A well illustrated book , numerous examples of what is known in pottery as " Egyptian Paste ". Ornaments , tiles ,cups, figurines and the ever present ,beads. More than enough colour photographs to satisfy the thirst . The 3 different processes of manufacturing Egyptian Paste objects are explained technically. Plus ,the many variations in the paste through the centuries. My only reason for not giving another star , not enough goblets .

I waited for some time to get my hands on this work. If you're interested in AE faience artistry - the pictures alone are worth it. A fine addition to the Egyptophile's library.

Okay, I'll admit it...my interest was piqued with the movie "Pleasantville". I couldn't believe people actually lived like that. So I bought this book and I'd recommend this book to anyone who doesn't want to wade through thousands of pages of heavily biased drivel disguised as non-fiction. Note to Mr. Faine- when are you coming out with the next book??(thanks for signing my copy.)

The cover of this book takes you back immediately to the 50s when coca cola was searved in a real glass at a soda fountain after school; where pretty girls and anxious boys laughed and used their straws to stir the crushed ice. A time where there were stools to sit on and booths to stretch and slide in. A time of more formalities. Those "good ole 50s". The days that a previous television champiom, Archie Bunker, would lament in the 60s. Of course there are many of Archie's holdovers who even today lament those days. But, it "ain't gonna happen". We have run too far toward the center of acceptable behavior that our perspective is in the mushy zone of maybe yes or maybe no. And we float in the dreamland of anything goes. The most intriguing thing about this small paperback is that it reminds one of the recently published William J. Bennett's book "The Book of Virtues-A Treasury of Great Moral Stories". Of course, Bennett's book is more than 800 pages; while "Ned Ventures" barely makes 64 pages. But the same ten themes discussed by Bennett run through out the seven short story topics in Ned's adventures for they are used to describe a way of life for a group of teens that would be difficult to find or duplicate today anywhere in the United States. This book would probably be viewed as a collection of short, rather interesting fairy tales that could be classified as fiction on a reading list.Many teenagers might not believe that a life such as this ever existed. Yet, an older parent or a grandparent could enlighten us all. Most young people would read this in utter shock for it's almost unbelievable that a half century ago kids really lived this way-and enjoyed it. Example, when did you last see a fourteen year older working on his bike in order to get ready for the race through town? When have you seen a teenager on a bike throwing papers on a paper route? Are there any curly hair blonde girls around or is it all straight and long? Do you know any kid who knows anything about Charles Atlas-Who? Yes, Charles Atlas! If you can get a teenager to open this paperback, they will not stop after the first page. They will find it enjoyable and fascinating.

If you're only in the market for a name dictionary (which any educated person should have on his shelf, not just the expectant), the "New American Dictionary of Baby Names" by Leslie Dunkling and Wm. Gosling gives a far beefier entry for each name-- meaning, history, translations, when in and out of fashion, etc.-- than this book does, and for the same price. (Sorry, but the Brits beat us hands down at this kind of thing.)

However, there are better reasons to get this. One is the above-average introductory essay, which goes into parents' reasoning, ethnic and geographic differences, and other issues. The other reason is the survey carried out by Dr. Evans of nearly eight hundred thousand 1990 newborns.

He ranks the top 500 names for each sex, which account for about 5 of 6 babies christened. (That's all, you say? Consider the percentage of children born to immigrants with very unusual names.)

This list speaks volumes, and should be studied by sociologists and historians, particularly those holding to a Gibbonesque or Spenglerian worldview. Grandma and grandpa's names, if here at all, will be near the bottom, and it's a shock to see how far even the "hot" names of the 1950's have sunk. Fashion is king, especially for girls, and the majority of names ultimately have the same meaning: "mommy's an airhead, and daddy humors her". Our ancestors would shudder at the sheer vapidity, and disloyalty, of their descendants.

Prof. Evans plays the diplomat in his introduction, titled "Naming Baby" (as if the new person will always be a baby!). He neither defends nor dismisses the thinking of modern parents, but merely sets forth their reasons. This alone can ruin a thinking person's day.

Dr. Evans has given us, whether by intention or not, the perfect tool to learn how NOT to name your child-- a most valuable service. Get this along with the Dunkling/Gosling book, and it's a well-invested...

I thought this was a wonderful, fulfilling baby name book and shared great ideas for your babies names. I loved how this book was so full of creative ideas and extremely helpful in chosing names. These names were defenitly unuasual or different and are up to beat, popular names. I have no complants or suggestions for this book and just wanted to share how I feel for others. Overall, this book was full of good names and and was emencely wonderful. Thank You , JDG

This highly readable biography of President Grover Cleveland could be mistaken for a flattering book circulated during a candidate's political campaign. There are no warts, no blemishes, no clay feet -- at least none which Mr. Brodsky has disclosed about this President. Well, he did describe Mr. Cleveland's gross obesity, but not critically.

Readers who know little about the man who was both the 22nd and 24th President of the US might have no grounds to challenge this very informative portrait of a man whose great integrity is a milestone in American history. The portrayal could very well be scrupulously accurate: an exceptional man -- one who valued truth, honesty and fairness in his personal life as well as in the conduct of his political offices. The book narrates in good reporting detail the many crises during which Mr. Cleveland constantly held to his high principles with an iron will. Here was a man who earns the reader's respect and admiration. Would that today's politicians hold President Cleveland as their example.

What Mr. Brodsky has written -- and he has done it very well, indeed -- may be all one needs to know about Grover Cleveland. One is left with the encouraging hope that a man or woman gifted with a strong character, who is untainted by corruption, can be elected and can hold office for the good and gratitude of the nation.

Though almost forgotten by history, this biography reveals President Cleveland as an unsung American hero, a man of sterling character, someone to be admired and emulated. The book was brisky written, chatty at times, but more important: it was inspriring and well worth the time to read .

Let's not make more of this than it is: as sturdy and stolid as its subject, it's a lengthy paean to a clearly above-average President and a round condemnation of the Gilded Age in which he so earnestly labored. If you take this 'biography' on its terms, you may be charmed by Alyn Brodsky's plain spoken affinity for the man, his very young wife, and those generally fine men around him. But this is no true biography, it is a popular history and a mid-length life and times. To the author's credit, he makes no pretense otherwise. Here even Cleveland's surreptitious jaw cancer surgery, a well-kept secret for a quarter century, is not a malicious deception, but virtually the cross the great and good man deems right to bear in silence. The President's firm stands, fist slammed down on his desk, on the thorny issues of the day - high tariffs, gold standard, Hawaiian misadventure, veteran pensions, monopolistic practices, treatment of minorities - are all placed in a context of good civic ethics. This would be too much puffery were it not for Brodsky's sound defense, well researched, of Cleveland's thoughtful positions and sincerity as contrasted with his rivals'. Of course, in relation to such virtual or literal crooks and fools as Arthur, Blaine ('Continental Liar from the State of Maine'), Harrison ('is he as small as all that?'), Hanna ("king maker"), McKinley ("a bronze statue looking for his pedestal"), Tammany Hall, the robber barons, and Bryan, Cleveland is every inch (and pound) the hero. In sum, a worthy read, always absorbing, at times elevating.

Alyn Brodsky did an outstanding job in this biography of a relatively little known, but interesting president. He did a great job in not only describing the events of Cleveland's life in great detail, but also gave us a fascinating look at the man's character and personality.

One thing that is particularly enjoyable about the book is that it doesn't seem to drag on any useless details. The pace is nearly as rapid as the speed at which Cleveland rose through the ranks of the political hierarchy to become President of the United States.

Brodsky shows in detail all of Cleveland's enemies and difficulties ranging from James G. Blaine to the Panic of 1893-1897 that would mark his second term. Throughout the book Brodsky continually shows the steadfast nature of Cleveland through all of these troubles. Brodsky shows how Cleveland would defy even his own party to do what he believed was the right thing to do no matter what the cost. A constant theme throughout the book is the Cleveland did not seem to care much about his own popularity in his decisions. He believed above all else that his loyalty was the the U.S. and not to any political party as Brodsky pointed out so clearly.

Particularly well done, aleast in my opinion, were the detailed series of passages describing Cleveland's handeling of the Depression of 1893-1897. In particular the passages about the Treasury crisis and the process by which the Wilson-Gorman Tariff came into being were extremely fascinating in their detail.

Overall, I would reccomend this book to anyone who is interested in presidential history and in particular more obscure presidents such as Grover Cleveland.

I am a real live 100% Slovak. I have lived in Cleveland my entire life. I can relate to lot of Milan's memories, though I think he eats a lot better than I do and I've never smoked a cigarette in my life. I've enjoyed this series since the first book, "Pepper Pike". I wish Mr. Roberts had stayed with naming the books after the Cleveland 'burbs. (For you non-Clevelanders, Pepper Pike is one of Cleveland's wealthier suburbs). We have lots of neat city names in this area and that would have been fun. Anyway, I stopped reading the series for awhile after Mr. Roberts killed off Marko. I still don't see the point of that. Milan is a good guy who does a good job. Except for some street names (Avenue vs. Road, etc.), Roberts gets the Cleveland stuff right. This was a good story. It's well worth your time and money, especially if you know Cleveland. I read a lot of mysterys and I usually don't figure 'em out, but I did on this one. Must be my Slovak blood, right?

The book is about an apparent suicide of an Internet executive and Milan Jacovich's assignment as a P.I. to determine why a beloved daughter would kill herself. It's smooth, well-written and accurate in its description of how an Internet ISP operates.

Others seem to find the book preachy, but after a half-dozen Jacovich novels Roberts undoubtedly finds it necessary to do some explaining why Milan does what he does.

Roberts writing has become smoother during the series and characters are well-developed. Local Cleveland color is excellent, but some aspects are well-developed and others are dropped in without contributing to the story. For example, his description of the bridge at the site of the suicide is excellent, complete with historic context. But his mention of a Cleveland Heights' passion, Mitchell's Candies, is superficial -- even though the store has a history as interesting as the Lorain-Carnegie Bridge.

Good detective fiction; a must read for Clevelanders and ex-Clevelanders like myself.

Computers, ... suicide --or is it murder?-- porn sites...what else could you want in a Les Roberts novel? Especially a Milan Jacovich adventure!?

I have always had a crush on Milan Jacovich...but now I think I'm in real trouble. Is there anything more charming than a crusty, street-smart detective learning his way around chatrooms and surfing the web? Well, yeah, I guess there is. It's the fact that this crusty sleuth actually admits he doesn't know as much as his son, a Freshman at Kent and his girlfriend, the real computer genius. It was great fun seeing computer lingo and on-line culture through the eyes of chatroom-virgin Jacovich.

Besides the "fun" in this book, are the layers of grisly discoveries Milan uncovers until THE DUTCH act is solved. There's something for everyone in this book, and I think Roberts has done his best yet at embracing a wide audience of mystery fans.

The book did curl my toes in some places. For those not familiar with Internet culture, Milan's discoveries will shock you. For those more familiar, Milan's discoveries will disgust and confirm much of what you already believe about the darker side of the World Wide Web. Naturally, our hero, Milan (pronounced MY-lan, thank-you very much!) shines light into that darkness with his talents as Cleveland's favorite sleuth.

Kudos to Roberts! I believe he has written a top seller, and I am glad to have gotten one of the first copies! As a book collector, I also want to express my delight in the book's jacket. It's absolutely delicious in its metallic blues and greys. I liked it so much I removed it from the book while I read it so it wouldn't get mussed! THE DUTCH is a great book -- inside and out. Enjoy!

The good stuff:

This book features a very strong, well-defined, quite likeable private-eye. His personality shines through in every chapter. And he's not too cynical or angry for my tastes. He's just--very stubborn.

As for the interwoven plots, plus romantic subplots (more than one, if you count all the flirting), splendidly realistic dialogue and reactions from Jacovich fueled story material that should leave a reader wondering what he or she would do, as Jacovich does, at every step.

But:

The only spot where the novel takes a bit of reduction in my rating is in the ending. I had hoped for a stronger whodunit element for at least one of the puzzles presented in the book. If Les Roberts could apply--or has applied!--all of this terrific writing to a real "Puzzle for the Ages", then I'm in for a treat sometime in the future, because I will definitely revisit this author, oh, at least once or twice. The only other Les Roberts book that I have in fact read was Pepper Pike when it first came out, and it was arguably the better entry, because of the trickier whodunit content.

At least one review has called Les Roberts a 'hard-boiled' writer. Not so! "The Indian Sign" is a mystery of intricate structure, and overtones of Greek tragedy...with traditional elements from the tragic hero/stoic Indian grandfather to the chorus of whining women who populate the novel and comment mournfully on the action. And it all rests upon the human shoulders of Milan, the flawed detective whose very human-ness moves the action to the surprising ending.

"The Indian Sign" was the second Milan Jacovich novel by Les Roberts that I have read. I really like the character, as well as Roberts' writing style. Milan has two cases in this novel. He is working for Armand Treush, owner of TroyToy, who is suspicious that his accountant might be a corporate spy. His other case comes to him by circumstance. He notices an old Native American sitting all day on a bench outside his apartment in the frigid February cold. When he hears that the old man has been murdered, he goes to the police and identifies the man as the one he had seen. He then gets a visit from Eddie Ettawageshik, who is the grandson of the old man, Joseph Ettawageshik. Eddie tells Milan that his grandfather was in Cleveland looking for his great-grandson, Andrew Takalo, a baby who had been kidnapped from his home in Cross Village, Michigan. Milan agrees to help Eddie locate his nephew. This book is an excellent addition to the series and is highly recommended.

I read Sharon Mitchell's first book Nothing But The Rent and while I enjoyed most of it the ending left me hanging big time. This time around however, was much better. Sheer Necessity was a realistic story about the ups and downs of one womans family and how she in particular copes with it. Toni being a single mom dealing with a deadbeat dad is trying to raise her young daughter while trying to put herself through school and starting her own business. She then has to deal with her family and all of there problems. While she trys not to overstep her bounds she can't help but care about what they are going through and try to help. Sharon Mitchell doesn't try to portray the character as holier than thou but lets her experience real emotions that you could imagine yourself going through with similar actions. I applaud her for this major comeback. If anyone read her previous novel and is gun-shy about reading this second attempt don't be, you'll be pleasantly surprised. Keep up the good work and I look forward to your next works.

Sheer Necessity is about the ups and downs of family life and the challenges that family members face in just plain ole daily living. The story is told from Toni's viewpoint. Toni is the oldest of four children, and as the eldest she feels responsible not only for her six-year daughter, but the going ons of her siblings and parents as well. Sheer Necessity exhibited balanced relationships/situations and showed both sides of the AA family-the bad as well as the good. I especially enjoyed and welcomed a book that tackled the positive side of the AA family and what we're willing to do for the ones we love; Sheer Necessity also showed the love of a husband and wife together over 40 years and the sacrifices they made to keep their family together.

Ms. Mitchell has definitely grown as a writer and I was pleasantly surprised by the improved writing skills/style versus her first book. Sheer Necessity was well-written, (most of)the characters were well developed, the dialogue was crafty and the storyline was realistic and believable. I enjoyed the sub-plots and how they were smoothly interjected and interweaved through the fabric of the main character's story. My only disappointment was that the younger brother was not more developed; I keep wondering why was he included as I did not find him necessary to the story's plot. Overall, Sheer Necessity was a welcomed change of pace/genre, represented a Good Portrayal of A Black Family in the New Millennium and a great second novel attempt by an up & coming new author.

I really enjoyed this novel. I felt that the characters presented in this novel were true to form and could be members of anyone's family. Each daughetr found herself tackling heavy issues and in the long run, overcoming those issues and leading a better life. Although each one of the daughters had their problems with men, and with themselves for that matter, I loved the authors portrayal of the depth of the trust, love, support and respect which existed between the parents and the concentration on the family unit. Ironically though, the same love support, trust and respect which sustained the parents marriage for 30+ years, elluded their daughters. They just don't make things like they used to! My parents will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary next year (God willing). The effort and hard work necessary, on both of their parts, to sustain their relationship over the years is something pretty rare. In any event, I thought the book was good and a must read for anyone who has strong roots in family

The book jacket states that "The Wrong Man" is a thriller, and nothing could be further from the truth--this slow, plodding work is far from an edge-of-the-seat heart-pounder. It's meticulous and fascinating, however, and is certainly the most complete of the works about the Sheppard murder case.

There's no doubt that author James Neff believes in Sheppard's innocence. A native Clevelander, Neff states on the front end that he grew up believing that Sheppard was guilty based on local media reports; he changed his mind after researching the case and followed it carefully as the trials took place. Regardless of your position on Sheppard's alleged guilt, you should find this book very interesting for a variety of reasons.

First, Neff establishes a serious rush to judgment on the part of the Cleveland press to try and convict Sheppard in the newspapers, and he makes a strong case that a variety of local officials (i.e. coroner Gerber) resented Sheppard's looks, wealth and prestige and wanted to give the dashing doctor his comeuppance--class warfare was alive and well in Cleveland in 1954.

Second, Neff's argument that the killer was actually interior decorator/window washer Richard Eberling is strong as well. Did F. Lee Bailey make a critical mistake by assuming that the results of Eberling's polygraph (he passed) were legitimate? Maybe so, maybe not. But again, it's interesting to watch what local politicians and law enforcement authorities said and did to cover their tracks when faced with the possibility that a third person may have been at the crime scene.

Sheppard was damaged goods when he was released from prison, and his demise is a sad one. The murder case clearly wrecked the Sheppard family as well, and I had mixed emotions as I read the final chapters--by then Sheppard's son, Sam Reese Sheppard, was in the midst of trying to clear his father's name 46 years after the crime was committed...with the evidence so tainted and damaged after all these years, and with so many witnesses dead or unable to remember to what they testified so many years ago, will there ever be a conclusive final chapter to this sad and depressing saga? Probably not. But this novel is well worth your time, if for no other reason than to gain a more balanced perspective about the case. Like many other people, I simply assumed Sheppard was guilty because the press said he was.

I tried to write something great about James Neff's The Wrong Man: The Final Verdict on the Dr. Sam Sheppard Murder Case, but decided instead to use the words of one of my favorite mystery writers, Les Roberts, who writes a detective series starring Cleveland private eye Milan Jacovich. In his "Bookmarks" column in the January 24 Currents, Les said his favorite non-fiction book of 2001 "was The Wrong Man, James Neff's re-examination of the Sam Sheppard murder case--brilliantly and painstakingly researched, and written with power and compassion to read like a contemporary novel ...I was on the edge of my seat through every page--as if I'd never heard the bare bones of the case before."

James Neff's The Wrong Man not only is a good read but a compelling one. Though the title (subtitled, "The Final Verdict on the Dr. Sam Sheppard Murder Case")gives one the ending, the drama of the story keeps the reader going as well as any good mystery. Neff's investigative talent and what he uncovers helps build that drama. Neff connects the revelations of the passions built by media/political forces in Cleveland during this 1950s case to the McCarthy era mentality and to the growth of what was then considered the "safe" suburbs.(The book has been relatively ignored by the local Cleveland newspaper despite its massive previous coverage. But don't expect a whitewash of its main character. The content also has relevance to today's media frenzy in some of the highly emotional cases that become media spectacles and a warning that what seems to be might not be at all. Neff's detective work, obviously tenaciously done, has a Holmes-like quality. It's hard to put it aside once into the book.

This book brings to life the fascinating Sheppard case, shedding new light onto the tragic events surrounding the murder of Marilyn Sheppard and the travesty of the criminal justice system in Cleveland, OH. The book provides a systematic and extremely readable examination of the evidence, while capturing the essence of the characters involved and the times in which they lived. Author Cynthia Cooper leaves you in no doubt of the innocence of Dr. Sheppard, the culpability of the Cleveland police, and the identity of the real killer. This is a captivating, well researched and extremely well-written book. This text refers to the Mass Market Paperback edition.

Mockery Of Justice gives the full story of what really happened 7/4/54 when Dr. Sam Sheppard's pregnant wife Marilyn was bludgeoned to death in their home. Their son, Sam Reese Sheppard co-wrote the book with Cynthia Cooper & they did a terrific job, providing much detailed information and photographs. After reading this you will most likely come away with the realization that Dr. Sheppard really was innocent. The trial transcripts & notes reveal information never before known to the public. A must-have book for fans of true-crime novels.

While this book doesn't prove who really did kill Marilyn Sheppard, it does provide us with enough evidence to believe, beyond a reasonable doubt that, that Dr. Sam Sheppard was truly innocent. Unlike, Fatal Justice, which attempts to "prove" the innocence of Jeffrey MacDonald, Mockery of Justice does provide us with "hard" evidence indicating that someone else was involved--not Sam Sheppard. Whatever your beliefs regarding the case, the book is well-researched, informative and thought-provoking.

The rise of Danny Greene and his battle with the Cleveland mafia makes for an interesting tale. As a relative newcomer to northeastern Ohio, I found the book to be a useful history lesson. However, the writing lacks polish. Porrello could use a good editor, and was ill-served by his publisher who allowed so many spelling and punctuation errors to go to print. It's also hard to keep track of the large number of players mentioned in the book, and sometimes their relation to events at hand is unclear, at best. Still, if you like to read about wise guys, it's a book worth picking up.

I lived in Cleveland during this period.
It was an amazing time.
As an Irish Catholic I had some affinity with Danny Greene, but realized he was basically a gangster no matter what his public persona as a community and labor leader.
Rick Porello does a fine job of telling this amazing tale.
I only hope the plan to make it a movie goes forward, I'll be first in line.

Being a Clevelander I found this book to be wonderful. Being able to identify names and places made this book even more interesting. I definitely like the factual information instead of a "hollywood" reporting style. If you have read other mafia related stories, this one helps tie the names and places together during that era. I would defintely like to see this story portrayed in a movie.