Vachss started out as one hell of a crime writer ("Strega", "Blue Belle"). But by "Down in the Zero", he looked as played out as the Rolling Stones. "Footsteps" showed he's still capable of writing brilliantly.

What makes this novel great is that it shows Burke has changed considerably from the person he once was (no longer carying a gun, keeping his temper in check), yet the change is completely plausable because, at his core, he's the same person (tough and cynical). Vachss's humor is as sharp as ever. So is his prose.

Burke, ex-con- not ex-cop- finds himself hired by a police- woman who insists that a recently arrested serial killer is innocent, and wants him to find proof. Burke's old nemesis, Officer Morales, is her prime suspect, and is also hot on Burke's tail. A gripping page-turner, one of Vachss's best.

Burke is the anti-hero of the nineties. If you are ready to move on from the Robert Parker series than you areready for this new, extremely neurotic individualist. There is a zen quality to Burke -- things seem to happen around him and he has limited chances to influence his situation. He does have a team of equally colorful cohorts, who are perfect role players to Burke's Michael Jordan. Once you get used to this character its hard to stop liking him.

I was hoping that this book would go a lot deeper into the ideas behind the 5 elements in Asian design thinking. The pictures are nice, but the text, the reasoning and emotional value behind the elements is surface and sparse.

Wonderfully illustrated book and serves as an excellent source of inspiration Buy this book!

The photos are gorgeous. They do an excellent job of incorporating a variety of Asian cultures into one book.

I think the best way to understand Said is to see him as an admirer of culture, especially western literature, but an uneasy admirer. Said was not born in one of the European capitols but in Egypt and so he grew up well aware of the east/west conflict & nowhere was that conflict more apparent than in the Palestine and Israel situation. Perhaps his own background and growing involvement in Middle Eastern affairs led him to begin reading the classic western texts in a more critical way than those that came before him and from western backgrounds. As an easterner Said in his cultural studies was therefore especially attuned to the way the east was representated in the west. Judging by his 1978 study Orientalism he was appalled at what he found.
There were schools of criticism that dealt with economic realities and historic realites before Said but only a few studies had concentrated on racial bias as a determining factor in cultural production(ie:Benita Parry's 1972 Delusions and Discoveries). Saids approach was groundbreaking and it brought to cultural studies a very timely and responsive social relevance. No one can really ignore the impact that Orientalism had. Even though the ideas in the book were all in circulation before Saids book Orientalism brought a new intensity and immediacy to them. To Said cultural artifacts can never be divorced from their political context and so his work often resituates each work he discusses within the political situation from which it arose. This is often very interesting but not without considerable controversy because while Said can be quite a profound thinker he cann also be a highly speculative one as well. Many of his arguments hinge on only partially convincing evidence and so to follow him is sometimes more an act of faith than one of reason.

In this carefully selected anthology of Said's work spanning more than three decades, pieces written at different times and from distinct priorities, here held together, become illuminating commentaries upon each other. The Reader embodies Said's own insistence upon the struggle to maintain an inspired connection between intellectual concerns and political consciousness. However, one problem with this book is the evidence of lax proofreading. We are confronted with too many typographical errors in a text that should have received better technical attention before Vintage took it to print.

Edward Said, the renowned literary & cultural critic & passionately engaged intellectual, is one of our era's most formidable, provocative, & important thinkers. For more than three decades, his books, which include Culture & Imperialism, Peace & Its Discontents, & the seminal study Orientalism, have influenced not only our worldview but the very terms of public discourse. The Edward Said Reader includes key sections from all of Said's books, from the ground-breaking 1966 study of Joseph Conrad to his new memoir, Out of Place. Whether he is writing of Zionism or Palestinian self-determination, Jane Austen or Yeats, music or the media, Said's uncompromising intelligence casts urgent light on every subject he undertakes. The Edward Said Reader will prove a joy to the general reader & an indispensable resource for scholars of politics, history, literature, & cultural studies: in short, of all those fields that his work has influenced and, in many cases, transformed. "Said is a brilliant & unique amalgam of scholar, aesthete & political activist.... [He] challenges & stimulates our thinking in every area." --Washington Post Book World. "No one studying the relations between the metropolitan West & the decolonizing world can ignore Mr. Said's work

This is not Abbey's grand work nor was it intended to be. This is a small collection of one-liners and pithy observations of a highly talented, self-admitted misanthrope. "Growth for the sake of growth is the ideology of the cancer cell" is a prime example.

Abbey was a truck riding good ole boy and was about as politically correct as a punch to the head. His backpack was not designed by Gucci and his boots were mostly army surplus but he spent a life time outdoors, not behind a desk finding fault. His writings, his actions and his public appearances brought more awareness of nature and its plight to the public than did the combined number of his critics by a factor of 1000.

Borne just before the depression, he did not see all wild game as Bambi or Thumper but, as a child, watched as his father hunted for the table. Abbey may not be for everyone, but, by the same token, neither is Mr. Rogers.

A great service was provided Edward Abbey fans with the publication of this marvelous little tome. Now we anarchists have a handy source of short bits by Abbey to plaster on our webpages, our mail, and even our car bumpers! Up with nature, down with Empire!

If you have read only a few of Abbey's books these quotes might not mean anything to you. This is not a story but is just a collection of quotes. Although he likes to make broad generalizations like 'all rebels are good' that is part of what makes Abbey so endearing. He doesn't sugar coat his opinions. I may not agree with all he says but I do respect him for at least putting it out there and not backing down. It also gives a lot of insight into his writing and reveals some specfics that you would have to read every book of his carefully in order to understand. It does make for a great reference and is interesting to see him contradict himself. You could very easily write 'Down the River with Abbey' by using this book and it would have much the same feel as his book concerning Thoreau. A great book for just thumbing through or reading out load to friends on a long car trip.

This page is about a book by, among others, "Paul" Furlong. I haven't read it, but neither did any of the other so called "Reviewers." Instead, we get gushing statements in praise of the actor, "Edward" Furlong. Now I like Eddie, but wake up folks: this book is not about him! Amazon should exercise some supervision and delete reviews that are obviously inappropriate, including this one.

The book, great. But you other reveiwers makee me sick! You're raving on andd on about how much you LOVE a guy you haven't met! YOU CAN'T TRULY LOVE SOMEONE YOU DON'T KNOW! You groupies are saying howEddie is so hot. And he is, but there's more to a person than their looks. Sure, I would like to meet the one who made my heart soar when I watched those movies (I even saw Home of our own In french

edward furlong is the hottest actor in the world. he shall be mine. and this book was so good. he's so cute. he's the best actor in the whole world and he shall be my husband. thank you for reading this. and that other chick who reviewed this book should hide.

An okay book for little one's to be read to bed. It sure could put me to sleep.

It's a day of firsts at Merryhill Farm. Dumpy is off to his first construction job away from the farm, building the new school playground and Charlie is off to his very first day at school. New firsts are a little scary and Dumpy's radiator feels full of bubbles while Charlie's stomach has butterflies. Each feels a bit lost at the beginning of the day...Charlie, meeting a new teacher, Mrs Bundle and making new friends and Dumpy, feeling a bit overwhelmed by Buzz the Bulldozer as he works hard on the new playground. But both do very well. And, at the end of the day when Steady Gus the School Bus breaks down and Mrs Bundle doesn't know how the kids will get home, Dumpy and Charlie save the day..... Julie Andrews and her daughter, Emma Hamilton are back with a new and endearing Dumpy story, pre-schoolers will love. Their gentle text, full of true to life situations, little ones will identify with and silly sound effects is complimented by Tony Walton's wonderful expressive and colorful illustrations and together they let youngsters know in a very positive way, that firsts can be fun.

I have been a fan of Mr Howard for nearly 12 years now, which in my opinion, makes me a bit of a connoisseur, and frankly this book was a bit of a disappointment. Undoubtedly the contributing writers are well-respected and immensely able but their writing lacked the Howardian flavour I have come to love. Ghor's sudden personality shifts are hard to follow and the various ideas in the story lack sufficient depth. This book is not the way Mr Howard would have written it. Nevertheless, this should be read because the original idea belonged to the great REH.

Ghor is a nice blend of Conan and the Cthulhu Mythos together. Abandoned as a child because of a deformity, Ghor is adopted by a pack of wolves. Raised by them, he adopts the ways of the wolf, yet when he meets up with humanity joins them. Constantly struggling with his wolf upbringing and his human surroundings, Ghor becomes a mighty war hero wherever he goes.

This is an excellent adventure book that takes a Conan like hero and plots him against all sorts of evil (and good), including some Cthulhu creations as well.

Originally Ghor was an unfinished story by Conan creator Robert Howard. Upon finding this unfinished story, a magazine decided to finish it. What they did was have a different chapter every month written by a different top fantasy writer. It made the reading interesting.

While most of the chapters were great. Some were excellent. Unfortunately there were a couple chapters that I just wanted to get through to reach the next writers' chapter. Overall a really good read.

I WAS VERY SUPRISED ABOUT HOW WELL THIS STORY CAME OFF. THE VARIUOS WRITERS DID AN EXCELLENT JOB IN WRITING AN EXCITING BOOK THAT FLOWED SMOOTHLY. IT DID NOT COME OFF AS A SERIES OF SHORT STORIES. THIS IS AN EXCELLENT BOOK FOR ROBERT E. HOWARD FANS, AND FANS OF FANTASY IN GENERAL.

Book is too massive to hold while reading. Pages not sequential due to frequent insertions of other articles and reproductions. Good nautical history but doesn't flow . A difficult read and practically impossible in bed.

"America and the Sea" is a magnificent study of our maritime history. It is magnificent in breadth starting with Norse settlements in North America and continuing through the end of the 20th Century. It is magnificent in depth as it delves deeply into key areas of historical importance. With numerous vignettes, the authors are joined by others in capturing detailed views of people and events that make history come alive. It is magnificent in presentation as it uses colorful illustrations and pictures, many with captions that are history lessons in themselves.

Writen by several of our nation's pre-eminent maritime scholars, "America and the Sea" successfully blends together our naval history with the more traditional view of maritime history.

While handsome (and large) enough to be a coffee-table book, it would be a shame if that were its only use. "America and the Sea" should be read time and time again by all who have an interes! t in our nation's history.

The writing is pallid. The illustrations are numbingly bad. This is an excellent example of what a children's book should not be -condescending, smarmy, hollow and hokey. If it weren't for Julie Andrews Edwards' name on the cover, this book would be a hard sell at a vanity press. Julie, Julie, Julie! This regrettable foray is to children's literature what your topless scene in "Victor, Victoria!" was to drama. Only the topless scene made more sense.
Please, spare the lives of future trees and brain cells. Let Dumpy be pulped.
(...)

Dumpy the dumptruck lives on a farm with a family. His particular favorite family member is Charlie, a little boy. It's Christmas Eve, and Charlie can't get to sleep. He hears a noise and realizes Santa Claus has crashed his sleigh. Christmas will be ruined if Santa can't deliver the toys to the children of the world, so volunteers get Dumpy to help. It's now up to Dumpy to save Christmas for everyone.

This is a very creative book, and a must read this Christmas.

Dumpy Saves Christmas should be nominated for the Caldecott metal for outstanding illustrated juvenile books. I am pleased that Julie Andrews, her daughter, and her ex-husband are able to collaborate in writing such an imaginative series of Dumpy the Dump truck books. This book has an unusual twist from the traditional Santa Claus and reindeer story. This book is an excellent addition to any child's Christmas library. I am buying several copies of this book for Christmas gifts as well as keeping a copy for myself.

The layout of the book may be appealing, and the graphics & charts too, but the contents are the reason I bought this book. I found many inconsistancies in the review question section where the answer key completely contradicts the text of the book. I also came across similar mistakes on the diskette. I am disappointed in the WB Saunders Company that they can publish a book of such importance which is unreliable and therefore useless.

I too, like a previous reviewer, noticed several errors in the self testing section of this book. Luckily I knew the correct answers and could spot them.

THIS BOOK IS COMPLETE! REVIEWING THIS BOOK IS FUN, EASY TO UNDERSTAND AND PICTURES IN FULL DETAILS. PLUS A DISK FOR REVIEW OVER 800 QUESTIONS.