Book Review for: "the Royal Sisters"

Book Review for: the Royal Sisters
Written by Jean Plaidy
Broadway Books
ISBN: 978-0-307-719-52-2
Avail: print and ebook
3.5 Stars

Plaidy pens an intimate look at Mary and Anne Stuart, the sisters who both reigned as Queens of England. Mary and Anne have both been raised Protestant, whereas their father is Catholic to the bone. When England citizens choose the sisters over the father, they choose a course that the nation will follow to the present.

The novel opens with Charles II on the throne, his brother, James, is his heir. Charles is crafty. To that end, he has ensured his nieces have been raised in the Anglican faith. Mary is married and living in Holland with her husband, William. Eighteen-year-old Anne entertains a secret liaison with John Sheffield, Earl Mulgrave. When Charles discovers what Anne's been up to, he goes about finding her a husband and settles is George of Sweden. Anne is happy enough in her marriage and she tries to secure an heir.

Charles dies and James comes to the throne, but the British people are apprehensive due to his open practice of Catholism. When his wife becomes pregnant and gives birth to the Prince of Wales, the British find any excuse to send him packing. The Glorious Revolution occurs. James flees England and his daughter, Mary, along with her husband, ascends to the throne.

Mary is gracious! and an apt Queen Regina, but she is sadden over her loveless marriage. That's not her only problem. Mary is unable to draw close to Anne due to Sarah Churchill's interference and Anne refuses to forsake Sarah's friendship. With Mary, childless, she realizes the heir to the throne after Anne is Anne's young son, William, but can the sisters find peace between them so as to secure the Anglican/Protestant succession for future generations?

Plaidy's love for the British documentary shines in "the Royal Sisters." She's done her research and it shows. What makes Mary and Anne's story so poignant is how their strengths and weaknesses-Plaidy features painting them as deliciously human. Anne's strengths are her love for her son and loyalty. Mary shares these strengths. Yet both Mary and Anne suffer in their hearts for the wrong done their father they've.

What does exceptionally well is Plaidy blend fiction and fact to tell the story. She has an incredible knack of slipping in little known facts into the story as well, which makes her historicals stand out. Where is her writing style in Plaidy lags, often slipping into a "telling" style narrative, as opposed to showing the story. This style requires a bit more patience from the reader, but if you're a fan of the Plaidy's ability to weave fact and fiction, it doesn't hinder your ability to embrace the story.

Overall, "the Royal Sisters" tells a story of love, greed, loyalty, and betrayal that will leave you wanting to find out more about the Stuarts.

Reviewed by: s. Burkhart

StephB is an author who likes to read many books and a variety of different genres. StephB is an author at http://www.Writing.Com/which is a site for Creative Writing.

Hey Kid's, Want Some Chocolates? My Family's Journey to Freedon Written By Melitta Strandberg

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During WWII the Germans performed many experiments on humans. Just the thought of this makes me cringe and wonder how any human can experiment with another living human and not care what suffering would result from such a thing. Melitta Strandberg was one of these babies. Unknowingly Melitta's birth was at a hospital from which Hitler took babies without the parents' permission in order to perform his many experiments, many of which are believed to be switching around the reproductive parts of very young as well as older children. They would then give another baby to the parents without telling them it was not their own child. Gisela, Melitta's mother, knew it wasn't her own baby but was forced to take the baby she was given. She would never give up until she found her own baby, which occurred after searching and asking questions of many people. Melitta was on her doorstep one day and Gisela knew immediately that this was her own baby girl.

The family, Oskar Mohr and Gisela, lived in Romania. They were both born just before the beginning of WWI. They made plans to move to Germany not knowing the events coming in a few years. They did make the move but they had to dispose of almost every possession since they had no way to move any goods with them except the clothes on their back and one suitcase. One prized possession was a sewing machine the family could not leave behind, so they broke it down and hid all the parts in a baby buggy for their travel to Weimar, Germany.

The war years went on with much of Germany being bombed, decimating most of the buildings making most of the residents leave for a safer place, if one could be found. The family eventually settled in Augsburg, Germany, a beautiful town that became their home in the west. Any travel was dangerous. One never knew how many or of what attitude would be held by the Russians, then in control of East Berlin, during the many stops required to go anywhere. The family got on to the last train leaving East Berlin traveling to West Berlin, controlled by the Americans. Most of the book contains the story of the entire family and explained mostly through what Oskar and Gisela had passed along to Melitta. The book is short but full of details of life as the family was forced to live it. Read it and learn about the wonderful life Melitta has had since.

Reader review by Cy Hilterman of a book supplied by the author.

Araba Let's Separate: The Story of the Nigerian Civil War

The title, a word meaning "Araba" Let's Separate "or" Let's Dissolve, "refers to the Nigerian Civil War which began in 1966 and continued for nearly four years. The word was first used by rioters at a demonstration in the early stages of the civil war, in an attempt to signal their dissatisfaction with attempts to unify Nigeria under what was known as the "Decree Number 34."

Professor Mshelia has fashioned the events of that period into a something of a historical novel, mixing fictional characters in, and in some cases battles and confrontations, with the historical characters and actions that were a part of that war. In the book, Professor Preface.doc One to Mshelia states that they took this approach as "an attempt to present history in a fictional form for an easy and interesting reading for the general public."

However, it is frequently difficult to determine what is not historical fact and what is fiction. Given his statement that the book contains fictional elements, this would normally not appear to be a problem, however, in this instance, it sometimes results in confusing the reader. This is not helped by the fact that Professor Mshelia frequently addresses the reader with sentences beginning with "readers" or "my dear readers," leading one to feel they are being lectured on the subject, rather than reading a somewhat fictional recounting of the events of the Nigerian Civil War.

That's not to say that Araba doesn't make for an interesting read. Prior to reading this book, I was completely unaware of the events recounted in the book. And as someone who enjoys history, I'm somewhat ashamed to say that, although I'm certainly not alone among Westerners in that regard.

So Professor Mshelia is due praise for attempting to bring these events to light, although I wish they had decided to avoid adding any fictional elements in an attempt to make the book more accessible and readable.

The book might have been further helped with tighter editing and the elimination of the occasional typo. Among such problems is this statement in Preface.doc One: "[T] his book Araba limits its scope to one single but important event in the life of the nation (that occurred in the 1960s)."

The problem with that line? The event he is referring to occurred in 1966, not in the 1960s, when the January 22nd of that year, an attempted coup d ' ?tat led to the situation of a number of prominent northern political leaders, including the then-Prime Minister Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa of Nigeria,.

Those assignations were the catalyst for the civil war, and the thousands of deaths that resulted, as the civil war turned into an attempt at secession and to carve out a separate "Republic of Biafra" from the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Araba is packed with detail, as well as informative commentary, again confusing the issue of whether this is a work of fiction or fact. Regardless, it is a worthwhile read, particularly for the history buffs, who, like me, you probably need to know more about these important events in the history of Nigeria.

Reviewed by: Gary r. Sorkin

Gary r. Sorkin is the Senior Editor for Pacific Book Review. Please visit the Pacific Book Review at: http://www.pacificbookreview.com/

Lost in Shangri-La by Mitchell Zuchoff

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I usually find nonfiction history to be so dry as to lose my attention. Lost in Shangri-La though is a non-fiction accounting of a plane crash that occurred in the last days of WWII with all of the elements of a fiction adventure thriller and author Mitchell Zuckoff has the spirited talent to paint the vivid scenes needed to seize your attention and not let go.

On May 13, 1945 twenty-four officers, enlisted men and WACs boarded a flight at the military base in Hollandia New Guinea for a sightseeing excursion over the inland jungle of the island. Before ever seeing what later became known as the Shangri-La Valley their plane crashed and burst into flames leaving only three survivors. With the aid of journals kept by survivors and rescuers, military data and long lost photos, Mitchell Zuckoff has recreated this larger-than-life story for us.

As Mr. Zuckoff points out, the Gremlin Special crash landed in a world that time hadn't forgotten. Time didn't even know it existed. He quotes Albert Einstein as once saying, "I do not know with what weapons WWIII will be fought, but WWIV will be fought with sticks and stones" and declaring that, viewed in that light, the people of Shangri-La had the most advanced warriors on earth.

The three survivors crawled out of the wreckage to find themselves in an unknown world. Even though Lt. McCollum was unhurt, Sargent Kenneth Decker and Corporal Margaret Hastings had received severe injuries and serious burns. The survivors knew that any rescue planes that might fly over looking for their plane would not be able to see them if they stayed at the scene of the crash. To reach a jungle clearing several miles away they first spent several days gathering their strength and then the three hiked, crept on their hands and knees and even scooted on their fannies several miles through the tangled jungle to reach what they found out later was a sweet potato patch. On reaching the clearing they fell to the ground exhausted, too tired even to be concerned about the natives who had been depicted as war-like cannibals.

Once the survivors were sighted by rescue planes at the inaccessible clearing, supplies were dropped to them while one rescue plan after another was desperately conceived and then abandoned. A walkie-talkie was included in one of the supply drops allowing the survivors to communicate with the outside world for the first time since the crash. When word of the severity of their injuries was received a group of paratroopers, including two medics, volunteered to parachute to the aide of the survivors. These heroic medics were later credited with saving Corporal Hastings' gangrenous legs.

What follows this daring jump is a true story of heroism, courage, determination, fortitude, limitless bravery, inspiration and danger. This narrative is sometimes comic, often terrifying but always entertaining. It is a thrill-a-minute true life adventure you won't be able to put down.

Author Bio:

Mitchell Zuckoff is a journalism professor at Boston University and author of Robert Altman: The Oral Biography, Ponzi's Scheme: The True Story of a Financial Legend and Choosing Naia: A Family's Journey. He lives outside Boston with his photographer wife and two daughters.

As the Avid Reader Book Reviews Blogger, Lynnette Phillips's book reviews and blog are widely read and followed by literary enthusiasts. Her newest launch entails book doctor (book critique) services. She is also author of Confessions & Secrets of the Avid Book Reviews Blogger serial which offers invaluable book marketing and promotional tips, available resources, how-to information and more. She will also be cohosting a BlogTalkRadio show soon which she is very excited (and apprehensive) about.

http://avidbookreviews.blogspot.com/

(c) Copyright 2011 by Lynnette Phillips All Rights Reserved
Article may be reprinted freely as long as the author bylines and info box are included. The article itself may not be altered.

Patriot Heart

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After the demise of Henry Cobham, George Ashworth Cobham remained in Lancashire to comfort the grieving family, assisting in the funeral of his brother, and supporting the family business. Historians forget that the second son was merely nineteen. At the time of Henry's death, Aunts Alice and Ellen Cobham held most of the controlling interests in the extensive properties still owned by the Cobhams. For several years after the tragedy, George Ashworth Cobham would travel through England sometimes working, visiting, and writing about architecture, living quite the life and enjoying the ladies, one in particular named Mary Nottage. He spoke of her in loving terms, and about the delightful times that they spent together, but finally realized it was not to be.

His work consisted of being educated as a Barrister also managing the properties of the Cobhams and Hargreaves. On many occasions, he returned to Liverpool visiting with Aunt Alice, Aunt Ellen and other family members. Finally in 1828, he returned and proposed to the widow of his brother, Catherine, who was some ten years his senior. They were married October the 27th 1828, in Prestwick Church near Manchester in Lancashire England with duly noted publication of Banns. Aunt Alice upon the marriage of Henry Cobhams widow Catherine Curry Cobham to George Ashworth Cobham would transfer some of her properties to George. Upon her death, she left much of her estate to her great nephews the sons of Henry...Henry and George Ashworth Cobham, which in later years would become a litigious and contentious situation, creating lawsuits in England, and America.

George Ashworth Cobham Sr was confined in a debtor prison when he ran afoul of the law. Upon being declared bankrupt and much of his properties sold to pay his creditors, he was released, only to be confronted by the Ecclesiastical Court who planned to have his marriage to Catherine Curry Cobham dissolved. According to English Canon law, it was illegal to marry your brother's wife. George Sr fled to France to avoid further troubles with the law and soon after his wife Catherine joined him along with sons Henry, George, and Frederick Fearns Cobham who had been born September 7th 1831. They resided in France for nearly two years, and while residing in France, Catherine gave birth on March 20th 1834 to their daughter Georgina.

In the later part of 1834, George Sr and family left France and made their way to America. They spent the winter of that year in New York where George Sr sought areas where he felt he could again become prosperous. While, in Jamestown New York, George Cobham Sr spent several more months looking for a suitable place for he and his family, and at long last decided on Warren Pennsylvania. The spring of 1835 The Cobhams finally made their way to Warren Pennsylvania via Albany, Buffalo, and Jamestown New York. So it was that "The Cobhams" became residents of Warren Pennsylvania, which leads us to Brigadier George Ashworth Cobham Jr. A civil war Hero and his travels through the battlefields.

Jacqueline F Hurlbut, Author, Patriot Heart: A story about Brigadier General George Ashworth Cobham Jr,who was killed at The Battle of Peachtree Creek, Atlanta Georgia. Over 100 personal letters,and documents written from the battlefields that would provide insight, glimpses of his personal life, his view of the war and the battles that he and his men fought. It is true they were from his perspective, a vision which came from a man of faith, an officer, gentleman, patriot, husband, father, son, and brother, who would in due course be called a Hero. See more information at http://libertyandvirtue.com/ ?

Elizabeth: The Struggle for the Throne, by David Starkey, a True Story of Royalty, Intrigue, Romance

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Elizabeth: The Struggle for the Throne, by David Starkey... Whether history class was your most or least favorite in school, you should find this book a fascinating read. David Starkey is not simply a renowned English historian, an expert on Tudor England, he's also a fine writer indeed. In this book, what could be dry-as-dust facts are instead lively stories of real people living real lives in the midst of turbulent times.

Regarding turbulent times, almost anyone who got through school knows about Henry VIII and his six wives, his elder daughter, Mary (also known as Bloody Mary), and his younger daughter, who became the first Queen Elizabeth. But my guess is that few of us, unless we're real history buffs, know much about the extraordinary times in which they lived.

Most books that I have read about Queen Elizabeth I deal with her years as a monarch. Starkey, however, takes us from her birth in 1533 to her accession to the throne in 1558. During those years she led a life that could well be the stuff of fiction. But it was real. In his introduction to Elizabeth, Starkey says that during that period "... she had experienced every vicissitude of fortune and every extreme of condition." As I read the book, I marveled that she survived those years and went on to be the most successful queen England has known.

Her mother was executed by her father, which must have been a terrible blow to the child, but she never spoke of it. She was both princess and intended successor to the throne, then disinherited, then reinstated. She was accused of treason and imprisoned in the Tower by her own sister, facing possible execution. She survived plots and counterplots, threats to her well-being by family as well as foe, during these years of religious persecution. Yet in the midst of all this turmoil, she kept her head-literally and figuratively-and lived to age 70.

And all this happened before she was 25 years old. Starkey has this to say, "But, above all, I never forget that the years of Elizabeth's apprenticeship are a wonderful adventure story. We know they had a happy ending and that she survived and became queen. Elizabeth herself, her friends and enemies, had no such foresight." An exceptional life, with its highs and lows, and little in between.

In reading this book, besides my admiration for her sheer grit and ability to adjust to both wonderful and dreadful circumstances, I learned a great deal more about her as a person than ever before. Most of my earlier reading about her life was about her as Queen Elizabeth. As a child, she was precocious, brilliant even, and throughout all these dangerous and difficult times, she showed a natural instinct for dealing with the type of political chicanery with which she was surrounded. Even her education, conducted of course by private tutors, is astonishing in its depth and breadth; among other subjects, she studied Latin and Greek and was fluent in French.

Starkey writes with humanity and a wry and engaging tone, even when discussing religious persecution or political skullduggery. In one place, he refers to "extravagant characters and madcap schemes."

This is a book to be read, then read again, and for me more times than that. Starkey brings those days to life. And the young queen-to-be is a person you will enjoy getting to know. I recommend it.

Written By Randall Peffer Seahawk Burning

(A) A good Civil War naval story as the ships from the north try to track confederate ships, both trying to destroy the other and all ships they find while searching. The locales stretch from the coast, the inland waters of the United States, South America, Africa, Europe, and points in between. You have to remember in those days there was no way to search for a ship except by word of mouth or accidentally finding that ship while transcending the globe. Also in those days the sailors, as well as their captain, were very rough and crude men that were very likely to kill captured crews from ships, burn the ships after looting all the goods aboard, and turn the few of the captured crew members over to the first possible place on land or sea.

Raphael Semmes was captain of the confederate ship, The USS Alabama. The Alabama was a strong and powerful ship. Semmes would take no quarter from any opposing ship and would kill and/or destroy almost any other ship along with its crew, just to get a "worse" reputation. Seahawk Burning takes you mostly by sea to many areas of the earth to fight others, get provisions, have repairs made, unload the ship crew members who's time was up and find new crew members, while making those stops. Most of all the ships ' officers and crews in those days were not very healthy, some from not eating correctly, drinking far too much alcohol, associating with wild women that gave them more than they bargained for, and of course the normal sailors brawls.

The many areas traversed by the USS Alabama took them through many a bad storm that damaged ships and their crews quite bad. Weather; another item they knew little about and had no idea of what lies ahead. Meanwhile back in Washington, DC, President Lincoln, the various government leaders including the Secretary of the Navy, the Yankee leaders, and all of their cohorts, schemed as to how to capture and destroy this Confederate ship that was wreaking havoc on their ships. Semmes has So far eluded them but the word of mouth was starting to narrow his travel path. The ship that was closest is his trail now was the USS Kearsarge Captained by an ex-shipmate of Semmes, John Winslow, who wanted his former friend and opponent very much. Winslow was not in good health, having only one eye and it pained him much of the time. Semmes had his gal, Maude, constantly has his mind. The Yankee government to obtain information about Semmes was also tracking her. Maude had two babies with her, one white and one black. She loved them both, as did Semmes. She had to keep on the run throughout the eastern United States and through Canada to avoid capture.

The action is great as are the characters, some of which were actually involved in the war and in the leading of our nation. You will learn the history and some facts about some of these men and women as the author brings them in and out of the story. If you like sea of adventure stories intertwined with history, you will love this book, as I did.

Reader review by Cy Hilterman of a book supplied by The Amazon Vine Program

Author Interview With Richard C Geschke and Robert a. Toto

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Today we have the pleasure of speaking with the two authors of the new book, In Our Duffel Bags, Robert Toto and Richard Geschke. Thank you gentlemen for taking your time to join us.

RT: Thank you for allowing us to share our stories

RG: Thank you Mr. Sorkin for giving us the opportunity of this interview.

PBR: Your book, In Our Duffel Bags, is filled with stories of your past Vietnam War experiences. For each of you, writing this book had to dredge up some dramatic memories. Tell us please, how were you able to deal with those strong emotions that were evoked by remembering and bringing to life once again so many thoughts?

RT: My memories about that time were suppressed by me for a long time. I did not realize that I had PTSD, until I started to cry while I was out walking near my home. This book became part of my therapy.

RG: These memories lay dormant in my mind for over forty years. It wasn't until I had a vivid dream of reality about a trip down the Hai Van Pass which occurred forty years ago that the thoughts of not only Vietnam but of my entire army experience came to my foremost thoughts. I immediately put them on paper, starting with the chapter titled "Going My Way" and followed by the chapter titled "Was That Forty-One or Forty-two Rockets?." It was at this point I asked Bob to help me with my memory and he joined in the writing.

PBR: As young men that were drafted into a highly opposed and controversial war what emotions did you each experience the moment you knew you had been drafted?

RG: First of all as officers, we were not drafted, we were appointed commissions by the President of the United States. It was our choice to join ROTC in college knowing full well that during this time period that once we graduated without an ROTC commission, we would have been drafted. So in effect it was our choice to be officers in the army.

RT: Well, we were not drafted, however, at that time there was a draft lottery. My birth date was drawn #11, so I decided to continue ROTC and become an officer.

PBR: How did your family and friends initially react to your being drafted?

RT: Again, we were not drafted. However, my brother David consoled me on the luck of the draft lottery. Friends were in the same position. Most of them joined Reserve outfits, which at that time, had little chance of going to Vietnam.

RG: During this time in history family and friends knew the score. There was a war going on and everyone was subject to serve as citizen soldiers. It's not like today when we have a professional volunteer army where there is no draft. During our day there were protests, draft card burnings and a very lively debate about the merits of the war. Today, because we have an all volunteer army, the regular population is more or less mute on the war. Current debates about the wars are timid in comparison to the Vietnam era.

PBR: In the book you indicate that other civilians treated you rather crudely for your participation in the war due to the sentiments that you were participating in killing innocent women and babies. Did your family and friends treat you differently after returning home from participating in the war because of similar sentiments?

RT: It was difficult being in grad school once I was discharged. The undergraduate students really had no clue of what military life was. I remember that the only person, outside of friends/family, was a RMV official. Most people put Vietnam out of their minds.

RG: Vietnam was a different era altogether, with the protests and the divisive politics of the times. As I mustered out of the army at Fort Lewis, I truly wanted to go home in my civilian clothes. However if I did that, my plane trip would be full price. If I wore my uniform I would fly military standby and receive a huge discount. Once you got home and began to socialize, you didn't tell anyone you were in the army or Vietnam for that matter. My family on the other hand supported and comforted me. When I look back on this it really tells of a shameful time in our country's history. I didn't make military policy, all I did was to serve my country in an honorable way!

PBR: Many soldiers succumbed to the daily stresses of their military lives in the war by abusing drugs and or alcohol, how were you able to manage the stress and not give in to the escapism of drugs and alcohol?

RT: I never took drugs, and since most of my duties were at night, I slept during the day. I became more sensitive to my religious beliefs.

RG: I never took drugs but if you're an infantry officer of the line by-golly you did drink. That was a fact of life! However I wasn't an alcoholic.

PBR: Can you each define your worst moment while serving in the war?

RT: My worst moment was when I was talking to Dick, and told him I was leaving early...I wanted to bite off my arm. Other than that, it was a feeling of failure when I couldn't transform one of my troopers into stopping his drug use...you always remember the one that got away. We shipped him to Japan, paralyzed from the waist down, due to heroin use (he was 19).

RG: There were several things that I would define as worst such as the exploding deuce and a half truck blowing two enlisted men through the front windshield right in front of me. However the worst thing I saw was a sergeant literally kicking a Vietnamese Papa-son on the floor of an army orderly room in front of a senior first sergeant who did nothing to stop it. I had to stop the beating or he would have been killed. I was furious with both sergeants and I told them so in no uncertain terms!

PBR: Can you please explain your best moment while serving in the war?

RT: When I was able to reach seven of my platoon to attend drug amnesty, and stop their addiction. Other than that, it was a fourth grade class that wrote me a Christmas greeting from my home town...I thought of them often.

RG: About a week before Christmas of 1971 in Phu Bai, my unit completed its primary and very critical mission well ahead of schedule. The mission was long and grueling, executed during the heavy rains of the monsoon season in which I led my men with a fractured ankle and a bout of a contaminated water induced stomach virus. When completed, I never have had that sense of completion and satisfaction like that before or since. Through the efforts of my men, I was lucky to have been awarded a Bronze Star for my leadership abilities.

PBR: We all know the expression, hindsight is 20-20. Knowing what you now know about serving in the military during that time, what is there, if anything, that you wish you would have done differently?

RT: I would have pushed harder for a branch transfer. Infantry was not my true calling. However, I met some great people that made it all worthwhile.

RG: Well this is like being a Monday morning quarterback. When I think of myself entering the gates of Fort Benning Georgia as a naive young officer, I wish that I had more experience. In reality I wouldn't change anything, you live and you learn, all be it the hard way at times!

PBR: What advice would you give to any person thinking of enlisting in the military today?

RT: Choose your branch of service carefully, remember your roots, never underestimate your comrades or your enemies, and be prepared for some lonely times.

RG: In today's military if one commits to the service of the arms of the military one must always remember that you will no longer be just an individual, you will be a small part of a large organization in which your dreams and wants are secondary to the wants of the military. Life in the military is like no other life in existence. So when you join such an organization make sure you know the consequences!

PBR: Based on your past experiences with being involved in a war in a foreign country, what advice would you give to this nation's political leaders today about our military presence in foreign countries?

RT: We have to be smarter in whom we support. Today's fighting needs great intelligence, and leadership in small, focused groups. The threats to the USA are real...I saw that in Berlin, when the Wall was still standing, and in Vietnam. Power hungry tyrants still exist; look at the human tragedies in Korea, China, Africa, and South America. We must engage our partners in treaties; we cannot be the world's police force.

RG: You know my thoughts on this because you read our book. Today's political leaders continue to try to solve geo-political problems by using the military as they were used in the 19th and 20th centuries. The wars of the 21st century have to be fought using superior intelligence and a solid economy. In fact this was done without the sounds of guns in the forty-four year Cold War standoff. No Medals of Honor, Silver Stars or Bronze Stars were awarded in which the West was victorious and the celebrations on the streets of Europe were far greater than the end of WWII. We have to use our intelligence without firing the weapons.

PBR: This has all been very interesting, and we wish you the best of success with your new book. Thank you again for taking your time to be with us.

RT: Thank you for allowing us to share our story.

RG: Mr. Sorkin, it's been my pleasure.

Interviewed by: Lisa Brown-Gilbert, Pacific Book Review

http://www.pacificbookreview.com/

Spy and Anti-Spy

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Even Cold War is over, spy activities remain active nowadays. One of FBI's jobs is to detect spies among ordinary citizens to secure United States. As a matter of fact, spies are not only related to nations in a broad sense, they also refer to people or activities in our daily lives, like the detectives to follow our spouse in our marriages, the person to steal the company's financial report or the leak of new technology or product's information. As a result, people will find ways to fight back. We may call it anti-spy. Today we will mainly focus on spying.

Spying actually has a long history. Where there is war or competition, there is spy and anti-spy. The most famous movies for this activity are Mr. & Mrs. Smith which is acted by Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie and The Bourne Supremacy by Matt Damon and Brian Cox. We are crazy about the spies' intelligence, quick responses and confidentiality. Some of us may even dream of becoming a spy. This work is mysterious and enchanting. And the spies thus become a favorite topic among people.

Soviet Union has got a reputation for training and taking advantage of spies. The female spies are called Swallows. One of them even let Albert Einstein fell in love with her and as a result, revealed some important science information to her. Apart from this kind of spies, double agents are also belonged to spy rings. This usually makes things complicated and exciting because you will never know if the person you talk to or are familiar with to be your true friend or deadly enemy.

To accomplish the spying job, sure you shall be well-equipped. Spies actually use the most advanced technical equipment, such as interceptors, blasters and monitors. When comes to modern lives, spies of detecting state secrets are not well-known to the public. But we can also apply such kind of devices to prevent thieves or other bad things which may happen to us.

Stuff related to spy is quite hot in these days. You will find them on the online shops or actual entities. The most commonly used one is spy camera. You may find it on a pen, a clock, a glass and a watch and so on. Go to shop and get yourself a spy camera. You will be the next spy too.

If you would like more stories of spies, you can also Google those things happened in Germany and Soviet Union. You will get interested and shocked. As the world marches on, people will become more and more acquainted with spying. Anti-spy is hence kind of self-protection.

Life is difficult, and unfortunately is long!

South East Asia - Time to Learn More Book Review

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Today, China is one of our largest trading partners. And there is a lot of controversy going on between South and North Korea. Recently we've seen violence in Burma, and challenges regarding water rights, and civil unrest in these regions. We all know how the United States of America has been involved in Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Burma, and most of us are aware of the economies of such countries like Thailand. We also realize from Emerging Markets standpoints that Singapore has hit the ball out of the park.

But what else do you personally really know about the South East Asian nations? If you don't know much, perhaps it's time that you studied up a little, and learned a little bit more. There is a lot to know about the cultures, religions, history, and how the last 50-years have changed things, more importantly we must consider the importance of this region in the next 50-years.

Perhaps for this reason there's a very good book I'd like to recommend to you. And I spent some time at the library last week reading through it, taking notes, and was quite pleased with all the information I have gathered. The name of the book is;

"Times Arrow, Times Cycle: Globalization in Southeast Asia Over La Duree" by Peter A. Coclanis, Institute of South East Asian Studies Publishing, Singapore, (2006), 76 pages, ISBN: 981-2303-75-8.

Currently, now in 2011 we are watching the culmination of the expansion of Southeast Asia, the incredible inflation which is now causing havoc. We are watching how many nations are preventing the inflows of capital from the Western world into their banks, to prevent the runaway inflation of food, and other commodities. It's amazing how well this author predicted much of what he saw. In hindsight it's obvious he knew what he was talking about.

Now then, the information in that book is just as important today as it was back in 2006, in fact the history didn't change, it's still there, and still quite accurate. It also helps us understand how we got from there to here, and knowing what we know today from the current events, and the topics we read in the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, the BBC, and watch on CNN, it is easy to predict the next five years.

Still, you need a base of information understand about the history, culture, economy, and way of life to fully comprehend what's going on, and where we will be going. Please consider all this and I recommend this book.

Lance Winslow is an Online Author, his latest eBook about Boat Detailing is now available in the "Lance Winslow Small Business Series" titled; "How to Start a Boat Cleaning Business" (a Nook Book available at the Barnes and Noble Website). Lance Winslow is semi-retired and Founder of the Online Think Tank http://www.worldthinktank.net/ - You may contact Lance Winslow by email for dialogue, discourse, discussion, or debate on interesting topics.

Strange Tales From a Chinese Studio

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The original Chinese name of this book is Liaozhai Zhiyi. It means "Spooky Stories from Teacher Liao's Study." The author's real name is Pu Songling. "Liaozhai" is the pseudonym of writer Pu. According to a record, Pu places a bench in front of his house, prepares a tea and snack, and calls travelers going by to stop for a rest. White the traveler sits and enjoys his tea; Pu asks him if he has strange stories to tell. He must have listened to thousands of travelers. The stories he published number 490.

Most of the stories are of a paranormal or mystical nature. In many Asian countries, in ancient times, people believed that foxes lived more than 100 years develop tails more than two. Then, they acquire a magical power to change themselves into human beings. There are many fox stories in Liaozhai Zhiyi. Another subject is "qui," meaning ghost. In Liaozhai Zhiyi, many ghosts appear and interact with the living. There are stories about spirits, animals other than foxes, and simply unexplainable phenomenon.

Although all the stories focus on paranormal activities, the main themes are love, life, and living. It is well-known that one of Pu's stories became the basis of the world-famous movie "A Chinese Ghost Story". As many may know, this is the story of an ordinary young merchant who falls in love with a beautiful girl ghost. In the process of fulfilling his mission, the girl ghost helps him. With the ghost's help, he accomplished his mission.

My favorite story is about a fox bride. It is the story of a student who wants to pass the examination to be an officer of the Chinese government. Because the student is not rich, he has difficulty continuing his studies.

One day when the student was working on a mountain, he saved a fox that was almost killed by hunters. Despite the fact that he did not have much money, he spent what he did have to buy the fox from the hunters and he then released it into the woods. That night, he was visited by a beautiful girl. She confessed that she was the fox he had saved earlier that day. She said she wanted to help him pass his exam. He gladly accepted her offer. He did not know where she worked, but she went out in the morning and brought him money so that he did not have to work anymore and was able to spend more time studying.

He passed his exam the following year. Then the girl told him that she would leave now since she had finished her task. He asked the girl to marry him. She said that she could not marry him because she was a fox, but he told her that he did not care. He truly wanted to marry her, he said, and he did not hope to marry anybody else, because he knew that he could not have passed the exam without her help. They married and lived happily ever after.

One day, when a visitor arrived at their house, the wife did not have time to hide her tail. This surprised the visitor. Later, she gave birth to two boys, who both had a mysterious power: predicting the future.

The story is supernatural. However, it teaches us about the importance of gratitude. The man and the fox woman built a happy life together because they were grateful to one another.

Shaw Funami is an owner of "zhen international, inc.", known as a mentor for cross cultural relationship called "Fill the Missing Link". You can learn about his profile in Facebook, http://www.facebook.com/shaw.funami. Please feel free to contact him at "hisashi.funami@zhenintl.ws" or visit his website. http://www.squidoo.com/Make-Friends

Flight Deck, Volume 1, First Edition - By, Edward Atkins

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"Humility does not mean thinking less of yourself than of other people, nor does it mean having a low opinion of your own gifts. It means freedom from thinking about yourself at all. ~ William Temple"

In Flight Deck: A Pictorial Essay of a Day in the Life of an Airdale (Volume I, Second Edition) Edward Atkins narrates his thoughts to the reader in a humble fashion of wisdom, insight and honesty. In his book which is a monumental achievement to the Navy, he reflects back to his service during 1945 and 1946 aboard the Essex-class aircraft carrier the U.S.S. Antietam (CV-36), honorably named after the Civil War battle that claimed 23,000 casualties, the bloodiest single day in American history.

As a curator in a museum would take patrons throughout the exhibits and add insight resulting in a higher appreciation and understanding, Edward Atkins curates his book of Naval Archive photographs with his personal story, impressions and insight. His words are captivating as it becomes clearly evident to the reader that each and every word, thought and opinion is there for the reader's benefit, not for the author's. As there is just so much time a man has in life, it is important to pass along to others the essence of what has happened; how men have created this world in which we inhabit, and why things are the way they are. From the onset of Edward Atkins' remarks asking "forgiveness" for typographical oversights due to his physical limitations, to his closing salute, "Antietam, Hail and Farewell," the reader is brought into a first-hand diary of how life was upon a ship created for a sole purpose of warfare.

An "Airdale" is crew on the flight deck of a carrier. A lackluster job of perfunctory repetition, moving and securing aircraft; it is as important as any small gear in a machine without which the mechanism would cease to operate. Furthermore, Edward Atkins does not in any way make himself out to be a hero, as clearly in the onset he states that the word "Veteran" applies to those that have been in combat, and his role was "ancillary" to the war effort. Although one never knows if the enemy is just over the horizon, this is not a book of war stories. The focus of the book is dealing with the inner workings of the carrier, along with the task force provided for support and protection.

The photographs depict the carrier in all of its glory, at sea and in port, with the anonymity of the men which bring these metal skeletons of force to life. Almost every photograph has been taken from the National Archives. Most interestingly, Edward Atkins writes a narration for each photograph using two distinct "voices." One being the seasoned gentleman of elder years, with the historical knowledge and wisdom earned through his life's achievements and research. Then one of an impressionable young man of 18 and 19 years of age, serving in the Navy aboard an aircraft carrier; a man-made creation of immense design excellence of "form following function." This dichotomy of wisdom and emotion, coupled with the bountiful photographs of exquisite detail, result in an experience one cannot gain nowadays any other way than to read Flight Deck.

This three volume set should be a proud gift to all those entering the military, especially the Navy and Coast Guard, as well as all of the younger generation with an interest in history, technology or warfare. Citizens enjoying the freedom so ardently achieved through the sacrifice and fortitude of those of Edward Atkins' generation have a need-to-know the inner workings of men performing jobs on the deck of ships which have shaped our history. Flight Deck is a tribute to all that served, as we salute you.

Reviewed by: Gary R. Sorkin

Gary R. Sorkin is the Senior Editor for Pacific Book Review. Please visit Pacific Book Review at:

http://www.pacificbookreview.com/

What We Can Learn From the Past

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I have, for some time, believed that the youth of today are not informed of past history. I have met young people who do not know who Hitler was or even the reasons that wars were started. If the school systems will not teach our youth, then who will?

I think that parents in today's world have a responsibility to teach their children of past facts and make them aware of what can happened if these same warning signs show up again.

Hitler had a goal to take over the teaching of the youth of Germany. Our youth should know this. When youth is brainwashed, a young person believes what he/she has been taught and not how to think for themselves.

I recently read a book that startlingly made the same references that I had always believed in. The book is entitled "Last Wish by Elizabeth Kilbride."

I am a publisher, but this book was not published by my company. I just happened to read it. It brought to light many thoughts that have run through my head such as; will our children know when danger is upon them? Will our youth understand government and its control on its people? Will our youth stand up for the brave men and women who died in service for their country?

The only way the answer to my questions can be yes, is if young people today learn from what has past. There is another book that I did publish entitled, "A Letter to the Class of '65 by Michael Duane Small." It shows that we learn the present from the past. We are aware of what government policies are, if we know how they originated.

In Small's book, it shows that history and past politics have had a big impact on our lives today; most of us just do not realize it. We fail to understand the importance of past government, of what is and will take into effect in our future. If people actually can earn more money, why is it that they cannot find the way to do so? Small seems to know the answers and you can, as well in this most interesting book. Learn many historical facts and political views in this much anticipated book release. Learn how 'We the People' can re-gain control of our own destiny. We must take control by being informed. What better way to know why government is leading us in the wrong direction than by reading this book?

This is a book that people who want to know what has happened to make this country the way it is today will want to read. Michael Duane Small uses quotes and refers to reference books to let you know that you are reading the truth.

What has happened in the past in government, will open your eyes as to what is happening now has come to be. Did you know what made the banking system run the way it does. Do you know who has control of it? Do you know how the money printing in this country is run? All the answers to these and more questions lie within the pages of this fascinating book written by a very intelligent man.

This is one of the most informative books that can be read today or in the distant future. It takes you into a part of American history that along with real conspiracy theories of murderous assassinations cannot be denied.

There is some extremely well written political poetry that goes along with the letter that will really have you thinking. One must ponder over the poetry because it has deep embedded meaning. The author's comments take you deeper into the whole book. He explains the reason for writing the poems and brings a greater light to what they are saying. You will also learn of the awards this very talented man has earned.

In "LAST WISH" by Elizabeth Kilbride, the central character, Kendra Doyle, is a reporter with a burden on her shoulders of recently losing her loving husband Joe in a traffic accident. Joe had been good to Kendra and making it in the world was not as easy now that she was alone. She agrees to take in two of her friends as tenants and that way they can all save money. She also takes on a second job where she learns she is not the only one in dire straits.

Politics makes news and this subject is hot. The story refers to many interesting situations in government that are current and of interest in today's society although they are fictional. Terrorism seeps its way into the plot.

Kendra meets with a law firm to discuss the terms of her Grandfather, Saimus Doyle's, will. Her parents and grandmother had died and he was her last remaining relative to bring her up. There is more to just inheriting money here. Many steps must be fulfilled before Kendra can obtain the money. One of these steps is to examine the contents of a 'box' left to her from her grandfather that contains many interesting things. That is where this story grabs you.

Kendra is off on an exciting and enlightening trip to Europe with expenses paid. She finds some war details she has never even considered through letters written by her grandfather and seeing some relics of history. Learn fictional but historic details, which resemble facts that have actually happened, and understand more than you thought possible of what horrific deeds occurred during war in Europe with Kendra. When she returns to her home in the United States, find out how she copes with what she has learned and about to change her life in this intriguing novel.

If you like to know your politics and how America became the country she is today, I strongly recommend these books. If you let the young people in your life read these books, well, that is even better. I say enlighten our youth; that is the way to the future. Books will help teach our youth. Use this tool as well as talking to them.

Author/Poet of fifteen books including, My Blonde World, Magical Moments, Steelers Cheers, A Blonde View of Life, Cling to the Magic Mere Mortals, Tales of a Tiny Dog, More Tales of a Tiny Dog, Castle of Ice, The Blonde Who Found Jesus, Snapshots...a Blonde View, and More snapshots from my Family Album. I am a publisher, poetry site owner, graphic art designer, website designer and video producer. Daveda@Roadrunner.com

The Untold History of the Sinking of the Titanic: How Did Hollywood Get It So Wrong?

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How many more fact checked "chronological movies" has Hollywood racked over the historical coals, simply for their pure enjoyment to make a fast buck? When we casually watch it, should we in the not too distant future loudly demand that some form of public recording which allows a make us want to believe en-joyers to know outright that there just might not be everything throughout the totally fabricated film being told with honest to goodness objectivity?

To expend untold amounts of hard cash in the making of that superstar filled cast of historically based characters where one might wish to suppose at least some grain of truth might remain. However, did anyone care to look up the ship's manifest, to determine what could have possibly set Germany on a tizzy enough to proclaim their need to sink the real history of the Titanic? Why did Great Britain see the historical need to change the name of the ship, which was actually sunk, and then to give the first christened Titanic a brand new name?

This, to me, would have been far more gut wrenching a movie plot than to be culled into a make the audience believe belief that a block of ice on steroids actually did the deed! Can you imagine in your heart of hearts how many people today, are simply worked up based on a totally fabricated historical point of view about a fear of icebergs, and the likes, when they casually see them on luxury liners today?

There seems to be far too many unanswered questions which habitually remain in order to truly make a dim star power studded movie on this topic. If accuracy of this historically packed event was the overall driving objective to make the high [almost] powered flick, then what happened with that totally lost on the reader idea?

Please just go right over to your local public library, and see if you too can locate, "Futility and the Wreck of the Titanic," by M. F. Mansfield, c. 1898.
A book that was just 14 years before what we the oftentimes mislead history fans want to believe, was just an unsuspecting accident!

Take a good look at all those misleading books which seem to follow the same genre, which currently fill library shelves today on the topic, and then think about what a total waste of time and money alone was expended.

I personally do not want to make either Germany or any other nation, for that matter, the scapegoat of history, but to manifest the facts fit into their proper order. In doing so, it is hoped that such events can be stopped instead of them without our knowing being fed to us over and over again!

Albert B. Franklin is a freelance writer presently employed with eHow.com, and is willing to work in this capacity. He writes articles on a wide range.

John Jakes and His Historical Fiction Are Second to None

My favorite writing style is historical fiction. Since John Jakes had such a large collection of Americana Books they had written, and I enjoyed his novels so much, I set out to read everything I could get ambitiously in my hands. The first series that i read was the Kent Family Saga and it turned out to be my favorite. I read all eight volumes in the series starting with the "Bastard".

Philippe Charbonneau, born with his mother's country name, later took his father's name and Americanized it to Philip Kent when he was newly in America. They had grown up in France. His actress mother, Marie, had had an affair with a British nobleman and Philip grew up not knowing the truth. He was reared in a rather poor state in his mom's french country Inn. Marie had wished that her son would one day be re-united with his rich dad in England. The Duke had sent some support over the years but the father and son had never met.

Once the truth came out as they entered adulthood, the mother and son were off to merry old England. Thought the duke was not at home when they arrived, they met his half brother and stepmother. Neither of them hit it off. The unfriendly sibling and his mean stepmother weren't having any part of another share in the inheritance. The two brothers fought. The Duke was unaware of Philip and his mother being chased off. Brother's Philip's wife, however, had an interest in Philip and soon a secret affair commenced as Philip the room in the area for a while, the progress reports: Indianapolis for a piece of the estate.

Eventually, they were chased out of the country by the brother, stepmother and their employees. Marie was heartbroken since her dream was now over. Philip wanted to seek his fortune in the new land and hoped to do it in the printing business. His distraught mother died on the way to the new world and she was buried at sea. Philip lost what little money they had left and arrived in America alone and Japan.

Philip found that Boston and the colonies were ripe for revolt when they arrived. They were in protest to the mother country against unfair taxes levied on the colonies. He falls under the spell of influential men such as Sam Adams, Ben Franklin, Paul Revere and the other in the pre-revolutionary figures. Also involved in the early dissent, was the father of his first love, by Anne. They started the Kent family lineage and when she died, they had more children with Peggy. Philip met his brother again in America, now an officer with the British Army, as well as his widow, after Philip fought him a second time. She tried to restart the romance with him to no avail.

It is action packed and continues until the second novel, "The Rebel". In the second novel, they will take part in the American revolution. They just happens to bump into Lafayette who they had known during his French boyhood.

John Sprague is an American Military contractor still working in the mideast. He enjoys reading, writing and working on his websites, in his free time. He has a site at http://www.marketingkindreds.com/His website has photos of the mideast and marketing articles that you may be interested in viewing. There are also website analysis tools and articles is a genealogy and DNA.

Prehistoric Times

If you are interested in Paleontology or Archaeology then "Everyday Life In Prehistoric Times," is for you. The author's name is Marjorie and Quenell. C.H.B. This book was very interesting depicting the lives of people who lived in the "Stone Age" all the way to the "Early Iron Age."

Chapter one tells how to date prehistoric sites by geology. Archaeologists are called a pick and shovel historians. They investigate shooting of ancient people by the remains they leave behind. Archaeologist must dig for information about Prehistoric man because there is no written record of them. All the objects that are found in a grave by an Archaeologist are associated with one another in an interesting, conveniently.

In the Stone Age no one reads or writes. As a means of recording their calculations they would do it by the waning of the moon. They may also have done it by the to season's greetings to. During the Stone Age, the climate was not available going from hot to cold and these changes are recorded in the earth's surface and geologists can date the deposits in which the changes are recorded.

Chapter two tells of flint instruments, hand axes, early hunting, clothing, the Mammoth, the Java Ape Man, life in the earliest times, the Tasmanians, and life in the Acheulean times. Stone tools are nearly always the only clues we have to the existence of the earliest men of the Stone Age. Stone tools would have had all kinds of uses. They can be made as sharp as a razor, and they could have been used as knives, dig up, or to shape a stick pignuts. Flint is extraordinarily hard to work with. They used flint arrow heads to also fashion and hand axes.

Arrows and spears were used for early hunting as well. They hunted many Wild animals such as the hippopotamus, rhinoceros, the sabre-toothed tiger, and the horse. They made clothing and items they needed to use. They also used it for shelter covering.

Chapter two has many interesting facts that anyone would find interesting.

Chapter three tells about the first cave-dwellers. This includes the Neanderthal Man, the Bolas, the Australian Aborigines, clothing and ornament, food gathering, relatives and society, and the beginning of magic. This chapter was most interesting.

Chapter four talks about Artists of the Old Stone Age. This chapter entails blade tools, the arrival of Homo Sapiens, tools, hunting, Aurignac Aurignac Aurignac and carvings, painting and magic ", the Soultrean arrows and needles, distribution of Madeleine man harpooning seal hunting, fish, Eskimo, the drawing of huts and tents, Eskimo, animal art, engravings and sketch-books and art and science.

Chapter five talks about the Mesolithic Period or the End of the Old Stone Age. This includes the Azilian man, talks about the Oban Deposits, the last Hunter, England in Neolithic times.

Chapter six talks about the New Stone Age. This chapter talks about the later Neolithic Geography entails, the Neolithic flint mines, Prehistoic races, flint and stone tools, talks about the Neolithic houses, how to make fire, pot moulding, long barrows, Megaliths and Rock houses, Megalith building, Stonehenge, and Woodhenge.

Chapter seven talks about the Bronze Age. In this chapter you will read about Bronze smelting, the Bronze spear, the Heathery Burn Cave, Woven cloth, weaving combs, Chariot wheels, ploughing with oxen, a round barrow burial of Hector, the pottery, Bronze Age Bryn Calli DHU, Geography, land and sea voyages, and trade and trade routes.

Chapter eight talks about the Early Iron Age. In this chapter you will read about lake villages, the discovery of Glastonbury, Glastonbury huts, village life, metal working, the development of the Brooch, the fall of Glastonbury, hill forts, the water supply and dew set, hill fort, society and warfare, ships and swords, the chariot burials, the wheel made pottery, trackways and settlements, currency, and talks about the Druids.

If any of this interests you, then this book is for you. I highly recommend it for anyone who wants to know about the past.

Historically Speaking

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I always hated my History classes. I learned early on that History was a dull, mundane subject most often taught in monotone by a bearded, middle-aged man with rancid coffee breath. The tedious tasks of reading massive text books and answering summary questions at the end of each chapter, all while the "teacher" read the paper or silently graded the latest pop quiz, left me listless. I stopped paying attention and I did the minimum amount of work necessary. I memorized dates, names, and facts, but purged them from my mind soon after the unit test was completed. And why not? When would that knowledge prove useful in my life, other than during the occasional game of Trivial Pursuit?

However, it appears I have been mistaken in my disdain for history. In a personal endeavor to improve my knowledge of historical events, people, and facts, I am discovering that there are some fascinating stories to be learned. Reading about the characters, personality traits, trials, and tribulations of historical figures is so much more interesting than simply memorizing the dates relevant to that person. Here are a few books that I have read and enjoyed recently, all excellent examples of how history can, in fact, be engaging.

1. In the Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex, by Nathaniel Philbrick
I hated reading Moby Dick in high school. A chapter dedicated to how to tie knots? Another focused on the process of removing the blubber from a whale? Dull, dull, dull! This book, however, is the true tale of the American whaling ship whose plight was inspiration to Herman Melville. It is a story of survival, tragedy, and adventure that depicts the desperate measures men will take when faced with their own demise.

2. Sea of Glory: America's Voyage of Discovery, the U.S. Exploring Expedition, by Nathaniel Philbrick
Although not as dramatic or intense as In the Heart of the Sea, this book by the same author introduces the reader to an under-appreciated event in American history. It provides a glimpse into the personalities behind the U.S. Exploring Expedition, including it's captain, Charles Wilkes. Political intrigue, scientific discoveries, and world exploration abound. The book is a slow read at times, but it was fascinating to learn about the controversy over who actually discovered Antarctica and how the islands of the Pacific were charted.

3. The Skeletons on the Zahara, by Dean King
Yet another story of survival, this is the true tale of twelve American sailors who were stranded on the African continent in 1815. Following the destruction of their ship, the men are faced with captivity, slavery, and the harsh conditions of the Sahara desert.

4. The Lost City of Z, by David Grann
This book tells the story of Percy Fawcett, his search for the legendary "City of Z", his disappearance into the unforgiving wilderness of the Amazon, and the countless explorers since who have sought to solve the mystery of his disappearance. I've always thought that someday I would see the Amazon. I love to travel, and the prospect of taking a boat ride down the massive river and exploring the jungle and the canopy, has always been appealing to me. Not so much, after reading this book. The detailed descriptions of the bugs, parasites, pests, and maladies of the area will give you nightmares!

Okay, so it's true that Squirt still knows more about history than I do. However, I do take some comfort in knowing that, with each book, I'm increasing my knowledge just a little bit. Upon finishing each book, I curse my past teachers for their inability to suck me into a story in the same way as the authors did. I sincerely hope that my children's History teachers engage them with intimate stories of real people, captivate them with true tales of adventure, and charm them with legends of discovery. Since I was not so lucky in my educational experiences, I will take the challenge upon myself to continue reading. In fact, I'm considering making it a New Year's resolution to read a minimum of 5 (okay, maybe 3) historical non-fiction books in 2011. Any recommendations?

Cheap Horror Books, 48 by James Herbert

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Born in London James Herbert has written many fictions. He is renowned for Best Selling Horror Books. In the genre of horror fiction James Herbert has produced many artistic work. At the earlier stage of his carrier he worked as an art director for an advertising agency. Now as full time writer he works for designing and publicity for his book.His first literary work was The Rats and The Fog which are full of horror, suspense and mystery. His work Domain is one of the Herberts most iconic book. His third novel is The survivor which is a ghost story where he has used supernatural horror. His book contains horror aroused with science fiction. In shrine he visits roman catholic heritage where he has depicted an apparent miracle which turns out in to sinister. His book Haunted is story of a skeptical paranormal investigator who investigate the malicious ghost. There are many Cheap Books written by him.

His horror book 48 keeps bind the readers throughout. The story is set in an alternate world of 1948. The second world war has just ended and people have started to suffer from plague. The protagonist of the story is a pilot and is stranded in a dystopian London. He used biological weapon in the shape of V2 missiles. Hoke who is an American pilot lives alone in the streets. The lord Hubble is in danger of his life as he suffers from slow death and need blood transfusion.

The v2 missiles which contains biological weapon came with two types of disease as a. First one is Blood death which end the subject instantly. The arteries get blocked and explode, and the blood pours from every side of the body. Slow death is different from blood death as it works slightly. It weakens the subject, blackens the fingers and get weaker day by day.

Jacko Liver is one of many professional writers on this website. He has been writing interesting and thought-provoking articles on Books and Magazines, Cheap Children Books and Price Comparison in the UK with cheap books visit our books shop.

Masonic Books - Jacob's Ladder

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"And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up
on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven:
and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it."

Gen. 28:12

In the Entered Apprentice Degree, the candidate sees and hears Freemasonry's lesson symbolized by the star-decked heavens, or clouded canopy which covers the material earth. This symbolism is of such significance that many European and domestic lodges continue to reinforce its lessons by painting the ceilings with stars, planets and other heavenly luminaries. Concealed within that symbolism is the additional veil to certain wise and serious truths known as "Jacob's Ladder."

We read in the book of Genesis that a man named Jacob fell asleep one night out in the open during his travels from Beersheba to the land of Haran. In his dreams he saw a great ladder with one end set on earth and the top reaching far into the heavens above. Jacob seemed to see the "angels of God" ascending and descending the ladder. As he looks higher up, he also seemed to see God Himself standing above it and heard Him promise that Jacob and his descendants would inherit the land where Jacob slept. Upon awakening, Jacob declared the ground sacred, arranged the stones he used for a pillow into a pillar and named the spot Bethel, which means house of God. (Genesis 28:10-19).

Like so many other stories in the Old Testament, for those who do not insist upon a literal interpretation, the legend of Jacob's Ladder conveys a deep concern and belief that is actually centered in a very old culture. A careful reading of the book of Genesis reveals to the discerning eye that the entire book, when read as a whole, appears to be disjointed, difficult to read as one continuum and seemingly missing some very essential background information. Recent academic research has concluded a reason for this fact that tends to more fully explain why Egypt was so important to our Masonic ancestors.

Jacob's vision was but a fragment of a richer living tradition; an ancient teaching about the link between the earthly and divine worlds. This tradition is further emphasized in Masonic ritual by the explanation given concerning the pillars named Boaz and Jachin, discussed in an earlier chapter. In this tradition we are told that the link between the two worlds has been broken. Angels with flaming swords block the entrance to the Garden of Eden and, as we read further in the story about Jacob's Ladder, Jacob is admonished against climbing that ladder to heaven. For many who read this story, it is a significant event in describing the Fall of man to sin and his need for divine redemption. Yet, the ancient tradition behind that story is much more enlightening.

The ancient Egyptians absorbed much of the earlier cultural and religious practices of Mesopotamia, from which the legends of Gilgamesh arose. Within that legend is a startling tale about men who walked the earth seemingly having come from nowhere known to mankind. They were on earth to learn what the earthly existence had to teach and once those lessons were learned, they left earth to travel to heaven to enrich that divine environment with earthly influences. (The book of Genesis actually contains a piece of this legend in the story about the "Watchers," or "Giants.") This legend later became a benchmark for Hermes Trismegestis whose philosophy known as Hermeticism emphasis the divine slogan "as it is above, so shall it be below."

According to the ancient tradition, the story about Jacob's Ladder is both instructional and insightful. Owing to the location of the sacred ground where Jacob slept, it is believed that it together with other similar sacred locations serve as the perfect conduits between the earthly and divine worlds. In other words, the ancients believed, as many believe today, that there are more sacred places to worship God than others. In part, this legend tends to shed more light on the earthly significance of Jerusalem to our Jewish brethren, as well as our Christian and Muslim brethren.

For Freemasons there is yet another lesson to be learned from Jacob's vision. While certain dogmas and doctrines assert the lone entitlement to bridging the gap between heaven and earth, God and man, those dogmas and doctrines are but paths one may select to complete our divine journey. There are other equally valid paths, which fact reminds us that embracing diversity is essential to establishing true freedom. More importantly, Masons are encouraged to think for themselves, pray to God on their own and develop a relationship with the Divine that is not wholly dependent about the intermediary of a specific dogma or doctrine. God created man in His image. He did not create dogma and doctrine in His image - those were created by man.

In that latter regard, the ancient writer Philo affirmed that the Therapeutae practiced what Freemasonry now preaches about the acquisition of divine knowledge. Stories from the Old Testament and elsewhere should be read for their symbolic messages, not for their literal recitation about factual history. The Therapeutae read the Holy Scriptures and sought wisdom from their ancestral philosophy by taking it as an allegory, since they also thought that the words of the text were symbols of something whose hidden nature is revealed by studying the underlying meaning.

Masonic Books teach that by the use of symbols and in so doing encourages its members to understand that God's most enduring lessons are yet to be recovered from the mists of the past. Prophets and seers have told us that mankind has merely scratched the surface of all that is to be learned. Where man once walked on foot to get from one place to the other, he may now fly. While ancient civilizations could not communicate one with another, today's nations are in instant communication. Mankind is drawing ever closer together, hundreds of thousands of people are living in urban environments and men on one end of the globe are nourishing the needs of men at the other end. Man's relationship with God, direct and unfettered by outside dogma or doctrine, is essential for men to absorb the concept of brotherly love - not as a mere concept, but as a way of life.

Such are some of the lessons learned from the Masonic symbolism of Jacob's Ladder. Can you find others?

John Heisner is the author of several masonic books about symbolism in Freemasons History [http://masonicbooks.heisner.info/masonic-book-store/masonic-books/]. He has been a Master Mason since 1968; served as Chaplain, Senior Deacon, Junior Warden, Senior Warden and Worshipful Master of Amity Lodge No. 442 in San Diego, California, and serves presently as an Inspector for Division IX of the Grand Lodge of California. He has written two Masonic Symbolism Books [http://masonicbooks.heisner.info/masonic-book-store/masonic-books/].; is a member of Scottish Rite Freemasonry in San Diego, where he currently serves as an officer in the Lodge of Perfection and has thrice been awarded the Albert Pike trophy for excellence in the performance of Scottish Rite ritual; a member of Al Bahr Shrine since 1976; a member of the York Rite Bodies, Knights Templar, Allied Masonic Degrees, York Rite College and the Knights of the Red Cross of Constantine. Mr. Heisner is also a member of the Societas Rosicruciana in Civitibus Foederatis.

Mr. Heisner has also been a practicing attorney in the State of California since 1973 and is currently a partner and trial specialist in a San Diego law firm where he emphasizes complex business litigation, trade secret litigation, real estate and probate litigation. He formerly served as an Assistant District Attorney, Deputy District Attorney and Special Assistant United States Attorney. As a criminal prosecutor, Mr. Heisner investigated and prosecuted organized crime, public official corruption and major fraud matters.

In his professional capacity, Mr. Heisner has also chaired several committees for the San Diego County Bar Association and been a member of various criminal justice committees.

Within his community, Mr. Heisner has served as president and director of his homeowner's association, participated in the immigrant nationalization process as a member of Kiwanis. He is married, father to four adult children and grandfather of five young children.

"The Storm of War: A New History of the Second World War" Written By Andrew Roberts

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Anyone who lived through any war, but especially WWII, needs to read this greatly detailed and informative book that gives details, stories, actions, and facts many of which were never published. The author writes in a way that draws you to each page because, while the book is fact, it never gets boring. From the very beginning of the book where, in April 1934, Hitler met with the German minister of Defence to make a secret pact where the army would support Adolph Hitler upon the death of Paul von Hindenburg (then leader of Germany). Most of us have in our minds that the war started in 1939 when Germany invaded Poland but the plans for Hitler's demonic plans to control the world had started with the plans for his leadership years earlier.

Several things I advise to all readers of this complete book; remember to refer to the maps at the front of the book as campaigns in different areas occur, and do not think you will skip through a page because the book is extremely long. If you skip you will miss some important and interesting tidbit. I had forgotten the maps and now I wish I had remembered them to allow me to know exactly where certain battles occurred. I also tried to read by skipping and I found out it doesn't work. How Andrew Roberts garnered all the information and wove it into a terrific resourceful book I will never know. There is no way a review could ever do this book justice. I will hit a few highlights but you must physically read it to gain the knowledge it contains.

Hitler had been a corporal in the German army in WW I so he had felt war first hand and was twenty-nine years of age when that war ended in 1918. Hitler had a huge war machine in place. Two major factions were the OKH and the OKW, both strategic in running the military. Many leaders changed throughout the book. Hitler would have high expectations for various campaigns and when the result was not to his liking he took no remorse in immediately changing generals. Hitler controlled all the many units of might such as the Wehrmacht, the SS, the Luftwaffe (air), the Panzers (tanks), and a naval branch that, had Hitler allow it to develop fully, could have made the war much longer and given Germany a huge advantage. The German Generals, some of whom were Field Marshall's, were many; Jodl, Keitel, Himmler, von Runstedt, von Manctein, Goebbels, Rommel, and, in general were very brilliant men but too many times Hitler forced them to do his method, not theirs.

One section of the book that was about a subject I thought I did know but the author gave some details that blew my mind of how humans could treat other humans as they did. Excerpts of the authors words; "After they were rounded up in their local communities from all across German-occupied Europe, Jews were transported by train to Auschwitz or one of the other five extermination camps in Eastern Europe." "Once the transports arrived at the siding at Birkenau, there would be the first selection, where SS officials would choose the able-bodied men and women - numbering roughly 15% - who would be taken to the camp barracks to join work details, leaving the old, the weak, the infirm, the children, and the mothers of children, who would be immediately walked to the gas chambers and exterminated." This is only a small part of the inhumane things the Germans carried out in order to "cleanse" the world of Jews.

The inhumane actions of war do not lie just with the Germans. Their allies, as well as the allies of the United States, Great Britain, France, and many other nations, performed many actions that killed many innocent civilians. In many cases the Germans surrounded their factories with these civilians making the bombing of the weapon producing buildings also kill those civilians. This, along with civilians being in the wrong place at the wrong time, caused many more killings. Military casualties for all the nations involved were immense. Some of the numbers are unbelievable but also undeniable.

The many battles of WW II were brutal and lasted far too long. So many new recruits were rushed to the front and into battle before they knew what they were getting into. This occurred with all nations involved, not just the Germans. The details of the Russian war involvement are quite extensive. At first they didn't know whom to fight with, allies or axis, but eventually chose the allies because they, like Germany, wanted to control the world, especially all of Europe. Because Russia is so huge with a large population, they suffered many casualties and had so many more to fill in for those killed.

This review is too large now so I must put a halt to it and tell you to read the book. If you have no interest in war, especially WW II, don't start it. If you have any like of the subject you must read "The Storm of War" from front to end.

Reader review by Cy Hilterman of a book supplied by The Amazon Vine Program

George Washington's Great Gamble by James L Nelson

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This book about the American Revolution relates happenings that helped to end the war. It encompasses land battles and sea battles. Disappointments and victories of both sides. Actions and thoughts of the main characters involved in the action. Well written and easy to read. It covers the last year, 1781, of the war and clearly tells how an American Victory, with French assistance came to be.

The Author places the leading characters involved, in this last year of the war, in their places like a chess board. Washington's poorly equipped army keeping watch over the larger British Forces in New York City. Benedict Arnold having gone over to the British Side was sent to the Virginia Area, by the British, to destroy positions and interfere with the attempts of the Northern Colonies to send supplies and men to the deep south. Lafayette becomes an American General sent to capture Arnold. The British plans to subdue the Southern Colonies and then to move north to subdue the rest. He tells how Cornwallis fought against Greene in the South.

The importance of the lack of good communication during the war is shown. Washington had to rely on messengers on land while the British had the use of the Sea for faster communications and for movement of men and equipment.

Washington needed a Navy to contest the British rule of the sea. When the French came into the picture, declaring war on the British, and promised help to the Americans he hoped he had found a Navy. Could he count on the French to do what they had promised? Spain declared war on England soon after causing more problems for the British.

The Author puts everyone's problems and actions together, including the mistakes made, by both sides, to clearly show how the end came about. The Sea Battle that follows is shown as to tactics, weather, and luck as how it helped to influence the ending. A good description of how sea battles were fought in those days.

George Washington's Gamble is a well written, interesting and entertaining description of the actual happenings of the Revolutionary War. You will be surprised the animosity and differences between the British leaders in the Americas.

I would recommend it to History Buffs as well as the General Public.

Alex Kamas was retired after over 30 years as a Real Estate Broker Married to Carol for 55 years they have four grown Children and eleven Grandchildren. He lives with his wife Carol in Parker, Colorado.