I first heard about this author from Rich Horton. Now that I think of it, I've only heard about this author from Rich, but the buildup that Rich gave him forced me to pick up the Dalkey Archive complete collection of his works. I'm not very familiar with the Dalkey Archive, but from what I can tell, they are a non-profit or collective determined to keep worthy literature in print in inexpensive editions, mostly trade paperback (the name of the press is from a novel by Flann O'Brien). Spackman is a Harvard man who graduated from college just before the Depression, wrote and published his first novel at the age of 45, then had to wait over twenty years before his second was accepted. That novel, An Armful of Warm Girl (what a wonderful title!), received enough critical acclaim that he published three more novels in the succeeding years.

Heydey is that first novel, published in 1953, printed here in a revised form that the author had not completed before his death. The setting is New York City during the Depression and the characters are Harvard grads trying to live their dreams in a world that has all but collapsed. They take solace in alcohol and sex in an endless string of late night parties and rendezvous (is that the plural of rendezvous?). Imagine a Thorne Smith novel with no supernatural elements and a Harvard education.

I loved it, finishing it in two reading sessions. The style is the sort of thing I try to achieve in my own fiction--a balance between exposition and dialogue that alternates between insight and wit. The structure is oblique, to be nice, but revealing once we achieve the finale. At times, you wonder what does it all mean, but then, that may be the point.

There are some similarities between Spackman and Anthony Powell (another favorite of Rich's), including the focus on gossip and the "dance" of a group of people who step through life, changing partners or standing by the wall spilling punch. Powell, though, is so understated that his dance seems hidden, lost in the intricacies of its creation; Spackman, while not explicit, is like the best 1940s screwball comedy, teasing the censor with a playfulness that is *sans* malice.

It seems fairly obvious to me that Heydey is autobiographical (again, like Anthony Powell's dance). As the advice goes, Spackman started writing by writing what he knew. I look forward to reading the rest of the novels in this collection to see if they contain the same strange combination of *joi de vivre* and world-weariness.

I was wandering through the Literature section of a local bookstore the other day, looking at the "usual suspects" (Amis, Davies, Borges, Powell, and so on), really just checking out their selection, not expecting to find anything new, when I thought: "I'll bet I can stump them. Let's see if they have any W. M. Spackman!". Spackman is one of my secret pleasures: a rather little-known writer, born in 1905, died 1990, who published 5 novels, _Heyday_ in the early '50s, then 4 very short, utterly charming, stories of men and woman and guiltless affairs, published from 1978 through 1985. Spackman was a Philadelphian, at a guess "Main Line" or very close, very patrician, rather academic (he was a professor by main career), seemingly quite well off. His later novels (the early Heyday is somewhat uncharacteristic: sadder, dealing with younger people), are all concerned with older (and very well-off) men (usually in their 50s) in guilt-free adulterous relationships with younger women (from late teens to 40s in the various books). As such they have always struck me as full of wish-fulfillment. On the other hand, it's a wish that part of me secretly shares. Moreover, the prose style of these novels is stunning, gorgeous, complex, utterly elegant: worth reading almost as poetry.

Anyway, I had assumed (rightly until this book) that Spackman's stuff was OP: over time I've tracked down the novels in used book stores, but I've had a secret hope that I missed one, or that there might be short stories, or ... anyway something!

Went over to the S's. No expectations of success whatsoever. And what do I see: _The Complete Fiction of W. M. Spackman_. All five published novels (Heyday in a much revised form that he was working on when he died), one never-published novel, and two short stories!

What a find! This is a new book, published in 1997 by The Dalkey Archive Press. And I should plug that publisher: they seem to have been formed to republish the works of Flann O'Brien (another of my "secret pleasures", though O'Brien is actually quite well known), as they take their name from the title of one of O'Brien's novels, but they also publish a number of other very deserving writers.

And Spackman is very deserving indeed. As I have said he is most obviously notable for his bravura prose, but his characters are well-limned, and the events are funny and interesting. And behind all the blithe lovemaking is the shadow of aging and coming death: even in Heyday, which is about people in their 20s. Beautiful stuff.

This compilation of contemporary Civil War advice for home and farm is an excellent source of information on how the South "made do" during those hard times.

While Mary Elizabeth Massey's "Ersatz in the Confederacy," republished in the last few years by the University of South Carolina Press, is a worthwhile history of home life during those times, "The Confederate Housewife" goes further by quoting the exact recipes and nuggets of advice that appeared in newspapers and periodicals like "Field and Fireside," "Southern Cultivator" and "Clarke's Confederate Household Almanac."

Reading these pages is like going back in time, when advice is needed to restore tainted meat ("take it out of the pickle. Wash so as to cleanse it of the offensive pickle . . . As you re-pack your pieces, it would be well to rub each piece with salt."), get rid of mosquitoes ("put a couple of generous pieces of beef on plates near your bed at night, and you will sleep untroubled by these pests.") or dealing with bloated cattle ("a dose of thoroughwort with a little tansey will afford immediately relief.")

If nothing else, it will make you grateful for indoor plumbing, air conditioning and refrigerators.

You don't know how good you have it until you read about how bad things can get. Boy those Civil War belles had to work from sunrise to sunset just to get a couple of potatoes on the table. This book was really fascinating and puts the War into real perspective in a way that no other book has done. A wonderful recipe book too!.

The Creation Of Reality In Psychoanalysis is a challenging, informative, engaging, exceptionally well written treatise that is a welcome and valued contribution to the growing library of psychoanalytical literature and Freudian studies.

Psychoanalysis has been increasingly influence by constructivist thinking. Various theorists have contributed to the psychoanalytic understanding of the way in which reality is constructed. However, this literature is scattered, confusing, and it is difficult for the casual reader to gain a firm intellectual grasp of the pertinent issues. The author has done a tremendous service by overviewing this complex and often cryptic literature, contrasting the chief theorists, and presenting his own conclusions. A gem of a book that I would highly recommend to anyone who is trying to gain a meaningful understanding of this difficult but vital topic.

Our men's breakfast study group just completed this book. I
thought it was very good. This study really applies to "real"
life and really starts discussion. Worth reading alone but I
think ever better with a group. The questions at the end of each
chapter are very good. Our group wants to read more from this
author James W Moore.

Today my pastor gave me a copy of this book to use as a resource for my Sunday School class, while reading it I noticed that it was very well written, and it kept my attention.

I feel that this will be a wonderful resource for my young adult class.

Perhaps someday white male eurocentric assumptions will be sufficiently combatted so that we may learn about the incredible suffering of People of Color during the U.S.'s conflicts. I certainly hope so. This is an interesting book, marred only by the emphasis on males, when there are obviously many important voices that need to be heard from the Hmong.

Moore does a wonderful job of writing the stories told to him by the young Hmong refugees, as they fled from Laos at the end of The Vietnam War. The book is written in an easy to read style, yet tugs at your emotions. I have recommended the book for reading at numerous conferences and diversity presentations for anybody wanting to start trying to understand the Hmong. I have also suggested it to some of the Hmong teens born in the US, so they can have an understanding of their parent's sacrifices. Many people are unaware that The Hmong lost 1/3 of their race to help us. Maybe reading this book will help kindle compassion for such loyal allies!

This is a wonderful story... well written and entertaining,sensual and sexy - all the things a romance reader could want in a love story. I keep looking for other books by this author. I just love it!!!

As an avid reader, for me, the mark of a good book is how long the story lines stays with me. I read this book several years ago and, yes, the story is vivid in my memory. I keep looking for a new book from this author!

The previous review of THE DARWIN LEGEND written by Brad Krone of Reno praises Mark Noll for doing an excellent job writing this book. The problem is that Noll is not the author. James Moore is the author of this book and deserves the credit.

As a life-long Christian who has heard over and over the famous story of Darwin's deathbed confession of Christianity and denial of evolution, I was overjoyed to find a book on this very topic. Noll is unbelievably objective -- a true reporter doing his job. He never lets his own biases and opinions cloud his presentation of the facts. The insights contained in this book priceless. I have a better understanding of who Darwin was, why so many Christians love to tell the story of his deathbed conversion, and whether or not it is probable that such an event took place. Get this book and read for yourself. The amount of research which Noll has conducted is almost unfathomable. You will not be disappointed!

I ordered this book for three reasons: Since I taught a course in college-level nutrition, I am appalled at how terrible the diets of too many of us really are. Plus I am something of a fitness nut. Finally I am also a "foodie" who enjoys cooking and eating delicious "gourmet quality" meals that also incorporate first-rate nutrition.

This is the diet book that the USA has been waiting for but too few persons seem to know about it -- yet. It is scientifically accurate and the conclusions of the authors are sound. It is proof that eating for improved health and fitness need not be boring. Indeed, the day after I received the book, I prepared the mango/black bean salad to rave reviews and no leftovers.

The message is not new: We need to increase the fruits, veggies, and whole grain foods in our diet, and to decrease red meats, sodium, and sweets. Although the target audience is those with hypertension, nearly everyone can benefit from accepting the book's challenge to try the DASH diet for two weeks -- and for a lifetime. The fact that the authors go beyond the science and present imaginative, delicious recipes and menus is a definite strength of the book.

A salute to the authors for this timely book!

Dr. Thomas Moore's DASH Diet For Hypertension poses a drug-free, scientifically proven method of reducing blood pressure and is based on two large clinical trials documenting dietary approaches to controlling hypertension. A team of doctors explores how the DASH diet system works, from choices in fruits, vegetables and low-fat diary products to the right serving portion and the influence of exercise.

When I first heard this book, I was brought to tears. I had to have it. You do too. This book does an excellent job of explaining Jim Crowe to young children. It is a must read during Black History month. All teachers should keep a copy for your library. It should be read it again and again.

This book is well written, beautifully illustrated, and thought provoking. I use it to teach about equal rights and letter writing to 3rd-6th graders. Check it out!

The perfect follow on for Reiki I manual if you are a student, or the perfect replacement for your tired unprofessional homemade manuals if you are a Reiki Master/teacher. A beautifully presented manual with THE teaching content you need.

I wish I had owned this book when I was first introduced to reiki. It lays everything out in an easy to read format, with space for note taking. Teri Moore is very connected to the essence of reiki and it's application in everday life. Thanks Teri for getting out the word of reiki so nicely. Love and light.