N Books

A very interesting and slightly disturbing tale of a true 23-day exorcism in the state of Illinois. It provides insight into the dark world of Satan, the inner workings of demons, and the faith of the Church and importance of unity within the community in regards to the Church.

A short book,with only 48 pages but it says alot.Every word and sentence pulls you in,I can't imagine being the one under the devil's spell.After finishing this book,I found myself still thinking about certain parts in it days later.To tell the truth I found this book very real and very scary,I still find it unbelieveable when I hear someone say that they don't believe in heaven or hell,God or the devil.This would be the book for them to read,it gets right to the point.

Mmmm, a girl that floats to the top of a door and clings to it? Speaking, correctly, in languages she was not familiar with? Ok, we can not verify at all, today, whether Vogl's story here is true or not. makes for a good read, but we will never know if the events at this exorcism were real or told, as lies, to Vogl. Remember, Vogl was not there, but tells the story as told to him by others.

This is a good, inexpensive book on exorcism. Even though it is short (it can be read in one afternoon) it covers a lot of important points on the subject. Since it is only one case-study, the book is a little limited since no two cases are exactly the same. But, from what I have researched, the possession covered in Begone Satan! has many of the classic features of that affliction. The only drawback is that it is a translation from German and so the grammar is a little awkward at times. I would highly recommend this work for those wanting to know more about possession and exorcism but do not have either the time or interest to read a longer work on the subject.

I found this a very interesting and facsinating read. I believed it to be very factual and more realistic then some stories that are similar. I would highly recommend this book to anyone with the interest and facination in this type of knowledge. I give it 5 ***** I would even prefer more in depth discriptions of some of the actions of the exorcism. I personally believe these demons do exist and our knowledge of them can help to make you aware, and protect you from doing things such as oujia boards, and such, that could bring havoc into your life.

Often I have said my gender cannot write. Louisa is an exception. I bought her book because the ancient black madonna interests me very much. The famous gothic cathedral of Chartres in France is dedicated to her. In this book you see the veneration for the black madonna come to life. The author keeps you in suspense as the story line unfolds, and I find her style of developing the characters and plots very charming. She presents wisdom of life and humor, that made me laugh out loud. The reason I read is to be entertained, and I was truly entertained from start to finish. I even learned a thing or two.

My mother grew up in the area where this book takes place. I bought her this book, and she was said it was wonderful and brought back many memories. The sites mentioned are all real, and some of the people remind her of those she grew up with. If anyone is nostalgiac for that area and era, this is a must-read.

What a terrific group of people to "meet" and easily get to know. This story takes place in the row houses in Little Itlay in NY. The author does a great job of making the reader feel like part of the "family" of neighbors and tight-knit family. Reading this book was like sitting on the front stoop with these characters catching up on the neighborhood gossip. There are the old world Italians that are actually from Italy and this particular group stick with old customs and beliefs and don't wander to far from Little Italy. Then there are the young, new Italians born in Little Italy but tend to wander out of the neighborhood and meet new friends not from Little Italy or even Italian. We get to meet the overbearing, Italian mother of a son who has a hard time being independent or even wanting to be independent. This story made me laugh at times. I wouldn't call this a comedy, I'd call this a look at a different ethnic culture but also being able to recognize someone familiar. This was an excellent book and story with a lot of people to enjoy. A fun education of "the old ways".

I loved this book. I read it during a 20-hour bus ride, keeping my above-the-seat light on well into the night. Not so much to see what would happen (although you really don't know that until the last pages); more because I just wasn't ready to say good-night to the characters. This is the best part: Unlike many books I read, the ending was just as good as the beginning. I'll read more of her books.

"The Black Madonna" is loaded with stereotypes -- the overbearing Italian mama, the rich Jewish family; however, this book is so hysterical that political correctness must, thank God, go by the wayside. Filled with scenes of life in tenement housing in "the old neighborhood," Louisa Ermelino has written great atmosphere with colorful, memorable characters. There is no deep plot, just a delightful splash of life, love, religion, friendship, and aging.

I loved this book. The women of my church used this book for a 12 week bible study following each chapter and our hearts and minds were transformed. Every woman should read this book. This book is better than any twelve step program out there and it speaks directly to the mind and soul of a woman, there is no way you can read it and still think the same way about the Samaritan woman or any woman for that matter. Give it a shot, you won't regret it!!

This is a must read for every woman. Bishop McKenzie takes you on a strategic journey that brings you to a place of awareness of all that God has deposited in you. She weaves the Biblical story into our lives and brings clarity of God's divine work in us. An excellent tool for a small group study!

Bishop McKenzie writes in the most wonderful conversational style. Reading her book made me feel as though she and I were conversing. The book evoked deep emotion and introspection in my spiritual life. Highly recommended.

This book was a christmas gift from my sister. Journey to the well helped me travel down a well worn road. You have already thought about the things that she has written about your spiritual journey, but with how much perspective. Vashti's book helped me to reflect on my image in the well. Looking at myself objectively in the well, I can change things I dont want to see.

I have been enriched by reading this book by Bishop McKenzie. It came to my attention as a recommended reading posted at my school, Trinity College of D.C. Not aware of Bishop McKenzie, I was intrigued by the summary of this book and decided to read it. What a tremendous blessing. As I read it, I realized that so many women travel often to the well in our daily lives. Just trying our best, no matter how painful, to do what we can until things get better. Like the Samarian woman at the well, we yearned for something different in our lives that would free us from many of the cultural, societal, and spiritual bonds that bind us. Dr. Mckenzie reminds us systematically through the additional Biblical references, exercises, and journal assignments that support this blessed encounter that we are waiting for our opportunity to meet Jesus at the well. Pausing to answer this blessed stranger's questions and boldly asking questions of Him healed her. Reading this book, we are also healed. I encourage women from all walks of life, age or religion to read this book. Like the Samarian woman who met Jesus at the well, you, too will find your voice. through His grace be healed to go forth and tell everyone of the man you just met who knew everything about you and loves you dearly. Peace

I seldom reread a book; this book I have read twice and bought three copies to give away. I will read it again; the writing is so funny, so dazzling. The characters are so real, their stories so poignant. Jewish readers will especially love this book; we know these people though we have never met. I fell in love with Bummy Davis and when he died, I felt a loss. My gangster imagination loved reading about all the mob characters, though I am not a fan of violence or boxing for that matter. I read this book as my husband lay dying of cancer; it kept me uplifted during this difficult time. I loved that it was long and hated that it had to end. This is such a special book, and I haven't even mentioned the awesome research it must have taken to write it.

The authur Ron Ross is at his best. I could not stop reading amd I recommended the book to all my sons.I lived in East New york during those days.Fascinating.
Harry Keller

This book is a very satisfying trip down boxing's memory lane. Ron Ross resurrects here the color and drama of a very fascinating, tough NY prizefighter with a heart of gold--Bummy. Ross gives us in this welcomed work, devoted research, clearly a labor of love, and fine writing. Clearly, I see this book being optioned in Hollywood. Boxing translates to the screen in a big way and I see this book making a million bucks for some talented film maker.

Fantastic account of the life and career of Al 'Bummy' Davis, during the time of Mob rule in New York. Fascinating look into the ways and troubles of immigrant communities and their exploitation by gangsters.

Whether you are looking for a boxing or mafia book, this will do the job.

For anyone who loves a good story, written with wit, humor, and style, this book is for you. I couldn't put it down, and found something to chuckle about or a phrase to admire or an ironic comment I loved at least once on each page. I finished the book today (March 29, 2007)and did something I never did before (and I am 80 year's old). I noted from the book jacket that the author divides his time between Oceanside, LI and Boca Raton, Fl, and even though it is 4 years since the book was written and the author's name is a relatively common one, I called information for his Boca Raton number and took a chance that it was the right Ron Ross. I left a message that if this Ron Ross was an author, would he please call me, and I left my number. A few hours later I received a call from Mr. Ross and we had a delightful conversation for 10 minutes or so. For me to have taken the time to locate Mr. Ross and call him is an example that actions speak louder than words. Believe my action and go out and buy, read, enjoy, and love the book. It's cheap enough, and you'll thank me, and more so, will thank Ron Ross.

Ed Gold

This book is wonderful.
I did not know that the Germans were the first to use helicopters in combat in WW2 and not the Americans!
Now I know this as a fact!
And it is amazing that they flew public demonstrations of helicopters even before 1938, setting speed and altitude records! What amazing craft such as the FW-61, Fa-223, FL-265, FL-282 all flying before sikorsky!
And we here in America always assume when someone says "the first american to do something" it means the first person in the world to do something.


How amazing to find out that the Germans had operational combat choppers performing air-sea-rescues and submarine spotting in the Baltic before Sikorsky's craft had ever left the ground .
We in America are always so eager to claim we were the first at everything when after a little investigation it is so easy to find out that our common perceptions of History are mostly wrong.


How wonderful that this book clears up those kinds of misconceptions and sets the record straight, showing that the Burma rescue of 1944 came years after German helicopter rescues at sea. Wonderful to discover that air mobile operations and combat troop transport and transport of artillery and ammunition was carried out from huge twin rotor Focke Achgellis 223 choppers. They even airlifted whole airframes of downed fighter craft, something we couldn't do post war.
We always assume we were the first but we should know better.

Although this book reflects considerable research there are glaring flaws in that research. It is confusing at times and poorly written, because it is full of typographical errors and conflicting and confusing data. I am intimately familiar with two of the stories related in this book and one of them is fairly accurate while the other one has many inaccuracies. I served two tours in SEA in Rescue helicopters and I know a thing or two about the subject matter. It could have been an excellent book if the author had hired a proof reader and considered finding more corroboration for some of the material. Otherwise, it is a great summary of the important role of helicopters in military aviation.

I've known Bob Dorr as a friend for about a decade or more. He and I both share a passion for aviation and aviation photography. Bob, however, goes beyond passion when he writes books. His unique ability is to write books that puts readers into the cockpit of helicopters or other aircraft. You feel exactly what other crews have felt while flying missions. Bob's amazing knowledge of aircraft and history and his dogged research makes for truely unique books.

I enjoy Bob's books and encourage others to try them out.

Dorr's "Chopper" belongs on the shelf of everyone interested in military aviation history and the men who were part of it. Dorr interviewed more than 75 pilots and crewmen and these individuals come to life as their remarkable stories are told in this very readable book.

"Chopper" is laid out chronologically. It starts behind enemy lines in Burma in 1944, when a young American pilot named Harman and a mechanic named Phelan flew a Sikorsky "R-4" helicopter on what was apparently the first ever U.S. military helicopter rescue. From here on out, the role played by "whirlybirds" in almost every major U.S. military operation is examined, including: air rescue missions during the Korean War, troop airlift operations in Vietnam, heliborne assaults in Afghanistan and helicopter attacks in Iraq.

I liked "Chopper" because it lets each pilot, mechanic, and crewman tell his story in his own words, and this makes for a readable, entertaining, and often exciting journey through history. All the services get their due as well---Army, Air Force, Navy and Marine helicopter pilots and aircrew are all part of Dorr's narrative.

From what I can tell, "Chopper" also is a true "first" in the history of book publishing: the first book to compile first-person accounts of helicopter pilots and crews who flew military rescue and combat missions; the first book to tell the comprehensive story of military helicopter operations from World War II to the current war on terror; and the first book to combine these personal histories with technical data on each helicopter flown or crewed.

General readers, amateur historians, and professional researches will find this book well worth the money.

I own and have read a number of books by military author and historian, Robert F. Dorr. Chopper is, by far, the best.

Starting with "eggbeaters" in Burma and continuing through the "snake" in Iraq, Dorr lets the pilots and crews tell their own stories. The stories include a father-and-son combination as well as the memories of fixed-wing aircraft pilots suddenly assigned to fly helicopters. As the pilots and crews recount their experiences, the humor of military personnel in tough situations spreads through the pages.

Dorr has amassed an amazing collection of photographs that accompany the narrative, making it easy and fascinating to follow the development of helicopters from 1945 to the present day. Chapter sidebars telling the reader who's who add to the readability.

This book is a pleasure to read. I recommend it without reservation.

If you're and American Girl lover, you can keep the fun going with the Mystery novels.

Personally, I thought the "Mystery" was a little cheesy, even for ages 9 and up. In any case however, it was great to have the characters back to read about in a new story however, that is longer and different from the other Samantha stories.

The one thing that was lacking from this book was the phenomenal pictures American Girl books are famous for. If you ever just found the pictures distracting however, this book will not disappoint.

I read this and so did my grand daughter. She liked it so well, that she took it to school and they use this book as a reading book, to test on and to earn points for awards.

This book was really cool. It kept me in suspence. I thought this book would be boring, but it taught me to not judge a book by its cover.

Samantha Parkington couldn't be more excited about the prospect of her family moving into a posh, upscale apartment-hotel. Temporarily, that is. Sure, she'll miss her home. But with all of the renovations currently taking place there, it has been impossible to get any peace and quiet. However, Samantha seems to be the only one excited about moving to Ravenscourt. Nellie and her younger sisters - Bridget and Jenny - appear to be petrified about the move. And instantly begin to think that this is simply Uncle Gard and Aunt Cornelia's way of slowly displacing them from their newly adopted families. But Samantha knows that such a though is preposterous. Uncle Gard and Aunt Cornelia love all of the girls - even if they are rowdy and noisy at times. Upon arriving at Ravenscourt, however, Samantha begins to feel nervous about her new surroundings as well. After all, Nellie knows the owner of the apartment-hotel, and is aware of a horrible curse that was placed upon him years earlier. A curse that appears to be affecting how things work at Ravenscourt. The girls become terrified as they witness Ravenscourt succumb to one problem after another - from Jenny and Bridget falling ill with chicken pox, to rats in the building, and to Aunt Cornelia leaving the girls on their own with no one but Gertrude to look after them. Samantha begins to think that perhaps Nellie was right. Perhaps the curse of Ravenscourt is true. But Samantha refuses to begin believing in any curse until she has had the opportunity to do a little investigating herself. After all, the great Sherlock Holmes wouldn't jump to conclusions about crime, and Samantha refuses to do so herself. Now, with the help of Nellie, she intends to get to the bottom of the curse of Ravenscourt. But the more she investigates, the more she realizes that perhaps detective work is better left to the police, or Sherlock Holmes himself, because it is a dangerous job; and both Samantha and Nellie are putting their lives on the line by getting involved in it.

Samantha has been one of my favorite American Girl characters since I was just a child, which is why I find it impossible to resist reading any of the new tales written about the precocious New Yorker. THE CURSE OF RAVENSCOURT is the perfect example. Samantha's inquisitive nature is as strong here as it was in the previous novels about her life. Her interest in her surroundings, and her kindness towards those less-privileged than herself are refreshing; while her love for her newly adopted sisters - Nellie, Bridget, and Jenny - is enjoyable to witness. The four girls have such a powerful relationship with one another, and it is wonderful to see no sign of sibling rivalry. However, readers will feel sympathetic towards Samantha as she witnesses how much stronger the bond between Nellie, Bridget, and Jenny is when she is not around. The disappearance of Aunt Cornelia and Uncle Gard in this particular novel give it a bit of a more grown-up feeling, as the girls appear to have more free reign to sneak around, and conduct detective work; yet the few times their guardians come into play is quite enjoyable. An exciting, can't-put-down novel for middle readers that will leave them searching for a mystery of their own to solve!

Erika Sorocco
Freelance Reviewer

Samantha looks up at the massive building. Outlined against the grey sky, the carved ravens stared down at her from the rooftop. "It can't be cursed," she told Nellie, trying to sound brave. But inside, she felt a shiver of fear.

"A Samantha Mystery: The Curse of Ravenscourt" is among Sarah Masters Buckey's list of "succeeding whodunits yet." Set in the year 1906, eleven-year-olds Samantha and Nellie, whom are the two main characters of the book outline, temporarily stay at the new apartment-hotel Ravenscourt, coordinated by Mr. Raven and his daughter Eloise. As both young girls learn not only of the somewhat quaint hotel staff, but also the omens of the hotel; blood on the elevator doors, eerie night sounds, and various moments of suspicion, they begin an adventure to capture the ruthless prankster behind the antics, which leads to discover his foremost intentions of the caper-making.

Speaking from my experience, this particular American Girl mystery book will thoroughly succeed in catching your interest in the midst of the plot; you will find it difficult to put down this thoughtfully written book! Mrs. Buckey did a fabulous job with the research of s?ance' performances/ghost shows and historic Victorian hotels, proving this with her concise summary of "Looking Back: A peek into the Past." Overall, I give this book an A+ and highly recommend it to any young, ambitious sleuths.

This book is excellent. Complete focus on outdoor wireless networks. Primary focus is 802.11-based bridging and outdoor end-user-to-AP connectivity, but information, advice and site survey content is absolutely applicable to WiMax-based networks as well. If you want to learn anything about outdoor wireless bridging site readiness and design, this book is a solid reference. Solid editing job as well with very little fluff. Highly recommended.

Maybe just a tad bit too technical for a neewbie like me. Lots of great info.

This book is a very good reference and starting point to examine the Wireless ISP business. The only problem I have with this book is that it is outdated. I knew that before I bought it. I recommend this book and it is easy to follow along.

Great Book. The autor balances theory and practice perfectly. I just build a WISP from the scratch. I wouldn't be able to do this as fast and good as I did without the help of Mr. Unger's book.

As an owner of a mid sized WISP, the author has captured the real life problem we experience both from a strategic and field perspective. From antenna alternatives, pros and cons of varying polarization, business issues to consider and multitudes of other factors that must be balanced to support a customer service organization delivering wireless internet services. Thanks! My entire staff was required to read this book cover to cover.

This book is arranged as a daily reader. I can say with complete honesty, "This is the book I have been looking for all of my life." If you are serious about your spiritual life and want to walk in the path of the Saints, this is a divine gift. The Carmalite way is not for everyone. St. John of the Cross and Teresa of Avila are responsible for showing that "Way". This book is put together with an art that can not be imitated. If you are fortunate enough to be able to afford it, buy it for your soul!

As a Catholic priest, I think it was rather sinful the prices people were charging for an used copy of this book (the 1 Volume edition). Hundreds of dollars for a book that sold for $40 just a year or two ago? I guess it does atest to the great value of this book.

Well I have good news; TAN Books has decided to republish this work, in a new one volume, leather-bound edition. They hope to start shipping them on April 30, 2006. They will list for $48, but they are on sale now for $40.

It is more than a bit shameful, the price gouging that's been going on for this book while out-of-print. YAY, though. TAN is reprinting and will be available very soon.

And desire to purchase it. But with all due respect to the people charging many hundreds of dollars for a used copy, this book is being re-published by Loreto in January 2006.

http://www.loretopubs.org/

This book is the best one on Christian contemplation I've ever read. It is a perennial source of insight into God's love, without soft-pedalling the frightening consequences of sin. I hope to find it in print again, and will buy several copies right away for friends. Too bad about the price-gouging going on now: it's a wonderful part of any Catholic library but wait 'til there are enough used copies out there for the price to drop below the outrageous $250 or more for a copy requested by certain used booksellers. I bought mine for $31.50 two years ago,new. Hope that Loreto comes through in Jan 2006.

I own the book in Spanish language. Some content in the book is not easy stuff, if you study by others books, but Kolmogorov has the gift to make easy things that aren't quite so easy. Perhaps some theory is "old", because all the new books use some diferent approach to the subject, like the chapter dedicated to the Lebesgue integral, the book give the definition of a simple function in a different manner that we use today. The book is a must to have in your library, when you need to work with Functional Analysis.

This book is not quite up-to-date, but still very good as a starting point in (functional) analysis. The virtue of Kolmogorov and Fomin is their user-friendly writing style. I am delighted to find their book being available for less than ten dollars.

This book is better than his fabulous Real Analysis book. It is one of the best, if not THE best, functional analysis book out there and the price is low. Quality to price ratio is approaching infinity here (as Dover reduces the price more)!!!

Kolmogorov knows how to arrange topics and introduce them at the proper spots throughout the book. Everything is broken down into bite sized pieces and you are given enough examples to digest what's going on. Reading the book is like reading Kolmogorov's mind, as he has tried to teach HOW TO THINK about the material, not just DO IT. It's also very addictive, even though it's rigorous.

Name a better functional analysis book? Not sure if that's possible.

A concise, well-readable book for as much money as every textbook should cost. There's only one problem I found, but I wouldn't take a star for it, because the book is really very good: since the book is quite old, the nomenclature is very different from the current one. (Eg. the empty set is called ``void set'', Cauchy sequences is called ``fundamental sequences'', etc.) One should always look up the ``up-to-date'' name of every important concept that is introduced in the book.

I am electrical eng who study math all of my life. I had the Arabic version of it which cover more than the English one.I start reading it after Krewsiq book of advance functional analysis. I really like Krewsiq because it is so easy so I cover it within 1 year but I need 2.5 year to finish off this one which is fantastic, I really can't compare it with other books, it is a school of functional analysis and master book that you can't really understand functional analysis without it.

Was not expecting to enjoy this book so much! I loved it!

This is not a bad book, but this book was not for me. I enjoy hip hop, but it's not a huge part of my life, so while reading this book I found I could not really relate to the characters or the subject matter.

Reading about G Double G made me think "Suge Knight." His character was probably a mix of different males in the Hip Hop industry. The way the women were objectified in this book, it's no wonder you still have women who want to be involved in hip hop in any shape or form. The use of the N word also disturbed me a great deal. I would cringe every time I saw the word printed. Despite disliking seeing the word, I understood why Black Aretmis used the word in the book. I don't approve of the word and never will. I don't care how much hip hop has tried to make the word "okay to use."

The book is about two friends who have a big love for hip hop. Leila wants to be the first Latina female to make it big in an industry dominated buy males. Cassie also wants to be a big name in hip hop, and the two initially form a female duo called Sabrina Steelo and Fatal Beauty. Cassie stabs Leila in the back and signs with Explicit content. Not only does she sign with Explicit content, she takes all the money out of their account, leaving Leila with nothing. Cassie tries to figure out what she will do next after Leila's deception. Cassie ends up signing with Explicit Content as a solo act, but the longer she is with the label the more she finds out some deceptive shady, underhanded things about being in the industry. Cassie figures out that Explicit Content is not only a record label, but the label is used for some shady business dealings as well. Leila is in trouble and Cassie is trying to figure out how to help her old friend without messing up her own career.

This book will really wake you up to some aspects of the Hip Hop industry, and you will realize it's not quite as glamorous as people make it seem. This industry can rob you of your soul if you let it. Hip hop is not just about the music, and the glitz or glamour. It's about drugs, violence, and the women who become victims of Hip Hops web. There was one line in the book that really grabbed me. When you are done reading this book, you will feel for Cassie and Lelia, and other characters will make your blood boil.

This was an interesting book.

As a person who doesn't take or use hip hop beyond the slam of my car door, the occasional rest on BET when channel surfing, and the occasional hook to reign in the attentions of the adolescence I come in contact with, Black Artemis has gained my attention with Explicit Content.

Leila and Cassie are best friends with a dream of making it big in hip hop. Leila , the wild child Latina, is approached by the super producer of Explicit Content G Double D, to go solo. She jumps at the chance leaving her friend Cassie, more grounded Black girl, high and dry. Cassie, feeling betrayed, decides to still pursue her thang, albeit a bit differently. After a hip hop contest she confronts G Double D asking why he didn't want her. After hearing what he had to say she decided to do it on her own. However a few days later the same producer steps up and offers a deal too good to turn down and manages to pull her into the Explicit Content family. Once she's in she realizes music ain't the only thing she has to be down for.

Following the story of Cassie and Leila had this sista up at 3:00 a.m. finishing the book and writing this review. As I read I kept telling myself, "I am going to pass this onto the teens in my make shift book club in my Sunday school class. ( Well at least the older ones!)"

Along with some interesting insight into hip hop culture its just a damn good story that moves well, that is smart, and sucks you in. Written with real hip hop vernacular and accented with actual rhyme, Explicit Content is everything one would imagine a good hip hop novel to be.


Kotanya
APOOO BookClub

Cassandra and Leila have been blowing up the club scene with their rhymes as Sabrina Steelo and Fatal Beauty. When it looks like they will finally get that big break they have been waiting for they find themselves torn apart.
Whe G Double D only signs Leila( Fatal Beauty) to the Explicit Content label Cassandra feels burned by Leila but not for long. When G Double D decides he wants Cassandra as well.
Once inside Explicit Content, Cassandra finds things are not at all as they seem and that Leila is in trouble.
Black Artemis puts some serious flavah in your ear with this Hip-Hop debut.
The book focuses on the girl's friendship and their differences. One being Black and one being Latina and the importance of family. She takes you inside the hip hop industry and into a Rap label full of false promises, shady deals and broken dreams.
This is Hip-Hop fiction to the fullest. You won't want to miss a beat of this stunning debut.
reviewed by:
Dawnny

Wow! Where do I begin? Being several generations removed from
the hip-hop scene, I've never afforded myself the opportunity
to appreciate or even understand the genre. With mild trepidation
I began reading EXPLICIT CONTENT, the story of two young ladies
from the Bronx with mad aspiration to become major hip-hoppers.

Cassandra Rivers and Leila Aponte fought their way into a
friendship and parlayed that friendship into a hip-hop duo known
as Sabrina Steelo and Fatal Beauty. But, when G-Double-D, the CEO
of the gangsta rap label, Explicit Content, seduces Leila with
promises of solo stardom, she falls for it hook, verse, and sample
and leaves Cassie hanging. Cassie swallows the hurt from Leila's
betrayal and goes solo herself; after all she is the one with
the skills. In a short time, Cassie's determination captures the
attention of Double-D and he offers her a recording deal. Cassie
has to decide how much she is willing to risk for stardom; Double-D
has secrets, big secrets, and Leila is in danger. In spite of the
tension between them, Cassie is worried about Leila, but she doesn't
want to jeopradize her own career or get caught in the middle of
Explicit Content's drama.

Black Artemis, a hip-hop activist, writer and speaker has penned
more than a story about rappers. She has written a bonafide,
unpretentious classic about the lives of a generation caught in
a musical upheaval. This is an intense story about friendship,
loyalty, and the too high price to `make it'. The writing is
frank, hip and genuine; Ms. Artemis does not gloss over any aspect
of the music, the genre, or the people. About half-way through the
book, I started to understand the use of a jargon and the need for
an attitude exclusive to the craft. I walked away from EXPLICIT
CONTENT with a different awareness and yes, even an appreciation
for the sub-culture and for the economic aspect surrounding the
phenomenon of HIP-HOP. This is a mad introduction for a first
published book. (RAWSISTAZ Rating: 4.5)

Reviewed by aNN
of The RAWSISTAZ™Reviewers