"The Other Islands of New York" is a decent reference book, but it felt as if Seitz and Miller feared getting a little muddy or messing up their hair. One never sense that the two clambered up to investigate the smaller islands, but rather conducted phone interviews with local historians. This may not be true, but it reads that way.

Imagine reading about an animal, say a horse, only in terms of who owned it and when. You'd get no sense of the character of the horse as a being -- a creature with temperament, quirks, coloring, musculature, a particular scent and stride. That's how the descriptions of many islands in this book came across to me as a kayaker of New York Harbor. We get so little sense of the natural beauty and surprises of this city's intricate archipelago - the seals that gather at Swinburne Island in winter aren't mentioned, and neither is the beautiful little cove at the northern end of key-shaped Mill Rock. That island is also home, in spring, to nests full of gorgeously speckled seagull eggs and pure white goose eggs. There are, of course, many other examples.

Sometimes the tone the authors take when writing about working people come across as condescending, in some sense as if these people provide color but little else. At the same time, the authors shy away from some topics with the squeamishness of an eastern liberal (which, I suppose I am too). The East River islets near Hell Gate, for example, are named but conspicuously absent are Negro Head and Little Negro Head. When I researched the history of these islets (and Negro Point, at the southern point of Randalls Island) for a New York Times article, what surprised me was that contrary to current lore, the islands never bore names reflecting the more derogatory term. The names seem to have been chosen to describe rounded rocks that had a surface texture reminiscent of an afro. Negro Point, however, is tougher to explain. While Randalls Island did have a cotton processing plant on it, there wasn't a slave population. One theory holds that a strange specter, taking the form of a man with African features and a tricorner hat, rows a boat back and forth across Hell Gate. But after I interviewed Henry Stern, then New York City Park Commissioner, about the name, he moved to change it to Skylla Point, a bookend to Charybdis Playground across the water in Astoria.

Another frustrating aspect of this book is that you'd think that the islands' histories began with European colonization. Here and there we read that such-and-such was "bought from Native Americans," but we never learn who these original residents were and what life was like in these places. It's almost as if the Lenape Algonquin, Munsee, and Canarsie people were simply killing time waiting for white people to arrive so the story of these islands could begin. No word about the wampum manufacturing on Roosevelt Island, or the sacred nut groves on Governors Island. Again, this seems to stem from relying on convenient newspaper microfilm and interviews with a narrow band of experts.

The final point that annoyed me is the self-congratulatory voice in which much of the book's information is delivered. The authors present the islands as discoveries, and often islands are categorized as "forgotten" when in fact they're merely small. Most have always been little noted. Also, far more people frequently visit these islands - often by kayak - than the authors seem to realize.

But, over all, this book is a useful resource because it stands alone. Of course, other books have covered the topic but in diluted forms, but no one else has compiled information exclusively on this topic, New York's smaller islands. It's worth having on your shelf to read through before heading out on the water.

As a native New Yorker, I heard of many islands that occupied the waters that surround the five boroughs of the city. As I flew back into LaGuardia and JFK airports I even began to notice them from above. Obtaining information about these islands was very difficult, even from local libraries, and therefore when I found this book at a local bookstore, I was delighted that someone came up with the idea of publishing such a book.

From Roosevelt Island to Cuban Ledge, the authors give a very thorough and well researched book on the many islands inhabiting the New York archipelago. Many islands which were once islands, but have long since been connected to the boroughs by artificial landfills are also covered here (e.g. Coney Island-Brooklyn, Hunter Island-Bronx, Battery Park area-Manhattan, etc..) are also covered here.

If you live in the city or plan on visiting, please make sure to pick up a copy of this guide, and make sure to visit the many hidden treasures found in this city.It makes an excellent companion book while aboard a plane or even in the subway.

To Love and To Honor is a collection of four stories.

The first story is Bargain Bride written by Stella Cameron. Love blossoms between a headstrong English miss and a dashing knight who rescues her from an unwanted marriage. But has a secret plan of his own. Funny and sensuous!

The second story is The Bride of Wildcat Purchase written by Judith E. French. A half breed Colonial sends for a mail order bride but his request turns out to be a sensual woman who turns his world upside down. Watch the sparks fly!

The third story is Store-bought Woman written by Linda Lael Miller. A young lady sets out for America after being jilted at the altar. She agrees to marry a total stranger only to find herself strangely attracted to her intended's brother. A sweet and heartwarming story!

The last story and my FAVORITE is The High Sheriff of Huntingdon written by Anne Stuart. The story centers on a convent bred daughter of an earl who is wed quite unwillingly to a handsome somewhat wicked lord. Some say that he is the spawn of a witch and the devil. Men who have angered him and women who have not pleased him wind up missing never to be seen again. Yet, despite these warnings, Elspeth remains and slowly begins to unravel the mystery surrounding The High Sheriff of Huntingdon. The chemistry between Elspeth and Alistair was electrifying. He is the epitome of a brooding, tortured hero and she is a perfect balance for his darkness. Elspeth was funny, courageous and loving. Quick - RUN and buy yourself a copy!

In 17th century Europe monarchy was the norm, from the western kings of England and France to the tsars of all the Russias. They were the natural order of things -- and yet the English executed Charles I and abolished the monarchy and the Valois-Bourbon civil war threatened to overturn the monarchy in France. Miller examines and compares the monarchical institutions in both countries, concluding that their governmental crises led to ephemeral superficiality under France's Louis XIV but strengthened the government of William and Mary in England. A scholarly but not difficult work and quite rewarding to the student of monarchical history.

This book is a real look at real people from the hills of Kentucky. It's decent and honest. It dispells and sometimes perpetuates the characteristics, myths and legends attributed to hillbillies. It also shows that hillbillies just may deserve a little more respect and credit than they get. It also is very valuable in teaching children of all walks of life about people from this region. A good book for families everywhere!

As a fundamentalist, straight Christian, you might be surprised that I would recommend this book. But the medium for our witness for Christ is the relationships which we have with others and this book has important lessons about relationships with those we should care the most about. I identified much more with Mr. Miller's father than with Mr. Miller but I appreciate the author showing how hurtful such well-intentioned actions can be. The book reveals a son who believes he cannot help being gay and a father who rejects his son because he "refuses" to change. But there's also the father who believes he cannot help being diametrically opposed to the gay lifestyle and a son who rejects his father because he "refuses" to change. Neither seems to be able to accept the true nature of the other's "compulsion" to act in accordance with his beliefs. I believe in the power of prayer, but that prayer should be "Thy will be done," and we Christians sometimes act as if we are the ones who define God's will. The Prayer Warriors should also be praying for themselves. Read Prayer Warriors and see how similar father and son really are and pray that in similar situations parents and children will find the basis for understanding and growth.

Prayer Warriors is a tragic story, to be sure. Stuart's story of coming out as gay to his fundamentalist family and their pained, seemingly heartless response is hard to read. The conflict between Stuart and his family is easy to understand and frustrating to witness; it lays bare the problem that so many people have with fundamentalism - that it so often forces its followers to decide between what they believe and who they love. Stuart has my sympathy (and indeed, my empathy) for having to deal with this at all in the first place.

Despite my heart going out to him, however, my head had a hard time understanding exactly where he was coming from. It seems that many of Stuart's negative experiences were a result of either expecting the worst in a given situation or reacting as negatively as possible. Although certainly he is treated appallingly by his family and former church, Stuart rarely takes any personal responsibility for his own reactions to how others treat him. I felt conflicted when reading: although it was obvious that what his family was doing to him was atrocious, it was just as obvious that Stuart did not exercise the self-control necessary to come away from the experience with anything other than self-indulgent pity.

I was not disappointed by the book's "lack of a resolution" as another reviewer was; in real life, we oftentimes lack true resolutions to true problems such as the ones found here in the Miller family. However, I do have a problem that Stuart chose to share his story when it is obvious he is still deeply disturbed by it; that he seeks to teach an audience about what he learned when it is so clear he has not yet learned everything he should have from his experience.

And who am I to know what Stuart should or should not have learned from this? Just a reader, like any other, drawing my own conclusions from what was presented to me in the pages of this book. That, I think, is this book's final failure: although it is heartwrenching and brutally honest about his personal feelings and experiences, it does not convince its readers of Stuart's ultimate rightness. Stuart, then, comes off as eminently human, but hardly as somebody we should have spent 192 learning from. His honesty is appreciated and his story is truly tragic, but his authority feels hollow.

I loved this book. It was a very touching story.

There was very little I could agree with in this book. It was so annoying to read that I actually finished it, but I can tell you, it did get my blood pressure up. It is another great example of how some Americans see themselves as the 'creme de la creme' of the world.

"Tell them you're a writer." That is a chapter title in this book, and it illustrates one of the differences between Europeans and Americans. For me, this chapter struck home. I have been working towards a career in writing recently, first by applying to graduate school where I hope to complete a Masters of Fine Arts degree. But when people ask me what I plan to do with that degree, I can not tell them the truth: that I want to write. Instead, I have to say that I plan to teach or take an editing position along with writing (which is true--I am not so naive as to believe in a magical diploma that opens up the world of publishing--but it is akin to someone who is studying to be a surgeon to say that they plan to work as an intern). In some ways, I feel like St. Peter denying Jesus; I cannot admit to my true purpose because of what people might think. And that is because writing is not viewed as a proper occupation by the majority of Americans, whereas in Europe, that answer would be sufficient.

This is indicative of my feeling for this book of Miller's, which is supposedly about those folk across the water, but ends up helping describe my neighbor and myself much more. Although we are mostly aware of the Puritan and commercial streaks in our national character, to have it compared and contrasted to the Europeans makes it much easier to understand. There are some basic differences between our world views that Miller is able to pinpoint with some accuracy.

Understanding Europeans benefits from Miller's use of his own marriage to a French woman as examples, but there are not enough of them to overcome some of the drudgery of his psychoanalytical approach to his subject. While slow at times, perseverance was rewarded by a comprehensive overview of the European state of mind.

Although global communication is helping to homogenize the world (not a totally positive thing in my opinion), culture differences are still strong and go much deeper than the simple talk and entertainment that we might share. Nationalism, something Americans only understand to a small extent, once again is making itself known in Europe, and we would be wise to be aware of its past impact in history. Miller helps explain the psychology of Europeans, from the lingering effects of feudalism to the most recent trauma of a war that affected the entire family rather than just able-bodied men.

This is one of the most interesting books I've read in some time. While I can't vouch for its descriptions of the European mentality, I did find that its constrasting descriptions of the American mentality very much rang true. (Of course, being generalizations, they won't always apply to all Americans.) In fact, the book helped me to understand and clarify my own (very American) feelings and attitudes about many of the cultural issues the author discusses, issues on which Americans and Europeans apparently have significant cultural differences.