Related Vacation Book Subjects: Texas
More Pages: Austin Page 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52
Books to read if you're planning a vacation in "Austin", sorted by average review score:

Austin-Healey 100/100-6/3000 Restoration Guide (Authentic Restoration Guides)
Published in Paperback by Motorbooks International (April, 2000)
Authors: Gary G. Anderson and Roger L. Moment
Average review score:

IF and only IF . . .
If and ONLY if you are actively restoring a "Big Healey" for concours, this is a very useful book. When the authors call it a "restoration guide" they mean something very specific. Concours fanatics care about things like plating on screw heads, and the texture of wire loom tape. This book is crammed full of such stultifyingly dull minutae. It's powerful in the hands of a concours restorer, but almost useless if you're a shade tree mechanic trying to figure out how to replace a rusty fender. For everyone else it's guaranteed instant somnulence. Try and read any 5 pages of this book. I guarantee you you're snoring before you've turned two pages. But again, if you're a Healey concours fanatic, this is your book, man. Read it, live it, love it.

Outstanding book
This books is a must have for any Healey owner.

AH 100/100-6/3000 Restoration Guide is a must buy
I had an opportunity to ready and review this book even before I purchased it at Amazon.com. The book is very well thought out, easy to find the answers to specific restoration and concours questions and filled with specific picture examples.

This book is a must library addition for any owner of the Austin Healey marque both for reference and the enjoyment of reading about interesting insights into the history of the cars and the people who were the inspiration behind the production of the cars.


The Foundations of Arithmetic: A Logico-Mathematical Enquiry into the Concept of Number
Published in Paperback by Northwestern University Press (June, 1980)
Authors: Gottlob Frege and J. L. Austin
Average review score:

Excellent work
His conclusion (p.99e) is that the laws of arithmetic are analytic judgements and consequently a priori.

Note that he is very consistently hard on Mill.

Some interesting quotes: p. 115e #106. "...number is neither a collection of things nor a property of such, yet at the same time is not a subjective product of mental processes either, we concluded that a statement of number asserts something objective of a concept.

... (p. 116e) We next laid down the fundamental principle that we must never try to define the meaning of a word in isolation, but only as it is used in the context of a proposition: only by adhering to this can we, as I believe, avoid a physical view of it.

#107. (p.117e) "A recognition statement must always have a sense."

great work
possibly one of the greatest works in history of philosophy and the founding book of 20th century analytic philosophy... I read it only once and a better appraisal will be coming shortly..I can say right away this is not simply a 'technical' work in philosophy of mathematics but a broad although short philosophical investigation in notions of truth, meaning and identity - although it expressly deals with defining numbers in purely logical terms. continental philosophers who read this work might change some of their negative ideas about where analytic philosophy is coming from.

A Must for Any Philosopher of Mathematics
This book written by Gottlob Frege is one of the most influential books of the 20th century philosophy of mathematics. In here Frege establishes the nature of arithmetics as founded in logic, which is his logicist proposal. For that, he refutes the assertion that logic as such is founded on psychology.

Sometimes he distorts a little bit what others say about logic, so he argues against those thinkers more effectively. In here he establishes the anti-psycology difference between concept and object; though he has not made a difference yet between sense and reference. He also refers to a principle called the contextual principle, in which the word makes reference to something depending on the context. Afterwards after he wrote the book, he would reject this principle, because of his doctrine of sense and reference: the sense of the words determine the sense of the sentence; and the reference of the words determine the reference of the sentence.

This is a great philosophical work, and I would suggest it to anyone who is starting to study Analytic philosophy (philosophy of mathematics, logic and language), and also those who want to consider the platonist proposal.


Mariah of the Spirits: And Other Southern Ghost Stories
Published in Paperback by The Overmountain Press (01 October, 2002)
Author: Sherry Austin
Average review score:

A Reader from Charlotte, North Carolina
The stories in this book really drew me in making me want to read the book again. Some of the stories reminded me of the old Twilight Zone series. Others are actually very spiritual, and two of them, the ones that take place in the Appalachian mountains, actually made me feel better about death. The title story "Mariah of the Spirits" has multi-levels-- an interesting twist on the phantom hitchhiker legend for one--though the allusions to Biblical figures such as Mary, Jesus and Moses might be lost on those who are Biblically illiterate. "Angel Unawares," is one of several brain knotter/teasers, and right spooky. "The Dressmaker's Mannequin" is a whimsical story, more of a wonder tale that makes belief in tree spirits seem almost plausible. Titles like "At the Clothesline," "Strange Things Happen," and "Lost Soul" give you a hint of the flavor of these stories as does the author's picture on her website where she is shown standing in an old graveyard, beside a Celtic cross with its many possible meanings.

Both Accessible and Literary
Mariah is fun to read, in the same way that X-Files is fun to watch. The stories have unexpected endings and range from haunting to humorous. Nonetheless, the stories are literature. There is meat (biblical allusions, foreshadowing, irony, etc.) enough to keep English teachers feasting for hours. Plus, lots of the stories take place locally, and my students found that a plus.

Great tales of wonder, mystery, and imagination
The reviewer who compared these stories to Rod Serling's Twilight Zone was right on the mark, although I would add that they resemble the BEST of that series. They also bring to mind the classic show "One Step Beyond." Most of the tales are ghost stories, but others are about subjects as varied as tree spirits and angels. Some of the stories have unpredictable, often puzzling, O. Henry endings. There is an amazing variety: the stories range from poignant to whimisical, though all have an overall point, and all are thought-provoking in one way or another. Wherever the stories are set-- the Southern Appalachian mountains, the Carolina coast, or the old plantation-era South-- the author conveys the geography, the mood, the atmosphere of the place with amazing feeling. She "puts you there." Most people I have talked to who have read it say the same thing---that they either have read it a second time, or plan to. This author captures the mood of the borderland "between light and shadow, between science and superstition" unlike any other I have read.


Old Roses and English Roses
Published in Hardcover by Antique Collectors Club (December, 1993)
Author: David Austin
Average review score:

A must have book for fans of the English Rose
This lovely little book is an indispensible addition to any rose lover's library. Small enough to take with you to your local nursery and yet has enough detail to be very informative. Some newer English Roses not covered.

David Austin is the foremost authority on English Roses.
This is a good introduction to old roses and their development, but a better one about "English Roses". "English Roses" are a relatively new type of roses, pioneered by David Austin, starting about 1970, with his first popular variety, "Constance Spry". "English Roses" are shrub roses that have the look of old roses. They are very carefree roses and bloom profusely and often, most with a nice fragrance. No one is more qualified to talk about "English Roses" than David Austin since he "invented" them. He tells how to use them to the best advantage and also tells strong points and weaknesses of the numerous varieties. This is the man to listen to about growing English roses. The book also has a good introduction to the correct methods of rose cultivation. There are a lot of very nice pictures.

The Bible of Old Roses from a man making rose history!
Exquisite book, an absolute orgy for anyone who loves roses but especially for those of us who love the old roses. David Austin is making an indelible mark on the rose world. People will be writing about him a hundred years from now. This book is a lovely representation of his knowledge and thoughts on the roses he knows like few others. The book is small with a beautiful cover of an English rose, Sharifa Asma. He covers all the wonderful varieties of old or old looking roses, for example, rugosas, English roses, Gallicas, Moss Roses, China, Portlands, Bourbons, Damasks, and Teas. The information is succinct but not at all superficial. As he writes, he is clearly speaking of roses he knows like a friend. The book is packed with wonderful photographs in all types circumstances. He discusses cultivation. Particularly interesting is his chapter on English roses of today and the future. His bibliography is extensive and could be helpful in building one's own lib! rary. This is a MUST have book!


One True Conflict
Published in Paperback by 1stBooks Library (December, 2002)
Author: Austin Drinkall
Average review score:

Keeps your attention
One True Conflict was a pleasant surprise. I was expecting a mediocre book with a decent plot. What I found was an exciting page turner of a book that kept my attention. The writing was crisp and clean with no drawn out, long passages. The characters are unique and memorable. The story was very good and realistic particularly in the times we now live. I look forward to the next book from this author.

Great Novel!
What a great first novel "One True Conflict" is. The attention to detail and the twisting and turning plot make this book a thrill to read- you think you've got it figured out and it twists again! Austin Drinkall weaves real past events with distinctly possible future events so nothing is as it seems in this all too plausible novel of political intrigue. You feel like an insider in 'the war room' with all the detail in military strategy- Drinkall leaves no stone unturned. The pop tart eating genius main character is especially intriguing! All in all, this is a thrilling book and an intriguing set of characters that keeps you coming back to see what will happen next!

EXCELLENT BOOK
I was very impressed with this new author's first book. It is a thriller in the true Tom Clancy style. The book kept me coming back each time I put it down. It offers many twists that keep you guessing what was coming next. If this book ever gets found by a large reviewer, it is sure to be on the best seller list.


Advanced Programming for the Java 2 Platform
Published in Paperback by Addison Wesley Professional (20 September, 2000)
Authors: Calvin Austin and Monica Pawlan
Average review score:

All in one
This book does a good job to show how different technologies are used in the auction application. I would advise the readers to go through a little bit of JDBC and EJB on the web at the sun website and also this book is available on the web. The site also has pointers to RMI-IIOP etc.

A good book with nice example
I like the content on Chapter 2 and 3 with good examples on EJBs, especially on CMP and BMP EntityBeans. It also has good coverage on the use of transaction management in both CMP and BMP environment. If you have fundamental JDBC/EJBs knowledge, you will enjoy reading this book.

Chapter 4 has good introduction on distributed computing regarding RMI/IIOP/Corba plus the JNDI object lookup and the sub-system data marshaling mechanism.

Finally, Chapter 7 and 8 provides some insight with regard to debugging and performance tuning that is quite helpful in Java programming.

A great Java book
There are lots of books on enterprise applications but this book has lots of information that I haven't found in any others.

The chapters on CORBA, printing, security and debugging are excellent and I like the way it covers one application throughout the book.


Austin City Blue
Published in Hardcover by Five Star (December, 2002)
Author: Jan Grape
Average review score:

Zoe rhymes with Joe
Jan Grape is best known for writing short stories and editing mystery anthologies. AUSTIN CITY BLUE is her first novel and hopefully, the beginning of a promising new series.

Zoe Barrow is a member of the Austin Police Department currently assigned to working desk duty at her local precinct. A few days ago she was attending a sports event at a local arena when she heard the call requesting police backup. Officer Barrow went to the scene and found two officers wounded at the hand of a single perpetrator. When the suspect starts to make a move she shoots him even though she is not aware of his identity. A few moments later she learns that he was Jesse Garcia the man responsible of putting her husband in a coma.

Zoe does not trust her feelings. She is not sure if she shot Garcia out of doing her duty or just plain revenge. It does not help that she is confined to office work and the people at Internal Affairs are getting on her case. She manages to get distracted from all that when Avery Peppard, a friend of her husband, comes to her asking for help. He believes his wife is having an affair with a cop and that they are plotting to kill him. She does not know what she can do for him so she helps him find Jason Foxx, a private detective, to help him. It is not until an informant with a connection to Peppard is found murdered in a motel room that Zoe decides to get involved.

Ms. Grape writes a good novel that is heavy in character development. Zoe is a conflicted woman who is torn between what she knows and what she believes. She loves he husband very much but he has been in a coma for a long time. She is attracted to Foxx but does not want to betray her husband. The story is fairly good with several red herrings placed throughout the novel. The author leaves the door open for another book and it will nice to learn more about the life of Zoe.

Very well written and compelling. Enjoyable.
When female police officer Zoe Barrow shoots a man to rescue another officer, she is merely doing her job. When she learns that he is the criminal whose earlier shot turned her husband into a vegetable, she feels a sense of closure rather than regret. But the shooting is only the beginning of a strange and violent events in Zoe's life. One of her snitches is killed, a friend of her husband's claims that his wife is trying to kill him, and Zoe starts feeling a strange attraction toward a private detective. When the possibility of police corruption comes up, Zoe doesn't know who her friends are and who might be her enemies.

Talented author Jan Grape explores the continuing prejudice against female cops, the emotional implications of a justified shooting, and writes a bang-up action story as well. As readers, we're dragged along with Zoe, thrust deep into the mystery, and thrown clues so fast that it's hard to sort out what's important and what isn't. Bits of the history of Austin, Texas's police force add some texture to the story and put Zoe's current job into its historical perspective.

I would have enjoyed a little more focus. Some of the events appeared to be either unconnected or connected by coincidence that stretch beyond normal reader credibility. Thanks to Grape's superior story-telling, these flaws don't detract much from novel's enjoyment, except to hint that Grape's next novel may be even better.

Great Book!
I really enjoyed this book. The heroine is admirable and really likeable. I came to worry about her and cheer her on.

Also, this is a murder mystery, with the emphasis on whodunit and not on the grisly details of death. I especially enjoyed all the many suspects, and how we figure out the mystery along with the heroine.

Finally, really enjoyed having this mystery take place in my adopted home. All in all a great, exciting and fun read.


The Bible: The Complete Word of God (abridged)
Published in Paperback by Broadway Play Pub (February, 2001)
Authors: Adam Long, Reed Martin, and Austin Tichenor
Average review score:

As an actor -- it reaches a bit far
Speaking as an actor who has done college productions of both "The Complete Works of William Shakespeare" and "The Complete History of America," let me start by saying this script is just as funny, if not funnier, than the previous two. However, speaking as someone who is performance-minded, I gotta think this one goes a bit overboard. It's not the controversy -- heck, I'm Catholic myself and the jokes don't bother me -- but some of the bits included require a bit more skill than your average person has. What if no one in your production can play the accordion? Or the piano? Or balance a ladder on his chin? And while I enjoyed learning to make balloon animals for "The Complete History of America," who the heck do you call to teach you how to juggle flaming torches? Still, it really is a fun script and I only wish I had the opportunity to watch these guys perform it in person.

If Jesus was a Marx Brother....
I have seen the Reduced Shakespeare Company perform this play and these guys are absolutely hysterical! This book provides a very funny overview of the Bible. Even if you haven't read it or aren't Catholic (I fall into both of those categories), they make all of the theology and history easily accessible. You don't have to be an expert in religion to see the humor of the Three Wisemen playing catch with a ball and mitt (birthday gifts) in the desert on their way to visit the baby Jesus! These guys are truly clever, quick and funny and I can recommend this and their other books highly.

Blasphemy, what?
The Reduced Shakespeare Company has done it again - I saw this on tour, and it was great! I recommend to anyone, unless your the queasy religious type who may be offended! Also read The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) and the Complete History of America (abridged) ... be prepared to laugh! Techies rule!


Evil Among Us: The Texas Mormon Missionary Murders
Published in Paperback by Signature Books (September, 2000)
Author: Ken Driggs
Average review score:

I was a part of the story
Ken Driggs went to great lengths to check and recheck his facts, and to overcome the cultural differences between England and the USA. It is an extraordinary story and has resulted in changes in English gun laws. It was because we had the early draft of the book that Police in England took the story of Kleasen seriously and he was brought to justice here. He is now serving a 3 year sentence for firearms offences and will return to the USA at the end of that period. He wants to go to Southern Germany but will be denied that access under European deportation regulations. His first choice of destination in the US is Austin Texas - the scene of his worst crimes. If Texas declines to have him then he will alomost certainly return to Buffalo NYS. Be warned Kleasen is every inch the predator he always was, he still craves guns and the excitement of the kill. He will look for a lonely older woman with a house and pension of her own and then move in. Then like all his other wives he will physically abuse and rob her. This is not a "slasher" book, but a very salutory cautionary tale. Who am I within the story?- You will find me under my pseudonym of Vera Fawden.

Truth which is more frightening than fiction
Ken Driggs has crafted a non-fiction spell-binder of true crime. What he chronicles is so evil and so bizarre that you will wish it to be fiction - but it is not. Not only is Driggs an excellent writer, but he knows of what he writes. I know, because I worked with him on several murder cases and Ken Driggs doesn't stop researching and investigating until he gets to the truth. Here, he has presented the truth in a very readable book which I recommend not only for true crime buffs, but for those who enjoy a good how-done-it murder mystery.

THE WAY WE WERE
this book is very good and yet very scary to think of how there is many wicked ness around us especialy to know how the mind of the person that commit this murder think's. I meet the father of one of the young men killed. He is a very strong man. Even if he had his son taken a way. This book gives in detail how this young men were killed. If you are intrested in seen how evil and wicked people can be then this is the book for you. It made me think of how thing's have changed so much. To see how now it is more comon to kill and be ok with it. This book will make you think, it will scare you and even want to make you be over protective of you'r children. But as i meet the father of this young man ,it was so amazing for me to see how much faith this man has.To know his son died serving the lord. peace comes to him.He fear's more for the person that commited the murder. To know he will have to answer to the savior. This book will also explain to you on how , and why this young man gave, their every thing to go and serve a mission . I recommend this book to every one


Friction 3: Best Gay Erotic Fiction
Published in Paperback by Alyson Pubns (February, 2000)
Authors: Austin Foxxe and Jesse Grant
Average review score:

The 5th of "Friction's" best
With the editing of seasoned gay erotica veterans Jesse Grant and Austin Foxxe, more than 40 ficticious accounts of gay sexual encouters keep this collection smoldering and has us asking for more. Backed by the Gay Community News, the "Friction" series is famous (or infamous, given whoever's view) for delivering the best and steamiest in accounts of man-to-man sex. Among the stories' contributors to the collection are celebrated gay writers Bob Vickery, Thom Wolf and Dale Chase. They, and other talented writers, leave absolutely nothing untouched or left to the imagination. It's all here: oral, intercourse, kissing, caressing, love, romance and some daring experimentation. The editors obviously devoted significant time collecting the best of the genre's writings for this edition: literally, with very rare exception, the reader will need to get up after just one installment to cool down. The first entry is among the best for its simplicity and candid acknowledgement of two mens' lust for each other. Definitely not bedtime stories for the kiddies, but very definitely the bedtime stuff of something other than sleep.

A BIG TURN ON
There are over 40 strories included in this book so it is definately value for money. A handful of them manage to miss their mark but on the whole the quality is very high. Inclusions from Dale Chase, Alan Mills, Bob Vickery, Thom Wolf and T. Hitman are among the stand out tales.

FEEL THE FRICTION!
Billed as the year's best erotica, and that it is. Friction 3 brings the best of the year's gay male writing to one place, by some of the finest authors out there: T. Hitman and R J March, who both had books published last year, lead the list. Hitman's baseball story is complemented nicely by his "Gustavo" love story, which is very sweet and hot. March delivers a decent offering, too. Definitely worth a look, and recommended to all my friends.


Related Vacation Book Subjects: Texas
More Pages: Austin Page 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52