Arnold Adoff captures the essence of being a fumbling, embarassed teenager through his poems. Love, drugs, and school are just a few of the topics covered in the many uniquely formed poems. Adoff, who writes successfully from many perspectives, can bring you back to your youth or identify with a young person today with "Slow Dance: Heart Break Blues."

Following a search the author conducted over a period years provided great interest for me. Linking his family bible to the past in Germany and America was very exciting. I especially liked the way he connected the history of the times with the history of his family. It allows the reader to connect whith the quest and take part in the authors journey.

I enjoyed reading History Of A Family Bible, 1685-200: A Quest for the Missing Link, and am please the author has been chosen by the Illinois State Library as a 2002 Illinois Author. I look forward to seeing his exhibit of "The Family Bible" and hearing his presentation at the Illinois Book Fair in Springfield, Illinois.

Mr. O'Malley's words bring to life the stories of this interesting family's experiences. Recomended for anyone interested in geneology or just for great writing.

Around the state of Washington, and practically everywhere else, Frances Farmer seemed to a person practically no one was willing to discuss, or so author William Arnold claims. But why? Whatever happened to this radiant screen beauty who had once been teamed with talents such as Cary Grant and Tyrone Power? Why had so many claimed that she had suddenly "gone crazy" with no apparent explaination, and why did she suddenly seem to just disappear? In "Shadowland",William Arnold tries to unravel the tragic and poignant mystery behind the life and death of motion picture star Frances Farmer. Beginning with her beautifully written essay about an etremely conroversial subject, the death of God, Frances Farmer became no stranger to unwanted trouble. Furthermore, it seemed that every attempt made to free herself- failed. Lilian V. Farmer, a clinging, demanding and stern woman in devout oppostion to Communism, became enraged when she found that her impressionable sixteen year old daughter had won an all expense paid trip to Russia for her beautifully written and poignant essay. To the passionet and level-headed Frances, it was the opportunity to do what she'd always wanted- to travel through another country and study the beautiful artwork and the elaborate theatrical performances. To her mother, it was raging paranoia. "Shadowland" is William Arnold's account of what he discovered in his search for the real truth behind this incredibly complicated story. He explores the the question of the truth behind the tell-all autobiography released after her death. Why was it that she claimed she could not recall whole years of her life, and just how horrific were the conditions in the hospitals she was confined to? Though this book is primarily about motion pictures and theater, it is unique in that it is also a detailed study in the the attitudes and stereotypes that have accompanied mental illness and a shocking look into past treatments and diagnoses (or mis-diagnoses as the case may be). I was glad to have read this book merely because of the author's interest in a seemingly forgotten subject, and I would strongly recomend the autobiographical book, "Will There Really Be A Morning?" By Frances Farmer. Read them both and compare!

This book should be on the MUST READ list of all students in any branch of the human service field. Although blunt at times it remains factual through-out. The author was good about letting fact speak for itself and not falling prey to the "want" to embellish in order to make a great drama. You start out thinking that the events of Frances Farmer's life could never happen - at least not with the ease at which they did. And they centainly could not continue. The book answers many questions. But they may not be what you expect.
I am not one who reads often but I had a hard time staying away from this one. If you are one who has a hard time concentrating for long periods of time you can stop anywhere and pick up the book again; you do not need to wait until the end of a chapter. I have not seen the move that was made from the book called "Frances", which I understand is quite good also, and I am not sure I would want to take the chance on spoiling an excellent book.

I read this book having first read the powerful book (please read this book), "Will There Really Be A Morning?". A lot of the questions I was left with following my completion of that book were answered by reading "Shadowland" and I think it is a well-written book that is worth the time to find and read. Frances Farmer's story is tragic and thought-provoking and Arnold's book gives a comprehensive look at Frances triumphs and tragedies. I would recommend reading "Will There Really Be A Morning?" by Frances Farmer (partially) (both books are easy to find on Ebay) before reading this book. It will make the story more interesting and easier to follow.

Wonderful book if your interested at all in either the oregon trail time period or exotic foods. A simply must have book. Very interesting information.

Good read for those interested in how their ancestors ate -- especially if it is known one of them was among those who went west using this paticular route. Highly recommended.

And so "education" should be, one of many great, though by no means unique, insights into the mind of mankind in W.E.B. Dubois's "Souls of Black Folk." I read this book after reading both the "Autobiography of Malcolm X" as well as Foner's "The Black Panther's Speak." Both of these books make allusion to Dubois, and in reading "Souls" I better understand the ideas and programs of Malcolm, Huey and Eldridge, their desire to be granted the same rights and privileges as all American citizens, and, where the white man continued to disallow it, their taking them "by any means necessary."

Admittedly, I have very little experience with African-American culture. "The Souls of Black Folk" I think helps bridge this gap by exploring the history - economic, social and political - and pyschology of the African-American. I came away with a much better understanding of organizations like the Freeman's Relief Association, men like Booker T. Washington, African-American Christianity and, to a small extent, the psyche of the black man in America, at least its historical antecedents, up until the early 1900s.

I have read reviews dismissing Dubois's work as outdated, especially after the '60s and the civil rights movement. Perhaps it is, though, again, I don't feel I know enough about African-American culture in our day to be able to say either way. Having said that, I am much better acquainted with other socially and economically constructed "niggers" of our world, both domestically and internationally, and in that regard I think Dubois's "Souls of Black Folk" is still very much applicable, in fact a complementary resource from which to glean insight into contemporary politics and economics. Perhaps, hopefully, there will one day be no more "niggers" on American soil. But, unfortunately, there will always be "niggers" in this world, and Dubois's lectures on removing "the great problem of the 20th century - the color line" are as important today as they were 100 years ago.

From "Of the Sons of Master and Man":
In any land, in any country under modern free competition, to lay any class of weak and despised people, be they white, black or blue, at the political mercy of their stronger, richer and more resourceful fellows, is a temptation which human nature seldom has withstood and seldom will withstand.

Perhaps basic, perhaps something one has heard numerous times, but the fact that this citation and many, many others like it to be found in "The Souls of Black Folk" were written 100 years before guys like Ralph Nader and Howard Zinn were selling hundreds of thousands of books based on a slightly different spin of the same argument is at least relevant, if not impressive.

Dubois was no racist, as any of the rest of the aforementioned group weren't either. If anything (and perhaps in this time this is a politically incorrect term) he was a classist, and merely argued for the assimilation of the black man into the society that did not understand their mutual dependence. Reading the book did not produce "white guilt" or anything the David Horwitzes of the world would like to convince me is happening to me. It provided me with a greater understanding and respect for people I daily ride the metro with, work with, am an American citizen WITH.

At the end of the century, in a few months there will be much debate about the person of the century, the writer of the century, the actor of the century and so on. This book, this writing should put DuBois at the very least in the top five ranking of the most important writer and thinker of the twentieth century. He is as far as I am concerned the Black Nostradamus. He forsaw what has been happening in recent years with the increase of hate crimes and mass acts of violence and oppression against the colored masses of the United States and the world. DuBois like no other from his time captures the spirit of the America Black and he allows his reader to read and to understand what has caused the Black consciousness to be in the state of disaster that it was in and is in in some aspects. He is a great writer and this book should be required reading in every American Literature and Black Literature class in every high school and college in this country. This is an important work not only for Blacks to read but whites as well. Well written and well received is all that I can say about this book. GREAT!!!!!

The Souls of Black Folks, as other reviewers have pointed out, is a masterpiece of African-American thought. But it is even more than that when we consider the context and time in which the book was written. Most of what DuBois discusses is still relevant today, and this is a tribute to the man, not only as a scholar, but as someone who was continually adapting his views in the best image and interests of black people.

Some reviewers refer to DuBois as "the Black Emerson" and, as a university instructor, I heard similar references made: 'the Black Dewey" or "the Black Park," referring to the Chicago School scholars. Du Bois was brilliant; indeed, these white men should be being called "the white Du Bois"! Du Bois literally created the scientific method of observation and qualitative research. With the junk being put out today in the name of "dissertations," simply re-read Du Bois' work on the Suppression of the African Slave Trade and his work on the Philadelphia Negro and it is clear that he needs not be compared to any white man of his time or any other: he was a renaissance man who cared about his people and, unlike too many of the scholars of day, he didn't just talk the talk or write the trite; he walked the walk and organized the unorganizable.

White racism suffered because Du Bois raised the consciousness of the black masses. But he did more than that; by renouncing his American citizenship and moving to Ghana, he proved that Pan Africanism is not just something to preach or write about (ala Molefi Asante, Tony Martin, Jeffries and other Africanists); it is a way of life, both a means and an end. Du Bois organized the first ever Pan African Congress and, in doing so, set the stage for Afrocentricity, Black Studies and the Bandung Conference which would be held in 1954 in Bandung, Indonesia. Du Bois not only affected people in this country, he was a true internationalist.

Souls of Black Folk is an important narrative that predates critical race theory. It is an important reading, which predates formal Black Studies. The book calls for elevation of black people by empowering black communities -- today's leadership is so starved for acceptance that I believe that Karenga was correct when he says that these kind of people "often doubt their own humanity."

The book should be read by all.

The Norton Anthology of American literature is a great collection of the most prominent and prolific authors in this young nation's history. The Anthology covers the development of authors in the new world, from the early native American folk tales to the works of Toni Morrison and Allen Ginsberg. The anthology spans poetry and prose and gives the reader a great cross sectional view of American society and its problems. The presence of Native American, Black and Hispanic authors presents a complete line up of works of literature, presented in a pleasant chronological order and introduced by a brief and interesting description of the author's life and works. The introductory description of each author facilitates the contextual placement of the text and its comprehension. The anthology contains several novels such as "Howl", "Sula" and "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn". The presence of these complete works makes the anthology more complete, as they are an important part of the American literary tradition. The selection of authors and of their works is a good one, but presents some flaws. Obviously not being able to include all relevant authors in the American literary tradition, the editors selected a large number of authors, and their most important works. Nonetheless several important texts seem to be missing. Texts by less prolific authors, such as the great new classic "To kill a mockingbird" are missing. Although the anthology gives the reader an introduction on the author and his works it does not stimulate sufficiently through interesting points to be discussed and questions which shed light on hidden or obscure aspects of the texts. The anthology is a great tool for any class, or for the passionate reader. It is ideal if accompanied by a class or group/club in which the texts are discussed.

The Norton anthology is the definitive collection of American literature. Its selections range from the letters of Christopher Columbus to quintessential American works like Whitman's "Song of Myself" and inherently American movements such as beat poetry. The collection offers a wide spread selection of works, some of which fall outside of your typical definition of "literature." All, however, have been important parts of our artistic tradition and provide literary examples of the coming of age of America. Literature has truly helped to define the American identity. This book is a history lesson, a journey through some of the most beautiful poetry and prose ever written and a testament to the kind of intelligent, passionate people that have formed our country.

To anyone seeking an encompassing overview of American literature, here is your book. This, the latest edition of the Norton Anthology, not only makes for months of good reading but also acts as a good primer for further pursuits in American letters (academic and otherwise.) Besides the countless number of excellent selections, eleven works appear in their entirety. Among them, Twain's Huckleberry Finn, Whitman's "Song of Myself," and Ginsburg's "Howl."

The anthology also contains several new additions - most notably an intriguing section of Native American trickster tales that provides an interesting counter to Chris Columbus' over-zealous ramblings. As for more contemporary writing, I was pleasantly surprised at the number of deserving writers and poets newly anthologized in this revision: Toni Morrison, Raymond Carver, and Sandra Cisneros just to name a few.

Yet what makes this anthology truly successful is the breadth and depth of the text as a whole. The selections, the organization, the well-written bits of biographical information... IT ALL FITS PERFECTLY! No doubt other readers will find this anthology as informative, provocative and enjoyable as I do. A definite keeper for my permanent collection.

"American Country Houses of the Gilded Age" reprints 100 photographs from "Artistic Country-Seats," a book originally published in 1886-87 with commentary by George William Sheldon. This new version of the collection replaces Sheldon's original comments with those of Arnold Lewis. But the real "stars" of the book are the 93 houses and four casinos portrayed in the excellent black-and white photos.

These houses represent some of the most stunning mansions of the late 19th century. Most of these buildings were built in the northeastern United States. Each plate is accompanied by both Lewis' comments and by a first floor plan.

The houses themselves represent many of the popular styles of the era: Tudor, "Shingle," Queen Anne, Chateauesque, Richardsonian Romanesque, Colonial Revival, and Exotic Revival. The crisp photography captures a wealth of beautiful details: covered verandas, stone arches, classical pillars, towers, pinnacles, parapets, half-timbering, castellations, fanciful dormers, and intricate decorative flourishes.

The only disappointing aspect to the book is the fact that only the first floor plans are included. Plans for the other floors would have increased the book's value as a record of social history. Nevertheless, the detailed first floor plans do offer fascinating insights into the lives of the wealthy families of the "Gilded Age." You can imagine yourself wandering through the billiard room or music room of your favorite mansion! If you are fascinated by American home architecture, or if you simply want a taste of this opulent era, you will love this book.

This book let's readers see how the wealthiest people in America lived back in the late 1800's. The floor plans are, although small, completely readable. I do wish the author would have included the floor plans for the second, third, etc. floors. Great photographs and good desrciptions of the homes.

This book features period pictures and information about some of the most amazing houses to be built it the US. It is wonderful to think houses of such detail and quality were built, and so sad to learn how many of them did not survive. This book is a wonderful tribute to them.

Edwards advances the idea that in every snapshot of human life, we make decisions in accordance with our nature and disposition. Free will is compatabilist in that we have no autonomy other than to follow our greatest desire in any given instance. Not only does this exposition rule out the chance for true virtue--some good thing we do which we might not have done--but Edwards also has a hard time explaining how God is not the author if evil, given that human decisions are consistently determined according to a divine decree.

This is truly one of the greatest works written. Daniel Webster wrote: "The Freedom of the Will" by Mr. Edwards is the greatest achievement of the human intellect." The London Quarterly Review wrote about this work: "His gigantic specimen of theological argument is as near to perfection as we may expect any human composition to approach. He unites the sharpness of the scimetar [sic] and the strength of the battle-axe." A former President of Princeton said that Edwards was "The greatest thinker that America has produced."

This wonderful work is a good tool in learning of the greatness of Christ's grace, in overcoming our minds and hearts, and loving us to the uttermost. This should be in the library of every Christian family.

Yet another masturbatory spewage of Buckely-speak, from the master himself. The epicone of lexicography edifies the masses with his pertile locution and pharyngious spoofery. His allusory bon chagres' are of such wide aperture, that one is transported from the hallowed pinoches of Plantagenet to the cognivible black slates of Hedbonshire in a mere hemock flutter. How I miss the camamorphic absience' of the master's wild, glaring eyes and inhirsute stammering.

When it comes to the English language William F. Buckley is an epicurean extraordinaire and "The Lexicon" is a must for any committed logophile. Still a few caveats must be undulated

Some of the words included are as quizzical as some of those that are omitted. Alphabetically, the reference runs from "abattoir" to "xenophobia"--which seems a strange place to stop. Why there is no inclusion of "yokefellow" or "yaw" nor "zaftig" or "zeitgeist" is enigmatic at best. A second anomaly is that certain definitions differ from what is found my copy of "Webster's Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary." Mr. Buckley identifies "promulgate" as "to issue a new law or regulation;" Webster's definition says "to make known by open declaration...(or) to set forth or teach publicly." For "synecdoche" Mr. Buckley offers "the single example in place of the whole; the one for the many." Webster is more encompassing with "a figure of speech in which the part is used for the whole or the whole for a part." Webster's says that "kedge" means "to wrap or pull...(or) a small anchor," while Buckley's related but contrasting explanation reads "to anchor securely." As with ALL vocabulary sources, check the definition in a dictionary before using the word!

While not terribly detrimental Mr. Buckley pleonastically includes more than one form of several words. The use of both "intrinsic" and "intrinsically," "mollify" and mollifying," "invidious" and "invidiously," "stultification and stultifying" among many other double versions comes across as a rebarbative padding device--completely unnecessary in a collection this tumescent.

While the incorporation of words such as "salient," "levity," "obtrude," "junket" and a handful of other less than exotic choices is debatable, the assumption that some readers will be unacquainted with them is not quixotic. However, selecting "plainspoken" for placement within such a gallimaufry is truly outlandish. It seems highly doubtful that anyone unfamiliar with such a quotidian word would have the need for such an abstruse vocabulary primer.

Despite these minor to moderate drawbacks, this book is unreservedly recommended for those interested in elevating their speaking prowess. For three years I have been operating a "Word of the Day" email service/webpage (sent me a message if you wish to join) and "The Lexicon" boasted a plethora of specimens that I had never before encountered. So while all my above comments are valid, they are nugatory distractions compared to the numinous lagniappes that can be acquired from a perusal or two.

Buckley has fashioned yet another utterly usable list stoppage, badinage of detritus waiting in abeyance for the vagaries of postmodernities force fields to scour through yet another product emanation from an impeccable vainglorious watchdog for the Ruling Classes. The predictable augurs,tail wagging, arbiter elegantiae, his indolence doesn't quite proceed to the corruptible USA Senators. We have provincial sentence examples of humorous references to the rogues gallery of the communist world but his spleen venting abruptly halts itself at the shores of the Potomac. I can see/envisioned Buckley's upbeat brow turned upwards,ad spasmistaie towards the heavens,fully content with his own conceit, his odious animus against all that doesn't strike,agree,conspire congruently with capitalistic content,its resonant free world peel of greed bells.

I'm a die-hard Frances Farmer fan. In my opinion, she was the most beautiful actress in the history of Hollywood. I know much about her life, so when I read this "biography" by William Arnold, a "journalist", I was surprised by the errors he had made. He has her date of birth wrong, for instance. And further into the book he writes falsehoods or half-truths to support his claim that Frances had had a lobotomy. I saw the "This Is Your Life" episode honoring Frances and clips of her hosting her talk show in Indianapolis, and it's clear she did not have the procedure. Readers should be aware that Arnold is a Scientologist and he employed an anti-psychiatry approach to this "biography". One could read between the lines that he's using Frances to discredit the psychiatric establishment. To mask his hidden agenda, he makes FF into a martyr for the individual spirit, victimized by a narrow-minded society.

In truth, Frances was never a victim. She made her decisions and paid for it. It's a mystery (which Arnold never mentions) how she became a star and remained in the film business for so long, after alienating her co-workers (no one from the film industry came to honor her in TIYL) and badmouthing the industry that made her rich and famous. Farmer may not not have deserved the treatment she received in the asylums, but, according to those who knew her, she was mentally ill and those treatments were the standard of her time. Arnold delves into possible government conspiracies against FF, and some of his theories border on the ludicrous--it seems everybody was plotting to destroy Frances. He also claims Frances was raped in the asylum by hundreds of soldiers from a nearby army base, without naming a single source to verify this claim. From reading Shadowland, one leaves with a feeling that perhaps Arnold is mentally ill himself. So read this book for entertainment, not to know Frances Farmer.

I do have some sympathy for Frances Farmer and her being committed to asylums for being insane when she was probably just an "in your face" rebellious young woman or manic depressive or something else that can be treated with medication now. I don't have sympathy for her communism. I find it very interesting that Frances studied drama at the University of Washington, went to Hollywood to become an actress/star, but oh, she hated all that glamour movie star business. She wanted to be a communist, share and share alike. Yeah right. If she hated Hollywood and all it stood for, why did she go there to begin with? Please don't make me laugh and tell me she didn't know how Hollywood was. Hollywood was the dream factory in the 1930s. Stars were worshipped. That was the "golden era" of Hollywood.

Frances had a real rebellious streak. She was born too early. She should have been young in the 1960s. She wouldn't have been committed to an asylum. She would have been going around with Abbie Hoffman, Jerry Rubin, Jane Fonda, you get my drift. Anti-establishment was hip in the 60s, not in the 30s and 40s.

Shadowland by William Arnold is one of the few books available about Frances Farmer. Farmer was an actress in the late 1930s and early 1940s that was institutionalized, and as some believe, this was due to her political beliefs rather than mental illness. Today, Shadowland is still sought after and is somewhat hard to get a hold of, but is a valuable book as it sheds light on a captivating actress and what happened to her.

Shadowland is an attention-grabbing book that is hard to put down and reads quickly. This book is basically an outline of William Arnold's progress as he attempts to solve the mystery of Frances Farmer. Arnold recounts the life of Farmer from various documents and personal interviews of people that claim to have known her. More than half of this book is about Farmer's life before she was institutionalized, and only after 150 pages does it get into her psychiatric involvement.

This book makes a great companion to Farmer's autobiography. Although Arnold does point out information that shows the autobiography may be inaccurate, for the most part, Shadowland does not entirely contradict the autobiography. Shadowland is an important book to read for anyone interested in knowing more about what happened to Frances Farmer.