Easter Books

Helped me understand the wider implications of the civilisation's actions in their little microcosm.

Demystifies and explains the rise and fall of the once great (albeit small) Rapa Nui community that once inhabited Easter Island by explaining, through forensic and historical research, the destruction they reaped on themselves.

You would think from the title that this is book is actually a flaming, guilt-ridden treatise on environmentalism. But such is not the case. It is in reality a well balanced handling of all aspects of Easter Island. Yes, Thor Heyerdahl and his theories are covered but so is going on vacation there and where to stay. If there is something you would like to know about Easter Island, this book probably covers it in a most readable fashion.

Reviewer: A reader
I have to disagree with the previous reviewer about the debunking of Heyerdahl being "excessive". The debunking is limited to only one or two chapters. For readers like me who have read Heyerdahl, this debunking was important because of the attractive neatness of Heyerdahl's theories as he had presented them.

The book is very well organized, with a good selection of photographs and diagrams.

The book's title and the previous review may give the impression that the book is primarily about environmental lessons we can learn from what happened to Easter Island, but in fact it is the best introduction to Easter Island studies that I have seen.

Only the final chapter is about lessons for humanity. The authors' arguments here are elevated by their citing of the well-known Club of Rome study on the Limits to Growth. All of its predictions for the 1990s did actually come true. A fact that is very clear to anyone who has read the actual report. The people of Easter Island flourished and lived well up to the very end when the crash finally hit from their overusing the island's resources. A sad tale, and now a sad history for an interesting vacation spot.

This fine book is the most complete treatise on Easter Island available. It covers all the island's most fascinating aspects, including its geological history, the question of the origin of the Rapa Nui people, flora and fauna, and of course, most importantly, the archeological remains. The writers illustrate how a complex interplay between the natural environment and human behaviour created the island's unusual prehistory, including the demise of the statue cult. Although there are still many unanswered questions about the moai (giant statues) this book gives the qualified answers or at least suggestions as to how these things came to be. It wisely leaves behind all sorts of pseudo-scientific theories and bases its discussion on real archeological evidence, of which there today exists a substantial amount. The only unfortunate thing about the book is the slightly misleading title.

I have to disagree with the previous reviewer about the debunking of Heyerdahl being "excessive". The debunking is limited to only one or two chapters. For readers like me who have read Heyerdahl, this debunking was important because of the attractive neatness of Heyerdahl's theories as he had presented them.

The book is very well organized, with a good selection of photographs and diagrams.

The book's title and the previous review may give the impression that the book is primarily about environmental lessons we can learn from what happened to Easter Island, but in fact it is the best introduction to Easter Island studies that I have seen.

Only the final chapter is about lessons for humanity. The authors' arguments here are diminished by their citing of the well-known Club of Rome study on the Limits to Growth. None of its predictions for the 1990s came true, and this should have been clear by 1992, the year of this book's publication. The authors make no mention of that inconvenient fact.

Cathy, I'm sorry if this hurts your feelings, but this is absolute dross. This history part gives the key events leading up to the creation of "The Free State" of Eire, but the romance is clichee city!
So to potential readers - better get yourselves a proper history book and a decent romance - this combination doesn't work! Life is way too short to plough through this one.

I read this book just after I had finished an Irish Studies course at my local college. I was surprised and delighted at the imaginative and accurate way that Cathy C S had managed to intertwine historical fact with romantic fiction. I could not put this book down and it is my favourite of hers. I think it is an excellent book to read if you have an interest in Irish history particularly regarding the build-up to the 1916 Uprising which was a catalyst for modern Ireland. Given the beautiful romantic circumstances surrounding the story, including tremendous similarities between the authors romantic characters and the various authors, revolutionaries, artists and poets of that time; including W.B./ Yeats and what happened to them and the significance of that time,I think this is one of the best books I have ever read.

From the very first line, this book grabs you and it does not let go until the last page! It is a well written, historically accurate account of the events leading up to the Easter rising of 1916. In it the reader encounters actual prominent historical figures such as Michael Collins. The story involves two sisters, their love for one another, their love for their nation, and their love for the men in their lives. It is romantic, sad, funny,tragic...in a nut shell, all the things that make for great reading. I highly recommend it.

From the very first line, this book grabs you and it does not let go until the last page! It is a well written, historically accurate account of the events leading up to the Easter rising of 1916. In it the reader encounters actual prominent historical figures such as Michael Collins. The story involves two sisters, their love for one another, their love for their nation, and their love for the men in their lives. It is romantic, sad, funny,tragic...in a nut shell, all the things that make for great reading. I highly recommend it.

This book grabs the reader with its very first line. It is in my opinion, Spellman's best book. It is a historical drama (very accurate on the historical facts) about Ireland and it's long struggle for freedom and independance. It vividly details many of the uprisings, leading up to the Easter Rising of 1916. The reader is introduced to some of the real revolutionaries who were a part the uprising and eventual liberation of Southern Ireland. In addition, the two main characters are sisters who are very different (one is a rebel, the other a conformist) but who share a strong love for each other and their country. This book is about so many complicated issues, and yet it is entertaining and educational. I guess one could say its about the love shared between siblings and family, passionate, romantic love between men and women, and a peoples deep love for their country and hope for independence and freedom. It is one of my favorite books. I made the unfortunate mistake of lending it to a friend who lives in another state. I have not seen it since. I am currently trying my best to get it from Amazon, and I hope they come through for me.

There was a Rabbi who wrote a book similar to this mocking Christ. Nice to see for Him.

What a simple fun easy way to state the obvious!
3 thumbs up!! hehe

When I first ordered this I was thinking one thing.. which I will not share at this point. After reading it,I just sat there for about, I don't even know how long, just thinking. If Jesus really did all that stuff , I am going to have to do some more thinking I guess. Thanks, I did enjoy it.

True or false:

1. Santa really lives at the North pole and drives a sled pulled by nine reindeer.
2. The Easter bunny hides all the eggs and has a basket factory.
3. The Tooth Fairy sells children's teeth on the black market.
4. Jesus really raised from the dead.

In SANTA CLAUS, THE EASTER BUNNY, THE TOOTH FAIRY AND JESUS, Mr. Parry takes a look at each individual legend, telling the basic, simple version of their stories, and then taking a look at each of them logically.

This short book is very easy to read in one setting. There is a sarcastic edge in the taking a look at them logically section, which is kind of cute. The author maintains that SANTA CLAUS, THE EASTER BUNNY, THE TOOTH FAIRY AND JESUS is written for those who want to put the four in the same box--a mythical creatures that really don't exist, to prove that out of the four, Jesus is real. I'm not really sure how it would work to convince someone who doesn't believe, but to me it seems quite logically thought out and well-written. If you know someone who believes Jesus is a myth and is waiting for you to wake up and smell the coffee, maybe this would be a good book to slip in their to-be-read pile. It's cover is cute and attention grabbing, there are several humorous cartoons included, and it's gripping. 58 pages.

This book is very interestingly funny!
Anybody can understand it due to its simplicity.
Whether you are a know-it-all teenager or road scholar to a stubborn old man or crabby old maid or anyone "in-between" you will be able to relate.
This is NOT a "ram it down your throat and like it" kinda read.
It really does make you think...alot depending on where you are in life.
The author seems to be on a spreading seed mission as you will notice on the last page, NOT a "do it or else" type of message. VERY REFRESHING!
I have bought a few and have given to family and friends in need of this... after of course tearing out the last page...you'll see!!

My daughter loves the Corduroy books and we have to read them over and over again. Her favorite, however, is the Halloween story.

Emma's (18 mos)grandma bought this for her this past Easter, and she still wants to read it every day. She loves to look for the bird that appears on every page. Very colorful and great illustrations. I don't remember Corduroy from my childhood (1960's) but I'm going to get all the compantion books for Emma.

We gave this to my daughter for Easter when she was almost two, and she LOVES it. We read it at least three times a day. The story is really cute with great phrasing, and my daughter loves finding the Easter Bunny and the robin on each page. The illustrations spark conversations about other things (she sees the lilacs on the page and then we talk about when we smelled the lilacs on our walk, etc.). She especially loves lifting the flaps. They're not the most durable--we have taped many of them back on--but we still love the book. It's really helped her vocabulary, too. She loves to talk about the baby animals and what sounds they make, etc. I will admit--this is not the Corduroy I grew up with. The story has nothing to do with the original Corduroy, so don't buy this book if you think you'll be sharing the Corduroy of your childhood with your kids. However, if you buy it knowing it has nothing to do with the original Corduroy, I think you'll be very pleased. MY DAUGHTER LOVES IT! I also recommend the Christmas and Halloween Corduroy books, too. They're all huge hits at our house!

The book is based on the Corduroy character created by Don Freeman. The "bear's share" of the royalties go to the Don and Lydia Freeman Research Fund to support psychological research concerning children affected by cancer.

Somewhere between 9 and 24 months, most children become fascinated with playing peek-a-boo. Books with flaps fit in with that favorite game. They provide the "magic" of making something appear for your child, and as such are wonderful ways to create indelible learning experiences. This book has dozens of flaps for your child to peer behind. Usually, an animal is revealed. Some of the camouflage devices include plants, flowers, rocks, toys, doors, a hay stack, and food.

The story has two themes. The first revolves around playing outdoors with friends during the spring as the weather improves.

"Spring has sprung, Corduroy!"

The second theme concerns preparing for and participating in an Easter egg hunt. This book is a good background for preparing your child for her or his first hunt!

At this age, children are usually not especially interested in other children so I liked the feature of the book emphasizing the fun of doing things with friends. This includes going to get the supplies, dying the eggs, and hunting for them. The eggs are left to be hidden by the Easter Bunny.

The sentences are short and simple. This makes it easier for your child to memorize the story. As that process occurs, you can point to a word and ask your child to say the word. After a few misses, your child will begin to recognize one word from another. You can point to the words as you read them when you see that your child is starting to pay attention to the printing.

The bright, clear illustrations also provide for focus-getting attention from young children.

The story also provides lots of humor in the form of little surprises behind the flaps. The laughter that follows will help reinforce the learning here.

You should also ask your child what he or she would like to do about Easter eggs. Depending on the emotional responses you get, you can plan for how to celebrate this Easter with your child. I recommend paper eggs until your child is past the "squeezing everything" stage.

Some of the best fun of being a parent is preparing for Easter egg hunts. Don't miss it if you celebrate Easter!

"Happy Easter, Corduroy!"

And a very happy Easter to you and your family, too!

Our son's grandparents bought this book for his second Easter, and he loves it! If your child enjoys lift-the-flap books, this is a good one. I especially like the way certain animals (the Easter Bunny and a little robin) appear on every page, so the child learns to look for them. It's also a very nice introduction to the rituals of egg dyeing and hunting for Easter eggs.

This was a well-written, exciting novel about action in the Libyan desert during the initial attack by Rommel in March-April 1941. The plot centers arounds the attempt by a mixed British crew in an Italian tank to return to their own lines. What lifts the book above the run-of-the-mill WWII novel is the tight focus on the actions of the tank crew and the frequent encounters that propel the story line. Highly recommended but not for everybody.

This is an excellant book worthy of a re-read. It portrays Allied and Nazi soldiers not as cookie cutter good and bad guys, but as people with their own virtues and faults. As good a story as Saving Private Ryan.

G.F. Borden is very familiar with the technical issues of World War II tanks, including the Italian tank that is at the center of the book. However, he never allows his considerable knowledge to detract from the horror of war. Here, he describes the efforts of a tank crew far behind enemy lines to get their captured Italian tank back to safety. His main character, an American who has been fighting fascism since the Spanish Civil War, has no illusions about war. You need not be obsessed with World War II to enjoy this book; it is well-plotted, and the characters are quite believable.

Lost in the desert behind enemy lines,a single tank and it's crew survive by the desperate will of their young commander. The commander is an "idealist", an American volunteer in the British Armored cavalry and at 27 already a veteran--a survivor of the doomed anti-fascist campaign of Spain 1939 which foreshadowed the horrors yet to come. Fierce prose animates the book,with scenes vivid as a heat mirage. A stern,tautly written, compelling novel.

This is my favorite war novel, and one of my favorite novels, period. I've read it at least 5 or 6 times, and everyone I've lent my copy to has raved about it. A taut, realistic, perfectly constructed thriller that will have you reading till the wee hours to finish it. I won't reiterate the plot, the other reviews cover it. Every scene is perfectly described, every detail is mentioned but doesn't distract, the characters are fully fleshed and expertly visualized. After finishing this book, you'll swear it's a memior of an actual event written by a soldier with a gifted memory - after you wipe the sweat from your brow, and check the distant desert horizon for sign of enemy movement. That's how immersed in this writer's wartime world you'll be. It's too bad it's out of print, but if you haven't read it, buy a used copy. G.F. Borden wrote two excellent novels after this, and hasn't been heard from in a while. Mr. Borden, please write another!

This book contains a wonderful story that children of all ages will enjoy, and should be exposed to. It is a great story to be told around Easter time, and it is a must have for any accomplished or imaginative readers' collection. It may be a children's book, but that is no reason why you shouldn't check it out for yourself! I hope that this may help you decide to look into it, and I am certain you will like it.

The Egg Tree started a new tradition in my household. The children loved to create eggs and place them on the branches.

We use this book as a basis each year for an Egg Tree in Kindergarten. We read the story, then water color 2 dimensional construction paper eggs, and I paint the trunk on a bulletin board. The result is so cool--it is wonderfully colorful. I also have some Czech decorated real eggs to show them. This is a great book. For those worried about a religious setting for Easter (I'm not), this story has no mention of Easter as a religious holiday. It is an old story, but sometimes the old stories are the best. I wish the pictures were a little more colorful. I have never seen a publication of this book with more than 3 colors. Maybe it's because I'm a grandma, but I often wish that the older books would be republished. The kids like colors and gravitate toward those books that have newer graphics. But, some of the authors from the 40's, 50's and 60's are wonderful books, such as Margaret Wise Brown, and this one.

Easter egg trees just haven't caught on to the same extent their Christmas tree brethren have. In today's high tech, fast-paced, Internet age it's a calming thing to stop a think a little bit about Easter eggs, and the trees on which they hang. "The Egg Tree" won its Caldecott medal in 1951 and became the selection of choice of the Institute of Graphic Arts. Here, author Katherine Milhous has taken the lively colors and sweeping designs of the Pennsylvania Dutch and applied them to a tale of Easter discoveries and mild fame.

Siblings Katy and Carl are spending their Easter seasons with their Grandmom and cousins. This being their first Easter with such relatives, they are woefully unprepared for the annual Easter Egg hunt. Katy is disappointed when she cannot find any eggs, but discovers a cache of beautifully hand-painted eggs tucked away in the attic. This leads to Grandmom teaching all the kiddies how to paint their own eggs, culminating in an egg tree that displays their work (and garners widespread fame as well).

Children unfamiliar with the Pennsylvania Dutch lifestyle will undoubtedly wonder why the characters in this tale look Amish. Some simple explanations (always assuming the parents themselves understand the distinction) may be in order. After that, expect to be fielding requests for egg painting as well. Helpful instructions detailing how one goes about egg painting are included on the back of the book jacket. Certainly the book and the instruction make egg blowing seem to be the simplest thing in the world. Just don't be surprised if you have a mighty difficult time blowing egg yolks out of tiny tiny holes.

On the whole, the book is strong. The colors are a little more muted than those of books today. And apart from Katy's initial fears that she would not find a single egg, there's not much in the way of dramatic tension. But that's all right. This book's a class act through and through. It may seem a bit dated, it's true. Just the same, it's nice to see a book looking at one of the less lauded holidays once in a while.

The Egg Tree is a great story about a little girl's Easter morning egg-hunting experience. Though she is unsuccessful, she does uncover a wonderful Easter suprise. The little girl, and the reader, is introduced to the Pennsylvania Dutch technique of painting eggs, when she finds a cache of her grandmother's beautifully decorated eggs. The examples of folk art throughout the book are wonderful, and easily accessible for children. This book will prompt your family to begin their own egg decorating tradition.

The Lenton season is one that always draws me closer to my Lord and Savior, and each year I feel called to intentionally journey into a deeper relationship with Christ. This year, I had the awesome experience of taking Marty Bullis' "Passionate Journey" and never have I been so blessed. The combination of the readings, reflections, bidding prayer and journaling took me to and through the darkness of Good Friday and deposited me into the perfect Light of Easter. Can't wait for the Advent version!

It is Easter morning and I have just finished my walk through Lent with The Passionate Journey, by Marty Bullis. It was the kind of walk that allowed me to stop numerous times and examine aspects of the Lenten experience more closely. The discussion of the Trinity on Day 10 held some brand new insights for me. I also enjoyed his use of The Message by Eugene Peterson. I plan to use this study again next year.

Perhaps I didn't read the description closely enough, but I wasn't looking for a brief thought and then empty pages for journaling. I wanted a deeper reflection on the Lord, His experiences at the end of his earthly life, and how they might influence and impact me now. This book may be fine for some folks, but it didn't give me what I was hoping for and I am disappointed.

My wife and I studied this book as part of a small group with the author. It was done over the period of Lent and was very informative. I personally learned much from it, both about Jesus and myself. I enjoyed the author's commentary and his style of writing. I found myself revitalized and eager to learn more. I've done other small group studies and feel that this is one of the best. The intention is to get the reader involved and this book certainly did that for me.

Hooray! This is the kind of devotional book that doesn't do all the work for you -- a rare thing in the world of devotional books. The bidding prayer and journalling pages promote first-hand engagement with the Bible passages, as well as with the author's meditations. In other words, "The Passionate Journey" has helped me move beyond its author to connect with God, which is something I value but seldom experience with most devotional books.

This book insists that we do something important: read the passion narratives in a slowed-down, reflective way. Bullis helps me notice the details of our redemption and ponder them.

To realize the importance of women in Christ's life was a real eye opener.
His mother Mary was to be understood from a mother's point of view, could
we have had her faith if it was our son nailed to the cross ?

The joy they all shared when he arose. This indepth study was a true way to strengthen one's faith. This study could be done anytime of the year
and you would benefit from it.
I felt this was a study that rated 5 stars.
It showed the author has great faith and writes from the heart.

Although Christ's resurrection demonstrates the power behind the Christian faith, Easter is often overshadowed by Christmas. Now Ann Marie Stewart helps us explore the deep significance of Easter with her eight-week Bible study, Preparing My Heart for Easter.

The study begins the week of Ash Wednesday (February 21 in 2007) and concludes the week after Easter. But I couldn't wait to start and have completed the first week's lesson.

Taken primarily from the four Gospels, Psalms, and Isaiah, the study focuses on Jesus' last week on earth and the women who followed him during his life and death. You'll get acquainted with Mary Magdalene, Mary Mother of Jesus, Mary and Martha (sisters of Lazarus), the woman at the well, and other women who were eyewitnesses of Jesus' miraculous ministry.

Besides five daily lessons, the study includes two weekend devotionals centered on Easter hymns. You'll also learn the significance of Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Pentecost, and other holy days before and after Easter.

This study is great for for personal or group use, but be prepared to study. This well-researched, powerful volume comes to life with Stewart's background in drama and script writing. Her acting roles in the community passion play helped her experience the emotions surrounding the first Easter and motivated her to look at Jesus in new ways. Now she challenges and inspires us to do as many New Testament women did--meet, accept, and follow Jesus. Spring is the perfect season to grow spiritually by studyingPreparing My Heart for Easter.

This is a wonderful, inspirational book. I did this with my bible study group and we all loved it. Ann Stewart is a great author. Her other book "Preparing my Heart for Advent" is also fantastic. I would highly recommend anything she writes.

Ann Marie Stewart's greatest strength is in illustrating the truth we learn in Scripture through real-life experiences. As we look at Christ's journey to the cross, this love story comes alive across the centuries as its messages resound in personal anecdotes. What happened then matters to what happens now. But also impressive is how comprehensive Stewart's studies are; she has done her research. This is solid spiritual food. I learned so much in both Preparing My Heart for Advent and Preparing My Heart for Easter. Definitely works to be re-read each year. If you wish to draw still nearer to Christ our Lord and know the great love He has for us, if you seek to understand the sacrifice, if you long to know the beauty of the cross and the power of the resurrection, this is the book for you!

Nancy Fisler, a group leader, January 10, 2007,
What a Great Way to be Prepared for Easter
Anne Stewart motivated me to get to know the entire picture of the Easter events. I enjoyed the Bible study she provided and especially relished the details she included concerning the background of the events and people. The book systematically, daily, led me through all the little known and well known aspects of the Easter story.

Also recommended: Her book Preparing My Heart for Advent was so motivational for me personally last year and for a group I led this year.

What a wonderful profound book for helping Cbhristians understand the Resurrection from the different accounts of the Bible. I loved this book, so full of heloing ujs to understand according to the different traditions ther joy of the Resurrection.

This is part of a series of popular books from Liturgical Press written by the late Raymond Brown, one of the premier Roman Catholic biblical scholars of his generation.

In terms of his exegetical stance, Father Brown might be broadly classified as a moderate. He doesn't advocate the literal historicity of every detail in scripture, but he never denies, and in fact often defends, the underlying historicity of the essential events narrated. His theology is fully in keeping with Vatican II (not its "spirit" but its intent).

In A Risen Christ, Brown examines all the resurrection stories in the Gospels. Here he is not interested so much in comparing the various accounts. Rather his stated purpose is "to see how the treatment of the resurrection in an individual Gospel fits the theology and plan of that Gospel."

As in the other books of this series, Brown does an admirable job of presenting the fruits of voluminous scholarship in an easy-to-read, but not condescending, way for us amateur theologians.

It would be the rare Christian who would not gain some insight from this book. It may even inspire you to read Brown's longer, more academic works.

For those who find Father Raymond Brown's major works just too much of a deep dive, try this 95 page collection of his reflections on what the Gospels say about the Resurrection of Christ. Father Brown could write serious studies for the scholar--his two volume 'Death of the Messiah' is masterly but tops 1600 pages, but he could write in a light, fresh manner (not too far from CS Lewis's style is some ways) that nonetheless gives deep insight into matters central to the Christian faith. Highly recommended.

I feal God in m

A RISEN CHRIST AT EASTERTIME is a collection of essays by noted biblical scholar Fr. Raymond Brown. The book discusses the accounts of the resurrection in each of the four canonical gospels. One chapter is devoted to each of the gospels with the exception of two chapters which are devoted to John's Gospel which is not surprising considering Brown is a Johannine scholar. Brown basically looks at each of the gospels and how the individual evangelists use the resurrection accounts to stress the themes of their gospels and how a belief in the actual resurrection of Jesus Christ was essential to each of the early Christian communities that produced these works. Brown presents the scholarly material fort the reader and allows the reader to draw his/her own conclusions about the material he presents.

This book is a good summary of scholarship regarding the resurrection, but it is not intended for scholarly use. Its purpose is primarily pastoral as is the case with many of the books published by The Liturgical Press. In the introduction of A RISEN CHRIST AT EASTERTIME Brown asks readers the question "What stance would you have taken were you there when this happened?" I found that this question guides the reader to Brown's intent. It is not to give the reader a great deal of scholarly information which may or may not shed new insight on the resurrection. Rather Brown intends to give the reader enough information to rethink the resurrection and how this event plays a role in the life of faith. For this reason I would recommend the book to people involved ion ministry, particularly those involved in preaching, as well as people who are familiar with scripture and are looking for a guide that will help them understand the text

Three of these four [very] short stories relate to the holidays...

"Christmas Party" has (inveitably?) Wolfe in a holiday mood and role.

"Easter Parade" celebrates Wolfe's ongoing desire to stay home, no matter what.

"Fourth of July Picnic" recalls "Some Buries Caesar" a little bit.

"Murder is No Joke" is the only non-themed story here, and, in my view, it's the strongest for plot and characterization.

I hope we'll see these on audio CD or download some time soon...

Nero Wolfe is constantly getting himself into fixes through three character flaws. Arrogance, Cupidity, and Eccentricity. He must then shake off his indolence and use his intelligence to extricate himself from whatever predicament he stumbles into. Frequently he must extricate himself through the device of an elaborate caper designed to expose a killer while simultaneously burying his embarrassment.

Each of the four stories in this book has as its centerpiece an elaborate caper. In two of the stories Wolfe engineers a caper to extricate himself from danger; in the one the caper places him in danger; in the fourth, he is victimized by a caper and solves the mystery through sheer force of logic and deduction.

In "Christmas Party" Wolfe's fear that Archie is going to marry causes him to masquerade as Santa Claus and become prime suspect in a murder. In "Easter Parade" Wolfe's envy of a rival orchid grower causes him to stoop to petit theft and become embroiled in a murder mystery. In "Fourth of July Picnic" Wolfe discovers a murder at a picnic, attempts to flee without reporting it, and must expose the murderer before he himself gets arrested for obstructing justice. In "Murder is No Joke" Wolfe provides all the usual suspects with an ironclad alibi. How can he break an alibi that he himself provides?

Classic murder mysteries rarely bear any resemblance to reality. I've handled hundreds of homicide cases over the years, and the puzzles presented by real life homicide investigations bear no resemblance whatsoever to the puzzles presented in murder mysteries. You can imagine my pleasure on finding that Wolfe solved one of the mysteries in this book with exactly the same stratagem employed in a case that I prosecuted years ago. I've long since lost track of the investigator who solved that little mystery, but if I ever see him again, I'm certainly going to ask him if he has ever read any Nero Wolfe.

Spend the holidays with Nero and Archie, and quickly discover Wolfe quick thinking as he solves the mysteries faster than you can turn the pages. The last one is particularly good, as Wolfe takes offense to the fool who tries to fool him. In the others, Wolfe himself is cast in the spotlight as the police begin to even suspect his involvement - but naturally, his intellect always bails him out.

This edition now boasts "As Seen on TV!" on its cover, alluding to the fact that 1 (so far) of the 4 short stories herein has been adapted by A&E. Since 3 of the 4 are set during major holidays, Jane Haddam (author of the Gregor Demarkian holiday mysteries) was selected to write the forward. Apart from her forward and the afterward, the book is pure Stout, set after both _Black Orchids_ and _The Black Mountain_.

All four are murder investigations. The Ingram editorial review incorrectly implies that the killings were committed by 1 person - they're not. The cases are unrelated, and are only grouped in one volume because of a common holiday theme.

"Christmas Party" - The A&E adaptation is faithful to the story. Archie, having arranged for a day off, receives brusque instructions to cancel his plans and drive Wolfe out to Mr. Hewitt's for a special orchid powwow. He whips out a marriage license (!), with the news that he must attend his fiancee's office Christmas party that day. You've _got_ to read this one, if only for Wolfe's reaction to this. :)

"Easter Parade" - Rumor (via his gardener) has it that Millard Bynoe has bred a pink Vanda, but he refuses to admit it or display it before his wife wears a blossom for the Easter parade. Wolfe, giving in to acute orchid envy, has Archie arrange for a petty thief to steal it under cover of parade photographers. Unfortunately, that's the day that someone poisons Mrs. Bynoe, apparently with a dart shot from a fake camera.

When originally published in a magazine, the photos referred to in the text were provided in color as clues. The old hardcover edition of the book provided them in B&W; this edition omits them altogether. It's a pity, but does not detract from the story.

"Fourth of July Picnic" - Wolfe never leaves the brownstone on business; his friend Marko Vukcic (and by extension, his restaurant, Rusterman's) is associated with most of the things that can get him out. He has agreed to give a speech at the annual picnic of the Restaurant Workers of America, if they'll stop harassing Fritz to join their union.

"Murder is No Joke" - A different version of this story appears in _Death Times Three_.