthy Toronto veterinarian who stakes a claim to her land. As the unlikely romance unfolds gently and tenderly between them, the reader cannot help but cheer for the vulnerable and headstrong Eva and kind, oh-so-sexy Tate to overcome the obstacles that would keep them apart.
Truly an artist with words, Ms. Kennie's descriptions of the Saskatchewan prairie are so powerful I could almost feel the gentle prairie winds, almost taste the grit of dust on my tongue. Kennie has succeeded in creating a tender love story that touches the very heart, and an endearing cast of characters that will long live on in my memory.
Highly recommended!

When I read this book, I was very glad to see that there are solutions to the problems we face and that there is hope that our quality of life can become much better than it is. I really appreciate all books that tell us about solutions to problems and/or better alternatives to the status quo!

The trouble with the majority of writing about climate change and other environmental worries is that they make people think, "Oh, hell. It's too late anyway. Why even try to do anything?" The Geography of Hope is an antidote to this kind of thinking. I am now 54 years old, and when I was 20 years old or so, I devoured ecological jeremiads such as Rachel Carson's Silent Spring. The trouble is, back then I actually thought my civilization was doomed to fall apart before the end of the 20th century. This, fortunately, didn't happen and in the meantime I got sidelined by matters too complex to detail here. Now at last I am returning to my environmental roots, but I find I simply no longer have the patience and strength to wade through dour predictions of ecological gloom and doom. Chris Turner's The Geography of Hope is the first book on this topic that I have felt glad to pick up, because it shows that it is really possible to put the brakes to the looming climate train wreck before it occurs and that sustainability is already within our grasp using existing technology, if only we would commit to it. How inspiring!

If anyone is feeling that the world is coming to an end because of human folly...then you must read "The Geography Of Hope"Here you will meet individuals all over the world who are making the world a better place and there is HOPE !!!! Brav0 !!!

Chris Turner takes a year-long tour around the world, visiting places that are implementing solutions for sustainable living. A zero-net energy island in Denmark. Community Supported Agriculture in the southern USA. Plug-in hybrid cars. Earthship homes in New Mexico. Radical improvements in waste recycling in various industries. Examples of New Urbanism in city planning and architecture in Florida, the UK, Denmark, Colorado. Mass transit and city policy in Portland. Finhorn in the UK and Tibetan refugee communities in India -- for agriculture and community and deliberate living. A micro-hydro installation in a remote village on the Burma/Thai border built by local villagers, folks from a nearby refugee camp students, and local NGOs. He looks at questions like "what kinds of planning and structures inspire community?" "What exists NOW that can be building blocks for a truly sustainable world?" Inspiring and casual at the same time.

I have no background in environmentalism or connection to the author. As a general reader I thoroughly enjoyed this book and found it informative, inspiring and entertaining in equal parts. An unequivocal five stars!
The author is a journalist and disillusioned environmental activist. He is also a new father, and, concerned for his daughter's future, decided to do a global survey of existing, practical methods of achieving environmental sustainability. His perspective is what makes this book so refreshing: tired of the mainstream environmental movement's two main weapons of guilt and apocalyptic predictions, he searches for not just the means but the inspiration to change the way the world's resources are used. I found this practical, hopeful approach much more compelling than the doom-and-gloom, armchair analyst approach of, say, George Monbiot's Heat.
Potential readers should keep in mind that the author's previous opus was Planet Simpson, an exploration of the cultural significance of an animated cartoon series. This is a mixed blessing. On the one hand, it informs his writing with a pop-culture sensibility that makes for entertaining asides and a contemporary grasp of how cultural fashions evolve. On the other hand, the one time I felt we may be getting a little too much information was in the final chapter. There he describes how the epiphany of embracing environmental sustainability occurred to him at a Seattle Lebowski Fest, a cult-like celebration of a movie that he admits to "only begin to understand after the fifth viewing". Presumably fatherhood changed his priorities, and rather than strain his credibility, I found this geeky anecdote disarming. A Greenpeace diatribe this is not.