Book Description
Faced with the sale of the century-old family summer house on Cape Cod where he had spent forty-two summers, George Howe Colt returned for one last stay with his wife and children. This poignant tribute to the eleven-bedroom jumble of gables, bays, and dormers that watched over weddings, divorces, deaths, anniversaries, birthdays, breakdowns, and love affairs for five generations interweaves Colt's final visit with memories of a lifetime of summers. Run-down yet romantic, the Big House stands not only as a cherished reminder of summer's ephemeral pleasures but also as a powerful symbol of a vanishing way of life.
Customer Reviews:
The Big House.......2007-10-02
"The Big House" is best when author Colt is talking about the history and appearance of the Cape, or evoking a picture of the summer days he spent there, but as the memoirist of his family, he seems only in the elementary stages of his struggle to find his true relationship to Boston Brahmanism. Certainly part of maturity is trying to figure out what of the heritage we've been landed with we accept and what we reject; this is neither an easy nor a straightforward task. But Mr. Colt's discomfort about his Wasp-iness is such that the reader is uncomfortable too--we don't quite know where Mr. Colt is coming from.
There are, however, many nice moments in this book. I owe to Mr. Colt the happy surprise of meeting, in his apparently vigorous old age, Penrose Hallowell, a Civil War hero of mine, riding out on a summer morning to pick up his mail from the post office in Pocasset. And if you summer (or used to summer), on the Cape, especially if you've spent time on Buzzard's Bay, you will find much to enjoy.
(If this book interests you, you may enjoy "In My Blood," by John Sedgwick, about a rather similar family in another big house, with some of the same challenges.)
NICE STORY.......2007-08-16
I liked this book. I read it while I was on the beach in Misquamicut. Its about a man who brings his family to Cape Cod to spend the last summer in a summer home owned by his family that has to be sold because they could no longer afford to keep it. It told of his parents, the story behind the house, his grandparents, and his memories of the house when he was young. I liked it.
A Sense of Place.......2007-07-16
Partway through this memoir, one of George Howe Colt's friends uses "a sense of place" to describe what seems most important about Colt's family summer house. I could not agree more. The Big House is a huge, rambling monstrosity of a place, seeming more like the Addams Family's house than anything else. But the Colts and the Atkinsons have lived in and loved the Big House for a century, and its easy to see why. It provides an anchor and a gathering point for the generations to come together every summer. But its too expensive to maintain, and the family has to decide what to do with it, causing some members to fear that it may be lost forever.
This is a memoir both of a house and of a family. The Atkinsons and Colts were Boston Brahmins, WASPS who were once wealthy and prosperous but who now have fallen on leaner times. They endured much unhappiness over the years, but found the Big House to be a place of healing for them. I recognized many traits they shared with my own extended family, which is to be expected since we are WASPS, too, though we are Southerners rather than New Englanders and much less prosperous. I understood the need for "a sense of place" too, since I feel it strongly when visiting areas where my own ancestors lived.
I picked this book up on a whim, but once I started it I could not put it down. It is a fine memoir of a place and way of life that has almost disappeared, but it is also an evocation of much that is still important: family, heritage, and memory.
LOVELY.......2006-11-29
THIS IS A LOVELY BOOK THAT MAKES ME REMEMBER MY OWN FAMILY BIG HOUSE. ALTHOUGH IT WAS IN THE NORTH WOODS OF WISCONSIN AND NOT ON CAPE COD, I REMEMBER THE SAME FAMILY DYNAMIC WITH KIDS EVERYWHERE AND AUNTS AND UNCLES READY TO DO SOMETHING FUN. THANKS FOR THE WONDERFUL BOOK.
Wonderful!.......2006-11-03
I couldn't put this book down! A perfect blend between well written history and personal family narrative. Also, it was pretty creepy how similar their family is to mine! Highly recommended for anyone who's ever had a summer house, been to a summer house, been to Cape Cod, or enjoyed summer in any capacity.
Customer Reviews:
A Must-Read for the U.S. History Student!.......2006-03-09
What a wonderful book! Teddy Roosevelt was brilliantly ressurected for us by George Grant in this comprehensive, yet easy-to-read work (because of the chapter lengths). Section 1 is a biography of his life; Section 2 contains short chapters on his character, and many sides to his life; Section 3 deals with his legacy.
This book gives the reader a good look a life in the U.S. during the last half of the 19th century, as well as one of the period's most beloved of heroes.
Biased -- Better Stuff Available.......2005-06-08
I just wanted a simple biography on Theodore Roosevelt, but this was pretty openly and obviously a book with an agenda. True, the basics about Theodore Roosevelt are here, but the emphasis is on spiritual faith and values. Since I read this book, I read Roosevlet's autobiography and came to realize that he is much more complex than this book suggests.
Carry A Big Stick.......2003-08-29
This is an incredible book, that truly gives you the insight of one of the greatest men that ever lived. Filled with many incredible principles to live by, you WILL enjoy this book and the excitement it brings to your life!
Errors galore in this Conservative Christian propaganda!.......2003-04-22
I've read 40+ plus books by or about TR and this is the worst, one-sided view of this complex, multi-facted man. This is as bad as the radical-left "Howard Zinn-ism" revisionist history of TR's foreign policies.
There are too many "blatant" errors to list in this mini-review, but just for starters:
1). TR did not, as the author claims, visit his mother's Georgia plantation "10 or more times". It is well documented that TR only visited Bulloch Hall twice -once as president and once post-White House. He did not have a very high opinion of most Southerners, despite the author's claims to the contrary. His wife abhorred most Southerners.
2). TR did not force his children, particulary Alice, to attend church every Sunday. Edith was the religious task master of the family and in her quiet manner usually rounded up all kids, except for Alice. Alice was a well-known, open atheist from her teen years until she died. TR and Edith had accepted the teenager's refusal to be confirmed in the Episcopal church or any other church. Their son Archie also grew up to be an agnostic.
3). TR most certainly did NOT shower Edith with flowers and jewels. He never even remembered her birthday (though he never forgot the date of their engagement and wedding anniversay). Edith hated receiving extravagent gifts from anyone, especially her husband. They did have a very happy marriage and home life but he also known for taking off on 3-month hunting trips soon after Edith would deliver another baby.
4). TR most certainly did like to attend parties and was a professional social butterfly because he knew he would probably end up as the main attraction - just what his ego needed. The author paints TR as a man who shunned social gatherings to be with his family 24/7. Definitely not true. He LOVED being around people of all and any type, though his wife certainly like to stoke the home fires more than making the social rounds.
5). TR never made any speeches about abortion. Abortion was not on the radar screen in his time. The author uses quotes that TR said about women not wanting to get married and raise families to make it seem as though TR were speaking direcly on the subject of abortion.
6). TR believed in and preached on the separation of Church and State. He wanted to remove "In God We Trust" from the US coinnage and even pushed one of the leading artists of that time, Grant LaFarge, to create a new design. The "religious right" of his time went ballistic over this decision and he later backed down. He made many speeches proclaiming that the Church stay out of the affairs of the State. Indeed, he was a strong, "old school" Christian who did preach to the citizens the value of religion, a happy home life, and following the morals one teaches to his/her children. However, he also thought a country would head down the dangerous path if a certain religion or belief were forced upon its citizens.
I would not recommend this book on TR to ANYONE.
My, wasn't that just bully!.......2003-04-20
George Grant has written a delightful book about a delightful man.
Customer Reviews:
Good reading but not so practical.......2007-03-31
The book I would say is more for laughs than revenge. A lot of these practical jokes are not so practical and even if they were you would probably get jail time if caught.
If you are willing to take some risks to get revenge then this book probably is for you. Keep this one in the bathroom and anyone on the potty should get a kick out of it.
The Big Book Of Revenge: 200 Dirty Tricks for Those Who Are Serious About Getting Even.......2007-02-08
Great Book...!!!
Nice !.......2007-01-11
If you really get in their and dig, you can find some really clever stuff..
Impractical to say the least........2004-01-26
I was disappointed to find that most of these tactics were either impractical or outdated or both.Some examples described in the book:A man who puts on a gasmask, knocks on a door in the middle of the night with a large toolbox in his hand while wearing a gas company uniform and yelling out warnings that the whole block is getting ready to explode. After the home's occupants dissipate he goes through the house placing cement mix in their toilets and scattering rotten meat throughout the house. Huh? In a day and age where you could spend a few years in the slammer if you mailed somebody an envelope full of baby powder?One example suggests that you should buy a chemical made by "Aquatect" which leaves a bright red cloud around anyone who pees in your pool. One small problem- no such chemical has ever existed in the history of the Earth. This has been outed as an urban legend over and over again, even on TV. (A chemical that in concentrations of less than 1:5000 would cause a bright red cloud when it comes into contact with small amounts of urea, despite the fact that it is in a gigantic vat of bleach water? Ummhmm.)On the good side however, you will find that the book is a very quick read and may offer some laughs, as well as possibly a handful of ideas on elaborate pranks. The guy actually has a decent writing style, he reminds me a little bit of Hunter S. Thompson. But the long and short of it is that there is no "Oh, now I've got 'em!" within the pages of this book. (Unless perhaps you are irked at a UPS driver who runs over dead dogs, and you wish to wire explosives in the carcass of a dead dog to blow out his tire as in one example.)
A most competent sabotage manual.......2002-10-19
Some of the physical sabotage techniques in this book would do justice to a CIA or OSS black ops manual. The author has an impressive knowlege of practical mechanics and chemistry- at least enough to do profound damage to vehicles, machinery, structures and lawns. He is also the competent little amateur pharmicist with his poisoning tips (nothing fatal- just very, very unpleasant.) In addition, he is quite the practical psychiatrist with his effective knowlege of what it takes to destroy another's peace of mind, or even sanity. As for character and reputation assassination, well, he is a pure artist....
I'm not going to make a value judgement on the contents of this book. In an unjust world there are justifications for actions like these. Just be careful, there is a fundamental law to the universe that stuff like this comes back to you three fold if it isn't justified....
If you are primarily in to computer mischief, then try his _Byte Me_.
Book Description
New. El Segundo 1988. Photos, packet of maps, includes Dustin Bibliography. THE CUSTER TRAGEDY by Fred Dustin is a required reading for any Custer Battle scholar. Includes reprint of rare pamphlet: "Echoes from the Little Big Horn Fight," which was written after Dustin had access to the Reno Court of Inquiry transcript.
Amazon.com
George Foreman is a world boxing champ--and a cookbook author. For his Big Book of Grilling, Barbecue, and Rotisserie, the genial endorser of the widely popular Grilling Machine offers 75 recipes for meat, poultry, fish, vegetables, and more--dishes devised by his coauthor, Barbara Witt. "In this cookbook you will travel with me and visit Europe, Mexico, the Caribbean, Africa, Latin America, and finally home to America," says Foreman. That's a lot of travel, but Witt's accessible recipes are full of big, exciting flavor and should become favorites of outdoor and indoor grillers alike.
Beginning with useful information about grilling equipment--the recipes are tailored to work using rotisseries, open-flame, and indoor and outdoor electric grills--the book then dishes up winners like Kingwood Skirt Steak with Grilled Bananas, Barbecued Spicy Lime and Cilantro Chicken, and Ginger Shrimp with Mango Mayonnaise. A chapter on burgers and pizza offers a particularly innovative assortment of those treats, among them the Open-Face Catfish Burger and grilled pizzas like the knockout (how else to put it?) pie topped with charred red and white onions, prosciutto, and black walnuts. Throughout, the book provides useful tips and nutritional breakdowns for the recipes, which take advantage of the microwave and other timesaving preparation techniques. This is another Foreman winner. --Arthur Boehm
Book Description
King of the ring and king of the grill, George Foreman joins forces with chef Barbara Witt to provide all-new dishes for grill and rotisserie cooking. The recipes in this book can be prepared indoors, using an electric or stovetop grill; or outdoors, on an electric, charcoal, or gas-powered barbecue.
Grilling is healthful and quick. If you do a little work in advance, once you fire up the grill, dinner can be ready in a matter of minutes. So dishes like Rib Roast with Rosemary and Roasted-Garlic Wine Sauce, Chicken Breasts with Peanut Sauce, Ginger Honey Duck, and Curried Salmon Steak become easy weeknight dinners instead of party fare.
Foreman and Witt have created delicious recipes for grilled meats, poultry, seafood, vegetables, innovative grilled salads and pasta sauces -- even pizza. Complete with full nutritional information, the recipes reflect an international range of flavors -- Caribbean, Pan-Asian, and Latin -- and provide new twists on all-American favorites. In the recipe introductions and in the vegetable chapter, there are suggestions for side dishes, some of which can be prepared on the grill alongside the main course.
You'll find everything you need to know about equipment; ways to maximize flavor by using seasoning rubs, pastes, marinades, and brines; and there are sources for the best meats and ingredients. While these dishes are full of big flavors, the ingredients can be found in any well-stocked supermarket. Whether you want a quick-fix family meal, a backyard barbecue feast, or an elegant dinner party, you'll find the perfect recipe in George Foreman's Big Book of Grilling, Barbecue, and Rotisserie.
Download Description
Thanks to the Lean Mean Fat-Reducing Grilling Machine he endorses, George Foreman's name has become synonymous with grilling. In his new cookbook, the championship boxer and bestselling author joins forces with chef Barbara Wit to provide more than 75 recipes for meats, filets, chops, kabobs -- and even fruit and pizza.
Customer Reviews:
home cooking.......2007-01-15
Book was first class- just not for me-not my type of food choices. It is just me at home now and the recipes were not for me- not saying they would not be great- but not for me.
Not what I expected.......2007-01-12
I wanted a basic "how to" not a cookbook of exotic dishes.
I'm loving this rotisserie.......2006-10-28
I ordered this and actually received this on the next day without paying any shipping and handling. That was amazing! It came fully protected, no problems.
We used it that very night. I had a little difficulty in putting the rotisserie spit back when i placed a chicken on it - but after that it worked well..
We also used the skewers for hot dogs and the kids loved it. Tasted like ballpark dogs from a stadium.
Cleans well - i use al. foil in the drip pan - and taking the back shield off is sometimes difficult, as well as cleaning the front glass, but all in all it is definitely worth the money.
Big Book of Grilling, BBQ and Rotisserie Cookbook.......2005-05-31
Just bought a rotisserie and was hoping to find how to use it and good recipes. Only found about 4 or 5. I would've liken to know different types of meat you could cook in it and for how long you cook it for.
Totally Surprised at how great this book is.......2004-03-23
I got this book on a bargain table at Borders, and probably bought it because it was practically the only cookbook I don't already own. I was SHOCKED at how great it is. I expected simply a book of promotional recipes hocking his grill machines and written by staff writers--but then I read the introduction and wow! It never ocurred to me how influential his early travels as a boxer had been on his palate. The combinations of flavorings and grilled fruits are amazing, pulling fully on his travels through Africa and Asia. And honestly, most of the recipes can be made without the use of a grill or rotisserie' an oven, stovetop and/or broiler will do. Good job, George, write me another one!
Book Description
An essential training manual for all conservatives, Conservatives Betrayed challenges the political right to implement a nationwide conservative agenda and serves as a warning to the Republican Party to fall in line if it hopes to remain in power.
Customer Reviews:
A Well-Written Conservative Salvo Against Betrayal in Republican Ranks.......2007-08-24
~Conservatives Betrayed: How George W. Bush and Other Big Government Republicans Hijacked the Conservative Cause~ describes the intellectual bankruptcy of so called `Big Government Conservatism,' which is an oxymoronic cliche if there every was one. Neoconservatism was the product of Old Left New Dealers that vacated the Democratic Party because of its perceived social radicalism in the 1960s and 1970s. Though, they were very much content with the New Deal welfare state and hoped to make it operate more efficiently. They gravitated towards Republican-affiliated think tanks and the halls of political power. Eventually they became the core intellectual intelligentsia of the two successive Bush administrations, with neocons holding key cabinet positions. Neoconservatives laud the statemanship of Theodore and Franklin Roosevelt and Harry Truman. Viguerie observes, "As he pursued these policies, President Bush's strongest support came from Big Government Republicans and from so-called 'Big Government conservatives' who, of course, are not conservatives at all." Viguerie continues, "Now, these `Big Government conservatives' -- sometimes confusingly called `neoconservatives' -- have not been shy about their intentions to hijack (or, from their point of view, 'lead') the conservative movement. Irving Kristol, often called the `grandfather of neoconservatism,' wrote in The Weekly Standard (August 25, 2003) of `the historical task and political purpose of neoconservatism:' `to convert the Republican Party, and American conservatism in general, against their respective wills, into a new kind of conservative politics suitable to governing a modern democracy.'" Viguerie hits the nail on the head -- the Republican Party has been hijacked. It's no longer helmed by the principled conservatives who once called for fiscal conservatism, limited government, and devolving power and authority back to states and localities in favor of dual federalism and the Tenth Amendment.
In this trenchant analysis, Vigurie offers a principled conservative broadside against the current Republican administration under George W. Bush and the Congress. The Republicans have given us a failed foreign policy and a failed domestic policy. After the publication of this book, conservative voters tired of the status quo apparently stayed home, and a few switched sides. Hence, the new Democratic Congressional majority in 2007 has made its ascendancy. The Republicans had their shot for a true blue Republican Revolution and making good on the promises of 1994, but they blew it. He demonstrates how the Republicans have compromised on every major front, whether in the culture war or in maintaining some semblance of fiscal responsibility in the federal government. As political humorist P.J. O'Rourke penned, "The Democrats are the party that says government will make you smarter, taller, richer, and remove the crabgrass on your lawn. The Republicans are the party that says government doesn't work and then they get elected and prove it." The Republicans have certainly proved that government doesn't work, and Vigurie documents it chapter-by-chapter.
Viguerie surmises the failure of twentieth-century American liberalism as its rejection of "the core principles and values of Western Civilization." The Judeo-Christian foundation has been swept aside and supplanted with moral relativism and ever-increasing government. But as Viguerie notes, "Moral relativism only breeds moral chaos, and ever-bigger government simply doesn't work. Big Government doesn't solve problems, it magnifies them." Mindful of the Republican Party's failure, Viguerie concedes that "much of the machinery of the conservative movement has been hijacked by people who do not believe in the core principles of conservatism." For all practical purposes, the political Left defines and dominates the American political discourse, and the GOP establishment more often than not is parroting the rhetoric and agenda of the Left (p. xxi). If left to examine the federal budget bloat, and the growth of federal spending during the last few years under a Republican President and Republican Congress, many conservatives would have trouble believing that its not Democrats calling all the shots. Despite, fervent Democratic criticism of the contemporary Republican administration, the Left perhaps accomplished much more of its agenda with the Republican Congress at the helm than it ever did during the Clinton years. For the past six years, the GOP had a virtual lock on the federal government controlling a majority in both houses of the Congress and having a man in the White House. So, they must take the blame and accept accountability for this despondent state of affairs.
In 1994, with the so called Republican Revolution, the prospect of devolution of usurped federal power back to the states seemed quite tenable. However, within a few years came the concurrent disillusion and realization amongst principled conservatives that it was simply politics as usual in Washington, D.C. When the GOP finally gained ascendancy in the twenty-first century - controlling both the White House and Congress - their betrayal of conservative principles was made manifest for the world to see.
The Republican disloyalty to the conservative principle of keeping education as a local matter is another example of rank GOP compromise. The U.S. Department of Education got its start in 1979 during the Carter years as a payoff to the Leftist teacher's union which favored aggressive centralization of education policy and a national curriculum, in spite of its dubious constitutionality. As Viguerie observes, between 2000 and 2005, discretionary federal spending on education increased an astounding 60 percent. The No Child Left Behind Act has demonstrated an array of unintended consequences, such as compelling teachers to teach for the test while it impedes the quality of programs for exceptionally gifted students.
Richard A. Viguerie deserves praise for putting loyalty to principle over partisan loyalty. He flat out says that if certain principals amongst Republican leadership aren't worth voting for than don't vote for them. Nonetheless, he urges conservatives to take their party back, and I believe the GOP can still be a vehicle for conservative, constitutionalist political activism. As a supporter of the 2008 Ron Paul Presidential campaign, I believe there is hope for a serious grassroots Republican activism that is principled, conservative and constitutionalist. The American Conservative Encyclopedia writes of Vigurie, "Of all the conservative activists in the field of politics over the last few decades, perhaps none has had as profound an impact as Richard Viguerie." Vigurie gained acclaim for his innovation in direct mail campaigning which practically set the stage for the Reagan Revolution, mobilizing the conservative electorate. Viguerie is a man who believed in that rhetoric about limited government and free-markets that Reagan uttered in his First Inaugural. He still thinks conservatives should stand their ground and contend in earnest for it.
Other recommendations:
Impostor: How George W. Bush Bankrupted America and Betrayed the Reagan Legacy by Bruce Bartlett
Conservatives and Liberals betrayed.......2007-04-07
Reading books like these it is difficult not to reach the conclusion that Republicans are slow thinkers. It has taken them almost half a century, and an egregious traitor, to discover that the Republican Party has betrayed them, and still they don't see who the traitors are.
.
George W. Bush has been so bold in his acts of treason (not only to the Republican Party, but to all Americans), that, after so much hesitation and self-doubt, a few Republicans are finally beginning to realize that the Republican Party has been infiltrated by traitors. But they are not "big government Republicans," as Mr. Viguerie wants us to believe, nor are they "the neocons and the religious right," as Philip Gold [Take Back the Right] claims, neither are they just fiscally irresponsible Republicans, as Stephen Slivinski [Buck Wild] asserts.
.
Actually, the betrayal has not been limited to the Republican party. Both parties have been infiltrated by traitors, and both true conservatives and true liberals have been betrayed. And the betrayal is not the result of the isolated actions of good-intentioned people making big mistakes. No. It has been the result of a carefully conceived plan.
.
In his book Tragedy and Hope, first published in 1966, professor Carroll Quigley mentioned in detail why the Conspirators infiltrated and controlled both mayor parties:
.
"The argument that the two parties should represent opposed ideals and policies, one, perhaps, of the Right and the other of the Left, is a foolish idea acceptable only to the doctrinaire and academic thinkers. Instead, the two parties should be almost identical, so that the American people can `throw the rascals out' at any election without leading to any profound or extreme shifts in policy." [p. 1247].
.
This explains why the 2000 elections were a charade in which both Gore and Bush participated, and the 2004 another charade with Bush and Kerry as main actors. Contrary to what some brainwashers want us to believe, Bush did not steal the 2000 election. Both the 2000 and the 2004 elections were stolen from the American people.
.
Who are the Conspirators who have infiltrated their agents in the Republican and Democratic parties? They are Wall Street bankers and Oil magnates. Who are their secret agents? They are easy to find: all of them are members of the dreaded Council on Foreign Relations. Actually, behind any major act of treason to this country one can find one or more CFR members.
.
Books like Viguerie's give conservatives the false hope that they can take back control over the Republican party. But that will no be possible. The only alternative for true conservatives and true liberals is to leave the parties of treason and join another party, or create a new one. And do it as soon as possible, before it is too late to save this country.
Highly recommended for its thought-provoking content.......2006-12-09
Written by Richard A. Viguerie, who in 1999 was cited as one of the Washington Times' thirteen "Conservatives of the Century", Conservatives Betrayed: How George W. Bush and Other Big Government Republicans Hijacked the Conservative Cause is a fierce attack upon the Bush administration from the conservative point of view. Viguerie does not speak for the neo-conservatives, who have drastically inflated spending and expanded federal government; he speaks for the old conservatives who believed in the values of fiscal restraint and small government, and who recognize the threat that excessive national debt - much of which is now owed to powers overseas! - poses to national security and to America's future, as more and more of America's annual budget must be applied to interest payments alone. Viguerie is emphatically a social conservative as well as a fiscal conservative; he speaks strongly against "obese government" characterized by excessive bureaucracy, pork-barrel spending, and mounting deficits; the social ills caused by uncontrolled illegal immigration; abortion; judicial activism; and more. Though not all readers will agree with Viguerie's opinions about the "culture war" in America and some will find his antagonistic attitudes toward illegal immigrants and homosexuals distasteful, his core exhortations against wasteful government spending are a desperately needed wake-up call. Even more valuable is his suggestion that conservative voters disassociate themselves from any one party and become a block whose favor needs to be wooed by both parties, in order to exert more influence and power - a suggestion that holds merit for any political subsection. Highly recommended for its thought-provoking content, regardless of whether the reader personally agrees with Viguerie on all points.
All people who think they are voting republican need to read this.......2006-11-10
Brutally frank, a little redundent, but honest as only a died in a wool cloth coat wearing republican can explain what's wrong with the neo-con's agenda for world hegonomy, and international imperialism at the expense of bankrupting the future for American tax payers.
A Generally Disgusting Approach to Governance.......2006-09-27
Viguerie complains about Bush's expansion of federal spending - at a rate far exceeding that of Clinton (actually, Clinton's spending DECREASED when measured in constant dollars and per capita). Means of "accomplishing" this included expanding Medicare and involvement in school funding and direction, and getting stuck in the Iraq mess. In addition, Viguerie is upset about the vast numbers of illegal aliens, as am I - Bush has DECREASED employer enforcement efforts vs. Clinton, and supports various means of allowing them to stay. Meanwhile, the tax code has become more complicated (Viguerie wants a flatter tax - a ridiculous program in a nation with scandalous increases in wealth disparity - mostly due to corporate welfare and legalized robbery by business tycoons), no federal programs have become abolished, Bush has embroiled the nation in a horribly expensive (blood, money, and international reputation) quagmire in Iraq, and millions of American jobs are lost or suffer reduced pay and benefits due to "free trade" outsourcing (Viguerie wants more).
Failure to take serious action to create a constitutional amendment to establish marriage as between one man and one woman is still another source of Viguerie's ire. Seems like a good step (along with several others pushed in the book) towards establishing a Taliban-like government in America. (Haven't we got more important things to deal with - like global warming, Iraq, the economy, illegal Mexicans, the ballooning trade and federal deficits, conservation, etc.?)
Viguerie does NOT speak to other areas of "conservatism" that have also become identified with Bush II - eg. power-grabs vs. Congress, ignoring laws and treaties he does not agree with, rollbacks of basic freedoms (my guess is that no useful information has been obtained thereby), almost total shutting out of Democrats in the legislative process, Katrina and Iraq bungling, and constant withholding of and distorting information necessary for an informed citizenry. Thus, the reader is left assuming that these aspects are OK with Viguerie.
I used to pride myself on being a THINKING, pragmatic conservative - after all there is enormous wasted in government and it should be cut back. Education and medical care are two areas ripe for considerable quality improvement and reduced costs via government action. However, after Bush and Viguerie I am appalled by the lack of thought and morality now associated with "conservatism," and would hate to be considered such anymore.
Book Description
For Joey Recevo and Pete Karras, two kids from one of Washington's rougher neighborhoods, the easiest work to find after the War is all criminal---providing a little muscle for a local boss. But Karris is soft on his fellow immigrants, and the boss can't let his mob get soft, so one of his boys gives Karras a painful lesson. Three years later, it's the same mob that figures big Nick Stefanos's grill needs protection---and this decision will once again bring Joey and Pete face-to-face. In this final confrontation, the two of them will find the meaning of friendship, the heart of honor, and the cost of both. Powerfully told, elegantly wrought, The Big Blowdown is a knockout.
Customer Reviews:
A Must For Fans of Peleganos.......2007-09-24
I'm am an ardent fan of George Pelecanos. I think he is one of the best, if not the best, writer of this type of crime drama, or noir, or whatever you wish to call it.
This book is actually 'background' for much of his later works. It fills in the history of several characters and, to my mind, really adds to the his on-going description of Washington DC.
I think Peleganos extended himself on this piece and did so very well. If you've never read him, this is a good start. If you are an old fan like me, you'll really enjoy this. Buy the book.
Standin' in line to see Krupa and the Dorseys, pullin' my fedora over my eyes.......2005-09-13
An excellent book. As one reader put it, 'I love this period piece.' As I had conversations with my father about his growing up in New York, it always seemed to me that this was a cool period to hang out in, the '40s and the early '50's. Life is easier now but it doesn't seem as much fun. Spend a few minutes watching MTV and suits yelling at eachother on Fox, and tell me about the shortcomings of radio.
Anyhow, it has it's dark side. Imagine my surprise when I learned as a young man that the Cole Porter lyrics "I get no kick from champagne, mere alcohol doesn't thrill me at all, so tell me why should it be true, that I get a kick out of you?" was originally written as 'I get no kick from cocaine.' And here I thought my generation invented it.
The problem is that Pete Karras is such a self centered, self absorbed hero, you have trouble liking him. And I still think that whether it's Odysseus, Shane, 'the Man with No Name,' the Harrys, Callahan and Bosch, or Jack Reacher, you have to like the hero a little. Pete Karras? If I lived next door to him I would move.
I like that the Pelecanos characters have clay feet. Don't we all? But Karras the father (see Dimitri in later novels) did nothing for me. I prefer for reasons that I can't explain given Pelecanos' heritage, the African American characters that evolve with Derek Strange and now, Lorenzo Brown. So this is in no way a knock on George, who together with his brilliant work screenwriting parts on The Wire, continues to put out top shelf stories. Definitely 5 stars +. Larry Scantlebury
Really liked this book.......2004-03-11
This book is really good. I liked the characters, their stories and the relationships between them.
hoodlums and druggies of 1940s Washington.........2003-03-18
George Pelecanos must really love or hate his home town of Washington. He always seems to write about it, but what he writes about won't appear in any Chamber of Commerce brochure. Druggies, organized crime, and ethnic violence seemingly permeate the lives of all Washingtonians.
"The Big Blowdown" departs from the author's other works in that much of it reads as a biopic. We are given a "Reader's Digest" biography of a young Greek-American man raised in 1930s/1940s Washington. While it is all not uninteresting even fans of the author will find it to be a prosaic. Fortunately halfway through the book all the characters from this man's childhood come together for a very violent, and well-written, conclusion. The author deftly tackles subjects like loyalty and personal ethics along the way.
Bottom line: despite its slow start this book ultimately comes together with "oomph". Recommended.
A Book that Touches You to the Core........2003-01-16
This is the fourth Pelecanos book I have read and I have to say I was blown away. No pun intended with regard to the title of the book.
Pete Karras has to be one of the most complete and flawed characters I have read in a long time. His constant struggle in life (from surviving the battle in Leyte to surviving the beating he received from members of organized crime) makes him all that more appealing. He is always searching for the meaning of his life.
This book just reaches out and hits in the gut. Pelecanos really does transport you back to the 40s. I felt like I was there as much as when I read Chandler.
Couldn't put this one down. A must read. I enjoyed this one more than Right as Rain and Hell to Pay combined. And both of those books were excellent also.
I'll have to rent an old John Hodiak movie to see what he looks like since Pete favors Hodiak.
Thanks for a great read.
Book Description
Whether you love George W. Bush or hate him, you'll be able to appreciate The Big Book of Bush Cartoons. Compiled by popular editorial cartoonist
Daryl Cagle, this cartoon feast for Bush supporters and detractors features the best Bush cartoons from the entire Bush administration. Some of the moments captured in the cartoons include:
- Bush and the Environment
- Bush and 9/11
- The War in Iraq
- Stem Cell Research
- Bush and his Cabinet
- Campaign 2004
- And more
This is a must-have collection for any cartoon fan, political junkie, or anyone who has something to say about George W. Bush.
Customer Reviews:
Like Bush, Mediocre.......2006-08-10
I was disappointed in the quality of the cartoons. Sorry, but I had expected some from the top-flight editorial cartoonists of America. These seem to be confined to one service. You won't want to use this review, I'm sure.
The Highs and Lows of the Bush........2006-03-12
If you wish a whimsical history of the Bush presidency, choose THE BIG BOOK OF BUSH CARTOONS! THE HISTORY OF THE BUSH PRESIDENCY IN CARTOONS! Editorial cartoons gained from the best political cartoonists contribute a diversity of drawing, perspective and focus in revealing the history of Bush's interactions around the world, from his initial hanging chad election to the war in Iraq. Black and white cartoons are as large as a full page, while others are four to a page: all provide fun commentary those with a sense of humor and interest in social and political issues will appreciate.
The Bush Follie's.......2006-02-21
The satire in the book is very good... the man in the White House at the moment cannot speak any more that two sentences at a time....
Something for everyone.......2005-11-25
You don't have to hate President Bush to like this book! Granted, most of the cartoonists are liberal and take their best jabs, but the humor in the irony that permeates politics transcends party affiliation. The conservative cartoonists are outstanding, too! With this book, Cagle continues the great job he does every day with his world-famous website. IMHO, anyone who flames this book either a) hasn't read it, or, b) is demonstrating some sort of professional jealousy.
Not so fast..........2005-11-19
This book highlights the author, his boyfriend and a few other cartoonists, leaving out the giants (Oliphant, Toles, Danziger, Conrad, Sack, etc.) in the field. Skip this one and wait for the Best of 2005/6 (which, alas, is also to be edited by Gagle leaving the numerous repetitive contributions in question as to their relevance under the banner "Best".
Book Description
This oversized paper-over-board concept book takes toddlers all over George's world and theirs. Each page features a different concept: counting, shapes, opposites, emotions, family, jobs, homes, transportation and lots of new words! From morning to night, city to country, home to town and back again, little readers can follow George as they learn more about their own worlds. Just the right book for toddlers learning to talk to help build their vocabulary.
Customer Reviews:
George is Terrific!.......2005-10-25
This book immediately became the favorite at my house! The illustrations are wonderful and bright, the cover draws you in to read about shapes and colors, animal sounds, opposites, emotions and seasons. It creates a wonderful enviroment for actually interacting and conversing with your child rather than just reading to him/her.
Book Description
Sergeant Charles Windolph was the last white survivor of the Battle of the Little Big Horn when he described it nearly seventy years later. A six-year veteran of the Seventh Cavalry, Windolph fought in Benteen’s troop on that fatal Sunday and recalls in vivid detail the battle that wiped out Custer’s command. Equally vivid is the evidence marshaled by Frazier and Robert Hunt on events leading up to the battle and on the investigation that followed.
Customer Reviews:
A valuable account of the Custer tragedy.......2003-11-29
It is difficult to really rate a work like this. This is the story of Charles Windolph, the last survivor of the Battle of the Little Bighorn, in his own, simple words. Windolph told his story to a father and son historian team in the 1930s and 40s. Windolph's distinction as last survivor is a bit misleading--he was the last man who was present at the battle to die, but his title as last survivor does not mean he was with Custer's column of troops. He wasn't. In fact, he was under Benteen, and was one of many who survived the battle because they weren't as heavily engaged in it as Custer.
Windolph presents an interesting perspective on the battle, and seems relatively objective. He does tend to romanticize a little, but for the most part he refrains from throwing blame on Custer, Reno, Benteen, or anyone else (though he does state up front that he is partial to Benteen). His story is not all that unique when compared to other primary accounts of the battle, but it is nevertheless valuable as the testimony of a survivor of that horrible tragedy.
Included with Windolph's narrative are a number of primary documents, cobbled together in chapters and laced throughout with author's commentary. This is all right, but it would have been better to present these documents in their entirety, with only enough commentary (perhaps in the form of footnotes) to give the reader an idea of the background surrounding the documents. Still, the Hunts have done a relatively good job of remaining objective as well, something that is rare in a Custer historian. This is perhaps not the best account of the Battle of the Little Bighorn, but it is nevertheless an important one.
A memorable account of the Custer fight.......2000-03-23
As a Custer buff, this book has been on my shelf for a long time. A great book to read, one that fleshes out a lot of the daily life in the Seventh as well as the battle along Greasy Grass. Right up there with "Son of Morning Star" and Walter Camp's book on the subject. Check 'em out, you won't be disappointed.
Interesting Read.......1997-12-13
This book is compiled from the found writings of a sergeant of the Seventh Cavalry who survived the Battle of the Little Big Horn. The first hand accounts of men like Sergeant Windolph and Theodore Goldin are very valuable and interesting reading. They were not men defending their performance as were the officers like Benteen, Reno, and Godfrey. They had their biases but didn't have to grind axes. This account is worthwhile reading for students of the Seventh Cavalry and the Little Big Horn campaign.
Books:
- The Big Idea: Focus the Message-multiply the Impact (The Leadership Network Innovation Series)
- The Caroline Myss Audio Collection: Spiritual Power, Spiritual Practice/Why People Don't Heal/Spiritual Madness
- The Complete Works of Chuang Tzu
- The Egyptian Book of the Dead: The Book of Going Forth by Day
- The Encyclopedia of Angels
- The Five Points of Calvinism: Defined, Defended, Documented
- The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom (A Toltec Wisdom Book)
- The Four Agreements Companion Book : Using the Four Agreements to Master the Dream of Your Life
- The Gnostic Gospels
- The God Delusion
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- The Industrial Revolution, 1760-1830
- Paula Deen Celebrates!: Best Dishes and Best Wishes for the Best Times of Your Life
- Early and Middle Ceramic remains at 14AT2: A Grasshopper Falls phase house and Pomona focus storage
- History: Fiction or Science
- Hamlet
- Introduction to Quantum Information Science
- Last Place on Earth
- Gambia Business Law Handbook
- Follow Your True Colors To The Work You Love: Instructor's Guide
- Educator's Lifetime Encyclopedia of Letters
General
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
The Outermost House: A Year of Life On The Great Beach of Cape Cod
Red House : Being a Mostly Accurate Account of New England's Oldest Continuously Lived-in House
And Ladies of the Club
The Salt House: A Summer on the Dunes of Cape Cod
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan: A Novel
