I've heard comments about Lee--praise for his academic expertise and resentment for his referring to Wagner as "that terrible man" in another book. So I picked this up while watching the 2001 Seattle "Ring."

I don't consider myself a "Ring" expert by any stretch of the imagination. I consider myself a Wagnerian, find Wagner's music emotionally evocative, mentally stimulating, etc. I don't consider Wagner a "terrible man," however, nor do I consider him a superman, despite his musical talent, even genius. Sorry, but he, like all of us, was all-too human.

There are some points of the book that I appreciate. It is, as Lee points out, Wagner's musical talent that needs to be acknowledged. It is that, more than anything else, text or characters, for example, that stimulates me in "The Ring" or any other of Herr Wagner's operas.

And the summaries of each opera were helpful before I saw each one. I've seen tapes of them all before, but one can forget the stories, and a review like those Lee provided before each commentary was helpful.

Then there are the major leitmotifs of the opera, to which Lee frequently refers. But, unless you are very good at "hearing" the music you are reading, you may want to have a keyboard by you, or something by which you can listen to those themes. That will help you understand the operas and the concept of leitmotifs better.

However, one must keep in perspective what was going on in Germanic Europe in the Wagner era. Jung, Freud, Mesmer, and other gurus and similar fantasy builders were part of what was happening there. In fact, I see that as similar to some of the Eastern gurus who got footholds in the West during the 1960s. I fear that Lee doesn't keep that in perspective enough. He rambles on interminably on the "depth" of the "myths," ala Jung. And with that psychobabble I beg to differ. Myths are first and foremost stories. And stories are told to make a point. Lee refers at times to the Brothers Grimm with whom most of us are familiar. However, he refers to their stories as if there is almost an inherent message to be understood by the children hearing them. But any story is open to interpretation. Perhaps the stories most diversely interpreted are what is known as "scripture." Gerry Falwell and I interpret those documents very differently. So are ANY stories interpreted, including, if not especially, the Ring. Lee was so mesmerized by the "depth" of the "myth" that I think he may have left out other influences on Wagner. For instance, I believe Wagner had some commercial drive. I say that not in a critical sense, it's just reality. There was, for instance, appropriate to the time, a desire among German nationalists for a "national opera." Indeed, it may be from this book that I learned that fact. The Ring fulfilled that to a degree, though its sources are more Nordic and Icelandic than German. The times made the story more appropriate--saleable--than it may have been in another era. Wagner's genius at synthesis, taking bits and pieces from many sources and putting them into a plausible series of stories supported by superior--and evocative--musical background made it particularly "commercial."

As to the "mythic" structure of the Ring, I suspect that this was a result of Herr Wagner's rather extensive ego--bigger than reality--coupled with the dramatic effect of such myth. Guys going to work at the university or the factory and coming home to their wives and kids don't have quite the effect that greedy dwarves, ignorant and amorous giants, gods and their incestuous offspring have. The Grimms and Aesop also knew that well.

For those Wagnerian die-hards, no, I'm NOT criticizing Wagner for that. I just returned from a fabulous production of the Ring, to reinforce my video and audio recordings of the art, and the books and other media I have that examine it. I just fear that Lee--and some other authors--make Wagner more of a legend than he perhaps intended. (Note that I give the book 3 stars, not fewer!)

Overall, it's not a bad book, but, if you're familiar with the Ring, and don't get into popular psychological rap, I would recommend other books, including Ernest Newman's "The Wagner Operas" and others whom Lee uses as resources. And I'm reading another Lee book which I prefer. I think that'll get more stars.

A must-read for Wagner lovers, and those who want yet another
book on "The Ring" cycle. It is brief yet insightful. Enjoy!

This was the book that first taught me to appreciate Wagner's Ring cycle. Before reading this book, I had tried to watch the Met telecasts and listen to the music, but I confess that I actually found Wagner boring. Then, one year, my father gave me this small book as a Christmas present.

Since then, I have read and re-read the book, and listened to the operas over and over again. I have seriously considered becoming a collector of Ring recordings; I own the Bohm version recorded at Bayreuth, the Solti version and the Karajan version. I have gone from being indifferent to Wagner to being a Wagnerolater, and Father Lee's book is what set this off.

The book may not be of as much use to someone who is already well versed in Wagner scholarship, however it is an excellent introduction to the Ring cycle. It exposed me for the first time to the depths of Ring interpretation. It also ably explained Wagner's musical techniques and his historical context in ways that the layperson can easily understand. For understanding the various leitmotifs in the index, some musical training is helpful, but having a recording of the Ring by your side should help to make up for any deficiencies in this department.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in getting to know Wagner, and interested in understanding how he can weave such a spell over his audiences. This book opened my own eyes; it can do the same for you.

"Everybody on the Truck!" is an unabashed valentine to the unfairly unsung Dillards, who were bluegrass when bluegrass wasn't cool and country rock when there wasn't such a thing. As breezily told by Lee Grant, The Dillards' story is refreshingly devoid of raging egos, self-destruction and bitter ends. You'll come away from this compelling biography knowing, perhaps identifying with, and most assuredly liking The Dillards.

Grant sketches the original Dillards - brothers Douglas and Rodney Dillard, Dean Webb and Mitch Jayne - as proud sons of Missouri who longed to set the world afire with their hell-for-leather approach to bluegrass music. Grant's account of the band's misadventures during their go-for-broke journey from the Show Me state to California in late 1962 is funnier and more unbelievable than anything Hollywood could concoct. Against all odds, The Dillards enjoyed nearly instant but well-deserved success soon after reaching Los Angeles, landing a major recording contract and what would become a recurring role on "The Andy Griffith Show".

Grant devotes a good chunk of his book to his subject's indelible association with the Darlings, the eerily deadpan but musically gifted hillbilly clan The Dillards played on six episodes of "TAGS." Interestingly, The Darlings are the source of lingering ambivalence for Rodney Dillard, the group's integrity-conscious musical heart, who wasn't wild, at first, about playing a hayseed stereotype.

Between 1963 and 1970, The Dillards produced five critically-acclaimed albums, rubbed shoulders with the likes of Perry Como, Judy Garland, the Byrds and Bob Dylan and seldom rested from public appearances. "Truck" lets The Dillards themselves analyze the music and their somewhat anachronistic place in the swingin' Sixties. The insights and anecdotes of Mitch Jayne, who played bass and dispensed folksy humor in the role of group spokesman, are particularly entertaining.

To paraphrase Jayne, this "Truck" will run. Hitch a ride and hold on.

This book is an excellent reference for one of bluegrass music's legendary bands, the Dillards. Anyone interested in learning about Rodney, Doug, Dean and Mitch need to get a copy of this book, and fast. Lee Grant has provided us Dillards junkies with a veritable "bible" on the lives and careers of the boys. It is an engaging read. When I bought my copy, I read it straight through in one sitting! For me, that is a rarity. :-)

Suggestion: put on a copy of their CD, "There Is A Time", while reading this book. See why Briscoe Darling once said, "they's all keyed up"!

They were, and you'll be, too.

Lee Grant's fresh southern (but not too southern) writing style lights up the page. This book is a real joy to read. I highly recommend it. I am eagerly awaiting another Lee Grant book. I have heard rumors of a novel in the works. I am waiting anxiously to see if this is a rumor or plain old fact.

GG

Robert E. Lee has been a hero of mine since I was a small boy. With Confederate ancestors on both sides of my family, my father made sure that respect for Lee's character was instilled in my impressionable mind when I was just a lad. Growing up and playing on my father's ancestral home and land that was the site of an engagement between Federal and Confederate troops, love and respect for the gallantry of Lee came natural for me.

I began collecting quotes and anecdotes from the life of Lee many years ago and started dreaming about a book in 1999. This book is the result of that dream. The book is specifically directed to "young gentlemen," or those who aspire to be, but I believe the book can be enjoyed by everyone. It is full of some of the better quotes culled from reliabile biographies and Lee's personal letters. Some were Lee's "personal maxims" that were found after his death in a worn military satchel by CSA chaplian, William Jones. The book also contains some little known anecdotes from the life of Lee that illustrate his sterling Christian character and humility. Many that have reviewed the book have been complimentary:

"The Maxims of Robert E. Lee for Young Gentlemen is inspiring and full of anecdotes and quotes, some long forgotten, that will guide men of all ages towards the lost art of being a 'gentleman.' " ~ Joe Farah, Editor in Chief and CEO of WorldNetDaily.com.

"I can think of no better guide for young men embarking on the adventure of life than the maxims of Robert E. Lee." ~ From the Foreword by Harry W. Crocker, III, author of Lee on Leadership and Executive Editor at Regnery Publishing.

"The example of Robert E. Lee illustrates in stark colors what it means to be a man - a model essential for all of us who are products of this distinctly unmanly age. Rick Williams has placed us all in his debt with this wonderful anthology of Lee's wisdom and grace. Must reading for all fathers and sons." ~ Pastor J. Steven Wilkins, author of Call of Duty: The Sterling Nobility of Robert E. Lee.

"This riveting collection of Lee's own stirring words and personal thoughts give amplified insight into the life of a rare and much-needed role model. Imagine for a moment the impact just one hundred young men could have on our land should they develop Lee's passion for personal purity and selfless pursuit of Christian honor. My prayer is that many will read these words not as antiquated or romantic philosophy, but rather as a challenge to humbly follow - and then boldly lead." ~ James McDonald, Publisher, Homeschooling Today® Magazine

Samuel Johnson once quipped, "Any man honored by both his enemies and his compatriots is a man worthy of our closet attentions-for in him you may be sure to find authenticity. After all, authenticity is the rarest of all human traits." Of all the men who fought during the un-Civil War Between the States only R.E. Lee stands out as universally praised by both sides.

The English historian Paul Johnson had this to say about Lee: "General Lee has accomplished in both life and death what few, indeed, hardly any have ever accomplished in all of the annals of history: ubiquitous respect, renown, and acclaim."

In this concise and handy little book of Maxims, Richard Williams Jr. has provided us a window into the man who accomplished ubiquitous respect, renown, and acclaim. In a generation dearth of real heroes it is vital that we put before our children men of valor, duty, and courage. One need look no further than to the example of Robert Edward Lee to see these principles brilliantly exemplified. This is a book that can be read in one sitting, but you will not want to read it just once. If you are like myself you will use this book over and over again. My copy is already marked up and the pages ruffled from where I keep drinking from the wonderful wisdom of the man.

It's my hope that with the publication of books like this one, we may yet again see a generation of leaders who embody the principles of Robert E. Lee.

In an era where the primary role models for our children are self-absorbed entertainers, out of control professional athletes, and corrupt politicians, where does one turn to find credible examples of how to live one's life that you can point to when counciling your children? Granted, there are some fine modern role models, but they aren't usually being highlighted in the news, or being profiled on TV. However, Richard Williams, Jr. has provided us a handy book that gives us a glimpse at a role model that is timeless.

Whether one believes Robert E. Lee fought on the right side of the War Between the States or not, his life is a great example of self-sacrifice, devotion to duty and always acting in a manner so as to do the right and honorable thing. Not by today's modern selfish, materialistic standards, but by standards that were the foundation of all that is good about Western Civilization.

This book contains a treasure trove of maxims by Lee that he used to guide his own life and to influence the lives of his children as well as those who served under him in the military and were under his care while they attended Washington College (later Washington and Lee University). It is not a cumbersom tomb, but a simple, straight forward book that is broken down into sections that lend itself to being a quick reference book as well as a wonderful insight into a man whose life is truly an example to all.

If more people followed R.E. Lee's maxims, this would definitely be a better world. I highly recommend this book for anyone looking to buy a special graduation gift for that special person graduating from high school or college. This is something that will last a lifetime.

M. Owen Lee is perhaps best known to opera lovers through his appearances on the Texaco Opera broadcasts, some of which have formed the core of two of his previous books. In his latest book, Father Lee demonstrates the personally committed criticism which is characteristic of his radio lectures. This is no mere apologia for Wagner. The author is painfully aware of Wagner's human failings, not merely the oft-discussed anti-Semitism, and he is troubled by the fact that the music of such a monster could move him so deeply. This book gives us a wonderful insight into the author's soul as he grapples with this question. I especially enjoyed the discussion of "Tannheuser" in the final chapter. (A few years ago I wrote to him about his love of Wagner, and he cared enough to write me a detailed letter in response--another sign of his genuine commitment to the subject). This book tells us not only about Wagner but also about the author himself, who has a unique capability of engaging the reader in a genuine dialogue.

Although this book consists of merely three lectures, and can be finished off in about 2 or 3 hours without difficulty, it has as much fresh insight as many other titles that take much longer to study. The first lecture exploring the influence of classic Greek mythology and cultural recognition through artistic expression - ie roughly how the Greek society established itself through artistic endeavour - gives the reader a pretty clear idea what Wagner was trying to accomplish for Germany through his music dramas, and also confirms a pretty outlandish level of self-confidence to even make such an attempt. The second lecture has some material which has already been covered in other books - notably Aspects of Wagner by Magee - but is still interesting. The final lecture with a detailed study of Tannhauser is excellent, the most interesting commentary on this opera I have read to date. The choice of Wassily Kandinsky's Die Nacht, inspired by Act II of Tristan und Isolde, for the front cover was very appropriate. Strongly recommended.

In this book, M. Owen Lee grapples with the issue of whether we can (and should) enjoy Wagner's art, in the knowledge of Wagner's notorious flaws (such as his fiery anti-semitism, etc.) Drawing from classical Greek mythology, Mr. Lee discusses how it is common for great artists to have flawed personal lives, and that the value of the artwork should therefore be judged independently of its creator. Indeed, the artist creates his art as an act of self-healing. He therefore encourages the enjoyment of the music of Richard Wagner. (Yep, the Wagnerholics of the world can now listen without guilt. :-)

A lot of the material is taken from the book, "Aspects of Wagner", which M. Owen Lee acknowledges as a source. Since I had read these books back-to-back, the repetition of material was easy to see.

There is also a discussion of the opera "Tannhauser", which is discussed in about the same level of detail as his commentaries on the Ring.

Ever try to look up a word in a 600 page dictionary that isn't in any order known to you? Unless you know this book's secret you'll have to look through the entire book to find your weed, if it's in the book at all. There is a key on page 603 but no instructions on how to use it and the author apparently doesn't return email inquiries. This book is full of great pictures but if you want a book to help you identify a weed in your garden look somewhere else.

A must-have book for gardeners, hikers, rural residences. 100% color photos make it great to ID weeds about the house. Categorized by family so pretty easy to find. Books that have art renderings of plants just don't ID a plant for me, and I'm an artist!
Any negative about the book would be that it could use more descriptive type about the plant.

This book isn't for everyone, but it really fills a gaping hole in the reference library of any gardener interested in the use of native plants, xeriscape gardening, wildflower cultivation, etc. For anyone who has ever let a yard go to seed "just to see what happens" (or dreamed of doing so) this book helps you determine what weeds are really weeds and what weeds are hidden treasures. The book is amply illustrated with photos of both mature plants and seedlings, which helps you determine what to get rid of after monsoon rains have done their part. The descriptions are clear and the index functions fine. Plus I just love the idea of having an entire book on weeds!

The story begins with catastrophe -- as the continent of Africa rams into North America, thrusting up the Appalachian Mountains, off which run the Clinch River . . . which carves a valley so rich and bountiful that it is fought over by (get this!) paleo-Indians, "Xulan Empire" Indians, Cherokee, Shawnee, Creek, Mingo, Spanish conquistadors, English explorers, Long-hunters, pioneers, French trappers, British Colonists, Tories, Patriots . . .
Wars were fought for possession of the Clinch Valley by the Xulans vs Conquistadors; Cherokee vs Shawnee; French & Indian vs the British; Native Americans vs Settlers; Militia vs Renegade Indian Tribes; Redcoats vs Overmountain Men . . . .
The book ends with the civilization (so-called) of the valley, marked by President Andrew Jackson's decree to round up all the Cherokee at bayonet point and march them to Oklahoma . . . killing 4000 of them along the way. It's a book every young American of every ethnic background should read -- not to mention everyone else. If you can see what happened in the Clinch Valley, you can see what happened in all America.
It's also beatutifully written: here's just a sample, where the author is speaking of the ice-age hunters of the Clinch.
"Certainly the Paleo-Indians were here in the Clinch river Valley when all was frozen and the icy air made their lungs rattle. Certainly at night they held their Clovis spears tight, huddled close around their campfires and together watched the blood-red, shining eyes -- perhaps of sabre-toothed cats -- watching them so ominously from just beyond the firelight. Certainly they gazed at the unchanging stars and wondered silently if there was not more to life than ambushing those massive ice-age beasts less clever than they." (p. 13)

I'm the author of five traditionally published books myself, so I know the amount of talent and sheer hard work it took to produce APPALACHIAN GENESIS. Also, Richard and I were starving writers together back in the 1980's, so I know it took him three years to research this book, another two to write and edit it, and then two and a half years waiting for it to be published. But it was worth every moment of his time, to we who profit from his incredible patience, eloquent style and demand for historical accuracy.
I came to hate history in high school, which I identified with dull teachers droning on about the industrial revolution or some such equally numbing subject. But Richard Fulgham has written an account that is fascinating throughout and imbuded with a poet's voice. Mountains burst upward toward the "astonished" sky and there are frequent eloquent lines like, "The future of the Children of the Sun darkened as their reverence dimmed".
He has made the Clinch River Valley and its large cast of characters come alive. The prose is wonderfully lucid. The imaginative leaps he makes in order to draw the reader into scenes feel right to me. The poet pulls it off, creating moments like the harrowing buring of Mrs. Moore and the bald terror of that line, "How strange, she must have thought, to be so cold in the midst of flames."
"Appalachian Genesis" is packed with drama and strange ironies. He has produced a great book, and knowing that, just holding it in his hands should sustain him. Richard and I are literary brothers. Across time and space, I shake his hand.

I read heaps of fantasy books and have problems keeping myself sourced with good books. I am quite critical (well, I believe so anyway) and would not hesitate to recommend this book. Its good to read a decently detailed series in one go without having to wait years from the first book to the last book. (eg How long is The Wheel Of Time going to drag on!!!)

This trilogy is a tie-in to the "Wraith" role playing game from White Wolf Publishing but I found that it made no difference that I had no knowledge of that game. You don't need it to enjoy this epic adventure. There are so many interesting settings, events, and characters that you can't help but keep reading to find out how they all come together--and they do, in the end. I liked the mixture of historic characters and modern day folks. I was also fond of a rather whimsical (in a dark fantasy way of being whimsical) fellow named Antoine. I won't describe him so as not to spoil the surprise. He's very cool though.

If you like a big, fat book full of chills, derring-do (yes, there are even flashing swords), and romance too, this is the book for you.

I throughly enjoyed reading this book. Jesus heals and with the guidance of Dr. Lee, I once again feel whole. Anxious to read more that Dr. Lee has written. Money well spent!

This is a powerful book. Dr. Lee has managed to give the reader the opportunity to truly experience the "healing touch of Jesus". Because of the interactive format, it invites one to look at his own illness with the hope that only faith can provide. I highly recommend this book because it empowers one to find a path to healing through the power of Christ.

I found this book to be very poorly written and unsatisfactory. It contained lots of bad algorithms and poor coding. Much of the code was unusable and the methods explained were very simple. I could have done without it to be honest. Avoid this book if you want to learn how to program properly

Im not an advaced programmer, but reading some parts... I learned a lot of good things. I couldnt describe them here, but i will implement them on the future projects ahead. Things that I think are essential to the industry grade programmer and to becoming one.
The material was delivered clearly, not necessarily simple... but it is clear. The book is worth all my hard saved money... and im glad to have it, and its fun to read too...

When seeking a reference, most experienced programmers will rather buy a reference that focuses more on the advanced issues than the language concepts itself. Mainly because almost all decent compilers come with extensive help files that cover most of what the programmers might need regarding the language itself. This book doesn't explain much about C, but instead uses C as a tool to explain some very useful issues that are crucial to almost all advanced programmers.

The book wastes no space on trivial stuff like how to open your compiler or use a non-standard C function. Instead, it goes directly into what's important, explaining the concepts and giving concrete examples where appropriate, all using ANSI C.

Since most of the issues aren't dependant on the implementation schemes, almost any advanced programmer would benefit from this book, even if he/she is not programming in C (assuming advanced knowledge of C, of course). The only exceptions are the topics that talk about the ANSI C rules and code organization and optimization. The only disadvantage here is that this book doesn't cover object oriented concepts, but that's not a surprise of course as the book is titled "C Unleashed." But still for anything else other than that, this could be a great help even to C++ programmers.

The book chapters have been written by more than 10 experienced programmers, 6 of them are really good, which makes each chapter standalone as a small tutorial on some issue. The writing style of Richard Heathfield and many of the co-authors is very nice to read and clear to understand. Some parts, of course, do not have that nice writing style, but throughout the book, the technical information is very clear and easy to comprehend.

I wouldn't recommend this book to any new programmers. But for the more advanced ones, this is something they would want to check.

-Mokhtar M. Khorshid

I read the book and thought it was pretty good. I've read better but I've also read alot worse. All in all it was definatly worth reading. The main characters in the book are Nightcrawler, Colosus, Shadow Cat, Rouge, Storm, Cyclops, Pheniox, Wolverine, Dracula, and Belesco. If I left anyone out sorry it's been a while since I read the book. I you like the X-men I would deffinatly read this book.

It isn't often that Dracula appears in a book and he isn't the main bad guy. That doesn't mean that he still isn't a threat. This is probably the best prose X-Men novel that I've had the pleasure to read. All the characters behave consistently with their comic appearances. Do yourself a favor and give it a shot.

I thought this book was pretty good. I hope the author writes more books. If you like X-Men, Spider Man, or any of the other heros. Also, if you like science fiction books or possibly mystery, you might like this book.