This is a superficial and forgetable effort at historical writing. Heavily padded because of a very thin plot, all of what passes for action is carried by secondary characters sometimes acting off-stage, as Ramage, the "hero", spends pages ruminating on his navel. The author tries to flaunt his research by inserting unnecessary multi-page historical data which add nothing, while stopping the weak story in its tracks. In the end, the plot works, and the hero is triumphant only by coincidence, resourceful secondary characters, and ignorant villians. This was the first Pope book I have read (and the last) and does not compare in any way with the works of Conrad,O'Brian, Forester or Kent.

This is easily the weakest installment in this series so far. While it is certainly readable, it is seriously flawed. First, there is almost no action at sea, which is the primary reason I read these books. Pope was very good at describing action at sea but, in general, his skills as a writer were only average. The plot is very thin, and the book really drags in the middle. The action picks up some at the end, but not enough to be really satisfying. The main problem with this book is that it just doesn't generate much suspense. Also, Ramage himself does very little in this book; he is just along for the ride as the smugglers and his subordinates do almost all the work. This book is not a total loss, however. I thought the details of the smuggling trade were interesting, and the picture Pope paints of France during the Napoleonic War is very vivid and interesting. Pope portrays France as a country tearing itself apart even as its Grand Army was conquering most of Europe. The government would execute a citizen simply because someone accused him or her of being a Royalist. This, of course, was a good way for a person to get rid of a personal enemy or business rival. It reminded me of what conditions must have been like in Stalinist Russia, where a paranoid government had its agents keeping a close watch on everyone. So, overall, it's not a terrible book, but I look forward to Ramage getting back to sea in the next installment.

In which Lt. Ramage speaks with Lord Nelson and smugglers alike, takes passage for "Boney's" France, is astounded and becomes a shipwright, employs a thief, speaks to a policman of knives and sealing wax, and joins the French army! One suspects that Liberty - Equality - Fraternity meant only the liberty to reduce your brother citizens into equal misery. Of course, the British Navy's blockade also had something to do with the desperate state of the French economy revealed here (and rarely depicted in other seafaring series).

If you like stories of the Napoleonic era you'll enjoy this close up view of the French Terror into which idealists descended, but if your desire is only battle at sea this volume will disappoint. As far as I know this is the only nautical novel that brings its naval hero so far and long into enemy France (perhaps Pope is fulfilling the promise of C.S. Forester's "Hornblower During The Crisis" left unfinished by Forester's death before HH gets ashore).

Even the best papal potboilers are cliché ridden: The "black horse" who is elected through the intervention of the Holy Spirit, and who's threatened by an assassination or grave illness; the wise and wily Secretary of State; the evil member of a right wing Roman Catholic organization modeled on Opus Dei; the priest with a crisis of conscience - usually in the area of celibacy; the astute journalist looking for God through a story, who may or may not be the lapsed Catholic being drawn back to the fold. Greg Tobin gave us the clichés in "Conclave," which was not great, but at least readable, and he repeats them all to less effect in "Council." Mr. Tobins' characters just don't rise above cliché, and regardless of the author's efforts to fill in with back-story, they're one dimensional throughout. But characters are only part of the problem with this book. The plot is telegraphed, the sex scenes are awful, trivial incidents are over elaborated, and attempts at weaving memory with "real time" stop rather than illuminate action or character.

The author does have a few ideas about the politics of putting a "Vatican III," together, and about how the event might turn out, but even these portions of "Council," are not adequately developed.

The book begins with the incidents of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, and though those events help define one of his characters the novel seems to suffer from an opening that was opportunistically tacked in; or a book that was only a year in the writing and opportunistically published as close to the year anniversary of 9/11 as possible. If the former, then shame for writing a bad book and merchandising it around the horror of 9/11; if the latter, shame anyway for a rush job that's barely readable.

"Council," also seems like book two of a series - perhaps a trilogy - and leaves events unresolved for the next installment. I am a sucker for papal potboilers, so I'll probably read a third installment, used or remaindered, but in the meantime I'll say three Hail Mary's in the hope that book three ("Conciliation"?) doesn't repeat the purgatory of "Council."

I anxiously awaited the arrival of this book, which is the sequel to Conclave. I felt that the book was very intersting. I felt the calling of a new council was interesting and I also learned a couple of things. I felt that the characters were very interesting. I just love Greg Tobin's writing style. I couldn't put the book down at all. I like the little tibits and the different personalitys that each characater had and I think that is what makes the book very interesting. I would recommend this book to anyone that is interesting to learning what it takes to call a council with all the world's cardinals and bishops.

Greg Tobin builds on his very fine first book on the Roman Catholic Papacy, Conclave, with the addition of Council. Written as fiction, Council continues the story of newly named former American Cardinal, Tim Mulrennhan, to the Papacy after the sudden death of an Interim Pope (after John Paul II). Tobin's books are extremely well researched and factually accurate as to Vatican protocols, electoral procedures, settings where meetings take place and in the degree of detail he provides within his fiction.

Council follows the new pope into his early adjustment to life in the Vatican and to the realization of the many challenges that he faces in his new role. His biggest decision at the start of the papacy is the one to convene a "Third Vatican Council" to consider the issues facing the Church in the new century.

Interwoven through the story are flashbacks and vignettes from the Pope's earlier years as a boy growing up in New Jersey, as a young seminarian, as a parish priest, as Bishop, and then as Cardinal Archbishop of Newark, New Jersey. Pope "Tim" is a very warm and human character who would probably appeal to many people (especially Americans) as a composite for the next Pope. The story reads well and the elements that Tobin works into the entire picture are quite well done.

Of course, there is much hope for the next Papacy and a desire on the part of many people that whoever is selected will "straighten out the Church". Of course 'straightening out the church' means many things to many different people. There are those who believe strongly that the solutions to the Church's problems rest in the undoing of the reforms of Pope John XXIII's Vatican II initiatives. There are others who believe the only hope for the future rests in the ordination of women, the relaxation of the requirement for celibacy, the approval of birth control as a personal choice, and in the greater true participation of the laity in the affairs of the Church. There is tremendous conviction on both ends of the spectrum and there are yet probably the greatest number of Catholics who simply refuse to get too caught up in hierarchical politics, but instead seek to remain Jesus-centered Catholic Christian believers who value their own conscience and who continue to find many of the Church traditions to hold important meaning for them.

Whether Tobin's fictive Pope will be warmly viewed by readers will have a great deal to do with where one's hopes for the Church of the next papacy lay. Whether right, left or center, Tobin's book is thought provoking in its own way and is extremely informative in its factual content. Personally, I experienced some disappointment in the events as they unfold through Council. Yet, this again is very much based on my own hopes for the Church's movement when the next Pope is selected. An interesting, informative and very timely read.

Saint Paul, Minnesota

If you're looking for something new and different, you won't find it here. It's more of the same -- too much detail to read, and the menus are repetious. The "rotation" diet is also too low in calories.

I found the T-Factor 2000 book to be very informative. I have read many health facts and tidbits from numerous sources, but this book actually gives you the scientific reasoning and breakdowns behind each. Sometimes it can get tedious. The reviewer who commented that this book does not give anything "new and informative" needs to realize that most of the "new and informative" books are filled with garbage and unhealthy eating plans. T-Factor 2000 gives sensible, pratical and healthy advice that works drastically to anyone who continues to fight the battle of the bulge.

It doesn't promise any magic solutions, or strange new combinations to make fat disappear. I enjoyed the detail and logical reasoning of the book which agrees with several other health experts. They have been telling us to cut down on fat for years. The recipes consist of foods that anyone would enjoy eating...not strange or extreme. Eating natural whole foods and getting enough excercise is just plain common sense. The family size recipes can be overwhelming for a single person...but thank God for freezers! You just cook and freeze leftovers. I like having the menus planned for me. One less thing for me to do and that leaves more time for living!

What a waste of valuable trees to produce this garbage. Environmentalists should be outraged.

This is a work of scathing satire and brilliant wit, it's no wonder that Fo won the Nobel Prize!!! A must read for anyone who loves freedom!

Having long been a reader of the Messages from Michael series by Chelsea Quinn Yarbro, I was pretty disappointed with this book. The voice of the author, Joya Pope, seems to overpower the voice of Michael, and I often doubted whether the information was accurately channeled. I disliked the tone, political correctness, and over-focus on the lives of celebrities. Many of the comments I have on this book also apply to Joya Pope's The World According to Michael. Much of the information in these two books was contradictory to the previous Michael material I have read. I haven't given up yet though--I've read some of Shepherd Hoodwin on websites, and will try his books next.

I found Joya's book to be right on target in viewing the changes we as a planet and indeed, as a species face at this time.

The voice of Michael through Joya, sounds exactly like my many years of work with the same group entity.

Though another reviewer and obvious Chelsea Quinn Yarbro /mystery/sci-fi fan couldn't "hear" Michael through this writing, informed students of the Michael material will be well acquainted with the "roles" we select during our earth plane schooling and would know that the channelers own role affects the vocabulary Michael speaks from. Joya- a "sage"- delivers her Michael messages with a bit of picante sauce. If you're a serious "scholar" and find picante too spicy, try the boiled chicken you'll get from another role/author.

Pope's prediction of the loss of 20% of the world's population gave me a shudder when I read this book hot off the presses. Now- in 2001, after watching the weekly reports of mass loss of life through earthquakes, floods, fire, tidal waves, hurricanes and other scenarios- and adding to that the weird multiple shootings, political genocides and ethnic cleansings we have seen- 20% doesn't seem that far fetched.

I especially enjoy Joya's/Michael's calming effect about where to go and what to do with our lives while all this shaking and quaking is going on.

For those who haven't read the book yet- don't be put off by the "...in the late nineties" title reference. There is information that is remaining informative and helpful for the next 20 years also.

Allow your children to read these stories with parental discretion. Current day authors like the ones mentioned in the review are liberals with an agenda that is both immoral and anti-traditional family. I can't vouch for all the stories listed because I have not read them. However, I have read works by quite of few of the authors listed and they do not support conservative ideology. "Scout's Honor" by Avi is in my child's 6th grade "literature" textbook. The so-called comedy is about three arrogant Boy Scouts that earn a badge by lying, cheating and stealing. This story not only depicts the Boy Scouts in a bad light - has anyone heard about their pro-traditional family stand which they took recently - but it promotes the path of the ends justifying the means.

The original tales presented in this book are actual memories of childhood penned by notable children's book authors. Although most of the stories have 8-10 year-olds as their protagnonists, they deal with emotions and predicaments more easily understood, I think, by slightly older children.

Pre-teenage can be such an awkward time; these tales can be healing/instructive to those in this time of life. The authors all have written beautiful stories which really should not be missed. And, as an extra special "gift" to the reader, each story is followed by a one-page explanation/note written by the tale's author. It's a relief to realize that each author not only survived growing up, but also flourished. And I loved being allowed to share private memories of these marvelous authors.

As a great fan of Katherine Paterson, I was especially touched by her story, which involved her older, prettier sister. Perhaps even more revealing, however, is the note she wrote to accompany this story. I am sure that the feelings here expressed were the souce of her poignantly beautiful novel "Jacob Have I Loved." (Great for girls age 12 and up.)

This book also provided an introduction (at least for me) to several authors with whom I was not familiar; I look forward to reading more by them.

I am a 40-something, well-educated mom. I bought this book for my own family, but I will be purchasing more copies to give as gifts. And I look forward to the sequel to this book, already in print!

The best part was the twelve pages of solid black near the middle. I don't know what the second-best part was. Maybe the jars of rotting mayonaise. Hey, as long as the grant money keeps pouring in, it beats working for a living.

If you enjoy contemporary art and are open to new ideas with distraction, William Pope.L: The Friendliest Black Artist in America is a must have. William Pope brings forth challenging, comforting, and inspiring notions to the average american.

But the print is so hard to read!

John C. Ropes has written a classic history of the Union Army of under the brief leadership of John Pope which ended with Pope's defeat at the hands of Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson at Second Manassas in August 1862. This slim book was part of a "Campaigns of the Civil War" series originally published in the 1880s, and the current edition is a verbatim of the original.

While much has been said about Pope's bombastic "Headquarters in the Saddle" speech that offended many of the rank and file, and of his "scorched earth" policies that prompted Robert E. Lee to label Pope a "miscreant", recent histories suggest that it was the selfishness of George McClellan and the uncooperative attitudes of McClellan's lieutenants who served under Pope, specifically Fitz-John Porter, that were primarily to blame for Pope's resounding defeat.

This contemporary account of the actions of Pope's army pretty much affirms the recent accounts, commenting on how Pope was able to consolidate the scattered and badly beaten (by Jackson) elements of the Union forces in the Shenandoah into one cohesive force. Pope also established a pretty credible Union cavalry force that unfortunately was not supported by the Union infantry. This actually led to Pope's undoing when John Buford and a small cavalry force found itself alone up against Longstreet's entire corps in the Thoroughfare Gap. Forced to concede the Gap, the Union cavalry alerted Pope to the fact that Longstreet was coming in to relieve Jackson, who was pretty badly battered. Pope refused to heed this warning until it was too late, and was soundly thrashed.

The reluctance of Fitz-John Porter to commit his corps to the fray, and of his mentor McClellan refusal to send troops already promised to Pope only contributed to an inevitable, though not necessary defeat.

If only Ropes' book, with its small print wasn't so difficult to read!

Even the wonderfully graphic maps are barely legible. I would recommend "Second Manassas" from the Time-Life Voices of the Civil War series, and "Return to Bull Run" by John Hennessey for further exploration of the Pope period in the Union Army.

This book is probably actually one of the best compact Tamil-English dictionaries there are, but that's not saying much -- most are really awful! There are several outdated words, but the printing is generally pretty good and having the Tamil characters is a good idea (many people just use a transliteration, which is difficult, as there is no standard transliteration system). However, this is very useful when reading literature; a pocket guide or something is better if you're travelling.

The book is a useful one for agricultural economists. By far one of the best books I have read on this subject. I would like more books published on agricultural economics and notify me through e-mail details of which is already with you. Thanks.
Balasubramanian.