another extraordinary, classic sailing book that's sadly slipped away from common knowledge and is quite hard to find -- i believe this book was originally published (around 1956) as 'My Boat is So Small'. Davidson is a great writer in the tradition of witty, frugal, understated WWII-era brits. her single handed adventure, following the death of her husband, falls squarely into the pantheon of sailors whose lack of experience or technical ability is inspirationally surpassed in guts, perserverance, faith, determination, and common sense. this is certainly a book that deserves a lot more attention, and is a pleasure to read. Her earlier book 'Last Voyage' is even harder to find, but well worth it, and makes a very excellent companion to this book, though about half of it concerns WWII life in england -- though for sailors the fraction dealing with sailling still makes the book worth reading. In the spirit of singlehanded women, we must also reccomend Aebi's Maiden Voyage!

This is the story of Jonathan Alder, who was captured by Indians at the age of nine from his home in western Virginia in 1782. He was adopted and lived among the Mingos for 13 years along the Mad River in Ohio. Alder became a respected hunter and warrior and gives a vivid and detailed account of his life among them. He gives a fascinating retelling of his life in a late 18th century Indian village, in an age when white settlers were beginning to push north of the Ohio River from Kentucky and West Virginia in the years after the Revolutionary War and how that increased conflict between the two groups for possession of the Ohio Country led, eventually, to the loss of Indian lands. After the Treaty of Greenville in 1795, Alder leaves the Indians to live in Pleasant Valley, near what is today Columbus, OH, though continuing to live as an Indian. Around 1805, he is persuaded by a friend to travel to Virginia and is reunited with his white family.

Alder's narrative is truly fascinating in all respects. He gives fully detailed accounts of his life among the Indians, from hunting and cooking, to relations with his Indian family which include a genuinely loving and kind mother and father, as well as an abusive sister who is resentful of the white boy and beats him for any infraction. Alder tells of his participation in several horse-stealing raids in Kentucky as well as his part in the Battle of Fort Recovery in 1794, . After Alder leaves the company of the Indians in 1795, he goes on to tell about his relations with the early white settlers in central Ohio and their often strained relations with the remaining Indian population. Although he is reunited with his white family in 1805, and subsequently drops his Indian dress and lives as a white settler, Alder, it seems, is never fully one of them. He views his neighbors through the eyes of one who lived a life far removed from their daily drudgery and often seems to reflect with nostalgia on his Indian days. One gets a sense of forelorn sadness and loneliness in his later years, as though he is the product of a lost time and place. His relationships with both his white and Indian family are intriguing, especially a poigniant encounter many years later with his Indian sister who abused him as a child.

This is a very intereing book and I recommend it highly.

Famed designer Sybil Connolly has edited a magnificent collection of ancestral Irish homes in "In an Irish House." Each of the homes shown herein has stories told in first person by their current occupants, most of whom are the fifth, eighth, twelfth, or even the ninety-sixth generations of their families to live in the home--yes, the O'Conors of the home called Clonalis in County Roscommon are the ninety-sixth generation of O'Conors to live in the area (they trace their lineage back to 75 A.D.!).

This book shows us magnificent architectural detail, ranging from Gothick to Italianate to Palladian and beyond; extraordinary oil paintings ranging from portraits of Queen Elizabeth I to local landscapes done by artists like Reynolds and Gainsborough; sumptuous furniture (including the only known extant set of Chippendale furniture still in private hands on p. 125); and lush grounds surrounded by craggy mountains, fast-running streams, and handsome mature trees. A family member from each of the homes tells the story of the home, from its architectural background and significance in the history of the country, to its quirks and oddities which are there to delight the current family. Each of the residents even provides several recipes, ranging from the elegant to the purely simple.

"In an Irish House" is a delight for anyone who loves the architecture of castles and other grand homes, and a treat for anyone who just likes to take a peek into the homes of people who really know how to live!

After I got interested in playing guitar, I decided that with my schedule that I needed to try on my own first. Not having much faith that I could learn on my own and having a little backround in music, I proceeded to try with the instructions in Introduction to Guitar: Book 1 and found that I am not that bad! Introduction to Guitar: Book 2 is a great counterpart and I will forever be greatful to the author for making learning on my own so easy. Thanks Johnnie!

This is a lovely coffee table book full of beautiful pictures depicting the old and traditional crafts that began in Ireland. Each chapter is rich with the history of a different craft along with an artisan that keeps up the tradition in today's world. This book is a great way to introduce yourself to traditional Irish crafts you may have not known still existed in today's world, such as making a thatched roof for a cottage. Anyone who is interested in the textile crafts and the traditonal ways of how they are done will also enjoy this book. I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in these topics.

I devoured these Enid Blyton books when I was a kid, and while I can't say I remember much about them -- or even whether I read this particular one -- I do remember that I loved them. I guess they're eclipsed by Harry Potter these days, but if you have or are a kid in the right age group who loves kids' adventure stories, you may want to give these a try.

An essential guide to understanding Bloom's perception of himself. Davison makes it clear that Joyce's undrstanding of Jews was fluid.

Author Richard Grimes speaks truth in a way that so very few dare. He touches on the much under-documented Rockefeller Administration during the 70s and 80s in poverty stricken West Virginia. In this feeble age where family dynasties permeate our American landscape, the Rockefeller name is no small player in the game. One could never know just how powerful, and yet decievingly humble the now Senator Jay Rockefeller was during those dusty days of Mountain State politics. Grimes shows what those in West Virginia must have known for decades: Rockefeller played savior to a needy state, but only got as far as his family dollar would allow. Grimes' evenhanded, yet painfully honest writing represents last from a rare breed of 'old school' journalists. The writing in this book is some of the best that this generation has to offer. His work continues to serve as an inspiration to me. Kudos Grimes!!!

Very inventive story which indulges your imagination. The story has different layers, from the superficial point of view it is a fun, interesting story. If you dig deeper, you discover a deep political satire.

Worth experiencing.

This book is probably one of my all time favorite reads. It's a classic in France and read mainly by younger adults/children. The story is seen from a young boys point of view and encompasses all the delights of a fairytale, from secret countryside and villages to strange travelling people and magic and romance. It is a must for anyone who like myself, dreams of forgotten hours of childhood wandering aimlessly in strange places and forgetting where you are.