Eagle Reviews

I've never been a big Michener fan, but in this tome, he does an adequate job of comparing the lives and personalities of Santa Anna and Sam Houston. Riding on the hype of the Texas Sesquicentennial, Michener takes the reader on an informal tour of early Mexico and Texas. He touches on events in the U.S. as well as in Europe where they apply to the story. What I really enjoyed most were the excellent drawings by noted artist Charles Shaw. He is among the best!

The Prologue tells about his past writings, and why he kept writing into his 80s: his job is to tell stories. This book was intended to be a chapter in his novel 'Texas', but was dropped because it was history and not part of the novel. Michener's reject can stand alone as a concise history of these men. Pages 29-30 notes his solid rules of work at 80: rise at 7:30, eat a frugal breakfast, write until 12:30. Eat a light lunch, take a nap, do research and teaching, then a brisk mile walk at dusk. Supper, the evening news, maybe TV, and the day ends. Michener lived to a ripe old age, after a quintuple heart by-pass, new left hip, dental rebuilding, and vertigo. Like an old apple tree, he kept on growing and producing. These pages are worth reading in themselves.

The book gives a concise history into the parallel lives of Santa Anna and Sam Houston. Both were destined to be famous politicians in their countries, but never did overcome their flaws. But how many of out politicians do when the historians release the uncensored facts?

Santa Anna won renown by his military action against the many rebellions. They were put down by executing most of the captured rebels, or making them imprisoned slaves. Santa Anna's talents lay in knowing just when to change sides. One morning Santa Anna led his troops against the rebels and was promoted to Lt Colonel. After lunch, he joined the rebels and was promoted to full Colonel! Santa Anna later supported Emperor Iturbide and became a General. All this suggests the Founding Fathers were right to require a small standing Army, and keep the professional military out of politics. This book does not explain who Santa Anna was fronting for; you'll need to read a more detailed history book. Page 112 tells of Santa Anna's use of double agents: military officers who pretended to defect to the Zacatecans, then betrayed the Zacatecan forces who also rebelled against the coup de etat.

The Mexican defeat at San Jacinto led to the capture of Santa Anna. Houston showed his political wisdom by getting Santa Anna to sign a treaty to be released. A live Santa Anna would try to justify his actions, and prevent another general from becoming ruler, and maybe starting another war against the smaller Texas. Houston became President of Texas, US Senator, then Governor. Houston opposed the Confederacy, and was removed from office. What would have happened if Houston used Union troops to stay in office? Could it have succeeded? At 68 Houston must have felt he had done as much as he could do in one lifetime. Houston retired to his farm and died in 1863 at 70 years.

Santa Anna was recalled from exile to lead Mexico into the war with America. Their defeat led to the loss of huge areas. Santa Anna was the most expensive President Mexico ever had! (I wonder if Santa Anna was a member of a Secret Society and a double agent? That would explain a lot.) Ever the opportunist, he backed the conservatives who invited Maximilian to be Emperor of Mexico. When the reign of Maximilian was on the wane, Santa Anna switched sides yet again. His one gift to America was to introduce chewing gum, a substitute for the ubiquitous chewing tobacco. Santa Anna returned to Mexico City a few years before his death to live in poverty and obscurity.

This is not one of Michener's better books. Apparently it stems from a chapter he orginally wrote for his novel Texas and later excised. For some reason he calls this book a novel, but why isn't at all clear, as it seems to be nonfiction. The illustrations are poor. And the book is simplistic and not particularly well written. The book was written towards the end of Michener's writing life, and he includes a long prologue that sounds like an old man reminiscing about his past, what he has found worthwhile in his life. I did find this of interest.

The book is worthwhile as a quick overview of Santa Anna, "the Eagle," and of Sam Houston, "the Raven." A much better book about Sam Houston, though, is Sword of San Jacinto, by Marshall De Bruhl. And Jeff Long's account of the Alamo, Duel of Eagles, offers a much superior portrayal of Santa Anna.

"Exceptional Clearence" is a book with no outstandings qualities. There's no great detective work or a gripping and interesting mystery to solve. The characters are poorly developed and I remember Ed Mc Bain's 87 Precint novels as a good example of how to built a convincing and weel structured police novel. Caunitz has too much to learn in this way before reaches a respectable position among the great police writers, like Mc Bain, Chandler and others.

I enjoyed the tactics used by these cops to solve their case, but I never really felt any sense of mystery or suspense. It's easy to read, it passes the time, and it's not bad... but it's not that exciting either.

This is author Caunitz's shortest book and that is my only complaint. He does not write "mysteries" in the classic sense; he writes police-procedural novels. You get the salty cop dialogue, an authentic inside look at what a cop's life is like, and all of the political, criminal, and hectic details - since the author is a former NYPD lieutenant. If you want a read "with the bark off" and enjoy hearing what a cop's life is REALLY like, you will enjoy this book immensely. If you are looking for something clever and Sherlockian, this isn't it. I love Caunitz's stories and reread them every once in a while.

Christopher Bamford, eminent writer of wisdom traditions, has written an important yet disjointed and ultimately disappointing account of/on John Scotus Eriugena. Any lover of truth will take exception to the grotesque inaccuracies marring the introductions to Voice of the Eagle. Fraught with forced associations, Bramford propagates ad nauseam a preeminent Celtic cultural import to the philosophical theology underlying Eriugena's works. Embarrassingly, Eriugena is taken out of context (ie. Medieval sage, part of the transnational Occidental wisdom canon) and is treated to page-after-page of ethnocentric historical revisionism. Bamford's views read like a form of tribal propaganda that distorts the timeless and universal themes contained in Eriugena's works. Once beyond the distractingly prejudiced intros, Bamford does an exceptionally good job to illuminate theological issues with penetrating philosophical perspectives. The obtuse subject matter leads at times to boring digressions. However, embedded throughout are lofty theosophical insights that suprisingly redeems the work making this book a profitable read and a keeper in one's library. For the sake of salvaging a really good work, one only hopes that in future editions, Bamford tones down the trendy Celto-mania introductions and places Eriugena where he rightly belongs in the heart of Medieval Occidental Christianity.

This is a fine work on Eruigena's Homily on the Prologue to the Gospel of St. John. Eruigena was deeply influenced by Neoplatonic thought and it shows in this work. Bamford does a fine job of translating it and does Eruigena's homliy justice. His prose is first rate and is a joy to read.

The book can be divided into roughly two sections. The Homily itself which constitutes about 50 pages and the rest is Bamford's take of it, which is roughly 250 pages. Bamford's hermenutics of the Homily can be skipped - it really tells the reader more about Bamford's thinking than anything else.

I must take issue with Bamford's misleading advertising he used to market his book. Like the previous reviewer I am in agreement that this work has nothing to do with Celtic Christianity unless one would equate it Greek thought. Rest assured they are not the same thing. In a sense Bamford does an injustice to both neoplatonism and Celtic Chrisitanity by doing this.

Ratings wise it gets 3 Stars. 5 stars for the Homily itself. -2 stars for misleading advertising and marketing Neoplatonic writings as a work of Celtic Christianity.

While Eriugena's work is of significance and importance, I find that marketing this as Celtic Spirituality is somewhat deceptive. Eriugena lived and worked in France and his relationship to "Celtic" thought and spirituality is nowhere as strong as the influence of Greek Neoplatonism. 5 stars for Eriugena, none for Branford, hence 2.5, which can be rounded up to 3.

I have tried several methods and techniques of simulating eagle feathers more or less successfully but the techniques offered in this book are downright ridiculous! How can one approach a substance as fragile as a feather wane with sticky oil paints! Also the reader doesn't learn anything about the details of eagle feather colorations, nor about the average sizes (neither length nor width! ) of feathers. This is a book that will leave the buyer/reader pretty much disappointed.

Bob Gutierrez's Art Of Simulating Eagle Feathers provides an exceptional handbook on how to prepare and paint feathers to produce realistic substitute eagle feathers for projects. Techniques are intricate and capture the detail needed for authentic-looking Native art works.

Readers of this very popular work should know that it is not what it pretends. Chief Seattle's "speech" as presented by Jeffers is forgery, the real chief Sealth never said anything of the kind. The speech presented here was forged in the 1970s by a Hollywood script writer, and was further altered by Jeffers herself. This book is an insulting white stereotype of real Indians, much like "Dances With Wolves." Even Jeffers' drawings are lies, based on photographs of Plains Indians who in no way resemble the real chief Sealth, who was a portly little fellow. Books like this one do a grave injustice to Native Americans.

What a stunning book! My 5 year old son was given this as a gift and it has become one of his favorites. He has been deeply moved by the book's message to protect the earth for future generations, that we are part of the web of life that the earth supports and we must preserve. The illustrations are terrific, and we find something new in them each time we read the story together. I now give this book often as a special gift, hoping that its message will spread.

I dont know why they called it the case of the mind-reading mommies. I would have called it the talent show, because at the and of the book theres a talent show I gave the book 3 stars because the title didnt make scence. my favorite part was the talent show

If I was the author of this book I would have changed the title because it had nothing to do with mind-reading. I would have called it Kate and the Month of May because it all took place in the month of May. I rated it 3 stars because it not the best book or the worst book I've ever read. My favorite part was when they had the magic show for Mothers Day.

This book is nice light read on one of the more popular bands from the 1970's. It neatly discusses each members bio and what abilities they brought to the table. You really get a good feel for each members personality.

However, there are a few errors in this brief summary. In the first few pages, there was an incident over playing at a benefit for Senator Cranston. One sentence says it was between Glenn Frey and Don Felder. However, the next sentence says it was Henley. Whereas the subsequent sentences seem to indicate that the argument was between Frey and Felder, it shows that the editing was pretty careless.

Also, Mr. Shapiro states in the intro that he was only able to interview Randy Meisner directly for this book. As you read on, there are plenty of comments from the other members. It seems as if Mr. Shapiro derived his comments from alot of second hand sources. Several of these sources could very well have been taken out of context especially since Mr. Shapiro casually acknowledges these references at the beginning.

Finally, Mr. Shapiro glosses over Glenn Frey's solo career too quickly. Whereas Glenn's solo work was not as strong as Don Henley's, he did have a few top selling singles such as The Heat Is On, You Belong To The City, and Smugglers Blues. What about his acting roles in Miami Vice? This is hardly mentioned.

None the less the discussion about the antimosity within the band and the sluggish pace of the recording sessions were presented very well. One can really get a feel that it is not easy being in a rock n roll band. In general, this book does its job.

Told largely from the perspective of former bassist Randy Meisner, and supported by interviews by the band and their families and friends over their career, the Long Run takes the fan on a journey through Eagles history. It begins with individual bios, follows them from the formation of the band, through the revolving door of band members and culminates in a short segment on the reunion. Also included is information on each members work as a solo artist.

The book is full of excellent insight into the inner workings of the band. The ego battles and squabbles within the group, targeting Frey and particularly Henley, who are pictured as unsympathetic egocentric control freaks are detailed, as well as the drug abuse that ran rampant during this time.

All in all a quick and easy read, with 20 pages of photo's.

I always keep a paperback "thriller" or two in my car to read while waiting for my doctor or my dentist or while having a solitary cup of coffee. FOXCATCHER falls into that category.

Charlie Brewer, CIA Agent Extraordinaire, has been set-up by his boss, Robert McCall and is in jail as the book opens. Mysterious Iranian Agent, Attashah, bribes all three members of a parole board (Yes, all three) and arranges a release for Brewer. Brewer has no idea why he has been released but knows that something is fishy. Attashah makes himself known to Brewer and blackmails Brewer into attempting to acquire, and illegally deliver to Iran, certain super-sensitive military parts. Brewer can either take the job, which will probably end up in his death, or return to jail. He takes the job.

Meanwhile, after a failed attempt on his life, McCall (Remember him? Brewer's old boss.) responds by hatching a plot to assassinate three major international arms dealers on the same day. (That'll teach them to try to assassinate him!) He also discover's Attashah's mission and eventually gets wind of Brewer's part in it.

All of the above is just the set-up. The balance of the book is devoted to the progress of these two themes:

1.) McCall's triple assassination plot

2.) Brewer'sprogress in obtaining the parts and Along the way, we discover that Brewer is really a patriot at heart and has an almost superhuman intellect. McCall, we realize, is what we might call a sleaze who will stop at nothing to obtain his own ends, which are more about career enhancement and self enrichment than love of country.

There are more plot twists than can be counted. Just to complicate things in the reader's mind, some of these twists turn out to have nothing to do with the plot.

Now that we know who's the "good guy," and who are the "bad guys," the questions to be answered are: Will good triumph over evil? Will Brewer solve his dilemma (patriotism vs. potential loss of life or personal freedom)? Will McCall's triple assassination plot work? Will McCall thwart Brewer?

Phew! Those are a lot of questions, and the answers can only be obtained by reading FOXCATCHER from cover to cover.

FOXCATCHER suffers from a few too many lucky coincidences and near misses, some stereotypical characterization, and a lot of violence. In spite of all of this, it'll keep you awake while you're waiting to have your root canal.

William Hallahan is likely the best suspense author you've never read. Foxcatcher is a good example of his work. It is both wry and suspenseful, managing to capture the essence of the two opposing protagonists: Brewer and McCall. Hallahan's style is measured, precise and professional. He uses an economy of detail to focus the reader's attention, and then hooks him in for the long haul.

Never mind the spoiler laden review below. Check out some Hallahan! You will not regret it.

Very new-agey, not traditional Native American religion. I didn't read it all, I stopped reading when she starting espousing mormon beliefs about Jesus being Quetzecoatl and how he came to America in a conoe to spread the good word. It's like she just picked up the book of mormon, copied it, and added "native" words like "earth mother" and "sky father" to it. Very cheesy. Little too far out, even for me.

Here is a book of joy for a cynical world. The author does not deny the very real problems we face as individuals and as a global community, but offers solid practices that everyone can take to transform the planet. Full of wisdom and humor, it is also a book that speaks to the spirit in a very personal way. Her words invite you to believe that humans truly can walk in beauty and peace on the Earth instead of behaving like viruses with shoes. Join the last Ghost Dance and feel the joy!!

Who likes being adopted nobody does especially Tall bear when his kola White hawk abanded him at a butte that had a eagles nest on a little tree.His kola who lied to the village that Tall bear was killed by the eagles.

I like this book because it reminds me of two buddies in my class.The part I dont like is when Tall bear kola abandens him at the butte.My opinion about this book is that its a good book it talks about friendship. I'll recomend this book to anybody who likes reading books by the athur PAUL GOBLE.And to people who likes reading novals from Tomie Depola.