These stories are wonderfully rich and dynamic. Everett blends well the elements of a simple, rural lifestyle with complex characters; characters that struggle to find their place in the "big picture". The result is an intense, sometimes dark, but always satisfying read, and there is a unity not always found in a collection of short stories. Read it.

Although my shelves are loaded with histories of the Broadway musical, there is always room for one more. So I really looked forward to reading "The Cambridge Companion to The Musical" (Cambridge University Press, 2002). When I saw there were only 265 pages of text (not counting bibliography and index), I doubted that they could adequately cover the field. Soon I began to realize that the "field" included American and British musicals, film musicals and film versions of stage musicals, and even recordings; and I just settled down to enjoy what amounts to a series of essays covering all these fields, none of them adequately but all of them interestingly.

There are fourteen chapters by various writers, organized into three parts. The first deals with "Adaptations and transformations before 1940" and includes essays on the early days of the American musical theatre in general, then in New York, operetta on both sides of the Atlantic, the Afro-American as depicted on stage, and the American musicals of the 1920s and 1930s. Part II covers the years from 1940 to 1970 and discusses the British theatre, Rodgers and Hammerstein, their successors, and Weill and Bernstein. Part III picks up the story with a disproportionately long chapter on Sondheim, the fully integrated musical, the film musical, rock, and the megamusical--which brings us into the present century with a lot of questions yet to be answered by way of projection.

In short, there are plenty of ideas packed into this short book and each one can lead you in several directions if you wish to follow up this or that idea. There are one or two piddling errors, such as calling "Yip Yip Yaphank" an "all-sailor vaudeville"; but in general what is said here is trustworthy, the opinions (mostly positive) about certain works and composers are informed opinions, the organization is very good. The few pictures, however, are not very helpful.

Yes, I would recommend this highly for those who want to begin to understand the complex evolution of the musical play by way of enough examples to form a solid basis before going on to books that deal with each of these topics in more detailed and expanded way.

This is a reprint of the correspondence of one of the Great Families of Cherokee History. The members of this family were the movers and shapers of a nation. They became victims in a little talked about civil war with in the nation. This civil conflict with in the people is important because it suggests a sell out and cover up by John Ross. I enjoy studying this era of history and this book gives a feel for the people involved like no other.

One member of the family who survived was Stand Watie. He later served in the Confederate States of America's Army as a Brigadier General. This book will be of interest to students of both civil wars.

I teach Molecular Biology for Biologyst students. This book has been a good tool to teach, because has all the main points that are need to know the bases of Microbial genetics. Other books are excellents but this book has the minimun to know and understand other books.

Far too many poets spend their days in the college classroom. It's a necessity, given the small financial rewards of even the best-selling of the poets, but it does create a rather incestuous self-referentiality in poetry. Donald Everett Axinn (at least at the time of this collection) was a businessman, and it shows in his poetry. Aware of the trends of contemporary poetry, and capable of matching its subtle nuances, Axinn chooses instead to write as if poetry still mattered to those who do not spend their lives reading obscure poets. There are real emotions in these poems, told with a full bite of life in them. At times, Axinn reaches the memorable; that he does not have the lightning of a truly great poem strike him in this collection is not his fault: that happens but once or twice in any poet's life. My favorite poems in this collection are "On Father's Day," where the death of the father becomes the emotional inheritance of that day, and "Down in the Valley," a potent lyric to a beloved, who "waits amid ripened corn / her hands / outstretched / Oh I shall race down / to a slow dance / and clasp her / in the glistening gold." Some fine stuff here.

This is great book for kids to read to help them realize that sometimes bad things can lead to good things. Also, it is all right for boys and girls to play together.

"Gods and Godesses of the Ancient Norse" provides a basic introduction to the deities worshipped by the fierce Vikings. Leonard Everett Fisher describes fourteen of these gods and goddesses, telling young readers about their power, their duties, and their images, accompanied by simple, colorful pastel drawings. Included are Odin, Frigga, Thor, Baldur, Hermod, Loki, Niord, Freya and Frey, Bragi and Idunn, Tyr, Heimdall, and Hela, as well as a spread of Ragnarok, the Last Battle. For those who only know about the gods and goddesses of Greek and Roman mythology, or learned everything they know about Norse gods from Marvel's comic book of "The Mighty Thor," Fisher does a solid job of covering all of the basics. A map, bibliography, family tree, and pronunciation guide are provided at the back of the book.

This is a great collection of stories that features some of the lesser well known Marvel heroes; Captain America, Ka-Zar, Nick Fury of SHIELD, Namor; the Sub-Mariner, and Professor X. It starts with an early story on each of these heroes and then jumps forward to more recent continunity. Stan Lee,Mark Waid, Chris Claremont, Scott Lobdell, Mark Gruenwald, and John Byrne are among the writers whose work is reprinted in this volume and they are all great stories for any Marvel fan to enjoy.

This book is really good for teens, it focuses on things that teens need to know. But the book is also really helpful for adults. I would recommend buying it.

A powerful contribution on the real history of slavery. It written in away which explain slavery as a historical development of civilisation. The photos and pictures are excellent and you feel the despair and pain of slavery. It also concludes that slavery still exsists which is important because it is still a unresolved issue today. The book represents a intellectual change and a critical outlook of present day problems. This book should be in every school, thankyou.