The author information given is incorrect for the book: "Weeds: Guardians of the Soil" ISBN: 0815972059 This book was authored by Joseph Cocannouer.

I got a copy form the ENMU library, with author as Cocannouer, published in 1950. If this is the same book, I recommend it for every gardner. He explains how to use weeds to bring trace minerals to the root zone of garden plants, including flowers.

Joyce Rebeta-Burditt is my mother and she did not write this book! Someone goofed!

"The Cleveland Indian" of the title is a mesmerizing figure, loosely based on the nineteenth-century Penobscot outfielder, Louis Sockalexis. Luke Salisbury's brawling, brawny King Saturday resembles Sockalexis the most when he is on the ballfield, executing supernatural throws to the plate and hitting sizzling 100 m.p.h. pitches. Then fiction takes over and we are following Saturday and his mild-mannered accomplice, lawyer Henry Harrison, through a labyrinth of gambling schemes and adventures to Cuba and Mexico.

This is a richly entertaining read, although it falls into the tendency of depicting Saturday as a "savage" even when the narrator insists he wasn't as Indian as people thought. Descriptions like "bronzed marauder" as Saturday lays waste to a saloon with a pair of Civil War swords don't dispel the image of a half-man, half-beast. Still King Saturday captivates the two luminous women that Harry also falls in love with, and weaves his spell over all those who come in contact with him, perhaps because he is what Salisbury calls "an ambassador from another world."

I recommend this book for anyone seeking a vivid re-creation of nineteenth century baseball and a good rollicking, bawdy read! It makes the tragic ending easier to bear.

This is a truly appealling adventure, right out of the Doctorow/Carr tradition. For those who are fans ("kranks" in the lingo of the late-1800's), this is a wonderful tale of a spectacular, mysterious ballplayer (an American Indian) and the callow lawyer he befriends. Rich in local color and lore, this novel leads a tangled trail from Cleveland to New York, Boston, San Juan Hill, Mexico, and, finally, the silver mines of Colorado...with the mysterious minions of Standard Oil thrown in for good measure. A really good read from beginning to end.

I can't imagine anyone who didn't come of age in Cleveland having an interest in this book, but if your view of life was formed by the rich variety of local Cleveland programming during the fifties and sixties, you'll probably enjoy it. This short book consists of 363 single paragraphs that cover the gamut of Cleveland's TV history. For me, it cleared up a number of deep mysteries related to Woodrow the Woodsman, and I had completely forgotten the peanut butter & jelly sandwich-eating elephant. If you are like me, and still hum that Lawsons "Roll On Big O" ditty, but can't remember all the words, take heart--they are here, along with the words to Mr. Jingeling's theme and Commander Ray's Westpark Chevy jingle. Until I read this book, I had no idea that the rest of the world does not use the Larry, Curley & Moe order promulgated by Captain Penny. Go figure. This little text is chock full of fascinating factoids.

This is a fun book that will bring back memories you didn't even know you had. And, remember, you can fool some of the people all the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you can't fool Mom!

I grew up with Cleveland TV and made a career in the industry. Cleveland was a rich television market, where personalities were generally more interested in staying put than in moving to New York. As a result, all of the three major local stations offered memorable locally produced programs...all documented in this great book. This book is worth the price if you grew up in Cleveland in the 50s, 60s or 70s and want to go back and touch those memories. As Captain Penny used to say..."You can fool some of the people all of the time...and all of the people some of the time...but you can't fool Mom!"

Mary Soderberg walks back into Milan Jacovich's life when she asks him to help out her boyfriend, the man she left him for, when he is the main suspect in the murder of a high profile television reporter. Milan finds that he still can't resist Mary's pleas and puts himself in what proves to be quite an awkward situation. Milan has to put professionalism ahead of his personal feelings when he agrees to take on the case because, although he hates the man who stole Mary away from him, he is, after all, taking his money to help try to prove his innocence.

As far as private investigator series go, the Milan Jacovich is proving to be a very strong and involving one. Milan is a continually developing character that is consistently interesting and likable. For fans of private investigator books, this is a very worthwhile series and this particular episode doesn't let it down.

While Sue Grafton's "alphabet" series dominates 90s detective fiction, Les Roberts is giving her a run for her money with his Cleveland-based series of gumshoe adventures. Milan Jacovich is a humane, brooding investigator who resorts to his considerable size and strength only with reluctance; his observations on modern life are oddly hard to disagree with. Roberts plots adroitly, letting the mystery and its solution coalesce slowly and tantalizingly. He also makes Cleveland come alive in a most affectionate and specific way (in a way that Cincinnati does not in Jonathan Valin's Harry Stoner series). Recommended with all possible enthusiasm to fans of the genre.

This is the second Milan Jacovich mystery that I've read and I'm finding that he's growing on me. That's not to say I didn't enjoy the first book I read - I did, but as I get to know Milan better, he's becoming like an old friend and I've felt comfortable slipping back into Cleveland to visit him again. "So why should I read this book?" you ask. Well, if you like a good private investigator mystery with little violence, only a bit of swearing (Milan Frowns on it) and interesting, believable characters, I think you'll enjoy this book.

Milan is hired by a beautiful young heiress to find her boyfriend, a middle-aged artist who has also disappeared with $18,000 that she loaned him. When Milan starts asking around, he finds that the guy he's looking for is a hustler and there are quite a few people in town that would also like to get their hands on him. The Cleveland art scene, or more specifically the ceramic art scene, comes under the spotlight as Milan conducts his investigation.

By the way, as Les Roberts goes to great pains to explain, Milan Jacovich is pronounced (MY-lan Yacovich), so make sure you get the pronunciation right.

Ethical Milan Jacovich mixes with Victor Gaimari, the Cleveland mob figure. Even though Milan despises what Victor stands for, Milan respects Victor in a strange way. Victor likewise shares the same sentiments about Milan. Their friendship becomes cemented in a delightful, captivating read in "The Duke of Cleveland."

The fine black and white photography of Edward Weston is featured in this oversized book and is one of those books to viewed over and over.The book also has an extremely satisfying text that highlights some of the phases of his career. The essays lend insight into the man. Of particular interest was the indication that Weston saw his photographic art in the same light as some of the famous Mexican artists of the time like, Diego Rivera, Jose Clemente Orozco and others. He strived to have his art looked at in the same light as those in other mediums. He was drawn to these artists, their culture and their works. The after effects of the Mexican revolution, transformed into a cultural renaissance was his palette. Also discussed was his mingling with artists of his times and his reciprocal affect on fellow photographic artist Tina Mondotti. Weston saw and recognized the art in the everyday lives of the the people, heightened during festivals, especially of a religious nature. He particualrly liked the pulquerias. He also was intrigued by the folk art created by common artisans and captured these elements with his lens. Although the book is not limited to his Mexican phase, I found this part of particular interest. There are also paintings that were done by his contemporaries with parallels drawn to his work. His nudes are an exquisite honor to the female body and all it's wonderful curves. There are plenty of nudes featured as this must have been one of his favortie subjects. The early works are featured but his later works are amazing. After 1927 his sojourn to California and his studies of natural forms at the beach and in the sand dunes resulted in some phenomenal images. Also his ability to see erotic imagery in fruit forms is inspiring. If you like the visual arts you will love the works of this master photographer. A great gift book for the camera buff in your life.

The show for which this book is the catalog was at the Museum of Fine Arts Boston during May of 2000. As a graduate student at Boston University studying photography I found this book to be wonderful - it is beautifully printed, and the scholarship that went into the text and editing really offer insight and context for Weston's photography. He is most well known for works like the one which appears on the cover, but the book includes earlier and later works, and discuss how they relate to the famous ones. Weston was active in the first part of the 20th century, and most of the works in this show were taken in California and Mexico. His photography is beautiful and rich and this book would help novice and connoisseur alike appreciate it more.

I can't imagine anyone reading this thing for fun these days, but these were certainly the material dreams of those hard working immigrants that came before us. These catalogs were not help by individuals but were located in general stores and dry goods shops for ordering and fueling dreams. Virtually everything could be ordered from good old Sears Roebuck from the tools used to pull teeth, to early toilets, to carriages and clothing, practially everything but a house (although there is a section on tents and coverings that look as big as houses). An indespensable research tool for writers, students, and researchers interested in Americana.

I finally ordered this book because I had kept my sisters copy so long she was threatening bodily harm if I didn't return it. It really is a fascinating way to kill a few minutes or a few hours and could conceivably be used as a decent historical reference. I was disappointed some of the sections are missing a number of pages but I am assuming they haven't survived the last century intact. I found the sections on tools and household utensils particularly fascinating, although the tool section is one missing pages, and the section on cameras and projectors is a very revealing look at what amounted to career choices at the turn of the century. Sears also had a way with advertising verbage which makes you think you'd not only be an absolute fool for ordering anywhere else, but you should actually send them more than the asking price.

All in all an enjoyable, informative look at life a century ago. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this publication to anyone.

This book is a wonderful resource with pictures and descriptions. And absolute must for anyone doing any research of the time period, from an interior decorator to anyone in techincal theatre. A maginificent book!

As opposed to Terry Pluto's book, "The Curse of Rocky Colavito, which focused more on the colorful personalities behind the Tribe's years of mediocrity, this book focuses on the front office and ownership changes and their effect on the team.

I definitely recommend the book as a companion to Pluto's book. But read Pluto first. It's more fun and you'll understand some of the characters in the second book better. And if you can only read one of the two books, read Pluto.

A book that desperately needed to be written, if only so the true fan can relive the depths of our despair. As Nixon (shudder)once said, "Only when you've been in the deepest valley.."

The Indians had the distinction of being the poorest franchise in the American League for a period roughly between 1968 and 1989. This book is a thorough and well written documentation of that era and how it came to pass. A great deal of blame is laid at the feet of poor trading (often for NO REASON), the cavern that was Municipal Stadium and its adverse affects, and underfinanced or inept ownership (one exception).

The end of the book, which is rivalled only by Job in redemptive quality, focuses on the rebuilding of the team and the galvanizing of the local fans.

For all true fans, a smile, a tear, and a hard pinch to the nether regions to make certain we are not dreaming. Names have been omitted (by me) to encourage sales as well as protect the innocent.

This is an essential read if you love, or even like, the game of baseball. I never learned so much about how business decisions and money impact what you see on the field.

David Kaiser's excellent book recaptures the era of the late forties and early fifties, when the major leagues consisted of only 400 players on sixteen teams - most of whom were familiar to any serious young student of the game. His detailed descriptions of the teams, the players, and the season regenerate fond memories of afternoon games, All-Star game ballots cut from the newspaper, and hours of studying season statistics in the Sunday newspapers.

For those of you are old enough to remember the time, the book faithfully recalls the suspense of the season and the games that made it that way. To those who have known only pampered stars with million-dollar salaries, the book provides a window into a purer form of baseball.

The writing carries the reader through the season just as it happened, the suspense is allowed to build, and the foibles of the teams and players are described and analyzed. The research is excellent, and the organization crisp. The season's end leaves the reader satisfied that the winner rose to the occasion and the almosts gave a good accounting of themselves.

This reader can offer only one disappointment. The author obviously came to be very familiar with the players that made it all happen. Had he weaved into the text a more detailed set of profiles that captured more of the players' personal essence, the richness of the read would have been greater.

In summary, the book was well written, makes a serious contribution to the written history of baseball, and is highly recommended to anyone who enjoys the national pastime.

This analysis of the 1948 American League pennant race has several strengths. Author David Kaiser has gone to great lengths to gather all possible information about the events of the year, and left no stone unturned (statistical or historical) in finding ways to place the story of the season in context for us. This wealth of material requires a sure hand to organize and present in a coherent way, and Kaiser is equal to the task.

The writing, itself? It's not bad. It won't make anyone forget Thomas Boswell, but it is clear and orderly and doesn't get in the way of the story.

The book isn't a casual read. There is so much to tell about the '48 season that you actually have to pay attention to the abundance of detail in order to take in everything there is to take in.

In other words, it doesn't have that great a beat, but you can still dance to it... I give it a 68.

And if you're specifically interested in the Indians of that era, or the '48 race itself, then of course the book is completely indispensable.

THIS BOOK IS A GREAT READ. A DAY BY DAY ACCOUNT OF THE AMERICAN LEAGUE PENNANT RACE OF 1948. MR. KAISER HAS DONE HIS HOMEWORK ON THIS VERY FACT FILLED NOVEL. I FELT LIKE I WAS BACK IN 1948 ENJOYING THIS GREAT RACE. HE HAS MUCH DETAIL AND ANALYSIS FOR EACH TEAM IN THE RACE. IT IS THRILLING FOR AN INDIAN'S FAN, AND HEARTBREAKING FOR A REDSOX FAN. A GREAT WRITING ABOUT A GREAT SEASON IN AMERICAN LEAGUE HISTORY. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

I was working as an actor in the fair city of Cleveland, when a neighboring theatre presented a musical about the events described in this book. I will not comment on the show but it did spark a morbid curiousity about the facts. Blame it all on the restlessness of being away from home. So after reading series of articles about Badal in the local rags, I picked this up at first opportunity.

While utterly thorough, I felt the same frustration Ness & the boys must have felt. The case is a baffling and horrific one and I suppose the point of writing this was to put an end to more sensationalist takes on the matter. Badal paints a vivid picture of Depression era Cleveland and very honorably does not seek to solve the mystery. What he succeeds in doing is giving the reader a guided tour of the murder sites coupled with all the false leads, rumors and suppositions that followed. Come here looking for drama and climax and you will be disappointed. For the curious, this is a concise account of a city gripped in fear and corruption. Enlightening, yet shedding no new light.

The Cleveland Torso Murders were among the first, accounted for, serial killings in America. Because of the gruesome details, not to mention that fact that the case is still open, they deserved much more attention. Criminologists, especially those interested in psychological profiling, would learn much from studying this case, than from other, more publicized murders, including the Sam Sheppard case.

Though we have not seen each other recently, I knew Jim Badal many years ago when I lived in Cleveland. His expertise in the Torso case at that time merited, at least in my opinion, a book, but Badal held back until he could bring real additional knowledge to the discussion, not just rehash and theories. His wait was worth it. Not only was Badal able to track down and interview members of the victim's families (and thus put a real face on persons previously portrayed through stereotypes), but he was the first Torso case author to read through the extensive records left by the lead police investigator. Thus we have a book of superb accuracy and detail, that reads better than a good crime novel.

The best part of the book is that Badal does not push his own theory of who was the Torso murderer. While some may find that disappointing, he instead takes the high road by giving the readers just the facts, and thus allows them to come up with their own theories. We will probably never know who did these awful crimes, and speculating for a little added notoriety would have only diminished the book's true horror.

"In the Wake of the Butcher" is the most complete book I have read regarding the topic of the Torso killings in Cleveland, Ohio. Not only can you uncover new details and new information about this case but James Badal has an uncanny way of putting "faces" on the victims and people involved. From Elliot Ness to Peter Merylo to Frank Dolezal...you'll walk away from this book feeling like you have gone back to the Thirties, have your Sherlock Holmes hat on and come up with your own theories of "Who Done It"! This book will not disappoint you.