This is a good piece of work, though you can be easily misled by the blurb about the book. The book promises to contain a lot of comparative material between Sima Qian and ancient Classical historians, but in fact you get a few observations comparing some of the Greeks historians like Herodotus, and virtually nothing at all about Roman historiography. What you will find in this book (and it's certainly worth a read) is a continuation of Hardy's ideas as expressed in his PhD thesis. This is basically that we cannot take the apparent objectivity of Sima Qian at face value. He shows clearly how Qian is not just a "scissors and past" historian who just copies out his sources verbatim and gives us a dry and accurate rendering of events. It's easy to get this wrong impression because the author is far less overtly "present" in the narrative compared with an ancient western historian, and he only speaks for himself in chapter summaries after telling us "the grand historian remarks...". The primary method that Hardy uses to show us Qian's methodology is his examination of the historian's multiple narratives dealing with the same events. He shows clearly that Qian is playing with his sources, manipulating them, in order to bring out a certain theme, and this sometimes includes recounting contradictory versions of the same events.

I'd highly recommend this book to anyone planning to read Sima Qian's work. Without it, it's easy to miss the implications of what the ancient historian is telling you.

This review is not of this volume of the study alone, but of the four I know of in the series. The books on written languages give as complete a survey of every useful index of the languages presented, as even any layman, in addition to scholars, can desire in research upon the factual elements reletive to any discussion or understanding of language and linguistic based political conflict
It's format allows easy briefing on essential facts: population of speakers, both as first and second language, script(s) in use, when the language enters written history together with the first titles of works known, modern language probable descent from dead languages, and the array of usage: schools that teach it, broadcasts in the language, legal status, sometimes even in very small districts, whether the language is promoted, tolerated or suppressed. There's a discussion of publications in the language, and how many foreign language publications are translated into the subject language, in addition to translations of the subject language into foreign languages. It is one of the most supurb linguistic surveys ever undertaken. I rate it 11 out of 10 possible points. No library can truly call itself cosmopolitan without these books. Kisses, rainbows, and flowers to all who are responsible for its production. The only improvement I could suggest from my needs is if they were to include percentages of literate speakers of the languages. Kudos. The Academy Award statue for Language.

An excellent treatment of this period in Yosemite's history. Fun to read, gives detailed information, is indexed, and the sources are sited! Photos are well done and informative. Students at the fourth and fifth grade level can read and understand the text.

This book is short enough to read through quickly (especially being a teacher its hard to find a little free time to do some reading besides textbooks and students work :).) I read it to my first graders and they loved it. They enjoyed seeing a fun side of being a teacher. They found this book to be funny and in their words "two thumbs up".
I can relate to some of the stories such as asking pizza places for pizza boxes and cardboard circles for projects. As a teacher my mind never stops thinking of ways to use things (shoe boxes, deli trays, milk jugs, etc) in creative ways.
This book is fun and great to read at the end of a CRAZY day :) Enjoy!

Your Journey Of Healing is a consumable workbook specifically designed to help people improve the quality their life. Author Lois M. Grant, Ph.D. was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis in 1975, an illness that soon became a clinically severe and highly painful case. Yet by applying herself to spiritual, emotional, and self-improvement issues she was able to cease taking prescription drugs in July of 1997. Your Journey Of Healing contains the author's "healing hints" and wisdom distilled from her personal experience and researches and presented in a format that any lay reader can easily understand and incorporate into a better life for themselves.

Used for 1St semester Anatomy. This is a must Have and saves you money by buying the set. Very detailed and should be used alondside the Netter Atlas of Human Anatomy.

I've lost count of how many times I've read my now dog-eared copy of this novel. I have school memories of class mates reading the book under their desks during lessons, because they couldn't put it down! I even convinced my brother to read it, who like Lister, had never read a book in his life. The reason- It's a masterpiece! It's not often you come across a book that can be cool, clever, imaginative, sensitive and hilarious all at once. And it's not common for sci-fi novels written in third person to have such emphatic impact on the reader either. But Grant and Naylor are sublime crafts men of characterisation, invention, language and comic timing. Every sentance sparkles with a unique magic and its superlative from beginning to end. My favourite moments include the delightful first meeting of Lister and Rimmer in a taxi hopper on a cespit moon called Mimas. There's other joys such as Rimmer's bizzar revision techniques, Lister lost-puppy love for Kochanski, and a heartbreaking chapter describing Krytens blind servitude for the long dead Nova 5 crew. Then there's "Better than life", an ingenius concept that wasen't done justice in the episode of the same name. But more than anything else, I LOVE the ending. It is perfectly unexpected and bitter-sweet. The last sentance will give you goose-bumps. I swear to you.

Red Dwarf, for people stuck in the states- happens to be the one of the greatest science fiction shows to ever show up on telly-and had the distinction of being the most ratings in viewship for BBC2. For viewers who have had problems understanding this brilliant series, or understanding some of the accents- this is a great book to help understand the series and the psychology behind Cat, Kryten, Lister, not to mention the charachter you love to hate- Arnold Rimmer! I have had this book and the sequel for about 4 years now- and I find I read them each about once a month. They have been known to cheer me up completely when I am blue-lets face it- your trouble are nothing compared to poor dave lister stuck for the rest of his life with Rimmer. And the idea of Felis Erectus is brilliant. Red Dwarf is like potato chips- once you start, you cannot stop. I loved the two books by Grant Naylor- unfortunately, the two written solo by them, available in the UK- dont have the magic, nor has series Seven that the two writers have had together. But still and all- a must read for anyone who likes to laugh and likes a bit of "soft core", science fiction, or an insight to the human psyche.Or just want a wonderful book to read on a weekend. This would be one of the ones i would choose, with out question. Hail to the small rouge one!

OK this book is "it". I must have read it 3 times in one year along with "Better than Life", "Last Human",and "Backwards". When you first pick it up it seems almost like a Terry Pratchetty(iVE NEVER READ HIS BOOKS BUT I CAN GUESS)sort of book. But it is a brilliant Britsih comedy. It is actually, a modern day comedy book like no other because is is written as a Sit-Com, with the spin of being in space. It is set 3 million years in the future with a regular kinda guy waking up on the wrong planet after being drunk and joining the Space Corps to get Home to Earth. But due to an accident he ends up frozen and wakes up alone 3,000,000 years later somewhere miles form home with a neurotic dead guy, a senile comuter and and A creature evolved from cats.

The real good part about the book is the developing relationships betweenthe characters, and how they cope with situations etc...

So there it is, five stars..A must read.

I was introduced to Dracula as a child watching Bela Lugosi portray the Count on the late night horror show "Shock Theater". This began a semi-fascination with vampire movies which continues to this day. I've not seen all the Dracula movies, but I'd seen dozens before I read the novel after graduating college. Nothing I've ever seen on the screen compares to Bram Stoker's original story. The story, which is told in the format of journal entries, letters, and newspaper clippings, engrossed me and carried me headlong to the final chapter.

The power of Stoker's written masterpiece exceeds the power of any screen production by a power of 10. Film isn't even the second most powerful medium for Dracula. The Naxos Audiobooks production of Dracula features a full cast but retains the format of the book. Different actors speak the journal entries of the various parties, with dialog and action being dramatized. Audio plays have been called "the theater of the mind", and that description well suits the Naxos production of Dracula. All in all, the audio play gives a satisfying way to experience the legend of Dracula.

Dracula is a masterpiece of Horror fiction, undoubtedly a classic and a necessary read for anyone who would consider him/herself a Horror fan. The title character has been forever imprinted on the minds of the world as the true name of the Vampire, and almost anyone who you could possibly ask could give you a pretty good description of the framework of the story.

A rich, reclusive count from the dark land of Transylvania tires of his homeland and searches for a home abroad to quench his thirst. Not for riches, not for glory, but for blood. For this count is a member of the damned breed, the Nosferatu, the Vampire. A demon condemned to live off of the blood of the living, while being neither alive, nor dead. It is a sad and frightening tale, filled with action and suspense.

Dracula is not only famous for its introduction of the mythology of Vlad the Impaler (in somewhat diluted form) to Western culture, but also for its formula. The inescapable evil (Dracula) to be confronted by a small, yet wary band of people lead by one who knows all of the creature's secrets and weaknesses (Van Helsing) has become a Horror staple. And folks never seem to get tired of it. The subject of Van Helsing, a character who almost, but not quite, overshadows Dracula in popularity is long overdue for a novelization of his own. Van Helsing's encounters with the supernatural would most definitely draw a fanbase.

If you're a Horror fan, or just like good old storytelling, Dracula is a book not to be missed. In fact, this novel should be required reading. It just might help increase the literacy rate!

Note: this edition has an awesome cover drawn by Boris Vallejo and it claims to be unabridged (abridging this story ought to be illegal!)

Bram Stoker's tale of terror, 'Dracula,' is just as chilling today as it must have been to readers a hundred years ago. Stoker's original story, which has been told many times since in film and book, is the tale of Johnathen Harker, his love, and his friends, and their horrific experiences at the hands of Count Dracula. The book begins with Harker traveling to Transylvania to meet with the mysterious Dracula. Aquainting him with English customs and traditions when the Count buys land all over London from his firm, Harker soons learns of Dracula's true nature- that of an unnatural fiend who causes destruction wherever he goes. When Dracula travels to England Harker's friends enlist the aide of Dr. Van Helsing, the only man who understands just what evil the Count is capable of. The story that follows is one of love, hate, maddness, and adventure as Dracula seeks to destroy Harker and his friends. As well as being a great work of literature, 'Dracula' is a wonderful tale of horror that modern readers are sure to enjoy!

It is shortly after the Confederate defeat at Gettysburg where Jeff Shaara picks up the story. The south is devastated by its first major loss while there is jubilation in the Union ranks.Could the war be ending soon? But, alas, it was not to be.

Mr. Shaara follows three of the war's pivotal figures, Robert E. Lee, U.S. Grant, and Joshual Lawrence Chamberlain as the fighting grinds on.

We see how Lee starts to doubt whether the Confederate cause will truly prevail. We grieve with him as he learns of the death of J.E.B Stuart and A.P. Hill and witness the shell of the once proud Pickett.

We follow Grant as he begins to grind down the South with his superior numbers. We agonize with him over the deaths at Cold Harbor and Petersburg. We feel his frustration as he tries to keep the Army moving forward and on the attack.

Lastly, we see Joshua Chamberlain sustain severe wounds, wounds that are nearly mortal. We're with Chamberlain as he returns to duty appalled by the many deaths. But we're also with him when he realizes he was meant to be a soldier and has never felt more alive than when in combat.

Mr. Shaara has crafted a wonderful book that goes beyond the slaughter of the battlefields and into the hearts and minds of its major participants. Yes, it is fiction, but solidly grounded in fact. Perhaps these men come across as excessively noble at times but 19th century man was more noble and less cynical and it is believeable.

I recommend this book highly. My only other recommendation would be to read the trilogy from the beginning to get the full benefit of both Mr. Shaara's and his father's writing.

The Last Full measure is the story of the end of the civil war (post-Gettysburg). The book mainly focuses on Lee, Grant, and Joshua Chamberlin. The book definetly gets you into the civil war, but not as much as The Killer Angels. The Last Full Measure is definetly not as good as the Killer Angels, but then again, the Killer Angels won the pulitzer prize.

My main criticism of the book is Jeff Shaara's style of writing. It drives me crazy. He doesn't know how to use pronouns. Here is a good example: "He looked around, saw his horse, held by a groom, began to move that way, stopped, said to Porter...". Eventually, I got used to the way he wrote.

I'd reccommend buying this book. It's a good read and it seems to be, from my knowledge of the civil war, to be very accurate.

"The Last Full Measure" has a much more difficult task to undertake than did the original book in the series, "The Killer Angels" by Mr. Shaara's father, Michael Shaara. This book covers the Civil War from the close of the battle at Gettysburg until shortly after the surrender of Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia, some 3 years, whereas "The Killer Angels" covered only a period of 4 days. Nonetheless, the author does an outstanding job of taking us into the heads of the major players in the war, and as always, does a particularly outstanding job with Confederate General Robert E. Lee. As in his other books, the author writes from the viewpoints of several of the critical individuals who were around at this point in the War.

I read this book after having read "Personal Memoirs" of Union General and former President Ulysses S. Grant, and was somewhat concerned that the sections written from Grant's point of view would be redundant. I was pleasantly surprised to find that they were not, and in the end these were some of my favorite parts of the text. It is amazing how informative this book is, and how much effort the author makes to accurately portray the characters and educate the reader about the many interesting aspects of the war. I particularly enjoyed the descriptions of the Second Battle of the Wilderness, the description of the earthworks and the men who guarded them around Richmond and Petersburg, VA and the fast-paced action that led to Lee's ultimate surrender.

This is a very well-written conclusion to this series. The author covers a lot of ground, but manages to not overwhelm the reader and keep them very engaged. I highly recommend this book.

Why do we choose to keep the truth from the ones we love? When you keep secrets from family members, those secrets will eventually turn up when you least expect it. "Far From the Tree" by Virginia DeBerry and Donna Grant takes you on a soul-searching journey of one family who's forced to come to turns in facing their family secrets and relationships.

The storyline revolves around Odella, and her daughters, Celeste and Ronnie. The book takes you on an individual tour of each person's life, different personalities, and the way they view life itself after they have buried their father. Odella has secrets that she wants to stay hidden which involves her past and upbringing. Celeste is the controlling daughter who knows what is best for her mother, sister, and her family, only her way is not always accepted. Ronnie is a wannabe actress trying to reach that one big break only to find brick walls at every turn.

When they are brought together in North Carolina because of land owned by the family, they soon realize another chapter in their lives is about to be written. Harsh realities are soon revealed and they must now face their secrets and each other to begin the healing process.

I applaud Ms. Deberry and Ms. Grant on a very well thought out storyline and strong character development that allows you to relate to each person's reality on living and surviving. Towards the end, reading each page was heart warming and they grabbed you and made you realize how important family is, and further emphasized that patience, support, and trust are the ingredients in establishing a strong family unit.

Far from the Tree is a unique book, which is presented with great taste and a detailed precision from the beginning to the end. This is a book that will not disappoint you, but leave you with much food for thought and a better understanding on building family trust and relationships.

Reviewed by Kalaani
The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

...this has been one of them. An entertaining, well-written tale of how one woman's demons have affected her and her family. As in their previous effort, Tryin' to Sleep in the Bed You Made, there were plenty of clues planted about what was going to happen, and as in that book they were so skillfully done that when things actually did happen I was caught surprised. There's a lot more subjects to write about than the looking-for-love type of story.

My only complaint is that math is clearly not the authors' strong point. It is not possible for a couple who married in 1957 to be married 44 years in 2000, since that time period only involves 43 years. It is also not possible for there to be a daughter not born until after the marriage to be 46 years old. Because of this I kept waiting for it to be revealed that Celeste was illegitimate and fathered by someone other than Will Frazier, and when I realized it was just an error I found myself annoyed. I think the editor should have noticed this; it would have been very easy to move the North Carolina years back from '57 to '53 without any affect on the story (there was no tie-in to anything historic.)

All in all, I enjoyed reading Far From the Tree.

If I could give this book a 10 I would. This to me was better than 'Tryin to Sleep...'. I totally enjoyed this book from the first page to the last. Della had a life before her daughters came into the world and she definitely wasn't finished living by any means. Ronnie and Celeste thought they had seen it all until they came to Prosper, NC. This book was like 'Soul Food' with better twists and turns and more drama. I cried and cheered at the end that the family came together. It is amazing what communication between family members can do and what harm secrets can create. I hope that every mother and daughter can read this book and get something from it. I too am beginning to realize that my mother and grandmother were women on their own at one time and it is nice thing to know my mother as a woman and not just "Mommy". So, if you are looking for a soul searching book, I highly recommend Far From the Tree. As Virginia and Donna say, we never really fall that Far From the Tree. Enjoy.