The photographs are so gorgious and real that they make you feel like you are right there. From the cliffs to the sandy beaches and from the light houses to the huge watery rocks make this book extremely unforgettable.

David Guard's musical background shows in the angrily, bravely, happily and tragically dancing drawings and text of DEIRDRE: A CELTIC LEGEND. The former Kingston Trio member makes it clear why this story has gone through so many retellings: the skilled chess-playing daughter of Elva and storytelling harper Fedlimid macDall, Queen Deirdre returned from a seven-year exile so that her lover's murder with the other heroic sons of Uisnach would be opposed, witnessed and mourned; the old ways would not be forgotten; the people of Scotland would be safe from her husband, Red Branch Chief and Ulster High King Conchobar macNessa; and the suffering would end among her people in Ireland. I find it interesting that the author included understanding insects when talking about how much Deirdre knew: Annie Dillard says in PILGRIM AT TINKER CREEK that the key to figuring out life might be in understanding bugs. The beautifully simple book, along with the song "Deirdre" on the Beach Boy's "Sunflower/Surf's Up" album, can help readers tackle Randy Lee Eickhoff's THE RAID, THE FEAST, and THE SORROWS; Morgan Llywelyn's RED BRANCH; and the classic versions of DEIRDRE by James Stephens, John M. Synge, and William Butler Yeats.

The very title of this book invites inquisition. This book is filled with solid, principle-based solutions which reverse the negative imagery of failure. I like "Failure Is Written In Pencil" because it provides the mirror in which to view the face of failure in a positive light. With each page, the anticipation of trying again was elevated. The author is candid, transparent and intimate with his reader and he thoughtfully balanced the emotional impact of confronting personal change with humor. I enjoyed reading this book because it is written from a personal perspective. I was able to extract exactly what was needed for me to regain a healthy outlook on succeeding. "Failure Is Written In Pencil" provided a challenging and realistic look at succcess through the unglamorous eyes of failure. I recommend reading this book- it contains remarkable therapeutic value. It provides the reader with a map of where the rubber meets the road to success. I found that the book fostered focus on the REALITY OF TRUE SUCCESS-Failure is written in pencil. A must read for all leaders whether secular or parochial. A healthy resource for dream empowerment.

I thought when reading "The Flesheaters" that David Ireland's writing was something like that of Bret Easton Ellis ("American Psycho"), or the other way round. There is a dry quality to it, as though the writer is being very sparing of his words and a sort of inflammability in the prose so that you never quite know what's likely to happen next. This sparse writing, although it may use masses of text at the same time, creates a tension which holds the reader in thrall to some extent. I can imagine that not everyone will like it.

The end result is a dramatic situation which is rendered imminently plausible by this technique of keeping the reader off guard. I found myself admiring it the more I read. The novel is not an easy one to accept. The proposition involved has one squirming, though at no time did I think of giving the book up. On the contrary, the increasing uneasiness engendered by the plot was being masterfully counterbalanced by the tight control of the writer. At the end, I could only take my hat off to a fine, possibly a great accomplishment. Having read Ireland before with considerable pleasure ("The Glass Canoe," "The Chantic Bird"), "The Flesheaters" confirmed to me that I was in the hands of a first-class Australian author. I must say that was a relief, since there has been quite a bit of published work from Down Under in the last decade or two that has left me utterly cold.

This guide is essential for everyone planning to visit Ireland. It succinctly tells the historical background of many sites of interest. Also, the recommendations for lodging, dining, etc. are reliable and helpful. Overall, a very straight-forward, user-friendly guide to meet the needs of all travelers.

If I could quadruple the score of this book, I would. Set in a pub in Sydney, Australia, and telling the stories of the drinkers there, it is a fantastic mixture of coarse, often scatalogical humor and a lyrical love story, albeit told in a gruff manner. The imagery and detail is fantastic - measuring a pulse like feeling knots in a thread; reflections in an oily puddle - each time I go to this book I come back with something new. Please reprint it - my dogeared copy is soon going to give way on me. And this book understands drinkers like no other I've read. My favorite book ever, I can't recommend it enough.