Rambler Reviews

Samuel Johnson's essays contain more wisdom per square inch than any other writer I've encountered. Like any period, the eighteenth century had its flaws, but Johnson's prose rises above all of them. His respect for common sense and his deep faith keep him safe from the delusions of perfectability that infected many of his contemporaries.

Samuel Johnson wrote in many genres, and the essay is one for which he is well-known. Of the three series of his essays, the Rambler is usaully hailed as being his best. This is the only complete edition in print.

Johnson was a great critic, a moralist, and a sharp observer of human behavior. The Rambler essays cover all three aspects of his opinions.

In literary criticism, we have discussions of pastoral poetry, of Milton's blank verse (long before his biography of Milton in "The Lives of the Poets"), and a stunning essay on the superiority of biography as a literary form.

We have his moralist perspective, and his human observations, combined in essays on the foolishness of telling secrets, procrastination, self-consciousness, anger, regret, perseverance, etc.

Admittedly, Johnson's syntax can be difficult, and occasionally he will send you to your dictionary. But your efforts will be rewarded, because Johnson's views are written from the perspective of someone who is all too familiar with his own flaws, and knows the difference between the ideals he proposes and our/his own performance in attempting to achieve those goals.

Samuel Johnson is arguably the greatest prose stylist the English language has produced, and contained within the two hundred or so Rambler essays written by Johnson (a few of the essays were written by others by invitation from Johnson) are perhaps Johnson's greatest work. Not every essay is a classic, but many of them are and bear reading and rereading.

There is unfortunately no good one-volume edition of the Rambler essays. The Bate anthology regretfully neglects the moral essays for those more aesthetic and literary in nature, which is tragic because Johnson is a religious moralist as much as he is a literary critic, and even the critical side cannot be understood without an appreciation of Johnson's religious and moral convictions and sensibilities. As a side note, I could add that this is typical of Bate, and is especially in evidence in his otherwise marvelous biography of Johnson, where he tends to treat Johnson's very powerful religious beliefs as an odd sort of psychological aberration.

It is impossible to recommend a purchase this expensive for the casual reader, but as owner of the three-volume set, I can attest that any lover of Johnson will find him or herself going to these volumes and especially particular essays, again and again and again.

Sennet's first novel has all the indications of sequels to come and readers should be glad of that.

Nash Rambler, the protagonist in this page turner of a book, may be a "cub" reporter, but he makes up for inexperience with determination and the courage to trust his intuition. Nash is not intimidated by authority but he also demonstrates an endearing humility and oppeness. He is the kind of guy you will instantly like and root for.

The author, an accomplished journalist, molds his writing style to perfectly reflect the protagonist's character. He walks the knife's edge between hard boiled mystery and light humor and never once gets cut.

This is a refreshing entry into a genre that too often presents similar characters following well worn plot lines. Bravo! And let's have the next Nash Rambler story soon.

Northwestern University journalist major Nashua Hansen obtains an internship at the San Bernardino Ledger. At the beginning of his drive west at the Evanston on ramp, he provides a ride to biker Homer, whose bike went up in flames. In San Bernardino, Nash meets waitress Wendy at a Denny's. They go to a drive in movie where Nash happens upon his first story, a bear trap near the concession stand ripping into the foot of a teenage patron.

Nash sells a follow-up on the posh new drive-in theatres, but angers his editor Lydia Sorenson when he does. Nash visits the Star Time Theater when the manager Mr. Snipes assaults him breaking his wrist. Later, he interviews business mogul Evan Carr, who owns these drive-ins. As he digs deeper, Nash finds himself in trouble with his boss, the police, and a survivalist cult that reaches into the highest levels of the state government all who want him silent and residing in Illinois.

NASH, RAMBLER is an exciting investigative tale that reads somewhat like an amateur sleuth story because the hero is a rookie still learning his trade outside the classroom. The story line emphasizes the craziness of Southern California through the myopic eyes of a beleaguered Midwesterner. Elmore Leonard fans need to make room for another wacky book similar in many ways to Get Shorty.

Harriet Klausner

This book is excellent for anyone who wants to learn about the history of Virginia. It has a clear way of explaining history through pictures. The pictures are fantastic!

this book is really good it has great information. These pictures are very good and there a lot of them. You should buy this book.

Smoke's stories are as amusing and intriguing as his style is at once eloquent and personal. He seems to write, not to tell what he has done, but to recount familiar tales to the curious listener. His adventures in the mountains of California, Alaska, Nepal, and everywhere in between are not told in high-action style. Instead, he enjoys the telling of adventures past and current, inviting the reader to take a hand in the making of their own experiences.

this is quite an adventure for someone who has only hike locally in the Cascade Mountains. It is a great way to relax at the end of the day, after sitting at my desk in downtown Seattle all day. I even find my mind wandering-pretending that I am with Smoke on his advenures. Do yourself a favor and take a hike---with Smoke!

For a book that's almost 30 years old, Jessamyn West's collection of short stories is still relevant, amusing and inspiring today.

I became interested in Ms. West when my parents saw fit to saddle me with the name of someone already famous in her own right and when I got over the adulation I received by English teachers and began exploring her fiction I found her to be the forthright feminist author I had always been looking for.

This book contains many stories including one about a birdwatcher who gets devoured by buzzards, a woman living in a TB ward and, my personal favorite, The Condemned Librarian. Despite these often depressing topics, West's characters have a sense of personal dignity that brings them through the oddest and most difficult situations.

Readable, interesting and compelling. Read this book!

This is the most useful single resource for hiking in this area. The topographic info with the updated trail markings alone would be more than worth the price, the addition of vegetation cover, points of interest and services and trail mileage is a bonus, before you add in the wealth of text information printed around the margins.

Also printed on plastic for durability.

What an unusual book dedicated to those free-spirited plants that ramble, scramble, and twine across our gardens. Very well done with a good balance of information and illustration - a book I pull off the shelf regularly.

This book has 29 true short stories of people who lived in New Mexico, when it was a territory. Each story is about 2-5 pages long. There are some black and white pictures of these same people included in the book.

What a wonderful book. I particularly liked these were people who lived in New Mexico and that I could look at the pictures of each person as I read about them. This author has certainly done a lot of research. I have read a lot of New Mexico history and this book is gem. Many of the stories were ones that I had never heard before. Because the stories are short, it is easy to pick the book up for 15 or 20 minutes, read a story and put it down without losing your place. I appreciated the humor that Marc Simmons displays through out this book, many of these short stories end on a humorous note.

This is a great book about the people who lived in New Mexico when it was still being formed into a state. It certainly provides a history of New Mexico through a different slant. I enjoyed every minute of reading it. My husband read it and enjoyed it as well.

A comprehensive map of the trails (including roads and tracks closed to cars) of the northern part of the East Bay Hills. Good detail, including property jurisdictions, topographic (20 foot contour intervals), ground cover, points of interest and conveniences like bus stops. It also includes a good index (of trails), mileage marked on trails, rules and regulations for the various parks, general and contact information for each.

Map is printed one side only, on regular paper.

A great resource for finding and enjoying hikes of any length in the area.

There is also a Central Section map of the area.

A comprehensive map of the trails (including roads and tracks closed to cars) of the central part of the East Bay Hills. Good detail, including property jurisdictions, topographic (20 foot contour intervals), ground cover, points of interest and conveniences like bus stops. It also includes a good index (of trails), mileage marked on trails, rules and regulations for the various parks, general and contact information for each.

Map is printed one side only, on regular paper.

A great resource for finding and enjoying hikes of any length in the area.

There is also a Northern Section map of the area.