This book is absolutely fantastic. After reading numerous other training books and still having difficulty with my young dog I stumbled onto this book by accident. Spencer covers every aspect of training the puppy right through to advanced blinds and marks. His style of writing is very clear and his use of anecdotes helps to illustrate the real life ramifications of various techniques. Until I read this book I had great difficulty training consistent blind retrieves. Spencer's explanation of the correct use of conditioning flags has made it so much easier. I have read this book at least ten times and learn something new every time. I can't recommend it enough.

James B. Spencer's Training Retrievers For Marshes And Meadows will hold a specific appeal for hunters who use retriever dogs in their work. Beginners are taught how to gain rapport and train dogs, from basic obedience to training for the hunt - and receive instructions particular not only to retrieving in general, but to the breed.

Before, during and continuing with the training of my current yellow Lab, I have read quite a few books on the subject. I wish I would have had this one sooner! Easy to read and great instruction all in one book.

Marsh's talent for the creation of memorable characters is particularly notable in this novel, which features formidable spinster "Miss Emily," who--much to the lethal consternation of the residents--is determined to end further distasteful commercialization of the island property she has recently inherited. Marsh's eye for detail, a sure touch for dialogue, and a particularly clever puzzle make DEAD WATER among her finest works.

One of Marsh's best, the story is a mixture of fun stuff -- faith healing, young love, amorous misadventures, and the crass commercialization of a pretty coastal village. When half-witted little Wally Trehern's warts dry up and fall off after a plunge in the local coldspring, "trippers" begin to zero in on Portcarrow seeking the cure. Just when everybody's making money, a starchy old spinster comes along and tries to spoil things. A classic, cozy mystery with writing that's way above average for the genre.

I'm a mystery lover, and a book reader in general, but had never tried audiobooks until a couple of weeks ago, when I bought this one for a road trip. What a thrill! This reader is a BRILLIANT actor... in terms of characterizations of the typically wide range of class accents in this sort of British murder mystery, as well as inflection in long spells of narrative, he is superb. I almost regret having heard his performance, as I've since been listening to a "Miss Silver" mystery from another company (and reader), and have been disappointed by a bland delivery and some distracting problems with audio levels. I'm going to check out EVERY audio book read by JAmes Saxon, though-- "False Scent" was spellbinding. I'm a convert to the format, and looking forward to my commutes with future Marsh/Saxon volumes.

Oh yes-- the book itself is wonderful, as are all Ngaio Marsh novels.

Mary Bellamy is an aging actress, given to fits of jealousy and paranoia, who can go from charming to vindictive in less than ten seconds. So really, no one should have been too surprised when someone takes the aptly named "Slaypest" insecticide that Mary uses on her flowers, and kills her with it. Suddenly, those closest to Mary - her adopted son, devoted husband, faithful maid, old nanny, personal stylist/designer, old admirer and theatre colleagues are suspected of murder. A particularly good read if you are at all familiar with the inner-workings of the theatre and the mentality of theatre folk.

A Stimulating debate that gets to the heart of the dispute between modernists and postmodernists. Some clarity in an often foggy dispute.

If you've ever wondered what all those big words that Continental philosophers love to use actually mean (hermeneutics, deconstruction, dialectics, modernism, post-modernism), this is the book that will explain it to you. As a suitable companion volume to John D. Caputo's "Radical Hermeneutics," "Post-Cartesian Meditations" is the product of sustained, critical and incisive thinking on the central philosophical questions of our time. There is something here for the professional philosopher (Marsh and Caputo are colleagues, and here one will get a good sense of the debate between them, which is developed at length in a work they have co-authored, "Modernity and Its Discontents"), as well as the serious novice. This work is phenomenology at its best, by a first-rate thinker and first-rate human being (I had the pleasure of being a student of his, years ago). Marsh has managed to bring together Marx, Husserl, Habermas, and some Heidegger in an engaging and fertile synthesis. If I had to discard every book I've read on phenomenology (I wouldn't want to) except one, this is the one I'd keep. Justin Thacker, Los Angeles, California

It is a very good book encompassing all battle tanks, heavy and light.There is a lot of information on each of the tanks used by the world's armies right now.This ranges from armor thickness and protection to what soldiers and combat experience have experienced on each tank design.There is a good tech data for each entry, and a list of all operator and the numbers they operate.A real good book on main battle tanks, it's only drawback is that there is no color pics and no variants listing.

To everyone sending in countless reviews raving about Titanic, please don't talk about THE MOVIE and obsessing with LEO DICAPRIO, just focus on the book! Everyone's getting so cynical and hyper from seeing Titanic one too many times!

Anyways, James Cameron's Titanic is a good source for intriguing look at the process in the making of the biggest and most ambitious epic in decades. While sheet-wide "making of" pictures are a little overblown, it gets a dose of fascination to witness how Titanic was filmed under extreme circumstances. Most of the texts are well-written with the quotes from the man himself, James Cameron. However, these are not common in a couple hundreds of pages, which may or may not be satisfying. For more complete insights and details about filming the footages of the Titanic and on the set and with the filmmaker discussing the complications of completing the exhausting process, just go buy "Titanic and the Making of James Cameron". It's a better read than Ed March book itself, although not recommended for those who are too illiterate or just plain lazy to read the literally complex book in one sitting. Other than that, James Cameron's Titanic is a great book to start with, especially for pre-teen fans.

If Jack Dawson said to Rose Dewitt Bukatter, "Winning the ticket is the best thing ever happened to me. It brought me to you!" may be I should say, "Watching this movie is the best thing ever happened to me. It opened my eyes to TITANIC disaster!" I have seen the movie 4 times and planning to watch it again and again. I never get bored of this wonderful, beautiful, marvellous story of Titanic. I found myself a Titanic mania, I am hunting for any book and story on Titanic and love this book very much! Kate Winselt acted tremendously superb as Rose! She should win the Best Actress for this upcoming Academy Award! James Cameron's Titanic is unquestionably excellent story! There is no such "perfect" word to describe! Just watch and read the book, then you will know!

I don't know where to start. I am overwhelmed from reading the reviews. I am thrilled that so many others were as touched by the film as I was. I have seen the movie 11 times, and don't intend to stop--ever. I will be first in line when it comes time to pre-buy the movie. Yes, I have read the book. It is amazing. James Cameron certainly has a way with words. I didn't expect it to hit me so hard, but the first paragraph on the inside cover brought me to tears. Looking at the pictures is like watching the movie again. And by now I know the words.. :-) There has never been a movie like Titanic. Everything about it is awe-inspiring, and the fact that this really happened is what got me so into it. I have become quite the Titanic historian since the release of this film, and it seems like the more I discover, the more I want to go back to the theaters. I am happy even when the movie is sold out because that means it is accomplishing what James Cameron set out to do. It is touching the lives of millions of people and opening their eyes to one of the greatest tragedies of all time. I get choked up every time I try to write how I feel about this movie and book, and everything surrounding them, and so I will just say that never before have I been so fascinated and broken-hearted at the same time. I hope that Titanic continues in it's huge success, and you can all bet that I'll be doing my part to keep it going strong. Oh, and if anyone wants someone to talk to about the movie who will share in their excitement and not think they're loony for seeing the movie so many times, feel free to email me!!

One of the best bio's I have read! Took only 3-4 days to read since it moved at a very fast pace with so many things happening in James Browns life. His upbringing, music, family, record companies, IRS, managers, riots, struggles are all here. Before reading this I was a big fan even though I was not sure of the place this man occupied in music, as an innovater and business person, now I do. The first man to popularize the "live" album, strict band leader, tireless composer/arranger, producer, drummer, singer, dancer and many more things that one person had in him (as well as surrounded himself with exceptional musicians and some exceptional business partners). Also learned of his ethnic background which is Asian/Black/Indian. Many roadblocks on the way and a glimpse of what the business end of the entertainment world is like round out an exceptional and candid look into the life of Soul brother number 1!

I'm usually not so crazy about Star Biographies... for a variety of reasons, they're usually attention getting "feel bad for me" vs. "worship me" ploys taken from the pages of magazines atleast I wouldn't be caught dead reading outside of a doctor's office, however - - THIS BOOK IS DIFFERENT (!) It is enormously well written - - Though its pretty clear Bruce Tucker wrote most of it, he managed to dig down into JBs soul and convey his RAGS TO RICHES story quite convincingly, capturing his voice while telling about his rise and fall (<-- the IRS and disco got him) and his come back at the time This book is so well written that I've actually reread it SEVERAL times since it initially came out in the mid '80s. - - Though it is a bit ironical that JBs life would get a bit more "complicated" after it was written (the drugs, run-ins with the law, death of his wife etc.) it is clear that Brown & Tucker have presented to the world a book that's engrossing and definitely a keeper... It will bring a whole new meaning to the music !

very powerful&uplifting.it touches on many different subjects.racisim,poverty etc..who hasn't this man not influenced? to see a human being overcome so many hardships&provide a innovative sound&style is incredible.but Mr.brown is a man with few peers on his level.this book explores the legend&genius of james brown.

Who would've thought that so many murders could occur in theatres? But then again, it's all a case of life imitating art, and no one does this better than Ngaio Marsh. It's not surprising when you realize that she was a stage director/producer in New Zealand. _Night at the Vulcan_ beautifully captures the atmosphere unique to the theatre, while laying out a very clever case of murder made to look like suicide. This is all told through the eyes of Martyn Tarne, a young lady newly arrived to the London theatre scene, making it all the more interesting. The only reason that I gave this book 4 stars instead of 5, was that the identity of the murderer became a little too obvious, in my opinion, but all in all, a fantastic read.

Exceptionally written even by Marsh's normally high standard, NIGHT AT THE VULCAN drips with atmosphere of actor's egos, opening nights, and greasepaint--not to mention murderous intent. The plot is unusually complex, revolving around the opening of a highly allegorical drama by a demanding author, whose professional tantrums are more than matched by the personal dramas of the cast, all of whom come under suspicion of murder when opening night is overshadowed by unexpected murder. Excellent and extremely enjoyable, peopled with the colorful characterizations that Marsh creates so well. One of the best.

Night at the Vulcan has everything; sympathetic (and endearing) characters, lots of Shakespearean quotes, realistic dialogue, two very different (but equally satisfying) love stories, gorgeous prose...all of the things I read Ngaio for. The character of Martyn Tarne is one I wish Ngaio had re-used in a later book (like she did with some characters from "Death of a Peer" and "Killer Dolphin.").

Ngaio Marsh is my favorite author, and Night at the Vulcan is my favorite Ngaio Marsh. 'Nuff said.

A good read, but I miss the comraderie and banter that goes on between Inspectors Alleyn and Fox, as well as the fingerprint and photography experts, Bailey and Thompson. It's strange, because I didn't feel the same way about _When in Rome_, where Alleyn is traveling outside of England, and therefore is without his usual force. Anyway, it's still a good read. Once again, the theatre becomes the stage for a murder, when a carefully timed birthday gag goes wrong and ends up killing someone who doesn't seem to have an enemy in the world. Taking place in New Zealand, Marsh gives the reader a good introduction to her native country.

Roderick Alleyn of New Scotland Yard is visiting New Zealand on holiday for health reasons in 1937 - a very long journey in distance, then and now, and in those days by sea voyage. He'll be away from Fox, Bailey, Thompson, and the rest of his team for quite a while - more than 3 months in New Zealand itself. The story opens during a long train trip across South Island with some of his fellow passengers from the ship - the Carolyn Dacres English Comedy Company.

Ms. Dacres is the sparkling leading lady; her middle-aged, humdrum husband, Alfred Meyer, runs the business end of the company. Hailey Hambledon, Carolyn's handsome leading man, wants her to arrange a divorce with Meyer and marry him. Carolyn refuses, claiming religious scruples; it's hard to say if Carolyn loves Hailey, or is merely being diplomatic. Some of the character actors have been gambling heavily. Valerie Ganes, a mediocre actress (a dilettante with a rich father) suffered the loss of a large amount of cash, but isn't keen on even a quasi-official investigation. Meyer's business partner, Mason, seems habitually worried about money.

Meyer *seems* oblivious to all this, and after a successful run in Middleton (fictional city), arranges an elaborate birthday party for Carolyn, with an eye toward publicity, and including a flashy gimmick of lowering a huge champagne bottle from the rafters. But someone apparently decides to launch a venture by aiming the bottle at Meyer's head.

At this point in his career, Alleyn had only had one murder case entangled with the world of the theatre - _Enter a Murderer_, which occurred 2 years before this story opens - so the matter of the earlier case (and the name of the murderer) are mentioned several times. In fact, a character actress in the company was a minor character in the earlier book. While one can enjoy and follow the plot of _Vintage Murder_ without having read the earlier story, it has added depth after reading the earlier book - and if they're read out of order, the solution of the earlier book is given in the 1st chapter of this book.

While this is only the second 'theatrical' case Alleyn investigated, several more were to come, and other changes took place shortly after the events in this book. Taking ship for the return journey to England as _Artists in Crime_, the next book, opened, Alleyn was to meet Agatha Troy for the first time. :)