This first novel by Eastern North Carolinian Carter Monroe (pen name) further establishes the truth that this is the writers' state.

In JOURNEY, Monroe leads the reader through 48 hours in the life of his sensitive protagonist, Eddie Watson. Watson, the victim of a ruthlessly manipulative father, hitchhikes out of town for the weekend and by chance encounters the early 70's drug/subculture in a way that he had not expected.

The centerpiece for the novel is perhaps the most accurate description I have seen of an LSD trip. Watson's experience becomes a doorway to a better understanding of himself and his future. This is a rare look at the intellectual side of the psychedelic adventure.

Monroe draws his characters unpretentiously and holds the reader to the page with an unflinching desire for realism. Only the dialogue is a little weak, but one will find that the power of the writing grows as the book advances, and that the Bukowski-esque father and son scenes are indeed riveting.

Courts, criminals, juries, judges... there's humor everywhere! David Carter has penned a lot of it. I like it because I've had many of the same thoughts, in and out of court. Good humor likes company and every attorney who thinks he or she is sooooooooooo hot should spend a little time with JP and his friends.

If you like military historical fiction in a story that has a beginning, middle and an end, with lots of action, tactical and weapon descriptions then enjoy this book. I reckon it is better than his English Civil War series, at least it doesn't "wander" as much. I would, however have appreciated some maps. I have yet to read "Knave of Swords" but am looking forwards to going backwards to the prequel.

I have followed the adventures of M. J. Trow's Sholto Lestrade for some time now. This Lestrade is a bit brighter and charming than the Holmesian version. He is also one of the most accident prone detectives in the entire mystery genre. When he isn't having real accidents - having his feet crushes by women in lifts, losing the end of his nose, getting poisoned, and simply standing in the wrong place - he is busy having verbal accidents. Lestrade is one of those people who is not the least put off by the fact he doesn't understand a word, leading to horrific puns and malapropisms.

"Clifford Hanger had introduced Gardiner to Lestrade as the foremost philologist of his generation. Lestrade nodded coolly. After all, a man's religion was his own affair."

Trow seems to manage to throw at least one of these stomach turners in every few pages. He reminds me a bit of Terry Pratchett, although Trow is more slapstick than Pratchett's needle sharp wit. This is the kind of stuff you either like or you don't, and if you don't, then "Lestrade and the Kiss of Horus" is to be avoided. For the rest of us pagans, the books are fun romps, to be enjoyed and then forgotten.

In this story, Detective Chief Inspector Lestrade has been retired from the yard for some time. Even though he is a full three score and ten, he still gets called in on odd cases. This time the case is the Old Fogey Murders, something one has to figure Lestrade has developed some expertise in. However, Lestrade hardly gets his investigation underway when he is called upon by Jack and Tilly Holinshed to investigate the mysterious death of Lord Carnarvon at his digs in Egypt (for the archeologically disadvantaged that's Tutankhamon's tomb). Lestrade, his daughter Emma, and several police officers are flown to Egypt to look into the case.

What Lestrade discovers is that he hates to fly, hates the desert and hates camels (who dislike him right back). He also finds several unusual uses for henbane and learns that he should never try to take a gun from a Texan tycoon. Of course, where there's henbane, there's going to be plenty of foul play. The mystery manages to stay one jump ahead of the reader right to the end when Lestrade, as usual, pulls the rabbit out of his hat, solving both the slaughter in the Valley of the Kings and the Old Fogey Murders simultaneously.

As I've already indicated one does not read these books because they are great mystery stories but because they are great comic relief. The "Kiss of Horus" is interesting as well as funny, with a whole cast of characters to enjoy and plenty of exotic scenes. As it happens, the series isn't written in any special order, so one can start here as well as anywhere else. Which I certainly encourage you to do.

The book features around 160 different sets of letterheads. Each set is usually completed by callingcards and envelopes, which can result in mind-boggling design-solutions. Quite often the callingcards are the real stars. In one example, metallic fibres are woven into the card, in another, the card is printed and cut as luggage check cards. The only disappointment is the quality of the printed photographs, as they are sometimes quite blurred (that keeps it from the fifth star). Otherwise a must!

Okay, maybe it didn't change my life, but it sure brought a warm feeling into my home at Christmastime. A quick, entertaining book, great for adults and children, A Little Christmas Story is well worth the read.

This book is that follows the true Littles story. This is very helpful for those children who need to read small amounts and retain the information for reivews, etc. Our school (a Christian school) promotes this series as one that the children can read not only from an academic standpoint, but also from a interesting perspective for the children.

This particular book also teached the children about weather - effects, results, and what action to take.

I hope all who purchase it for their children enjoy it.

A good book with a variety of works and ideas.

Really entertaining. Takes you back the post-depression days in the Piedmont Region of North Carolina.