...It's December, a traditional time of celebration for many people around the world -- a time when people seem kinder, more considerate of others. I'd like to offer a book that speaks to those better elements in our humanity while also celebrating freedom ... but if such a book was published recently, I've not seen it.

Instead, my mind has been filled with the ugly imagery of Hitler's rise to dominate Germany and World War II, and the unwavering courage of those who dared to resist him at the center of his powerlust -- the resistance group known as the White Rose. Alex Gabbard has combined meticulous research with a fictional story to create an historical novel that is powerfully, movingly wrought.

Blood of the Roses will most likely not offer any revelations for individuals who are familiar with the story of the White Rose, and its principals, Hans and Sophie Scholl, who were caught along with Cristoph Probst, tried in a German kangaroo court, and executed. I've read accounts of their resistance, and honestly did not expect to be taken by an "historical novel." Gabbard weaves a slow, inexorable magic in creating a fictional companion to the Scholls, who recounts his youth, maturation in the Hitler Youth, and finally service in the war in flashback form.

The power of Blood of the Roses isn't in its historical accuracy. It lies in what Gabbard doesn't tell, doesn't show, or leaves in shadow for the reader to grasp by way of contrast or implication. The narrative shifts from the characters' happy childhoods in the small town of Forchtenberg to the narrator's increasingly narrow, suspicious views, brought about by his never-quite-complete indoctrination into Nazism. Much of the story focuses on his life and choices, particularly after the Scholl family moves away from Forchtenberg. Their reappearance in his life is as shafts of beaming sunlight through stormcloud, and it highlights Gabbard's skill, that he can portray "foredoomed" characters so convincingly in such a manner. The fictional friend, working so hard to be transparent to the Nazis he comes to loathe, becomes almost cypherlike in his own story, so caught up is he in the machinery of war and its horrors.

Toward the close of the book, the friend begins to muse more explicitly about what's happened to freedom, and the wonderful Germany he and the Scholls so loved as children. During the Scholls' and Probst's trial he comes to an unsettling realization:

"I was struck with the question, 'How could so many be so blind?' I then came to the unsettling realization that the people in whose company I stood chose to be blind. They were not interested in truth, nor were they guided by truth. My Germans; what have you become?" (p.228)
And later in the same scene:
"I recognized that the entire Reich was so fearful of the power inherent in individual freedom that it had to squelch the merest suggestion of freedom as sedition and to do so at the earliest opportunity. In spite of outward power and solidarity, Nazism existed on so tenuous and fragile a government that mere words against its precepts were regarded with utmost alarm." (p. 230)
The parallels to American society today are chilling. Blood of the Roses deserves to be widely read solely on the basis of its wonderful presentation of an inspiring story of freedom. For those who care to see the truth, it also serves as a cautionary tale of homeland security...

On our recent trip to Cologne, we found this book was an invaluable companion. If you're not familiar with the Blue Guide series of travel books, they do not cover hotels and restaurants and evening entertainment, but they do cover details about history, architecture, museums, cathedrals, etc., and provide a plan of the major cities. Cities and towns are organized by routes, so if you are driving from one city to the next they are indispensable.

In Germany, we loved reading the details about the Dom, and several surrounding less famous churches. The specifics regarding the details in the various museums, the highlights of what you'll see, etc, were very helpful in helping us budget our time.

This edition is a little our of date, however, and museum hours have changed in some instances, so call ahead.

What better way to introduce children to art than through the paintings of The Blue Riders, a group of painters that included Wassily Kandinsky and Paul Klee. The exciting story of these painters is illustrated with their bright and glorious paintings and photographs of the artists at work and play. Paintings are broken down into smaller pictures to help the reader understand recurrent themes and to pull one into the detail of each painting. Also included is an enchanting collection of hand-painted postcards from Franz Marc to Kandinsky with excerpts from his messages. Reading the text and savoring the paintings, I came away inspired and thrilled by such fun and colorful works of art. I couldn't wait to get out my paint set! I think children will feel the same.

Darryl Richman's Bock is one of my favorite books in the Classic Styles Series. It is well-researched and written in an often entertaining style that conveys much information and enthusiasm without being stuffy or condescending.

The recipes are nicely formatted, and cover a wide gamut of Bock-style beers. There's even a recipe for a historic Bock, for those who want to experiment.

Richman's advice regarding ingredients, brewing, and fermentation is grounded in theory (which he briefly explains) and very practical.

Hans Werner Henze has led a rich,full musical life. He had good vital instincts from the start,opting to foster high level contacts within the musical institutions in Europe East and West. The West has served him well first with early operatic productions,a succession of unbroken commissions and latter recordings by premiere ensembles. He turned away from his own post-war generations quest for a new musical language along the lines of serialized materials and post-Webern gesturing. Instead he found his own voice in a lyrical eclecticism that continually searches for differing dramatic situations, as in painters Gericault's "The Raft of Medusa". This autobiography reveals an active life of schedules,concerts, rehearsals,assisting in teams for the productions of his works, discussions and conducting. Along the way Henze stops to chat with friends for inspiration and support and news,he even pays respects when necessary at the funerals of Auden or composer Luigi Nono. We also find Henze in Cuba with revolutionaries And in East Germany with his friend Paul Dessau. Leftism for Henze is odd, a man who sacrificed nothing was still tauted by the primary venues of the West. But we learn of Henze's continual quest for compositional materials and how politics enters this formula no matter what ideology he happens to share.Also how each work inhabits its own life. His politics does extend to going out on a limb for comrades, as when composer Isang Yun was abducted by the Korean government from Germany to return to prison and torture. Henze assembled a forum for his release in Europe. He also made an arrangement of a song by Theodorakis also a victim of imprisonment. For the musician this autobiography makes fascinating reading on Henze's views, how his music is performed, who is the most sensitive conductor, what composer he admires, how he organizes festivals and venues.I must say I never warmed to his music.

Featuring a cowboy bootmaker "so poor that even his shadow had holes in it", this country western adaptation of "The Shoemaker and the Elves" spoons out colorful and humorous similes that are highly engaging for the under ten set.

I teach writing to children this age and could see the work of the elves in the eyes of my young writers. The story not only "hornswoggled" the children, but provided invaluable assistance in teaching them about similes and metaphores.

Written so anyone can speak the 'cowpoke' dialect, the elfin magic transforms grown-up readers into professional storytellers.

Tom Curry's dreamy but detailed artwork adds the crowning piece of elfian magic that will leave you pining for more.

Author, Kathy Price takes the reader down to the bayou for this marvelous Cajun rendition of the ever popular, Bremen Town Musicians. Meet four elderly, musically inclined friends, a mule, a hound, a rooster, and a cat, in all their craggy glory, trying to save their hides by traveling to New Orleans. "We is goin' to Bourbon Street to bebop and jazz. You can carry a tune and you have a bit of the torch in your song, so come wit' us, and we'll mardi gras and hi-de-ho." But along the way they come across a crawfisher's shack. Inside they spy a table filled with food, and "four roughnecks eatin' wit' jackknives and thumbs." And since it was dinnertime, and they were mighty hungry, these four old friends decide to sing for their supper..... Ms Price's clever retelling is filled with captivating imagery and magic, and with its energetic, rhythmic Cajun dialect, just begs to be read aloud by an enthusiastic storytellier. Andrew Glass' bold, bright, and exuberant illustrations enhance the text with playful humor and witty detail. Perfect for youngsters 4-8, The Bourbon Street Musicians is a manic, rollicking, fun-filled romp. "As grass is green, sho' nuff, y'all."

Bernd Wagner's two very informative essays on East Germany set the standard for this book
which brings together a number of excellent contributions. In the first part, Jens Mecklenburg
and Fabian Virchow introduce the DVU, Benno Hafeneger the NPD, and Hajo Funke and
Claudia Dammann Die Republikaner. In the second part, Ralf Ptak analyses the
socio-economic aspects of these parties' programmes and rhetoric, and Richard Stöss, Benno
Hafeneger and Trosten Niebling the candidates and results of the extreme-right in the 1998
Bundestag elections. Christoph Butterwege and Benno Hafeneger examine the activities of
right-wing extremists in regional and local parliaments, while Claudia Dammann investigates
the success of the extreme-right among trade union members and Frank Jansen reports on
'everyday experiences' of right-wing extremism in East Germany. Wolfgang Wippermann
criticises the approach of the German Verfassungsschutz (constitutional protection
organisation), and 'extremism studies' to the problem of right-wing extremism. Hajo Funke
concludes the volume by proposing a four-point programme of action against right-wing
extremism.

Among the most interesting of the chapters are those by Ralf Ptak and Claudia Dammann that
link the ultra-nationalist and socio-economic dimensions of the extreme-right's programmes.
Ptak argues that economics has been a secondary, subordinate issue to ethnocentric politics,
while Claudia Dammann uncovers a variety of effects that trade union membership has on
support for the far-right, which challenge the traditional stereotype of trade unionism as a shield
against right-wing extremism.

In conclusion, Mecklenburg's collection can be characterised as a very timely, varied and
informative contribution to the study of contemporary German right-wing extremism that will
become an obligatory point of reference for future studies in this field.

This team of Thompson and Warhola has illustrated a few fairy tales that are great introductions to fairy tales for small boys -- and for girls as well, of course! Realistic, humorous illustrations with exuberance and robust humor. The expressions on the giants' faces in this book gave my five year old son the giggles! It was a real favorite at our house. Worth bringing back into print!

BERLIN WAS LEFT TO PEACES, THE RUSSIANSWANTED TO DRIVE THERE WARTIME COLLEAGUES FROM THE FORMER CAPITAL.