West Virginia Books

Ambrose Powell Hill (A. P. for short) was one of the finest division commanders in the Army of Northern Virginia. His rise to corps command may illustrate the "Peter Principle," in which people rise to positions for which they are incompetent.

This book looks at his early life, including the triangular relationship among George McClellan, Hill, and Ellen (Nelly) Marcy. McClellan won Nelly's hand. Later, some Union troops wondered of Hill would have been less aggressive had he won Nelly's affections!

The story in this book begins with his youth and his early career in the army. When war broke out, he joined the Confederate army. The author, William Hassler, describes Hill's leadership qualities thus (Page 3): "A natural leader, Hill possessed that 'commanding resolution' which 'inspired by his voice, his example, and his personal appearance.'"

He showed a great ability with division sized command, leading what became known as "The Light Division," an oversized command that fought hard under him. His prickly nature came out with two corps commanders--James Longstreet and Stonewall Jackson. Both feuded with him. In fact, he was removed from Longstreet's command to Jackson's to get around the disagreement with Longstreet--only to see a second feud brew with Jackson!

His high water marks came at Second Manassas and Antietam ("and then Hill came up"). At the latter, his last minute arrival at the battlefield saved the day for Lee's forces. After Jackson's death at Chancellorsville, Lee reorganized the army and gave Hill command of a corps. His dicey health and perhaps his skill level were not up to the challenge., He performed poorly at Gettysburg and blundered badly at Bristoe Station. At the North Anna, he had another bad day. On the other hand, at Reams' Station, outside Petersburg, he thoroughly whipped Winfield Scott Hancock's by now degraded Second Corps.

This is a fine biography of Hill's life. I would have desired a bit more detail on the battles and some maps would have been be appreciated. Nonetheless, this is a good work.

This is a solid biography of General A.P. Hill. The prose flows well and is easily followed. Descriptions of terrain, deployments, and the action of battle are clear and concise. The author makes vivid use of source material to delve into the motives of the figures involved, most notably in recounting the conflict between Hill and Jackson, and to show what Hill's contemporaries had to say about his military abilities as well as his strengths and weaknesses as a human being.
However, the author does presume that the reader has considerable knowledge of the was as a whole. He does not spend much time explaining the significance of many of the battles, places, and people he references, instead focusing more directly on General Hill's involvement. This is not a problem, but the more casual reader might be well served to have some quick reference material on hand to help them get the most out of this excellent biography.

Hassler's book is an interesting read of one the Civil War's overlooked generals.

Hassler covers many areas of Hill's life, including: Hill's early years, West Point education, and contribution in several Civil War battles (specifically: Williamsburg, Seven Days' Campaign, Cedar Mountain, 2nd Manassas, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Wilderness, and Petersburg).

Particularly interesting were the descriptions of his tense relationships with superior officers (Jackson and Longstreet), his strong relationships with Lee and subordinate officers, and how he was well-loved by his soldiers.

While the book flowed well and the battle descriptions interesting, I would have liked to have seen more well-drawn maps so I could better understand troop movements. The lack of such maps is the only reason I give the book 4 stars.

Despite this, I highly recommend this book to anyone who wishes to know more about one of the Confederacy's overlooked generals. I also highly recommend James Robertson's new and more detailed book on A.P. Hill (I would rate his book better).

Robertson's work is a readable,even-handed treatment of this Confederate general who is overshadowed by his fellow Virginians, Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson. I give Robertson high marks for not trying to inflate Hill's abilities while at the same time giving Hill deserved credit for his hard-nosed leadership of the Light Division. After Stonewall Jackson is felled at Chancellorsville, Lee promoted hill to Corps commander. What Henderson shows is that Hill possesed the verve and warfighting skills to be an outstanding division commander, but he did not possess the strategic vision required of a corps commander. While Hill and Lee had deep respect for one another, Hill clashed with both Longstreet and Jackson. Jackson arrested Hill for not following his orders during the Second Manassas Campaign. The sting of that arrest was an insult that would never heal.Robertson probes these clashes objectively and honestly. I reached the conclusion that the imperious Jackson and the proud Hill would never have gotten along in any age, in any setting. It certainly was not a case of right and wrong. Roberston explains that Hill's poor health is the likely result of a case of gonorrhea which he contracted during his West Point years. Roberston provides interesting details of the competition between George McClellan and Hill for the hand of Ellen Marcy. The picture that emerges of "Little Hill" is a courageous,noble warrior who was magnanimous to friend and foe alike. Hill does not rank as one of the top generals to come out of the Civil War, but he is clearly in the same class as Forrest or Hancock as a tenacious fighter.Hill's death only days before Appamatox has become a metaphor for the southern cause.Finally, one cannot avoid the poignance that the name of Hill was on the dying lips of both Jackson and Lee. A powerful testament indeed to a spirited fighter.

This is a solid biography of General A.P. Hill. The prose flows well and is easily followed. Descriptions of terrain, deployments, and the action of battle are clear and concise. The author makes vivid use of source material to delve into the motives of the figures involved, most notably in recounting the conflict between Hill and Jackson, and to show what Hill's contemporaries had to say about his military abilities as well as his strengths and weaknesses as a human being.
However, the author does presume that the reader has considerable knowledge of the was as a whole. He does not spend much time explaining the significance of many of the battles, places, and people he references, instead focusing more directly on General Hill's involvement. This is not a problem, but the more casual reader might be well served to have some quick reference material on hand to help them get the most out of this excellent biography.

This is a refreshing and informative look at Richard Ewell, before, after and of course during the Civil War. Often described as a failure after succeeding Jackson and becoming leader of the Lee's new 2nd Corp, Ewell has suffered severe criticism for the first day of Gettysburg and for his emotional response to the breach at Spotsylvania. Pfanz provides a fair and colorful look at the dependable soldier that fought the second half of the war with a wooden leg and overall served much better than superficial history would lead you to believe. Pfanz profiles Ewell's early life efficiently noting that Ewell's family as a whole were eccentric and Ewell himself a very thin and balding man who spoke with a lisp. Although lacking in military forbearance, Ewell completes West Point and serves gallantly as a dragoon officer in the west occasionally fighting Indians with high praise. Pfanz provides a full perspective of Ewell as a brave soldier who initially though Jackson crazy and in a rather amusing historical telling, Pfanz describes how at one point several generals in Jackson's command think each other unbalanced. As Pfanz describes, Ewell fights extremely well for Jackson particularly at Cross Keys and at Winchester. Although literally pegged as an officer that follows explicit orders, Pfanz clarifies that Ewell fought extraordinary well particularly in the initial stages of the Gettysburg campaign in capturing Winchester and marching virtually to Harrisonburg. He also fought brilliantly at the Wilderness and for the most part at Spotsylvania. As Pfanz notes, Ewell saved Richmond during Butler's great onslaught attack in the fall of 1864, which is a little appreciated fact. After Butler captured Fort Harrison his attack is stymied by Ewell who masks his small force by using the woods to limit the view of his small defiant band. Richard Sommer's writes of this wonderfully in his book "Richmond Reeemed". Pfanz notes Ewell's one quality that may have not worked in his favor; he frequently asked the opinions of others in contrast to Jubal Early who frequently gave opinions. At Gettysburg, Lee's directives were not precise to Ewell who contended with his July 1 victory with rounding up 5,000 union prisoners, waiting for Johnson's division along with a report of union troops appearing on his left flank. On top of that, Early would not support an attack on Cemetery or Culp's Hill. Nor would Early support shifting Ewell's corps to the right to pull the lines together as Lee wished. Pfanz notes that communication failures appear to be the biggest command problem at Gettysburg along with a lack of forceful leadership from Lee along with the union's will to fight. Ewell also suffers a slight from Gordon, whose self serving personal history make him a questionable source, stung Ewell in Lee's eyes as Gordon relates how Ewell virtually squandered a surprise attack on the union right. Acting judiciously, Ewell orders the attack but may have looked inept to Lee after his brilliant attack and defense in the Wilderness. The almost humorous episode of Ewell trying to stop retreating soldiers at Spotsylvania, cussing at them and slapping them on the back with his sword appears too much for Lee and Ewell's ill advised attack that was suppose to be more reconnaissance in nature virtually keys Lee's decision to replace Ewell with Early when Ewell is momentarily ill. Unfortunately, Ewell's romance with his old flame and new bride caused a huge negative reaction with his staff particularly when she intervened with staff activities and her husband's time raising doubts about his focus. Pfanz provides fascinating detail on the correspondence between Ewell and Lee where Ewell sadly tries to return to command while Lee gently tries to tell him he is not needed at the front. Ewell finishes his confederate career in charge of the Richmond defenses finishing the war on the road to Appomattox at Saylers Creek when he is cut off and alone with Anderson's division. Pretty amazing story after the war that the man missing a leg, with several horses shot out from under him, and two horses roll over him, survives to live a life as a vigorous business man. Ewell was a modest man who, unlike Longstreet, died before Jubal Early rewrote his version of confederate history.

I disagree with a line written by Mr. Pfanz in his biography of Ewell.
On page 326 of the book he discusses the failure of General Robert Rodes to attack Cemetery Hill the evening of July 2.This has been discussed in every book I have read on Gettysburg. However, Mr Pfanz has decided to put his own spin on an old subject. He states "he(Rodes) tried to deflect his failure onto his subordinate Stephen D. Ramseur." This is the first accusation of disloyalty and pettiness that I have ever read of General Rodes.
I would ask the reader to check Rode's Official Report on the battle and try to discern how Mr. Pfanz could have come to the conclusion that the General was guilty of something so dishonorable.
Too bad Rodes is not here to defend himself. It is easy to malign the dead.

Pleasant reading but nothing really new on Ewell- a kind,brave and generous man who was very good at being a general until he was so severely wounded at Groveton.

There are three impressive aspects of this work. First, it is quite readable. The battle scenes and other events are as lively as a full color film. The historic characters are full dimensional figures who inhabit the book rather than being referred to. Even minor Ewell family members are brought to life realistically.

Second, the terrain is imaginatively and graphically depicted. The author has a real sense of the places and the climate of the times. This is also supported by good made-to-order maps of important locales.

Third, practically every assertion in the book is backed up by solid primary and secondary historical sources. This is done with no intrusion on the readability of the text. No judgment is made without balancing all extant points of view. A real work of moderm scholarship.

Finally, I was surprised at how much I learned about historical personages and battles with which I though I was familiar.

Pfanz offers a most credible account of the life and times of one of the "lesser" lights of the Confederate pantheon. While indeed "Baldy Dick" lacks the nobility of Genl Lee or the exciting eccentricity of Thom Jackson, this offering serves the good general well. I found the author pretty balanced in his recitation of Ewell's trials and tribulation, be it in the realm of military action or his personal life. While this text is 500+ pages of small print, those with a particular interest in Confederate military lore will appreciate author Pfanz's efforts to bring Richard Stoddert Ewell to life...

Gen. Richard Ewell. A figure from history that has been all but ignored until now. While many blame Ewell for the loss at Gettysburg, One finds a different side of the story. The reading flows smoothly. I have really enjoyed reading this book and getting to know Gen.Richard Ewell. The author expolores his background as a Dragoon, fighting Indians and his faithful service to the Confederacy. Also mentioned is his conversion to Christainity as a result of his rubbing elbows with Stonewall Jackson. I suggest you add this book to your library!

This book has a good range of information, easy enough language and concept presentation for those casually interested in restoration but also provides detailed, applicable info for the professional.

As a prairie biologist, I refer to this seminal volume frequently. It is the very best compendium of prairie restoration and management information.

Anyone who has been taken by the ecological romance of the tallgrass prairie, and hopes either to know in detail the ecology of these biomes, or to plant or manage one, needs to have this in the personal library. It's mostly technical, but wonderfully engaging for the "prairieophile." One doesn't really know the prairie until having read this book.

This is a top rate restoration hand book. Amazing amount of information from people who are out doing the work. It is a collection of essays/chapters written by the front-runners in the field. Everything you wanted to know from site selction to seed collection to fire management. Since it is written by actual prairie restorationists, not theorists it is practical and easy to understand. I will recomend it to everyone who is interested in the field.

Let me just say that it is nice that someone wrote more than just what plants to use. It is fairly easy to find prairie journals and books that describe everything except how to implement your prairie project. Packard had the good sense to know that seeding rates and implementation techniques are necessary information.

If you don't already have the original 1997 edition, then this is definitely a 5 star title. However, if you DO have the original, don't bother to buy this one. Despite the various developments mentioned in the preface to this 2005 edition -- advances in no-till planting techniques, restoration strategies for woodland wildflowers, methods for integrating native biodiversity into agriculture, and exploding Internet resources -- none are dealt with here. There is no updated information about weed problems and herbicides, despite the ongoing advance of invasives and development of new products. Lots has happened in the field in the decade since the prior edition was written, but you learn none of it here. This is just a reprint of the original -- and this is quite disappointing.

That said, what is covered is truly excellent. It just could have been far better with a thorough rewrite.

Russell Davisson's work follows the line of Daniel Davison (1630-1693) and is the definitive work in this area. Davisson corrects several commonly quoted mistakes of A.A. Davison's 1905 "Davison Family" work (refuting in particular the link between Daniel and Nicholas Davison (1611-1664)).

In short, every researcher of the Daniel Davison line should own a copy of this book.

Russell Lee Davisson's genealogy book will of course be of primary interest to all the Davissons, Davidsons and Davisons who happen to be kin. It should be noted, however, that he went out of his way to make his book interesting to non-genealogy buffs by including more than just a list of names, dates and genealogy charts. He was thoughtful enough to incorporate interesting historical facts along with wonderful maps and illustrations provided by Pierre Bergem.

Anyone who has done genealogical research will understand that it is not easy to come up with cute anecdotes for each ancestor. Most people searching for their roots are primarily interested in finding out who their ancestors were, where they lived and died, and most importantly, who their children were starting with Daniel Davison "The Exile" in the mid-1600s and being able to trace them down to the current Davisson generations. In this, Russell Davisson has done an exceptional job.

Russell Davisson concentrated on the Davissons who migrated from Massachusetts to Long Island, on to New Jersey, and on to West Virginia, Kentucky and Iowa. His dedicating a chapter to each generation and his numbering system for each generation makes it simple to keep track of a particular family line from Daniel in 1650s Massachusetts to the present. It took me less than half an hour to trace my wife's ancestors up to "The Exile" and saved her hundreds of hours of research.

Also of importance is the fact that Davisson, Davidson, Davison descendants who have ancestors in this book will get a tremendous bonus in the outstanding 33 page index of other surnames to pursue other branches of their family tree.

I feel fortunate to have a few copies of Russell Lee Davisson's book, "The Davissons". As my grandmother was a double Davisson in that both her parents were Davissons and it was from her that I came to love to hear about our family heritage and learn our genealogy, I am very interested to know more about this family and their time in America. Mr. Davisson's book is very informative and I too like the drawings that are in it. I am glad to have my copy as well as a few extra to give to new found cousins who also exhibit an interest in this family history.

Obviously, this book is not going to have wide appeal. I bought it more to put on display than read. My grandmother had done the genealogy work long ago so I already had the information.

Russell Lee Davisson has done an admirable job of making a rather dry subject come alive. The illustrations are the best part, putting a face on some locations. I would have appreciated some anecdotes, or greater historical background of the time periods. At the end of the day it is a list of names. It is, after all, a genealogy book. The book itself is nice looking, and goes on display well. Nothing fancy.

Some of his conclusions are a little odd, and his references to "Gaelic Propaganda" reveals a strange prejudice. As a student of the Scots-Gaelic language with friends in Gaelic speaking Scotland, I found this off-putting.

All in all, a nice book if you happen to be a Davisson

The book is excellent. Don is a friend of mine and it is like he is sitting across the table telling you the story. He comes across in the book just like he is in person.

Don's Nehlens's memoir is a short read. Primarily, he misses the mark regarding Major Harris. DN's praise of Major is somewhat subdued especially in light of the significant role Major played in making WVU a success. Under the "Best QB" category, DN praises Bulger for for having the "Strongest arm" and Hostetler for being "Most accurate" but fails to create a qb category to recognize Major. Gee, how about most mobile or best option QB? DN was a good coach who did a lot for WVU, no doubt about it. However, he did lose some big games and many bowl games which were important for the overall success of the program.

Yet, Don continually makes excuses for his bowl record in the book and cites 1.) underachieving teams 2.)players who couldn't stop anybody 3.) facilities at the bowl games 4.)media attention 5.) injuries etc.,etc.
The MOST frustrating part of this book is when Nehlen complains that his coaching staff got fired after he announced his retirement. Nehlen seems shocked by this? Did he really think Rich Rodriguez wouldn't want to bring his own people in as Assistants? Typical Nehlen - his fairy tales need a reality check.

As a long time WVU Football fan, I found this enjoyable. It's a very easy read and not short enough to be read in an evening.

It's nice to see some of Don Nehlen's memories and thought of his career at WVU. Reading this book brought back a lot of memories both good and bad of some former games and players. Also, the chapter about how Coach Nehlen was approached and accepted the job at WVU is interesting as well. The book really gives you a good background on how important Coach Nehlen was not only in building up the WVU Mountaineers football team, but also how important his was the University as well.

If you are a Mountaineer fan, pick this one up. It would also make a good gift to a fellow Mountaineer too.

This book would be a great addition to any West Virginia University football fan's library or to anyone who likes college football. You get to learn what it takes to be a college football coach and what sacrifices the families of coaches have to make. There are good stories about certain players Coach Nehlen had on his teams and why they were significant to Coach Nehlen plus how the famous flying WV logo was created.

Mary Colter was an amazing woman. As an architect, she built structures that blend into the native landscapes in ways that enhance the landscape rather than detract from it. Her sense of style is still very much with us today in her love for Native American furnishings and artifacts. Her attention to detail has been largely responsible for the recognition of Southwestern art by those of us who live outside the region.

That said, the book is a bit lean. It seems to be written for the casual reader rather than the scholar. But, given that it is marketed to the reading tourists, this is most probably appropriate. The many pictures (about half the pages) really help to bring the text to life.

This book is a wonderful souvenir from the southwest, especially the Grand Canyon. This is its scope. Much more could have been written about Colter as one who broke through gender restrictions, about the spirituality that informed her work, and other topics. Depending on the reader's interests, this could be a plus or a minus. To this reader, it was just about the right level of detail.

Although I agree with the reviewer who says that Mary Colter deserves a far better book, I still highly recommend this one, as at least it fills in a gap that's almost the same size as the canyon where Colter's buildings still stand today. More people should read it so that some will be inspired to write more!

This book is exactly what you'd expect from a book purchased at a gift shop at the Grand Canyon, bland.

It is by no-means in-depth and spends more time describing the antiques that Colter decorated her buildings with than with her life. Colter was a fascinating woman and I would have liked to learn more about her than this book provided.

Being as how Colter isn't exactly someone you're likely to read more than one book about, I would recommend purchasing something with more pictures and information than this one, which is more just a basic outline.

"Builder upon the Red Earth" is not the slick tome of expensive color photographs and analytical drawings that Mary Colter's unique contribution to Twentieth Century American Architecture deserves. However, this essentially biographical book is the only one in print showing pictures and telling the history of Mary Colters extrodinary talent.It is not clear if Mary Colter's obscurity is due to the fact that she was a woman practicing architecture in a time when the field was dominated by men or if the remote Southwestern locations of her most interesting works kept them hidden form view, but it is high time more people took a serious look at her work. Colter's projects, which are "built ruins" foreshadow the work of Western deconstructionist architects like Antoine Predoc or Tom Maine. Showing the work of Colter which is almost 80 years ahead of its time "Builder upon the Red Earth" should be in every young architects library.

This is a really good cookbook. Being that I was born & bred in WVA. , A lot of these recipes brought back a lot of good memories.

I ordered this cookbook to give as a gift, and I was extremely disappointed. If you want recipes from the Greenbrier, or expensive meat cuts that the average WV family would have eaten only on special occasions, this cookbook is for you. But if you want to capture the down-home, authentic flavors of everyday West Virginia, look elsewhere. The whole cookbook didn't have a single recipe for pinto beans, and only 1 or 2 recipes that used them as an ingredient. I plan to return this cookbook, and get something that more truly represents West Virginia heritage.

While a great concept, I should have known that these editors who have written coookbooks for 38 states would not be able to capture the true essence of local flavor.

In the pages of Best Of The Best From West Virginia Cookbook, culinary experts and editors Gwen McKee and Barbara Mosely have gathered together under one cover more than 350 superb recipes drawn from (and showcasing) fifty-seven West Virginia based cookbooks. From Dora Mae's Southern Corn Pone (Keaton Mills Family Cookbook); White Grass Chili (White Grass Cafe Cross Country Cooking); and Glazed Apple Slices and Carrots (For the Love of Kids); to West Virginia Gold Cake (Serving Our Best); The Greenbrier's Beef Stroganoff (Christ Reformed Church Historical Cookbook); and Strawberry Wonderful (Generations), Best Of The Best From West Virginia Cookbook truly lives up to its title and claim. Of special interest for cookbook collectors is the "Catalog of Contributing Cookbooks" appendices.

A nice but not extensive revision of the earlier work. If you already have the first edition then the main reason for buying the second is the updated price guide. If you don't have the first edition and you are interested in Blenko, this book is a must have.

I easily found all my Blenko items. Price section is a plus!! Photos are excellent. All around great book for serious collector of Blenko!!

The revised edition of this book is not much of a revision. Except for the cover photo, a half page list of Blenko colors by years, several photos added, mostly from one particular collector, and an updated price list (arbitrary and useless in many respects, because collectors don't really pay much attention it) the book remains the same. If you have the first edition, my advise is not to waste your money on this one.

I was disappointed when I realized the publishing house just used the same document of the first edition, and just replaced several photos. The writer and editors should have used better photos and a more modern page design, and also include photos from several collectors, not just one. A complete revision would have been a worthy endeavor. Unfortunately, the editors chose the easy way out, and the results are clearly mediocre.

"Dawn, the Alpha Dog..." is quite a personal story, even if it's fiction. I couldn't help but read it as 95% fact.

I'm intrigued by this Dawn person, who made me think of these famous Eagles lyrics...

"And I found out a long time ago
what a woman can do to your soul
Ah, but she can't take you anyway
You don't already know how to go"

The girl has issues. And her issues obviously give Adam issues.

I especially enjoyed the story about Adam's discrimination of disabled folks, though. I have nothing insightful to say, really. It was just interesting to read his take on it all. I've never considered myself discriminatory of anyone, really. But, the biggest thing I learned in college was that a person's mind is his truest asset. And the author has a brilliant mind.

I thought the book was very well written, being written in the first person it creates a great window into Adam's world. I believe anyone that reads the book will have a greater understanding of what Adam lives with everyday.

Although "Dawn, the Alpha Dog... and Related Stories" is billed as a collection of short stories, for the most part it reads as one a coherent story told as a series of moment-in-time snapshots over the course of a relationship. It's well written and an engaging read, with characters that you can believe in and root for - or sometimes against.

The stories are written in the first person, and Adam gave the protagonist the same disability he has. One of my favorite aspects of the book was the inclusion of little asides that give insight into what it's really like interacting with other people when something as "simple" as speech is a significant effort. But at the same time the story is universal; the real communication issues in the story are the same ones anybody would face in Adam's character's situation.

I found the book to be strongest when it was telling a continuing story, and weaker in the occasional moments it lived up to the "collection of short stories" billing. One of the stories doesn't feature Dawn at all; it was a good story in its own right but felt out of place in the context of the book. Another focuses primarily on the protagonist's struggle against a (perceived) vice, with only a tangential connection to the relationship with Dawn. It's perhaps not fair to fault the book for the times it's exactly what it claims to be, but I can't help feeling that those pages would have been better spent fleshing out the main storyline.

My only other complaint about the book is that it's too short - I'm just greedy :)

One more thing: don't buy the book if you're going to be offended by discussion of sex. It's not by any means explicit or pornographic but it doesn't shy away from the subject, either.

This, for me, still stands as Jayne Anne Phillips finest and most accomplished achievement. Ravishing use of language which never loses sight of the essential humanity of her characters. Not to play favorites, but the stories here that speak most eloquently to me are the two chapters that were excised from her novel MACHINE DREAMS and reworked -- BLUE MOON and BESS. Exquisite.

As I was checking to see if Fast Lanes was still in print (I've had scored of copies over the years since it's release in hard cover and I've passed them along to friends) I was jolted (by the one HORRIBLE and misinformed Amazon reader comment) that I couldn't let that stand by itself. One, it is almost criminal that this book is out of print. WHY?? And two, from this collection of short stories, to her other works (Shelter, Black Tickets) Phillips is a master poet who ties together magical language, a connection to her West Virginia roots and a her unique skill to write from a woman's viewpoint. This collection is filled with a voice like no other and I'm off to the British version of Amazon.com to see if the Brits are a little hipper than American pubishers. A wonderful collection!!

As a tightly woven collection of thought provoking short stories, this book is a miserable failure. However, as a showcase for flaccid verbiage, trite characterization, and themes so worn as to be almost pitiably jejune, it is a success on a scale unparallelled since the publication of C. S. Lewis's "Boxen," which the author wrote between the ages of 7 to 12. Since Jayne Ann Phillips is well in her forties, she cannot be granted the benefit of the doubt granted to Lewis. Phillips's characters were so undeveloped as to resemble pencil sketches rather than portraits; her sex scenes were almost comical, seeming to lack any real feeling or even anatomical knowledge; and her plots seem to alternate between contrived and derivative. One of the characters in "No Left Turn" seems to be the prototype for "Friends'" Chandler, and her story "Daddy's Farm" bears a plot so reminiscent of "Starship Troopers" that it borders on plagiarism. There are redeeming qualities Ms. Phillip's magnum opus. It deals with themes such as incest and botulism which are inherently fascinating. One only wishes that a more masterful hand had taken up these most serious of themes. It has one final redeeming quality, one shared with all other books, it ends... eventually...