"The Deadwood Beetle" by Mylene Dressler, G. K. Hall & Co., 2001, Large Type Book.

At first, this book appears to be about a little Dutch boy who survived the Holocaust, and, years later spies his mother's sewing table in an antiques store. The store owner, Cora Lowenstein, translates the child's inscription, on the bottom of the table, without knowing that it was Tristan Martens, himself, who carved it there years ago. Her version in English is "When the Jews are gone, we will be the next ones", which she interprets as in the same fashion as the famous quote from Pastor Niemoeller, (1892-1984).

It seems, however, that was not the meaning of the carved words: Tristan Martens (who now had to be in his late sixties or early seventies) knew it was from his Dutch father, who was a Nazi. Tristan was not a victim of the holocaust; instead, his family was waiting for their turn in power, after the Jews were gone. Angry Dutch citizens had looted his mother's table from their Dutch home when The Netherlands was liberated. He feels guilty for most of his life. This central theme of guilt is always a background plot as Tristan begins to see Cora Lowenstein in a romantic light. The guilt theme is intertwined, somewhat, with entomology, as he deals with his last graduate student, who, in turn, is dealing with a unique form of insect out in Arizona. Tristan Martens tells the student's parents how he happened to be an immigrant (as they were) and some of the story of his life directly after the World War.

Except for flashbacks to his life in The Netherlands, the book is set mainly in winter-time New York City, with some trips to a nursing home in nearby Connecticut. I think that the author, Dressler, has done a good job in capturing the flavor of subways and travel in New York. She has written an intriguing book.

This book was recommended to me by a friend -- an author and bookseller -- and I feel it is one of the best gifts he's ever given me.

Told with grace, wit and intelligence, the plot of the book -- the skeleton on which the events are hung -- is not as important as the way in which the author tells it. There is a grandeur, a measured unfolding which wraps you in the characters' lives. There is real sympathy for the different human viewpoints which come from our varied experiences, and the reader is gradually allowed to share in the breadth of the characters.

It's a lovely, loving and very artfully told journey.

deadwood beetle: a well written book. i really enjoyed reading the story. even though i know the ending would be realistic, i still guess i have a preconceived idea about how the story should have ended, meaning the story ended differently than i expected, which is a good thing. read the book, its worth it.

Ralph Compton does a very nice job telling the stories of the old cattle drives. I have read them all. It is tough to keep writing again and again using the same plot. This is compton's 14th. trail dr. book and there are 3 more as I count. All of these drives are inner twined with violant grudges, stampeds, rustlers and all the other unforseen haps. Buy them all, and buy all of the Compton stories written by Robert Vaughan, some of which are The Dakota Trail, The Alamosa Trail, and The Bozman Trail. There are other Compton books by Robrt Vaughan to and they are all excellant.

This rendition of the old west, the "cowboy life", and the genre of the era is well defined in this novel. This is the first book that I have read by Ralph Compton and I cannot wait to start from the beginning of the Trail Series. After reading this, I only wish there was still a time and place where ranchers, cowboys, and trail riding were of common place. It makes you wish you were a part of it.

"Choose Your Own Adventure" books ROCK! I rememberspending many a late night in bed with a flashlight reading theselittle literary gems endlessly, trying to make sure I'd tried every possible story option. These books come out once a month like clockwork and I'd be first in line with my allowance to purchase the latest in the series. All the books are terrific, but I particularly remember liking "Who Killed Harlowe Thrombey" and "The Mystery of Chimney Rock". These blooks are long out of print, but well worth the search!

Nat Love was a cowboy with great courage,and bravery to be one of the only black cowboys of his time.in this book he describes his amazing life,some parts of this story are fake but i belive that is not true.he was a very experienced Cowboy,and was very famouse for his time in life.Nat Love is a person that inspired me to do whatever I want to do.I love this story and i belive you will too.

A terrific adaptation! The voice characterizations and audio special effects are excellent. Clear and crisp and easily heard in the environment of a car. You feel the bullets whipping by! The story line is about Chick Bowdrie riding to Deadwood to pick up a prisoner. He meets a girl (of course) and things get a lot more complicated. Especially since the prisoner has friends trying to break him out! Chick has his hands full (as usual)! A great buy!

Lamour is an idealist who romantices the west as a portion of US history known as "The Good Ole Days", but his stories with Chick Boadry are great family stories. They have a historical edge to them, but these are simply great stories. South of Deadwood involves a mission in which Chick Boadry must escort a prisoner, Curly Star, who is the leader of an outlaw gang, from Deadwood South Dakota to Texas. One of the gang members' sister also travels to Deadwood to plead with Star to testify that her brother, alledegly a member of the gang, was not a member of that gang. She has a low opinion of Chick and fears he would kill Star before he can tesitfy on her brother's behalf. She discovers that Boadry is a kind and gentle man and that Star is also someone with an unexpected personality. The trip back to Texas exposes the reader to western lore and a classic, honor bound ending. The book is highly recommended and the audio tape is recommended even more.

Reminiscent of "Lonesome Dove", Deadwood takes you back to the late 19th century, in the lawless west, and brings such historical characters like Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane to life. Full of humor this book almost makes you wish to have lived in such a time

I was born in Deadwood and was thrilled to discover this book. It brings the town, the times and the characters to vibrant life. And from my knowledge of the history of the area, Mr. Dexter has done a great job of staying true to the historical materials he obviously researched and augmenting those with brilliant flights of imagination. I'm constantly sending this to friends to give them an idea where I came from.

Peter Dexter's western Deadwood is a work of American Literature that stands up on its own. Calling it a 'western' unfairly limits the scope of its appeal. Like Dexter's other works, Deadwood is a book about America and Americans. Through course and revealing dialogue Dexter Dexter illuminates how we think grandly, why we act poorly, and why we continue to struggle for hapiness, joy, and a good lay. Dexter's characters also speak plainly and to the point. There are wonderful points in this book, for example, when you can hear the characters lying to themselves. There are other points when you can see them flailing against a recognizable and tragic fate. All in all, this is a fine book, written by a fine writer. After you read this you'll need to read Brothery Love and God's Pocket, which are Dexter's next two best books.

The cowboy genre seemed a natural one for the "Choose Your Own Adventure" series to venture to, and luckily it did so in the early days, when ideas were fresh and master Edward Packer was in top form. Accordingly, we get the whole western panorama here, from gambling saloons to small town newspapers to desperadoes, gold prospecting, ranching, etc. Parts of this one do seem to bog down here and there, as you keep endlessly saddling up to go to Silver Springs, and not really getting anywhere. But overall it's good fun.

I think Deadwood City was great, because you can choose your own way to go. I got a job in the ghost town. I left beforeI got killed. I also got stopped by Indians on the way, I snuck away, stopped at a water hole to drink and fill my canteen. Only a few more more miles and I was in Silver Springs. I got a job from an old friend and that was the end of my story. There are plenty of more mays to go. Another thing is they are fun because you don't know what is going to happen next.

This was the no holds barred, thrill-ride of the '84 summer. This book encapsulated an era of youthful exuberance, at the end of the Cold War. Before these present-day spoiled kids came along, kids used to pick up a book and read. Not play computer games endlessly or surf the internet. We played outside and read. And "Deadwood City" is one pretty darned good example of what the literature was back in the good ol' days of the 80's.

I am a seasoned chairman of a profitable food company, I found the book a escape from my routine. It is difficult for any of us to live the adventour Mr. De Titta did across the Country, I have three kids and a wonderful life and I have no desire to hitchike across America. However, through the book I had the opportunity to "virtually escape" my world while still remaining within grasp of my world, my family and my work. Mr. De Titta is a educated well versed graduate of Duke University who decided to live a dream of hitchiking across the Country. You follow him from his home in North Carolina to California and everywere in between. With any type of hitchiking you encounter many interesting and strange people. This book was no exception to this rule but without the lost rebellion I find many adventour books since to focus on, Why cant you be adventourous encounter all kinds of people and events yet still remain with your head on straight. I enjoyed the book, the adventor and the story that seems to be the backdrop of his trip, thats trying to find his relationship with his father. In closing, if you enjoy adventure books without having to drop many points out of your I.Q. you will enjoy this hidden treasure....

Having grown up with the author, I eagerly awaited the arrival of his book having ordered it after catching up him at our 20th high school reunion. It arrived in the mail early Saturday and I vegged out by the pool devouring each and every page. Putting it in the context of a newly minted college graduate hitchiking with no particular destination in mind it grabs your attention immediately. Tom knew not what his next turn would be and neither does the reader. That's what makes it so darn interesting. There isn't one among us who wouldn't have wanted to take the journey ourselves. Tom was just the rare soul ballsy enough to pull it off.

This book was excellent. Written through the eyes of a young girl growing up in Deadwood, it makes you feel as though you are there. I live in Deadwood now and it is interesting to actually see the streets and parts of town that were written about in this book.

Wonderful glimpse into history from a very bright young girl. Names of those long gone are brought back to life in this narrative. Highly recommend!
T. Addison