I encountered Kristin Hannah a couple of months ago when I read the book, ANGEL FALLS: a nice book with a somewhat ... plot. I thought ANGLE FALLS was well-written with some beautiful prose, so I gave Kristin another shot with ON MYSTIC LAKE; it blew me away. ON MYSTIC LAKE is her best by far, but IF YOU BELIEVE comes mighty close. For those of you who are not familiar with Kristin Hannah, IF YOU BELIEVE is one of her earlier novels, and I can tell why she has been a productive writer and storyteller for the last ten years. IF YOU BELIEVE is a simple story about a woman, Mariah Throckmorton, who is hiding from a past that's filled with hurt, and her colorful, intelligent father. They live on a beautiful, secluded farm that happens to be graced with few visitors. Mad Dog Stone is a drifter who wanders by to find a meal and a place to sleep. Mad Dog becomes enthralled with Mariah, and wants to find out more about this simple, but beautiful woman. Lonely people are thrust together and the emotions fester until they become a full-blown hurricane. The plot works, the chemistry between the characters is wonderful, and couple that with the mystery of the landscape; you've got yourself an excellent book. Kristin Hannah will be a mainstay on my bookshelf for a long time. I only regret that I didn't discover this wonderful writer earlier. Blow the dust off your favorite book list, get your best pen out, and slowly write IF YOU BELIEVE at the top of the list; you won't be dissapointed.

This story about Mad Dog (Matt) and Mariah is so touching and bittersweet. Although many tragic things occur throughout the book, Hannah expertly wove a story with humor, tragedy, and compassion. It is a love story between man and woman, father and daughter, and father and son. It is a story about family and fear. It made me laugh and cry and encourage all I know to read this book.

I believe Hannah is one of the best romance writers around today. "If You Believe" is the 3rd book by Kristin Hannah I've read in the past 2 weeks and she climbed to the top of my favorites list with the first one I read, "Mystic Lake".

Hannah wrings every emotion out of you by the time you've completed the last page. Her characters, Mad Dog, Mariah, Rass & Jake spring to life and draw you right into the pages of the book to experience their happiness, pain, love and tears with them.

So, go forth and read. If you aren't already grabbing up each Kristin Hannah book you can, you soon will be!

This book had it all. It was touching, sensitive, funny, erotic - really pulled at your heartstrings. It evoked all kinds of feelings. Susan Wiggs really gets us into Jesse's head. The book enthralled me from the first page to the last. I didn't want it to end. It showed what mature, real, deep love is all about. I just loved it.

This isn't exactly a review (what can I say? I love this book!) but a special note to readers. First of all, thanks to everyone who has written to me about this book. I'm so sorry you've had a hard time finding a copy! The good news: I'm delighted to report that it will be back in print in a few months, complete with new cover art (gorgeous). The isbn is 1-55166-880-7, and I believe the cover price will still be $..., thanks to my very excellent publisher. There's a complete, up-to-date listing of all my books at my web site, www.susanwiggs.com. Thanks again, Susan Wiggs, author of THE LIGHTKEEPER

In a world where too little can be depended on, it's refreshing (and darn pleasing) to know you can depend on Susan Wiggs for a great read. A long time fan, I do believe this novel takes over first place on my "I love this one best" list.

Pelecanos continues to amaze me. The thing that particularly struck me about this book was the way he is able to transfer his scene writing skills to an earlier era. He's just as effective in putting the reader in a scene in the 1940's as he is in writing more modern material. Other than that, this book is just what I've come to expect from this author: great character development with complex personalities, gritty people and places, a twisting, hard story that truly holds your interest, etc.

I particularly liked the way the author worked World War II service into the lives of these characters, along with the fear of the big bomb being dropped on Washington, D.C. Also, as usual, the good guys are not even close to being all good and not everything turns out OK in the end.

Let me just sum up my thoughts on this book and this writer like this: If you think you like crime fiction and you're not reading everything Pelecanos has written, it's your loss.

I really liked this book. It is a perfect example of its genre -- hardboiled, 40s style, film noir, tough-guy-with-no-heart-of-gold fiction. I have lived in the DC area for over 30 years so I especially appreciated the geographical nuance. There is much more to this city than politics, media and sex. There is crime, gangs and sex, too. Pelecanos knows this intuitively and gives the reader a great ride thru the "seamy underbelly" of Washington, DC. Pelecanos has a keen understanding of the racial dynamics of the city in the 30s and 40s, which pervades our lives today. Overall, this is a really good story well told. I can't wait to read another of his books.

Fans of George Pelecanos will not be disappointed in this excellent novel. Set in D.C. during the years just before and after WWII, his familiar cast of characters inhabit a world of hope and violence that somehow seems appropriate to the American Dream. The plot is engaging and believable, the action is fast paced, and the character portrayals are as satisfying as a reader could want. This is a great story of friendship, betrayal and flawed redemption. Much more than just a 'crime novel' (and this is true of his other books as well) The Big Blowdown evokes a time when everthing seemed possible, from great success to 'the Big Blowdown' (atomic annihilation) and tells the story a few immigrant kids whose future turns out to be quite different from any they would have imagined.

Reading a Pelecanos book always leaves me feeling as though I had touched a piece of real life. This book has the added appeal of touching a real piece of time gone by as well. Very satisfying. I highly recommend it.

We bought this guide because of our very positive experience using the Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World. This Guide did not dissappoint, although there were a few inaccuracies (i.e. Capitol tours leave every 30 minutes, not every 10; you don't need a time ticket for the White House during the off season). The most helpful information was the detailed description of D.C.'s Metro system. We were pros at commuting by the end of our trip. The restaurant guide was also extemely helpful. We didn't have one bad meal. The Guide also helped us to take a family vote on the sites we wanted to see and plan our itinerary before leaving home (a must). Get this book 3 to 6 months before your trip so you have time to write your congressmen to request VIP tours of the things you want to see. We bought the Guide 2 weeks before we left. Even though we had a great time, our trip could have been enhanced with more planning.

Imagine the comprehensive guide to good deals, unfamiliar sites, and transportation options in the Washington D.C. area! This is a great collection of reviews and suggestions, tips and recommendations. Spend some time in advance of your planning to scope out great deals on rooms, tours and seasonal advantages. You can plan a great trip with unexplored opportunities such as breaks to rest in parks and gardens, or ways to avoid long lines and frustration.

There is even a great section for business travellers. A good purchase and a fine resource.

The maps and the guide to the public transportation system are the best I have ever seen.

I just returned from Washington D.C. and I found that this book is a must read - unless you have two or more weeks to spend traipsing around the mall. Since my trip was primarily a sight-seeing trip, this book saved my family countless hours by listing all of the sights, giving a description of each, letting me know which ones would be of interest to my family, and giving me guidance on how to plan each day in order to minimize wasted travel time. I used "The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World" to plan my last vacation and both of these books are worth the price many times over.

I read Joyce Bova's book on her love affair with Elvis and I thought that it was a beautiful but tragic story. Personally I believe her. From beginning to end the book showed the start of a relationship and its crashing end due to Elvis' dependency on prescription drugs, which the author also admits to dabbling in as well. However, the only problem I had with the book was Ms. Bova's "messing around with a married man and proud of it" attitude. When she made the remark that "if he's so married, how come he invites me to his home", it made her look less classy and less of a lady- no matter if he was famous or still driving a truck. Other than that, I recommend this book on Elvis. It described him and didn't hold a thing back.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in hearing the story from a woman who truly loved Elvis- I found myself completing this book in 3 days. It has been one of the best books that I have read regarding Elvis as a person. If I was able to say anything to Ms. Bova it would be "thank you" for allowing a fan like myself to get to know how Elvis was on a more personal level. I admire your strenght and think you were a very special and memorable piece in the complex life that was Elvis Presley.

Joyce Bova is a fascinating person. This is an excellent book. Once I started reading it, I couldn't put it down. Anyone who reads this book and is a true Elvis fan will know this story is true. Some say she got her info from Priscilla's book but I have many videos and books on Elvis and Joyce Bova is referred to many times by many of his family and the Memphis Mafia, although they don't refer to her by name, the stories are the same. Example: Ricky Stanley (on a 2hr tv special) refers to a woman at Elvis' hotel in Washington D.C., the same story Joyce Bova writes of in her book. If your a true Elvis fan and know Elvis was human and not a God, he had his many faults as we all do, then you must buy this book.

This book was very catchy. I read it in a day. It isn't one of those books that you read and it teaches you nothing. I had never really heard of the washington avalanche, so it was interesting to me and I learned something. The story was about a girl about to turn 18 named Virgina [called Ginny] and when she does turn 18, her brother has something horrible planned. She runs away from her step-brothers house a few months before she turns 18 to escape her cruel fate. When she get's on the train a girl about her own age helps her hide. They become friends and find out that they both have the same name! ginny's new friend is coming out west to marry a man she knows nothing about, but made a death bed promise that she would. ginny and Virgina decide to switch places, so Virginia can check out her fiance from a distance and Ginny can stay hidden from her brother. But when "Virginas" fiance arrives on board ginny is swept off her feet. The same with him! But ginny has to tell him the truth. But now the passengers on the train are threatened by the brutal snow storm and threatening avalanche. This was a great book. I was kinda disapointed on what ginny does in the end, but hey, what's a good book without a few mistakes?! Over all it was still good and I would recomend it.

I have enjoyed all of the books in this series so far. Washington Avalanche, 1910 is no exception. Two girls, both named Virginia, meet be chance on an ill-fated train ride through Washington state. Neither of them realize that the outcome of their meeting, and the results of a plan they hatch to disguise their real reasons for this train trip, will change their lives forever. This book is full of romance, history and sadness (this was a horrific accident in American history), but I found it enjoyable and a good read.

This book was so amazing. I don't know why but one day at the library I saw a book called Stephanie: Heart of Gold....weird as I am I took it thinking a book with the same name as me would be good. I was hooked right after I read that book. I checked out more and more books by Cameron Dokey. She's an amazing writer...the romance she talks about it's so close to what teenagers face. This is definatly a young adult novel. It is mysterious, romantic, and also sad. Crying may be an option that will happen sooner or later. But it's worth reading it, the book is amazing.

I think Don't Waste Your Time in the North Cascades will compel you to get out even more. I've lived in Bellingham for most of my life. I know the Cascades well. I'm a very experienced hiker and mountaineer. That negative-minded Mike who put this book down isn't comparing apples with apples. Most people would be appalled with the difficulty of the scrambles in the book that he thinks is so good. Most people want trails and need trails. And there's a terrific network of trails in the Cascades. The Copelands' book is an invaluable guide for the vast majority of hikers.

What that Mike dude doesn't tell you is how much work it takes to go beyond the end the Perry trail and climb up those mountains unaided by trail. Dickerman has a moderately-ascending, switchbacking trail that makes the 4,000 foot ascent pleasant. Copelands didn't write their book for a handful of scramblers.

In addition to having thorough and accurate trail descriptions, this book is literature: intelligent, enjoyable, inspiring. And it's obvious the Copelands love hiking, as this quote displays: "At Whatcom Pass you'll stand in awe of cloud-bursting Whatcom Peak and heart-stopping Challenger Glacier. For those whose place of worship is the mountains, hiking this grand loop (Trip 88) feels like a pilgrimage."

This is a tremendous resource, particularly for the occassional hiker/backpacker. One could say that _all_ of the Cascades are beautiful--and they are. But too often, books by the Mountaineers make everything sound wonderful, even if its been clear-cut, has limited views, or is crowded. I've never had a bad time in the Cascades, but some hikes are less spectacular than others.

If you're only heading into the woods a few times a year, why not shoot for the very best? I cherish this book, and very much appreciate its candor and descriptions. It is, without a doubt, the best trail guide I have ever read. Let's hope for more of these guides. Happy hiking!

Living in the shadow of Mt. Baker, I am blessed with the opportunity of hiking the North Cascades all summer long. As a result, I've hiked many of the trails in this book, from "Premier" to "Don't Do." In my opinion, the Copeland's advice is right on track. Another reviewer said something to the effect of "if you read their book you'll miss a lot of opportunities." True, but no guide can cover every trail, and of the 104 trails featured, only 15 are classified as "Don't Do." If you're not familiar with the region this book can help you discover the real gems, which is worth the cost of the book if you only have a short time to spend in our little slice of heaven.

Unusually gifted is this man Yossef Bodansky as he again penetrates the fog of Islamic terrorism and presents accusatory new evidence of not only the Muslim adversaries of the United States but also reveals the incompetence of United States administrations.
His unusual depth of knowledge allows him to state his case in a scholarly way that progressively builds on events and inexorably leads us to the sad circumstances now facing the free world.
One can only smile as we envision the faces of the Clinton's as their misdeeds are exposed for the world to see.
This book will not only infuriate the Muslim world as did Bodansky's last book about Bin Laden...

As an Lebanese expatriate, I was deeply impressed at the depth of knowledge and detail displayed by Bodansky in this wonderful book. To understand why Lebanon is the key to peace in the Middle East, one must be aware of the many regional dynamics that involve Syria, Iraq, Iran, and Lebanon, in their attempt to impose a new anti-West, Islamic empire for the region and one that displaces Israel as a participant in the Levant.
These issues are salient and necessary to understand the debates raging today in the United Nations and the United States Congress as to a possible war with Iraq. Bodansky's knowledge and writing skills foreshadowed these existential events perfectly and will certainly provoke a reaction from the participants in this political drama as well as from all the readers who will find this book a necessary primer of in-depth Middle East politics, strategy, and tactics.
Bodansky has the uncanny ability to explore these issues in detail while concisely examining other topics of the Middle East, as well as their relationship with Washington politics, and separating substance from political expediency. No one walks away unscathed.

Nagi N. Najjar
Executive Director
Lebanese Foundation for Peace

When I first pre-ordered this book before it's publication, the title was quoted as "The seduction of Israel : how Clinton's peace process has brought the Middle East to the brink of destruction".

Of course since then, world events have overtaken us. One is now left to wonder whether the new title 'The High Cost Of Peace' should instead be 'Peace At Any Price?'.

Bodansky reveals in some detail what in fact has been going on behind the scenes pertaining to the US involvement in Middle East politics and the so-called 'peace process'.

The intent of Yasser Arafat and the Arab world in relation to a negotiated 'peace' settlement with Israel having been exposed for what it really is when Arafat walked away from the negotiating table, leaving former US President Clinton and former Israeli PM Ehud Barak together with the most extensive peace offering ever presented to the Palestinians, for Arafat to resume his pursuit of terrorism, violence and murder.

The author delves into the complicity of the Arab world in much of the terrorism against Israel, for which the very same Arab nations then proceed to instigate UN Resolutions against Israel for taking subsequent military measures in self defence.

He examines the 'phased plan' of the Islamic world to destroy Israel. A plan that much of the world appears ignorant of, but the basis of which is to obtain as much territory as possible at the negotiating table, and then to proceed in using that very same territory as a platform from which to launch fresh attacks upon the Jewish state until the ultimate objective is attainable.

The High Cost Of Peace provides a refreshing factual account of US-Middle East politics instead of what is usually reported in the media where established historical facts are filtered through chosen political channels, setting the agenda on which the issues are subsequently discussed. A process which has seen Israel being robbed of its political, historic and geographic legitimacy, whilst Israel is being made to appear to rob the Palestinians of the nation it never had.

Yossef Bodansky explores the naivety of both US and Israeli politicians in their dealings with the Arab world, the evidence supporting Yasser Arafat's personal involvement in terrorism during the 'peace negotiations' and the clear intent of former US President Clinton in using the 'peace process' to divert attention from his own political/personal scandals at home.

Of course, at the core of the whole political issue, is the matter of Jerusalem. One cannot help drawing a parallel from Bodansky's revelations of the cost that the US must pay for it's involvement in the 'peace process' to the words of the Old Testament prophet Zechariah written some 2,500 years ago.

"Thus says the LORD "Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling to all the surrounding peoples, when they lay siege against Judah and Jerusalem. And it shall happen in that day that I will make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all peoples; all who would heave it away will surely be cut in pieces, though all nations of the earth are gathered against it." (Zechariah 12:2,3).

It has never been more clear that those who involve themselves in ANY negotiations pertaining to the future or status of Jerusalem, contrary to Scripture, will have to pay a heavy price. Barak and Clinton, who were prepared to sacrifice Jerusalem to Arafat in a policy of appeasement, no longer being present in the political board-game. Although not applying Scripture, Bodansky ably illustrates the price paid to date by the parties concerned and that which is likely to have to be paid in the future.

An underlying principle is revealed through Bodansky's studies and it can be summed up briefly in that the Islamic/Arab world understands only strength, and that to these nations & dictators like Saddam Hussein & Yasser Arafat, concessions are a sign of weakness to be exploited. One can clearly see that the Arab world of which Bodansky is so well informed, is not as naive in these matters as we would like to think. It's agenda is quite clear and it is prepared to play a waiting game and use our own naivety and self-seeking politicians as pawns in their game to pursue their ultimate goal. This book is a most welcome scrutiny of how we have arrived today on the verge of yet another conflict with Iraq and the dangers lurking behind the scenes of an even more horrific scenario involving the camouflaged agenda to the Arab world's 'final solution' of the Israeli issue.

Recommended.

This book is still funny, although it is greatly overshadowed by Buckley's later books, Little Green Men and Thank You for Smoking, which are two of the most outlandishly hilarious novels ever written. As a memoir of an ill-fated, disaster-prone, fictional administration, it has its moments, and if you have read the two more recent books, I can still recommend this one, although it won't give you the belly laughs that Thank You for Smoking and Little Green Men did. If you've already read those two and are looking for something else by the same author, this one is still worthwhile.

The White House Mess is both a hilarious political satire and an amazingly accurate portrait of the first Clinton Administration. Sure, the names have been changed but anyone who followed politics over the course of the '90s will recognize the characters. Thomas N. Tucker is a so-called "Moderate Democrat" who, after a few terms as Governor of a small Republican state (Idaho, in this case), is elected President over Republican George H.W. Bush. Tucker comes to Washington with a fiercely independent wife and a staff that is an uneasy mix of cynical insiders and idealistically niave (read: stupid) campaign aides with little actual practical experience. Over the course of the next four years, Tucker finds himself embroiled in a sex scandal, has to deal with his idiot brother, fails to establish any firm policy beyond what the polls say he should do, and -- as his Presidency comes to a close -- manages to embroil American soldiers in a futile military campaign. There it is, the Clinton Administration in a nutshell. Of course, what's truly amazing isn't that Buckley managed to write a memoir of the Clinton Presidency but that Buckley did so in 1987 -- five years before anyone outside of Arkansas even knew who Bill Clinton was and certainly before anyone expected this guy to be President. (Of course, what's really funny is that when the book first came out, many critics sniped that Buckley's satire was too outrageous and had no basis in reality.)

Unfairly or not, Clinton hangs over Buckley's satire and, what originally might have seemed as a simple farce, is now tinged with a certain bittersweet feel. You still laugh but its no longer a what-will-he-say-next laugh as much as its a laugh of I-Can't-Believe-This-Actually-Happened. By that same regard, when the book first came out, one of the funniest parts dealt with the difficulty of getting a senile Ronald Reagan to leave the Oval Office following Tucker's inaguration. As funny and well-written as this scene is, its no longer quite as funny with the knowledge that Reagan is -- in real life -- suffering from the late stages of Alzheimer's.

However, these are all minor quibbles and they shouldn't take away from what is one of the funniest, unsung political satires of the previous century. Buckley disguises his book as the political memoir of former Tucker aide Herbert Wadlough. Wadlough, a stuffy, pompous, but well-meaning Englishman, comes across as something of a poor man's Arthur Schlesinger, Jr. and Buckley perfectly captures the man's moralistic yet clueless voice. As well, anyone who has read any of the recent memoirs by various Reagan and Clinton administration veterans will be amused as Wadlough continually tries to overhype his importance and present himself as something other than a rather minor cog in the government. Admitedly, its probably easier to enjoy this book if you're a conservative -- most of Buckley's barbs are reserved for the less-than-worldly liberals who surround Tucker. However, Buckley is hardly a partisan when it comes to throwing his punches. The Republican Party takes it share number of shots. Buckley is truly a bipartisan ridiculer but writes with such good-natured wit and skill that its hard to imagine any sensible person (no matter what their political alignment taking offense). This is a truly hilarious book and a must read for anyone with an interest in politics or a need for a good laugh.

Perhaps the most hysterical book I have ever read. Buckley presents an uproarious picture of the most maladroit administration in ages -- I imagine a Democratic one so as to appease his conservative relation, William F. Anyone looking for a quick read and a memorable laugh, especially someone who is aware of politics, ought to read this book.

Depending on your level of training, this may not be the manual for you. Having completed Internal Medicine training and becoming board certified, I have to say this is not "THE" book of need. It is adequate in its intended purpose for residency training. There are many others that will also be adequate...do your research, look them up.

The Manual is great as a quick reference for common issues, and it's reasonably portable. It wasn't intended as a comprehensive text of medicine (Harrison's is the best choice for that) nor as a board review (try MKSAP. For its intended use, however, it easily beats out the other "pocket" guides.

...not a textbook and probably not very helpful at all for the layman (here the Merck Manual would be much more informative). This annually updated, now essentially inpatient-only manual of Internal Medicine therapeutics is nearly indispensable for the harried House Officer. By the springtime of your Internship, your Washington Manual will be duly frayed, pages bent in places describing the management of DKA, Gram Negative Sepsis, and DTs, thoroughly stained with coffee, blood, crystal violet, safranin, &c., and most thankfully, much less necessary than it was in July! Now, a word of caution: never, ever, ever quote the Washington Manual on rounds; doing so will make you the target of all manner of condescending questions from your seniors and attendings throughout your rotation. Carry your Manual on call, leave it out of sight otherwise, and read your Harrison's or equivalent daily. Oh, and when you're really exhausted and disgusted, remember "this too shall pass".