Thank you Grandad, your legacy is a good one. This book has become everything and more than you hoped. I am so glad your memories were preserved in this book. Thanks for being my hero. -Micah McGuire-

Hadley has captured the recollections of Fifteenth Air Force crewman Melvin McGuire and molded them into a memoir with rare power. Bloody Skies should go down as one of the best memoirs produced concerning the World War II airwar.

The reader gets a great look at the daily life of a B-17 crewman. We learn the way in which he lived with death on a daily basis. WARNING: This book is impossible to put down when it gets going.

The book is also a great contribution to the memory of the Fifteenth Air Force. Having been usually overshadowed by the Eighth Air Force, the Fifteenth was stationed in North Africa-Italy, and bombed strategic targets throughout the underbelly of Europe. The Fifteenth absored horrible casulties while bombing infamous targets including Ploesti, Steyr, and Vienna. McGuire and his fellow airmen lived in cruder and more inhospitable conditions than the England-based Eighth.

I have been a B-17 enthusiast since I can remember, and I have had the priveledge of talking with a few pilots as well as touring many of the remaining aircraft; but until I read Bloody Skies, I had never accurately understood what it took to complete a bombing mission over Europe in the height of WWII. Mr. McGuire, through his amazing memory in concert with massive amounts of research and actual written documentation brings the reader as close an anyone could ever hope to become to his war. If you are looking for a thrilling book, that blends raw emotion with factual documentation this is your book. I will never forget Mr. McGuire, his crew, and their sacrifice from this day forward.

The Americans is perhaps the most influential photography book published in the last 40 years. Swiss-born Robert Frank's images must have seemed completely revolutionary and startling when published in 1958. Frank used his camera to cut through the facade of a country that was beginning to build up its crust of macadam and marketing. Frank shot with available light using film that would be considered very slow by today's standards, yet his images, while many have visible grain, are gorgeous and have a full range of tones. To describe the images themselves is fruitless. Buy the book

What can one say about a classic? Is it possible to review Beethoven's Ninth? Faulker's "As I Lay Dying"? No. This is arguably the book that most influenced almost all the subsequent generations of photographers. Frank looked at the world with a fresh viewpoint and his photographs were a slap in the face. It's impossible to put ourselves in the world of photography that preceded this book because Frank has changed our prespectives so drastically.

In 1955, Swiss photographer Robert Frank traveled around the United States on a Guggenheim Fellowship. The images he created were published first in France in 1958, and then the following year in America. Highly controversial in its day, "The Americans" gave us a much needed outsiders view of who we are as a people.

Frank is an incredibly skilled image maker, able communicate on many different levels with a single image. Jack Kerouac is the perfect person to write the intro to this book. Both artists worked in a similar way, using travel, speed and chance to communicate fleeting, yet deep, feelings about our complex culture.

Perfectly enjoyable by anyone with an interest in American culture, but essential for those practicing documentary photography.

This book is the second volume in the Library of America set on American crime noir. I enjoyed the first volume so much that I decided to read the second one during Christmas break. Once again, the LOA has done a nice job of collecting a fine series of stories. These stories were written during the 1950's and 1960's. The book is nice to look at too; it's covered in red cloth with a cloth bookmark.

The first story is from the demented mind of Jim Thompson. This story, called The Killer Inside Me, is much better than The Grifters, a book by Thompson that I read some time ago. The Grifters seemed to be pretty one-dimensional with respect to its characters. This story is the exact opposite. A deputy sheriff in a Texas city has a terrible secret. He plays dumb on the outside, but inside he is a cunning sociopath. A long simmering resentment leads to a terrible revenge. Bodies quickly stack up as a result. This seems to be the story that Thompson is best known for and it's no surprise why. This is a dark, twisted tale with a grim ending.

Patricia Highsmith wrote a whole series of stories concerning Tom Ripley. The one included here is The Talented Mr. Ripley, probably better known due to the recent film with Matt Damon. This tale isn't as noir as I would have liked, but it still has enough twists and turns to keep anybody in suspense. Ripley is a low class conniver who ingratiates himself into a wealthy family who wants him to go to Italy and bring back their son. Ripley sees the potential for bucks and meets up with the kid and his lady friend. Of course, things take a turn for the worse and the bodies start stacking up. This story was probably my least favorite out of the entire collection.

The next story, Pick-Up, by Charles Willeford, is a depressing tale about two alcoholics who go bump in the night. The story follows the adventures of this alcoholic couple as they attempt suicide, check themselves into a mental hospital, and drink themselves into a stupor. After the female half of the couple dies in another suicide pact, the story switches to a prison tale. The end is somewhat of a twist, but really doesn't impact the story that much, in my opinion. Again, not really noir as noir can be, but still a fine story that can stand by itself.

Down There, by David Goodis, is a wild ride of a tale. Full of suspense and death, this is a great story that deserves to be included here. A family of ne'er-do-wells drags their talented piano-playing brother into their personal problems. The background information on Eddie, the piano player, is phenomenal. The tragedy that has struck him once is bound to repeat itself again. This story has great bit characters that really liven up the background.

The final story, by Chester Himes, is The Real Cool Killers. This is noir on acid: pornographic violence, massive doses of grim reality, and characters you're glad to see get killed. The story is set in Harlem and involves two tough cops named Grave Digger Jones and Coffin Ed Johnson. Someone kills a white guy in Harlem and the cops try and track them down. This story contains one of the funniest descriptions of a person falling off a balcony that I've ever read (and I've read a few, disturbingly enough). The writing has enough similes and metaphors to give Raymond Chandler an apoplectic fit. A cool story that certainly deserves a place in this book.

If you like noir, read these two LOA novels. They are long (together they're almost 2000 pages) but it is definitely worth the effort. These kinds of stories are just a great way to while away some free time and relieve stress.

I gave it 5 stars based on the collection as a whole, rather than each story individually. I enjoyed all of the stories, in that they were a good representation of the genre as a whole, yet they were all stylistically different.

Individually, I would rate the stories in pretty much the order they appear in the book. "The Killer Inside Me" is the most powerful, in my opinion, and is a great indroduction to Jim Thompson if you haven't read his work previously. "The Talented Mr. Ripley" is also excellent, and is a must read for any fan of crime fiction. What I found more interesting was the contrast between the protagonists in the first two novels. Both are cold-hearted killers, but you couldn't find two more different voices. Its a tribute to both Mr. Thompson and Ms. Highsmith that you actually root for these people to get away with their crimes.

The other three novels are good, but they pale in comparison to the first two. "Pick-up" is a good study in a relationship between two alcoholics who know they are alcoholics and are okay with it. It takes awhile for the crime to be committed, but its an interesting journey. I didn't care for the twist ending, but that's just me. "Down There" was interesting to read, if only because it was the basis for a great movie. "The Real Cool Killers" was the only story of the five that I had trouble getting through. I think that was because I didn't really care (or even really believe) that A) a group of street punks would dress in the manner they were described in, or that B) a pair of street detectives would be as violent, feared, and given such free reign as the ones in this novel.

All in all, a good book to add to your collection, if only for the one-two punch of Thompson and Highsmith (by the way, that would be a great name for a law firm).

I usually don't like genre fiction, but this book is a great collection of "Noir" novels. Film buffs will be particularly interested in reading the novel on which "Shoot the Piano Player" was based, as well as the first "Mr. Ripley" novel (much nastier and darker than the recent film). Most highly recommended.

The combination of this book plus Sunset's Western Garden Book will arm the southern California garden enthusiast with all the tools and experience necessary to give a green thumb's up. A true plant geek will find validation and a friend in Smaus' and will read the book saying "been there, loved that". Activities like hoarding plants bought from the Huntington Garden's May plant sale struck a familiar chord.

A transplant to Southern Cal. will quickly gain the inside track to where to go and what to plant to make the best of this unique climate.

Coming from New England I needed a lot of advice on what to do with the clay soil and arid climate in Southern California. The Sunset Western Garden Book along with this selection is a great combination for those new to gardening in Southern California. (Try the soil amendment recipe, it worked wonders form me!)

Thank You Mr. Smaus ! Finally a book that talks directly to the Southern California gardener. If you live and garden in the So. CA area this is the book you need. Maybe I won't have so many failures in the coming year. This book opened my eyes wide.

On the advice of my PA, I read the book before going on the pump in October 2001 (22 years after my diagnosis with Type I diabetes). The book is written extremely well and provides clear and concise coverage of the almost every aspect of pump therapy. The authors highlight considerations to make before going on the pump, as well as circumstances you will encounter after beginning pump therapy. The book offers explanations and calculations to figure total daily dosages and advice on how to change dosages for exercise, patterns of high and low bg's, etc. The material included in the book is really valuable when you begin working with your doctor, PA, etc, to help you know what questions to ask. I felt like I had more confidence and knowledge in the transition to pump therapy. "Pumping Insulin" helped me to better manage the pump and my diabetes as soon as I walked into the doctor's office for my initial pump appointment. And for those that have already started pumping, the book's a great reference tool to have on hand.

We got this book in late March, 2001, shortly after our then-6 year old son who has Type 1 diabetes started pumping insulin. This reference explains so well how short-acting insulin is used in the body, how to calculate for it during exercise, how to make adjustments to the basal rates....it save our pump trainer many late night calls. It was a lifesaver in helping us get through the insulin pump learning curve faster. Only thing it doesn't handle in-depth enough is "surprise" infusion set changeouts & sensitivity to Humalog. This book helped us understand how to take better care of our son.

This book is the best I have read on pumping, having taken us(my son aged 10 and I) from very little knowledge on the subject, to convincing us it was for him, and to using it as an essential handbook and support tool now he is on the pump. Umlike some other books, it is so easy to read and understand, without having to read and re read it to get the meaning. The tables in it are so useful and much of the information is not easy to find altogether in one place in any other books. As in car repair books, this one is a 'dirty finger' book - you use it as you go along, and can never know more than the book or outgrow it. I have bought several copies for other people now, and everyone has been pleased with it.A must if you have a pump or are thinking about getting one.

Parker has done it again. The book give the reader exellent insight into the wine world of Rhone. Major growers are described in detail, not only covering the wines, but history as well. Later vintages are covered with tasting notes. I will not call it negative, but the book demonstrates Parkers 'tast dictatorship': He either enjoy a wine or not.

Another colossal work by Mr. Parker! As usual, the author concentrates a little more on grading individual wines, producers and vintages than on the background and the general picture. The book is very coherent, easy to refer to, and is packed with useful (and not so useful) information. It explicitly treats every winemaker in the region with specific notes and marks for every conceivable wine and vintage.

As a French and especially a French born in a little town located at 20 kilometers from Chateauneuf-du-Pape, I am really amazed that Mr Parker get to know the wines of my own country so deeply. He really understands their 'spirits' and he is - as no one that I know of - able of explaining them and detailing them in beautiful, and in the mean time, trully informative and practical ways. This Rhone Valley's guide - because I consider this to be a real guide even though it is a shot from one author alone - is really pleasing to read and to use. It is motivating! This is a masterpiece to be highly considered by all wine lovers in the sense that the wines from the Rhone area were - and maybe still are - not very well considered by all wine drinkers. Because Mr Parker, as a well know master taster with a huge knowledge about the wines and wine producers of the Rhone Valley, did write this book, people might now get a better understanding of what these wines are, how they are made, and who is doing them best. Mr Parker loves powerfull wines... (so do I) ...I am not suprised that he wrote such a book about this region because the Wines of the Rhone Valley ARE VERY powerfull - but not all of them. This is what you will learn by reading this book. You will find plenty of details as well as plenty of very good addresses there. This book is definitely THE reference for now. Give it a try. It is worth it. And if you visit the Rhone Valley wine country, bring it along with you or you'll miss most of the fun: tasting the good, the excellent and the exceptionnal. A la votre.

If you really want to understand what "Time" means, you have to read Seth Books & Jane's this one, instead of reading Einstein's or Stephen Hawking's or any of other so-called scientists', to whom I used to belong. In this book you will see in a fictional format the meaning of "Time," which Seth is telling us. Alas, the so-called self-claimed scientists have never officially taken Seth's messages seriously so far. But many writers seem to have gotten Seth & Jane's idea on "Time." In the movie "Kate & Leopold," Kate went "back to her future" to see Leopold in her past. You will understand what this means, only if you read Seth's & Jane's this book. Mind you that the original novel writer seemed to have ingored to make his story commercial what Seth is telling (only to the extent of my understanding): "Even if you managed to go back to your past, people in the past cannot see you." I am sure you can enjoy romantic (not life-killing) SF videos more realistically after reading this book.

The first book of this trilogy (they were originally published as three separate books), "The Education of Oversoul 7" is one of my most favorite books of all time! And if you like the first one then the 2nd and 3rd books are definitely worth reading too.

As a big Seth fan I must admit I haven't paid much attention to the "Jane" books. But one thing makes sense, that one person who should really know what Seth is saying in his works is Jane. In this trilogy I found that I could hardly put the book down during the first book "The Education of Oversoul 7". This story introduces us to Seven, his entity Cyprus and four of Seven's earthly personalities: Lydia, Josef, Proteus and Ma-ah. The story is fascinating and meant to illustrate the interaction between reincarnational selves with each other and their entity or soul. The second book "The Further Education of Oversoul Seven" didn't hold my attention like the first. Two characters returned from the first book: Josef and Lydia. The story is written from the point of view of a new character William. You meet more of Seven's personalities and see the interaction through time with some of the characters and past or future versions of themselves. The material on "The Gods" seemed to drag the story down to a slow crawl. The third book was almost as interesting as the first. In "The Museum of Time" again Seven is interacting with his personalities except in this story he must assume a human body for a period of time. The writing is very good and the characters are interesting. Jane does an excellent job of illustrating some of Seth's concepts in her novels adding illumination in a way that is only possible through fiction.

I have always been greatly impacted by the words and works of Roberts Liardon and this book is no exception. I've actually heard him preach on this series before, but reading it straight from the book is a definite different experience. He makes each unique individual come alive with fire and passion. This book will open the eyes of many to catch a glimpse of the awe-inspiring lives of men and women who once lived so very closely to the Most High God!

I really enjoyed this book. It was a blessing to me and I learned a lot from it. I especially enjoyed reading about: Smith Wigglesworth, Jack Coe, Amy Mchperson, A.A. Allen, Kathryn Kuhlman and others. Roberts is an anointed man of God and it shows in his writing. I love to read his books and watch his videos. They are very inspirational! If you haven't read this book, READ IT! It will help change your life!

(I've already reviewed this on October 16,1999, but since then I've changed my email address) First off, I'd like to say that Pastor Roberts Liardon is a man of God. With these men and women that God has called him to write about, he explains their lives, and helps us to look at ourselves more in deph with the spirit realm. Are we walking according to God's standards? Are we operating in the great gifts of the Holy Spirit? Are we showing compassion and love and taking care of our bodies which are the temples of the Holy Ghost? These questions may arrouse you when you read this book, or watch the video series. I encourage any baptized believer in Christ who wants to grow spiritually to read this book! It will help change you life!

This book is about a summer at the beach, but it has a dry writing style "In the evening, when the tide is high again, and all yor guests have gone, you row around to the point, feeling lonely..." It is pretty wordy and my children (5 and 8) did not want a it read a second time - that is very unusual for a new book at our house. Something about the story seems boring. I would pass on this one.

Robert McCloskey's "Time of Wonder" is just that--an examination of a wondrous summer spent in Maine. He follows two sisters (and nominally, their parents and friends) as they spend their days sailing, swimming, battening down for a big storm, and so on. Nothing of great import happens, but McCloskey has a lovely, calming way of relating their story so that we feel the sisters' closeness, their connection to their environment, and their childlike ability to find beauty and interest in nearly everything.

McCloskey's book was first published in 1957, and the illustrations show this--no life vests in a lot of the boating pictures, children swimming without being watched over by a lifeguard or adult, and so on. Still, that's not a bad thing--it shows the protective, exclusionary nature of childhood and the risks children take without even being fully aware that they ARE taking risks.

The illustrations are lovely. These paintings depict Maine as being beautiful without neglecting to show the dangerous side of coastal life as well (witness the storm scenes towards the end of the book). There is a caressing, rhythmic feel to the text which subtly imitates the tidal pull of the ocean. What a perfect gift for anyone who vacations in Maine--or wants to.

I have been a fan of Robert McCloskey books since I was old enough to remember (which was quite so time ago) and I only recently discovered this book. I think I have all of his other books and have read them over and over again through life, finally passing them on to my own daughter.

This is no less of a joy to read than any of the other books written by Robert McCloskey. If anything, it seems almost more lyrical and more developed than his early books.

One item of particluar note is that the illustrations are in color, as opposed to the single color or black and white of his other works. It is wonderful to watch the progress of his art through the various books, ending with the beautiful art in this title.

This is a book every child should have, and will keep, hopefully, until it is time to hand it on!