... buy this book. It was extremely helpful to us as we planned and planted a large rose garden from scratch this spring. The pictures are superior to those you will find in most catalogs. The descriptions, while maddeningly inconsistent in the information they provide, give an independent check to the glowing descriptions that catalogs use to promote rose purchases. Some roses are less desirable -- less robust, less fragrant, less orderly in their growth -- than others. This book will help you more than any other book we have found to make an initial pass through the catalogs and concentrate on roses likely to fit your needs. There is no substitute for the experience and advice of local growers and nurseries who have grown roses in your area, but this book will prepare you to inquire and process information from those sources efficiently. If we could own only one rose book, this would be the book.

I've only had this book for 9 months, but I've used it so much that it looks ten years old. As a fairly new rosarian, I really need a lot of advice about selecting roses, and this book gives excellent descriptions and frank opinions about just about every species, heirloom, modern and miniature rose on the market up until approximately 1999. The pictures are wonderful also. This book is a must for new and experienced rose lovers alike.

WOW! Was I shocked when this huge bundle of joy showed up at my door! I anticipated a lot of pics but holy cow! I was able to use this hummer to identify 2 roses I had scoured other resources for in no time! (So far I only have 40 roses.)

It is beautifully written and the photos--pure eye candy! I adore roses so it was like giving a gourmet dinner to a starving person.

Those are the good points. I only have 2 nit-pickies that are hardly worth mentioning because I ADORE this book and recommend it 100% to any and all garden lovers. 1) The Cd-Rom tweeked on my computer--probably because I have version Windows ME..., 2) on the rose descriptions they forgot to share how big the roses would get. They used words like " a medium shrub". I figured that they meant about 5 feet but if you dont know roses its a necessary tid-bit.

So there. if you are unsure of spending the hefty sum on this book, don't think twice...BUY IT TODAY--And BTW Amazon has it the cheapest. GO ROSE HAPPY!! Do it...you won't be sorry.

The final conclusion to a very good trilogy. This book can be quite brutal, and to be honest, it is refreshing to see someone take risks with the characters they are writing about. This book will be great for all X-Men fans, as it has non-stop action, character dilemma, and numerous guest-appearances by Marauders, Tusk, Blob, Toad, Pyro, etc. Not to mention Juggernaut teams up with the X-Men, and he is written FAR better than his other book we'll get to much later. A good read for all! Here's the score:
1) X-Men: Mutant Empire (series)
2) Daredevil: Predator's Smile
3) Hulk: What Savage Beast
4) Fantastic Four: To Free Atlantis
5) Ultimate Spider-Man
6) Spider-Man: Carnage in New York

(If you'd like to know where I'm coming from, I explained my familiarity with the X-Men in my review of Siege, the first installment in this series.)

Ah. This is the novel I've been waiting for in the Mutant Empire series - the climax. Christopher Golden has been masterfully building suspense in one of the most powerful series I've ever read, detailing the X-Men's almost hopeless endeavor to prevent Magneto from taking control of New York City forever.

Just why is it hopeless? This is classic X-Men, where the team is so far overmatched that you want to cry. Not only do they have to face Magneto, who can give the team a run for its money by himself, but they also have to contend with his Acolytes, a city full of mutants, and then the Sentinels. Plus, the American government is tight-lipped about its plans, offering only a seven-hour window to solve the crisis.

The novel begins with one half of the X-Men captured, and the other half going into New York. That half splits once more, with three people trying to disable the Sentinels, while the other half rescues the X-Men.

There's relatively little time and advancement of the team that tries to disable the Sentinels. They basically traipse around New York, trying to identify the Alpha Sentinel to reprogram it (and why is it called the Alpha Sentinel if it has an Omega symbol on its back?).

The other team, however, has more than its share of the action. Cyclops, Jean Grey, and Rogue try to sneak into the Empire State Building to free the X-Men - and meet up with the Juggernaut. In a bizarre twist of events, the Juggernaut joins up with them, helping to even up a still one-sided fight. But Golden knows his X-Men history, and he does an excellent job of explaining Juggernaut's psychology and motivations so that long-time X-Men fans won't be offended by what may seem like an implausible move.

The past subplots, namely those involving Henry Gyrich/Val Cooper and Professor Xavier, slowly fade out as Salvation brings in its own subplots. This novel helps to develop Trish Tilby more, as she questions her ethics and principles. As she reports the story directly from New York City, she begins to question the morality of her actions as the X-Men are chained up. She eventually helps them escape, but not without a price.

As a minor quibble, I find that there are several scientifically implausible points in Salvation. I know, I know: it's all fiction, so there's no real science here. But still. First, I hate the idea of "disabling" mutant powers. You should no more be able to do that than to "disable" someone's motor skills with a special collar. Second, Professor Xavier fools the Sentinels by making them think that Valerie Cooper is a mutant - HOW is this possible at all? The Sentinels are robots, and can't be fooled by a simple illusion like that. And it's not even that necessary to have Valerie there, really. So these two points are momentary irritations in an otherwise excellent novel.

Some fans may complain that Mutant Empire, while doing a great job of building suspense, has had little in the way of action so far. Well, no more. Christopher Golden rewards us with nearly half a novel of the biggest brawl ever, as the X-Men and Juggernaut team up to take on the new mutant population in New York City. Of course, the odds are still daunting, but Golden brings in some extra help that make it a fairer fight.

The action was great, but what made Salvation rewarding, in my opinion, was the change in the characters. It's not a change that we'll see in the comics, since this is written "out of continuity" (although Golden makes references to specific events and suggests that this took place just before the Fatal Attractions crossover). But some of the characters have evolved by the end of the novel - Senator Kelly has begun to turn, Trish Tilby's faith in mutants has been reinforced, Major Ivan Skolnick (created exclusively for this series) realizes that there's only one way to fight for equality. Even the Juggernaut's hatred for the X-Men has lessened.

Unfortunately, that leaves the X-Men struggling for growth. To be honest, there wasn't much of it. Xavier's opinions didn't change. The Acolytes still side with Magneto, and the X-Men agree with the latter. But Magneto comes to a startling revelation that impressed me greatly, although Golden sort of backpedals over that catharsis in the epilogue. So he leaves open the possibility of future conflict, but he does so by leaving the X-Men right where they started. It's not at all a problem for me, but I understand that some people want that, so I want to point out that this series won't give that to you.

But for all the other X-Men fans, invest some time to find the series and to read it. I enjoyed it thoroughly.

PS. I couldn't find a proper place to insert these quibbles, so I'll tack them on here. First, where is Colossus? He should have been with the X-Men if this is before Fatal Attractions (and it really can't be after, considering the references to X-Factor in Genosha, which occurred just prior to that crossover). And why didn't the Juggernaut help the X-Men to fight Magneto? I think Golden was trying to avoid the question of what Magneto's power could do to either character (especially Juggernaut - is his mystical armor vulnerable to magnetism?), but it seemed too transparent.

A exciting end to a wonderfully done trilogy. Golden does not leave out any facts. He includes many different mutants from the wide spread background of the X-Men. With Manhattan taken over by Magneto and half of the X-Men captured, things look bleak. Fortunately the X-Mens stuck in space are able to get back to earth and devise a plan to stop Magneto from achieving his goal. Amazingly, Juggernaut joins the X-Men in conquering Magneto. After the fierce rescue it comes down to all out brawl between the X-Men and the mutants of new Haven. In the end it is possible this leads to the Asteriod M saga.

I first started readed L'Engle's books because I saw they were making a movie on the Disney Channel based on "A Ring of Endless Light." I read that book and I fell in love with Vicky and the Austin family. When I learned that there were other books about them I immediately checked them out from the library. The first one I read was this one. I was VERY disappointed. It lacked a central message or point and seemed quite disorganized. I put it down one day, almost done with the thing and never picked it back up except to return it to the library.
"A Ring of Endless Light" was so smooth and perfect. I guess it was because L'Engle had become a much better writer by the time she wrote that one...

When an orphan named Maggy Hamilton comes to live with the Austin family, their lives are turned upside down. Especially Vicky's, since she feels out of place with the new girl being there. Vicky is upset, because she doesn't sympathize with Maggy's tragic loss. She also feels useless. Like she can't possibly help with anything, when that's far from the truth. But when it begins to look as if Maggy won't be leaving the Austin family anytime soon, Vicky tries to look on the bright side, and pray that happy times are waiting in the future.

This was an excellent book, featuring one of my favorite families, the Austins. Madeleine L'Engle writes with such poetic grace, and makes you feel like you are right there with the Austins, sharing their pain. A must-have book for everyone. Young and old.

Erika Sorocco

I love all the Austin stories. I was first introduced to the family through (I think) Women's Day magazine when I was 10. It was the "24 days till Christmas" story. A few years later, I came across the "Meet the Austins" book and felt like I found an old friend. I have probably read this book over 10 times and can't help but pick it up when I need an old friend. Vicky's struggles as a 12 year old learning her place in the family and at an "awkward" age between teenager and child is wonderfully written. I plan on buying my niece, who is 11, each Austin book for Christmas over the next few years so that she can also grow up with Vicky.

The divison of opinion on this page is interesting but probably not surprising. Emma is a book for serious readers and if you go in expecting an easy-to-read page turner, then stick to Danielle Steele. (It is beyond depressing that two people who wrote reviews were somehow of the amazingly ignorant opinion that Jane Austen ripped off Alicia Silverstone's Clueless.....Rather difficult seeing as she was alive in the early 1800's .....hmmm.) Emma takes patience but it's a rewarding read, with all the complications, misunderstandings andbanality of your average soap opera yet shining with Austen's trademark subtle wit and mordant intelligence which has made this novel a classic.Books do require a little more time, effort and thinking than sitting mindlessly in front of Alicia Silverstone, but what you take away from the experience is a much wider understanding.

I've read Sense and Sensability, Pride and Prejudice, Northanger Abbey, and most recently Emma, and while all of them are wonderful, this one was, to me, the most engaging. The characters are all really well developed, especially Emma, who is portrayed as incredibly human. You always like and sympathize with her, but sometimes you want to slap her. The story is, briefly, about Emma, who lives with her father Mr. Woodhouse. She has vowed herself never to marry, but loves to play matchmaker. She has just matched her former governess, "Poor Miss Taylor," up with Mr. Weston, and is quite proud of her success. Mr. Knightly, a neighbor and the brother of her older sister's (Isabella) husband (Mr. John Knightly), warns her about meddling, but she doesn't take him seriously. Soon Emma befriends a young girl of unknown parentage (she is illegitimate and her father, while providing for her care, remains anonymous) named Harriet. Harriet is in love with a farmer named Robert Martin, but Emma thinks that he is beneath her, so manages to talk her out of accepting his marraige proposal. Instead, thinking that she would be a perfect match for Mr. Elton, another local gentleman, encourages Harriet to set her sights on him. Harriet actually talks herself into being in love with him, until everything is ruined because Mr. Elton turns out to be in love with Emma instead. She turns him down and he leaves town, soon returning with a wife, whom no one likes.

Meanwhile, Mr. Weston's son (Mr. Frank Churchill), who was sent to be raised by his aunt when his mother died, comes to visit his father and flirts constantly with Emma, who is flattered and flirts back. She begins to think she might be in love with him, but when he leaves town again to go back to his aunt and uncle, her feelings cool down. Another out of town visitor, Jane Fairfax, who is the niece of the rather irritating Mrs. and Miss Bates, has also come. Jane is destined to become a governess because she does not come from a wealthy family. Emma and Frank had been speculating about her, because Emma thought she was secretly in love with her friend's husband and that was the reason for her coming, and Frank said he agreed. Emma is jealous of Jane anyway because she is more talented and accomplished than Emma, but whenever she says anything against her to Mr. Knightly, he defends her. Mrs. Weston tells Emma that she thinks Mr. Knightly is in love with Jane, which horrifies Emma because if Knightly marries, then her nephew would no longer be the heir of his estate. Meanwhile Frank Churchill returns and Emma thinks that Harriet is now in love with him. Harriet does say that she has feelings for a certain gentleman that they both know, and that she thinks Emma knows the one she means, and asks for advice about whether she has a chance and should persue it. Emma encourages her, and meanwhile realizes that she has feelings for Mr. Knightley. Then another problem arises. I don't want to say too much more because I don't want to spoil the story if you don't know it, but the plot becomes even more complicated before everything is resolved. But it's a great book and if you are only going to read one Jane Austen novel, this is the one to pick.

i had to read this for my english sophmore highschool class and while most of my peers *hated* this book, i found this book very intriguing and esp. realistic to even today in highschool. the subjects of vanity, friendship, honesty, control, reality, self-desire, relationships, status, and maturity is all incorporated in this book and deeply and straight-forwardly depicts the life of any teenager in any century then or now. Emma struggles to understand her intentions and learns what her mistakes were all about and the reader sees her mature through experiences and constantly learning and realizing her mistakes and flaws and misconceptions. though it was a long story and had a lot of old-language narration, i have to say, Emma is part of the epitome of what ever teenager goes through, female and male. while this is mostly a chick book, guys can find themselves related to the situations that Emma deals with with the other men in the book. i highly recommend this book for people who have patience and are open to the ideals of aristocracy back then. it's amusing, witty, and shocking. really great book.

I bought this book because I saw it reviewed on Oprah. They touched on all pertinent questions regarding why women feel 'stuck' and can't seem to move forward in their goals. Topics such as fear of success and taking risks, years of 'feminine'conditioning, lack of motivation and anxiety to name a few were some of the reasons. The way the book presents itself is that it will cover these topics and offer constructive advice as to how to overcome these issues and move forward. It never did. I found the book to be very informative if you want statistics and thorough research on the effects of years of feminism and how women are trying to overcome the need to nest-build and sacrifice their careers for family life. The book touched on a lot of eye-opening facts. Linda Austin wrote excessively about her research and included a lot of case studies of the professionals she interviewed, but with no practical advice or solutions. I read the book twice...maybe I missed something the first time. At the end of it I just felt worried for the future of working women...very daunting. I was not impressed at all. I was really hoping for some answers.

"What's Holding You Back" is the most interesting and motivating book I've read since attending college 20 years ago. Dr. Austin provides strategies for women to achieve their dreams, without undermining motherhood. As a former marketing professional and current at-home mom (the last eight years) it's given me the motivation I've needed to stop worrying about all the barriers and rather focus on taking the steps now to achieving my goals.

Dr. Austin explores the differences between men's and women's roles in the family and society and how this shapes women's self-esteem and expectations for achievement. She then offers a practical step-by-step plan for accomplishing your goals. The book is filled with inspiring and amusing stories of famous and not-so-famous women who achieved their goals despite overwhelming obstacles. Whatever your background or age, you'll know "if they can do it, I can do it!".

Regarding her appearance on "Oprah" last week, Dr. Austin was the most intelligent and charismatic psychiatrist Oprah has had. It was fascinating to see how Dr. Austin "zeroed-in" on the conflicts of each guest and provided an insightful and meaningful solution that each woman could use to improve her life. Unfortunately, in one hour they only touched the surface of her book. I hope Dr. Austin will return for a more comprehensive interview.

According to Austin, "Making correct choices will enable women to overcome the obstacles to professional and personal success which they now face." These choices are heavily influenced by "a powerful motivation driven by a sense of meaning" and involve "the capacity for risk-taking; the ability to focus intelligence; the ability to find and define great problems to work on; a willingness to compete in hierarchies as well as individually; the ability to tolerate and learn from failure; significant skill with difficult people; and the development of autonomy and power." Frankly, I continue to wonder why so many (most?) women still have to put up with all the illegal or at least unethical obstacles. Of course, they do. For Austin, there is one force which united all eight issues for variopus women cited, and powerfully shaped their careers: "That force was the feminine drive to affiliate with others, a drive scholars have described as the most gender-specific aspect of women's psychology." When addressing the eight critical choices for women's success, Austin organizes a wealth of information and insight within eight highly informative chapters.

Austin concludes her final chapter with this observation: "Our commonality of values and ambitions may well make it easier to build lives of accomplishment as well as loving relationships, with deeper appreciation of our shared humanity." I agree. One final point: Although Austin's perspectives are gender-specific, just about all of her advice would be of substantial value to males as well as to females. I am convinced that most human limitations are self-imposed. We hold ourselves back, perhaps convinced by others that we must do so. But obviously there are other limits such as those which result from gender discrimination. They are an obscene violation of our "shared humanity" and must be eliminated immediately.

Personally, I think that Sense and Senibility was a good book, but lacks the wit that was constantly present in Pride and Predjudice.

While there was conflict in Sense and Sensibility (both in the sister's jealousy and the the scorn from their lovers later), Austen didn't allow her characters to really address the conflict directly. (For example, why didn't Willoughby explain himself to Marianne, as opposed to using Elinor as a go-between?)

While this may be the subtle temper which reflects Austen's style, it also makes it more difficult for the reader to discern any true sense of feeling.

The plot is "okay" - boy meets girl, boy and girl fall in love, boy scorns girl. In Sense and Sensibility, it's done twice, in parallel. The only difference between one and the other is how each girl copes with it. But, from reading several of Austen's books, I've found that plot development wasn't the author's strong suit.

Jane Austen's real strength lies in character development. Her major characters are well developed and dynamic. An interesting aspect of Sense and Sensibility is how Elinor, the logical and practical sister became more emotional, while the ever-feeling Marianne developed a more practical view of her situation by the end of the book.

This isn't one I would recommend for folks that have never read Jane Austen before (read Pride and Predjudice first), but it is a book I would recommend it to anybody who likes Jane Austen's style.

Did anyone else feel a distinct sense of disappointment at the revelation of the mercenary, materialistic nature of the otherwise handsome and dashing Mr Willoughby's character? However, I think Marianne's heart-break was eased by the stead-fast and loving Colonel Brandon. I love this novel. I had been forever avoiding experiencing any other Jane Austen novels for fear they would not live up to the high expectations created by the fabulous "Pride and Prejudice", however, when hearing of the imminent arrival of the fabulous Emma Thompson's adapted version at local cinemas, I decided to take the chance and read this book. I'm glad I did! This is another Austen gem. Elinor and Marianne are wonderful characters, as are all the others. If you are like I was and are afraid of spoiling your first Austen experience with another, don't be. "Sense and Sensibility" is another Austen triumph. Marriage, society and class are again given a unique Austen work over!

Anyone who gives this book a bad review has no class. Jane Austen is one of the most celebrated writers in history. You just have to get past the fancy words. Beneath that is a classic and romantic story. Sense and Sensibility is the best romance novel I have ever read. I would recommend watching the movie first, though, if your Old English vocabulary isn't very strong.

This book was pretty awful. I only say that because it was not a story - it was a bunch of occurrences just thrown together on pages. There was absolutely no discernable storyline. what a shame, because it could have been interesting. The way everything was thrown together came off as an attempt to create something, but what, I don't know. HORRIBLE. Completely not recommended. Suzy Spencer did her readers a terrible injustice - it was like she compiled it from a bunch of newspaper clippings.

This is a terrible tale about a woman (Regina) who used her money to gain popularity, and happiness. We all know you can't very well BUY happiness, so things don't go as Regina Hartwell plans. She meets Kim LeBlanc in a gay bar in Austin, Texas. Regina was hooked at first sight on Kim LeBlanc. Kim, seeing this of course accepted the money and gifts thrown her way, but ignored Regina's advances. Kim was straight and dating a drug dealing personal trainer with a violent streak named Justin Thomas. Justin soon grew tired of Regina and Kim's constant complaint's about the advances. Justin killed Regina, while Kim knew about it and said nothing. In fact Kim helped cover up the crime while posing as the heart broken friend.

Suzy Spencer tells a fascinating story, that will put you practically in Austin. I am a frequent visitor and her descriptions were on the money. Suzy also focuses on Regina's real friends, who actually cared about Regina. This is a book that focuses on Regina's life mostly of course, but also delves into Justin and Kim's life as well. There are a few snippets that might be disturbing to even the true crime reader. The picture section also might take a little to stomach. But, this is a essential read for a true crime fan. It adds credibility to the saying that money can't buy you love.

Suzy Spencer writes an interesting story of a little girl lost who's love for the wrong person, gets her killed. You really get a feel for the characters and what they are like. You want to give Regina a hug and tell her everything will be ok. You want to kick Kim in her manipulative butt and you want to lock Justin up, and throw away the key. As for Anita and Jeremy, it seems they were the only two people who really cared for Regina, and they should find peace in knowing what good friends they were. I couldn't put the book down and like another reviewer, I had wished for a different ending. But unfortunately, it was not to be. The true crime in all of this is how one person got away with murder.

Exhibiting all the traits of a "good girl" and fuming from my last job review, I thought this book would be a perfect weekend read. By the end, I was bored and this book has been tossed into my pile of rejected paperbacks.

This book is more successful in listing personality traits of a "good girl" rather than giving effective strategies that are sure to lead to bargain table success. There are some negotiating tactics, but they aren't anything new (listen, know how to say no, get things in writing, shop around, think before you sign, etc). Once I finished the book, I knew what made me a "good girl," I knew there were a lot of women like me, and I knew in what situations "good girls" failed, but I still didn't have an applicable strategy for remedying these issues.

For instance, the authors recommend researching your expected salary before negotiating your next job contract. This isn't new advice, and I still didn't know where to turn for this information -- coworkers, online, library? There are a few cases where the authors give resources -- but they are ones I am already familiar with or are too obscure to be useful (what numbers to call when barganing for a casket, find out what your car is worth with the kelly blue book).

And be forewarned, the entire book consists of hundreds and hundreds of anecdotes. It is the reader's responsibility to figure out how to apply other women's successes and pitfalls to herself. While sometimes entertaining, this approach is not going to transform a "good girl" into a negotiating shark.

There are few good points in this book but most of it is just common good sense.

Kudos and thanks to the talented and tough team of Elizabeth Austin and Leslie Whitaker for writing a superb, well-reported and well-written business book not filled with silly metaphors, juvenile imagery and psychobabble. "The Good Girls' Guide to Negotiating" is well-documented and practical with insight, advice and tips for use in many different arenas and life trials. There are success stories and lessons, all written with candor and aplumb, in a style that is readable and understandable.

Perhaps because both women are trained journalists, this book has substance and solid information for application on a variety of fronts, from home to work, volunteer office and even to the funeral parlor. I recommend this book as a graduation gift to any young woman from high school, college or graduate school. It's also perfect as an engagement gift, birthday, guide to someone newly divorced or someone swtiching careers or life paths. This is advice all women can heed, from how to approach a deal to how to feel confident about fees.

So many business books I have read over the years-- particuarly those aimed at women-- appear to be condescending or just plain foolish. They state the obvious in metaphors that may attempt to be mythical but come off as cartoonish. Not so with this welcome book. It is a proud addition to my bookshelf and I suggest the good old boys get a good look at it too.

Way to go, girls, you did good.

I read this book upon the recommendation of a friend. At first, I was skeptical since I prefer fiction to non-fiction or self-help books. Still, I trust my friend and the concept sounded intriguing so I went for it. Boy, I wasn't disappointed. I had no IDEA how poor a negotiator I really was in the long run. Here, I thought as a freelance writer and entrepreneur I had mastered the art. Suffice to say, I couldn't put the book down. It grabbed me from page one, with it's candid prose, terrific humor, and dead-on descriptions of how "good girls" (okay, like me) aren't getting what they really deserve.

I saw myself in every case study and practical example of how other women are doing better than I am in this area. I really connected to their stories. In doing so, I learned a ton about myself--including when and where I can improve my negotiation skills. I am excited about applying this information to my own experiences (in fact, I've already started at both work and in my family relationships).

I highly recommend this book to anybody who thinks they deserve more from their interactions with other people but don't know how to go about getting it. I've already bought 15 copies to give as holiday gifts to my girlfriends. (Yes, I'm a planner!) Thanks and kudos to the authors!

This effort is better than the last Kurt Austin novel. Cussler continues to have interchangeable characters. The only difference between Dirk & Kurt are their hobbies of collecting cars vs guns.

This story has an interesting plot. I believe the premise is well developed. Typical with any Cussler book, the heroes escape death by unbelievable means numerous times.

I heard this book on unabridged tape. The narrator was excellent.

Overall, I enjoyed the book.

White Death, the fourth installment in the NUMA series, is another classic Cussler story of good versus evil, with the usual predecessor event setting the stage for an eventual tie-in to the main story. In this case, Cussler pits Kurt Austin and Joe Zavala against Oceanus Corporation, a highly secretive fish farming organization that seeks to corner the fish market with its genetically engineered fish. As would be expected, Kurt and Joe again fight tremendous odds and calmly face down death repeatedly as they battle a demented leader of Oceanus and the thugs in his employ. The novel is filled with all of the action, suspense, and frequent plot twists that have become Cussler's trademark. My only complaint was that the writing of Cussler and Kemprecos seemed to be choppy and abrupt at times. This minor gripe notwithstanding, the faithful followers of Clive Cussler will find White Death to be an enjoyable summer read.

I am what you would call a MAJOR Clive Cussler Fan (all I need is a paycheck, and I'd be a Professional...) and I absolutely LOVE the Kurt Austin adventures--ALMOST as much as his counterpart Dirk Pitt. I MUST admit 1-tiny fact: I have enjoyed the last TWO Kurt novels MORE than the most recent Dirk Pitt tale ('Valhalla Rising'). I ALMOST feel dirty admitting that, but c'mon! It's TRUE! For those who continue to persist that Clive puts way MORE into his stories for Dirk than he does for Kurt, well I'm beginning to think othewise. Don't get me wrong, as long as Dirk Pitt lives on the pages of a Clive Cussler novel, he's got at least ONE die-hard reader. He has NEVER let me down. Sure, some novels are better than others, but they are ALL entertaining.

'White Death' is among his better releases (in MY opinion, anyway). I found one thing VERY interesting as I devoured this book: it doesn't contain as much action as the average Dirk Pitt/Kurt Austin novel--which ISN'T to say that the action is absent entirely. On the contrary, there is plenty--just not as much as I have grown accustomed to over the years--and this in NO WAY slows the story one tiny bit. I found 'White Death' to emphasize the plot more than action, which I enjoyed tremendously. There is never ANY doubt who will win in the end here--and as I read on, I found the topic of 'White Death' to be MUCH more entertaining than I would have normally thought possible: A modern evil Eskimo tribe plans to genetically engineer horrific 'Frankenfish' that will decimate the population of certain species of fish in the oceans--while stockpiling these same in 'Fish Farms', monopolizing the supply and making billions in the process. Simple plan, right? Sure--until you factor in a certain Kurt Austin and his trusty sidekick, Joe Zavala (absolute CLONES of Dirk Pitt & Al Giordino). Joe has a more subdued roll in 'White Death' than he has in his previous adventures with Kurt--but when he does make an appearance, it usually involves chases, explosions and even a little sword-play. Along for the ride we have a radical environmental group calles SOS (Sentinels of the Sea) and the dangerous and explosive company bent on total control of genetic fish engineering, Oceanus (a front for our evil Eskimos).

As usual, the beginning of the story takes us back in history, my personal favorite was an undocumented Nazi/Germany ill-fated trip to the North Pole in a massive Zeppelin. There is MUCH to like in the pages of 'White Death' but I HAVE to admit, one particular conversation between Kurt and the leader of the Evil Eskimos had me scratching my head...NOT because it was confusing, but because it seemed forced and almost comical in how the bad guy spoke and declared he was '...the instrument of your (Kurt's) death...', other than that, I truly loved this latest outing with Kurt, Joe, Admiral Sandecker and even an appearance by Rudi Gunn. I now long for another installment featuring Dirk, but I am thrilled that with the introduction of Kurt, I no longer have to wait a full year and a few odd months before I see something new from Cussler...All in all, 'White Death' is FINE brain candy.

Well, it's like I bought this book called On Bethel someplace or other, right. And its got like this like family and their all kind of screwed up and lonely and dysfunctional and stuff over Christmas. But that's cool, I mean who isn't man? So I starts reading this book and I sees that there's this Indian Chief in it, so I go "Cool, an Indian Chief!" And like he goes into the hospital where there's like this old Russian dude whose like sick or something. And they like start having social intercourse. And I really thought like they would assault each other, or over-run each others' borders or interfere with each other, but instead they have like this beautiful cultural understanding of each other. And there's like these implications of all this mystical stuff and then the family like lives happily ever at least for that moment. And I really like it, because reality is so hard that like the mystical stuff is way cool. I went out and bought a cat and I named it "hello angel" which is totally cool.

Christmas books are usually sappy. "On Bethel Ridge" manages to tell a compelling, convincing story about a real family --including the complex dynamics real people have with one another-- and still convey the angelic magic of Christmas. Phil Austin's prose is exquisite, without being self-conscious.

Now here at last is a book with universal appeal. Kids and adults can both enjoy Phil Austin's compact and beatifully written Christmas tale. "On Bethel Ridge" is a unique work of magical realism, incorporating the day to day problems and emotions of an ordinary family with the power of myth.