Kraus's book is an excellent introduction to the history of Western music in China. Open to academic readers in the fields of East Asian studies and music, not to mention the intelligent layman, what makes the book particularly effective is its combination of generic, issue-type chapters and specific case studies of individual musicians. Highly recommended!

The Price of Courage is a story of ground combat, as viewed from the level of combat command -- and written, as it should be, by a man who has himself led infantry forces in battle, in the Korean War, where combat reduced itself daily to the awful task of getting one man around one rock in the face of fierce, inch-by-inch resistance.

Eric Holloway is given command of George Company on a cold and barren mountain when he least expects it and when, in the minds of some of his men, he least deserves it -- after a day of horror, when his own blunders have cost American lives and frustrated the battalion's advance. Under the grim pressure of necessity and in the face of bitter enemy fire, he leads his battle-weary company forward to take a mountain top. With only his courage, his instincts, and his combat training to guide him he must decide when to leave his post and risk his own life to lead a lost platoon to safety, when to lay on the artillery preparation that may cost the life of one of his wounded officers, when to bully an inexperienced lieutenant into moving forward under fire -- and when and if to ignore the orders of a "chicken" colonel who has had no combat experience.

The entire story covers but a few days and a few thousand yards of a campaign that has no clear aim other than the taking of real estate. Yet in that time Eric Holloway develops from "one of those eager beavers" concerned with career and recognition, into a resourceful and responsible commander who has earned the devotion of his men through his own courage and decisiveness.

The glum and desperate courage of the griping, but gallant, soldiers; the frightening arrogance of two or three rear echelon incompetents; the horror of a misdirected "Time on Target" that falls on friendly troops; the terrifying spectacle of a combat officer rendered helpless by fear; the cool courage and wizardry of an artillery forward observer who "walks" his shells right along the very edge of a target; the ghastly chill of sudden lonely death in the dark; the simple joys of comradeship and respite from gunfire; the inspiration of a roughneck and great-hearted commander; the gripping (and ringingly authentic) details of a yard-by-yard infantry advance along rugged and narrow ridges; the measureless bravery and devotion of those undistinguished, unimportant, and uninfluential dogfaces who do the front-line fighting -- all these are set forth in prose as clean and hard as a bayonet.

The Price of Courage is an unususal book in many ways: It is rough and plain-spoken and unprettified, without being larded with obscenity; it pictures truthfully the horror and waste of war, while celebrating the patient self-sacrifice, the nobility, and the work-a-day heroism of the plain soldier; it gives a real experience of what it is like to take men out on a cold and nameless mountainside to face death or disfigurement; it is mature and unsentimental and unromantic; and above all it tells a simple, fast-moving, well-plotted story that moves in a clear straight line, taking the reader up with the first word and not releasing him until the final sentence.

This second book in the Seven Brothers series does not disappoint - Benjamin once again has created a fascinating landscape with complex and utterly human (well, mostly human!) characters. But beware: from a mysteriously appearing city to a playful god and a crafy emperor, very little is as it seems! Disguises abound, along with intrigue and adventure. The wait is too long for book number 3!

Curt Stern's Principles of Human Genetics is the most interesting and readable introduction to this subject that you will find. Despite the advances in genetics and recent map of the human genome, the principles covered in this book are still relevant. In 1962, I took a graduate course at the University of Texas in Austin using the second edition of this book which I still possess. Dr. Stern was away for a semester and his grad student taught the course. Forty years later I still use this book as a reference. I just ordered the 3rd edition published in 1973 for an "update". This book is a real classic and would get anyone interested in human genetics with its photos and pedigrees.

Gita Kaufman used to be my Kindergarten teacher and Rajesh was a student in my sister's kindergarten class 3 years prior to mine. This true story about a little boy's struggle to fit in with the other kids at school despite his prosthetic legs never fails to touch my heart even when I read it now -- 15 years later.

The Record-Setting Trips: By Auto From Coast To Coast, 1909-1916 by automotive history expert Curt McConnell is a lavishly illustrated history of the dawn of cross-continental automotive travel by the general public. This was an era in which cross-country expeditions were made simply to prove that they could be done -- and to persuade the American public that the automobile was a safe, effective, and desirable form of transportation. Few roads connected even the major cities, and those that existed were often snow-clogged in winter, mud-bogged in spring, and deeply rutted the rest of the year. The Record-Setting Trips is a welcome contribution to Automotive History and American History reference collections. Also very highly recommended is Curt McConnell's previous book, Coast-To Coast By Automobile: The Pioneering Trips, 1899-1908 (0804733805, $...).

Although I was familiar with Alice Ramsey's 1909 trip, I was pleasantly surprised at the detail of the notes regarding Alice's and the other ladies' trips. For the serious researcher these notes are indispensable! Although I was not so familiar with the other ladies save Blanche Stuart Scott, Mr. McConnel provides much insight into their travels and is able to make a research book as enjoyable as an adventure novel. Blanch made her way into San Diego and garnered several paragraphs in 2 issues of the San Diego Motor News. One thing Mr. McConnel overlooked, according to the Motor News, Blanche's trip had been free of serious accidents until she reached the seaside town of Pacific Beach. "The accident, the first and only serious one, occurred at Pacific Beach, was due to a bit of careless driving when any thought of care had been banished from her mind." Since the author of this article was a salesman and soon to be owner of the Willys dealership in San Diego, he is excused, I guess, from giving us more details. Mr. McConnel makes it prefectly clear throughout this book that "company men" were less than forthright when describing the exploits of their female drivers (even my favorite, Alice Ramsey). I was annoyed however to learn of Willys-Overland's and Blanche's attempts to ignore Alice's trip. All in all a fine book, carefully (as far as I can determine) researched and certainly entertainly written. Michael Miller, Education Director, San Diego Automotive Museum

This is the first book I have read in a long while that literally had me laughing out loud! My husband can hardly wait to read it, after listening to me giggling and laughing loudly until tears came to my eyes. This book is only 96 pages, but it is filled with hilarious slap stick humor, based on believable everyday experiences!

You can't help but visualize the events as you read them. Curt Brummett is a true story teller. If you want a real laugh, read this book.

I'm disappointed that his other books are out of print, as I was looking forward to obtaining them to have a few more laughs!

Please write more!!!

Curt Colbert displays a very unique writing style. Even though his principle character, Jake Rossiter often speaks with short cliches - he thinks vividly with a much higher language. It is apparent that Jake is a highly self-educated man but is more comfortable while dealing with people in the language of his youth.
Sayonaraville is an outstanding tale that transcends the story line. It displays a softness in Rossiter's character that was not evident in "Rat City". Jake Rossiter has grown. He even manages to put aside the prejudice developed while fighting in the Pacific at the end.
One has to wonder about the influence on him from Miss Jenkins. Curt Colbert teases us with a developing relationship between Miss Jenkins and Jake. She has gone from his girl "Friday" to his partner. And was that just a hint of jealosy that I detected when other men paid attention to her? It will be very interesting to see where this relationship is going to go. In her own way, Miss Jenkins is every bit as tough as Jake.
Sayonaraville is an excellent novel in its own right and it is more than just adequate in backing up Curt's Shamus award nominee "Rat City". I am already waiting to see where Curt takes me next. Curt - don't make me wait so long for your next installment. I need more - now!

Donald D. Thompson

What a great way to spend time with your baby and get back in shape all at once. The book is easy to follow and fun for both you and your baby.