The Insiders Guide to New Orleans is a giant step forward in the city guidebook field as well as the best guide I have found to New Orleans. The authors put history in its true place as an introduction to one of the world's most fascinating cities and then present the destination in fine style as experts on the city, its attractions, its almost embarrassing riches in restaurants, its quirkiness and more. As a resident of the Big Easy (who also happens to be a professional travel writer) I found fifty things I didn't already know. Unlike many guidebooks which are either on-paper cheering sections or, alternatively, a drab presentation of facts, open hours and prices, this guide is a delightful and informative must-read for anyone every thinking of escaping to what can be considered almost another country. Five stars for The Insider's Guide to New Orleans by Becky Retz and James Gaffney.

If New Orleans is a city that easily evokes the utterances of Tennesee William's Blanche Dubois , the New Insider's Guide New Orleans by Gaffney and Retz certainly is a kindness to strangers visiting to city. Written in a lively and fun to read style, the authors take you on a lively tour of the famous and infamous aspects of the Big Easy. Locals will find the book a way to explore the underpinnings of a city they may have too quickly come to take for granted. Like the city itself, this guidebook is an easy read to curl up with (to paraphrase Blanche) on a long rainy afternoon when an hour isn't just an hour, but a little piece of eternity dropped in your hand." I highly recommend this guidebook. --Candace

If it is possible to secure The Paris Review - Interview with writers published by Penguin through the 1970's and 80's

The Paris Review is the best literary magazine around (even though they've rejected all of my stories). But anyway, the interview and stories are top notch. I love the blend of unknown writers and famous writers. This issue is especially good, for it's a concept issue, "New British Writing." The forum is excellent, with each author asked to give their opinion on, of course, the state of "British" literature. Furthermore, George Plimpton is very inspiring. Just reading an issue wants to make you write better or start your own magazine.

After just rereading this ethics book after the initial reading of many years ago, I decided to give it a belated review. It is an excellent presentation of philosophic ethics as enlightened by Catholic theology. Everyone formulates his/her own philosophic positions based upon one's reflections on personal experiences and vicarious experiences. In other words, no one can escape their own formative events, nor should they. Atheists will reflect their own non-belief in any reality transcending the universe, and believers will reflect their most inner convictions about God. This is to be expected- there is no other human alternative. Philosophic neutrality/objectivity is an absurd myth.

Hence, readers who share the Catholic faith will benefit the most from Gaffney's analyses. Non-Catholic Christians will benefit almost as much. And non-believers should probably not read this book- it just might make them question their non- belief.

The book tackles most ethical issues and dilemmas without getting too technical. The obviously intended readership is college students in a Catholic setting. The individual chapters are short- about 10 pages each, and each chapter has a number of questions based on that chapter (a feature teachers can easily utilize to assess student comprehension of the material). The book stresses how important are ethical principles/generalities, but also the limitations when trying to apply them to concrete situations. Even for believers, finding the right ethical decisions takes careful thought.

. . .is that the Catholic Church didn't much care for Newman's "Essay on the Development of Christian Doctrine" even though it was the writing of this essay which brought Newman into the Catholic Church.

The reason? The "Essay" was not written in Latin, nor was it expressed in the format and style to which Catholic theological writings adhered in the 19th century.

This small book contains Newman's expressions on the subject in a manner more pleasing to the 19th century Catholic authorities. While not, by any stretch of the imagination, on the same level as his "Essay", nevertheless, these writings continue to demonstrate Newman's evolving understanding as to how doctrine develops.

Recommended -- along with Ian Ker's edition of "Essay on the Development of Christian Doctrine".

John Henry Cardinal Newman brought me to the Catholic Church - one hundred years after his death. His flawless logic, profound faith, and burning love continue to inspire men and women to follow the "Kindly Light" of Christ. This book is a beautiful introduction to Newman, with selections from meditations, devotions, sermons, and my personal favorite, his poetry. It also contains a short biogrophy of Cardinal Newman. While not a great work on a scale with the Apologia, this little devotional is an excellent introduction to a great man of God.