This is a well written and intersting local history. The Shoalhaven area is located south of Sydney on the New South Wales south coast of Australia, and has been settled for the greater part of Australia's European history. However, this book also covers the history of the local indigenous people. It is easy to read and very interesting, ideal for people holidaying in the area.

In keeping with the spirit of this collection of short shorts, billed as a "picture book for grownups," I'll try to keep this brief. The stories in this collection, all classified under one of four catagories (Love Stories, Crime and Mystery, Not Quite S.F., and Off the Wall) are consistently intriguing, running the gamut from subtle to brash, outrageous to poignant, macabre to mundane. Flensed of unnecessary detail, Rogers ' telling vignettes force readers to fill in the blanks, allowing their own points of view to act upon the prose. Thus, the reading experience is transformed into a true collaborative effort, a joint venture where Rogers' imagination blends with that of his audience. Forsaking the luxury of a slow buildup, Rogers plunges his readers into various worlds, makes his points, then leaves as quickly as he came, leaving the reader to marvel at what he has just experienced. The stories in Flaming Arrows affirm that reading is indeed alchemy, proving once and for all that, at least in writing, size doesn't matter. It's a lesson that many of Rogers' peers need to learn.

I love Bary Longyear and this book did not disappoint. Suppose the dinosaurs did not become extinct, they just left, and now they have returned and they want their world back. My son absolutely adored this book from the time he was ten or eleven and, years later, he remembers it still. Both of us recommend it highly.

I had heard nothing but good things about Santa Steps Out, a book that was supposed to be revolutionnary, highly imaginative and very entertaining. Part of what is now being called splatter lit, the books was supposed to offer new kinds of thrills as it takes the supposed-to-be-good story of Santa Claus and turn it into a violence mess of violence and sex.

But in the end, the book was a big disappointment. Sure, the story does have a nice dose of originality; here you have Santa who's tired of his borish job and who finds solace when he starts an affair with the Tooth Fairy. But then, of course, Mother Claus (called Anya) discovers her husband's unfaithfulness and seeks vengence. Add to this a jealous Easter Bunny and you have a basis that could have formed a very twisted, very original story.

Unfortunately, Devereaux doesn't seem to know exactly where his story is heading and because of that, the plot is very thin and the book itself feels long, even though it is only 350 pages. There is A LOT of repetition and a few very long passages that should have been edited out since they do very little for the plot except to stall it.

It's too bad, because this book could have been a great re-telling of the whole Santa and Tooth Fairy mythos. But instead, it stalls into the same place for too long and never reaches its full potential. This is far from being the revisionist tale I was expecting.

Finally, the story of Santa every grown-up has wanted to read. An intriguing weave of past and present mythology that enlivens the origins of our favorite childhood myths. Thanks to some divine intervention, Santa and the incredibly sexy and naughty Tooth Fairy cross paths unleashing their buried pasts and desires. Throw in a jealous Mrs. Claus, an insatiably horny easter bunny, Santa's mortal love interest, and watch the mayhem and bloodshed ensue. The story is shocking, appalling, and fills you with disbelief, but you end up enjoying and relishing every page. "Santa Steps Out" is the most creative and thoroughly entertaining book I've read in years.

This is a Christmas book unlike any that have come before it, I'm sure. It's part erotica, part comedy, part horror/fantasy and easily the most original novel I've read in quite a while, as well as an interesting look at modern myths and their pagan roots. If the idea of Santa Claus having a lusty affair with the Tooth Fairy shocks or offends you, don't read this book because that's only the beginning, and you surely won't want to be around for all the things that happen afterward. But if you're open-minded and have a healthy, irreverent sense of humor and an appreciation for the absurd, I can't recommend this book highly enough. I'm going to have to read Mr. Devereaux's other books, because he is a wonderful storyteller!

I read this book because I am an adoptive parent and a (volunteer) co-facilitator of a new support group for adoptive parents. I was delighted to know of the comprehensive educational/support services for adoptive families provided by VanSlyck and colleagues through their "parent" organization, Parenthesis Family Advocates. VanSlyck, et al., do an excellent job of making a case for the availability of such services and provide a useful model for others seeking to develop such programs.

I was also very interested in the data gathered through the youth support groups, offering insights into the adoptive experience through youngsters' point of view. The advice they offer adoptive parents is interesting and thought-provoking.

The real heart of the book is the personal stories of adoptive parents who have been long-term members of an adoptive support group. When I got to this section, I couldn't put the book down. I appreciated the openness and honesty of these folks, with their disturbing stories of the pathological behavior they experienced in their youngsters (the majority of whom got into major trouble in school and with the law and/or needed out of home placement at some point), the failure of professionals and social service systems to offer them real help, and their intense pain at the unraveling of their relationships with their well-loved youngsters and the chaos of their personal and family lives. The authors do a good job of identifying common themes among the stories and the experiences of other adoptive parents they have served.

Stylistically, there is some repetitiveness in the opening chapters, and the book was poorly proofread-- there are many typos. More subjectively, I was dismayed at one couple's "writing off" of their lesbian adoptive daughter as "lost" to them, simply because of her lifestyle. An editorial comment, such as those included with others' stories, might have pointed out that the gay or lesbian lifestyle is not universally recognized as unhealthy or dysfunctional, that many gay or lesbian people enjoy close relationships with their parents, and that this family may develop stronger ties in the future.

I would NOT recommend this book to prospective adoptive parents any more than I would advise couples expecting a baby to read a book about inmates of death row who were raised by their biological parents. These families' experiences are the extreme-- hardly the norm for adoptive parents and adoptees. This book, thus, lacks a larger perspective and could have benefitted from any of the following additions: stories/case studies of adoptive families served by the agency who did not experience crises of the magnitude conveyed in the book; stories/case studies of other adoptive families who constructively dealt with adoption issues at different developmental stages but whose children never acted out pathologically; a discussion of risk factors which may increase the changes of serious behavior problems in an adopted individual (such as a diagnosis of fetal alcohol syndome, or multiple pre-adoptive placements).

I WOULD recommend this book to adoption professionals and others working with adoptive families; it is quite an eye opener for those who believe a child who acts out is a product of a dysfunctional family. With some discretion, I would also recommend this book to some adoptive families-- the few who, like the parents in this book, are going through Hell with their kids and would benefit from knowing they are not alone; and others, like me, who are experiencing some bumps along the road but can say, after reading this book, that our kids and families are much healthier than we sometimes fear.

I am extremely grateful to the parents and youth who courageously shared their own stories and to the authors for making this book available.

THIS BOOK HAS GOT TO BE ONE OF THE MOST BORING I HAVE READ IN AWHILE. NONE OF THE STORIES WERE SCARY. WHAT WAS SCARY WAS HOW MUCH I PAID FOR IT! THEY SAY THAT THE STORIES IN THIS BOOK ARE NOT INTENDED FOR CHILDREN BUT I HAVE TO TELL YOU THAT MY YOUNGER SISTER READ IT AND FOUND IT HILARIOUS! DO YOUR SELF A FAVOR AND DON'T BUY THIS BOOK. IT'S NOT WORTH THE TIME AND MONEY.

In his Introduction to this anthology, Rogers fondly recalls his father's lively readings of scary bedtime stories--a tradition he calls "Scary Daddy". Presented here are more than twenty tales aimed at giving the reader that same creepy-but-good feel. Like a children's book, Bedtime Stories is set in large, almost calligraphic type and amply illustrated with full page artwork opposite each story.

There are a few standout stories here. Rogers's own "The Dead Boy at Your Window" is haunting, unsettling, yet amazingly tender and uplifting. Elizabeth Engstrom's "Vargas County" also transcends it's own eeriness as a grandfather discovers his long-buried capacity for love and tenderness. And one of the best stories I've read this year is the well-crafted "The Still Life Drama of Passing Cars."

Unfortunately, Bedtime Stories confounds far more often than it thrills. Jane Yolen's "Souls" begins well, but ends with a twist that is--literally--heavy-handed. Steve Resnic Tem's "There's No Such Thing as Monsters" is just too vague to be unsettling--a problem with nearly all stories in this volume. And the few stories that are meant to be humorous are instead ridiculous.

Ultimately, these bedtime stories (and the low-resolution illustrations) lack the edge to darken any dreams. Recommended only if you are willing to pay for three good stories out of twenty-three.

When I got this book I returned it right away. What is with the overly large print? I'm not blind and I'm not 4 years old. I thought it was a children's book. I didn't buy it from Amazon and the other internet company did not let me know that this was large print. Was the publishing company trying its best to fill up enough pages so that they could release this as a book? I want more bang for my buck.

Alan Clark's The Donkeys is a brief history of the British campaign in France and Flanders in the year 1915, focusing on the British defeats at the battles of Neuve Chapelle, Second Ypres, Aubers Ridge, and Loos. Clark blames the British defeats in 1915 on the incompetence of the British generals, whom he condemns as butchers, fools, and knaves. In Clark's opinion, the British Army in 1915 consisted of lions led by donkeys.

The Donkeys is the only short and accessible account in print of the British battles on the Western Front in 1915. Unfortunately, The Donkeys is a terrible book: I studied it closely while researching my Master's thesis, and found it was riddled with errors and lies. It should never have been reprinted.

But don't take my word for it: when The Donkeys was first published, in 1961, it received a number of blistering reviews. AJP Taylor wrote that The Donkeys "lacks understanding and sympathy," "disregards the most elementary rul! es of historical scholarship," and "is valueless as a serious contribution to history." Michael Howard called The Donkeys a "petulant caricature" and dismissed it as "worthless." Rudest of all was John Terraine, who called The Donkeys "the apotheosis of distortion."

If you are interested in the history of the Great War, then avoid this book. A much better and more recent book on this subject is Lyn Macdonald's 1915: The Death of Innocence.

The title comes from the German view of the English soldiers who charged into their machine guns and barbed wire: "Lions led by donkeys." The donkeys were the professional officers of the British army that was destroyed in those battles, officers who were unable to adapt to the awful technology that changed the face of war forever. When I was studying under Michael (now Sir Michael) Howard at All Souls in 1972-4, he insisted that this book should be read by anyone who wanted to understand the early phase of the Great War. It is a classic and must be read by anyone trying to understand the impact of the War on the English people, and the shock of the early battles on the perception of the British military of what needed to be done. It is judgmental to be sure, and would not be the only source one would need to understand this critical transition, but it is nonetheless an essential text.

Bob Rizzi Bethesda, MD

Don't let the book's publication date fool you... the information in this book is outdated from 1998-99. The listings include schools by old/outdated names, had outdated contact information (to the college PR offices in many cases, not even coaches for the sport, I might add), and has sports that have long ago been dropped from intercollegiate competition to "club" status. With the changes in the college sports scene brought on by the gender equity rules, the men's sports programs listed in this book include more sports than are actually at most colleges. Conversely, the women's sports programs listed here show fewer programs than are now available. This book is outdated terribly. Purchasing it at this time would be a total waste of money for anyone trying to find current athletic scholarship information.

The title of this book would lead one to believe that there was actual information on scholarships in this book. The reality is that this book is not much more than an alphabetical listing of schools and their sports. The high school counselor's office has this info for free. I found this book to be useless and feel cheated having bought it. It is so general (and I use the term loosely) and simplistic, it's almost laughable. If I could return it I would. IT WAS A WASTE OF MONEY.

I'm a sophomore in a community college and I read this book to help me get into a good 4 year college next year. I play a sport and I found this book to be the best one I have read so far! Not only does this help with the recruiting process, but it has $400M worth of Athletic Scholarships! I highly recommend this for any high schooler looking to play sports in college and for students wishing to transfer and participate in athletics.

Originally published in 1971, the book offers no new information regarding the eastern front during WWI. While the period and place hold considerable interest, this book does not come close to satisfying it, except, perhaps, as a precis. One would be better served to consult SLA Marshall in the American Heritage volume on World War I.

Alan Clark's overview of the Eastern Front in World War I is a good starting place for readers to know more about the "war to end all wars." A considerable number of U.S. books have been devoted to the Western Front, which is understandable since it was where American soldiers fought and died. But far fewer works have dealt with the catastrophe of inept Russian and Austro-Hungarian armies at war. What is obvious from Clark's work is the tragic cost of the war for those two empires. What also emerges is the obvious superiority of the German command in comparison to its Russian and Austrian counterparts and, by implication, the over-confidence that this performance bred for the next world war. The author -- who often came under attack (sometimes rightly so) from the academic community -- also includes suggested additional readings on the Eastern Front.

Here's a prime example of an author who should not confuse sex for insight. Just being graphic does not accord you the respect of, say, a Henry Miller or an Anais Nin. This was banal at best.

Lucy Taylor's second novel is not one to like. I couldn't find one character that I thought was worth rooting for. They all were a little bit evil. But this is no tale of supernatural evil, oh no. This is about the evil of addiction; be it alcohol, drugs, love, sex, violence. Whatever vice you've heard of, it's in here. Jessie, a recovering alkie, hooks up with Simon, a power junkie. Match made in Hell, right? Yep. Jessie and Simon's past are ripped right from the Dysfunctional As Hell Family Handbook. Simon wants Jessie pure, so he decides to eliminate all of her previous addictions...like sex, like group sex. It all ends with Jessie trying to save her father and son from the maniac Simon...but then the question is, "Who's gonna save us from Jessie's kid?" Again, this is an unflinching look at everyday horror. Lucy's strength is that she does not pretty up the problems with these people. She wallows in it, shows us the pain and torment with an unflinching eye to detail. The art inside the book is very well done by Jamie Oberschlake. And the cover and author's picture is done by Alan M. Clark, a very nice job! I, personally, did not buy into Jessie's ongoing attraction to Simon. But as I discussed this with someone I respect, he said it's probably because I was lucky enough never to have been involved in that kind of relationship. All told, a novel that I can't say I liked, due to it's graphic nature. If you liked Jack Ketchum's THE GIRL NEXT DOOR, then this is right up your garbage-strewn alley. Recommended but with warning.