Thats the description most Americans use to describe the Welsh. With authors like Peter Gill, John Helmer and Kristina LLoyd the average American is opening its eyes to the reality of Britain, its people and what life is really like. Theres no bowler hats nor umbrellas in these witty thought provoking works of the finest young talent from a far away land. Join me and travel in your arm chair. I dare you.

FLATIRON, by Peter Gwillim Kreitler, represents a first for the AIA. This book is the most important compilation of Flatiron Building photographs. And, as the AIA recognizes, the building was a landmark in architectural development. Thus, the AIA chose to devote an entire publication, for the first time, to a building and its photographic record, and not solely to its architect/builder. The reproductions of well-known as well as hard-to-find photos are exceedingly well done, portraying developments in both architecture AND the blossoming field of photography. Reverend Kreitler's personal collection is the basis for this pictorial monograph; he has been collecting for many years and is an accomplished photographer and author. Daniel Burnham's Flatiron is a watershed in American architecture, parallelling and following upon, but not mimicing, the work of Louis Sullivan in Chicago. Siting was key, and influenced the use of materials, as well as the aesthetic in which Burnham worked. The building remains an important landmark in New York City, and deserves a visit by all who appreciate early examples of integration and art in the modern architectural vernacular. If you can't visit in person, the early record of this remarkable structure displayed so artistically in this classic monograph will serve you very well.

This Cartesian principle resonates throughout Gill's narrative about the violence in Northern Ireland, as he represents the many competing forces in the battle to control Northern Ireland. Catholic Provo extremists are bent upon assassinating Ian Paisley, a self-annointed Protestant minister and firebrand Loyalist intent upon establishing his own absolute right to rule Ulster. Paisley's security staff in Belfast, equally bloodthirsty and equally irrational, have their own plans for payback to the Catholic minority and their supporters in the south.

The official governments of the two parts of Ireland have their own interests, not always consistent with those of the extremists on both sides, and the British further complicate the issue. The police of both areas operate independently, and some high officials are actively in cahoots with leaders of various factions. Into this vividly described maelstrom, comes Supt. Peter McGarr of the Garda Siochana, as he investigates the seemingly unrelated death of a rugby star.

With the most powerful opening section Gill has ever written, this novel stands apart from the rest of the McGarr series and easily holds its own as an independent novel. Though the characters usually associated with McGarr do make some minor appearances, the narrative's strength lies not with the Garda but with the vividly portrayed characters involved in the political unrest. McGarr himself does not even appear in the novel until p. 65.

Readers unfamiliar with the complexities of the troubles in Northern Ireland may find it a bit difficult to keep track of who's who and who's on which side, and even the participants don't always know, as people frequently cross borders and change alliances. This is a stunning novel, however, with an ending as complex as the conflicts themselves. With no humor to disguise the violence and sadness afflicting the Six Counties, Gill writes this one "straight."

I am completely delighted with "The Little Guides" series. The format is extremely user friendly, and each guide is packed with useful and interesting information. I enjoy reading them, but my 6 year old daughter gives them the most use. While the guides are written at an adult level, there is plenty that she can read and understand. I currently own "Sharks," "Birds," "Mammals," "Space," "Whales," and "Flowers."

"Whales" has three parts: 1) Whales and Their World, which include a general introduction on whales, a section on whale anatomy and senses, and a section on whale behavior; 2) Kinds of Whales; and 3) Whales and People, which covers whale lore and legends, protecting whales, observing whales, and whale watching sites.

This guide is packed with useful information, and is a great resource of adults as well as children!

Well good book but short information, good for whales amateur, with great pictures inside and pretty explanation in wildlife, if you like sea mammals or thinking a watchwhale tour go outside and buy it

WE HAVE BEEN SCUBA DIVING NOW FOR THREE YEARS AND BOTH THE "WHALES & DOLPHINS" & "SHARKS AND RAYS" HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY HELPFUL. WE HAVE LOANED OUR BOOKS SO OFTEN THAT WE ARE ORDERING A THIRD SET FOR A NEIGHBOR WHO IS GOING TO BE A MARINE BIOLOGIST. VERY USEFUL FOR IDENTIFICATION WHILE WHALE WATCHING OR SHARK DIVING. GREAT PICTURES, LOTS OF USEFUL INFORMATION AND HISTORY.

I'm a Biology Prof who just got back from a trip to Monterey Bay and had the encounters of a lifetime, both Blue Whales and Humpbacks (also Risso's Dolphins). The trip left me hungry for more, so I hit the local Borders (I can say that now that Borders and Amazon have e-merged right?). There were two books that were a class in themselves ( I can't recall the name of the other book, rats!). In any rate, this book will not leave you short. (I almost said that this was a whale of a book, but thought otherwise).

You will laugh, cry and be confused when you read this book. This book can teach you that what you think is good is not always good.

There is a boy named Peter Pan. He sprinkles fairy dust in Wendy and her two brothers. Then he shows them how to fly. He takes them to Neverland and shows them to the Lost Boys who live there. Wendy becomes their mother. She makes up rules, like any other mother would do. The boys have to follow these rules. Everything was fine until Captain Hook came with his crew to where the boys and Wendy were. While Wendy and the boys were at the lagoon, where they go every day after dinner, they see a girl named Tiger Lily, princess of her tribe. She was captured by Smee, one of Captain Hook's men. Then Peter saved her. A few days later Wendy and the boys were on their way to Wendy's house when they too were all captured by Captain Hook. Then Peter saves them. Then the lost boys, Wendy and her brothers go home. All except for Peter.

It is mostly about what the people in the book think is right with childhood. The kids in the book think that if you grow up it is bad, but in our case it is actually good.

Peter Pan is a violent book not really made for children under the age of 10 but people 10 and up can read it. It is violent because of the language that is spoken and the idea that killing could be fun. Also, the vocabulary is very difficult for children under 10 to understand. Even if you're older it is difficult to understand.

Overall, it is a good book but watch out for the violent ideas if you are reading it to little children.

This is an utterly charming work. It has been retold myriad times, but nobody else has done it as well as the original teller, J. M. Barrie.

It's difficult to know what to say about a book like this... everybody knows the story. But I guess that unless you've read this book (not just seen a movie or read a retelling), you don't really know the character Peter Pan, and without knowing the character, you don't really know the story. So read it.

By the way, if you enjoy this, you probably would also like "Sentimental Tommy" and its sequel "Tommy and Grizel", both by Barrie. There are differences (for one thing they're not fantasy), but there are also compelling similarities. Anybody who found Peter Pan a deep and slightly bittersweet book would be sure to enjoy them.

-Stephen

Driving with young children in the car quickly convinced me that it was unsafe to not give them something to listen to. After ten years I have collected a large (30+) bag of books-on-tape. I have also loaned them to others and asked for opinions. Peter Pan (read by Wendy Craig) is not only my favorite, but also the favorite of my wife and most of my friends. It is excellent for all ages (4 to 80) and even most hardened teenagers. Humour, presentation, ... a prefect 10.

Oh tormented people. One may read 'The Seagull' and wonder what's that all those things about death and killing, and failing love stories. So sad! But in Chekov's world this is a comedy, and it doesn't take too much to get why. It is indeed funny in some parts-- well, not the kind of funny we are used to, but nevertheless, it makes us laugh.

The tragicomic play is of paramount importance in modern teather. Rarely has a playwriter written such a realistic piece analyzing the life of an artist and his/her role in the society. In 'The Seagull' Treplieff is a writer wanna be, who is trying to grow over the shadow of her mother --an aging actress--, and to get an actress wanna be to love him. But above all, he has to deal with feeling jelous of Trigorin a youger and successful writer. There aren't many characters, but there is so much going on, personal dilemas, that the story grows to a placeless dimension.

Chekov can write with such a confidence that for not a second you doubt the existence of these people. His words are vivid. More than 100 years later, his play is up to date dealing with issues that are universal and timeless-- that can make you either cry or laugh.

Russian plays aren't for everyone--they are dense, heavy affairs, packed full of ideas and slow moving characters. If you are looking for a fast-paced potboiler with lots of action, etc. then stay away from Chekhov. But if you enjoy reflection and having something to talk about when you finish a book then Checkhov will serve you well--and, most improtantly, if you want to read "The Seagull" this IS the translation to get--Stoppard has done a wonderful job, making this classic even more readable and enjoyable.

"The Seagull," is also about how the constraints of society restrict us from achieving our goals. Constantin is not appreciated by the masses for his "experiemental" writing. Masha (?) feels trapped by her social position and unwanted by Constantin thus marries a schoolteacher who she doesn't love. Although Trigorin achieved success through his mediocre novels, he feels unsatisfied by not creating "real" art and compelled to anihilate anyone who attempts to create real art, such as Constantin. It is interesting to note that Constantin is secretly envious of Trigorin for his success and Trigorin is envious of Constantin for maintaining his integrity in his art. Maybe that's why they're always at each other's throats. Just my two cents.

Though some of his settings feel a bit reminiscent of Agatha Christie, Gill writes for a totally different audience--readers who do not shy away from realistically depicted (and sometimes gratuitous) violence, who do not expect the police to be models of probity, and who want their mysteries to be more than simple whodunits. In this 1996 combination of modern mystery and World War II thriller, set off the coast of County Mayo, Gill tells the tale of Clement Ford, a mystery man with a hoard of hidden treasure. Ford has just been tracked down by his old enemy, Angus Rehm, and the result is three deaths, three disappearances, two missing boats, and the arrival of Chief Inspector Peter McGarr from the Garda Siochana and his detectives, each of whom is also dealing with personal problems--alcohol, illicit affairs, and the demands of family--while trying to solve the mystery.

Local beliefs and superstitions, ancient history and pagan monuments, the geological record, and family history are interwoven with the more modern attitudes toward religion, the British, and authority in general, as Gill creates a lively "personality" for Clare Island. The mystery develops a global scope as Clement Ford's true identity and his World War II connections to Angus Rehm emerge in the final pages.

One of a long series of engaging Peter McGarr mysteries with a cast of well-developed repeating characters, Gill focuses on some intriguing aspect of Irish history and culture in each (e.g. eel-fishing, secret religious societies, literary history). The novels written prior to the recent Death of an Irish Sinner can be read in any order, but events in the latter are so explosive that it is difficult to go back if you read Irish Sinner too soon. The series is a fascinating look at Ireland and its characters--great fun and great escape reading.

Gill's 12th book could have opened with the hackneyed phrase "It was a dark and stormy night," but it didn't. Instead, Gill opened with a deceptively mild line: "Clement Ford heard the phone ring in the hall of the Clare Island cottage that he had occupied now for over fifty years." And the story begins. I just finished reading Bartholomew Gill's -The Death of an Irish Sea Wolf- which I found to be extremely involving. This book is the latest in the series on Peter McGarr and the Murder Squad. The book has everything, wealth, obsession, love, murder, and Irish history. It is a very well-crafted Irish Police Procedural, which got me involved from the very first page. If you haven't met up with Gill's, McGarr, I would suggest starting with the first book and continuing as the characters grow. I will admit I enjoy reading books in order, but each book stands alone.

This intelligently written mystery takes place off the coast of Ireland on Clare Island. The story centers on Clement Ford, a well-liked 80 year old Sea Man. Clem and his wife Breege live a modest lifestyle in their cottage on the island. They are personable and well respected by the remote communities citizens, however, they hold a deep dark secret.

One night after a violent storm, three people on the island turn up murdered and Clem and Breege mysteriously disappear. Detective Peter McGarr and his colleagues are assigned to the case. Police are baffled as to why anyone would commit these murders and how they could be tied to the quiet elderly Ford's.

Bartholomew Gill's story is unique in that you know who the killers are right from the beginning. However, the mystery lies in why did they kill? What do they want? Will they strike again?

The prose in this book is wonderfully descriptive. You will smell the salty air, see the rolling green hills, and watch the colorful Irish sunsets. The characters are refreshing and believable, and Gill provides the reader with accurate historical facts about the land and its people. This was my first Bartholomew Gill book, but it certainly won't be my last. What a terrific discovery!

If you don't know Irish detective Peter McGarr, this terrific novel from 1989 is a great introduction! Where else but Dublin might you find a James Joyce scholar dead, and McGarr and the Murder Squad of the Garda Siochana reading Ulysses, and occasionally Samuel Beckett, in an effort to understand what led to his death? Including brief quotations from Ulysses in this novel, Gill locates the action in places which are significant in Ulysses, talks about Finnegan's Wake, and even discusses "the novel of competence," represented by Joyce, as opposed to "the novel of incompetence," represented by Samuel Beckett, making these esoteric subjects comprehensible and intriguing.

Dublin throbs with life here, in the pubs, on the streets, in the university, and at galleries, the Shelbourne Hotel, and St. Michan's church. The action is robust, with many fights, fractures, and a few hospitalizations, as McGarr and his detectives concentrate more on justice than on the niceties of procedure. The characters we know from earlier novels are further developed here (and continue into later novels).

As always, Gill includes lively and wonderfully droll conversations--the teasing and byplay one expects of close and caring relationships--both at home and at the Garda station. And when Det. Hugh Ward and Det. Ruthie Bresnahan finally discover each other, one of the highlights of this novel, their scenes become both hilarious and steamy. Gill's excellent satire (the Beautiful People at a book-launching), his wonderful sense of the absurd (the murder victim's wife bringing the victim home, laying him in bed, and contacting McGarr only after he starts to "go off"), and his uncanny ability to create quirky and likable characters make this one of the best novels in this remarkable series.

This was my second selection in the long list of Mr. Gill's books. I started with his next to last book and now know some things about his characters that I would not have found out going in the opposite direction. But even with that said, I find myself entranced by the characterizations in these two books. I have become quite comfortable with the repeating case of characters and I enjoy my time with them. The murder being handled sometimes seems secondary to other issues in their lives. While I did have some trouble keeping the three potentially villainous women in this novel clear in my mind, it was nevertheless a fun read. I have always avoided the reading of Joyce's Ullyses, but Gill makes an excellent case for my reconsideration of that decision. He also brings me back, clearly and strongly, to all my memories of my one trip to Dublin and certainly encourages me to return. All in all this is a fine story, well-researched and with characters well worth remembering.

Witty, engrossing, full of good writing, the novel is a relentless pleasure.

This no-holds-barred police procedural features unusually well-developed characters, so firmly rooted in their Irish heritage that this exciting mystery also provides insights into modern Ireland and the forces which shape it. Peter McGarr, the police superintendent, is a good man who has rejected the traditional church in favor of enforcing justice on earth; his wife Noreen, though not devout, is a true believer in the church. Peter is investigating the murder of Mary-Jo Stanton, an extremely religious writer who has intended to leave her estate to Opus Dei, a zealous order of ultra-conservative Catholics who believe it is their mission to do anything necessary, including murder, to protect the "true" Church. Peter's close investigation of Opus Dei brings him into contact with manipulative priests, and with their various contacts in the outside world, including an extremely successful, muckraking journalist, who panders to the public's love of good gossip, an influence-peddling politician said to "control the country through his contacts with the movers and shakers in commerce and industry," a host of pub patrons, and a gardener on the lam after ratting out his co-conspirators in crime in exchange for lesser jail time.

As the investigation widens, the reader sees that although many in the church live completely in a world of their own, so, too, do many on the police force, a group of fiercely independent and passionate people. "Procedure" is, at times, a very flexible concept--whatever works, as long as you don't get caught, seems to be the motto. Planting evidence, beating up suspects, closing one's eyes to one crime if the suspect can be "turned" to help solve another crime, and shooting to kill and asking questions later are all methods employed here to solve Mary-Jo's murder.

With dialogue that perfectly captures both the lilt and the gruffness of the dialect, a setting which is totally integrated into the action (no long, lyrical descriptions here), believable characters, an exciting and intricate plot, insights into social psychology, and scenes of touching sentiment and pathos, this is a mystery which has everything!

With the untimely death of Mark McGarrity (pen name, Bartholomew Gill) this is, unfortunately, the last McGarr.

Fortunately, it was one of his best.

This is certainly the darkest of the McGarr series. The characters are ageing, and all not gracefully; their foibles and weaknesses laid bare in sharp focus. McGarr wonders if he has held on too long, if the price he has paid now too dear.

The murder of a wealthy religious biographer, and member of the Catholic secret society Opus Dei, begins a whirlwind plot that embroils all of the characters. Not much of a "who-dun-it", why and how the more fascinating questions.

The end of the book is a shock for all long-time followers of the head of Dublin's "Murder Squad."

The book has a nearly palpable sense of mortality that resonates even more given McGarrity/Gill's accidental death...

Ah, lad, we'll miss ya!

Those readers who have followed Chief Superintendent Peter McGarr Of the Dublin police and his fascinating wife Noreen will find this book to be another good read - lovely Irish settings, familiar characters from the police force and incredibly evil killers, determined to keep their secrets at all costs. The ending of this book is a real shocker! This series is just wonderful, you can't stop until you have read them all.