Ford Reviews

Now here is a book that can save you money. On the shelf behind me are about 15 books on Mustangs - Mods, Tuning, Rebuilding, Projects, Upgrades, and a complete set of Shop manuals. Many were not worth the time to read, much less the money, I took a chance and purchased a copy of The Offical Ford Mustang 5.0 book. Here is a book that covers all the years, and gives the good and bad points of each. What worked, and what did not.

A case in point - There is a lot of books out there that tell you to go out and get a set of 24# or 30# injectors as a start. This book at least give pros and cons, 19# will work just fine up to 300HP@39psi, or 330HP@60psi, using a larger injector reduces atomization of the fuel, and can cause problems with low speed driveability response, oscillating idle, and loss of fuel economy, without any HP gains.
In my case I am in the process of rebuilding a 1995 GT-40 Cobra engine for my 1986 stang, I do not expect more than 300HP with the mods I am using, so the injector may have been a waste.
This book is a gold mine of information on what went in which year, Ford Part numbers, and Ford Racing upgrade parts. There is a section on each component part, most with history, There was even a section on which parts I would need to change my '86 brakes for '87-later, with additional upgrades of which year/make Ford had larger calipers and rotors interchange with OEM brakes. This book will not tell you how to install a mod or rebuild, but at least you will know which parts you should use.
I would recommend this book to anyone about to start a project. It will save you time and money. I find I now have a lot of parts that I did not need, and should not use. The book is geared to people like me who are looking to improve their existing car/engine. but are not building a drag/strip car. A car that will perform, but still take a trip to the store, (if it make the trip a bit more fun, so be it).

This book has all the information you need to keep your mustang stock or modify you mustang. Covers all Fox body Mustangs to include SVT, SVO, and the police stangs. I woould recommend this book to anyone who loves Fox body Mustangs

When I saw this book offered in the back of the Ford Racing Perfomance Parts catalog last year, I wasn't sure what to make of it. After all, the Probst book on the EEC-IV seemed over my head...As the new owner of an ex-police '93 5.0 LX coupe, I consider the handbook a must-have for any 5.0 owner.

The section on Special Service cars like mine was excellent and cleared up a few things, while the illustrations scattered throughout were sufficient for all but the nittiest nit-picker. While I'm not sure Mr. K is correct in referring to the '94-current body style as a hatchback, the information contained in his pages probably couldn't be more accurate...you wouldn't believe all the folks he thanked for their help in the back of the book!

If you're still wondering about grabbing a copy, wonder no more: get it now!

As a general rule, I am a Sci-Fi person first, Fantasy second, Political Thrillers third, and the rest rarely makes my reading list. But someone handed me a Dick Francis mystery a year ago and I couldn't put it down. Since then I've read (or listened to) more than a dozen, and they're all fabulous. As was mentioned by another reviewer, these are definately formula books: he writes essentially the same character every time, and all the plots involve horse racing at least peripherally. And of course our hero (a blindlingly inteligent, 30-something, self-assured, and intensely private male) nearly always starts lonely and ends with the prospect of happy permanent female companionship. Nevertheless, they're still very much worth reading, probably for the same reason Tom Clancy is worth reading: the effort and research Francis puts into the details. In Whip Hand one gets to learn not only about the mechanics of false hands but also some nuts and bolts about vaccination and horse disease, some high points of hot-air balloon racing, and how a horse ownership syndicate works.

Even more importantly for Whip Hand, Francis really threw his heart and soul into Sid Haley, who is hands down (no pun intended) his best character ever. There's a depth to him - his strengths, weaknesses, the double-edged sword of his pride, and his vulnerability that is thought provoking and ultimately endearing - I ended the book more than 1/2 in love with him. :)

To sum up, Whip Hand is Well worth the read, whatever your typical genre and whatever your feelings about horses.

Last year, someone gave me my first Dick Francis to read, 10 LB. Penalty, which can best be described as horrid. I couldn't believe that someone as prolific as Dick Francis could sell so many books if they were of this caliber. This summer, my same friend gave me a big bag of mysteries to read, and I planned to skip Whip Hand. But as luck would have it, I ran out of books before I ran out of summer and Whip Hand was the only one left. Was I pleasantly surprised! In fact, this turned out to be the best mystery I have read all summer. The main character is Sid Halley, an ex-jockey turned PI whose small stature belies all the hidden baggage beneath. He also brings the same passion to win that he had as a jockey to his investigations. Halley has three separate mysteries dumped on him: a mail fraud, a syndicate fixing and racehorse tampering. The racehorse tampering was especially timely after spending some time in Versailles Kentucky this summer, site of the tragic and still unsolved horse tampering case. Not to give the story away, but this book is filled with action, drama, suspense, believable characters, just a little romance, and a plot that will have you guessing until the very end. Next time I receive a Dick Francis book, I will be a little more anxious to begin reading!

Most of Francis's books are stand-alones, but this is one of the few that is a second book about the same character. Francis has a winning formula: he writes books about a young man of around 30, in a career most people might think is boring, but which turns out to be exciting. His hero is usually taken for granted and under-appreciated by his family, and under-employed, but in the course of the book proves he is far smarter, cleverer, and more observant than anyone supposed.

Usually, there's a highly intelligent middle-aged career woman who recognizes his worth and helps him along. It's a formula, but the details that Francis provides makes it work every time.

In this second book about Sid Halley, Sid has gotten the artificial hand replacement that was talked about at the end of the previous book, Odds Against. As ever, Francis has done his research, and we find out a great deal about the science and engineering that goes into a working mechanical hand.

The biggest part of this story is not the mystery, although of course that's there, but the story of Sid coming to terms with his own courage in the face of what he fears is cowardice. One of our villians threatens to destroy Sid's remaining hand, and Sid is at first afraid that he is going to give in to that threat. But living with himself after giving in to such threats would be a problem; Sid almost accidentally decides to stand up and against evil instead, and wins out in the end.

This book tells a complex story within a richly and well researched history. Don't expect your basic vampire/sorcerer horror tale. The references to the supernatural are minor to the story at hand. My one criticism is that the story sometimes gets a bit too convoluted.

I read this book, more or less by accident, not particularly famous and was dazzled. Wow. Can't think of what to say, but will try.

The novel is set in an alternate history Europe, where either Constantine never converted to Christianity or Julian established the equality of all faiths, and the Byzantine Empire never declined, but in fact by the middle of the XVth century controls most of Eastern Europe and is trying to get as much of the West as possible. And magic works, and vampires exist also. I don't usually like alternate history, the real historical characters usually look unlikely next to the alternate bits, but this novel handled it perfectly, and the real historical characters of the XVth century (Richard III of England, his mother, and brothers, the Earl Rivers, Louis XI of France, the Medicci, the Duke of Urbino) are a joy to read about if you have met them before.

Great novel, deserving of a far better review than this one.

One of my favourite books,The Dragon Waiting, is a superb blend of history and fantasy. Mixing historical characters from the 15th century and captivating fictional heroes, this is a book that is both engrossing and enjoyable. John M Ford, a much underated author, succeeds in combining in-depth research with a vivid imagination and tweaks history to create a vision of europe where conspiracies lurk behind shady motives and dark characters, vampirism is a spreadable disease and magic a burden to the magician. A truly marvellous book, that deserves reprinting.

I'm fond of the literary anthologies as I only can read in spurts. I picked up Zoetrope-All Story because I had enjoyed some of the other short stories published in the periodical that ended up in the O. Henry Award books. And this jem won't disappoint. Easy to read and quick to engage in until the very last story. I especially enjoyed Robert Olen Butler's "Fair Warning" and Amy Bloom's "The Gates Are Closing" will create an emotional thickening in your throat. Highly recommened if you are looking for good shorts that aren't obscure or over your head.

Tasty, tasty, tasty!

Say, you're hungry for a good read . . . zesty and a little different. . . nothing elaborate, but still a combination of different tastes and textures--like a smorgasbord. How about the collection in this edition of "Francis Ford Coppola's ZOETROPE: ALL-STORY"?

Are you familiar with what certain ethnic restaurants call "tapas"? They're essentially appetizers--small, exquisite dishes, good to nosh--though, if you order a number of them, they can add up to quite a varied and sumptuous meal. Think of this collection that way. Everything may not suit your particular taste, but certainly there are stories here to please your palate; perhaps altogether they'll satisfy you.

I can't make guarantees, yet. . .well, let me tell you what grabbed me. On the dry, witty side, I liked Melissa Bank's "The Girls Guide to Hunting and Fishing," a satire on certain kinds of self-help books, and Jon Billman's "Custer on Mondays," a wry salute to the last stand of an overage Peter Pan. On the other hand, the "gritty" side, I was really taken by George Makana Clark's bitterly poignant "The Leopard Gang," set in colonial southern Africa, and Chris Spain's urban adolescent fable of the concrete jungle, "Scaring the Baddest Animal." For dessert I'd suggest Tim Gautreaux' "Dancing with the One-Armed Gal" and Robert Olen Butler's "Fair Warning".

The two essays are the veritable appetizers of this collection: Salman Rushdie's narrative is a purely Anglo kind of 'Adventures in the Screen Trade.' David Mamet's short piece is almost typical Mamet pontification (as in his WRITING IN RESTAURANTS and THREE USES OF THE KNIFE): ". . .the summer film is an exhibition pure and simple...it is our state fair".

This presentation was a pleasant surprise. Thumbs up!

I'm already an ardent fan of Zoetrope All-Story magazine as it has more than aptly filled the void left by Story. I'm also a fan of other short story anthologies and this one deserves the place it stakes out along side the likes of the America's Best series. From humorous to the heart wrenching from authors as diverse as Rushdie, Bloom and Mamet, there's something for every reader here. Kudos to Mr. Coppola and his team at Zoetrope All-Story. I look forward to the next installment.

Sorry, I have to differ from my fellow reviewers.

The translations here by Constance Garnett are tired and clunky and way too literal. The art of translation has evolved light years from the "word-by-word" school. To compare how much more "modern" Chekhov can sound (and Chekhov was, is, and will remain always MODERN), read Robert Payne's translations. Payne eliminates the clumsy clauses and unnecessary commas and lets the story shine through.

Ford's introduction is interesting, but note: he says NOTHING about the translations. He must know they are abominable. Personally, I have no respect for Richard Ford and Ecco Press for reprinting these. Screw the reader, right?

with Chekhov. Whatever volume (happily, there are lots in print), whatever translation you start with, you'll want to keep reading and keep discovering. But, Chekhov may require some getting used to. His stories are melancholy, funny, laconic, ironic. Not many of his characters could be called heroic. His plots do not end neatly. He asks many questions but doesn't answer them. My personal favorites in this volume: An Anonymous Story, Ward 6, The Grasshopper, The Lady with the Dog.

For a great critical essay on Chekhov, read Nabakov's in his Lectures on Russian Literature.

Anton Chekhov was a student of Leo Tolstoy, and thank God he wasn't as long winded, otherwise we would not have all these wonderful short stories.

Short stories before Chekhov were plot oriented and sensationalized. Enter Chekhov, the ultimate master. Now the short story is liberated, it has become more of an art of the moment, an art which reflects deep insights into the social environment of his day - our day too!

Present day short story writers with their overly descriptive styles, their lack of real characterizations, and their general ignorance to the importance of brevity and directness would do much to ponder the intricacies of Chekhov's short masterpieces.

We all love parts of Star Wars, but why settle? For example, he could take a novel like Defenders of the Holy Grail and make it as magical as Lord of the Rings. His fantasies miss connections with the modern world His studio could be making real statements about the human condition instead of lightweight _______.

Wonderful book about the great filmaker who gave us such masterpieces as THX 1138,Raiders of the Lost Ark and Star Wars. . . .very rich and well done with beatiful colored pages, and comments from other filmaker on the movies of George Lucas. . . . a wonderful edition that would look great on anyone cofee table,so go out and buy it today.

This book gives you a sequence of events in Lucas' creative empire. It also contains interesting quotes from the man himself as well as other significant contributors to his work. It may come as a surprise to some of us that Lucas' goals are quite similar to our own; the only difference is that he has a very strong will to make it all come true.

Contained in this book are his projects that touched many who will never imagine the same way again.

This book is out of print, but still available if you know where to look. John M. Ford's award winning "Growing Up Weightless" is a familiar theme for him: coming-of-age during a period of change in society. His version of Lunar society owes some debts to previous stories including Heinlein's 'The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress,' but has developed in ways that may surprise you.

As usual, his story is multi-layered, and requires an intelligent reader to decipher the hints and allusions that Ford places throughout the text. Those who want active, clearly described plots should look elsewhere - but those who prefer not to be condescended to and enjoy puzzling out a story would enjoy this novel.

Ford never descends to the device of having characters explain something to each other that they would obviously already know, i.e. "As you know, George, a light bulb is a luminescent device powered by electricity that creates light in dark areas." For science fiction in particular, I find this very refreshing.

Finally, Ford's teenagers are active, thinking kids with dreams and desires. If they are very bright, they also seem very real to me.

It's worth finding a copy of this book. Better still, it would be worth bringing back into print.

I read this book when I was too young to fully understand the complexity of the main character's decision about his future. When I started to go through the same sorts of choices, I found myself haunted by the book, even though I had finished it years ago. The most powerful scene for me is the mother's farewell. Even at the time it made me cry; now it is one of those scenes I use as an example to myself of what good writing really is. Thank you John M. Ford for a very moving experience!

I cannot imagine why Growing Up Weightless is not in print. I was on the jury that picked it for the P.K. Dick award, and since reading it I have always felt that it describes life on the Moon as it should and must be.

Just like the "Chicken Soup for the Soul" series, I enjoyed these inspirational stories. It's a book I'll read over and over again when I need a lift.

Love the stories . . . even the ones I wrote.

When I am feeling overwhelmed with world news I take "Hot Chocolate for the Mystical Soul" with me into a hot bath tub and read story after story to relax.

Because each story is written by a different person, from many different beliefs, it is educational to see how others think. It is like peeking into their minds as I read the magic and mysteries that are unfolding in their lives.

If you like Fords, Model T's or old cars, buy this book. To say it covers the subject well would be an understatement. It is an outstanding book for any collection and would also be helpful to a Model T owner for restoration purposes. I would also recommend a ride on the rail car on the front cover (dust jacket) if you are lucky enough to visit the Nevada State Rail Road Museum in Carson City when it is running. I also recommend all of Ray Miller's books, the one covering the Model T having been co-authored by the author of this book.

This is the most complete book on the subject. Mr. McCalley was the editor of The Vintage Ford, the Model T Ford Club of America magavine from 1966 to 1996

This book is the culmination of years of research and corrects known mistakes in "From Here to Obscurity", the other major research book on Ts. (in spite of "Obscurity's" mistakes, it is still a good companion book to be perused with this one!). It is a "must have" for anyone working on their T and wondering, "Just what year is this part anyway?" The writing style makes for interesting and enjoyable reading. In fact, this book is so good you'll want two copies; one for in-the-house, and one for out-in-the-shop, where it's likely to get dirty and well-worn from use! -David Dewey

This book althought set in a world very different than my own, can be seen as universal. The trials of Zahra before the war and after the war show how a troubled woman with psychological disorders manages to survive in a somewhat difficult world. As an Arab woman with a psychological disorder, she is an outsider.

As Salwa Bakr notes in The Wiles of Men women are often seen as silly and crazy when they have psychological disorders.

Although the depiction of the war may not be as detailed or accurate as many wish, that is not what Al-Shaykh is trying to convey with this novel.

She is showing how the war is a catharsis for poor Zahra. While everyone's attention is towards the gory and war fears, Zahra is not pointed out as crazy and strange, she is able to live her own destiny.

This book is a page turner...highly recommended

No one claimed that the book depicts the truth about Lebanese culture but it is a GREAT story. The author had be hooked by the third page and I couldn't wait to finish it.

This book is NOT meant to give an accurate picture of Lebenese life during the war, but of the life of a girl who has physcological problems.