I read this book while I was visiting South Africa and I would encourage it for anyone who is interested in an overview of life under apartheid. It was published just before apartheid ended, so the reader must look to other sources for a post apartheid look at South Africa, but I found this book to be well written, insightful, and interesting. South Africa is a very complex culture and that complexity is not always portrayed in American media. Hochschild lived in South Africa and his love for the people is evident in this work.

Not knowing the exact dangers of the country at that time I assume that there was mose leniency in the story than would be true of the real events.

Cassandra Van Dorn is a firm believer that secession would bring a halt to the Civil War. She is willing to help in any way possible, even to stealing military papers concerning the safety of Washington. Getting caught was not in her plans but a very dangerous possibility.

She is caught by none other than Captain Jaren Montgomery, the infamous "Masked Marauder" and dashing aide to President Lincoln. Jared has been on the search for two years, looking for the secessionist leader who killed his brother. Revenge is his motive.

Cassie is hampered by her mother, Alicia Van Dorn who blithely smuggles "shipments" of morphine to the southern side where her husband, Robert Van Dorn is a field doctor.

Cassie and Alicia are soon invaded by Alicia's 36 year old sister, Evangeline. Aunt Vangie turns out to be a sneaky, secretive woman with her agenda. She claims to want to help Cassie to secure a husband. One of title and wealth.

Ah, but now the fun begins -- Cassie is forced to deliver a "shipment" to her father and is in need of rescueing on her way back. Then she soon looses her sense of morality and shacks up with Jared. [Which in that day and age I don't believe many young women would willingly let themselves be "ruined", especially as with those in England when they are trying to contract an advantagious marriage.

But these two, through their touching and feeling, kissing etc., are looseing their hearts to each other without complete trust and that is leading to misunderstandings and suspicions.

The antics are sometimes hilarious and the outcome most unexpected but fitting.

Recommended but -- --M still a good read -- Has a cameo appearance of Trevor Caldwell -- and a bit of a catch up of Trevor and Brianna from REBEL MINE. Love those catch ups!

This book is a real time saver when trying to locate parts or vendors. I have owned MOPARS for 15 years and I found many new distributors. It is organized well although it could use some dressing up. The appearance is the only thing keeping it from getting five stars but if you want parts, this is the place to go.

I loved the entire book. This is my peronal first of reading anything by Douglas but this book is a perfect (or PREfect) for a beginer.It's tantalizing and Adams has a world class imagination.

Finally someone has done a through guide book of ohio. The information in this book could be a little more up to date, but that is a little hard to due with trail expansions and closures. I'm extremely happy to see the book because I met the author while riding at mickeys mountain, in norteast ohio, with two friends. Although the author put some of the pictures with different trails . I'm on page 137, in the front. Needless to say I was stoked to see my photo in print.

Mountain Bike VA is an excellent book for the mountain bike enthusiast or just someone who enjoys biking at a more leisurely pace. Divided by VA Counties; each ride has detailed instructions on how to reach the trailhead, associated costs, distances, type of trail, difficulty, a trail diagram which includes a trail terrain profile, a couple of pictures and a witty, descriptive narrative. Well worth the minor cost and then some. I highly recommend it.

Kids love insects until adults teach them not to. But there are many fascinating aspects of insects and the most fascinating (at least to me) is their body structure and function. This book, while a little pricey (especially since it is partially sponsored (funded?) by Orkin), provides a very nice introduction to the general body structure and function of insects. I wouldn't have a problem recommending this book to anyone whose child wants to learn more about insects. And then let them decide if they want to pay the price.

The book follows a student named Fred Smertz who loves to eat insects. The book does let children know that Fred is unusual and they "shouldn't try this (eating insects) at home." The book uses a story line in a poem to lead the reader through the tutorial on insect body structure. This might be a little much for some 12 year olds, although I was able to enjoy it. But then, since I'm an entomologist, I'm already a little weird.

The book is very nicely illustrated and does a wonderful job of explaining the basic concepts of insect structure, such as body parts, external and internal anatomy, metamorphosis, the differences between some insect orders, and even some insect behavior. Everything is chosen to continue childrens' interest in insects without overwhelming them with scientific details. Younger children (4-8) might have a small problem with the "technical aspects" of this book in that some of the illustrations and related concepts are not laid out as simply as they might be. On some pages they are mixed up with other graphics. However, parents will learn a lot from the book after their kids have finished with it. And I intend to show this book to one of my colleagues who has responsibility in 4-H for possible use in our state insect programs for children.

In the reprint of her first novel, In the Shadow of Kings, Nora Kelly offers some curious, almost apologetic prefatory remarks about her protagonist, history professor Gillian Adams. That novel was rough, though admirable in its efforts. This work demonstrates what that preface hinted at: Nora Kelly has learned a lot about writing mysteries.

This time Gillian Adams is back home, chairing the history department at fictional University of the Pacific Northwest in Vancouver. Grassroots efforts to start a women's studies program at the university result in misogynistic reactions in the form of pranks and protests. When the student leader of the feminist movement on campus is murdered, Gillian must confront the possibility that a student, or worse, even one of her colleagues, may be responsible.

This novel is polished and competent, with the same fluid style of Kelly's earlier work, but with a more richly developed characterization of Gillian. If the competence of this work portends a trend, I look forward to reading more of Nora Kelly's work.

Most people dont care about what is really true in history, but Prof. Rashid's case is strong, but who would care about his lone voice? It's frightening how the world is indifferent. Some most notable contemporary economists enjoying huge fame, but under careful scrutiny it reveals that the truth about the emporer's cloth. Steve Wang wrote a very revealing book about Paul Samuelson, demantles his myth piece by piece, who has ever read that book?

I think Rashid underestimated Smith's role: anything that we do on this world somebody has done it before, i n one form or the other. Economics is about human behavior, therefore some humans knew it well ahead of Smith. His great historical role is not in being original, but his first putting in strong emphasis and clear thinking.

Native American myths are always primitive, raw, peculiar, and sometimes entertaining, but might not be for everyone. This particular book is not daunting, at about 200 pages, with most of the myths being relatively short. What the authors have tried to do is present the myths in a general, more literary approach, and with some reference to similarities with other mythic traditions. Starting with the native "pantheons", then to their conception of the cosmos (creation, flood, afterlife, end of world), then to hero myths. Of these the last section was the most entertaining, the other myths end up being etiological and rather simple. If you are interested in the mysths in their more original forms there is "American Indian Myths and Legends". This book is more like a primer, but is at least a good overall introduction to what is really a vast mythological tradition.