This is the first in the series of Coffin books that I have read. I must tell you that this book kept me guessing until the very end. Although the ending was a bit of a letdown, the rest of it leading up to it was terrific. John Coffin is a great character and I plan to read more books in the series.

This book was quick to read and had enough twists to make it enjoyable. At different times throughout the book I thought I knew who the killer was and sometimes I was right and then changed my mind. I did this a number of times as more information was revealed. This is the first book that I have read in the series and enjoyed it. I imagine that by reading more books in this series, I would get the know the characters better and enjoy the books even more.

This book is good for a quick reference. It is filled with sketches that are grouped into categories (chairs, tables, beds).
It can help you identify the style of a piece of furntiture, but doesn't help authenticating the piece.

Excellent and easy to use reference book, illustrates styles in thier purest form. Does not treat the subject of authenticity but notes characteristics and idiosyncracies of various examples.

Though the writing is clear and lucid, his overall argument lacks clarity. The theories presented are interesting, but often a bit of a reach. The detailed nature of his accounts, though at times is fascinating, it can elsewhere contribute to the soporific tone of the book. However, it is evident that the author has a great deal of affinity for his subject, which contributes to an enthusiastic basis for the book, but cannot justify the obvious biases that he let seep into his writing.

Fascinating in every respect, The Hand of Cicero uses the life and career of Rome's most famous orator in order to illuminate the centrality of writing and documentation to the ancient Latin world, long thought to be an almost exclusively oral culture. The book is elegantly written and persuasively argued. But in its extended meditations on Cicero's life, it is also utterly engrossing, as all great stories are. This is the best book that I have read about Cicero or about ancient rhetoric, aesthetics, and law in the last five years. I recommend it with unstinting enthusiasm to academic and non-academic readers alike.

I am new to the internet so I needed a book written for a dummy. This book was not as easy for me to understand as some of the other books I checked out from the library. I got lost and fell asleep.

This book can take you from ground zero to up and running your own web page through its clear consise graphics and explanations. There are also plenty of easy-to-follow exercises that put the subject matter to use. I learned more in less time than with any other book I have seen on the subject

In this book, Butler, for many years a senior Methodist minister in the Central Valley of California proposes a "two story line" reading of the Gospel of John, in which chapters 11-13 are taken to be keys to Jesus' inauguration of a new form of universal ministry. Mary and Martha are, the author concludes, included in this new form and intent of ordination for all of Jesus' disciples. This unfolds by means of a complicated system of hidden signs which, the author argues, parallel the intentions of the Fourth Gospel with transformation of the priestly caste system of the Pentateuch. The capstone is Mary's intended anointing of Jesus which, by Jesus' words "Let Her Keep It," turns the anointing upon Mary (her odination to ministry), as the sign and seal of the anointing of all of Jesus' disciples.

"Let Her Keep It" by Thomas W. Butler is a well crafted exploration of Mosaic oracles known as 'semeia' in ritual symbolic gestures found in first century Judaism. Butler applies intuitive detective work, spiritual insight and scriptural scholarship to the Gospel of John, gaining a fresh perspective, exposing a deeper layer of significance and uncovers cohesive connections between elements that have been viewed previously as separate events. His inclusion of directly translated material from the Greek text is a real plus for those struggling with the language barrier and for those who have been taught a prejudice against certain translation editions.

Butler's exploration of John's Gospel is especially ingenious. By removing the artificial constraints of chapter and verse, (which were a later addition to the text),as he presents what are seemingly separate events he unfolds three interrelated acts of a play. With the thoroughness of Robert Eisenman, and having taken cues from such scholars as Allen Culpepper and Raymond Brown, Butler has gone beyond the boundaries of his predecessors with a plausible new slant on the material. If his conclusions are correct, Butler has opened a door of easy access and facilitated a quantum leap for general readers as well as scholars.

His conclusions support a far broader role for women as recipients of the heritage of Christ's promise to make of us a priestly people.

M. E. Bessette

I received both the Let's Go Germany and the Let's Go Italy guides as gifts for my three months of travel, and, recognizing the "Let's Go" moniker, assumed the guides would be valuable. I was wrong.

The hostel picks proved to be American frat party hang-outs and the sights listed could be found in any other guidebook or in the tourist information pamphlets handed out in train stations. Most of the restaurants listed had either closed or changed management (resulting in higher prices) and most of the unique, out-of-the-way listings were impossible to find because the directions provided were as descriptive as "take the U-Bahn to Rotkreutzplatz and go east."

One redeeming element of the guides were the pension listings, which were usually accurate. However, if you can afford the luxury of a private room every night, why would you bother with a budget guide? I advise all budget travelers to opt for one of the Lonely Planet or Rough Guides.

As a native citizen of Germany, I can testify that the book "Let's go Germany" is quite remarkable. My wife Hilda and I are frequently underway in Germany and we find this book very useful and organized in a logical and humourous fashion. In particular the chapter of my "home town" (Berlin) is quite contemporary and extensive. Also, the research of known only to German vacationers resorts like Frisia-islands and "holstein switzerland" is very good. We hope, that other travellers will be able to have enjoyment from this book as well. Best, H. Müller

This is an excellent reading of Samuel Butler's 1900 prose translation of The Odyssey; however, it is not unabridged, as it claims. Butler's translation runs to about 118,000 words. This 6-hour recording appears to contain a little more than half the text.

My children (8 and 12 years), as well as the adults in our family, totally enjoyed this four hour cassette version of Homer's Odyssey. Roger Rees, who performs the Odyssey, does a great job. Such a good job, in fact, that we intend to purchase the Iliad, which he also records under the New Millennium Audio label. This audio tape is certainly not a substitute for reading the book, but for children too young to read it but who are interested in ancient Greek culture, literature, and mythology, these tapes are great. In addition, these tapes are great entertainment for the whole family on the road or in other circumstances where reading the text isn't convenient.

I thought this book was light of content, making it easy to read, enjoyable, amusing and fun. The story is based around a simple misunderstanding that escalates to huge proportions. A fun book for most any age.

This is a great little story that begins with a typical laugh at beaurocracy gone wrong and gradually swinging over to a great story about the multiplication of the guinea pig.
It builds to an hilarious climax that will have you in stiches.
This will not appeal to all senses of humour, but to those it does it will hold a great memory once read.

I bought 4 of Nancy Butler's novels a while ago and put them aside on the TBR pile. The Discarded Duke was the first one I picked up and I was extremely impressed. Not quite so impressed with The Prodigal Hero although I liked it very much.

I think that Nancy Butler, somewhat in the same vein as Carla Kelly, is good with characters who are not "top drawer" and are either from a humble and/or hurt background. MacHeath, our hero, is from both. Alexa, our heroine, is from a family in trade with roots even lower than his. So, in the world of Regency fiction, they are pretty unusual. Both are drawn well but the villain of the piece, a semi-aristocratic cousin of Alexa, is a little incredulous (and therefore, to a certain extent the plot) and I found him and his actions not quite believable. There is a large cast of supporting characters on both the side of good and evil and there is also some violence in the story.

My problem is with MacHeath. For a man of obvious intelligence, he seems to let an overweening sense of honour to get in his way almost until the last page. Also, I thought too many of his personal behavioural traits were attributed to his Scottish roots which, frankly, did not really add to the development to his character. Although falsly accused 10 years before the action begins, he let his over-inflated sense of pride get in the way of clearing up the situation - a somewhat immature stance to be sure. As a result, he is unable to find personal happiness in a meaningful relationship with a woman and allows himself to sink to a seamier side of life (albeit we are told without impugning his honour!). Alexa just rebels against what her father wants for her and develops a pretty thick skin and makes no headway at all in finding a suitable role for herself as she is shown as having carried a torch for MacHeath since she was 11 and is unable to move past it. Thus, it is only when circumstances bring them together that either of them make any progress and for a man of 33 and a woman of 24, they have left it rather late in life. So, of course, there are lots of obstacles to overcome.

Nany Butler uses a metaphor (MacHeath's prosthetic hand) for false pride rather well but unfortunately, I think his view of his amputation is a little sensitive in a time when a successful amputation was a triumph over clumsy surgery and rampant infections. Nor was it unusual in a time when maiming was not as uncommon as it is today.

This is an author of considerable talent. Although there are a few awkward turns of phrase scattered through the book, overall, her prose is excellent and her dialogue well constructed. I think that the Discarded Duke was better but here, nevertheless, is a very good story about people maturing and leaving behind sad and hurt pasts. I recommend this one but did not feel it was a keeper.

Ms Butler once again proves that she can write a solid, thoughtful Regency romance.

MacHeath, a man undone by a false accusation in his past and the loss of his hand in a sea battle, stumbles on a plot to kidnap the daughter of his former employer. He sees at once the opportunity to foil the plans of an old enemy and perhaps regain the honour taken from him in his youth. He does not realise, of course, that the charming child that was Alexa has grown into a compelling woman who will ultimately heal his wounds and help to restore his honour. The story is a dramatic adventure as MacHeath and Alexa flee the villains to gain the safety of her father's estate.

Alexa, after an initial bout of silliness, pulls herself together to behave sensibly and logically in the face of all perils. It is rare to see this sort of deliberate character development in a heroine, and Ms Butler handles it well. MacHeath, unjustly accused of a crime in the past, and further maligned by fate with the loss of his hand, fights his attraction to Alexa even as he admires her cool head in the face of extreme danger. Her battle is to restore to him his sense of worth. Although MacHeath fights his attraction to Alexa this is no hate-turned-love story - Alexa's love for MacHeath, once realised, is mature and strong, and even as he fights his attraction his admiration for her is clear. These are two people who genuinely look beyond appearances and value each other for their individual qualities.

This book benefits, as Ms Butler's mostly do, from an interesting choice of setting. It is not, perhaps, as clearly realised as it is in other books, such as "The Ramshackle Suitor" or "Keeper of the Swans", but it is unique and interesting all the same.

Though MacHeath is a very different hero from the delightful Roddy in "The Ramshackle Suitor", some of that same romantic sparkle runs through this book. The subject matter is, of necessity, more intensely treated, and there are, as in all Ms Butler's books, some very memorable scenes between the hero and heroine. A definite keeper.

A friend of mine recently got me interested in rockhounding and we went and purchased this book... Anyway, we went to a random site and the maps, although detailed with mileage, don't show distance to site from areas in california. Example, distance from Barstow to Ludlow? YOU have to go there to see the mileagle sign. Secondly, there needs to be better markers on where to turn for these dirt roads. A few sites were passed due to not being where they "should be". I really would hate to take some unmarked road for 10 miles only find it leads nowhere and then have a problem getting back. The lore and history of the sites was nice along with hints of how to dig or uncover rocks but the maps do leave a bit to be desired. Finally, and most annoyingly, all of the photos were black and white and of low quality. How can one tell what green jasper looks like with a black photo? Blooodstone? Rose quartz? This one portion of the book really was what made me not want to purchase my own copy. Maybe future editions will have better maps and at least a few color photos of the rocks,etc. Thanks for your time, Dean

This book really is solid. It's got some of the best information on everything you'll need to be right in the middle of all that this great big state of California has to offer. I have traveled to 14 sites so far, and almost all of them have been productive and well worth the trip. What I like most is the extra types of information given; like the best season to look for gems and minerals at a particular site, and the specific tools you'll need. Especially appreciated are the alternate maps that are recommended, like the USGS and the BLM, which match up right to the book. Way to go and thank you very much!