Anyone who appreciates the gentle genius of Alan Jay Lerner, the Lyrist, will enjoy having the words to his popular and not-so-popular lyrics.

The authors apply the Christian doctrine of a "just war," together with the often neglected historical context, to arrive at conclusions quite different from those presented by major media. In the opinion of this Muslim, the Christian doctrine seems very similar to Islamic teaching regarding issues of war, peace, and the treatment of non-combatants. Indeed, Islam may help fill some of the gaps the authors found in applying the Christian doctrine. I recommend the book highly to those seeking to investigate the morality of the Gulf War, or simply to get a good introduction to it.

The poems in this volume offer the delight of the perfect word, the simplicity for what seemed complicated, the bald fact where one might expect delicacy. Alan Broughton never flinches from what's real in the world, from the accidents of life--including love--or from the act of faith in rendering each moment as he senses and feels it, or as close as anyone could get. The voice of these poems is of a solitary figure whose life exists only through the most elemental communications and connections, connections with people, with a street name or the look of a tree on a certain day, with a formerly elegant and now elderly father who briefly stumbles as he approaches the speaker and his own much-younger child on the porch. It's a life lived close to the inescapable realities of pain and loss, but Broughton seizes life as given and fills the poems in this volume with something far more compelling than escape.

Although I'm a lover of historical fiction, especially the 19th century historical romances (read "historical adventures"), I'd never read this one. So I figured I had to finally attempt such a classic of the genre. Well, it was enjoyable but not really first class, I'm sorry to say. Not up there with IVANHOE or THE LAST OF THE MOHICANS (which, itself, is somewhat flawed) or H. Rider Haggard's ERIC BRIGHTEYES, to name a few. DUMAS' famous classic is a tale of a young country bumpkin of the lower Gascon nobility come to the big city (Paris) to make his fortune (by joining the king's elite guard, known as the Musketeers). He quickly stumbles into trouble, even before reaching Paris, and never manages to get clear of it again as one thing leads to another. He hooks up early on with three Musketeers of the guard whom he inadvertently offends and then, rather than dueling each to the death as they demand and he agrees to, he ends up, purely by circumstance (and his naive loyalty to the king), on their side. This all leads to further intrigue and mayhem including a somewhat episodic adventure taking D'Artagnan (our hero) to England on the Queen's urgent business, to foil the Cardinal who is the king's highest and most relied-on minister, and the Queen's enemy at the same time. And the king's sporting competitor in matters of state and the military to boot! There is a sub-plot as well with a scheming and avaricious lady who works for the Cardinal and who has her own fish to fry, and lots of kidnappings and sword fights in the mix. But the characters never really come to life. D'Artagnan and his three friends in the Musketeers are cleverly written and bigger than life but hardly full-blooded or anything but one-dimensional. And D'Artagnan, himself, seems oddly simple and yet, inevitably is described as the cleverest of the four companions who are all a good deal older and more experienced than he is. More strange is D'Artagnan's skill with the sword. From the first he is described as being awkward and somewhat untutored, even in weaponry. Yet, from his initial crossing of swords, he inevitably bests all comers, no matter how much more experienced or skilled they are described as being. In fact, he seems to be the equal of, or superior to, his three Musketeer companions, surpassing them in this skill as he surpasses them in intelligence and cleverness. And yet he is an utter dolt in his dealings with women, a veritable mooning adolescent in the face of the the women he falls for. Nor do the women get treated particularly well by the writer, for their part. I suppose it was the convention of the times but they are all either beautiful and helpless (downright simple, actually) or they are beautiful and deadly. But never do they seem particularly real, from the Queen to Milady to D'Artagnan's objet d'amour, to the lovely servant girl who hankers after D'Artagnan, nearly as moon-eyed as he is about his fancied mistresses. All very strange indeed. I suppose the book broke ground in its time and it is somewhat fun to read, especially after the first third which takes rather a long time to set up all the plot dynamics. But I must say I was frustrated no end by the mindless meanderings and utterly frivolous actions of the four companions as they proceed through their adventures. I mean why would trained soldiers gamble away perfectly good, indeed outstanding, English mounts which they had been gifted, knowing how dear these were and how necessary to men like them? My favorite part of the tale, however, was the four friends' picnic under the Huguenot guns so perhaps this was just in character for them. But what characters! -- Stuart W. Mirsky

For those trying to read The Musketeers Saga:
In the original French, there are only three (3) books - 1. The Three Musketeers 2. Twenty Years After and 3. Ten Years Later. But when translated, most English editions split the behemoth Ten Years Later into a Trilogy (and some four - which make it all the more confusing!).

The reading list should be 1. The Three Musketeers 2. Twenty Years After and 3a. The Vicomte de Bragelonne 3b. Louise de la Valliere and 3c. The Man in the Iron Mask. Five books - that's the total series!

I highly recommend this series from Oxford University Press containing the complete unabridged and annotated versions of all of these books. The notes are located in the back of each book so as not to slow down the flow of the text. Most of the notes give additional info on historic characters and places. And a few point out that Dumas was a better storyteller than historian, as keeping dates seems to be such a nuisance!

The novel beings by introducing one to D'Artagnan a young swordsman on his destiny to become a great Musketeer under the command under one of the most honored generals who is one of his fathers old friends. Our young Musketeer meets three friends on his way to greatness; they are the well known three Musketeers, Athos, Porthos, and Aramis On his journey to become a great musketeer he runs into some trouble. He constantly falls in love with women, and just when he finds one that he truly loves, the wife of his landlord, the evil and mischievous Cardinal kidnaps her. The four friends become very close and decide to go and save the beloved woman of D'Artagnan. While trying to find D'Artagnan's love the musketeers stumble onto a much bigger conspiracy between the Cardinal and the Queen of France who is secretly in love with the Lord Buckingham of England. But their journey is full of surprises and unexpected turns that will keep you on the edge of your seat throughout your whole book. This is a great book to read if you are a fan of chasses and unexpected action. A lot of times you can't wait to pick up and read the book again because you want to see what is going to happen next and how it is going to turn out. The novels plot is very adventures, always keeping the reader on the edge of his seat. The descriptions the Dumas gives of the many battles and duels that take place are superb, and one of the best parts of the book. The glimpse that the reader gets into the past from this novel is fascinating for it is based somewhat on facts. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves to read, it really is a classic.

The four Watson children stumble through a doorway into another world known as Elidor. In Elidor they become the keepers of the four treasures and are sent back to earth to protect these treasures. The treasures are one of two things needed to save Elidor, the other being to the song of Lindhom. The story rushes along and many an aspiring character developments go unexplained. Ending was a big disappointment to me. This is a very good fantasy book that should interest students in grades 5th through the 8th who enjoy a trip into fantasy land.

I read this book 18 years ago, when I was 10 years old. It was one of the best books I ever read - as good as Mark Twain's 'Tom Sawyer' or Jules Verne's 'Mistery Island'. But in a way, it was better. The atmosphere of Elidor was magical, dim lit, eerie - something I found only in Marion Zimmer Bradley's 'The Mists of Avalon' or in Stephen King's work. This is definitely a great fantasy book.

Alan Garner is an extremely underrated fantasy author. Elidor is a perfect example of the magic he can weave. The plot is simple enough - the four Watson children must save the world of Elidor, one step removed from our own. To do this, they are given four magical Treasures that guard Elidor from harm. But doing this may be more trouble than they think...

Garner is a lyrical writer. Such sentences as "The blade was like ice, and the hilt all jewels and fire" would be impressive in even an adult's book. The books have lots of adventure in them for the younger set, and fine prose for adults. I recommend this to all readers, even those that don't like fantasy.

This book was a great source that helped me pull together so much of the information I'd heard about antibiotics - that they don't work, that they're overused, etc. The author does a fabulous job of summarizing the different types of pathogens that cause ear infections. He explains that not all ear infections are bacterial, and even among those that are, nearly two thirds would resolve themselves with or without antibiotics. This really helped me put in perspective all of those books that tout, "your children don't need antibiotics!" Most of the time they don't, agrees the author; however, he says, one third of bacterial ear infections do require antibiotics in order to resolve without complications. And he provides the gory details about those possible complications.

Far from advocating surgery, this author addresses many alternative approaches and is supportive of them insofar as they complement, not take the place of, conventional medicine. His approach with most ear infections is "wait and see;" go home, keep an eye on your child, and come back in 48 hours. Meanwhile, try your favorite home remedy - many of which he discusses in detail and is not critical or patronizing; he even recommends xylitol based on a Finnish medical study that found xylitol-sweetened chewing gum reduced the incidence of otitis media by nearly half!...

In cases where ear infections do not show improvement within 48 hours, the author does advocate antibiotics. His book provides detailed descriptions of the antibiotics currently available. And yes, he discusses surgery, but in context it is more informational than promotional.

A very sensible and balanced book with loads of valuable information.

I found the information on the different antibiotics that are used on childhood ear infections very helpful. Dr. Green gave a very brief over veiw of the alternative medicines and therapies available. He also left out how airborne allergies and food allergies affect ear infections. He seemed to lean towards surgery as an answer to ear recurrent ear infections. His advice on preparing your child for surgery was excellent. For parents who are trying to avoid surgery, I would look for another book.

Dr. Greene's book is a bible for parents whose children are experiencing ear infections at any degree. Clearly written, unbiased information about all there is to know about ear infections, antibiotics, surgery, tubes, and alternative therapy. Also, his website keeps parents up to date as to new developments on this chronic condition.

If I could, I'd give this 3.5 stars. Interesting tale of Jones' life, but I was expecting more detailed (juicy?) anecdotes. Every other rock bio I've read has great stories from the recording studio and about hi-jinks on the road. Not much of that here. I did enjoy learning of Jones' theater background, though.

As far as Monkees biographies go, I'd recommend the one written by Micky Dolenz.

I was 12 years old when I received a copy of Davy's book THEY MADE A MONKEE OUT OF ME. It has left a lasting impression with me. I have found it to be extremely informative regarding Davy's past as well as regarding the truth behind The Monkees. Davy keeps the reader interested by using humorous anecdotes and wild stories to illustrate his points. It's a must-have for any die-hard Monkees fan.

I'M JUST LOOKING FOR A USED COPY OF DAVY JONES THEY MADE A MONKEE OUT OF ME, BUT SOMEWHERE IN THE 20 DOLLAR RANGE, NOT AS HIGH AS IT IS, AND IT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE AUTOGRAPHED.

Green Bear is a cute, simple book that teaches color and seasons in a way that very young toddlers or older babies will find entertaining. There are 4 in the series, Yellow Hippo, Red Rhino and Blue Tortoise. Each book teaches colors while focusing on a secondary theme. Red Rhino challenges the child to find hidden pictures. Blue Tortoise teaches about the rewards of patience. Yellow Hippo illustrates creative play with every day objects.

The simplistic style also makes it easy to use the book to teach sight words to older children.

We first bought the books 3 years ago for my 3 year old son, but now we share them with our 21 month old daughter. She loves them. Tonight I am buying the series to send to a friend who has a new baby.

My daughter loved this book when she was 3-4. There are lots of colors and lots of animals hiding in special places. Watch for the kitty! And a surprise at the end! If you like this one, try the others in the series, Red Rhino, Yellow Hippo, and Blue Tortoise.

My daughter and I have enjoyed reading Green Bear for over 9 years. When she was just a little child we had so much fun diving into the pictures, now even when she's 10 years old we go back and visit the book and remember the quality time. If you don't have the book you need to get it. The word "Snip" will bring smiles and laughs for years to come.

I haven't read this book, and I don't think I ever want to. To see that this book portrays all keepers and owners of exotic animals as animals themselves is horrible. I don't know how the author of this book could call himself an animal lover if he's putting down the reputation of the people who take care of these animals. Some, yes, some people do abuse their right to care for and/or own the animals, and sometimes even abuse the animals themselves. I can say I'm pursuing a career in exotic animal training for the likes of television and movies, and I think it's horrible that people like myself are getting a bad name. I personally love animals and would never cause my animals to be afraid, abused, or hurt in any way. Even if this book doesn't say that all exotic owners abuse their animals, the reviews I read are horrible - saying they'll not enjoy zoos anymore and such. I love zoos, I know how much work goes into such an establishment, and I commend their breeding programs. Maybe the author just has something against exotic keepers. I'm not even saying all keepers and owners are good-natured and animal-loving people, but the reviews make it sound like they're all to be hated as far as this book is concerned. If I'm wrong, then I'm wrong, but I just want everyone to know that you can't base all your beliefs on one book, and it doesn't speak for everyone. There are still a lot of good people out there who genuinely love all animals and would never hurt them. I look forward to owning my own exotics someday in *several* years once I'm well educated about them, have all the legal and necessary permits, my own business established, and several acres of land with proper housing for them. Not all owners are irresponsible, but apparently some authors are ignorant.

I've read many books on animal rights as well as primate studies, but this book has perhaps shocked me the most with its tales of supposedly reputable zoos selling their "surplus" animals to dealers who then place them in game reserves where they are shot for sport. Don't believe it? Read this book; Green has clearly researched his subject matter with journalistic determination, uncovering truths that previously lay hidden behind a labyrinth of paperwork. Green details the illegal removal of rare species from other countries and their treatment here in North America, from zoos to animal trainers to private owners.

You will never again see a baby giraffe in a zoo and be able to enjoy it. You'll discover how a loophole in the Endangered Species Act allows Bengal tigers, lemurs, and other endangered species to be bought and sold without permits and paperwork. You'll never be able to watch a chimpanzee perform on television without wondering about his off-stage treatment.

Alan Green loves animals - his awe and his concern are palpable. When he describes the fate of particular animals, you will feel the injustice with all your heart. If this doesn't convince you to stand up for the rights of captive animals, no other book will.

After reading this book I don't know how anyone could comfortably visit a zoo or animal park. I find what goes on behind the scenes a moral outrage. There is no doubt in my mind that the private ownership laws in this country have to be changed. I think that exotic animals should only be bred by organizations doing so for genetic reasons. Private dealers and the like should never be permitted to breed exotic animals. When you can read a magazine like Animal Finder's Guide and see Bengal tigers advertised ... you have to realize that this is a serious problem. Why are the licenses so easy to obtain? Why do zoos, which are publicly funded in many cases, have no responsibility to publicly disclose what they do with their animals? After all we support them. This book shows once again how cruel we as people are to the other species around us. I think it should be required reading for anyone who desires ownership of an exotic species or supports animal rights.

This is a working person's book. Many of the poems have the feel of the poet writing notes on a small pad during brief breaks at work, imprinting observations about customers, workers, produce, clouds, items in the dumpster. The poems feel like a cross between Basho amd William Carlos Williams--the immediacy and sensitivity of haiku with the sharp eye of Dr. Williams. Lau further creates the working environment by intercutting announcements on the intercom. If you like the work poems of Philip Levine, you will like this book.