MR

Commitment to Purpose: How Alliance Partnership Won the Cold War, is a must have and read for those interested in the Cold War and the NATO alliance, especially their impact on each other.

I have viewed hundreds of cookbooks. This was the first "Mr. Food" book that I purchased a year ago. Simply stated, this is the best cookbook I have ever used. I have prepared so far about half of the 175+ recipes in it, and they have literally all been fanstastic. They are easy to prepare also (just as he claims). From appetizers to elegant main courses to desserts, I have received numerous compliments. This is such a good book that I have just ordered the best of Mr. Food I and II.

My children, my wife and myself spent some great hours with the Cosmos CD-Rom. The cultural part of the title and the Planetarium are really impressive. It should be in all the schools and Homes!

This is a fascinating book, and a historical set piece. It is the story of Christopher Columbus from a very well-meaning author, who focused on lovely illustrations at the price of historical accuracy. Christopher is portrayed as a happy lad, begging to do the right thing. Everything goes well: "The Nina bounced from wave to wave. Spain at last!" or "Next came the Indians all smeared with paint..... the people were quite afraid." I would buy it as a curiosity - The illustrations really are wonderful.

It is a seductive world in which the action of this astonishing story unfolds: cultivated, priviledged, secure; the close-knit world of an Oxford college, epitomized by the Master and the Master's house, a haven of good taste, intelligence and aristocratic nonconformity. With one or two exceptions, its inhabitants would...if they were to thank God for anything...thank Him that they are not as other men. Yet these are not stony hearted snobs; they have accepted an outsider..Nevil Rigden, product of a city slum. He is a friend to the great Thomas Paget, husband to Paget's sister, and he stands high in the Master's favor.

It is not, in the opinion of these people, a sin to be an avowed Communist, but to be a secret one is the unpardonable crime. Nevil turns out to be guilty of just that. Indeed, one discovers with shock that he is a member of a network, comprising, among others, his wife's brother, a brilliant scientist. When this comes out, read what happens among the charming circle of friends. No one can read this story unshaken.

If you thought you knew all there was to know about Charles Darwin and his evolutionary hypothesis, but you haven't read this book, then think again. Eiseley's research is impeccable, but his findings strike to the very heart of the Darwin legend, revealing a deeply flawed and basically dishonest seeker after self-aggrandisement. No wonder it's out of print! Despite his findings Eiseley remained a Darwinist and an evolutionist to his dying day. This book is no slice of creationist propoganda, it is a carefully written, highly readable review of the facts. If you have any interest in the history of evolutionism - pro or con - this book should be very near the top of your reading list.

What a delightful historical mystery by the noted mystery author Robert Barnard, in his pseudonymous alter ego. He poses this question: What if Mozart had lived to a ripe old age and then found himself mixed up in murder? Actually, his Mozart is Wolfgang Gottlieb Mozart. The book opens with the death of George III and Mozart is encouraged by a patron to believe that the upcoming Coronation might just be a splendid opportunity for a new opera.

Along the way we meet persons already familiar to devotées of the time period: Lord and Lady Hertford, Lord Egremere, Lady Conyngham and more, including an absolutely spot-on interpretation of Prinny, himself, whose estranged wife, Caroline is, of course, coming home to be Queen, and dear Prinny is busy trying to discredit her.

It seems that Mozart stayed in England all these years, dut to having once performed for a much younger George III, who generously and misguidedly paid the young artist 50 guineas. Father Leopold Mozart decided there were better possibilities in England than on the Continent, so they stayed. Thus, Mozart's son is now teaching music near Leeds, his daughter lives elsewhere, and lucky sister Nannerl is back in Vienna. (After all, nothing English is nearly as good as anything German or Austrian.) Mozart and his theater manager have a running rivalry with the Italian composer Rossini and several Italian singers, and there are numerous running jokes (or puns) about subjects for the new opera. Mozart leans toward the Merry Wives Of Windsor (think about it a bit); Falstaff, that fat, old rake, or maybe even Don Giovanni or Il Matrimonio Segreto. In between are jokes about the real music (such as The Magic Flute), Masons, and other real or imagined titles.

Actually, the only confusing thing to me was the music mentioned. Some titles are accurate, while others are merely a pastiche, and it is sometimes hard to know which is which. The chapter titles are frequently titles of known music by the real Mozart. Nevertheless, I truly enjoyed this book, laughing out loud on many occasions. It is a literate and witty murder/mystery, fantasy/Regency era novel, with much to recommend it!

A nervy and soulful book, full of honesty and deep awareness of the human condition.

Not for the timid or for the seeker after simple pablum. Challenging and intellectual, but fast-paced and sheer fun to read.

This book is about a young boy named Leigh Botts who writes letters to an author, Mr. Henshaw. Leigh Botts parents are divorced and he does not get to see his dad too much. Leigh writes in his journal when he does not write to Mr. Henshaw. Leigh's has a dog named Bandit that lives with his Dad. This is a great book that teaches journal writing.

If you are like me, and have never closely encountered Lebanese literature, you are likely to find this book a revelation. From the first pages, the story rises to an emotional height that is sustained throughout the story. That the protagonist addresses himself to the long-dead Japanese novelist only underscores the confusion of his life, as well as a certain detachment from reality.

The reader gets an amazing opportunity to see the world through the eyes of a young Arab man. We walk with the boy through the life in a backwards village that is full of medieval feuds, and is soaked in ancient traditions. We follow the teenager as his quest to fight injustice brings him right into a dangerous and highly politicized war. Finally, we see a tired man looking back at his old self, and trying to make sense out of his own life.

Even though I couldn't disagree more with the protagonist's political goals, I could not help but sympathize with him. It is rare to find a book that can show readers that underneath many actions lie simply the emotions of frustrated young people.