I finally got ahold of a library copy of "Carney's House Party," and I am so excited to have read it! It was another great look at Deep Valley life, and for me it was great to *finally* see where the heck Sam came from. (If you go right from the high school books to "Betsy's Wedding," you don't get much explanation who this Sam guy is and what happened to Larry.)

This book made me feel like I was right there at the house party, with my good pals from high school Betsy and Carney and Bonnie. I hope the publisher sees fit to reissue this title, as well as "Emily of Deep Valley" and "Winona's Pony Cart," so that those of us that are B-T nuts can finish our collections.

Only thing is that I wished there had been more about Tacy, since she always was my favorite character. But a very small flaw, indeed. The Betsy-Tacy world is a magical place, and very soothing to read about.

Good news Maud Hart Lovelace fans! Harper Collins publishers will be reissuing the Betsy-Tacy books, including Carney, Emily of Deep Valley, and Winona's Pony Cart beginning in December 1999. They will have NEW cover art and retain the Lenski and Neville illustrations inside.

I have 5 sisters and each and every one of us read all the Betsy Tacy books when we were girls. I read the ones of their childhood when I was little and then "graduated" to the High School and past, series as I grew older. Oh, so many fun hours reading them, trying to copy the wonderful Vera Neville illustrations, wishing I could live in Deep Valley just for awhile. Several years ago I startled the customers near me when I whooped with pleasure at finding these books in a bookstore -- just like I did a few minutes ago when I saw here on Amazon recommendations "Carney's House Party"! THANK'S Amazon!! I didn't know that that one, and "Emily of Deep Valley", had been re-published. I've just ordered both, (for me!) as well as two complete sets of the younger-age books for my two eldest granddaughters. This tradition is one I am happy to pass on -- I can't wait to give them this treat. By the way -- I don't agree with the 9-12 age rating for the books that are set in high school and beyond: they are really for a bit older, although there is certainly nothing harmful in them for little girls: on the contrary. But they are intended for a bit older -- say 12 and up.

If you've ever been in any branch of military service and have suffered through indoctrination, I salute you. As a former Midshipman (cadet) of the U.S. Naval Academy, I emphatically concur with each and every emotion James Webb conveys through his characters. I was both an ignorant Plebe, and soon thereafter, a "flaming upperclassman." If any enlisted person ever asked me the difference between a good and bad officer, I'd have an answer for this person: It wouldn't matter if this officer (or corporate leader) graduated from Annapolis. For if he/she survived Plebe Summer, you can bet that this officer will not only lead you through fire, but will smother you with compassion to douse the flames, as well.

Reading this book will humble you beyond belief. If you are climbing that ladder of success, you'll want this book next to your Palm Pilot. It will truly improve your relationship with both your employees, as well as your superiors.

I read this book last year and really enjoyed. Now I understand it and appreciate "A Sense of Honor" a great deal more. Why? Because I am a plebe at the U.S. Naval Academy. I'm struggling and having doubts like John Dean. Like Bill Fogarty I may end up leaving because of reasons I cannot truly comprehend. One thing is for sure, "A Sense of Honor" really stirred something inside of me and has helped me comprehend the magnitude of being a midshipmen, regardless of whether or not I graduate (I hope that I do)!

Like one of the other respondents, I read this book when originally released and ALSO re-read it every few years. Although set in a time some decades ago, the characters and themes of the Naval Academy are timeless. It should be "required reading" for anyone contemplating attending the US Naval Academy or for anyone trying to understand their loved one (father, brother, uncle, or now sister) who attended the "boat school". The book is basically a lesson on leadership at one of the preeminent leadership factories of the country by one of it's highly decorated alumni. As alluded to the ending is disturbing, but so is life.

I will reccomend the book "Where rivers change direction" to all my friends. It is easy to read and at the same time extremely powerful. If he comes to your town for a book reading, go see him. Mark Spragg stories come to life when he reads them. I can hardly wait for November to see him at Aunties in Spokane.

This memoir by Mark Spragg is one of the best books I've read in years. And I read a lot of books. His imagery and descriptive lines aren't just written. The words are sculpted into exquisite granite sentences like the mountains that surrounded him as he grew up on a dude ranch in Wyoming in the 1960s. I read the book two weeks ago and can still remember one or two, paraphrased here. He's shoeing a horse with John, one of the hands, and he gets put down a bit by a man he respects, perhaps, more than his father. He writes that he didn't mind being a boy, but didn't like being treated like one. Later, in describing his school, which had about 12 children, he says it was painted the color of an elk's eye. I mean, this is terrific stuff and there are lines like that on every page. The only other writers I've read who do this well are Barbara Kingsolver and Owen Parry. Sure, there may be others, but I've not read them yet. You have to read this book. It will make you laugh, perhaps cry, it will give you goose bumps and it will make you think. It is a gem.

Having never heard of Mark Spragg, I bought this book because it was the winner of the 1999 Mountains and Plains Booksellers Award. I can hardly wait for him to write more! The beauty of this book is how the author relates events of his life, particularly his boyhood, with such matter-of-fact innocence and honesty. I marvel at how candid he is with his thoughts and feelings. Wyoming comes alive because of the vivid pictures he paints with his words. I feel thankful that I found this gem of a book!

This book also has a recommendation by Teresa Jordan, author of Riding the White Horse Home, another of my favorite books.

Dr. Gottesfeld, Professor Emeritus & Director of Mental Health for NYC's Health & Hospital Corporation, and private clinician extraordinaire has written the classic work on this subject. More and more I hear his name associated with this subject nationwide. Having been in charge of NYC's 28 hospitals, he is the most savy expert on this important subject. A book too good to miss!

The very best book on the subject by the highly regarded Dr. Harry Gottesfeld. This book is on our shelves and in constant use. Dr. Gottesfeld, a Professor Emeritus in Psychology also formerly Director of Mental Health for NYC's Health & Hospital Corporation is the most respected clinical psychologist in this area.

Dr. Harry Gottesfeld is famous for his insights, thoughtfulness and well reasoned presentations. This book reflects those wonderful qualities, and explains the subject in a straight forward way. He is one of the few really respected experts in the field, having served as Director of Mental Health for the NYC Health & Hospital Corporation, Principal Scientist for the City of New York, aProfessor Emeritus of Psychology at CUNY. He also is well known for his human development and crisis intervention practice in New York City. Buy this book, it is a classic and the best in the field.

This was the most fascinating portrayal of life "behind bars" that I have ever read. A must read and it's also quick and readable . I enjoyed the narrative and description of prison food. You want to buy this book because it will probably give you a lot ot talk about with other people. It's a great conversation piece. It will also make you question the brutality of the federal prison system and understand why recidivism rates are so high. It was like taking an entire class course in one book. It is the kind of book that will make you want to dedicate yourself to studying this subject. A fundamental read if you want to understand the basics of the prison system. If you get arrested or are facing criminal charges this is the book you want to buy.

Behind the Bars is a criminal justice survival manual for the innocently naïve and felonious savvy alike. As Ross and Richards point out, it is just as easy for law-abiding John/Jane Q. average citizen to unwittingly be ensnared in the complex system of criminal justice, as practicing felons. Behind the Bars contains practical advice on how to survive the legal and correctional system. This book is a quick read that will have you running the gambit of emotions from lighthearted humor, to incredulous disbelief, to horrific shock. Above all, the book serves to remind us how vulnerable we are to systematic governmental victimization.

Behind the Bars begins by instructing the criminal justice system novice on the difference between constitutional rights in theory and constitutional rights in practice; the difference between misdemeanors and felonies; and breaks-down, for easy consumption, a convoluted system of incarceration (jails, state prison systems, and federal prison system).

Ross and Richards then take a realistic and humanistic approach to providing the "low down and dirty" on the prison experience. Most media sources, when discussing the prison experience, provide an austere or sensationalistic approach to explaining the prison experience, by regurgitating information provided by administrative resources and scholarly work based on distal information. Such resources may lead (and have led) the public in general, and criminal justice students in particular, to wrongly believe that prisons offer a wide array of personal amenities medical/vocational/educational services, and recreational facilities, making it appear that convicted felons are being treated to a taxpayer funded vacation in a modified version of a health spa. Ross and Richards provide the naked truth on the reality of the prison experience, and discuss in detail the difficulties of prison life for both prisoners and guards.

Based on personal experiences, Ross and Richards provide practical first-hand guidance that just might prevent the reader from being caught off-guard by the criminal justice system. As a criminologist and a participant in a prison ministry program, I found Behind the Bars to be insightful and disturbingly realistic, and would be a perfect ancillary text for academic courses on Corrections, Criminology and Introduction to the Criminal Justice System. Thanks to Ross and Richards we now know the rest of the story!

THERE ARE VERY FEW BOOKS WRITTEN WITH STYLE AND HUMOR THAT DISCUSS SURVIVING PRISON. BEHIND BARS IS A SURVIVAL GUIDE FOR PERSONS CAUGHT UP IN THE "INCACERATION MACHINE." THIS IS THE BOOK EVERY CRIMINAL DEFENSE LAWYER SHOULD GIVE THEIR CLIENTS. IT WILL HELP EASE THE PAIN AND REMIND THE VICTIMS OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM THAT, DESPITE THE WORSE THAT CAN HAPPEN, THEY WILL SURVIVE PRISON. I FOUND THE BOOK TO BE A FAST READ THAT PROVIDES ESSENTIAL INFORMATION KNOWN ONLY BY THOSE THAT HAVE SERVED PRISON TIME. I WILL BUY EXTRA COPIES FOR MY LUNATIC FRINGE FRIENDS.

No one writes the stories of big historical or social movements better than David Halberstam, and "The Children" is no exception. As readers of his other "big" books ("The Best and the Brightest," "The Powers That Be," "The Reckoning," "The Fifties") would expect, Halberstam chooses to tell the story of the budding civil rights movement not from the standpoint of the leaders, like M. L. King or Medgar Evers, but from the standpoint of the peacetime footsoldiers, who rallied the people and took the blows (literally) that ultimately ended segregation in the South. As always, Halberstam's prose is impeccable: intelligent, literate, witty, and above all, imbued with a deep and abiding sense of humanity. The young people in his story are heroes, but they're also people, and he makes us see them as such, with all their doubts, fears, and conflicting emotions. It's hard to think of a nearly 800 page book as a thriller, but I would dare anyone to read the first two sentences of Halberstam's Prologue and NOT feel the power of a master storyteller taking hold. To read "The Children" is to be reminded, and charged, by the power of democracy to achieve social change, and it is also to grieve, a bit, at how little has been achieved in the last twenty years.

I am not an American, and I often find that I come short when discussing history with my American friends. Therefore, I am always looking for books that can fill gaps in my knowledge. "The Children" is such a book.

This is one of the best books you can find covering the Civil Right Movement. With a journalists precision Halberstam narrates the extraordinary story of the rise of the Civil Rights movement, which in the end broke the back of the Deep South segregation. "The Children" covers the fight for racial equality, including student protests, the story of lunch-counter sit-ins, to the freedom marches. We meet Sheriff Bull Connor, Jim Crow on the one side of the fight, and the young students James Lawson, Rodney Powell, and Diana Nash amongst others on the other side.

Halberstam does an excellent job showing us what the Civil Right movement was all about, and what its supporters had to endure to end the segregation in the South. His first-hand familiarity with the conflict is evident throughout the whole book. (What most people don't think of is that, the covering the Civil Right movement was David Halberstam first "serious" story as a journalist for the Tennessean in Nashville. He was fresh out of colleague and a complete "nobody" in the world of journalism!)

"The Children" was my first reading on the Civil Right movement and it was a true eye-opener for me. I learned so much from this book. With 800 pages "The Children" is not a quick read, but I never felt that too much was included. Now, 2 years later I still refer to this book when discussing the topic.

This is one of the best books that I have ever read. "The Children" should be required reading for everyone. I couldn't recommend it higher!

David Halbestam's monumental book, the children, is a hymn of praise to a remarkable group of young people who did much, perhaps most, of the heavy lifting of the civil rights movement. But it is also the story of how one man, James Lawson, influenced a movement and changed a nation. There are many heroes portrayed in Halberstam's book, but perhaps the one indispensable person in the success of the civil rights movement was not Martin Luther King, Jr., but James Lawson. This is not to diminish or belittle the contributions of King, for what more can a man give than his life. But even Halberstam doesn't seem to recognize that the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 might never have come about had it not been for the remarkable acheivement of James Lawson in attracting and training the first group of young, tremendously dedicated non-violent protesters in Nashville in 1959 and 1960. This is one of the most inspirational books I have ever read, and while, as several of the reviewers have already noted, the book could have done with some paring of redundancies, if you want a story filled with heroes and heroines, with light overcoming darkness and the good guys winning, this is your book. It should be required reading for every young person in America. James Lawson, jailbird, "draft dodger" and the ultimate "outside agitator," has lived a life of consequence and significance that most of us can only dream about. The remarkable thing is that he found other young people who wished to live lives equally challenging. Human beings, if they are lucky, are given only a few rare opprotunities in their lives to make a real and great impact on their world. Lawson, Nash, LaFayette, Bevel, Powell, Brown, Johnson and the wonderous John Lewis among many others, seized their opportunity, and made life better for not only millions of Black folk held hostage to racism and ignorance, but for millions of their white oppressors as well. The great tragedy is that as the Movement entered its period of greatest success, it was, like the Russian Revolution, seized by some of the most radical elements in what had been the fringes of the movement. And we lost Martin Luther King, Jr., the most effective voice of the nation's conscience.

It seems to me, as others have said, that the discovery of LSD ranks up there with the top scientific discoveries of the century. The mere fact alone that there exists a substance, 50 micrograms of which, would be sufficient to perhaps reorient your entire life and understanding of the universe, whether or not one ever actually tries it, is well worth remembering on those occasions when we get a little too self-preoccupied. This book documents the history of the reactions of various individuals as they encountered this substance through an amazingly varied set of contexts, and through an intricately woven web of connections. I have a mild annoyance with the book in that the author is relentless in his effort to remain 'above it all' and regards everything with an amused and detached air. It is a puzzling attitude in a way. But the stories he tells are all well-crafted and make compelling reading. His lack of reflection on the ultimate meaning of LSD for our view of what it is to be 'normal' may be quite intentional, but it seems to give the book an unnecessarily superficial orientation which I found a bit strange.

_Storming Heaven_ is a non-ficticious account of the history of the spread of LSD in America and England during the 50's and 60's. It gives detailed accounts of all of the major players in the early days of the synthesization and distribution of this drug. It is not as thoughtful or philosophical as I hoped, and has little to say about the implications and nuances of the actual effects of the drug. However, I came to accept this book for what it is, which is a matter-of-fact description of how this drug progressed from the university offices and laboratories to the streets of San Francisco. This book has much to say about both the east-coast and west-coast acid scenes of the 50's and 60's. In the east, you have Timothy Leary, Richard Alpert, and Alan Watts, and their whole gang of weirdos hanging out in an acid-soaked mansion in Millbrook NY. It is very interesting to read about the(mis)adventures of these three men, all of whom (especially Alan Watts) are gifted and accomplished writers. For those who are fans of their work, _Storming Heaven_ is a must-read if for no other reason than to get some idea of the formative influences of these writers.

The west coast scene, in contrast, was less intellectual and more of a free-for-all. Jay Stevens describes the exploits of Ken Kesey, and the riders of his magic bus. Of course any discussion of Ken Kesey will inevitably lead to a discussion of the Grateful Dead, and the handiwork of their "chemist" mr. Owlsley. Stevens also covers the involvement of the Hell's Angels in this west coast movement. All of this makes for very entertaining, albeit light, reading.

In the spirit of the subject matter, the best word to describe this book is...cool. The author appears to have a genuine desire to objectively explore the history, for better or worse, of LSD and its role in American culture. Stevens does not approach this work being for nor against LSD. He just looks. As a result, this book comes out with flying colors...pun intended.

This book is a diamond in the rough for those who wish to take that same exploratory approach in reading about LSD and the history of this potent and controversial drug. It's not geared for people who are vehemently pro/anti LSD. Preconceived notions should be checked at the door before embarking on this adventure.

Stevens looks at LSD from its very beginnings, where characters such as Hoffman, Osmond, and Huxley help pave the way for much of what comes later in the book. As the narrative moves on, familiar names such as Ginsberg, Leary, Burroughs, Kerouac, Alpert, Metzner, Kesey, Cassady, Weil, Watts, and Wolfe, among others, enter and exit the stage like bit actors in this great showcase. If you've ever been enamored with the doings of any of those names, this book weaves a pattern from threads of various legacies in one fascinating tapestry.

As a caveat to the above paragraph, none of those characters is covered in much detail, with the exception of Timothy Leary. This is more a result of Leary's intense involvement with the scene than Stevens' focusing on one extraordinary character. Some of those people (Burroughs, for instance) make very brief but interesting appearances.

In addition to those mentioned, many unknown but intriguing characters fill the pages of this book. More than likely, every one of them will lead you to read on, until another name segues into the narrative. Stevens does a great job researching this story and presenting it to the reader in one piece.

Every time I review a book I do my best to find something which was lacking, no matter how much I enjoyed it. In this particular case, I have a hard time pinpointing anything to find fault with. The only complaint I might have is that it was too short. One imagines that pages and pages of material never made it to press and it's a shame this book had to end where it did. I would have kept reading if it were twice as long.

I do have to cede a point that one other reviewer makes. He comments that the prevalence of 5 star ratings, "reflects the weirdness and coolness of the events portrayed rather than the history itself." I do have to lend some credence to that point and admit that this may be true. However, as this subject matter is relatively new to me, the book still rates 5 stars in terms of an introduction to the subject. As a history on the subject, it's the role of the author to tell the story, and Stevens does that well.

In all, a great read. A fascinating perspective brought to you by someone trying to elucidate the ups and downs of LSD and the movement it helped create. Again, this is not going to be a favorite of the pro-LSD hippie or the anti-drug conservative. But for those of you who want a fairly balanced, comprehensive view of the history of LSD and how it influenced culture in America, I strongly recommend this book.

Very well done.

I found the Eyewitness Guide to be unexpectedly detailed in listing the various sights of the city, though not nearly as much as a more textual guide, e.g., the Fodor's. I'm sure, however, the photography is an element which helps tourists orient themselves quite a bit more easily than the more cumbersome (but more informative) Fodor's. That said, quite a bit of history and explanation is woven into the Eyewitness as well, and it makes up for its relative conciseness with enticing design. The guide is a book which would actually make one want to visit New York, and one which makes navigation within it quite simplified. Furthermore, it seems more portable. Combining quite a bit of information with the visual beauty of a National Geographic guide made this a success.

The guide does seem to be tailored quite a bit toward non-American tourists, with descriptions of how payphones work and of American cuisine. Still, a bit of laughably obvious information to Americans is made up for with such features as two page spreads for relatively unvisited museums and attractions, with isometric diagrams and "must-see" exhibits.

I have been collecting DK's travel guides for a long time and the least I can say about them is that there are absolutely no such travel guides available in bookshops like these ones. They capture all the very best of the cities and countries and allow you to enjoy the most of your travel destination.

Concerning to New York City, DK again manages to do a great job. I doubt there is a better way to explore NY.

I've been in NY three times. At the end of June, I will be there again. How could I get in the plane without DK travel guide???

It's a must buy, believe me. Guarantee your copy right away!!!

I live outside of New York City and rarely visit the city. But after Sept 11th I wanted a guide that I could use to explore the places I've never been to (as well as ones I have been to). The DK Guides are great for the amount of information they provide and this guide is no exception. There is information in this book that even a native New Yorker may not know. The book talks about the history and architecture of buildings that you may otherwise walk by. There are museums that I've never heard of. There are street by street maps of some of Manhattan's great neighborhoods. I have used the book to plan a walking trip from Penn Station to Rockefeller Center and back via Time Square. I am planning many future walking trips with this book. If the book is two heavy to carry, buy two. One for permanent reference and the other to "rip out" the pages of the places you are planning to visit. This guide book is well worth the money.

With 'Call Each River Jordan,' (the third episode of the "Abel Jones series"), Parry explores the Civil War in the Deep South. It begins with a harrowing account of the battle of Shiloh then proceeds deeper into Dixie, as the hero investigates a massacre of slaves. Parry's elegant prose is one of the greatest pleasures of this book and of the series, but I'm also struck by the greater complexity of the characters in this volume. It's also beatifully paced, with a finely judged accumulation of momentum. Some of the scenes, such as Parry's account of a horse race (in the voice of protagonist Abel Jones) are superb.

The three books (so far) taken in sum add up to a major statement about the war. Newcomers to the series need not read them in order, but having read one would probably want to read the others.

This is the best novel so far in a consistently wonderful series. Parry's remarkable, soldier's eye view of the battle of Shiloh is easily the most realistic, stunning picture of Civil War (or any) combat I have encountered. But this book is about much more than just that tragic battle. It's a dark (yet sunlit), riveting journey into the South of 1862, an honest, fair and complex portrait of slavery, and as beautifully-written as any novel I have read by a living American writer. The prose is musical, poetic, yet clear as clean glass, and the characters, from the wonderful Abel Jones to the Pickwickian Barnaby B. Barnaby make this an unusual novel at a time when characterization of the first order seems out of style in contemporary literature. I could ramble on about how much I loved this book--for which I was waiting anxiously--but I'll end by saying that, yes, it is a page-turner mystery--but the real mystery is how anyone could capture a lost world so beautifully and heartbreakingly on the page. Very strongly recommended for all who love good fiction, historical, mystery, or in any other genre!

This excellent book begins with a depiction of some of the most exciting, interesting and well-written Civil War battle scenes I have ever read. For that first chapter alone, the book is worth reading, but it is more than a battle book. Once again, the author has woven a tightly bound mystery into the Civil War era, and placed the intrepid Abel Jones right in the middle of it. This time, he goes into the Confederate lines to help find out why runaway slaves are being massacred. It's quite an exciting story, and the plot is moving forward even when you don't realize it. The writing is uniformly excellent, as usual, and all of the scenes are important, in addition to the depiction of actual historical characters. This is developing into a tremendous series, and I look forward to the next book, when I assume our hero will be overseas.

*The Truth Seeker* is the third novel in the O'Malley series by Dee Henderson (though readers should technically start with *Danger in the Shadows* first). Henderson in a short time has written and published several novels that are sure to please fans of Christian fiction!

In *The Truth Seeker*, Lisa O'Malley and Quinn Diamond are thrown together in an investigation of a lifetime. Lisa, a forensic examiner, is working the scene at a house fire/possible murder, when she is injured severely and forced to accept the willing help of both her family and Quinn. Quinn becomes a valuable part of Lisa's life by supporting her through her recovery and investigating a series of murders that may be related to his own father's shooting death twenty years earlier. Falling in love with each other is an inevitability.

As Lisa and Quinn work around the clock to find out the truth, the other six O'Malleys continue watching over Jennifer as she plans her wedding and continues cancer treatment. And as Lisa struggles with her own past and inability to believe in Christ's resurrection, Quinn prays that Lisa will follow three of her siblings in becoming a believer.

Once again, Dee has demonstrated a fine talent for writing Christian romance and suspense. This is definitely a must read!

I would agree with all of the people who say that they love these books. Dee Henderson is an awesome writer. I think the thing that I like most about these books is that they all just roll into the next book in the series. I have read other books that are part of a series and it seems that some of the facts change from book to book. Henderson keeps her characters consistant in all of the books and since the O'Malley's are a family you get to not only follow the romance and suspense of a sibling, but also enjoy the other family members that you have grown to love in the other books in the series.

I have loved all of Dee Henderson's books so far and you will notice that most of those that did not care for her books admitted that they did not usually read fiction books, or that they did not usually read romance books. I think that is one of the things that makes her books unique. They have a story that does not rely on romance alone. I enjoy suspense books and romance books and usually bounce between the two, this is a wonderful blend of the two.

I had been looking forward to this book's release for a few months now, and I was not disappointed. Dee Henderson is quickly becoming one of those authors whose books you just buy because you know that they will be good. In this book, she keeps up the pace of her first 2 O'Malley books--meaning once you start the first chapter, you will not want to put it down. We first got a glimpse of Lisa and Quinn in her last book, and watching their relationship unfold in this book is great. However, what I especially liked was all of the details we get about Lisa's job working for the state crime lab. If you are at all interested in Forensics, you will enjoy this read. Of course, I would be remiss not to mention the spiritual aspect of this novel (what truly sets Dee's writing apart from other books), as Lisa deals with the Resurrection. It definitely gives her character depth. If you have yet to pick up a Dee Henderson novel, you are missing out. I highly recommend the Truth Seeker, and I can't wait for the next installment.