I am not writing this review because I have read this book. I am
writing it because this book is so hard to find. If this book was so important to John F. Kennedy, why is it not available so those interested in the late President can read it to? Should this book not be reissued for other generations to read? It is just a thought from someone who wants to know more about JFK.

I loved this book. Of the many books on the period which I have read, this is probably my favorite. Melbourne is a fascinating character, and the author gives a masterful account of his life. For a period which can be dry if not properly set forth, I found this book to be a real page turner. Lord Cecil gives a thoroughly interesting account of Melbourne's early life, and in particular his stormy relationship with his wife Lady Caroline. She emerges, as is well documented, as bordering upon lunacy. Her antics are well documented and amusing, although I couldn't help feel a sense of frustration that Melbourne was entirely too tolerant of her behaviour. While Melbourne appears to be somewhat wishy-washy, his amiable nature is precisely the key ingedient for his rise to Prime Minister: everyone liked him. Lord Cecil's insight into the evolution of Melbourne's character is fascinating, and reveals something of a tragic figure. Indeed, the later part of Melbourne's life, is sad. Much of the later part of the work is devoted to Melbourne's close relationship with the young Queen Victoria, and upon her marriage, Melbourne's life become tragically empty. The end of the book gives an account of the loneliness of Melbourne's later years, and it reveals Melbourne as more susceptible to bouts of melancholy. But that is the truth of the matter, and it does not detract from the enjoyment of Lord Cecil's work. Finally, it is interesting to note that this book was cited by President John F. Kennedy as his favorite book. Some have attributed this to the accounts of the behavior of the ruling aristocracy in Britain during the whig era, wherein they ruled during the week and ran to the country for parties and relations. I found these desciptions of the book by some of JFK's contemporaries to be inaccurate. While such events are described generally, as they should be to properly account for the period, the focus of Lord Cecil's work is upon the character and evolution of Melbourne himself. This results i! n a comprehensive and altogether enjoyable account of the period. I highly recommend this book.

These are short (and I mean SHORT) stories of 50 words - no more and no less. And they are literally mini sagas! A in terms of literature they are little gems - as you can imagine when you must write exactly 50 words, you chose those words very carefully indeed.

There are all sorts of stories here - murder stories, stories of love in old age - everything. It is a book you can pick up and dip into like a treasure chest, and always find something interesting.

This is an anthology of Mini Sagas - these are 50 word essays - not 49 or 51 words, they must be exactly 50 words. This takes the idea of short stories a stage further. This was the brainwave of Brian Aldiss, the well-known science fiction writer. Brian Aldiss also edits the anthology. Mini Sagas are published in the UK newspaper "The Daily Telegraph" and this book - and other volumes - are the result of stories written by members of the public, in response to a competition, together with some commissioned stories from well-known authors and celebrities. The rules are simple, the stories must be exactly 50 words long and the title must be no more than 15 words long. The stories are judged by a panel and the best stories are published. The overall winner and runner-up, together with some highly commended stories are all noted as such, as are the commissioned stories. There is something here for everyone. Many of the stories tend to follow a number of common themes and the editor uses these to group the stories loosely together into sections.

If you read this book, it should inspire you to write your own Mini Saga. This competition runs every two years. Consequently, there is plenty of time for you to practice before submitting your own story next time.

A great book that captures the feel of Hawaii. Victoria's Hawaii is gone but the 'feel' of the place is timeless. Her description of Hawaiian music,plate lunches and hundreds of other details of island life are right on target. If you've been captivated by the idea of island life...read this book. You'll be on the beach,breathing in plumerias as long as your eyes cross the words.

I was introduced to this book by a writer who had lived in Hawaii for most of the '70s, and she felt that it was one of the best personal memoirs of living in Hawaii that she had read. Nelson taught at the University of Hawaii in the '70s, and traveled throughout the islands. She captures the beauty, the sadness, the cultural tensions and improbable harmonies of a people and a setting that is so much more than a Waikiki Beach tourist-trap destination. Her description of the people of Moloka'i was one my motivations to find the true meaning of **Aloha** and visit what may be the friendliest place in Hawai'i. St. Martin's should at least bring it back in trade paperback - the travel sections of most bookstores are dying for a distinctly different look at one of the most fascinating and spiritual places in the world

As a science teacher, I always have to be prepared to answer questions from left field. This book has many of the commonly asked questions that you won't find in a textbook. It's well wriiten and easy to understand--and entertaining too!

It was a wonderful book! It was very informative. I didn't even know i wanted to know that much.

I discovered an earlier edition of this truly great book in my local book shop and have since walked most of the walks in both the earlier and this current edition. It has to be the bible for anyone wanting to experience the joys the State of Victoria in Australia has to offer. The track notes are concise, yet easy to follow and are accompanied by useful maps for each walk. The publishers would be advised to re-think their layout designs as the book has a decidedly old fashion feel about it, BUT this does not detract from the usefulness of the book. WELL DONE MR THOMAS !

A diverse range of hikes for all grades of walkers from families to hard-core adventurers. Includes contour maps for each hike as well as photographs and illustrations to accompany the comprehensive route descriptions. The destinations include the Australian Alps, the magnificent Grampians, Wilsons Promontory and Gippsland. Sixty of the walks are with 60 miles of Melbourne, the capital city of Victoria. Introductory chapters include advice on equipment, food suggestions, first aid, etc etc.

Welcome to Paradise Bay - Where The Day Begins. When Trish Taylor found herself on the other side of the world from the safe, secure life she led in New York, she was less than overjoyed. But with her wedding to boring and predicable Elliot a mere 4 months away, her step-father felt she needed some time away from the wedding preparations to give some final thought to the relationship she was about to commit to for the rest of her life. Elliot was all wrong for Trish and Russ hoped Trish's time in paradise would make her see that.

Elliot was everything Trish wanted in her life. Safety. Stability. Security. There was no excitement or adventure with Elliot, but those things were overrated. Upon her arrival at Paradise Bay, Trish met Jack Kendall and discovered that the two of them would be working together to design and build a vacation resort on the island paradise. When she wasn't fighting with Jack, she began to question her plans for the future. Soon, Trish put thoughts of Elliot and her upcoming wedding aside and found herself thinking of Jack instead.

Jack was everything Elliot was not, and that both infuriated and intrigued Trish. And it wasn't long until she found herself drawn into the excitement and adventure that was Jack. But would his unknown family identity ruin his hopes for happiness with Trish?

Victoria Alexander has crafted a humorous tale with vivid imagery and multi-dimensional characters. If I was to be stranded on an island paradise to welcome the new millennium, I'd want that paradise to be "Paradise Bay" and my companion to be Jack Kendall. This book is a surefire winner. Don't pass it up!

That's the only word that will come to mind after finishing _Paradise Bay_. This was the first book I'd ever read by Victoria Alexander and I was definitely not disappointed. The characters are not only believable but endearing. Trish's sarcastic wit and conversations with herself will leave you laughing aloud and Jack's sensuality definitely turns up the heat. Thrust together under unusual circumstances, the passion that ignites between Trish and Jack almost burns the pages with the intensity. This book exudes an electricity that draws you in and leaves you powerless to resist. From the first page I couldn't put it down. You'll cry when Jack realizes he loves Trish and you'll hold your breath until Trish admits it herself. Smoldering romance that's sure to make you search out all of Ms. Alexander's work.

So, don't hesitate to read about the wonderful island of Paradise Bay . . .

Where the magic and the majestic scenery will cause you to do things you never would have before.

Victoria's book reads like a chatty letter from my Aunt Helen who keeps her lucky dinner guests in stitches throughout the meal. Even if you never used a single recipe, the book is worth its weight in chuckles. But it would be a shame to not cash in on the creative cooking ideas Victoria offers. If you think pesto is just something you toss with hot pasta, or that it's always basil-based, think again. I was fascinated to learn that "pesto" really means "ground or pounded up" and you can grind or pound up all kinds of tasty stuff and then use it as a seasoning in all kinds of food. It's made an efficient shift in my approach to cooking -- I've found it very handy to know how to toss a spoonful of pesto into a recipe instead of fussing with eight herbs and a bunch of slippery garlic cloves! Pesto now shows up in everything from my twice-baked potatoes to tomato soup to salmon croquettes or crusty barbecued pork chops. This book will really get your creative juices flowing as well as your salivary ones. There are even directions for how to mail-order Victoria's own innovative Bella Cucina pestos from the commercial kitchen on her Pacific Northwest farm.

I just about DIED when I tasted a concotion Victoria had put in her book. Fabulous.

May I reccommend this book to everyone who wants to re-capture friendship through the art of letter writing? When I was half-way through it I felt a quenching eagerness to write a letter right away... to anybody! It will definitely wheat your appetite to write (and read) great letters. It acomplishes this in a very practical way, through the words of great letter-writers such as Madame de Sévigné, Jane Austen and Emily Dickinson; so it's a wonderful gift for fans of these authors as well. "Victoria: the pleasures of staying in touch" is a book that invites re-reading until one can fully grasp the true jewels it presents, those jewels that have crossed oceans of time and are still here for us to enjoy: the great writers and their letters.

What's so wonderful about this book is that the author gives examples of letters that have humor and modern day references. Very well-researched and written, a pleasant reminder of why writing a letter is a gift for yourself and the person who receives the letter. A joy to read!

I had the pleasure of having Dr. Victoria E. Rinehart as a professor as an undergraduate student. She had given us a brief lecture on her research for this book along with a slide show and I was interested from that point on.

The book takes you to the era when TB was known as consumption, and the cure was fresh air, rest and sunlight (year round). The pictures take you back in time and help you to look back at the way a TB patients routine/life was in relationship to the treatment modalities of today.

The book is a poignant tribute to Dr. Trudeau and his staff who were caring, empathetc caregivers that never waivered from their primary goal, to provide the best physical, mental, spiritual and emotional support for their patients.

Kudos Vicki!

This is a lovely book that captures a very specific moment in history. At the time, the "Fresh Air Cure" was the best treatment available for tuberculosis, and the Adirondaks were a haven for so many people. Dr. Rinehart's book looks at the human side of this fascinating era. Well-researched and well-written, it is of interest to those in the health care profession, as well as those who love a well-written book of history.

Of Men and Angels hooked me from the first pages and never let me go. I am always delighted to find a well-written western romance, and this one did not disappoint. I'm always a sucker for a cowboy or a baby. Put them together and you've got me. The characters were believable and well-developed, and their personal growth was shown in a plausible fashion. The ending pages made me smile and the epilogue made me cry. I wish my copy was autographed because it's a keeper. I will be waiting for Victoria Bylan's next book.

Of Men and Angels is one of the best books I've read so far this year! I was pulled into action right away on page one and the story never slowed down. A real page-turner! The characters are wonderful and colorful. Alex and Jake read like real people with human hopes, fears, secrets and regrets. Jake's journey toward love and self-respect is truly wonderful, but it's not an easy journey and he achieves his happily-ever-after only with the help of a good woman--Alexandra. I highly recommend this book to all lovers of good romance reads!

Traveling by stagecoach from Philadelphia to Colorado in 1885, Alexandra (Alex to her family and friends) Merritt had to get home but the ride thru a severe thunderstorm was anything but pleasant, that combined with a very pregnant young woman as her sole companion did not leave Alex with a very secure feeling. Heavy rains washing away the road sent the stagecoach tumbling down a ravine killing the drivers and three mules. Surviving the crash was one thing, helping to birth the baby with no help was another as Alex called upon an inner strength to help her cope with this latest test.

Hung-over, running from the law, and hurting both body and soul ' Jake Malone heard the voice of an angel singing hymns out on the Colorado plateau. Following the sounds, he saw an angel covered in grime, blood and birth fluids on her hands and knees prompting the woman in birthing her babe. He'd seen men die and not been so affected by the sight before him. Jake could have run ' could have turned his back ' but for once, he'd think of someone besides himself and stayed to offer his assistance helping to bury the mother and bringing Alex to the next town. Alex wasn't sure about this surly, battered and bruised individual but she had to get home somehow and he did offer to help so with a leap of faith a trust was formed.

This was such a poignant and sweet tale of trust, love and faith in human love and kindness. It was deeply emotional, from the standpoint of watching the personal growth of Jake as he tried his best to turn his back on the hands of love and kindness that were extended to him. On a deeper level, he was able to take the wonderful gift he was being offered and give back that part of him that he'd kept hidden for so long. This was a truly 'feel good' kind of story that has much to recommend it besides being a sweet romance - and I most certainly do for anyone looking for good inspirational feelings of peace, love, and renewal. Absolutely lovely!