Rather than reading Appendix II-E of House of Leaves and then reading Whalestoe Letters, you might as well read the latter instead of the former.

The major difference is that, where II-E shows a fairly linear descent from sanity to insanity, WL provides a more complex story, showing that Pelafina had earlier episodes of madness than II-E lets on.

In and of itself, WL doesn't really do much, but it does flush out the story of House of Leaves a bit.

These were in the appendices of House of Leaves in the edition I read.

These can be very confusing some times but the woman's crazy, so that's expected. In House of Leaves we occasionally learn about Johnny's past and his family and it's nice to see smething from his mother.

The book is short, but it really keeps your attention.

Danielewski does a brilliant job of portraying a woman on, and over, the edge. The first person authoress of the letters comprising Whalestoe's text is a mother in a madhouse, writing to her estranged son, John. She seems a nice enough woman to begin with, if a bit dramatic and given to airs - what is she doing locked up in a loony-bin?

That, of course, is the story. As the letters progress, the institutionalized woman's state of mind becomes more apparent, as does her history. Eventually, it all spills out - and quite memorably, at that.

I'm especially impressed with this book for a personal reason, which is that I knew a woman with a near-identical history in what was then our local mental hospital, over thirty years ago. Like the woman narrating Danilewski's book in her epistles, you wouldn't have had any idea there was anything wrong with her upon first meeting. Once you got to know why she was locked up, it chilled you. I was less than ten years old, and it made the blood drain from my face, even then. But I couldn't help liking her and feeling sorry for her, at the same time.

And that is the real beauty of Danielewski's character portrayal: the writer of the letters remains sympathetic, despite her past. The reader feels genuine pity, once the reason for her incarceration is understood and its effects on her become evident. She's a sometimes frightening woman, but very sad at the same time. Her life has been spent in a sort of penance, and her letters to her son are sometimes heartwrenching. In a number of words amounting only to a glorified novella, Danielewski convincingly tells an entire life story, and makes you feel it with surprising depth.

I haven't read the author's House of Leaves, but will now that I've read this remarkable tour de force of minimalist writing and psychological portraiture.

This book might better have been titled "52 Romantic EATINGS," because all of the food-obsessed author's recommended dates are primarily about chowing down. None of these activities will spark or enhance romance--people who truly love each other don't need themed activities in order to enjoy being together. Only the truly desperate or romantically challenged would resort to the ridiculous "romantic recipes" in this book.

I think this is a great resource for people new to the city or who may be unfamiliar with the diverse possibilities in their search for spaces condusive to time together.

No guy should be without this book. I bought it on a lark and couldn't put the book down. The author gives us guys so many no-brainer ways to put a little romance into our lives. I recently began dating a wonderful woman and, thanks to this book, she thinks I'm a Cassanova! I like the way the author Miriam Carey gives *specific* places to go and things to do. Believe it or not, when I try to think of where to take my lady, my mind goes blank. Movies are about all I can think about. Now, with this book, I've already taken her swing dancing, and on a romantic lunch break picnic near where she works. I highly recommend this book to guys and girls too.

First impression: Poorly laid out. The contents are organized by the name of the trails. The first three "names" are: "Bike & Hike", "Bike Route -1", "Bike Route -2". There is an ameturish attempt at a map of the whole state with the trails in dark blue and some sort of numbering system. Unfortunately, the numbers are only marginally proximate to the routes (unless they are written over them -YOU try reading black type on a dark blue background!) The map and the legend for the whole book are hidden in the preface - I guess they think you won't be referring to them very often. Some trails are broken up into haphazard sections - I guess to fit the map scale - which varies only slightly from map to map. There is no way to find a trail by either location or length. Unless you know the "name", you'll have to scan the index (guess where it is!) looking for a "vicinity" you recognize. An example: Looking for something east of Cleveland I find one in the vicinity of "Ashtabula/Warren" (if you look at a map you'll find those cities are 45 miles apart) go to the page indicated and ...no, you won't find that map. Leaf forward and it'll show up. Then you can read all about the "future plans" for the trail. You might overlook the information on the length of the trail or the trailheads since the author hides that info in his painfully stiff prose. Show up at the trailhead and there is a beautiful asphalt trail for about 0.06 miles before it turns into golf ball size crushed rock (you'll need new tires - and leave the kids home!) but only for a mile or so. North of there, its all as described, but he obviously didn't do his homework. He seems more interested in what the planned trails will look like someday than what you can use today. Also no good information on traffic, elevation changes, or trail surface. Caveat Emptor.

This book is excellent for any cyclist who would like to find any major bike trail throughout Ohio. As long as anyone knows how to read a map, any cyclist will be able to find any trail with no trouble at all!!! A unique thing about this publication is that Ohio is apparantly going to a Bike Route trail numbering system. However, if a trail such as the Wolf Creek Rail-Trail is known as "Bike Route-38", the trail is listed under both the trail name and the bike route number; as you're out there biking that particular trail, you will actually see the bike route number signs along the trail! A great book for family outings! This book also contains information for other bicycling resources as well. No other book like it!

An "indispensable book for bikers, hikers, walkers, joggers and families who want to enjoy Ohio's Trails." This book is a major update of the original Biking Ohio's Rail-Trails offering more trails to visit. Shawn E. Richardson's book Biking Ohio's Rail-Trails follows an identical format to Shawn E. Richardson's other two books Biking Missouri's Rail-Trails and Biking Wisconsin's Rail-Trails. This colorful paperback book includes detailed maps, photos, and a description to each trail. Trail lengths range from 1 mile to 72 miles and incude information about trail surface (smooth crushed limestone, asphalt), trail use (biking, roller blading, horses, wheelchair, hiking), parking, and points of interest. Shawn E. Richardson provides information about the Ohio Office of the Rails to Trails Conservancy and their involvement with Ohio's rail-trails. If you live in Ohio, or plan to visit Ohio, this book is a must for any cyclist!

I am a University School alumnus and attended the school when many of the people described in this book (including Richard Hawley) were there. Ruhlman has definitely caputured the ethos of the place. I question, though, whether the portrait makes a compelling case for boys' schools. In reading the book, I was reminded of undercurrents of intolerance and "group thinking" that may be part of all adolescents but which seem particularly pronounced when boys are amongst themselves. The book also reminded me of how a provincial, almost smug muscular Episcopalianism is the school's unofficial culture (the school is theoretically non-sectarian). While these negatives came out, there was nothing presented that suggested anything positive about an all-male environment. We are given a case study with little analysis of the importance of the all male culture. As a result, one sees the merits of prep-school, i.e. resources, small classes and attentive faculty, but is left with no sense of why being all male is relevant. And one does see some demerits of not having a coed school.

Boys Themselves: A Return to Single-Sex Education by Michael Ruhlman

This book was written by Mr. Ruhlman before he gained fame with his "The Making of a Chef" and "The Soul of a Chef" combo; it was his first effort at reporting and writing a full length book. The method Ruhlman uses here is similar to the two later efforts; he spends the same amount of time as his subjects at their craft. In this case, that means he is present at University School, a boys only school in the Cleveland , OH area, from just prior to first class, day one, through graduation and a faculty party afterwards.

The difference in his approach in this effort is the lack of infiltration. Mr. Ruhlman is not posing as a student, or a faculty member; he has the Headmaster Richard Hawley's permission to wander as he wish, taking notes, asking questions, observing. This is completely different than the efforts Ruhlman takes to retain his anonymity from his subjects in "The Making of a Chef," and the first section of "The Soul of a Chef." One cannot help but wonder if a layer of two of self-consciousness wouldn't have been removed from some of the students and/or faculty members throughout if they were unaware of his intentions.

Another similarity is the writing itself; Ruhlman does a great job of taking real people and developing them as fully three dimensional characters throughout his books. We see development in students, faculty, and the headmaster as well as observations by the author himself which show his developing ideas regarding his topic. Through his eyes, Ruhlman makes these people become ones that you care about; you want to know what has happened to them since graduation day in the same sort of detail that he has given you with this school year.

In situations where there are large issues at the school, the problems are shown by every conceivable angle; student, faculty, parents, headmaster and occasionally his own thoughts. Philosophy and morality take up a great deal of time at the school. Some of the topics, as well as smaller issues amongst individuals, are followed throughout the book as they proceed and develop through the year.

The one problem I had was a slight lack of confidence Mr. Ruhlman had in his own writing sporadically throughout the book. He would follow up a well written paragraph with a blunt recap as if he felt he was perhaps too subtle in his descriptions. The full text of the book is reminiscent of this as well as we get 18 chapters of the school year, with wonderful descriptions of the differences between Single Sex and Co-Educational school systems. This is followed up by an explanational 19th chapter that wraps up his opinions on the topic.

This problem was a minor one however when compared to the lyrical writing, "character" development and subtle observations spread throughout the book.

3.5 Stars.

Ruhlman brings the complexities of prep school to life in a manner in which few writers have accomplished. I both attended and have worked within some of the country's most notable prep schools. After my first year as an Upper School Head, I sat down one day and read the book cover to cover. Ruhlman's protrait of the teachers and students is fascinating. He takes the time to develop characters, especailly the indefteabable head of school, Richard Hawley. Ruhlman goes beyond just reporting what he sees. He engages himself and others in a dialgue that constantly questions the ethos of the school. In one interesting scence, he describes how a senior speech got out of control. Ruhlman gives us the fallout from this display of "entitlement disorder" from all the angles; students, teachers and administrators. Ruhlman also takes the time to venture into the debate over single-sex education. He handles this challenge with grace. However, for me this book was more like an ethnography of a school. Ruhlman provides the reader with a fascinating behind the scences account of a most interesting school. The appeal of this book should be wider than prep school audieance. However, if you are interested in independent school education this is a must read. Bravo to Ruhlman for doing justice to such a complex subject.

I found the lack of interesting photographs and monotonous prose to take away from the lore and fascination of Cleveland cemeteries. There is a wealth of information that is not presented. Trivial facts about those residents whom the author finds interesting, may fail to interest others. I wasn't interested in a written, walking tour. The point of walking tours is to discover for yourself what you find interesting.

I enjoyed reading "Cleveland Cemeteries" very much even though I am not from the Cleveland area. I have visited several of the sites with 'book in hand' and found the book easy to followed and accurate in detail. Anyone interested in the settlement of the Western Reserve would find this book appealing. Not only does the book contain facts and figures it focuses on points of special interest and mentions the famous and not so famous.

A novice genealogist will find the Ohio Resource list invaluable. Any future visits to a cemetery will have new meaning for me after reading "Cleveland Cemeteries". It has given me a curiosity for local cemeteries.

A well-written and readable book, "Cleveland Cemetaries" provides a thoroughly researched chronicle of many cemetaries across the city and biographical tidbits on some of the notable individuals located at each. I learned a great many things from the book, not only about these particular locations and individuals, but also about lifestyles during different periods in the history of the city. It was an interesting book and I plan to use it for future genealogical research and expeditions into the past.

While we have all been taught by the gods of political correctness that all native Americans were tranquil, land loving, pacifists, who only resorted to violence after horrific attacks by the evil white man, the reality was far from this fantasy.

Native Americans did horrific things (as did their white counterparts), to their enemies. Settlers were decapitated and their heads mounted on poles as warnings. The city of Wheeling, WV is named for this act. Another normal atrocity was to flay their victims alive, peeling their skin from their bodies in front of their families. Women and children as young as five years old were raped in front of their fathers or husbands. Homes were burned, infant babies thrown off of cliffs because their captive mothers were unable to keep pace and take care of their children.

While white men performed atrocities as well, often mimicking the horriffic acts of their enemies, such as "Mad" Anthony Wayne, or the "Hair-buyer."

This book is nothing more than the idealized ramblings of some PC liberal intent on re-writing history in their own image. In other words, pure BS. Don't buy it, rent it, borrow it or steal it, unless you plan on doing the good liberal thing and you recycle it into toilet paper.

This book contains a great mix of charaters and plots. Even though they could of jazzed it up a little it was stil a ture and great story for education, intrest, and fun. The book was a travel along the ohio most of the time.

Danger Along The Ohio by Patricia Willis is an excellent story about pioneer life in Ohio during the mid to late 1700's. This book is full of adventure that will keep the reader on the edge of their seat! It is a book you will not want to put down once you begin reading it. The language in this book is wonderful. It is full of similes, metaphors, imagery, onomatopoeia, and more. This book also provides the opportunity to discuss how the white pioneers viewed the Native Americans, and vice verse. For anyone who wants to know more about Ohio life during this time, this is a perfect book. Kids love it!

The book looks very promising at first glance. You get a 4 page history (nothing here). Chapter two is 50 pages of oil cans , moth spray and home drip oil cans dated through 1989. Mainly 20/30 buck stuff.(moth balls and parrifin,WOW).After pages of Maps, credit cards,calenders,salt & pepper shakers and ice scrapers, now the meat.Pumps and globes.I was ready.18 common globes pictured, I can accept that.Two whole gas pumps pictured.(50's Tokheim,wow).A small globe list.1/3 page(no pics).Then 70 pages of signs, patches, uniforms,toys. No mention of years of pumps built specifically for Sohio,the hundreds of offshute globes used. Islander lights,air machines, the stuff you drove up to are not to be found here. All the unique to Sohio station things in the 30's,40's,50's. Not pictured here.If your looking for that memory of pulling into an old "modern" Sohio,this book is a blackhole. Great icing, NO CAKE!

Excellent source of history and information. I just ordered the new book by the same author and have heard nothing but good reviews. (COLLECTING OIL CANS)

This is an excellent guide to all of the Sohio memoribilia. Anyone who enjoys perusing antique stores for petroliana will enjoy this book -- especially since it is the first of its kind for Sohio merchandise!

I have spent the last 3 months reading 4 dozen various mysteries and I have enjoyed every single one of them--until now. I found this book terribly confusing with the story jumping around between past and present and the assortment of characters. I thought that the character of Charlie Taft was very undeveloped and that he should develop a "passion" for the dead Imogene rather laughable. I could not understand why people had such sympathy for George Remus and was disappointed by the ending. Any book that I start, I force myself to finish. Many times I'm surprised halfway through. But I now wish I had bailed out on this book after a couple of chapters. It wasn't worth the time. I read in Holden's notes that he had two editors for this book. Perhaps that was a big part of the problem. This will certainly be my first and last Holden.

Jazz Bird takes place in the 1920's in the midst of the prohibition. The story starts of with the murder of Imogene Remus, the wife of a convicted bootlegger. Her husband, George Remus, confesses as the killer but he seems like an unlikely suspect as he's always been deeply in love with his wife...

During the trial their story unfolds a twisted and complex tale of betrayel and manipulation...until the end when you find out the truth about what happened to their relationship and the day of Imogene's murder.

The characters are colorful enough to keep you reading but the ending goes no where. Entertaining but not dazzling. I give this one 3 stars...

This is the first work by Craig Holden that I have read; it most certainly will not be the last. I am not familiar enough with the historical basis for this book, so I comment purely as a reader. "The Jazz Bird", is a wicked book, from a large cast of characters whose loyalty cannot be placed until the book's end, an immense fortune built by prohibition, and the co-star of the book Imogene.

Imogene is one of the better female players that I have read in quite some time. If the character in the book bears any resemblance to who this woman truly was, there must be additional books written already, or more will certainly follow.

The author reconstructs the 1920's with great detail, right down to noting the Rag Time Piano Music of Scott Joplin. If you recall the music, you may also remember the movie that brought it back when Paul Newman and Robert Redford gave classic performances in, "The Sting". This work is much darker than the movie I reference, but if the time period appeals to you, the book will as well. Prohibition parties where 100-dollar bills were under the plate of each guest, or perhaps dozens of new cars awaited the guests who stayed the night as gifts. Add to all of this Imogene, daughter of the privileged class who marries the largest rumrunner, systematically destroys all she was brought up to be a part of, and does it with either the greatest calculation, or the most grievous unintended consequence.

The book is a classic roaring 20's tragedy that you know is going to happen but Craig Holden brings you there through a series of brilliant characters, and the most circuitous of routes.

This is the first installment of the Kate Cavanaugh Culinary mysteries.

Kate Cavanaugh is heir to the Crown Chili fortune and one of Cincinnati's favorite theme party consultants. Preston Schneider, a friend of Kate's, who runs also the restaurant and fine arts critic for Cincinnati's Life Magazine was found slumped over the organ in the sanctuary of the First Community Church of Clairmont. The suspect list was long as he was called "restaurant critic from hell".

Kate is also catering a Christmas party for her mother Patricia Cavanaugh, better known as Tink. As far as Tink is concerned, Kate can do nothing right. Tink is what I would call a mommy dearest for sure.

On top of all this, Kate's friend Cherry Jublanski comes to town for a visit. They have not seen each other in over twenty years. Kate definitely has her hands full but she feels compelled to solve the murder of Preston Schneider.

Add One Dead Critic is well written with a plot that flows with consistency. Characters are rich with content and humor. I really liked the fact that the author included Mr. Boo-kat, a Welsh terrier and his high-jinx.

Included in this book are recipes that sound wonderful and I intend to try them.

This is a very light-hearted read.

A well written, fun book with terrific characters. Lots of good recipes, great twist to the "whodonit" - I am looking forward to the next book by this husband and wife team.

Sorry to disagree with you guys...but I think this book is terrible. The writing is cliche and ungrammatical, and in some cases dumb ("he had to admit he cared for the bony whore"??) the storyline was contrived and unrealistic, and I was NOT interested in the naive character of Titus Bass.

I have read many books in this genre and would have to say that this is the first author that I have come across that includes so many vivid sexual encounters in his writings. I can handle it once in a while, but it got to be too much for me. Honestly, I didn't care all that much for "Carry the Wind" either. If you are looking for a good mountain man book, try "The Big Sky" by Guthrie. If you are looking for a 1800s romance novel, this should work.

This book by Terry Johnston is like all his others (and I have them all), excellent! Terry has a unique gift in his telling of the history of the mountain men of the Rocky Mountains. He brings them to life in a remarkably vivid fashion and his readers leave each book with a sense of awe and anxiety in waiting for his next publication to hit the shelves. "Dance on the Wind" is well worth your time and as is typical of a Johnston novel, you'll have a hard time waitin' for the next one. Read it!