This one volume biography of FDR is probably the best distillate possible, though the task is daunting and the result is less than perfect. At times, the book 'drags' a bit, particularly through the 30s. Explanations of New Deal politics perhaps don't lend themselves to the kind of exciting story-telling that wartime meetings at places such as Tehran and Yalta do. In fact, I sometimes felt the book lapsed into an economics textbook, but it is still mostly quite readable. Freidel does not editorialize much about his subject and so (fortunately) one is left to draw one's own conclusions about FDR.

If one wants to start learning about the life of the 32nd President, this is the book the start. Friedel devoted his life to chronicling the life of this great leader. The book is very readable and covers all the important events in Roosevelt's life. The general reader and historian will be impressed.

The best one volume biography on America's greatest President. As a historian I higly recommend this tome.

A black scout, stupid most of the time and was smart enough only once to rescue a guy, with limited knowledge of scouting and some experience in shooting; Graham, a somewhat tough and stubborn wagon master; a girl called Aggie; an old plainsman with a sidekick Kid; a lot of Camaches and butchering killings assembled together this going-no-where and aimless story. Lot of flash-backs trying to give the readers some unnecessary backgrounds of these vague characters during a close-circuit fighting at a crossing only ruined the whole scenario with too many digressions. What's the symbol of being gelding the private part of Moses? This story is just like one of the mass productions out of Hollywood in black-and-white Camanches attacking wagon train lousy movies. A total failure of Clay Reynolds if compared to his latest more mature and almost perfect novel, "PLAYERS". Readers given this book a "10" should at first to finish "LONESOME DOVE" and "BRULES" , and then might tell the difference of goo

This book was actually spell binding. I found the author had me completely caught up in the characters lives. The book was hard to put down. I think that there was enough material to make two books and the characters certainly could have gone on for quite a while, those that lived. Moses Franklin was exactly as I would think a black man in those times and circumstances would feel and act. He was very believable. It floundered somewhat in the ending but I didn't mind it was a very good read.

Each of the aspiring pioneers in this book suffers, none are quite whole. While one character's mental anguish may not precisely match that of another, the pain is still real, the dream still unfulfilled.

These men and women are moving out west in the desperate hope that they will find what they desire, whether it is worldly success, relief from a horrible situation, or just a sense of internal peace.

That, of course, does not happen. Instead, they become trapped in a claustrophobic pecan grove, surrounded by brutal Indians. There, in Franklin's Crossing, each person's weakness becomes even more apparent, pronounced, whether it is greed, selfishness, or cowardice; and so, when it is vital for everyone to work together, most fall completely apart.

What I liked best about the book is that it is a woman who directly faces the nearly impossible challenges, a woman who survives and adapts and continues to fight back against ridiculous odds.

And, while little joy surfaces throughout the tale, the final feeling is that there is always hope, that the possibility of a better life exists for those who take the necessary risks

This book is a great guide in writing, especially for papers involving documentation and bibliographies. It gives different formats too.

For executives who need immediate and convenient access to information about correct grammar, punctuation, word usage, etc. (and especially for executives who frequently travel), here is the single best source. It can easily fit within an attaché case or carry-on bag. It also includes an "almanac of resources across the disciplines" which include oral and multimedia presentation, arts and humanities, business/economics/finance, sciences and technology, and social sciences. Readers will also appreciate having a section which explains "MLA Style Papers" as well as a "Glossary of Terms" and a "Glossary of Usage." For me, one of this pocket guide's greatest benefits is comprised of the various checklists which Lunsford provides. For example, in Chapter 34, Lunsford provides a step-by-step sequence by which to proceed from an initial analysis of context to a general topic and then to a working thesis. Those who share my high regard for this book are urged to check out Gilman's Get to the Point! as well as Strunk & White's The Elements of Style and Rodale's The Synonym Finder.

I have found EasyWriter to be the most cogent, yet comprehensive, pocket guide to grammar, usage, style, research sources, and documentation available. I have successfully used this guide ever since it came out at both MIT and Harvard Extension School, with students in the humanities, sciences, engineering, and the social sciences, particularly urban studies and planning. Written by the authors of The New St. Martin's Handbook, the best combination handbook/rhetoric out there, it contains more than just a subset of their excellent, revision-based advice on the principles of grammar, style, and usage. The chapter For Multilingual Writers is a fine treatment of the particular problems encountered by those for whom English is a foreign language.The comprehensive treatment of citation formats for MLA, APA, Chicago, and CBE is both complete and easy to use, as well as being much handier than any of those formats' full-length style guides.The glossaries of terms and usage are also particularly useful, in these days when it seems that the schools have adbicated their responsibility to teach the basic structure and terminology of the language.

But what sets this guide apart from all the others is the inclusion throughout of material dealing with online communication, from discussions and examples of online style to listings of credentialed Web sites and the essential print journals for research in 15 disciplines, from art through sociology. This is one handbook that shows awareness of the ways in which educated people in all fields are writing, communicating, and conducting research today-both online and in libraries.

Both authors are established, well-known, and highly respected scholars in the fields of rhetoric and communication, as well as effective practitioners of the arts comprised by their research. EasyWriter is by far the most up-to-date, comprehensive, and useful guide to writing in the contemporary environments of academia, business, and research. I highly recommend it for anyone who can appreciate and benefit from a mature approach to tackling the difficulties presented by communication today.

This review concerns the original 1943 edition. An elderly scientist comes to the Hardy home to seek Mr. Hardy's help in finding out who is stealing valuable silkworms from his lab. Mr. Hardy is busy on a case of government supplies being stolen from road construction sites, so Frank and Joe tackle the case for the scientist. Of course, the Experimental Farm where Frank and Joe had summer jobs is near the scientists home, and, oddly enough, a road construction site is also nearby. The book was a little slow going to start and I imagine many readers, after reading the first couple of chapters, would feel like giving up on the book, but it ended well. There is a moderate amount of action and the writing is good. One thing I didn't like about this book was that, aside from Aunt Gertrude and Mr. Hardy, none of the other main characters of the series played a prominent role in this book. This isn't the most thrilling book, but most readers would probably not feel like they wasted their time reading it.

This review concerns the revised 1971 edition. Frank and Joe investigate the deaths of two pilots after the planes that they were flying crashed into the cliffs at a nearby airport. This is a very interesting book with a really good plot. I enjoyed learning what the flickering torch really is and how it was connected to the rest of the case. This book is loaded with action and it kept me interested from the first page to the last. Ignore the awful cover on this book and read it anyway; you won't be disappointed.

This is one of the greatest Hardy boy bnooks. It is about a scientist who comes to the Hardy's house and wants Fenton to find his stolen silkworms. Fenton however has tpo got away on another case and so Grable reluctantly lets the boys on the case. The boys are also working at the Experimental Farm where they meet some suspicoous characters. Then the Hardy's chum Dick Ames (who does appear in the Secret of Skull Mtn.) may come under suspiciion for a crime he didn't do. Read the rest to find out!!!!

Sam Radley, Mr. Hardy's assistant, is found wandering in the woods, dazed and confused, and is later kidnapped from the hospital. Is it because he is the only one that can identify the criminal, who is a master of disguise, that Mr. Hardy is after? And just how do the mysterious new tenants of the creepy Sayers mansion fit into the picture? The mystery comes to a climax as Frank, Joe and Chet are trapped in the mansion during a hurricane and must outsmart their enemies before they escape. I really enjoyed this book. It has quite a bit of action and starts off very well; the Hardy's have already had a couple of confrontations with the crooks by the end of chapter 2. The story is rather interesting and the book is fairly well-written (particularly from about page 90 until almost the end of the book, while the hurricane is going on). One thing that I especially liked was that many of the characters of the series were included in the book: Mr. and Mrs. Hardy, Aunt Gertrude, Jack Wayne, Chief Collig, the Mortons, even Ethel Radley was included. Unfortunately, though, none of the Hardy's friends, except Chet, were included. I was a little disappointed with the end of the book as I thought that the crooks were ultimately caught with not that much difficulty, but this doesn't really ruin an otherwise good story. I liked this book and I think that other fans of the series would enjoy it as well.

My son Zack (10 years old) read this for a school assignment. He loves reading this book.

The book's interesting from the start, It starts out that Sam Radley a friend of there's has lost his memory. Then their's a break in at their house. People buy an old mansion and then Sam Radley is kidnapped from the hospital. Good book an suspenseful. The conclusion is great.

This is a great tale of two great ships, a very big war, a fanatical and ultimately suicidal enemy, and men of courage and resolution. It is told with a great deal of humanity and empathy and evokes a time and unity of purpose now long gone. The young sailors and airmen who fought the war in the Pacific served in the most vast war front of all. The distances they covered are almost incomprehensible... as was the savagery of the combat.

I read the prologue to this book and was prepared to like it, because of the people whose lives it recounts and the service they gave. The author does a masterful job of making you know these men by recounting just how they came to be on the SANTA FE and the FRANKLIN that day the kamikaze came. He is to be commended for setting of the stage and the handling of the life and death struggles that ensued.

But, and it is a large BUT, this is one of the most poorly edited books I have ever struggled through. It's all about the old Navy AOCS phrase, "Attention to detail." Just a few examples: the Japanese aircraft are almost always mis-identified, unless it is the ubiquitous Zero. The allies provided code names for the Japanese aircraft. The "Tony," "Frank," and "Oscar" were fighters, not dive bombers. The four-engined seaplane "Emily" is also identified as a dive bomber! The gun turret in the Navy Avenger torpedo plane had a single gun, not two. The canopy on the Helldiver was not hydraulicly raised; it slid to the rear. As another reviewer pointed out, the multi-role "Betty" did not have wing guns or a belly gun. Dates, particularly in the first part of the book go to 1944, when the correct date is 1943... I could go on and on. This is just sloppy work and distracts from the reading pleasure of anyone acquainted with the facts. The argument might be "what does it matter sixty years later?" Maybe not a lot to some, but little details matter a lot in life and to staying alive for those in combat. It just reinforces the fact that no one edits for accuracy or if they do, they often have no idea about the subject matter. Sad.

This is a good story and has the benefit of being true. It deserves to be widely read with the understanding that it could have been outstanding with decent editing.

In general, does a good job of telling the story of the USS Franklin & USS Santa Fe and their crews. The personal histories of selected members of the crews were well-written, interesting, and contributed well to the story. The technique of moving the story ahead, then jumping back in time, then moving ahead again was frustrating at times. Just as you have been brought to a point of action, you read about some earlier event in the ship's or crew member's history. The digressions should have been shorter to help the flow. If the author's previous works have been crime fiction, that could explain the approach he chose.
There were several aggravating errors and inconsistencies. We are told a plane is approaching from the port side, then two sentences later a sailor is looking at the same plane approaching from starboard. There are some technical errors. For example, I never heard of a Betty bomber with wing guns or a belly gun. If the author is relying on veterans' memories, a disclaimer would have been nice (as other vets have done in their books) to the effect that this is how events were remembered and may not be technically precise.
I'd recommend this book to those interested in personal recollections of WWII if they can get by the occasional error and inconsistency.

Steve Jackson, in his new book Lucky Lady, has provided us with an insight not often seen into the annals of Military history. Jackson has chosen to focus on Naval history during World War II, with an emphasis on two ships that are seemingly unrelated except for their assignment into the same task forces during combat exercises.

Jackson interviewed many of the ships' crew members in order to tell their tales, and supplemented that material with official histories of the ships and their combat experiences.

I found Jackson's style of writing to be easy to read, and very descriptive of the events encountered by the crew members. I thoroughly enjoyed his style of bringing the sailors to life in the book, and explaining the grim realities of naval & air combat.

The book also gave me new insights into some of the key military players in the war - I have a different perspective now of Admiral Halsey than I did when I started the book, and Captain Gehres is a man that I had never heard of, but I now have seen an interesting perspective of the man and respect for his struggles to save his ship.

I feel that although Jackson has provided us with a strong narrative history, he sometimes repeats information that was previously written in the book. The seemingly haphazard style of bouncing between the events occuring on the two ships sometimes leads to confusion, but this is easily overcome if each chapter/section is read as a separate "tale" to be told about naval warfare in the Pacific.

I think that this is a very good book, and will interest anyone that has a desire to learn more about warfare and the men who fought on these two ships.

For a first work, this was very impressive. The details were so thorough. Realizing what is involved in finding an extremely potentially controversial treasure. You can tell that Frank Fetter went to great lengths to be accurate...really did homework. When reading, you have to remind yourself that it is a fictional book. Nice job! Look forward to the next one...Lafitte's Treasure.

Orion's Gold was a very quick and fun read. I really enjoyed the pace (fast) and characters (kooky). Mr. Fetter is a real story teller who brings in a lot of facts to support the fictional storyline. I can't wait for the next book in the series.

For those who want a book that develops each character's background and psychology in clinical detail, this book should be avoided. But, for those of us who are pressed for time and want to read very enjoyable adventure that without hesitation introduces the characters in an unforgettable manner and carries forward a plot in an no nonsense way, mixing history and well known geography, THIS BOOK IS FOR YOU.

We are anxious to get our hands on Mr. Fetter's next book. It appears a series is in the making.

Havent been able to read the book yet. I would like to get in contact with the reader from Argentina Would it be possible to pass me his E-Mail. Thank you for your kind attention Claude Schilling.

You cannot even think about collecting locks unless you have this book. This is the "bible" which I carry everywhere I go. It contains photos and prices for almost every lock I have ever come across. Exhaustive piece of work on the subject.

Best book written on collecting locks, period. Great photos, descriptions. One of the best "antiques/collectibles" price guides on the market.

Pretty good cover artwork - horrific internal artwork, fairly decent story about the brother's in Jamaica. Good amount of action and swift paced. Lots of interaction with the criminals as a large amount of the book is spent with the Hardys in pursuit. Nonetheless - it cannot hold a candle to the earlier volumes in quality, writing style and suspense. RATED C-

Frank, Joe and their friends are vacationing in Jamaica when an ancient death mask washes up on the shore near their beach house during a storm. A group of treasure hunters take an immediate interest in the mask. Frank and Joe believe that it is because of the mysterious Arabic words concealed in the mask which they believe may lead to a treasure. This book wasn't bad; it is probably one of the better books of the 50s; although that doesn't neccesarily mean anything. The book has a moderate amount of action and they run into the criminals quite often. The mystery is fairly interesting and the book moves at a good pace. During the course of the book, Frank, Joe and their friends are in Jamaica and Morocco; however, unlike many of the higher volumes, the book didn't come off as a geography lesson instead of a mystery story. The book isn't one of the best of the series, but it won't bore the reader either.

I think this book was cool because I learned some French and Arabic, the mirage in the last chapter, the landfall of rocks in the same chapter, and where Chet might have thrown up. He was wrong about being poisoned, but it was sort of funny. Also, it did seem a little real, but now it dosen't, because the waiter was friendly, and probably would never poison anybody, unless nessicary. So the rest of the parts may have been four stars, but this book was pretty good. The plot especially. So if you're 8-11, read this suspense-filled book.

Frank, Joe and Chet travel to the Adirondack Mountains to help a family that has a history of werewolves in its ancestry and to aid their father in a case concerning sabotage at construction sites. The book starts well and ends well, but it gets a little off track in the middle. It could have been better, but was still worth reading.

This book was the average joe-smoe mystery book that made you ask it to stop or to continue. The book was fast pace in the middle when Joe fights the bad gue on the roof of a 24 storie building! Read another book.

If you like mystery books, you will like Night of the Werewolf. In this book, the Hardy boys, Frank and Joe are trying solve a big mystery on a vacation to the Adirondack mountains. There, they hear howls every night! Who is making them? Read the book and find out!