Charlottesville, VA, home of Presidents Thomas Jefferson and James Monroe and of the University of Virginia, now offers up a new contribution: Mary Lee Settle. This book is a thrilling read, yet it's so evocative of the time in which it is set that Prof. Stephen Innes of UVa assigns it to his undergrad's (of whom, by the way, I've never been one). Try it, you'll like it!

An essential for any serious student of Jackson or the Army of Northern Virginia. Five stars plus, but not for the novice. Col. Allan was Jackson's ordnance officer, and after the war he devoted the better part of his remaining years to these two comprehensive works included under one cover. Allan intended to write a comprehensive history of the Army of Northern Virginia for the entirety of the war, but his premature death left this greater work unfinished. His work on Jackson, which primarily covers the Valley Campaign, I consider the better of the two works because of its greater completeness. Both, however, are superb, early intensely scholastic efforts on the war, fully deserving of the stature as primary source works on the Civil War. The footnotes are old-style, page by page. Read them that way; slow, but it adds flavor. Buy this one while it is available.

Written with a meticulous attention to its historical background and context, Lee Passarella's Swallowed Up In Victory: A Civil War Narrative Petersburg, 1864-1865 is an engrossing novel of the final year of the American Civil War, centering on the bloody attacks waged on Petersburg through the surrender at Appomattox. The letters and journal entries of a group of fictitious people swept up by the turmoil of war make for a unique story that feels as real and vivid as if the writings had been rescued from forgotten family records. A compelling Civil War story, Swallowed Up In Victory is enthusiastically recommended for historical fiction readers in general, and Civil War history buffs in particular.

As if often the case with any examination of the life and military career of Robert E. Lee, author Albert Marrin begins "Virginia's General" with the pivotal date of April 18, 1861, when Lee rejected taking battlefield command of the United States Army. Lee is the most revered general in American History, mainly because of the inherent nobility in fighting brilliantly for a lost cause, an effect that can be traced back to Homer's "Iliad" and Hector, breaker of horses. One of the inevitable questions in studying his life is what his reputation would have been in the American history books if he had accepted that offer instead. Would he have led the Federal forces to a quick victory thereby saving hundreds of thousands of lives? Would the abolition of slavery have gone "better" if the South had not been devastated by the war? However, as interesting as these questions are to pursue, they are just idle speculation and Marrin's task is to understand Robert E. Lee as both a person and a solider, setting him in his own time.

Marrin devotes his first chapter to Lee's life and military career through John Brown's raid on Harper's Ferry, where Lee led the marines who retook the arsenal. The rest of the book divides Lee's actions during the Civil War into distinct periods defined by various tasks and battles (e.g., Savior of Richmond deals with Lee taking command of the Confederate Army after General Joseph E. Johnston was wounded and Lee's Masterpiece is about the Battle of Chancellorsville). What is revealed is the portrait of a young officer who graduated West Point without receiving a single demerit and whose loyalty to his native Virginia convinced him to serve the Confederacy. But Marrin also describes the battles in such a way that young readers can appreciate Lee as a military strategist, both in terms of his many successes and his final defeats.

"Virginia's General: Robert E. Lee and the Civil War" is illustrated with historic photographs and paintings, as well as small maps of each of the major battles of the war. Marrin provides an engaging narrative that covers a lot of information and works in a lot of quotations to maintain the effect that this is an interesting story and not just a history book. I also appreciate that Marrin covers the entire Civil War, since what was happening in the West affected Lee's decisions as commander of the Army of Northern Virginia. Consequently, this is not the first book that a young reader would turn to for an introduction to Lee, but it for a more in-depth examination of his Civil War career this is a solid choice.

Voices that need to be heard: book includes articles by Monica Melanchton, India; Lily Kuo Wang, Taiwan; Christine Tse, Hong Kong; Yong Ting Jin, Malaysia; and others. Also two general statement papers from Asian women theologian conferences. Highly recommended.

This is a very good series of books. I could hardly put them down! They are very well written, and seem to be accurate. They are set during the Civil War, so if you like books during that time period, and you are 12yrs-14yrs I highly recommend these books!

The cover of this book is the same as my old, dog-eared copy from my childhood 30 years ago. A Caldecott Award winner, the pictures drive the tale as much as the plot. An excellent book from cover-to-cover.

Re-reading it now brings back great memories and fascination of how Mike Mulligan and his beloved steam shovel worked hard to accomplish a fantastic task. Whenever people watched them dig, they always worked a little better and a little faster.

A modern John Henry, Mike faces the challenge of new technology. Undaunted, like the famous hammer-driving tall tale hero, he struggles to meet the task. Can he dig a hole faster than the new machine? Can he and his mighty red-metal friend do it by the end of the day?

A great story of perseverence and hard work, I fully recommend "Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel." Place it on your shelf next to "Make Way for Dcklings" and "Where the Wild Things Are."

Anthony Trendl

They just don't make 'em like they used to!

A couple of years ago, my parents inquired as to what sort of books they could purchase for my children. "Mike Mulligan and his Steam Shovel" was at the top of the list.

This book takes a child back to when steam engines were the power literally running the country -- and that the march of progress is not without its pain. It is an exciting book, well and colorfully illustrated with a wonderful "twist" at the end -- in which a small boy is proven to be brighter than all the adults in town -- because of his childlike perspective.

The politically correct will no doubt object to Mike Mulligan's pipe -- but I certainly don't! (Nor do my children!)

If you have children or grandchildren who have not been introduced to this book, buy it today!

Virginia Lee Burton's classic imparts value far beyond its original intent. Sure, the saga of Mike and his beloved steam shovel celebrates the development of roads, canals, skyscrapers, and other trappings of modern infrastructure. But messages emerge on other levels. One is the inexorable march of technological obsolescence and its impact on society. Also, legal scholars (and perhaps novelist John Grisham) may appreciate the subplot involving town selectman Henry B. Swap's promise to Mike-exemplifying the practical problems of verbal contract arrangements. The happy ending is a solution entirely consistent with the book's 1939 vintage. What would happen if the same story were told in the year 2000, when fuel cells, microturbines, and cogeneration options exist? Maybe state utility regulators would get a clue from Mike and his steam shovel. Or then again, maybe not. But as-is, the delightful illustrations in this book cannot help but to endear it to children just as much today as it did sixty years ago....

The teachings of western medicine has been the holy grail of the western culture. We see our doctors as gods and whatever they prescribe we follow. Here is a doctor who has gone against the grain of western philosophy, and showed what women needed after all: natural methods to cure their natural body. I've read the book from cover to cover and have recommended it to my wife (pre-menopausal) and my mother (menopausal). I'll have them start on natural progesterone ASAP. Of course, the diet w/c Dr. Lee also studied as a major factor in western type diseases has been taken into consideration by our family who has switched to a vegetarian diet (as much organic as possible, especially carrots for juicing).

Women over the age of 35 all need to read this book. Fortunately, the MD who wrote it keeps the technical language simple. Dr. Lee is not a slave to any drug company, and his personal research covers a long period of time. He is very frank about what further research does need to occur... reading this is like talking to a really good, honest doctor.

Sleep disruption, depression, irritability, lack of energy, swelling breasts, and other symptoms may actually be the result of an easily-remedied hormone imbalance. Many do not know that natural hormones, in proper dosage, have no harmful side effects, and thought that prescription HRT (hormone replacement therapy), with its many known risks and side effects, was the only way to combat the ageing process in women. Dr. Lee shows that ALL women can benefit from a very simple natural hormone supplement.

Do not be deterred by the title. Pre-menopausal women need the data in this book.

An excellent explanation of the monthly hormonal cycle is in this book.

This book and the one Dr Lee followed with: "What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Premenopause" should be on every woman's "must read" list. Natural progesterone works for those unwanted symptoms of menopause, early menopause, P.M.S., etc., and makes logical sense to all of us who don't accept the idea of using medication that can produce dangerous and perhaps life-threatening side effects. I for one am thankful that there is actually a physician out there that cared enough about his patients to veer from mainstream thinking and make his own discoveries in this area of women's health.

Fop Flop In the most elegant apparel Nothing but worm silks In the finest golden thread And superior king red velvet sashes

You'd think I would have known better? I couldn't blame them who wouldn't? cut air with scissors while sewing their needles into invisible cloth for the very low price of..... silk a loom golden thread a full bag of coins Oh those Villain Scoundrels! Now, I know not to buy such vestments with rather large investments Oh what a bratty gnatty I was For I thought I was cool but truly a fool Why emperor you look rather bare, that's quite rare! I was in such a pursuit For only a birthday suit I must admit now Me, My very own self yes indeed, your emperor himself have become a stupid and incompetent dandy All for the Imaginary Image! and now I live happily ever after, no more garb well, that is until the next apparel discovery (Now if you'll excuse me there's a clothier waiting at my door who says he's created the latest design in Pajama attire)

Generally, I do not care for audio books; many of the readers speak in a dull voice that rapidly drives me either away from the story or to sleep. However, there are a few exceptions; this is one.

Understand, that this is not the normal audio book; this edtion has a large cast of actors who collaborated to produce this item as a fund raiser for Starbright.

The result is an ensemble piece that is witty and charming. Part of the fun for me, was guessing who was reading before looking at the cast list included in the box.

Other folks feel that this isn't for children; I don't know as I don't have children, but I found that my "inner child" was highly entertained for 40 minutes with this tape.

If you are a fan of one or more of the actors in this edition or like puns (there are many here!), then you will probably like the Starbright edtion of the Emporer's New Clothes.

I had been given 2 of these books from a friend and I decided to see if there were anymore. My son loves this book. He's now working on reading the adult side. It's a great idea to have a page each, 1 for the adult and 1 for the child. We have several of these books now and I see my son sitting down and reading them on his own.

I'd cautiously recommend this book to other women suffering, as I do, from premenopause. Written for women who take an active role in their own health care, much of this book provides enlightening information, in layperson's language, about our ever changing hormones and the role they play in a woman's health. The author's theories on causes of hormonal imbalances are provocative, and I'm inclinded to believe that toxic chemicals can cause hormonal upsets, but these theories are as yet unproven. If you have a serious health concern, please do more research...read, read, read. There is a tremendous amount of information on line that can be of help. This book does excel in providing important information about the link between diet and a healthy hormonal balance, and I am following a number of the recommendations in this book. Progesterone Cream, recommended by the authors, may not be the cure for every symptom of premenopause. The jury is out on the use of progesterone cream to treat uterine fibroids, a condition that affects between 30-50% of women in their 30s and 40s. My recommendation for this book is to read it thoroughly, but cautiously... and to follow up with more research on line. I wish you good health!

I have read this fine book as well as the earlier volume by Dr. Lee "What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Menopause". I feel that both of these books contain information that every woman and really every person needs to know. We live in a dangerous world. A world full of invisible or unnoticed chemicals that impact the reproductive and general health of all of us, especially those of us in the industrialized world. It is essential to know what is happening and how chemicals are changing our health. Forewarned is forearmed. Many problems that we are calling "normal" in today's world are not normal at all and speak to the need for balance of our hormones. Men and women will benefit from this information. Young women are not immune from the dangers in the environmentthat cause hormonal changes. Please read this. Don't have invasive surgery without first reading this book, it could change your life.

I have read this book and reread sections of it that I felt applied to my current health issues. In the process, I saw that both of my daughters....late 20's....could benefit from reading Dr. Lee's book.

I wish this book had been out before my hysterectomy in 1990---due to problems from an over production of estrogen in my body. I am now experiencing pelvic pain from ovarian cysts and have begun using the recommended progesterone cream---(this is the first time in 5 years that I have slept uninterrupted for 6+ hours---my normal has been 2.5 to 3 hours). I suspect that the cysts will shrink as well.

Thank you Drs. Lee and Hanley!