Nonpareil books ;

This book is a WESTERN, but not in the "cowboys and Indians" sense. It's about the American West during the period of the Indian Wars and it is a marvelous expose' on an amazing group of characters who come to know the West and themselves in profound ways. It is not a "John Wayne shoot 'em up" type of book, but rather a thoughtful journey into the minds and hearts of people who grow up and grow past preconceived notions of right and wrong. The characters are so fully fleshed that you expect to meet them walking down the street any day of the week. You'll find yourself captivated by the reality of the characters in a way that is seldom seen in American literature. The story shows the growth of the characters through experiences that are entirely believable and historically accurate. Mr. Horgan knew and loved the American Southwest and his writing is absolutely enchanting and brilliant. He created a world that is far more truthful and noteworthy than most "westerns" of film or page and you will find yourself re-reading it constantly. I have read it dozens of times and every occasion shows me something new and wonderful in the text. Don't expect guns blazing and dance hall girls fainting, expect a solid read that will enhance your knowledge and enjoyment.

This is a collection of stories diverse in subject, but sutured together by the limitless affection the author holds for the land and the people of New England. Donald Hall tells about life on a small farm where, as a boy, he spent summers with his grandparents. Gradually the boy grows to be a young man, sees his grandparents aging, the farm become marginal, and finally, the cows sold and the barn abandoned. But these are more than nostalgic memories, for in the measured and tender prose of each episode are signs of the end of things - a childhood, perhaps a culture.

In the 40 essays that constitute this collection, Guy Davenport, one of America's major literary critics, elucidates a range of literary history, encompassing literature, art, philosophy and music, from the ancients to the grand old men of modernism.

In a moving retelling of Hansel and Gretel, a woman is murdered during a terrorist attack, leaving her three sons in the care of their grandmother, Lilli. As the four prepare to celebrate Christmas without her, Lilli is drawn into a lonely world of memories, forced to confront the horrors of the Nazi persecution she managed to survive. After losing her entire family in the Holocaust, Lilli finds that it is this final death—that of her daughter—that allows her to reach out to the next generation and, with them, forge a unique path toward peace and reconciliation.

When his father loses his fortune, a boy is taken on by a famous shipbuilder and eventually makes a maiden, record-breaking trip around Cape Horn on the "Flying Cloud."

Here is a classic novel from one of our most honored writers--the author of such acclaimed works as So Long, See You Tomorrow and All the Days and Nights." The Folded Leaf is the serenely observed yet deeply moving story of two boys finding one another in the Midwest of the 1920s, when childhood lasted longer than it does today and even adults were more innocent of what life could bring.From the Trade Paperback edition.