This book is used by most serious LBH writers and researchers as a very valuable reference. Just check the bibliographies of the most respected and thorough histories of the battle, and you will find Walter Camp's notes there. Reason enough that this book be on your shelf if you're a Custer/LBH buff. There is a wealth of information in these pages, especially the footnotes (which are often lengthy). Too bad Walter Camp died before he had a chance to put all his research together in his planned book. There are interviews with officers, enlisted men, white and Indian Army scouts and the Sioux/Cheyenne themselves. There are so many it becomes hard to keep them separate in one's mind, but that's a good thing.

His summation at the end tends to place him in the "Custer crowd" in that he did not feel Custer disobeyed Terry's orders, and that Custer acted appropriately with the information available to him at the time, although he does feel Custer fragmented his forces too much before the battle. One has to give his opinion great weight because he talked firsthand to more of the survivors of the LBH than anyone else.

Walter Camp had the great fortune and drive to visit the critical sites of the old west and seek out and interview actual participants and witnesses. Unfortunately, Camp did not survive to put his great efforts into a book but Hammer does the next best thing possible by organizing Camp's would be book and providing editorial commentary to fill in the gaps. Hammer collects Camp's material on the Little Bighorn and every page is full of interesting information. My favorite parts of the book are references to participants other than the main characters such as Peter Thompson and other members of Custer's separate battalion that survived because their horses broke down prior to the descent into Medicine trail Coulee. Hammer does an excellent job of providing clarification of the participants or writings of Camp in the footnotes so that you almost have all your questions answered by Hammer. A delightful book without harsh judgment offered by Camp and a great collection of readable material. It must have been frustrating to have first person interviews with participants when their stories clashed, were foggy or perhaps grandiose such as Thompson's alleged view of the valley as Custer descended to the river. Camp not only interviewed troopers but also Custer's scouts and Sioux and Cheyenne participants. Camp did a lot not to just record history but to locate historical sites in the remote West like Slim Buttes that without his timely intervention may have otherwise been lost to history. The only unfortunate aspect of the book is that there isn't more material and that Camp's health failed before he could draw his own conclusions. He also had the greatest vacation hobby, exploring and researching the old west before it was very old.

I read Mr. Camp's classic account of the Little Big Horn several years ago. It remains on my shelf as one of the very best books on the battle. It was well written, detailed and colorful enough for any follower of the Custer's trail. I highly recommend this book, which I read just prior to visiting the Custer battlefield on the 106th anniversary. Not to be overlooked or missed.

I had the pleasure of not merely knowing Renee Mason, but actually being involved with many of the events described in this book. I am her nephew, and I was a participant in some of the school activities, family events, and special occaisions this book describes. This is not a how-to-homeschool book; rather, I think it is best described as one family's autobiography through the eyes of homeschooling. After a long struggle with cancer, the author went to be with her Lord on St. Patrick's Day, 2000, but she left behind her the legacy of eight homeschooled children, three of whom went "all the way through high school." She was blessed by God in her earthly roles as mother, wife, teacher, businesswoman, encourager, manager of people, follower of Christ, and student of life. Her efforts were centered around her family and the other people in her life. Even during her last days, she did interviews from her hospital bed on national radio to promote her book and encourage homeschoolers everywhere. Her spirit is spread throughout this book. The text was written not only by Renee Mason, but numerous sections were written by other family members as well. It is not a smooth prose from the hand of a literary genius, but rather out of each section emerges the personality of its writer - each piece of the book sounds like the person who wrote it. Because of that, this book feels down to earth, normal, and natural, and gives the reader a sense of actually being a part of what's written. If you are a homeschooler or a person just interested in the subject, I recommend this book to you. Unlike other books on this topic, Home-Schooling All the Way Through High School is not a reference for step-by-step instructions on what to do to begin and finish homeschooling. Instead, it is a book that will give you insight into and a true feel for the day-to-day life of one family through the lenses of homeschooling.

This was an absolutely wonderful book to read. I would definitely recommend it. The entire book was inspiring and had me "all choked up" on several occasions. The Mason childrens'contributions to the book made it all the more endearing. If your feeling a little frustrated with your homeschool, are fresh out of ideas, or just need a little "pick me up", this book is definitely for you! God Bless Renee Mason for listening to God and sharing her life with us!

This is an awesome book that every new or old homeschooler should read. It is a story of the lives of one homeschooling family that has been through start to finish, and has the former and present students to prove the greatness of homeschooling. It is an easy read book that even the most busy mom or dad can take the time to read. It gives great examples for your own homeschooling venture, and great encouragement to people that are just starting or vetern homeschoolers. anyone in the homeschooling movement that knew Renee Mason, knew what a great example she was to them, and the powerful influence she had on the homeschooling movement.

Examining this book was enjoyable, educational and insightful. Mark Mason challenges the reader to go deeper into church history and examine the motives behind the actions then that influence us even now. It is the subtle quality of this book that makes it so powerful. And tying the past to the present is no small task, but Mr. Mason does a thorough job of doing just that. A must read for the serious student of history.

Well written, full of revelant historical information that allows the reader to grasp the foundation of the fall and decline of tribal Christianity; or my love of Jesus is better than your love of Jesus. The final chapters highlight the need to overcome this Christian demonimalization, or eventually, all Christians will witness the erroding of the sacred message enunciated by Jesus the Christ.

Mark Mason's In Search of the Loving God can be very helpful for former "Born Agains" (such as myself) whose intuition has always told them that there must be more to God than the punishing father or unreachable "bearded guy in the sky".

The author skillfully gives cultural and historical insights into the life of Christ and the Christian church of past and present. He offers reassurance based on etymological and cross-religious evidence that indeed, God is most definitely knowable and loving.

Far from being a dry document, the book is written in a personable, self-disclosing style which I found engaging to read. The extensive references and bibliography are also quite impressive and helpful.

I wasn't sure if I would actually enjoy a historical novel. However, I loved this novel! All of the stories captured my attention, except for the last. However, you might enjoy it!

I've read this book several times it was the first of the Collection that i read. My Grandmother sent it to me for my 16th birthday. i didn't read it for a while because i thought it looked corny. well i eventually started reading it, and once i started i couldn't put it down. i read the whole thing in 2 days. Then i started it over again. I have now read most of the collection. This book was i must say my favorite. My second favorite was The Historical Collection part 2. After that it would be Texas.

This is a wonderful collection of stories. They each have a great plot with a little twist just to keep you reading. These types of books are escpecially good if you only have short times to read (has 4 stories).

THIS IS MY FIRST REVIEW. I KNOW HOW DIFFICULT IT CAN BE TO CHOOSE A BOOK UNLESS SOMEONE RECOMMENDS IT TO YOU AND I DO.IT IS EASILY READ YET HOLDS YOUR INTEREST. THE CHARACTERS SEEM VERY REAL AND YOU FEEL AS IF YOU REALLY KNOW THEM. I LOOK FORWARD TO READING OTHER BOOKS BY THIS AUTHOR.

The Jar Woman is fast-paced and hard-hitting in dealing with complex human emotions and frailties. The adventurous Kimmy seems to have bitten off more than she can chew when she inadvertently gets involved with Arlena. Kimmy in total control of her well-defined life, Arlena needing to take responsibility for hers. The author expertly and continuously twists the plot encompassing an array of characters to keep the most accomplished mystery buff guessing. I couldn't put it down.

The Jar Woman was a real page turner. Kimmy and Arlena, opposites in every sense, are a conduit for nasty goings-on in a small picturesque town. Horrific animal mutilations plague the community and when a murder occurs, the town's resident's are sent into a tailspin. I identified with Kimmy's fears, her panic and human failure in dealing with a murdered boy. And I enjoyed Arlena's 'down home' attitude, when she decided to unravel mysteries too complicated for her educated and wealthy peers.

The Jar Woman begins one Christmas Eve and ends the next, exposing a microcosm of human tragedy and triumph.

Marsha Mason has long been one of Hollywood's most underappreciated talents. When people begin listing the best/most influential American actresses of the last quarter-century, the usual suspects arrive: Streep, Field, Keaton, Fonda. But, criminally, few mention Mason. Despite four Oscar nominations, 2 Golden Globe wins, and as fine a body of work as any of the others, Mason's recent scanty film appearances do serve as adequate reminder that she is still a force to be reckoned with.

Her book does lose a bit from the use of the alter-ego personalities that are part of her emotional make-up; though the initial use of them is charming, after a while they just seem to get in the way of the narrative. But then one wouldn't expect Ms Mason to produce a typical, trashy, self-serving bio. In fact, she is as hard on herself as any of us can be, but as with her greatest film creations (Maggie in "Cinderella Liberty" and Georgia in "Only When I Laugh"), her self-deprecation makes her even more endearing. The sections on Neil Simon and her beloved stepdaughters are honest and touching, adding even more resonance to her stunning performance in "Chapter Two"; and her relationships with the 'Garys' is frank and poignant.

Marsha Mason's body of work as an actress means a great deal to me. Her work in "Chapter Two" and "Only When I Laugh" helped me work through a very trying period in my own life and I owe her a debt of profound gratitude for this. Her book now takes its place beside them on my shelf of very special contributions from a very special actress and profoundly important human being.

A sweetness and a sadness cling to Marsha Mason like the ghosts of Christmases Past and Yet To Come. Unlike Scrooge, she seems generous to others. Yet her book shows she has uncovered a Scroogelike harshness towards herself. She speaks about learning to be more compassionate regarding her self-growth, any naivete.

Regarding format, early on, Marsha alerts us that her book is uniquely structured. Good warning. Her past-, future-, as well as her present moment-thoughts whirl about, bombard us. It's as if the reader becomes a passenger in Marsha's racing car. Just when you're enjoying a stretch of intriguing scenery -- a descriptive passage about her childhood or one of her marriages -- she shifts gears, swerves, and swiftly tears along a different pathway of thought. I grew to like this choppy, unpredictable quality. It's different, refreshing; just ride with it, and you'll probably enjoy the kaleidoscopic text-patterns, and her multi-voice, inner characters.

Marsha's anecdotes are heart-felt and discreet. Sometimes it seems that her racing stream-of-consciousness technique was created as protective buffer, screening the author from readers, sustaining privacy -- never dwelling too long on detailing the causes or effects. Still, Martha wonderfully reveals an abundance of material per her spiritual awakenings.

A book, The Play Goes On, by her ex-husband, playwright Neil Simon, exploring his version of their marriage, complements Marsha's work. I'd hoped Marsha would someday publicize her experiences, including per Siddha Yoga (my ex-path). Marsha entitles one chapter, "Be Careful What You Ask For." I'd say, "be grateful for what you wish." I'm glad I've been given her insights into life, her owning of her perception and experiences of spirituality, linked to creative-expression, marriage, etc.

Yet it was odd that she writes of the oppressive nature, the authoritarian, punitive aspects, in her eyes, of her Catholic upbringing, and of her father -- and yet sees no possible parallels to her ongoing guru connection. I also wondered about the gaps: Marsha states she was away from her guru lineage for nine years. Why? And what brought her back?

As she mentions, Marsha was one of many well-known people who flowed to Baba, the "guru to the stars." I remember how, as an impressionable young girl, star-struck, being new to the monastery in India, I spent my early months leaping up like Lucy Ricardo inside the Brown Derby. Marsha seemed non-elitist, warm, down-to-earth, while doing "seva" (working). In India or America, she appeared unattached to the jockeying for position. While she sometimes attracted perks (close seat to the throne; private guru discourse, the staff later publicized; some glamorous, high-profile, rainproof work-assignments, etc) she radiated humility unshown by various meditators with ambitious plans -- The participants in CBS' first "Survivor" series (Marsha = Jenna plus Sonja) would have fit right in! (I'd love to produce a t.v. reality-based series called "Ashram!"). This journal seems truly to reflect Marsha's camaraderie and genuineness.

The bulk of the book explores her acceptance of the concept of "surrender." I appreciated her poignant mention of a mutual friend, the late writer Paul Zweig. Yet here, Marsha seems to have missed what Paul was beginning to contemplate. She praises him as a "devotee" in an effort to highlight Siddha Yoga. Yet per my memory, Paul Zweig had reappraised Siddhahood. Before his illness prevented him from doing so, Paul would travel to the countryside, and give lectures to a small group of us creative artists, who gathered regularly. In his quiet kitchen-chats with a few of us after each session, I remember how intensely blunt he'd become, his illness emboldening him to question Siddha Yoga's desire-denying code, usefulness, where meditation worked, where it didn't, and however it failed to comfort, heal. I don't know if or how he ultimately resolved these doubts. I only know his self-inquiry was instrumental in my growing up, and away, from the guru-disciple framework, to which Marsha evidently still adheres. His insights led to my desire to rationalize no longer the unsavory behind-the-scenes organizational atmosphere, the silencing of backtalk-questions per rumours of impropriety; the concentric alliances of power-play, per the guru; then between the twin-appointed guru successors (siblings: sister vanquished brother); and among member-levels. It was time to re-evaluate repressive aspects to Eastern philosophy in general. Thus, to leave, forego the top prize of enlightenment. So it's natural to wonder why Marsha omitted these aspects, and if she might not be in denial, and how this particular "unowned" yogi-voice will ultimately affect her.

So the book-ending evokes a theme, the mystery about Marsha: Is she truly happy now? Healed? Is she setting herself up for further spiritual claustrophobia? I wish her well. What wonderful blessings she has received now -- to work with plants, being immersed in the beauty of nature, befriending animals. For most readers, spiritually inclined or not, this book would be a worthwhile read. The author seems determined to find her way, somehow, to what a philosopher I like, Paul Ricoeur, terms, "second naivete:" innocence within matured wisdom.

Typical readers of theatrical autobiographies will not find what they are looking for in Marsha Mason's JOURNEY. They will not find the exposes, the invasions of privacy, the "lurid" details that spice most works of this genre. Marsha's most outstanding atribute continues to be "kindness" and here she treats everyone she writes about with that virtue, plus the love and understanding that have inwardly grown with her on her odyssey through life. The dark sides of her childhood and adolescence and of her marriage to Neil Simon and subsequent divorce are not avoided but she chooses not to address the cruelty, selfishness and just plain meanness with which she was treated after that marriage ended. The false glitter of the inner world of Hollywood and what happens when it turn against one of its own is a story she has wisely chosen not to write - one that Gary Dale says needs to be told, "but by someone else." Marsha knows about bad karma.

Framed within the physical journey of her move from Hollywood to her new digs in New Mexico, these series of flashbacks are just that - brief glimpses of parts of a life that have touched many people. Almost thirty years after her star first began to rise and twenty years after it set, she is still not only remembered but deeply loved by everyone who saw in her performances a beauty, an emotional honesty and a courage that few actresses have revealed. She was and is equally adept in comedy and drama, in period and in contemporary pieces. She is an artist first and foremost. She also has never stopped working. We continue to see her in television roles and in theatrical offerings, which she interweaves with her work on the medicinal herb farm she runs with Gary Dale.

The key words in this work are courage and honesty. In the first chapter she matter of factly reveals her multiple personalities, introduces us as it were to the cast of characters that populate her inner life. This is courageous. This is saying, "Here I am. Take me or leave me." She is also brutally honest in taking responsibility for what she considers her mistakes. The little girl is ever present in the mature woman - the vulnerable, innocent, young hopeful - entering a tiger's den known as Hollywood.

When Marsha, the Garys and I all lived in a block long W.72 St NYC apartment building in the early 70s, you could expect to see Marsha, about to leave for the coast, newly married and newly nominated for an Oscar, picking out a variety of cat food in the supermarket so that her critters would be well cared for in her absence. With about a dozen dogs surrounding her early morning walks on the N.M. estate, she still surrounds herself with the animals she has always loved and nurtured and will break dinner dates with the rich and famous if one of her brood is ailing. She knows who her friends really are.

This is a marvelous memoir, written with insight, self-awareness, and humor. Her style is breezy and conversational. It was fun for me to learn about the "missing pieces" - they help round out her character and they explain a great deal about her personality.

BUY THIS BOOK - there, I've said it.

Now, a few words about Gary Dale. Gary Dale Campbell is not only Marsha's "prince" but a good and loyal friend. He is the sun her planet revolves around. Before "angels" became trivialized by modern writers, I considered him to be a true one. Those whose lives he's touched feel the same, I'm sure. Balancing a kindness equal to her own with a common sense and practicality that anchor both Marsha and his life partner, Gary Dontzig, Gary Dale emanates warmth, love, compassion and understanding. His kindness and gentleness provide a rock of healing, a touchstone whose personal loyalty assures his constant presence. He deserves a book of his own.

Enough said. Marsha Mason is in the final analysis, like Blume's farewell line in her second feature, BLUME IN LOVE, "a nice lady." We maybe don't deserve her, but I'm glad she's here.

In graduate school, I wasn't taught how to write formal poetry. In fact, a buddy of mine and I "secretly" wrote formal poetry in fear that we might be persecuted by our peers, all post-modern free-verse spawn. Even as an undergraduate, I was taught that free-verse is the way to go--forget that stuffy formal nonsense--be original! Do your own thing!

Ever try to write a sestina? Ever write a villanelle? Does anyone write sonnets any more?

_Rebel Angels_ proves that formal verse is not dead at all. In fact, this anthology is one of the best books of poetry I've ever read. The verse is tight here, and when these poets are on, they can produce some well-written masterpieces. Dana Goia's poetry is very well done. His work in ballad stanza should not be missed. Tom Disch has a pair of villanelles that prove that Dylan Thomas isn't the only poet who can perfect the form. This volume doesn't include only metered verse in a recognizable form. Many poets write in irregular rhyming patterns. Perhaps the most exciting thing about the poetry was the inclusion of several modern narrative pieces--the narrative poem, now there's a poem not assigned in my graduate workshop.

Check this one out certainly. Don't forget to read Jarman's introduction. It's quite interesting. Imagine someone calling formal poets "unAmerican." It happens.

I am both a fan of formal poetry and free verse, but it always seemed like contemporary poets only wrote in free verse. i couldn't find any modern formal poetry. that's why this collection was such a wonderful little gem to find. some of the better poets born after 1950 are included here.

New Formalism was long overdue, and this volume surveys it admirably. Recommended.

This collection of short stories is loved, even revered, by many fledgling short story writers, and with some legitimate reasons. Bobbie Ann Mason constructs a story well, and her characters behave as real people would. She rarely chooses to give the reader much of a sense of the landscapes in which she works, but when she does, she does it beautifully and economically. Frankly, though, I grew weary of the themes in her stories. In the middle of one of the stories, I think I screamed something like, "If I have to read one more story about dysfunctional relationships, I'm going to shoot myself!" I never did go through with it, in part because Mason does give the reader a taste of some likeable male characters in a few of the stories near the end of the book. I myself would never want to write stories which are, ultimately, as bleak as the stories in this collection, but Mason's bitter humor is often endearing, and her characters are interesting (if similarly crafted from story to story). If you want to read about people from rural Kentucky, read Wendell Berry instead; if you're looking for stories about relationships, read Joyce Carol Oates. Save this one for after you're read just about everything else.

This is a wonderful collection of stories. I read it originally as a student about 12 years ago and was happy to recently re-read it. Mason gives us an honest and very un-sensational look at the middle and lower class of the South but does so in a way that neither patronizes nor glorifies her subjects. Having grown up in the culture that Mason describes, I can say that she captures both the mystery and the mundane that is the South. The drama is so understated and she allows her characters a quiet dignity.

I was given this book by a friend about ten years ago. Somewhere in between, it went walkabout. It is such a haunting, beautiful set of stories that the chance to get it back - and in hardback - is not to be missed. Tales about working class life don't get much truer or more real than this. Very gentle, very thoughtful, very moving. Worth going out of your way for a copy.

Even though the book is very nice and recommendable, it does not go into too much details. What I liked the most is that Mr. Maude covers some aspects in the design of the cathedrals and churches hardly to find in other books related to mediaeval architecture. I would recommend this book for someone looking for learning the basics and one who appreciates the religious lifestyle that prevailed at that time as an important factor for the design and construction of this sort of buildings. The explanations given by Mr. Maude concerning the physics used by the master builders to understand the behavior of walls, flying buttresses, arches, and other construction elements are very easy to follow. Definitely this is a book for a person who has just started into this wonderful subject of medieval construction.

The strength of the book is Maude's hands-on experince, which he uses to illuminate a lot of material. The book could be a bit clearer in places, and could use some labelled diagrams. He does not cover the structural aspects in detail (see the very difficult The Stone Skeleton for that) but explains a lot of stuff I haven't found elsewhere (what for instance is a 'rood'.)

An excellent book about the history and construction of medieval churchs,abbeys,and cathderals.

The author , a working stone mason who has worked on the repair and restoration of these ancient buildings,gives insights into the development and technical details that went into creating these masterpieces.

The author's admiration for these builders is reflected in his discussion of the problems they encountered and how they arrived at solutions to create these masterpieces which have been handed down to our modern generation.

In additon, he also gives valuable insights into the history of the ancients times based on his intimate knowledge of the work undertaken by the builders.

The book is well illustrated with discriptive captions and is easily understood by the layman reader. I would highly recommend this book to any one who is interested in the medieval churchs and cathedrals of Britain.