No comments about POT-POURRI FROM A SURREY GARDEN.

No comments about Forging ahead: An article from: Orange County Business Journal.

No comments about Gospel of Luke (Century Bible).

1 comments about The Dark Fountain.

1. This is a book about Earle Leonard Nelson, a serial killer who terrorized two countries with a string of murders of women in the 20's. His nickname was the Gorilla Killer due to the way he was able to overpower grown women and handle the bodies after death. A better book about this unusual man is Harold Schechter's Bestial.

   The reason that this book is even as high as an average read is because there has been very little at all written by Nelson in the past few decades. A cause celebre at the time of the crimes, his reputation has been overwhelmed by more recent killers.

   The book itself, though, clearly lacks indepth research. It also has what I consider a major flaw-- making up extended conversations as well as taking us into the mind of the characters. This gives the book a novelistic feel but fails to make it seem more credible.

   If you have already read Bestial I would suggest giving this book a look to see how another author handles the same material. I would definitely not suggest that the reader think this to be definitive book about the crimes of Earl Leonard Nelson.

No comments about Dance in Steps of Change. The Story of Community of Christ, Washington D.C..

No comments about Dark Fountain, The ... An Historical Novel of Horror , based on the True Mass Murders by Serial Killer " Reverend " Earle Leonard Nelson ... told by famed crime historian Jay Robert Nash.

No comments about Adventure Bound.

5 comments about Adam Clarke's Commentary.

1. As a student of the Bible for the past ten years, I've read some of the finest commentaries from the world's greatest scholars. One thing I noticed early on is that almost every writer quoted Dr.Adam Clarke and made reference to his Bible commentary. The information always quoted was to say the least, inspiring and insightful, so, I knew one day I would have to own Dr. Clarke's great commentary on the Bible. The unfortunate news of that the abridger, Ralph Earle, has removed extremely important information such as the correct order of chapters of the book of Jeremiah which is NOT the way it appears in our current Old Testament, and the 39 verses in 1 Samuel which are of doubtful authenticity and which didn't appear in the original text. I gave three stars to give praise to Dr. Clarke for being one of the world's greatest Biblical scholars, but not five stars because of the unacceptable, irresponsible job done by abridger, Ralph Earle. Perhaps we should all seek out hard-to-find copies of the original work, or purchase the unabriged version on CD-Rom. A word to the wise: stay away from abridgements! Biblical students are the loser here thanks to this abridgment.



2. Clarke is an Arminian, that is he denies the doctrines of protestant reformed theology as taught by Luther, Calvin and all the great names of the protestant reformation. As such, I can't recommend this biased work to the church.



3. Mr. Clarke was an awesome writer, even Spurgeon was quoted as saying Mr. Adam Clarke was one of the finest writers he had ever read. BUY THIS BOOK!!! Simple to read and filled with brilliant writing concerning the Gospel. His study shows how John Calvin got it all wrong. Man DOES have a free will! The eternal security doctrine has been wrongly titled, it is a doctrine of demons, which gives man the false sense of security and contradicts the Holy Scriptures! Read James 2:1-26. James 2:26 clearly states, "For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, even so faith apart from works is dead." To believe in a once saved always saved mentality leads to a true false sense of security, and a license for many to openly sin and not worry about being held accountable. If you believe that you can do whatever you want after repeating the words another told you to say, then later turn your back on Christ for the rest of your life and still make it to heaven you are sadly mistaking dear friend. Don't fall for this demonic doctrine! Calvin studied humanism before his misguided Christian writings were popular, and was involved in a tragic murder, and was he really secure if he never repented of it? Scriptures open state that no unrepeated murder will have a place in heaven. (Calvinists, I challenge you to read: Hunted heretic; the life and death of Michael Servetus at http://www.evangelicaloutreach.org/ashes.htm) .... Martin Luther stated that the book of James And Jude was "uninspired" (by the Holy Spirit) and worth only of fire! "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work."(2 Timothy 3:16-17, NKJV) Charles Stanley, and many other well intended Calvinistic men and women are misleading millions down the highway to Hell! My sincere prayer is that you BUY THIS BOOK! and visit http://www.evangelicaloutreach.org for the truth concerning many topics. I hope and pray that more will take note as Mr. Clarke did, and do as the Bereans did. Study to show ones self approved my brothers and sister! As the scriptures also state, "Work out your salvation with fear and trembling!" Christ Blessings! BUY THIS BOOK!



4. This commentary is an insightful analysis of the Bible. It has given me a new perspective on many of the meanings of the books of the Bible, and of the background of the people whom God spoke through in writing the books of the Bible.



5. For nearly 300 years, the definitive reference for the John Wesley/Holiness Movement. Wish I could afford the original 6 volume set.

5 comments about Bestial: The Savage Trail of a True American Monster.

1. A very well documented account of the "Dark Strangler's" life. This book brings together everything that makes a typical great Schechter book: a very well documented research, an excellent work of putting things into perspective (history, popular culture, etc), a gripping writing style, etc.
   
   It's true that this killer may not be the most astounding killer in history (but still... he strangled women to death and then raped their dead bodies, and afterwards he concealed them under beds, in closets, behind furnaces, etc) but this isn't a good parametre to judge by, at any rate. Sure, his modus operandi is consistently the same, but I don't think this changes anything really. Moreover, that is the killer's deeds, not the author, so it would be slightly ridiculous (perhaps even immoral) to blame Schechter for the killer's "unoriginal" acts; also, it's a bit strange a complaint to make: "I wish that killer did more gruesome things for my personal pleasure as a reader." But anyway...
   
   Harold Schechter's work is impressive because of his documentation and the manner with which he leads the whole thing. As usual, I appreciate it very much when the author quotes newspapers and gives the reader some insight in those times. It's truly a work of History that Schechter offers us here. And that's something I really like about this author: you never fall into the merely morbid curiosity and always benefit from the historical perspective on violence in popular culture, as well as other matters worthy of one's interest.
   
   Excellent book.



2. This is one of Schechter's best, and IMHO, one of the best true crime novels I have read. It is about a murderer/rapist nicknamed the Gorilla Man, who seemed to be "cursed" from birth. He was abnormal from the beginning and lived a bizarre lifestyle his whole life. Both of his parents had and died of syphillis--it makes you wonder if this disease somehow affected this child's brain and warped him. Even his eating habits were more than strange. He later takes to killing and raping landladies while posing as a potential or actual tenant. He manages to get married--to a woman more than 30 years older than him and proceeds to make her miserable--and scared.
   
   This was a riveting read. I could hardly put it down.



3. This incredible, but true story is so well written that one really wishes Hitchcock were alive to capture it's alluring power on film. And I really think that's what makes this book a great and unforgettable journey. I've read two others by the talented Mr. Schecter, both hard to put down, but this one is so deviously fascinating and consistantly well documented. It's not only a well researched piece of journalism, but a bonified shock treatment that lingers long after you've finished it. Highly recommended for crime buffs. And young film-makers please take note: "Saw" and "Hostel" are sheer piffle compared to the hideous life of Earl Leonard Nelson. Truth really is stranger than fiction.



4. Harold Schechter has produced several highly acclaimed works of true crime including "Depraved" and "Deviant". In "Bestial", Schechter takes on the lesser known Earle Leonard Nelson. On a cross-continental spree that is documented to have taken the lives of 22 landladies and other women, it makes for an interesting chapter in the history of true crime.
   
   Schechter is comendable in his attention to detail in telling the story. While telling the story, the author must be credited for stepping back and allowing the reader to wonder guilty or guilty and insane. Yet at times I found his digressions frustrating. Taking entire chapters to explore facets of the time period or give superficial facts regarding other murders of the era, massively sidetracks the pace of the story. The profile that is painted of the "Gorilla Man" seems clear for a man that has been deceased for more than 80 years and is largely forgotten in American history because of his arrest and execution in Canada.
   
   Those that are fans of Schechter's other books are likely to enjoy the detail of the Nelson's modus operandi. A graphic crime scene picture included in the book is certain to thrill fans of the genre. Still, I can not help but think the book would have been better with certain chapter full of digressions on the editting room floor.



5. Book looked interesting. Ordered it used but would have prefered to order it new. When I got it there was a huge sticker on the front which was disappointing. Would have ordered it new if I knew it was going to look very used.