Leather Books

Don Thomas's writing transported me from reality to the sage and spruce covered slopes that I call home. Again I was enjoying the western aroma of sage and pine, the morning sun warming my cheeks and the sight of Jake my lab weaving his way through the brush. Reading the book is as relaxing and uncomplicated as his style of hunting and equipment...no editorial nonscence, cell phones, or $5,000.00 doubles to mask the comradere of Lab and man, his respect for the land and it's bounty, and the love of trusty ole shotguns.

The author of this wonderful book was inspired by a simple, enlightening observation: life in the rain forests is in many ways similar to life in the sea. The author sketches the basic comparison in the early chapters, and in the later paints vibrant, engaging pictures of life in several communities: in the forest and the sea of course, but also in deserts, grasslands, rivers and lakes, even in the water-collecting cup of a tropical plant. He creates a picture of a network of life -- all forms of life in all communities are interdependent, and all categories (including "forest" and "sea") that scientists and laymen use to classify biological communities are arbitrary and artificial. He describes some of the strange creatures found in the transition areas between land and sea in order to show that the boundary between the two is no more than a man-made expedient; the boundaries blur as we observe the communities that have adapted to life on both land and sea. He ends the book with a thought-provoking chapter on modern man's role in nature -- words that will be close to the conscience of any thinking person.

Marston Bates obviously loved biology; reading this book I could feel the passion of a man who believed that his work was worth spending his life on, and that his life's work was worth recording carefully for other people. He must have been as passionate about writing as he was about biology: this is a well-written book. The rhythms of the prose echo those of the sea; the expertly-balanced sentences support his comparisons of seemingly disparate communities. This book is a treat for literate people, the kind of find that makes scouring the shelves of used-book stores seem like a sensible pursuit. Unfortunately, you may have to scour the shelves of several bookstores to find it, but if you can, get a copy of this jewel.

THE FOUNDATION TRILOGY is a series of nine stories: five of them novelettes, four of them novellas. The World Science Fiction Convention of 1966 voted them "the greatest all-time science-fiction series.". Illustrated by Michael Whelan. This edition is a leather collector's edition complete with hubbed spine, gilded page edges, and permanent satin bookmark.3 full color, full page Michael Whelan illustrations, a 4 page introduction by James Gunn and a 7 page foreword by the author detailing the history of the work.

"Frank Lloyd Wright loved to work in glass; he regarded the substance as 'the materialization of light, the weightless medium of sight,' and used it in innovative ways, providing a brilliant counterpoint to the solid mass of traditional building materials. Over the course of his long career, Wright's use of glass increased, diminishing the visual barrier between inside and outside and creating dazzling effects of light within his houses. This journal presents four designs adapted from Frank Lloyd Wright's work in art glass. These geometric patterns, executed for his Prairie Style houses, represent some of his most spectacular ornamental achievements.

"Click on either picture for a larger view. Size: 6 x 8 1/2". Genuine brown leather embossed slip jacket and removable journal insert with full-color laminated covers and colorful designs throughout. 144 lined pages with a lay-flat binding and ribbon marker. Woodfree paper suitable for both pencil and pen. ISBN: 0-7649-1687-4. $35.00

"Designs for Glass Journal Insert Refill. Replacement insert for Frank Lloyd Wright 6 X 8 1/2" Designs for Glass leather journal. ISBN: 0-7649-1704-8. $12.95"--© Pomegranate

Michael Innes wrote some of his best, most easily flowing suspense novels starring young men, usually college undergraduates, and "The Man from the Sea" (1955) is no exception. His young men are uniformly intelligent (one might even say intellectually arrogant), intrepid, and high-spirited. They tend to actively seek adventure rather than waiting for adventure to stumble over them.

Dick Cranston was playing hide-and-seek on a midnight beach with his lover, Lady Blair, when a naked man walked out of the sea. Shortly thereafter, someone starts shooting at him. Cranston makes a split second decision to help the man escape from his would-be-murderers. He doesn't know that his decision will involve him in a long, at times terrifying journey from the coast of Scotland to London. He soon learns that the man from the sea is a British nuclear physicist who had defected to the Soviet Union at the beginning of the Cold War, and who now has his own reasons for returning home.

This Cold War melodrama has a bit of anti-communist rhetoric, although not nearly as much Evil Empire stuff as other mystery novelists who were writing at the same time, e.g. Rex Stout. Innes is more interested in the complex character of the man from the sea, who betrayed his country for what might seem like trivial reasons to us, and who might be planning to betray her again. We don't find out until the end of the book why the man from the sea returned to England.

Meanwhile there's a rousing chase across the quarries, beaches, and heath of Scotland wherein Dick Cranston falls out of love twice and into love for a third and probably last time.

Love, suspense, and the searing breath of danger envelope us as we follow Cranston and the man from the sea to their final, surprising destination.

James Jones is a controversial author and has written a three piece meditation about military life and service men: "From Here to Eternity", "The Thin Red Line" and "Whistle".
"From here to Eternity" is a many-layered story. There are explicit and implicit levels to read it; in all of them this book is outstanding.

It describes with crude language the life in the Army in times of peace. In this case is the USA's Army just before Pearl Harbor, but examples shown are universal and may apply to any Army in any country. At this level the class structure of Officers, Noncoms and Privates is shown with penetrating sight: the power relations, the subtle struggle amongst them, loyalties, abuses, solidarity and weakness. All these traits are depicted vividly thru the different characters that come across this epic novel.

At another level is the story of a young man. He is a Soldier (yes, with capital letter). He is the epitome of soldiership. He knows what is due to the Service and what is due to himself. He sticks to these principles without regard of personal costs.
Robert Lee Prewitt is a natural fighter; he has enjoyed boxing until an accident on the ring changed him. He will box no more. Destiny puts him in a Company, where the commanding officer is trying to form a crack team in order to win the Army's championship and enhance his career.
Private Prewitt is subject to increasing pressure to join the team. He won't bend. He will pay the price. He will remain Free in his hearth until the end.

But this is not all. Romance has its place too. Although unconventionally; Prewitt is in love with a prostitute and Sgt. Warden with his boss' wife. Still love is pure and real and touching.

Jones' opus requires the reader to get involved with the story, to cry and laugh with it, to get in touch with the deepest human emotions.
A major experience to be sure!
Reviewed by Max Yofre.

I highly recommend this bible to anyone who has any knowledge of the Holy Spirit as this is truly a work of the Holy Ghost inspired through man (David C Stamps). It's a true pity that it is out of print as it has blessed so many people. The notations at the bottom of each page in reference to the scriptures brings a clearer understanding of the scripture and opens new insight on the Word of God. Truly Holy Ghost inspired. I've bought many of these bibles and given them away as gifts... our entire youth group has them and loves them... now I have others asking if I can get them one too.

This is the most incredible study bible that I have ever seen. not only does it have chain reference and verse commentary, it has articles on many different subjects including angels, faith etc. and a loaded with scripture references. Donald Stamps, who wrote the commentary, is a missionary who saw the need for complete teaching materials for pastors in third world countries because many of these pastors had absolutely no access to teaching materials. At the present time this Bible is translated into many lanuages and used by the Assembly of God in training its foreign pastors. It is the only study Bible I know of that is written from a Pentecostal perspective. It is a Bible for people that want to go beyond situation application to learning truth without buying a lot of other books to go with it. I encourage every new believer to buy this Bible because it is such an incerdible resource that is systematically laid out for the easy use of everyone. It is worth the money!!

Fundamentals of Legal Research is one of those gems of books on subjects that can be rather technical. It is clear and basic enough to be of real use to the novice, and comprehensive enough to serve as a good review for even the veteran legal researcher. The book describes sources of the law, case reporters, digests, and legal encyclopedias and provides the reader with the basics steps for doing legal research, along with tips on doing research in the areas of English law, federal taxes, international law, etc. It also provides aids on computer-assisted research, legal citations, Shephard's, and other services. It is well-written and easy to understand but does not talk down (or "up") to the reader.

Everything appears to be here, form Dallas to Wheaton in Supreme Court reports through the modern reporters. If you want to research a legal case, administrative law, legislative histories, or court rules and procedures, the tools and sources for doing so are here. Foundations of Legal Research is a good addition to both the layman's and the lawyer's libraries. It is a pleasant tour and investigation of what can be a dry subject, with enough information and resources to enable the reader to learn all the basics of legal research and then some.

...you can get Vols 1-3 from Easton (actually, a hair more than 3.) The whole set (still available from the publisher) comes out at about $60 per book. Go to the publisher and get the whole shebang.