What a fascinating, tragic life. This book is well written and flows along very easily, based largely on written correspondence. I have also seen the movie ("Carrington") and there are a few discrepancies, but not many.

My eight month old son loves this book. It's just five pages long and only includes about 25 words, but it's colorful and it rhymes. He loves the "cheep, cheep, cheep" sound of the baby chicks. If you're trying to fill out your collection of baby's very first books, this one is not a bad addition.

This book shows how Mary and Lucy Camden get along while taking a road trip and also help another girl in need. This book is a little short, but good. It would be enjoyable for girls anywhere from ages 9-12.

The battle between the Monitor and the Merrimack in March 1862 is one of the most significant naval battles in history. This was not because of the outcome, which was tactically a draw, but because it heralded the end of wooden warships and the ascendancy of steam, armor, exploding shells, and the revolving gun turret. The contrast of the floating iron fortress with the "cheesebox on a raft" has inspired many artists and the chief attraction of this Spotlight on History volume is the detailed artwork and diagrams by Fred Freeman. The text by Carole Kismaric starts with President Abraham Lincoln worried about reports the South was building an ironclad and details the construction of the Merrimac and then the Monitor, which led to their famous battle. Note: the book follows the notion of alliteration rather than history since the Union frigate Merrimack was cut down to make the Confederate ironclad christened the C.S.S. Virginia; I should also point out the North won the war and wrote most of the histories about the battle.

For me the most impressive parts of this little volume are the excellent two page spreads that provide diagrams and cross-sections of each ironclad. With the Merrimack there is a drawing of the original sailing ship with the portion of the hull used shown in blue, a cross-section view, two overhead views on the inside and top of the ship, and a frontal cross-section. A similar approach is used for the Monitor with additional cross section views. The only complaint would be that the Monitor is done to scale vis-à-vis the Merrimac, which makes it on the small side; a chart lays out a direct comparison of the ironclads in terms of construction, size, and armament and there is also a map of the James River where the battle took place off Hampton Roads. The illustrations are equally good, especially the ones detailing the battle between the two ironclads. Those pictures are in color, while most of the early ones in the book are in black & white with gray tints. The cover painting, of the Monitor's captain talking to that of the grounded U.S.S. Minnesota while the Merrimac approaches in the distance, is the best of the bunch. Both the text and the illustrations are informative, although the publisher does have to play with the text font from page to page to get everything to fit alongside the appropriate illustrations. This is a nice little history of the "Duel of the Ironclads" that should not be forgotten. At the very least the artwork by Freeman could be salvaged for future use; after all, that is what they did with the Merrimac.

As an undergraduate political science major, I've learned that research on the institution and person of the President of the United States of America deals primarily with general theories of leadership and governing. Dr. Han narrows the field of research to the topic of White House communication-- specifically television-- strategies, beginning with Kennedy and ending with Clinton.
The book focuses on which strategies failed and which strategies succeeded, by examining the various media communication strategies applied by each administration towards their certain domestic policies. These case studies provide the reader with a look at the various consequences an administration must consider when "going public" with a policy. This book could be used in teaching mass media or political science.

I just finished reading Hampton Sisters by Bernard E. Conners and it did not take long for this book to become a real page-turner. The story is about two sisters, one younger one older who are very different, but yet the same. Two men, one a doctor and one a gentleman of some years becoming infatuated with one sister and before long the other sister. What drew me mostly to this book was that (aside from the conflict between the two sisters) is the place called The Sanctuary. Most people think of "sanctuary" as a safe haven, a place where you could go that is quiet and serene and calm. But in this context, the Sactuary is anything but safe. It has some qualities that are almost human-like. If you want a book that will have you wondering about how people react and tend to their daily lives in an atmosphere of twisted emotions, then this is a book that you will enjoy and will want to re-read it just to redefine what you might have missed the first time.

As a budding genealogist, I have depended upon this text for invaluable leads on my families and some of the history of early Hampton, NH. I have discovered a few mistakes here and there, but having access to so many more sources, I have been able to substantiate them. I give Mr. Dow and all those who took the time, many kudos for at least attempting to set history down. It boggles one's mind to think just how terribly tedious and self isolating this task was. I am descended from many of the original settlers of Hampton ie Clifford, Dow, Griffin, Hilliard, Tilton, Moulton, Brown, not to mention my favorite; Reverend Stephen Batchelder and his nemesis, Reverned Timothy Dalton.

Warm sensual romance- good conflict- humor- excellent fun!
When Ryder Malone came to town, all rugged confidence and wearing a devil's grin, Kathryn Asbury saw her perfectly ordered life crumble before her eyes. Years of carefully nurtured respectibility had given her the kind of life she'd never know as the daughterof a man who invited gypsies to share the lawn and welcomed hot air balloons to family gatherings- now this hunk of a rambling man threatened to shatter her precious peace. Ryder pulled the pins from her hair, seducing her senses, and turned her into a spitfire in his arms. To her wild "King of the Road" she was touchable Kate, all innocence and sizzling temptation- and he was irresistible! But Ryder lived to chase rainbows around the globe, and she refused to be just one of his adventures. If she could lose herself in his loving eyes, could he ever find the place she called home?

The only thing I don't like about this book is its deceptively bland cover, but the author can hardly be held accountable for that. A glance at the cover art, which consists of a windmill, a prairie, and grazing horses, brings to mind images of the Midwest...boring images of the Midwest at that. Not so. The Reluctant Tutor is a fun romance taking place amongst the hustle and bustle of New York City in 1899.

Kate Delaney has long dreamed of becoming an architect, but she's been met with rejection and ridicule at every turn because of her gender. Finally, however, Kate's dream comes true as she is granted an apprenticeship in New York City. She makes a deal with her grandfather so he'll allow her to go, promising that if she cannot become financially independent within a year's time, she will return home and marry a man of his choosing.

Confident in her plan and in her skills, Kate sets off for New York City only to discover that the man who had agreed to instruct her has died. Worse yet, the man's son (who has taken over the business) is openly hostile toward her and has no desire whatsoever to uphold the agreement she made with his now deceased father. Kate eventually gets him to relent by striking a bargain with him: if she chooses to leave before the year is up, he will not have to refund her money, but if she chooses to stay, it is his duty to instruct her.

Gabe Murray is confident he can make Kate quit before the year is out, so he makes a wager at the local bar with his chief rival Lloyd Peyton, the man who stole his fiancee out from under him a year ago and the same man who's architectural firm is his primary competition for winning the chance to design the new public library downtown. If Kate leaves, Lloyd is not allowed to submit his plans to the city. If she stays, Gabe is not allowed to do so.

Gabe accepts the challenge from Lloyd, refusing to listen to his conscience in the doing. But problems soon arise and his guilt soon takes hold, for Gabe genuinely likes Kate. More disastrous for his wager yet, he's beginning to fall in love with her. When push comes to shove, Gabe will be forced to choose between gaining the hand of the woman he loves or seeking revenge against his sworn enemy.

One of the things I really liked about this book is the fact that the hero's conscience comes into play very early on. The reader isn't forced to endure all manner of mean, cruel acts toward the heroine before the hero finally relents and treats her decently. What you get instead is a romantic tale about two people at odds coming together, learning to like and respect one another, and eventually falling in love.

- full review originally published in The Romance Reader. Sexual content PG-13 = consummation scenes are described in a fair amount of detail.

As America becomes more centralized and more anonymous; what do citizens do to give themselves a sense of community? Mr. Sides shows us one way to overcome facelessness: get a very specialized interest and find some other folks who share it. Then have a reunion, a festival-a party.

These fascinating essays take up the stodgy Bohemian Club (the most private club in the world), Airsteam caravaners, Tupperware Jubilee, Bass fisherman, the Church of God in Christ Convocation, Iditarod-the 1500 mile Alaska dog sled race, Black Hills Motor Classic-the big Harley ruckus in Sturgis SD, and the Rainbow Family of Living Light gathering -a reunion of the flower children held yearly in a U.S. National Forest.

The most boring group by far are our captains of industry, military and government who belong to the Bohemian Club. In spite of their magnificent scenery, it reads like a board meeting. The Airstream people are a model of organization; participants are color coded down to their socks. The Rainbow Families pride themselves on their lack of organization and it is a true wonder they all manage to get to the chosen site at all, and then survive the experience. The year recounted was spent in the stark Jarbidge Wilderness in northern NV. It sounded about as pleasant as breaking rocks at Alcatraz, but all had a wonderful time. I wonder that the good citizens of Sturgis don't flee before the onslaught of The Hawgs, all grown older but still with the sense of humor of half-tamed grizzly bears.

This is a fun book to read, and Mr. Sides has organized it very well. He gives us a brief history of each organization, interviews participants, and gives an overview of the events provided. He is non-judgmental, for the most part, and I commend him for bravery above and beyond the call of journalism for sticking it out in Sturgis SD, and the Nevada wilderness. In Nevada it looked like you had a good chance of dying of natural causes (sun stroke, typhoid and hypothermia); in Sturgis, your demise would be sudden death by Harley.