Leo Berenstain's short stories reminded me of W. Sommerset Maugham's writing. Hopefully he will write more...

These stories are among the most powerful I have ever read. In economical prose they show humanity at its worst but, unfortunately, a very realistic worst. The title story is of a man's cruelty to animals; it is the animals that show compassion. "Dialith' in, Christaki" tells of a mother, a foreigner abused within the family, and her love for her deformed son. In "Ring the Bells" a successful man retires to the village in which he was raised where he had rung the bells maniacally as a youth. "Bonds" is the story of love in a childless marriage - a story that is a bright spot in the generally bleak landscape of these stories. "Walk On, Old Horse" is the story of a political refugee returning home only to find no real home. The stories all are astute studies in human nature written in a manner that forces the reader to recognize the dark side of humanity. Not always enjoyable reading but so well done one can't set the book aside.

This is the best theoretical book examining a central concept to many family therapy models, triangles. Thomas Fogarty referred to this book as a triangles reference manual for family therapists. A great professional book for the library.

This book is easy to read, and extremely informative. It contains information that every citizen in this country should know about. I feel safer now, knowing and understanding the laws and the procedures that I must go through to file a complaint if I have been discriminated against. This is a must-have reference book!

I hope that the publisher will reprint this book that is the best book every written about this astrology branch.

I've just started War and Peace.....and already it promises to be as satisfying as Anna Karenina, so I can't wait to really get 'stuck in'. It is incredibly readable, lovely to get lost in, time flies by while you're reading it. His characters are so richly drawn, his ancedotes about each one are filling and often funny. I only wish that a translation by Pevear and Volokhonsky were available as they bring a fresh modern voice to translation (I can't wait to read their translation of Anna K. and 'The Idiot' by Dostoevsky).

So why am I writing a review of W&P if I've just started it? Well, first to share the fun I'm having and encourage others to give this great book a try.....and to invite others who have read the book or are reading it to write to me and share your comments. One of the best things about writing reviews on Amazon.com is that I occasionally hear from other reviewers or readers with comments on my reviews or recommendations of their own.....and I love it.

And I love Tolstoy! I think he's the best writer in the world. Although....quite honestly, the most memorable literary passage I've ever read was found in Dostoevsky's "Crime and Punishment". But you'll have to write to me to find out which one I'm referring to!

Happy reading!

Although my blind urge to read the Great Classics has (thankfully) faded somewhat over the years in favor of reading whatever I damn please, I finally decided it was time to give War and Peace a try. After all, how can anyone who enjoys novels resist the lure of "the greatest novel of all time"? And Tolstoy himself was an unusually interesting man -- not a screwed-up genius but one who seemed to eventually figure it all out. It took me maybe a hundred pages to get into the rhythm of the book and figure out who all those characters with multisyllabic Russian names were. After that, it was totally engrossing and surprisingly easy reading. There's no point giving you a book report on what happens -- you're supposed to read it yourself -- but I do disagree with some of the other reviewers who didn't care for the sections describing Tolstoy's philosophy of history. I found those sections (a very small proportion of the book) fascinating, albeit a change of pace. This is part of what makes the book great. War and Peace is not just a story of what happens to a bunch of made-up people, but a major work of art expressing the wisdom of a great man.

Few novels have the breadth and scope of detail as "War and Peace". This is a novel that took years to write and may take the average reader up to a year to finish. It is well worth the effort.

Tolstoy has successfully mastered the arts of military and romantic literature. Often times when these elements are combined in a novel the author is not particularly strong in both areas. That is certainly not Tolstoy's weakness. Tolstoy's one weakness is his tendency to engage in long-winded narration about his system of philosophy. I've always believed that if the author wants to bring his personal philosophies into a book, they should be woven into the fabric of the work and not kept as separate parts that break up the flow of the story. Fortunately these narrations do little damage to the overall story.

I have read many non-English language books from German, French, Russian, etc. authors that have been translated into English. "War and Peace" was the first and only one of those books which made me want to learn a foreign language. Translated works, no matter how hard the translator tries, can never stay completely true to the original work. Through the translations of Tolstoy's work one gets the sense that he had a command of the Russian language equal to Dickens' or Shakespeare's command of English.

One piece of advice: if you feel that it may take you longer than six months to finish the novel, you may want to keep track of the families on a separate sheet of paper like a family tree. In can get rather confusing with all of the marriages and child births that occur in the course of these family's lives.

Tolstoy's Anna Karenina is undoubtedly one of the greatest works of literature ever written. It is by no means a "light book" or an "easy read." As the reader diligently reads through this voluminous, 800 plus page, novel they live and experience the struggles of the characters. The novel centers on the two contrasting yet interwoven plots of the honest, loving and faithful relationship of Princess Kitty and Constanine Levin contrasted against the socially and morally condemned adulterous love affair of Anna Karenina and Count Vronsky. The novel's epigraph "Vengeance is mine, I shall repay; saith the Lord" alludes to the novel's theme of divine retribution, where the choices and actions made by the characters are either rewarded or punished by God. Anna Karenina is not a victim of fate or destiny but of her own selfishness and dishonesty to herself and others which leads to her eventual demise. Kitty and Levin are rewarded with happiness and a successful marriage because of their honesty and unselfish love. Anna Karenina delves not only into the human conscience but also into the conscience of Russian society; it is also full of symbolism for example Vronsky's tragic horse race, which symbolizes his part in Anna's destruction. As I read through all of the reviews I noticed that an important issue was neglected even from the review written by the publisher and that is that Levin is a partial autobiography by Tolstoy. Levin's strong inner conflicts, agnosticism and search for meaning in life was a reflection of Tolsoy's own beliefs. I wrote a term paper on Anna Karenina and through all the reading, research and time I put in paid off immensely and not just in terms of the grade. Although I at times resented Anna for her selfishness I could empathize with her struggle for independence which she never achieves. I cried when she killed herself yet hated her for this final act of selfness. This novel is a complex weaving of characters, emotions, and struggles but in the end the reader is rewarded by Tolstoy's pure genius.

I was on a binge where I was reading only 1,000+ page books, and so I decided to hit "War and Peace". However, as fate would have it, I heard a quote from the writer Ayn Rand who called "Anna Karenina" the "most evil book in serious literature". Well, as soon as I heard something like that I knew I had to find out for myself!

I read this book, and I have no idea what book Rand was skimming through when she arrived at her comment but it surely wasn't this one. This book is not "evil" in any way, shape, or form! I found it to be a tightly focused exploration of the rigidity of socially accepted relationships versus the desire of the individual to be personally fulfilled. In presenting this conflict, Tolstoy was not using Anna to illustrate the evils of adultery or non-conformity. I do think he targeted the tragic contrast in how male and female adulterers are treated. He also, through Kitty and Levin, explores the constraints faced by women as they seek true love.

Tolstoy is a consumate creator of three-dimensional characters. In addition, the scope of this novel is unbelievably large, exploring all types of relationships from old married couples to swinging singles. With a story this intricate there are probably dozens of interpretations as to what it all means, and I enjoyed reading other reviews here and learning what other people thought. It added to my own understanding. Only great literature can still generate that kind of reaction over a century past the original publish date.

Despite the obvious merit of this book, I almost wish I could go to 4.75 stars rather than 5. It may seem picky, but I feel that the way Tolstoy stapled his own socio-economic views onto this novel - especially and most glaringly at the end - was just awful. Those views seem out of place in this story, and should have been developed in some other book. Towards the very end, I felt these passages became especially pointless and even immature. He made the same type of error at the the end of "War and Peace," as well.

In any case, other than that one slip there's nothing but brilliant writing here. "Anna Karenina" is easily one of the greatest masterpieces of world literature.

I had finally read my 10 year old copy of Anna Karenina to death. Therefore I decided to buy a new one. I was a bit leery about trying a new translation, but this edition pleased me very much.

There are three main reasons that I recommend this book:

1. Great Story
2. Very good Translation
3. Durable Hard Cover

Great Story

In this novel Tolstoy presents marriage and human relationships in a realistic manner. Anna Karenina details a passionate love affair and it's doleful consequences. The reader experiences this tumultuous love from the point of view of the two paramours, as well as the friends and family members whom their lives touch.

Nevertheless, a tale about a cheating wife does not great literature make.

The existential struggle for meaning in life and the nature of God figures strongly as a theme in Anna Karenina. Overshadowing, in my opinion, even the experiences of the book's namesake. Any lover of philosophy will enjoy this book immensely.

The Translation

As I mentioned before, this is a good translation. By good, I mean the following:

1. Russian words are footnoted - Some words lose their meaning and cultural context when translated to English. Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky did a wonderful job leaving these terms in tact. There are notes at the back of the book that fully explain each Russian word.

For example, who knew that the "roll" that Stiva eats in my previous translation was actually a "kalatch?"

2. Names of the Characters are Preserved - Princess Darya Alexandrovna Oblonsky is also known as Darya and sometimes as Dolly. The use of names and nicknames is very important in language. I appreciate that the translator preserved the use of the patronymic and various names of each character. Too bad there is not a way to translate the Russian forms of address. Sigh.

3. Foreign Language Passages are Footnoted - Many of the members of the social sphere in which the book is set spoke multiple languages. Thankfully, when Tolstoy wrote a passage in French or German, the translators let it alone and wrote a translation at the bottom of the text.

Hardback

I tend to manhandle my books, so I like hardback. I think I've had this book for about a year. It's held up pretty well.

Unless you're the kind of person who uses bookmarks and doesn't fold pages, I recommend this edition instead of a softback book.

In conclusion, Pevear and Volokhonsky's work stands out as a stellar translation of one of literature's greatest masterpieces. I highly recommend this book!

Between Silk and Cyanide by Leo Marks is a brilliant autobiography of a master cryptographer in the Secret Operations Executive (SOE) of Great Britain during WWII. Written over 50 years after the war, Marks recounts in a lively and often self-deprecating narrative the importance of cypher revolutions that he, at the age of 22, invented. This is a deeply personal account that makes little attempt to place in context the greater role of the SOE and its operations during the War. However Marks succeeds by relating his interactions with his department heads, his work force, Generals and visitors of all flavors, and most intimately with the agents he briefed before their flight to the Continent.

The SOE was created by direct authorization from PM Winston Churchill to wage "an ungentlemanly war." The SOE established webs of networks throughout Nazi-occupied Europe to run clandestine agents both recruited in place and dropped in by air from England. The networks communicated by wireless for London to hear. But, as all knew, the Nazis were listening as well and had the power of crack cryptographic units to break the cyphers and direction-finding equipment in the field to route out the wireless operators. Most agents were ultimately captured.

Marks, in the Signals division of the SOE, became a practical cryptographer. The SOE had inherited the well-established poem code where a message is encrypted through a unique key poem that the agent puts to memory. There were several fatal drawbacks to this code. After sufficient traffic passed on the same poem, a Nazi cryptoanalysist could mathematically reconstruct the poem itself, opening all back and future traffic to direct reading. More commonly, the Nazis would torture the poems out of agents. To counter the torture of agents, and reduce the risk of capture in the first place, Marks invented worked-out keys (WOKs), letter one-top pads (LOPs), memory one-top pads (MOPs), and host of new codes to enable agents to never remember their cypher keys due to their randomness and to transmit messages with very short length. These cyphers were ultimately adopted through the SOE and later most all clandestine agencies.

The power of Marks' account derives from his personal contacts with the SOE agents he briefed on codes before they were dropped onto the Continent. Being the head of codes, and the undisputed master of breaking "indecipherables", Marks found himself in the position of reading top-secret traffic on the progress and/or capture of these brave agents. He discovered on his own through cryptographic methods that nearly all Holland agents had been captured by 1943. He followed the progress of the heroic Yeo-Thomas through Paris and the fateful Noor Inayat Kahn and Violette Szabo. And he learned the tragedies many agents met.

One overwhelming trait of this book is its hilarity. No doubt that Marks has had time to bring out the absurdity of so many of the events that he recounts which a lesser author would suppress. Certainly much of this book reads like a screen play. However, I caution the reader to errantly consider this book a Catch-22 because the facts relating to the disposition of various agents import the full horror of the War and the barbarianism of the Nazis. Marks held the key to protecting the life of the SOE agents in particular and later clandestine agents throughout the globe by creating new, fast, fault-free, and unbreakable codes which enabled the agents to remain in contact but not be routed out by easedroppers and enemy cryptographic resources. In this position he excelled beyond measure, but his narrative never presumes to reward himself for his brilliance. I thank him for providing us with his remarkable account.

An interesting tale by a young man who joined the Signals directorate right out of code school. I call it a tale because it is written in a novel-like format that makes it hard to put down. Our hero's talent for breaking undecipherables and formulating new, unbreakable codes (LOPs and WOKs) barely keeps him one step ahead of his poorly-timed wit. At first his wisecracks will annoy you. Later they'll become the thing you like about him most. A useful look inside SOE in London showing the home perscpective. All the others tell about the agents in the field. This is the story of the guy at the desk who worries that he's sending new agents into a captured cell. Lots of information on the Dutch disaster. If nothing else, it will teach you what an imprecise science coding and wireless operations are and you will better understand how the Dutch screw-up could have happened.
As a WWII re-enactor portraying an SOE operative, I found this book more valuable than all the other SOE books combined. Why? Even though there are other first-hand accounts, none are as well-told as Marks. Even though he was never an agent, his personal interaction with the famous agents (Noor, Violette, and Tommy in particular) make you feel as if you knew them. It's an excellent piece of writing.

A history of war at it's most secret and people at their most selfless, yet told with an eclectic sense of humor. The author has painted wonderful word pictures of the behind-the-scenes war, with the British often as much at war with each other as with the Germans. It reads like a spy thriller, yet struck me through with the poignant sketches of ordinary (and painfully young) individuals who placed themselves is such extraordinary danger in the occupied countries, and paid such a grisly price in the end, names such as Odette and Madeline, and Mark's beloved Tommy. He pays tribute to the thousands who worked tirelessly supporting these agents, thousands who could never discuss their work, and who would remain unsung but for this story.

While the entire code operation story was fascinating, and will serve as a record of this most remarkable group (almost all records of SOE from this time no longer exist), the real service of this book is to the memory of those who served in silence, of those who came of age in war, and those who never lived to see beyond it.

Based upon Michiavelli's first hand experience as an emissary of the Florentine Republic to the courts of Europe The Prince analyzes the often violent means by which political power is seized and retained, and the circumstance in which it is lost. Because The Prince is a political commentary, and not a work of fiction, Michiavelli does not use "characters" in the sense of a novel or a short story. Instead he draws his examples from the current political and social events, as well as from history. His characters are the political leaders of his time. The book is a declaration in plain language the conduct of great men and the principles of princely governments. The book can be divided into four sections.

1. The types of principalities. Michiavelli lists four types of principalities.

* Hereditary principalities, which are inherited by the ruler.

* Mixed principalities, territories that are annexed to the rulers existing territories.

* New principalities which may be acquired by several methods: by own power, by the power of others by criminal acts or extreme cruelty, or by the will of the people

* Ecclesiastical principalities, namely the papal states belonging to the catholic churches.

2. The character and behavior of the prince. Michiavelli recommends the following character and behavior for princes:

* It is better to be miserly than generous.

* It is better to be cruel than merciful.

* It is better to break promises if keeping than would be against ones interest.

* Princes must avoid making them hated and despised; the goodwill of the people is a better defense than any fortress.

* Princes should undertake great projects to enhance their reputation.

* Princes should choose wise advisors to confide and consult with

3. The types of armies A prince must always pay close attention to military affairs if he wants to remain in power. A prince must lay good foundation and those foundations include good laws and good armies. There cannot be good laws without good armies, and where there are good laws there must be good armies. The study of war should be a prince's main goal, for war is a rulers only art.If princes become too refined to study this art they loose their state. The types of armies are:

* Mercenaries or Auxiliaries (loaned to you by another ruler) are both dangerous and unreliable, as they will maintain their interests preceding yours.

* Native troops composed of ones own citizens or subjects are by far the most desirable kind.

4. Italy's political situation Michiavelli outlines and recommends the following

* The rulers of Italy have lost their states by ignoring the political and military principles.

* Fortune controls half of human affairs, but free will controls the rest, leaving the prince free to act. However, the few princes can adopt their actions to times

I just had an interesting discussion with a young man who was convinced that Machiavelli was evil. I found out he'd never even tried to read "The Prince", which is the quintessential guide to Machiavelli's political mind. This young man's preconception is a very common one, alas.

In this book, presented in short chapters, one finds a guidebook to taking power and ruling a small country. Nowhere does it suggest using excessive force, nor does it suggest gratuitous violence. It is straightforward and pragmatic. Machiavelli suggests keeping one's goal, political power, in mind all the time, and is not afraid to discuss unpleasant ways of getting and keeping that power. It is the essence of ruthlessness, but what politician doesn't do this every day? In every competitive, demanding occupation, participants must keep goals in mind constantly and work completely toward those goals. Machiavelli was just one of the first to codify how to do it. And codify he does -- the book is filled with suggestions on how to handle everything from whether to hire mercenary troops to how to make the commoners love you.

Though Machiavelli's writing is somewhat archaic and definitely rich in idea density, it is worth the read. I think everybody, from students to politicos to housekeepers to entrepreneurs, would benefit from the information contained herein. I do suggest getting a decent grounding in Italian history before the attempt.

This small yet informative book is the heart of power politics. It was Machiavelli's resume, written to help save both his country and his reputation. The book is often said to present a plan of leadership that is calculating and heartless. That is precisely the point; Machiavelli is a true historian who sets down the hard realities of what it is to be a leader and ignores lofty political ideals (making it obvious how few world leaders have actually studied it). As well as giving the modern reader a much needed history lesson, Machiavelli has a nearly prophetic knack for summing up the root causes of events from the 1st World War to Vietnam in a few sentences. It never fails to amaze me that leaders today would rather look at world events through hindsight than act on them by foresight.

In addition to Donno's excellent translation, this particular edition includes key points from The Discourses, which are guaranteed to astonish the reader with their obvious truth. After reading this numerous times, I found myself highlighting Machiavelli's major points throughout the book. It is not only political instruction but words of wisdom to live by.

Madame Bovary is a story about a common woman who marries an ordinary husband living an unglamorous middle-class life in a provincial town. It's that realistic. The heroine, Emma Bovary, longs for the wealth, romance, and adventure she finds in the Romantic novels of her time. After her marriage to Charles, a second class doctor, and moving to a small, mediocre town, she finds her life full of routine and banaltiy. She rebels, and seeks to satisfy her desires for a more glamorous life. This leads her to adultery and financial difficulties, which both lead to tragic consequences.

Emma Bovary is a character you will either despise for her actions or sympathise with and understand. It is true, her actions bring misfortune to her family, especially her husband Charles. Although he is weak and unambitious, lacking the gallantry of her image of a lover, his sentiments for her are genuine and she fails to see it. Moreover, he so trusts and admires her and never sees through her deception. I find that he is the character, if not most interesting, then most tragic and worthy of sympathy, as he becomes the true victim. As for Emma, like her or hate her, she is one who many will relate to.

This is not an exciting read, not fast paced or action-packed. Still, the messages in the book will reward your efforts. I'm no expert on Romantic novels but I think it's quite unlike other novels of it's time. Flaubert's descriptions and use of language are very moving, sometimes disturbing, especially when describing the ravages of sickness or pain. Those who like to contemplate on moral ideas in a literary work, or who love the beauty of language for the sake of it will enjoy this book very much.

This book is about a woman named Emma Bovary and her husband Charles Bovary. They are married and she becomes bored with his love and he doesn't satisfy her anymore. She becomes very depressed with life because what she imagined her love life to be is not at all what she is actually getting out of her marriage with Charles. Because of this fact she becomes attracted to other men she meets along the way. She meets a couple men and can't seem to stop thinking about them. Instead of trying to forget these other men she ends up having affairs with 2 of the men. She is affaid of what her husband will do but has the affairs anyway. She does end up seeing how much she does love Charles in the end. During Emma's deep quest for love I felt for her. She was a hopeless romantic in search of passion and a love like that towards herself. I feel as if Emma did not care enough to see the love that she did have for Charles until the very end of the novel.

In the opinion of our book group, this is still one of the greatest novels of all time in the richness of its descriptions and the loving, yet candid, description of the human condition. Flaubert's use of language and imagery is a beautiful representation of realism. His search for "le mot juste" - or exactly the right word - is still amazing. It was great to read this novel again through "mature" eyes. Life's lessons tend to lend a more sympathetic view of things. Although none of the characters are endearing, they are still engrossing. The story rings as true today as it did 150 years ago when Flaubert wrote it. All in all, Madame Bovary is simply, not just a novel, it is literature.