The Midnight Louie mysteries series is a GREAT READ!!! The deiscriptions of Las Vegas ( and in this book New York) are right on the money and makes the reader long to take a trip to Las Vegas!!

With each new book, the plot gets thicker, the competition between Max and Matt gets better with each new installment! Which one will Temple choose?? Midnight Louis is a cat after my own heart, and I love his point of view and devotion to his human.

Congrations to Carole Nelson Douglas on a another hit book!!

They're back, Midnight Louie, that irresistable dude about town and his favorite human, Temple Barr. This time, the duo sets out to take the Big Apple by storm as Louie auditions for the position of chief spokescat. Once again, however, they find themselves in the thick of another murder as the actor hired to play Santa Claus at the ad agency Christmas party, turns up dead. Never fear, Louie is on the case, sniffing out clues (and catnip) wherever they may be! Meanwhile, in Las Vegas. ex-priest, Matt Devine, keeps Lt. Molina's life from becoming dull as he tracks down the illusive Cliff Effinger, while Temple's other beau, Max Kinsella tries some holiday magic of his own. Douglas paints a vivid picture of her characters, both human and feline, and their relationships, while weaving a mystery that keeps the reader engrossed until the last page. Merry Christmas to all and to all a good read from Carole Nelson Douglas and Midnight Louie!

Las Vegas publicist Temple Barr sheds her professional persona to become the doting stage mother to her feline companion, the audacious Midnight Louie. Madison Avenue gurus are thinking of using Louie as a spokes-cat for a feline product. Temple, believing that her "Baby" needs his chance to shine, accompanies him to New York where they stay at her aunt's place.

Wherever Temple goes, a corpse will follow. During a Christmas party given by the owners of the advertising agency, Santa Claus chokes to death while performing. At first, everyone thinks that the president of the company died, but soon it is realized that the deceased is someone else. The incident seems too freaky to be an accident so Temple and Louie will not rest until they know for sure.

NYC, seen through the eyes of Temple and Louie, is a humorous and ingenious experience that almost seems absurd. Carole Nelson Douglas provides lovable Louie with several believable anthropomorphic traits that makes him seem like a feline with a human brain inside. CAT IN A GOLDEN GARLAND has a very complex sub-plot involving one of the heroine's erstwhile suitors, allowing readers a chance to understand what drives him yet holds him back from committing to his beloved. This entire series is unique and refreshing and highly recommended for someone who enjoys a different type of mystery.

Harriet Klausner

I am almost as much in awe of the erudition of the editors (James Engell and W Jackson Bates of the Bolingen edition) as that of Coleridge himself. I think it is often easier to parade one's own wide reading than to recognize someone elses's references. These editors track down the most obscure of Greek, German and Latin quotations and it's an education to read their notes.
There are really three themes in the book. One part is philosophy, one is literary criticism, and one is straight autobiography. These are dispersed throughout.
As regards the philosophy I am probably what he would have called "ignorant of his understanding." Coleridge shows a remarkable knowledge of German philosophy, read in the original language. As far as I know his philosophical ideas have not been highly regarded by pure philosophers.
The literary criticism is the most powerful and original part although the texts he uses will be unfamiliar and even anaccessible to most modern readers.
The fragments of autobiography such as chapter 10 and the first of the Satyrayane's Letters are the most readable.
While this is an unboubted work of genius I have denied it the fifth star because of a certain lack of redability. It is not, for the modern reader, a page-turning work of entertainment. It contains many gems, and much wit, but is one of those we take up today for instruction rather than diversion.

Bede Griffiths, in his book The Golden String, referred to STC as "one of the most universal minds in English literature."

I don't know of anything comparable to Biographia Literaria. At times it's the narrative of a great poet's life. He may veer off into literary criticism or even parody (see the, to me, hilarious section in which he gives "The House that Jack Built" in the rhetorical manner of a recent poet). He powerfully attacks the positivism of his age (and ours). He evokes the wonder of being human.

This scholarly edition is the one to get, if you're going to put in the time to read this rich classic at all.

Coleridge was on the romantic side of poetry, however, when reading Kubla Khan, and Rime of the Ancient Mariner, you can't help but think there was some what of an explorer, an adventuristic style in his words that, save opium, had no way to bud a grow with all around hearts-a-bursting. I liken Pablo Neruda to Coleridge, their visions, love, and spirit's ferosity seem to have been forged from the same mettle. Grecian Urn, Nightingale and others should all be required reading for the young. I guarantee there would be a lot more wonder, and a little more love in this world.

I laughed, I cried; two thumbs up!

This is a fast-paced story about an amazing man who has, through hard work, tenacity, and strong vision, accomplished more in his life than most people ever will. The life lessons he learns are lessons for everyone, and his outlook on life and philosophy are words to live by.

From his boyhood on a North Dakota Farm, through fighting the Germans in the mountains as a ski trooper in WW II, his scientific exploits, flying falcons with the royal families of the Middle East and making movies with Walt Disney - raising a family all the while - Morley's life story is hard to put down.

The only improvement I could have asked for was a little tighter editing of an already-tightly written book. But the story is so strong, you'll revel in each moment regardless. Steubner deserves huge credit for capturing the essence of this great man.

Cool North Wind: Morley Nelson's Life With Birds Of Prey by Stephen Stuebner is the compelling story of Morley Nelson, a gifted naturalist with a special love for raptors, and a man whose work in falconry, nature films, raptor-rehabilitation, and the recovery endangered peregrine falcons (among other achievements), has long distinguished him as an exceptional and respected conservationist. Highly recommended reading for environmentalists and wildlife enthusiasts, this deftly written biography presents a complete picture of a World War II veteran, dedicated environmentalist, raptor expert, and truly remarkable man.

There is a great story in the life of Morley Nelson, and Steve Stuebner tells it well in this fascinating biography. Nelson has dedicated his life to the rehabilitation and protection of raptors--those big birds that are really into eating meat. When an eagle pierces Morley's chin through to the roof of his mouth with its talons, Morley reasons that the bird hadn't done it with malice. It had simply mistaken his tongue for a snack. This book is loaded with "bits" like this--on Morley's life as a film maker, conservationist, family man, and soldier. Stuebner deftly relates incidents from Morley's service in the 10th Mountain Division during WW II, his grievous personal losses, and his professional triumphs. This is a book that anybody--not just raptor wonks--can enjoy.

I bought this book for Easter, since many teachers use this library for seasonal books for their classrooms. It's a little sad for the happy Easter season of bunnies and colored eggs, outside the Christian observance, but it will nicely serve a more pressing need. The is about a dying Grandmother, Babci, retelling her fondest memories of her youth before and after her immigration from Poland. Her granddaughter's dancing reminds her of her late-husband, Dziadziu, and the way they used to dance together. Mother's preparations for Easter reminds Babci of her mother's baking and of the chickens with feet painted blue to distinguish them in the community flock. Through Babci's remembering, the granddaughter sees Babci's desire to dance with Dziadziu again. Children often must face the death of a grandparents and other loved one and this book can help them come to terms with this inevitability.

This is a sweet and gentle story of a young girl's relationship with her grandmother.

Gabriella loved dancing and would practice her ballet for her dear Babci who was very old and bedridden. As the child danced, Babci would start to reminisce about when she was young, and would tell Gabriella stories about her former life in her native country, Poland. She told of dancing with her husband Dziadziu and how handsome he looked in his white shirt. Another of her favorite stories was how the family raised chickens and had to paint their feet blue to distinguish them from their neighbors birds, and she then would talk about the difficult trip across the ocean to America. The book ends with Gabriella and her mother preparing to give Babci a wonderful Easter meal.

The detailed illustrations are memorable. There is one of Babci on board a ship coming to America, and she's trading her Polish pottery teapot for food. Another illustration is of Gabriella braiding Babci's long hair. Each picture is a special treat! The drawings were beautifully done by Annika Nelson. This wonderful story would make a worthy present for any person who has had a loving grandmother. I still have a great memory of my Babci tucking me under a huge feather bed when I was six years old, and kissing me good-night.

It brings back so many memories of the good times had with grandparents and illustrates how special they can be in a child's life. It is truly a heartwarming story! I bought one for all of my aunts. We miss our Babci and Dziadziu very much!

Only reason why I bought this book was for my college class "Crisis Intervention for the Criminal justice professionals" The book is a bit overanalyical, needs more common sense and less of the author attidude. The book gives the feel of one side and not the other. Good information for research papers...that's about it.

This book can help you even if you've already been in an abusive relationship. It helped me recognize and understand the signs my ex-husband was showing me before we were married, though at the time I didn't have the tools I needed to see what I was getting into. It also gave me the confirmation and strength to not return to the relationship by reinforcing what I already suspected and by sharing the stories of others who had experienced abuse.

This book will help you figure out what it was that drew you into the tangled web of an abusive relationship. It is designed more to help you avoid an abusive person than to help you get away from one. This book follows four different case studies and helps to analyze each different warning sign and helps you find out what to look for. I would recommend this book as required reading to any young person before they get married.

Tired of buying your kid another mindless, souless piece of useless plastic? Then try John Nelson's book about American folk toys. Not only does Nelson delve into the history of toys in America, he also provides blueprints and step-by-step instructions on how to build them. The book should appeal to anyone interested in toys, anyone looking for gift ideas, anyone who is handy with tools, and anyone who wants to learn!

Nelson has done a splendid job of integrating the readability of a coffee table book and the ruggedness of a functional shop-guide. His smooth writing style and clever wit led me to read the book cover to cover in the first night it was in my possesion. The illustrations are of the utmost quality. Truly a first rate book. Thank you John, for a book that will hopefully lead to homemade toys for my grandchildren this christmas!

Wow! What a terrific book! My daughter came across it when we were Mother's Day shopping. We fell in love with it because of the beautiful pictures and clear illustrations.

The way the book is designed and written makes it very easy-to-use. The writing is so engaging that my daughter asked me to read the Climbing Bear section over and over! The clearly written instructions and sharp illustrations get even me, not a woodworker, ready to go ahead and give it a try.

I especially like the introductory material presented for each toy or game. The author gives interesting anecdotes on the toy's origin, history, and often how he stumbled upon it. The author, in addition to being a careful writer, clearly has first-hand knowledge of how children love and use toys and games. He also has a penchant for beautiful simplicity.

This book was a mistake of mine! I have been plagued by frequent nightmares for years and thought I had found something insightful. It is a thin book, more for young aged persons, Perhaps around the age of 10-12 are most suited for this particular piece.

I agree with the other review on this exciting book! Everytime I read it, I learn something new about all the strange and wonderful dreams I have. A great read, I recommend it to everyone!

the book of nightmares is very easy to understand and is a very interesting book. I've read it dozens of times and learn more from it every time i read it.

Not a bad book. Thurber presents American campaigns from an academic perspective in describing how they operate and how they have changed over time.

This is less of a practical or "how to" book than a descriptive treatise on campaign practices. It is valuable in introducing the reader to the why's and hows of modern campaigning in America. A person who is looking for a guide to organizing their own run for local office will find this book interesting, but will want to supplement it with one of the many more practical books on the subject...I'm teaching a course in elective politics at the University of Pennsylvania's Fels Center of Government. This is one of the required reading books for the course and is also used by some other teachers in the field at colleges and universities around the country.

I'm a graduate student from Taiwan. I study in Graduate Institute of American Studies of Tamkang University. My professor wants each of us to have this book and read it closely. Although I haven't got the book yet. But according to my professor's recommendation. I think this should be a very good book to understand how election won.

I'm a university student in Taiwan.The book has been translated in Chinese,and I've read the book.In the beginning,my professor suggest me to read it,then I did it.The book is really helpful to people to understand how's the campaigns & elections going on!

Liz Adams is learning lessons in power: when to resist it, when to take control of one's own life. Faced with a series of momentous decisions in both the private and professional spheres, she's coming to grips with the ingrained tendency in her to let things slide, to accept results that are ultimately unfulfilling rather than address life head-on and voice what she really believes.

It is one of the charms - as well as the accomplishments - of this first novel by the talented D-L Nelson that the reader participates effortlessly in this voyage of discovery, propelled by a humorous and tight-knit plot and rendered realistic by language that resonates with the protagonist's growing self-awareness.

In a nutshell, the story revolves around the dilemmas faced by Adams, a hyper-organized and successful professor at a Boston nursing college. Living a comfortable well-heeled life as the wife of a corporate jackal, Liz discovers love - and with it the erotic rush of meaning - in the form of a remarkably healthy iconoclast named Peter, who runs a Middle Eastern food stand dressed up, among other things, as a chickpea (hence the title). Various complications arise to make even more difficult the challenge of choosing between lifeless but secure convention and the prospect of a deeper connection. These include an ostensibly unrelated imbroglio involving issues of academic freedom and sexual harassment. The latter sub-plot becomes the dramatic field for a demonstration of what Liz Adams - and with her, the reader - learns about responsibility and the embodiment of self-forged truths.

As with all good literature, Chickpea Lover works on various levels, with the language reinforcing the plot and the very believable characterization of friends and villains alike drawing the reader further toward the book's pragmatic epiphanies. A certain staccato stand-up comedian tone at the beginning subtly mellows into wry perceptive humor as the protagonist becomes more grounded through her own deepening perceptions. Marketed as a true romance, this feminist fable of a woman awakening to her strengths offers much more than one would normally expect from the genre.

Buy it, but be forewarned: you're not going to be able to put it down.

Though unhappy with her married life as her spouse David is never home, Fenway College nursing professor Liz Adams says nothing avoiding conflict as if it is a deadly disease. Her business mogul spouse never offers salutations let alone words of affection. In fact his only discussions with Liz are soliloquies criticizing her for some alleged fault or error or ordering her to do something for him.

Peter owns a Middle East food stand near the college. Liz is one of his better customers as she enjoys the palate and how Peter and his employees dress up as vegetables. Peter and Liz become friends and soon lovers. She becomes pregnant and asks David for a divorce but he is vindictive man who is trying to destroy her for betraying him. Other problems surface, but with Peter at her side, Liz faces the dinosaurs of her college and the nastiness of her ex spouse with dignity (and a wrongful firing suit) though knowing she will probably lose.

Though at times this engaging contemporary relationship drama slows down to pontificate, readers will enjoy the metamorphosis of Liz from cowardly victim to willing dragon slayer. Liz makes the plot work though the secondary cast adds depth by enabling readers to understand her and easily accept how she changes as adroitly designed by D-L Nelson.

Harriet Klausner

.....Indeed makes us stronger. And, I would also venture, more likeable characters. Like Liz Adams. Can't say I felt much other than pity for the Liz we initially meet. And pity wears thin after a while, in life and in literature.

But Liz grows. She grows into herself - her best self, her strong self, her true self. And in the process, she grows in the mind (and sometimes the heart) of the reader. You cheer her on. You want to offer advice. You want the best for her.

From the professional decisions of how best to respond to gender-based bias, to the achingly personal response to love, marriage, love again, pregnancy.....D-L Nelson made me care about the choices and the outcomes of the choices made by Liz Adams. Frankly, I can't think of higher praise for fiction than that.

I care enough to want to check back in with Liz and Peter in another couple of years. High praise indeed!

This is a great book to read to get an overview of Roman history, from the founding of the City, all the way up to the remnants that can still be found in modern civilizations.

I bought the book being primarily interested in the history of the early emporers; while I guess I would have liked a little more detail about them, other areas would have had to be sacrificed in order to make room.

Because of the necessary lack of detail, at times I got a little lost, especially during the discussions of the late Western Empire and early Byzantine Empire. This book at points requires a little more attention than some of the "Idiot's Guides."

All in all, I recommend it. I was a little peeved at the author's "politically correct" use of the terms "B.C.E" and "C.E." instead of "B.C." and "A.D.," but that wasn't anything I couldn't correct as I went along. ;-)

I just finished this book, and found it a very good read, though the effect is somewhat undone by many typos, such as unneeded or misplaced commas, misspelled or misused words ("straights" when "straits" is meant), and the occasional outright error (a couple of references to the non-existent "Year 0"). Once the reader deciphers these mistakes, though, he or she finds a generally well thought out and organized book, that covers both political and social aspects of Roman history from the founding of the city to the fall, followed by a brief section on Byzantium and the West in the middle ages. The author translates Roman writings in sidebars using colloquial English or even slang. I liked this informal approach, though others might not. He has a penchant for puns, such as Commodus wanting to rename Rome after himself, i.e. "Commodeville". I also was brought up with a start when he said at points in Roman history women had more freedoms than at any time until the last century--by which I realized he meant the 20th! The book contains several maps and photographs. Without the typos, I would have rated the book five stars.

One can find any number of books on ancient Rome. Many of them deal only with one particular period, or with very specific aspects of ancient Rome. But Rome endured, in one form or another, for a quite staggering length of time. So much happened during that period that I've always found it hard to get a handle on Roman history--to place the isolated events and the strange-sounding names in some sort of context. Nelson's book provides a broad overview of the entire pageant of Roman history and culture from 800 B.C.E. through the fall of Constantinople in 1453 C.E. This book is *precisely* what I'd been seeking for the last couple of years. Besides being informative, it's quite a fun read. One gets a sense of the Romans not as mere historical archetypes, but as people, facing problems similar to those we face today--sometimes with exasperation, often with humor. I especially liked Juvenal's description of the joys of a traffic jam, circa 234 C.E.!

The history and culture of Rome are long and complex. This delightful book is a great roadmap for the interested reader.