In the Christian Bible, Parables are used to to portray theological truths in a fictional melieu. This roman a' clef, serves a valuable purpose in making Opus Dei finances available for easy comprehension. It is a worthy companion to Hutchison's monumental reference opus (pun intended): "Their Kingdom Come," and is even more timely. E.g. The NY Times on August 3,1999, reported that grains found imbedded on the Shroud of Turin indicate that the Shroud is much older than its carbon dating suggested. This 1997 book gave the same imbedded grains hypothesis, and provides an interesting alternative theory: The Shroud of Turin was an exact copy of the authentic Shroud, which has subsequently disappeared. Using this book as a guide, one could hypothesize that the alleged homosexual murder suicide of a Vatican guard and his commander, might be a double murder to forestall publicity about the relationship of the two men. An Italian journalist was preparing a detailed expose at the time of the two men's death. The Calvi, Sidonna, and Calvi's secretary's "suicides" make this "fiction" a most interesting tour de force. Recent events in the Diocese of Santa Rosa, Calif., make this "novel" even more compelling.

What an adventure!
This new writer deserves many accolades and I for one feel I got more than I paid for. This was truly a grand adventure back in time. The land is so tough, the lifestyle so difficult to endure it seems inconceivable that so few writers in the past opened my eyes to these people as A. B. Dunn has done.
I can only hope this author keeps writing so I can enjoy another spellbinding plot in the not to distant future.
My recommendation... buy it!

This is a good textbook for a junior high consumer science class. It is very general, though, and does not go in depth about the subjects it covers. I teach in an inner city school. Sometimes I find it too immature for some of my students.

I am an ardent reader of British mysteries. I was first drawn to this genre by reading a series of cozies. Over the years my tastes have changed, though, and I now much prefer a British psychological thriller or police procedural. However, I still read a cozy now and then for a change of pace.

"Death at Wentwater Court" is the first book in a series featuring The Honourable Daisy Dalrymple and Inspector Alec Fletcher of Scotland Yard. Take a weekend gathering at a country estate in the 1920's, one of the guests who is the unfortunate victim, suspects galore, a promising romantic story line, more red herrings than clues and you have the makings of the ultimate cozy.

Most of the sleuthing is done by Daisy, a member of the British aristocracy who, being rather down on her luck, is supporting herself by working as a journalist. Alec seems to be along for the ride providing her with bits of information that set her off in her pursuit to solve the murder. Oh, he also serves a very important role as a possible suitor for Daisy.

I am giving this book three stars because I found it to be a bit too one-dimensional for my tastes. However, if you like an old fashioned very British mystery, this just might be your cuppa.

So you've read the entire Christie and Sayer's catalogue? And you're still hungry for mysteries set in the 1920's. This book is probably worth an evening. It's not a mesmerizing as the greats but is still a solid cozy with a likeable,'liberated' (for that era) heroine. The pacing is pretty slow.

Also, after reading Airth's "River of Darkness" which is also set in post-WWI England, this story seems a little shallow. It's one thing for a book written in those times not to include modern concepts. It seems somewhat strange to see a 1990's book without a touch of psychology.

Daisy Dalrymple is striking out on her own. Using her wealthy background, she gets a job for a magazine photographing and writing about the famous Wentwater Manor. Not too long after she arrives, one of her fellow guests is found dead in a hole in the ice. At first, it's thought to be an accident, but soon Daisy is convinced it's murder. Aiding the handsome Scotland Yard detective assigned to the case, she does her best to find the truth while keeping the family out of scandal.

This is a fun mystery set in 1923 England. I was drawn into Daisy's world and was quite curious about what was really going on. Having said that, the plotting did seem a bit uneven. Still, it moved along nicely and reached a conclusion that was surprising and satisfying at the same time. The characters are almost all English aristocracy, and it was interesting getting a glimpse into their world at a less then ideal time. The dialog was so good that I could hear the accents most of the time.

I'm looking forward to reading the other books in this fun, historical series.

That's the Cliff Note version for those of you, like me, who have this as required reading before a big 'brand summit'.

Everything else was rehashed, renamed, or retreaded.

Read it on the plane in about 30 minutes, regardless of the heft.

Don't let the somewhat intimidating word "operationalize" keep you from investigating the pages of Building The Brand-Driven Business: Operationalize Your Brand to Drive Profitable Growth (Jossey-Bass, 2002). What authors Scott Davis and Michael Dunn show is that brand-building can and should be supported through more than just MarCom initiatives. The retail clerk who actually smiles at and is helpful to customers does far more to support the brand than the priciest ad campaigns - as Wal-Mart has long-since discovered and McDonald's apparently has yet to grasp. The authors posit that building those supporting behaviors and mind-sets (not to mention systems and processes) and then using the brand promise as an integral measure for business decisions is what "operationalizing" is all about. It's interesting positioning that's perhaps ahead of its time - but certainly one that non-marketing, senior decision makers should relate to. There's a lot of confusion among non-marketers as to what "brand" is and isn't. The authors make a case for elevating it to an entirely different level in the organization.

Before I read this book, I never thought of a retail clerk or a customer service representative as a company's brand ambassador. But what the authors explain is that brand building should be supported by more than just the people in the marketing department. Certainly, brand has become the strategy du jour among marketing people these days, as evidenced by the number of books on the market. However, this book treats brand in a different context, defining it through the concept of "operationalizing" it, bringing it to life through a company's processes, systems and employees. It makes a great deal of sense that a company's senior executives must embrace the brand and its promise by linking it to the company's corporate strategy, so it becomes part of the culture. Several case studies in the book are helpful for understanding why so many well-known brand names have been successful by using similar techniques to bring their brand to life across the organization.

Amusing and brisk, "Welcome to Higby" could have been called "Melrose Place, Mississippi"--although Dunn's ear for dialogue is far superior to any trashy sitcom's script. I admit I couldn't put it down, and I certainly laughed out loud on several occasions. Yet, like a television comedy you just can't stop watching in spite of yourself, Dunn's sophomore effort will undoubtedly fade quickly from memory.

The novel follows the adventures of a large number of Higby's residents over Labor Day weekend in 1993, and there are some truly crazy and truly troubled and truly loveable people in this town. The kind but insecure Euless Ludlam and the homely and lonely Carmen Valentine are certainly favorites, while the put-upon and illiterate (but fully reformed) ex-convict Bowmar Stambler can be my neighbor anytime.

Another reviewer's rant disparaging the "stock characters" isn't in the least fair: In what Southern town would these people be cliches? To cite just one example, I didn't fully realize until halfway through the book that the Leigh sisters, neither of whom match any type I've ever imagined, were "people of color" (to use the author's expression). Yes, the plot may be predictable--a bit too predictable, in fact--but the characters, their beliefs, and their behaviors certainly are not. Still, I agree that the novel occasionally go so far over the top that it turns from sitcom to farce: a vegan fundamentalist Christian cult that kidnaps wayward drunks and imprisons them until they become complacent believers? What's the point?

If you're looking for an undemanding, eccentric romp, you may well enjoy the hijinks of the inhabitants of Higby. It's a nice place to visit...

This is a feel good story about a whole bunch of small town characters told in short rapid fire chapters. There is nothing special about the plot, and the characters certainly aren't deeply drawn. As light reading, I kind of liked the book. The characters are often fun, sometimes fresh, and it is fun how so many of the characters will appear, exit, and then re-appear some time later. It is multi-generational, and ranges over the entire middle class, even upper lower class! The book isn't mawkish, and fails only when attempting to meaningfully depict personality change (one partial exception being a lonely woman who meets her man). Let me confess that I stopped reading the biblical quotes which begin each chapter, and perhaps I did not properly appreciate the deeper significance of the work and its themes of salvation and redemption.

Mark Dunn's new book is the perfect antidote to winter chill. Curl up with it in front of a fireplace while a blizzard rages outside, and watch it warm your heart and cheer your soul. Set in a small town in the Bible Belt south, the book traces the lives of several characters, including a despondent minister, a sagacious masseuse, the local male heartthrob and several cultists, over a Labor Day weekend. Stereotypes quickly fade in the author's able hands, as he weaves a tale of his characters' endearing foibles and takes the plot round some unexpected twists and turns. There are some absolutely hilarious passages, written with a deadpan humor that had me laughing out loud in the middle of the night. The book is in many ways richer than the author's award-winning "Ella Minnow Pea", and demonstrates Dunn's extraordinary versatility as a writer - the subtext is more subtle, the humor more biting, the author's command of setting and tone more skilled. Well done!

As Geek Love is one of my all-time favorites, I purchased Attic with high hopes. I was highly disappointed; it has some interesting passages, and some good character portraits, but it was overall a disjointed, self-indulging mess. Don't bother; read Geek Love again instead.

THIS BOOK HAS THE CHARACTER I EXPECT FROM KATHERINE DUNN'S WRITING, ALONG WITH THE WEIRD OBSERVATIONS, WRITING STYLE AND CONTENT. SHE HAS SUCH AN ODD VIEW OF THINGS AND THE STREAM-OF-CONSCIOUSNESS/BIZARRE STORY IS A LITTLE BIT CHOPPIER THAN TRUCK AND GEEK LOVE, BUT I STILL LIKED IT. I HOPE SHE WRITES MORE SOON! I CAN'T GET ENOUGH OF HER UNIQUE STYLE.

Being a big fan of Geek Love, I was happy to find Attic. I wasn't sure what to expect, and what I found was a mess of prose. You are inside the mind of a crazy woman who finds herself in strange places and situations. You are given a first hand view of her thought process -- run-on sentences, vivid imagery, and confusion. I thoroughly enjoyed the ride. After reading this book, I felt insane myself. Not recommended for the mentally unstable.

Gary B. Nash, Charlotte Crabtree, and Ross E. Dunn have written a fascinating book that looks at the problems which occur when politics and the teaching history clash, as they inevitably will. The specific event described is the fight over the National History Standards which were established to give states and local school boards voluntary guidelines. The idea blew up when Lynne Cheney wrote an op-ed piece damning the standards. All three authors were involved in the project and bring their personal views and insights to the book in a helpful way.

The most interesting aspect of the book is both the historical and international aspects applied to the history wars. It allows the reader to put this recent battle into a more helpful historical perspective as many examples from the past are presented. The examples from the other countries are also useful in giving a global approach to the issues. This is how it should be for a book that covers the battles over what should be taught to children concerning U.S. and world history. A good book that shows the problems that begin when politicians get involved in the teaching of history.

The dedication reads simply, "This book is dedicated to the nation's history teachers". Being a member of such an oft-maligned group, this reviewer could not fail to read every word of History on Trial with critical interest. Nash and company give a fascinating overview of the debates that have raged regarding the teaching of America's history and continue to torment our national conscience today. As a history of history alone the book would be worthwhile. The primary controversy explored involves the uproar that arose over publication of the national history standards. These had been developed by the National Center for History in the Schools, established and funded by the NEH, headed by Lynne Cheney from 1986-1992. While some of the writing does seem a defense of the embattled authors being assaulted by right-wing conservatives, both critics and defenders of the NCHS are quoted liberally. In fact, it is noted that there were few defenders in the early days of the attacks. The reader is allowed to make up his/her own mind. The initiative to develop standards came at a time when many were charging that our nation's schools were failing. George Bush had developed the Goals 2000 plan and education committees, governors, state legislatures, and local education boards began to seek solutions. The problems were not with the idea of setting standards, but with a perceived emphasis on social history and historical interpretation skills at the expense of rote memorization of traditional names, dates, and events. The US history standards were the most viciously attacked. Critics did not want teachers to discuss failures or faults with the system. They preferred glorification of national heroes (adult, white males) and national institutions. In World History, critics objected to what they considered excessive inclusion of contributions from Asian, African and Latin American nations to the detriment of the traditional Western Civilization emphasis. Surprisingly, the standards received little criticism at the elementary and middle school level. Critics included Rush Limbaugh, Pat Robertson, Ralph Reed, Lynne Cheney (once an ardent supporter) and Lamar Alexander. The attacks were leveled largely not at the standards themselves, but at sample lesson plans that accompanied them. Many critics did not seem to have read the standards. Having been a participant in the implementation of these controversial standards in a secondary public school US History classroom, using materials that had been developed by the NCHS, this reviewer can assert that the war is ongoing. However, the very conflict-laden nature of the teaching of history is one of the characteristics that keeps it so vital and interesting. For hope, all readers should look forward to the final chapter, "Lessons from the History Wars". This should be required reading for all potential history teachers now in college classrooms.

This is the kind of book I'd like to have written - the kind of book that would really clarify a lot of public debate, not to mention academic work done in the discipline of history, if it were widely read. It does three things at once: meticulously defend the proposed U.S. National History Standards against their often savage right-wing opponents; make the case that history teaching is an important forum for the working out of cultural anxieties; and provide a chronicle of debates over historical meanings and teachings since the founding of the Republic, and earlier. A really well-written and important work, both for history students and teachers and for the interested public (of which, readers will realize, we are all a part).

Having moderate experience with Java, but none with Visual J++, I needed a book which provided explanations of what Visual J++ offered and how to implement the knowledge I already had about Java. Mr. Dunn's book, slightly different from the standard fare of instructional computer books, went to great lengths to explain how to implement aspects of Java familiar to people with some experience as well as programming tools specific to Visual J++. His detailed descriptions of what was going on in the code examples and sample programs were a great aide. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in a beginner or intermediate introduction to application development with Visual J++.

As a developer in Visual Basic I found this book an ideal way to bridge to Visual J++. The topics were intermediate but easy enough to work through. After completing it I got a solid understanding of many areas of developing for Windows using WFC and Visual J++. Part of the ease for me in bridging to VJ from VB was that the author explained all of the code that he presented in clear terms. This is refreshing! The book's code also uses 100% of WFC in its examples and they ALL work. This is something that I found not the case in other books on VJ 6. The only area that is lacking in the book is a chapter on DHTML. Currently the book states that it is geared towards intermediate readers geared towards people developing for Windows. After completing the book and its many examples, I felt the author met this goal. I look forward to future editions of this book with even more advanced material!

I had banged my head against my computer for 3 days. I was trying to create what should be a simple application in VJ++6 and was constantly running into little problems. I had several Java books - none helped. Then I found this book, whew! This book is the perfect companion to VJ++6 if you are transitioning from VB or if you just want to create a working WFC application right away. Shannon tells how to do all of the things you need for a working [database] application. He has very meaty chapters on important topics like creating controls, MDI and database access. He also clearly explains how to use interform communication. The examples, all practical application components, account for most of the book. My favorite way to learn is reading source and you get plenty here. In the end he provides a large project example with good information on how to plan development in Visual J++. If you are a Java head looking for highly technical information you may not want this book, but if you are like me and just want to start creating useful programs using WFC and J++6 right away - this is the VJ6 book to buy. It plugs the information hole in the VJ++6 Programmer's Guide and much more.