Elliott Merrick was another E.B. White
355082
This is a beautiful and inspiring book, and written in such plain yet gorgeous prose that you will check the spine to see if you've picked up a book by E.B. White. Elliott Merrick is less anxious than Andy White, more intrepid in the wilderness, and just as lovely a writer. I was transported and immediately bought all of Merrick's other books. Terrific!
283999
Wallace Thurman wrote INFANTS OF THE SPRING in 1932, just two years before his untimely death from tuberculosis at the age of 32. The tragedy for all of us is that if he had lived longer, he probably would have written a very fine novel if this one and THE BLACKER THE BERRY are indications of what he would have produced. What this novel lacks in depth of character development, it makes up for in the number and different types of characters: Raymond, Paul, Bull, Steve, Sam, Euphoria, Eustace, Pelham, Janet, Amy, Lucille et al. In fact there are so many characters in this small novel that at times it is difficult, at least in the beginning, to keep them separated. Mr. Wallace suffers from what English instructors used to call "fine writing," in that he on occasion uses a five dollar word when a simpler one would have worked as well or better. The words "persiflage" and "tocsin" are good examples. Sometimes he writes beautiful descriptive language, for instance, his account of Raymond's visiting his friend Pelham in the Tombs, the local prison.

What this writer does very well is hold up a mirror to that exciting period of America's literary history, "The Harlem Renaissance." He asks a lot of questions-- but offers few answers-- about slavery, race, what is a fit subject for both the black writer and singer, the color bias in the black community, interracial dating, the difficulty of interracial friendships-- questions that still plague us eighty years later.
2521896
When Jane Allen Petrick asked me if I wanted to read her book, Hidden In Plain Sight, I knew I had to, after reading the description. You see, I always thought that the great American artist, Norman Rockwell was raciest. I never read anything about him, so my perception came purely from the paintings of his that I saw. The people were always white in them.

It turns out, that I want in the minority with that perception however, in Hidden In Plain Sight, Jane Allen Petrick sets us straight. There are actually quite a few paintings where he address social and civil rights issues. Petrick even writes about the real life African American, Chinese American, and Native American models he used in his paintings. She has had the privilege of meeting some of the models and they shared their stories of meeting and modelling for Norman Rockwell.

So why haven't many of see this other side of Rockwell? Those of you my age and older, may remember some on the Saturday Evening Post magazine's, Norman Rockwell covers. He was under contract to create all those covers for them. They would only allow paintings of wholesome looking white people.

This book is such a gem. I felt like I got to know some of the models along with Petrick. It read more like a memoir than a biography, one that I couldn't put down. I read it in one sitting and was up until the wee hours of the morning. I found it absolutely fascinating. This a book I think all Americans should read. I just hope that Jane allen Petrick writes a follow up. I cannot recommend it highly enough!
3682562
One doesn't have to love dogs to love White's spot on observations of and devotion to them.  They accompany him throughout his life, and he portrays them - along with his friends and neighbors - in every possible light and situation.  His writing is not matched anywhere.
2397513
Kate White is by far the best of the new mystery writers.

Her detective Bailey Weggins, magazine crime writer is

fantastic at solving crimes. I am old enough to have until

recently placed all my faith in the mystery writers of the

1800's and early 1900's as I haven't been able to find any

of today's mystery authors I like -but White knows  how

to write a book and keep your attention in each book she

writes.
2486232
I Really Enjoy Randy White's Writing And Appreciate His New Character. It's Great To See Doc Ford Starting To Have A Real Relationship With A Fascinating Woman Like Hannah And Her Adventures Are Griping As Well. Nicely Done Randy. I Look Forward To The Next Step.
309488
Isaac Bell, the tall and handsome Chief Investigator for the Van Dorn Detective Agency, leads his team in their latest adventure. In 1910, flying machines are coming into their own element and rising in popularity. Newspaper publishing magnate Preston Whiteway is sponsoring a coast-to-coast 50-day air race, and the prize for the winner will net $50,000. Whiteway sponsors young female aviatrix Josephine Josephs Frost, who is daring and confident in her ability to fly. The Van Dorn Agency is hired to protect Whiteway's progeny from her crazed husband, gangster Harry Frost. Frost has murdered Josephine's airplane designer, Marco Celere, in a hunting accident. Enraged with jealousy, Frost believes that his feisty young wife is having an affair with her mechanician. Now he is on the run but is determined to kill his wife.

Bell looks forward to a confrontation with Frost, to right a wrong from 10 years earlier when Frost had killed three newsboys in cold blood and escaped, besting Bell as a novice investigator. Frost boasts enormous personal strength and will prove difficult to bring down.  Besides, Frost has amassed wealth and resources for carrying out the destruction he desires. Gangs of thugs are at his command for the right price.

To further complicate matters, Whiteway falls for Josephine and wishes to annul her marriage and make her his own wife. A mysterious Russian mechanician remains in the camp of flyers working on the various planes in the race. Soon flyers run into sabotaged aircraft, with deadly accidents becoming a norm. Bell learns to fly a monoplane made by the same technique as Josephine's. He has met the daughter of the inventor who might be credited for developing Josephine's plane. She has been incarcerated for the attempted murder of Celere.

Bell is still under order to protect Josephine. From the air, he can follow her, protecting with guns above any ground threat. Meanwhile, his crews below can watch for Frost and any attempts to kill her or threaten her machine. Bell has technical crews researching backgrounds of the Russian, Celere and Frost. As the race progresses, Bell discovers more loose ends that do not connect. He is more and more convinced that Celere did not die in the hunting accident. Perhaps the mechanic and Josephine are in love and plotting to eliminate her competitors.  When Whiteway proposes to her, why does she accept?

Clive Cussler and Justin Scott have kept the action lively, with the notion that Van Dorn detectives never give up. Bell remains cool in the face of numerous complications, giving justification to his standing as Chief Investigator for Van Dorn. Bell's love interest lies with his beautiful fiancee, Marion Morgan, who is a skilled photographer. She is contracted to play up the publicity for the great aviation race for Whiteway and will accompany him in San Francisco at the end of the race.

Not only have the co-authors enlivened the story, they also introduce aviation techniques common in the early industry. Readers will be enlightened by the mechanics of the first flying machines, with an introduction to the techniques of flight itself. We also see through the early fliers' eyes insight into possibilities for aviation's future. Unlike Cussler's other series books exploring the ocean, THE RACE transports his audience into the air, to experience the exhilaration of early air travel, and the pains and joys accompanying such flight.

  --- Reviewed by Judy Gigstad
4532906
This is the story of the founder of the Equitable Life Assurance Society. It was written after he died by his son James Hazen Hyde,William Alexander,and James Alexander at the behest of the Equitable. Portions of this could also be found in the Equitable's history from 1859-1964. This is probably the most important book ever written about American business history. It's still relevant to this day. Henry Baldwin Hyde was probably some sort of inspiration to Doctor Jeckyl and Mister Hyde. He was an original member of the Jeckyl Island Club in Georgia. He used to work for The Mutual,but when he suggested doing this to Mr. Frederick S. Winston there,he was essentially fired. Undaunted,and armed with a $100,000 loan(New York had just passed a law in 1853 that all new insurance companies had to have $100,000 on deposit with the State Controller in Albany),he set up shop in the same building with a bigger sign on July 28,1859. What he did while he was alive is contained in this book. What happened after he died is perhaps more interesting. Two of his pall bearers included President Richard A. McCurdy of the Mutual Life and President John A. McCall of the New York Life. The Equitable built up such an assortment of assets and cash stream(over $1,000,000,000 insurance in force by 1899) that it drew the attention of John Pierpont Morgan. Hyde left his portion to James Hazen Hyde AKA Caleb. If he could of held out for five years,he would of attained the control his father had. Instead,using the flimsy excuse of a party,some people made enough controversy to offend Caleb and to sell to Thomas Fortune Ryan who later sold it to John Pierpont Morgan. Caleb moved to France and came back eventually in the 1950's. By this time he looked like Clarence,the Angel from Frank Capra's It's a Wonderful Life. He died on the hundred year anniversary(7/28/59)of the Equitable. That he fell victim to such people shouldn't really surprise us to this day. They wouldn't do this while Henry Baldwin Hyde was alive. That they got around the New York,as well as other state's, Insurance Commission(s) and the Armstrong Commission says something about mistreating rich people versus poor people. In the end,John Pierpont Morgan's heirs sold it. The power was a figment of his imagination(marginal prospensity for financial control).Eventually the Equitable was bought by the French;thus fulfilling Caleb's wishes at the educational level(Harvard,1898).
3559988
Another great book from Stephen White.  The plot was a good twist on a somewhat overdone theme since Columbine.  A must read in his series.
455187
Some surprising hidden gems in here. Bukka White for instance. Fortunately the white performers fit in amazingly enough. But it is a hunger for hearing the black mans' story here that I want to hear. And I listened close let me tell you-shear beauty.
3547331
Not as good as many of White's Doc Ford books - kind of dragged; but I'll keep reading him for now!
1992174
I have read 3 novels by Mr. White.  They are all excellent.
1235631
This is one great series. If you haven't had an opportunity to read White yet, start now. This entry has the usual players in a lean and fast paced adventure. Stealing a concept from John D.,White crafts an ending that speeds to retribution and makes us start looking for "Shark River"
4332798
For the most part this is another  of Mancini's many  compilation of  cover versions of his own and  other  composers' works that  seems aimed  firmly at the  easy  listening market, but there's  one outstanding gem among them  that makes it worth purchasing on it's own  - the  11-minute suite from Phil Kaufman's forgotten Arctic  period drama  White Dawn. Despite the film's strong visuals, Henry Mancini's astonishingly beautiful score  is in many ways the real star of the film is. A world away from the easy listening elevator musak he's now associated with, the style is closer to his lyrical score for The Molly Maguires without the melancholy, although the main theme was expanded from a piece an Inuit woman improvised on the set.  Kaufman even reused this recording of the lyrical theme for the orbiting the Earth sequence in The Right Stuff. The full  score was never released on LP or  CD,  so this suite is for  now the best available (there is a  shorter piece, the  exciting Arctic Whale Hunt cue that  ends this suite  available on Mancini: Mostly Monsters, Murders and Mystery) and thankfully it  gives an  excellent overview of the  full score.
4540477
I enjoyed reading this, which is fairly light and easy. The theme is fashionable now, following on the success of the "White Queen" and
the recovery of Richard's remains. Reedman has made for a very human Richard, and nothing too sentimental about him. Book One breaks off rather abruptly (I thought) which just means I shall be looking for Book Two.
3937573
I decided to read Edmund's White's memoir on Paris because, like many others, I find the City of Lights to be fascinating.  Professor White is clearly a gifted writer.  He holds the readers attention with detail and with salacious gossip about friends and acquaintances who passed through his life while he lived in Paris, having fled New York hoping to escape the mysterious plague that became the AIDS crisis.  Many of the persons he writes about are familiar to those who know the world of fashion, literature and entertainment.  Others are lesser lights who find their way into this book because of idiosyncrasies that the author found of interest.

The title, "Inside A Pearl" refers to the lustrous nature of life within Paris for those who are able to afford to live the good life - Le Beau Monde.  It is ironic that a pearl is formed from a minor irritation within an oyster, so I will share a minor irritation that I have with Mr. White's approach to writing this book.  He has the annoying habit of repeating information about a person that had already been mentioned in a previous chapter, and never referring to the fact that he had already mentioned it.  I am not sure if he makes this choice intentionally, assuming the reader may have forgotten or whether he or his editors simply failed to notice the redundancies.

That minor peccadillo aside, I found the book of interest, and it helped me to relive my visits to some of my favorite spots in Paris.
4871119
Robert B. Parker writes a great wester.  This is perhaps his best one.  Vergil Cole and Everett Hitch are great characters and some of the situations they get into on this train are incredible.