Search this site      Visits From the Afterlife Authors: Browne, Sylvia / Harrison, Lindsay ISBN: 0-451-21327-0 Pages: 283 Format: Paperback Publisher: NAL Trade Published: August 31, 2004 Condition: Price: USD $4.99 Carolyn Myss, Ph.D., author of Anatomy of the Spirit: "Browne is a master at conveying the truth that exists in the fourth dimension." Murder in Brentwood Author: Fuhrman, Mark ISBN: 0-89526-421-8 Pages: 392 Format: Hardcover Publisher: Regnery Pub Published: February 1997 Condition: Price: USD $2.69 Amazon.com: This book yields two surprises that have nothing to do with what made its author so notorious, but which have plenty to do with how public bureaucracies fail. First, it includes Furhman's contemporaneous crime scene notes (with observations as meticulous as any TV sleuth's), which make mention of a "visible fingerprint" Furhman saw on the Bundy back gate (and discussed with his partner at the time). Second, it reveals that Lange and Vannatter, the detectives from "downtown" who took over the case from Furhman, didn't check out the print that night or subsequently, and indeed never read Fuhrman's notes at all. That's why you didn't hear about the fingerprint during the criminal trial. (When authorities returned to sample blood from the back gate two weeks later, the print was gone.) In short, the main lesson of this book is an organizational one worth remembering: it doesn't matter if the grunts do a good job, if the big-shots don't follow up. The New York Times Book Review, Craig Wolff: Some will be troubled that the flawed Mr. Fuhrman is finding renewal in his book. But at least he is providing a badly needed, if one-sided retrospective on how his role unfolded. It is not necessary to absolve him to know that something was lost when Mr. Fuhrman fell out of the case. Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight An African Childhood Author: Fuller, Alexandra ISBN: 0-375-50750-7 Pages: 301 Format: Hardcover Publisher: Random House Published: December 18, 2001 Condition: Price: USD $2.29 From Publishers Weekly: A classic is born in this tender, intensely moving and even delightful journey through a white African girl's childhood. Born in England and now living in Wyoming, Fuller was conceived and bred on African soil during the Rhodesian civil war (1971-1979), a world where children over five "learn[ed] how to load an FN rifle magazine, strip and clean all the guns in the house, and ultimately, shoot-to-kill." With a unique and subtle sensitivity to racial issues, Fuller describes her parents' racism and the wartime relationships between blacks and whites through a child's watchful eyes. Curfews and war, mosquitoes, land mines, ambushes and "an abundance of leopards" are the stuff of this childhood. "Dad has to go out into the bush... and find terrorists and fight them"; Mum saves the family from an Egyptian spitting cobra; they both fight "to keep one country in Africa white-run." The "A" schools ("with the best teachers and facilities") are for white children; "B" schools serve "children who are neither black nor white"; and "C" schools are for black children. Fuller's world is marked by sudden, drastic changes: the farm is taken away for "land redistribution"; one term at school, five white students are "left in the boarding house... among two hundred African students"; three of her four siblings die in infancy; the family constantly sets up house in hostile, desolate environments as they move from Rhodesia to Zambia to Malawi and back to Zambia. But Fuller's remarkable affection for her parents (who are racists) and her homeland (brutal under white and black rule) shines through. This affection, in spite of its subjects' prominent flaws, reveals their humanity and allows the reader direct entry into her world. Fuller's book has the promise of being widely read and remaining of interest for years to come. Forecast: Like Anne Frank's diary, this work captures the tone of a very young person caught up in her own small world as she witnesses a far larger historical event. It will appeal to those looking for a good story as well as anyone seeking firsthand reportage of white southern Africa. The quirky title and jacket will propel curious shoppers to pick it up. Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc. From School Library Journal: Pining for Africa, Fuller's parents departed England in the early '70s while she was still a toddler. They knew well that their life as white farmers living in Zimbabwe (Rhodesia at the time) would be anything but glamorous. Living a crude, rural life, the author and her older sister contended with "itchy bums and worms and bites up their arms from fleas" and losing three siblings. Mom and Dad were freewheeling, free-drinking, and often careless. Yet they were made of tough stuff and there is little doubt of the affection among family members. On top of attempting to make a living, they faced natives who were trying to free themselves of British rule, and who were understandably not thrilled to see more white bwanas settling in. Fuller portrays bigotry (her own included), segregation, and deprivation. But judging by her vivid and effortless imagery, it is clear that the rich, pungent flora and fauna of Africa have settled deeply in her bones. Snapshots scattered throughout the book enhance the feeling of intimacy and adventure. A photo of the author's first day of boarding school seems ordinary enough- she's standing in front of the family's Land Rover, smiling with her mother and sister. Then the realization strikes that young Alexandra is holding an Uzi (which she had been trained to use) and the family car had been mine-proofed. This was no ordinary childhood, and it makes a riveting story thanks to an extraordinary telling. Sheila Shoup, Fairfax County Public Library, VA. Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc. As You Like It Authors: Shakespeare, William / Sargent, Ralph M. ISBN: unknown or none Pages: 126 Format: Paperback Publisher: Penguin Books Published: 1959 Condition: Price: USD $2.29 "L" is for Lawless Author: Grafton, Sue ISBN: 0-8050-1937-5 Pages: 226 Format: Hardcover Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. Published: September 15, 1995 Condition: Price: USD $1.99 Amazon.com: Both new readers and old fans will welcome this 12th Kinsey Milhone adventure in the "A" is for Alibi series by Sue Grafton. In this case, Kinsey agrees to do a favor for a friend of a friend and gets herself into so much trouble that she promises at the outset never to do such a thing again without careful consideration. Henry Pitt, her longtime landlord asks her to help a fellow neighbor find evidence that his grandfather served in the military during the Second World War. With such proof, the man can be decently buried, courtesy of the U.S. government. It seems such a simple thing, but with Kinsey, it rarely is. Before long she finds herself entangled with an eccentric and quarrelsome family as well as a long lost buddy who has turned up just in time to get himself beaten up in a robbery attempt of the alleged veteran's apartment. It seems there is a reason the Armed Services have no record of the dead man's service. Kinsey sets out to determine what he might have been doing instead of fighting against the Japanese and why someone might think his shabby apartment worth a burgle. Typical of the series, the mystery is not the central point of the story, but rather a starting point for Kinsey to become embroiled in a suspenseful (and delightful) search-and-rescue operation, usually against her better judgement. In this case, a gun-toting, arthritic octogenarian and revelations of the inner workings of bargain-rate motels are all part of the adventure. This is an easy and enjoyable read, and a solid addition to Grafton's string of alphabetical hits. --K.A. Crouch From Publishers Weekly: Bemused, beleaguered and begrimed, Southern California's premier PI, Kinsey Millhone leaves her hometown of Santa Teresa in an adventure (her 12th in the alphabet series) that begins straightforwardly enough but quickly twists into a knotted string of untruths. While getting ready for the Thanksgiving Day wedding between a local tavern keeper and the elder brother of her landlord, Kinsey agrees to help the family of recently deceased neighborhood WWII vet, Johnnie Lee, find out why the military has no record of his service. Soon after Kinsey has finished looking (fruitlessly) through his papers, Lee's rooms are burgled, and Ray Rawson, who claims he is an old friend recently arrived in Santa Teresa unaware of Lee's death, is beaten up. Kinsey soon finds herself on a plane bound for Florida, in possession of only the clothes she's wearing and her purse( with an extra toothbrush), trailing a young pregnant woman in possession of a duffel bag spirited from Lee's home. On a stopover in Dallas/Fort Worth, Kinsey sleuths disguised as a hotel maid dusting baseboards ("tough to picture the boy detectives doing this," she reflects), meets the increasingly unreliable Rawson again and encounters yet another figure from Lee's past, a violent, vengeful psychopath. While gradually sorting out the connections among this cast, Kinsey travels to Louisville, where Rawson's 80-something mother proves her mettle and Kinsey, determining that lawless, in this case, is neither adjective nor collective noun, unravels a decades-old mystery. Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. Cardinal Virtues Author: Greeley, Andrew M. ISBN: 0-446-51478-0 Pages: 449 Format: Hardcover Publisher: Grand Central Publishing Published: May 1, 1990 Condition: Price: USD $2.29 From Publishers Weekly: This extremely busy follow-up to The Cardinal Sins brings back Father Larry McAuliffe (aka Lar), the former "bomb-throwing radical" now "disillusioned" pastor of St. Finian's parish. Pressure from the Cardinal persuades Lar to take on an assistant, Father Jamie Keenan, a man from what Greeley terms the "new priesthood," whose homilies offend the traditionalists. Particularly offended is George Wholey, leader of the ultra-right-wing Catholic group, Corpus Christi, who makes life hard for the young priest. Fighting to save Jamie from a vile set-up helps Lar regain his youthful enthusiasm, and several parishioners benefit as well. While the plot is plausible, Greeley simply fails to engage us; with the possible exception of Lar, the characters remain two-dimensional, serving Greeley's nostalgia for those who believed in Vatican II and his revulsion for those who fought the reforms. The bestseller lists prove there are many who revel in relentless detailing of rectory life; the suggestion, however, that this tale is a taut thriller, is preposterous. Literary Guild selection; author tour. Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc. All That Glitters Author: Andrews, V. C. ISBN: 0-671-87574-4 Pages: 344 Format: Hardcover Publisher: Pocket Books Published: June 1, 1995 Condition: Price: USD $1.99 From Library Journal: This is the third novel in the best-selling series that includes Ruby (S.& S., 1994). Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. Book Description: Driven from the Dumas Mansion back to her beloved bayou, Ruby's only hope is that fate will let her begin anew... Living again in a humble shack, Ruby is determined to make a secure and happy home for her precious infant daughter, Pearl. Paul Tate -- her first love, whom she was forced to abandon -- is at her side once more, now a man of dazzling wealth. When he whisks her into his grand house, it seems their future is assured. As mistress of Cypress Woods, Ruby can forget even the shocking reason she and Paul must wed in a secret ceremony and remain husband and wife in name alone. But the thick, expensive walls of Cypress Woods cannot shut out the terrible memories that have woven their fabric over her destiny, or the cold eyes of Paul's mother, Gladys, reminding Ruby of the secret she must keep to give Pearl a loving father. Then her venomous twin sister, Gisselle, arrives to taunt her with news of Beau Andreas, the true father Pearl has never met, and the only man Ruby will ever long for with all her body and soul, Desperate to find the complete, fulfilling life she craves, Ruby builds a precarious new existence, a flimsy shanty of hope that the first flood washes away. Only when the storm exposes the very blackest evils of the past will she glimpse the rainbow's fragile promise, a morning of sunshine and laughter with a family of her own.... The Story of Superstition Mountain  and The Lost Dutchman Gold Mine Author: Allen, Robert J. ISBN: 0-671-78904-X Pages: 212 Format: Paperback Publisher: Pocket Books Published: October 15, 1974 Condition: Price: USD $1.69 Book Description: The violent, tragic, true account of the gold-hungry men who challenged the treacherous peak sacred to the Apaches. Wake Up, World! A Day in the Life of Children Around the World Author: Hollyer, Beatrice ISBN: 0-8050-6293-9 Pages: 48 Format: Hardcover Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. Published: September 28, 1999 Condition: Price: USD $8.99 From Library Journal: A simple look at some of the ways in which people differ in the details of their lives but are similar in their overall values. Two-page spreads of full-color photographs focus on a specific aspect of daily life, such as waking up, school, or playtime, and convey information about the homes, families, and lifestyles of a group of youngsters from eight different countries. A brief explanatory paragraph introduces each topic and each child's blurb is accompanied by a symbol that follows his/her story throughout the book. At bedtime, Anusibuno from Ghana and Cidinha from Brazil are shown falling asleep in the heat listening to sounds of the animals outdoors, while Shakeel from India and Alexis from Australia listen to stories before drifting off to sleep. There are some beautiful photographs here, but the effectiveness of a few of the spreads is marred by the small size of some of the images and/or the lack of distinguishing details. An outline map pinpoints the location of each country, and a short end section explains aspects of each nation's culture. There is a good balance of children from a variety of cultures, and the periodic use of their own words makes their stories inviting. While geared to a similar audience as Patricia Lakin's Growing Up: Around the World (Blackbirch, 1995; o.p.), Hollyer's work is more personal and provides more information. Nancy Menaldi-Scanlan, LaSalle Academy, Providence, RI Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. From Booklist: The opening double-page spread introduces eight children, from a variety of countries around the world, who experience a typical day from sunrise to sunset. Sharp contrasts are shown: Sasha lives in frigid Siberia; Cidinha lives in northern Brazil near the steamy Amazon rain forest. The selection of countries and kids is nicely balanced, and Hollyer does a good job of highlighting similarities, even as she shows each distinct culture. Extensively captioned photos chronicle each part of the day, giving a sense, often through the child's own words, of the foods, the dress, what school is like, and what activities are done for fun. Good inspiration for children to chronicle a typical day in their own lives. Lauren Peterson The Merriam-Webster Crossword Puzzle Dictionary Author: Merriam-Webster ISBN: 0-87779-905-9 Pages: 743 Format: Paperback Publisher: Merriam Webster Mass Market Published: July 1992 Condition: Price: USD $1.99 Annotation: Updated and expanded, this new edition was created by crossword puzzle lovers, and it's more useful than ever before. Its remarkably complete word lists and unique organization make it easy to find answers to even your most vexing crossword puzzles. The Book of Fantastic Machines Authors: Rush, Jean / Rush, Ken ISBN: 0-307-62675-X Pages: 29 Format: Hardcover Publisher: Goldencraft Published: March 1975 Condition: Price: USD $2.29 The Passage Author: David Poyer ISBN: none Pages: 543 Format: Paperback Publisher: St. Martin's Press Published: 1995 Condition: Price: USD $1.99 A US ship alone in Cuban waters on a collision course with disaster. Publishers Weekly: "Readers of this stirring tale will be sorry to see it end." Ralph Peter, author of Red Army: Breathtaking, from the first page to the last... One of the very few military thrillers written by a man who not only knows his subject thoroughly, but who is also a,genuinely talented writer. The Naked Ape Author: Desmond Morris ISBN: none Pages: 205 Format: Paperback Publisher: Dell Publishing Co. Published: 1967 Condition: Price: USD $1.99 The Naked Truth About the Animal Called Human - . Man is a creature who can write immortal poetry, raise giant cities, aim for the stars, build an atomic bomb - but he is also an animal, a relative of the apes, a naked ape, in fact ... BUY4LESSBOOKSBUY4LESSBOOKSBUY4LESSBOOKSBUY4LESSBOOKSBUY4LESSBOOKSBUY4LESSBOOKSBUY4LESSBOOKSBUY4LESSBOOKSBUY4LESSBOOKS Buy4LessBooks Free Classified Ads