Espresso read and liked Betsey's review of Band of Sisters: American Women at War in Iraq:

"I purchased this book first and formost becuase I am a female Marine that served in Kuwait and was there for the start of the war on Iraq, March 20, 2003 and i wanted to hear other women's stories. Secondly my Officer-In-Charge (OIC) has her story in...more I purchased this book first and formost becuase I am a female Marine that served in Kuwait and was there for the start of the war on Iraq, March 20, 2003 and i wanted to hear other women's stories. Secondly my Officer-In-Charge (OIC) has her story in this book. It is a wonderful collection of stories. It is a great way for ordinary people to understand the reason women join the military, what they do while they are in and how they deal with the conflict we are put into. (less) "

Espresso read and liked Nay's review of Band of Sisters: American Women at War in Iraq:

"I have mixed feelings on this book. First off the title really bothers me, it's trying to play off Band of Brothers. I don't feel this is a title that is just interchangeable. The men who served and were the original Band of Brothers earned that t...more I have mixed feelings on this book. First off the title really bothers me, it's trying to play off Band of Brothers. I don't feel this is a title that is just interchangeable. The men who served and were the original Band of Brothers earned that title through blood, sweat and tears. There is a legacy with that particular unit that goes with it that continues today. The author should have thought a bit harder. I don't really feel that aside from being women who served in Iraq that enough ties them together to be branded "Band of Sisters". I am also bothered by some of the stories, while some really caught my attention others bothered me with "facts", I suppose they are facts, from my understanding the author sat with all the women and heard their stories, then turned around and published them in this book. Some of the stories I feel were a bit farfetched and also showed lack of professionalism and sadly some of the heroic acts cost some injuries and even their life. I hope it was bad writing versus actuality of facts and exploitation of lack of common sense. Perhaps I'm a bit harsh in my review as I've been a Soldier who has been deployed.

Another fact that many might not ever catch but something that greatly bothered me. If you are going to write a book involving different branches of the military, learn that terms are not all interchangeable. The Army does not wear cammies. The lack of effort in making sure correct terminology was being used really makes me wonder who preread her book to make sure things were right. I'm big on the "getting it right" concept when it comes to our Armed Forces. While I admire that she felt compelled to contribute in some way after 9/11, it's important to get the facts right along with that contribution.

I wouldn't recommend this book to many without a disclaimer that if simple things like correct terminology isn't being used, how much of the stories are true? Just my thoughts.(less) "

Espresso read and liked Keely's review of The Mists of Avalon (Avalon, #1):

"Though I am wont to blame the inescapability of genetics for various aspects of an Epicurean reading of Absurdism, I tend to pause, for some reason, in ascribing gender differences as stringently. Whether this is simply a bias of wishful egalitarian ...more Though I am wont to blame the inescapability of genetics for various aspects of an Epicurean reading of Absurdism, I tend to pause, for some reason, in ascribing gender differences as stringently. Whether this is simply a bias of wishful egalitarian thinking or truly an outgrowth of my understanding is be difficult to say, for precisely the reasons that Epicureus is worthy to interrupt my many Suicides. So, when it falls to me to say that women seem more than men to be capable of breaking the Tolkien Curse laid so thickly upon Modern Fantasy (barely proper), it is with some trepidation.

However, flatly laying that blame at the feet of rude and wretched socialization always seems an easier step; despite the fact that such cannot be extricated from the First Source. Original Sin infects us all.

There is certainly something bound in the flesh which drives a breed of dwarfish, ill-socialized, fetish-loving escapists to un-self-consciously build and habitate an unoriginal world; and for a further gaggle of the nearly less-talented to consume it ravenously. It seems that, in the spirit of contrariness, when women find themselves thrust by love of horses or exceedingly lax tonsorial concerns into the same arena, that they will fight a different fight.

Perhaps they must approach the incline from a different vantage; arriving not by way of a)Tolkien to b)Conan to c)some unspeakable modern half-wit, but by Malory, McKinley, and Spenser. Of course, one must not forget that the vein of Fantasy still runs, at least in part, through Austen; and that though those alloys be rarer, still inhabit the edges.

Bradley has certainly taken a different tack on her way to the summit (never tor) of fantasy. She evokes Spenser, the Idylls, and all manner of other ridiculous romanticics of the Arthurian Mythos. She also endeavors to pull the characters themselves out of the romantic and toward post-modern psychological conflict. On occasion, she even succeeds.

There is certainly an undeniable depth to the books, accompanied by a rather pleasing graying at the temples of morality which immediately places her at the opposite pole from her male contemporaries. That that pole is really not so far away somewhat lessens the impact, and one is eventually bound to recognize that there really is a reverse pole to the whole of modern fantasy lying somewhere in Peake's Titus trilogy.

Actually, that's not true. One could very easily read a fantasy novel a week for life and never have to realize that Bradley is really only a little bit out there; but certainly enough to feel like a breath of the fresher.(less) "