This is the second book by Nina Revoyr but the first one that I have read by her. It is a story set in Los Angeles during 1930 to present and is the tale of a Japanese family and a murder that takes place during the Watt's uprising in 1965. There were 4 black Negro boys found murdered in Frank Sakai's walk-in freezer. His grand daughter has found something in an earlier will leaving money to a man named Curtis Martindale and when she goes to find him, she finds out that he was one of the boys found in the walk-in freezer. Jackie, Frank's granddaughter, teams up with a man by the name of James Lanier who was a cousin to Curtis to hopefully find the truth.

The story goes from Frank being a young boy in Angeles Mesa to present day when he has just passed on. He has left a box of items that Jackie has went through to see if there are any clues for the $40,000, Frank left in cash. Whether the money should go to her aunt to help in the buying of a house or it should go to Curtis Martindale who is in the first will that was written. If it should go to Curtis Martindale, why should it have gone to him? Was there something that Frank did not share with the rest of the family?

It took me a while to get used to the book jumping from one time frame to another and also from one person to another person. But I am glad that I stuck with it, because it is a very well done book. There is also a lesbian relationship that Jackie is trying to work out for herself in this book that adds to the adventure in this historical fiction book. Overall, I thought the book well done and I am very happy to have read it.

I started reading this the day after I visited the Watts Towers in south central LA. As a rather nervous visitor to the area (not without reason - there was a drive by killing of an 11 year old outside a church the same day) I was absolutely glued to this book.

I love the LA noir genre of detective fiction. This is very different, and offers far more insight into WHY LA is as it is. It takes us to other parts of LA - the more middleclass areas of West LA (where I was staying), for example.

This book is a riveting story, and it deftly juggles the historical context and so achieves so much 'explanation' and 'history' in a naturalistic way.

It also, most importantly of all, offers hope (which, by contrast, noir fiction rarely does)

Revoyr's Southland was one of those books that as soon as your eyes absorbed the final sentence, you felt a particular sorrow and a small shred of guilt for being voracious in your reading. For the time spent between it's covers, the reader is locked in the roller coaster ride of it's characters - the ebb and flow of emotions, the tiring yet exhilirating journey of self discovery and awareness of family. Racial tensions, family secrets, the sheer horror that could be trapped within the human soul - all made for the backdrop of this novel, and all manage to draw the reader further into the juxtaposition of Los Angeles in the sixties and early nineties. Each central figure becomes real and vivid, breathing and weaving his or her own story of sorrow and triumph, love and hardship. Each is familiar, and therefore the reader follows the untangling of the central intrigue of Southland with intense interest and concern. The L.A. painted within it's pages is painfully reproduced, harsh and yet with promises struggling to come to fruition. In sum total, at it's end, Southland emerges a beautiful story heralding the lives of it's beautiful and none-too-fictitious people.

The Trial and Death of Socrates, by Plato, is a timeless piece dealing with themes that are applicable to the generations of then, now and those to come. Written in the classic, observant, style of Plato, the book is a compilation of four dialogues that the main character, Socrates, engages in at various times with different people. Each dialogue is didactic in style and although they don't always end conclusively, they do provoke one to reflect upon that which is discussed. Throughout the book Socrates deals with such subjects as pious versus the impious, wise versus the unwise, and just versus the unjust. The book is set in Athens, in the year 399 B.C.E., and is written so that each section revolves around Socrates' trial as described in the section entitled "The Apology". The book focuses much attention on the trial in which Socrates is being tried for corrupting the youth and not believing in the gods recognized by the state. Aside from the philosophical side of Socrates, the reader is also introduced to his family and friends, thus observing the person who Socrates really was. Many readers are introduced to various sections of this book at some point in their education, yet those who never read the entire book miss altogether the importance of the relationships that Socrates has with others. It is through study of these relationships that the reader begins to view Socrates as a real human and develop a sympathetic connection with him. While the conversations are occasionally difficult to follow, the thoughts and philosophies of Socrates are profound and worth the invested time to understand. Each debate that Socrates partakes in introduces to the reader a new piece of knowledge or moral question to ponder. It is through the answers to these questions that the reader reaps the true benefit of tackling The Death and Trial of Socrates. Wisdom gained is worth more than the time invested.

For those of you who must have it all, buy PLATO COMPLETE WORKS, edited by John M. Cooper. Personally, I would save your [money] and just buy this. I have read and reviewed many other Platonic texts, but I really don't think you need anything else. This is the irreducible core of Platonic Goodness.

THE TRIAL AND DEATH OF SOCRATES is a compilation four dialogues: the "Euthyphro," the "Apology," "Crito," and the "Phaedo". As the title clearly states, these four dialogues convey the story - and philosophical debate - that surrounded Socates' trial and death. In these dialogues we find Socrates defending the righteousness of his actions and views, and tearing away at his prosecutors with the skill of expert lawyer. His only weapon being the truth.

In spite of, or perhaps because these four dialogues were written while Plato was still a middle-aged man (as opposed to the "Republic" and the "Laws," which are thought to be his more formulated philosophical expressions), they absolutely sizzle. The text bleeds with life, and so-called Socratic method of endless penetrating questions is here exemplified in the most dire of occasions - Socrates defense against the State of Athens.

It is in these dialogues that Plato expresses the core of philosopohy: a committment to truth, beauty and justice, and the the supreme tenent: "The unexamined life is not worth living." That said, if you still yearn for more Plato after reading these dialogues, grab a copy of Allan Bloom's translation of THE REPUBLIC. It is currently the best English translation available, and you will still be saving [money] over an edition of Plato's complete works.

This book really needs more attention than any other deserves. To understand this book is a life time challenge... So small yet so deep in thought...

Roosevelt does quite well to capture the essence of what went on during the period when the colonists began westward. The point made by the editor that it is indeed a wonder that this work was ever created at all is well taken when one considers Roosevelt's involvement with so much else in his life while he produced what, for the time, was a very scholarly opus.

One must be patient with the narrative; it tends to be choppy. One must also be patient with, or at least understanding of, TR's view of the world and especially his notion of upon whom the greater glory of the westward expansion rests.

All in all, it is seemingly a must read (as is the entire series) for anyone having either an interest in the history of this time, or an interest in TR and his works.

Before Roosevelt begins sensationalizing in the second volume, he describes the utter wilderness of the region and characterizes both the individual settlers and Indians who would play decisive roles in the settlement and migration of whites westward, and also gives sweeping portraits of the Indian nations encountered during our westward expansion. The hardships of the settlers due to the ruggedness of their new mountain home, their self-reliance, the cold winters, the need to fell forest for pasture and tillage, the daily peril of Indian attacks, and the distant relations with their origins to the east complete this wonderfully written and diversified study of early American frontier life.

Theodore's Roosevelt's "The Winning of The West" volume one is unlike most modern histories. His is a story of the founding of the American Republic West of the Original 13. This volume is of the late Colonial Period. He is unafraid to make very harsh judgements, attacking both the American Indians and the Pioneers, although it is clear who he favours. He does have many prejudices, but, to be honest, most Historians do. President Roosevelt's were just of the less respected, today at least, kind. The whole series is very much worth reading, and is a worthy investment of capital and time. Ryan M.

I don't usually buy this type of book, but I saw it on a bargain book table a few years ago and picked it up. King Kong is the greatest monster movie of all time, and this illustrated account of the story looked interesting. In 92 pages, the familiar story of Kong's tragedy is told rather well, and the illustrations are quite good. Browne especially did a great job capturing the emotion and sadness of Kong at the end, lending him a much greater sense of humanity than can be found in the true monster of the story, filmmaker Carl Denham. One thing that could not help but strike me was the way in which Browne depicted Ann Darrow-there are definite similarities to Marilyn Monroe, and one early illustration is a perfect likeness of the blonde bombshell. I also noticed that one illustration of Kong on his abode atop Skull Mountain depicted what looks exactly like a bi-plane in the corner beside a basic V-shaped bird; I don't know if this is a mistake (the corner does closely match that of a later illustration of Kong atop the Empire State Building) but it did jump out at me.

Basically, this is a children's book, although I rather enjoyed it myself. This may not be a wise choice for bedtime reading for a small child (Kong's battles with several prehistoric beasts are vividly illustrated along with the horrors of Kong's escape in New York), but older children should enjoy it. The pictures pretty much tell the story themselves, so a child can enjoy the book even without reading the accompanying text. I think both the story and the illustrations convey an important message about the dangers of greed, one which parents can reinforce in their children by discussing Anthony Browne's King Kong with them.

I would like to know whether this book has already been translated and publlished in Japan. If it's coming in near future, when and which publisher.Thank you. (I have sent 2 other. I skipped my name then)

Economic anthropological study of a localized craft tradition. Dongyang wood carvers (but also carpenters and construction companies) have succeeded in esablishing a unique identity in national and international markets. It also helps us understand how the PRC's takeover and "socialization" of the woodcarvers' shops with their master-disciple traditions efectively destroyed the artistic autonomy of the craftsmen themselves.

This is an excellent first hand portrayl of the the Dongyang County in China. Eugene Cooper, USC prof., spent 6 months in China studying the Dongyang County. This book is worth the money.

"Avonlea" was not just as show about children for children, as the episode "Aunt Abigail's Beau" amply proves. Sara and Felicity have wildly romantic ideas about romance, which are certainly challenged by the adults in this story, which is adapted by Amy Jo Cooper from Heather Conkie's script. First, there is Felicity's Aunt Abigail who is apparently all settled into life as an old maid when suddenly Malcolm MacEwan reappears in Avonlea. Abigail and Malcolm had dated seven years earlier when he suddenly disappeared leaving her to mend her broken heart in silence. It seems Malcolm had wanted to propose, but Abigail's father had refused his permission, saying Malcolm should come back when he was rich. In response, Malcolm immediately set off for the Yukon--without saying anything to anybody, not even Abigail--and has now returned, a very rich man indeed. However, when he sweeps Abigail off her feet (literally) all she can notice is that he is tracking dirt all over her clean floors! Abigail is having renewed feelings for Malcolm, but she has become settled in her ways and does not know what to do.

Meanwhile, over at the King farm Alec is fuming over the way everybody is fawning over Malcolm and his stories about life in the Yukon. To make things worse, Janet is saying the wrong things at the absolutely worst time over and over again. Between the excitement of the romance between the reunited couple and the sudden coldness between the Kings, Sara and Felicity do not know which problem to try and solve first, especially since Malcolm has a natural talent for embarrassing Abigail to no end.

Lucy Maud Montgomery told many stories about lovers who are parted by fate, circumstances or cold-hearted relatives, and "Aunt Abigail's Beau" is one of her funnier versions of that type of tale. The children are pretty much reduced to being spectators in this particular volume of the "Road to Avonlea" series, which is just fine with me. I always had respect for the character of Alec King and it is nice to see him more involved in a story for once. As always, if you like these novelizations of the "Avonlea" episodes and have not yet checked out the novels from which they were drawn, such as "The Story Girl" and "The Chronicles of Avonlea," then you need to do so.

This is based on an episode of the ROAD TO AVONLEA television series that spanned seven years and 91 episodes. This story involves the Kings visiting Aunt Abigail when her old beau Malcolm returns from the Yukon. Prim Abigail can't abide his untidy habits and refuses him when he proposes to marry her even though she loves him. Sara and Felicity must convince Abigail that she's acted foolishly and they must hurry to catch Malcolm's train before he leaves Avonlea forever! I loved this story because it makes you think and laugh and it's good soul food because of it's heartwarming theme. These stories are very heartwarming and set at the turn of the century in the town of Avonlea on Prince Edward Island, Canada.

This was the first book that I had seen for Avian Medicine that was in color! That was what initially attracted me to this book. I also like the many tables that are spread throughout the book that organize diseases, drugs, etc... I also think that the book is pretty complete in the information that it covers. The only problem I see with the book is that it seems a bit 'regional' as far as the information about specific birds. I had hoped that sort of information would be more diverse instead of just a few species. Other than that I thought it was very good and a nice reference manual to have in your avian medicine library.

I have been a rehabilitator of raptors for 13 years, Avian Medicine is absolutely the best one single source of information I have ever seen. This book covers almost anything a rehabilitator would need to know for the birds in their care. The color photographs give great examples of almost any avian ailment you will encounter. Many times rehabilitators will have a bird with a problem that is not something you see every day. Avian Medicine by Jaimie Samour makes it much easier to identify specific ailments. This book also covers drug dosages, blood chemistry, commonly used drugs and everything else from incubation techniques to imping feathers. This is a must have for veternarians that are not avian specilists and avian specilists alike. My vet once told me that birds are an elective in vet school and she learned all she knows because of her personal interest in raptors. Without her personal interest she would not have acquired the basic skills to care for these magnificent birds. Avian Medicine will definitely be an asset to her and anyone else with a passion for birds and their well being. I will recommend this book to all of my rehabilitator friends across the country and plan to buy another copy for my vet as a Thank You for the volunteer service she has provided to the thousands of raptors that have come in to our facility.

Eileen Wicker Executive Director Raptor Rehabilitation of KY, Inc. Louisville, KY (502) 491-1939 raptors@aye.net

I know of two people that have already bought this book from you in the last two days, just on my recommendations. Sigrid Noll Ueblacker, Bird of Prey Foundation, Colorado and Christine Macck Alaska Raptor Rehab. If I am awarded the $50. certificate I will use it towards 2 more copies of the same book for both of my vets.

Reading music was always something of a mysterious art to me. This book really clarifies it and makes it seem possible for me to sight-read in my lifetime!

I found this to be a very good book to learn the basics of how to read music. I sing in a choir and always had a hard time following the music in the sheet music books. The book helped a great deal, and I only wish that it contained a bit more instruction.. but I think that for less than ten bucks, it's a great deal.

Good but not great. The book follows all the story of tango but there is something missing....many of the pictures are unfortunately 2-paged and cannot be appreciated (plus I couldnt find any passion in any but 2 of them) although the book seems to getting better as you go towards the end. The edition is of course luxury but i can't say i was amazed. Anyhow a good choice for an absolute beginner to tango but I would suggest Horacio's Salas "the tango" in every case.

Until I read "¡Tango!", most of what I knew from tango was what was told by instructors, including Daniel Trenner, Brooke Burdett, half a dozen Argentine nationals, an equal number of Canadians, and a Belgian. It was exciting to get all the information I needed in one place. Tango is more than just music and dance. It is a cultural phenomenon that began in the barrios and bordellos of Buenos Aires and Montevideo, and spread throughout the world. At the base of this cultural phenomenon is the relationship between a man and a woman. Tango is not just an American or South American phenomenon. It has spread throughout the world, and is popular in such diverse countries as Finland and Turkey, as well as those areas where it evolved.

The text of the book is outstanding and well documented. I was pleased with the choice of artwork, old and contemporary photographs, and page layout. It gave me a great understanding of the tango as a cultural phenomenon. There is an excellent bibliography and the text is referenced with footnotes for those who wish to go to some original sources. I am one of those people who are always looking for recommendations for music, and I was pleased to see a two-page listing of tangos, which are available on compact disc. For those who travel, there is a listing of international tango centers. It is an incomplete list, but it would be helpful for those who travel a lot for business or pleasure.

If you like tango, this would be a good book to start your collection. Then you can proceed with "Le Grand Tango: The Life and Music of Astor Piazzola."

For a person just discovering the Argentine tango (or who wants to), this is an interesting, beautiful, coffee table book. It's filled with gorgeous illustrations and photographs, as well as poetry, lyrics and fun, historical tidbits about the music & history. It rambles, but that just makes it more fun to open it up and start reading from anywhere. It's been the kind of book that has made even my non-tango friends interested in the dance and cultures behind it.

REVIEW: (Rev of 2nd edition) It is now widely accepted that innovation is a core competence that is required by nearly all organizations. As a result, many companies have been very successful at generating new innovations. However, generating innovations is just the first step and an excess of innovations in many companies has created a need for good management processes to deal with them. These are the issues addressed by this book and there may be no other place where these issues are addressed as thoroughly and well as here. The author provides a thorough review and analysis of each step of the development process from idea to commercial launch. While the book can be slow reading at times, I firmly believe the author's method of separating the process into stages and providing screening mechanisms between the stage are excellent advice. Following these methods should lead to: (1) accelerated product development, (2) increased success rate of new products, and (3) a more effective and efficient new products development process. Accordingly, the book should be especially useful to those managers responsible for portfolios of new products. If this is you, this book is highly recommended.

STRENGTHS: The book provides a very thorough review and analysis of the new product development process from innovation through to launch. The author has done a very thorough review of the research in this field and the book does an excellent job of citing other material. The book also contains an appropriate use of graphics for illustrating some points.

WEAKNESSES: While the book doesn't focus on any particular industry, its teachings are probably most applicable to more traditional product companies (e.g. P&G, DuPont). Also, (and this maybe an unfair comment for a book targeted at products) the book probably isn't that helpful for innovations in services which may be even more important in modern companies than product innovation (e.g. GE and IBM are currently pushing services). Another concern, the book is fairly "textbook like" and only those seriously interested in the subject may find it easy/enjoyable to read. Some passages seem to drag on and I often wished the author would have been more concise and not tried to so thoroughly justify every point.

WHO SHOULD READ THIS BOOK: Product development managers, new business managers, and others responsible for bringing innovations to market should read this book. Those responsible for _portfolios_ of new products/innovations may especially find this book useful.

ALSO CONSIDER: Jeffrey A Timmons - New Venture Creation; Guy Kawasaki - Rules for Revolutionaries; Peter F. Drucker - Innovation & Entrepreneurship

Cooper does a great job presenting the value of his "stage gate" system for developing and launching new products while minimizing risk of failure. A bit academic, but useful advice for all product managers in any industry.

Bob Cooper provides a clear roadmap for new product success. Figuring out the smartest, most consistent way to create winning products can be the key to long term success. Yet setting up systems and process to help employees achieve these results without burdening them with unecessary bureaucracy is a challenging task. Using a solid research base and the experiences of dozens of corporations, Bob Cooper lays out a clear yet flexible blueprint for managing new product development. Its all here for those who are interested. I have read many books on this subject but this is the one I use and refer too all the time. An excellent resource.