The introduction and textual notes provide insight into Anne's world. They also give a feel for how well read L.M. Montgomery was. The story is treated respectfuly, and for those who love Anne, one reading will not be enough

This is one of the most outstanding annotated editions of a book I have ever seen. It is packed with interesting, relevant annotations about the world of Anne of Green Gables, as well as LM Montgomery's own life and Prince Edward Island itself.

Due to the nature of the writing in Anne of Green Gables, an annotated edition is especially welcome to fill in the blanks on Canadian politics (What is a "grit?") and social conventions at the time. Reading the annotations increases the pleasure of entering the Anne's world, and that is incredibly important.

Also, of special note and appreciation, many of Anne's favorite obscure poems and readers are included in the back. Finally, you are able to get the whole version of the many quotes that she drops, and see just where she picked up her big words.

The best gift you could get for a true fan of Anne of Green Gables.

I only wish that all of L.M. Montgomery's books were available annotated because she made so many references (literary, political, historical) that seem almost impossible to research these days. I knew I didn't understand many of the references in the book already, but I didn't realize just how many more I only thought I understood!

The editors have thoroughly researched the life and times of L.M. Montgomery. After reading the appendixes in this book I feel much more knowledgeable about L.M. Montgomery, Prince Edward Island and the life of a young girl in a Victorian Canadian villiage.

La Leche League can sometimes have a reputation of harboring zealots, and "The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding" doesn't do much to dispel that reputation. This book, OTOH, is great: accurate, and very approachable. Most breastfeeding mothers won't need this book, and it is quite pricy, but if you work with mothers and babies in any capacity, it's a great book to have. (most mothers could use "So That's What they're For! Breastfeeding Basics" or "The Nursing Mother's Companion", or "The Womanly Art...") Information in this book is very straight-forward, easy to understand, very thorough and very easy to find. I like that. Most pediatricians and family practitioners could benefit from consulting this book on growth, milk supply, the hazards of giving a "relief bottle", and general ability to communicate with mothers.

I have read other books and this by far is the BEST one I have come across. It answers ANY question or concern I may have. I have found the answers I need in a matter of minutes and even when health professionals haven't a clue what to tell me. It has great information about pumping and storing breastmilk, what medications affect/don't affect your breastmilk, and so many other things that have helped me. This book is written like a textbook and instead of saying "you", it refers to you as "the mother." It is very easy reading, and I recommend this to a first time breastfeeder or a mom like myself who has breastfed before but didn't have all the information I needed. The book was very encouraging and interesting!

This book has so much information, yet it's not overwhelming nor is it written in a way that a typical mom couldn't read it and understand it. My copy has been well-used! And since my dream is of becoming a Lactation Consultant, you can bet that it'll be used much more in the future.

Every medical professional involved with childbirth and babies would have a copy of this book in order to help expectant and new mothers with questions. There is too much misinformation and too many wrong answers to our needs. It's because of those wrong answers that so many moms give up on breastfeeding and fall into the "I couldn't do it" trap. That's totally unfair to them and to their babies.

And to expectant parents, yes, it's an expensive book but if you are going to be a nursing family, I would highly recommend this book to you. This book is DEFINITELY the answer book!

This book uncovers the evil machineries of Castro's repressive apparatus. As it unveils the full real story of a 1996 purge against Cuba's top academics, it brings us back to the times of Stalinist terror - but in our century, and in the Western Hemisphere ! The author has managed to get hold of confidential (or secret ?) documents, which no other scholar had been able to acquire. The book offers an excellent and valid academic approach, but it is at the same time a "human story", it is written in a style similar to a novel even though - unfortunately - it is pure reality. It tells the story of human beings living their everyday lives in Castro's Cuba, who have suffered this horrible tragedy, even leading to the death of one of them. It will be pleasant and enjoyable for the average reader, even if she/he is not so informed about the subject.

Even now, almost five years after the tragic purge of 1996 against the academics of the CEA (Centro de Estudios sobre América), the relevance of this book is paramount. To this day, this collection of highly sensitive documents, together with the author's able reconstruction of facts and his analysis, remains one of the best sources to understand intra-élite conflicts in contemporary Cuba. Which is, in turn, the most likely basis for future change towards democracy in the communist island. Every single document and piece of information in this book should be carefully scrutinized, in any attempt to forecast possible 'openings' towards a democratic transition 'from within' the apparatus.

An absolute must for anyone studying Cuba or communism in general. This book provides a fascinating account of the unknown secret struggles within Cuba's political élites. Thanks to classified documents he was able to obtain, this author - a young and promising Oxford and Cambridge graduate - puts us into the picture of the delicate and intricate power games at the regime's peaks. Thrilling throughout all its pages, and very easy to read.

Even though this book is nearly 30 years old, everything it says about the drug problem is still relevant today.

This publication outlined a clear-cut set of recommendations that if adhered to, today's drug problems would have become a long forgotten memory.

This book is a must for the collection.

It's amazing how many of the "facts" that we think
we know about drugs are wrong. It's even more
amazing that we continue to base drug policy on
myths that were disproven as much as a hundred
years ago. It's amazing that we continue to
pursue prohibitionist drug policies that have
never withstood the scrutiny of objective
evaluation. Read this book. You'll be astonished.

As a psychologist working in the field of drug addiction I am constantly dealing with misinformation and propaganda about the dangers (both relative and absolute) of various drugs. Parents who are concerned that their teenage children might be using "dangerous drugs" rather than just getting drunk on the weekends and smoking cigarettes, etc. This book is an outstanding source for historical information about the development of our attitudes towards drugs, the role they play in our society, a straightforward, non-technical presentation of the psychological and biological actions of various drugs, and the effects of our current drug policies. Coupled with "From Chocolate to Morphine" (another must read book) a reader will have a great fund a basic information about drugs and our relationship to them. I only wish this book would be updated and reprinted - though, unfortunately, not nearly enough has changed since this book was first published.

Despite the criticisms levelled at Trollope for his "authorial intrusions" (see Henry James for example) this novel is always a pleasure to read. The characters take precedence over the plot, as in any Trollopian fiction and this is what makes a novel like BARCHESTER more palatable to the modern reader, as compared to any of Dickens's. Some readers may find the ecclesiastical terms confusing at first but with a little help (see the Penguin introduction for example), all becomes clear. What is important, however, is the interaction between the all-too-human characters and in this novel there are plenty of situations to keep you, the reader, amused.

Do yourself a favour and take a trip back into Nineteenth century where technology is just a blink in everyone's eye. What you will discover, however, is that human beings have not really changed, just the conventions have.

I rushed home every day after work to read a little more of this Trollope comedy. The book starts out with the death of a bishop during a change in political power. The new bishop is a puppet to his wife Mrs. Proudie and her protégé Mr. Slope. Along the way we meet outrageous clergymen, a seductive invalid from Italy, and a whole host of delightfully ridiculous characters. Trollope has designed most of these characters to be "over the top". I kept wondering what a film version starring the Monty Python characters would look like. He wrote an equivalent of a soap opera, only it doesn't take place at the "hospital", it takes place with the bishops. Some of the characters you love, some of the characters you hate, and then there are those you love to hate. Trollope speaks to the reader throughout the novel using the mimetic voice, so we feel like we are at a cocktail party and these 19th century characters are our friends (or at least the people we're avoiding at the party!). The themes and characters are timeless. The book deals with power, especially power struggles between the sexes. We encounter greed, love, desperation, seductive sirens, and generosity. Like many books of this time period however, the modern reader has to give it a chance. No one is murdered on the first page, and it takes quite a few chapters for the action to pick up. But pick up it does by page 70, and accelerates into a raucously funny novel from there. Although I didn't read the Warden, I didn't feel lost and I'm curious to read the rest of this series after finishing this book. Enjoy!

"Barchester Towers" has proven to be the most popular novel Anthony Trollope ever wrote-despite the fact that most critics would rank higher his later work such as "The Last Chronicle of Barset","He Knew He Was Right" and "The Way We Live Now".While containing much satire those great novels are very powerful and disturbing, and have little of the genial good humor that pervades "Barchester Towers".Indeed after "Barchester Towers",Trollope would never write anything so funny again-as if comedy was something to be eschewed.That is too bad,because the book along with its predecessor "The Warden" are the closest a Victorian novelist ever came to approximating Jane Austen."Barchester Towers" presents many unforgettable characters caught in a storm of religious controversy,political and social power struggles and romantic and sexual imbroglios.All of this done with a light but deft hand that blends realism,idealism and some irresistible comedy.It has one of the greatest endings in all of literature-a long,elaborate party at a country manor(which transpires for about a hundred pages)where all of the plot's threads are inwoven and all of the character's intrigues come to fruition."Barchester Towers" has none of the faults common to Trollope's later works -(such as repetiveness)it is enjoyable from beginning to end.Henry James(one of our best novelists,but not one of our best critics) believed that Trollope peaked with "The Warden"and that the subsequent work showed a falling off as well as proof that Trollope was no more than a second rate Thackeray.For the last fifty years critics have been trying to undo the damage that was done to Trollope's critical reputation."Barchester Towers"proves not only to be a first rate novel but probably the most humorous Victorian novel ever written.

One of the most enjoyable memoirs I've ever read. I disagree with the reviewer who said Alexander tended to bragg about his accomplishments. If anything, I thought this book rather modest. However, Alexander is not shy about sharing his opinions, but this did not impress me as bragging. His vignettes of the leaders he had personnal dealings with are priceless and add a dimension to my impressions of men such as Lee and Longstreet. The book left me wanting to know about Alexander the man. No good biography of him exists to my knowledge. I read one account a number of years ago in 'Civil War Times Illustrated' that stated he had a rather nasty temper. I was unable to form a mental picture of the man from reading his book because the narrative is that of a good-natured fellow teling the openly honest story of his war service. I was left wanting to get to know this person a little better. This is a must read.

I think that as time goes by, Porter Alexander's personal memoirs, written for his family and thus very candid, will come to be seen as an outstanding work both of historical reminiscence and of 19th century writing. The Introduction, in which Alexander tells of some incidents from his boyhood, is worth the entire book. But, there is more. Alexander worked either as signals officer, ordnance officer or artillery commander for virtually everybody in the Army of Northern Virginia, including Beauregard, J.E. Johnston, Stonewall Jackson, Longstreet, and Lee. He participated in virtually every major battle. He has the rare ability to desribe events in a fresh and modern manner, so that the reader is there with him in the thick of things. I can only imagine the thrill that the editor must have had when he found these papers at UNC in 1989. Alexander apparently wrote a more formal history of the Civil War published in 1907 with which I am not familiar. Although the frontispiece shows an unremarkable face, the writing shows the glowing intelligence and enthusiasm that must have impressed his superiors and led to his being given one responsible assignment after another. By being present, but a generation younger than the ANV leaders, he is able to give both intimate, but also critical pictures of them. This book is indispensible to anyone with an interest in the Civil War in the Eastern Theater. A true classic.

E.P. Alexander, Longstreet and Lee's Chief of Artillery, wrote two books. This book, his first, was written while Alexander was in Central America, without access to the Official Records, etc. Thus, he wrote primarily from memory. Alexander started the work at the urgings of his children and did not intend the work to be published. It was meant for his family only. As a result, it is a very personal account of his life during the Civil War. He does go into detail regarding battles in which he participated and freely offers his opinions about various strategies, tactics and leaders. (If no one but his family was to read it, then there was no one to offend.) In his opinions Alexander comes across as scrupulously honest and straight-forward, not to mention intelligent. Later Alexander decided to write a 2nd book; and at first he used these recollections as the basis for that book (whose title I forget). He then gave up this tactic and wrote his 2nd book from "scratch". So now, Gary Gallagher has once again come to the rescue and pieced together Alexander's first writings - which is this particular book......Overall, I found this to be one of the most interesting and enjoyable books I have read. It is very funny at times; then often sad. It contains much information about battles; and also insights into the leaders of those battles. But while his 2nd book is a strict military tract about the Civil War, this 1st book also gives the reader a "feel" for the people involved. It was a joy to read - one great book!

This book is a great collection of precision cleaning techniques by some of the leaders of the precision cleaning community. Up to now, the lack of a general text on the subject has made it difficult for those wishing to familiarize themselves with the subject. Kanesberg fills that void with this excellent book.

"I find this Handbook to be a truly comprehensive manual and a valuable aid for both the experienced and beginning practitioner involved this subject matter. The handbook gives the reader an intelligent and in-depth treatment of the various types of cleaning agents and associated cleaning equipment without providing too much of an exhaustive treatise on any material. I particularly liked that I can find information on all of the recommended cleaners and processes in one book. I would refer to this Handbook as a 'cleaner's companion.'"

Only thing that disappointed me is the information about plasma cleaning which is too short, not clear and said nothing about the varieties of this new and exciting technology.

Very good book about Solvents and their substitutes.

"Not Always So" is exactly as great as "Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind." Edward Espe Brown has lovingly edited these talks by Shunryu Suzuki, Roshi. The talks are at the same time completely simple, and amazingly complex. Now we just need Peter Coyote to narrate the book on tape.

This is another series of talks given by Shunryu Suzuki who died
in 1971. He seems to have been the greatest Zen Master in the
occidental world to date. The first series of talks is in "Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind" which came out in 1970. This seems to be the most inspirational book in Zen of our time. Please buy both
of these treasures. Please don't buy these two books (or one if
you already have "Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind) if you believe that
this book will teach you zen formally. The author makes it clear
that you need a teacher. But once you have one, these two books are the most inspirational books that you can have. I guess that
the most practical is still "The Three Pillars of Zen" by Roshi Kapleau. This second book of talks seems just as good as the first. I don't know why Zen Center waited 32 years to print it.
Nevertheless, it is a real treasure. Please don't treat this great man's teaching as basic. He implys in this book that just sitting can lead you to seeing the source of all phenomena. So
this is not a "cute" book. It's quite deep. Thank you.

I just want to clarify something written in a previous review, that seems to suggest some sort of consistency between Suzuki roshi's teaching and Kapleau's. I personally think it is pretty important to bear in mind the vast ... in teaching style and in stated purpose between these two schools. When, a few years ago, I read Kapleau's book I was startled and disturbed by it. As a practitioner in a lineage similar to Suzuki's I felt Three Pillars of Zen was antithetical to what I had experienced in my zen practice. Just a word of warning for those who might think Kapleau's book is a complementary text to Suzuki's.

Had I not seen Waterdance first, this book would have been a number 1 for photography of dancers. I'm a fan of the human body, and this book shows it beautifully. While excellent, it leaves me wishing for that something more, that something that exists in Waterdance. I'm thrilled to see that Schatz has continued the water photography in Pool of Light - can't wait for it to be delivered. - Sam Hunter

Passion and Line is one of my very favorite books and I have thousands of books. It inspires me. It motivates me. It is the zenith of what the human body can be. I get chills each time I view this thrilling book. The hard work, the incredible discipline of the dancers is exquisitly captured by Howard Schultz. Bravo to the Artist Schultz and bravo to his subject dancers.

This book is a wonderful rareity; a collection of breathtaking photographs that doens't sink to the level of objectification or predictability. The work is a celebration! The pictures are full of life and vitality, and it's obvious that Mr. Schatz has a profound respect for the dancers. He brings out the beauty of each of his models in a unique and interesting way. I will definately look for more his work!

The American Dream is another of Albee's many commentaries on our society. Albee saw that in every one of us there exists an ideal, the American dream. While this dream is different for us all, Albee felt that all of us simply expect our American dream to come true. This play examines the anarchy that can result from the realization that life just doesn't work the way we all imagine it can. Albee's goal is to make us all more aware of the way we think, so that we may alter it to be more correct and fulfilled. This play is not for a reader looking for entertainment. The lack of humanity in the play makes it a very abstract piece, obviously aimed at conveying a point rather than a story.

Zoo Story

There is something unique about the works of Edward Albee, a kind of mood, or wry-but-not-entirely-dry attitude, one recognizes but can't quite put his finger on. This "story" of a suburbanite with two daughters minding his own business on a park bench who is accosted by a poorer but somehow wiser man who has been at the zoo was Edward Albee's first play to be seen by the public. Dating from 1958, the one-act play, which like much of Albee's work seems to deftly mix absurdist elements with an intimate rendering of the American bourgoisie--and a sort of silent, if perhaps ironical, nod to mystical Christianity--he reminds me of a dramaturgic Saint Francis of Assisi--was first seen in Berlin. As in Who's Afraid of Virgina Wolf? and The Goat, the object of desire is off stage, at least until the end, at which point "its" "retrieval" reveals a generalized dissatisfaction which the playwright allows to be dispersed as satisfaction after all, in conformity with the peculiarities of human desire and the conventions of literary endings. This two-man play seems to work largely because the older, more well-to-do man, Peter-a kind of icon of smug suburbanite self-satisfaction, who wants to be entertained, as it were, from the outside--is drawn in--across the white picket fence, or here, the green slatted Central Park bench--to the life of the slightly younger Jerry--a sort of stand--in it would seem for the playwrite, and his dramatic task to involve us all in a participatory experience this side--or perhaps a little more--of religion.

The American Dream

Although I have read/seen only four of Albee's works (Who's Afraid of Virgina Wolf, Zoo Story, and The Goat), this seems to me the work of his that owes most to-or is closest to- the theater of the absurd-particularly to Samuel Beckett. And yet, as the title suggests, the work is far more American-down home, you might say-and so is the humor. The main characters are "Mommy," "Daddy" and "Grandma"-and Grandma is a scream. Her brilliant, if irascible, wit contains some brilliant, if not exactly unbiased, observations on the treatment of, expectations from, and inner reality of, the elderly. She comes off as the most intelligent person in the play, and the one we identify with the most-even if her metaphysical capacities for hiding objects, forgetting who her strumpet daughter is, and desiring with spiritual ardor the flesh of the young who may or may not be her own are not necessarily everyone's instantiation of satisfaction's successful pursuit.

I saw this play done by a small group of high school students the past year and it is perhaps one of the best plays I've ever seen. Edward Albee has mastered the art of Absurdest.