Jim Krusoe sits on the weathered edge of reality to describe the view from both sides beautifully. His writing is sharp, original and entertaining. He captured a jaded reader's belief in the surreal tales layed out here, and left me wanting more. Fantastic.

These stories are so different. The author succeeds at making the reader believe entire imaginary worlds. A very interesting, different, read.

Jim Krusoe's Blood Lake and Other Stories is the wittiest collection of tales I've ever read, and more. For on top of and above the wit is a style and voice, and occasional whopping metaphor, that make for dizzying satire. Krusoe's fictional worlds compare to those of Kafka, Donald Barthelme, and Raymond Roussel, his reviewers observe. Some of his characters resemble the posturing, fraudulent whackos found in Woody Allen. Then there's the morphine addict pharmacist who buys at zoo auction a female gorilla that becomes his lover; and the unlucky night nurse who confesses, "I like hospitals and I like the sick, and of all the times that I can be with them, my favorite is the night shift, those hours from eleven to seven, when everyone's asleep." "Another Life" is a story whose narrator, an elderly bear, resides at the National Institute of animal Narrative, where he was "... trained by well-meaning scientists to operate a typewriter." In these tales there is thundering satire that smacks of the saturation bombing carried out over 200 years ago by Swift, yet has been terribly silent since. Simultaneously erudite, sobering, and farcical, Blood Lake and Other Stories will make you laugh, cringe, and cry, as Krusoe the writer does so many things so maddenlingy well.

People,wake up!
The truth may hurt sometimes,but,it gives a picture.
Lee has given me what I needed,an insiders view,albeit a bit of a kick to Beckett at times,but,I was never there,was I?
I see music,or hear music,and,Tim Buckley is me seeing,hearing,and knowing my home.
Lee has given me an answer to why my home is thus,and thank the lord I am not alone.
I read Blue melody 3 hours straight,and finished it off this morning,I ate it,rather than read it,and,Lorca and Starsailor demand my attention,these seem to me to be the main message in the book,don't talk,just listen..
As much as David Browne may seem sincere in his writing of "Dream brother",there is no substitute for knowing the man,Tim Buckley,than for reading Blue Melody,by a friend who was there.
Starsailor,you will never dim.
Lee,shine on.

I picked this book up as soon as it was released, and read it completely soon after, I couldn't put it down. Mr. Underwood writes beautifully crafted prose, which is articulate, stimulating and even stirring. Whether you are a Tim Buckley fanatic or just starting to discover their wonderful music, this book will help you appreciate, and treasure their music that much more. The info gained is stuff you *won't read anywhere else, and his poem to Tim is moving (yes this guy can write some beautiful poetry too) BUY IT!
Thanks so much for writing the book Mr.Underwood!!

Daniel

We raised a lot of hell back then...No one could dance through a melody the way Lee did with his guitar ...he did it again with his words. Having known both he and Tim for years, I can say that you must read this book...you will know them both at the finish. What a sad day for all of us when Tim Died. The world was left with a void that will never be filled. I miss him to this day.I'm so glad that Lee wrote this book...There is a heart beat within these pages. You will feel it.

I chose The Canal House by Mark Lee for the June book club selection for all my chapters of The Pulpwood Queens Book Clubs, the largest "meeting and discussing" in America, 13 chapters strong, nearly 300 members. Mostly because I had never read anything quite like this book before. Mark had opened up a world I will probably never experience and in such a way I felt that I was there in his war-torn world. We were lucky enough to have Mark come and visit all the chapters and the stories, oh the stories. In fact, when we did discuss the books the characters were discussed as if they were real people.
I highly reccommend reading this book and note that this is one writer to watch. Mark is taking us as readers to places that we have never been before both physically and spiritually. I know The Pulpwood Queens Book Clubs have crowned him KING for the Day. May his books reign on our shelves forever!
Tiara wearing and Book bearing,
Kathy L. Patrick
The Pulpwood Queen of East Texas and
Hairdresser to the Authors...

The fact that this book isn't a best-seller is outrageous. I bought it because a friend read it in her book club, and I am not only recommending it for my book club but am also recommending it to everyone I know who is in a book club. It's such a great story, and I loved the characters. It reminded me what life is all about.

Mark Lee has written an exceptionally involving novel that manages to be both fast-paced and accessible while telling subtle, multilayered, interlinked stories of developing friendship, love, tragedy and the reawakening of human commitment. Confided to us in alternating sections by a male American war photographer and by a female English doctor who both have a fatal attraction for working in the World's war zones, the novel vividly involves us in the lives of bush pilots, peace-keeping troops, American hostages, charity workers, fund-raiser party-planners, news magazine editors, child soldiers, the super-rich, and the wounded, starving poor, and more, while traveling through the Italian and British haunts of war correspondents, the refugee camps and combat zones of East Africa and Indonesia, and the offices and hunting grounds of the wealthy who patronize refugee charities. Both in his simple but evocative language and in his rare ability to convincingly set a story of love and loss against the keenly observed ironies, horrors, fascinations, and tragedies of war, Lee is evocative of Hemingway at his best.

This book opened up the perceived discrepancy between how Jesus treated those who needed healing and salvation and how he treated those who are religious.

To me, the easiest sin for a Christian is becomming "religious." I highly recommend this book.

"To be religious is simply to be sound, scriptural, and fundamental, yet without the presence of Christ" (p. 152). This one sentence summarizes the entire book, and expresses the author's main point: Christ and religion are separate, different, and opposed to each other. It is possible to have something of Christ, yet not have the living and present Christ Himself. Therefore, if something is traditional, religious, scriptural, or fundamental, regardless how good it may be, if it does not have the presence of Christ, God does not want it.

It is in this light that Witness Lee carefully takes the reader through the New Testament (especially Matthew, Paul's epistles, and Revelation) to show clearly, emphatically, and unequivocally, that Christ is versus religion.

What Witness Lee points out is very subtle and therefore can be easily misunderstood and misinterpreted upon first hearing. However, after reading through and studying, one sees that the point is strongly anchored in the Scriptures. Actually, one realizes that the fact is plainly found in the Bible. What can be clearer than Christ's own words, "You search the Scriptures. . . Yet you are not willing to come to Me. . . ." (John 5:39, 40).

I appreciate the clear exposition of the pure Word of God. I have been greatly helped and continue to be helped by the message conveyed in this book - seek only Christ!

The book is really a wake up call to the Christ seekers who practice religious duties rather than enjoy Christ Himself as the Tree of Life. A restaurant has both menu and food, and a customer usually drop the menu when the food -- the reality of the menu comes. The reality of the law is Christ Himself (Colossians 2:16-17). He gives His own life to His believers for them to live a normal Christian life on this earth by this divine life (John 1:12-13). Christians tend to make their own laws and regulations and use their own strength to fulfill the requirement of righteousness, which is actually the religious duty without any spiritual reality (Galatians 3:1-5, and Colossians 2:20-23). Let us drop our natural concept and enjoy the all-inclusive Christ as the Tree of Life (Revelation1:7), as the living water (John 4:14, Revelation 22:17), and as the real rest (Hebrews 4:9:11).

This is a beautifully written book, in which the author recounts memories of his childhood in West Country England at the end of World War One. Laurie Lee's mother struggled to bring up a large family on her own, as they were abandoned by her husband, who chose to live his life away from them in London.

Lee paints an evocative picture of rural life as seen through a child's eyes: the everyday trials, the local characters, humerous and moving incidents, even the colours and smells are conveyed to the reader.

This type of writing is part of a powerful and enduring image in English popular culture - one of a pre-modern rural "ideal" England, now forever lost. I suppose you could read "Cider with Rosie" with that kind of romantic eye, but in truth this is a far more honest work: Lee states that "our village was no pagan paradise, neither were we conscious of showing tolerance". Crime, and other social problems, did exist. Infant mortality was high by modern standards (Lee's early life was punctuated by serious illnesses and one of his sisters died in early childhood). Education was barely minimal. Living conditions were often poor (I doubt that many people would think that finding a dead mouse inside their loaf of bread was a quaint event).

A very good read, not only for the delightful prose and insight into a child's life, but for the realities it reveals.

I happen to live in the Cotswolds, the setting for this beautiful book, this Monet of literature. And, complying with the below reviews, I have to say that Stroud has become a concrete river, choked with litter, sidelined with Burger Stars, neon lights; a MacDonalds is in the blue print stages. Hills are lined with new developments. It's like, and I quote my mother, "A disease is spreading."

Yet there are places untouched by Americanisms, consumerism, electricity (and here I apologise, as this becomes less of a review, more an account of personal experience). But there are still rivers afloat with leaves, valleys deep that welcome sunsets. They frost the sky in winter, burn it by summer.

"There's beauty in decay," as someone said. Haven't got a clue who. But there you go. Although dying of shallow needs and commercial interests, snippets of the old way can be found. And in all their glory, too.

This book was required reading during my childhood and, of course, I couldn't have dragged myself more slowly through it. How wise we become with age. This is an astonishing book. Lee is such a master of description that, after only a few pages, you slowly start to smell the fresh country air and hear the languid sounds of summer as you are inescabably drawn into the world of his childhood - a world that you realize has already faded into the mists of history. But this special time has not been lost - it has been captured forever in this irreplacable series of pictures. The people in these stories become more real than seems possible with only pen and ink: his characterizations are as clever as anything by Dickens or Dostoevski, and he catches the very essence of the sights, sounds and people around him with a charm unmatched by any other English writer. But this is not a story-book universe: the people in his young life have all the frailty, vanity, delight and tragedy that you would expect in any small community - but what other has been crystallized with such talent and wisdom. A wonderful work of art.

Here's a winning fiction--a great story with many nuances.

I found this author did an excellent job at presenting the story in a way that demands your attention while molding the medical aspects of the story in a manner that is palatable to the non-clinical reader. It draws you in with a tempting mix of realism and romance. The characters were rich and interesting; their relationships were beautifully developed.

I was impressed with the author's style in presentation of Huntington's Disease as well as the cultural stigma that surrounds it--a nice blend of the clinical and the emotional. The realistic descriptions of the medical world surrounding the story make this a novel I'll enjoy recommending.

As a retired general surgeon, I felt the author was authentic in the culture of surgical training and it's pitfalls. Very entertaining and suspenseful. Also cleverly done. I liked his recognition of the loss of quiet time and devotions with the stresses and demands of the training program.

This is the first book by Kraus that I have read, and I plan to buy more. I was completely caught up in the story and quite surprised by the ending. A joy to read.

It is a thorough analysis of the technological advances of our era and the depth of the internet industry. I was particularly interested in the implications for Latin America and the technological transfer from liberalization. It is a useful book for practictioners and for more academic minds.

Creative Destruction presents a fascinating revival of an old concept in the context of recent technological developments and innovation. It offers a brilliant account of how information technologies accelerate the process of creative destruction today and helps understand how information society articulates with in a wider framework of economic history. Those interested in Latin America will appreciate, in particluar, the recent developments in the telecommunications industry in the region.

This is an outstanding collection of articles. These papers combine scholarly depth with usefulness for practitioners. They will help you understand where we've been and forecast where we are going with the Internet. I teach courses on Internet Business Strategy and will use this collection next year. My favorites are Baumol's "Innovation and Creative Destruction; McKnight's "Internet Business Models: Creative Destruction as Usual" and Lehr's "A New Theory of the Internet Firm." They provide a solid conceptual basis for understanding the implications of the Internet economy. One thing truly unique about this book is the thoughtful and detailed discussions of the implications of the Internet on international business. There are six papers that focus on these issues. I have not seen this anywhere else. In a world where people publish books peddling derivative nostrums about the network economy, it's a pleasure to finally find one that deals with these issues in a serious, thoughtful and, most of all, useful way.

This book captivates a sense of innocence and honesty that is palpable on each page. Mable Lee Barby wrote the book I always wanted to read about the district that as a child I wandered and wondered endlessly. Mable is buried between "Jonce" and "Kate" overlooking the town. Cripple Creek has mostly disappeared from what I knew. There are no more "old timers" sitting on chairs in front of screen doors of dusty old shops holding so many individual memories of the characters that made Cripple Creek such an special place. The wheel house is almost gone from the surrounding hills but there is a spiritual core of a history that will never die.

Frank Waters did a wonderful job with his two books and there have been others but when I see Bennett St. or even pass the front steps of the old stone building of Colorado College I think of Mable Lee Barbee. In this book she left a record of her and others lives that will never be equaled. There is a sweet fragrance!

This is a brilliant novel which engages the reader fully. The plot twists and turns as if this were a work of fiction rather than a biography. The characters are vivid, unique and unforgettable ... and they were real people. Ms. Barbee Lee was a keen observer and her descriptions are fascinating. Most of all, I liked how she tells us interesting gossip about some of the powerful people involved in the Cripple Creek gold rush and then, explains how things turned out and why. Some of these explanations needed enough time to pass in order to be told. While reading this page-turner, I felt like I was watching the events unfold through a window. I have recommended it to friends just because it is a really good book. The fact that it is true and will give the reader more insight into the past and into Colorado's mining history is just a bonus.

For people who love to read about history they will especially enjoy this book. Rather than being a boring historical account of events that occurred during the Cripple Creek gold rush this book is a first hand experience of a young girl who actually grew up in Cripple Creek during the gold rush. It is filled with lots of tid-bits about what life was actually like back then - food they ate, clothes they wore ect. as opposed to a bunch of historical facts. A good read if you're interested in what life was like in Cripple Creek.

This is a wonderful story for kids, and adults, about low riders, a subject that is often misunderstood and maligned. Not much is availibale for children on the topic, especially told from their point of view. DANIEL'S RIDE is about much more than Hector's promise of his cool car to his little brother Daniel. It's about hopes and dreams and relationships, all of which lead to the story's broad appeal. Every year I buy a least one book for a friend in Arizona who is a reading specialist working in a bilingual setting. This book has been the biggest hit yet! Her students in Tucson love it and can't get enough of it. Perry and his illustrator Lee Ballard have a real hit here!

Daniel eagerly awaits a promised ride in his older brother Hector '63 Impala convertible “complete with spider hydraulics and gold wire wheels.” Together they celebrate the first weekend of summer vacation. They turn up the volume on their music and cruise, transforming the Impala into “a funky barrio carnival ride.” They join the cool cars cruising the beech before visiting the cousin. When the ride is over, Hector promise the car to Daniel if he finishes high school and plans to go to college.

Author Michael Perry brings his street-savvy writing style to children’s books in DANIEL’S RIDE. With the lyricism gained with his musical background, and an intense understanding of what motivates children, Perry creates a fun, hotrodding tale of sun, brothers and cars certain to delight young readers. Crisp, believable, readable dialog combine lends the story vibrant energy and promise. Very highly recommended.

Daniel's Ride is an exellent book for children. I should know because I am a child. I think this is a good book because people usually don't write about lowriders or books for kids who are bilingual. This book has both of those subjects.

I have only read three of the Conrad County Series. This was one of them obiviously. I really enjoyed it. My Main question is could someone please tell me the names of the other conrad county books. I would like to read all of them. I found some on here, but I wasn't sure how many there are. So if any one can help me out on this I would really appricate it. Thanks in advance.

I love Rachel Lee's books & somehow missed this one - 1 vote for reprint

Please reprint this book. I have read most of the others in the Conard County series and am unable to find this one.