The scion of Nantucket's oldest and wealthiest family is found dead one foggy night in a cranberry bog. But what brought Rusty Mason home in the first place? Ten years earlier he'd fled an indictment for securities fraud and was never seen again -- until now. In her first case, Merry Folger soon discovers that Rusty's made his share of enemies -- most of them in his own family. Now she must undo a decade-old tangle of betrayal, blackmail, and violence. Death In The Off-Season showcases Francine Mathews' talent for creating a gripping mystery that reaches out to seize the attention of her readers and just won't let go until the story is brought to its surprising climax. This complete and unabridged audiobook edition is superbly narrated by the vocal talents of Bernadette Dunne, and presents a flawlessly recorded, highly recommended "theatre of the mind" experience for anyone who loves a well told "whodunit".

As a first in the Merry Folger series, this book provided all the great elements of a classic mystery: developed characters, suspense & a puzzle to gnaw your teeth on. The death of Peter Mason's brother draws detective Merry Folger into a relationship with the bog owner, providing a touch of romance woven into the web of mystery. The characters are so well written, without being sentimental, that by the end of the book, you feel they live next door - you want to know what happens next in their lives. The mystery itself rates with the best of them, and the setting of Nantucket is so well written, you'll want to be on the next ferry - but not without someone watching your back!

Having only read "excerpts" before -- and the "shorter" Pepys is massive -- I supposed the short version was the exciting and interesting parts and the complete diary was the boring version that put everything in.
Well it turns out all PEPYS IS EQUALLY GOOD. The reason? This man loved life and said so, with great enthusiasm, and at the same time was a conscientious and effective(not always right or wise) public servant. This startling mix, in the end makes him seem a completely modern person. Fascinating.

This diplomatic history of the Algerian independence movement offers insight into the events of the past year, i.e., Iraq II. As the book points out, fifty years ago American stood on the right side of history, and France faced the opposition of the world. Interesting sidenotes include France's dirty tricks by its special forces. Read this history and learn how Dulles and Eisenhower would be doves in the current US administration.

I arrived on this book by chance - and i am definitely not sorry for that! The book magically incorporates fluent writing with hard facts. Thus, it makes for hours of VERY interesting reading. Dr. Mathews, an expert forensic psychiatrist, has a very impressive resume (and obviously a razor-sharp mind) to back this book. A must book for every pychiatrist, mental (that's me ;-) ) or anyone else interested in the field. I give it a big 5-stars rating.

The Divine Yes is crucial to understanding the life and ministry of E. Stanley Jones. For more than 60 years Jones, a Methodist Missionary & Evangelist, was a voice of reason in a world that was often on the brink. He was a personal friend of Gandhi, had an influence on Martin Luther King, Jr., and preached before the crowned heads & political leaders of East and West. Though respected for many things, he was best known for his desire to bring every facet of life in this world under the Lordship of Christ. It was he who declared that, though many matters of religious faith were "points of question," Jesus Christ himself was the "Point of Decision." He wrote that when we decide what we believe about he creation of the world, or who wrote the Pentateuch, we don't really decide anything. God decided those things long ago. By contrast, when we decide about Jesus Christ---we make a real decisions, for we decide something personal, something existential.

Jones made his decision for Christ at an early age. He lived it until his death in the early 1970's in his mid-eighties. The Divine Yes was written after a stroke that left him partially paralyzed, and his speech severely restricted. Jones said that, thanks to Christ, he was still the same person after the stroke as before. He said, "Since I can no longer preach a sermon, I must be a sermon." The Divine Yes sums up his ministry in more ways that one. It is Stanley Jones personal, life-affirming "Yes" to the Divine Yes that has already sounded in the person of Jesus Christ. As the scripture says, "For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why we utter the Amen through him, to the glory of God." 2nd Corinthians. 1:20

A book well worth reading. A man well worth remembering.

Worth Green, Th.M., D.Min.

This is the second Physics workbook by George Mathews that I have used in my Physics courses at the Ohio State University. This book, and the Socratic Physics book, are really effective at bringing difficult and complicated concepts down to a level that is easily grasped by the college or even high school student. I recommend that students of physics use this as a tool for much greater understanding and targeting learning. This is a really outstanding tool...and I recommend it for all students of physics.

At four pages, eleven paragraphs (not incuding the introductory quote), thirty five sentences, and (sorry Georges) more words than I really wanted to count despite how cool it would have looked here, Ellis Island is a tome. It made me more intensely examine my own identity than all three hundred pages of What Color is Your Parachute even came close to doing. (Actually, I only read about four pages of that one too, but I could tell where it was going.) Ellis Island, however, was a complete surprise. The bit about what it means to be a Jew and the fact that that aspect of his identity is more concretely definied by its abscence than its presence, is profound. I mean, other people have said it, certainly, but this is, without a doubt, the clearest presentation I have encountered. I think it's particularly telling that he should set these musings in America, at Ellis Island. We, as Americans, particularly as white Americans, have a watered down and dissapated culture defined not by who we are, what we love, how we live etc., but what, ultimately, we are not. This small work was a four-page invitation to examine my relation to my roots, my country, and my culture. Ugh. I loved it.

According to Mr. Trenin the end of Eurasia can be a good thing if the Russians will manage to abandon the idea quickly. Eurasia in this context is not a geographical term, but a mental construct, the idea of uniqueness of Russia and her separate (from the Western civilization) identity and destiny. Russia has a distinctive feature of having more land in Asia than in Europe, which undeniably has had a huge impact on Russian life since 17 century. But from the author's point of view the idea of Eurasia would be foolish pursue since Russia is facing a whole new set of challenges.

The author argues that the collapse of Soviet Union was de facto the end of the idea of Eurasia. With the final end of the Russian Empire (and its short-lived successor - the Soviet Union) myth of Eurasia must also be abandoned. This is the right time for the Russian people to shed this idea once and for all and to join the European civilization where the Russian roots are. A Europe that includes Bulgaria and Turkey cannot close its doors to Russia - at least not on cultural grounds, Mr. Trenin emphasizes. I would also add that, while the concept of Eurasia was first developed by the 19-th century Russian Slavophile, these days it is completely turned around and used by the Western either far-right or far-left circles just to argue how barbaric and "Asiatic" Russia is and always will be. May be if the Russians discard Eurasia myth, the Western academics and policy-makers will finally give up using Marquis de Custine's book written in 1839 as the ultimate source of knowledge about Russia!

The author notes that the most important thing for a state has always been the sense of identity stemming from clear realization of its geographical limits - borders. In tsarist Russia and then in Soviet Union this idea was basically absent. Russia has emerged as an imperial-minded state, conqueror of the ever-moving frontiers. The frontiers had been shifting from the Urals to the Pacific and from the Polar Circle to Afghanistan. As a result Russia has never emerged as a nation state. The human and other recourses were routinely taken by the rules and invested in the continuously expanding borderlands at the expense of Russia proper.

The time of these spreading out Empires has passed. To survive in the XXI century Russia (which is significantly smaller now) needs to be integrated to the Western economic and political environment. But the part can integrate into whole only when the part is aware of its own limits. Russia needs to maintain secure borders, which connect rather than separate countries. Only then the true integration is possible. Russia can recreate itself only through its successful relationship with the West. It will have - the author argues - to recognize that its place in Europe will rest on its ability to integrate, not on its political-military influence beyond its borders.

The author correctly argues that with NATO quickly expanding Russia faces the prospect of progressive marginalization. This prospect can be stopped only by a conscious Russian decision in favor of Europe. The Eurasia myth must be buried. In the same time Mr. Trenin is aware that there are Western high-profiled advocates of dismantling of the Russian state (for example, Mr. Zbignev Brzezinski has offered three loosely confederated Russian States). Or rather there are some people in the West who "love" Russia so much that they prefer to see several of them.

The other point, which Mr. Trenin is not making but it is implicit, is that Russia cannot any longer play the role of " the Great Satan" for the West. Mr. Churchill and Mr. Truman (I would argue) successfully prodded Stalin on this role. The Soviet Union so dutifully (and foolishly) played "The Evil Empire" for 40 years. Russia simply can't afford anything like this - catastrophic population decline (Russia has approximately the same population as Pakistan) and underdeveloped economy are more important than anything else. Of course, with stunning $300+ billion budget the American military has to have some enemy. Russia is fortunate that the West is looking for it elsewhere. It would be wise if Russia continues to refrain from assuming the role of the Western antagonist and refuse any attempt by the "friends" inside and outside to drag her into that unrewarding role (over Chechnya, NATO, etc).

This is a well-researched book from a very insightful observer. Mr. Trenin is retired Russian army officer who participated in arms control negotiations. He is now with the Carnegie Endowment for International peace in Moscow. I disagree with the author on some minor points (also he can be perceived as someone who idealizes the West a little too much), but totally agree with his main lines of thought. What adds weight to this book is the fact that Russia under Putin's leadership seems to be moving (slowly but steadily) to the same direction as the author suggests. I recommend this book to everyone interested in Russian affairs.

It is wonderful that Sara gathers the ingredients for her seaweed soup and makes it all by herself. Her independent spirit makes her a valuable character for children to read about and to know in Famous Seaweed Soup. For parents and children looking for characters who find they can make such joy for themselves Malinda Martha and her Skipping Stones(also available on amazon.com) is a worthy addition. In learning to skip a pocketful of stones, Malinda Martha discovers the joy inside that she can make for herself. I want Sara and Malinda Martha both in my children's library.