This book is a fairly good modeller's reference for the FW 190 D-9 aircraft.

The first half of the book is a walk-around with photo's inside and out- though not super extensive. This section could have more detail.

The best part of the book is the last half which includes color profiles of aircraft featured in b&w war-time photos- great information for tactical markings, and gives a good interpretation of the oftentimes confusing late-war German colors.

This book ties in with Kommandeur Decals which brought out 1/48th and 1/72nd scale decals of each of the aircraft featured in the second half of the book (but these may be hard to find now). Each of the subjects featured in the book is interesting in its own right, varying from run-of-the-mill markings to the unusual.

Overall, a must-have reference for Dora fans, whether they model or not.

malcolm bosse is a gifted writer,I read his book with alot of pleasure(it took me about a week). the way he describes the main characters by the events that brings them together and splits them up again is rather tragic but I think that this is a good way to profile china with it's long history

Prince Rupert of the Rhine, the best general of the English Civil War, had a British mother (Elizabeth Stuart, the Winter Queen), but was raised a German prince. Having fought gallantly for the Protestant cause in the Thirty Years War, he came to England to defend his uncle, King Charles I, against the Parliamentary uprising. Through his dazzling performance as head of the Cavalier horse, he continued the royal tradition first established by King Harold (and centuries later embodied by Prince Albert): the foreign prince who, through his exertions wins the awe and respect of the locals. Despite Charles' execution, he prosecuted the Royalist cause well into the 1650s as a naval privateer and commerce raider, and, after the Restoration, became one of King Charles II's admirals. (Indeed it could be argued that his naval career was his most remarkable achievement.)

George Malcolm Thompson, a former journalist, relates Rupert's story with verve - then again, Rupert's vigorous life is a story that really tells itself. A fine portrait of a great hero.

I just got this book a couple days ago and there are alot of great projects. Everything can be made in a short amount of time. You have at least one project for every member of the family at any age ranging from booties, a baby blanket, toddler clothes, a tank for your teenage girl, a sweater for the guy, and some great items for the 30ish old female - love the fringed cable belt. The yarns are a bit expensive, but it's so easy to sub another yarn. Everything is labeled either easy or intermediate, but more are on the easy side. I also have the Chunky Knits book, and will probably work from Weekend Knits more often.

A special interest was taken because I am a property owner in Wisconsin's northwoods. I had a friend that was an old time logger starting back in the 1930s. The book was extremely informative. It covered areas that included the evolution of the tools and machinery that were used to fell the giant white pines of the north that were used to build many of the houses we live in today. It also covered the large volumes in which woods that we considered virgin, were logged and then held in holding ponds until the spring thaws came. The ponds held back the water in large amounts through the use of dams. The logs were then sorted and sent through sloughs, Where the imense flow of water carried them down rivers to their destinations. In some cases these were log yards that had the saw mills right on property. From there, to be shipped to the local lumber yards. I highly reccomend this book to anybody who has stood in the middle of the big woods and wondered how long it took for the different species of trees to grow. And how could you get such giant trees out of there with just a wagon and oxen or horses. If you decide to read this book, sit back and let your mind wander back to a much simpler time but one of the important periods in our history.

The first in the Stevenson family saga, and the first of Macdonald's many novels. This story is set in very early Victorian England from 1839 to 1841 against a backdrop of railroad building and and the economic upheavals this revolutionary form of transportation caused in it's youngest phase. Nora Telling, a brilliant but impoverished young woman of socially deplorable origins hitches her wagon to the star of John Stevenson, a navvy posessed of highly unusual talents whose own past is mysterious, stimulating to one's curiosity, and never clearly revealed, but not before meeting up in a manner later discomfiting to them both, with John's friend Walter Thornton, engineer and gentleman, who is looking forward to his upcoming marriage to Arabella Paine, Victorian ultra-lady. Each man soon discovers what a gem he (and the other) has taken to wife. The Stevensons start an ascent from poverty by their wits and any other means they can muster, above board or otherwise, while the Thorntons embark on a genteel connubial life. Or so it seems. Macdonald demonstrates a great gift for reconstructing the period of which he writes and fascinating us with it. Here he illuminates for us the great railroad boom and infant trade unions while relating the personal triumphs and tragedies of canny John Stevenson, and his commecially insightful Nora, hedonistic Walter Thornton and his vexatiously virtuous Arabella. Watch for the author's sly tribute to one of the classics of Victorian erotica.

Noel Malcolm's reputation as an authority on the Balkans has been established by his previous (and equally illuminating) studies of the region. In Kosovo: A Short History, Malcolm traces the origins of the myths that are relavant in regional conflicts today. But his book is more than just an explanation of historical fact: his prose and research are exemplary! Contrary to some other criticisms, his sections on ethnicity and linguistics are fascinating! The allegations of bias are valid but only in the intellectual sense that all history is subjective and therefore biased. I am Serbian, and I must admit that I approached this book with the same scepticism I approach all material relating to Serbia. Most of the content published today trivialises Serbian feelings towards Kosovo, and the Albanian's struggle for equality as well. This work is interesting and informative - a must for any student of history and anyone who wishes to understand the Balkans of today.

Frankly I'm amazed at those reviewers who accuse the author of anti Serb bias - this can only mean that anyone who doesn't go along with the full panoply of Serbian nationalist mythology and sense of victimhood is anti-Serb! This book is genuinely illuminating and helpful and even-handedly takes swipes at both Albanian and Serbian overstatements. For example, contrary to what some Serbians say, Kosovo simply is not the cultural 'cradle" or 'heartland' of Serbia - if anywhere that is Rascia (Raska) further north, well within Serbia proper. On the other hand, despite what some Albanian historians claim, medieval Kosovo was definitely predominantly Serb. And so on. Also the author says - and I strongly agree - that a more positive interpretation needs to be taken of the Ottoman empire - compared to many European states the Ottoman empire was a model of tolerance and good government - at least to start with (it degenerated later into incompetence and corruption). An excellent book and well worth reading - it will probably annoy Serbs and Albanians equally. One criticism I do have is that the author spends a lot of time discussing details of documentary and linguistic controversies which interrupt the narrative, are not always easy to follow, and which ought perhaps to have been banished to the footnotes.

Remarkable for its thoroughness in its research. Malcolm has dug up many documented sources that seem not to have seen the light of day for some time. According to Malcolm, "there is not a single library, in Western Europe or even in the Balkans, that offers all the relevant materials under one roof." That is a tragedy. But it goes along way to explaining the distortions of the region's history. The citation list for this book is a virtual tour of libraries and holdings in the cities and towns of the Ottoman and Austro-Hungarian Empires and those of the Great Powers of the 19th century. Again this isn't surprising as a great deal of the historical mythology was created during the last half of the 19th century.

"Kosovo: a short history" is remarkable in its clear, readable prose. This is not a dull text. And the region and its history should have been better known to the West. Right through the book, well-known historical figures make cameo appearances. My favourite was a fellow who in 1912 or 1913 was " shocked by the evidence he encountered of atrocities by Serbian and Bulgarian forces." The fellow would later become better known as Leon Trotsky. But the book is full of these oddities. It isn't surpising. Look at a map and Kosovo was an overland route to the Middle East - and a bulwark of the Ottoman Empire against Western and Central Europe: Christian Europe. I should have known all this much earlier, but - like most western educated historians - I didn't pay enough attention.

Herzog is a story of modern man's strugge to withstand fate. He craves for explanations, reasons, tries to retro-fit justice in his world disfigured by failure and tragedies. Fall, disillusionment, jealousy gnaws at him, he suffers, yet cannot forsake the desire to transcend, by deriving a world view which he understands and explains his fate. Liebnitz preached the doctrine of 'sufficient reason' for all that is good and evil, Volitaire ridiculed this in a tiring tale of human suffering in Candide. Herzog is a victim, like Candide, mired in personal tragedies, seeks transcendence through intellectual theorizing, and ultimately finds refuge in the stalemate of Peace.

Fiction typically delights in rich content and the beauty of its telling. That way, Seul Bellow's Herzog, is not a smooth book to read, it is full of haphazard incisions and brooding. But then it is not a pretty fairy-tale either! Its the story of a 'mad heart' tormenting a middle-aged, sophisticated and sensitive mind. I wouldn't say this is a "must read book", for I didn't find too many flavors the reader would cherish to remember or ponder over. There are bits of philosophy, for example, Herzog's rejection of pseudo intellectualism for solace, appeals. It is strewn with unsent letters to all the shadows haunting his fatigued-consciousness; his children , lovers, psychiatrist, friends, lawyer, brother, estranged wife, the President, Nietzsche. If read in the right light, these letters reflect the storm raging in his mind. For the suffered reader, this is a delightful free fall through hell, with a safety chord of objectivity, often precariously tenuous, owing to Bellow's mastery.

This novel would certainly not qualify as a light read. It requires a quiet setting, no distractions, and your close attention. As is often the case with what I would call "intellectual fiction", the plot is not all that complicated. Moses Herzog, twice divorced, is coming to grips with the dissolution of his second marriage, wherein his wife has taken up with his best friend.

What is complicated is Saul Bellow's trip deep into the psyche of his protagonist. Herzog is on the edge of a mental breakdown, and as one way of working through things he write notes and letters to colleagues, friends, celebrities, etc. Sometimes the notes are written out, and sometimes just done mentally; there is no intent to send them. These notes and letters (although admittedly central to the story and to Herzog's character) also serve as a showcase for Bellow's own intellectual acuity, a notion I could never quite put aside. The notion that Bellow was, to put it plainly, "showing off". All and all, though, this really is a challenging read and one that will give you a good idea of Bellow's style.

Herzog is one of those books that works as fiction due to its absorbency of the fallibility of the human as well as its intellectual dynamism and humanity. Moses Herzog is a professor of Romantic literature who plays victim to forerunning intellectual precepts, a vicious and psychotic ex-wife, and so on. He is perpetually writing letters that will never be sent in order to exorcize any and all forms of anxiety attached to his life of blundering love and blinding intellectual pursuit. Herzog is ultimately a character that places the human on the pedestal next to the Olympian gods, however, he does so with oftentimes painfully humourous deliberation and gut-wrenching despair. He loves his children as well as his literary forebears. Yet he can't seem to find any solace for his stalled life in either(the reason being he can't actually possess either). So, he finds himself. Herzog gradually comes to terms with who he is: a professor, a Jew, a degenerate, a bleeding heart, a contemplative, a man. That's enough. Applause all around for Saul Bellow's absurdly harrowing account of a man in search of scholarship and the intangible foundations of the human heart.

I've loved every one of Anne's vampires and witch books from the beginning. She has the ability to take a concept we are used to and approach it from a different angle. Merrick, however, is good, but more of an extra chapter to the other witch/vampire books than a novel that stands on it's own. In other words, if this is the first book by Anne you're picking up, I recommend you start at the beginning with "Interview with a Vampire."

For those of you who are familiar with Anne's writing and style, Merrick is a witch related to the witches in "The Witching Hour," who comes into contact with the vampires in her other novels. Throughout all of her books, she has teased us with a cross-over and now she finally did it.

Is this a good book? I sigh and hesitate with this one. Yes, it's good, but only if you're a die-hard Rice fan and you want to know what's going to happen to Lestat and are curious about another encounter with Claudia (yes, there is another, this time with the help of a voodou witch by the name of Merrick.)

However, Anne isn't really up to par with how she wrote the first three vampire novels. Whereas I couldn't put down "Vampire Lestat" for the sheer fact that each passage was truly intriguing and I was dying to read what was going to happen next, "Merrick" can have it's dry moments. Unfortunately, this is what happens to excellent authors: their publishers give them complete creative control and don't recommend anything, such as editing, to spruce up what is already good. "Merrick" goes off on a tangent about history and backgrounds of characters that I'm sure we'll never see again and only concentrates on our heros and heroines only at the end. Of course, this isn't nearly as bad as "Violin," but better and a nice addition to the Vampire Chronicals.

If you're an avid reader of Rice, I think you'll like this addition. Plus, there is a cliffhanger ending that will make you anxious to read the next one in line. I'll give you a hint: The Talamasca is getting too pushy!

If you're a new reader to Rice, I recommend you start with the first. I used to say that you can completely skip "Interview with the Vampire," and go straight to "Vampire Lestat," but with this one, I think you should go begin with the first as well as read the Witch Chronicals. Playing catch-up will take time, but that is so you could identify with all of the characters by the time you get to this edition. Otherwise, you'll enjoy the other novels first and find this one good.

Overall, not a bad edition to the Rice collection. Could have been better, but seemed a novella stretched out to a novel.

Also, for those new readers starting out, here's the list in reading order:

(Vampire Chronicals) "Interview with a Vampire" "The Vampire Lestat" "Queen of the Damned" "Tale of the Body Thief" "Memnock the Devil" "Pandora" "The Vampire Armand"

(Mayfair Witch Chronicals) "The Witching Hour" "Lasher" "Taltos"

P.S., "Vittorio" stands on it's own as a vampire novel not related to the Vampire Chronicals, so don't bother.

While not as powerful as INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE, THE VAMPIRE LESTAT, or QUEEN OF THE DAMNED, MERRICK is, nevertheless, a return to form for Anne Rice's Vampire Chronicles. The plot is straightforward: on behalf of Louis, who is still guilt-ridden over child-vampire Claudia, David Talbot approaches his former pupil and enamorata, Merrick Mayfair, with a request to raise Claudia's ghost. A relative of the poweful Mayfair witches, Merrick joined the Talamasca at the age of 14 and has tremendous powers. As she has in other books, Rice employs a great deal of recollection. Much of this book involves David recounting his relationship with Merrick for Louis. Fortunately, these recollections are interesting and inform the reader, as much as Louis, what forces have shaped Merrick. When the action settles into the present and Merrick raises Claudia from the dead, it's a great rollercoaster ride to the finish, full of surprises. I hadn't read a Vampire Chronicle since I threw MEMNOCH THE DEVIL against the wall in frustration. If you've been waiting for Rice to return to form, MERRICK is for you. I closed this book with a smile on my face!

David Talbot, vampire from previous novels, sets the stage to have Merrick, a witch, help him raise the ghost of Claudia, a vampire child destroyed in "Interview With The Vampire".

Merrick will begin telling her story to Talbot, taking him from present day to days gone by in New Orleans, to the Maya Ruins of a century ago, bringing vivid life to the witches of the Talamasca, as well as the vampires. Before ammends can be made with the ghost of the dead child, these stories will have to unfold, and come together for both the vampire and the witch worlds.

"Merrick" is classic Anne Rice; sensual, dark, eerie, gothic, lush detailing, and always a pleasure to read. This is Rice's best book in years, bringing the two worlds of the witches and vampires together in a story that is completely fascinating.

As any reader of Anne Rice knows, her novels need to be scarce on the plot description, as to keep the reader captivated in the web she is spinning with her story.

Anne Rice has created a great heroine in Merrick, and readers will welcome her return in future novels.

Fans of her books will enjoy their favorite characters making return appearances, but new readers may be confused as Rice uses many, and I mean many, of her characters from "The Vampire Chronicles" and "The Mayfair Witch's" series.

A MUST read!

Nick Gonnella

Stephen Crane has written an excellent work in The Red Badge of Courage. This book takes place in a period of two days, giving Crane plenty of room to expand on his themes and go into great detail. This book catches the reader's attention by presenting the Civil War in such great detail that the reader cannot help but picture the scenes in their own mind.

The Red Badge of Courage tells the story of a youthful boy, Henry Flemming, who goes to war. After many rumors of battle cause Henry to doubt his courage when faced with battle, Henry's group finally goes into battle. Henry does not run away during the fighting, and gains confidence. However, the second battle that he sees causes him to flee. The rest of the story tells of How Henry comes to terms with his fear, and eventually returns to the battle line.

The only complaint that any reader could have is that Crane uses almost too much detail. Because there is so much detail, the reader could loose track of the plot. The great detail is, however, what makes this such an outstanding book. Any reader that can get "into" a book will thoroughly enjoy The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane.

The Red Badge of Courage is interepted as many as being an anti-war novel: it is not.What it does do is present the horrors and psychological aspects of war war without glory, but not without heroics and courage.Henry Fleming is in many ways an every-soldier: he joins the army out of patriotism and to prove his manhood; when the time comes to fight he doubts himself and runs away out of fear. It is at this point Henry comes to the crossroads of his young life: instead of completely deserting his unit he returns to his regiment and the battlefield out of a sense of duty and also out of shame and anger at himself. Once he returns he peforms heroically on the battlefield. I feel Crane's purpose in this books is not to make some overblown anti-war treatise like All Quiet on the Western Front, but to portray what he believed( and may soldiers who read the book agreed with him) to be the emotions and feelings of a soldier in war and also the true motivation behind courage and heroism. Crane shows through Henry, that heroism and courage in war is not something that comes naturally to man(or any animal, as shown by the squirrel scene in the forest) or can simply be conjured up out of blind obedience or extreme partiotism. Crane in fact argues the opposite: courage in war(or in and courage in reponse to violence) is something unatural, something that must be accomplished by overcoming our own natural fear and flight instincts.Henry is able to perform herocially because of anger, his sense of duty, his feeling of brotherhood toward his regiment and out of something deep inside himself that even Crane ( and nobody) could not totally understand . This is a great book about heroism, courage , brotherhood, duty and the psychological aspects of war. It is not a books that glorifies war ,nor it is it an anti-war treatise. It simply tells a story about war in a world where war exists.

Peace is a rare circumstance among major nations in the last 150 years. When war pushes peace out, everyone quickly realizes why peace is so important and desirable. When peace returns, the next generation can quickly fail to grasp its significance. In extreme cases, this can lead to romanticism of war.

Books like The Red Badge of Courage and All Quiet on the Western Front are important ways to pass along the message of how undesirable war is.

The Red Badge of Courage offers another benefit. Stephen Crane takes us into the mindset of mid-19th century America. At that time, the spiritual and the tangible were closely entertwined in peoples' minds. You will find a lot of religious metaphors in this book, that a modern writer would be relatively unlikely to use.

Another benefit of reading The Red Badge of Courage is that it helps to understand the profound effect that the Civil War has had on the United States. The significance of these events remains fresh for many Americans, while others ignore the events totally.

Although it is certainly not an easy book to read, it can be a rewarding one. You will find that you can discuss this book with a high percentage of all the people you will ever meet who like to read. That's a pretty nice benefit from reading a fairly short book.

I also recommend that you also think about where in your own life you have developed misconceptions that could harm you.