As a grand-daughter in law of a former German POW, I read this book not expecting to finish it feeling any differently. I was amazed at how close the author's account was like my Paw Paw's. I can only say that through the eyes and words of the authors, I learned to be more grateful to all the servicemen of WWII for ensuring mine and my daughter's freedom. Hats off to Edwin and Mary Suominen, for their courage and bravery in writing the memoirs have changed my life forever. And a special THANK YOU to great men like my Paw Paw for all they did!

This book is so well written and is so down to earth. I enjoyed it from the very first page. For me, it was a glimpse into my families history. Edwin is a "second uncle" to me and I now have a new-found respect for him and all war veterans!!

For anyone who wants to understand Destroyer sailors and their lives,this is the book to read. For those who have served in the Tin Can Navy, this is the book to read. It will bring back a flood of memories of their own duties in Destroyers. During the Korean War I was CO USS Walke DD723 and we were often in company with the Bole. She was a fine ship, and these are fine sea stories.

I wish to thank the author twice for publishing the personal accounts of former USS John A. Bole crew members. First - Thanks, because I thoroughly enjoyed reading his selection of crew experiences. Secondly - Thanks, because for years I have been wanting to compile and publish anecdotes of USS Lyman K. Swenson (DD729) crew members' accounts of their shipboard life .... now Mr. Alexander has, essentially, done that for us. Except for a difference of names (and lacking a DD729 first-hand Inchon "Sitting Ducks" account), I felt I was reading the exploits of my own ship. It brings back memories of many similar experiences during my years aboard a U.S. Navy destroyer. I recommend the book to all current and former U.S. Navy men, their wives, and sweethearts, and especially all "Tin Can Sailors". I look forward to Mr. Alexander's next book.

The word images Edwin Rolf uses in his book "Vice Verses" literally jump off the pages. Having grown up also in the "midst of cornfields," I can still smell the aroma of cooking ketchup from the crates of tomatoes spilt along the country road on the way to the ketchup factory. The feeling of eager anticipation of the Saturday matinee cartoons at the LaFrance Theater and "Friday nights in autumn" the rigid inspection for band members for straight ties, starched spats and white gloves. "Sitting in the stands, Cheering for the home team, Stomping with the fans..." are just a few personal reflections. This book represents not only to me, but also for everyone a portrait of memoir, humanity and existence

If you came of age in the midwest in the 1950's; if you are a fan of Big 10 football; if you know someone in a 12 step program; you're sure to enjoy this first book of verse by the author with shades of Ogden Nash.

Superb value for money, and loaded with useful, practical detail. Beyond the poetry itself and the clear, concise translations, Cranston includes biographical details on the contributors to the Manyoshu, speculations on doubtful provenances (how come we have Hitomaro's last words when he describes dying alone...?)and bilingual versions of every poem. The book also contains a handy line-index, which is a god-send to harrassed translators trying to work out exactly what and who someone is quoting at them. Should be on every literary translator's reference shelf.

It is very thorough. I got it because I want to study the structure of Waka, choka, and tanka. The book's format is more like a textbook than just straight poetry. It's also huge. I will use it as a resource and will end up reading the whole thing over the next several years.

I don't think I can improve on the e-mail I sent to friends and family as soon as I finished the book..... 'I just finished a book called "A War of the People" by Jane's good friend Jeff Marshall. It is a collection of letters from (and to) Civil War soldiers from Vermont. I can't say enough about this book. I feel as if I've just read a great novel, and yet it's all true. Jeff has done a brilliant job of choosing the letters, and many of the letter-writers reappear, as you're taken through the course of the war. The most emotionally wrenching aspect is that Jeff includes a brief but pithy biography of each soldier at the back of the book, listed alphabetically, so that after reading a letter, you can look up the soldier to find that he lived until 1915 and was "wounded ... at Savage Station , June 29, 1862. ... Mustered out June 19, 1865. Returned to Concord and became a farmer. Married Eliza E. Hale (to whom some of his letters are addressed) in 1867." Or that he was "Killed in action at Cedar Creek, October 19, 1864." I found myself biting my nails reading the letters, barely able to keep from turning to the bios in mid-letter to see if the soldier survived the war. These soldiers, most of whom were farm boys, were eloquent nonetheless. I guess you can tell I really, really loved this book, and I highly recommend it. (Jane's family: you know Jeff and may have already read the book, so please forgive my literary euphoria. I just finished it and went right to the computer.) Tom'

University Press of New England asked me to review Jeff Marshall's new book, "A War of the People: Vermont Civil War Letters." In the words of Private William Daniels, of Barton, one of the letters included in the book, "I will respond simply." WOW!

Over 140 letters to and from 78 soldiers, from practically every unit Vermont fielded during the course of the war! Letters from all theaters of the war, covering every period of time from the Spring of 1861 to the Spring of 1865! You'll find a governor (or at least his wife), a general or two and some Colonels. But for the most part you'll find common soldiers, their fathers and mothers, their brothers and sisters, their friends. Don't expect these letters to divulge some great heretofore unsolved mystery about the war. These letters aren't about the war; they are about life, about the people, and Jeff has done a great job collecting just the right letters to show the whole gamut of emotions and attitudes the soldiers and their families expressed, and the joy and concerns and pain they endured during the course of the war.

I usually have a hard time carefully reading the introduction and commentary in a book of letters (I want to get to the letters!), but Jeff does a great job of explaining the rationale behind the soldiers' reasons for writing, and has given accurate and relevant background for each season of the war. Its a great read! I hope this is the first of a number of books like it.

With all the books published on the Civil War, it's hard to
find something NEW, but this book brings to light a collection of soldiers' letters unpublished since the Civil War. Not only are the letters themselves new and fresh to
Civil War scholars and enthusiasts, but Bill Styple has done
an excellent job of editing them. The Civil War is presented
in a new light. One of the best Civil War books in many years; if you like to read about the Civil War, buy this book!

This book is a great addition to the serious Civil War reader's library. Being able to read the battle descriptions, thoughts and feelings of those who actually participated in the war is always enlightening, bringing the reader a different reality than that of the historian who writes about the Civil War with the benefit of hindsight and without the benefit of personal experience. The compilation of letters in this book - in chronological and logical order - brings alive the crucial battles in the Eastern theatre of the Civil War. The only slight deficiency is that very few letters from the Eastern soldiers fighting in Western armies are included. My suggestion: have this book at hand and read what the soldiers had to say about a specific event or battle immediately after reading narrative descriptions of the same event or battle by today's leading historians, for a complete view. Overall, a wonderful book and highly recommendable to the "advanced" Civil War reader.

This book depicts the many hardships and sacrifices of early American western exploration from Stephen Long and his associates during their 1819-1820 expedition to the Rocky Mountains. Although heavily criticized at the time for not completely fullfilling their expectations, the overall information gathered was considerable. From geography, botany, zoology and geology, to Indian customs and cultures, their individual scientific publications speak for themselves. This is not a book about hostile Indian battles, numerous attacks by grizzlies, etc. which are somewhat expected of journals and narratives of this era. Rather, this is how these men described the various landforms, animals, plants and Native Americans that they encountered while suffering from thirst, hunger, fatigue, fever and climate. It is truly an engrossing book and the writing is very descriptive of how the American west was before westward expansion set in.

What is acting out? Is an mental illness

Africa & Africans In Antiquity is a fascinating and informative compilation of ten scholarly essays surveying and showcasing historical research and archaeology currently underway in Egypt, North Africa, the Sudan, and the horn of Africa. The contributors take issue with Afrocentric scholars with regard to the racial makeup of the Egyptian populations of antiquity. What emerges is the picture of a region that was an ethnic and cultural mosaic populated by Phoenicians, Berbers, Greeks, Egyptians, and Nubians. Africa & Africans In Antiquity is an impressive and very highly recommended contribution to Egyptology, archaeology, and antiquarian studies.

The intriguing title is enough to entice the reader to want to explore this book. Edwin Silver delivers much more, he is a storyteller. Against the background of Nazi Germany, before and during World War II, he tells of an accomplished professional, bitterly against the Nazi regime, who is hopelessly pulled into its machincations. How he copes with an escalating involvement with the Nazis at their highest levels, and being forced to be connected with their most heartless and immoral acts, holds one's attention through a long and satisfying book.

The characters are easily accepted as ones that could have been trapped into the situations described. The moral dilemmas they face are ones that could have happened and force readers to ask how they would have handled such situations.

This is a book deserving a wide readership and those taking the opportunity to read it will be well rewarded.