Eagle Reviews

War Eagles: The Story of 71 Eagle Squadron, by the late James Saxon Childers, is the best book about the Eagle Squadrons, (later known as the Fourth Fighter Group, whose motto is "Fourth but First), and should this book should be read in conjunction with Adolf Galland's The First and the Last. It tells the story of 71 Eagle Squadron, which ultimately became 121 and 133 Eagle Squadrons, was the first of the three Eagle Squadrons to be formed. The Eagle Squadrons were formed by Americans who'd gone to Britain at great risk to themselves, to fight the Germans. From 1935 to 1941, we had the strictest neutrality laws in the world. The Neutrality Act of 1935 said that any American who fought for belligerants would lose his citizenship. The Eagle Squadrons had their beginnings in 1940. Americans, some pilots, some not, went to Britain via Canada. They then entered the RAF. Some of them were survivors of the sinking of the British liner Athenia. Others were volunteers. Like the American Volunteer Group, they were the only bright spot in those dark early days of World War II, when isolationist sentiments were still running strong in this country. Any would-be isolationist should read this book.

I found out about "The Way of an Eagle" through the International Golf Association awards (it was a finalist for book of the year), or I never would have heard of it. Not only does it have highly personal, high revealing interviews with top golfers like Tom Lehman, Paul Azinger, Betsy King, and about 40 others, it includes VERY helpful golfing tips from each touring professional. Includes interviews with Senior and Women's tour golfers as well. Interesting introduction by Byron Nelson, of all people. If you've got a golfer in your family who has ANY religious faith, he or she'd love this book. Good-looking photographs, too. Nice father's day gift.

I "borrowed" a copy of this book almost ten years ago from my elementary school library, I read it then and re-read it many times. It is fantastic. It was published in the 70's and it would be really hard to find but worth the effort.

In San Diego, thirteen-year-old Alexis Castille-Reed attends a pool party where the alcohol flows. An accident occurs, but fortunately no one dies. However, her upset mother "banishes" Alexis for the summer to live with her father in International Falls, Minnesota.

Alexis' dad is the authority on the bald eagles. Currently, he leads a study that is banding eaglets to gain research on their natural habitat. Alexis is put to work, but though she loves the birds, she remains angry with her father for deserting her. On a nearby island, Alexis climbs up a tree to remove a fish lure from an eagle's nest. However, when she lifts an eaglet out of the nest, she drops the bird. That error is compounded when she finds herself stranded on the island protecting the injured eaglet from nasty weather and a bear.

This is a wonderful preadolescent to young teen novel that focuses on Alexis, a person in trouble. She needs closure on her younger brother's death from cancer, but at first is not able to find a way to grieve without guilt for living and without alienating her parents also mourning in their own ways. Through the eaglet rescue, Alexis attains an understanding especially of her father whom she previously loathed as well as personal comfort. Though her parents talking with one another following their estrangement feels strained, WHEN EAGLES FALL is a strong survivalist tale that the young at heart will enjoy soaring with.

Harriet Klausner

This is a very good resource for helping to understand the estate administration process in Florida. Although Florida requires the hiring of an attorney to administer all but small estates, being knowledgeable in the process can make a difficult process go much smoother. This book also advises those not directly involved in the administration process, which is particularly useful as those persons may not have the direct advice of an attorney. This is a book that should be read by every single Floridian. Although the subject matter is not fun, it will effect every Floridian at least once in their lives and ignorance in this area can lead to some very costly lessons for both yourself and your loved ones.

You should be aware that since this book's publication, Florida has made some significant changes to its probate code. However, these changes do not affect the majority of this book.

Scarrow's third installment of Cato and Macro in 'When the Eagle Hunts' drops us into Camulodunum (after a quick account of the shipwreck of Valerius Maxientius with unknown female plus children in the Channel) where our familiar heroes are frequenting a seedy tavern as Macro continues his 'courtship' of the forthright Iceni warrior, Boudica. Given the previous two novels this unashamed and blatant use of another venerated historical figure comes as no surprise, even less so the parodied caricature of her as a lustful, forthright and general adventurer.
Still, with good humour we follow them into the tavern and then meet Boudica's mentor and husband-to-be, Prasutagas whose characterisation as a huge warrior with little intellectual capacity is entirely at odds with actual history. Scarrow introduces a minor love triangle with the usually dour Macro falling for the lively Boudica though he refuses to admit it.
The action of the third novel takes off with the Augusta II being sent to Calleva (near the modern town of Silchester) in order to scout the Britons' next move. Whilst down there the sixth cohort under Hortensius is ambushed in a town that has previously been raided by the Durotriges and they fight a rearguard action all the way back to the legion. It is at this point we learn of a shadowy order of Druids who have captured General Plautius wife, Pomponia, and children, Julia and Aelius, and are holding them to ransom in return for the legion's own prisoners.
Macro and Cato are sent undercover deep into the Durotriges territory to attempt a rescue of the prisoners. Their guides are Boudica and Prasutagas - neatly providing us with some amusing asides as each learns to live with the other. We move from farmhouse to secret villages as the four delve ever deeper into southern Britain until they finally catch up with them at a formidable hillfort. Cato attempts a risky rescue via the drains (having previously saved one of the children, Julia) after Macro is felled with a sword blow to the head and in the process of the legion's storming the fort receives a near fatal wound from the sickle of the head Druid. However all ends well and finally Cato gets what he deserves - promotion to centurion and both he and Macro end up in their own personal sickward for a month to cap it all off.
Mr Cornwell doesn't have 'too much to fear' (as he professes on the front covers) but Scarrow's books are an enormously refreshing in the historical genre. The purist can pick multiple holes in their historical accuracy and probably several characterisations that are more parodies, but it simply does not matter.
For Scarrow historical accuracy is not all-important. What is important and where he succeeds admirably is in providing a ripping yarn that has action, adventure, characters you can delight in, and plot lines that are gripping.
I hope the adventures of Cato and Macro continue for a very long time and eagerly await the next installment.

This is one of the first books on Buddhism I have read that really helped me to understand how much of our thinking is dependent upon our feelings, and how to deal with the emotions and the level of being that is based on emotional reaction. It became clearer to me through reading this book how many of our reactions and judgements have an emotional base. When I realized the author of this book was a woman, somehow the level of thorough attention given to this challenging aspect of ones practice, made perfect sense. Most works in Buddhist philosophy/ thought have been written by men. Her focus and language spoke directly to me in a way I have not found in other books. She expanded my knowledge and awareness of my own self-observation in the meditation process. She also offers much description on meditation techniques.

This book was recommended by my sister-in-law, who is 1/2 Lakota Sioux. I wanted to understand more about the culture, the language, the inner feelings of the Sioux. This depiction, from a Lakota who went through the changes from freedom to confinement in his formative years, was sobering. I happened to find a 1951 version at a library and am now ordering the updated version to keep. I will be reading it again. I cried when I realized what my ancestors had done.

I HAVE READ THE BOOK A NUMBER OF TIMES. I HAVE PURCHASED A DOZEN OR SO COPIES..GAVE THEM TO FRIENDS. I EVEN TRIED THE PART IN THE BOOK WHERE WE BAKED COOKIES..TOOK THEM TO NEIGHBORS..INVITING THEM OVER FOR FAMILY NIGHT. I WROTE A BOOK INSPIRED BY SOME OF HIS STORIES..INCLUDING TWO POEMS ABOUT TOPICS IN THE BOOK. I HAVE PARTICIPATED IN MANY MISSIONARY AND YOUNG MEN ACTIVITIES..USING THESE PRECEPYS.. NICE JOB BROTHER SMITH. THE TITLE OF MY WORK..IS THE CONVERSION OF BIG FOOT! RICK C. JONES BILLINGS, MONTANA

The colors and textures of the images in this book are truly breathtaking