reviews

Swords, Swamps and Six-Fingers... Author:  Cary Elwes It wasn’t much of a sensation when it first hit the theaters in 1987, but time – and the home video industry – has been kind to The Princess Bride, as the movie has quietly become a cult classic over the decades.  The wholesome story of true love, cleverly sprinkled with plenty of whimsy and magic, has become a favorite of movie fans of all generations.  In honor of the 25th anniversary of its release, Cary Elwes – aka Westley and the Dread Pirate Roberts – has written a book about the making [...]

A noble life... Author:  Thomas Asbridge Chivalry died a quiet death many years ago, but there was a time when it was all the rage.    More than 800 years ago at tournaments in what is now northern France, brave knights would suit up in their helmets and hauberks, mount their warhorses and fight for fame and glory, occasionally getting gored or trampled in the process.  As these events became more popular, the contestants developed a code of honor and loyalty that became known as chivalry.  Perhaps the most talented and chivalrous of all the men who wielded their swords and [...]

Trapped... Author:  John Vaillant Héctor is in big trouble.  The young indio – a Zapotec from the Mexican state of Oaxaca – is trapped in the empty tank of a large water truck somewhere in the desolate expanse along the Sonora-Arizona border.  He and his friend César, along with a handful of other passengers, paid the coyotes extra for the luxury of wheeled transport into the US and were carefully welded inside the tank, improving their chances of sneaking across the border undetected.  Unfortunately, the truck has broken down and the coyotes have fled, leaving their customers helplessly entombed.  What’s [...]