Wow! Where did this Captain Nemo story come from? This is one of the smartest, science fiction adventures I've read and heard in a longtime. The way the prose of the surrealistic, underwater world of Captain Nemo and his adventure pull you into this story is fantastic. The realistic submarines and sea creatures is like Star Wars underneath the oceans. The characters like Jackie Fife, Uriah, Ari, Captain Riley and Captain Nemo played off each other and became very real. I highly recommend this Captain Nemo novel by Xavier Joseph Carbajal and the audiobook. My friends and I look forward to the sequel.

When a friend of mine from Dublin, Ireland told me about this Captain Nemo novel and audiobook I thought it was going to be some comicbook super hero gimmick. It wasn't. I was very impressed an moved by this brilliant continuation of the Jules Verne classic. Here is the tale of a scientist who has the ability to save the world from itself and he chooses not to. Decades into the 21st Century, the oceans have fallen into anarchy and black market pirates. Even the United Nations has collapsed and rogue terrorism has spawned into the oceans. Uriah, Kronos and Elon. Three wonderful villains worthy to be almost Shakespearian in dimension. And, Captain Nemo and his delightful crew, Ari, Jackie and Captain Donald "Don Quixote" Riley. All the wonderful players in this classic tale of a man's redemption and his choice to rise from the oceans to fight and evil as well as his inner demons. I truly believe Mr. Xavier Joseph Carbajal is on his way to becoming one of the newsest, most exciting writers of our time. His Captain Nemo novel is a wonderful story written with poetic colors of underwater landscapes, sea creatures with remarkable qualities and a talent for making Captain Nemo seem like he is out there in the oceans right now. I hope to see more from this author. David.

My wife and I take our three children on camping trips and sometimes the long drives can be uneventful, so, we take the kids to the bookstore and let them pick out books to read and audiobooks to listen to. When we went to get Harry Potter's latest novel, Goblet of Fire, I was surprised to see my fourteen year old daughter with a copy of the Captain Nemo audiobook. At the register I looked it over and asked her if she really wanted it. She told me a bunch of her friends in school read the book and have the audiobook. So, all of us listened to this tape and I must admit, my wife and I were very impressed. The story of a group scientists struggling with the need to do good and a secret crew of submarine commanders was a brilliant mix of literature, science and adventure. Captain Nemo takes you on a magical journey with a crew of sailors and soldiers who battle an evil warrior named Uriah. Along the way there are gigantic sea creatures by the name of Goliath, Hermes and Brutus. All these creatures of the deep oceans have a connection with the legendary Jules Verne captain as he discovers one of his sons is a traitor. For parents sake, I would rate this a great story for teenagers. The morals in this story are just what the book world needs.

My nephew is in the tenth grade in New York City and he bought me a copy of Edgar Allan Poe: A Love Story. This chilling love story has a dark magic to it. I have always love the old Vincent Price/Boris Karloff classics of Mr. Poes works. I was very impressed how this production captured the feel of a true gothic horror tale. I am also very impressed that this audiobook could gain the interest of my sixteen year old nephew and his classmates. I hope there will be a CD version and a book based on this wonderful story.

My friends were telling me about this great audiobook when I visited them in San Francisco last month and I just finished listening to my own copy. Edgar Allan Poe: A Love Story is terrific! The way this story molds one of Americas most acclaimed poets into an arrogant, troubled genius is fun and eerie. It's as if this actor was Poe and Lenore did have this affect over him. My mother loved the way the third cassette had the Tell Tale Heart, The Raven and the other poems. My fourteen year old niece and my eleven year old newphew go with me now to look for old books by Poe so we can listen to this tape and read along to the poems. This is a wonderful idea.

My friend brought a copy of this audiobook back from Baltimore, after the holidays. I have listened to this story of Edgar Allan Poe's life and I have started doing some research for a literature paper. The version of this story is amazing. My friends and I have never heard such great talent before. The way this writer formed the relationship between Edgar and Lenore is very moving and breathtaking. If anyone is doing a term paper or research on American writers and poets, this one will make it even more fun. Ian.

When reading about historical events, one must consider the source. Dr. Sledge is an excellent source on the subject of Marines in combat in WWII. Dr. Sledge was really there at Peleliu and Okinawa, and on the front lines. No post-war historian could possibly describe the realities of combat with the accuracy of one who was really there. This book is a treasure not only because of its accuracy, but because it is so rare. Bookstores today are full of first-person accounts of Vietnam War veterans, but similar writings by veterans of WWII are extremely rare. If you want to read a generalized, sanitzed version of combat in the Pacific war, pick up a typical history book. However, if you want a definitive description of young American Marines fighting the ghastly horrors of combat-the worst reality of war-then this book is a must read. In my opinion, books such as this should be mandatory reading for high school students, so that they might have some understanding of how many Americans have fought and died to preserve the freedoms they now enjoy.

Author Eugene Sledge served as a mortarman with the 1st Marine Division during the battles of Peleliu and Okinawa. His devasting account of the horrors he witnessed are a must read for anyone interested in WWII. This could be the best personal memoir of combat ever written. If you want a full appreciation of what the generation of Americans who endured WWII combat went through, buy this book now.

Sledge takes the reader with him as he joins the Marine Corp, goes through boot camp, and ends up with the grizzled combat veterans of the 1st Marine Division. He takes us through his initiation of combat on Peleliu, a coral island which had some of the worst fighting, up to that point, in the Pacific. Today, there is a general belief that the battle for Peleliu was unnecessary, owing to the advancement of the schedule for the invasion of the Philippines. If this was an unneeded battle, Sledge shows in full detail the horrible sacrifice young Americans suffered.

His account of the battle of Okinawa is even more devasting. Where Peleliu was a dry, parched hell, Okinawa is a hell of rain, mud, muck and decay. Sledge is unstinting in exposing the horror and ever-present danger facing those in the frontlines. He shows the casual brutality of combat, and does not turn away from showing the hatred most Marines had for the Japanese. He shows the close bonds that develop between the members of a combat unit, the terror of shell-shocked soldiers, dodging bullets & shells on stretcher bearer duty, the stench of fighting in the middle of human decay, and the loss that is felt when friends die.

"With the Old Breed" is mandatory reading for anyone interested in WWII.

Three veterans of the First Marine Division have written accounts of WWII in the Pacific. E.B. Sledge in this book, William Manchester in "Goodbye Darkness," and Robert Leckey in "Strong Men Armed." Sledge's book gives an honest, plain spoken, first hand account of two horrific campaigns. He pulls no punches in describing the brutality and the horror, but he doesn't dwell on it. He merely describes it in a matter of fact fashion.

Leckey's book ("Strong Men Armed") doesn't dwell on personal experiences, but gives the vast panorama of the Navy/Marine Corps island hopping campaign, and helps to put Sledge's personal memoir into the context of the whole war in the Pacific.

Manchester's book ("Goodbye Darkness") reads something like the out-loud ruminations of a mental patient working through unresolved issues on the psychiatrist's couch.

Leckey is a noted military historian who has written a number of very good books on the subject. Manchester is a noted author, and of the three has the most recognizable name. Sledge, however, although not a professional writer, is the First Division alumnus who has written the best book on the Pacific War. (Leckey runs a close second and Manchester a distant third).

Mix a wonderful set of deep characters like President Marie Arcola, Senator Trevor Thomas, Benny and Fred, into a non-stop plot with a believable incident at a bio-chemical factory in Iran, add a bunch of suicidal racists who think they can start a holy war and you may get close to what Lady President is all about. The action scenes with Rockys Vampyres and the taking of the factory was brilliant. I was in the Air Force and the dogfight scenario was outstanding. This author, Mr. Carbajal, is better than most authors of books out there. He writes with humor, depth and can even make a grown man cry. My wife put the book down after the funeral scene and it took her a week to have the courage to pick this book up again to see how the story ended. She was impressed and I was impressed.This author has what it takes and is going places.

I read Lady President last week and then saw Schindlers List last Sunday on tv. I am surprised how similar some of the ideas of good and evil are in both of these powerful works. Although Lady President is a fiction based in our future, the novel explores what great need there is to keep balance in our world. We may see Mrs. Elizabeth Dole become president next year and this Lady President novel has given us a lot to think about and what we may expect. Senator Thomas was a gruff, veteran of many deadly battles and President Marie Arcola had to deal with the loss of her family at a very, desperate time in the history of the world (in the future, of course). I have decided to use this authors novel to teach one of my classes at UCLA because of all the theories on gun control, abortion laws, womens rights and what other countries will do, once we have our first woman president. The author is very gifted and has a way of making you fall for the men and women he has created to play out this dark tale.

When I read reviews about Lady President in several major newspapers, I naturally became curious and picked up a copy. I just feel the need to help out some of these 'so-called' book reviewers. Most of the reviews were written by men and judging from their comments, they just skimmed through this great story. This book is filled with soulful characters: Joey Adair, Benny, Rockys Vampyres and Terry, the soldier who left his drug infested neighborhood and now has to deliver a soldier to his death to keep a war from killing thousands. Some of the reviews said President Marie Arcola didn't participate or have the ability to make the final decision that she made. What? First of all she was once a captain in Desert Storm, a lawyer, a senator, a vice-president and now president. Read the last conversation she has with Joey(p.217). Feel the strength in this moment. Think about what kind of person it takes to fill those shoes. She is not going to babble on like some hysterical woman. Read the book again!!! She studies everything and everyone; the senators arguing, the Chiefs of Staff not giving her the right information and that sneaky FBI agent, Agent Naughton. All of them trashing her and saying she can't do this job, just because she is a woman. I think just because she had a speech problem, that was no reason to say she was a flawed character. Look at Tom Wolfe's A Man in Full, his book was great and his characters had different ways of speaking. President Arcola is also a very smart individual. She makes up her mind and she takes full responsibilty and she gives this story action. Well, of course you fellas liked Senator Trevor Thomas. He had money, beautiful women, expensive clothes and yes, I admit, he rocked and ruled the Senate floor. But when he matched wits against President Marie Arcola, he backed away like a puppy dog. This book was great and I am very surprised a man wrote it.

I started writing perl around ten years ago, and at the time my perl looked a lot like the c code I wrote in 1990.. or the FORTRAN code I wrote in 1975! And so it was for many years.

But this book, more than any other, helped turn me into an actual perl programmer. It covers the basics- things like 'use "$_" implcitly whenever possible, but don't refer to it explicitly if you don't have to'. There's a good description of slurp mode. And it covers those neat little tricks, like using:

($a,$b)[$a<$b]

to return the greater of two scalars.

It's not a book for the absolute beginner. But once you've written a few programs and start wondering why your perl doesn't look like that written by the perl gurus, this is the book to get.

The day I got this book, I turned to page 1 and started reading. Two hours later, I had made it only to page 80. Why? Because this book is DENSE and FULL of tips and tricks that will expand the horizons of the intermediate programmer. I spent a lot of time studying the numerous examples in order to soak up all the information that was being presented.

I've been programming with Perl since 1992 and teach it at a community college. And yet with every turn of the page, I learned something new. Examples:

Making regular expressions more efficient

Using map() and grep()

How to call a subroutine from inside a string

Great stuff! The techniques I've learned from this book have been incorporated into my new Perl scripts and they are shorter and faster than ever before.

I can't lavish enough praise on this book. Authors Joseph Hall and Randal Schwartz should be commended. If you have been using Perl for some time and want to hone your skills, get this book now.

"Effective Perl Programming" is a *very* useful book, well-written, with transparent examples. It is recommended for intermediate and beginner programmers. My scripts indeed started to run (and look) better after using just several of the numerous techniques described in this book! "Effective Perl Programming" occupies the niche left previously empty in the Perl literature.

It is different from its closest counterpart, "Perl Cookbook", in the following aspects. "Effective Perl Programming" describes a smaller number of very highly versatile techniques. Also, the small format, modular structure and clear style of "Effective Perl Programming" allows one to read it anywhere, in addition to using it as a great desk book.

Our family looked a long time before finding the info that Joseph Jenkins presents in his book. Having moved onto raw land after living in camping trailers and RVs, we had been used to chemical toilets and now faced a situation where we were weekly going to a dump site. I had heard that there were "composting toilets" which were a great alternative, especially for organic farmers, but that they were very expensive. Jenkins' book contributed more to our life than any other resource excluding the Holy Bible. He presents well documented facts for any one who is concerned with bacteria, disease, the environment, recycling and perhaps best of all simplicity and economics. Joes book has helped our family to live a less stressful and more productive life. What he presents can be understood by anyone and will fit the budget of the poorest of us. Joe Jenkins has given us one more tool to help us all return our planet to the beautiful garden it was intended to be.

What a fun and informative book. Joe's ability to include much needed scientific information in a light hearted and comic way makes the reading truely enjoyable. Composting toilets are catching on for many reasons throughout the world and I see why this book has become a primary source of facts about the whole process of using human manure through a low cost composting method. I have actually used a toilet built to his specs--with the 5 gallon plastic bucket and saw dust--and must say it works. My wife and I are planning to add one of our own to a little cabin on our 80 acre tree farm. Have a laugh and learn how to reduce your impact on the Earth. Read the Humanure Handbook!

Joe Jenkins is a great guy with a great message to spread. He wakes up his readers to the possibilities of a greatly overlooked resource. Many people, like myself, probably have thought about the use of humane manure for garden fertilizer, but it seemed too crazy. Jenkins EMPOWERS us to take advantage of our byproducts, and shows us that there's nothing to fear! Humanmanure composting makes SO much sense. It provides needed fertilizer, reduces pollution, and reduces the need for huge, dirty sewage infrastructure. It's a shame that so many toilets continue to flush every day.

I am currently doing grass-roots development work in rural Bolivia, and am hoping to implement humanure composting in the way Jenkins teaches it. This low-tech technology has SUCH tremendous potential in the developing world, where farmers ALWAYS need more fertilizer, and where there are often not even latrines, let alone sewage systems. Excrement usually just lies about, eaten by pigs and dogs, or leaking into water sources, thus continuing the viscous cycle of parasite diseases.

Joe Jenkins has empowered me to do what makes sense by nature and recycle precious organic nutrients. Everyone should read this book and wake up to these fecal realities. I read his book over a year ago, and am still so excited that I'm considering doing humanure research for my PhD! Read away...

I read this book during my 4th class of Espanol at the university level. This is not an introductory book, so don't bother to read it unless you have a solid understanding of Spanish basics, including basic conjugation, the subjunctive mood, etc.

This book has a lot of tips to sharpen your Spanish. Chapter 8 has "sentence starters" to help you start off your spoken Spanish; evidently these are the equivalent to English's "well..." or "the thing is..." Chapter 9 has "snappy answers" organised according to how you want to respond (e.g. in disbelief, with surprise, etc.) The answers for affirmation are quite useful (e.g. esta bien, claro, de acuerdo). Of course, you can easily get this information from any college-level textbook, but the distribution of these words into nicely organised categories is quite useful. There is also a chapter on how to swear effectively (evidently chingar is a strong word), which I never did in my classroom. An earlier chapter on how to use 64 key verbs was invaluable as well.

One particular chapter I loved was how to choose the correct Spanish word for particular English verbs. This can get tricky for some English infinitives like "to become" and "to happen." Another chapter on the history of the Spanish language was very interesting to read.

One thing I didn't like was the treatment of the subjunctive mood -- it left me a bit more confused, and my Spanish teacher actually told me that some information was incorrect. Finally, one glaring omission that I hope the author writes about in any later edition is the use of "por" vs. "para". To me, this trickiness is right up there with "ser" vs. "estar."

This book was so much fun and so useful I keep re-reading it, and learning something more each time. The author doesn't neglect grammar, but neither does he present grammar as a list of dull rules. Rather, he guides the reader through examples of how Spanish grammar and structure reflect how Spanish speakers think. It's practical, but not in the hackneyed "Can you direct me to the nearest bathroom?" mode. Rather, this book tries to help gringos learn how people really speak Spanish. There's much emphasis on traps which frequently snare native English speakers learning Spanish. The book is well organized, and written with a great sense of humor. My only minor quibble is the absence of an index. I agree with others: this isn't a book for those just starting out, pero cuando quieras aprender un poco más, ¡debes comprar este libro!

This book was required for a university class in Spanish conversation. There is so much information in this book that is invaluable to the Spanish student. It is written to show the intermediate student how to "break out" of the textbook Spanish into real, conversational Spanish. It tells you what aspects of the language are really used in common language and speaking, and it tells you what you should and should not say in order to sound more like a native speaker.

This is a book that can be read over and over again, and it is a very good reference tool. You should not expect to be able to remember everything, because there is so much information. It will tell you everything from how to vary your speech, to how to better learn and improve your Spanish, to how to recognize profanity. It gives you information that you cannot get anywhere else - information that they do not teach you in the classroom. I highly recommend it.

In this fabulous book Rabbi Telushkin sets forth in simple, easily readible short essays each and every apect of Judaism, Jewish life and Jewish history. There is nothing that isn't covered and although the coverage is necessarily superficial, it is an incomparable resource for anyone seeking basic information about the Jewish people. Telushkin divides the book into sections covering the Jewish Bible, subsequent Jewish history, the holocaust the history of Zionism and Israel, the Jewish annual cycle, the Jewish life cycle and other aspects of Jewish life. Telushkin's love and fascination with Judaism shines through on every page. The book is not intended to be more than the title says it is, a basic introduction to Judaism. It is miles wide but only inches deep. Nevertheless, a thorough reading of this book will indeed give the reader a basic Jewish literacy.

Rabbi Telushkin's ability to present Judaism is unsurpassed. Reading this book from cover to cover enabled me to re-learn things I forgot, to learn things I should have known, and to give me a sense of my roots, both religious and historical. The book is extremely readable; it is intelligent, easy to understand, and is done with a sense of humor.

I was so enthralled with this book that I have continued to study Jewish Wisdom and Biblical Literacy with Rabbi Telushkin's other books.

Clearly the best book I've read about Judaism. Rabbi Telushkin is inspiring, thoughtful, insightful, and an excellent communicator.

The book is divided into subjects, and can really be read in any which way suits the reader - you can begin in the beginning, middle or end, and you will be just as easily captivated.

For American Jews with less than thorough knowledge of Judaism, this is a perfect book. It also makes a perfect gift for a Bar/Bat Mitzva, and for anyone else interested in what Judaism is about, and what it has to say.

For interested non-Jews, this book provides a distinctly Jewish and Zionist perspective on the religion and the people. For example, few non-Jews (or Jews for that matter) know that "Jews" and "Judaism" really do not refer to a religion, but to a people whose homeland is Judea, which is often referred to these days as "the West Bank." The central and overwhelming importance of Judea (and its ancient capitals, Jerusalem and Hebron) and Israel to modern Judaism is evident in Telushkin's book.

Overall, an outstanding, inspiring work of great scholarship and sensitivity.

"I'll try and do anything and be anything you want if only you'll keep me." This is how "Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery begins.
Anne Shirley is a twelve-year-old girl who is brought to Green Gables only to find they were expecting a boy. The Cuthberts however, are one over by this queer, imaginative girl with bright, red hair and decide to allow her to stay.
Green Gables is a lovely, little farm just outside of a small town on Prince Edward Island called Avonlea. It is surrounded by fields and forests, which hold many surprises for adventurous Anne.
Throughout this book Anne's fierce temper and wild imagination often get the better of her, but she usually manages to squeeze out of these scrapes.
Anne's melodramatic nature and fiery temper keeps you interested as you read this marvelous book.
Montgomery's humorous writing style gives life to the characters so that you feel like you are meeting them in person.
I think that this was a wonderful book filled with humor, drama and tears. I would recommend this book to anyone that has ever had a dream and loves a good book.

first of all, let me begin with I LOVE THIS BOOK! I have read this book more times than I can remember...easily more than a dozen...thus, I am going to set my mind to write a glowing review of it.

This book portrays a stunning sketch of Canadian History and Culture in the late 1800s to early 1900s. The character personalities are so real and so amazingly "human" that one cannot help but fall in love with them. You really get a taste of PEI in its glory.

This story is set in Avonlea, Prince Edward Island (Canada), a fictional settlement which is really Cavendish, Prince Edward Island, the place where Lucy Maud Montgomery, the author grew up.

The main character is Anne Shirley...and eleven year old, enigmatic, imaginative, sparkling, highly intelligent orphan who is sent to Green Gables, a farmhouse in Avonlea, under the impression that she was to be adopted by a pair of elderly siblings, Matthew and Marilla Cuthburt. But, apon arrival to Green Gables, Anne discovers that there had been a horrible mistake...the Cuthburts never wanted a girl...they wanted a boy who could do the chores and help Matthew with the farm. Anne was was in the "depths of dispair". Matthew, on the drive home from the train station had taken a great shine to Anne and had his heart set on keeping her, regardless of any mistake. Marilla, however, was not so easily enchanted. She agreed to let Anne stay at Green Gables on trial, to see if she would behave herself and lend a helpful hand to Marilla. After the trial, Anne is welcomed to Green Gables and flourishes under the love of the Cuthburts and all Avonlea folk. Anne, however, has one big problem. Her Hair. It is a hopeless shade of carrotty red and Anne felt that it was the ugliest hair anyone could imagine. She was extremely sensitive about it and she was horribly embarrassed about it. On her first day of school, Anne's hair was made fun of by Gilbert Blythe, the smartest and handsomest boy in school. "Carrots! Carrots!" he said. Anne's temper got the better of her and she was so angry she broke a slate over his head. After that, for many years, she snubbed Gilbert every time he spoke to her and he developed a boyhood crush on her.

Ah, but to keep this review interesting and the book mysterious, I will stop telling you the story and begin reviewing. The characters in the book are so well-defined that it seems to you that you know every character personally, like an old friend or neighbour.

And by all means, don't let the age recommendation fool you either...this book can be read by all ages alike...and I have no doubt that this book will still be my avid favorite at the age of 85.

The book is not boring, contrary to many opinions of those who read the first chapter of small print and historical settings. The discriptions will place you right into the heart of the story and you find you will laugh and cry while reading this story. Every time I read it I cry at a certain part which I'm not sure if I should reveal to you for fear of spoiling the good parts in the story, but it is dreadfully sad. If you read the book, then you will know what part I am talking about. The one saddest part in the whole story.

Although this book has some old ideas and ways of expressing them, you will learn a great deal of Canadian history through them and there's no doubt in my mind that this book will still be popular decades and most likely even centuries to come.

Anne of Green Gables is one of my all-time favorite books. Anne is a person almost everyone can relate to in some way or another. Anne is launched into the "depths of despair" as soon as she finds out the horrible truth that the Mathew and Marilla really sent for a boy from the orphanage. Her fiery temper gets the better of her at some of the worst possible times. Such as when she vows that she will never forgive Gilbert Blythe for calling her carrots, as if smashing a slate over his head is not enough. This is a wonderful book that L. M. Montgomery has really shown her skill as a writer and novelist in. I have read the entire Anne of Green Gables Series and am also, like another reader, saving them all for my daughter some day. If you want a book that you can thoroughly enjoy, this is the one, although I have one warning that you may have a hard time putting it down.

We all have books like this in our personal arsenal of "will read and reread again" books. ("Catch 22," "Cat's Cradle," books like that.)

I've torn into "Son of the Morning Star" six times now. This book is responsible for my spending a total of some 13 days at the Montana battlefield just trying to find out what George Armstrong Custer was up to on his final horrible day on earth. Connell weaves a spell over you, dear reader, and you just hate to finish this book. (You have books like that in your arsenal, too, right?)

The book was a Christmas gift from #1 son. Prior to reading "Son," I just thought of Custer as that Civil War stereotype we study about in high school -- brave, vain and, ultimately, dumb. Of course the book reveals a much more accurate and layered portrayal of this long-haired Hotspur. Connell has researched his subject to a fare-thee-well and yet the writing never gets pedantic. This book is a time machine and you're going to be whisked back to a hot June day, 1876. Be prepared. And you'll get both sides of the complicated US Army/American Indian debate, too. (Can't beat that with a stick!)

What was GAC trying accomplish that morning and afternoon? Why, in the face of a large amount of Indian braves, did he split his command into three battalions? Why did he send an important "come quick" note to an officer he sent off away from the pack train? Why did Custer ignore Reno's plight in the valley and continue a foolhardy attempt to smash the "enemy" at his flank? Did Custer get his first bullet (left side) at Medicine Tail Coulee? Would that explain the slapdash rush away from the Little Big Horn river and up the hill to the now-famous "Last Stand Hill?" This book makes you think.

This book is contagious!

Evan Connell's Son of the Morning Star is a masterful book that defies catagorization. It isn't quite history but it isn't fiction either. Connell has taken a mountain of historical detail, including quotations from letters, transcripts, newspapers and interviews, and arranged them in a kind of narrative montage that gives us the story of Custer at the Little Bighorn in a more complete way than we have ever experienced it before. His book begins a couple of days after the battle - when Custer's absence is still unexplained - with the discovery of the remains of Custer's troop. The realization of what they are seeing comes slowly to the soldiers that find the bodies, just as the big picture of what happened comes slowly to the reader - detail by detail.

The book is full of wonderful digressions, told in the same way as the main story. These provide background information on all the major participants (Indian as well as cavalry officers) and many minor characters as well, and the story of their lives following the massacre and the inevitable search for a scapegoat.

This is a unique and beautiful book. Connell seems to have lived with the research for this book for a long time because he has internalized it beautifully and knows just what quotes and anecdotes to juxtapose in order to create the picture he wants. I can't remember ever reading anything quite like this and certainly seldom have a book match it for emotional impact. I would highly recommend this book to anyone.

Connell has one of the most unorthodox writing styles of any history writer I've read but somehow it works brilliantly. A proper chronological order is completely disregarded and Connell jumps all over the place, yet somehow is able to keep the reader right along with him. It reminds me of listening to an old Vet tell war stories and finish half a story and skip to something completely unrelated again and again and again until you can't remember where he originally started the conversation from. Yet, just like listening to the proud hero tell his tales, it is completely fascinating and you will hang on every word.
A prime example of this is within the first ten pages of the book, Connell is writing about President Hayes' Court of Inquiry, three years AFTER the battle.
Another thing which Connell does masterfully is tell BOTH sides of the tale. The Dakota and 7th Cavalry are given equal weight throughout the book and the author pours pertinent information as well as trivial but entertaining facts at the reader. And along with giving biographies on Reno and Benteen, the reader learns just as much background information on Gall, Crazy Horse and Two Moon.
About the only person I suggest shy away from this book is a college student cramming for a paper because there's no way they'd be able to find the needed info with Connell's writing style. However, if they don't procrastinate and began reading at the beginning of the semester, I promise you won't find another book with more info on the subject.
-Warning-
If you do read "Son of the Morning Star," be prepared to take a trip out to the high plains of Montana to see the battlefield. Connell's book instilled a 'must-see' desire into me on having to see the Bighorn for myself and I plan to go next summer. See you there!