All fans of Grisham will love this book. It has all the makings of a really good read. All of us can picture the same scenario happening to us that befalls the somewhat dimwhitted Taterhead... but would we survive? I enjoyed this book from cover to cover and can't wait for the next offering from Mr. Ifkovits! With more books like this, Big John is going to be continually looking over his shoulder trying to keep ahead of this competition!

Other Dreams by local author Nicholas Ifkovits is good... very good. He doesn't try to be funny; he doesn't try to be clever; nor is Other Dreams intended to simply entertain, though it is immensely entertaining. It is a serious novel about prejudice, and demonstrates that prejudice is the result of ignorance, conceit, misunderstanding, and refusing to see the obvious when it is not convenient or fun to do so. The story is told in 226 pages of prose as sizzling and captivating as that of pop-authors like Grisham and Crichton. But Ifkovits includes something that is woefully lacking in the works of these better-known authors. He includes insight into the nature of real people and the real world. A master of captivating and believable dialogue, Ifkovits exploits this talent effectively in Other Dreams. We find no extraneous detail; the prose is extremely economical. Although Ifkovits proved capable of ornate detail in his novel, Cloud Drops, such scenes are omitted from Other Dreams so that the subject under study, the human spirit, remains clearly in focus. The book is prefaced with an ominous quote from Isaiah, provocatively revealing where the book will take us. The quote tells of a "city [that] becomes a harlot." Harlot, Illinois, is the fictional town in which Other Dreams is set in contemporary times. The book opens as three teens steal eggs from a delivery truck owned by 21-year-old protagonist Taterhead Ellis. Taterhead has had his nickname for so long that no one remembers where it came from. The son of an alcoholic father and a long-suffering mother, he is wrongly considered mentally slow and lazy. It is "Tater" whose "other dreams" include wanting to get a few goats, learning to make cheese, and earning a living. Almost everyone else in Harlot seems hell bent on seeing that even these modest dreams do not come true. Tater chases the young thieves and, in a rage, accidentally rips 13-year-old Erica Erickson's shirt. The thieves, exploiting existing prejudice and misconceptions of Tater, concoct a story. They claim Tater tried to lure them into having sex with him. They played along with Tater long enough to safely escape, they say. In their version of the story, Tater chased them and sexually assaulted Erica, scratching her and exposing her breasts. The kids' story is so transparent that every adult should see through it at a glance. But few do, because it accurately conforms to what they want to believe. Only Tater's mom and a close friend stand by him. Ifkovits does not spend much time developing the characters of Tater's detractors, but caricatures are carefully crafted so that everyone who has lived in small town America will recognize one or more of the bad guys. For instance, there's the small town hero, Bullets O'Brien, whose fame is based on a lie and a few good seasons of basketball for Harlot High. This pretentious hero loses his soul in the course of the book; for he alone, of all the adults of Harlot, knows the kids' story is pure fiction but does nothing to ensure that his peer and distant friend, Tater, gets justice. Ifkovits himself deals Bullets justice at the end, when the two teenaged boys who were involved in the egg incident reveal truthfully that Bullets engaged in inappropriate sex with them. A scene in which the two boys engage in mutual masturbation is among the most compact and honest statements about human sexuality that I have seen in literature. Ifkovits effectively contrasts the innocence of the boys actions with the perverse sexual exploitation of the children by Bullets. Even so, Ifkovits does not react with hysteria to the sex between Bullets and the boys. He expects his readers to be mature enough to be suitably disgusted and to understand what is implied by the spiritual breakdown of the pedophile. The kids are angelic by comparison, and we are led to understand that they will grow beyond the event, whereas Bullets will continue to spiral ever deeper into a hell of his own making. One noteworthy subplot has Tater driving to Rockford, Illinois, each day to sell his goods. In Rockford he meets folks like himself, folks who have modest "other dreams," but who, in fact, are forced to spend time just paying the bills by selling produce from the back of a pickup on the roadside. Ifkovits paints Tater's friends from Rockford with black skin to remind us that blacks constantly suffer the random prejudice now afflicting Tater. These black friends know enough to steer clear of Harlot. But they, like Tater, reveal no evidence of internal scars. Their meager circumstances contrast sharply with their opulent souls. Their spirits are whole, unlike those of the people of Harlot. They're not saints, they're just good folks getting on with life as best they can. I don't like the ending of Other Dreams. Ifkovits eventually forgives the people of Harlot for the injustice heaped upon Tater and those he loves. Tater even continues to live in Harlot, pursuing his other dreams in this bleak spiritual landscape. I suppose the point is that no matter where we go the folks of Harlot surround us. But Ifkovits wasn't looking to dazzle us in the end, only to suggest that good folks can survive and flourish in the hostile climate of Harlot. Which, I grudgingly concede, is not a bad conclusion.

Whitehead has written a wonderful book, in which deep Christian mysticism meets authethic occultism, united in service to the Divine will. His erudition is impressive, and will startle those who doubt the existence of esotericism in the Christian tradition. But even more impressive are the practical exercises which give they key to putting this tradition to work in one's own life. Those who contemplate a serious engagement with this book should be warned that they will be transformed in the process!

What a find! The wealth of well-researched, intelligently presented information within these pages is enormous! I found that it is written as a fully operational system of exercises which opened many doorways to subjects which I had never approached before. It is well-illustrated, well-written, and well-rounded in its depth and quality. Rarely have I discovered a book that has had such a profound and moving impact upon my understanding of religion, the universe and our world. Through these pages, I have discovered a living, vital spiritual teaching which has broadened and enriched my spiritual quest. This is what Christianity was meant to be, and it is refreshing that Mr Whitehead has recognized and so eloquently illustrated this beautiful tradition with such insightful representation.

When I purchased this book, my intention was to "quickly" get into platinum research after spending several years with the anthracyclines (dauno- and doxorubicin). There is an enormous amount of literature on platinum chemistry, biochemistry, physiology and cancer chemotherapy. What I needed was a reliable, up-to-date practical overview of the field. The book editors working via a British-American collaboration, Loyd R. Kelland and Nicholas Farrell perfectly met and exceeded my requirements.

The book is divided into formal parts, beginning with Part I: Chemistry, and progressing through biochemistry and clinical applications; ending with Part IV: New Platinum Drugs for the Future. Each of the three or four sub-sections in each Part is written by leaders in those areas. Moreover, the book is very evenly balanced between basic science and clinical research. The plethora of literature references in each sub-section is current, and the figures and tables are all very well done.

Of course, cancer research changes very quickly. However, even after the book by Kelland and Farrell is out of date it can still serve as an excellent primer for graduate and medical students wishing to learn the ins and outs of platinum medical science. This book will certainly serve as a superb model for similar monographs of the future.

This book is aimed at specialists interested in the chemistry and biology of platinum based cancer chemotherapeutic drugs. Unfortunately the level of specific scientific knowledge (required at the university level at the least) to understand key concepts in the book, is very high and is therefore not recommended for readers who are just interested in learning about cancer or chemotherapy.

For those who do have a tertiary background in science, particularly in chemistry, they will find that this book one of the best publications ever. Written by two experts in the field Professor Nicholas Farrell (Virginia Commonwaelth University) and Professor Lloyd Kelland (Institute of Cancer Reserach England), the book covers all areas of platinum chemistry from synthesis and DNA binding to cytotoxicity and cellular uptake.

As a single publication this book is an excellent review of all major work that has occurred since the discovery of cisplatin in the late 1960's.

This book is a definite must for scientists entering, or already conducting research into platinum chemotherapy.

The SP I'm with told me this has an answer for almost all my questions. He refers to it frequently himself-- a very good reference!

You will not find a more complete and comprehensive medical resource. This book tackles every disease I can think of.

Many theologians found in Alfred North Whitehead's ideas answers to questions they had been seeking, or, if the word 'answers' is a bit too strong, at least a framework that had fewer problems than many more traditional ways of constructing theology. Process theology has several primary features: an emphasis on the developmental/process view of God, that God is not static or unchanging in all aspects, primarily in God's relationship with humanity. Process theology also accommodates a reasonable incarnation, acceptance of biblical portrayals of God (that must be, however, demythologised), and love of God for all of reality. These are often problem areas for theologians.

In my theological education, many of my professors are heavily or primarily influenced by and adherents of process theology. It makes sense that I too would have a keen interest in this topic. Having more than a passing interest, I opted to study further under the rubrics of a guided research the underlying philosophy of this theology.

Nicholas Rescher is a professor of philosophy at the University of Pittsburg. This particular volume is part of the SUNY Series in Philosophy. There are in fact several introductions and explanations of process philosophy (several more of which I shall likely write upon here). In the introduction, Rescher explains the importance and some of the success of process philosophy:

'Process metaphysics as a general line of approach holds that physical existence is at bottom processual; that processes rather than things best represent the phenomena that we encounter in the natural world about us.'

Rescher begins in the first chapter with an historical survey, looking at various points in ancient and more recent philosophical systems that provide seeds for process thought. He states that the true father of process thought is Heraclitus, the philosopher from the 6th century BCE, who wrote of nature as process. Plato, in endorsing Heraclitus, continues some process ideas. Leibniz, Hegel, Pierce, James, Bergson, Dewey, and Sheldon are all held up, together with Whitehead, as key to the development of process thought as it is formulated today.

'No philosophical position as such is defined by its historical exponents; it is at most exemplified by them. And, in fact, the process-oriented approach in metaphysics is historically too pervasive and systematically too significant to be restricted in its bearing to one particular philosopher and his adherents.'

One of the difficulties at pinning down process philosophy, particularly metaphysics, is that it is less of a doctrine and more of a trend, or tendency, or overarching framework.

'It can be developed in very different directions, varying with the question of what sort of process one takes to be paradigmatic or fundamental. If it is a mechanical or physical process, one sort of doctrine results (a materialism of some sort), while if it is mental or psychical, a very different sort of doctrine results (an idealism of some description).'

Rescher takes one through the key concepts and categories -- like all philosophies, it has its own vocabulary. There are different kinds of processes. There are different kinds of relationships of process with particulars, and process with universals. Particulars end up being less static items as being matrices of process, embodiments, as it were. Universals is a tricky problem for metaphysics generally -- in process, universals are generally demoted from the lofty heights a Platonic framework might give them and put into the processes themselves.

Rescher continues from these basic chapters to developing ideas about process and nature, process and persons, process logic and epistemology, and process views of scientific inquiry. However, it is to the final two chapters, Process Theology and Process in Philosophy, that I wish to devote more attention.

In Process Theology, Rescher frankly states the situation that not all process philosophers care about theological ideas. God is seen less as a substance (with all the problems that that view entails) and more of a process. However, God is not part of the physical processes of the world. There is no easy way of visualising God's participation in the world, not being of the world, but there is an interconnectedness, and the issue of how is, according to Rescher, secondary.

'Even apart from process philosophy, various influential theologians have in recent years urged the necessity and desirability of seeing God not through the lens of unchanging stability but with reference to movement, change, development and process.'

God is not a God of mighty acts and deeds in process thinking. God is rather a persuasive force. God does not act directly in the world in a substantive way, but rather in a processual way. God as a personal entity who relates to the world is made much easier to reconcile in a process framework.

'The philosophy of process is also a philosophy in process.'

What is the bottom line with process philosophy? Largely, it is the same as the bottom line with any philosophical system. Can it make sense? Does it explain the details as well as possess a coherence that is rational? How can process philosophy, a philosophy that changes, possess such coherence? Rescher resists the urge to set out a 'decisive, knock-down drag-out argumentation' whose power of persuasion would be 'somewhere between miniscule and nonexistent.' He does, however identify many of the key problems with substance philosophical systems and the smooth and promising fruits of process thinking, not least of which are its compatibility with modern social, scientific, and theological ideas.

This book by Rescher is not for the casual reader. For the advanced undergraduate or graduate student who has at least some background in philosophy, this is a good introduction. Some of the chapters require specialised knowledge -- Rescher's explanation of the difficulties of substantialism in chapter three on particulars employs logic formulae with no explanation; those without training in elementary symbolic logic will likely get lost in this discussion. However, for those who are getting deeper into philosophy or theology, this book will be enlightening and interesting.

This book did a wonderful job of expounding the basics of process metaphysics with the angle of showing how process philosophy avoids many of the problems that plague substance metaphysics. Particularly it is shown that first not all processes are merely the actions of well defined 'things' (vibrations in a magnetic field, for example) with a certain essence. Second, processes are shown to be just as fundamental as 'essential things',if not more. In fact, Rescher is probably a little too forgiving to the essentialist view. The quantum mechanical world, the most basic in physical reality, is comprised entirely of processes, not well defined 'things'.

Rescher explains also how Whitehead seemed to somewhat cave into the essentialist view by positing 'actual occasions' as basic units of process akin to the atomist view of substance metaphysicians. Rescher tells us that there is no need to posit these basic processual units, but we can go even further than that: empirical evidence would suggest that such units do not exist. With what we know from QM, it appears that the world is held together by processes, illustrated by quantum mechanical wave functions, 'all the way down' with no discernable basic processual unit (and furthermore, might the insertion of something basic, be it a process or a 'thing', contradict the spirit of QM itself?). Rescher thinks that by adopting this view which is more at home with Sheldon (and Teilhard de Chardin) and later process thinkers, process metaphysics rests itself on even more solid foundations.

After reading this book it has become difficult for me to read even Paul Tillich who's otherwise interesting theology is couched in the Platonic language that seems so horribly archaic now. The implication of this would be that Plato and Aristotle (and thus the entire Western tradition) just plain got it wrong about metaphysics and have led us on a wild goose chase to prop up an outlook about the 'first things' that was doomed to fail. It has only been thanks to the cunning insights of Hume and Kant and, even more, the discoveries of science that many philosophers have given up on substance metaphysics and see a process perspective as the only one that could work (if any do). Rescher also speaks very highly of Henri Bergson as prototypical process philosopher which is interesting considering that Teilhard thought so highly of him.

I'm biased in favor of Grif Stockley, I admit. I practice law in the same town, and I have had a case or two against him. I like him. That aside, I'm an avid reader of this genre and even if I didn't know and like Grif, I'd really love his books.

What I respect and admire about his writing is that he brings reality to his characters. The reality he is able to convey is not some stark picture of poverty or prejudice or some equally profound aspect of society, but the frustration a lawyer feels with uncooperative clients, the unfathomability of attitudes and opinions alien to us, and the natural tensions of relationships.

I think we can all agree that Significant Others aren't always soul-mates who complement what is lacking in ourselves. Certainly our children say and do things that are totally incomprehensible to us. Gideon Page, the lawyer protagonist in Grif Stockley's novels, suffers a double slap in the face when his daughter and his girlfriend join a charismatic fundamentalist congregation, exercising religion in a way Gideon seems to feel is the antithesis of free conscious reason and thought. Then, to make matters worse, he is confronted by that same church when the preacher's daughter becomes his client.

Assertive, charismatic, Christian fundamentalism can be bewildering and even offensive to those who view themselves as more "mainstream" or perhaps don't actively practice much religion at all. Confronted with this church and its charismatic preacher, Gideon is repulsed. He is thrust into close contact with not only the preacher and his client, but with the preacher's family and the spooky wife and child of his co-counsel, Chet Bracken.

Despite what some non-lawyers may believe, many, many clients are uncooperative, secretive, and completely untruthful with their attorneys. Lots of times clients have something to hide, or want to accomplish something they know their lawyer wouldn't condone. How many times has every trial lawyer in America said to an uncooperative client, "You MUST tell me everything because unless I know absolutely everything I can't protect you from anything"? Gideon Page has not only an uncooperative client, but an uncooperative co-counsel on this case, though. Not only is the client avoiding him, but Chet Bracken, the lawyer who asked Gideon to help with the case, won't come clean about it. And now Chet is dying and Gideon is going to have to handle the case without knowing anything about it. Frantically investigating every miniscule lead, Gideon's worst fear comes to be that his client might actually be innocent.

When it becomes obvious that Chet Bracken isn't preparing for trial, Gideon attempts to do his best in a virtual vaccuum. Nobody will tell him the truth. Bit by agonizing bit he learns disparate facts that still don't make sense. The investigative trail seems to lead suspiciously to the preacher himself -- is the daughter going to take a fall for Daddy so Daddy won't lose his flock? But wait -- is Daddy going to take a fall for darling daughter? Who really committed the crime? Daughter isn't talking, Daddy talks too much, and co-counsel is cryptic at best.

As trial looms closer Gideon becomes frantic that the legal team has no defense for the accused, and still the accused adamantly refuses even to talk to him! The eleventh hour comes and goes and Gideon finally learns two stupefying facts that change not only his opinion about Chet Bracken, but about Chet's family, the accused, and ... well, I'm not going to give it all away. Read the book! It's worth it!

This was certainly not your run of the mill legal thriller. From Stockley we are already used to have sharp and witty observations, but in this third book in the Gideon Page series he outperforms himself.

In fact, it is not a legal thriller at all. The protagonists enter the courtroom only towards the end of the book and then only for a brief period.

It is much more a story about the relationship between father and daughter. Gideon and Sarah go through a very difficult time together when Gideon has to defend a girl who is suspected of killing her husband. Gideon wants to attack in his case the girl's father, a highly respected preacher to whose church Sarah is drawn.

The doubts of Gideon as a father and the complete lack of doubt and the righteousness of Sarah are beautifully drawn. A very satisfactory read.

A lot of the home decor books that come out have beautiful plans, that are virtually impossible for the average person to accomplish. This is not the case with Salvage Style in Your Home. All of the projects they show are not only easy, but very pretty too!

The pictures and instructions are very user friendly, and easy to follow. And the items that they use are not hard to find. It's not like when you watch a home decorating show and you think," I love how that looks, but where do I find it!? " The book uses things like slate roof tiles and axe handles to create the most appealing things. I mean, when you see how they use and old shutter to make a cd rack you will be amazed!

Salvage Style for Your Home is every frugal home decorator's dream book! It's a book of inspiration and I highly suggest you give it a read!

Salvage Style is the perfect book for anyone with a passion for recycling and a love of beautiful, creative things. It features gorgeous, decorator-style photos that provide plenty of inspiration, but it balances them with a wealth of information about the importance of reusing perfectly good materials and the process of doing so. All of the projects have detailed, step-by-step directions---complete with photos for the more visually minded folks out there---and most of them are easy to replicate. If you're looking to expand your mind and look at common materials in a new light, this book will fan the fires of your creativity in ways you never imagined!

Many children are kind to dogs and cats. Unfortunately, this compassionate attitude isn’t always extended to wild animals or those that much of society callously regards as “food animals.” Many usually caring and thoughtful children (and some adults) don’t think (or don’t want to think) about where their burger or bacon & eggs come from. Some people mistakenly think, or are wrongly led to believe, that animals raised for society’s unhealthy and cruel diet live carefree, enjoyable lives free from any hardships until they are quickly and humanely killed for food.
Saving Emily is a wonderful novel for children aged 9 and up. In telling the stories of Emily, the heifer, 12-year-old Chris, and his friend Gina,Nicholas Read not only provides an interesting and enjoyable story, he also effectively informs the reader of the cruel existence that cows and bulls must endure until they are killed.
While Saving Emily is an interesting story and provides valuable insight into the business of growing and killing animals for food, it also deals with the important and common issues of dealing with—and overcoming, difficult childhood experiences. Chris must leave his friends and school in the city. His parents are divorced and his mother has married someone who lives in a small town. Gina is different from the other children in her school. She is a vegetarian and she helps out at the Rescue Ranch where dogs, horses and cows who have been saved are cared for. Her love for—and attitude toward, animals doesn’t sit well with the other students in the ranching community.
Finally, Saving Emily conveys the vital message that the efforts of a few can result in positive changes, making an often hostile and cruel world a little kinder. Children who like animals will enjoy this book. Children who aren’t as caring toward animals should read it! –Reviewed by Glenn Perrett

Saving Emily is an engaging story about a girl, a boy and a cow named Emily. When Chris moves to the country he feels lonely and different - until he meets Gina. Chris thinks Gina is a little crazy because she cares so much about animals - but after meeting Emily and finding out her destination is the slaughterhouse, he begins to understand how strongly people can relate to animals!

I'd recommend this as a must-read for all children, since they seem to be born with an inherent love for all animals.

I still can never figure out why "The Cherry Orchard" is hailed as his masterpiece and put in all the Drama anthologies to represent his work. To me "Ivanov", "The Sea Gull" and "Uncle Vanya" are his great works. "The Sea Gull" however ranks on the top of my list as his best work. A tragic tale of the meaning of love and being an artist with comic tones and timeless characters. All of the emotions and situations are realistic to real life. The play is more personal and has more meaning than average Realism. The first time I saw "The Sea Gull" I fell in love with it so much I saw it the next day again. It's one of the rare four act plays that I can enjoy the whole performance and not be bored. Anyone who wants to see Chekhov's brilliance should read this play and the others I mentioned.

Inspired by a real-life incident of the death of a sea gull, this is hailed as the best written play by Chekov, The Sea Gull tells a poignant love story centered on literaray nonentity Konstantin's tragic quest for a burgeoning actress Nina. Swirling around the country estate are characters who reflect Konstantin's pain and suffering in their own harshly realistic ways. In this famed play, Chekov introduces a brand new form of literature as to emphasize characters other than plot. Instead of placing characters beneath a steady frame, Chekov lets his characters guide the subtle movement of the sad tale of devastated dreams and hopes. The dying sea gull symbolizes the emptiness of defeat and further stressing the beauty of life. The fullness of being simply alive comes beaming with power and touches life.

A very well-written and enrossing story....Morse keeps us guessing until the very end. I found the characters to be interesting and complex, the dialog entertaining, and the story itself very cleverly written. Colin Dexter is a true genius.

Another one of Colin Dexter's Inspector Morse mysteries. The main character, Inspector Morse, and his sidekick, Sergeant Lewis, tackle another murder mystery. This time of a deaf man, recently hired to work for the Foreign Examinations Board in Oxford. Everyone seems to be a suspect, but as usual Lewis' non-challant remarks and Morse's sharp mind, solve the mystery - a complex who-dunnit. I believe that this book is one of the earlier Inspector Morse mysteries, since some characteristics of Morse are not in-line with that is known so far. For example, Morse is a well educated man, with interest in classical music, Latin, history and The Times crossword puzzles. However, in one scene, Morse does not know what Darjeeling is. There are also other discrepancies: Morse drives a Lancia in this book, which I find very inappropriate, him being a snobby Enlighman. Morse's usual vintage maroon Jaguar is more in-line. Other than those little discrepancies, the book was yet another good exercise for the mind and an enjoyable read. The Oxford setting still always takes me back to those college days, when I used to roam around Oxford myself.