MO

Michael Kahn's Rachel Gold legal mysteries are pure gold waiting to be discovered and while this latest effort falls short of its predecessor, the brilliant "Bearing Witness," it is an intricately plotted, clever novel well worth the read. Yes, it starts slowly, but from about a third of the way through to the end, don't plan on putting it down. Gold, spunky, sensitive, brilliant and with a nose for things that aren't as they seem, has Angela Green, a famous woman in jail for killing her husband, as a client. She is defending a Son of Sam case concerning a book her client is writing but a quick delving into the circumstances of the trial for her case suggests to Rachel that her client is innocent of murder. Suddenly the case she is supposed to be on becomes a backdrop as Rachel pursues hitherto unfollowed clues and inconsistencies through the murky waters of St. Louis politics and the even murkier waters of the porn industry. A lawyer could drown in such waters very easily, but our girl not only stays afloat, she emerges from them triumphant -- and even works out a thorny romantic problem of her own. Read it. Better yet, read all the Rachel Gold books and then read it; you'll appreciate it even more with such grounding.

The whole Rachel Gold series is great. This was a page turner until the very end like all of the others in the series. The plot is extrememly well crafted. The authors use of humor was excellent. Love this series would like to see many more.

St. Louis attorney Michael Green divorced his wife Angela so he could marry the young and beautiful Samantha. Before that could happen, Michael was killed and Angela was put on trial for the crime. There was enough evidence for the jury to convict her and Angela was sentenced to forty years at the Chillicothe Correctional Center.

Seven years into her sentence and six months before her autobiography is to come out, a Son of Sam claim is made on behalf of Samantha's son. Local attorney Rachel Gold is hired to represent Angela in that lawsuit, but the lawyer goes one step further. She finds enough information in the trial transcript to question Angela's guilt and she decides to see if she can uncover proof to get Angela's verdict overturned. She doesn't realize what a Pandora's box she will be opening by taking that action.

The latest installment in the Rachel Gold series is totally enthralling and believable. The plot is so complex and multi-layered that the audience won't have a clue whom the truly guilty party is until the author chooses to reveal it. TROPHY WIDOW is a must read for anyone who likes a top rate legal thriller.

Harriet Klausner

This is actually three books bound together. Each is a very good translation of a major ancient Chinese philosophical text. Although these philosophers are not as well known in the West as Confucius or Lao Tzu, they are very much worth reading.

Mo Tzu was an early critic of Confucianism; he founded a movement known as "Mohism." The Mohists advocated "universal love." This is less sexy than it sounds: they mean simply caring for each person equally, as opposed to the Confucian doctrine that one should care more for family members than for strangers. Mo Tzu is noteworthy because he is perhaps the first Chinese sage to present genuine philosophical arguments. The "essays" in this collection will challenge your preconceptions about Chinese philosophy: they are practical, hard-headed, and relentlessly rational.

Hsun Tzu (pronounced like "syun zuh") was a major figure in later Confucianism. He is best known for his doctrine that "human nature is evil." This teaching got him condemned by Song and Ming Dynasty Confucians, who thought that the view of the rival philosopher Mencius that human nature is good was the orthodox view. However, Hsun Tzu is a careful, systematic, and eclectic thinker. He may be the greatest Confucian philosopher of ancient China.

Han Fei Tzu was a figure in the so-called "Legalist" movement. Although Legalism could sometimes be pushed to draconian extremes, Han Fei Tzu has lots of insightful advice about realpolitik.

Burton Watson is one of the leading translators of Chinese philosophy and literature. He lives in Japan, and is heavily reliant on Japanese scholarship, but Japanese translations of Chinese texts are often pretty good, so this isn't a bad thing.

This is a good edition of three books that ought to be better known than they actually are. One point to consider when shopping: the book is actually more like 450 pages than the 130... It is three books bound together, each of which is also published individually as a translation of Watson's. Since this book is hardcover and they are trade paperbacks, this copy (particularly at used prices) is more desirable...

A compelling read. The author takes the reader to a part of America that I never knew existed. This isn't like Mayberry, it's the new real west.
Celis takes you into the hearts and homes of the residents of Cortez. You really care what happens to the people in this story and get to see all sides of the conflict. A wonderful year-in-the-life look at the rural west and the folks that choose to live there.

"Battle Rock" is a marvelous book that is not only about the history of a one-room school and the life and times of one particular one-room school, but also a marvelous look at a way of life most of us didn't even know existed in the 21st century. Celis brings a sharp reporter's eye and a delightful easy-to-read writing style that makes this one of the best reads of the year. He has taken a very serious subject, has researched it thoroughly, and presents it in a personal, moving work. It is as if Celis is sitting next to you gently telling you what he has seen and heard and why it is important. He is a remarkable story-teller. Don't miss this wonderful reading experience.

This is a well written sequel to Hoffman's first book. I found it interesting, but at times confusing. His reintroduction or reference to characters in Small Worlds are not always clear, especially if it has been some time since one read the first.

Now that the Krimsker Jews we met in Small Worlds have emigrated to St. Louis, Hoffman can explore questions of what makes a people? How are a religion and its religious to adjust to new surroundings? The novel's invention and humanity are matched by Hoffman's great skill in the craft of writing. Scenes work so well, and his denoument is fitting and intriguing. I'll look for the third in this series.

Propaganda towards The King of England's, etc..., extinction notwithstanding, such anti-evidence of "our" usual presentation to "our" Embassies and The World Court, if not also "our" "U.N. General Assembly," "we" in confiscation of "our" own "domestic/International" copyright legal prerogative, proclaim the four star rating from the subject matter's heretofore anonymous greatness, considering "H.E." is the Grandfather of the "Cross"-hybridization of an all European Royalty God, even on hypocritical earth, via commingled genetic mixing with "our" Father, Oskar Clas Frederick (SUECIA ET DANIA REX), creating the Divinity of such "our" prophetic Imperial dominance towards the truth of completely unifying Continental Monarchy(ies)(such book leaving out the fact that from Divine prophecy of "Lord" Louis' Grandson, "our" family being of relation to Rome's AUGUSTUS OCTAVIANUS; of such illuminations Philip, "our" estranged cousin, wants some Ira to just blow him up he's so extatic about having Caesar's genes) within Imperial Royal prerogative of, for example, "our" Halloween World Court Edicts regarding such conspirator secrecy as not depicted for such book's purchasers, returning to "our" Four birth-right Kingdoms through "our" Sovereign Coined image used on certain "small" denominations of "small" privitized "real estate" "claims" (Hapsburg) of "small" to be Kingdoms, as was similarly expressed within Ziegler's "Mountbatten," tales of the war(s), particularly bringing back memories of "my" Grandfather Mountbatten, "Do you go to the mountains and (batten) play baseball?," telling of the Burmese warriors who had to contact blood on their knives if pulled from sheath or the capsizing of his command vessel off the coast of Greece after attack from German war planes, a Prince of Greece, etc., defending his territorial "claim," ironically, again, against yet another (Germany) of "our" neverending right of fact claim of right, Divine Rights from "h.i.m.," "we" say, "...ici, ici...Dieu et mon droit, DEUS IUSI EGO," as (buy it and read it then get the full story at The Emperor's website forthcoming) I command it.

I read this book when it first came out. My grandmother was a Batenberg. According to oral tradition in the family, her grandfather was appraoched by a German Lawyer while the family- including my Maternal Grandmother was living in the Hague, Netherlands. The lawyer indicated that Mr Batenberg of the Hague was next in line according to the laws of German to inherit a vast fortune, which included the tin mines in Russia. The tin mones were co owned by the Tzar and the House of Hesse,aka Batenberg. The offer of wealth was repudiated - the reason was that the wealth would ruin the religious committments and lifestyle of the family-and the lawyer was told to pass the inheritance on the next in line by way of descent. The next in line was Mountbattens father and when the tin mones were lost in The Russian Revolution October 1917, Louis Battenbergs father and Louis Batenberg eventually went into the British Navy for the reasons mainly related to the loss of income from the tin mines in Russia. The oral tradition in our family is supported by this book. This has rather amazed me.

Gives a chilling account of the most powerful series of earthquakes to rattle North America and warns they will come again. Told in the context of how the temblors effected contemporay people, places and events, but also offers an excellent historical perspective. Contains startling information that more people should know. A text book that reads like a good novel.

If this book doesn't shake you up, nothing will - except maybe a real earthquake, and it would have to be a strong one at that. Here is a book that has everything. History, adventure, inventions, folk lore, scientific revelations, and earthquakes of course. All of it told very well.

You would like to know about the largest U. S. earthquake in modern history, of course, or you wouldn't be looking at this review. But would you also like to know of the connection between a Roosevelt and the first river steamer? Would you like to know about the overall relationship and some particular relationships between American Indians and the settlers? Or a lot more about Thomas Jefferson? Would you like to know what life was like on the western frontier near the Mississippi? Or a lot more about the Richter scale? Or probably more about geography than you might know now? And of course more about geology? I could continue this inquiry for much longer. But why should I? Just get the book and read it to take a delightful journey through Americana while learning about earthquakes (as well as what you can do about them).

I love reading about Medieval stuff and about the Renaissance. This book was a great help in shedding more light.

This raucus and bawdy book had us splitting our sides. Two thumbs up.

This book shows readers the journey Mo Vaughn went through in order to get to the major leagues as well as the life experiences he faced in the major leagues up until 1995. He gives explanations on the importance of goal setting and helping others who are in need. The many stories include a inspirational one involving the friendship he developed with a young boy who was struck with cancer who helped motivate Mo Vaughn to live life the best way he can. This book is great for the young reader and provides motivation and moralistic encouragement for them. However this book will not appeal to many audiences except ones of the ages 5-13.

This pulp fiction-esq novel dipicts the various & wonderful ways to prepare & eat an array of Fried Chicken. From Cajun Merange to Spicy Baby Duck, Mo is a conosuer of the classic American "Monkey" chow-down.

The most mezmorizing piece is a personal "breakdown" in one of the later chapters wher Mo actually turns to a softer side & reveals "The only reason I look over my shoulder at-bat is cuz I can see the ball & pretend it is a piece of chicken flying into my mouth at 96 mph!"

Truely heart warming....

I suggest this brilliant book for audiences of all ages...and all weights.....

very usefull guide to local gardening.chapters for annuals,bulbs,perennials,shrubs and more.i find i refer to it often for care and maintenance as well as new ideas for plants to try.it's well written and easy to read.it's great for first timers and the experienced.

An easy to use reference book which tells the Illinois gardner what to plant, where to plant, and when to prune. It's a very useful handbook for novice and not-so-novice midwest gardners.

This book has approximately 250 black and white pictures of the park and houses around Lafayette Square in St. Louis, MO. The only text is a short introduction and the captions for the pictures. If you are looking for historical factual information then this book does not have a lot in the way of content. If you are looking for information about the square in its present state after renovation, this is for you. Most pictures are of the modern square. It reads somewhat like looking through someone's scrapbook. I enjoyed learning more about the houses in the square and look forward to seeing them in person.

Pictorial history of one of St. Louis's oldest and most colorful neighborhoods.