Though I really enjoy Healy's John Francis Cuddy novels, I had never read any of his short stories until this week. It is rare that I see (or read) a writer who is so masterful of both the long and short story format...Healy is one! I'm now waiting for the next collection to come out, because I couldn't get enough, which should tell you something, because my first choice is a novel 99% of the time. Of course, most of the stories being set in Boston (my hometown) is nice, but there isn't quite as much of the Boston flavor as in Robert B. Parker's novels. Up to you whether that's a good thing.

The Concise Cuddy is a great supplement to the fantastic series of Boston PI John Cuddy, by Jeremiah Healy. For those of us who have read the series, this is a way to stay in touch with an old friend, but readers who are new to the Cuddy will find this a great introduction (if not addicted). Healy is an excellent writer whose skills aren't just good for a detective writer but for any writer. His characters are developed even in short story form and the plots are well thought-out. I loved "Double Con" the best. A fantastic short story that keep you turning the pages and finding that all of your quessing is fruitless. Anyone who likes a good mystery will love this collection. And if you've never read a Healy novel, you'll be trying to find them all. You won't be able to put them down. As an avid reader of mystery/detective books, I highly recommend THE CONCISE CUDDY. Since this isn't a widely available publication, I suggest hanging on to it as well.

Great Book....even though the CRAZY PROFESSOR I HAD USED 15 of the essays and some poems. THE ESSAYS WERE INTERESTING AND FUN.

This book provides a good range of diverse materials for a teacher in a first year English course. There are multiple genres and themes, a section of famous paintings for discussions (useful for discussions on literature and art), among other helpful features. The Conscious Reader is an antidote to readers which have the same standard writing for student use.

This is Vol. 1 of Francis Parkman's excellent account of the major uprising of the Great Lakes tribes in 1763-1764 whose orchestration is generally attributed to the Ottawa chief Pontiac.

Pontiac's Rebellion, as it is often called, is generally seen as a epilogue to the French and Indian War. At the end of this conflict, France was forced to concede defeat, and to hand over control of all their former forts and settlements to the British. The complex relationship between the Britsh, French, and Indian tribes in the Trans-Alleghany region was in a delicate situation after the fall of New France. The great lakes tribes, allies of the French and tradionally tied to them trough trade and inter-marriage, were fearful and suspicious of the British conquerors. The British were generally eager to establish trade with these new tribes, which had up until now been exclusively partnered with the French. But the view held by some in the upper British echelon, particularly General Jeffery Amherst, the commander-in-chief of all British forces in North America, was extremely biased against the Indians, whom they viewed as dangerous savages.

When the British took control of the Forts in the Great Lakes region, Amherst immediately instituted a harsh trade policy which essentially punished the Indians, preventing them from obtaining gunpowder and ammunition for their muskets needed for hunting. Amherst and his cronies, warm and safe in their lush surroundings in New York, failed to grasp the unique relationship that had evolved between the Indian and the white traders since the early days of European settlement. The Indians could no longer support themselves without the trade goods from the whites, particularly guns and ammo. Amherst also eliminated the traditional giving of "presents" as a diplomatic offering to the Indians, which was seen by them as a major breach of trust and friendship. This proved a recipe for disaster which was forseen by many in-the-know on the Frontier, particularly men like George Croghan and Sir William Johnson, British Superintendent of Indian Affairs and a well-respected figure among the New York Iroqouis. But all their warnings to Amherst and the high command were ignored. The result was one of the largest Indian uprisings in American history.

Parkman's account is an extremely detailed retelling of the uprising from it's beginings at Fort Detroit to it ultimate defeat by British troops at the Battle of Bushy Run and Colonel Henry Bouquet's march into the Ohio Country. Some people may find Parkman difficult to read and his language can be dry at times. Some modern readers will find his 19th century view on the Indians, whom he often refers to as savages, as offensive. However, Parkman was a 19th century American writing at a time when the war to conquer the American continent was still being waged and white animosity and racism toward the Indians had not been tempered. Even so, Parkman does seem to give them more credit than many of his contemporaries.

The war's outcome did not bode well for the Indians and Pontiac's tragic fate seem to foreshadow dark times to come for the native tribes. Even the tribes close with and allied to the English began to realize that their days were numbered and that the attitude toward them was changing for the worse. Soon, the British, who had once been heavily dependant on trade and military alliances with the tribes would no longer need them now that the French had been vanquished. The fears of the Indians, that the whites would soon come to drive them out and take their land, were beginning to be fulfilled. The fallout from this tragic conflict, a despreate attemtpt to cling to the traditional relationship that had existed between the whites and the Indians, would echo down the long years of history. In later years, great Indian leaders like Joseph Brant, Blue Jacket, Little Turtle, and Tecumseh would try to recreate what Pontiac attempted in 1763: To preserve their homes and way of life, a struggle that would ultiamtely prove a failure.

I have a love for history as it happened, and this book was as good as it gets with regard to "telling it like it is" and the explanation about the environment and the character of the people involved. I understand more about the Indian people and the French and the British (at that period of time) than I knew before reading the book. As to the book it shows how the French lost most of America and Canada, when they were better positioned (they had made friends with the Indians) to take over than the British. The author of the book lived in a period where he could visit and speak to persons who were affected by the French and Indian wars (which period is almost forgotten). It also explained who was "Pontiac", an Indian chief of amazing leadership(& who is not a car). I had heard his of his name in a movie and I was curious to what he represented. I had read the "Lewis and Clark expedition" book before this one and both books complemented each other very much. A movie, regarding the Indian assault on a desperate Fort Denver should be made (I believe there is one with Gary Cooper and a young Lloyd Bridges, but it is not completely - historically speaking - reliable).

Harrold and Eve have contributed significantly to the study of pseudoscientific beliefs in this volume and their previous work The Creationist Movement in Modern America (also highly recommended). This volume is the result of a 1986 multidisciplinary symposium, and chapters were contributed by authors from fields such as anthropology, psychology, sociology, and history.

Of particular interest for researchers is the original Student Opinion Questionnaire that was used in a national survey of college student pseudoscientific beliefs which was conducted simultaneously in three seperate areas of the country. The results of this survey are presented within the book.

The second edition is preferable, as it includes a new chapter by Bernard Ortiz de Montellano on the increasingly prominent topic of "Afrocentric" history, as well as an updated final chapter covering changes in pseudoscientific beliefs from the 80s to the 90s.

This is an invaluable tool for all social scientists interested in understanding how people come to accept many things as fact, even when presented with evidence to the contrary. Explorered are the ways in which people are socialized to adhere to specific belief systems; via family, religious and educational institutions... The primary focus is on false belief systems which have origins in fundamentalist religion.

THE END OF THE WORLD IS NEAR!
How many times have you heard a doomsayer in church or
a conspirist co-worker say this. I met an individual once
who was convinced that he could predict the "season" in
which Christ would return. "Season", because although you
could not nail down the exact time and day... you could
figure out the year and season. This was his thinking.
This book answers these people.
This book must be read before you try to figure out
the day and the hour.

Francis Gumerlock, a classmate of mine, has done a great job of research here. He chronicles the false interpretations of end-time prophecy throughout church history. You will learn about some of the most bizarre scoundrels and heretics in church history as well as some orthodox folks who were simply reading the Bible in light of world events rather than the opposite. Reading this book is a good way to get a jolt of humility in this day and age when prophecy books about a future antichrist run rampant (The Left Behind series, for instance). This is definitely one to add to your library -- I can think of no book like it.

My wife and I are avid mystery readers. Usually, one of us solves the mystery, then dares the other to solve it in less pages. But with Dick Francis, we haven't been able to solve until his character does. This makes for a very exiting, challenging books, real page turners.

Dick Francis is a master of the do-the-right-thing
novel! If you're looking for intriguing story
lines, believable characters and cover-to-cover
racing, you'll love these three novels

This was the last sunfire book I read but one of the best. It is so very romantic. It is about a rich American girl who must choose between the rich french man, David and the poor trailsmen, John who is about to leave with the Lewis and Clark expidition. Will she have the strength to follow her heart and dreams?

Diana is the daughter of wealthy Americans living in New Orleans in the early 1800s. Most of their neighbors are French Creoles. When the United States buys the Louisiana Purchase, New Orleans becomes an American City. Many of Diana's Creole neighbors are angry. But Diana has her own trouble. She must chosse between the two men that love her: a rich Creole and a young man in the Louis and Clark Expedition.

The book is wonderful and is truly an asset to anyone who loves Dorothy Dunnett's books. All the poetry, historical references, historical figures etc are explained or translated. It is an encyclopedic addition that completes your Dunnett collection. Dorothy herself is helping with the second volume to finish up the Niccolo books and tie everything together. A definite "must-have".

The fine folks at Vintage Books have done a great favor to those of us who are longtime fans of Dorothy Dunnett's Lymond and Niccolo chronicles as well as those who have only just discovered her writing. The Companion first was published in 1994 and inexplicably was allowed to go out of print, so that the only copies available recently were used books that seemed to start around [price]...and up. Some readers of Dunnett's books might have the benefit of a classical education that allows them to understand who all the historical characters are, what all the literary allusions are to, and what all of the quotations in foreign languages mean. For all of the rest of us, Elspeth Morrison has performed the invaluable labor of tracking down Dorothy Dunnett's original sources and fleshing out the details. Dunnett's books remind me of Medieval and Renaissance tapestries--rich in intricate symbolism and detail. You can look at them and enjoy them as fine art, but when you know what the details mean, your experience is that much deeper and richer. Fervent thanks to Morrison for making this illumination available!

This book has a variety of information that is easily accessible in tabbed sections on plants, fish, and maintenance issues. It is great for someone who is considering a pond or water garden or someone who is troubleshooting a problem in an already existing garden. Although it lacks detail in some areas it is meant to be a quick reference guide to the most common aspects of water gardeing. And it does a fabulous job at that!

This book was very good. It has TONS of information. It has sections on all parts of a water garden. The fish section has lots of kinds and I got the fish for my pond using the book for a reference. The book is very helpful and has good projects.

I actually picked up this book in a local bookstore. But I've since then recommended it to many friends. The book is well thought out, recipes are creative, attractive, and easy to read. It's hard to mess up a recipe! Ingrediants are common but with a twist. The casserole recipes are especially hardy and fairly inexpensive to prepare. The fruit-based desserts are wonderful and I always get compliments on them. I highly recommend this book, especially when your old recipes get tired. The time-saving tips offer alternatives and ways to make ahead.

Collaboratively compiled and presented by dietitians Shauna Ratner & Frances Johnson, Eating Light Eating Right: Simple Recipes For A Healthy Life is a highly recommended compendium of simple-to-prepare recipes that are as delicious as they are nutritious. From Herbed Pita Crisps; Salmon and Vegetable Soup; Chicken & Nectarine Stir-Fry; and Penne with Vegetables and Sun-Dried Tomatoes; to Bulgur Bean Chili; Apple Cinnamon Loaf; Couscous with Mushrooms; and Phyllo Tarts with Blueberries, these"heart friendly" and palate-pleasing dishes will grace any table and enhance any meal.