The poetically writhing words of Patrick White's Voss imbue the novel's inanimate world with a life commonly attributed to humankind alone: darkness strangles, the sun cauterizes, leaves slash at one another, rain sighs, and dawn shrieks with jubilation as red light flows out along the veins of morning. Such anthropomorphizing imagery reinforces a view of the protagonist's voyage of discovery into Australia's heart as a metaphor for the inner journey beckoning us all.

Few, however, much less those seeking consolation in worldly achievements and society's pretensions, dare venture into the uncharted desert that illumines the soul. Johann Ulrich Voss, a proud, resilient and fiercely independent German with the first touches of grey in his beard, is obsessed by a long-held ambition to cross the immense island-continent. To this misanthrope possessed of seemingly unshakeable belief in his own divinity, the future is nothing but will, its antithesis compassion, grace, humility, repentance, human frailty.

Before escaping the strictures of Victorian Sydney, by chance he meets his sponsor's niece, Laura Trevelyan, a sensitive young woman vacillating in the darkness between atheism and faith, rationalism and God, pride and humility. Despite their few encounters, when the explorer leads his expedition up the coast and turns one morning to follow his shadow into the searing unknown, he is embarking on a voyage leading ever more deeply into an inescapable love between Laura - the feminine side of his Jungian subconscious - and himself.

Their mystical journey together, stripped bare of obfuscating flesh by the tyranny of distance, penetrates into a vast land. As unforgiving as the outback, this unfamiliar realm is governed by an irrationality that confounds human plans and perceptions, and erodes hubris and obstinate self-belief. United by a love born high above the expedience of mundane coupledom, as their physical separation increases, and long after correspondence by letter has become impossible, they draw ever closer. It is testament to the author's imaginative powers and his skill as a novelist that their transcendent union, despite the hundreds of miles between them, is consummated with a wedding and newborn child.

Without marching towards one's own destruction, there can be no humility and therefore no love. Voss and his small party are gradually worn down over the months by the rigours of their journey and the hidden allegiances unearthed by their tribulations. Laura's love, burning with anxious awareness of the leader's fallibility, spreads into the fissures appearing in his beleaguered resolve, prising cracks still wider in a series of dreams shattering erstwhile convictions. In striving to cross these landscapes of land and love, in which all are destined to suffer and fail, the human soul is ultimately liberated to return into a God omnipresent in the very physicality of the earthly environment itself.

Who hasn't rejoiced before a field, a river, an expansive sky, and perhaps tried to capture its essence in words or paint, on film or even as music, just as Voss, albeit more disturbingly, endeavours to take the entire country within his stride? Earth, trees, rocks, sky, air, and indeed all physical forms, are objects of love, illimitable repositories of the all-encompassing whole that is our dreams and our struggles to live as human beings. They absorb and preserve our spirit. To try to depict our physical environs, to strive to encompass them in a journey itself destined to failure, is to create a self-portrait.

This is an ancient wisdom possessed by the many aborigines the party encounters, peoples who in their veneration for the harsh land they inhabit recognize this terrain as their history and all that they are, as the terrestrial home of their revered Great One. To push into the interior in a vainglorious and inevitably futile attempt to conquer the exalted residence and all it signifies is to invoke His wrath, to bring the Great Snake down from the sky in anger.

We all have deserts to cross. Voss grapples in the Australian wilderness with the rocks of his own prejudice and hatred. But he himself is also a desert, vast and ugly by Laura's accurate reckoning. Immured in hide-bound Sydney, capital of coin and kindly conceit, itself no less a desert than the country's scorching centre, she travels the path of love into this man possessed. Only through setting off on such voyages of discovery into the interior, in the final analysis into our own misunderstanding, do we bring life and love to deserts real and metaphysical - to life and love themselves. As a sage Laura senses long after the expedition is over, 'perhaps true knowledge only comes of death by torture in the country of the mind'.

As White acknowledges in his autobiography, Flaws in the Glass, this novel has a basis in the nineteenth-century expeditions led by the German explorer Leichardt. And years before Voss was written, the seed of its eponymous character was sown in the mind of a sexually repressed wartime intelligence officer unhappily required to censor his own men's letters in the isolation of the Egyptian desert, at a time when all lived in the shadow of 'that greater German megalomaniac'.

But moving irretrievably beyond history, the novel is the product of a creative act to which the spurs are many and various, not least White's frequent respiratory afflictions. Writing the shocking denouement in the desert was fuelled by bronchitis, Bartok's Violin Concerto and a scathing review of the author's most recent book.

Although White did not rank Voss among his top three novels, this best-known of his masterpieces is but one offering from a man who dared to set off into the unmapped desert. Like the struggles of the painter in The Vivisector, the settlers in The Tree of Man and the author himself, Voss's is an epic journey deep into the human condition. On this enlightening voyage, it seems ever less extraordinary when dresses, too, sigh, muscles and hair dream, spurs and complexions accuse, men glimmer or glitter coldly, even kindness cauterizes, and the arches of one's feet become exasperated.

White has done it again: rich characters, indulgent language play, fascinating setting, gentle Australian imagry and beautifully balanced overall. For it's elegance and surprises, this book belongs in the poetry section. If you've a fan of White, this is his masterpiece; if you're new to White, what took you so long?

This book offers a clear and concise introduction to the development of Walt Disney's first full-length animated feature. The book's use of stills, roughs, and concept art vividly illustrate much of the "magic" that goes into making an animated film. Not only that, but the book's incorporation of technical details provides enough "insider information" to appeal to those wanting to know more about the how of animation. In fact, I used the book's section on the multiplane camera to introduce the invention's importance to an introductory class in animation. It worked wonders!

Also nicely developed in the book is how Snow White set the production and narrative standards for the Disney's subsequent films. It's nice to see a coffee table book with substance!

I loved the artwork and descriptions of the animation process. (The display of the art is organized to also help explain the process.) Also "behind the scenes" recollections of how the movie was made as well as a discussion on how to conserve, and prepare for sale, animation artwork. This can be equally appreciated by those with serious or casual interest in animation art.

John Leibold offers the reader vignettes of bootcamp, basic training and battle. At age 17 the author, afraid that World War II would end before he could test himself in battle, enlisted in the Marine Corps. Now, fifty-some years later, these telling scenes are described in a detached manner that lends credibility and allows the reader to become an observer. We watch as a young man becomes totally assimilated into the Marine Corps. Whether describing the daily routine, a drill officer humiliating a fellow recruit, or the battle for Iwo Jima, the result is most effective. I have read other accounts of military training and battle but none have been so insightful or so memorable as this book. Mr. Leibold waited a long time to put pen to paper but the intervening years don't intrude on the story, they only enrich it. Highly recommended for a wide audience.

I devoured this book because I've always wondered how young men and women in the military react on a personal level to going through basic training, entering combat, and returning home after a tour of duty in wartime. Mr. Liebold combines his youthful exuberance with a maturing conscience in this excellent book to give the reader insights into the mindset of a young soldier. He does so with discrimination and compassion. His is a poignant account of the psyche's survival under physical and emotional duress, told in the stories from the time he even considers enlisting to his arrival back home after discharge. For all of you with children, grandchildren, and friends currently in the Middle East, this book is a must-read.

I obtained my copy of "The Watch Below" in an odd way: my sister-in-law, who knew of my love of science fiction, worked in a public library, and she brought me all the sci-fi books that the library discarded. After reading "The Watch Below" I could not believe that it was not a favorite choice for sci-fi readers. Apparently that's related to James White being relatively unknown in the United States. His "Sector General" series (of which "The Watch Below" is not a part) is wonderful.

"The Watch Below" is a very unconventional science fiction story. Two converging groups of characters are followed: a fleet of alien ships headed toward Earth to find a new home as their world dies (okay, that's not unconventional sci-fi) and a group of humans trapped in a submerged, torpedoed WWII supply ship (now, that's different!). The small group of humans, trapped with almost-unlimited supplies, survives for three generations. They have everything they need, except a way to stay sane. They invent a way, and their unusual surroundings prepare them to become ideal intermediaries to . . . the soon-to-arrive, wholly aquatic aliens.

The characters are well-developed, the story is coherent and well-paced, the writing is flawless, and the plot is strange but believable. Find this book and read it, if you are a fan of science fiction. After you do, I bet you buy at least one more book by James White! Try "The Genocidal Healer" or "The Galactic Gourmet" which I have also reviewed.

I am writing this review from memory of one of my favourite sf titles, so apologies for any errors. This story follows two separate yet similar threads. Firstly, a world war 2 cargo ship sinks to bottom of ocean and its 5 remaining inhabitants miraculously manage to find a way to survive in their very limited ecosystem. (OK, this does require some suspension of disbelief but it's amazing what you can do with a few bean plants, a dynamo for light, and a very large stock of canned food!) As two of the inhabitants are female nature follows its course and we end up following the lives of generations to whom the surface above has become a myth.

Meanwhile, an exodus of spaceships fleeing a dying planet faces its own problems. The crew was to spend most of the centuries long journey in cryosleep, with periodic awakenings to check controls etc. Unfortunately the freezing process is discovered to cause brain damage if repeated too often, so the only solution is for a small number of crew to remain permanently awake, over many generations.

As with his Sector General novels, some of the main protagonists are the ships' doctors, and the interactions within the two communities are sympathetically and engagingly plotted. I'm not going to say any more about the plot, as it's fairly easy to guess where the aliens will end up! As a stand alone book, I prefer this to the Sector General series, and I am very glad it has received a well-deserved reprint. (Now I don't have to try to steal my parents' copy!)

My mom and I have been searching for a good book for beginners about water exercise and this is the best we've found. It has great pictures that show you how your suppose to perform each exercise. Detailed desciptions were also very helpful.We liked the outlined program.

This book is excellently organized! Instructions are clear. Drawings aid understanding. Verbal description is followed by benefits of each exercise as well as precautions. Students AND instructors will appreciate the manner of teaching. Exercises are divided into beginning, intermediate, and advanced categories. Author not only tells WHAT to do, she also tells WHY. Third part of book provides specific programs for common injuries, listed by body part: e.g. lower leg-ankle-foot, knee, thigh-pelvis-hip, trunk & spine, trunk & shoulder, elbow & wrist. In addition, there is a chapter for special populations: Rheumatoid Arthritis, Parkinson's Disease, Fibromyalgia, & Multiple Sclerosis. This is a book one could refer to time after time, for greater understanding and expertise!

When I was pregnant with my first baby I knew that I didn't want to immunize any of my children. Up until I read this book I had really no "proof" that my confictions were correct. Thanks to this book, I began a serious investigation into immunizations. I now have tangible info to share with pro-vaccine parents. It only takes one light in a dark world to bring truth!

The whole immunization issue is so one sided. This book finally gives the other perspective, in an easy to read format. From an educator, and parent's standpoint the book is convincing that immunizing your child is not the only way. No one can force you to immunize your child if you have a belief it's not right. Read this book and finally become educated, confident and informed!

Children might not be aware that the White House has been home to many "First Families" with children of their own and are sure to enjoy the images of Macaroni the Pony and other such antics.

It is also a good read for adults interested in the are. It captures Kennedy era culture. I had no idea they created those hideous plastic masks of JFK and Jackie! This volume is lushly illustrated with sidebars and smaller photographs as well.

I was sadden to realize that only Caroline remains of Camelot. The last few pages- the saddest birthday remind us of the tragedy our nation endured.

This is great for kids and adults alike!

Some of the most moving images from the Kennedy family's time in the White House are included in this new book for kids. It's easy to understand, and older kids may even choose to read it themselves. And, oh yes, it's a great read for adults, too!

This book was written at the turn of the 19th Century. I lived in Haiti for a year, and Mr Pritchard's descriptions are penetratingly accurate, and his predictions uncannily correct. His writing skills are of the very highest order, and his extraordinary experiences combined with his sense of humour make for an absolute gem of a book. For those interested in the History of Haiti, this book must not be missed.

This is a very interesting book. It was written in the begining of century, but stills actual after one hundred years. The author - the english journalist Hesketh Prichard, from the "Daily Express" - depicts his impressions of a journey across and about Haiti. He found a country where the black race rules after a century, which was a rarity in 1900 (just Liberia and Ethiopia, at the time, had black governments, too). Although the author shows simpathy for the ordinary haitian people, the opinion that he gives from the country is far away to be positive. Here, in his opinion, we find a place,curiously, like post-colonial Africa 60 years later, where who really rules is widespread corruption, exarcebated but ridiculous militarism (an army with 7.000 men had 6.500 generals and 7.000 brigadiers), venal judges, police brutality, intimidation of free press,continuous political instability (during one hundred years, none president of Haiti was able to end his term), and, last but not the least, susperstition and witchcraft. I will end my commentary, quoting the author himself: "Today in Haiti we come to the real crux of the question. At the end of a hundred years of trial, how does the black man governs himself? What progress has he made? Absolutely none. When he undertakes the task of government, he does so, not with the intent of promoting the public weal, but for the sake of filing his own pocket. His motto is still, "Pluck the fowl, but take care she does not cry out". Corruption has spread through every portion and every department of the Government. Almost all the ills of the country may be traced to their source in tiranny, the ineptitude, and the improbity of those at the helm of state. (...) Can the negro rule himself? Is he congenitally capable? (...) Today, and as matters stands, he certainly cannot rule himself". Worth reading book, wrote in a fine literary english.

While this book will appeal to fans of prairie or pioneer literature, it has depths that will actually appeal to almost anyone. Set in the early 1900s in small-town Nebraska, it follows the childhood and early womanhood of Laura Deal. Laura is the beloved granddaughter of Abby, the heroine of Aldrich's "A Lantern in Her Hand", and this book picks up right after Abby has died.

Laura is gentle and whimsical, and through her discerning eyes we get to view the other members of the family, many of whom are unintentionally humorous and certainly similar to those we know in real life. There is her practical, materialistic mother, about whom Laura one day thinks, "Mother has no poetry in her soul!" Her father John is quiet and hardworking, who carries some of the burdens of the town on his back but inside is afire with pioneer pride. Brother Wentworth dashes from one boyish pursuit to another. Her extended family, such as her flighty cousin Kathie, fussy Aunt Grace, and powerful Uncle Mack, are all interesting to read about. Outside of her family are several fascinating neighbors, including the attractive Alan and old Oscar, one of the town's founders, who lives in the past and can only find Laura to listen to tales of his glory days.

Although on the surface the story follows Laura's chronology in a fairly simple path, as she moves from school to college to a crisis of decision about how to proceed with her life, there are many other events, major and minor, occurring with everyone else in the story. There is her father's conflict with her uncle over bank monies lost, her cousin Kathie's gallivanting about rather than caring for her child, and old Christine's greediness for more land.

There are also lovely descriptions of the Nebraska countryside, and in the brief but beautiful details of life we get a sense of time and place. Having had a grandmother in Nebraska myself, it all felt so real to me when I read this wonderful book! I also felt breathless when it came time for Laura to decide if she would choose love or money, and the last sentence of the book is one of the best lines I've ever read. It should be quoted like Shakespeare. Quite simply, this is a book to cherish.

This book is a WONDERFUL commentary on how we deal with the connections between generations. Not only was Laura caught between the ancient and modern worlds, but her feelings of progression and independance conflicted with her feelings of love and friendship. The realization that Laura finally makes is in fact the realization that ties us to the past and to the future. It creates an appreciation for those who came before us and those who will follow.

I read this book first at age 14 and again at age 23. I feel more connected to Laura's emotions now, but her plight and hopes were some of the same that I had as I was growing up. There is an appreciation for all those people who stepped out of the safe world and traveled to the west, making a home for all of us who have followed.

The White Book of Ski Areas has proven over the years to be the best personal guide to America's skiing that I could find. As a member of the military (and a ski instructor), I never know where I'll be next winter. However, once there, the White Book will guide me to the best skiing to be found within a reasonable driving distance.

If you want to know almost anything about a ski area located in North America, this is the book. It has everything you could want to know from lift ticket prices to how to get there to phone numbers, to trail maps. No other book is as comprehensive. Even the most obscure of ski areas (as long as they are active) are listed!